I am on the edge and need a break without one in sight.  Maybe if I blogging will help put it into perspective for me.

A major project at work is requiring me to travel this week and next.  Not a big deal except that means I have to pack into the weekend what I do on weeknights.  Then the actual trip is going from 5:30am until 10:45pm first day, today 5:30am until 9:14pm.  Down times for a few minutes, but not real quality time.  I have had a headache all day that pain relief is not helping and a few things happended to prepare for tomorrow that pushed me over the edge.  And we still had dinner.  I should have just ordered room service and chilled out. 

Next week might be better, but I am also working in some projects that need to be done for the girl’s school and Parent Teacher Foundation that are hard deadlines. 

Last week my left side went numb, face, shoulder, arm and leg.  Doctor sent me for a CAT scan with no problems, so I am figuring it is probably stress.   With this project I have until the end of May to eliminate that factor, so who knows.

If you are reading this send good karma my way with a sprinkle of restful thoughts.

Facebook has an application where you can vote on who is the nicest person. I updated my status with my thoughts on this contest.

Amy is too nice to enter the nicest person contest. I would hate to make the others feel bad when I win. That is not very nice.

Hubby also had a comment:

Mark isn’t nice enough to enter the nicest person contest to prevent someone else from coming in last. That is too nice.

I have been aware of media bias and political spin, but never have seen if first hand. Until now. If you keep up with me on Twitter and Facebook, you will know I have become politically active in the Tea Party movement. What an eye opener it has been. Until the smoke clears, I can’t say much or dare not until my anger cools.

I thought this was totally cool but alas, it was just a joke.

This always makes me laugh. Some of my favorite Muppets. To bad Miss Piggy was not in it…

Found by the anti-MIL here.

So, as a whole, I do not mention politics much here, but that may change.  

I have never been active in politics, nor do I plan to on a politician level.  However, I am very concerned about the stimulus bill just passes, the possibility of tax increases for my family, and the amount of spending our government is doing.  My beliefs are we should have a minimalist government and we are not moving in that direction.

I attended the Dallas Tea Party on February 27th and found I agreed with what they were protesting.  They talked about the future of our kids – not being more prospersous than us.  They listed items in the stimulus package that was just plain fluff.  (I am in some of the pictures!)

So, I am putting my efforts towards a Tea Party to be held on April 15th, close to me in Burleson.  I have already helped setup a facebook group, event, and have volunteered for more!

But I do have a fear.  As you may have guessed, I am a people pleaser.  Being vocal about my views may not make everyone happy.  But I will move forward with my stong beliefs and deal with the unhappy ones.

I thought of a friend today when I heard Diana Ross’s song “I’m Coming Out“.

Specifically this part:

There’s a new me coming out
And I just had to live
And I wanna give
I’m completely positive
I think this time around
I am gonna do it
Like you never knew it
Ooh, I’ll make it through

When I took on the coaching gig for my 3rd grade daughter’s team, I figured I would regret it.  But it was for her.  Little did I know how good it would be for me.  So here is a bullet recap and random thoughts.

Our last game was this Saturday and we all dreading it since we would be playing the best team that had already stomped us twice.  I was honest with the girls and we all knew it would be a tough game.  In our practice we went over a few of the basics and worked on our weak points.  

Friday evening I get a call from the league coordinator asking if we would play a double header.  One team had forfieted and he wanted the other team to have a chance.  I asked the girls before the first game and they all enthusastically agreed. I was worried and it seem the only ones who hesitated were the parents.  I think the girls liked the idea of getting to play more.  

First game starts.  We stuggle, but then the girls gel and we are giving them a run for their money.  They beat us by two baskets, but only because they put their talest girl on our shortest to keep her from scoring.  Heh!  Our best game ever!  

It was great to see the girls improve, not just on our team.  

Our shortest girl plays with the most effort and makes up for it with umph.  Her parents were concerned a few times when she was matched up with a taller girl, but I knew she could handle it.

This was the first time my daughter has played.  She has improved 300%!  She can dribble, shoot, defend her dribble with her arm, and play awesome defense.  I know I am biased, but I see stars when she plays.  Not future scholarship stars, but the aura of fun and enjoyment.  She likes to play.

I have never played team sports, so watching the team dynamics and peer pressure was interesting.  I was suprised how the girls expressed their dissatifaction with a teammate who seem to get hurt all the time and gave up easily.  She was told to suck it up and point blank asked why she always got hurt.  Ouch, but it needed to be said.  

I have a new admiration for the sport of basketball.  I don’t think I will ever get into pro, but now that I understand the basics, I can appreciate the game.  I wish I had played in high school.

During our second game, the other team agreed to let my younger daughter play.  We were short 1 girl and had just played a game, so we wanted to give the girls a chance to sit out a period.  I sold it with that and that she was “only” a second grader.  Ended up she made about 3 baskets, defended like she should, and gelled with the team.  She was at our practices and helped out when we needed an extra, so I know that helped.  

There are various coaching styles out there and I was able to observe several examples of what not to do.  

Most of the mothers knew more about the sport than I did (which was nothing) and helped out at the practices.  They were honorary coaches!

I was challenged by many aspects of it (mostly the referring), but I enjoyed it and will coach again next year if I can.

Once there was ten good dogs. They had one favorite thing to do. It was to do good. They were superheros. Their team name was “The Friends of Good”. They saved people a lot. They only slept and saved. They never let each other down. They had the best time anyone they knew ever had. It was the best time of their lives. They loved cats, fish and horses. That is still not their favorite thing. Their friendship never ended.

The End.

note: written in the car going to Costco.