So after trying to sleep in on a Saturday, I got up along with everyone else to get ready for a soccer game...in Richmond. I was a little leary about taking the family up there, because in the previous 24 hours there had been 6 murders in this small town. I know, I'm probably paranoid, but I have the right to be worried.

Before we left, I checked online for the directions and the weather. The directions were easy enough, and that weather seemed like it would be a pleasant 68 degrees. Nice, compared to the 100 degree heat we had the last two days. We got ready and took off at 9:30.

We were supposed to be there at 10:30, one hour before game time. Getting there was as easy as I expected. We left a little earlier than we had to, but I'm glad we did....so I thought.

When we got there, I was quite flabbergasted at the condition of the high school where we played. Like most schools, they had portable classrooms in the back of the school. You could tell that these were in use during the school year, but the windows were all boarded up. It wasn't just the portables either, some of the windows in the school were boarded up to. The condition was absolutely horrible. I can't believe that the State Education Dept. would let a school get in this type of condition.

Anyway, we found the soccer field in the way back (We were the second ones there.) and we got out to 54 degree weather, with winds up to 15 mph. IT WAS COLD!!!!!!! It was definitely going to be a long game. We didn't bring any jackets, Nick didn't wear any warmups, it was going to be miserable. It was at that time, my mom, who was with us, said the most clever thing I think she has ever said. It was, "I think I'm going to watch the game from the car." Although I felt obligated, for some odd reason, to watch the game from the sidelines. Gina, My Mom and the kids watch the game from the car. Everyone commented on how they had the best seats on the field, and I have to say, "I agree."

Nick's team didn't win the game, but they played great against a really good team. I was proud of how they played, especially Nick. He has improved greatly over the last year. He was tired when the game was over, and he should have been.

We got home around 3pm, just in time to rest up for an hour and get ready to go to a friends house for a BBQ. As usual, we had a great time with our friends, whose kids are the exact same age as ours. We just got home around 10pm, after I dropped off Nick at his dad's house for Father's Day tomorrow. I wish he could spend it with us... every day for that matter, but I understand.

Tomorrow I am taking in the morning, after breakfast, to see my dad. He's in the hospital full time now. My mom thinks that he will come home at some point. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening. He has too many things wrong with him for this to happen. Don't get me wrong, it would be great, but I think it might be too much to ask.

Oh yeah, I forgot. I setup my new DSL connection today. Now that I have gotten Directv and Verizion DSL, I can officially tell COMCAST to Kiss My Ass! Nobody over there seems to want to do what's right for the customer. There motto should be, "We do the littlest possible to service the customer." That's exactly what they do and that is exactly why I am getting rid of them and may quite possibly be getting Directv for the rest of my neighbors.

So the good news is that Tucker's pre-school graduation was much less emotional that Nick's. It could have been that they crammed about 50 adults in a room that was designed for 15 Pre-kindergartners. It could be that it as over 90 degrees outside. It could also have been that I cried enough for the week, so I was done... ;)

The two people that run the pre-school where Tucker graduation from, where about as emotional as anyone could get. They have had the majority of these kids since they were 12 weeks old. They are as much a part of them as we are. I don't think our kids will ever forget them or their teachers. It is truly a great place.

After the graduation, there was a party for the kids and families at the local JCC, but not religious based, which I think that some people may have thought so. It was supposed to be a pool party, but a little accident in the pool before we had gotten there closed the pool for a couple of hours. To make up for the loss of pool time, they had set up an inflatable water slide/jumpy house type of place. The kids absolutely loved it. I think more than the pool, once it opened after a thorough cleaning. I had a great time mingling with the parents and making sure all the kids remained safe when we got to the pool. I couldn't believe how awesome this place was. Everyone was so nice and the facility was absolutely amazing. We are considering joining.

We ended the day with one of my world (I mean family) famous BBQ's at the house. We had the kids favorite, RIBS, and a host of other foods for them. The kids were really tired, but they couldn't help but eat 2 slabs of ribs. (Boys eat a lot)

School Graduations are a funny thing. I remember growing up that we go an 8th Grade graduation and a High School graduation. This year, my 41st, I find out that there are Pre-School graduations and 5th grade graduations. I kind of understood the pre-school one because it really is a big deal to be starting "Real School" for a kid. I remember how proud I felt the first time I stepped in to Mrs. McClary's class at Loma Vista School in Salinas, CA. 5th Grade graduation, on the other hand, I was having a hard time with...until today.

My oldest son, Nick, has just finished graduating from 5th grade. They had a complete ceremony where awards were given and they even walked in to Pomp & Circumstance. They sang a few songs for us and were quite good. Since I'm very critical of music and singing, most of you know that this compliment means something. Anyway, as the kids sang their last song and tears were flowing down my face, I realized that tears were flowing down everyone's face. All the parents, grandparents, teachers, and even some of the kids. It was at that point I wondered why all the tears at this graduation? I don't remember tears at 8th grade graduation or High School graduation, for that matter. It was then that I came up with this theory:

Pre-School and 5th grade graduations are emotional because your child that you have raised is taking another important step into adulthood. During these times they pretty much are who you raise and expect them to be. They are good kids by you and you are very proud that they are turning into nice young ladies and gentlemen.

8th grade graduation you are still very proud of them, but for some parents there is a sense of relief that they will at least be able to function with an 8th grade education... The tears are there, but not nearly as much as the 5th grade one. The struggles of the middle school teen and their parents make this graduation, "The graduation of relief"

For High School graduation the tears are far and few between. Don't get me wrong, they are there, but it's more for the excitement of, "You are now old enough to get a job and get out of the house." Yes, it's true. Parents look forward to this graduation so every child of theirs can see what it is really like to be an adult. Sure they are going to college and you will still be supporting them until the end, but with college you won't have to deal with them missing a sock in the morning or fighting with their siblings.

So that's my theory, in a nutshell.

Today I was so proud of Nicholas as he accepted his 1 millionth award, but more proud of him for singing aloud so everyone could hear his voice. There were many shy kids, but we raise ours to not be shy and be expressive. It was a great, emotional feeling to see Nick so animated during his songs.

My middle son Tucker, will be graduating Pre-School tomorrow. I cried quite a bit during Nick's, I'm wondering what it's going to be like at Tucker's.

I'll try and write about the blubberfest tomorrow.