Still Proud to be A Honker Mom!

Okay, so here is my soapbox deal of the day.

So much drama is going on today over an issue that happened last night at a JV Baseball game between my son’s school, Yuba City High School, and a local rival, Del Campo High School. Now, I’ll put this right out there, when I was in high school at Mira Loma, we didn’t think too highly of DC either. Them and El Camino HS. Rivalries Happen.

So, yesterday, game is progressing. The score is 3-3 in the 6^th inning. There has been a lot of back and forth trash talking between the teams. That happens. It’s part of the game. The next thing that happens, isn’t usually part of the game. The First Base Coach for DC said **something** (No, I have no clue what he said) to YC’s pitcher and dugout. It must have been a good one because the next thing you know, the pitcher is flinging the ball at the FB Coach. Huh? Seriously? Sigh. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on which side of this fence you are on, the ball missed the coach. However, next thing you know, the YC dugout empties and a brawl ensues. (I’ll link everything at the bottom for your perusing pleasure.)

Now, I wasn’t there. The HS baseball team was too cliquey for my son to get on so he went to performing arts. (Which he ROCKS at by the way!!) However, he’s be on Varsity by now anyway as a senior, but I digress. (I'll write a fun entry about Seussical soon.)

Here is my take on this whole nightmare. Trash talking is part of a game AND it is a game. Remember, game? Fun? Game = fun? (Just wanted to get that out there.) Rivalries happen. I had them in high school and as an avid sports fan, I have them now (hear that A’s fans!! Lol) But rivalries shouldn’t resort to violence. The comebacks and the comments shouldn’t be in good natured ribbing – no racial cracks, don’t talk about someone’s mother, etc.

Some little tart whipped out her phone and recorded the last part of the “incident” complete with her commentary (highly enlightening - NOT) and her excitement about getting to post it to YouTube. Personally, if that is your life’s ambition, you need to rethink your goals and priorities. In this video, we see the DC FB Coach chatting it up with people on the sidelines for DC. Talking about the incident. Now, honestly, insert brain filter. As a member of the coaching staff, and quite possibly the match to this fuse, he should have kept his mouth shut. This is a situation being reviewed by the respective teams and schools not onlookers. Do not discuss this outside the school offices. Highly unprofessional and definitely unsportsmanlike conduct. There are words and tones there that could be used against him.

I have a couple words that everyone on that field needs to review and permanently place in their memories. The first one is sportsmanship. Then there is compassion, responsibility, role model, and tact. No one involved, except for the referee’s as far as I could see, embraced any of these vocabulary words. Players, parents, onlookers, or coaching staff. Tempers flared and chaos ensued.

Seriously, take the ribbing like a man. It is what it is. Something to rile you up and get you off your game. If you are professional and mature about the whole thing, you’d let it roll off your back like water off a duck. Deal with it. If you let it get to you, they have won. There is no reason to start a brawl like that, ever.

Hopefully, the truth will come out, tempers will cool, and yes, unfortunately, a few boys are going to look back on this incident in 20 years and be very angry at themselves and full of regret as it may possibly ruin their baseball careers. If not just for the rest of their high school days, maybe their lives. Sad, that is. I am sure there will be suspensions and maybe an expelling due to this and I’m sad for them, but the choice was theirs: take it like a man, or act the idiot. The idiot won. Unfortunately, the idiot won for some parents, too. What an example you are setting. Wow.

I also hope that BOTH schools will dispense the appropriate amount of punishment. I am truly hoping that DC doesn’t brush this under the rug but instead, realizes the actual situation and the comments made and punish the coach adequately. While the brawl should never occurred, neither should a comment that could incite such ire have been said. I don’t know what was said and may never know, but I doubt it was appropriate.

Point is, we are all human. No one is more special than anyone else. No one is all that and a bag of chips. We all put our pants on one leg at a time and we are ALL a mirror of the school. As are the DC people. This does not shine a golden light on either school.

So, while I am disappointed in the behavior that represented YCHS last night, I am still proud to be a Honker Mom. I know too many other kids that attend that school and give it a bright and positive reputation every day. Maybe they aren’t as public as the athletic clubs. Maybe they aren’t deemed as important as the athletic clubs. But they are special, kind, amazing, intelligent, sweet, considerate, mature, and conscientious every day and that behavior makes me proud to be a Honker Mom.

http://www.advarsitysports.com/articles/city-3513-yuba-high.html

http://blogs.sacbee.com/preps/archives/2012/04/brawl-halts-jun.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46948126/ns/local_news-sacramento_ca/t/del-campo-yuba-city-baseball-brawl-posted-youtube/#.T3y8c_BQ69U

http://now.msn.com/now-plus/0404-baseball-brawl.aspx

Lots of articles all over the web…sigh…the YouTube video is embedded into one of the articles, but in case you want to just see, here:

http://youtu.be/RD0Vvk7jQT8

Places to Visit - Had to Share - Too Funny

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.  Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito.  I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.  I live close so it's a short drive.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenaline flowing and pumps up the old heart!  At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

And, sometimes I think I am in Vincible but life shows me I am not.

People keep telling me I'm in Denial, but I'm positive I've never been there before!

I have been in Deepsh-t many times; the older I get, the easier it is to get there. I actually kind of enjoy it there.

So far, I haven't been in Continent, but my travel agent says I'll be going soon.

Personal Notes:

I have been in Cahoots. However, if I tell you about it, I'd have to kill you.

I've been in Sane so much that I have the t-shirt, key ring, and tote bag.

I've given up in Vincible - turned in my cape and mask.

LOL, hope you are smiling, too.

Smoochies, 

DL

P.S. This is to loosen you up to a more serious post later. Sigh.

Bunnies and Buses

I have some amazing friends. Yes, I know, I really have friends. Lol

But I have some really fun friends. They’re Monkeys. Well, they are Code Monkeys. They write games. Games for Facebook and in the future, maybe for Android and iPhones. Sweet.

Well, this last weekend they got together, Code Monkeys from different companies and different areas of expertise to participate in Moly Jam 2012. This is where a bunch of Code Monkeys get together and spend 48 hours crunching banana chips and writing code to make a new game.

In the span of 48 hours, they write a new game. A playable game. And my guys wrote a cute game involving little bunny clones from space. These maniacal little fur balls are seriously evil. They are trying to keep commuters from making their bus. Now, as a bus commuter, if some little fluffy cutey-pie bunny wants to keep me off of my commuter bus, I’d be all for it. But I digress.

Here’s a link to the Bunnies and Buses info page:

http://www.whatwouldmolydeux.com/display.php?GameID=76

Go check out what I consider the best game of the weekend. A group of very talented gentlemen worked on this game who are now exhausted but thrilled with their product. I can’t seem to get past level 5 but it’s just a blast. Place bunnies in the path of the commuters and watch them suck the carrots (the commuters’ payment to ride the bus) from the commuters. If the poor commuters don’t have enough carrots to ride the bus they can’t get on. Your Fur-Filled mission is to keep them off the bus. Now, as your carrots accumulate, you can upgrade your bunnies. Their circle radius of destruction gets bigger and they can grab more carrots.

It’s a blast. A total blast and my hope is that these busy men find the time to make it Android ready. Hell, I’d download it.

Have a great night. Code Monkeys…you guys deserve bunches and bunches of bananas. And hugs, lots of hugs. I <3 you guys!!

Smoochies

Hunger Games - Movie Review

Okay, so, we went to see the movie. I can see how those that haven’t read the book would have questions. AND yes, they did change a couple things, but I understand why they did it.

I thought they did a great job. The movie was entertaining, the actors were awesome, and the sense of drama was intense in places. There was a part where both my daughter and I knew it was coming, we read the books, and we still jumped. That’s pretty awesome when a director can do that.

So hard to describe the movie without giving anything away. Sigh. But I’d give it a 4 out of 5. 

Book vs. Movie

Okay, so here is my deal today. I am an avid reader. Okay, that’s not an accurate description. I’m a voracious reader. I devour books. I love the written word. I’ll usually read anything….at least once.

Which brings me today’s issue. What the hell is it with people that complain about movies without reading the books they are based on?

Now, I have seen a movie and found out after that there was a book beforehand and if the movie had peaked my interest, then I’ll go find the book and read it. It’s happened. True, the reverse has also happened where I have seen a movie and have NO desire to read the book it came from.

I am currently in a debate with a co-worker about The Hunger Games.

I read the first book at the request of my daughter who, knowing where my tastes run, suggested that I would like it. Okay. It was a simple request, since my daughter and I have a lot of the same tastes in books and movies, suggestions to each other are usually met with interest.

Now, back to my co-worker, he has stated that he does not read unless forced. The last book he read was because it was assigned for a class. Sigh. That is the only way that he has read any of the classics, few as that may have been. I asked him about Shakespeare, Hemingway, Orwell, etc., only read in school. I asked him if he had read Animal Farm, no. Hell, I read that book in 5^th grade.

So, this brings us to The Hunger Games. Now, I haven’t seen the movie yet. I am going tomorrow evening with my kids and their friends. I can’t wait. I have read the complete trilogy and therefore, am looking forward to seeing the interpretation of the director. Always entertaining. LOL

My co-worker has seen it and knowing that I have read the books, has been in my office every day this week asking me questions about it. My main answer now, after trying to explain things to him, is “Read the damn book.” No joke.

Why do they make the kids kill each other in the arena? It’s explained in the book. I then tried to explain the situation of the post-apocalyptic environment and the Capital’s desire to keep everyone under their thumb. Hmmmmm….. Then he comes back with “Why?” again. Ugh. I compare it to the Romans with the Christians and lions. Entertainment value for the citizens of the Capital. “But why?” Grrr… seriously? How old are we? Five? So then I compare the arena fighting to the gladiators. “But they were more evenly matched?” **OMFG** Back to Christians and Lions. He seems to get that part. For now.

Then the whole issue of the uproar of the tributes from District 11, about how people are upset that the characters were of a certain racial background. (Was that politically correct enough? Mind you my co-worker and I are of two different racial backgrounds even different from the D11 Tribs.) Seriously? This is an issue here? Again **OMFG** Read the damn book. It describes in the book how the people from District 11 are all a dark skinned people. There are a ton of different races on this earth all with varying skin colors. (This is a whole other rant for me, but I digress…that one is later.)

Then the questions about how are they picked, why aren’t they the same ages, why does a poor district need a baker, where do they get flour, etc., etc., etc.

I swear I am going to scream. So, to keep me sane, here is a piece of advice….

READ THE DAMN BOOK!!

Weird or Just Right

People say I am weird. Bah. People say I’m nuts. Whatever. I am an individual. I am a “what you see is what you get” type of person. I no longer change my opinion to be liked by others. I've been called a bitch and I guess that is their opinion. I just don't give in to others. 

I have neon green nails with glitter, thank-you-very-much. I have green apple gummi bear ear buds for my iPod that is wrapped in a 1959 Sleeping Beauty-Princess Aurora Skin. I love funky watches and I am a huge geek. Oh, and the funkier and weirder the earrings? I’ll wear them. Hell, I have bloodied zombie skeleton hand earrings…I love them. And yes, I wear these things to work. 

I love to watch my kids play video games. I love to play board games but I love a good amusement park. I am a Disney freak and I love Star Tours.

I listen to weird music. I like all sorts. I list to JPop with my kids, Journey, classical, rock, blues, R&B. I am seriously eclectic. 

I am a Dragon trapped in a Human body. Seriously. Ask my kids. I love dragons. Not the grizzly, morbid, scary ones, but the thoughtful, don’t-touch-my-books-or-treasure types. I have an inner dragon that I call my inner bitch. Be careful if you let her out, because she doesn’t go back into her box easily. However, I am actually fairly even tempered. I don’t sweat the small stuff. I don’t concern myself with the things I cannot change. I do not have a time machine in my pocket. I learn from my mistakes and I move on.

I enjoy reading and crafting. I like to crochet when my hands allow it and I like to sew.

I play Dungeons & Dragons, love watching people play 40K, and like silly video games like Jak & Daxter, Cat in the Hat, and Spyro. I’m not great at them, but I like them.

I watch anime and read webcomics. Currently, I love Diesel Sweeties, Ends N Means, and Girls with Slingshots. (See links.) I am waiting (un)patiently for a Kurtis plushie from Ends N Means but I know that will come eventually. I have a Doom Kitty Glow-in-the-Dark T-shirt and watch Star Trek, Star Wars, and Big Bang Theory.

If this makes me a geek or weird, then I will wear those labels with pride. Because if that also means you have an unconditional friend, a shoulder to weep on, a Human Dragon to fight battles with you, and someone to laugh with? Then, as my daughter says, Hells Yeah I’m a weird geek.

As Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam." LOL

Children - Lovable Midgets or Pawns? And Marriage - Civil Unions for Everyone!!

Okay, my rant for the day. My inner bitch clawed her way out of her box today when I read an article the other day about Gay Marriage and what happens to children of same sex couples when they split up. Grr..she was spitting fire. My scales were flaming because this is dredging up the Federal Law regarding the rights of sperm and egg donors and their rights to child rearing and visitation.

According to the law, sperm and egg donors have no legal rights to the child born using their donations via in-vitro fertilization. Okay, I get that. But when the egg belongs to a woman in a same sex relationship, and is inserted into the partner, with all intentions of raising this child as theirs, together, there are rights here.

This is no different than a woman giving an egg to a surrogate when she can’t carry to term. Is the surrogate given parental rights because she was the “birth” mother? Not usually.

To me, this is fairly cut and dry. If you used any medical procedure to gestate a child to be raised and loved by you and your partner, regardless of sex, then the two partners both have equal rights to the child in visitation, custody, and love. They both have a right to monitor the health and raising of that child just like a hetero couple.

If one partner gives up their rights, then that is different. But if you gave birth using your partners egg? Deal with it, you may be the “birth” mother but you wouldn’t have that child without the egg of your partner. How difficult is this to figure out? Blarg. Race, sex, marital status has nothing to do with this. It is all about parental rights of a partnership of people committed to loving, caring, and raising a child. That child should never be a pawn in your relationship squabbles. If you do not want to be with your partner anymore, respect the child’s right to know both parents. Quit short changing your child for your petty arguments.

Unfortunately, this discussion then deteriorated into a discussion based on faith and the moral wrongness of same sex marriage. This is what lit my inner bitch’s fire. She was ticked.

We, as a general rule, have become lazy. All of us. We use the term “marriage” and “marry” for so many meanings that we forget the basis of the word. I mean, I can get really technical and quote my boyfriend, Webster, and list the meaning of the word but we could argue that to the end of days. I mean we use the word “marry” in construction when “marrying” two joints together in carpentry or welding. Am I the only girl that knows this? I know I am not.

I had this discussion with a friend of mine regarding the differences between Marriage and Civil Union.

There is a difference, but maybe not the one you are thinking of right now. I am not talking about the spousal rights, religious, or governmental rights of an individual in a relationship, per se, but something just a tad different and I want others to really think about it.

There is a difference between "marriage" and a civil union. A "marriage" is religious, whereas, a "civil union" is legal. You notice you have to have a license for both your church and the state in order to get “married”. "Marriage" has become synonymous for both. So, you enter into marriage in a church while at the same time entering into a civil contract under the state. If you got married in a church but not with the state legal union document, it would be recognized in the church only, not the state. Making it impossible for you to claim spousal rights in an employment or governmental situation. And Vice Versa, if you got civilly "married" at the recorder's office, it wouldn't be recognized by most religions because you weren't married in a church. You need both for religious, but one for legal.

Leave them alone. There should never be anything different in a civil union for a hetero couple and a civil union for a gay couple. Period. Churches are for religious relationships with one's higher power, not legal. Keep your religion out of my rights. Your civil union giving you spousal rights to your significant other's employment benefits, or anything else for that matter, should never be different from another couple's EVER - regardless of religious or sexual preference. It's like saying that a Catholic marriage is more "legal" than a Protestant one. Get over it. Keep religion out of it.

Let’s remember that Church and State are separate for a reason. There are too many people trying to blur or erase those lines. Not cool.