I absolutely hate....

    Football.  Really truly I do. There are parts of it that amuse me.  But for the most part- it's cold, the bleachers are hard, and I don't understand any of it.  This guy hit that guy and the guys in white and black do all kinds of funky things with their hands that mean something to every man sitting in the stands and just looks like bad sign language to me.  ; )


     However, here's the deal.  And this might sound nuts but remember - this is TX.  They do things around here that don't always make sense to folks that live in other states.  Football in TX is not a sport.  Not.  It is a religion - a way of life.  Whole towns revolve around the football schedule.  Seriously, the diner (the only diner here in town) used to close for games.  They opened under new management last month and the new guy keeps it open for the after the game crowd- most business he does all week probably.  Anyhow.... B is in athletics.  They are already not happy with the fact that he doesn't play football.  They don't quite get the "breathe vs play football" idea.  I'm sure the darn athletic director would rather toss the dice and chance him having an attack just to get his big tail on the front line.  And I truly believe that the athletic director is right. B would make a wonderful football player!  If it weren't for that pesky breathing issue.  So, like I said, they're already not real happy with the fact that B doesn't play football.  So, we show at almost every home football game.  Show that we're supporting the team. It's such a small town/school - I'm guaranteed to see teachers, principal, and assorted coaches at every game and I smile nicely and talk about the team and wear school colors.  And then I slip out when I can.  Shhhhh - don't tell.  It's like sacrilegious around here to admit that you're not a football fan.  


     I made it till 9:10 tonight.  Then it got hairy.  See, all I could think about was that the Rangers game started at 9.  And I had it on the dvr and I knew it was recording.  But I was sitting on those cold, hard bleachers freezing my tail off (hey it dropped down to 66 degrees this evening) and all I could think of was missing the first pitch.  Nope, I'm not an addict or anything.  So Toni's brother was leaving and I got a ride from him and left the car with the kids and got a ride home.  Then I took a nice, long, hot, relaxing shower while I was here in the house all by myself.  Not a kid one around.  It was lovely.  And now I'm in my fuzzy pj's and socks relaxed and watching my life addiction baseball.  Trying to decide if I want to make a run to Old town tomorrow or not.  And it's a major toss up at this point.  


    I got pictures of Toni with her big waste of money mum and I'll post them later this weekend.  Hope everyone has a nice, relaxing weekend!  We're either going to Old Town to hang for the night or going back out to the boonies where there is no cell service like we did last weekend.  Either way, I intend to have a great weekend.  Hope y'all do too!

Perfection

     Last night was one of those perfect nights in life.  


     I was a bit upset about being at a football game last night when my Rangers were on their way to make history.  The Rangers started as the Washington Senators.  Then 39 years ago, they moved the team to TX and changed the name to the Texas Rangers.  In the 50 years that the team has existed, never did they make it out of the first round of the play-offs.  And this is football country.  The Rangers could be leading their division and you're lucky if they got space in the paper for an article after each game.  And if something had happened that relates to the Cowgirls Cowboys--- then the Rangers wouldn't get any coverage at all.  But with the Cowgirlsboys  playing worse than most high school 5A teams right now, everyone is jumping on the Rangers bandwagon.  (btw:  as I sit here typing this, we're in a tornado warning...  pretty cool huh?).  I'm a Rangers fan going way back and I love the coverage they're finally getting from the news around here.  They were even announcing the score last night and doing updates during our high school football game.  That's amazing!  For those of you who are from the north, I'll try to explain this short and sweet.  Football is not a game here in Texas.  Especially not high school football.  It is a religion.  People attend the football games on Friday nights like they do church on Sunday.  It really is that big of deal.  Parents, grandparents, and other family attend the pep rallies at the school.  There's even a whole website dedicated to East Texas football.  People from the opposing teams start talking smack before the games are played.  It updates scores and does all kinds of fun stuff.  


     So, why was last night perfection?  Well, I tried to talk Colby into letting me miss his game.  He told me no and I'm glad he did.  (Hey, can't blame a girl for trying can you?)  Everyone around me was doing the same thing I was - keeping track of the Rangers score on cell phones.  We were still cheering for our boys.  I sit with Colby's nanny, mom, step-dad, aunt, uncle, the twins, and some other cousin of nanny's.  There are also 2 other people that go every week and sit with us but I'm not sure how they're related.  His aunts parents were there last night too.  His girlfriend and her mom were there too and her mom sat with us. And Colby showed off.  He scored the first 2 touch downs of the game.  The first was a 63 yard touchdown that he broke 4 tackles to score.  By the end of the game, Colby had scored 4 out of the teams 6 TD's and the kids had won 42-14. They're already getting ready for next weeks game and the message boards are showing it.  So, high school game - big win!  I was so proud of him watching him play his heart out.  I'm really glad I was there to see it.  He ran for 190 yards last night.  


     The Rangers - spanked the Yankees.  That gives them the 4 games they need to go to the World Series.  (Game 1 is Weds night).  I give credit to the Yankees.  They were very gracious about the Rangers in the post game interviews.  They talked about how well the Rangers played.  Took responsibility for their mistakes and were great role models for all the kids who were watching (well, all except Nick Swisher who was really rude about Cliff Lee but the rest of the team were really wonderful).  The Rangers, played like champions.  Colby Lewis was the starting pitcher and he held the Yankees to (I believe) 2 hits.  And I had the game on DVR.  The kids all kept asking me why I was watching the game when we got home when I already knew who won.  "Because after years of having season tickets and watching them lose- this is their moment of glory and knowing the score isn't the same as actually seeing it."  So, I came home and changed (because being hugged by many sweaty boys after 3 hours of football leaves ones clothes a smelly mess) and then sat down to enjoy some ball.  And watch my team in their moment of glory.  And to give you a good laugh.  I called Hurricane after the Rangers won (because y'all know my boys are HUGE Yankee fans).  He didn't even say "Hi" when he answered.  He just picked up the phone and said:  "Yea, I know.  Hell's going to freeze over next."  And then we chatted while I told him - maybe but the Rangers are still heading to the World Series.  


    And to make the night even better...  While I watched the game, the kids wandered in and out of the house.  People stopped by and visited and then left. Kids wandered in and out of here till around 1.  (Yes, I realize that's late but the football game didn't end till almost 11 and remember - big win = excited varsity players and girlfriends.)  So, the sweaty boys who had hugged me on the field showed up and hugged me again once they had changed and done their post game thing.  And they talked.  The defensive lineman friend of Little Man's had to find out if I saw him sack the other teams quarterback.  (Yes, I was watching).  Colby wanted to know which of his 4 runs I thought was the best.  Another player was talking about one of the plays that he was in.  And they mostly stay outside (bonfire pit) or in the boys bedrooms but they'd come in and chat with me a bit and give me a hug and then wander off to do the kid thing.  And although they were respectful of me watching my Rangers, I don't think that there was a 5 minute span in that 2 hours that I didn't have a kid in here at some point talking to me.  They wanted attention.  Did I watch?  Did I see?  What did I think?  I'm proud of them.  They played well.  They're good kids.  (And the train of kids has continued tonight even though my 2 boys aren't home, I've had 7 kids stop by here sit and visit for a few and then leave again.)  


   This, my friends, is perfection in my life.  

Anyone who wants to have a child never had a teen......

     First off, a big thanks to ms Minnie who totally sat with me on the phone last night and kept me from bawling like a big baby.  She talked some logic and sense into me at a time when I was feeling totally emotional.  Things have not changed over-night.

    Y'all might remember a few months ago that Ice Cube was going thru a rough patch.  He has some ongoing legal issues that aren't mine to discuss but aren't going to go away.   Back when this all started, I took out a loan to help pay his attorney.  Deal was (supposed to be at least) that he would get a job and make the loan payments.  As y'all might imagine, I'm still making the loan payments.  Between the loan payments and their cell bills... Recap here:  When Ruth was 9 months pregnant, they moved to her moms.  At which point and time, her cell was in her dad's name.  He shut it down with her 9 months pregnant and home alone all the time and no home phone.  IC called me in a panic and swore that they'd pay her cell bill if I'd add her to my plan.  Now, this should have only been $20/month and I agreed.  Of course, now the baby is 15 months old so the cell has been on for 16 months and they have paid it ... ready for this?  TWICE.  The month that she got drunk and lost her cell and we had to do an insurance claim that I told them I couldn't afford- yep, never saw that $50 either.  Now, if the bills would stay at $20/month, that would be one thing.  But the last 2 months, their combined bill was $70.  So between loan and cells?  I'm taking $200 a month out of my budget to pay for his stuff.  Meanwhile, Ruth lost his drivers license and SS card wallet so he can't even apply for jobs. Or so I'm told.  Now folks, I'm on a restricted income.  I barely make ends meet without this.  To put it bluntly, I'm drowning right now.  If it weren't for Little Man, we'd be under already.  I had a talk at IC yesterday.  Yes, I said AT.  Because I spoke, he heard only what he wanted to hear and then of course picked a fight putting words into my mouth and is going to now use Elmer as a pawn telling me that we (no one in our family) will be permitted to see the baby again.  He wants the phones turned off (because he obviously is not mature enough to realize that the bill has to be paid till the end of contract even if its turned off) and that we're all dead to him.  Of course, this is all my punishment for asking him to grow up and get a job and take responsibility for his own actions.  He didn't much care for the fact that I told him that I would save and print all his hatred and save every birthday and Christmas card for the baby until he turned 18 as well as putting all money that I would have spent into savings bonds and then make sure that he got them after he was of age. So he intends to use his son as a pawn to try and manipulate the situation.  Part of it is he is jealous of how much Elmer loves me.  They were horrid while I was there last.  Taking Elmer to her dad's house for his crazy room mate to keep rather than letting me keep him even.  All because he comes running to me.  Of course that might have to do with the fact that when he gets up in the morning, I actually get up WITH him instead of sleeping while he plays.  And I don't get up and grouch.  I get up and smile at him.   But when they don't go to bed till 5 in the morning, they don't much feel like smiling at 8.  So, does anyone out there have any idea if TX has Grandparents rights?  Is there anything I can do to be able to see the baby?

     And please don't insult me and ask me to not pay my bills to pay the bills of an adult who isn't acting like one.  

     In other news, I spent the night last night having chest pains.  Yeah, I know- not good.  But typical for when my blood pressure goes off.  And we all know why my blood pressure would have been off last night don't we?  Don't worry.  I swore a long time ago that I wouldn't die until B turned 18. I am stubborn enough to maintain my health until then too.  ;)  Minnie told me last night that my kids grew up with a survivor.  That they knew right from wrong and were making their own choices, no matter how poor I might find those choices.  She's right.  I tend to want to protect them from themselves.  And IC, he'll pay dearly for what he's doing right now.  He has chosen to let Ruth's family who has thrown them to the wolves time and time again be the only family that Elmer has.  Ruth's dad was so mad at her for getting pregnant that Elmer was 4 months old before her dad would acknowledge him.  Her mom, has a very active life and sees him about ever 3 months at most.  She loves him dearly but she has a full time job and a boyfriend and a very active social life.  Both of her parents have cut them off and tossed them out before where they were calling me for money, help, food.  I sent food constantly while they lived with her mom.  There was many a time that they kids were doing without while they lived with her.  So throwing out the only person who has consistently been on their side and been there for them?  Not real smart.   And should the time come when IC and Ruth might break up - that would leave him with no one on his side.  Yeah, y'all don't need to remind me that I'd be there.  I know it.  But there has been damage done to the trust between us if nothing else.  His mouth crossed some lines and he said somethings that are unforgivable.  


     Now on to better things.  My Rangers won the ALDS (American League Division Series).  This is the first time in the 38 year team history that they have made it thru the first round of the play-offs.  They were the last major league team to do so.  They start the ALCS (American League Championship Series) on Friday where they play the Yankees (I don't EVEN want to hear it Ms Minnie) for the change to go to the World Series.  Now, my good friend, Ms Minnie, is a Yankees fan.  Its ok.  I forgive her.  ;)  My rotten no taste in baseball teams boys are Yankees fans too.  Now, personally, I think that they Yankees have 27 World Series Championship rings that they bought won, it's way past time for the Rangers to have a shot at this.  Right?  Why do the Yankees need #28? Well, game one of this very important series is Friday night.  Yeah.  Friday night.  Colby's football night.  Thank Goodness for DVR.  I asked Colby if he'd notice if I didn't show up tomorrow night.  He was totally offended with me and said "Well, hell yea!"  So tomorrow, I will be DVRing the game and totally cussing anyone who dares to tell me the score before I get home to watch it.  Which Colby's game?  2 hours from here tomorrow.  So we won't get home till hours after the game is over.  Do you think he'd notice if I just took a small tv with me and watched the game there?  OK OK I jest!  I know that watching one of "my" kids play is more important than a professional baseball game.  I have to have some fun in life right?  B and his girlfriend will be making the drive with Nanny and I to go watch the game.  Colby's gf is riding with her parents who are making the drive.  




   I'll be good and try to post before I have to get ready for the pep rally at 1 tomorrow.  Hope y'all had a great day!
       

the check list....

~  Out to breakfast with Nanny - check


~  trip to the office to settle some high school drama with an ex bf throwing a fit and threatening B and Colby over Colby's new gf - check


~  Pick up B and try to get him a Dr's appt - check


~  Call for propane delivery - check


~  Cancel my Dr's appt cause it clashed with the pep assembly (yeah I know I'm bad!) - check


~  Hair cut and groceries - check


~  Throw all the frozen and fridge stuff randomly in their places so I can run out the door take care of the next errand - check  


~  meet up with Nanny and the rest of the gang for lunch - check


~  Finish putting groceries away - check


~  Dishwasher started, counters cleaned - check


~  Laundry taken care of - check


~  Dressed and ready to show my happy face at the pep assembly - check


~  House ready for the invasion of teens that will probably happen this weekend... well, not quite but it's getting there.  ;)




Good luck to the Pirates and my "extra" kids who play for the team!  Now, I'm off here to go give myself a migraine cheer for the football players at the pep assembly.  Hope y'all have a great Friday night!

is it nap time?

      So, my intention today was to sleep in.  Nanny called me last night.  She said Colby wanted to know if B could spend the night.  I was thinking - cool!  No having to get up in the morning.  James had the day off so no having to go pick him up.  B gone with Colby means that I can try to get some extra sleep.  I have been so tired.  Not sure why but I imagine it might have something to do with either the fact that I have non-existent B12 in my system (I get to get weekly shots now) or the fact that my blood pressure was so low yesterday (90/53).  Or a combination of the 2.  So, then James slept all day yesterday - only getting up to eat.  And I told him - you're going to sleep all day and then be wandering around the house at night and wake me up.  Oh no he tells me.  Ha!  5:15 this morning.  I'm disgusted.  So much for sleeping in right?  I will exact my revenge.  LOL  That's about strike 2 this week.  I told y'all there's a reason I stay single.  I canna stand cleaning up after anyone that I didn't give birth to.  

   Tomorrow night, B and I are going to the football game again.  My last one for this month and then I'll be back in time for the homecoming game.  B has been nominated for most popular boy in the freshman class and I want to be there to laugh at his embarrassment if he's chosen.  Well, I might go to a football game while I'm in old town.  Maybe go watch some of B's old friends play.  I don't know about that though.  They are all JV players at 5 A schools.  I am afraid that knowing the varsity players and having them hang out at the house and the intimacy of our small community has ruined me for the big 5A games where no one knows anyone unless you're in their little click.  

     So, I was with my little 4 year old cheerleader buddy last night.  She is Colby's cousin and was spending the night at Nanny's house.  So, she told me:  "I goin to Colby's game.  Is you gonna be at the game?"  I said: "yes honey, I'm going to go watch Colby play too".  So she told me "Good, I sit with you".  So, I guess she's sitting with me tomorrow.  Which works on an away game when we can all sit together but for the home games, I can't sit with them because they have reserved seats and we didn't get them.  Unless there are seats open around their seats where someone didn't go to the game and then I can move.  But for the most part- that isn't going to work.  They're going to get my ticket for homecoming for me so that I get in to the game and save me a seat for homecoming too.  Apparently thats the one game that you're lucky if you get a spot to sit down.  And with my body the way it is- I'd never make standing for a whole game.  With me not leaving Dallas and heading back this way till after 2 that day, Colby told Nanny that she would have to put a blanket down for me or something to get me a spot to sit or I wouldn't get a spot by the time I got back this way.  (and we're only talking about getting here at 5 for a 7:30 game).  

    Well, off here to relax before mopping the next floor.  So far today, I've gotten the regular housework done (vacuum, dishes, counters, picking up, laundry) and moved on to cleaning off the fireplace mantle and running all my crystal thru the dishwasher.  As well as mopping the kitchen.  I still want to mop the boys bathroom and the front entry.  And I had to wash the blankets that B keeps over his couch as James went in there and laid on his couch after not showering in several days and put his nasty feet on the one.  Better for me to wash them now than to listen to B take a fit about it later.  They are about done in the dryer so I need to get them folded and put back up before B gets home and I get to listen to him throw a fit over James messing up his room.  I'm all for avoiding yet another issue.  So, off to make things all better before Colby brings B home and there's bloodshed.  Ms Minnie - you keep telling B that he can come live with you.  Would you like to come help break up the bloodshed that occurs when someone messes with "your boys" room?  I think he's like that because being the youngest, he never had anything that was "all his" for the longest time.  Now he's a bit of a possessive jerk about it.  

Super Bowl Recipes

I've fielded some requests lately for a few recipes I use for the Super Bowl party. I posted these over at: THAT OTHER SITE

Still no response from my 1/2 brother. Bio-dad's other son did accept my friend request but I don't know if that's because he just accepts anyone or if his brother told him who I was. I haven't heard from either of them. I am not going to push this. They know where I am at this point if they want to contact me.

Back to the zoo. Ice Cube and Ruth are here with Little Bit. Between the older kids staying up till 3 "hanging out" and Little Bit who tends to get up by 7 when they're here.... I am already feeling sleep deprived. However, I am happy to report that Little Bit has learned to clap and say "yeahhhh" while clapping. He is very pleased with himself for accomplishing this fact and loves the attention he gets. This will make him a great asset for cheering for the Colts tomorrow. Still trying to find a couple of Saints suckers fans to come hang out and eat with us tomorrow.

Happy Weekend all!

Sunday blessings

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Sunday

Sunday morning is our family breakfast time. The majority of the time around here, people eat FFYS (fend for yourself) for breakfast and lunch. I mean, if one of the boys is actually cooking something to eat - he'll ask his brother if said brother wants some too. But if they're just having cereal or a sandwich - well, then who bothers? But Sunday mornings, I try to get up and make something. Biscuits and gravy, or pancakes, or something. This morning, we went the biscuits and gravy route. Now the boys are doing their own thing and I'm thinking I already cooked once today so why should I cook again. Right? Well, it sounded good to me.

Its one of those quiet Sundays. The washing machine and dryer are making their cleaning noises. I've already run the dishwasher and am too lazy to go unload right now. The puppy is wandering thru the house. The boys are all taking a nap (lazy monsters- they only do this so they can drive me nuts till some ungodly time in the AM). I need to talk to Vix but I know better than to call them before 2 on a Sunday. Football is on right now and I'm not really sure why. I do want to watch the Colts game at 3. What can I say? We moved here from Indiana many moons ago and my kids are all Colts fans. My mom sends them Colts wear for Christmas every year. Little Man and B got new sleep wear this year. They will probably wear it to watch the game in a few hours. We did some work outside this morning. We're clearing some trees and cleaning up some debris. We keep cleaning and clearing. And then we do some more. This property would overgrow my house in a month I think if we didn't stay on it. Its unbelievable how fast the grass grows.

This is pretty normal for a Sunday around here. Brunch. Laundry. Clean the bathrooms. And then be pretty much lazy. I usually put the most effort into Sunday dinners too. However - we actually get the Colts game this week and so can you say we'll be eating whatever pops into the oven and can bake itself? I suppose since its already 1 - I should be going to check that all out and see what we have that fits my laziness today.

On other news... Tara and Hurricane spoke for the first time in I can't tell you how long last night. Tom had a motorcycle that he agreed to sell to Hurricane at Tara's urging. This was a good thing as Hurricane's truck won't go out of 1st gear and desperately needs a new transmission. Here's hoping that this opens up communication between the 2 of them and that they reestablish some sort of relationship. I was having visions of my kids never speaking again after my funeral. Its literally been years since those 2 have said a word to each other. I was really starting to worry that they'd never talk again. I have been nagging them both to grow up and work things out. Not just those three even (Tara, Tom, and Hurricane) but all of them. They're all old enough now to work things out amongst themselves and leave their old mom out of it. It just stresses me out too much.

Well, off here to go hunt thru the freezers and find something that the oven can turn into dinner. Hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!

how I learned

     I received some comments from my last post about how nice it was for me to enjoy the same things the boys are interested in.  Let's go back about 15 years.  Hurricane was old enough to start t-ball and some friends of ours were signing up their son.  Ex and I were still married way back when and I was pregnant with B.  Ex wanted no part of signing up a kid for sports.  He had way more important things to do with his time.  But H was really interested in trying this and the fields were close to the house - across the street so I went to register him.  As I'm filling out the paperwork, it has all the stuff I'm used to like name, birthday, age, address and then I get to a section that says:

bats _______

hits________

   Well, I'm a little bit puzzled but I think well, as far as I know he can hit and bat so I put yes in both blanks.  Silly silly me.  They wanted to know if he was right or left handed.  And I had no idea.  So far I've come in those 15 years.  4 boys and 15 years of ball later, I know more about stats and baseball than most people care to know.  I've done the score books for the boys for the last 5 years.  Another learning experience for mom when the coach handed me the books and asked me to keep them.  I had no idea what all those little boxes were for!  What I did find over the years was:  The more I knew about the game, the more I enjoyed it.  I started out watching my boys play and just enjoying watching THEM.  But now, I can appreciate exactly how hard they've had to work to do what they do.  I can say that B carried a 1.3 ERA (earned run average) while pitching and know what that means (that for every time he comes in to pitch you can expect him to give up 1.3 runs for the time that he's in-  for a started usually 4 innings so about 1 run for every 3 innings pitched).   I did find over the years that knowing what was going on made the game less "boring" than some of the other mom's found it.  

Little Man is a BIG Indianapolis Colts fan.  So, my next challenge will be to live thru another football season.  I suppose I'm going to have to learn about that next to make it thru Sunday football playing on my TV all fall.  At least they don't ask for the football channels.  I deal with MLB extra innings all spring, summer, and fall.  They only watch football if the Colts or the Cowboys are playing.  There are some things that should be a dad's responsibility to do with their sons.  Football and oil changes to name a few.  ;)  

2 weeks till school starts.  Jr High and High School registration this week to pick up schedules, pictures, etc.  And LM starts his first job this week.  So many new things getting ready to happen in their lives.  

Enjoy!