More BS+small updates

So, Nick comes home from basketball practice last night and says he heard some kids got in trouble at school for bringing/having pot brownies.  He heard up to 20 kids got busted and were going to be suspended.  What a bunch of boneheads right?  Nick said he would talk to his locker neighbor, as it seems his sister may have been involved in the incident.

So later in the evening we get a recorded message in the phone from the principal saying "There was a great deal of social media activity tonight stating that up to 20 students have been expelled from school for an alleged offense. This is not true. Our school system's disciplinary system does not impose instant punishments for any offense. When severe punishment, such as a suspension or expulsion, is imposed, it is done only after a thorough investigation at the school and review at the central office. I'm asking you please do not contribute to the misinformation being spread. Thank you."

I was APPALLED at the gall and the bullshit in this message!!!!!!   This is the biggest load of bullshit in the history of bullshit!  When Jenna got busted with the tylenol, her suspension was effective IMMEDIATELY.  INSTANT.  No investigation (unless the searching of her bag was the alleged "investigation").  No review by the central office.  Just "hey, we're right, you're wrong now get out."


I swear any kids who brought or ingested pot brownies at school better get suspended and sent to the 30 day program at the alternative school.  If not, I will be SOOOO angry!  Not that I can do much, except maybe write a letter to the school board.  But if my kid was caught with a LEGAL substance in her backpack and was treated as if it were illegal under the so-called zero tolerance policy, these kids with ILLEGAL substances better be punished just as severely!!!!!  Hopefully Nick can get some valid information.  I sure don't count on the school being honest and letting the parents know what is really going on, but it would be nice if they did.  This story got to several news outlets so it is public knowledge.  The Sheriff has confirmed the incident.  So I am sure there will be a lot of inquiries!


Another small update...AJ informed me that it seems one of the kids who was instrumental in bullying her is "leaving school."  Not sure why, but it sounds as if he was busted for something else and may himself be heading for a 10 day suspension and a 30 day stint at the alternative school.  Of course she can't get specifics due to privacy, but she feels a little better knowing one of the main instigators will be gone for a while.  Maybe that kid's merry band of idiots will pipe down in his absence.


One last thing...I am somewhat happy to report that the man who was accused of harming Jenna's friend's son ended up pleading out.  To a lesser charge, yes, which is unfortunate BUT as understood, 10 more months in jail (in addition to the 2 he has been in so 1 year served) plus a year of probation.  I think I heard something about anger management classes, but not sure about that, will have to confirm.  But that would be a good thing.  AND it seems as if the guy has gotten the crap beat out of him a few times while he has been in.  Sweet justice, IMO. This was not the first kid he has hurt, sadly.  Hopefully it will be the last.  Though I won't hold my breath.  But we can dream, right??

0 common sense....

There are times when I wish i was able to homeschool my kids just so I did not have to put up with stupid school bullshit.  This is one of those times.

AJ must go to "Friday School" next week.  Basically detention, but on a Friday.  When it goes till 6pm and there is no way for the kid to get home unless the parents rearrange their schedules to go pick them up.  Seems like more of a punishment for the parents!  But I digress.  Why is she serving Friday school?  Because she answered her cell phone.  Now YES...she should not have answered it.  It was not quite end of the school day, maybe 5 minutes before.  It was my older daughter, who was going to visit old teachers at the school and as such, was going to drive AJ home and she was calling to find out where she was.  Ok, Jenna should know better too!  But anyway...according to AJ, she went to hang up right away and she was told that she was going to be referred to admin and suffer whatever consequences admin thought was appropriate.  According to her teacher, AJ did not hang up right away and give her a "1 sec" sign with her hand before hanging up and then she gave AJ a choice...let the teacher keep the phone overnight and that would be the end of it or go to admin and deal with it.  AJ was not about to leave her phone for the evening so she went to admin., figuring the way she understood it the punishment was the same for both choices.  Now, sure, I understand there is "policy" but in an area such as this where "policy" is tinkered with by individual teachers to suit their needs.  This teacher said to me she condones texting during class.  Ok...so...how are you going to condone one use of a phone but not another, and the cite "policy" as to her punishment?  Either phones are OK or they are not, there should be no middle ground.  If you choose to relax the rules, then come sommon sense should be used.  AJ is not a troublemaker, this was a first offense.  What happened to warnings, whether verbal or written?  a phone call home? a meeting with the admin?  why fly right to a punishment?  Especially when this "policy" is altered by individual teachers, and another student in the same situation, or a "worse" one, may not face the same punishment depending on how a teacher handles it.

I have my own theories, and it all goes back to an incident we had with Jenna when she went to that school.  Someone told admin Jenna had pot on her, so the "policy" of course is to search her bags, locker, etc.  No put of course, but she did happen to have some Tylenol on her. DING DING DING DING here is a druggie!!!!!  She got suspended for 10 days and then had to do 30 days at the "alternative school."  40 days out of school.  For TYLENOL.  all because of a no common-sense zero tolerance policy.  Zero tolerance=zero common sense.  ESPECIALLY when Jenna had a friend who showed up to school DRUNK and her only punishment was a referral to the 3-day drug and alcohol program.  No suspension, no "alternative school."  And being drunk at 15 is ILLEGAL.  Tylenol is a LEGAL substance.  Where is the sense there?  My theory being AJ has been "tagged" as the sibling of a "troublemaker."  MIND YOU, Jenna got in trouble this ONE time.  Such a pest huh?  Why this theory?  Because when AJ started middle school, she was immediately recommended for the drug and alcohol guidance program at that school.  Gee, why would she be pegged for that? @@  As a result of Jenna's experience, she became down on school and graduated 1 credit shy of an advanced diploma because depoite the reassurances that Jenna's work would be sent to the alternative school, despite the pledges that her education was important, she could not complete any work for her American Sign Language 3 class because its all signing that has to be done IN CLASS.  Miss 40 days, you're gonna fail.  They made her drop the class.  Sure she would have taken it the following year, but the experience soured her so much she said "why bother" and just basically chose the minimal amount of work to get her a diploma.  Not to mention that not all the work she did got from the alternative school back to her home school.  Those idiots did not give a crap.  She got good grades, had good attendance and was never a problem for any teacher she had.  She made one mistake by not cleaning out her bag after a weekend trip to see my mom, and her education got screwed up.  Once she graduated and got into her pastry school program, she was finally happy again.  Graduated with a 4.0 form that program.  She never blamed the teachers (who were none to happy she was being treated that way), she blamed the administration for not using common sense and realizing they have the power to be reasonable.  Everyone hides behind the "its policy" mantra, and nobody uses their brains.  AJ's school counselor thinks Friday school for this first offense is ridiculous too, but he has no day in anything.  Its a teacher's word against AJ's, and the teacher feels disrespected so lets make an example of someone.  No matter how it really may have went down.  Kids lie all the time right??

Meanwhile, AJ has been the subject of a few school bullies.  One did get suspended for a few days, but basically, the school has done nothing to make these kids leave AJ alone.  I sure haven't been brought into any meetings, nor have the other parents.  Just phone calls.   And the kids keep doing it.  It's all verbal, nothing physical.  SO AJ can put her mp3 player on and ignore most of it. (most of it happens on the bus).  But if AJ were to turn around and kick one of these boys in the nuts, SHE would be punished, not them!  Where the hell is the justice in that??  Meanwhile, these kids get to keep riding the bus, the main area for their abuse, and suffer no consequences.  (The suspension?  One of the kids took a drawing AJ did and littered it wiht inappropriate drawings and words.  The suspension was for that inappropriateness, not for any bullying or anything like that.)  It is so nice the school is looking out for my kid!  ALl they freaking care about is test scores and hell with everything else. 

While I do not want to rush my kids growing up, I really can't wait till Noah graduates and we are done with this school crap.  9 more years to go....

They do come back...to visit!

Kids are funny.  While growing up, they can't WAIT to leave home and go out into the "real world."  "Once I leave I am never coming back!" they say.  Then, once they are out there, THAT is when they realize how good they really had it!  THAT is when they may feel bad for all the whining and complaining about all of their chores, the curfews, the rules.  It is nice when they finally tell you how much they appreciated their childhood, even if it did not seem like it at the time.  And it is hard not to day "I told you so!"

Jenna has been out of the house for a little over 2 years now, and yup now she knows how nice it was to live at home with no responsibilities other than keeping her room clean and doing her laundry, plus the dishes when it was her turn to do them.  No work, no bills.  She left home to go to school, and lived with my mom while she did so.  She is still living with my mom, saving up to hopefully get a place of her own in the spring or summer.  More precisely, I should be honest...she and her fiancee are living with my mom and will get a place together when they save enough money.  They both work and they are making a dent in their savings goal.

But this week. she is HOME.  Yay! LOL.  She has come to visit for a few days.  Now, her primary motive is actually to be here to support a friend of hers.  A few months ago, her friend was happily engaged and planning a wedding.  The, her world was flipped because it turns out this man was also a child abuser.  Not sure how, but he broke the arm of Jenna's friend's son, who was 3 at the time.  As soon as this hearing was scheduled, Jenna made plans to come be supportive (especially when she found out that the boy, now 4, is actually expected to testify in front of the man who hurt him!  his statement apparently is not enough?  baloney!!).  That's Jenna, once a friend always a friend.  Even when it was found out that this hearing is actually only a preliminary hearing, Jenna still kept her plan and came.  And will try to come if/when there is an actual trial.  In my not-so-objective opinion, anyone would be lucky to have Jenna as a friend :)  Hopefully, we get to see Jenna for more than 5 minutes of her visit though!  She has so many folks who want to see her and so little time.  I guess that happens when you have friends, but then move away from them.  I guess we have similar issues when we go to Tucson to visit.  Folks who want to meet up with the hubby and catch up, but not enough time in any visit to get everyone in.  Maybe next time we should just have a big party at my in-laws house LOL.  Anyway, just saying that it is nice Jenna still wants to come home.  :)

AJ wants to go away to school too.  She wants to go back to AZ and live with my in-laws while she does it.  I hope she is paying attention to the dynamic between my mom and Jenna.  They get along fine...when they are not living together!  Living together makes for a whole different relationship.  Still have 4 years...no, wait, more like 3 1/2...ack!!!...before we get to that point!  It will fly though...

Just a misfit...

For some reason, I woke up at 5am and could not get back to sleep.  In that quiet time, for some reason my mind wandered, and it wandered to this.  I am a misfit.  It's true,  I just don't fit in.  Just like Rudolph and all those toys on the island.  I don't conform.  I never thought it was a huge problem.  But thinking about it, I guess it has affected my life in small ways.

Growing up, we were the only white family on the block.  My brother and I were pretty much the only white kids in school.  We took ribbing for it, got into fights and such as well.  But also made some darn good friends at the same time, and some of those kids are still in the neighborhood, or have ties to it.  And our kids have played together when we visit.  So in those younger years, it all balanced out and I never gave it much thought.  I am sure it also helped me to become the open-minded person I am today.

I was always the fat white girl, and as such I am shy.  Always have been.  I know that is not conducive to making friends.  But I made a few in high school.  My mom sent me off to a private Catholic high school thinking she was keeping me away from some of the bad influences that were present at the local public high school.  Lotta good that did her in the end.  I ended up pregnant at 16.  Yeah that went over well in a Catholic high school LOL.  I gained some interest while pregnant, but only had a couple real friends.  And eventually, they drifted away.  By the time I graduated, I had a totally different set of friends than when I started high school.  And once high school ended, those relationships kinda disintegrated too.  I do have some contact with a few folks via Facebook, but we are all spread out anyway so its not like a real friendship, just a little reconnecting.  Which is fine.

So here I sit at 37.  Still the shy, fat white girl.  Married though.  4 kids, aged 20, 14, 13 and 8.  I like sports, my kids like to play sports and we do spend a lot of time taking them to games and practices.  My music of choice is nothing like most folks I know.  I am just different.  Any fellow moms I meet that are around my age, their oldest kids are the age of my youngest, or even younger.  I would think that my having kids in different stages would be a positive, that maybe I could share some experiences when my "friends" kids get to those ages.  But you know what?  It seems more like a hindrance.  Whether folks think I don't have anything in common with them because of my family make up or whether they think my older kids could be a bad influence on their younger, innocent ones...any "friends" I may have made in the past few years seem to have vanished.  Whether it was planning get-togethers outside of the moms group we were all in, or quietly, unceremoniously unfriending in Facebook, almost everyone has disappeared.  Yes I have contact with some, but things sure are not the way they used to be.  It makes me sad.  With my personality, yeah I take some of it personally.  And I definitely take it super personal when I am told flat-out that my kids are not good enough, that they are a hindrance to any friendships.

My husband and I are also very close.  We actually like to spend time together.  And that seems to be an oddity too.  My husband is fine with me going out occasionally, and even though I have encouraged him to do the same when asked, he has given one to many "not tonight" answers and thus does not get many, if any,  invites anymore.  He says he would rather stay here with me, and not necessarily leave me home with the kids while he is out having fun, after I have been dealing with them all day.  Which I appreciate.  Shame other folks can't do the same.  And the fact that our kids are older, getting together with other families just does not happen because it seems the older ones my expose the younger ones to....something.  What?  I have no idea. 

So maybe it is good that I am OK with being a loner, a misfit.  Sure, my feelings have been hurt.  I guess I can, and do, get over that.  But I do wonder why folks preach tolerance and then hold small things against others when going about their own lives.

And by writing this, maybe I have figured out why my 14 y/o is such a misfit herself.  She is nothing like the rest of us...she is into stuff we are not, she does not like the stuff we do.  How she has lived here for 14 years and turned out this way, i don't know.  I guess maybe she is just like her mother!  A misfit....

Just gotta keep going...

Why is it when I go to the gym, I am so sore afterwards?  Its not like I only do it once a month.  I mean, I feel all good afterwards, but then after coming home and showering and what not, I start to feel all blah and sore.  Yeah, yeah I know it means I worked hard but still! LOL  IT HURTS!!  But I know I gotta keep it up, because maybe if I do I will see changes eventually.

Going into week 3 of ramped up gym time.  No weight lost but many muscles worked!  I'll share my schedule, so that I have folks to answer to when I don't keep on it HAHAHAHA:

Monday:  9:40am Bodycombat class.  Then later, while Nick at at aikido and karate class (he takes the adult classes now, so his classes are in the evening while Noah's are after school or later afternoon), we hit the gym for another hour or so of weights and cardio (the gym is the same complex as the karate studio where I work and where the kids take karate so why not?) and then hubby and I do the kickboxing class at the studio, which is also an hour.

Tuesday:  hit the gym at 9 for 30 mins of cardio, followed by CXWORX, which is a 30 minute core class. (hubby goes in late and does this with me)

Wednesday: Nick has karate at 6:45 so we drop him at 6:30 and then hit the gym for about 45-50 minutes for weights/cardio, then go back to the studio for the 7:30 kickboxing class.

Thursday: 8am CXWORX and 8:35am Bodycombat classes (which hubby does with me so long as he has not been up till 3am doing maintenance for work LOL).  Then, Nick and Noah have basketball practice in the evening so usually hubby and I will go to the gym while they are practicing, which gives us about an hour or so of gym time. (if the gym were closer to AJ's practice site, we'd go while she was at basketball practice too but not enough time for that since her practice is only an hour  whereas the boys practices are 90 minutes lol)

Friday:  8:35am Bodypump class.  then the boys do weapons classes at the karate studio from 4 until 5:30 or 6:15 (depending on if they do 2 or all 3) and so...gym time again!  another hour or so depending on whether or not I have to pick up AJ from creative writing club at 5ish.

Saturday: depends on scheduling.  usually, 11:05 CXWORX class and then some cardio, at least 30 minutes, afterwards.  But as the seasons change, the schedule changes with basketball now, baseball/softball coming in the spring and football in the fall.  So this does not always happen!

Sunday: sometimes a day off, sometimes we try and get to the gym.  Again, depends on schedule right now, as AJ's basketball games are on Sundays.

Between the karate studio and the gym, I feel like I live in the complex where those buildings are!  Looking at my schedule, I wonder if I could squeeze some swim time in there, as there is a lap pool at the gym.  Bah...nah...I hate getting all wet most of the time LOL.  Maybe I need to work in some relaxation time in the steam room or sauna tho! HAHA.  Really, the cardio portions of my workouts are kinda relaxing.  There is a cardio cinema at the gym, and most of the time the movies suck BUT the room is dark and cool, and I will go in the cinema for those reasons alone.  gimme my mp3 player and that dark room and I am fairly happy in my own little world.   The gym also has a 24 hour section.  So if we are busy shuttling the kids around, feeding them, etc. we can still go the the gym later in the evening.  During baseball/softball season, thats what we did a lot, especially since AJ's games were later.  We'd see the kids to bed and then hit the gym at 10 or 11 for an hour or so.  So we really try to make the time.  Makes sense since we are paying for it right? LOL.

Now, lets see how long this ramped-up gym schedule lasts!!

Logically, my kids actions ought to help me, right?

It never fails...I see a treat in the store, bring it home and never even get a nibble of it because the kids have found it and eaten every last crumb.  Now, I don't mind sharing but sheesh, to not get any of it?  And really, it does not matter if I bring home donuts, string cheese, fruit or cookies.  They will find it and devour it.  Even if I hide it, they will find it!  It is like they are on mission to find the goodies!  So, you would think that would help me out right?  I mean, if I buy it on a whim and bring it home but I never get to eat it, that is really all the better for me right?  Or, if I just don't buy it in the first place because, heck, I am not gonna get to indulge anyway, then that should be good too right?  Oh how I wish it worked that way!  It does not seem to for me, anyway.  All this stuff I have not gotten to eat...somehow, it still seems to have made its way to my waistline, I swear!  Or at least seems to have blocked me from dropping any more weight or inches.  And that really sucks!  I did not realize just looking at food was unhealthy! Cuz that is now it seems right now! :::grumble::: 

4-5 days at the gym, some days 2 times a day depending on schedule...2 kickboxing classes a week too...and being deprived of goodies...and changing the way I cook when necessary to make things a little better...and I have still been at a standstill for months!  And now I am getting frustrated and feeling like giving up sometimes.  I mean overall I have made progress so there is that.  But lately I have made 0 progress.  And yes i have changed up the routine and all that.  Added more gym time.  Trying different things.  I know in my head I gotta give it more time, but my psyche is taking a big hit.

A failure? Or accept my limits and move on?

I don't run.  Ok no...I CAN'T run.  I just can't.  I do not like the way it feels, and I can't do it very long without feeling winded.  I can walk all day long...I can ride a bike...I can kill it on the elliptical.  I am even more flexible than I was a year ago.  But try to run?  Forget it!  Not even a jog.  I. Just. Can't.  And you know what?  It makes me feel like a big fat fail!  And last night, it practically brought me to tears.  Now, last night I had the added failure of not eating before going to the gym and following that by going to kickboxing.  I forgot.  I was trying to be sure the kids were taken care of and forgot to grab something real quick...a snack bar, a protein shake, something like that.  I was focused on everyone else.  So I was feeling off anyway.  But I worked thru it.  Till, during kickboxing, we had a jogging/running exercise.  Even partnering up with the hubs instead of another classmate, I still felt like a big fat fail.  I tried my best, but could only do 2 out of the 3 passes. The good thing I guess is that I did not quit like I wanted to.  I just took a short break and then did the rest of class without issue.

My biggest question to myself is WHY?  Why do I feel like that??  Should I feel like a failure?  I KNOW that not everyone is cut out to run.  The best running I ever did was running the bases in softball.  That's 60 feet at a pop.  Not too hard for most folks.  Including me.  But, any more than that....nope.  And it makes me feel bad.  Despite all that I CAN do, this one thing pisses me off.  So...what...do I accept my limits and move on, or keep trying to do this and feeling like I am beating a dead horse?  This is my dilemma today....well, at least till the kids come home and present me with more fun stuff!!

SAHMoms are LAZY??

Ok so I was in the middle of doing something and did not have a chance to change the channel right away.  Anderson Cooper is on, and there are SAHMoms vs Working moms.  And the NERVE of some of these women who think stay at home moms are LAZY??  That we have no mental stimulation?  Staying at home is an excuse to shirk responsibility??  We are selfish??    The SAHmoms do not seem to be ripping the working moms, but boy those working moms are ripping up the stay at home moms!  The more I listen to some of this drivel, that more mad I get.  But I can't change the channel!  It's like a train wreck.  It is great if you CHOOSE to work outside the home.  It is great if you CHOOSE to stay at home.  But geez folks, it is not necessary to feel the folks who do not make your choice are bad parents or bad people!  I really dislike folks who are bitchy because others do not believe the same way they do.  SAHM vs working moms.  Breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding.  Co-sleeping vs crib sleeping.  Why can't we all support each others choices as PARENTS and stop judging because Jane Doe does not do things the same way as you do.  Makes me wonder if those folks who have such bad things to say about SAHMoms are maybe feeling guilty themselves and are trying to justify their choices.  Who knows!!

I am pretty much a stay at home mom, and I have been since Jenna was 5.  I am happy I am able to be here when the kids get home from school.  I am home so I can get them to their activities...games, practices, etc.  I am here to get things done like errands, shopping, cooking, laundry, homework, etc.  In April 2010, I did pick up a very part time job.  Right now I work 7-8 hours per week picking up kids for an after school program at a local martial arts studio.  The job is within school hours.  Noah gets picked up by the program since I am working, and we meet up at the studio when I am done.  He usually takes the karate class with the after school kids, and when he is done we go home.  It is only 4:00 by that time, and so there is still time to get stuff done before having to take anyone anywhere.  Anyone who knows the schedule around this place would be a fool if they accused me of being lazy.  My kids are active...karate, baseball, softball, basketball, football.  It is always something.  I wish I had time to be lazy sometimes!  (ok so maybe I do on our off nights...but still!)  If I worked full time, they would not be able to do the things they want to.    I feel fulfilled as a mom by being able to do things for my kids.  Why would anyone begrudge me of that??  Now, have I had to say no to things due to money issues?  Of course.  But that happens, it is part of life.  If I worked full time, sure maybe there would be more money but I'd have to tell them no because there is no time.  Do I neglect myself in favor of the kids?  Every day of my life.  But it is my CHOICE.  I am not unhappy overall.  (yes some days the kids make me unhappy but is that not true in any family?).  Raising my kids IS my job.  I may not draw a paycheck from it, but I get "paid" in other ways.  And I am by no means lazy or shirking responsibility.  And I do not get why anyone would even think that way.  Smacks of ignorance to me.

Besides, maybe one day it will all payoff when Nick hits it big in the NFL and can take care of me in return for everything I did for him HAHAHAHA!!!!

:::changing the channel now::::

Pissed over Cheerios?

I have pulled out my firesuit so that I can write this:

I am sitting here watching the news and a story comes on about outrage by parents over new Peanut Butter Cheerios.  Really?  Outrage over a new cereal flavor?  What is this world coming to?

Now YES, I know there are many, many folks with peanut allergies.  And it can be life threatening, just as allergies to other things can be.  But to be pissed cuz a cereal company introduces a new peanut-based flavor is just....silliness.  By those folk's thinking, we should clear the shelves of anything peanut-related.  No peanut butter, no salted peanuts, no Reese's cups, no peanuts at all!!  I understand it can be difficult to deal with a peanut allergy.  I know folks whose kids are allergic.  But also the folks I know have more common sense than to think the world can banish peanuts forever.  Does it make life a little more difficult?  Sure.  But nobody ever claimed it was gonna be easy!  My son and I are allergic to cats, and react differently depending on if its long haired or short haired.   When it comes to long haired cats,. it is much worse to the point it affects our breathing.  We can not stay in my mom's house anymore because she got a long-haired cat a couple years ago.  (she had a short haired cat, and our reaction was the itchy eyes and sneezing but could be controlled by claritin/zyrtec.  Nothing helps when it comes to this long haired cat.).  Like with peanuts, cat hair and dander is spread around since it sticks to your clothes and such.  Never, ever would I say we should rid the world of cats because someone may have an allergic reaction.  It's just a part of life.  A sucky part, but part of life nonetheless.  It is just something to consider when even doing something as simple as deciding whether or not Nick can sleep over at someone's house.  Same as someone with a peanut allergy..  Or a milk allergy. Or any other allergy.  These things have to be considered when doing normal, every day things.  While I am all for some considerations being made, such as peanut-free classrooms, special peanut-free lunch tables and other such things...saying companies should stay away from peanuts altogether just strikes me as....well, nuts.

I may be in the minority here, but oh well.  Such is life!!

(in the news story, they did mention many parents who have kids with peanut allergies are just fine with the new cereal and that they will just stay away from it, no biggie.  there is still plain cheerios to enjoy!)

Passionate Mom

As I stated in an earlier post, my kids play sports.  A lot of sports.  And luckily, sports that I am familiar with.  I played baseball, softball and basketball in the past and while I never played football, I know (kinda lol) and love the game.  As such, I do tend to get heated during games when I see my kids getting screwed.  Whether it is a mucked up strike zone on my girl, non-calls when my son is being mugged like James Harrison in the backfield or BS fouls on the kids in basketball, I tend to get mad.  And vocal.  But never, ever have I ever felt the need to leave the court/field.  Until today.  The refereeing in Nick's game this morning was atrocious.  And I have seen some bad refereeing in basketball but this...wow.  I had to walk away towards the end of the first quarter (I went back for the 4th quarter) after Nick got called for his 4th foul.  Now, you get 5 fouls in a game and you are out.  ONE of those fouls was valid. 2, there was no contact at all.  One was questionable at best.  And Nick was not the only one getting screwed over.  His teammates were getting mugged and not getting calls.  2 kids from the other team got their feet tangled up but a foul was called on one of OUR players.  Nick's coach was barking on the sideline as well.  The other team got screwed over once too...at one point Nick's team had 6 on the court during some confusion in substitutions and a shot was made when play should have been halted.  I will say, Nick's team was down by 20 at one point but they never gave up and even though they did lose, they only lost by 4.  They showed heart.  But the way that 1st quarter was going and what I heard about the part of the game I missed...I had to leave or I may have gotten tossed out for being too vocal.
At least the refs in Noah's game did a much better job!

Disclaimer:  I get vocal.  I am passionate.  I have gotten tossed from a field once...when i was a teenager watching my brother play baseball and I was unhappy with the umpiring.  My solution?  Stand on the private property across the street and continue to watch the game and be vocal.  So...I do have my moments.  I try to be good.  Really.  I TRY.

Maybe just not very hard.

I think my kids appreciate my passion though.

A little about me...

Ok so now...a little about me.  I have been marries for 14+ years.  The big "15" is coming up in March.  I am not sure anyone who knew us would have imagined we'd last this long.  I met my husband online in an AOL chat room back in 1996, before meeting online was as common as it is today.  I lived in PA and he lived in AZ.  AOL charged $2.95/he back in those days so at first we just chatted a bit online but mainly exchanged emails.  But it was around that time AOL gave its employees an extra, or "1+1" account, to give to anyone they chose.  Hubby worked for AOL (and he still does) so he took the account and gave it to me.  Thus we could chat with no worried about how much it was costing me to do so (and with that, he made up the name "gottaluvya" and so that is me!) .  We met online at the end of April, he came to PA to meet in person in July, we got engaged before he left and then I moved to AZ in August and we married in March 1997.  Folks thought I was nuts...not only did I meet someone, become engaged and move 1800+ miles from home all in a matter of 4 months, I was also a single mom to a 5 year old girl.  But it seemed right, especially because my daughter, who did not like ANYONE outside of our family (and was even wary of some IN our family!) warmed up to my hubby almost right away.  Jenna...she did not like anyone outside the family, did not speak a word to anyone outside the family and generally was somewhat anti-social.  But she took to the strange man I brought home within a couple hours.  Yes she hid behind my legs at first, but by the end of the evening she was feeding him spaghetti.  That said a LOT to me.  That is why it all felt like it was the right thing to do.  15 years later, so far so good!!

We got married and went on to have 3 more kids (and hubby adopted Jenna when she was 9, so he is her father in every way that matters.).  We are generally a happy family of 6.  Jenna is 20, AJ is 14, Nick is 13 and Noah is 8.  Even though Jenna is grown up and moved out of the house (and engaged herself!! ack!!), obviously she is still part of the family.  (and when she does get married, I guess I get another kid too LOL).  The other kids are stuck with me for a few more years hahaha.  Hubby and I have our moments, although I really never let on about it (but I may vent from time to time now that I have an outlet!!).  I imagine folks generally thing we have the perfect marriage.  And I will say they are probably wrong...I know we are not perfect.  Then again I imagine it would be more odd if we did NOT have our moments of disagreement!  So I'd say we have a healthy relationship.  Again, not sure if anyone saw it lasting this long just because of the way it began.  But HA!! We are aiming for 50 or more!!!!!!!

We are usually a very busy family.  The kids are always into something, which started way back when Jenna first started playing softball when she was 8 and has not stopped since.  Nowadays, with 3 kids in different activities it feels as if we are always going.  The boys play football, all 3 play basketball, AJ plays softball and Noah plays baseball (Nick gave up baseball 2 years ago) and the boys also take karate.  And this spring, AJ and Nick plan to umpire in softball/baseball so we shall see how that works out.  Hubby and I take kickboxing and also fit in time at the gym most days of the week.  So, we are always going. Most days, I feel like I just need a nap!! (yet I don't sleep well at night, go figure!!)

And enough about me for now....

It's the "IN" thing...I guess. :)

I guess blogging is the "in" thing to do these days.  So...here I am!  Seriously though, sometimes I can get my thoughts out easier by typing them out rather than taking it out.  So this can be my outlet, right? :)

Short intro to come later...now, off to take my boys to their martial arts weapons class!