Slowly plunging our families life back outta the toilet- I'm 40yrs old and not to boast but I've never struggled or wanted in my life for much of anything but these last 3 yrs have been absolutely horrendous- I dont know how single moms, the elderly, unfortunate live paycheck to paycheck or worse- Its pretty much affected everything 'cept our families quality time and having food on the table (a few months have been rough- lotsa top ramen and peanut butter sandwiches

I've always been pretty generous IMHO and try to help ones I know in need but I think I have a newfound respect for those who struggle day in and day out for whatever reason

Luckily family, friends, some timely court judgements in our favor and some cashed in retirement funds (the IRS i gonna be happy next yr at tax time) we may be at the end of the tunnel- I can see the light (NO not that light- I love life too much) so hopefully I can get back to my happy go lucky pain- in- the -rear for all who dont see my opinions as fact ways.

I am trully blessed to have lots of real and real 'virtual friends' to spout off to, run ideas by and just be me (even sometimes at the unfortunate expense of others), etc.

Hopefully Microsoft will get our website back (they update and moved and all my work went poof - and you cant save to HD in their new/old format)

2 good baseball drafts (1 virtual and 1 live with some new friends in Socal) and 1 last lg draft this weekend

My NCAA bracket is busted but I still got ($50) riding on Butler (Indianapolis school) to go all the way here in Vegas- GO Bulldogs

Oh yeah- I'm in Vegas at a Game Manufacturers Conv on my laptop - everyone in our group is way sauced - not a BIG drinker or Gambler - so I'm relaxing - we're here trying to convince them to fork over millions of $$$$ for our Game Club, Educational Game Online Expo, Website and Fundraiser program -- so far so good-- lot of faces I havent seen (some in years) or only talk(ed) to or chat with online (or on the phone when I actually answer the phone)

Now to get my PTA stuff in order -that's been a disaster for me too.

And Opening Day is just around the corner......... Take ME out the Ballgame...... Go Cubs Lets score some runs!!!!

Well, yes, you're right d. The kids were just acting like kids. My "zoo animals" and "brats" comments were probably too harsh. They shouldn't have been expected to sit quietly for a whole hour while class was going on. The "kids" ranged from 21 down to 2 and, frankly, it was the older ones who acted up the most. The mom participating in class brought all six of her kids with her, including two toddlers and nearly newborn twins!!! Then there were the three cousins. So, nine kids with only one adult charged with keeping them still. I can understand the grandma's frustration as well but, gosh, not the time or place for it.....

Grandma insured the instructor that the laser pointer wouldn't be brought back ever again because they did not plan on returning.

Usually the mom and two of her sons take lessons at their local grade school two days a week instead of at the dojo. Maybe the more formal atmosphere was a surprise to them.

I agree with you that parents need to know the limitations of their own children and help them out by not placing them in environments they're not ready for.

Shawn you have practically been stranger around these parts lately. Good to see you. :cool:

Here's one for you:

Josh Gracin - I Keep Comin' Back
I told myself getting out
That’s what this is all about
Sun goes up, sun goes down
You only get one go around
Then I left this town

Then I let that road carry me
As far as it could carry me
Stood on a mountain free
Found a place where I could breathe, in and out
And thought about things that I can’t live without

Chorus:
I keep coming back
Time after time
No matter where I’m at
I can’t pretend
I’ve found something better than where I’ve been
Cause where I’m from
Is who I am
And no matter how far that I run
Yea I keep coming back

See the more people change
The more that they stay the same
So I just stopped everything
Thought about all the things
Weighing me down
Then I threw out old boxes
Emptied my pockets
Of regrets and love letters
Pictures and lockets

And all I have now
Is the truth that I’ve found
Life has a way
Of just turning around
And around
And around

Chorus:
I keep coming back
Time after time
No matter where I’m at
I can’t pretend
I’ve found something better than where I’ve been
Cause where I’m from
Is who I am
And no matter how far that I run
Yea I keep coming back

To the town on the hill
So peaceful and still
And my memories are at

I keep coming back
Time after time
No matter where I’m at
I can’t pretend
I’ve found something better than where I’ve been
Cause where I’m from
Is who I am
And no matter how far that I run
No matter how far
No matter how far that I run
Yea I keep coming back
I keep coming back
I keep coming back

Shawn--where ya been?

Man-CC-that had to be so frustrating for you. I do think sometimes we ask our children to not be children way too often...why oh why would a mom subject her child and a group of folks, young folks it seems, to sit through a very disciplined program and ask them not to behave like children. If they are a part of the dojo, I suspect they do their part and behave when they are there in a very disciplined manner but to ask them to come and "watch" and be around cousins and siblings and not be a kid...she owes you guys an explanation in my mind...not the children acting like children.
I have friends now that have children that are 10-13 and cannot understand why they have stress issues, and I cannot, because we are friends, remind them of the very adult places they put them too often in my mind, and expected them to behave way more than I think is necessary for a child to be expected. My hubby and I would often discuss NOT taking the boys to places so we didn't set them up for failure. Sounds like that is what you were experiencing...and that's bad given the seriousness of the discipline you were involved in.
Hard to discuss that to a mother without making the 13 year old look like a "bad kid" but I suspect that is where those tags get placed....

d

I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't rush to answer the house phone. Even before caller ID. If I was in the middle of something or just didn't care, I didn't answer it. Only if Shorty isn't at home and it may be him or about him do I answer it. I have friends who will drop everything and literally run to the phone. sheesh.....

I missed the Deal or No Deal firemen tonight.

OK, here's one for all of you. I was in karate class tonight. One 13 year old kid, who's a student, sat out with his siblings, cousins and grandma while his mom did class. The point is, he knows the rules of class. The whole group acted up, made a lot of noise, disrupted class, had to be asked repeatedly to be quiet. They were acting like a bunch of zoo animals. The kid decides it would be fun to borrow his cousin's laser pointer and point it at students, the instructor, the mirror, whatever. So the instructor took it away from him and made him do 50 pushups. At the end of class the instructor flashed it all over while explaining to him that he is to never again disrupt her class with a laser pointer. The grandma never said a word the whole time they acted like a bunch of brats but finally she says to the instructor (through gritted teeth), "Please don't waste the batteries. They're expensive." :eek:

HEELLLLLOOOOO. Maybe if she'd used those words on grandson instead the thing wouldn't have been taken away, he wouldn't have had to do pushups and the batteries wouldn't have been wasted. Why, oh why, is it easier for her to get mad at the person providing the discipline instead of the person who acted like an idiot in the first place?

I'm 272miles away from SD (So 5-7 hrs depending on traffic)- but I have some friends whom attend SD State plus Marshall Faulk (former Colts RB) and Tony Gwynn are Alum (I think Gwynns still the Baseball coach,too

The applecake (coffeecake) is good with applesauce instead of sour cream- I've substituted it before, IMHO

My bracket is busted- Thank you Duke, ND and Wisconsin- much too my dismay (although I picked 'em to win) OSU is still left (may Ogden score 2 points the rest of the way out for not going to IU)

My pathetic fanstasy baseball team is 8- 24 to start the season (my young staff has giving up 22HR and has an ERA of 5.29 and a WHIP of 2.01 :eek: ))

Spring Break - hurry up and get here

Tonsils out -- :eek: Hope all goes well'

Cell phones -- YUCK - very few have my # -- I dont even answer the phone at home (thats why answering machines were made AND caller ID)