The 8-step program...

I have been pretty busy lately and have not made it to Bally's for a few days.

I mentioned this to one of my older friends.

She responded by sending me the 8-step exercise program she has been working on since she turned 50 a couple months ago...

1. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
2. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides.
3. Hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.
4. Each day hold this position for just a bit longer.
5. After two weeks, use 10-lb potato bags.
6. After two more weeks try 50-lb potato bags.
7. By 6 weeks you should be able to lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)
8. After you feel confident at this level, put a potato in each bag.

Remembering a good man...

Art Reeves, you were a good man...

Of all my ex-in-laws, you were my favorite.

You did not judge, but had a strong sense of right and wrong.

You had a good heart, a great sense of humor, and an awesome love for life.

You could party with the best of them:)

Which is why LDBoy went ahead with plans to take G-man out on his 18th birthday even tho it was the day after you passed and the day before your wake.

"Grandpa Art would have wanted us to do this; let's not disappoint him."

From what I heard, the boys made you proud.

And yes, I will make sure G-man gets to enough classes and practices this week so he can play Friday night, because you would have wanted that, too. (Even tho in the last few months you had him confused with someone name Greg who runs touchdowns for THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY...)

I will never forget all you did for us as a young couple with young children. You helped us in so many ways. The kids always loved the times they spent with you.

And you have been there for them as they have grown.

I have never seen G-man cry so hard as he did when I had to tell him the sad news of your passing.

This week, so many fond memories of times past have been going through my mind, bringing smiles and tears...

I will share just one of my many favorite stories...

...Late one night you came in after the Akron PD had wanted to arrest you and your prank-playing friends for trespassing on the local golf course, but apparently you had decided not to renew your license EVER and so the BMV had just finally assumed you had passed away (quite a few years back).... as you retold the story, when the police dispatch told the would-be arresting officers that they were looking at a dead man - well, the whites of their eyes were all you could see that late at night and they let you and your friends go on your way....

Thank you, Art, for all you gave...to everyone who came into your life...

May you rest in peace.

Happy Birthday, G-Man...

Wow...My baby is 18 today. I should be happy but I am kind of sad.

I love being a Mom.

G-man, you make being a Mom fun....

Well except for the first few years when you were a living terror and we wondered who spawned you or if I took the wrong baby home...

You could cause some damage with a whiffle bat - and putting beads up your nose - what was that about?

But that is behind you (and us) now - thank the Lord.

You went from holy terror to holy shit that kid can play ball - any kind of ball. Three sports at a time, running me ragged trying to keep up with you.

You matured (physically) faster than any kid I know. I learned to keep your birth certificate close at hand to prove that you could not drive yourself to the game no matter what the opposing coach implied..

And that 16-yr old lifeguard we caught you with when you were 12 - geez! What were you thinking? Don't answer that...

Look at you now...

The last four years it has been just you and me (and all your friends) at home and I think we make a good team. We look out for each other...(BTW, thanks for caring enough to give every guy I go out with the third degree, but you can ease up a bit, ok? I know I find the biggest assholes, but still...)

I am happy for you for all you have accomplished and proud of who you are.

It is going to be a bittersweet year for me...

For you, I hope this year is full of health, happiness, fond farewells, and exciting new opportunities.

I love you G-Man.

Mud Bowl II

Week 6 of High School Football in Northeast Ohio...

It had been raining all week...

But by Friday afternoon the sun was shining and the sky was blue.

I checked the weather for Madison -the evening will be cloudy with a 10% chance of rain.

Cool - no need for an umbrella or poncho -good thing, too, cuz I just realized they are all in G-Man's car. (I knew I forgot to do something in the morning.)

The ride to Madison was uneventful...well except for that scary looking dude I ran into at the Sheetz who was looking at me kind of ...well, just scary.

At the field, as I got out of the car to walk to the stands it started to drizzle...no big deal - a few drops here and there.

Well, I think the forcaster missed a zero when he predicited that 10% chance of rain, cuz by the time I got to my seat, I was drenched. Three times.

Thanks for pushing that poncho in my direction Coach Meghan!

The players let up a whoop like they were happy for the rain. What the heck? Do they like rolling around in the mud?

It rained pretty steady the whole game with a few spotty torrential downpours.

I think G-Man had a passing TD and a rushing TD - at least the announcer said it was him, I couldn't tell; they all look alike caked in mud; he's usually the white running back, but not this game.

It took me a couple hours to get warm and dry once we got back home.

It took G-Man a couple of showers to get the mud off of him...it was still in the tub, tho. Thanks, bud.