What the heck is up

I don't really blog that much during the summer.  Not really sure why, but I don't.  But I figured it's about time since it is already August and you are probably just wondering what the heck is up.

Heh, hang in there, it's a long one.

Well, first of all, who is hyped up about the Olympics!?  So exciting!!  even though, I will admit that i haven't been watching every night prime time, but i keep up live through twitter, especially during the day as I am *working*. 

Legendary Phelps.

Go USA! and kinda Korea.

[would love this hoody, btw]

...and espesh USWNT.  PS. if you haven't fallen in love with the personalities of the US Women's soccer team (i.e. Rapinoe, Wambach, Cheney, Tobes, Morgan etc.) what is wrong with you?!!

looking forward to the gold medal match this afternoon.  rematch to last summer's WWC final v. Japan.  woot / woot

Ok, enough with that.  today, i leave for NOLA.  Wedding time, again.  and just so there are no surprises, i'm wearing the same dress that i wore for the last wedding i went to.  i think it cost me 9.99 at Target, and honestly, it may be a bathing suit cover-up - not entirely sure about that one.  buuuut - yeah.  oh well.  i didn't have time (nor make the time) to dress/shoe shop.  sorry to disappoint you.

Last night, i played soccer with my brother.  It's been such a long time since we've played together, and between me and you - he is very rusty and out of shape.  but what can i say, so were the 8 other people.  frustrating, but sometimes, you just gotta take over the game.  we lost - boo.

Soccer season starts next month - yikes and yay both at the same time.  that just means, I'll be busier, with more responsibility.  calendar will be jammed packed with coaching, playing, AND watching.  oh yeah, and football season is also around the corner.  In fact, the Ravens open their season tonight...well, pre-season, that is.  Maybe we can catch the last of the game when we check-in tonight.

Money Song:  Day That I Die - Zac Brown Band (feat. Amos Lee)

Money outfit:  Red, white, and blue - with flats

Enjoy your day!

Need.Miss.Want.

sun | sand | surf

the boys of FNL

casual life | casual clothes

Stoked for the first outdoor soccer game of 2012 tonight.  Going to be epic.  Tomorrow is big time...BIG TIME!  so over ittttttt.

DUDE

ok, so honestly, i don't even know what lent is.  i was in wegmans and i saw someone with the ash thingy on their head.  yeah, dunno.  wait, ash wednesday right?  DUDE.

last night, i played a little indoor...late.late.  it's just really annoying because by the time i get home, it is midnight, and then after showering, i need a little time to simmer.  too late to have to wake up at 6am.  but i guess it's worth it.  hi - i'm watching american idol.  so much talent!  go country music.  DUDE.  oh no, the asian made it in.

love this, well, not the annoying song, but motivation factor is like whoah.  DUDE.

ALL CAPS

I DECIDED TO POST TODAY IN ALL CAPS, LIKE MY UNCLE EDDIE GASIOROWSKI DOES ON FACEBOOK.  I'M WATCHING SMASH.  HAVE YOU HEARD OF IT?  

I THINK IT'S BORDERLINE BORING, BUT FOR SOME REASON, AT THE SAME TIME VERY INTRIGUING.  ONE, BECAUSE IT'S TAPED IN NYC.  TWO, BECAUSE KATHRINE MCPHEE AND DEBRA MESSING ARE IN IT; AND THREE, BECAUSE DEBRA MESSING IS TRYING TO ADOPT A KID FROM CHINA.  PLUS, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE ON.  TONIGHT, MY SOCCER TEAM LOST BY ONE GOAL IN THE LAST 2 MINUTES.  POOR.  THE WORST IS THE FACT THAT I ACTUALLY PLAYED DECENT, BUT MISSED A FEW GOALS THAT I SHOULD HAVE SCORED.  FRUSTRATING.  REMEMBER WHEN SCORING GOALS WAS LIKE CLOCKWORK?  UGH.

I'M LOOKING TO SIGN UP FOR A FEW RACES THIS SPRING/SUMMER.  I'M THINKING BMORE 10 MILER AND PHILLY 10 MILER (BROAD ST. RUN).  10 MILES IS A GOOD DISTANCE, RIGHT?  SIGN-UPS OPEN ON WEDNESDAY.  I HOPE I GET IN.  OH AAAAND A TRI.  REMINDER:  CUT YOUR TOENAILS.

Before and After

Did a little rearranging last night:

Before:

After:

it's a change that has been a long time coming.  and i took down the Christmas decorations.  change is good.  i like it.

Now off to play some late night soccer.  i'm tired!  arg.

Back to the National Championship

I was up early.  bc i went to bed early. bc i was beat from riding all day yest (Taos, NM). and bc the time is 2 hrs behind here in the west.  Unfortunately, i was unable to watch MWS' nail biter win (1-0)  yesterday afternoon.  but fortunately, i was receiving updates via text from a teammate.  (I heard they dominated).  I shouldn't have been so nervous, but i was, based on the 0-0 tie earlier in the season.  the win put MWS back in the NCAA final.  ..and back in the final with Wheaton College, IL.  woo.  this is so great.  playing this team in the final is ideal, bc you know you will be playing a quality, clean team.  MWS got to play wheaton one time when i was playing on the team ('02, i think). and it was a great experience, not only because they were a great soccer team and had quality athletes, but the fact that after the game (which btw, we won), we circled and prayed together, as teams, individuals, but also sisters in Christ.  Although, we were opponents; we were more importantly bonded in JC.  when does that ever happen in NCAA?  So while no doubt this will be a battle with the 2 best D3 Wsoccer teams in the country, i think there will be a mutual respect for 2 great programs, and respect for each player. and at the end of the day, the loser will love the winner and the winner will love the loser, each and collectively playing for an audience of ONE. 

oh and btw, here's the NCAA link to the highlights of the game.  game winner was siiiick, starting at 0:32.  i already watched it like 6 times consecutively.  

MWS in The Equalizer

Messiah's national exposure one more time...this time it is for The Equalizer, the #1 source for women's professional soccer news.  A few years ago it was USA Today; and then last it was in the New York Times blog.  and not to mention The Messiah Method that was published last month.  I can never say enough about THE/my Messiah Women's Soccer team (MWS).  I am so proud to have been a part of this dynasty; well, barely.  They have become that since I've been a part of it.  The Team and Frey were no-namers back in the day.  We were becoming MWS in those 4 years.  but i still feel the thill of victory and "One in Heart and Mind" with every win and especially when I see an article like this.

Currrently, the team will be playing for another Commonwealth Championship tomorrow after a win in last night's semi's.  I'm sure it'll be a good game.  It's always a good game under the lights on the Shoe, especially on a beautiful fall evening as anticipated this weekend.  and when i say "good game," i just mean, MWS dominates and plays MWS.  Plain and simple; clean and tiiiiiiiight.  Good luck, ladies.  Win another title for an old lady like me, who still day dreams about running fast and looking good on the pitch.  I DID wear my MWS jersey today to work for "Purple Friday" (Baltimore Ravens) football jersey day to honor and support the team(s) just because.

Go Ravens.  Go Falcons!  Fly EAGLES Fly.

Something about the fall

There's just something that feels so right about the fall.  the great weather, soccer, football, the great weather.  wow, it was just been so beautiful recently on the mid-atlantic.  the air is brisk, the occasional sun, work is light...i was in NYC for work for 3 days.  it was a good trip.  got the things done that i needed to get done, ate some good food, checked out the new uniqlo on 5th ave.  not too shabby. 

i did forget my earphones this trip and so i made an effort to stop by the apple store to buy a pr for the train ride home.  ugh.  those babies were $30!  for some reason i was thinking they were like $10.  but whatever.  i was satisfied listening to my playlist on the ride back to bmore.  now this weekend, i'm in PA for the club soccer regionals.  i think we we are solid.  not good, not bad, but solid.  don't ask me what that means, but...we lost our first 2 games, which means that we have no chance of going to the playoffs.  tough one.  it is sooo difficult to stand on the sidelines and coach a mediocre team.  it just is.  i wanna be playing. competing.  i miss everything about playing soccer.  that high that you get when you win a ball in the air, when you slide to save a ball from going out of bounds, when you strike a ball on the "sweet spot." unbelievable.  maybe we will win tomorrow...maybe.

MWS update

I just discovered this:

MWS has its own YouTube Channel - schweeet!

Btw, MWS is undefeated and still #1 according to NSCAA and D3soccer. The team beat Lycoming 10-0 last night. ew - so good.

Next week, Johns Hopkins (t-10) plays The College of New Jersey (3) and I will be at Homewood to see two great teams and no doubt some good soccer.

Goals of the season

As I had posted earlier, I got to see the best in action over at Homewood field. As expected, the good guys pulled through and looked stronger than ever. Messiah never gave the Blue Jays any room to breathe - the team just continuously and unforgivingly attacked their back line like it was the first minute of the game. Impressive? Of course, but it is only the 3rd game of the season and, no doubt, this team will only get better! Check out these clips: Goals of the season from the first weekend. Well done, my friends, well done. I shall see you later in the season and most definitely in the playoffs; but hopefully, I can catch the team in action on the Shoe. “The girls are always excited to play on The Shoe,” Coach Frey states.

On a totally different note, I am going to buy a new car today. Yay, boo...I mean, Yay. I mean, Boo. Ugh, one of those bitter sweet moments, for sure!

Messiah Athletics - national exposure

Today, the USA Today ran an article on Messiah College, in particular the women's and men's soccer teams, with mention of the field hockey and softball teams. How awesome is this!? I mean, seriously, I have been bragging about this program and this team for years! They seriously are the real deal when it comes to quality soccer, playing with class, and execution. Additionally, not only was Messiah recognized as a national powerhouse in athletics, which is quite the honor, the name of Jesus was exalted and as with every game, a great Christian testimony portrayed. I am truly proud to have played for a program with such high spiritual, academic, and athletic standards, and to have such a great team of players who were sisters, bonded by the undying love of Christ. The article brought such great memories to mind and it was almost like I was re-living my days on the MWS team. The testimony of the players are the exact same feelings that I can remember as a player. To God be the glory! Go Messiah!

9/6/09 - Hopkins v. Lynchburg

On Saturday, 9/5 my plan was to go and watch both of the games at Hopkins. Unfortunately, it was also my long run day. I was up at 530 to run a dreaded 18 miler and upon completion, took the greatest nap of all time. Woops, missed both games. Fortunately, the money game was the following day on Sunday 9/6 - #6 Johns Hopkins vs. #10 Lynchburg. What a great game it was...great weather, close to home, and great soccer. Johns Hopkins totally dominated the first half and scored off of a dead ball/header. Hopkins really just outplayed Lynchburg early on and they got whatever they wanted, making Lynchburg chase. Lynchburg did show a solid defense though, not allowing any quality chances or looks on goal. Hopkins finally did just put one away off of a foul at the end of the half.

The second half was another story though. Lynchburg utilized the flanks very well. The right winger(s) did a great job of beating their defenders; however, did a very poor job of service, something of which is obviously key to scoring goals! A terrible thing to work so hard to beat your defender and then waste a great opportunity. Another thing that really stood out in my mind was the significance of the "half-turn." Wow. Especially, on this type surface (turf) where the ball just runs. The half-turn was just something that was engrained in our minds in college. Neither team used this effectively and it showed. The times when it WAS used...poor. Ok, enough criticizing. I was not disappointed with the soccer and was encouraged to see nothing extraordinary. Messiah should have no problem with either team, although I do believe that wins and losses can and may be a product of how teams match up. Hopkins plays at Messiah tomorrow at the Shoe - 7pm. Should be a good game and it will be interesting to see Hopkins play away where the grass is green and white lines freshly painted! Home of the national champs! See you there!

the smell of soccer

The air is crisp and grass is green. I feel a change in seasons and smell…soccer! One can only know what I mean if you are a soccer player/parent/referee, etc. It is a feeling within that takes you back to the days that you played, as a kid for fun and a young adult competitively. The way you felt when you laced up your boots and made sure your guards were straight, the way the air smelled and the sky looked, the green grass and painted white lines; the feeling as if you were unstoppable; focused – it just brings you back.

I have such an excitement for this fall/soccer season despite being somewhat uninvolved on the collegiate front this year. It stems from a combination of things: 1) the Messiah College women are at the top (again) and a strong contender for another national title http://www.messiah.edu/athletics/sports/womens_soccer/; 2) I am not coaching this season, which gives me the liberty and flexibility to watch great soccer anytime I want, train for a marathon www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/ and play some soccer for myself; 3) There are many great matchups this season in the local Baltimore area, which include Navy Men’s soccer and top ranked Johns Hopkins University Women. Hopkins has a great schedule, with many competitions played on their home turf against nationally ranked teams (TCNJ, Washington Mo, and Lynchburg), http://www.hopkinssports.com/sports/w-soccer/sched/jhop-w-soccer-sched.html (not to mention playing #1 Messiah in Grantham early on in the season). Participating in the Hopkins tournament, William Smith also plays in town Labor Day weekend. Brandt’s Navy team plays at Loyola MD 10/6 http://www.navysports.com/sports/m-soccer/sched/navy-m-soccer-sched.html and of course, there is my former College of Notre Dame of MD gators who also play a significant amount of home games this year http://www.ndm.edu/Athletics/Soccer/Schedule.cfm (all fields within running distance from my house) …and yes, I do check the official online scoreboard on a daily basis, color code games and schedules on my outlook calendar, and update my online bookmarks to the team sites in order by rankings (d3-w) – awesome.

So my goals are several for this season: 1) keep an updated blog here; 2) attend two or three Messiah women’s games, including Homecoming (my first!) and hopefully playoffs; and, 3) attend as many local D3 games that I am able this fall. Further, I am running a marathon on 10/10 and play an average of 2 times per week with various teams, varying in competitive level. To all players and coaches, good luck this season and know that it is always just a great day to play.