March Badness
March is always one of my favorite months of the year. It is a time when the winter cold starts to wind down, baseball spring training gets into full swing, and of course the NCAA tourney to spice things up.
Unfortunately, this year we're 0-for-3 so far on those things I just listed. It has been the worst Chicago winter that I can remember in a while, and even as I look at the weather forecast for this week, there's still more snow and single-digit temperatures ahead. As for spring training, I guess I'm cautiously optimistic about this coming season for the White Sox, even though they didn't appear to improve much in the offseason. I'm sure the excitement will hit me eventually, but for now, I'm only half-heartedly following the spring training results. And about the NCAA tournament, well, let's just say this hasn't exactly been a stellar season for Illini basketball.
On top of those things, this March I will most likely have to say goodbye to my favorite sister and my favorite pup. With both of them moving to Minnesota, I will be living in an empty house for the first time since the earliest days when I originally closed on this place. Though I kind of enjoy living alone, and people have already been flooding me with suggestions on turning my place into a bachelor pad, or about what kind of new puppy to get, I'll still definitely miss having both of them around.
Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom lately - here are a few positive things of note lately:
- Helping my sis pick out a banquet hall for wedding reception is one of the most enjoyable responsibilities ever. Getting to "sample" meals at each place is like a dream come true for me. Now all I need is to get my own show on Food Network, where I do nothing but eat good food.
- Went out to the bars for the first time since the smoking ban went into effect (at least I think it was the first time). It felt kind of weird to leave a bar at the end of the night, and not feel like I was covered in smoke residue. Weird but definitely nice. I could get used to that feeling.
- Normally I don't do the "give up something for Lent" thing, but this year I decided to actually make a commitment, and I am actually very glad that I did. So far it has been a very good experience for me. Even though it was a very small thing to give up, sticking to this commitment has still helped me to see and understand more of the meaning behind the 40-day fast. I'm not sure yet on whether or not I'll continue my "fast" after Easter, but we'll see what happens.
- Heading down to Champaign later this month for a company recruiting thing. If you ask me, it's always fun for a alum to visit the alma mater, no matter the circumstances. This time around it will be on business, so most likely there will be none of the craziness of other recent trips (at least I hope not). By the way, if anyone wants me to pick them up some Pokey sticks or a PrimeTime calzone, let me know. I'll see what I can do.
- Have had my new Nokia N82 for over a month now, and I absolutely love the thing. It's so great to have a camera, mp3/video player, GPS, full internet browser, calendar, etc. with me every time I leave the house, all in one little candybar sized phone. The camera in particular is almost too convenient - I find myself taking pictures of almost everything around me, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.
One of the very underrated features I like is the "Nokia Lifeblog" software that came with the phone. Basically, it syncs up all the pictures and videos you take, along with text messages you send/receive, etc., and organizes it all in a timeline format. The first time I saw the results, it was actually kind of startling to see my daily life laid out and recorded like that. But I gotta say it's pretty darn cool to see how much a little phone can integrate itself into your life so seamlessly. I was definitely impressed.
- A few years ago, I wrote in this blog about how I loved the "Fall-Back" part of Daylight Savings Time so much, that instead of doing "Spring-Forward" to get back on track, they should just "Fall-Back" 23 more times throughout the year and give up a day in the process. Well, my thoughts on that have definitely changed. "Spring Forward" (which happens this Sunday, I think), is now a very exciting time for me. I'll gladly trade in that extra hour of sleep if it means more sunshine in the days ahead. Gotta have my sunshine.
