Spawnfest Elite Highlights.

Flaming Moe went 3 and 3 this past weekend in Washington. We lost close ones to both Shazam Returns and Mischief (again, we lost to them in Boston too), but we also lost to a better looking Slow White (compared to in Boston, where they were still in try-out mode). We had close wins against Brass Monkey and the Flycoons, and a more decisive win against The Horde. I think that it was in the back of many a Moe's mind that we might crack Mischief or Shazam in Washington to go 1 and 1 with them on the pre-series season. Unfortunately, that didn't happen for us... It did, however, happen between us and Slow White when they beat us Sunday morning... So that'll make for an exciting Heavyweights rubber-match.

Someone said that someone said that "[we're] losing to the teams that we're supposed to be losing to this season," and I suppose that's right... however little it seems to matter when you're down by a couple points in the second half... But now, a couple days after the tournament, it does lend some perspective on where Moe is, and where Moe is going this season. And that's exciting too. Turns out I mis-quoted here. The original statement said something about how we were beating the teams we were supposed to be beating... but I'll stand by what I said about us losing as well. :)

Also in Washington, probably the most entertaining game of Ultimate I've ever watched...

The Buzz Bullets of Japan vs. Sockeye.
(and other clips from UltiVillage... the top 5 or so are from last weekend)

The Buzz Bullets (who won Worlds in Australia last year) had two close games against Seattle last week and displayed an incredible array of talent and athleticism - and spirit, despite the games not ending in their favor. Sockeye must have played well to have won both games, but it seems nobody was watching them... I will say one thing though: the reason the Buzz Bullets were so fun to watch (well, besides their awesome spirit), was because you could see them trying their hardest, every second of every point. Sockeye's game was generally dismissed as boring, but they won.... They win. They're a team that wins. By sticking to their game, with only those brief flashes of brilliance when something goes 'wrong'. Then they're right back on track again. Flaming Moe probably aligns more with the Buzz Bullets style of play, but could learn a lot more from Sockeye... Anyway, enough about that. Watch those clips. They're awesome.


Some more pictures of Moe's and other action from Spawnfest/ECCs (thanks for compiling Baker).

Moes:
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=4
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=5
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=11
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=12
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=14
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=17
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=33
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=35
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=83
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=84

Cool:
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=50
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=60
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=64
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=101
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=104
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=105
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=126
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=157

Post coming soon!

A real post, I mean.

I'm waiting to get some pictures back from our backpacking trip to do anything substantial here, but a quick update:

- The Hagstrom Family Vacation in Lusten was nice. We got to see more of Amy and her kids. It's nice to feel like I know my youngest cousin's personalities a bit better now. It was Änna's first time up there with a large majority of the clan, and she survived it. I understand how the constant 'togetherness' can be a little overwhelming. And especially, I assume, to an in-law. (Weird! I'm an in-law now too!)

- The Montana & Wyoming wilderness was awesome... and cold, and invigorating, and windy, and scary, and goat-filled, and familiar... I had a lot of good memories and experiences come back from the backpacking trip I took 10 years ago! I'm glad that my next trip will [very likely] be much sooner than that. (Davin, we should do that again! Dad, hope you can come with us next time too!) Unfortunately we got word two days ago that after we left early (to come back to work, etc), Jeff severely tore his quad (OUCH!) coming back down the mountain and had to be evacuated by horse... they finally got back late last night and Jeff has surgery scheduled for next Tuesday. I hope that all goes as well as it can!

- And we leave for Washington state tomorrow afternoon! Saturday/Sunday tournament in Burlington. Monday, a day in Anacortes on the WA coast... maybe some whale watching?

- Lastly, something cool. Check out this 'reverse graffiti'. They can't arrest you for cleaning up!