Hope you’re happy Uncle Arvid!!

I’m assuming that I’ve probably lost the majority of my blog followers because of my lack of updating, which I totally get as a blog follower myself. I hate checking blogs and seeing the same entry as the last time I checked. Which apparently my Uncle Arvid does too as he told me (quote) “I keep going on there and seeing that ‘hola amiga’ bullsh*t.” Haha. So here’s your update Uncle Arvid! :)

First, the Euroleague. We’re 1-3 now, which yes, means we’re on a 3 game losing streak after that glorious Spartak win. Last week’s game was in Istanbul, Turkey and although no major sight-seeing was done, we of course did some shopping and the game was played in the same arena that the men’s world championships were played in this year (pretty cool). So check Istanbul off the to-do list. However the game itself, along with our game against the Czech team this week, was not too great for us. It is definitely more evident now why we are considered such underdogs in the league and in our pool. The majority of the players on the other teams are bigger, faster, stronger and more experienced than us. I’m not making excuses by any means, it’s just facts. And the skill level just seems to totally take us out of our game mentally. Needless to say, they’ve been a struggle and we definitely need to keep working on our cohesiveness to contend with these other Euroleague teams. On a personally positive note though I did finally get some playing time in a Euroleague game! My stat line was 1 rebound in 4 minutes, but hey, you gotta start somewhere right?! :)

The Lithuanian League has definitely been better for us as far as our record goes since we’re 7-0 and in first place there, having never won by less than 20 points. It’s definitely nice to get some wins under our belts (and nice for me since I definitely get more PT in these games) but it’s also pretty frustrating because these games don’t get us ready for our Euroleague games at all. As much as you can try to not focus on the score and only on the quality of play, it’s so hard because the games always just turn out so sloppy. And since Coach usually rests the starters more in these games, it’s not even like they get that much of a chance to work together and improve their cohesiveness which would help in the Euroleague games. Sigh….oh well, back to work in practice tomorrow so we can try and get back to winning in BOTH leagues!

On slate for this week- we travel to FRANCE on Tuesday for a game Wednesday. It’s in Tarbes, France which I know nothing about, but needless to say it’ll be cool to say I’ve been to France also! We travel back on Thursday then, and although I’m not sure when I’ll for sure get back to my computer, I’m hoping plans work out to Skype with all my fam at our Thanksgiving parties back home. I’m not necessarily a stranger to missing Thanksgiving due to basketball, but that doesn’t mean it gets any easier so I’m looking to at least virtually being at the festivities! However, there is some Thanksgiving excitement going on around here too! Although Canada’s Thanksgiving was awhile back, Courtnay and I have decided to throw an American/Canadian Thanksgiving dinner here on Sunday (had to plan it for an off day so we can get all the cooking done)! We’ve got a big menu of all the Thanksgiving staples that we’re excited to attempt to cook. As we all know I’m much more of a baker than a cook, but I’m excited nonetheless! I will for sure be posting stories and pics about that whole experience so stay tuned! (Also, please say some prayers that Sunday is truly an off day. With our poor play as of late, those aren’t necessarily guaranteed anymore. :/ )

And finally, here’s another glorious Lithuanian video. This time it’s of a few of us handing out flyers at the mall asking people to come to our game. It’s really the Marina and Lina show as they ham it up most of the time, but there’s a good shot of me handing someone a flyer, them asking me something in Lithuanian, me just shaking my head, and then all us girls busting up laughing. Yep, pretty much how things go around here. : ) http://www.basketnews.lt/video/ziureti/vici-aistes-kviecia-i-rungtynes.html  (And in case you're wondering, I was right. I STILL get chills and a huge smile across my face when they show Ausra's buzzer beater over Spartak! :) Really hope to replicate that feeling again soon!)

Ok, that’s enough for now. Promise I’ll update again soon. Or at least the next time Uncle Arvid calls and hassles me again. :)

PS- I’ll be home ONE MONTH from tomorrow (technically TODAY in Lithuania)!!!!! CAN'T WAIT!!! :) :) :)