I had full intentions of going out yesterday to capture World Cup fever in Toronto.  I was hoping for painted faces, brightly coloured scarves, or even better, a shot of a pick-up match in a park.  What did I find worthy of posting?  Well…yesterday turned out to be a soggy day in good old Toronto so I had to settle for a close-up snap of an Austin Power-esque Austin Mini in my neighbourhood.  And yes, I’m rooting for jolly Old England.  The water marks you see on the Mini mirror are the tears of England’s poor sod of a goalie. Maybe next match…Which reminds me…

I have loved the beautiful game for years.  In fact, I actually played one season at high school.  I’m pretty sure it was Grade 10, and I was allowed to play as soccer practice was only one night a week after school, which still left me plenty of evenings free to do chores on the farm.  My one memory of that soccer season is (now) a comical one.  I was our team’s goal keeper.  We were playing on our home field back at North Lambton Secondary School, and it was a particularly windy early spring afternoon.  One of my own defenders tried to do a monster clear of the ball.  Intentions were good…but…the ball went a mile high in the air.  The wind caught it.  And all I could do was helplessly watch it sail over my head and back into our own net.

I feel England’s pain.