Today is a break day with no actual soccer in it. Today is a rest day meant for fun and more fun. So, mom and dad decided to go to a museum. WHAT? A MUSEUM? In SAN DIEGO? I would rather eat furniture and play with mud than go there. My original plan was to go to the beach and go swimming and have lots and lots of fun all day long. But, the museum wasn't all so bad, actually.
First of all, it was a gigantic warship with life size planes, people, and even some games that were really fun! There was a pixelated pilot game that was simulated in a big cockpit that actually could spin and turn and rotate as you moved a joystick.
My favorite part was the life-size airplanes on the deck, where you could sit in the planes and pretend to be a pilot. I flipped a few hundred switches, and it was fun sitting in there, imagining what a pilot would feel.
On Thursday, I arrived at Santa Ana Airport, just barely not throwing up on the 4-hour flight. The people on the plane were awesome and gave me and Kyle snacks and Sprite. Now, today we just played our first game, and we lost to San Diego Surf.
The game was at 11:00, and it was BURNING HOT. I mean, San Diego is always like this, but we never experienced this heat. So, we wern't that ready, and everybody was hot. Very, very, very HOT. But, Coach Geo said the heat is not an excuse to play bad soccer. So, I guess we all have something to work on in tomorrow's game.
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Mom just got mad at me for spilling a little bit of medicine. I just wanted to put it down there for the moment, and then Kyle just pushed it down and told it on me. Then, mom got mad, yelled at me, and then told dad about this. Then, dad called me a stupid person and said I have no brains. Well, I guess I have no brains and I suck a lot.
Today was the 4th day of robotics camp, and we were making progress to our goal. We were still behind the deadline, but still in front of some people, and surprisingly, my partner also wasn't here for the first day because of Surf Cup. So, getting in front of people is good for latecomers. But, my friend has some little issues* that we can improve later...
So, I know my partner (Lucas) could work a little bit harder, but I won't force him. No hard feelings anyways. But, we obviously joke around unlike other groupings. In other groups, they don't talk too much, only when they are getting pieces or arguing.
We almost never have arguments, except in rubber band fights, where we argue about who got hit, and who didn't, and why somebody should give some rubber bands to the other person. When it does happen, it sounds like this: Lucas: "Ha. Gotcha!" Me: "NO. YOU. DIDN'T!!!" Ethan: "Take the double L, people. I got you both without you guys noticing!"
Our robot is called Fling. Fling is like the 2024 - 2025 competition robot, Swish, but Swish uses another catapult mechanism, and Fling uses a choo-choo mechanism. I think the choo-choo mechanism is better because it's reload time is a lot faster that Swish's catapult mechanism.
*he also sometimes gets distracted like me, and he also likes to play when somebody is not looking. One sentence to describe him: he is me, except 1 1/2 years older. And, he also plays for Surf Elite A, like me.
Today we got here at Mount Baker by a 3-hour drive from home all the way into the middle of nowhere. On the way, we did stop for lunch at a gas station, and BOY was the food good!
Yesterday I slept in a tent and looked at shooting stars. I didn't like the experience of waking up in the cold. And, to make it worse, I accidentally slept on a plastic water bottle and it leaked onto my left shoulder. My shoulder became very cold, and I lost my appetite quickly after seeing the public washroom toilet.
Today, everybody went on a 11 mile hike, or a 30 kilometer hike. I was very pumped at first, but then I realized: "ITS AN 11 MILE HIKE!" So, I quickly became not pumped and to make it worse, mom had me carry a backpack.
At the top, I was resting my muscles, mom told me to get moving. And that was a mistake, because I ended up getting a muscle pulled and having a major bathroom issue.
Today me and my friend made very much progress, as we finished the robot and it was looking good. All we had to do was to code the robot to drive. But, we couldn't finish in time and agreed to do it tomorrow.
And. Big news. I haven't hit puberty yet, but a big part of it is getting braces. Hey, it doesn't feel good, but look on the bright side: I have a sign that I'm growing up fast. That is good, because I look forward to getting my own pair of earbuds and my own phone. And, I enjoy living in a bedroom without any family around. That would give me a chance to be independent.
Though I would miss mom and dad for quite a bit. And, I wouldn't have enough money, probably. But, I'll find a job and get a scholarship to, say, Washington University.
Today is the first game at the Tournament Surf Invitational. We started off with a good win, but Coach Geo said it would get harder. This game, he said, was just a warm-up compared to other games.
This team used a 3-1-2 formation, and they used the side defenders to push up and act like wingers so it became a 1 - 3 - 2. In other words, they were overloading the attacking positions. We later found out that their weakness was our striker. As long as we got it to our stricker, the wingers could help out and it could be a 3v2 or a 3v1.
Aurik scored both of our goals, one because he dribbled the other team by himself, and one where it hit a person's leg of a free kick. I told Aurik to aim at the bottom right corner because it was open, so he did. Success!!
Exciting moment: When the clock was at 6 minutes left, I was running at the opposing midfielder, and he dribbled forward, and we COLLIDED! It knocked the wind out of me, I tell you. And, when I started walking, I knew something was wrong. I was right, but mom put this Salonpas, and it helps a TON, I tell you.
Our next game is against Northwest United, which is a really good team that beat us bad last time. I hope we beat them this time.
Good News! We won our game today! Bad News. We lost yesterday. Good news! SEATTLE UNITED TIED AGAINST NORTHWEST! That means, we are 2 points ahead of Seattle United, and we have 6, they have 4, and Northwest has 7. If they didn't tie and they won, we would be behind in Goal Differential, so we wouldn't go to the finals.
But, with a little bit of luck, you can get a medal! I will be confident that we will win, and I have no doubts about that. At least I hope we win. If not, I will be pretty disappointed that we didn't: after all, this is called SURF INVITATIONAL, and we are Surf, and we WILL beat Northwest United. And, Coach Geo will get a nice new trophy. I hope I get to lift the trophy!
The place we will play at Starfire Complex, but not in the stadium for no reason. I wish we could play in the stadium with all the beachers and with lots of fans, but no. Starfire is basically a big big park filled with soccer fields of all sizes. It is one of the largest public parks in the state, and I wish it was in Las Vegas. Then, we could fly there on an airplane and wait and eat McDonalds and snacks and eat a PANERA BREAD if there is and stay in a hotel and look at casino people bet whatever they bet on.
Also, in today's game, Avukat got tackled from behind in the penalty box. I thought it was a foul, but apparently it wasn't.
Today we lost against Northwest United. But hey, they were good sports, and said good game meaningfully to us. I respect that. But, we still lost. So, waah. I wish I brought home a golden medal instead of a silver one.
I think the reason we lost was because we didn't want to win more that them. They just wanted to win more. The problem was not that they were better that us, it was because of the mental game, they wanted it more. Here are some ways I could improve on:
Not ball-watching when one of their strikers blow past me (actually Jace, your job is to NOT let the strikers pass you!!!)
Running full speed at the person with the ball if the person is behind you, running toward your goal.
Using your chest to stop balls coming in the air, and don't be afraid of the ball when it is about to hit your chest.
Please Please PLEASE DO NOT LOSE THE BALL IN YOUR HALF FROM A GOAL KICK! If you do, you lose a goal.
Today I did a superfast perfect day with 3 things in the morning, and 3 things in the afternoon (well, 2, but I WILL do soccer or basketball or tennis.) So, it is a perfect day for me! I get to play tennis with dad, and maybe watch a movie!
I love perfect days, but the hardest part was CHESS. I am scared of losing my rating, but I overcame it somehow, and beat my opponent super badly. They lost so badly I won against them by 12 points (basically, the difference of how many points of pieces he took and how much I took was 12 points! That is a queen and a bishop's worth!), mate in 1.
Here is why I am so scared of playing chess: I really don't want to lose any points, because I think if I lose points it is one step closer for Kyle to reach my rating. But, now I figured: If you don't even play a single game, yes, your rating will not go down, but it will not go up, ether. So, think about it. This rating is only a close marker of my skill level.
Yesterday I won against a 1139, and the ratings don't matter, because he made a mistake! But the good thing is that I didn't give up. If you give up in the middle because you are losing, you won't get another chance if they will make another mistake later on in the game.
Main topic: don't give up. If you do, you erase any chance of you winning.
*But hey, I got in trouble with mom today. Here is how:
I just wanted to watch some stuff, and then I got carried away.
Today I caught a cold.
In the morning, I was fine! I was warm, I didn't wan't to sleep, and I did chinese! But, when I finished Piano, I found out I was sick. Very sick. Dad said just go read some books on the couch. I did just that, and then I felt very cold for no reason. So, I sleeped for some time, and I felt a little bit better. But, after lunch, I took a long nap. Like, 4 hours! I also had a weird dream about landing Jet planes, and also seeing Coach Sam Skydiving.
Also, I missed Aurik's birthday party. ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
But look on the bright side: we are going to Japan TOMORROW! It will be tons of fun, and it will also be hot, so bring T-shirts. But, will be visiting the old Samurai place. That place was the hometown of the Samurai! SO MUCH FUUUUUN!
But, the plane ride. It is 20 hours in a barrel with no proper resting place (other than first class), no video games, and you are crowded with 250+ people in the same vicinity!!!
BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH
You heard that I have some kind of virus going on, but did you know I have to take a medicine? 3 times every day, dad mixes in 2 bags of powder (it used to be 3) and pours in water and makes me choke it down. But now, I have only 2 to drink, and I can swallow it in one gulp, so I don't taste too much bitterness. Also, I have taken this medicine for 3 days, and I only need to eat it to only 4 more days to go!
Today I went climbing a mountain in the morning IN THE RAIN. It was for about 2 miles, and it was all slippery and wet. I didn't like the view up top (there WAS no view), and I hated the smells along the way. I did enjoy some cats along the way, but they aren't my favorite animal.
Then, I ate lunch with medicine. ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
After lunch, we went to a museum-themed temple with lots of statues and funny people with sticks and a person with "40 arms and legs". The back was my favorite. They host a bow festival at new year, and the back had different bows, arrows, and paintings.
Today we walked a lot. It was a challenging test for my legs, and I survived. My legs didn't feel very good, and I felt hot and felt Jello-y. But, at least we took taxis and the subway. That is a rest for my legs. We drank a bottle of soda, ate ice cream, and drank water, but it was still hot! Imagine climbing the mountain that we climbed yesterday right now! My first sentence would be: "I need some coke to drink!"
We went to at least 3 shrines today. One of them was coated in SOLID GOLD, one had 1001 buddhas, and the other one had a bunch of indoor paintings about nature, animals, or about landscaping. I don't think the paintings looked good. I would enjoy a picture of a car better.
Then, I ate lunch with medicine again ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ ՞(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
Dinner was my favorite part of today. We ate at an Italian restaurant with PIZZA (the pepperoni was too small, and the pizza itself was too small), spaghetti (it was missing the meatballs), and we got free drinks! I enjoyed grape juice, and I'll try it again tomorrow.
Did you know that they have melon-flavored Fanta? (⊙_⊙)
Today we went to a train museum to look at trains of all kinds. I liked the old trains because they looked better and they aren't that fast. Modern trains are way too fast, and the trains go 200 mph! The old ones go more like 50. Also, we played a train simulation game. you have to drive a train around and try to stop the train at 0, where the station is.
I liked driving the old train better, because the controls were easier to understand. All you have to do is push a lever forward and then push another lever forward to stop. The new one has the same accelerator, and the brake system has a windshield wiper-style brake. Just push it forward to brake. I didn't get it, so I messed up the first time since the brake wasn't working.
Do you think a 7 year old should know their multiplication tables? I did when I was 7. Google also said that children through the ages 5-8 should know some of their multiplication tables. Dad doesn't seem to care, though. When I was 7, he was like "What is 6x9? 53?! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN LEARNING?! DO YOU HAVE A BRAIN????"