Is it any wonder?

I often wonder why people read a blog. In some cases I know people just want to check in and make sure that the person they do know hasn't gone off the deep end. In other cases I think its because people who are total strangers are hoping to see if the blogger has gone off the deep end and can shed some light on find their way back.
In either case, I know I personally like feedback! Call me silly, but nothing says "you're getting warmer" like a good ole' "comment".
Grant it I know some of my blogs are mindless rants regarding people who just annoying me with their rude behavior- I mean stupid is NOT a disability! You don't get to park in handicap parking! But I'll get back to that another day.
And I know my absences from the blog world can make for a cause for concern (okay I know no one filled a missing persons report). But fear not! I'm here! With LOTS to say, but making sure what I have to say, is worth saying...

I could be so lucky!

I knew early that my life was blessed. I was able to see from a different sort of lens that not everyone had the sort of things I had. And while I might not have had all the latest fashions instantly, or the most expensive everything, my family provided me with so much more.
Today, I often find myself in shock with the "not good enough" generation. And while I know that each generation probably felt at one time or another the same way. It does seem the current "young" generation has life "instantly" easy. As in even mac- n-cheese has hurried up the process so as not to make them wait a second more than they have to. And yet, often you will still hear a complaint. I think that is what gets me. Remember pagers (beepers)? Remember getting excited when you not only could get one- but could afford it? I remember my first one (it was black- duh, although my second one was teal) and the bill! I remember calculating out how much I needed to have to pay for everything so as "not to worry". I loved that stupid thing! I loved hearing from my friends and calling them back, or getting the "coded messages".  It was mine, something I worked for, and it was totally good enough.
Now days kids are given cell phones as a right of passage and act as though they should automatically get every bell and whistle offered. Heck, I just got internet leaving the world of "stupid phones" upgrading into "smart phone" world... 
My favorite is clothes! I live in reality. I know that is a shocker for some of you. But I pay real money for things. So it always cracks me up when my darling kids lock on to "brands" and can't let go for dear life. Ah, the peer pressures of growing up! Trying to convince a teenager that spending $50-$70 on a shirt is silly when they can turn around and look on the clearance rack and pay $10-$20- well I must be out of my mind! And don't get me started on shoes! This coming from the shoe queen... I am smart and thrifty so DON'T tell me you HAVE to spend $75-$90 on a pair of shoes! Seriously?

I am looking forward to the day when my kids see that they have ALOT, alot more than what others have, and they are lucky! I could be so lucky for the day to come for them to realize.... they didn't have so bad!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Priorities

I have long learned that life is all about having good priorities. Setting them can be hard to figure out. I think that can be one of life's biggest lessons. You are told certain things should be first in your life and that is how you will have what they consider balance. Often people put work first and shuffle other things as they can. What I always find interesting is where family falls in the mix. Some feel that if they are loved by family enough then their actions should just be accepted. Other people value their family higher than anything and put them first. However people prioritize their lives, I often find that it does say a lot about the way I interact with them. It may not be right to judge, but if you will be so cut-throat to bail or forget the ones closest to you, then where will I be in your life? Relationships are important to me, so while I may not get super close to those that have no value in true priorities which include family, I know in my heart, I don't need those people in my life. Seems harsh? Well- where will those people be in a few years? Chances are they won't even be speaking to me, so why spend the time now? Yeah, priorities! I've got mine... the ones that will drop on a dime for me... and the ones that are mine... family, that's what it's all about!

Super Hung-over

Happy Monday! Well for those who aren't blacked-out and enjoyed the last moments of the game (the football game). Anyone not in America we actually all stop what we are doing one Sunday a year to watch commercials one time a year and in between these big huge guys run up and down a green (sometimes real sometimes totally fake grass field) and try to kill (or not) each other. Then comes Monday!
At work the next day, people talk about the what... commercials! And highs and lows of the game... in some cases there are some, rarely are there many. The best part is when the biggest talking part is the lights going out and the -"what were you doing? " takes the stage... Everyone becomes an electrical expert on what caused the issue (yet a week ago no one in the office could figure out why the copier wouldn't print- ah it wasn't plugged in). There's your real men of genius!

So while many may have not had a lick to drink (me included) the Super Bowl does tend to leave a SUPER HANG-OVER feeling of "what now?". Most are spending their morning checking YouTube and other social media sites to pick their favorite commercial (told you it wasn't about the game). While others are humming the tunes of half time... "Single ladies, all you single ladies"... ah Destiny's Child... Looking good ladies!

My hope is that this time honored tradition becomes more to people than just another reason to eat chicken. Yes the order of 120 chicken whatever was sure funny! Even if I didn't get the sauce I wanted (whatever). I hope that people will look around their company and enjoy the time spent. Because the next holiday is well... St. Patrick's day... and we all know that there is generally little remembering for most "mature" adults (shame on some of you-lol). So dip the chicken in the sauce, enjoy your friends, root for teams that all season long you had NO idea about, and enjoy the game a little more, because after all- we certainly have made this a holiday!



 Ravens Win! (MSN.COM)



Try-out pressure

First post of the new year- really? Ahh its that time again... the great fresh air of try-out pressure. What am I talking about? There is nothing GREAT about parents thinking their kid is the next Derek Jeter or Jenny Finch. Let's get a few things straight...
One- My kids are "okay- to good". Are they the best player you will ever have NO! Because for 1- they are lazy whenever you let them be 2- they rarely have a coach that pushes them (see number 1) 3- they don't see sports as there ticket out (they don't really have an "out" to be concerned with to begin with)

Two- My kids enjoy sports. At this age (my kids range from 10-18) they are not playing sports to make money. They show up at a field and want to laugh, meet people, share a common interest and leave. (In case you forgot what laughing sounds like click here- Laughter). I know... weird uh?

Three- My kids enjoy learning- I know STOP the presses! But each year since they have started playing sports we have watched as they have barely been able to figure out what they were suppose to do, to now when they get it. Grant it, they aren't Derek Jeter... No Peyton Manning living under my roof... but they continue to improve... that's what its about!

Four- My kids LIKE getting dirty. I know there are people that just rolled their eyes at the thought of another load of laundry. Not me! I like the fact that on any given day my worst fear is trying to get out a stain from clothes not the couch. (I have the dogs to give me that head ache). I'll take dirty clothes over busted game controllers any day... ACTIVE- I love it!

Five- My kids have learned "its not fair". You don't always win, and not everyone gets a trophy. Calls don't "always" go your way (even if your Dad is the umpire!). And RESPECT is the only thing you can walk away with that YOU control. Doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is... makes things fair...

I might not be the best parent, and Lord knows I have made my share of mistakes... but I do know... that come try-out time each year my motto is always the same...
"Be Excellent in everything you do... its your name (number) out there... Show them who you are.. the rest well.. you can't control... make yourself proud! I already am!"

Lizzy Batting, Erik umpiring

Lizzy right before Tournament

Lizzy Catching, Erik behind the plate

Lizzy sliding into home....

My Blue.... Sectionals 2012