Who Will You Run To?

Yesterday was the Girls on the Run 5K.  Sara ran, along with about eleven million other 3rd through 5th grade girls.  It was crazy to see all those girls in one place, all wearing the same shirt.  Crazy.  And the shirts were purple, so I was very happy.  There were more adults running that I had expected too.  And yes, I know, I KNOW, this program is not about running.  I know that because everyone and their sister has told me that a million times.  It's about building self-esteem and teamwork and whatever else falls into those categories.  And then they train for a 5K.  It's really a cool program.  Sara loved it.  But ironically, the part Sara loved best was the running part.  So maybe, just maybe, some of it is about the running.  At least for my kid. 

Anyway, the girls all started from WMU's Waldo Stadium.  They took off at 6:30 for their 5K run through downtown.  I don't know the exact route, since I stayed at the stadium, but I know that they run past my place of employment.  There are streets closed downtown and everything.  It's a big deal.  It's not a race, there is no timer that I'm aware off, though everyone knew that the girl from our school who came back first for us, third overall, ran it in 27 minutes.  Which, I'm no runner, but that seems pretty damn good.  There are a lot of cheers, and pre-teen Disney Channel music, and an announcer guy who was seriously enthusiastic.  And I'll admit, I got a little teary when Sara came running back to the stadium.  She loved it.  I'm glad she did it.

She kind of got the best of the program I think, because our school had two teams - one on Monday/Wednesday and one on Tuesday/Thursday.  We started with the Tuesday/Thursday team, but switched when we found out it was just too much with softball on the same days.  So Sara was able to have a couple of different coaches, which I always think is beneficial.  One group focused more on running and one group focused more on talking.  And she liked them both equally.  She liked the more running on Tuesday/Thursday, but the Monday/Wednesday group did more games and cheers while they ran, even though they ran less. 

What did I learn from this program?  That I would never coach it.  There is no way you can please everyone and everyone has an idea of how it should be done, but very few are willing to actually do it.  And since my attitude leans toward the "If you don't like the way I do it, feel free to step in and take over at any time", I don't think I'd make many friends that way.  In fact, by not criticizing this year's coaches, I may have lost a friend or two. 

Here's what else I learned - having a boy is much easier.  You just give them a ball or a Nerf gun or a STICK for God's sake and send them out to run around.  They generally don't want to talk about their feelings, and if they do, they certainly don't want to talk about feelings with all of their friends.  If you yell at them to run more, they do. 

Our Girls on the Run girls did an awesome job.  They all came out yesterday in the crazy heat and ran like they love it.  Our coaches got them pumped up and kept them moving.  Our parent volunteers ran with their girls and the other girls on the team.  Everyone finished and everyone got a medal. 

And then we went to Dairy Queen.

Home Sweet Home

So I've just been trucking along in my own little world lately, with Mitch being gone since the 10th, where the kids and I eat whatever for dinner and sometimes it's just cereal and sometimes it's a real meal and sometimes it's just whoever wants whatever they want.  I mean, every night it's something: baseball, softball, Brownies, Scouts, birthday, whatever.  Needless to say, the house is a disaster.  I KNOW there's a for sale sign in the yard, but let's face it: no one has been through this house since the middle of April. 

Oh, until tomorrow that is.  And today Jacob has a doctor's appointment at 4:00 and both kids have games tonight. 

It's okay, I didn't want to sleep tonight anyway.

The thing is, at this point, I don't even think it matters anymore.  We are at the decision making point, where the house hasn't sold and we're waiting to hear from Mitch's company as to what if anything they are willing to do so we can move or whether we just scrap the whole idea of relocating.  Do I think the people looking tomorrow will buy the house by the end of the week?  No.  All this is doing is making me have to miss quality television time so I can clean - which, granted NEEDS to be done - but still just makes me bitter.  And, it's still going to be brutally hot tomorrow so what I'm going to do with the dog is anyone's guess.

I know my attitude sucks, but really, I just want all this to be over.  One way or the other.  Either we're going or we're not.  Either the house is for sale or it's not.  Either the kids go back to their school next year or they don't.  Either I still have this job or I don't.  This constant state of not knowing is taking a toll on me.  And Mitch too.  Next Tuesday we're supposed to fly to Utah to find a place to live, and at this moment in time, we don't know how we'd afford a place to live, what price range we're looking at or even if we're going.   I had hoped this would all be settled by now.  I hate that it's coming right down to the wire. 

And wouldn't the joke be if we say "Okay look, the house hasn't sold and you can't do anything to help us, so we can't go" and then next week these buyers tomorrow come back and make an offer? 

I have said for a while now that it will happen when it's supposed to happen.  That there's a plan and I just need to be patient and wait for it all to come in due time.  But maybe the fact that nothing is happening is my sign.  That it's not happening because it's not supposed to be happening.  Maybe we're supposed to stay here for a while yet.  (Good God, I hope not forever.)  I just wish I could fast-forward and see how this all turns out.  The not knowing is killing me.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

So this weekend was the Major Baseball Tournament for Jacob.  Six teams from all over the area come and participate and the two teams with the best records play for a championship game at the end.  It's just for fun, but as anyone who has boys who play sports knows, everyone has more fun when you win.

Jacob's team did well - beating South Portage and Lakeview on Saturday and Northwood-Plainwell Sunday afternoon.  They went to the championship game Sunday evening and sadly lost to Parchment.  It was at least 90 degrees, even at 5 PM, and everyone was just suffering.  But to be fair, the Parchment team was really good, the best our boys had seen either day.  They deserved the win.  I thought Jacob would be really ticked, because he hates to lose, but he took it well.  Maybe it was too hot to care.  Maybe it was because he was injured and just done.

On Saturday at the 10 AM game, he was catching.  In the 3rd inning, the batter hit a high pop-up.  Jacob of course, whipped off the catcher's mask and goes after the ball.  He was up against the fence between the dugout and the backstop when all of a sudden, he just drops to the ground and stops moving.  I was on the phone with my mom, and I hung up and went running to the dugout.  Both his coaches run out to him and then one runs back and all I heard was "Call the -"  The way he laid there not moving, I was sure he was knocked out.  (He says he wasn't, but I'm still not sure.)  I guess he was up against the fence and the ball was drifting over the fence.  Then it drifted back and landed right on his face.  His nose and lips were bleeding, but luckily, he has all his teeth.  His upper lip is crazy swollen and he had a big slice on the inside of his lip.  He also has little scabs between his lip and his nose that would probably match right up with the laces on the ball.  I sat with him for a while in the dugout, until he stopped spitting blood and he told me to go.  (It's probably hard to be tough with your mom in the dugout.)  I thought he was done for the day.

But next inning, he comes out and hits a double.  He pitched out the last two innings of the game.  It was enough excitement for me anyway.  His coach said he didn't have to stay and play the 2nd game, but I guess he doesn't know Jacob well enough to know there wasn't any way on earth he was leaving.  I left it up to him and he of course wanted to stay and play.  He played shortstop for the 12:30 PM game and hit a triple.  So who knows? 

Luckily, we avoided a trip to the emergency room.  Two in two weeks would probably raise some flags somewhere.  He does have a doctor's appointment tomorrow for his yearly check-up, so I'm sure we'll be answering questions there.  But I think he impressed everyone but getting right back out there and doing so well.  He sure impressed me.

What I Am

I am the wife of Mitch, and if he isn't my soul mate, I can't imagine anyone else that would put up with me for this long.   I am the mother of Jacob, our smart, athletic, handsome boy who tends to think too much and takes everything a tad too personally.  I am the mother of the lovely Sara, our sweet, funny, smart sunshine girl who is far too cheerful to have come from her father and I.  We live our little lives here in Michigan, though we are planning a move to Utah in the very near future.  As in, "the house is for sale and some of our stuff is already in storage" very near future.  Though how this will all turn out is really anybody's guess anymore. 

I read a lot.  I wish I had more time to scrapbook.  I'm addicted to "Law & Order: SVU".  Don't call me Thursdays at 9 PM because I'm watching "Fringe".  I'm a terrible housekeeper and too impatient to cook.  I don't mind talking on the phone if someone calls me, but I hate making phone calls.  I'd stay up all night if I didn't have to get up the next morning.  Even if my alarm clock were set for 10 AM, I'd hit snooze 12 times before I got up.  I don't share well.  Any houseplant that makes it way into my home should get its affairs in order because its days are numbered.  I spend way too much time on Facebook.  I yell a lot and I'm more sarcastic than is called for in most situations. If you have a real problem, I'm there for you, but if you're just looking for drama or a pity party, you've come to the wrong place.

Why a blog?  Well, really, why not?  Lots of people have them and I've got stuff to say.  Some of it may be interesting, some of it may be funny, some of it may be angry, and some it will really only entertain me.  But since I tend to believe it's all about me, I guess that will work.  And it's my blog, so we'll just see where this goes.