Back In The Soccer Saddle

I have played soccer since I was 5 years old. All the way through high school, and with mens leagues during and after college. However, it has been several years since I have played with a team.

Recently, I decided that soccer needed to be a part of my life again. I not only crave the competition, but I am also miserably out of shape. Some will point to my laziness, but I find it makes me feel better to blame my animation desk job. I convinced my wife that soccer would be a fun way to stay healthy. Mrs Tonymation tried warn me about my increasing age and injuries, but I quickly dismissed her with logical arguements such as, "Who cares!".

Enter Sunday, November 4th. I played in a real game for the first time in years. I was nervous about my phsysical status, but confident in my ability to play. I started the game on the bench and relieved a player in about the 10th minute of the game. All was going well... that is until the hole of death claimed my foot. I kicked the ball clear of danger back near our goal and planted my foot to track upfield. Only, my foot didn't plant. It was sucked into the ankle killing vortex of hell. A hole, just large enough to swallow half of my foot, twisted it so that my ankle now served as the base of my leg. Let me just tell you that the ankle is not designed for the role of the foot. Immediately my ankle protested, and my leg sympathized with it. One joint by one, they all revolted and sent me plummeting to the ground in pain.

I got up and limped off of the field a broken man. In the past ankle injuries lasted, at most, a day. I stretched and massaged my ankle on the sideline, and eventually entered the game again. For those of you who don't know, it is scientifically proven that athletes lose all intellingence while playing a competitive sport. I played on my injured ankle thinking it would be fine in the morning... of course, I'm not 18 anymore, but who's keeping track of silly details when a game is on the line.

So I got home and took off my socks to reveal an ankle that I believe belonged on an elephant. I have never had a swollen ankle and was shocked to see a part of my body so out of sorts. With my natural oils and ice pack, I was able to shrink my poor ankle back to a less disgusting size. Now I hobble around work and home in an ankle brace.

... But I can't wait for the next game!

Dead Men Trick Or Treat Pt 3

Halloween has come and gone. I posted pics of my Jack Sparrow costume, but now I thought I would post all of the peices that made it come together.

To start the costume off on the right foot, I got all of the Jack Sparrow Master Replica rings.

Here is Jack Sparrow's ring


Jack's Button Ring

Jack's Dragon Ring

and Jack's Stolen Ring

Here is a pic I took of them together.

I bought the glove, compass, and tattoo in a cheap set, but they worked out well, in my opinion. You can see I wore Jack's ring on my ring finger rather than my index. It was just too small to wear it on the correct finger.

The plastic compass looks much better when just hanging on my belt, but it was definitely priced better than the Master Replica compass at $200.

I purchased a Flintock Pistol reproduction. It isn't an official Jack Sparrow Replica, but it is a very nice gun that fits the time period. Besides, the Master Replica pistol is mounted and was out of my price range at $250. I spent about $45 for this one.

I scoured eBay for other Jack Sparrow imitation peices. That's where I found these belts.

Here you can see the gun, belts, compass and sword as a whole. I posted individual pics of the sword here.


I still await the arrival of my Jack Sparrow Baldric, also bought on eBay. It will be a nice addition for next year.

I have lots of additions I plan to purchase for next Halloween. Check back for a sneak peek at the Jack Sparrow items that will make my costume better, and my bank account smaller.

Dead Men Trick Or Treat Pt 2

Not everything I ordered arrived in time to start Halloween on the right foot. I was missing my baldric sword holder, my belts, my gun, my button ring, and dragon ring. This is me pretending I'm happy being half Jack Sparrow.


At around 11:30 am, Midway (where I work) conducted their costume contest. This is when my gun, belts, and rings arrived at my door. My wife signed for them knowing I was sadly displaying my incomplete costume for the contest. Unfortunatley, my baldric has yet to arrive, which forced me to wear my belts un-Jack Sparrow-like, outside my jacket, to hold my sword. After the contest, I went home and gathered the rest of my goods.

I was very pleased with my new flintock replica gun.

I applied a fake Jack Sparrow tattoo on my arm, and branded a "P" under it, as revealed by Captain Norrington in The Curse of the Black Pearl.


My sword was a big hit at work.


I did the eyeliner myself, and the most of the facial hair is mine. I glued the braided beard section on the bottom of my chin behind my own chin hairs to have it all blend together.

What was the outcome of the costume contest you ask?


I won Best Looking Costume.