The World is Watching-- World Cup Qualifying

I had a really new experience last evening.

Jeremy and I traveled to RFK Stadium in D.C. (and it was a travel--the usual 30 min trip took over 2 hours because of traffic!) to watch the U.S. Soccer Team play against Costa Rica in the final World Cup qualifying match. I had never watched a U.S. team play in international competition before.

Good news--the U.S. already clinched a World Cup berth by beating Honduras in Honduras on Saturday. So we didn't even need a win to get to South Africa.

Ok--here is the fun part. How many times have you watched a U.S. Team or individual play or participate in a sport on television and heard the chant U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A?

I know I have a whole lot.

Better than watching on TV, is to be in the crowd doing the chanting and believing that the louder the crowd chants, the better the U.S. team plays.

Down at field level was Sam's Army decked out in red-white, and blue cheering and when goals were scored celebrating enthusiastically with the best of all banners--the U.S. Flag! How can you not love being there.

And it seemed true last night as the U.S. Soccer Team overcame a two goal deficit to tie Costa Rica 2-2 in the final. The last goal being scored with just about 30 seconds of playing time left and the U.S. Team down a man due to a late injury and no substitutions left. It is the stuff movies are made of.

The rain was falling, the lights burned bright into the night and on the stage rabid supporters of two countries cheered their teams. Sam's Army was a sight to behold. After the game, the members of the U.S. team came over and celebrated with Sam's Army and that was another of the coolest things--they thanked the fans for their support, right on the field after the game.

It was fun! And somehow, we never doubted that the U.S. team would not lose! And they did not lose even when down by a man and with a lot less to play for than the Costa Ricans who needed a win to advance to the World Cup next year in South Africa! The Costa Ricans (a/k/a Ticos) are now playing a two-game playoff (or play-in) against Uruguay for the last spot.

So if you get a chance--go someplace with a lot of other Americans yelling
U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A

Enjoy yourself. It surely doesn't happen enough.

Talking the Walk

Sunday in church, a real interesting statement was made:

Talk without action is heresy
Action without talk is mystery

I wrote it down so I could remember it.

It goes with some well known phrases:

"Talk is cheap!"
“If you’re going to talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk”
"Actions speak louder than words"
“Practice what you preach”
"Walk it like you talk it”
"Put your money where your mouth is"
"Don't let your mouth write checks your body can't cash"

Of course it is a twist on a couple of Bible verses from James:

But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? - James 2:20 (NET Bible)

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. - James 2:26 (NET Bible)


But it was the second part of the memory jogger that really hit me--"action without talk is mystery!" Interesting!

So you do something really cool for someone and don't do the second part--we need to tell them why! If we don't tell them why, they are left with a big thank-you but you've missed a valuable opportunity to do something even cooler--tell them who your are working for!

You don't have to puff yourself up with it all, be humble--the likelihood is that they were put in your path for a reason: so you could give them a piece of good news!

We seem to get wrapped up in our society with telling and directing and postulating good ideas--but we are pretty sloppy on the follow through! But when follow through happens, it is OK to make sure the beneficiary of the action knows the why for the action. Don't leave it a mystery! They need to know.

Anonymous deeds are great--if you are doing them for self-aggrandizement reasons. But if you are in the service of someone else (like God?)--humbly talk about it! Give the credit that is due. How else will someone understand the love that is waiting for them? Someone has to tell them!

In the Vineyard

One of the highlights of the weekend to Charlottesville was going out into one of the vineyards with the wine maker and discussing the grapes. They were black, and ripe, and oh so sweet. It was Keswick Vineyards.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love wine. We visit a lot of wineries, but few--like almost none, allow you to stroll the vineyards and especially not with the winemaker. It was awesome--and we were so impressed that we joined the wine club so that we have to go back a couple times per year!!


It was really interesting to have him show me how he knows--in addition to all the scientific stuff, when the grapes are really ready to pick. And how to tell when the wines are going to be great. We were talking about the rain and the weather in relation to picking the grapes--they like it a bit dry. I even learned how to tell what color the wine will be by the skin on the grapes.

The wines they make though are oh so good. Chris and I even fancied for a bit about retiring and opening a vineyard! Yeah--me a farmer? I'd rather be scuba diving. LOL.

Oh, but the day was so fun and the weather so good and I really developed an appreciation for Virginia wines.

Grapes are picked and selected by hand! just like in "olden" times. Even Chris got into the harvesting act. The vineyards were just beginning to have their leaves turn and so we got some really cool pictures of the grapes and the leaves and the sky and the sun!



The funniest thing was when we stopped on our way to the tasting center to get some pictures and a pair of dogs came charging at Chris as she was snapping the picture of the red leaved grapes. She got a little panicked because there was a "No Trespassing" sign right where she was standing.

But even so, with a steady hand and a beating heart, like the photographer she is--she got her shot before the dogs devoured her. OK--we later found out that they probably would have licked her to death because they are really nice dogs.

Monday Musings - October 12, 2009

1. I do not understand why schools do not celebrate Federal Holidays! Our schools get Yom Kippur and Rosh Hosanna off, but not Columbus Day or Veterans Day. I think this is a problem.

2. Explain this to me--why do parents of special needs children believe they are entitled to services which rob other children of basic educational needs? I mean--some special needs children seem to get incredible amounts of support, yet the normal children are essentially paying for these services and resources by having to make do with less.

3. My wife really created the perfect birthday present for me with the weekend escape to Charlottesville. Thanks Chris--and good job. I only hope I can be a creative with your birthday.

4. Why do I seem to work harder on holidays than non-holidays? With the help of Patrick and Tina the wood pile is now split firewood, stacked and ready to burn! BTW--I also played a racquetball match today and my back is a mess from everything I did.

5. Nicole and Mike returned from France tonight. Wow. I am so happy for them getting to get a weekend in Paris! I hope you had fun--and I am sure you did.

6. Passport? We don't need no stinking passports. OK--I'm going to get one. Really! 'Cause I want to travel. Look out Bonaire--here I come.

7. What a great month October is--baseball playoffs, football is in full swing, hockey is rolling! Wow.

8. Think about this---the World Series with Los Angeles Dodgers vs the New York Yankees! Joe Torre does NY!!! It could happen unless the Angels save us from another Yankee coronation.

9. Wow it was cold today! Can I move someplace warmer?

10. Holidays. Enjoy them! The seasons seem to move faster and faster--they are a blur. If only we could stop for a minute and hold onto the memories and the relationships we have adn expand them on each holiday.

11. Priorities. Think about it. So many of us have them really messed up. We don;t seem to recognize the importance of family--and family seems to drop lower and lower because they are always there. Strangers even begin to move higher in our priorities than our family. What is wrong with this picture?

Jeremy, Goals, and The Baltimore Marathon

A new experience yesterday--actually attending a running event of world class proportions: The Baltimore Marathon.

Wow! I was amazed at the number of people--20,000 runners and over 70,000 spectators all over Baltimore! And it was a sight to behold--all of the people and runners.

And of course our own--Jeremy who ran in the Half Marathin. That would be 13.1 miles for those of you who are trying to figure the distance out..

We went with Nicole and had a great time at the running festival. We watched the start, enjoyed the crowds and Inner Harbor while he ran, and then watched him finish with panache!

Jeremy was the winner--he set a tough goal, trained for it, and completed it! We should all be able to set goals and then have the intensity and mettle to achieve them!

Way to go Jer!

Monroe and Ash Lawn-Highland

So the answer to the question about the 5th President is of course James Monroe.

His home is also near Charlottesville, VA and is very close to Jefferson's Monticello. The home is called Ash Lawn-Highland. James and Elizabeth lived there although due to fire and subsequent rebuilding only part of the original structure survives. The surviving part, interestingly enough, is painted white and you can see that part in the pictures. The not so original part is yellow.

In addition to the Monroe Doctrine, James is credited with saving the originals of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence when the British fooled the military and attacked Washington instead of Baltimore.

By comparison to both Monticello and Montpelier, Ash Lawn-Highland is modest, but still well above the standard for a normal Virginia family of the time.

Many of the furnishings are authentic Monroe or period pieces--but the curator has made some significant deviations which if you are a purist could detract from the historical sense of the visit.

An interesting tidbit--the first White House wedding (although during the period it was known as the President's House) was for Monroe's daughter Maria Hester Monroe Gouverneur (1803–1850) who married her second cousin Samuel L. Gouverneur on March 8, 1820.

Ash Lawn-Highland is owned and administered by The college of William and Mary.

Madison and Montpelier

Continuing in my Charlottesville, VA vacation series. On to President number 4, James Madison.

Chris and I visited the Madison plantation at Montpelier Station, VA and had a very enjoyable afternoon.

I learned two very important things during my visit with the Madisons.

First, how to spell Montpelier! Yeah--that was a toughie for me because obviously I have been mispronouncing the place all these years.

Second, that the correct spelling of James' wife's name is Dolley! (Check it out!)

And adjunct item we learned was that James was reported to be a short as 5'2" tall. Although most historians give his height as 5'4". I did read that his height is listed between 5'2" and 5'6" and that the more a person liked him, the taller his height was recorded.

I was honored to be able to pose with the former President and First Lady. Due to his vertically challenged stature, James is almost always shown seated in the presence of Dolley.

The plantation is a great place to visit. I recommend early in the day--but any really nice day will do. I did enjoy early October. The house has been fully restored but is sparsely furnished. Try not to compare Montpelier to Monticello--it will not work. They are light years apart in terms of historical recreation. But, Montpelier is coming along fast.

You can see the genius of Madison in the construction of the house. Jefferson reportedly called Madison the best farmer he had ever known. And it seems true.

A tour of the house is fascinating, but like so many other places--no pictures! Ugh! There are many outside areas and archaeological places to visit. Additionally, the influence of the Dupont's (subsequent owners of the property to the Madisons) can be seen and the foundation is attempting to account for these changes and in many cases recreate the originals as closely as possible.

The discussion of the enslaved people working for the Madisons and of course Madison's authoring of the Constitution generates some interesting comments during the tours. I find it interesting that we continue to impose a revisionist view of history on things past without truly understanding the times and situation. We need to adopt the idea--that that is he way it was and we cannot fully understand it using our 20th and 21st century reasoning.

Would we do things differently? Don't say yes too quickly without really getting into the period and recognizing what the alternatives were.

Trapped

That's it. It hit me last evening as I was out shopping with Chris. She dragged me out against my will and we were in Macy's where her cover story was that she wanted to return a pair of shoes. But in fact, she wanted to buy me some new shirts because she was tired of looking at me wearing the same t-shirt around the house. Actually, one of about 4 t-shirts that I like.

There I was--in the men's clothing area when I had an epiphany. Not only do I HATE shopping for clothes, but I realized why:

I'm a twenty-something trapped in a fifty-something's body!

I want to wear the hot, young fashions--but I would look ridiculous. You've seen them around--the near fifty-somethings wearing the teenager style shirts and jeans. It is not pretty!

I think my daughter calls it: age appropriate attire or something like that.

While in Charlottesville last weekend we saw a couple adorned in earrings and youthful clothes trying to hide their years of experience. It wasn't an enjoyable sight to behold.

So I should dress my age?

Really?

And just after having a birthday too--no wonder this is still on my mind.

So as I sit here this morning, screaming out at the world because I'm older I take stock of the situation. It is pretty dismal!

I'm actually here at my computer this morning and not playing racquetball because my elbow is sore and I don't know why. I decided, in a moment of incredible rational thought, to give it a rest after my league match was canceled last night. What a concept. I never had elbow problems as a twenty-something and I played racquetball five times per week!

I'm wearing glasses so I can see the computer screen! I have 20/15 vision for anything farther away than eight feet! Used to be able to see up close, too.

I have a sore muscle in my right leg, too! Don't know where that came from!

I was in bed by 10pm last night--not the 1 am of my youth!

Hmmm--then it is true--I am definitely trapped!

I wonder if there is a way out?

Anyone? Ideas?

Yeah, I know--get over it. It happens to us all. Embrace it.

Really? I don't have many options, so I guess I need to embrace where I am and play smarter, not harder. And live smarter, not harder.

Jefferson and Monticello

Well, I finally got to visit Charlottesville, VA and Monticello. It was well worth the visit and there is so much to do there.

This picture is my favorite--it is of course the famous nickle view (which is the back of the house) but I shot it through some flowers to frame it a bit.

The house is well furnished and really is a testament to Jefferson and the enlightened person he was--as a scientist and a political figure.

The front of the house is very different. Most people don't realize it. As with most places they did not allow pictures inside-which is too bad because there is a lot of neat stuff in there.

The gardens and paths are absolutely beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed walking around the grounds and looking around at the fascinating things. Of the five historical sites we visited--this one is by far the best and most complete. It is also the most expensive, but well worth the money.

Along the paths, Chris was able to capture this hummingbird doing its routine. The bird stayed in place for quite some time.

I definitely recommend a visit to Monticello--as part of a day or weekend in Charlottesville. Allow at least four hours to fully enjoy the place.

Monday Musings - October 5, 2009

1. It is amazing how quickly a week can go by when you are busy and how long it takes to go by when you want it to be next week.

2. Charlottesville, VA is a rocking town. We had a great time there this past weekend. Wine and history, what could be better.

3. Why it is that when you are having fun, but you need to be somewhere else the time spent doing fun is gone so quickly.

4. The reward for a great weekend in Virginia is really rotten traffic on the way home.

5. Hot air balloons are really neat.

6. Monticello is awesome and so is Montpelier. I can't believe I've lived here so long and only just this weekend got to these historic places.

7. Pop quiz--and the 5th President of the U.S. was? And he is from where? I saw his house and plantation too.

8. Why does a two-and-a-half hour drive today seem as long as a six hour drive a couple years
ago?