Please click here to join Nichole's Oscar pool. If that doesn't work, go to http://defectiveyeti.com/oscars/ and enter poll ID 24724. You could win an as-yet-to-be-determined something!
I got a Big Box of Awesomeness in the mail today from my brother. He sent a beautiful pair of earrings for me, and pink, talking hippo for Piper and a ton of candy for Alex.
It made my day. Thanks, Justin and Carrie! (I'm guessing Carrie had alot to do with it ...)
When we were young and carefree, we hosted an Oscars party every year. Our friend Amy rarely came because she requires Absolute Silence on Oscars night, but some of our other friends did come, and we always had a nice time. We also always had an Oscar pool, complete with prizes. Or at the very least, a prize.
We're not having a party this year, but thanks to Matthew at Defective Yeti, the Oscar pool is alive and well.
I signed Piper up for a free-trial class at The Little Gym. After much wailing gnashing of teeth (on my part; Piper was a peaceful little passenger) when I thought I'd gotten lost but I had really just been impatient and thought I'd gone too far and turned around right across the road from the place (ha!), we got there with about 15 seconds to spare before the "Beasties" class started.
I was disappointed that the instructor spun nary a Beastie Boys record, but Piper had a blast regardless. As the words, "You can hold her if she's not ready to participate" left the instructor's mouth, Piper let go of my hand and rushed over to join the horde of children running in circles around the mommies, the daddy and the nannies in attendance. That's right. There were nannies! This might be too posh for me. There were also children named SpencerAnna and Arcadia. Of course, with a Piper running around the house, who am I to talk?
I haven't decided yet whether we're going to sign up for regular classes. But Piper did love it, and she ate a huge lunch (including sweet potatoes!) and is now taking a monster nap.
Way back in October, we learned that Alex was a ringer for Magnum PI and that I resembled Sissy Spacek. But then time passed and beards were shaved, and now Alex is channeling Hugh Jackman. Or Mark Ruffalo. Nice either way.
I'm not sure why his head is so shiny in that picture. Perhaps he is actually beaming with joy.
As for me ...
Seriously? Am I that mannish? Four out of eight? And Shirley Temple is one of my female look-a-likes? Sheesh.
I ran the little doo-dad again, hoping it was a fluke. And indeed, it didn't tell me I looked like Richard Gere. But I'm pretty sure the presence of Rod Stewart, the Dalai Lama and Babe Ruth means I need a makeover anyway. And soon.
I would like it to be official noted, though, that the very lovely Petra Nemcova was on my list all three times.
I'm putting together some ideas for Things To Do when my niece and nephews come over again. And I've made a discover: Australians are fabulous with children. Need proof?
Exhibit A: The Wiggles. I hear that some children like these guys. We rented a Wiggles DVD once for Piper, and she didn't care about The Wiggles at all. I'm sort of happy about that even though I do like their "Fruit Salad (Yummy Yummy) song. And I like the guy who's always asleep.
Exhibit B: Captain Kangaroo. Technically not Australian. In fact, not Australian in any way at all. But kangaroos live in Australia, and kids like the Captain. Or liked, anyway. When he still had a show.
Exhibit C: >Claire at Kiddley.com. I love the illustrations on both of these sites. Kiddley is "brimming with brightideas, fun projects, links to great web finds and quick tips for parents to take away and enjoy with their kids."
Exhibit D: Amber at Kids Craft Weekly. Kids Craft Weekly is a themed newsletter that includes all sorts of fun and crafty ideas. I signed up to receive the newsletter even though Piper is a little too young for most of the activities. She won't be too young for long, though, and I figure I can stock up on ideas for now.
So there you have it. Australians know how to have fun. And they have excellent accents as well.
. . . . .
I think the people next door are playing "Pole Position." I can hear the "ding-ding-ding-DING!" and a good bit of revving through the wall (Piper's asleep, and it's very quiet in here).
Appetizer Which television shows do you just refuse to miss? I won't go so far as to say that I "refuse" to miss them, but I really enjoy "Gilmore Girls," "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office." I started watching "30 Rock" recently, too, and it's been consistently funny. I'm looking forward to the return of "Lost," even though I'm not holding out much hope that it's going to get better.
Soup Who did you last speak to on the telephone? My mother-in-law, Genia. She called last night to tell me that Pictsweet had responded to a letter we wrote about the declining quality of the tiny green peas. (My father-in-law is very serious about his tiny green peas.) Pictsweet sent them four coupons for free vegetables! In my eyes, they've redeemed themselves.
Salad How many pillows do you keep on your bed? Four. Two for me, two for Alex.
Main Course Name one addition to your computer (software, hardware, etc.) that you'd love to have. I'd love to have a printer that consistently works.
Dessert What is your favorite foreign food? I had some fantastic crab wontons last night. And Kung Pao Scallops. And tomorrow night we're having bean nachoes, which is another of my favorites.
The Friday Feast is a weekly meme intended to "feed your mind by asking thought-provoking, mind-stimulating questions."
Today it starts with "N" and ends with "ichole." I entered a contest at Cool Mom Picks, and I won! A lovely print just like this will be adorning Piper's wall soon.
Appetizer What comes to your mind when you see the color orange? Orange is a bright, cheery color. So ... bright, cherriness, I guess.
Soup Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for? I had recently moved to a new school, and I wanted to make some friends. So, being the wise fourth-grader that I was, I thought it would help if I was mean. I wrote an "anonymous" mean note to a girl that someone had advised me to "stay away from." It apparently wasn't terribly anonymous, though. I got busted. And I still feel bad about writing the note.
Salad Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza? Extra cheese, pineapple and pepperoni. Just this week we tried a pesto, red pepper and chicken pizza, though, and it was pretty darn awesome.
Main Course Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not? No. I don't have any long-winded reasoning. I understand all of the "how could we be the only ones?" arguments. At my core, though, I just don't believe it.
Dessert What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt? It's cream colored. I want to get some sort of cover for it (a duvet? is that what a duvet is?), but I haven't done that yet.
The Friday Feast is a weekly meme intended to "feed your mind by asking thought-provoking, mind-stimulating questions."
I know a few things about the people who stumble onto this site. I know, for one thing, that you're an elite crew.* I know that most of you are from the United States. And that every now and then someone from Spain or Australia or the Philippines or the UK drops by. I know that some of you come here looking for sweet potato recipes or for Alex or for Alex's sisters or for book reports. I even know some of you in real life.
But I'd like to know more about you.
Who are you? What brought you here? What was the best book you read in 2006?** The best movie?** Do you have a blog? Where is it? Do you like ice cream? (I do.)
It's National Delurking Week***. Give me a little shout out, will ya? *that's just a nice way of saying I don't get much traffic **stolen directly and without shame from Sweetney.com ***a thing I saw at Paper Napkin
Amy says, "Obviously, I read your site because I'm obsessed with you...and we're friends. My favorite books was The Glass Castle and favorite movie was The Departed or Stranger Than Fiction. And I LOVE ice cream." (10:11 AM, January 10, 2007)
Angela says, "Favorite book? Fall on Your Knees. Favorite movie? Little Miss Sunshine, although I watched it in 2007... And I stop by your site because your kid is cute and we share an affinity for Shakespeare's Pizza!" (1:45 PM, January 10, 2007)
Sandi says, "I come to your site because you make me laugh -- yours is probably the most interesting blog that I read! Favorite book...that's a hard one -- I just got done reading Blue Like Jazz which I found really interesting. Favorite movie...? Hmmm...I can't remember what I've seen -- maybe Superman Returns? I do like ice cream but don't eat it too often." (3:21 PM, January 10, 2007)
Whatif says, "I read your blog because you are an important friend to Amy and Amy is an important friend to me, thus you are important to me. And I find your writing witty, humble and your adventures in cooking fun. The best book I read was 'Breaking Trail' by Arlene Blum...but I read a lot of books, that was the one that was most recent that I can actually remember the title. Best movie is probably Stranger Than Fiction. Or Connie and Carla - but that's a continual choice. I don't blog. Of course I like ice cream. I'm dating Ben and Jerry for heaven's sake! (Oatmeal cookie - DE-LISH.) Oh, I do have one suggestion. You need to introduce some Cake into your shuffle repertoire." (3:51 PM, January 10, 2007)
Crutcher Fam says, "did you just accuse me of lurking? :) j/k I read your blog--sometimes I'm a slacker but I get myself caught up eventually! :) Love icecream--cake batter at coldstone is delicious! :) favorite movie? How 'bout the Holiday. Favorite book? oiy. did i read a book this year? surely I did. Currently all that is coming to mind are children's books. i'll have to get back to you on that one. how sad is that?" (9:07 PM, January 10, 2007)
What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? Flew solo with a baby. And then, a few months later, I flew solo with a toddler! It was easier to keep her occupied when she was a baby, but I had to carry more stuff on the later flight. So it's a toss-up.
Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t like to call them "resolutions" (too much pressure), and I can't remember whether I made any goals last year. If I did, it was probably much like this year's: Lose weight. In which case, no I did not keep it.
Did anyone close to you give birth? Um ... I don't think so. (If you did and I've forgotten, I'm so sorry!!)
Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no.
What countries did you visit? Ugh. Holland. It wasn't fun, and I don't want to talk about it.
What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? Less chaos would be nice.
What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 15 was Piper's first birthday!
What was your biggest achievement of the year? Coming home.
What was your biggest failure? Agreeing to go over there in the first place.
Did you suffer illness or injury? The whole family was leveled by a stomach virus in January. It brought about my first ride in an ambulance. I could've skipped that, thank you very much.
What was the best thing you bought? Plane tickets from Amsterdam to Atlanta.
Where did most of your money go? Oh gosh. Rent, most likely.
What did you get really, really, really excited about? The new season of "Lost." (Which was/has been pretty disappointing.)
What song will always remind you of 2006? Really, I have a terrible memory. There's no way I'll remember what I was listening to this year.
Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? That last question? Where I said I can't remember anything? I wasn't kidding. I don't remember how I was feeling this time last year. b) thinner or fatter? About that same. I don't need to remember that. I have photographic evidence. c) richer or poorer? Roughly the same, I think.
What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercising.
What do you wish you'd done less of? Eating cake.
Did you fall in love in 2006? Yes. (Cue the sappy, la-la-la music.) With Alex, all over again. Cheesy but true.
What was your favorite TV program? I wanted it to be "Lost," but that didn't pan out. "The Office" rarely fails to make me laugh.
What was the best book you read? "Gilead." "Peace Like a River." "The Quiet American."
What was your greatest musical discovery? Cat Power
What did you want and get? Contentment. Happiness. A home that feels like home.
What did you want and not get? A digital SLR camera. Trust me, the what-I-wanted-and-got is so, so much better. I can handle not having the fancy-pants camera.
What was your favorite film of this year? We didn't see a lot of movies this year. I enjoyed "Stranger than Fiction" quite a bit.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I spent my birthday with my sister-in-law and her family. We had cake for breakfast, and then some of Chloe's friends came over for dinner. We had tacos and soup and salad, and it was an all-around lovely day. I was, and remain, 28.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Do I have to answer this? OK, fine. Not moving to Holland. That would've helped tremendously. It would have alleviated so much stress.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Ha! Ha ha! My "personal fashion concept"? How 'bout: Things That Fit and Don’t Touch Me Too Much. Oh! And I added to my repertoire this year.
What kept you sane? God's grace.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ack. Can I say none of the above? None of the above.
What political issue stirred you the most? I've been too wrapped up in personal issues to get all that stirred over politics.
Who was the best new person you met? I haven't met many new people this year.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. The events of 2006 have made me determined not to fold in the face of my dear, sweet husband's ironclad stubborn streak.
Appetizer How do you usually celebrate on New Year's Eve? Most years we stay home and, if we're feeling particularly festive, we might break open a bottle of bubbly grape juice. I know, we're totally crazy. This year, though, we're actually going out to dinner! And then we'll come home sometime before midnight to toast with the grape juice. We moved back into the Eastern time zone this year, so it'll be the first time in years that we'll actually be watching the ball drop at midnight rather than 11pm. I'm actually pretty excited about that.
Soup Name one thing unexpected that happened to you in 2006. Holland. We moved there, and then (a whole week later) we moved back. It wasn't a fun time.
Salad Where was your favorite place that you visited in 2006? Harbor Island, SC. We had an unexpected vacation at the beach, and it marked the end of a lot of chaos for our family.
Main Course What resolution is your top priority for 2007? I don't normally make resolutions, and I'm hesitant to call this a "resolution" because it seems like it would be too easy to fall away from if I do that. But I'd like to lose about 40 pounds in 2007.
Dessert Using just three words, describe 2006. Things fall apart. I know that sounds depressing, but a good part of 2006 felt like we were falling apart. Rest easy, though. We're all better now.
The Friday Feast is a weekly meme intended to "feed your mind by asking thought-provoking, mind-stimulating questions."
Seems the soup is more interesting....I'm not sure I could handle that quick for moving again. LOL
Happy New Year. My feast is served, hope you can drop by before the NYC ball falls. LOL" (10:17 AM, December 29, 2006)
Sinead says, "Hello Esmon family! Chris and I just got your Christmas photo and it was lovely. I hope you had a great Christmas and have a fabulous new year. Sinead" (10:46 AM, December 29, 2006)
Shawnee says, "Glad to hear things are better for you now. Health & happiness in 2007!" (10:52 AM, December 29, 2006)
Soulful_SensitiveStreak says, "Thanks for sharing your feast. I hope that you'll have a better year ahead with the promise of happiness and wonderful opportunities.
Rach" (12:02 PM, December 29, 2006)
Ma says, "I'm glad things got better for you. Great feast! And I hope that 2007 is a much better and happier year. :)" (12:08 PM, December 29, 2006)
local girl says, "I can't imagine moving twice in one week. Hope 2007 brings you more stability. Happy Friday!" (2:23 PM, December 29, 2006)
Judy says, "Happy Friday. Here's hoping the New Year brings a lot of happiness. And... hope there won't be any more quick moves!" (4:54 PM, December 29, 2006)
Jenny Ryan says, "Hope 2007 is a better year for you." (9:03 PM, December 29, 2006)
amy says, "GOod job..Holland has always sounded beautiful. happy 2007" (12:48 AM, December 30, 2006)
Nathan Brewer says, "There's another time zone besides the Central time zone?!?" (12:30 PM, December 30, 2006)
Alex gives wonderful gifts. As much as I love being the recipient of his thoughtfulness, I always feel bad on gifting occasions because he showers me with presents he's spent months picking out and I inevitably end up giving him a pair of jeans and a DVD or a pack of new socks and a CD.
This year, I wanted to do better. So I thought and thought, and I shopped early, and I got him an iPod. I was thrilled. "No way," I thought, "will he top this."
So what does he do? He tops it. (Not that I'm complaining.)
It was a very, very long day of gifting around these parts. There are four little bits here for the holidays, so we took frequent breaks for snacks, naps and meals. We finally reached the end of the pile about 30 minutes ago.
I thought I was done. And here comes Alex, with a plain white envelope. I opened it and pulled out a plain white sheet of paper, with one sentence written on it: "Say 'Hello' to Amy for me."
And I didn't get it. I said so. And Alex said, "You fly to Kansas City on ..." and that was all I heard because I was too busy trying not to cry to listen to the specifics.
I've been lonely since we moved to Ruraltown, USA. I don't make friends easily, and it makes it that much harder to meet people when you live 20 minutes away from everything. I miss myfriends. I can't wait to see them.
Amy says, "Nichole, you have no idea how excited I am. I am busy trying to plan a wonderful, fun weekend for you. Alex is the best. I feel like this is my Christmas present, too." (11:19 PM, December 25, 2006)
Rach says, "Can't wait to see you!!" (9:26 AM, December 26, 2006)
I've never been a Bob Knight fan. It's not that I think I'm outraged by his "antics." I just don't feel very strongly about college basketball anymore, and that's Knight's life.
There was a time when I did follow college basketball pretty closely. I still watch the occassional game -- if you can call being in the room while the game is playing on the TV "watching" -- but I don't like it. I don't like that college sports have become, essentially, minor leagues for professional sports. We won't go into how I feel about professional sports.
Alex, who is a Bob Knight fan and has been for as long as I've known him, sent me an article this morning. He doesn't do that very often, so I felt like I ought to read it. And Piper's still asleep, so I had time.
And now I think maybe I am a Bob Knight fan. At the very least, I admire him. He ought to be put in charge of the NCAA when he's finished in Texas.
Doing it his way By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports December 21, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Leaning back on a couch in the coach's locker room here, Bob Knight is running through Bucknell tape on his big screen TV, back and forth as Texas Tech's next opponent runs a well-executed ball screen.
As sleet and freezing rain slam the South Plains here on Christmas week, Knight is huddled deep inside United Spirit Arena, one thought on how to get career victory No. 879, and one thought on the media that has been hounding him for nearly all of the previous 878 – most recently when he clipped player Michael Prince on the chin last month.
It is that thought that makes him hit pause and fire off a glare.
"That is why I have such a bad (expletive) feeling about all of you (expletive)," he says.
Knight still wonders how things could get so mixed up with the media, with some of the public. Actually, he doesn't wonder.
He is fairly convinced that, like a lot of things in college athletics, like a lot of things in the world today, common sense, perspective and the ability to separate the important big things from the superfluous little ones is lost.
While he is not inclined to discuss that a victory Saturday over Bucknell can tie him with Dean Smith as the winningest coach in Division I history, human nature suggests that deep down the record brings additional validation to his methods, to his success.
Bob Knight, no matter what they say, will be on top, without peer, without apology.
Knight, 66, hasnt changed a bit and isn't planning on it. He still is the unapologetically demanding coach. He still is a profound stickler for NCAA rules – no matter how disdainful he can find them. He still is the industry leader in demanding academic success and ultimate graduation of his players. And without question his competitive desire to win has not waned one bit.
He was that way at Army in 1965, where he started his head coaching career at age 24. And he will be that way when he eventually retires on top of his profession. He has no regrets, no remorse -- no matter what the media says.
"I've done it my way and I think we've been pretty successful the way I've done it," he said.
. . . . .
One of Knight's prized possessions is a letter from Walter Byers, the pioneering former NCAA executive director who from 1951 to 1988 built the Association into the billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. Byers was a no-nonsense guy who ruled the NCAA with an iron will and an uncompromising vision. It is little surprise he and Knight were friends.
The letter arrived when Knight came here to Tech, when there was still so much fallout from his dismissal at Indiana, still so much negativity. One line in particular is Knights favorite:
"Every game has its rules," wrote Byers, "and over time you've played the game on the important points as cleanly and openly as anyone I've known."
"I don't think," said Knight, "there is anything I have received I appreciated more than that."
To Knight it isn't so much the ultimate vindication as much as it is the proof that someone smart, someone with principle and someone who clearly knows what goes on in college athletics was paying attention and recognized the big stuff.
In terms of the purpose of college sports, Knight's view (which most would agree with) falls into three main categories.
1. Assure an education (both academically and in life skills) for student-athletes.
2. Follow the NCAA rules.
3. Win.
After that, it's all small stuff. After that, what really matters? If you happened to be the coach who has a near 100 percent graduation rate, who has hundreds of former players who swear your teaching drove them to success -- and if you happened to do all this while following NCAA rules as well as anyone and you won more games than anyone, would you want to hear about flipped chins, thrown chairs and press conference meltdowns?
But the media coverage of Knight is about the sensational, about the controversial, in part because Knight keeps providing new material. There is little question he is held to a double-standard, but much of that is his own creation.
While almost every news account mentions his successes, it inevitably ends with but ... And Knight can't quite figure out why there is the need for the but ...
Like Byers, he has been in college athletics a long, long time and he knows as well as anyone that the coaches who don't cheat and who do care are significantly fewer than the public believes. The NCAA's system of selective enforcement inadvertently convinces the public the cheaters are few and far between -- that there are white hats and black hats out there.
Reality is just the opposite. Just about everyone wears grey.
"I would say the majority of major college basketball programs break the rules," said Sonny Vaccaro, the long-time shoe company czar who by operating summer basketball camps, tournaments and all-star games since the 1960s has been privy to about every under-the-table dealing that ever went down.
"Because of my role and because I've been, I guess, a sounding board for these things, I know these things. I've heard it all. I've been there for these things. And with Bob Knight I've never heard a single thing, not first hand, second hand, third hand. Nothing. Not ever."
What Vaccaro knows is that rampant rule breaking takes place not just among the usual suspects, but also within programs run by the game's Mount Rushmore figures, the ones with the most pristine reputations, the guys fans just don't want to believe could be corrupt. He is forever laughing at the disparity between reputation and reality with some of these guys, the ones who employ sugar daddy boosters or whose recruits' parents magically move near campus or offer big money "graduation" gifts for players. But that stuff, he says, has powered some of the dynasties in this sport.
"You'd be disgusted with the number of coaches in the Hall of Fame who got there by cheating," he said. "The American public wouldn't believe it."
Which is why Vaccaro, who has never been close with Knight and whose summer basketball world has been the brunt of many a Knight diatribe, says you can't just dismiss the big stuff because doing it is so, so rare.
"What the fans should realize is that if this is about the student-athlete, about education and following the rules, if that is what matters, then I am saying Bob Knight is the greatest of all-time. And there is no one even close. And there never will be."
Yet as ESPN previews the upcoming Tech games that will propel Knight to the record, the videos that flash across that big screen TV are him getting into it with officials, players and reporters. Following the rules doesn't make for a great highlight. Nor do graduation ceremonies.
"You get tired (of the press)," said Knight. "You get tired of all that. Because I yelled at somebody that supersedes everything else?"
. . . . .
Knight says "I am not my brothers keeper." He says, "I'm not a policeman." He says that while he decided early on to place more value on academics and compliance, it doesn't bother him that so many others in college athletics didn't. Even if it has affected him many times in recruiting.
Knight has been able to recruit and coach some very good players during his career, particularly during his run at Indiana. But the truly great players often eluded him. In his entire career he coached just one NBA All-Star (Isiah Thomas from 1979-81). By comparison, Dean Smith coached 12 who appeared in a collective 61 All-Star games.
For the most part he targeted the guys he thought he could get and went from there. He didn't bother with the ones that wanted more than tuition, room and board; the ones that didn't want any part of actually attending class.
At IU he was literally surrounded by scoundrels -- Illinois, Louisville (twice), Kentucky (three times), Cincinnati (three times), Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue -- a perfect circle around Bloomington -- who all were hammered with major infractions during his time with the Hoosiers. During his five seasons so far in the Big 12, three of the regular season champions (Kansas and Oklahoma) are already on NCAA probation for major rule violations.
"How many people cheat today?" Knight said. "I don't know. I've had one concern as long as I've been coaching and that is how we do things, period. If they put me in charge of it, and that was my job, then I'd bust up a lot of things.
"It's everybody's choice. My choice is there are rules there so we'll try to follow the rules. And that is the way I was taught and that's the way my parents taught me – that there is a right way and a wrong way.
"The kid that goes (to a school that cheats), that's the chance he takes, that (he goes where) it is just about playing four years of basketball or whatever.
"If I broke rules to win games I wouldn't get anything out of them. You know, what games we've won, we've won totally within the rules."
Yet for years he watched as cheaters succeeded, watched them receive glowing praise in the press. For years he received phone calls and letters from players, who after playing for coaches with better reputations, were asking him for help, advice, and guidance.
"Over the years I have had a lot of kids at other schools call me to help them get jobs," Knight said. "So when kids from other schools, kids we played against or I have met somewhere along the way, are calling me to help them, I think that is an indication that their schools don't much give a damn about the kids. And there are a lot of those.
"To me, that's academic fraud."
He sighed and went back to the Bucknell tape for a minute, watching an inbound play closely for some flaw his 9-3 team can exploit. He sat up for a second to get a closer look and then leaned back in the chair.
"I don't have a bad feeling about the guys who want to cheat," he said. "I have a bad feeling for people in your profession who don't recognize what's important and what isn't -- and fail to recognize what has been good and what hasn't. That is why I have such a total lack of regard for most people in your profession.
"He threw a chair. What difference does it make if you threw a chair? How (expletive) many guys have thrown things? Bats out on the field, balls, picked up bases, water coolers, thrown coats? How many guys have kicked something over?
"I'm tired of that. That's what Im tired of."
. . . . .
Dating all the way back to his playing days at Ohio State, where he was John Havlicek's teammate on the 1960 NCAA championship team, Knight has questioned the decision making of the NCAA. He's watched the game get bigger, grander, more professionalized and more competitive. Often for the good, he notes, but sometimes for the bad.
The latest trend he can't comprehend is the NCAA's willingness to be used by the NBA as a one-year way station for top pro prospects. NBA Commissioner David Stern instituted a 19-year-old age limit to stop the preps-to-pros trend. It forced the best high school players into college, such as Ohio State's superb center Greg Oden.
But for whatever excitement that brings the fans, such a decision stands in stark contrast to what the NCAA is supposed to be about. Many of the top prospects openly claim they are only going to attend school for one year, no one even pretends that graduating is a goal anymore.
"These rent-a-players, that's the worst thing I've seen happen in college basketball," Knight said. "These guys who can come in for one year and play, that's not college basketball. College basketball is a game for kids that are going to college to graduate not going to college for one year and then move on."
In fact, the one and done student-athlete doesn't have to be much of a student at all under current rules. For a freshman to retain his eligibility into the second semester he needs to earn a meager D in just two classes and flunk the other two. A player could do virtually no academic work in the fall semester and then not attend a single class the spring semester before dropping out the day after the season is over to turn pro.
"So I can come in and (learn nothing) the first semester and then play the second semester without ever going to a class and then quit," said Knight. "Is that what college basketball is all about?"
Knight believes the NCAA is being duped by the NBA because it is so desperate for the talent infusion that they'll compromise all logic.
"(David) Stern doesnt give a damn about college basketball. The NBA saves a hell of a lot of money with these kids coming in early like they do."
Knight's suggestion is to make players who want to attend college sign an agreement that will keep them on campus at a minimum of two years. Or else take a scholarship away from schools that recruit these kinds of players. Anything else is ridiculous and hypocritical.
"It is ludicrous (to allow a) kid who is only going to be there one year have a real effect on the outcome of an entire season of college basketball. And these people talk about academics and graduation rates."
Knight's record of compliance is pristine, yet he hates the NCAA rule book for its arcane and confusing items. He has volunteered to tear it up and turn it into a 10- to 20-page document. He considers the NCAA's new academic requirements that force schools to graduate athletes at a higher rate than the student body or face sanctions to be illogical. He doesn't believe morality can be legislated.
"The rules are not going to keep people from violating them."
Mostly he can't believe how little common sense is being applied.
"I don't think there is anybody in the NCAA hierarchy who has ever coached and very few who have ever played. And it is the same with presidents. How many of them have ever coached? How many of them have ever played? It is amazing.
"The person that through the years the NCAA has gotten furthest away from is the kid," he said. "(They never consider) what's best for the kid."
. . . . .
The three-second clip of Bob Knight flipping Michael Prince on the chin is a snapshot of a full-time, lifetime interaction between coach and player, teacher and student, mentor and protege. That's how Knight sees it. That's what he believes.
It was just one moment, one interaction. All the other days, the games, the practices, the meetings, the bus trips, the late-night phone calls when the player is long since graduated are missed.
Most people see the footage and see it the other way: Knight once again out of control. But if you can't imagine why he keeps doing these things, why he keeps making it difficult for people that want to support him, want to hold him up as what is good in college sports, then you don't understand Knight. For Knight, the end justifies the means because the end result is so good.
"If I didn't do things like that my kids wouldn't be as successful as they have been," he says.
Knight pauses the Bucknell tape again, turns and makes sure he is getting this message across clearly. This, he believes, is the entire point, the entire missed point when it comes to his career. Never mind the acts that don't seem proper. They are proper because they produce the proper results.
"If I didn't yell, if I didn't demand, if I wasn't tough, if I didn't have the stringent rules, my kids wouldn't be as successful," he said. "You don't graduate players today in college without getting on their ass. You don't make kids better people without getting them out of their comfort zone.
"Why do I have as many kids graduate as anyone? Why are our kids so successful? If I did things the way you'd like me to do them, that are politically acceptable to everybody, then we wouldn't beat anybody, we wouldn't accomplish anything.
"See, that is the thing guys don't grasp."
His mind goes right back onto the game tape, about the next opponent, about the next victory. After four decades, he is about done even trying to explain all this stuff. He knows, at this point, he probably isn't changing any minds. And his is certainly not going to change, an all-time wins record of not.
As always, he wonders why the world just doesn't always think like he does.
I was looking at these sweet little dumplings this morning, and it reminded me that last night I dreamed about tiny baby kittens. Oodles and oodles of squirmy little kittens wandering around, so small their itty bitty eyes weren't even open yet. I don't remember anything else about the dream.
Piper has a little singing Elmo-Ernie-Cookie toy that might just give me nightmares. It has three buttons, one in front of each character. Pushing the button makes the top of the character's head lift off, and then the little fella sings a note. And when you hold the button down, the character repeats the note in short, bleating bursts. And Piper is watching "Sesame Street" with her foot firmly planted on the Elmo button. And he's saying, "RiRiRiRiRiRiRi."
Amy says, "I'm waiting for the real answer." (10:02 AM, December 20, 2006)
Nichole says, "Alex says: "The Utah Jazz used to be the New Orleans Jazz when the franchise originated. Due to lack of support and various factors, they moved to Utah, to Salt Lake City, to become the first and only professional sports team in Utah."" (10:25 AM, December 20, 2006)
As Trash Gordon brought "Sesame Street" to a close, I headed upstairs to fetch an outfit for Piper and a pair of socks for myself. I pulled on my cute and fuzzy new socks, grabbed pants, a top and socks for Pi, and started back downstairs.
Did I mention the fuzzy socks?
Did I mention the hardwood floors?
My fuzzy-sock-clad foot hit the top step, and WHOOSH, I was airborne. I came down hard on my heiny and my outstretched hand and bounced down the next two steps.
I'm probably going to have some colorful bruising on my backside, and I'm afraid I might have sprained my wrist. But I'm so grateful that I wasn't carrying Piper when I fell.
Piper is getting an extra dose of TV while I ice my wrist and try to figure out how to dress a toddler with one hand. Oh gosh, and diapers. How the heck is that going to work?
Amy says, "Ouch!!! I'm glad you weren't hurt any more seriously or holding Piper...those are really cute socks." (12:10 PM, December 19, 2006)
Crutcher Fam says, "those are cute socks. I've missed reading everyone's blog the last couple weeks. . . i feel so out of the loop. . . glad you are ok. give piper a kiss for me! :)" (8:17 PM, December 19, 2006)
You are Jerry's best friend - even though you are neurotic and slow-witted, he keeps you around to have a 'loser of the group'. Life has a funny way of screwing you over at every turn, and your parents are psychotic. And no matter what you do, you'll never compare to Lloyd Braun.
Alex says, "Ha-Ha! I'm Kramer!" (9:13 AM, December 15, 2006)
Amy says, "I'm Jerry Seinfeld. Strangly enough, my old boss used to tell me every single day that he thought I reminded him of George Costanza. It used to drive me crazy." (9:39 AM, December 15, 2006)
Here is a thing that some otherpeople are doing, in which one takes the first sentence of the first post of every month from one's blog and puts them in one handy-dandy post. Some of my first posts were poems or articles or other things that I didn't actually write. I've skipped those. (Click on the month to see the whole month.)
January: "We finally got to see 'The Chronicles of Narnia' this week." (What an exciting start.)
February: "I'm trying to get back to trying out one new recipe each week." (Ha ha! That didn't happen.)
March: "Grandpa Rick came to see Piper for a few days." (He's going by "Papa" these days.)
April: "Laini and Megg have started a new weekly challenge called Sunday Scribblings with the intention of providing 'inspiration and motivation for anyone who enjoys writing and would like a weekly challenge.' " (I don't remember when I stopped doing this. But I did stop.)
May: "I was so pleased to find a lot of time to read while we were vacationing." ("The Known World," "Cloud Atlas" and "March.")
June: "David Caruso is an 'actor' in only the Affleckian sense: He gets paid to appear on screen."
July: "I have to admit it: When I first saw what this week's Sunday Scribblings prompt was, my immediate thought was of Two Peas in a Bucket, a Web site dedicated to scrapbooking."
August: "My nephew Wilson climbed up on the couch with me yesterday evening and said, 'Aunt Nikki, I love to cuddle with you. I wish you were my bear.' " (This one is my very favorite.)
September: "I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been supportive of us recently."
October: "Tonight I made Thai Shrimp Noodle Pouches and No-Bake Granola Bars from the October 2006 issue of 'Everyday with Rachael Ray.' "
There it is! On the horizon! Only 24 hours away! December!
We're heading north tomorrow in search of rain and a chance of snow, and I'm going to take a few days off from the bloggin'. I have a feeling the World of Blogs might be pretty quiet for the next week or so. At least, the World of NaBloPoMo-ers.
So happy November 30 to you. I'm going to bed now. Night-night.
My father-in-law was trying to sing "Pop Goes the Weasel" to Piper this afternoon, but he couldn't remember the words. I tried to help him out:
'Round and 'round the mulberry bush The monkey chased the weasel. The monkey stopped to pull up his sock. Pop goes the weasel.
My mother-in-law very emphatically disagreed with my sock-wearing-monkey version. Here are her lyrics:
'Round and 'round the cobbler's bench the monkey chased the weasel Monkey thought 'twas all in fun Pop goes the weasel
A penny for a spool of thread A penny for a needle That's the way the money goes Pop goes the weasel.
Tom, who started this whole debate, says it's "A penny for a loaf of bread." He added, in typical Tom fashion, "That was 18th Century. That's what Ben Franklin paid. And charged. When he opened his own bakery."
Round and round the cobbler's bench The monkey chased the weasel, The monkey thought 'twas all in fun Pop! Goes the weasel.
A penny for a spool of thread A penny for a needle, That's the way the money goes, Pop! Goes the weasel.
A half a pound of tupenny rice, A half a pound of treacle. Mix it up and make it nice, Pop! Goes the weasel.
Up and down the London road, In and out of the Eagle, That's the way the money goes, Pop! Goes the weasel.
I've no time to plead and pine, I've no time to wheedle, Kiss me quick and then I'm gone Pop! Goes the weasel.
So it appears that I was wrong. At least, as far as THE MAN is concerned. And, it seems, as far as Wikipedia is concerned. I can't find any reference to the monkey and his droopy sock or to Ben Franklin's bakery. The Wikipedia entry does have several other alternate lyrics listed, though. Here's my favorite:
Ev'ry night, when I come home, The monkey's on the table. I take a stick and knock him off, Pop! goes the weasel.
I'm sure I didn't make up the sock monkey lyrics. Someone out there must know where it came from. How do you sing "Pop Goes the Weasel"?
Anonymous says, "I always thought it was mulberry bush myself. otherwise, clueless! Too funny! :)" (10:58 AM, November 29, 2006)
Bill Hendricks says, "Am having the same debate with my wife and her eight sisters...
They insist the monkey stopped to pull up his sock, while I maintain (along with the rest of the world,apparently) the monkey thought 'twas all in fun.
Personally, I believe my mother-in-law brainwashed her nine daughters with the monkey's sock lyrics, that she must have mad up.
Please forward any further info on the issue to bill@autocom.org." (11:08 PM, December 29, 2006)
I would like to thank Alex, who has very kindly let me write write write write write for the last few weeks; Piper, who slept an extra hour and a half this morning; Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was a very long-winded poet; and adverbs, without whom I would not have reached 50k.
I don't have a great feeling of triumph, mainly because of the role that "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" came to play in the story. And also because, even without Coleridge, the story is horrible. I haven't decided yet if I'll try it again next year. If I do, though, I definitely need to have a plot and an outline before November.
1. We had dinner last weekend with some very nice people who had a six-month-old daughter. I was a little worried about how Piper would relate to the baby; she hasn't had all that much experience with children smaller than herself. But she was so sweet and gentle and careful. It was lovely.
2. Some of our Missouri friends are here for a visit this weekend. So we're actually going to go out again and do things today!
Here's another one of those mems deals that I'm betting started as an email ...
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Both. Not at the same time. So "either" would be a more appropriate answer, I guess. Hot chocolate isn't as seasonal as egg nog, though. I just have to be cold to drink hot chocolate. Egg nog is something I actually look forward to when the holidays roll around. It was a little disconcerting to see it available just after Halloween, though. Personally, I don't hit the nog until after Thanksgiving.
Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps presents in his very own wrapping paper.
Colored lights on tree/house or white? White on the tree, nothing on the house.
Do you hang mistletoe? I did once, when we got fresh, free mistletoe at a wedding. But that's the only time I've done it.
When do you put your decorations up? Usually the day after Thanksgiving, but all of our decor is in my dad's barn this year so there will be no decorating for us.
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Excluding dessert? There's no such thing as excluding dessert. I refuse to answer such a question.
Favorite holiday memory as a child: I don't know if I have a favorite. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I think it would just be the cumulative experience of having the whole family together, eating good food and being generally happy.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I'd like to, but Alex won't let me.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I let Alex do it. I love Christmas, but I hate decorating the tree. Go figure.
Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love the idea of snow. As long as I don't have to go out in it, I'm happy.
Can you ice skate? I can stay basically upright, but I wouldn't say I can ice skate, no.
Do you remember your favorite gift? No.
What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with my loved ones.
What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cookie pudding. I'm not at liberty to share any details. It's a family recipe.
What is your favorite holiday tradition? Watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with Alex (and crying like a big doof) on Christmas Eve.
What tops your tree? It used to be a little angel made out of a paperclip. I'm afraid it might have gotten lost in the moving, though. A little girl made it for me one year when I taught a class at church.
Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving.
What is your favorite Christmas song? The SNL one ... "I wish it was Christmas today"
Candy canes! Yuck or Yum? Yuck. But I'll agree with Becky; peppermint mocha is awesome!
kat says, "lol...my husband thinks i'm such a geek for taking pictures of everything but my excuse is always its for my blog." (7:50 PM, November 13, 2006)
2. I've started the Couch to 5K running plan. I tried it before, more than two years ago, but then I got pregnant and it took every ounce of my energy just to stand up. This morning I started the second week of the program. It's going well so far.
3. I wish my camera had a microphone so you could hear the adorable little footfalls. This is Piper running "so fast:"
Anonymous says, "That is awesome! She is so adorable! I need to learn how to do that utube thing! I did the couch to 5k thing gosh I guess over a year ago--i've been thinking about doing it again. It did work. But running in general is just hard for me. . . Good luck!" (9:53 AM, November 06, 2006)
Alex says, "Woohoo, look at her go! That's my girl!" (10:23 AM, November 06, 2006)
steph says, "holy crap, that's the cutest thing i've seen in a very long time...well, at least since pixie pi graced our home with her fluttery, dancey cuteness!
as for running, nein danke, frau. i ran so much in the army that the thought of propelling myself faster than speed-walking still makes me shudder. but i'm unathletic and soft like that...more power to you, chica!" (9:32 AM, November 07, 2006)
Kirsten says, "good for you - running (or even just walking really fast) in a 5K is impressive. best of luck!" (12:48 PM, November 07, 2006)
"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
MappyB says, "That's a fun one! I love any quizzes about 'What City Are You?' and all those geographic related ones. That's because I make maps and I'm cool like that. :)" (5:46 PM, November 05, 2006)
Alex says, "The Inland North. Yah." (10:47 AM, November 06, 2006)
Amy says, "I, too, am a Midlander." (4:59 PM, November 06, 2006)
Daisy says, "Does Wisconsin not count as "midland"? We're certainly inland North, and not all of us say "youse" or "y'know"." (9:58 PM, November 06, 2006)
Somehow, I missed the fact that there is a NoBloShoeMo photo pool on Flickr. It's too late now to join the "30 days of shoes" effort*, but I wanted to show you my new shoes anyway.
I first saw these boots this summer in Missouri, where the fancy-pants shoe store downtown was closing. I tried them on in a fit of goofiness. And I loved them. They were marked down quite a bit but not enough to satisfy my inate sense of cheapness. I went back to the store twice before it closed for good, but I never bought the shoes.
Months passed before I saw them again. I was at a TJ Maxx in North Carolina. And there they were. Cheaper than before. But we were about to move to Holland, and I was in spend-no-money mode, so once again, I bid them adieu.
Again, months passed. And just a few days before the Greatest Day of the Year, we were reunited.
Thanks, Al, for the rock star boots. I love them, and I promise I will wear them somewhere, someday.
*It says "Post daily, or once in a while, or when the shoe whim strikes." So I joined anyway.
Amy says, "The rock star boots are fantastic! You are one hot mama." (12:56 PM, November 05, 2006)
Rach says, "I'm so glad you got the boots! Also, I'm a dope. Happy Birthday!!" (5:56 PM, November 05, 2006)
Anonymous says, "ok, three things...
1.) I LOVE LOVE LOVE the rock stare boots!!! 2.) I LOVE LOVE LOVE the hardwood floors and exposed brick walls in your house!!! 3.) I was looking at the picture of Piper in the car and I can not for the life of me figure out how she's strapped in. I don't see a carseat. It looks like the belt comes directly out of the seat in the car. *boggles*" (6:59 AM, November 06, 2006)
Anonymous says, "yay! I'm the first commenter to say it... (the time difference helps!)... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! *draws you a birthday cake for lunch*" (11:50 AM, November 04, 2006)
Amanda says, "Happy, happy birthday!!" (1:17 PM, November 04, 2006)
JaG says, "Happy birthday!" (7:28 PM, November 04, 2006)
This site began as an assignment. A few days after Al Gore invented the Internet, I took a class in writing for the Web. One of the requirements was that I have my own Web site. I registered esmon.net a little while before Alex and I were married. (What can I say? I'm optimistic.) It was used mainly as a holding ground for our resumes and my portfolio for a long time. Somewhere in the ensuing five or six years (I wasn't really keeping records), it became more of a personal site. Then, before they went by that awful name, I started reading "blogs," and a while later I found Blogger. And I thought, "That looks alot easier than coding all of this by hand."
So I signed up.
And a lot of stuff happened in between. We had a baby. Alex graduated. We moved. We moved again.
I started the site because I wanted to pass a class. I started a blog because I'm geeky and wanted our Web site to be prettier with less effort. I maintain the site as a blog because it's an easy way to keep our friends and family up to date without having to, you know, talk to them.* And because I'm still geeky.
*Kidding! I love you! I like talking to you! Really! But I don't like talking on the phone. It's not you. It's me. I do love you, though.
We invited some people over for a Halloween party this evening. Only a pirate and a ninja showed up. It could have been awkward, but they set aside their differences and we had a very nice evening.
Oh, and people whose "moms were in town" or "had to work late" or "contracted Hantavirus"? You missed these:
CARAMEL-DIPPED APPLES Making the caramel requires the use of a clip-on candy thermometer, which should be tested for accuracy before starting. Attach it to the side of a medium saucepan of water, and boil the water for three minutes. The thermometer should register 212 degrees if it doesn't, take the difference into account when reading the temperature.
1 1-pound box dark brown sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 2/3 cup dark corn syrup 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 teaspoon robust-flavored (dark) molasses 1/4 teaspoon salt 12 chopsticks 12 medium Granny Smith apples Assorted decorations (such as chopped nuts, dried apricots and dried cranberries, toffee bits, mini M&M's and candy sprinkles) Melted dark, milk and/or white chocolates Whipping cream (if necessary)
Combine first 8 ingredients in heavy 2 1/2-quart saucepan (about 3 inches deep). Stir with wooden spatula or spoon over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves (no crystals are felt when caramel is rubbed between fingers), occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 15 minutes.
Attach clip-on candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium-high; cook caramel at rolling boil until thermometer registers 236 degrees, stirring constantly but slowly with clean wooden spatula and occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 12 minutes. Pour caramel into metal bowl (do not scrape pan). Submerge thermometer bulb in caramel; cool, without stirring, to 200 degrees, about 20 minutes.
While caramel cools, line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Push 1 chopstick into stem end of each apple. Set up decorations and melted chocolates.
Holding chopstick, dip 1 apple into 200 degrees caramel, submerging all but very top of apple. Lift apple out, allowing excess caramel to drip back into bowl. Turn apple caramel side up and hold for several seconds to help set caramel around apple. Place coated apple on prepared foil. Repeat with remaining apples and caramel, spacing apples apart (caramel will pool on foil). If caramel becomes too thick to dip into, add 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream and briefly whisk caramel in bowl over low heat to thin.
Chill apples on sheets until caramel is partially set, about 15 minutes. Lift 1 apple from foil. Using hand, press pooled caramel around apple; return to foil. Repeat with remaining apples.
Firmly press decorations into caramel; return each apple to foil. Or dip caramel-coated apples into melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off, then roll in nuts or candy. Or drizzle melted chocolate over caramel-coated apples and sprinkle with decorations.
Chill until decorations are set, about 1 hour. Cover; chill up to 1 week.
Brony says, "Those look really good. Hope you had a fun night." (10:13 AM, October 29, 2006)
Amy says, "So, Nichole, do tell, what was your costume?" (12:59 PM, October 30, 2006)
the pirate says, "GYAR! you best be believin, the truce is only temporary. nothing tames the savage rage of a scurvy pirate like caramel apples (although we be more of the orange or lemon fans, what with the threat of scurvy and all...even though caramel oranges would be a might peculiar...). YEEAARGH!" (11:42 AM, October 31, 2006)
the ninja says, "HAH! You only think there was truce!
Ninja move so fast you couldn't see me hitting all your pressure points with high frequency mind lasers.
Have fun swabbing the poop deck with no feeling in your nerves when it hits you all at once in 5 days!
Oh, and it was a killer night. Thanks for the food!" (11:52 AM, November 01, 2006)
I don't want to talk about the Tigers. Let's talk about cats instead. They're less deadly than tigers, and they don't play baseball. Or try to play baseball, as the case may be.
No. 3: Marsha used to like to hang out in the sink. She's wasn't so strange after all.* Cats in sinks.
No. 4: Cats r stealin ur dataz. I'd stop after the invisible bike if I were you. It gets filthy after the invisible bike. Not immediately after, but soon. After the shifty-eyed fella.
Amy says, "I am obsessed with checking out the Daily Kitten. They are too cute!! My family kitties have always enjoyed the sink, too." (3:39 PM, October 30, 2006)
Amy says, "No worries, I'm sure you look hot in your jammies." (1:12 PM, October 25, 2006)
Anonymous says, "I want to be in my JAMMIES! :) Hey, check out this link--thought you might have an opinion since you've been there. . . http://travel.aol.com/travel/DepartmentPage?id=1000182&ncid=AOLTRV00010000000264" (4:37 PM, October 25, 2006)
I don't have a lot of scars. There's one on my right wrist and another on the thumb on my left hand. I don't recall how I got them, but I'm sure I was very traumatized at the time. They've been part of me for a long time, though, and I've grown fond of them.
My biggest scar is on my stomach. It's several inches across. Sometimes it itches, and sometimes it burns. It's not pretty. But I like it anyway. It's my favorite scar.
Rach says, "Thanks for the card, but why call me Mrs. Lowery?" (6:46 PM, October 23, 2006)
owlhaven says, "hey, thanks for sharing your scar story for my post!! I put you up at my place!
Mary, mom to many" (8:42 PM, October 23, 2006)
Amy says, "Piper melts my heart. I can't believe how big she's getting. Love the picture of her "reading" her book. I miss her!!" (10:29 AM, October 24, 2006)
Anonymous says, "We miss you guys so much! COME VISIT! Cute story! Piper is adorable as ever. . . big sigh. . ." (12:26 PM, October 25, 2006)
Amy found a celebrity look-alike thing at MyHeritage.com. Judging solely by my results, I would think it was broken. But then you look at Alex's, and man, it's spot-on. He looks just likeVladimir Lenin. Seriously, though: My husband is hot like Magnum and Matthew Fox. Even with cheese in his mustache.
We saw Amekah OkeforeEmeka Okafor at the mall today. He ate dinner at the table next to us, and he held the trash bin open for me when I threw away my cup. Nice fellow, that Emeka.
I was impressed by the holding o' the trash bin even before I knew he was a Dude. It was very nice of him.
And yes, I do think this counts as a celebrity sighting.
Also today: We ate deep-fried Coca-Cola (D-minus) and a deep-fried Snickers bar (B-plus).
I have a hard time meeting new people. We haven't found a church to attend yet, and I'm staying home with Pi now, so befriending co-workers is out. I've been trying to talk to people around our apartment complex, but that hasn't gone very well. I got the brush-off from the first person I tried to talk to, and the second two -- a nice couple with a giant Marmaduke dog -- were moving to Seattle that very day. Great timing, eh?
So I went on a blind date last night. With about 11 or 12 mommies I'd never met before. I found a mommies group online, and their calendar had a Moms Night Out scheduled.
I sat in the parking lot of the pizza place for a few minutes, working up the gumption to have dinner with a bunch of strangers. And then I went in, found the table populated with ladies and introduced myself.
I'm glad I did.
We had pizza, they were friendly, and I had a nice time. Then we went to a movie.* It was such a nice break. They have playgroups pretty regularly, and Moms Nights Out about once a month. I'm already planning to go to a scrapbooking crop in November. (I'm such a party animal.)
--- *"The Departed." Holy Hannah, that was quite a movie. More violence and "language" than I normally go for, but the acting was great and I was on the edge of my seat nearly the whole time. And it was a l o n g movie, so that's saying something.
Renee says, "Hi Nichole! Was the group the MOMS club? I joined here in KC and it has literally saved my sanity. So, if it's not the MOMS club, you might check that one out as well. I also found another SAHM group through meet-up.com - so you might check to see if there are any SAHM meet-ups near you!
Tell Alex I said "hi" - hope all is going good with you all:o)
Renee" (10:47 PM, October 15, 2006)
Nichole says, "It wasn't a MOMS club or a meetup thing. I have looked on meetup.com, but everything I've found on there is too far away from our place. (I try not to be specific about where we are). It's a regional group." (10:54 PM, October 15, 2006)
ccap says, "I wish I had the guts to do that. I keep thinking about it but so far, too chicken/shy." (5:10 PM, October 16, 2006)
One of the many, many blogs I read is Beth's Diary of a Playgroup Dropout. Today is Beth's first Fabulous Friday*, and Piper's one of the featured babies! So hooray for Beth and hooray for Piper, and hello to everyone popping in from Club Mom!
*in which Beth plans to introduce "fellow readers and their kids or cats or favorite super sexy boots and let them tell you a little bit about themselves as parents or children or shoe-lovers, or whatever, and then we will all know each other a little bit instead of you just knowing me and then we can have a super-duper group hug and go shopping."
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