It's been a wild couple of weeks at the house, mainly because of hoops. KSU and UTEP both made it into the NCAA Tournament, and the wife and I both had a great time watching. But KSU came within an eyelash of making it to the Final Four, losing to Butler just a day and a half after playing 50 minutes (2 OT) in a win over Xavier. I know I felt really excited during the games and in the days leading up to the games, and it was differnt watching a team I truly care about do so well, yet deflating to see them go down. It sure was a great season, and we both enjoyed watching. Yet my dear wife understands (and I am starting to *get*) that it's really not that important in the grand scheme of things. We drank too much chocolate milk that night, but we weren't ready to go play in traffic or anything. It's supposed to be fun.
And for those of you scoring at home, yes, the same school knocked out both my teams. I'd like to personally thank Butler for pulling my still-beating heart out of my chest and stomping on it. Thanks guys.
And more on the Miners-- Tim Floyd is coming back to El Paso as our new head men's basketball coach. The man sold our program to kids from all over the place between 1977 and 1986, some of the better years of my memory, and the time during which I learned to love the Miners. Coach won two Big 12 titles at Iowa State. He got players to come to Ames, Iowa to play ball, and he's coming to coach my team. I wish hoops started tomorrow.
I know, too much talk about basketball. But I think it's of the healthy variety-- keeping it clean, being positive and having fun.
Anyhow, I ran 22 miles last week, and have 23 on the agenda for this week, including a 10-miler on Saturday. Hitting the weights some (but not to excess) and getting good runs in, albeit at a slower pace than what I'm used to. The speed will come in time. The weather's starting to warm up a touch here in Alabama, so I need to run outside before the heat and humidity crank up. Springtime has been pretty nice so far.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The high cost of being a fan
I took half of Thursday off from my census job to observe what should be a national holiday-- the first day of the NCAA Tournament. Sure, it's a big NCAA cash grab, but it's fun, moreso than the Super Bowl. I'm not paid for taking this time off, but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.
Fortunately, UTEP and Kansas State both played Thursday afternoon. KSU pretty much took care of business and beat North Texas, so they'll move on and play BYU, a team for whom my hatred stretches back nearly 30 years. The Miners and the Cougars had some epic battles on the basketball floor in the 80's-- games that cemented my love of the Miners.
UTEP's first-round game was with Butler. We were a 12-seed, apparently one of the last teams to get in. We played well in the first half, but decided not to defend the three-point line in the second half, enroute to a 77-59 loss. Words cannot describe the crushing sensation I felt watching the last seven or so minutes. Laying an egg in the Big Dance and losing in much the same way we lost to Houston in the finals of the conference tournament. It reminded me of watching the GMAC Bowl game against Toledo several years ago. Very painful.
So I felt much the same way today as I did after UTEP lost in the NCAA Tournament to Utah in 2005 and Maryland in 2004 (though I made that trip to Denver and had a great time). But it's a good thing, in a way. I LIKE that it hurts deeply. I LIKE that it costs something to be a Miner fan. I LIKE that it requires an effort and an investment to support this team emotionally. I don't have a good reason for why I like these things-- maybe that it reminds me that I'm alive, that it makes enduring things easier or makes life's challenges easier, I can't put my finger on it.
Maybe it's finding something positive in everything. Like that my team is the regular-season conference champion and won 25+ games, that they made it this far and that I got to watch them play, and that a talented group of basketball players chose to come to El Paso and represent the city I love, and try the best they knew how. Maybe it really *is* just a game.
But one thing I can put my finger on is that this thing of not letting these things govern my life is gaining strength, especially after today. I'm still able to breathe normally and not let the immense disappointment crush me and remember that it's supposed to be fun.
Fortunately, UTEP and Kansas State both played Thursday afternoon. KSU pretty much took care of business and beat North Texas, so they'll move on and play BYU, a team for whom my hatred stretches back nearly 30 years. The Miners and the Cougars had some epic battles on the basketball floor in the 80's-- games that cemented my love of the Miners.
UTEP's first-round game was with Butler. We were a 12-seed, apparently one of the last teams to get in. We played well in the first half, but decided not to defend the three-point line in the second half, enroute to a 77-59 loss. Words cannot describe the crushing sensation I felt watching the last seven or so minutes. Laying an egg in the Big Dance and losing in much the same way we lost to Houston in the finals of the conference tournament. It reminded me of watching the GMAC Bowl game against Toledo several years ago. Very painful.
So I felt much the same way today as I did after UTEP lost in the NCAA Tournament to Utah in 2005 and Maryland in 2004 (though I made that trip to Denver and had a great time). But it's a good thing, in a way. I LIKE that it hurts deeply. I LIKE that it costs something to be a Miner fan. I LIKE that it requires an effort and an investment to support this team emotionally. I don't have a good reason for why I like these things-- maybe that it reminds me that I'm alive, that it makes enduring things easier or makes life's challenges easier, I can't put my finger on it.
Maybe it's finding something positive in everything. Like that my team is the regular-season conference champion and won 25+ games, that they made it this far and that I got to watch them play, and that a talented group of basketball players chose to come to El Paso and represent the city I love, and try the best they knew how. Maybe it really *is* just a game.
But one thing I can put my finger on is that this thing of not letting these things govern my life is gaining strength, especially after today. I'm still able to breathe normally and not let the immense disappointment crush me and remember that it's supposed to be fun.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The People's Republic of Boulder...
... is what Boulder, Colorado is affectionately known as. It refers to the free-spirited way of life the locals have, as though it's an 'island' within the rest of the state that's kind of it's own separate entity. Boulder is also where Ann and I took our first trip together, back in the summer of 2005. We really had a lot of fun and drank a lot of chocolate milk on Pearl Street, went to a Rockies game (against the Phillies, on a sunny Sunday), and even went to the Episcopal church there. We learned a lot about each other on that trip, too. The drive from Clay Center to Boulder is a great way to learn just how much of western Kansas there really is.
Another Pearl Street memory is the time we went to a Japanese restaurant and I decided to try sushi for the first time. It was a negative experience. Ann ate the rest of the sushi, and she then took me for a buffalo burger and more chocolate milk. The tie in is that we went for sushi Saturday night at a nice place here in Tuscaloosa, and I liked it better than the first time. I always have trouble handling chopsticks, so that was part of the fun.
The evening out was a good way to take our minds off of basketball. Yesterday was not a good hoops day. My Miners lost to Houston in the finals of the conference tournament, as did Kansas State. Bummed, yes. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. But I'm learning to not let these events define me or the rest of my day. After the UTEP game, I went and had a good five-mile outdoor run, and after the Cats game is when we went out for sushi. I call it under-reacting-- reacting the way you'd want to. Not flying off the handle and getting cross-eyed pissed off over a ball game. Embrace the joy, yes, but don't let these things run or even ruin your life.
I've started to feel this way in the last month or so, and I like who I'm becoming because of it. I still love my teams, but not getting all worked up and upset over a loss. Let's face it-- rooting for a team or teams is a recipe for trouble. Things very rarely end well, such as with a crushing loss, or if it's been a bad year, a series of them. Losing is a big part of being a fan, and it's something that we would all do well to adjust to, and it's something I'm happy to say I'm learning about.
So we're ready for selection Sunday, and to see where and who the Cats will play, and also where the Miners might go. They missed the automatic bid, but it's thought that they're in. I hope that's correct.
Another Pearl Street memory is the time we went to a Japanese restaurant and I decided to try sushi for the first time. It was a negative experience. Ann ate the rest of the sushi, and she then took me for a buffalo burger and more chocolate milk. The tie in is that we went for sushi Saturday night at a nice place here in Tuscaloosa, and I liked it better than the first time. I always have trouble handling chopsticks, so that was part of the fun.
The evening out was a good way to take our minds off of basketball. Yesterday was not a good hoops day. My Miners lost to Houston in the finals of the conference tournament, as did Kansas State. Bummed, yes. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. But I'm learning to not let these events define me or the rest of my day. After the UTEP game, I went and had a good five-mile outdoor run, and after the Cats game is when we went out for sushi. I call it under-reacting-- reacting the way you'd want to. Not flying off the handle and getting cross-eyed pissed off over a ball game. Embrace the joy, yes, but don't let these things run or even ruin your life.
I've started to feel this way in the last month or so, and I like who I'm becoming because of it. I still love my teams, but not getting all worked up and upset over a loss. Let's face it-- rooting for a team or teams is a recipe for trouble. Things very rarely end well, such as with a crushing loss, or if it's been a bad year, a series of them. Losing is a big part of being a fan, and it's something that we would all do well to adjust to, and it's something I'm happy to say I'm learning about.
So we're ready for selection Sunday, and to see where and who the Cats will play, and also where the Miners might go. They missed the automatic bid, but it's thought that they're in. I hope that's correct.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Gubmint job
I started my new job as a clerk at the local census bureau Monday. 40 hours a week. A steady paycheck, at least for a while. I check the binders to make sure everything's in there that's supposed to be in there. I've met some interesting people so far, so the conversation has been good. There are some really smart people there, also. One guy is from Wichita Falls and has a double major in English and Spanish plus a law degree. A coworker was a high school English teacher before she got downsized for lack of tenure. One gentleman worked for the phone company for 36 years. Another just got his marketing degree at Alabama. So I'm learning my way around a new job for the second time in just over a month. But we're starting to catch up a little. I'm starting to think a lot in terms of flow charts now, though.
It also means I get nights and weekends back for the near future. Last night, Ann and I saw The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan at the UA theatre. The theatre itself is very small, reminiscent of the community theatre we left behind in Manhattan, but the students there worked their butts off and put on a great show. It's difficult to understand the exact plot when there's so much singing, but the synopsis in the program helped. It was really funny and I had a great time.
I also added about seven or eight podcasts to my free subscription list in itunes. Most of what I listen to is from public radio. I learn something, and I just feel smarter for listening to their programs.
And speaking of radio, I made a bit of a startling discovery, music-wise, while I was in the car delivering pizzas. And that's what passes for 'oldies' music these days. I used to be able to turn on the oldies channel and get a Motown or British Invasion fix when I needed it. Now I can hear Boston and the Eagles on 'the true oldies channel.' It reminds me of my middle age, when stuff I grew up with is at least 25-year old music. Not a bad discovery, just a bit of a startling one.
And I'm about to head into Birmingham for UAB baseball, where I said I'd help with PA. I did a doubleheader last Saturday, and today, it's a single game. More of a challenge doing baseball.
It also means I get nights and weekends back for the near future. Last night, Ann and I saw The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan at the UA theatre. The theatre itself is very small, reminiscent of the community theatre we left behind in Manhattan, but the students there worked their butts off and put on a great show. It's difficult to understand the exact plot when there's so much singing, but the synopsis in the program helped. It was really funny and I had a great time.
I also added about seven or eight podcasts to my free subscription list in itunes. Most of what I listen to is from public radio. I learn something, and I just feel smarter for listening to their programs.
And speaking of radio, I made a bit of a startling discovery, music-wise, while I was in the car delivering pizzas. And that's what passes for 'oldies' music these days. I used to be able to turn on the oldies channel and get a Motown or British Invasion fix when I needed it. Now I can hear Boston and the Eagles on 'the true oldies channel.' It reminds me of my middle age, when stuff I grew up with is at least 25-year old music. Not a bad discovery, just a bit of a startling one.
And I'm about to head into Birmingham for UAB baseball, where I said I'd help with PA. I did a doubleheader last Saturday, and today, it's a single game. More of a challenge doing baseball.
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