Soccer-Fied!

I played soccer when I was 12 or so and back then, girl's soccer wasn't like it is now.  There was no girl's soccer team so I had to play on a team of boys which let's face it, had its pros and cons.  It never hurts when there is a cute boy who you have a crush on playing on your team.  But I digress...

At 12, being with friends starts to become more of a focus in life and because boys are much more aggressive than girls, I switched over to softball so I could play with my friends.  When I think back on this now, it was probably the right decision at the time given my options of continuing to play soccer but in some ways, I wish things could have been different.

With the passage of time, soccer has changed and so have I.  I now have 2 children, ages 11 and 7 who are both playing soccer.  My girl has been playing since she was 5 and oh how times have changed.  There's girl's soccer now and it is one of the most participated sports in our country.  My boy wants to be a keeper.  We are busy 4 times a week or more during the spring and in the winter where they both play..wait for it, indoor soccer!  I know, crazy isn't it?  If we're not on the field watching a game, or at a practice we're watching soccer at home.  Most recently it was the FIFA Women's World Cup.  My husband managed to PVR every single game and I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he missed only one of those games.  It was an awesome tournament with some amazing soccer - I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to see some World Cup when Canada hosts this awesome tournament in 2015.  The final game between Japan and the USA was truly inspiring!  Both teams are an inspiration to their countries and to youth soccer players everywhere and my hat goes off to all of you.

Last year it was the FIFA Men's World Cup which also played host to some amazing soccer. May I present to you Exhibit A:

 Diego (sigh) Forlan

Or, Exhibit B:

Fabio (my personal favorite) Cannavaro

If the fact that he's not wearing any clothes bother's you, well he dresses up real nice too!

Both play some pretty good soccer too, I might add!

Okay, where was I?  Oh right, soccer.  So if it wasn't enough that both kids were playing soccer and my husband was coaching our son's team, I signed up to play this season too.  I felt I should be a good example to both of my kids as well as getting out there and getting some more exercise, in a game which I seem to have become obsessed with - Exhibits A&B notwithstanding - how about Exhibit C:

David (can't leave him out) Beckham

So I signed up to play for a team in the Master's Division, in what I like to refer to as beer league soccer.  This division is for women who are over 35.  I may watch the game and read about the game but I am far from an expert at playing the game, seeing as how I haven't played in over 20 years.  I feel I have a lot to learn but really I, and I think most of my teammates are just out there to have fun for the most part and get some exercise, but some of these teams, WOW, they are something else!  I'm all about competition but some of them are taking it to a whole other level, on a whole other planet which I have obviously never visited.  Is the screaming coach on your bench really necessary?   Stop pawing at me already, you're not my husband, and I don't even put up with it from him let alone some sweaty, mascara smeared stranger whom I've never met before.  Are you really over 35?

While I appreciate competition as much as the next person, how much fun is it really to be hosing teams 10-0 game after game?  I don't know all the rules regarding how they define these divisions, but maybe they want to think about dividing the Masters into the "We want to kick your ass so bad while our coach screams at us" division and the "we're only here to play soccer so we can go to Tapp's afterwards".  In the end though, I'm sure glad I signed up.  I'm having some fun and meeting some great ladies because if I wasn't, I might as well stay home and enjoy this instead which really isn't so bad!

Cristiano (Oh My!) Ronaldo

13 Years Ago...

..I was headed to this location to celebrate my honeymoon with my new husband.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder it is said and can only be defined by your experience and while there are surely more beautiful places in the world, I have not experienced them.  This little island near Redditt, Ontario still is my favorite place in the world and while I miss it immensely, I can only be thankful for the time I had.

Here Come Your Winnipeg Jets!

I was 5 years old the first time my Dad took me to a Winnipeg Jets hockey game.  I can still remember walking into the "old barn" and being enthralled with that place and all the sights and sounds.  From that moment on, I was hooked and was in love with a team.

I spent a lot of time in that building over many years.  I was there the night Temmu Selanne broke Mike Bossy's rookie record:

I was there for the last game the Jets played.  I spent many, many nights in my room listening to Curt Keilback call my team's games, even when they lost 15-2.  I went to Fingers before and after the games and even watched the post game show in the lounge in the Old Barn many a time.  I was there.  Through thick and thin for that team I was there so when they left for Phoenix, I was devastated.  It was like a piece of me was ripped away, never to return and yes, I know, this is only hockey but for me, it was a part of my life just like it is for many people.

And now, 15 years later, they are back!  Oh rah, rah, let's hear it for the Jets right??  Except, I don't know how to feel about it.  And it's not like its the same team returning to the scene of the crime either.  It's a whole different team with a different history and they are still going to call the team the Winnipeg Jets, with, I might add, a whole new logo:

Now, you didn't win me over by keeping the old Jets name and while I don't think it was the right choice, part of me gets it.  But to my way of thinking, new team=new name.  So you stick with the Jets name and design a new logo.  Okay, makes sense but it just doesn't grab me, the new logo (and no offence meant to our esteemed military out there either).  And this is coming from a hockey fan.  A hockey fan who is shelling out some well earned $$$ to support this team by way of season tickets.

With all that being said and like it or love it, I'm still going to support this team but with reservations because there's something way back in the small recesses of my mind that says my heart just might get ripped out and stomped on again...

I'm Working On...

This blog post idea yoinked from the very talented Ali Edwards!  I love it so thought I'd do something similar!

I'm Working on...trying not to get stressed about the upcoming soccer season and the gong show that may ensue.

I'm Working on...my Project Life album which although I am slightly behind on it due to circumstances beyond my control, I am loving it!  Going to a friend's house tomorrow to scrap and this is what I will be working on!

I'm Working on...trying to be a more patient mother.  It's not always a successful endeavor!

I'm Working on...the blogs that I follow in Google Reader.  I got quite behind (600+ posts) due again to circumstances beyond my control.  Catching up slowly.  There are some real gems in there!

I'm Working on...watching every single episode of Modern Family that has been made!  Hubby and I discovered this show late last fall and we are loving it.  Since Frasier, we needed a good comedy to brighten up our lives and this is it!

I'm Working on...planning my daughter's 11th birthday party and this after I thought we were done with birthday parties.  Apparently not.  She will come to know that This. Will. Be. It. well at least until she's 16 anyways.

I'm Working on...the last hour of my workday until the weekend!  Hurry clock, hurry!  Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

You're Only As Sick As You're Secrets

Yesterday, Theo Fleury was here in Winnipeg to do a talk at the University of Manitoba.  I hemmed and hawed about going for awhile and finally decided to go, knowing that if I didn't, I would be disappointed in myself.

For any hockey fans out there, Theo needs no introduction but for those of you that don't know, he is a former NHL player, Stanley Cup winner, Olympic Gold Medal winner and recent author of his own book Playing With Fire.  His book talks about his life and how he had to overcome major adversity to get to be the person that he is today.

My decision to go hear him speak was the right one and I was not disappointed.  While I can't imagine all that he's gone through in his life, his courage, work ethic and desire inspires me to be a better person and while I can't take away the abuse he suffered as a teenager, my heart goes out to that young boy who is long gone and aches for all those that suffer and continue to do so.

After he finished speaking, I was able to shake his hand and share a few words with him and his talk stayed with me all day.  1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be abused - that's 2 out of every 9 kids which in fact is a terrrible statistic and a statistic that shouldn't even exist yet it does!  It does and it shouldn't and that thought just makes me sick and angry.

Theo's main message yesterday was "Work hard and give back".  Theo's trying to do that, why can't we all in some small way?