Squash

In the past month, I've become a big fan of the game of squash . I got started when my manager, who is also just starting to play, invited me to play. I quickly got into the game. It is in some ways similar to racquetball, but I like it much better than racquetball. Racquetball is a game for vicious thugs and miscreants, and squash is for those with more refined sensibilities.

Last week I took a squash lesson and purchased a squash racquet and shoes . My manager and I are usually evenly matched, but this week I beat him 9-1. It may be time for me to start participating in the CMU squash ladder . :-)

Birthday Weekend

My friend Phil came to Pittsburgh for the weekend of my birthday, July 15-16. Some of the things we did:

• Went to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and Car Show .
• Saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
• Went kayaking on the Allegheny River.
• Ate at D's , Aiello's , and Five Guys .
• Played the improbably excellent battle mode of the Dreamcast version of San Francisco Rush 2049 .

I'm looking forward to visiting Phil, Angie, Tim, and the rest of the gang in Cleveland sometime before the end of the summer.