I guess it's been a while since I blogged about something. Can you believe? I had nothing to say until now.
We've been through flag football, girl's volleyball and have two more weeks of six of boy's basketball. There was a little hiccup in flag football but I was able to sit back down after a couple hours.
Believe it or not, and forgive me if I'm repeating myself, I don't know how each kid plays! I send the forms to the schools. They return them with both sections filled out. I cut the bottom section off to give to the coach so they will know any cell phone number or what size shirt the kid will get. Before the coach receives these forms, teams are formed and if I'm struggling to find coaches and begging high school students to do it, there isn't time for a meeting or a draft with the games starting in two weeks!
I separate the forms by grade. I turn them face down, shuffle them up and deal them out or have the kids who help me "pick a card, any card" according to how many teams that can be made. First one grade then the other. It's nice if they all have the same amount of 4th graders and 3rd graders but it doesn't always happen. I don't look at the names until I'm typing out the rosters. I know a lot of these kids but I have no idea what their abilities are. On the roster, the coaches name is blank.
After calling each kids' parent, I might hear a reluctant "sure" but most don't call me back. Darn caller i.d.! Sending an emergency email to the high school or on Facebook usually works. Thank goodness for high school students. In two days I had all the basketball coaches I could use. Even my boss and his eldest son took a team and his youngest is too old to play in this particular league.
Of eight teams, three have adult coaches. The rest are boys and girls barely 16. Some don't even drive yet. And I have to say there hasn't been any yelling at the coaches, the refs or me. Seems like everyone is in a good mood and having fun. I hear the kid coaches challenge the other kid coach, the words "dominate" and "butt kicking" are usual. All in fun.
One adult coach heard a parent's snide remark about how his son doesn't get to handle the ball. The kid also wouldn't do what the coach said. Let's just stand here and shake our head "no" until you get your way. Which he didn't but then there's another comment from the parent.
A big surprise awaits you! When your kid gets to an upper grade and he/she doesn't listen to the coach, I'm pretty sure your narrow ass will be on the bench. I'm just saying. I also didn't see you stepping up to coach your child's team either. He/she could have been the star of the team if you had control. You didn't. He/she isn't. Sit down.
The volleyball went so well I was amazed. This was the first year for this league. I didn't have to beg for coaches. The parent/coaches taught the girls well. The first game was good but the last was terrific. Even the crowd changed from the first day. They were a bit louder the last game, cheering. Both player and parent understood the game. Everyone got along. No one complained in private to me or aloud to everyone. That was probably the easiest I have had it in 8-9 years and this basketball season is going the same way...kinda.
Maybe kids as coaches is a good thing sometimes. They probably couldn't handle a full-blown verbal attack from an irrate parent like an adult would but then I have been known to shout back myself when my "That's bullshit!" meter has pegged. Not very professional on my part. Can't expect them to be either.
The kids are having fun. The adult coaches aren't complaining about or to the kid coaches on or off the court. The refs are doing a great job. My stomach isn't in knots. Thank you everyone. I really appreciate it.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Vandalism. Really?
I had a call on my cell phone Sunday from a police officer. I would have answered it but I left it in the desk at the pool. I listened to the voicemail and called him back Monday. Seems like three kids decided it would be fun to set the paper towels on fire in the ladies room at the Jaycee's concession stand. He made them clean it up and called their parents. No damage, just a lot of smoke that someone in the condos noticed. It could have been a lot worse.
I probably would've just rolled my eyes if it hadn't been for Saturday's clean up. I went to put fresh trash bags in the cans for the family picnic that was scheduled to take place at the shelter house by the pool. I didn't have my shoes on as the grass was wet a bit from flag football. I hate wet socks and shoes. I saw pieces of something all over the shelter house floor. I looked up and figured out that the little cruds, and I am assuming it was the same, took every light bulb out and smashed them either on the floor or the pool fence.
I put my shoes back on.
Now it was pretty easy, just a pain in my ass, to sweep up the shards of glass on the floor but having to pick up the pieces out of the grass was a little more challenging. I'm sure I missed some but left a note not to let the kids run around with no shoes just in case. That was the shelter side of the fence and I still had to do the pool side where almost no one wears shoes. Idiots. It can't get any plainer than that.
But wait! There's more! It was reported that the drinking fountain on the south end of the pool house had a leak. Not the first time, grab some pliers and a couple turns, taa-daaaa, it's fixed. I hit the button and sure enough my feet were wet. I tried the fountain next to it and the same thing. Strange that they both had a loose connection. Hm. I sat down and looked under to see where the leak was. It was coming from the clean cut in the water line. On both. Thanks.
I know who these kids are. I know they ride their bikes. I know where they live. I'm thinking I may run over their wheels, just one on each bike, then I will wait for them to have them repaired and do it again. Maybe even again until they realize it costs money to fix when property is destroyed. Hey, the bikes aren't mine so why should I care?
It could be worse. I could wait until they're riding their bikes.
I probably would've just rolled my eyes if it hadn't been for Saturday's clean up. I went to put fresh trash bags in the cans for the family picnic that was scheduled to take place at the shelter house by the pool. I didn't have my shoes on as the grass was wet a bit from flag football. I hate wet socks and shoes. I saw pieces of something all over the shelter house floor. I looked up and figured out that the little cruds, and I am assuming it was the same, took every light bulb out and smashed them either on the floor or the pool fence.
I put my shoes back on.
Now it was pretty easy, just a pain in my ass, to sweep up the shards of glass on the floor but having to pick up the pieces out of the grass was a little more challenging. I'm sure I missed some but left a note not to let the kids run around with no shoes just in case. That was the shelter side of the fence and I still had to do the pool side where almost no one wears shoes. Idiots. It can't get any plainer than that.
But wait! There's more! It was reported that the drinking fountain on the south end of the pool house had a leak. Not the first time, grab some pliers and a couple turns, taa-daaaa, it's fixed. I hit the button and sure enough my feet were wet. I tried the fountain next to it and the same thing. Strange that they both had a loose connection. Hm. I sat down and looked under to see where the leak was. It was coming from the clean cut in the water line. On both. Thanks.
I know who these kids are. I know they ride their bikes. I know where they live. I'm thinking I may run over their wheels, just one on each bike, then I will wait for them to have them repaired and do it again. Maybe even again until they realize it costs money to fix when property is destroyed. Hey, the bikes aren't mine so why should I care?
It could be worse. I could wait until they're riding their bikes.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
HELP!
I don't mean S.O.S. either. I mean the kids that worked this summer for the parks department and/or aquatic center.
The pool.
We'll go through a bad year that it seems everything is going wrong, no one can work, they don't do it right or half-assed. I would become angry and dad's words would ring in my ears, "If you want something done right, do it yourself!" Those words were never aimed at me, my siblings heard them quite often. Ahem. I would finish the job and then be angry that I should've made them do it until they did it right.
The sad thing is, you remember the bad times.
This year, at the pool, I hired a lot of new kids with old thrown into the mix. I do have to say they did a fine job. There were a few problems but they were learning the ins and outs of the place and what was expected of them. I will admit there is a couple that still have that deer in the headlights look when I walk in. I want to laugh but I don't.
I might have to pick up a candy wrapper or two in the hallway when they've walked by them a dozen or so times. That's aggravating. I really hate to remind them to grab a bag and pick up trash. You can see it out the concession window, go pick it up, please.
All in all though, the pool assistants did a good job despite a few reminders.
Onto the lifeguards. I was worried earlier that I wouldn't have enough guards for the summer and the old guards would be so worn out. I ended up with some new ones. The old showed them the ropes and it worked out pretty well. Again, there were a few glitches but everything worked out.
If it weren't for Nikki, Karson, Brady, Laura, Whitney and Taryn, I would be spending some time in a soft cell somewhere. I couldn't be in two or three places at once and I basically turned the pool over to them, I knew in my mind they would do well and I shouldn't worry. I did worry at first. The pool makes me nervous. I know what it's like to be sitting in that chair, kids screaming, there's always at least one you have to watch more closely because they're going to do something stupid that could end up in an injury either for themselves or others, while you're watching for someone in distress.
When I walk in, Karson is diluting a parents anger over the phone because their child was kicked out for two weeks and it's the hottest part of the summer. Never mind that he had ample warning, it was his second offense breaking the same rule and no one called the week before when the temperature was in the 60's. Karson was very diplomatic, his tone was even, and very clear about the kids' punishment. And I always back them up on the punishments. I respect their decisions, that's the way it is.
I think I stressed Nikki out a bit at first. I really dumped the responsibilty on her and Karson this year. They handled it perfectly. They didn't put up with anyone's crap including other guards. I didn't have a zillion phone calls because they didn't know what to do. They handled each problem as they came along. I let them make the decisions and it's what I would've done. WWTD? Short of smacking some kid in the head...
I still had to do chemical readings or send one of the kids from here to do them. Check the chlorine but don't touch the acid. Dave doesn't want us doing that. He doesn't even want us in that room, it dangerous. I think we helped Dave a bit this year also. He's very busy and doesn't have time to do chores that we can.
The parks department.
That would be Jeffrey, Hailee, Matthew, Michael and Clayton. I usually call them by their full name.
Mostly Matt and Jeff readied the ball diamonds this summer but the rest have done it also. That was five days a week, all over town, nine diamonds. I did the two Saturday morning diamonds so they didn't have to crawl out of bed so early because game time was 9:00.
Jeff, Hailee, and Mike would work the concession stand at the complex five nights and some weekends. Most evenings they didn't clock out until 9 or later depending on the ball game even though they would come in at 9:00 in the morning. John would help. It was a busy place. Thankfully we had music playing. Then the dancing and singing would start and we didn't really care if we were good at it or if anyone was watching. It was fun, we laughed at each other. A lot.
No matter what they were doing, if I asked them to please go do this or that, they jump up, Jeff will say, "That's what we're here for!" or Matt would say, "Right away, boss!" It cracks me up. I will miss that.
I don't know if I can thank them enough or let them know how much lighter my load was because of them. This may have been the easiest summer I've had even though I worked alongside them. They made it fun, they made it easy.
The middle of August is going to suck when they head back to college or high school. I will be alone. While I like peace and quiet, I will have to adjust to the fact they won't be in to make me laugh, sing, dance or tick me off. On the other hand, they won't make fun of my playlist.
A big thank you to all of them. I will miss you. And yes, I will cry.
The pool.
We'll go through a bad year that it seems everything is going wrong, no one can work, they don't do it right or half-assed. I would become angry and dad's words would ring in my ears, "If you want something done right, do it yourself!" Those words were never aimed at me, my siblings heard them quite often. Ahem. I would finish the job and then be angry that I should've made them do it until they did it right.
The sad thing is, you remember the bad times.
This year, at the pool, I hired a lot of new kids with old thrown into the mix. I do have to say they did a fine job. There were a few problems but they were learning the ins and outs of the place and what was expected of them. I will admit there is a couple that still have that deer in the headlights look when I walk in. I want to laugh but I don't.
I might have to pick up a candy wrapper or two in the hallway when they've walked by them a dozen or so times. That's aggravating. I really hate to remind them to grab a bag and pick up trash. You can see it out the concession window, go pick it up, please.
All in all though, the pool assistants did a good job despite a few reminders.
Onto the lifeguards. I was worried earlier that I wouldn't have enough guards for the summer and the old guards would be so worn out. I ended up with some new ones. The old showed them the ropes and it worked out pretty well. Again, there were a few glitches but everything worked out.
If it weren't for Nikki, Karson, Brady, Laura, Whitney and Taryn, I would be spending some time in a soft cell somewhere. I couldn't be in two or three places at once and I basically turned the pool over to them, I knew in my mind they would do well and I shouldn't worry. I did worry at first. The pool makes me nervous. I know what it's like to be sitting in that chair, kids screaming, there's always at least one you have to watch more closely because they're going to do something stupid that could end up in an injury either for themselves or others, while you're watching for someone in distress.
When I walk in, Karson is diluting a parents anger over the phone because their child was kicked out for two weeks and it's the hottest part of the summer. Never mind that he had ample warning, it was his second offense breaking the same rule and no one called the week before when the temperature was in the 60's. Karson was very diplomatic, his tone was even, and very clear about the kids' punishment. And I always back them up on the punishments. I respect their decisions, that's the way it is.
I think I stressed Nikki out a bit at first. I really dumped the responsibilty on her and Karson this year. They handled it perfectly. They didn't put up with anyone's crap including other guards. I didn't have a zillion phone calls because they didn't know what to do. They handled each problem as they came along. I let them make the decisions and it's what I would've done. WWTD? Short of smacking some kid in the head...
I still had to do chemical readings or send one of the kids from here to do them. Check the chlorine but don't touch the acid. Dave doesn't want us doing that. He doesn't even want us in that room, it dangerous. I think we helped Dave a bit this year also. He's very busy and doesn't have time to do chores that we can.
The parks department.
That would be Jeffrey, Hailee, Matthew, Michael and Clayton. I usually call them by their full name.
Mostly Matt and Jeff readied the ball diamonds this summer but the rest have done it also. That was five days a week, all over town, nine diamonds. I did the two Saturday morning diamonds so they didn't have to crawl out of bed so early because game time was 9:00.
Jeff, Hailee, and Mike would work the concession stand at the complex five nights and some weekends. Most evenings they didn't clock out until 9 or later depending on the ball game even though they would come in at 9:00 in the morning. John would help. It was a busy place. Thankfully we had music playing. Then the dancing and singing would start and we didn't really care if we were good at it or if anyone was watching. It was fun, we laughed at each other. A lot.
No matter what they were doing, if I asked them to please go do this or that, they jump up, Jeff will say, "That's what we're here for!" or Matt would say, "Right away, boss!" It cracks me up. I will miss that.
I don't know if I can thank them enough or let them know how much lighter my load was because of them. This may have been the easiest summer I've had even though I worked alongside them. They made it fun, they made it easy.
The middle of August is going to suck when they head back to college or high school. I will be alone. While I like peace and quiet, I will have to adjust to the fact they won't be in to make me laugh, sing, dance or tick me off. On the other hand, they won't make fun of my playlist.
A big thank you to all of them. I will miss you. And yes, I will cry.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Abbreviated words and other stuff
When did we forget how to talk? I understand texting, short and simple. I cannot text on my city owed phone, I can just receive them. I can read what the kids type, mostly that they can't make it to work.
I'm talking about on television. It really ticks me off to hear "24/7" coming from a well known news anchor's mouth or a highly popular personality. For Pete's sake, just say it! Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Shows like Law & Order (any one of them, it doesn't matter), NCIS, CSI or Criminal Minds say "vic" instead of "victim" or "unsub" instead of "unknown subject". The first time I heard that, I thought, "What the hell is an unsub?" There are plenty more. Maybe when the writers are writing they just abbreviate the words so they don't have to type them out. Lazy.
Speaking of CSI, I'm sure if you were a forensics expert working in the lab looking at maggot larva to determine the time of death by the size of the larva, you wouldn't be out in the field chasing down a criminal. Leave that part to the Law & Order detectives. They don't go into your lab and look at blood samples.
There's a radio station that calls itself "The I Heart Network". Really? Stop it!
Maybe they think we're stupid and won't catch on. Maybe I'm smarter than you think, just crankier as I become older.
I will admit I do mispronounce words or use the wrong word on purpose. Always have. If any of you remember The Bowery Boys or The Deadend Kids, you'll know what I mean. They mispronounced words because they didn't know better. That's what made them funny.
If someone asks, "How did you know it was me calling?" I'll say it's because I'm psychotic (instead of psychic). It's fun to see their reaction or if they think I'm really an idiot (though that is debatable).
I swear I know a gal that says "tarantula" downpour rather than torrential. I don't think she knows there is a difference.
I'm usually a pretty good speller. Sometimes I don't think a word looks right or I used the wrong there, their or they're in a sentence. I try to correct before Bill S. catches me. I correct Bill just to annoy him. He doesn't seem to be but I can keep trying.
You don't even need to use the words "get" and "got". Try it for a day. "America's Got Talent". How about "America Has Talent"? Sounds a little more intelligent. I do start sentences wrong. I could have said "It sounds a little more intelligent." My mind wandered in English and math class so I'm not sure if it makes a difference.
My mind works faster than my fingers and I might skip a whole word or two. Even when I re-read it. I know what I'm thinking, can't you figure it out?
The fair is next week. Not looking forward to it. Jeff and I grabbed the trash cans from all the ball diamonds and shelter houses and a couple of benches. We'll wait until Monday to grab the other benches. Things have a tendency to disappear, never to return. Come to think of it, they haven't been replaced from last year.
I used to like the fair until I started working here. I come in at 7:00 with the pool money bags to figure the days' deposit. It smells so bad in here I'm not sure I can take it. Stale beer, old food, sweat, vomit and who only knows what else. Thank you, NO! I would like to see Seether Saturday but I'm sure that's a whole different breed of cat. Not into the mosh pit scene.
We used to go on vacation during fair week but haven't for three years. Anyone need a roomie?
I'm talking about on television. It really ticks me off to hear "24/7" coming from a well known news anchor's mouth or a highly popular personality. For Pete's sake, just say it! Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Shows like Law & Order (any one of them, it doesn't matter), NCIS, CSI or Criminal Minds say "vic" instead of "victim" or "unsub" instead of "unknown subject". The first time I heard that, I thought, "What the hell is an unsub?" There are plenty more. Maybe when the writers are writing they just abbreviate the words so they don't have to type them out. Lazy.
Speaking of CSI, I'm sure if you were a forensics expert working in the lab looking at maggot larva to determine the time of death by the size of the larva, you wouldn't be out in the field chasing down a criminal. Leave that part to the Law & Order detectives. They don't go into your lab and look at blood samples.
There's a radio station that calls itself "The I Heart Network". Really? Stop it!
Maybe they think we're stupid and won't catch on. Maybe I'm smarter than you think, just crankier as I become older.
I will admit I do mispronounce words or use the wrong word on purpose. Always have. If any of you remember The Bowery Boys or The Deadend Kids, you'll know what I mean. They mispronounced words because they didn't know better. That's what made them funny.
If someone asks, "How did you know it was me calling?" I'll say it's because I'm psychotic (instead of psychic). It's fun to see their reaction or if they think I'm really an idiot (though that is debatable).
I swear I know a gal that says "tarantula" downpour rather than torrential. I don't think she knows there is a difference.
I'm usually a pretty good speller. Sometimes I don't think a word looks right or I used the wrong there, their or they're in a sentence. I try to correct before Bill S. catches me. I correct Bill just to annoy him. He doesn't seem to be but I can keep trying.
You don't even need to use the words "get" and "got". Try it for a day. "America's Got Talent". How about "America Has Talent"? Sounds a little more intelligent. I do start sentences wrong. I could have said "It sounds a little more intelligent." My mind wandered in English and math class so I'm not sure if it makes a difference.
My mind works faster than my fingers and I might skip a whole word or two. Even when I re-read it. I know what I'm thinking, can't you figure it out?
The fair is next week. Not looking forward to it. Jeff and I grabbed the trash cans from all the ball diamonds and shelter houses and a couple of benches. We'll wait until Monday to grab the other benches. Things have a tendency to disappear, never to return. Come to think of it, they haven't been replaced from last year.
I used to like the fair until I started working here. I come in at 7:00 with the pool money bags to figure the days' deposit. It smells so bad in here I'm not sure I can take it. Stale beer, old food, sweat, vomit and who only knows what else. Thank you, NO! I would like to see Seether Saturday but I'm sure that's a whole different breed of cat. Not into the mosh pit scene.
We used to go on vacation during fair week but haven't for three years. Anyone need a roomie?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Stress.
I am stressed. If some workers cared did they might just watch themselves.
Starting in mid-May through to July 1st is the busiest time around here. My other blogs should make that clear.
I explain very clearly what I want, what I want done and how I want it done. Why am I questioned? Just do it. Quit arguing with me or other workers. You're not in charge. That's my job to tell them what to do. Who gives a shit how you put a trash bag in the can, just put it in there. Believe it or not you're not doing such a bang up job as you think.
Next week is the last week of ball games and as sad as that may be (since I love baseball), most of my focus can go to the pool for the remainder of the season until flag football and volleyball start in August.
The Little League Championship game will be next Friday. On Monday and Wednesday we'll see who gets to play in it. Have not had any trouble with parents, coaches ("The Good ..." are involved here) or players. Pretty smooth going. Nice group of people this year.
Softball for girl's 2nd-3rd ended last night, 4th-6th will end tonight along with the t-ball girls. No problems there either.
PeeWee tournament is Tuesday and Thursday next week. A bit of a disagreement with some but nothing major until you did what I asked you not to do. Now we have a problem. We did. It's done now. But I do hold a grudge. Just so you know. Go ahead and tell my boss, chances are he already knows because I told for you.
T-ball for boys will be over Saturday. I hear "This is the last time I'm coaching!" a lot. C'mon! The smallest kids are the most entertaining and frustrating. "Like herding cats." (I did see a PeeWee player dancing in the outfield.)
It has rained a bit this season but when people call at 8:30 in the morning asking if we'll have games at 5:30 that evening, I'd like to say I'll get my crystal ball out and check. I don't though. I can be a smart ass in my head.
That's not as bad as when there's a possibilty of sprinkles and you ("The Ugly..") call three times to see if I'm going to cancel the games. Uh, no. For the third time, no. Yes, I did get a little put out with the last time you called and you could hear it in my voice and then you tell me not to get upset. Get real. The fun part is you call a member of the park board asking the same question you asked me and I'm sure you mentioned that I was a bit if a bitch. It did rain during the game. One set played through it. A few sprinkles didn't hurt anyone. The other set resumed play. No thunder, no lightening, no downpour, no cancellation.
I recall this same "Ugly" didn't want to listen to me when I did call a game in a thunderstorm a few years ago and he said we'll just keep playing. Made it pretty clear to anyone within earshot that I called the game and I was not responsible for what may happen.
There is a way to get people to do what you ask. The nice way which is what I try at the start. "Hey, could you do this for me, please?" or "Why don't you...?" It may turn into "I said to do ______ (fill in the blank with some mundane chore) or "Do it now!" I try to remain as calm as possible to avoid certain words, usually the bad ones.
When another worker tries bossing or bullying another, I don't care for that one bit. The more experienced ones are there to help and guide, not throw their weight around and crush the newer ones. Like I said, who gives a shit how the trash bag is put in the can, just get it in there. The end result is the same.
Starting in mid-May through to July 1st is the busiest time around here. My other blogs should make that clear.
I explain very clearly what I want, what I want done and how I want it done. Why am I questioned? Just do it. Quit arguing with me or other workers. You're not in charge. That's my job to tell them what to do. Who gives a shit how you put a trash bag in the can, just put it in there. Believe it or not you're not doing such a bang up job as you think.
Next week is the last week of ball games and as sad as that may be (since I love baseball), most of my focus can go to the pool for the remainder of the season until flag football and volleyball start in August.
The Little League Championship game will be next Friday. On Monday and Wednesday we'll see who gets to play in it. Have not had any trouble with parents, coaches ("The Good ..." are involved here) or players. Pretty smooth going. Nice group of people this year.
Softball for girl's 2nd-3rd ended last night, 4th-6th will end tonight along with the t-ball girls. No problems there either.
PeeWee tournament is Tuesday and Thursday next week. A bit of a disagreement with some but nothing major until you did what I asked you not to do. Now we have a problem. We did. It's done now. But I do hold a grudge. Just so you know. Go ahead and tell my boss, chances are he already knows because I told for you.
T-ball for boys will be over Saturday. I hear "This is the last time I'm coaching!" a lot. C'mon! The smallest kids are the most entertaining and frustrating. "Like herding cats." (I did see a PeeWee player dancing in the outfield.)
It has rained a bit this season but when people call at 8:30 in the morning asking if we'll have games at 5:30 that evening, I'd like to say I'll get my crystal ball out and check. I don't though. I can be a smart ass in my head.
That's not as bad as when there's a possibilty of sprinkles and you ("The Ugly..") call three times to see if I'm going to cancel the games. Uh, no. For the third time, no. Yes, I did get a little put out with the last time you called and you could hear it in my voice and then you tell me not to get upset. Get real. The fun part is you call a member of the park board asking the same question you asked me and I'm sure you mentioned that I was a bit if a bitch. It did rain during the game. One set played through it. A few sprinkles didn't hurt anyone. The other set resumed play. No thunder, no lightening, no downpour, no cancellation.
I recall this same "Ugly" didn't want to listen to me when I did call a game in a thunderstorm a few years ago and he said we'll just keep playing. Made it pretty clear to anyone within earshot that I called the game and I was not responsible for what may happen.
There is a way to get people to do what you ask. The nice way which is what I try at the start. "Hey, could you do this for me, please?" or "Why don't you...?" It may turn into "I said to do ______ (fill in the blank with some mundane chore) or "Do it now!" I try to remain as calm as possible to avoid certain words, usually the bad ones.
When another worker tries bossing or bullying another, I don't care for that one bit. The more experienced ones are there to help and guide, not throw their weight around and crush the newer ones. Like I said, who gives a shit how the trash bag is put in the can, just get it in there. The end result is the same.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Baseball, baseball, baseball!
Tonight will be a great night for baseball. There will be three Little League games, a 7th grade Prep game, two Rookie softball games and the town team (Cubs) will be playing. I believe the freshman are playing at 11:00 this morning. Maybe I should be getting things ready in the concession stand. In a minute.
I love baseball. Dad used to take us to the Royals games. We'd go on Ball Day, Bat Day, Cap Day, on Halter Top Day my brothers looked so cute! We'd sit in the cheap seats where all the action was. People had more fun there. And we did too.
Sometimes dad's cousin and his son would come too. When they got together...watch out! Not sure if mom was working those days or it was just a day for us to get out of her hair. Probably the latter. We were a bit of a handful.
Not sure what was the best part of those days. Was it the ball game, the special treat of a hotdog, maybe that us kids weren't fighting even though they, stupidly, put wooden bats in our hands?
Mom worked at the Golden Buffet in North Kansas City. First as a waitress then the bookkeeper. Her boss would give her his tickets to his box seats occasionally. If I didn't think I was special sitting behind first base!
I remember one game, for some reason I was a little bored with it, Vida Blue hit a single. I'm thinking it was John Mayberry at first. Vida made it to base, Mayberry tossed the ball back. Vida Blue steps off the bag and Mayberry tagged him out. Mayberry never threw the ball back! He went through the motions but never threw the ball. The stadium roared. We laughed. The look on Vida Blue's face was priceless. And we were close enough to see it.
A few years ago I couldn't think of what to get dad for his birthday. I came up with baseball cards with Freddie Patek, John Mayberry, Cookie (Cookie! Cookie!) Rojas, Paul Schaal, all the oldies when we were growing up. Those times meant a lot to me. I saw him looking through them later like a little kid. It made me smile.
Beautiful day out. It'll be a beautiful night for baseball.
At one game recently, I got after some kids for throwing rocks. "Please don't throw rocks! Someone could get hurt!" A parent said, " This is coming from someone who showed my kid how to make bombs?!" Shut up, Kevin. They were dry ice bombs. It was science.
I love baseball. Dad used to take us to the Royals games. We'd go on Ball Day, Bat Day, Cap Day, on Halter Top Day my brothers looked so cute! We'd sit in the cheap seats where all the action was. People had more fun there. And we did too.
Sometimes dad's cousin and his son would come too. When they got together...watch out! Not sure if mom was working those days or it was just a day for us to get out of her hair. Probably the latter. We were a bit of a handful.
Not sure what was the best part of those days. Was it the ball game, the special treat of a hotdog, maybe that us kids weren't fighting even though they, stupidly, put wooden bats in our hands?
Mom worked at the Golden Buffet in North Kansas City. First as a waitress then the bookkeeper. Her boss would give her his tickets to his box seats occasionally. If I didn't think I was special sitting behind first base!
I remember one game, for some reason I was a little bored with it, Vida Blue hit a single. I'm thinking it was John Mayberry at first. Vida made it to base, Mayberry tossed the ball back. Vida Blue steps off the bag and Mayberry tagged him out. Mayberry never threw the ball back! He went through the motions but never threw the ball. The stadium roared. We laughed. The look on Vida Blue's face was priceless. And we were close enough to see it.
A few years ago I couldn't think of what to get dad for his birthday. I came up with baseball cards with Freddie Patek, John Mayberry, Cookie (Cookie! Cookie!) Rojas, Paul Schaal, all the oldies when we were growing up. Those times meant a lot to me. I saw him looking through them later like a little kid. It made me smile.
Beautiful day out. It'll be a beautiful night for baseball.
At one game recently, I got after some kids for throwing rocks. "Please don't throw rocks! Someone could get hurt!" A parent said, " This is coming from someone who showed my kid how to make bombs?!" Shut up, Kevin. They were dry ice bombs. It was science.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Where have I been?!
All over. You'll become bored with where and when. Same stuff, ball fields, concession stands, the pool. Cleaning, fixing, painting, grilling, making sure everything looks nice, lining up umps, workers, ordering food.
Had a few "mad" moments. Mad at people who tell me how to do my job. I will not call, make a list or email 300 people to let them know when a deadline is approaching for an activity. I do not have that kind of time on my hands. Mad at people who expect me to let their kid on a team well after the deadline has come and gone. Taking calls about it, disurpting my train of thought and rhythm, having to explain again to them that we have deadlines for a reason, and to my boss. Thankfully, he lets me take the hits. He does not tell me how to do it. The deadline was in the brochure, in the paper, only one other missed the deadline (by 26 days) and he was told no also. Shirts ordered, teams drafted, schedules made. Once I finish that part I have to move on the the next level, then the next and the next. I have a system, it's my system, it's a screwy system but it works for me. Backtracking messes me up, I'm easily distracted and then I forget what I'm doing which...makes me mad. It is not the only thing I have to do.
I expect everyone to work like I do. That may not be fair but I can't help it. I want everyone to work equally. I don't like some standing around while others are sweating. You will get dirty and ruin clothes. Again, I do things that work for me, been doing it that way for years, will continue to do it that way, this is how it is going to be done, my very own OCD.
Apparently, "don't call me for your schedule" doesn't apply to some. The schedule is at the pool, I don't have it memorized. It took me four hours to do it at home, on a Sunday, THEN I get your schedule. I had to do a lot of erasing and rearranging. Maybe next month will be better for you. Please don't have your mama call me, I get yelled at enough as it is. I asked for personal schedules at the meeting in April and two days before the opening you let me know when you can work. I can trade a place but only if the one I'm trading with hasn't copied down their schedule. It is not the only thing I have to do.
The pool is open. Had some storms and cool weather but Memorial Day we were packed. It made up for it the cool stormy days. I don't think I wrote that many pool passes out before.
We mucked out the pool. That was nasty. The mud, leaves, bugs and who knows what else at the bottom of the deep end had to be removed with scoop shovels into trash cans and hoisted up. Crap. No dumpster! We let it set in those cans until we did get a dumpster. I took two of us (and yes, I did do it) to pick them up to dump. The smell was thick and disgusting. We'll let a P.A. hose them out.
The seasons have started for the ball games. Have had only one rain out. No biggie. Plenty of time to make it up. Of course all the field preparation was a waste. And of course it had to be on a night when seven of the nine fields were going to be in use. We have ball games, either ours, the schools or the town team, Monday through Saturday through half of May and all of June. We've had two tournaments and another is scheduled at the end of June. It's a very hectic month. Doubt if I make it home before 8 on any of those nights.
The guys are dragging the fields, checking the supplies, running errands and I'm sitting here alone in the office answering the phone. I like it. It's not the only thing I have to do though.
Had a few "mad" moments. Mad at people who tell me how to do my job. I will not call, make a list or email 300 people to let them know when a deadline is approaching for an activity. I do not have that kind of time on my hands. Mad at people who expect me to let their kid on a team well after the deadline has come and gone. Taking calls about it, disurpting my train of thought and rhythm, having to explain again to them that we have deadlines for a reason, and to my boss. Thankfully, he lets me take the hits. He does not tell me how to do it. The deadline was in the brochure, in the paper, only one other missed the deadline (by 26 days) and he was told no also. Shirts ordered, teams drafted, schedules made. Once I finish that part I have to move on the the next level, then the next and the next. I have a system, it's my system, it's a screwy system but it works for me. Backtracking messes me up, I'm easily distracted and then I forget what I'm doing which...makes me mad. It is not the only thing I have to do.
I expect everyone to work like I do. That may not be fair but I can't help it. I want everyone to work equally. I don't like some standing around while others are sweating. You will get dirty and ruin clothes. Again, I do things that work for me, been doing it that way for years, will continue to do it that way, this is how it is going to be done, my very own OCD.
Apparently, "don't call me for your schedule" doesn't apply to some. The schedule is at the pool, I don't have it memorized. It took me four hours to do it at home, on a Sunday, THEN I get your schedule. I had to do a lot of erasing and rearranging. Maybe next month will be better for you. Please don't have your mama call me, I get yelled at enough as it is. I asked for personal schedules at the meeting in April and two days before the opening you let me know when you can work. I can trade a place but only if the one I'm trading with hasn't copied down their schedule. It is not the only thing I have to do.
The pool is open. Had some storms and cool weather but Memorial Day we were packed. It made up for it the cool stormy days. I don't think I wrote that many pool passes out before.
We mucked out the pool. That was nasty. The mud, leaves, bugs and who knows what else at the bottom of the deep end had to be removed with scoop shovels into trash cans and hoisted up. Crap. No dumpster! We let it set in those cans until we did get a dumpster. I took two of us (and yes, I did do it) to pick them up to dump. The smell was thick and disgusting. We'll let a P.A. hose them out.
The seasons have started for the ball games. Have had only one rain out. No biggie. Plenty of time to make it up. Of course all the field preparation was a waste. And of course it had to be on a night when seven of the nine fields were going to be in use. We have ball games, either ours, the schools or the town team, Monday through Saturday through half of May and all of June. We've had two tournaments and another is scheduled at the end of June. It's a very hectic month. Doubt if I make it home before 8 on any of those nights.
The guys are dragging the fields, checking the supplies, running errands and I'm sitting here alone in the office answering the phone. I like it. It's not the only thing I have to do though.
Friday, April 15, 2011
I'm tired.
I was told I was slacking with the blogs. Sorry! I've been busy and probably sound like a broken record.
We had a few days worth of decent weather and have been doing our best to do some summer readiness. There are nine ball diamonds to work up. I used the pulverizer earlier and will need to do again before the first game but it really doesn't help when we're trying to "fluff" up the infield then you drive on it with the tractors. Back to hard pack. Thanks.
We shoveled lime onto three. Two, in my opinion, are good to go. That leaves seven. I need lime delivered to the complex but the city guys will have to bring it. I'm pretty sure they won 't allow me to drive the dump truck. They did trust me with the new street sweeper though. I've worked the backhoe and the skidloader. Not with amazing ability but with pitiful results especially with the skidloader.
Anyway, a few guys donated their time to build me a "lime box". Looks great! I really appreciate it. I just need the lime to go in it. Crud.
Started taking down the chainlink fence at one ballfield yesterday. It was only 32" high. Boss man says the city guys will pull the poles. Karson pulled a couple right out of the ground. No cement. Really. It will be replaced with 5' foot high, industrial chainlink. We will top it with a new fence cap like the big boys have!
We have been working on those two diamonds for 2-3 years. Replaced the backstops, painted benches, dugouts, made the bathrooms handicap accessible, new batting cages, now new outfield fence and bringing the outfield in on the other. The little kids, when in the outfield, were almost on the infield. The bigger kids have a newer diamond to play on, we'll make this one smaller.
The lime is dug out and dirt was brought in. Needed more than anticipated. Waiting for a skidloader driver who knows what they're doing. Next week. I hope it won't rain too much. Need to get that seeded.
There was another project suggested last week. Cement in the batting cages, carpeted, of course. Not sure how much we can/have to fundraise before the season starts. That'll take a bit. THEN that area will be finished.
The "Old" diamond, is well, the oldest. It needs some work too. That one will have to be sprayed but it works up pretty good. We took down the scoreboard last year as it was falling apart. Magnetic kind. Stick whatever number in the space for the score. And the guy across the street was having trouble watching the game from his house as it was blocking his line of sight.
Speaking of scoreboards, another was blown off its' posts. Same kind. No one uses it either. But I need to pull those posts out. I could use one of those posts to fix the broken one in the dugout at the "old". I'm always thinking, trying to have a plan.
I heard I cancelled the soccer games for tomorrow. Correction: I said if it were pouring down rain and snowing, we will postpone. The coaches can get with one another and make the games up at any time during the week. I will show up tomorrow to see who comes and just let them play each other. We've played when it was cold, drizzling and windy. Tomorrow won't kill anyone. Only if the parents catch me will I be harmed in any way. I'll be driving the Polaris aka The Potty Wagon. Catch me if you can.
I don't think I'm doing my job correctly. At least that's what I had a call about. The kids should be playing 3-on-3. Kindergarteners! Really?! I have 85-90 kids. No way and what website were you looking at? We've always done it this way and we will continue. Maybe in the big city....
I have a praying mantis egg case on the desk. We had hail and it was knocked off the branch. I wondered what would happen if it hatched (?) overnight or the weekend when no one was here. Would I have a mess of babies or just one? Luckily I have these plastic shot glasses, ahem, and one fits nicely over it. I swear I see the thing move but my eyes are messing with me.
That's the latest news from the parks department. Sorry for slacking. I alomost forgot my password.
We had a few days worth of decent weather and have been doing our best to do some summer readiness. There are nine ball diamonds to work up. I used the pulverizer earlier and will need to do again before the first game but it really doesn't help when we're trying to "fluff" up the infield then you drive on it with the tractors. Back to hard pack. Thanks.
We shoveled lime onto three. Two, in my opinion, are good to go. That leaves seven. I need lime delivered to the complex but the city guys will have to bring it. I'm pretty sure they won 't allow me to drive the dump truck. They did trust me with the new street sweeper though. I've worked the backhoe and the skidloader. Not with amazing ability but with pitiful results especially with the skidloader.
Anyway, a few guys donated their time to build me a "lime box". Looks great! I really appreciate it. I just need the lime to go in it. Crud.
Started taking down the chainlink fence at one ballfield yesterday. It was only 32" high. Boss man says the city guys will pull the poles. Karson pulled a couple right out of the ground. No cement. Really. It will be replaced with 5' foot high, industrial chainlink. We will top it with a new fence cap like the big boys have!
We have been working on those two diamonds for 2-3 years. Replaced the backstops, painted benches, dugouts, made the bathrooms handicap accessible, new batting cages, now new outfield fence and bringing the outfield in on the other. The little kids, when in the outfield, were almost on the infield. The bigger kids have a newer diamond to play on, we'll make this one smaller.
The lime is dug out and dirt was brought in. Needed more than anticipated. Waiting for a skidloader driver who knows what they're doing. Next week. I hope it won't rain too much. Need to get that seeded.
There was another project suggested last week. Cement in the batting cages, carpeted, of course. Not sure how much we can/have to fundraise before the season starts. That'll take a bit. THEN that area will be finished.
The "Old" diamond, is well, the oldest. It needs some work too. That one will have to be sprayed but it works up pretty good. We took down the scoreboard last year as it was falling apart. Magnetic kind. Stick whatever number in the space for the score. And the guy across the street was having trouble watching the game from his house as it was blocking his line of sight.
Speaking of scoreboards, another was blown off its' posts. Same kind. No one uses it either. But I need to pull those posts out. I could use one of those posts to fix the broken one in the dugout at the "old". I'm always thinking, trying to have a plan.
I heard I cancelled the soccer games for tomorrow. Correction: I said if it were pouring down rain and snowing, we will postpone. The coaches can get with one another and make the games up at any time during the week. I will show up tomorrow to see who comes and just let them play each other. We've played when it was cold, drizzling and windy. Tomorrow won't kill anyone. Only if the parents catch me will I be harmed in any way. I'll be driving the Polaris aka The Potty Wagon. Catch me if you can.
I don't think I'm doing my job correctly. At least that's what I had a call about. The kids should be playing 3-on-3. Kindergarteners! Really?! I have 85-90 kids. No way and what website were you looking at? We've always done it this way and we will continue. Maybe in the big city....
I have a praying mantis egg case on the desk. We had hail and it was knocked off the branch. I wondered what would happen if it hatched (?) overnight or the weekend when no one was here. Would I have a mess of babies or just one? Luckily I have these plastic shot glasses, ahem, and one fits nicely over it. I swear I see the thing move but my eyes are messing with me.
That's the latest news from the parks department. Sorry for slacking. I alomost forgot my password.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
I'll be good!
I was holding a grudge. She had the balls to ask about our strained relationship, I had the balls to tell. I felt better. No apologizes were given from either side but it's off my chest.
I was curt with a gal on the phone earlier. She wanted to sign her son up for Little League. We held the draft last night and I don't remember it ever going so smoothly. Nice bunch of coaches...so far. The deadline was March 11. Twenty six days ago. No, I will not allow another to play. They pick the kids they want on their team. It was like that before me and I'm not going to change it.
The little K-1 teams in t-ball and soccer, I don't have a problem with. At that age they aren't Pele or Derek Jeter (I made reference to a Yankee! Gag!). Probably didn't spell their names right. I order an extra shirt or two because there are always late signer-uppers. Sometimes right to the day before the first game.
I send forms to the schools, broken down to each teacher, for boys and girls in each class, boys will get one color, the girls another with a note saying which is for which. I'll put an article in the paper reminding people to turn in their forms. I'll hang posters at the middle school letting them know it's time for sign up. I called the boys yesterday that hadn't signed up for Little League yet, making sure they were/weren't going to play. Just doublechecking. So there are plenty of chances to turn your form in on time. I hate to be a rip but that's the way it is. She'll probably call my boss. Wonder if she needs the number?
I did have one parent sign her son up TWICE because she didn't remember doing it and didn't want to miss the deadline. Bad thing, I didn't remember her handing it in the first time.
We moved our 2nd-4th grade soccer fields from the new location. We weren't allowed to play on the old location before. They blocked off the ground so people couldn't park in the grass, understandable, but the parking lot is way too small. People were upset that the grandparents won't come anymore because they can't walk that far. It would be quite a hike for the elderly, no lie.
The school must have received a lot of complaints because it was okay that we played closer on the old fields. I know I had a lot of complaints. Ouch!
The band teacher had his class load the goals, they are not light by any means (the old set), plus they had to carry part while he drove so they wouldn't drag on the ground. Our new set is light, 81 pounds each. I had them move those first so Matthew and I could start measuring and marking. Of course there were games that night. Under pressure but we finished. I didn't mark the center circles. I had to call coaches so they had time to let their teams know where to go. There's always something.
Matt and I finished up the K-1 fields yesterday. Center circles and all. Goals are down and waiting for the first set of games this Saturday.
I still have a Mangling Maroon shirt and a Bashing Black shirt yet to fill....
I was curt with a gal on the phone earlier. She wanted to sign her son up for Little League. We held the draft last night and I don't remember it ever going so smoothly. Nice bunch of coaches...so far. The deadline was March 11. Twenty six days ago. No, I will not allow another to play. They pick the kids they want on their team. It was like that before me and I'm not going to change it.
The little K-1 teams in t-ball and soccer, I don't have a problem with. At that age they aren't Pele or Derek Jeter (I made reference to a Yankee! Gag!). Probably didn't spell their names right. I order an extra shirt or two because there are always late signer-uppers. Sometimes right to the day before the first game.
I send forms to the schools, broken down to each teacher, for boys and girls in each class, boys will get one color, the girls another with a note saying which is for which. I'll put an article in the paper reminding people to turn in their forms. I'll hang posters at the middle school letting them know it's time for sign up. I called the boys yesterday that hadn't signed up for Little League yet, making sure they were/weren't going to play. Just doublechecking. So there are plenty of chances to turn your form in on time. I hate to be a rip but that's the way it is. She'll probably call my boss. Wonder if she needs the number?
I did have one parent sign her son up TWICE because she didn't remember doing it and didn't want to miss the deadline. Bad thing, I didn't remember her handing it in the first time.
We moved our 2nd-4th grade soccer fields from the new location. We weren't allowed to play on the old location before. They blocked off the ground so people couldn't park in the grass, understandable, but the parking lot is way too small. People were upset that the grandparents won't come anymore because they can't walk that far. It would be quite a hike for the elderly, no lie.
The school must have received a lot of complaints because it was okay that we played closer on the old fields. I know I had a lot of complaints. Ouch!
The band teacher had his class load the goals, they are not light by any means (the old set), plus they had to carry part while he drove so they wouldn't drag on the ground. Our new set is light, 81 pounds each. I had them move those first so Matthew and I could start measuring and marking. Of course there were games that night. Under pressure but we finished. I didn't mark the center circles. I had to call coaches so they had time to let their teams know where to go. There's always something.
Matt and I finished up the K-1 fields yesterday. Center circles and all. Goals are down and waiting for the first set of games this Saturday.
I still have a Mangling Maroon shirt and a Bashing Black shirt yet to fill....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I hold a grudge.
I know I shouldn't but I do. I can let some things slide right off without even batting an eye but this one I can't let go. It keeps building. It may wane a bit and I think I'm be over it but then they add to it and it all comes rushing back like a wave crashing over the rocks. I bite my tongue and it hurts. I would love to tell people off but I still stick to the "if you have nothing nice to say.....". My mama said so.
Don't go to my boss, the park board, over my head, behind my back and suggest something for me to do. Don't go to local businesses and tell them how I should do my job because, guess what? I do have a few friends. They tell me. Do you think they are going to pressure me into doing it? Not after I explain the cost and how much extra parents will have to come up with in these hard times. We have the great outdoors to play in.
Why don't you come to me, ask or suggest to my face? Don't get upset with me because I do my job and make it so it's affordable. My job is with the city. My concern is the kids.
Yesterday was my eighth year anniversary on the job. Hooray. I think the previous record was 2 1/2 years. That's how I know I let stuff slide. If I quit because things were too rough or overwhelming, I would have been out of here a long time ago. I have thrown things, cussed, cried, had anxiety attacks, thrown up and had sleepless nights.
It's been worth it though. The kids and I make each other laugh, they have entertained me, the hugs, the hellos, the waves, some call me "Coach" (that always cracks me up) and the pictures they have drawn for me.
People get to you only if you let them. I let this one but I feel better now. Thanks for listening....or reading.
We've been busy lately. Painting soccer fields, ordering supplies, doggie do bags, getting ready for a dance, making rosters, running errands, finding someone to do a bit of skidloader work (I tried once, it wasn't pretty), weeding gardens, trimming bushes, phone calls galore, putting soccer goals together, painting four more soccer fields, picking up limbs, ordering chemicals, running leagues, setting schedules, hiring pool help, fixing things that get broken. meetings, reports, finding coaches, updating rules, getting the pool paperwork ready and more.
The one thing you're concerned about may not be that one thing on my mind at the time. I have to think months in advance what is coming and what I have to do for it. I don't care about flag football now but I do know we'll have to play on the fields we use for soccer. We'll have the Iowa Firemen's Convention here on the fairgrounds. It'll be hard to throw a pass around all the campers.
Yep. I feel better.
Don't go to my boss, the park board, over my head, behind my back and suggest something for me to do. Don't go to local businesses and tell them how I should do my job because, guess what? I do have a few friends. They tell me. Do you think they are going to pressure me into doing it? Not after I explain the cost and how much extra parents will have to come up with in these hard times. We have the great outdoors to play in.
Why don't you come to me, ask or suggest to my face? Don't get upset with me because I do my job and make it so it's affordable. My job is with the city. My concern is the kids.
Yesterday was my eighth year anniversary on the job. Hooray. I think the previous record was 2 1/2 years. That's how I know I let stuff slide. If I quit because things were too rough or overwhelming, I would have been out of here a long time ago. I have thrown things, cussed, cried, had anxiety attacks, thrown up and had sleepless nights.
It's been worth it though. The kids and I make each other laugh, they have entertained me, the hugs, the hellos, the waves, some call me "Coach" (that always cracks me up) and the pictures they have drawn for me.
People get to you only if you let them. I let this one but I feel better now. Thanks for listening....or reading.
We've been busy lately. Painting soccer fields, ordering supplies, doggie do bags, getting ready for a dance, making rosters, running errands, finding someone to do a bit of skidloader work (I tried once, it wasn't pretty), weeding gardens, trimming bushes, phone calls galore, putting soccer goals together, painting four more soccer fields, picking up limbs, ordering chemicals, running leagues, setting schedules, hiring pool help, fixing things that get broken. meetings, reports, finding coaches, updating rules, getting the pool paperwork ready and more.
The one thing you're concerned about may not be that one thing on my mind at the time. I have to think months in advance what is coming and what I have to do for it. I don't care about flag football now but I do know we'll have to play on the fields we use for soccer. We'll have the Iowa Firemen's Convention here on the fairgrounds. It'll be hard to throw a pass around all the campers.
Yep. I feel better.
Monday, March 21, 2011
My first roller derby bout.
I went to my first roller derby bout this past Saturday! It was The Eastern Iowa Outlaws vs. The Oskaloosa Mayhem Girls (OMG). The Outlaws are the "home" team. They practice here at the youth center twice a week.
The Five Flags Center is in Dubuque. I had never been there before and we were a little unsure where it was. We pulled up to a corner where a guy was standing outside smoking...in front of a bar. I asked for directions, please. When he was having trouble navigating the curb, I was thinking I asked the wrong person. He made it to the truck without falling down and he gave me slow and deliberate account of where to go. Luckily we were on the correct street. "Just keep going until you can't go no more then take a right." We thanked him. Sounds easy enough and it was.
We found a public parking lot because all the ones along the center were reserved. They had meters in the lot but that was for the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. I hope. It was after 6:30 p.m. and I didn't have any change anyway. The people from Chicago put in a dollars’ worth just for good measure.
I bought my tickets in advance so we didn't have to wait in line, just walked in, picked up our VIP passes to sit in the reserved seating. I bought a beer, talked with the team manager, he said he was going to present me with a check during half time. Cool!
Clayton and Matthew came in. I gave them their passes. And said I'd buy their first round but they had to go get it. They brought Jim and I one also....with my money. Jim was driving so, I drank that one too.
The announcer starts explaining the rules and how the scoring takes place. I understood part of it but I’ve had almost three beers by this time. He introduced the OMG then The Outlaws.
THE PACK: Consists of 3 BLOCKERS from each team and a PIVOT who wears a stripe on her helmet.
THE JAMMER: One from each team. Has a start on her helmet.
Side note: The Pivot and the Jammer where a cover over their helmets that has the stripe and the star so they can remove it and someone else can take those positions.
A single whistle blow from the ref gets the PACK skating. The PIVOTS set the pace for the PACK.
A double whistle low and the JAMMERS start skating.
The JAMMERS approach the PACK, the BLOCKERS and the PIVOTS try to stop the opposing team’s JAMMER from getting through.
The first JAMMER who makes it through the PACK becomes the LEAD JAMMER. To make it legally through the PACK a JAMMER must remain on the track when she passes each player and not receive any penalties.
MINOR PENALTIES: One short whistle, illegal blocking not deemed a serious threat, 4 minors equals one minute in the penalty box.
MAJOR PENALTY: One long whistle, illegal blocking deemed a serious threat, equals one minute in the penalty box, 3 majors in one period equals fouling out.
SCORING POINTS: Both JAMMERS can begin to win points for their team after making it through the PACK once. JAMMERS score a point for every opposing team’s player they pass in a lap, including the opposing JAMMER.
Two halves, each 30 minutes long.
Ruby DoomsDay sang the National Anthem. She sang it like it should be sung! It gave you goose bumps.
Jim and Matt were picking up on the scoring system. Clayton probably was too but he was sitting on the other side of Matt. I was drinking. Jim would lean in and say the score before the score girl (kind of like a ring girl for boxing) would walk our direction with the score on a wipe off board held high. He was right.
V-Train and Kissta Koncrete were the high scorers for the Outlaws. They were in the lead at half time 69 to 47.
I was called down to center ring to be presented with a check. They thanked me (the city) for letting them practice and making it affordable (that’ll change! Kidding.) and as their “charity” of the month, presented the parks department with a check for $500.00. I couldn’t believe it! Of course I thanked them, told them how much I enjoyed having them at the Berndes Center, that we had a lot of needs and the check will help a great deal. I also told Jim, Matt and Clayton to quit laughing at me. I only had two and a half beers at this point.
Matt bought a round for the second half. I told the guys it was pretty sad that these two had to spend their Saturday night with their boss. They didn’t seem to mind and they really didn’t have to but I appreciate it that they did. I don’t think anyone else from town was there.
Matt and I yelled for V-Train and Kissta. We all clapped when points were being made. I think I was catching on the scoring system. I know we all had fun. We were laughing and helping with the chants. It was exciting and fun. Something the whole family could enjoy.
The Eastern Iowa Outlaws won 189 to 99.
Jim decided we would stop at Taco John’s after he filled my truck up. It works for me! Then we went across the street to the DQ for a shake, mine was chocolate.
I was back home a little before 11:00. I told myself I wasn't getting up until I felt like it. That turned out to be 5:00 a.m. I guess I felt like it.
The Five Flags Center is in Dubuque. I had never been there before and we were a little unsure where it was. We pulled up to a corner where a guy was standing outside smoking...in front of a bar. I asked for directions, please. When he was having trouble navigating the curb, I was thinking I asked the wrong person. He made it to the truck without falling down and he gave me slow and deliberate account of where to go. Luckily we were on the correct street. "Just keep going until you can't go no more then take a right." We thanked him. Sounds easy enough and it was.
We found a public parking lot because all the ones along the center were reserved. They had meters in the lot but that was for the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. I hope. It was after 6:30 p.m. and I didn't have any change anyway. The people from Chicago put in a dollars’ worth just for good measure.
I bought my tickets in advance so we didn't have to wait in line, just walked in, picked up our VIP passes to sit in the reserved seating. I bought a beer, talked with the team manager, he said he was going to present me with a check during half time. Cool!
Clayton and Matthew came in. I gave them their passes. And said I'd buy their first round but they had to go get it. They brought Jim and I one also....with my money. Jim was driving so, I drank that one too.
The announcer starts explaining the rules and how the scoring takes place. I understood part of it but I’ve had almost three beers by this time. He introduced the OMG then The Outlaws.
THE PACK: Consists of 3 BLOCKERS from each team and a PIVOT who wears a stripe on her helmet.
THE JAMMER: One from each team. Has a start on her helmet.
Side note: The Pivot and the Jammer where a cover over their helmets that has the stripe and the star so they can remove it and someone else can take those positions.
A single whistle blow from the ref gets the PACK skating. The PIVOTS set the pace for the PACK.
A double whistle low and the JAMMERS start skating.
The JAMMERS approach the PACK, the BLOCKERS and the PIVOTS try to stop the opposing team’s JAMMER from getting through.
The first JAMMER who makes it through the PACK becomes the LEAD JAMMER. To make it legally through the PACK a JAMMER must remain on the track when she passes each player and not receive any penalties.
MINOR PENALTIES: One short whistle, illegal blocking not deemed a serious threat, 4 minors equals one minute in the penalty box.
MAJOR PENALTY: One long whistle, illegal blocking deemed a serious threat, equals one minute in the penalty box, 3 majors in one period equals fouling out.
SCORING POINTS: Both JAMMERS can begin to win points for their team after making it through the PACK once. JAMMERS score a point for every opposing team’s player they pass in a lap, including the opposing JAMMER.
Two halves, each 30 minutes long.
Ruby DoomsDay sang the National Anthem. She sang it like it should be sung! It gave you goose bumps.
Jim and Matt were picking up on the scoring system. Clayton probably was too but he was sitting on the other side of Matt. I was drinking. Jim would lean in and say the score before the score girl (kind of like a ring girl for boxing) would walk our direction with the score on a wipe off board held high. He was right.
V-Train and Kissta Koncrete were the high scorers for the Outlaws. They were in the lead at half time 69 to 47.
I was called down to center ring to be presented with a check. They thanked me (the city) for letting them practice and making it affordable (that’ll change! Kidding.) and as their “charity” of the month, presented the parks department with a check for $500.00. I couldn’t believe it! Of course I thanked them, told them how much I enjoyed having them at the Berndes Center, that we had a lot of needs and the check will help a great deal. I also told Jim, Matt and Clayton to quit laughing at me. I only had two and a half beers at this point.
Matt bought a round for the second half. I told the guys it was pretty sad that these two had to spend their Saturday night with their boss. They didn’t seem to mind and they really didn’t have to but I appreciate it that they did. I don’t think anyone else from town was there.
Matt and I yelled for V-Train and Kissta. We all clapped when points were being made. I think I was catching on the scoring system. I know we all had fun. We were laughing and helping with the chants. It was exciting and fun. Something the whole family could enjoy.
The Eastern Iowa Outlaws won 189 to 99.
Jim decided we would stop at Taco John’s after he filled my truck up. It works for me! Then we went across the street to the DQ for a shake, mine was chocolate.
I was back home a little before 11:00. I told myself I wasn't getting up until I felt like it. That turned out to be 5:00 a.m. I guess I felt like it.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Can we have a little communication here?
We spent our day yesterday painting field lines and moving soccer goals from one field to the other. I had discussed it with the AD earlier in the year, the city administrator and the soccer coach, all at separate times, what we were going to do because we share the fields. Our leagues moved to the spring because most people didn't like the summer league. It was like that when I got here.
So there's two new fields, we aren't allowed to play on the school's game field and the old practice field is now off limits to promote new grass growth. Our games will be at 5:30 when the high school kids will be done practicing.
These two fields are kind of end to end. The south field has a swamp in the middle of it. Great idea! Let's let the younger kids play there because we can put two fields going east and west on that one, leaving the swamp area in between the two. No one will slip, fall, or sink up to their ankles in muck. Good call.
On the south field the goals are on the north and south ends. But they have wheels. On the north field the goals are all over the place. We have to carry one at a time, the four of us. They are not light. There's a gradual ditch/waterway about 50 feet wide in between these two fields also. But hey, it's a nice day!
After setting the goals, the soccer team comes out to practice. I ask the assistant coaches if the team would move the roller goals to the other field for us since there's 20 or so of them and only 4 of us. It was decided that they were not going to practice on the north field, they like the south one better. The goals are staying. Crap. Thanks for letting me know. We could have saved ourselves a bit of trouble, injury, hernias, sore muscles and maybe even death. I asked, politely even though I felt the anger rising, if the team could move one set back for us and they assured me they would. I haven't been out there yet but I hope they had.
Now comes the interesting part. We will have to move the goals from the ends to the sides and back every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks. It can't be done until after their practice. There will be three of us on Tuesdays and only two of us on Thursdays. Even though they are on wheels, they have to be tipped up and over to use the wheels. They are the biggest goals and the heaviest. I'll probably be crushed like a bug.
Back at the office I grab a catalog to see how much goals cost. I'm looking at lighter weight, folding goals that can be stored. I will not leave them out especially on school property over the winter. A bit over 600 for a set. But each goal only weighs 81 lbs. each. Something I can move by myself....but I won't. I went to the sports shop in town to see if they could find something cheaper, cut me a deal sort of thing. They'll check into it.
Our first game night is next Tuesday. I don't think they'll be here by next week. And I always like to ask permission before I buy even though it's not over the limit when I do have to ask. The boss man is gone until tomorrow. If I had known this other stuff, we would have been more prepared. If I had known.
My biggest problem was thinking it wouldn't be light enough for the second set of games at 6:30. We were gaining 3 minutes of daylight per day since the first day of (real) winter. It took some figuring but we made it. Of course there's daylight savings time too.
Jess came in to visit yesterday. She brought me some chocolate from Sweden. She says she reads what I have to say every day. Okay, I've been a little lax but the weather is getting nicer and there's a lot to do. Jess used to work here through school and at the pool. She says she can't wait until we really get busy and I go crazy. It'll be some good reading then, she says. Thanks, Jess.
The chocolate is delicious and I had some with my chocolate wine last night. And I didn't really figure out the three minutes a day thing. Soccer in the dark, what could be more fun?
So there's two new fields, we aren't allowed to play on the school's game field and the old practice field is now off limits to promote new grass growth. Our games will be at 5:30 when the high school kids will be done practicing.
These two fields are kind of end to end. The south field has a swamp in the middle of it. Great idea! Let's let the younger kids play there because we can put two fields going east and west on that one, leaving the swamp area in between the two. No one will slip, fall, or sink up to their ankles in muck. Good call.
On the south field the goals are on the north and south ends. But they have wheels. On the north field the goals are all over the place. We have to carry one at a time, the four of us. They are not light. There's a gradual ditch/waterway about 50 feet wide in between these two fields also. But hey, it's a nice day!
After setting the goals, the soccer team comes out to practice. I ask the assistant coaches if the team would move the roller goals to the other field for us since there's 20 or so of them and only 4 of us. It was decided that they were not going to practice on the north field, they like the south one better. The goals are staying. Crap. Thanks for letting me know. We could have saved ourselves a bit of trouble, injury, hernias, sore muscles and maybe even death. I asked, politely even though I felt the anger rising, if the team could move one set back for us and they assured me they would. I haven't been out there yet but I hope they had.
Now comes the interesting part. We will have to move the goals from the ends to the sides and back every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks. It can't be done until after their practice. There will be three of us on Tuesdays and only two of us on Thursdays. Even though they are on wheels, they have to be tipped up and over to use the wheels. They are the biggest goals and the heaviest. I'll probably be crushed like a bug.
Back at the office I grab a catalog to see how much goals cost. I'm looking at lighter weight, folding goals that can be stored. I will not leave them out especially on school property over the winter. A bit over 600 for a set. But each goal only weighs 81 lbs. each. Something I can move by myself....but I won't. I went to the sports shop in town to see if they could find something cheaper, cut me a deal sort of thing. They'll check into it.
Our first game night is next Tuesday. I don't think they'll be here by next week. And I always like to ask permission before I buy even though it's not over the limit when I do have to ask. The boss man is gone until tomorrow. If I had known this other stuff, we would have been more prepared. If I had known.
My biggest problem was thinking it wouldn't be light enough for the second set of games at 6:30. We were gaining 3 minutes of daylight per day since the first day of (real) winter. It took some figuring but we made it. Of course there's daylight savings time too.
Jess came in to visit yesterday. She brought me some chocolate from Sweden. She says she reads what I have to say every day. Okay, I've been a little lax but the weather is getting nicer and there's a lot to do. Jess used to work here through school and at the pool. She says she can't wait until we really get busy and I go crazy. It'll be some good reading then, she says. Thanks, Jess.
The chocolate is delicious and I had some with my chocolate wine last night. And I didn't really figure out the three minutes a day thing. Soccer in the dark, what could be more fun?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Where's Waldo?
There are bushes out in front of this building. Spirea. Pink. Not my favorite color but I didn't plant them. They get trimmed, the surrounding area weeded, new mulch, the flowers dead-headed, gum and cigarette butts picked up.
One day, I'm sure I was taking a break, I noticed we had a visitor. A praying mantis. He stood stock still, not moving, waiting for lunch while blending in with the greenery. Cool.
Another day and another break, I walked up and down the sidewalk looking to see if the visitor was still with us. Not in the same bush but he was there. It took me a while to spot him.
Apparently, as the days went by, people were noticing what I was doing. Mostly staring at the bushes. The elderly when they would come in for lunch started looking. The J.E.T.S. drivers starting looking. It became a game on who could spot him at different times of the day. He didn't always stay in the same bush as when first spotted early in the day. We dubbed him Waldo. Seemed fitting.
When people are standing on the sidewalk, peering into bushes and pointing, even more people begin to wonder what is going on. The man who lives in the house across the street would watch us when he was outside taking his "break". He came over and asked what we were looking at. I explained to him about Waldo. When he would take his walk, he'd come over and look for himself trying to find him.
Fall then winter came and I'm sure he went to praying mantis heaven. No one really knew what happens to them.
I discovered two egg cases. I pointed them out to Matt. We may cut the branches off and bring them in the office to hatch(?). Of course, what would they eat? Maybe each other. Survival of the fittest. Our imaginations went wild. We figured if we douse the last one with gamma rays, loud rock music, maybe acid or other drugs to promote some sort of mutation, we could have a Mega Mantis! It would be the beginnings of another sad SyFy Channel movie. An eight foot tall mantis lopping off heads and sucking the juice out.
Wonder if he'll do what we say or if everyone would be at risk?
We have this copyrighted so don't even think about it!
One day, I'm sure I was taking a break, I noticed we had a visitor. A praying mantis. He stood stock still, not moving, waiting for lunch while blending in with the greenery. Cool.
Another day and another break, I walked up and down the sidewalk looking to see if the visitor was still with us. Not in the same bush but he was there. It took me a while to spot him.
Apparently, as the days went by, people were noticing what I was doing. Mostly staring at the bushes. The elderly when they would come in for lunch started looking. The J.E.T.S. drivers starting looking. It became a game on who could spot him at different times of the day. He didn't always stay in the same bush as when first spotted early in the day. We dubbed him Waldo. Seemed fitting.
When people are standing on the sidewalk, peering into bushes and pointing, even more people begin to wonder what is going on. The man who lives in the house across the street would watch us when he was outside taking his "break". He came over and asked what we were looking at. I explained to him about Waldo. When he would take his walk, he'd come over and look for himself trying to find him.
Fall then winter came and I'm sure he went to praying mantis heaven. No one really knew what happens to them.
I discovered two egg cases. I pointed them out to Matt. We may cut the branches off and bring them in the office to hatch(?). Of course, what would they eat? Maybe each other. Survival of the fittest. Our imaginations went wild. We figured if we douse the last one with gamma rays, loud rock music, maybe acid or other drugs to promote some sort of mutation, we could have a Mega Mantis! It would be the beginnings of another sad SyFy Channel movie. An eight foot tall mantis lopping off heads and sucking the juice out.
Wonder if he'll do what we say or if everyone would be at risk?
We have this copyrighted so don't even think about it!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
What am I going to do.
That's not a question as it is a statement. I find out the lifeguarding class for the new kids to take and the guards that need to be recertified is on graduation day. The juniors that are being recertified have to sing in the choir or they get a big fat zero for the quarter. They can't miss it.
I'm doomed. Unless they'll change the date, I'm doomed.
Down to needing three coaches for soccer. I called kids and adults alike. Someone please answer me.
Good news though. I have a dress for the donkey ball.
I'm doomed. Unless they'll change the date, I'm doomed.
Down to needing three coaches for soccer. I called kids and adults alike. Someone please answer me.
Good news though. I have a dress for the donkey ball.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I woke up angry this morning.
Something happened yesterday that I was prepared for today. I was ready for what might happen. I was angry but decided I'd be civil. People can't help it that they're idiots. Look at Charlie Sheen. Well, it never came about. What a let down. Not so mad now and that's probably a good thing. It might happen later but I'm over it. I still know what I'll say though.
I believe I have a 7th grade coach for prep baseball. That's a good thing. It was coming down to me holding practices while the other helpers worked the ball diamonds and concession stands. It could have been done before the pool opened. I would've worried about the traveling part of it later.
They need one for 8th grade prep too. Two fellas will do it if they have to. They may have to. Sorry guys.
I still need four coaches for soccer. Sometimes if I cry that works but not always. I think they're on to me. I did receive a form today that the deadline was Feb. 25. Sigh. It's a good thing I haven't ordered shirts yet.
It snowed again overnight and into mid-morning. The weatherman keeps smiling and saying, "Warmer temperatures are coming!". I'd like to slap him. Everyday my hopes of not wearing a coat are dashed and splattered on the wall. It's pretty messy too. The flowers out front are confused. They're up about 3-4 inches, daffodil, tulips and hyacinths, all sprinkled with snow. They must listen to the same channel I do.
I was leaving to fill up my truck and go shopping when Mr. Know-It-All was pulling into the lot. Dodged that one but I did phone Clayton for a heads up. Matt said it got a little tense but they handled it. Apparently they should be millionaires by now as Mr. Know-It-All was by their age. That's why I would drive a crappy creeper van, so people won't know I have all sorts of money.
That's probably the most shopping I've done in a long time. There are two cosignment shops in town. I went looking for a long gown for the donkey ball. We have to dress up as drag queens. There was a couple nice ones but they were a little pricey to fall on the floor with and get stepped on. Possibly dragged across the floor. Thank goodness a friend has one that I can have and bleed on and she won't care. Whew!
It's all about the dress!
My boss is concerned that I'll get hurt. If anything, my arm will break. It needs to be rebroken anyway. A doctor wanted to do it 25 years ago but I told him I'd take care of it. I just didn't say when. When I thought I had succeeded with just a crack about ten years ago (a cow attacked me), she said if I were murdered and they found my bones in a ditch, they could identify me. Where the cow had hit me, the bones had bowed at the old break.
I would only be off a few of days. Some screws, a plate and a couple of pins. More than likely a hospital stay.
Oops. I went off track. Shopping. I hate it. If I have to go, I go, I get it, I get out. Simple plan. I do like to go to garage sales. Not cramped in a store with sales people that follow you around when you don't need help or not a one to find if you do. Not my cup of tea. Some people love to go. Uh, no thanks.
I remember last Wednesday I was a bit of a grump also. A) Could it be the day? B) The snow? C) Mr. Know-It-All? D) Maybe a bit of each? I'll take "D" please.
I believe I have a 7th grade coach for prep baseball. That's a good thing. It was coming down to me holding practices while the other helpers worked the ball diamonds and concession stands. It could have been done before the pool opened. I would've worried about the traveling part of it later.
They need one for 8th grade prep too. Two fellas will do it if they have to. They may have to. Sorry guys.
I still need four coaches for soccer. Sometimes if I cry that works but not always. I think they're on to me. I did receive a form today that the deadline was Feb. 25. Sigh. It's a good thing I haven't ordered shirts yet.
It snowed again overnight and into mid-morning. The weatherman keeps smiling and saying, "Warmer temperatures are coming!". I'd like to slap him. Everyday my hopes of not wearing a coat are dashed and splattered on the wall. It's pretty messy too. The flowers out front are confused. They're up about 3-4 inches, daffodil, tulips and hyacinths, all sprinkled with snow. They must listen to the same channel I do.
I was leaving to fill up my truck and go shopping when Mr. Know-It-All was pulling into the lot. Dodged that one but I did phone Clayton for a heads up. Matt said it got a little tense but they handled it. Apparently they should be millionaires by now as Mr. Know-It-All was by their age. That's why I would drive a crappy creeper van, so people won't know I have all sorts of money.
That's probably the most shopping I've done in a long time. There are two cosignment shops in town. I went looking for a long gown for the donkey ball. We have to dress up as drag queens. There was a couple nice ones but they were a little pricey to fall on the floor with and get stepped on. Possibly dragged across the floor. Thank goodness a friend has one that I can have and bleed on and she won't care. Whew!
It's all about the dress!
My boss is concerned that I'll get hurt. If anything, my arm will break. It needs to be rebroken anyway. A doctor wanted to do it 25 years ago but I told him I'd take care of it. I just didn't say when. When I thought I had succeeded with just a crack about ten years ago (a cow attacked me), she said if I were murdered and they found my bones in a ditch, they could identify me. Where the cow had hit me, the bones had bowed at the old break.
I would only be off a few of days. Some screws, a plate and a couple of pins. More than likely a hospital stay.
Oops. I went off track. Shopping. I hate it. If I have to go, I go, I get it, I get out. Simple plan. I do like to go to garage sales. Not cramped in a store with sales people that follow you around when you don't need help or not a one to find if you do. Not my cup of tea. Some people love to go. Uh, no thanks.
I remember last Wednesday I was a bit of a grump also. A) Could it be the day? B) The snow? C) Mr. Know-It-All? D) Maybe a bit of each? I'll take "D" please.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Kickball and stuff.
Tonight is Kickball for Kids. It's a bit better than the t-ball. The K-1 kids are picking up on it and the 2nd-3rd graders just need someone to ref. Of course us big kids will take them on towards the end. We will dominate again. A couple of 20 something year olds and a 50 year old. Maybe a few parents but I won't ask their ages. Let's be polite.
Marcy and Reenie decided we should have adult kickball. Of course it will be hard for Marcy to play since she's in COLORADO! It'll have to be after fair in mid-July after the baseball/softball season and before flag football. We can play on the Shannon school field since there is lights there and since the city pays for them, we might as well use them. The cost will be cheap, I'm sure we'll go through a lot of balls. Adults kick harder than kids.
Sorry to say though, we can't drink there. It is school property. Before or after, not during. This may be something I might even pay the $10 to play. Or do I have to? I should be allowed some perks. We can drag the field just like baseball and line it.
I wonder if they'll want to have a tournament? So do we get medals? I know where I can buy them!
The high school is having a soccer camp here. The instructor remembers that if the ceiling tiles get hit and broke, it's $10 to the kid who kicked the ball. That rule works for an inside practice too. The kids pay it too. Last year some would kick it too hard, up, on purpose. They graduated though. The most we ever made was $80 in one day. Of course there was pieces of tile all over the floor and I have to have the lift to fix them.
I'm beginning to wonder if anyone reads the paper for the news I put in there. Not a single person has called for tickets to the roller derby bout that is benefiting the parks department! I guess I'll go with Clayton and Matt maybe Jim, drink beer, sit in the suicide seats right next to the track and hope I don't get creamed. I'll do about anything for a donation. I fundraised enough for a pretzel warmer selling fruit and getting a donation. I wonder if the other guys have to fundraise for new garbage trucks? I'm thinking not.
I need outfield fence but I don't know if I can raise that much money.
The "I Know-Everything-My-Stuff-Is-Better-Than-Yours" guy was in. Matt took over. He was firing back as much garbage as that guy was. Karson added some too. Chance, Clayton and I just kept about our business. Karson and Chance are from the high school. They do their class down here helping me. I instructed them not to get up from their chairs so he wouldn't sit down. By the way, Mick Jagger is opening a string of taco stands called Mick's Hot Licks (Matt says so and Karson confirmed).
I had tears.
Marcy and Reenie decided we should have adult kickball. Of course it will be hard for Marcy to play since she's in COLORADO! It'll have to be after fair in mid-July after the baseball/softball season and before flag football. We can play on the Shannon school field since there is lights there and since the city pays for them, we might as well use them. The cost will be cheap, I'm sure we'll go through a lot of balls. Adults kick harder than kids.
Sorry to say though, we can't drink there. It is school property. Before or after, not during. This may be something I might even pay the $10 to play. Or do I have to? I should be allowed some perks. We can drag the field just like baseball and line it.
I wonder if they'll want to have a tournament? So do we get medals? I know where I can buy them!
The high school is having a soccer camp here. The instructor remembers that if the ceiling tiles get hit and broke, it's $10 to the kid who kicked the ball. That rule works for an inside practice too. The kids pay it too. Last year some would kick it too hard, up, on purpose. They graduated though. The most we ever made was $80 in one day. Of course there was pieces of tile all over the floor and I have to have the lift to fix them.
I'm beginning to wonder if anyone reads the paper for the news I put in there. Not a single person has called for tickets to the roller derby bout that is benefiting the parks department! I guess I'll go with Clayton and Matt maybe Jim, drink beer, sit in the suicide seats right next to the track and hope I don't get creamed. I'll do about anything for a donation. I fundraised enough for a pretzel warmer selling fruit and getting a donation. I wonder if the other guys have to fundraise for new garbage trucks? I'm thinking not.
I need outfield fence but I don't know if I can raise that much money.
The "I Know-Everything-My-Stuff-Is-Better-Than-Yours" guy was in. Matt took over. He was firing back as much garbage as that guy was. Karson added some too. Chance, Clayton and I just kept about our business. Karson and Chance are from the high school. They do their class down here helping me. I instructed them not to get up from their chairs so he wouldn't sit down. By the way, Mick Jagger is opening a string of taco stands called Mick's Hot Licks (Matt says so and Karson confirmed).
I had tears.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The pool. I hate it.
Not at the beginning of the season but as the summer plays on, I grow to hate the pool.
Right now I'm hoping I have enough lifeguards for the season. If the strays will take their recertification class, I might be okay. Some will have softball, baseball, dance camp, football camp, cheerleading camp and Travel Team Soccer throughout the summer. There's always family vacations too. There's rivers to float, movies to see, friends to visit. That's nice.
But I don't care. If you signed up or I put you down to work, you best be there. If you can't find a replacement, you best be there. If you just decide not to show up, you're gone. I don't have time for that. I have a stack of applications of kids wanting to work concessions/front desk who would be more than happy to take your place.
You think working at the pool will be easy, fun, nothing but water and sun. Better retink it. You have to clean counters, the appliances, clean ketchup spills, take out the garbage, wash dishes, wait on bossy kids and exasperated parents. There's coolers to stock, lost and found to sort, glass doors with full suntan-lotioned body prints to wash, holes to fill in the sand play area. The kids like to dig to China. We have a shovel with your name on it. You'll have people complain about the prices or the fact we just ran out of ice cream sandwiches. You'll complain about the other workers who don't do all the work on the list even though we do have a list to follow. There's floors to scrub, trash to pick up beyond the "No food or drink allowed beyond this point" signs, money to count and you better be able to add and subtract.
Lifeguards have different duties. They have lives in their hands. It is very stressful to sit on the chairs watching constantly. You deserve the raises. The one thing that really annoys me though; when you're sitting on the bench, FACE the pool, you're still watching kids. Yes, even on your 15 minute break. They still run and climb on the top of the frog slide. You can check the messages on your cell phone or call mom to bring you lunch but there are lives at stake here. If you think I'm a bitch, big surprise, I don't care.
They start off strong but then decide it is a job and they really do have to work. You will be asked to sign a "Termination of Employment" form since it's a seasonal job. At the end of the season, you have no job. You must reapply next year. You're not guaranteed a job. You may not know I've been watching you or someone else has. I've seen you work.
Very few have seen me go ape at the pool. I try not to with little kids running (WALK!) around. It's not a pleasant sight. My filter doesn't work when that happens so I hope you've heard all the dicey words. You have to understand the higher ups are watching you too. If you're not doing something correctly, I'm going to hear about it. Then you certainly will hear about it.
Please, like I've said, leave your bracelet making kits, fingernail polish, make up, Cosmopolitians, colors, markers and coloring books at home. Don't bring decks of cards. They will disappear.
I've never watched "Parks and Rec." on television. It can't be as fun as this.
Right now I'm hoping I have enough lifeguards for the season. If the strays will take their recertification class, I might be okay. Some will have softball, baseball, dance camp, football camp, cheerleading camp and Travel Team Soccer throughout the summer. There's always family vacations too. There's rivers to float, movies to see, friends to visit. That's nice.
But I don't care. If you signed up or I put you down to work, you best be there. If you can't find a replacement, you best be there. If you just decide not to show up, you're gone. I don't have time for that. I have a stack of applications of kids wanting to work concessions/front desk who would be more than happy to take your place.
You think working at the pool will be easy, fun, nothing but water and sun. Better retink it. You have to clean counters, the appliances, clean ketchup spills, take out the garbage, wash dishes, wait on bossy kids and exasperated parents. There's coolers to stock, lost and found to sort, glass doors with full suntan-lotioned body prints to wash, holes to fill in the sand play area. The kids like to dig to China. We have a shovel with your name on it. You'll have people complain about the prices or the fact we just ran out of ice cream sandwiches. You'll complain about the other workers who don't do all the work on the list even though we do have a list to follow. There's floors to scrub, trash to pick up beyond the "No food or drink allowed beyond this point" signs, money to count and you better be able to add and subtract.
Lifeguards have different duties. They have lives in their hands. It is very stressful to sit on the chairs watching constantly. You deserve the raises. The one thing that really annoys me though; when you're sitting on the bench, FACE the pool, you're still watching kids. Yes, even on your 15 minute break. They still run and climb on the top of the frog slide. You can check the messages on your cell phone or call mom to bring you lunch but there are lives at stake here. If you think I'm a bitch, big surprise, I don't care.
They start off strong but then decide it is a job and they really do have to work. You will be asked to sign a "Termination of Employment" form since it's a seasonal job. At the end of the season, you have no job. You must reapply next year. You're not guaranteed a job. You may not know I've been watching you or someone else has. I've seen you work.
Very few have seen me go ape at the pool. I try not to with little kids running (WALK!) around. It's not a pleasant sight. My filter doesn't work when that happens so I hope you've heard all the dicey words. You have to understand the higher ups are watching you too. If you're not doing something correctly, I'm going to hear about it. Then you certainly will hear about it.
Please, like I've said, leave your bracelet making kits, fingernail polish, make up, Cosmopolitians, colors, markers and coloring books at home. Don't bring decks of cards. They will disappear.
I've never watched "Parks and Rec." on television. It can't be as fun as this.
Friday, March 4, 2011
It's Friday.
And it really doesn't matter. I don't think I have any plans now that I don't have to work Sunday at the baseball clinic. It doesn't bother me if I don't do anything. I'm good doing the puzzles in the paper. Maybe watching some televison between loads of laundry. Have to do my chores, ya know.
I'm easily entertained. Just ask my mom.
Living in Iowa is a lot different that living in Missouri. The winters are brutal. They suck. They stink. I hate the cold and the snow. They did get their share this year down south but they are few and far between. From what I remember anyway. I am getting old so maybe I don't recall as well.
I do miss my family. My folks, sister and both brothers are in Missouri, not that far from each other. I do have friends up here though. There's one family down the road that I really like. I worked with the dad before at a different job and really didn't like him. I won't go into the particulars on that. My first impressions were way off, mainly because of one of his friends. He does know this and he repeats it. I was wrong and admitted to it.
I came to know them better because of his kids playing baseball, flag football and basketball through the parks department. The kids are riots. The mother is great and dad, a good beer drinking buddy. I met his brother, another beer buddy. I know other members of the family. They all make me laugh. I have been invited to the July 4th and New Year's Eve parties and they all make me feel welcome. I'm the female version of "Uncle Buck" to the kids. I said so.
I showed them how to make dry ice bombs. They are loud. The bombs, not the kids.
The kids and I have a "date" day over Christmas break. They spend the day with me at work and we go to the pizza place and spend the gift card they gave me for Christmas. We play HORSE. I usually lose. Not on purpose either. I just really stink at basketball. We'll play other games too. They also work if I ask them to do something. They don't mind. I'm sure the two 7th graders will bow out shortly but I think the younger one will stick around a bit.
Had a little homemade bow, used pencils to shoot across the room at a Kleenex box. Fun stuff.
Last year for the big 5-0, my daughter had a surprise party for me at a friend's house. My daughter, friends, my pretend family (just the adults) were there along with my real brothers. It was the best ever! They had a bet whether or not I would cry. I did. You lose. Didn't realize how much I miss everyone until I saw them.
I do have my daughter, my Fbook buddies and pretend family close. And my pretend brothers don't hit me either.
I'm easily entertained. Just ask my mom.
Living in Iowa is a lot different that living in Missouri. The winters are brutal. They suck. They stink. I hate the cold and the snow. They did get their share this year down south but they are few and far between. From what I remember anyway. I am getting old so maybe I don't recall as well.
I do miss my family. My folks, sister and both brothers are in Missouri, not that far from each other. I do have friends up here though. There's one family down the road that I really like. I worked with the dad before at a different job and really didn't like him. I won't go into the particulars on that. My first impressions were way off, mainly because of one of his friends. He does know this and he repeats it. I was wrong and admitted to it.
I came to know them better because of his kids playing baseball, flag football and basketball through the parks department. The kids are riots. The mother is great and dad, a good beer drinking buddy. I met his brother, another beer buddy. I know other members of the family. They all make me laugh. I have been invited to the July 4th and New Year's Eve parties and they all make me feel welcome. I'm the female version of "Uncle Buck" to the kids. I said so.
I showed them how to make dry ice bombs. They are loud. The bombs, not the kids.
The kids and I have a "date" day over Christmas break. They spend the day with me at work and we go to the pizza place and spend the gift card they gave me for Christmas. We play HORSE. I usually lose. Not on purpose either. I just really stink at basketball. We'll play other games too. They also work if I ask them to do something. They don't mind. I'm sure the two 7th graders will bow out shortly but I think the younger one will stick around a bit.
Had a little homemade bow, used pencils to shoot across the room at a Kleenex box. Fun stuff.
Last year for the big 5-0, my daughter had a surprise party for me at a friend's house. My daughter, friends, my pretend family (just the adults) were there along with my real brothers. It was the best ever! They had a bet whether or not I would cry. I did. You lose. Didn't realize how much I miss everyone until I saw them.
I do have my daughter, my Fbook buddies and pretend family close. And my pretend brothers don't hit me either.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
And they wonder why I drink.
I crawl out of bed in the morning at whatever time. It doesn't matter. I try to keep it between 5-6 even though I may have been awake to watch "Spliced" on qubo at 3:00. It's a weird cartoon but it cracks me up. I have my first of many cups of coffee, sit outside in the car port and have a smoke thinking about what it is I plan on doing today. It seemed to be a good day to work on spreadsheets. Why not?
I sat at the end of the drive, waiting while the truck warmed up a bit. I was waiting for a "neighbor" a couple of miles away. She went flying past. I speed too but I'll let her take the ticket, which she has.
I was here about 7:15 and grabbed the soccer forms for 2nd-4th grade, Defenders division. I entered the name, phone, grade, cost and check number/cash for each one. I look at each sheet to see if anyone signed up to coach. Three parents out of 82 kids. I'm hoping high school students will want service hours. I'm hoping for six more kids to sign up or we'll do seven teams with 11 or 12 to a team. We play with ten.
A few interruptions later...some are butt chewings for the parking situation but not too bad. It is a public lot.
I checked my emails. Apparently the floor is still slippery from the car show. All the polish overspray gets on the floor and the derby ladies have trouble staying upright. The floor was scrubbed once and could have been again any time Tuesday or Wednesday but they didn't say anything until today. Matt likes doing it and he's working his other job today. I guess I'll have to be the one. I still have two more spreadsheets to do and coaches to find.
Had a bit of yelling in the lobby. Can't say what it was about but I called his supervisor to report it. Now I have to write up a report. Not even about me, I wasn't involved but now I am. Better let the boss know.
Another spreadsheet and that report is done. Time for my break. Clayton is here!
I went to start the floor scrubber but it wasn't plugged in right so there wasn't a charge. I guess I'll wait.
I had a parent ask me about flag football. I knew where it was going so I told him since soccer has been moved to spring, then baseball/softball, swim team, flag football and the last, boy's basketball. Flag football will be moved up so they can have more games. Soccer pinched it one way and boy's basketball the other. We took to playing doubleheaders. Basketball needs to be done the week of Thanksgiving because with Christmas, school programs and concerts, it doesn't do any good to do anything in December. He was concerned there isn't anything for his kids to do until T-ball for Tots (Feb.) or Kickball for Kids (March).
In January and February we have basketball for girls. They get to play too, get real!
While we might run all sorts of programs here, is it my job to entertain kids year around? We go from one activity to another. Don't forget in July the county fair is here. They take up two weeks. One for the fair and the other I'm searching barns looking for stuff they used and cleaning what they missed. There will be tournaments too.
Is there anything wrong with parents spending time with their kids? Maybe they could read or color or practice catching, throwing and hitting, how to dribble a basketball, throw a football, playing cards, cooking, board games, or watching PBS! So you have a little down time. Make the best of it.
There is one family that comes to the pool. The boys crack us all up by doing jumps from the diving boards as Superman, Spiderman and any other character they can think of. Mom and dad throw a soft cloth ball when they're going off the board and the boys try to catch it before they hit the water. They spend time with their kids and play with them at the pool, the lifguards love them. Most just dump them off for us to watch for the duration of the day until supper.
I scrubbed the better part of the floor. I'm letting Clayton take over. I'm sweating. What a workout. I could pull the "age" card and say you're 26, I'm 50 but I like doing it because it is a workout. In the winter we don't have too much physical labor going on here except shoveling snow. I use my brain mostly and then some people will debate that.
The supervisor came and picked up my report. I still have one more spreadsheet to do for the Lil Kickers K-1. I lost my 7th grade prep baseball coach. The floor is scrubbed anyway. At least there won't be anyone wanting to play on the clean floor since the school, and I do believe all the students because it's their cars in the parking lot, went to the state basketball game to cheer on the Monticello Panthers Girls Basketball team. I gained another soccer player. Five more to go. Even though the deadline was last Friday...
Finished the last spreadsheet! Had two phone calls and a couple visitors. Two more soccer forms but they are for the youngest group. Clayton and I had a discussion. One more for the group I needed! She apologized for being late. I'll let her off the hook...this time.
If there had been no interruptions, I could have had those spreadsheets done before noon. Of course, checking my Facebook page to throw out someting silly in response to something silly, took a little time. Not much though.
And I haven't played a single game of SNOOD yet but I think it's time.
I sat at the end of the drive, waiting while the truck warmed up a bit. I was waiting for a "neighbor" a couple of miles away. She went flying past. I speed too but I'll let her take the ticket, which she has.
I was here about 7:15 and grabbed the soccer forms for 2nd-4th grade, Defenders division. I entered the name, phone, grade, cost and check number/cash for each one. I look at each sheet to see if anyone signed up to coach. Three parents out of 82 kids. I'm hoping high school students will want service hours. I'm hoping for six more kids to sign up or we'll do seven teams with 11 or 12 to a team. We play with ten.
A few interruptions later...some are butt chewings for the parking situation but not too bad. It is a public lot.
I checked my emails. Apparently the floor is still slippery from the car show. All the polish overspray gets on the floor and the derby ladies have trouble staying upright. The floor was scrubbed once and could have been again any time Tuesday or Wednesday but they didn't say anything until today. Matt likes doing it and he's working his other job today. I guess I'll have to be the one. I still have two more spreadsheets to do and coaches to find.
Had a bit of yelling in the lobby. Can't say what it was about but I called his supervisor to report it. Now I have to write up a report. Not even about me, I wasn't involved but now I am. Better let the boss know.
Another spreadsheet and that report is done. Time for my break. Clayton is here!
I went to start the floor scrubber but it wasn't plugged in right so there wasn't a charge. I guess I'll wait.
I had a parent ask me about flag football. I knew where it was going so I told him since soccer has been moved to spring, then baseball/softball, swim team, flag football and the last, boy's basketball. Flag football will be moved up so they can have more games. Soccer pinched it one way and boy's basketball the other. We took to playing doubleheaders. Basketball needs to be done the week of Thanksgiving because with Christmas, school programs and concerts, it doesn't do any good to do anything in December. He was concerned there isn't anything for his kids to do until T-ball for Tots (Feb.) or Kickball for Kids (March).
In January and February we have basketball for girls. They get to play too, get real!
While we might run all sorts of programs here, is it my job to entertain kids year around? We go from one activity to another. Don't forget in July the county fair is here. They take up two weeks. One for the fair and the other I'm searching barns looking for stuff they used and cleaning what they missed. There will be tournaments too.
Is there anything wrong with parents spending time with their kids? Maybe they could read or color or practice catching, throwing and hitting, how to dribble a basketball, throw a football, playing cards, cooking, board games, or watching PBS! So you have a little down time. Make the best of it.
There is one family that comes to the pool. The boys crack us all up by doing jumps from the diving boards as Superman, Spiderman and any other character they can think of. Mom and dad throw a soft cloth ball when they're going off the board and the boys try to catch it before they hit the water. They spend time with their kids and play with them at the pool, the lifguards love them. Most just dump them off for us to watch for the duration of the day until supper.
I scrubbed the better part of the floor. I'm letting Clayton take over. I'm sweating. What a workout. I could pull the "age" card and say you're 26, I'm 50 but I like doing it because it is a workout. In the winter we don't have too much physical labor going on here except shoveling snow. I use my brain mostly and then some people will debate that.
The supervisor came and picked up my report. I still have one more spreadsheet to do for the Lil Kickers K-1. I lost my 7th grade prep baseball coach. The floor is scrubbed anyway. At least there won't be anyone wanting to play on the clean floor since the school, and I do believe all the students because it's their cars in the parking lot, went to the state basketball game to cheer on the Monticello Panthers Girls Basketball team. I gained another soccer player. Five more to go. Even though the deadline was last Friday...
Finished the last spreadsheet! Had two phone calls and a couple visitors. Two more soccer forms but they are for the youngest group. Clayton and I had a discussion. One more for the group I needed! She apologized for being late. I'll let her off the hook...this time.
If there had been no interruptions, I could have had those spreadsheets done before noon. Of course, checking my Facebook page to throw out someting silly in response to something silly, took a little time. Not much though.
And I haven't played a single game of SNOOD yet but I think it's time.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
You realize of course, this means war.
I'm a little angry today. The day started off fine. I even giggled about the kid being knocked off his feet from kickball last night. It hit him pretty good but he continued to play. I emailed his mama to make sure he was okay this morning.
I tried to do something for the kids that a parent (a good coach) suggested after last ball season. It was a great idea. I kept it in the back of my mind until the time was right, mainly after basketball season. Time to work on it! I thought it would be an easy task and it should have been but it turned into a big pile of bullshit. Things didn't work out as planned so I changed up. Feelings were hurt and guess what?! I apologized for hurting feelings, it had nothing to do with them personally. It was what was good for the kids, costs for parents and I was doing my job.
My little low-cost $10.00 event was overshadowed, undercut by something even cheaper...free. You just did to me what you claimed I did to you and you weren't even planning one until I was. Yours was on the spur of the moment and mine had been planned since last summer. Well, guess what? I cancelled mine because we didn't have the numbers and sent those kids to yours. I am mailing back their checks. It's too bad that this was two separate events, you are doing one thing while I was covering totally different, important issues. I tried to work with you and now I'm done.
I guess I'll have a Sunday off now.
That's one.
Here's two.
There's this fellow who comes down here to walk. Actually what he does is talk and 100% is crap unless he says it's a nice day and it would happen to be. Hit and miss kind of thing. He'll sit in the office and spew all this garbage. His is better regardless of what "it" happens to be, tells the kids what they should go to college for to make the big bucks, his rich brother, his kid on the Olympic team or grandson on the U.S. National Soccer Team, or that he can press 600 easy. Ya know, I don't really care. I think the reason I get angry is I honestly believe HE believes I'm buying it. I don't think so. I'm too polite to call you out on your crap. There is someone in this office who will though and I love it when he does. M. tops the already humongous pile with his own "stories". Back at ya! It may get deeper in here but it's worth it. I'll wear my boots.
Aaaannndd three.
When we went out to the gym last night to play kickball, I left a few things on the desk that were of no importance to anyone but me. Or so I thought. The car show is over, I have taken back my office! There's papers, pencils, pens, mail, etc. In the mix, my orange lighter and a letter opener thingy. Not the switch blade looking kind. This one had a magnet on the back so I could stick it on the file cabinet and always have it handy.
After kickball, two hours later, I decided I'd go outside. I didn't see my lighter anywhere. Not under the soccer papers, not on the floor, not in my pockets, not in a house, not with a mouse. I have a spare.
This morning I did a more thorough search of the office. Thinking, since M. left early, he borrowed it. No biggie.
I went to open a stack of envelopes and my letter opener wasn't stuck on the file cabinet. Again looking under the stacks of soccer forms, on the floor, on the three desks and in numerous drawers, I can't find it. I also have a spare but it doesn't have a magnet.
M. did not have my lighter. C. did not have my lighter. They have no use for the opener. I did have a community service kid in here helping as part of his punishment. Entertaining little kids can be almost cruel. Maybe he'll think again.
Maybe I misplaced them. I'm not accusing anyone. It's minor and maybe they'll show up but it's aggravating.
Unless it was one of the kindergarteners.....
They can be sneaky.
I tried to do something for the kids that a parent (a good coach) suggested after last ball season. It was a great idea. I kept it in the back of my mind until the time was right, mainly after basketball season. Time to work on it! I thought it would be an easy task and it should have been but it turned into a big pile of bullshit. Things didn't work out as planned so I changed up. Feelings were hurt and guess what?! I apologized for hurting feelings, it had nothing to do with them personally. It was what was good for the kids, costs for parents and I was doing my job.
My little low-cost $10.00 event was overshadowed, undercut by something even cheaper...free. You just did to me what you claimed I did to you and you weren't even planning one until I was. Yours was on the spur of the moment and mine had been planned since last summer. Well, guess what? I cancelled mine because we didn't have the numbers and sent those kids to yours. I am mailing back their checks. It's too bad that this was two separate events, you are doing one thing while I was covering totally different, important issues. I tried to work with you and now I'm done.
I guess I'll have a Sunday off now.
That's one.
Here's two.
There's this fellow who comes down here to walk. Actually what he does is talk and 100% is crap unless he says it's a nice day and it would happen to be. Hit and miss kind of thing. He'll sit in the office and spew all this garbage. His is better regardless of what "it" happens to be, tells the kids what they should go to college for to make the big bucks, his rich brother, his kid on the Olympic team or grandson on the U.S. National Soccer Team, or that he can press 600 easy. Ya know, I don't really care. I think the reason I get angry is I honestly believe HE believes I'm buying it. I don't think so. I'm too polite to call you out on your crap. There is someone in this office who will though and I love it when he does. M. tops the already humongous pile with his own "stories". Back at ya! It may get deeper in here but it's worth it. I'll wear my boots.
Aaaannndd three.
When we went out to the gym last night to play kickball, I left a few things on the desk that were of no importance to anyone but me. Or so I thought. The car show is over, I have taken back my office! There's papers, pencils, pens, mail, etc. In the mix, my orange lighter and a letter opener thingy. Not the switch blade looking kind. This one had a magnet on the back so I could stick it on the file cabinet and always have it handy.
After kickball, two hours later, I decided I'd go outside. I didn't see my lighter anywhere. Not under the soccer papers, not on the floor, not in my pockets, not in a house, not with a mouse. I have a spare.
This morning I did a more thorough search of the office. Thinking, since M. left early, he borrowed it. No biggie.
I went to open a stack of envelopes and my letter opener wasn't stuck on the file cabinet. Again looking under the stacks of soccer forms, on the floor, on the three desks and in numerous drawers, I can't find it. I also have a spare but it doesn't have a magnet.
M. did not have my lighter. C. did not have my lighter. They have no use for the opener. I did have a community service kid in here helping as part of his punishment. Entertaining little kids can be almost cruel. Maybe he'll think again.
Maybe I misplaced them. I'm not accusing anyone. It's minor and maybe they'll show up but it's aggravating.
Unless it was one of the kindergarteners.....
They can be sneaky.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
I made a mistake.
I double booked the gym. Usually the first Tuesday of the month is reserved for Community Health. Sometimes I don't write it down because I know it, I put it on my monthly calendar for the paper. I also told the middle school they could come here for their reading party as usual.
I was on the phone when the kids came in yelling and screaming. I realized what was going on (oh, shit!) and told them to get out of the gym. More and more kids came in, a few teachers, I'm still on the phone, kids are yelling, I'm apologizing to the teachers, the kids are yelling, I'm trying to think of where to send them (that didn't pan out), I'm still on the phone, I yelled at the kids to be quiet that I was on the damn phone!, apologized to the fellow on the phone (who was chuckling), Matt was chuckling also, the bus came back for the kids to go back to the school gym. They're going to watch a movie. They come in here yelling and carrying on but I bet they don't do that at school. This is still a place of business. I probably shouldn't have said damn but most of these kids know me and might have even heard me say worse.
The last night of T-ball for Tots, I called a boy a little stinker as I tickled his tummy and another one repeated it. I apologized to both of the kids' parents. It was not out of anger (this time). The parents weren't upset.
I called a kid a little jackass once. That one was out of anger but I wasn't at work. Not this work anyway. I was helping a friend sod a yard and when we finished, went back out to his brother's farm where across the road was this friend's property. We were putting tools away and going to lunch afterwards. His nephews and one of their friends snuck through the culvert under the highway and starting shooting me with Nerf darts. It was a surprise attack!
I turned my back to them and was laughing. I told them not to shoot me in the face as I had one hit me in the eye accidently. That stung just a little. The friend of the boys walked up and point blank range shot me in the temple. Okay. That hurt. You wouldn't think a Nerf dart would but at that distance, it does.
I whipped around and said, "Listen you little jackass, you shoot me again with that and I'll shove it up your butt!" I know I said it with clenched teeth. Three of the four boys knew I meant business. The fourth, the shooter, repeated what I said, mainly the jackass part and where the gun was going to be. And he'd laugh. I said I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry. He kept repeating it. I told all the boys to help unload the pickup, which they did, trying to get the one off track. He was enjoying saying "jackass".
Later when I went home, I called the boys' houses. The mother of the three asked me if they listened to what I said about not shooting me. I said yes and she said they had better. I called the other and dad said I should've smacked him. Now I have leverage. I let him know his dad said I could smack him if he misbehaves. I probably wouldn't but he doesn't know that. I've been using that threat for three years. He's in 7th grade now.
Even though I apologized for what I said, they have heard worse (that's what the parents said) and they seemed more concerned if the boys had listened to me. I like that.
Every now and again the one will say, "Remember when you called me a jackass?" I let him know he still is!
I was on the phone when the kids came in yelling and screaming. I realized what was going on (oh, shit!) and told them to get out of the gym. More and more kids came in, a few teachers, I'm still on the phone, kids are yelling, I'm apologizing to the teachers, the kids are yelling, I'm trying to think of where to send them (that didn't pan out), I'm still on the phone, I yelled at the kids to be quiet that I was on the damn phone!, apologized to the fellow on the phone (who was chuckling), Matt was chuckling also, the bus came back for the kids to go back to the school gym. They're going to watch a movie. They come in here yelling and carrying on but I bet they don't do that at school. This is still a place of business. I probably shouldn't have said damn but most of these kids know me and might have even heard me say worse.
The last night of T-ball for Tots, I called a boy a little stinker as I tickled his tummy and another one repeated it. I apologized to both of the kids' parents. It was not out of anger (this time). The parents weren't upset.
I called a kid a little jackass once. That one was out of anger but I wasn't at work. Not this work anyway. I was helping a friend sod a yard and when we finished, went back out to his brother's farm where across the road was this friend's property. We were putting tools away and going to lunch afterwards. His nephews and one of their friends snuck through the culvert under the highway and starting shooting me with Nerf darts. It was a surprise attack!
I turned my back to them and was laughing. I told them not to shoot me in the face as I had one hit me in the eye accidently. That stung just a little. The friend of the boys walked up and point blank range shot me in the temple. Okay. That hurt. You wouldn't think a Nerf dart would but at that distance, it does.
I whipped around and said, "Listen you little jackass, you shoot me again with that and I'll shove it up your butt!" I know I said it with clenched teeth. Three of the four boys knew I meant business. The fourth, the shooter, repeated what I said, mainly the jackass part and where the gun was going to be. And he'd laugh. I said I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry. He kept repeating it. I told all the boys to help unload the pickup, which they did, trying to get the one off track. He was enjoying saying "jackass".
Later when I went home, I called the boys' houses. The mother of the three asked me if they listened to what I said about not shooting me. I said yes and she said they had better. I called the other and dad said I should've smacked him. Now I have leverage. I let him know his dad said I could smack him if he misbehaves. I probably wouldn't but he doesn't know that. I've been using that threat for three years. He's in 7th grade now.
Even though I apologized for what I said, they have heard worse (that's what the parents said) and they seemed more concerned if the boys had listened to me. I like that.
Every now and again the one will say, "Remember when you called me a jackass?" I let him know he still is!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Almost forgot!
I am so excited about that '69 Mustang that I almost forgot about my blog. I will admit I'm just winging it because all my paperwork is packed and out of the way for the car show. Have no work to do (can't since it's packed) except collect more soccer forms as today is the deadline. I bet there still will be plenty coming in next week also.
I know there will be more. I do have a week grace period before I order t-shirts and with the car show, they probably won't come in over the weekend.
My daughter is coming up tomorrow and we'll come to the show. I plan on getting Henry Winkler's autograph. She'll crush any hopes of the car owners getting "Best of Show" with her judging abilities. She's pretty good at it. Impressive actually.
Her birthday is Monday. Seems like yesterday that she came into this world. Thinking the nurses weren't too crazy about her. The only time she was quiet at the hospital is when she was laying on my chest, they let me know it too. We're going to spend Monday together too so I won't be in to write anything.
Tom just left. I treat him and all the kids that work here like they are my own. I yell at them, worry about them, comfort them. discuss things with them, tell them how their parents may be feeling the way they do, or why we, as parents, do what we do, etc.
I couldn't tell you what we were talking about, Jeff, Hailee and myself but Hailee pipes up and says, "Gosh! You treat us like we're you're kids!" Jeff replied, "We are her kids!" He said it all. No need to elaborate.
I miss them when they're not around, especially Sarah. Sometimes they fight like siblings. I threaten to send them to different corners because I can't spank the ones that aren't mine. I have Clayton and Matt around to keep me occupied and in the "mom" mode. No one is safe whether they want it or not.
I know there will be more. I do have a week grace period before I order t-shirts and with the car show, they probably won't come in over the weekend.
My daughter is coming up tomorrow and we'll come to the show. I plan on getting Henry Winkler's autograph. She'll crush any hopes of the car owners getting "Best of Show" with her judging abilities. She's pretty good at it. Impressive actually.
Her birthday is Monday. Seems like yesterday that she came into this world. Thinking the nurses weren't too crazy about her. The only time she was quiet at the hospital is when she was laying on my chest, they let me know it too. We're going to spend Monday together too so I won't be in to write anything.
Tom just left. I treat him and all the kids that work here like they are my own. I yell at them, worry about them, comfort them. discuss things with them, tell them how their parents may be feeling the way they do, or why we, as parents, do what we do, etc.
I couldn't tell you what we were talking about, Jeff, Hailee and myself but Hailee pipes up and says, "Gosh! You treat us like we're you're kids!" Jeff replied, "We are her kids!" He said it all. No need to elaborate.
I miss them when they're not around, especially Sarah. Sometimes they fight like siblings. I threaten to send them to different corners because I can't spank the ones that aren't mine. I have Clayton and Matt around to keep me occupied and in the "mom" mode. No one is safe whether they want it or not.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Car Show
I love the car show! My daughter and I plan on being here Saturday. We try to go together every year as part of her birthday (Feb. 28). You come in (pay), pick up a judging form and away you go! While I may like the color, style, presentation and how shiny they are, my daughter picks out the oversprays, dullness, dings, waves, bubbles, Bondo, the seams don't match. Harsh! I just think they're pretty.
A few years ago, a couple brought in a race car, they were the first ones here. They stopped in and asked where they could get something to eat, what I thought was good. We talked for quite some time. Come to find out they live in Liberty, maybe three miles from my folks. What a small world. They let me sit in their race car and she took my picture.
I was still sitting when another car pulled in. The two guys were asking me all sorts of questions about the car. It's a good thing I paid attention when the proud owners told me all about it. One of the guys wanted me to start it up. Darn! Blew my cover.
A friend of mine called once and said a fellow that he knew was bringing his motorcycle. He gave me all the information I needed. When he finally arrived, I made like I knew him, you could tell he was searching his file cabinet. I was giving him every chance in the book, places, events, but he still couldn't place me. I acted hurt, called him a s.o.b. He was very apologetic. Then I let him off the hook. It slowly dawned on him. It was a good thing too because I was going to tell him he owed me years of back child support. His dad thought it was funny.
That's some of the fun stuff.
The not so fun stuff is when the cars pull in, the exhaust almost kills me. I end up with a pounding headache. I have to clear the office. There are three desks and all have some level of works in progress on them. I put the papers in a box and hope I can remember where I put them. I have to replace more ceiling tiles and change more bulbs. Two fixtures had their bulbs and they weren't letting go. The car show people sent two guys down here, I helped them with the lift, he struggled getting one out and when he tried the other, it exploded. I knew I wasn't a weiner!
I vacuumed once but after I shove the desk over, I'll vacuum again. I still need to wash the office windows and take down the curtains. My high school slaves can help me remove all the tables, chairs, file cabinets, desks from senior dining since they moved to the church until next week. No lasagna but no brussel sprouts either.
The floor will have to be scrubbed...twice, afterwards. They make the floor slippery with their cleaners and polishes. The derby gals kept wiping out when they had practice. Okay, that's kind of funny.
Maybe one day my daughter will bring in my (now, hers later) '65 Mustang to show. It better have an outstanding paint job!
A few years ago, a couple brought in a race car, they were the first ones here. They stopped in and asked where they could get something to eat, what I thought was good. We talked for quite some time. Come to find out they live in Liberty, maybe three miles from my folks. What a small world. They let me sit in their race car and she took my picture.
I was still sitting when another car pulled in. The two guys were asking me all sorts of questions about the car. It's a good thing I paid attention when the proud owners told me all about it. One of the guys wanted me to start it up. Darn! Blew my cover.
A friend of mine called once and said a fellow that he knew was bringing his motorcycle. He gave me all the information I needed. When he finally arrived, I made like I knew him, you could tell he was searching his file cabinet. I was giving him every chance in the book, places, events, but he still couldn't place me. I acted hurt, called him a s.o.b. He was very apologetic. Then I let him off the hook. It slowly dawned on him. It was a good thing too because I was going to tell him he owed me years of back child support. His dad thought it was funny.
That's some of the fun stuff.
The not so fun stuff is when the cars pull in, the exhaust almost kills me. I end up with a pounding headache. I have to clear the office. There are three desks and all have some level of works in progress on them. I put the papers in a box and hope I can remember where I put them. I have to replace more ceiling tiles and change more bulbs. Two fixtures had their bulbs and they weren't letting go. The car show people sent two guys down here, I helped them with the lift, he struggled getting one out and when he tried the other, it exploded. I knew I wasn't a weiner!
I vacuumed once but after I shove the desk over, I'll vacuum again. I still need to wash the office windows and take down the curtains. My high school slaves can help me remove all the tables, chairs, file cabinets, desks from senior dining since they moved to the church until next week. No lasagna but no brussel sprouts either.
The floor will have to be scrubbed...twice, afterwards. They make the floor slippery with their cleaners and polishes. The derby gals kept wiping out when they had practice. Okay, that's kind of funny.
Maybe one day my daughter will bring in my (now, hers later) '65 Mustang to show. It better have an outstanding paint job!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Call.
A park board member called. He was pulled aside the other night by a coach asking why we were redrafting the Little League teams. Let me make it clear we are redreafting ALL the teams in soccer, baseball/softball, flag football and basketball. The coaches will pick the kids on the baseball/softball teams. We will do the "pick a card, any card" form for the others. Though I ought to make them all come in and pick their own to avoid the "stacking of the teams" mentality. It's all about me not wanting to be here for another meeting, another two hour draft. Sometimes I like to go home at night.
Usually if your child was picked to play on the 2nd-3rd grade team in 2nd grade, he/she will stay on that team until they move into the next division where they would be picked to be on a different team and so on up the ladder. I think we redrafted our leagues three years ago before the Little League was given to the parks department.
Last year at the draft, this coach picked mostly 5th and 6th graders. You might be asking why he did that or why there were 5th and 6th graders in the draft. Some may be new kids, some maybe didn't want to play the year before or they might have missed the deadline. People miss the deadline all the time and as long as I haven't ordered the team's shirts, they can still get their form in and the team with the lowest count will have another player. When there is a kid who wants to sign up three weeks after the deadline when shirts are ordered, practices have started, no, I won't let him. I'm a meanie but maybe it'll teach them to either decide one way or the other or get their forms in on time. If it's a money issue ($20.00), sign them up but pay when you have it. Times are tough.
Why would he pick the older kids rather than going for the 4th graders? More power. I'm sure he thought if he had the older boys, they would clean everyones clock in the games. This also caused a no coach problem for the next year when he and his kid moved on to the next level. When 4th graders are picked, there's a parent that will assist and will stay coaching for the three years they are in Little League. One less thing I have to worry about.
Here's another trick they use. Mind you, not all but you sometimes forget about the good ones because the bad and ugly ones stick in your craw. Mr. Ugly Coach wants to coach. Fine. Well, Mr. Not-So-Bad wants to be his assistant so his son will also be on the same team, uh-huh. Sometimes another wants to help and pretty soon they're thinking they'll have a hand-picked team. I don't think so. Little League there is a coach. That's it. When you draft, maybe one of those kids parents will help you and we'll go from there.
The lower levels, you're the coach, you can have one assistant. Most parents have jobs and other kids that having an assistant is a good thing. I don't have a problem with that but that may change too.
Now, when the older kids leave a space on the roster by moving onto the next level, you have to fill it with mostly 4th graders coming in, unless I didn't let a 5th or 6th grader sign up. There's always that. Looking at the rosters from last year and using my handy-dandy highlighters, I mark the kids that are leaving. One team is practically wiped out. That means it'll be mostly 4th graders going against two teams with nine mostly 6th graders. Oh, wait! That team belonged to the Mr. Ugly Coach who picked all of the older kids! Thank you for messing that up. The other teams are pretty much even on the roster.
This is why we're redrafting. It's a safety issue. The teams are lopsided and 4th graders going against a live pitcher rather than a pitching machine can be dangerous. If it gets too scary for the parents, they won't let their kids play. We did have a broken nose last year when a ball tipped off a glove and hit the player square in the nose. But he came back and finished out the season. He was a tough 4th grader.
Mr. Ugly Coach thinks I'm doing this to make Mr. Good Coaches team better. Excuse me? Mr. Good Coach is the one who takes anybody and works with them. He doesn't care who he has. He treats all the kids the same. Mr.Good Coach will also have the last draft pick because his team won the championship. Mr. Good Coach is the one who stopped his son on base in a lower division, he didn't need to run up the score.
Another coach called and asked why and I told him, it's safety I'm concerned about. At least he called and asked ME. And yes, from now on we're redrafting every year. This was a park board member's idea and the rest agreed.
Mr. Ugly Coach and his kid aren't even in Little League. They moved up a notch and he's not even coaching. We'll just call him Mr. Ugly.
Usually if your child was picked to play on the 2nd-3rd grade team in 2nd grade, he/she will stay on that team until they move into the next division where they would be picked to be on a different team and so on up the ladder. I think we redrafted our leagues three years ago before the Little League was given to the parks department.
Last year at the draft, this coach picked mostly 5th and 6th graders. You might be asking why he did that or why there were 5th and 6th graders in the draft. Some may be new kids, some maybe didn't want to play the year before or they might have missed the deadline. People miss the deadline all the time and as long as I haven't ordered the team's shirts, they can still get their form in and the team with the lowest count will have another player. When there is a kid who wants to sign up three weeks after the deadline when shirts are ordered, practices have started, no, I won't let him. I'm a meanie but maybe it'll teach them to either decide one way or the other or get their forms in on time. If it's a money issue ($20.00), sign them up but pay when you have it. Times are tough.
Why would he pick the older kids rather than going for the 4th graders? More power. I'm sure he thought if he had the older boys, they would clean everyones clock in the games. This also caused a no coach problem for the next year when he and his kid moved on to the next level. When 4th graders are picked, there's a parent that will assist and will stay coaching for the three years they are in Little League. One less thing I have to worry about.
Here's another trick they use. Mind you, not all but you sometimes forget about the good ones because the bad and ugly ones stick in your craw. Mr. Ugly Coach wants to coach. Fine. Well, Mr. Not-So-Bad wants to be his assistant so his son will also be on the same team, uh-huh. Sometimes another wants to help and pretty soon they're thinking they'll have a hand-picked team. I don't think so. Little League there is a coach. That's it. When you draft, maybe one of those kids parents will help you and we'll go from there.
The lower levels, you're the coach, you can have one assistant. Most parents have jobs and other kids that having an assistant is a good thing. I don't have a problem with that but that may change too.
Now, when the older kids leave a space on the roster by moving onto the next level, you have to fill it with mostly 4th graders coming in, unless I didn't let a 5th or 6th grader sign up. There's always that. Looking at the rosters from last year and using my handy-dandy highlighters, I mark the kids that are leaving. One team is practically wiped out. That means it'll be mostly 4th graders going against two teams with nine mostly 6th graders. Oh, wait! That team belonged to the Mr. Ugly Coach who picked all of the older kids! Thank you for messing that up. The other teams are pretty much even on the roster.
This is why we're redrafting. It's a safety issue. The teams are lopsided and 4th graders going against a live pitcher rather than a pitching machine can be dangerous. If it gets too scary for the parents, they won't let their kids play. We did have a broken nose last year when a ball tipped off a glove and hit the player square in the nose. But he came back and finished out the season. He was a tough 4th grader.
Mr. Ugly Coach thinks I'm doing this to make Mr. Good Coaches team better. Excuse me? Mr. Good Coach is the one who takes anybody and works with them. He doesn't care who he has. He treats all the kids the same. Mr.Good Coach will also have the last draft pick because his team won the championship. Mr. Good Coach is the one who stopped his son on base in a lower division, he didn't need to run up the score.
Another coach called and asked why and I told him, it's safety I'm concerned about. At least he called and asked ME. And yes, from now on we're redrafting every year. This was a park board member's idea and the rest agreed.
Mr. Ugly Coach and his kid aren't even in Little League. They moved up a notch and he's not even coaching. We'll just call him Mr. Ugly.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
And the other idea.
Sometime Friday night a yearling doe became caught in the fence behind the house. Her hind leg went between two wires and when she went over, it twisted, trapping her. During her entrapment she struggled, digging a hole about a foot below snow level, her snout became stuck under the bottom wire of the woven wire.
There was no way to untwist the wire. It cut into her hock but didn't look too serious as it appeared just the hide was cut. Under her chin, she was slightly cut. There was little blood on both injuries. Leaving her snout caught, we cut the wire releasing her leg. It did not appear that her hip was dislocated, I'm not a vet but I have seen that before, then pushing her nose out from the wire, we drug her out of the hole. She had thrashed with her head enough to rub the hide hairless from around her left eye. It was swollen shut.
She was shivering, I'm sure in shock. I rubbed her leg that I'm sure had no circulation from being raised all night long. She just blinked at us with her other eye. I talked softy to her. Not sure about her outcome but I was thankful she didn't kick the crap out me. Since she was on solid ground, the sun was shining, it could be a good day if she just rested a bit.
I checked every now and again and she'd move but not far. Still not standing. Later in the day, before the sun went down, she died. I felt bad because there was nothing I could really do. I didn't think she was bad enough to put her down.
I enjoy hunting. Grew up with it. I don't think thinning the herd is a bad thing. I do think that maybe they should make deer hunters take a doe before that trophy buck they are always in search of. I read a while back that a second birthing year of a doe more than likely will end up with twins. If one of those twins is a little doe, and so on.
There are car/deer collisions all the time. It's certainly not their fault as we're the ones who have moved into their territory. It's not their fault that food is scarce during bad winters and my trees happen to be handy. Even with wrapping woven wire around them, they'll stick their noses through. The dog's barking certainly doesn't scare them. One used to visit Riley, I think they were friends. Hopefully it wasn't one of the four that were hit right in front of the house in less than two weeks time.
The road into town is littered with them.
I suppose I could have shot the little deer. Like I said, I like hunting. But they have a chance out in the wild. Having to shoot a hurt animal is not fun. I have done it too many times and it never feels good. I will admit I have shot two animals out of anger. One was a fox that took my 80+ chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys down to six in less than two weeks.
I walked out of the house, saw him hanging around the chicken house, went back in for the .22. The other happen to be a turkey that was the meanest thing. We had turkeys that were like pups following us around but this one was opposite of nice. We would take to carrying a broom handle for protection to the chicken house to gather eggs after he trapped my daughter in there. He had already beat her, leaving marks on her arms and face. She took refuge in the chicken house. She might have been five.
One day he charged me when I came through the gate, spurs up. Whack! He didn't care. We played this game for about 15 minutes until I walked back for the .22 again. He was too dangerous to keep.
When my daughter came home from school, I thought she would be upset that I was cleaning him. Not at all.
There was no way to untwist the wire. It cut into her hock but didn't look too serious as it appeared just the hide was cut. Under her chin, she was slightly cut. There was little blood on both injuries. Leaving her snout caught, we cut the wire releasing her leg. It did not appear that her hip was dislocated, I'm not a vet but I have seen that before, then pushing her nose out from the wire, we drug her out of the hole. She had thrashed with her head enough to rub the hide hairless from around her left eye. It was swollen shut.
She was shivering, I'm sure in shock. I rubbed her leg that I'm sure had no circulation from being raised all night long. She just blinked at us with her other eye. I talked softy to her. Not sure about her outcome but I was thankful she didn't kick the crap out me. Since she was on solid ground, the sun was shining, it could be a good day if she just rested a bit.
I checked every now and again and she'd move but not far. Still not standing. Later in the day, before the sun went down, she died. I felt bad because there was nothing I could really do. I didn't think she was bad enough to put her down.
I enjoy hunting. Grew up with it. I don't think thinning the herd is a bad thing. I do think that maybe they should make deer hunters take a doe before that trophy buck they are always in search of. I read a while back that a second birthing year of a doe more than likely will end up with twins. If one of those twins is a little doe, and so on.
There are car/deer collisions all the time. It's certainly not their fault as we're the ones who have moved into their territory. It's not their fault that food is scarce during bad winters and my trees happen to be handy. Even with wrapping woven wire around them, they'll stick their noses through. The dog's barking certainly doesn't scare them. One used to visit Riley, I think they were friends. Hopefully it wasn't one of the four that were hit right in front of the house in less than two weeks time.
The road into town is littered with them.
I suppose I could have shot the little deer. Like I said, I like hunting. But they have a chance out in the wild. Having to shoot a hurt animal is not fun. I have done it too many times and it never feels good. I will admit I have shot two animals out of anger. One was a fox that took my 80+ chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys down to six in less than two weeks.
I walked out of the house, saw him hanging around the chicken house, went back in for the .22. The other happen to be a turkey that was the meanest thing. We had turkeys that were like pups following us around but this one was opposite of nice. We would take to carrying a broom handle for protection to the chicken house to gather eggs after he trapped my daughter in there. He had already beat her, leaving marks on her arms and face. She took refuge in the chicken house. She might have been five.
One day he charged me when I came through the gate, spurs up. Whack! He didn't care. We played this game for about 15 minutes until I walked back for the .22 again. He was too dangerous to keep.
When my daughter came home from school, I thought she would be upset that I was cleaning him. Not at all.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Probably will make someone angry today.
Actually, both the ideas I have in my head and I only have two, either one might make someone angry.
I was asked to speak to a panel of business people at a radio station in Cedar Rapids about kids and what our community had to offer in the line of recreation. Wear casual clothing I was told. Pretty informal.
Their pretty informal didn't match my pretty informal. Shorts and a t-shirt for me. Business suits for them. Even the ladies on the panel.
I was one of six or eight going to speak to this group. We each did it alone. We each had 15 minutes. One at a time we were called back to the meeting room, we answered questions, told of our jobs, what activities we had available to the youth in our towns, or at least I'm assuming that's what they asked the others. I never saw them come back out and was wondering if they were burying them in the back lot. Glad I wore my tennis shoes. I can run pretty fast when I want to.
I still had about four minutes to spare. One fellow asked what I thought was wrong with today's youth? Can I have another 15 minutes please! Not that I was/am the perfect parent. Not that my folks are. I do believe you need to have a child's attention in order for some things to soak in. How do you get that attention? A smack across the rearend! I know some people don't believe in spanking their kids, my folk's did and I didn't turn into a serial killer. I'm pretty sure my brothers and sister didn't either. Nor did my daughter.
Sometimes my mom would yell, "You just wait until your father gets home! You're all going to get a beating!" And sometimes we would. Dad wasn't mad at us but by the time mom finished telling him what we did, he was in the mood. (Dad had a collection of belts. The wide ones weren't so bad but those thinner ones stung like nobody's business!)
One day dad came home from work and you could tell he was tired. Mom told him to beat us because we were driving her crazy or we were smartmouthed or the four of us fought all day with each other or more than likely, I'm sure, all of the above. Dad turned to her and said, "You beat them! They're your kids too!" You could see this light bulb turn on when mom realized she could. Oh, crap. The world was her arsenal. Whatever she could grab, a wooden spoon, a piece of Todd's Hot Wheels track or if nothing was within reach, a hand on the butt! Yep. We were doomed.
They got our attention. We knew how far we could push those buttons and we did. We aren't scarred for life. We were not locked in a dark closet for days with no food. It wasn't child abuse. Our bad behavior was met by punishment not pills from the doctor saying we had ADD or ADHD. I'm not saying there aren't cases of ADD, I'm saying some people might use that as an excuse. That's what one parent said to me when I let her know her darling fifth grade son told me to "f--- off!" "Well, he has ADD." In my book he's lucky I didn't knock his head off right then and there. There were too many witnesses.
After an 'attention getting', my dad would say, "If you want to run away, go pack your bags and I'll give you a lift to the corner." You couldn't help but smile even though you didn't want to. All was forgotten. All was forgiven.
I was asked to speak to a panel of business people at a radio station in Cedar Rapids about kids and what our community had to offer in the line of recreation. Wear casual clothing I was told. Pretty informal.
Their pretty informal didn't match my pretty informal. Shorts and a t-shirt for me. Business suits for them. Even the ladies on the panel.
I was one of six or eight going to speak to this group. We each did it alone. We each had 15 minutes. One at a time we were called back to the meeting room, we answered questions, told of our jobs, what activities we had available to the youth in our towns, or at least I'm assuming that's what they asked the others. I never saw them come back out and was wondering if they were burying them in the back lot. Glad I wore my tennis shoes. I can run pretty fast when I want to.
I still had about four minutes to spare. One fellow asked what I thought was wrong with today's youth? Can I have another 15 minutes please! Not that I was/am the perfect parent. Not that my folks are. I do believe you need to have a child's attention in order for some things to soak in. How do you get that attention? A smack across the rearend! I know some people don't believe in spanking their kids, my folk's did and I didn't turn into a serial killer. I'm pretty sure my brothers and sister didn't either. Nor did my daughter.
Sometimes my mom would yell, "You just wait until your father gets home! You're all going to get a beating!" And sometimes we would. Dad wasn't mad at us but by the time mom finished telling him what we did, he was in the mood. (Dad had a collection of belts. The wide ones weren't so bad but those thinner ones stung like nobody's business!)
One day dad came home from work and you could tell he was tired. Mom told him to beat us because we were driving her crazy or we were smartmouthed or the four of us fought all day with each other or more than likely, I'm sure, all of the above. Dad turned to her and said, "You beat them! They're your kids too!" You could see this light bulb turn on when mom realized she could. Oh, crap. The world was her arsenal. Whatever she could grab, a wooden spoon, a piece of Todd's Hot Wheels track or if nothing was within reach, a hand on the butt! Yep. We were doomed.
They got our attention. We knew how far we could push those buttons and we did. We aren't scarred for life. We were not locked in a dark closet for days with no food. It wasn't child abuse. Our bad behavior was met by punishment not pills from the doctor saying we had ADD or ADHD. I'm not saying there aren't cases of ADD, I'm saying some people might use that as an excuse. That's what one parent said to me when I let her know her darling fifth grade son told me to "f--- off!" "Well, he has ADD." In my book he's lucky I didn't knock his head off right then and there. There were too many witnesses.
After an 'attention getting', my dad would say, "If you want to run away, go pack your bags and I'll give you a lift to the corner." You couldn't help but smile even though you didn't want to. All was forgotten. All was forgiven.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs!
Matthew said this place was going to be one big sign by the time I'm finished.
The first night of girl's basketball he had to scrub the floor because of all the dirt, sand and snow brought into the gym by people who didn't wipe their feet. There are now neon orange signs on all three front doors that state: "Please stomp the crud off of your shoes outside and wipe your feet when you enter, it helps keep the gym floor from being damaged. Thank you."
Now that some of snow has melted off and away from the sidewalk the little treasures are uncovered to bask in the sun. There's basic trash; paper, cans, pop bottles, plastic stuck in the bushes but it's the gum and the cigarette butts that really annoy me. Some of them aren't that old either. When there's two, count'em, two cigarette butt receptacles out front before you enter, a dumpster around the corner and a trash can inside the lobby. Do you really have to spit your gum in the garden or on the sidewalk?
Another sign: "Please do not throw your cigarette butts on the ground or spit your gum on the sidewalk or gardens! Thank you!" I try to be polite with please and thank you but what I really want to say is; "Listen you dumbass, I don't come to your house and litter and spit my gum in your yard or walk through your house with muddy shoes so I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do it here! Who do you think has to clean that up?" I think it's such a disgusting job, even worse than sorting pop cans with their sticky mess, that I won't let the kids do it. I do wear gloves though because I don't want to touch their slobbers.
I laminated that sign since it will be in the weather and hung it on the butt holder. Neon green.
Do we really have to ask people to wipe their feet or not to litter? Wouldn't that be common sense? Or common knowledge? At least the polite thing to do. Maybe I should make a sign....
The first night of girl's basketball he had to scrub the floor because of all the dirt, sand and snow brought into the gym by people who didn't wipe their feet. There are now neon orange signs on all three front doors that state: "Please stomp the crud off of your shoes outside and wipe your feet when you enter, it helps keep the gym floor from being damaged. Thank you."
Now that some of snow has melted off and away from the sidewalk the little treasures are uncovered to bask in the sun. There's basic trash; paper, cans, pop bottles, plastic stuck in the bushes but it's the gum and the cigarette butts that really annoy me. Some of them aren't that old either. When there's two, count'em, two cigarette butt receptacles out front before you enter, a dumpster around the corner and a trash can inside the lobby. Do you really have to spit your gum in the garden or on the sidewalk?
Another sign: "Please do not throw your cigarette butts on the ground or spit your gum on the sidewalk or gardens! Thank you!" I try to be polite with please and thank you but what I really want to say is; "Listen you dumbass, I don't come to your house and litter and spit my gum in your yard or walk through your house with muddy shoes so I would appreciate it if you wouldn't do it here! Who do you think has to clean that up?" I think it's such a disgusting job, even worse than sorting pop cans with their sticky mess, that I won't let the kids do it. I do wear gloves though because I don't want to touch their slobbers.
I laminated that sign since it will be in the weather and hung it on the butt holder. Neon green.
Do we really have to ask people to wipe their feet or not to litter? Wouldn't that be common sense? Or common knowledge? At least the polite thing to do. Maybe I should make a sign....
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