NASCs in Pittsburgh

Here in Pittsburgh. NASC tournament 2012, though our (MARFU) shorts say 2010. Seriously, if you’re here and you’re not MARFU, take a gander at our otherwise very comfortable, stylish shorts. “MARFU All-Stars 2010.” Anywhere I can find a DeLorean with a flux capacitor and some plutonium?

We play the NRU tomorrow. They beat us two weeks ago—they put up a lot of points and we put a few. It won’t happen again. Don’t misread that. I didn’t say we’re going to beat the NRU—I won’t chance a jinx or mix arrogance with karma. I’m just saying that we are ready, capable, and anxious to redress our mistakes. This match will be closer. They will be uncomfortable at least. At most, their discomfort will reflect on the scoreboard and we will upset last year’s champs.

NRU and tomorrow’s match aside, I’m digging Pittsburgh (or the area outside Pittsburgh). The people are pleasant, the produce is cheap, the hills are bucolic, and the weather is nearly perfect, save the humidity and a chance of rain. I’m also digging the water pressure in the shower at the Days Inn in Pittsburgh/outskirts of Pittsburgh. Last year, in Chula Vista, the water pressure was similar to that of the mizzle from a dollar store water gun. There were also bed bugs, or aphids, or fleas, or chiggers, or something in a couple of the beds in Chula Vista, and a family of illegal aliens, or the homeless, or pygmies, or something living in the back parking lot, which are all delightfully absent here.

In our back parking lot is a grassy knoll, not the infamous one, where we will do yoga tomorrow morning after our continental breakfast, which (and I’m saying this not as a jab, but as someone who is familiar with the continental breakfasts of Days Inns, and Quality Inns, and other budget motels) will amount to a modicum of fruit, some sort of carbs (bagels, if we’re lucky, toast, if not), perhaps some instant oatmeal, and, if we’re really lucky and have hit the jackpot of budget motels, a waffle maker. But that’s better than nothing at all, and the economical benefits will surely accentuate the savoriness.

Now, I’m off to dreamland where I hope to visualize some positive rugby stuff. My mom always said that you play better when you have good dreams.