This weekend was quite enjoyable and successful. First thing was to wake up and watch the Wallabies play New Zealand in rugby. What a super match! Not only did we beat them, buw we won easily (15 points). It was refreshing after a few years of poor results to experience a big win over New Zealand again. The rest of the day was spent running errands and with some friends in the afternoon, unsuccessfully trying to work out a possible joint family vacation.
In the evening, Gary, Kevin and I went to a friend's house for a poker game. It was a lot of fun and an interesting experience. One of the female players at the table seemed to feel that it was a smart thing to do to throw money around like it was meaningless and to disregard odds when making her bets. For much of the night, this tactic worked quite well for her, constantly hitting her miracle cards and winning some big pots. At one point she had worked her $60 buy-in up to about $700...then her luck began to change. Her silly bets and outrageous bluffs began to not be rewarded. I doubled up through her twice and on the last hand of the night she pushed all in, only to be called and lose. So, in the end, she walked away with nothing, and from the way she played, was lucky to only lose her original $60. I ended up with a $120 profit, a nice return for a fun evening.
Sunday brought a drive to Norwalk CT for a cricket match. I am playing a few games this year with a side in the Southern Connecticut League which is proving to be rather interesting. This particular game was against the Bridgeport side, known as the best team in the area. Their fans were certainly also an interesting group - about 50 Jamaican men hanging out, playing loud music, yelling at the players, drinking rum and smoking pot. One of our players swore you could get high from just fielding on the boundary! They batted first and had a very strong batting lineup. Every time we got a wicket, another good batsman would walk out. One of their players is a current representative for the USA side and his ability was quite clear also. I actually bowled quite well, the best I have bowled in a while taking 4 wickets. However, before I got a chance to test myself against the USA bowler (who could bowl at 90 mph according to several people who had played him before), the rains came and the match was abandoned. A draw was not a bad result for us...but I was looking forward to facing a truly fast bowler like that. Maybe next time...
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Ashes
Every year, a team of local Aussies plays a team of local English in a battle for the Ashes. For various reasons, I missed the game for the past two seasons so was looking forward to this match very much. Also, the Poms held the trophy amid much controversy last year, so we were all well motivated to try to win it back in 2008. Another twist to the match is that many of my regular team mates played on the English team, so it was a chance to get bragging rights for the rest of the year as well.
The day was one of the hottest days of the year and unfortunately, we lost the toss so had to field in the worst of the conditions. We all bowled and fielded well, bowling them out for 172 in their final over (35). One of their players who is a Mad Dog as well carried his bat scoring 106 n.o., quite an achievement in the conditions. I picked up a couple of wickets and bowled OK, but still too many full tosses to make me happy.
I opened the batting and we got off to a flying start, reaching 60 after 6 overs. A couple of wickets fell and then I got out for 39 with the score around 90. Things were chugging along nicely, we were 6 down with 13 to get for the victory and still 10+ overs to go when they took a hat trick! Fortunately our #4 Darren was still there and playing well so we felt that if our #11 could survive, that Darren could get us home. A few defended balls, singles and a hurried two set up the finale, when Darren hit consecutive balls over square leg for 6 to bring up the win! It was a great result, despite us almost throwing it all away at the end.
Earlier in the day, I had watched us beat South Africa in the rugby. Certainly a good result but I feel the real test will come this weekend against NZ. I think we have improved over every game this season so that is positive and also, the newer players seem to be showing they are worth their place.
Sunday brought another hot day and I did not feel like doing anything much at all. Mindy spent the afternoon with her friend Holly, so Gary and I got together to watch the kids. It also seemed like a good time to test out his two new reclining chairs and we both grabbed some nap time while the kids were playing. We had two when we arrived and we left with two, so I guess nothing bad happened while we were asleep!
Mindy and I are also slogging through my recordings of Babylon 5 from years ago. I have all of the episodes on tape from when it first aired in the USA and it is actually good to watch them again. Mindy has not seen it and I kind of remember the basic plot, but not well enough to spoil the viewing this time around. It is quite intimidating though...110 episodes lined up and waiting for us. Right now we are about 35 episodes into it. I think Mindy is enjoying it...if not, it will probably be a pretty rough 6 weeks or so for her.
The day was one of the hottest days of the year and unfortunately, we lost the toss so had to field in the worst of the conditions. We all bowled and fielded well, bowling them out for 172 in their final over (35). One of their players who is a Mad Dog as well carried his bat scoring 106 n.o., quite an achievement in the conditions. I picked up a couple of wickets and bowled OK, but still too many full tosses to make me happy.
I opened the batting and we got off to a flying start, reaching 60 after 6 overs. A couple of wickets fell and then I got out for 39 with the score around 90. Things were chugging along nicely, we were 6 down with 13 to get for the victory and still 10+ overs to go when they took a hat trick! Fortunately our #4 Darren was still there and playing well so we felt that if our #11 could survive, that Darren could get us home. A few defended balls, singles and a hurried two set up the finale, when Darren hit consecutive balls over square leg for 6 to bring up the win! It was a great result, despite us almost throwing it all away at the end.
Earlier in the day, I had watched us beat South Africa in the rugby. Certainly a good result but I feel the real test will come this weekend against NZ. I think we have improved over every game this season so that is positive and also, the newer players seem to be showing they are worth their place.
Sunday brought another hot day and I did not feel like doing anything much at all. Mindy spent the afternoon with her friend Holly, so Gary and I got together to watch the kids. It also seemed like a good time to test out his two new reclining chairs and we both grabbed some nap time while the kids were playing. We had two when we arrived and we left with two, so I guess nothing bad happened while we were asleep!
Mindy and I are also slogging through my recordings of Babylon 5 from years ago. I have all of the episodes on tape from when it first aired in the USA and it is actually good to watch them again. Mindy has not seen it and I kind of remember the basic plot, but not well enough to spoil the viewing this time around. It is quite intimidating though...110 episodes lined up and waiting for us. Right now we are about 35 episodes into it. I think Mindy is enjoying it...if not, it will probably be a pretty rough 6 weeks or so for her.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Feeling Better
I think we are all well on the road to recovery. I still have a very annoying cough but feel much improved over last week - so I am back at work. Fiona seems completely better and Mindy is improved but still not 100%. Naomi's cough is still there but it appears to also be improving.
Not a lot happened over the rest of the week other than resting and coughing. On the weekend I watched the last ODI cricket games...quite impressed with Luke Ronchi and David Hussey. I have to think that these two players, along with Shaun Marsh will become regulars in the side in the relatively near future. I also watched the rugby test v France. A good result and some improvement compared to last week but the scrum is still a concern. The only way we will really know where we stand is in the Tri-Nations...so hopefully we are ready for that.
I went down to Atlantic City for a quick trip on Saturday. Ended up even after playing for 4 hours...so not a horrible result. I paid for it the next day though and probably should have rested instead of making the trip. Live and learn.
Not a lot happened over the rest of the week other than resting and coughing. On the weekend I watched the last ODI cricket games...quite impressed with Luke Ronchi and David Hussey. I have to think that these two players, along with Shaun Marsh will become regulars in the side in the relatively near future. I also watched the rugby test v France. A good result and some improvement compared to last week but the scrum is still a concern. The only way we will really know where we stand is in the Tri-Nations...so hopefully we are ready for that.
I went down to Atlantic City for a quick trip on Saturday. Ended up even after playing for 4 hours...so not a horrible result. I paid for it the next day though and probably should have rested instead of making the trip. Live and learn.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Sick
We are all sick. The kids have had a cough for a few weeks now. Mindy caught it soon after them and I got it a few days ago. On Monday night I woke up with a fever so we all went to the doctor yesterday. I have pneumonia and am on antibiotics and off work for the rest of the week. mindy has an upper respitory infection and is also on antibiotics. Naomi is OK apparently...her lungs are clear. Fiona's sounded a little like she might have the beginnings of pneumonia as well...so she is on antibiotics as well!
Today we are all feeling a little better but I am planning to enjoy relaxing at home for the next few days.
Today we are all feeling a little better but I am planning to enjoy relaxing at home for the next few days.
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