When football is more than a game

Here is an endearing story from today’s Kansas City Star. It was the A1 centerpiece and while it might not have reached a much larger population base, the power of youtube and video access has helped.

You can see the video HERE! Matt Ziesel has Downs Syndrome, but his coach at St. Joseph Benton talked with the Marysville (Kan) defense who allowed the freshman squad to run “Matt’s Play” for a touchdown.

And this, naturally with the milder weather, is a good time to bring up high school football and how it transcends the sidelines, encompassing entire communities and beyond. For years THE account of competitive high school football was H.G. Bissinger’s “Friday Night Lights,” written in 1988 when the author spent a year with the championship Odessa, Texas, team. (I’ve not seen the TV show of the same name, but I hear it’s great.)

Now there’s a new must-read called: “Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen” by Joe Drape. Check out his cool web site HERE!

In full disclosure, I’ve known Joe for many years and I’m good friends with his sister-in-law, Trisha. Joe (a native of Kansas City) moved his family for a year from New York City to a small agricultural-based city in north central Kansas where the tallest structure was the grain eleveator. The story follows the team (and their ever-supportive community) trying to reach the longest winning streak in the country.

Smith Center’s Redmen are not coached by Texas-sized insane football fanatics, just genuine candid, motivational coaches who strive to turn out better men. The better football player they develop second.

Head coach Roger Barta (who’s son, Brooks, I remember playing football when I was at K-State) was good at keeping his players focused through all distractions. One scene in the book describes the team getting ready for an away game while the other town’s girls’ volleyball team was practicing in the gym.

Barta’s advice to his team: “We don’t want blood flowing where we don’t want it to go. Let’s stay focused, and keep your mind on the game.” Classic!

Plus, Smith Center is only an hour from where I grew up — though my school was so tiny, we only played eight-man football! I can totally relate to the support and attitudes of the entire community rooting for their team whether they won or lost. (I played on a high school girls basketball team that nearly LOST every single game. Let me tell you, that builds plenty of character, too!)

I’m thrilled that a small community in Kansas is getting attention — enough with those Texas schools already! If you’ve not already sought out “Our Boys,” I hope you do. It’s a perfect, feel-good read for the crisp fall days ahead!

September 18th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Sizzlin’ in Suburbia or My Turf War

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile you might recall I’m a bit perplexed by neighbors who use a snow blower. I’m old-fashioned. I like to shovel, sort of. I guess I really just like being outside and fighting cabin fever. But if I’m really busy or sick or Joe’s traveling and the girls are not wanting to get out of the house to even sled — that notion of not wanting to sled should be unacceptable at all times — I’ll just let the silly snow melt. It usually always goes away.

But I’m giving my snowblowing neighbors a free pass, ’cause I’ve got bigger concerns. Smellier concerns.

Exhibit A:

poop

Oh, yes. That’s dog poop circled in red. It’s not that I don’t really mind dogs relieving themselves in our lawn. (I mean, it is a lush lawn.) But, It’s right by the mailbox, see that post in the top center of the photo, that’s holding the mailbox up! I step this way DAILY. I have the girls run out to the mailbox with me. And we are USUALLY barefoot! I want correspondence  – not somebody’s dog’s remainders underfoot.

It’s not day care, I shouldn’t have to pick up after everyone AND THEIR DOG! So, since this isn’t the FIRST time this has happened, I found everything I need for my educational campaign in the garage. The girls will love that I decorated the sidewalk with their chalk. They may even help me illustrate these signs after school tonight. Here’s point one in ‘hood education:

dgfree

And just in case that’s confusing or doesn’t get right to the point, then this should be helpful:

sign2

And I’ve even attached a few newspaper delivery bags to the top of the mailbox to assist with the removal process. (I may be stereotyping, but I’m gathering the folks who aren’t picking up after their dog are probably not daily newspaper readers. I’m happy to donate a few bags, but 1. pick up the dog poop & 2. subscribe to the local paper!

bag

I’m just hoping they take the bags with them and don’t leave them FILLED by the mailbox. But I’m not sure I have much faith in these dog walkers right now. I’m already plotting Phase Two of my little turf war. I’ve nixed the idea of mentioning in chalk that my father is an NRA member. (I’m really not ready to go too public with that statement yet.) I may start leaving tacks or sharp objects on the sidewalk or heck, just sweeping the poop on the sidewalk! After all, I shouldn’t be the one stepping in it!

September 16th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

TV tales

I usually don’t get too excited when Joe is interviewed on radio or television. It’s fun, he’s a natural, even though he HATES radio. (Feel free to find and submit the link to his treaty on his dislike of having his own SHORT-LIVED talk radio show.) All I know is I liked the money from that gig, but I can forgo the nice furniture for him spending more time at home.

But a few weeks ago, Frank Deford (who’s as nice, gracious and intelligent as you’d expect him to be) and producer Chapman Downes and a film and sound crew of three came to our house and rearranged our living room to have Frank and Joe sit down for an interview. I even had Elizabeth stay home from school, which everyone at school understood, but I knew Joe thought that idea was bonkers, as well as Frank and Chapman being a bit surprised I’d compromise by daughter’s education to have her watch the filming of a small segment on a sports magazine. But it’s not everyday we have film cameras in the house.

(The girls and I frosted mini coconut cupcakes with lime frosting and made banana bread that morning. I’d spent the prior weekend doing touch-up painting around the house, even. So if our walls look dingy, I’m just gonna die.)

But, let’s face it, it wasn’t TV, it was HBO! So here’s the link for the Emmy-winning monthly sports magazine “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” that will be shown at 10 p.m. Eastern/ 9 p.m. Central this evening. Did you catch that it will be on HBO?

And you might have heard, but Joe’s second book (this one dedicated to his daughters who as of yet have little interest in baseball. ha!) called “The Machine” is in bookstores. While looking for Dan Brown’s latest, you might want to wander over to the sports section to try to see if Joe’s book is there. And if you are in the Kansas City area or (even if you aren’t and want to order online) let Rainy Day Books know you have a Twitter account and they will send your name to Joe for him to send you a special thank you tweet on Twitter!

September 15th, 2009 | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

Dreamweaver, blades & filth

Thanks for all the props on the site. It makes me feel good that you are noticing. I didn’t think guys really noticed that stuff. It’s not like I really needed any acknowledgement, but I like it. Maybe it’s like when Joe mows the lawn and he’ll ask me when he comes back into the house, “How does it look?”

I always answer, “It looks great, dear,” but all the while I’m thinking, “It looks like cut grass and not quite as nice as Scott’s lawn because he ALWAYS edges, and I’m sure it’s time to replace the mower blade.” Though I do usually remind him BEFORE he mows about the second SHARPER mower blade lying somewhere in the garage. I’m sure he thinks I’m a reincarnation of Billy Bob Thorton’s character in “Sling Blade.”

The web designing is a fun outlet, WHEN I can actually attempt what I’m visualizing. There’s been a big learning curve. To Mateo, I feel your pain. I highly recommend picking up “The Missing Manual” series for the Dreamweaver version you have. David Sawyer McFarland is the author. (The series has a bunch of books for other software too.) I’d gone online for help and had another Dreamweaver book, but McFarland’s “Missing Manual” has tutorials that are great and the book does a great job of explaining how the program works. Don’t let the textbook size scare you, it’s worth it’s weight in inspiring confidence.

Dreamweaver is a tricky little program (I was encouraged when a friend who’s a former high school technology teacher admitted that learning the program could be daunting), but it’s getting easier. I see a light at the end of this tunnel.

filth

Speaking of light and bright, you should see my carpets! I told Joe he could buy me a new vacuum for payment for the web site work. (I’d quizzed my friends at Mom2MomKC and most raved about their Dyson brand vacuums.) Plus at the store (the big box store that shall not be named), this big, black-boxed sweeper was all tangled up in this electronic cording. I wanted to, no I NEEDED to free it from it’s confinement. Why the tight security on Dysons? It’s not like people are using them as their portable Meth labs, are they? Plus, heaven help us, if someone WANTS to shoplift a vacuum, aren’t they doing it to beautify this world just a bit more? They’re not stealing spray paint cans and they’re probably not a Harvey Keitel type ‘Cleaner’ needing the vacuum for some blotched operation. Oh, yeah, how do you just walk out of the store with that huge box without the greeters noticing?

This is what we found, and now my poor husband has had to watch me bring in the see-through plastic canister after every room I’ve cleaned. I had to show him how much filth was in our carpets, getting released into our precious indoor air with every step we took. It’s like I’ve got the riding lawn mower of vacuums, a Cadillac of carpet cleaning! (Good grief, I’m now channeling Laura Linney’s character in “The Truman Show.”) And now I really want to watch that classic again, AFTER I’ve finished vacuuming the house, again.

September 12th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

Remembering

517gbbagegl_bo2204203200_pisitb-sticker-arrow-clicktopright35-76_aa240_sh20_ou01_

When we were checking out books from the library on New York City a few months ago and we came across this beautiful little book that describes how visitors stranded in the great city came to provide a touching tribute in the aftermath of terrorism acts on Sept. 11, 2001. You can read more about the book here.

I think it’s a good way to introduce the subject to younger children without scaring them to death. Though as my friend, Trisha says, her children — as they got older — became fascinated with reading about history’s tragic events like the Titantic and the Holocaust. She used books the family all read as a springboard for history lessons.

Here is a link for a SesameWorkshop initiative that helps children cope in stressful situations called “You Can Ask!.”

Another great tribute to the Twin Towers is (surprisingly a great film!) the documentary “Man on Wire.” It would be suitable for older children, since all I need is to plant the seed of wire-walking to my young girls. (When we were at Niagara Falls this summer, watching a film on the history of that great landmark while a thunderstorm hung over the area, we noticed the man acting out the part of “The Great Blondin” walking across the falls in 1859 was none other than the main character of the film, French daredevil Philippe Petit.)

I don’t think we can ever read enough about history. And I like that Elizabeth is taking an interest in history. (Thank you, Magic Tree House!) Today’s newspaper had this great quote from Winston Churchill:

“Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.”

I could try to comment on the above quote and events that unfolded eight years ago today, but I won’t. I don’t want to get into politics, just history. I recommend both “September Roses” for younger children and “Man on Wire” for older children for your family history discussions.

September 11th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Spa Night at Our House

I’ve spent all day redesigning Joe’s Web site. (Check it out here if you haven’t already seen it. I still have one more page to craft tonight, but I’m still on break right now. I’m eying a bottle of wine on the counter, but darn if it’s not behind a whole lot of dirty dishes I’m pretending I don’t see because I am in designer mode not domestic boredom mode.)

Granted, this design work wouldn’t be so tiring if:

A. The girls were able to feed themselves.
B. I actually knew what I was doing on Dreamweaver.
C. I wasn’t such a perfectionist.

I need to teach the girls to wash dishes and do other chores. We mentioned to Elizabeth that playing the piano was one of her chores. She didn’t seem to understand that word. I must work on that. I do let them take charge at our occasional “Spa Nights” where we pick fabulous nail polish (that I’ve had on hand for centuries) and paint our nails and toenails. They think it’s divine, a very posh thing. Sometimes we add glitter. Sometimes I’m brave and let Katie paint (you know, to help her hand, eye coordination as much as her style sense). But here is proof why you shouldn’t let a four-year-old be in charge of Spa Night:

toes

September 10th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment »