Music and Match Musings

I have forgotten to bring my camera along a number of times this past week, which is unfortunate because there have been multiple document-worthy occasions.

Saturday night I went to a gig at the Norwich Arts Center, which is a music venue created from an old church, so the acoustics are amazing. The opening band was Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny. She was wearing a long sleeved black sequin mini-dress and an enormous platinum wig and she sounded like a mix between Gwen Stafani and Regina Spektor, a little bit ska, a little bit Irish folk. Her band mates all had eye liner-drawn mustaches. They seamed really young and made a few mistakes, which was endearing. But the sound was incredible. It gave me goose bumps. I forgot how much I love live music. It brought me back to when Jeffery and I used to see a lot of shows. Here's a video that hardly does her justice.

I walked home from the Art Center that night under clear sky and stars. I really like walking. Not so much alone at night, but in general. And I like being alone. The other day I went for a run in my neighborhood, which gave me the opportunity to go down streets I've never been down before. I found a butcher! Alone time is good for reflection, but I also look forward to having Jeff's hand to hold.

Sunday morning I was captain of our football match, and I completely forgot to give an inspirational pep talk before the game started. I was too busy sorting out position rotations because we were starting a man down and planned on taking turns in goal because we didn't have a keeper. Our opponents were really unpleasant. They spent the duration of the game whining, contesting every call, and screaming at one another. The also played dirty and really threw their bodies around. We finished the first half up 1-0, after a breakaway goal. Two minutes into the second half, my mate Ashley sprained her ankle really bad and ended up going to the hospital. Bernie, my fellow center midfielder accompanied her, so we were down to 9 players. Then something miraculous happened. We started playing really good football. Our passes were crisp, we defended relentlessly, and we beet them to the ball. With another goal we were up 2-1, and sitting on it. The non-keeper who started the game for us was incredible, saving shots left and right. They out-shot us probably 10-1 but we ended in a 2-2 draw, and it felt like a victory.

That afternoon five of us celebrated Valentine's day with a roast dinner, complete with apple crumble. We ate until the food coma set in, and watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Me and 4 single girls, drooling over Brad Pitt.

On Wednesday we played at Oxford, our final away match. The pitch was beautiful, it looked like a bowling green. We had blue sky and sunshine for the first time in a long time. 4-nill victory. The highlight was when I scored a header off of a corner, which I haven't done since my first match playing for UEA.

Weather 'n Limbo

I know it's cliché. But I'm going to talk about how crazy the weather is in England.

On this particular morning I looked outside from my bedroom window and thought, "wow, what a beautiful day!" And when I opened the door it was snowing, but still bright and sunny.

My favorite time of day is when the clouds blush. This is the view from my window.

Doggy in the snow. Still snowing with blue sky.


Ominous. Blackness fast approaching.


We played limbo at my friend Luxembourg's birthday party. I think my expression sums up the high points of the evening.

English and American Football

Last week we played Cambridge away. We previously beat them 17-0 on our home turf, and we took a strong squad this time, so we went into the game feeling pretty confident. And then something happened that we didn't expect: they were good. We battled back and forth for the first 20 minutes of the game, and something was off. It was our first BUCS game back since the Christmas holiday, and we weren't jelling. Very few of us were playing to our full ability, there was a breakdown in communication, and I started to get scared. But we persevered, started talking more, and finally got a goal in. That first goal really took it out of us. Everyone limped back to their starting positions, unfit and unhealthy, and we prepared to do it all again. "That first goal was the hardest, the rest will come easy!" I encouraged. So we battled. And the next one didn’t come easy, but it was quicker than the first. That second goal was when the adrenaline kicked in, and I realized that we could beat this team. Limping back to starting positions once again, I yelled, “Come on girls, it’s like the second half of Braveheart!” which made the referee chuckle. It was. And then, we just played brilliant football. I defended like I never have, and we talked continually, put our passes together and outplayed Cambridge. Final score: 12-0. After the game one of my teammates informed me that one of the Cambridge players told her, “we like number 3, she says everything with a smile on her face.” It feels incredible to be an integral part of something I love on the other side of the world. I found my niche. When I get back to the city I need to find a more competitive team, one with players who love the game and want to be the best they can be, and a coach who knows how to inspire his players to want to work hard.

Since coming to England, I have started to get the feeling that some things happen solely for my benefit, which may sound egocentric, but it’s true. Last night I went to campus planning to watch the Superbowl at the Union pub. I heard they were staying open late to show it, and I thought it would be a great atmosphere. When I turned up, I found out it was a fiver to get in, and none of my friends were willing to pay. Neither was I. Disappointed, I decided to catch the last bus home so that I could sleep in my bed rather than on someone’s floor and watch the highlights later. When I boarded the bus, there was Sam Mac, one of my football girls. She had left the pub too, not wanting to pay to watch the game, but still wanted to see it. So she invited me over and we had some Fosters and I explained how American Football works, and we laughed and told stories and rooted for the Saints. And then the Who played the halftime show, and it was perfect. Working Sundays, I have sadly missed the past three Superbowls in a row. And I love Super Sunday. We always have a huge party and it’s messy and amazing and it’s the only day you can be drunk before lunch. So it was really special staying up past 3 am to watch the game in England, and sharing it with someone who had never seen a football game, and it was amazing, the Underdog was victorious. Walking home, the sky was bright from light pollution and a classic English rain dripped, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. :)

Week Four

Last week Nick and Lois came over to make pizza. As we walked to my house from campus, the sun was setting and the light was apricot colored.

There was still snow on the ground, but the temperature was mild. We were talking about love and friendship and other warm cuddly things, and just as I was saying that I thought I might be the luckiest girl in the world, I almost got hit my a car. But didn't. :)

Nick and Lois are my two favorite people in England. I love both of them very much and I don't want to think about having to say goodbye.

We made the dough from scratch.

They had never had artichoke hearts on pizza before. It might be a California thing.