Kainan: 7-1

Woke up at about 7am today, left at 8am to go into the office. I figured I would try to get the documents done for Mary's big matter, and I could come back after bball to finish off my minute I started yesterday. But due to my diarrhea, I couldn't even get the documents completed. I did a whole batch but still need to do all the annexures.

At close to 10am I went out to the shopping centre to get some breakfast and also withdraw the money for the uniforms. I then went to retrieve my car from the car park. As I was exiting, another car came in. I hoped to god it wasn't someone from my office because I wasn't supposed to be parking there. I only took one glimpse of the guy, seemed to be an older man, don't think I've ever seen him before so I think I'm safe.

I drove all the way out to Blacktown, this time without a GPS, relying on my memory from a few weeks ago and found it without any inconvenience. Raul was already outside his home doing something and greeted me when I approached. He invited me into his place and I saw his wife. Then he showed me the uniforms and as always, he managed to impress and surprise. This is the first uniforms I have ordered without any yellow on it, so it is breaking a little tradition, but oh well. I don't really plan on having a significant role in this team anyway, hence why I urged Bo to organise it.

I paid Raul and gave him a $20 tip. I thought that was reasonable, given he only charged me $40 per uniform. How the hell is he supposed to make any money charging that low price???

I put the uniforms in my car and drove off to the courts. I thought the comp would be in full swing given it was a 12pm game, but apparently it was a completely different comp that had just finished, so the people from my comp were just getting started.

I sat at the scorer's table by myself, having gotten there about 15 minutes early. Jim showed up right on time. I was worried that I'd have to do all three functions - shot clock, score keeping, updating score board - by myself. As we were talking, we could smell this huge fart. Then the female ref who I think is kinda pretty in a tomboy-ish way, approached us to ask if we were ready, and she was like "did someone fart???" Oh my god it was so embarassing. Fook!

Alex arrived with his wife later, and then Mike arrived. For a long time, it seemed like it would be just the four of us. Bo came of course, but he wasn't playing, still recovering from his surgery.

As the clock ticked down, and as we got onto the court to warm up, I silently got angrier and angrier at MJ for having this habit of turning up to the game 30 seconds before tipoff. I wasn't expecting to win, given we didn't have Nick and Carter, but I didn't want to play with four players either. Luckily, Bert showed up. Then MJ showed up some minutes into the game.

The first few shots I took were off, and they got off to a bit of a lead. But I found that we slowly crawled back as Bert would get rebounds and do his usual thing underneath the basket. Then, surprisingly, I started hitting my shots. One after another. They were just falling like rain. Even one long two I felt like it had come off my left hand, it swished through the basket. Goddamn, and this is without having played for like two weeks.

So around the middle of the game I did a bunch of scoring. I think I got about 10 points. I probably should've kept shooting but found myself hesitating a bit. In the second half I decided to penetrate just a little bit more, and on a semi-fastbreak found myself driving around some defenders, then throwing a pass across to Mike who was under the basket. He put it up and the ball rolled around the rim and out. He slapped me on the rear and I took it as an apology for fucking it up.

I drove it on another occasion and put up a floater, which hit the back rim and bounced high up into the air - then fell through the basket. The game was tied towards the end, and with free throws, we were up by one. Bert had two free throws and clanked them both, and so did the other team. Then MJ went to the line and missed two as well, but there were only a few seconds left and they didn't get a proper shot off.

We won, 41-40.

We just beat the team coming first (we are only coming first because we have played one more game than them, so in reality, they were coming first) WITHOUT Nick or Carter!!!

And it was all a team effort too!!!

I sat on the bench, feeling...exhilarated. It is kinda hard to describe. But it was a good feeling. Kinda like I had just conquered something. But it was better than that, because it was a team effort. I was so happy. I was too happy to have this feeling ruined by returning to work, so I didn't.

Bo, Jim, Mike and I went to eat at Auburn at a Thai restaurant. We agreed to take just one car which made sense, and they said to take my car. I didn't like it, but thought about all the times Jim drove me home, so I couldn't complain there.

Remember that pass I made to Mike under the basket? Turns out he thought that went in! LOL! What a...

We had a good meal discussing the game. Bo said we played well as a team. But there was a moment where we criticsed Mike because he was standing behind the point guard with the ball calling for it, instead of going into the post. I didn't want to press it, for fear of another 'Bo incident'.

I was just glad I decided not to go into work. I could appreciate this moment, this winningness, my friends - the weekend.

I really wish right now I could capture how I feel into words, but it's so hard. When everything goes right in basketball, it's my ultimate dream. It makes me feel soooo good about myself, like I've achieved something that many others may not achieve in their entire lives.

After that we went to the Adidas and Nike factory outlets as Mike wanted a new pair of shoes. I got a bit annoyed that they wanted to drive from one to the other. I swear it's only like 500m between them. I was close to buying a jersey for $25. Mike said I should check out the other store first, so I did, but by then I lost the desire to buy anything at all, lol.

Mike bought his shoes and then I drove them all back to the stadium to their cars. I then drove Bo home. On the way, I was surprised he brought up the topic of needing to calm Nick down. I have been feeling this way for a long time, but didn't know Bo was feeling the same. I just don't get why Nick feels like he has to prove his point. To me, it's silly to even watse time arguing with a team who is losing and on the bottom of the ladder. It achieves nothing. But Bo doesn't think he will ever change.

I dropped Bo home then went home. I got my bucket out and went to give Malay's car a wash, since I promised him I'd check up on it while he was away overseas. It started raining as soon as I started washing it, so I hurried up and just gave it a quick scrub and left, thinking the rain would wash the detergent off.

I see that 'Josh' has posted on my of my posts recently, asking for more gambling stories rather than sexual escapades. To be honest, I'd be glad if I didn't have anymore gambling stories. That is one thing I could do without.

Since Thursday, I have been constantly looking at my chart of finances. This is the highest I've ever been in terms of money saved, net worth, and lowest debt amount. Most importantly, I am about a fortnight away from being able to pay off my credit card!!!

Whether I actually do that or not is another issue. I have been contemplating doing another balance transfer. But I fear it for two reasons: 1) it may affect my credit rating; and 2) my SLO interviews are coming up, and I don't think having a credit card company call up about me is the best foot I can put forward.

Need to be a good boy for the next fortnight.

Still unbelievably happy from today's game :)