The Saga of the Football field

I have been watching the football field’s progress since Mother Nature decide she needed to change the terrain a little.  As you know, we had “monsoon” rains this spring that kept the football field, 1 baseball diamond and about half of the park where we play flooded for 2 months.

 

Part of this problem was man made when the “powers that Be” i.e…..City planners….. decided to “renovate” the parking lot yet again.  Every year they have done something to the parking lot to “improve” it….Yet they can not seem to do the most practical thing which would be put in a drainage system and pave it!  One year, they used this mulch/dirt mix…which created mud.  This year they came up with the ingenious idea of grading the lot,
Parking lot















putting down weed block paper and filling it in with 6 inches of loose gravel….which looked nice until any car, truck, SUV that drove into the lot got stuck in and had to be pushed, pulled or towed out of.  The other problem this created was the parking lot was now higher than than the football field, so every time it rains, the water runs down hill into the football field and baseball diamond.
So the Football league had to figure out what they wanted to do.  The City didn’t want to put any more money into the project as the past projects were costly, though ineffective.  The only solution would be to turn the field sideways so games could be played and leaving the goal posts in place with hopes next year the grounds would recover.


This turned out to at least provide a place to play the games.  We haven’t had any “monsoons” since the season began in July at the conditioning so the field has remained dry enough to play on….so far.  The down side to it is there would be no Field goals scored this season with no goal posts to Kick through. It also would pose a new problem; no place on one side of the field for bleachers because of the hill so all the bleachers would be on the side of the field where the spectators would have their backs to the scoreboard.
Well, someone decided to do something about the field.  They have begun work to improve the field destroyed by standing water.  One day I went to football practice and here is what we saw;

Several days later; it looked like this:

I would hope that one of these days they will seed it with some kind of fast growing heavy traffic grass seed.  We’ll see….As for the parking lot, well that’s another story.  If they had not put the weed block down, the traffic alone would act as a compacting tool and constant traffic would compact the rocks….but that’s not going to happen this year.  People have resorted to parking anywhere but in the rocks if possible….they park in the grass, on the shoulders of the road or across the street.
This week, we had some visitors to our games….

I think this guy showed up on Saturday hoping to find a free meal.  The temperatures were above 97 degrees(36c) and maybe he was hoping people would be dropping from the heat….
 
and there were a few things you don’t see everyday. I wasn’t quick enough to get a picture of the policeman chasing a dog with his car down the wrong side of the highway; or of when he got out of the car to run after him….which was really kind of funny.  But I did get a picture of this;


We have Amish that live in town. They come to the Farmer’s markets and sell their goods and they shop in some of the local stores.  I couldn’t believe my eyes the first time I went to the grocery and saw one of their buggies with the horse tied to the light pole…Or when I woke up to Horse sounds outside my window on the street where I lived.
But back to my football banners…

short second banner

We had a game last evening against the Hurricanes and we won 14 to 0. We have another game this weekend. This one will be a little harder….we play the team that won the Championship last year and is undefeated so far this year…..my Oldest grandson’s old team the Rising Park Razorbacks.  If  our boys played as well Saturday as they did last night, we should do okay.  But they need to pay attention, block and RUN!!!  They need to keep their heads and their hearts in the game….
So for now…..
Hugs and Love to all!

Keeping myself busy….and out of trouble

As you well know; I have been a busy little beaver lately.
Last weekend was the opening day of the Youth Football League. I spent  all day there taking pictures, then came home and had to sort, edit, delete and post them to my various friends and websites.  I took pictures of all 8 teams that played, and special pictures for a few of the parents and grandparents….so I came home with 4 new e-mail addresses to send copies to.
I have still been going to the 4 weekly practices of my favorite team; The Miller Park Vikings, that my grandsons  played for for the past 4 years.  Even though they have moved away and are “too” busy with their lives to contact me; I still feel close to them by sticking with the team.  The coaches make me feel like family.  Sometimes they really depend on me to do things for them; like the spirit wear, and they have asked me to help with other things as well. And only occasionally do I have to hide away tears when someone mentions their names.
I also have been going to 1 of the junior highs 7th grade games on Wednesday when they are here in town, and to the other junior high’s 8th grade games on Thursday when they are in town….Both teams have former Viking players that want me to take photos of them still. Kiera  (George, our girl player) plays for the General Sherman Junior High 7th grade team.

And several former players play for Thomas Ewing Junior High….

My middle grandson would have played on this team if they were still living here….And you would be amazed at the number of older students who know me through my grandchildren.  It amazes me every time.
Then on Sunday, we had our annual family reunion.
(This is my brother-in-law’s family)
OOOOP! wrong way!
That’s better!
We went to “Old Man’s Cave” in the Hocking Hills of Ohio. ….about 30 miles from where I live give or take a few twist, turns and hills…..The first time I ever went to a reunion here, my children were young…in fact, I think I only had my older 2 at the time.  All of my husband’s brother’s, his sister, all the spouses and the children they had at the time went down into the “caves”  and were “hopelessly lost for hours.  Back then, the signs directing you to the different parts of the caves were on single posts…..and someone kept turning them around….By the time we finally found our way out, most of the relatives had already left, over half the food was gone and they were getting ready to send the rangers after us!  Now the signs have 2 posts each and are cemented into the ground…Try as we might, we could not lose anyone….
watch that next step It’s a doozy!!!

Although all the children are now older, 2 of the “children” died in car accidents years ago and most of my husbands aunts and Uncles have passed away as well….we still get a pretty good crowd together. In my brother-in-law’s photo alone, 2 of his girls did not go down with us as they were babysitting 1 year old Skyler at the picnic area:
Malia and Kendra with their brother’s and Dad “on their backs”
and a son was unable to attend. 
Only 1 of my sister-in-law’s 3 children was able to attend with his wife….leaving their teenage children at home…
Glenna’s husband Terry with daughter-in-law Misty and Terry Lee
Only 1 of my children went;
my middle son, Jeremiah
and none of my other brother-in-law’s family came including him!!
But all of my husband’s remaining Aunt’s family showed with the exception of Dawn, who had to work….but her daughter Emily came. 

I take pictures of Emily all the time, and was told that Dawn wanted more photos made soon
….She wanted me to take pictures in a park somewhere, and later she will need new Christmas photos too.
I received a text later when I got home from Dawn and we arranged to go to a park near me on Tuesday….Where for 90 minutes give or take, we followed along behind Emily trying to get 100+ pictures of her NOT frowning!
  Dawn, Emily and Dawn’s fiancé
Afterwards we went to Wal-mart and made copies of some of the photos for her and her CD’s so she could take them right home and pass them out…
Since then; there have been 4 practices, 2 more Junior High games and today 3 more Youth football games….This time I remembered the sunscreen. It’s a good thing too because today it got over 100 degrees (38c)…During the third game, they announced that it had “cooled down”…..it was only 95 degrees (35c) at 3 p.m.
During this past week, after making money taking Emily’s pictures, I bought 3 birthday cards and sent them off.  One went to my sister in Florida, another to my son in New Mexico….Their birthdays are the 6th and 7th.  I waited until Thursday (my husband’s retirement check day) to send the 3rd card to my youngest Grandson Tyree, in Florida. His birthday is the 4th, and I wanted to include a little money….I was worried it would not get there in time, so I wrote a note on the inside of the card.  I wanted to let him know if it was late, that I still remember what day it is, that I miss him and that his football team misses him.  I also included 3 sheets of notebook paper and a self addressed stamped envelope….in case he wanted to write to me…….Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I took his card to the post office to mail it hoping it would get sent quicker….Then I texted both his brother and sister and told them both to tell him that he had a card coming that may get there late…..It didn’t, it got there today, a day before his birthday and he liked it.
So I am still around….just trying to stay as busy as I can for now so I don’t have time to miss the grandchildren…..I dream of them often and that’s painful enough…..to wake up with a pillow wet from crying…and not from the sweat of the summer heat…..
Hugs and Love to all!
Last one out, turn off the light and turn on the Snow machine! (I’m ready for winter!) 

Pass the Sleeping Pills!

I’m about to make all of you tired!!

First of all….Friday, I made my first batch of Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bakes….I had on hand oats and peanut butter and was trying to find something easy to make for the annual family reunion this weekend at “Old Man’s Cave”.  Yes, you can say it….I’M CHEAP!!  Actually, I’m on a very tight budget and really can’t afford to buy a lot of anything extra for 1 meal. If I had potatoes and onions and eggs….they’d be getting Potato Salad from me!!!

I have to admit these were really good….just ask my son who has already devoured about half a dozen….I did make a second half batch and reduced the amount of sugar this evening… (or is it morning?? I don’t know anymore)..They are rich!! (Did I mention they are good??)

Then I spent Friday evening tracking Hurricane Irene on the Weather Channel as it had decided the East Coast needed a good storm.  After a few hours and knowing it would not hit my Hometown until late Saturday; I went to bed….perchance to sleep, to dream….Yeah right!!!  Saturday was the opening day of my favorite pass time…..FOOTBALL!!!!  (Oh come on! You knew it was coming!!)  I was ready at 8 a.m…..notice I didn’t say bright eyed and bushy tailed….just ready! 

Now in case you were wondering, I asked my friends who still live in Virginia Beach to keep me informed about the weather occurring in the path of the hurricane. One of the girls I grew up on the beach with has a friend who lives beside my Mom, so I was confident I would be kept up to the minute on “Miss Irene”.

If you have been following my blogs, this year was going to be “Exciting”.  Mother Nature was not kind to the Park where we play football.  The Parking lot had a “make-over”, if you will, because when it rains, the parking lot is generally not some place you want to park your car….unless you like dirt and mud….and getting stuck.  Well the “Brilliant Powers that Be” (i.e. Parks and Recreation “Contractors”) decided it was not a good idea to put a drain in the middle of the parking lot and pave it; but rather they spent thousands of dollars to grade it, put down weed block and several (^) inches of rock down…..Thus causing 2 major problems….

the Parking lot was now higher than the football field, so when it rains the water spills on to the football field and baseball diamonds creating a swimming hole since it’s already in a valley

 

and the rocks, unable to be packed down due to being on top of weed block, created a virtual “Rock trap”.  If you own a small car and not a monster truck, you can get stuck and have to be pushed (or pulled) out!

The solution was that they would turn the field sideways

without moving the goal posts this year….(Maybe they will fix the football field next year??) This means no field goals, and spectator  seating could only be placed on the one sideline nearest the Scoreboard….which all the spectators would have their backs to…..

I should have been an engineer….Even I can see this creates more problems…but people seam to work everything out. Huh? We’ll fix them!  we will put our chairs on the hill facing the scoreboard!

So I needed to be at the field at 8:30 to get one of the good parking spots on the small patch of pavement and not in the rocks….

Nine hours or more later, I went home….Tired from 4 football games where I rarely sit down, taking over 600 pictures of the teams, and some how getting “volunteered” to help sell 50/50 tickets….(What can I say? I am gullible!) Oh and did I mention parts of my body were a few shades darker? 

tan lines from my bracelets!

But boy did I get some good photos and make some new friends….I was “adopted” by the cutest bunch of boys! Here, you tell me….is this boy cute or what??

He is 2 years old, his name is Tyreese, he practices with the football team his cousins play for and he does 10 push-ups every morning!! The bottle was almost as big as he was!

So first thing when I get home, I carried all the stuff in from the car….Now get ready to be tired…..I downloaded the 600+ photos from my camera, took the spare battery up to chare it for tomorrow, Cleaned the abscess on my kitten that had popped while I was at football, created 3  sets of CD’s for one football team, sent 8 e-mails with photos attached, checked my Facebook, fixed myself something to eat, walked some sidewalk chalk over to the girl across the street, uploaded photos to my Facebook and checked my requests, let the dogs out, tried on the new outfit my mother-in-law bought me, texted my younger brother at my Mom’s, made half a batch of no bakes, visited with my mother-in-law for a few minutes, showed her how to block people and requests on Facebook, rubbed my sunburned down several times with “Banana Boat After Sun with Aloe and Vitamin E”, ( several times!) washed dishes, checked the news reports and weather reports for the Virginia Beach area, “borrowed” some photos to use here…

I used to ride my bike here

I shamelessly stole these photos from a Virginia TV station!!

 

..and…..oh I forget what all else I did! But you get the idea….Oh Yeah! I wrote this blog!!.

Now it’s 1:30 and I need to get up in 8 hours to shower before the family reunion thingy…..and take more pictures to share with a family of idiots related to my husband…..

Hugs and Love to all!

If you don’t hear from me again, it’s because I’m in jail for trying to hide the bodies in the caves…..Come bail me out!

 

 

 

To my Wonderful friend, Anne

A dear friend of mine whom I met through Windows Lives Spaces suffered a loss today.  A dear friend of hers, Kath passed away in her sleep.  Kath was her friend for more than 20 years.  Anne has been caring for Kath through hospital stays and home care givers for some time…

We knew the end was near as her doctors had already informed Anne it not be long.  Kath stopped eating and taking her meds….and spent much of her time sleeping, only to awaken to call out to Anne. No amount of caring and loving prepares us for the end of our days.  Kath has lived a long life and had such a wonderful friend by her side to count on.  Anne was Kath’s guardian Angel here on earth….Now Kath will be Anne’s in heaven….looking down on her and smiling at the wonderful person who cared enough to let Kath’s last memory be a kiss and kind words from someone she truly loved…..Kath passed away in her sleep the other night…..

To Anne, we are here for you through your sorrow and wish you pleasant and happy memories as you send your dear friend off to join the other Angels in heaven.  We love you and we send many hugs and kisses your way.

Remember all the good times you shared with Kath…..May they bring  a smile to your face and help you through this time of loss.

 

Hugs and Love to all….and to my dear friend Anne, I am so sorry for your loss.  You are a wonderful friend

Whoa! That was some Dream!!

Last night I dreamed I was living in an old mansion that was on the farm where I used to keep a pony when I was a teenager.  I was hanging out alone with an old friend of mine…Jose,,,(Quervo) ….Once upon a time between marriages, I would have a bottle of either Jose or his cousin Pepe (Lopez) around all the time.  I drank it straight…no salt, no lime or lemon….Once in awhile I would chase it with Sothern Comfort…..Those days are long gone.  It has been several months since my bottle of Baileys ran out (making milkshakes!) and I have not been near a store that sells liquor for quite a few weeks….so I know it was a dream.

In the dream, I got Mexican speaking stupid drunk….I remember friends coming to check on me, and I was speaking fluent Mexican when they were trying to talk to me.  I remember them helping me to bed and feeding me 2 extra strength aspirin and handing me a glass of “Virgin Mary”  (Bloody Mary- minus the Vodka) to fend off the hangover that I would surely wake up with….When I woke, I climbed in the shower and stayed until the water got cold, got out, brushed my teeth, gargled with mouthwash, brushed my teeth again (trying to get rid of the cotton someone obviously had stuffed in my mouth the night before) and repeated the 2 aspirin and Virgin Mary hangover cure…..

When I went downstairs, this gorgeous looking ,dark hunk of a Texan was fixing Juevos Rancheros, rib eye steaks, homemade biscuits and gravy and home fried potatoes…..A pot of coffee was brewing on the counter and a tall glass of orange juice was sitting near the refrigerator….See?? I told you it was a dream!!!!

First of all , I’ve never been to Texas, and the only Texan I knew was neither tall, dark or handsome!  And I have yet to meet a man who thought enough of me to get up and make a bowl of cereal for me let alone a full meal!  I didn’t want to wake from this dream, but it must have been around Christmas time because the “Little Drummer Boy” was playing inside my head.

Now first I have to tell you that yesterday I went to bed around 9 p.m…..I just couldn’t keep the tooth picks in my eyes to keep them open any later; so I was up at 3 a.m….and I played on the computer for awhile and had a bowl of cereal before I started yawning and heard my pillow calling me….(No really!  I did!!! Keep that guy with the net and the white coat away from me!!!) 

The next time I woke up was my usual time as of late….around noon….And that was from this wonderful dream….This time the bathroom was calling my name. 

And Boy was my head spinning!  I could swear that it had not been a dream and I actually was hung over!  I have been drunk in over 6 years!!! And I don’t get sick as a general rule…Once in a blue moon, I will feel a cold coming on, but that is usually those nasty summer colds or a winter cold.  So after stumbling to the bathroom holding on to the wall the whole way, I tried to sit at the computer for awhile but just couldn’t stay upright without feeling like “Ralph” would soon be visiting.  So first I lay on the chaise for awhile trying to find something on TV I could watch without having to get up and change the channel every few minutes….Didn’t work, So I went back up to my room and lay down.

After awhile and eating a sandwich for lunch, I felt well enough to go down and finish the Football banner I had started the previous day.  And here it is:

I am still not feeling at my best, but several hours in the sunshine have improved my balance and restored my stomach to a level of calmness.

Now, where did that Texan go??? I have some plans for him…….

Hugs and Love to all!!

The Slacker

Okay…you can call me a slacker if you want.   I have let my blogging fall by the wayside this month but with good reason…..FOOTBALL!!!!!!

With my grandchildren living over 860 miles away and too busy enjoying living near the beach to remember dear old grandmother who is missing them, I have had to find things to make me want to get out of bed every day and go on with my life.  Believe me, it has been hard and not a day goes by that I don’t miss them and maybe even shed a tear hoping to hear something from them…I even enjoy getting “poked” by my grand-daughter on Facebook.

my grandchildren enjoying the beach (photos “borrowed” from their Facebook pages)

Football started the First day of August. Although I miss seeing my grandson on the field playing, it has become an outlet for me….a reason to take my camera and get out of the house for 2 hours a day.  I have had to endure many questions about my grandchildren and have put on a brave face when trying to pretend that I am happy for them….Don’t get me wrong! I am happy for them, but the sadness is that I am not there to see them or hear their voices….even if it sometimes ended in them arguing amongst each other.

Coaches at new player conditioning July 26th

Each day, Monday through Thursday, around 5:30 p.m., I turn off the computer, pack some drinks, grab the camera case and head out to practices. The first week the boys practiced without pads.  The  past 2 weeks they have been fully padded.  It has been interesting watching the progression and the changes that have been made in the boys and their attitudes.  Last year we had 2 cousins that the coached referred to as “Beavis and Butthead” as they seamed more interested in what was growing on the field (grass) than what was going on. This year it looks like they came to play. Our smallest player for the past 3 years, Tony, has grown….some and is now a receiver/running back to replace my youngest grandson….Whom coaches and parents alike have reminded me daily that they really miss….(Not as much as I do!) One of our corners from last year has had to step into the quarterback position and is learning plays, how to pass, etc.  And a reserve quarterback from last year has stepped into the position of center and is learning how to “hike” the ball to the quarterback….not an easy thing to do if you aren’t used to it. Imagine standing with your hands down beside your feet , your legs spread at least shoulder width (or more) apart and tossing a ball backwards to waist height of someone else….without actually seeing that person as your head is supposed to be up looking forward.  I suggest trying to toss a roll of toilet paper that way to someone!)

This was an extra exciting week for me….On Tuesday, they had a scrimmage against another team….a practice game if you will….to see what they have learned, what they need to work on and a preview for us spectators of things to come. The other team has a girl on their team who plays a line position.  I have known her mother from last year when her son played for the same team as he does again this year, and from basketball.  Although no one really keeps score, and the coaches act as referees, it ended in a tie game.

Taylin #45

Our girl from the past 2 seasons that we affectionately called “George” (in the words of one of our coaches “I’m not yelling “KiKi” on a football field”), has moved on to the Junior High level and is still playing football thanks to one of the Youth league coaches moving up to coach at her school.  (Last year’s Junior High coach told her she could join the team, but she would sit the bench.)  She asked if I would go to her 4-Way scrimmage on Wednesday and take pictures of her playing for the 7th grade team.  Now here’s how a 4-way scrimmage works…..there are 4 teams.  Team A & B  and team C & D each play 3 rounds each of 6 minute Defense and Offensive….Then they switch and team A & C play and team B & D play for the same amount of time….Finally team A Plays team D and team B plays team C…..So with water breaks and time outs to adjust players on the field…we are talking 2 hours of football.  (Now don’t forget, I still watch the Youth league practice when I am done here! Another full hour!!)

 

can you spot the girl player??

#9 is another former Viking who plays for the other Junior high in our town

And one of the boys who played for our team 2 years ago asked me to come to his scrimmage for the 8th grade team on Thursday!  Although I know many of the players from the past teams, on Thursday, most of them play on the same team this year. 

#’s 6, 9, 41 & 66 are among just a few of our former players

#41 Tyler

The Blue and  Gold team is Ewing while the ones playing in Blue and White are Sherman players.  My middle grandson, if he was still here would be playing for the Blue and Gold Ewing “Senators”.

I have had something else to keep me on my toes too.  My brother-in-law found 2 wild baby bunnies and after an internet search, I was able to keep the healthier larger one alive for the past month.  He has now moved into the larger rabbit cages with the domesticated bunnies. He seams much happier, but my Shih-Tzu wonders what happened to the bundle of fur he would watch over.

And I have volunteered to do the Football banners again this year as well as the Spirit wear t-shirts for our team.  With the first game only a week away, I have it drawn out and half way painted…But I must run to the store for more paint….I hope the sidewalk is not as hot as it was yesterday….I ad to put socks on to keep from burning my ankles.  And the Flies were biting viciously!!

So I am still around….just busy….

Hugs and Love to all!!

Sometimes I wish

I am so upset right now…..

I just had a phone call from my middle grandson.  I could tell he was crying.  Apparently his mother has not paid any of the utilities since she has moved to Florida and today their power was shut off.  They owe over $400. Their temperatures have been in the mid 90’s (around 34 C) and the humidity makes it feel 10 degrees hotter.  So they are without Air conditioning or even fans….and in the dark.  The food in their refrigerator won’t last that long and they have no way to prepare food.  They don’t have candles or flash lights; and their only means of communication are all powered by electricity.  For whatever reason, they have not been able to get food stamps.

I feel so sorry for them, but I can not help them from where I am.  If they were here, they could at least stay with me where we have food and power, but I don’t have any money to send to them….or I surely would.  Apparently my daughter has checked in to see if someone could help out and found no one.  Maybe her work will as they are a catholic hospital.  She still insists this is the best move she has ever made….The kids don’t think so now….

I told my grandson that maybe tomorrow he could ask someone to take him to the local library where he could sit in the Air conditioning and read where it was cool and well lit.  If he takes his cell phone charger with him, he could charge that there, too. Some libraries even have computers  you can use for a specific amount of time…All you need is a library card.

Then I asked about football…..neither of the boys will be playing this year.  The middle grandson went out for practice one day and collapsed in the heat.  He wasn’t used to playing in that kind of weather.  I told him that maybe in the winter he could either wrestle or play basketball to at least keep in shape and get used to the new climate. 

It breaks my heart to know they are sitting in the dark, in the heat and that they won’t be playing sports….

 

I wish I could reach through the phone and hug them…..

I  wish I could pull them through the phone and take care of them….