Weekly Top 10 - Football Edition

So this finds all three in our fam a little out of sorts. Tonto is recovering from a horrific bout of cramps on Sunday (probably due to dehydration after golfing), the girl's allergies are en fuego, and I'm trying to figure out how to wake up refreshed instead of peeling myself out of bed yet another week.

Yes, those are absolutely first world problems and are but a tiny blip on the radar of life; however, it means my brain is a bit sluggish and we already discussed my penchant for leaving my camera at home while on outings lately so today's list is a bit out of the norm.

As you may have ascertained by now, I'm a bit passionate when it comes to Baylor University and the New Orleans Saints. And football. And basketball as well but we've not yet entered that season yet...

So here are the top 10 phrases you will hear come out of my mouth (generally speaking to myself or a player on the field who cannot possibly hear me) during a football game (high school, college or pro - I show no favoritism):

1. When the game is too close and one gets a sack - "Boy, you have no reason to be strutting yet. Get your behind back on that line and do it again."

2. Upon the opponent's player either catching or running the ball - "Knock him down! NOW!!! What in the world is wrong with you?!?!"

3. "Don't make me come down there and straighten you out..."

4. "Alright, guys, let's make those other boys cry. But don't hurt 'em. Just beat 'em. Real good."

5. "My head sure seems to be throbbing. Could it be all the yelling?"

6. "Mama needs some water. And ibuprofen."

7. Me: "Why am I shaking like a leaf?" Tonto: "I am too, babe. It's just so stinkin' stressful today."

8. "Oh. My. Word. Did RG3 just go airborne? Again? And stick the landing?"

9. "Looks to me like we need a guest speaker at halftime..."

10. "Sweet mercy..."

And a bonus....

11. After beating TCU, the defending Rose Bowl champs - "Every rose has its thorn - oh, yes, it most certainly does..."

Consider them Axed

It seems that in the fall I always find myself posting about the football game(s) we attended over the weekend. And while that may seem a bit redundant, I'm totally ok with this pattern. :-)

Saturday's  showdown was with Stephen F. Austin University (aka SFA) and I must say their fans was really nice. And super entertaining. Also, they like to smoke. A lot.

We got there early to grab a prime tailgating spot and set up quickly for an afternoon o'fun. I realized on the way to the stadium that I had forgotten both my camera and game program (I'm cheap - I buy one a year and bring it to each game to identify players) at home. Basically, what that means is the photos are limited and aren't the greatest quality.

You're welcome.

After getting all of our gear set up, we grabbed a cold beverage and headed over to where the buses arrive for March of the Bears. My Diet Coke looked super cute in the Baylor cups my mom found :-)

I really love March of the Bears because I think it's fun to see the players' personalities and to see them off the field. I do, however, wish they would wear their numbers on their track suits, though, because sometimes I have a hard time identifying them without a helmet...

No mistaking this man, though - Coach Art Briles (CAB)

This is Ahmad Dixon, who attended high school where my girl does so he's a bit of a local celebrity. He tweeted after the game that he suffered a broken nose so we're praying for healing. Since I've done that a couple of times myself, my guess is he's better now because after a couple of days mind just seemed to go numb. Like, completely numb. :-)

Kendall Wright (#1) - our amazing wide receiver. Remember that name, friends. You'll hear it again.

Got to love the literal game faces, don't ya?

The guy in the white hat is Mike Hicks. He's caught an interception in each of our games. He's also a local boy. Really good kid.

After the march, we headed back to grill up some hot dogs and hamburgers. Well, Tonto grilled and we cheered but it tasted great all the same...

Upon heading into the game, a fan from SFA grabbed my man (out of nowhere) and wanted to know if he had "prepared his heart for the upset." I have no words for this, y'all, except that it was hysterical. Like I said, they were friendly folks.

Friendly folks who lost the game, though, as the Bears racked up 48 points in three quarters while our defense stepped up and allowed 0 on their end. Lightning and rain (thank you, Jesus) ended the game early but not before RG3 literally took to their air, did a flip over a defended, and stuck the landing right in front of the Baylor Line. 

It was heart stopping. And also awesome.

This week we have both a high school and Baylor game. Assuming I actually remember my camera, I'll be back again this time next week to thrill you with our pigskin adventures! :-)

Weekly Top 10

I typed the word "weekly" into this post's title and immediately thought, "who am I trying to kid?" But let's face it, it has a nicer ring to it than "top 10 I write when my brain is fried and I have zero blog material."

In a nutshell, looks like we're sticking with this misleading title.

And I apologize for wasting 90 seconds of your life while you processed that mumbo jumbo...

Anyway, he's a eagerly anticipated list of randomness:

1. I'm really over 2011. The year, not the number itself. I'm so ready, y'all, for New Year's that it almost makes me cry when I realize it's only September. I'm tired of this season but am trying to remain grateful that it's only a season.

2. My girl began tumbling again last evening. While it generates a lot of anxiety for me, at least we know - as Tonto kindly pointed out - that if she breaks another bone, it won't be the right elbow since that one has a titanium plate holding it together.

3. Yes, my man is always that comforting and sensitive. Why do you ask?

4. I've had it up to here with supposed conference realignment talk. And I'm also tired of Baylor being painted as the bad guy for standing up for what is right. As for me and my house, we'll stick with Judge Starr. Thankyouverymuch.

5. I woke up this morning and thought it was Thursday. Things only went downhill from there...

6. Rambo is enjoying Wet 'n Wild Wednesday at Dogtopia today. From all accounts he has made baby steps and will actually chase his friends around the pools now but still won't enter them...we'll call that progress...

7. Looking forward to tailgating this weekend. And logging win #2 - don't let me down, boys!!!

8. We now own a nice hair straightener and I am spending a great deal of my time making sure the girl's hair is absolutely "board straight" and isn't puffy at all. Good times... But, hey, at least she'll let me play with her hair again!

9. I will be sad to see Big Brother come to an end this evening. Yes, I'm a little embarrassed to actually admit it...

10. My girl's friends let me know last weekend that they think I'm "super cool" and have "awesome hair." My daughter looked at them like their heads had just spun around on their necks...I enjoyed every minute of her being befuddled :-)

Bright Spots from Friday's Game

So we went to a football game last Friday. Our opponent was the school Tay used to attend and, ironically, also the team Tonto played for back in the day. Let's just say this game didn't go as expected but there were some bright spots...

...and that would conclude said bright spots.

We won't talk about the other team and the incredibly cheap shot they took on one our defenseless players. Or how he ended up being carted off on a backboard. He is ok - and we are incredibly grateful - but will be out for a couple of weeks.

We also won't talk about how the rules of the game apparently changed Friday night seeing as how last I checked when the ball came out after a player was down, it was not a fumble.

We also won't talk about theories behind a team going from a cellar dweller one year to a powerhouse the next...

...because that wouldn't be time well served, now would it?

So we'll just talk about how we had a nice evening. It was delightful out and there was even a breeze. And the girl and I even stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home.

Happy Tuesday!

Refusing to Juggle

About a month ago I heard Sheila Walsh speak while I was listening to K-LOVE. Though I've heard great things about her and her teaching, she's not an individual who I know much about. In about two minutes I learned two things: 1) she has a lovely accent I could listen to all day 2) she can speak a WORD, y'all!

On this particular day she was talking about being a woman and trying to do this, that and the other every single day. One that particular day I was feeling overwhelmed with school starting back up, volleyball practice, zumba, work, church, etc. Not that any of those things are bad but my brain was having a hard time readjusting to routine. My state of mind probably had something to do with me keying into her so quickly and to that I say 'thank you, Lord.'

The gist of her lesson was that we spend so much time juggling different things in our lives but jugglers actually never catch and hold onto anything. They're constantly catching and releasing - catch, release, catch, release....

Which means they are never fully present and engaged in anything...

Wow - that hit me like a ton of bricks because it is so me, friends. What I like to call multi-tasking is simply not being fully present. Checking things off my to-do list in my head is robbing me of precious moments - that I will never get back - I could be chatting with my girl while I take her to volleyball practice. Worrying about something I have absolutely no control over keeps me from truly hearing my man.

And on. And on. And on.


What I decided in that very moment is that no matter what I was doing, whether it was something I chose or an activity that was just a requirement, I was going to be fully present. If I'm selling A+ cards for my kiddo, I'm doing it with a smile. Shuttling the girl and her friends back and forth from each other's homes will be a joy.

Going tailgating with my family and friends will be fun because I will be fully present and not worrying about what I left undone at the office. Working each day, which I enjoy immensely, will be done with vigor but I will leave it there at 5 o'clock so I can focus on my man. And my girl. And the puppy posse.

I will find time for myself and go to zumba, get a pedicure, enjoy Starbucks or read a book from time to time. And I refuse to feel guilty because that defeats the entire purpose. I will study the Word each day without distraction.

And I will do all these things - and probably many more - because I refuse to juggle anymore. I want to catch and be caught because there is no doubt in my mind that when all is said and done, I will never utter the phrase 'Gee, I sure wish I had been able to get a few more things checked off the to-do list...' or 'I sure could have done a better job multi-tasking...'

Can I get an Amen?

Friday Night Lights

It's that's time again, friends. High school football kicked off two weeks ago today and we had so much fun polishing our cowbell, putting it into action and cheering the Panthers to victory that we're just going to do it again tonight!

Actually we attend all of their games because there's not point in buying season tickets otherwise but it really is a fun way to welcome the weekend. And, after my poor high school struggling for years (they're awesome now but we got bumped to 3A for a number of years which was NOT good), it's really nice to notch some wins as well :-)

Our first opponent was from Round Rock while we'll be taking on the Belton Tigers (Tay's former school) this evening...

There was a lot of great music from the band, traditions adhered to by the students and a very excited crowd who all seemed to agree it had been a looooong summer!

Of course, it was also 112 degrees at kickoff so we won't talk about the sweat that may or may not have dripped off our legs when we stood to cheer...

...but cheer we did...

...and we did so loudly...

...with gusto and a bravado that I'm almost certain is unique to Texas high school football...

...because, y'all, they do not kid about football in Texas...not even in pee wee...

The Goal Tenders and band did a great job as well - without them halftime would just be a time to complain about the long line for nachos...

We did leave a bit early as Tonto had to work early the next morning so this isn't the final score but they did get the "W" and we can wait to watch them march through the season toward the playoffs again.

We really want to make another trip to Cowboys Stadium, after all...

Happy Friday!

Things I Don't Want to Forget

Though this summer has clicked along at lightning speed and been chaotic at times, there are so many sweet moments that I simply don't want to forget...

1. Spending time with my girl during my lunch hour. True, we spent many days packing or planning the next activity but there's something special about girl time in the middle of the day.

2. Watching the girl snorkel along right behind Tonto while we were in South Padre. Every time I looked up, she was stuck to him like glue and all you could see were their fins and snorkels.

3. Hanging out with my man while the girl was at her various camps. Not because we did anything extraordinary but because we just were...even when we weren't exactly on the same page, he was still there...

4. Watching my girl be so sweet with the Puppy Posse. She truly believes each of them possesses the same emotions she does and absolutely doesn't want to hurt their feelings. Ever.

5. Sharing Wendy's with the girl the day before she left for each camp as a "special sendoff."

6. Our epic sand fight on our last evening on South Padre. We were all covered from head to toe (including mouths and ear canals)...though we got a few strange looks, we were all laughing hysterically. Loved it!

7. Late night crabbing on the  beach with the man and the girl. And having a guy show us one he had caught that was the largest crab I've ever seen!

8. How it felt to see our guys pull out a win over TCU. Not just because it was a "W" but because they are amazing young men whose hard work and determination was rewarded.

9. The pride I felt in Tonto last week as he assisted two older gentlemen (on back to back evenings) who were in pretty dire need of medical assistance. Thankfully both were able to get to the hospital very quickly.

10. Watching my girl grow into a really funny (though strong-willed) 'tween. She has a personality as big as Texas and it makes my heart swell to watch her take on the world with gusto. I also love that she has a very sweet - and eclectic - group of friends. They compliment each other nicely :-)