Bridge Over Troubled Water

Conversation with Ciera on the way to her soccer game tonight:

Her: Oh my gosh! That car has a license plate from Hawaii! Do you think they drove all the way from Hawaii?? That would seriously be a long drive.

Me: (Pause to see if she's serious..she is.) Yeah, sis. They drove on that bridge between California and Hawaii.

Her: (Pause to see if I'm serious...she can't decide.) Is there really a bridge?

Me: Sure, Ciera. A bridge that just goes thousands of miles.

Her: Momma! Stop! I didn't know. I thought California might be close to Hawaii. I figured that's why it's always in that little box by California on the maps.

In that moment, I realized why my daughter is such a good goalkeeper. She just doesn't know any better.

Speaking of goalkeeping...tonight was our first of 8 games this weekend. Ciera plays 4 and Avery plays 4. Well...Ciera plays 4 if we make it to finals. I'm hoping if I say it enough, we will. We won tonight 2-1. Good for us. We get 3 points toward tournament standings. The other team gets none. She is really playing well. I'm really happy. She's allowed only 3 goals in the last 8 games. Can't really complain about those kind of stats.

Oh..and if anybody has any suggestions for the 5 page philosophy paper I have to turn in by Monday....the topic is: What is the meaning of life? Nice, huh?

I Ain't Skerred

Ok...I'm just going to put it out there because I know everyone is wondering it:

What the hell is going on over there at the Self Conscious place? Every day, I get all pumped up that there is going to be something new and thought provocative there waiting from my brain to wrap around it. Every day I click on that site on my list of favorites and hold my breath while it loads. Every day it's the same thing and now I can't even bitch about it. First it was cause I wasn't a member and now because the bitching area has disappeared altogether.

(I'm not sure that I have ever used the words "pumped up" to describe my state of mind. )

Anyway, the point being...you guys are welcome to come here to bitch or just generally beg for the hiatus to end.

News on the daily grind: Oh..wait..it's just the daily grind. I'm dreaming of soccer games. It's so bad that I'm dreaming of lurid affairs with non-existent soccer dads at non-existent soccer fields. You'd be amazed what your imagination can do with those nets.

We've got 8 games this weekend. It'll be a glorious testament to my motherly committment and I'm sure you'll get to hear all about it when it's done. I've already started writing my acceptance speech for the Most Dedicated Mother of the Year award. I won't forget to mention all of you in the moral support section.

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning...

Ahhhh. I woke up this morning with a fresh new look on life. Maybe it's the sunshine. Maybe it's the end of a menstrual hell. Maybe it's that I've re-thought some big issues. Either way....Hello, World. It's nice to see you today.

It has occurred to me that, although some people seem worth saving, many people don't want to be saved from themselves. My husband, for example. He wants to go to the club in slacks and a button-down shirt. The club in question is not that kind of club. Plus, he just looks retarded on the dance floor with his loafers and beer-gut. Mind you...my husband is an attractive man. I've got no complaints there. He was just much better suited in the slacks and white buttondown 4 years and 40 pounds ago. So, I'm making him wear jeans. I told him that I'm only saving him from himself. You know what he said though? "I don't want to be saved. I want to be comfortable." Hmmmm...makes sense. Who am I to force him to go to the bar and feel out of sorts? There are others....that I wish to save, I mean. I think the clear indication is that they do not want to be saved. Moreover, the clear indication is that they don't want to be saved by me. So...ok. I'm good with that.

Now, I know that my husband will come running to me to be saved from himself on this or some other issue. That seems to happen in marriage....mine, anyway. Those others though....we'll see.

So, tonight begins the soccer marathon. Avery plays tonight then I have 16 days that include 3 tournaments, 8 regular season games, 12 practice and traing sessions and a mad dash to keep up with my sanity. It's exciting stuff. I thrive on it, really. Which is probably an indication that my sanity has far surpassed me and I'm just running in its dust. But...either way...it'll be fun.

Today's a good day. I'm just taking stock today. Some people are back. I'm happy about that. And how lucky am I that more than one person shows themself again in the same day? Some people are cycling back out. Not that I'm happy about that, but I can breathe. I can re-think and realize. Some things have disappeared....for the next 28 days anyway. Better than nothing when you've been waiting for the bastard to get the hell out. The important people are still here. Even the one's that went to the back of the line for awhile. It's a good day.

Sunburn, Sore Throat and Second Place

Those are the things we brought back from the Joplin Invitational. It was a good time. We didn't lose a game. 2 games on Saturday: both 1-1 ties. 2 games on Sunday: both 1-0 wins. My daughter was wonderful.

Warning: Overly-proud, gushy description of my goalie superhero ahead:

I'll just say that overall..she was incredible. The coach said she played better than he's seen her play in 2 seasons. She looked good. (Thanks, B. Now that I can say that in person here.) Your work is paying off. The most exciting part though...she sent a girl off the field in an ambulance. Don't get me wrong here, I don't encourage injurious behavior. It's amazing the feeling you get when your child has done so well, though, and worked so hard that somebody is paying the price in bodily injury. I don't know where it comes from. I hope it's some primal instinct over which I have no control. Either way...I liked it. I'm glad the girl wasn't hurt badly. It turned out to be a deep tissue bruise and she'll probably only be out a week or two. It is a strange pride though. What does that say?

In other news: Due to recent events, I may be calling it quits on the blog. I have found myself in the middle of shit that I never wanted in the middle of to begin with and that shouldn't be happening. Beyond that, I'm finding that people who (or is it whom?) I thought were honest with me, are not. And I'm offended by it. And if any of those people feel the need to talk to me about it now that I know who (or is it whom?) all of you are...feel free. You know I love all 3 of you in spite of the names you call or accusations you make.