RANDOM STUFF...THE RETURN!!!

Well…it's been a while since I have written anything. And it's been a
while since I probably put anything out worth reading…LOL

Well…I hope this makes for good reading for someone!!

Jonny, my 4-yr old, has finished his 1st season of soccer…it was in
Westampton Indoor Soccer League!!! If you want to try something new
for indoor soccer…I HIGHLY recommend them!!! They take children from
other towns…and they divide them up in the various age groups!!! I
coached Jonny's team, with a BIG help from Matt, who has 8 years
experience playing in England, yes I said England, through HS &
College. He taught me a few things, he says I taught him a couple of
things…I dunno if I believe that…LOL…But, nevertheless, it was a great
season for our kids!!! The whole team was Pre-K age. And the other
teams we played were the same. It was AWESOME!!! I LOVE TO COACH!!!
Jonny…who does not get his athletic ability from me…scored close to 20
goals this season. Not that the league keeps score for the younger
kids, but I tried to keep track of Jonny's progress…and he got better
every game!! Jonny, Matt's son Jake, Jared, and Joshua were the
fastest kids on the team, bouncing off the walls!!! Like I said, it
was a great time…and we were able to help a couple of kids break out
of there shyness shell…the parents were very happy!!

Now, it is T-Ball for Jonny. I am coaching, but not doing the Head
Coach thing. I pretty much lost ALL my players…as they have moved
on…and with them, are the parents who helped coach. So I am an
assistant coach on another team Jonny will be on. Gonna be another
fun season!!! Of course every season, there are problems to deal
with. The new one for this year, is that there weren't enough
practice fields to go around for T-Ball. Of course, it's not because
we have too many teams. We are cut in half this year, and only have 6
teams. Most of the girls went back to the softball group, as they are
trying to recommence their T-Ball Softball group. I have heard how
they are having similar issues as we are with fields, but they are
managing. And another reason we have less teams, is that we have a
7-yr old league now. I think it's great to help prepare them for the
next level. But again…there is the issue of the fields. But we are
all making due…and trying to get by as best we can.

Let me see, what else is on my crazy ass mind?? Well…we have picked
our summer vacation spot. Gonna go to the OBX again this year. Got a
shore house with a few other families that we are good friends with,
and all splitting the costs. Gonna be a fun time. My wife wants us
to go down via the ferry…You catch it in Cape May and it takes you
somewhere in the Chesapeake area. Looks like that might be how we
start our trip down there!!

This May, I will have been married to my wife for 11 years…where the
hell did the time go?? How the hell did she put up with me for so
long?? Why is she still with me?? These and other questions, may be
answered someday…just not now…LOL

So…We had another successful year for the Relay for Life this year.
One big difference was that I was a LOT more involved than before. I
ran logistics for the event, and somehow was made an assistant
co-chair. And even worse yet…they asked me and a friend of mine to
run it next year. Oh boy…gonna be a busy time for me!!! But the
results…are so worth all the hard work and effort. In the past 3
years of the event, we raised over $300K for the American Cancer
Society. My own team had a very successful fundraising event, in
which we raised $3000, when combined with the teams that ran
concessions. My team voted, and decided to put on a Pro Wrestling
Fundraiser. So…the kicker was if we raised $1000 in ticket sales and
donations, then I, Coach Layton, aka The Battleship, would get back
into the wrestling ring. Well…we raised $2500 in sales and
donations…so I had to wrestle in the Main Event. But that is a story
for later. The Relay for Life was held on the last weekend of April.
We had 38 teams, and over 500 people that made up the teams. It was a
very successful event, considering the COLD ASS WEATHER…AGAIN!!!!
Last year, it was freezing temps, with high winds, all night long.
This year, it started of being windy as hell…and then after like 9pm
died down. But then…the temperature dropped…from 65 to 34…and we had
an overnight FROST WARNING!!! I could not believe it!!! I think that
if the weather was warmer, more people would have come out to see what
went on at this event. Just bad luck…and hopefully that will change
next year…as we are shooting for a warmer timeframe.

We all had a great time though. We even got a new team from the next
town over, in Burlington Township. So hopefully we can expand on
that, as well as maybe Bordentown, and try to make it bigger and
better!!! I mean why not?? It's all for a worthy cause!! We had fun
lap themes this year too. We had a Hawaiian lap, a Limbo lap, a
Pirates lap, a Backwards lap, a Basketball lap, a Flag Football lap,
but of course the best lap as well as most emotional and moving lap,
was the Luminaria lap. This was the lap that we turned off all the
lights, and lit candles for everyone, and had mini candles in the bags
that were decorated in honor, and memory of those who fought cancer.
I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it again, as I type it.
There was a slideshow with music showing those who we all honored at
the Relay Event. And when it was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the
place.

This year there was lots of cool music to get us going to as we walked
around the track. Some people even ran portions of the Relay…running
for like 3-5 miles at a time. My boys camped out overnight…we made
sure they were as warm as could be…and they were fine the next
morning. Now as for me and Christy…well we never got any sleep…though
we tried a couple times!! Finally crashed for a nap when we were home
around 130pm, and then when we went to bed for the night…I don't think
any of us woke up the next morning until 930am.

I am hoping that next year will be just as successful as the past 3
years. And if you are interested in participating in any way…give me
a yell!!!

Until next time, and I will reminisce about stepping back into the
ring!!! Have a Nice Day!!

Sorry to Everyone!!

My deepest and humblest apologies to all my readers. It has been way
too long since I posted any kind of a blog. I won't lie...75% of my
blogs are done while at work, usually when I need a moment, this helps
cool me down. Unfortunately...they are upgrading all the software on
the computers, and mine has yet to be done...and this results in the
blog site being in accessible to me!!! :-(

I will definitely try to force myself to sit down, and write some
random thoughts this weekend online from home!!! of course, the last
time I said that...It was February...and it's now May!!! LOL