Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Eels
The Eels have pretty much been all that is on my mind for the past month, especially the last two weeks. Beating the Dogs last weekend was fantastic to see and even qualifying for the Grand Final is quite an achievement considering where we were 3 months ago. One more game to go...I think it will be a tough one. Playing a solid, experienced side is the biggest threat to the way we have been playing and Melbourne certainly fits this. I will be watching the delayed telecast over here on (my) Sunday morning so hopefully the result is a good one. 1986 was far too long ago!
Monday, September 21, 2009
WSL Final
Saturday marked the day of our cricket league final. Our league, the WSL or World Series League has been running since 2001, named by a prior captain with a sense of humour. Our opponent on the day was our arch-enemy, Columbia University. We have had a history of some chippy games with them over the years, this year's fixture where they beat us on their field was no different, so we were all well motivated to put a beating on them. The Mad Dogs have had a good record in the WSL, winning it two of the last 3 years but wanted to get the trophy back in our keeping. Columbia have made 4 straight finals...would it be 4 straight losses???
We lost the toss and were sent in...we know they liked to chase so this was no surprise. We started OK, they bowled well but were a little erratic with a lot of wides as well...but after about 9 overs we were 3/35, with our three biggest hitters back in the shed. I was still there, scratching around but it seemed that just when we were getting a partnership going, we would lose another one. I ended up being the 5th wicket to fall in about the 20th over but by then, I knew we had enough batting to get us to a decent score. However, we did leave it quite late to make a run - Anand (#6) and Woody (#8) put on a nice partnership, Woody cashing in with a few big hits. He eneded up getting a quick 38, Anand a more patient 35 but this was enough...with some further scrambling to get us to 185 from our overs. I was quite happy with this. 180 was my target score aand I think we could defend anything over 140 if we bowled well, so now it was over the the bowlers...
Things started well for us. We had Prasanna bowling spin from one end and Bert, our West Indian "nasty fasty" coming down the hill. This really put them onto the back foot. Both picking up early wickets and Bert hitting one of their players in the helmet, sending him to the hospital for a scan. Despite going very well, the plan was to bowl Prasanna for 4 overs only, then save him until the end. We then had Anand and Neil to both bowl spin from that end and rotate the quicks from the top end. Well...Anand bowled his 7 overs, finishing with figures of 6/10! And the game was all but over. A final wicket to Woody finished things up and we had rolled them for 40! Bert was bowling very quickly, probably the best I have seen him actually. He demolished them in the final two years ago as well...seems to save his best for the big games.
We really had all things covered in this match...Prasanna - leggie; Anand - left arm finger spinner; Neil - right arm finger spinner; Bert - pace; Woody and Nick - medium pace seamers...and more options as well. It was so nice to smash them and shut their mouths. Their injured player returned after the match. I made my "you got a brain scan and they didn't find anything" joke...but he didn't get it of course.
So, then to the celebrations. First, a group shot in front of the scoreboard - wanted that to stick in the memory. Then a few beers and some pizza at the ground before we all departed. Nothing too crazy, I guess that is the problem having players from such a large area. In the end, a perfect afternoon of cricket...and a better result.
Mindy can now see the light at the end of the cricket tunnel. One more game in two weeks, our intra-club challenge: "Old Dogs v Young Pups" match. Loosely an Over 40 v Under 40 match, but normally the dividing line is a couple of years younger than that. I think this year I have crossed the median line to be an Old Dog, we will see how things work out once all of the availabilities are in. Having seen Bert bowl on Saturday, not really looking forward to facing him actually!
We lost the toss and were sent in...we know they liked to chase so this was no surprise. We started OK, they bowled well but were a little erratic with a lot of wides as well...but after about 9 overs we were 3/35, with our three biggest hitters back in the shed. I was still there, scratching around but it seemed that just when we were getting a partnership going, we would lose another one. I ended up being the 5th wicket to fall in about the 20th over but by then, I knew we had enough batting to get us to a decent score. However, we did leave it quite late to make a run - Anand (#6) and Woody (#8) put on a nice partnership, Woody cashing in with a few big hits. He eneded up getting a quick 38, Anand a more patient 35 but this was enough...with some further scrambling to get us to 185 from our overs. I was quite happy with this. 180 was my target score aand I think we could defend anything over 140 if we bowled well, so now it was over the the bowlers...
Things started well for us. We had Prasanna bowling spin from one end and Bert, our West Indian "nasty fasty" coming down the hill. This really put them onto the back foot. Both picking up early wickets and Bert hitting one of their players in the helmet, sending him to the hospital for a scan. Despite going very well, the plan was to bowl Prasanna for 4 overs only, then save him until the end. We then had Anand and Neil to both bowl spin from that end and rotate the quicks from the top end. Well...Anand bowled his 7 overs, finishing with figures of 6/10! And the game was all but over. A final wicket to Woody finished things up and we had rolled them for 40! Bert was bowling very quickly, probably the best I have seen him actually. He demolished them in the final two years ago as well...seems to save his best for the big games.
We really had all things covered in this match...Prasanna - leggie; Anand - left arm finger spinner; Neil - right arm finger spinner; Bert - pace; Woody and Nick - medium pace seamers...and more options as well. It was so nice to smash them and shut their mouths. Their injured player returned after the match. I made my "you got a brain scan and they didn't find anything" joke...but he didn't get it of course.
So, then to the celebrations. First, a group shot in front of the scoreboard - wanted that to stick in the memory. Then a few beers and some pizza at the ground before we all departed. Nothing too crazy, I guess that is the problem having players from such a large area. In the end, a perfect afternoon of cricket...and a better result.
Mindy can now see the light at the end of the cricket tunnel. One more game in two weeks, our intra-club challenge: "Old Dogs v Young Pups" match. Loosely an Over 40 v Under 40 match, but normally the dividing line is a couple of years younger than that. I think this year I have crossed the median line to be an Old Dog, we will see how things work out once all of the availabilities are in. Having seen Bert bowl on Saturday, not really looking forward to facing him actually!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Your Life...Sold for $1
Mindy saw a advertisement for an estate sale in our local area. One of the items for sale was a freezer, which would allow us to store even more crap in our house. Upon arrival, we were told that it was broken so not for sale anymore but since we were there, we decided to take a look around.
I made myself at home, enjoying a cup of coffee they offered and we proceeded to look around at the stuff on offer. Most of it was cookware, books and a few items of furniture. We found out that the prior owner had recently passed away at the age of 93 and I guess most of the stuff had already been claimed by her relatives. We bought a few pieces of pyrex cookware that Mindy thought she could use. I like to keep her barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, so this should help. There was a really annoying Asian lady who was haggling like it was her job (perhaps it was). "How much for the iron?". "$4". "I will give you $2". I think I would have kicked her out if I was them, there was just something really crass about her manner.
As we were driving away, we were both thinking the same thing...I guess this is how it ends for all of us. Eventually, someone is going to go through all of your crap and sell it to annoying Asian ladies for virtually nothing. It struck me as sad that the furniture, nick nacks etc that you collect over your life will all be sold off to people who don't know or care about the history and memories that they represent. That pretty much depressed us for most of the drive home, then the rains came in and washed out cricket on Saturday, the Orioles and Redskins got thumped and almost all was lost...
...but the Eels beat the Dragons in the League! This is a HUGE deal, keeping alive their season and as an added bonus, ending Manly's season. Things are rolling well for them now after a horrible start to the year, if they keep playing this way, they have a chance I feel.
In other news, this past weekend was my 20 year high school reunion. Unfortunately I could not attend but got to hear an update from Daniel and see lots of pictures on Facebook. It looked like I missed a great night but hopefully there will be other future gatherings that might coincide with a visit home at some point.
I made myself at home, enjoying a cup of coffee they offered and we proceeded to look around at the stuff on offer. Most of it was cookware, books and a few items of furniture. We found out that the prior owner had recently passed away at the age of 93 and I guess most of the stuff had already been claimed by her relatives. We bought a few pieces of pyrex cookware that Mindy thought she could use. I like to keep her barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, so this should help. There was a really annoying Asian lady who was haggling like it was her job (perhaps it was). "How much for the iron?". "$4". "I will give you $2". I think I would have kicked her out if I was them, there was just something really crass about her manner.
As we were driving away, we were both thinking the same thing...I guess this is how it ends for all of us. Eventually, someone is going to go through all of your crap and sell it to annoying Asian ladies for virtually nothing. It struck me as sad that the furniture, nick nacks etc that you collect over your life will all be sold off to people who don't know or care about the history and memories that they represent. That pretty much depressed us for most of the drive home, then the rains came in and washed out cricket on Saturday, the Orioles and Redskins got thumped and almost all was lost...
...but the Eels beat the Dragons in the League! This is a HUGE deal, keeping alive their season and as an added bonus, ending Manly's season. Things are rolling well for them now after a horrible start to the year, if they keep playing this way, they have a chance I feel.
In other news, this past weekend was my 20 year high school reunion. Unfortunately I could not attend but got to hear an update from Daniel and see lots of pictures on Facebook. It looked like I missed a great night but hopefully there will be other future gatherings that might coincide with a visit home at some point.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Long Weekend...Longer Week
Last weekend was Labor Day, the traditional end to summer. Managed to see a lot of friends and get some drinking done so had a good time. Firstly though, Saturday morning brought the Tri-Nations to my computer screen. Great win by the Wallabies and really pleasing to see us play for the full 80 minutes with intensity and without the stupid mistakes that cost us in the other weeks. The rest of Saturday was spent with the Ryans eating chinese food and relaxing at home.
Sunday brought a visit to Phil and Allie, grilling and drinking some beer. At the end of the night we all played the wii, which, sadly to say, was my first time on this game system. I am horrible about adopting technology, gadgets etc but I think we were convinced enough to make this a part of the kids Christmas list (with a few games for us thrown in of course). It was strangely a lot of fun smashing Mindy over the head with a wooden stick in the game. The girls did a great job of bowling and we all really enjoyed it.
Monday was beer and pizza with the Howells. Very pleasant afternoon on the deck while the girls all played together.
Unfortunately, now I have had WAY too much stuff to catch up on during the week. Throw in the extra project I am working on in the evenings and I am really paying for it now. Should be somewhat back to normal be next week, I hope.
Sunday brought a visit to Phil and Allie, grilling and drinking some beer. At the end of the night we all played the wii, which, sadly to say, was my first time on this game system. I am horrible about adopting technology, gadgets etc but I think we were convinced enough to make this a part of the kids Christmas list (with a few games for us thrown in of course). It was strangely a lot of fun smashing Mindy over the head with a wooden stick in the game. The girls did a great job of bowling and we all really enjoyed it.
Monday was beer and pizza with the Howells. Very pleasant afternoon on the deck while the girls all played together.
Unfortunately, now I have had WAY too much stuff to catch up on during the week. Throw in the extra project I am working on in the evenings and I am really paying for it now. Should be somewhat back to normal be next week, I hope.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
37
Turned 37 yesterday. "Celebrated" by spending the day at work, followed by dinner/cake with the family and some friends who dropped by. Some beer was also consumed of course but nothing too extreme, at my age, not sure I can drink that much anyway! Gotta keep in prime physical condition for the cricket final in a few weeks... :-)
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