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.

She Shoots, She Scores

Claudia played in her second All Star Tournament on Father's Day Weekend. Her team came in third. In the final game, which they won 2-0, Claudia scored one of the goals despite the fact that she was on defense. The weather was a little crazy, but it was a good weekend overall.

A coach has already called to see if Claudia would play travel soccer for him. We are still thinking about it.

Almost a Half Year's Worth of Reading

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

Meet Bing, My New Car

Isn't he cute?

"Best Day of His Life"

Garrett and I went down to the National Zoo on Thursday for a story I am working on. We got a behind the scenes tour, and Garrett is still talking about it. This is Garrett with his favorite animal, cheetahs.

Another Link

http://www.livescience.com/technology/080222-bts-polyak.html

This is a story I wrote for the National Science Foundation web site.

Two Links

My essay about taking Andrew on college tours in online at http://www.literarymama.com/creativenonfiction/archives/001826.html

My story about the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad is also available online with some great photos at http://www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/fall07/feature3.html

Each year my reading list gets a little shorter. It never does truly reflect the amount of reading I do in a year. Each night, seven days a week, Garrett and I read from a chapter book. This year we have worked our way through most of the Judy Blume book (the Fudge books are our favorites) and Beverly Cleary (Ramona is great, but Socks is a special treat). We have finished all of the Magic Treehouse and Judy Moody books currently in print.

Of the following list, my top five for 2007 would be:
The Road
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (of course)
The Dead Fathers Club
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
The History of Love

Not to be missed are the short story collections:
Interpreter of Maladies and 20th Century Ghosts

Still to be read is Richard Russo's new book. I think I am 157 on the library waiting list.

2007 Reading List
January
Old School by Tobias Wolff
One More Day by Mitch Albom
Ice Storm by Rick Moody
Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
February
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
March
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
All Saints by Liam Callanan
Persuasion by Jane Austen
April
Dead Father’s Club by Matt Haig
Mockingbird
May
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff
Grayson by Lynn Cox
June
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Grass Angel by Julie Schumacher
Warm Springs by Susan Shreve
July
Kiss Me Tomorrow by Susan Shreve
Stealing Buddha’s Dinner
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
August
The Last Family in England by Matt Haig
Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
September
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
Eat Love Pray
The History of Love
Julie/Julia by Julie Powell
The Keep by Jennifer Egan
October
The Intrepreter of Maladies
November
Scout’s Honor
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech
December
Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

All Stars

Registration: $30
Hooded All Star Sweatshirt She Had to Have: $30
All Star Soccer Ball She Had to Have: $20
Getting up for an 8:30 game in 30-degree weather: Don't ask
Watching your daughter play in her first all-star soccer tournament: Priceless

Woo Hoo

We are graduating from Virginia Tech in December. Well, not we exactly, but Andrew. And no, I am not a helicopter parent, but sometimes it really does feel like it takes a village and the GNP of said village to get a person graduated. Andrew got his cap and gown today. Getting ready to celebrate...oh, and drive to soccer practice.

Update from the Rich Ranch

Claudia has a new bigger, better bicycle, which she rides almost every day. Garrett still has on his training wheels, which he refuses to let anyone remove, and he is somehow not embarrassed to drive around the neighborhood with them.

Andrew is logging volunteer hours at the Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He spent almost all day there on Columbus Day and said it was "awesome."

Soccer is still in high gear and we have yet to remember to bring a ball to practice. Isn't that sad? It says so much about the mental health of the mother.

If You Give a Boy a Toolbox...

If you give a little boy his own tool box, he is going to want to use it.
When he starts to use it, he is going to need things to use the tools on, including the screwdrivers.
To use the screwdriver, he will need to unscrew screws.
When he unscrews screws, they will fall out.
When they fall out, they will get lost.
After they get lost, you will continue to find them, even on the kitchen table, and not know which injured appliance or toy they go to.
But you will find them
and find them
and find them.

Accio, Book 7

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 1:03 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. I then got to have lunch that day with two friends (who had finished on Sunday morning) to compare notes. A few of the things that I still wonder about:

Does having a portrait done make a wizard immortal? Because they definitely get to continue to participate in activities through the portraits. Hell, Sirius's mother is probably still wailing behind a curtain somewhere.

And where were Ron and Hermione when Harry kept looking for them at Hogwarts and no one knew where they had disappeared to. I kept expecting them to show up with Moaning Myrtle or something and her to hold the key to the Ravenclaw Diadem.

My favorite passage:
"I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great Hall in twenty minutes, also," said Professor McGonagall. "If you wish to leave with your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attempt to sabotage our resistace or take up arms against us within the castle, then, Horace, we duel to kill."

"Minerva!" he said, aghast.

Since we've hit the halfway point yearwise, I thought I would publish my books read to date. This list doesn't include many of the children's books I've read with Garrett. The latest is Socks by Beverly Cleary. Oh, if only there was a sequel!

2007 Reading List
January
Old School by Tobias Wolff
One More Day by Mitch Albom
Ice Storm by Rick Moody
Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
February
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
March
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
All Saints by Liam Callanan
Persuasion by Jane Austen
April
Dead Father’s Club by Matt Haig
Mockingbird
May
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff
Grayson by Lynn Cox
June
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
Grass Angel by Julie Schumacher
Warm Springs by Susan Shreve
July
Kiss Me Tomorrow by Susan Shreve
Stealing Buddha’s Dinner
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

When You Coming Back, Chip?

Yes, Chip has run away. We had been warned about our newly adopted box turtle's tendency to roam by our cousins in Alaska, but since days had gone by and he hadn't made a break for it, we thought he liked the little habitat that Art created for him based on Garrett's drawings and specifications. Now we see that that was all a ruse. He was just waiting for us to let our guard down...thinking he was happy with his little pool and butter lettuce. What fools!, he must've been thinking, hunkered down in the leaves plotting his escape.

Another Trophy for the Riches

Claudia now also has a trophy--a soccer trophy. Claudia ended her season last week and did not go on to post-season play (thank goodness). Now we are just enjoying the pool.

Stop Those *&^%%# Hyphens!

For those of you who don't know, an adverb does not need to be hyphenated. Even if it is used in a compound adjective. Refrain. The next one I see may push me over the edge

Wrong

recently-appointed
highly-rated
jointly-written

Correct

recently appointed
highly rated
jointly written


Don't let it happen again.

O2B N OBX

We are in the Outer Banks. Southern Shores to be exact. It is 61 degrees and raining. Everyone seems to be holding up ok. I have a nice reisling, Australian I believe. Getting ready to open up some crackers and salmon. Art says "hey."

Today We Are All Hokies

That's My Boy

They just keep showing Andrew over and over again on MSNBC and NBC.

Andrew said he was taking an exam when the first shootings occurred and showed up at the rescue squad after the exam and was put to work. He handled a number of gunshot wounds Monday (his first), but no one critical. For a while he was the only EMT working the treatment area and got to triage the patients and decide who got on the ambulances in what order based on their injuries. He did go inside the Norris Hall, but fortunately, there were others available to help with that so he was able to return to the treatment area. He said it was "bad" inside the building.

Now he says it is just very quiet at the squad, and everyone is just trying to deal with it in their own way. He sounded good and doesn't think he know any of the victims.

We appreciate all the calls and emails.

Best, Colleen