Did I Mention I Love This Guy?

Monday after Zack's game, I encouraged him to talk to his coach.  No good will ever come from whining and complaining about a situation and not taking steps to improve it.

The conversation between them lasted only a few minutes but I could tell Zack was fighting back some tears.

Fast forward to yesterday...I get an e-mail from his coach asking if he could meet with us after school to talk.  

Apparently, he felt so bad for Zack that he could not fall asleep until 2:00 in the morning.  He loves Zack, he depends on Zack, he counts on Zack...and when Zack hurts he is hurting as well.

The meeting lasted 45 minutes.  We had snow yesterday and he was busy - getting text messages constantly about snow plowing jobs he had. But he sat there and listened to Zack's concerns and validated his feelings.  I can't go into everything that was said but, needless to say, he sees the same concerns and has been working on ways to fix them.

It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This

Basketball this year is just not any fun.  Zack is not enjoying it - and I have to agree with him...I am not enjoying watching the games either. 

They had a game last night and it was so frustrating that I could not even watch the second half.  

They had lost so many games over the past two years that when three new students joined the team this year, each talented basketball players, everyone was very excited and were looking forward to a more successful (winning) season.

Instead, they have lost just as many games as last year (they are 3-3) and the team has become a three man show - yep...the three new ones.

There is no teamwork - just three individuals out on the court to showcase their talents. Dribble---shoot.  Dribble---shoot.  No passing....ever.  

And this is the theme...every game it seems.  Zack is so unhappy.  I am not a fan of quitting and have urged him to talk to his coach and give it a couple more games.  But, truly, I cannot blame him.  

This is not what I wanted for him during his last season.

Name Change

I have been considering changing the name of this site for a long time - you know - considering our house is no longer as full of people as it used to be.  

I considered also keeping the title "Living With a Full House" thinking that people aren't the only thing that can fill a house...love can also.

Except, if you remember this post, you will understand that that doesn't necessarily apply either.

So, the other day when I was making the blog banner, the name just came to me ----Life with Boys.  Perfect. I mean, even my dog is a boy.  

I can't change my URL address but I can change the blog title.

First Aid

Yesterday, as we arrived home after Zack's tournament, Ollie met us in the garage.  This is not all that unusual.  Sometimes hubby will let him out so he can greet us.

This time, however, it looked to me as if 
Ollie was limping...eventually he just stood there holding his paw up.

He has definitely hurt it somehow and will not walk on it.  It is so sad and pathetic.

I called his vet who advised me to give him ibuprofen for pain and swelling and if he's not better by tomorrow, we will take him for x-rays.

Poor baby just lies in his bed.  Usually he follows me everywhere.  

On Second Thought

I decided to brave the road conditions this morning and take Zack to his tournament.  

He didn't play a whole lot...may I just take a moment and rant?

+what is the deal with practices over Christmas break?  Every year we have gone to Florida, missed all practices scheduled during a time that should be devoted to family, and then he pays the price by sitting on the bench once we get back.  This year I even made a point of telling his coach that we would be gone - like out of state - and he wasn't just missing practice because he didn't feel like going.  It didn't matter. He still paid the price by being benched.+

Anyway, during the time he did get to play he had 8 points (including a game winner) and several rebounds.

Game two had gone into overtime and with 18 seconds left, Zack made a clutch basket.  The other team lost the ball on the inbound pass so his basket ended up being the game winner.

Score

Between our extended Christmas vacation and bad weather days, it has been a long time since Zack's last basketball game.

He was supposed to have a tournament tomorrow but right now the roads/pavement are like an ice rink (no exaggeration) so we will not go - if they even have it.

This picture was from the last game he played way back like over three weeks ago.

Once again the photo credit goes to our great friend Bill Holtz.

Day Twenty - 2014

We are finally home!!

Today was, by far, the most difficult driving day we have ever had.  

We hit four traffic jams today due to weather, road conditions, and accidents.  We have never had more than two in an entire trip...and now four in the same day.

Add to this the horrendous road conditions in northern Indiana, and the entire day was nothing but stress.

In Indiana:

I know it's hard to tell in the pictures - but that is not slush on the road.  That is pure frozen ice.  Also hard to tell is that the traffic was moving at about 30 mph at this point.

And so it continued that way all through Indiana.  There would be spots when the roads were completely fine and traffic would be up to speed and then - BAM- frozen, icy roads and slow travel.  
I also do not think they salt or plow their roads.  I mean, c'mon that snowstorm was on Sunday!  There would be times when we stopped for gas or lunch that the roads were so bad I thought we would get stuck if I stopped.

Traveling from Southern to Northern Indiana typically takes us about 3 hours or less...today, it took 5.5! 

Then, just as the roads improved and we were cruising along - we hit this in Chicago: 

The left lane was blocked by a semi that had crashed into the guardrail.  

I'm glad to be safely home.  This is the only time that Indiana and Illinois has had more snow than we do here.