Worst Date Ever

Whoa baby am I sick. On Friday, I started feeling "funny." Just not myself. By 7:30 that night, it was the full blown stomach flu. I was sick so bad over night I ended up in the ER Saturday morning for fluids and medicine. Fast foward to today, Tuesday. I'm still having some gastro intestinal issues (ahem) but thankfully no more throwing up. I'd appreciate any healthy vibes and prayers you can send my way. It's AWFUL to be sick, but especially awful with 2 toddlers.

Moving on to the Valentine's Challenge! Today's topic is...worst date ever.




I'm pretty lucky in this area, I don't have many bad dates of which to speak.  The one the stands out the most in my mind though was my senior year of high school. I'd be dating the same guy for 2 years at this point. We were really in to the Lord of the Rings movie and had plans the Friday night it came out for dinner and a late show. We were going to McDonald's quick and then the movie, so the plan was. I was exhausted from a full week of work, dance and school so I was wearing yoga pants, a hoodie and no makeup. No biggie, right?

Except my boyfriend failed to mention to me that we were picking up his best friend and his girlfriend (whom I'd never met) and skipping dinner because it would take too long to drive out to get them and get food. So I'm in the car, ready for some McD's fries and a good movie nd BAM. We pull in to a house I've never seen before and out walks cute girlfriend, in heels and a super cute outfit, hair all done and makeup on.

Oh I was mad.

I ended up getting home around midnight, hungry, cranky and tired.

Wow that's really not that bad. I have this one friend, Pam, who's boyfriend Roy and his brother left her at a high school hockey game when she went to the bathroom. On their first date. (Points if you get the reference...;))

Best Date Ever...Valentine's Challenge

Linking up today with Amber, Neely and Casey for the first day of their Valentine's Challenge!

Today's topic...Best Date Ever.

Crack. Me. Up.

My best date with Dave is so easy. Rory was born in May, 2009 and we went through a rough adjustment phase after that. I think a lot of parents do. It wasn't that our marriage was bad, it was just going through a rough spot. When we finally came out the other end, I rewarded us with a trip to Disney World. Dave had never been and I've been a LOT. (My brother worked there for a few years.) 

While on our trip in February, 2010, we were celebrating our third anniversary. We went for dinner one night at the California Grille on top of the Contemporary Resort. It's a beautiful hotel and a swanky restaurant. MAJ expensive.

Our food was awesome, the drinks were delicious. The staff decorated our table for our anniversary. We laughed, we talked, we people watched. When the sun set, we went out on the roof and watched the fireworks show "Wishes" over the castle in the Magic Kingdom. 

I mean, really? Does it get more romantic? :)

We got lost trying to get back to our hotel, took the wrong monorail, Dave told the bus driver we were staying at a different hotel...but in 7 years of being with Dave, I can't remember laughing and enjoying ourselves so care freely as we did that night. My favorite person, my favorite place. That's about all it takes to make me happy. :)

Boob Tube Babble..or Logan sucks.

I'm linking up with Neely and Ashley today for Boob Tube Babble! Neely wrote a great post today about the Bad Boys of TV she has loved over the years.

BUT.

She is sorely wrong in one area.

Logan Hunsberger is a giant douche bag.

Also, he's fictional.

But that's  beside the point. He's an idiot. (Gilmore Girls, people. Gilmore Girls.)

Here are my top 5 reasons I can't stand Logan.

1. Over the top public proposal. In front of her grandparents. The night before graduation. Fail.

2. Acts like a teenager even after graduating college. Logan, a real man works hard and then has fun not the other way around. He winds up losing tons of his daddy's money. Pathetic.

3. Speaks condescendingly ALL THE TIME.

4. He is shockingly short. AND CHEATS ON RORY MULTIPLE TIMES.

5. His family is obnoxious and awful. If Trace brought home a pretty, sweet, intelligent girl someday, I'd be thrilled. Even if her money is not our type of money.

Oh my goodness. I just wrote a top 5 list about a fictional character. Sweet life. :)

I'm just...sad.

I know some of you think it's weird that I'm sad over the loss of Joe Paterno. I don't care, you don't have to get it. You can think he is a bad person, you can think anything you want. But I'm sad. Actually, I'm heartbroken.

I've seen my husband cry 3 times in seven years. When his grandfather died, our wedding day (which he vehemently denies!) and when he moved to Ohio. Three times. That's it. And our wedding was more of just...moist eyes. The times I've seen him truly SAD, other than those times above, are maybe five times total. A coupe personal things, when the Steelers lost the Super Bowl last year (not kidding) and this. This whole Penn State mess. It's strange to see Dave sad. But he is. Really sad.

And I'm sad too. Kind of like a grey cloud has settled on our shoulders and we're trying to shake it.

Source: etsy.com via Angela on Pinterest

I thought I'd share a great story I read on Facebook today. (The guy who posted it wants it shared!)

I debated whether or not to share this, but as everyone has been sharing their "JoePa stories" lately, I thought it'd be appropriate to share mine.

Despite attending Penn State University Park for 4.5 years, I never had the opportunity to meet JoePa. I heard stories of friends that had - most memorably two friends who, while out riding their bikes, saw him driving home from practice on the eve of the 2005 Ohio State game. They decided to follow him all the way into his garage so that they could shake his hand and wish him luck. Instead of being weirded out (which would have been pretty understandable) he was very gracious and thanked them for the support.

The first weekend in this past December, I was visiting Penn State for a number of different reasons. While I was there, I wanted to show my support for Joe in light of his cancer diagnosis and how he had been mistreated by the University and the press (based on incomplete information and misinformation) in the last month. I decided to leave him a note expressing my support along with a blue & white bouquet of flowers. I felt awkward approaching the Paternos' home. I had heard stories of students and alumni that had walked right up, rung the doorbell, and been welcomed in by Joe and Sue - in some cases, even being fed by Sue - but having never met the Paternos, I didn't have the nerve. I left the note and bouquet on their doorstep and walked away. That was the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 4.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, I received a text from my Mom:

"Does Joe Pa live on McKee St? If so, you got a card from him."

I think my jaw must have dropped about five feet. I was absolutely stunned that Joe and Sue would take the time to send me a card. Later, when I read the card, I was even more humbled by what it contained. Joe and Sue thanked me for the flowers and the note, and said that Joe was drawing strength in his battle with cancer from all the support he had received from Penn Staters. They said that it was "good to be reminded of what we were trying to accomplish at Penn State." They said that after they finished "getting Joe healthy," they would work to remind people of the values that Joe had tried to impart during his time at Penn State. The card was signed, "Very fondly, Joe and Sue Paterno"

But here is the most amazing thing about all of this and what shocks me even to this day: I DIDN'T LEAVE ANY CONTACT INFORMATION WITH MY NOTE. I had signed the note with my name, and mentioned my graduation year, but had been very intentional about not leaving an address, email address, phone number, anything. This means that Sue (I have to think it was her, given Joe's health at the time), despite receiving hundreds of letters from alumni per day, took the time to look me up in the alumni directory (which still contained my parents' address at the time) and send me a card. The Paternos had never met me before; I'm not a huge donor to the school; I'm not someone important who can do anything for them; I'm just another alum. And they went way out of their way to send me a thank you card THE VERY NEXT DAY.

Recently, Penn Staters have been characterized as football-crazed idiots for supporting JoePa despite the allegations made against him in the press. I can tell you that Penn Staters' love for JoePa has almost nothing to do with football. Chris Grovich of Black Shoe Diaries may have put it best when he wrote, "[JoePa] believed in all of us [Penn Staters], whether we knew it or not." Penn Staters are the Paternos' life work and legacy. Joe never missed an opportunity to remind us that success is only valuable when it comes with honor, and that all of us - football players or not - were at college primarily to gain an education, broaden our horizons, and become better people. It is not an overstatement to say that a part of who I am today is directly because of Joe Paterno and his love for Penn State.

Simply put, Joe loved Penn State. That's the only kind of thing that could keep him at Penn State, where he was paid a salary 1/8 the size of other college coaches with half his wins and rejected multimillion dollar offers from NFL teams. That's the only kind of thing that could cause him to donate $100,000 to Penn State a month after the administration fired him over the phone. That's the only kind of thing that could make someone of Joe's stature take the time to send a thank you card to an anonymous alum despite dealing with immense personal trials himself. Joe loved Penn State.

And Penn State loves him back. Thank you, Coach. -Mark Willard

When all is said and done, I hope I can an impact on so many people the way Joe did. Could he have done more? Couldn't we all. 

Raise the song.

Before I begin this post, I just wanted to clear something up. I am not approving of the action or inaction of Joe Paterno in the sexual abuse cases. I'm merely mourning the loss of someone whom I've grown to care for and admire, in a grandfatherly way. You don't have to agree with me, but this is my blog. Please be respectful of my words, my thoughts and the intense connection this family has to Penn State, Penn State Football and the way we are choosing to remember Joe Paterno. Thank you.

Dear Coach Paterno,

You were so much more than the last 4 months of your life. So. Much. More. The money you've donated to PSU is huge. Your contribution to the football team and football program is undeniably large. But your contributions as a man? The good far outweighs the bad. You, Coach, will be remembered, when all is said and done and the facts are known, for the man that you were, not the man people are painting you to be. Your grace under fire was inspiring to me.

I'm proud to call myself a Penn State fan. I'll tell my son, Trace Joseph, about the strong man he was named after. A man who apologized for what he did wrong. A man who stood for something. A man who I would be honored to have grow up to be like.

Thanks, Coach.

"You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional." -Joe Paterno

"Publicity is like poison, it doesn't hurt unless you swallow it." -Joe Paterno

 

"The will to win is important, the will to prepare is vital." -Joe Paterno

"Believe deep down in your heart that you were destined to do great things." -Joe Paterno

Sad days.

Today we mourn the passing of Joseph Vincent Paterno.  I'm blogging from the road, heading home from Philadelphia planning to stop at Penn State. A complete post tomorrow. My heart hurts.

Self Respect.

There's been some scandal in my town over the last few years with high school girls sending around topless photos. These pictures, which these girls took I'm sure assuming only "one boy" would ever see...have basically gone viral each time. I don't know the girls involved, been out of high school for 10 years, don't know the boys and even I received the photos. It's a big deal in a tiny town where very little ever happens. Naked photos. Goodness gracious. How things have changed even since I was in high school! (And not to mention, children. Naked pictures of 17 year olds is illegal. ILLEGAL. Taking them, being in them, sending them...illegal. Not. Kidding.)

That got me thinking...what is so wrong in these girls lives that they feel the need to strip down to nothing and show off in that way? Is it a self confidence thing? Do they feel a sense of power by showing off for guys? Empowered? Does it boost their self esteem to think that boys are enjoying these pictures? I'm not sure.

When I was in high school, I had an awful boyfriend. He didn't mean to be, but he didn't have great examples of how to treat women in his life. He could have treated me better but I could have broken up with him too. That's neither here nor there. The point is my self esteem in regards to boys and dating was so low, I didn't realize how bad things were.

As a mom of a son, the responsibility lies with me now. I need to raise Trace to respect GIRLS so much that he would never dream of asking a girl to take her shirt off. I would never want him to accept the invitation offered by a girl either. I'm using GIRL here rather pointedly. Young ladies in high school are GIRLS. Fragile, sensitive, easily manipulated girls. I know, I was one. I want my son to be the young man, the boy, who girls are comfortable around. I want parents of girls to encourage their daughters to think Trace is cute because they know he was raised to treat their daughters correctly. No shenanigans here.

As a mom of a daughter, the responsibility lies with me now as well. I need to raise Rory to respect HERSELF so much that she laughs in the face of any guy who asks her to get naked on the internet. I want her to be confident in her looks and her body, but know that she is special and unique. She needs to realize, from an early age, that self confidence doesn't come from a boy. That type of self confidence is false and crumbles faster than the weather changes. True and lasting self confidence comes from hard work, not the admiration of a boy or two. (Again using the term BOY instead of man on purpose...) I hope Rory is surrounded by teachers and friends in high school that lift her up, encourage her, praise her successes and help her learn from her mistakes and failures. I hope she knows home is a safe place.

Oh wouldn't it be so nice if I could control the future? Naturally, I know I can't. That doesn't mean I can't wish I could.

Girls, boys do not determine your self worth. Your self worth, your value, is determined by YOU. Your hard work, your education, you commitments, your kindness, your compassion. No boy can build up or tear down your self worth unless you choose to let them. Self confidence is a reward for hard work. Self esteem is found when you take the time to realize how great you are. Look at you! Look at the things you have accomplished. Did you pass a test that you had to really study for? Make a basket in your last basketball game? Complete a season of soccer without dying? Turn a triple pirouette at dance? THOSE are things that make up the building blocks of self esteem and self confidence, not flaunting yourself for boys.

Boys, the harm you do when you ask a girl to send you a naked photo OR accept her offer goes beyond what you think. You might think it's pretty awesome that she did it and then laugh with your friends, calling her some "lovely" names and think that's the end of it. It's not. Girls don't forget. Ever. Say no. Say NO. Offer to get a cup of coffee or go to a movie with a girl, not allow her to disrespect herself like that.

I don't know. Just something on my mind lately.