crazy snapshot of life

It has been a roller coaster ride this week. We just wrapped up field hockey this week with a final game in the pouring rain. It was senior night, which involves posters, balloons, announcements, cream of crab soup (chesapeake high school tradition), large plaques, programs, the list goes on. There is a team dinner at the most expensive restaurant in the 'dena to give awards to the players. It also involves christmas ornaments for all the players, a slide show, and senior blankets. Do I need to go on? And did I mention there is no money in the kitty of any of this? I heard the money was spent last year on a scholarship (thats good) and pandora bracelets for seniors (thats bad). Maddie's Cupcake Wars was this week. Wow..what talent! And the kitchen was no worse for the wear. Everyone did a phenomenal job. And as we close out the week, Alan's mom has joined George Robert. She had been very ill and in alot of pain that could not be controlled. It is difficult for the sons and daughter, but her physical well being has gone downhill since the summer. i also think she gave up and as she told Alan last week..."I am ready to get out of here'" She lived a tough life, raising 6 kids, maintaining a farming life, and dealing with life's tragedies. I don't think she ever left the kitchen in the earlier years I knew her. She will be missed by her family. One funny moment worth mentioning..I had gone to St. Mary's County one weekend to bring her to our house for a visit. I got about halfway up the road when a woman stupidly pulled in front of me and I hit her. Yes, the only car accident I have ever had and it had to be with my mother in law in the car. needless to say, she didn't come home with me..she had her son pick her up and take her home. Rest in Peace Mary Adams.

the busy season begins

I love this time of year...weather is glorious, leaves are ablazing, and it begins the busiest time of year for most. Maddie turns 14 on Monday as we launch the season. Being the great party hosts we are, Maddie is doing another top notch event..Cupcake Wars. Last year, we did Top Chef Pasadena. 12 girls participated..3 teams of 4. They did an appetizer, entree, and dessert. It went as smoothly as one could expect with 12 girls in your kitchen, except maybe having someone pour a pot of oil down the sink. This year, we will avoid that. We are doing Cupcake Wars. Girls will be doing 2 rounds...one is a single cupcake for flavor, the final is 3 cupcakes with taste and appearance. Let the games begin. Halloween follows close behind. Guess I better put a spider up or something. Then we have my birthday, where we throw a huge dance party. This a tawdry event...shots, dancing, barfing in the wood pile, sex acts in the bathroom (you know who you are)...as one guest remarked "This is like seniors gone wild".... Then there's Thanksgiving..a big event for the Burns family. Followed by Christmas, which we have no memory of from last year as I mentioned previously. Whew.... Off to buy fondant, homecoming accessories, and fix Andrew's glasses...he's home as well...

high school sports

I am deep into the field hockey season at the local high school and I walked in as a high school sports virgin. My extra curricular activities with Andrew were always music and drama. That's pretty straight forward...rehearsal time a couple of time a week, some costume requests, and 3 performances. This has been a whole different ball game. Practice 5-6 days a week, in between games. We are responsible for supplying treat bags for your 'big sister'-someone on varsity, as they supply one for you on game day. I was just given 25 fundraiser cards to sell..its a lottery thing. Yes, 25. And no, I have no desire to stand out in front of a grocery store begging people to buy them. We have texas roadhouse fundraiseer. And to top all this off, we do team dinners once a week...girls (19 in all) come to your house or you go to the field and supply dinner for all of them. Fortunately, a varsity mother stepped up and we did it in the cafeteria...quick and easy. I realize sports and the arts are the least funded in public schools and this certainly seems to emphasize the point. I don't remember any of this when I was in high school. Then again, I think I did bowling.

viewings

Really? I have viewings of my page? Who would that be? My mother most likely....and maybe she views 95 times a month to make me feel good. Thanks Mom. So, we headed to the Fells Point Fun Fest this weekend, which is always a fun fest of great music, quirky people, and an arrays of creative folks selling their wares. It was a chilly day, cloudy, little rain..couldn't tell that with some women wearing a bootie dress (better not bend over), stillettos, and some pink fur thing to keep her arms warm. I also liked a sighting of llama fur leg warmers Guess her calves were warm. It seems to grow larger and larger in size. But then again, crafters can pay a good size fee and sell their creative...uh...stuff. I wasn't really sure about the dog leashes you wrap around your waist. Or the cell phone pocket pack. It looked like someone ripped the pocket off of a safari jacket and attached a hook on it so you could hang your cell phone onto your pants. Sorta like a pocket size fanny pack. I threatened my daughter with buying one, and pairing it with a nice pair of 'shape ups' tennis shoes. She walked away very quickly. The up side is great second hand bargains...found a solid cherry table for 15.00. and LP's for a buck a piece. granted, I don't have a turntable, but a small detail. Our good family friend from Florida joined us-always good to connect with long time friends. Even if they are Republican.

Ah the memories?

I realize time is marching on and now that I am well into my...er....50's...seems the memory synposis is not. I recently had a conversation with my older mother (age is a state of mind) where we discussed the upcoming holiday celebrations. here is the conversation: Mom: So, we will do Thanksgiving at Tim's this year. What shall we do for Christmas? Me: How bout we do what we did last year and have at our house? Mom: We had Christmas at your house? Me: Yes, don't u remember? We did lobster. And some other kind of meat..... Mom: Really? I'll bet that was delicious. Me: Yes it was. You rwally enjoyed it. I have no recollection what else we did..Maddie! What did we do for Christmas last year? Maddie: Sigh...We had the family over Christmas eve. We had lobster, short ribs, scalloped potatoes. Grandma spent the night. Opened gifts in the morning. Grandma went home. Mom; I SPENT THE NIGHT??? No I didn't.... Maddie: yes, u did. And you had Christmas brunch party at your house. Me: Who was there? Maddie: You were Mom. sheesh... I am very grateful I have a memory keeper in my family.

emotional rollercoaster

The weather has finally cleared and storms are over. looking like fall by the end of the week. The weekend brought a variety of emotions and most of the crazy people who live in Pasadena on Saturday to the library. Now, I am a believer in the full moon syndrome, which happened to be Saturday. Three in a row...one was a patron who needed award winning PICTURE books with substance because, as she announced in a very loud incredulous voice "I have to read 28 books in 5 weeks!!" Picture books people... This was followed by a woman wanting a travel book by Robin Leech, which in reality was Rick Teach. Started out like a normal transaction until she launched into her recent blind date experiences and how men of a certain age can't appreciate women with brains, and that they don't value her....huh? And finally we have the 14 year old who's library card has gone to collections because her books were returned months after they were due. She came in with her dad, who now has custody of her and hands me an address. This is his ex-wife's address..send all the bills to her. Well sir, its your daughters card. i don't care...send the bill to her..she is the one who got her the card. Well, can't do that..despite wanting to screw your ex-wife in any way possible and sticking your 14 year old in the middle. So, Sunday was 9/11. Lots of memories. many sad ones. I am better off focusing on the new memorial, which is beautiful and touching. The new train station is positioned just right where EVERY year on 9/11, a beam of sunlight will divide the station in half at exactly 8 46 and 10 28....how cool is that? The afternoon was the Ravens first season opener..against the Steelers. Always apprehensive when they play the Steelers, but no need to be on Sunday. They dominated the game and kicked some serious butt. I have never seen them play as well as they did that afternoon..so back to being euphoric. I hope to visit here sooner than i have been...certainly been slacking more.

Politics and weather

I am waking up to reports of major flooding. We just recovered from Hurricane Irene. This is the remnanats of Tropical storm Lee and it has been raining for 5 days now. Not just raining-pouring. So, just to review, we had a tornado in early August in out area. That was followed by an earthquake. Then Irene moved in. Really...is God telling us something? Speaking of messages, the GOP candidates had a debate last night. Wow, talk about watching the center ring of Ringling Brothers. Seems the top 2 candidates are Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. I have mixed feelings..this might be very good for Obama, or it could be very scary. I don't know who is scarier-Bachman or Perry. Bachman is convinced we are headed to Socialism..which when you hear her speak about it, it sounds like dictatorship. I heard on the radio yesterday Americans have the least number of vacation days in the entire world. Wow-guess its better to be miserable than a socialist. I will end on a positive note...football starts today. Oh joy! Unfortunately, it starts on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Sure are having our share of ups and downs. Go Saints.