it's about me

I don't know why this happened to me.
And I know you couldn't do anything
to prevent it.
I only wanted you
to hold me
afterward
Just hold my hand, rub my back,
put both arms around me
and hug me
close
make me feel safe again.

you couldn't do that
not that one little thing
for me

I don't ask you for anything
not money
not time
not even honesty
anymore

you couldnt do it
not that one thing
for me

This was not a time
for you to feel
sorry
for yourself
everything that goes on
around us
isn't about you
sometimes
every once in a while
it's about
me

But you couldn't do it
not that one thing
just this once
just
for
me

Boys and earrings

My 16 year old son wants and earring and we've told him no. He's been bugging us about it for a couple of years now. Below is the essay he sent me today trying to convince me to change my mind. It's hilarious! I've kept his spelling, grammar and punctuation errors for all to see.

Why I should get an earring

There are many different reasons why I want to have an earring. There are also some reasons why I think I deserve having an earring. Earrings aren¡¯t a gangster look it is a look that makes young men look more presentable. I am 16 years old and I think that I am old enough to get an earring. Also I think that girls like guys who have earring because it looks nice on them.

Earrings on males use to show that a young man is becoming older and is showing his maturity. In Africa after a male turn the age 15 he would get his ear pierced to show that he was becoming an adult. The people in his village would now treat him as an adult rather than a child. He receives more respect. Now earrings are put on a young mans ear for many different reasons and I don¡¯t believe that looking like a gang banger is one of them or else women wouldn¡¯t put them on there 6 or 7 year old child.

At the age of 16 I think I should be able to get an earring though I haven¡¯t been through a lot of things in life I still think I deserve it. I wouldn¡¯t present myself in away that I may look like a gang banger I would present myself in a way as I dress now. Simpler and neater. I think I really want an earring not just to be like everyone else. But to be my own self. I know that a lot of young African American males have earrings and I would look like another one of them but I will think of myself as different. I will also think of myself different because I am 6¡¯8¡± and wear a size 18 shoe.

Young woman these days think that guys with earrings are cute or ¡°hot¡± and I like girls to think of me and have those descriptions in there heads. Its not that girls don¡¯t think im cute now ( I mean come on) but this will improve my chance with a beautiful and intelligent young woman. There¡¯s not much more to say in this paragraph because its not a strong argument.

In conclusion I really want an earring. It will show maturity and it will make me look more presentable. I want this so bad that I really just sat here and wrote you an essay why I think I deserve it and hopefully you will let me get an earring. Hopefully this will change your maind about letting me have one.

Here was my response:

My son,

You are too funny!

As much as I have to give you credit for such a well thought out essay, I must take you to task for the spelling and grammatical errors. You should have used spell check and double checked your punctuation before sending.

That being said, this essay is not enough to convince me that an earring is something you need at this time in your life. Although you state that you don’t want one to be like everyone else, I don’t see anything in your argument that proves otherwise.

Also, an earring will not necessarily enhance your looks, but may actually detract from them. Any girl who can’t appreciate you for who and what you currently are, isn’t worth your time and effort.

But, I am not the one you need to convince, that is your Dad. And you know that very well. Give him a copy of this essay and see what he thinks.

Good Luck!! And I Love you very much.

Mom

Change is the only constant in life

We went to San Diego for the holiday weekend. I wanted to get away for my birthday, but not be required to do anything other than lay in the sun at the pool. I was able to do that more than I ever anticipated.

I realized this weekend that I no longer have small children who constantly want and need my attention. They don't wake up early in anticipation of the day, cajoling me to get them to the pool as soon as humanly possible. I don't get in the pool and play games or brib them out of the pool to rub them down with sun screen.

This time around, the husband and I walked around the bay each morning and had breakfast. Just the two of us. It was nice, don't get me wrong. But it felt really weird. Is this what life will be like when they're all out of the house?

We had to threaten our 17 year old daughter with physical violence to get her off the computer and out of the hotel room for a few hours.

Our 16 year old son, who is a budding celebrity in his own mind, wouldn't leave the room unless his clothing and shoes matched to a tee. Not an easy thing to do because he is pushing size 19 shoes on his 6'8" frame. But at least he swam and rode a tandem bike with his younger brother.

Only the 13 year old, who still loves being a kid, enjoyed swimming, biking and riding his scooter. He wasn't up at the crack of dawn, like he used to be, but he didn't sleep away half the day either. He at least needed me to bring him a towel and a taco for a snack out at the pool.

I honestly couldn't wait until they were old enough do their own thing, but I terribly miss the family time we spent together when they were younger. Like chele said, I can't believe they don't need me anymore.

Wow, things seem to have changed overnight.

You and I

Sitting
queitly
in the backyard
with you
(a very rare occurance)
was wonderful

reading
watching the kids
from next door
jumping
on the trampoline

watching you
annoyed
swatting the numerous
flies away
I smiled
because
finally
I was
at rest
at peace
not worrying
about what comes
next

And the essence
of who you are
really
showed in your
smile
touch
sweet kisses
making me feel
If we try
a little harder
we might survive
together
after all

Another weekend passes in a blur

I'm not a great writer. Or even a really good one for that matter.
So much goes on in my life each day that I want to talk about. But I 'm not always sure how to express that here in this forum.

I am going through such a difficult time in my life. I feel like I want to write about it, talk about it. Mostly, it comes out in the form of poems. They seem to best allow me my self expression.

Weekends
are killing me
slowly

Not because they
are boring
but
because they are
overwhelming

Running from gym to gym
calling kids
filling in score sheets
arranging snacks
or other parents
to arrange snacks

keeping my cool
when people are too hard on my kid
when I am too hard
on my kid

rising at 6am to get to the gym by
8am for the days first game
last game time 730pm
later that evening
a concert for the middle child
birthday party for the youngest
and a tournament 2 hours away
for the oldest

and it begins again
early Sunday morning
home by 930p that night
no laundry done
no floors vacummed
no bathrooms cleaned
all need to be done
all falls on me

"so don't go every weekend"
"you don't have to be at every game"
others say to me
but they don't know
understand
the consequneces of those actions
it's more exhausting,
that conversation,
that fight

I trudge on
beginning to resent
the time required
to keep my kids
busy
out of trouble
with no time
just
for
me

Please Lord
don't let me become
the bad mom
who's never there
Who stops going,
participating
simply because
I am tired

I keep telling myself
that today
is the last day
the last hour
the last minute
that I will
continue
to deal with
the bullshit
that is
you

And yet
I am still
here

What is my excuse?

I make
more money
I'm smarter
I know that
I can do this
on my own

But
I don't want to
because
I love
you

I gues I know
That if I had to
I could
But I haven't
so far
because I didn't need to
do it
on my own
until now

The scary part is
that time has
arrived

The fool that is me

Your lies
told on a daily basis
tear at my very
being
taking away
the easy going
carefree
trusting
woman
I have always been

I know better
Yet, I continue
to let you
do this to me

Who's the fool...

It was like bein' at home

That's what Grandma said to me when she was leaving. After spending 3 days shopping, as much as she could, eating and sleeping with me and mine.

She felt like she was at home.
There is no higher compliment, is there?

I have 20 first cousins and my Grandmother has the ability to make each of us feel as if we are her favorite. Don't know how she does it, but she does. There have been long distance telephone calls debating this subject. Many times. Mostly, because I know it's me! And them trifiling cousins of mine and my brother ain't tryin' to hear it! HA!

We went shopping early Friday morning. No place special. TJ Max, Big Lots and the mall. We went to my daughter's bball game Friday night. Our girls won and Grandma had a ball. And so did my girl, having her Great Grandmother at a game for the very first time. How cool is that?

Saturday we shopped some more, but her knee got too stiff so we cut it short. She relaxed on the couch and watched TV while the husband and I went to our oldest sons two bball games. We had fried shrimp for dinner from the local fish place. It was good.

Grandma can't get up and go like she used to, but otherwise, she's still the same.

Sunday morning, she peeled potatoes while I fried bacon and scrambled eggs. My aunt and her husband where coming back to pick up Grandma and take her with them back to SD.

I am so blessed to have had the time to spend with her. Even when we sat in the same room, not saying much of anything. Just watching her crochet her wash clothes. She was there. And that's all that counts.

Grandma

My grandmother is coming to stay with me for the weekend. It gives her a break from my Aunt.

There are things I have to get used to. She's getting older and sometimes that's hard to remember. I miss the times she'd come to visit and call me to take her yard sale shopping or to pick n save. She's not one for big department stores. She loves a good bargain.

She can't get around like she used to. The arthritis in her knee is so bad at times, she's had to be rushed to the hospital twice in the last two weeks to have fluid drainded. She currently has a knee brace, a cane and a walker that she refuses to use.

I'll have to remind her to take pain medication, blood pressure medication and diabetes meds. She hates takin' those things.

I have to hit the market on the way home and buy stuff to make margaritas. She loves when I make them. But, she forgets that I made them best when I was a bartender 20 years ago. But, I'll make them for her anyway because my aunt hates when I do.

I'm hoping she will be in the mood to help me make tamales and show me how to crochet. And I really want her to see the kids games this weekend. One Friday evening and the other Saturday afternoon.

But, I'll be content to sit around and watch TV if that is all she is able to do.

And drink our margaritas.

Hurricane Katrina

I have had enough of the ridiculous news coverage of this event. This is what I see, how about you?

White victim: looking sad, searching through the debris, trying to find loved ones.

Black person: laughing, running around looting stores. runnning with electronics and clothes

OR

Black person: screaming into the camera, something incoherent, looking like a complete idiot

New Orleans is about 68% African American . In my humble opinion, that's why help hasn't arrived more quickly. And why the skewed news coverage persists.

That's why congress might get back to work tomorrow to release additional funds to FEMAS to help.

That's why the National Guard is willing to drop water and food supplies from 20 feet in the air, instead of landing and treating people with respect.

That's why the death toll will rise in epic terms due to the delays in help arriving.

That's why no one has come up with a way to finally fix the breach in the levees.

That's why New Orleans will never recover to be the grand city it once was.

Because all these terribly poor black folks live there, and no one cares.

That's why...

Meme that X stole

I liked this meme, so I thought I'd share.

A is for Age - 41 next week (9/2/??)
B is for Beverage - Chardonnay
C is for Career - Marketing Manager/Director of Broadcast
D is for Dad’s name -Thomas
E is for Essential items to bring to a party - me
F is for Favorite song at the moment - 1 thing
G is for Goof off thing to do - read blogs
H is for Hometown - 'Dena
I is for Instrument you play - flute, when I was in high school
J is for Jam or Jelly you like - Welch's grape
K is for Kids - I have 3. 2 boys and a girl
L is for Living arrangement - small 3 bedroom house that needs work
M is for Mom’s name - Hellen
N is for Names of best friends - My honey and Dana
O is for overnight hospital stays -one for each kid, 2 surgeries= 5.
P is for Phobias - snakes
Q is for Quote you like - "I love you as midnight loves teh moon"
R is for Relationship that lasted longest - Coach C. 24 years, 17 married.
S is for Siblings -one younger brother. He's the bomb
T is for Texas , Ever been? - Nope.
U is for Unique trait - I can argue about any topic at the drop of a hat.
V if for Vegetable you love - Asparagus
W is for Worst trait - I have to be right
X - is for XRays you’ve had - Hip, hand, finger,teeth
Y is for Yummy food you make - Fried chicken
Z is for Zodiac sign - Virgo

10 favorite songs

Everyone is tagging folks with the five questions or ten songs tag. It got me to thinking about some of my favorite songs, so I decided to share with you all.

1.) Never too much- Luther Vandross
I heard this song for the first time the summer I met my future husband. It, and just about any Luther song, as been "ours" since then.

2.) Emotional Rollercoaster- Vivian Greene
Because I am such a moody person and tend to drop into depressions. This song feeds right into it.

3.) I can't make you love me- Bonnie Raitt
I am a sucker for slow songs. More reason to pity myself.

4.) Ready or Not- After 7
One of my all time favorites because I had a crush on one of the brothers. I never remember names, so I don't know his. But he sang lead the most.

5.) Again, Pleasure Principle, You want this, Anytime - Janet Jackson
Because it's Janet.

6.) Take a look at me now, Take me home, In the air tonight- Phill Collins
Because he is the man

7.) If you love me- Brownstone
These ladies have talent. I wish they had been bigger stars.

8.) Anything for you- Gloria Estefan
I've always loved Gloria.

9.) I'd die without you- PM Dawn
I like Spandau Ballet and thought this was a cool way to sample the song. Besides, the words of this are wonderful.

10.) Nothing can come between us- Sade
Who didn't love Sade.

emotional rollercoaster

I love that song.

I am so feelin' these lyrics right now:

yesterday, I told myself
I was gonna be ok
gonna start a new day
truley happy
I was gonna take control of me
be eventually
reality hit me
mentally, physically, emotionally
that I opened my eyes
and realized
that I was still bein' taken
for a constant ride
on your
emotional rollercoaster
your love was never healthy for me

I can't type another word that would express how I feel anymore than the ones above.

Wore out

I have been dealing with a lot of headaches lately.

I know they're stress related.

We have been on the go constantly for weeks. It feels like the only time I get to sit is 5 minutes before bed time. By then I'm ready to pass out. And he wants to have sex.

Before I know it, the alarm clock is going off and I feel like I haven't slept and I'm starting all over again.

This morning I woke up knowing I couldn't get out of the bed and go to work. I called my assistant and told her I wasn't coming in. An hour later she calls and tells me we have a conference call and I need to be there.

I have her schedule the call for 1pm, hoping I can pull it together by then. I drag my butt out of bed and get to the office by 11AM to prepare documents for the call. I can't see straight and I can't concentrate. I really have no idea what was discussed.

I'm finally done with the call and the many problems I had to deal with in between. I am going home now.

I've had enough for today.

Story number one from Vegas

Why did one of our high school parents send her son with another mom, who had 3 boys of her own, sent him with $60 for 6 days and 5 nights?? $60 to buy three meals a day and snacks. And then proceeded to ask the other parent to give her triflin' son more money. And the boy was rude, obnoxius and an overall pain in the ass to this other parent. And his teamates and other kids, and....

He was so bad that the woman who took him along with her family told him "I know where the bus station is and will gladly drop your ass off and wave bye as the bus leaves!! I do not play. Do not mess with me. " Unfortunately, that threat didn't help. Or the one from my husband, or the other coaches.

And the parent of "Damien" said she didn't understand what the problem was, he was never that way with her. Oy vey.

More to come....

Life gets in the way

I'm sorry to have disappeared for so long. I'm trying to get back to blogging.

We have been so busy with basketball tournaments, summer school and work.

I can't get to the computer at home between the two teenagers. They can barely share it between themselves. And work has been so busy, I haven't been able to sneak a few minutes to update my blog.

I will come back in a few days. I have some stories to tell about the dysfunctional families I have to deal with through the world of youth sports. You won't believe it.

Love that child

Yesterday, my boys participated in their promotion ceremonies. One from 6th grade the other from 8th grade.

The 6th grades was really cute. Kids dressed in black and white, smiling in the sun. My son recieved a certificate for perfect attendance and never missing a homework assignment the entire school year. I was so proud, tears were streming down my face.

The director of the school used such wonderful adjectives to describe my child, I didn't know who she could possibly have been speaking of. Her words were, sweet, generous, loving with a smile always on his face. And a ready greeting of hello.

Who, my child?? Not the one who pouts when I tell him to clean his room, or gets cranky when he is tired? She couldn't be talking about that boy who can wear the same short outfit day after day if I don't hide it from him? That kid?

Yup, my son. And I am SO proud of him, and I always will be.

Be an involved parent

My husband coaches travel basketball teams. Three to be exact. And two middle school teams.

We are planning a trip to Las Vegas to participate in a 5 day tournament at the end of July. I have have given out the dates, hotel accomodation information and costs since March. About once a week, I've handed out a flyer or memo that had this information.

I've given the information so many times, some parents roll their eyse when they see me coming with "another piece of paper".

We have a block of 30 rooms set aside for our teams at the hotel. So I call to see how many familes have made reservations... 11. That includes my two rooms.

As I start to question parents, I get, "oh yeah, I have to call and do that" or, "oh, I've never recieved that information". Or my personal favorite, "I never really read any of your memo's, so I didn't know what I was supposed to do".

Some of there parents don't want to go. They want to send their child with me, so we can be responsible for their bad assed boy for 5 days. They don't want to take vacation time for a basketball tournament in Las Vegas. Most of them just don't want to pay for the hotel and tournament fees.

Why not? I have to!! And I'm not going to be pulling money out of my pocket to feed your kid because you gave them $20.00 for the week!

But, what kills me is that these kids have been looking forward to this tournament for almost a year. They are so excited. And now some of them are getting really down because they may not get to go.

Now I feel obligated to reserve rooms and figure out how to pay for them so some of these boys can go. Part of the reason we did this team was to reach out in our community and touch kids who usually couldn't participate. We try not to make money an issue.
But it really pisses me off when some parents don't even make a small effort to be there for their children.

I will never understand why people have kids and then choose not to be involved with them.

the darkness

Every once in a while, I feel a dark mood coming on. Like a mild depression, but something I can't seem to keep from happening.

This one feels like it will hit me full swing tonight. I don't want to drink my way through it again.

I've been drinking too much. Too many glasses of wine each night. I'm trying to cut back, but once I open a bottle, it's on.

My weight has jumped up 15 pounds because of the drinking. And because I eat too much junk in the evenings.

It makes me feel better. It's easier to ignore the lump on the opposite end of the coach. The one who continues to lie to me. The one I allow to lie to me.

The one who gets mad at me for his stupidity. The one who makes me feel that I am unable to live on my own, when I'm the one supporting the family.

I keep waiting for him to snap out of it. To be the man I married. To be the man I know he is capable of being. He's afraid of something and I don't know what.

I don't think I really care anymore.

And that bothers me.

too long

I don't post often enough. I 'm trying to do better.

I often check in on folks I like to read and get discouraged when they don't post.

If they are such great writers, and don't update, what am I supposed to do?

After this weekend, my goal is to post every other day. Even if it is only to say, HI!

Of course, I say this as I enter my busiest time of the year at work. And summer coming, so I have to keep the kids busy, and, somehow, get in my garden.

But, I can do it, and I will.

I have lots to say.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.