As of tonight, I'm officially back to playing on Tuesday nights again, after a considerable absence. And my just-completed match helped to highlight just how much I seem to be playing with my head up my ass.

First of all, I need to get into better shape, and regain some of my lost quickness, but I've known that, and can work around it if I'm smart about it. What's really horrible is my lack of confidence with my ball handling right now, which can lead to a littany of bad touches and decisions with the ball, combined with my seeming lack of aggressivness. This one troubles me, as in the past one couldv'e criticized me for perhaps being Too aggressive, but now I am just hesitant and tentative. This doesn't seem to be something that comes from being too meek, but instead again a lack of confidence. Little things like taking bad angles defensively, letting guys dribble around me while I stab at the ball, and not winning 50-50 balls with authority.

So, I'm not Necessarily playing Terribly, but I would say my Slump of Mediocrity deepens, and threatens to break into a Slump of just-plain-not-playing-well. I'm hoping by just keeping it up, and playing on a regular basis, I can regain my form and play like I want to play.

So my weekend had a little bit of a screwup, and I'm a little changrined about it, but then again, things seemed to turn out just spiffy.

Sister Jill and baby Issac were heading into town late Friday night, and their itinerary, as related to me by my dad, was to "hang out" at the 'rents house on Saturday, then head to Chehalis for a little "family thing" on Sunday. I wasn't all that excited about heading to Chehalis, so I used the fact that I had a soccer game scheduled for Sunday afternoon as a reason not to go, and decided to use Saturday as the time to spend the Quality Time with the 'rents, Sister Jill, as well as the Aunt Jan, and finally "meet" this baby human thing, Issac.

The nature of "QT" with the family being what it is, It wasn't the most exciting way to spend a Saturday afternoon, which, after initially being sunny, then raining like crazy briefly, turned back to relatively nice, if not a bit chilly because of the wind. Anyway, I was a little restless at times, and I wouldn't say I was bored insomuch as I was considering just "making my appearance" and then heading out and doing whatever on my own, although I wasn't sure what that "whatever" was going to be. I ended up sticking around, not only because I figured I should really spend some "QT" with the family, but I could watch the epic Arizona-Gonzaga NCAA B-Ball tournament 2nd-round matchup, and if I stuck around for dinner I could have some pork chops and rice, which was one of my favorites along with macaroni and cheese growing up, then after dinner my sister would follow me up to Wallingford and we would go out somewhere for a bit.

And so that was the plan. The Arizona-Gonzaga was absolutely incredible, with the Zags losing by 1 in double OT, having two chances at the winning shot in the final seconds, and dinner was good. Jill followed me back home, and Greg came along with us as we walked to Dad Watsons in Fremont, had some tasty beer, and discussed mammary glands.

So today, my soccer game was canceled, due to a field conflict. Both teams had shown up, but the fields had been double-booked, and youth tryouts were taking place, and we were outta luck. So that sucked. My official reason for structuring the weekend the way I had was nonexistent, but whatever, I wasn't that high on the trip to Chehalis anyway. But, I also wanted the excercise. I had done my stair workout Friday, and rested Saturday, in anticipation of playing a soccer game Sunday, then lifting weights on Monday, then another game on Tuesday.

As I left the field, the plan in my head was to go for a run, probably out at Discovery park. But for whatever reason, when I got home, even though I felt restless, a sort of lethargy set in. My cardiovascular fitness isn't where I want it to be, and I really should have gone running, but I ultimately didn't.

I ended up getting a hold of Mike, to see if TMRHSNTVWQTPSSF was taking place, and he told me he "wasn't sure yet." At that time it was about 3:30, and I had Every intention of going running. I decided to fart around online until a little after 4, when Mike had told me he would be home from work and have a better idea what was happening. In the meantime, Greg got home, and wanted to know what was happening. Finally, by 4:30, I learned that TMRHSNTVWQTPSSF was on, so I headed south shortly thereafter, sans Greg.

By the time I got to Mike's apartment, it was after 5:30, and he informed me of something that hadn't occurred to either of us. Because of that weird "don't put your normal programming on when another network is running a special like the Oscar's" thing, FOX was showing "Lost World" starting at 7. So no Futurama (not that there normally is, those bastards) Simpsons, or Malcolm. Dammit. So, my immediate thought was, "why the hell did I drive all the way down here?"

But we salavged things. After the 6:00 syndication airing of The Simpsons, we headed to Jack in the Box for sustenance, then Mike gave me a "Munchkins" tutorial. "Munchkins" is sort of a neo-nerd/dork card game, a sort of mockery of the classic Dungeons and Dragons-esque role-playing-esque card-based games that are out there. Near the end of my tutorial "game," Lemurs arrived home from a co-workers "painting party," so we played a "real game," and in a bizarre twist, Mike and I were "co-winners." Hmmmm...

So, there you have it...