Saturday TW

So, in case you haven't noticed, I kind of have this thing for Illinois sports and Champaign. So come football season, I accumulate quite a few frequent traveler miles along I-57 to Champaign and back to Chicago. Today was a road game, (and no one would go with me), so I got to spend the weekend at home. I woke up early, got my car washed, went to the bank, went to the cleaners, bought a halloween costume, and managed to watch the Illinois game all by 4. Since the previous 18 weeks had been consumed by marathon training and weddings, this whole free time thing is relatively new to me. I was actually so bored at one point today I thought about going into work. I'll repeat that - I was so bored going to the office was a viable option for entertainment.

The me of 2 years ago would find this totally unacceptable. The me of 2 years ago lived in a nonstop action packed world guided by the mantra of if you weren't workin, you're playin. What' s happened in this period? I blame the economy and credit crisis. I'm just too bummed out to enjoy myself.

I wonder if the economy of 2 years ago is also disappointed with its current day self.

Super Champaign Happy Awesome Time

This past weekend marked a tremendously awesome occassion: home opener for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. I know many more people get excited for the Sunday games, but having attended a Big 1T1en school, there is something about the college game that gets me more excited.

My personal attachment came from being a member of the Marching Illini for 4 years. This was, without a doubt, the best way to see a game. Sure, there were lots of things I didn't care for (namely people I didn't care for), but this is probably the only consistent stretch in my life waking up at 6 am for a rehearsal was not only easy, but I looked forward to it. The days were long, and when the team was less than great they weren't always as exciting, but they were great all the same. I think thats because everyone in the entire organization had one consistent goal: beer. Seriously, those who have ever heard me talk about college would tell you I swore that a Marching Illini party was the best show in town on Saturdays, and its true. What was great about them is that almost everyone came to the parties, and everyone always had a great time.

It's hard to imagine that you can be truly close to a group of 300+ people, but I was always amazed at the sense of camaraderie that was enjoyed by most people. And it shows - to this day you will see a large contingency of people marching with the band to their postgame show at the Ed building, and I'd say at least half are fossils (what you become when you leave the band and enter the hell of the real world). Most of us still go down to games, and I can easily say that some of my best friends were made in those first few days of band camp. Yes, it exists, and yes, it's totally awesome.

The point of this? Nothing, other than its another reason why college is awesome and why I love going back to Champaign.

GO ILLINI!

Whoopty Bam

Honestly, it's been far too long since my last post. I could argue that it's been because of this and that, but honestly it's primarily a ridiculously hectic schedule and not wanting to use what little free time I had to try to come up with something clever to write.

So now I'm back, and I've had some pretty big revelations that I've come across in these past few weeks. Whether they are worth anything still remains to be seen, but so far I can tell that I've been a happier person lately. There might be a correlation, there might not be. But as long as you're happy, well, who gives a shit.

I promise to be back more with some stories of weddings, CHAMPAIGN, and of course, burritos.

Go Cubs.