Each evening, I sit down to blog, and I just can't. It's like any creative juices that I ever possessed, have been drained from my body.

But, here goes....

Today, I got my hair done. Cut and color. I LOVE it. Can you believe that? I actually LOVE it! That NEVER happens. My color looks so pretty, it's like it isn't even my hair. It has shades of light blonde, honey, and a very dark blonde all in it. Someone, please drag me away from the mirror. I've just been staring into it, flipping my hair around saying, "Look at that! Can you believe that's my hair?" I was so excited that I called my best friend Janelle, and as soon as she answered the phone she said," Well, your hair must look great, because you're not crying." She knows me so well.

While I spent hours at the salon, having a good 25+ feet of aluminum foil sheets stacked onto my head, my sister was kind enough to take the kids to a movie, and then back to her place for Savannah's art lesson. When I picked them up Thom was busily getting ready for her date tonight. I was a good sister and critiqued the outfits that she tried on for me. I commented with the usual, "that looks good", "yeah, I like that", "Ummm, NO(rolling eyes)", and "YES! THAT! WEAR THAT! That looks good!" She reciprocated by gushing over my new do.

When the kids and I got home, we only had about 30 minutes before we needed to head back out the door to Austin's baseball game. After the game we came straight home. 9:30.

We are missing Race like crazy. I mean it, it is making me crazy. I want to see him so badly.

Have a great night!
Melissa

Pictures! .....over at AnnieSue's

Anniesue posted pictures on her blog as well as a cool run down on her vacation. Thank-you to AnnieSues Brother for snapping the pictures.

I ate breakfast with AnnieSue today!

Yep, that's right. AnnieSue was in town visiting our old college stomping grounds, and we managed to meet up. It is so wonderful to meet up with friends like AnnieSue. We haven't seen one another in about 14 years, and it was just like a day hadn't even gone by. (And, BTW, she hasn't aged A DAY!!SERIOUSLY. NOT a DAY!) She was with her brother, a nephew, and her own daughter. Austin, Savannah and Jack, REALLY liked the kids. The report that I got was that they had a GREAT time, and that AnnieSue's nephew was "SO funny" and her daughter was "just like Savannah..". (From Jack, of course.)

They must have had a good time, because they were all stuck in our town's little greasy spoon diner, at a table by themselves and were complete strangers. But between baseball, shared books, drawing, and of course that old stand-by: building card-houses out of Sweet n' Low........they were laughing and having fun in no time. When the laughter died down, Jack turned to entertaining with creamer-shots.
Seeing AnnieSue and her brother was truly a highlight for me. We laughed and had such a great time, that it left me wishing that they lived much, much closer. And I am sorry that I missed meeting the Big Man, because he was always funny,and it would have been great to see him again.

After we said our good-byes, I was off to get new tires and an oil change, (AND as it turns out,..an alignment). Thom had been at breakfast with us, and was nice enough to come and pick us up. I hate waiting for my car to be ready, but, WOW, the suburban drives like a new car. Thanks thom, for picking us up!

Austin had a rough baseball game tonight, and it was one of those times, that I REALLY wished that his dad had been here. I just simply wasn't enough tonight.

I did get to talk to Race today, and things seem to be going well with him. I cannot tell you how much I miss him, and just want him to be home. Be safe, Race...and hit every target. We love you, and we miss you.

Hey! My whole work-out/nutrition thing is going really well.Today starts week 2 on this program, and I've gotta tell you, I think that I have hit on something here! I am loving it! I am using the program from the Womens Body Sculpting Bible. I love it.

Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Melissa

Goings on

Well, I DID clean my house yesterday! Yay ME! I got caught up on a lot of the things that we haven't been able to do around here since we've been doing nothing but sitting on the baseball field.

You know that your son is a true observer of nature when he calls excitedly from the backyard to tell you that he has discovered a turtle that is laying eggs!! SO, youngest son promptly found a sturdy plastic crate to sit on and sat very still and watched. After the turtle moved away.....(and then was brought inside to watch an episode of Andy Griffith before I intervened..) he marked the spot with the crate, and is anxiously awaiting baby turtles!

Church was great today. Mostly it was great because the ladies at my church are so awesome to me. I consider myself lucky that most of the women in my church who have children the same age as mine, are all 10+ years older than me. This is great for me, because I get to benefit from the wisdom of these ladies who have already "been there and done that". And they are just so wonderful, not at all pretentious or condescending. They pray for Race, and for myself and the kids. What a blessing!

I must take a moment to send out a huge "Thank-you" to Dy. The other night, after a particularly terrifying phone call from Race, I called her. She talked me down, (as I knew that she would!)and gave some perspective that I really couldn't seem to get hold of on my own. Thank-you, Thank-you, Dy, you are a wonderful friend! I don't suppose that hearing live-rapid-fire in the background of your husbands phone calls is something that you ever get used to, or feel comfortable about.

This week, I tried sushi for the first time. Nothing too brazen, just california, and philadelphia rolls.....but Austin and I are both hooked! We are working our way up, slowly, trying different types each week. I can see why people get hooked on the stuff. You truly cannot immitate the taste with any other food item.

O.K., so wish me luck as I start my new work-out/ nutrition plan tomorrow.

I got some great news that I MAY get to meet up with AnnieSue next week! That is so exciting! AnnieSue and I were roommates in college, and she reminded me that the last time that we saw one another, Austin wasn't walking yet!!

We miss Race terribly. His last trip home was definitely action-packed. He did a 30 mile bike ride +camping with the Boy Scouts, took all three kids canoeing/kayaking down the river, went back kayaking a second time with Austin and his best friend, he took the boys camping and hiking, he bought Savannah a new mountain bike, and took her for several long treks while she learned how to manage the gears, he was the assist. coach for Austin's baseball team, was Savannah's biggest fan at her ballet performance, made countless trips to the batting cages and took us all to the water-park for a fun-filled day right before he left. Yes, he is greatly missed.

G'night!
Melissa

Well.......where did that long post go?????

Incredibly frustrating to awaken and find that the long post that you wrote the night before has VANISHED!!! AAaarrrrgghhh! I tried "recover post", but it was a no go.

Oh, MAN! and just when I was catching up. Now I am going to think that I have already told y'all about stuff and you'll have no idea what I am talking about!

I'll try again later on today. We have (gulp) NO BASEBALL for the next 2 days!!!! I may try to actually clean the house. (shudder)

Austin's Legion team lost their game last night, but he made an incredible unassisted double play at third. It is so exciting to see your kids work really hard at something that they love....and acheive successes along the way.

Savannah and Jack are back at home. They have been bubbling over with stories from Mam-ma and Pap-pa's house. There were friends and cousins. There was swimming and skating and fishing..........and the high light: Camping With Aunt Thomasina. I am told that no sooner had they set up camp, than Jack turned over a log....(he is CONSTANTLY looking) and found a copperhead snake. Now, my budding herpetologist identified this immediately and Aunt Thomasina sprung into action. She quickly secured all the children, then shot the snake and cut off it's head. Yes. You read that correctly. The copperhead body was left to be examined and studied by all in attendance. (Guarantee: Every one of those kids can now properly identify a copperhead snake!) Now THAT , my friends, is a camping experience for a child. THAT is a memory.
My little nephew Q was on this camping trip as well. His very first.It is really some sort of right of passage, or a passing of the torch. What a brave little guy he is.The kids all had a blast! Huge thanks, Aunt Thomasina!

I am staring a new weight training program on Monday. I am going to do the whole nutrition thing as well. The science of it all is captivating me and the results are what keep me going. (Nothing noticable to anyone else, but I notice!!) Anyway, I really like it. And lets face it,no matter how thin you are, muscle atrophy isn't pretty. We'll see how it goes next week.

have a great weekend!
Melissa

Starting Over.........

Well, there is no way to recap, so I guess that I am just starting over.

I have of course been busy with all the kids activities, but more than that Race and I have been learning to juggle the enormous demands that his job makes on each of us. So, I suppose I have been throwing all of my collective efforts into "US".

Race is back at work. We miss him dearly.

Austin has finished up 2 ball teams, with one of them managing to win their league.He is now playing on an American Legion Team, which will run through July. Jack has finished up his season as well. I am also finished with my Team Mom duties.
Savannah is starting up art lessons again, and is going to do childrens Theatre in July.

Me? I'll admit to feeling like I am on a bit of slippery slope at the moment.
One of the things that Race helped me out with while he was home, was to get me started on a weight training program. I am LOVING lifting weights! No more boredom, and you see results so quickly!

Savannah and Jack are at mom and dads, so today, I took Austin to see Nacho Libre. Proving once again, that I have the sense of humor of you average teen, I found this movie HILARIOUS! He and I had a great time, and we are still laughing at some of the stupid-funny things in that movie. he had a Legion game tonight, and although they lost, he played a great game. We didn't get home till 10:00 pm, and dinner was Subway.

Well, there you have it. A start. Not earth shattering, mind you, but a start nonetheless.

G'night,
Melissa

No time to write!!!

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!


Ooooo.. sorry, I forgot to flip these around! We have been SO busy with family activities. It has been fun. You can add to what is represented here, a 30 mile mountain bike ride, learning to kayak and playing a LOT of ping pong! It's all good though, and I am thoroughly enjoying my family. I haven't had the time to decompress enough to write about anything yet, but it's on my mind...and it's coming. In the mean time, take a look at some of our pictures.

Mostly we've been doing THIS:

 
 
 
  

Shall I bore you with pictures??

There has been a lot of THIS going on!




 

Switching gears........and sharing

I am not finding the time to post, or check my emails, or return any phone calls lately. And today the reason occured to me. I am on "Race Time", and I have to share everything. I share the computer. I share the TV, and I share the phone. It takes a little getting used to, when one is used to running ones own household, and making plans for ones self. It requires switching gears. So,on "Race Time", our day looks like this:

The morning is spent re-acclimating the boys to chores and a generally less slovely lifestyle. (Ahem, sorta dropped the ball on that one while he was gone!Thank heavens for Savannah.) Then it is on to breakfast and private Bible reading, prayer, etc. After that it's the treadmill for me while the kids play outside and finish up their jobs. Then race and I hit the weights. I will expound more on this later, but having your husband as your personal trainer is either the Best thing for a marriage.......or the WORST...I think it depends on the day. After that I shower and get ready for the rest of the day, and Race takes the kids biking.
Then its school for everyone, while Race does the jobs and errands that he needs to do.
After school, there is about an hour of free time before we all hit the road, for what is usually a late night. Between dance, martial arts, and 3 baseball schedules....well, you get the picture! We come home at night happily exhausted, and flop into bed.
The only reason I am at the computer today is that Race is out with an armour from Smith & Wesson who asked him to try out some of their soon-to be-on the market stuff. He'll never turn down an opportunity to have some fun shooting someone elses ammo. SO I am cheating and have all the kids working on various workbook assignments and I am grabbing a few minutes here!
So, there you have it! Austin's Varsity team games are due to end in jast about 2 weeks, so maybe I can reclaim some time for myself after that! However there is a garden outside that is screaming my name as well...

Have a great day, and thanks for checking in!
Melissa

Race is home!

Well, you may have already guessed that, what with my prolonged absence from cyber-space. Sorry.......we have all been involved in various forms of "Race-Worship". It has been so wonderful to have my whole family together again. We have been enjoying one another SO much. What had seemed like work and monotony, now seems like a fun vacation.

I have lots to tell, and plenty of pictures to share. Race is taking the boys camping tonight, so maybe I'll have some time to catch up a bit.

Briefly, there are a few new things that have entered our family since Race's return. Texas Hold Em' is now the card game of choice here. If we were a gambling family, Jack would would be a very rich young man. (ahem) Also, now it is not unusual to see any of the three of my children walking around singing. That, in and of itself is not unusual, but when you ,listen closely you will realize that you cannot understand ONE WORD of what they are singing. That's right, Race has introduced the kids to Mid-Eastern POP music! They love it.
If Race were to take you for a ride in his jacked up, CJ-7 Jeep, one of the first things that you would notice after you climbed up and got settled into your seat is the unusual sticker on his dash. There in all her Mid-Eastern glory, is the face of a beautiful woman with piercing eyes, in traditional dress. Sounds wierd, but you could sort of liken it to the naked lady on the mud flaps here in the U.S. Race said this picture is everwhere on the cars over there. He put it on his jeep to keep the rednecks confused around here.
Baseball is the main pass time for us right now, and Race is helping coach Austin's team. We are all having a blast and staying insanely busy. But it is wonderful, and I am enjoying every single second of it. I am feeling very blessed.
Thanks so much for all the comments, and for checking back in. I haven't been online AT ALL, so I am totally lost and behind. I will catch up on emails, phone calls and blogs soon!
Dy, I got your message, and I'll give you a call this week! Thanks for checking in!
Have a great day!
Melissa

Play Ball!

What a day! It was a long one, but we were one tired happy family when we finally pulled back into the house at 10:00 pm.

After Jack's martial arts class, we pulled up to the ball field to watch Austin.
Austin's varsity team won 22-4. The coach had told him that he would probably pitching this game, but as it turned out, they were doing so well, that he didn't have to put him in. SO he played at 3rd base. And man, did he play! It was awesome to watch. The game had started at 4:30 and we left at 7:15. We had to head straight over to the Dixie Youth practice (Austin's also) which started at 7:45. He was having a blast, and we were having a blast watching him. The hitting pratice that Pap-paw had been taking him to last month really payed off!

Savannah was happy because the next book in the "Warriors" series was released yesterday, and we went straight out and bought it. I thought that she was going absolutely EXPLODE with excitement in the store! She could not wait to get her hands on that book! So she was sitting at the ballfield wrapped in my coat, completely absorbed in her book.

Jack was running all over the place catching all the foul balls and throwing them back in for the "big kids", so that they would be sure to notice what an "incredible arm" he has for a "little kid".

We were tired and worn out as we drug ourselves and all our stuff back home. Our dinner so far had been some sort of mix of Nutri-grain bars and Gatorade.(As a matter of fact between the 2 games we ended up feeding a LOT of stray boys Nutrigrain bars and Gatorade!) We had pulled in at 9:50 and got the last 2 Little Caesars pizzas...they locked the door behind us. But it was a good day. The kids had a wonderful time today pursuing their own interests, and I got to be the lucky mom to sit back and watch, and cheer them on.

Laney, Thank-you, thank-you!! I do NOT posess the ability to do even the simplest of flower arrangements. I will post the pic soon, I've got to find a decent "before" that shows how much the room has changed.

Have a great day!
Melissa

Well, I have heard from Race, and all is well on his end. He is stating really busy and he is really tired every time I talk to him. But I am pretty sure that he wouldn't have it any other way.

As for us, we are staying busy too. As you know, baseball season and dance rehearsals are in full swing, and we get to martial arts on the days that we don't have other conflicts. The back of my suburban looks like a sporting goods store exploded in it. But with mucho baseball games ahead of me, I am prepared! I have our collapsible chairs, our huge sports umbrella, and a soft sided cooler. We're set! And you know, what a way to spend an afternoon. You can hang out in jeans, tee-shirt, flip-flops and a baseball cap, eat plenty of food that's bad for you, and watch your kid having a blast! (This is all assuming that you DO NOT sit near he other parents...ugh)

This weekend, Austin worked on staining the deck. I helped him in hourly spurts in between running savannah and Jack to their different activities Saturday. WOW! What an ENOURMOUS job that is! It still isn't finished. But what we DID get done looks really great, and so that is at least keeping us motivated to keep going.

I am going to find a "before" pic of my dining room, and I'll post the "after" pic with it. It's the only room that I have pretty much completed. If I could figure out what sort of flower arrangement should go on the table I'd be set. But I stink at that.

have a great day!
Race, we miss you! Be careful!
Melissa

I haven't heard from Race in a while, so I am anxious to get an email or a phone call or something. It's always such a relief to get any bit of communication, ya know?

Anniesue, I love ya! Thank-you, thank-you for the nice words!!! I am definitely still as vain as I was in college, I just don't have as much time to indulge! (And folks, I am talking SERIOUS vanity, here.....within days of moving into my room in college, I had the desk on my side of the room covered in pink contac paper, and turned into a vanity with a lighted mirror!) And don't be fooled by Anniesue, I noticed that in her pictures, she has not one wrinkle.......NOT ONE!

On the subject of friends and college roommates :My friend since first grade had her 3rd child today. Welcome little William Henry!(Not so little, though at 9lb 14 oz!) And congrats Janelle and Bill. So glad that everything went so smoothly.

Poor Em is STILL sick! Sending prayers out for her and her family. They have been fighting various illnesses for quite awile now, and The Dude is holding down the fort AND working his regular job when Em is sick. (Oh- and I am told that The Dude also had a flat tire today on his way in to work!) Hope things are better soon, guys.

Baseball is going well for the boys so far. Austin is excited to be pitching this year on varsity. And all of Pap-paw's hitting practice has done WONDERS for his batting. Jack loves hitting the ball, carrying a bat bag, wearing a batting helmet, and SLIDING. And guess what color their baseball pants are for the Dixie Youth team? Yep, WHITE.

Savannah is going to her first rehearsal for dance on Saturday, and she is SOooo excited about that. She just can't wait to be on stage again!

So, that' what's going on here.
We miss you Race! Come home soon!

G'night
Melissa

We have been Sooo busy, that I haven't had time to blog!

School lessons have been going well, and we are definitely getting a lot done each day. But I am certainly feeling stretched mighty thin. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to Race being home again.

Baseball season is now officially in full swing. In case you have forgotten.....that's 3 baseball schedules. And rehearsals for the next dance performance start up on April 1(That's 3 days of dance a week). The upside to it all, is that the kids are doing great. Staying physically active has been a real plus for them in so many ways. And while it IS a lot for ME to run them around to, it seems to fit each of the kids perfectly, and they really are thriving.

Hoping to keep myself busy while Race was gone, I decided back in January to take on a remodeling project of the main living area of our home. (Oh...yes! What a FABULOUS idea.......because I have NOTHING to do!) Anyway, I am about half way through. I did get my dining room curtains made and hung this week. And they look Soooo good! That is the one room that is almost finished, so maybe I can do some before and after pics soon. I am pleased with how everything is turning out, but I am still in the middle, and would really like to get things to a more finished state before Race comes home. Here is my kind of wierdo goal:

I want Race to know immediately when he comes home, that all his time away and sacrifice really IS improving our quality of life, (that would be important to me, if I were the one staying away), AND I would like for his time at home to be a time of relaxation, with the main focus on just being together as a family.

So, that's my thinking, and that's why I started the remodel.....we'll see how far I get. Right now I have about 50 boxes of Pergo flooring sitting in my living room waiting for the installer to put it down.

OH. ALso, with Race coming home in the near future, and spring and what not, my thought s have also returned to my aging self. I will be thirty *BLEEP* this year, and my skin is looking every bit of that age. My genetically cursed rear end remains a problem. My sister Thom may just have the answer though. She is going to market new jeans with extra padding in the butt where a certain segment of the female population (however small we may be) needs it. She has christened these hot new pants, "Jeans For The Ass-Less". Man, I gotta get me some of them jeans.

G'night,
Melissa

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACE!!!!!

Well, we were all hit with some form of the flu. But we are all on the mend, and feeling much better, so maybe I can get back to bloggin' now!

Today is Race's birthday, and we miss him terribly. We sent him a package, and as luck would have it, it arrived right on time! We can't really send much, because he has to travel light. So, the kids and I sent him "A Year in Pictures". We took a sampling of the pictures from this year, and spaced them out on laminate, so that the entire thing could be folded up like one of those laminated travel maps. This way he can hang it on his wall, but take it with him as well. In the box, there was also a few toy lizards from jack, a picture fron Savannah, a signed baseball from Austin, and some of Race's favorite candy.

The kids are going to be thrilled that it arrived right on time for him. So, Happy Birthday Race! Be careful and come home soon.

Have a great weekend!
Melissa

This is a picture......of the pictures. It says,"Happy Birthday Dad, Come Home Soon". And we all signed it.

NO SURRENDER...FIX BAYONET'S

O.K., I'll admit it. The news of the extension to Race's trip definitely brought out the worst in me. I have cried and figuratively thrown a full blown tantrum because I miss my husband. My kids miss their father. We had all the details worked out. And then THIS. It was a huge blow. Like someone knocked the air out of you. And I DID NOT handle it well at all.

It is through the miracle of God's amazing grace that he doesn't turn His back on me at times like this. That he doesn't just leave me there to wallow in all of my self pity. Oh, I do a very good job of justifying my feelings, by saying, "What about the kids? They will be devastated!" And they may be. But God is faithful. He knows what I need, and He knows what my children need. Thank-you so much for your prayers.

I was reminded in a very humbling and frightening way this week, just how dangerous Race's job really is. His tasks each day require his full attention. He can't have an "off day". I was humbled because I realized that I was so wrapped up in my own plans, my own selfish expectations, that I had forgotten the larger picture. There are LIVES on the line here, and not just his. When asked to help out a bit longer than expected to do a job that.........LIVES depend on, in the most fundamental way you can imagine......Could he say, "Sorry, man....gotta get home for baseball...hope ya find someone..." ? Would I WANT him to say that? I was reminded just how much bigger this all is than just me. And somehow, I will relay that to our children. And we will carry on.

In Race's line of work there is a definite communication break down for those that they leave back home. There has to be. I cannot tell you how difficult that is for me to handle. Actual conversations are few and far between, and so vague that you would think that we hardly knew one another. Now THAT'S hard! And I am sure that it will come as no surprise to you that none Race's co-workers have families who are together any more. And they'd give anything to "fix it". I hope that we can be a positive influence, in that way.

I am so thankful for my family. They have made such an enormous difference in the lives of each of my children. I just don't know where we would be without them to fill the gap. They are truly one of my greatest blessings. They spend time with my kids, even when it isn't easy. ANd they call to check on me, even when they aren't sure what to say.

Psalm 119:32 (NEB) "I will run the course set out in thy commandments,/ for they gladden my heart."
Thanks so much for all of your prayers. We're alittle battered, and there will be more to come as the kids find out about the extension, but we're not beaten. And they won't be either.

Have a great day!
Melissa

Family of Johnny Bad Ass waving white flag

The first email of the day today, was one from Race, telling me that his trip has been extended.(This all seems so familiar.)

The first phone call of the day was from the Automotive place. The suburban needs a new fuel pump. And no luck on getting the little car inspected today.

Prayers would be SOooo appreciated.

Feeling pretty overwhelmed and very inadequate for the tasks at hand.

Well, we are all still hanging in there, and our illnesses seem to have leveled off at least, and aren't keeping anyone down.

There. That was positive, right? See, I have a POSITIVE blog. Full of funny and uplifting things.

Several of my nightmares came true today. Nightmare #1: Car wouldn't start.

I don't understand it. It drove fine yesterday. I parked it in the driveway, in it's usual spot, where it can bask and be admired in all of it's shiny, black glory. How could it do this to me? No buzzer? No whistle? No flashing light of warning??? I ask you. What is this insanity know as the automobile? Where is technology? It can tell me when the door is left open, but can't explain when it is about to up and DIE???

I calmly usher the kids and all of their bags, cleats, snacks, drinks, belts,tights, etc. into the TEENY, TINY commuter car, affectionately known as "The Skate". All the while Jack is saying, "But Mom, it doesn't have the sticker. It doesn't have THE STICKER". HE is talking about an inspection sticker. No one drives "The Skate", and it's inspection had run out in Nov. But, hey, I'm a chance taker, and the kids have got commitments. We take off.

I drop Austin off at practice, and rush out for jumper cables (the ones that are SUPPOSED to be neatly stowed in the suburban in that special,"cable compartment" have vanished and the compartment was empty). I come home and fire up the Scalded Dog, (y'all remember that truck, right?) I READ THE DIRECTIONS ON THE JUMPER CABLES. Yeah, um, could that BE any more confusing? How the hell am I supposed to remember about the whole positive negative thing, if you keep reminding me that at any moment....with the SLIGHTEST mistake....I will be permanently disfigured by the spray of battery acid all over my body?****

Fast Forward-

I did hook up the cables properly. I was NOT permanently disfigured by the spray of battery acid......but the car wouldn't turn over at all. Some distant, repressed memory came back to me at this point, and I remembered that the rapid, clicking sound may be the starter.

Fast Forward again-

Still driving "The Skate",I pick Austin up from baseball, drop Savannah off at dance, pick up pizza, and pass our poor beautiful suburban on the road being towed by Bubbles Towing Service. And although Bubbles is an extremely obese and frightening looking black man, he is, in fact very nice and polite and you should not be afraid. *** BTW, why is it that all tow truck drivers are so large? Have you ever noticed that? The whole world of automotives is a mystery to me***

The boys and I had to attend Austin's baseball parents meeting tonight. You know, the one that I was dreading? Well, the whole first part was the same, and you had to pay special attention to the part where head hauncho tells all the parents to "Respect your Team Mom's. They have the hardest jobs. SO many Team Mom's came to me last year, CRYING after being cussed by one of you parents.......yada, yada, yada".

Guess who was voted Team Mom? TWICE. And that, my friends, was Nightmare #2.

But, hey......my face was not sprayed with battery acid...(weak smile).

There's more to tell, but I've gotta get to bed. Gotta go get "The Skate" inspected tomorrow.

G'night,
Melissa