Straight from the heart (Bryan Adams-style)

I actually used yesterday's snow day in an effective manner: I worked on my paper and played Steve in chess.

This paper has actually become close to my heart. It was a wise scheme, I believe, to choose a topic I knew nothing about. The more I unearth about chess, the more quirky -- yet normal -- find the game to be. I've been chipping at it for weeks now, and alas, I have arrived to the cusp of page fourteen -- enough pages in to know that there's much, much more to be said.

I think I'm doing an all right job for a "newb," though.

And, of course, Steve owned me. I didn't even capture any of his pieces. But I didn't mind. Strange for a fairly competitive person to say. But really -- I've literally played chess twice. Every male that I've surveyed so far (and my mom, as it turns out) claims to know how to play. Gender isn't the issue, though; it's experience.

So as Steve's bishop slid towards my king and I worked to defend it with my knight -- and ultimately failed -- I was already contemplating how I could improve -- see more -- be better prepared.

I lose gracefully. You can't break my spirit.