Soccer season officially kicked off today. Ha ha, I made a pun.

Makenzy is playing on a bigger field this year with the U9 girls Diamond Queens under the direction of coaches April and Raymond. For the third year time in four years, Makenzy scored the first goal of the first game. The Diamond Queens played very well and ended the day in a 1-1 tie.



Emily's playing forward on the U14 girls Tidal Wave with coaches Robert, Scott and Dave. Today's game was played late in the afternoon heat. Emily scored the last two goals in the 4-3 win. Great job Emily and the rest of the Tidal Wave girls!


click here for the pictures

Although Emily's team played exceptionally well and shut of their first four opponents, a couple of crushing defeats at the hands of Denmark and Sweden kicked her team out of the championship matches. Instead, her team spent the last day of play as spectators.

We talked to Emily a little while ago as she was packing her stuff before bed. She leaves Amsterdam in the morning and will be home tomorrow afternoon. Yippee!

We can't wait to hear more about all the fun she had while in Holland. Keep an eye on our podcast as I'm sure our next episode will feature a lot of her stories. Emily took a lot of pictures so I'm sure those will be up soon.

Emily is having a blast in Holland! Over the first weekend she visited a place where they make cheese and, of course, wooden shoes. She's also done some shopping and visited the Hard Rock Cafe. Emily also got to learn the game of Korfball and spent some time at the beach. Here's a picture she text-paged us from her hotel.


For the first few days her and her team worked on drills and had practices that lasted up to 4 hours - in less than California weather.


The games started today and Emily's team won their first two games, both 2-0, against Holland and England. As a forward and mid-fielder, she had a total of two shots on goal and one assist! Congratulations!!!

The team has a light day today with only one game scheduled which means, uh-oh... more shopping time!

Emily's flight was delayed leaving San Francisco and didn't arrive in Amsterdam until just before 4 am Pacific Time. We talked to her after she arrived and again later on in the morning. She slept for most of the flight and is just a little jet lagged. Right now she is in her room with her two roommates waiting to meet with their coach. She's hoping to get to bed soon since she is meeting the rest of the team at 7 am tomorrow.

Emily left San Francisco today for Holland where, along with the other People to People Sports Ambassadors, will participate in the Youth Friendship Games. Emily's plane lands in Amsterdam in just a couple of hours and will be shuttled off to the village where all the other athletes will be meeting, well, soccer players anyway since they went out a day earlier than the other athletes. Then she'll go to her hotel, meet her team and coaches and then drills and practice start Saturday morning.

We hope to hear from her sometime tomorrow and will post an update at some point after that.

We're proud of you Emily. Have fun and play hard!

Opening ceremonies for the Stockton Girls Softball Association were held today. Our girls, the Pink Panthers, looked really good for the first game of the season.



Check out the pics here.

That's right! Emily got the word today that she was accepted into the People to People Sports Ambassador Program and will be heading off to play soccer at the Youth Friendship games in Holland this summer! Way to go Emily!

Recently, we received an e-mail from an anonymous web surfer.

Your Name: A random web surfer
Your Email: anonymous
Subject: Photos of Emo

Message: Hello Matt! Just thought you might be interested to know--the word, "Emo" in pop-culture slang refers to a genre of music somewhere between punk-rock and emotionally charged alternative music, as well as a life style and look centered around dark clothes and excessive teen angst. Many teenagers embrace this, but just as many hate it, mock them, and spread phrases such as the very well known, "cry emo, cry!" along with malicious pictures mocking their subculture throughout the internet. Why am I telling you this? Because a Yahoo image search on the word, "Emo" which I can guess thousands of kids do everyday, evidently brings up numerous pictures of what I assume is your daughter on the first dozen pages of links. I would like to point out that the Internet has a history of taking things which are innocent or random, and photoshopping them or otherwise transforming them into something meant to be funny and famous, but ultimately is simply hurtful to the person it's focussed on. There's also just the point that this is potentially a very easy way for people who know your daughter as well as a large number of people you don't know simply finding their way to these photos and your blog, which, if it were me, would be rather troubling. I would guess Yahoo should be able to remove them from their search results if you were to ask, but if not, I would suggest at the very least changing the names to the images.

Aloha and happy holidays!
A friendly web surfer



Well, Web Surfer, let me say this. Yours is not the first comment like this we have received, and it surely won't be last. Actually, yours was the most friendly as most say things like, "I was searching for 'emo haircut' and got your site, you suck". We first discovered this genre a few years ago when we were searching the 'net for clothes that said "emo" on them. Since then, the term seems to have crept up more and more in pop-culture. That doesn't change the fact our daughter is also Emo. We shared your comments with Emo and asked what she would like us to do. She said, in her normal spirit, "I'm Emo and I'm not changing the nickname I've been called since the day I was born" (it was her uncle Ken that awarded her the nickname when he first saw her at the hospital).

That got us thinking, what else does Emo mean?

A gas station! A brand of binoculars! Some place in Italy! In fact there are even other people that go by Emo and let's not forget about the one that most consider the original Emo... Emo Philips!

A search on Yahoo! images for "emo" returned over 300,000 items... and only a few hundred or so are from my sites.

So, to all of you worried kids, thank you for your concern but, if you happen across our site looking for other emo stuff, sorry to have diverted your attention.

Emily and The Grapes of Wrath took 3rd place in the U14G tournament last weekend. Lead by Coach Robert and his assistants, Scott and Dave, these girls had an amazing season. Emily switched from playing defense to playing offense and had a fantastic year at left forward.

Great job girls!

Although I have ridden thousands of miles on a bicycle over the past few years, and don't even bat an eye lash at doing a hundred miles in a day, I have long thought that running was out of the question. That was, until recently, when Emily challenged me to a 1-mile race. I was pretty sure I could beat her... just as sure as she was she could beat me. So, today, we went out to her school for 3 laps around the field.


We went over what the course was, did a little bit of last minute smack talking, stretched and then headed out. When I asked asked her what the course was she smiled and just said, "Don't worry Dad... just follow me."


Here is a shot as we end the first of three laps and this is pretty much the way the whole run went... me trailing Emily and looking as if I might just die!


... and of course, my very athletic, very proud daughter beat me in my first attempt at running in probably 15 years. I did actually finish the mile... 31 seconds behind her. Great job Emily!

Both of the girls started soccer again this weekend, Emily is playing in her 8th year and is playing in the rec league this season (so no traveling for us) on the Grapes of Wrath team. She has not been assigned a permanent position but played half back in the first game. The Grapes tied their first outing 4-4 but looked impressive.



This is Mak's 4th season playing soccer and is playing on the Blue Angels who lost a close one (2-1)... game 1 pics.


... please support youth soccer by buying candy

Finally, no more cast for Emily. Trying to get a picture of this kid is like trying to get the Loch Ness Monster on film but trust us... the cast is gone and her arm has healed well.

In case you didn't hear, Emily broke her arm a week or so ago. While she was in the back yard she was walking across this plastic slide when she slipped and landed on her right forearm.



She broke the same bone (opposite arm) that she did 7 years ago, almost to the day! XRays taken that evening show that the break was not "clean" and a shard of bone still lodged in her muscle.




The next day... off to get a cast!



After the doc tries to set the bone he puts a cast on and then takes another xray... only to show that the bone didn't move at all!



The next day, Emily gets admitted into the hospital so they can set (complete the break) the bone and recast it.



Afterward, they take another xray.. now it looks straight.



Unfortunately, the timing means she is going to miss out on some swimming, basketball and cycling but all in all, she's doing very well. Thanks to all the well-wishers that have been stopping by and calling!

In one day... can it be done????




Soccer & Softball



Football pics!


Stockton Lightning VIDEOZ:
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Here's a GarageBand version of the song Emily played at her recent recital. She played all of the parts here and then we changed the arrangement a little (click here)...


Here's a piano only song she's working on, Raincoat Rag... this one is so cool... her "flair" on this song is cool (click here).

Today was supposed to be Mak's opening day of softball but with all of the rain lately it was a no-go. We went through opening day ceremonies and all of the teams were introduced one-by-one. Mak was a little sad that there would be no games today. Perhaps next week we will have drier weather... one can only hope.

Emily had her recital today. She played her piece very well. Click here for the video.

The Stockton Jaguars played a tournament in Galt this weekend. Saturday's game was early and brrrrr cold... it was the closest to sub-zero we get in this area... the ground was like ice! Sadly, they lost all three games... but they are now hungry for revenge... especially since they lost to Turlock and Modesto... two teams they had never lost to this year! More tourneys in January in Pleasanton... and they are itchin' to get back to where there were before... 2nd place in the Roseville Tournament and 1st in the Stockton Tournament.

The Stockton Jaguars ended their regular season recently with two impressive wins against Turlock and Ceres. Now it is tourney time! These girls, some of who have played together for many years, played very well this year and we are looking forward to some tough soccer in December and January. We lost some pretty tough games but won some really killer games. We may be biased but Dawn and I think that this team has the best group of girls in our league. Check out pictures of the season here.
Don't mess with Stockton!

Nice header, Emily!
Way to go Jaguars... and thanks to the coaches... Frank, Fernando and Alberto!!!
1-2-3-GO JAGUARS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY Pictures here.

The STOCKTON JAGUARS took second place in the Girls U12 category for this weekend's tournament (the first tourney of the year for the girls... and the first games at all). What an amazing time! The girls had a brutal schedule this weekend with an early game on Saturday and a long six hour break between the second and last games. After winning the first game 5-1 and blanking the second team 3-0 the JAGUARS tied their third opponent of the weekend but had enough points to get to play in the championship game today. They played a tough Roseville team and lost 3-0 but looked great coming in second place overall! Way to go Emily and the rest of the STOCKTON JAGUARS! Click here for pictures from this weekend's tourney!

Mak's third season of soccer is under way. Her and the rest of Girls United looked really strong on this first game. Click here for pics.

After having her new bike for only a week Emily decided it was time to go on a longer ride. We headed out this morning to the wonderful little town of Thornton. We only stopped once at the 76 station in Thornton and then we were back on our way. By the time we got home she had completed her longest ride to date.... 36 miles... she was tired but did very well.

Emily has said that her goal is to be the first female to win le Tour de France. Well, she got one step closer this weekend when we picked up her first road bike... a sweet looking red Specialized Dolce. She did awesome on her first ride on the new bike... 23 miles and looking strong. She is still proud to be part of the Sprocket Rockets (click here to visit the Sprocket Rocket's web site)

Emily and I headed out to Paradise Point... what a hot ride. I hate FLATS! Oh well... Emily got her first on-the-road flat! Front tire and only a few miles from home. I decided to change it for her but gave her pointers along the way.

What a trooper!!! Emily had no problem taking a 15 mile jaunt with me to her grandparents house... 3 pm on a day that hit 97 degrees.... pretty impressive! She's already talkin' about doin' Centuries with her dear ol' Dad... hmmmmm... perhaps a tandem someday!

 

That's right... Stockton's own MHP (Mia Hamm Pups) are kickin' tail out there.  It seems like these girls are unstoppable.  With 3 wins in a row they are excited and are looking forward to the tourneys coming up next weekend [2/27/04 - tourney has been postponed ].  Emily has moved to the goalie slot along with Jordan and Taylor and is doing great (1 goal allowed in 2 games... and it was a penalty shot!).  When she's not playing that spot she usually fills in at left-wing.
Stockton's MHP (Mia Hamm Pups) after a 2-0 weekend

NATURE by Emily
November 2002


If everything was food
the sun will be a lemon
Trees would be broccoli
Grass would be spinach
Hail would be ice


What if everything was something in our house
Then clouds would be pillows
Wind would be our fan
Our world will be full of nature

With the birth of their little girl, Chiara, Mike and Billie ushered in the first member of the newest generation.  Chiara Elizabeth Bowen was born on Friday, October 11, 2002.  The last time we had 5 generations represented was, ironically, when Mikey himself came into this world and Grandma Napoletano was still with us.
We are all excited about our newest little baby and can't wait to see her.  For those out-of-towners, stay tuned, we'll try to get some photos up real soon.  
For the astute members our family - that means that Grace is now a Great-Grandmother and Mimi is a Great-Great-Grandmother!  Wow... imagine that!

That's right... it's been 189 days between these two pictures. The four little ones (lil' wood, K-Jo, Raich and Lizzy) made for some great shots at Jim's birthday party.  Everyone showed up to have fun at the good old fashioned party, complete with Bobbin' For Apples (GIANNA ROCKED), a Three Legged Race, Balloon Toss (Bret & Jim were awesome) and an Egg Race, but it was obvious that these beautiful babies stole the show !!!

Victory Park 10/13/01

 

The First Baby Summit 04/20/02

 

Dateline 02.04.02 - Stockton
One of the proudest days of my life was when Emily called me at work to tell me that she wanted to take piano lessons.  As a musician, I never wanted to force my children into music.  Both of my daughters are true music lovers and from a very young age I could always tell that they would grow up to play an instrument.  Well, enter the second proudest day of my life.  Today, Emily said she wanted to play a song for me she "wrote" last night.  My eyes filled with tears of joy when she played her little 4-bar gem.  She even learned to make a chord... WOW !!! ... along with a great little melody.  I am soooo proud of her !!!
Listen to her new song - take one 
Listen to her new song - take two
Listen to her and I play our new song

Songs were recorded from across the room, literally, with a cheap computer microphone.

Brian, Katie and Brianna DeNapoli were gracious enough to give us a piano. Now, Emily can practice in the house on a real piano.  She has even learned a couple of my melodies.  It was so exciting for me when she said she wanted to learn some of my music.  She has a good ear because I only told her that one song started in B-flat and she figured out the rest.