Hockey Time, with pictures!

We won today 4 to 1. It was kind of fluffy so we only played with four on our side, and everyone got to take a lot of breaks. Except for me, of course, being the only "good" girl to show up. But like in dodgeball, and like when I played indoor with Carrie Scott's team at Soccerplex, I'm used to not subbing out. [Coed teams must have two girls in play at all times, unless they want to play shorthanded.]

*Oh, right, last night we lost in the quarterfinals of dodgeball so we're out for good. Nice season, though.


Honnen Ice Rink

Defense as usual.


I got one shot on goal tonight, which is better than my average.


I body slammed this big guy. That's him trying to get up.


Just pretending.


Looking better. I don't fall down on my own anymore.

Thanks to Stuart for taking all the pictures. He thinks it's brilliant that my grandma reads my blog.

Loss?! Loss?!

Mom, I bet you might remember Lawson from the cross country party. He's from GEORgia. Well, Lawson's team BEAT us, 3 to 2. We were missing three key players and our goalie. Still, Sheldo was not happy when I told him. There goes an undefeated season.

Sports

Beginner League Hockey: Matt Sheldon (Sheldo) is the coach. I don't know if other teams have a coach, but it gives us an edge. We've won every game so far and the guys are telling me I "played like a champ." Alright, acceptance! Most people on the team are seniors, and they were champions last year, and Sheldo says "we will settle for nothing less than a dynasty." I do want to be up on the wall of champions.
Today we played against a fluffy team, so I played up front and got two shots on goal, and smashed into some opponents three different times (and collided with the goal post once). But I never fell down today on my own accord. Progress.

Dodgeball: The Possums definitely aren't the favored team in the dodgeball league; actually, we're probably the underdog team. True, sometimes we have been shellacked, but every game we get better and better, and when Neil and Twig actually show up, our odds of winning go up 50/50.
-- Update. We lost tonight. Neil didn't show up. I don't think we're making the playoffs. Last game is on Thursday. --

Running off-season: I found my goggles, so I can swim, but I still can't run on my knee. I can run once a week wearing the brace if I take good care of myself.

Moving and camping

Yesterday we ran at Waldo Pond, my favorite trail so far, minus my awful running. I'm still feeling the altitude and it's frustrating, and on top of that all of us freshmen have what's called the Rastall [our dining hall] tummy rumbles. It probably doesn't help that on my first trip to Chipotle last night I ordered the spiciest salsa available. Impressive. Then some of the upperclassmen guys were asking if any girls knew how to skate. I raised my hand and now I'm drafted to the rec hockey squad. They need two girls and it seems like they are very serious about dominating. We had a birthday party after dinner for Kate the Sophomore, then us freshmen went back to the temporary dorms to play cutthroat billiards, as Colin calls it.

My phone got knocked off a table while we were playing pool and now it doesn't turn on. I am not impressed. It is advertised to be bombproof.

Now I'm moving my things to my regular dorm room in Slocum Hall. After noon we're all going camping, though sadly the freshmen only get to stay for one night. There's a few lame orientation activities that we can't get out of. I will be pleased to meet my adopted alumni family. They might end up adopting the underclassmen on the team, though.

Now everyone calls me Rafter. Most of the boys use Raptor when they feel like it. I'm guessing I don't have much say in the matter. It's better than Ham Sandwich or Hammy for short, which is what they call the sophomore Ryan.