Fort Wayne Was a Blast

So Team Zissou did not make it all the way in the Arena Championships, but it was great to watch them play and represent the Hollywood Curling Club. I am very proud of all of them. They each had a lot of great moments.  We also got to meet and hang out with a few awesome curlers from other areas. Hopefully, we'll see them again soon! 

As a parting blog for this event, I wanted to write about Fort Wayne, Indiana (since we had a little free time to explore the city).  It's not a very big town and to be honest, there's not a lot to do there. Fortunately, we came during an interesting time. There was a 3 River Festival going on (44th Annual). It's a 2 day event, and the 2nd largest fair in Indiana. It's like a mini version of the LA State Fair with rides, shopping, and fried food. You could even ride a helicopter around the city. It's a very short ride, but I can see how that would be cool. On the last day of the festival, the family and I stumbled upon an event at the Botanical Gardens.  There was a live jazz band in the outside gardens, and the whole building was open to explore which was great for Leianna. This entertainment lead up to the fireworks display which was set off on top of a nearby building. Surprisingly, I was actually quite impressed by the whole event and the fireworks.

Here are a few photos:

A shot of one of the flowers in the gardens

Leianna Playing Tea Party with Dada in the New Orleans themed garden

View of the stage in the outside gardens

Jazz Band playing amongst the crowd

Fireworks #1

Fireworks #2

Fireworks #3  -  I thought this was really pretty

Fireworks #4

This was a very nice surprise end to our trip in Indiana. Special Note: Yes, there was more curling drunkenness going on with the other half of the team...maybe I can convince Matt/Jen or someone to complete their version of the trip because I've only got the family friendly version.

One more thing...advice for those visiting Amish Country: Don't go on a Sunday, and don't start in Elkhard County especially if you are driving from the east. It is the least Amish town ever!

Okies, this travel guide to North/East/Central Indiana was brought to you by Domino and Team Mendoza signing off.

The Art of Tweeting Curling

Since I had the live Tweeting during today's game (@TeamZissouCurl) I will make the update short and sweet:

Team Zissou Wins!

Now, onto to the real subject of this blog, the art of Tweeting Curling. So I actually have about 3 Twitter accounts, one personal, one business, and one for the pets (which I have completely abandoned). Out of all my social media avenues, I use Twitter the least. (I only really post on the business Twitter since that actually makes sense to me, and that's maybe once every few weeks when I get inspired.) I have never really joined the tweeting band wagon, and here I find myself live tweeting the games for about 2 hours straight. It's hard work!

Maybe I am getting old, but I have to say it was challenging to get up to speed on everything. First of all, I am unfamiliar with the platform. Thank goodness Jen was there so she could explain to me how to edit my posts. Otherwise, I would have wasted a lot of time clicking around on my own.

In the past, I have attended various seminars on social media, search engine optimization, etc. I still don't truly understand the # and @ signs that everyone litters their posts with. All I know is that if I write something, I have to leave enough room to include #ArenaNats which can be kind of annoying when I start running out of space.

I am not really good at abbreviating things especially from the very beginning. I like to just dump out the thoughts and then edit them shorter later. It becomes a problem when I fall behind with the descriptions and the curlers are moving onto the next shots. So I've learned to just keep an eye on the number of characters I have left. When I get close, I start making adjustments or just hit "Post" if it is too much of a hassle. I still find myself rewiting lots of things...

Tweeting and watching curling at the same time is not advisable. I sometimes miss what is being called as I am finishing up on a post. Again, Jen is my life saver when I have to confirm information or if I had questions about what really happened with a shot. I've learned that it is easier to post the result of the shot rather than interpret what was being called and if the shot was successful or not. Thus, I avoid most of the misinterpretations when reading calls on the ice.  (Learned that lesson from day one when I guess a curl around a guard what not a great shot after all...LOL)

Lastly, it is even more so challenging tweeting with a toddler and a 3 month baby. I knew it would be hard, but it is actually insane.  What was I thinking?  Overall, the babies have been pretty good. Halia slept all throughout game three so my only challenge was keeping Leianna occupied. Behind the scenes, I'm changing diapers in between shots, cleaning up spilled water over my keyboard, scrambling to find new and interesting toys (4 plastic cups) for Leianna, feeding Leianna, making sure she doesn't touch anything with her dirty fingers... Jen was a BIG help with being a 2nd pair of eyes and playing with her when things got a little busy. Thank you, Auntie Jen!

Overall, tweeting went better than I expected, and it kept me very involved with the curling game which I love watching. It does require a different way of thinking and writing...my life has benefited from this experience though I am not sure how yet. Live tweeting kind of reminds me when we live webstreamed our games (which I think was a way easier). I think we should do that again...

Hope you enjoyed some behind the tweet information. I figured I should change some things up with the blog.

Tomorrow is a very early game, so the girls and I will not be there.  We will continue to tweet during normal hour. Until then, this is Domino signing off.

Curling Continues: Arena Curling Championships

We didn't have enough curling in Cape Cod; so I am going to continue the fun doing some extra blogging for our "husband team" (Team Zissou) who are competing in the 1st Arena Curling Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Yesterday, from all sorts of different routes and travel times, we converged together in time for the tournament.  Richard Cruz is the Lead, Matt Gamboa will play 2nd, Ryan Berdan as Vice, and Paul as Skip. Jen, me, and the kids are their biggest fans. I even donned my light blue Zissou shirt.

They had 2 games, 8 AM and 5:30 PM (EDT). The boys did very well adjusting to this new arena ice. They won their first game against South Carolina. Team Zissou, in true Hollywood fashion, liked to keep things a little dramatic, and it ended up being a very close game.  The 2nd game started off really well, but the other team from Long Island kept doing some fancy angle take outs that made it a little hard for Team Zissou to defend against. And so the boys will now have a long route back to the top. 

I am trying my best to juggle the kiddos and live Tweeting @teamzissoucurl The next game is tomorrow at 5:15 PM EDT. I apologize ahead of time...I am not good at tweeting or commentating especially when I get distracted by the kids, but I will try my best. Anyway, will keep you updated!

Good looking men from Hollywood & South Carolina ;)

- Domino

Cape Cod reCap

We wanted to share some of our favorite moments during the Cape Cod Bonspiel. Here are a few highlights:

Going on the Bourne Bridge to Falmouth

Private Beach

Gingerbread houses on Martha's Vineyard

Our new dos on the Ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

Clams from the Clam Bake

Yum, Yum! Lobsters from the Clambake

Action in the tent at the Clam Bake

Leianna having a whale of a time

Crazy costumes

With Capt. Steve

BIG FISH

 

 

Beach Themed Banquet

Cape Cod, we miss you already!!

- Domino

Cape Cod Bonspiel Game 4: Finals (Thistlettes)

 

In the last game against the Thistlettes, Team Bond Girls played with a lot of guts. There were a couple of ends that were set-up for some big points but the ice was a little trickier, and in the end, we could not pull it off. The ice would sometimes fall and the rocks seemed curlier at times. It needed the perfect weight, line, and a little bit of luck to get the curling gods to listen.

Overall, the Cape Cod Bonspiel was an amazing bonspiel, and Team Bond Girls were so honored to participate this summer.  We met such wonderful people, had a couple reunions with fellow club nationals alumni, and created some great memories. I'm sure Team Bond Girls will want to return to Cape Cod soon.

Here's a photo of our beautiful prize, 2nd place in the consolation event. (4th in the spiel, which is not bad)

Go Team Bond Girls!!!

- Domino

Cape Cod Curling Bonspiel Game 3: Canadian Club of Boston

It was a rough game 3 for Team Bond Girls. There's something about the semi-finals that makes us lose our momentum.  We gave up some points early on in the first and second end. Towards the middle we started to come back hanging on one point at a time. We gave up 2 3-point ends which killed us. By the eighth end, we were 5 stones behind which is possible to come back from but of course proved very difficult. We struggled a lot with the weight and had a few overcompensation with the adjustments. Maybe it's sore muscles or maybe it's nerves. Maybe we didn't rub the magic pink curling tattoo for good luck. Whatever it is, it just wasn't our game this afternoon, and the opposing team did very well keeping us from getting more points.

Well, we're going to shake it off, and tomorrow is a new day. I think we've played enough on Cape Cod's ice to get it dialed in for the final game. The main thing is for us to have fun and stay loose. Plus, best thing about the finals here is that win or lose, we'll get a prize. There's just a size difference, and yes it does matter. Here's a pic of the whale bone pin:

It's been an amazing bonspiel, and hopefully we can pull out the good old "Hollywood ending" in the last game at 8 AM EDT. Wish us luck!

- Domino

Cape Cod Bonspiel Game 2: Nutmeg Curling Club

Pink and black between the rainbow spouts.

It was fun times playing with the ladies from the Nutmeg Curling Club. We played on the middle sheet for the first time, and there were a few rough spots literally. The shot of the game in the 4th end which was Marissa's double take out for 3 was almost ruined by a Donna's double take down by the ice. Here's the play by play:

Bond girls were kind of in trouble. Blue had 2 scoring stones in the house, and Red (Team Bond Girls) had a few stones only on the edges. It was Marissa's last stone. Unfazed, Marissa executed a very beautiful take out. Jen yelled, "Hard!" Katie and Donna tried to sweep to hold the line. Halfway down the ice, Donna suddenly goes down and down goes the broom flying straight out in front of her. Katie brushes the broom away (Curling is a team sport...) while Donna continues to slide forward, collapsed on one knee.  Paul from behind the glass watched the whole thing and saw that, unbeknownst to her, Donna was very close to burning the stone with her right hand that was extended outward for some reason. At the last minute, Donna moves her hand out of the way, and the stone's path was clear to complete the take out. This made it an 8 - 1 game instead of a 5 - 3 game.

Everyone was really nice making sure that Donna was okay. It was only a small fall, and there were no injuries.  Jen also had a couple of small "stalls" on the ice prior to Donna's big spill. Sometimes there's patches of frost that forms on the outside in the path where one might be running, and it can be a little dangerous if you are not careful.  I give credit to the super kilts (made by Cindy Wood - Cinsational).  It always makes falls look so graceful even though it sure didn't feel graceful. So get one today if you want to look good: http://www.cinsationalshop.com/curling-gear.html

Bond Girls are having a great time at the spiel.  Now, looks like we have to go all the way. The next game is at 12:00 noon EDT in the semi-finals. Good curling, Everyone!

Signing off,
Domino

Cape Cod Bonspiel Game 1: Curlfriends

So our game against the "Summer Sisters/Curlfriends" went very well. Our opposition's team members were Coco, Jackie, Annie, and Paula from various clubs, and they came together after meeting each other at the Friendship tour. It was a pleasure to curl against them. Here are a few memorable moments from the game:

- Katie threw the first rock of the game, and it ended up exactly where it needed to be. Stone cold throw. Great job, Lead!

- Marissa threw a great run back in the 1st end to score our 1st point.

- Katie and Donna sweeping Jen's stone furiously. Marissa asks, "Where is it?" Donna yells, "I hope it's a 2!" It actually ended up around the 1-2 area. Go Super Sweepers!

- Coco Commentary: "Good news is I have last stone. Bad news is I have last stone."

- Jen did an awesome hit and roll to tuck away our stone behind the guards.

Having a whale of a time!

It was a lot of work trying to keep up with the fast ice. I know I had at least a couple stones that went through the house in the beginning. I find that I have to focus harder to get the weight down, and we have to sweep harder to guide the stones in the house especially at the last few feet. There were straighter parts on the ice, but at certain speeds especially toward the scoreboard, the stones will start hooking a lot at the last minute. It was quite a tricky sheet, but Marissa did a great job reading the ice. Oh, I should mention that it was a comfortable 60 degrees. No extra layers necessary. I love summer curling.

The final score ended up being 9 - 1, Team Bond Girls. It was a nice start to the bonspiel, and hopefully we can keep up the momentum.

Tomorrow, we hope to receive our new jerseys from Foxglide. Hopefully, we'll get them in time to show them off. We'll take lots of pictures.


Our next game is 2:30 PM EDT. We have great motivation to win since loser plays the next draw at 7:30 AM. Wish us luck!

Curl, Baby, Curl!

Signing off,
Domino

Kicking Things Off At the Cape

Team Bond Girls are finally at "The Cape"! Of course, we miss our favorite Third, Cindy, who couldn't make it, but overall we are mostly intact with Marissa, Jen, Katie, and me - Donna on the beat once again).  To kick things off, The Cape Cod Curling Club in Falmouth, MA hosted a clam bake. This was my first clam bake ever, and for all those who do not know what that is I've looked it up on Wikipedia:

"The New England clam bake is a traditional method of cooking foods, especially seafood such as lobster,^[1] mussels, crabs,^[1] steamers, and quahogs. The seafood is often supplemented by sausages, potatoes,^[1] onions, carrots, corn on the cob,^[1] etc. Clam bakes are usually held on festive occasions along the coast of New England."

There was a lot of food! Here's what was on my plate:
Shrimp
Lobster
Clams
Corn
Potatoes
Watermelon

I haven't eaten lobster in a very long time, and so I got a refresher course from the Connecticut Mixed Team on how to properly crack it open. I have to say it is easier than eating a crab, and it was deeelicious. I also have had my 4th clam chowder since I've been here in Boston, and each one has been better than the last.  Gotta get it while I can! We're just storing up some energy for the big day tomorrow. Our first game is at 2 pm EDT, and thank goodness since most of the girls flew the red eye and walked part of the Freedom Trail before driving to the Cape today.

Also, we brought along a small but powerful cheering section with us. Team Bond Girls are accompanied by Paul Mendoza (my wonderful husband and Skip of Team Zissou), 2 Baby Bond Girls (Leianna who just turned 2 years and Halia, our newest addition at 3 months who has got a great set of lungs), and we can't forget Katie's Dad, our gracious host.

Ice analysis:
So there are a few factors to keep in mind for tomorrow's game...
1) It's really humid here at the Cape.
2) The Mixed Spiel will be ending in the morning. Will there be time for a scrape?  This might affect the speed of the ice; so we'll see what the ice guys end up doing before the Women's Spiel begins.
3) We've witnessed the ice to be very fast.  Adjusting to the weight difference might prove a little challenging since we haven't done one of these in a while...During times like this I always refer to one of my learn to curl sessions, "just ooze out of the hack."

Finally, I want to give a quick shout out to a few people who made it possible for us to get situated in Cape Cod, Carolyn Ryczek, who was so patient with my million of emails back and forth and checking in on some of our details.  Also, I wanted to thank Liz Abeltin who we met way back at our first Club Nationals Tournament in Utica and is an awesome host to me and my family. We wouldn't be here without her. There's also Katie's family who are housing the rest of the gals at their beach house.

Team Bond Girls are so excited to be curling again at the long awaited Cape Cod Spiel. We are looking forward to the great ice, fun people, and lots of fresh seafood.  I'll keep you posted on our progress.

See you on the ice!

- Domino