Homecoming 2010

This week has been busy and tiring due to all the activities of Homecoming!

I guess it really began a few weeks ago when Kyle met a Varsity cheerleader named Marina and asked her to go to Homecoming with him. At first it was just a date and then it quickly became a girlfriend/boyfriend situation. This now meant I had to purchase a mum for him to give her and I decided to go with a "real" mum like I had when I went. These days everyone does the silk mum and I wanted Marina to have something different. So, I ordered it a couple of weeks ago and picked out all the ribbons and trinkets that go on it.

The Homecoming game against Red Oak was going to be an exciting one especially since the Pirates were now 3-0 after having at least three prior losing years. The new coach, Randy Jackson, has really brought this team into a new rhythm and made use of the talent that has been here all along. The unfortunate thing is that Kyle has been sidelined with a broken foot since the beginning of school and is dying to get in there and kick some ass too!

I got to meet Marina's family and am thrilled to say we all get along so well and seem to have a lot in common. Her mother and I love to talk and she even works for a company I deliver Panera to. Marina has three younger siblings that are adorable and love Kyle. The two boys play football too, so they really look up to him and think he's "cool"! He's been spending a lot of time going to their games and hanging out with them. They are a fun family so I understand why! Kyle and I went to their house to see the viewing of Marina's dress for the dance and ended up staying a couple of hours just talking!

Homecoming festivities began Thursday night with the "team dinner" then a quick trip to Marina's grandparents for the exchange of mums (hers ended up being a silk one because there was a problem with the mum crop this year) and pictures, Friday morning was the pep rally which was a lot of fun for everyone. I'm not certain there was much school work happening that day. The game was last night and man was it intense. At half-time we were losing 0-14 but the boys came back and ended up tying the game with 30 seconds left on the clock. Those boys were fighting for every yard and did it. Then in over-time Red Oak scored the first touch down but missed the field goal so then it was Poteet's turn. BANG, the touch down was made by a pass to Justin Valasquez (Homecoming King) and Stewert MacDonnell made the field goal making the score 21-20 Pirates! The entire stadium was on their feet practically the entire last quarter and when we won everyone erupted in cheers and some of us were in tears! It was so COOL especially to see some returning graduates so happy for the team. I ended up going up to the school after the game to continue congratulating the guys and when I arrived there were a slew of kids waiting too with their car stereo playing music and dancing so guess who got into the groove too? MEEE!!! Everyone's adrenaline was flowing and they all thought I was a cool mom! No one ended up going to sleep until early in the morning. Kyle had to be up early to be at workouts this morning and when he came home looked totally spent. We were still talking about the game and Kyle told me that Coach tells the boys to play each game as a dedication to someone and said that Rodney told him after the game that he dedicated the game last night to him because he knew that if there was anyone that wanted to be out there playing more than anyone, it was him. I almost cried thinking how wonderful and selfless that was to do for Kyle. Kyle is so lucky to have such a special group of friends! After relaxing for several hours it was time to iron Kyle's clothes for the dance and get myself dressed to help out with getting the kids into the dance. I left before Kyle so I didn't get to see him all dressed up but he and Marina went to her grandparent’s house for pictures and then made their arrival to the dance and were a sight to behold. I got to see all my sweet kids dressed up and enjoyed telling all of them how good they looked. I left at 9 and then went to Anna's for a bite to eat and a drink and am now home feeling exhausted waiting for Kyle to get home to ask how the night went!

Tomorrow should be a lazy day!

Grocery Shopping

This may sound ridiculous, but I enjoy my trips to the grocery store! I get in my own little world, do some people watching and am by myself. So, today while I was shopping I asked myself this question, "Why do entire families have to go to the store at the same time?”

Of course, I decided to venture out to Wal-Mart, the busiest damn store of all and it was crowded and the lines at the register were about a 20 minute wait. I usually go to my local Kroger where the employees are friendly and know me and I've found that the prices are slightly lower but for some reason the urge to roam a huge, get it all in one stop store, took over my, what is usually sensible, brain! It happened to me the other day too while driving through Seagoville on the way back to work after a delivery.

While in the Seagoville store (yes, Wal-Mart too) I observed a wide variety of people and noticed that most of them had teeth missing. I am not one to judge, but just wondered why so many people could walk around in public with missing teeth, especially in the front where they could be seen. I understand the state the economy is in and some people may be strapped for money to see a dentist, but for God's sake, put down the cases of beer and cigarettes and save that money for a tooth!

Now, back to today’s little adventure. I learned a long time ago that it is best to do my grocery shopping by myself because if I left it up to my husband he would buy the super large quantity items and if there is a sale on something, he'd buy as many as he could get. Yea, that makes sense if you have the room to store it plus there are only 3 of us in our house and it’s just not logical, to me that is. So, here I am maneuvering up and down the isles which are jammed with carts and entire households mulling over items, children running around your legs and climbing in and out of the baskets, parents thinking it's cute to let their kids push the basket, cranky seniors in motorized carts that can't drive, cranky, screaming kids that just want to be at home watching Barney and then to top it all off, the women with their huge notebook or box of coupons strategizing in the isle how they're going to save a buck! Oh, I forgot about the crazy guy, who I suspect had Turrets Syndrome, yelling obscenities throughout the store (always a great scene for the kiddos)!

Good grief, leave the kids at home with dad, cut and organize your coupons at home and learn to drive your cart! Do you realize how much easier shopping could be if this could happen? Wow, shopping would be a relaxing adventure for everyone. For me, it's a comedy in the making and I see humor up every isle!

This is just my opinion and when I got home I asked John why entire families had to go shopping together and he said, "Because they love each other". What? Let's see what happens next time I need to go and ask him and Kyle to come with me! Do you know how much more money I'll spend with the two of them at my heels?

Since I've been discussing the grocery store, here's a healthy recipe for you to try.

Veggies On Top
by Christine Spangler Bilas

1/4 cup Olive Oil
3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
1 Lemon (juice)
Salt
Pepper
1 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
½ Red Onion
2 Carrots
5 Mushrooms
½ Broccoli head
1 Bell Pepper
¼ cup Red Wine
Parsley (handful, chopped)
4 cups Rice (prepared)

Slice all vegetables into nice big pieces and place all in a bowl. Add garlic, lemon, salt and pepper to taste and toss. Set aside.

Heat skillet with olive oil on medium and when pan and oil is hot place all the vegetables in skillet. After 5 minutes add wine and continue to sauté until vegetables are golden and soft yet still crunchy, about 10-15 minutes.

While vegetables are sautéing toss parsley in rice and distribute on 3 serving plates. Once veggies are done, remove from skillet and place on top of rice. Serves 3

You can also serve this dish with steak, chicken, pork or shrimp. Just prepare separately and then add to each plate.