tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89097409133692894962023-11-15T08:56:55.332-08:00RussellDI am 32, and I'm a high school business education teacher. I also coach football at Union County High School. I will keep the blog updated about my teaching and coaching and about my life in general. I've been married to the most wonderful woman in the world for nearly 9 years now, and I can't imagine a better way to spend my life. We have two children, Joshua (4) and Adalyn (1)ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-82417796503133932522017-05-01T05:43:00.000-07:002017-05-01T05:43:17.236-07:00Letters to my childrenI have not written in a very long time. Joshua, you are now 4 and Adalyn is 18 months old. Wow, how quickly time flies and circumstances change. There is nothing in this world that I love more than the two of you. I regret often not being at home more than I am because of my work. Adalyn will be 2 in 19 days and Joshua is nearly five. I cannot explain how much joy the two of you bring your mother and I. What blessings you both are! Your laughter is contagious and the games you play like hide and seek, "run away", and hungry hippos take me back to my childhood. I only wish I had more time and energy to do more with you.<br />
My heart breaks when I have to say goodbye to you each and every morning. I hate the thought of you spending all day away from mom and I, just so I can spend all day with someone else's children. Perhaps that will all change sooner rather than later. You two are so precious and I could have never imagined as a bright eyed blonde headed boy that I would share my world with three wonderful, perfect people; Joshua, Adalyn, and mommy.ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-37959917756538656052014-10-20T10:11:00.001-07:002014-10-20T10:11:22.210-07:00Remembering 10/25/1994On the surface it was just another day. I'm sure I attended school that Tuesday at Buffalo Elementary. I would have been in the 4th grade, Mrs. Linda Clippard's class. She was, is, and will always be my favorite teacher. For those who are my age and older, Oct 25, 1994 was the beginning of a 9 day journey that took small town South Carolina to front page USA.<br />
By now, most of my friends and family have probably figured out what I'm writing about. That night a young mother named Susan Smith reported a car jacking/kidnapping in my hometown of Union, SC. Her story was that, while stopped at a red light in Monarch, a black male approached her car, with a gun and ordered her out of it. He jumped in, and sped off. For 9 days, our town, our state, and the nation held its breath...waiting, hoping, and praying that those boys would be alright.<br />
I remember it like it was yesterday. The news reports, the scenes of men and women on horseback, on foot, and with dogs, combing through the woods between Union and Chester and over the state. The media took over our little town for 9 days. Camera crews, satellite trucks, news vans all flocked to main street Union's courthouse.<br />
We wore yellow ribbons to promote hope that the boys were safe and would be returned. Many folks had t-shirts, buttons, and hats with those two little guys' pictures on there. Deep down inside, I think the people of Union knew what really happened, before it became public knowledge.<br />
9 agonizing days went by, and as a 10 year old during the season surrounding Halloween, the thought that there might be a man out there stealing kids is quite frightening.<br />
Another memory of this time, was that I missed a Union High game, one of very few. Union was coming off a win against Gaffney, which as many know was a HUGE game. The following week, on Oct 30th, they traveled to Dorman and lost. We missed the game because Dad wasn't feeling well.<br />
Tension was very high in Union during this time. The fact that Susan Smith blamed a black man for kidnapping her children and stealing her car was bad enough, but, the longer it went on without "him" being found, the worse things got.<br />
On Nov 3rd, in the basement of First Baptist Church in Union, Sheriff David Wells got Susan Smith to admit to sending her two beautiful children to the bottom of John D. Long lake inside a Mazda Protege`. The news sent shock waves through our small tight-knit community.<br />
On the forefront, there was a woman who was capable of killing her two children. No one really knew why, although speculation would lead us to believe she wanted to get rid of them for an affair. Others say she was mentally deranged because of years of abuse at the hands of her step-father. I don't know, and I cannot begin to understand what would cause a person, more importantly a parent to kill young children, especially their own.<br />
Another issue was that the black community felt slighted because she blamed it on a "black" man that never existed. I seriously doubt there was ever any intention on her part to place blame on a black man because she somehow wanted to degrade or demean black people in general. All I know is that is divided our town for a little while, and made things very uncomfortable.<br />
Looking back now, the case and everything surrounding it intrigues me. It always has, and it probably always will. Every year about this time, I go back to being a 10 year old boy in Union. I can smell the fair in town, and I can remember the yells of football games. I can remember going around town to members of Tabernacle Baptist Churches' homes for trick-or-treating. I have so many fond memories of growing up in a small town in the south, where friends, family, faith, and football are all still important.<br />
But, the fall of 1994 will always be with me. Now, more than ever it haunts me. The thought of what she did to her children, for her own selfishness will always send chills up my spine. Now that I have a son of my own, and expecting a second child, what she did seems unfathomable.<br />
I have now transitioned from a 10 year old at Buffalo elementary school to a 30 year old high school teacher, husband, and father. The sadness is still there, it just hits a little harder now.ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-61171676356200766392014-10-03T10:49:00.003-07:002014-10-03T10:49:38.363-07:00Letters to my son(Joshua) #1In the weeks and months leading up to my first child being born, I wrote letters to him. Before I even knew the gender of the baby I wrote to "it". I wrote about any number of things, the most popular topic was about family members. I told him about each of my parents, his mom, my best friend (Jon), Kacey's parents, and even his two grandmothers on my side. Since he arrived in late July 2012 a ton of changes have come our way. Along with those changes there are the challenges of raising a son, work, school, football, and life! So, I haven't had time to write much to him. That changes today:<br />
Joshua,<br />
It has been a really long time since I sat down and actually wrote anything. I miss writing to you, but, I have not forced myself to take the time to do it. Today is Oct 1, 2014. You are 26 months old and just last week you found out you were going to be a big brother! At first you were excited, now, I think you're realizing the attention won't all be on you anymore, and you've been acting.....CRAZY!<br />
Last Monday night you came into the kitchen as I was fixing my plate for dinner. You were talking to me, but I couldn't understand what you were saying. Finally, as I picked you up and held you in my arms, I could understand, "Daddy, I gonna be a big "brudder"". I stood there, probably as shocked as I'd ever been. You mother and I had not planned this, I assure you. You were very hesitant to share it with others, as we tried to get you to tell Maw-Maw and Poppa over Skype, but you didn't want to talk about it.<br />
My work keeps me away from home much more than I would like to be away. I leave home each morning between 6:30 and 7, and I don't usually return before 7 during the week. Thursday and Friday nights are much later because of obligations to football games. Each and every time I miss a day or two of your life, you overwhelm me with your growth. Not necessarily physically, but your mental growth astounds me. You are so very smart and independent and I am so very proud to be your father.<br />
There are so many things that have happened since you were born, it would be impossible to list them all, but I'm going to try.<br />
Your mom and I bought a house in Summerville, which is where we currently live.<br />
I changed jobs, and started a football season just a couple of days after you were born<br />
Mom got very sick and weak, because she lost a lot of blood when you were born<br />
You cried, A LOT!<br />
You screamed, every time we put you in the car, you screamed bloody murder-until we turned you to face forward and you were fine.<br />
We took a trip to Maryland, on a plane, for your birthday! You didn't mind flying up there, but the flight back was bad. You screamed the whole trip. It was hot, apparently the a/c broke that night. We also flew through a thunderstorm, and I hate flying, so I was a nervous wreck.<br />
So many wonderful things have happened since you came into our lives. I cannot even begin to tell you how much you are loved and how special you are! We are all so very proud to have you and are eagerly anticipating watching you grow up (slowly) and become the man that God intends you to be.<br />
<br />ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-73770850005810431202013-02-12T06:33:00.002-08:002013-02-12T06:33:41.555-08:00Day 2-No CarbsThis is actually Day 1, but I decided to label yesterday as Day 1, because I made the decision half way through the day yesterday. Although, at that point I had already had two sandwiches on regular hamburger buns with BBQ that I smoked over the weekend. I also had a donut from a student selling them for FBLA. But, last night we had some delicious tilapia with brown rice and green beans with tomatoes. I had a sweet tooth strike, of course, after dinner, but had some almond butter and an apple! This morning for breakfast, a protein shake and for lunch I have leftover tilapia and brown rice and green beans. Not sure about tonight, as we have open house at school and a boy's playoff bball game, so I will be at school late. Encouragement is needed, as this will not be easy!ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-85133201499675568982013-02-11T12:08:00.002-08:002013-02-11T12:08:23.192-08:00Day 1-No CarbsToday, I have decided to go with no carbs for Lent. I'm not Catholic, but, Ash Wednesday is this coming Wednesday, so I've decided to give up something for Lent. I know that simple carbs are my worst enemy when it comes to my weight loss/gain. I love rice, potatoes, bread, pastries, and pretty much anything that has wheat in it. Unfortunately, I'm weak when it comes to these things, because they are literally everywhere. My wife has already given these up due to being gluten intolerant, so it shouldn't be too difficult to do with the bread. However, we eat potatoes and rice with everything. So, sweet potatoes, which I love, and brown rice, which is ok are on the menu. Starting today I am weighing in around 290 lbs. I am working out this afternoon, doing a P90x style workout. My goal is to do that at least 3x a week, as well as play some basketball or run on the treadmill. Please follow me and encourage me during this time of transition.ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-36641810095828301822011-06-04T07:01:00.000-07:002011-06-04T07:01:21.622-07:00IfI read this poem a long time ago. But, from time to time it comes to mind. I didn't remember it word for word, line by line, but it speaks to me. It speaks to all of us, as humans. The poem, obviously directed at a young man, can be taken to heart by each of us. IF we can stay grounded, regardless of what goes on around us we will prove our worth, we'll prove that we are men/women. There are no biblical references, no Confucious sayings, nothing religious or out of this world. Just common sense thinking from a British author who I studied my senior year in high school. And, even though this guy may not be the keeper of our universe, or a mystical figure- there is something about this poem that just seems right....read and see if you agree.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you can keep your head when all about you<br />
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;<br />
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,<br />
But make allowance for their doubting too;<br />
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,<br />
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,<br />
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,<br />
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;<br />
<br />
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;<br />
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;<br />
If you can meet with triumph and disaster<br />
And treat those two impostors just the same;<br />
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken<br />
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,<br />
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,<br />
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;<br />
<br />
If you can make one heap of all your winnings<br />
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,<br />
And lose, and start again at your beginnings<br />
And never breath a word about your loss;<br />
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew<br />
To serve your turn long after they are gone,<br />
And so hold on when there is nothing in you<br />
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";<br />
<br />
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,<br />
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;<br />
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;<br />
If all men count with you, but none too much;<br />
If you can fill the unforgiving minute<br />
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -<br />
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,<br />
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-71960049574981139982011-04-01T18:54:00.000-07:002011-04-01T18:55:33.974-07:00April Fool'sSo today I'm not writing an April Fool's blog, but today is April Fool's. I'm just going to rant and vent, and simply express some emotions I've felt lately. I hope it doesn't step on anyone's toes, and if you're easily offended, you may just want to click the close tab button now. Don't say I didn't warn you!<br />
The more I live, the more I realize that people in general are not very smart. Sure there are intelligent people all over, but the general mass population is lacking a lot of common sense. For instance-I walk into a local convenience store tonight to get gas. There are at least 4 people in line in front of me. The whole time I'm in line, the clerk at the cash register is complaining and whining about her job, about the customers, about how the EMS guy in front of me "better be on call-cuz I'm goin home to get me a drink". My question is...do you realize your job deals with the public, and the public's opinion of you may heavily sway them to purchase things from your employer. So I took my happy behind to another convenience store after she got mouthy with me.<br />
Here's another instance of sheer brilliance. My wife and I are driving West on I-26, just coming into Columbia. I've traveled this road a hundred times or more, making trips to ball games, and to see family and friends. There is this guy in a nice chrysler 300M who we've been riding beside and around for approximately 50 miles. I'm driving in the left lane, going well over the speed limit, and he pulls up really fast on my right and gets stuck behind a slower moving vehicle. He falls in and does it again, only the second time he swerves in front of me, causing me to have to slow down, and let him in, otherwise my wife's Corrolla would've been parked up his butt. Anyway, I beeped the little horn (intimidating to say the least) to let him know I did NOT approve of being cut off, and he flips me off in the rear view mirror. I ignored. He then proceeds to roll his window down and give me the bird. I guess the first one wasn't good enough, because it didn't warrant a response from me. The second wasn't good enough either, b/c I just laughed. Inside I was mad, sure, but I didn't let him know it. So he looks like the idiot, and probably feels like one too, because I didn't stoop to his level. <br />
another Awesome encounter with the eternally brilliant of our time was at another gas station where I had 15 cents off every gallon of gas I bought. I wanted 20 gallons of gas, the original price was $3.20. So, my math means that I'll pay for 20 gallons at $3.05....am I correct...I hope so, I have a college degree and working on a second. Anyway, this chick at the gas station can't do the math. Simply because she can't get the calculator to bring up $3.05, she can't do it!! It just so happens one of my students is in the store beside me, buying something in the other line. He looks at me, I look at him, he starts to laugh. I said, "please stay in school, Marquez." He said, "Coach, this is all I needed to see." How sad?<br />
But, none of that should surprise me, after all, the people of this country did elect a muslim mobster from the southside of Chicago who went to a "church" that said he looked forward to the day the United States of America was "no more", to the presidency. We made him the most powerful man in the world, DUMB. How's that hopey, changey, feely crap working out for us now?ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-7661596044538124722010-03-23T10:36:00.000-07:002010-03-23T10:47:11.636-07:00This is not RepresentationOver the weekend, the US Federal Government proved once again that it has ceased to listen to the people of this nation. If you did not see this coming, you've been blind for quite a while. This "health care reform" is nothing more than big brother sticking his hand in, yet another pot, that it doesn't belong in. It is against the law, unconstitutional for the Federal Government to mandate that everyone has insurance. Make no mistake, this bill doesn't just allow you health care, it FORCES you to have health care. This bill also forces insurance companies to spend 85% of premiums paid, towards medical bills. It's unconstitutional for the government to tell businesses how to do business. What happened to the free market, where has capitalism gone? As a consumer of health care, I'd love to see premiums go down, I'd love to see the health insurance problem go away, but this does not help this go away. Your premiums will no raise, because of the 85% mandated, and also because, now a 26 year old adult, can remain on his parents health insurance. The gov't has mandated each insurance company that they HAVE to make this available to each policy holder. Lastly, there will be a government option, which in turn, will eventually put insurance companies out of business.<br />Make no mistake about what has happened. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Congress</span> and the White House has sold out the American people, we are no longer a Representative Democracy. Welcome to Socialism, <span style="font-weight:bold;">America</span>. I'm sure Ted Kennedy's day in hell is just a little bit cooler today!ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-55712151106039086592010-03-08T13:20:00.000-08:002010-03-08T13:45:31.669-08:00Wake Up!America needs to wake up! If we don't, there won't be much to be patriotic about for much longer. I've never been very politically involved, until our recent social crisis. You see, WE, Americans have elected a Communist to be our President. I feel so disappointed in this country and its people for getting so far away from our roots. We've come so far from what our forefathers envisioned for this great nation. For so long, America has been the shinning light, that beacon of hope for people who would otherwise not have gotten a chance to succeed. Our country was established on the premise of freedom, but if we continue to let a man who isn't even a citizen, have his way, many of our freedoms will be no more. Take for instance our right to bear arms. The president wants to take that away. He doesn't think any private citizen should have the right to own a gun. Well, according to the Bill of Rights (provided to the STATES from the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT), I do have that right. What do you think will happen, if no one can own a gun, except the military and the police? Hello martial law! Also, the feminist movement of the 60's and 70's when women cried out that no one had a right to tell them what to do with their bodies and they wanted to be able to have a CHOICE of whether to have a baby or not. Well, you got your choice right? Where are all those passionate women now? Because your choice is going to be taken away again, but in a different way. Obama and his cronies want to make it illegal for a family to have more than one child. Sounds to me like the Federal Government is out of control. It's time for us as citizens to get educated about how our government works, so that they can't take anymore rights and privileges away. Both sides, right and left have been taking advantage of us for far too long, and I am sick of it. I want a revolution. I want American to wake up and look around. Don't let this great country be ruined by a few with ulterior notions. We need an American Revival. A lot of people think a government takeover of our health care system would be a good idea. My only comment is this: "take a look at how social security is working out for us!" The Federal Government has never done anything efficiently, so what makes you think they'll "regulate", as they so eloquently put it, very well? Why would I want my grandmother's life in the government's hands. Take a look at our neighbors to the North. Canada has a government run health care system. Sure, there prescriptions are cheaper, but their quality of doctor's is terrible, because they don't pay them to be doctors. They pay them crap, so no one is willing to be a doctor. Do you really want Doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, janitors, secretaries, mail clerks, artists, gas station attendees to make the same amount of money???? That's where we're headed. Sure, everyone is equal, and everyone is given the same opportunity to be whatever they want to be, BUT, we won't all make the same amount of money. There's no such thing as a Utopian society. It will never work. Which brings me to my next point. The bull crap you hear about global warming. That is a crock! Believe it if you want, but it's not real. The planet is getting hotter, yet, we just had the coldest winter in 50 years. Give me a break! Al Gore wants you to believe that, so they can convince you that less is more, and you'll have less children, less cars, less homes. In this way, the government can control who has children, therefore deciding which genes go on and which genes die out. Leading to that Utopian society, where many of us don't even exist! Wake up America! I'm finished for now, I'm sure there will be more later.ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-67475147900468628042009-12-10T08:47:00.001-08:002009-12-10T09:12:17.590-08:00The Christmas SeasonChristmas is upon us, whether you like it or not. For the past few years it's been full of mixed emotions for me. On one hand, you have time away from work to spend with family and friends. On the other hand, there is so much travel and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hustle</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bustle</span>. This year will be no different. Maybe even more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hustle</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bustle</span>. Ideally, we would have Christmas at home, and everyone would be able to come. Well, realistically, that's not happening.<br />Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, it's by far my favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Holiday</span>. I love what it represents and without Christ I would be here. But, Christmas to most is nothing more than a day to get things. Most people go through Christmas thinking about what we'll get, and I'm guilty of that as well. This year, I want to make a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">conscious</span> effort to think about my family and my friends and how I can give to them. I may not have a lot of money, I may not be able to pick out the "best" gift. But, I can't wait to spend some much needed and deserved time with my friends and family.<br />The schedule is already heating up! School lets out on Dec. 18<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span>. After a brief stop in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">weight room</span>, Kacey and I are headed to the upstate of South Carolina to visit with my two best friends and their wives (Jon and Brittany and Jason and Lindsey). We'll spend the night at Jon's and I'm sure we'll stay up late talking about work and what Christmas is going to bring. We'll eat some good food and probably have some drinks. I can't wait. Jon has been my best friend some 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> grade. We've remained best friends since. 10 years, and we know one another better than I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wives's</span> know us, in some ways! There is always something to talk about. What makes it more special is the relationships we established with one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">another's</span> family. I think of Jon's mom and dad like my 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">nd</span> mom and dad. And I know my parents look at Jon like a second son. It's pretty cool, and what's even cooler is how it has stayed that way, even through moves, new jobs, marriages, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">disagreements</span>. I look forward to spending time with them every chance I get. We'll get up Saturday the 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> and head to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Asheville</span>, NC. I'm sure we'll do some shopping, and some eating. Jason and Lindsey will meet us there, and we'll be set to tour the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Biltmore</span> House. I've always thought it would be cool to go, but never really gave it a second thought. We're finally going. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Asheville</span> is a pretty cool little town. It has lots of little shops and restaurants. I'm sure we'll have a great time. The next day, we'll head to my mom and dad's in Union, SC. Which isn't far from Jon's. We'll be in Union for nearly a week. We'll spend a lot of time being bored, as there isn't much to do in Union. I'm sure we'll find something. Dad and I will talk football, and the ladies might do some cooking. We'll visit both my grandmothers Maw-Maw and Grannie, and we'll see other family. On Christmas Eve, for as long as I can remember, we've gone to my Maw-Maw's house for supper. That's my mom's side of the family. Both my uncles and their families will come. I have 4 cousins. Three of them are married and have small children. We'll have a house full. It's so much fun. But, this year will be slightly different, we've planned to play a game, instead of drawing names out of a hat, and buying for who you drew. We're playing the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Chinese</span> auction game. Which, I have to admit, I've always hated. I'm not sure why, I guess it's b/c the others I've been a part of, no one buys cools gifts. Anyway, I am traditional, and I don't like it when tradition is broken. That night will fly by, and we'll go our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">separate</span> ways. Most likely, we won't all be back together until Easter, which is sad, b/c we used to all be together every Sunday night. The next day will be Christmas, we'll wake up at Mom and Dad's like I've done every year of my life, and we'll open gifts. Dad will try to be sneaky and give mom her jewelry. We'll spend the morning cleaning up and getting ready to go to Grannie's, my Dad's mom, and see my dad's brother Tom, and his family. Heidi, his oldest will not be with us this year, she's in India, teaching English. Which blows my mind. I'm sure we will miss her, and he speed talking! At Grannie's it's all about the food. The woman can cook! She can throw down in the kitchen like none other. I know everyone feels that way about their grandma, but I challenge anyone to eat at my Grannie's and say it's not the best (insert food here) they've ever had. We'll all eat til we can't eat another bite, and around 2 we'll eat dessert! Then we will go our seperate ways, probably until next Chritmas or Thanksgiving. The journey doesn't stop there.<br />The next morning, Kacey and I will pack up and head north. We'll travel to western Maryland where Meme lives, that's Kacey's dad's mom. And we'll visit with her dad's side of the family. We'll eat, in my opinion, the second best food on the planet from her kitchen, and we'll eat til we can't eat another bite, then she'll break out her pinneapple dessert!!!! YUM! We'll spend a couple days up there, and have a White Chritmas. Then we'll head down the "mountain" to Kacey's hometown Frederick, MD. Where the remainder of her family lives. We'll spend a few days there with Kerry (Kacey's mom) and Katie (Kacey's sister). Along with Keith and Khris. Konfused yet? I'm sure we'll make our way to Iris' house and visit with them. It will be a very fun time, and we'll visit with a lot of people. I just hope it doesn't fly by as fast as I think it will. I hope we get to cherish it, and I wish it was more! After that, it's football season for 4-5 more days as the Bowl games are being played out, but that's another post. We'll be back in Walterboro in time to go back to work on the 4th!ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-52913262771805024942009-09-11T08:09:00.001-07:002009-09-11T08:54:09.876-07:00Fridays<span style="color:#990000;">Being a football junkie, I live for the weekend during the fall even more so than I do any other time of the year. I think we can all agree that the weekends are the best, but during football season, nothing compares.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Well, the school I'm coaching at now, has started out well. Surprisingly to some, we've started 2-0. We won our first game 34-0, and our second 32-22. The score seems closer than the actual game was. We had a commanding 26 point lead at halftime. Anyway, today's post is not just about high school football, it's about much more. It's about what football means to me, not as a coach, but as a person.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Growing up, my dad played football with me all the time. He taught me how to catch, how to run, how to throw. He taught me routes and plays. He was also responsible for taking me to the local high school games on Friday nights. Unlike most of the little people, who were running around together, I sat patiently beside my dad. Eager to see the next play, to see the next great yellow jacket from Union High. Well those days are long gone, for more reasons than one. (But that's a different day).</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Football in general just has so much going on. But college football, has to be one of the purest sports on the face of the planet. Where else can grown men, who are complete strangers, park beside one another, fire up seperate grills, and become best friends because they wear the same color shirt? Go to most college campuses on a fall saturday and you'll see this taking place. Guys and gals who have never spoken to one another are suddenly best friends and are sharing the same coolor and passing out koozies, because they attended/root for the same university. Now obviously there are the d-bags who make it miserable sometimes, but there is something special about college football. Particularly in the South. Because they are so very special.</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">If you are reading this, you probably know me, which means you know I am a University of South Carolina fan. Unfortunately! My love for all things Carolina can and does get me in trouble sometimes. Take for instance this coming weekend. I got married to my lovely wife almost 3 months ago, June 13. I told her I wasn't going to any Carolina games this year because the end of last year was so dissapointing, losing 3 games by a combined score of 180-30 or something like that. It was bad. I promised that I would make them prove to me this year, that they were serious about football, and were serious contenders. So I didnt get any season tickets this year, I didn't try to make plans last week to sneak away to Raleigh, to watch them take on the NC State Wolfpack. I watched it on tv, after my JV game. Well the opportunity came up on Tuesday to buy a pair of tickets from a coworker and go to Athens to see Carolina take on UGAY. I couldn't pass it up. And, my wife, bless her heart, the lovely woman she is, hasn't given me a bit of grief about it. although I'm sure it is coming. Probably because she took off to Myrtle Beach to visit her aunt and uncle. :)</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">So I'm super excited to go on a road trip with my best friend Jon and do some tailgating and watch some Gamecock Football. Just another Fall Saturday in the South!!!</span>ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8909740913369289496.post-45691837653672155612009-06-02T09:39:00.001-07:002009-06-02T09:47:38.716-07:00first ever blogI am new to this, but my future wife started one a while back, and I think it's pretty cool. I'm not sure who will read it, but I'm going to write one anyway. There are 11 days until I get married, which is crazy to even think about. I'm so excited about starting my life with Kacey and being a great husband to her. But, I'm terrified at the same time. I guess, because for so long, it's just been me. I've never had to protect and comfort and worry too much about anyone else. Sure, I've done those things but, not to the extent of marriage. Now, Kacey will rely on me for support, love, leadership, and a host of other things. While I feel like I'm up to the task, there is something about taking that plunge that is nerve racking. I've never been a nervous person. I've never been the type of person to worry about things. I've always been a go with the flow type of person. But, recently I have been unable to sleep well. Which I've never struggled with. I think it has a lot to do with changing jobs and trying to find something for Kacey. Also we have to move, not to mention actually getting married and singing at the wedding. Getting all that stuff right, and still maintaining a smile the whole day. Not to mention the two weeks I have to spend at a seminar immediately after the wedding. So, no real honeymoon for us. So needless to say, our first month or so as newlyweds, is going to be rather hectic. I guess that's a precursor for REAL LIFE!!!ratheolcoachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03796887693370045183noreply@blogger.com1