Harry Husky Handing Over the Job to Harry Junior

Capital Teas...one of my favorite things

I think you all know me as a Starbucks gal...I have their stock, drink their coffee daily, travel with the awesome new VIA instant packets and know when Gazebo blend comes out in the summer, Anniversary blend in the fall and Christmas blend, etc. you get the picture. Brad and I even have a standing yearly date to have the first Pumpkin Spice Latte together when it comes out as well as the Eggnog Latte in November. But I like tea too and one of the best tea places around for all your wants and needs is right here in the greater DC area. It's called Capital Teas in Annapolis with a new store in National Harbor. LOVE IT!

The store is owned by friends of ours, Peter and Manelle Martino. Pete is a USNA classmate of Brad's. Here is Manelle's story from their website: www.capitalteas.com

Capital Teas, owned by Manelle and Peter Martino of Annapolis, Maryland opened in summer 2007 in historic downtown Annapolis. The quaint and historic building where it started selling teas is in reminiscent of an old English tea shop that might be found in the South Kensington or Chelsea areas of London. This flagship store is also just one block from the Maryland State Capitol (depicted on the logo), the nation's oldest Capitol in continuous use.

Tea has always been a part of the owners' lives and Capital Teas is an extension of their interest and passion for the wonderful benefits of tea. Manelle Martino's family has been involved in the tea trade for five generations. Her family tradition started with her great-great-grandfather, Francis Van Reyk (pictured below), a Dutch tea planter who managed the well-known Diyagama Estate in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the late nineteenth century. Among the over 100 types of loose tea we sell today, Capital Teas is proud to offer Great-Great-Grandfather's tea, a BOP tea, from this very Sri Lankan estate. The family tradition is also alive and well with a variety of teas supplied to us by a wholesale tea distribution firm in Australia owned by Manelle's uncle.

Capital Teas specializes in providing our customers with a comprehensive selection of the freshest and highest quality teas from around the world, and a variety of both traditional and modern tea accessories. We source our teas from the world's finest growing countries and regions, including India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, South Africa, and Kenya. Additionally, our fruit and herbal infusions, and many of our blended Rooibos teas, are masterfully crafted in Germany. Finally, we offer several of our very own unique tea blends.

Check them out, you won't regret it.
6 Cornhill Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 263-TEAS [8327]
Fax: (443) 926-9109
Website: www.capitalteas.com
Inquiries: Inquiries@CapitalTeas.com

Capital Teas' Winter Romance (contains alcohol)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chilled Cinnamon Orange green tea
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 ounces vodka
1 ounce brandy
Splash of Orange Juice
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 cups crushed ice
Recipe:
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender, placing crushed ice in first.
2. Blend 2 minutes on medium speed.
3. Pour into brand snifters and garnish with cinnamon; serve immediately.

The Ellensburg Rodeo 2010

As always for over 40 years I have attended the World Famous Ellensburg Rodeo. I know you find that hard to believe because I really only look about 29, but it is true for over 40 years now. On top of that for over 20 years I have had the pleasure of being associated with the rodeo and Central Washington University as one of the on air television commentators for the parade on Saturday morning. This year I thought I would watch it but Kurt Newman called and I didn't hesitate to say yes. I love announcing the parade and seeing all my friends that participate in it as they go by. This year I had the pleasure to work with Jamie Virden, who is the 'lady in waiting' and will assume the duties of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma in January. I also love having Piper come sit on my lap for the ending and being a small part of it.





I would love to post all the pictures but let me show you the highlights, and then I expect you will want to come next year too. Piper loves the rides, she went with Cole Sullivan and had a blast. Here they are getting on the roller coaster for the third time. Then after the rides we went over to check on Lynn Sullivan's jewelry (www.cowgirldivaz.com) at the Old Mill Store in the Western Village and Piper and Cole found a new ride...









Saturday is a fun day at the rodeo, you get to start with a pancake breakfast in the Albertson's parking lot (or at my folks, depending on what your motivation level to get to a table with breakfast on it). Then there is the parade, the rodeo and finally Extreme Bulls. This is the second year Extreme Bulls has been the Championships and taped to air on ESPN later in the month. Here is what I like about Saturday of rodeo weekend, I like watching the rodeo from my family's box with K.sue and the girlies. Then I loved that we had some time to rest and watch the Washington Huskies play football in luxury accommodations at my parents house.


Here is my friend, Gary Rempel, he is one of the best pick up men in the business and has been for a while. Gary is married my friend, Jody and they met right here at the Ellensburg Rodeo. She and I became friends in 1987 when I was Ellensburg Rodeo Queen and she was Miss Rodeo Washington. They are great people and I only wish we could see them more often. I love that we can stop by and say hi before Gary goes to work in the arena and Piper can sit up on one of his horses. Soon enough I hope she is riding and maybe I will to too. I miss it.





Like I have stated before I could go on and on about this rodeo, but I think I will end with two pictures from the Gold Buckle Party. This party used to be called Stuart Anderson's party, it was private, by his invitation only and always on the Sunday night of Labor Day Weekend. Although the party barn and ranch are now referred to as Springwood, it is still Stuart Anderson's place, at least to all the old timers. We have these rodeo friends that we only get to see over Labor Day Weekend, this year they are very happily married newlyweds. What drew us together you ask? Well here is how our conversations always start, them, "The Buswells!!" us, "The Bagwells!!" laughter and then more laughter. Total bonding moment, every time.

Did I tell you Crown Royal is a BIG sponsor of the rodeo? Gotta love a rodeo, gotta come to Ellensburg and see this one, they don't call it the Greatest Show on Dirt for nothing you know.

My Little Girlie Starts Kindergarten

Five and a half years ago I gave birth to my little girl, and today I sent her off to Kindergarten. She is still my little girl, despite the fact she continues to tell me she is a big girl now. I will add that the first time she told me this she was about two and a half and we were discussing the fact I didn't want her touching everything in the tea store in Annapolis. I think the conversation went like this, "Piper don't touch those cups they will break. What I say goes, I am the mommy and you are the little girl." Piper, "big girl, I am the big girl." I can laugh at it now, but there she was, sitting in her stroller on the sidewalk arguing with me. Where was Brad? He was standing behind her LAUGHING at me!! Here is my baby as a baby; and here she is today. So grown up and ready to go and learn, make new friends and embrace life.


We have to drive her everyday and this week we can walk her into the gym and drop her off. After that it's stop at the curb and she gets out and walks in on her own. For me, it was totally overwhelming in the gym, there were so many kids from all the grades waiting to be escorted by their teachers to the classrooms. But, as overwhelmed as I was, she was totally unfazed. Here is Piper with her very proud Mama and Papa. There was no crying, not by Piper and not really by Brad or myself but it was more a feeling of sadness because she really is a big girl now and not my 'little little baby baby girl' like I always tell her.
She sat down with her classmates and started making friends right away. I was never like that, I am sure you are surprised but I was always very quiet and shy until I got to know you. She is clearly not like that, at least with her peers. And there she goes, off to class for 4 hours and we got a smile and a wave. Next week it will be full day, who will chat with me and have lunch with me??


The morning was filled with some odd retail therapy with Brad; we went to Lowe's and picked up toilets, vanities, lighting fixtures, grout, 2x4's...not exactly the retail therapy I probably needed. Thus, after we unloaded all of that, I had to replace my workout watch at Target, luckily I saw an end cap filled with honey BBQ chips, so I ate 2 small bags...then I felt better. (And worse all at the same time, I should have just insisted we go to Nordstroms)! However, when I saw her smiling face I knew we'd chosen the right school for her. Here she is with her teacher, Mrs. Barrick. Here is another picture of Piper with her good friend, Noah. He was in preschool with her last year and this year he is in the other kindergarten class. They will all get to play together and see each other at lunch, recess and church and who knows, maybe next year they will be in class again together.


All in all a good day and after lunch she and I went swimming one more time at the pool. We spent a good hour in the deep end, and most of it underwater. She is more like Ariel at the moment but I am keeping my fingers crossed for another Dara Torres or Natalie Coughlin. I love her.

Visiting NY Yankee Stadium

It occurred to me that I should give proper props to the 'new' New York Yankee's Stadium since I raved about Citizen Bank Park a few weeks ago. Here is my story on the New York Yankee's stadium. It started a year ago when we originally had tickets to see the NYY in the new stadium but it was rained out. So we saw Shrek the Musical for the second time that weekend. A big hit in our household.
This year, since I turned the tickets in early to get replacements I was able to choose the Seattle Mariners, which was great, except I think I was one of eight fans there cheering for the Mariners. All eight of us were happy with the results though, 6-0 win for the Mariners!! Piper, on the other hand cheered for the NYY and this guy, Derek Jeter. The first place we walked though when we entered New York Yankee Stadium was the 'Great Hall' talk about spacious compared to the old stadium, very nice. We then went straight to Monument Park so see the Yankee greats and their plaques. It was awesome, it will bring tears to your eyes even if you aren't a Yankee fan that bleeds blue and white pinstripes. Here are a few of our favorite shots from Monument Park.

Interestingly enough I had no idea the NYY logo had an origin so closely related to the police in New York City, nor one of my favorite stores Tiffany's. Here is a plaque that is on the ground in front of a NYY Logo in the middle of Monument Park.


This is a great shot of all the numbers that have been retired by the New York Yankee organization. Mariano Rivera is one of the few players that still wears #42 since he was grandfathered in, prior to the entire MLB retiring Jackie Robinson's number.


Finally the game is beginning, here are some shots from our seats. I admit they were not down close to the field, but the view out over the Bronx is kind of cool and watching the sunset from there was neat as well.

Here we have a view of an impressive scoreboard and Piper's favorite player on it.


I almost forgot, they had a giveaway as we entered the stadium, it was a pinstriped Ford Fiesta. It tied in with a BIG giveaway that night where one fan WON a life size real pinstriped Ford Fiesta. Derek Jeter gave the winner his keys to the new car, and then jumped in the passenger side and signed his name on the dashboard. Then it became a really cool car!




Finally, here is a cool statue in the Great Hall. There was also a few of these 'seats of history' around the stadium. They are bleacher seats from the former New York Yankee Stadium across the street. I loved them, we have a set from the old Mile High stadium in Denver; they are currently sitting under a tree in Conifer, CO., but someday they will be on our deck and we will enjoy them.



Last but certainly never least, a tribute to the George Steinbrenner, who passed away earlier this summer. He will never be forgotten.

Enshrinement Ceremony and Floyd Little's Party

This is the really good part of the trip, and the real reason we were there too. We attended a pre enshrinement buffet and enjoyed standing inside the white picket fence watching all the 'littles' (and by littles I refer to those fans that were not inside the the fence and tent, therefore not as lucky as us, as Mr. Tony Kornheiser would imply), walk by and try to figure out who we were and how we got in there. In there we enjoyed great food, drinks and people watching. Some retired players were spotted but I needed Brad and Jeff to help ID. Here is what Jeff felt the highlight of the buffet was.








Here is the view from where we were privileged enough to sit, down on the floor in the Floyd Little section of family and friends. The ceremony itself was great, as you probably saw on television. All of the enshrinees has great speeches, but Floyd Little's was the best with Emmitt Smith a very close and emotional second. After Emmitt finished speaking I leaned over to Brad and said, "I think we should name our next dog Emmitt." Here is a great shot of Jerry Rice during his acceptance speech. Here is a shot of Jeff, he was loving it and so were we!


Then they introduced Floyd Little and the place went a little crazy loud! He gave a truly wonderful speech and I really took it to heart and felt so motivated to keep dreaming all my dreams and to never give up and thank God every day for just being here and being able to live the best life I can. (Props to Dick LeBeau on his pretty great quote too, "be a liver of life").
Just an awesome night and we felt so lucky to be a small tiny part of it.



After the ceremony and the fireworks, (sorry Piper didn't know those were coming), Jeff was able to secure he and Piper a ride back to the hotel with one of the HOF enshrinee drivers. Brad and I went to the private Floyd Little after party and had a really fun time. We were able to chat with Christy (Floyd's oldest daughter)and Adrian Jones, as well as friends we had met over the weekend. We met Marc Little, who presented his dad at the ceremony with a wonderful tear jerking speech, his dad really is an uncommon man. Here is a picture of Marc Little and myself. Here is Christy, Floyd and Billy Thompson, another great Denver Bronco. Wait! Here is Brad, he was pretty excited to meet Tom Jackson but I didn't give him enough warning when I took the picture!











Finally, here is a shot of Christy and myself with some of her cousins. And because as hard as I tried to be a good Bronco fan all weekend, I just couldn't help myself, I mean Marcus Allen was there!!!

HOF Weekend Continues with a Parade!

What is celebration without a fantastic parade? Nothing, where I come from. And apparently the people who organize the Enshrinement Weekend in Canton, Ohio, feel the same way. We enjoyed a fabulous two hour parade that included not just the 7 enshrinees and their families in classic cars, but current HOF members as well. There were more than 15 different high school bands and floats with royalty on board. This parade even had horses and gigantic balloons. Piper LOVED the balloons. Here are her favorites. Who doesn't love Super Grover and Oscar the Grouch, right?

Here are some of my favorite football players that went by. We were in the reserved bleacher seats and it was awesome. I will start with Floyd Little and his family because they are our friends and, as far as families go, the ones that cheered and waved the most. Riding in the car with Floyd is his son, Marc Little, who also did a fabulous job presenting him at the enshrinement ceremony.









Here are a few more of my favorite pictures of players that I think a lot of you will enjoy since many of you are also fans of the game. The former Congressman from Okalahoma and Seattle Seahawk wide receiver, Steve Largent. Russ Grimm, one of the original Hogs and the first Hog to go in from the Redskins. Riding with him is former Offensive Coach from the Redskins and his presenter, Joe Bugel.
Darrel Green is another legend here in DC since he spent his entire career as a Redskin.




Jerry Rice went in as a 49er, but was a pretty good Raider too. They showed highlights of him during the enshrinement in some of his best Raider plays. Plus, in this particular picture, I think he was looking directly at me. Finally, Emmitt Smith with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. He was a total crowd-pleaser and smiled and laughed the entire time.


Finally, a shot of me, once again in Bronco gear (two days in a row), with my girlie. She had a great time and loved dancing to all the bands and seeing all the floats, royalty, horses, and, of course, the big balloons.