Archive for September, 2008

Essex Jamborree, 09/20/08.

Had to post another couple photos of Noah in full game mode and with one of his touchdowns that day. And another of the little poser ….. in his Bob the Builder farmer overalls. I am sure he will putting on some pads in a couple of years as well …. notice he is already wearing the super cool shark cleats … sigh. Somehow I think he will be like the kid on Noah’s team who always asks the coach “Coach D., can I hit the other guy as hard as I can???”

Alright, he is one cool dude No. 80. Looks about 16 years old to me in that first picture. The second one, though somewhat hard to see, is memorable because it is Noah getting his first flag on defense …. memorable because a) he never seems to think that getting a flag is worth the effort and b) it marks the first money he earned palying football since daddy dearest bribed him with $5 for a flag …I want to retire on his first round draft signing bonus so I am hopeful that $5 actually made him play harder.

Next is him on the way to yet another touchdown. And this one is sweet because it comes against the Milton Broncos … see previous posts for the story behind that ….. and of course, little brother fan club, wearing his helmet and making faces …..and then of course Mr. Five Bucks himself …. mind you, a week later, Noah was still waiting for his money … so who paid him? Mom. I have to get an IOU and take it back out of that real paycheck in what …. 15 years. With interest!

 Essex Jamboree, September 20, 2008.

So, since Benji is dragged along to each and every one of Noah’s football games and practies, I figure it is time to have him on the top of the blog for once. So here he is … in all his cuteness.

In all honesty, he loves going. He brings his bike, wears his helmet …. and hangs out with all the other younger siblings. Though his favorite part is probably diving into the inevitable selection of snacks I always bring to every game … really, that is the highlight of the day for him ….

Being married to someone who is handy with a chainsaw is a handy thing.

Is that an odd statement? Not when you live in Vermont on a mountain and not when you are married to a Chabot. Never thought I would ever even be in need of someone who is handy with a chainsaw .. before I met a Chabot and moved to rural New England. Not really a tool often used in good old Berzdorf …. not even sure anyone in my extended family in Germany even owns a chainsaw …

But here, in Vermont, it is handy that I am married to a man whose father was known for using his chainsaw whenever even the smallest amount of cutting of anything was needed …. the story goes that he actually cut the holes for the skylights in their house with a chainsaw. Anyways, lots of good stories …. but you have to really have my hubby tell them.

So, since we live in a rather wooded area (also called a forest mountain top ….) we often have downed trees blocking driveways (at least one every winter so far …. at LEAST one) or need a tree cut to make sure the satellite dish can get a clear view of the sky (not kidding) … or, as happened this weekend, a dead tree that needs to be removed to make room for … wait for it … a new tree.

      So here are some shots of my husband the logger, my boys, the show off by-standers …. and a tree stump? That is here at the request of the guy with the chainsaw who he insisted that it was a superior cut  …. ok then. 

Another week, another flag game. This time we once again ventured back to Milton to play the Broncos.And I have to say it, but for most of the game, they ran right over us. They had some excellent blocking going on … though I kind of think they glossed over the ‘no blitzing’ rule … their linebackers ran for our QB on almost every single play .. and they got to him on almost every single game. Which, on one hand means their linebackers did what they weren’t supposed to … or shall I say what the rules say they are not supposed to … and it also means that our blocking … well, is in need of improvement. As my hubby keeps on telling Noah: Happy Hands don’t block.

Noah was pretty mad after the game because he realized I think that the other team was just plain better … and that his team just didn’t paly as hard as they could have. Kind of cute really, let’s hope he is still mad enough next practice to listen to Coach and improve his blocking. Then again, it’s flag football mom. Chill!

Anyways, here are some more photos .. some are not the greatest quality since the sun was just setting … beautiful in person, terrible for taking crisp photos.

P.S. you know what is kind of funny … even though this was not really their best game so far, I think I got the most shots of good looking plays from our team. I mean, hand offs, the QB actually throwing the ball. They are really not bad those kids. And once again I am impressed with Coach, who did a great job motivating them. During halftime he took them aside and asked how they are feeling, being slapped around by the Broncos. And of course they all didn’t like it. So he said: Well, welcome to real football. And if you don’t like the feeling, do something about it. Go Coach!

PPS: Noah is No. 80 with the blue cleats ….

Ok … so politics is a very personal subject and everyone is entitled to their opinion and vote. So let it be known that, while I am a tax paying, law abiding permanent resident of the United States, I am not a citizen and therefore do not have the right to vote. And I am fine with that, can’t have it both ways, not complaining.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have an opinion. And my opinion is, if the good citizens of the United States elect another Republican to the White House after the disaster that is GWB, I will have to seriously consider moving back to goold old Germany.

So you can imagine that I was foaming at the mouth last week during the RNC while listening to the speakers dive deeper and deeper into the muddy politics that have been dividing this country for so long. I had really thought they had moved beyond this in this campaign. Had hoped that even they were sick and tired of mudslinging, insulting speeches written purely with the intent to inflame the campaign and make the division between parties even deeper. And of course was surprised to hear John McCain evoke the non-partisan, fair campaign slogan right just a day after ‘America’s Mayor’ gave his unbelievably sarcastic, insulting and plain old stupid hate speech,… and just minutes after Lindsay Graham threw us back by about 50 years and the McCarthy way of thinking that if you accuse people of something in front of thousands of ‘believers’ than it must be true ……. argh. Scary. 

And to top it off, they chose to go that route and hired Sarah Palin to be their “bulldog with lipstick.” I am very pleased that a woman is running for the second highest office in the country, although the USA is a bit behind the rest of the world and especially Germany who, I am proud to say, has a female chancellor and thinks nothing of it and WAY behind Great Britain who had Margaret Thatcher when the USA was still debating whether woman should be paid the same pay for the same work . Yes, I am proud that a woman is in the picture but I am saddened to see that she is drinking the cool aid and falling right in step with her male colleagues in thinking that you have to be like them to succeed in their world. ….. but that is another post

So, looooong story short, I get my news from the Daily Show … and am unapologetic about it. Love the Daily Show, take it or leave it. And they once again proved me right in argueing that they are the smartest ‘news’ show on television with the below clip, which I blatantly stole from my hubby’s blog. Enjoy.

  Hi y’all. Feelin’ a bit Southern today …heck, it is after Labor Day and 88 lovely degrees outside …. not complaining, mind you. I realize winter will be here before we know it and I already get a panicky feeling when thinking about it. Can you tell I am not a winter person? Don’t ski, don’t board, don’t like the cold … what am I doing in Vermont … ahhhhh … that is the $64 question. And a whole ‘nother topic and post.

 I am here today again to dwell in motherly pride and post some more photos of my oldest, Noah, and his adventures in flag football.

They had their now third game last night and it never ceases to amaze me what impact a dedicated coaching team can have on a bunch of 7 and 8 year old boys who want to play football. Thinking back to the first practices, they were just a bunch of kids who all thought they were the next Reggie Bush or Tom Brady and they ALL wanted to run with the ball or throw it. No one knew where to line up on defense or how to block. They didn’t get the whole team concept/

Man, what a difference last night. They had FUN on defense, followed through on tackles/flag pulling and were totally into it. All thanks to the coaching, I am telling you. What impresses me is the little things. For example: typically, Noah is a bit of a sloath …. never does anything fast unless he wants to …. dandelion picker, slow poke, day dreamer.

So one of the things that most impressed me that the coach actually taught him and the rest of the team the importance and meaning of HUSTLE!!!!! During the first week of practice etc. when they sub’d in kids, the kids coming off the field would slowly amble towards the sidelines and the new kids would even more slowly make their way onto the field and into position. NOW, well, they hustle. They RUN onto the field. tap the person they are subbing for. And that kid RUNS off the field to the bench. Impressive. All in the coaching …. I wish I could have the guy come to my house and tell Noah to HUSSLE …. or maybe all I really need is one of those whistles he has hanging around his neck. Worth a try.

Needless to say, Noah loves it, I love it, and Benji loved going to practice because there are all of those other younger siblings hanging around … and they ALL seem to have dogs he can walk or play with. Fantastic. So here are some more photos from last night, played against the Essex Chargers. Oh, and this one of course is of Benji and his new girlfriend Carlie … they are too cute and hang out each time at practice.

game-essex-09-04-08-16.JPG   game-essex-09-04-08-15.JPG

 Noah is number 80 and he is lining up at center in #16 and blocking as noseguard in #15

So, there. TTFF, Sabine

Go Wolverines!!!!!

Well hello again.

In flipping through my hubby’s blog (a daily necessity for my really since I learn more about him by reading his blogs than living in the same house with him ….. call him the strong silent type …) I found this interersting story about a recent bike ride taken by Sen. John Kerry. Check it out.

I find it interesting on two levels …. on the more serious level it is sad that we so rarely get a glimpse into the everyday life of folks in public office that a story like this elicits ‘oh how neat’ comments from more people than just me. I mean, I am a sucker for seeing the high ranked politican hang out at their kid’s peewee games or running into the movie star celebrity in the cereal isle at the grocery store (not that those things never ever happen in Vermont … just saying.)

The other reason this story is interesting? I have to laugh when I think that even a smart man like Sen. Kerry drinks the Kool Aid (as my husband would say) when it comes to the ‘REAL serious bikers shave their legs …..

COME ON!!!! The one and only explanation I ever got from my husband is that it makes it so much easier to get a massage after a hard race …. Really? You get a massage after a race? Aren’t you mixing reality with wishful thinking here? Because I had yet to see anyone get a massage at a bike race at this level … and I have been to a few races in my life as the biker wife. Never seen him get a massage. And Kerry? Does he get a massage? Really?

I mean, when it comes down to it, I don’t really care whether they shave their legs or not. I just don’t understand why they would want to. As a member of the female portion of the population that seems to be under legal obligation to shave their legs and suffers the stubbles, nicks and embarrassingly dangerous moments of careful one legged balancing in the shower I would have to say “Why the hell would you want to do this?????”

But that’s just me.