ColoradoDaze

The Dragons were off to Jilin this weekend. Train on Friday night for 10 hours - 2 games on the ice on Sat. and 2 games on Sunday, and hoping a few games on the pond as well.

They will take the train back on Sunday night and arrive just at 4:50a.m. on Monday morning, time for a quick shower, eat and off to a great day at work.

Jilin is Northeast of Dalian, straight north from Seoul

NOT….

We took our kites out to our local gathering spot “the square” and tried to put them up into the air, we didn’t have much luck, but we did have fun.

I love this picture - both of Ava’s feet are off the ground

Dear Diary, For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

MONDAY: Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god– with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It’s a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn’t try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.

THURSDAY: Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn’t help being a half an hour late– it took me that long to tie my shoes. He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine– which I sank.

FRIDAY: I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don’t have any triceps! And if you don’t want dents in the floor, don’t hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn’t it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

SATURDAY: Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..

SUNDAY: I’m having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun– like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

(not written by me - but lived by me)

Every May since 2004 our school goes through a little transformation and during that time conversations are consumed by the Dong Bei Cup. The Dong Bei Cup is a ball hockey tournament started by our friend C.E.
In its inaugural year 4 teams competed in a coed tourney. This last month included a student tourney (4 teams), an all male tourney (4 teams) and all female tourney (2 teams). The competition was intense and spirited and the player showed some amazing skill and athleticism. In the end, both Bill’s team and my team were victorious. Thanks to the organizers, competitors and referees.

Battle of the glove saves

Mandy checks Abigail

Holly in fine form

Celebrating with the girls after the game

Gabe’s biggest supporter

Craig has drafted Rony 4 years in a row

The 2-stick rule. Foster with a free shot (or pass) after Orange was penalized.

Simon Ng, one of the fastest guys in the tournament.

The 1-2 punch of Foster…

… and Beeke

The MVP and scoring champ pumps his fist after another goal.

Champion 2nd year in a row

The champs with Lily and The Great White Shark (aka Rei)

So theres a lot of things on teachers minds these days, and one is….

Dong Bei time, which is one of the highlights of the year.
It’s a 3 on 3 ball hockey tournament that starts after the May holiday,
This is the 6th year for the boys and this will be the 3rd year for the girls.

I have two very different renditions of the songs - Enjoy both…

I am one of the goalies for the girls team - The name of our team is the Blu Renegades and our song is Renegades of Funk

The other goalie is a colleague of ours - Shannon, her team name is the Red Scarlets, and her song is LOW