Game Day

To all my Ohio State friends out there in blogland... O-H-I-O!

Go Buckeyes!!

Sunday Scramblings

So I am not blogging about big Buckeye games anymore. I think my blog is jinxed. But I have to say that the Buckeyes played a good game and I am still proud to be a Buckeye this am. Those boys have nothing to hang their heads about.

This is our first weekend without Matt here. So far it still has the "daddy is on a business trip" feel to it. Matt travels so much, especially from January to July (which won't be even half that in Japan, woot!), that we are used to fending for ourselves. Once we hit about 10 days I am sure reality will start sinking in.

Friday night after Emily's practice the kids all stayed for a 3 hour open gym. I used that time for myself (Just like a orovo user treating herself for the night). Went to dinner (and not fast food), got my toes painted (it was the best pedicure I have ever gotten) and treated myself to Starbucks (note to self: No more lattes at 8 pm). I figure there won't be many more opportunities for myself in the next few months so I took advantage of it. Then somehow I wound up with 4 extra kids (I deserve mother of the year) for the night, bring me to a total of 7 kids. I was totally outnumbered.

Yesterday morning I went grocery shopping. Matt would die if he saw how much I bought considering I am supposed to be thinning out my never ending food supply around here. (Note to self: Look into finding food shopping addict help group) We then had Chris's football game, where they put another line in the win column, remaining undefeated for the season. Afterwards we went to dinner with our neighbors to a Japanese Steakhouse that opened here in town. The owners are actually from Tokyo so I was able to practice some of my Japanese with them. My teacher would be so proud. Then of course we had the game.

Today I am using the morning to get our house back in order. Trying to get everything ready for Matt over the past few weeks has turned my usually organized house into a land of chaos. I just need to figure out where to start. This afternoon the kids have their Japanese lesson and then mine follows that.

Over the course of the next few weeks I need to start going through drawers and closets weeding out what we will take with us and what we will put in storage. It is easy deciding furniture and such, but the small things, not so much. One of Emily's teachers had been overseas in Germany for 4 years. She told me that it was funny to get their storage back after that time and see what they had put in there.

So there you have it. Our boring weekend in a nutshell. And you will hear no complaints from me. Of course if my children do not stop slamming doors and chasing each other screaming how horrible each other are I may have to start blogging from prison (note to self: Check into Internet access availability in jail).

On a side note I have a few friends that I would love to have some extra thoughts for. First, our good friend Kate's (her DH is Matt's BFF) dad was diagnosed with lung cancer on Wednesday. Jim is an awesome man and I ache for the family. Then my extra special friend Jamie was rushed to the ER and had emergency surgery yesterday morning to remove her gall bladder. During the surgery they found some issues with her bowels and she is having another surgery this am to correct that. All of this came out of the blue and is so strange considering I was just there 2 weeks ago. Finally, my ultra-talented kick butt friend Val is having surgery on Thursday. When it rains it pours, huh? So many things going on and I hate not being there for any of them. I just hope they know that they are never far from my thoughts.

What is going on tomorrow?

Not going to jinx it, but I know you want to see what I am talking about.

Days... Days... Days...

Days until Matt leaves .......... 7
Days until David Cook's Album comes out.............. 33
Days until Matt comes back for Thanksgiving (Just confirmed this morning)................... 35
Days until Ohio State Plays Michigan......... 37
Days until they pack our sea carton ............. 63
Days until Christmas.................... 70
Days until New Years .................. 77
Days until Emily's first meet................... 87
Days until Emily's 13th birthday..................... 89
Days until we leave for Japan....................... 96

Weekend Wrap Up

It's been a productive, yet very fun, weekend.

Friday night I finished cleaning the house (yes another thing off my to-do list!) while Matt cleaned up the boat. Afterwards, Emily had a friend spend the night and we just hung out around here.I think Matt enjoyed spending some extra time with Emily and her friend.

Yesterday we dropped Emily off at practice and then spent the morning getting some stock up items for Matt's air shipment (they are packing his stuff on Oct. 15), as well as picking out a small TV for our bedroom in Japan. The old tube TV in our bedroom here will become victim of the "digital converter" in February, so it just made better sense to get a new one for Matt to take with him. While a pop up tv would be pretty cool so we won't have to see it all the time, we just settled on one to mount on the bedroom wall.

Last night Matt and I caught up with some of our closest friends, Matt and Kate, as they were in town from Ohio for the night before they headed to the beach for the week. We managed to catch dinner and the big Buckeye game (what a win!). We will be meeting up with them and their kids at the beach next weekend. I am looking forward to spending some time with them. It's hard to believe and Matt and Matt (imagine calling their place during college) have been best friends for over 15 years.

This morning the kids had their second language class (they are loving their teacher) and then we met Val and her family. Yes they are here! We spend the afternoon tubing, skiing, wake boarding and swimming out on the boat and then went to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for supper. It was funny watching the kids. There was no awkwardness and it was like we have never been apart. Val and the kids are here all week and Neil is here until Tuesday night. I can't wait to show them some of the cool places in the Raleigh area. I am sure I will have lots of pictures from the week to share.

So what did you do this weekend? Leave me a comment and give me a wrap up.

A Look to the Past

March 20, 1998 –– Ten years ago –– Matt and I graduated from college. Wow. It just seems so weird to type that number.
Yeah, we were sad looking.

Some days I look back and it seems like only yesterday. Other days it seems so long ago. (Okay this is sounding like a Beatles song. Maybe I am watching too much American Idol) So much has happened to us, good and bad, over the past 10 years.

Ten years ago, I never thought my life would be what it is today.

• We have gotten married.
  
• We have three kids. (Who would have thought... Alexis with three kids)
  
• We have moved three times and lived in three different states.
  
• We have dealt with kids broken bones, stitches, seizures, sleep apnea, specialists and a seriously ill child.
• We have buried Matt's mom, his grandfather, his aunt, my great aunt and our daughter.
• Matt took a job with Caterpillar and has been promoted four times.
• I decided to become a SAHM and started my own freelancing business.
• Matt has traveled all over the world –– Mexico, Canada, much of Europe, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia. Pretty cool for a farm boy from Green, Ohio.
  
• We have watched friends and siblings and siblings-in-laws get married and have kids of their own.
  
• We own a minivan, something I swore I would NEVER do. (Guess it goes with the three kids, huh?)
• We have gotten a cell phone and gone high speed. (Just 15 years ago when I started college I learned what email and a CAT5e even was)
• We definitely look much better (see photo above if you think differently)
  
• And somehow we have managed to stay together, even though the odds were so stacked against us.
  

Time goes by so quickly that I cannot even imagine what the next 10 years hold. After all, in 10 years we will have a 22 year old, an 18 year old and a 14 year old. I am sure that no matter what it will exciting and full of lots of bumps and curves. And maybe, just maybe, if blogging still exists, I can tell you all about it.

Go Buckeyes!

Well Emily and I just got back this morning after flying the red eye all night. To those who doubted my ability to last 5 days without my computer I actually did it. And no I didn't even think once to consider laptop rental. We were so busy my computer never would have been even turned on. So I am off to try to get a few hours of sleep before the festivities start this evening.

What festivities? The big National Championship football game of course. Ohio State is playing LSU for the title of National Champion tonight. You really didn't think the game would happen without a post from me, did you?

GO BUCKEYES!!!

THE Ohio State University

So my Buckeyes lost last week and yes they lost to Illinois (thanks for all the emails my Illinois pals) but they have done way more this year than ever expected. They were picked to finish 4th in the Big 10 and if they even finished ranked by the end of the season it would be surprising. Instead they are going into their last game, with only 1 loss and ranked #7.

So Saturday is the big Ohio State versus Michigan rivalry game. This year it is at Michigan. It will be hard, but in the end I think the Buckeyes will prevail. Rather than harping on how awesome Ohio State is, I am going to take a walk down memory lane. (Prepare yourself for long drivel)

Some of my earliest memories are of Ohio State, after all I was conceived at Ohio State after a football game (And yes my mother informs me of this all the time as we drive pass the "magical" place) We used to drive to Columbus often when I was a kid to just walk around the campus. It really is such a pretty campus. I remember walking past Mirror Lake and knowing that this was where I was going to someday go to college.

Mirror Lake during the fall.

I used to go to football games with my parents (you know back when fans could actually get tickets) and remember not really understanding what was going on down on the field but getting caught up in all the action. Going to Columbus on a home football Saturday is really something you need to experience to fully understand what I am saying. I have pictures of my brother and I standing with these huge football players on picture days. My first crush was on a walk-on Ohio State football player named Matt McCoy (Hey, I was in like 4th grade!) I am still hoping that one day my parents will love Matt and I so much that they will give us their season tickets.

Ohio State Stadium

When it came time to apply to college my parents offered to take me to visit a bunch of colleges. I never stepped foot on another campus as I knew I was always going to be a Buckeye. I remember being so excited when it was actually time to leave for college. It was scary as I had grown up in the same house all my life and lived in a small, sheltered town and there I was heading for a school with over 50,000 students.

Morrill Tower, my dorm for the first two years of college. Ah dorm living... some real luxury homes

The memories of the 5 years I was in college are endless. I met Matt there, our first child was conceived there (now you know how it feels to hear it mom) and born at the university hospital. I had my first real drinking experience and my first ambulance ride there. I was on TV with a very embarrassing job I had sweeping the basketball floors at timeouts and during halftime. I rushed the field and got maced after the huge 1994 win against Michigan. Middle of the night runs to Mejers, playing poker with football players, road trips, playing footsie with Matt under the table at the engineering library, Matt and I taking Emily and Kylee (our dog) for walks across the oval, decorating our dorm, frat parties and all night cram sessions with $4.95 Papa John Pizza's. Matt and I camped out for two days just to get Rose Bowl tickets. I met some of my closest and dearest friends there. I got my education there, I experienced and learned about life there.

Since graduating we have tailgated and gone to football games. We took a roadtrip to the National Championship football game in Arizona back in January 2003 with 4 of our close friends. We have walked our kids across the campus many times, telling them the memories we have. Our kids are die-hard buckeye fans. Who knows, maybe one of them will someday have a reason to buy me an OSU Mom sweatshirt.

These are just a few of the hundreds of memories I have. Rather than posting a video (have I told you how much I love youtube?) promoting the team and the big game this weekend I want to share a song that brings tears to my eyes almost every time I hear it. Ohio State's alma matter, Carmen Ohio.



Go Buckeyes!!! Beat scUM!

Friday Ramblings

• Chris got his football game uniform last night. Not only is the jersey purple, but the pants are a nice shiny purple. Can we say Barney? Poor guy wants to just wear his practice uniform.
• We are starting to paint rooms this weekend. After two hours in the paint aisle, I **think** we have agreed upon colors. Watch for before and after pictures coming soon.
• Matt called and told me to get my golf clubs ready. He is coming home early and taking me out for 9 holes. I wonder if we can make it the whole way without fighting? (I don't take constructive criticism well and I am sure Matt will have lots to offer) But at least I will get to use my pretty pink clubs!
• Emily brought home amazing midterm grades. Straight A's... with 100 percents in both advanced math and science.
  
• It looks like things will cool down this weekend... only mid 80s. Still no rain in sight for the next 10 days.
  
• We are on disc 4 of season one of the show 24. Think we can be caught up by January when the season starts again?
  
• Ohio States plays Minnesota tomorrow night at 8 pm and you all can watch it on ESPN2. I remember when Matt and I went to the game in Minnesota a few years ago. Ahhhh memories. Anyways, GO BUCKEYES. (I know I am not the only Buckeye fan in blog country)

Oh yeah I forgot one more...




I GOT THE JOB!!!! I got a call this morning saying they were impressed with my background and experience so the project is mine. They didn't even need to wait or do other interviews. And if this goes well, they will use me for other projects. They told me who this project is with (I have to sign a confidentiality agreement so I can't disclose who it is) and I am excited. It's a a global company, and funny enough, I am not getting away from the agriculture sector. At least not yet.

Have a great weekend!

Yes, Yes, Yes I do

I got spirit, how about you?

Go BUCKEYES!!!

Are you ready for some...

FOOTBALL!!!

Can you hear the excitement in my voice? For those that know me, I love college football fan. Of course I bleed scarlet and gray (GO BUCKEYES!) but I love to watch any game on television.

Tonight is the first set of games of the season. As I type I am watching the LSU vs Mississippi State game. And Saturday is the big Buckeye opener. Sadly I will not be watching all the Buckeye games this year due to the Big Ten Network taking over game coverage (Don't even get me started on my opinion). Now I just need to find some friends with Direct TV so I can watch the Big Ten Network at their house. (Note to self, ask all neighbors who their satellite company is)

I apologize in advance for all the football/Ohio State posts. But I can't help it. It is in my blood. After all, I was conceived at an Ohio State Football game.

So here is my kickoff to another great football season. And again... GO BUCKS!

Once Again

GO BUCKEYES!!!

Kill those Gators. Let's just hope we play better in basketball than we did in football.

Sweet Sixteen

Ohio State has made it through two rounds of March Madness. Tonight they play against Tennessee in the Sweet 16. I am just hoping they come out playing like the did at the end of the Xavier game, and not the beginning. I'd love to see Ohio State play Florida for the championship... and this time kick some Gator butt.

On a side note, Conley announced on Wednesday that he will be staying for another year. Now the question is, will Oden?

Go Buckeyes!!

Reminicing the Past

Yesterday I spent a few hours on campus. Boy have things changed.

Here is the Longs Bookstore sign. Longs was where I bought most of my college books.
This is now the new "Longs Bookstore". It was very weird going this Barnes and Nobles. I really felt old when I walked through the student book section.
This was South Campus. Boy do I have some memories from South Campus. My first bar experience was at a place called "The Pit" during Orientation Week. My favorite hangout was "Flyers", especially on nights where they had bear wrestling and I had to make a visit to the ER. Now this area is fancy clubs, restaurants, apartments and stores. It is very neat (including the place called the Ugly Tuna) but I have no idea how college kids afford it.
This is the hospital where Emily was born. 1:53 am on January 12, 1996. (And yes it was also the hospital from the Flyer incident)
Here is Morrill Tower! My home for two years. I have some wonderful memories from here. I am actually one of the few that actually enjoyed dorm life.
Here is a picture of the new South Stands in the renovated stadium. When I lived there these stands came down after every season. Living right next to the stadium made for some interesting days. Of course that also meant that most of the dorm living football players lived with us. Some of them especially made for great card partners, right Shannon :-)
Here is a picture of my first apartment. I lived here the last 3 years of college. Ahhhh yes yes. College apartment living. Yuck.

I would have wandered around more, but it was Winter Quarter commencement and campus was a madhouse. Next time.

O-H-I-O

It's gameday!!!

GO BUCKEYES!!!!

More Than Just Football

Tomorrow night's Ohio State versus Florida game isn't about who wins or loses. It's not about who is the best football team in the nation. It is about making one special little boy's wish come true.

Special Wish Recipient Goes to Arizona

A twelve year old boy with sickle cell anemia from West Carrollton, Ohio is heading to the national championship game. He was granted a special wish from the local special wish foundation. Earlier this week, he visted the Buckeyes in Columbus for a football practice and got to meet his favorite player Ted Ginn Junior. The boy, his aunt and sisters will head to Arizona by limousine early Saturday morning.
(story was reported on Dayton's wkef)

A video can also be seen on cnn.com.

Buckeyes Really Are Edible

In honor of the big game in TWO days...







Buckeye Candy

Ingredients

• 4 (16 ounce) jars peanut butter
• 3 1/2 (16 ounce) packages confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 3 (12 ounce) packages semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons shortening

Directions

1. Blend together the peanut butter, sugar and melted butter. Allow to chill in refrigerator.
2. Roll into 1 inch round balls and return to refrigerator.
3. In a double boiler over medium heat, melt the chocolate and shortening. Whisk together until smooth.
4. With a toothpick inserted in the balls, dip them into the chocolate so they look like buckeyes. Place on waxed paper and allow to set in refrigerator.

Makes 12 dozen

And the countdown is on...

You didn't think that you would get away with me not blogging about the big OHIO STATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, did you? With the big game only 4 days away, I am getting out all my buckeye gear (and yes Val, putting on my shoes) and getting ready to watch the Buckeyes kick some Gator butt. Heck, I may even find myself same 'gator on a stick to grill up in honor of the big day.

So get ready my friends. And as always... GO BUCKS!!!!

Fingers Crossed

I **think** we just landed tickets for the National Championship football game. (GO BUCKEYES!!) I am just keeping my fingers crossed that we aren't getting screwed or scammed. Matt will totally kill me if we are. But I think I have all my i's dotted and t's crossed and have covered all bases and **should** be okay.

And the bonus of the whole situation ... we are paying face value. *thud**

Arizona Bound

Buckeyes beat the scUM!!!!! And yes, I am crying.

See you on Januray 8, 2007!!! As Sam says "We're #1!!!"


GO BUCKEYES!!!