casual ultimate

It’s New Year’s Eve, 2008. I just watched the men’s final from 2007 between Bravo and Sockeye. It was good. Made me want to keep playing Ultimate. Nice final for Hector. It was fun watching Seth on another team too. I *think* Seth fouled Chicken on the mark on game point which caused him to throw a lazy high release backhand which didn’t get to the receiver and led to a quick transition goal for the win. Maybe I’m just projecting what I know about Seth onto that point though

Revolver had our end of year party a couple of weeks ago, and it was sooooo Revolver. It was somewhere between a Coed and an Ivy league College party. Lots of board games, poker, and awkward interactions. (Someone on Jam is reading this and smiling.) It’s funny to compare that to my experience with Monkey over the past few years. I always felt like such a TOTAL fit with Monkey as far as personality, and I think a pretty good fit on the field as well. Now that I think of it, Monkey was better in both regards than Revolver for me. I think the mix of dirty humor tempered by the feminine presence in coed was just right for me. I remember hearing a story that Pat H liked coed better than Open because of “the way he was” in the Coed division as opposed to “the way he was” in the open division. Makes sense to me. I need women to keep me in line sometimes, but I will say that having the presence of Stanford culture was similar with such wholesome, smiling folks as Handler, Wiseman, TJ, and Herbert. Actually, let’s leave Herbert off that list. He’s a little more Hole-some than he is wholesome.

Shout out to Jonny Rem who apparently had a really good final this year for Jam. I can’t wait to see footage because this guy is one of my favorite players on the planet. Mikey Z pointed him out to me when I first moved to town, and it’s been fun to watch a guy without a chip on his shoulder or a swollen ego just consistently win his match-ups. He’s really fun to watch downfield: unbelievable timing, sure hands, nice throws, and those pearly whites.

In other news, I went home for Xmas two weeks before Xmas actually happened because that’s how we do it in my family. It was a pretty good trip. Not an easy trip for me: not having my own room, having to face the past with the present, having to try to pry open a heart that was absolutely hammered shut for a few years there. It’s hard work but fruitful.

It’s interesting because at my sister’s wedding, it was a lot easier for me. The focus was squarely on her which somehow made it easier for me. Also, I love her to bits and was really honored to get to show up as big as I could for that event. I think the fact that it didn’t have the hype of the holidays and that the spotlight was away from me made it a lot more manageable. That being said, what a difference a year makes. I felt much more at ease this year than last, and Jess and I are back to wearing matching Sweatshirts again! Check out the evolution of Northwestern Ultimate Team sweatshirts over the past 3 seasons or so.

Now that I’m back in SF after being home, I’m kind of blue like Miles Davis. I get that sadness: that good, reflective, restorative, purifying sadness every year after I go home. That may be coloring it too positive because sometimes it’s downright torture. This year though, it feels ok. Some of my friends call it the emotional hangover of the holidays. Makes sense to me. So much hype both from our culture and from our families that when it’s over, there’s a natural recoil to get back to equilibrium.

I had a great conversation with Henrik yesterday about what friendship is. We recalled our lives’ lessons in that department. I got my introduction to what “friends” were from two places: Sarah and Machine. When I got cut from Machine, I found out quickly who my friends were on that team. There weren’t nearly as many as I thought. The ones that were my friends are still with me today, and I’m really glad to have them in my life. Bjorn and Mercedog come to mind. Love you guys. The Titcombs come to mind too. Here’s X on the way back from Solstice/Potlatch in ‘05.

Sweet, sweet, sweet. Sarah’s contribution was a little different. I took a look at Sarah’s friends, and I was amazed. She just straight up didn’t talk to people who tried to manipulate her or who weren’t nice to her. Even if it was just one time, she turned away from that person. She didn’t do it in a mean way; it was just a matter of fact - she didn’t hang out with people who weren’t nice. As a result, her friends were sweet and committed to her. They were also, every one of them, just great people. Holy cow; they were amazing! The first people I met when I moved out here were Arlie and Matty, Sarah’s good friends who put me up until I could find a place. Talk about two of the sweetest people out there; it’s an honor just to know them. Congrats to both of them on bringing their style and grace to U S Women’s Ultimate.

One last note, I mentioned to a couple captains on Revolver the idea of being a “team chaplain” or “spiritual/musical advisor” for the team next year. For some reason, that is really calling to me as something I want to do. My contribution just has to include that aspect in order for me to really be doing my higher power’s work. We’ll see what that looks like. More will be revealed.

Happy Healthy New Year’s to All y’all.

Chuck
“Best Hair” award winner on Revolver 2008

I think Saturday night at Natties has been one of my favorite nights each of the past two years. Both years, my team ended it’s quest for the title that day, and the team dinner, toasts, and partying ensued. It’s kind of sad that both years I got really drunk. I didn’t get as drunk last year as I did this year though. I don’t know if Ultimate is committed to the idea that drinking is good and that binge drinking is great. It seems like it at times though. In any event, I get caught up in the idea that one drink = fun and so two drinks = more fun and so on. I was having an awesome time with my team, even though we were the last game to finish on Saturday after being knocked out of quarters by like 10:30 (that sucked so much to play two more long tedious games and never get to hang out with anyone on Saturday).

Anyway, we went to dinner at this little family-owned italian restaurant named after a woman named _______ (I don’t remember her name, but James seemed to know her, and she gave a good hug.) During dinner there was a series of toasts that were funny and touching, and we were a table of 28 in the middle of a not particularly large restaurant, so Darryl (who is rich from investing one dollar on his 18th birthday) paid for all the other people’s dinners in the restaurant, and if that weren’t enough, I serenaded each table with the fiddle with any song that they wanted to hear. I laughed more at that dinner than I remember laughing before. It was so fun. It was sooo fun. Holy shit, things were funny at that dinner. I toasted Josh and Margo’s baby on the way (which does not exist), Martin told some fantastic stories from his college days, Sherwood’s parents were reeeeaaallly chill about the off-color jokes that were just flying from my mouth like so much vomit would later.

The point is that this was a night that was a ton of fun. I was where I wanted to be with the people I wanted to be there with, and I felt absolutely fantastic. There’s no feeling quite like completing your season with a team you love, where you play your best, and your team fights to the end. It feels soooo goood. So filling. Like a catharsis with a twist of straight up magnanimity. It’s a cathardinimity. So why did I feel the need to drink so much? I thought about that. I had a copy of “the big book” with me (Alcoholics Anonymous, the text, pictured above). I’m not in AA, but it’s the basis for all twelve-step recovery, and it’s an absolutely amazing book. So good. Seeing that book on my bedside table the morning after was pretty cool. A message from my higher power. Message received. One explanation is that I’m an alcoholic. Another explanation is that I get caught up in the moment sometimes. Another is that I seem to think that I need alcohol to have fun when I’m out and it’s beer-thirty.

It’s been cool this past month since nationals, during which I haven’t had anything to drink, to see that sobriety is really nice. It makes my body feel good. It makes my mind feel good. I have a lot of fun, and I really enjoy the people I’m with. It turns out that I love people and that when I am hanging out with people I like, I really don’t need a drink to have fun.

I think a big piece of the puzzle is: I get anxious when I am trying to meet other people’s expectations and ignore my own needs and drinking helps me to get over that. The solution is very simple. I take care of my own needs, always. Here are two tools that work:

1) when I take care of myself, everyone else gets taken care of automatically, everytime.
2) what other people think of me is none of my business.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I was riding back from Nationals on a couple of planes next to a couple of strangers, and I had an amazing post swimming around in my head. All I needed was a laptop, and it would’ve been epic. I didn’t have a laptop though, so here’s what I remember of that amazing post.

Natties was good. Revolver played very well. We had our least spirited game, 1st game against Machine, but it was a good game. We came back and beat those pansies on double-game-point, but let’s be clear: the play of the game goes to Hensley who appeared to make a ridiculous lay-out callahan on an up the line dump cut by our best player. Robbie insisted he had possession and that Hensley stripped it, but even if he’s right, that shit was insane.

That was the first of three come-from-behind double-game-point wins on the weekend. We stung Truck Stop later that day after Stout bitched us for the first three quarters. 11-14 to 15-14 on the backs of some Last of the Mohican fiddle and the spirit of Revolver. What an amazing spirit.

Sidenote: Nate M from Brass was playing with Truck Stop, and he played well. It was good to see him out there and to be in a game with the two people that I think I respect the most in the game: Nate M (Truckstop) and Nick H (Revolver). They each have a way of carrying themselves with self-respect and imposing that on the team. The players respect themselves, each other, and the team. Everyone is heard. Everyone is an equal. I think it starts with rigorous honesty and looking people in the eye. After that, I’m not sure what sets these guys apart, but ask anyone who’s played with them.

On a personal note, I was not 100% after knee surgery and felt I played great. As well as I could’ve played although I wish I had come up with a couple improbable high discs during the course of the weekend. Our team carried 28 guys at Nationals and everyone was healthy and there, so that was pretty impressive. I also played on an O line that relied heavily on Stanford chemistry to carry us through, so I knew from the get-go that I needed to play high-percentage disc and just sort of do what I could do be a net-positive for the team.

The fiddle. My God, what a tool. I never really discovered what a powerful force it can be in Ultimate. We rallied behind music several times during the weekend and made comebacks that I thought were impossible. They were ridiculous. The comeback against Bravo on Friday was totally stupid. We ran off the last 3 or 4 to win after being down the whole game, and I don’t think it’s vain to say the fiddle had a tangible impact on play and the general energy of our team.

We had team meetings each night of Nationals, and I said during one of those meetings some things that were really on my heart about Revolver, so I’ll try to reproduce some of it. I think Revolver is an important team. Not because we throw or cut differently or have better playmakers than any other elite team. This team is humble. We have guys who can hang with anyone, but I think the fact that those guys in particular (Robbie, Handler, Wiseman) are all incredibly humble and want the team to succeed before themselves gives the team a character that I really appreciate. It’s like being on a coed team except I’m not very good.

Anyway, I thought I’d check in with you all. I’ll be in Chicago from December 7th to December 10th. 1-800-HOLLER

it is a gorgeous chicago fall day for the 2008 election and this blogger has tickets to obama’s election night rally in grant park! woot! we got lucky enough to get them before they disappeared so the casuals will be in grant park to witness history.. either our first black president gets elected or the loop erupts into an absurd riot. clearly we are hoping for the former. get out and vote today!

also in other non political news team pegasus, the cycling team that i joined but then shirked all summer while planning the wedding, is having a recruitment meeting at weegee’s a week from today at 8pm. so if you still read this blog and are interested in racing for an awesomely fun team come out and see what its all about.

in other pegasus news.. the team has put together a calendar of lady cyclists to raise money for the team and for world bicycle relief. you can pre-order yours here. there is even a NSFW version cause im not gonna lie.. some of my teammates are giving it all away. Im not of course but i am nevertheless in the calendar with my bike (Im july) and so is ms. ultimate’s new haven roommate (she’s october). anyways the team and world bicycle relief are both great causes so buy a nudie calendar for charity.

i will probably post about the wedding at length at some point (i can hear you holding your breath your so excited) and hopefully chuck or bjorn will give us a post about nationals? anyway is anyone out there?

happy election day!

edit:

heres a video of our own flying viking at nationals making a heroic catch.

well i have to say marriage is awesome. we get to blow off social functions to stay home, make dinner with all our fancy new kitchen gadgets and watch netflix until kingdom come. i know that sounds horrible to you youngsters but im an old lady and a homebody and to me it sounds like heaven. we get up early and watch meet the press and drink coffee and talk to our friends about how excited we are about the vice presidential debate. this is starting to sound like a post on a different blog… stuff white people like.

if you havent read this blog you need to start. especially now because they have a post about ultimate. heres a small highlight to entice you…

‘It is important to know that when you hear a white person saying “we should do some ultimate this weekend” or “I’m so pumped for ultimate,” they are talking about a sport and not an “ultimate solution”-type race war. Though a quick look at a field full of Ultimate Frisbee players might lead one to surmise that an ethnic cleansing has taken place.’

good stuff.

and speaking of the race issue.. now that we are a hip interracial married couple we are noticing a few things. mr. casual isnt too interested in ultimate. ‘yeah yeah its great…’ also after seeing an old family photo of the towns he declared ‘i need to start a new blog called ’so i married a white girl’.

ahem.

maybe i need to start a new blog category called ’so i married a latino (i originally wrote hispanic but apparently thats not the pc term…)’. lord knows the man wants to keep every weird piece of junk my mom tries to unload on us out of the basement of the cottage. heres a picture of our living room with our new america pillow. im trying to relax about it all. really.

were all married up! ill post some more when we get the photos from the photographer but here’s a pic from my new brother in law.. it went off without a hitch! it was so much fun but it went by in a flash. its tough to have all your favorite people around for 24 hours. you feel like you just cant spend enough time with everyone…

I’ve been listening to Dre’s Chronic again at work this week, and it’s so good. Sidenote: got a part-time job doing data work. It’s actually really good. Flexible. Mindless. Listening to a lot of really good music and speakers. Feeding my manic obsession with Alt-Tab and Alt-Shift-Tab. Oh yeah, and making money while wearing sandals and occasionally being mistaken for the Geico Caveman.

The Wayside State, pictured at the Make-Out Room in SF, is getting treacherously close to getting our first album done, and Continuum (for those who remember the hip-hop project I was a part of in Chicago) is about to release our second album finally after 3 years of life happening to all of us. Fittingly, that album will be called Goosechase.

Hey, do me a favor and friend my band on Myspace (www.myspace.com/thewaysidestate). We don’t send out announcements, and we need to hit 1000 fans to get booked at a few clubs out here. Thanks in advance.

To get current, Tracy and I broke up a few months ago, I had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee for some cartilege damage, I’m planning to start school this winter to get a master’s in counseling psychology (big shout out to Curry G for some help with that), and I think I’m building up an army of some of the coolest ex-girlfriends in history. Pretty respectable pick-ups for any Poultry Team as well (T-Riles, Dr. Rah, and Canned Ass). Mine against yours, any day of the week.

Labor Day Champies are this weekend down in Santa Cruz, and the men’s division is totally obscene. It’s Nationals, and I’m bringing my bike and a fiddle I think because that’s how it is these days. I just realized that at the last two tournaments I played at the UCSC fields, my team was in the finals (Bruisers at Fools with Bjorn and Revolver at Cal States). Those fields are a little slice of heaven, and I haven’t checked but Subzero’s Andrew B might be playing too. What could be better than watching him break marks at those fields? Nothing.

I’ll be around next Thursday (9/4) if there’s any beach ulty to be played, and my bandmate Erin will be coming out to play the wedding with me, so you all can hit on her if you like. I’ll also be chilling Thursday and Monday during the days I believe, so let’s get coffee or go to a 12-step meeting or something.