September

I continue to walk home from IUSB. Today it took less than an hour.

I continue to run on the Riverwalk. For a while it was cold enough that I had to bundle up, but today I was able to wear shorts. The fog was picturesque. The water-treatment plant stank worse than usual.

On the weekends, I continue to play soccer. Like Juan Román Riquelme, I contribute some little effort and much flamboyance. Last Sunday, I wore pink stockings and scored three golazos. Also, for long periods, I tended goal — flamboyantly.

(At first, Meridith refused to drive me in her car, because of my stockings. But then she relented.)

(Also, my parents attended the game and recorded me on video. They were eager to be near to their child. Today they returned to Ecuador.)

On Sunday I spent my church-time in the nursery. Mostly I stood back and allowed the children to play with one another. (I did have to break up one small fight.) But then one child asked me to read to her. We sat down together, and three or four others cuddled up beside us.

(Next time, I may bring my own books. I wonder if these children are old enough for Peter Rabbit.)

And now I’ll stop bragging and disclose that this has been an anxious month for me. In the tutoring office, my stomach is in knots because so many other people are in the room, or could enter into it. Other worries are ruminated in my mind. But my condition is improving (how else would I conclude this post?); these last few days, I’ve enjoyed some peace.

Walking

I’ve been walking home from IUSB. Every day, I change the route; usually it’s a little more than four miles. My longest walk was straight up Twyckenham, then straight across Edison and Angela. My shortest walks have (mostly) followed the East Bank Trail, which goes beside the St. Joe River.

One night I walked along Lincolnway East. That is one lonely-assed road. But I was delighted when I finally reached Downtown South Bend, because I was able to cut across a series of empty, shiny parking lots.

Alas, I can’t say I’ve had a lot of epiphanies during these walks. This doesn’t mean that the mental gears haven’t been turning. They just haven’t been turning any more than usual. Today they were turning during an idle period at work. I was sitting absolutely still. My boss walked past my window, then did so again. Then he came into the office just to point out that the whole time, I’d been staring at the same spot. I asked him if that was OK, and he said it was.

Last week I did have some epiphanies, walking beside Angela in the dark. It was a curious feeling, all those neurons firing inside me, and flowing out of my nose, while next to me the stream of headlights drifted quietly along.

The game against Uruguay

Ecuador, my Ecuador. From the first, we attacked bravely. Felipe Caicedo earned a penalty and then scored it in the same manner in which he’d scored against Bolivia.

Then we hung back and waited for Uruguay to give us spaces. During a counterattack, Christian Benítez seemed to’ve earned another penalty — but instead was booked, unjustly, for diving.

Infuriated, we committed our sole defensive lapse, and the Uruguayans tied the score.

Still, we outplayed and stole points from one of the world’s best teams. The replays are here.

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More tutoring at IUSB. Dunno how helpful I really am, but my students thank me profusely. Many are panicked and seek reassurance. I give them that in heavy doses in order to make my criticisms go down more smoothly.

It’s remarkable what a gentle “bedside manner” I’ve developed these last few years — especially since, with non-students, I continue to be abrasive.

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After work yesterday I watched my dear little friends, the Romaniacs, play soccer. Their team dominated; the ball never seemed to leave their opponents’ half of the field. It was like watching the Spain of the middle-school girls’ league.

Then I visited the Romaniacs’ house; they have two new pet rats, Dusty and Pickles. We all ate supper and I persuaded the Romaniacs to watch “Swooner Crooner.” When Bing Crosby came onscreen, they cracked up, which pleased me. Later I re-sung one of Frank Sinatra’s lines, and cracked up Cristian, the Romaniacs’ father. It’s so gratifying to be with people who think you’re hilarious. :)

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Kenny and I have Web access! We’ve negotiated for weeks with AT&T, and today they finally sent us a technician who could help us. (The previous one was of no use.) Best of all, I got them to promise to waive their installation fee.

More soccer news

Ecuador defeated Bolivia, 1 to 0. The goal was from a non-dubious penalty. The nice thing is that we’re in second place in South America, on target to qualify for the World Cup.

Tomorrow we’ll play another qualifier (away to Uruguay). Pray for Ecuador to win.

Overrated

And now, an important announcement:

What: World Cup qualifier, Ecuador vs. Bolivia.

Where: Quito.

When: Tomorrow (Friday) at 4:30pm, U.S. Eastern Time.

Pray for Ecuador to win.

According to the newest FIFA rankings, Ecuador is the 17th-best team in the world. We’re overrated, I think. Still, I predict we’ll defeat Bolivia by two goals (inelegantly).

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Speaking of FIFA (the video game, not the organization): One of the perks of working at IUSB is that I can use my I.D. card to play FIFA in the recreation building. The problem is, I don’t have an I.D. card. The supply has been exhausted. But a new shipment will arrive next week.

Another nice thing about IUSB is the “walking taco,” available on Thursdays for $2. It consists of an open bag of Fritos corn chips, and meat and cheese mixed with them.

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Outside of tutoring, the first student I met at IUSB was a Pre-Raphaelite girl at the bus stop, daintily sprawled out all over the bench. “Oh, you want to sit here,” she said. She made room for me and then told me about her nomadic past. I also am a nomad, but did not mention it.

The next day I met another student, on the elevator. He glared at me for some moments and then abruptly confessed: “I hate everyone here. The faculty, the staff, and the students. I hate them all.” I told him I was sorry.

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JP, how many books do you intend to write? And why are you so prolific on Xanga, but not in philosophy?

Well, this is what I’m constantly explaining to my friends in academia who aren’t philosophers.

More of the same

Who are these Californians who read my Xanga? Sometimes I wonder.

Kenny and I finished viewing Barry Lyndon — an act of masochism. One scene, especially painful, showed various 18th-century bigwigs and damsels playing cards by candlelight. The shots were beautifully composed, but there was little dialog or drama, and the scene dragged on for ten minutes; all the while, tedious chamber music blared.

When, at last, the scene was changed, the narrator said: “To make a long story short …”

This sort of joke was repeated for three hours.

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Still no regular Web access, though not for lack of trying. As far as we can tell, our modem is defective.

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Today I am inspired by Evelyn Waugh.

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Finally my holidays have ended. Yesterday, Cat and Kenny and I went to the beach, and afterward I hosted a dinner party. (I entertained my guests by talking about my books.) But today I put in six long hours tutoring at IUSB.