Until now. Understand that I still think it is ridiculous to get excited over refereeing, outcome or play time. However, I have found the situation that has the potential of getting me on YouTube. And I can’t promise I will be embarrassed or sorry.

I love kids’ sports. I think it is awesome to watch children learn, run, jump, play, win and try again. I love to cheer for my children and listen to other people cheer for theirs. Most of the parents in this community know and like each other. Our children like each other. We understand the nature of friendship and competition. We are sportsmanlike and respectful.

I appreciate the excitement that comes from an opposing team when theirs are beating ours. I don’t begrudge them that. I get it. I root hard too.

I tend to get irritated at those who choose to take on the black and white stripes and attempt to call the game from the bleachers. But, I can handle that as well.

What I have found that I cannot tolerate is my child’s name – or number – coming out of another parent’s mouth in a harsh and ugly way. The first time it was irritating. The second time it was grinding. The third time I looked at my husband and let him know there would only be one more time. He laughed. I know what he is thinking about me – you can take the girl out the trailer but you can’t take the trailer out the girl. There was one more time.

He saw my eyes flash. He reminded me who I was and what I knew to be true. I gritted my teeth. In the infamous declaration of Tyler “Madea” Perry, “Jesus just saved your life, Hallelu-yer!”

Today she asked – What is Balance Anyway…

I get all jammed up with this idea of balance. It is my perception that most folks talk about balance in the context of time. For example, my life is balanced because I spent x amount of time at work, then x amount of time with my family and then x amount of time on myself.

However, if on this particular day, one of those things required more attention and you failed to adjust your schedule for the sake of balance, how does it feel in your core?

I prefer to discuss feeling centered. It may be the same thing, in fact it probably is. But I have this thing with words and the choice of word can make all the difference to me. “Balance” locks me up. “Centered” gets me excited.

And it looks like lounging in bed and not feeling guilty about it. It is working late and knowing that no one is being neglected because of it. It is pursuing a hobby that has no other productive quality other than it feeds your soul and feeling good about it.

The beds are made, the coffee is hot, the clothes are ironed, the presentation is wonderful, the schedule is working – and even if I walked outside to flattened tires, I would hit that challenge in stride.

Because for me, it’s not about balance – some things are heavier than others. It is about centered – ready for anything because I am completely comfortable in my own skin. And life looks lovely.

Seriously, I just hit a drop dead point. I didn’t see it coming and I certainly didn’t expect it to last nearly six months. I had a hard time conversing with people. I started feeling drained of energy. I was easily frustrated. Stress was at an all time high. My house was (and still is) a mess. I was eating like garbage and decided I would rather sleep than exercise.

A person wired the way that I am can only survive like that for so long. About a month ago, I hit a breaking point with my breaking point. I realized it was not my activities that drove me insane but the way I chose to view them and myself. I need to get my mind right instead of just putting on a game face.

The first thing I did was to come clean with two of my closest friends. My Pooler Posse were instrumental in helping me get over myself and pull up my big girl pants. They were neither judgemental nor passive. They allowed me to feel safe unloading my junk but never let me stay there and waddle in it.

I turned to my nutritionist/coach/mentor/friend, Deborah Crespo. Together with the support of Lisa Cree, she put me on the path to healthy living. While changing your diet and exercising doesn’t fix everything, it was the best place to start. I have already noticed a change in my mental and physical state.

I shined my sink. Say what you want about the importance of a clean house, but the state of my home goes directly to the core of my being. However, I have a husband, four children and my own business. I have had to grasp a better system in my home and cut myself some slack on the progress. I rediscovered the FlyLady. I adore that woman and her ability to instruct effectively with accountability without guilt ridden oppression.

I deleted all 275 feeds in my feed reader. I love you all and I am so glad you are here. Please don’t take this personally. But, when I started adding feeds in the beginning, I was new to the blogging scene and had no idea what I doing. I had gotten to the point where I could not keep up. As a seasoned veteran with a better handle on how this whole thing works, I am ready to start anew. I will say that I am adding the first three back toady. I look forward to getting my feet wet again with

• SuccessCreeations
• Agent Genius
• Joyful Jubilant Learning

I started posting Turn Around Tuesday on Making Life Work for You. Seems a silly thing not to do since I write them every week anyway.

And that’s it for now. I am going back to the basics. Reconnecting and relearning the art of online social media. I hope you know that i missed you – well, most of you – and I can’t wait to meet you again.

As my friends so accurately perceived weeks ago…it is the war of the David’s.

Yeah…so what? Archie had a better night last night. But he is so OMG irritating.

Any thoughts out there while we are waiting for the results?

So, on to the points…and I do this in the post, not in the comment replies, because I love to give you guys linky love for playing along with me

Creech is still at -4.

Eric gets +2. One for calling the D&D finals. The other, I will concede that on a previous post, prior to the week that was being judged, he did mention the D&D ending – do you fight this hard in school? I am betting you do. He is at 5.

Kirstengets +2 for making my laugh out loud at the thought of a “Paula Hotline.” She is at 5.

Coco screams up the ranking with a +5 comment. One for the dead on calls on all points, one for the David&David call and 3 for speaking the truth about my dearly missed Michael Johns. She moves up to 7.

And the tie…

Jay gets +3 because I agree with the rundown, he hit the nail on the head calling out Jason’s trip on the Scooby Doo bus, and his wonderful idea to vote Paula off. His total is 10.

Savannah Red had a +2 comment for also identifying the D&D Show down and for agreeing with my husband in the assessment of Emo Brooke – which I don’t hold against her at all. As far as I am concerned, it’s that passion and vulnerability that I like so much about her. His total is also 10.

I guess now that we are down to the final four, I should start thinking about a prize…I’m open to suggestions

So, Savannah Red was right on about the Andrew Lloyd Webber bit. Love him, but for Idol…ummm, no. He thought they would follow up with Tiny Tim. Ha! They did one better. They followed up with Neil “locked in the disco” Diamond. Don’t get me wrong, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (which is destined to be tonight’s group song) is a classic. But, you have 20-somethings and under rallying for the next American pop star crown and you have them sing show tunes and Neil Diamond? Really? Serious?

So, Jay, rant away. I know neither one of us thought Carly was the next American Idol. But Jason Castro is still there and Carly is gone? After he sounded like G-A-R-B-A-G-E and she owned “Jesus Christ Superstar.” *Side Note – Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Ted Neely?

[youtube rDHoTOgeNWE]

Eric, you are a smart fella. But, I think you need to check in with Jay about the power of the pink cell phone. There is no way David Cook and Brooke are together in the finale. Even if that’s the way it should be, that’s not the way it is gonna be (I reference the fact that Michael Johns has already been voted off).

So…points

Creech is at -4. One for not understanding that the Idol blog is over at the finale. Another for not knowing that I only watch CBS soap operas and cling to “Survivor” (how about those girls voting off men, with the idol, two weeks in a row!). And two more for thinking that I wring my hands over anything that doesn’t share my DNA or has a similar relationship.

Diana and Coco didn’t make it – they both are hanging tight at 2 points.

Eric gets +3 for sticking to his priorities and making a great effort to jump back in the game…but -1 for his final pick (I’ll call him the default winner if his final two are right). So, he ends up at 3.

Kirsten gets +1 for using the word “coolio.” She is also at 3.

Jay  gets +2 because I know he bit his tongue off – and I am still feeling admiration for the Iz respect. His total is 7.

Savannah Red  takes the lead with a +3 comment. Take your pick as to which part of the tirade you like best. My top three were the shout out to Englebert Humperdinck, Idol ala Ice Capades and knowing enough about me that he could abbreviate PBR and I would know just what he was talking about (free and cold is the best kind!) He leads with 8.

Now, let’s watch the results show and tell Brooke White goodbye…

But – I have gone through the points…drum roll please

Eric is still hanging out at 1…I am guessing…school work is getting in the way of Idol. Geesh – where are our priorities?

Diana starts off with 2 points. She gushes about Idol AND has more kids than me. That has to count for a point.

Kirsten also has 2 points. Not only did she totally agree with me (and on my blog that gets a point), but just seeing her name makes me smile

Coco is hanging out with the 2 pointers due to the phenom Hamlet quote she left for me.

Savannah Red gained four points with a total of 5. He is an absolute riot! One of my favorite things about this blogging Idol is his comments. Not to mention he is almost always dead on.

And Jay leads the way up five to a total of 6. Three came from his begging tirade. But, he did have great picks and pegged the Dolly Parton group song. Then there was the bonus two points for giving Iz the respect he deserves.

While you guys watch the the results show, I am gonna watch last night’s performances. So don’t tell me…

David A. – yawn…have I mentioned how perplexed I am that I dislike a kid that sings so well? I do…I really do. Would turn the radio dial every single time…I am considering watching it on TiVo so I can fast forward it.

Carly – mmmm….okay. Take her or leave her.

Syesha -my female David A. The girl can sing, there is no doubt about that. But, she is just so…typical.

Brooke – I love it when she does that piano thing. I love listening to her and I think there is character and life in her imperfection. Those falters are where her passion lies and I would rather hear that than a pitch perfect performance.

Kristie -Is she still here? Really?

David – Real deal talent. No doubt. He is my favorite (darn Michael Johns). Great signing voice, whatever…there is something about raw talent that just does it for me…I think that’s the thing that Syesha is missing…

Jason – I am still irritated he tried to pull off Braddah Iz’s version of Over the Rainbow. The Hawaiian in me almost threw something at the TV. It is the Hawaiian equivalent of somebody trying to do Whitney. I understand not everyone is familiar with THE version. I will share with you here.

BTW – I love you, Pops…

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=PL-uL2M3xvM

While you all are very supportive and some of my great friends, I just didn’t feel like blogging. I didn’t really feel like doing anything. But, as it was, I had tons I had to do so I didn’t do anything that wasn’t imperative. I knew you guys would understand.

His memorial was last night. While I still don’t want to do a whole lot, I know Greg and I know his life – it was fun and he brought fun to all those around him. He would still want to bring the fun.

And I think hanging out with you guys is fun…

So, in loving memory of my wonderful friend Greg, this is your American Idol.

Brooke White – One of my favorite Idols doing one of my favorite Dolly songs. I would buy her album today. Who cares what the judges say?

David Cook – Wow! Michael Johns better bring it tonight. He is about to get replaced as my number one pick. He is an absolute genius. Simon says it wasn’t as good as last week. Well, duh! Last week was utterly masterful. Few will ever be as good as David’s last week, much less repeat it.

Ramiele Malubay – Yawn…what else is there to say…next!

Jason Castro – Paula needs a hearing aid. He is done…have a nice day.

Carly Smithson - Again, great vocals – amazing even…but, I am with Jay…there is just something about her. Just not interested…Simon called out her apparel – about time.

David Archuleta – It is amazing how somebody with such a great voice can sound little better to me than nails on a chalkboard. Harsh? Maybe. But I am so tired of listening to anything he has to sing.

Kristie Lee Cook – She has lucked out two weeks in a row with the song selection. And her dress is great. But she definitely does not get my vote. She said she would rather impress Dolly Parton than her momma. What!? I mean, sure it’s Dolly – but never before Momma.

Syesha Mercado – “I Will Always Love You” Ha! As if. Are you kidding She can’t honestly think she can even begin to tackle that song. Can’t even believe she tried this…you already know what they are going to say. She should get voted off just for being stupid.

Michael Johns – Well, it’s a love song…very cool. He gets to stay my favorite for another week. Incredible…best of the evening.

My vote – Ramiele…or really any of them who performed in the middle

Points line up – it is a tie all the way around

• Jay - 1
• Coco – 1
• Savannah Red – 1
• Eric - 1