Support Youth Hockey 4
Communities
Syndicate
So My Little Girl Wants to Move Out
So My Little Girl Wants to Move Out
Yup, another one of those discussions. My 21 year old daughter just began working full time and has decided that she will move out of the house in September. This was just the latest in the many episodes (term used due to her drama) of her quest for independence.
I have no problem with her moving out, getting her own apartment, and being financially independent. In fact, I can’t wait for the day because I can sure use the reduction in my bills. But getting her to understand ...<< MORE >>
Caring for Mom, One Corded Phone at a Time
Caring for Mom, One Corded Phone at a Time
My mother (72) recently decided to move in with her boyfriend (76). Hey, they’re adults, both are financially independent, and there is no risk of her getting pregnant. I say…let them live their life. Mom will be keeping the condo so her family and guests will have a place to stay when visiting Tampa, but they will just not be spending as much time there as they both used to.
In an effort to reduce their expenses, she wanted to review with me the list ...<< MORE >>
Fundraising for the New Season
Fundraising for the New Season
This is my second in what will be a series of articles relating to the fundraising efforts and exploits (and hopefully success) of my son's travel hockey team. We just had our first brainstorming meeting and will start to formulate a plan for the coming 2008-2009 season.
After reading some of the ideas, and my responses, brainstorming may not be the right description for the meeting. In attendance were the coaches, team managers, and a half dozen or so of the returning hockey players. The players on the team range ...<< MORE >>
Heard While Learning to Drive
Heard While Learning to Drive
My teenage son and I just got back from a gut wrenching driving session. He is learning to drive and one of the ways he gets his wheel time in is by chauffeuring me around during the Saturday morning errand run. Things would be a lot easier if he would just learn to keep his hands on the wheel correctly and keep his mouth shut. Read on and see what I mean.
Son: Wow, first yellow light I went through.
Me: What’s the speed limit?
Son: ...<< MORE >>
The LOOK and the FINGER
The LOOK and the FINGER
For another chapter in the ongoing saga of “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from The Tree”, I was treated to an argument between my two kids. I really do not know what they were going at each other, about and it really doesn’t matter, after all, they’re siblings.
Instead of listening to their crap, I was more intent on watching their antics as they argued. My son had his mad “look” going and my daughter was making good use of her “pointing” finger. The other finger came later and was ...<< MORE >>
One Roll at a Time
One Roll at a Time
It was a nice quiet morning,
All through the house,
With neither the dog nor cat stirring,
And no one else about.
So I rise off my chair,
To get a second cup,
When the urge to go comes upon me,
And off to the nearest bathroom I strut.
Yeah, that’s right; the so-called poem ends with no toilet paper. My son’s bathroom is empty once again.
Flashback: I grew up in a small house, six people, one bathroom. My mother did all the shopping and the one ...<< MORE >>
Look What the Dog Found
Look What the Dog Found
I was sitting in the backyard, taking my time with a beer and cigar, enjoying the nice Spring day, when I noticed the dog rummaging through one of the plant beds. Realizing that he was looking for something, and knowing that cleaning the beds was on my honey-do list, I knew that my time-out was over.
So off to the garage I go to gather the necessary tools and lawn bags (yes…recyclable bags) for my afternoon project. Of course there is absolutely no one to help me but the dog ...<< MORE >>
All I Wanted was a Pair of Jeans
All I Wanted was a Pair of Jeans
The Old Jeans
Old, faded, worn out, holes in the pockets, holes in the knees, holes in the butt, drooping, frayed at the bottom, frayed around the pockets, refuse to shrink, always stretch, hanging low, boxers showing.
The Owner
Me (and you thought it was my teenage son).
Off to the Mall
After my better half hit me with the "you need a new jeans and I will not be seen with you wearing that old crap anymore", it was off to the mall I went. I knew it was time to retire ...<< MORE >>
Kids Get Timeouts - Why Can't I ?
Kids Get Timeouts – Why Can’t I ?
Last night I was sitting at the ice rink, at yet another hockey practice, trying to get some work done. There was a flock of little kids running around the viewing area while their older siblings
were skating on the other rink. One 4 year old was getting a bit too boisterous and his mother sent him to sit in the corner for a “timeout”.
Watching him sit there, all alone, no body ...
Household Repair Correlation
Household Repair Correlation
Over the past several weeks I have had to do several household repairs. I have always been pretty handy around the house and pride myself on being able to save a few bucks by fixing something myself. I learned by watching and helping my father, and in turn, require my son to work with me when playing Mr. Fix-It around the house. Some repairs are easy, some hard, and the worst ones are the I-can’t-seem-to-figure-out-what-the-problem-is repairs.
What I noticed while doing the repairs was that there is a correlation between ease, cost, and ...<< MORE >>
The New Referee - Lessons Learned
The New Referee
The reality of having money, usually met by earning money, and the need to be employed finally hit my youngest kid (teen). Being the second child, and having witnessed the many money/work speeches that his sister received, the “light” went on (thankfully it was a bright bulb) and he started to ask me about getting a job. I agreed that he could work but it had to fit his school, church, and hockey schedule.
He learned that his available working hours are restricted by the school day and playing on two ice hockey ...<< MORE >>
Win Free Dunkin' Donuts Coffee for a Year
Win Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee for a Year
On my way to yet another hockey practice, I took a slight detour and went by the new Dunkin’ Donuts for a large regular and a two Boston Kremes. So sitting here and enjoying
my after dinner delight, I decided to go to DD’s website and look around. In my never ending quest to promote Dunkin’ Donuts and hopefully have the Dallas franchisees open stores faster, here
are their some things I found while surfing.
They have expanded the list of offerings since ...
I Only Hit it a Little Bit
I Only Hit it a Little Bit
Cars are bigger, parking spaces are smaller, cars are closer together, which just means we should be more attentive when pulling in and out of parking spaces and opening and closing car doors. But it’s simply amazing how many people just don’t give a damn when they hit your car in a parking lot.
This latest event occurred about an hour before I wrote this rant…errr article…when I stopped at the drug store to get aspirin for a headache that is now worse. I was with ...
<< MORE >>7 Reasons My Mother-in-Law Should Not Visit
7 Reasons My Mother-in-Law Should Not Visit
Sitting at home, watching some TV, and just about to doze off, the phone rings, my wife answers, her face gets sullen. She goes into the bedroom to talk in private.
Fifteen minutes later, the bedroom door opens and my wife emerges. Pale and hunched over with a sad look on her face, I ask my wife if someone died. She takes a deep breath and then she utters the
worst words I could ever hear…your mother-in-law is coming for a visit.
Here are 7 reasons why ...
Dallas Red-Light Camera Dilemma
Dallas Red-Light Camera Dilemma
Safety or Revenue. Maybe I just don’t understand city politics. According to Dallas City Hall, drivers are not breaking the law enough and it is hurting the city
economically. The red-light camera program has been so successful in getting drivers to obey the law, that the city’s projected revenue from violators will be more than $4.0 million under
plan.
QUICK RECAP:
Drivers are running red lights.
Drivers are breaking the law.
Red-light lawbreakers are utilizing too many city resources.
Install red-light cameras.
Police do not have to monitor intersections.
Police have more time for real ...
All I Wanted was an Anniversary Card
All I Wanted Was an Anniversary Card
Not a daunting task you say…well have I got news for you. All I wanted was one serious and one funny card so I recently spent my entire lunch break at the store trying
to pick the right cards. Though there was huge selections to chose from, finding the right card with the perfect words is nearly impossible.
To start off, here are some lessons I learned early on in our marriage regarding card buying that usually help me in the selection process:
1. Always give ...
My Teenage Son's First Drunk
My Teenage Son's First Drunk
This is an account of the events and repercussions of my teenage son’s first experience getting drunk. The names have been changed to
protect the guilty teenage drinkers. Many of the parts written below will sound familiar since we have all been there, done that. The main point though, is in the
Parent Talk section and making sure that teenagers see the long lasting effects of their actions on both themselves and others, nothing they do is "new",
and that they will get caught.
20+ Questions To See If Youth Hockey Has Taken Over Your Life
20+ Questions To See If Youth Hockey Taken Over Your Life?
Below is a list of 78 questions to ask yourself, or others, in order to find out if youth hockey has taken over your life and if you are way, way too involved. See how many you can answer “yes”. If it is more than half, you have problems. Welcome to the club. The list is compiled
from several emails and postings I have collected over the years and is by no means all inclusive.
If you would like ...
Another Driver to Be
Another Driver to Be
My son is about to get his Learners Permit and I know its time to relive the ups and downs of teaching your kid to drive. In Texas, you can get your drivers license on
your 16th birthday, or later, as long as: you have your learners permit at least 6 months and complete a State approved driver education course. You can be parent taught or take a commercial program.
For more detailed information you can go to the Texas Department of Public
Safety web site.
First…a little history ...
All I Wanted was Shampoo
All I Wanted was Shampoo
A few days ago, All I wanted was to take a shower and wash my hair. Not a daunting task for a 40+ year old. Finding no shampoo in my shower, I went scavenging
through the other bathrooms in the house. Looked in the showers, looked under the sinks, looked in the cupboard, looked all over for "shampoo". I found all types of
containers that contained the word "shampoo", but ended up settling for the old soap trick.
You have to understand that I am ...