Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Saturday's Footie Match
This past Saturday I played on a 3rd team. Playing on any third just isnt my thing but i figured i would play, see how they were, and hopefully move up the ladder to the first or 2nd squad next week. I mean i am obviously not God's gift to the sport but there is no way i am playing on any rec team's 3rd level squad. I might as well hang up the boots if it get to that point....
From the start of warm-ups i knew this was going to be a tough day. We did one touch passing in a line; the type of drills i did to warm up in 7th grade. To be honest, that wasnt the problem. The problem was that the ball was spewing EVERYWHERE. Maybe it was the ball....no. Maybe it was the pitch....no. Maybe it was the skill level....YES. Bad choice on one touch passing Capi...
Anyway the game starts with me at center back and within 5 minutes im already jawing with the huge stump of a forward on the other team. He is about 5'8'' 240 pounds and wearing Studs on possibly the hardest ground I have ever played on. For some credibility on this fact, thier other forward is wearing turf shoes! So, after the guy cleats me leaving me gushing blood with you HUGE flesh revealing gashes in my shin i ask the guy what the hell his purpose is wearing studs. I guess he didnt speak english cuz he just looked at me like a retard and didnt respond.
Five minutes later i am jawing with another player. As a ball rolls out of bounds i shield it to make sure he doesnt get to it. Out of frustration the jerk-off lays one into my already injured left ankle and i fall to th ground with a yell. When i get up i commence to $hit talking to the moron and threaten him with "ok number 6, just wait till you get the ball next". Yeah im a tough guy...
Five minutes after that, I leisurely play a ball to the left back because there is no pressure. As the ball is getting to the left back, one of thier players runs in and kicks and pushes me. So of course i talk $hit and push him back. In some weird accent he talks shit back. I cant understand him, but im sure he understood me when the ball went to the other side of the field and i tripped the A-hole to the ground. I ran away as if nothing happened. Their entire team is in uproar. Im laughing my a$$ off as all these fat bastards run and get into my face, some pushing me some just yelling. Lucky for me the ref liked me, cuz i didnt get a card or anything. They were the ones getting the warnings. HA.
But, unfortunately the joke was on me 10 mins later when, as i was tracking back to cut off a square pass to a wide open centre forward about 25 yards out, I drilled a toe poke clearance into the upper ninety of my own net. Brilliant finish, unfortunately it was an own goal. I coule only laugh at myself for scoring an own goal while at the same time playing along side a bunch of people who could hardly walk and chew gum at the same time. What a joke i was....
And yes this was all in the first 25-30 minutes of the game. The second half was less exciting. Without me causing any BS in the second half, we had to resort to just playing football. Ouch. Disaster. Talk about frustration. I dont think we strung more than 2 passes together. I think the last coed team i played on had better players on it. Including the women.
We ended up losing the game 2-0 but it was much worse than that. It was embarrasing. Good news is I got notice that I was called up to the 2nd team via email on Monday morning. Lets see how it goes next week....
From the start of warm-ups i knew this was going to be a tough day. We did one touch passing in a line; the type of drills i did to warm up in 7th grade. To be honest, that wasnt the problem. The problem was that the ball was spewing EVERYWHERE. Maybe it was the ball....no. Maybe it was the pitch....no. Maybe it was the skill level....YES. Bad choice on one touch passing Capi...
Anyway the game starts with me at center back and within 5 minutes im already jawing with the huge stump of a forward on the other team. He is about 5'8'' 240 pounds and wearing Studs on possibly the hardest ground I have ever played on. For some credibility on this fact, thier other forward is wearing turf shoes! So, after the guy cleats me leaving me gushing blood with you HUGE flesh revealing gashes in my shin i ask the guy what the hell his purpose is wearing studs. I guess he didnt speak english cuz he just looked at me like a retard and didnt respond.
Five minutes later i am jawing with another player. As a ball rolls out of bounds i shield it to make sure he doesnt get to it. Out of frustration the jerk-off lays one into my already injured left ankle and i fall to th ground with a yell. When i get up i commence to $hit talking to the moron and threaten him with "ok number 6, just wait till you get the ball next". Yeah im a tough guy...
Five minutes after that, I leisurely play a ball to the left back because there is no pressure. As the ball is getting to the left back, one of thier players runs in and kicks and pushes me. So of course i talk $hit and push him back. In some weird accent he talks shit back. I cant understand him, but im sure he understood me when the ball went to the other side of the field and i tripped the A-hole to the ground. I ran away as if nothing happened. Their entire team is in uproar. Im laughing my a$$ off as all these fat bastards run and get into my face, some pushing me some just yelling. Lucky for me the ref liked me, cuz i didnt get a card or anything. They were the ones getting the warnings. HA.
But, unfortunately the joke was on me 10 mins later when, as i was tracking back to cut off a square pass to a wide open centre forward about 25 yards out, I drilled a toe poke clearance into the upper ninety of my own net. Brilliant finish, unfortunately it was an own goal. I coule only laugh at myself for scoring an own goal while at the same time playing along side a bunch of people who could hardly walk and chew gum at the same time. What a joke i was....
And yes this was all in the first 25-30 minutes of the game. The second half was less exciting. Without me causing any BS in the second half, we had to resort to just playing football. Ouch. Disaster. Talk about frustration. I dont think we strung more than 2 passes together. I think the last coed team i played on had better players on it. Including the women.
We ended up losing the game 2-0 but it was much worse than that. It was embarrasing. Good news is I got notice that I was called up to the 2nd team via email on Monday morning. Lets see how it goes next week....
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tough day for American Footballers in England
For Carlos Bocanegra & of Fulham and Claudio Reyna & Demarcus Beasley of Manchester City, last night was one to forget.
In the Fulham match - a Carling Cup competition, Bocanegra was penalised for taking down an opposing player in the box resulting in a penalty. His side lost 1-0.
For Reyna, his struggles continue for Man City. His poor attempt at a clearance lead to a wicked volley of a game-winning goal, sending Man City home and out of the cup down 2-1. Demarcus Beasley was one of two subs not used.
Both of these losses were shocking as Man City and Fulham are both Premiership sides, while their competition hail from the lower leagues.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Haarlem and Amsterdam - Bikes, Bridges, Boobs
A quick weekend trip to Holland (my first time in continental Europe) forced me to wake up at un godly hours of the morning. Saturday morning woke up at 3:30 to catch a 7am flight. The journey to the airport (2 hrs) took longer than the actual flight (1 hr). Although, we did sit on the runway before take off for a long time before leaving. I fell asleep (surprise surprise) before take off and woke up thinking we had already landed in Holland. Yeah we hadnt even taken off yet lol. No problem. Just more sleep for me! Anyway, finally land in Eindhoven, get through customs and Im in Holland. For real! Head to a place called Haarlem. I small city with a very European feel. Cafe's surrounding an open square area with a pair of churches on either side. Have a little lunch in one of the Cafes - Insalata Caprese, which has become my new favorite meal without readily available buffalo tenders. From there I take a bus to a Bloemendaal Beach. Unfortunately, I was wearing jeans and not board shorts, but fortunately this beach was clothing optional. JACKPOT! Saw lots of...yeah. As i would find out more in my trip to Amsterdam, the Dutch are very open.
So the Trip to Amsterdam was great. Coffee shops and red light windows. Rolling and smoking joints in the bar. Sex shows and museums galore. Ladies, if your man isnt treating you right and you need a toy - this is the place to be. Fellas, if you have the money, you can have the woman of your dreams...at least for 15 mins! That said, lets get one thing straight - all the smoking and legalized prostitution - I had no part in it. Wanted to go to a show though, not gonna lie, but didnt think it would be worth 50 Euro to do so...
Amsterdam is a great city. From its Museum district where there is a small man-made pond where artists are painting masterpieces to be sold for Thousands of Euros as potential buyers watch to the busy shopping area (where most native Dutch spend their time in the City) to the Red Light District where a person's apartment or a restaurant can be right next door to a red light window where business is conducted. Oh yeah, forgot to mention two things: One - The city has so many rivers/canals running throughout that Amsterdam has about 1000 bridges (i think thats what the man said) and EVERYONE rides a bike. Its pretty amazing actually. Everywhere you turn there are loads of people on bikes - I even got hit by a lady on one....
So the Trip to Amsterdam was great. Coffee shops and red light windows. Rolling and smoking joints in the bar. Sex shows and museums galore. Ladies, if your man isnt treating you right and you need a toy - this is the place to be. Fellas, if you have the money, you can have the woman of your dreams...at least for 15 mins! That said, lets get one thing straight - all the smoking and legalized prostitution - I had no part in it. Wanted to go to a show though, not gonna lie, but didnt think it would be worth 50 Euro to do so...
Amsterdam is a great city. From its Museum district where there is a small man-made pond where artists are painting masterpieces to be sold for Thousands of Euros as potential buyers watch to the busy shopping area (where most native Dutch spend their time in the City) to the Red Light District where a person's apartment or a restaurant can be right next door to a red light window where business is conducted. Oh yeah, forgot to mention two things: One - The city has so many rivers/canals running throughout that Amsterdam has about 1000 bridges (i think thats what the man said) and EVERYONE rides a bike. Its pretty amazing actually. Everywhere you turn there are loads of people on bikes - I even got hit by a lady on one....
Memories of Home....
Some GA love from abroad...
Lroxe...
And our friend Jack Jones. For some reason its appropriate that he is represented in Amsterdam...
Lroxe...
And our friend Jack Jones. For some reason its appropriate that he is represented in Amsterdam...
Memories of home
Joe Shives introduced me to this beer. I ended up passed out in the streets of Greenwich....No, kidding...i did get F'd up though. Very strong beer my friends...
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Tube Song....
Due to my most recent commuting experiences the comedy provided by this song is incredible and very true
London Underground Song
London Underground Song
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A Change of Plans
On a Saturday where I was going to be spending the day looking at the Queen's dresses on display at Buckingham Palace, I ended up in Greenwich eating a traditional English Pie!!!
Meet up with Lou and Liv (LL), my tour guidesses (is that a word?)outside Green Park tube station around 11:00am. As I get out of the tube i have no idea who I am looking, as I have never met Lou - a friend of a friend of a friend, so i just look for a pair of women. Luckily she calls right as i get off the tube and are able to pick me out before i picked them out (and also before I embarrass myself by approaching any pair of women in the street!)
So we start our walk to the Palace through Green Park and start to get to know each other - Lou reveals that she is hungover after an unexpected drunken night. Already I know we will get along just fine...(even though earlier in the week she did insult me by telling me the sport I have played since i was 5 is "rubbish" and a sport played by "thugs")
So we get to Buckingham Palace and queue up(in American that means wait in line) to get into the Palace. After waiting about 5 mins we find out that the tix we are to buy are only for a 3pm entry. Given that its barely noon, we decide a change of plans is in order.
After short deliberation, we decide to walk through St. James' Park toward Westminster and take a boat ride to Greenwich (not the one in CT, but rather this one The Original Greenwich).
The boat ride is great, giving a great view of many of London's attractions from a unique point of view from the River Thames. The ride concludes with a stop at the Famous Greenwich pier where the Ship Cutty Sark)resides. This place called Greenwich is also where I experienced my first truly English meal. After Liv nearly fainted seeing the Pie house, i figured i owed it to her to try it. After all, I have a few food items that i am just as passionate it about and also try to push onto other - buffalo tenders for instance. At that point I knew Liv and I would get along great. And although, I did pass on the even more English authentic eels offered, I did take advantage of the Chicken and Mushroom pie with Mash. And yes, it tastes as good as it sounds, DELICIOUS, surprisingly enough my friends...
After eating, we then head up to the Observatory from where all time is measured. Yes Greenwich Mean time. Up on the hill there provides a spectacular view of the City and river. We chill there for a while before heading back to the City.
My night consisted of cooking dinner and crashing by 10 pm, while LL both had party nights...Am i getting old?!
Pics from the day below....
Meet up with Lou and Liv (LL), my tour guidesses (is that a word?)outside Green Park tube station around 11:00am. As I get out of the tube i have no idea who I am looking, as I have never met Lou - a friend of a friend of a friend, so i just look for a pair of women. Luckily she calls right as i get off the tube and are able to pick me out before i picked them out (and also before I embarrass myself by approaching any pair of women in the street!)
So we start our walk to the Palace through Green Park and start to get to know each other - Lou reveals that she is hungover after an unexpected drunken night. Already I know we will get along just fine...(even though earlier in the week she did insult me by telling me the sport I have played since i was 5 is "rubbish" and a sport played by "thugs")
So we get to Buckingham Palace and queue up(in American that means wait in line) to get into the Palace. After waiting about 5 mins we find out that the tix we are to buy are only for a 3pm entry. Given that its barely noon, we decide a change of plans is in order.
After short deliberation, we decide to walk through St. James' Park toward Westminster and take a boat ride to Greenwich (not the one in CT, but rather this one The Original Greenwich).
The boat ride is great, giving a great view of many of London's attractions from a unique point of view from the River Thames. The ride concludes with a stop at the Famous Greenwich pier where the Ship Cutty Sark)resides. This place called Greenwich is also where I experienced my first truly English meal. After Liv nearly fainted seeing the Pie house, i figured i owed it to her to try it. After all, I have a few food items that i am just as passionate it about and also try to push onto other - buffalo tenders for instance. At that point I knew Liv and I would get along great. And although, I did pass on the even more English authentic eels offered, I did take advantage of the Chicken and Mushroom pie with Mash. And yes, it tastes as good as it sounds, DELICIOUS, surprisingly enough my friends...
After eating, we then head up to the Observatory from where all time is measured. Yes Greenwich Mean time. Up on the hill there provides a spectacular view of the City and river. We chill there for a while before heading back to the City.
My night consisted of cooking dinner and crashing by 10 pm, while LL both had party nights...Am i getting old?!
Pics from the day below....
Friday, September 08, 2006
Walks of London - South Bank (#32)
Episode 1 -
The walk down the south bank of the river is very calming and relaxing. From various points on the walk, you are gifted with great views of the river and its numerous bridges, each bridge with its own history and fascinating architecture (Calah you should appreciate it). The walk ends with the famous St. Paul's Cathedral. The old church is massive and is always flooded with people. This is also right around my office where I work everyday.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
What a strange night....
5:00 pm - Leave work. Headed to Maida Vale to play some footie (soccer)
5:45 pm - Get to Maida Vale field. Team is no where to be found (game starts at 6)
6:00 pm - Team shows
6:07 pm - I brought my own boots but was unable to use them on the new turf field just installed. So have to resort to borrowing some shoes from a teammate. These are NOT soccer boots. The soles are like 2 inches thick and i know im in for some trouble. Add that to the fact they play me at right midfield...
6:08 pm - Kick-off
6:09 pm - First touch in 3 weeks. A nice one. Take the ball from a thrown and bring it down smoothly with the thigh and play it back. Good start
6:11 pm - Second touch. Ball swung wide to me on a break and i am tackled from behind (probably a clean play). I yell and get the call. Teammates love it already
6:13 pm - Running down a ball on the sideline. Their player gets to the ball first and saves it. As i turn around i twist my ankle. The same ankle i did in 2 months ago. It hurts like hell. I cant even move. I feel like im going to throw-up and cry all at the same time. I wanna break something. I played 5 mins
7:00 pm - After watching the rest of the half and thanking the team for the stellar 5 minute run, i hobble my way back to the tube for a miserable commute back home on one leg
8:00 pm - Get home. Cook dinner. Planned on baking some chicken and cooking up some pasta. Pasta worked out, chicken didnt. I have no idea how to work the oven, known over here as the cooker. The name is so simple isnt? Its functions are not.
9:00 pm - Get in bed to finish Tuesdays With Morrie (while icing the fat ankle i have)
9:40 pm - A couple welcomed phone call interruptions from the states stunt the reading excercise a bit
11:00 pm - back to reading and im determined to finish the book. Only about 40 pps left
11:05 pm - Hear some yelping from outside my window. I look to find out what it is. Look out my window and look all around. Cant see or hear anything. Back to reading.
11:20 pm - Hear the same sound again. Go back to the window and look again. More observant this time i look down and see in the window to the right and below me, a computer screen...rocking porn. Can hardly make it out, but it si definitely porn. But no people. And I know what i heard was a person so i move to the living room and look out the window. Ill let you guess what i saw in their living room....
11:30 pm - Shut all doors and windows. Finish Tuesdays With Morrie and go to bed. Its a great book and will make you look at your personal relationships in a new light....
5:45 pm - Get to Maida Vale field. Team is no where to be found (game starts at 6)
6:00 pm - Team shows
6:07 pm - I brought my own boots but was unable to use them on the new turf field just installed. So have to resort to borrowing some shoes from a teammate. These are NOT soccer boots. The soles are like 2 inches thick and i know im in for some trouble. Add that to the fact they play me at right midfield...
6:08 pm - Kick-off
6:09 pm - First touch in 3 weeks. A nice one. Take the ball from a thrown and bring it down smoothly with the thigh and play it back. Good start
6:11 pm - Second touch. Ball swung wide to me on a break and i am tackled from behind (probably a clean play). I yell and get the call. Teammates love it already
6:13 pm - Running down a ball on the sideline. Their player gets to the ball first and saves it. As i turn around i twist my ankle. The same ankle i did in 2 months ago. It hurts like hell. I cant even move. I feel like im going to throw-up and cry all at the same time. I wanna break something. I played 5 mins
7:00 pm - After watching the rest of the half and thanking the team for the stellar 5 minute run, i hobble my way back to the tube for a miserable commute back home on one leg
8:00 pm - Get home. Cook dinner. Planned on baking some chicken and cooking up some pasta. Pasta worked out, chicken didnt. I have no idea how to work the oven, known over here as the cooker. The name is so simple isnt? Its functions are not.
9:00 pm - Get in bed to finish Tuesdays With Morrie (while icing the fat ankle i have)
9:40 pm - A couple welcomed phone call interruptions from the states stunt the reading excercise a bit
11:00 pm - back to reading and im determined to finish the book. Only about 40 pps left
11:05 pm - Hear some yelping from outside my window. I look to find out what it is. Look out my window and look all around. Cant see or hear anything. Back to reading.
11:20 pm - Hear the same sound again. Go back to the window and look again. More observant this time i look down and see in the window to the right and below me, a computer screen...rocking porn. Can hardly make it out, but it si definitely porn. But no people. And I know what i heard was a person so i move to the living room and look out the window. Ill let you guess what i saw in their living room....
11:30 pm - Shut all doors and windows. Finish Tuesdays With Morrie and go to bed. Its a great book and will make you look at your personal relationships in a new light....
Monday, September 04, 2006
Memories of Home......
Number 2 in the series is dedicated to our little friend Connie...You will often here her saying things like Tasty treats, Smokey treats, Snacky treats. This isnt the same but it has the desired effect right?
Memories of Home....
I have decided to start a recurring 'segment', if you will, to my blog. Any time i see something that reminds me of home I plan to take a pic and post it. The first on the list is for our friend Christina Hale...aka C Hale, aka Chale. Enjoy
Friday, September 01, 2006
ALERT TO ALL WOMEN
Sex Kills -
Just saw an artice in The Sun (a very reputable publication) that making love causes cancers to spread. Ladies don't any man convince you to get busy, its detrimental to your health
Just looking out,
Ryan
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld
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