We were a ragtag bunch: five from ETHS, one from Higland Park High, three from Rockford Lutheran, and yours truly. I had 9-10 hours on the road to get to know the ones I hadn't met before, and by the time we arrived, we were all pretty tight. The location was absolutely beautiful. Set on a large hill in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, there were terraced fields with woods at the top and a large pavilion with a fireplace... It was as if I had arrived in a sort of Ultimate Frisbee Eden. We set off into our games with loads of enthusiasm. While we didn't end up winning any of our games, we all had fun, and ended each game with quickl made-up cheers for the other team, including an adaptation of "Breakfast at Tiffany's": "And I said what about Ultimate Frisbee/She said I think I remember the game/And as I recall I think we both kinda liked it/And I said well that's one thing we've got". There also many zany antics, such as when Sam picked Biz up and dropped her into a sizeable mud puddle, and she jumped up and chased him around and back into said puddle, and then there was the impromptu human pyramid that we actually managed to complete. As a result of our pep, graceful sportsmanship, and the fact that we just totally rock, we were unanimously rated to win the Spirit of the Game award, which just happened to be the biggest trophy they had. ^_^ There were only two real downers to the trip. First, I was stupid and allowed myself to get a moderately nasty sunburn, and second, some small group for players snuck out to the rope course on the camp's property and vandalized the living daylights out of it. Ropes were cut, furniture was thrown, the works. And, since noone had the cojones to take responsibility for their actions, everyone had to chip in to pay for damages, and we most likely won't be able to HAVE a tournament there next year. Grr. But, overall, I had a great time, and I wish all the best to Sam, Greg, Drake, Val, Phil, Biz, Dan, Grant, and Chris, otherwise known as Team ILL. ICE COLD!!!

Tomorrow morning, seven of my compatriots and I will climb into our vehicles and journey across four states to the Know-Swill 2004 Ultimate Frisbee juniors tournament in Ligonier, PA. For those of you that need thing to occupy your time this weekend, you can check live scoring from the website linked to above. Go ETHS!!!

The frisbee sped through the air, spinning forward, as both my defender and I moved in to intercept it. But as we neared our point of reception, it started slipping and veered right-- just behind us. I ground my feet to a halt, twisted around to my right, and caught the disc with my left hand behind my back, and landed on my right hand, propping myself up with my back arched in the air. Booya.

A comment from my old site has prompted me to write this request, to you, my readers: If you're going to rail angrily against me, contradict everything I opined, and tell me that you "don't think that my scenario is very well worked out", then please, at least back up your OWN argument so I can explain my side of the argument more clearly. Simply saying "you're wrong and I'm right" doesn't leave me with a whole lot to work with except a not-so-favorable opinion of you. Thank you for your time.

Kinda bummed and not thinking clearly, so I dredged up some depressing poetry from my archives for your edification. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Random tears come cascading down My face, flowing fast, with no sound Except that of my whimp'ring voice Moaning, not from some conscious choice But from some inner unknown cause That racks my body without pause And makes me think of my old dreams Of darkened sunlight, casting beams Of shadow, ice cold, and lifeless 'Til weak and frightened, I confess Sin after sin, thus exposing My heart and my decomposing Soul that rots from such base misuse And I scream for someone to loose This harsh foul spiritual chain That binds me close to all the pain That I have long inflicted on So many that by now have gone Before me out into the great Unfathomable plane where hate And love no longer need compete For those that live there are complete But I can only pour out my Tears and hoarsely beg to know why I have forever been denied But noone answers; I have tried Time and again, but now the deep Emptiness calls me down to sleep To dream again of those places Where pain mars not people's faces But polishes their gleaming eyes As they bask in their paradise.

So, this is my new place. I like it. I like it a lot. Kudos to the Tucows Blogware crew, great interface. I've only encountered one thing that tripped me up, which was quickly and easily explained to me by Joey, who also said he'd look into tweaking the interface so it wouldn't be a problem in the future. Now the only problem left is filling the space. I'm only using a miniscule fraction of the space I have alloted. I think I'm going to need to get busy with my camera. ^_^

"I come from a lost generation and am comfortable only in the company of others who are lost and lonely."

Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum

This book is really amazingly incredible. It also totally kicks The DaVinci Code's derrière. The relationship between the two books is like the relationship between John and Jim Belushi. John was a genius, and did amazing things. Jim tries to be John and sucks at it. Foucault not only has a great storyline and well-built characters, but Eco actually did his research and got his facts straight. Dan Brown quite probably did some research... but not nearly enough. It makes so much difference.

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Always listen to the experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it.

-Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough For Love

Driving on one's own can be quite relaxing. Now, I could just be feeling that way because until quite recently, I had to drive with someone in the seat next to me, scrutinizing my performance, and I'm just experiencing the absense of supervision. But I feel that something about having the actions of your body having different reactions, and merging with the vehicle has a slight inherent rush to it. You are no longer just a human, you become a part of the car, and each twitch of your extremities makes a difference. Or, perhaps more to the point, the car becomes a part of you. (For my parent's sake, I'd like to point out that I am not enthusing over a power trip, just noting how a car can provide some escape from oneself's restrictions.)

I know I need to wite stuff in here, but, for the moment at least, I'm having trouble finding words to express myself. I'll post more when inspiration hits.

Having the phone wake you up only to find that the caller is an automated telemarketing message is NOT the best way to start off your morning.

I've been in a kind of Purgatorial state recently. The daily routine things I do are emotionally exhausting for some reason, and as much as I'd like to break the cycle and branch out, I'm having trouble mustering the energy. So I end up in a drab grey, nothing actively wrong but not being able to achieve the good.

w00t.

Got my driver's license this morning. The picture's not too dorky. Feeling good.

Thanks ever so much to everyone who contributed towards my 25 hours of accompanied driving time, and I know it felt like 50, but thanks for sticking with me.