Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween, 2016

It's finally Halloween! And, for the first time in years, I will be delivering cupcakes to the elementary school. The cupcakes are for the cake walk at the Halloween Carnival that will be held in the gym later this evening; the Cub and his fellow ASTRA members will be volunteering during the event and cupcakes are my contribution in lieu of actual physical assistance since I will be at home, handing out candy to the Trick-or-Treaters and protecting my house from toilet papering and/or egging. Kids still do that when they don't get treats, am I right?

I also feel like I need to stand watch over our jack-o-lanterns since we put so much time and effort into them and, since I don't think Hugh wants to piece them back together with toothpicks and duck tape in the event that they are smashed by hooligans (Happened once, true story).









Our efforts this year include a super-warty witch, a minion, a traditional jack-o-lantern face, and Snoopy, sleeping on a pumpkin. The Cub did an amazing job on Snoopy, and, it looks really good, despite the fact that I mistook him for a cat at first glance (the Cub immediately set me straight, I assure you). Hugh carved the jack-o-lantern face as well as the witch, and, I really flexed my pumpkin carving skills with the minion; it required less talent than you might expect.

Today, I am headed to work, in costume, for our office Halloween shenanigans, pictures to follow (possibly). In the meantime, here are a few shots of the Cub and a couple of friends from Saturday night's Zombie Prom.




I think the most terrifying thing about this is that it is the last time I will get to attend the Prom with them.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Well, Fuck. Really Glad I Didn't Wake the Cub

The BCPE just called to let me know that there was a change on the play-off brackets; apparently another team protested and, on further review, the boys lost their play-off berth by 2/100 of a fucking point.

To say that I am irritated would be a vast motherfucking understatement.

While this in no way takes away from the hard work the boys put into the season, it is still a major disappointment.

Have I mentioned that the new RPI system is bullshit?

Consider it mentioned.

Deep breath, moving on....

Basketball try-outs are in two weeks.

Bring on the gym lights!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Play-Off Bound!

We got word this morning that the boys pulled the points required to send them to the play-offs (As an aside, this new RPI formula that CHSAA is using is both confusing and frustrating, but, we are in the play-offs, so, I'll live with it)!

As of right now, we don't know where we are going or who we are playing, but we know that we will be traveling somewhere this coming weekend, and, that the boys will have at least one more opportunity to play together. I can't wait to tell the Cub, but, currently he is sleeping, and, since he was out late last night (Annual ASTRA Zombie Prom followed by a trip through the local "haunted" corn maze and a late night dinner at the local diner makes for a very tired boy), I don't want to wake him; the news will keep.

So, the boys will once again don their "away whites" (the grey uniforms they wore on Senior Night were purchased specifically for that game, with the money raised at this year's car wash; the boys will keep the uniforms to remind them of the nights that they played together under the lights).  We will load up the car with stadium seats, thermoses of hot cocoa, blue and gold pom-poms, and fingers crossed for another Pirate victory.

And we will be grateful for the chance to do so.

Let's go, boys!


Senior Night and I Didn't Cry! Boo-ya!

The boys played their hearts out last night, and, while they didn't come away with a victory, they left the field in firm control of the hearts of every single one of their fans, including, of course, their parents, who, have cheered them on since the very beginning.

And, while we won't know until Sunday whether or not we made the play-offs, I sensed optimism in the boys as well as the desire to keep on playing, and, that's what makes a winner, so, either way, winners.

Speaking of winning, my practical side totally won out over my hyper-emotional side; I didn't cry. I may, or may not, have gotten a bit misty when I stood beside the Man-Cub on the field, along with my fellow senior moms (and dads), and, I might have gotten a little something in my eye as I watched the Cub, swaying back and forth and singing the words to the National Anthem prior to the game, but, I didn't have a full-on sobbing breakdown, and, for that, I am grateful.

I'm a really ugly crier.

Now, if I had cried, it would have been completely understandable, I mean, even if we do make it to the play-offs, that's great, but, it was still the last time that we will ever watch our boys play together on their home field. Under the circumstances, crying would have been quite forgivable.

I didn't do it, though.

Nope.

(Saved that shit for when I got home)

Anyhoodle, here are about a million pictures of our boys, the game they love, the parents who love them, and all of the friendships that have been forged along the way.
























I'm going to miss the lights.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

This Really....Does Not Bode Well

Yesterday, after work, I drove to the hardware store to deliver a shipment of printer paper that Oscar had stowed in my car. The chore took me down main street at precisely the time that the sun was beginning to set behind the park adjacent to the school and right as youth football league was finishing up practice; silhouetted in the glow of the setting sun, a young boy leapt awkwardly into the air to receive a pass from his teammate, and, people? I lost it.


Tears. Actual tears.

In that moment, I was transported back to a time when my evenings were spent in a lawn chair on the sidelines at that very park, patiently watching the Man-Cub as he awkwardly leapt into the air to catch a pass and waiting for the sun to set, signaling an end to that evening's practice.

Wasn't that just yesterday?

How is it even remotely possible that, tomorrow night, I will stand on the sidelines for what may very well be the last time, watching the Man-Cub leap into the air (far less awkwardly) to catch a pass from one of his teammates? More importantly, am I expected to do so with dry eyes? Because, if last night was any indication, that is a feat far removed from my abilities.

Honestly, I am tearing up as I write this.

I am so screwed.

I don't even like football; I don't.

So, why am I going to miss it so much when it's over?