It's do or die...

Well, we lost our game last night. We were up until late in the third quarter and then they went on a run. We just couldn't regain control after that. This means that we have to win on Saturday for us to get into the playoffs. It's going to be a battle because the team we are playing needs this win to get into the playoffs as well. It will definitely be a good game to say the least.

I hope you all are doing great back home.

Take care and God bless,
Mike

In the home stretch

It is overdue to give you all an update on how the season is going over here. Since my last post we are 2-1. We had a great game against one of the better teams in the league on the 16th. We really seemed to be clicking all together that night and it helped that we had a nearly packed house and a loud crowd backing us. Our next game that following Saturday did not go in our favor, however. Although it was a long roadtrip we should have came out more lively. We were down early and never were able to get the lead. We kept it close until the end, but it just wasn't enough to get the win. Then we had a game against the last place team in our league. To tell you the truth, I kind of felt sorry for the other team. We were up in the first quarter 20 something to four. It was so bad that our crowd started to cheer a little when they scored. Now that has to be frustrating. I am blessed I am not on a team like that. I have been playing alright overall. I haven't been shooting that much, but I'm trying to be efficient with the shots I do get.

We have two games this week on Wednesday with a road game and Saturday at home and then that is it for the regular season. We have to win one of those games for sure to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. They will not be easy games because they are against some pretty good teams. Needless to say, it will be interesting how it all turns out.

I hope all is well back home. Love you all.

Take care and God bless,
Mike

It's a crazy, crazy world

I hope all is well back home. I figured I'd give you all an update on our last game and some other crazy experiences I've had lately. We lost again on the road. We just can't seem to get clicking together at the same time. We didn't give up that many points (in the 70s) but we just couldn't find a way to get the ball to fall - frustrating, but there are still five games left until playoffs start so we are still in the hunt. Tomorrow night we have a home game against one of the top teams in our league so it will be a good match for us.

There have been some interesting--to say the least--events I would like to share. First is when we were in the train station a couple weeks ago. I was walking to the bathroom through a crowd of people sitting down waiting for the train when I happen to look over at this woman breastfeeding. On a side note I should add that there was a lady outside the bathroom wanting me to pay to use the facilities even though I just wanted to get some water to wipe something off my pants. She got a little upset when I didn't pay, but it seriously only took 15 seconds) I had to double-take because this woman did not have anything covering her whatsoever. The baby was just going to town. It was just shocking because in the states women, well most I would think, at least put a blanket, shirt, anything to cover up when they are breastfeeding. Nope, not over here. This woman seemed completely fine without a cover-up while strangers were sitting right next to her. I told Tyronn what I saw and he said, "Man stop messing with me." I told him that I can't make up stuff like that. Wow...

Another event happened on our last road trip. It was on our ride home on the bus when the bus driver slammed on his brakes to find out he was a little too late to miss the deer that jumped out in front of us. That's not the crazy thing though. We stop and the bus driver proceeds to get out a garbage bag and take the deer with us. Okay, I know that it wouldn't seem crazy to us who live in Wisconsin for someone to throw a deer we hit in the back of a pickup truck, but it was just strange coming from our bus driver who clearly didn't have a pickup truck at his disposal at the time of the hitting. I just had to laugh a little bit and think well is he going to put it up top with us or down below with our bags. He put it down below just to let you know. But he wasn't going to escape some free venison.

I just had to share those with you and hopefully you got a chuckle out of it. It sure is a different world over here.

Take care and God bless.

Yes, I'm still alive

I saw my last post was February 22 - much too long ago. Not much has changed here. I just wanted to let you all know that everything is going alright and we are still in the hunt for the playoffs. We are 1-1 since my last post. We won our game at home fairly easily, but lost on the road to the team in first place in our league. We gave them a fight, but it just wasn't enough in the end. I'm not one for excuses, but a 12-hour train ride the day before the game probably didn't help much. I did some reading and watched a couple movies on my computer to help the time go by, but I felt like a little kid saying, "Are we there yet?". We have another away game this Saturday and it's a must-win to help us seal a playoff spot. It's only an 8-hour bus ride this time :)

In other news, it was almost 50 degrees today and the birds were chirping - just a lovely sign that spring is hopefully here to stay.

I hope all is well back home. I miss you all very much.

Take care and God bless