A Win For the Lady Rams!

Last Wednesday the VCUQ Lady Rams had a win over Texas A&M Qatar.  It is cause for celebration because the girls haven't had a win yet this season.  You can imagine the excitement after the game on the part of the girls and Coach Brett.  When the players called an extra practice earlier in the week to prepare for this game, Brett wasn't as enthusiastic as he should have been, but it really helped, I think.  Another factor in the win had to be the addition of our little white mascot Dixie (our new puppy) who stole the players away from the pre-game pep talk but gave them lots of good luck licks. Even though she and I left before the game finished (because apparently dogs aren't allowed in the student center, but dogs aren't allowed anywhere in Qatar, especially parks, but falcons ARE allowed in the cabins on Qatar Airways), Abbey stayed on to finish taking pictures.

This team has heart, that is for sure.  They push each other and they push their coach. Sometimes they are disappointed when their hard work doesn't pay off or they don't get to play as much as they would like to, but when there is finally a win to advertise, it all seems worth it.

Having said that, Coach Brett is still planning on showing the team a clip from the movie "A League of Their Own" where Tom Hanks says, "There's no crying in baseball!"  Just like Tom Hanks' character is a little out of touch with his feminine athletes, Coach Brett might be slightly clueless about the emotion women athletes have to muster in order to compete, but he is learning, along with the Lady Rams, about what it takes to be a team, win or lose.

Abbey's Biathlon

Abbey participated in a biathlon last week during P.E.  The ASD P.E. Department held one last year, and it was such a hit with parents and students, they decided to make it an annual event.  This is supposed to help the students get prepared and motivated to participate in the triathlon that they hold in the spring for parents and students.  I don't know if Abbey came away ready to take on that kind of challenge, but she really pushed herself, buddied up with her friend who was feeling reluctant, and came away proud of her finish time.

I am just amazed at the wonderful programs The American School of Doha provides for our students.  They really build strength, confidence, talent, and determination, and I'm not just talking about the P.E. department.  Thanks, ASD for pushing our children and providing such a positive "American" atmosphere for so many blessed students to learn!

Writer's Block

I have been in a funk lately with a bad case of writer's block, so I thought I would whip out my handy Writer's Notebook that Abbey gave me for Christmas last year (as in 2010) and get my writing juices flowing.  Poetry always does it for me so here is a rough draft for today. I'm publishing it so that I will have some accountability and motivation to keep writing, oh, and so I can go through these simple steps of the writing process that Abbey has so thoughtfully provided in the front of my notebook.  Man, I love her!

SANCTUARY

When you're not here
There is
No real estate for me to settle,
No foundation to build on,
No firmament to spread my roots.
So I wander from room to room,
From thought to emotion to
Distraction.

Slowing my breath down is difficult
And so I am shallow in my
Inhilations,
Expectations,
Celebrations.
They are all diminished and
Cautious with calculations
And measured pleasure
Since my horizon has no sunrise until
You
Step through the threshold and
Pour your
Cemented soul next to mine.

Then the tranquil nesting can resume
With brilliant plans of grand designs
For modest home improvements,
Well overdue upgrades and
Mindful interior expansions.

Please don't confuse -
The solitary solace is needed.
But when the paint has finally dried
And the inspections are complete
Then is the time for cooperated
Ebullient efforts to
Slowly take over so that the
Structure can stand in balance and beauty,
In tandem with all the individual
Nail gun wounds smoothed,
The insulation in place
Against extended harsh elements,
So that the hoped for sunset can be
Miraculous and unfettered
Through the picture window of our
Sanctuary.

VCUQatar Women's Basketball 2011-2012

It's basketball season already and this one proves to be another building year at VCUQ. The girls' basketball team lost quite a few players from last year who graduated, but change and new challenges are constant.  On to victory, right?

Speaking of changes, head coach Jesse Ulmer stepped down this season to devote more time to his newest and most important occupation of being a new dad.  Congratulations to Jesse and Felicity and welcome to sweet little Dakota Lilly!  Jesse will be missed tremendously.  He has been the fire under these very inexperienced players for the last few seasons and, along with his wife Felicity, has built this program from the ground up.  Brett now has the responsibility of carrying on and taking these women over new hurdles as the new head coach.

The Lady Rams started their season off this last Sunday with a game against The American School of Doha.  Now to understand why a university is playing a high school team you will need to read my previous posts about this remarkable women's basketball program.  These women have come so far and continue to amaze me at their strength, courage, and tenacity, even in the face of much more experienced opponents.  They started Sunday's game with five players and increased to six by the end of the first quarter.  That didn't give much room for resting players and rotating fresh ones in.  Their work was definitely cut out for them.

Yes, they were tired.

Since ASD has won every time these two teams have met, the girls were just hoping to compete with themselves and do better than last year.

There are a couple of new players this year and they have a little more experience than previous team members have had when they joined.  There was a positive spirit in the team the whole night and they kept fighting, even after one of the girls had to sit out most of the second half because of illness.

The excitement brought out the ASD gym cat who patrols the bleachers for snacks and entertainment.

Their goal was to hit the 20 point mark and this photo shows their last basket of the game, reaching that milestone.  They came up short in the end, but it was a good effort for the VCUQ Lady Rams.  Hopefully there will be more players at future games and some more wins to add to the record books.  I will keep you posted.  Go Rams!