Pain

Sheer and utter pain - the Wildcats get rocked by LSU, 45-3. I really can't explain the sadness of it all, nor do you probably care to hear about it. Suffice it to say that my night was brought down a few notches by the massacre in Baton Rouge. However, my good friend Herb sent me this wonderful link (please, do turn down your office speakers) Pretty much what happened to Arizona...and yet, that being one of my favorite clips ever, it has somehow managed to end this night on a wonderfully happy note for me.

On to other stories. First, today a battle of proportions yet unseen took place. In one corner, our fearless hero (albeit not on his "A" game, as a frustrating cold has stricken him the past few days). In the other corner, the king of lavatories across the globe, gleaming in porcelain defiance. The reason for this epic showdown? Lately, the capricious little throne has taken to squirting small amounts of water from one of it's valves. The subtle swishing has denied your's truly the convalescent respite he so needs, and it's also began to cause wee pools of water around the base of the toilet. (On a side note, how completely inappropriate was it to use the word "wee" in this contenxt? Man, sometimes I outdo myself.)

And thus, the battle raged. The man dove into the perilous waters of the tank with scant hesitation. The feisty commode fought back with highly annoying sprays of water onto the floor below. Like a pair of prizefighters, the two contestants went blow for blow for some twenty minutes. The man dug into his back of tricks, fashioing a purple paper clip into a makeshift bobber clasp. The mighty crapper laughed off this feeble attempt and continued its lethal mix of spray and incessant running. In the end, the man, fingers dangerously pruned, called upon a pair of needle nose pliers and finally slayed the old latrine. Finally tally, Man 1, Commode 0. Truly, an epic for the ages.

To add to the danger of the day, the man was already healing from a rough encounter with the Broad River bed earlier that week. Outfitted with a pair of kayaks and a canoe, a plucky group of MPA students set out on Monday to navigate the mighty (shallow) Broad River. It quickly became apparent that a river of such depth (lacking) would severly hamper the use of the canoe. That realization became ever clearer when, while trying to shoot a narrow, rock-strewn waterfall, the canoe capsized sending its pilots into the shivering shallows below. See exhibit A. All time not spent in the canoes, however, was extremely enjoyable. Pictures would be included, but the kindly guides at the head of the river advised (quite correctly) against bringing digital cameras, or anything else of value, including but not limited to keys, cell phones, sun glasses, and those with lowered immunity systems. Good times were had by all.

Well, that about sums things up. Forgive the ridiculous voice of this post; it's 12:15, the Wildcats lost, and I'd rather be sleeping.

Still missing you all.