Day 4 - Listen

I like watching baseball, playoff baseball in particular. Live at the ballpark is my favorite, but watching from home on TV is also fun for me. Even better than the watching, though, is the listening.

We are fortunate in DC to have a FANTASTIC pair of radio people - Charlie (Slowes) and Dave (Jagler). They really bring the game to life with details and then an array of facts and baseball trivia and interesting tidbits to fill in all the in between. 

I let the girls listen when they go to bed if there's a game on. We listen when we're in the car. And I keep the radio up and the TV down when the Nats are on TV here. Charlie and Dave are my favorite baseball companions. 

Late last season, the Nats did a giveaway of a radio lanyard. This clever thing is a lanyard with a small radio built into a reversible single headphone. The wonder of this is that with it, while you are live at the ballpark, you can put Charlie and Dave right in your ear, no delay. It lets you get the detail you missed when watching. It lets you hear what's going on when you can't quite figure it out from the stands (he was ejected? why? ) I also use it when I want to tune out the chatter from some folks sitting around me. 

I listen to Charlie and Dave almost every night of the season when I am not at the ballpark. This year I have LOVED being able to listen to them while I am live there also. 

I got my hands on a few extras - one for each of the girls. A used it while we were at the Wild Card game this week and said it helped her track stuff better as well. Big win all around for the added gift of listening to the radio live at the ballpark.

Day 3 - Problem

Today's prompt is PROBLEM.  And I have a problem ... I am drawing a blank here. Interesting. I usually reason so hard and through so many permutations when trying to think through solutions that I wear myself to the point of exhaustion.

Today - the opposite. My brain is off. Perhaps that's too many late nights in a row (thanks playoff baseball - YAY and too much homework on practice nights for the girls - BOO). 

I am amused - it's been a long time since I felt like there was NOTHING happening in my brain. Sure sign I need to go to bed.

Although - another positive of my lack of topical thought here, I guess, is that there aren't any major pressing problems in my inner brain circle tonight. That should make a restful night in a few minutes. (CHEERING!!!).

So, with that I'll say - glad I made the effort to throw a few non important words on the page tonight to keep the streak going. That will help me want to write tomorrow. And keep me on track for all 31 days.

Goodnight friends.

Day 2 - Gift

Last night was a baseball game here in DC. My favorite team playing in a one game winner-take-all Wild Card game.

with our friend K, (left) before the game

Baseball as I've often written is my safe space. When I need to reset my brain (redirect, actually) or when I need to do some hard thinking, I do it best at the ballpark.

None of that was happening last night. The whole night was super intense. At least for me. My youngest got to come along with me. Oldest had a game with her varsity team and she made the right (if hard) choice to stay with the team. 

the view from our seats as the Nationals celebrated their win

We trekked down to the ballpark, smooshed in our little Subaru outback with friends. We watched the ebb and flow of the game. The horror of the early home runs against us. The glee of the home run as we tried to come back. The middle innings of good pitching and NO HITTING.  And then as we were down to our final 5 outs, the tide turned. You can read about it and listen to the radio call. 

And after it had turned, and the crowd roared all through it - the loudest I've ever heard my ballpark in person, and after the last fly ball was caught, we exhaled. And we screamed. We cheered and high-fived with strangers. A playoff win. A move forward to the next round.

a bunch of my in real life Nats friends, cheering with the win! 

And the gift of celebrating it with real life friends and stranger but family fan friends. There is little that compares to a playoff win. And the joy that comes when you share it? A gift of a memory to last a lifetime.

Day 1 - Why

Well, this is an appropriate prompt to start with! Why write? Why share my words from my head with friends (or even random internet strangers)? 

For me, sometimes I write (when I make the time) to help make sense of the jumble of thoughts in my brain. Sometimes it is to record some things we did so that I can share with my family (see the unfinished spring break posts) and friends so that I don't repeat myself, or so that far away friends can see and share in our adventures. Or so that I don't forget a memory that I later want to share with the kids. 

Occasionally I write because I am bored and need to refocus on something. Or because I've been meaning to call and catch up with someone but due to time zones and crazy schedules, it is ALWAYS the wrong time to call them. My bestie lives in Seattle.  I don't need to wake her at 4:12a just to ask how her kids are adapting to new schools. She would answer, every time I call, but that is hardly an emergency. So instead I write an email.

And sometimes I write here because it helps me keep a commitment or dust off some rusty skills that may need to be re-engaged. Maybe there's something I need to let out that I can't even put my finger on yet.  Or maybe I just need to see if I cam muster up the energy to make this a regular habit again. I was on a roll for a while and then for 2 years --- ZILCH. And I have missed the writing. And I have missed hanging out with the FMF community on Thursday nights. Life got in the way. 

As fall arrives this year, and I think about what 2019 has brought so far, it's brought a lot of new connections, but also a reminder that there are some old connections I have been missing more than I realized.  So thanks, Kate, for this chance to oil the rusty joints and reach back out to the FMF fun. Glad to be back.  And glad to see the why can still drive me to action.

31 Days of Five Minute Friday

Dusting off the keys again. And wading into the 31 days writing challenge again.  Not sure how it will go, but maybe it will get me back into a writing groove.  (Maybe I will finish the spring break 2017 posts.... )   We shall see.

Anyway, this year, I am joining Kate and the Five Minute Friday crowd, for 31 days of Five Minute Friday posts.  5 minutes a day - of whatever comes to mind on the topic presented.  This will be the landing page, where all the posts of this exercise can be found.  I've tried it 2 or 3 times before, and I seldom make it past day 10, but I have some energy and motivation this time to try and get to the end. Once I get there, it's wedding day!  (for my brother, not me).  So we can conclude, have a fun weekend and then maybe I will circle back and share the amazingness of welcoming Michelle to our family.

See below for the planned adventure of this month. And come join us on any day you like.  Cheers to a new month of fun with some of my favorite on line writing pals.

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Day 1 - Why
Day 2 - Gift
Day 3 - Problem
Day 4 - Listen
Day 5 - Other
Day 6 - Notice
Day 7 - Same
Day 8 - Gather
Day 9 - Join
Day 10 - Scored
Day 11 - Deep
Day 12 - First
Day 13 - Reach
Day 14 - Voice
Day 15 - Open
Day 16 - Avoid
Day 17 - Consistent
Day 18 - Active
Day 19 - Strong
Day 20 - Tell
Day 21 - Person
Day 22 - Sense
Day 23 - Need
Day 24 - Different
Day 25 - Wait
Day 26 - Accept
Day 27 - Better
Day 28 - Rest
Day 29 - Practice
Day 30 - Memory
Day 31 - Enjoy

Day 6: YOU

(posting late. Playing catch up tonight).

Dear friends,
YOU are such an integral part of my life. You who love me through hard days and you who hug me when I think I might fall apart. You who laugh with me when things are silly ... or ridiculous. You who love on my kids and welcome them into your hearts. You who call me when I never remember to call you first. You who reach out when you think I've been quiet too long. You who defend me when you think someone is doing something to me that shouldn't be done. You who watch games with me, or movies with me, or do puzzles with me. You who take me out for moms' night out and you who take the kids to give me a mom's night out. You who stop and pray for me and you who ask how you can pray and you who pray for me without even knowing what to pray for. You who send letters and emails and postcards and books. You who make time even when you don't have extra time to give. You who road trip and bus trip and train trip to celebrate events big or small. You who support charity walks and runs year after year. Some of you support with your checkbook and some of you support with your tweets and all of you support with your encouraging words and your hearts and I am thankful for each and every one of you.

I speak often of how it takes a village to raise a kid (or two) but it also takes a village to support a grown up, and I am thankful to have each of you in that village with me.  My world is a better place because of you.

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This post is a part of 31 Days of Five Minute Fridays. You can see all posts in the series here. 

Day 5: SILENCE

I watched an entire baseball game trying to decide what to post tonight. It was a ridiculous (in the best way) game. Pitchers' duel in a winner take all wild card game. (San Francisco Giants v New York Mets for you non baseball friends) The ballpark was rocking. All night long. Loud and rowdy. Cheering non stop. Much to cheer about (if you like low ... er zero ... scoring games).  And then ... top of the 9th ... Familia comes in for the Mets. I won't give you the play by play because lots of terrific baseball writers will give you that. But a couple of guys get on base for San Francisco. and then ... Conor Gillaspie (who? exactly). HOME RUN. And then ... crickets.  The ballpark that had been so loud it felt like I could hear it out my window (NYC to DC) ... deathly silent. All the air sucked out of everyone's lungs. Sure, there were still 3 outs for NY to get their chance to come back. But every Mets fan in that ballpark felt the win slip away. Their star pitcher matched the pitcher from SF for so many innings. Their bullpen was holding them even. Zeroes in the run column for both teams.  And then a series of (unfortunate events). And one pitch. And WHAM.

New York Mets: into the off season. Silent until Spring Training.  As for me, and my girls: we have baseball on Friday! Let's go Nats.


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This post is a part of the series 31 Days of Five Minute Fridays. You can find all the other posts in the series here.

Day 4:BREW

Sometimes people confess things in blog posts. This is not a giant secret, but it's a fact about me: I don't like coffee. Coffee ice cream? YES.  That is ICE CREAM. But coffee?  Ick. I am 40 and I've had one cup in my life (at my college reunion a few years ago to try it out) and it was bitter and gross even with a hundred sugars and a gallon of milk.  So . No coffee for me.

But - I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee. It reminds me of home. My daddy drinks a million (plus or minus) cups of coffee a day. (Sorry dad, I know it isn't that high any more but ... still seems like that). I have a coffee maker that I only take out when dad comes to visit - and then my house smells like fresh coffee in the morning and it lingers all day and I love it. If it weren't so wasteful, I'd consider brewing some on days when dad isn't here - I like the smell that much.

Maybe I need to learn how to make my own coffee ice cream. Then I could have the best of both worlds ... and that might tide me over until dad's next visit.

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This post is a part of 31 Days of Five Minute Friday. You can see all the other posts in the series here.

Day 3: WARDROBE

Wardrobe can be another word for closet, yes? yes. let's roll with that. I suppose it's more properly described as a free standing closet. Closets are good for hiding things - besides clothes, you can tuck all sorts of things in a closet. Shoes. Craft projects. Laundry baskets. Suitcases. Christmas and birthday surprises. Some fun things, and some boring, but necessary things.

Ever consider using a wardrobe as an analogy for your heart? Lots of things can get hidden in your heart, too. Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Joy. Love. Kindness.

You open a wardrobe and pick out what to wear - and if you're like me (or especially like my kids) you choose your favorite things more often than the other things. The pants that fit just right or the shirt that makes you smile. The comfortable things or the ones that make your day better.

If you think of your heart the same way, when you open your heart every day, what do you choose to wear? What emotions fit "just right" or feel comfortable like an old  friend? The more you wear them, the better they fit, and the more you are drawn back to those as your first, easy pick.

My goal is to have kindness and joy and love as the first ones I go to. The ones that beckon each time I look inside. Some days it's hard and I need a little reminder to go back inside and get the good ones out. But every day I do, it makes them easier to pull out the next morning, too.

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This post is a part of Write 31 days. You can find all the posts in the series here.

Day 2: PAINT

We met at Nationals Park last night for a baseball game and then a special project. One of the player's wives is a dedicated ambassador in the effort to end human trafficking and human slavery. Last night the two efforts intersected with a chance for us to "paint" the sidewalk outside Nationals Park red as a part of the Red Sand Project.

I'd estimate about 30 people gathered after the game (maybe more!) and spread the sand in the cracks of the sidewalk. It was overwhelming to think about the people that are taken advantage of every day. Several people who weren't filling cracks with us asked what we were doing. It gave an opportunity to share the mission of the "sidewalk intervention" (there were post cards that we were able to hand out for informational purposes) and others stopped and asked to participate.

Spreading the word about @RedSandProject with @Half_St_Irr . #EndHumanTrafficking #RedSandProject pic.twitter.com/yOrPRBvQDx

— Jen Underwood (@vandygirl1998) October 1, 2016

It was cool to go back to the park today - to see the sand and the hashtags we printed (sidewalk chalk) still there - and to see more people stopping to look and ask questions. We are often reminded that one person makes a difference. One person doing one small thing. Together we can do more. I am thankful for the opportunity to know some good hearted people through baseball, and to use that community to spread the word about other communities that need our help.

See some images / tweets from our experience below.

@emaysway @Half_St_Irr #RedSandProject #stophumantrafficking #EotRSB3 pic.twitter.com/59aHk5pljh

— p.a.m. (@wvtoots) October 2, 2016

Thanks everyone who participated in #RedSandProject tonight. We cannot ignore our most overlooked populations any longer! #EndModernSlavery pic.twitter.com/z3mnQj7qEH

— Erica May-Scherzer (@emaysway) October 2, 2016

Outside Nats Park spreading red sand ... raising awareness to end human trafficking. @redsandproject @emaysway pic.twitter.com/4Fv47aAzU5

— MaryB (@maryb889) October 1, 2016

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This post is a part of 31 days of Five Minute Fridays. Other posts in the series are here.

Day 1: WALK

We are fortunate to live close enough to my daughters' schools that we can walk to school most days. When they were both in elementary school, all 3 of us walked in the mornings and I listened to the girls each tell me what they were excited for that day and who they would see every morning. A (the little) was  always thinking which of S (the big)'s teachers she would hug. They shared stories and talked about which specials (PE, art, music, etc) they would have that day. Inevitably whichever kid had library was more excited than the other. (I love that they love the library. ALL THE BOOKS.)

This year S is in middle school. School starts later for her, so now the routine is that I walk with A and then home, get S and then walk with her. The conversations in the morning have changed. Still as enlightening for me, but in such a different way. Now that A is not chatting up a storm with big sister, she observes so much more of the surroundings as we walk. Yesterday we noted the "weird" things we saw on the walk - things that did not belong on the sidewalk. A pony tail holder. A splotch of paint.  17 slugs and countless worms "It is WET. So much rain Mama!" We still talk about teachers and specials but we now notice things that we used to just skip past. 

When I get home and collect S and head out the door, I have a whole different conversation. Middle school has been a bit of a tough transition. Now I hear about friends (some new, some old). Thursday I learned about the "end of day routine" - how long it takes to get to her locker, collect her books "ALLLLLL the homework, mom ... sigh" and who she makes sure to visit with before she begins the walk home. Who she walks home with. 

I have come to cherish the walk times because the peek into their worlds on the walk is different than when we are at home. I think in general, conversations are less intense when walking than when sitting at the table or confined to the house. The 1:1 is intimidating sometimes. All that pressure and focus is divided when you walk and talk at the same time, and it's been amazing what they've shared in their mommy-alone time.  Here's hoping we have more dry days than wet so the walks can continue all year long.

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This post is a part of 31 Days of Five Minute Fridays. You can see all posts in the series here. 

31 Days of Five Minute Fridays

There's a group of bloggers that write in October every single day. (Write 31 days). And often those writers do a theme for their posts. I learn lots of amazing things from them and I love the commitment to writing. I'm not great at long themed posts - I barely crank out 5 minutes a week most weeks.

Then the Five Minute Friday community thought that maybe a whole month of Five Minute Fridays would be fun. I tried that 2 years ago and wound up sidetracked part way through, but the attempt was fun. So I am going to try again this year.

Welcome to 31 Days of Five  Minute Fridays.   This is the home/ landing page for mine and every day that I managed to write, I will link the post to the word below. 

You can read all the people participating and get more details by going to our host page (thanks Christina!)

Day 1: WALK

Day 2: PAINT

Day 3: WARDROBE

Day 4: BREW

Day 5: SILENCE

Day 6: YOU

Day 7: FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY PROMPT

Day 8: MUDDLE

Day 9: POST-IT

Day 10: UNKNOWN

Day 11: THANKS

Day 12: SKY

Day 13: AWARE

Day 14: FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY PROMPT

Day 15: MOVE

Day 16: LITTLE

Day 17: STUDY

Day 18: NEIGHBOR

Day 19: NOTICE

Day 20: WEEKEND

Day 21: FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY PROMPT

Day 22: OFF

Day 23: BLOWOUT

Day 24: GLOBAL

Day 25: SIGN

Day 26: CONFRONT

Day 27: BOUQUET

Day 28: FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY PROMPT

Day 29: DATE

Day 30: CUT

Day 31: ONLY