A VERY Busy Week

Again, I fell off of the blogging 'wagon' and let a good amount of time go by before I decide to post anything worthwhile. But THIS week, I had a good reason...

Opening tip-off of the NCAA 'play-in' game...
the winners can proudly say 'We're #64!'

It started off with some personal issues (a claustrophobia-inducing medical test and a polygraph exam) on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. After work on that second evening, my friend (and co-worker) hosted me and another mutual friend for a 'boys night out' at the NCAA Opening Round game at the University of Dayton Arena. Back in 2001, the tradition of matching the 64th and 65th teams in a pitched head-to-head battle was established to see who would be go on to be one of the #16 seeds that usually get 'slaughtered' by the region's top ranked squads. This year, the Purple Eagles of Niagara University and the Rattlers from Florida A&M were those teams. Both qualified for the 'big dance' by winning their respective conference championships (the Metro Atlantic and Mid-Eastern) and each won 20 games this season so it appeared--on paper--that this would be a very evenly matched game. While it was close for a good part of the contest, Niagara eventually pulled away and earned a 77-69 victory (the big difference being FAMU was stone cold from the free-throw line). Here is a link that provides some additional insight into this game and the traditions that has been building up here in Dayton for this annual event over the past seven years.

Dayton's peace rally...a respectable gathering--
considering OSU vs Xavier was on TV

And today was a 'first' in my life--I attended a peace rally! Sponsored by the September 11 Coalition, this gathering attracted nearly 100 people to the US federal courthouse in downtown Dayton on a sunny--but cold--Saturday afternoon. Several speakers, to include Iraq and Vietnam-era veterans, addressed the crowd on this local commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the 2003 pre-emptive invasion of Iraq by the current administration (and the DC march was to recognize the 40th anniversary of the first mass march on the Pentagon during the Vietnam War). Several demonstrations were planned throughout the country this weekend and one counter-demonstration was expected at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC due to an unfounded fear of peace activists vandalizing that monument. By all news accounts, no major incidents occurred at that or any other location. You can find all of my photos at this link.

All in all, it was a rather remarkable six days...but if I'm going to be taken seriously as a blogger, I've got to stop falling off of the 'wagon'...

A Pleasant Surprise (For Greene County)

Terry McAuliffe in Greene County...
who'd have thunk it???

For some strange reason, we decided to eat out last Thursday (choosing to brave the miserable weather and have Mongolian BBQ over at BD's at the Greene). When we finished and started strolling near Books & Co., I noticed the neon 'event' light was lit so we decided to take a peek inside. It turns out that Terry McAuliffe (Hillary Clinton's campaign manager) was there as a guest speaker and was just finishing up his after-talk signing of his latest book. Needless to say, I schlepped up the stairs, picked one up, and got in line (the Mrs. and our two kids made it up there shortly afterward). There were a few folks ahead of us so we waited our turn. He seemed to be very positive about this event here in a 'red' county. He looked very 'clean' and was extremely articulate!!!

During our turn, my wife mentioned that we used to live in Maryland (during my 'No Such Agency' days) and he struck up a conversation that led to the WH's warrantless wiretapping program. He started in with the 72-hour timeframe the AG has to seek a warrant, and I had to correct him by stating that during wartime the period is extended to 15 calendar days. While he was already flabbergasted that the Justice Department couldn't function in that shorter period, he was almost giddy with the FISA 'nugget' I provided him. Perhaps Mrs. Clinton will have that item tucked into one of her point papers or stump speeches in the near future.

Unfortunately, I didn't provide my name so I will not be expecting any kudos (or Cabinet appointments)...so my dream of being CIA director won't be coming true anytime soon!!!

Langley's just a 'pipe dream'...
no new business cards needed...

Now, because of an unscheduled dinner trip, our family has a nice keepsake of our accidental brush with a national-level Democrat who ventured into our neck of the woods. Let's hope this is a good omen for 2008.