Day 212

In our town alone, I am sure there are well over 1000 teams of some kind of sport throughout the year. From the traditional games of softball and baseball, football (tackle and flag), soccer, basketball, to the less frequently thought of sports like lacrosse, there are teams for every age from Kindergarten to high school.

And for each of those teams, there is a coach. Many times, there is more than one coach. And for the vast majority of these teams, those coaches don't get paid squat

Zilch. Zero. Nada.

Ok most of them get a tihirt of some kind. But do you think that bothers them? Nope. Becasue they aren't doing it for money. Many of them have children on their teams, but some just love that particular sport and want to help others learn and enjoy it. And some even volunteer having never played the sport themselves, offering up their time because noone else would step up to the plate (ba-da-ching..).

Sure, there are varying degrees of skill and dedication amongst coaches, just like there is with any type of job force. Some years you feel lucky to have "such a great coach", while there may be times you and your kid are just trying to make it through the season.

Keep in mind though- they stepped up to the plate. Probably for free. They are bringing their kid to practice just like me, along with spending time figuring out who is best in what position and what type of plays/calls there are going to make. I ran around the track and then played games on my phone during football practice tonight. They didn't. They helped my kid learn something, have the opportunity to play a team sport, and be active.

I snapped today's picture during football practice. It represents the timeless moment between coach and player, no matter the sport. If you are a coach- remember that these kids literally look up to you and you have an amazing opportunity to help them in more ways than you may think. I am 39 years old and still have solid memories of so many of my coaches. I use some of their mantras, philosophies, lessons, etc to this day. And if you are a parent of a player, please remember that most of these guys and gals don't have an agenda- or paycheck. So try to thank them at some point other than the end of the season party, because I can only imagine what it is like to be out on the field instead of sitting on the sideline. I'm sure it's not as easy as it may seem. The two words "Thanks coach" probably go a lot farther than we think!

Day 211

The sun is shining, but guess where I am?

That's right- I'm in bed. I can literally see the sun rays on my bedspread, and a gentle afternoon breeze is rolling through my window. But instead of doing laundry, or running an errand, or even working in the yard, I have decided to take a nap.

That's right. I said it. I am taking a nap. I am going to push the guilt of dirty socks and weeds out of my mind for 20 minutes and allow myself to close my eyes an relax. Really. I'm not going to feel guilty about it at all...

Today's pic represents the guilty pleasure of an afternoon siesta, even if it means your kid has to wear the same socks two days on a row...

Day 210

Under the counter, in a cabinet full of bowls and colanders, lies a piece of equipment that has been an integral part of our family for many years.

Our red Coleman water jug.

Some have family china with their initials monogrammed on it, or cute salt and pepper shakers that have been around for as long as everyone can remember. We have these things at our house too (my favorite being a ceramic cow that my grandma used to let us pour our milk from), but the water cooler is a staple that signifies our family well.

That thing is on it's third kid. It's seen baseball, softball, soccer, and football fields. It's had our last name re-written with black Sharpie on the lid multiple times as it fades. It's been used as a sitting stool, rolled around in the back of a trunk, and generally abused for over 10 years.

This week the 11-year old started back to football practice 5 nights per week. So this morning I hauled out all the stuff that goes along with this fall sport- cleats, cup, mouthpiece, chin strap, practice pants, helmet, jerseys, first-aid kit, bug spray, blankets, chairs, etc. My once-empty trunk is now brimming with testosterone...

And last, but not least, I pulled out the faithful red water jug and filled it with ice water. Then I watched the 11-year old carry it to the field where his team is the oldest group of kids out there. Soon enough, I won't have a reason to pull out that water jug anymore. And to be honest, it will have as much sentimental ties to it as the ceramic cow.

Today's pic represents the beginning of another sport season, and how something as simple as a water cooler can be such an important part of a family.

Day 209

So I'm literally sitting at the computer, trying to think of what I'm going to write about tonight. I didn't have a horrible day, but nothing jumped out and grabbed me either.

Plus, to be honest, I was upset with myself in how I played at my volleyball game tonight, and in a funk about it. I really worked hard all summer on improving my setting, and had made a lot of improvement. Then tonight, when it really mattered (we had a good shot at first place), I just couldn't get my act together. At all.

Believe it or not, I am not a great loser. Especially if I feel that I had something to do with the loss. If somebody else screws up, I am usually fine with that. But I hate feeling like I let my team down.

I know. Boo hoo.

I texted a friend of mine that plays on my Friday night team about something random. I also told her how I had not played well tonight (I think my actual words were something like "I blew hairy balls at volleyball tonight". Or I could be paraphrasing. Either way you get my drift).

Now, most friends would respond in a typical "I'm sure it wasn't that bad" or "don't be so hard on yourself" way. Not this friend. Her response?

"Aww. Picture me humping your leg right now."

There was a pause in the texting...

Then she added, " Don't be upset, luv! Playing two sets is hard!"

She must have decided to revert back to the "typical" response when I didn't answer right away. And I will add that there is a bit of an inside joke there (our volleyball team is called "Bump and Grind"... ).But I didn't answer right away becuase I was laughing at her ridiculous first statement. It was just what I needed.

Today's pic represents the importance of having friends that can make you laugh. I am fortunate to have several friends who literally can make my face hurt from laughing after an evening with them. Laughter sometimes truly is the best medicine. And I am thankful to have friends who know when to coddle me...and when to say something ridiulous to shake me from a mood. Thanks, friend!

Day 208

Have you ever seen something or been somewhere and thought, " Now why didn't I think of that"?   Today was one of those days.

The 11-year old has been begging me to take him to a new place in our area called SkyZone. So, with dark skies prohibiting much outdoor play, I gave in and took both him and one of his friends on this new adventure.

When he was younger, birthday parties with "bouncy houses" were very popular. There's just something about jumping up and down that kids love. 

SkyZone takes that love of jumping to a whole new level. 

Having a trampoline in your backyard is something that most kids would view as awesome. SkyZone went with the theory that "more is better" . This place had at least a hundred trampolines, all connected to one another so that you could jump from one to the next. Even the walls were made of trampolines, allowing for acrobatics unimaginable in a backyard.

And jump they did. For an hour straight. They played dodgeball on trampolines. They played basketball on trampolines. They played leapfrog on trampolines. They jumped from trampolines into a pit of foam, much like jumping off a diving board into a swimming pool.

They were a sweaty, happy mess after their hour was up. "That was the fastest hour of my life", said his friend.

And the whole time they were jumping, I kept looking around and thinking, "Now why didn't I think of this?".

So now I know where we will most likely spend some time this winter. And in all honesty, I'd much rather they go play there than go to the movies,and it didn't cost me any more than that. There was already talk on the way home of talking siblings and friends into having their birthday parties there so they could go back. 

Today's pic represents that fun-when-you're-a-kid feeling in your head and stomach when you defy gravity, and discovering a new way to play that doesn't involve electronics!

Day 207

Training for my goal race continues. This week, I am in the "rest and test" phase. The focus is on testing your performance at race distance and pace. This gives you an idea of how you are coming along, and is actually a lot less work/time, since I'm not doing long endurance workouts.

It's also motivating. Day after day, I slog through seemingly never-ending drills and do longer rounds of swimming, biking, and running than I will have to do in my triathalon. But this week- I get to see all that hard work pay off.

I took 30 seconds off my best swim today at race distance. And then I kept a 9 min 44 sec pace for 5K. That's my fastest yet- I won't ever be in the Olympics, but my goal has simply been to get under a 10 min pace.  Yes, I ran on the nice flat bike path- but I did it in the middle of the hot day, so that has to count for something right?! 

If the weather permits, tomorrow I will test my bike, which is always my weak spot. And although I am realistic about my abilities, I am still hoping for a time that shows some improvement. 

Only three weeks left to go. And as I look forward in my training plan to what I have ahead of me (next week starts the "peak"session)--I am going to enjoy these last two days of "rest week"....

Today's pic represents the pride of reaching a hard-earned goal. Cross your fingers for me as I get on my bike tomorrow!

Day 206

I like to think that our house does a pretty good job about cooking actual meals most nights. I fully admit that my husband does at least half, if not more, of the cooking, as his schedule allows him to be home three to four days of the week.

But some nights, it's just plain not worth it. Neither of us feels like cooking, and peanut butter sandwiches just seems wrong.

So- pizza and beer it is. Or rather- carbs and carbs it is. And tonight I just don't care.

Unfortuantely, as I eat my second slice of pizza the health angel (or nazi, depending on how you look at it...) on my one shoulder is screaming visciously in my ear that I will be kicking myself as I run tommorow, and that our goal race is only a few weeks away.

Then there's the God of Glutton on my other shoulder. He just hands me some earplugs and pats me on the back.

Now some of you will laugh when you see what type of beer I am drinking. And laugh you may. Lord knows I always giggled inside when I worked at the movie theatre and a patron would order a large popcorn with extra extra extra butter and a "small diet coke please"...But the light beer is my compromise, and a way to keep the health angel from flying away and never coming back- leaving me with the God of Glutton and the good possibility of thunder thighs.

Tonight's pic represents no-brainer, no-cooking evenings where calories and carbs aren't counted, and guilt is pushed aside until that moment in the next day's workout where you think you may throw up. TGIF my friends- hope you are enjoying this beautiful evening with good food and a drink in your hand!