Minnesota "Nice", Down and Dirty

GO VIKES!!!

I'm so excited that football season is upon us again!  I was not only invited to participate in a Fantasy Football league with some of the folks in our Chicago Gartner office (yay! we already have over 21 points!), but we are also heading to the season opener tomorrow for the Vikings. Kevin would argue that we're going to the Packers season opener, but that's just a matter of opinion. 

No matter that the game is IN Green Bay, and we own Packers season tickets.  I merely married into that.  But, of course, I do have fun when I go, even when they don't play Minnesota.   I'm contemplating how much I can get away with, in terms of Minnesota gear I can adorn myself with.  If Kevin went all out and wore his Favre jersey (which I think may be banished to the incinerator), painted his hairy chest and wore a wedge of cheddar on his cranium, then I might have to do something obnoxious.  As it is, I might just have to do a temporary tattoo on one of my hands or something equally chill. 

Did I ever mention how much camouflage and hunter orange is worn at Packers games?  It's like the alternate team garb and color scheme.  It's absolutely crackers.  The great thing is, those guys in the hunting gear can pack some serious stuff in those pants.  Usually they aren't getting up to get another beer, if you know what I mean. 

I love going to games at Lambeau, period.  The first time I went, it wasn't very much fun.  I was barely into my 2nd trimester with Tyler, and it was the week before Christmas.  It was BUTT-cold.  I had handwarmers stuffed into my 3 layers socks AND gloves.  I wore 2 sets of long underwear under my jeans (shoulda worn camo hunting pants...those suckers are insulated!).  I wore 2 long underwear shirts, a turtleneck, a sweater and my sub-zero ski jacket.  And, my black Vikings stocking hat (no tuque).  I still froze my butt off, probably because I couldn't drink anything to stay warm!! (P.S. In the pic, can you see any of the plethora of camo or hunter orange??)

Last year, I experienced something completely different.  It was, again, the season opener, but against Dallas this time.  The weather was marvelous, and we partied like rock star wannabes!  It was good times, good times.  I expect it to be even better this year!  I'll post some pics, promise.

GO VIKES!!!

That Was Quick.

Okay, so I asked my dad for pics of Damon with the ball--look how fast he was!  Granted, the pictures don't show his true toddler ability, however they do show how YOUNG he was (and oh...so cute!). He was well under 2...there are no dates on them, but it was the fall of '02 I think, so he was probably about 16 or 17 months.  And look...Alyce too! Awwww...

Soccer NE1?

  Damon has been kicking since he was a tot.  In fact, a story my dad likes to tell is one where Damon is about 2, and takes a really small ping-pong type ball, and drop kicks it perfectly.  Then, he'd kick it all around the room.  Kick it to my dad, kick it to my mom, kick it to me, kick it to Sam.  He probably wasn't even 2 when he was doing this...more like 19 months or so.  I should have my dad send me the picture he took of him doing this, so I can be sure. Anyway, the kid loved and still loves to kick. 

Last year I coached T-ball for him.  T-ball wasn't his gig.  It wasn't fast-paced enough.  He wanted to run, and you don't run so much in T-ball.  It was kinda lame, but the only sport I could truly help with! 

After much searching and begging on his part (which is good!), this year I found a great place for him to play soccer.  It isn't the Y soccer, like Sam did (well, she more "didn't" than  "did", but that's another story...the color of everyone's shoelaces was of more interest to her than kicking a ball around), and that was by design.  The Y soccer, much like the Y T-ball, was REALLY lame in comparison to what I found.  For the same price ($60), he gets 1 hour of practice on a REAL outside field, 1/2 hour of training by the Minnesota Thunder (pro soccer team) players on Saturday mornings, as well as a Saturday 1 hour game, for 8 weeks.  For the same $60, he would get 6 weeks  of 1 hour of soccer practice/scrimmage (with no score).  Lame.

Thus far, the kid has been amazing. He actually listens *gasp*!  He is great with his feet, and looooooooves it.  He used to hate going to T-ball, even with his mom being the coach.  With soccer, all I have to do is start the sentence, "Damon, get ready to go to..." and within seconds he is in full soccer gear, wrist bands and Bruce Jenner-ish headband included.  HILARIOUS.  He is very aggressive, but not mean.  And, he reallllllly needs this outlet. 

It was fun yesterday to have one of the players' dads say to me, "your son is very good.  I hope he keeps playing, because he's a natural!".  If that dad is anything like me, he probably doesn't say things like that unless he means it. 

I remember when Sam was in dance class at the age of 4, and there was a girl in her class who really was very good, even at 4.  I told her mom so.  Sam...not so much. She liked it, but it required far too much patience for her at that age.  She's going to start all over again this year (complete with a brand-new set of focusing skills--well, new since age 4-5), so I'm sure I'll post about that too. 

Anyway, it is fun to see him enjoying a sport so much.  After the experiences I had with Sam, as well as him last year with T-ball, it's good to know that all that crazy energy he has is well-spent on a game that he really, truly enjoys!