I'm Smart Too

Have you ever participated in Scholastic Bowl?

Em is now on the S.B. team.  I, personally, think it sounds terribly boring.  Most likely because I do not know anything and if I ever did know something I’ve forgotten it.   I have informed her that I will try to make it to a meet, but if Aud has a volleyball game or Olivia has gymnastics I’m going there because they are way less boring.  However, I am really proud of her and glad she is enjoying it!

At her first meet she didn’t answer one question.  The second meet she knew an answer, but didn’t answer in time.  Baby steps.  Baby steps.

Today was Emily's third Scholastic Bowl meet and she answered at least three questions that she can remember.  The bonus, her answers were correct.  Go Emily!!!!!

I am going to just step in right now and say that today I participated in S.B. through Emily.  I do believe the question was to name the first three books that Stephen King wrote in the beginning of his career.  That’s right, she knew the answer because of me.  I introduced her to Mr. King.  So this means that I answered a question correctly at S.B.  Proof that I do know at least one thing.

And, yes, it’s all about me!

Seriously, Em you amaze me each and every day.  What goes on inside that head of yours is boggling to my brain.  What makes me super proud is the person that you are inside your heart.  You are good and kind and thoughtful and I’m very happy you are my little girl (who is 2 ½” taller than me).  I should probably start calling you young lady, but to me you are still my little girl asking me questions about black holes and logically talking me into whatever you wanted to do.  “Because I said so”, was never an answer you would accept.  You had to now the why.  Keep asking why, Emily, and keep being you!

Without looking it up, do you know Stephen King’s first three books?

The Best Part Of The Super Bowl

The best part about being back in the states during the Super Bowl, I get to see ALL the commercials.

Every year Thomas and I watch the game with a spreadsheet in hand.  We rank each commercial on a 0-10 scale.  This year we had the pleasure of being joined by Laura and Robert.

Listed below are the scores of the top three and the bottom three Super Bowl commercials.

Top:

3.  Audi Prom   

I was fortunate to be the designated driver for a friend who drives an Audi.  We got home in record time with her husband yelling in my ear to go faster, go faster.  Okie dokie!  When the kids are gone, this is the car I’m going to get.

Who doesn’t wish they could have done that when they were in high school?  So you know what, why don’t you take the chance now to do something a bit out of your comfort zone?  It could be magical!

2.  Bud Light Lucky Chair 

This was a really great commercial.  It was in the spirit of New Orleans, which was awesome!

1.  Seniors Escape and Eat Some Taco Bell

The best parts of this commercial was the old lady coming out of the bathroom stall with the young stud and the old guy pressing his nipple against the window.  Winner!!!!

I just want to go on record as saying I gave each of these a “10”, however, seniors got a “10+”.

The Clydesdales are the classic Bud commercial, as usual, it was sweet, but I feel like it’s the same one over and over.  A classic never gets old?  You gotta watch it for the “Aaahhh” factor, but it doesn’t win the prize for “The Best Commercial”.   I’m sure many of you liked it, especially my Mom. 

A little disappointed in Coke this year.

I thought the Doritos commercials were good, except I wouldn’t have sold the goat. I would have shot it.  I cannot stand the sound of eating.  Also, enjoyed the Best Buy one.  I love Amy Poehler.

Bottom:

3.  Calvin Klein

I’m trying to figure this one out.  A recent survey by “Advertising Age” found that more women watch the Super Bowl than the Academy Awards.  Is Calvin Klein targeting the women viewers in hopes that they’ll get their man sexy underwear so they look like that guy?  Or was it targeting the men because they think a pair of underwear will make them have amazing abs? 

2.  Sketcher cheetah

Just didn’t like it.

1.  Gangnam Nuts

I have never understood the fascination with this song/guy.  The high school boys I drove to school today said it was the best song and video EVER.  Those poor, poor boys.  Please tell me none of you like this song.  What IS your favorite music video?

Usually the best part of the Super Bowl is the commercials, but what an exciting game! 

I also agree with Thomas, Stevie was behind the blackout. 

So, people, what was your favorite commercial?  Did it do what they wanted it to do?  Did you buy a taco, Doritos, beer, Audi (soon), something from Best Buy? 

One more question, what is your MUST HAVE food for watching the Super Bowl?

It's Only A Game

At what age does participating in a sport become serious business?  When do you stop yelling words of encouragement from the sideline and instead start yelling at them to stop screwing around?  How does it make a kid feel when they do strike out or shank the ball and the entire crowd moans in frustration, and then doesn’t even offer support?  It makes them feel small.  It makes them hang their head.  It lets them know they have disappointed you.

Somewhere along the line the seriousness of sports got crazy.  If you plan on going to college or beyond in sports these days then you have to start specializing early.  You have to pick a sport, or maybe your parents pick it for you, and then focus on it non-stop and try to be the best.  There are school teams, club teams, rep teams, traveling teams, camps, clinics, indoor practice, winter practice, going to watch the college kids or the pros practice, private lessons, and many more things to make you a super star.

The main goal of playing a sport, especially when you are learning, is to have fun.  I tell my kids to do their best, but most of all smile and laugh.  You are a kid, have a good time!!!  There will be plenty of time for the serious of life soon enough.  When you are young it should spend every day like the kids in the movie, The Sandlot, playing and laughing because you love it and it’s fun!

Today Audrey had a volleyball game.  It was a pretty exciting game!  The two teams were well matched.  There was tension in the gym.  The two teams were battling for the final point.

My attitude is to cheer for good plays and to cheer for not such good plays.  There is a lot of clapping and I like to praise individual accomplishments, “Good pass.  Nice set.  Beautiful serve.”  I also like to applaud the other side of the coin, “That was some great hustle.  Way to attack the ball.  That was a hard, scary serve and you stood right in there with it, good job!”  I even cheer on the other team.

When my kid shanks the ball I make a silly face at them and laugh.  And you know what, they laugh.  It’s all about having fun!

Today I believe the score was 25-25 in the volleyball game.  The opponents served the ball and Aud went running for it.  The girls started yelling that it was out so Aud tried to stop herself.  She went down on her knees and slid and the ball landed smack dab in the middle of her thighs.  I howled!!!  What are the chances of that?  Audrey was laughing, the coach was laughing and I was about keeling over laughing.  Well, there were some folks that weren’t laughing and I got some looks.  This, of course, made me laugh even harder.

Re-schedule

I’m fine with playing games or tournaments on three day weekends, I don’t like it, but I’ll deal with it.

However, it is not ok to schedule a track meet during Spring Break.  Not only any old track meet, but the Indoor State Meet.  Really?

I will make sure she is there for the Meet, but she will not be there for the whole week before the meet to practice. 

We have had Spring Break plans for a long time, and with three kids who have incredibly busy schedules and as they get older it will only get worse, you take advantage of time off from school.  Family is much more important than jumping over a hurdle or bar.

Thoughts?

That's Why They Have Crosswalks

First off, I didn’t run her over, but if I had she would win the Darwin Award.

“Hey, Lady.  If it looks like you are going to miss your bus I suggest you do not try to cross a busy four-lane road during morning traffic, when the cars are averaging around 40mph, with very small gaps between each other.  You are super lucky I have cat like reflexes and I saw the bus on the other side of the road and I just knew you would make a break for it.  Playing “Frogger” in real life is really not a great idea! 

Also, if I did hit you, which I believe wouldn’t be my fault because you were not at a crosswalk (please confirm Gary and Kyle), I would still get out of the van to help you.  I would call 911 and then I would yell at you that you are an idiot.  I would perform any necessary first aid until the ambulance arrived and I would also be yelling at you that you are an idiot.  I would hold your hand and tell you that everything will be ok, and I would whisper in your ear that you are an idiot by trying to cross a four-lane road.  I would do all of this because I am kind and I think when you recover you just might do it again. 

If a car hit you then you will definitely miss your bus and getting to work on time just isn’t worth it.  You would also probably be dead and then you will absolutely miss the city bus, but might be able to catch the #7 bus to Heaven.  You might also want to think about the injuries you could cause to other people because of the accident.  It’s just not you that would be in danger.  So please, don’t walk out into traffic, and maybe get a watch and take a class on time management.  I am very, very mad at you.”

Musical Toothbrushes

It makes me nervous when my toothbrush is never where I left it.  I’m thinking about having a decoy toothbrush.  I’ll keep one in the holder, but actually use one that I have stashed somewhere else.

I'm Not Cinderella

Ok, here’s my conundrum.

Thomas comes home this evening (that’s actually a good thing).  Do I treat the house as if my mom was coming for her yearly visit?  You know, do I clean?  I do want Thomas to be glad to be home and appreciate that I actually put some effort into making the home feel warm and cozy.  However, I wouldn’t want to scare him with a super clean house.  He would wonder what was wrong.

Besides, all my friends are at work right now so I don’t have anyone to talk to while I do dishes.  I only do dishes when talking on the phone b/c it bores the living crap out of me.  I guess the same thing goes for folding laundry.  I know you are good friends, but please don’t call.  I really don’t want to dishes right now.  I hate dishes.  Every single day the dishes have to be washed.  Apparently. 

Decision made.  I’m not going to clean.  I’ll probably stack some clutter in a neat pile. 

I want to work on my book.  I would say watch a recorded show, b/c I haven’t had the time.  Unfortunately, when I turned on the t.v. something weird happened and the kids are at school so I have no idea how to fix it.  I refuse to call the direct tv people b/c I feel like an idiot.  It’s usually just push one button.  I actually had a guy one time ask me if their were any teenagers in the house that could give me a hand.  I’m turning into my mother, except for the whole cleaning thing.  God help me!!!