A Wrestler's Mom

Today, I am anxious, excited and nervous. Because today my "baby" boy will head to New Haven, CT to meet 16 other mother's "baby" boys for 2-days of wrestling, to see who is the best in Connecticut! There will be hundreds of boys there doing the same thing in other weight classes, and I will feel for each and every one of them.

I try and tell myself, it really doesn't matter whether Casey wins or loses. But, it does. If it didn't, I wouldn't feel this way. No, it doesn't matter to me, but it matters to him, so it matters to me. I will love him as much on Saturday night as I do right now...maybe even more win or lose. (That's Casey on top in the picture. My Champion on and off the mat).

I am nervous for him though. I suppose it's because, for months, I have watched him practice for 2 or more hours Monday-Friday like it's his job. I have watched him skip meal after meal to lose weight or stay on weight, run in the cold, the snow and in the rain. I have watch him work hard to keep up his grades, spend time with his family and friends and keep all the planets in his world aligned.

I have seen the determination in his eyes as a prepares for his match, his dedication to his team and to his coach. I have seen his cheers when he wins and his tears when it all just gets to be too much. I am proud of his undefeated record this year as a Freshman on the Varsity team, but even more proud of the young man that he has become. This poem from Jo-Ann says it all about what it's like to be a wrestler's Mom.

A Wrestler's Biggest Fan
by Jo-Ann Innis

That's my little boy, mat two on deck

He's the one who tries to look so confident, while I sit here a wreck

I sit watching nervously, biting my nails and shaking in my seat

Praying for a victory and not a quick defeat

Please don't let him be hurt, please let him be all right

After all this is why he practices so hard most every night

I'll just suffer through it and give him my support

Wondering why sometimes, he ever chose this sport

But when it's finally over and he makes it through "the three"

Nothing can beat the look on his face, that look of VICTORY!

The look that says, "I did it, hey mom did you see?"

And when the ref holds up his hand I know why he chose this sport

And when the victory goes the other way, I still give him my support

There's always next time as long as you try, a mom never fails to say

You're always a champion in my eyes son, and you'll always be that way

A mom is a wrestler's biggest fan, cause she knows what's in his heart

She knows his dedication and how he tries so hard

It's hard for a mom to sit and watch as her son gets pinned

And it's hard not to get emotional as you watch your baby win

Seeing his eyes search for you while you're sitting in the stands

Making sure you saw every move turn out just the way he planned

Because every wrestler knows, that his mom is his biggest fan!

Bad drivers. Who is worse - teens or adults?

Yesterday, my sixteen year old got her license. Yes, it was a monumental occasion, another parking spot in the parking lot of life. Another feather in my cap that we are doing everything right and our kids are becoming adults, so why then as I waited in the lobby of the DMV, did it feel so bittersweet?

I should have been happy, right? Now she will be able to drive herself everywhere. I won't have to pick her up at her friends, take her to the mall, drive her back and forth to school, the library, the pool, the list goes on. Having another driver in the house, should take a lot off my plate, right? Wrong.

Now only begins another stage of worry. Because, now she will be alone. The States' are helping somewhat with their laws, but one law in particular is most annoying to me. Nowadays having an older child with a license doesn't help families like it used to. Because of the States' strict driving rules for teens (most of which I love and agree with) my daughter will not be able to transport her siblings for six! Six months?! How does that help me?

I understand how the law is trying to help, by requiring longer periods of time for young drivers to develop the skills necessary to become more experienced drivers and hopefully avoid some of the tragic situations that inexperience can result in, but with only two cars in our family, a third driver is no help at all.

I do like the "curfew" section of the law though. It says that until a drivers 18th birthday, he/she may not drive between the hours of 11 pm – 5am unless it is for, employment , school , religious activities or a medical necessity. So, she can go out with her friends and by LAW has to be home by 11pm. How sweet is that!?

They even have laws against texting! Obviously, this is hard to enforce, but get caught and there are consequences. I love this law too.

As my daughter was preparing to drive, I read countless articles on safety. Everyone was/is talking about our inexperienced teen drivers and I can't argue with that. But, let's be honest! It's not always about the teens. It wasn't the teens that were breaking the rules. Not one time did we go out driving were we did not see an adult break a rule. I found many of them to be aggressive and threatening. I can't tell you how many time an "adult" rode on our bumper, because we were going the speed limit.

Yes, teens are the novice drivers, but from what I can see, they are also the only ones following the driving rules. As parents, we have to set an example, s0, come on parents lets take a page from the new drivers rule book! Follow the speed limit, stop on the stop lines, stop at the red lights, yield at the yellow. Follow the 3 second rule when there is a car in front of you. You get the point.

My 16 year old daughter has retaught me more about the roads than any adult driver could. She has taught me to slow down and enjoy the ride. Congratulations, Victoria. Be safe.

Facebook is NOT going to charge for their site

Have you heard the rumors over the past few years about Facebook charging to use their site? So far, none of them have been true and from the sounds of it, none of them will be. It is true however, that Facebook may start to charge for specific features we use, but the $4.99 or $3.99 a month fee for "regular" use that some groups are claiming is not true and are scams.

Used to keep in touch with friends and family, Facebook has become an indispensable part of daily life for many people. So, it's only natural that we would panic at the thought of having to pay for what has been a free service for so long. And, of course, there are plenty of scammers willing to exploit that fear for profit.

One of largest groups protesting Facebook grew to over 100,000 people. Although it was removed by Facebook, new versions of the group are popping up everywhere. Many of the so called protesters are scams to deliver malware.

Every year there are multiple groups claiming that Facebook will soon begin charging for their service in an attempt to get us to join quickly. As they say in the blogosphere, Facebook will begin charging for access on the same day that Google starts to charge users on per search basis.

There are other scams that play on and add to the confusion too. Have you heard about that "Gold Membership?" These "upgrade" groups prey on the unfounded fear of subscription fees, urging users to, "Get an upgrade while its free." This "free" upgrade to a nonexistent Facebook Gold account leads you on a goose chase where you spread the scam by inviting your friends to fill out pointless surveys, and ultimately hand over your cell phone number and sign up for a bogus service. The service, of course, does absolutely nothing, and charges your cell phone bill several dollars every month.

While Facebook has plenty of other modernization plans, including the expansion of the Facebook Credits system, none of those plans include a fee-based access model.

Afterall, Facebook didn’t become the most popular site in the U.S. by charging for their service, and they aren’t going to become the largest site in the world by charging for their service either, so for now at least....not to worry.

Relay for Life!

Every year since her Mom died, my niece Erica has participated in Relay for Life and this year she will do it again at Providence College on March 26-27. Last year's Relay for Life was a huge success as Providence collected $117,000, surpassing their goal of $80,000! Last year their team raised a total of $2,205, thanks to our help and I want to help her again this year. What a wonderful way to continue to make a difference in people's lives and to remember those who we have lost.

The name of her team is, the "Wild Things." They all plan to dress up in animal print and one team member is hoping to wear the outfit the little boy wore in the movie, "Where the Wild Things Are". That ought to be cute. I'll be sure to post pictures after the event!

What a great way to join people around the world in celebrating those who have survived cancer, remembering the people we've lost, and supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society.

Please consider helping Erica as she tries to meet her goal. You can make a donation online by clicking on the link below that will take you to her personal Relay For Life® Web page where you can make a quick online contribution.

Click here to visit her personal page.

Thank you!

Does the Devil really wear Prada?

Since December I've wanted to purchase Sheer Cover. You know the makeup that promises an "exclusive formula of light reflecting minerals that blend magically with your skin's natural oils for perfect coverage that's amazingly light."

However, every time I save the extra $30 needed for the makeup and not the household budget, I end up spending it on something else. Frustrated by that fact that a 40-something, I need makeup and going without really is NOT an option, I headed to my local CVS to search out a good, but much less expensive alternative.

After what seemed like hours in the makeup section of CVS, I chose "Mineral Power" from Maybelline. Nope, that is not a typo. Mineral "Power," not Powder. Mineral Power, like most powdered foundation, is very light and leaves your face feeling like you aren't wearing anything. It doesn't have that heavy feeling of liquid makeup, and does a great job of covering blemishes and red marks. And, at $10.00, how can you go wrong. Love it!

The longevity of the makeup seems pretty decent too. I am not a fan of reapplying makeup while at work and never once felt that it was even necessary. Mineral Power was a one step process in the morning to conceal and voila I was out the door for the day!

Although I still may someday give Sheer Cover a try, for now Mineral Power gets my vote. The best part is when I need to replenish my supply, a quick trip to my local pharmacy or retail chain is all that's needed. No online or phone order with the extra S&H, not to mention the wait time. I am never that organized.

Remember, you don't have to pay a lot to look good. You just need to shop around for alternatives. I have even seen Mineral Power at Walmart for around $7. Now, that's a bargain!

Big Brother is Always Watching

I thought I heard something on the radio the other day about a new technology that was going to be able to shut off cell phones when being used in moving cars.

As the number one rule breaker of the cell phone law, I thought I'd do a little research to see what this was all about, but found something else instead ~ I stumbled upon an article that talked about how business was booming for makers of shut-off devices. But, not shut-off devices for phones, shut-off devices for cars!

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These devices turn off the engines of cars when payments are late. And, from what it sounds like, as consumer's credit ratings plummet, more manufacturers jump on board, which may soon leave more American’s driving around with an electronic Big Brother on board.

While the devices have mostly been used in the subprime auto loan market, other lenders are looking closely at the technology. As American consumer’s creditworthiness declines and job lose increases, it becomes harder to tap into home equity ~ making more auto dealers interested in this technology.

With the state of the economy, financially stretched consumers have to figure out what bills they are going to pay -- and what payments they have to postpone. Car dealers and lenders want to make sure it's not their loan payments that fall to the bottom of the pile.

I'll do a little more poking around on that cell phone issue, because I for one, could use that, but for right now, I am just going to freaked out about the fact that someone else has so much control over our lives, that they can just shut off our cars! Yikes.

Give a Little Get A Lot Back

I know you've all heard the saying, "It's better to give, than to receive," but I wanted to post today to let you know that it's true and that it's really not just me SpoutinOut, about not wanting to give something up for Lent, It's been proven - by science, really! Read on ~

The Thought That Counts Simply ~ contemplating generosity boosts your immunity.

Lend an Ear, Help Your Heart ~ Being generous with your attention can reduce your risk of heart attack.

Lend a Hand, Lower Your Pain ~ People suffering from chronic pain report decreased intensity, and less disability and depression, when they reach out to others in similar pain

Goodness Nose ~ People who are socially connected reported catching fewer colds

The Magic Touch ~ There's an off switch for the adrenal gland's production of the stress hormone cortisol. A study that recruited retirees to give massages showed that their cortisol—as well as their anxiety and depression—levels dropped significantly. So, give someone you love a massage today!

Sounds good to me and if Lent really is about making us all better people, then giving is definitely the way to do it! Hey, science says so, not me.

I'm Changing Up Lent This Year

I have been a Catholic for some 40 plus years. Albeit, not a very good one, but a Catholic nonetheless. Last night my niece asked me what I was giving up for Lent. I thought for a minute and said, "I'm not. I'm doing something instead."

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. Lent begins on 17 February 2010 and ends on 3 April 2010, which is the day before Easter. It's our tradition to give up (or 'fast from') something(s) that we do a lot of and that we find pleasure in.

Why can't we do something instead? Isn't doing something you don't normally do, just as painful as giving something up? If you're a shy person, vow to speak to a stranger everyday. If you have road rage, vow to slow down on the road and let people cut in. If you don't spend enough time with your kids, vow to read to them every night, or set aside .10 mins everyday to learn about their day. Isn't doing something better than giving something up? After all, who, other than you, benefits when you give up chocolate? Well, your thighs maybe...

This year, I vow to do something different with my life. I vow to get out of this "just living" rut and "GET LIVING!" I am not going to let our strangling budget get in my way anymore! I am going to get creative when it comes to finding inexpensive fun things to do and follow at least one of my entrepreneurial dreams. Okay, one MORE of my entrepreneurial dreams.

I found this old list tucked in a box while cleaning my desk out the other day (another vow to get organized). I can't remember where I took it from, so I can't give credit, but I thought I would share it with you just the same.

10 Thoughts on Whole Living ~

1. When you commit your dreams to paper, you give them a place to take root.
2. Be mindful of where you put your attention. The Shape of your life will follow.
3. When you view your health as nonnegotiable, your priorities naturally shift.
4. Positive change starts with truth, and no one knows it better than you.
5. You're more than just what you do for others.
6. Before you react to an emotion, first consider its source.
7. Learning to let go begins with understanding why you've been hanging on.
8. Do more than understand stress reduction; put it into practice.
9. There's no way to grow without taking a few risks.
10. Setting boundaries doesn't keep others out. It defines where your life begins.

I love to write, so the first step is an easy one for me. However, the 9th one is my fav. I am full of dreams that have yet to be fulfilled and have no intentions of stopping until I am done.

Remember ~ like traveling ~ Life is about the journey, not the destination.

Happy 50th Birthday to my Sister!

Today's post is for my sister, Karen. She is 50 years old today. She lives in Florida and I can't be with her, so I am sending her this post to let her know how much I love her!

Happy Birthday Karen!

I wish for you my sister, another year of laughter, joy and fun.
I hope you find surprises with each new day that will come.

May all your wishes come true!

Sisters! I have no idea who that boy is.

Karen and her girls.

Every year on your birthday, I think about how glad I am that you were born and how thankful I am to have you in my life. Every year is another year filled with the special joys you bring just by being you. So this year, when you open your birthday gifts, I hope you realize what a gift you are to everyone who knows you, especially to me. Thanks for not only being my sister, but my friend!

I love you and miss you everyday!

Vacation Crossroad

I know it's only February, but if we want to go on vacation this summer, we have to start saving now. We have don't have any credit cards, so if we don't save ~ we don't go.

My family wants to drive to Florida again this year and visit Disney, Universal and Islands of Adventure, etc. I love Florida and I know that Disney is, "The Happiest Place on Earth," but we tend to go there almost ever year and how many times can a Mom be asked to see Mickey Mouse?

As much as I would love to get away for an adult vacation, I love vacationing with my kids even more. And, as they get older, I really treasure that time. Since they were toddlers, I've always believed that if they were happy on vacation, we would be and for the most part that has been true. This year however, I have decided that, if MOM is happy, they will be.

So, if we can swing it, we are taking a cruise. USA Today reported that if you are thinking about booking a cruise for 2010, you might want to do it sooner rather than later. Industry watchers say ships are filling up faster than they did last year, and that means prices could be heading up. If the prices head up, our vacation will consist of sailing a toy boat in the pool in our own backyard.

We've never been on a cruise, but know a lot of people who have. I know that summer is not the best time to go, but with three kids in school, and two of them in high school, pulling them out for a week is no longer an option. Although, I do miss the days when we did.

If you are considering a cruise, you should check out vacationstogo.com. It's a really cool site that allows you to search all cruise lines. You can narrow your search by region, port to visit, travel date, line, ship name, departure port, etc. The site gathers your search results and displays them on one very organized page for you...cutting down your search time by hours! You should check them out. Oh, you will have to enter your email address, but that's it. It is very safe and they don't bombard you with junk mail. I have been a member for years. (If only there was a list like this for those college tuition prices!)

If you know of any great deals sailing out of FL this summer, let me know. Also, if you know of any cruise lines or spots we should stay away from, let me know that too.

Silent Sunday

Happy Valentines Day!

I'm back and Spoutin Out!

I hope you are all doing well! I have missed writing to you and I am glad to be back! So much has happened since I've left. Not good, not bad, just "life" stuff. You know, we all have it.

In addition to my busy life working full-time and running three kids around, my oldest daughter and I have been researching colleges. Yikes! She has spent much of her time dreaming, while I on the other hand, have spent much of my time freakin'! After all, we don't have 4oK a year to send her to college.

I look back and wonder why I've spent so much time drilling into my children's heads the importance of college. What was I thinking!? It sounded good at the time. Now with the economy like it is and the rising cost of colleges....not so much.

Anywho, it appears the drilling has worked and my daughter has no interest in staying home with me for the rest of her life, so it is time to fulfill the 16-year old promise (thankfully, I have 1 more year). As a Junior, we are now in the "research" stag. It is so overwhelming and at times, I just want to shut down. There are so many sites, so many options, so many opinions and I have SO many questions! I get frustrated and confused bouncing from site to site and even great sites like Collegeboard.com and The Princeton Review, are overwhelming to me.

I have spent the last few weeks on an endless search to find that perfect site. A site that will baby me, hold my hand and provide me with step by step instructions the entire way. A site that will promise me that she will get a great education and a great life experience while remaining safe and happy. A site that will help me to not freak out about the cost, nor that fact that I am going to miss her so much.

We began by narrowing our search down 10 schools based on public vs. private, major, school size, location and spirit (that one is important to my daughter). I picked the number 10 out of a hat, there is no magic number. I suppose once we get to 10 we will have to narrow down even more as I have no intentions of visiting 10 school, nor can I afford it, if they are not within driving distance.

Sound easy? It's not. Not when her Dad wants her to stay in the Northeast and the Northeast alone has too many choices! That on top of the fact that her Mom (me) wants her to go South!

Stay tuned for more of our nightmare, I mean journey and please feel free to share your journey

with me!