White Witch and Edmund

Happy Halloween!

And yes, I did dress up as Manny Ramirez. But that photo won't be shown. I look a bit scary in a braided dreadlocky do-rag hairstyle, it turns out.

Change of Seasons

Yesterday was the last group o'soccer games. It was one of those beautiful autumn days - sunny, but a little chilly with the smell of fall in the air.

Both kids did great. The best moment of the first game was when Son D was barreling down the field with the ball and seconds before he got to the goal, he stopped, looked around and passed the ball to a teammate who hadn't yet scored, so his friend could get a goal. Soccer comes easy to son D, so it is nice to see him picking up some sportsmenship in the process.

The best moment of the second game was when Daughter D scored her VERY FIRST SOCCER GOAL EVER. I was cheering so loud for her, you could probably hear me halfway across the country. In a split second, I became one of those parents I don't really like very much. She blew through everyone and ran right past plenty of teammates to whom she could have passed the ball....Screw "sportsmanship," - she GOT A GOAL! Her very first one!

Yes, I am a hypocrite. Yes, my children will require years of therapy to determine that I parented them differently due to birth order, gender, personality, and the rest. They can send me the bill.....

Next week, we move on to ice skating. We are doing a 7 week session of lessons at an indoor rink around the corner. From soccer to skating in less than a week. Must be that season known as 'fawinter" here in Wisconsin. You blink, and there is snow on the ground.

YEAH REDSOX!!!!!!!!

Nothing else. Just "yeah RedSox"

...that and I promised the kids I'd dress up as Manny Ramirez for Halloween if the Sox won before Wednesday.

I guess I'll be looking for some black thick yarn tomorrow to create my flowing locks.

Obligatory Pumpkin Patch photos

I just realized that it's not going to be dark for Halloween this year, due to the daylight savings time switch-a-roo. Wouldn't you know, the ONE year that I actually get my act together and find glowsticks and flashlights, I might not need them?

Then and Now

Because I am a masochist, I watched a replay of the 1986 Mets - Sox game 6 of the World Series while I was making dinner. (Did you know there is a tv station that only shows old games? ESPN classic? I had *no* idea until I was flipping through the channels tonight and saw *gasp* Jim Rice.) So I watched.

I remember that game like it was yeterday. I was in my freshman year at a college outside Boston. Most of the other students were from NYC. Or so it seemed that night. all I can remember is Sinatra's "New York, New York" BLARING from all the other dorms on the Hill the minute the game ended.

I haven't watched that game since the live version in '86 and i have to say, watching it again: IT WASN'T BUCKNERS FAULT. There were a whole slew of other things that went wrong that inning. He was just one piece of the puzzle.

Gee, 20 years of blaming him, all for naught.

The other thing that struck me was how *small* the players were 20 years ago. Even the powerhouses were small. I remember Mookie as being enormous. But compared to Manny or Ortiz today? He's teeny. Is it the steroids? Or all we, as a society, just bigger?

On the radio

Somehow, my east coast dad was on Wisconsin Public Radio this morning! Due to that pesky time zone difference, we missed it live, but luckily it's on the web and we are listening now. (who knew when they said 8 am to him, they meant 8 am Eastern Time??)

For all the relatives who'd like to listen it is here:
http://www.wpr.org/webcasting/audioarchives_display.cfm?Code=jca

(today's 7 am Joy Cardin show)

You can use my email address and my zip code to download it. (I don't know my WPR member number..sadly...)
kpnelson (at) mac.com
53704

Son D is sitting on my lap, completely engrossed even thought he doesn't have a clue what his grandfather is talking about. He keeps saying, "that's grandpa Jack!" and wants to know how all those people in Milwaukee know him. (It's a call-in show.) He also is asking "Who's Katrina?" and "Why is grandpa in an institute?" and "Why aren't they talking to Nana, too?"

Fair Weather Fan

Excuse me while I become completely unproductive for the next 10 days, obsessing on the many ways in which the Red Sox can somehow lose the world series. (and on how the Democrats will manage to lose the next election....could these things be related?)

To be honest, I haven't watched a whole regular season Sox game for almost 11 years. True fan, huh?

But every year, when post-season comes around, I am sucked right back to my childhood in New England. I turn right back into that geeky girl who could name every single Sox player in the '78 season, including what position they played and their number.

There is a car in our neighborhood with the license plate "Rice08" Every time I see it, I say to myself, "No, Rice was 14. Yaz was 8." Eventually I figured out that it is just a Republican unhappy with the current choices. (The "Bush/Cheney" bumper sticker gave it away.)

I suspect those of you who really follow the Sox must think of me the way regular church-goers think of the folks who only show up on Christmas and Easter.

And in 2007, you'd be right.

But in 1978, I was right there with you.



My favorite Red Sox player, ever.