blog mafia back

Seriously its nice to see that Kirk and Alyssa have started to blog once again. Hey I know its tough at times. Spending the time to blog or even buying time to think when raising a family is tough. I will not shed a tear though. I think we all feel that its only good to blog if we have something to say. Thats not it, my family, its about typing. Typing what you feel, typing a word, typing an experience, typing something simple. Why does it all have to be funny experiences or even an update of the day. Its our blog! When I type I don't care if people read it - its what I want to say that day. Lets get back to old school - just own your own blog. One day I might type - wow, that drive from school to home was great today - and thats it. What are you going to do, not read my blog cause its boring. People, I want to embrace boring - if boring means no phone calls or communication then color me boring. I may be taking it to extremes but my point is... blog whatever, if you can't great but pleaseee don't feel like you have to entertain. I certainly haven't tonight!
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Dogs

O.k. first of all, where is everyone? Kirk I will pay you good money if you just put up a one word blog. Nothing creative just anything different than what you have up.
I have an assignment for everyone else. My friend Dail told me about gone2thedogs.com - you all need to go there and take the doggie quiz. It will tell you which dog you are. I my friends am a Afghan Hound a rather ugly breed that is intelligent, used for hunting, aloof and good with kids. What are you?? I think my wife is a cross between a doberman and rottweiler. I'm kidding because I care. Alrightyyy lets get to it people -take the ten question test and let me know what doggie you are!!

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Inside the actor's studio

Well I love this show. Its on Bravo and James Lipton interviews a celeb. (usually A list) for an hour. Its big time entertainment. Well He does something at the end...He asks ten questions to each guest every episode. The same ten every show. So heres the questions...
1. Whats your favorite word? Dad..love my Dad and love being called Dad.
2. Least favorite word? Can't.. I have a problem with hearing excuses (I have 'em too) but can't is the ulitimate excuse.
3. What turns you on? Humor... I love being around someone with the same sense of humor as myself!
4. Turns off? People talking about me or others. I do it too but.. not very much. Drives me insane!
5. Sounds you love? My sons laughter
6. Sounds you hate? Phone ringing..thats no joke..I hate it!
7. Profession (other than yours )you want to attempt? Teacher or F.B.I. agent
8. Profession you would not want to attempt? Anything based on commission as pay.. especially sales (cars)
9. Favorite curse word? I really try not to cuss but... S*** is said under my breath every time we get scored on.
10. If heaven exists (I know it does but thats how the question is phrased) what do we hope to hear at the gates? "Welcome Jeff, lets talk".

Alright now if your reading this I wanna hear your answers!!!!!

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Recruiting

Well my wife and Evan are picking up my in-laws right now. Alec is in school hopefully learning to write straighter and its 80 degrees out. I'm stuck in this office trying to get myself organized to evaluate 22 girls at a tournament for juniors and seniors tomorrow. I'm actually going to have to pay attention to the games and not just sit and socialize with my one or two other coaches I talk to down there. I really do like to go on these recruiting trips but it is a little pressure trying to make sure you evaluate these players fairly. After 8 hours at the fields I'll go back to the hotel room and go over my notes,watch some bball, have a few cold ones and go to bed to start the whole process over. I will come back on Saturday though with my in laws in town the wifey has a few concerns with me being gone to long - which I understand! I want all the wife lobbyists to know - I'm pro-happy wife! I'm done recruiting for next year so these are juniors I'm looking at for 2006. It seems early but actually the NCAA lets us start to recruit them in June so we need to evaluate them and decide who to give our scholarships to now. Some schools are actually evaluating Sophomores. I have 7 teams to watch (22 total players) and evaluate and want to see them all play twice.
It will be fun to have my in laws here and I know Kelly and the boys are excited. Kelly has a bunch of stuff planned so it should be a fun time had by all! I'm sure we will be busy and I'm excited to get out and do things with everyone - Pro happy wife!

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Update to Friday's blog

Rider won the game 1-0. My best friend lost but his team played awesome. After the game I had the chance to watch the game three more times (he taped it). Old High still finished number 1 in the district (tie breaker) so they will have the easier road to the playoffs. GREAT GAME though!

Spring Breakin...

So whats up everyone? Spring Break was a blast! I did nothing - isn't that great. I watched a lot of basketball, almost all of season 3 on 24, my wife walk through the house on her way to work and my boys run in to tell on each other. All from the comfort of the couch. I did work out during these days so felt no guilty laying around for 75% of the time. The phone didn't even ring much. I mean I would not have been happier in an exotic location. Well maybe, lets not get crazy.
My NCAA bracket has just been shredded. Three of my final four teams are out. Not good at all. My wife beat me in our golden globe, academy awards and now NCCA bracket contests. The best is that she is competitive also so I get no break when I lose.
I got to mow the grass! I love doing that, I really do. First of all, I take pride in how the yard looks. Sometimes it doesn't show but I love to have a cut/clean yard. Secondly, there is something about pushing the mower that gives time to think, exercise, pride and a sense of calm. If they ever invent a lawn mower phone I'm soo dead. So I got that accomplished this week.
Tball practice is the best. I'm convinced any time I can watch other adults coach I'm taking it. Don't get me wrong our coaches are good and patient but its still fun watching a few grown men try to corral 11 5 yr. olds. The fact that these kids want to play tball but its just not always when its time to practice. Thought process of a 5 yr. old....
*Jimmy you wanna play tball this year..
*I do mommy when can we play...
*We start next week...
*great mommy can't wait...
*(next week) jimmy we have tball today ...
*ohhh right I can't wait , I'm getting my glove...
*(2 hours later) o.k. jimmy its time to go to tball...
*Ahhh mommy I just started my video game/playing with my cards/watching my movie...
You get the picture. So then we as parents take them out to practice, even if their excited about this practice, ten minutes in the practice -when the practice doesnt go how they planned - dissention is in the ranks. Bless the coaches hearts! Hey I'm just a parent and I support the coaches 100% (as long as things go my kids way). I'm kidding of course (college scholarship)
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Friday

Well tonights going to be fun. Rider H.S. vs. Old High in Women's soccer. Heres a little background, Rider had not lost to Old High for 7 yrs. then my best friend started coaching at Old High and he has managed to defeat Goliath...Once. 1-9 against them but this year is different. In the first game three weeks ago they got totally dominated but manged to score late in the game and hold on to win. Old High got out shot 17-3 but scored and won. So Rob is now 2-9 against Rider. This year however is a great one for Old High 21-1is there record right now! If he wins again tonight or even ties he is district champ, if he loses by more than a goal then he is second. Its going to be fun times. I recruit and coach club with the girls from both schools so that adds some adventure. Basically I try to go unnoticed at these games. I think we all know my policy on socializing. Kelly and the kids will go with me so it should be fun times had by all!
Its in the mid 60's today so we finally had a chance to go outside. The neighborhood kids are all playing and I just got done mowing. Dakota realized if she put her soccer ball in my line of mowing that I would kick it away and she could go retrieve it. After 30 minutes of this she is now dead asleep on our couch while I blog and watch bball!! Who knows where my wife is..we do have about seven boxes of Southern Living stuff in the house so maybe shes delivering her stuff. Oh well...its a great friday: sunny, work done and nothing to do but watch sports!!!

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NCAA/Laundry

Its almost time! Tomorrow morning March Maddness begins. The emotions that are welling up in me right now are almost overwhelming. I may be a little over dramatic but I'm not far off. 64 teams playing for a national championship. Its flat out fun!! As long as the kids are quiet and the wife is off doing whatever it is she is going to do tomorrow, this brillance should go off without a hitch. No soccer practices, private practices and as far as I know no responsibilities. Oh I know what your thinking "what a jerk" he is going to shirk all of his resp. for stupid basketball. Hold on though, there are commercials! I can be a three minute problem solving, conversation holding, attention giving, run to the fridge Dad/Hubby! I'm telling you I am a prize! In all honesty the games start around 10 a.m and end close to 11pm so there is time before this all starts for me to help out around the house. It really is only thurs. - Sun. so next Monday! I'm all about being super Dad/hubby again (next week).
I did however decide on Monday, when my wife was at work and me and the boys were spring breaking, to do laundry. Not just laundry but I wanted to do all the laundry and fold it all. Well I may have been a tad confident. That laundry stuff stinks. I did watch four episodes of 24 (season three DVD) while doing this but man we have a lot of clothes. Alyssa, I would never want to imagine the amount of clothes the Turner's have. I did get 75% done and put away. 90% was cleaned but I have no clue which shirts belong to which boy so putting those away requires help. All I know is GAP is a word I'm tired of folding!

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How old am I?

Well I played the first coed soccer game of the year yesterday. One reason I slept til 10:00am this morning. My back hurts, both knees hurt, my elbow hurts and one foot hurts. I'm being completely serious - no exaggeration. I haven't felt like this since college and thats when I would play three games a week. Kelly decides to play coed soccer about three years ago and I say "great honey but I'm not playing"..so like any good marriage - we make an agreement. When her team moves up to the older league I would play. It makes sense, older people won't be as competitive..yeah right. We played with one less person than the other team yesterday because not everyone showed up. That just adds to the excitment - more room to run! I refused to play in the goal..something about 9 years of playing that position has a tad burnout rate to it. So I run around for 35 minutes and try to score - fun times! After they scored on our keeper twice I ended up playing in goal the competitiveness came out. The fact that I was near death running around allowed the decision to become a lot easier. When I'm in the field my competitive spirit kicks in and I'm like a dog that will fetch the ball til it has a heartattack - I couldn't stop running. So jumping in the goal made sense. That was not good either because i decided to dive after the shots instead of just letting them go in. I mean honestly if they score on me no big deal its only a coed game. Oh no competitive Jeff has to be all cool. Well Monday Jeff is close to traction! We tied the game..I didn't get scored on and scored a couple goals but trust me its not worth it...ha..it may be worth it next Sunday though.

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Optimisim? What in the world?

Hey ya'll I want everyone to know I have an awesome team. I decided in December to stop being the coaching director for my club (Xpress soccer club) and just coach two teams in the club(less administrative duties).. Well I had the first game with my new team....Wow. I have been blessed with the best team in my 12 years of coaching club and I love it!. We had our first scrimmage tonight, this team is awesome..it's a boys team that is 14 yrs. old but Im telling you, its awesome. The funny thing is ..I really was wondering why I had to coach this team and now I know. What a great lesson...can you tell me who's in control?? ( The Lord) I just have to really be humbled by the fact that I have the chance to coach these boys. What a great start to the Spring Break week!

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My Safari

I spent an hour today talking to one of our tennis girls about her home. She grew up in South Africa - Three hours from the biggest African animal reserve! She would take family vacations to these parks. They would actually take their own car on tour. Just drive in to the grasslands along a path. They have had elephants rub against their car and stopped at a watering hole for half an hour to watch crocs. take gazelles into the water for a "lil talking to". She said they were also a couple hours from the prettiest place on Earth. She meant it too! People have said this part of Africa with the falls and scenary were named the prettiest place on Earth. I have Abilene, Amarillo, and San Angelo a couple hours from my house. This got my little mind a thinkin! Whats life for me about? Well my friends...C.A.R.

Challenges - Without these things in life what do we learn. How do we feel alive. This is our dip in the rollar coaster of life. When bad things or uncomfortable things happen how do we react. We'll never know until it happens. I'm convinced this is the ace card in my life education. I know I'm going to heaven when this is all over but it would be boring living a life without dips.

Adventures - I love to come home and watch T.V./read a book and not have the phone ring (Although its getting better I used to not like to even talk). I mean I love it! I also know every adventure - like a vacation, tight game or even trip to Ohio provides a sense of fun/adrenaline for me. It gives us all something to think back to.

Relationships - Now I'm the last one to give an opinion on this. My idea of a relationship would be 5 friends and a family forever. I'm not exactly trying to branch out and meet people. In fact as I typed that I smiled at the ridiculousness (sp.?) of people who actually want to get to know others. I have to admit others can add a spice to our lives. They will actually give us something other than our own thoughts to consider. You actually can feel real feelings for a friend and grow with that. Before we get crazy there are very few peolple I consider friends. Trust me though I'm no prize as a friend. Point is: relationships are needed in life!!

I know what my life is about and I know why I'm here - to serve God. It would also be good to win a few games&raise two/three great kids & have a great marriage.

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MSU - I thought you knew

O.k. enough is enough. I have consistently talked about my team in a negative manner. This is unfair to most if not all of my girls. Time for a lil (what I like to call ) positive flavor. I am a lil out of my league with the whole positive spin but I'll do my best.
*MSU women's soccer has been the number two team out of 9 teams in grade point average at MSU. We average a 3.1 out of 4.0 for our team G.P.A.
*We have averaged a win percentage of 66% overall and 80% for our home games.
*I have a number of girls in the nursing/radiology program whom go to there rotations for five hours then to practice then back to studying for the next day.
*I have half of my team going together to a weekly college Bible study and talking openly about it on the bus, at practice and anytime someone will listen.
*I have girls who played for three of four years not starting and not on scholarship - just there to support the others and give their support. In this day and age of "quick/video game restart satisfaction" expectations among our youth - thats awesome!
*The seniors give the other players gift bags before every game. Sometimes candy - sometimes pillows they stuffed and stitched themselves.
*One Mass Comm. major does a end of the sesason video for all the girls and shows it at our banquet.

Well I just want to let you all know - I love my girls and wouldn't trade this team with these success's and problems for anything! I'm blessed!
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Howdy

Well good times had by all! We played the u-19 club team today and won 1-0. They were made up of a lot of soon to be fresh. going to Division 1 school like Oklahoma and Oklahoma state. Then we played their u-17 team (juniors) and tied. Good grief. We should of beat them both but it was nice to play two good games. I lost my all region defender to a second degree hamstring tear for four months. Not good Poncho! We won't start training the real season til August but it still was scary seeing her in the pain. So being outside coaching soccer from noon til 5pm then driving the van back two hours to home is as fun as square dancing in a round room. The girls talking in the van was the bonus! Sarcasm! Then had an Club coaching meeting when I got back to W town til 9:30 tonight then home yeah! Had a few scrambled eggs and showered for bed. After blogging and listening to Cross Canadian. Tired my compadre's...tired. But ..."your always 17 in your hometown" so I have that going for me!

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Good times

Well what's up? We had a good couple of days here in Jeffland. Today the boys both had soccer games and I'll let my wife talk with you all about them...but they were fun. No stress about how Alec and Evan are playing. I am a tad competitive so it's a challenge for me to stay composed when they play. After the games I got to come home and sleep!! all afternoon - I have been getting up every morning at 6:00a.m. It's my way of keeping my MSU girls in check, we lift or run. Well it's slowly killing me. Anyway I got to sleep today then we went to Luby's for kids eat free night. Fun times.
I found out this week that one of my girls has gotten pregnant. She was a starter soooo it was a blow to the program. Plus I have coached her since she was 14 (my club team) sooo it was kinda sad. I liked having her on the team. She is going to keep the baby and her and her boyfriend are planning to stay together. The girls were kinda shocked so it made our practices interesting for a couple of days.
We have two spring games tomorrow so I get to get up early again..fun. We go up to Oklahoma and play two club teams. Their just scrimmages...we are allowed to play on four different dates and have 45 days to practice in. Soccer is a fall sport in the NCAA so this is just a way of keeping the girls in shape and to start working with the younger players (the seniors don't work out in the spring).
I hope things are going well for everyone!

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Test time!

O.K. - The list of people that I put up on my blog yesterday are not the only people I know or my only friends. I do have few close friends and many acquaintances but trust me these are not the only ones I recognize. I realize I have a sister(Lion) and an oldest son (retriever). I am not a beaver thererfore I did not think for 2 hours before I typed my blog. (You beavers have some issues). I also am not trying to paint anyone in a corner, God made you all unique and beautiful. Some are just not blessed with the excellance of the retriever personality. Here are some suggestions:
* You will be different sometimes at work than you are at home. If I was pure retriever at MSU we would have a few more problems. I have to show a little Lion at times. If I showed Lion at home we would have a lil more issues with the Lioness who currently resides at 4207 Highland.
*You also will usually not be one pure personality trait - in fact you will be more of two combined. That is why some otters are different from other otters. Different fur/mixed secondary personality traits.

Homework time!
www.new-life.net/persnty1.htm
Go here and at the bottom click the personality test - it will take a few minutes of your time. Then I want to know what the first and second highest personality trait is. Very easy and keep an open mind. Not everyone is a blessed retriever

Mine was - Retriever - 24/Beaver 14