When (Five Minute Friday)

WHEN

It’s been coming all winter. The kids ask nearly every day. “Mama. WHEN will we get baseball again?” They ask daily. I think about it more than that. And as I write this today, I can finally answer the question with the best answer. TODAY, my little darlings! TODAY pitchers and catchers report. And we can stop counting down to when is baseball?  And now we can start counting to opening day. (46 days).

For me, the when even started last week. Vanderbilt started their quest for a repeat National Championship. With a new (to me) mobile app  that allows me to listen to all the games online. For free. YIPPEE! Happy Jen.  Baseball is back and my world is a better place.

Today I sit inside while it is single digit temperatures (winter, you may finish now. Baseball is here and that means SPRING). And I follow all the news – the little stories (lizards in shoes and new moustaches) and the big stories (our starting rotation!) – and no longer have to ask when.  WHEN has arrived.

Linking with Kate and the Five Minute Friday Crowd. Come write with us!

Keep (Five Minute Friday)

I hope this even posts. Blogging on an iPad is a challenge. But need to get some words out. Because I love the word keep. The first thing I always think,of when I hear the word keep is my dad.

My maiden name is Kamin (pronounced like the Cayman Islands). Dad used to be an elected official. And after the first campaign he won, every election after that the slogan was "Keep Kamin". Pretty catchy, very simple. Great on yard signs. In fact a friend in high school used to call me "Keep" as a fun nickname.

A few years ago my mom & dad's house flooded in Hurricane Irene. We had to clean out everything. One of the treasures we found in the garage was a stack of old campaign signs. My kids were born long after dad's days in elected office were finished. My oldest saw the sign while we were cleaning and said "who's keep?" So we explained. She loved the alliteration. "Mom! The K and the K match! That was smart!"

And now whenever we go visit she remembers. "Mom. Remember when we had that big dumpster in Nana's driveway and we saw Grampy's fun sign? Maybe we could put one in our yard mom"

So, to whomever came up,with the slogan 35 years ago, thank you. Because we're very glad  that we get to Keep Kamin even though his public service has ended.


PS when get access I'll upload a picture of the kids and the sign

Linking with Kate at the Five Minute Friday.

Wait (Five Minute Friday)

I'm really late this week. And I clearly waited too long, as my computer at home crashed and now I am posting this on my lunch break from the library.

But wanted to get this out there before I am a whole week behind.
So, join the friends over at Kate's place. Give us your 5 minutes on wait. And leave a comment for someone else who was brave enough to write about waiting.  (and remember, typos are allowed - just write).


GO.
Wait is my One Word 365 this year. And I was hoping that it would not really be a stretch word. Even though I *knew* it would be. The word always is. I feel like all I do is wait these days. Waiting for the townhouse to sell (no I am not actually moving - HOORAY!). Waiting for paperwork for taxes. Waiting to replace things that need fixing - waiting for answers to tough questions. Waiting for plans to be approved and travel dates to fall into place.

And yet, in the waiting, I am learning a lot. Learning to sit. Read with the girls in the time I have rather than waiting for the end of the evening when they are in bed and I can relax. Waiting for baseball season to start (14 days until pitchers and catchers ... HOORAY) but in the gap, the girls and I have had a chance to talk about some stuff and try some new things.

Waiting to see where some relationships go - but for now, finding comfort in the way things are; enjoying the time we have. The visits are few and far between, but rather than "just waiting" until the next one, I have some time to think. To pray. To creaaatively work on things and ideas for the next time.

And in the quiet evnings, while the season hasn't started, I have made time to read. I love, love, love reading. And have been known on occasion (or many occasions) to stay up late and finish. But in the offseason while I wait for baseball to fill my evenings, I have been able to read quite a few books. And not stay up all night to do it. And... I discovered that I am no longer waiting for my oldest to be "old enough" to read some of what I am reading. She's there. (HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!).

So our new adventure is Mommy reading a book that I remember, or a new one that looks good - and then putting it on her bed for her to add to her reading pile. The first one is a big hit. She said to me this morning "Mom, I can't wait for our reading time tonight so I can do the next chapter. I'm HOOKED. What comes next?"

STOP.

Share (Five Minute Friday)

Welcome to Friday (on Tuesday). Where we write 5 minutes of whatever pops into our fingers about the prompt (no edits. typos allowed!) , link up with all the lovelies at Kate's place, and then leave a little encouragement for your FMF neighbor. Join us?

SHARE
I didn't really know what to write about when I saw the prompt in the wee hours of Thursday / Friday. So I decided I would come back later. Later turned into Tuesday - but the words came on Saturday. I went to a birthday party with my girls - for the 6 yo's friend. It was a tea party. The moms were "banished" to elsewhere at the house, which was fine with me. And we got to talking about dealing with crazy things with the kids (like head lice - UGH.) Did you know: head lice is a single mom's worst nightmare>! it is. Because while you can check your kids ... WHO is going to check your hair? A super good friend. That you bribe with pizza or dessert. Or your mom. If you can manage to be in the same place as your mom.
All that to say, one of the moms who was there said ... excuse me, did you say you are a single mom?

I confirmed.

SHe asked how long.

me: 6 years.

her: WOW. That is a long time. I am just now entering the world of single motherhood and it is SO HARD. How do you do it? How is it now? Can I ask these things?

I replied. I had the chance to share my journey. How there are ugly dark terrible days, but there are glorious wonderful days. How there are terrible nights of insomnia. How so many years later, the nighs like that are fewer. How there were days where if I managed to get kids into bed and take a shower the same day, THAT was a win. How excited I was when I didn't go through a hole box of Kleenex in a week once the tears slowed.
How so many years later, the Lord - my faith - carried me through the worst. How y friends nearby supported me, and how my family encouraged from afar. Because no one lived close.
How now there are more good days than bad - that there is life in the new reality. not just surviving but thriving. No longer clinging to just make it through the next minute, but eagerly anticipating the new day.
***My timer stopped here. But I want to add this:

This week, with the prompt of share, I am thankful that I was able to share my story - and that it was able to bring a small smile - a tiny bit of encouragement to this woman who is only beginning the process. I by no means think that my divorce happened just so that I could show someone else it CAN be done, but I am thankful that our paths crossed, and that the dreaded head lice discussion happened, to allow an opportunity to make someone's heart a smidgen lighter in the midst of despair.

JOIN THE LINK UP HERE.

Nationals Park Neighborhood Eateries: Kruba Thai and Sushi

Pitchers and Catchers are only 30 days away. Time for our next guest post from Beth - our Nats Park neighborhood resident and food critic.

Kruba Thai and Sushi

3301 Tingey St. SE

Opened: November, 2012

As the second full-service restaurant to open in the neighborhood Kruba was strongly anticipated (people went even before they were serving liquor. we were serious).

I always get a little worried about Kruba, it’s never crowded inside. I think (hope) it’s because they do a robust takeout/delivery business.

I know lots of folks might not think about Thai food and baseball going together but if you’re in the mood for something different or having a hard time finding a seat elsewhere Kruba could be a pretty good option for before or after a game. As I mentioned above, there is almost always room, even for a large party. The decor is striking, full of ornate wood carvings. And the food, especially the curries, is tasty (be warned, if something is labeled spicy, believe it!) and presented beautifully (more on that below. My experience of the service is a little inconsistent, but we’ve always enjoyed our meals.

Go if you’re looking for:

• A place where you can walk in and sit down without a wait
• Sushi or Thai (duh) with a hefty kick
• The opportunity to wow your tablemates with your meal choice. I mean seriously look at this shrimp fried rice in a pineapple! (That’s how they send it to you even for delivery. My photography doesn’t do it justice)

Stop someplace else if:

• You want your cuisine to be as American as your favorite sport
• You’re a craft beer diehard (like most Thai restaurants Kruba has a limited beer menu and focuses more on cocktails)
• You’re starving and on a strict budget. Portions here are a bit small for the price. I would say the quality is worth it, but you’re not going to stuff yourself on the cheap. Unless, you order the shrimp fried rice. That’s enormous.

Send

SEND

Some days I see the Five Minute Friday prompt and I am completely blank. Other days, I have an idea but I mull before posting. This week - I knew right away where to start.

"Send" can be a terrifying word when you are a baseball fan. Especially one with littles who have learned your avid fandom. Wednesday night, the word crossed my screen - first my twitter feed, then my MLB alerts and then eventually my ESPN text alerts. Nationals send Tyler Clippard to the A's for ...

The ... wasn't relevant at first. CLIPPY?! You traded Clippy? I knew it could happen. Baseball is business. That's one (of a million - or more) reason I am not a GM. I just do this baseball thing with my heart. And my kids. As a grown up, you can see business. I don't like it, but I get it. My kiddos? Not so much. At least not at first, and then after that, not without some coaching. Part of parenting - coaching in tough moments.

Some of you may laugh at the scenes that followed, or be in disbelief, but for me, Thursday was a tough, tough morning. My girls LOVE Clippard. His walk out song (Ready or Not) and his delivery on the mound. His smile and his goggles. His attitude with the fans. His willingness to answer questions. His hugs. My kids love hugging ball players. We have his bobblehead and since I announced the trade, that bobblehead has been on our kitchen table so we can see him at breakfast and dinner - and share our fun memories. "Mom! Remember when he was on our calendar?!" "Mom, remember that day I took all those pictures?" It goes on...

The Washington Post Sports Bog caught wind of the thread of parents Wednesday night who were dreading sharing the news. And followed with the "update tweets" on Thursday. And then reached out for a phone interview - to hear what it was like for the kids to say goodbye.

STOP (note - my 5 minutes just expired).


And then they wrote an article. (Thanks, Dan Steinberg!). Published it. MLB Cut4 and Hot Stove picked it up and there were lots of comments and mentions and it's a little odd how social media spreads things. My dad called because he thinks the whole story is cool.  

The girls have recovered from the shock. We have played the song about 5 times in the past 24 hours. They have made farewell cards which are now sitting on the table while I debate the best place to mail them (the Coliseum? He may not be there for weeks! Maybe I wait 34 more days and mail to the A's spring training facility. Where IS the A's spring training facility?). The bobblehead is following us around the house.

The girls have seen the article. Which generated a new discussion: "Mom, why don't they put our REAL ages in there? I am 9 3/4, not 9." "yeah, and I am 6 1/2!" I still don't really know what to say to that. We have started to talk about the "new guy" (Yunel Escobar). How he can play second base - how we have a need there. And then my 9 3/4 year old added "yeah, and in case Desi gets hurt. But that would stink mom, because we need healthy guys so we can win all 162 games."  For the record, even though adults (including me) know a team will never win all 162 games, my girls will not give in on that. It is theoretically possible, even if mathematically extraordinarily improbable, so we continue our countdown to Opening Day with the dream of 162 wins, a team full of guys we love (including the new guy - whom we've not even met), and memories of one of our favorites - as he starts a new chapter across the country. 

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Linking up with Kate and the gang through Five minute Friday.
Link your post here.
Read all about Five Minute Friday here.

Welcome (Five Minute Friday)

Five Minute Friday took a pause over the holidays and now it's back! Here's how it works:
1. write 5 minutes on the word of the week
2. Link up at Kate's place
3. Leave a comment on the post of the person who linked before you

Easy, fun, and encouraging. This week, we write on
WELCOME.

As I write this, there are 37 days to go until pitchers and catchers report. Until baseball is back. It has been a LONG offseason. There's been plenty going on - both within baseball (Padres, A's and lots of other very busy teams. Not really my team.There is still time) and outside of baseball. We did Radio City Music Hall. Holiday celebrations with the family. The Winter Classic. snow days. Library trips. Movies. And I am finally discovering the amazing show "The West Wing". Hooray for Netflix, with no commercials and no season-long interruptions for cliff hanger resolution!

But really, I miss baseball. I have some friends that I see mostly only through baseball. We get together in the offseason some. And a lot of us have jumped on the Wizards bandwagon. But it's not the same as when we are at the park. Or tweeting as we watch an away game from home. I joke that Nats park is my home away from home. Although that's not as much of a joke as some might think. My second family is there. The girls have taken to calling these people our Nats friends. Some have even had their names changed from "Ms. _____" to "Aunt _____".  Every morning the girls get up and ask me how many more days. So together we are counting down until we can say "welcome home" to our team and our friends. Until we can kick the season off with "let's play ball!".

Stop.