My rant today concerns kid's games. Yesterday both Genevieve and Audrey played in a softball tournament. This was no a ASA sanctioned tourney it was something called UTRIP. There were only 3 teams in this tournament.
I am 100% for kids playing sports I think it teaches them great life lessons about sportsmanship, following directions and rules and being part of something bigger than themselves. However, it is important that while they are learning those things they don't also get taught lessons about defeatism and hopelessness.
Both of the teams they played yesterday were teams that had beaten the pants off us all season long. And the girls know it. Some of them even said they didn't want to play because they didn't have a shot. Our little girls were just starting to get some confidence built up, they had a taste of winning a few and being successful and then this came along.
First of all we barely had enough girls to field a team. In UTRIP you bat through your batting order unless you get 3 outs first. And there's no run rule. Let's do the math: a team with 12 or 14 girls VS a team with 8 or 9 girls. Big team bats through it's order and scores 9 runs, little team scores a couple of runs and gets 3 outs. Big team back up to bat at the top of the order and the same scenario happens over and over again.
Then you factor in the situation where the umps calling the games didn't even understand the rules themselves. Two times in the only close game we had our batters drove balls right back at the pitcher and he could not react fast enough and the balls hit him. Dead balls? Should have been - just the same as if a ball had hit the umpire. But no.........batter out! So the batter is penalized for getting a hit. We might not have won this game but until this point it was a close and interesting game to watch.
I am further against teaching kids one set of rules such as hit the ball and run till someone tells you to stop, and then asking them to run base to base and stop if they are ahead of an inferior team. Mixed messages anyone - these are not adults they don't have the reasoning faculties to fully understand the why. Also in ASA softball there IS a run rule so what does it matter how quickly they get them. And let us consider for a moment the inferior team who has to realize they are being patronized for being a weaker team.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I DID NOT! NOT ME!
My blogger friend Paula shared this and I thought it was fun so here goes.....the idea is you list the things that you did not do (which are actually things you did do but hate to admit.)
I DID NOT forget to give my precious canine children their heartworms pills on Sunday!
I DID NOT fail to tell my husband how much I value him and love him each day.
I DID NOT play FarmTown until all hours of the night.
I DID NOT make the "talk to the hand" motion to a co-worker yesterday! (It WAS NOT better than ripping his head off)
I DID NOT wish every second of every day that all I had to do was exactly what I want to do.
I DID NOT eat a snowcone, a BabyRuth, a bag of popcorn and an angus burger all within 2 hours of each other.
And finally....I DID NOT forget to let my friends know how much they bring to my life and how much I miss them when I don't get to spend time with them.
I DID NOT forget to give my precious canine children their heartworms pills on Sunday!
I DID NOT fail to tell my husband how much I value him and love him each day.
I DID NOT play FarmTown until all hours of the night.
I DID NOT make the "talk to the hand" motion to a co-worker yesterday! (It WAS NOT better than ripping his head off)
I DID NOT wish every second of every day that all I had to do was exactly what I want to do.
I DID NOT eat a snowcone, a BabyRuth, a bag of popcorn and an angus burger all within 2 hours of each other.
And finally....I DID NOT forget to let my friends know how much they bring to my life and how much I miss them when I don't get to spend time with them.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Would you like fries with that?
The Daily Rant.........people on drive through intercoms.
Here is a typical conversation at any fast food drive through.
Yes, I'd like a # 3 with (do you want fries with that?)
No, tater tots and a (mustard or mayonnaise?)
Mustard and could you please hold the (and what would you like to drink?)
Um, diet coke and please hold the (do you want to supersize that?)
No, but hold the (okay I have a #6 supersized with fries and a mountain dew will there be anything else?)
Yes, I wasn't through with my order
(what else can I get for you?)
Well, first of all you didn't get the first order right and... (okay that will be 8.49 drive to the second window please)
I'm sure I'm not the only person this happens to. It drives me crazy that people on those intercoms can't just hold onto their fingers for one moment and all their little questions would be answered eliminating the need to interrupt me at every single breath.
I've gotten to the point now where when they interrupt me the first time, I just shut up and don't say anything. Eventually, they will ask me a question that I can answer with, "If you will please not interrupt me I will give you my entire order and then you can ask questions if it isn't clear." At which point I am relatively sure they make a point to spit in my food, but I am trying to make a point here.
Done with the rant!
Here is a typical conversation at any fast food drive through.
Yes, I'd like a # 3 with (do you want fries with that?)
No, tater tots and a (mustard or mayonnaise?)
Mustard and could you please hold the (and what would you like to drink?)
Um, diet coke and please hold the (do you want to supersize that?)
No, but hold the (okay I have a #6 supersized with fries and a mountain dew will there be anything else?)
Yes, I wasn't through with my order
(what else can I get for you?)
Well, first of all you didn't get the first order right and... (okay that will be 8.49 drive to the second window please)
I'm sure I'm not the only person this happens to. It drives me crazy that people on those intercoms can't just hold onto their fingers for one moment and all their little questions would be answered eliminating the need to interrupt me at every single breath.
I've gotten to the point now where when they interrupt me the first time, I just shut up and don't say anything. Eventually, they will ask me a question that I can answer with, "If you will please not interrupt me I will give you my entire order and then you can ask questions if it isn't clear." At which point I am relatively sure they make a point to spit in my food, but I am trying to make a point here.
Done with the rant!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sun, Softball....Tears and no beer!
Yesterday Roger and I took a huge mental health break and spent the entire (read this from 9:00 am to around 7 pm) day at the ball park.
Genevieve's little team was playing in a tournament and they were short some players so they recruited Ms. Audrey to play with them. Audrey was so proud to be playing with the bigger girls. She told me before the games started "I'm going to play on Genevieve's team!" I replied "I know...that's because you are such a good player." To which she responded "NO....it's because they don't have enough people." So much for my feeble attempt to build self-esteem.
Both of the girls played really well, Audrey got a couple of hits and got on base once or twice. Her fielding still leaves a little to be desired as chasing balls seriously interferes with her lovely dirt mound construction.
Genevieve is an AWESOME little ball player. She can hit the ball well and hard and she also "gets" what she is supposed to do on 2nd base. In spite of all her success at softball yesterday, she was having a very emotional day. Probably a combination of a lot of things, the heat, pressure, just plain ole tired out. After I've had some time to reflect I also wonder if maybe her emotional episodes might not have been caused by embarrassment. The girls had a lot of people there watching them and cheering for them. And we are LOUD! and enthusiastic. In retrospect I wonder if maybe we might have served Genevieve better to have been a little more restrained in our cheering. She is easily embarrassed and we may have been just a tad over the top. I, for one, have trouble stifling my excitement (especially at ball games) and all by myself can be the equivalent of quite a racket. She has been so much better lately at controlling what we have lovingly come to call "meltdowns." Therefore, I have to surmise that yesterday's emotional roller coaster must be attributed to some outside stimuli. I will admit that I was semi-embarrassed by her emotional outbursts, but mostly I just felt bad for her. Something was causing her to have such a bad day and I hate to think that perhaps it was me who contributed to it. As gregarious and fun loving a child as Genevieve is I think she has a very sensitive nature and doesn't particularly like being noticed quite so much. The same boisterous outpouring of approval would have probably had Audrey strutting her stuff around the field like a little peacock, but I think it might have had just the opposite effect on Genevieve.
And now for the Daily Rant!
The rant for today are people who bring their children the ballpark and turn them loose. Yesterday we got to experience children who would just walk up and take things from other people's ice chests. And one little boy who had an extremely aggressive nature was walking around with a wooden ruler hitting other children with it. Kids piled into scorekeepers boxes and had semi-private tussling sessions that ended with one of them crying and no one who belonged to these children bothered to check. The day ended with a child in the scorekeepers box slinging a cup of water which poured down into Genevieve's grandma Gloria's purse. I realize it is hard to keep kids occupied at ballgames they aren't participating in. But, an attempt should be made to make sure they aren't driving some other adult to distraction or creating mini-mayhem on their counterparts. It is hard when these are children you don't know and have never seen before to be able to help in a situation where a child is being picked on and tormented by others.
Genevieve's little team was playing in a tournament and they were short some players so they recruited Ms. Audrey to play with them. Audrey was so proud to be playing with the bigger girls. She told me before the games started "I'm going to play on Genevieve's team!" I replied "I know...that's because you are such a good player." To which she responded "NO....it's because they don't have enough people." So much for my feeble attempt to build self-esteem.
Both of the girls played really well, Audrey got a couple of hits and got on base once or twice. Her fielding still leaves a little to be desired as chasing balls seriously interferes with her lovely dirt mound construction.
Genevieve is an AWESOME little ball player. She can hit the ball well and hard and she also "gets" what she is supposed to do on 2nd base. In spite of all her success at softball yesterday, she was having a very emotional day. Probably a combination of a lot of things, the heat, pressure, just plain ole tired out. After I've had some time to reflect I also wonder if maybe her emotional episodes might not have been caused by embarrassment. The girls had a lot of people there watching them and cheering for them. And we are LOUD! and enthusiastic. In retrospect I wonder if maybe we might have served Genevieve better to have been a little more restrained in our cheering. She is easily embarrassed and we may have been just a tad over the top. I, for one, have trouble stifling my excitement (especially at ball games) and all by myself can be the equivalent of quite a racket. She has been so much better lately at controlling what we have lovingly come to call "meltdowns." Therefore, I have to surmise that yesterday's emotional roller coaster must be attributed to some outside stimuli. I will admit that I was semi-embarrassed by her emotional outbursts, but mostly I just felt bad for her. Something was causing her to have such a bad day and I hate to think that perhaps it was me who contributed to it. As gregarious and fun loving a child as Genevieve is I think she has a very sensitive nature and doesn't particularly like being noticed quite so much. The same boisterous outpouring of approval would have probably had Audrey strutting her stuff around the field like a little peacock, but I think it might have had just the opposite effect on Genevieve.
And now for the Daily Rant!
The rant for today are people who bring their children the ballpark and turn them loose. Yesterday we got to experience children who would just walk up and take things from other people's ice chests. And one little boy who had an extremely aggressive nature was walking around with a wooden ruler hitting other children with it. Kids piled into scorekeepers boxes and had semi-private tussling sessions that ended with one of them crying and no one who belonged to these children bothered to check. The day ended with a child in the scorekeepers box slinging a cup of water which poured down into Genevieve's grandma Gloria's purse. I realize it is hard to keep kids occupied at ballgames they aren't participating in. But, an attempt should be made to make sure they aren't driving some other adult to distraction or creating mini-mayhem on their counterparts. It is hard when these are children you don't know and have never seen before to be able to help in a situation where a child is being picked on and tormented by others.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Importance of Being Ernest
Yesterday the funniest thing happened and I just had to share. Widespread power outages left Roger and I incapable of doing anything at home, so we decided to run a few errands. Post office, get gas, those kinds of things.
On our way home, Roger was teasing me about purchasing him some cigarettes and I told him I would (under protest) if he would buy me a candybar and a coke. He agreed and we stopped at a convenience store. He went inside and was unable to decide between a Butterfinger or a BabyRuth (both faves of mine.) Being torn he just picked them both up and went to the cash register to pay. There was a little Korean lady working behind the counter and she rang up his purchases and then asked "Do you want a sack?" He said "Yes I probably should put them in a sack." She nodded her head seriously and stated "That way no one knows how much candy you bought."
Honestly, he came out to the truck and told me and I almost died laughing. Finally I was able to tell him he should have said "Oh, those are for my wife, she's much fatter than I am."
This was good for a lighthearted ride home. It's a good thing neither of us are sensitive since our grandkids are convinced that we are Santa and Mrs. Claus on holiday from the North Pole.
Thought you might enjoy - and have a chuckle at our expense.
On our way home, Roger was teasing me about purchasing him some cigarettes and I told him I would (under protest) if he would buy me a candybar and a coke. He agreed and we stopped at a convenience store. He went inside and was unable to decide between a Butterfinger or a BabyRuth (both faves of mine.) Being torn he just picked them both up and went to the cash register to pay. There was a little Korean lady working behind the counter and she rang up his purchases and then asked "Do you want a sack?" He said "Yes I probably should put them in a sack." She nodded her head seriously and stated "That way no one knows how much candy you bought."
Honestly, he came out to the truck and told me and I almost died laughing. Finally I was able to tell him he should have said "Oh, those are for my wife, she's much fatter than I am."
This was good for a lighthearted ride home. It's a good thing neither of us are sensitive since our grandkids are convinced that we are Santa and Mrs. Claus on holiday from the North Pole.
Thought you might enjoy - and have a chuckle at our expense.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Missing Me?
Are you missing my oh so interesting blog spots............I need to be rescued from FarmTown. I slipped away while they weren't looking but I know very soon the grapes will call me and I'll be sucked back in. I'm dreaming of a bigger farm with a bigger house. I'll let my farmhand Gilles live in the bungalow. Come to think of it, I'll let him take care of the pool too. Gotta go, they've discovered I'm missing!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Today's Dilbert
You need to check out Dilbert at the bottom on my Blog - it is fricking hilarious today. And I can say that since there were 2 job losses in my household of 2 this past year.
I getting to go to Shogun tonight so I can't post anything pithy right now I'm much too excited.
Back soon.
I getting to go to Shogun tonight so I can't post anything pithy right now I'm much too excited.
Back soon.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Daily Rant - Opinionated People
You know that old saying "opinions are like a body orifice - everyone has one." ? Well, what drives me nuts are people who just have to not only have an opinion but share it with you on EVERY LITTLE INSIGNIFICANT THING!!!!. I mean seriously people is this some sort of personality flaw within you that makes you think that you are right all the dad gummed time?
Saying that, I realize that Blogging by design is inflicting your opinion on others. However, in the Blog world if you choose to not know someone's opinion you can abstain from reading. But those people who can and will make sure you know their opinion on every little detail of something cannot be avoided.
I also find it interesting that people who insist on making their opinions known all the time usually do so in a very critical manner. Second guessing and demeaning someone elses' every thought, word and deed is tiresome and damaging to one's self-esteem.
There is a real talent in sharing your knowledge and skills with others without laying waste to their egos. However, I have found that more often than not, people who do this are typically not terribly skilled in the things they are offering their wisdom on. But BY GUM they will open their pieholes and tell you how you could have done it better, faster, cheaper, etc.
Saying that, I realize that Blogging by design is inflicting your opinion on others. However, in the Blog world if you choose to not know someone's opinion you can abstain from reading. But those people who can and will make sure you know their opinion on every little detail of something cannot be avoided.
I also find it interesting that people who insist on making their opinions known all the time usually do so in a very critical manner. Second guessing and demeaning someone elses' every thought, word and deed is tiresome and damaging to one's self-esteem.
There is a real talent in sharing your knowledge and skills with others without laying waste to their egos. However, I have found that more often than not, people who do this are typically not terribly skilled in the things they are offering their wisdom on. But BY GUM they will open their pieholes and tell you how you could have done it better, faster, cheaper, etc.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Facebook Farm Town
Okay, I have to say it. I am totally hooked on the Facebook game called Farm Town. Even though I once killed a whole family in the SIMS game (they died of neglect) I am hoping I will be a better farmer than Lord of the universe.
This is the cutest game. You plant your little fields and harvest your crops and sell them to buy stuff for your farm. And other farmers are very generous in sending you plants and animals to have on your plot. I love it, although I did let 2 grape crops go to waste, they mature really quickly and if I'm at work, I can't run the harvester through them.
I find myself yearning to earn enough money to buy a pathway or better yet a building or a pond!
Check it out, you can be my neighbor if you'd like and we can help each other take care of our little plots of land.
This is the cutest game. You plant your little fields and harvest your crops and sell them to buy stuff for your farm. And other farmers are very generous in sending you plants and animals to have on your plot. I love it, although I did let 2 grape crops go to waste, they mature really quickly and if I'm at work, I can't run the harvester through them.
I find myself yearning to earn enough money to buy a pathway or better yet a building or a pond!
Check it out, you can be my neighbor if you'd like and we can help each other take care of our little plots of land.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Going Home Without Helen
It is official....I am going to Texas the end of this month. I am combining a much needed trip to see my mom with my 40th Class Reunion. Good Grief! How did I get to be so old.
This trip will be very hard on me since it is the first time I have been home since my oldest best friend passed away. She was the heart and soul of our hometown. A larger than life personality. There wasn't anyone who didn't know Helen. She made every event better for her being there and I'm not sure how I will handle not having her to catch up with. I have the most amazing and beautiful memories of our friendship and losing her is surreal. I only recently took her phone number out of my phone. I will never forget her calling me every Feb. 28 and razzing me over being older than her (her birthday was March 1). The thing that I am left with is the realization that as large a person as she was, there will be much talk and remembering her at this reunion. Maybe I can pretend she's only on vacation.
I'm looking forward to seeing my mom and spending some time with her. Hopefully I can escape cleaning the shed this trip. I've cleaned it the last two visits and I think the contents are breeding because she tells me it is full again. I don't know how because I also cleaned out closets, dresser drawers, cabinets, any furniture that could contain things, threw things away into the dumpster. So I don't know where the stuff is coming from unless she has a storage unit somewhere she's not telling me about.
Please pray that we will have smooth skies for flying, peaceful hearts and a wonderful time of fellowship while we are away. :)
This trip will be very hard on me since it is the first time I have been home since my oldest best friend passed away. She was the heart and soul of our hometown. A larger than life personality. There wasn't anyone who didn't know Helen. She made every event better for her being there and I'm not sure how I will handle not having her to catch up with. I have the most amazing and beautiful memories of our friendship and losing her is surreal. I only recently took her phone number out of my phone. I will never forget her calling me every Feb. 28 and razzing me over being older than her (her birthday was March 1). The thing that I am left with is the realization that as large a person as she was, there will be much talk and remembering her at this reunion. Maybe I can pretend she's only on vacation.
I'm looking forward to seeing my mom and spending some time with her. Hopefully I can escape cleaning the shed this trip. I've cleaned it the last two visits and I think the contents are breeding because she tells me it is full again. I don't know how because I also cleaned out closets, dresser drawers, cabinets, any furniture that could contain things, threw things away into the dumpster. So I don't know where the stuff is coming from unless she has a storage unit somewhere she's not telling me about.
Please pray that we will have smooth skies for flying, peaceful hearts and a wonderful time of fellowship while we are away. :)
Monday, June 1, 2009
In Memory of Michael
I really have nothing pithy to say this evening. My heart is very heavy. My children lost a very good friend today. He dated my daughter in high school after being introduced by her brother. He was an exuberant personality. Full of fun and laughter. And I know that while she dated him, Kaylee had a lot of fun too. I'm so sorry for his poor mother. She had already lost a daughter and now her only remaining child is gone as well. The depth of pain she must feel is unfathomable. Please pray for Mona Stokes as she goes through this dark time. As always I appreciate you my friends and the constant prayers you lift up just because I ask.
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