Saturday, November 26, 2011

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Today was a rough day with Caz. He was way overtired from a sleep over. He had such trouble containing himself. It's very stressful on everyone in the family when it gets like this. It's hard for Demi and me to keep out patience. Especially when he saves his homework for the last possible moment. It takes twice as long to complete and it's a full family participation. Oh no, we're not helping do it. Just a lot of intense discussion about getting it done and doing it right. It happens. Just hard at the time. We will tough it out, as always.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving. It really is a great holiday. Football, food, friends and loved ones. Oh yeah. And pie!

I got up early for a holiday and went to a party. Crazy ain't it. But a high school friend and teammate took over his dad's tradition of hosting a Bloody Mary party before the game. I had been meaning to go for years but never really got to it. But X talked me into it. I am glad he did. It was really nice to see some old friends that I hadn't seen in a very long time. Guys that I grew up with. Guys that I played football with. Guys I went to school with. These are the guys that made football fun for me. These are the guys that worked so hard with me to form a team.

And that is the story I told later that day at the game. To guys I coached with and to the players I coached. This is what I want for my players. I want them to have such a positive experience that they feel like being a part of the team is something special. I want them to look back on this time in the lives and feel it was something good. Only time will tell but I think I am steering them in the right direction.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Helping Hand

With a stroke of luck we happened upon some friends last night. They were planning to volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen. Demi and I had been looking for opportunities to volunteer as a family. We had explored a couple of ideas. But this was just the right thing. There were 3 sittings over a few hours. The boys were great. The director even comment that she would work with them 7 days a week. They were welcome back any time. It was unsolicited too.
Demi asked the boys questions on the way back. She genuinely wanted to make sure they didn't have any unanswered questions. But she also wanted to see what they got out of the whole experience. Based on the questions, conversations, and comments from the boys, it seems like they got the right things out of the experience. Very positive for everyone.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Real End to the Season

If you thought that the end of the regular season for a non-playoff team was THE END of the season, think again. DYF was granted by the governing leauge, OCYFL, a weekend playoff and a weekend Super Bowl slate of games to host. Demi and I worked our tails off those two weekends. The first weekend was about 7 hours on a cold, dark night, with the boys in tow. It wasn't supposed to be that long but it never goes as planned. We took the boys to breakfast the next day as a thank you. We tried to explain that what it means to volunteer, and how it allows them to play football. Oh, and did I mention that I squeaked in a limited equipment hand in before the Super Bowl games. So today is the big Equipment Hand in day. So far the total number of volunteers? 2. I recruited/drafted a part time helper to relieve one of my 2 volunteers. You think I haven't had enough of volunteering by this time but seriously, how do people think volunteer organizations run? It's crazy. I keep saying it. What ruins youth sports is the adults.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Celebration in Little Italy

Dad likes the homemade noodles. So why not have his 73rd birthday dinner at a local Italian restaurant that does it well? A friday night. My brother still has a young child. My kids are old enough to go to nice restaurants. This place looks very appropriate for this time of year. The buildings are made of rock. There is a nicely set up garden center next door. While lights adorn the outlines of the buidlings and walk ways. It looks very much like a traditional Victorian holiday scene.
I think Dad enjoyed himself. He loves when the family is all together no matter where we gather. But I hope he liked his special night out. He's a homebody but he does enjoy a good meal.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Change in Seasons

Well, next weekend is Equipment hand in for football. The season will then be officially over. Such a long lay off in posts. Do I try to go back and recreate history? Or just move forward? There is plent to share from Sept to now. I could probably do one big summary. But each post tends to have it's own life. It's own point. What to do............

The boys have been a couple weeks without practice now. I think the natives are growing restless. They need another activity to start up. It doesn't have to be a sport. It just has to be something to keep them active and exercising. Basketball may have run it's course. Skating never starting. Caz should do running club. Swimming is not a bad idea. They have a couple of days to choose. Then Mom and Dad start choosing.......