It's cool to be you.

I've been wanting to write this blog for a while now, but I wasn't quite sure how to frame it. But on my way in to work this morning while listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN, my thoughts starting to fall into place.

You see, there was some debate going on between Mike and Mike about what Superbowl wins mean to your legacy. Without going too far into the argument, Mike Greenberg claimed that having a 4-2 record in the Superbowl was better than having a 4-0 record. He claimed that having made it to the championship game six times and having lost two of those is better than having only gone four times. Mike Golic claimed that being able to say that you are undefeated in the Superbowl gives you more clout than having lost two.

The argument is neither here nor there. I really could care less about this topic. But what came next surprised me.

Greenberg then claimed that anyone with Golic's point of view is "an idiot".

First, is this really a topic to get so heated about that you call someone an idiot if they do not believe what you believe?

Second, and much more important, name calling for not having the same beliefs as someone else has become so mainstream and so common in this country, I really am not surprised at all at the outcome of this argument.

It happens all the time. When Phil Robertson was under scrutiny for what he said in a GQ article, the hate speak was so bad, it forced his employer to have him lose his job. (But then give it back.)

He was an idiot, ignorant, bigot, old-fashioned, too religious, etc.

It happened when Justine Sacco tweeted racially-themed message via her Twitter account and became the target of a worldwide witch hunt.

She was racist, stupid, her actions unforgivable.

It happened when Richard Sherman screamed into the camera after he made the game winning play to put his team into the Superbowl.

He was a thug, a n-----, a dumb athlete.

It happens every day in Washington, DC when the right does not agree with the left and the left does not agree with the right.

It happens when Republicans are called ignorant and anti-gay.

It happens when Democrats are called anti-life and fascists.

The problem is that this country has become divided. We are not divided on whether the Seahawks or the Broncos are going to win the Superbowl. We are not divided on whether living in the south is better because you always have sun or living in the north is better because you have four seasons.

We are divided on hot button issues. And wake up people, there will never come a day where everyone agrees on abortion, health care, gun control, gay marriage, etc. And that's okay.

If you are against gun control reform, you are somehow made into a cold-hearted gun lover who doesn't care if Columbine or Newton ever happened again.

If you are pro-choice, you are somehow made into a murderer.

If you are anti-gay marriage, you may as well be anti-gay.

If you are for health care reform, you are a communist.

It's everywhere. It's at my office where the word "republican" is used as sort of a swear word. It's in California where an actress lost her job in the Vagina Monologues because she supported a Tea Party member. It's in my home state of New York where the governor said there was no place for certain people with certain beliefs.

The fact of the matter is: there is a place for everyone and every belief everywhere.

Here's a thought... instead of calling names and inflicting pain at those with different beliefs than you, why not learn their story? Ask: Why do you believe these things? Where did you come to that conclusion?

And I challenge you. Instead of being stubborn and sticking to your beliefs, try and understand theirs. Try and live a day with their point of view and see if the world is different. That's not to say change your mind, you may believe whatever you want.

You do not know Phil Robertson or Justine Sacco or Richard Sherman, neither do I. The media will try and dig into their lives and do interviews with them and try to expose who they are. But you still do not know them. What they said or did was out of religious beliefs, a slip in judgment or adrenaline pumping after a big game, it does not define them as a person.

I'm tired of it being cool to be a liberal and so uncool to be a conservative. I'm tired of racism and sexism and every other -ism. I'm tired of it being just because I'm 'pro' one thing that means I'm 'anti' its opposite.

You do not need to know where I stand on social or economic issues. And look. I just wrote a blog on some of the topics and you still do not know where I stand. However, if you want to know, you can ask. I will tell you and ask you what you believe in return. It will turn into something called a conversation, which is very much not like an argument.

It's cool to be you and it's not cool to make fun of other people. No matter where you fall on the party line.

Things that make me feel old.

I'm less than a month from turning 26. Seriously? When did that happen? It's been a fairly recent occurrence that I can remember things that happened, say, 10 years ago. (Because when I was 20, 10 years ago meant I was 10, and I don't remember being 10.)

Here are some things that make me feel old:

Suite Awkward. Ashlee & Emma.

1.   My little sister, Sarah, is going to be 24 this year. It's easy math, really, because she was born in 1990. She graduated college two years ago. Weird.
2.   My older sister, Emily, is married.
3.   Of my two college roommates, Emma is working towards her PhD, and Ashlee is married with a  baby. (Love and miss you both!)
4.   I graduated high school 8 years ago, and graduated college 4 years ago. It's not okay.
5.   I started driving 10 years ago. I remember my first time driving alone (because it's within that 10 year range where I can remember things). I picked up Daisy and Michelle in my mom's Tahoe and     took them to soccer practice.
6.   I've lived in 6 states. New York, Ohio, Virginia, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Indiana. And of those I somehow decided to settle in Indiana. I'm so not a Midwest girl.

Sarah and I at my
college graduation.

7.   I have a Master's Degree.
8.   I've been in 2 longterm relationships. One was 5 years, one is 3 1/2 years and going. There was 3 years in between. That's 11 years right there.
9.   My parents will be married 30 years in November. But that doesn't make them old, that makes them awesome. 
10.  I've had my car since my junior year in college. That was 5 years ago. Connie the Pontiac has been on some great adventures.
11.  I remember when people thought computers were going to blow up on Y2K. LOL.
12.  I can't drink more than 2 glasses of wine without feeling it the next day.

Baby Meeps

13.  Juneau is 3 years old. Actually, we adopted him 3 years ago this week!
14.  I'd rather go to a matinee movie than an evening movie. But that might not make me old, it makes me smart because I don't want to pay $13 to watch a movie.
15.  I literally don't recognize anyone that graduated from Cal-Mum last year. And being from the small town of Caledonia, that says something.
16.  Emily and I coached an Under-8 girls soccer team one summer. Those girls are now playing varsity soccer.
17.  I pledged a sorority 5 1/2 years ago, and I am a big^5. (That means I have 5 littles).
18.   You know those 'kids' that play college sports? I'm older than them all. I'm older than a lot of pros, too! I'm looking at you Paul George.

Craziness.
There are also things that make me feel really young, but that's for another day...

10 ways to beat the winter blues

I don't hate a lot of things, but I hate January. Winter in general is brutal but at least December has the magical feel of Christmas and February is my birthday month. January... just... no....

Perhaps I should be one of those people who embrace the winter being from Upstate New York where winter lasts six months and the sun only makes an appearance about 30 days out of the year. Perhaps I should love skiing and hot cocoa and big sweaters and the fireplace. Those may be the only things I like about winter. However the dry skin, the car trouble, the unplowed roads, my cold feet, having to walk Juneau in single degree weather and the gray days more than outweigh the positives about this month.

Seasonal depression is REAL, people!

Instead of drowning in my sorrows, I decided to make a list (since everyone is making lists these days) on how to beat the winter blahs.

1. Netflix. Netflix is almost always a life saver but more so in the winter. I've already had two 'snow days' this year and I'm not even a teacher. While sitting at home with a car that has been buried and Bravo only showing replays of Real Housewives episodes I've already seen, I turn to Netflix. This winter I've already completed the entire series of Breaking Bad (totally recommending it) and several movies that I didn't want to spend $10 on to watch in a theater. Thank you Netflix for changing your business plan from a DVD mailing company to everyones favorite snowy day activity.

2. Picture Frames.  I'm the queen of picture frames. I have photos of high school soccer, DPhiE, family vacations, Juneau, Dave and I, etc. all framed and scattered throughout our apartment. This winter I took advantage of an online deal and ordered photos that I hadn't had time to print out. Now I have up-to-date pictures in said picture frames. I also used a coupon (probably the first of my existence) and bought picture frames to display my degrees and Dave's military certificate. No biggie, we're only three years behind.

3. Shop Online. Honestly, I've never been a huge online shopper. Really, I'm still not. But it doesn't hurt to lust over beautiful clothing that would never look quite right on my pear-shaped body.

4. Blog. I'm starting to look like a computer nerd. Everything I've listed so far has consisted of sitting behind a computer at one point or another. Oh well, beats freezing outside. Writing has always been a hobby of mine, but blogging for fun is a completely different type of therapy. Maybe it's not for everyone but I challenge you to at least look at a couple of blogs and see what people are saying. It's fascinating.

5. Oversized sweaters. I think I mentioned this in the opener... yup, I did. But I can't say it enough. Oversized sweaters are the best thing to come from hipster culture. Where to find them? Etsy.com (see no. 3- online shopping) has awesome vendors who will pick oversized sweaters at random and send them to you for just $10! No need to worry about the color or pattern, just enter the size (remember the bigger the better) and a sweater will show up at your door. Honestly, the suspense of waiting to find out what color you will get is worth $10 just by itself.

6.  Crockpot. There is nothing more annoying than working an 8 hour day and leaving the office to find total darkness. Does the sun seriously set at 5:30pm? Give me a break. I'm ready to go to bed, but alas, someone must make dinner. The solution? CROCKPOT RECIPES. Set it and forget it... just make sure it's pushed far enough back on the counter and locked tight so that your curious pets don't get to it first. This way when you come home from work you can dish yourself a warm meal as soon as you walk in the door and spend the rest of the night watching Netflix.

7. Sports. It's my go-to. We have NFL Playoffs, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, NBA Basketball, NCAA Basketball, tennis, baseball scandals, etc. It's a great time of year to be a sports fan.

8. Get Creative. Dave and I were sitting on the couch one night, bored out of our minds. Juneau brought us his favorite toy: a ball. We started throwing it. We started keeping points for getting the ball through the doorway, hitting a certain part of the wall, etc. Juneau was fine with it cause he thought the game was about him. Little does he know, he was just being used to bring the ball back for the next person to throw. This game is played on a consistent basis. And to think it was created out of pure boredom.

9. Clean out your closet. A snowy afternoon is a perfect time to re-evaluate your clothing choices. If you don't wear it, donate it. And yes, it's okay if your bag of donations sits around till springtime when you actually feel like running errands.

10. Spend some quality time. As much as I enjoy being adventurous, I equally enjoy sitting at home with Dave playing Scrabble and drinking hot tea. Winter forces human interaction, so don't shy away. Pop on some Netflix, start up the Crockpot and watch your favorite team play.

Here's to two more months of snow, cracked skin and wearing boots every day.

"Lone Survivor" is more than just a movie

I usually don't like to get into topics like politics, religion, etc. I truly believe that everyone can and should have their own beliefs and opinions on things, and living in America we all have the right to vocalize those opinions. However, I also believe that topics like politics, religion, or social issues are things that are based on one's morality and are ingrained in them to the deepest part of their being. To argue those beliefs is silly. To understand each other's belief is so much more important.

That being said...

Dave and I went to see the movie "Lone Survivor" on Saturday. For those of you who don't know, Dave is a Marine Corps veteran and deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

The movie hit home. There were large spans of it that were incredibly hard to watch, for both of us. However, this movie was more than just a hollywood drama. It was a real story.

David next to a Marine Corps
monument in DC in 2010.

Since seeing the movie, I have been reading about the men who lost their lives and the mission they were on. For me it's fascinating. That instead of choosing college and a comfortable job in the business world, these men and women choose to leave behind the safety of their homes to protect others. It's truly the most unselfish act.

I have also been reading critiques of the film. Of course there are those people who are calling it "pro war propaganda" and "right wing publicity".  There was even a man who said, "It seems senseless all these wonderful people who were killed for an op that went wrong."

Excuse my naivete, but I truly cannot comprehend how someone can see the story of heroic men and women, the ultimate sacrifice they made, and the unselfishness of it all solely through a political lens. Look beyond that...

Dave and I have talked about his time in the military. It's a part of his life he is very proud of, but a part of his life that he likes to keep in the past. One thing that will forever resonate with me: he joined to serve his country, but he fought for the men beside him. The bond of brotherhood is much deeper than the political bullshit that civilians back home see.

Honestly, does anyone have any idea what a real war is like other than the people who have experienced it? Do I have a right to judge your chosen profession? Perhaps, but I'll never judge you for laying down your life for something you so vehemently believe in. I only wish I could have a job I was so passionate about.

So next time you want to criticize the war, the soldiers who fight, a hollywood movie that wants to tell their story... remember these are real people, with real families and real human emotions. They are not just actors on a screen.

My response to "23 things to do before you're 23 instead of getting married" and Young woman gives amazing response to the “23 things to do instead of getting engaged before you’re 23″

There are lists circulating the internet and I'm sure you've read them. If not here they are:


23 things to do before you're 23 instead of get married
The Response


What do I have to say?

Good for these girls. They have opinions/feelings and they blog about it. It's what I do, so I get it.

What else?

People need to stop worrying about if or when or what or who they are marrying and follow the path that they are on. There are benefits of being married and benefits of not being married. Who cares?! Is being in a relationship how people define themselves?

Your twenties are a weird age. You are out of school, on your own, finding a career, finding yourself. Some people find the one, others don't. I know people who got married and had children out of college and are happy, wonderful parents and couples. I also know people who waited until almost 40 to find the right person and start a family, and they are equally as happy and successful. There are also love stories of people who started families with one person, but they found their true happiness with others and blended their families.

The wonderful thing about this world is that everyone is different. Every relationship is different. Every love story is different. Some people find their true love in middle school. Others find theirs after retirement. Some people find love in their careers. Others find it in a pet.

The one thing I can say is that if you base your happiness on someone or something else, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Until you are happy with yourself, you can never truly be happy. If the first girl wants to sit in front of the window naked and the other girl wants to have a sleepover with her husband every night, as long as they are happy, who are we to judge?

Winter Storm 1/5/2014

The past 24 hours have been... interesting.

I've been sick with a head cold for the past few days. All I wanted to do was sit on the couch and watch trashy TV.

Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas. Around 4pm on Sunday, we lost power in our apartment. We waited it out for about two hours, but decided, since the weather was so crappy and the temperatures were going to drop below zero overnight, to take up a friend's offer and stay and their house for the night. We packed up a bag and Juneau and headed to our warm oasis.

After a 15-minute-turn-45-minute drive, we reached Bob's house. The plow had visited their apartment complex and had made it nearly impossible to find a snow-less parking spot.

Bob and his wife made us a warm meal and the dogs got to play in the snow. I watched the boys play Wii for a while and we fell asleep.

The mayor of Indianapolis had put a travel warning into effect making it illegal for anyone to be on the roads thru noon on Monday. He also strongly advised that all companies close on Monday.

My office closed but Dave's did not. He was supposed to go in at 2pm and when he called to check if they were opening, a co-worker told him only three people had showed up. Others were snowed in or didn't want to travel on the roads.

Vent: I have seriously never seen a more incompetent Department of Transportation than in Indianapolis. Snow plows didn't hit the streets at ALL yesterday. They used salt, which becomes null and void when temperatures reach a certain low. Maybe it's being from upstate New York and being used to seeing plows out before a winter storm hits, but telling people not to go on the roads does not make it okay to just NOT plow.

Anyways, when we woke up on Monday I texted a neighbor and she said our power had been restored around 9pm on Sunday. Dave and Bob went outside to get the car started, but it was stuck and we were without a shovel. Dave ran me and Juneau home in Bob's car and headed back up to see if he could get the car out.

After some digging, Bob and Dave finally got the car out. But had managed to lock the keys in the ignition in the process.

AAA, tow companies, the police, and a local pop-a-lock all told us that they aren't doing any business in Indy today unless it was an emergency.

After three hours of burning gas in the apartment complex parking lot, the two guys managed to pop the lock with a hammer and a rag (don't ask) and Dave finally headed to work.

I'm sure we had it easy in comparison to other people, but what an adventure it has been.

Pictures to come!

Pet Peeves

Updated January 7th.

A common symptom of any sickness I have is a major amount of irritation. As I come down with my first cold of 2014, I am reminded of those things that just bother the bejeasus out of me.

1.  Nuts in ice cream

2.  Sweater dresses

3.  Fruit in dessert

4.  Flipping candy in your mouth 

5.  Having no toilet paper

6.  Using the wrong form of "your/you're", "to/too/two", "are/our", etc.

7.  Perfectionists

8.  The feeling of overeating

9.  Unanswered texts

10.  Hang nails

11.  Knock off Coach bags

12.  Andrew Zimmerman

13.  People talking to me with my headphones in

14.  People not talking to me cause I have headphones in and just staring instead

15.  Having an unread notification on my phone

16.  When fans/journalists/announcers/etc. of sports teams make reference to "we" or "us". ie: "We did our best." You're on the team? Must have missed that.

First workout of 2014

2 mile run 30 minute leg workout Sadly, I can feel myself coming down with a cold. Hopefully it doesn't sideline me from working out too long. The goal? 10 lbs gone by my birthday and running 6 miles a day. Bring it February 11th!

Compass - Lady A

So let your heart, sweetheart, be your compass when you're lost
and you should follow it wherever you may go.
When it's all said and done you can walk instead of run
because no matter what you'll never be alone.

New Year's Resolutions

Perhaps my resolutions are predictable, but for the first time in a long time, I'm heading into a new year feeling positive about the future.

1. Keep up with my blog.

I constantly go through days thinking of potential blog topics, but rarely open up a new page and write. This year I want to chronicle everything: from the most exciting to the extremely dull. I love looking back at my old blog posts and seeing how much things have or have not changed. I need to do it more. So many things happened in 2013: I worked for an NBA team, I graduated with a master's degree, I got my first job in journalism, my sister got married, etc. Looking back, I'm sad I didn't keep track of it all. I also want to keep track of my lifestyle, which leads me to number 2.

2. Lose some lbs.

There was a time that I was a collegiate athlete who watched every single calorie I put in my mouth and ran miles every day. Between graduating from college and life getting in the way, I've slowly faded away from this healthy lifestyle. I was once a freak about working out, even enjoyed it. Now a mile jog tires me out. My health needs an overhaul. This year I want to get back to my college size. I want to try things like paleo eating and crossfit. I want to get competitive again. I want to run a marathon.

3. Run a marathon.

I've been doing some research on marathons around the country. I have always worked best when working towards a goal. If anyone wants to join me in training, let me know! I would love to have a workout buddy, whether near or far. I plan on joining a gym and getting my butt in gear as soon as the clock strikes midnight in 2014. If Oprah can run a marathon, so can I.

4. Take a vacation.

What I'm hoping for is to plan a vacation around my marathon. I want to run somewhere like the Redwood Forest or in the deserts of Arizona. I haven't been on a vacation since graduating from Geneseo in 2010. I've moved around so much, and even lived in a vacation destination, but my time away from work and/or school has been spent in Rochester, NY. Don't get me wrong, I love going home, but I want to see more of this country. I want warm weather, wine, and to make more memories.

5. Start a retirement account.

I guess this resolution is the one that stands by itself. But it's probably my biggest goal. I have been very fortunate to be able to travel and move around as much as I have, but it came with a cost. Moving ain't cheap. This year I want to start acting like an adult and saving for my future.

Looking forward to a exciting and successful 2014! Happy New Years to all!

A Look Back at 2013

This year was one of something I haven't felt in a while... stability. Throughout the year I have done so much, but I was only reminded of that recently when a family member said to me, "Wow, Erica, what a year."

January

The beginning of 2013 looked promising. I was interning with the Pacers who were making a terrific run through the regular season. David was working at a drug lab and was really enjoying his work. I started my second semester of graduate school and was eagerly anticipating the upcoming months and what post-graduation life would bring. Oh, and I made it into my first sports gif.

February

My birthday month was a busy one. The Pacers played the majority of their games at home meaning more time at work. It was fun! I was starting to get the hang of things around Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and was beginning to feel more comfortable in an NBA locker room. David took me to Chicago for my 25th birthday and Valentine's Day. We froze our butts off! But we had a blast. We went to the top of the Sears Tower, looked around Soldier Field, window shopped, rode the ferris wheel on the Navy Pier, and ate a mouth-watering meal at Ditka's Restaurant.

March

March Madness hit home for me after learning I would be able to cover the NCAA Men's Midwest Regional in Indianapolis. I attended and covered both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, and was in the building the day Kevin Ware suffered a brutal leg injury. (Something I'll never forget). David got a promotion at his job and quickly moved through the ranks to become the regional manager at the drug lab he was working for.

April

At the start of April, my other internship with VYPE High School Sports Magazine sent me to Chicago to cover the McDonald's All American Games. I was impressed at the level of talent at such a young age. April also saw the start of the NBA Playoffs and I was able to cover the first round matchup between the Hawks and Pacers. My second semester of graduate school finished up in late April complete with late nights and long papers. But I made it through. I also started freelancing for the NCAA - incredible - and have been able to write about a dozen stories for them throughout the course of the year.

May

May was a turning point in 2013. I started looking for jobs while David left his. He learned that sometimes you have to give up what you are doing today to plan for a better tomorrow. I started my final session of graduate school and left my internship with VYPE. I quickly learned that the opportunities you may think have little value actually come out on top. I appreciate everything Rich and Phil at VYPE have done, and continue to do for me.

June

The start of summer saw the end of graduate school. I was no longer a student. The Pacers lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and my days of working for an NBA team were up. I loved every minute of that internship and I would do it all again if I could. David started working at another job that made him much happier. I lost a classmate from high school in a weightlifting accident. He was an amazing man and I think about him often. Toward the end of June, Dave and I were both able to take some time to visit family. He went home to Charlottesville for a week while I went home to Rochester for Emily's bridal shower.

July

Emily had a second bridal shower, this time in Indianapolis. I was able to show my grandma and mom around the city and spend some quality time with my sisters. There was a fatal car accident in my hometown that claimed the life of three young people and severely injured two more. I watched from afar as my small town came together to grieve. My job hunt was in full force and I finally heard back from a high school soccer coaching job at a nearby school. I started waking up early to coach teenage girls in the hottest month of the year. It was my dream. I was finally around soccer again.

August

August saw more job hunting and an opportunity finally presented itself. I was a finalist for a sports reporter position in Evansville, IN. I made the three hour trip, but didn't get the job. It ended up being for the best. I interviewed for a job at a small newspaper just north of Indy. I started working there for several days, but something didn't feel right. I followed my gut and risked waiting for another job to come my way. It was the right decision. David turned 26 in August and we celebrated with a new grill and cabobs. This was also the month that a dog attacked Juneau in front of our apartment, and after days of arguing with the complex, the other dog and owner were removed. Phew. Soccer season started and I loved it. It kept my mind occupied from my ferocious job search and I made some new friends!

September

All the waiting finally came to an end. I was offered an assistant editor position at The Saturday Evening Post magazine in downtown Indy. I started on September 16th. There was so much relief. Soccer season was going full force and my girls were winning... a lot.

October

David and I celebrated our three year anniversary on October 7th. We have worked hard to become the people we are, and we have never been in a better place. The Fishers girls soccer team made history in October by winning their first game in sectional play. They defeated Noblesville in penalty kicks. In round two, they defeated arch rivals Hamilton Southeastern by a 1-0 overtime score. The girls went on to face Pendleton Heights in the sectional finals, the night of Emily's rehearsal dinner. The night before, Emily celebrated her last night as a single woman with friends and family from all over the world. We went on a brewery tour of Indianapolis, and I don't remember much after that. Saturday morning, after some ibuprofen and lots of water, Emily, Sarah and I were able to sneak away for some sister bonding time over biscuits and gravy at a nearby diner. We then sweated through the wedding rehearsal and were able to sit down to get our nails done. We enjoy some genuine German cuisine at the rehearsal dinner, and after a glass of wine to calm my nerves, I was able to help coach the Fishers Tigers to a 6-0 win and the first sectional title in school history. The girls would go on to win regionals and semi-state in championship fashion. I stood next to my sister as she married Shane and partied all night long with my amazing family. My dad and I Texas-two-stepped and Sarah was kicked off the dance floor due to dropping one too many glasses. Such a great month!

November

The weather quickly turned cold shortly after the wedding. I went from coaching in a t-shirt and shorts to long johns and a winter coat. The first weekend in November was the state finals. My girls fought hard and lost a heartbreaker to Avon in overtime. The final score, 1-0, really could have gone either way. It was a great match. Dave and I attended the banquet and I was given a beautiful framed photo of the team. Certainly a season I'll never forget. Dave and I had our first solo Thanksgiving. I cooked some of our favorites from home and we enjoyed some 'us' time.

December

I was able to go home and watch one of my best friends, Michelle Bub, marry her longtime love, Jody. It was a beautiful ceremony on a slightly snowy afternoon. I was also able to catchup with some of my good friends from college, enjoy too much wine, and see my family. I saw Sarah's new apartment in downtown Rochester and spent some couch time with Mom in front of the fireplace. The next weekend, two of my oldest friends from high school were married in Caledonia, although I was unable to make the trip. VYPE asked me to cover a Colts game and after 25 years, I finally attended an NFL game. (It was the last of any pro or college sport that I could check off my list as having attended.) Emily and Shane came to Indy with their dog, Belle, and I spent some time looking through wedding photos. Dave and I will spend our first solo Christmas together and plan on having a very mellow New Years.

Indy has been good to us thus far, and although it is nice to feel stable in one place for longer than a year, we miss our families. Our goal for 2014 is to get back to the East Coast. There are some exciting adventures on the horizon. David has decided to go back to school to earn his Bachelor's in Criminal Justice with a focus on Homeland Security. He's the best. He has been 100% supportive of everything I have been able to do this year and I couldn't ask for a better man. I have been able to take on more responsibility at work including tons of social media strategy and because of that, have seen some potential opportunities pop up. Juneau is growing up, but not slowing down. He has the best personality. I have made some wonderful new friends, and lost touch with some along the way. I've learned to surround myself with positive, upbeat, soul-searching people, and it is amazing to see how much that pays off in your external life.

Cheers to 2013 for being a great year. Here's to a happy, healthy and adventurous 2014!

Why I write....

I had a revelation today.

I'm one of those people who find it hard to be in the moment. I get bored easily hence moving and living in four different cities since I graduated college. I constantly find myself longing for a moment of time I have already lived in or find myself wishing for one that may happen in time.

I am a writer by nature. I always thought that being a writer meant that I had to be a reader, too. But I'm not a reader. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good book every now and then. I've learned somewhere along the way that my way of doing things is usually agains the norm. Therefore, I'm not a reader, but I am a writer at heart.

This past week I've had three freelance assignments that have taken the back burner to my personal blog. I'll get that work done, and I'll get it done well, but my mind has been going a million miles a minute. As I sit here to write this, I have my television playing, but on mute. I have Pandora blasting country music. I have dinner cooking. I have my phone blinking with text messages sitting on the couch next to me. I'm a mess...

Writing puts me in the moment. I will never understand the heartache and the pain that has been felt this week. Some people will hear the news, cry for a moment, and push through their day. Other people will hear the news and make sure to spend some extra quality time with friends and family. Still others will channel their pain by organizing a fundraiser or benefit.

I will write.

My revelation came as I was walking up the stairs after seeing a movie with David. The movie was good, it was funny, it distracted me for a period of time. But as I was coming home to my computer, I needed to write.

I'm the middle child and as such, I inherently have an identity crisis. Emily, the older sister, is brilliant and ambitious. She is well-spoken, stubborn in her beliefs and dedicates her life to teaching others. Sarah, the younger sister, is hilarious. She is outspoken, creative, and has become a hard-working, driven young woman.

I always wanted to be smart and funny. And I think I am. Those are qualities that are easily noticed. `

Today, though, I realized I am the thinker. I am the independent, dramatic, emotional one. I find a story line in mundane events. I get lost in thought, and to the dislike of those I love the most, I enjoy my alone time with my computer as much as I enjoy going out with friends.

I've been emotional this week. No, I don't know those involved on a personal level. Does that really matter? My emotion is fueled by the broken hearts and broken families that will never be the same. It is fueled by the girls who have a long recovery ahead of them. It is fueled by the outpouring of love and support that I have seen on Facebook and Twitter. It is fueled by the fact that I am eight hours away from home and I miss my family.

Small Town Soccer Girl

The game of soccer was my first love. My childhood memories and most of my friends were made on the soccer field. My dad coached, my sisters played with me and my mom was at every single game no matter what. I recall the first year I was given the Cal-Mum Varsity soccer jersey to wear. I had long wanted to trade in the ratty, hand-me-downs I wore as a JV player to wear the fresh maroon and white of the Varsity team.

We played for a small town. None of us would go Division I, we weren't very technical, and if we had tried out for a Class A team, the majority of us would be cut.

But we had two things that were undeniable: we were tough as nails, and we had heart.

I had the skill to play at the collegiate level, so I set out to find the right school. I ended up playing at a small school in Ohio, about six hours away from home. The girls were great, the coaches were alright, and the soccer was fast. Sadly, though, I lost the love for the game.

I don't think there was a 'right school' for me. What I loved most about soccer was the people and the place I played for. I longed for the maroon and white. I longed for my small town.

I made the decision to finish my education closer to home. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I know I could have played all four years in college, but I would be doing it for the wrong reasons.

Being close to home allowed me to watch my little sister play every game in her final season as a Red Raider. I was able to watch my younger teammates develop into beautiful and tough young women. I was able to watch Sarah lead her team to the state championship game.

Fortunately, I have re-found my love for the game and will be coaching at a class 4A high school in Indiana. The girls are very talented, technical and strong. They play year-round and the majority of them will probably play in college.

I think back to my team in high school, and I know we could've beaten them. Why? Because we were tough as nails... and we had heart.

Sports to me have always been about more than the talent and the numbers. I wanted to become a sports journalist because I wanted to tell the stories of the athletes; I wanted to tell about the trials and tribulations of those who dedicate their lives to sports. I have never been and never will be able to tell you the batting averages of the best hitters in the league or how many passing yards Peyton Manning had last season. To me that is just scratching the surface of what sports are all about.

I believe I have such a soft spot for these stories because of the Cal-Mum community. In a world full of powerhouse sports teams, we were the underdog, no matter if we had the better record or not. We weren't playing in club leagues all year round and we weren't coached by professionals. We succeeded because we had hard-nosed, hard-working, small-town people behind us.

The town of Caledonia is a typical small town where life revolves around sports. Some may view this as a bad thing. I don't. I think it tells a bigger story. The leading goal scorer on the soccer team is also a girl scout. While cheering on the football team you are also cheering on this years' lead in the musical. The quarterback is also the first baseman on the baseball team. The cheerleader on the top of the pyramid is also the president of the National Honor Society.

Sports tell wonderful stories, whether they end in tragedy or triumph. Caledonia is resilient. No matter the amount of grief and heartache, the entire town will still be out to watch the Raiders play Leroy on Friday night. They will be there when the seniors on the volleyball team play their final home game. They will be waiting at the monument as the softball team brings home that sectional trophy.

KACM. I'm thinking of you.

Caledonia-Mumford Red Raiders

I'm feeling rather nostalgic today after hearing the news of the horrendous crash that killed two and injured three Cal-Mum alum. For me Cal-Mum is home and although I've traveled to new places and met plenty of new people, those who I share my hometown memories with will always have a special place in my heart. It's hard to describe the connection and love that a small town like Caledonia has unless you grew up in one. At times the small size may irritate you and drive you crazy, but looking back I don't think I'd have it any other way. Because of the size of the school I was able to play multiple sports, be involved in music and art and, most importantly, get to know every person that I went to school with whether they graduated five years before me or five years after. I knew who they were and who their parents were and what they did for a living... in short, it is a wonderful place.

I am constantly reminded, sadly, that this accident wasn't the first loss in our small community. Just a month ago we lost one of the best guys I've ever known to a weight lifting accident. In the past year there has been so much loss and grief it seems that just when the black cloud finally lifts, it starts to rain again.

In times like these I wish I could go back in time when we were invincible and the most important thing was making the soccer team or being named lead in the musical. I spent some time looking through scrapbooks and photo albums today in order to bring back those feelings. So many great memories in Caledonia. I love you all and you're in my thoughts!

Core 4 and our moms!

Sarah's High School Graduation... missed ya, Em!

Class of 2006!