It's Madness

It's madness in the Nazzy woods this morning and not all of it has to do with the NCAA. Here are a few stories from the past 24 or so hours.

March Madness

It's not as much fun without the Gators, but Pitt's been playing well, so I have them going all they way in my brackets. My rule is that if Florida is not in it I go with a team from my home state....this is a recent rule. Napp and I get all into March Madness. We join the ESPN bracket club and invite friends to join us. This year, Xylie even created a bracket. I kept giving her choices and she picked the teams she liked best. Her criteria? Name sound, letters, and mascot were of utmost importance. She really likes Xavier because it starts with an X. She's also partial to Winthrop.

The years have mellowed my competitive streak. I use to give deep thought into my picks. I didn't just go with a team because I was a fan. Now, I'm a tad more sentimental. A turning point happened four years ago when I didn't put Florida going past the first round. Napp was truly hurt by my decision. I couldn't believe he took it personally. I was right. The gators didn't make it past the first round and my bracket that year scored much higher than his, because dictated by loyalty he had the gators going all the way. However, my victory wasn't so sweet next to my hubby's disappointment so I've learned my lesson. I'll champion his dreams before a basketball team.

Funny though Napp used emotion to get me into basketball. Almost every team has a player with a heart wrenching back story. About 6 years ago that team was Maryland and the player... Juan Dixon. After reading that Dixon survived a childhood marred by his parents' heroine addictions that lead to their untimely deaths, the spunky point guard owned the basketball loving portion of my heart. I cried while reading how he helped raise his brothers and sisters and how hard he worked with tutors to maintain grades necessary to make it in college. When Maryland won the championship that year I jumped, cheered and cried as if I was the one who made the winning basket.

This year I have not read any Cinderella stories thus far, but I am routing for Southern Alabama. Our dear friend Andy Helton is the team's assistant coach. Andy is a golden hearted man with a passion to help his players be the very best they can be in life and in basketball. ASU may be an underdog, but believe me, I'll be cheering my heart out for them this Friday.

Melodrama Madness

Xylie does not like goodbyes. Someone leaving her life for 20 minutes may get the same woeful reaction as a friend moving to another state. Today as Napp was heading out the door for work, Xylie had following heart felt words for him.

"Oh Daddy, I will miss you so much. But I will always love you and you will always love me. You will always be my daddy. We are a family and will always love each other. Ohhh daddy I wish you didn't have to go to work, I will miss you so much. So much, so much. I will always love you daddy. And I will always remember you daddy. Always. I won't forget you while you are at work. You are my daddy and I will always, always, always, always remember you forever. And you will remember me. I will remember you and you will remember me and I will always love you." Her voice cracked, her head hung low and her arm reached forward as if she was ending a dance. She was going for melodrama.

It's sweet, I know and I'm not making fun...honest I'm not, but you would have thought Napp was going to war. Well, he is a professor and 20 year-olds can be brutal so perhaps he needed that heartfelt drama ridden farewell with all the fanfare.

Morning Madness

The time was 6:45 am. I was peacefully sleeping and felt a little hand tap my head three times. Then came the voice. Parents, you know the voice. It's that needy I want you right now and don't give one owl hoot or dog holler that you've only had 6 hours of sleep, are recovering from a stomach bug and have a full bladder and teeth that need brushing, you must get up and get up now and meet my every whim voice. It's not exactly like waking up to Josh Grobin. "Mommy, please get up. It's morning times and I am very, very, very, very, very, very, very hungry. And so is Zayden he needs to drink a bottle right now and I need some cereal and a banana and some milk and ah, maybe a waffle or some pancakes too. Can I watch TV now or later? Oh, I want a brownie too, please please please mommy." All that was said without a breath and within 4 seconds tops in that voice. Oh side note (One owl hoot or dog holler? I've been in the South for a loooong time). If that's not maddening enough Zayden began screaming and Carleigh was whining at the door.

She's too young for sarcasm Madness

It was bound to happen. Xylie is grasping sarcasm. Last night I dropped a plastic plate and she laughed and said "Good one mommy!" We reap what we sew.


American Idol Madness

We TIVO and watch it Wed. mornings. Xylie liked Kristy Lee Cook's performance but the judges did not. After Simon's comments Xylie looked puzzled and said "He must be joking, right mommy? She was so beautiful and she loves horsies. " I didn't have the heart to tell her that I secretly suspect that Simon kicks puppies and would probably do the same to a horse if it couldn't retaliate. Actually that's not true. I don't think Simon would really kick a puppy but he does crush feelings so the puppy analogy seemed appropriate.

She loved David Archuletta's performance. So did I. David gives me that same warm fuzzy feeling I felt when championing Juan Dixon. I'm actually old enough to be David's mother and I feel quite maternal when he performs. I want him to do well. I want his feelings spared. I want his father to be nice to him. I want everyone to be nice to him.

I think that's all the madness I have to share for now. Hope you all are having a great week.