A Splash of 21 Humor

Make it fun! Life, that is.

Friday, November 17, 2006

The Making of Champions

I'm coaching rec league basketball again this year, and had my first practice last night. I am super stoked. The girls can play. As much as I adored my 8-year-olds last year, I'm excited that I moved up to the 5th/6th grade league this year. When I drafted my team last year, I chose kids with a well-rounded set of skills - some were excellent shooters, some were better-than-average at dribbling, etc. The team was decent, but may of them didn't have confidence in actually playing the game. This year's tactic was to pick kids that scored high in scrimmaging. I figured, if they can scrimmage, the toning of the skills can come as we work through the season.

It shows already that this will be a successful decision. This team is spunky and eager and completely into playing their hearts out. They're not afraid to throw themselves on the floor when the ball is loose. I LOVE it... My kind of players.

One kid, Cassie, had me cracking up by confirming what I was seeing. After practice, she told me (with the most serious look on her face), "Yeah, I don't really shoot the ball. I'm pretty much the one that just dribbles and dives all over the floor to fight for loose balls."

This may be the year that I regain the championship crown that Marcia, Apryle, and I wore 13 years ago as a result of our OWN diving on the floor...

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Chlorox & Wine: Tales of my Bathroom

It's been kind of a slow week, so some random household stories...

As many of you know, I am a bit of a crazy cleaner. I like my apartment to be spotless. I clean a LOT. In the past I've always hated all Chlorox / bleach products because of the nauseating smell. I've never cleaned with it. Well, I was recently encouraged (and I'm sure you can guess by whom) to move over to the Dark Side in order to combat some persistent mildew in the shower. I have made peace with Chlorox and am sold. NO more mildew. NO more tile stains (rust/water spots) in the hallway. Just white and clean!

I decided to celebrate my non-skeevy bathtub by taking a bubble bath on Friday. I soaked in the tub and drank merlot and watched "The Devil Wears Prada" on my laptop (from the tub!). Here's where it gets scary. After an hour of drinking wine (i.e. - getting drunk) and getting fashion-trend-charged from the movie, I decided I needed an update to my hair (currently long layers). I got some kitchen scissors and went to work. Needless to say, I was was frightened to look in the mirror Saturday morning. But the results were surprisingly good (thank you, baby Jesus)!

Monday, November 13, 2006

Life As Usual

After a crazy October with football, weddings, and travel, November has slowed down quite a bit (except that I have been sick with a sinus infection which left me with some mono relapse... severe fatigue for the past 2 weeks... sleeping 10 hours/night, but things are much better this week).

Notable things I've been up to as of late since you've all been wondering why I went AWOL:

...F&T Banquet- Again, I love my guys (and their awesome wives). Fun to re-live the year and our fav F&T plays from years past (Hollywood!).

...Basketball - Rec league bball is starting up again! I am so excited. This year I'm coaching 5th/6th Grade girls and they are so cool.

...Ice Skating - My adult skating group is hard at work preparing our annual synchro piece for the Christmas recital. I always enjoy skating so much more as the weather turns colder. I'm getting excited as I start to plan my first hors de oevres / cocktail party to be held afterwards, too.

...PSU football / tailgating - Planning a big post-game, belated-Curtis-Bday bar night at the Phyrst on Saturday. Dan, Curtis, me, and the posse will be heading out after PSU beats Michigan State. Call me if you're in town and want to meet up for the singalong!

...General hanging out - Dan and I had a great time drinking wine with Steve & Pam and watching football with Larry, McAdams & Graciela. I enjoyed some serious jewelry shopping with Graciela & Paulynn this past week. Fun new friends.

...Potentially starting a small business on the side (more to come) - Cait and I have been talking, and the plans are in motion...

...and happy hang-time with Dan - Enough said. :-)