Mar 1, 2009

Jazz?? really?? OK


Hello Everyone,

With no league game this week it allowed for us to explore a little more of what Kolobrzeg has to offer, including an indoor gun range, my first jazz concert, and some more great food.

The gun range was fun and a cheap hour of entertainment. It is actually hooked onto the gym on back side. It is a small room with about 8 booths, with the mechanical line for the target. They weren’t real bullets, but these small metal pellets. They had a range of guns, but mostly rifles from the civil war days. All we needed to do was attach a bayonet and we would be ready to fight. They also had a small pistol which was very difficult to shoot. Skip, Drew, Kevin, and I took part in the festivities. Skip and Kevin had there own shooting contest. They have been arguing all month who is better “Kobe or Lebron” so they tried to settle it with their aim. Unfortunately it did not carry any weight and they are still having the discussion today. Without sounding too conceded, I have to admit I was the best shooter. I have the picture to prove it. I’m sure we will visit this place again. The funniest part was when we were leaving the guys who ran it wanted a group shot with us all holding the guns! I got the picture without him in it, but now that I think about it, I should have taken it with him in it.





The team was invited to a jazz concert at one of the new hotels in kolobrzeg, “Arka”. It is on the outskirts of the town and is very nice. It has an indoor tennis court, indoor swimming pool, and a rotating cafĂ© on top that looks over the water and the city. The closest thing I have been to a jazz concert is eating at B.B. Kings restaurant in Memphis back in 7th grade (he sang/played jazz right?!). The concert took place in their small, but beautiful restaurant called “Impresja”. We went there straight from practice, and of course were starving. The man who gave us the tickets (he never actually told me his name) came over and offered a few suggestions on the food. He reads the blog so he wanted a good review I think!! Even if he didn’t mention anything I would have gave a great review. My food was excellent. I had lamb loins wrapped in what looked like bacon, but had a different taste then bacon. It also came with some brussel sprouts and this corn/rice/mashed potato mix (I have no idea which one it was, had a different texture similar to corn pudding) that was great! I think the only downfall was the shrimp cocktail. Drew and I were going to split it a shrimp cocktail! It was impossible because they used the small shrimp and a huge glob of dressing wrapped in a lettuce leave (you know I have to complain at least once). The jazz music was really good. I can’t say that I’m a huge jazz fan, but I did appreciate the music. I have a lot of respect for the people that can play an instrument. I can barely get by on beginner of guitar hero. My fingers were not made for instruments.


This past week was the week of Italian food. I had pizza or pasta 3 out of the 5 days. I have not eaten out for over a month before last week, so I headed to Da’ Vinci pizza for some pasta and pizza on Monday. Then Tuesday was spent at my “BUDDY” Armando’s apartment. He made some homemade pizza that of course was excellent. He has a little two year old that was a ball of energy. He chants “Kotwica” and claps his hands. Even though I don’t speak his language, he warmed up to me pretty quickly. The trick with young kids is just to dance or act like an idiot, and they will for sure laugh at you. Wednesday was the jazz concert. Thursday I headed to “Bella Vista”. Another Italian restaurant downtown, they have a sale going on where pasta is 50% off during the week day. I was able to get some tortellini with spinach and lasagna for the equivalent of like $7!!!




THE TEAM

Even though we had no game this weekend you would not be able to tell with how we practiced. We had 2 a days all week and were doing things that only the preseason is for, Circuit workouts, running like crazy, and lifting really hard. Hopefully it will help later on and not have the reverse affect of just wearing us out. When we did actually practice with the basketball, we went really hard against each other. There was a lot of tension in one of the practices where bodies were flying and fouls going on all over the place. My team won 2 out of 3, so it was a good practice for me.

We also played an exhibition game against a lower division team. I have already given my opinion on these games, but I guess I will give it again. We are playing younger kids, who may one day get to our level, but are not there yet. They had no one bigger then 6’7” which does not help our centers get better. The team turns it over a ton so we have a huge number of fast breaks that we never get in a real game. With the team we have we have two good players at every position so it is more beneficial to play each other because we can make each other better. I am not a coach yet, but that is def. going into my memory bank of something not to do. You play this game at the start of the season, not at the end with three games left ON A OFF WEEKEND!

We have one week to prepare for Polpharma, the team who just embarrassed us the first time we played. The next three games are huge, but none bigger then this one. The race for the top 4 spots is so close. We can finish anywhere between 2nd and 8th place. If we can win this week it will set us up nicely for positioning come playoff time. WE NEED A LOT OF FANS AND LOUD ONES!! That is my one request for the week!!

Until next time!

This is BC gone for now

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Brandon,

glad you had fun eating at many restaurants, going to gun range, and enjoying the jazz concert.

good luck as season winds down and your team gets ready for the playoffs.

Big Al

Karolina said...

Glad to hear you guys are having such a great time. I was wodering if there is any way I could get Drews Email, I really would like to write with him. Please email it to me. karola-gw@o2.p

Anonymous said...

Brandon,
Play hard and win with polpharma, The fans are with you and we will be loud!!!!KOTWICA!!!!
ad

Anonymous said...

Brandon~~Delicious Recipe: Cook & drain tortolini according to pkg directions. Return to pan in which it was cooked. Add 1 jar of speghetti sauce. Stir. Pour into baking dish. Sprinkle mozzerella cheese on top. Bake @ 425 until cheese is melted & lightly browned. Quick, easy & yummy!
Now go run off the joy of eating!
~~Miss K~~

Anonymous said...

Wish you luck next game against polpharma. We need this win, still believe in first 4 after regular season.

PS

And i've got 1 question. Do you like polish beer? :)

Anonymous said...

Brandon we were loud?
Thanks for the next win match!!

Anonymous said...

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