Cotter’s Corner

Yeah, I've not been posting here a lot. But man, I can't believe it's almost September. Time is really flying for some reason. It's like the older I get, the faster it goes. I'm hurtling to my death at an alarming rate now. Ugh!

Anyways, soccer is going good. I still get bad cases of "old man legs" for the days following our games or practices. One day they will adjust… one day. The good news? Just playing soccer and my wife's new attitude toward healthy eating has me down from a STAGGERING 257 pounds (right before we left for China) to a svelte 228 at the moment. And I show no signs of slowing down. I would actually be lower if I ate better lunches, but, I don't like to deprive myself. So, I'm not going to.

Also in soccer we've gone from losing 17-1 or 14-0 to where we are tying 4-4 or 1-1. Improvements? Yes. But we're also playing a team now that is a little better suited to our skill level. No, they don't suck, but they aren't an elite team either. And that little psychological boost helps. We are really improving as a team, but it's disappointing to see some of the team who never show up to practice and then whine because they don't play as much as they think they should during a game. Sad, sad. Oh, and I've made a team page, go check it out at: http://www.lebanonceltic.com

Since I'm in catch-up mode let me tell you that Ellery is doing well. We we're told that we WOULD have to adopt her here in the United States (after a meeting with the uber-expensive lawyer wherein she told us it was a formality). So, we're adopting her here in the U.S. too. Yay! Which isn't a big deal other than adding even MORE to our ever-expanding debt load.

Other children are doing well. School is started back now so Robyn is re-gaining her sanity from having to deal with them and their life-altering (not really) problems of being bored. 

Well, about one hour before game time the other team calls us on Saturday to tell us that they aren't going to make it. So, we have a team 10v10 scrimmage. It was pretty fun. We played 40 minutes and 40 minutes. I played my usual spot but for some reason this week I didn't feel like I played as well. My legs are a continuing spot of bother for me, but I'm just trying to ignore them.

The scrimmage couldn't have been any nicer, it was cloudy and about 82 degrees. Just amazing weather for the end of June. We're going to have a few more practices here this week (Thursday and then on Monday when we are scrimmaging again). So, it should be pretty fun. 

Hopefully a couple of guys from work will sign up to play too. 

So, I haven't updated in a while so I thought I would keep everyone up on what was happening in the world of Soccer and old guys trying to act young.

We had our first "real" scrimmage on Monday this week dressed in our spiffy new uniforms and everything. The coaches split the team up into two groups. One group that is primarily defense and one that is primarily offense and let us have at it for three thirty minute periods.

We defensive people really did well for ourselves. We ultimately lost to the offensive guys, but only by 7-5. We didn't take an ass whipping or anything - we held up.

As for me, my body is slowly but surely getting more used to the idea of moving around. The soreness I experience after practice goes away in a day or so now and doesn't last for the entire week. Which is amazing, in and of itself. I'm wearing some pretty good shoes that I finally dropped some insoles into (cleats have NO padding on the bottom, so if you are playing on a hard field you might as well be barefoot on concrete). The insoles were a life saver! I had no "hot spots" on the bottoms of my feet and actually my legs felt better as the game went on instead of the other way around. Probably has something to do with my arches getting the support they need.

Soccer is a lot of fun to play. I've really, really been enjoying it. Work has been pretty crazy lately here too, but this is a soccer update, not a work update.

Lastly I'll tell you that we are playing a hispanic team this Saturday in our first "real" game. No, I don't consider playing the girls a real game, it was more of a scrimmage. So, we're going to have a real test of how crappy we are - and I can't wait! We don't know much about this team, so they could all have been playing together for years and completely destroy us - or they could suck just like we do. Time will tell I suppose.

I'll put up pictures as soon as I can since I know everyone enjoys seeing fatty doing something physical.

We remember, do you?

So, Monday night we played the U-18 girls team that our part-time coach really coaches. We arrived at about ten 'til six and the girls were warming up on the field with drills. Let it suffice to say that every guy on our team thought we were going to have our asses handed to us. We all stretched and cowered and wondered how we would explain this defeat to our friends.

Then we started.

In the first ten seconds of time we kicked off, passed the ball outside and downfield and scored on a cross.  We scored again about two minuts later.

Let it suffice to say this was quite a shock. Of course, I wasn't playing at this point. My shin splints were making me miserable just standing there. So, I was on the sideline while all the important stuff happened in the beginning. I was waiting for a chance to sub out in a defensive position where my lack of mobility wouldn't be quite so detrimental to my team.

At long-last I jumped in and proved how pitifully slow I was. It was nearly pathetic, but I kept at it and by the second 15-minute period my shins were just constantly hurting and didn't really hurt more when I ran on them, so I just stayed out.  I couldn't cut well, but eventually with the help of angles of attack I was able to keep up with anyone who tried to test me. Thankfully, that wasn't often.

It was an absolute blast. And while it would be poor sportsmanship to say we kicked little girl ass all over the field on Monday, I'll say it anyway. They were talkin smack to us a little, so, it was all in good fun. They want a rematch in a few weeks, so we'll see what fun that brings. 

Okay!

In lots of ways. I’m going to regret posting this here, but, I’m doing it anyway. Since common sense sometimes escapes me.

I’ve joined an adult soccer league.

I know, I know.

Our first practice was Saturday. I had an absolute blast. I had to leave the practice a little early since the parents were coming to the house for Ellery’s birthday, but, it was still a great experience while I was able to attend. There was a LOT of turnout. Probably 14 people showed up, which exceeded my expectations. Some were in good shape, while others (like me) were just hanging in there.

I can also freely admit that I am sore beyond all reason today (more than yesterday). But, it’s a good kind of pain. We drilled and then scrimmaged for a while, the scrimmaging was the best part - I even managed to grab one turn over while playing. Which I consider a massive success.

And the best news? All that running around and craziness had no effect on my foot. I was completely pain-free. So, I guess this means that I am going to keep doing it. After work today I plan on stopping and buying a few soccer balls to practice with and some cleats.

Our first match is against a group of 15 year old girls and I have NO DOUBT they are going to annihilate us.

Robyn reminded me that Saturday was two things: First it was the two month anniversary of us meeting our little darling marshmallow and second it was her birthday!

Now, before you go thinking me to be a horrible parent you need to know that I *knew* it was her birthday. We had the parents over, but the party was kinda low-key. Ellery hasn’t been feeling the super-best for the past week and a half or so. It started with her getting a slight cold, which turned into darn-near pneumonia and now the biggest issue is that her little cute tongue is covered in sores and ulcers. And we have no idea why. It’s pretty painful for her to eat, but she still gamely tries to muster up a good attitude. I also notice that she’s got a little trouble talking as well. I think Robyn is debating taking her to the doctor today if they don’t look any better. Whew, you’d think after having two kids prior to Ellery we wouldn’t be the “nervous” parents who take their kids to the doctor for every little thing. But you’d be wrong there.

So now things are going to start getting interesting. In five days from today I will be leaving with the family to head over to China. Whew. It just seems surreal to me that in nine days I will have a new daughter. I mean really, how crazy is that? Also, I’ve setup a new web site that is going to be devoted to tracking our journey. It’s at: http://www.thetriptochina.com. I’ll be blogging there daily on the trip and all the things that we’re doing and that we have going on.

I’m getting pretty nervous too. You know, International travel - it’s all new to me. And of course, it’s new to my kids. I’m not thinking we’re going to have a problem - but you know, I’m sure my daughter will be a little weird with everything. She talks a big game, but when it comes down to it - she’s pretty timid about new things. We’re trying to explain everything to her in advance so there will be no unexpected surprises, but how can you possibly explain everything when you have little to no idea of what you are going to be facing once you are there?

It’s only for a short time, so, I’m not devoting hours to worry or anything, but it is something that keeps popping up in my head. Other questions too - like how will we keep an (almost) two year old happy on a 19-20 hour plane ride?

And then the inevitable questions to worry about: How will her vision be? Are there any unknown conditions that they haven’t told us about? Lots of people adopt special needs kids to discover that they have more than one special need. And again, it isn’t worry so much as the unknown. Obviously I’d prefer her to have good vision - but, I suppose that isn’t my decision to make. We’ll just be happy to have a new little person in the house. She’ll present her own unique challenges (no matter what those may be), and we’ll all just have to adjust to our new lives.

In this case - change is truly good.

I'm glad you asked! Here is where we are staying in China!

First up is Beijing, where we will be staying at the SuperHouse Beijing International.

Next we will be heading to Hangzhou. Our hotel there will be the Lake View Hotel. 

And for some reason, we're being forced to go to the actual city where she was. So, we'll be staying at yet another hotel (as yet to be determined).

Then we're off to Guangzhou (which has been in the news a lot lately due to the weather). While there we are staying at the Victory Hotel.