Houston Astros bullpen presence Ryne Stanek is living his best life. The 'Stros reliever/World Series champ just showed off his fielding prowess during the massive downtown victory parade, when a fan hurled a beer to him. The six-foot-four Stanek grabbed the brew, opened it, downed it, and slammed it down on the team float.

Stanek's fianceé Jessica Peet captured the moment on social media — noting that she was the designated driver.

Now, Stanek can add another unforgettable experience to his impressive list: wedding his beloved partner. He and Peet wed on November 12 in Bushnell, Florida. Their site on The Knot reveals some charming photos.

Jessica Peet & Ryne Stanek//The Knot

The happy couple were joined in Florida by Astros ace Lance McCullers, Jr. and wife Kara, as well as pitcher Ryan Pressly and wife Kat.

An Instagram fan favorite for their adorable photos, Ryne and Jess announced their engagement in March 2021. They are parents to a cherubic daughter, Joelle Layne.

This latest 'Stros news comes in a furious post-title season for the team. Team stars José Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Ryan Tucker met hundreds of fans last week at Academy Sports and Outdoors appearances. Slugger/playoff powerhouse Bregman also rocked the red carpet with dazzling wife Reagan at the CMA Awards.

And on November 14, as our news partner ABC13 reports, shortstop sensation and World Series MVP Jeremy Peña greeted lines of fans when he worked a drive-thru shift at a local Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers location.

The Houston Fire Fighters Calendar is back and there’s a twist for the first time: female heroes are mixed in with the expected shirtless, greased-up, muscle-bulging, beefcake guys.

Tara Grace, 45, adorns the month of December. She is an active fire fighter, a 19-year veteran of the Houston Fire Department, assigned to Station 42 near the Ship Channel. This is her first experience as a calendar girl.

The 2023 Houston Fire Fighters Calendar is available for $35 — plus $6 for shipping — online. The calendar was produced by the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation, benefitting the its Burned Children’s initiative.

We caught up with “TARA FIREFIGHTER” as she’s billed on the calendar. Grace is pictured wearing a relatively modest red tank top and regulation tan fire fighter pants. She is holding a cat.

CultureMap: Seriously, when was the last time you climbed a tree to rescue a cat? Is that even a thing for fire fighters anymore?

Tara Grace: Not necessarily climbed a tree to get a cat down, but we actually do rescue animals that are trapped inside a house fire pretty frequently.

I’ve rescued several dogs over the past couple of years. One of the things that is cool about the calendar is we have some rescue animals in a few of the photos. I think that’s awesome. I was glad to do that part.

CultureMap: What attracted you to become a fire fighter?

TG: I heard about it while I was a personal trainer in a health club. It always interested me. I didn’t have any family members who were in the fire department or anything like that. I had always heard more about female cops than fire fighters.

I met some folks during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that introduced me to some female fire fighters. I just stepped out and gave it a whirl. It was a challenge and I absolutely loved that part of it.

CultureMap: Did you have to audition for the calendar or did somebody just say you’re going to be the December model?

TG: I did have to audition and that was more nerve wracking than doing the photo shoot. You’re in front of your peers, a formal selection committee. If you’re not used to that, it’s a very strange experience. It’s more than just trying to look cute.

CultureMap: You’re not wearing a bikini or posed in a sexually provocative position. Was that on purpose?

TG: We wanted to show that there are female fire fighters and we are strong. We’re also a limited number. We are less than three percent of the fire fighters in Houston. It’s important that we are represented in the calendar this time.

I like my photo. We were in a house that actually just burned down a week prior to my photos so it was a really cool setting. Plus, I’m proud that the calendar raises awareness of the burn children.

CultureMap: Do fire fighters really slide down poles?

TG: I have done that. I slid down one a couple of weeks ago when I was at Station 20. But they don’t make stations anymore with poles.

CultureMap: How often do you respond to a fire?

TG: It’s pretty regular. We answer for a lot of car fires and truck fires. There are warehouses by my station. We also have a neighborhood. One recent day, we had two car fires and one house fire. So, it’s hit or miss.

CultureMap: Do fire fighters sleep at the station? What is your schedule like?

TG: We all sleep in the dorm together like one big, happy family. It’s like a night out camping. I’m camping with the dudes. It’s a minimum of two 24-hour shifts a week. We work 6:30 am to 6:30 am shifts. The city is short on staffing right now so sometimes we work three days in a row.

CultureMap: Are fire fighters really great cooks? How would you rate yourself?

TG: You can ask the guys in my station: I believe that a few of us have some magic cooking skills for sure. Like last night, I made beef teriyaki with vegetables and Jasmine rice and vegetable egg rolls.

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Support the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Charitable Foundation and its Burned Children’s initiative by purchasing the 2023 Houston Fire Fighters Calendar online.

Contact Ken at ken@culturemap.com.