Saugus outlasts Thousand Oaks..Moves on to Semis

In what will be the last home game of the season, the Centurions came out on top 35-28. Despite Zirbel being hampered with an ankle injury which limited him to 58 yards on the night, the Saugus offense was able to move up and down the field all night. Quarterback Desi Rodriguez carried the load with 38 carries and 258 yards rushing. Justin had his name called by the announcer on multiple plays much to his surprise. He also threw a huge block that decleated a T.O. player and had the crowd going "oohhhhhhhh". Bryce said of the play "Dude, Justin you made that guy pee his pants." Thousand Oaks moved up and down the field much of the night as well, but effectively lost the game on a fumbled reverse handoff with under 2 minutes to play. We will now move on to play St. Bonaventure in the semi-finals, who ended the Saugus playoff run last year. Hopefully this year will turn out differently. The game is in Ventura this Friday.

Story of My Life

I am a relatively mellow mom (in my humble opinion). However, there is one hot button that gets me absolutely, positively STEAMED! My kids never answer the house phone. I can have meatloaf up to my elbows or be gone and need to tell them something, it doesn't matter. It can be sitting right next to them and they won't even NOTICE that it is ringing. When I showed this to the kids, Justin's comment was, "Yeah, and your face looks just like that too!" Incidentally, the artist (Jerry Scott) also does Baby Blues which was my favorite comic when my kids were little, but now I've moved on to Zits since it's about teenagers. He just gets it. The funny thing is, I went to school with his wife and I don't think they ever had kids which just slays me because his comics are always a slice of life.

A Great Way to Say Thanks!

I am so grateful to live in this land of freedom. Thank a serviceman today, any day or every day:

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Making Bread with Grandpa

I think this is the sweetest picture ever! Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Joyce came down for the weekend and Grandpa brought his bread making supplies. Bryce and Grandpa spent all morning making 5 loaves of the most delicious bread! I think a cookbook must be in the works... Bruce is continually impressing with his newfound talents in the kitchen! He was astounded that we couldn't find an apron in the house, however. Hmmm...Christmas list?

Saugus Survives Righetti

Friday, November 21, 2008 Week one of the 2008 CIF Northern Division of the Southern Section ended with a "W" for the Peacock offensive linemen. I say linemen, as Tyler was brought up to Varsity for the playoffs. I suspect his role is to stand during games on the sideline and serve as a tackling dummy during the week on the scout team. They were able to give him the same number he had on JV this year, but...a size 3XL! His numbers are extra shiny because it's a brand new jersey, which seems to be very annoying to him. He asked me how to get them to be less shiny and I said, "play!"

In any event, the final score at CoC stadium was 29-17. Better than even that, all four grandparents were in attendance (just in case you're confused, yes, they're lined up with the wrong partners!).

I would not actually tell you Righetti (from Santa Maria) was as challenging as the score might indicate. The Saugus "Sausages" as Uncle Brad likes to call them, were more than challenged by their own lack of execution and follow through giving up at least more 28 points with silly turnovers in the red zone and turning the ball over on downs in a very uncharacteristic fashion.

We suppose it is either an omen, or it's get all the kinks out for the next game or two. Oh well, brackets don't change for close calls or blowouts. It's Thousand Oaks next. Then the University of St. Bonny next.

Not all bad news about the economy.

Suburban. Gas light. $60. Yes, only $60. Wow. 'Nuff said.

Was he at a clambake?

I love XM (now Sirius/XM) radio. One reason is that you can see the artist and song title. So, this song title comes up, "Pulling Mussels from the Shell", and I'm thinking what a weird title. Then the song comes on and it's really familiar, only I always thought the words were "pulling muscles for Michelle". Granted, my version doesn't really make sense but I thought it was definitely a more likely subject matter for a song. This isn't the first time I've been surprised to find out the actual words, for instance I always thought that the Rolling Stones' "Angie" was the lament, "I in jail". Really, Mick should learn to enunciate.

Saugus Centurions finish perfect 2008 Foothill League Campaign

Cougar Stadium at the College of the Canyons was a memory in the making tonight. With the Santa Anas blowing a steady southerly warm wind, the Varsity Saugus Centurions defeated their last league foe. Final score Saugus 56 - Canyon 28. It wouldn't have been that close except the 2nd string gave up two late touchdowns. We would have had awesome photos of the game, the ringing of the bell and of the post game festivities, but someone left the camera's memory card in the computer! So now we wait. Sometime Sunday p.m. the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs brackets will be announced. All we know is we want the University of St. Bonaventure to be in the other bracket. (posted by Jeff)

That's Our Boy!

The Signal (the local Santa Clarita newspaper) ran a story on Justin in the Sports section today. It's a very nice article, you can read it here:

http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/5963/

His father did get a chortle out of the line, "Peacock is humble". We thought it should be his new mantra!

Would you like syrup with that pancake?

Justin said I missed his pancake...

Sentimental Journey

Forgive me. I'm going to wax a little sentimental. We are a sports family. I don't know how it happened. I was born a princess (my mom was hoping for a cowgirl, but she got me). Somehow, Heavenly Father saw fit to send me three sons. So I adjusted. Now I'm a sports mom. Our lives are dictated by a coach's schedule. It has been this way for years now. Six years is a long time when you really only have about 18 with any particular kid.

We started small, park & rec and AYSO. That wasn't so demanding. Sure, it cut into our ability to travel on weekends, but the vacations and summers were ours. We told the coach when we would be there and when we would not.

Six years ago, Justin started Pop Warner football. Now the coaches started telling US when and where we would be. Tyler started playing the next year. I really didn't think they'd like it. They got better and they liked that. They liked being part of a team. I think they even liked the challenge and the discipline. Even when they weren't winning, somehow they kept going. Then on to high school football, where there really is no "off" season. Justin originally tried to play basketball and football but learned by his junior year that he'd have to choose if he wanted to be successful. He surprised us all by choosing football.

When he started playing varsity, we finally figured out how intoxicating the "Friday night lights" could be. Now we're nearing the end of his last year of football. His team went into last Friday's game 3-0 in league playing against a cross-town rival that was also 3-0. This was it. This was the game he'd waited his whole football career for. I don't even think a post season game will mean as much (unless by some miracle we get to the championship). 48 minutes of play and they were able to decisively and convincingly earn the Foothill League title for the first time in the school's history. It doesn't get better than that!

This is Justin's good friend Justin Wells, our outstanding center. I think his face says it all so I included it because I like this picture so much!

Here are some action pictures for Justin!

So, for the 20+ senior football players and their families on our team, it was the highest of highs. I can't help thinking about the other 100+ throughout our valley whose senior season was less than they'd hoped. It has been a road we will always remember.

He's In!

Yes, he won his seat. Congratulations, dad!

Vote for George!

Well, here we are in the 11th hour, and I have to say of all the races, this is the one I'm most interested in! My dad (and mom as pseudo-campaign manager) has worked really hard. He doesn't do anything half way. And, I can't think of anyone who has more integrity and clarity--Yucca Valley will be lucky to get him. In fact, I say Huntington for the white house in '12! Although, Jeff wouldn't mind seeing him lose since Nancy's promised him consolation superbowl tickets to take his mind off the loss should that happen (I guess for some reason Jeff thinks he'd be going too!). Love you dad, good luck!

Them is Fightin' Words!

OK, I admit that I'm a bit of an overzealous football mom, but I was a offended by The Signal's subtitle to last Friday's Valencia game, "Rout of Hart almost assures Valencia of league crown ". http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/5475/ Now, as I do the math, Saugus is 3-0 in league and Valencia is 3-0 in league. Saugus plays at Valencia on Friday. There is one league game after that. Seems to me, we should let Saugus play Valencia before we assure anyone of anything...just saying! Anyway, it promises to be a fabulously offensive game. Last week was a snoozer. It was Halloween and only the truly faithful were in attendance so the energy level was low. The photographer was so bored that he took 50 pictures of the band during halftime and only a few of the game. Oh yeah, we won both games. Justin said I should add action pictures this week, but since he doesn't play in the band, there aren't any. Stay tuned next week!