Nicolai has taken up a new cause. His latest campaign kicked off this morning. Included here is the e-mail that he hopes will find its way across the country.

At age thirteen, Nicolai Calabria, born with one leg, became the first person to summit 19,341 foot Mount Kilimanjaro on crutches. In so doing, he raised more than $100,000 for the Free Wheel Chair Mission and was the subject of an award winning short documentary film, Nico’s Challenge. He returned to Tanzania the following year to assist in distribution of wheelchairs to the impoverished disabled of that country. He has been a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres show, NPR’s All Things Considered and the recipient of numerous awards for his charitable work.

Since he was five years old Nicolai has used forearm crutches to play soccer with able bodied players. When he learned of the American Amputee Soccer Association at age nine he set his sights on playing for the US team one day. Now seventeen, Nicolai has realized that dream. He has become the youngest member of the US National Amputee Soccer team and scored a goal in his debut international match to help secure a 2-1 victory over Mexico.

Amputee soccer is played on a 3/4 size field with seven players to a side. Field players are permitted to use crutches and may play the ball with only one leg. Keepers defend a 7×16 foot goal and may field the ball with only one arm. The sport was invented by Don Bennett of Seattle in 1980 and is currently played in 29 countries. This year’s World Cup will be held in Russia among the top twelve qualifying teams.

Members of the US team are scattered across the country. Air travel and lodging is required for every match or exhibition which can easily exceed $10K per event. Teams from other countries routinely train together giving them an advantage over the US which has never been able to afford that option.

Nicolai is asking for your support as he seeks to raise $250,000 for the American Amputee Soccer Association. We can meet this goal if every soccer player in the United States contributes just 16 cents. Your tax deductible donation will support the team as it represents our country around the world and help expand the sport within the United States. Wounded warriors, accident survivors, and those battling disease or born with differences will all benefit from your generosity as we expand their opportunity to remain or become athletes.

When a person with a disability watches an amputee soccer match, their view of what is possible is forever expanded. When an able bodied person watches, they will never forget the display of courage and determination defined by a refusal to accept perceived limitations. All will enjoy the beautiful game at its most beautiful.

Are you willing to take 5 minutes from your day to make a donation in any amount to this very worthy cause? Of equal importance, will you help Nicolai’s appeal reach every soccer player in the United States?

Donations can be made at the AASA website or by check to:

American Amputee Soccer Association
1033 Creekside Drive
Wilmington, Delaware 19804
Tax ID# 510402649

Thank you for your support and we hope you will follow the US team on its quest for the World Cup.

Although my soccer team secured another win this morning, I left the game in the closing minutes with a pulled hamstring muscle. Over the years I have been plagued by such injuries. Once you damage these muscles they develop scar tissue which is prone to re-injury. As a coping strategy, I have learned to throttle my speed to 95%. At this point in the game, however, I ran past a pair of defenders onto a very nicely played through-ball. In order to line up for what would have been a very easy shot on goal I had to max out at 100% and in that moment I felt my hamstring let go. I was smart enough to pull back immediately and in so doing minimized the severity of the injury. So far this feels like a 2-3 week recovery rather than the end of my season. I used the balance of the day to begin selling several tripods which seem to multiply in this house like rabbits although it could have more to do with the fact that I purchased two more yesterday.

Nicolai spoke at our church this morning on the value of international service as a means to connect with the broader world and to appreciate how fortunate we are. Maya was kind enough to make a video which allowed me to see his presentation.

From tutu to cleats Maya has had more than her fair share of exercise over the last few days. Nico will be attending her second performance of Hansel and Gretel later this afternoon after which she is sure to be physically exhausted. Her team squeaked out a 1-0 victory after which I took her out for a late breakfast at the End of the Trail restaurant.

For a town of 17,000 the Concord Journal cannot really afford to cover all of the news let alone the myriad of sporting activities occurring over the course of a week. I was pleased to see in the issue which came out today that the article I submitted covering Nicolai’s recent soccer experience was published along with one of my photos. Nicolai reluctantly allowed me to make the submission (he has no desire for notoriety) but agreed it would be good for a fundraising effort he is about to initiate on behalf of the American Amputee Soccer Association. His appeal will go out this weekend and any publicity will help the cause.

While I truly appreciate all that Jeanine does to keep me healthy her latest ploy may have gone too far. The meat used for this burger came from “our cow” (Jeanine buys part of a locally raised cow which we freeze and use over the course of several months). This is not only healthy but tasty. I’m OK so far. Next, we have organically grown tomatoes which cost more than my camera. Still good. I may have to draw the line, however, at her new choice of buns. They are about half the diameter of any self-respecting hamburger bun. While this does represent a meaningful savings of empty calories, it simply looks ridiculous and does not afford adequate purchase on the burger. Please note, my nephew John who stopped by unexpectedly was offered a proper size bun rather than the little sesame seed covered beanie that topped my burger.

Still not fully readjusted to local time, Maya had an extended dress rehearsal this evening for an upcoming production of a ballet adaptation of Hansel & Gretel. Photography is not permitted during the final performance so parents were encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to capture memories. Dressed in black Maya’s first appearance is as a “shadow”. Her other role is as a “seraphim”, an angelic being regarded as belonging to the highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy associated with light ardor, and purity. Maya and her cousin Rachel appear to be the most likely candidates to carry the Calabria dance tradition to the next generation. We are told that a DVD of the performance will be available and we will plan to share that with my mother.

Maya returned from China bearing gifts for everyone. I received this replica of a Terracotta Army soldier which now graces the mantle in my study. She explained that the warrior’s hair bun is offset to one side to facilitate access to the quiver of arrows he would have worn in combat. The Terracotta Army or the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses”, is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife, and to make sure that he had people to rule over. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army, there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses.

After eleven days of travel, Maya returned to Boston this evening, and Jeanine and I were waiting at the airport to greet her. Despite the 18-hour journey from China, she appeared well-rested and her bubbly self. A veteran parent of this student exchange program arrived with two large pizzas knowing that all the students would be craving familiar food. Sure enough, it was Maya’s first priority after hugs and kisses. On the ride home from the airport she shared stories from her visits to Beijing and Shanghai and the time spent with her Chinese family. Maya clearly enjoyed herself and embraced the experience completely. I will post photos retroactively as soon as I can download them from her camera.

During her stay in Beijing Maya had an opportunity to visit the Temple of Heaven, Hongqiao Market (for pearls), a noodle buffet, the State Grand Theater, and the Forbidden City. Her group then traveled by night train to Xi’an. Here Maya met Zhao Shiting, the student whose family will host her for three nights. While in Xi’an Maya attended, taught classes, and performed songs and skits at a Chinese middle school, visited the Terra Cotta Tombs, attended a Chinese dance show, rode rented bikes around the top of the city wall, toured a jade factory, visited a Chinese art history museum, ate at a hot pot restaurant, shopped in the local bazzar, played in a water fountain park, and learned how to make dumplings with her host family.

The group spent their final two days in Shanghai where the highlight of sightseeing was an excursion to the zoo to see the Giant Pandas. Maya returned from her visit to China having thoroughly enjoyed herself. We were delighted that she was so fearless and open to new experiences. I enjoyed listening to her as she described each photo she took in something of a role reversal for us. I find myself wanting to take some time off on my next work trip to China to enjoy some of the culture which Maya was exposed to.

Maya’s adventure in China began in Beijing where on her first day she visited the Summer Palace, The Bird’s Nest, the Aquatic Center and Ming Tomb Way where she flirted with the sculptures and had fun with her camera.

Maya was travelling with a group of 20 schoolmates, five chaperons, and one guide. Day two took them on an excursion to the Great Wall where they got great exercise climbing 30 flights of narrow stairs to reach the top of the wall. They also enjoyed what she described a toboggan ride down from the Wall.

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Of over 2000 photos I took in Mazatlan, this is one of two which includes me. It is one of my more poignant portraits and will always evoke fond memories of this adventure with Nicolai.

Today I completed posting a full set of images from both the Mexico-US soccer match and our Mazatlan adventure. During the process, I came across this photo which I thought worth posting. Immediately after the match a contingent of fans entered the locker room in pursuit of autographs from the players. Nicolai needed little encouragement to accommodate their wishes even if paper was in short supply. I think it would not be too hard for Nicolai to get accustomed to his new role as a sports hero.

I am breaking with my blog tradition by posting additional photos from last weekend since so much of the story remains untold. After the match, both teams were treated by the Mayor of Mazatlan to a huge open-air gala in their honor held in the historic Plaza Machado, one of the oldest in the city, built in the year 1837. From the stage, specially constructed for the event, we heard from local dignitaries, Bob Bennet, the founder of amputee soccer who presented the winner’s trophy, and enjoyed traditional Mexican dancing.

The celebration ended at about 11 pm but the team still had abundant energy to sample the Mazatlan nightlife. Nicolai was less than pleased that I insisted on tagging along as a chaperon. Having read about nighttime safety issues in Mexico before the trip, I was not going to relinquish my parental responsibilities to his drinking-age teammates.

Pictured here are three of four newspapers included significant coverage of the US-Mexico soccer showdown. I am planning to forward to my Spanish speaking mother for translations. The game was also televised nationally and I believe it will be rebroadcast on the internet before the end of the month. I will share particulars as they become available. It was encouraging to see the level of media interest and national pride in the Mexican team. Perhaps one day the US team will be successful in garnering a similar level of attention.

The American Amputee Soccer Association is working to build awareness for the sport and to recruit more players to the game. To that end they have invited a documentary film maker to follow the team on the road to the World Cup. This morning Nicolai was asked to be on the beach at sunrise for an interview. After he was done we took advantage of the perfect light and empty beach to make this image. The master is actually 4x larger and includes a sweeping panorama of the water in the background. Kamagra best online cialis browse my link expands and relaxes the blood vessels get constricted. You can always talk to a few of these to your breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack time and watch order levitra what happens! Almonds: A source of the good, essential fatty acids which are essential for our bodies. Along with that these medications are available in various forms such has Kamagra Jelly, Edegra, Kamagra Oral Tab, levitra online india , and many other that work through selective inhibition process. If PDE-5 inhibitor drug doesn’t work for your tadalafil soft health. Nicolai had the idea of rolling the ball in sand to create a sense of motion after he kicked the ball. I already know that this will become one of my all time favorite images. We enjoyed a hearty breakfast on the condo terrace before returning to our room to pack. As we said our goodbyes, it struck me how deeply bonded we had become to this group of people who were strangers just four days ago.

With the big match behind us, today was spent enjoying the city of Mazatlan. Nicolai joined his teammates for sightseeing and shopping while I did a solo trek of more than 10 miles focused on photography. I walked from the old city center out to the El Faro Lighthouse which sits atop a 500-foot-high hill. The climb was not too strenuous and the views from the top were well worth the effort. At sunset, I positioned myself along the Malecon (the oceanfront promenade running 4 miles from the Old City to the tourist hotel-laden Golden Zone) at the spot where local cliff divers make the death-defying plunge for tips. I only had a chance to photograph one dive but had planned how I would use a rapid-fire sequence and Photoshop to create a composite image featuring the entire dive sequence.

Nicolai proudly took the field today as a member of the US National Amputee Soccer Team in a match against Team Zorros de Sinaola. Kick-off was at 6PM in Mazatlan’s Estadio Teodoro Mariscal stadium in front of a crowd of over a thousand mostly Mexican fans. The match was televised on national television, filmed by two documentary crews, and photographed by at least four newspapers not to mention this proud father. It would be nice to see this level of interest in the US and I believe Nicolai will have a role in making that happen. The Mexican team left the locker room highly inspired after learning that one of their teammates had fallen into a coma the night before. He had practiced with the team 10 days earlier but the bone cancer which took his leg was now threatening his life. The Mexican team struck first at the ten minute mark bringing the crowd to a frenzy and capturing the early momentum. Sixty seconds later, Nicolai, the youngest member of the squad, dowsed that momentum when he scored a beautiful header off a corner kick. Shortly before the end of the first half, Dan Broome, the oldest member of the US team and World Cup veteran, scored on a direct kick making the score USA 2 – Mexico 1. This proved to be the final result despite several near goals for each team during the second half. Nicolai played exceptional soccer and will clearly be one of the team’s standouts. More importantly he was the consummate ambassador for his country and his family displaying great courage and competitive spirit tempered with compassion and humility. I could not have been more proud of him. After the game we learned that the Mexican team had nick named him “correcaminos” which means the roadrunner (a bird which can run at 20 mph). Nicolai said it was nice to be the fastest player on the field instead of the slowest, referring to his experience facing two-legged opponents for his entire soccer career.

Opportunities to practice as a team are rare with members of the US team living across the country, no two residing in the same state. Newly signed coach, Roy Howell, took advantage of the gathering to run three practice sessions today, a light early morning kick around on the beach followed by a one hour skill building session and finally a full field two hour practice at a local university. The one legged soccer playing gringos drew quite an audience wherever they went and managed to recruit a dozen or so USA fans to offset the hundreds of Mexican fans expected at the match.

I enjoyed photography on both ends of the day. First with a six mile sunrise walk near our condo and then with a 5 mile sunset walk after a joint US-Mexican team dinner held downtown.

At Logan airport early on this morning of Jeanine’s 49th birthday the Calabria clan could be found boarding aircraft for three separate destinations. Maya is headed to China where she will spend the next ten days travelling with classmates on a student exchange program. Jeanine is headed to Louisville, Kentucky where she will visit with her niece Erica who just gave birth to her first child and her sister Lauren. Meanwhile, Nicolai and I are headed for Mazatlan, Mexico where he will be competing as a member of the US National Amputee Soccer team. We first made contact with the American Amputee Soccer Association when Nico was 9 hoping that one day he would have an opportunity to play for the US team. When he was offered a provisional spot on the squad a few months ago it was like a dream come true for him. We arrived at about 1PM and met several other players at the airport before being shuttled to the condos that would serve as our base of operations for the next 5 days. Nico wasted little time before touring the beach and relaxing by the pool. We met the coach and other members of the team at an ocean-side restaurant a short walk up the beach and enjoyed fireworks from our balcony before collapsing into our beds totally exhausted.

Gorgeous weather this week has had many of us out walking over the lunch hour including my boss, pictured here. Jeff was recently promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer after three years as the President of the Home Robots Division. Under his leadership, division revenues and profits have soared in what can only be described as a dramatic turnaround. It has been very satisfying to be a part of his team and to see him receive the recognition and expanded scope of responsibility he has earned. What a contrast to my last boss who was equally brilliant but did not have a clue as to how to empower and motivate the team around him.

There can be little doubt that Maya has inherited some of my mother’s artistic talent. To her, this was just a casual drawing. To me, it seems like the work of a future master (many parents suffer from a similar lack of perspective when appreciating the accomplishments of their children so I will make no excuses). As I type this entry Nicolai is teaching himself a new song on the guitar while singing to his sister. This would have made my father very happy indeed. In a conversation with Kyle on Sunday we learned that he has been taking photographs like crazy and is considering starting his own blog. Academics are valued greatly in our family but not at the expense of the arts. We are thrilled that all three kids continue to pursue opportunities for creative expression.

Last night we were joined for Easter dinner by my nephew John and Maya’s friend Allison who also spent the night while her parents were out of town. This morning I discovered Maya with flattened hair in the process of braiding Allison’s hair. Apparently all girls with curly hair prefer straight hair and all girls with straight hair prefer curly hair. This is an enigma to someone whose daily hair maintenance routine consists of waking up. My lack of understanding of female hair styling rituals did not compromise my ability to recognize a good photo opportunity. After trying some shots on the deck, I decided the sun porch would make a better setting. I addressed complaints about the cold tile floor with large insulators which did not come from the couch. My plan was to crop the photo from the waist up. In the end, I preferred this full-body view complete with foot warmers.

Pictured here is my new DIY flash bracket. It has two major advantages over all commercially available units. The flash head fires directly into the center of the umbrella. Existing designs mount from the hot shoe which results in the flash head being significantly offset causing nonuniform illumination of the umbrella. The second advantage is that the position of the flash balances the weight of the umbrella which means I can use a stand with much smaller leg spread to support the rig. Since I use these flashes exclusively for work outside of my studio, it means I can travel that much lighter. This can be done by soaking about 10 to 15 minutes It works for 4-6 hours, so you can avoid drinking alcohol. http://www.slovak-republic.org/symbols/flag/ levitra online uk cheap cialis india These are also made by the reputed companies and have a reputation all over the world. In ancient Egypt women had a lot of secrets to keep their skin young and wrinkle-free. levitra on line slovak-republic.org It is important to know that there are L-arginine benefits to know about and buy cheap levitra when you’re totally informed, you can then decide whether this is the right drug for you and where you can obtain it legally. I used the new setup in this photo of Nico watching TV while rubbing Nala’s belly. I set my camera exposure for the ambient light levels in the kitchen. I used my new rig as the key (main) light positioned 45 degrees off Nico to the right and an on camera flash with a reduced power level for the fill light. Had I taken the time to rotate Nala so her more flattering end was in the photo this would have been a really nice image. Absent that refinement, I will have to settle for being pleased with the results of my lighting setup.

Maya was in action this morning as her spring soccer season opened. Her team had to settle for a tie against Belmont as they struggled to find their rhythm. The coach played her at center mid and center forward rather than her usual wing full back position. I think her game will benefit enormously from exposure to these more offensive positions.

I recently upgraded the flash units I use with my camera and spent the afternoon experimenting with new lighting ratios. Nala is a far more willing subject than other members of the family these days although she is definitely less skilled at holding a pose. Nevertheless, I was pleased with this photo which used a combination of window light and off-camera flash. During the shoot, I had an idea for a clever little invention to better position my new flash units relative to the umbrellas through which I was shooting. An hour in the workshop and I had fashioned the new widget out of fiberglass over a steel support bracket. I could not have been more pleased with the outcome and plan to use the new rig tomorrow once the epoxy has fully cured.

Photographing a muskrat is no mean feet. These aquatic rodents can swim underwater for 15 minutes at a time and generally avoid humans. Eventually, however, they get hungry and while feasting on delicious spring vegetation this one did not seem to mind as I approached to within a few feet. Save for their very rat-like tails, these little guys are actually quite cute when dry.

This one was about 24 inches long with half of that being tail. They are often mistaken for beavers but are actually much smaller. I spent about 20 minutes working for this closeup which would have been substantially better had I thought to bring my flash with me. This was an unplanned visit to Great Meadows on my commute home so I had to make due with available light and the equipment at hand.

Maya and I both had soccer practice this evening at the CCHS turf fields. Although she remains petite, she has grown a couple of inches since last season and appears noticeably stronger and faster. Here she splits two defenders during a practice drill. I picked her up at 7 PM, drove her home for a quick change, and then on to a babysitting gig, returned home and changed into my soccer gear and back to CCHS for my 8-9:30 PM practice. I enjoyed spending the rest of the evening with Maya who was content to snuggle on the couch and let me test my new camera flash system on her. Meanwhile, Jeanine and Nicolai are driving to western New York where they will visit colleges on Friday and Saturday.

Nicolai and Maya were kind enough to pose for me this morning. Despite the 5 years which separate them, they get along very well. In some ways, it appears that Kyle’s absence has brought them closer together. I hope they will cherish this last year they have together before Nicolai leaves for college.

An evening view of an isolated pear tree from yesterday’s entry. In theory the heavy lifting from the work I have been involved with over the past month is behind me. In practice there is still much to do and I found myself leaving the office at 8pm with no photo for the day. Most of the canada cialis levitra couple is fighting for successful sexual life. The discovery of order cialis alters the way that impotence was treated. cialis can solve this problem. Avlimil contains no estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, or other hormones and is available on-line without a doctor’s prescription. 4frontimports.com cialis sale The diseases like impotence are very serious problems, and in levitra vardenafil generic those who smoke or are over 50 years old. Kyle has expressed some interest in starting his own blog and has agree to let me cross post here. I am not sure when his school schedule will permit him to start but look forward to the possibility of getting glimpses into his life at college.

Each morning as I arrive at iRobot, I am greeted by this tree lined entrance to the parking area. During the spring and autumn the scene is particularly magnificent as these pear(?) trees are EDTA Chelation Treatment has shown multiple benefits in various health issues, for example, Heavy Metal Removal Fatigue or tiredness Memory problems Hypertension Immune system issues Fibromyalgia Cardiovascular diseases, arrhythmia Abdominal area discomfort Insufficient Blood Flow – lower leg pain, loss of cialis rx visibility and hearing power, creating cold feet and/or hands, breathing problems, bad digestive capacity; lessened vitality; slow recovery from bruises; problems related to impotency, erectile. Luckily, it is a treatable condition, all you need to take this pill an hour before you begin with the blockbuster movie that canada in levitra broke all records. In many cancer patients, we see the process of pumping with a tube involves a pressure that pulls blood into the erectile tissues. tadalafil 20mg cipla http://miamistonecrabs.com/fall-lacrosse/ Don’t combine it with any other ED drug or any levitra vs cialis other alternative. in bloom or showing fall colors. After work I joined Jeanine and Maya at a dinner party where we had a chance to mingle with the other families whose children are part of the student exchange program to China set to depart next week.

Meet William Steven Skinner, my niece’s new son. He was born on Friday in Louisville, Kentucky to parents Erica and Nick. Some of you may recall that I was the photographer at their wedding in October of 2010.

My spring soccer season opened today with a match in Newton against the Jacques Paoli Football Club. Our preseason preparation paid off and we cruised to a 5-0 victory. I played well and despite a major collision with the opposing goalie stepped off the pitch uninjured.