40 and freaking out!

It was a busy week. Volleyball line duty on Tuesday. My birthday Wednesday, football Friday. The passing of one of my dearest friends floored me in the middle of it all, but I am slowly building a support system here and my best friend was there when I needed her. Dinner last night at Mo’s and some crafting today. Needless to say, I came into my forties like a cannonball into the deep end of the pool. Until I can get adjusted to our new life I’ll just take it all one step at a time. Thank you to everyone that reached out this week for the multitude of reasons I needed you. I’m blessed to have such amazing friends and family.

#CancerSucks

My Dearest Julie,
You didn’t lose the fight with cancer, heaven won the fight to take you home. Now you get to stand tall next to Randy and your mom and watch over your best friends and dear family.
I know you know it but, thank you. Thank you for being the friend that always told me how it was and picked me up when I fell from grace. You hugged me and laughed with me and held me accountable for my mistakes. I will always love you for taking me in and loving me when I needed a home. We coached together and saw some great successes. We traveled together and saw some beautiful sights. You were there when Jillian was born and at my tiny 2nd wedding on the river. You were always one of the very first people I called to share my news with and my best coffee date buddy. Most of all we laughed and loved and always picked up right where we left off. You will always be one of my dearest friends. I know you were watching over me today to make sure my birthday was great. Thank you for all you’ve done for me and my family. Until we meet again Jules, I love you. 😘💔 #cancersucks.

Announcement

I suppose it is time to officially announce that Doug and I are moving to the Pacific Northwest! I have accepted a position as the Head Secretary at Astoria High School and will be starting work at the end of July.
We have found a very cute (and very small) apartment in Warrenton and we move in on July 1st. We are excited for our new adventure and saddened at the thought of saying goodbye to our amazing friends and life in Nevada. It has been a blast, but our Someday has arrived.
Love and hugs to you all and thank you for making Nevada my home for 17 years.

Your approval might be needed.

I think all of us have a person (or two) that we NEED approval from. Be it a parent, boss, spouse, friend, coworker, family member, child, etc. For me, I have a huge support group of friends and family that love me and are there for me with a hug or an encouraging word when needed. However, sometimes we work hard or accomplish something and there is a specific person that we desperately need to know noticed and approved. When this goes on for a while with no feedback or acknowledgment we can become overly discouraged and if we do happen to say something to that person, it is often passed off with comments like “of course I’m proud of you, you should know that”, or “you don’t need my approval.”
The point is, if you are proud of someone or notice they did something good please tell them. You never know when you are THAT person for them. It this weird PC world of ours don’t be afraid to give compliments and hugs. It’s human nature to crave those things. You never know when your words will help heal.

Trade Schools For the WIN!

In the 90s we saw a trend of forcing students to take an academic route post-high school and a shifting attitude towards trade schools. we were told that they were not good enough. Over the years we have eliminated the trades classes from our schools causing a shortage of specialists. Now we are suffering because we have no one to teach these classes that will create mechanics, electricians, plumbers, woodworkers etc. There is a shortage of these people in the work-force, driving up the prices to hire someone to fix/repair our homes and cars. So now we offer these things through STEM academies with more strict requirements to get in. The kids that would benefit the MOST from these trade classes are no longer able to take them. Why have we forgotten about the common man, those people who don't want or need higher education? We have educated our society right out of work and then demand that we raise the minimum wage. We punish those who run a small business and the families who just want to live a comfortable life. The rich get richer and the middle-class shrinks and shrinks. Quit shoving higher education down people's throats and bring back the trade schools. Less administration, more options for shop, art, music, home ec, personal finance, critics, and horticulture classes. Let the kids get dirty and learn to work with their hands!

14 Years

14 Years - That’s how long I have been a Railroader.
Fourteen years ago, Charlie Walsh took a chance on me and gave me the head coaching job at Sparks High School. In those 14 years that have come and gone, I have served four principals, two athletic directors and hundreds of cheerleaders. I was given an opportunity to build a program and make it my own. Over the years my teams earned countless trophies at camps and competitions, we earned a few Nevada state titles and even regional title in California, I was chosen as coach of the year, and we had kids cheer in college and at the national level. We participated in rent parties, parades, festivals, marriage proposals, and countless community events. I have seen kids go on to college, military, get married, have babies, and travel the world. The memories are immeasurable and currently leaking out my eyes…

On a personal level, I survived a marriage and divorce, a second marriage, a beautiful daughter, and will earn a degree. I have learned patience and the art of working with parents. I learned the importance of low power mode on my phone when taking bus trips and the value of a blanket and soft-sided med kit (pillow). I came to love the quirkiness of Sparks High School and its facilities. The history of the Brickhouse and why we affectionately refer to it as the brick-oven during basketball games. Most importantly I have joined a family. The people of Sparks High school have become some of my dearest friends. They have supported me in good years and bad and have seen me grow up from that pain in the butt 20-something to the pain in the butt 30-something I am today. The support and friendship that I have are priceless.

Walking away from a program that took over a decade to build is the hardest thing I have ever done. It was time for me to go, but there are so many things I am going to miss being a coach. I love my kids, all 700-ish of them. They have made me a better person, and through the blood sweat and tears, we have all made the Sparks Cheer Program incredible.

As I transition from Head Coach to Athletic Secretary and Spectator, I know the program is in good hands, and I desperately hope that the traditions we have created will carry on and the memories of my athletes are as meaningful to them as they are to me.

“Once a Railroader, Always a Railroader.”

Education Stupor

Not everyone is destined to have a college education.
I am not a “smart” person, but I am an intelligent person. I have always struggled to learn out of a book; I am terrible with dates and names and even worse with Algebra. I do however read people and situations well, and I am resourceful enough to make things work. I think fast on my feet and can learn on the job or in the middle of a situation. I am clever and witty. Being college-educated is a different kind of "smart.” A college education opens doors and gives the illusion of higher pay and more opportunities. But at what cost?

I started my college journey in 2004. In the 15 years since I started attending college classes, I have changed my major five times. Some of those changes were due to an honest misunderstanding of the curriculum and what came after graduation, and some were due to my not being “smart” enough to complete what it would take to earn the degree. Often, I had a passion for a class and a good grasp on the skills needed, but not the ability to complete the course-work to the instructor’s standards. Some of my degree changes were blessings. There were also a few that broke my heart. I understand that the “real world” is not going to be like it is in college and I understand that much of what you learn in college is merely learning how to learn. There is nothing more discouraging than having a passion for something and being told that you really should pursue other options, or having an instructor tell you that perhaps college is just not meant for you. In the Fall of 2017, I took a leap and started taking classes after a 5-year hiatus with the hope of working toward a bachelor’s degree. I took a full class load because we had the money to go forward at the time. I completed one semester, and because life has a funny way of sending you messages in cryptic ways, we could not afford for me to attend the consecutive semester. This winter I did some research and discovered that I could take one class and potentially earn an Associates Degree in general studies. I decided to take the one class and secure the Associates Degree so that I would not lose the credits I had earned to date. What I wasn’t prepared for was the negativity from both the instructors and the students. I was treated inferior in many classes and often had instructors make comments that made me feel as though I should not be trying to finish my degree. I know that I am not an idiot, and to date, I carry a 3.65 GPA with many classes at the honors level, but the feeling of inadequacy is there. I know that with the large amounts of people attending college now, instructors feel the need to weed out those students who don’t have the drive or passion to pursue a specific area. I am frustrated at these same instructors who do not nurture those students who have an honest interest in the course, the course-work, the potential to earn a degree in that field. I don’t feel that belittling your students or gearing your classes in a way that makes people despise the subject matter is appropriate. After 15 years of taking college classes, I can say that I will earn, at minimum, an associate’s degree, but I will also say that the last 15 years have been a complete waste of time and money. The amount of debt required to attend classes is staggering. The amount of heart-ache and stress that I have put myself through to live up to a standard that I was not meant for is sickening. To those who have managed to secure degrees at the Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and the Doctoral level, congratulations. Please don’t look down on those of us without a college degree. Your level of education doesn’t make you superior, and my lack of “higher” education doesn’t mean that I am inferior or deserve less.

Let it go

Don't hold onto your past so much you forget to enjoy the present and look forward to the future. There really are some things that will keep you from living your best life. If your BEST memories are from high school, then maybe you should take a look at your life and find something to make new great memories. I did enjoy parts of high school, but I'm glad it's over. I enjoyed my twenties, but I'm glad they're over. My thirties had their ups and downs, but still, some of my best memories came out of that era. As I look down the barrel to 40, I'm excited for a new chapter and new memories.

New year, new path

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I think that most everyone is letting out a sigh of relief that 2018 is over. It will forever be the year that everyone was offended and opinionated. I truly hope that 2019 will be the year of healing and self-care. I know my family needs it. I plan to make some huge changes in 2019, step out of my comfort zone, and refocus my attention on my family and our lives. My life is my own and I plan to take over and become a better version of me. I need to complete some very important goals that may seem insignificant to others but have held me captive for a very long time.

I have one class left to finish up an associate’s degree and move toward my goal of graduation. I registered for that class last week and plan to check that goal off my list by graduating in May. This will open more doors for me and my future, it will also make the path to my bachelor’s degree easier.

The most important change will be my retirement from coaching. This year I will finish up my 24th year overall as a coach. With the closing of the 2019 Track season, I will be taking a step down from my post as the Head Cheer Coach at Sparks. I have spent 14 amazing years at Sparks high school with the best administration, staff, and students anyone could ask for. I have had some amazing accomplishments in my coaching career, and share some of my fondest memories. I feel that it is time to let someone else take the reins and make the Sparks Cheer program their own. I will dearly miss my athletes and the actual coaching at practices, but its time for someone else to worry about tryouts, spirit packs, fundraisers, away games, scheduling, travel, and grade checks. I would love to progress to the next level and coach college, but for now, I will take a break and recharge. Thank you for supporting me as a coach for all these years!

Best of luck to you all in 2019! I know it will be a year to remember!