Well, made here to Auckland safe and sound, though still a little tired and sore from the flight, even after some sleep. I did get to watch the Cowboys prevail at a local pub with some fellow Cowboy fans, so that was fun and relaxing, to say the least. Today, off to do some more sightseeing, and maybe an entry that might actually be more profound than me updating my status : ) Of course, I will do what I will, so to speak, and I am sure I will have an entry or two upcoming that is more than just me listing off what I did today, or the last couple of days... or something.
Anyway, take care all... another day awaits.
C.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
16 September 2008
01 April 2007
Pastimes
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
When I look at the word 'pastime', it has an echo to me. It is a word that makes me remember time and place that has never existed for me, hazy days of youth that millions experienced, but not me really. Still, as one who embraces the past as much as the present (or as much of the present I can stomach and hope the future is not as revolting :) I see myself where I ought to be in those memories. Perhaps I have watched 'Field of Dreams' too many times, maybe I have gone to far too many batting practices on a lazy summer day just to hear the crack of the bat, and almost making the game itself a denouement.
In our ever insanely fast paced lives, it is nice to be able to slow down and breathe a little of life in, see it for what it should be. I certainly do not mind a fast pace of course, but the thrill of wasting a summer or spring evening listening to the sounds of the game, enjoying the camaraderie of strangers I always knew, for the ballpark makes all equals, and perhaps equally young in it eyes. While I do not have a Wrigley Field or Fenway Park, nor even a Polo Grounds, the game is still played more or less the same way, we all sing during the seventh inning stretch, and sometimes, we all reach into that collective memory, live in the world of the pastime, and for a few moments forget the frenzy and pace of our modern lives.
Of course, one never really thinks of these things while at the ballpark, but I suspect that is the point. And baseball does not necessarily have to be your pastime, but whatever the endeavour, I hope it brings you the same thrill I get every time I walk into the ballpark with the hop in my step as if I were eternally ten.
C.
When I look at the word 'pastime', it has an echo to me. It is a word that makes me remember time and place that has never existed for me, hazy days of youth that millions experienced, but not me really. Still, as one who embraces the past as much as the present (or as much of the present I can stomach and hope the future is not as revolting :) I see myself where I ought to be in those memories. Perhaps I have watched 'Field of Dreams' too many times, maybe I have gone to far too many batting practices on a lazy summer day just to hear the crack of the bat, and almost making the game itself a denouement.
In our ever insanely fast paced lives, it is nice to be able to slow down and breathe a little of life in, see it for what it should be. I certainly do not mind a fast pace of course, but the thrill of wasting a summer or spring evening listening to the sounds of the game, enjoying the camaraderie of strangers I always knew, for the ballpark makes all equals, and perhaps equally young in it eyes. While I do not have a Wrigley Field or Fenway Park, nor even a Polo Grounds, the game is still played more or less the same way, we all sing during the seventh inning stretch, and sometimes, we all reach into that collective memory, live in the world of the pastime, and for a few moments forget the frenzy and pace of our modern lives.
Of course, one never really thinks of these things while at the ballpark, but I suspect that is the point. And baseball does not necessarily have to be your pastime, but whatever the endeavour, I hope it brings you the same thrill I get every time I walk into the ballpark with the hop in my step as if I were eternally ten.
C.
06 February 2007
Nerdiness Survey/Interview
Perhaps inspired by the anime conventions starting up again, or just nerdiness in general, I have decided to dig out an old nerd survey I created awhile back. It is certainly a less intimidating read than the prior post, and you can all see what a total nerd I really am :) Read on and I leave posterity to you, my fellow nerds and geeks.
btw, for fairness' sake, I shall complete the survey as well... and while it seems like a lot of questions, most of the answers are pretty easy, and of course, subjective, but that is the fun of this :)
1.First Name?
2.Age you would prefer to be?
3.Immortality?
4.What is your quest?
5.Nerd or Geek?
6.Single, Pre-Owned, or Attached?
7.History or Geography?
8.Favorite Sport?
9.Favorite Pro Sports Team?
10.Do you understand the infield fly rule?
11.Do you understand Cricket?(the default answer should be 'no', even if you are from the UK or former British colonial holding)
12.Fusion or Fission?
13.Do you own a lightsaber (real or otherwise)?
14.What is your favorite color?
15.What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
16.Star Trek, Babylon 5, or Battlestar Galactica?
17.Phaser or Blaster?
18.Superman or Batman?
19.Spiderman or Wolverine?
20. Harry Potter or JRR Tolkien (or alternatively, CS Lewis)?
21.Robert Frost or Edgar Allen Poe?
22.Weather aside, do you feel more day baseball games should be played?
23.Who fought each other in the Hundred Years War?
24.How many digital media devices do you own? (ie, ipods, computers, cellphones, video game systems)
25.360, PS3, or the worst name for a video game system ever(Wii)?
26.What is the longest amount of time you waited in line for a movie?
27. And finally, if you had a teleportation device that would send you into any of the alternate universe described above, where would you go?
C.
btw, for fairness' sake, I shall complete the survey as well... and while it seems like a lot of questions, most of the answers are pretty easy, and of course, subjective, but that is the fun of this :)
1.First Name?
2.Age you would prefer to be?
3.Immortality?
4.What is your quest?
5.Nerd or Geek?
6.Single, Pre-Owned, or Attached?
7.History or Geography?
8.Favorite Sport?
9.Favorite Pro Sports Team?
10.Do you understand the infield fly rule?
11.Do you understand Cricket?(the default answer should be 'no', even if you are from the UK or former British colonial holding)
12.Fusion or Fission?
13.Do you own a lightsaber (real or otherwise)?
14.What is your favorite color?
15.What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
16.Star Trek, Babylon 5, or Battlestar Galactica?
17.Phaser or Blaster?
18.Superman or Batman?
19.Spiderman or Wolverine?
20. Harry Potter or JRR Tolkien (or alternatively, CS Lewis)?
21.Robert Frost or Edgar Allen Poe?
22.Weather aside, do you feel more day baseball games should be played?
23.Who fought each other in the Hundred Years War?
24.How many digital media devices do you own? (ie, ipods, computers, cellphones, video game systems)
25.360, PS3, or the worst name for a video game system ever(Wii)?
26.What is the longest amount of time you waited in line for a movie?
27. And finally, if you had a teleportation device that would send you into any of the alternate universe described above, where would you go?
C.
06 January 2007
Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory
Well, football season is over for me. The Cowboys managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory... a botched hold on what was basically an extra point (plus a questionable reversal on a first down play, the play before). It wasn't the only crucial mistake but it was the last. A decent, exciting game, but one we probably should have one... too much of that this year. At least I should be looking forward to a good Mavericks run this year.
C.
C.
17 December 2006
Playoff Nonsense
For once I'm a little happy with the way the NFL worked out today, with perhaps the exception of the Philly-NY game, but how do you choose between those teams. And who would have thought I would be happy for a Redskins win? So, due to a combination of factors, the Cowboys have cliched a spot in the Playoffs, and should they beat Philly next Monday (on Christmas Day), they win the division... so, a much better weekend than that debacle last weekend against the Saints. The rest of the season should be entertaining, or interesting, at the least. I will try and return you to less mundane matters when I can :)
C.
C.
19 November 2006
Glad To Be Wrong
I kept thinking the Cowboys would be stomped by the Colts, but I also knew this to be sort of a trap game for an undefeated team and the Cowboys matched up well. So, my gut was hoping for a Cowboys win and I thought they could win, just not that they would. However, I am glad to be wrong as the Cowboys prevailed 21-14, and could have won by more had our kicker not missed two field goals (admittedly long ones, but makeable). Of course, we now have a trap game in 4 days with our annual Thanksgiving game, this time against Tampa, a team we haven't played well against since the early 90's... back when Tampa was always bad.
So, go my team :)
I know transport you back to my more regular, occasionally literary ramblings.
C.
So, go my team :)
I know transport you back to my more regular, occasionally literary ramblings.
C.
15 October 2006
A Good Beginning To The Week
A Cowboys win helps the weekend end well, and a week begin well. Plus, the Eagles and Redskins lost (and the Redskins lost, at home, to Tennessee of all teams). Not a bad start, well, at least for my part of the country. Here's to hoping the rest of the week goes well as we prepare to go to Houston for OniCon and that everyone has a good week too.
C.
C.
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