Start being fans

After the rallying season of 2005, the Cincinnati Bengals had their 2006 season explained away with suspensions and knee braces. Everyone, myself included put their hope in this season.

2007 will be our year. You could hear it echoing off the Ohio River as thousands poured into Paul Brown Stadium. The city was alive as Monday Night Football kicked off the season in the Queen City and as the Bengals brought home the win. While the team struggled a bit on offense, we all headed to work on Tuesday with our heads held high, trusting that the necessary adjustments would be made by Sunday against the Browns.

It didn’t take long, though, for Anderson and the rest of the Browns to encourage those bandwagon Bengals fans to don their brown paper bags, scurrying out of the stadium with four minutes left in the game. Not only do Cincinnatians seem to be questioning their team, but the national media is having a field day. Even in Virginia, where I have since moved, I was still bombarded with article after article, broadcaster after broadcaster saying our team was imploding; saying Chad Johnson was just too selfish to help this team.

Here’s where my heart starts to break, and maybe it’s because I have a love for this team and it’s players like some people have for their children. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never even met Chad Johnson, but I have watched him since we picked him up and he seems like the kind of guy I would want to be friends with; and more importantly, the kind of player I would want on my team. Sure, he’s angry when he doesn’t get the ball, but that’s because he is sure he could’ve completed a play that would’ve moved the chains, raised the score, or won the game. So yes, I have never asked his motives, but from my standpoint, I see a guy who loves the game. A student of the game who is never content with his current skill level. A player who loves to win and also loves to entertain. A NFL Pro Bowler who walks away from his teammates jokes to shake a six year-old’s hand before a game. A kid who dreams of giving his family a better and more stable life.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m just naïve. But I’d rather believe what I believe than what the critics say because it’s just too important to me and, I’d venture to say, to Chad. Like my friend Jamie said, “Never give up on our children, it’s a growing year.” And growing year or not, I’d always rather stand by their side then throw them under the bus.
Football is more than a game on those Sundays when the jets fly over as the resonance from the National Anthem fades, and the captains meet in the center of the field. This isn’t just entertainment anymore. This isn’t about one man, it’s about 53 men with 53 families and one big city with one big hope. Maybe it’s time to stop reducing it to just a game and just one man. Maybe it’s time to stop being critics and start being fans. Who Dey!

Who Dey

I am, along with most of Cincinnati, a huge Bengals fan. I grew up sitting in the nose-bleed section of Cinergy Field learning the Icky-Shuffle. And while I would not consider myself an expert on the game of football, throughout the years I have impressed a guy or two with my football knowledge. I, however, am not impressed with the football knowledge of those who sit around me at Paul Brown Stadium these days, or anywhere else I watch the game for that matter.
I understand that 1-4 is not the record of champions. I know that our
offensive line has let Carson take more hits in single games than they
did throughout the entire '05 season. I watched our defense let the Browns rack up way too many points. I know that 1-4 is not what Cincinnati wants to see out of our football team. But more than that, I know that 1-4 is not what any player or coach in the Bengals franchise wants.
No player works on weights and drills, literally tearing their body apart week by week, to lose a game. Landon Johnson does not sit by his locker on Sunday mornings and hope to miss another tackle. Willy Anderson does not get treatment after every practice because he stepped aside to let Carson get sacked. Marvin does not sit in his office after hours thinking of cute sayings which we, as fans, can put on
t-shirts to make ourselves feel better after a loss. Instead, week after week, day after day, these men prepare for a win. Now I know that they are extremely lucky. They are living a dream that few will ever have a chance to realize. I know that with this kind of “power” comes great responsibility. But I also know that I have no idea what it is like. Aside from the fact that I am a girl who never played
a real game of football, I don’t know what it is like to be repeatedly slammed onto my shoulder by a man weighing well over two hundred pounds.
At the same time, I am pretty sure that the loud-mouth across the aisle
and up two rows doesn’t know either. Even if he played college football, which I can guarantee by his physique that he didn’t, he still doesn’t know NFL football. There is a huge difference between college and NFL; we know because we have watched many a players flounder in the transition. And not only did he not play NFL football, but he has never coached it.
That is one fact that despite all of my frustration, I continually remind myself during games. I do not know the challenge of pulling down a ball, one handed, with a defender waiting to cut out my legs and make me lose control. I also do not know the challenge of calling plays that can effectively move the ball down the field at a rate which fits with the score and time left. What I don’t know is how a fan could think that screaming, “Hey Deltha, just because you got beat doesn’t mean youhave to fake hurt,” is effective. First, when a player is laying in the end zone, he can’t hear you while you’re sitting in your comfy fifth row seat on the fifty. Secondly, no player wants to be hurt. Injuries mean time away from the game.
I love the Bengals. I truly do. I take part in every activity that can
bring me closer to the game. I will cheer for them even if they become the ’05 Texans. But I will grow weary of the fans. Because those players, week after week, put their bodies on the line to win a game. They gather together, as a team, to represent our city each Sunday. Shouldn’t we cheer them on through all the struggles this year has shown? Or will the fans prove the cynics right by merely jumping off
the bandwagon?

Whirlwind Ending

Never fear, by ending I don't mean anything ended..well, other than all of the hecticness of getting things settled. I'm in, I am back to loving my job (those two 10 hour days were horrible and made me want to cry), and I'm about to enjoy my first weekend all settled in. Therefore, basically nothing new has come about in my life, but don't worry, with 8 hours a day to sit and think, I have had plenty of new thoughts.

I can't even begin to tell you all of the things that I have thought or overthought (nor would I want to tell you some of the things...I'm a girl...yeah). In that sense, you could probably all stand to pray for me. I mean, this being a girl and thinking about things that don't need thought about is getting ridiculous. Luckily though, I have a wonderful housemate (the hot one that isn't me in the picture) who is really good about doing the "this is what we know to be true" walk through. All in all, I just need to start listening to books on tape or something so that I can stop having all this time on my hands.

Sometimes our thoughts get us in trouble. Not with people, but with ourselves. We talk ourselves into situations we aren't really in. We walk ourselves through scenarios that don't exist. Sometimes our thoughts only hurt our hearts by making us hope for what isn't real.

Settling in

I just finished my first week in housekeeping, and I can say with certainty...it is amazing. Now, I know, that might seem a bit weird in general, but even more so if you know me and my general cleanliness. But surprisingly enough, with all of the variety and random activities this week held, I never felt bored or overburdened..even the days where I worked on one dorm all day and couldn't finish. (I more so felt angry that I was such a slow cleaner) Some of the fun things this week that I did at work include, but are not limited to: visiting the poop plant, playing frisbee golf (twice), watching a presentation on 401K's, and registering for all-staff (during which I will room with cat wade..one of my favorite people.)

All in all, this job is looking to be a rather fun and great experience. Hopefully that's still the verdict at the end of another week.

Don't Trash 'Da 'Nati

So, this is a bit past due, but my mom the other day brought up my use of "nasti" when talking about Cincinnati. I just wanted to make a quick clarification so no one else was confused. Know that I would never, in anyway, disrespect Cincinnati or any of its' sports teams. I am from Cincinnati. If it was a person, I would stalk him. My heart swells with pride when I watch our skyline on tv during a game, I can't stop smiling when I come around the cut in the hill, and I beam from ear to ear when I have the opportunity to bring friends home. Know that while I may refer to this great city as the "Nasti Nati" that I do so with love and respect. Because lets be honest, a little bit trashy...well, that's a lotta bit hot.

Rough Start

Okay, so it wasn't quite the job that provided the rough start. But, as I said in my last post, I took somewhat of a tumble on my last day in the kitchen. (You can't really see it but there are gross bruises and perhaps even a burst bursa) Then, on my first day in my new "real person" job, I fell. Jana, my boss, and I were walking across the parking lot to get to Miners so she could show me the ropes, and as if I forgot how to walk, I went down. That provided a few new scratches, more swelling, and a general throbbing pain. Luckily for me, my job includes lots of squatting and a bunch of kneeling while scrubbing, which is great on my knee..no seriously. Okay, you caught me, I'm lying.

But aside from all of my crying, I am really enjoying housekeeping. There is enough variety within each cabin, that I never feel like I'm stuck doing one thing all day. (Like only doing toilets, or folding blankets all day) Instead I get a little bit of everything and I can switch up the order in every room. Also, I'm alone all day, which has been really exciting. Now, I know, I am generally a very social person, but just ask my mom, I really enjoy time alone. Better yet, ask my sister Sara. She was the one that had to deal with me when she wanted to hang out at the pool on vacation and I just wanted to curl up in front of the tv, or sit on a chair and read a book a day. Now, I just need to work on keeping my mind focused, because that is a lot of time to pray, and yet I'm this weirdo that makes up stories and songs in my head instead.

So now the only thing left to settle is moving in. That will probably happen, in general, this weekend. I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous. I haven't lived with other girls my age (aside from summer housing here) in over a year, and looking back, I probably wasn't that great of a roommate. I'm, overall, a fairly unclean person. (I shower..I just leave dishes all over the house) I really enjoy the television. I am not a nice person in the morning. In general, I think I am just reverting back to middle school; where every friendship makes you nervous and self-conscience but you're not sure why. I know that everything will be fine, but I can't help but feel like I'm "replacing" Jen and I know I could never do that. She is (yes I know somewhere she has flaws) perfect. She is so low maintenance, she's up for anything, and she'll laugh at just about anything; which always makes people feel good about themselves. So yes, I know Theresa is probably a bit excited for me to move in, but I can't help but be a bit apprehensive.

Maybe every beginning needs a bit of roughness to help you appreciate the work it took you to get where you are, or hopefully, where you will be soon.

Farewell Cookies

I made everyone eat a cookie today at lunch; whether they wanted to or not...sorry Jesse. (I even ate one myself, which I rarely, if ever, do) I thought it would be an emotional day but instead I occupied my time with mishaps and birthdays.

I burned myself today, which is ironic because I think I burned myself twice all summer. Then, while on a trash run with some boys, we stopped for quarter sodas. In my excitement, while running around the back of Mary Lou, I pulled a Cadi and wiped out. Now, when I say wiped out, I merely wish my picture today was of my knee..but well it's gross and that will have to wait for another day...perhaps tomorrow. So my leg is torn up. My calf, my knee, the back of my upper thigh (weird i know), my elbow, and my other hand. A lot of torn skin, a little blood, a lot of bruising and swelling. By then, though, my work crew had finished the bakery things and on a day when I made 7 cakes, 4 coffee cakes, scooped roughly 96 cookies...well I'm done. I left and had my birthday dinner with Jamie, a good friend of mine who also had a recent birthday. Sitting at the Palms, discussing the future, I thought about what I was finishing today...and then got distracted by a football game.

Maybe in a few days it will finally hit me that everything I have worked on every time I've been here (except my month hiatus on bikes) will go on without me, and I will have to go to without it.

Goodbye Bakery, Hello Toilets

I have one day left in the kitchen, and almost like leaving oxford, it has made me a bit reflective. Not only have I spent the past four months in the bakery, but last summer and one month each of the two summers before that. I cannot begin to express all of the characteristics of Christ I have grown to see and appreciate through that little nook in the kitchen. Humility, grace, patience, perseverance..the list could go on and on. Whether I have been successful at adapting these qualities into character traits of my own, well that's another matter, but I have seen them and have grown a desire to see them be evident in my life and in my interactions with others.

The bakery has been a place of amazing growth; which, unfortunately, required not only good times full of laughter, but lots of tears and frustration. Through it all though, I have grown to know, and hopefully better understand, the faithfulness of Christ. It will never cease to amaze me how well He knows my heart. It makes sense that He would know everything, but to watch as He gives me what I need when I need it (even if I don't want it) has been an illustration of His love for me. Whether that translates to giving me plenty of opportunity to grow in confrontation, giving grace and truth; or sometimes it means giving me wonderful workers who make me laugh until I cry. He knows, every second of every day, exactly what I need. And He sits and waits, patiently, for me to realize His presence.

This summer, more than most, I have had to grow up. Not just what has happened in the kitchen, but it's that time in my life. I had to apply for my first real full-time job. I had to figure out housing. I had to come to grips with the fact that this new job and new housing meant I was "giving up" my family. That has forced me to grow up the most. Sure, if you know my family at all, you know they will never really be all that far away. (Especially Jeni) But it is a very lonely feeling, starting a life in a city far away from the people that have always been there when I failed. For the first time, my mom can't rescue me whenever I need her and that is terrifying and thrilling all in the same thought. I am excited about becoming the woman Christ intended me to be. I am excited for having a house and paying bills and working a steady job. I am excited to see how long the Lord will have me be here in Virginia and if He'll give me any company (wink). I am terrified, however, in the same breath, that all of that is so far away from the people I love the most.

Timid Steps

As of Monday, I begin my new job as a Housekeeper, here at Rockbridge. It's ironic that I've spent the past four years in school learning and studying to be able to run a well organized and well learned classroom. Maybe the similarity between the two jobs are that they're both serving high school kids. Obviously in very different ways, and I doubt many high school seniors would say they feel like their teachers are serving them by making them read "Of Mice and Men", but hey, at least I know it's doing them some good...right? But hopefully, they will gleam with motherly pride when they look at their polished chrome after coming back from the muddy obstacle course.

Along with my new job, I also get a new residence. Lets talk about how exciting that is. (that hot lady in the picture with me is one of my housemates!!) I am going to live in a home with some amazing women. They are wildly fun and not to mention great cooks, but they're also amazing women of Christ. Not only will I get to spend time with those two, but the community in general is full of great, and I mean great, people. All in all, the people here make the move from the nasti a little bit easier.

And with that, I make the first timid steps towards true adulthood, whatever that means. (Because I sure as heck don't know...)