Raincharm’s Weblog

At the end of the Round of 16 the family positions are

Rey – Paraguay remains – beating Japan in penalty kicks

Carl – Uruguay remains – besting South Korea

Jay – Argentina & Spain – Spain won a good match against Portugal, and Argentina beat Mexico.

Ashlan – Ghana, Netherlands, Brazil and Germany – is positioned to have 3 of the 4 spots in the semi-finals, but will definitely lose either Netherlands or Brazil (they play each other.

Points during the game are the only ones that count. So we’re not counting the total scored (or not scored).
Two games a day is certainly easier to watch than three or four.

Monday is the day the trucks come to our house and remove the detritus that we put out next to the street. Most weeks it is yard waste, recycling and garbage. This week we had an extra ton of garbage. The old car was out there too. And was actually the first bit of trash to leave the curbside.

The tow truck driver was to come on Monday. And he did. We didn’t expect him before 7 AM. And he said if he had not been held up in traffic he would have been there 2 hours earlier. Since Carl had not put the keys in the glove box yet, it is good he was delayed. As the car was being pulled onto the truck, Carl realized the soccer ball hanging from the mirror was still there. When I cleaned out the car I was not looking up.

I called this our old car. To be truthful it was not that old. 10 years, just over 100,000 miles. I would consider it to be at midlife. Taken too early.

The last time I had to give up a car before I was ready to do so was in 1978. The car was my family’s (not mine) 1970 Ford Fairlane 500 Station Wagon (the Pucci Rustoli). Note I said give it up. As in leave it in Michigan when I moved to Colorado. Probably a wise decision by my parents, who knew better about taking care of cars.

But I was not ready to get a different car. Wasn’t even a blip in our financial horizon for another several years. But there you have it. Sometimes thing just happen. So I we have spent the last few weeks looking for a new car.

We had it down to Civic, Mazda 3 and Corolla. We usually are looking at the base model. Inexpensive, work horse, econo-box. [Yes, the Prius was our aberration.] Sunday was spent test driving the three, looking at costs, etc, etc, etc.

And today, as the broken car left, a new car replaced it.

We ended up with a Toyota Corolla. Recalls and all. Despite the calls for Honda out of Michigan (note that I think I may have had the first Honda in the bunch in 1980). The reason? It was the Noise, Noise, Noise, Noise (thanks to the Grinch), and lack thereof in the Corolla. Especially on the highway. It also had more bells and electric whistles than the Civic, for basically the same price. The Mazda 3 was disappointingly lurchy when starting. When we started this journey, Carl really thought we would just get another Mazda. I had told people I did not want a Corolla. And there you go – don’t trust what I say.

I have never had as difficult a time actually buying the car. I was close to tears several times, and couldn’t hold them off when Carl got in to drive it away and the dealer asked how the experience had been. When writing out the checks I believe I actually said, “I don’t want any thing to do with this.” That about sums it up. But sometimes you have no choice.

As I said above, I have only had a car pulled away from me one other time. Other changes:

• 1976 Mustang (bought in 1978) – burned oil like crazy. Last Ford I have owned.
• 1980 Honda Civic (new car – replaced Mustang) – lasted 20 years and 280,000 miles. It was old and had lived a long full like. Ready to rest, and not because of rust.
• 1988 Honda Civic (new car – 2nd car) – lasted 5 years. We needed a bigger car, and it had better resale potential than the 1980. Plus it was never as good a car as the 1980.
• 1992 Dodge Caravan (used car – replaced 1988 Civic) – lasted 11 years. Was our big car when we had 5 kids to haul around. It was unusual in that is was a manual shift on a mini-van. It was nice for vacations with lots of people too. But again, not the best car, and we were ready for a new car when the number of kids dropped.
• 2000 Mazda Protegé (new car – replaced 1980 Civic) – lasted 10 years and 102,065 miles. Bargain basement $10,000 car on the lot. Not an electronic piece of equipment to be found on this car. Not even a radio. A great deal, and a good little basic car. Too young.
• 1998 Toyota Corolla – used car for Rey. Still going.
• 2004 Toyota Prius (new car – replaced 1992 Caravan) – Still going, over 95,000 miles.
• 2010 Toyota Corolla (new car – replaced 2000 Mazda) – We’ll see.

In conclusion. This has been difficult. But in the end, we really have no problems. Everybody is OK, and basically healthy. It is only a car.

So we are now poised at the start of the World Cup knockout stage.
Actually, the first game is really almost over, but thanks to the DVR and a little extra rest this AM, the game is just starting for us. S Korea v Uruguay.S Korea is my team, Uruguay Carl’s.

Which brings us to our current statistics. Now I have no thought that this is of interest to anybody outside of our family. But this will memorialize it, and keep Rey in touch (if in fact he has the time to read this).

After the Round-Robin Stage (3 games for each team)
Points: (3 for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss)

Rey = 31 Pts, with 8 Wins, 7 Losses, 9 Ties;
Goals for = 27, Goals against = 29, Differential = -2

Carl = 26 Pts, with 7 Wins, 12 Losses, 5 Ties;
Goals for = 15, Goals against = 19, Differential = -4

Jay = 29 Pts, with 8 Wins,  11 Losses, 5 Ties;
Goals for = 29, Goals against = 38, Differential = -9

Ashlan = 42 Pts, with 11 Wins, 4 Losses, 9 Ties;
Goals for = 27, Goals against = 15, Differential = +12

Goal differential, as a whole, doesn’t mean much, but for individual teams it can be the difference between going on or going home. Two teams out of each group of 4 in the Round Robin go on, and tie-breakers are frequently necessary.

Teams that are still alive are: (Pre Post-first game anyway)

Rey: (3) Slovakia, Paraguay, Portugal
Carl: (3) Uruguay, Chile, Japan
Jay: (4 3) South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, Spain
Ashlan: (6) USA, Ghana, Netherlands, Brazil, Germany, England

Note that Ashlan will lose at least 2 teams in the first set of knockout games because she plays herself. I will lose one as well when Mexico and Argentina meet.

The number of games per day has also been reduced to a maximum of 2. Entirely watchable.

I stayed home this morning for an hour and watched the Brazil v Portugal.

Then it was off to work.
Calm J today, more or less.
Picky little things – not much big getting done.
Called the insurance lady, we chatted, nicely.
She apologized for sending a letter that got me so upset.
And they offered the $ amount I had thought would be reasonable.

So, I will send off the paperwork tomorrow, but not the keys.
Those will go to the tow truck driver when they come to take the car away. Possibly as early as Monday.

Then for the main event. Glitter and Be Gay. The Seattle Mens and Womens Chorus’ performing together. 400 of them. On risers. It was spectacular. They did Bernstein and Sondheim pieces.

Then back home to finish up the Spain vs Chile game. Today’s games finish the roundrobin portion of the World Cup. I will provide the families totals tomorrow.

This is Calm J. Boring, but calm.

Yesterday – it started so well.
Ashlan started out at a bar/cafe with several other like-minded folks to watch the US Soccer team play Algeria. It was a 7 AM start on the left coast, so I got to see a few minutes before departing for work. I knew it was 0-0 at the half, but then it was into a staff meeting that would take the rest of the game. Near the conclusion of the staff meeting I asked who had the score (let’s be real with all of the electronic gadgets around today), and we heard the score 1-0 US. What we did not know was the dramatic fashion in which the win was achieved.

Ashlan, on the other hand, was fully aware and in the midst of the celebration. She had taken her USA flag, acquired for the Olympics, and the restaurant staff had told her to tie it to the railing of the loft where they were sitting. She arrived at work full of vigor.

And so the day should have been a good one. U.S. win, walk after work, drop Ashlan at the Mariners game (they beat the Cubs), and home to watch more soccer,     and open the mail.

I had not heard from the insurance company since last week. They had provided their idea of the car’s value, and I had countered with my own research into the valuation. There was a package waiting – with a check. The check reflected their original valuation, with no mention of my additional data – accepted or not. No mention of the difference in their assumed mileage and our real mileage. The letter seemed to presume we wanted to keep the car, although they provided some information on how to send them the title, keys, etc.

The package set me off. All of the good of the day left, in an instant. I hate my sometimes explosive anger, but that is me. It resulted in a call to Carl (venting), a call to my insurance adjuster to complain, and an e-mail to the insurance adjuster to complain in a calmer tone, but with more reasons why I was so upset.

I have been exposed to customer service for many years, and write letters to customers on a fairly regular basis. Clarity is important and can save a lot of angst. This letter was missing clarity. I am sure they know what they mean, but they deal with settlements on a daily basis. Most of us – maybe never before. I am sure it is a form letter of sorts – they will continue to get suggestions on how to improve their interactions.

I hope to hear from them tomorrow with revisions to the valuation, and answers to some other questions like, “Why would I send you all of the keys to the car and be left with a 2000 pound broken car sitting in my driveway, and no way to even try to move it?” (More than happy to hand over the keys to the tow truck driver that drags it away.)

Enough complaining. Time for Calm J.

Tranquillo Barnetta – a player for Switzerland.

When his name came up during play yesterday, we had to ask whether the games were really tranquil, and how tranquil we feel.

They have been fun to watch, and I find that I am really disappointed that my own soccer season has ended. We won’t play again until the fall. I feel like I have better ideas on how the game should flow and progress. Now, putting those thoughts into action would be an entirely different subject, but I just feel like I would have better ideas.

Today the games go from 3 in a day to 4 in a day. They are played two at a time. Our DVR can only accommodate one recording at a time apparently, so we can only record 2 of the 4 each day. The others will hopefully be available on ESPN 360 (computer), so not lost. Then there is the problem of actually finding the hours in the day to watch four games, work, commute and sleep.

This is making life a little more stressful, but it is a schedule that we welcomed into our life. Add in the new car purchase (up to the point it is time to test drive), still being behind on work and needing to do a few chores here and there. The stress is adding up. But I want to watch the soccer, so I don’t think that will be the thing to give.

We’ll see how it all goes through the end of the week. Oh – and the Mariners are in town …

This is Father’s day, and so I called my father. This was after I spoke with my son – trying to call his father – who was not in (more later). Since we are separated by a few thousand miles, the phone call was as close as we could get today. Still it was good to talk and catch up on what is going on in there end of the universe. Bridge games that I remember from my very small years still happen. Apparently, however, the players have changed some (this is over a period of more than 40 years afterall), and so have the refreshments. Last night there were no mixed drinks (hard liquor) served and only a handful of beers. More soda and water. Now I remember the bridge nights for their sound, talking, laughing, and general cadence. I also remember the 2 Prize, given to the first person to take a trick with a 2. And I mostly remember that we would get to drink pop the day after the game. We didn’t usually have pop in the house, but they would buy it for mixers, and we would get to imbibe in the leftovers. (Pop only, not the hard stuff.)

My mind also referenced a recent post on my cuzzint Anne’s site and the following comments. This had to do with liking or not liking cottage cheese (it’s in there – really). I noted that I still don’t drink martinis, and it may have started from being given a sample of a martini from my parents (yuck). To which my father told the story of getting cream soda with a lump of ice cream at their Sunday dinners growing up. His father would not have that, but a beer instead. So my dad asked what beer was like, and was allowed a taste, “Yuck.” Unlike my not going for martinis, even in their resurrection as a popular drink, my dad does drink beer.

So – back to the present – Rey called to talk to the non-present dad, and chatted with me instead. Topics ranged from Pillars of the Earth to Chekhov’s Gun to Sofa King the Jones Act and an HL Mencken quote, “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.” [I have to take notes when I speak with Rey, because his brain moves a lot faster than mine.]

Dad Carl was not at home because he was out with the other child. They are having a day together. First up was Church of Baseball, er softball. They and another father and daughter met at a field and pitched and hit and chased after baseballs. Ashlan claims she threw about 200 pitches to Carl. No report on how many were in the strike zone. But apparently they all got a good workout. Next it was quick rinse and off to the Mariner game. Ashlan acquired two tickets in the second row behind the dugout. These are fantastic seats, and may have the added bonus of padded seats and access to the “club.” We are waiting to find out what this really means. I dropped them at the game, and will be picking them up at the end (I assume).

Yesterday was a different day. It ended with Carl & me at the baseball game (Ms win!), preceded by a walk to the game (7-8 miles), preceded by an afternoon spent looking at car sites comparing cost, size, mileage, etc …, preceded by a morning spent watching soccer, preceded by getting up at 3:30 AM to drive a friend to the airport.

While the others are at the game I am preparing to watch soccer and go through Consumer Reports on the cars I gathered for further consideration yesterday. All for now.

Friday night in the city. Lots of stuff going on, so lots of people heading in. We are with them. Slog on in, not the worst, but certainly not the best.

We finally hit downtown. The goal is to drop Ashlan at Safeco Field for a Mariner game. She is meeting Carl and others. Many others. You may have heard of Ken Griffey Junior. He hit 630 home runs – we have a few of the balls he gave us in our house. He just retired. They are having a bobblehead giveaway tonight – Griffey and Ichiro together. So in addition to those that just like baseball, there are the bobblehead fans.

And, it would appear that many more people have found the new exit that leads directly to the baseball stadium.
No worries, we are not in a huge hurry. Ashlan bails out, and then passes me as I wait for the cars to inch past the stadium. I finally pass her – talking with Carl & Jet (4 year old).

Up onto the viaduct that runs along the Puget Sound downtown. You may know that this structure has basically been condemned, and is scheduled to be replaced – I hope with a tunnel. Our current Mayor is not for this idea – he would rather create gridlock downtown by removing a major bypass route …. but I digress. It is a beautiful early evening. The sun is out, although clouds are gathering in the south. There are many smaller boats on the sound and I am guessing this is associated with some festival. And then I notice – a fire boat in full display. Kind of like a peacock with feathers in 360 degrees around the body as well as the 180 degree fan. A white peacock. (peahen?) I can’t even see the boat at the middle of the sprays. It is quite impressive. For once I am glad for the 10 mph rate of travel.

On to north Seattle, passing my normal exit. My goal is to get a red hat for a fifty-year old friend. I truly detest the black theme for parties. But I fully embrace the red hat society’s goals to not worry about what others think about how you look – go enjoy yourself. The giving of a red had has become a bit of a tradition at work. There are several of us now. But traffic is dense – as expected, and I had even thought of a slight back door approach. However, the back door approach was full of brambles. A bus, construction and fire-truck in the first 500 yards. OK. Dodge right, a cut through, and back to a semi-main road. Which is stopped. I sat in this line attempting to turn onto the main road for several minutes. But I was not in a particular hurry. Found a red had that should do the trick, and browsed the store for a bit. On leaving, the earlier back-up had dissipated, and I headed home.

Almost there – the road clogged again. So, this time I dodged left. I had  enough of sitting in lines. Finally home. Not planning to leave again today.

Mow the back yard, and apply fertilizer with one of those whirlybird hand-held things. It says to water in. By the look of the clouds gathering to the south, I may give mother nature a chance to do the watering for me.

OK – through the first set of games for the 32 teams, our family’s results are

Carl       3 W – 3 L – 2 Ties   / 3 Goals for : 3 Goals against / 11 Points
Rey        1 W – 2 L – 5 Ties  /  4 Goals for : 9 Goals against /  8 Points
Jay        2 W – 4 L – 2 Ties  /  6 Goals for : 8 Goals against /  8 Points
Ashlan 4 W – 1 L – 3 Ties  / 12 Goals for: 5 Goals against / 15 Points

[To get points it is 3 points fora Win, 0 points for a Loss, and 1 point for a tie.]

This is our results from the first 16 games. All 32 teams have played one game.
There have actually been 4 games in the second set now as the teams play through their 4 team groups.

The results above are therefore, not necessarily predictors of which of us will prevail in the end.
Of each of the 8 groups of 4 teams, the top 2 teams of the 4 will advance. So you could have a strong team, but if they are against other strong teams they may not advance, whereas a weaker team in a weak group will. I have all four teams in Group B, so have at least 2 moving forward.

I have also managed to “watch” all of the games so far, although well past their air date for any during the work week. I have only known the outcome of a few ahead of time. It is darn hard to avoid knowing if you are not careful. I did compromise a bit today and allowed Carl to fast forward to the goals in the Argentina 4 – South Korea 1 game. I had heard the score on the way to work this morning. The person I carpooled with had a sports station on….

It’s only a month-long tournament. I am sure the household chores can wait.

Post thought: Don’t know that I mentioned it earlier, but our family drew for random teams – just to add a little something. The “drawing” was done using cards (e.g. Ace – Bracket A) and the alphabet (Spades – first alphabetically within the bracket, Hearts – second, Diamond third, Clubs – forth). Our teams:

I suppose I should be keeping this up better than I have been, but since we arrived back on the left coast it has seemed exceedingly busy. Work has been work, and there has been a lot of it, all of it important and due now ( or worse, yesterday). Priorities are sometimes easy when the due date is now. It seems the time spent in meetings has not allowed me to actually complete anything. I did some work this weekend, but obviously could have done much more. We are also in the midst of narrowing our list of candidates for our GM position. Trying to choose a new boss is a daunting task.

Then there is choosing a new car. I have not made much progress this week – work has been too completely consuming.

Then there is the continual backdrop of soccer – at least when I am home.
The west coast game times are 4:30 AM, 7 AM and 11 AM (more or less).
We have been recording them all. Carl watches them during the morning mostly – and then can’t say anything. I have been trying desperately to remain blissfully ignorant until I can spend my 4-1/2 hours in the evening watching the morning’s games.
And then we do it again the next day.
It is still fun as the teams are new. Some match-ups have been very entertaining, and only a few that I would call dull.

Ashlan catches the evening viewing when she can, but is not making it her only priority. Which is good as she has both soccer games starting tonight and a softball practice. What is kind of funny is that she has never played softball before. Only baseball.

So – back to trying to accomplish a bit more before my head hits the pillow.