I didn't know the wind blew in Sweden. Aside from a couple of very light breezes once or twice, I have never experienced wind in Sweden until now. Coming from the San Fernando Valley and the monstrous Santa Ana's I have been accustomed to the swaying trees and flapping flags.
For the last 18 hours Vingaker has been flipped on its head from where it was just yesterday. The clouds have come thundering in, streaking through the sky and threatening to wring out and dump rain over the town were they able to actually hold still long enough to do so. All night scattered raindrops and what I could swear were small bolders have been bouncing off my window, thrown by the rough winds. The air is slipping through the cracks of the hotel and the whole place is howling; not the most peaceful and comforting sounds after just watching 1408, a horror movie set in a hotel - now try walking down to the cold kitchen in the dark. You want me to get WHAT out of the basement? Now?
In any case, it appears like a storm is inevitable, just in time for the weekend and our trip up north to Tierp on Sunday. We had been enjoying beautiful, clear skies and an occasional warm sun. Hopefully we'll avoid the rain on our drive to the match - the last thing we need to do is spend more time in the cramped van.
Tierp is currently tied in 4th place with us, although we edge them out in points from games won and lost. We have a tendency to go 5 in all our losses while continually winning in 3. This match will be very important for playoff seeds, although I'm personally not sure which position (4 or 5) is actually a better match-up for us. Should be interesting nonetheless.
Went out last night for a nice steak dinner with Erik and Linus. I can't tell you how amazing it was to actually have a real, unprocessed and ground piece of meat. It was absolutely delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the beef was still served alongside a plate of spuds, as usual, the steak itself was amazing and a great change of pace. The threee of us were joined afterward by Jonas from our Division 1 team and we all watched Rush Hour 3 in Erik and Linus' newly renovated apartment. I mean, it looks good!
I'm having dinner with Dave at Maddis' tonight after practice for what should be another delicious meal. She's been having me over more and more - I think trying desperately to make me as happy as possible here so that maybe I'll return for once more season - we shall see.
Looking forward to playoffs getting underway. I'm not in a big hurry to get out of here, but it'd be nice to get the show on the road. Let's do this thing!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I'm Still Here
Well, we are quickly approaching the four-month mark of my stay here in Sweden; it's incredibly hard to believe that it's been so long. We have just 3 weeks of regular season remaining before playoffs begin. Playoffs will likely last no later than April 3rd, but we're staying optomistc about our chances. Right now we'll likely finish 4th and play Sollentuna in the first round. I'm confident we'll handle them once again, but then we'll face off against powerhouse Falkenberg in the second round. We haven't beaten them in heaven know's how long; VVK played them first round last year and lost 3-0, 3-0, 3-1. Remember, it's a best of 5 MATCHES series. The first round begins March 9 continues on the 12, 16, (18, and 20 if need be). The second round will then begin March 24 and continue on the 27, 30, and if need be April 1, and 3.
Looking forward to having Mom, Dad, Melinda, Neal, and Kacie out here for a visit. Mom and Dad arrive on March 14th and are staying until the 29th. A nice long trip - hope there's enough around here to see! It could also be a good, RESTFUL vacation. Melinda and Neal are sorting out their travel schedule.
We play fellor Los Angelino Kris Kraushaar this weekend. Will be great to see and play against him. He strained the arch in his foot a couple weeks back, but I'm sure he'll be ready to go for this big match. His team will not make the playoffs.
Things are pretty good. Just finished up what I hope is the last of my coaching - the past 3 weeks have been filled with teaching untalented, unwilling kids how to play volleyball at the local middle school. Some of these brats are lucky it's not MY class their in - they'd be brought down a peg or two. It's interesting to experience education here in Sweden. It's not quite like it is at home, and frankly, not nearly as productive.
I love it here, but am getting to get a bit bored. The classes are more anguish than fun, I'm actually not interested in a hagbard pizza anymore, I've found little desire to go out at night, and since finishing my last book I'm not as motivated to read. I have picked up John Wooden's "My Personal Best" and am enjoying that, but it's hardly GRIPPING! I'm growing very, very tired of practice. I honestly miss UCLA and Al Scates - you don't know what you had until it's gone. While I my differences with the program there, it was truly good, educated volleyball. I've gritted my teeth and held my tongue on a lot of bad coaching and painful drills, but I'm just running out of gas. I'm looking forward to putting it all out there in the end here, and then taking a break from it.
People are consistently asking or hinting about next year and what my plans are. I don't think anyone actually EXPECTS me to stay, and I've even had mixed feelings about the feelings of others, but there's no doubt many people would be very happy if I returned for another year. The Basic family in particular have been rather amiable about the whole thing. The father, Mohammed, and I spoke through a translator the other morning: he asked if there was any chance I'd come back next year - I gave him the answer I've given everybody - "It really depends on what happens when I go home." He responded quickly with a big smile and a loud "Paulie!!!" and continued on saying he would be talking with the head of the club board about getting me more money (double! he said) and an apartment in Orebro. I just smiled and nodded.
There's also rumor that Chris Pena, another buddy of mine from UCLA, is interested in studying while he plays in Europe, and has apparently contacted someone in the club about the university in Orebro. This has everyone in the club buzzing about the possibility of Pena, who has a pretty remarkable pro-volley resume, coming to play in Vingaker. Again, I just smile and nod - should be interesting.
In the end, this has been an incredible experience - a growing one at that (I hope) and I'm looking forward to spending my remaining time here. The countdown has not officially begun yet, but I'll be back to Taco Bell, beaches and traffic before we know it.
Looking forward to having Mom, Dad, Melinda, Neal, and Kacie out here for a visit. Mom and Dad arrive on March 14th and are staying until the 29th. A nice long trip - hope there's enough around here to see! It could also be a good, RESTFUL vacation. Melinda and Neal are sorting out their travel schedule.
We play fellor Los Angelino Kris Kraushaar this weekend. Will be great to see and play against him. He strained the arch in his foot a couple weeks back, but I'm sure he'll be ready to go for this big match. His team will not make the playoffs.
Things are pretty good. Just finished up what I hope is the last of my coaching - the past 3 weeks have been filled with teaching untalented, unwilling kids how to play volleyball at the local middle school. Some of these brats are lucky it's not MY class their in - they'd be brought down a peg or two. It's interesting to experience education here in Sweden. It's not quite like it is at home, and frankly, not nearly as productive.
I love it here, but am getting to get a bit bored. The classes are more anguish than fun, I'm actually not interested in a hagbard pizza anymore, I've found little desire to go out at night, and since finishing my last book I'm not as motivated to read. I have picked up John Wooden's "My Personal Best" and am enjoying that, but it's hardly GRIPPING! I'm growing very, very tired of practice. I honestly miss UCLA and Al Scates - you don't know what you had until it's gone. While I my differences with the program there, it was truly good, educated volleyball. I've gritted my teeth and held my tongue on a lot of bad coaching and painful drills, but I'm just running out of gas. I'm looking forward to putting it all out there in the end here, and then taking a break from it.
People are consistently asking or hinting about next year and what my plans are. I don't think anyone actually EXPECTS me to stay, and I've even had mixed feelings about the feelings of others, but there's no doubt many people would be very happy if I returned for another year. The Basic family in particular have been rather amiable about the whole thing. The father, Mohammed, and I spoke through a translator the other morning: he asked if there was any chance I'd come back next year - I gave him the answer I've given everybody - "It really depends on what happens when I go home." He responded quickly with a big smile and a loud "Paulie!!!" and continued on saying he would be talking with the head of the club board about getting me more money (double! he said) and an apartment in Orebro. I just smiled and nodded.
There's also rumor that Chris Pena, another buddy of mine from UCLA, is interested in studying while he plays in Europe, and has apparently contacted someone in the club about the university in Orebro. This has everyone in the club buzzing about the possibility of Pena, who has a pretty remarkable pro-volley resume, coming to play in Vingaker. Again, I just smile and nod - should be interesting.
In the end, this has been an incredible experience - a growing one at that (I hope) and I'm looking forward to spending my remaining time here. The countdown has not officially begun yet, but I'll be back to Taco Bell, beaches and traffic before we know it.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Another Beautiful Friday
The sun is bursting through my window this morning, blinding me with the reflection off my computer every time I shift my weight. The snow is sinking away after a light dusting last night. Everything is crisp and clear outside. Only one solitary person is visible as I get up to open my window. She's carrying groceries. The flush of cold air rids the room of stale beer and dirty volleyball smells. I hear a truck passing, first car of the morning. There's a slight pressure on my temples from the late night, but no time for that - I didn't earn it. Sticky's voice serenades my morning, filling it with even more light and love.
Have I told you how much I love it here?
Anyway, you can all stop worrying now. I know you're anxiously awaiting the results from last night's match. Truth be told, there's not much to tell as it wasn't much of a match. We beat Sater last night in embaressing fashion, 25-14, 25-13, 25-17. We committed way too many errors, but it matter. Chatsworth High's 2002 team could have beaten these guys by the way they played. These guys have one notch in the victory colum which, unfortunately, came from us - a match that will surely come back to haunt us in the playoff rankings. Rad.
Practice this afternoon, then we are all off to Orebro for the weekend. Tarik just got a new apartment and wants to have people over. He's such the warm, inviting host. Sunday night Jonas, our "coach," is having us all over for a super bowl party. Pre-game starts about 2am, so it will be an interesting Monday. He's got hotwings and coronas though, so I will NOT be missing out.
My staff in Sweden is already coming to a close more rapidly than anyone expected. We have just 4 regular season matches left before playoffs. That's just four weeks remaining of regular season. It looks like we'll be struggling to finish in the top four, meaning we'll be selected by a top team to play in the first round of playoffs. If that is the case it will be difficult to make it through the first round.
For anyone interested, paricularly in coming for a visit, playoffs begin Sunday, March 9th and then continue on the 12th and 15th. It's a best of 5 MATCHES series so if necessary we'll then play the 18th and the 20th. I suggest visiting that week of the 9th (Mom and Dad), if you're really thinking to come.
I'm going to get my day started over here. Another busy day in front of the computer.
Puss puss.
Have I told you how much I love it here?
Anyway, you can all stop worrying now. I know you're anxiously awaiting the results from last night's match. Truth be told, there's not much to tell as it wasn't much of a match. We beat Sater last night in embaressing fashion, 25-14, 25-13, 25-17. We committed way too many errors, but it matter. Chatsworth High's 2002 team could have beaten these guys by the way they played. These guys have one notch in the victory colum which, unfortunately, came from us - a match that will surely come back to haunt us in the playoff rankings. Rad.
Practice this afternoon, then we are all off to Orebro for the weekend. Tarik just got a new apartment and wants to have people over. He's such the warm, inviting host. Sunday night Jonas, our "coach," is having us all over for a super bowl party. Pre-game starts about 2am, so it will be an interesting Monday. He's got hotwings and coronas though, so I will NOT be missing out.
My staff in Sweden is already coming to a close more rapidly than anyone expected. We have just 4 regular season matches left before playoffs. That's just four weeks remaining of regular season. It looks like we'll be struggling to finish in the top four, meaning we'll be selected by a top team to play in the first round of playoffs. If that is the case it will be difficult to make it through the first round.
For anyone interested, paricularly in coming for a visit, playoffs begin Sunday, March 9th and then continue on the 12th and 15th. It's a best of 5 MATCHES series so if necessary we'll then play the 18th and the 20th. I suggest visiting that week of the 9th (Mom and Dad), if you're really thinking to come.
I'm going to get my day started over here. Another busy day in front of the computer.
Puss puss.
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