The Whelan's

Are you ready for some football?

Here is Alex and his team during one of their nightly practices. This is his 4th year playing and for the first time he is playing in another league. His new team, the Riviera Beach Buccaneers, are a great group of kids and coaches and Alex is very happy that we made the switch. His old team, the GORC Wildcats, had lost touch with what's important and that's letting the kids have fun. Driving to practice is a little longer but well worth it. Playing football is fun again. The amazing thing is that he chose to go to a team that has little chance of winning many games because of the number of kids that are new (meaning that this is their 1st year). He knew that a championship would probably not be a reality but chose this team anyway. He just wants to play and have fun. I must admit I tried to talk him into going to the Edgewater Blue Devils because 1) they were closer and 2) they were an established team that has a shot at winning the championship. But in the end it was his choice and I am actually very proud of him. As of now, they have lost their first 2 games. After last weeks blow out (32-0), I asked him if he regretted his decision and he looked me square in the eye and with a smile on his face said no. Of course he also said "I'm hungry" and so off to dinner we went.
The kids uniforms are blue and white (for games and practices) but I have Alex wear red at practice so that he is easier to find. During games, since they all look alike, I have to search for number 60 and cheer loudly with all the other supportive parents, even when they are losing 32-0. This is what kids sports is all about.

posted by Susan65 @ 8:10 PM 0 comments

Baltimore at Night

Me, Alex and Elizabeth decided to head down to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore City tonight and do a little sight seeing and have dinner. It was a beautiful night, the weather was in the mid 60's with a light breeze and the kids were having fun. We were thinking of going to the Baltimore Aquarium but unfortunately they close at 5pm on Wednesdays, so we went to the ESPN Zone instead. For those not in the know, this is a sports fanatics paradise. No less than 100 flat screen, high definition televisions all tuned into different sports channels. They have mulitple bars, dining rooms, a retail store and the all important arcade on the second floor. Now you know why the kids were smiling. We had a pretty decent meal and the kids played lots of games upstairs. Afterward we walked along the harbor and came accross one of the boats that Richard and I both worked on when we lived in Mystic, Connecticut. The Mystic Whaler is a 120ft windjammer and it was amazing seeing her again. I worked on her sister ship the Mystic Clipper and Richard worked on both. I stopped by to see the Captain but unfortunately John wasn't on the boat. Oh well, it was a good time in my life but alas I am glad I am not a deckhand anymore. My life now is the kids and I wouldn't want it any other way. This photo is of the kids standing on the overpass from the harbor to the Hyatt Hotel where I parked my van.

posted by Susan65 @ 11:32 PM 0 comments