there are some people that you hope--i mean really hope--that you never lose contact with. and then 9 months later, somehow all contact has been lost. or at least that happens with me.

fortunately, however, all contact is not lost! tonight i had the pleasure of engaging in a 100+ minute conversation with sumo, and it revolved almost not at all around sports. there was actual catching up done, which is always a blast.

sumo learned that i professionally receive beer from middle-aged men, while i learned that he's putting our tax dollars at work to publicize his rec league basketball team. i mean, this is important stuff.

there exists the possibility that i will return to chicago this weekend, for what would be the first of three consecutive weekends of said trip. (the following weekend is already booked, with nu-illinois happening at the united center, while the one after that will probably see another return to watch my sister perform.) the conversation with sumo, one of the world's genuinely good people, increases the possibility that this weekend's trip will occur.

it sure was great to hear that guy's voice.


in other news, i this weekend purchased bright eyes' lifted, or the story is in the soil keep your ear to the ground, which was gurs' pick as his favorite album of 2002. i think it's a real neat album, and i'm happy i bought it. the music can be a bit repititious, but his lyrics are nearly always interesting.

that's my story. back to the grind, i guess.