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the boy

Hero

Saturday 30 October 2021 | 0 Comments

We all dream of being a hero. We can say we don't, but we all have those little fantasies that at least once, we save the day. E is no exception, and for that reason, this fall's soccer season has been disappointing for him. It's not that he hasn't felt like a hero; he has positively felt like he's added very little to his team. In one game, an attacker beat him when he was a defender to score the first goal of the game, and I could see from his expression afterward that he felt horrible about it.

It certainly doesn't help that his team has won only one game this season, and that was only by forfeit because the other team didn't know about the game time change somehow and no one showed up. They've been beaten and they've been positively trounced.

"We're never going to win," has been the Boy's refrain as we head back to the car. The other boys feel the same, I think.

Last week, for example, while we were camping, only five of the players showed up. They played anyway, and the asshole coach of the opposing team played all seven positions against our five boys, so the poor boys got beaten, though not as badly as one might expect (7-4).

Today, too, we were shorthanded, but a boy from the other team joined our team, and we played at even strength. (That coach showed class unlike the classless individual from last week.) We began relatively unremarkably, with neither team really dominating. Then, about ten minutes into the first half, E broke free with the ball and headed straight to the goal, firing a rocket that went right by the goalie and sank into the back corner of the net.

"E just scored!!!!!!!!!!" I texted K with probably the biggest grin smeared across my face. Last season, his first with CESA (the local soccer league), he hadn't scored a single goal all season.

By the end of the first half the red team had equalized and then pulled ahead, so we went into break under a bit of pressure.

"I was sure we were going to lose," E explained later. When red scored a third time, E was convinced that they were going to experience their next inevitable loss. But shortly after that, the Boy broke through the defenses again and scored his second goal, pulling his team to within one. Just a few minutes after that, he was through again, but he stumbled a bit and sent the ball well wide of the goal.

"How amazing that would have been!" I thought.

Just moments later, the Boy broke through, outran two defenders, and shot a lovely looping curve into the net. Three goals in one game -- a coveted hat-trick. To top it all off, I finally had my camera up while he scored -- in the other two, I'd dropped it to my side and just cheered him on, but the final one, I kept firing away.

But of all the shots from today, my favorite is the one just after his first goal when he'd just gotten a big congratulatory low-five from a teammate. Head slightly down, a little spring in his step, he walked back to his position. I look at the image and wonder what exactly he was thinking, wonder just how much it might help his confidence, wonder if it might not be the best thing that's happened to him in ages.

Weebos Woods 2021

Sunday 24 October 2021 | 0 Comments

The idea is simple: to get Cub Scouts ready for being Boy Scouts, they spend a weekend as a small patrol as for-the-weekend Boy Scouts with an actual scout leading them through the weekend's activities.

"Parents, you will only see your children in the morning at breakfast, in the afternoon at lunch, in the evening at dinner, and when it's time to go to bed. We want to begin building a sense of independence in these kids," the camp leader explained Friday night.

So as to what the Boy actually did, I'm a little clueless. Which is not to say I don't know what activities he did. He shot a pellet gun, learned how to make a fire, cooked cobbler over a campfire, went on a hike, and a few other things. But as to what that actually looked like, I really don't know. I saw him here and there throughout the day, but mostly, I left him alone with his patrol and its Boy Scout leader.

And this is why I have no pictures of him doing these things: I was out hiking or reading or grading papers.

In the evening, as with all scout camps, there was a variety show of sorts. The kids put on various skits, including the scout classic "Important Papers."

"Do you have my important papers?" Scout hands the boy papers. "No! Not these!" The next scout comes up and the main actor asks again, "Do you have my important papers?" Scout hands the boy papers. "No! Not these!" Repeat for as many times as necessary until there's one scout who comes with a roll of toilet paper. "Yes! These are my important papers!" We've seen it done every camp, which is probably one of the reasons why the leaders have to approve each skit -- to prevent every patrol from doing the "Important Papers" favorite.

The upshot -- we got little sleep but E had a fantastic time and was eager to go again.

Biltmore Fall 2021

Monday 18 October 2021 | 0 Comments

It has been a very long time since we were last in Biltmore. We went with my folks in 2006 with my parents (before the Girl was born)

Biltmore

and again in 2007 when Babcia was here from Poland.

Biltmore II

Of course, the Girl was too young to remember anything and the Boy wasn't even a thought when we last went there, so today being a teacher workday that I took as a personal day, we took the kids for a day at the largest house in America.

The house has looked like this for over a hundred years now,

but there was one significant change this time around, though. It was nothing in the gardens: they looked just like they did 14 years ago.

(Click on images for larger view, as always.)

The exterior really wasn't any different -- the limestone facade is just stunning and overwhelming.

What was different was that photos are now allowed on the interior. I guess in the 14 years since we last went there, the administrators realized with the advent of the smartphone that keeping people from taking photos was going to be impossible. Plus, why not get the free publicity that comes with social media posts.

As we strolled through the house, I kept thinking how "house" is such a poor word for what this is. It's more like a palace. I believe it's officially called a chateau. It's hard to imagine anyone building a structure like that for himself. Vanderbilt was still single when he began building the 170,000 square-foot home, and he and his wife only had the one daughter Cornelia. They took up three of the thirty-five bedrooms. What's the point of something like that other than to do it?

It's all so foreign and almost obscene to modern sensibilities. It would take 65 of our homes to equal the area of that house. What does anyone need with that? Nothing -- that's the honest answer. But why would they want something like that?

Yet it's a piece of art in and of itself.

Since we got year passes, we're planning on heading back in December for the Christmas decorations (which are already going up).

Working Sunday

Sunday 17 October 2021 | 0 Comments

More planting in the yard,

a new bookshelf for the Girl,

some re-decoration of the Boy’s room —

not our typical Sunday.

Around the House

Saturday 16 October 2021 | 0 Comments

In many ways, a fairly typical Saturday: the sun came up from the back of the house, washing everything in a soft morning light.

The Boy played computer games immediately upon waking up — it’s his Saturday morning treat, and considering the fact that we have no kind of gaming console whatsoever (no Xbox, no Wii, no Playstation), it’s a little indulgance we allow.

K and I (though mainly K) talk to Babcia. We talk about important matters (the energy crisis in Europe) and not-so-important matters (I can’t even remember).

I go and look at our front yard, covered with new grass that’s several inches high, thinking that I might finally be able to mow it today.

And then I start my chores. First up — seal up all the cracks in the chimney that I found last week, one (or perhaps several) of which let in enough water to damage the drywall in our bedroom. A serious matter, to be sure, but since it rained for a week a while ago with no additional damage, we think (hope) it was a one-time mini-disaster. Still, it’s best to seal everything as best I can.

In the afternoon, I plant some new shrubs for K and finally mow that yard. It’s a tedious task: the ground is still wet, and if I’m not careful, I dig out a bit of grass and mud every time I turn the mower. Still, once it’s all done, it looks magnificant.

In the meantime, K and the Boy are repainting the ramp that leads to Papa’s room. (We still call it that — probably always will.)

We don’t really need the ramp anymore as Papa no longer needs it for his wheelchair, but what else are we going to do? It would be absurd to get rid of it.

While they’re at it, they go ahead and repaint the small decorative fence that predates our chainlink fence and looks a little weird but a little sweet, too.

A busy, productive day.

Boys, Dogs, and Holes

Sunday 10 October 2021 | 0 Comments

A boy and a dog have to dig. It’s in their nature. Millions of years of evolution have implanted in them an irresistible craving to put holes in the ground Entire YouTube channels are likely devoted entirely to digging holes.

Clover digs these holes when she’s frustrated. If she’s been outside most of the day and is aware that we’re home, she wants to join us. If we don’t let her in, she digs. We open the window in the kitchen and shout down the hill, “Clover! No!” This stops her for a short time, but it’s never more than a few minutes before she starts digging again.

“You’re digging your own grave, dog,” I’ve muttered to her countless times when E and I are heading down to take out the compost, and at this point, the dog has just about gotten a whole big enough that she does indeed fit into it.

As for the Boy’s holes, they’re a different story. Occasionally he’s on a golf kick and wants to have a hole to shoot for. Never mind all he’s got are a cheap driver and iron from the thrift store. He uses them both as putters and sometimes decides he needs a hole to shoot for.

Other times, he’s building something. Tonight, he was working on a lean-to because he’d see it on his favorite YouTube channel. That involved a number of power tools and a bit of elbow grease, and we got very little of it done. But the hole — the most important part of the day — was completed.

Volleyball and Scouts

Thursday 07 October 2021 | 0 Comments

T Comes for a Visit

Wednesday 06 October 2021 | 0 Comments

One sign that you’re growing older is when a young lady comes to visit you with her boyfriend — just the two of them. No parents.

And you recall that the first time you met the young lady, she was a toddler climbing about on your living room furniture, acting completely and joyously wild.