Animal Crazy

I have an extreme empathy for animals. And children, but we'll stick to animals for this story.

That said, as you can imagine, I do not watch the Sara McLaughlin commercials. You know the ones where her song plays and some animal rescue/shelter agency puts the most pathetic, sympathy grabbing pictures of animals on the screen while filling your head with awful things happening to them so you'll send money. Or adopt. Or both. CAN'T. WATCH. I cover my eyes and start singing loudly until my husband or son changes the channel.

I also can't watch the lion eat the zebra baby or the great white eat the seals.

Yes, I'm that animal lover.

The marketing classes at my son's school had to hold a trade show. Each student had to find a company to represent and put together a booth promoting their products or services. The Boy's girlfriend chose a company that sells those little self contained aquarium environments that contain two little frogs in each.

Frogs. Little, inch long, swimming, always-underwater frogs.

She picked up the three aquariums she was displaying (and giving away in drawings) the day before the trade show and took them home. Her three cats decided they wanted frog legs for dinner and wouldn't leave them alone. And seeing how the cats were interested, her dopey dog figured he should be interested, too.

A call to The Boy resulted in the frogs spending the night in my house. In my dining room to be more exact. Three little aquariums of frogs that spend all their time either playing dead in the water, or trying to escape their limited surroundings.

Seriously, they swim at the side or the top as if they think they're going somewhere. But they only get two or three inches before they have to try again.

Ahem. Yes, I felt sorry for the frogs. I wanted to go buy them a full sized fish aquarium so they could swim freely. Little plastic sunken treasures to swim around. Bubbling sunken ships to hide in. I wanted to fool them into feeling like they had a life.

Then I looked outside and saw the pond. The pond where all the frogs in the neighborhood live. Hundreds of frogs. They could have a family! They could be free!

I started for the door as the local blue heron swooped in for an afternoon meal of frog legs (and bodies). *

I left the aquariums where they were and tried to pretend they weren't there. I breathed a sigh of relief when she came to pick them up after school. Out of sight, out of mind, right? I mean I don't think about zebras being lion dinner unless the damn nature shows are on. Or I'm writing about it.

If I had endless reserves of money, I would have a large ranch full of rescued animals. And frogs. I would be happy, the animals would be happy and people would think I was the Crazy Animal Lady.

Fortunately for Hubs, we live on a reasonable middle class budget.

*I didn't really head for the door with the frogs. But I did think about it. And we really do have a blue heron or two nearby that come by for frog meals fairly regularly.

***Ally
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Where Have I Been?

I'm still here.

Yesterday I even commented on some blog posts that have been sitting in my inbox for a couple of weeks. That's right, I said weeks.

My mind has been a little preoccupied.

On May 5th, after an undefeated season and being ranked #1 in the state for weeks, my son's high school baseball team lost their first game - the division title game - giving them 2nd in our division. It was a hard fought game. Their coach said, "There's no such thing as a good loss, but if there was, this would be it." No worries though, it just ranked them for the the next step, which was District play-offs.

On May 8th and May 12th, they played three games in District play-offs. They won game #1, then won game #2 against the same team that had handed them their first loss. And then they walked into game #3 thinking they had it done already and lost to a team they had beat twice during regular season. They simply didn't show up mentally. It was the first game all season that I saw that little glint of them thinking they could win without trying. That didn't work out so well and resulted in them placing #2 in the Division.

We all hoped it was a lesson learned. Turns out, it was.

On May 19th, two games in the first round of State playoffs went down as wins.

On May 25th, having traveled across the state, they won again in the semi-finals, putting themselves into the finals. THE FINALS. THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS!

And guess who they were up against in the finals? The same team that had beat them first, then they'd come back to beat. It was a re-match of epic proportions, both teams with a lot to prove. Our boys were actually glad that was who they were playing. They were looking forward to it. I'm pretty sure it gave me an ulcer.

And... they won the State Championship Game! 

 This is a very blurry picture of what a pile up looks like 

after the last pitch of the game has been thrown.

There is so much in my head. So many amazing things and amazing people went in to this season, this win. But I wanted to share where my head has been. I am a highly superstitious baseball fan. I refused to talk much about it before hand, except to plaster a smile on my face and say they were headed for the playoffs. With the win, I will say that these boys rocked my view of teenagers in general and gave me faith in the next generation. They are that incredible - both on and off the field. And their coach - well, I'm saving that for another day.

***Ally
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Washing, Washing, Washing

If you don't already follow him (why not?) and didn't read J-Tony's post yesterday over at A day in the life...  well, you should. It's short, it won't take you long. Go. Now. I'll wait...

Ewwww, right? I mean really, the dryer?

Really? You didn't just click over and read it? Okay, okay - basically he witnessed a dude finish up in the men's bathroom and walk over to the hand dryer and dry his hands. Did you catch that? #1 - he peed. #2 - he dried his hands. There was no washing involved.

Ewwww, right?

I was thoroughly grossed out, but put in my two cents:  We were at a high school baseball play-off game last Saturday, and I had to use the loo. Upon entering, I realized that of the three stalls, #1 was occupied, #2 had flooded, and I wasn't wading through that water to get to #3. So I waited.

The door on #1 opened and the school AD (athletic director) walked out. I smiled at her and headed into the stall. As I turned to close and lock the door, I saw her exit the bathroom in a straight line from the stall to the door. Without a stop at the sink. That's right, she didn't wash her hands.

Now even in a perfect world where she didn't pee on her hand, and she didn't get any pee on her hand that soaked through the thinnest toilet paper ever made, she touched the stall. She touched the door, the lock. Someone else peed on their hand before touching that lock. Just sayin'.

Sigh. And she's in charge of our children.

My plea to you - For the love of all things cute and cuddly, please take the extra minute and a half to wash your hands, preferably with soap, after using the public restrooms. Mmm-kay? Oh, and try not to touch that door handle on your way out...

Zulily

Ooh, ooh, ooh! PS - They're (my son's team) still in the baseball play-offs. In fact, we are on our way to the other side of the state today for the semi-finals and finals. They're in the top 4!! Wishing them all the best!!!

***Ally
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Hanging On Too Tight - A Tale In Pictures

Unfortunately, I tend to do a lot of this:

You know, hanging on tight. Too tight, usually.

I'm practicing doing some of this:

Letting go. Relaxing the death grip. Giving up control.

Because while I laugh about being a control freak, that stuff isn't healthy. The only thing I need to worry about controlling, is me. Beyond that, trying to control too much causes stress. Too much stress causes ill health, both mental and physical.

Because instead of feeling like this when things don't go perfectly:

I want to feel like this:

After all:

Yes, I could have written a post about this, but I thought the images said it well.

***Ally
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All images from Pinterest. 

Those That Came Before You - Random Rambling

Dear Usher, Justin Bieber*, and all the others like you,

I know you feel all good up there on the stage. Doing your moves, working the choreography, dancing by yourself or with your back up dancers. But, you know, you aren't really original. I have two words for you: Michael Jackson.



Dear Lady Gaga, and any others like you (but especially you, Lady Gaga),

One word for you: Madonna.

source

With that said, I didn't just randomly decide to rant on these poor, unsuspecting "artists". I just happened to flip past the Billboard Awards and catch both Usher and The Bieb** doing their Thang. All I could think while watching was that Michael Jackson, in all his profound weirdness, had done it all before them.

That led to a conversation with my son, which led to us talking about Lady Gaga (who I actually think is quite talented) reminding me of old Madonna.

I don't know if anything is original anymore. There's always someone that's done it before. Except maybe Dave Matthews Band, because I'm a HUGE fan so I make all exceptions there.



Do you ever start a post and get most of the way through and realize you have no idea where you are going with it? I'm there. Now. I'm not sure this post does anything but date me. As in, make me feel and sound old. I'm not old. Age does not cause random rambling, life does.


*I cannot believe I just typed the name Justin Bieber into one of my posts. MY posts. HERE. On THIS page. What is the world coming to?

**I'm proud to say that that is the first and only time I've ever seen a complete Bieb performance. I'm usually changing the channel or turning it off faster than a match lights gasoline. I'm sad to say that watching the entire performance just made me want to send him to his room for grabbing his crotch so many times while looking like he's still 13.


***Ally
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10 Things Hubby Should Do

Link up with Stasha at The good life for Monday Listicles. It's a different topic every week - follow along and join in. And look at her beautiful pictures while you are checking out her site.

10 Things Husbands Should Do. That's today's subject matter. Ha! Only 10? Okay, okay. I have one of the best husbands out there, and he does A LOT, but I can still probably come up with some kind of a list:

1) Hubby should always leave the kitchen in the same condition in which he found it. (*just in case you are reading, Dear, I KNOW you do lots of dishes at night. And I love you for it. It's that whole make the lunch/coffee/breakfast in the morning thing that makes me snarl out of the side of my mouth.)

2) Husbands should wipe the rim of the toilet bowl. I figure it's not me splashing there, so why should I be the one to wipe it down? (This goes the same for boy-children. Ahem.)

3) Hubs, you need to dust your desk once in a while. My duster and I don't venture into that kind of scary territory, but it still needs to be done.

4) Husbands should do the after dinner dishes. Oh wait, mine DOES that! I love that guy!

5) When asked if my outfit looks okay, a husband should know exactly when to be honest, and when to just agree. I'm sorry hon, I know that's an impossible task.

6) A husband should understand when my brain is temporarily taken over by hormones each month and nothing but crazy comes out of my mouth. Oooh, he does this, too! (99% of the time) He's a Saint.

7) Husbands should take care of all things nasty. Dead things, smelly garbage, dog poop, hair clogged drains (my gag reflex is in total overdrive just typing that)... you get the idea.

8) He definitely should take care of shower scrubbing and car washing - those are the chores I loathe. I'll happily trade dusting and sink scrubbing, which he loathes. Except for the desk - see #3.

9) Husbands should understand that once in a while, I really am too tired and sleep really is more important.

10) Hubs should greet me with a cheerful hello and a kiss after work each day. Yep, he does that, too!

I'm lucky to have him!

***Ally
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It's Friday. I Deserve To Laugh.

It's been a really long week. All the more reason to end it laughing, right?
All courtesy of Pinterest. 
 

I had no idea how many times I bump into walls until I got elbow tendonitis. It quickly came to my attention when every bump created excruciating pain.

Every. Single. Morning.

Never fails to amaze me.

Because if I'm miserable, everyone else should be, right?

Totally true at my house. In case you ever come for dinner.

***Ally

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I'll Never Fork Again...

Yesterday over at So Wonderful, So Marvelous, Michelle posted a recipe for crock pot chicken tacos. I know, yum, right? When you are done here, you should check those out. They are now on my "to make" list.

After explaining the recipe, she mentioned that she saw a great way to shred the meat on Pinterest. After the chicken came out of the crock pot, she put it in the stand mixer with the paddle attachment, turned it on, and ended up with perfectly shredded meat.

If you've ever hand shredded meat with a couple of forks and several cramps in your hands, I'm here to tell you this will change your life. (Assuming you have a stand mixer, of course.)

Yesterday I made Kalua pork (roast) in the crock pot, pulled it out, cut it into several large chunks and tossed it into my mixer bowl. I did just like she said and VOILA! Perfectly shredded meat.

I love it when this big old blog world makes my life easier! Thank you Michelle!

***Ally
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Monday Listicles - Pride

Link up with Stasha at The good life for Monday Listicles. It's a different topic every week - follow along and join in. And look at her beautiful pictures while you are checking out her site.

It's Monday Listicles time and I'm straying off course just a little. We have topic choices today - 10 Things You Wish You Could Delete or 10 Things About Mom. Here's the thing about what I wish I could delete - I don't really want to relive them here in print. Ahem.

My twist on the list of 10 things Mom is this: I'm going to add to the reasons you are probably sick of hearing reading me talk about my son.  
 10 Reasons The Boy Makes Me One Proud Mama:

1. While I was out for my Sunday run with Hubs yesterday, he got up and emptied the dishwasher.

2. He also had waffles ready to make when we got home. Yes, he made me waffles for Mother's Day breakfast. All by himself.

3. He bought me a gift, without any help from his dad (but a little help from The Girlfriend). Two different tropical scented candles in and adorable tropical themed candle holder. This fits my personality so perfectly.

4. He finished his homework, which took him hours, then finished his chores, then washed my car. Without anyone asking. My car was two weeks overdue to be washed. Just sayin'.

5. He has spent this entire school baseball season as one of 5 juniors on a team dominated by eleven seniors who get all the playing time. These boys are good, the coach was honest about his playing time when he was given a spot on Varsity, and I have no complaints there at all. But my kid shows up for every practice and every game fully prepared and giving 110% each and every time with no complaints. The team is headed for the State Championship tournament next weekend and he's happy to be a part of it. He knows it's a once in a lifetime chance.

6. They (the baseball team, that is) had an extremely disappointing loss Saturday night. Only their second loss of the entire regular and post season. Many of the boys simply did not show up mentally for the game - I think they thought they would cruise through it for a win. Not so much. My son made it a personal mission to try to fire them up. One of the team stars (the only other kid trying to fire the team up) went out of his way after the game to walk up to my son's car, tap on the window and tell him that he really appreciated his efforts in trying to get the guys fired up and that he really respected him for it. First of all, what teenage kid does that - goes out of his way to compliment another kid who happens to be a bench warmer most of the time? And second? Could my heart swell any more? Toward either of them?

7. While flipping channels, Hubs came across a Slash concert. The Boy came in the room and jammed to Guns N' Roses tunes. How cool is he? 'Nuff said. (If you just said to yourself Guns N' Who? well, I'm not sure I can help. Try this. Or this. Or this. I can't help it, I'm a child of the 80's. If it hit the pop charts, I listened to it.)

8. He's looking forward to the fact that he'll get to vote in the upcoming presidential election. He turns 18 in September and the voter registration cut off is October 8th! I have no idea how it's possible that I have a child almost old enough to vote since I'm still 29....

9. Did I mention he washed my CAR?

10. He's my boy.

If you are a mom, I hope you had a Happy Mother's Day. If you aren't a mom, I hope you celebrated with your mom. If you no longer have your mom, I hope you experienced a smile and a fond memory in her honor yesterday.

***Ally
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Sign It!

The family of a friend of mine grew up in a small town. They actually have a road named after them. I always thought that was really cool. And you knew it was named after them because their last name wasn't all that common. I've seen pictures of the grand kids standing under the street sign. It's pretty fun.

If I was lucky enough to have a long drive going to my house, I could mount my own sign! Just think, when I give someone directions to my place, I could say, "Just look for the 'Wilson's Drive - Private Entrance' sign." Road Signs can be cool if you use your imagination. Of course, I'd like to have a big ranch with a sign out front for that, too. No law against dreaming, right?

But if your reality is a little more practical, like mine, you might have more use for safety labels or signs, or signs warning that your place is protected by an alarm or a big, fierce dog (even if she'd just roll over for a belly rub, like mine would). Or a No Parking sign to keep the neighbor's pesky teen from parking in front of your house every night.

After a close call with a local child, my friend's neighborhood installed Street Signs that said "Slow -  Children at Play" at both entrances to their residential neighborhood to remind people to slow down.  Traffic Signs can be a lot more than just the ones installed by your town or city.

If you are a business owner, you can fill a lot of business needs -  Parking Signs,  Exit Signs, or even No Smoking Signs.

Safetysign.com has for all your business and personal needs. They also have all the accessories for mounting and posting, as well.

Once a month *ahem* Sometimes I just want to install a Wrong Way - Do Not Enter sign on my front door. Really, it's for the safety of those around me. LOL

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions expressed are my own. I really do like the idea of a source for signs - the ideas for uses are endless! 

***Ally
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Teens Think She's Hot

Have I mentioned that I love Sandra Bullock? I've seen nearly all her movies, many of them several times.

The Blind Side was on last weekend and we got sucked into watching it. For the third time.

There's a scene where she walks onto the the football field during practice to help Michael understand what he's supposed to do. As she walks away, there is a brief second that shows a handful of the players, and a coach, leaning to one side to watch her a** as she walks. Granted, she's wearing a butt-hugging white skirt and does a fairly decent sashay. But... these are teenage boys. Children. I know she's Sandra Bullock, and totally hot, but in the story of the movie, she's a mom! Of a teenager!

I said to Hubs, "Ewww."

"What?"

"They're teenage boys."

"So."

"She's a mom!"

"So. They're teenage boys," he said as if I was an idiot.

"Teenage girls wouldn't look at someone's dad that way."

"That's totally different."

Really? There's something more than mildly creepy about thinking of teenage boys looking at another teenager's mom that way.

Then I wondered what Demi Moore's daughter's friends thought when they looked at Ashton Kutcher. Maybe I hadn't completely won my argument here. Then again, he was closer to their age than hers, so it's a really bad analogy.

Maybe if a dad looked like George Clooney, the teenage girls would look at him that way. Then again, I think it's more likely the teenage girls' moms would be looking at him that way.

In case you haven't seen it - Click here and drag the button to 2:40. It's really all you need to see.

By the way, it really is a great movie.

***Ally
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Someone Did Their A-B-C's

Someone did it. Then Ducky did it. Then Terri did it. I don't know how far back it goes.

Call me a copy cat, but now I'm doing it.

My A, B, C's:

Age: 44, and don't really have a problem with it.

Bedsize: Queen. Fitting, don't you think? Oh alright, it's just what we've always had.

Chores that you hate: Worst ever - scrubbing the shower. Also washing the car. Vacuuming the car.

Dogs: Yes. One. The princess of the house. (I told you, I'm the Queen.)

Essential start to your day: Toothbrush. Coffee. Duh.

Favorite color: I can never, ever choose one. Greens, red, bright pinks, blues. Yes, I like color.

Gold or Silver: Mostly silver. But I'd never turn gold down, especially at today's prices!

Height: 5'8.5" That's right, five-eight and a half.

Instruments you play: I play the computer keyboard. Is that an instrument? Some piano lessons as a kid left me at least knowing how to read basic music. I can pick out the notes, but that's it. 

Job title: Sucker! Oh wait, that's probably what you meant. Massage therapist. Only I don't do massage. Confused? Me, too. I do a specific sports technique that falls under the massage category, but I assure you is NOTHING like massage. 

Kids: Just one - The Boy, who is 17. And a half. **my heart just started pounding at the thought**

Live: Most days, yes. At least I think so.

Mother's name: Mama Sue. That's what Lela used to call her, anyway.

Nicknames: Um, Ally. It is my nickname. It's a shortened version of my middle name. Though I carried "Big Bird" around with me in school. I told you, I'm 5'8.5". And I have been since I was 12. 

Overnight hospital stays: A few years ago I went to the ER at 9:00 on a Friday night to rule out appendicitis. I did indeed spend the night and was in surgery at 5:00am the next morning. Fun times. I also had my tonsils out when I was 5. My teddy bear got to come, too.

Pet Peeves: Daffy and Terri clearly have a problem with people who chew with their mouths open. You really should go read their lists. Me? Bad drivers (get off the road!), couples who harp at each other in front of other people (save it for behind closed doors!), sports moms that sit in the stands and yack the game away (shut it!).

Quote from a movie or TV show: Nobody puts Baby in a corner. It's become a universal saying for Hubs and I to point out anytime we see bad acting or hear a bad quote in a movie. We look at each other and say, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!", regardless of what movie we are watching. And we always do it at the same time. It's kind of hilarious.


Righty or Lefty: Right handed. Left cartwheels. 

Siblings: Sister in Dallas, brother in Reno. One is a half, one is a step, but I love them all the same. Also one step brother who has passed away. But technically, I was raised an only child. Actually, if I think about it, there's another step sister and step brother - but my mom remarried when we were all adults, so it just feels different. Are you confused yet??? 

Time you wake up: 6:15am during the weekdays. Usually 7ish on weekends. Funny how waking without an alarm makes that extra 45 minutes feel like extra hours. 

Underwear: Really? You want to know this? Probably not. Let's say today is pink. (Thongs and bikinis, if you really must know.)

Vegetable you hate: No haters, please, but I really don't much like asparagus. I'll eat most anything else. 

What makes you run late: Other people. Not me. My anxiety level raises just thinking about it. 

X-rays you've had: Good grief. Feet, knees, back, wrist, elbow, knee. So I was a little accident prone. SO?

Yummy food you make: Thai panang curry - my mouth waters just thinking about it. And massaman beef curry. YUM! And Bailey's fudge - duh. 

Zoo animal: Gorillas. Our zoo has an amazing exhibit. I could stare at their hands and feet and faces all day long.


***Ally
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Grammar Tuesday

No, I don’t think there really is such a thing as Grammar Tuesday. Let's just go with it, shall we?

I believe that even the best grammar gurus will make grammar mistakes. I know for me, my brain is spinning a whole lot faster than my fingers can keep up. Sometimes I think my fingers take short cuts. Or maybe it is my brain taking the short cuts, I’m not sure. Sometimes I catch it before I hit publish, or send, or whatever the case may be. Sometimes I don’t catch it until a day or two later when my brain has disengaged. I’m quite sure there are plenty of times I don’t catch it at all, but I like to pretend that doesn’t happen. And then there is lay, lie, laid and layed. I still have to look it up to see which way I’m supposed to use it. I say let’s just use “lei” and plant ourselves on a sandy island beach somewhere and call it good.

Of course, we all see grammar errors in the things we read. Most of the time, I see it, I understand how it was meant or how the mistake happened, and just go on. (Make no mistake, my brain does see it. It’s annoying sometimes that my brain can’t just let it go by.)

But I was being berated in an email this weekend, and the sender kept saying “would of” “could of” “should of”.

It took every ounce of my being not to just send a reply that said:

“HAVE. It’s HAVE. Would HAVE. Could HAVE. Should HAVE.”

This error is easy to overlook for someone that does not have English as a primary language. Because we lazy Americans say “should’ve” all the time. We do love our contractions, don’t we? And “should’ve” sounds like “should of”.

However, if you are a professional, that corresponds with others in written word on a professional basis, please, for the love of all things cute and cuddly, if you are going to berate, chastise or yell at someone in writing, it’s “SHOULD HAVE”.  (To be clear, I was not being berated professionally, I was being berated by someone who also happens to pretend to be a professional. Ahem.)

It’s really quite impossible to take being chastised seriously when your brain is picking apart the person’s grammar, punctuation and spelling. I find myself thinking, “Oh wait, were you saying something I was supposed to be paying attention to?” It completely takes the punch out of it.

 source

***Ally
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A List In An Hour! Monday Listicles

Link up with Stasha at The good life for Monday Listicles. It's a different topic every week - follow along and join in. And look at her beautiful pictures while you are checking out her site.

This week, we are also linking up with Stacey's Mothering Moments for An Hour In A Day - which, then is our list subject this week! 10 things you do in an hour of your day. 

Here are 10 things that happen between 6:15 and 7:15 in the morning, most days Monday through Friday:

1) I hear The Boy's shower turn on and know I have a few more minutes.
2) Alarm goes off and I groan and hit Snooze. I'm hoping for just five more minutes, but I usually get up anyway.
3) I brush my teeth and put on a sweatshirt.
4) Downstairs, I let out the dog and pull The Boy's lunch bag out of his back pack (where it is still hiding from the day before - ahem)
5) Vital step: I start the coffee maker.
6) I let the dog back in and feed her.
7) I make The Boy's lunch and set it where he won't forget to repack it in his backpack.
8) I pour coffee ohmygoshthebestmomentofthemorning.
9) I sit down at my laptop and check three email accounts. At the same time, one eye is watching The Boy finish getting ready for school. I say goodbye to him as he heads out the door to take himself to school - all by himself - driving in a car. Gotta stop talking about that before I give myself an anxiety attack at the idea of him being that independent! 
10) Then I start reading blogs!

Okay, well, sometimes #10 has to wait because I have an early work start, but the rest is pretty much a daily routine. (I just realized summer is coming - no lunches to make!)


***Ally
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I Found The Sock Eater

We've all had it happen. A matching pair of socks goes into the wash, and only a single sock of the pair comes out.

We all swear the washing machine ate it, or the dryer ate it. Or the dog ate it. Or our family is just playing a trick on us.

I had to buy The Boy two pairs of special socks for his baseball uniform before the season started. We were maybe a quarter of the way through the season when one disappeared. Now he had one pair that had to be worn to every game.

I searched. I was sure it had gotten caught up in a t-shirt or sweatshirt of his that had been in the same wash load. But I couldn't find it. I looked behind the washer and dryer and everywhere I could think of. Nada.

Over the weekend I pulled a shirt out of my closet. The sock fell out. Did I mention the last game of the season was two nights ago?

The shirt ate the sock, not the washer or dryer. The shirt was the sock eater.

I wonder how many unworn clothes in our closets are harboring missing socks?

Fortunately, they are headed to the play-offs. Maybe he'll still have a chance to wear them after all.

http://ramblingasusual.blogspot.com/2011/01/prodigal-socks.html via Pinterest

***Ally
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A Teen, A Baggie & A Little Grass

This weekend, my son's high school baseball team got to enjoy playing a game at Safeco Field - home of the Seattle Mariners. Yes, they got to play in the Big League park. And they won, too!

It was an exhausting game for The Boy, from the general excitement of getting to play there, to running back and forth to the bullpen in the outfield to warm up pitchers, to playing the last couple of innings at 3rd base (this was an exhibition game, and everyone got playing time, so most kids played a couple of innings each). When he got home, he dumped his baseball bag and got on with his weekend.

Monday morning he was putting his bag together for the day. I walked by and noticed he had his hand buried deep in one of his baseball shoes. Then I saw the corner of a little baggie. What the hell?

I pretended it was raining too hard to go out and get the paper so that I could watch a little longer. He clearly appeared to be hiding something. I passed him back and forth a couple of times and he finally got up to fill his water bottle. I walked past his stuff and toed the baggie. There were little green pieces in it, but I couldn't see for sure what they were. The light wasn't on, and you know, they were kind of far away being all the way down on the floor and all.

But my mind was racing. Had I really underestimated this kid that much? I completely trusted him. What was he doing? Was that what I thought it was? Would he risk his place on the team, knowing his school was zero policy? Knowing his parents were zero policy? My mind kept swirling.

He came back, and I came out with it, "What is that?"

Color crawled into his cheeks. Sheepishly, he said, "It's Safeco Field grass."

My mind went completely still. Safeco Field grass?! Of course it was. What else would it be? What had I been thinking? I laughed. But then, "What was in your shoe?"

"The grass was in my shoe. I just put it in the baggie."

Being the ever-cool mom that I am, I said, "Well, I can help you press it to preserve it better if you want."

***Ally
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