One Day At A Time

Image by Ava Lowery via FlickrIt's been a month now and it's still hard. So many emotions to deal with on any given day. Trying to answer Ashley's questions can be difficult. Then there is missing Tris and dealing with the fact he often doesn't want to talk to me. And finally there is the overwhelming feeling of loss. I swear the death of a marriage is like a real death. I'm grieving. When someone you love dies, you don't just stop loving them. It's the same with this. Sometimes I am strong and can handle everything with ease. Then the insomnia comes and I'm up for 70+ hours and get emotional. Anger, sadness, loss, it's all a jumbled mess. I'm still taking it one day at a time. There are great days and there are rotten ones. Fortunately the rotten ones are getting to be not as often.

Today was a rotten one. Then my grandmother stopped by. All it took was a hug and I felt a little better. There are people who love me. It helps to be reminded of that sometimes.

Thanks to all of you who keep the kids and I in your prayers. It means the world to me. Ash and I are making it, one day at a time.

Autumn Colors

The Way We Were

Cover of The Way We Were (Special Edition)My Mom got me hooked on classic films from a very early age. I laughed with Tracy & Hepburn, fought the bad guys with the Duke, and cried with Deborah Kerr. I have always found classic films comforting. They are so different than modern movies. Now, Ash and I can curl up on a Saturday afternoon with Maureen O'Hara and lose ourselves for a few hours.

Lately my insomnia has come back with a vengeance. I've not slept in over 48 hours at this point. My body is exhausted, but my mind just won't stop. So, I popped in a movie. Why I chose The Way We Were is beyond me. I couldn't watch it without crying the first time I saw it. Considering my lack of sleep and the life altering events of the past few months, this was a recipe for disaster. So, I sit her sobbing into my tissue to write this post. This is an amazing movie and if you've not seen it, do so. Quickly! Just keep a hankie handy.

What's your go-to classic flick?

Music Monday - A song that makes you laugh

There are a lot of great songs that bring a smile to my face, but when I need a laugh or to get out of a funk, Mamma Mia goes into the DVD player. The movie is full of great music that always gets me singing along. But the end credits are what get me giggling hardcore. Pierce Brosnan in that outfit is partially to blame.

The World Is A Scary Place

There is a prowler/rapist roaming the stretch of highway we live on. I've heard several terrifying stories and it has everyone on alert. Depending on what you read or who you talk to, it may be one man, it may be three. Rumor has it he is now prowling the college campus where a dear friend attends. I am very concerned about this and will not rest easy until this guy is off the streets. No matter what, it has our household being extra cautious. The world can be a scary place.

When I was Ashley's age I took self defense courses. Thankfully I remember quite a bit of it. We've been talking a lot about being extra cautious, being aware of your surroundings, that kind of thing. Think stranger danger times 10. I don't want her imagination scaring her unnecessarily, but I don't want to sugarcoat it either. It's one of those times as I parent where I feel I'm walking a fine line.

I've read a lot online about basic precautions and self defense tips. It never hurts to brush up, right? Articles such as this offer practical, common sense tips that could make a difference if you were ever attacked. What is your best piece of advice for keeping yourself safe? How would you discuss this issue with your kids?

College Football - Ten Best College Rivalries

It's college football time! *insert incredibly overzealous fan yell here* I LOVE college ball! In fact the highlight of my weekend was the Aggies stomping SMU. Anyway, today I bring you an article by Brandon Farestad-Rittel on the 10 best college rivalries. Enjoy! 
 
Brandon Farestad-Rittel is a college-savings expert for Kinoli Inc. Based on his own college experiences and extensive research, this recent graduate has covered a variety of topics, including the college selection process, for-profit colleges, and the modern era of textbooks.
 
Ohio State vs. Michigan
I might as well start off with a rivalry that has become so famous it's simply called, "The Game." The two teams have been meeting since 1897, so it's understandable a little hostility has built up. In fact, The Ohio State University website has a whole page dedicated to Beat Michigan Week. Though Michigan has fallen on tough times, electrifying quarterback Denard Robinson provides hope the Wolverines can snap their seven-year losing streak.
2011 Game day: November 26

USC vs Notre Dame
Notre Dame and University of Southern California are some of the biggest names in college football, but NCAA penalties and rebuilding years have brought both teams back down to earth. Even so, there's still a lot of excitement when the two teams battle over the Jeweled Shillelagh trophy. If you're a football fan, you probably remember the 2005 "Bush Push" play where USC quarterback Matt Leinart barely sneaks into the end zone with a little help from Reggie Bush. Since then, this game has become a favorite of college football fans in general.
2011 Game day: October 22

Alabama vs. Auburn
When you're talking about the biggest rivalry in college football, the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn is always near the top of the list. Though the game has been played since 1893, there has only been one tie. In recent years, fans have made headlines for their over-the-top antics. An Alabaman Crimson Tide fan will soon face felony charges for allegedly poisoning a pair of oak trees on the Auburn campus. While I think that's crossing the line, it's hard to not be a fan of all the funny T-shirts this rivalry produces. If you think you can come up with something better, you can always find free shipping offers on FreeShipping.org to sites like VistaPrint and Zazzle, and make your own T-shirt.
2011 Game day: November 26

Oklahoma vs. Texas
Played more than 100 times, the Red River Rivalry often has implications for the Bowl Championship Series National Championship. In 2005, the name was changed from "Red River Shootout" to "Red River Rivalry" to alleviate concerns about promoting gun violence. Currently, Texas has the edge with 18 more wins than Oklahoma in the game's 110-year history. Don't expect to see fans of either team crossing the aisle for a congratulatory handshake any time soon. The division between sides is quite clear.
2011 Game day: October 8

Indiana vs. Purdue
Football, basketball, baseball...it really doesn't matter; Indiana and Purdue are rivals in just about anything. Sure, Purdue has put more men on the moon, but Bob Knight is one of the greatest basketball coaches in history. The arguments can go on and on. When it comes to both football and basketball, Purdue has a solid lead in victories. However, Indiana does have five men's NCAA Tournament Championships in basketball to Purdue's zero.
2011 Game day: November 26

Army vs. Navy
This year will mark the 112th meeting of these institutions and there's a strong argument that Army vs. Navy is the best college football rivalry around. While neither is an athletic powerhouse, bragging rights are on the line for all the servicemen and women the teams represent. It's an especially emotional match-up for graduating seniors. Since very few go on to play in the NFL, it's often the last game they'll play so everything gets left on the field.
2011 Game day: December 10

North Carolina vs. Duke
Even though this is a football-centric list, there's no way to ignore this legendary hoops rivalry. While the two schools annually meet on the gridiron, fanfare for the game is generally lacking. Duke hasn't had a ranked team since 1994 and North Carolina has recently been plagued by scandal. Really, all of the good stuff goes down on the hardwood. At Duke, students camp out for tickets in the "Krzyzewskiville" tent city up to two weeks before the big game. School officials have even installed wi-fi and ethernet ports to help students stay on top of school work.
2011 Football Game day: November 26
2012 Basketball Game days: February 8, March 3

BYU vs. Utah
It's pretty tough to leave any rivalry known as "The Holy War" off the list. This one is about more than winning a football game though. Fans also see it as clash of lifestyles and values, as Utah is a public university and Brigham Young is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even though both teams have left the Mountain West Conference, they have an agreement to continue the game for at least 10 years.
2011 Game day: September 17

Florida vs. Georgia
If you've never attended the "Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" you might want to brush up on some tailgating tips before you go. However, the "Cocktail Party" aspect of the name has been downplayed by both universities to discourage alcohol consumption. In my opinion, the official name, "Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic," is seriously boring. At least the game itself is usually exciting. Overall, Georgia has more wins (six or seven, depending on which side you talk to), but Florida has dominated the last two decades.
2011 Game day: October 29

Lafayette vs. Lehigh
You don't see a ton of marquee match-ups coming out of the Patriot League, but I can't have a complete list without including the game known only as "The Rivalry." It's the most played match-up in college football history and the 2011 game will make a total of 147 showdowns. Since the schools are located less than 20 miles apart, it's no surprise this one continues to go strong.
2011 Game day: November 19

Music Monday - Happy Labor Day