crdahlberg

Soccer Scoring

Sunday’s soccer World Cup Championship game between Spain and Netherlands capped a long series that only occurs every four years. Neither country had won previously, so the stakes were high–and exciting–for each. The game was decided in overtime, in a 1-0 Spanish victory. I watched part of it on Sunday at the L.A. Farmer’s Market, where I shot this picture of a very involved crowd.

I grew up in Germany, so I’m supposed to “get” soccer. I love the simplicity of the equipment required (how complicated is one ball?), and the nearly universal international appreciation for the sport.

But I have a suggestion. Could we have more scoring? That would make it more like real life, where we make incremental progress. Okay, give big soccer points for scoring a goal. But also give a few points for getting a good shot on goal. Award points to the team with the fewest fouls. And sprinkle a few points to the team with the sharpest-looking (or least offensive) uniforms. Does nearly every game have to be neutralized by a 0-0 tie or decided in a spare 1-0 victory?

If it were more like life, I could relate. Give me a point for shaving and a point for brushing my teeth. As a man, I’ll need a point for wearing clothes that match and another if they’re clean. I’ll take two points for getting to work on time, and a couple of dozen for being a good husband or dad for the week.

If I have to wait to earn a lone 1-0 score by becoming famous or rich before I finish my race, it’ll be a long time coming. By that standard, I’ll far more likely end in a 0-0 draw.

Please, let’s give more points for soccer, and for each one of us, more than the lonely and super-rare “GOOOAAALLLLLLLL!”

Jackie’s Chair

Today is our usual lunch date. After attending church, we head over to the Los Angeles Farmers Market. Cajun blackened red snapper salad is our “go to” favorite lunch by far.

Today was different. Sure, I attended the Sunday service, then headed over to The Market as usual. But I didn’t need a nice table in the shade. I didn’t require the special view of the most interesting people around me. I sat in the sun, fiddling with my iPhone. I even forgot to get our choice treat, a Pinkberry yogurt: small-size original flavor with carob chips, thank you very much.

Today it didn’t matter if I sat in the sun, or which direction I faced because I sat alone. Jackie is in Alabama for the summer, spending time with her father. And I’m jazzed about that. But it sure will be nice when that green chair fills with her presence again.

Hand Dryer Aerobatics

This hand dryer and wastebasket were positioned exactly as shown. After using it, I gathered the assorted trash and towels out of my hair and off my face. Then I had to push the button once more, this time with the camera running.

(S)Cool Bus

Umm…yeah, well, we went to school in a “COOL BUS” too, but it wasn’t yellow. Does that count?

I take the train to work every day.

Each work day, I walk two miles each way to and from the train station to catch the Metrolink to El Monte, where I teach students at the parole office. So listening to the rhythm of the train tracks has become an unexpectedly big part of my life.

Collision of Cultures

My friend of 50 years, Anh-Tuan, took me for a walking tour of Little Saigon, in Los Angeles. To the untrained eye, this population of several hundred thousand Vietnamese—looks to be a culture that is thriving in Los Angeles. Then he began unraveling the challenges for such a community: inadequate parking, poor mass transit infrastructure, a thorough lack of city planning in general. And there is a lack of cultural sensitivity. This picture, taken in the heart of Little Saigon, displays Chinese, not Vietnamese-themed statuary.

Friends for 50 Years

Have you ever heard from a person you have known for 50 years — but haven’t spoken to in 48 years? That’s what happened to me when my childhood friend, Anh-Tuan, contacted me on Facebook. We last saw each other in 4th grade, in 1962, when we were classmates in Germany. And then we found out that we are now living within a 40 minute drive, in Southern California! Finally, this weekend, we got together for an unreal day of catching up. We were later joined at a Vietnamese restaurant by his wife, YLan, a very well-known Vienamese singer. After enjoying dinner, Ylan was recruited to sing a few songs for the appreciative diners — as was Anh-Tuan!

San Diego Woody

While I attended a conference in San Diego, the motel hosted an auto auction. Naturally, there were great cars in the parking log, owned by those who were doing the bidding. This Ford woody was one of them.

Rhino

A tragedy yesterday at the parole office where I teach remedial education classes. One of my favorite students, nicknamed “Rhino” for his wide and sturdy build, didn’t come to class, and he didn’t call to tell me he wasn’t coming, as was his usual custom. A fellow classmate found him yesterday morning, lying facedown on his bed in his parole-furnished motel room. He had passed away during the night from a heroin overdose, cutting his 39-year life very short.

Rhino was the one who, just two weeks ago, called me into the hallway, where he wept openly as he told me that he might not be able to attend his son’s continuation high school graduation because of parole restrictions. His son was the first one in the family to ever graduate from high school. George was ecstatic when it turned out that he was able to go to the graduation after all. Two days ago, George had brought his son’s printed graduation program to class to show me his name.

What? A Shuttle at Metrolink?

Yeah, well, this thing was on top of the Metrolink rail schedule when I went to work today. Are aliens responsible for this? And, no, I didn’t see any tiny people embarking or disembarking from it.