Love and baseball schedules

We've been anxiously awaiting the release of the 2011 MLB schedule, which finally came out tonight.

About halfway through this season, we bought full season tickets for the rest of the year at Nationals Park, which came after my mostly-in-jest battle with the Nationals ticketing office and Sharon's discovery that she has a favorite baseball team. Between then and now, we've acquired about 12 Nationals T-shirts (Sharon has one each for pitchers Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard and yet another urging the Nats to Let Teddy Win), five or six ballcaps (one of which Sharon got Clippard to sign during a blood drive), two balls I caught during batting practice (one of which Sharon later got pitcher Doug Slaten to sign when she spotted him in plainclothes in the stands during his suspension), two or three songs from iTunes that the players use when they come to bat (the full list is here; my favorite is "Prrrrum" for Alberto Gonzalez, despite the fact that Cosculluela appears to be wearing a Pirates hat in the music video, though I am also partial to Pudge's early '90s "Check Yo Self" goodness), numerous gross-out moments from Adam Kennedy's disgusting habit of spitting his chewing tobacco into his hand and then tossing it into the outfield after reaching base, and various other Nationals knick-knacks.

So, yeah, we've grown to like the team a fair bit.

We're definitely going to renew our season tickets for next year, but we haven't decided yet between the full or half season plan. One big consideration was whether we'd have to miss a bunch of home games around our June 4 wedding in San Francisco (and also have to find a way to dispose of the tickets). We were planning to get to California a few days before and then maybe take a weeklong honeymoon.

Turns out, the Nationals will be on an 11-game road trip (their longest of the season) at precisely that time. Sharon noticed this and was blown away. Then I pointed out the cities where the team would be traveling: Phoenix (where Sharon first worked out of college and where she got her surprise proposal), San Francisco (Sharon's hometown and our wedding locale), and San Diego (my hometown and unanimous best city in America). Not to mention that NL East teams only visit each NL West team once a year, making the scheduling fluke that much more unlikely.

I'm not usually one for signs, but this coincidence makes me incredibly happy. I can't wait for another season at the ballpark with my all-time favorite seatmate.

A much-needed update

Almost a month since my last post? Yikes, I've been a bad, bad blogger, and I'm sorry. Greg and I have had a very busy June on the job, social, baseball and wedding planning fronts! I'll expand on those later as I get pictures uploaded and posts brainstormed.

 We are le tired.

(Photo by Greg's brother, Grant)

But I can't leave you hanging just like that, so I will say that regarding all things wedding: (1) We set a date for next June, (2) we put money down on a venue, and (3) we decided on a photographer!

A very big clue for No. 2 can be found here (video — clean version, of course) or here (if you prefer to read).

As for No. 3, we're heading out soon to hang out in San Diego, catch a Dodgers game in L.A. — and meet with our fab photographer. :) Squee!

Despite having three big details decided, there's much more in store for this wedding bonanza...

A very preliminary vision for The Big Day

Though Greg and I don't have anything set in stone yet, I've been toying with many ideas for the basics. I thought I'd be one of those "I've had everything planned since I was little" gals, but after seeing one of my favorite movies, I realize my tastes have definitely changed. While Greg posted early on about a couple of things, here's what we're really planning on.

WHEN:
We're shooting for the late spring/early summer of 2011. Greg should be done with his master's in December of this year, and we want to leave open the possibility of him continuing on for his Ph.D. Though California weather is ideal for late summer/fall weddings, starting his next round of school in fall 2011 is the most realistic schedule, so there you go. And the weather is an important aspect because...

WHERE:
... One thing that hasn't faltered since my childhood vision is that I'd get married outside. Greg and I are not tied down to the idea of a church wedding, and we love the open, organic feel of being outside. Though San Diego beaches make for beautiful events, we've decided on my hometown of San Francisco, mainly for logistical purposes (my family about doubles Greg's). The requirements are that it must have outdoor (ceremony) and indoor (reception) space, be somehow meaningful to me and Greg, show something cool about San Francisco and, most of all, not break the bank. I'll be posting shortly on options we're looking at, and feel free to comment or contact me with any places you think would fit the bill!

COLORS:

Red is symbolic of joy in Chinese culture, and it helps that it's our favorite color. The only wedding I've been in (flower girl, hehe) had red as a primary color, and my first taste of "grown-up" dress shopping (for junior prom) ended in picking a red gown from David's Bridal. For a neutral, I'm thinking a nice gray instead of black to give things more of a light-hearted feel.

Claret and Pebble Beach from the Pantone Wedding line. (source)

FEEL:

I am the kind of person who'd rather have a smaller amount of super-close friends than lots of semi-close ones. I should be able to have personal conversations with everyone who attends the wedding and know deep down that the celebration wouldn't have been the same without them. Though I understand how others like having big weddings with lots of generations of family members, business contacts and the like, we just want everything to be super personal, where people can be relaxed around each other and be ready to mingle and party! (Yes, the fun factor is also a big deal. Entertainment ideas are in the works...)

What do you think of our very early outline? Any suggestions to share?