http://nursedude.blog.com Reflections on rugby, family life and current events Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:25:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It's not enough that mainstream cinema gave us rugby fans "Invictus" in the past year. Now it appears that a quirky documentary about the travails of a struggling Finnish Rugby Football club will make an appearance at the Tribeca film festival. (thanks to www.arugbylife.com for pointing this out) A documentary about ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/03/16/a-finnish-rugby-movie/ When rugby fans use terms like "Sleeping Giants" to talk about countries who could someday make a splash in the sport, the United States comes immediately to mind because of our size and potential pool of good athletes. Japan has put it's money into coaching and youth player development, and ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/03/08/the-russians-are-coming-to-new-zealandand-other-weekend-rugby-thoughts/ In a twisted sense of logic that only an American Politician can understand, the United States has come up with a curious way to encourage foriegn travel to the land of the OC, Desperate Housewives and Mickey Mouse : President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act (TPA) into law earlier today. Adding ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/03/06/i-apologize-to-visitors-to-the-usa/ Ah, youth. You have your life in front of you, the possibilities seem endless, you don't have the trappings that come with parenthood, your joints don't ache and creak in the morning when you get out of bed during the winter...and you can take your shirt off at a beach ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/26/friday-rugby-jottings-youth-travel-and-six-nations/ I wanted to elaborate on my Portuguese Sports Saturday in Lisbon on February 13th. First of all, the weather was the best of our six day trip to Portugal. At kickoff time, brilliant sunshine and temps of around 16 degrees Celsius/62 degrees Fahrenheit, with minimal wind made for a fast track for the ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/23/my-rugby-and-soccer-saturday-in-lisbonthe-details/ My wife and I had a great trip to Portugal. We got back last Wednesday, but things have been so hectic, I have not had a chance to jot down my many thoughts from the 6 days in the land of Eusebio, Vasco da Gama and Fado...but I can at least share ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/22/finally-some-rugby-pics-from-portugal-georgia/ My wife and I leave for Portugal on Wednesday, and will arrive in Lisbon on Thursday for our 6 day stay with our former exchange student Rodrigo and his parents. With cold temperatures and snow here in Minneapolis, http://www.startribune.com/weather/?elr=KArks%3ADCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiacyKUQ7c4E7ME5U going to Lisbon where it might be rainy, with temps in the high 50's to ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/09/trip-to-lisbon-and-portuguese-rugby-musings/ Saturday was a rugby day for me. It started out with my friend Jacques coming over to my house to watch England and Wales do battle. He brought along his 4 year old daughter Annelize. To be honest, I was having almost as much fun watching her unbridled play with ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/07/rugby-as-a-balm-for-the-soul/ The madness that is the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament kicks off this weekend.  Luckily, I will be able to watch England-Wales live on BBC America. My buddy Jacques should be along as a neutral South African observer to take in the game from Twickenham. The other two games this weekend will have Ireland hosting ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/05/shamrocks-mad-englishmen-and-banana-peels/ Between my work schedule and my son needing the computer for his school work and projects, it has been tough getting to a computer to post anything... We just finished Groundhog day here in the USA. Every year on February 2nd, America's favorite weather prognosticating rodent, Puxatwony Phil gives his prediction on if we ... http://nursedude.blog.com/2010/02/04/groundhog-day-reflectionstwo-days-late/