Julbord With the Team & KFUM
Tonight was julbord with the team at KFUM. Everyone associated with KFUM got together to celebrate Christmas time and eat julbord...swedish christmas table food.
Umeå Comets!! The team!
Julbord dinner...the team!
Americano Pam!
Lisa, Emma, Anna-Klara
Carro and Erika
Jo, Mila, and Pam
Sofia, Julia and Me
The food...
Great night with the team!!!
Yeah Comets!!
Update
For those of you that don't know by now, I under-went an operation on my hand almost a week and a half ago. I am still recovering but hopefully soon everything will be back to normal. They told me I would be out 2 weeks but it really depends on how my hand heals. I had an operation on the back of my right hand to take out some bad fat tissue that has been causing my hand to swell and bruise during the course of the year. They are also testing the tissue just to make sure it isn't anything serious, but the doctor is convinced the bad fat tissue came from playing basketball and a result from trauma (continual hitting of the hand while playing). The operation included a pretty long incession (spelling?) and 21 stitches total. I got some pretty nasty bruising also as a result but it's healing and that's the most important. So on Friday I am scheduled to remove the stitches and we will see from there. Hopefully I can start to workout some now, maybe ride the bike...so I won't be so extremely out of shape when I finally get to play again!! And hopefully this weekend I can get into the game!!
This Saturday we played a game vs. Luleå at home. I think the final score was 106-54 or something around there...anyway, we got beat by 50 pts. I had to sit and watch the game from the sideline and it was one of the hardest things I have had to do. We played pretty well at times, but we were really small and few. Mila also did not play because she was very sick the past week with Swineflu type symptoms. So we played with 6 players and you could tell we got tired. Pam had an amazing first half, scoring 25 pts!! She ended the game with 27. Aisling also played her butt off. It was her last game with us, she has gone back to Ireland now, and she ended it with a solid performance! I think we are right there, and with everybody...it's going to be better!!
On Sunday I traveled up to Luleå with the 95 girls to coach them in a game. We ended up winning 88-24!! That was pretty fun. Then it was back in the bus for 3 hours, home to Umeå.
Now I can honestly say I am exhausted!! I have no idea why because its not like I do a lot now...but maybe the fact that it gets dark at 2.00 might play a factor. Time for bed!!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!!
KRAM
New Hair Do!!
Today I got a new hair cutt!! What do you think?? Frida did a great job I think!! Nice to get my hair done finally!! So exciting!!
Pam's mom arrived here today. Nice to have another fellow american around, not to mention all the yummy treats she bought us! Tonight we had a fika at Julia's...some good stuff, including Julia's apple pie - MY FAVORITE!!
Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! What a fast week. I put up all the xmas decorations in my appartment, so it's starting to look a lot like Christmas!! I love it!!
Talk soon again!
Switzerland!!
I arrived in Zurich at 12.30. After getting lost in the airport for about 20 min, I finally found Sophia waiting for me!! We drove about an hour to her house and relaxed a bit to prepare ourselves for the SVENSK JULFIKA (Swedish Christmas fika) that evening. Mattias and Josefine came over for tacos before the rest of the swedish folk showed up. After dinner, we prepared the swedish fika...including glögg, julmust, saphrine buns, gingerbread cookies, gingerbread cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, knack (caramel) and GODIS! Daniel, Linda, and Jens joined the crew. So there I was, one american with the 6 swedes. Anyway, it was a great evening and I really enjoyed the company!
Mattias, Josefine, Linda, Daniel, Jens and Sophia
Swedish fika!! Yeah we ate all that!!
SATURDAY
On Saturday, Sophia and I traveled to Solothurn, an old village just outside, about 15 min away from where Sophia lived. It was really pretty and right next to the Swiss Alps!! We went to an old church built in 1763, talk about old, and hung out for a bit just staring at the inside! Lot's of shopping there and cafes to fika. Sophia and I enjoyed a nice fika after a walk through the city.
St.-Ursen Kathedrale (1763)
Walking by the shops...
Taking a walk around the river...
What a view!
So beautiful with the mountains in the background...that's the church we were in earlier!
Me and my best!
FIKA with a glass of wine! :)
Gates to the city, anybody understand that sign, Switzerland represent!
Later that evening, Sophia made Vasterbotten paj and to enjoy with us was some more swedish folk. Cissi and Linnea ate dinner with us and then we traveled to watch Mattias play his innebandy match. They killed the team they played but it was really fun to watch Mattias play again, as well as Christoph and Mathias who are back with their old team. Wiler clearly dominated them, but I still enjoyed it!!
Mattias with Wiler!
Then after the match, it was party time at Sophia's house. The place was packed with Swedish, Czech, and Swiss innebandy players. Each country in a different room...haha!! Fun to see Patte and Alex again! I think Sophia counted about 50 people at the party! Now that's a lot!! It was a great get-together and fun to see people who I haven't seen in awhile.
I wish I would of taken more pictures but I was so focused talking to people I forgot!
SUNDAY
Sophia's friend Björn came to pick us up to take us to a fotball match. We went to a soccer match with 32,000 in the stadium. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!! It was sooooooooooooo much fun!! I enjoyed it soo much and the atmosphere was great!! Young boys vs. Basel was a top match in the league...two teams at the top of the league. So the crowd was great....chanting and screaming the whole time!! Thanks Bjorn for the tickets!!
Later that night, Sophia and I met up with Josefine at her house for some dinner and a movie. Kebab pizza and Home Alone on tv...great night! It was a fantastic weekend with some great company!!
THANKS SOPHIA FOR A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!! I had so much fun and can't wait to come back!!
Well there it is!!!
Back from Schweiz...Sweet Weekend!
I'm back from Switzerland and it was a fantastic weekend!!
I have a some pictures I need to post some photos and talk about my trip, but I am EXHAUSTED right now so it will have to wait until tomorrow!! It was á fun weekend, spent with some great friends!! Fun too see my Swedish friends down in Schweiz living their life. And it was greattttttttt seeing Sophia!! Thanks for a wonderful time me best.
So tomorrow I promise to write and post pictures tomorrow about my trip!! Hope everyone had a great week and recovered from all the Turkey!
KRAM
In Switzerland!!
We then drove to Cissi's to pick up some fika for the julfika. Mattias and Josefine came over for dinner, we made tacos. It was so great just to hangout with them!! I really do miss that!! Then more Swedes came over that live here is Switzerland and also play innebandy, Daniel, Linda and Jens. So here I was in a room with 6 Swedes and 1 american in the foreign country of Switzerland. I traveled pretty far for a swedish julfika!! HAHA!! But what was nice was the company and that is all I really cared about.
Today I slept in, which I really needed and I think we will travel to the town of Solothurn to do some shopping and site-seeing. Then we will go watch Mattias's team Wiler play and then have a party at Sophia's in the night!! I can't wait! There will be lots of different people from all over....love it!
Well now it's time to go explore this country! The sun is out shinning...NICE!! And later of course I will put up some pictures!! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peace
Almost...
Spent the day getting ready for my trip to Switzerland!! I'm landing there in 2 days!! I can't wait!! I have a little bit of Sweden in my suitcase right now! Bought some stuff for Sophia!!
We will have a Swedish fika on Friday night (funny that I am going all the way to Switzerland for this) and then a big party on Saturday!! I can't wait...So much planned!! Can't wait to see all my friends down there!
Today I went and worked with some elementary school kids in their physical education class. Did two basketball lessons!! I hope to see them at our classes on Friday!! I think this was good promotion. Looking forward to seeing some more interest. Vi får se!!
Later homies.
Tough Weekend
Check it out...I got a mini black eye. This weekend was tough for us. We lost both our games...Saturday was a close one vs. Eos 76-73. It was an exciting game and well-played...we just couldn't pull off the win in the end. SUCKS! Then on Sunday we lost pretty bad vs. Sallen in a game that we were down from the beginning. I think we were a little fatigued and tired, but the second half was much better than the first half. They did a little interview on us during the game..here is the link...check it out:
http://svtplay.se/t/103621/basket
Yesterday Pam, Aisling, Julia and myself went to IKSU to sit in the jacuzzi and sauna. Felt pretty good after a long weekend. My legs are still pretty tired today, but I think a basketball practice will be good for them.
I can't believe it's Thanksgiving week...Thanksgiving on Thursday!! It's already here. My family is getting together in Arizonia so I hope they are doing well!! I send my love and I wish I could be there!!
3 more days and I am in Switzerland...yipeeeee!!
Peace for now!!
Down South
Today is the movie premiar of NEW MOON!!! Can't wait to see it!! Tony, Aisling, Pam, Julia, Toby and myself will be headed to watch the film at kl. 15.00 before our flight. I have read all four books in the series, so I do know what happens...but it's still exciting to see on the big screen!! Have I mentioned that I can't wait!!
TGIF today!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!! We are going to have a weekend packed with action-filled games!! I like our chances...
GO COMETS!!
The World's Craziest Bruise
And guess who would have the world's craziest bruise?????? Well..............Yours truely!! Yep, today my american teammate asked me why I had a green mark on my ear. Then I thought, that's a bruise. I remember in the game when I smacked heads with a girl and my ear throbbed with pain. Well I got a bruise on it, right through the cracks. So weird. Julia said it looks like green mold, BUT I PROMISE it's a bruise. Such an odd place, I can't believe it. I took a picture but it doesn't give it justice. You can only see a little bit of the green, but the whole inside is bruised.
Still feel pretty beat up after the game on Saturday. Have some nice bruises on my knees and even a pretty good jammed finger. I guess that's the price I pay for playing this great sport of basketball! :)
Tonight Julia, Johanna, Mila, Aisling, Pam and myself went the DERBY match Dalen vs. Umeå City. A great rivalry between the teams and always exciting to watch. Gammlia was packed and the game was on TV...did anybody see me watching?!?! We sat right in the front row so maybe you saw! City ended up winning the game 6-3. They played their butts off, that was for sure! Fun to watch and they were so excited after the win!!
Now I will leave you with some pictures of Friday night. Annica came down and spent Friday night at my place and spent some time with us. Went for fika during the day, then practice, and then pizza night! Ate pizzas and watched Idol on tv...Julia, Pam, Annica and myself. Girl night!! Fun time just hanging out with the girls! Got us geared up for the game on Saturday anyway!!
SWEET headbands by the americans!! We are really proud of them!!
Well time for bed!! The week has just begun!!
KRAM!!
We Won Again!!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! We won again!! And by 17 pts...sweet!!! First time I have won by that much over here in Sweden, and even more crazy...we have already tied last year record 6 games in. 3-3 right now, so it's nice to be .500. Kind of a rough game for us in the second half, after going into half-time with a 20 pt lead, it was hard for us to finish some easy baskets. Their zone gave us some difficulties, but the most important thing is that we WON!! A win is a win!! That is all that matters!!
The final score was 63-46 vs. Visby. We had a great crowd as well at the game (THANKS EVERYONE!) and the atmosphere was fun to play in! I was just a little frustrated with myself at times because it just felt like I couldn't finish a shot. OKAY, that was just a side note. I ended up with 21 points in the game and 20 rebounds. Crazy that may rebounds almost matched my points. Pam our new player had 14 pts and Mila had 15 rebounds (10 of which were offensive!). We played with 7 players because Julia was sick, Emma played and scored a 3 pointer, which was pretty sweet to see! Carro was solid, as always...Aisling took the ball aggressive to the basket...Johanna attacked more on the offensive end which was nice to see!! It was a great team effort and sweet victory for us!!
Next weekend we travel to the south of Sweden to Lund to play Eos on Saturday and then take a night train up to Uppsala to play Sallen the next day. So 2 games on the road that will be tough! But I hope we can at least pick up one win!! Vi får se!!
Today I will lay around on the soffa!! REST!! I hope everyone had a great weekend!!
KRAM
Winter Wonderland
The snow is falling outside and inside it's nice and cozy in my apartment!!
Finally today I felt nice and rested, when the day before I was absolutely EXHAUSTED! I have no idea why I was tired, but all I wanted to do was sleep...life was miserable. But today is a completely different day and I feel re-newed and energized!! Good day of shopping with Pam and Aisling after our morning session...and then a productive evening practice with the team. We play our next game on Saturday vs. Visby at 15.00! I really hope this is a good game for us!! Let's go COMETS!!
Now it is 2 weeks until I leave for Switzerland!! I can't wait!! Also some more exciting news...Courtney is coming to Europe April 13th and staying until the end of May! And that includes a trip to Sweden along the way. It has now been one year since I have seen my sister, and that was when she came here last year to visit me. Sucks that our lives are so busy and so far away from each other, but we make sure to stay in contact and update with one another!
Today I also realized that Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks. Every year I have done a Thanksgiving for the team, and I think I would like to continue that tradition. But I need some supplies! Last year Courtney brought a bunch but no visitors this year makes it harder. Looks like I might have to be creative and make some things from scratch! So my new project in the next two weeks is to get Thanksgiving ready! I hope it turns out alright, I love Thanksgiving food!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now back to laying on my couch and watching some TV! What a great life :)
Adios amigos!
WOMANIZER!
MARIA!!
Pam loved that story today!! You are a WOMANIZER!! She laughed the entire day about it...
It was fun to see you today!!
Grand Canyon!
My darling, little sister Courtney is going down the Grand Canyon. She is taking a rafting trip for ONE MONTH...25 total days...down the river through the Grand Canyon. Pretty much completely disconnected from society and technology for 25 total days. I couldn't do that, but she is all excited and geared up for it!! She loves that sort of thing. So I am wishing her luck, she leaves next week and returns Dec. 16th. Have a great time sis!!
Life is pretty methodical these days...school, practice, eat, sleep, practice, eat and then sleep again! Seems to be the way life goes once season begins. It goes fast though, I can't believe it's November already. Before you know it, it's going to be xmas!
Off to bed now!!
God natt!
Vi Vann!!
Last night's game was very exciting and a great debut for Pam on our team!! I must say, it sure was nice having her on our team instead playing against her. In her first game as a Comet, she scored 26 pts!! Also provided a nice spark for us I think. Everybody performed on the defensive side last night. That was a good team effort and when we needed stops, we worked hard to get it. We went up by almost 10 pts and then quickly saw the lead deminish in the 4th. In the last 7 minutes of the game, I think we turned the ball over 11 times and quickly we watched our lead go from 10 to 1. Oh that got a little scary, but then we stepped it up and fought back and gained the lead again in the final seconds of the game. We were up 1 pt with 12 seconds to go in the game and I was fouled underneath. I had two free throws and missed the first one (I even heard a shrill scream in the stands) but I made the second one to give us the 2 pt lead. So Norrköping got the ball back with 12 seconds remaining, ran a play, got a shot off, and fortunately for us, they missed! The ball goes out of bound with 1.7 seconds remaining, giving them one last shot...but it was forced up in desperation and win the game!! And then total celebration by our team!! I ended up with 28 pts and 23 rebounds. 23 rebounds is kind of crazy...but more than anything, I AM SO HAPPY THAT WE WON!! Whoop whoop!! Go Comets!! And thanks everyone that was there, we had a good crowd and people cheering through out! Felt pretty nice!!
Our next game is Saturday vs. Visby at Gammlia kl. 16.00. Another home game...SWEET!! I really hope we can step it up now!
Today I went and watched our U93 team play, they lost to Luleå. Then Tony and I went to church followed by dinner. Now I am sitting at home just RELAXING! The week begins tomorrow, here we come yet again!! I hope everyone had a greatttttttttt weekend!! Class starts at 8.30...
SOV GOTT!!
Quick News Flash!
No other news really to report on the team. Last weekend we had off so it's been about 12 days without a game. I think we are all eager and ready to start play again!!
Now it is officially 3 weeks until I leave for Switzerland to visit my best SOPHIA!! I can't wait, it's going to be great! Sounds like she is planning a really nice trip, but most of all I'm just looking forward to spending some time with her!
Tony, Aisling and I visited my dearest Maria at her work today! Good craic as always (good conversation in Irish lingo). Then it was home for a quick nap before practice, and then a solid practice in the evening. Now I am sitting at home probably going to bed here REAL soon.
Last week I was off from school and this week I have started back up. That means 8.30 in the morning starts for class. I am starting to get more confident in my Swedish skills. I can understand so much more and speaking is even a bit easier. It's still hard but I am getting closer. It's starting to feel so much nicer that I actually understand this language. I just feel more connected and it makes things easier knowing Swedish in Sweden. (haha imagine that!! :)) But anyway, that is just kind of a proud moment for me for myself (haha) and I thought I would share it!!
I hope everyone is having a great week!! And hey, it's almost FRIDAY!! YIPPEEEEEEEE!!
Vi hörs!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
On Saturday we had a Halloween costume party with some of the team and other friends!! It was a lot of fun dressing up and seeing all the different costumes!! It actually felt like Halloween in Sweden!! I had sooooo much fun, loved it!! What a great night and check out all the costumes...
I was a rocker!! ROCKSTAR alert!! Think I might take this up again...
Busted prisioner!! Julia as a criminal!
Paging doctor Tony!
The scariest clown I have ever seen...freaky Mila. And Aisling as Cat Woman.
Carro, Mia and Serva as Charlie's Angels!! Looking good girls!
The Irish guys. Tony pretending he has muscle. HA!
In our roles!
So that was our party in Sweden. I am also including some pictures from back home. My dearest friends dressed their kids up back home, and I had to show pictures because THEY ARE SOOOOOO ADORABLE!! Love it!!
Janey's kids Dean and Norah!!! Sooooooo cute!
Kellie's little one...Charlie all dressed up as a pumpkin...so cute! OMG!
NOW lastly...Check out all the snow back home. It hasnt even snowed here yet in Sweden...but I guess it snowed up to 18 inches back in Colorado. NOW that is crazy!!
That's like half of Norah!! Haha!!
I hope everyone had a great weekend and a spectacular Halloween! I'm out the door to teach a basketball class!!
Vi hörs!!
The Irish Are Here!
Sorry I haven't blogged in FOREVER! Things have been so ridiculously busy, it's been unreal. And mainly it's because the Irish are here. Tony's club team from Ireland, Queens, came Sunday night to Umeå for the week. So far it's been a busy, fun-filled week of BASKETBALL, including morning sessions, afternoon sessions, and evening games. Not to mention the Halloween party we had last night, shopping in the centrum and an adventure to the moose farm today (I however did not go on that trip). What has also been really cool is how we have mixed all the teams, Swedish and Irish. The young Comets team, (96 and 97 girls) with the Irish girls (13 yr. olds)...fun to see the girls come together and play basketball from the two countries. It's been a great experience I think for all the teams, and even a great way to get the Damligan players involved with coaching the younger girls. Everybody working together, what a team concept! Here are some pictures taken from the basketball sessions this week.
Energy exercise! They are about to dive for those balls...
Run, play, coach!!
So in the afternoon sessions, the Damligan players were given a team mixed with Irish and Swedish players. Here is the team I coached this week!! We called ourselves the "Quee'mets" (queens + comets)!! We had a successful week finishing 5th out of 5 teams...haha, okay so maybe not that great.
Mila and Johanna showing some excitement coaching!! HAHA!! Candid moment!
Last night was the Halloween party!! All the girls dressed up and all the teams got together for some good Swedish-Irish fun!! I think the party was an absolute success!! So who do you think has the best costume???...
Vampires and trolls...Oh my! Comet girls...
That's a whole lot of witches! More Comets...
Nice Sofia and Erika (damligan players)!
Go-go girls??? Representing Queens...
The Damligan girls! Any guess on Johanna's costume??
Check out the sitting Swedes in the one picture and then in the next picture we have the crazy Irish dancers!! It was lots of dancing at the party and some games as well. Including musical chairs, musical statues, limbo and a crazy spin around the pole swedish game...haha!! It turned out to be a pretty fun night and the girls loved it!!
So PHEW! I finally posted a blog and it only took a week, haha. I am missing a lot of things, but I promise I will talk about them here soon. It's time to get to practice, so I will describe the past events this week in another post. here shortly. Including our innebandy (floorball) practice with Dalen's coach Tony and our game last Saturday to Solna that we lost 51-82 I think. It was however I much better game then the score reflects. More on that later!! I hope everyone is having a great week!! OH also Happy Birthday to my friend Mattias!! Hope you have a great day!!
That's all for now folks!!
VI HÖRS!
Game Day!
GO COMETS!!
TGIF!!
This week has been busy. Toby's brother Charlie is visiting from England and the last couple of nights the group of us have been hanging out having a great time!! Last night we played laser tag!! That turned out to be a pretty fun time!! It's been nice hanging out and enjoying each other's company!!
Pictures taken Wednesday night:
Toby and Julia
Vlado, Charlie and Jesper
Bri and Toby
Last night before laser tag, the team got together for a taco dinner. It was Hanna's last night in town before her knee surgery, so we thought it would be a good idea to get everyone together one last time!! We went to Balmers (???is that what it's called??) The food was pretty good and I ate WAY too much!!
The team!
So today is finally FRIDAY and also my day-off. NO SCHOOL, NO BASKETBALL PRACTICE...but I do have a basketball class here soon. But other than that, a pretty free day. Tony, Bri, Mila and I went shopping today for Halloween costumes. We hit up some second hand stores and found some pretty good stuff. Then we also looked at some decorations for the party this week for the Irish girls!! I haven't decided yet what I am going to be...but trust me...it will be something good!! It was so much fun testing all the stuff today, HILARIOUS!! Bri found some pretty good stuff!! Anyway, we got some good ideas. We are also going to have a Halloween party on Saturday next weekend, because we have the weekend off from basketball!
OH today we went Droskan for lunch and Tony didn't like what he got. So I had to take a picture because that NEVER happens. This was the first time I have ever seen that so I thought I would document it!!
Tonight is IDOL over at Julia's house with the guys! It's going to be a great night!! Tomorrow morning is practice and then I am going to a couple innebandy games, the IKSU match and then maybe City. Vi får se!! My dearest Maria will accompany me!!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!
KRAM!
