Penn State trial

I have been a little nervous about the Sandusky trial, since apparently all American juries seem to have forgotten that yes, they can actually find a defendant guilty. (cf., the NYC Rape Cop cases (BOTH of them), John Edwards, Casey Anthony, etc. Never been a better time to commit a felony than right now!) But today an article popped up--Sandusky is actually going to testify. WOW. I'm actually shocked his lawyer is letting him--he will only do his own case harm, since this is the man who, when asked a direct question "are you sexually attracted to young boys?" giggled and preened and repeated the question and basically screamed YES with every twitch. Hell, even the name of his book screams it (Touched)--this is a man who wanted to get caught, I think, he wants to tell the story. Although why he's pleading innocent, I couldn't tell you. What a monster. Those boys (now mostly grownup) who are testufying are incredibly brave.

Soccer Championship

So...my Dolphman team played our final game of the spring season, after winning our quarter- and semi-finals in dramatic fashion. Last week, when we were tearing into the birthday cupcakes, Alyssa (injured girl) especially liked the pumpkin spice one, so I promised her I'd make some pumpkin bread. So when I got up yesterday I actually didn't have that much time before I had to leave for softball (game at 4) and I needed eggs. Ran to the 7/11, and then stopped by a fruit stand and picked up some limes and avocados. Mmmm....

Anyway so I threw together a pumpkin bread batter, including nutmeg that I personally ground myself (I buy whole nutmeg and use the coffee grinder). The pumpkin puree, of course, was from the pumpkins I got last fall (frozen). The bread was done *just* in time for me to leave and get to the softball game, which we lost 2-1, and then I had to leave for soccer. Got there in plenty of time--some teammates wanted the bread then, some wanted to wait until after the game.

Again this week we had few players, although at least we had two female subs. Not for long! I let Haruko start because she'd missed last week due to asthma and I said "Nikki or I will have an eye on you if you need to stop." She twisted her ankle after about 10 minutes so she was down for the count. Now we just had 1 sub--but I've played SO much soccer lately, I really didn't need one. Last week was the killer, the marathon--4 games within 24 hours! This? Was nothing. We scored late in the 1st half and then just settled down--I was hoping to score myself and got off a couple of good shots, including one pretty cool one. The goalie kicked the ball but messed up and kicked it right to me. I trapped the ball and kicked it hard right back at the goal--and the goalie sailed out of NOWHERE and grabbed it. So, great save but darn it! That would've been amazing. Some of the guys complimented after the game on that shot. Anyway we ended up winning, and they were a great team. Just kind of lucky, we certainly didn't blow them out of the water. Alyssa afterward was all "aren't you guys excited?!" I said "honestly, last week was bigger for me. Two games in 3 hours? No subs, a player down? That was huge."

There was a consolation game after us--the two teams that had finished 9th & 10th. But one of them didn't show up, so the team that WAS there asked us if we wanted to play. Well, I was up for more soccer, so I said yes, and told my team I'd join them later at the bar. It ended up being 4 on 4, and I scored a goal. nice neat little pass to my left side, I trapped it and then had a nice hard shot with my left foot into the goal. I also did a cool pass!--a backwards pass, when I knew someone was behind me and an opponent in front. I told Sam afterward, he's one of the best ball handlers on the team. After the game, I shared what was left of the pumpkin bread and they devoured it. The referee was raving about it! Well, I take my baked goods seriously.

Yay, champions! Maybe we'll get the threepeat this summer! The field is at Pier 40 this time, a MUCH better field. I expect the games will be higher scoring (this field on the Lower East Side is horrible--very long and narrow and the goals are tiny--and a lot of the games have been scoreless ties).