Wide Open

The west coast of Ireland kinda looks like Scotland.

Whiskey

Dylan is scoping out the best whiskey bars in Kilkenny for my next trip to Ireland.

Hurling

One of the fun things Dylan was able to participate in while being an injured rugby player on the team trip to Ireland was hurling. It's an ancient Gaelic sport that looks like fun. Dylan protected his knee and played goalie (wearing yellow and black jersey) and Nicole ran the field (light blue top, five Peale from the left). They were instructed by someone from the local Kilkenny hurling club.

Scooter

Sam hit three straight shots at the basketball carnival game and won a stuff animal. He had to put it under his shirt to be able to Uber scooter home from the Santa Monica pier. He's posing for me in front of the outside wall of a rock club near our apartment.

The Pier

We ran into the Woods family from home on the Santa Monica Pier last night. While we knew they were in LA, it was totally random to find them at the basketball carnival game.

Hollywood

At the Griffin Observatory after an early flight west.

Spooky Nook

Team Pro Look won 2 and lost 1 before we had to head home. Spooky Nook sports complex is a huge space with 30 basketball courts and other spaces like indoor football and baseball fields. We are packing for LA now.

Connemara

Rugby brothers visiting the wind swept western coast of Ireland.

Chaperones behaving badly

Nicole and her roommate making sure the kids stay out of trouble at a rugby match in Galway.

Dinner in Galway

Dinner with Dylan's rugby mentor in Galway to start the tour. Nathaniel has been great and taught Dylan much about this sport. He will be missed when he goes off to college next year.

Away

Sent from my iPhoneWe all realized that the boys had never been apart for more than 4 days since the beginning of life when Sam escaped the hospital a few weeks before Dylan. Dylan left for Ireland this morning with Nicole and while they will be back in 7 days, Sam and I will be in LA until a week from Saturday. That's about 10 days apart. They will miss each other.

Knee

Based on this MRI image, Dylan officially has a torn ACL. It was a rough day and a half coming to grips with the whole thing but we are on track to begin the process of returning to the sport he loves on April 25th. It will be a tough journey but Dylan feels up to the task and ready to get better than ever. I remember my own battle with the knee when I was a teenager and I know that if he wants it, he will come back stronger. Nicole, Sam and I are going to help him with each step and get him back on the field.

Dreaded Door

Sent from my iPhoneDylan is getting an MRI done of his right knee. We are hoping it will show an intact ACL. My metal knee needs to stay out of that room.

Loaders

Sam and some of his basketball comrades spent the day schlepping bags of mulch and delivering them to yards all over town on Saturday. It was the annual All Night Grad Party mulch sale. Nicole is the treasurer and she and Sam spent eight a half hours volunteering. Dylan was home nursing his knee but he did the same thing last year. I'm in Florida at a meeting and missed out. Darn.

All Those Showers

We've had record rain month after month since May 2018. The flowers are happy to see the sun and some 70 degree days.

Try

Sent from my iPhoneDylan picking up 5 points last weekend.

Tough Kid

Dylan had a really good rugby match today. 11 points consisting of a try and three conversions. (5+2+2+2). His last run of the game was a breakaway down the sideline for about 40 yards until he was tackled onto the track and bruised his knee and got a bloody nose. He was going really fast when he got hit but I think he will be fine. It's not rugby without a little blood.

Sophomores

The Sophomore team won the Edison basketball classic last night and Sam won the tournament MVP. Dylan coached the team that beat the seniors in overtime and the the Juniors by 10. It was a fun event except I think the teams took it a little too seriously at times.

All Stars

The boys marketing class and the DECA program are sponsoring a basketball all star tournament tonight. Each grade plays a round robin against each other with the winning class playing some all star teachers. Dylan is coaching his little brother and the sophomore team. Not sure if coach Dylan will start his brother or not.

It’s Good

One of Dylan's conversions against Xavier last weekend. The other team can run at you once you start the motion forward on the kick. They never get there in time but it is distracting.

Waiting

Dylan getting ready to receive the opening kick from Xavier in Philadelphia this afternoon. The fresh/soph team won 33-10 with Dylan making all his conversion kicks. The varsity got beat up pretty bad. Xavier is a top 5 team in the nation. Like in basketball, catholic schools have an advantage.

Another on takes the wheel

Sam got some parking lot driving time today.

18th Anniversary

Sent from my iPhoneThis happened just a few short years ago. Good times.

Behind the Wheel

Dylan got some parking lot driving time today. He seems happy about it.

DECA

Sam with his DECA teammates before heading to Virginia Beach for the state tournament. Sam is presenting a sports marketing concept and hanging out with is buddies in a hotel on the beach. I'm sure no shenanigans will happen.

Drivers?

The boys passed the written test to get their permit to drive. Now comes 9 months of dashboard clutching rides in the passenger seat for me and Nicole.

Scrum Helmet

Dylan experimented with his scrum helmet at yesterday's rugby match. He didn't actually wear it in the game but considered it. Typically only a few players wear these and they tend to be in the scrums. Dylan is a winger and doesn't scrum.

Regionals

The Eagles won their first regional game against Briar Woods in OT. Next stop Freedom South Riding out past Dulles against the Potomac district champs on Thursday.

Charlotte Tigers

Dylan and I had a good trip to Charlotte last weekend for a couple of rugby matches. The weather was cold but dry and the competition tough. Dylan scored two tries and kicked his first ever conversion in competition. He loves this game.

We also had some time to have dinner together on Friday night and explore Charlotte a bit and have lunch together on Saturday afternoon. Our trip down on Friday was slow, with a few accidents and backed up traffic in the way. Our trip home on Sunday was going extremely well until we hit Petersburg Virginia where some obstacle in the roadway destroyed the very lower part of the front bumper and a bunch of stuff under the car.

I didn't see what we hit but I think the car ahead of me and to the right hit it first and sent it low and fast right at the middle of my car. It caused quite a bump, like a ginormous pothole but it didn't effect the wheels at all. The car continued to drive fine but it became clear that we didn't have the power we had before the bump. We made it home with the car straining at times on hills.

In daylight this morning I noticed what looked like some animal hair on the under carriage before the tow truck came to take it to the shop. I'm looking forward to hearing what the shop thinks I hit. It was a slightly stressful end to a really fun weekend.

Stoked

Dylan was pumped up after a 40 yard run for his first try of the night. The refs are being up means a try and Dylan is walking away from the ball he just downed with a head full of steam. He really enjoys this sport.

The South

Nothing says North Carolina like the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We actually didn't pay the 25 bones each to go in, but did visit the gift shop. We had a fun afternoon in downtown Charlotte. We had lunch while watching some basketball at a pub and walked around a bit before heading to the rugby pitch. More rugby in the morning.

Concentration

Sent from my iPhoneSam had 9 points and went 5-6 from charity stripe.

Wakefield

Sent from my iPhoneSam tipped off against his AAU teammate and in front of his AAU coach in his final regular season game last night. His AAU coach and teammate are on Wakefield high school. I dreaded rival. I don't think Sam ever jumped that high for the tip and ended up winning it. They lost the game after leading for three quarters but he played really well in front of both his coaches. (Edison and Pro Look/AAU).

Dylan and I drove down to Charlotte North Carolina for a Rugby Tournament yesterday and missed the sold out game. The district tournament starts next week.

Game Drought

Sent from my iPhoneIt's been over a week since the last game. All those school closures last week means 3 games this week. We started a little slow but lead Jefferson 28-21 at half.

Wrapped Up

Dylan taking down a runner on the wing.

11

Dylan was awarded a varsity jersey for his first 15's Rugby game and while he didn't play in the victory over Gregory the Great, he had two excellent tackles in the JV game. The Warriors had about 40 kids today and they typically give jerseys to 23 for varsity. I think it gave him a boost of confidence to make the varsity team in his first game. The warriors won a close contest and Dylan didn't play but he lost all those butter flys and doubts to shine in the JV game. We are off to Charlotte NC next weekend for a tournament and Dylan can't wait.

Nice and Warm

Sent from my iPhoneThe warriors are working out indoors tonight, which is nice considering the temp outside. They have a match on Sunday when it's supposed to be in the high 50's. Can't beat that for a February rugby match.

Polar Vortex

The cold arrived yesterday with a little snow. Not enough for sledding or snowmen but enough to close the schools and postpone basketball games.

Tim and Steph

These two made Sam's basketball game against Falls Church tonight. I'm in Atlanta and missed a close one with Edison winning 66-61. It was closer than it should've been.

Phunt

Nicole ran a 50k team trail run with her Ragnar buddies on Saturday morning. The trail was way north of Baltimore, almost Pennsylvania. They had to leave at 4:30am and didn't get back until almost 6pm. They missed the rain and snow that arrived later in the day. Not sure why the race is called Phunt, but it is.

Cracker

Went to see one of my favorites last night with Modean, donkey and Thom. Cracker has been around since the 80's but sons as good as ever. Fun night.

Leadership

The eagles lost to Wakefield last night and while that is disappointing, Sam had a good game and not just in scoring and rebounds. Like he was the loan freshman on the team last year, Bryce is this years freshman. He's a very talented guard with a competitive streak that can get him in trouble with the refs.

The game was close most of the night and very physical. At one point in the 3rd, Bryce was fouled hard and didn't get the call. He started in at the ref and Sam moved quickly to get between them and push Bryce away from what would have been a technical foul. It was the fast thinking and maturity that Sam showed that made the night. They should have a couple more years together on this team and leadership will be an important ingredient for success.

The picture below is the two of them after a big win in Pennsylvania earlier in the month. A little happier than last night.

Snowy Walk

Sam and I needed to get outside for a bit. Nicole has shoveled a few times now but joined us for a jaunt in the snow. Dylan didn't want to let se any video game time. He will have plenty of video game time tomorrow with school closed. 8 inches total I think. It's just stopping now.

Snow Lights

I'm always happy when I leave the holiday lights up and get some snow to enhance the look. About 7 inches now.

Camouflage

The house is trying to hide in this winter landscape. We got about 5 inches last night with a few more predicted today. There is a 99.999 percent chance of school being cancelled tomorrow. This is Virginia.

Low Post

Sam working the low post in this morning game. The Eagles beat TJ last night but came back to school this morning at 10am to fall a few points short against Matoaca. Sam collected a dozen rebounds and scored six in each game. Tough division opponents comment no up next week.

Upping the Totals

We are only getting flurries at this point but the latest estimates have gone up again. This morning basketball game is over, rugby practice is ending soon, the fireplace is going and Nicole's shovel is by the side door. Let it snow.

Some Snow

It's not coming on a work or school day but I still have my outside holiday lights up for that winter wonderland effect.

Jimmy T

Found out today that Jimmy T had a stroke earlier this week. I haven't seen him in a couple years but was planning to reach out to grab a drink for forever. I never thought a stroke would get in the way of catching and laughing about our trip to Hawaii 16 years ago.

Jimmy has some speech and paralysis issues but I understand he's making progress. I hope to see him soon.

New Year

Only a three day work week but I jammed a lot into those days. Enjoying the last couple days of our holiday trees and drinking some new scotch from Campbeltown Scotland sent by Linda and Gil. It's my favorite whiskey region in Scotland.