Monday...Monday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sN91ggtocc

So I have had many a blog post come and go in the past couple days, but little time to share. I'm passing on MckMamma's Not Me! Monday this week because I just am not in the mood for glib today.

First things first...the Yankees lost to the Angels, which means we are baseball-free until Thursday's all star game. I am surprisingly relieved, and in no need of an intervention. T. Bone has taken it all in stride and is revealing that his athletic abilities extend beyond his physical skills to his attitude and fortitude...a leader not only in hits and home runs, but also in leadership and sportsmanship.

I actually think he was also a little relieved to have a game-free day Sunday so he could spend all day and all night with his cousins swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. My hubby's brother has 4 kids - his 2 youngest are about the ages of my kids and they get along fabulously, but they live a couple hours away. I live vicariously through them as all my cousins are so much younger than I am and lived many hours away. Now that difference in age is negligible, but growing up I missed having cousins sharing the same generation and time zone.

We made ourselves at home at my in-laws Saturday, which I know they would want us to do although I'm not sure that my mother-in-law would dance and sing along to the Led Zepplin blaring through the house (she's more into pop and country than rock), or that my father-in-law would appreciate the boys (young and old) taking over his big screen with video games (he's a sport's fanatic). They are enjoying an extended trip visiting family and 4 or 5 of the 100 places to see before you die. For a new bachelor, I was most impressed by the fixings my brother-in-law fixed for shish kabobs. They were good and tasty. So yummy that we never even made it to the smores.

Sunday...I woke up to a quiet house because the rest of my family stayed at my in-laws and didn't come home until dinnertime. Having the whole day and house to myself was an out of body experience. I took care of some projects, and spent lots of time in thought. I never turned on the radio or the t.v. All day long I was shored up by the sound of the chimes in my yard singing as the day's beautiful breeze played them. I went for a run in the late afternoon and really pushed myself to the point that I am sore today. I love sore muscles. I love aching muscles. I stepped out to pick up the new album by a once local artist we will be seeing Friday. I pretty much came of age listening to Willy Porter, yet I think we're close to the same age. I am going with some of my bestest people and already looking forward to the night because I know everything about it will be good...good company, good wine, good eats, good music, good times. And Willy he's such an old soul. When I learn to play my guitar, this is one of the songs I want to perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DLkwGMUEJ8&feature=related

I plopped his new cd in before I left the parking lot and it felt so comfortable like a pair of my favorite jeans...worn in and familiar. I am so one of those people who like to know the songs before I go to a concert. I take it on like a research project. When I went to see U2 the first time, I picked up their new album, Achtung Baby, just before I got on the rode in my brand new luxury Toyota Tercel to make the 90 mile trek to Mad-town the summer after I graduated. I listened to the tape (that is not a typo) for the hour and a half it took me to get there. I even got out the lyrics and was reading along as I drove, praying in between songs that I wouldn't run myself or someone else off the road. By the time I made it, I knew all the songs. Willy's music is different...it just resonates with me and I find that I feel like I already know the songs.

I digress...back to Sunday. Here's the thing...there was no one here except my cats and the fox napping in my neighbor's yard, but I didn't feel alone. I felt my Mom with me and my Grandma too. First of all it was the chimes...my Mom's chimes. But it was also her jewelry box. I was trying to wrap my mind around some difficult decisions with regard to some of her jewelry and out of the clear blue the music started playing. Now I have moved this jewelry box from her house to my house, I put pieces in and taken bobbles out many a time, but the jewelry box has never made one single solitary peep. In fact, I didn't even know it was a music box until yesterday. I almost didn't know that it was the first gift my father ever gave my mother until just before she died. How is it that she didn't tell me that in 38 years until days before she passed? It gives me goosebumps. It makes me feel robbed when I think of all the things that she never got the time to share with me. I talked not to her, but with her.

Later I was making my Grandma's coveted tuna salad for the potluck we had at work today. My Grandma was a confident cook (a caterer actually) and the kind of cook who never relied on an exact recipe. That's the kind of presence in the kitchen that I aspire to be. Over the years in kitchens beside her, I managed to take away some of her many tricks of the trade. The last time I attempted her tuna, I failed miserably though. Yesterday, she talked me through it. She reminded me that although there isn't a recipe, precision is key. The carrots must be finely shredded and then drained, substituting onions for the scallions is a "no-no," no-fat or low-fat mayo are the enemy and only Albacore tuna fits the bill. She reminded me that I have to make it in advance so that the flavors have plenty of time to "marry." Thanks to her tutelage, it was good enough that I came home with an empty bowl, much to my dismay.

It made me hope that my Mom and her erstwhile mother-in-law were in cahoots yesterday to lift me up...to be there for me enjoying their own big delicious bowl of Rosie's tuna. Before my Mom died, I told her to come to me often. To that she replied with a certainty that told me she already had information I was not privy to, "I will when I can?" I didn't exactly embrace that response, but I think I'm beginning to accept it and understand it now. I definitely know..I'll take what I can get.

Good Day

I shouldn't have blogged right before bed. Do you know what I had dream after dream about? Baseball!

I'm off to our rematch against the Angels, the team we lost by a single run to Wednesday. They have beat us twice and we have beat them twice. Perhaps, it is our turn?

Either way it is a beautiful day and it should be a great game. This is the same team we paired up against in last year's playoffs to win the championship.

We'll see if our little slice of history repeats itself!

Hi, My Name is Evie and I'm a Little League Addict

I should be sleeping because after almost 9 hours of dreamless, solid sleep last night, I am still tired today. It has been another busy week filled with much too much fun just the way they should be when summer sets in.

We are in the midst of the BIG little league playoffs. Almighty rookie baseball has rather consumed us this week just the way it should when you are in the middle of an all important tournament. Monday night's game definitely robbed me of 5 years of my life and on that I am not exaggerating. I was sure there was an alien abduction ala Close Encounters as our "Evil Empire" morphed into the Bad News Bears before my very stunned, disbelieving eyes. We were playing a team that we were so sure we were going to beat without even swinging a bat because basically that's exactly what happened when we played them earlier in the season. Yes, I realize that's enlightening. The Yankees were being smug (what one would expect from the team that everyone loves to hate) and bringing their B (or arguably Z game), and that almost cost them the game. Almost...until the bottom of the 6th inning when we were down a measly 6 to their macho 16. Our stands were so quiet that when my cell phone rang and rang and rang because it took me forever to find it (but I knew I had to because it was my hubby, the awesome assistant coach, who was calling on his break from his graduate school class), all eyes were on me aglare for disturbing prayer requests and telepathic messages being sent to the boys on the field. Most of us parents were already admitting certain defeat. I confess that I was in the majority. Even my hubby was spewing the 'glass is half full' half empty rhetoric I so love about him..."It's a good lesson. At least it wasn't a blow-out. We have another game to come back."

It had to be an act of divine intervention because before I even blinked, our bases were loaded and even our players who rarely connect the bat to the ball were spanking it to left field and then right field. It was a blitzkrieg that left the Brewer boys dazed and confused, and the Yankee fans good and giddy. As our stands came alive with high 5's and adrenaline filled cheers, the visitor's crowd had the wind knocked out of them and as such were silenced and deflated. Every single boy on our team had a hit and we claimed victory by scoring 10 runs (with only 1 out). An unbelievable 17 to 16 win was earned! The Yankees celebrated with hugs and tackles while the Brewers mourned with tears and a sad huddle. I confess that I had tears in my eyes as I was reminded that it ain't over til' it's over - shame on me!

We played again Wednesday. It was a good match and a good game, but we lost 7-8. The bottom of the 6th brought with it an uneasy sense of deja vu, but we left our two men on base stranded and lost the game, albeit by only one run.

Last night we pulled off another win (13 - 8) and T. Bone had his first ever grand slam! That's all I remember...the games are getting confused thanks to too much concession stand cuisine, not enough exercise (unless you count nervously pacing beside the dugout and walking to the concession stand), and hours upon hours spent at the little league field. Heck, we've spent so much time there that my daughter has joined the younger Sibling's Scooter Gang and she's even sick of the Skiddles she buys on credit from the concession stand!

We play tomorrow. What's with this "we" stuff you ask? I'm going to let you in on a dirty little secret. Are you ready? Little league parents are obnoxiously involved and especially when it comes to the playoffs. There's a whole lotta living vicariously going on, but the only time I'll actually have a bat in my hand is after the game when my son wants to run and play with the other kids -kids from both teams - and needs me to take his prized slugger to the car. After much therapy, I know my place.

Blog Hop - Favorite "Almost Anonymous" Photos

I don't fancy myself much of a photographer although it is something that I often find myself doing...taking pictures, that is. I love how each of these photos capture moments in time and the way I can still remember each second vividly.

Check Your Calendars PA-LEASE!

Note: Today is July 7th.

How is it that in the past three days, no fewer than seven people have confessed to me that they are already mourning a summer passed? Yesterday a co-worker actually wickedly whispered in my ear, "After the 4th, it feels like summer is over." Now I just didn't know what to say to that because I feel like my summer has just begun and I have worked long and hard to reprogram myself not to wish the moment, the day, the holiday, the season, the year, my life away. I have expelled great effort to resist falling into nay saying and dooms daying. So as said co-worker was halfway out the door on his way to a meeting in the middle of the absolutely perfect day, I valiently fought the urge to tell him to bundle up and instead offerred, "Ah...but summer is a state of mind." I'm not sure he fully appreciated or embraced my pat comment. But it's true...oh so true! Sadly, I fear he doesn't get that. Hopefully, he does get it before the middle of October.

The next time I see him I think I'll remind him that there are no fewer than 78 days of summer left to savor and enjoy, but really who's counting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f06QZCVUHg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeeELBWkJc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WXIom2IT1M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vSRa-qlKTo

Not Me! Monday

I certainly did not take my kids to the neighborhood carnival yesterday with the sole intent of using up our remaining ride tickets. Then I did not buy $20 worth of additional tickets only to have to give them away because my son's friend developed a sudden and severe case of motion sickness.

The same Scrambler ride that did him in is most definitely not the same ride that my daughter almost passed out on the day before because we would never intentionally scare the wits out of her a couple of months before we are Disney-bound. My hubby did not implore the ride operator to stop the ride, let our daughter off and cheat every one else out of their fair share of dizzy fun.

I did not say a prayer and than excuse myself to the bathroom (not a gross porta potty) so I didn't have to watch when my Dad agreed to go on the scariest ride at the carnival with my 8 year old son.

There is no way that I passed up the opportunity to see The English Beat yesterday for free. And it simply is not true that their show was on just before Elvis Costello (not also free), so not one of my hubby's favorites. I am not passing up fun for sleep after a busy week of vacation.

Even though I had a quiet night at home, I sure didn't have trouble sleeping. I absolutely did not wake up at 5:00 a.m. and lay in bed until 7:00 a.m. just stressing about all of the things that had to happen before 9:00 a.m. today.

I was not at all relieved when my kids decided that they didn't want to decorate their bikes for the children's parade or walk with scouts or little league. I wasn't the least bit content to just sit on the curb with friends and critique the parade and its participants.

I'm sorry, but I didn't skip church yesterday in favor of a run.

I did not have or enjoy a television and computer-free weekend and it didn't make me feel like I had a lot more free time.

I did not take my kids for haircuts this week only for my hubby to tell me that he didn't notice any difference in their dos.

After watching a story on the news this morning about pool drains, I did not put graphic images of evisceration in my kids' minds because I don't believe in parenting with fear.

When the neighbor kids came over last night, I did not watch with nostalgia as an innocent game of wiffle turned into all the kids being in the pool clothes and all. The inner child in me did not secretly want to join them.

I did not just watch the 'evil empire' come back and score 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game 17-16! There is no way that I got tears in my eyes and then forgot all about the Brewers who were reeling from a certain win to an unbelievable loss.

I did not wear my favorite pink skirt again today... and it was not the third day in a row!

4th of July fireworks certainly did not literally scare the crap out of one of my cats.

Today I am Thankful For...

The men and women who sacrifice so much for us in service of our country for great risk, meager pay and often not enough recognition. I ask myself..."Self, would I want that job? Would I want one of my loved ones to have that job?" I am eternally grateful that there are men and women who are able to answer those questions affirmatively.

A week of vacation. It is always fun to get away, but sometimes a week off at home going nowhere is exactly what I need to relax and recharge my battery.

A family game of mini golf yesterday. It was fun for all ages. Sometimes it's hard to find things we can all enjoy and excel at. Boys and girls often like different things...8 year olds and 4 year olds don't always agree on what constitutes fun, but mini golf pleases every one. Bocce ball also fits that bill.

2 cardio classes this week and a long run, and it's only Friday.

We went car shopping this week. I have resisted the minivan for long enough. The one we test drove was a virtual family room on wheels. It had way more than we need, but I think I'm finally seeing the appeal. We worked with a salesman who was professional and really the antithesis of other car salesmen we have encountered.

A heartfelt letter from an old friend that I have been on the outs with. It meant so much to me that she took the time to reach out to me once more and reminded me that I need not rush to judgement.

Games of backgammon even if I cannot dethrone my hubby, the champ.

Chivalry and citronella. Last night my hubby filled all of our torches with citronalla oil, he lit an Off candle and gave me my own personal mosquito repelling fan. Despite all his efforts, I still managed to get bit at least 3 times!

Our community 4th of July festival and the local car dealers who sponsor an awesome fireworks display.