Football is in the Air

With temperatures still soaring into the 90s and the humidity steadily climbing, there is no question that we are still in the midst of the joys and pains of summer! Yet, in the not so far distance is the feel of something electrifying in the air, the approach of the 2015 football season. More specifically, the approach of the New York Football Giants 2015 season! Although "Back to Football" spirals me and many others on the path back to school, I am so ready!

24-7-365 I Bleed Big Blue; even in excruciating humidity on runs for my fundraiser #miles4change.

Lessons Learned From Running 13.1 Part II

I am picking up where I left off in part I sharing lessons I learned while participating in my first half marathon. You can read my first six lessons here. So let's carry on...

LESSON 7: Choose a race that has an unbelievably fun theme!

When I first read about the Diva Half Marathon and 5K, I thought it sounded like it would be fun. Tutus, tiaras, boas, and hunks... oh my! I must admit I do embrace more of my tomboy tendencies then I do the "girlie" side, but this race did sound like fun! I had already planned to travel to North Myrtle Beach with my mom, aunt, sister, and neice, it would definitely be a girls' weekend. I was the only one who would be participating in the race.

The atmosphere race morning was full of energy, very cheerful, and very PINK. Various running groups were meeting up together to take pictures and other runners were posing for solo pictures. You had men, women, and kids adorned in pink and in tutus as they made their way to their pacing areas. One man in a tutu announced that he was supporting his wife in the run as he made his way closer to the front. I was a loner, so I stood alone and just took in the surroundings until a runner approached me asking about my shirt and the breakdown of my miles. After that point I was in and out of conversations with varrious other runners in passing. I even happily took pictures for runners who did not have someone else to capture their starting moment. The music was bumping as runners conversed and returning divas greeted one another happily. Even though I knew absolutely no one else out there, I did not feel alone. The atmosphere was very friendly and welcoming.

The breakdown of my miles dedication for the 13.1 miles for my #miles4change fundraiser

After the playing of the national anthem, one runner came to me and said she was almost in tears after reading the miles dedications on the back of my race shirt. Throughout the run I received encouragement from runners regarding my motivation for running along with my dedication miles through passing conversations or a quick thumbs up. Again, the atmosphere was very fun and upbeat before, during, and after the run. Definitely do not be afraid to register as a solo runner in this event. You will not feel alone!

Lessons Learned From Running 13.1 Part I

I finished my very first half-marathon on Sunday, April 12, 2015! It was the Divas Half Marathon and 5K in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In 2012 I created a New Years resolution stating that I would train to run a half-marathon to help bring awareness to human trafficking. Needless to say it remained a written goal, but not the beginning of a journey. Instead I foused on the legislative side of human trafficking contacting senators and representatives regarding issues that were arising and legislation in the wings. It was a good thing, but not everything.

In 2013 and 2014 the same resolution arose, but by 2014 I was determined to see it through. I began to train and extend my miles. I downloaded Map My Fitness and started looking for challenges. By the end of May I was running consistently more consistently into June, by July I was nursing an injury! I still have no clue how it happened, I believe it was truly too much, too soon.

 

13.1 Here I Come!

As I prepare to take part in my first half-marathon, I have decided to dedicate my miles to help motivate me to finish as strong as possible. In 2013 it was an idea, in 2014 it was a goal, in 2015 it's about to be reality!

Here are my 13.1 Miles Dedication as I prepare to go #miles4change.

First 5K Went A-Okay

This morning I kicked off my personal racing season for my fundraiser #miles4change at a local race in Goose Creek, South Carolina. It was the Crowfield Plantation 5K Run\Walk. This race was a trail run and marked my first time participating in a trail run. One of my coworkers told me about it last year, but that's when I was in excuse mode, not run mode. This year I jumped on the opportunity to participate in it and I'm glad I did.

My kick off tshirt for #miles4change

Sporty Releases

We are swiftly approaching week 5 and I have yet to be able to focus in on any NFL games! Sad, but very true. This school year has been unbelievable hectic! Much more than years before, which is the reason why football is so much more important. That's my official outlet for the frustrations and challenges I encounter from day to day. Which would explain why my partly sunny cloudy disposition is a whole lot cloudier than normal.

This week changes it all! There are papers to grade, lessons to plan, family members to see, and miles to run before I'm able to sit back and enjoy the ongoing action of the NFL season. On that note I have exactly "I refuse to count how many hours" to position myself to make it happpen. Tick-tock...

This is the week I will watch and not doze in front of the games, and I'm kickingn off Sporty's NFL Picks of the week! Drum roll please...

Sporty Releases

We are swiftly approaching week 5 and I have yet to be able to focus in on any NFL games! Sad, but very true. This school year has been unbelievable hectic! Much more than years before, which is the reason why football is so much more important. That's my official outlet for the frustrations and challenges I encounter from day to day. Which would explain why my partly sunny cloudy disposition is a whole lot cloudier than normal.

This week changes it all! There are papers to grade, lessons to plan, family members to see, and miles to run before I'm able to sit back and enjoy the ongoing action of the NFL season. On that note I have exactly "I refuse to count how many hours" to position myself to make it happpen. Tick-tock...

This is the week I will watch and not doze in front of the games, and I'm kickingn off Sporty's NFL Picks of the week! Drum roll please...

So I completely missed Thursday Night Football due to a little somethiing called , "I needed to get some sleep to get ready for Friday morning", but I would have gone with the Vikings against the Packers, simply because I detest the Packers. Which means I'm starting at -1.

Panthers over the Bears

Texans over the Cowboys

Lions over the Bills

Colts over the Ravens

Steelers over the Jags

Saints over the Bucs

Rams over the Eagles

Titans over the Browns

Chargers over the Jets

Niners over the Chiefs

Bengals over the Patriots

Seahawks over the Redskins

Broncos over the Cardinals

The coup de grace, my New York Football Giants over the Atlanta Falcons!

I would jump in my time travelling delorean back to 3 weeks ago and comment on the panic attack gripping Giants nation after the first two weeks of play, but it's not worth it. Yes, my world was rocked too, but it was week 2 and we all know that the Giants battle the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde football syndrome! May week 4's Giants show up tomorrow! One thing that social media has taught me, is to deal with any kind of drama and sports panic attacks the same way I deal with a random kid's temper tantrum in my zone. Ignore it and keep it moving!

Week 5 is in the wings and I am looking forward to enjoying some really good NFL action; after I squeeze in a 3 mile run to prepare me for my race next week as I train to bring awareness to the fight against human trafficking through my fundraiser #Miles4Change. Without further ado I bid you a Happy Week 5 and Go Big Blue!!!'

 

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Is 1 Truly 2 Many ?

Training camp is on and popping for my New York Football Giants which means NFL kick off is a heartbeat away! I've been jealous of living vicariously through my New York brethren on Facebook who have been attending training camp and posting lots of great pictures. I must admit being able to pull up Giants.com to see videos, photos, and hear commentary of what's happening during training camp still amazes me! It's like I'm right there, but I'm really not, yet I feel so connected. Please remember I'm a 28 year displaced fan, so the leaps in bounds in technology is a beautiful thing!

So I'm feeling all these warm fuzzies because my Gmen are officially balling as they prepare for the "Drive for 5". Then I pull up my twitter page to update information on my fundraiser, #miles4change, and see a link that leads me to an article on the Ray Rice two game suspension. Needless to say my training camp high was completely squashed by a flood of emotions topped off with "are you serious" and "what in the world".

1 is 2 Many: PSA

Maybe I'm the only one who remembers the "1 is 2 Many" White House PSA launched by President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden with the help of some of the greatest professional athletes on the planet in 2012. Of course I would remember because my quarterback, Eli Manning, represented the NFL. I'm going to break this PSA down, then explain why I was deeply bothered by the suspension decision handed down to Ray Rice.

Get This Win!!!

This has been a long, tiring week so this post is going to be brief and straight to the point. No haggling about what I think or who's on the other side of the ball. As much as I hate the Eagles, and goodness knows I do, the only thing that matters is what the Gmen bring to the field. Are they ready to fight back or ... I don't even want to think about the horrible alternative. So this week it is all on Big Blue to show up and ball out!

In other news, a little "FYI" , my allegiance has never been tied to a season record, standing, playoff berth, wildcard spot, or Super Bowl win. I Bleed Blue through and through regardless if we start 0-4 or 4-0, or regardless how we end. Yes, I cry, groan, moan, and hyperventilate when things don't work out in their favor or they work against themselves, but then I shake it off and prepare to cheer on the next win. So the only thing left to say is, GO BIG BLUE! Get this win Gmen, get this win!

 

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Down, But Not Out...

Just sitting here thinking about how much I longed for the NFL during the post and preseason play. Then looking back on the past three weeks with tears in my eyes trying to figure out what's going on. Well, honestly, the tears dried up around Monday night and by Thursday I was back to the , "it ain't over yet", mindset that I normally carry pretty well through the season.

Nevertheless I go on Facebook this morning and am bombarded with insults, grumblings, and "it's over" posts by fellow fans. Now I do realize the Giants have not looked good over the past weeks and we all mourn defeats in our own ways. I also realize sometimes it takes longer to shake off a loss, or multiples, than others and I'm going to give them their time and respect that. But in the words of my high school Pre-Calculus teacher, "Geesh Louise people! Get over it and move on".

 

Sporty Says: Congratulations to "The Big Tuna"

First of all it so hard to believe that it is already August! Seems like yesterday summer break began and now it's almost over. This is my state's tax free weekend which means school bells will be ringing very soon. On the brighter side of this situation, football is permeating the atmosphere! Training camps are underway and the preseason will soon kick off. So life is definitely good!

As We eagerly approach the coming season we have another football rite of passage that is on deck, The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction of its class of 2013. Congratulations to Johnathan Ogden, Curley Culp, Larry Allen, Warren Sapp, Dave Robinson, Cris Carter, and "The Big Tuna" Bill Parcells.

Of course as a New York Giants fan from the 80's, 1986 to be exact, I am ecstatic that my first New York Giants coach is being inducted into the Hall of Fame! Bill Parcells became Giants head coach when I was a wee lass in the third grade. I had not yet learn of the ways of Big Blue, but was instead surrounded by talk of Cowboys, Redskins, Chargers, and Raiders. I am so thankful for the intervention of Coach Parcells and the Big Blue Wrecking Crew. Thanks to Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, Leonard Marshall, and the rest of the phenomenal Big Blue defense, three years later, I saw the light and came out of NFL darkness! Even as a wee lass I knew defense was a beautiful thing!

Watching this brought chills. I grew up watching the NFL at its finest!

Super Bowl Sunday

It is with extreme excitement and a heavy heart that I create this post. Extremely excited for Puppy Bowl IX and heavy hearted that there's football to be played and my team is watching it on tv.

Back to the Puppy Bowl, thank you Animal Planet for the best transition possible into the Super Bowl!

Even the puppies get the short end of the stick with some penalties that are called!

Bitterness At Its Finest

Quick recap of last week's game left me one for four. The Ravens were the only team I picked that advanced to the next round. Congrats to Ray Lewis and the Ravens on their victory over the Colts. Unfortunately I have to pick against the Ravens this round since there is a "Manning" in the mix.

Hadn't had an opportunity to read or hear what's going on with RGIII since the game, but wishing him a healthy recovery. When I wished teams a healthy, injury free game, even though I picked them but don't like them, I was covering the Redskins too. *le sigh* See this NFC East fan has a heart, unlike some of my comrades. But I digress...

Back to the picks, so I'm thinking with the way my picks have been running, maybe I should pick the teams I actually want to lose to win. A little reverse "pickology", or maybe not. With that being said here are...

Sporty's Second Round Post Season Picks * insert drum roll*

Broncos over Ravens (I couldn't cheer the other way when there is a Manning on the field!)

Niners over Green Bay

Patriots over Texans (Sporty's Queasy Pick of the week. Just typing it turned my stomach.)

Falcons over Seahawks

If I chose your team this week, may the odds be in your... oh forget it! Bitterness is setting in and I could truly careless at this point who wins. Just looking forward to a few good close games. The kind I hated when my squad was in action, unless it ended with a "W" in our column. *insert evil grin*

We are getting closer and closer to the Super Bowl match up, so let me use this time to remind you that my squad, The New York Football Giants, are still the official reigning champions. With that being said,now that I am through, I can still throw in Go Big Blue!

Side note:Yes, I am definitely milking it, bitterness at its finest! Enjoy your games!

 

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Out With A Bang!

Happy 2013 to all! The playoffs are upon us and I plan on enjoying an emotion-free playoff and Super Bowl run in New York Giants gear of course. Big shout out to my Gmen on a good season. They started off with a bang and sort of fizzled at the end, but it's all good. Well actually when I don't really think about it, it's all good.

The end of this season feels like being at an amusement park. After lasting through the highs, dips, and turns, you end it dizzy, giddy, and ready to get back in line for another ride! How many more months\hours\minutes before the new season kicks off?

 

Definitely an emotion roller coaster I've been riding for twenty-five years

Aye-Yi-Yi

Week 16 equally sucked as much as week 15 *insert le sigh*. Instead of being blown out, my Gmen were beaten to a pulp by the Ravens 33 - 14. A little pre-Merry Christmas to me. Half way through the game I started cleaning and organizing my room. If my Gmen couldn't stay focus, why should I? Basically within a couple of weeks my squad went from running the division, to being ran over! Straight road kill these last couple of games.

I've read blogs, listened to analysts as they attempt to figure out the reasons for the meltdown. "Who's to blame" seems to be the question that resonates with every word written or spoken. Let me tell you what I learned from all the different sources I've read. Are you ready? NOTHING! Nobody can truly explain it or understand it. The players and coaches can't truly explain it either. Hard to solve a problem when you have no clue what it is. Aye-yi-yi!

So now the Gmen are in a position where they need help to get to the playoffs. Aye-yi-yi! Vikings, Bears, and Cowboys must lose and the Giants must win to be in. Otherwise it's game over, actually season over to be more specific. I just shudder at that thought.

It ain't over, not yet...

No Meltdown...

I suppose I will begin with a recap of my Week 15 picks. I correctly picked 10 out of 16 games, which gives me a weekly average of 63%. As stated many times earlier, I will defintely keep my day job! With my Gmen losing and of course the Cowboys and the Redskins winning their games, makes the NFC East race "tighter than pantyhose two sizes small*". Aye-yi-yi.

Luckily I can't recap what I didn't get to see in full. Looking at the highlights, it looks as though the Gmen's alter egos suited up that game and took the field. They never fully got into their rhythm on offense and defense. Must have been very painful to watch, very painful in deed. No need for a meltdown though, we're still in the race.

How I'll be watching today's matchup!

The Nation Mourns

This past week was one of those really long weeks that I couldn't wait to end. Every morning after Monday felt like it should've been Friday. When Friday finally got here, so did news of a very tragic event in Newtown, Connecticut. I am not a parent yet, but as an auntie, an older cousin, a human, the news was a very hard pill to swallow without tears falling. As an elementary school teacher, my heart ached even more.

I lift up in prayers the families of Sandy Hook Elementary who have experienced great loss during this tragic event. I thank God for the faculty and staff members who became a hedge of protection for students that day and helped to save lives, even at the cost of losing their own. The world is shocked by these acts, but fellow educators realize our love for our students and passion for their wellbeing would warrant nothing less. We are their protectors when danger lifts its head on our watch. God bless all of the families of these heroes that day.

I also lift up in prayers families who have experienced a loss in any other tragic events long past or recent past, televised or not. I can only imagine seeing what unfolded Friday brings back memories of your own pain. I also salute the New York Football Giants, New York Jets, New England Patriots, and other organizations for taking steps to honor students and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School during week 15 games.

May we work to find a resolution to the various problems that cause some people to be so consumed by darkness that they don't savor the precious gift of life.

 

 

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Here We Go Again...

It's been a minute since I posted, but here we go once again. The Gmen are in a must win position as they go down the stretch. As much as I would've loved a little cushion with a win against the 'Skins on Monday night, I had a feeling it wouldn't go down that way. Gmen never do things the easy way, whichever road is the hardest to travel is the route they take. *insert aye-yi-yi here*

*Hums along\sings..."don't wanna play the same game". *insert as Monday here*

As any New York Football Giants fan knows, it's not over until it's over, Giants have to finish strong. I bELIeve in my squad. The NFC East will not be relinquished to the Cowboys or Redskins, they have no clue what to do with it!

Happy Family, Food, and Football Day

I still find it hard to believe that Thanksgiving is here! It is amazing how quickly time flies! Family, food, and football is an awesome combination! I'm not sure what will be more exciting the battles on the television or the battles from fans in the family as they support their squads. Either way I will enjoy pushing back from the table and watching the drama unfold.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

Bye-Bye

I have been experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions since week 8 play. Unfortunately that roller coaster seems to be stuck in dip mode! I was not happy at all with our play against the Cowboys in week 8. Truth be told, Romo played himself and in the process gave up that game to the Gmen. It went in our favor, but games like that against division rivals always makes me nervous mad. Next week 9 we played against the Steelers which ended up being a tug of war with Steelers coming out on top. Lastly, week 10 with the Bengals blowing us out. By half time I was absolutely numb! You never underestimate your opponents, but I was not expecting what played out last week. To sum it up in three words aye-yi-yi!

Now week 11 is the Gmen's bye week. Emotionally I needed this week to get all my vitals back to normal. We also need this week to say bye-bye to a few issues: