No Mom... It's Intermission

I was driving to the store and passed by an open field full of soccer games and memories just came flooding back.  I even wondered just how many soccer games I have attended in my life and I guarantee you the number (if I could figure it out) would astound you.

My oldest played a little soccer, but not much.  She played AYSO for a year or two and then went on to play on a coed team.  The next sister down played quite a bit of soccer.  She played AYSO, competition and for her high school.  Our daughter whose main focus was basketball, did play one season of soccer.  Our artist never played.  And the youngest played rec, comp and then was done.  So I figure for the girls maybe a total of  150 games.

Now my sons played soccer like maniacs.  There is no way to really come up with a number!  Our oldest played since he was just little, maybe 5 years old, and never stopped.  He played outdoor on both rec and comp teams, for as long as the weather would allow.  In the winter he played indoor soccer.  He started playing soccer for the high school while he was still in junior high and continued to play when he went to college. His younger brother played rec and comp and for the high school.  It is absolutely boggling my mind right now as I write this... It has to be THOUSANDS of games I have attended.  And I'm not going to even go into the professional RSL games we attended.

With a giant umbrella in the heat of the sun.  With a sleeping bag around my legs in the crazy early spring and late fall games where it snowed!  And this is only soccer!  There were basketball games, football games and even softball and baseball games.

It's no wonder when I'm attending a play with my three daughters in the arts... and there is a break between the acts... I say "Oh it's half time."

"No Mom... it's intermission."

This post brought to you by the Deseret News.

If Only...

Most of you know that I have a bucket list... and that bucket list includes... eating my way through Europe.

You'll notice it doesn't say visit Europe, or see Europe, or go to the museums in Europe.  No.  I want to eat my way through Europe!  Pastries, fruit and cheese in France.  Pasta, bread, canolis, and gelato in Italy.  And chocolate!  I want to taste everyone's chocolate.  I want to just walk around... or hang out among the people in Europe.  Feel of the ambiance.  Soak in the culture.  And wear a huge baggy pair of pants that will allow me to consume food from every little cafe, or pizza at the ristorante that looks appealing.

My only problem is getting to Europe.  Of course I will fly... but it is the length of the flight that scares me.  I have a daughter in New York and I fly to see her as often as I can... and it is always difficult.  I want to stretch my legs... stretch my back...stretch my whole body!  And one time I took the red eye and I was seriously incapacitated for a day or two!  And to fly to Europe I'm going to have to sleep on the plane... but I can't lie down!

If only... I could charter plane service.  I would select a plane with a wonderful bed.  I realize I would not be in a seat belt... but my thinking is that if the plane is going down... I hardly think the belt will matter much.  There would be room for me to   w a l k   a r o u n d... stretch my legs and straighten my back.  And surprisingly a private plane is not just for the elite 5% of the population anymore.

If only... well... I can't think of a reason not to go now!

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Tank Tops, and Swimsuits, and Shorts... Oh My!

Summer is upon us... and along with it comes summer clothing.  I don't have anything against summer clothing.  I guess I should say that I don't have anything against modest summer clothing.

I know it's hot people but you can't walk around half naked!  I don't know why it is acceptable just because it's hot... to wear shorts so short that it looks like you are in your underwear.  Or why it's fine to wear a shirt that barely covers what we all know it should cover.  I mean if your bra is showing... or you're not wearing a bra at all... this is a good indicator that your shirt is not suitable.  And now there are shirts made of such paper thin... tissue like fabric... that we all can see your bra!  And what's even funnier about this phenomenon is that you can't even fake that you had no idea it was see through... because usually the girl wearing this type of fabric is wearing some outrageously colored bra so it is obvious that we can all see it.

There are some incredibly cute, stylish and unbelievable affordable summer clothes out there.  Summer shirts in great bright colors and with lace, ruffle, and ribbon decoration.  There are shorts out there that look good and cover your rear end.  And there are bathing suits... modest swimwear that covers your necessary parts and is sexy.  Some of the bathing suits out there are certainly not going to "hold up" if you are actually going to swim.

When we go out in the summer sometimes... you just can't look at people.  It's just too much.  It's like walking along a beach boardwalk singing from The Wizard of Oz... tank tops, and swimsuits, and shorts... oh my!

This post brought to you by Downeast Basics.

Loving Your Smile

There's just something about a smile.  It's one of those things that feels good as the recipient of the smile... and it feels good to be the one who smiles.  And there are so many different smiles... cheesy smiles... crazy smiles... sly smiles... laughing smiles... and the list is endless... but the point is... everyone's smile is different.  Think about all the people you have known throughout your life and you could recognize them all by their smile alone. Smiles are unique to you and you need to love your smile.  And thanks to the fact that there are cosmetic dentist nashville to california to perfect the smile... everyone can have the smile they desire.

My son used to have a gap between his two front teeth.  The orthodontist was quick to pull the gap together... and quite frankly so was my son... but it was him and I loved him for it.  When it was fixed... his smile was perfection... and was still his trademark grin.  And he was happy with his smile.

My daughter's husband has one tooth up top that protrudes a little bit forward from the others.  He doesn't like it and is working on getting it fixed... but I love it.  I can't imagine him without it... but I know he will have that incredible smile that we all love and that lights up my daughter.  And he will love it.

The point is that all smiles are beautiful.  It's the smile.  And if you have a smile with imperfections... it's still your smile and I'm sure there are many, many people who love you for it.  And if you want the perfect smile... today you have options... lots and lots of options.

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Aortic Ana... What?

I have worked with the same employer for eight years now and consequently have made a lot of friends and acquaintances.  You know... there are people that you immediately click with... enjoy... and ultimately start getting together outside of work.  And there are those you work with that you have the same connection... however... they may be in other areas of the country... so your friendship is long distance and primarily or exclusively by phone.  I have people like this that I talk to on a daily basis... for work purposes... but when they take a vacation... or take anytime off... you miss them.  Well... one of those acquaintances was recently out for quite some time and we wanted the scoop as to where he was... in the tropics?  Europe?  We found out the guy was hospitalized for Aortic Aneurysm Surgery!  What the?

First we did the "Aortic Ana... what?"  Never heard of it.  It was like the game telephone and as each person spread the news to the next... the name got all blotched up. "Oh... so and so?  Yeah... he's in the hospital with some kind of burst valve in his head."  You think aortic... you think valve.  You hear aneurysm... you think of your brain.  I get it... but still it was grossly inaccurate.

An Aortic Aneurysm is a bulge in a persons aorta which is the blood flow away from your heart.  You can get one in your abdomen or your chest cavity... but either way... if it bursts you can die.

Those at the highest risk are older men who smoke and who have relatives who have had an aortic aneurysm.  High blood pressure and high cholesterol also put you at risk.  Unfortunately... my acquaintance... fulfilled all of these risks.  I am glad to say he has recovered... and has changed his lifestyle considerably.  I hope it lasts.

This post brought to you by NYU Cardiac. 

We Have A What?

I have apologized several times that I grossly underestimate the time and care a lawn needs.  I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have the lawn that "brings down the neighborhood".  I hate lawn work.  And I don't like the word "hate".  I don't like my kids to use the word and I myself do not like to use it, but I really, really do not like yard work.  The only thing good about it is that you are outdoors, but that's only good if the weather is nice.  Too hot and I want to go inside for an ice cream.  Too cold and I want to go in and make chocolate chip cookies.  I know... I'm a wimp.

I love the winter because you don't have to worry about watering your lawn.  And spring is not too bad... but by summer and your grass starts turning brown... well then you really look bad.  I try.  I really do try... but moving the sprinkler thingy until it is in exactly the right spot is just plain annoying.  Adjusting the water pressure, sitting it so you cover most of the lawn, and you should do it either early in the morning or late at night.  And after you get it just right, you leave it on, and then fifteen minutes later, you have to move it again and go through the same old routine!  And after that... you have to move the hose, and sprinkler to the back yard and start all over!

Imagine my surprise when I was moaning about the whole pain with summer coming on and my daughter says... and I quote... "Why don't you use the sprinkling system?"  Say what?  We have a sprinkling system?  Say what?  She then said it didn't work anymore.  "Anymore?"  When did it work?  And with the number of times I have had to have a plumber out here, why in the #@^! have we not asked him to look at it?

Maybe this summer will be easier?

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Little Moves Big Results

My youngest daughter loves to swim.  She made the high school swim team and was in the best shape of her life.  And then she started to experience back pain.  Knowing how hard she worked out and what incredible shape she was in, I thought she must have just pulled a muscle.  She went on to be very successful in her swim meets which were once a week.  But then we had the week where there were two meets one day right after the other and then her back pain was so intense, she could hardly get out of bed.

We took her to an orthopedist and couldn't believe it when he diagnosed a break in one of the small bones in her back.  She was definitely out of swimming... indefinitely.  A back brace was given with instructions to only take it off for bath or showers.  We were stunned.  She hadn't fallen.  No one had accidentally hit her.  She hadn't slipped into the water and hit the side of the pool.  Nothing.  The doctor went on to explain that a fracture of this kind is common with athletes.  It's a break that happens over time and hers just finally gave in when she swam the two meets back to back.  She was sent to a physical therapist.

I have to tell you that I thought the therapist was a complete idiot.  The moves and so called "exercises" were ridiculously easy... something I would expect a ninety year old woman with a broken hip might do.  Seriously, they were so completely basic and non stressful.  And this was supposed to increase her muscle around her spine so that her back would be supported by a strong muscular frame?  I am not ashamed to say, thankfully, that I was totally wrong.  She was better within a week.  And each and everyday that she did the exercises, she walked a little taller and with much less pain.  It was no time at all and she was back to her old self.  It was most surprising.

Little moves with amazingly big results.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.