Not a Good Weekend for Football

Friday night, high school team loses big in big rivalry game. We knew they would, since Big Rival school has not lost a game in two years, and has been the state champ two of the past three years, and probably will be again this year. It's getting old, and they're way too cocky. I just want someone to beat them, anyone. Let me just add here, HAMILTON, that when you're up by four touchdowns near the end of the second quarter, going for a two-point conversion instead of just kicking the extra point is completely and totally classless. Just saying. Is it sad that I care this much about high school football? Our team will still be going to the playoffs starting next week...not sure who we're playing yet, though.

Saturday, ASU played Oregon and earned their first loss of the season. I was kind of expecting this, because Oregon is really good, and I think they have a legitimate shot at the national championship game. I'm hoping we can win our last three games (UCLA, USC, and Arizona) and hopefully have a chance at the Rose Bowl. If Oregon goes to the NC game, that's definitely a possibility. Of course, that depends on our team's ability to bounce back from this and win those last three games. C'mon Devils!

Oh, and then...if things weren't bad enough, UCLA goes and LOSES to Arizona! UCLA, I am not impressed. Plus, whenever Arizona wins, I hate that. You know the saying...my two favorite teams are ASU and whoever is playing Arizona this week. I was a big UCLA fan yesterday, and they let me down. Of course, since we play them next, I hope they are just as disappointing next Saturday. :)

Colorado lost huge to Missouri yesterday, sorry Honey. But, we're hoping that Colorado will get to come to the Insight Bowl, because we'll be there, and we'd have someone to root for! And this year, I'll remember to bring a warm jacket, instead of just a thin sweatshirt, because the game is outside now, and we won't leave at halftime because we're freezing and we won't miss a huge comeback and overtime win by the team that was down by like, a lot, at halftime. You know, like last year.

If there was one good thing yesterday, it was seeing Nebraska get 76 points scored on them. That was awesome. Since we're Colorado fans, we are, of course, Nebraska haters. Plus, I remember the year that Nebraska ran up the score against ASU, and the final was something like 72-28. 1995, maybe? So plllbbbtttt, Nebraska...what goes around, comes around, even if it is 12 years later. Not that I hold grudges or anything.

And, to complete the weekend, the Cardinals will lose today. I don't even know who they're playing, but I'm predicting a loss. Anyone care to take that bet? ;)

Yeah, Well Your Attitude Sucks Too

Yesterday, of course, we had the Moms' Weekly Sit and Bitch at McD's. I'm happy to report that they've ditched the Skanks on Skates toys in favor of the new Bee Movie toys. I'm not sure if I want to see the movie, but at least I don't see these bee toys scarring my daughter's self-esteem. Not unless she has a secret desire to become a bee. Anyway.

Afterwards, I had to go get Shannon some soccer socks, because they had their first (and only) pre-season game yesterday. So I had to go to Sports Authority, buy the socks, and then go to the school and drop them off to her. Why didn't I do this earlier? Because I just found out she needed the socks Wednesday night, around 9:30pm. Kids, gotta love 'em.

So as I'm cruising through Sports Authority, Kylie is constantly saying she wants to go to Basha's, a local grocery chain. She wants to go there because of the Cub House, where she can play while I shop. Except I don't need anything at the grocery store today. Yes, I could sit in their cafe area with a soda and a magazine while she plays (not that I would ever take advantage of their free babysitting when I didn't actually have to, you know... shop), but I didn't have time today. So I'm trying to find these socks, and she's blathering about Basha's, and then Target. Target is right next to Sports Authority, and is a great place to spend mom's horde of extra cash that she picked fresh off the tree, just this morning.

I said no, we have to take the socks over to the jr high and give them to Shannon, then we have to go home and I have to do a few things, then it's time for her to go to Mimi's and me to go to work. She keeps whining, I keep saying no. Lather, rinse, repeat. Then she lets go with the ever-popular:

"I don't like you!"

"Well sweetpea, I'm sorry to hear that, but you know, telling someone that you don't like them isn't really a great way to get them to do anything for you."

She is quiet for a moment, and then:

"Well, I do like you...I just don't like your attitude."

I snorted in my attempt to hold back my laugh. I couldn't help it.

And of course, the socks are too small. Where is that #$%&#$% receipt?

The Obligatory Halloween Pictures

You know we gotta have 'em, right? So, last night was pretty un-eventful. We have had a tradition in the past of getting together with a few other familes for a chili dinner and trick-or-treating. But, all the kids are getting older and seem to want to do their own thing now. Except me, of course...I still have a little witch of a 5 year-old to deal with. Hey, I can say that on Halloween...she really was a witch!

Big sister Danni did her hair and make-up, and then Danni went to a party that was sponsored by the band. I love it when the band has their own activities, because I know exactly where she is and that it's well chaperoned. Here's Danni and Kylie together...Danni is supposed to be a modern-day pixie? (well, that's what she said, anyway) She had a lot of glitter on...I'm not sure that shows up too well in the pictures.

Shannon got together with some of her friends from school, a group of about 10 or 12 kids. I wanted a pic of all three kids together, but she came running in from soccer practice, and I'm all "Put your costume on so I can get a quick picture of the three of you." And she's like "Nooooo, we're all getting dressed at Holly's house!!" Sigh. So then I thought I'd get the pic of all three of them when Shannon got home. Unfortunately, by that time Kylie and I were back from trick-or-treating and she was conked out. Here's Shannon in her pirate outfit:

Also, at Kylie's school (which is a PreK-6th Grade charter school), they can't dress up in Halloween costumes...that might offend someone. But what they can do is come dressed as their favorite literary character. So Kylie had a witch outfit. So I say she was...um...Professor McGonagall!!! Yeah, that's it! Anyway, here's Kylie with two of her friends from school. I guess Jack Sparrow is a literary character now? In any case, he sure was a cutie!

I took Kylie over to Jen's house and we went trick-or-treating in their neighborhood with Grace and two of her older brothers. We had fun, but the kids were done after about an hour and a half. Kylie and I were back home by 8pm, which is not a bad thing! Now I'm looking forward to a day when Kylie is old enough to go out with a group on her own, and I can sit in the driveway with a bunch of other adults and a big jug of margaritas. I love it when people have their little block parties here...they all gather at one house and hand out all their candy, while sitting in chairs around a firepit. Of course, I'm not sure the firepit is necessary when it's still in the freaking 80s, but ... yeah. It's ambience, right?

Oh, I wish we had fall. I wish the air was cool and crisp and leaves were falling from the trees. That's why I have all this autumn stuff on my blog...it's as close as I'm ever going to get to it. Dang, I hate the heat. Enough already! It was 89 degrees today. I suppose I have to change that Halloween picture up there now. I'll get to it...quit pressuring me already! Geez.

Virtual Pumpkin Carving

I stole this from Alice Bunnie. It's Virtual Pumpkin Carving. It takes a little practice to get the hang of it, but I think it's pretty cool. Try it!

I'm Having An Allergy Attack - Someone Alert Homeland Security!

First of all, I've changed the name of my blog. I liked the title of my previous post, "I Miss My Sanity" so much, that that's my new title. I don't really think I'm a Bad Mommy, anyway. Well, not always. So, to the 2 or 3 of you that have me on your blogroll, just thought I'd let you know about the change.

I'm having an allergy attack today. It doesn't happen often, but right now my eyes and nose are watering and I constantly have that feeling of having to sneeze. I had to go to Target this morning anyway for...you know, other stuff, so I was definitely picking up some Drixoral while I was there. Drixoral is my allergy wonder-drug. Sudafed doesn't work worth a crap, and I know that Drixoral will dry me right up. Only problem is, when I asked the pharmacist, he said they didn't carry it. Drat. Asked him if he knew anywhere that did carry it. He said he saw it at Wal Mart a couple of months ago. Wal Mart. Drat, again. I hate that store. But if that is where I must go to get the one allergy med that I know will work for me, then I'll brave the unwashed masses and do what I have to do.

Thankfully, I don't really have Wal Mart experiences like this (although my blog might be funnier if I attracted the crazy like Crystal does), but nonetheless, I hate the place. Little did I know though, that I'd be signing my life away just to purchase my beloved Drixoral. I had to go to the pharmacy counter, of course. They don't have it on the shelf anymore, because it's got that Pseudoimgonnamakemethouttathisephedrine in it. But now, not only do you have to get it from the pharmacist, but you have to show a government-issued ID (driver's license), give them your phone number, and verify that the address on said government-issued ID is correct. I can only assume this is because "Homeland Security" wants to send me a card, wishing me well and hoping that I am over my allergy attack soon. Frankly, I'm touched by their concern. I didn't know they cared. Compassionate conservatism, indeed.

I Miss My Sanity

Ok, honestly I'm about ready to snap. Anytime that one of my two older kids has a friend over, Kylie has to act like a baboon. I mean, more than she normally does. Yes, she's showing off for attention. But it's the worst when Danni's boyfriend is here. She's acting like a freaking lunatic (Lunatic Fringe, anyone? Because it's playing in my head right now.) Finally, I'd had enough, it's 8pm, we bring her up to our room. She starts screaming that she doesn't want to go to bed. Screaming. My head hurts. I'm still sore and tired from last night. Isn't five a bit old for this?

Since she needs an excuse to keep crying, she starts wailing, "BUT I MISS GRAAANNNNTTTT!!!"

Grant is her "boyfriend" in her preschool class. She saw him at school on Friday, and will see him again tomorrow. She is as full of crap as a constipated cow. I point out to her that she will see Grant tomorrow, because apparently I still haven't learned not to try and reason with this behavior. So then she shrieks, "BUT I MISS SOPHIE AND PHILLIP!!!!!" More crying. Ok, Sophie and Phillip are the twin niece and nephew of my friend Kati. They are more or less Kylie's age. They live in Germany, and Kylie met them ONCE, when they were here visiting about two years ago. This is totally fake, I know it and she knows it...it's just an excuse to keep up the crocodile tears. Seriously kid...shut it. Does anyone else's kid besides mine INVENT reasons to be upset? Like, if there's no real reason to be upset, she/he will pull something totally random out of thin air?

One of these days I'm going to completely lose it, and run around my house shrieking "I miss my SANITYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!" I wonder if it lives in Germany? Oh no, I know where it lives: 1990. You know, before I had kids.

ASU vs. Cal, Homecoming 2007

Yesterday was homecoming for ASU. Since I used to be in the band, I decided to go and play in the alumni band this year. I haven't done this since BK (Before Kylie), so the last time I went was 6 years ago. The alumni band not only goes to the game and plays in the stands but we march (yes, MARCH) the pre-game show. Fight song, national anthem, alma mater, etc, while MARCHING on the football field. Ok, sometimes standing still and sometimes marching. I have had so many people say to me, "You mean you guys actually march, on the field?" Yes, we do! And let me tell you, that marching-and-playing-at-the-same-time stuff is easy to do when you're 19, but let's just say I am sore this morning! I'm really glad I went though, because I saw a few old friends and had a great time, and the game was AMAZING!

We had a marching rehearsal in the morning at 9am yesterday that lasted until 11:30am, where we learned the show. Yes, we're so good, we can learn a whole show in 2 1/2 hours. I met three sax players that were about 10 years younger than me, who had attended the same high school my daughter now goes to! That was fun, and they were cool kids. After marching practice was over, we pretty much had the afternoon to ourselves, as the game was in the evening. Here are some of the people that I partied with all afternoon had lunch with (read: the "older" crowd, were in the band in the 80s, like me. People I actually knew back then.)

Here is the entire alumni band warming up on the steps of the Student Services building before heading over to the stadium. We had 230 people playing this year! There weren't too many people from my four years in band there, most were more recent (within the last 10 years) grads, but there were some of us older folks there too. One guy in the sax section was in the band from '69-'73. He didn't look that old! There was one sax player, some girl that was only out a couple of years, graduated in '05, or something. She was all snotty and trying to tell us all what to do. She was one of those band geeks (unlike me, who was a cool person who just happened to be in the band) who take this kind of stuff way too seriously. Shut up kid, you bother me.

That's me in the sunglasses, playing my sax:

After we marched our show, we were waiting on the field for the team to come running out. We were standing there for a bit, while they were playing video, cheerleaders were running everywhere, music, fireworks, etc. There's my best band-buddy, Debbie, holding the piccolo. Hi Debbie! We were in the same class at ASU, so we both had the pleasure of turning the big Four Oh this year. Ha!

This is what it looks like to be standing on the field as the team comes running right past you. It's blurry, yeah..those guys were running fast, plus there were lots of fireworks and smoke! I was probably supposed to be playing the fight song at that point, but I was taking a picture instead. Hee.

The game started out a little slowly, and we were trailing 20-14 at halftime. But as usual with this particular team, they kick it into high gear for the second half! I didn't take any pictures during the game, but at the end, after we beat Cal 31-20, the students poured out onto the field. I remember doing that, back in the day.

ASU is now 8-0, baby! We're ranked like #4 (or #6, depending which poll you look at) in the country! Next week is an even bigger challenge, playing Oregon, who beat USC yesterday. That's gonna be a good one too, I wish it was a home game!. We also get to play USC on Thanksgiving day. This season is so exciting, I can't wait for next Saturday. Go Devils!