Day 19.190: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #560

Exile #2 writes...

We have grown accustomed to sporting events being so much more than a sporting event. During our time in the country we have witnessed t-shirt cannons, and people dressed as hotdogs racing around a baseball diamond, we have seen fireworks rivaling any Guy Fawkes night, and people scrambling for a diamond engagement ring in front of home plate. We are now used to the commercials and spectacle of the Super Bowl, so it was a thing of delight to watch some BBC coverage of the World Cup Final half-time show and hear the gamut of responses - all the way from "I kind of liked it" to Wayne Rooney’s total and utter dismay.

The game itself could have been a little more entertaining, but at the end of the match, at least justice had prevailed. We had felt very ambivalent about the tournament when it began because, well, FIFA but once the football started it was hard not to be swept along because, well, football.

Day 19.186: Apocalyptic

The skies for the last two days have been looking rather foreboding thanks to wildfire smoke all the way from Minnesota and Alberta. 

This almost certainly had nothing to do with England’s loss in the World Cup semifinal today - but that was also not the end of the world. 

Day 19.182: Five for lunch

Exile #4 came for a visit last night and we took the opportunity of us all being together to go out for lunch. 

The rest of the day has been dominated by the World Cup and we are still waiting to see who England will meet in the last four.

Day 19.178: Birthday surprise

We woke up abruptly a little before 6:30 am to the sound of an electrical fault that caused a power outage for an hour or so - once again a squirrel shorted out a distribution transformer in our neighborhood. 

Fortunately, this didn’t interfere with the plans to celebrate Exile #2’s birthday which included watching the football followed by delivered pizza and a birthday cake along with some gifts of course. Happy Birthday Exile #2!

Day 19.177: "Weekend" report

I had Thursday and Friday of last week off for the Fourth of July holiday. I ended up taking Wednesday afternoon off so that my four-and-a-half day weekend started and ended with England World Cup matches (Wednesday afternoon and Sunday night).

Our nature group also met on Wednesday in Biddeford Pool for a mid-week evening outing that felt like the start of the weekend for me.

I've recently added a 1.4x teleconverter to my camera setup and was pleased with how it held up in the fading evening light (it trades light for magnification). Here are some photos of a bald eagle we first saw perched on a chimney, then harassed by a gull before giving us a nice fly-by.

Day 19.176: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #558

Exile #2 writes…

It has been absolutely sweltering this week and although today has taken a turn for the better, we mostly stayed inside and kept cool. It didn’t hurt that there was World Cup footie to watch, although I couldn’t help wondering how the Norwegians were coping with running around on a summer afternoon in New Jersey.

I read a little bit about how England had been preparing, doing fitness drills in a tent heated to 90°F/32°C. It seems some of the coaches may have been doing the same, as a few have persisted in wearing suit jackets - either that or they have ice packs sewn into their linings. We’ve just learned, however, that the England game is delayed by an hour due to storms, so we’ll have to wait just a while longer to learn their fate (not so much of hardship for us as it is for those in the UK!).

Day 19.070: Watching football; TV

A little more than half the group went to join the away fans as Bradford City traveled to Burton Albion this afternoon. 

Our view of the pitch (during the warm-ups)

The standing section for the away fans - in good voice for most of the match

In other news, Dad opened his birthday present - a significant size upgrade for his TV for when he gets home. 

Day 19.057: Exile #2's Sunday Column #546

Exile #2 writes...

From time to time we receive adverts from local real estate agents, wondering if we might be in the market to sell our house. Of late, however, things have taken a turn and, getting no reply from us, they’ve taken to mailing Exile #4 instead. We’re expecting to see Exile #4 this week, as they’ll be on spring break but it sounds like we might have to keep on eye on them while they’re here...

In other news, I couldn’t let the weekend go by without mentioning this rugby moment. So, Wales might not have won (still) but it was a moment of pure joy to watch Rhys Carre thundering towards the line with a big grin on his face, like he could hardly believe it himself.

If you didn’t see the try, you can watch it here.

Day 19.029: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #542

Exile #2 writes...

Well, there was a convincing victory in the east coast versus west coast Super Bowl tonight, along with the usual side serving of musical artists and ads. Green Day played before the game and were, surprisingly, allowed to play American Idiot. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny performed at half time and put on a show that was a real celebration of love and Latinx culture.

There is always some tension surrounding the choice of musicians and this year so much so that an “alternative” show was provided on another channel. But anyone tuning out would have missed a treat. It was joyful and just what was needed. Now to bed - how do they make 60 minutes last so long?

This bowl is also super (and I made it myself) [Ed.]

Day 19.028: It’s the big game

No, not tomorrow’s football championship/American cultural phenomenon but England vs Wales in the Six Nations Rugby. 

I'll leave the commentary there. And yes, we'll probably watch the "sports" tomorrow too.

Day 19.011: Steinbrenner Field

After a day of meetings, we spent the evening at the George M. Steinbrenner Field - the spring training venue for the New York Yankees. 

At other times it’s the home of the Tampa Tarpons and their mascot was in attendance:

Several of my colleagues got to hit a few pitches and others did some fielding practice. I settled for taking some photos. 

Day 18.285: Homecoming

After the fun at Sanford Lagoons on Saturday, we went to pickup E5N1 from college to take him to high school so he could join the pep band for the homecoming football game.

HoCo!

The group of alumni who came back to join the pep band having their picture taken

We cheered on the pep band and the cheerleaders and the football team and it was a resounding home win, so it was a good time all around.

Day 18.197: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #532

Exile #2 writes...

Along with a trip to the beach, we’ve been pottering about getting some jobs done this weekend. We bought a replacement mini fridge, took at trip to the tip to deal with its predecessor. We put up a blind in the bathroom that had been knocking around for a few months

and drilled some drainage holes in a pot that was suffering for the want of holes. That felt like some kind of weird veterinary procedure, and I was glad not to be in Exile #1's spot when the drill finally broke through. Anyway, all in all a productive weekend. Oh, and there was some football...

Just kidding. Well done to the Lionesses.

Day 18.065: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #517

Exile #2 writes...

We arrived back from our fun day out chaperoning yesterday at about 10pm. Although, our duties had been light, it was a long day - and involved some roadie work - so when we got home we were pretty weary. Tempting though it was to go to bed, however, we had one piece of unfinished business.

We’ve been following the Six Nations rugby tournament and this week, the fixture that matters most in our household took place. In the end it was a total whitewash and I probably should have gone to bed but I’m ever the optimist and had to watch! The smart of the blow was slightly lessened by this photo popping up in my social media feed today. It is just a game after all!

I haven’t been able to find a credit for the photo - hopefully the good vibes from the players will extend to the owner

Day 18.030: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #512

Exile #2 writes...

We weren’t sure what we would wake up to this morning. The weather forecast had predicted anything from 4-11 inches of snow. That’s quite a range from a shoveling point of view. Turns out It was definitely at the 11 inch end of things. As a consequence, Exile #1 and I are pretty sleepy this evening and are dozing off during the last quarter of the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, Exile #4 is enjoying temperatures in the 90s (30s) every day. Last time we spoke they admitted they’d forgotten what it feels like to be cold. Our brains are funny like that, aren’t they? I know one day I will be happy to leave the house without my “big coat” but right now I can’t imagine it!

Day 18.022: Snow wonder

Our day included some snow clearance, watching some Rugby and counting birds at the feeder. The back-drop for it all was the snow that fell overnight and continued into the morning. 

It’s February in Maine and this is absolutely what the weather should be like. 

Day 17.313: Door; bell

After the football game, while we were waiting for E5N1 to emerge from the band room, we witnessed the ringing of the victory bell - something we had heard on previous occasions but never been in position to see. 

The cheerleaders arranged themselves near and in front of the doors to greet the players as they arrived. Once all the team had assembled, I assumed that the cheerleaders were actually preventing them from going inside as some kind of ritual but - as we were informed by a more experienced parent - it was just that, as usual, no one had arranged to unlock the door for them. 

Day 17.311: Re: percussion

E5N1 is currently recovering from having his wisdom teeth removed on Thursday. Slightly surprisingly, he had three.  He was doing well enough to want to attend the Regional Final football game today to join the pep band but not well enough to attempt to play his trumpet. This meant that he was temporarily conscripted into the percussion section - specifically to play snare drum.

A majority of the percussion section were stand-ins today but they did great. 

As for the game, this would be the final game of the season for the losers, with the winners going on to the state championship game next weekend. The traditional banner that the team run through on entering the stadium goaded their opponents with the suggestion that they would be free next Saturday - and so it will be as the home team brought it - well - home 57 to 29. 

Banner held by the cheerleaders reads: Noble - tell your girlfriends you’re free next Saturday…

A bit of the action on the field

Day 17.295: Halloween Senior Night Football

Tonight was the last home game of the regular football season and therefore "senior night" where the seniors are honored - not just the players, but the cheerleaders and the pep band members too - including E5N1.

Of course, since it was Halloween, many of the pep band were in costume - including E5N1. Exile #2 and I went out on the field with him for a celebratory photo op; we were wearing fairly normal clothes, E5N1 on the other hand... well, here he is with one of his friends:

 

Exile #3 helped him construct this "Blossom" outfit - with two of his other friends they had planned a group costume as the Powerpuff Girls

The band were on good form and will probably get another outing since the team will advance to the playoffs after their 69-0 victory today. 

Day 17.263: Exile #2’s Sunday Column #493

Exile #2 writes...

One of the perks of sitting behind the pep band at the football game was that we were also next to the student section. They are a rambunctious lot and almost as entertaining as the game. Their role, of course, is twofold. To cheer for the home team and to roast the opposition, which on this occasion, they did with impressive levels of organization. Sure, their chants may have lacked some of the complexity and, ahem, lyrical imagination, shall we say, of premiership football, but their simple formula was effective and delivered with precision.

After a little warm up with Seven Nation Army, they settled into a four syllable system. As the visiting team made their first foul, they were ready with a quick round of YOU-CAN’T-DO-THAT, followed by a BU-TTER-FIN-GERS after a subsequent missed catch. As the home team pulled ahead they found the ideal moment for a WHY-SO-QUI-ET (I guess the US version of You’re not singing anymore) but followed up soon after with WE’LL-CHEER-FOR-YOU and capped it all off with the ultimate show of confidence - chanting FOR the away team. In the 4th quarter, as the score widened further still, they brought out IT‘S-ALL-O-VER. But the final chant and, perhaps the killer, delivered after a late touchdown by the visiting team was IT’S-STILL-OVER. None of it was delivered with real malice, of course, and it kept us smiling.