Scramblin'

Well it sure has been a while, ol blog ol buddy. Fell of the blag wagon for a while, such things happen. Worry not, dear readers - I will never leave you for too long.

I've now played outdoor ultimate twice this year. Indoor has taken its toll on my throws, and it will take a while to rediscover the mechanics and angles I need.  This early season for me will be all about shaking off rust and becoming mentally and physically tough again. While my mental game was my greatest area of improvement last season, (while treading water at best physically) the difference this season is that I really want to play ultimate again - in a way I have not felt for a long time. Its almost like, high school again.

In the brief sampling of outdoor points I've played, I've been living and dying by my forehand throws. This is not thrilling - at tryouts my forehand was inconsistant, and yesterday at pickup I figured out why - I'm basically strong arming every throw from the upper body, barely engaging the core and not moving low with the legs. I've got a lot of power but every throw is too high and kinda sucks. Hucks on both sides have been blading, but my short backhand is looking super dirty. Better throw more of those. Forehand will improve but its going to take a lot of reps. On the upside, I have a lot more power to put behind the mechanics, when they do imrove.

Meanwhile, the college season speeds along to its imminent end. I'm interested in the Callahan race this year - it has a certain kind of intense hype that has seemingly been missing from the last few races. I'd love to see it go to Jimmy Mickle - in a field of talented all around players, Mickle arguably does the most to bring up the playing level of his supporting cast, and he can seriously ball. Its also unfortunate to note that Brian Hart may lose simply because of not being on NexGen, kind of a bummer. His highlight reel is tight work, but the other four frontrunners have hours and hours of NexGen footage, and that's hard to compete with.

As for the finals, questions abound. Is it finally Oregon's year to live up to the hype? Will Pitt rise again? I've love to see a Pitt - Wisco rematch. It will also be interesting to see how this first phase of the USAU - ESPN deal plays out. Gotta hope for quality.

Whoah. Blerg. Okay nevermind cool.

Highlights from winter league tonight:
-told a high schooler to "GEDDOF me"
-cut pretty well

EDIT 5/8/14 It is especially funny to note, in retrospect, that it was not a high schooler. It was Cat. I assumed he was a high schooler because of his boyish good looks, and the way he tried to rugby tackle me on the mark at a league game. Having since been his teammate at indoor nationals and club regionals, I know that that is simply a result of the way he attacks the game: Cat gon' getcha.

I can't really describe how things taste, not really. Recalling a specific taste is one thing but my brain can't make the sensations into words without a lot of grasping, inane comparisons. I'm not that kind of writer?

Anyway league was good, barely had an asthma attack and threw some sweet backhands.

Mad Nerd Days

What does it mean to live a complete life? It seems like some people can just do their thing, just live without reflexively examining every action from the viewpoint of a self obsessed neurotic person, but maybe its just because I can't see in their heads. I worry too much, and worry about worrying to much, and get angry in the car on the way to work.

But things are pretty good, and getting better is the plan. These are just the kinds of things I think about late at night, when I'm not particularly invested in sleep and decide to read old webcomics instead of drawing or doing night pushups.

Anyway, last week at league was okay. Asthma was better, made some nice backhands, etc. This week, today, I am approaching the game with a renewed mentality. I'm not going to worry about having an asthma attack or not playing good d or whatever. I'm just gonna show up, take a few puffs on the inhaler 15 to 30 minutes before gametime, and ball hard until I can't anymore. Its just winter league for gods sake.

I like words that have that weird silent h. Isthmus, alchemy, etc. Asthma is kind of a cool word, and I'ma make it my bitch. I will have a cool word for my bitch. Goodnight all.

Nervous Night Blog

I guess the best thing you can say about my first indoor league game is that each subsequent game is a chance to do better. First game started off with a bang and ended with a whimper. My first point I got a layout d, threw a goal, got a handblock and subbed out, and while I did score some goals and get some ds it was more or less downhill from there.

Asthma kicked in. By the end of the first game I could not breath. Fortunately I had my trusty inhaler!

Have not had asthma this bad in years. This week feels better though and getting back on the workout grind should help. Spin spin spin...

Indoor is so much fun though I love it. And spring is starting to rear its filthy dirty head and tentatively sniff its surroundings.
Yes.

Oh yeah so why was indoor so bad? I cut terribly! So bad! This week will be better.

What's New in Hogsmeade

Nocturnal was awesome. Best one yet? Who knows. Can barely remember any of the other ones, at this point they have sort of merged in my mind. What I do know is I was more excited about seeing old friends and teammates than I was about playing. My team had some great people on it, and had probably the best chemistry of any hat team I've ever played on, but was not a ton of fun in general if that makes any sense. Also I could not breathe. Bronchitis left my lungs feeling ravaged and it took my top gear away. But my legs held up pretty well, endurance training is paying off. I am super psyched to get back to working out. Cutting got easier as the night went on but my lung endurance got worse. Subbed more intelligently than I have in the past, if certain members of my team had done the same we would have won more games.

 But the best was just hanging with the Gunx. I miss that. Not being in college has shown me how important ultimate was as a community. Its hard not having friends nearby and I think that was important to realize.

 Harry Potter world is legit. Go there. It was so much fun and if you book early it is not too expensive. Going next year, most assuredly.

 Now that nocturnal is over my workout goal is club tryouts. I keep having ultimate related dreams, seemingly fueled by anxiety about club. What is that about? I don't really know. Dreams are weird. But I am looking forward to summer ultimate in a way I have not in years, if ever. I think I am getting my mojo back, slowly.

 Going to winter league for the first time this week! Yes!

Baby Days

Being sick is killing my workout flow. It is pretty good motivation though, blah blah not being able to train puts training in perspective, blah blah. Oh but I went to Gunx practice on Sunday and that was super fun. First ultimate of the year! Played okay. There are some tall dudes on the team this year. Also some fast dudes. Its pretty sweet! Lately been considering how I and others can help take Gunx from a team into a club. What kind of role could alumni play in helping out? We are not really a financially solid bunch yet. David and Danielle and Stephen are putting in reps helping the team and that is awesome. What can those of us away from the Paltz do to help? Something to think on. I want to help the team any possible way. League starts this week, and Nocturnal. Vitamin C all day. Got nothing going on really but being lucid enough to write is a nice change from earlier in the week. I'm a big ol baby when I get sick.