A new worldview

Good morning! I'm back after a bit of a break to house break the pups. They are so cute but desperately need a firm hand. We are at the point where they use the puppy pee pads regularly and will sit upon command. The rest of the training will continue today as we work on 'come' and 'stay' commands. Sadly, Diva never learned any commands and was thrown out of puppy training class for disrupting the class. She needed one on one training that did not take therefore, she thought that she was a person....and in a way, she was our best friend as she waited for us to come home and treated us with unconditional love...then she took over the house. These pups are not going to be the alpha dogs since Tink and I decided it would be chaos if they did. And hence....I have not been able to write since the pups have taken over my free time....and sleep.....the circles under my eyes are black and puffy....yikes! It's all worth it if I have dogs who are well behaved and do not mess my carpets. It's the simple things in life that make us happy...right?



On to the big, wayward kid....sheesh....you would think that he has never gone back to school before yet he is in a fog. Where is he staying next week? Who knows. That's right....he's 'working on it'....Ok. Keep working on it, Bucko....


Courses? Well, as far as I know, he has not made the changes for the certificate in entrepreneurship. He wants to be a MLB player, lawyer, and business owner....I think that means 'rich', yet.....he's time line is not so much of a line but a circle.



With the pressures of returning to campus, he has been in a very salty mood with expletives flying and a sullen appearance. Yes, things did not work out the way that he wanted them to last year....nor for me....I still have not lost the desired 5 pound goal that I set last new Year's, whatever.....but he's angry at the world....until......

Yes, the Hand of God is everywhere and used a little boy with cancer to change my son's outlook on his life....what happened?

Well, he has had to work at the bakery for spending money for the fall. He complains because he wants to train and sleep....uh, me too, but you don't see me in bed....right?

Anyway, a three year old boy came into the bakery with his older brother and mother yesterday. He had a surgical mask on and his hair was gone. Actually, his mother and brother's hair was gone too, to support the little guy.  As they entered, the mother showed him a picture of a super hero cake with three layers and the Hulk's fist coming out of the top. It was way cool for a neat little guy.


According to his mom, they do not need the cake until October since he was going to go through one more procedure, If it works....he lives....if not.....he does not. Really? Hey, don't wait until October for the cake. Take it now. I'll make it....except, it won't look like the Hulk's fist, it would probably look like a tree.....nonetheless....this kid is the super hero.

Upon speaking with this neat family, the Grinch's heart began to swell and life (his life) came into perspective as she now saw what it really means to struggle. Nope, getting up at 10 am, working out, and selling cookies is not struggling....The real struggle lies with this family as they work together to defeat the Big C. God bless them all as this little guy uses all of his super powers to take on the enemy cells in his body.

When he returned home last night, he had a smile on his face and almost apologized for his selfish behavior.....nice.....this is the guy that I know that he is, he just needed to be reminded that life is not fair. This little boy did not have to say anything but he changed one person's worldview with a cake and crime fighting cape.

With that said, the big guy is still in a quandary as he returns to school on Friday. I wish him luck. He will need it unless he completes the tasks that should have been done last March. Oh well, don't we all learn by making mistakes? Get the refrigerator box out, as long as it has Wifi, he can live in an ally on campus.

Got to run after the pups!

Peace!

Puppies!

Hi! Sorry that I have not posted, but I have been quite busy....you see......



Upon coming home from Illinois, I was beat and beaten up....tired....a bit sad.....and I needed just to hang out at home and accomplish some of my own goals. So, on Friday, I had the electrician and the plumber scheduled at 8 am to fix a few issues, then I would have the day to myself....Yet, it did not happen the way I had planned.

Neither showed up. Therefore, I sat on the sofa, waiting....waiting....waiting....no one....I waited some more, then turned on my tablet and was even more bored.....so......


I looked up rescue dogs....no malteses....rats....then I checked for puppies and.....



Found twins who were born in June...9 weeks old and as cute as a button.....Think...you are mourning Diva....she dies in your arms...your heart was ripped to shreds....no more dogs.....Although....

The twins were so cute....so I sent the link to dad waiting for a 'no way'....and did not get it.....sooooo.....

I called the man on the website to ask about the twins....They were born on an Amish farm and were ready for adoption.

What about puppy mills? They say that the Amish are famous for running puppy mills. I cannot support one, therefore, I wanted to look and inspect the farm to make sure that the dogs were not part of a mill.




As we arrived, a young Amish man greeted us. His brother Samuel was sitting without shoes in his Amish clothes by the barn playing with three puppies. Another two teens were lying on the grass just hanging out. The father was plowing the fields with his horses and another sister was pulling weeds in the garden.

We got out of the car and I wanted to see the dogs, their parents, and where they were staying. Upon meeting the puppies, I was smitten. The parents, however, looked old and bedraggled. The mother was tired looking and the father was anxious. Not a good combination in my book, but the puppies were active and fun...and dirty.....



We left the farm and did not purchase the dogs but said that if we could have an hour to think about it, we would be back to get them. The four of us looked at each other and we knew that we were hooked....



Yes, we brought home a brother and sister who are devoted to one another, have a great deal of pep, and seem to have less anxiety than Diva did. And I swear that I will train these dogs to sit, give  paws, stay, and come. Already, they are using their pee pads except for one accident. But on the whole, they are sweet and seem kind of smart.

How do I know that they are smart? Well, I did not give them the SATs, but the girl puppy who I call Miss Trouble seems to understand what is going on a bit faster than the boy.

Am I nuts? Yes. Enough said.

OK, I am off to church then back home to the twins.

Peace!

Road trip

Good morning! Actually, it is a great morning! Last night, we made it home around 8:30 and I walked around the house being so grateful to be home.

It was a wonderful moment. With the travel, sleeping in strange beds, and meals that are loaded with carbs and sugar, I am so happy....really happy...sincerely happy. Plus, we are all under one roof which makes me elated.


With that said, I am still in a haze. I set my alarm on my tablet for 5:30 am yesterday morning with the idea that we would leave at 6a. However, my tablet was still on eastern standard time, so I actually pulled the big guy out of bed at 4:30 am. It didn't matter, he really did not notice. He lumbered to the front seat of the car and went back to sleep.

The car's gas gauge was on 1/8 tank, so I figured that I would hit a gas station on the highway....wrong...very wrong....we are in the midwest....corn fields.....long tireless highways....no where to find gas or rest rooms. And so, I drove white knuckled down the highway until I found a gas station that opened at 9:30 am. Yikes....on fumes, I finally found another one that was opened. But I believe that as I was running on empty, I promised God that I would join the convent, priesthood, and live a life of complete simplicity if He got me to a gas station before running out of gas. It's the simple things, right?



I am sure that God was laughing, because there is no Catholic order of religious who would take me even if I begged.

The road trip continued as I drove and drove and drove and drove some more. Yes, the big guy was supposed to help to drive, yet as he slumbered and slept, I had the vision of driving him as a young boy in the back seat of my Volvo and decided that he was still a little cutie as he slept with his big blue blankie on him.

After a breakfast at Panera, we moved on....through Illinois.....Indiana...Ohiooooooo......yep, we stayed on the same road and stopped for gas and snacks.

He finally woke up in West Virginia as I stopped at another Panera for a quick bite, but he broke the traveling companion code of conduct. As we entered WVa, I began to sing John Denver's Rocky Mountain High.....You know how it goes..."Almost heaven....West Virginia......"

As I destroyed the melody with my singing, he taped it with the cell phone and posted it on Snapchat....then he sent it to his posse.....all I could hear from that point was his cell phone buzzing with comments, which I am pretty sure were uncomplimentary as I gazed at my reflection in the car mirror as my hair was standing out straight as if I put my finger in a light socket....sunglasses smudged, and a huge zit on my face....the voice...well, my voice sounds like a cross between Janice Joplin and Bob Dylan...yeah, that bad. Glad that I could give a bunch of guys a laugh or ten...

 

After Panera, I gave him money to buy snacks for the rest of the trip....he came out of the gas station with Tasty Kake chocolate donuts, a monster drink, and a huge Reeses peanut butter cup. Secretly, I was pleased....however, I did the mom-thing..."really....no bananas? No apples? No Skittles?" Sheesh....

Then he took the wheel. First, I had him hand over the cell phone. No texting and driving with me in the car...uh uh....no way. I could tell that it was killing him as I heard buzz, buzz, buzz.....He drove like a mad man. I needed a blind fold and a cigarette as he handled the car like Dale Ernhardt Jr.....let me tell ya....the next stop, I was going to take over despite losing the feeling in my right leg after driving for 7 straight hours. "Pull over...I feel great....you go back to sleep....you're tired...."

Now I am back at the wheel and on the Pa turnpike...I can taste it....see it.....glass of wine....pizza....pretzels...a salad or five! My own bed and pillows....yes...we were getting closer and closer...my leg started to seize again and we needed to resuscitate it by pounding on it...."Don't die....don't let me down...come on...you can do it...." Yep, we got off the turnpike and had 15 minutes left to home...I could smell my Dove soap now....do I see a chilled glass of pinot grigio on the counter or is it a mirage? Then it happened....  the car began to make noise...oh no...not now....we are so close.....

As we stopped, we could not figure out what the noise was, but how could we? His father cannot even change a light bulb....me? Well, I cannot figure out how to change the batteries in the tv remote control. We were doomed. So we did what any other mechanically inept person would do.....continued to drive with the noise and held our breath so that we would make it home. I did not want to send a prayer up to heaven since God already helped me out with the gas station thing at 5 am. That was a huge miracle....asking for two would be a bit selfish, don't you think?



We made it home...looked around for Diva (Whaaaaahhhh!)....ate pizza, drank a large...really large glass of wine and went to bed. As I laid my head on my wonderful pillow, I could hear the door to the house closing with Tink's car starting up. The big kid went off the high school to throw his weighted balls...it never ends, and now, we begin.....again...a new story...new chapter in the story of a kid, a baseball, and a dream....

And now, I am off to the food cupboard to volunteer. So glad to be home....I am never leaving again...until the next game....



Peace!

The summer ends....

Good morning! Yes, it is a good morning as I stare out my window at Panera and can see the smoke stacks that are located next to my hotel. Yep, the view was not of palm trees, ocean, or mountains. The view is of continuing billowing smoke escaping through the three smoke stacks at the factory adjacent to the Drury Hotel.

The accommodations have been comfortable although I wake up each day with a huge head and backache. Am I complaining? Nope, just reporting the facts. Glad that I brought the heavy duty Advil 'cause I really need it.

Are you wondering about last night's game? Yes? No? Well....it went like this.....

We arrived at the field 30 minutes before the start of the game...kind of like the way we make it to the airport when we fly....30 minutes before take off....talk about stress....this is a post for another day.

As we walked through the gates, the blood mobile was positioned near the entrance. Suddenly, dad had an altruistic urge to give blood. Not complaining, I looked at him quizzically....now? You want to give blood now? This could be one of the biggest games ever and you are going into the blood mobile? No dollar beers for him last night.



After 40 minutes, he joined me in the stands during the second inning. How is it going?

Inning 1: 1-2-3 OUT
Inning 2: 1-2-3- OUT
Inning 3: 1-2-3- OUT
Inning 4: 1-2 (soft hit that shortstop could have fielded for an out if he left the place where he was daydreaming)- 3-4 OUT
Inning 5: Walk-stolen base-stolen base-weak fly ball to outfield (unearned run)-2-3-4 OUT
Inning 6: Walk-stolen base-Walk-Walk (SHEESH! What the heck!)- taken out- two unearned runs score.....

Innings 7-9: a few runs scored.....that's it. He wins the war, but lost a few battles....

What was with the walks?

"My legs were gassed. I had nothing left."

Ok, then ask to be pulled out. Believe it or not, when he left the game, he gave up three unearned runs with only 1 soft hit. This game is really bizarre.

Looking back on it....he was dominant during the 5 innings.The batters could not hit the ball and in the 5th inning, they stopped trying. He hits 90s a number of times, then petered out.



Fortunately, the season ends tonight. We clean out the apartment, give away the bed, and load the car. I am going to do my best to make it home tomorrow and not split the journey into two days. After all, I have a hair appointment and Lord knows, I grew multiple gray hairs during this summer and am beginning to look like a female Albert Einstein.



Back to the game....afterwards, dad and I spoke with the coach (not Coach Speedy, but the other one). He says that he has friends in the majors and will call them about the big guy. He feels that the kid has what it takes but he needs more endurance. Yep, I can see it. When the legs gave out in the 6th, I wondered what was going on. Now I know, he needs to continue to work out, develop the legs, stamina, endurance, and strength. Does this end? Uh, probably not. I am glad that I have a YMCA membership for him to continue to work out.



With that said, I have to close since the Panera people are looking at me like I need to buy a cookie or another bowl of oatmeal to keep my table. Going to walk back to the hotel next to the smoke stacks, and consider life with and without baseball. This is the year....the year with the expiration date stamped on his head. I have a feeling that my stomach is going to grow an ulcer or something similar. The ups and downs are going to be tough, but this is what he wants.



Some day, I will tell you what I want....although at this point, even with two cups of Panera coffee in my system, I could not tell you what I want except for my children to be healthy, happy, kind, considerate, and productive members of society. I don't ask for much except....perhaps....world peace....oh yeah...maybe the end of famine and hunger....a size 6 waist line....the obliteration of the huge pimple that has erupted on my face.....



a good night's sleep.....






the ability to climb stairs without my knees creaking.....



hmmm....that's it....simple....very simple....I am a simple girl.....

Gotta run. I have to give up my table.

Peace!

Rubber meets the road

Friday afternoon 
Hi
Got the airplane tickets for Sunday at 6 am. I do believe that this is going to actually happen and I will be able to make my way to Illinois...then return home again by driving along the interstate. The ride home seems to be 12 hours and change per Mapquest. Can we do this type of driving in a day? Perhaps......Probably....Do I want to drive in one day? Perhaps......Probably.....My thoughts are that the car is going to stink with sweaty clothes and dirty cleats. This type of aroma can give a girl a headache or ten....


The sofa....ahhh.....it sits in a locker somewhere.....with his other stuff.....

Where is he going to live in September?

Answer: Who knows

What courses will he take at school?

Answer: No one knows

How will he pay for this last/fifth year in college?



Answer: God knows.....perhaps He should open up the heavenly vault...'cause we don't have it here....Dad swears  that he is done paying for college. He wants the big kid to act 'manly' and 'man up' and share with him his plan for success. It is obvious that the big plan for success in Illinois has absolutely nothing to do with the big guy's future...

Now here comes another question.....

What has he been doing all summer? He did not work...complete his internship......nothing.....he did work out....fly home for Yoda to check on his arm....fly south to attend a family funeral.....but what has he done of substance? I don't know. But my mantra is "failing to plan is planning to fail...." Just sayin'



Monday morning

Ok, we made it to Illinois through Philly, Detroit, and St. Louis. Late Saturday night, I got a call...."Mom, I am not pitching tomorrow night."

Huh? What? Seriously? I just bought airplane tickets (non refundable) to Missouri. This is not a trip that I would normally take unless I had to. In fact, if I had my druthers, my tickets would be for an isolated Hawaiian beach and not St.Louis, but the things that we do for people that we love far exceed the boundaries of common sense.

So, when are you going to pitch?

"Monday night.You see, there will be a scout in the stands looking at the other pitcher and the coach wanted me on the mound so that he could see me too." Makes sense....Dad is going to have to change his return  ticket to Tuesday morning....$$$$

Nonetheless, this is pretty darn exciting....and now it is here. The scout...yes, the guy who we have been waiting for.....in the stands...watching the game....my boy on the mound throwing 90's. A dream come true....yet....could this turn out to be a nightmare? What if he out thinks himself? What if he lets his emotions take over? What if he has a really bad game? OYE!



Now, I am nervous....so what to do? Well, I have a craving for Skittles again (sorry Beast, I tried to eliminate this habit) but I have to go back to what has worked in the past. So, let's see....Skittles.....check...rosary...check....lucky sneakers....got 'em......prayers....ongoing.....gotta sit on the right side of the stadium....check......deep yoga breathing......zen out.....ready......

And now, here we go.....

I will not be able to post until we get home unless I have a computer tomorrow....just in case....fingers, toes, and eyes crossed...say a prayer for peace and calm....he's ready to sign folks. He does not have a place to live in the fall......wouldn't is be nice if he could have his dream come true now and not next June?

By the way, whatever happens, either good or bad, does not matter. What is in the cards for the future has to be amazing. After all, he has all the tools necessary (except the sofa thing) to make it in our world. Let's all sit back and watch.....

Peace!