College Visits

Woof.
Earlier this week, Henry and I went Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, to check it out, and we both loved it. It's the right size, has a great college feel to it, takes academics seriously and has a rockin' sports culture (at least for basketball). Every single person we met during the day was helpful and nice. And the soccer coaches, facility and program are top-notch!  Keep your fingers crossed for him (next year).
I didn't bring my camera, but I did do a little sketching, including this one:

We had been planning to go visit two more colleges at the end of this week - University of Oregon and Oregon State - but we decided to put that off for now. We just weren't up for a ten hour drive and devoting four days to do the visits just now. It's spring break, and we decided to enjoy the rest of the week instead. We figured that we could visit them next year if Henry gets into those colleges. 
Did you go to college? Did you visit before you decided where to attend? What made you choose your school? 
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Today, I'm participating in Abi's "Operation Speak Out," which encourages people to come out of lurkdom and comment on blogs. So, look for me to comment on your blog.

And feel free to participate and leave me some comment love!

Storytelling Sunday: Squeeze Play

From Wikipedia:
In baseball, the squeeze play is a maneuver consisting of a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third base. The batter bunts the ball, expecting to be thrown out at first base, but providing the runner on third base an opportunity to score. . . . In a safety squeeze, the runner at third does not take off until the batter makes contact bunting, waiting for more certainty that the ball will go to a location from which it will be difficult for the fielding team to make an out at home plate. In a suicide squeeze, the runner takes off as soon as the pitcher begins to throw the pitch, before releasing the ball. If properly executed, a play at home plate is extremely unlikely. However, if the batter fails to make contact with the pitch, the runner is likely to be put out at home plate (hence, "suicide"). Therefore, the suicide squeeze usually requires a skilled bunter who can make contact consistently, even on difficult pitches, and a confident, aggressive base runner. These plays are often used in the late innings of a close game in order to score an insurance, winning, or tying run.

Suicide Squeeze all the way . . . 

And safe at home. For the go-ahead run.  Nice!
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This story, in pictures and words, is brought to you as part of Sian's Storytelling Sunday. For more great stories, check out this link.

Off the pitch and back to the diamond

My son Henry's high school soccer season has ended (although he's still playing with his club team), and his high school baseball season is underway.  He's the good looking one, third from the right without a hat on.  Come back tomorrow for a baseball story, in words and pictures, as part of Sian's Storytelling Sunday.
P.S. for those of you curious about my big decision, I got the camera! Will start playing with it and posting results soon.

Soccer Faces/Soccer Stories

My faces #7 and #8 for the 29 faces challenge turned into soccer players - one has a Diego Maradona feel and the other a bit of Roy Keane going on.  They seemed good artwork to blog a few stories from my son's high school season. Long time blog readers will remember that the boys had an amazing season last year, going on a championship run that was truly special and will be remembered all their lives.  This year has been a different story. Nine of our players graduated, and we moved up to a higher division fielding a much weaker team.  They're currently 3-7-2, with two games left to play. We're fighting against relegation. 
But, in the midst of that, there's been rays of hope as well:
1.  They boys haven't given up. They keep trying and, in the last three games, have gone 2-0-1. I think they will finish the season with their heads held high.
2. For the first time in recent memory, none of the boys were removed from the team for poor academic records. The grade cut-off is not that demanding, but the soccer players typically come from disadvantaged backgrounds and we usually lose one or two to poor grades. This year, every single one has managed to stick with the team, and we have many players focused on going to college.
3. We had a wonderful ceremony for our first Friday night home match where we unveiled a sign for last year's championship, as well as the newly purchased and installed signs marking the school's 13 previous championships.  We had at least one player from each of those championship years in attendance at the ceremony.
4. Last Friday night, we had a crowd of almost 200 fans for "Youth Soccer Night."
5. On a personal note, DS Henry has been attending college I.D. camps and showing well.  He has at least one college that is very interested in having him play for them. When a different college complimented his skills but suggested he should focus on non-Division 1 schools, he said he might print that email out, use it as motivation and then send it to the coach after he makes a Division 1 team!
It turns out that there are many measures of success I guess, and even without a shiny championship patch for this season, it seems the boys have done pretty well.  Wouldn't you agree?

Single Word Captions - what say you?

Sad.

Frustrated.

Hurt.

Angry.

Carded.
Spent the last few days in Chowchilla, CA (approximately the middle of nowhere; filled with orchards and farmland, I kept looking for bee boxes!). It was not the best soccer tournament Henry and his team have had, but I'm actually quite happy with the emotion I captured in these photos. A different perspective than my typical sports shots which look more like these:

It's good to take a different perspective on things sometimes. What do you think?

Sometimes you've got to play hooky . . .

As my regular readers know, my family are fans of the American baseball team, the San Francisco Giants. They're having a very good run this year. They made the playoffs and won the first round, thereby advancing to the National League Championship Series for a best of seven series against the Philadelphia Phillies. They split the first two games in Philadelphia and then returned home to San Francisco for games 3, 4 and 5. Well, I bit the bullet and paid through the nose for two tickets so that my 15 year old son, Henry, and I could go to the first game. I've got an art journal page brewing about the experience, but I wanted to write the story of the day while it was still fresh because buying those playoff tickets . . . best investment. Ever. 
Henry was thrilled when he heard the news and enjoyed bragging to his friends the day before the game.  When I went to pick him up early from school - he and I both dressed head-to-toe in Giants gear - the attendance officer smiled broadly at us and asked, "And where are you two going?" Before I could squeak out, "Would you believe a doctor's appointment?", she said "Are you going to the game? I wish I were. Have a great time!" Henry is such a hardworking and good student that not one of his teachers or school administrators would begrudge him a day of playing hooky.
We took the train to the game, and, as more and more fans boarded at each stop, many "go Giants!" shouts were heard. We walked to the glorious stadium, which is located down town about half a mile from the train stop, and the excitement grew with the waves of black and orange all around us.  Chants of "Let's Go Giants!" filled the air, as vendors gave us signs and rally towels to take into the stadium. 

We scooted down to the edge of the field to watch batting practice, and I snapped these images with my iphone:

(that'd be Henry)

(apparently, I wasn't the only parent who had pulled their kid out of school!).
Once back in our seats, the opening ceremonies got started.  I got goosebumps when a huge American flag unfurled on the field, military jets flew over and a beautifully voiced singer sang our National Anthem. 

Then the crowd went wild when Barry Bonds (a former Giants superstar player who has kept his distance from the team and the ballpark because he has become the symbol of the "steroid era" in baseball) was announced to throw out the first pitch. The stadium erupted as the prodigal son returned.  
But that eruption was nothing compared to what happened when the Giants took the lead with a two-out rally in the middle of the game or when they turned a double-play at game's end to clinch the victory.  We were all fist pumps and high fives; back slaps and hugs; dancing in the stands and screaming for all we were worth. I can't count the number of times Henry turned to me and said, "This is the best day ever!"

Afterward, we walked by the television broadcasting booth because Henry wanted to try to get his face on TV (he did).

And truly we were in no rush to leave.  I think we both wanted that day - and the glow from it - to go on forever.
The Giants now have a 3-1 lead in the series. If they win tonight (Thursday), they go to the World Series. If they lose, they go back to Philadelphia needing to win one of the last two games to advance.  No matter. Whatever happens with the Giants, I feel like I winner. Because I got to spend this day with my boy. And I'm grateful. Because sometimes you've got to play hooky.

First Day of School: the bigger picture

School started for the kids last Wednesday, and there's some details I want to jot down before I forget them.   But, before I go there, let me note the bigger picture:  I am so grateful I have these two wonderful, healthy children in my life.  I'm not sure how we got so lucky, but I thank God we did.

Clara is such a funny mix of independence and clinginess.  She wants to do most everything for herself but will still give me a hug when she hasn't seen me for a while. She's very conscious of her appearance, and she just got her hair straightened before school started.  She also had her first facial and a consultation with my estetician so she could learn about how to take care of her skin and about the proper types/ways to wear make up. She's going to continue swimming and working with her math tutor this fall but feels pretty confident about school. She loves to text her friends, play with her cat, watch DeGrassi on TV, read Judy Blume and beg us to get her another pet (usually a dog). She takes the bus to increase the amount of social time she has with her friends.

Henry is such a young man. He loves to practice driving and has become quite good at staying on top of his own schedule. He's finally self-motivated about personal hygiene. He still wants me to drive him to school everyday but is content to take the bus home. He's looking forward to fall baseball and the start of soccer season. He talks to friends on facebook and sometimes via texts. He's following the S.F. Giants and hopes they make the playoffs.  He likes to watch silly reality shows on MTV and loves hip-hop music.

Such a Boy (and almost last call for haiku/photo pairs)

Extreme Mountain Bikes

He found a new sport to love

He is such a boy!

We're vacationing this week in Lake Tahoe, California, a beautiful spot in the Sierra Mountains.  We're staying at the Northstar Ski Resort, which in the summer turns its ski runs into mountain bike runs.  The kids and I gave it a go yesterday, with decidedly mixed results.  I fell several times and had to conclude I was just not any good at it (nor did I enjoy it much).  Clara did fine but prefers other activities (like riding a regular bike along the river or, more precisely, swimming in the river). Henry, however, took to it like a fish to water. Or, more precisely, like a 15 year old boy to wild, crazy fun.

 And, a gentle reminder, it's almost last call for the haiku/photo pairing blog give away.  Simply pair a photograph with a haiku, post it to your blog and link it to the post you will find here.  Contest closes Sunday, California time, at 10:00 p.m. Come join the fun!


P.S. For those who asked, crawdads are also called crayfish or crawfish in the U.S. They are a crustacean that looks like a small lobster.  They're called yabby or koura in Australia. They are mostly extinct in Europe.

When did you become a champion?

Grateful for Henry (art journal page in gratitude journal)

Henry,
When exactly did you become a champion?  You've always been a good baseball player, and we expected to see you get your share of wins and individual awards. But, lately, something has changed.  You and your teams have started to win championships.  Championships are hard.  You have to win a lot of games, and, during the playoffs, if you lose even one game, you go home.  Your first championship was a long time in coming - not until you were 11 years old and playing on your first majors team.  After that, your travel teams won a couple of local tournaments and eventually a USSSA tournament.  Last year, your all-star team won its first every District Championship and brought home a coveted banner.  Then, this week, in the space of two days, your teams won two championships!
I see the difference in you, too.  Thankfully it's not obnoxious over-confidence and conceit.  It is simply the quiet confidence that you can win consistently enough to always be in contention.  I witnessed it during one of the recent semi-final games when your team played a grueling 14 inning game, and you pitched 7 shut-out innings to keep your team in contention.  I knew that you knew, every time you took the mound, you would not let them score.  I could tell just by looking at you.  And it made me so proud of you.  
Two days later, you pitched a complete game as your other team claimed victory in the league championship game. When I congratulated you on that championship, I said, "Two championships in two days - you've been on a pretty good run."  You smiled and replied, "Yeah. I haven't lost in a while." You've always been a winner, son, but what's different now is that you've become a champion.  And I am so grateful to have been a witness to it.
 Love,
Mom

8-8 Photo Story

There's been an interesting thread floating around in blog land lately - I saw it most recently on Mel's blog.  The idea is to go to the place on your computer where you store your photos, open the eighth folder, and choose the eighth photo.  Then tell its story.  Here's what I found.

March 26, 2007 

Surprise, Arizona

One of the things on my "bucket list" (or things you want to do before you die) had been to go to baseball spring training with my son.  Because we both love baseball.  And because I love him.  So much.  I knew it would be a special time together.  

When he was twelve years old, we finally flew together to Arizona to enjoy a long weekend at spring training.  On this day, we arrived at the stadium early and asked if we could upgrade our tickets for anything closer, and they put us here.  In the second row! 

It was baseball heaven. And this photo of DS Henry taking it all in brings it all back.  Which is really nice because he's being a bit of a snarky 15 year old these days.  Thanks for the reminder of a sweeter time.

Bragging on Myself

Pride.  It's a bad thing, I know.  Of all those "deadly sins," it is the one I am most prone to step in, and more than once, karma's come back to haunt me when I've been too proud or boastful.  Yet, unable to contain myself, I continue to brag on myself.  I can't help it.  When I was in high school, my best friend's mom used to say about us, "You girls are so full of yourselves.  You two should print up t-shirts to wear around all the the time that say, 'I'm the greatest!'"  I think it's in my DNA.  So, here I go again .  .  .
Regular blog readers will know that I enjoy taking sports portraits and action shots, and I think I do a pretty good job.  I take all the team & individual photos for DD's middle school, in order to help raise money.  I don't take any money for my time or effort, and this year the fundraiser will fund about 10% of the athletic budget!  Yea me! (Did I say that out loud?) This week, a mom of one of the girls stopped me when I was getting ready to do the soccer photos.  She told me how much she loved the photos I took of her daughter for volleyball, said it was the best portrait ever taken of her and that she decided to use it with all her high school applications.  She then asked me if  she could book a sitting to do a family portrait!  I'm afraid I laughed. Out loud. Because I'm not a professional photographer after all.  Really.  I'm just a mom with a decent camera and a good eye.  But, I have to admit it made me rather proud when she assumed I was a professional!
Then, I got the "professional" photo back from DS' high school baseball team.  It's that crap photo on the right above.  Blown-out lighting, dead fish expression, and oddly cropped.  How could a photographer make my gorgeous boy look sooooo bad?  I compared it with the snapshot of him I took that day - it's the one on the left.  And again, I felt some amount of pride in my photography skills.  And some grumblies about having paid good money for that awful  picture!  
Final story.  Last night, there was an auction/fund raiser for the local little league (baseball for kids from 5 -14 years of age).  I donated two photo displays.  Each one had three 5x7 pictures of San Francisco Giants professional baseball players framed together.  And you know what?  People bought them!  One went for $90, and the other for $70! I was pretty thrilled.  And proud.  Again.  Hopefully karma won't bite me too hard for bragging on myself.  Most of these realizations came about while I was donating to good causes after all.

Signs of Spring and a Story

Spring has definitely sprung here in northern California! I've noticed an abundance of California golden poppies - the state flower and one of my favorites.  And the other night, I actually settled down in front of the television to watch a San Francisco Giants game with my boy!  
He's also settling into his first year of High School baseball . . . another sign of spring.  He had "lost" his spot as starting shortstop during the preseason because  he was acting a bit lazy in practice and he was not hitting well.  Even though he was the starting pitcher for the league opener, he yearned to get back to the infield.  When the other short stop made a few errors, the coach gave him a chance to "earn" his spot back.  His fielding has been impeccable (it always has been his strength) and he's had a great on-base percentage.  The other day, he was all smiles when he reported that his coach had said, "You do know that you stole your spot back and ran away with it, don't you?"

  

Has spring sprung where you are?  What signs of spring do you see?

Proud Mom Moment (I love this photo)

My blog is mostly about my art, with just a little life thrown in, and I'm happy with that.  I have noticed though that some of my favorite blog posts that I read on other blogs are the posts that give me a glimpse into the blogger's real life.  So, I'm trying a bit of that today.  Let me know what you think.
The photo up top is from Wednesday.  In the morning, I did three loads of laundry, scrapped these tone-on-tone cardstock layouts for the Shimelle class, picked up the house a little and watched reruns of The West Wing on Bravo. At 1:30, I headed off to drive DS Henry to his baseball game.  Proud Mom moment #1: He was the starting pitcher for their first league game. After the game, we headed off to the High School Library for the Awards Ceremony for the High School soccer team.  Proud Mom moment #2: He was named MVP for the Offense (also named to First Team All League). Today's picture is of Henry with Andres (Defensive MVP) and Rual (Most Improved). I love the fact that he's at the soccer awards in his baseball uniform.  I also love the fact that, if you look closely, you can see that he's wearing his favorite Obama t-shirt under his jersey.  Look closer still, and over his right eye, you'll see a scab.  He got hit in the head with a baseball last week pitching batting practice at lunchtime . . . he was back on the mound for the last preseason scrimmage the following day.  The boy's definitely a gamer.
Here's some photo links that will give you a peek into my life outside the blogosphere - things I find appealing because of who I am IRL.
First, a great photo site called Caliber that Nancy of SquirrelyArt turned me on to.  It's primarily photos of San Francisco, and they're all awesome. IRL, I live 20 miles south off San Francisco, so they all speak to me.
Second, this slideshow of hilarious help wanted signs from the Huffington Post.  I think you may know that IRL I'm a law professor who specializes in labor and employment law.  So, this sort of think really appeals to me.
Finally, here's a couple of pictures of my office.  I teach at the University of San Francisco School of Law, and I hang my art work (the middle two pieces) in my office!

I love this photo

"Mom, would you stop taking my picture?"
No, son, I won't.
Because occasionally I take a picture that makes my heart skip a beat when I look at it. Like the team photo for your high school baseball team below. It's not a great technical photo, but when I look at it, I see you and all those boys you've been playing ball with since you were five years old. And my heart skips a beat because suddenly, you look like young men.  And it hits me that you're really in High School. Really. And you're all growing up.  And I love you so much and want so much for you to grow up to be a good man and to be happy.
That's what happens sometimes when I look at the photos I take of you. So, no, I'm not going to stop taking your picture any time soon.
Deal with it.