lafayette Women's lacrosse 2011. Forgot to mention...

This girl, #26, had her last game of her collegiate career this past weekend.
Through injuries, and a coach that had a different agenda, one that did not include the seniors and juniors-
She made it to the end, never quitting.

The final revenge to her coach that has had a HORRIBLE record- she scored 4 goals her last game!
And, she could have done that all season. But, the coach preferred to sacrifice the team rather than play the girls she didn't recruit. Very selfish.
At least my player hasn't been alone. she suffered with the other two seniors and most of the juniors.
And at least she loved the school AND the girls on her team!
Too bad there isn't a good coach right now. But hopefully that will change soon :)

See how they grow!

Two adorable, fun loving 8th graders.

And now, 1 more year until high school graduation.

I always forget about the metamorphosis that teens go through- when they are in it. It is only after that I realize such a transformation has occurred. When I am with my  fourteen year old I don't notice that they are all nose, elbows and ankles-nothing in proportion. I don't see the acne, braces, or chubby cheeks. My fourteen year old is perfect to me.

It is only in retrospect that I realize what has happened! The face grew longer, the forehead broader, the chin more pronounced and the cheekbones sharper. Now, the nose looks right and the elbows and knees aren't noticeable. And even though I always thought they were beautiful and perfect...
They really are.

And truthfully, I haven't met a sixteen year old that I didn't think was beautiful. I am not kidding.
All I see is possibilities, potential, and promise. Physically and mentally.
The two girls above are perfect illustrations as they are beautiful inside and out.
 Even when they were awkward fourteen year olds!

In honor of the Frau...

We had Spargel ! It was delicious.
When we were in Germany last year at this time (thank you volcano!)  we noticed roadside stands selling Spargel!
 It is a very BIG thing there at this time of the year. The stands were very busy, VERY!

According to Wikipedia,

"Spargel is the German name for asparagus. Most asparagus in Germany is white, as it is grown covered in soil (hilling) to prevent photosynthesis. This prevents the asparagus turning green and results in a taste a little sweeter and much more tender. It must be peeled before consumption. Spargel is generally harvested from late April to early June. Some green asparagus is available in Germany, but would most likely be called grüner Spargel.

Asparagus is very popular in the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany. In Germany it is known as "Königliches Gemüse" (Royal Vegetable). Germany produces 82,000 tons of asparagus a year; however, that is only enough to meet 61% of consumption. Many German cities hold festivals celebrating its harvest. Schwetzingen claims to be the "Asparagus Capital of the World" and holds an annual Spargelfest (asparagus festival) in which an Asparagus Queen is crowned.

During Spargelsaison or Spargelzeit (asparagus season), asparagus is sold at many roadside stands and in open air markets: about half of all asparagus is bought in this way. It is also popular in restaurants, and fresh asparagus is advertised outside many restaurants during the season."
And now you know!

This cute little Honey....

...graduates from college in 4 weeks! Where did the time go?

Seton Hall's Adam Satz Wins National Manager Contest - Many thanks to my readers who voted!

News  Roster  Schedule  Statistics  Coaches  Media Center  More Senior Adam Satz won the national manager contest by more than 1,000 votes. Seton Hall's Adam Satz Wins National Manager Contest Release: 04/16/2011 Share| SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Adam Satz, a senior men's basketball manager at Seton Hall University, has won a national managers contest sponsored by The UPS Store. Satz was named one of four national finalists in the early spring, which carried a $5000 award to Seton Hall's general scholarship fund.  Over the last month, Satz, as well as finalists from Duke, Elon and Rice, competed for votes for the top prize which nets an additional $10,000 to the manager's school. For two days a film crew followed Satz around during his daily routine as a manager, student and member of the Seton Hall community.  Fans have been urged over the last month to view the videos of the four finalists and vote for a winner. The voting officially ended in the evening of Friday, April 15 and Satz, who led for the vast majority of the contest, was named the winner by over 1,000 votes over a duo of managers from Duke University.  In all, he received over 5,600 votes. "Thank you to everyone who supported me," Satz said.  "I found the amount of people who took the time to help, whether they knew me or not, truly humbling." Satz has been a manager for the men's basketball team for over three years.  His expertise is vast, but he specializes in video work and film exchange.  Although he traveled with the team on road trips and worked long hours in the men's basketball offices, Satz still managed to be a leader in Seton Hall's sports management program and maintains a grade point average of over 3.5. "It is a tremendous accomplishment for Adam to win this national contest," said Seton Hall head men's basketball coach Kevin Willard.  "Each of the finalists are quite impressive.  They all should be congratulated for making it this far." "Adam is one of the most dedicated and hard-working young men I've ever been around," Willard continued.  "He truly deserves this.  We couldn't be happier for him."

Windy!

 As my thought and prayers go to the people of the Carolinas and Virginia after  a devastating storm system did incredible damage, massive destruction, taking lives,
It made me think of my experience last May at the Garden State horse Show. I do the show every year and enjoy it immensely.

 I love the environment, being around the horse and dogs for 5 days is a thrill.

 The weather is often iffy as it can be in May. Rain comes and goes.

However, they always put us in a huge circus type tent. In fact the tents are so big that the horse are stalled in them. it's true. There are a few hundred horses in real stalls in up to 5 tents. There is plenty of room for the vendors and we are safe from the elements.

Anyway,
Last May the weather was beautiful. On the 4th day of the show, Saturday, the weatherman said it would be windy. Didn't bother me -I am in the tent. Around 3 o'clock the winds really began to pick up.
Still wasn't worried...

Until I could hear yelling and screaming and looked outside towards the tents where the horses were stalled and saw them collapsing! Everyone was running around crazy trying to evacuate the horses. Cars and trucks were everywhere, it was total mayhem...

When all of a sudden I heard our tent ripping! The tent was swaying back and forth. We got out as fast as possible. Out into the windy mayhem. People were running back and forth helping the vendors get their merchandise out of the tents.
So there I was in the middle of a field with all my stuff around me. Dirt and branches were whipping through the air, I had to get out of there,
But, I had a problem. I had driven my car not the big suburban I used to transport merch. Luckily, my husband came to the rescue and drove the hour to come help me.

The show was canceled the next day. Found out we had encountered 50 mile an hour winds that afternoon. Wouldn't want to do that again.
And what I experienced?
Was an nth of a degree to what the people down South encountered this weekend.
God bless them.

It's all about ME!

Thanks to my friend OHN at http://only-half-nuts.blogspot.com/ I have something to write about! 

Here is the meme that I stole/borrowed from her:

A. Age: 51, but a very YOUNG 51!

B. Bed size: queen, had a full when we were first married and then even when we first started having kids!

C. Chore you dislike: vacumning

D. Dogs: None, right now. I am working on it though!

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee and something sweet. Ideally while I'm reading the paper.

F. Favorite color: Green. Black is a big part of my life as well.

G. Gold or silver:Love them both. Especially loved selling all my broken gold jewelry and making big bucks!

H. Height: 5'5 for most of my life. seems as though I am heading to 5'4.

I. Instruments you play(ed): does the soprano recorder count? It shouldn't. I was just pretending to play the entire year of 4th grade.

J. Job title: owner operator

K. Kids: Yes, five. Perfect amount for me.

L. Live: Outside of NYC in Jersey. Please don't make jokes.

M. Mom’s name: Cecelia

N. Nicknames: Hmmm, not to my face.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Five times for the births of my children.

P. Pet peeves: Passive/aggressive people. I cant deal with people that do not say what they mean. No patience.

Q. Quote from a movie: What, the curtains!

R. Righty or lefty: Righty. 

S. Siblings: Four sisters.

T. Time you wake up:  7:30.

U. Underwear: necessary.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: over cooked, otherwise I havent met a veggie I didnt like!

W.What makes you run late: trying to do too much before I go.

X. X-rays you’ve had: lots, especially dental.

Y. Yummy food you make: I'm a wiz with a crock pot!

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Monkeys. Love watching them.

Ok, now your turn!

Spring break?

When I was in college I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. In the 1970's it was the #1 Spring break destination.
I worked in a bar right on A1A and saw Spring Break front row, 24 hours a day.
It looked a lot like the pic above.
 It was fun, but for 2 months it took twice as long to drive anywhere. The bar I worked at was right off the beach. So, about twice a day we would have some kid from Minnesota or Michigan pass out from heat exposure as they had been in 20 degree below weather 24 hours earlier and had just layed out all day in the 90 degree sun.
College kids don't tip ( the drinking age was still 18 in Fla. back then.) I had to find creative ways to squeeze some bucks out of the kids that sat at my bar for hours. We hung a sign that  said,

"Tipping is NOT a city in China!"

I learned to play Liars poker and would get a big group playing so I could win some $$. I learned tricks like bouncing quarters off my elbows and flipping coasters. I would bet the bar that I could do a certain amount ( less than I really could do) I would lose and then bet again that I could do even more! Of course they all upped their bets... and I would win. 

Before you feel sorry for these guys, remember that they sat ALL DAY at my bar and didn't tip at all!

 I was a college student too.

The most interesting thing is, I am in thousands of Spring break photo albums. Really.

Because at least 50 times a day the bartender( me) would be asked to pose with one group or another.

Also, thousands of sailors would be in town asking every girl in a bikini to pose with them. I felt obligated because they were serving our country... 

Not my friend, she would charge them $10!!!

 I couldn't believe it, but then she explained.

She said, "Patty, each one of those boys is going back to their bunk or home and showing the pictures around and saying that we were their girlfriend or conquest! I want to make sure I get paid for it!"

Not sure I agreed with that. But, it did make me think!

Anyway, my children's Spring break is this week and we are...

Home.

And I couldn't be happier. Not that we had a choice. We put on a big addition this year and there wasnt going to be trip for awhile. But, we are all enjoying sleeping in, no rushing around, catching up on movies and shows, basically, spending time together.

Bungalow Scout Bags-Four Boys Bag!

This is one of the new Spring bags-$45.

Protection!

I don't mean this type.
 A little risque for this blog. But, hey! It's Friday!
No, I meant this type. Below-

The Italian Horn is said to keep away the Devil/evil. Many Italians wear this.

 The evil eye bracelet is worn by the Greeks, the Turks, the Armenians, and other mid-eastern peoples. It is said to protect from the evil eye. The evil eye is when others wish you harm due to envy or evil. The bracelet sends it right back at them. Blue is the traditional color, but it comes in many other colors as well.

Being Catholic, we have all sorts of symbols of protection. First and foremost, the cross. There are many Saints that we look to for direction and protection.
But, for traveling we look to St. Christopher. I remember growing up having a little statue in our car!
Anyway, I sell St Christopher medals on cord and they are one of my most popular items, even for non-Catholics.
Here are the choices for Spring/Summer 2011,

I just love them. They will be on website( if we ever get it up!!!) and I sell them when I am on the road.
Can't have too much protection!

Boys! Too funny.

Here is latest interchange after the first 7th/8th gradebaseball try-out, captured from my son Kevin's Facebook.

Basically, it is my son discussing his pitching and then the funny part, a 9th grader trash talking, putting down the new team. Saying how bad it will be compared to last year's team.
What is so funny is the 8th grade boys and their insults, telling the 9th grader that last year's team was terrible and that he was the only good player!
What? Sounds like they are complimenting him !

Kevin-

Baseball tryouts.... I don't think I'm getting the pitching job after today's performance

17 hours ago via iPhone ·  · 

• 4 people like this.
• • Nick-Wat happened kev

    17 hours ago · 
  • Kevin- Lets just say I was a little wild

    17 hours ago · 
  • Nick- I thought ur accuracy improved

    17 hours ago · 
  • James- oh god

    17 hours ago · 
  • Kevin-Actually it kinda did... I blame it on the catcher

    17 hours ago · 
  • Nick- who was the catcher

    17 hours ago · 
  • Jared(the catcher)- hahahahaha

    17 hours ago · 
  • Kevin- Idk

    17 hours ago · 
  • Kevin-I had a couple strikes .... If I get more accurate I'll b good

    16 hours ago · 
  • Kevin- Wich might not happen

    16 hours ago · 
  • Vincent- you guys are going to suck alot

    16 hours ago · 
  • Kevin- Dude no... Except for u and wiz Ur grade stunk at baseball

    16 hours ago · 
  • Vincent-Really our freshman baseball team is 2-0 and we look very good. You guys have no pitching at all.

    15 hours ago · 
  • Kevin- Yaa we do.... And thanks usr for that record

    15 hours ago · 
  • Vincent- who can pitch

    15 hours ago · 
  • Jake- R team is gonna b so much better than last year

    14 hours ago · 
  • Kevin- homan, granger, rosato, molzan, this rlly good 7th grader, and kelley if we need him....

    13 hours ago · 
  • Jake- Vinny you were the only good 8th grade pitcher last year.

    3 hours ago ·