So a Finnish Introvert Walks Into a Football Game . . .

How can you tell if a Finn is an extrovert?
He looks at your shoes instead of his own when he's talking to you.

I've always been an outwardly unemotional person.  I consider myself to have a great sense of humor, but I'm rarely moved to LOL at movies or tv.  I don't jump up and down cheering on my favorite team.  I don't even have a favorite team because I became disallusioned as a kid when I found out the players on the Seahawks and Mariners didn't actually grow up in Washington.  I've never been a sports person, hated playing, hated watching, etc. Since Melody came along I've gradually become a little more knowledgeable about basketball and softball and I enjoy watching her play.  She's tried about every sport out there: karate, soccer, volleyball, bmx, track & field.  I was always too shy, too self-conscious, too un-coordinated to attempt to play.   Plus, I was much happier with a book.

Prince Eric is half Irish/half Italian.  He grew up watching and playing football and baseball.  Prince Eric lives for football season, one of the first things he told me when we started dating was to expect to be a football widow.  He cheers, yells, boos, jumps up and down!  He shows emotions, he LOL's.  He knows how to have fun.

Yesterday I went to my first Oregon Duck's game with 60,000 fellow fans.  It was loud, it was cold, it was a long hike up to the 83rd row, it was expensive, and it was a frustrating stop and go (mostly stop) traffic trying to leave the area afterwards.  But it was fun to be amongst the camaraderie of diehard fans and to hear the chants and team support.  I can appreciate the dedication of these loyal followers and the "we're all in this together" atmosphere.  It's kind of like finding someone who grew up in the same small town, you have a common connection.  I'm looking forward to going to the Civil War, the annual post-thanksgiving battle between the Ducks and the Beavers.  That's when the real craziness will come out.  I like to dress up, to put on a costume, it's why I've always liked Halloween the best of the holidays (well, that and the free candy).

So, I'm trying to embrace this love of my Prince.  I'm looking for a copy of Football for Dummies, I'm planning my game outfit, I'm putting my game face on.  Maybe I'll even cheer a little.  Just remember, just because I don't look like I'm not having fun doesn't mean I'm not.

 

Settling In

The leaves are changing, the smell of wood smoke is in the air and pumpkins are lining the store front;  I've always loved this time of year.  We've lived at the coast for over 4 months now, I've completed 4 weeks at my new job and Melody is almost halfway through her first term at a new school.  Almost everyday the sight of the ocean causes me to think "wow, I actually live here".  This morning we woke up and decided to go fishing and crabbing, drove 20 minutes to the spot where the bay meets the ocean and planted our lines.  I wandered the beach, scouring for glass floats and discovering driftwood art and abandoned bonfires to warm my feet.  We didn't catch anything, the weather was a little foggy and damp so we packed up and went home, all before 11:30 am.  I love being this close to adventure.

I think living here has been successful for all of us.  Despite not particularly wanting the job I applied for it suits my needs more than I expected.  I get to travel to different worksites and events for outreach, help people who have been struggling to make ends meets, and do public presentations.  I've even been on the radio and in the newspaper.  Prince Eric also has been able to grow professionally and is making connections through the chamber of commerce, taking leadership classes through the community college and is now the new head softball coach of one of the high schools.  Melody is even settling in nicely in our new community.  She chose a small charter school, 220 kids in grades K-12, and she doesn't hate it.  She's not skipping off to school happily every morning, but the absence of hating it says a lot for her.  She's made a few friends and just got her driver's license this week.  Ursula drives the route to see the ocean waves and occasionally wanders up to the casino to play penny slots.  We live closer to my brother and Prince Eric's mother and sister and have seen them more since we've moved than we have over the last couple of years.  Even Flounder has become a beach dog and loves to frolic in the sand in our protected cove.  Maybe we've found our place, where we're supposed to be.

There's also a new project we have cooking, we'll let you know as it unfolds ;)