Life is Unexpected

On Thanksgiving we all received the news that Mr. Karagias passed away suddenly. A heart attack. He had just been playing football with his son and co-workers. He probably woke up that morning thinking he would enjoy a nice Turkey dinner with family. Instead his life was cut short just like so many others in our lives. Now he is above somewhere with Mr. Rising and Mr. Pernicario. Maybe playing golf.

I had a conversation with Kaitlyn and we both agreed we are way too young to be losing our parents. This is not how it is supposed to be. But I guess it is also a wake up call. To be grateful for everything you have in life and to cherish the good times. I know that life is unexpected and that things happen for a reason, but I guess sometimes it scares me to think that one day I will have to deal with what I haven't had to for a long time. So I will continue to be thankful for those in my life and try never to take them for granted.

Before attending the wake today for Mr. Karagias, I pulled out the remarks Eric Schneider spoke at Mr. Rising's funeral just three years ago this month. He wrote,

"Donnie doesn't leave us questioning ourselves about his death, he lived a life that inspires us to analyze our own. Perhaps the greatest characteristic of a coach is that a true coach never stops coaching. A true coach never ceases to affect the hearts, minds, and the lives he's touched. It is in that spirit that we are challenged to reflect on how we've lived our lives and how we will live them from this day forth. Today, Donnie asks us...
Who will you coach today?
Who will you stand up for?
Who will you blindly put your faith into?
How much patience will you have with others?
Who will you set an example for?
Coach Don Rising is obviously happy up in Heaven. They don't miss free throws in Heaven. And they have their own gym. But D. R.'s quick and sudden passing reminds us all that our time is ticking as well. And we're reminded that we have just one shot at winning this game and we'd better make it count. We must spend the time we have left answering the questions that Donnie puts before us today and turn those answers into actions. Mr. Rising believes we can do it because he has just as much fatih in us as he had before. Normally in this situation, with the game on the line, D.R. would hand us the ball and tell us to do our best. Normally in this situation he would be screaming up and down the sideline cheering us on. But this time, he's rooting us on from above. And this time, Coach Don Rising hasn't handed us the ball - he's handed us the whistle."


I will continue to try my best to be a better person and make sure I give all I can in this life I have been given.

Catching up on lost time...

It has been awhile and no major events have happened....some smaller, amusing ones I thought I could share.


Today at school I walked into a science classroom to borrow a book. The students were working and talking amongst eachother. This is when I heard the following conversation:
"How 'bout you sideburns, you want some of this milk?" and another kid says, "Nah, I'd rather have a beer".....and to think all the kids watch is "I Love New York" and "High School Musical". I don't know what to think now that they, also, enjoy a little Billy Madison. (No props were used in this conversation...the teacher does not allow drinks in her room).


Mike's brother's wedding was called off yesterday. Anyone need tickets to Florida?


I stole Allison and Brian's bedroom colors and have used them in my guest room. Sorry.


My volleyball team has started and Mike's basketball tryouts started. I will be seeing Mike in 3 months.


Good ol' Cal City kids are visiting this weekend. We are having a party at mom and dad's. Shh... don't tell.


Sign class is going well. Just ask my three favorite students :)

I dressed up as a Pink Lady for school last Friday. A teacher asked if I was a go-go dancer.

Then another teacher began to sing Oh Mandy...but changing it to Oh Sandy and was convinced that song was in the movie Grease. It's hard to break it to a grown man that he, indeed, was singing Barry Manilow.

The Brawl at Taco Bell

Well...this weekend Michael got a little upset with me. I don't know if he got the taste of Florida in his mouth again (i am sure you can recall...the lady that was trying to do laps...and Mike not being as amused as we were). Well anyway...here is what went down.
On Friday, Mike and I were about to begin our romantic dinner at the T.B. to stall before Randy's game. I took a seat (table by the window-with a view) while Mike waited for our food. Seated on my right was a dad with his three, young children. Seated a couple tables away were two highschool students who were there with their mom. She was near Mike waiting for their food. As I sat there, people watching, my attention was drawn to these two highschool students. One of them was telling the other about his day. He was speaking very loudly and his conversation included the words "mother f***er" six times and talking about how someone was holding a knife up to him and he said to go ahead and stab him. After the 6th mf bomb, the teacher in me was crawling out. I slowly walked over to their table, leaned in, and whispered these words, "Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but could you possibly watch what you say because there are young children around and i can hear you from all the way over there..." then I excused myself and walked casually back over to my table. Two seconds later....the young man who needed his mouth washed out with soap walked out of the Taco Bell. Mike comes back with the food and immediately says, "What did you just do!". I explain quietly to Mike and kept an eye on this family. The mom came back to their table, went outside and got her son, and they all sat down. She continued to ask them what was wrong and the one boy said, "People who don't know me comin over here tellin me my business!". They point me out as the girl with the sweater, and the mom says.....get this...."Well she looks ignorant". Unbelievable. Did her son fail to mention what he was talking about?? I was waiting for her to come over to my table and say something so I could point out who the ignorant one was.
Both families left and Mike continued to point out why I need to watch what I say and be careful and blah blah blah....when three teenagers sit down at a table near by. In mid conversation, I can see the guy leaning all the way back in his chair trying to hear our conversation. I look right at him and say, "Would you like me to talk louder so you can hear us better?" . He almost fell backwards. Mike says, "We are leaving right now".
I think sometimes Mike forgets that I am not afraid to say what is on my mind...or point out when I see something that's wrong. I think he forgets that I grew up in Calumet City and am not afraid of people. I think he forgets I work with kids...and have for almost 5 years. I think he forgets that I am a Fagan.....which is code for "one bad a** motherf***er". (I just wanted to put it in words that those kids would understand). I have my mom, my sisters, and even sometimes my dad and brothers, to thank for making me such a strong woman...and maybe Mike forgets that. Or maybe he just wants to protect me. Or maybe he just wants me to shutup. Whatever it is, at the end of the day, I feel good because I didn't just sit back and let it happen. I stood up for what is right. And isn't that what I am always trying to teach my kids anyway?

Garage Sale...and other randomness

Well...I was surprised mom did not mention how successful the garage sale was. I think Allison raked in $4?? Mike and I walked away with almost $70, but mom and dad were the big winners...close to $100. Who knew a laughing witch, some old stereos, baseball cards, and tupperware would be such a hit. To those of you who didn't stop by to help...or shop...you missed some amusing sights. First of all...I was very confused as to why we had so many binocular sets for sale...kinda creepy. And why did dad keep looking through them when people were walking up the driveway? Second...why did Kyle keep pointing the blow/dart gun at our customers?
Poor dad really had to run the show. Kyle and Mike went inside and watched t.v. and mom and I took a stroll through an open house. Yes..we were those nosy neighbors.
All in all, I would say it was a good day...and Mike and I got Scott Dog's dinner out of it so booyah.


Other adventures in my life

I have been so busy now that school started, I haven't had a lot of time to write on here so I apologize if you have been anxiously waiting! But I have become mom in a way! I am involved in everything and have to learn to take a step back. Right now I am going to be doing Sign Language Club, Sign Language class, and coaching volleyball. This year I have 42 kids signed up for Sign Club....just a little more than my 3 from last year. Word must have gotten out about how awesome I am. It is amazing to me to think that more and more students are opening up to mine and wanting to be a part of their world so I am very excited. Woohoo for sign language!

Mike is now the lead teacher at his school...which means if the principal is not there, then he is acting principal. Big responsibility but I'm sure he does well at it. He also got the assistant coach for girl's basketball position...so from the looks of it, Mike and I will never see eachother!

I am still playing sand volleyball - playoffs start next week. This past tuesday it was freezing and I thought my feet were going to fall off. The week before that, two of our teammates got in a screaming match with each other. It is so much fun.

I am now working 4 days at Sports R Us...one of those days with Kyle. It has to be the best job..and to think next year Colin will be in those kinds of classes. He will be that kid the coaches adore.

I am super pumped for Josh Gracin, but also depressed that I am missing the Illini Game.

I am wanting to plan a family game night so let me know when you guys are available.

Also....stamp party is Oct. 12th. I will send invites. Come. Eat. Stamp. Buy. Don't Buy. It'll be fabulous :)

Back to School

I'll remove this post...because as my sister has reminded me...free speech isn't necessarily free. I'd rather keep my job :) But don't you worry mom, I'll find my ways to keep you posted on my ever so amusing workplace!

The pets of the Fagan House

It's been a rough day for us Fagan's - kind of like the loss of a family member when you lose your pet. So I decided to end this night on a good note and remember all the fantastic things about our pets - past, present, and maybe even future :)

Charity - that dog I, unfortunately, did not know. However dad has often told me he liked the taste of furniture.

Pepper - I will never forget the story of when Mom and Dad first got Pepper. She was a small, little fur ball and the crows outside would dive down at her.

Sandy - I wish I had more happier stories about her, but I will always feel guilty for leaving the gate open.

July - this dog used to do figure eights in our backyard around the bushes with a frisbee in her mouth.

Bailey - the best dog in the whole world...but really smelly ears. And mom had professional pictures taken of her....she takes the cake for most spoiled dog ever.

Mittens - thanks to Aunt Cheryl, Kelly got a cat. Or mom got a cat. But she was always so dainty and cute and lived on top of the dishwasher or on a window sill.

Jingles - aka Man Cat. He was a human stuck in a cat's body. He liked to eat butter, shrimp, and ketchup. He was my cat - or so I claimed him even though mom fed him and cleaned his litter pan. I liked to dress him up in doll clothes.

Whiskers - that "MOW" can never be forgotten.

Max - Grandma's cat that moved in with us. She was mean, but she sure loved Grandma.

Kraemer - now lives with Stacy. Best memory - before she was declawed, she would run and jump and hang on the screen door. Dad used to box with her.

Rudy - yes, I put down Rudy. Better known in our house as Riley. So it was our dog for 1 day. Your welcome Schneider family.

Charlie - Charlie has a mustache. I will never forget when he peed in the microwave several years ago. Mom, you should really buy a new one.

Angel - was Grandma's new cat, and now ours. She is really good at disappearing. I remember when Kaitlyn and Molly thought they lost her...and when Grandma thought Tim and Zach were trying to eat her.

Rufus - my hamster at ISU. Better known has Houdini. He escaped from his cage all the time. Once I thought he went down the vent and mom suggested I make him a ladder.

Mustard - remember that goldfish Kelly won at Kiddie Fest that would not die...until one day he jumped out of his bowl behind the microwave?

Sea Monkeys - they were nice and big and real....until Jingles knocked them over.

Paco - oh Paco. Kelly and I thought he should be named Cuatro because he ended up in our yard on the 4th of July. Mom didn't even want that dog until the mean old pet control guy tried to take him away. Now he has congestive heart failure and will definitely outlive us all.

Murphy - I will never forget how he would put a toy in his mouth and shake his head back and forth with his ears wacking him in the face. Or we would all scream when Redrum would appear.

Diva - my future weiner dog that I will make wear sweaters.

All of these animals (besides that last one) have played a huge part in my growing up and really were/are like part of my family. I know they all made me smile with the wacky things they did/do. I know the ones we have lost I will always remember. I know that for however much time they were in that Fagan house, they were loved so much by our crazy mom and could not have had a better life. I know that mom is sad, just as much as I am, to lose another pet, but I also know that she did everything she could to give our pets the best home ever. Just as she has done for her children. So mom, if you are reading this, I love you and Murphy does too.

Cal City Bar Crawl

We all know how much mom loves a good drunk/drinking/beer/liquour story, so I thought I would share my "traveling down memory lane" weekend with you.

I guess this will read more as my top moments of a Cal City Bar Crawl.

1. First new, never met before, c.c. person at the bar crawl is Vinnie. Funny thing, we exchange names and he discovers that he has met a Fagan before. Kelly, who he worked at McDonald's with. We exchanged french fry stories and I reminisced for Kelly on her Golden Arches days. Small world. Kelly filled me in later that he once stole a pencil sharpener and a garbage can. Well... get the story from her. (Kelly, maybe you could make a blog, too!)

2. In the first bar, Boss', I found myself thinking about Mr. Rising. This was the bar he referred to as the "library" and would often go to the library after basketball practice. When I walked in, Kait pointed out a sign above the door that said "Good night D.R.". Sometimes I forget he isn't here. I had a drink for him.

3. The back of the shirts read, "We don't get shot, we take shots". Kait and I walked into Walgreens with those shirts on. No wonder people were staring. But hey, atleast we didn't lie. We didn't get shot.

4. I finally went to Tombstone Inn on Burnham. This proves what I used to believe that place was (where you buy Tombstone pizzas) is definitely not true.

5. The old people at the Legion were not happy to see a school bus of bar crawlers pull up on their territory.

6. Bob Chura (Allison's classmate) filled me in on how he served our country and I have him to thank that I was able to be here getting married. I guess Bob Chura fought for exchanging of vows?

7. We walked to Pano's.

8. We made a stop at the Schneider's Uncle Den's house on Wentworth, who has a "bar" in his basement. He had a snack table :)

9. On the way to their Uncle's, Kait stated, "I'm not drinking there, I'm just taking shots".

10. Using the school bus to get us around so no one was drinking and driving, the bus driver, William, used the stop sign on the side of the bus to also make sure no one got hit while running across the street to the next bar. See mom, we were safe.

It's amazing how much Calumet City has changed but it is also interesting how much it is the same. Most of the people on the bar crawl have moved from there, but it was nice to be back with the people that I grew up with and just have fun on our old stomping grounds. Pretty soon a lot of those stomping grounds won't be there. But I guess we'll always have Pano's.