I am one of two girls in my basketball class this semester. Yup, lost in a sea of hot basketball-dribbling men. I think I've had really good dreams that have started this way. Unfortunately, my class ain't paradise.

From the second I set foot into that gym today, all the guys turned to me and started sizing me up. Naturally, I did the same. No big deal. I've been running with the "big boys" all my life. I always get scoffs at first. That's until they get swiped by me, then they stop doubting. Our teacher, whom also happens to be a woman, wasn't there yet. So everybody was just shooting around... with two freakin' balls! Out of a class of 30, and only two balls?!?! (We must be facing really tough budget cuts.) Anyway, some guys decide to stand around. I was done sizing up people and decided to shoot around and show my skills. Mind you, to actually get to shoot, I had to first rebound the ball. I am, without a doubt, the shortest person in class. Yes, the tallest guy is SO tall that even if I jumped, I still can't tap the top of his head.

I eventually win over a rebound and proceed to shoot. I decide to take my ever-popular shot by the right wing about a foot before the 3-point arc. That's usually my sweet spot. *swoosh* First shot: nothing but net! Some guy tosses me my change and I take another shot, with much more confidence this time....

F.ck. Second shot: air ball! The guys laugh as I creep back into the middle for another rebound. I guess, sometimes, a girl just can't get a break. So much for my GREAT skills.

Please excuse this entry. It's a thought that I've had for a very long time, but always had problems articulating. But with the recent proceedings in the Olympics, I figure it's as good as any of an example to use.

The human race is very interesting. We seem to act more united when a common enemy poses a threat. However, when that enemy disappears, we seem to ache for something or somebody to fight against, so we turn on each other. Let's take basketball, for example. The NBA is hands-down the best basketball organization in the world. Within the NBA, there are exactly 30 teams. These 30 teams aren't supposed to normally get along. Anybody that knows me KNOWS that I'm a die-hard Laker fan. But this morning, at 5:30 to be exact, I found myself cheering, quite loudly if I might add, for players like Tim Duncan and Carlos Boozer. Mind you, these are players I usually despise during the season. However, when playing against Spain, I'll gladly root for Team USA, even with players I hate.

Now, take this concept to a more worldly illustration. I remember watching Will Smith's Independence Day and thinking, "Oh, so this is how you reach world peace." Though the movie isn't all that realistic, what IS real is how people would react should Earth ever be attacked by aliens. Despite whatever war or dispute nations may be having against each other, when met with a bigger threat, I'm positive that people would put their differences aside.

As best put by my brother, when a greater evil threatens our society, people will come together. But all this leaves me wondering, isn't there any other way to achieve world peace???

There's a reason why I haven't blogged in so long. Lately, I've been noticing that my vocabulary has dwindled. I think I'm no better than my 15-year old brother. Language is something that needs to be practiced and worked at. It's been two years since I taught my last SAT course, and going on a 14-day English hiatus doesn't exactly work wonders for my rhetoric. I hate when words are at the tip of my tongue but I can't figure out which word I'm exactly trying to use. I think I might start acting like my sister and read the dictionary for fun.