Knicks, Revolution, and Lil Soups...

14 June 2026: Checking in with the girls?

Jo had Knicks Fever last night, just like me.

Veronica, earlier this afternoon, about five minutes after I freed her from the office, where I had trapped her to apply Revolution. (Yes, another "Revolution on Cats" day.) From freak-out mode to staring at me from the coffee table in five minutes...

Not pictured, the Lil Soups they will both enjoy later this evening, a belated birthday treat for BabyCat.

5 game streak!

18 February 2026: Very busy day, one with a couple of not fun meetings. What powered me through? Knowing where I was headed to when that last meeting ended: over to the Butcher Center.

What a treat to see the women's basketball team win their fifth game in a row tonight. They are 7-1 since January 24. That loss? It was by one point. 

So much fun to watch them play!

"Surprised by joy"

11 February 2026: Yesterday, Tim told me--when we were talking about changes on campus--that he was happy to see me looking hopeful. So that's been on my mind (in a good way).

As I am starting to wrap up a stretch of extra-intense work (might fully catch my breath a week from tomorrow? fingers crossed!), it felt great to get over to the women's basketball game this evening and watch them notch another win. They're 6-10 now, but are on a little hot streak. Just fun, fun, fun to see them win. 

This post's title, the titular opening words of a Wordsworth poem, came into my head today when I was thinking about all of this: "Surprised by joy..." 

What I remember about studying this poem for the first time is how it shifts even in that first line--there's such drama in it. It opens not in the moment of joy, but in the moment after, when the speaker realizes he is surprised by it. And then it shifts to grief. 

I was surprised by joy--and yes, right there in the surprise, in fact, pushing it into being was (is) grief. But the grief didn't swallow the joy. 

There is something else there, though, ridiing alongside joy and surprise...a fear that the rug will be pulled out again. Can't let that fear take over, though. 

Another W

2 Feburary 2026: Long Monday, but happy to end the public part of my day watching the women's basketball team score another win. They are still just 6-13, but that's better than last year--and you can see them coming together in cool ways. It's fun to watch. 

Incoming snow...

24 January 2026: What a moment we are in right now. A few hours ago, I was sitting at the women's basketball game, watching them win a thrilling upset against Kutztown. Looked at my phone and saw that ICE has killed another person--a VA nurse--in Minnesota. 

Walked home holding these two realities in my mind--folks playing and watching basketball while in another state, good people are being killed by the government. I want to scream. I want to shake the people who can make this stop. 

Settled in at home waiting for the snow to start. I hate being snowed in, but I think the low-level sadness and anxiety that's been omnipresent is dulling the usual snow-flavored blues...like they can't even really break through in their normal way. They are still there...just dulled.

Telling myself that being snowed in--assuming the heat pump and the pipes hold out--can be a good thing. Work to catch up on, stuff to watch, time with the girls. 

None of that, though, helps our brothers and sisters in Minnesota and our brothers and sisters disappearing from streets all over the country. 

It's just so much. 

Basketball's back...

22 November 2025: Everything else is as fraught and uncertain as it was yesterday, but now I've got basketball back. The women's team had their home opener today and while they couldn't pull out a win, they're back and that's enough.

The cows fly again!

22 February 2025: 

[Catch-up post...]

Wrapped up the work week with my second Flying Cows game ever--a preseason game before their second season starts up. Once again, Cory got the tickets through his company. This time, Amy joined us. And, like last time, we grabbed dinner at Lucky Corner beforehand. So many of my favorite things and people coming together, so I was, of course, pretty happy. 

I was also wiped out by the time I got home--a long week with a lot of grading, meetings, work, and this head cold (which is lingering, but definitely on its way out). So...a "catch-up" post today. 

Another win...

19 February 2025: Long day, with this cold--both my head cold and the freezing weather--lingering. But what a delight to see the women's basketball team pull off another confernence win, this time against an opponent who they lost to by a lot earlier this season. Still a ways to go, but I keep saying their record does not reflect the way they've played. 

Another win!

18 November 2024: After a long day of teaching and one-on-one conferences, I was so glad to have a basketball game to get to. Even better? They won big time. 

First home game...

14 November 2024: Boy, did I really need tonight's home opener for women's basketball. And boy, did their squeaker of a win make my day! 

Flying Cows!

14 April 2024: Cory's company did some free design work for the new basketball team in Frederick, so he had some free tickets and invited me to join him and Hannah. It was a blast. And they won!

So long, #23!

2 March 22024: It was bittersweet watching my student/advisee, Cara, play her last game as a Shepherd Ram today. It was quite a privilege to see her grow and endure in her time here. And it makes me smile to think of her out there, teaching English. 

Another win...

27 January 2024: Got to see the women's basketball team score another win today. It was a terrific game from start to finish. Two pretty evenly matched teams and close throughout. 

Snowy day...

6 January 2024: If we have to have a snowy day, I am okay with it happening on a Saturday. Took my walk early (thank you, YakTrax), worked on finishing up my next entry (all done!), walked up to the basketball game (thank you again, YakTrax), and got all of my chores done. Having the game to walk to helped my mood quite a bit--it kept me from feeling so isolated, which a big reason I don't like snow. Settled in now for some TV and maybe some reading before bed. So...a good snowy day. 

Some good things...

12 December 2023: Today's "in-between" day has been a pretty good one. Some reasons why:

• Started off the day with a mammogram. Look, that's not fun, but I am grateful for insurance, good providers, and science. And seriously: the young woman who did ran the machine, etc. was really sweet and kind.
• Treated myself to a post-mammogram biscuit from the just-opened Tudor's Biscuit World in Inwood. A bit out of the way (15 minutes from the medical center), but 100% worth it.
• Sped through (in a good way!) the reading on my to-do list for my next entry. Mostly through with the notes. Should finish them soon.
• With Amy, Carrie, and Heidi D., I watched the women's basketball team play an afternoon game.
• And the women crushed it. It's terrific to see them pull out a win.

Home opener...

21 November 2023: Got to watch the women's basketball home opener this afternoon. They didn't win, but it was a close (if messy). I still had a great time and it's fun to get a first look at the new players. I see some potential there! 

Last home game...

22 February 2023: Last home game of the women's basketball season today. They didn't win, but it is very clear how much they have grown this season. They will all be back next year, so I am already excited about that. 

Decompression time...

15 February 2023: No matter how busy, long, and overwhelming a day is, getting over to watch a basketball game makes me happier and soothes me. And the women really seem to be playing better the past few games, even if they aren't racking up wins. 

First win!

8 February 2023: It's been a long and rough road this rebuilding season for the women's basketball team, but they got their first win today in a really exciting game. So glad I got to see it!

0-10, but...

30 December 2022: Another "L" for the women's basketball team today, but this time, I think the score really didn't reflect the effort (though the winning team really pulled ahead in the end). I think it must be rough for them to be going through this season (win-less so far and not a single game has been close), but I was pleased to see them seeming to have fun out there at times. Proud of them for just trying, trying, trying and playing the game they love.