Sigh...

I'm gonna start with yesterday and work my way forward.

At the end of the kids' jujitsu class, we all did a Rutgers cheer towards the Raritan River, and the stadium beyond, since the biggest game in 137 years was starting right as kids' class was ending. After the kids left, we went out on the roof of the gym and looked towards the stadium, where we could see the lights. Every once in a while, there'd be a cheer (44,111 voices!) which was cool that we could hear it from that distance. When we went downstairs for adult jujitsu, we had the gym supervisor poking his head in to tell us the score.

I got checked out in jujitsu. For you non-jujitsuka, thats sort of like a pop quiz to see if you're ready for the final exam. You can't test for the next belt without being checked out. This is the second time I've been checked out. And I'm probably not testing soon. This time, for different reasons. In May, it was mental. I practiced the techniques. I didn't actually DO them. Now, according to Rod, that part is ok. Its the bridge falls I have to work on. Or rather... I have to actually do one. I had it sort of in May and then lost it. I haven't done one since then. And I'm terrified to do it. I don't know why. And this time... I don't have the patience to be pushed to do it. In May, I had Barb stand over me and say "Just go, do it, NOW." And after a few false starts, I went and did it. A poor one, but I did. And I got used to doing it.

Now, I don't have the patience. If she does that again, I might lose it and flat out refuse. I don't know how she would respond to that either. I don't know how I would respond to that.

So, this little blue belt won't be losing a stripe quite yet. I feel like I SHOULD be sad, but I'm not. I really don't care. I'm starting to get that uneasy feeling... because there's a lot I don't care about, and I feel like I should be caring.

After class, we walked over to the student center. College Avenue was DEAD. A ghost town. Cue sound effect #39, crickets chirping. Everyone was inside watching a TV or over at the stadium. You could have gotten away with murder; there was no one around to witness it. Even the police were in the student center watching the game. Anissa did 90 on George St after her class because the only ones around had their faces glued to the front window of a bar, trying to see the tv. Even so, there was still a tiny buzzing in the back of our heads, the helicopters from Homeland Security just waiting... biding the time until all hell breaks loose at the end of the game. It could either be a good all hell breaking loose, or a bad one, depending on the game.

We got there by the 4th quarter, and saw Rutgers tie it up. The tension in the student center was crazy, you could cut it with a knife. I thought Cara was going to have a stroke if she ran out of nervous habits. Then, the cheer that went up at the end of the game totally released all the tension.

Minutes later, College Ave was a madhouse. A whole mob of people marching down the street screaming... cars honking horns... helicopter floodlights roving around like the eye of Sauron... it was crazy, in a cool way.

So yeah. Yay for Rutgers. Way to be crazy. Of course we won... its the way of the RU Screw. You think its smooth sailing, and then BAM they drop your class. Or in this case... win your game.

Oh yeah. And thanks to NYC for lighting up the Empire State Building for us. Cool effect. Why are we always sharing sports teams with you guys?