The Big Call...

I got home late on Wednesday, which is OK because Thursdays are the one work day I can sleep in a bit and not feel too guilty.

I got up at 7 a.m. for breakfast and then went back downstairs to sleep for another hour and a half. At 8 I was interrupted by my ringing cell phone. I quickly looked down and didn't recognize the number. Being half asleep I let it go to voice mail. When I got back up 45 minutes later I found a message from the sub-varsity assignor. He said he had spoken with THE big wig. He had gotten the state supervisor of officials to give me a varsity game.

Tomorrow I will officiate a 1A boys varsity game. Now, in honesty, some of the bigger JV games I've done are probably better games in terms of skill, speed, etc. But, I'm in. I've got a varsity game which a lot of other referees would love to get. I never expected to get one this early on. I was thinking I'd be extremely pleased if I got a couple next year.

Obviously I'm very happy, very much looking forward to it, and very hopeful that it's just one of many more to come.

Haircut...

As you know, for the last several years I've sported the short, closely-trimmed haircut that I do myself every other week or so. It's been great because it only takes about five or 10 minutes to do, and completely takes away any daily hair maintenance other than the standard washing. It also fits thinning hair a bit better.

Well, the time has come to take more drastic experimental measures. On Monday I had Annette shave my head.

The object is to look more athletic (for refereeing) and also just to see how it looks in general. So far I kind of like it, and Annette says she does as well. It will require more of a semi-weekly trim than a bi-weekly trim, but overall time shouldn't be a big issue. Here are some pictures so you can make your own judgements.

A year on...

I still very much remember a 5A JV boys game I did last year. It was the first really "big" game I had done and it also happened to be between two county rivals. It wasn't a bad game necessarily, but I left fairly humbled with a lot of things in mind I knew I had to improve.

I remember being a little too tentative on some big calls, and then being really eager to make some others that I should have been more patient on. I remember my partner and I lost track of the foul count and ended up with an eight-to-one foul ratio in the fourth quarter in favor of the winning team (not good).

I remember not being exactly sure how to deal with the coaches in a couple of situations and being a little flustered when I got yelled at.

Yesterday I did another 5A JV boys game, and I'm happy to say that I think I've improved quite a bit. I always hope to leave with some things in mind to work on, and I had a couple of those. But, just in terms of managing the game, coaches, calls, etc. I felt good.

The biggest thing was that I felt very comfortable. I wasn't flustered when a coach had a complaint. I didn't feel tentative, and I definitely felt like the game was at my level of competency, whereas last year it was maybe half a step above it.

It so happened that a varsity referee was there evaluating us. Based on his post-game comments in the dressing room I think I probably did well. Either way I'm trying not to worry too much about evaluation scores right now. I have all the time in the world to work my way up. I think the best way to do that is just do my best in every game and learn from whatever constructive criticism I get.

Yesterday was definitely a positive step for me, and I think it's a sign that I really have improved over the last year.

Christmas in the LBC (...and Las Vegas)

Pre-game of the Las Vegas Bowl on December 20

We were sitting on the top row. To my left was a group of about four English gentlemen. I doubt they knew much about American football, but they did put down several beers.

The car ride home. Bummer of a game, but we drank it off.

And then the much-anticipated, highly-touted trip to Long Beach. We flew in the evening of December 23rd and the fun started...

Day 1: Christmas Eve morning. I was forced under threat of physical violence to get a pedicure. At least they had some sports magazines...

That night I met some of Annette's cousins...

...and participated in a high-stakes game of UNO.

Annette and her dad posing by the Christmas tree.

After going to a movie on Christmas Day, we headed over to the Hexbergs where we watched Thor open is numerous presents...

...and spent some quality time with the 50 percent of the Black family that was down there.

The next day we went to lunch with some of Annette's old college friends.

I was sporting my new Arsenal sweatshirt while fighting off the rabid dogs.

That night we went for sea food with her high school friend Michelle and her boyfriend.

Of course I couldn't go to the Marengos' without becoming acquainted with the famous Bob...

...and Myrtle.

On Monday we ventured North to see Hollywood.

We went by Grauman's Chinese Theatre...

...and the walk of fame.

I soaked in as much of the warm blue skies as I could.

We made a quick stop here...

...before I talked them into a stop here.

Then it was back to the cozy Long Beach Airport where a kind security guard snapped a farewell photo. I boarded the plane for my trip back to the frozen tundra.