Track season starts!

Andrew PR'ed in his first 400m of the year! Time of 53.93s! This with tendinitis (Achilles) that's keeping him from fully practicing.

Andrew's new 800m record: 2:02.7

Oregon 6A High School Metro District Finals, Aloha, Oregon:
Andrew moved up from his 7th place seed to finish 4th in the 800m run with a new personal best time of 2 minutes and 2.7 seconds. Also a sophomore record at Southridge H.S., replacing the 2:04.23 record he set earlier in the season.
Lots of smiles. The only people to beat him were seniors. He was a tired and thirsty boy. We had sunshine and 70 degrees, a nice change from Wednesday's constant cold rain.
We waited until the very last moment of the event: the announcement of the winner of the 4x400m relay. Andrew did not run it this time, but he is the first alternate. Southridge came in third, but their was much discussion of disqualifying the first place team because of a mystery runner alongside the track. Since the first two teams go on to the State meet next weekend, it became a question of much interest to us. But there was no DQ, and so Andrew is now done with running until June, when cross country runs will start up again.

After the meet, he and I went to the Thai Orchid for our traditional chicken salad rolls and wontons. This was followed by a stop at Cold Stone for ice cream, where we bumped into another Southridge sophomore trackstar, Tiara, who was celebrating her victory in the 100m hurdles. Then I dropped my happy boy off at the elementary school by the house, where he met up with Andrew F. and Tiana.

Photos!

There has been an ongoing hostage situation happening inside my camera. After several weeks of tense negotiations, seeing only the release of a few small batches of hostages, I approved of alternate methods. By employing a sudden brute-force approach, all of the hostages were released (some for the second time) with no casualties.
The Andrew track photos are available for immediate media review. The Easter Family photos have requested a brief recovery period, and have promised full availability after a short rest and a light snack.

Here is the last of the Andrew photo hostages. More are available on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oregondad/

Oregon Relays

Andrew's running for Southridge in the Oregon Relays at Eugene's Hayward Field this weekend. His team took 7th in the Medley relay yesterday. Tonight he runs in the 4x400m. Susy and Mali are down there watching him.
Here's a link to the results:
OREGON RELAYS - 4/23/2009 to 4/25/2009

Happy, Sunny Weekend

Newly Updated! With Photos!!! A few below, but more at http://www.flickr.com/photos/OregonDad.

Andrew ran in the Aloha Relays Saturday - the 400m in the Medley relay, and also in the 4x800m and the 4x400m. His team got an amazing 2nd in the 4x800m. Andrew is really running well, especially as the young kid on the relay.
He got a bit sunburned on the sunny track, but it's already fading into a tan. He's amazing.

Mali had a soccer game during the middle of the track meet, but I made it to the game for the second half and then returned to the track meet. The Xtreme lost the game 2-0 against a very good team.

Today they lost 2-0 in Eugene against an even better team - one with 7 ODP (Olympic Development Players) on it. The Xtreme are playing great, holding their own against these teams in the Gold and Silver leagues. Today was my day to get sunburned.

Andrew and I had breakfast this morning at Tom's Pancake house. I picked him up at 8:00 - waaayyy early for him, but he wanted to get an early start on his homework. We were both surprised at the lack of a wait at Tom's, though I didn't expect the huge crowd that accumulates there by about 10:00 AM on Sundays.
I discovered Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Amazing stuff - I can't believe I haven't had it before. Andrew knew his order before we sat down: Chocolate Chip Pancakes with whipped cream.

After soccer in Eugene, after the looonnnngg walk to the car - the car I had moved to park closer, resulting in being parked three times as far away (Mali threw a cracker at me for my foolishness), after driving out of Eugene, Mali and I stopped at Elmers to break up the long drive back to Beaverton. I had Berry Crepes for a second breakfast, and Mali had a giant omelet. Amazingly, she doesn't mind mushrooms. She also had a huge blended Raspberry Lemonade. We were both very full.
She told me about her stomach aches. She thinks it might be lactose-intolerance, and is pretty sure that it is NOT stress. Monday she goes to see the doctor about it.

Here's Mali, distracting the ball with her hand.

And here she is, allowing her opponent to talk to the hand.

The entire sequence of seeing ball, chasing ball, talking to ball, talking to opponent, meeting ball, kicking ball, meeting opponent(!) may be seen here.

Here's Andrew in the lead at the Aloha Relays 4x800m. They got second place!

Pre-Season track meet.

Andrew took third in the 400m in tonight's track meet. Official time: 55.02. His 4x400m relay lost - they went from way ahead to just losing after their third runner (Caesar!) really struggled. He had already run the 1500m and just finished the 3000m, so maybe having him in the 4x400m wasn't such a good idea. I remember Caesar running it fine in last year's meets - it could just be that it's still early in the season.

After the game Andrew and I went to Gogos for dinner, where we both stuffed ourselves silly since it was nearly 8:00 and we hadn't had food for awhile.

Time Trials

Time trials for track have been going on at Southridge for the last week. Andrew got 8th in the 100m, not his best event, especially in the cold rain, and certainly not bad for a sophomore. He got 4th in the 400m with a time of 55 seconds, and so tonight he runs the 400m and 4x400m relay for varsity at their pre-season home meet against Gresham. He's nervous the coach will throw him in the 800m run at some point this season - a grueling event, but one he's very good at.

In other big, huge Andrew news: he did not set the curve in AP American History, he broke it! That means his score was so high his teacher opted to NOT use it as the high end of the curve. I'm a proud poppa!

Also still a sick poppa. Lungs are better (yay for lungs not heavy with crud! A vast improvement!), but random exhaustion and now a sore throat still plague me.

Soccer! Breakfast! Upcoming Track!

Saturday's soccer game was underwater, as the rain just kept coming down harder. The ball was squirting away and squelching off of feet in random directions. No one could score and so it drowned down to a 0-0 tie.
This morning's game started out wet, but the Xtreme scored twice quickly, the sun came out, and they scored again to win 3-0. Mali played great at defense both games, and ended today's having fun at forward in the sunshine.

Andrew and I had a nice breakfast this morning before the game at Banning's Pie House. He's not really looking forward to a rainy week - 400m time trials are Monday, and the first track meet is Wednesday. Hopefully today's sunshine will keep going for awhile.

Chauffer

My evening:
Drove Andrew, Rian, Tiana+Cody, and Eric to the Division Varsity Track Meet at Jesuit. Gave Andrew a $20 to pay for everyone, since no one brought money. They were lucky I had some cash.
I rushed home to pick up Mali and drive her to meet Collin and someone else (?) at the 5:30 showing of Iron Man. Susy may have to pick her up afterwards.
Update: Nope, Collin's mom gave her a ride home.

Friday's JV Division Track Meet

Andrew did great! His only goal was to get a PR in the 1500m, and he did! His old time was 3:34, his new time is 3:33.75. It's a good time - he got 10th in the meet, with only one freshman and 3 sophomores beating him. The only one from Southridge to beat him was a Senior.

His only other event was the 4x400m relay, and they took 3rd out of 13 teams. Andrew's split was 55 seconds, which would be a PR for him in the 400m, but times don't always translate well from a relay.

Mali came with me to watch, and had a GREAT time running around with Rian. Susy and I sat in the stands watching her entertain Rian's crowd of high school girls in the infield. I think I've never seen Mali having so much fun.

Soccer! Track!

Soccer tryouts for Mali's team - the Xtreme - were held on Saturday and Tuesday night. Coach Dean called Mali yesterday to tell her she made the team. Their team appears to be about the same, with a change of only two or three players.

Southridge lost a close meet against Jesuit for the conference championship. It was the last dual meet of the season. Andrew's last meet will be the JV District meet this Friday, where he's going to run the 1500m and try for a PR (Personal Record - best time).
Andrew's goal at the Jesuit meet was for a PR in the 800m, and he got one in the JV race, getting 6th place with a time of 2:10.97. His JV 4x400m relay team won against 5 other teams, though this great track web site Andrew just showed me only lists three of them. On the web site you can click any of the completed meets to see the results, and if you click on Andrew's name it will take you to a page summarizing all of his high school results.

Track Meet at Southridge vs. Beaverton

Andrew ran his 1500m in 4:38, beating his old best time by 8 seconds. He came in third best for Southridge, though there was a Beaverton runner or two ahead of him. It took a lot out of him, he looked a little tired for his 800m run an hour later. He ran a decent-for-him 57 second 400m as the first leg of the winning JV 4x400 team.
I brought Rian and Moose along with me, and saw Tiana and Isabelle and it was mostly a party-like atmosphere. Very fun for everyone, even through the intermittent rains.

Mali missed out on that, but seemed to have a great time at her rehearsal for The Music Man. She says they're ready, which is good since tomorrow is Opening Night! The grandparents will be here and it should be quite an event. Details tomorrow.

Aloha Relays track meet

Andrew ran for varsity at the Aloha relays today (Saturday. It's Saturday until I sleep.) He only ran one race, the medley relay, which happily for us was the first one. This worked out really well, since it started to rain (and then hailed, sleeted, and snowed on Andrew) afterwards, but the rest of us got to come home (and Andrew got to hide out under a tent). Rian came to the meet with us, and came home with us and hung out with Mali, and stayed for dinner.
Andrew ran the 400m leg and did great. The relay sequence was:
1200m
400m
800m
1600m
Southridge had the lead after the 1200m, but barely, and Andrew ran like a maniac to hold the lead almost all the way to the finish - enough to keep the inside lane for Southridge - and just before the finish someone else barely overtook him. Southridge took third overall in the medley relay, out of 15 or 16 teams from all over Oregon. Andrew's distance coach Michael timed him at 54 seconds, which is a PR and is amazing. He's very happy - and he will get another medal. Also, Southridge was in first place when we talked to him an hour ago.
He's home now - the high jump was still going on so they don't know who won the meet, but the bus brought them back to Southridge anyway.

Susy got pizza for the kids, and she and I left for the Southridge Band dinner and auction. Pablo bought us tickets, and also Alana, Deborah, Paul, and Nancy. It was fun, and some of the food was good. Pablo and Rocio won a raffle for a two night stay at a cabin on Mt. Hood, and Deborah bought the big-ticket item in the live auction, a motor-scooter! She is excited. There was a great band - the Green Garter jazz band from University of Oregon played. Matias and some of the other band kids sat in and played with them for a song near the end.

After the auction I went over to Pablo's and played Scrabble with Paul, Rocio, and Alana. Very fun - we were all a little loopy at the end, as it was very late. Now it's later, and I'm going to bed. Good night!

I'm home!

I made it home today, after another long day in BC. Mali had play practice - Alana picked her up since I was still at the airport. Andrew had track practice and was able to catch a ride with Eric.
Susy made spaghetti for Andrew, since he will attempt to break the freshman 800m record at tomorrow's track meet. They go against Aloha H.S., and I plan to go watch. Look for an update here tomorrow afternoon.

First home track meet

Andrew's first home track meet today (at Southridge). He ran the 1500m (4:51), 800 (2:14), and the 4x400 relay. The JV relay team ran as varsity, since the varsity had an invitational the next day. They (JV) were clobbered by the Sunset varsity, but they got 2nd! For Varsity! (Okay, 2nd out of 2, but, well, okay...)
His coach thinks he has a good chance to beat the freshman 800m record of 2:06, especially if he doesn't run a 1500m race first.

Andrew's first HS track meet! My return from Canada.

I stayed an extra day in Canada (everything works!!!), and got home too late Wednesday to see Andrew's first high school track meet. This was in Gresham, with Southridge vs. Beaverton vs. Gresham. Southridge clobbered them both. Andrew ran with the JV and won the 800m (2:08) and took second in the 1500m (4:47), losing to an upperclass Southridge Varsity runner who was demoted for the day because of a missed practice.
Andrew texted me with the news just as I was getting on the plane in Vancouver. I forwarded it to Grandpa, but I never heard back. Also Susy, who had already heard from our happy boy. He hadn't run track for over a year, and was doubting he could match the times posted for last year's JV team. Instead, he beat them! Woohoo!

Crazy Day, Part Two: Noon

10:30 -
I got a weird phone call from Andrew: the phone he was using kept breaking up so I couldn't understand him, I just got something about a lockdown and a dumb track spaghetti feed, so I thought he wanted me to come pick him up. I got there and his phone was off and I could not find him anywhere: He wasn't waiting outside and he wasn't at the spaghetti feed. There had been a lockdown but it had ended ten minutes earlier. I'm not worried about him, other than that he might be walking home while I'm there to pick him up. I'm driving around the school when finally he calls me again - his phone is off at home, he's using Isabelle's, he IS at the spaghetti feed we just missed each other, and he didn't need me to pick him up earlier, but he does now. Whee...
11:00 -
Susy calls from the bank, her passport is not in the safety deposit box as we hoped. We will be tearing the house apart this weekend looking for it.

Crazy Day, Part One: Morning

6:30 -
Susy got up to start on Mali's cupcake cake, and couldn't find the cake mixes we thought we bought a couple days ago. So I joined her on an early morning trip to the store for cake mix and items for tonight's party as per Mali's instructions and carefully plotted list. That girl loves her lists. Mali was up when we got home and the kitchen was a hectic place to be while Susy tried (and succeeded) to bake a cake while Mali and I prepared our breakfasts (cereal, oatmeal, and chai.)
9:00 -
Mali had to be at play practice and Moose at the vet's office for some shots. Susy took them while I worked and checked on the cake, which wasn't getting done. This, along with several phone calls from work, distracted me so that I didn't think to wake Andrew up (at 9:00 as I said I would) until two minutes to ten when Susy mentioned how he could have cake pieces for breakfast and I looked at the time. Track practice started at 10:00.
10:00 - late -
Susy drives an unhappily scrambling Andrew to track practice and the Jog-a-thon.
11:00 -
Susy, home for 20 minutes working on the cake, leaves for an 11:00 doctor's appointment and trip to the bank.

All this with about a dozen phone calls for me from work. only one (Hi Jim) about my trip to BC Sunday afternoon that I'm scrambling to prepare for.

Running in the rain, Dancing in the street

Andrew decided his ankle was better enough for track practice today, I'm sure only because they were doing 400m time trials. He hasn't run a 400m in over a year, and was very curious how he would run. His goal was to finally finish under a minute.

I went to pick him up early to see if I could watch, and I got there at the perfect time: just as the first heat of boys were starting. Andrew ran in the second heat, and got second to last place in his heat, but it looked like the other kids were all juniors and seniors. He was so happy with his time I think he forgot it was raining for awhile: 57 seconds!
Very close to 57 flat, so he's sure he can get a 56.something soon, especially since this was in the rain, which he hates, and he got stuck in lane 1 with all the puddles.

After track he decided to go to the dance with Rian, his friend girl - not girlfriend, and practically Mali's big sister. I dropped them off at Tiana's house, where they (Eric too) got all decked out in Emo attire. The Spring Fling was a come as your own theme, or something. I picked them up at 9:30 and there was a WIDE assortment of outfits wandering around the school. I'll post a photo of Andrew after I upload it off my camera.

Photos!

Things have been very busy here this week, with Andrew's finals, Mali preparing for her surprise party (!?!), Susy changing back to her old job (still at Intel), and my trip to Vancouver, Canada for work on/off/on/postponed to Sunday night.
Southridge dismissal is before noon today and tomorrow because of finals, then both kids get Friday off school for a teacher workday. Andrew has Rian and Tiana over here now, eating whatever they can find in the kitchen and calling it lunch.
Andrew hasn't been running track because his ankle has been bothering him, but tomorrow is the time trials for the 400m so he's going to give it a try.

Go check out www.flickr.com/photos/oregondad/ to see lots of new photos, most from Mali's very small present opening ceremony the morning of her actual birthday last week.