I flew back to Boston today and went directly from the airport to Lynn where Kyle’s soccer team was competing in the semi-finals of the state high school tournament against the team from Sandwich. CCHS scored a single goal late in the second period to advance to the finals which will be contested on Sunday.

It never ceases to amaze me what I come across while in Santa Barbara. This bicycle rig seems to include an air damn, windshield, dashboard, storage compartments and who knows what else. If I was not on my way into the office I would have hung around to see what the rider looked like which would have surely been entertaiing as well.

After work, I did a little nighttime photography and shopping in downtown Santa Barbara. Evenings here at this time of year are really quite delightful. I am hoping that all the walking is also helping my pinky toe to recover. It still smarts with every step.

Today I traveled to Santa Barbara where I will be working for most of the week. My routing was through Phoenix for the first time exposing me to some new aerial landscapes.,

I have attributed my recent surge in scoring to being injury-free for the first time this season. Another possible explanation is that our team manager recently started awarding a jar of salsa for each goal scored. I must confess, I really like the salsa.

A bruised pinky toe and fat lip were the price I paid this morning for 3 goals and one assist against Foxboro. The very physical contest ended our fall outdoor season with a satisfying 6-1 defeat of a team that had beaten us earlier in the year. It was raining but not too cold and we played on grass. My first goal was the best. I beat a defender down the right side and unleashed a rocket from at least 25 yards out. It screamed past the goalie and set the stage for the rest of the game. On the second, I intercepted a goal kick and dribbled in to easily beat the keeper. The final goal was another breakaway down the right in the second half. This time I was tackled be two defenders but not before releasing a well place ground shot that was beyond the keepers reach and just inside the left post.

As if Maya did not have enough soccer for one day she left her party for an indoor match. This league is for 5th and 6th graders and Maya finds herself battling giant opponents. The score was reflective of the height differential. Maya remained fearless and would attack the largest of her opponents like a wasp after a bear.

The head coach, an MIT guy, keeps very careful statistics throughout the season. He keeps track of and awards points to players on the field when goals are scored and detracts points when goals are surrendered. Maya was recognized during the awards ceremeony for jointly holding the highest power score on the team.

The girls enjoyed quite a feast, which included both healthy and not so healthy snacks.

Maya played her final game of the soccer season in the pouring rain and bitter cold. Her team secured a 2-0 victory despite the very hostile conditions, and we followed the match with a team party.

Kyle’s soccer team advances another round in the state championship tournament with a decisive 2-0 win over Danvers. The team will be in action again next Monday, and the stakes will be even higher. Only 8 teams remain in the single-elimination tournament. Unfortunately, I will be working in California and will not be able to make the match.

Wresting season is right around the corner, and Nicolai could not be more excited. He has grown significantly over the past six months and now is almost as tall as I am. His foot is now a size 10 which necessitated the purchase of a new wrestling shoes.

Maya and Jeanine participated in a ceremonial American Flag Retirement ceremony today at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetary replete with fife and drum band, bag pipes, the playing of taps, and a three cannon salute. Girl and Boy Scouts folded flags to be retired and then handed them off to a military family being honored for their father’s recent return from Iraq. They are then passed to a fire marshall in full uniform who respectfully places the flag in a container in which it is burned.

Dad shows that he has a move or two. I call this one “cut right and run faster than the other old man”. Photo courtesy of Ruth, the wife of one of my teammates.