end of January update

Sorry I haven't been posting (or reading) much lately. I've been, well, preoccupied. :-)

Things are going well with me and my new lady. We're both really looking forward to a weekend together when outside demands are minimal (she has one or two work-related things she might have to do) and we can hang out and spend more time together.

As for the Game Day for February, it's looking as if the Saturdays really don't any of them work. How would people feel about Sunday the 13th?

read this!

excellent post by mazzie on Social Security and why it needs to be fixed, not broken further as the administration wants to do

http://www.livejournal.com/users/mazzie/153034.html

and thanks to motherwell

for the link to this piece by Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan on what she foudn disturbing about the Bush 2nd inaugural address

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110006184

a very fun evening

I have to say, I think my new sweetie is very cool. We met after work at my place, then I got to go see her play basketball.

Keep in mind, I don't think I've played basketball myself since junior high. I don't think I remember more than a fraction of the rules. And the only time I think I've watched more than five minutes of a game in recent memory was last Sunday when I got to hang out and watch her play what was essentially a pick-up game (yes, she will whack me for saying that, but it was informal, no one kept score, subs were whenever someoen was tired, players switched teams between games, etc.)

Tonight was a real league match, with timekeepers (OK, they were about 8 or 9 years old, but...) and two referees, scorekeeping, fouls called, the whole schmeer. And Nora's team had to play *two* games back to back. For the first game they had only the four players they were allowed to field, no subs. For the second game, one more of their players arrived near the end of the first half.

And it was a blast! They are good players. Yes, OK, I'm hardly either an expert or a neutral party, but the only way the first team they played beat them was by dirty play (MLS soccer fans, think Metrostars crossed with Miami Fusion: thuigs and divers!) and having one really good player. The second team they played had many more players and were fresh and more evenly skilled, and the Blues (N's team) opened up an early lead, held them to a tie, and then won the overtime. These ladies had game! I really enjoyed watchingl I was caught up in what was going on and managed to understand about 80% of it, I think. I was there to supply my sweetie with water or a tangerine or a quick hug when she got to come off or had a timeout.

I know she thinks I'm crazy, but I'm looking forward to next time. OK, maybe not as much as I am to our dinner date tomorrow night, but I am looking forward to it. :-)