I really hate losing

Umm my name is Phats and I am not a good loser. It baffles me how these young girls I coach lose and then come off court smiling and laughing. There is something wrong with that! I am sorry, but you shouldn't be happy about losing anything, I know I am too competitive but they need to show some signs of wanting to win. I have often been told I am too competitive, and I think that this situation is showing that. I have this odd feeling that I want to win more then the team I coach does UGH!! I have one girl who I feel takes on my persona, she is my 2 singles player she is 5-1 on the season, and would rather die on court then lose. That was me when I played competitively, shoot that's still me playing just for fun oh well. I hate this cliche but wait til next year, because I have a great group of 8th graders that will be Freshmen. UGH LOSING SUCKS!

Some interesting things going on in the headlines lately. Of course everyone in Virginia is still reeling over the shootings, and my heart, thoughts, and prayers still go out to all involved. I thought it was in bad taste that NBC showed the video of the gunman, I for once agree with Rosie O'donnell. Then there was a shooting at NASA, talk about bad publicitiy over and over. First they had the astronut now this. Not good times for the space program. Lets not forget one Mr Alec Baldwin who called his 11 yr old daughter a "rude little pig" and that he would "deal with her the next time he saw her" What a great move by Kim Basinger for their custody hearing, it's all just sick.

I did absolutely nothing over the weekend, and I enjoyed doing that. I watched some good tv though! I caught a farscape marathon baby. I am not a trekie, or a star wars fan, but love me some farscape! Has anyone ever watched Man vs Wild on discovery channel? That guy is freakin' nutjob! I caught a couple episodes and just kept saying why the hell would anyone do this shit on purpose. Then I see on the Soup Joel making fun of Man among wolves(I think was the name) also on discovery channel. Another nutjob lives among the wolves, and was like full on making out with one. They better be paying these people good money that's for damn sure.

My summer is filling up FAST! I went into the city building the other day to fill out my work forms for summer tennis. I teach for the parks dept. I have 4 classes 4 hrs a week, Mon -- Thurs. It's really good pay too if it were year round, i'd be kicking it. Another fun get together of the 96 Comets is planned for June over father's day weekend. And planning a vacation with some family and that has been hectic for sure. Hard to believe my summer plans are almost full and it's not even here yet. Oh yeah I have a birthday June 5th! I expect presents.

How exciting is this, I renewed my season tickets for Purdue football!!! WOOHOO! I am going to try and get Nutz to go to a game with me this year. Hard to believe football will be here soon, and I can't wait BOILER UP!

Everyone have a great Tuesday, it's American Idol night!! WOOHOO
Phats

I am going to be deleting some stuff on here in the coming days. Some blog house cleaning!

I love country music night on Idol!

First off, I think we all need to remember the people out in Virginia, and at Virginia Tech University. What they are going thru right now is horrible, and nobody should have to experience that kind of senseless violence. So please keep students, staff, and loved ones of theirs in your thoughts, hearts, and prayers. Oddly enough this whole incident happened almost on the anniversy of Columbine, we'll people ever learn?

OK I have had a craptastic night so I have to say American Idol was my saving grace tonight. I was so psyched to get home(just in time) to see it. For starters, I love Martina McBride, and I can't wait to see her peform, and most of you know I love country music. I, like Bekah wondered how the super 7 would handle this genre, but surprisingly they mostly did well. This will also be a very telling result show, because if Sanjaya isn't even in the bottom three then we're in big trouble. Anyway, on with the highlights, and lowlights of the show. Phil tonight really surprised me, I have not really been a fan of his lately but he did a good job, with a song I really like and I am glad the judges were nice to him. The performance of the night though was by Jordin, she was just amazing! I totally agreed with Simon when he said she finally showed she can win it. Then we get to Mr Sanjaya, the dorag look was a little better. He was horrible big surprise, however I was totally pissed off and yelling at my tv at Ryan STUPID Seacrest. Simon is totally blasting the kid left and right it was awesome and Seacrest tries to stop him. What a damn idiot, he isn't a major part of the show you're a freaking host so shut the hell up, and let Simon continue to attack the loser! I know that sounds bad, but I told you I had a bad night. The other surprise for me tonight was Lakesha, she was just BLAH. She chose the wrong song, I agreed with the judges. My top three for the night
Jordin
Melinda
Phil
Bottom three(based on performance)
Sanjaya
Chris
Lakesha
Bottom three on who I think will end up there
Phil
Chris
Sanjaya
I have a bad feeling that Sanjaya stays and Phil goes home, sorry Bekah! I hope I am wrong.

So, tonight we had our first tennis match where we actually had a shot to win. This is coming off a 5-0 drubbing in winds that were just intense. I was so furious the whole bus ride home I barely spoke because I was afraid of what I might say. Tonight I challenged the girls to be more competitive. We have had 4 matches now and I have had 4 different line ups, and I started to feel like I found my line up I liked. Anyway, we lose 2 quick points at 1 singles, and 3 singles. No problem we're hanging in at 2 singles, and the doubles spots. All three going three sets. Our 1 Doubles team is down 1-4, and make this great comeback, and on the winning point to get it to 3-4 one of my girl goes down, immediately in tears. Bad sprained ankle we have to forfeit the match and that gave our opponents 3 points so they win, and naturally we win the 2 singles, and 2 doubles matches. I think I am cursed this season. I love this group they are very nice girls, they just don't have that killer instinct they need. Now I have to find someone to replace the girl with the bad sprain for tomorrow night, and we only had 12 players to begin with. UGH I hate losing, and losing that way really sucks!

Well, I am going to relax now and play some cards! Have a good one
Phats
By the way BEKAH, I know you and Carly are now teaming up on me, NOT falling for it, nope I wasn't born yesterday. Besides Carly gave you up at the tennis match tonight!

Weird wacky weather we're having.

OK I think someone forgot to give the memo to mother nature that this is Spring, not winter, or fall. DAMN! It's cold, rainy, snowy, and no fun. Talk about extremes, just two weeks ago it was 80 degrees I was having practice outside in shorts and shortsleeves life was grand. Then the middle of the following week arrives and we dip down to the 40's not bad right because after all this is still April in IN, and I don't have practice because it's spring break. Now, everyone is returning after break, and we have 4 matches this week and surely the weather will cooperate, uhh WRONG! So, Monday and Tuesday not bad we got our match in wish we hadn't. We had matches scheduled Wed and today, and both were ppd, due to cold and rain. On Wednesday we had tornado warnings out all over the state, and now Saturday they are calling for 2 inches of snow. SPRING WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?! I am starting to wonder if it's ever going to warm up. I need to move for real.

Well, I was going to do a post on this next topic but chose just to touch on it. I was incredibly happy to hear that not only MSNBC, but CBS have both chosen to no longer air Don Imus. I know that at least 10 sponsors had chosen to pull the plug ads, and I am sure that had a little to do with but I am glad they did it nonetheless. For those of you not in the know Don Imus has a syndicated radio show, and has long been known to be kind of outspoken, however on a recent show he crossed the line. He made some comments about the Rutgers womens basketball team the day after they lost in the NCAA Championship game to Tennessee. I have no desire to repeat the filth that was uttered by Mr Imus, if you want to see it you all know how to use google I am sure. I have found it comical lately where people have argued freedom of speech, and sure I am all for that but not when it's taken to this level. I don't know any of those young ladies personally, but I do know some of their stories. I know that one young lady has lost both of her parents, and C Vivian Stringer(the coach) has become like a mother to her. I know that one young lady is trained in classical piano(source ESPN), as well as one young lady is fluent in 3 languages. Attacking young college kids when you don't see the full picture is wrong, Don Imus you really screwed up. Maybe he will get help after all this, and he has lived up to his words by saying he would meet with the Rutgers team, the meeting took place tonight. I am glad he had to look those young women in the eye, and apologize for his harsh words.

That's all I got for ya, everyone have a great weekend. Hopefully the weather will turn and we'll get some matches played. We are playing the best team on our schedule tomorrow might be a long night!
Phats

Hey Tina is in Indiana for a few days, I think she's stalking me ACK!!

How I spent my spring break, by Phats

Sadly spring break is over and it's back to work for yours truly tomorrow, BOO!! Why is it this week always goes so fast. When I was in HS I was always happy to go back, because it meant the end of school was nearing. Before I go into my spring break plans, did everyone have a nice Easter?

So, for my spring break I had planned on doing as little as possible, sleeping alot, reading, and visiting with my family. I did most of that. My aunt flew in from Georgia, and her Daughter, Son in law, and granddaughter all drove. If you ask me my Aunt got the best of that deal for sure. They were coming to see my Grandma, and since they were here they came to my nephews 4 year birthday party. My nephews are twins, and they turned 4 over spring break. They had their party at a BIG swingset place that rents out for parties. It was fun, I spent most of the night sitting on a swing with my grandma, but of course the kid in me came out and I had to go down one slide. It was funny because I about bit it. I think the twins were on overload from all their gifts, and all the cake they ate. In all I think it was a successful birthday and my sister is probably glad to have it over with for another year.

The first part of the week was spent mostly with my relatives who came into town. We played tons of cards, mostly hearts. I get too greedy in that game though and always feel like I can run them no matter what I have. Not a good strategy. We taught my grandma, and 2nd cousin how to play, my grandma kept confusing it with pinnacle. My grandma is so funny, she is convinced that because the wrapper says 45% less fat that 3 musketeers are good for her. I wish it worked that way. Spring Break also happened to be over my grandma's birthday and she at age 83 demanded a party. I think mostly because this has been a really shitty year for our family, and that was her way of picking things up. So, we had a party for her, with a cake and presents. She got a new dishwasher we all went in on that, and some small things as well. Then the Georgia relatives went home midweek.

I finally got to sleep in, and boy did I! I pretty much was a lazy bum, stayed on the couch watching tv the rest of my break. I had no choice really we got hit with an arctic blast. It has snowed twice this week but nothing that stuck. It's odd because we just had 80 degrees ho hum. On Friday I managed to get off the couch and meet my sister in Noblesville, and we headed to our favorite store, Barnes and Noble, where I proceeded to buy three more books. A Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and James Patterson book. It's been awhile since I read a King book and this one looked like the long walk, which is my favorite. I could probably spend hours in that store, and spend way too much money in there. I am currently reading "kill the messenger" by Tammy Hoag, it's really good. If any of you are into murder mystery check it out.

My break ended today by celebrating Easter with family. My mother, sister, brother in law, and nephews packed up and went to my brother in laws family and had a big feast there. Then we held the little ones captive in the basement while a few adults hid Easter eggs. It was funny we were talking and one of my sister's kids said SHHH the Easter Bunny will hear you, and LEAVE! He was really stressing out about this. After the celebration I came home and watched all my favorite Sunday night TV. I am still pissed that Trump fired Heidi, what an IDIOT. I had a major crush on her.

So, back to work for me tomorrow, and I am not looking forward to it at all. It's always hard to go back after being off for awhile. My tennis team has matches Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs, and Saturday. I am guessing they will get postponed, because the highs are going to be 40 degrees. Possibly play the invite Saturday because it's suppose to be 60, we'll see. WHERE ARE YOU SPRING?!

That's all I got for ya. Jef I am still searching for your reward, it might take awhile but I will find it, or my name isn't Phats.

Phats

We have a winner

Congrats to Jef for being the first ever winner of the first annual Phats Bracket Contest! I have been really lazy as of late, and didn't get their picks on here so here they are better late then never right?

Jef-
Georgetown over OSU- INCORRECT
Florida over UCLA- CORRECT
Florida over G'town- CORRECT
2-1 record

Nutz-
OSU over G'town- CORRECT
UCLA over Florida- INCORRECT
OSU over UCLA- INCORRECT
1-2 Record

Duck
OSU over G'town- CORRECT
UCLA over Florida- INCORRECT
OSU over UCLA- INCORRECT
1-2 Record
So, CONGRATS to Jef, I will think of some reward, and no it won't be what you have been asking for in emails! HA!

I am on spring break this week woohoo. I have decided that being lazy is the best way to go. I went to my nephews birthday party this past Saturday, they are twins and turned 4 years old. I got them buzzlightyear bikes, they are cute! They had their birthday party at a big swingset place. It was fun, but tiring. The rest of the break is going to be spending time with family and sleeping! My aunt, and cousins are in town for a few days, and my grandma's birthday is Wed and we are having a party for her, she actually demanded a party. She will be 83. She is the one who had the knee replacement, and is considering now having the other knee done she is amazing! When my aunt comes to town she likes to play games, we have been playing tons of cards, mostly hearts, euchre, and gin. I have been working some at the tennis center over my break but not much. Also, I started a new book called "kill the messenger" by Tammy Hoag. It's really good I am having trouble putting it down. Once break ends though I become REALLY busy. Our tennis season kicks into high gear. We have 3 matches and an invite the week after break. Can't wait and I don't even have my line up set, oh well!

Well, that is about all I have. Everyone have a great week. I will get around to your blogs tomorrow.
Phats