Book is here...selling now...OMG!

I cannot believe it's really happening. My book is for sale to the public, right now! Holy Cow!!!

I have no words! I have too much flying around in my head to believe it...22+years later, 2 years of writing, 1 year of editing, OMG!!!!

Death...Family...Love

Funny how things happen. One day everything seems like it's moving forward quite smoothly...then BAM! something blindsides you. Well, that's what hit my world this week. Book in print, pre-sales next week, book signing early next month, and public sales first of November. Getting more comfortable with my volleyball team and season getting underway, when...BAM! first scrimmage shows up and things feel scattered. Too much to handle. I know I am strong, I know it will pass, I know I will survive. I always do. But, I liked the smooth for the time I had it. Now, I must deal with grief, new beginnings, failure, waiting, sadness, disappointment, loss, and fear...aaaah, fear, that's a tough one!

Isn't most pain based on fear anyway? So, when it shows up, why are we so surprised? Why are we so unprepared, at first? Why does it hurt so badly? I have none of these answers, but I do have hope, faith, dreams and energy to push through, to persevere amidst all the pain, suffering and challenges. Wow, did I just try to convince myself that all of this is temporary in my blog? In front of others? On a computer screen? Yep. I did, and that to me is strong and courageous, but also friggin' scary as heck!!! There, that fear thing again. I cannot wait until next week, but I'm ready for tomorrow.

New challenges...

We often move forward in our lives, doing the same thing, searching for something, living each day, trying to get through the good times and work through the struggles in our world. I know I've done that, for years. I continued to keep dreaming along the way, but sometimes things would slow it all down, prevent me from following my plans, having dreams and living out my goals. Giving up has never been an option, sometimes it's slowed down the process, but most times it has driven me! I will survive, I will attain what I've been fighting for and living to achieve.

Life has brought me a new and exciting challenge...coaching. I am the new freshman volleyball coach at a local private high school. It has been amazing so far after just my first week with the girls. I anticipate a truly enriching and growing time for me. Still challenging because it's different, but rewarding, fun and enlightening. The kids are so into it, so pumped up to be playing this sport. Now, it's my job to hone their skills, teach them about team work and instill in them the importance of the sisterhood on and off the court. I know what playing sports did for me in my life and I know it's a huge and important aspect of all children's growth. I hope I can give these girls what they need from me and be there for them when they struggle and be the first one to high five them when they succeed. Wait, kids don't high five anymore...it's all about the fist bump!

Time moves slooooooly!!!

August 1st, just about a month away from the reality of it all. A long time growing, living, thinking and writing. Not really knowing when or if it would ever happen. Now it's here, it's finally here. But the days are moving like a tortoise on a sandy beach. Writing is done, pictures are done, cover is done, printing is this next phase. And for me, waiting is the space I'm in now. I sit here, think about: did I put everything in that I meant to. Did I give everyone the truest sense of my experiences? Was I fair to myself or the other people in the book? Did I tell each story in the most interesting and honest manner?

I feel good about the whole thing, but it still seems like years away. When I have it in my hand, when I'm looking at it, with my name on it...then I'll believe. Until then, I'll just wait. I'll wait like we did as kids to get to finally arrive at our vacation spot. I'll wait like we did in the ice cream line for our scoops to be placed in the cup or cone. I'll wait like we do at the DMV, the doctor's office, or for to go food at our favorite restaurant . I'll be patient, at least I'll try.

Until then, I'm starting book #2...Derby, Love, life & Jams...Full Girl on Girl Contact! Wow, I'm really a published author, working on my second book...for reals!!!???

Reading the book, one more time...

I did at one point in this entire process of writing No Girls Allowed: The Jock & Jill Mentality of Sports Broadcasting, actually enjoy reading my book. Now, it's time number 25...whew! Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic, informative and really entertaining read, it's just hard to re-live my life one more time. I thought the intensity of the struggle would maybe weaken, but each time I read the section on my time getting to do play by play of a game at Syracuse, I get frustrated, AGAIN! I sure hope women are being treated better around college sports radio and TV stations now. It was a long time ago, but each time I read it, argh! It's still strong. Or the time in Florida when my jerk partner talked so nasty about a 13 year old gymnast. He was such a egomaniac and a little nuts too. The time I crawled under a desk at WQAM in Miami because my interview with Brian Bosworth got so totally messed up was such an embarrassment.

It's been fun, I've actually reconnected with quite a few people over the last couple months since the book release is so close. I'm excited for people to see what I've done, where I've been, who I've interviewed and how it's turned out so far. My career is far from over, but it's been a crazy ride, that's for sure! Each time I read the book I think of one more person who was great to me. The list of jerks is actually not as long as the list of cool people I encountered. That's kind of a relief, looking back at it all now. I'm excited for what's coming next for me. I have no idea what it is, but whatever the universe offers me, I'll be ready. October 8th...gets a bit closer each day!

Major League Baseball shows it's heart...

What a weekend it was in the majors...from tragedy to sadness, to elation, to triumph, to excitement and beyond. This is truly why baseball is the best professional sport out there. From the poor Texas crowd, watching a man fall to his death. From Josh Hamilton's painful struggles and past life to his recovery and re-emergence into the sport...to his baseball toss and last week's devastating death in his home ball park. To Josh's HR to win the game over the weekend, to his ability to shake the guilt and sadness and continue playing the game. Derek Jeter's weekend was a major accomplishment as well.

Man, I love this game. I love the history, the tradition and the stories. Baseball may have been passed by other sports in revenue and popularity, but it will always be my favorite. My Dodgers are killing me right now, not the actually guys on the field, but the front office and the soap opera led by the nuts McCourt clan, argh! I thank MLB for stepping in, it's embarrassing, but it's hopeful. I hope we get past this time in Dodger baseball, and get back to the game itself, on the field, in the stands and amongst the elite in the game again...I'm dreaming, I like to dream, my life's been a dream, my book is a dream. So, I'll never give up on dreams! Cheers, to dreams!

Book signing...Woot Woot!

It's getting closer. I even feel like it's actually happening. I thought it would only hit me that I had written a book when I'm holding it in my hand. Now, with a book signing/release party officially on my schedule, it's really close. WOW, after everything, every re-write, every edit, every change, every photo, every and every cover design.

The book is moments from being in my hands!

Oy Vay!

October 8th, in San Luis Obispo County, the release of No Girls Allowed!

I'm thrilled to announce this event and will blog more later, but I'm hoping we have a big turnout. I'll have friends and family there as well as listeners. I want people to finally read my story and share the excitement after 20+ years.

This is so friggin' cool and unreal!!! Cross your fingers that the reviewers like it, here I come Ellen, Leno, Letterman etc.