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Advil 2, originally uploaded by istrico.

This just in: apparently you CAN pick up volleyball again after not playing for 8-9 years!

As I was telling Tim last night, it’s not the level of league I used to play in, which was a top-level, super-competitive league. However, it’s competitive enough where I won’t be eternally frustrated by “sloppy” play. I hope I didn’t come on too strong, though.

If you’re not familiar with volleyball, the setter is basically the quarterback of the team and can bark out calls and orders as well as the Brett Favre’s of the world. Since I’m a setter, I fell back into that routine like I was putting on a well-worn pair of shoes. Lucky for me, I’m enough of a goofball where I can downplay the 5-star General in me with people I don’t know that well, especially since two of my teammates are co-workers.

They did seem to be quite pleased of my skill level, though, and are devising plans on how to better use me (like using a 5-1 offense*). Should be fun!

In other news: OMG AM I SORE TODAY. Stupid aging…*shakes fist*

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* – Again, for those of you who aren’t familiar with volleyball, most recreational teams use a 4-2 (4 hitters, 2-setters) formation, meaning the setter in the front row was the setter. Heck, a lot of teams use the “whoever is in the front middle is the setter” offense, if you can call it that. When I played in high school, we used a 6-2 offense (again, 4 hitters, 2-setters) which meant the setter in the back row was the setter and the setter in the front row was the weak-side hitter. In college and afterward, we would use a 5-1 offense (5 hitters, 1 setter), meaning I was the setter regardless of my position in the rotation. So if I was serving, I would have to haul ass up to the middle front (or right front, depending on the hitting configuration) and be ready for defense. Quite tiring, but I loved it.

Wow…that got long for a footnote!

volleyball, originally uploaded by erin23_2007.

Tonight, I’m playing in a volleyball league for the first time in over 8 years. A few co-workers found out I not only played volleyball all through high school, college and beyond, but that I lived near where the league played.

We were supposed to have a practice on Sunday, December 27th, which I was so excited for, but they ended up canceling.

So now, I’m facing playing in a competitive league* tonight with NO practice. I actually had a nightmare the other night that I forgot how to play volleyball. When I moved back to MN, I hadn’t lived in ‘Kato long enough to find a league to play on and once I moved to Minneapolis, all the leagues I found usually ended up on the other side of the metro. I love volleyball, but I’m not driving 45 minutes one way to play.

The kicker is that our game starts at 9:15pm tonight. Figures the first match will be the late one.

Oh well, wish me luck!

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* – I think it’s competitive. The division is “Lower Division Co-Rec Volleyball”, however, the captain and the other people playing are athletic, competitive and have won the league the past 3 years…so I’m guessing they’re competitive. Also, the captain had this in his email: “Looking forward to kicking some tail in this league! We are playing a tough team to start with so bring your game faces.”

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE hard-core, competitive volleyball…I just don’t want to be the weak link on the team.

Bundling up, originally uploaded by rstahle7.

The weather widget on my Mac Dashboard is telling me the current temperature is -14 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s days like these when it seems like a good idea to move somewhere where the weather doesn’t do this shit.

Damn, that’s cold.

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Funny anecdote from this morning: I bought some thermal long underwear for Tim from the part time job’s outlet (at a big discount) and he wore them this morning. The amount of joy he got from having warm legs was awesome. Who knew a piece of clothing could cause such happiness?

Well, it is -14 degrees, so I suppose in this instance, it’s the simple things that make us happy. Like being warm.

Stay warm wherever you are!

Xmas Champagne in Snow, originally uploaded by Andy Macdonald.

With tomorrow being New Year’s Eve, everyone seems to take time to reflect on the past year. Since a new decade starts in 2010, the focus has been on the past 10 years. I’d try to do that, but I’d hurt myself trying to remember back that far. So, I’m just going to rate each year.

2000 – It was alright. Saw some great concerts that year.

2001 – Crappy, and not because of 9/11.

2002 – OK. Moved not once, but twice!

2003 – Ugh. Quit the worst job I’ve had in my entire life – and I’ve shoveled pig shit before, and this job was worse.

2004 – Again, it was OK. Got to go to Vegas, that was fun.

2005 – I’m going to plead the 5th on that particular year. I did run my first 5k that year, though. Huge accomplishment for me. Plus, I started this blog in 2005, so you can just go back and read for yourself.

2006 – Pretty damn awesome. Got my own house, found my partner in crime, started the best job ever…pretty damn sweet, if you ask me.

2007 – Good. Life chugging along, nothing too exciting.

2008 – Good, but challenging. Our decision for Tim to go back to college created its own set of challenges and adjustments.

2009 – Pretty good. College is going well for Tim after he switched majors, I still love my job (and have one!) and I finally started to spread my outdoorsy wings by doing some easy hiking and planning (but ended up having to cancel) on camping. Future is looking bright.

I’ll probably do my resolutions after New Year’s Eve. I have too much to do now!!

Happy New Year!!

All on the bed at the same time!, originally uploaded by blogkitten.

They’re never on the bed at the same time!

Sexy., originally uploaded by blogkitten.

I told you I wasn’t taking off my pajamas for Christmas!

Just add snow boots and a parka, and I can go outside to survey the snow damage.

More snow tonight….goody!

Despite the Snowmageddon rapidly approaching the Twin Cities, my plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have not changed one iota. Pajamas, lots of hors d’ovures, movies and wine make for my Christmas this year! It would be better with Tim, but I’m going to make the best of my “me” time. Oh…and I’ll finally get to use one of those Lush bath bombs that I bought months ago! Woo!

On a side note, Skype video chat works way better than the video chat in iChat. Trust me.

Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas!

day 63/365 – Popcorn, originally uploaded by DawnVGilmorePhotography.

Since I’m going to be home “alone” on Christmas Eve and Day, I plan on watching a lot of movies. So far, my list is thus:

1. Love Actually (great Christmas movie…and has Alan Rickman in it)
2. A Christmas Story (have to watch that one each Christmas)
3. MST3K “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (if Netflix sends it to me in time!)

I’m sure there’ll be more to watch…but I’ll be spending some quality time on the couch in my flannel PJs Thursday and Friday.