Today, is a historical day for the gay community in New Delhi and around the globe. Indian court has decriminalized homosexuality in the country’s capital. Homosexuality was once punishable by ten years in prison. Although, not often used to its full extent, the law has given cause for harassment. I have no doubt the gay community of India will continue to climb big hurdles, but this is one step in the right direction.

More importantly, it was a sad evening for AC/FC. The Athletic Club Football Club lost its semi-final game this evening, after a first-round by resulting from the the forfeit of our opponents who couldn’t field a team.  The game started out strong, but we seemed to have lost our steam mid-way through the game.  There were a lot of substitutions tonight, so with a short 30-minute game, the team was constantly subbing which seemed to really affect our game.  With so many substitutions, it is difficult to get into a grove with the players around you.  Learning a player’s style and trying to anticipate their movement is difficult enough, let alone when the players are constantly subbing into different positions.  Although, it could be the fact that it was Canada Day and many teammates had participated in the festivities with at least some level of alcohol in their bloodstream before the game.

We lost our semi-final game with a 3-1 loss.  It wasn’t a big surprise and our goalie completely saved our a$$es.  Our regular goalie was back and he made some pretty big saves.  The carnage could have been far more bloody without him in net.  Unfortunately, I think he suffered a pretty serious wrist injury; I hope he doesn’t live on a computer for his day job.

The plan for the evening was to enjoy a celebratory drink or two after the game before heading to the fireworks.  Instead, we drowned our sorrows both on the field and then off the field, without a care for any celebratory fireworks popping in the air.  I guess we’ll have to make more of an effort next season.  Our regular season was successful with a 7-1-0 record, but I think we have to move up a division now that we finished at the top.  From my understanding, we had been slaughtered in the upper division previous to this season, hence being pushed down to this division.  However, since it is quite common to play at the level of your opponent, perhaps playing up a division will motivate us on the field.

On a side note, anyone who knows me, or at least has shared a beverage with me, knows that I can hardly stomach the taste of beer.  I really detest it.  I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always struggled with the flavour.  However, it seems that after a game, a cold beer tastes much better.  I don’t mind the flavour so much on the sidelines.  Perhaps my tastebuds are maturing.  Perhaps adrenaline mixes well with it.  Perhaps I’m just so dehydrated that even a diuretic is appealing.  In any case, it seems it is the only time I can enjoy the malt beverage.  Bizarre.

I’ve recently started noticing that the battery on my Macbook loses its capacity very quickly.  I think it’s at about an hour to an hour and a half limit.  It’s sad to see.  I had such faith in it.  I was so diligent to only plug it in at about 6-8% remaining power, often waiting until I received the second reserve-battery notification for its depleted state before connecting the power cord.  I consistenly let the Macbook discharge then recharge, but alas, it hasn’t been holding its charge.  I realize that all Lithium batteries have an end-of-life.  After a few years with this fine piece of machinery, I do believe its lifeline has finally given up.  A replacement battery will run me over $150, but what pains me more than the cost to my pocketbook, is the cost to the environment.  Another Lithium battery to add to the heap.  My reserve battery notification just alerted me; time to plug it back in.  Sigh.

Tonight, AC/FC suffered its first lost.  Yes, we were defeated, for the first time this season.  This is our final regular game of the season before play-offs.  It was a tough defeat at 7-3 (I think.  I lost count.)  I typically don’t like to single out any individual player, but I have to admit, the goalie we recruited for this evening was quite lacking in skill.  Our regular goalie has been away for some time, our back-up goalie we had recruited from another team - the team we were playing - so that left us with a last minute scramble for a goalie.  As a goalie, it is critical to be aggresive and authoritative.  Otherwise, forwards who are equally aggressive and authoritative will walk all over a meek goalie; eat ‘m up for breakfast.  Tonight, our goalie was eaten for dinner.  I was a little concerned when I saw him carving a 6-foot line from the middle of his goal towards the middle of the field.  Odd.  Perhaps it helps him with angles, I thought.  Then I realized that this is his imaginary line of comfort.  He didn’t seem to leave the 6-yard box which is one of the biggest mistakes of new goalies.  It’s easier to cut off an angle from outside the box, then staying tight in the net.  The game was a tough loss as it was our only loss, but it will keep us honest for the play-offs.

Last night, my colleagues and I hiked the Grouse Grind. I was a bit slower than my previous time at 53:32, but I was happy with the results. I tend to start thinking about other things and loose focus on the current task. When I realize I am doing this, I refocus and attack each step with more fervor. It was a good night to tackle the grind, with an overcast, the slight threat of rain and cool temperatures, meant it was a less stifling climb.  It made for a rather cold walk home, but I definitely love the cooler temperatures when I’m working so hard.
I wasn’t working nearly as hard as Sebastian Albrecht, mind you. He was attempting to beat is previous shared record for the highest number of consecutive climbs in a day. I’m assuming he chose yesterday to break the record since it is the day after the longest day of the year and it was a Monday. Therefore, there are fewer people (read tourists) on the Grind at that time. As part of his fundraiser effort, he had to complete each climb within an hour, otherwise, he would pay $500 out of his own pocket to the cause. Yesterday, he broke his shared record of 12 by one, to complete 13 climbs in a day. That is nearly 13 hours of straight uphill. Unbelievable. I have new inspiration and perhaps I will attempt to complete the grind twice consecutively, some day.