Nice and Easy

My writer friend Kirsten Lopresti has convinced me to reactivate this blog. One of the problems so far is that I use Wordpress every day in my job, but this blog predates Wordpress. I have to learn what all these little icons mean all over again

2010?

Are you kidding me? Has it been that long since I posted anything? Oh, bother.

This One is for Garrett

Garrett misses the blog and asked that I revitalize it. We are working on his achievement to make Bear in Cub Scouts. We just finished tonight. The banquet is Friday. Just under the gun.

Reading in 2008

I think this may be an all-time low in the number of books I have read in a year. It also doesn't reflect the books I partially read and either gave up on or had to return to the library before it was finished. I do plan on finishing Animal Vegetable Miracle one day. I really do. I had planned to read Nabokov this year, but alas, Speak Memory is still unfinished. I may be able to get it in under the wire.

My new discovery this year was Tom Perrotta who is one of my new favorites. I have also started reading the Harry Potter series with Garrett, which is not reflected on this list.

2008 Reading List

January
Run by Ann Patchett
Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier

February
Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reuhl
Eat Cake

March
The Wishbones by Tom Perrotta
Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Election by Tom Perrotta

April
Mohawk by Richard Russo
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

May
Duma Key by Stephen King
Winter Study by Nevada Barr

June
Last Girls by Lee Smith
Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen

July
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter
My Brother’s Ghost
Little Children by Tom Perrotta

August
In the Woods by Tana French
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
When you are engulfed in flames

September
The Likeness by Tana French
Refresh, Refresh
Ida B.

October
High Up in the Trees by Kiara Brinkman
Twilight

November
New Moon
The Island of the Blue Dolphins

Beachy

Tourney Recap

A quick re-cap of our 1st Tournament and a special thanks to the families that were able to volunteer and help make the Patriot Cup a success! This tournament showed us the many levels of travel soccer. The speed of the game is much faster than House and even the All-star tournaments that we previously played. We challenged WAGS teams as well as start up travel teams. Overall, I think that we held our own and showed promise for the future. Most teams usually have 1 to 2 great players, noticeable players. Our team is a team of good players. There’s not just 1 or 2 outstanding players, and every player has strengths and weaknesses. Every player has moments of greatness and not so great. This is the game of soccer and they are children having fun. We as coaches will have to pin point the weakness of each child and try to build on their faults. Everybody is different, and as a coach, I am proud of our team! I would like to take another moment to acknowledge some of the outstanding achievements during our tournament:

Game 1, against ODFC (wags) loss 1-0: Meera had maybe one of her best games, stopping nearly every ball. We will have to start counting the shots taken as she really played her heart out with bravery, quickness and good judgment. I did have some coaches tell me that our goalie played very well.

Game 2, against Vienna (ODSL) loss 11-1: The high score somewhat depressing was due more to common mistakes, and lack of experience, rather than just being overpowered. This Vienna team also beat another team 10-1 so that made our loss sit a little better. Claudia hit a goal coming from a handball, the ball was be placed at the 18’ far right corner, the ball found the net over a crowd of heads trying to block the goal. It was clearly a beautiful kick.

Game 3, against Chantilly (Wags) loss 5-1: In the early minutes of this game, there was a hand ball penalty shot at our goal. Meera again made an MVP stop, and with minutes left before half time, she found Madison stepping up from a fullback position, launching a kick that sailed through the air 30 yards into the back of their net. We were up 1-0 at half time. The half time break is becoming a concern for our team as we show a trend, we were slow getting back into the game and gave up 3 goals within 10 minutes. However we did have a lot of runs at their goal, we just couldn’t finish.

Game 4, against Mount Vernon (Wags) tie 1-1: This game was maybe the most exciting! We were able to get some of our players back from vacation and it definitely made a difference. We controlled the ball in their end for at least half the game. Kayla, Kristie and Skyla worked together to bring us our goal coming from a corner kick taken by Skyla, where Kristie (The Hammer) would add the necessary power to the ball to send it pass the goal keeper to the quick-footed Kayla who put the ball into the net. Our team really pressured their goal the entire second half. Meera continued to make big saves, and with 10 minutes left in the game found herself on the ground making another great save. Only this time her arm was stepped on and she had to leave the game due to the injury. Their tying goal came from outside the penalty box with hard shot only minutes from game’s end.

Every player on the team made great efforts and played to the best of their abilities. Many of our players played with bumps, bruises and fever. Great plays were put in by Sarah, Molly, Maddie, Skyla, Claudia, Margaret, Faith, Meera, Madison, Kristie, Kayla, and Sandy. I am sure that your parents were entertained by your great spirit this weekend.

Coach Elliott

Achoo

Claudia had her allergy work up last week and it turns out she's allergic to three kind of dust (!), and all the grasses, trees, molds, and weeds they could throw at her. The good news--Muffin is in the clear. She isn't allergic to dogs or cats. I could tell the doc was ready to blame kitty to Claudia's itchies.