so plenty of time for me to cram ina few more journal entries.
Life has been going at full throttle - we took this weekend to enjoy our lives with our friends, we rested, and we also reflected on the important and meaning of Memorial Day.
I was a little sad yesterday as I washed my windows - they were so clear that my eyes fell on a lonely yellow rose bush that was competing for sunlight with the rest of the bushes.
Bryan's rosebush.
No one really knows that is the name I gave it - it was to honor the life of a soldier that I had never met, yet his family touched mine in so many ways. His parents live across the street...his brother plays softball with us.
Bryan Brewster lost his life in Afghanistan in May 2006. I remember the day that the Army people came to their house. It was a Sunday morning, LQ and I were out for a walk. We saw the cars and all the family. I thought they were going to have a big barbeque. Later that day, Bryan's mom told me the news.
I didn't know what to do, or what to say. So a few days later I cooked and wrapped up two large casserole dishes. One was lasagna, the other I don't remember. I walked it over, and the only thing I really remember was Scott saying "oh my God....FOOD!!!"
The next few days were spent in their home, hearing about Bryan, or out on our sidewalk as Louis, the dad cried on my shoulder.
Time passes...and when my dad died, our positions were reversed. I struggled while dealing with my family, and the Brewster family always was there for me to give me encouragement.
This morning I learned that Louis's father passed away last Monday. He was 81, and even though he had lived a long life, it still leaves a lot of grief. Louis and I talked about his dad. For him, it is two big losses in two years.
Louis described it as totally different than when his son died. Not worse or better...just different.
He told me that I inspired him to keep going, like how I did when Dad died. How funny it feels to hear that - I'm young enough to be his daughter (well, almost) yet I inspire him.
We talked and joked for a little while. I wished him luck tomorrow at the funeral. I told him that once the funeral was over, he would actually fall asleep at night. I said something else, and then he had to mention that I can't hit a softball if my life depended on it...so that was my cue that the seriousness was over.
Mr. Louis Brewster Sr. - rest in peace. You did a good job.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I almost forgot....
With the depressing stuff from yesterday, I failed to mention that LegoQueen actually did very well at catcher. We are so proud of her! She did start to get tired and was missing balls near the end, but I think it is one of those stamina things that you have to build up to.
She did everything that the coach asked her to - and Hongo stood behind the fence at home plate to help her out.
LegoQueen and I talked today. We talked about thing we can change, and things we cannot. We cannot change how other people treat her, however we can change how we react. I thought up until now she had been doing a great job of ignoring them and just moving past and doing her own thing, but I think she just snapped yesterday. Which shows that they are still getting to her. She decided today that she was going to make a concerted effort to just stick with the people she trusts and walk away from the others.
We talked about quitting, and she said she didn't want to have to give up something that she liked doing because of a few bad people.
We talked about asking that she be redrafted next season, but she only wants to go to a specific team, so she will be just as miserable if she ends up on the other team. Plus she really likes her coach, so she would like to stick with him.
She did everything that the coach asked her to - and Hongo stood behind the fence at home plate to help her out.
LegoQueen and I talked today. We talked about thing we can change, and things we cannot. We cannot change how other people treat her, however we can change how we react. I thought up until now she had been doing a great job of ignoring them and just moving past and doing her own thing, but I think she just snapped yesterday. Which shows that they are still getting to her. She decided today that she was going to make a concerted effort to just stick with the people she trusts and walk away from the others.
We talked about quitting, and she said she didn't want to have to give up something that she liked doing because of a few bad people.
We talked about asking that she be redrafted next season, but she only wants to go to a specific team, so she will be just as miserable if she ends up on the other team. Plus she really likes her coach, so she would like to stick with him.
Sometimes I wish....
that I could just wrap my daughter up and protect her from everything....
Last was one of the worst nights in softball ever. When we first got there, I started throwing the ball with LegoQueen to warm her up. The other two girls that were there went over to the field to gossip or do whatever it is that brats do.
When the coach got there, we talked a little bit and he asked me if I thought LQ was up to being the catcher. He said that Hongo throws really hard at her, so he know that LQ could catch the balls, but she is also one of those people where if you tap her its like you tried to beat her. I told him to have her put the gear on, and *I* would pitch to her.
So I help her with the gear, and she was excited about trying that spot out. Well, our normal catcher didn't like it too much and started crying about LQ trying to take her spot. First of all, its not "her spot" and second - the coach wanted better defense in the outfield.
As I was throwing to LQ, she said to me -"I don't think Mollie is happy right now." and I told her that Mollie would have to learn to deal.
LQ didn't stretch with the girls because I was pitching to her, and I noticed that when they came over to start their jog, a few were glaring at her. Nothing new, and LQ never notices that kind of thing, so I let it go.
I was pitching harder and faster, and you could hear the ball whizzing down to LQ. I was waiting for her to complain, but she said she was fine. When the pitcher walked up, I told her that I wanted her to start pitching to LQ to give her an idea of how this pitcher's ball moves.
Well, pitcher couldn't throw a strike and LQ wasn't focused on catching anything that wasn't within her range. Pitcher's dad was yelling at her to stop fooling around and throw strikes. Then another girl shows up in catcher's gear and I told LQ to come with me and let the other girl catch.
I report back to the coach, LQ is a go if he wants her to catch. She will be fine. He hands me the lineup card, and I started filling out the scorebook. I call Hongo and tell him our daughter is going to be catcher and to hurry down to the field. We are excited.
I went to the car to get my camera, and LQ catches my arm and tells me "Mommy, Jackie said that because I am catching, we are going to lose the game."
*sigh*
They said that on Saturday when LQ was pitching too.
So I told her that she knows that isn't true, and that she should go out there and just try her best and not worry about what Jackie says.
I saw Hongo out by the cars and told him "Give your daughter a little pep talk." and gave him a brief summary of what was going on.
By the time I got back, LQ is still talking to Hongo, but with tears in her eyes. All the other girls (except one) were sitting in the grass away from the dugout.
So the coach walked over to LQ and starts to tell her what to do about getting the gear on, and he asked her "What is the matter with you?" and he is totally puzzled. LQ looks at Hongo and starts crying and so Hongo tells the coach what just happened.
When LQ went to go sit in the dugout, all the girls got up and left and some made rude comments about her catching.
I thought the coach was going to burst a blood vessel. He was so pissed off. He yelled at all the girls to get in the dugout and to get their stuff, we were going home. I put the score book away. Parents were wondering what was going on. I was sitting down putting my camera bag away and I heard the coaches daughter tell him "But dad, Julie said she saw a butterfly, and so she told us all to come see the butterfly, so that is why we all got up at the same time."
I caught a deep breath and waited for the coaches reaction. And he told her flatly and calmly, "You know that is not true." and I could hear his voice shaking because his daughter had the nerve to try and lie right to his face and he was trying to keep from going off on her.
So he stood and lectured for a good 10 minutes and gave the girls a good tongue lashing. Hongo was all for going home. Parents were so embarrassed of their girls, and a few apologized to me.
The girls ended up playing, and it meant a few of them had to tell my daughter things like "Good Job" or "Nice Catching" It was so fake.
Hongo was pissed. He was coaching first and he said he didn't say anything to to girls if they reached, with exception to 3 girls. One of them (the co-ringleader) tried to talk to him and he said he just remained silent.
LQ caught well, until her glove busted. Then they had to bring someone else in to catch. After the game I passed out snacks and the coach is holding practice today.
After all the girls left, I went and thanked the coach for sticking up for my daughter. I really appreciated it, Hongo appreciated it.
The pitcher (co-ringleader) came up and interrupted (WHY he lets them constantly do this I don't know, I was always brought up to be respectful and wait my turn to speak) so I was determined to get one last word in.
I told the coach, "Thank you again for what you did, this is an ongoing problem (and I looked STRAIGHT at her) and I am positive it WILL be solved so that all the girls can enjoy the rest of the season.
From the look on her face, I think I got my message across.
I had a hard time sleeping last night. The boldness of these girls appalls me. I am torn between letting her play the season out, or calling it quits right now. I think about next season. Do I ask for her to be redrafted? She really likes her coach right now, and then I run the risk of her being drafted to a worse team. Will she even play next year?
I'm getting a little ahead of myself, I know. We should be taking this one day at a time.
*sigh*
Last was one of the worst nights in softball ever. When we first got there, I started throwing the ball with LegoQueen to warm her up. The other two girls that were there went over to the field to gossip or do whatever it is that brats do.
When the coach got there, we talked a little bit and he asked me if I thought LQ was up to being the catcher. He said that Hongo throws really hard at her, so he know that LQ could catch the balls, but she is also one of those people where if you tap her its like you tried to beat her. I told him to have her put the gear on, and *I* would pitch to her.
So I help her with the gear, and she was excited about trying that spot out. Well, our normal catcher didn't like it too much and started crying about LQ trying to take her spot. First of all, its not "her spot" and second - the coach wanted better defense in the outfield.
As I was throwing to LQ, she said to me -"I don't think Mollie is happy right now." and I told her that Mollie would have to learn to deal.
LQ didn't stretch with the girls because I was pitching to her, and I noticed that when they came over to start their jog, a few were glaring at her. Nothing new, and LQ never notices that kind of thing, so I let it go.
I was pitching harder and faster, and you could hear the ball whizzing down to LQ. I was waiting for her to complain, but she said she was fine. When the pitcher walked up, I told her that I wanted her to start pitching to LQ to give her an idea of how this pitcher's ball moves.
Well, pitcher couldn't throw a strike and LQ wasn't focused on catching anything that wasn't within her range. Pitcher's dad was yelling at her to stop fooling around and throw strikes. Then another girl shows up in catcher's gear and I told LQ to come with me and let the other girl catch.
I report back to the coach, LQ is a go if he wants her to catch. She will be fine. He hands me the lineup card, and I started filling out the scorebook. I call Hongo and tell him our daughter is going to be catcher and to hurry down to the field. We are excited.
I went to the car to get my camera, and LQ catches my arm and tells me "Mommy, Jackie said that because I am catching, we are going to lose the game."
*sigh*
They said that on Saturday when LQ was pitching too.
So I told her that she knows that isn't true, and that she should go out there and just try her best and not worry about what Jackie says.
I saw Hongo out by the cars and told him "Give your daughter a little pep talk." and gave him a brief summary of what was going on.
By the time I got back, LQ is still talking to Hongo, but with tears in her eyes. All the other girls (except one) were sitting in the grass away from the dugout.
So the coach walked over to LQ and starts to tell her what to do about getting the gear on, and he asked her "What is the matter with you?" and he is totally puzzled. LQ looks at Hongo and starts crying and so Hongo tells the coach what just happened.
When LQ went to go sit in the dugout, all the girls got up and left and some made rude comments about her catching.
I thought the coach was going to burst a blood vessel. He was so pissed off. He yelled at all the girls to get in the dugout and to get their stuff, we were going home. I put the score book away. Parents were wondering what was going on. I was sitting down putting my camera bag away and I heard the coaches daughter tell him "But dad, Julie said she saw a butterfly, and so she told us all to come see the butterfly, so that is why we all got up at the same time."
I caught a deep breath and waited for the coaches reaction. And he told her flatly and calmly, "You know that is not true." and I could hear his voice shaking because his daughter had the nerve to try and lie right to his face and he was trying to keep from going off on her.
So he stood and lectured for a good 10 minutes and gave the girls a good tongue lashing. Hongo was all for going home. Parents were so embarrassed of their girls, and a few apologized to me.
The girls ended up playing, and it meant a few of them had to tell my daughter things like "Good Job" or "Nice Catching" It was so fake.
Hongo was pissed. He was coaching first and he said he didn't say anything to to girls if they reached, with exception to 3 girls. One of them (the co-ringleader) tried to talk to him and he said he just remained silent.
LQ caught well, until her glove busted. Then they had to bring someone else in to catch. After the game I passed out snacks and the coach is holding practice today.
After all the girls left, I went and thanked the coach for sticking up for my daughter. I really appreciated it, Hongo appreciated it.
The pitcher (co-ringleader) came up and interrupted (WHY he lets them constantly do this I don't know, I was always brought up to be respectful and wait my turn to speak) so I was determined to get one last word in.
I told the coach, "Thank you again for what you did, this is an ongoing problem (and I looked STRAIGHT at her) and I am positive it WILL be solved so that all the girls can enjoy the rest of the season.
From the look on her face, I think I got my message across.
I had a hard time sleeping last night. The boldness of these girls appalls me. I am torn between letting her play the season out, or calling it quits right now. I think about next season. Do I ask for her to be redrafted? She really likes her coach right now, and then I run the risk of her being drafted to a worse team. Will she even play next year?
I'm getting a little ahead of myself, I know. We should be taking this one day at a time.
*sigh*
Monday, May 12, 2008
No more craziness for now....
Unless you count the bug that has bitten my children and turned into wild animals that don't listen, can't stand each other yet cannot bear to be apart....
*sigh*
We had a nice Mothers' Day - didn't get to go kayaking like I wanted, but everything worked out fine. My in laws came over and we went to lunch, then they took the kids shopping. DramaQueen chose a lot of dresses, and today she got all dolled up and was running around yelling "I'm rich!!!!"
The child had $15 burning a hole in her pocket, so today I let her buy some cute headbands with it. She saw $3 on the tag, and proudly handed the cashier 3 dollar bills. We haven't talked about sales tax, lol! The cashier bagged her stuff and gave her a receipt. I asked the cashier if she was short, and she said "22 cents" and shrugged her shoulders. So I dug in my purse and found a quarter. Cute kids can get away with not paying sales tax? I sure wish I was cute - maybe I would get free groceries. Or free gas.
Anyway - today was one of those "time-out days" A day where either I am going to tear out my hair and give myself a heart attack, or I lock the kids in their rooms and lay on my bed. I chose the latter, and when Hongo got home, I took a nap. I had an appointment canceled today, which ended up being good - I wasn't in the mood to be meeting with people.
Right now I am listening to Hongo drone on about baseball gloves. I feel like my friend Beatriz - she asks her husband a question and he goes on and on, and then she wishes that she hadn't asked.
However, in this case - Hongo is trying to convince me of the benefits of letting him buy another glove. He currently has an outfielder's glove, 2 infielders gloves, I just paid for another one this morning from Ebay, and he also won a glove for the LegoQueen that I paid for as well.
I don't think he needs a new glove. Actually, I KNOW he doesn't. He is going to have to come up with some pretty good sweet talking for this glove.
*sigh*
We had a nice Mothers' Day - didn't get to go kayaking like I wanted, but everything worked out fine. My in laws came over and we went to lunch, then they took the kids shopping. DramaQueen chose a lot of dresses, and today she got all dolled up and was running around yelling "I'm rich!!!!"
The child had $15 burning a hole in her pocket, so today I let her buy some cute headbands with it. She saw $3 on the tag, and proudly handed the cashier 3 dollar bills. We haven't talked about sales tax, lol! The cashier bagged her stuff and gave her a receipt. I asked the cashier if she was short, and she said "22 cents" and shrugged her shoulders. So I dug in my purse and found a quarter. Cute kids can get away with not paying sales tax? I sure wish I was cute - maybe I would get free groceries. Or free gas.
Anyway - today was one of those "time-out days" A day where either I am going to tear out my hair and give myself a heart attack, or I lock the kids in their rooms and lay on my bed. I chose the latter, and when Hongo got home, I took a nap. I had an appointment canceled today, which ended up being good - I wasn't in the mood to be meeting with people.
Right now I am listening to Hongo drone on about baseball gloves. I feel like my friend Beatriz - she asks her husband a question and he goes on and on, and then she wishes that she hadn't asked.
However, in this case - Hongo is trying to convince me of the benefits of letting him buy another glove. He currently has an outfielder's glove, 2 infielders gloves, I just paid for another one this morning from Ebay, and he also won a glove for the LegoQueen that I paid for as well.
I don't think he needs a new glove. Actually, I KNOW he doesn't. He is going to have to come up with some pretty good sweet talking for this glove.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Update on the crazy lady....
What a freak occurence - she was at the park last night when we were there. I saw her, she has her arm in a sling. Gee, I wonder why?
What's even more freaky - the son of the guy she was trying to hit was also there - the girls were playing against each other. He stood behind her at the snack bar and glared at her, lol.
On a slightly sad note, my DramaQueen got sick last night at the game. She spent the night with a high fever and it finally broke today about noon. She is pretty much back to her old self - she is attacking her brother like usual. We are playing it by ear for tomorrow - I will see if she is totally back to normal.
What's even more freaky - the son of the guy she was trying to hit was also there - the girls were playing against each other. He stood behind her at the snack bar and glared at her, lol.
On a slightly sad note, my DramaQueen got sick last night at the game. She spent the night with a high fever and it finally broke today about noon. She is pretty much back to her old self - she is attacking her brother like usual. We are playing it by ear for tomorrow - I will see if she is totally back to normal.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Unsportsmanlike conduct.....
Well, its Tuesday. I can't believe how quickly time has flown by this past week.
We've had a couple of run-ins with players who do not conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, so I thought I would talk about it for a little bit. I don't think I have told any of my friends - I've been more concerned with my dear friend coming down with Bell's Palsy, and getting things together for a craft tomorrow for Mothers' Day.
Anyway, It started last week with LegoQueen's softball game. They were playing the first place team and beat them. The coach of the other team was very upset and was stomping around like a child. He kept calling time out to talk to the umpire about various minor things that he felt our team was doing wrong. After the game, he left in a hurry and one of his players said that he was very angry with the girls. Then yesterday we heard that his daughter was talking smack at school about tonight's game (and not in a funny, friendly way either). Its just very frustrating with the competitiveness. Is that even a word? I don't know- I've been so tired lately it doesn't matter anymore.
Then on to Sunday. Hongo and I played our double header. We lost the first one, and won the second. After the second game, we were asked to fill in at the next game. We are friends with that team, so we tend to cover for each other alot. My neighbor across the street is on that team too.
So there we are, having fun - messing around. We were winning, and the other team wasnt liking it very much. Then it started to go downhill. I didn't notice it until late in the game, but the whole team had been cussing at us the entire game. One lady was really pissed off because she couldn't make it on base (she grounded out to me twice and once to the pitcher) On her final at bat, she walked and started cussing out the pitcher as she ran to first. That was my first idea that something wasn;t right. No wait, about 5 seconds prior to that, she LICKED the ball and threw it at the pitcher. THAT was when I knew something was wrong.
Well, as soon as the game was over, she waited until her teamamtes had left the field and she heaved a ball at our side into a crowd of people. I was sitting on the bleachers, tending to my knee that I had injured. I got up and went over to meet her on the other side. We were going to "have a discussion". But my dear husband held me back, and instead directed me to my very upset 7 year old who the ball had almost hit.
Thankfully she did not hit anyone. Because she sucks, and can't throw her way out of a paper bag. However the person she was aiming for is a man who is like family to us. He and Hongo play softball together, and I have coached his daughter for two years (she is on the team we play tonight that was mentioned earlier). So I was emotionally riled up for that reason as well. If Hongo had not been there, he would have had to come get me from jail.
Yesterday I went to talk to the director of adult sports for our city. I successfully got her suspended for about 2 games. But one of the ladies who witnessed it (she is also my friend Christina) was not so satisfied, and has sent a complaint to the head director because of this:
League Reminders
If you missed the meeting...
Bad language can and will be used against you. Do not be surprised by this.
Any violent act by a player will, of course get him/her removed form the league for the remainder of the season - or more, AND the manager will be ejected from the current and the next game as well. The message? Don't have players on your roster who cannot be controlled. (For soccer managers, it goes for you as well.)
This of course, was a violent act. So therefore this woman should be removed from the league from the rest of the season. So we will see what happens.
Other than that, things are swell. I am making dinner and then we will take LQ to her game.
Oh, and LQ was feeling down because she thought her close friend didn't want to be friends anymore. But he just called and they are talking on the phone, lol.
We've had a couple of run-ins with players who do not conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, so I thought I would talk about it for a little bit. I don't think I have told any of my friends - I've been more concerned with my dear friend coming down with Bell's Palsy, and getting things together for a craft tomorrow for Mothers' Day.
Anyway, It started last week with LegoQueen's softball game. They were playing the first place team and beat them. The coach of the other team was very upset and was stomping around like a child. He kept calling time out to talk to the umpire about various minor things that he felt our team was doing wrong. After the game, he left in a hurry and one of his players said that he was very angry with the girls. Then yesterday we heard that his daughter was talking smack at school about tonight's game (and not in a funny, friendly way either). Its just very frustrating with the competitiveness. Is that even a word? I don't know- I've been so tired lately it doesn't matter anymore.
Then on to Sunday. Hongo and I played our double header. We lost the first one, and won the second. After the second game, we were asked to fill in at the next game. We are friends with that team, so we tend to cover for each other alot. My neighbor across the street is on that team too.
So there we are, having fun - messing around. We were winning, and the other team wasnt liking it very much. Then it started to go downhill. I didn't notice it until late in the game, but the whole team had been cussing at us the entire game. One lady was really pissed off because she couldn't make it on base (she grounded out to me twice and once to the pitcher) On her final at bat, she walked and started cussing out the pitcher as she ran to first. That was my first idea that something wasn;t right. No wait, about 5 seconds prior to that, she LICKED the ball and threw it at the pitcher. THAT was when I knew something was wrong.
Well, as soon as the game was over, she waited until her teamamtes had left the field and she heaved a ball at our side into a crowd of people. I was sitting on the bleachers, tending to my knee that I had injured. I got up and went over to meet her on the other side. We were going to "have a discussion". But my dear husband held me back, and instead directed me to my very upset 7 year old who the ball had almost hit.
Thankfully she did not hit anyone. Because she sucks, and can't throw her way out of a paper bag. However the person she was aiming for is a man who is like family to us. He and Hongo play softball together, and I have coached his daughter for two years (she is on the team we play tonight that was mentioned earlier). So I was emotionally riled up for that reason as well. If Hongo had not been there, he would have had to come get me from jail.
Yesterday I went to talk to the director of adult sports for our city. I successfully got her suspended for about 2 games. But one of the ladies who witnessed it (she is also my friend Christina) was not so satisfied, and has sent a complaint to the head director because of this:
League Reminders
If you missed the meeting...
Bad language can and will be used against you. Do not be surprised by this.
Any violent act by a player will, of course get him/her removed form the league for the remainder of the season - or more, AND the manager will be ejected from the current and the next game as well. The message? Don't have players on your roster who cannot be controlled. (For soccer managers, it goes for you as well.)
This of course, was a violent act. So therefore this woman should be removed from the league from the rest of the season. So we will see what happens.
Other than that, things are swell. I am making dinner and then we will take LQ to her game.
Oh, and LQ was feeling down because she thought her close friend didn't want to be friends anymore. But he just called and they are talking on the phone, lol.
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