WHEEL!!

Well. . .it's done. I was on Wheel of Fortune. If you want to know when my show airs, email me and I'll give you the date. I did really well--I didn't get to the bonus round, but not because I didn't play well. . .it was one of those luck of the spin things. . .you'll see when you watch it.

The whole experience was really really fun. We were there all day (they taped 5 shows!) and I thought I would be exhausted, but the day went by so fast! I was in the very last show! S., N., my mom, my friend L, and my friends/neighbors C, C, and P came. P is close to N's age, so that was good--they got antsy having to be there for 7 hours, but it probably would have been worse if they didn't have each other!

For me. . .the day flew by. We did some rehearsal stuff, some legal stuff, etc. We got to know each other pretty well, which was nice, because we were all really excited for each other to win. My group (of course I'm biased) was so great! We all did well and we were all so happy for each other. I think that really helped with the nerves, because you didn't have to worry about someone trying to kill you!

They have all these great coaches (I'm not sure what their title is--we called them "Life Coaches") that really get you prepared for what is going to happen. Although, I can tell you that there is a good reason that the people on the show don't solve it as fast as you do at home! You have SO many things to think about. . .don't look at the wheel, only look at the puzzle. Clap for everyone, but don't clap loud, and don't clap near your chest or your face, be excited, be moving all the time--don't stand still. Talk with a loud, clear voice, but don't shout. Ennunciate your words, so they hear you correctly, wait for Pat to say the dollar amount before you talk. Don't say "please" or "I'd like a. . ." just say the letter, don't say you want to spin--just spin. Don't take too long, use vowels, think about "logical letters" and "letter groups," don't look at the crowd, keep things moving. . .etc. etc. etc. It's a lot of pressure for people who are not used to being on TV.

I did screw one thing up. It added about 30 minutes to the taping time. I knew I would embarrass myself, but fortunately, they can edit it together and fix it, so instead of being an idiot on national television, I'm just an idiot in front of the 3000 people in the studio audience. The other two contestants were so nice about it, and so were the producers and Pat. (The Executive Producer came out to explain to us what was going to happen--I was so scared. I just KNEW they were going to kick me off the show!) I will explain more after the show airs--I don't want to give anything away! The other two contestants kept telling me it was OK, and Pat said "Don't worry--in the list of screwups--you're WAY down at the bottom." That actually made me feel a lot better!

All in all, I had a GREAT time. I won some great stuff and I can't wait 'til it airs, because I want to see it--I'm not sure what all happened! I am glad that I didn't get the bonus round, because none of the letters I would have called would have been up there. The girl who went called good letters, and she won it. The only thing that made me sad was that S. and N. didn't get to be on TV. But, then I would have had to explain that to R. when we watched the show, so maybe it was for the best!

So, watch for me on TV, and look for me to be traveling soon--that's all the hint I'll give ya!

Post #100

I noticed on the "Dashboard" that this is my 100th post. It seems as though it should be something profound. I can't come up with anything. So, I'm going to try to get onto "paper" a sort of jumble of thoughts about my kids that I've been processing since a few months after J was born.

Here's what I think. Three boys is just perfect for me. There is no comparison between the sexes. I'm sure that there will eventually be comparisons between the three of them--that makes sense because they are all boys, so you'd think they'd be similar. But, so far, they are so DIFFERENT that it is almost impossible to make comparisions--other than to point out the differences!

There are pros and cons to being the oldest, youngest, or middle child. But, from a mom's perspective, here's how I feel about it. Or about them. Like I said, it is a jumble of thoughts. . .kind of a list of adjectives of my feelings for each of them. Or events that surround each of them, or something. I'm not sure.

N. First child. Everything, starting with the pregnancy, brings excitment, fear, enthusiasm, and a constant desire to see and do whatever is coming next. A constant sense of wonder that this child is, everyday, an older child than I've ever parented. That sounds stupid, I know, but it means something in my heart. I'm in awe of him all the time. He tries things, and is suddenly an expert. He thinks of things and suddenly creates them. He is amazing. Constant wonder.

R. Second child. I am able to relax. Knowing things will not end in tragedy or injury (most of the time) I am able to enjoy them more quickly, since I don't have to conquer the nerves! Instant joy, because before he starts something, or sees something, or knows it is going to happen--I know how much he is going to love it. Or how much he will hate it--and even that is joyful to me. . .just seeing him be his own person and develop what that means. He feels things so deeply, this boy. He is reflective and intense. He thinks much deeper than other children his age--much deeper than many people much older than him. Because of that, there is very little in his world that is "so-so." He loves things extremely, and he dislikes other things completely. And, I love seeing him decide which is which! Constant joy.

J. Third child. Last child. Smiles with tears. Fascinating that the third of three boys could still find a way to be TOTALLY different. He surprises me with his speed, his strength, his total disregard for any rule whatsoever! I watch everything he does, every milestone he reaches, knowing it will be the last time there is a "first time." If I think of it long enough, it makes me cry. Not because I want another one, just because they are all growing up. I'm fascinated that at 2, I can already look back at things that are never to be again. I know this sentimental side of myself, and refuse to let it impede him. He'll never feel from me a sense of holding on, wishing him still a baby--but it will be in the back of my head! There is such a sense of contentment in me with J. When he was 3 hours old, I knew my family was complete. Just looking in his eyes--I knew it. He is such a tangible force! He is expressive without restraint. Laughing, crying, being an irritation to his brothers--he does it all with total abandon! I hope he never loses that. I am fascinated by people who are so completely comfortable with themselves that they have no need to hide. I think J is that way. Constant fascination.

Soccer

For some reason, N. never seemed too young to me when he played sports. He started playing soccer at 3, and it seemed like he was big enough. Yesterday was R's first day of soccer practice. He seemed so tiny!! He had a good time, but boy, is his team nuts! It truly was, as S. says, "like herding cats."

The practice went well, and at the end they sort of had a scrimmage. Keep in mind that they have no concept of the fact that there are boundary lines of any sort--they aren't drawn on the field, and how could they imagine them? They don't even know they are supposed to be there! Anyway--several of the kids (including R) would kick the ball several times, get frustrated that it wasn't going the direction that they wanted, and either pick it up and turn it around or just give it a shove with their fist. That was funny.

When the scrimmage was over, R came off the field and I could see the tears coming. I knew it was going to happen. "Mommy! They wouldn't let me score a goal!" Then, sobs. It was horrible. But, I did have a moment of feeling like a good parent. I sat down on the grass with him and explained that when you're on a team, if one person gets a goal, the whole team gets a goal. It is just as important to be the one who kicks the ball to the guy who scores, as it is to be the one who scores.

I reminded him that he kicked the ball into the game from the goal line and took the ball all the way down the field all by himself (really--he had 5 or 6 great kicks--no one could catch him, and he went straight for his goal!). When he got to his goal, no one stole the ball from him. He "passed" the ball to his teammate and he scored! So, really, he and R both scored. It's called teamwork. He loved that idea.

I made a big deal of how he is a great ball handler and you have to be very brave and very fast and have really good coordination to go all the way down the field. I told him that Daddy and N can't do it. (That's stretching it a bit, but it made him feel better!) In the car, I called S. and told him all about it while R could hear me. When we got home, I started telling N how great R played and by that time, R was so excited and proud of himself that he finished the story for me. So, his love of soccer is still intact for now.
He really is a good ball handler. He has good hand/eye coordination. It is interesting that already he has different skills and abilities than N. It's only the first practice, but it is the first time he's ever played an "organized" (term used loosely!) sport. And, he looks totally different than N. does when he plays something.

It was a strange feeling to watch R play. A feeling I get in a lot of situations with him. It is not nerve racking for me, like it is when N does something new, because I have been through it before with the older brother. I just have this amazing sense of excitment for him. I have that for N too, but it takes a while to get through the nerves and get to the excitement. With R, I can just smile and enjoy the beauty of seeing him go through a new experience. I wonder if it will be that way when he does something that N hasn't ever done. . .always something to ponder. . .

Baseball Video

This is a video from N's baseball game yesterday. I don't know how to shorten it to just the part of him, so you have to watch for a little while. We are the team in the white jersies. You'll see several of our batters, then a couple of blue jersey batters. After that, he is the next batter in white. Anyway--at the beginning, it sounds like they are calling the first batter by N's name. That's not him. It is a kid with the same name with a K instead of N.

Baseball Player

N's first game was yesterday. This is his first season to play out of Tball (we missed last year because of the moving process--we were too late for signups!) Anyway--I have been pretty nervous about it. . .what if he didn't hit (they use a pitching machine), what if he struck out, what if he couldn't catch the ball, blah blah. Can you believe that? I can just hear him when he's playing ball in high school "Mom, you're going to have to settle down. You're making me nervous. Maybe you shouldn't come to the game. . ."

I didn't actually SAY any of that stuff. I just thought it. I want him to LOVE sports. I don't particularly care if he's GREAT at it, I just want him to love it enough to keep playing. I think you learn so much from participating in team sports. Ok, so--

As with soccer, we have wonderful coaches (actually, the head soccer coach is one of the assistant baseball coaches--that's the only reason we agreed to let him play. . .remember the fiasco with soccer all stars?) So, they are so great. They have this amazing system so that each kid truly is a star. No one is better or worse than anyone else. I suppose a kid could get down on himself if he never got a hit, but they have even got that pretty much handled. They do strike out once in a while, it is baseball after all, but they are great at setting the machine for each kid, and they have taught them well.

They bat in jersey number order. This game, player #1 was the first batter. Next game, #2 (N.) will lead off. Going on and on through the season. Everyone gets a chance to be first. Everyone's first at bat, they get 9 pitches--even if they don't hit, they still get to take first base. Everyone gets a chance to run the bases at least once.

Each inning they rotate positions on the field. You play 2 infield positions, 2 outfield positions, and sit on the bench for 2 innings. They bat straight through the lineup. Three outs or 9 batters. Even if you were on the bench that inning, you bat in the regular number order. Doesn't matter who you are or how you play. You will play every position--including bench warmer. I love it!! I think that as they get toward the end of the season, they start having more "assigned" positions, but for now, they are all equal. Fabulous!!

They have one more year in this league, and then they move up to regular kid pitch. Things get to be more like "normal" baseball then, but for now--they are teaching them to love the sport!!!

So, how did it go? GREAT! He hit every time he got up to bat (three times) and he played great at first base. He caught every ball thrown to him. He also did great at bench warmer. I can't really comment on his outfield play, because no one hit the ball to the outfield. However, he did not sit on the ground and play in the dirt or pick flowers, so I guess that is success out there too! He was also the first player to cross home plate, but I managed to get my hair in front of the camera lens, so that photo will have to wait until the next game (by the next time he went around, I was busy keeping J. off the field and couldn't get to the camera!)

He definitely seems to be a natural athelete. He loves everything outdoors (the newest thing is skateboarding--I just bought him a ramp--what's wrong with me????) He has that long, lean body that seems so comfortable running and throwing. Soccer and baseball are definite successes for him. I'm hoping he chooses to stick with them and blow off basketball and football. We'll see. . .we'll let him try whatever he wants, but these two seem to be really comfortable for him!

I'm a Wheel Watcher!!!

I am a Wheel Watcher. . .since childhood I have loved Wheel of Fortune--and guess what! Now I am a Wheel Contestant!!! That's right. . .I'm going to hang out with Pat and Vanna. I auditioned last month, got called back for a second audition, and they called me yesterday to say I AM GOING TO BE ON THE SHOW!! They are shooting a "Sunny San Diego" week! They will shoot all 5 shows on the 24th of this month here in San Diego! 2 weeks from today. I don't know when it will air, but I am so excited! Watch for me on NBC!!!!

Oh--also, N.'s first baseball game was today. He did fabulous. He got a hit everytime he got to the plate, and he did GREAT at first base! More info on that tomorrow when I have downloaded the photos!!

Pops

Pops died last night about about 8:15 Texas time. What a strange feeling to say "That's good." about something that is sad.

At least now he isn't in pain. At least now his wife, children, and their families can begin to mourn his death. At least now no one has to debate what is the best thing to do. At least now, his wife and C. can get some rest, after living at the hospital for a month. And yet. . .he's still gone.

It's still sad. No matter what age you are, and how much you were expecting it, it still has to be awful to lose a parent. My parents and grandparents are young, compared to those of most people my age. None of my biological grandparents have died, much less my parents. I have no idea what it would be like.

I think it must be really painful for C in her heart, even if her head knew it was best. No matter how old you are, when both of your parents have died, you must have a feeling inside of being an orphan. Even with your own spouse, siblings, children, grandchildren, etc. around you. A little bit of you has to be a little bit broken when they're gone.