back at it!!

Ok.. so I seriously am going to do a better job at blogging! Friends, I get that you are interested! haha.. well I hope you are anyways!
As I sit here at my desk, I should be doing lots and lots of paperwork...but I'm thinking of all the things I want to do next year to please God! I decided to make a list over Christmas break of all the things I want to do and accomplish. I emailed my wonderful aunt Nan this morning about the topic of tithing. My church always talks about the importance and it has finally sunk in to me. I'm going to tithe!
http://www.gotquestions.org/tithes-church-ministry.html
This is what she sent me! What an amazing person!! I am so blessed beyond words by such amazing Godly people in my life!

Contageous Generosity

At church we are learning about contagious generosity. This weekend was about God generosity to us!!! He created the earth for us!! We are procreated to live for God. Recreation is another way for us to enjoy Gods generosity. And lastly is salvation. Whom else has given his life for us so that we will have eternal life. God is so great!


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Flat Rock,Evansville,United States

Holy cow...it's been a long time!

Woah. I just realized I haven't blogged in a long time!!
Ok...a quick recap--- my baseball team won the division 2 national championship!!! Yeah pretty sweet!!
Summer has been one for the books. Have taken the summer off and have focused on me!! Can't say I have done that since probably elementary school. And let me tell you it has been absolutely amazing. I spent a few days on the farm, hung out with my neice Emily (birth control for sure!! I mean that in the nicest way possible), went to Philly. Had the time of my life while being there. Saw my favorite baseball player Chase Utley (picks to come!) had amazing seats!!! And the city of Philly is phenominal. The history gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. Enjoyed spending quality time with one of my roomies/best friends from college in Philly so thanks Abby Miller for such an awesome trip. Oh and the whole reason we were in Philly was our national athletic training conference -- so good to see so many athetic training friends.
The rest of the summer was spent at weddings, the river sking, toms beach, and the copper pool. I've gotten so much vitamin d and I'm loving it. Work starts back up soon and I feel like I'm refreshed and ready for the new year.
I have a couple personal goals for the year. I'm going to try and stay calm when dealing with the Mole...the mole is one of our coaches whom has no respect for me or athletic training, and honestly i don't know who the mole respects. So instead of letting the mole get under my skin, I'm gonna stay cool.
I'm going to give into to God at work and know that
He won't give me anything he doesn't think I can handle.
And lastly I'm going to see the good in people. Even tho my heart recently got broken after trying to see the good in a special someone for 3 years... I know God is in control.


-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Flat Rock,Evansville,United States

CMC -- LETS GO TO THE LAKE..

Hey Central friends -- wouldn't today be awesome (well the weather is great here in E.ville IN) to skip work and go to the lake..
Remember all the great times we had out there.. it didn't matter which "group" you were in -- the lake was fun for all!
This is the time of the year when I think back to the good ole days at fayettenam... and wish that for just a day or two we could all go back and pretend we weren't grown up's and just do it like we used to... No, life isn't bad at all right now.. but life was just different back then.. and ohhhhhh sooooooo wonderful! Hope y'all are doing well! And the memories from Central will be with me forever -- both good and bad and I wouldn't change a thing!!

the end is almost here...

Year 4 of USI is coming to a close... I feel as tho, I should be moving on -- because before "real life" my life was measured in basically 4 years.. 4 years of hs, 4 years of college, 2 years of grad school... and now i've been in the real world at the same place for 4 years... but I am not ready to leave, and hopefully I won't...still waiting for 2010-11 contract.
Anyways -- this year has been something else -- I feel like I could say that every year..
The fall was - as to be expected, disappointing... mens soccer got a new coach whom actually made (or tried to make) the team act like decent human beings, those that didn't understand the concept of self respect or respect of others were booted and asked to move on w/o USI soccer... the woman, I'm going to just throw this out there, were one of the most TALENTED teams in our conference -- but it just didn't really do anything for the winning.. i've never seen a team with that much talent unable to win...it was sad.
Winter came and went as did basketball..very sad year.. but just the other day a group of baskeball guys were sitting outside our athletic training room and they were being all loud, it just felt like Jeron's spirit was here... it was pretty cool.
and now spring has sprung and baseball/softball are winding down... it doesn't seem possible.. the year has gone way to quickly..
baseball has conference games at Quincy this weekend, not a fan of the bushleague quincy team.. hopefully we can get a 4 game sweep this weekend.. head to the conference tournament next weekend and do alright there.. then possibly host the regional.
What a year it has been...an incredible ride. Honestly, the best part of the year, for me is the way I have gotten so much closer to God. It is truly amazing when you can lead on God to show you the way, things just are so much easier, knowing at the end of the day -- it's not about me!

must share...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/apr/16/surprise-at-the-plate/

#1... 31-9.. i♥myteam..

I was just telling my mother last night (via text) that life is so great! My job is so wonderful. It has been up and down this spring. I have loved and hated my job... however, I know that God's plan for me is way better than anything I could plan for myself!!
So this past weekend baseball traveled to KC for a four game series against Rockhurst. For those of you that have never witnessed Rockhurst baseball..you are in for a treat. They talk entirely to much until the score is no longer in their favor.. in game on we were down going into the 7th and our junior catcher (and one of my FAV's) Dylan hit a 2 run BOMB, to tie up the game.. we went on to score 8 more runs in the 11th to win game 1.. and game 2 that day.. Sunday was another hard fought battle, but Dyl came thru in the clutch again.. yeah -- he's good!! And we left the sunny hot confines of the Rock taking all four games --- CHINO's it was for the boys.. having swept the series Arch said the boys could have Chinese food.. and he kept his promise.
This week Dyl and Taylor were player of the week and pitcher of the week -- Great start to the week I'd say.. http://www.glvcsports.com/news/2010/4/12/BSB_0412102544.aspx
Yesterday we traveled to Northern Kentucky for a non-conference/regional battle of the bests.. we split with them.. they will do some damage to soft throwing curve ball pitchers.. they are some BIG boys and they could play some ball.. i don't think they were used to our speed at all.. It was an ok day, would have been awesome taking 2 from them.. we will see them again at Conference and Regionals.
Speaking of Regionals.. we are officially #1!!! for the first time since i've been here and it is freakin awesome! If we can stay #1 we can host regionals.. and that would be SOOO SWEEEEET!! tons of hard work, but soooo worth it! http://gousieagles.com/news/2010/4/14/BB_0414103456.aspx

MLB is finally here!!!

I'm sooooo happy that major league baseball is back!!! I live for baseball season. Yanks and red sox last night!! I love being able to come home and watch some baseball every single day!!

This weekend my baseball team travels to KC!! Hopefully I'll get to see some friends and family! My team is 25-8 right now. Pretty good!!


-- Post From My iPhone

yesterday felt like a monday...

So lack of sleep and increase in worries have been the story of my life... i soooo wish i could leave my work at work -- some say that's what makes me a decent ATC, IDK if I agree tho..
Anyways -- March Madness started.. my bracket is doing alright.. I'm in first place in all three pools i'm in!! We will see how long that will last...
The weather was absolutely amazing yesterday = amazing day to sit out at baseball practice. Then I had an amazing dinner with a dear friend.. lil miss Kathy Wood (soon to be Vossmer!! i hope i spelled that correctly??) She is such a wonderful person. Always has great insight about life and is a wonderful spiritual friend. She brightens my day!!
Today baseball takes on UMSL and shadybrady/mario.. I heard they are really really bad this year, so hopefully we can sweep this 4 game set and get on the right track! Good luck my lil baseballers...

surgery day...

my lil buddy tyler is having surgey today.. yep he is fractured and he is getting it fixed and hopefully he will be back next season throwing CHEDDD!

I forgot to mention the best part of my break was my mid afternoon date with just.jeff!! b.dubs on thursday and super funny convo's... and just.jeff!! he is CRAZY and sooo funny -- you just never know what he is going to say or do.. and he brings us ice cream when we are sad!! This is just one of the crazy things he does that just makes us love him to pieces!

Please keep tyler in your prayers!

SPRING --- NO ___ BREAK..

Spring break was last week, and it was anything but a break..

baseball had Monday vs Wayne St... win.
Tuesday practice
Wednesday vs Bellarmine... loss
Thursday practice
Friday vs. Indy... loss
Saturday vs. Indy... win
Sunday vs Kentucky Wesleyan... split.. we are 11-7.. not to great for us..

My parents and aunt and uncle came to town Friday.. It was great spending time with them, it was a short trip and me having games didn't allow for a ton of family time. But it's always great seeing them.

This week school is back in session.. I'm behind on grading, lectures, and basically everything for my class... but will get a lil time to catch up this afternoon -- I'm taking it off!! Whoooohoo!!

baseball...it's kinda.pretty.much my life right now

This weekend of baseball was boLth wonderful and sad... We'll start with the wonderful - Coach Weaver (far right) was in town!! On Friday afternoon we played Parkside (Coach Weav's team). Tyler got the start, lasting about 2 innings before he couldn't handle the pain any more. So he is going to red-shirt this year. So PLEASE keep him in your prayers, for anyone that is a competitor knows sitting out from what you love is the worst thing that could ever happen. Anyways -- Coach Weav's team took it to us Friday night. They played lights out and well, we didn't. This was by far one of the worst game's I've ever seen, but yeah, Weav 1 Arch 0.
Saturday was when USI, Wayne St, and Parkside came together to honor Coach Mags (2nd from right). Coach Mags coached at Wayne St and boLth Arch and Weav coached under him while at Wayne St. Coach Mags is like a father to boLth Arch and Weav as well as Disch(Wayne's current head coach). But yeah, Coach Mags is awesome and obviously has done an amazing job at teaching men how to coach the game of baseball successfully! We played Parkside on Saturday and we won. Sunday we played Wayne St and won again. Then last night was USI's first game under the lights on our own field. and WOW.. it looked awesome!! Our field is amazing!! We played Wayne St... Casey took the mound for us... Casey has been a project to say the least, he battled elbow issues in the fall of 08, was stubborn and hard headed (yeah, I can say this cause he knows he was also!) and finally in the spring of 09 he had Tommy John Surgery. So today was his first time on the bump in 2 years in a game. He was alright. He threw 4 shutout innings and seemed to get into a grove and did alright. Last night is was a close game, the kind of game where your heart races a lot and you get super excited and super frustrated at the same time. Poor ole Joe, the home plate ump, he struggled... Tyler would say "Joe, ya _____ us, ya ____ us.. you can fill in the blanks with the eff word.. it's Tylers thing when he doesn't like what an umpire decides.. We ended up winning and it was AWESOME!!
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/mar/08/eagles-light-up-the-diamond/

only one day till the weav returns!!

Tomorrow Coach Weave will be here!! WHOOOO HOOO!!

I am soooo excited! like, a lil kid waiting for santa -- seriously!!

I can not wait to get to the field and see him!! He is finally a head coach, yes I'm happy for him, but I'm secretly not cause I still want him to be an assistant here!!

I might be even more excited for the post game plans...prolly some dinner somewhere (turoni's prolly) and lots of LAUGHS!!

Man.. I can barely contain my excitement!! THE WEAV IS COMING BACK!!!

Well, I guess that's all i've got for now..

I do want to apologize if I seemed angry yesterday.. I really wasn't, I was just wanting all athletes to realize that at the end of the day when practice is over and y'all go home, an ATC's job is NEVER done... and I don't want you to think that for one minute it is! Remember to say thank you to your ATC's this month!!

it's been a while... sorry!!

So life as an athletic trainer is not always fun and games. Don't get me wrong, I love love love my job to much probably. But sometimes, it's extra stressful. I'll explain further in a min.. let's hit the great things first...
Baseball is winning games and doing some alright things they are currently 6-3 after beating Tiffin (a regional foe) this past weekend. Tyler (dispite a 100% crappy arm) had a great outting and kept Tiffin to 3 hits. Our other pitchers were not so great...our staff is struggling right now.. hopefully they figure it out before Friday when Parkside comes to town...
Parkside -- the home of our former assistant coach, Joel Weaver!!! I'm sooooo excited to see coach Weav this weekend. I miss him like crazy!! He is one of those awesome coaches that most ATC's don't get to work with.. and when he left, I was broken hearted.. But it is exciting to see him as the man in charge at his alma mater.. Good for him! But, we will still beat his team -- BAD -- hopefully!

Ok.. back to Tyler's arm.. On Monday we drove a quick lil 6+ hours to Birmingham AL to see Dr. Andrew's on Tuesday. Tyler, whom I have said time and time again is the hardest working athlete I've ever been privilaged to work with. His arm is hurting and it hurt last season also, none of the doctors around here that we have been to had given us any answers as to why, so we were off to see the MAN, or the KING of ELBOWS. - Dr. Andrews!! And he did not disappoint, he gave us answers and insite on why his arm was doing what it was doing. So he's going to continue pitching this season, and hopefully his arm will hold up and allow him to finish this season successfully. He will be in a pretty significant amount of pain, which breaks my heart, but he's super tough and he loves the game. So just say a lil prayer daily for him if you please could.

It's National Athletic Trainer's month.. how awesome is that!! I want all you athletes to take a min to say thanks to your athletic trainers!!! I'm not going to get on my soap box about this, but I honestly believe we have one of the most thankless jobs of all time. I wanna give you just a lil insite to this week in my life and maybe you'll understand just a lil about what I do and why I do it..
Sunday -- woke up at 530 did p90x legs and back and ab ripper, showered was at work by 8 and have had 2 cups of coffee. Got stuff ready to take to the baseball field, did pre-game treatments. BP started at 930 followed by a game starting at noon. Game ended around 4. Post game treatments after. Left work about 530 after making sure all weekend treatments were entered into our injury software. Picked up Lins for some dinner. Got home from dinner around 730. Opened an eval book and tried thinking of all the things I could think of to ask Dr. Andrews. Then the drama began... around 8 on the phone w/ Arch and David, dealing with stupid stuff that did NOT need to be dealt with. Its funny how hard you can work for people and yet at the end of the day, your best is not good enough... so after dealing with the drama -- I was SUPER angry, I called dad -- bless his heart, he had no idea what to say or do to make me happy, but he sure tried (this was one time I bet he sure wished that mom would have been home!) I then went to Jacks to just vent.. and then around 11 I came home and was in better spirits. I looked up a few more questions and finally laid in bed around 130, however I could NOT turn my mind off... so I got about 2 solid hours of sleep..
Monday - woke up at 520, did p90x and went to the rec and did an hr of cardio.. got home around 7, showered and was back to work by 745... did my morning treatments with my athlete's, wrote up treatments for tuesday (cause I was going to be outta town) had a meeting w/David, Arch, and Tyler to prepare for the Dr. Andrews visit. Went to lunch w/ Brendel. Did some afternoon treatments and paperwork, picked up a car for the drive to AL.. left for AL with Tyler and his father John around 245. DROVE and DROVE and DROVE.. stopped for some dinner -- Pizza Hut -- ole Steph thought I drank Dr. Pepper -- which I didn't.. and she couldn't get it figured out.. ate some salad and a piece of pizza and were off again.. Got to the hotel around 930.. did some (LOTS) of thinking and hardly slept at all again...
Tuesday - 6 am wake up.. went for a nice lil jog in the rain/snow in downtown Birmingham, shower at 7, straighten hair and got all ready for the appt. Checked outta the hotel, went to Dr. Andrew's office around 1015. Was there till 330ish.. Got in the car to head home -- STARVING -- found a cracker barrel.. ate some delish b.fast food for dinner -- yummmm! and headed home!! Got home around 1015, did some serious thinking and journaling about what I had learned at Dr. Andrews' office and FINALLY got some amazing sleep from 2a-6!!
Today -- I did NOT workout and was at work by 730.. caught up on paper work, read some txt book info about bone healing (just to refresh) had some good convo w/ David (my boss) and it's almost 7 and I'm waiting for Tyler to finish his workout to be able to go home and bury my head in txt books to figure out why and how modalities work together to do the best treatment possible to get his arm to freakin heal!!

So.. in general -- I do my job, work long days, and continue to keep my head in text books, to be the best I can be... I do this cause I love my job. I love seeing kids be able to do what they love doing. I really do have the greatest job ever... but I do work long long thankless hours all for others and sometimes I just need to vent about it!! lol.. tomorrow I'll do it all over again and love almost every moment of it. God has given me the ability to care way to much for others, sometimes I wander why he has given me that ability!!

3-3... and Goodbye MBB..

my baseball boys are 3-3... YUCK 3-3... I am a hard woman to please -- i know i know.. our team is way better than 3-3.. this past weekend we went to Russellville Arkansas, pretty good weather 45-55 degrees... way nicer than what we've been dealing with in Eville.. Anyways - Friday Tyler took on Arkansas Tech (the wonderboys) and Phil (the umpire) had a hitter friendly (?) zone.. Tyler is pretty darn good at keeping the ball down, and well Phil didn't like to call the low strike.. soooo, it was a lil crappy on Phil's part -- but Tyler got thru and got the win. Saturday we took on the stupid griffins from Mo West... whom is my least favorite school in all of america! I do NOT like Mo Wo Ju Co at ALL!! our infielders were just plain terrible... hitters 2 stike approaches could have been better... bullpin was below average.. starting pitching was alright... but we lost -- and I was not happy about it... Soooo.. hopefully my boys get back on track this weekend as we begin a nice lil home stretch.. Bring it on Tiffin, Parkside (DREAM WEAVER) and Wayne...

Well, basketball is done. Last night was seniors night. The girls won vs Quincy and clenched a home court advantage for the GLVC 1st round of the tournament. The girls also went undefeated this year at the PAC. Pretty awesome! The men also won, and their senior send off was after the game... VERY EMOTIONAL.. This girl, was struggling.. I'm gonna miss Andrew, the manager, always a great laugh -- yeah I laugh at him. Especially the day he was in a HUGE hurry and rounded the soda machine and his ankle didn't hold up... he bit the dust.. but popped right back up (def limping) and went on his mission... I laughed.. not nice, but it happens. Issac is an official eville family member.. he is in our crew.. and now i'm really excited to spend lots of time w/ him! he is reallllly funny and i look forward to more family dinners.. but will miss him hustling on the floor.. hopefully he'll come to baseball and pitch a lil for the screaming baseball eagles... Marvin and Ty's parents were unable to make it, but they still had pretty great years at USI this year.. I'll miss marv's give me that.... comments and Ty stole all the cookies I made for the boys.. real cool - NOT.. Boog's mom and Auntie from Baltimore were on hand, dancing in the circle and thanking the crowd.. Boog is excited to go to Los now that basketball is over and have a Marg... should be fun. Jamar will really be missed as well.. yeah, he is really freaking great at basketball, but it's the off the court stuff that makes me remember him most.. his songs, his laugh, his smile, and his stories about growing up... whirlpool and heat packs.. and candy stories -- i'm gonna miss that boy! And last but not least, Dori's family and friends from Ft. Wayne made it to the ceremony.. it was soooo great seeing them all there and the love that they have for USI and the respect for USI. it was awesome. I miss Dori so much every single day. His lil mini me was at the game also... talk about adorable.. he is!! lil Jamel is just sooo amazing! He has Dori's nose!! and I love it! ...

My friends are pretty much the best -- EVER.

Ok, I have always had a lot of friends... growing up my friends were the neighborhood boys. I played a ton of pick up basketball, football, and baseball. In high school I had 2 groups of friends my softball teammates (girls from all over NW missouri) and my boys. I'd never say I was popular or anything like that, but I don't think I was ever lacking in the friends dept. In college is where I got my BEST friends, those people that I can talk to any time about anything and NOTHING has ever changed.. that includes Jenn, Abby, Kyle, Jill, Steph and Codeman. In grad school a few more people were added to the list. Then the tricky part happened, I move FAR far away. Now I still have my college friends, all just a txt or phone call away (thank GOD for that!). I have a few more friends -- since arriving in Evansville, one friend in particular (yes we've had ups and downs) has been there the whole time, Miss Brooklyn. Arch is def on the best list... There are a couple others, that guy, bdub and kate... we got into a ton of mischief my first two years of real adult life, but have since settled down, unless we are all together -- then the "chit show" is on.. but thankfully it isn't an every day thing..only a once (maybe twice if we are lucky) year thing. The other group of friends that have always been around, but I didn't ever really consider them friends -- my family. Wow -- I have such an amazing family and am extremely lucky for that.
Friends make us who we are today -- and for solving the worlds problems last night w/ Jacks this is what we decided about friends --
1. Friends are people you know are going to be there whenever.
2. Friends are people you get mad at and get over being mad at in the same minute.
3. Friends are those whom you wanna be around, it's not forced.
4. Jack and I really have the all the answers in life.. so contact us if you have questions...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE MY FRIENDS...

2 and 1....

I know, I know.. it's been a couple days and you are all patiently waiting for the results of the weekend "According to Beck"...

Sunday -- Valentines Day (got a super sweet card, from a very NON Valentine -- making me tear up)... Got to the field around 10ish.. Game 1 started at 11... Wandy started the game w/ a homerun. Taylor threw really well and we won. Ole chomper was very smelly today, I told him about it also... yuck! For anyone that knows me at all, they know that smells are one thing I can't stand, smells make me really sick to my stomach.. So needless to say, chomper didn't really hang out beside me -- which was AWESOME! Game 2 didn't exactly go the way we thought it would, a rough bottom of the 8th put Armstrong up 8-7 and we couldn't rally back to get the W.. so we split for the day -- but won the series... We left Armstrong around 430ish and headed west... I slept and slept and slept, waking up periodically to a grunt or some weird noise coming from Michael Irving the bus driver, not the football player... and a snow storm was hitting Tennessee and Kentucky and Indiana.. so therefore the trip took a whole lot longer than we had initially thought it would. However, we made it back to Evansville safely at 6am Monday morning.

School was closed untill noon... so I took a lil nap till 10 and then got some errands ran.. had to get a new iPhone -- which I might add is FREAKING SWEET!.. and then I went to work. Got nothing done at work to speak of, did a few treatments on baseball boys, and before I knew it -- it was GAMETIME for basketball.

Basketball was playing KWC... the girls won, kinda a boring game, but a win is a win.. the mens game was started by a welcoming from Jon Mark to KWC.. it was a nice lil speech, thanking them for their greatness and respect of USI after the death of Jeron Lewis. Last time we played KWC was the last time any of us saw Jeron alive, he died during that game. KWC is normally a HUGE rival game -- now it isn't so much. USI men didn't play very well, Jamar was battling a bum foot and MOMO an ankle injury.. .our defense was NOT very good and well honestly KWC was just a better team last night. KWC spoiled the undefeated season hopes for USI. Bummer of a game, but I think that will be the only loss for this special team.

Grandpa Lloyd had a heart cath today.. got boLth good and bad news.. bad being that he has some blockages in his stint and in the area of his last bypass surgery, they put a new stint in and said it could last a year or 20... so who knows... good news for grandpa was that he still gets to drive the bus for the old folks home (no my g.pa isn't in the home, he just takes the old people where they need to go a few days a week -- my g.pa doesn't think he is an old man (he's 74 or something like that))... So just keep Grandpa Lloyd in your prayers as well as the rest of the family (mom's side).. You never wanna hear that your grandpa is having health issues.

23-0.... 1-0

Well yesterdays rain out had no effect on my lil baseball buddies. Today they showed up ready to do their jobs. And yep -- Arch and I were on the same page with the line ups!! I tell you what - he is pretty freakin awesome!! Our boys were alright today at the plate... most of the hitters looked alright... Tyler had the quote of the game "the ball looked like a mouse going into a hole" but yeah, hitters looked pretty good. Our defense was not good... While talking to my mother earlier in the evening, I said "I'd charge 2 errors on each single error cause we were mentally dumb today when fielding balls.." so yeah, defense was ugly!! I guess it is to be expected having not really taken balls live off the bat since mid Jan... I'll give them a break today.. but -- I hope to see improvement tomorrow! lol.. listen to me - like writing this like I have some pull or something -- which I don't.. but I guess that's why I blog.. to share my opinion with ya'll! lucky you. Tyler started the game on the bump and he did alright, I thought he was pretty darn good, but he says he was alright... so that's what we will go with. Trevor came in and finished the game and he was just alright also.. the miracle tape was working for him -- weirdo! But yeah -- today baseball was decent. Good enough to win, but we are way better than we played today. and 1-0 isn't to bad to start off the season... Tomorrow Taylor and Dan have games 2 and 3 of the series... so hopefully they will be ready!! I know I am! man I just love baseball...
I do have to gripe just a min, I don't really like ppl in my "space" or trying to talk to me during the games... and someone on our team DROVE me nuts today. This person was supposed to be charting something and kept freakin asking me a million questions -- i wanted to ask them if they just wanted me to keep the freakin chart cause it was obvious they couldn't pay attention. GRRRR.. I was super frustrated! This person whom we'll call "chomper" (he chews his food with his mouth open, which is also super annoying) has officially driven me nuts this trip. I'm praying for patience with him and for him to FIO before tomorrow, or at least before next weekend... I might just have to find a different home in the dugout -- or kick him to the opposite side! Let's all just say a lil prayer about that one? Maybe God will give one of us a hint on how to tolerate... ole chomper prolly doesn't even know he drives me bonkers!!
On to basketball, they are still undefeated!! perfect 23-0! and b.hogg was a thief today!! He led our team in steals and from what I hear, he was pretty darn good today! atta boy b.hogg!!
The women also won today -- they upset unbeaten University of Indianapolis (Indy)! Way to go ladies!
This girl is super tired and about to hit the sheets! Gotta LONG day tomorrow, 2 baseball games and a 10 hour trip back to evansville.. Monday is KWC basketball games and I have to get a new phone!! my iphone is dead :-( which makes me super sad! G'nite!!

It is almost here....baseball 2010...

Well, it's not 60's or even really the 50's... but today the boys got outside on a real baseball field and had practice. And even tho it wasn't shorts weather, it was still amazing!! Fielders got to take real pop flies and real ground balls. Pitchers got to throw! Hitter's got to hit pearls.. And, me, I got to just sit back and watch it all. Just a lil perk of having one of the best jobs in the world.

This morning I had an awesome P90 workout. I went for a lil run. Arch called and said I was going to the field with him a little bit earlier. We stopped to get some money and COFFEE!! He truly is the best coach I've ever worked with. I know it may seem like I brag about him alot, but I really feel like he is a great coach. I often wish I were a boy so I could play baseball for him.

Tomorrow it's the season opener!! well -- maybe -- they are predicting rain here in Savannah. bummmmmer! Rain wears me out!!! It is one of my least favorite things about baseball. Arch said today if it does rain, we will play one game Saturday and two on Sunday.. which puts us back to USI early Monday morning -- hopefully by 3am..but who knows.

I'm gonna throw a line up out there for tomorrow's game, I just wanna see if i'm anywhere near Arch's page...
Choate, Mooney, Enright, Vance, Wandy, Fink, Blinn, Huling & Ehmke.

Well, I guess I'll get back to writing powerpoints and grading papers... sometimes life in the hotel can be soooo boring. Yeah -- I get my fill of alone time that's for sure!

22 and ZERO!!

The boys beat Drury tonight!! that is such a tough place to play!! and USI went in there and WON!! Oh how special is this USI team.. yesterday the boys were hanging out in the ATR just talking about how tough this game was going to be.. they said.. teams can play with us for 20 min, some for 25, a few for 30, Drury may take us to 35 min, but there really isn't anyone that can play with us for 40 min. I believe that.. This USI team is sooooo special! They are awesome to watch! I just love them!

Well, tomorrow is the day I've been waiting for since last May!! We get on the bus to start our trip to Armstrong Atlantic in Savannah GA. Tonight I should have been doing more to get ready -- but -- leave it to me to slack and now i'm way tired! I've gotta throw my dishes in the dishwasher and fold some laundry... that will leave packing in the morning, cutting Dyl's rice crispy treats, straightening my hair, and doing last min stuff around the apt. Man I'm soooo ready to be on the road. I'm due for some ipod.land time!! i've missed it!! hahah.. I got some new music - A lil Lady GAGA (tman told us she had some good stuff, and i didn't listen at first, but yeah, HE WAS RIGHT and she does have some good stuff!) the new lil wayne, and some great new christian tunes.

For those of you concerned that i'm not packed yet -- i promise you i will be fine, i'm a pro at packing in like 10 min... i pack WAY to much, WAY to many pairs of shoes, but man -- that's just how it goes.

Welp - that's all for now.. YAY USI baskeballers!! 22-0! Awesome!! Jamar was awesome tonight and like always Kev's defense was stellar... i just love them!!

Jamel's Benefit

Today was a benefit for Jeron's son, Jamel's college fund. Hacienda on the west side was giving a portion I heard 10% or 20% of each person's bill to the college fund for Jamel. How awesome is that. Evansville has been so gracious. I'm def not a Hacienda fan, but for tonight, I choked it down for a great cause. And some really great company -- the softball girls! Not a day goes by that I don't think of Jeron... RIP Dori..

Basketball left for Drury today -- they play tomorrow... It is such a lonely place when they are gone. I really miss them!

Baseball is completely over being inside...it's sooooo boring! I can't wait to be on the field on Thursday!! Then to play a game on Friday (pray the rain holds off!). PAC 200 is wearing on me.. being inside is wearing on me...I'm an outside girl! Give me sun, baseball, some seeds...maybe a diet mounTain dew and some citrus...and I'm a happy camper!!

Welp - it's snowing again.. part of me really wants school to be cancelled tomorrow!! I teach class on Tuesdays only -- soooo pray for a snow day!!

21 and ZERO

My lil defensive LOVE -- this is Kev! We are just taking a lil break for a photo. Kev is my fav to watch play defense. He's our lil point gaurd. I just love him to pieces.

Dear John -- WOW -- what a great movie! I had a wonderful time w/ Brooklyn at the movie. It was packed there! But man -- it was really good. Channing Tatum is really easy on the eyes. lol..

Saturday was GAMEDAY = and OT win for the ladies and a GREAT mens game w/ USI coming out on top! 21 and 0!!! Rockhurst was really good. They seemed to be really prepared for us and their Hill guy was pretty darn good, but we've got JAMAR -- Sorry.bout.it -- GLVC player of the year for sure! And our defense was as in your face as ever.. just a fun game!

Saturday was also the big 21 for my favorite #16. Dyl's family was in town. I wish I would have been able to meet up with them at Turoni's...but seeing my lil athlete's celebrate their 21st is something I can't be a part of. However, I'm sure I'll join his family in Savannah for a dinner.

Baseball leaves in 3 days!! I really can't wait. I'm almost ready.. just gotta pack Tuesday night. get the rest of the treats - chewy spree's, seeds, and citrus, maybe some different starbursts... and something choc.. I've gotta make the birthday boy some riceKrispy treats for the bus ride.. Other than that -- I'm soooo ready!! I hope my bug spray comes in!!

BLESSED!!

I am just sooooo BLESSED!

Baseball season opener in just one week.
Baseball blessings - Arch - the best teacher of the game I've ever met. Marx - can teach hitting to anyone. BradleyVance - 2nd basemen - he's a gamer. Dyl - our catcher, great friend, amazing person, wonderful family. T.man - intense, hard-nosed, GAGA, funny and our ACE!

Basketball - 20&0 - WOW... that in its self is a blessing!! That team has 15 blessings in my life. BHogg can always make me laugh. Kev gives the BEST hugs, he is at a good hug height. Jamar's sense of humor. Dori's watching over us while hoopin in heaven. CJ's smile and ornery grin. MOMO's hotness. Nick's shelf. Issac just being Issac. Boog making me "look". Marv's personality and always having a song to sing. Ty who knows. Coaches being more than coaches -- treating people like people.

I have softball blessings -- Brendel, Fink, and Alex -- my 3 musketeers.. three really wonderful young ladies... always able to make someone smile.

My lil runners -- Hol and Ade.. keeping God in mind

The lady ballers -- Ghetti, Cootie, and Abs --

I'm currently on a soccer and volleyball hiatus... def over those sports. Can def wait till fall to deal with them again.. is that mean?

DEAR JOHN = Beck+Brooklyn= GIRLS NIGHT!! sooooo excited!!

My parents are a blessing... they've allowed me to be who I am. And for that I am sooo thankful.

Speaking of blessings -- today while reading the courierpress.com -- so many people were commenting about UMSL's men's basketball coach. Sometimes I just wish that people would take it a lil easy on the coach if they just watch or see the coach in one game setting. Yes people coaches get excited, they get fired up, they get angry. They share all the same emotions that all the rest of us have with our jobs. Could you imagine losing your job if you didn't win? It is a coaches job to WIN. A coach is going to do what they think is necessary to get that WIN. It may not always "look" like they are doing the best thing, but probably at the time, they are doing what they think is best. So next time, take it a lil easy on those coaches, all they are trying to do is keep their jobs.

Sometimes it is just really important to thank God for the blessings he has given us. And I think it is more than ok to Blog.Thank.Them. for the greatness they possess in my life.

I agree with Carlei!!

I was reading Carlei's blog and couldn't agree more! I am also becoming (have become) a hermit! I LOVE being HOME!!

For me, it's my quiet place. I love my athlete's and I love my job -- and I LOVE coming home at night and not having to talk to anyone. I love coming home and being able to do whatever I want. I love being able to go to the gym if I want, do P90x if I want, or do NOTHING if that is what I want. I am so thankful every single day for having a place to call home. So Carlei, I am with you, I love my friends -- but man -- I really love my home!

Family dinner was a blast. Never a dull moment. I am a person that loves laughing and loves awesome friends and tonight it was boLth! Funny stories to make great memories.

Tomorrow is a HOME basketball game and I am STOKED!! It will be the first game I have seen since Jeron's death. It will be tough for me personally, and I'm sure it will be hard on others. I want to take the time to thank those of you that have sent me txt's and emails and voicemails. I'm not avoiding you, I promise, I just really don't want to talk about it yet.

Tonight on the way back from the log inn, we were talking about relationships with God. I just love hearing other peoples opinions (as long as they are believers, I shut off when people say they don't believe). I think there is so much we can learn from each other when we listen to what they think about their relationship with God. It really made me think about my life and my friends.

With everything I've found out about my brother lately, it is NOT for me to judge and that is really hard for me. Part of me wanders what my brother is doing and thinking and that is the hard part for me not to judge him because of it. I try to remember that God has a plan for each one of us, and I guess it's just not for me to understand right now why my brother is doing what he has/is doing with his life. I guess all I can do is pray for him and ask you to also.

ONE WEEK AND I'LL BE BLOGGING FROM SAVANNAH GEORGIA.. I CAN'T WAIT!

Feb = BASEBALL SEASON OPENER!!

I LOVE that it is February!!

Y?? -- Dear John comes out on the 5th! Fit in Feb!! BASEBALL season opener on the 12th!! and of course, being a SIGMA -- you just gotta love all the love in feb!!

I read the book Dear John and LOVED it.. one of the best books I've read in a long time! I hope the movie lives up to the hype!! and Channing Tatum.. it's gotta be great!

Fit in Feb.. is a lil thing some of my friends and I are doing.. just to keep our resolutions going strong.. for me -- i make a deal with myself, No tanning unless at least 60 min of cardio is done that day. Yesterday I got to tan, today I didn't... Tomorrow I will tan!!

Baseball is back inside thanks to Mother Nature dumping a late January snow in eville. I really shouldn't complain, the weather (knock on wood) hasn't been very bad in eville. The bad news about the snow dumpage, the lights and fence at the baseball field are not getting done.. we have our home opener on the 27th (I think).. I am getting so excited for baseball to start! I'm seeing some good things in the pitchers workouts..

I need to give a shout out to my 04 CMC classmates, I got so many cards and nice letters from lots of y'all! Thank you so much! Y'all are GREAT! I love that no matter where we are in the nation, we are still here for eachother. Thanks for helping with the rough patch.

Basketball is finally having a HOME game Thursday night!! COACH WATSON is The D2 Coach of the MONTH!! He truly deserves it! He is an amazing person and coach. Yep - lets just give Tyler credit on this one, he said before Coach Watson ever even got in eville, that Coach Watson would be the real deal. Once again Tyler was correct. Today Tyler said the boys won't go undefeated, I hope he is wrong on this feeling..but Tyler is not wrong often (you can ask him, he will tell you, he isn't wrong often at all).

Family dinner tomorrow night w/ Dyl, Tman and DodgerBlue.. at the Log Inn!! YUMMMM.. I can't wait!

19 and 0 -- ♥ USI basketball ♥

The courier press has wrote about two players the last two days that don't always get the recognition that others get... BHogg and Issac.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/29/defense-gets-hogg-more-attention/
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/30/eagles-cruise-19th-consecutive-win/
The boys are 19-0. Pretty awesome I think! I've said all season that this team is special. I don't know if you see how special they are just by watching them, but being around them and knowing the kind of people they are, I think that is what has made them as successful as ever this year.

In my opinion one of the hardest things in college athletics is coaching. I think it is so important for a coach to place each individual in a position for the athlete to be the most successful. That means a coach must get to know an athlete and figure out what they are best at. Coach Watson (Mens Basketball) and Coach Archuleta (Baseball) are two of the best at doing that. They find an athlete's strengths and help the athlete see those strengths and they allow the athlete to build from those strengths. In my opinion that is why those two coaches are successful. Yes sometimes they might place an athlete in a position where the athlete isn't exactly comfortable, but I believe it's because those men see something positive by placing those athletes in than uncomfortable position. I feel like Coach Archuleta recruits based on strengths, on what a kid already does that could help benefit the USI baseball program. I'm not sure how Coach Watson recruits, but I'm gonna go ahead and guess it is similar. I'll let ya know next season when we get some Coach Watson recruits.

For those of you asking about my new years resolutions -- they are going... some better than the others. The working out/healthy lifestyle is going the best! I feel absolutely amazing most days! The laundry one -- well that needs some work. This week my goal is to get it under control! Some people despise vacuuming, others it is doing the dishes, for me - laundry is the thing I don't like to do at all!! I get angry just thinking about it! This is where I wish my mom lived close!! Hahah... I'd make a deal, I'll do the dishes, vacuum, clean bathrooms, almost anything for someone else, if they would just do my laundry! But, it's not happening, so I've gotta suck it up and just do it!

Well, injury reports and chapter 14 is calling my name... So, I hope y'all are enjoying your Sunday! God Bless You!!

Inked?

So I really want to get "inked"... and I'm thinking soon it's going to happen. I am getting excited! I've thought about it for quite some time, it's nothing huge or crazy, but it's something that I feel like defines me...

Basketball boys won their 18th straight last night!! Whoooohoo.. what a special team! They play again tomorrow, I'll be listening at my desk at work! I'm so very ready for those boys to play at HOME! I miss my lil buddies! Still undefeated and #2 in tha NATION! I'm excited for them.

Baseball has been inside for the past two days... it's way to cold out.. inside practices aren't wonderful, but I guess it's what it is.

Kinesio Tape?? do you believe the hype?? I don't know if I do, but I tried it on one of my lil pitchers the other day.. and he swears by it! Soooo, I guess we will use it. Part of me wants to put it on the others that are complaining. This baseball team is a gossip team.. .if one guy says something works, the majority of them believe it. Some good and some bad. Most of them haven't bought into believing that their scapula's are really important in pitching, hopefully soon that will topic will come up in their team room!! And they will start to believe that they should do their band work... we'll see! Back to kinesio tape, I need your opinions!! Does a piece of tape realllly help??

Welp -- that's all for tonight.. got pitchers at 715a, then hitters at 4p... looks like I really will get to CLEAN my apt tomorrow!! I'm sooooo excited for this! I told mom the other day, that I need her here to jump start the cleaning... Mom's are just really great at that! Just one reason why I wish we lived closer! She needs to move here!! hahah... like that will ever happen!

Dear MotherNature...

Dear MotherNature,
I feel like you are asking me to make a promise with you. So here goes, I have absolutely NO problem with sitting outside this January/February at baseball practice in all the elements you would like to throw evansville's way....as long as... Late February, thru March those elements are gone and the temp is at least 55.. Can that be our lil deal?
Love, Beck

On a serious note, I really hope that mother nature plugs into that request. I haven't been dwelling on the coldness, I am just really ready Georgia, 13 days!! I am getting so excited for baseball 2010 season opener..like I can't wait. It is taking sooooo long to get here. Next week should go a lil quicker cause basketball has home games! Oh yeah - they are #2 right now!! How sweeeeet is that!!! That team is something else. I love them. Now now, baseball boys don't be getting all jealous...you are the lil loves of my life, but basketball boys are right up there this year. I don't know why, but this basketball team is special, yes Jeron had a lot to do with that, but I loved them WAY before he started hoopin in heaven.

Baseball has had some pretty good practices outside thus far. I know things are going alright when Arch calls and asks me what I thought of practice, most of the time I don't really say anything, cause I know he is calling to tell me what he thinks of practice. That is okay with me. I like listening to him, because he is by far the smartest coach I've ever worked with. I learn so much from him and just have so much respect for him. Seriously, if you ever get a free min, you should watch USI baseball, it's pretty darn special. The guys play "Chase Utley" style baseball, Arch expects you to hustle every ball out, work hard at the dish, throw the ball where it needs to be thrown, and have an approach for what you are doing. It's wonderful when it all comes together. And those moments when one swing of the bat win's the game, you feel like a lil kid all over again. The best feeling (i think) in baseball..

Do I need to tell you just how blessed I am to have my job?? I don't think so. I just thank God every single day for giving me this gift and allowing me to be a very very small part of USI baseball.

MU vs KU.. i think i'm losing $50...

Well, when Roy Williams left KU... so did I.. So tonight I put my $$$ on MU.. i'm not convinced that was the best decision for this game, but.. oh well.

Today was a pretty wonderful Monday. I just love it when kids come in and have someone else look at them, because someone else might just have a better idea.. hahah.. it really makes me laugh. Especially at kids that aren't really compliant anyways - they are just looking for an easy way out.. and it BACKFIRES.. hahhah.. i love it! We then had a turk melt picnic in the training room, boog, brendel, lins and I.. it was cute. Baseball in the cold and snow... the boys still working hard. Pitchers throwing in the cold.. awe - - i just love baseball.. no matter the temp, it's still sooooo relaxing and wonderful.
Another pool day for t.man.. he did take the time to pose for y'all.. it's funny when he eats before working out.. he has all the energy in the world..

After the pool, i went tanning and went for a run.. AWESOME!! I'm feeling soooooo great tonight, i just wish the tigers would FIO!

and for those of you asking about this "new dude" in my life.. i'll tell ya about it when it gets serious.. cause right now, it's NOTHING to write home about.. I'm really not feeling it. Great guy, just not a great guy for me... Ya know me.. I have issues! LOL.. God will put someone in my life when he knows I'm ready to face that relationship fear.. haha.. so RELAX! nite y'all! xoxo

Weekend -- What's that?

I can't even complain about my weekend -- when all my friends are asking where their weekend went, I can tell you exactly what I did...
Friday night 830pm = Fall asleep!!
Saturday 10am = wake UP!
11am = baseball practice
430pm = ER w/ one of the boys (got hit by a pitch in his elbow, notice the swelling that looks a lil golf ballish) -- went to gateway, figured the "crazies" would be less there, however this is questionable, the txt to describe the atmosphere --this place is scary. the people look like actors hired to sit in here. -- described perfectly.. @ 7pm Dr Johnson finally called, he was going to check the x-ray and get us out of that creepyness.
7ish = LEAVE ER... back to PAC -- elbow ICE
8ish = watched pregnancy pact
1015 = wake up to pounding on my door -- go next door to see my lil buddies getting ready to go out..
11 = finally go to SLEEP
Sunday 730 = wake up, shower, b.fast w/ a boy (cross-eyed cricket = yummmmmy)
815 am = nice lil 45 min run in the rain
10 am = pre-practice treatments
11-430 = practice
BECKY time after that -- included picking up the apt, tanning, workout at the rec, a NAP! What a wonderful weekend... baseball makes my world go round!

Today some one said "Thank You" to me -- I thought this was a smart "A" comment, but it was sincere. It completely made my day. I don't get thank you's often for just simply doing my job, And today I did. It was just so nice. Once in a while those two little words can mean so much, especially when you don't get to hear them that often.

Notice, how church wasn't included in that weekend... Now it's podcast time. Thank goodness my church is on podcast. Makes my life AWESOME.. God is great! Hopefully you had an awesome weekend and say "thank you" it will make someone's day!

The bigger picture

I have been on a "thinking" role at baseball practice lately. Today Royle got in on the thinking. We boLth decided that once you just have to watch baseball, you learn more than you EVER could as a player. You see things so different when you don't play. I wish I would know what I know now, when I was a competitive athlete!! Royle said that too.
Today, while watching the hitters, the majority of them were doing the right thing. Having an approach at the plate... The pitchers tho -- that seemed like a different story -- at least to me. I see most of the hitters working soooo hard every single day to get better, and the pitchers -- it doesn't seem so. Today on the bump, tman looked good...his ball was really moving and WOW you can totally tell he cares and wants to be better and he is so much better (in my opinion). It was really enjoyable to stand behind the plate and watch him throw today, having a pretty great catcher is also important (DYL!!).
It was just an all around good day for this girl outside. I like days when I see people working hard. Hard work now will hopefully pay off in May!! in just 3 short week we will play our first game -- I am getting soooo excited! Yay USI BASEBALL!!!

--- KEVIN GANT --- lil 50 getting it done!

Kev was AWESOME tonight!! WOW! I wish I could have been there in person, just listening to it on the radio gave me goosebumps!! Kev was phenomenal! Kev is a lil guy when you look at him, but he is such a BIG player. He is the point guard this year, very unselfish and very calm. Kev was Jeron's roommate. and tonight -- KEV WAS GREAT! I am soooo proud of him!
MoMo also stepped up and played awesome! The irony of this game, was both men's and women's head coaches at the University of Indianapolis are USI alumni. Those coaches understand the USI connection. U-Indy raised money during the game for Jeron's son and also gave a $500 check to his son's fund. How awesome it is to see the conference schools coming together to support each other!


Not much was going on is baseball world today from my eyes.. Inside days are never exciting to an athletic trainer, and I'm pretty sure they are not exciting to the men either. The afternoon was long and pretty boring for me.. but I guess that's ok every once in a while.

A few months ago -- some lil prankster decided to write on my car "Just Married" with hearts and all the pretty things that go w/ just married. The prankster was disappointed that I had washed off their handy work before I went to school. It was just a matter of time before I'd strike back.. a lil.. believe me I'm not finished.. However, MISTER prankster is pretending that it didn't bother him.. and he is definitely not giving me credit.. I'd like you to know, that not only did MISTER prankster get pranked today, but so did Coach Marx, who borrowed his truck! Two for One!! POINT BECK!! hahahah.. for those of you that don't know me -- i really am ornery. I get it from both my parents -- mom would tell you I get it from my dad, but I believe I get it from boLth of them! One of the best parts of the pranks today --- Dyl got blamed for it!! hahahha... When I told coach Marx it was me -- he was a lil suprised. ha.. life is sooooooo great!!

Pay it forward...

This morning started AWESOME.. I have an independent study class w/ one of the basketball girls (Abby). We start this at 715am. Volleyball had individuals so I knew Lins would be coming in early also. Last night I decided, Donut Bank sounded wonderful. So I woke up at 5am, did my P90x for the morning, showered and went to Donut Bank. I ordered coffee (2 lg's for me) and a donut for lins, abs, and I. I go to the window to pay, the woman says the truck in front of me picked up my bill. HOW nice was that?? I was so excited, I asked what the person behind me cost and it was $1.50. I paid their bill. I felt so awesome! I knew today would be a wonderful day.
I then get to school and I start grading papers. This is when my mood changes very quickly. I notice that some papers look VERY much alike, I think "No way, what is the point of cheating in my class? My class is not hard enough for people to cheat in." I was furious, I felt my blood begin to boil when I saw the names on those papers that looked very much alive. Four people that I see every single day, multiple times a day. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! I have been teaching that class for four years and have never caught anyone cheating. People might have cheated in my class, but it was NOT that obvious. I was pretty angry.
I got over it though. It was their problem not mine. Baseball had an "off day" today. I still went out to the field. Had wonderful conversation with Arch. Have I mentioned how awesome I think he is? Casey threw a few fastballs off the mound, he looked alright. Tyler had a swim day today, so he got to hang out in the pool with the lil swim lesson kids (they prolly pee a lot in the pool...).
I came home and made the BEST soup I've ever made!! Jack made taco soup the other night -- I loved it -- so I made my own version and it was DELISH!!
2 cans of cheddar cheese soup
2 cups of milk
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can HOT rotel
1 lb taco meat
1 can kidney beans

WOW... YUM!! It was soooooo great. Spicy yes -- but I love spicy food! Welp -- thats all for now!

baseball....awe i love baseball

With everything going on with the death of Dori, baseball is my safe haven.. I can just relax and know everything is going to be ok when I'm outside on the diamond with my boys. Who are "my boys" you may ask. Well my #1 has got to be Coach Arch... he got to USI when I got to USI, he has always been my big brother. He is the best coach in division 2 and way to good to be at USI. I say that with 100% truth. He is amazing. If I knew just 1/4 of what I know now, I would have been an amazing softball player. He has taught me so much about the game of baseball and more importantly all baseball decisions are life decisions also. Baseball is such a simple game, that's what Arch says. My other boys include t.man and dyl... I'm sure as season continues, others will grow on me... MoneyMike our center fielder is making his way up the list. I'm getting really excited about season. I can't wait to blog about the games and road trips. I can't wait to give y'all an inside look at USI baseball.

USI basketball takes the court on Thursday evening @ the University of Indianapolis. I'll be listening! Good luck men and women. This will be the first game for boLth teams since the passing of Jeron. The teams will then travel to Ft.Wayne and go to the visitation and funeral. I know that seeing him will give them the closure they need. I saw him the night he passed, and that made it completely real to me. Please keep the USI basketball family in your prayers, these next few weeks will be really tough on them.

Tonight was the Memorial Service for Jeron at USI. There were so many people there. It was awesome, you could totally feel that Jeron was loved. It was good to see AB and Mark there. I really miss those two. Coach Herdes was also there, it is amazing how a tragedy bring people back together. God has a plan for Dori, that's what I've gotta keep in mind.

DORI -- we miss you.. RIP#40

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4829400

This might be the hardest post I'll ever have to write about. Today I feel like I can finally share my feelings. First off, thank you to everyone for their prayers and thoughts, calls and emails. Thank you so much.

My last blog was about the rivalry game against KWC. I rode to the game with Lins, Ash, and Care. It started out just as a normal short lil ride to Owensboro KY (about 45 min away). We got to the game at the beginning of the 2nd half of the ladies game. USI won, the ladies played a good game and it just added to the excitement for the mens game to get started.

Now, I'd like to tell y'all what the game was like, but I honestly can't remember. I know it was back and forth and then there was 4:42 left on the clock when Dori collapsed. At the time no one knew what was going on, Lins and I are in the stands just watching. He started convulsing, I remember asking Lins if we should go get his insurance information from David's kit. I just had a feeling that he was going to be transported to the local hospital. And that is exactly what happened. I talked to David, who asked that Lins and I go to the hospital to be with Dori. And it wasn't a question, we were there. We got to the hospital and bless the heart of the woman checking people in. She put us in this small "consultation" room with tissues all over the place. We sat there for a minute, we called Jay. We went back to the regular waiting room and the woman told us we must go back into the "consultation" room, that is where they will come talk to us. So we did, but we couldn't stay there, so we went back out to the waiting room one last time. This time the woman had to be very stern with us and tell us we were not allowed in the regular waiting room we must stay in the consultation room. By this time I was really questioning what is going on. Never had I not been able to be in the ER with our athletes, never had someone not came to tell me what was going on, never had I felt like this before. It was sometime later that a Chaplin, David and Jay came into the room to tell us that Dori did not make it.
After that things were fuzzy for a while. As an Athletic Trainer, you never expect for anything like this to happen. You can never prepare for it.

Dori was more than just a basketball player to me, he was a friend. He was goofy. He gave the BEST hugs, along with Jamar.. Those two love to give me a sandwich hug. They are funny. Dori got his nickname over the summer, when he was swimming daily with Boog (whom we called Nemo). Jeron said "Why do I gotta be the female fish?" it was the only name Lins could remember besides Nemo. So that was why he had to be the female fish. Then in December when Jamel was born, Lins asked "How is your lil baby Dori" Jeron said "he is wonderful, but y'all aren't gonna call him my lil baby Dori" I always asked Dori to sit on the table with me and talk, one day he was like "why do you always ask me to sit and talk" and my reply was "cause your voice is so deep it vibrates the table and feels really wierd.." he just laughed and wouldn't sit and talk with me any more. He was a gentle giant. He was one of a kind. Him and I had a talk one day about the kind of woman he wanted to marry, just a lil small black girl. It was funny to hear him say that because he was such a big man. I really miss my lil Dori. Dori had this bark that could scare anyone, in the PAC it was scary, but not half as scary as when you walked to your car and this LOUD bark occurred. I'm not gonna lie, one day I screamed and looked around. Dori had got me. He is just standing beside this car, laughing cause he knows he got me. LOL.. Thank God for all the wonderful memories I have of Dori. It is going to be hard seeing the boys play again, but I know it will also help with the healing process. Life is so short. He loved basketball and he died playing the game he loved.

This was Dori's last facebook status:

TODAY IS GAME DAY SO IM FEELIN LIKE GOIN TO KWC AND COMIN BACK WIT A VICTORY LEAVIN IT ALL OUT THERE #5 IN THE NATION...YADIDDA LETS GET IT on Thursday

He really did leave it all on the floor. Love and miss you Dori!

I've gotta whole lot of chit going on...

Talk about EXHAUSTED... ready for the weekend -- but it doesn't slow down then! Welcome to spring semester beckster!! Holy Cow -- this crazy busy week makes me feel OLD! Time to get over it huh!

Tomorrow is ROADTRIP!! off to K.dub -- ps we are #5 in the nation!! k.dub is #10... I'm soooo excited, the atmosphere @ the sportscenter is great. our seats are in the rafters -- but it won't matter -- the boys will hear us! I can't wait!! Yay for a night w/ Lins, Ash and lil Turtle!! the only downside -- missing greys anatomy and jersery shore -- maybe abby will dvr it!!
Quincy comes to town this weekend -- now I do NOT like Quincy at all -- their baseball coach is so gumby and their sportsmanship is rather poor -- but STEPHY Ann is traveling with them!! Can't wait to see my lil buddy!! Whoooo hooo CMC reunion...a low key version of course...but still a ton of fun!

My lil workout buddy is gonna be gone for a couple days -- time to get self motivated... Have a great time Sheeeeen..

and to the boy that keeps txtin me to hang out -- I've gotta whole chit going on -- FIO.. beck needs some serious beck time...thanks!
this is why I blog -- I can say what I need to say. hahahah.. btw -- I'm totally enjoying readying what all the rest of you are up to!! life is AWESOME!!
oh and Tyler is still swimming yes, and yes his workouts are still hard, much harder than lil bit's cause she is no longer having to swim...thanks for asking about him -- he loves the attention!

Only one month away....

GAMEDAY -- In one month -- opening day for USI baseball!! this girl is soooooo excited -- ready to get to Georgia (warm-er weather) and BASEBALL GAMES!! I really can not wait. Baseball hasn't exactly been the most wonderful team in my book this year - - but I have a feeling - - I will get over their attitudes and LOVE them once games start. I watched the pitcher today, some good stuff...I feel like the boys are coming together and are realizing the potential. awe--- i love baseball...

School is in full force, tonight I had to teach. I LOVE teaching! I had been very stressed about this class roster and how the some of the student would act in class. To my surprise some great things happened. The kid whom I thought would be very disruptive and rude, was actually quiet and attentive (I didn't give much time for the class to talk or answer questions)... and the other one I was worried about (we'll call him meanie) thru me for a HUGE loop after class. Meanie had been making my life very stressful the past 18 months and has been stubborn and hard-headed. Today after class, he finally admitted that and appologized for treating me so porely and making it so hard on me. WOW is that an answered prayer or what!! I've been praying for that to happen for so long. I love my job so much and I try to do anything I can to help my athletes out. And finally meanie realized it and what a relief that is!

Life is crazy busy right now! Off season sports (baseball, softball, volleyball) have all started their spring workouts and go in the mornings, around 630-7... Spring sports and winter sports are practicing in the afternoons... so it makes for long days. especially tuesdays (the now dreaded day of the week). Add daily workouts and FCA planning -- it stays crazy! I wouldn't have it any other way -- anyone that knows me -- knows that crazy busy is the way I LOVE to be!!

Today the long jump record was broken by Jeff "pac.man" Tillman -- untill Dyl saw it -- and set a NEW record -- I have a feeling it will take a while for it to break... Dyl has a few hidden talents besides long jumping -- he can out bearcrawl prolly anyone. Mad bearcrawling skills..

Well thats all for now... except -- if you wanna see a lil prank from the training room today -- check out this link:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=670584466494#/video/video.php?v=670584466494&ref=mf

Back To School... Spring2010

Tomorrow is the first day of classes... meaning its SPRING semester!! SPRING = BASEBALL

I have to teach night class on Tuesday...I am usually really excited about class. But for some reason (my class roster) I'm just not so excited. I am probably the most stressed I've ever been about teaching class. God has blessed me with a HUGE challenge this semester, with him, it should be ok! Keep me in your prayers...

Baseball had their first practice of the spring today. It is always an exciting day for me. The guys seem excited for the season and we have our first game in just one month!!! So much to do, sooooo little time (that's what the coaches say). I agree... I am just so excited to get started. Baseball games take me to my happy place...nothing else in the world matters when I'm in baseball game mode. It is peaceful to me. I just love it soooo much! My favorite player on our team is finally a senior (which I don't what to think about at ALL). I hope that the rest of the guys buy in to the USI way and make it a great year for MISTER favorite, as well as the other fave's!

Basketball is still undefeated. They have a big test coming up on Thursday. Kentucky Wesleyan -- probably our biggest basketball rival in the conference. K-Dub is supposed to be one of our toughest games. I think our team will be alright, but I'm sure K-dub fans would say something else.

One of my friends from high school blogged about her 25 random things about her and she is asking everyone to do it, cause it is for one of her classes... so I'll do my part to help...
1. I have a fear of people...strangers... I get very quiet and uncomfortable around people I don't know. It makes my stomach hurt when I go to a crowded place (concerts are the worst).
2. Baseball is a true love of mine... I love the game and I love when people play the game with passion.
3. Chapstick -- I don't know if it is an addiction or what -- I use it all the time.
4. I love wearing shorts... nike running shorts.. I am most comfortable in shorts.
5. When I was in 6th grade I taped my first ankle...I felt my calling. I wanted to tape ank's the rest of my life.. So that's what I do.. I have an awesome job as an athletic trainer and can rarely call going to work, work. I am so blessed!
6. I always take my ipod and blanket on every road trip. I guess they are my "comfort" things...
07. My favorite year in USI baseball thus far -- 2007 -- It was our (Arch, Weave, Durt and I's) first year here.. the fall was terrible baseball and by spring people had bought into the system and the boys won regionals and went to the world series (ended w/ 3rd).. It was AWESOME!
8. Once a bearcat, Always a bearcat. Northwest Missouri State was where I went to grad school. It was a great experience. The bearcats are whom I always root for (unless they are playing USI). There is just a bond there that you don't know about if you are not a part of it.
9. The number of two of my all time favorite athlete's I've had the pleasure of working with.
10.TEXTING -- I prefer it over talking anytime -- sorry if that is offensive to ya, but it's just me.
11. My guilty TV pleasures are Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, and Jersey Shore...
12. I have an amazing sense of smell, that often makes me sick to my stomach..
13. I LOVE MY HAIR.. it is probably the my favorite thing about myself.. It does whatever I want when ever I want -- curly or straight -- it's just AWESOME!!
14. I wear sunscreen every single day.
15. I tend to be very superstitious.. I live up to others superstitions also. If someone thinks something I do helps them do better, I'm gonna keep doing it. hence, the lil french braid, same outfits.
16. the number of my other all time favorite athlete's i've worked with...
17. Central Methodist was the best fit I could have asked for in college.. I love my time there, my friends from there, and the memories I have from there. Life was great in college, and it was a great place to prep me for my career.
18. I have a 'thing' for numbers... I say it has something to do with baseball and how baseball is all about numbers. I remember peoples jersey numbers way better than their names...
19. I love playing hide-n-seek on four wheelers at my Aunt Wanda's.
20. I could play cards with my aunts and mother for HOURS and never get bored.
21. Laughing -- I love to laugh -- I love my laugh -- I love my friends that keep me laughing -- I love my job because I can laugh all the time if I want.
22. I own a LOT of movies, mostly just sappy chic flicks.... what can I say - I'm a sucker for a good cry.
23. Roy Williams is my favorite coach. Read his book HARDWORK and he might just be your favorite also.
24. I love wearing new socks, I might or might not buy socks way more than I should.
26. CHASE UTLEY -- my favorite baseball players number...

#33...in all of D2...

http://gousieagles.com/news/2010/1/6/BB_0106102121.aspx
Some people wander what all these numbers are all about? Well for anyone that knows me at all knows that I am a HUGE baseball fan -- and well -- baseball is all about numbers! USI baseball is ranked #33 this PreSeason. Not bad - I think we will end up way better than that. Practice starts on Sunday...the first day of the 2010 season! Talk about exciting!! I hope it is a good year. Winning games makes my job easier (not that I need an easier job). When teams are winning, aches and pains do not seem to be so bothersome. Hence, making my job easier. A few athletes have been trickling in this week to be stretched, something about having Beck stretch them is way better for them than them stretching themselves. I don't know, but it's ok. Just another perk of my job!

How about Missouri S&T beating up on our womens basketball team. Holy Cow I didn't see that one coming!! But yeah, they def were prepared way better than USI. One of my old teammates from the Blue Angels days is the asst coach at Missouri S&T, Keri Hessel. She must have done her homework for this game.

The men also had a tough outing but came away with a win. BahamaBaller had a great game, as well as, Ty and Dori. B.Hogg did some good things and Issac had some key rebounds (these two did the things that won't show up in the stats...but were much needed!).
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/08/usi-goes-gray-to-collect-its-14th-victory/

Evansville finally got a little bit of snow...and let me tell you...this place has NO idea at all how to deal with the snow! People tend to freak out! Now that I live on the west side of the city it doesn't bother me very much. I only have to drive about 1.5 miles to work instead of 15 and my lil car is pretty awesome in this mess. This mess I'm describing is about 3 inches (at most) of snow. At my parents house in MO, they have like over a foot... if that happened in Eville... I'd hate to see how people would react! Instead of snow, Eville usually gets a pretty decent ice storm, that is about the extent of severe weather. And it really never gets that cold, rarely does the temp even flirt with single digits, so it's really a pretty great place to live.

So I totally forgot to mention the LONG JUMPING contest that Dylan started in the training room. He would like for anyone and everyone to try to break his record. So whoever would like to try let him or I know... GOOOD LUCK!

wOw...

Look at Jamar's excitement on the bench...this is when he unselfishly took a seat on the bench after scoring 40 and choosing to stay there instead of scoring 6 more to break the record.

This picture captures the young man that I see every day. He is sooooo excited for his teammates. He is being their cheerleader. I am one of the lucky ones that gets to see this side of him daily. He is the one during practice saying "Lets go men!" "Yeah -- Shoot that!" He high fives his teammates often and helps to make everyone better. It is a very awesome thing to see daily.

The men are still undefeated! Jamar and Ellen (a junior guard on the woman's team) are boLth NCAA Division II players of the month. wOw!!! Good for them. What an exciting time to be a part of USI basketball. On a serious note, if you get a chance, you should watch them play in person, it can be pretty darn memorizing.

Another win...40 points!!

Too bad I wasn't there to see the smashing that the basketball team gave to IL-Springfield. Jamar almost beat them all by himself. He had 40 points!! And being the unselfish player that he is, he requested coming out of the game instead of scoring just 6 more points to break the single game scoring record of 45. He took a seat the last 4 minutes of the game. What a team player. The men have just 16 more games to play. And hopefully 16 more victories and an undefeated season. The girls also won. That makes 10 in a row (or something like that) for them.

Yesterday we took an adventure to the north. Stops included Wanda's for a lil bit and a wonderful massage, then dad went to Kurts to do something, and we went to see Grandpa Scroogie and grandma too.

Scroogie was full of it! He was so funny! Grandma made meatloaf, smashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and green beans. Talk about delish!! It was soooo good. Grandma makes the best sweet potatoes EVER!! I've tried to ask what she does, but she doesn't know, she just throws some stuff in the pot and cooks the potatoes in it.... hmmm.. After eating Scroogie decided it was pie time, he offered everyone pie before eating about half of the pie himself. (for those of you that don't know, Scroogie is about 5'3 and 110lbs...just a lil grandpa) He was so funny eating that pie. It was great seeing him! I always look forward to spending time with him when I'm home.

We then got home and not long after the snow began to fall, and fall, and fall... it fell until about 230 today! I was beginning to get stressed that I wouldn't be able to make it back to Indiana tomorrow, but I think I will be just fine! I plan on heading out around 645 in the morning.

Home has been nice, but I'm ready to be back in my routine. I have a lil bit of stuff to complete before the kids come back and class starts on the 11th. I'm excited to get baseball started and to watch just how good our mens basketball team could possibly be! 2010 is going to be GREAT!!!

Ducks in the puddle...Shillelagh

VACATION to NW Missouri...where to begin. The journey started yesterday morning with Brooklyn taking me to get my car for the trip. I got a 2010 Chevy Impala. Yes it was very nice. I got started around 830am and took off toward NW Missouri. While driving thru the boring state of Illinois I thought I should stop by CMU. I figured that basketball would have practice, so I'd get to see Jill and Coach Sherman. I txted Jill and facebooked Coach Sherman and soon enough I had responces from them boLth. "Yes basketball was practicing, they were to start their second practice at 2." Jill said I should just come to her house because she was hosting a bowl party for her family. I thought that would work out just awesome.. So I went to see her at her house. What a beautiful MIZZOU family they are! Evan was so talkative and Paul is getting sooooo big and Jill, well she is simply the most amazing athletic trainer and person she has always been, the only thing better about her now is she is an extraordianary MOTHER!! Lots of talking and laughs were among us all. It was great seeing them. Those Pratte's sure are great people and on a side note -- amazing baseball people also. GO MIZZOU BASEBALL!!!
Then I continued west on I70 to KC and then HOME!! Dad had made an amazing meatload and mustard potatoes for dinner -- YUMMMM.. my most favorite meal! Oh yeah -- about celebrating the new year -- was alseep before 10pm. Big time partier on my side huh!!

Today was a great way to bring in the new year. Played Wii with mom, doing Wii Fit, I'm not gonna lie, these hips don't either when it comes to the hula hooping! I'm AMAZING!! hahah... funny thing tho --when I was younger I couldn't hula hoop to save my soul! We then made our goodies to take to Aunt Corks -- yummy corn stuff and decent broc stuff.

It was off to Aunt Corks around noon. And yes it was a great lil drive to see her and the rest of the family. I read my new book about Roy Williams on the drive and mom slept while dad got us safely there. I am always the featured guest of honor at all family gatherings since I have moved far away. I almost always have a celebrity welcoming. Everyone stops what they are doing and loud cheers arise as I enter the house. Being the humble person I am, I wave and give hugs and say "Carry on everyone, carry on!" The last of the family arive and prayer is given. My mom had the honor of blessing the food this year, it is a job that she or Uncle Tom do very well. Mom however, this time forgot someone in her prayer -- nothing was mentioned at the time -- but she forgot the rich.

After a hearty meal and great fellowship gifts were handed out. Our family has a one at a time rule. We start with the youngest. This way the lil ones can open their gifts and then go play and us adults can open ours. This years gift giving had a theme -- "S" -- and $25 limit. I had Bretts name and I gave him "Spare Change and Spending Money" I think he liked his gift this year. I received the best gift tho -- a SHILLELAGH -- Aunt Cork worked very very hard to find me the perfect "S" gift. And boy was it PERFECT.. What you as is a SHILLELAGH?? It is an Irish Fighting Club. Why did I want an Irish Fighting Club?? She came up with a "S" name for a rolling pin!! So the b.mcginnis.bakery finally has a rolling pin!!

After gifts became grandkid picture time.. the 4 ducks in the puddle went first... Followed by the boys. All in all it was a wonderful day with a very blessed family. Never a dull moment thanks to Uncle Keith -- he received silly string and was going to "silly string Aunt Cork" to the bed tonight! hmmm....

Life is just such a blessing! I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful family. What a great start to 2010!!