What if you could really freeze your a** off. Today would have been the day

44

OK - I'm sitting at the computer; the TV is on in the background. The newscaster says that 44 is the average age for people to have a midlife crisis. To all my friends - if you see me starting to go crazy - INTERVENE. Up until that moment I loved being 44; now I'm not so sure.

This is why we stayed home today

When you're a teacher you come to love the phone call at 5:30 am. This morning the phone rang at 5:50 am. Of course I was surprised. How awesome it was when Jackie said that school was cancelled because of icy roads. I don't make the rules, I just follow. I in turn called my list of people. Every single response was Nu uh. So I had the privilege of making some one's day. Dan was already out the door (throwing with the hs throwers); since I was up I went in to work. There were a handful of us there getting after it without the kids. All in all a successful day. I'm sure every teacher and student are watching the weather to see if we'll be in school tomorrow. I think it's 50-50 right now. (the pic is just from the internet - nothing local)

Weekly recap

Again, Dan and I were on the road traveling to a track meet. This week Nate competed at Findley. This was the biggest meet by far, with lots of DII throwers. For those of you who don't follow field and track. Ashland is the team to beat in the throws. The coach there, Judd Logan is an Olympic athlete. Every thrower knows about Judd.

Again Nate was the smallest and the youngest guy there. There were 4 flights. Two flights were in a secondary venue and two in the main venue. Nate was lucky enought to be throwing in the main venue. He was the first thrower. This means that with the 15 athletes he has the shortest throw. Again - he surprised himself and others. He managed to make it to finals and ended up finishing 7th overall. His farthest throw was 48.10.25, another personal best. Meet results

Matt also blew in on Friday. He had lots of paperwork and errands to take care of. He is going to Montana this summer and needed to fill out and fax all the documents. As he was doing this, it was obvious he was getting exasperated. At 20 he already hates errands. (I got news for you buddy.)
Montana view

N8 @ ND

Nate thew against the big boys at Notre Dame on Friday. There were two flights. He flew in the second flight (the better throwers). Again he was the smallest thrower there- and the only thrower who is a scholar athlete is football. All of the others competing are full time throwers. He had his farthest throw with a throw of 14.5 meters = 47.57 feet. Pretty good for having to do a football workout before leaving Hillsdale.

Hillsdale College Press Release-Meet Results

We live in Michigan - why???

With temperatures like this I sometimes wonder why we live in Michigan. I took this picture and the temp was 5 outside. A few hours later it was 2 and when we woke up this morning it was -2.

Nate competes at the college level for the first time

After being red shirted for football, Nate competed at the college level in track and field (or as he likes to say field and track) on Saturday. The meet was at Eastern Michigan University. I will admit I was very nervous. In high school throwers throw a 12 pound shot; at the college level that weight jumps up to 16 pounds.

Nate's coach (Coach Fo)registered Nate at approx 47 feet. At this level everything is measured in meters. I could tell Nate was nervous before the meet. Again he was the smallest guy there. His comment was I'm the smallest, the youngest, but I'm the smartest. He came through with a throw of 47'3". This was enough to have him seated 3rd going into finals. He could not muster a better throw and ended up with a 5th place finish.

This was also the first time that Dan was not coaching him from the side. Dan sat in the stands (with me - another new experience for both of us) and watched and video taped Nate and the other Charger throwers. Dan said he enjoyed being just Dad, but on Sunday morning the two of them were breaking down the film going over technique things.


Nate's coach is happy with the throw. Next week on to Notre Dame. Both Dan and Nate are very excited to be competing in that venue.

I miss my girls

During football I see my girls (all the other football widows) all the time. Football ends and we go on with our lives. One year ago today we were together basking in Mexican sun during the day, and enjoying the night life after dark.

There is a saying "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. The same applies to Cancun. Do the math 8 women + no husbands + sun + suds = a whole heck of a lot of fun

10043 W. Parkway - my childhood home

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First snow

Now that we are all older and wiser, we tend to look at snow as a nuisance. Just look at how happy snow can make you feel, especially when it's the first time you've ever experience the white stuff.

Bennet is thoroughly enjoying trying to figure out what snow is all about. How can you not giggle at how cute he looks in that horn hat.