An open letter to the Cleveland Browns, the fans & media

Over the last couple weeks as the Browns started losing and Brian Hoyer has shown obvious signs of fatigue, a controversy has been brewing. But the issue isn't about who our starting QB should be. The issue at hand is what needs to be done to bring a winning football team back to Cleveland. 

Championship teams become champions because they don't give up on their starting quarterback just because he has fallen into a little rut. Championship teams don't become champions by changing coaches every year or every other year because they didn't take the team to the playoffs. Championship teams don't become champions by continually making the same mistakes over and over and not learning from them.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting different results. And that, my friends, is the problem!  

I have been a Cleveland Browns fan my entire life. That's 38 years of enduring events like "the drive" and "the fumble ". I have, just like everyone, have witnessed over 20 starting Quarterbacks in the last 15 years. Yet, there is still no championship. Why? Because the QB is not the problem! The problem starts with the front office. The poor management of player personnel. It starts with cultivating a winning atmosphere. To be a champion you must behave like a champion. Ask yourself-how did Green Bay win 13 championships? How do the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens remain in playoff contention year after year after year?  They do it by believing in their QB and head coach. 

What do Ben Roethlesberger, Joe Flacco, Tom Brady & Aaron Rogers have in common? They all have Super Bowl rings and they did by spending their ENTIRE careers with the same team. The defense and offensive lines, the playbook, their style...all built around them. They have been starters for so long that most of the time people can't even name their backups. They have been under center for so long that there is rarely any question that they will get the start from week to week. Their backups get to sit back and learn from some of the best in the league. 

They all have an offensive line that leave everything they have out on the field...each and every game. And the defense is rarely questionable. They have had the same head coach for more than 2 years at a time. In the last 15 years the Patriots have had 1 head coach....yet Cleveland has had how many??? I can't even remember, but I believe it's been more than 5. My point is the fans & the media quickly blame the head coach & the QB when the team can't win, when really they need to look at the other positions and the management who makes player decisions. 

Here is my suggestion for the offseason. Re-sign Hoyer & Cameron. Hoyer needs about 2 more seasons to really get in his groove. Cameron is our franchise tight end....give him a chance. Keep Gordon in check and watch how he can explode. Keep Hawkins, Gilbert, Mack, Kruger, Thomas, Leonhard. Build around these guys. Don't give up on them. Learn from your past mistakes. 

And the front office needs to stop the carousel. Look at where you have succeeded and build upon it. Do you really know why outsiders make so many jokes about Cleveland? Because of the dumbass decisions that are made when it comes to our players. You always let the good ones leave while investing to much time & money on the bad ones. 

Just stop it already!!! My Christmas wish this year is that Ray Farmer realizes that this team we have this year is the core on which we need to build. To the media & fans...stop running players & coaches out of town when they have a few off games. Even Big Ben plays like shit sometimes! 

Signed, 

A diehard, orange & brown bleeding Browns fan. 

Types of Essential Oil Usage

New to Essential Oils?  Not quite sure how you even USE essential oils?  Every oil has different "healing" or "medicinal" properties.  In addition, you can use oils in different ways depending on the effect you wish to achieve. 

The first way to use EO's is by diffusion. There are many types and styles of diffusers out on the market today.  A diffuser is an electronic device that uses water and a few drops of your chosen essential oil to make a cool steam that then releases into the air for you to inhale.  Not only do you get the benefits of whatever oil you choose to diffuse, but it also helps freshen the air and is great aromatherapy.  The diffuser that I have is from Simply Aroma.  What I love about it most is that there are 3 "speeds" - High, Medium, Low.  They control the steam output based on how much aroma you want to be emitted into the room.  I also like that it serves as a multi-colored nightlight.  LOL.   Currently, my favorite oil to diffuse is the Lullaby Sleep Blend from Simply Aroma.  I will tell you, after suffering many years from insomnia, it feels great to be able to get a full night's sleep and to sleep through the entire night. 



 

Another way you can use essential oils if by ingestion. There are multiple ways you can ingest essential oils.  You can add a few drops of your favorite oil to your glass of water, add a few drops when cooking (this is especially true of orgeno and lemon oils) or you can make your own gel caps by using veggie caps you can purchase from any wellness store and mixing a few drops with olive oil.  

Essential oils can be used topically by massaging a few drops of oil on your neck, chest, palms, feet, etc.  I like to massage peppermint oil on my knees when they are sore from over use. 

Probably the most common use for essential oils is making natural everyday products.  They can be used in everything from facial cleansers, to body butters and cleaning products.

Once you know about the oil you wish to use and have learned the different things that a specific oil can do, it is a lot easier to decide HOW you will use them. 

A bunch of rambling....

Sometimes life just gets in the way to a point where you have to make decisions about what you are going to allow to be put on the back burner.  Unfortunately,  for me, one of the things that I had to put on the back burner this year were my blogs.  Over the last couple of months things have just not been going the way I would have liked them to go exactly, and rather than rant and be all depressing in my very public forum, I just decided to take a bit of a break.  

Admittedly, though, it feels pretty good to be back in a frame of mind that is allowing me to start sharing again.  Since this is my first blog post in a long while I want to take some time to introduce you to my new businesses and my new vision for my little spot on the web.  I also wanted to share thaat I fully intend on beginning to post recipes "From my Family Tree" to my other blog Homemade Hunky ~ Recipes from my Family Tree in the very near future.  I have to get some other things in my life in order, but once that is accompolished, I will be able to get going again in full swing. 

So without further ado ~ now I get to share a little bit about my new businesses and also share what has happened with Ahni & Zoe.  I will begin with the sad news.  On August 21, 2014, Ahni & Zoe, along with it's parent company, Creative Memories ceased to exist as we had come to know it over the last 25+ years.  As I shared last year, Creative Memories entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2013.  Though they attempted to reinvent themselves and reopened with a "soft" opening in November 2013 and the full relaunch in January of this year, unfortunately, they just couldn't reinvent themselves enough to survive the growth of the digital age.  Traditional scrapbooking as originally introduced by Rhonda Anderson in the 80's has seemingly fallen by the wayside ---- or has it?  I really didn't stick around long enough to find out what was happening with the company after it was announced that CM had been sold off to a new investor.  Rumors are flying that the new owner has no intentions of continuing the CM business plan of using Independent Consultants to bring their high-quality memory preservation products to the masses.  I guess we will just have to wait until sometime next month to see what the new business will be. One thing I do know for sure is that I currently don't have any intention of representing that company - other than maybe buying their products again!

One to bigger and better things...

As the news of Ahni & Zoe's sale became more and more of a reality, I went on my own mission.  I wanted to find something that I loved.  Something that I had a passion for and something that would truly be interesting to a larger group of people  As I started thinking about my goals and my failures with Creative Memories/Ahni & Zoe, I had to think about what I wanted in a new opportunity.  The biggest thing was I wanted success.  I wanted to work for a company that truly had a SMART business plan.  I got so lucky that I found TWO.  

I am very happy to announce that I am now an Independent Consultant with Jewelry in Candles!  JIC is a relatively new kid on the block.  Based in Louisville, KY, they pride themselves on providing high-quality yet affordable candles & tarts.  All products are made of 100% natural soy candles, with safe, non-toxic fragrance oils that also include natural essential oils.  Everything is hand poured out of their manufacturing facility located in Kentucky.  What I love most is that each product contains a surprise piece of jewelry.  You get to choose the category - ladies ring, men's ring (select fragrances only), necklace or earrings.  If you choose a ring, you also get to choose the size.  The surprise comes because you have NO IDEA what your piece of jewelry will look like until you complete the "reveal". After years of making my own soy candles, I can say that I was elated when I discovered this company and saw what a high quality their candles & tarts are for such an affordable price.  Click the logo above to learn more. 

The other great company I found was Simply Aroma - 100% certified pure therapeutic essential oils. Oils which I am in love with.  I have found that there are a lot of people out there that just don't believe in the healing properties of natural oils, but I can tell you - I have tried them.  My husband has tried them.  They work and they work great.  My husband has been using the Peppermint oil as a natural pain reliever on his knees.  Three years ago he was told that he needed a double knee replacement.  However, because of his age, we could not get the insurance company to authorize the surgery.  He spent every day in pain; having a very hard time being able to perform a lot of the physical activities he did in the past.  But along came SA Peppermint oil.  We massaged a few drops into both of his knees and almost immediately he reported relief. With that, I had to give it a try.  I was told that tea tree oil could also relieve pain.  I mixed up a bit of tea tree oil with some coconut oil, massaged it into my shoulder which I have had constant pain in for almost a year.  Within 20 minutes the pain had nearly gone away and within an hour - I was able to rotate my arm and lift my arm completely above my head.  Something I hadn't been able to do in at least 9 months.  It was then that I knew - without a shadow of a doubt that this was something I could stand behind for years to come. 

And so I am sharing these companies with you.  Not just because they are a source of my family's income, but also because I believe in them. I believe that these products will make your life happier and healthier.  Whether its relaxing with a burning candle reading a book or using peppermint oil to relieve your aching bones - both companies are amazing.  I hope one day you will try them!

I'm back...

Wow! I need to apologize to my followers. I went MIA there for a while. Not just in this blog but also on my family recipe page. I really had no excuse until recently. Life was just being life and quite honestly I have been spending the last few months working my FT job and really doing some honest soul searching. It was time for me to reevaluate my priorities. Not to mention the fact that our house was broken into twice in 3 months...the theives stole my computer, then stole the replacement computer and iPad! I hate thugs! 

Anyway, one of the areas if my life that I had to take a look at was my direct sales career. Over the last 2 years I have tried desperately to get a business off the ground all while my parent company was crumbling. I stayed through the company's bankruptcy and signed on with the new company that emerged out if that last November. I could not get any interest in the products from potential customers and the business was failing before I had an oppurtunity to get started. On June 30th, I went inactive with the company because I just knew that something was happening. And I was right. The company was sold and is closing it's doors for good on Aug. 21st. After that there will be no more Ahni & Zoe by Creative Memories. Instead, the buyer has purchased all rights to the name Ahni & Zoe and the rights to the patented albums & pages. They have said they will no longer be a direct sales company. 

Because I knew that I likely was going to move on from Ahni & Zoe/Creative Memories, I began looking into other direct sales options. That is when I found two young companies who officially launched in January. That is how I became an independent sales consultant with Jewelry in Candles and Simply Aroma. Both companies share the same business philosophies as I and the same ethical standards. Plus their products are GREAT and fit into the lifestyle I am trying to create. 

So I thought my first post back would be a little bit about Simply Aroma. We are a new essential oils company whose mission is to bring the health benefits of essential oils to the general public. 

What are essential oils? They are natural substances created by aromatic plants. They have been used for thousands of years in various ways including healing, religious ceremony, cosmetics and body lotions. Some people also use them when making soaps & candles. 

Simply Aroma provides pure, volatile oils and are the best on the market today. 

The family of Pierre & Isabelle Gibault of France

As I have been researching a branch of my family tree, I have uncovered some really great information.  I decided that it is time for me to start to share some of the great family history that I have learned along my journey.  Starting with the Gebeau branch of my tree.  The "Gebeau" originates from France and has a very strong history.  On my tree, it comes from my mother's side, whose father was a "Gebeau".

This branch begins with Pierre Gibault and Isabelle Huau De Montaguerre.  Pierre I was born about 1585 in France.  He married Isabelle, who was born about 1585 as well, in France and they bore a son, Pierre Gibault II.  I have not been able to confirm other children of this couple, but given the large families in the 1500's, I would imagine that there were other children born to Pierre I and Isabelle.

Pierre Gibault II was born on February 15, 1613 - which to me is of great importance because February 15th is also the day my own daughter was born.  He was born i Notre Dame, Lusignan, Poiters, France.  Pierre II married on December 31, 1642 in Lusignang, Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine, France.  He married Renee Lorliere.  Renee was born about 1616 in Chavy, Indre, Centre, France and died in about 1714.  They too bore a son, Gabriel Gibault de Poitevin (of Poitevin).  Again - given the times, it is likely that Pierre II and Renee has more children.

NOTE:  The French pronunciation of "Gibault" is Gee-bow. - Listen here: https://translate.google.com/m/translate#fr/en/Gibault

Who are you?

Who are you? Seems like a silly question doesn't it?  Well, to me it's not. For years I have been intrigued by history and learning more about where my family comes from.  It is kind of an obsession of mine.  So when I met my husband, I of course asked him all these questions about his family.  Unfortunately, he couldn't answer a lot of them.

Documenting family history wasn't a priority to his family.  He really didn't even know what his ethnicity was - other than "American".  I decided to embark on a journey - researching HIS family history.  This has been a HUGE project and at many times very difficult.  But at the same time it's been fun.

Recently I renewed my subscription to Ancestry.com and it has open the flood gates for information.  Not only in researching his family, but also in filling in the blanks on my family tree.  I have even gotten my sister started on working on her husband's family tree!  I enjoy teaching other people what I have learned about researching your family roots.  I guess it's just part of me.  

I ordered the new Ancestry DNA testing kit that you cn purchase from Ancestry.  You send away a DNA sample and they analyze it and tell you what ethnicities you are and if you have other relatives who have also sent in their DNA, you could get matched with relatives based on your DNA matches.  I am very curious to find out if what I have always been told is true and if in fact I am Native American as my Grandmother told me 30 years ago.  

I will be sure to share what I learn about myself as I embark on this new chapter in my journey.  

There are so many aspects to genealogy that I have even begun to work on and the list just keeps growing of the things I want to accomplish when it comes to documenting my lineage.  Photos to be scanned, newspaper articles to be located, marriage llicenses, death certificates, birth certificates, property records - I better stop while I am ahead.  

So who do you think you are?

What's ahead for the Cleveland Browns in 2014?

For the last week and a half Cleveland Browns fans have been reeling from the events that unfolded during draft weekend.  First, those of us diehards who dream of the day that we see our beloved team in the playoffs contending for the AFC championship and our first Super Bowl appearance sat with our attention glued to TV's all over the world - waiting to find out who the Browns were going to pick in the 1st round.  First, they trade away our 4th overall pick and move down to the 8th spot -- then we watch helplessly as Sammy Watkins - perhaps the highest profile college WR this year - goes to the Buffalo Bills.  Heartbroken.

Then, our pick comes - and they choose a Cornerback from I don't know what school - Justin Gilbert.  I had never heard of him and neither had my husband.  I had to "Google" him so that I could figure out if it was a decent move or not.  Okay - I can take a little bit of a breath - I think it may have been a really good move for the direction I think the team might be headed.

Now - here we go - our next pick is 26th....are we going to take a quarterback?  If we do - who is going to be?  Johnny Manziel? Teddy Bridgewater?  Maybe Ohio's own, Kenny Guiton from the Ohio State University?  No, maybe it will the next top WR since after all - they had just signed Vince Young a couple of days before the draft - we didn't really need a QB now - we have Hoyer and Tanney - and now Young.  Wooooh wait just a minute - a trade at 22?  That's right, the Browns have just made another trade and moved up 4 spots to the 22nd pick - and I sit there, biting my nails. I really didn't want them to pick Johnny Manziel, but the internet had been all abuzz all day saying that he was going to Cleveland.  Silence fell over the Dawg House Saloon where we were watching the draft as the commissioner walked to the podium. "...And for the 22nd pick of round 1 of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns pick JOHNNY MANZIEL"  Half of the place cheered - the other half booed.  Well, there you have it - the fate of our team hangs in the balance and history repeats itself where the Browns sign an overrated college QB who is too small for the NFL and unless they give him a stellar Offensive Line to protect him, he will probably get killed out there on the field.  Just like Brady Quinn.  Just like Tim Couch.  Just like Brandon Weeden.  All of them amounted to nothing with the Cleveland Browns...and in fact, I still don't think they have much of a career in the NFL.  So what's going to happen?  If the press conference with Coach Pettine is any indication, I might get my wish - keep Manziel at 2nd string, let him learn and develop.  Give him time to grow up before we throw him to the wolves.  Hoyer should be our starter - I think he is going to surprise a lot of people as long as he stays healthy next year.

Not even 24 hours after 1/2 of Browns Nation gets done celebrating our new QB - news breaks of a possible suspension.  Josh Gordon failed another drug test - this time he was smoking the wacky weed. (probably trying to kill the pain of having to play on the same field as Brandon Weeden).  And now, because it's supposedly his 3rd strike - he could be out of the NFL for a year - but wait - the Browns aren't commenting - NFL officials aren't commenting and Gordon's agent is saying the rumors are not true.  So what in the world is going on?  I can't help but partly feel as though it's a conspiracy to make sure that Cleveland can't come out of anything on top.  Do something good for the team, but then knock them back down to reality.  After all - we are the "Mistake by the Lake".  Or are we?

Even though I don't get my mail there anymore and even though the pillow that I lay my head on every night now stays in Tennessee - in fact Nashville - the home of the Tennessee Titans - Cleveland and NE Ohio is home.  Brown & Orange is in my blood.  I can't help but believe that Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine know what the hell they are doing.  I can't help but believe that they have a vision for the future of the Cleveland Browns that WILL bring a winner to Cleveland.

After all....Cleveland is BELIEVELAND!

Drop the Rock

Wow, time sure flies by!  I have been letting life get in the way so much that I didn't even realize that I have posted anything on the blog in a while.  It's sometimes funny how life can just take over and soon all of the hours and days blend together into one long robotic motion.  But even through all of the madness that life has to offer, I still have been trying to take some time for me (if you ask some people I might just be taking too much time for "me")

After I finished "Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?", I decided that I was not going to stop there.  I have a list of over 100 books that I would like to read "someday".  The hard part of being a "reader" is that there is always a new book coming out that looks interesting or looks like something tha tyou want to explore further.  So, you just keep on reading. 

A while back I posted a list of 85 books that I want to read.  That list continues to grow, but I continue to read.  I am now reading a self-help book titled "Drop the Rock".  It is a book written by individuals for individuals who are working a 12 step recovery program.  It is mainly focused around the program of Alchoholics Anonymous, but it is a great read for anyone who is actively working the 12 steps.  This books is completely about Steps 6 & 7 of the 12 steps program.  These steps deal with our character defects and shortcomings and learning how to allow your chosen Higher Power to removed those defects and shortcomings from your life with the belief that it will make you a better person. 

I have said for a very long time that I wish that everyone had the 12 steps in their lives.  This world might be a much better place if they did.  But then I think about the fact that there are the 10 commandements (which aren't really that much different) and the world is a still a crazy, misguided, confusing place.  However, what I do know is that the most caring, genuine people I know are individuals who actively work a 12 step program or live their lives by a certain set of "commandments" that are meant to make their lives, and the lives of those around them, better.

So why does recovery through a 12 step program appear to work?  There are 2 main reasons explained in "Drop the Rock": 1. We surrender ourselves to a Higher Power that we understand; and 2. Recovery gives us daily insight into what we can do to remove what blocks us.    Daily awareness of our character defects is needed so that we can apply principles which are opposite.  If a person works the steps of the recovery program, they are less like to be miserable. 

Here are the principles set forth in all 12 step recovery programs:

Step 1 =  Honesty
Step 2 = Hope
Step 3 = Faith
Step 4 = Courage
Step 5 = Integrity
Step 6 = Willingness
Step 7 = Humility
Step 8 = Brotherly Love
Step 9 = Justice
Step 10 = Perserverance
Step 11 = Spiritual Awareness
Step 12 = Service

We need to stop grasping and holding on to old patterns of behavior, thinking and feeling that are harmful to ourselves and others.  The actual words of step 6 state "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."  So what in the heck does that mean?  It means that we have to be WILLING to rid ourselves of the shortcomings that hold us back. We need to sit back and take a look at ourselves, who we are, how we behave and how we treat the people around us.  Not just our friends and family, but everyone that we interact with through our daily lives. 

The book explains that when we are studying and trying to put this step into action in our own lives, we have to consider the 7 deadly sins:
1. Pride - excessive belief in one's own abilities
2. Envy - the desire for other's traits, status, abilities or situation
3. Gluttony - consuming more than required
4. Sloth - avoidance of physical or spiritual work
5. Covetousness - desire for material wealth or gain while ignoring the realm of the spiritual.
6. Lust - excessive craving for the pleasures of the body
7. Anger - how were we taught as a child to deal with anger?  Was it healthy?

There is a lot more to Step 6 than what many people who practice a 12 step program are taught or are led to believe.  For many, they are told that you just simply have to be willing - but according to this book - it's a lot more than that.  There is constant action needed on our part. 

Wrap up - "Does The Noise in My Head Bother You?"

Does the noise in my head bother you? That is the question posed by Steven Tyler in his memoir released in 2011. I just finished reading it and Imhave to say that I am glad that I read it.

I won't lie. It was hard at first to get into it. The beginning of the book seemed scattered and a bit ADHD, but I didn't give up and I am glad that I didn't. I learned so much about one of my favorite singer-songwriters in music history. I felt his struggles with alcoholism & drug addiction. I was left with a sense of hope after his rehab at Betty Ford and his road to recovery. 

This book is not for everyone.  I certainly realize that. But if you are a music fan, you will probably love it.

 

Recognizing defects of character

In previous posts I shared about my desire to lose weight.  I even shared how I planned to do and shared a few milestones along the way.  It has been 2 1/2 months since I started on my weight loss journey using the Weight Watchers program.  I could lie and tell you that it's been easy - but like I said, it would be a lie.  Instead, I have to share that the last 2 1/2 months have been extremely difficult.  Making lifestyle changes is hard for me.  I can't seem to get into the mood to exercise like I need to (and like I want to).  I am finding it extremely grueling trying to keep the willpower to say "no" to my "trigger" foods.  I am even realizing that I have more triggers than I initially realize.

Some days it's so difficult to stay on plan that I question why I am doing this and if it's even worth it because I don't know how long I am going to be able to keep this up.  Then, the other part of my brain - the rational one - tells me that I want to live long enough to watch my future grandchildren grow up.  That I want to be able to buy cute clothes right off the rack instead of ordering my clothes from a catalog.  It tells me that I am unhealthy at 275 lbs and that I would feel 100 times better if I could just get down to a more healthy size. 

A couple of years ago I came to the conclusion, after unsuccessfully completing a 6 week nutrition program prescribed by my cardiologist, that I am an emotional and compulsive overeater.  When I came to that realization I even tried going to Overeater's Anonymous.  And though I really did like the people at the meetings - I still didn't feel "at home".  I felt terribly out of place and it made it even more difficult for me to "stick with it."  I just stopped going.  I didn't call anyone that I had met at OA, like they suggest that you should do.  And I was never able to become completely abstinent from my trigger foods. 

After moving to Nashville in 2012 - I once again tried a few OA meetings.  Again, the people were nice - but I didn't feel comfortable.  I didn't feel like I was in the right place.  I was able to convince myseld that I am not a compulsive overeater - that I could "control" my behaviors.  I told myself that it wasn't about the fact that I ate "too much" - I just don't have the energy or stamina to exercise - that's really the problem.

Today, I was on my break and I was reading from the book "Drop the Rock".  It's a book written for Alcoholics & Addicts about Steps 6 & 7 of the 12 step program.  In the book I was reading about character defects and how before you can get rid of your character defects, you have to recognize them, then you have to get the WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW GOD (or your higher power - which I choose to call Gaia the Goddess of Earth) to remove your character defects.  As I was reading I kept thinking "what are my character defects where food and exercise are concerned?"  And "am I willing to allow my higher power relieve me of these defects of character?"

What exactly is a character defect anyway?  To answer this question I had to first learn what "character" means.  "Character" is distinct qualities that make somebody or something unique and includes somebody's qualities of feelings and of their mind. It can also be defined as somebody's reputation.  Next I had to learn the definition of "defect" - which simply put is a flaw.  So, character defects would be somebody's reputation or quality flaws.  Easy enough right?  I bet most of you could make a list of things that you don't like about yourself - but are they are really flaws?  For example, I don't like that am 37 years old - this is a characteristic that makes up who I am, and in some ways it defines me, but I can't change it - I have to accept it for what it is.  So, just because I have flaws, doesn't mean that they are neccessarily character defects.

So how do we know exactly what our character defects are and what do we do to become willing to allow God to remove them?  We have to list them.  We have take an honest look at ourselves, who we are and how we behave.  Then we have to look at how those things effect our lives.  Not all "defects" are all bad.  Some can work positively in our lives and the lives of others. 

I have an assignment - and I promise that I will do this assignmet too.  Take some time for yourself over the next couple of days and write a list.  Write a list of the characteristics in your life that make up who you are.  For example, do you get angry easily?  Do you yell at your kids too much? Are you friendly to everyone around you?  Think about the kind of person that your friends and family say you are.  What are your actions?  Then after making your list of these qualities, take a look at it again and decide what items would you like to be rid of?  Do you want God to help you with your anger? Do you want God to continue to give you the ability to be friendly to people?  That's where we need to start - by recognizing what our defects are - putting them down on paper and then answering the question "Am I willing to allow my Higher Power remove these defects of character from my life?"

Marriage Equality

I read a news article this evening that really put me over the edge.  It was a report about a woman in Michigan who was beaten because of who she loves and who she married.  I have finally come to the point where I can no longer remain "politically correct" about this subject.  I have to speak out and hopefully, my thoughts and my words will help someone else change.  

I am talking about same-sex marriage and civil unions.  There has been so much argument about why it should be illegal.  To me I think that it's a matter of people being afraid of what's different.  Being afraid of what they just don't understand.  Not too many decades ago, it was illegal for people of different races to marry - but times change.  People realized that love knows no color.  Regardless of the color of a person's skin, that doesn't mean that they are any less of a human being and we are all equal. So why is it so difficult for people to see that same-sex unions are no different?  It should not matter what body parts a person has.  Love knows no boundaries. 

I hate the argument that same-sex unions need to be illegal because of what the bible teaches.  That is the weakest argument in the world.  I mean, the bible also taught me that God loves all of his children.  And the bible taught me that Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of our sins.  This means ensures that all of us have a place in God's Kingdom.  I truly believe that God loves each and every one of us, regardless of our sexual preferences.  Regardless of the color of our skin.  Regardless of our religious affiliations.  God is the ultimate spiritual being.  

So when I read this article about the woman in Michigan who was beaten on the street simply because she was featured on a news report about same-sex marriage is just appalling to me.  I just don't comprehend why there is so much hate in this world.  I don't understand how another human being can hurt someone physically because of who someone loves.  It just makes me so angry.  And it makes me sad for what kind of world my daughter and niece are going to be left with as adults. My parents taught my sister and I that we should accept everyone for who they.  There will be people in the world that we may not particularly like or that we would want to allow to be part of our lives, but we must accept that everyone is different.  Everyone has their own unique qualities and we need to respect them for their differences. I hope that I can teach my daughter the same thing.

  

Baseball Opening Day Tradition

As a baseball fan, I am always really excited when Opening Day comes around.  Baseball - America's Past-Time.  For as long as I can remember, opening day has been somewhat of a celebration where I come from.  Growing up a Cleveland Indians fan, though, also meant that Opening Day was the beginning of another summer of disappointments.  That is until the Tribe moved to their new ballpark in 1994 - then known as Jacob's Field.  Had the 1994 season not ended early because of a players' strike - we may have seen our beloved team in the post-season for the first time in 46 years.  But we only had to wait another year before we got to see Chief Wahoo in the World Series.  Though they lost in Game 6 to the Atlanta Braves - 1995 and the Indians going to the World Series was one of the greatest moments in my young life.  I graduated from High School that year and started college.  It was a very exciting time of my life.  

As I reminisce about the "glory days" of that 1995 season I also think about the traditions.  Like the President of the United States throwing out the very first pitch of the new season.  Where did that tradition come from?  How long has it been happening?  The answer: over 100 years ago when William H. Taft was given season tickets by Thomas C. Noyes, owner of the Washington Senators.  April 19, 1909 Taft was at the Opening Game for the first time as President of the United States.  And - then - a year later - Washington Manager, Jimmy McAleer, had the idea to invite President Taft to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  The invitation was reportedly made to the President by Ban Johnson, Baseball's Commissioner at the time. The date was April 14, 1910 - William H. Taft opened the season as the Washington Senators took on the Philadelphia Athletics - with Washington taking the win 3-0.  Taft returned in 1911 to throw the first pitch again.

Over the years, there have been a few times that the season began without the Presidential first pitch - but not too many over the last 104 years!

Here's a list of the Presidents, they years they threw out the first pitch and the location of the game. 

Presidential First Pitches on Opening Day

President	Years	Locations
William H. Taft	1910-1911	Washington D.C.
Woodrow Wilson	1913, 1915-1916	Washington D.C.
Warren G. Harding	1921-1923	Washington D.C.
Calvin Coolidge	1924-1925, 1927-1928	Washington D.C.
Herbert Hoover	1929-1932	Washington D.C.
Franklin D. Roosevelt	1933-1938, 1940-1941	Washington D.C.
Harry S. Truman	1946-1952	Washington D.C.
Dwight D. Eisenhower	1953-1958, 1960	Washington D.C.
John F. Kennedy	1961-1963	Washington D.C.
Lyndon B. Johnson	1964-1965, 1967	Washington D.C.
Richard Nixon	1969, 1973	Washington D.C., Anaheim
Gerald Ford	1976	Arlington
Ronald Reagan	1984, 1986	Baltimore
George H.W. Bush	1989-1992	Baltimore, Toronto, Arlington
Bill Clinton	1993-1994, 1996	Baltimore, Cleveland
George W. Bush	2001, 2004-2006, 2008	Milwaukee, St. Louis, Washington D.C., Cincinnati
Barack Obama	2010	Washington D.C.

Baseball-Almanac.com  

So, as the season begins - PLAY BALL!

My Great-Grandmother

There are a lot of people in this world that do great things.  From artists that create wonder pieces of artwork to musicians that create music that fill our souls.  Authors who write books and poems that transform our lives.  Philanthropists that dedicate themselves to causes in an attempt make this world a better place.

Someone asked me one time "Who inspires you?".  Wow - that is a tough question to answer.  There have been a lot of people in my life who have been a source of inspiration.  For example, I am inspired by my Great-Grandmother.  She lived to be 100 years old.  She outlived both of her children, two husbands and a Great-Grandson.  She never dwelled on the past.  She always seemed happy just the way her life was.  As a young mother and she and my Great-Grandfather owned a mum farm where they grew and sold mum plants.  In the summers, she would run an ice cream shack to make extra income for her family.  As a Grandmother, she adored all of her Grandchildren.  She took great pride in everything that they did and she loved to spoil them.  Perhaps that greatest thing that I remember is her unconditional love.  Oh how I wish that I could love as unconditionally as she did.

My Great-Grandmother was born in 1905.  She lived through 2 World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict and Desert Storm.  She witness the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001.  She was a young mother trying to keep her family fed during the Great Depression.  But yet, she never complained - or at least I never heard her complain.  It seemed as though she always tried to find the best of every situation.

Oh how I enjoyed visiting her home in Eustis, FL.  She had Orange Trees and the most beautiful collection of porcelain tea cups.  She also collected porcelain birds.  Boy did she love her birds!  She was crafty and enjoyed making things for her family.  I remember when I was around 8 or 9 years old, when Cabbage Patch Kids first came out and they were the "craze", she made all of 5 of her great-granddaughters their own "Cabbage Patch Doll" - she gave them all Christmas names like Holly Berry and Joy Noel.

Looking back over the years, I wish that I had taken time to learn more about my Great-Grandmother.  I wish that I had sat down and talked to her about her life - learned more about how she felt about things and how her life experiences shaped the person that she was.  I think about her and it makes me smile - she was spunky and stubborn - and I like to think that I got those same qualities from her.  Yet, she was mysterious to me - there was a lot that I didn't know about her and now I will never know.

I have a dream....

One of the biggest obstacles that I have with trying to keep up with writing on my blog is coming up with things to talk about.  I want this blog to be engaging for my readers and I envision it to provide information and viewpoints about all kinds of different topics.  There are thousands of blogs out there that focus on specific topics.  So how do I make my blog different?  How do I keep it interesting so that my readers will keep coming back for more?  The truth is, I really don't know know - but I am going to keep trying. 

The beauty about having my own blog is that I really can talk about anything that I want to talk about.  Today, I am going to share with you one of my biggest dreams that I have had since I was a little girl.  I supposed I am kind of fulfilling that dream by keeping this blog and being committed to posting on a regular basis.  Since as far back as I can remember I have always had a love for reading, learning and writing.  I always enjoyed writing short poems and short stories - as long as they were about topics that I was interested in.  I loved writing so much that when I first started college at Kent State University, I declared my major as Journalism and Mass Communications.  One of my biggest regrets in life was not following through with that career choice.  Instead, when to going got tough, I gave up.  I changed my major to Sport Sociology and ended up with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Athletic Coaching.  

As I get closer to reaching 40 years old - I look back at my life and think about how many things could have been different in my life.  But during my college years, partying and having fun was more of a focus than my career and the rest of my life.  In fact, back then I really didn't think that I would live long enough to reach 40 years old.  I also didn't think that I would be married or be a mother.  Oh how I wish that my life outlook would have been different back then.  Who knows - I could have been a best selling author by now - or being a famous sports writer.  However, I choose to believe that the Goddess already had my life planned out before I even knew she did - or what exactly was in store. 

I hope that I never give up on my dream.  I hope that one day I will magically be able to fulfill that dream I had of writing a book - and having it published for the world to read.  And so I keep trying.  I keep searching for that "perfect topic" that will put me on top.  

As always, I welcome suggestions and ideas from all of my readers.  Let me know what you would like to learn about; what you would like to read about.  

Rambling

Well vacation has come and gone. It's been a while since I blogged and I apologize. I took some time away so that I could focus on some much needed family time. Over the last week and a half I have learned a few things. One, that I love my family more than anything else in the world. Two, that my daughter is going to be grown and out on her own before I know it and I need to cherish, every minute I have with her now before it's too late. Three, I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination.

Jeff, Karey and I travelled 9 hours form Nashville to Painesville last week to surprise our family and friends. While we succeeded in doing just that, I also got a surprise...I got to spend one of the best weeks I have had in a long time with my daughter. She was nice and pleasant to be around. And I truly felt like we were a family again. I also feel like I got closer to my father-in-law. We stayed with him for a week and it was nice to get to know him better and talk about him moving closer to us. I can't wait until he is living here in Tennessee. 

Sometimes it takes moving away from everything you have ever known to be able to appreciate it all.   I certainly am glad that I have seen the value in everything I have in my life.  My marriage, my daughter, my family, my friends, my job. Everything that I have in my life is a result of hardworking and determination. 

Raising a generation of mediocrity

Today I read a news article about a 2 year old in Canada who was "suspended" from her daycare center because she violated the "no outside food" rule.  First of all, why the hell have we allowed ANY daycare center or school dictate what our children eat?  Okay okay - the full story here.  The daycare center apparently have a "no outside food" rule due to the possibility of children having food allergies.  Okay, I get that.  But to "suspend" a 2 year old because she wasn't able to finish eating a cheese sandwich and without her father knowing, stuck said sandwich in her pocket and took it into the school.  The school found the sandwich and advised the father that she would be suspended for 3 days because they violated the rule for which there is no tolerance. 

Then there is the situation that happened with a friend of mine's daughter who got in trouble for hugging a classmate.  Then the next week, she "shared" a snack with another classmate and was made to write a note to her parents telling them she was "bad" for sharing.  Are you f*#king kidding me?

It is bad enough that teachers and administrators at our public schools only give a shit about themselves and don't really give a rat's ass about what the parents have to deal with on a daily basis.  We have allowed our public school system and daycare centers become too "politically correct". We have allowed them to punish the good kids while allowing the bad kids to get away with breaking the rules. 

We are raising a generation of mediocrity.  Our children (mine included) are coddled and babied.  They are "protected" from the real world.  They can't think for themselves.  When it comes to academics their teachers only know how to teach to a test and anything that is not on that test is forgotten.  We have allowed out public school system to remove cursive handwriting from the curriculum.  We have allowed them to discontinue teaching our children things that challenge them to be better.  But is it all the public school systems fault?  No, not really.  As a parent it my fault too.  I have become over-involved in my career and not involved enough in my child's education and now that she is in middle school and halfway through her formal education, I fear that I might be too late to step in and fix all that has been broken. 

As a parent, I have allowed this to happen because I am the bread winner of my family.  I have to work 40+ hours a week to make sure we keep a roof over our head, gas in the car so that I can put food in my child's belly and keep clothes on her back.  I have fallen into the trap that so many other parents have fallen into.  Not because we wanted to, but because we HAD to and because of that, we are raising a generation of children who don't realize that they have to work hard for everything they need & want in life.  

The sad thing is that no one is stepping up and saying anything about it.  This bullshit of standardized testing has ruined our education system and it's getting worse.  But we continue to go with the flow - I mean why not?  Nothing we do or say is going to change "their" minds.  Growing up, it was instilled in me that I have to study, do my homework, go to school everyday and respect my teachers.  And I did well in school.  I made good grades and graduated in the top 7% of my graduating class with a GPA of 3.8.  I attended college with the help of an academic scholarship that was awarded to me by my high school alumni association.  I did okay in college....and would have done better if I had been just a little more serious about it.  And I often times think that I would love to go back to school and get a better degree - like in law or politics.  But then I think, I have a child to send to college.  I can't go back to school.  My daughter will be graduating from high school is 6 short years.  And you know what - she isn't anywhere close to being prepared.  That is my failure as a parent.  

Mediocrity: The quality or state of being mediocre.  Mediocre: of moderate quality, below average to average.  I hate to say this but it's all our fault.  We have allowed our elected officials pass laws that do nothing but harm our children's education.  We have sat back and watched while our teachers have given up and they no longer provide the same quality education that we received as children.  The kids worry about "core curriculum" (whatever the hell that really is) and they stress over tests that if they don't pass, they are labeled failures.  We have taken away the ability for our children to learn about good sportsmanship and team work by allowing every child to participate in little league and get a "participation trophy" because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.  

I wish I could start a movement.  The kind of movement where other parents who were raised like I was stand up against the system and demand change.  I don't even know where to begin.  I am that mother that teachers and principals don't want to come in contact with because I can be a bit crazy at times.  But I am also my child's only advocate for what I feel is right and just treatment.  

Are we going to continue to allow our child to just learn enough "to pass a test"?  Or are we going to demand that our children do and know more.  Are we going to insist that our children be challenged into pushing themselves to take personal responsibility and strive for greatness?