Whether they knew it or not, the Phillies had the advantage of playing with 10 men on the field during Saturday's Game 3 World Series win over the Rays.

Luckily for The Fightins', the extra man knew a little something about winning baseball games in October.

In a Field-of-Dreams type story sure to give goosebumps, country singer Tim McGraw covertly spread some of his father Tug's ashes on the Citizens Bank Park pitching mound before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Tug, of course, was a famous reliever for the Phillies and recorded the final out of the 1980 World Series, which remains the only championship won in the team's 126-year history. He died of brain cancer in 2004.

Though Tim didn't discover Tug was his father until he was 11 or reconcile with him until a few years after that, the two eventually grew close. Tim's hit song "Live Like You Were Dying" is a tribute to his father and was recorded in 2004 during Tug's fight with the disease.

Heading into this World Series, many Phillies fans have pointed out some coincidences to the '80 squad and taken the signs to mean Philadelphia is due for its first sports title in 25 years. For instance, '08 is the opposite of '80 and Tug McGraw's No. 45 is the opposite of the No. 54 worn by current closer Brad Lidge.

But now, thanks to Tim McGraw the team has something a little more tangible to help its push to win the next two games in Philadelphia and bring home the Commissioner's Trophy. No doubt Tug will be doing his best to help starting with tonight's Game 4.

"I'm sure he thought it was going to be good luck," pitcher Jamie Moyer told the Philadelphia Daily News when told of Tim's tribute. "And it turns out that it probably was. It's pretty cool."

Awhile back, I had a conversation with my daughter that I regret. I reverted to being "the mother" rather than being a friend to my adult and very smart, capable daughter. I put her on the defensive by questioning her decision to go it alone. I am very sorry for doing it. She came back at me by telling me that I could have achieved much more in my life if I hadn't "settled."

I've put a lot of thought into her words. She is a wise woman who is very aware that my marriage has been less than ideal. I told her I chose to stay in a situation that I thought would be best for my young children. I am glad she doesn't have children to complicate her life. I love my two children and I am proud of the people they are. I respect them and realize I should never question their judgment as I have at times. For that, I am sorry. They are both much smarter than I will ever be. I did what I thought was best for them.

My daughter told me that I could do much more with my life than I am doing. I know she is right. But then...the "settling" becomes relative.

Earlier in my life, except for a short stint as a Post Register newspaper writer which is a whole other chapter, I was able to stay home and raise my babies. Once my children went to school, I was fortunate to be a teacher's aide for ten years and was able to take my kids to school and take them home with me each day. Those times I had with Joe and Melanie were/are precious. Once my children were older, I was fortunate to land a successful career in managing dental offices for over seven years. The pay and benefits were huge in our lives. My family got all our dental work and the kids' braces done for what our insurance paid. I gained many learning opportunities and educational trips during those years. I'll settle for that.

I've settled for being able to spend six years on the board of directors at our golf course and being able to turn our business around in a positive direction which is working very well now. I've settled for being able to spend two weeks with Susanne and being able to care for her and her family after she had cancer surgery and being able to spend a week caring for her mother a couple of years ago while they went on vacation. I've settled for being there with my dying sister for the last month of her life, dealing with burying her and the angst of her son fighting me in court for another year. I've settled for being available to help my Mom, family and friends when they're in need. I've settled for giving up a trip to Denver to be at an LPGA tournament to care for Richard when he broke his back, taking care of him when he fought West Nile Virus and caring for him after knee surgery after all that. I've settled for a very simple life that allows us to travel in the winter when Richard gets a break that he so needs, save money and be in a position to be able to help our children when they need it like they have in the past. I've settled for being able to go back to college in my late 40's for my own enjoyment and enrichment. I hope to take more classes in the future, especially philosophy.

I've also settled with the realization that another person with whom I shared my heart, body and soul didn't turn out to be the person I thought he was when he allowed his wife to invade my e-mails, my life, my privacy and then stood by her. It's been one of the hardest issues to face. Even with all of that, I'll always care for him and he'll always be a part of me. I learned many lessons there. For one, I will not be the trusting person I once was ever again. His son who lives in Denver is such an adept writer and a lover of his dog, nature and the world in general. Here's a quote from his blog that I love. "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." (Anaïs Nin.)

Even though I live in this area amongst people with whom I disagree on nearly everything, I am finally at a point that I feel more comfortable in my skin and more content than I've ever been. I am sleeping better, eating better, going to the gym more often, feeling more alive and feeling less anxiety than I've felt for most of my life. I think the wisdom and peace of menopause that Christiane Northrup, M.D. talks about in her books has finally arrived. I am very grateful for a partner that recognizes me for who I am, has gotten past my indiscretions, and I have gotten past his, he appreciates what I have done for our life and our childrens' lives, is willing to mutually forgive our stormy past, is happy to fully support me and spend his life with me. Yes...I've "settled" and it's alright.

There...I've let it all out and I feel much better. Aren't blogs wonderful?

I found a useful word for these days. It's "schemozzle" which means a totally confused state of affairs. Another one I hadn't heard of before is "sesquipedalian" describes a person who often uses long, polysyllabic words.

The Discovery Channel has a new show on Tuesday evening called "Iditarod: Toughest Race on Earth." I find it more entertaining than "Dancing With the Stars." I like a lot of shows on Discovery. Watching Mike Rowe chew off sheep balls last night on "Dirty Jobs" was about too much though. Yuck!!

For a good laugh, I watch "Reno 911!" Comedy Central. There's a funny Danny DeVito FX series that I'm going to rent from Netflix this winter. It's called "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." I've seen a few episodes but I forget to watch for it when it's on.

Watching John McCain at the Alfred Smith benefit last week made me wonder why he doesn't keep the same writer who had to have written his material that night. He was funnier and looser than I've ever seen him. He seems so angry, negative and grumpy.

I went to Idaho Falls yesterday to do some shopping. There is a really good bakery/deli on East 17th Street called "Geraldine's." It's a good thing I don't live closer to that place or I'd be a chump. Their cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, soups, sandwiches and cookies are yummy. I brought a cinnamon roll home for this morning and a sugar cookie for a treat this afternoon.

I bought a new hot tub filter and gulped when they told me the price. It was twenty bucks more than the last one I bought. I know...it's tough, but...

Warren Buffett had a different version of "buy low, sell high" the other day. He said, "Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." I'm glad he's consulting with Obama. We need all the sense we can get in Washington and on Wall Street.

The weather last weekend was beautiful here. I enjoyed it very much. It was one of those rare, bonus October weekends. It's not looking too bad for this coming weekend except it won't be quite as warm. I think the older I get, the longer the winters get.

I found a new salad dressing that it wonderful. It's Wish Bone's Bountifuls. I had the hearty Italian with a chunky vinaigrette full of peppers, tomatoes, carrots and sweet onions. It makes a salad pretty tasty along with some shrimp, salmon, tuna or crab. Wish Bone has some other varieties I want to try. There's another way I'm easily amused.

Melanie is taking a trip to NYC next month to visit some clients and check out some options. I wish I could join her. Airfares are looking better now than they have been for awhile. That's good news for planning another winter trip.

I'm annoyed again with the press making issues about a woman's weight. The latest is Cheryl Burke from "Dancing With the Stars." I think she is about the only woman there who actually looks normal and healthy. Susan Lucci and the co-host Samantha Harris look like anorexic skeletons whose heads look too big for their bony bodies. What is it with people thinking a woman with curves is "fat?" It's irritating. This isn't my first or last rant on this subject. The other thing that bugs me is why men have to have clean-shaven bodies to be considered sexy. What's wrong with a man having body hair? I like men with hairy chests and bodies. Whatever...

Sunday is my little brother's younger son's mission farewell meeting at church. The kid is off to Brazil in November for his two-year stint. Once again, I'll be the aunt who won't be in church. I don't do 'dat.

I felt bad when my golf friend, Rhonda Beesley, called today and told that her 93-year-old Mother died last month in Preston. Rhonda is also recovering from a knee-replacement surgery. She told me she had a hard time buying groceries last week and getting them in her house while her husband was out of town. I scolded her for not letting me come help her. I think she will now. She only lives a mile or so away. I don't check in with people as often as I should. I've always tried to let my friends know that I'll do anything I can for them if they'll just let me know.

Another reason I love Netflix these days is the fact that the big cinema in Idaho Falls is now charging $9.50 a ticket for a movie. Good hell, to have to sit in a theater with all sorts of people eating, farting, belching, coughing, sneezing, taking cell phone calls and just being irritating and not being able to have a smoke or a drink while watching a movie or being able to pause the movie to take a pee isn't my kind of fun. I like movies on my own terms.

We'll see if tonight's debate is more interesting that the other two have been. One thing I know about our next President is that he is left-handed. Hmmm...and yawwwn...

The new radiator went in the car this morning. I took a loaner car and went shopping while they had my car. I have to admit that I bought some darling baby clothes for my grandson. It's a good thing I don't go shopping very often. There are such cuter baby clothes now than there were when I had little ones. I've got to control myself because my daughter-in-law is concerned I'll go nuts shopping. And...I don't even like to shop!! I did buy myself a new dress, some new gym duds and a zebra print jacket, too. (Of course, they were all on huge clearance sale racks.) It was a fun day. I ran into my dear old friend Ida Mae at Fred Meyer. We're going to get together tomorrow and I get to meet her new little dog. Damn, I miss having a dog.

My credit union is offering a 6-month CD at 4.25% and I jumped on it today. I've got another one there at 3.75% which comes due in December. In light of what's going on in the markets right now, I'm pretty happy to have good money in those accounts. I don't even want want to look at our retirement accounts now. I'm thinking about the half-million we had is going to be about 300 grand now. I don't even want to think about what has become of my parents' money since the Merrill Lynch sell-out. It makes me ill. Good hell, I can't wait until the election is over and everyone can move past the debacle of the last eight years and find a place to move on and feel more stable. Or...we can hope that the big comet hits and ends this damned world already.

While I was at Westmark Credit Union today, Randy Luke came in. He's our pro and course manager at JH and a person who means a lot to me. I worked hard to hire him after Jerry retired. He told me that he misses me on the board. The board now is in turmoil and he said I need to be there. All I could say is that I'm done with the politics at JH. I had enough of that. Randy has done an amazing job of running the course. The new board has taken the focus off making sure we have the equipment we need to maintain the course. I was always about making sure we had the equipment and people we needed to make it work. Randy is disappointed that they don't see that. I can only talk to our current board members and tell them how I feel. Our course IS our business and we must look out for it. I hope they will.

I'll have a good night tonight anyway. I'll watch that annoying "Survivor" then "The Office" and "The Sarah Silverman Show." She is one crazy broad and if you haven't ever watched her at Comedy Central...you should. Check her out here at http://www.thegreatschlep.com/

Last night was only the second time I've felt threatened being home alone in many years here. If someone shows up here again, I'm calling the cops. In this little place, the cops don't have much else to do. I know their number very well.