Killing some time

So I'm at the office, waiting on an e-mail, in a holding pattern. The Aces have just won Game 2 of a doubleheader, and I'm waiting on an e-mail from their sports information director in order to update my story for the Web. Yes, I know all of you are very intrigued.

Tonight was interesting. The two new Louisiana Tech coaches came down to Alexandria for a Cenla event, and I got to go cover it. Fun times anything I can do something Tech-related. I'd met Kerry Rupp, the new men's basketball coach, but tonight was my first experience with Derek Dooley, the new football coach. I must say I was totally impressed. I'm not sure if it will translate to wins on the field, but the man means business.

Speaking of wins on the field ... NCAA 08 is out for the PS3. At first glance, I didn't like it. Jury's still out, too. I don't like the complete format changes, controller changes, etc. It feels like a completely different game than the one I've played for more than a decade. However, it does have some redeeming qualities -- like a more in-depth recruiting system, which really excites me, and the Campus Legend mode is pretty fun, too. I've only had it for 3 days now, and I'm not trying to make any rush judgments, so I'll get back to you after I've done more playing.

It's been a good week for me. Elizabeth and I (somehow, someway) arrived back home safely after a week at church camp where we served as chaperones. For the most part, it was a good trip. I got to spend some time with the kids -- some of my favorites and some of the ones I didn't know very well at all -- and we had a good time visiting the beach and Universal Studios. I'm not saying I want to jump back on board to do it all over again next week, but it was a meaningful experience. I hope the kids feel the same way.

After arriving home on Sunday and sleeping the better part of the next two days away (hey, 14 hours in a Mustang isn't easy!), I awoke refreshed and not ready to go back to work. But alas, it must be done. But not before I got to spend some time with a few friends.

The Commonground Band (or the cgb) is in town (Pineville) this week to play Cross Camp. The CGB and I go way back, like to my freshman year at Tech, when the band started. Common Ground was a weekly interdenomenational service at Louisiana Tech that was a major part of my life while I was in college. And I became somewhat of a groupie, if you will, while I was at Tech.

Any way, Elizabeth and I went to the nightly service at Cross Camp, being held at Louisiana College, on Monday and I picked up some CGB merchandise, including the band's new CD, Fire and Glory. The CD is the band's seventh, but only its second original CD -- and first since my sophomore year at Tech, in 2002. So it's been five years since the band released any original material, and I was nearly starved to listen.

While the CD isn't quite as long as I'd like -- there are only 11 tracks, if you take out the 30-second intro track, and I would have preferred a few more -- but the work is exceptional. Honestly, I truly believe this band is as good as some of the mainstream worship bands on the scene today. Admittedly, I'm biased. But I truly believe that. These guys are special musicians, and I really enjoy their music.

On Tuesday, I had the chance to go to lunch with Brent Hammett, the cgb's drummer and an old high school and college buddy of mine from Ruston. Since I've moved down to Alexandria and Brent and his wife Cassie have moved to Shreveport, we haven't been in contact much over the past several months. So it was great to sit and talk awhile, catch up with how our lives are going and discuss future plans. And the Raising Cane's wasn't too shabby either!

There's more, plenty more, to be said, but it will have to wait until another time. For now, I'm back off to work, and then to the PS3 for a little NCAA 08!