for those tired of being a creepy child

Spring is finally poking its cute little Japanese cartoon head out from the snow-clouds. It was shorts weather today and I finally got my bike fixed (shorts weather means it was mid-forties or so) so I went for a ride around town, did some people-watching, and found a beautiful shrine and temple with a cemetery. Strolling through, I found myself a bit anxious. I hadn't locked my bike at the entrance. I could read the signs phonetically, but still had little clue what they meant, so I wasn't sure if I was allowed in or not. I had gone in anyway, but I often find myself a little anxious that I am doing something offensive, just because I don't know the etiquette. I resolved a while ago to be a bit more adventurous once the weather approved, but now I find that I am not used to venturing on my own.

I didn't take a camera with me because I wanted what I saw today to be solely mine, difficult to recall later, only appearing in flashes when the air is just right. Every time the weather changes, I begin to recall. The first truly warm day takes me to San Antonio, 1997. A Sunday afternoon touch football game with the Oak Hills folks at Marshall. Chris Pruski punched Jeremy Karney in the throat instead of tagging him. Bret Halbert was a force of nature, as always, on the line. Tiffany Potter and I sat on the hood of my black RX-7, and then danced in the parking lot to some song I had playing.

I've been editing stories. I'll be sending five or so off for rejection soon. It's been a long time for me with the trying to publish thing. Hopefully I'll get in the habit, but don't anybody hold your breath on that front. Editing and submitting seems to only occur during a kind of manic phase I go through in my compulsive writing behavior.

I'm completely not caught up on the basketball happenings in the U.S. I hear the Lakers look dangerous, and that the Celts are as expected. And SA fans are as deluded as ever about their aging team's chances... though I do hope as well. But I have seen nothing. Baseball just started here. I think I'll go to a game. We'll see. There's a team in Sendai that hasn't been very good, but they apparently just picked up a few good hitters and a superstar pitcher.

Coffee.