First Settlement Game

Not bad!

1. Won MVP Jammer.
2. Had a 21 point jam.
3. Did ok.

1. Could have done better.
2. Wanted a 30 pointer.
3. Pack was too fast.

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KISS

I love kisses, but I'm also a huge fan of KISS (Keep It Simple,  Stupid) as a philosophy.  To that end,  there are things that are important and things that we can compromise on,  and with small people we compromise a lot.  

With our switch to the Y, we've eliminated both separate swimming lessons and making lunches.  It's introduced a lot of new time and minimized a lot of stress for us, and they see no difference. 

We recently added some structure,  as well,  which does not come naturally to Chris or I.  Little things like eating only at the table when the kids are present and working a star chart to recognize and incentivize great behavior have been helpful,  too. I know this comes easily to a lot of people,  but for us it really is a departure from how we operate.  

The changes have been good,  but incremental.   Monday we start carpooling and have a 7 am deadline for getting on the road,  so wish us luck!



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Ch-ch-ch-changes

We're headed into a new school year,  but so many things are different. 

Chris has a new job in State College.   He resisted making a switch for several years,  but it has some huge advantages for us.   Including greater compensation and some limited childcare for in service days.   However,  now that we're both working in state College we can't accommodate Montessori school any more.

The kids are permanently at the YMCA, and  in adjacent classrooms.   Which should improve a lot of logistics.   Hal is adjusting reasonably well, but has some issues when he's tired with bickering with others.   However,  it's a good environment,  the kids enjoy being together,  and hal gets to take swimming lessons. 

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Game day!

Today we're playing what should be a great game. 

My goals:
1. Be centered
2. Be present
3. Be awesome

Oh,  and I want to put up a 30 point jam.   My highest so far is 13, though,  so we'll see.

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I'm thankful today

1. We now have a daycare that's reliable and only rarely closed. 
2. We can walk there.
3. The daycares we left are still welcoming.
4. We have a new tenant and four years of our old tenant.
5. Our income is about to increase! Maybe we can fast track our car payments.
6. These kids.

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Practice 8.19.2016

Meh. I do not feel good.   Had to sit out a portion of practice and played somewhat poorly.

Good:
1. Played anyway.  
2. Jammed pretty well.
3. Blocked like a bad ass, mostly.

Bad:
1. Wasn't ideally mindful. 
2. Wasn't ideally vocal. 

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Coaching feedback

8/10/16 - Stop turning when you're in the "wall" or two forward-facing person part of the kaleidoscope - The opposing jammer usually just bounces around you and you've broken apart the strong formation you and your teammates had set-up. Also - when backwards blocking work on being lower - you're standing up straight and it is leading to you getting hit backwards and hitting your head! Work on getting in front instead of going for a hit. You're doing really well at jamming - just remember pushing up the middle usually works better than taking the line! If you're going to take the line - be sure to be ready to get hit!

Practice 8/15/2026

Good:

1. Jumped people, used the margins
2. Did a lot without thought.

Bad:

1. Back blocked too much.
2. Broke my team's walls a lot. Got to work on that.

Weight and Whatever

I'm still on that plateau,  though my weight has inched incrementally downward.  Still,  it's frustrating seeing my goals stubbornly refusing to materialize.  

That three day daycare schedule didn't work out either,  since Mr. X ended up working all summer at a biotechnology company.  

So,  slight course correction.  And also,  I don't care so much about the weight as I care about progress. 

I'm still getting in that Friday gym session.  Getting outside a lot and taking in tons of outdoor activities like hikes and carnivals.   Skating in parades and parks.  Going to derby practice consistently and far more than the average skater.   Seeing gains in subtle things, like stronger arms,  greater stability,  more endurance.   And that's good for now.  

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Camping trip #3

Forgot to record some impressions regarding camping trip #3.

First,  Mr. X and I had a big fight over the trip. He basically came with a shitty attitude combined with very little input into the planning,  and that means that we started the trip somewhat poorly with him acting more or less like a third child.   But we talked it out.   So after that it got to be much more positive. 

For this trip we stayed in a private campground,  which was great for what it was.  Lots of activities and amenities,  but also not much privacy or darkness at night.  Overall I would do it again,  but not if there were good public options in the vicinity.

On the first day we went to Knoebels Grove,  which was really fun.  All you can ride passes are cheap during the week and the lights at the park were really fun.  We stayed till the place shut down.   Saturday we stuck around the campground for the most part,  but the kids got a new bike and had fun testing it out,  and we had dinner with Kelly and Jason.  Sunday we broke down camp,  had lunch at a place on the banks of the Susquehanna, and made our way back home.  Altogether not bad! 

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Additional thoughts about thoughts

Actually,  there is one huge accomplishment from yesterday that I'm thrilled with.   Yesterday I was mostly not in my own head.  Not once did I choose not to go all out because I wasn't comfortable or was distracted by other thoughts.   I was totally present and totally positive.   Mental management is a big thing to me,  and probably my biggest ongoing challenge.  So,  good day.  Here's to more!



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York vs. Plan B

So, so many thoughts on this one.  For one thing, I played a bunch of roles -- I feel like I learned a lot in each of them.

As a captain -- it was frustrating, but also energizing.  Frustrating because the communication among the coach, alternate and myself was not as good as it could have been.  Frustrating because there were some issues where we didn't agree on the resolution, and so they continued to be unresolved.  I think that situation will be readily evident in the stats, whenever they appear, but afterwards I'm thinking about a ways I can more proactively handle these issues if they come up again. Or if I get to captain again.

As a jammer -- I was probably our 3rd or 4th most effective jammer, and there was definitely room to improve.  However, I did improve, even in the game -- I think the stats will bear that out as they materialize -- and there are some moments I'm definitely proud of.  In general, I didn't go much to the negative or positive, which obviously kept us in the game but didn't help us turn it around and gain a win.  So...got to work on it.  But generally, I didn't die, and I did make a positive difference.  My proudest moment was once when I was being blocked by one of the opposing players on the apex, and I did the world's tiniest apex jump (like 4" off the ground as I was already striding) and went right past her.  Of course, then I got a delayed penalty from shortly beforehand, so WOMP WOMP.  But the apex jump kept me smiling in the penalty box. And I made some smart decisions that I'm proud of throughout -- I just wasn't as effective as I'd ultimately like to be.

As a blocker -- I got the MVP!  I don't actually feel I played all that well, in general, though.  I made some idiotic mistakes that cost us.  Mainly not being as alert or tough to move around as I'm capable of being.  We as a team let the other team define our pack for us too often.  But I did on a few occasions make the opposing jammer call it off by shutting her down or just plain flattening her.  I'm probably proudest of the time I was pivoting and my toe cover failed and was wrapping itself around my wheel as my jammer was really getting murdered.  I managed to take the star pass and force a call off regardless.

Finally, at halftime I was very proud to have zero penalties.  But by the end I had racked up three or four.  1-2 were pack definition penalties, where I felt I was complying.  So ultimately I want to watch some tape and see what really happened there and how we/I can improve it.  But no forearms!  Woot woot!

Tl; dr: Good game. Next one will be better.

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