Technology is taking over

Okay, ironic that I wrote about technology and then the computer ate my blog!

So, back to the blog...when did computers take over and we became second rate? Last night we had MAJOR computer drama. I won't go into again, since I had the long blog before and now it is cyberspace.

All I have to say is "Byte Me!"

And Lacrosse Begins...

Well, tomorrow is our first game. We play Heritage High School. We actually played in the Jamboree this last saturday, but it was an ugly day overall. It really looked as if we have not practiced anything for the last few weeks. It was both frustrating and eye opening. Today we practiced dodging (getting away from a defender when you have the ball), fast feet, and ground balls. Tomorrow's game is a practice game, but Thursday is for real...

Let the games begin!

The getaway

Here is a picture of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, the place where David and I had our little getaway. I am sure that many who read this were giggling under their breath, imagining some tryst. In actuality what occurs was rather humerous. We arrived at about 7pm (after I had been at the lacrosse JV Jamboree) and made arrangements to have dinner at 8pm. (Which is pretty late, but we decided to check in and get ready.) At 8 we ambled downstairs to get ready for dinner. We got chocolate martini's and then got seated. We both had the pear salad as a starter, then David got the Filet Mignon while I got the swordfish. It was great, but I was so tired by the end of the meal, I was falling asleep at the table!

We went upstairs to find chocolate covered strawberries and rose petals on the bed. It was lovely, but truth be told, I was exhausted! David and I laid down at 10:00 pm and fell into a blissful sleep until late this morning. I slept great and so did he. For 18 hours we had no responsibilities except to eat and sleep!

This morning (at 10:30) we went downstairs to get ready for the "Traditional Farm Breakfast" which took us an hour and a half to eat. David had the trout and I gave him my salmon. It was a carb filled breakfast, but was really yummy! We checked out at noon, came home, and back into our real life! Kids, issues, and the daily grind!

Fortunately, I slept some more today! Now to go to sleep now!

Goodnight!

It's a smackdown!

Okay, lest you get confused, I am really not the WWE type of girl, but rather one who had a little smackdown today. I know that I have talked to you about lacrosse and the trials and tribulations of it. It's almost like the good, the bad, and the ugly. So here they are:

The Good: Practice is going well, many of the girls are committed to improving their skills, my assistant coach, Cassie, rocks! Overall, there is not a lot of girl drama and I don't feel like I am battling whatever boy is walking by the field. So, that's the good. Now for

The Bad: Okay, the bad is that some are still not cradling well, we are still not really ready to play on Saturday (and our first game on Tuesday!), I don't know where the goalie equipment is.


The Ugly: Some of the players have come feeling like they are entitled to be on the JV 1 team, others have been "trash talking" the skills training, some are constantly late or not showing up at all on a regular basis. Since this is true, some players have been placed on a conditional basis.

So today, I revealed the teams and who was on conditionally. I then told them that they should talk to me individually as to why they were on conditionally and what they could do to receive a permanent place on the team.

I felt a little vindicated because of the negative attitudes that some have been displaying!

Yes, folks, we had a bit of a smackdown today!

A getaway...

This weekend David and I are celebrating. It is nothing special other than our first night away together in five years. It has become a bit of a joke at our house...the dogs and Javad often sleep in the bed and David moves to the couch where he has more room. So, this mini-vacation, we are leaving the dogs and kids at home and going to spend some quality time together.

I have made a reservation at the Columbia Gorge Hotel. I went there for breakfast once in high school. The breakfasts are amazing! They're about 7 courses. I guess dieting is out for this weekend. Mostly, I hope that for one night away, we can have a good time. Sometimes being alone without all the things that push us from our lives is license to argue. I am taking a stand...for us.

Over the last few years we have had very little time together. We need to make time for each other. This was a bold move. It will be a spendy one (okay, since I didn't make the reservation until today, I guess that was my fault.) but I believe totally worth it!

I am lugging my polar bear body to go and spend some quality time with my husband. Hmmm...now what will we talk about?

Let the Sunshine in!

I am one of those people that you might hear about. The ones that crawl into themselves in the winter, pressing their bodies up to the window to feel the warmth of the winter sun. The ones that turn into a sullen and painful person without the light of the sun.

I often wonder why I feel this way. I am tired, cranky, and generally feel "heavy" during the winter months. Today was a vision of what is coming...warm (almost 70) and sunny. It felt great to stand outside where the weather was beautiful, but still had the crispness of the winter. I love the feel of the winter air, but not the coldnes of it!

I have turned into something of a polar bear. I have the extra weight for warmth on my body. I am not happy with it. Sometime ago I had hoped for a fitter body, one that would magically appear. I realize that in order to have the body that I strive to have, I might actually have to do something to get it.

I have made a decision. I am getting in shape. Time to shed the winter off of me and move into spring. My friend, Cathlin, and I are getting ready to train. We need to train so that we can begin training for the Portland Marathon. We also plan on doing the Three Day Walk for Breast Cancer. It is time, time to make a difference, time to take a stand.

I need to get off it. That way I can get on it!

Time to move! Time to catch the sun!

Ambidextrous

So, I grew up knowing that I was able to do things with both hands. When I was in college, I took a golf class and pretty much sucked. I spent about two-thirds of the class making very large divots in the hills of George Fox College, and muttering under my breath about how bad I was. The professor asked me whether I had ever did things left handed. I explained that I did do some things left handed and that my mother did as well. I was handed a left handed club and viola, I could hit the ball. Okay, don't get me wrong, I am no golfer, but at least I could HIT the ball! So that event occurred many years ago. Who knew that the big Ambidextrous word would come back to bite me in the butt?

This last week when at practice my assistant coach, Cassie, has been laughing at me because I can't cradle for crap. For thos of you who know nothing about lacrosse, for girls, cradling is how one keeps the ball in the net. The centrifugal force of cradling (a kind of rocking motion) keeps the ball in the net as you run down the field. Although the others on the field try to check the ball out of your net, cradling is essential to lacrosse.

So, anyway, on friday I was working with the girls on ground balls (scooping the ball off the ground with your net) and one of my players asked if I was left-handed. I said, "no, why?" She said, "You just did that ground ball left-handed." Things that make you go "Hmmm." In my brain, I am thinking, "Wait a minute. If I am taking the ground balls left handed, maybe I should try cradling left handed." Viola...I guess I can cradle now!

Who knew?