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March 10, 2006
sometimes my tries are outside the line
It was very, very good to be back to rugby last night. I had forgotten what a stress reliever it is for me - and of the latent aggression that accumulates after a good practice. I almost took on a DC garbage truck on the bike ride home (driver on cell phone, attempting to run red light while I was crossing - I gave him attitude instead).
And I have never, ever seen so many return players from the past season return in the 5+ years I have been playing. We have never had so many experienced players on the team, and are also blessed with a hell of a lot of good rookies too. It is going to be a very good season for the team. We had enough players to play like 18 on 18 or something, even with some standing out. My cardio level was pretty good, but my reactions and reflexes not so much. I'll bring my brain to practice on Tuesday.
FYI, some other bloggers and readers have expressed interest in the game and team. Yes - rookies can play; no - you don't need previous experience; no - you're not too small/too big to play; yes - you're in shape, shut up and come to practice.
I have received a few e-mails questioning my choice to link to certain conservative/radical/puritan/slutty/whatever bloggers. It's actually funny to compare these e-mails - some people cannot understand why I would chat with or link to someone with a more libertarian or conservative view, while others are up in arms that I have linked to or have socialized with those who practice a more fecund and radical sex life. Believe me, I do have some standards as to who I link to and who I won't (Are they inherently evil or painfully boring? Do they post regularly enough? Are they certifiably insane? Is the blogger in question a walking train wreck?). Frankly, if I have met someone and I like them, or if I think their insights are informed or interesting, I will link to them, but it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with what they do or what they think.
If you had been to my 30th birthday party, probably the last time the spectrum of my friends and acquaintances were in the same room, you'd see this is how I also choose my friends - I hang out with rugby jocks, D&D geeks, trashy bath house whores, uppity urban queens, unkempt Bears, and people who used to wear black trenchcoats and ate lunch under the stairs in high school.
I also think in today's highly polarized world, it's important to read these differing ideas and to understand all kinds of people. And you have to make an effort to do it these days. There's not enough conciliation going on today because people are ghettoizing themselves so readily to one side or the other. It is so easy (and comfortable) to hang out with your crunchy world beat vegetarian friends and be derisive of other groups, to hang out with your materialistic friends and talk about your next homeware purchase, or to exclusively go to Bear events and leave it at that. I like to think I'm able to transcend these compartmentalizations, and strive to cross boundaries or be undefined by them. Or as Natasha sings, I am Unwritten.
Considering how our current political leaders are manipulating and polarizing the public for their own ends - dividing us so easily - I consider it an act of rebellion to make attempts to understand people who are different than me, who think in different ways. When you listen to someone who thinks differently than you and try to meet in the middle ( somewhere purple rather than red or blue ) it pisses off Karl Rove and the Republican party.
Plus, it's my fucking blog and I'll link to whoever the hell I want to.
Posted by jimbo at March 10, 2006 11:18 AM
Comments
You tell them Jimbo.
I've been thinking about joining Quake Rugby, here in Seattle, maybe I'll check it out.
http://www.quakerugby.org/index.htm
Posted by: Augusto Lima at March 10, 2006 12:27 PM
Amen brother! And very mature. I too REFUSE to stuff myself into a nice, safe little box. How can you enjoy all that life has to offer, if all you can see is the stuff that floats past your little square. The tapestry of friends you have sounds rich indeed. (Did we go to the same high school?) There's has to be enough in life to make you laugh, cry, piss you off, and actually give a shit about things. Sitting on a bar stool waiting for the next silver back to smile at you can be fun, but not if your there every night.
Posted by: Mike at March 10, 2006 12:52 PM
I just wish I knew some bath house whores...
Posted by: homer at March 10, 2006 1:33 PM
Good thoughts jimbo, I'm glad I stumbled upon you. Your smart, good looking, and willing to stand up for what you believe in. I like that almost as much as the fact that your a gay guy that plays D & D and civ, wish you were closer! Keep it up
Posted by: tim at March 10, 2006 1:43 PM
People really write to you to complain about who you link to on your own blog?
Wow.
For what it's worth, I couldn't agree with you more. It serves the Bush cronies best interests to divide the whole country into neat little factions what won't work together.
Posted by: Scott at March 10, 2006 1:44 PM
I still wear long black trench coats, but I no longer eat under the stairs (food gets dusty and to many spiders ;-)
The more diverse your friends are the richer life is.
Posted by: Dax at March 10, 2006 7:39 PM
You have hit the nail on the head regarding the polarization in our nation. For a bunch of dead, WASP, slave owners the Founding Fathers were smart enough to craft a document that forced people to the center in order to make the government work. It may be democracy by the lowest common denominator but it's worked (albeit somewhat imperfectly) for well over 200 years now.
Posted by: Darth Bubba at March 11, 2006 9:26 PM
Hey dude I'm with you -- keeping to one narrow demographic is terribly boring. Hell, it's the fights I have with my friends that remind us why we're friends in the first place.
Posted by: Josh at March 12, 2006 1:32 PM
Jimbo, I lurfs me some varying viewpoints. That's why I still read the Blade!
Posted by: turingcub at March 14, 2006 2:49 PM
In the spirit of diversity, I'd like to jump in here--I have the feeling I'm the only Real Girl commenting on your blog-- Anyway, I concur! My life is far richer being full of strange and wonderful people. Besides, they provide fodder for the best stories to tell.
Posted by: Cidney at March 14, 2006 9:50 PM