As I'm sitting here watching the Super Bowl with 15+ teenagers and a handful of adults, I ran across this on Flickr and it made me laugh more than the Super Bowl ads. You can just totally see this dude rockin' like it was '82.
Bears fans are the best in the world. Da Bears!
Superbowl Sunday is always a big day at our house one way or the other. This year it has some special
meaning because it is also Payton's 16th birthday. My baby. My first born. My sweet cheeked little button nosed bundle of joy. 16. Be still, my heart.
Pictured here, I am 24 and he is about 10 months. This kid had me at hello. He taught me that my life was secondary to his. He taught me how to get up at 4:30am and somehow still make it through the day. He taught me that my heart will forever, now, be walking around outside of my body.
Until I had Payton, I don't think that I had ever really FELT my soul. I knew it was there and that it might be unleashed someday. That someday was February 4th, 1991.
And so, now on this Superbowl Sunday, when "the other Payton," Peyton Manning takes the field to play for his first ever NFL Championship, I will be cheering for him. Ever since he started playing in the NFL, we have been Colts fans. First because of the name, but now really because how can you NOT love this guy? His commercials are friggin' hysterical and he just seems like such a great guy. AND he has a little brother, just like our Payton does. Only his bro is named Eli (he plays for the NY Giants, if you don't know), not Darren.
We didn't name Payton after Peyton. Really his name just came from a baby book, but we liked the reference to Walter Payton (I was born in Chicago) and, maybe ironically, Peyton is playing against the Bears in the Superbowl! Go figure. I know, many of you are saying "Big freakin' deal." I happen to think it's kind of funny.
On this day, I will also be remembering my Uncle Bob. UBob passed away during the 2 minute warning of the Superbowl between the Rams and the New England Patriots. It was February 3rd, 2002, but it will always be the Superbowl, regardless of what the actual date is, that will remind me of his passing. I was there along with my Mom, my Aunt and my cousins to guide him into peace as he passed. We had the game on in his room in the ICU which may seem strange to some, but if you knew UBob, you know he absolutely wouldn't have had it any other way. No better way to go than while the Rams were about to lose the Superbowl. My Mom and I were SOOO glad that he didn't pass away one day later, on Feb. 4th, Payton's birthday.
But this year, those two dates merge in my mind. On this day I will remember the very first time I ever witnessed the beginning of a life and the very first time I ever witnessed the passing of one. Both incredibly precious moments that will be in my heart for eternity.
Very sad news for Giant's fans today. Shortstop (1984 - 1993) Jose Uribe died in a car accident in the Dominican Repulic early this morning.
If you were a Giants fan in the '80's you'll remember chanting UUUUUU - Ribe, UUUUUUU Ribe when Jose would come to bat. He was always smiling, always positive (at least in my recollection).
I'm very saddened at the loss.
Jose, thank you for many, many great memories. Those of us "Stick" dwellers will miss you.
Jose's son Juan is now playing for the Chicago White Sox. My well wishes to the entire Uribe family.
Tim Volkert 1988-2003
Who You'd Be Today - Kenny Chesney
Sunny days seem to hurt the most
Wear the pain like a heavy coat
I feel you everywhere I go
See your smile, I see your face
I hear you laughing in the rain
Still can't believe your gone
It ain't fair you died to young
Like a story that had just begun
But death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing, no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder, who you'd be today
Would you see the world
Would you chase your dreams
Settle down with a family
I wonder what would you name your babies
Someday's the sky's so blue
I feel like I can talk to you
And I know it might sound crazy
Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
The only thing that gives me hope
Is I know, I'll see you again someday
Someday, someday
Timmy Volkert was 15 years old when he passed away in his sleep. He had an enlarged heart that nobody knew about and it gave out on him in early December 2003. I remember that day like it was today. The entire community was punched in the gut and we didn't catch or breath for days, weeks, months to come.
Timmy was a hero, larger than life, to kids like my son who is now the same age that Timmy will always be, 15. He was a baseball superstar and could have been cocky and arrogant. But he wasn't. He was kind, a role model. When Payton was in 5th grade and Timmy in 8th, Payton remembers Timmy giving him a kind pat on the head and a "hey, what's up kid?" in in the hallway. In San Carlos there is a Tim Volkert award in Pony Baseball given each year to the kid who most exemplifies Tim's character; dedicated, positive, encouraging to other players, always a smile on his face, always willing to do whatever the team needs him to do, a leader. Tim got these characteristics from his parents. When we went to visit them shortly after Tim's passing, THEY hugged US, THEY comforted US. Not because we needed it, or asked for it, but because that's just who they were and how they were as a family.
I'll never forget that cold December night we spent on the baseball field at Burton Park with hundreds of other community members and friends of Tim's. The candlelight memorial, the kids who played songs on their guitars and sang for Tim. The kids who cried for him and the adults who were trying to stay strong for them.
When Payton heard the song "Who You'd Be Today" and said, "Mom, this is totally a song about Timmy," I realized that Tim's death is still very much a part of who he his, who we are. But even more important than that, Tim's life is what we miss, what we strive to carry forward and carry with us every day.
I know I haven't talked much about our love for Maryland Terapin Basketball, but just now, the Terp Women won the NCAA Tourney CHAMPIONSHIP!
I'm watching with P and D. Big D, "Hubby" is at a soccer meeting and will not know that the game went into overtime and that the lady turtles emerged victorious, but he will watch the TiVo recording and he will be most pleased.
Especially since the men's championship last night was B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!!!!
I just read that Kirby Puckett suffered a stroke. My heart goes out to him and his family. He's a great guy and was such a great ball player. He is really the kind of guy that I would want my kids to look up to. He is humble, sweet, caring and just an all-around stand-up guy.
TAGS: kirby puckett
Blogging during the Super Bowl! I love it. A chance to just watch, eat chips n dip, and spend time with my blogging buddies. I hope someone else is out there too!
I have a house full of 10 kids, boys and girls, ages 11-14. So far I think that the Bud Light commercial with the pilot diving out of the airplain to retreive the 6 pack is the best commercial so far. But it is only 10 minutes into the 1st quarter, so there is much to be seen yet. The M&M's are going fast. I think we're going to have to ring our local Domino's soon. Hungry teen-agers can get really ugly.
Our boy, pictured here, Tom Brady. Serra High School Class of '95. Since all of the boys in my family room at the moment are all applying to go to Serra next year, the Pats are the hands down favorite. Also, the 4 girls in the room all decided that Tom is "way hot."
It's true...it has finally happened. The boy toy of US soccer is going to Germany. No longer will the women (and girls) of the SF Bay Area get to see this specimine of a soccer player live and up close.
"U.S., MLS star doing 'right thing' Associated Press Landon Donovan is leaving Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes after four seasons and will return to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.
The 22-year-old forward, voted the top player on the U.S. national team for three straight years, will rejoin the Bundesliga team in January after the end of a sharing arrangement between MLS and Bayer Leverkusen."
I know that there aren't many soccer fans out there, but take it from this convert, this is a HUGE loss to American Major League Soccer (the US will still get to have Landon for the men's US team, Olympics, World Cup etc.). Landon has played the last 4 years for the San Jose Earthquakes (for which we are season ticket holders) and it just won't be the same without him.
We look for comfort in times like these, I guess I'm seeking comfort in the blog world. A sad, sad day indeed.
A woman making her way through life leaving a wake of only peace and happiness.
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