In the book, you don’t see women that much. It’s sports, it’s betting and it’s a lot of ego on both sides of the counter..
I say it all the time, but in case you missed it, nobody knows shit..
Except the women, of course, and Mother’s Day was always..
a special day in the book for me..
One thing we all know to be true is that we are here because of our mom. Whether your mom is a part of your life or not, that is on you and her..
It’s the hardest job in the world, yet there is no greater benefits plan or job satisfaction...
When I was in the book on Mother’s Day, I always gave any woman who came to the counter the Consig special..
Two drink tickets for Mother’s Day with your trip to the window..
“But I’m not a mom.”
I would smile and go “it’s fine. Have one for you and your mom.”
I would..
always get a smile, and it made me think of all of the special women I have had in my life..
Started with my Nonny D..first generation Italian American, first husband Claydo passed away from a heart attack at 47.. suddenly a single mom, she became a nurse at 50 and figured..
It out..
She loved sports, she loved Iron City beer, and she taught me how to gamble..
There was an Italian card game called 7 and a half, and she was the ring leader..plus, her and I bet on the Steeler game every week for 20 years..
Even when I wasn’t home or we weren’t..
Together to enjoy her pizelles after the game, we had action every week..
Nonny D was my biggest fan, and I think of her often, but especially this day..
Then, there is my mom, Mama Consig..
At age 12, my Mom, an only child, came home from school to find her dad Claydo, the..
drummer in a band, gone from a
heart attack..
She grew up immediately.. without a doubt, the toughest woman I know..she had a big extended family, but she and Nonny, both named Nancy, had to figure things out quick..
My mom had me first, then two more boys, and then, in the..
ultimate parlay, got twin girls to close it out..
She created quite the life for her and my dad, Big E, and did everything for us and with us..
Nonny made it to 95 before she passed, and Mama Consig is 75 now, living her best life in Phoenix. I think of her everyday as well..
even when she is on my ass like she has been since I was born..
Now under the same roof, I have my mother in law, Grandma Deb..the oldest of four, she is the five star general who knows everything, and even when she doesn’t, she tells me, Pap Pap, Mrs Consig and the kids that..
she does..
They say you marry a girls mom, and now that we are all living together, I’d say that is a -1500 favorite, and I’m laying it..
And then, there is Mrs Consig.. she is the apple of my eye, the mother of our three girls, and the best bet I’ve ever made in my life.
We..
knew each other as teenagers, went our separate ways to experience life, and somehow, got back together after some crazy shit..
Married for 18, together for like 30, she IS my best friend..
And like all best friends, we battle, we fight, and sometimes, some furniture gets..
moved in these “talks.”
Together, we have three amazing kids, all girls, who I have nicknamed Big Consig, Middle Consig, & Little Consig..
With Mrs Consig, I don’t have them..and without them, the stroke 7.5 months ago likely would have ended the way that fateful day did..
for my Mama Consig when she found my grandpap Claydo (who I never knew).
History repeats itself, yes, but sometimes, things happen to flip the script..
Just like that +400 dog that gets you to the window, it’s one you didn’t see coming..
Me & Mama Consig are writing our..
own story, with family all around us everyday..
I salute all of the Mom’s in the world today!!
I say this, call your mom or tell someone else Happy Mother’s Day today whether you are in the book or not..
Little Consig got me last week with the shit bet..
Today, we bet on whether the most important man on the walk to school (and my next job), the crossing guard, would be wearing the same pants he has worn every day since her return to school..
Every..
day, we walk by this man as the wind howls. He holds up his stop sign in one hand and puts his other hand up, stopping traffic immediately like the crash test dummies commercial.
Most people walk by in a hurry and don’t say a word. I am not most people.
I see him every day..
and I greet him with something and a thank you everyday.
Keeping little Consig and all the kids safe from the maniac, running late for work, moms and dads is a grind, and I appreciate his efforts.
One day last week, I noticed he was wearing brown pants for the first time..
So we are through round one of the Madness. It has been an absolutely crazy couple of days,
The next two days are always so much fun because now you know me, I know you and we are all enjoying the hoops.
Here are a few tips to make it go smooth the..
rest of the way of “boy band weekend” otherwise known as the NCAA tourney in the book..
1. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY, cares about your bracket unless they ask. And even then, they may just be trying to be nice.
You had Ohio State in your Final Four? Texas? Or you had UConn..
in the Sweet 16? Two shits. Not one, but two shits. That’s how much anyone in the book cares.
And for all you geniuses (Not you Matty from Yahoo) who picked Oral Roberts and Abilene Christian and Ohio U outright, you all lyin..complete bullshit..
At this time last year, we were preparing for March Madness. The day the book turned off the odds, closed the windows, and sports shut down is a story for another time.
There will be a tourney this year, and here is a guide to be prepared in case..
you forgot. It’s only been a year, but you know the Boy Scouts motto “Be Prepared” applies in the sports book as well.
The Scout motto means that you are always ready to do what is necessary to help others. It also means you are ready, willing, and able to do what is..
necessary in any situation that comes along..
One of my best co workers ever named Linda dubbed March Madness “Boy Band Week” in the book, and she was right..
It’s mostly a guy’s trip, groups of dudes, hanging out, drinking and betting on basketball non stop..