Tonight could be C’s last District All Star game for the season. I get to just show up and be a mom–no paperwork or official duties–just a mom. But that’s really hard. (And yes, that was pretty much teetering on whinging)

He’s my kid. I see his faults and I see his talents. But when he is on that field, I just want him to succeed. Not so much in a statistical, by the book kind of way–although hits are great and blocks behind the plate are necessary. I want him to come off that field and know that he’s done everything he could do and be proud of that. He can be his own worst critic or a one man C fan club. You never know which kid you’ll get.

Tonight’s game is going to be tough. The team is going to run on us and C is likely behind the plate all night. It’s so hard to let him know how important the part is that he has in this game tonight without putting pressure on him–finding the right balance.

Also, seriously, I haven’t been able to eat a real meal all All Star season…the stress is killing me. Mike’s hard lemonade for dinner is not the healthiest plan either. Sheesh, I should be super-friggin-model thin. Not really workin’ out though.

And while I’m rambling aimlessly, I went to use a much-neglected and more private blog today only to find out that it’s been so long that I can’t seem to access it. Damn! I finally feel like doing some writing and it just isn’t gonna happen.

The team won handily the other night. C put the bat on the ball well but was hitless in two at-bats. No one cared though as he hung tough behind the plate and was error free for the night. I didn’t care because he was so thrilled to have playing time he was practically bouncing. And then the tragedy…his new bat, the one he carried everywhere for the first week, even bringing it up to sleep with, cracked.

Yes, it’s under warranty but the next game is tonight and there’s no way he has one by tonight. He was devastated.

For those who don’t live close enough and want to read the article and a few pics

None of C but he was happy to be listed in the article as “catcher” and not as “sub” and credited with an RBI. It’s the little things:)

I am going for my list for 365 days of grace. What? You didn’t read anything perky and full of grace lately?

1. Silly greeting cards that make me snort soda out of my nose.
2. Friends with whole seasons of TV shows on DVD ready to distract me.
3. Brief glimpses of the sun
4. My side porch full of friends, laughter and drinks
5. The people I love who know me well enough to know that I could use a little extra and are right there providing it.

There. That wasn’t so hard was it? Oh wait….it’s starting to rain…

Sad that I missed out on a Friday night get together, I decided to have an impromptu drinks/firepit gathering on Saturday. I’m sure it will come as no surprise that everything was too wet from rain for outdoor play so we gathered on the porch instead.
At one point during the evening between laughing and storytelling, I just looked around and smiled. This is why I love this old house. I love being able to sit out on the porch with friends relaxing and laughing and yes, perhaps even overindulging. It’s been a long season and we’ve all earned it.
Plus, we got to hang out with new friends as well as old friends. I haven’t had this much fun since stories I can’t tell the kids! And I’m pretty sure we can’t tell the kids these stories either!
We are definitely going to have to do it again…and again.

sportsmanship - conduct (as fairness, respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport

just saying…

C stayed up late last night watching a ball game and laughing and joking with a friend of ours. So funny. Oh, so funny. This morning? Not quite as funny as he grouches his way into the shower and gets ready for school.

Oh, the “I told you so” moments of joy that come with parenthood.

And since I haven’t done the list in, I don’t know, months? Here are my 5 for the 365 (hah!) days of Grace

1. Sunny afternoon at the stadium with the pups along.
2. quiet empty ballparks all lit up and crazy-free
3. weekend getaways
4. knitting a cute baby sweater (not for me!!!!!!)
5. sunshine

Or rather, I headed into the deep, scary cave that is a 15-yr-old boy’s room. J was out of commission this afternoon, sprawled on my bed sleeping off a cold or a bad case of english quiz, so I decided that I would just roll up my sleeves and tackle his room.

Ew! Sleeves back down! Sleeves back down! Have you ever dug yourself out of a 15 yr old’s room? One that isn’t particularly a neat freak? Blech! Ironic that my germ phobic is the one who is the least neat. Ironic, or downright scary.

But I grabbed a few giant trash bags and some cleaner and thinned the debris. New organizer boxes and everything. And now? Now that every last corner has been scrubbed, bleached and shined? He’s in there hanging out, watching tv and, if he knows what’s good for him, not making a mess!

Whew! Now I need a drink and a good movie.

(oh yeah…more rain, blah, blah, blah. no games..blah, blah, blah. crazy parents…..you get the idea.)

….I can do better. I can do anything better than you.

No, you can’t.

Yes, I can.

No, you can’t.

Yes, I can.

No you can’t….ah wait a minute. You can do it better? Here, here’s the flippin’ whistle and clipboard. It’s all yours. I’m outta here. You f-ing try it for a while.

^#$%@&$&(&#^

Knitting mojo has been found. I’m not finishing off things left and right but I did whip up some Mother’s Day gifts and I have a plan. This money thing? It bites. Seriously. So, since I have enough yarn to open up a yarn store, I’ve decided to be on a no new yarn plan (Also a no new books plan and a no new shoes plan…these plans suck)

Anyway, to make it a bit more fun than just wallowing around trying to stay out of debtor’s prison (they don’t still have that, right???) I joined a personal sock club. For those who are thinking that this is another knitting post, you’re right, run away, this just isn’t going to be for you. For others…eh, maybe your broke to.

I stuffed a pattern and a skein of one of my favorite yarns into 15 brown paper bags. This way, it’s like a surprise each time I finish a project. I just reach in a grab one. Free sock club. My memory has been shot for years so I won’t remember what’s in those bags. I should do this with Christmas/Yule. Just walk about the house and wrap things up months in advance. Sure, I might wonder where they went, but I know I would love all my gifts!

Off to take the boys to school in the rain…again. See what happens to my brain after days of never ending storms?

So it’s been all baseball all the time around here like some demented reality show where I know who the person that should be voted off is but they just keep bringing him back for ratings. The evil trio still persist in tormenting everyone at the fields. They must have made an alliance. Hopefully, I will win a challenge soon and my prize will be the removal of one jackass of my choosing.

So on to non-baseball….yes, knitting. See? It’s dull around here. But I have lost my knitting mojo. Seriously, for those who don’t knit, roll your eyes and pishaw all you want to. For those who do? It’s scary. Lots of things started with gorgeous colors and squinchable alpaca and merino and there’s no progress being made anywhere. Nothing. Nada. I have a queue all lined up and even that’s not making me get things done. If I don’t have knitting for therapy (see above craziness) I am going to turn to the booze and the drugs and who knows what else.

In happier news, I just reserved our favorite campsite at our favorite campground for the upcoming holiday weekend. Not enough camping last season. Who knows, maybe I can escape the crazies, sit around a fire and find my knitting mojo. Sounds like a plan to me.