Volleyball, Down South

OK, so a few months ago (was it really that long ago?) I come home from a business trip. Jane is away in Florida for a stamp show and she has left for me a sign up sheet for Adult Co-ed Volleyball at the YMCA. The form is mostly filled in and, well, I can take a hint.

Now, it's not like I hadn't considered this before. I've played volleyball before. I played in high school, I played for the provincial team, I played in university (three different teams), I played club, heck I have more provincial titles than most people. I was even the Newfoundland Male Volleyball Player of the Year (a huge deal when you're not from there!) But men's volleyball here is not what you would call strong. The best male players here would be mediocre up north. Men's volleyball is much stronger in New England and Canada. Anyway, you can see where I'm going with this.

I have always been competitive. You could even say I hate to lose. I was afraid this wasn't going to be a good idea, but I needed something to try to shed the pounds I had gained since moving to SC.

I signed up, but not before deciding that if I was going to do this I was going whole hog. I also signed up for another league at the Pavilion, where Isabelle does her skating lessons. I'll explain later in another post, and no we don't play on the ice! We do play on a hockey rink but it's a roller blade rink.

So a week before the YMCA league starts I get a call from the Y. They want me to coach/captain a team. I agree, since in the box that said would you coach or captain a team I had put "Maybe". There were three teams registered and seven more people registered as individuals. The individuals all got lumped together and were made a team. I now have six more friends than I had before. I think this was part of Jane's plan.

So here I am captain/coach of this team at my first game. First order of business is meet everyone. Then we go over the rules since they keep changing them. Then it's: who has played before? Jim hasn't played in ten or so years. One of the girls has never played. Three others are a little rusty and have little competition experience. One is pretty good but needs some practice. The team is looking a little rough. Well, here goes.

First game isn't too bad but we get pretty well thumped. No problem, I had fun and am making friends. At the end of the night we pick a color: green. I happened to be wearing green that night. Then we pick a name. I said: Waves, since I used to coach a team called the Waves in NS. I also decide to take it up a notch on the skills.

The next Tuesday is open night at the Y. We get some of the team together and practice a little. The girls improve as we work on the basics. We play a little scrimmage afterwards and things are looking up.

The next week we play another team. I think they expected an easy game but we hold our own. It goes to three and we win, despite me putting my serve in the net on the opening serve. Way to go Waves!

It all looked good until one of the players on the other team gives me an ear full on sportsmanship and playing for fun. I didn't think I had said anything wrong so I let it go, but we were keeping score weren't we? There is a referee there keeping things in line, right? No one else seems to have an issue with me, so I try to forget it. We'll see what next week brings. The issue may have been the coaching I was doing from the court, but I have a team that can use some support, encouragement, and a little direction. I believe one of the things about the Y is also to improve your skills and be active, as well as good sportsmanship and values, off course. Oh well, what can you do. I'll try to behave.

Now on to the next team. As I walked into the Pavilion for their open night where you sign up and get assigned a team I saw one team that caught my attention. They had a good setter and two girls that could hit better than most guys. After scoping things out I asked them if they needed another player. They agreed, knowing I would miss out on a few weeks because of work and travel.

Initially I was afraid I'd step on someone's toes (remember this, it gets punny later) but they seem to accept me. I suppose it didn't hurt that they probably would rather play with me than against me. In the end things have worked out, until this last week.

Thursday we were playing a stronger team. Things were heating up after a win by us in the first game. The second game was going well but about halfway through I jumped up only to land on a teammate's foot. My ankle rolled and it felt serious.

A visit to the local clinic before it closed on the night it happened and I'm in and out in about 50 minutes, and that is with X-rays! Ice, elevation, compression, and rest...maybe some physiotherapy...lots of Advil...and here I am a few days later. Lots of bruising but no major tears or breaks. I should be back at it this week with my trusty Active Ankle Braces. They are well worth the $90 I paid for them ten years ago, or was it longer than that? Either way I will certainly keep wearing them.

Now for team three. Did I mention another fellow saw me play and wants me to play with him? The teams just keep getting better and better. Jane will likely regret getting me back into this...

A Little Blast from Isabelle's Past

Jane and I (mostly Jane) have recently had computer issues. At one point, between the home desktop, Jane's laptop, and my work laptop, only mine worked. After a little panic, some help from a great neighbor, including a house call, we got the hard drives sorted out and everything back together.

Since then we have been looking at external and portable memory to preserve the many pictures, videos, and other files that we have accumulated over the years. Tonight Jane was cleaning up some stuff on the old desktop computer and came across the video below. I had forgotten all about it. Jane went from laughing to almost crying when she realized how much "our little baby is all growed up!" (I think those were her exact words.)

I remember making the video with Isabelle. I think it was in May 2008 when we were still on Belcher Street in Kentville, not long before we moved to the US. I was just starting to get the hang of the web cams we got for us and the grandparents so we could keep in touch with Skype. The one on this computer had a funky little feature that let you put funny faces on the picture. Isabelle had a great time.

Now we need to get that back-up sorted out so we don't loose any of these great moments. Any of you techy types out there have any ideas or suggestions?

Another Year, Another Project

In spite the unseasonal cold temperatures here we still don't have any snow. It certainly is cold enough but we never get cold and precipitation together.

Anyway, due to this we are still tooting around on the "two wheeler" as Isabelle likes to call it. That also means the bike is now all over the garage floor (without training wheel to keep it up) and seems to be taking up more space. Add to that the fact that the wall rack where Jane's bike was is now occupied by one of my kayaks and we have a storage issue.

That brings me to this week's project. It still amazes me what you can get on the Internet these days. Everybody, including me I suppose, has a website, a Blog, or some info on how to do all sorts of things. The bike rack I put together was easy to build and very inexpensive. It can be found here from the eHow website. The finished result looked like this. It's not exactly the right thing for your $2500 racing bicycle but it will do just fine for our family's old bikes.

So, now that the holidays are over things get back to normal. Isabelle starts back a school tomorrow, I go back to work, and the extracurricular activities start up again. Isabelle has skating beginning on Monday at the Pavilion. It seems to be the only place in the state with ice most of the year. Gymnastics will also kick off again for Isabelle. I have volleyball starting off this week too and I think Jane is looking forward to getting back to the YMCA for circuit training and yoga.

Either way it should be a good start to 2010. Here we are in our eighteenth month in South Carolina and still having a pretty good time. Eighteen months could be the mid-point of our stay or it could just be the beginning; it all depends on what assignment comes up next. It's certainly not the same celebrating the holidays without family and friends close by but we are taking advantage of the time we have here to see it and do as much as we can. We have some major travel planned for this year (both professional and personal) and should get to catch up with most people at some point over the summer.

So, Happy New Year to all and all the best to you, your family, and your friends in 2010.

The Year in Review (for Isabelle)

The year has been a big one for Isabelle. She started a new school, quite successfully I might add, and continues to grow and learn here in South Carolina.

Jane and I were reviewing a little and think that her two biggest accomplishments in the last little while have been learning to tie her shoes and learning to ride a two-wheeler.

The shoes started when the school started their swimming lessons at the Eastside YMCA. There was a note sent home that in the interest of speeding up the transition from the pool to the school the parents either needed to teach their kids to tie their shoes or send them in with Velcro or other "easy to lace up" shoes. We opted for the first and within a week or so she was doing pretty well. Now we need to work on how tight they are done up so that they stay tied.

Here is a neat video by Justin Roberts some of you kids (and parents) out there might like:

As for the two wheeler I'm sorry I didn't try earlier. On the other hand she may not have been ready earlier. The project started when I pulled out my scooter. (It's just a push scooter that I actually used to shoot down the hill in Kentville when I took the bus to work.) Anyway, all the kids have them here so I let Isabelle try it. I thought it would help her develop a better sense of balance.

Anyway, a few weeks ago we talked it over with her and pulled off the training wheels. We had a twenty minute session one day that went OK but didn't show any real progress. The second session last weekend was better but she was still pretty shaky and only getting maybe eight or ten feet before stopping. Then yesterday I went out with her and she just took off. She started doing big loops around the cul-de-sac. I was shocked and impressed! It was like she'd been scamming us. Anyway, here is the video, from yesterday, after only three lessons!

London

About a month and a half ago I took another trip to Ireland. The hours were long and as you may know, it's terribly dark there this time of year. Sunrise was about 7:30 and sunset just after 4:30. Consider the fact that there is hardly ever a clear day and I can see why the Irish spend so much time in pubs by the peat fire. Having said that the Irish are very warm and friendly people. I really enjoy my visits there even if I don't get to see as much countryside and and as many cultural aspects as I would like.

This time over I took advantage of being in Ireland to shoot across the North Channel to England. I took a no-frills airline across and learned a thing or two about low cost airlines. Despite having seats that don't recline, no first class, no food or beverage service, a very strict baggage policy, and general seating where you just pick your seat in the mass of people getting in, I had a good flight. The plane was very clean and the flight attendants very helpful. I suppose at $25 to $50 to go from Belfast to London it's hard to complain.

London itself was a little intimidating at first. Getting in I took the National Rail to Victoria Station. My friend Rob (we were at school together in Newfoundland at MUN) met up with me there after a few harried phone calls. It felt a little like the Amazing Race TV show. "I'm headed for this location, Rob, can you meet me there?" and then I figured out the train was actually going somewhere else so I called him back "Make that this place instead...is that a problem?" and so on. Add to the fact my phone was dying since I hadn't had a chance to charge it and you have two Canadians who were pretty happy to see each other when we finally caught up.

The first day Rob and I sneaked away and left Michelle with the the kids (they had birthday parties to attend). We did a huge walking tour of the city, getting out to the London Eye, Tower Bridge, The Monument, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and even some of Hyde Park. Below is a picture from the Monument. It was raining very hard and it felt pretty cold, even by Canadian standards.

Saturday is also the major market day in London so we walked through a few markets on our way around town. This is Covent Market. It was very impressive.

Another picture from Covent Garden.

Off course we walked by the Canadian Embassy below, but didn't have time to stop and chat.

Here is Buckingham Palace. As you see the weather was not ideal.

The London Eye as seen from the other side of the River Thames.

This is Big Ben, the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster, which is the House of Parliament.

And a view from the back.

This is Westminster as it sits along the river.

Other activities included a trip to the science museum with Aiden and Kathleen. We saw all sorts of things from the very new to the not so new. Here is a Royal Post coach, for Jane and all her stamp collecting friends.

With Aiden around we wanted to spend some time in Hyde park. This is one entrance near Albert Hall. The monument is the Albert Memorial.

Here is Albert Hall with Rob, Aiden, Kathleen, and Michelle in the foreground.

Now, while I was away it was Jane's birthday. For that I had made her a Penfold Post Box replica. Here is Isabelle next to it.

Now, while in London one of my goals was to find a copy of the box I had replicated. Here it is, finally, after searching for three days, we finally found one near the back side of Hyde park near the Nepalese embassy. These post boxes it turns out are much rarer than I thought. There were only a handful in the city and it made for an interesting "treasure" hunt. In the end it took me a few weeks of nights and Saturdays to make but I think Jane appreciates it. Now I want to make one for Elizabeth.

Here is the real thing.

Still on the postal theme:

This picture is Postman Pat. Some of you may know him. I put him in for Elizabeth and Jane.

My last full day in London I ventured out on my own. I took the national Rail into town and then onto the subway, or Tube, to start my day. I had a list of things to see and do and had planned my day carefully. Off course the first thing I did was take a wrong turn. In the end it was a good thing since I wandered into the French Quarter. One of the first things I saw was a great little bookstore.

Once past that I managed to find my way to Hyde Park again and tracked down Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. There is a statue like this in Bowring Park in St. John's. It's sort of a tradition to be photographed with it in both locations in Jane's family but being by myself on a blustery fall day this is the best I could do with my phone's camera. (It turns out there are seven of these statues all over the world.)

My walk took me by lots of scenery and history. Here is the another entrance to Hyde Park. It's called Marble Arch.

Now back to Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column, the monument to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson who died due to injuries at the Battle of Trafalgar with the French and Spanish.

Of course no visit to London is complete without a trip to Tower Bridge. The one side was undergoing repairs and renovations and I didn't have time to go for a tour. It was just like in the movies though.

The end of my day brought me to Greenwich. It is a relatively quiet town near where Rob and Michelle live. Rob actually works in Greenwich so I was on my way to meet him there.

Greenwich is also where the Royal Observatory is and where the Prime Meridian is measured from. The museums were free and I was waiting on Rob so I walked around a little.

This is a shot of the top of the observatory at dusk. The large ball is called the Time Ball. It was used to tell time by the ships at anchor in the river. The ball would be raised and dropped at a specified time so the ships could set their clocks.

This is the view of the Maritime Museum and the Queen's House in Greenwich. It is below the hill where the observatory sits. The University of Greenwich sits behind it. That's where Rob works and studies.

Here is the line that was used to define the rest of the world.

The observatory set the standard for lots of things in its day, including the time and other measures. Below is a 24 hour clock and some length standards.

And that about sums it up. The last night we had a huge feed of Indian food and stayed up too late again. I was up in the wee hours to catch the National Rail and then the Tube to Heathrow. Through security, a little breakfast and I was home 18 hours later. Travelling the world is great but it's always nice to be home.

Now for Christmas...