October is my summer.

It’s the month where work is a little less chaotic, life is a little bit more relaxed and the wife is in Russia for two weeks.  Of course, the wife isn’t in Russia every October for two weeks, but she was this October.  (My how the world changes when you let it.)  Don’t get me wrong, I missed Angie while she was gone, but any guy who is married enjoys a little “bachelor time” now and then.  Harley Hound and I do okay by ourselves and we get to keep odd hours and have as much of the bed as we want.  I get all the diagonal sleeping I can stand, and Harley can chase rabbits without waking Angie up.  Angie left us plenty of good food, but we feel independent so that’s the important point.

So place the wife in Nizhny Novogorod and Moscow for two weeks, stir in some away football weekends, and add in a healthy disconnect from several regular Gainesville October activities (not even a run in the Gator Gallop this year) and you have all the making for what is by comparison to some other months of the year (cough June/July) a fairly nice month-long vacation … and without the use of leave time!  In fact, if it wasn’t for the summer-like weather (do I get a reprimand from the SEC office if I complain about it?), October 2009 would be a 300 bowling game.

Today starts a new month, however, and a new season as well.  The clocks have moved forward, the weather seems to have turned cooler again … hopefully this time for good … and we’re back in the swing of several of the things that make Gainesville … well Gainesville.

Earlier this evening we were walking back from our friends’ apartment downtown where we’d watched Green Bay give Minnesota a second-half scare.  As we made the 20-minute walk back to our house on the fringe of the Duckpond, we were thankful for the weather, Angie was happy for Percy’s night, and I was a little bummed that the Pack couldn’t serve up a little comeuppance for the Vikes.  More importantly though, we were figuring our end-of-the-workday plan for basketball tomorrow.

Yes!  Basketball!  I know folks are very excited about Tebow season, and it is easy to lose sight of other Gator teams that are also having a great Fall Semester, but the date I always imaginary circle on the imaginary calendar with the imaginary red pen is the first hoops game of the year.

The guys play two games and almost get a third in before the gals even play one, but we’ve got plenty of chances to watch both teams in the friendly confines of the O’Dome this month and we can’t wait to get started.

For men’s games, our season ticket position has improved just a bit and we look forward to a fresh take on all the action that Donovan and company typically provide.  For the women’s games, we plan to continue our habit of seating in the Level 1 bleachers underneath the basket by the Lady Gator bench.  Coach Butler always has an entertaining amount of energy and we don’t expect a little injury to curtail that one bit.

Just over 20 hours to tip… and counting!

Filed under: Basketball