Soccer season.
There is nothing like it.
The lads in the Army and the boys on the pitch.
Oh how I crave a match.
As a fan, sometimes is hard to watch.
I want my boys to win so bad.
Victory...there is no feeling like it.
How I want just one more chance.
On the pitch. With my boots. With the guys.
Come next week we'll get our chance.
Will we win? Who knows.
But I know I will love every moment.
Every touch.
But will it be the same?
I'm getting old.
My knees are stiff.
My muscles yell at me when I run.
Who cares.
I love this game.
Soccer season.
There is nothing like it.
I'm so glad your here.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Am I Ashamed That I love Soccer? Heck No
Growing up in a small country town, most boys play sports and eventually try out and participate on one of the many teams offered at their high school. Now most of the kids tried out for football, basketball and baseball. As much as I enjoy those games, I passed. I chose soccer. Now, this was and still is significant for my life. For most of the jocks on campus, soccer made no sense to them. There were a few popular boys on the team and they were really not the best representatives of the team. Nevertheless, they and the rest of the boys helped foster a love, a passion for this sport that I cannot really explain. But let me try in this short story.
I started playing soccer when I was 9. My mom says that she needed to find something that allowed me to run around and spend all of the energy that was stored in my little body. I guess I was a handful. And from that season for the next 13 years, I was active on some team and sometimes two teams a year. When I was little it was fun. But as I got to middle school and then high school, it was about the competition. It was about that feeling that I got when I scored goals. When I ran past my defenders and helped my team score. I loved it. But was it just from playing? No, it was because my step-father introduced me to two specific soccer teams, of which I still follow today. The first team he introduced me to was Glasgow Rangers and the other was the infamous team from England Manchester United.
On Saturdays and sometimes sunday, we would wake up extra early to watch the match. To see if Eric Cantona was able to do it again and win the game for Manchester. To see if Paul Gascoigne was able to show his magic on the field for Rangers. I loved these games. Over time, this love turned into passion. I tried to emulate what I saw on the TV on the field. Sometimes it got me in trouble with my coaches but most of the time, it helped me become a better player. But was this it? Was this how I got to where I am today? No but this is where it gets interesting.
As a sophomore in high school, I got the chance to tryout for a team that was going to play in China. I shared my interest with my parents. They felt that if I made the team, I deserved to go. I pushed myself. I practiced in the backyard. I practiced my shots, passing and foot control. I showed up on the date of the tryouts and there were something like 30 kids. Only 15 were going to be picked. I was nervous. Despite my nerves, I pushed myself and low and behold, I made the team. In a few short months, I found myself in Hong Kong. I got to see some of the sights seen in pictures my father took while he was on leave during Vietnam. I played in a game in their national stadium, where we got killed. I didn't care. It was a great experience. The following day, I found myself on a ferry that travelled up the Yellow River to the metropolis known as Guangzhou. What an amazing place. People everywhere. Poverty was rampant and I later was told we were followed by the police everywhere we went. My team got the chance to play twice and we won one of the games. I got an assist! The teams we played against were amazing. They wore white keds, white tshirts and the same blue shorts. Some had socks but most did not. But what still amazes me today is that they were able to compete. We had all the equipment possible. Shoes, shin guards, fancy uniforms and warm ups. I felt so guilty that after our last match. I gave my shoes away to one of the kids I played against. So did others on the team. This touched me deeply and today I still remember the hand shake with that young man. His look of thanks. His bow and the rest of the teams following gesture. They took us out to a 7 course meal of authentic Chinese cuisine.
So essentially, this trip and another I had in Germany where I got to play for the city's main soccer club, taught me that this is more than a game. Its a moment in time where two sides can put all of the worries of the world aside. Respect each other as if nothing else at that time was more important. Now I know there is the reputation of soccer gangs. Indeed they are real. But if one was to take a look at what happens on weekends all over the globe, millions of people, arguably billions watch this game in peace.
Earlier this week, I got to see my team. I got to go to the Timbers. I never thought I would feel this way about a team in my life. They bring out all of the worries I have. They bring sunshine to my life. When they win, its a feeling I cannot explain. When they lose, its terrible. Its like a part of me will never be the same. But I cannot stop. I must keep on going back. My brothers and sisters I have made in the Timbers Army over the years has been unique. Some of these people I may only see a few times a year. But its like were family. Knowing that I have to wait until the 31st of March for the next home match is almost unbearable. There is nothing like being at a game live. Nothing. I have been to baseball, football, basketball and hockey but nothing is like a Timbers match. Nothing.
As you can see, I love this game. It has taught me things that no book, class, teacher, professor or family member could ever teach me. Maybe it was easier to explain than I thought but I know for a fact that I could go on and on and on about it. What do you think? Do enjoy soccer in any way? If not, give it a try.
I started playing soccer when I was 9. My mom says that she needed to find something that allowed me to run around and spend all of the energy that was stored in my little body. I guess I was a handful. And from that season for the next 13 years, I was active on some team and sometimes two teams a year. When I was little it was fun. But as I got to middle school and then high school, it was about the competition. It was about that feeling that I got when I scored goals. When I ran past my defenders and helped my team score. I loved it. But was it just from playing? No, it was because my step-father introduced me to two specific soccer teams, of which I still follow today. The first team he introduced me to was Glasgow Rangers and the other was the infamous team from England Manchester United.
On Saturdays and sometimes sunday, we would wake up extra early to watch the match. To see if Eric Cantona was able to do it again and win the game for Manchester. To see if Paul Gascoigne was able to show his magic on the field for Rangers. I loved these games. Over time, this love turned into passion. I tried to emulate what I saw on the TV on the field. Sometimes it got me in trouble with my coaches but most of the time, it helped me become a better player. But was this it? Was this how I got to where I am today? No but this is where it gets interesting.
As a sophomore in high school, I got the chance to tryout for a team that was going to play in China. I shared my interest with my parents. They felt that if I made the team, I deserved to go. I pushed myself. I practiced in the backyard. I practiced my shots, passing and foot control. I showed up on the date of the tryouts and there were something like 30 kids. Only 15 were going to be picked. I was nervous. Despite my nerves, I pushed myself and low and behold, I made the team. In a few short months, I found myself in Hong Kong. I got to see some of the sights seen in pictures my father took while he was on leave during Vietnam. I played in a game in their national stadium, where we got killed. I didn't care. It was a great experience. The following day, I found myself on a ferry that travelled up the Yellow River to the metropolis known as Guangzhou. What an amazing place. People everywhere. Poverty was rampant and I later was told we were followed by the police everywhere we went. My team got the chance to play twice and we won one of the games. I got an assist! The teams we played against were amazing. They wore white keds, white tshirts and the same blue shorts. Some had socks but most did not. But what still amazes me today is that they were able to compete. We had all the equipment possible. Shoes, shin guards, fancy uniforms and warm ups. I felt so guilty that after our last match. I gave my shoes away to one of the kids I played against. So did others on the team. This touched me deeply and today I still remember the hand shake with that young man. His look of thanks. His bow and the rest of the teams following gesture. They took us out to a 7 course meal of authentic Chinese cuisine.
So essentially, this trip and another I had in Germany where I got to play for the city's main soccer club, taught me that this is more than a game. Its a moment in time where two sides can put all of the worries of the world aside. Respect each other as if nothing else at that time was more important. Now I know there is the reputation of soccer gangs. Indeed they are real. But if one was to take a look at what happens on weekends all over the globe, millions of people, arguably billions watch this game in peace.
Earlier this week, I got to see my team. I got to go to the Timbers. I never thought I would feel this way about a team in my life. They bring out all of the worries I have. They bring sunshine to my life. When they win, its a feeling I cannot explain. When they lose, its terrible. Its like a part of me will never be the same. But I cannot stop. I must keep on going back. My brothers and sisters I have made in the Timbers Army over the years has been unique. Some of these people I may only see a few times a year. But its like were family. Knowing that I have to wait until the 31st of March for the next home match is almost unbearable. There is nothing like being at a game live. Nothing. I have been to baseball, football, basketball and hockey but nothing is like a Timbers match. Nothing.
As you can see, I love this game. It has taught me things that no book, class, teacher, professor or family member could ever teach me. Maybe it was easier to explain than I thought but I know for a fact that I could go on and on and on about it. What do you think? Do enjoy soccer in any way? If not, give it a try.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
People Watching
People everywhere. Going every direction. I wonder where their going.
As I stand in this sea of humanity, I start to dig deeper.
Where are they from? Whats their story?
Are they Happy? Do they want to be here?
Are they rich or are they more like me? Who cares.
Life as we know it can be rough at times, but this is not one of them.
I'm told this is the happiest place on earth.
If so why are their so many crying children? Angry dads and annoyed mommies?
Vacations can do that to people.
The long lines and long waits. Not for me.
The rush of the rides and the happy children's themed experiences. I love this place.
The food? Too expensive but worth it after the first bite.
There is this man. I saw him earlier. Strolling about holding his hands behind his back.
Who is he? Is he a tourist? Park management? His suit is quite expensive.
He is just watching. Looking. Observing about. I wonder.
People watching....I'm consumed. Its kinda weird but its fun. There is so much going on.
The excitement.
The noise.
The transformation at night.
There is nothing in the world like Disneyland. How it separates us from reality and shows us whats possible.
Life as we know it can be rough at times....but not tonight.
As I stand in this sea of humanity, I start to dig deeper.
Where are they from? Whats their story?
Are they Happy? Do they want to be here?
Are they rich or are they more like me? Who cares.
Life as we know it can be rough at times, but this is not one of them.
I'm told this is the happiest place on earth.
If so why are their so many crying children? Angry dads and annoyed mommies?
Vacations can do that to people.
The long lines and long waits. Not for me.
The rush of the rides and the happy children's themed experiences. I love this place.
The food? Too expensive but worth it after the first bite.
There is this man. I saw him earlier. Strolling about holding his hands behind his back.
Who is he? Is he a tourist? Park management? His suit is quite expensive.
He is just watching. Looking. Observing about. I wonder.
People watching....I'm consumed. Its kinda weird but its fun. There is so much going on.
The excitement.
The noise.
The transformation at night.
There is nothing in the world like Disneyland. How it separates us from reality and shows us whats possible.
Life as we know it can be rough at times....but not tonight.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Happiest Place On Earth
Laughing because its too much fun
Screaming when your scared
Crying kids all around.....why?
Smiles once you're through the gate
Frowns when its time to go
Running to beat the crowd
Walking when there are just too many people
People Rushing
People Waiting
Lots of Mommies
Lots of Daddies
Kids everywhere
Babies in strollers
Short Rides
Long Lines
A Mouse
A Dog
A Duck
A Bear
A Fox
A Rabbit
A Puppet
A Stormtooper?
Disneyland may be called the Happiest Place On Earth. But what I think of it is a place where anything and everything can exist. Even a Stormtrooper from Star Wars playing a practical joke on a poor innocent woman attempting to get a drink of water near Space Mountain. But this is Disneyland. And despite what happens while you are there, there is nothing that can beat the experience you can have their with loved ones. Nothing.
Screaming when your scared
Crying kids all around.....why?
Smiles once you're through the gate
Frowns when its time to go
Running to beat the crowd
Walking when there are just too many people
People Rushing
People Waiting
Lots of Mommies
Lots of Daddies
Kids everywhere
Babies in strollers
Short Rides
Long Lines
A Mouse
A Dog
A Duck
A Bear
A Fox
A Rabbit
A Puppet
A Stormtooper?
Disneyland may be called the Happiest Place On Earth. But what I think of it is a place where anything and everything can exist. Even a Stormtrooper from Star Wars playing a practical joke on a poor innocent woman attempting to get a drink of water near Space Mountain. But this is Disneyland. And despite what happens while you are there, there is nothing that can beat the experience you can have their with loved ones. Nothing.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Lucas Versus the Evil Emperor Zurg
"Papa, Papa! Do you want to stop Zurg?"
"Why yes Lucas! You and I need to stop the Evil Emperor Zurg before he destroys the universe!"
"Stop Zurg Papa. Stop Zurg!"
This is a normal routine about five minutes after I get home from work every day. My son, Lucas, is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear and stopping his evil nemisis, the evil Emperor Zurg. Now this normally is never the same. Some days we play with his action figures where we find different toys that transform into projectiles that Buzz throws at Zurg to knock him off of whatever surface that we decide to mount him on. Other days he wants me to fire up my xbox and play the Toy Story game that includes a mission where Buzz Lightyear fights against Zurg and his minions. But that's not all. Other times he wants to watch videos of Buzz stopping Zurg on my computer, usually at youtube.
"Papa, Lucas wants to watch Buzz stop Zurg on your computer," he says sometimes.
"OK, just a few times."
"Oh boy," he says with excitement as he jumps up and down and does a little dance filled with excitement."
"That one papa," he says as he points at a screenshot of the video and so I click on it and we watch.
I love this kid. One of the things we love to do together is go on excursions where we pretend to go out on a mission in outer space. Normally, its to save Buzz from something absolutely terrible. For example, on one lazy cold Saturday morning, I was in no mood for making breakfast. My daughter, Gracie, was still asleep and I wanted pancakes. Lucas was starting to get feisty and all of a sudden I came up with master plan.
"Hey Lucas, we need to get in the car and get pancakes before the Evil Emperor Zurg steals them from Burger King!"
"No Papa, please stop Zurg!" he exclaimed.
"Get your coat and lets hurry," I commanded.
He ran to his room laughing with glee. We were going to go out and stop Zurg from ruining breakfast. Off to the car we went. Lucas quickly ran to his door and struggled to get his door open. I grabbed it and got him in. Strapped his little two year old body into his car seat and hopped into the drivers seat.
"Fast Papa, Fast!"
"Ok Lucas, I'll go as fast as I can."
"Fast Papa! We need to stop Zurg!"
In a matter of minutes we made it to our destination and we awaited for the voice to blurt out of the speaker at the drive through. "Do you still have pancakes?" I asked.
"Yes we do sir," the polite woman's voice over the intercom answered.
"Great, I'll take two pancake breakfasts with sausage," I quickly answered back.
After I ordered, I looked back and said, "we saved breakfast."
Lucas swiftly held his hands up and yelled "Yaaaaaaaa Papa and Lucas stopped Zurg!"
While on the drive home I looked back into the rear view mirror and Lucas still had this look of excitement on his face. He then said to me, "We got Buzz cakes and Zurg meat Papa. Yummy!"
I love this kid and where he got his imagination from is a mystery to me. But what I do know is that until next time, he and I need to prepare for out next coming mission to save the universe from Zurg and his evil robots whom we had stopped that morning from ruining breakfast.
"Why yes Lucas! You and I need to stop the Evil Emperor Zurg before he destroys the universe!"
"Stop Zurg Papa. Stop Zurg!"
This is a normal routine about five minutes after I get home from work every day. My son, Lucas, is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear and stopping his evil nemisis, the evil Emperor Zurg. Now this normally is never the same. Some days we play with his action figures where we find different toys that transform into projectiles that Buzz throws at Zurg to knock him off of whatever surface that we decide to mount him on. Other days he wants me to fire up my xbox and play the Toy Story game that includes a mission where Buzz Lightyear fights against Zurg and his minions. But that's not all. Other times he wants to watch videos of Buzz stopping Zurg on my computer, usually at youtube.
"Papa, Lucas wants to watch Buzz stop Zurg on your computer," he says sometimes.
"OK, just a few times."
"Oh boy," he says with excitement as he jumps up and down and does a little dance filled with excitement."
"That one papa," he says as he points at a screenshot of the video and so I click on it and we watch.
I love this kid. One of the things we love to do together is go on excursions where we pretend to go out on a mission in outer space. Normally, its to save Buzz from something absolutely terrible. For example, on one lazy cold Saturday morning, I was in no mood for making breakfast. My daughter, Gracie, was still asleep and I wanted pancakes. Lucas was starting to get feisty and all of a sudden I came up with master plan.
"Hey Lucas, we need to get in the car and get pancakes before the Evil Emperor Zurg steals them from Burger King!"
"No Papa, please stop Zurg!" he exclaimed.
"Get your coat and lets hurry," I commanded.
He ran to his room laughing with glee. We were going to go out and stop Zurg from ruining breakfast. Off to the car we went. Lucas quickly ran to his door and struggled to get his door open. I grabbed it and got him in. Strapped his little two year old body into his car seat and hopped into the drivers seat.
"Fast Papa, Fast!"
"Ok Lucas, I'll go as fast as I can."
"Fast Papa! We need to stop Zurg!"
In a matter of minutes we made it to our destination and we awaited for the voice to blurt out of the speaker at the drive through. "Do you still have pancakes?" I asked.
"Yes we do sir," the polite woman's voice over the intercom answered.
"Great, I'll take two pancake breakfasts with sausage," I quickly answered back.
After I ordered, I looked back and said, "we saved breakfast."
Lucas swiftly held his hands up and yelled "Yaaaaaaaa Papa and Lucas stopped Zurg!"
While on the drive home I looked back into the rear view mirror and Lucas still had this look of excitement on his face. He then said to me, "We got Buzz cakes and Zurg meat Papa. Yummy!"
I love this kid and where he got his imagination from is a mystery to me. But what I do know is that until next time, he and I need to prepare for out next coming mission to save the universe from Zurg and his evil robots whom we had stopped that morning from ruining breakfast.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sick, Tired and glad that its Friday
Man, what a week. I began to feel ill last Friday so I thought about sleeping it off over the weekend. Monday I still did not feel right, so I decided to drink some airborne and fight it off and go to work. Come Tuesday night, I was out for the count. Nothing on this earth would have allowed me to stay awake. Even Lucas, my two year old son. You will hear more about him later in a post just about him.
I decided to take the day off of work. I hate missing work and since I took the Friday before off, I was really frustrated. Nevertheless, this is what I had to do so that I could get to where I am right now writing this for the rest of the world to see my plight. Well it couldn't have been worse timing. I had an assignment due in one of my classes, which will remain unnamed (its not 546) and I knew my absence would look suspect. There was just no way I was going to expose others to what virus was lurking around my body. However, I'm sure everything is going to be fine.
Today is Friday, I love Fridays, and there is much to rejoice. I am feeling better. I get to take the weekend easy and gain my composure. Spend quality time with my family and start off next week strong. Which reminds me of what I was thinking last week, which did not really go as planned. Better cross my fingers.
I decided to take the day off of work. I hate missing work and since I took the Friday before off, I was really frustrated. Nevertheless, this is what I had to do so that I could get to where I am right now writing this for the rest of the world to see my plight. Well it couldn't have been worse timing. I had an assignment due in one of my classes, which will remain unnamed (its not 546) and I knew my absence would look suspect. There was just no way I was going to expose others to what virus was lurking around my body. However, I'm sure everything is going to be fine.
Today is Friday, I love Fridays, and there is much to rejoice. I am feeling better. I get to take the weekend easy and gain my composure. Spend quality time with my family and start off next week strong. Which reminds me of what I was thinking last week, which did not really go as planned. Better cross my fingers.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Why Why Why Are We Doing This?
Before you decide to read further, I have had one of those days where I walked away from work simply asking myself, "Why?" And what I mean by this is why on earth are we doing what we did today at my campus. Now, some of you may be thinking to yourself, "What is he talking about?" So answer your curiosity, we simply conducted the re-takes for the end of course assessment for mathematics. In addition, when I use the term "we" I am essentially talking about "we the people" and not "we the staff of Mountain View." Yes I know that as a public school system, we need to follow the federal regulations that essentially force us to conduct standardized testing. But where I am on the edge with near insanity, is over my basic questions of why?
Indeed the Cowboy in Chief, W, signed this requirement into law while the late Ted Kennedy stood beside him (hoping that this was going to "fully fund" education) clapping his hands. Hey, how could this be bad if they worked together right? Well I digress and need to get back to the point of this rant, which is, I essentially participated in something that I do not believe is effective, worth the money, indicative of how teachers perform and essentially necessary at all.
When I got to work today, I went to my assigned location, the North Gymnasium. "Interesting location," I pondered while I walked down the barely lit up hallway with white painted walls with the words "Thunder Power" painted in bright royal blue paint with silver outlining covering the majority of the bricks found within it. Once I entered the gym, all I can say was "Oh my!" There I saw a sight that I remember seeing in old 80s movies where high school students on a mass scale took standardized tests. tables set in a 10 by 7 grid with two seats each set opposite of each other. One of my colleagues said to me, "Funny how this will only fit 140 kids where there are 170 taking the test."
I was in awe. I quickly responded, "Where the heck will the rest of them go?" I never thought I was going to see this in my somewhat short career. Every time we have conducted re-takes for the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) and the HSPE (High School Proficiency Examination) we had a number suitable locations on campus to have somewhere around 25 kids per room and only like 50 kids needing to retake it. But 170? We did that bad? I also asked "How are we going to do this? Its supposed to start at 7:45 and now its 7:35 and there are no kids here yet."
"I guess we will have to see," I was told. Soon enough, the administrator who was in charge showed up with all of the test booklets, acetates (the blue things that contain a ruler and compass in an object the same size of a piece of paper), pencils and following him were the rest of my compatriots with cases of calculators. "Hey Phil, start getting the pencils and acetates on the tables," I was told.
"No problem I responded." So off I went. I grabbed a grip full of acetates and started to mope around the gym placing two on every table. When I got to the first table I noticed these very thin pieces of paper taped to them. Once I got close, I noticed that it had each kids name on them. "Great idea," I though to myself sarcastically, "this is going to make this task even more eventful." And as I finished my first stack of acetates, I found the school admin that was responsible for this and asked, "Hey is there a seating chart/map for kids so they can find their seat?" Guess what I was told? If you said no you are correct. By this point I had one other person helping me lay out the materials. This took us about 30 minutes and by that time there was a huge line of kids, slowly getting signed in and checking out calculators and wondering about trying to find their seats. I began attempting to assist kids to find their seat. Now this should have been easy as pie right? No. It had to be difficult because there were kids who for some reason did not get an assigned seat. They were to go to the library.
By this time, I was stressed. How were we to conduct an assessment, one meant to be contained, free of interruptions and irregularities? This was a mess. This was a train wreck waiting to happen and for some sick reason, I obsessed over how this was going to end. And to my surprise it was not that bad but there were some observations during the test that still, as I write these words baffle me. We had kids pouring in as late as 10 AM to start the test. There were kids who after 30 minutes claiming they were done (ya right!). I even escorted kids to the bathroom, in the 12th grade who still could not pass this test. Even two of them admitted they passed their math classes as freshman and sophomores but not the test and that they had not been in a math class since 10th grade!
OK...I am getting a bit worked up and need to calm down. But is this what the law says we need to do? Is this the kids fault that they have not chosen to stay in math class to pass this test? What is going on? I know its not my administrator's fault about how we had to do this today. This was his only option. There was nowhere else to do this. But, how could under these conditions could a student get the optimal outcome and essentially finally meet the level considered appropriate for passing? How much money was spent by the state on this session? Was this worth it? These were just a few questions still running through my head.
Why why why why are we doing this? Who knows. But from what I am told, its because we have to.
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