my date with the pep band.

Saturday was a bit of an IUPUI day for me. I PA'd for women's softball -- first time for me -- as well as going to dinner with the Pep Band; also a first for me.

In both cases, I hope to do that again.

The softball games weren't bad; pretty loose atmosphere and all. But I could've been better. As I commented to Ed Holdaway, the SID, and Denise O'Grady, the Assistant AD, "I stopped doing PA in February and clearly haven't started back up again."

Soccer's really not that far off, so I better start getting my head on straight.

As for the evening dinner, it was really a fun night for me. The Pep Band is a fun crowd and I've enjoyed getting to know them. They even had a plaque made for Dave, the band director, complete with many of the nicknames I've called him. It only reminds me how much I already look forward to next season.

Rather than sit across a basketball court and wave at them, I got to actually talk to them and get to know them better. I can only hope to have more opportunities like this.

I even got an invite to go to Landshark's(!) last night. Here's the funny part: when I got home from dinner and got done walking Brinkley, I went back inside and realized, "I'm too tired to even think about going out for a beer!" So I went to sleep around 11:30 p.m. On a Saturday night. Wow....what a geezer!

I plan on going back to Tulsa for the tournament. With a little luck, I'll try to hang out with the Pep Band out there.

It's only -- what? -- seven months to Midnight Madness? Who's ready?

I'm ready.