ultimate

Good lord, stop the fucking harmonica.

Some random guy is up in the crow's nest playing the harmonica while we're trying to get the games going. Elizabeth turns to the guy and says, "I love it, but please stop it."

Yeah, Elizabeth!

Next time, I'm going to kick the guy out. No badge, no crow's nest. Out! Out!

Update. Oops. The guy with the harmonica was the anthem player. He was up here to start the tournament. I truly need to be more compassionate and understanding. Sigh.

My first morning of my first nationals. Here I am at the fields, in the crow's nest, thinking, "Wow. This is amazing." For people who have been here many times, who think this is just another tournament, who expect to come here every year, I say, "Go home. Let the rest of us, for whom this is a wonder, an experience, a moment, have a chance at this experience." It's more than just a tournament. It's the opportunity to see the sport we love at its finest.

My first thought here is that it's cold. No one told me it was going to be cold. Sure, at the end of the day I'll probably be thrilled with that gentle breeze coming through the crow's nest, the 10° cooler temperature, the shade. But right now, at 9:10 am (it's only 6:10 am at home! Crazy talk!), it's freaking cold. As I'm wont to say, "Cold, tired, hungry. Pick two."

I went to get a bagel for breakfast. Sans cream cheese, not my favorite breakfast, but I'll manage. On my way over, a woman noticed my "Official UPA staff" shirt, and asked, "Hey, do you know when they'll start the beer?"

Blink.

Blink, blink.

It's 8:45.

A.M.

I guess some people, well, have different priorities.

So far today, I've seen and said hello to Brokaw, Drea, Patrick Hard, Becky, Asako, Jane, Kate. I've met a bunch more people that I'm sure I'll never remember their names. And there are many others are here that I recognize: Billy Rodriquez, Mooney, Scottie. This is cool.

Today was a travel day for the trip to Florida to participate in the UPA Club Nationals. Participation here is defined as help with the scores, and update the website. Not quite the participation I would have liked, but, well, it'll be a good start.

Rather than have poor Kris get up at obnoxious-early-o-clock to take me to SFO to fly to Tampa, I stayed with Greg Wolff and his girlfriend Sunita (the amazing, beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, worldly, every-woman-would-love-to-be-her Sunita). They also had a 6:30 am flight, but because they were significantly closer to the airport, and going there anyway, I went with them. It worked out well. We all flew out of SFO, they on United, I on American with Elizabeth Murray (also of SFUL fame).

Cece, who is on Red Fish, Blue Fish with Greg and Sunita, was also on the flights Elizabeth and I were on. Cece cracks me up. I like her a lot. Elizabeth and I spent time waiting at various points with Cece. She's good company.

We arrived pretty much without incident. Waited at various points for flights and other persons driving cars. At the airport, I ran into Wade and Tyler (Kaos), Dea (Fury, and hence Heidi Binder, who remembered me from El Norte, and Sam, who is engaged to Mike Payne (Jam), who I worked with on the UPA site for voting and mail blast). I also met Erik, Vic and Jeff, who are a few of the players who will be observing at the tournament.

At the hotel, I ran into Kelly Johnson (of all people!). Her team missed Nationals by 2 points. She's here to cheer on Mark, as near as I can tell. Ran into Patrick Hard, who introduced me to Nate (who I've heard about on Brass Monkey, but apparently had confused with someone else). Also met up with Will, Sandy and Michael from the UPA (but of course!). I'll be rooming with Scobel Wiggins who takes some of the most amazing ultimate photography. I'm looking forward to meeting her.

Regionals are over, it's time to head back to the real world. It's been an interesting season with Mischief. We went from barely staying together as a team to 5th at Regionals (up from a seeding of 9th), thanks largely to the Smith Brothers: Mark, Kyle and Kevin. Which is not to say the rest of the team wasn't instrumental, just that they are our stars.

I played a lot in the tournament. I pretty much played as much as I could. If I stood up and looked at Andy when he was calling players on the line, he called me in. It's an interesting position to be in: at the top of the roster. I'll admit to being at the bottom for so long, that it feels uncomfortable to be one of the players that always goes in. On the other hand, it's why I took the classes at ASA.

I left regionals sore, but not tired. It's been a LONG, long time since I've been sore at the end of a tournament. It just doesn't happen any longer because of the amount of ultimate I play. However, taking about a month off, then playing hard at Regionals, well, made me sore.

My highlight reel from Regionals:

• Kris going up for the huck and skying the guy 6" taller than he.
• Stopping CTR's Chuckles in an iso play, where it was she against me, and Mark intercepted the throw to her (with Rick's voice in my ears the whole time, encouraging me to stick with her).
• Kevin's handblock next to the sideline
• Kyle's many layout grabs

There are more. I'm sure I'll think of them.

What I need to do now is research toenail removal surgery. I keep jamming my big toe toenails and having them fall off. Better to just get rid of them then continue this cycle, I think.