. . .And Beyond

meetmeg. meethan. sisters. bothbleedblue. butwhatistherealblue. michiganblue. carolinablue. spentsummertrainingtogether. onlytocompeteinaugust. gameone. 2009season. truebluewillberevealed. 8.29.09.

Bold, Fearless, and Determined. Honest and Pure. Free of Limitation. A Dream. Of the Heart.

This post has been on my mind for days - yet I have been too superstitious to write it, because I didn't want to jinx what I thought would happen - a UNC National Championship. But last night, the Tar Heels won the National Championship. Can I get a heels on three? One. Two. Three. HEELS. Yes, I am estatic about the victory, but I believe there is a more pertinent point that comes from the story of victory, and that is the art of defeat. As the final four was approaching, I found myself thinking a lot about Tyler Hansbrough and his journey at the University of North Carolina. I thought about how much he had accomplished and how much more he wanted to accomplish. I wondered how much he craved to capture that illusive National Championship. I thought about how close the Heels were last year; yet how far away they must have felt from the Championship after their performance in the final four against Kansas. My thoughts progressed from Tyler and basketball, to the lesson of loss in ...

This picture collage illustrates some of the views I have scene over the past month. Some of the pictures are from Amsterdam and Den Haag, while others are from Bermuda. The majority of photos came from a biking excursion through the Duins (dunes) in Den Haag. A bike path runs from Schevenigen (the beach in Den Haag) to Utrecht. One day before I leave, I hope to bike the 60 km path. Until then, enjoy these photos. Sorry for the small size of the picture. xx Rach

Sometimes I wonder, what exactly is the purpose of life? Now, I am not asking this in the philosophical, deep essence of the question - so please don't expect a discussion on religion or philosophy (remember I play sports for a living, I don't think I am even capable of a conversation in those areas). I am simply asking, what the hell are we supposed to do with our short little lives? What is the goal? Is there even a goal? Some theories I have come across: the purpose of life is to make a lot of money. The purpose of life is to have a lot of kids. The purpose of life is to serve others. The purpose of life is to learn as much as there is to learn. The purpose of life is to find your passion and do it. The purpose of life is to have fun. . . etc. . . Just call me difficult, but none of these answers really get me. Yea, each theory is meaningful in its own way - but on the whole, they don't do it for me. Ponder this: if you make a lot of money will you feel your life's ...

What was life like before the internet? What was the first thing people did in the morning? Brush their teeth? Well, I don't do that until after I check my email, facebook, myspace, bank account,and news sites; I also sometimes wait until after the odd ichat and/or skype conversation. My teeth can wait. And as they wait, maybe, in the mean time, I'll get an extra dose of my caffeine fix, yummm coffee. I mean was it seriously possible to keep track of all your friends before facebook? Before the fb, did you have real friends; I mean real relationships that required real conversations? And what was it like to have interaction without an audience (I mean, come on, wall and status posts are a total public display of how cool (or uncool) you think you life is). But who am I to hate, I am just one of the victims (or am I the abuser?). I am an internet junkie. Come on, HALLO, you are reading my blog. So for a day, I propose a world with no facebook, no email, and no mobile phones (or ...

Its funny how the simple, often insignificant events in life can become metaphors for life's bigger lessons. Let me give you an example: On Fridays before training at KZ, our team has core stability training. This is the Dutch alternative to American weightlifting (I prefer the Dutch way - less bulk, more cheese.) Anyhow, core stability is run by our team Physio, Lars. Lars typically runs us thru a few exercises in an attempt to develop core strength. One of his favorite drills is to have us partner up and squat back to back. The aim is to see which pair can stay squatting longest.Lars likes to pair us off by height - this means I am usually with the tall, extremely thin, 18 year old Marloes. Now, don't get me wrong, Marloes is a total gem - she is an avid watcher of Gossip Girl, my favorite tv show (we often discuss this topic during training) - but when it comes to strength, I sometimes fear I am a bit too weighty for Marloes. On Friday, we were getting ready to perform t...

The last couple months have been an interesting time for me. Physically, I was here, there and everywhere: USA, Bermuda, Holland, home, NYC, Chula Vista. I was never entirely settled, never comfortable and never completely at ease. It was one of those times when I felt constantly on edge, knowing that I would only be in a spot for a short period of time; anticipating the time when I would have to adjust and adapt and cope again with new surroundings. But on second thought. Maybe the change I was coping with didn't have to do only with the things around me, but what was going on inside of me. I felt the foreboding sense that something was about to happen to me - that I was listlessly waiting for the proper moment for that change to occur - for life to change course. I was waiting. Not doing. Before I returned to Holland though, that changed (change changed, interesting). I finally realized after 23 years of just following a path, that I had a choice in the next direction my lif...

I AM By Rachel Dawson I am I As seen by my own eye. I hear the words of me that be spoken, But I refuse to let them beat me broken. I am I As heard by my own ear. I taste the salt of your minds distain, But from my purpose it will not cause restrain. I am I As tasted by my own tongue I feel your judgement upon me cast But to your verdict I will not hold steadfast. I am I As felt by my own heart. and from myself, I will not depart. For, I am I, Seen by mine eye, Heard by mine ear, Tasted by my tongue. Felt by my heart. I am I And of the world I am, but a part.

Cliche Mom-ism: chew your food before swallowing...Oops, sorry Mom, I forgot to take your advice on this one - I took a big bite, and unfortunately, I choked. Big Time. I missed a sudden death stroke in the Final of the Pan Am Cup that ended our bid for World Cup Qualification and gave the win to Argentina. I could sit here and try to rationalize a meaning from the situation - I could analyse what happened, why it happened, and what I learned from it. But it doesn't change the fact that we lost - and I crumbled under pressure. Oh well. You live, you learn, and sometimes you just have to forget. Self-doubt and fear crept in. I let a momentary panic attack and fear of missing change my plan of attack - I made a brash, sudden, and unbased decision...funny how our minds can get the best of us. Or do they get the worst of us. But like I said, I won't analyze. It is what it is. And it is OVER. On to the next phase. Perhaps I won't take so big of a bite this time. PS: I never g...

Its a day of love. Hugs and Kisses, xoxo. Speaking of X's and O's, game on today - at 2:30 pm, we take the field against Trinidad and Tobago. It will be an interesting semi-final match up. I have never played against T&T, so we are ready for the unexpected. Speaking of unexpected, I would love a delivery of unexpected flowers. But that is just wishful thinking - highly unlikely, most improbable, although not (pause) impossible. Wink, Wink. After the game, I intend to indulge in some highly entertaining chick flicks, maybe a stroll on Horse Shoe Beach - ya know, its the usual here in Bermuda. With three days rest since our last game against Mexico (note: we won 6-0), I am a bit bored. Can you sense the ennui in my tone?? Ugh. I can't wait to play. Too much "free" time. I wish you could loan out time. I have a surplus right now. Interest rates are low - I am selling at an attractive price. Any takers? Ok. Off to occupy my mind till game time. Toodles. x...

Quick Recap: In the first two games of the tournament, we have come out victorious beating Jamaica 10-0 and Chile 2-0. These wins put us in a good position as we prepare to play Mexico on Tuesday. Hockey aside though - I am thoroughly enjoying the serenity of Bermuda. We are staying at a beautiful resort and spa Hotel right next to the water. Today, I explored the majestic beaches that surround our hotel and relaxed in the outdoor hot tub with a few teammates. I feel as though I should be on my honeymoon, not on a hockey trip with 20 girls...Oh well, hopefully that will come in time. As for now I plan on enjoying the peace of this calm island. Personally, a trip like this could not have come at a better time. It is exactly what I needed. Just take a look at the picture.

We were en route to Bermuda on Tuesday, that is until we took a little pit stop to the bitter cold Big Apple. Our flight to Hamilton was canceled as soon as we deplaned at JFK. So we jumped shipped, booked a hotel in Times Square and spent a couple of days in my favorite city. It seemed like everyone had a friend to catch up with, and it was a great getaway from the monotony of training in Chula Vista. Luckily, we had a couple days to spare and we weren't in a hurry to get to Bermuda. However, attire-wise, we were most unprepared for the winter weather. Imagine traveling from San Diego to Bermuda - would you pack a winter coat??? A few of the girls ate a nice Italian feast down in Little Italy while others stayed in Midtown to catch a comedy show with Lauren Powley's brother. I must admit, I absolutely love the buzz of NYC. It is a city of its own kind; a place where you are free to be who you want to be and do what you want to do - a place where there seems to be no li...

I hear the east coast is getting hit with some brutal weather - sometimes you have to endure the cold to appreciate the sunshine. Out here in Chula Vista, we were hit by a snowstorm that came in the form of orange; and by orange, I mean the Dutch. In our test series last week against Holland, we learned some lessons the hard way. In the first two matches, we lost 4-0; in the third match we posted an extremely embarrassing 10-0 loss; we enlivened for match four but the dutch brought a barrage of goals near the games end as we lost 7-1; in the final match, we made some improvements and played the Dutch to a 3-1 loss. As dismal as these results are, they have provided the team with great insight into what it takes to be Olympic Champions. In my estimation, the Dutch are the most technically sound team going around right now - their ability to execute skills and 2v1's, finish plays, synchronize timing, and play pressure defense is almost unmatchable. Opening the new quad with match...

I am back in San Diego. I enjoyed an exciting and eventful weekend with my family in North Carolina. We attended a reception for the Patterson Medal, watched a Tar Heel Men's basketball game, and watched an unfortunate Eagle defeat. It was really nice to share a fun weekend with my family in Chapel Hill. This week we will host the Dutch National Team in a few competitions in Chula Vista. In an unofficial test match, we lost 4-0. We were a bit tentative in our play, and we must be more assertive if we want to give the Dutch a good challenge. Today is such an exciting, and pivotal day in American History. Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. His inauguration symbolizes hope - hope that we can overcome all the ails of our past and present. For in the depths of our circumstance, we must forge ahead together. We must unite in hope of what we can do now to change our path. The question is how can we purify and further the spirit of America...

Coach Shelton, the Head Coach of the North Carolina Tar Heel Field Hockey Team calls Chapel Hill heaven. I think she is right. However, my niece Kylie, a four year old future Tar Heel (hopefully) who is helping me write this post, disagrees. She is just too young to understand how incredible this place is. I think the value Chapel Hill holds in your heart appreciates with time; the longer you are away, the more you see how great this place is. Lets just start with the most beautiful color in the world - Carolina blue. It must be God's color because the sky in "heavven" is matches the Tar Heel uniforms. So incredible is this shade of blue, that the Chapel Hill fire department has blue fire trucks (My nephew Will is itching to see a blue truck!!) I hope that fate goes the way of the Tar Heels today as they face the University of Miami Hurricanes on the basketball court. We will see. Look for me and my fam at the Dean Dome!!! I will write more about the escapades of th...

The sun woke me up this morning. Yup - my phone died in the middle of the night leaving me alarm-less; I had to rely on the good ole California sunshine to awaken me from my peaceful slumber. But I'm not complaining - I mean, it could be worse, like New jersey worse. Anyway, I am pretty excited. We jumped back on the horse today, getting back to business on the hockey pitch (and the weight room, ughhh) with our first official training of the New Year. Following a short training, we had a team meeting about what to expect over the next year. We set a task for ourselves that is achievable in February - QUALIFICATION for the 2010 World Cup. It will be quite a formidable task, nevertheless one we are fully capable of attaining. So with our preparation underway, we will test ourselves immediately as we host Olympic Champions Holland in Chula Vista next week. It will be a great opportunity to measure up against the best in the world. Personally, I am incredibly excited about hostin...

Can you believe it is 2009? What happened to 2008? It was a pretty extraordinary year to say the least. But like all things, the year has come and gone, and all we can do is move on. The opening days of 2009 have been interesting, both for me on a personal level and for the nation as a whole. We anticipate the New Year because of the opportunity it offers us to start fresh - we eagerly wait for the hands on the clock to change from 11:59 to 12:00 believing that the passage of a moment will change the hands of our lives, refreshing the spirit by enlivening our hope for things to come. But, when we bade farwell to 2008 - the gloom and misery of our situation did not fade. It seems that the spirit of hope has been undermined by our current predictament - we are in disarray, trying to find our way through the uncertainty as we remain fearful of what is and what is to come. Perhaps though, this is the best way to start the new year. In the muddle, we can make a lasting new years resol...