Well at least ONE of us has a job!

Brewers, Kapler agree to one-year deal.
($800,000?? Heck, I'd be in heaven with 1/10th of that salary.)

You know you are a true soccer mom when...

...you find out the place you get your car repaired is the same place that Anson Dorrance and his players go to get their vehicles serviced, too!

Ginsu and Me

A couple of my Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sisters from Duke (and me), July 2007.

For a Friend

My new sort-of side project

I really hate making dinner. I hate when my kids call me up and ask, "what's for dinner?" I would eat out every night if I could afford it. I'm sure I'm not the only one. And now, I am ready to be under-employed soon. So, I'm going to try to compile a site full of cheap and easy meals. If anyone would like to contribute a recipe, please let me know or post it in the comments section on that site.

Here's the place, it's not much to look at yet:
http://cheap-easy-dinners.com/

Virtual Lava Lamp

My daughter's friend dug out the old Lava Lamp today, and I have spent much of the evening watching it off and on out of the corner of my eye. It's very soothing.

Here is the best "virtual" Lava Lamp video I could find online, and the music is not too shabby, either,

Happy Belated Birthday, Kasey!

Mr. Keller turned 38 yesterday.

"That I'm old, that's what that says."--Kasey Keller, responding to an interviewer's question about being the only member of the national team pool from the 1990 World Cup team.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

...let a baby taste them!

Babies Eating Lemon - More free videos are here

Sorry for the lack of posts lately!

I've actually been a bit busy with work and holiday travel and a few other little weird things.
Here's some reading material until I think of something clever...

http://zigazoga.typepad.com/zigazoga/2007/11/featured-footba.html

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/articles.aspx?article=2806

You Can Get Anything You Want.

This song holds a weird meaning for me because I actually dated a guy in high school who had memorized all of the the words for some still unknown reason. Also, I was not very nice to this guy at the time. (I am sorry now, Brett. You were always very sweet to me.)

Happy Thanksgiving.

Imagery

I stole this idea from Ursula (whom I don't know, and whose blog I found by reading Patty's. Whom I don't know either, but I find her blog very interesting, and my heart goes out to her.)

Do a Google image search on the answer to each item, and pick a photo from the first page of results. Post the photo. Make everyone think you actually wrote something.
1. Age at next birthday:








2. Place you’d like to travel:








3. Favorite place:









4. Favorite objects:








5. Favorite food:







6. Favorite animal:







7. Favorite color:









8. Town of birth:






9. Town where you live now:








10. Name of past pet:







11. First name of past love:








12. Best friend’s nickname:










13. Your screen name:







14. Your first name:








15. Your middle name:









16. Your last name:









17. Bad habit:













18. First job:








19. Grandma’s name:









20. College major:

Belated Birthday Present?

Clemson's Tommy Drake Named Freshman All-ACC.

Happy 19th Birthday, Buddy

We're so proud of you.

That's My Boy!

You have got to see this shot.

Unfortunately, I cannot (for the life of me) figure out how to embed it, so you'll have to click here.

Oh yeah, and it was a gamewinner. Against Sixth-ranked Boston College. Which is nice.

Let me check...I might have that much in my pocket...

(Someone needs a proofreader at the Chapel Hill Herald.)

No 86 Year Wait This Time.

(Thanks to the Red Sox Chick for the video.)

My Pap-Pap

John E Staskus, 1913-1994.
The only thing I own that belonged to him is this portrait taken when he was about 18, and a pair of kick-ass nail clippers my Nana gave me.

I can't believe it's been 13 years since he died. He was my idol when I was a little kid. So smart, and able to fix anything, even if whatever he fixed didn't look so good once he was finished. And he was hard on people, but you wanted so badly to please him, so you would always do your best.

He would be so very proud of my three kids, I think, even though he barely got to meet them.
I miss you, Pap-Pap, and even though you weren't always the nicest husband to my Nana all the time, I'm sure she misses you, too.

Pork My Ride

Yeah, so, I will be driving around in the Curly's Mobile for a couple of months...got a problem with that?

Bye, bye George!

We got this sweet Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler to replace the old raggedy George Foreman grill that stopped working well several months ago. It cost a bit more that I usually spend for that type of thing, but I have been lusting after this Griddler for several months now. It can be used as a contact grill (like the GF), an open grill, a griddle, or a panini press. The best thing is that the cooking surfaces pop off and go in the dishwasher. So far we have only cooked hot dogs on it but I will keep you posted when we make something else (which will probably be tomorrow.)

For Your Goal Viewing Enjoyment

First ACC start :


A nice PK:


Thanks to Jarrett.

Nothing to see here, move along.

I may have posted this before, but... To the Person Who Searches for "Naked Soccer Moms" EVERY FREAKIN' DAY and ends up here at my blog:

Sorry dude, you really don't want to see that. Trust me. And it's not gonna happen anytime soon so you can stop checking.

If these were real

toothpastefordinner.com

people in Chapel Hill would have them.

Go, baby Tigers!

http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101207aaa.html

http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/101707aaa.html

How to Confuse the 'Cocks...

(...Gamecocks, that is.)

Well if you're not from one of the Carolinas you probably don't know that University of South Carolina fans (the 'Cocks) and Clemson fans (Tigers, duh) really don't like each other much. About as much as the Dukies and the Tar-holes do (Duke and University of NC at Chapel Hill, for you yanks.)

I had to help DH work at the UNC-USC football game this past Saturday. I had been at the Clemson men's soccer game the night before and drove straight to the football stadium in Chapel Hill, from my SC trip. I was still wearing my "Clemson Mom" shirt. Mind you, I am not a Clemson alum (I graduated from Duke like any self-respecting obnoxious Marylander who was born in New Jersey should do).

I had the best time walking around in that bright orange shirt. The USC fans seemed especially confused. Why would anyone in her right mind show up at a UNC-USC game wearing a shirt from a different school, especially as one as hated in their parts as Clemson?

'Cause it's fun to mess with semi-drunk football fans from two schools you don't particularly care for, that's why:
(Note to self: stop posing for pictures in which your chin is mushed up into your neck like Jabba the Hutt.)

The Week in Kid Soccer Scores

The "ladies" did well last weekend, winning the U-15 Silver bracket in the Richmond Kickers' Columbus Day event. Here were the Triangle FC 93 Navy girls scores:

10/07	92 ASC Wildfire	2-0
10/07	U-15 CASL Spirit	1-0
10/06	92 CHSA TCU Lightning	6-1
10/06	92 ASC Wildfire	0-1

Unfortunately Clemson continues to lose:

10/5 vs Maryland, 2-4 and 10/9 vs UNC-Asheville, 1-2. Both games went to OT.

But the MD game was on Fox Soccer Channel, and I did get to see this:

Gapler has a blog

Hot and literate, too. Damn.

It's a good thing we don't live in Montclair anymore.

Because I'd have to beat the snot out of this teacher if one of my kids had a class with him.

Teachers: don't get any funny ideas from this guy. I'm done with homework.

Automatic, 15 years later

you should see the stereogum.com drive xv player here if you have flash

Yes, it's a joke, people...

(Thanks to Red Sox Chick.)

Send Good Thoughts Her Way

Weekend Results

Friday Sept 28
Clemson Men's Soccer 2
Duke 4

Saturday Sept 29
Triangle FC 93 Navy girls 2
Greensboro Gold 1
(EDSP's team is in first place in the standings!
She's never been on a first-place team before.
Congrats, EDSP!)

Sometimes You're Glad They Don't Really Know Everything.

Me: So, J's mom said that her hamster just had babies. She wanted to know if anyone wanted some, but I said we couldn't take one because our cats would probably eat it.

EDSP: Yeah, we were talking about that yesterday. J said that she thought her hamsters were both boys but then she saw one of them sitting on top of the other one so she wasn't sure anymore. Then she thinks they were fighting or something but then about a week later one of them got really fat.

"Sitting on" each other. Gotta love it.

Dance Dance Papelbon

Maybe next year it can be Gabe Kapler out there shakin' it in his skivvies...

Guilty Pleasure

I have to admit, I've seen Garth Brooks live three times, at least. And I'm not even a big country music fan.

This is sort of old news...

...but I'm happy to hear it, even though I never made it to a Greenville game this past summer.

From mlb.com:
When outfielder Gabe Kapler announced his retirement at the age of 31 last winter and became a Minor League manager, it was only logical to wonder if he might get the itch to play again.

Consider the itch real, as Kapler, after managing Boston's low Class A Greenville affiliate this season, has informed the Red Sox of his desire to resume his playing career in 2008.

Read the entire article here. (Unfortunately, no pics.)

Two Wins, Two Losses

Friday Sept 21
Clemson Men's Soccer 0
Wake Forest 1

Saturday Sept 22
ASA Extreme Elite 3
Triangle FC 93 Navy girls 0

Triangle FC 93 Navy girls 3
Bridge FA 93 Gold 2

Sunday Sept 23
NASA G 12 Elite 0
Triangle FC 93 Navy girls 4

Cute Fix for the Day

I can't even imagine three at one time...

One Win, One Loss

This week's results:

Sunday, September 16
Triangle FC 93 Navy G 4
Fuquay-Varina AA 0

Tuesday , September 18
Stetson Men's Soccer 2
Clemson Men's Soccer 1

Here's hoping for more wins starting on Friday when Clemson hosts currently-number-one-ranked Wake Forest at Historic Riggs Field.

Some of the most polite young men you will meet

Weekend Results

Friday 9/7
Clemson 1
Virginia Tech 2 (2OT)

Saturday 9/8
Triangle FC 93 Navy girls 3
Cape Fear White 0

Sunday 9/9
Clemson 1
VCU 0
(photo above taken at Virginia Tech's stadium on Sunday.)

I Do Have Other Children!

EDSP, pictured in orange.

(Photo of MDWINASP, coming soon.)

SP=soccer player (or princess, depending on whom you ask.)
WINASP=who is not a soccer player.

So Was This Worth the 9-Hour Round Trip?

Why yes, it was :)

Old enough to be his...babysitter.

August 31, 1975: Gabe Kapler was born. Happy (Belated) Birthday, Gabe!

"If you aren't checking them, you risk losing them"

How nuts is this? Organizers are asking people to "grab your meat and come out to Atlantic Canada's first ever ribfest fundraiser for testicular cancer awareness."

Called Nuts4ribs, the fundraiser this weekend in Bedford, Nova Scotia features rib cook-offs, music and a nationally acclaimed one-man play by Daniel Schneiderman, titled My Left Nut, a humorous look at a man with testicular cancer.

(I SO want a t-shirt from this event. Think they can send one to NC?)

Facts on Testicular Cancer from the Nuts4Ribs site:

Statistics show that testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in young men between the ages of 18 and 35, and although it accounts for only about one percent of all cancers in men, it is the number one cancer killer among men in their 20s and 30s. Detected early, it is also the most curable form of cancer.

Kasey goes to Craven Cottage

Fulham have signed veteran American goalkeeper Kasey Keller on a free transfer.

The 37-year-old has been available over the summer after leaving Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of last season.

With first choice Antti Niemi currently injured, Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez felt it was important to bring in a new keeper.

Read the whole story at Sky Sports.

Darn, I was hoping he would go to the MLS so I could maybe see him play in person someday. But Premier League is good too :)

I Would Be a Really Lame Homeless Person. Or Thief.

Ok, so this girl ran into the back of my Xterra at a stoplight back at the beginning of July. Nothing major (well, to my vehicle, anyway--hers crumpled up like a used tissue.) I finally got around to having the damage repaired and dropped off the Xterra at the body shop on Monday. Since the insurance company had given me a few extra bucks for a rental, we went to Enterprise where they gave me a tiny little Chevy Aveo (aka "the matchbox car mom is driving.")

All day Monday it was fine. Alas, the Xterra was not ready by Monday night (though the body shop never called me to tell me it wouldn't be), so I kept the Aveo one more day. Tuesday morning I put some gas in it. About ten minutes later, I noticed the check engine light was on. No big deal to me, because my last car, the piece-of-crap Kia Sportage, had a check engine light that was perpetually lit. I looked in the manual just to be sure. "Did you just get fuel?" Why yes, I did. Maybe the gas cap was not put on tight enough. That happens. So anyway I went to work and didn't worry too much about it.

Tuesday afternoon. Pick up soccer player #1, drive home, pick up soccer player #2, drive them to practice in a big fat thunderstorm (which we really, really needed, by the way.) Didn't drive through any huge puddles, lakes, or streams on the way there. The Aveo seems fine. Practice is cancelled (yay!) so we go to get some pizza. Mr. Matchbox Car stalls out in the restaurant parking lot, twice. No big deal still, I think. Maybe something is wet.

One hour later. Fortunately soccer player #1 has been picked up by her dad so we don' t have to take her home. Crank the Aveo. It dies. Crank it again, back up, and it dies. Crank it a third time, roll it across the street to the grocery store parking lot, and it dies. Screw it. I am not driving this tin can anymore.

So I call the Enterprise Road Service number, where they act as if no one's car has ever broken down before. I guess that is their job, but it is sort of amusing. They ask, did I remember to put gas in the car? Yes, as a matter of fact it's full. Did I maybe put diesel in it by mistake? Um, no, I'm not a dumbass.

Enterprise connects me to AAA, who calls a tow truck for me and then tells me I have to wait until it shows up maybe 90 minutes later. And then what? I say. I have no way home. The AAA guy acts surprised and then connects me to another line that just rings about 20 times in a row and then disconnects. Meanwhile I really have to pee so we go in the grocery store where of course they are cleaning the women's room for what seems like thirty minutes. I call my husband and he says he can come pick us up but it will be about a half-hour.

Next, the towing company calls and asks me where I am because AAA has given them the wrong address to the grocery store. They say they will be there in 30 minutes too, not ninety. Okay so far. Except I still have to pee because the teenage boy who is cleaning the bathroom is not familiar with middle-age moms who have marble-sized bladders, and is apparently cleaning the floor with a toothbrush or something.

We see the tow truck coming about fifteen minutes later and I'm not sure what I am supposed to do with all the crap that I have stuffed the car with, so we get a shopping cart and load it up with soccer gear, mailing supplies I had picked up earlier that day, my tote bag, my purse, and some leftover pizza from dinner. The car is taken away and my daughter and I have to sit on a bench in front of the grocery store because, OH! did I mention it was still raining? And that was the only dry place to sit and wait.

Of course we are in one of the higher-end neighborhoods of Chapel Hill, so most of the people coming in and out of the store would look at us, then the shopping cart full of crap, and smile this little sad smile, then look away. If I would have felt safe leaving my daughter outside by herself for a minute, I would have gone into the Harris Teeter and purchased a couple of forties and stuck them right on top of the cart, just to complete the humiliating picture. At that point I think I would have liked to drink one, anyway. Except for the needing to pee part.

So hubby comes along eventually and we unload the cart into his trunk and he says, why don't we go by and see if the Xterra is done? What if it is? I say. Then you can drive it home and come back and pay them for it tomorrow.

Isn't that stealing? I say, and he laughs. It's your car, hon, just call them and tell them you took it. So we went by, and it was there, and it was ready, and I took it. And I felt really guilty.

And then today when I called Enterprise to get the Aveo thing straight, they still wanted to charge me for two days instead of one. And acted like that was some sort of favor they were doing me, because I had somehow mysteriously caused their little tin can to bite the big one. Nu-uh, no ma'am, I am only paying for one day, thanks very much.

PS-The Xterra let me know how much it had missed me by giving off this weird little puff of white smoke and a burnt-plastic smell from under the hood this morning. So it gets to go to the shop AGAIN on Friday.

I wish I lived somewhere where I could ride the bus to work, I truly do.

Finally!

Seems more real now. First scrimmage is tomorrow, you can bet we'll be there!

My "Not-Fair" Whine of the Day

You can get a freakin' LOBSTER sub at Subway in Canada now. Made with 100% real lobster, even. Down here in the US of A, I can't even get my all-time favorite fake seafood and pretend crab sub anymore, because they took it off the menu. That is so not fair.

And, PS, hello? what does a Lobster Sub ringtone sound like??