Post Thanksgiving

So it's Sunday morning and I'm doing the all-American Thanksgiving weekend thing, nursing a mild hangover and watching Man Utd v. Chelsea on FSC. Old friend Jason was in town for the holiday, and we went to the Portland Pirates game last night against the Providence Bruins. I honestly have never seen anything like it. About halfway through the third period, a five-on-five brawl erupted, with eight ejections. A fight then broke out every few minutes, to the point that Providence had no one left on the bench at the end of the game! The game set a Portland franchise record with 273 penalty minutes assessed between the two teams. Even the Providence head coach got a game misconduct penalty. Spectacular, old-time hockey. (Yes, it felt like "Slap Shot.") See the box score here.

The Vacationland Vixens

So tonight will mark the first time I've ever gone to roller derby. Yes, that's right, Maine apparently has a roller derby team (the above-mentioned Vixens) and they're having an open house up in Topsham tonight. The people watching should be spectacular...this is just too good an opportunity to miss. The website is www.mainerollerderby.com if you want to check it out.

Speaking of opportunities too good to miss, Bill Simmons had a great "Page 2" not too long ago about his favorite clips on YouTube. He leads off with Roddy Piper's coconut-smashing bout against my personal old-school wrestling favorite Superfly Snuka - it got me hooked. Hours of quality viewing there.

It's been a week of (hopefully) new beginnings and rediscovery of old favorites. I got home Tuesday night and found The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain on Encore. I always loved the movie, and now that I've actually seen Wales (the movie takes place in the south, I was in the north), it was even better. I'm sitting here listening to Dire Straits' "Private Investigation" - and remembering myself what an incredible talent Mark Knopfler is. It's not all "Sultans of Swing" or "Money for Nothing" - catch the live version of the theme to "Local Hero." It's such a beautiful piece by a true artist.

Rainy days and Mondays...

OK, they don't always get me down. Pouring rain outside, the second day in a row and two more to go after this! But a good day, very busy. I hopefully made my second hire in the new job today - we'll see how the references shake out and if she'll take the pittance we're offering. I think I'm battling a cold, too, so I'm in bed a little bit early. Had a nice time at French class tonight, too - one of my fellow students said I was a "natural." That was nice to hear, since I always wonder how I come across!

I try to have deep thoughts, since I'm always jealous of people who write out what's going on and the deep thoughts they bring. I don't think I have it in me tonight, though, so it's just a plain old diary entry. Sorry - maybe tomorrow!

November

Well, just had a look and saw that I haven't written anything since the day before I left to move down here! It's been almost two months. I'm not THAT lazy, though, I only recently got my internet (it took about six weeks to get my phone squared away). Lots and lots have gone on, but today it's quiet and I'm sitting here watching Arsenal playing Liverpool and considering my next move for today. It's always a great three-day weekend when you don't get out of your pajamas before noon any day.

Heard from an old friend of mine yesterday, Jorma, who I haven't seen or talked to in close to 15 years. Right out of the blue there was an e-mail from him! The odd thing is that I had just thought about him two days ago when I was talking to someone about Gumby, which put Mr. Bill in my head and reminded me of a certain incident just post-high school where we made a few Mr. Bills and did terrible things to them - setting them on fire, throwing them off cliffs, etc. - and videotaping it a la Saturday Night Live. I wonder what happened to that tape...

So Pastor Joe posted on Grace and Truth about why he writes, and at the same time (practically) there was another on Marginal Revolution on "why we talk." I thought it was quite interesting - have a look:

1. We talk to signal loyalty, or disloyalty.
2. We talk to bond with others.
3. We talk because we are not very self-aware and we need an audience if we are to learn our own thoughts or make up our minds. Clark Durant points to Hamlet.
4. We talk so people may judge us, leading to efficient sorting.
5. We talk to see who will leave the room.
6. We talk because we are restless, nervous, or bored. Speech may relieve anxiety, or give the pretense of doing so.

In the comments, someone adds that Timothy Leary said it comes down to "I'm here, are you still there?" I think that's an all-encompassing thought - the theme of all of our lives being a struggle to maintain connection and not feel so alone. Or maybe it's just that it's been the theme of MY life over the past couple of years. Oddly, I've felt less unconnected since I've been here - I think it's because I feel more connected to my self and the world around me instead of continuously focusing on what I was missing.

"I'm here...are you still there?"