Anticipate this

Took a trip down to the batting cages at Chelsea Piers last week. Was the first time I was facing a bowling machine. Well, not exactly. It was the second time. The first time had been during a cricket nets session at the HC way back in the darkness that serves for the past. But this time round had baseball bat in hand, and a machine spitting yellow balls at 65 mph from a distance of about 30 feet, with no windup whatsoever to prepare you. Needless to say, my first couple of at-bats, a string of 10 pitches, I swung mightily and missed mightily. Humiliated, and suitably humbled, I set about trying to anticipate the pitch a little more. I changed my stance to imitate Johnny Damon, using my left leg to step into the pitch. A cricket hangover, no doubt, but it helped tremendously. Over time things got better, and I was able to crunch quite a few.

My hands are blistered now. Next time will make sure to wear a glove, and perhaps also not face upwards of 70 pitches.

Now, I want to play cricket.

Does there exist a universal truth outside of human experience, or can truth only be realized through that experience?

Build up

End of semester woes. Another week and change to go.

Then perhaps a couple of days of respite, before shutting shop in Manhattan and making the move 12 hours east to the northern capital of the middle country. Beijing. China.

Much to look forward to, and yet much to do before.