random

Hello...**taps mic** anybody there??? **taps mic** is this thing on?

I'm trying to get back into this blogging rhythm...

So baseball season for the boy has started. He now plays for the Astros in the Rookie Division. I can tell you one thing...J got heart. He probably has more heart than he has game, but every day I learn something new about his personality and I become more and more honored to be his mom.

Last Saturday, he took a hard baseball blow to the eye and the coach took him out of practice to sit on the sidelines with a bag of ice. He was trying to "man up", but I could see "upset" written all over his face.

I said, "J, it's gonna be ok, man. It'll feel better.

He said, "I just want to keep on going."

This little dude didn't care if his eye swole shut, he was gon' be the one-eyed ballplayer in the bunch, if the coach let 'em. In the end, he was fine.

Life has certainly knocked the wind out of me a time or 5. Do you keep on wailing about it or do you keep on going? Man up.

...

Me: Hey dad, I just called to tell you that J did well on his Sta.r Stud.ent presentation.

Dad: **smile evident in his voice** oh yeah?

Me: I made 24 little friends in 5 minutes...I think that it helped that I brought cupcakes. But I got my eye on one girl, in particular.

Dad: Who?

Me: This little woman named Ale.xis. Other kids were asking questions like "How did you break that board in tae kwon do?" and "Did you ever visit Bat.on Rou.ge when you lived in Ne.w Orlea.ns?" This broad says, "Can you put your baseball cap on for me?" I don't like her...she too young for all dat, lol.

Dad: Well, what does J think?

Me: He doesn't like her either. He says that she keeps bothering him and touching him.

Dad: Is she black?

Me: Yep.

Dad: Oh...well, I'm gon' have a little talk with him then.

Me: Why?

Dad: He needs to know that that's the kind of girl that you want. Not them "hard to get" ones.

...

So, it looks like I'm going home for Ja.zz Fe.st next month. My dad said that he would kick in the money for J's ticket...b/c dropping $500 or driving 32 hours roundtrip during my time off is against my religion. I'm looking forward to it, b/c I'm in desparate need of a mini-vacay and a trip to the Fre.nch Mark.et to lift my mood. I've been so unmotivated lately...nothing that some crawfish bread, charbroiled oysters, beignets and a daiquiri won't cure. Plus, I just need to be around my fam right now...at least, until they get on my nerves and I'm ready to RUN back to VA. Let me rephrase...I need to be around my extended fam right now. I've been listening to some vintage Cas.h Mon.ey Million.aires to prepare for the trip. Laissez les bon temps roulez.