The Tournament that wasn't meant to be

 The thought of driving 8 hours for a hockey game to me, is completely ridiculous.  But yet, there it was on our schedule, Notre Dame, South Bend Indiana.

We were going to go all together.  But then, the logistics.  Jeff wanted to leave around noon, to avoid darkness.  I had UB until 7:30, which even when I worked that detail out, we had Eva to think about.  

She would miss her Matilda auditions.

Bummer.  

So I made my peace with the fact that I would watch it on TV...until I found out it wasn't available.

I was distraught.

How would I survive the weekend?

A Tough Pill to Swallow

 Hockey.  Hockey.  Hockey.

Its a tough pill to swallow when you were undefeated the year prior, and now you can't find the net.

Dylan's new team has some work to do.  They have amazing potential, but unfortunately are shooting zip.

It has been slow, but they are eventually getting it together. They had one tournament where they didn't score at all.  

They are taking on many unnecessary penalties.  Hopefully, they figure it out.

Little by little they are finding their way...

Alleghany 2022!

 One of my favorite events of the year, is traveling to Alleghany to hike and camp. We have been SO fortunate the past few years to have gorgeous weather.  

The kids.  They find their creek, and we don't see them again.  This year they really took advantage of that.  We had to use walkie-talkies.  They set up camp on the other side of the creek.

We hiked Bear Caves and Black Snake.

Eva's Poem

The Battle of Covid

 For two years, I escaped the contagions of COVID.  Both my kids had it.  My students had it. Somehow, I had been immune.

Until this year.  I was sitting at my desk eating sunflower seeds, when I all of a sudden realized I couldn't taste them.  

Sure enough.  I was positive.  

It really didn't change much for me.  I spent a day at home.  Then I had to not grocery shop.

It was not terrible. I could actually do this more often! 

Finding Balance

     As we begin another school year filled with academics, music lessons, sports practice and games, theatre class and performance, personal commitments and day drinking (just kidding) I always try to find the balance.  I tell Dyleva, school is the priority; whether it is a dumb class or not.  (And they have some useless classes this year for sure....)

But we struggle to differentiate between what is necessary, and what we would like.

Well that's called maturity.

I give Dyleva a lot of credit, because even though I as well had to lug books around and change classes, now there is so much more.   They have to have their heavy charged tablet with them for every class.  Some classes welcome Eva's cell phone; some give her detention for having it.  

How do you keep that straight?  As if the kids don't have enough to worry about.

Also, new this year, parents have been promoted to big brother.  I need to "check" my kids grades on line in real-time to see if they are missing assignments and to view their grades.

Seriously?  If Buffalo implements that I am screwed!  I am a procrastinator!

For sure, we have placed a huge responsibility on our ninos this year.  I am curious to see how they respond.  

Everything in moderation!

The Emotional Trauma of Holly

 Apparently, leaving a cat in isolation for three weeks is not healthy.

I don't know.  Sounds pretty good to me....peace and quiet.  Not having to serve anyone, clean up after anyone...ANYWAY, I digress.

We returned from three weeks at the beach to a healthy cat.  Very affectionate, but healthy.

Tia Jenna brought Bazooka to stay with us for a weekend, and apparently that pushed Holly over the edge.  

She stopped eating.  She lost balance.  Her third eyelid appeared.

Fast forward; none of the vets can get her in.  I take her to the ER and my car won't start.  Seriously.

SuperJeff comes to the rescue; uses an old Jedi mind trick and pushes the car to start.

It turns out Holly is suffering from emotional trauma.  And herpes.  Don't forget about the herpes.

Not my fault.