Second time's the charm

Second game went so much better.

I did not meet all of my goals.  I stayed around 2 assists, had probably four rebounds again, and I had about 5 turnovers.  I won't tell you how many were traveling, but let's just say, I should open a mileage plus account for the miles!  What?  I can't help it, my feet just move faster than the rest of my body can go.  That's why soccer and me are a good combo.  Shit, even in softball I can run with the ball in hand. But, whatever, here's the good news.  I SCORED 7 POINTS!!!! But who's counting??? (oh yeah, I am.)

I had two lay ups and one 3 pointer which was nothing but net.  Never mind the air-ball or the two missed free throws in the first half, this was all in the second half.  And we actually made a run to come back.  Still lost by nine, but the great part was we played better as a team and if we actually had a coach (oh did I forget to mention that? Yea, we don't have a coach,) we could be so much better!

We are trying to convince the club to let Jeb coach.  How cool would that be???!!  He is the perfect man for the job.

I am super bummed because I will be missing our first home game this Saturday. It will also be the first game of Jeb's that we will miss.  Jax and I are flying back home to Portland on Friday.  Again, it's bittersweet because I always love being in Portland, in our home with all of our things around, but the saying goes "home is where the heart is" and my heart is here with Jeb.  I guess in a way that means I am leaving home on Friday instead of going home, but it is a short time apart in a long life we have together, so we do what we gotta do.

We will get to see Jebby again at Christmas time.  It is seven weeks away, but Christmas is going to be wonderful.  For the first time, all three of us will be at our home in Portland together!  We think Jeb might even get a full week home, which, if you know anything about his previous Xmas vacations, they've been four days and he usually has to leave Christmas Morning!  The time will pass quite quickly, I'm sure, hopefully for my baba as well.  In the meantime, we will enjoy these last couple of days together, hopefully with a win from Jeb and his team tonight!

Which reminds me. The Bisons had their first loss last weekend, probably won't be the last one, but hopefully a learning experience for everyone.  It is overshadowed by the loss (as it should be) but Jeb had a great game again, with 26 points, 7 assists, and 2 rebounds.  At this point Jeb is the leading scorer in the league.  I know it's early, but I have to give him credit for that, he is working his ass off, and even if it ends up being someone else's title by the end of the season, he still deserves it right now. :) Lu yu Baba.

Note to Jeb: Just so you know, even though we won't actually be on the sideline for the next couple of months cheering, Jaxon and I will be at home holding it down for you, just as we always do.  We are like your little gang, only we have a cool name....The Ivey League!  We love you.

That's all I got for now.  Here's to a safe and uneventful travel day home.... 

Stay tuned.

Whit

The first of many... well, maybe. :)

My procrastination in writing this, must have given you a little insight in to how my first game went. :)

It didn't go as I had hoped.... however, it went exactly as I expected.

Our team lost by 28 and I was scoreless with a couple of air-balls!  On a good note I had four rebounds and a couple of assists, and although I also had a couple of turnovers, I DID NOT and I repeat did not get called for traveling! That was definitely the highlight of my game. Well, other than looking over and seeing Jeb and Jax on the sideline cheering for me. I got a little taste of what Jeb gets when we're watching him, it was pretty cool. :)

I had a lot of fun, but I will tell you, I haven't felt that nervous or vulnerable about anything in a long time.  I actually felt like I was in 7th grade again, playing against girls who towered me and were much better than I was.  The competition level wasn't even that high, but I am definitely a fish out of water on the basketball court.  It's okay though, I never claimed to be good, only competitive, and this start to my basketball "career" has only added fuel to the fire! 

We have another game this Sunday, and my goal is to score at least two points, have at least one more rebound and have more assists than turnovers.  I think if I go in with a goal, I won't look as much like a lost puppy dog or maybe a chicken with my head cut off is a better reference.  Either way, it will be better for me.

On a more professional end of the spectrum, Jeb's team won again, that makes them 4-0.  Technically, one of their wins was taken away because of a delay in some paperwork but the club is very confident that they will win the appeal, so I am sticking with 4-0 until proven otherwise.

Jeb is having a great season so far; averaging 20.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds.  As I said before, you can't teach heart and the feeling you get around the club, the town, and this team is that they have a lot of it. I know it's early but from what I can tell, this is already the team people are buzzing about and they will for sure compete for the championship.

For now that's all I got.  Stay tuned, I will let you know how the second game goes! :)

Just another day....

Whit

A family of professional athletes!

Before I get to the real reason I am writing this particular blog, let me give you all a little update.

Jeb's team is 2-0, and this last game, Jeb had his best performance so far with 27 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds.  The Bisons are off to a great start.  Next game is Friday, so I will make sure to keep you updated.

So, the real reason behind the title and content of this particular blog...

Jaxon now has a professional athlete in both of his parents. I am laughing as I write this, but NO this is not a joke. You are reading the blog of the newest member of the Loimaa Womens Basketball Team!!  LOL

For those of you who have ever watched me play basketball or played with me, this, I'm sure, is comical, but in my own defense, no one (but Jeb) has seen me play in over 10 years. And well, it just so happens I have a pretty incredible teacher. :)

So it's true, I signed a contract, I have a salary, I just got my Jersey, and our first game is this Saturday.  

Why, you ask?  Well, I won't get in to the semantics but, let's just say, I am helping out the team in more ways than one.

I knew this was a possibility before I came out, but I "forgot" my basketball shoes at home, so I'd have an excuse to say no. That didn't work, I will have a new pair come Saturday and in the meantime, I wearing a pair of Jeb's smaller basketball shorts.

Playing for fun or shooting on the sideline is one thing, but actually playing in a game?? I haven't done that since I was 13.  

A little disclosure before any of you jump to conclusions, we are in the 3rd division, which means there are three divisions above us, and the teams age range is from 16-30.  I believe I am the only payed player but if I told you why, I'd have to kill you! (Plus you'd figure out my claim as a pro is a total fraud, so I won't tell you.)

I had my first practice on Monday, and I was so nervous, I felt like throwing up the whole day.

Practice came and went, and the girls on my team were great; very welcoming.  Plus, I pleasantly surprised myself and I didn't suck.  I hit a game winner in a shooting drill called 21, and hit a couple 3's when we played 5 on 5.

People who know me, know that I am very competitive. I do not like losing, I do not like being wrong, and I absolutely despise not being good at something.  I have a long history of playing Softball, including 4 years on a full-ride to PSU, and I LOVE soccer.  Maybe I love those two sports because I know I am good at them, but I think if you asked any coach I have ever played for, they would describe me as coachable and hard working.

Which is why, I surprised Jeb when I asked him to take me through some basketball workouts. While I am here playing for the team, I might as well try, and make the most of it.

I figured I would share this with all of you because I think it will be a great experience, probably one I will want to write about and share with you again as the season progresses.

Like I said in the beginning of this, I am laughing as I write this, because I am 5'2'', I have never thought of myself as a basketball player, and before I met Jeb, most of the traveling I did was a on the basketball court.  But hey, here I am.  Jeb, bless his heart, gives me far too much credit, but is so good at teaching.  If I had a coach like Jeb, from the time I was little, I think I could have been great.  That's a compliment to Jeb, not me. 

Now I really am a Hardwood dime!  

Stay tuned...

My Man....

So Jeb's first game was a success!

They won, after being down at half and Jeb had 20 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds!  His team played well together, and since you can't teach heart or work ethic, I think this team (newly in the top league) will be a force to be reckoned with.

I really love watching him play.  It is definitely one of the highlights of my days and I know I am going to miss it terribly when he decides to "hang em' up."  Of course, he will continue to play recreationally with his friends, and we will for sure be in attendance, but there is something about watching Jeb play professionally/competitively that will never get old.  It would for sure be a lot better, if he could be in the states doing it, or somewhere warm, but we choose our battles, and having a job alone, not to mention a job where gets to play a sport for money, is definitely not one of them.

I am sure when one of has has to join the "real world," and get a "real" job, we will be sighing when we look back on the days where we got to travel to different countries and we got to see each other or be all together during the hours of 9-5.

I am certainly not insinuating that Jeb doesn't go to "work" everyday, because he is the most hard-working, passionate, dedicated, and inspiring man, you will ever know.  And I know his body will pay the price of this job when we are older.  But I also know, that given the skills, probably most of the world would kill to do what he does. So we just be thankful.

Seriously though, if any of you know Jeb, you know what I am talking about; and not just playing basketball.

If there was ever a more loving, caring, helpful, sexy, dedicated, hard-working man, I'd like to meet him because honestly, I don't think he exists.  Jeb gives anyone's amazing husband and father, a run for their money.

I am not taking away from anyone else's lives or marriages, but Jeb and I have been through some shitty things, and I can say with all honesty that we are better for it, more in love because of it and even if I had my choice of any man, I would choose him all over again; faults (because I am not saying he doesn't have any) and all.

As much as I say I am ready to be home all the time, as in not overseas.  I know that's not really the case.  I guess, I catch myself getting upset that we are still in Finland and not some other warm prestigious country, because Jeb really is good enough to be there.  But, when I do that, I give myself a friendly reminder; we are exactly where we should be. Jeb plays basketball for a living, we have an amazing little boy, our marriage is not only in tact, but as vibrant as ever, we have a roof over our heads, and enough of everything we need to keep us going... Things could be much, much worse.

Just another day....Stay tuned.

Back in the Swing of things (for a little while, anyway)

Jaxon and I just arrived in Finland for the third year (Jeb got here five weeks ago.)

Now that I think about it, Jaxon has actually spent more of his life in Finland, than he has at home in Portland. That's weird to think about.

Anyways,  I am finding myself in a small stage of nostalgia.  We just got here and I am already feeling anxious about the trip back home (it's not for a month.)  I hate looking forward to something so much only to anticipate it already being over.  It's almost like I can't actually enjoy being here, because I am already telling myself it will be over soon anyway.  Something I will have to get over, because a month isn't a long time, and times being altogether as a family this year, will be few and far between.

It's ironic, because the name of this blog is hardwood dimes, and normally that would be the case, but this year, I have to put myself in the category with the other wives/gf's/baby mommas that I never understood.  Until this year, I could never imagine being away from Jeb, especially keeping Jax away from him all year long.  I always thought, "there must be something wrong in their relationship," but just as they usually do, assumptions made an ass out of me again.  Because that is definitely not the case with us, regardless of what people out here may think, we are very happy.

I feel like Jeb and I are more in love than we've ever been and Jaxon only adds to that, and as much as I would love to be here all year, my own dreams will be keeping me at home.  Not saying Jeb isn't one of my dreams, because he is in fact, directly out of them. But before I dreamt of a tall, dark, handsome man with tattoos everywhere, sweeping me off my feet, I dreamt about a life under the lights.

Under the lights might be a little off, although behind them might be a better description.

I can't say what or when all of this is going to happen, but I can tell you in full confidence that it will and when it does it will be amazing.  Hopefully soon, I will get to share with all of you what exactly I am talking about, but for the time being, we just keep working on all the details to make as close to perfect as we can!

For now Jaxon and I are going to enjoy this time being the ever loyal and loving fans to our wonderful Jebby. It is the understatement of the year to say that he deserves it.

Season starts tonight and Jeb was honored with votes of his team members to be named team captain.  A title that follows him almost everywhere he goes and one I am confident he will prevail in.

Stay tuned for stats and other things in a few days.

Just another day... :)