Sprinklers, Soccer

Stardate 57051.1 (05-11-2004)

Thomas ran crying into the arms of the day care teacher Monday. He still doesn’t want to go. I don’t think it is because he doesn’t like the place, he just doesn’t like to be made to go. He hasn’t had much regimentation in his life so far, so what little he gets he resents.

I went to turn on the sprinkler valve Sunday. It’s a biannual event I dread. I finally got the valve turned, or so I thought. Testing the system, I noticed a small lake forming. I shut off all the water, and dug out the valve, which is about 4 feet underground. I didn’t turn it all the way on, and the little overpressure hole was leaking. I turned on the water, and turned the valve all the way on. So far, the pool of water remains constant. I did break the pipe that gives access to the valve, so that will have to be replaced. By the time I was done, I was covered head to foot in mud.

The main reason for dreading the sprinklers is I can never get the valve turned on or off. It’s deep in the ground, and the device to turn it does not fit very well. So, I was thinking today about how I could put a similar device leading from the valve to the surface. Then I could see if I am turning it. I am going to have to look into it.

Rachel’s first communion is next Sunday, so we have been busy getting the house ready for relatives.

Working ten-hour days consumes a lot of each day, so I was looking forward to Friday and getting some things done around the house. It didn’t happen because I ended up working the Friday and a good share of the free time I did have that weekend.

Soccer is almost over. I am still deciding if I want to coach again next year. I had trouble reaching one of the fall players. I left a message on her voice mail. She called a few weeks later wondering if I was going to contact her. I called back, and left another message. She went to the commissioner, and he asked me to call again. I did, and again left a message. She is mad at me now. I feel bad for her daughter. She didn’t have much natural skill, but she tried hard, did everything I said, and wanted to do well. I did hear the commissioner also left message she said she never got. I find it strange, though. I handed out two phone numbers (home and cell), two email addresses (home and work), and she can’t get a hold of me?

One other mother was screaming at her daughter during one of the games. After a minute or so, I asked her to calm down. She told me that her daughter was missing some easy goals, and she needed to get them. I replied that no, she needed to enjoy playing first, and the rest would come much easier. I couldn’t decipher the look she gave me, but she stopped yelling.

On the flip side, a few of the mothers of the kids I coached this year have asked I am going to continue. They said their kids really liked me. We played a team with one of the boys I coached last year. After the game he ran up and gave me a hug, and told me he missed playing on my team. It’s incredible that a four and half year old remembers me from only a couple of hours a week a year ago. These are some of the intangible benefits that make me want to continue.

The new commissioner is going to redo the construction of teams. He wants to go back to teams with kids from the same school and grade. This might get Patrick more enthusiastic about going to practice. He doesn’t look forward to it, and I don’t like to fight with him about it.

The coach of my kids school wants Rachel to try out for the competitive soccer team. She enjoys the game, so we probably will let her. She also wants to try volleyball. There is a clinic over the summer, but she already has something planned for that time.

The scandal with the prisoners in Iraq is all over the news. The situation is bad enough over there, and now this makes it worse. I was not a big supporter of going there in the first place, although Colin Powell had me convinced. Not sure how this will all end, or if it ever will.

On a brighter note, The Amazing Race is coming back this summer. This is less a reality show than a game show. There is not a lot of backstabbing. When a team gets eliminated, it is usually because they made a mistake, or ran into some bad luck, or took a risk that didn't pan out. I still need to wait another couple of months for it to start.

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