Justified

If there was ever any doubt or question as to why we would be referred to as The Stanga Train, wonder no more! And guess what, it wasn't even Mae Mae nor myself that earned us the claim to fame this weekend.

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We're not the normal family, so why would we have a normal, average, or even a slightly-less-than-normal amount of pets? Scott and Abby went to my parents' house to visit yesterday morning and to help my mom out with the dogs. The hounds love going on walks, but is no easy task and definitely can't be conquered by one person alone, and not really two. So off Scott, Abby and Mom go with Marley, Ernie, Daisy and Indy to Bob Wodruff Park for a nice stroll on an absolutely beautiful day.

Marley and Indy love to run free through the woods and aren't nearly as crazy as the other two, so Mom and Abby let them off their leashes so they could roam wild amongst the trees, while Scott kept Ernie and Daisy leashed and just along the tree line. Of course, just like any lab would do at the first sight of water, it took Marley no time to work his way down the steep banks of the creek and get to splashing. Mom claims he looked a little nervous and scared about getting out and back up, so she also headed down the bank to help him.

Well, for those who actually know my mom, this was all I needed to say before you know what happens next. Of course she stumbles a bit, falls straight on her bum and slides/rolls/whatever all the way down the steep bank and lands right in the creek. HAH! Also, any of you who have traveled with the family know of my mother's infamous grunts and vocal, yet crude declaration of frustration while trying to maneuver in any small space (read: from the front seat to the back seat.) I know, I know - so many people don't believe that sweet little Leslie knows any curse words, but I promise you, she does. I can only imagine the usual yelling of verbal disgrace flowing off her tongue as she tumbled down: "Ah sh*t, ugh f*ck, ooohhh, eeeek, sonofabitch, gawd-damnit, sh*t!" This is no lie, it's nearly a routine monologue that needs no rehearsing - it's straight from memory every time.

Finally, she got a hold of Marley and found a nice spot where she could actually stand with him and waited for Abby to go get Scott for help. Scott says he was really worried, as if Mom had really hurt herself, but he found her standing knee-deep in the creek, mushy-toed and all, with Marley - no damages but a little aggravated. Scott first helped pull Marley up and over and then had to help Mom. My only question is (first of all, I don't question for a second how or why this happened,)but what I do wonder is who the hell forgot the camera?

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The boys (I don't think Mark & Scott will ever grow out of being called 'the boys,') have always been very athletic and into sports, especially soccer when they were younger. They have always been among the smaller kids for their age, but it benefited them on the field, as they were much quicker than most the bigger oafs on the opposing teams, and could weave in and out of a jumbled mess of players. Although those times have passed, the boys still enjoy playing a good game of soccer in an adult league. Unfortunately, a couple years - or nearly 3 years back, Scott thought he could still use his sweet skills and shattered his elbow, so he has yet to get back on the field. On the other hand, Mark has been playing on a team for a few seasons, and a lot of the guys on the team are his old childhood teammates. It's funny that they always stick together.

Anyway, Mark had a scrimmage yesterday before their new season officially starts. A player from the other team went up for a header, and Mark accidentally kneed him in the chest. Knowing the twins, this came as no surprise, since they have always been slightly aggressive, but not in a bad-sport sort of way. After the game ended, Mark was walking off the field, and the guy he had kneed was yelling at him, "Hey Scott." Mark kept walking off. The guy called again, "Hey, Scott!" Nothing. Once more and the guy finally caught up with Mark. Mark said "I'm not Scott, I'm Mark." The guy says "Ohhh, you look EXACTLY like this guy I work with named Scott Stanga." Mark just laughs and says "Oh, that's my twin brother." Turns out, the guy is Scott's boss and was wondering why Scott never said anything to him in the game, especially after 'Scott' kneed the crap out of him. Surprisingly, Scott didn't get fired from his job today for assaulting his boss, but the guy had no idea Scott had a brother, much less an identical twin brother. Small world.