Highs & Lows... Ups & Downs...
As everyone who reads my blog knows, I am pretty candid and probably far too honest- I tell you what I think.  This year has been full of highs & lows...

Highs:

- October: Engaged!

- February: Purchased a house

- April: Picked up our puppy Stella

- April: Baseball began

- April: Started off the season strong and hit a home run

- May: My sister B moved in with us!  Yay for a summer roommate!

- June: Talked with Coach about baseball opportunities

Lows:
- April: Baseball began
- May/June: Got in a slump - and is now riding pine
- June: Talked with Coach about trade opportunities

Why is it that Spring/Summer are full of highs & lows that all revolve around BASEBALL?  I absolutely love baseball, and LOVE that J has the opportunity to play, but sometimes I wonder how we can possibly deal with the highs and lows for much longer.  I miss him when he's on the road, and I know he misses me too!  I get the whole team bonding and all, but how long can you stand to be on a bus with a bunch of guys?  Also, it seems like with baseball, nothing is ever good enough.  J could go 3 for 4 with a home run and a double, and coach would still be disappointed because he had an error in the field.  Or vice versa, he could go 1-5 but make some great plays in the field... J would be upset about his hitting.  Do you ever find yourself at a loss of words?  I never know what to say when J is upset.  This is his dream - and he puts so much pressure on himself.  I wish he understood how proud his family and friends are of him.  He's living his dream - and not many people can say that.

On the other hand, I'm at home keeping everything up, and also working a full time job.  This past week, our lawnmower broke... so what did I do?  I invited my girlfriends over to try to help me put together the brand new one I picked out.  Well, to every ones surprise, we weren't able to get it going... this is something J would have had going in 10 minutes.  Besides keeping the lawn up, keeping a house clean & a puppy alive (and entertained) is hard work.  It's exhausting!!  By the time J got home from his 2 week road trip, I needed a vacation!

I am so thankful for baseball girlfriends/fiance's/wives!  What would we do without the love and support we have for each other.  Our lives aren't easy... so I encourage you to reach out and befriend other ladies and build a support team.   Thanks for your continued support!  oxox!

New Addition to our family

I want to officially introduce the newest member to our family: STELLA!!

As all of you know, baseball season has it's up and downs.  It can be very exciting, but can also be very lonely.  Being the sweet man that J is, he insisted that we get a puppy to keep me company while he is on the road. 

I have always been a strong and very independent woman - but having a baby puppy around makes me think about what it will be like to have a real baby in my life: a little J junior! :)  Now, don't get too excited people... I am definitely not ready for a baby J Jr. YET.  However, after taking two days of puppy maternity leave, it's going to be hard to head back to work tomorrow: I can't imagine what it will be like to leave a real baby at home!  So let's just hope J makes the Majors so I can spend my days playing at home! 

It's the little things in life that makes me so happy!  I am so lucky to have all of the wonderful things in my life!

oxox for now - K

Back with popular demand - NO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AS BOYFRIENDS MOVING FORWARD!

I apologize about the delay in posts... It's been a busy "Off Season"!

The Transition from "In-Season" to "Off-Season" started off with a BANG.  On October 6th, 2011 - I made the transition from Minor League Baseball Girlfriend - to Minor League Baseball Fiance!!  J proposed on our annual vacation to Lutsen!  The best part - he got it on Film!  It was such a special moment.  The two of us have been through so much together throughout the past 5 years it was great to know that above everything else - including baseball, that I am his #1.

We decided to get married Fall of 2012 - so that the weather would still be decent, and it wouldn't interfere with Baseball Season.  Besides wedding planning, we purchased a house & bought a dog! Eeeeeeee!  I can't imagine a more exciting year!

Since baseball season - J has been coaching baseball.  It makes for odd hours (compared to my 9-5 job), but I am thankful he is getting to continue to do what he loves (and make some extra $$$).   He also found out he will be re-signed by the St. Paul Saints which is such a blessing!  He will get to stay home for another summer! 

J and I know we are so lucky to be able to work through this crazy lifestyle together.  It can be so difficult and so lonely (for both of us) - and we are fortunate to be able to continue to stay strong through it all.  Unfortunately, my sister B & her boyfriend M (hockey player) didn't have the same luck.  My family made a new pact - NO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AS BOYFRIENDS MOVING FORWARD!  Ha!  Fortunately for J - he had already proposed before the rule was created!  :)

Keep in Touch!  Season Home Opener - May 17th

tran·si·tion

tran·si·tion

   /trænˈzɪʃən, -ˈsɪʃ-/ Show Spelled[tran-zish-uhn, -sish-] Show IPA

noun

movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change: the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

verb (used without object)  

to make a transition: He had difficulty transitioning from enlisted man to officer.

Why is transition so difficult??

For Sooo many reasons!

It's finally the "Off Season" - Baseball is Over!!

So what is so difficult about this transition?  J will finally be home... all the time; So, I hope I love it as much as I did last off season!

• My Best Friend
• Date Nights
• Attention
• Cuddling
• Messy House
• Messy House
• Messy House

Ha- Okay, okay I can deal with a messy place- He's worth it. ;) But it is going to take some getting used to having him around again.  I become so independent during baseball season - So it's important that I remember what it is like to share my life again.

J also has a big transition.  He's used to sleeping in until 2pm and going to the field for batting practice before his 7pm game.  The "Off Season" means J has to find a "real job" - with "real work hours."  Trust me - this is not an easy transition for him.  Needless to say, he will have to get used to living with a girl again, and after living on the road with a bunch of guys - this may not be easy either.

My sister B has the opposite transition - It's the Hockey "In Season"... Until April.  She's learning to deal without M - which isn't easy.  Luckily for B, she has a support team to keep her busy!  Plus, she's looking for her first job out of college!  Lot's of change in that lady's life.  It's time to focus on B, which will be good for her. 

I think through all of the transitions, it's important to think about what's best for you.  Are you happy - and is your boy worth the continuous  change in your life?  In a world that is all about him, it's important to put yourself first too - because without us... their lives wouldn't be half as fun.

Communication

It occurred to me yesterday, while watching the Saints lack of communication on the field - that baseball players do not get paid to communicate.  This is hard for me to understand because I get paid entirely to communicate. 

As the season is coming to a close - there are a lot of mixed emotions for everyone involved: players, families, girlfriends & wives.  Some are burnt out - while others would  like to continue on for months.  I think the hardest aspect of this is being conscientious of other people's feelings - no matter how you are feeling.  I have had my fair share of temper tantrums the last few weeks - but when it comes down to it, I know these next few games are the most important in J's career thus far.  So, I can't help but be excited to go to a few more games and cheer him on!

There is another side to this that makes things difficult as well.  Some of the players have built new relationships over the summer - you know; like one of my all time favorite movies "Summer Catch."  Believe it or not - in the world of minor league baseball - not all players have the story book ending that Freddie Prince Jr. had when he got called up to the MLB.  Most players move back home and go on with their lives - picking up off season jobs and waiting to see what their baseball future holds for the following spring.  This causes another communication disaster.   I am watching some of my friends struggle to know what type of future their new relationship holds -

is it worth holding on to? 

I wish I could hold a communication seminar for the team.  I could teach them how to communicate on the field & off the field.  You know - Please call for the ball if you are in the best position to catch it; oh and more importantly, please tell your significant other how you are feeling about them before you pick up and move away.  - The guys could learn so much! Ha!

Luckily for me - the off season is right around the corner.  This means that J and I will finally be able to communicate on a regular basis!  Believe it or not, this will cause for some transition as well- considering we are used to talking 10 minutes a day.  I will admit that as independent as I am - I'm excited to have J around again. 

Best of luck to the Saints today as they finish off the first round of playoffs and hopefully move forward to the championship round! 

We're fun together!

With the help of the Saint's starting short stop, J, the Saints made playoffs for the first time in 7 years!  Congrats Boys & of course Congrats J!

I'll never forget the call I got from J when the team clinched playoffs.  I don't think he has ever been more excited.  I was in Colorado, on business - and of course was following the game on Twitter (follow me @HansonKaley) - So had already been privately celebrating for the him and the team. 

I will admit this is my first experience with professional baseball playoffs - so, I'm learning as I go.  Luckily for me, the Saints came home for a quick eleven hours before taking off for the first round of playoffs.  I flew in from Colorado during the evening and J picked me up from the airport for one of our first dates together in Months - The Eric Church concert at the Fair!  Not only did we have the greatest time singing all of our favorite songs as loudly as we could together, we skipped the headliner to go on rides!  It's moments like last night that remind me why I fell in love with him during college - We're fun together!

I'm continuing to stay busy with work & friends - It's hard to believe the "Off Season" is coming up so quickly!  What will I do with my boyfriend around again?  I can't wait!

Temptations...

I don't mean to be a chronic blogger, but what is a girl to do when the boys are on the road...

J and I had a conversation last night about temptations... the fact is, there are lots of temptations when it comes to the lifestyle we live.  I think it's so important to be honest & realistic with each other when it comes to these temptations.

I'm not stupid, I see the girls at baseball games hoping for a glimpse of what it would be like to date a baseball player - and the ones who just want to add a baseball player to the number of men they have slept with.  I know I am biased, but I think J's a very good looking guy - and I can only imagine all of the temptations he faces each day.  So it comes down to trust.  Do you trust him on the road?

What about the temptations that you face?  Being a minor league baseball girlfriend can be a lonely lifestyle.  I have learned to be very independent.   But I'll be honest -  I don't complain if a guy goes out of his way to give me attention.  I think that's only natural. 

I think every relationship is different, I know that J and I trust each other - and at the end of the day that's all that matters.  It's important to surround yourself with good people who support you and your relationship.  And make sure to laugh about all of the "classy girls" who do what they can to ruin everything you built together - because if you trust your man, they aren't worth stressing about. 

At the end of the day - Trust yourself  & decide what the best path is for you.  Can you handle this lifestyle?