Will Smith's lessons for pitchers

It's snowing...that's right...a spring storm with ice and slick roads....no complaints....I have given up complaining for Lent. Actually, I started this sacrifice yesterday and so far so good....although dad and Tink are calling me on some lame stuff. Calling things as I see them is not complaining....that's all there is to it.

The team got back at a reasonable time last night and the big guy headed to the library to study for a test. Uh huh...that's right...study after the 8+ hour trek home and playing three games in two days. Nothing gonna stop this guy.....by the way, he posted this video on my FB page. I believe it represents how he feels at this moment....enjoy...














After viewing this video, does anyone call Will Smith's focus on excellence psychotic?  I don't think so. In fact, I like what he had to say. He worked his way up from obscurity to who he is  now....a success story.

The big lefty likes to read autobiographies on how the great ones made it and all of the hard work that went into success. It motivates him even more. If someone had told me that my son would spend hours upon hours in the library studying, I would have laughed and given them a breathalyzer test. Yet, that is where he is....studying....talking to teachers about grades....challenging them....Hmmm....did he listen to us as he grew? Did it finally sink in OR did what I think was going to happen actually happen?

What I mean is...that I left him alone over the years and let him make his own mistakes, because that was the only way he was going to learn...through life's lessons. I know that he tuned me out when I would pontificate...so I stopped. But every now and then I will send him a note about my expectations and how proud I am of him. All I want for him is to make good decisions, be a good, kind, caring man, and go to church....that's it. I don't care if he picks up trash or runs the board room. His happiness and ability to be independent is what it is all about. He put this notion into his own head about being the best. Perhaps he watches his dad's work ethic.....dad is at work or at least thinking about it 24/7. Crazy? uh huh...but it is what drives him each day....no hobbies....just work.

And so, this week is going to be interesting. There is a game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and home stand over the weekend. The weather remains frosty, so I will have the hand warmers ready. Tink and I will head to the weekend's game, hoping that he gets in on Friday or Saturday since we are not the entire weekend.

Time to shovel a grassy spot for Diva to pee.....she does not like to squat in snow...who does?

later!

Trick or treat

Wow! Did you see the damage on television to the Jersey shore? That hurricane has created billions of dollars in damages. People who own summer homes are not allowed to see the damage and have to wait for at least several more days until the roads are cleared and power is restored. Talk about Merlot moments...get me the box....

And so, how is the big kid doing today? Well, he was dropped off at school yesterday and has returned to class. He has discovered that he had to call the oil company to fill the tank for heat. This is a big boy thing to do....so he took hold of the issue and made the phone call. Sadly, he can see his breath in the house and plans on sleeping on Angel's sofa until there is heat is restored. Fun, eh?

He says that he is tired but able to get through the day. This is all good especially since he was in the hospital less than one week ago. It's unbelievable the events of one week. You never know what will happen from day to day. Perhaps that is why we have booze.....kidding....no, actually, I am not.

Tonight, we had a multitude of trick or treaters and have quite a bit of candy left over. I never want to run out, so I over buy. Now we have Snickers, Milky Ways, M&Ms, and Peanut butter cups left. They are all my favorites. Therefore, there will be no waste...none what so ever. After all, as BP GrandMom used to say: "There are starving children in Biafra, eat your peas." She's right. We can't waste food. It's not humane.

OK, I got to get my stuff ready for tomorrow's long day. Now I start at 5 am and end at 4 pm. Yeah, I know what you are thinking....who created that schedule? Which bonehead? Huh? Who would ever do that to a person? The answer may surprise you....it was me. I thought that it would not be too bad, but now that I am actually doing it, I am questioning my sanity.

As Sonny and Cher would sing: "the beat goes on.....and the beat goes on...."

Later!

Go time

Hi
It's "go time"...what do I mean by go-time?

Well, the kid is pitching in a simulated game for the first time in over a year. I have had to prepare for this...not sure what he is doing, but I am almost ready....

After showering and finding my "not so fat, but wearable" mom-jeans, I added make up (yes, full caking of the face) and earrings. My lucky sneakers are sitting by the door as I look for lucky socks. The camera is charged and waiting. The kids and I made the baked ziti, pulled pork, cupcakes and whoopie pies. There is a plastic pumpkin filled with candy and a case of rice krispie treats thanks to Sam's Club. The kids made posters for him that I will post after I photograph them (so cute).

Dad and Tink are loading the car and the dog walker is set to stop by and take care of Diva Dog. All in all, we are headed north into the mountains to the unknown.....

More tomorrow.....

Trash or treasure

Good morning....the rain has temporarily stopped. How crazy has the weather been in the northeast? Personally, I am ready to dry out. As my friend left work yesterday in a deluge, a bolt of lightening struck a tree across the courtyard. Panicked, she ran back into the office and said that she was soaked and would have to check when she got home whether her underwear was also wet. I told her that her undies were indeed probably wet, but not from the rain.....She wasn't pleased with me.....

And so, as I remained at work and refused to leave until the thunderstorm was in another county, I received a phone call from the big kid.....

"Mom...uh...when you were at the house on Saturday, did you think that the outside was a mess?"

hmmm....Let's see....trash strewn around after the mega-party for 200 of their closest friends plus anyone who wandered away from the bus terminal.....red solo cups broken and squashed on the porch....trash cans overflowing with trash.....

"Not really....Why?"

"Wellll...."

Apparently, the police drove by and reported the messy house.

The landlord proceeded to email the guys and told them to clean up or get out. OK, am I going to lose my housing deposit one week into the semester? Is this a joke?

Interesting...that was fast...they are not even in school one week and they are facing eviction. Aren't I a proud mom or what?

As I asked him what he was going to do about it....his response was: "I didn't see any trash...."

Yep....gang...this is where I have gone wrong as a parent....I did not teach him the difference between trash and treasure. Trash is something that you do not want to keep such as a Snickers bar wrapper or empty and used red solo cup. Treasure is the actual Snickers bar and an unused cup. Sheesh...these guys are in college. Do I have to place this information on a PowerPoint slide? Should I send them a webinar on the topic?

Oh my, they would not listen to me anyway....they see my face and their eyes glaze over....so be it...the landlord is now their faux-mom. She can berate the guys and give them a time out for not throwing out their trash. She can take away the keys to the car or not allow them to have their dessert tonight. Perhaps she can give them demerits. Anyway you look at it, they have to shape up and clean up.

Let's see....After a big party.........here is what you do:

begin with a big garbage bag+bend+pick up cups+toss into bag+bag on street for trash pick up....how is that for an equation?

Maybe I can give them a recipe that they can understand:

1-large black Hefty bag
1- Hefty bag tie
4-Party giving and going college juniors
1,000-pieces of trash

Open the bag. Bend the legs. Pick up the trash. Drop into the Hefty bag. When all trash has been picked up from the lawn and porch and you can see the green grass rather than a carpet of red cups, use the twist tie and seal the bag. Take bag to curb. Go wash your hands.....

That's it....simple....and it does not require batteries.....

Enjoy the day!

By the way, someone stole the star that I got for free from the wall.....it's missing....gone....kind of like an expensive painting in the Louvre....now a work of art in someone else's home....

Monkey Cowboys

Hi!
I have been thinking about things lately. What kind of things, you may ask? Oh, lots of things from the meaning of life to following your passion. I am actually finishing two courses this week so I am reading papers on leadership. The papers are actually quite good, so naturally, I am in fairly good spirits. When the papers are bad, I begin to either tug at my hair (ouch) or hit my head against my desk (double ouch). It seems that the art of writing a sentence and developing one thought into a paragraph has been lost. Sadly, I am not sure what has happened but as a professor, I have to grade not only the content of a paper but sentence structure, grammar, and spelling. Sometimes students have good ideas but they are lost in the way that they express themselves...see what I mean about thinking?

And so, the thoughts continue as I consider where my son is today. When I arrived home the other day, he was ready to go to the gym for a two hour work out. He was also in good spirits as he has selected his walk out song for next season. I love his optimism. According to the big kid, the arm does not hurt and he is getting stronger each day.

When he brought up the walk out song, I could feel his excitement. I hope the season comes soon because I doubt if he is going to be able to wait much longer. Yet wait, he will do, because the actual first pitch will not be thrown until September in fall ball. All of this hard work and preparation to stand on a hill of dirt and throw a little round ball with seams to another player. It seems so surreal. It is this little ball that makes this big kid happy. Nothing else, really...except, perhaps his bed and dog (on occasion) and pizza....

That's it...that's what I am thinking about....he works out 25+ hours a week for 52 weeks per year. And maybe, yes maybe, he will be placed into a game and throw 8 balls. Then he will be taken out of the game and sit in the bullpen for several days until he can throw 8 more balls. But in the meantime, he is working out, running, lifting weights, eating nutritiously, and forgoing partying and some of the college experiences.

Therefore, I ask the question: "Is all of this worth the effort?" Is it the journey or the destination that makes life worthwhile? I don't know, but the story continues each day and we do not know the outcome. If hard work and determination are part of the equation then he is on his way.

Speaking of on his way, last night the family took in a minor league baseball game. The game was fun but dull since the score was so lopsided. There was no drama until.....yes....until....then it happened....something that I only heard of but never witnessed.

What do I mean? Well, there is a legend of a monkey who is also a cowboy who rides on a dog. They call the show the "Cowboy Monkey Rodeo." Naturally, I was captivated by the title and the thought of a monkey riding on the back of a dog. Then it happened! Whiplash the monkey emerged from the locker room and ran around the stadium during a break in the game. There he was....in all of his glory with a little monkey hat on and a little monkey cowboy outfit riding on the back of a shaggy black and white sheep dog. It was one of the greatest things that I have seen and also a bit disturbing.

I stood and cheered. Clapped...hooted...hollered....the monkey with the cowboy hat on and the dog ran laps around the in field and disappeared. What a sight. It was the best part of the game. My life is now complete. I have seen the elusive cowboy monkey and his sheep dog. I can now die in peace. Forget about Alaska.

We loved it...then Big Sis walked backed to her seat since she had taken a moment to run to the ladies room. Standing there in disbelief, she could not believe that she missed the magic. Ah, yes, the magic and joy of watching a monkey and his dog. Life was good last night as we settled back into our seats to silently watch the end of the game thinking about the joy that the little monkey brought to the entire stadium.

Enjoy the day and here's hoping that you catch a glimpse of a monkey riding on the back of a dog some day....put it on your bucket list.