sports, politics and me

Okay - so I must admit that I really do love television and without TiVo I would surely drop dead. These past two weeks have been bliss for my tv addiction - the ultimate trifecta = Olympics, Democratic National Concention and the US Open! These three events tell you a lot about me - sports junkie, political junkie and hot athlete junkie (i.e., Andy Roddick, James Blake, Roger Federer). It also tells you that I must be a little schizophrenic because how many people get excited by Michael Phelps one night and Chris Matthews the next?? Maybe at the core is how freakin competitive I am. I love competition! I get that massive adrenaline rush, my heart races and I feel euphoric at the mere merging of human drama and competition of any kind, be it athletic or political. Hell - I even love that ESPN now covers the National Spelling Bee! what could be more compelling than small children sweating profusely while they wait to hear what completely obscure word they will have to stand and spell in front of thousands of hoity toity academic types??

What have I learned about myself in all this obsessive watching and overly emotional involvement in anything competitive...I think I am just a cheerleader deep down. I love to cheer for the underdog or the person whose life story I am touched by. I would fight to the death for my favorite teams (i.e., NY Yankees and NY Giants) as well as any athlete that has the fortitude to withstand years or training and sacrifice to compete at the Olympics.

I cheer for Barak Obama and Joe Biden even louder than Andy Roddick this week, believe it or not. If Barack Obama can win the presidential "competition" he will surely have the opportunity to make the many profound changes that our country so desperately needs. If Andy Roddick wins the US Open, I just get to check out his ass for hours on end :)

letting go...hanging on...

I can't believe my baby boy is going to Kindergarten in less than 2 days. I feel like my heart is getting ripped out of my chest - I'm just so worried about him. He is the sweetest, most sensitive boy with an absolute heart of gold. While he is an amazingly bright boy, reading fluently and so inquisitive, he is so soft-hearted and gets his feelings hurt easily. He doesn't play as rough as some do and takes things so personally. I wish I could go with him and protect him from anything hurtful...I just want him to love school, make friends, and never get his heart broken...is that too much to ask? My brain keeps going back and forth...letting go and hanging on...I guess that is at the heart of being a parent - knowing when to let go and when to hang on. God - I'm trusting you to protect my baby boy when I have to begin the letting go part...

olympic fever

i admit it. i have olympic fever, just like I do every two years. i especially love the summer olympics because of the swimming, diving, gymnastics and track and field. i am like a little kid as i anticipate the chills when the American athletes enter the "bird's nest" stadium marching proudly behind our flag...i am filled with excitement at the thought of Michael Phelps winning 8 gold medals, Dara Torres, age 41, swimming in her 5th Olympics, Shawn Johnson helping the women's gymnastics team win gold...all of it. i absolutely love all of it. the pride, the thrill of competition, the victories and defeats, the personal stories of the athletes, the buttons, pins, flags fireworks, seeing the people of China (instead of their ridiculous leaders), all of it...but especially the example these young athletes set for the rest of the world - it is a global get-together that highlights what is best about our countries...and it focuses on peace between our nations and each of us working to find our personal best. i have olympic fever and i can't wait!!!

get it together

i am in such a funk these days. i can't seem to get it together. i feel like every single aspect of my life is out of control. i can't get the house clean. i can't get the laundry done, folded, put away. i can't plan meals. i can't get the kids to behave better. i can't get prepared ahead of time for anything. i can't find time to just play. i can't find time to create a "responsibility" type chart to reward the kids instead of just punish them. i can't find the time to rest. i can't find time to read. i can't find time to get my health issues in order. i just can't seem to get it together.