Sorry Maura! The James Buchanon Rockets beat Camp Hill last night 38 to 0!!!! It was great to see our team come together and really work as a team. This was their first win of the season and by having that huge of a win will do wonders for their confidence.
The past few practices where the coach worked on skills made a HUGE difference. It was like watching a totally different team play. The coach's reward was getting the water dumped on him after the game, but after first running away - he laughingly took the honor of getting soaked....
Congratulations to the team. I know they were super-excited and the emotions ran high for players, parents, coaches and cheerleaders.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
GO ROCKETS!!!!
School has started and so has football. The house is quiet again and I've been able to get more done during the day. The food magically stays in the 'frig during the day and I am able to keep a bottle of soda for more than 20 minutes before it disappears somewhere! LOL......
Unfortunately, I spend 3 nights per week at football practice and 2 additional days attending games. Of course - my kids don't practice at the same time, so I get there at 3:30 for the first one's practice and at 6:00 I move to my second one's practice. I'm usually there until about 8 or 8:30 and am bored silly by that time! I tried taking along my computer, but couldn't find an available network to login to and the satellite service is lousy.
So - I'm reading, doing crossword puzzles, talking to other parents and even volunteering at the ticket booth so I can harass the young kids coming to games! ha ha - it's fun - especially when I tell one he looks suspicious and I need to see some picture ID - this is especially good when I know they're not 16 yet. They know I'm a parent and look at me wondering if they should take me serious or not. The rent-a-cop and I get good laugh during admission time. Unfortunately, the kids are starting to recognize me and don't take us so seriously anymore. oh well - it was fun while it lasted. However, they now take notes about who we picked on and who we didn't. The ones that get picked on brag about it to their friends and seem to view it as a badge of honor.
Here are
some pictures: This is Lucas (number 57). He plays center on offense and usually nose guard on defense. Here - he's waiting for the others to finish up the huddle and move in for the play. The team hasn't won any games yet, but they've got some good players with talent and skill. Unfortunately, many of these are first year players, so they're just now starting to play like a real team and getting the hang of working together.
Here is Michael:
He's number 60 - again he plays center for the offensive team, but on defense he plays nose guard or tackle. He really, really wants to play tackle because he likes the thrill of knocking someone down, but his coach likes him in other spots. Their team is AWESOME! They have it together and have some good coaches who push them to do their best. They don't have to win - but they have to work hard. Then - they get rewarded for it.
One last picture for Jeff: Thanks for coming out and spending a week at our house. It looks like we overworked you, but at least you had company sneaking in a nap:
Unfortunately, I spend 3 nights per week at football practice and 2 additional days attending games. Of course - my kids don't practice at the same time, so I get there at 3:30 for the first one's practice and at 6:00 I move to my second one's practice. I'm usually there until about 8 or 8:30 and am bored silly by that time! I tried taking along my computer, but couldn't find an available network to login to and the satellite service is lousy.
So - I'm reading, doing crossword puzzles, talking to other parents and even volunteering at the ticket booth so I can harass the young kids coming to games! ha ha - it's fun - especially when I tell one he looks suspicious and I need to see some picture ID - this is especially good when I know they're not 16 yet. They know I'm a parent and look at me wondering if they should take me serious or not. The rent-a-cop and I get good laugh during admission time. Unfortunately, the kids are starting to recognize me and don't take us so seriously anymore. oh well - it was fun while it lasted. However, they now take notes about who we picked on and who we didn't. The ones that get picked on brag about it to their friends and seem to view it as a badge of honor.
Here are
some pictures: This is Lucas (number 57). He plays center on offense and usually nose guard on defense. Here - he's waiting for the others to finish up the huddle and move in for the play. The team hasn't won any games yet, but they've got some good players with talent and skill. Unfortunately, many of these are first year players, so they're just now starting to play like a real team and getting the hang of working together.Here is Michael:
He's number 60 - again he plays center for the offensive team, but on defense he plays nose guard or tackle. He really, really wants to play tackle because he likes the thrill of knocking someone down, but his coach likes him in other spots. Their team is AWESOME! They have it together and have some good coaches who push them to do their best. They don't have to win - but they have to work hard. Then - they get rewarded for it.One last picture for Jeff: Thanks for coming out and spending a week at our house. It looks like we overworked you, but at least you had company sneaking in a nap:
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Unsolved Double Murder in 1975
In going through the genealogy information for my own family, I found that my mother's cousin (her mother's sister's daughter) was murdered in 1975. How I found out was through a newspaper article my grandmother had copied into a book. Here's the story as I know it:
In early November of 1975, my mother's cousin - 37 year old Beverly A. (Morris) Withers was babysitting 4 year old Melanie Gargasz at the Gargasz house in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Beverly, my mother's cousin, was married and had two daughters. Four year old Little Melanie had a at least a 12 year old sister and a schoolteacher mother.
When Melanie's mother, Marilyn, returned home in the early afternoon, she found both Beverly and Melanie dead, from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. According to the New Castle News report, no weapon was recovered from the scene, but the weapon was considered to be a small-caliber weapon. It has yet to be solved. To my knowledge, no one has been arrested - no one prosecuted and no one held accountable.
Although tempted to leave it alone - after all - I never knew this woman, I moved around a lot and can sometimes barely keep track of my own eyeglasses, I felt compelled to just find out what I could. After all - an innocent little four year old shot to death along with her babysitter, who is just about my own age, got me intrigued. I couldn't seem to stop it.
What I found out is that the Pennsylvania State Police have re-activated the case. Yes - it's still considered cold and yes, the chances that the murderer will be caught and punished are small based upon the percentages, I am still hopeful for a resolution.
The families of a perpetual 4 year old and 37 year old deserve no less.
In early November of 1975, my mother's cousin - 37 year old Beverly A. (Morris) Withers was babysitting 4 year old Melanie Gargasz at the Gargasz house in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Beverly, my mother's cousin, was married and had two daughters. Four year old Little Melanie had a at least a 12 year old sister and a schoolteacher mother.
When Melanie's mother, Marilyn, returned home in the early afternoon, she found both Beverly and Melanie dead, from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. According to the New Castle News report, no weapon was recovered from the scene, but the weapon was considered to be a small-caliber weapon. It has yet to be solved. To my knowledge, no one has been arrested - no one prosecuted and no one held accountable.
Although tempted to leave it alone - after all - I never knew this woman, I moved around a lot and can sometimes barely keep track of my own eyeglasses, I felt compelled to just find out what I could. After all - an innocent little four year old shot to death along with her babysitter, who is just about my own age, got me intrigued. I couldn't seem to stop it.
What I found out is that the Pennsylvania State Police have re-activated the case. Yes - it's still considered cold and yes, the chances that the murderer will be caught and punished are small based upon the percentages, I am still hopeful for a resolution.
The families of a perpetual 4 year old and 37 year old deserve no less.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
I'm ready for school to start!
I'm soooooo ready for school to start. My kids are driving me nuts! All day long, it's Mom - Can I.... Mom - six of my friends are coming over in ten minutes...... Mom - I'm making grilled cheese.... Mom - I burnt the grilled cheese.... Mom, can you turn off the smoke alarm... Mom, what do you get when you cross a blond with an elephant.... Mom, Knock Knock... Mom, what are you doing?..... Mom - watch this.... Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom etc... I can't even go to the bathroom without hearing, Mom - what are you doing (DUH!)?
As much as I've enjoyed being with them this summer, it never stops. I can't seem to get any calm and peaceful time this summer. Once someone calms down, someone else stirs it up. Of course - the dog and cat don't help. They jump right in the mix. They're constantly chasing each other or a child throughout the house.
Yesterday after another burnt grilled cheese incident, we opened the patio doors a little bit. The cat snuck in between the glass and the screen, crawled all the way to the top of the screen and got stuck. We kept hearing him meow loudly and after figuring out where the little scoundrel was, we had to figure out a way to open the door without hurting him and get his curious little behind off the screen!
I'm sure I will miss them once they are back in school, but right now, I dream of quiet time!
As much as I've enjoyed being with them this summer, it never stops. I can't seem to get any calm and peaceful time this summer. Once someone calms down, someone else stirs it up. Of course - the dog and cat don't help. They jump right in the mix. They're constantly chasing each other or a child throughout the house.
Yesterday after another burnt grilled cheese incident, we opened the patio doors a little bit. The cat snuck in between the glass and the screen, crawled all the way to the top of the screen and got stuck. We kept hearing him meow loudly and after figuring out where the little scoundrel was, we had to figure out a way to open the door without hurting him and get his curious little behind off the screen!
I'm sure I will miss them once they are back in school, but right now, I dream of quiet time!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Starting a new business
We've officially released our website for our catering business. You can preview it at http://www.mikebankscatering.com. We're working on advertising in the local papers and at the local chamber of commerce.
Keep us in your prayers.
Keep us in your prayers.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Happy (Almost) Birthday to me!!!
OK - tomorrow's my birthday. I will not pretend to be 29 again or wish for the "good old days." I firmly believe age is a blessing. It brings wisdom, courage and security for those who learn the lessons life present over time. Also - I think that for women, increased age brings some positive changes. We get to a point where we become so much more self-confident and have no problem prioritizing our lives based upon our needs. We no longer need the accolades of others to feel successful or secure. In addition, women start really saying what we feel. I've noticed older women don't beat around the bush quite as much. If we think you're doing something stupid, we'll tell you straight out. ha ha -
Perhaps - the teenagers of today will not have one inkling of understanding of the phases of life I'm going through. But - then again - life is much different for those growing up now than it was in the 70's and 80's.
So - are you ready?? I will be 38! Woo hoo.....
Perhaps - the teenagers of today will not have one inkling of understanding of the phases of life I'm going through. But - then again - life is much different for those growing up now than it was in the 70's and 80's.
So - are you ready?? I will be 38! Woo hoo.....
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Summer Update
Hey everyone!
The summer is off to a great start! I got the family tree done for hubby's family reunion - whew! That's a big relief to me, as it turned out to be a HUGE job. However, I found he's somewhat related to Pocohantas, which is really neat.
I've spent more time with the kids and have been enjoying the closeness we're feeling. We go to the state park once or twice a week, work in the garden together and generally just have either a ton of kids here in the house or I'm constantly ferrying kids from one house to another.
I realize that my oldest will be off to college in four years and my youngest in eight! I almost can't believe that time has gone by so quickly......
Oh well - back to the kids! Enjoy the summer.
L
The summer is off to a great start! I got the family tree done for hubby's family reunion - whew! That's a big relief to me, as it turned out to be a HUGE job. However, I found he's somewhat related to Pocohantas, which is really neat.
I've spent more time with the kids and have been enjoying the closeness we're feeling. We go to the state park once or twice a week, work in the garden together and generally just have either a ton of kids here in the house or I'm constantly ferrying kids from one house to another.
I realize that my oldest will be off to college in four years and my youngest in eight! I almost can't believe that time has gone by so quickly......
Oh well - back to the kids! Enjoy the summer.
L
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