Two weeks of updates...

I hate not updating this thing on a more regular basis, but a combination of a hectic schedule and a non-functional computer has limited my opportunites to keep it up to date.

The past few weeks have been busy, and at times emotional. Basically, school and work keep me occupied, but mostly I'm a wimp.

This past weekend, I made my final press box trip to Mountaineer Field (I will always call it that, by God). I was rather emotional, but I tried my best to subdue any feelings and just take in the moments. The time with my fellow sportswriters in the box, the time on the field. Everything. There have been a lot of "last's" around here these days, but this one hurt, especially with the outcome of the game.

Something tells me that its really not my final trip, just like BC wasn't two years ago. Whether I'm a sportswriter or working in some other capacity, hopefully the roads will lead me back to Mountaineer Field at least one more time as more than a fan.

In other news, school and work are bogging me down a little, and it seems that the Thanksgiving holiday is coming just in time. Not that I mind going to school, really, but work is getting to me. It's just been a difficult year in some respects, and while I love the job immensely, its hard to go full-speed when you feel people around you are merely jogging.

The break seems to be coming together nicely. It looks like I will make a Charleston trip on Friday with Lauren, then return to Morgantown for Saturday's men's basketball opener against St. Peter's. There is also an away basketball game against Duquesne I'm going to try and make, and the Thanksgiving Day brawl with Pitt that could guarantee WVU the Gator Bowl - or more.

Speaking of the basketball team, I'm very excited about this bunch. Contrary to what my fellow blogger Nick Tolomeo thinks, there is a lot of promise on this team. All five starters return, and Mike Gansey and Darris Nichols are high quality additions. Gansey can do everything - defend, score around the basket, hit the trey, etc. - and Nichols reminds me of Tim Lyles, without the inconsistent shot. Pittsnogle and Fischer have beefed up a tad, and I think we will compete nicely with our non-conference and league foes. I'm saying 18-11, and thats with a rare victory over Notre Dame and the ever-elusive conference tournament win. But I won't rule out this team doing more damage than that.

Well, that's all I have for now. Keep checking back!

Peace.

Ramblings...

Damn, time is flying by so fast right now. I logged into my blog account to sit down and spill a few thoughts, and it said my last update was Oct. 24. Crazy. It seems like the days go by three times as fast anymore. My birthday is already two weeks passed. Ah well.

If time is going by fast, that means that graduation is approaching even more quickly. I am the spring semester and the summer away from completing coursework, and in the fall I will student teach. Then I shall have my master's, and can do whatever I want from there. It looks like Lauren will attempt grad. school as well, and she's a fool if she doesn't. In 4 1/2 years, she can have a bachelor's and master's. She's awesome. I hope she does it...and we'll really be on the right track together.

So, the election is wrapped up. Everyone knows my vote rested with Kerry, and while I am disappointed, its not the end of the world. My good friend Drew pointed out to me that the president doesn't dictate how a person can change the world on his or her own. Tremendous statement. Our country will be okay. It may not be now, or two years, or five years...but it will be fine.

I really miss Lauren already. She's in Nashville until Sunday. Hopefully she's having a great time.

We've been playing cards a lot lately. The latest big winner was Nick Tolomeo, who took us for 100 bucks the other night. We had 10 people, and the 4 sportswriters there lasted until the final four. I went away with 4th place. I absolutely love playing. It's so relaxing and, while it takes a while sometimes, it's a great chance to just be around people without a care in the world.

This past weekend, Lauren and I went to NJ for the Rutgers game. It was my first chance to be a sports photographer. So I traded my pen and pad for a digital camera and went to town. It was a blast. Much better than I anticipated. After the game, Lauren and I drove to her Aunt & Uncle's house in South Jersey. It was an 11-bedroom abode. Beautiful. We capped the weekend off by rolling into Morgantown and enjoying each other's company. We spent somewhere around 20 hours in a car together over the weekend, and I've never been more certain that she's the person I'm destined to be with.

That's all for now. Thanks to everyone who didnt give me a rough time for Kerry losing. Please come together and make our country better.

Peace.