Losing effort

Hiya folks. We had a big game last night. We lost. But it was a good fight. I hate that term "losing effort", don´t you? It´s like you made an effort to lose, not that you made an effort to win and then lost anyway. So, I used it as my title to address it.

The last time we played this team we lost by like 30. I wasn´t playing yet, Pau was gone for some reason and someone else wasn´t there I guess. This time we lost by like 10 I think. It was closer than that though.

This team had 3 girls over 6 feet, and not just a little. One was 6'1" and American, one was 6'2" and a big freak, and one was 6'4" plus about 3 feet worth of arms. What I mean by "a big freak" are those posts who yell all the time and try to get fouls called by talking to the refs and always fall over. I wanted to hit her. The American girl was pretty good, but didn´t play much. I said I´d trash talk her before the game, but I didn´t. After the game was over I said, "good game" to her instead of "muy bien" o algo asi. She turned around really quick all surprised. She´s from the Chicago area she said and I told her I was from Oregon and that was it. Now, I wish I´d have talked to her more and asked how she likes it here and if she was getting paid or going to school or something.

The 6'4" wasn´t a PLU big Johnson type, she was strong. Also a bit of a freak and played some super aggressive defense ala the 3rd grade when you just stick your arms out and sort of trap the girl you´re guarding between them and stare right at her, no idea where the ball is. But, thanks to my experience in the 5th grade against King Elementary School, I kept my head together and just grabbed her arms and threw them away when the refs weren´t looking ; )

We struggled in the first half and caught back up to go into the half only down 5. The thrid quarter was a battle, but we may have still been down 10 or so when we finished it. Maria drove me nuts! She was yelling at everyone to do things and would never take responsibility for the fact that she made a mistake, but justblamed it on someone else. Then, during huddles, she´d yell something and then walk away, like she was disgusted to be on the same team with the rest of us. I wanted to drop kick her to Madrid. Then after all that, as soon as the game ended, she whips out her cell phone and is totally fine. So was that just a big show? Who knows, it´s just nice to vent about things like this sometimes.

Pau was in foul trouble so I got to play a bunch, which I liked. Sara, my favorite guard, and I had a nice little 8 point run together to tighten the game up to 3. No one on the team seems to like her much, but I like her and it´s hard to deny the power of a guard/post connection where you can pass and catch without looking at eachother. It´s inherent I think. Don´t get me wrong, it´s no Fitch lob pass or "money" play, but it´s a good one. I guess I have it a bit with Pui too, but Sara always gets it to me when I´m in a good position. No sé, es especial.

The 8 point run was capped off with a putback that I hit and got fouled on (toot toot on my own horn!). It was the first time I´ve felt really jacked up here. I had to give a teeth clenched, fist pumping, gutterul, "yeah baby" as I walked up to the free throw line, slapping hands way too hard. Anyhow, it was fun even though we lost. Plus, I scored more points than their American after being told, many times, by my coach no less, that I was going to get my ass kicked by her. I didn´t really guard her much, so who knows how the one on one would have gone... whatever, shut it Iñaki!

Sorry, long basketball blog... today I went to Iñaki´s mom´s birthday party, which was also sort of a losing effort. Habla Darb, habla! It was a nice lunch at her house though, with her family. Their grandma is so cute. She looks like a flesh-toned prune, total Strega Nona, and wears long sweaters and polyester skirts that hit below the knee. All her extra wrinkly skin sort of gathers in a puddle at her ankles and spills out above her orthopedic shoes. She´s always doing wonderful things like grabbing my forearm and squeezing it just a little bit or looking at me and smiling or making a little cooing giggle like she´s just glad I´m there. Who knows if she is.

Irene and I did some dancing and singing to the Chicago soundtrack beforehand. It was great, she´s a sass-box.

Really the whole family seems quite nice. They love to talk and just be near eachother, which is nice to be around, but also makes me want to go and just be with my family. I could use a Cave family bbq or and Fullerton family brunch hosted by socialite Ky Ky today. Anyone feel like taking a quick flight over? We could have jamón...

Dori, Iñaki´s mom, has a bunch of siblings, one of which has two little boys, Itor, 5 (sp?) and Jon, 2. Itor is the bomb. He´s always trying to do something a little mischievous. Iñaki and I call him cabroncete, which literally means "tiny bastard". We´ve shortened it to "Tiny B" and it serves as a great nickname. Anyhow, I met Itor for the second time when I came for a visit the other night. Dori had the boys for the evening and I was talking to her as she changed Jon. She said, "this is Jon, and over there is Itor." I turned around and this skinny little blonde boy comes running out of the kitchen with his pants down, flashes me his butt, slaps it, and says, "hola!" and runs back into the kitchen cackling with laughter. It was pretty great.

All right, I need to call everyone at home now and catch up so my heart feels more full. Right now it feels a little dilapidated. I just miss you guys!

Group hug!