Scholastic Bowl

I am a coach for Scholastic Bowl. I am now a moderator through the state I live in. This means that I can be asked to moderate an event for schools that want to host a Scholastic Bowl event and need a moderator(reader). You might remember that I am a phenomenal rule follower(see here http://letmebeblunt.blogspot.com/2006/03/coaching.html)
and today I was a moderator for a junior high near me...this is my second time doing this for this tournament. I am really good at moderating.....I know this because many people have told me so .....other coaches, other moderators, my students I coach....trust me...they have had to live through bad readers this season (this is due to the fact that coaches take turns reading the questions during a match in your league play) and we have been in 2 tournaments this year where they hire moderators to read ---my team came in 2nd -lost by 4 points once and 5 points to the same team at TWO different tournaments----ACKKKK!!
A side note here.....my High school team (I coach the Frosh/Soph level)has come in first in our league for the second year in a row :) YEAH!!
Also, and here is the BIGGY, I am a RULE FOLLOWER and I do NOT take kindly to junior high coaches telling me I am wrong(....ok ok...there ARE a FEW differences in junior high....but I KNOW what they are...thanks anyway....)

So, today......I moderated 5 different games.....9 different schools.....and 7 coaches told me what a wonderful job I did.....and one coach had a MAJOR melt down over one of my calls.

Listen up people......don't EVER argue with the moderator because...and here is a news flash...WE have final say....right OR wrong and if you have pissed me off........well, don't count on me reversing my decision.

'nuff said.

family stuff

I married a man who is the oldest of 10 children....6 boys and 4 girls. There is a 24 year age span between my husband and his youngest sister. The order for them is boy, girl, boy, boy, boy, boy, girl, boy, girl, girl (not only do I know their names....I also know when their birthday and YEAR is--not that I remember them to send cards or anything...I just know them!). Between all of them there are 22 grandchildren..11 boys...11 girls and 1 greatgrandchild (girl)..and she is ADORABLE.. & will be 2 soon.)
This means I (we)have a lot of nieces and nephews and last night I got to see the newest edition and youngest of the clan who is in visiting from the John Deere capital of the world (Iowa). Her mommy is the youngest of the siblings and has 2 older girls so theirs is a house of pink. This is also the sister who was 6 when I met her and does not remember a time that I was not in the family(having married her oldest brother 31 years ago....makes me feel old!!)Also, this is the sister I introduced to "creme rinse"---we call that conditioner now!!--and she has always felt that was a life altering experience that hair washing didn't have to mean TANGLES!!
I can relate to this more than one would realize because I am from a family of 3 girls...the middle child...I still marvel that my dad survived our teenage years as we only had ONE bathroom...and all 5 of us had to use it. I timed my alarm clock so I was the first one up in order to shower, brush teeth, etc...cause once your time came and went you either never got back in to the bathroom or..and here is the part that prompted my early rising....you had to go in when dad was in getting ready for work---never a pretty picture.
I looked at the three little girls last night, the mommy (who is looking pretty darn good for having a 2 month old) and the dad(looks like he is on VACATION) and the adorable sisters --who are 10 and 7 and realize how much fun they are going to have in the future....Been there, done that, don't want to do it again!!! but , boy, watching all the activity...

I need to go reassess how busy I thought I was with the 5 month old puppy.......

A visit to the vet

Clancy had his very important visit to the vet today to have his "private parts" altered....or to what I fondly refer to "having his nuts removed". When I went to pick him up, the 3 girls behind the desk breathed a happy sigh that I was there.
ME: "Is he ready to go?"
THEM:'WE'RE ready for him to go"
This could be because he was barking his fool head off....mind you, he does not bark here very much.....he will but not for very long....
I guess he had been barking since he woke up!
Obviously no problem from the anesthesia!
We came home with a long list of instuctions....no running, no playing, no eating a full meal til the next day, no stitches to remove(he has glue on a very tiny incision) but check his incision, and other things.
Now I ask , does this look like a puppy that listened to the directions?

For all of about one nano second.

pre beginner doggie school

Clancy has been promoted to pre beginner doggie school. What is this you might ask?

Just what it says.... a pre beginner class where we go to a class with 6 other dogs and try to teach these little hyper doggie/puppie brains to pay attention long enough to learn something.
When Clancy isn't jumping around like a kangaroo....he actually does ok. Definitely needs to be doing something.

His new thing is getting the newspaper from the front yard.......He is a retriever after all.....one of the things we have to work on for doggie obedience is a "gift" or "special" thing that your little puppy/doggie does. It can be shaking paw, rolling over, sitting up, anything you think others in your class would think was "cute". Personally, do I really care???? nope, but if I want to be part of the class our "cute" little thing that we will work on to show off in 8 weeks is this retrieving of the paper. How hard can this be for a retriever???

Well, only as hard as you think it is for him to actually RETRIEVE it back to us.

Friends

Friends....

You can have them come in and out of your life-

some of them start as family and become the very bestest of your friends-
others start as the very bestest of friends and then fall by the wayside.

I read a great email this week about friends and it just got me thinking about friends.
I have good friends and I think I am a good friend....or at least I try to be.
2 things happened this last week with my friends.
I saw 2 friends of mine that I hadn't seen in over 7 years.
The beauty of this is it was like we just saw each other yesterday and we were up to speed pretty darn quick.
Geographically, we are far apart and we now work, our kids are older and life just happened and years went by. I would say these are not only seasonal friends but lifetimers as well. I was glad we were able to reconnect and had so much to say. I know it meant as much to them as to me. That's why I love these friends.

You know that I lost my cell phone...

This was a disaster for me.

Losing the numbers in my cell phone .....it felt like I lost all my friends.

This really bummed me out.

Then my wonderful sisterinlaw did the sweetest thing....

She sent me phone numbers she thought I might want/need.

Now THAT is a friend......a bestest of friends!!!

I know I can never replace all my numbers and I should write them on paper as a backup but that she did this for me.....well,

it made my day.

Thanks, Kath.

Snow Day!!!!

Ok so on top of losing the cell phone (sad sigh here)
we have a SNOW DAY today....yeah!!!

Of course I am not sure WHY we have a snow day...they should call it a WIND day...
Granted, there is snow in the air(a very little) and snow on the ground(from yesterday) but really ..... not enough for a TRUE snow day.
But I'll bet the students aren't so worried about that.

Cell Phone Bummer

A disaster...


See the picture?

that is where my cell phone has gone...

la la land.....cell phone heaven....

it just
vaporized, it's gone, never to be seen again....

it just disappeared from my car

(more likely, it fell out into the snow)

I needed a new phone anyway but I am so PISSED that I have lost ALL my phone numbers....

my life is flashing before me.....

OMG.....cell phone withdrawal....

(I know there are worse things in the world to be upset over but right now I am focusing on this.....)

AAAGGHHH!!

I have to go lay down....

Ticket Taker

One of things I do is sell tickets for the football and basketball games of the school I work for. Although I do get paid to do it, one has to volunteer to do it ..and then you get paid...a nominal fee I might add.

I have done this off and on over the years...mostly because my good friend used to be in charge and I wanted to be helpful when they couldn't find anyone who wanted to sell tickets because they wanted to either watch the game or stay warm (if it was for football).

One of the nice things about doing this is I get to meet other people I work with but not have had an opportunity to get to know very well....you get to know people pretty well when you sit together for 4 hours every Friday night.

We have decided that we are AMAZED at what people will say to get out of paying to enter the game. Here are some examples( and believe me when I tell you this is just the TIP of the comments):

"You mean it's not free?"

"I paid last week"

"The coach said I could"

"I am on the list"(hard to do as we HAVE no list)

" I paid last week"

"I am working the concession stand"(this is usually said right before halftime and they are all there BEFORE the game)

"I am with the band(which has already played)"

but my favorite is

"I am here to scout"(and the reason you can't tell me which school you are with is?????")

so-if you feel the need to stiff us on the $4,$3,or $2 ticket, go for it....I am not your moral conscious but those little dumplings standing next to you are watching how you do things and THAT is what you are teaching them.


Enjoy the game.

"Hyper Puppy"

I had an interesting experience this week.
Since we have this new puppy (who had doubled his size in 5 wks) and seems to be VERY active we (I) enrolled him in puppy class.
Now, we have done this with the last 2 dogs we have had....no big deal...you go, they play, you watch, you chat, you leave...or so I thought.

Nope, this puppy class needs to meet you and your pupppy and then decide which puppy class is for you.
I spent an hour and a half with the puppy school being "observed" (They call it a consultation .... I called it....well, never mind what I called it!!)
After the first 10 minutes of being observed by no less than 3 trainers.... they looked at me and said"
"meet the definition of hyper" and pointed to my puppy.

This was not a surprise to me in the least...I mean.....why am I at puppy school anyway????

It turns out, this is a puppy that needs something to do....besides the carrying off of the shoes, the puppy mouthing, the harrassing of the 11 y/o dog that also lives here.....

So, off to puppy class on Sat...and the son had to take him as the husband and I were unavailable.

When asked how the puppy class went, the response was "ok". So a more specific question..."how did Clancy do, was he well behaved?"

"Well, they used him as the example of what you don't want your puppy to do(mouthing) and they also used him as the model to run through the cloth tunnels (as he has no fear of things that move)"
"how'd that go for him?"
"Pretty good...but they want to move him to obedience school to keep him busy...."

So is it a good thing to be a puppy school reject?

I'm guessing....no.

Orthopeadic shoes-part II

I know this will surprise almost none of you.....but.....I seem to have LOST my new orthopeadic shoes. NO , I did NOT intentionally lose them...I just can't find them...even cleaned out a few closets and cars looking for them. I thought I took them off and put them up in the closet so Clancy(the new puppy) wouldn't get them but now I can't find them. The husband did finally ask why I wasn't wearing them and I had to tell him that I couldn't find them..

husband "*sigh*...You lost them on purpose."
me--"no, really, I think I'll find them soon. Let me check the closet upstairs"
husband "*sigh*...that is the LAST time I go shoe shopping with you"

Like once every 30 years will kill him to go shopping with me ...for shoes or anything else.

The newest member of our family...Clancy

I know you have been wondering when or if I would get another dog after Mason died. It only took a few weeks. Meet Clancy our newest member. Can I just tell you that in the past we have been very lucky in picking a very laid back dog/puppy. Let me be the first to assure you that this time we might have gotten our comeupance! This little guy is a pistol and I will be enrolling him in obedience school as soon as I can catch him!

Shopping with my husband or how I ended up with Orthopeadic shoes-

I will admit that I love to whine.

Sometimes it is just a past time or to see if anyone will listen....but mostly I do it to annoy the husband.....especially if it is about something I know he knows something about.

Truly, I am ok with that.

I have plantar fasciitis..it comes and goes.
He knows something about this....all those years of education I guess!!!
Usually, it is not so bad.
...but I have been wearing some very pretty shoes that aggravate it so after church yesterday we went shoe shopping together(what ??? you thought that crack of lightning was all about the weather??? think again!!)
We went to a place that specializes in
1) Very expensive shoes
2) VERY UGLY SHOES
3) Very comfortable shoes
4) Fits orthotics
Just where you want to go and buy shoes-if you are a retired nun with gnarly feet and need those lovely orthopeadic shoes

Here is a picture of what he thought I might wear:
http://www.drewshoe.com//default.aspx?page=sc_detail&pid=20

we finally compromised on these:

http://www.kumfs.com/foot+care+&+orthotics/orthotic+capable+shoes?cid=566
(Look at the picture--it is called a santorini)

Actually, they are pretty comfortable....considering he dissed over 40 pairs of shoes I am happy I am not wearing the nun shoes..although I have been told "you don't follow directions well"
Duh ---really???
and this is new news????

so, I was quite happy just complaining...

Really.

.....but I will let you know if it helps with my plantar fasciitis

Not my sister---really

Here are the 2 girls who are not related.
(This was taken after Thanksgiving dinner.)
(The "Not my sister "award )
Aren't they adorable?
They really could be sisters but will have
to settle for being cousininlaws!
Not a bad deal.

A thought for Thanksgiving

I am shamelessly stealing this from Derailed.

Thank you.


http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/life-on-train.php

Anthropomorphizing

So, the new dog did not last after he decided that my husband would be a good lunch/dog chew. Back to where he started.....happiest dog I ever saw when he saw his original owner(who has him BACK on the lab adoption page.. go figure).....still looking for a new dog but guess a puppy will have to be considered.......

some people have NO CLUE as to how to train and raise a safe and happy dog.....

LISTEN UP PEOPLE.....dogs ARE NOT and I repeat NOT -anthropomorphic(capable of having people feelings).......They are dogs that deal better when they know the pack rules....not people rules......

I don't care if you think your dog has people feelings.....
go read a few books about dogs......The Monks of New Skete, The Kohler method of dog training, DOG OBEDIENCE......
and then we will have a conversation.

Sheesh....you'd think I was trying to balance the national budget talking to some people who see NO NEED to take their dog to obedience school.....and then the new baby comes along and a painful lesson is learned and doggy has to go away cause doggy is trying to establish a pack rule.....NOT people rules.

ok...go enjoy your turkey day while I go and let go of dog owners who do not live up to my standards.

It is so hard to be right when no one listens.

Might not keep the dog but THIS is a keeper!!

My little great niece...dressed as a lady bug.....isn't she the cutest thing ever??!!!
SHE is a keeper!!

A new dog --maybe

I am thinking of NOT keeping the dog we have from www.labadoption.org
---Denver--he is not quite what we have in mind.
I will know after his trial period....which is 2 weeks.

NOt that I am trying to replace Mason....but Denver is not a Mason.

Seems to be a little more nervous for a lab than I like.


We will see.

Yoga or what was I thinking?

Yogs....something I have thought about for awhile. I have sisterinlaws that teach it, do it, love it. A Daughter that thinks it is a great way to stay flexible.....for someone that is old and out of shape..she likes it for the strength training. And friends that swear by it.

Okay, the downward dog, plank, cobra....all seems like greek to me still. I am in this class with young women who have taken yoga before so I am like a project for the teacher. She says something and I just look at her.....In reality I am trying to decide if I really want to try that pose or just pretend that I did. My neck is not liking yoga all that much. So I am careful about the positions I put my neck in.
They just think I am being old and can't do it.....while that is sorta true....Really I am just considering whether it is worth it or not to try.

I will say, that the first time I walked into class and there were no overhead lights on and mood music playing...I was a bit taken aback..I have gotten used to it now with the lights on in the corner. I have even gotten used to the teacher talking about finding my center and breathing and all of that...but I guess the bottom line is this....

Type A personality not withstanding....I have a heck of a time relaxing and doing the peaceful thing....
Just not my personality.
I will continue to try it for a while yet. The daughter is sure it will grow on me...

Let's just say......I don't think so.... but I am willing to give it another shot...
but I don't think yoga is my friend.....but I can totally see why yoga/pilates would be a neurosurgeons friend!!

a few special moments

I am blessed with wonderful nieces and nephews. I know most of them pretty well but I know the ones my kids age the best. I have had some very memorable moments with some of them.

To name a few:

DC- Gave me a book mark he made in grade school because he knew I read alot and thought I could use one and I was/am? his favorite aunt...... It is a beautiful pink flower between 2 pieces of contact paper. I still have it in my nightstand all these years later and everytime I see it, I smile.

D- who, in the middle of his parents divorce, wrapped his arms around me and told me he was glad he had an aunt who loved him as much as I did (that made me cry--we were at Michigania for the first time without his dad)

E-who had vacationed with me while recovering from surgery on her knee and was always VERY gracious when everyone took us for mother and daughter...but the most special was being invited to go with her and her mom to find a wedding gown for her.......how fun and fabulous and special.

T- my dad used to bring him and his brothers up to me while he(my dad) would do boy scout camping with one of my sons and his middle brother. This left him here with the younger cousins being the big helper and he HATED my cooking but ate it anyway....knowing that papaw would stop at McDonalds for him as soon as they were on their way home. He and E would also get together and play their violins for me.....Lovely. But the most special is when I played the piano for his wedding and I could see the faces of the bride and groom and when they pronounced them husband and wife, he looked at his bride and told her how much he loved her....I cried and was unable to play the recessional well because of my tears.

M-Has had to put up with looking the most like my oldest son and all the times they were together growing up, being mistaken for mine and having to listen to his aunt rant at him until I realized he really wasn't the kid I needed to be yelling at-not that mine needed that much yelling...... He would just smile and shake his head and go on and hope I wasn't cooking healthy for dinner.

J-My bowling buddy-not!!...but give me a few minutes alone with him to convince him I am really NOT that competitive (I did mention I was on the bowling honor roll at my bowling alley, didn't I )











---and we will then roll a few. He has taken the high road on this due to the advice of his dad......but I remember him with my dad going to the caves(mamouth cave in Kentucky) and him grasping my hand really hard and assuring me he really wasn't afraid to go in....really....

So I am lucky to have had these moments with all of them. Mostly they all agree that if there is information to be gotten, I am the one to do it. Of the 2 that are married.....and the one that is engaged.....I know they had a lot to say about me before I met any of them...

something about me being a bit intimidating...or was that BLUNT??


the "Aunt 20 questions" took me back a bit. ...but I have managed to live with that.

(I guess they really don't realize that if they love 'em, I love 'em; if they hate 'em, I hate 'em.)

Go figure.....I just thought I was being friendly....

A bowling team name?

Most of you know that I bowl.

and I LOVE it.

So much so that I bowl in 2 leagues in the winter and thru the summer.

My bowling team consists of me , Alice,who has a Masters in computer programing engineering, and my greek friend Joy. (I think they are tied to the Greek mafia but I am only guessing).
We are 3 girls that couldn't be more different if we tried. Alice is quiet, bright, articulate, not married, no kids(in other words.....she is sane), Joy is greek and firey and funny and a grandma and a dutiful daughter and wife and we love her, and then there is me.....I need not elaborate...but I will tell you that the 3 men we bowled against in our summer league had 10 300 rings between them and they changed my name on the bowling board from my name to "Miss ADD". They were pretty fun to bowl with ....especially since we bowled our brains out and beat the heck out of them...they with their 300 rings!!!!!!(and , NO , that is not being competitive, that is just having FUN).
So, we needed a new bowler in our winter mixed league as we are now a 4 person league and not a 3 person league. We could find no one willing to bowl with us(ok....let's be fair....I should say...to bowl with ME!!)
Finally, it occured to me to ask around work if anyone would like to bowl with me and my 2 friends.
Believe it or not, Kurt, a young Spanish teacher.....very quiet, very bright, and wanting to improve his bowling, agreed to come and bowl with us.
So Kurt is added to the team.
We made him our anchor bowler(that was usually my spot but we felt he could pull it off..ie, "Kurt, we need a strike so get one"..would work for him).
But coming up with a name for our team was/is difficult. We were the Ball Busters....doesn't seem fair for Kurt.
We were Jamingo(all our (the girls)first and last initials for a name in the summer and KP wouldn't fit in with that)
We opted for 3 girls and a guy but later.....others(at work) suggested the names of Our Boy Toy or Kurt's Angels.
I personally like the Our Boy Toy but Kurt is young enough to be 2 of our sons and one of us, a grandson, so we think we are settling on Kurt's Angels.....
unless someone else has a better suggestion.
I mean, really, it is all in the name don't you think?
Our first night of bowling was a lot of fun except for the fact that my average was 174 for the evening...Boy does that hurt....cause there is NO WAY I can maintane that average all season.
The other teams will really LOVE bowling with us when I bowl my usual 148-152.
They kept telling me to roll it in the gutter, but I am not a sandbagger....I will take those 6 strikes in row and hope for the best.
So there.Put that in your pipe and smoke it and hope your team bowls mine next week!!!

Oh and any name suggestions will be taken under consideration.