Why does it always seem the same?

So yet another Carolina-Duke basketball game has come and gone, and just like last year, the day was filled with adventure for me. Last year, I happened to be in Norman in early February, and was able to join Celia (one of the admin staff in the school of meteo at OU) for our annual "Brad and Celia's Carolina-Duke watch party", and wouldn't you know it, I came down with one of the most vicious head colds I had had in about a decade. By tip-off that Wed., I was slightly better, but still weak and nauseous. Fast-forward a year and a month, to today. Another Carolina-Duke basketball game, and the annual "Brad and Celia's watch party". Only forget the wellness. This time it was a stomach virus, yuck. All I'll say is that I could only manage the first half at the party, and then had to flee to the comforts of home (and of my own brand of t.p.) Last night I had to forego Mike's birthday party - and its associated crazy antics - b/c of this same debilitating illness. Fortunately my strength was still holding up on Friday (for the weekly frisbee match, what else?), but 48 hrs later I'm still fighting it.

Oh yea - in the basketball game, last year the bad guys won, but this year, alma mater took it (blood and all). Love the fan reaction to UNC's player when he hit the deck. Absolute horror! (1st photo is linked from the Charlotte Observer, 2nd from the [Raleigh] News & Observer). Perhaps this win will be the start of several more in a row.

In other happenings:
- I had a great visit back in N.C. with family & friends. Didn't have as much time as I would have liked, but alas, I think we can say that about just about everything (except this stomach deal... I've had 10x more time than I want w/it).
- "reverse" culture shock is abating, although I still find myself noticing things, especially in group settings (which is weird, b/c group settings were one place I used to really thrive)
- Kraettli apartments has already asked for a "yes | no" decision on lease renewal. By March 14. I have hardly planned tomorrow, much less later. Good thing is that I do enjoy living here. And almost each day I return home to an intriguing smell (from the neighbors' cooking; usually it's good!)
- Classwork and research continues as usual: steady progress, with jumps of inactivity followed with flurries of action. You know, typical ph.d.-type stuff. Lol.
- Changed the title, tentatively, to "The plains are alive". I'll put up a banner pic when I get the time (& can find a good one). Is it cheating to use one that I didn't actually take?