Part of Me Wants to Boycott Football

OK so I have to admit.

It's been hard lately reading and seeing things that deal with football.

I drove by the practice field last night and my heart sank. We are not football parents this year.


I am not a football mom.

I really was enjoying the role, I've had 4 years to get comfy in it. Now I'm a cross country mom.
-swallow hard-

Not that there is anything wrong with cross country; it's just not football.
any football mom out there knows exactly what I'm talking about here

Already I've noticed some differences.
1. Mandatory CC practice doesn't begin until school starts on Monday- it's been unofficially mandatory for football since July 1st plus the May spring training
2. CC practice various when and where it meets and even has practice doing fundraising- football is consistent with meeting times and place, you better not be less than 5 minutes early and fundraising instead of practicing, are you kidding me?

So for 2008 my pom poms will on their shelf and my Cuda football voice will go into remission. I just can't see me yelling "hit someone!" while my son jogs by me during a race.

I'm excited!
Vaughan starts high school on Monday, he'll start running that evening and my schedule will be a lot more open than years past.
As far as football is concerned: I'll attend some Friday night games, catch the JV team on Thursdays and inside, my heart will be breaking- because I'm sadly taking a year off from being a football mom.

Stay tuned for CC info though because you know I'll still find lots to say.
~Michelle

Going to be an Interesting Fall

We got news yesterday that Vaughan will have to sit out of all athletics for the next 2 months, maybe even 6.

During his football scrimmage on May 22, he popped his shoulder out of socket. Of course being 14 it popped right back in, although the pain of stretched muscles and ligaments haunts him to this day.

Football officially starts on Monday and we'll have to make the trek to the coaches office, who also happens to be his guidance counselor, and tell him the bad news. I'm not sure what he'll say?

We're taking it all in stride, he's only 14 and we don't want a lifelong injury all for the sake of football. It will be tough on him, for anyone that knows Vaughan, knows he loves athletics in general. Football, basketball, dodgeball, kickball, 2-base, discgolf, you name he loves it!

It may end up being a blessing, come August 18 he'll step for the first time ever into a public institution where he'll sit for 7 hours and come home with homework, add in projects and girls, teachers and PE uniforms and our fall is really going to interesting; it might not be bad if 2+ hours of practice a night is omitted from the schedule.

~Michelle

That Lasted Long

Boy I could only keep my mouth fingers shut for 1/2 a day. I just had to share this:
College scouts were at our school football practice today.
Did you hear me?
A major Florida university from points south was doing some pre-season scouting today at our school. They watched the varsity, the JV and yes, my beloved freshman.

Yet another reminder I live in the south.

(I'm still doing my victory dance)

Was last night a very happy night fo me?

Yes, yes it was. I left my friends house at the begining of the 4th quarter with the Giants down by 3, I came home to a Giants lead, then we were down again and then- well- WE WON!!!
I did a victory dance for as long as Justin would allow me. The violence that comes out in my youngest when the Patriots lose is a strange thing. Since he's bigger than me now it wasn't easy for me to get away from the clutch of death he had me in. We laughed and "fought" for about 15 minutes as I tried to do my victory dance and he tried to restrain me from doing so. Then Steve finally said "enough!" (he was in the middle of some 600 page paper or something?? it's as if he's responsible)

Vaughan? Well apparently 14-year old boys don't like their football team to lose the Superbowl so he went directly to bed.

To my dad, the biggest Giants fan I know and to all my Giant fan friends from the 90's- I love you all! I love our Giants!

Life is good.
~Michelle

here's our regular season story

A House Divided

I had to post this morning, real quick.
I'm still torn about last nights game. While I am so thrilled that the Pats are in the history books - perfect season- great job! I am also sad because of my dear NY Giants. To be honest I wasn't even sure who I was going to cheer for last night, until kickoff!
Here's the background: I grew up a NY Giants fan. My dad was a Giants fan and my great-grandfather was a Yankees fan, so my love for NY teams started before I even knew what was going on. In middle and high school my dad and I didn't miss a Giants game, we always tracked the Pats because my oldest brother was a crazy, go to Foxboro paint letters on his chest in freezing cold weather Patriots fan!

But the Giants were my team.

I had the shorts and the shirts and the jacket and the posters, then in 1993 something happened. While at a high school cheering competition the NE Patriettes, the Pats cheerleaders, came and performed and spoke about trying out for the team. In May of that year a friend of mine and I traveled down to the practice fields where we tried out for the squad.
It went something like this:
We got there early, I mean early; so early I was contestant #1 and she #2. We checked in along with 350 other girls from all around New England. We were taught a dance routine by going over it 3 times then practicing it 3 times as a group. The it was contestants #1-3 on the stage to perform it.
Then the first cut was made. They cut us down from 350 to 175 girls. Both my girlfriend and I made the cut!
Then we were taught another dance and this time went over it even less than before; again I took the stage and performed. The next cut came from 175 girls to 75 - I made the cut, my friend did not. I then made and interview appointment with the coach and traveled back down a week later for that interview. It was at that time while walking down the hall to the bathrooms that I saw Bill Parcells and I realized how torn my heart was. Bill Parcells had been the Giants coach for oh so many years and I learned to view this guy as the greatest coach of the greatest team- now both he and I had to make a change to become Patriots fans, a feat I'm sure was easier for him as he had a healthy paycheck. Anyway, after the interview my mom and I travelled back down 2 weeks later to try out again, this time along with the returning Patrietts. I was contestant #12 and this time in groups of 2 we hit the stage, it was me and a 6 year veteran. The judges consisted of dance experts and players. Hey I thought thee was no fraternizing?

Anyway that day the team was formed and I did not make the cut. In a follow-up interview I was told that being 18 years old I would have made it difficult for scheduling purposes because I couldn't do beer promotions- and those girls did a lot of beer promoting.
So as you can see when I sat down to watch the game last night my heart was torn.

Then, it happened.

To be quite honest I saw the NY uniform and my heart went pitter-patter - Go Giants I yelled! And then I had never seen my own flesh and blood turn so quick on me.

The sofa we were all sitting on vacated quickly and was named the Giants loser sofa, I got booed and when I got up to get a drink I returned to a sofa that had been vandalized. That is the cushions were all on the floor. Nice family I have, huh? They even made all the animals sit on their sofa with them.

I pulled out my old NY jacket and settled in for a late night of yelling and until the 4th quarter happy because a victory I thought we'd have.

Then, and if you watched the game, my beloved men in their ever so nice to look at tight pants, began to unravel. Two plays back to back in the 4th quarter brought out my ever so popular Cuda yelling voice, shouting out tips and plays to the coach and players until we eventually lost 38-35. Good game boys and when I leave the house, call me a traitor or whatever you want to call me, but I'll be happy to be a Yankee and a Pats fan.

Hey I'm in enemy Dolphin territory, a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do.

Had A Quick Minute

I actually have lots to say, although later when I have time it may have all left this empty brain of mine. I had to post this:

-Michelle
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OK, So I'm a Bad Mom

It's been awhile since I felt bad about leaving my son at practice or the like. Today I did. The 92 degrees is what did it.

I hope he doesn't pass out.

While I sit in the a/c- 5 short miles away.

It'll make a man out of him - questionable smile across my face.

-Michelle
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If Only I had a Helmet and Set of Pads

It's getting hotter in Florida, if you can imagine that! Monday was the first day Early Bird wore full pads to practice, I think it was like 93 with a heat index of 103 and he didn't hesitate one second to dress up and head out. He, along with every other kid out there has been waiting for this week for a long time. Full pads in football means they can hit one another!

Not a moms favorite week, but for the kids- they love it!

As I continue in my own struggle of life, new business, new job, more kids, no money... I watch these boys each evening and they inspire me.

I watch them run and hit and run and hit, sweat pours from them like a faucet, their shirts stick to them like glue and yet, they persevere, they push on, they smile. They get up and run again, hit again, yell "Yes Sir!" again. I cringe still when I hear the cracks of the pads and helmets; I'm inspired.

Games are still 3 weeks off and yet they continue on, each night- hot sun, high humidity and temperatures enough to cause me to slip away from practice early finding relief in my a/c. They push on.

They have a goal. A prize.

A jamboree awaits them. Saturdays won't come soon enough. They work hard.

Today I was ready to give up.

It happened to be a fleeting moment, or two, of exasperation; but it existed.

In my feeble attempt to live less of a life of me and more of a life of Christ, I remembered what Paul said in Hebrews 12:1 "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

This is my race.
Marked out for me. Not you. Not my friends, nor my family, but me, M.E.

A jamboree awaits me, it's called heaven. I want to run with perseverance.

Perseverance, from persevere: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement

Discouragement, hmmmm... To persevere I must push on through this discouragement, in spite of it.

My race, my path. Again takes me to God's Word Psalm 18:32 says "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

My way, perfect?

Due to my past experiences with God I can do nothing but believe Him. He's batting 1,000. Me I tend to strike out a lot. I'll go with God on this one.

He gives me peace.
He gives me strength to persevere.
He changes my attitude, my spirit.

My race is so much more worth it when I have an eternal perspective, when I focus on the jamboree that awaits me.

And oh yes have I said it yet this week??

"HIT SOMEONE!!!"


-Michelle
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Go, Fight, Win!

Signed Early Bird up for Pop Warner football today.
Sigh.
He's getting so big, I tear up inside every time we do anything like this. He's in the highest division this year, Midgets, I love that- the largest kids are called midgets- keep 'em humble.

Anyway he weighed in at 142 and stands 5 foot 9 inches :-( What happened to my preemie?

This is our 4th year of Pop Warner and I'm beginning to feel like a veteran. I'm excited to attend practices, visit with parents, work the concession stand and most importantly I'm resting my vocal cords for Saturdays games! I have been practicing in my head the words I will utter yell each week:

"HIT SOMEONE!!!!" That's what I'm known for.

"HIT SOMEONE!!!!"

Although our last years QB isn't returning so Early Bird is considering trying out? He's tall, he's smart, afterall he's homskoled homescooled homeschooled, and he has a pretty decent arm. Although as I write this he informs me that no, he'll probably stay with his other positions, afterall he likes to hit.

Yes, my gentle little man likes to hit, and like his momma says:

"HIT SOMEONE!!!"

I've loaded up on ice packs and water bottles, sunscreen and red and black outfits. We are the Cudas, Barracudas that is, and the red and black rule the field!! My umbrella has been located, a new football item I was unaware of being from the north. For those of you that are wondering Saturday games in the south are hot, hot, hot- so to protect ones self from the Florida sun one brings an umbrella to the stands.

So the football basket is out, ready to house the cleats and the pads and the helmet and all the other football gear.

And in the midst of all this, the reality of life has hit home. Children will grow up and one day, in the not so near future I'm afraid, mine will be gone.

Until then, my vocal cords are ready, my outfits are clean and I'm ready for some football !!

-Michelle
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For you viewing pleasure, and to put a little fear in any Div 1 Pop Warner teams in FL, here's a barracuda, a mean fish in our sea.