Thursday, December 20, 2012

C H E E R CHEER!!!!

I figured I would explain this one since I have been dealing with cheer stuff today.

When I was younger, I had NOTHING to do with cheer.  I didn't want to.  I was anti-cheer.  In my school all cheer was, was a popularity contest.  I mean I'm sure they practiced and whatnot, but I was not interested.

I danced for many years and was even in a ballet company for a short time.  Then once I got to high school, I was in band.  Yeah, yeah....band.  And colorguard.  And the rifle line.

Shut it.  No jokes.

So how did I manage to get myself into cheer up to my eyeballs?

The Munchkin.  She has wanted to be a cheerleader for as long as I can remember.  This year she was actually old enough to mascot for our youth football association.

And so it began.  The entrance into cheer.  We didn't have a coach for awhile, only a squad mom who then kind of fell into the coaching job.  Buuuutttt, people get sick and can't make it, so then I just jumped in and helped out a little here and a little there.  Next thing you know, one of the directors asked me if I would be her assistant for next year, and I said yes.

A few weeks after the season ended, we had a competition scheduled.  The director was so sick during practice time, I had to step in...immediately.  So, then it happened.  All sparkly and glitter and cheering with my cheer mom school spirit shirt on.

Oh yeah.

And THEN the Munchkin decided that she wanted to cheer over the winter as her activity.  So, I signed her up for Upward cheer. 

Upward is a national program that is church based (yes, I know, but it is a REALLY great program for the kids).  Soooo, when I signed her up, I decided to volunteer as an assistant coach to get some practice in and kind of figure out what I was doing before I started in on an entire football season of assistant directorship.

But wait.  There's more.

I am now the HEAD COACH for the squad.  They are sort of short handed and need some people in other locations for the organization.  They asked me to be the head coach, so I said, sure why not.

The hubby thinks I'm nuts.  However, he supports me ENTIRELY!!!  I think he knows how much fun it is for me to do this with the Munchkin, plus my love of glitter and everything sparkly.

Yes.  I am a head cheer coach.  For Upward.  In charge of 8 girls in kindergarten and 1st grade.  Yes I am crazy.  Yes it has been fun...so far.

Then again, we have only had one practice.  They are doing soooo good though.  Totally adorable.  And I've actually taught them how to cheer.  Totally amazing.

So next fall when football rolls around, hopefully I will be prepared.  But I'm not worried.  It's been fun, and I'm glad that I am taking the time to do it.

Go GLITTER!!!!!

Monday, December 17, 2012

To "Fifty" or Not to "Fifty"

Yup, I'm going there.

Ohhhh.....such a HOT topic.  For so MANY reasons.

If you haven't read it, you've heard about it.  Don't shake your head, I know we would all be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't.

If you have read it, you're probably wondering what other people are doing with the information that was soaked up like a thirsty sponge from this hot and bothered terribly romantic love story.

Yes.  Yes I did.  I just called it a love story.  BEEECAAUUUSSEEE....that's exactly what it is.  It just has a few, um, twists and turns to make the story line more interesting.

ANYWAY!

I've also been wondering how many relationships that E.L. James has brought out of the drudgery of pure boredom.  Hmm.

Now don't go and get all modest and oh my, that's just too racy for me.  The only one that can hear your reading voice is you.  Unless of course you are reading this out loud, and now we are just getting into issues that aren't my business.

Hands down this is the SEXIEST book series I have ever read.  And I've read a lot.  What makes this unique is that it has the potential to be a real situation (okay....overlook the fact that Christian is filthy rich AND hot as hell and that Ana is a fabulously gorgeous goody two shoes virgin).  These characters fell in love while they were exploring their "adventurous" side.  Happens all the time.  Well, not that so many of us are going out and getting freaky with random people that we just so happen to fall in love with.

I fell in love with my husband after the fact.  I can say that freely now.  It's been 16 years, I'm pretty sure we are safe from being shunned.  We had mad, passionate, gettin' it on like freaks before we even thought about love.

Now we love each other and damn were we boring.  You know, the we have three small children, I'm tired, we're married, we should probably get it on even though I have three tests and a paper to write.  It was just trying to live life and keep a somewhat important aspect of our relationship alive.

Now I'm not talking let's go live out the far from mainstream lives of these people they show on these TV specials to make you wonder what your neighbor could be doing. 

This book series makes you WANT.  Seriously, if there was a word that I could find to use that would describe it better, I would.  It makes you think about your hubby.  Back to the day when you couldn't keep your hands off each other.  Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about.

THEN...all of the things they do in the book, make you think.  A LOT.  About what you might find...uh...interesting to implement in bedroom.  Now, I have to say that there are some things in the books that make me a little squirmy, and that would be a definite NO!  However, there's many things that creep into your mind that your inner goddess is jumping for joy about.

Oh yes ladies.  We all have one.  She's probably just been sleeping since you had kids.  

Mine woke from a deep slumber raring to go.

Guys (I realize there is like one of you..maybe two that read this), don't shudder.  This is how we think.  It's part of the book that makes it good.  It's something that we can all relate to...you know, those voices in your head.  Not the crazy ones, the normal ones.  Also, if you aren't on the Shades train, you should be.  Open your arms and embrace it, you won't be sorry.

Now I'm not going to talk about what you are willing to do and not do.  It doesn't matter.  It's your life, and your kink.  Whatever floats your boat between two consenting adults, hey go for it.

So just think about it.  Open your mind to something new.  It could change your life....your relationship.

Go get your freak on.  You're not alone.  Embrace it.  Love it.  LOVE IT!  You'll be happier...I promise.

Happiness

Yes.  I am happy.

But here's the thing.  It's all relative.  

You can choose to be happy or freaking miserable.  I am now choosing to be happy.

Well, sort of.  That makes is sound like it's the easiest thing in the world.  It's soooo not.

See, my happiness is not necessarily only contingent upon me.  There's another player in the mix....the hubby.

We both had resentment and anger built up for roughly the last 5 years.  If you dig in the archives you will see the marriage class articles and some more of our trials and tribulations.  I suppose even though we were working on things at that point, it didn't really work AND there were other contributing factors.

Don't you hate it when you realize hindsight is 20/20?  I mean it's always that way...sometimes it's even more clear than 20/20....sometimes 20/10 even.

Honestly, I am so sick of counseling.  Don't get me wrong.  I am all for it.  Totally, I'm a big fan, but I'm over it.  Maybe we needed it, but maybe not.  The thing that actually worked was removing some elements from our life.  You know...the meddlers. 

Plus I started reading the Fifty Shades series.

Seriously.  That's all you need.  People that can stay out of your marriage, and sexy books.

It IS a love story you know.

So with reading that series, we have seemed to find our passion again.  Which is AWESOME!  I mean there is something to be said for comfortable love.  Let's face it though, there doesn't seem to be anything more exciting than being in love and in passion with your husband (wife, partner, whatever).

When you are in love like that, everything seems to fall into place.  And it has, mostly.

We are still trying to figure out how to be parents.  I mean good parents.  It's not just about cuddles and feeding and playing at this point.  It's messy now.  Discipline and school (theirs, not mine) and friends and attitudes.  That's the hard stuff.  We have two laid back kids that generally listen pretty well.  Then there's JJ.  He's the unknown in the equation.  He can be sweet and kind OR he can be a nutball and not listen and be destructive.  We are still learning how to deal with that personality.

Work in progress.  Forever I think.  As long as we are doing the best we can and fix our mistakes as we go along, we'll be good.....if we don't end up in the funny farm.

So is this the key?  I don't know.  It seems like it's our key.  Yours might be different.  I will share our journey.  Some of it, not all of it.  I mean I'm sure you don't want EVERY detail, right?

Sunday, December 16, 2012

me... Me???? ME!!!!!

I've done a lot of changing over the last year and a half.

I mean, I'm basically the same person.  I'm still that quirky chick that you're either gonna love or you're gonna hate.

Obviously you all love me since you are here!  

Or you were just bored enough and clicked on my link.

When I was writing before, my life was in turmoil.  Now that doesn't necessarily mean terrible.  It was chaos.  I mean, I have a crazy life.  Heelloooo!  It's what the blog is called.

Anyway.

Not that I don't have chaos now.  Trust me.  Every day is a crap shoot.

Back then I was still searching for my identity after having three children in four years and losing my job that I had been at for nine years.

Let's not forget that I was quite literally chucked head first into this whole stay at home mom/domestic goddess/ super woman thing.

Hardest transition.  EVER!

Now that I've had a significant amount of time to adjust (and the right combo of medication) I feel like my life is more together.

***yes...medication...don't worry, we'll be talking about that at some point***

I feel like I am more myself now than I ever have been.  If you haven't read my little postcards over to the left there, then you should.  I have little tolerance for crap.  Anyone's crap.  Don't bring your crap to me, and don't try and stick your nose into my life.  If I want you here, I'll invite you in.

I have had too many people make trouble, cause problems, and all together NOT have my or my husband's best interest in their hearts.

Hopefully that little tid-bit sums it up nicely for you.  I'm not going to go into a long drawn out story.  It's not worth my time anymore.  I just wanted to throw that out there and explain how I came to arrive at my newfoundbeenaroundforeverlostthenfoundkindasorta bad attitude.

I love the people I love.  I've even opened up and let new people in..which I do not regret for one second.

I'm back to telling it like it is.  I'm not playing nice-y nice-y anymore.  You don't like it?  Get out of my life.

Sooooooo....don't get me wrong.  I'm not angry even though I'm pretty sure that's how it's coming across.  I am extremely happy.  Though life is still chaotic (and I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to function if it wasn't) I am HAPPY!!!!  

I love where I am and the direction that I'm going.

I am hoping that I can keep up with this and school (oh yeah...getting a bachelor's in nursing) and the kids and the husband and the cheer.....

It's been how long????

So....it's been approximately a year an a half since I have written.  Anything.  Okay, well, I've written things for school, but not for fun.

I think that needs to change.  Like now.  Right now.  Clearly, since I'm writing, and you're reading.

What I have been up to this last year and change?  Up to my freakin' eyeballs in kids, schoolwork, housework, and of all things...cheerleading.  

No, not me, the munchkin.

Uh...well, um, sort of me too.  I got sucked in.  She didn't have a coach....I helped out a little...next thing I know they ask me to be an Assistant Cheer Director.

I know, I know.  I have NEVER.  EVER.  CHEERED.  A.  DAY.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

I do now.  I said that I would be happy to be an assistant......

Go ahead.  Laugh.  I know you are already anyway.

 More on that later.  Hey, I have to keep you wanting to read more, right?  Seeing as how I have been absent from here and living my chaotic mess of a life.

Let's see, what else?  My husband and I have had the most complicated year.  EVER.  Seriously.  In the history of our entire relationship, it has never been more insanely difficult, and then miraculously we took a right turn and pulled ourselves out of what was making us both horribly miserable.  

I am now happy to say that we are happier we have ever been.  FINALLY!!!!!  I'm happier with him now than I was when we got married....even after when we were traveling.  Crazy.  I know.  Again, more on that later.  

I can't just tell you everything now.  

You won't come back.

If I don't have people reading, I will just be some chick rambling on the internet for no good reason.

Shhhhh..no comments from the peanut gallery.

Let me keep the illusion and my pet unicorn.

I'm going to be changing around the look of this place...maybe switch up the layout.  But one thing's for sure.  The format is still the same.  I can guarantee that you never will guess what I'm going to say.  

I'm charming like that.

And modest.

Stay tuned...