Another Heartbreaking Loss

We lost another close one, 11-21, although the score did not accurately reflect the evening. Bats were hot to start the game and 11 runs were scored. Momentum started to shift when third base coach Nick thrust Heather towards home plate resulting in an out. No touching base runners. I have been told by a former teammate he has never seen an ump call this the first time. It is usually a warning. Nick was unaware of this rule and said “I didn’t know.” A player on the other team, only known to me as “the growler”, screamed out in hate “learn the rules!” Since I am the manager, I take full blame. Actually, blame Paul! I was screwed over somehow and dealt the manager title but never have seen the rulebook. Definitely blame Paul!

By the fifth inning we had a sizeable lead. The game got away from us with several walks and some good hitting with bases loaded and a crazy time with four-five Mylan players on base resulting in only one out. That still puzzles me as to what really happened. Bottom line. We lost. We had fun. We still have softball in our hearts and know we are so much better than our 1-5 record. We’ll be ready for Monday’s game and hopefully our second victory! I will do my best to make attempts to reduce my pre-game organizing anxiety. Healthy tips on how the heck I go about this would be greatly encouraged!

Best For Last

After a softball defeat by Mylan
To Applebee’s we went
To celebrate Heather’s and my birthdays
An exciting social event

I opened one last present
And I could hardly believe my eyes
My own Sex Machine T-shirt
And it was just my size

No longer must I covet
Or scour stores to acquisition
This boastful bonanza of a treasure
This so me definition

I received a vast array of presents
For my birthday, I felt like a queen
But nothing quite compares
To my shirt that says Sex Machine!

Our First Fall WIN

Last night strategic rotation of many in a variety of positions resulted in much chaos and our first win of fall softball season this year. Despite Mario’s rally in the top of the sixth, we stopped their “new game”. Paul made a guest appearance, but due to his priority ranking of softball, his special cheer (Paul, Paul, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, no one can) is in danger of being abdicated to someone else. Kayla made the astute observation that the opposing team’s pitcher was quite the look alike to Ben Stiller’s character White Goodman in DodgeBall. (That must have been why I kept hitting the ball right to him.) Now Heather just needs to find LittleMan and our season will be complete.

The Great Race

Can you believe I slept in a room decorated with Pitt paraphernalia? Sacrelige!









After staying the night at my cousins
Pitt decor setting off the room's space
I rose early as many runners did
To run in The Great Race

My first race in over a year
The joy just filled my heart
I once again experienced the palpable anticipation
Of runners waiting for the gun to start

Since my sacrum injury
My pace, I had no clue
I spotted an attractive random guy
And thought, I’ll run with you

A strategy my boss would be proud of
I stalked him until mile 3
After that I tried to wait for him
But his pace fell behind me

And that is how it happened
My goal time was diminished
From between 55-60 minutes
To a swifter 50:18 finish

What a thrill it was to race again
Trails of cups, music, and bands
An endless stream of runners
The Great Race indeed was grand

Birthday Extravaganza

The celebration of my birthday began last weekend with shopping with Stacy and my mom and ends with a trip to Pittsburgh with my dad this weekend. I’ve gone out to dinner three times and received a lot of great gifts. Here are my favorites:

From Kelly, a Borders gift card, perfect for the hyperlexic. Regardless of the fact that I have about 10 books sitting on my bookshelf calling my name to no avail as a result of lack of reading time, at any given moment I can go into Borders and pick out at least 10 more.

From Stacy, THE RINGER DVD. It may seem wrong that someone in the special education field would so enjoy this movie about fixing the Special Olympics. However, I found it to be quite hilarious. My favorite part is when Winston says, “When the *beep* did we get ice cream?”

From Brittany, Mountaineer apparrel and my birthday cake. Brittany successfully made Shirley’s Birthday Cake decorated in blue and gold. Shirley’s Birthday Cake is named after Kayla’s grandmother, who first introduced me to it. This is a cake that tastes like a sugar cookie. The last time I had this extraordinary cake was in Cape Hatteras a long, long time ago.

From my coworker, a desk reference set, including dictionary and thesaurus, so that I can have many a lexical moment in my future.

From the parents, clothes, purple guitar picks, expensive colorful tick tacs, and a SpaRoma gift certificate. Once again, my mom was victorious in landing no presents in the bad pile.

From Allison, among other things, Wild and Wicked Black Nail Polish and Lipstick to go with my wish list Marilyn Manson t-shirt (desired, not yet owned) for a home group appearance if I actually give into my controversial plan that tempts me relentlessly. (Mom and company will probably take it up with her for encouraging me… I had almost forgotten the idea). Allison’s present was choicely arranged in a WVAQ Bring Your Own Bucket Tuesday bucket.

From Cold Stone and the Queen City Creamery-Coupons for free ice cream. For some reason, I signed up twice for each place. To join the Cold Stone Birthday club and receive a free ice cream on your birthday go here


Fantasy Football update: Hail! The conquering criminals! (need to work on a fight song). Last week my team tore it up. This week in the face off of all face offs, I am pitted against Kelly’s team. Kelly and I have had many a feud in our day, but never would I have thought we would battle it out in fantasy football. Kelly has the stronger team, as she was always the stronger one in our childhood battles. But never underestimate the value of hair pulling…

More John Vaughnism's

My guitar lesson yielded several interesting quotes and moments:

1. "The joys of working for the state can be obscure indeed."

2. "Don't waste a pick. There are children in Africa who have none."

3. "I would inflict any insanity I could on any innocent song I could find."

4. On the man who shot his wife and mother-in-law in Clarksburg-"Wouldn't it just be easier to get a divorce?"

5. "Do you listen to much calypso?" To which I replied, Actually, my second favorite Christmas carol is Caribbean Christmas from my dad's Jamaican Christmas tape. Second only to Christmas In Killarney during which you are inspired to click your heels. Last year, I got my entire office to click their heels.

6. "Holy rollers are quite an interesting outfit." Further explained, Mr. Vaughn had gone to a church to teach guitar to some of its' members. At this church, when the holy spirit moves them, they go up on stage, jam out on various instruments, and sing. I asked if the holy spirit actually enabled them to play correctly on a random instrument(not exactly, was the reply). I told him I wished that the holy spirit would enable me to play and remember all of the notes on the various positions on the guitar (On the guitar, the same note can be played several different places on the guitar. I have just mastered the first place that notes can be played and am very daunted by the task of learning more). John Vaughn proceeded to, as he sometimes does, compare my memory for guitar notes to Kelly Bundy's memory on Married With Children. He sites the episode in which lacking the "personality" to appear on a sports-trivia game show, Al tries to transfer his knowledge to Kelly -- but for each fact she takes in, another falls out. He has suggested that I do this with guitar information.

Aerial View Of Fruit Cups

Here’s a lexical limerick just for Jess:

I wanted to make fruit cups like Jess!
I bought the ingredients, YES!
She’s posited, “They’re so easy.”
Quite right, they taste pleasing
I crown them a grand success.

Take this QUIZ to see what kind of fruit you are.

News and Notes: With the help of Allison’s savvy recruiting of Nick P. and the morphing Shawn, we had an extremely close game with Archies last night. Oddly enough, as opposed to the greats from the past, it was a church camp song Be Bold, Be Strong that gave me courage as I went to bat with two outs in the top of the seventh. It will now become a pre-game favorite. Sadly, Archies ended the tied score with a run in the bottom of the seventh. However, as our excellent leftfielder Heather Hedrick remarked, “We weren’t 10 runned. That’s a win in my book!”

From On High Somewhere In The Distance There's A Voice That Calls....Remember Who You Are

When thinking about our continued defeats on the softball field, it might be easy to fall into the depths of despair. However, drawing from the Lion King, I decided to reflect on the wisdom gained from sophic coaches in my past in order to get some perspective and motivation.

Paul Miller- Pee Wee and Little League Baseball Coach. Paul had a talent for discipline. I most remember him forcibly yelling. I particularly remember his comment to the outfield, “Like a Wall Out there!” My sister, Kelly, and I ,at the time, were anything but a wall out there. The only girls on our team, we were nicknamed Pinky and Bluey for our matching outfits. On the Pee-Wee team, Kelly and I enjoyed picking dandelions and twirling around. Our team practiced for hours rain or shine and was made to run for losses. However, with the help of Paul’s strict discipline, by Little League, even Kelly and I had progressed extensively and our team was victorious in the championships. What I learned from Paul Miller about discipline…

Mr. Brenneman- Jr. High Basketball Coach. Mr. Brenneman helped me to perfect the drawing a foul move. I learned to dramatically fall to the ground upon the slightest bump. On occasion, Mr. Brenneman was known to beam the basketball at an unsuspecting girl’s head. He also got in your face with the most incredible halitosis you can imagine. What I learned from Mr. Brenneman about using breath mints…

Mr. Mickey-High School Distance Track Coach. Lisa Hinkle and I deemed him our hero and strived to find out everything about him. He might aptly be called the pope of P.E. and had fantastic calf muscles. Mr. Mickey’s words of wisdom included, “The stop-watch never lies.” and “Every day is an easy day!” Mr. Mickey once ran a marathon with a chunk of glass in his foot. What I learned from Mr. Mickey about perseverance…. (and nice calf muscles).

Mr. Brown-High School Cross Country Coach. Mr. Brown’s quote to us was repeated frequently, “I am someone special, a unique individual, created by God and filled with potential. Mr. Brown was patient with us even when we ate ice cream before meets. What I learned from Mr. Brown about believing in myself…

Big Bob Orndoff-High School Summer Girls Softball Coach. This team was so frustrating that Kelly and I quit in the middle of a game. Bob Orndoff came to our house to talk to us. Kelly was in the bathroom taking a shower and crawled out the bathroom window to escape. They waited and waited and finally mom looked in the bathroom to find she was not there. Somehow, they finally did persuade us to come back to the team. What I learned from Bob Orndoff about second chances…

Bad A** Buddy Rowan-High School Summer Girls Softball Coach. Buddy earned his nickname from his daughters after shoveling snow in a storm for hours dressed in a wife beater. Buddy bought us what we deemed the “Tommy Guaranteed Bat”, pledged by Tommy’s Sporting Goods to hit an extra 50 feet. When it rained at the Regional Track meet, Buddy was quick to go down and sweep the water off the track so the hurdlers didn’t have to run in all the water. What I learned from Buddy about giving to others…

After this trip down memory lane, I would recommend to myself and my team in our future softball endeavors: discipline, perseverance, embracing second chances, believing in ourselves, giving to others, using breath mints, and scoping the field for guys with nice calf muscles. The wisdom from these greats is more than enough to get me through many a loss.

A Rubber Chicken and A Feather Duster: Keeping Guitar Lessons Interesting

I got to spend some real quality time with Mr. Vaughn this week as my 30 minute lesson stretched into an hour and 15 minutes. As I have previously taken lessons at his Fairmont State location, it was my first time in his home studio. After getting out my guitar, I settled in for a brief “lecture” as Mr. Vaughn gave me “A word to the wise…” on the technical challenge of the guitar as compared to the trombone. In the middle he busts out with, “I just noticed some dust over there. I have to get the feather duster”. He then proceeded to dust the top of the stereo while continuing to speak the wise words.

Looking around Mr. Vaughn’s studio, my eyes rested on a rubber chicken hanging amidst many connecting chords. He explained. “One of my peculiar friends got it for me for a birthday present and I have no idea what to do with it.”

I then made the grievious error of asking him to plug my guitar into his amplifier as I have never heard what it sounds like. It was quite an ordeal but it did sound very good once the task was complete, especially when he played it.

This week I am to work on finger dexterity exercises that are so challenging (to me) they make me feel like passing out and a Caribbean song, Jamaica Farewell. Bring on the Calypso!

With little time left to get to our softball game, I got behind another wreck on 50 (this seems to be a serious plague in my life). Luckily, traffic finally moved and I made it just in time. We had several no shows and so many random people on our team, I can hardly begin to name them, causing more than a little frustration for Allison. After getting several girls from Archies we finally had enough to field a team but were again trounced by Jackies/Good Times.

The Premack Principle Randy Moss (and several other of my favorite NFL football players) Would Approve Of

Part of my job involves talking to parents and teachers about various modifications they can do to enhance a students’ school success. Often times, these modifications include extended time for those with slow processing speed, have them repeat back directions for those with difficulties with working memory, and tying in nonverbal activities for students with higher perceptual reasoning skills. But for children with motivation difficulties, things can get sticky. For one thing, nothing makes an adult angrier than a “lazy” kid who won’t even try. Never mind they may have a slew of issues beyond their control that is causing this lack of motivation. Something I have suggested is the use of positive reinforcement, or reward for desired behaviors. This is strongly frowned upon because teachers often expect students to complete tasks for intrinsic or inner rewards (success, pride, and overall good feelings inside). To this logic, I think, How many teachers would show up for work merely for intrinsic rewards (a.k.a. minus a paycheck). Behavior modification suggests that behavior can be controlled by the Premack Principle. The Premack Principle states that in a hierarchy of reinforcement, someone would complete an activity lower on that list in order to get to something higher on that list. For example, if a student enjoys navigating the internet, perhaps they would complete all classroom activities or homework which would be low on the reinforcment hierarchy in order to do that enjoyable activity.

This parent seemed to have the concept of the Premack Principle down to the extreme. Although I advocate creativity and encorporating a student's interests, this is one reinforcement I would leave off the hierarcy.

Other news and notes
Last night, our softball team got 10 runned once again, this time by Oliverio's. However, I am jubilant to say that I overcame my fear of catching (with the use of a mask)!!!! I am glad to be back in the position where you get to touch the ball more, but I must say that today my quads hurt like a mother.

Bob Mielecki's reign of terror as the coach of Frankfort High School girl's soccer team came to an end last night as Southern gave Frankfort its first loss of the year (3-1). A breakdown in attitude and discipline is cited as a partial cause by sideline experts. Mr. Mielecki better shape up as rumor has it someone is after his job.

The blog may soon have additional contributors and a title alteration to embrace them.

Mamma's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Pilfer Luna Bars

I know this borders on meanness, but most of it just came to my mind. I really just intend it as a public service announcement. I truly believe in the continued success and worth of all children.

Based on the song, Mamma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys

Some kids aint easy to love and they’re harder to hold
They run water in the bathtub while they’re looking for treasures of gold
Sex machine t-shirts and matching brown shorts
And copious 10 packs of candy bars a day
Some try to understand and try to lend a hand
But end up just feeling dismayed

Mamma’s don’t your babies grow up to pilfer Luna Bars
Don’t let em stay indoors and sit on their butts
Let em join team sports and 4-H and such
Mamma’s don’t let your babies grow up to pilfer Luna Bars
Just sitting at home, they’ll feel all alone
And where will they look for love?

Some kids love ransacking rooms and oatmeal in the mornings
Little warm babies may frown at them in the night
Messing up paint bread rarely happens
And them that do you sometimes don’t know how to take them
You try to think, they’re just different, and the home won’t let them
Do things that make you think they’re right

Chorus

Other news and notes:
Our fall softball team lost its' first game last night to Winner’s Choice after we recruited random fake Shawn and random real John to have enough to field a full team. (Allison was out due to a medication debacle and several from our team were off bsing.) We were also happy to have Frankfort alumnea, Tessa Forbeck and Kayla Kesner. Our recruits were solid and Jess hit one over the fence. However, Winner’s Choice had some astonishing defense and sadly ours did not match. We look forward to playing again tonight, with more success.

Fantasy Football is maddening! I am actually staying up well past my bedtime to cheer for my guys. Sadly, the criminals had an extremely rough week but I still believe in them. I know that deep down inside they have the strength to overcome adversity. My benchers tore it up this week so maybe with some strategy and their continued success things will turn around.

In the gorgeous city of Morgantown
On evening of game day
We went on a walk for exercise
To get outside and play

VIP Pat Beilein was sighted
Or maybe his doubleganger if it was not
We improvised a makeshift soccer game
Kicking a bottle around the stadium lot

An excursion was made to TCBY
Even Heather accompanied us there!
The efficient worker was practiced and adept
Without the cash register he knew each fare

On a whim we visited Brian Hawk
Who knew he liked beer so much?
He impressed us with the Mountaineer décor (not decorum)
Used to illuminate his hutch

We played the game Boxers or Briefs
A True Colors and Apples to Apples mix
To play this game, Stacy should move to Morgantown
Where she can also get her computer fixed

Brian disclosed Frank Young lived below him
We thought about challenging him to a game of horse
This pursuit though was put off for another day
After 9:00 pm, NO USE OF THE COURTS!!!!

A farewell goodbye was said at last
Though we didn’t want the evening to end
As the most important thing in life isn’t coffee
It’s spending time with friends
(as determined by Kayla after extensive decision making time and threat of intemperate repercussions)

The Truth About Kayla Kesner Divulged

Kayla Kesner may say that she just goes to Bible studies and church. She may proclaim that she is studying relentlessly. But you don't know what she really does in MORGANTOWN... Kayla was spotted outside of TCBY still going strong at 9:00 pm Saturday night after the WVU vs Eastern Washington football game. Sources say she had her first drink at 8:00 am. Our reporters learned exclusively that this is one of many incidents of this kind for Kayla.

Here, Kayla, passed out, is being carried into her apartment by her roommates and a visiting cousin. Upon observation, her two cousins appear to have imbibed as well.

Target's Massive Selection of Halloween Candy

My love for candy borders on addiction. Good ole Drewski Marushack used to say that the Mielecki girls were like little fat kids, with bags of candy they take everywhere they go. For me, every season brings with it a sense of excitement as they put out new varieties of candy. As Stacy and I perused Target yesterday, I might have been disturbed by the earliness to which Halloween merchandise is marketed if not for my complete and utter excitement upon encountering the rows and rows and rows of Halloween Candy in the Boo-levard. It was hard to narrow it down to a few favorites, but here are several of our picks.

STACY

Junior Mints-"I love their minty taste! They give me confidence to talk in the face of anyone."

Rolo, Milk Dud, Heath Bars, and Take 5 Mix-"Just looking at this caramel conconcoction makes my mouth water."

Body Parts-5 Different Gruesome Gummies- "This gives you a taste for the cannibalistic feeling without actually eating flesh."

LORI

Assorted Smarties-This mix contains Bubble Gum Smarties, Candy Money, and Tropical Smarties, as well as your regular garden variety Smarties. All I can say is that as obsessed with Brain Age as I have become, I will try anything to increase my neural growth and development. I really do love those tropical ones!

Peanut Butter M&M's-Chosen for their nutritional value.

Monster Mix Up's-Nerds, Skulls and Bones, and Laffy Taffy- This is just a very fun, pleasant mix with lots of color and pizzazz.

Autumn Mix of Candy Corn and Pumpkins-This is a most controversial pick as many people find the candy corn taste to be not so pleasing, I know there is at least one other major fan out there. There is just something about eating these that really puts you in the spirit of fall, though I will concede that I can't eat these ad nasium.

Friday’s Vaughnisms

John Vaughn, my guitar teacher, is the one person I can count on to play guitar with me without obsecration. Today was my first lesson after a long, summer hiatus. Mr. Vaughn did not say my favorite quote of his today, “Feast your beady little eyes”. However, as usual, he did say or wear several sagacious words of wisdom. Here are those that I can recall. I will dispel more of the wisdom gleaned as lessons continue.

1. Written on shirt: There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't.

2."The number of picks you have at all times is always n-(n-1), with n being the number of picks you bought. "

3. "It’s better to know one song well than 2 songs not very well."

Stacy's New Car

Roses are red
Blue Dutch Irises are smalt
Stacy recently purchased
A Chevy Cobalt

Gone are the days
Of the mood enhancing Daewoo
She now has remote vehicle starter
And keyless entry too

An MP3 Aux-In port
A distinguished exterior of black
And for safety features
This coupe doesn’t lack

A car of reliability
She’s cruisin’ in style
Morgantown expects visitation
Much more frequently now!

Match the proper “Stacy” vehicle with the corresponding fact or phrase. Vehicle names may be used more than once.

A. Eclipse
B. Daewoo
C. Cavalier
D. Cobalt

1.When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do is drive my _____

2. Used the song "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" by the Yardbirds in its' commercial

3. Stacy received her first speeding ticket in this car

4. Featured in the films Some and The Last Ride

5. Its' name means "Great Universe"

6. This car model has been in production since 1989

7. Nicknamed Grimace by its' previous owner

Lori's Lexicon: Just a little F.Y.I. for your information

In my cubicle at work, I have quite the plethora of office enhancement. Imagine my fear, when the item "Office Decorum" appeared on the agenda of our beginning of the year staff meeting. Due to the look of the word and its' resemblance to the word decoration, I presupposed that this word meant the decorations in the office. Breaking into a cold sweat, I anticipated having to take down my enhancers. Much to my relief (I suppose), the word decorum, in fact means:

de-co-rum (noun)

1. dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

2. the quality or state of being decorous; orderliness; regularity

3. usually, decorums, an observance or requirement of polite society

(dictionary.com)

In attempts to find respite from ticked off teachers and cussing counselors, our office can occasionally become loud or boisterous. Our boss was suggesting that we keep this to a minimum if possible. My coworkers and I did wonder who exactly made up the standards of decorum and if one person's standards of decorum might vary from another's. It might be possible for a much more relaxed style of decorum in various people's cubicles. Regardless, I will no longer be confused by the devious word decorum.

Labor Day Weekend

Despite the threat of tropical storm Ernesto, Allison and I made our way through turbulent conditions to Virginia Beach. Due to the weather and the resulting wrecks that ensued, it took much longer than anticipated to reach our destination. When we finally arrived, we did take a tour of some of the storm's effects; however, we did not venture into the areas of most disturbance. We did notice that Kelly's outside table with umbrella had been significantly disturbed and saw parking lots filled with water.

On Saturday we spent our day shopping until dropping; however, we did not purchase many articles. Allison did pick out a lovely dress for me and Kelly and I could not pass up the chocolate store. After MUCH deliberation, we chose the Cheesecake Factory to dine, where though slightly embarrased, I ordered a fine grilled cheese sandwich which I would highly recommend. We then proceeded to the heart of Virginia Beach and went to the concert, Better Than Ezra, with Kara and her bf, Will. We were able to see the larger than average crashing waves as we walked approximately 4 miles round trip on the boardwalk.

On Sunday we cheered for Kara and her brother John in the Rock N' Roll Half Marathon. Cheering as opposed to running was pretty rough. We coveted those 13.1 miles. We then spent some time on the beach, went to the Cold Stone with a canidate for the world's slowest employee, and went home for our draft . The draft was a major highlight for me, and I am extremely excited to say that I was able to get most of the players I wanted. Sadly, Jamal Lewis was drafted by a garrulous joker and Reuben Droughns was chosen by one who shall remain nameless though suffice to say his moniker is mentioned somewhere on this blog. I will keep them (the players) in my heart when my team is not playing against them. Kelly even joined our league and we are bursting with excitement for the upcoming football season.