Following Darcy

I have been noticing as I walk through my house that everywhere Darcy goes she leaves traces.  I also notice that when I bring it to her attention she has an answer for each trace.  Reasoning:  "I like to leave a little bit of myself so you always think of me." or "I'm leaving a trail so that I know how to get out."  I decided it would make a good blog entry and started taking photos of her path.  She didn't much care for that and now all I have to say is, "Oh, look Darcy was here.  Let me get my camera."

Glass of unknown substance on piano making rings.

Reasoning:  "I exercise the dog and need to hydrate when I come back inside."

Hairbrush in the foyer.

Reasoning:  "I must brush my hair before I go outside to get into the car for school."

Pajamas by her desk in Steelers room.

Reasoning:  "This is also known as my changing room."

Phone and homework on living room couch.

Reasoning:  "This way I can find it in the morning."

Ring on my desk in front of my computer.

Reasoning:  "That ring is cheerful and I thought you could use some cheer."

Wrapping paraphernalia on toy box when we have a wrapping station set up across from this.
Reasoning:  "That's my personal wrapping area."

Jacket on the baker's rack in the kitchen.
Reasoning:  "Notice that it is by the door so that I can grab it on my way out."

2013 Resoultions

2012 Resolution Recap & Check

1. To "work on" not chewing my nails - .  I started the year out well with this resolution, but before I got halfway through the year (where did the year go?) I dropped the ball on this one.  I have to honestly say that I tried to "work on" this one, but failed.  I feel unless I have fake nails I am doomed to always chew.  Score: 1
2. To lower my cholesterol -  I only had my cholesterol checked once this year and it was lower!  Circumstances prevented another check so I can safely give my self a perfect on this one.  New check will happen this month, but the year is already over.   Score: 10
3. To find time and do things only for myself - Hmmm...I did do some of this, but really not enough to say I conquered this resolution.  I'm not even sure I could say I did this half the time.  Score: 3
4. To do a better job of keeping on top of my SAHMly chores - Nope.  I had visions of vacuuming every other day and swishing and swiping the flylady way, but again circumstances.  Who wanted to vacuum that crappy pee stained carpet I use to have?  Now that the carpet and vacuum cleaner have been replaced I think I'll make this my resolution for next year just to see if I can do it.  Score:  1
5. To say something nice to every person I come into contact with daily -  Again, I started off well with this one, but then I just plain forgot about it.  It was hard to remember.   Score:  5

 Total: 20 out of 50 - Not as well as I wanted to do, but thank god I have next year to work on this and more!

2013 Resolutions

1. To get down to a certain weight (which will not be mentioned here for all to see) by eating healthy and exercising. - I have got to get my weight down to see if that will help my physical issues, and I have got to get back into a exercise routine.  I'm not happy with the way I feel or look.  A friend of mine is also going to make this her resolution so perhaps having someone working alongside me will help.
2. To organize my schedule, my desk, my home, and to finish the scanning/organizing of photos.  That means getting rid of stuff and boxing up and storing other stuff. - Okay, I'm not really sure what I mean with this one.  I just want my house and desk and life to be more balanced and organized.
3. To work on my patience and try to not be so uptight.  To channel my inner Sharon Gardner and Sharon Royer, two people who I think handle life calmly. - I want to enjoy my life and not be so uptight.  I have plenty to be thankful for, but little things emerge in my life and I get so stressed and I don't feel I handle it well.  I want to handle it better.
4. To get into couponing to save money. - Darcy did this this summer and I helped her.  I try to do it now, but usually forget the coupons when shopping.  I will conquer it this year!
5. To contribute more articles to Yahoo and Google and try to earn some cash. - Hey, this is easy.  I can write.  I need to just do it.

Happy New Year Everyone!  Thanks for reading!

Monday morning sports recap - week #17

Steelers:  Ended on a win that meant nothing regarding continuing in the playoffs.  Gotta take it when we can get it despite the meaninglessness off it.  Long season without much satisfaction, but we did have big egos, lots of injuries, poor offensive coaching calls, many penalties, tons of dropped passes, and the number one defense in the league.

Defense - I'll lead with them because once again they played like the #1 group that they are.  We had sacks.  We had forced fumbles.  We had a Troy Polamalu interception.  If only we had all of that every game this year.

Plaxico Burress - He caught one in the endzone for a touchdown, and I don't care what anyone thinks he will remember that one for the rest of his life.  Burress has already admitted that he made a mistake in leaving Pittsburgh so being back and scoring had to be gratifying.

Mike Wallace - He didn't play due to injury.  I don't think he cares whether he plays for the Steelers ever again.  He has a big head and a lot of disrespect for an organization that certainly doesn't deserve that.  Big Ben says he supports Wallace and wants him back, but my question is whether Wallace wants to even be back with Ben or the Steelers.  Maybe that big contract to Antonio Brown was the right decision in the long run.

Other:  How could I forget those teams that sit out their main players?  My bad.

Adrian Peterson - What a fabulous performance!  At one point it was taking 7 defensive Packer players to pull him to the ground.  This man is so smoking hot that he sizzles when he runs.  So much fun to watch.

Jets - Should have given Tebow a shot.  Couldn't have been any worse.

Colts - Coach Chuck Pagano returned to the sideline with his team after missing most of the year fighting cancer.  It was emotional not only for him, the players and the fans, but it was that way for anyone watching football this weekend.  This team is a group of fighters like their coach, and I have to say that despite my misgivings in releasing Peyton Manning and coach Jim Caldwell it looks like this owner might just know what he is doing when it comes to football.

Texans - How could you really want to beat the Colts knowing that Pagano was back on the field?  Even Adrian Foster showed his respect after scoring by touching and bowing to the "Chuckstrong" banner in the endzone.  After the game most of the Texan players made a point to speak with Pagano who grabbed everyone of them into a big ole bear hug.  Sometimes life is just more important than football.

Saints sign coach - I'm looking forward to next season when we don't have to hear about the Saints and their bountygate anymore.  So Sean Payton scored big by signing a five year contract extension.  Did anyone think he wouldn't?  He has something to prove getting back into the dome, and I look for the Saints to be contenders next year if they continue riding on their "we were done wrong" emotion.

Black Monday - The Monday after week 17 in the NFL arrived with a bang.  So far five coaches have been fired; the Eagles Andy Reid, the Bills Chan Gailey, the Browns Pat Shurmur, the Bears Lovie Smith, and the Chiefs Romeo Crennel.  Two GM's have been fired; the Browns and the Jets.  The Jets have elected to keep coach Rex Ryan, a move I'm not sure is the right one.  So far no word on Chargers coach Norv Turner, but he too is expected to get the boot.  Lovie Smith was a surprise, but the Bears, despite a win yesterday, lost their bid for the playoffs when the Minnesota Vikings beat the Packers to slide in ahead of them.  I'm hoping Andy Reid will take a year off to regroup before applying anywhere.  I think after 14 years with the Eagles and his last five years of personal troubles he needs to take a break.  Will be interesting to watch where everyone lands.

Sunday football picks - week # 17

Last Week -  11 - 5

Overall - 154 - 85

Atlanta over Tampa Bay - Tampa seems to be in the same sort of locker room upheaval they had last year only this time they dislike the coach. Not thinking that translate in winning against the division leader.

Buffalo over Jets - Lots of drama with Tim Tebow isn't helping this team despite what they might have wanted or thought when they acquired him. He is the third quarterback and while the first was benched and the back up now injured the third isn't who Big Rex is going to. Instead he is going back to Sanchez who apparently has learned his lesson after one time out.

Baltimore over Cincinnati - i don't see the Ravens losing this division game and I don't see the Bengals winning it.

Detroit over Chicago - My Chicago nephews differ with me on this one and they could be right. I went back and forth on this game. The Bears have to win to stay alive, but that is just the kind of stuff that makes the Lions play harder. It is a meaningless game for them, but they won't want the Bears to succeed.

Tennesse over Jacksonville - These two teams have to play because, but does anyone care?

Indianapolis over Houston - This is my wild card game. Houston got beat last week, but the Colts are at home with their coach returning after cancer treatment and I don't see them letting him down. Pure emotion will drive them to the win.

New Orleans over Carolina - Still out to prove things, the Saints will show Cam Newton what is what in the game of football.

Giants over Eagles - I think that Manning and Coughlin will want to go out on a win that might help to erase all the losses they have racked up these past few weeks.  The Eagles?  Just plain sad.

Pittsburgh over Cleveland - Home game with fans that are loyal despite the recent play...Sure hope the Steelers go out on a win.

Denver over Kansas City - Did anyone think the Chiefs would play crazy enough to win this game?

Green Bay over Minnesota - This is a must win for the Vikings and at the beginning of the year I might have picked these guys, but mid season they faulted and the last two weeks they picked it up, but not sure it is enough to surpass a team that picked up speed and never faulted.

New England over Miami - Yes, the Patriots had some problems in some games, but they usually finish strong as they ready for the playoffs and I don't see them losing here.

San Diego over Oakland - Another who cares game.

San Francisco over Arizona - Poor Arizona.  Ken should have stayed in Pittsburgh where he was doing some good for a team.  Ben probably wishes he had him now instead of Haley and he didn't much care for Whisenhunt's mouth.  No matter their O line is in trouble and won't help them against a 49ers team that is hoping to win more games.

Seattle over St. Louis - Seattle needs it and wants it and will get it.

Washington over Dallas - The Redskins need this win as do the Cowboys.  Could be an interesting game, but my money is on RGIII the rookie.

Christmas 2012 pictures

Iphone photos: (because my camera was broken...dead)

Christmas Tree 2012

Christmas Eve dinner

Peppermint Christmas coffee

Elliot opening his stocking

Kelly's new Ipad

 New camera photos: (with camera received for Christmas)

Elliot helping Tom open gifts

Cara's Steelers Monkey

New Flag

Darcy's Christmas Loot

Madison's Christmas Loot

Connie yearly foot wrap up

Just when things seem to be going well the foot and ankle started swelling. The first bout cured with just some pressure stockings. The second bout cured with a round of antibiotics. Now we are on the third bout and because if the holidays the Foot God was on vacation. We saw the cutie patootie doctor instead. He didn't seem too excited about the swelling or the strange blotches.

 

He ordered a type of wet dressing that tightens as it dries.  It is a type of cast, but one that allows mobility and reduces the swelling.  She will wear it a week and return to see the Foot God next year.  Connie inquired about a MRI since it had been some time since she last had one, and he agreed it might be time so she had some images taken of her foot.  The Foot God will go over those with her next week.  Minimal walking.  She continues in the wheelchair and with the foot as the two year mark passes.

Merry Christmas

Cara & Rusty & Santa 1969

Cara, Rusty & their loot 1970

Cara & Rusty decorating the tree 1972

Darcy, Madison & Santa 2002

Austin, Gabby, Madison & Darcy 2003

Darcy, Madison & their loot 2006

Monday morning sports recap - Week #16

Steelers: Ended their season with a typical loss.

Ben - He didn't like the hiring of Todd Haley. I blame him for refusing to be the bigger man, but Tomlin should have nipped all of that in the bud long ago. Ben hasn't looked like he cared about Steelers football for the past two games, let alone the past few years. Charlie Batch would have played with more heart today.

Defense - Can't fault them. Kudos to the player of the game - Cortez Allen.

Odd calls - Both coaches made strange calls on 4th down and none of them worked. Not the best game from either team.

Injuries - So tired of these. Someone should work hard at conditioning these guys in the off season as well as during the season. But that too is a poor excuse because you have got to plan for that sort of thing. Be prepared. Where is the heart that we use to have when things went south? We use to rally and make things happen. Hope that heart comes back.

Off season - Well should be interesting. I bet we lose quite a few guys, including Polamalu, because we can't afford to pay these guys who keep getting hurt. Cut Wallace loose.  He doesn't want to be here.  Some of the older guys will be gone.  Have to rework this team because it isn't working.  I'll have to not whine when we lose guys I love, but they didn't work together well this year.  We have got to get our heart back.  This organization is too good.

Immaculate reception - All week Pittsburgh and the Steelers have celebrated the 1972 catch by Franco Harris that still causes Raiders fans to come unglued. The team, along with Harris and several teammates, dedicated a monument in the spot of the old Three Rivers Stadium where the reception was made that pushed the Steelers further into the playoffs and toward their first Super Bowl win. Terry Bradshaw did a nice piece on Fox's Pre-game show. Too bad this Steelers team couldn't have honored that 40th anniversary.


Other:

Cincinnati / Indianapolis - Both teams clinched the AFC wildcard spots for the playoffs. I'll be rooting for the Colts.

Houston - The Texans let the Minnesota Vikings run all over them and then had to watch as their main running back, Arian Foster, went into the locker room during the third quarter.  So much for home field advantage during the playoffs.  Foster is reported to have an irregular heartbeat and it is being downplayed, but the meltdown that the Texans had is more disturbing to the fans who booed the team yesterday.  Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about it.  The team is in.  These last two games are chump change despite getting home field advantage.  We all know teams relax and stretch during these weeks.  What matters is how they play come playoffs.

Seattle - I should have gone with them.  I knew when they played the Steelers that this team had something, especially with their defense.  For the third week in a row they stomped on their opponent racking up major points.  The Seahawks could have scored more than 50 points, but according to Yahoo Sports Blog, Morning Rush, coach Pete Carroll said the team had more class than that.  Hmmm...since when?  But maybe Carroll knew it was Jim Harbaugh's birthday and didn't want to hurt him too deeply.

Rookie of the year - For the past few weeks all I've heard is RGIII and Andrew Luck, with Luck a head by a smidgen, but I've said all along that I believe Seattle's Russell Wilson is the rookie that should be on the podium.  He's the one on the team that no one thought or talked about.  He's the one that is now on the team that has turned heads and turned itself around.  He is the rookie that has thrown the most passes, 25, only one pass behind the leader Peyton Manning who threw 26 as a rookie.  I think he is a strong contender and doesn't belong in the third spot behind the other two.

Oakland/Carolina game - It got a bit heated after the Panthers injured Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer.  According to defensive lineman Tommy Kelly the Raiders made it their mission to go after Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.  First of all, what a stupid thing to say publicly after all of the Bounty Gate with the New Orleans Saints.  But secondly, that is the sort of thing I'm talking about with the Steelers.  Here is a team that got motivated when the other team took down and injured a player.  That would piss me off too and make me want to fight, fight, fight and win, win, win.  Going after Newton is the defense's job.  Unfortunately, they got a little too excited and rough, as the Raiders are known to do, and they drew some stupid fouls for pushing down on Newton while trying to stand.  But the fact that they got motivated is what is missing with the Steelers offense.  Get fired up when the other team attacks you, for heaven's sake!  (Although let's not try to kill people that is not what I'm saying here)

Teams - Some teams had to win and some did just that; Minnesota, Washington, Seattle while other teams didn't; Steelers, Giants.  Watch for those teams to be the leaders in the playoffs because they have the drive.  Remember the Giants last year?  No one thought them a contender when they made the playoffs. 

Sunday football picks - Week #16

Last Week - 9 - 7

Overall - 144 - 80

 

New Orleans over Dallas - I'm not sure what my thinking on this was.  Perhaps I was still annoyed from last week?  New Orleans is out of things I believe so winning does nothing except screw up the Cowboys.  Wouldn't that be sweet?

Green Bay over Tennessee - Yeah, this was a no-brainer despite the Titans beating the Jets on Monday night.  Did you read that?  Beating the Jets.  Ain't the same as beating the Packers.

Indianapolis over Kansas City - Indianapolis has to win this game.  Gee, how hard is that?

Miami over Buffalo - I picked Miami for the hell of it because when I don't they win and this week they are at home.

Jets over Chargers - Uh, not sure my thinking on this one either, but I'm starting to see a pattern, aren't you?  No Sanchez as quarterback for the Jets and no Tebow either so this might be interesting.  The Chargers might want to play or they might not want to.  Who knows?

Washington over Philadelphia - The Eagles are out of it despite their better play after the firing of several people.  Washington, Dallas, and New York are all tied and fighting to the death so I don't see the Eagles winning over a team that has got to win and that has heart.

Pittsburgh over Cincinnati -  Crucial game for both teams.  Could be bloody.  We will see who wants it more.

Tampa Bay over St. Louis - I don't know why I keep picking the Bucs because they either don't have faith in themselves or their coaches, but I certainly hope they keep on chugging because it is their job.

Carolina over Oakland - Pretty much these two teams are fighting each other for nothing so I went with the team I thought had more guts.

New England over Jacksonville - Gee, some teams get breaks at the end, don't they?  A walk in the park for Tom Brady and company.

Houston over Minnesota - This is a big game for Minnesota, but I think the Texans still want to prove something to the public and media so that's why I went with them, but look for Adrian Peterson to try to prove me wrong.

Denver over Cleveland - Peyton Manning is working to get to the bowl so he won't be letting the Browns take charge.

Chicago over Arizona - Da Bears are tied with the Vikings so they too will be looking for a win here.  The Cardinals?  I think they are still looking for a way to play winning football and it is too late.

Baltimore over Giants - This should be a good game if the Giants feel like playing the kind of game they were playing five weeks ago.  Both teams are coming off of three weeks of losing.  Both teams need this game or need other teams to lose if they can't.  I just went with the team I think is meaner.

San Fransisco over Seattle - The Seahawks need this game and the 49ers don't, but that isn't the way Jim Harbaugh plays so I think he will like sticking it to Pete Carroll.  But I don't think it will be an easy game as Seattle's defense is awfully tough.

Visiting Grandma

Grandma so enjoys visiting with her granddaughters!

He does care

A couple of days ago I was lamenting the loss of Madison's high school principal last year. She was part of the county early retirement program, and despite the administration moving her to our school to bring it up a notch and to oversee the arrival of the International Baccalaureate program, she was held to her enrollment in DROP and she retired. I felt it was a huge loss. She was always very prominent around the school talking to the kids, encouraging them, listening to them, and laughing with them. She was outside at arrival and pick up and always around when the school had meetings and functions greeting parents and shaking hands. She brought the school to an A grade in Florida's ridiculous school grading system and generally made us all feel like we were part of a community.

Her replacement, our current principal, is not so personable. I have seen the man one time since school started this year and that was at the back to school information night. Since then I've not seen hair nor hide of him nor have I heard from him. His biggest accomplishment has been changing the dress code for the school. Girls, not boys, are required to wear pants or skirts that reach their knees, blah, blah, blah. He doesn't even record the phone messages that are sent out each Sunday to parents, instead giving that job to an assistant principal. He is rarely in the hallways during school, and I've never seen him out and about at pick-up.  He does write a brief letter for the school newsletter and he does make some of the morning announcements, always cheering on the school and insisting the school is making the leaders of tomorrow.

So I was whining some about all of this to my mother on Wednesday. I would appreciate a principal who gets out among the people, especially the kids. I find it odd that we would go from one extreme to the other, and I wonder whose bright idea it was to hire this invisible man. Then I came home to find the object of my disdain on my message machine. Apparently there had been rumors of school violence planned in several schools for Friday and our principal wanted to assure us.

Nice of him to get involved. His voice was strong and he didn't stutter in reading his script. While the message, which has been emailed to me daily since the phone message, was well written and meant to reassure I still felt our principal thought the whole thing annoying, but then again I don't really know the man. At least he felt this important enough to lend his voice to. I'm hoping this will be the beginning of a new year of more exposure and hopefully it will be for mundane reasons as well as important ones.