Good morning to all. The day came and Big M lost his battle. Although cancer did not take him, pneumonia did.....but it does not matter....he is gone....but not really gone.
As Catholics, we believe that he is with God in heaven and able to interact and see us as we struggle to make a life without him. There have been multiple online tributes to him as we work on creating a memorial worthy of a man who lived an honorable and giving life.
For example, rather than having flowers at church, we plan on having trees, bushes, ornamental grasses, and shrubs.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to his alma mater where he was inducted into their Hall of Fame twice....that's right....most of us are not worthy of one induction let alone two :-)
As he passed away and took his final breaths, there were 40 members of his family squeezed into the room as we held hands, prayed, and walked with him to heaven. St Peter opened the door to him and closed it to us. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful death.
Face it, we are all headed that way, and to pass away with such love and support is quite a testimony to his life on earth. According to the nurses, most people pass away with one or two people in the room. Often they die alone. This was not the case as he was not alone in the last week of his life as family and friends held vigils at his bedside.
With that said, I am sad and will never forget how much he impacted my life as a teenager, young adult...and yes....into my middle age.....he was a dominant figure who will not be replaced. However, given our faith, we will be reunited in heaven for 'no shower' happy hours, pizza and beer, and sitting on the heavenly porch just chatting about nothing...something....anything....
I miss you, Big M.....
'Til we meet again......
Peace!
Showing posts with label baseball; college baseball; high school and college baseball ;college pitchers ;bullpen mom ;bullpen ;baseball;bullpenmom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball; college baseball; high school and college baseball ;college pitchers ;bullpen mom ;bullpen ;baseball;bullpenmom. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Friday, July 18, 2014
Almost no hitter....almost....sort of.....
Hello!
I'm back although I still have a mountain of papers to grade. Ah, the joys and sorrows of teaching. NO complaints...just facts....
OK, on to the big kid who has left my sofa in an empty apartment awaiting its demise into a dumpster. Honestly, the kid can walk home from Illinois if I have to fish the sofa out of the dump. He can change his name, find new parents, and join the witness protection program. Just sayin'.....
Last night, he returned to the mound and threw with blazing speed. he had a no-hitter going into the 7th when a few things happened.....the broadcaster announced that he had a no hitter going...(in baseball this is a no-no and classless. No one mentions no hitters until the end of the game. The broadcaster, in essence, jinxed it). However, the kid needed to be locked in and not let the announcement affect him.
He had two outs and a count of 0-2 on the last batter. he painted the corner of the plate and the umpire called it a ball. The next ball was a blooper hit over the 2nd baseman's head ending the no-hitter. After he was relieved (had thrown 100 pitches), he said on his way back to the dugout to the umpire: "You blew that call."
The team won...the kid got the win....fixed his stats....showed the world what he could do....the game was over. The umpire walked up to him after the game and admitted that he blew the call. Wow....talk about class.....yet, the damage was done and the guy lost his no-hitter over a blown call.
Ah, like teaching...the joys and sorrows of the game. Let's add this story to the book and move on. Yet, remember how great the feeling was to not only hold a team hitless for so long but to win a game. Truly a terrific outing.
The newspaper and coach were complimentary. he was taken out at that point in the game since he was coming back from strept throat.
When he called at 12:30 am, he was still in a great state and had to go back to the apartment and work out. He never stops.....an Energizer bunny, wouldn't you say?
And now, he can sit back but not be satisfied. He knows what he can do. There is nothing to stop him after this performance.
Gotta go!
Peace!
I'm back although I still have a mountain of papers to grade. Ah, the joys and sorrows of teaching. NO complaints...just facts....
OK, on to the big kid who has left my sofa in an empty apartment awaiting its demise into a dumpster. Honestly, the kid can walk home from Illinois if I have to fish the sofa out of the dump. He can change his name, find new parents, and join the witness protection program. Just sayin'.....
Last night, he returned to the mound and threw with blazing speed. he had a no-hitter going into the 7th when a few things happened.....the broadcaster announced that he had a no hitter going...(in baseball this is a no-no and classless. No one mentions no hitters until the end of the game. The broadcaster, in essence, jinxed it). However, the kid needed to be locked in and not let the announcement affect him.
He had two outs and a count of 0-2 on the last batter. he painted the corner of the plate and the umpire called it a ball. The next ball was a blooper hit over the 2nd baseman's head ending the no-hitter. After he was relieved (had thrown 100 pitches), he said on his way back to the dugout to the umpire: "You blew that call."
The team won...the kid got the win....fixed his stats....showed the world what he could do....the game was over. The umpire walked up to him after the game and admitted that he blew the call. Wow....talk about class.....yet, the damage was done and the guy lost his no-hitter over a blown call.
Ah, like teaching...the joys and sorrows of the game. Let's add this story to the book and move on. Yet, remember how great the feeling was to not only hold a team hitless for so long but to win a game. Truly a terrific outing.
The newspaper and coach were complimentary. he was taken out at that point in the game since he was coming back from strept throat.
When he called at 12:30 am, he was still in a great state and had to go back to the apartment and work out. He never stops.....an Energizer bunny, wouldn't you say?
And now, he can sit back but not be satisfied. He knows what he can do. There is nothing to stop him after this performance.
Gotta go!
Peace!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Oh Lawd! You look hot!
Hello! Fall weather has hit the region and I am not ready yet. The waistbands are still too tight and I am going to have to take drastic measures this week.....more about that later. A quick hint...it involves food or the lack thereof.
On to a very new research study that I actually agree with even before I see how the study was conducted. It seems that men stop caring about how they look at age 46. In other words, they give up. On the other hand, women gut it out until 59. Moreover, men start to give up 26 months after they are married.
Is this true? How many people did they poll? Did they look at the labels and sizes of their subjects' clothes? Did the researchers actually ask the question: "Do you care how you look today? Really? When did you stop caring?" Interesting....who in their right minds would have dreamed up this study and methodology? Perhaps one day while sitting at the picnic table eating her bagged lunch outside the classrooms, a social sciences professor declared after observing the clothes and demeanor of the teaching faculty suggested: "Hey, these people don't care how they look! I wonder how old they are and if they are married! Something to ponder....perhaps I can get a big government grant to pay for this inane study???"
And so, what are my thoughts on the topic? Well, as you can surmise, based on the number of months in my life that I have been on a diet, I do care. Although I frequently think: 'why?' Isn't there a point where a person just says "screw it" and plows into the cheesecake with a fork without cutting a slice? Aren't we supposed to have some fun in life? After all, eating rice cakes and Special K bars are far from fulfilling. It leaves a person wanting more and more...yet, we deprive ourselves in order to stay the magic size.
Also, how much money do we pay for hair and make up? How many of us start the coupon clipping as the end of year sales start and wait until everything on the rack is 75% off with a 20% off coupon? All we really want to do is hang out at home with our stretchy yoga or athletic pants on and a tee shirt, so why are we looking for the next great look?
I remember attending my 5 year reunion after high school; I guess that I was 23 years old and was astonished at how the guys looked...balding and fat. On the other hand, the girls looked amazing.
This year marks a big anniversary of the high school football team's city championship win. I was in the stands and watched Big M, my brother in law, catch the wining touchdown in the end zone. It was a super day for the high school and now they are marking its anniversary in October and honoring the original football team. Obviously, Big M will be a large part of the celebration.
I mentioned this to Big Sis (Big M was her high school and college boyfriend and now they are married....), and said: "You have to get something special for the celebration to wear." her response was: "I am wearing jeans." OK, jeans are OK, but they have to fit and NOT be mom-jeans.
After all, we will be in the stands to see how your classmates have aged and whether they have given up or not.
Now supported by the aforementioned research, she doesn't understand my logic, so I will work on a poster presentation to enlighten her on the very important aspects of showing up for a reunion looking better, hotter, and younger than the rest. Is this too shallow?
Not that she has hit 59 yet as mentioned in the research....she has lots of time......However, with the spotlight on the team and their spouses, she has to bring it..... Therefore, I submit for your consideration...What is the most craved sentence a person wants to hear at a reunion?
Not.....'boy, you really let yourself go...'
'...you look, uh, nice....'
'is that really you?'
Instead a person wants to hear:
"You look the same" (dubious, this could backfire if you had pimples and braces in high school)
"You haven't aged!"
"Oh, lawd...you look fine!"
Yep, I like the third sentence which is why I will continue to care how I look past the age of 59 'cause I foresee lots of reunions in the future with those of us who took care of ourselves and can see the invitations without their glasses and walk through the doors of the high school gym without our walkers.
As far as Big Sis is concerned, I am on the case and will kidnap her and take her to the clearance rack with my coupon to find jeans that fit and do not need to be pulled up when she sits. Scooby, a make up artist, will apply her make up and I will find the right top and sweater. Big Sis does not know this now, but when the hero of the city championship game is introduced, she will be by his side....and people will say......
"You look the same"
"You haven't aged!"
"Oh, lawd...you look fine!"
have a great day!
On to a very new research study that I actually agree with even before I see how the study was conducted. It seems that men stop caring about how they look at age 46. In other words, they give up. On the other hand, women gut it out until 59. Moreover, men start to give up 26 months after they are married.Is this true? How many people did they poll? Did they look at the labels and sizes of their subjects' clothes? Did the researchers actually ask the question: "Do you care how you look today? Really? When did you stop caring?" Interesting....who in their right minds would have dreamed up this study and methodology? Perhaps one day while sitting at the picnic table eating her bagged lunch outside the classrooms, a social sciences professor declared after observing the clothes and demeanor of the teaching faculty suggested: "Hey, these people don't care how they look! I wonder how old they are and if they are married! Something to ponder....perhaps I can get a big government grant to pay for this inane study???"
Also, how much money do we pay for hair and make up? How many of us start the coupon clipping as the end of year sales start and wait until everything on the rack is 75% off with a 20% off coupon? All we really want to do is hang out at home with our stretchy yoga or athletic pants on and a tee shirt, so why are we looking for the next great look?
I remember attending my 5 year reunion after high school; I guess that I was 23 years old and was astonished at how the guys looked...balding and fat. On the other hand, the girls looked amazing.
This year marks a big anniversary of the high school football team's city championship win. I was in the stands and watched Big M, my brother in law, catch the wining touchdown in the end zone. It was a super day for the high school and now they are marking its anniversary in October and honoring the original football team. Obviously, Big M will be a large part of the celebration.
I mentioned this to Big Sis (Big M was her high school and college boyfriend and now they are married....), and said: "You have to get something special for the celebration to wear." her response was: "I am wearing jeans." OK, jeans are OK, but they have to fit and NOT be mom-jeans.
After all, we will be in the stands to see how your classmates have aged and whether they have given up or not.
Now supported by the aforementioned research, she doesn't understand my logic, so I will work on a poster presentation to enlighten her on the very important aspects of showing up for a reunion looking better, hotter, and younger than the rest. Is this too shallow?
Not that she has hit 59 yet as mentioned in the research....she has lots of time......However, with the spotlight on the team and their spouses, she has to bring it..... Therefore, I submit for your consideration...What is the most craved sentence a person wants to hear at a reunion?
Not.....'boy, you really let yourself go...'
'...you look, uh, nice....'
'is that really you?'
Instead a person wants to hear:
"You look the same" (dubious, this could backfire if you had pimples and braces in high school)
"You haven't aged!"
"Oh, lawd...you look fine!"
Yep, I like the third sentence which is why I will continue to care how I look past the age of 59 'cause I foresee lots of reunions in the future with those of us who took care of ourselves and can see the invitations without their glasses and walk through the doors of the high school gym without our walkers.
As far as Big Sis is concerned, I am on the case and will kidnap her and take her to the clearance rack with my coupon to find jeans that fit and do not need to be pulled up when she sits. Scooby, a make up artist, will apply her make up and I will find the right top and sweater. Big Sis does not know this now, but when the hero of the city championship game is introduced, she will be by his side....and people will say......
"You look the same"
"You haven't aged!"
"Oh, lawd...you look fine!"
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Looking at problems
Good hot morning! Yep, it's juicy....yesterday I had a three hour tennis match against a power house team....yes, they were good, young, and in shape versus me and my faithful partner, Spike (who is in great condition). Thank goodness for Spike...she ran everything down like a champion. I would hit the ball into the air and she would put it away. As we entered the third set, we were tied until the bitter end when all we needed was one point to win and did we do it? 
Well, you read my stories, so you know the answers. No, I choked and went back to a tie....then broke the tie...were down...up....down....one point...one point....one point...then we lost in the tie break 15-13. Ouch.....our pride was not the only thing hurt here....legs, arms, back, right great toe, left heel, and my ego.....Spike and I felt that it was a moral victory which basically means that we lost. But she was a champion! As I hobbled around Target and Costco with BP Grandmom and Grandpop, I was still waiting for my saliva to return and to stop sweating. Yep, hours later after playing for three plus hours in 92 degree temperature, I was still hot. With that said, my saliva has partially returned and I am pretty sure that I am still a bit dehydrated...but who cares....it was great fun even though we lost.....which is a very good lesson for the big leftie.....
When I dragged my body home, I knew that I needed to talk to the big kid about his immediate reactions to problems. He avoided me for as long as he could until I captured him on the stairway...."sit down, I want to talk with you...." "Here...yeah, here...I am too wet from tennis to sit on the furniture, so sit on this step. We gotta chat..."
And so it began with his delaying the 'talk' to show me a you tube video of the University of Cincinnati baseball team....I'll post it below....he continued to avoid the obvious mother son chat by showing me a really funny Jimmy Kimmel you tube....OK...enough....although this one was pretty good too....see below....
Finally! We are going to have that moment where I tell him that a person solves problems in the following sequence which can or cannot be modified depending upon the issue at hand:
1. Problem occurs....Option A: Panic Option B: Step back and start to think through your data
2. Look at options. Eliminate the emotions
3. What are your options, leaving panic out of the process? On a good day, you will discover that you have more options than you think.
4. List the resolutions in your mind....process...combine them...delete a few....prioritize....make a decision.....
5. Implement your decision
6. Evaluate.....
This process can be refined and tailored for each person. Now, I am sure that your question is: "did he listen?"
Hmmmmm, that is a toughie....let's just say that he "heard" what I had to say. Whether or not he alters his approach to issues and life remains to be seen. But, he's a young guy, so he is still in the development phase. I know that he has the tools to be effective in crisis management, but he doesn't know it yet.
OK, I am done pontificating and am pretty sure that I need some water....crazy....I must be crazy....after all, I played college tennis years and years ago with Wildcat and still strap the sneakers and knee brace on each week to have someone mess with me. Why? I don't know but after yesterday's epic match, I have to say that the journey and trying to achieve something that really doesn't matter is fun. Yep, fun....Tink....quick...grab the ice pack and a bag of frozen peas for my knees....the Aleeve....and the heating pad for my back....thanks sweetie......
Have a great day!
Well, you read my stories, so you know the answers. No, I choked and went back to a tie....then broke the tie...were down...up....down....one point...one point....one point...then we lost in the tie break 15-13. Ouch.....our pride was not the only thing hurt here....legs, arms, back, right great toe, left heel, and my ego.....Spike and I felt that it was a moral victory which basically means that we lost. But she was a champion! As I hobbled around Target and Costco with BP Grandmom and Grandpop, I was still waiting for my saliva to return and to stop sweating. Yep, hours later after playing for three plus hours in 92 degree temperature, I was still hot. With that said, my saliva has partially returned and I am pretty sure that I am still a bit dehydrated...but who cares....it was great fun even though we lost.....which is a very good lesson for the big leftie.....
When I dragged my body home, I knew that I needed to talk to the big kid about his immediate reactions to problems. He avoided me for as long as he could until I captured him on the stairway...."sit down, I want to talk with you...." "Here...yeah, here...I am too wet from tennis to sit on the furniture, so sit on this step. We gotta chat..."
And so it began with his delaying the 'talk' to show me a you tube video of the University of Cincinnati baseball team....I'll post it below....he continued to avoid the obvious mother son chat by showing me a really funny Jimmy Kimmel you tube....OK...enough....although this one was pretty good too....see below....
Finally! We are going to have that moment where I tell him that a person solves problems in the following sequence which can or cannot be modified depending upon the issue at hand:
1. Problem occurs....Option A: Panic Option B: Step back and start to think through your data
2. Look at options. Eliminate the emotions
3. What are your options, leaving panic out of the process? On a good day, you will discover that you have more options than you think.
4. List the resolutions in your mind....process...combine them...delete a few....prioritize....make a decision.....
5. Implement your decision
6. Evaluate.....
This process can be refined and tailored for each person. Now, I am sure that your question is: "did he listen?"
Hmmmmm, that is a toughie....let's just say that he "heard" what I had to say. Whether or not he alters his approach to issues and life remains to be seen. But, he's a young guy, so he is still in the development phase. I know that he has the tools to be effective in crisis management, but he doesn't know it yet.
OK, I am done pontificating and am pretty sure that I need some water....crazy....I must be crazy....after all, I played college tennis years and years ago with Wildcat and still strap the sneakers and knee brace on each week to have someone mess with me. Why? I don't know but after yesterday's epic match, I have to say that the journey and trying to achieve something that really doesn't matter is fun. Yep, fun....Tink....quick...grab the ice pack and a bag of frozen peas for my knees....the Aleeve....and the heating pad for my back....thanks sweetie......
Have a great day!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Heartache and sorrow: Life lessons
Saturday! You know what Kelly Clarkson says? Wellll....she sings: "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger...." Whew! That can be taken in a number of ways, right?
And so, I bring up the fabulous Ms. Clarkson to remind our former roomie, Angel, that life will get better and he will get to the other side of the chasm, stronger, wiser, stronger, and better....
Huh? What happened to Angel? Angel has suffered from what many of us has faced at least once or twice (OK...some more than twice...). He was dumped by Ms. Canada this week and the poor guy is devastated. Such a nice guy too....but sometimes girls in college do not want the nice guy. Perhaps she became a bit bored with a young man who would pick her up on dates, hold her hair back when she vomited after too much beer, or would admire her new tattoo. Maybe it is nothing that Angel did per se....she just needed to move on to the next guy. And move on she did. She obviously does not recognize how good she had it....
OK, I am doing the 'mom-thing'....you know what that is....why would anyone harm or not want to be with my baby? Granted, Angel is not my son, but I have great affection for him as one of my son's good friends. He is truly a funny, decent person who has taken my kid to church when he did not want to go. Also, he loves my cupcakes! What is there not to like about this kid? Nada...from a mom's perspective.
Therefore, I will spew some of the wisdom that I have learned over the years to help our com-padre to feel a twinge better.....here it comes:
Angel, you are a great guy. She obviously needs a different kind of guy. You deserve better. There are so many young women out there who would love to meet a nice person like you. Will this pep talk work? Absolutely not.....So here are the real facts....
1. She's crazy
2. You are so much better off without someone who doesn't love you like you deserve to be loved
3. Love should not be so difficult. Sure, you can fight and bicker....but at the end of the day, you come back together and work things out.
4. It's gonna hurt for a long time....can anyone spell "months"?
5. Love comes when you do not search for it.
6. Love is not what you expect. it's not like the movies or television. It's real and often ugly. There are no serenades, bouquets of flowers each day, or quiet afternoons walking through the park. Love is crazy, unpredictable, uncertain, and hurtful. It can damage and leave a hole in your heart BUT
7. Once you find someone that clicks with you, there is nothing like it. You will find that there is a comfort knowing that someone loves you more than them self. Someone is there to pick up the dirty socks, wash the underwear, pick the weeds, and make a lousy dinner as you smile and say that Top Chef could not have made it any better....
8. When love really comes, she will say that you are the most handsome and funniest guy in the world. She will laugh at your lame jokes and cry when you are sad. She will be your go-to girl when you strike out or hit a home run.
9. She will always cheer for you and rise out of bed in the middle of the night to take you to the airport.
10. Lastly, your soul mate will be just that...a girl who cannot live without you and sees the goodness in you. You can be yourself which means that you can be cranky, angry, happy, and sad around her without her pulling the plug in the relationship.
It can and will happen....don't look for it now. Heal...hang out with the boys...play...practice...run....focus on school and baseball....take in a movie or two.....get enough sleep....and let yourself feel sad. But once the raw emotion ends, it will be time to move forward and not look back.....how do I know this? Oye! When I write my book, I will share the ups and downs of life with you....until then, just know...I speak the truth and my readers know it too.....
Have a wonderful day.....
And so, I bring up the fabulous Ms. Clarkson to remind our former roomie, Angel, that life will get better and he will get to the other side of the chasm, stronger, wiser, stronger, and better....
OK, I am doing the 'mom-thing'....you know what that is....why would anyone harm or not want to be with my baby? Granted, Angel is not my son, but I have great affection for him as one of my son's good friends. He is truly a funny, decent person who has taken my kid to church when he did not want to go. Also, he loves my cupcakes! What is there not to like about this kid? Nada...from a mom's perspective.
Therefore, I will spew some of the wisdom that I have learned over the years to help our com-padre to feel a twinge better.....here it comes:
Angel, you are a great guy. She obviously needs a different kind of guy. You deserve better. There are so many young women out there who would love to meet a nice person like you. Will this pep talk work? Absolutely not.....So here are the real facts....
1. She's crazy
2. You are so much better off without someone who doesn't love you like you deserve to be loved
3. Love should not be so difficult. Sure, you can fight and bicker....but at the end of the day, you come back together and work things out.
4. It's gonna hurt for a long time....can anyone spell "months"?
5. Love comes when you do not search for it.
6. Love is not what you expect. it's not like the movies or television. It's real and often ugly. There are no serenades, bouquets of flowers each day, or quiet afternoons walking through the park. Love is crazy, unpredictable, uncertain, and hurtful. It can damage and leave a hole in your heart BUT
7. Once you find someone that clicks with you, there is nothing like it. You will find that there is a comfort knowing that someone loves you more than them self. Someone is there to pick up the dirty socks, wash the underwear, pick the weeds, and make a lousy dinner as you smile and say that Top Chef could not have made it any better....
8. When love really comes, she will say that you are the most handsome and funniest guy in the world. She will laugh at your lame jokes and cry when you are sad. She will be your go-to girl when you strike out or hit a home run.
9. She will always cheer for you and rise out of bed in the middle of the night to take you to the airport.
10. Lastly, your soul mate will be just that...a girl who cannot live without you and sees the goodness in you. You can be yourself which means that you can be cranky, angry, happy, and sad around her without her pulling the plug in the relationship.
It can and will happen....don't look for it now. Heal...hang out with the boys...play...practice...run....focus on school and baseball....take in a movie or two.....get enough sleep....and let yourself feel sad. But once the raw emotion ends, it will be time to move forward and not look back.....how do I know this? Oye! When I write my book, I will share the ups and downs of life with you....until then, just know...I speak the truth and my readers know it too.....
Have a wonderful day.....
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