Fasten your seatbelt...

I resolve to be better at this blogging thing. It has been so long since I have been gracing you with my literature.
The good news is that I am so busy here in the Red Stars (frozen) annex, that I haven't had time. So prepare for a journey here people!

Went into the Holiday break feeling good about the upcoming year, of course, because it is WPS-2009! What would have been a nice relaxing sit-at-home-and-do-much-about-nothing break was rattled by a tooth ache that was delivered to me the week before Christmas.

So like any normal human being who has access to insurance, I just said, "Sure, if the wisdom tooth is causing the horrific ache, then let's just remove all 4 of them and be done with it". So one week later I was about to feel very sleepy laying in the dentists chair, staring out the window at the snow fall (a past-time in Chicago around this time of year, apparently), and before I know it i'm waking up with a few hands in my mouth and pressure on my head. Oh, and 4 wisdom teeth less. So I spend the day tending to red-soaked gauze balls, terrified at the thought of dry-sockets, and icing my blowfish face with a bag of asparagus.

This is how the next week progressed, along with alot of squishy foods. Haagen Daaz Vanilla Honey Bee was my best friend. And I found out I love soy pudding (Zen-Soy is the best) and Tapioca pudding. Yum!

Lots of movies, I caught up on 3 seasons of Lost (thanks ABC.com!), and played alot of nerdy word games online.

*A special thank you to Red Stars Director of Ops Amber Simons who came over after work one day to take me to Jewel to restock on ice cream, tapioca, and movies from the Red Box!

So enough of me grossing you out with my sockets (but seriously, I could have gone into the syringe used to clean out the sockets... coworker Kate Westfall LOVES when I forget to lock the bathroom door and she walks in on that, dontcha Kate?!).

I came back to work, and right into a sinus infection (thanks alot winter). But aside from that minor mishap, I am done playing catch-up and moving forward with the overwhelming amount of things that are going on in and around the Red Stars and WPS.

So what has happened:

*Red Stars defender Kate Markgraf is pregnant and will sit out 2009 season. Let's not pretend, it is bittersweet to not see her on the field, but moving along, congrats to Kate & Family! And besides, we are going to have one awesome Red Stars ambassador off the field!

*Red Stars completed all of their hirings. I came on last March and have seen the organization build and grow and change and it has been a fun ride. It is so nice to have everyone on deck now! Congrats Elly to your permanent position, Felipe to your additional title, welcome home Kate Westfall, and welcome back to work David Quinn!

*Marta got her 3rd FIFA Player of the Year award and announced she was coming to WPS. This was not going to make or break the league, but I can't hide my excitement at knowing Marta will be a part of the growth of this league. I also think this opens the door for other players around the world to show interest in WPS.

*Puma became an official sponsor of WPS. Thank you Puma. I love your gear. Even the Rudi Dassler stuff, with it's shiny metallic glow. But is it true that the match ball is going to have green in it? Like the green of a football pitch? Hmm...

*Neurological & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago became the Red Stars official hospital sponsor. This is great... hospitals are useful!

*Fox Soccer Channel WPS Sunday night game of the week. Wicked!

*Red Stars become first WPS team to sell 1000 season tickets. I'm proud to be a part of this. Onward ho to 2000!

*Red Stars' Carli Lloyd named Female Player of the Year by US Soccer. Go on! AND let's not forget Red Stars Lindsay Tarpley winning Assist of the Year with her brilliant combination play with the US National team at none other than her very own home pitch of Toyota Park.

*Red Stars home opener against Sky Blue FC on Sunday, April 19th, announced. So we're the last home opener of the league... no skin off my back.... it's cold in Chicago... later the better.

*Red Stars W-League affiliate Chicago Gaels become Chicago Red Eleven and sign 2008 W-League Coach of the Year Tony Anglin to lead the team.

*Kate Winslet won not 1, but 2, Golden Globes! Ok, she's my favorite actress, I had to throw it in somewhere.

What is going to happen:

*I'm heading to St. Louis with the Red Stars caravan tomorrow bright and (snowy) and early to the NSCAA Convention. Thursday involves a 5 hour sit-in on the GM Workshop. Followed by some draft updates from our Commish and then culminating in the Womens Social, where I get to reconnect with former colleague Amanda Vandervort.
Friday brings the thrill of the WPS DRAFT! What's more thrilling is that all coaches will sit at tables in the same room and the whole thing will be live. Brilliant!
Also, heard that the Red Stars coaches will be microphoned by FSC, so stay tuned!

*Red Stars presence at alot of indoor facilities in the Chicagoland area on Saturdays!

*Amber Simons and I attend Soccer Operations Seminar in LA week of January 20th (sweet sun!).

*Windy City Rollers women's flat track roller derby season opener on January 31st! (3 words-Manic Attackers Unitards)

*Red Stars open Try-Outs - February 12th

*IWSL Seeding Meeting - February 28

*IYSO Soccer Expo - March 21

That is just a miniature sampling of what is happening. That doesn't mention the numerous meetings and preparations that are going into getting ready for our home games, away game viewing parties, party buses, charitable foundation, Red Stars Supporters Group Local 134, volunteer recruitment, IT malfunctions in the annex, the addition of a buddha candle on my desk, and the general influx of snowbabies falling from the sky here in Chicago.

Oh and I just can't wait to show you guys the new photo cards we have of Head Coach Emma Hayes & Asst Coach Denise Reddy!

The next blogs are going to be just so engaging... you just wait!

Yours in soccer and snowfall,

Alyse