Your “It’s March Already?!” Thursday Night Open Thread

^{Banner Photo Credit: Some Local TV Affiliate}

It feels like only a month ago we were celebrating Groundhog Day.  /holds hand to ear.  What’s that?  I’m being told it was indeed a month ago that we marked Groundhog Day, and that no one actually celebrated or gave a shit.  Seems like a shame all around, that.

But alas, we’re one sixth of the way through 2023. Not that it won’t be a slog, but time sure does fly when the world keeps hurtling forward while ignoring fundamental socioeconomic imbalances and injustices combined with intentional fomenting of disinformation and hate in a way inevitable to lead to political and/or racial violence in the near future hastening the decline/collapse of Western democracy ahead of chaos, anarchy, and/or a Waterworld-type future.

And yeah, March goes in like a lion and out like a lamb. It snowed here last weekend, and I have no idea if it’s going to be in the 40s or 70s on any given day.

So, as I often pose the question in open threads…what’s good?

Litre has been so kind as to share myriad travel stories, wine knowledge, and other personalized insights, that I felt like perhaps I should tell a story or two on these rotational Thursdays. Inspired by Guttersnipe, I wanted to tell a bowling-related story.  No, not about the many times I’ve broken 200, but about some good old fashioned awkwardness.

As has been observed, I’m a bit of a bowler. My high school friends and I enjoyed heading to the local lanes, even when we were back in town from college on break.  One fine evening, we were out throwing rocks, and one of my buddies noticed a VERY attractive young lady a few lanes over. My friend perhaps could have displayed some more tact, but he was just staring daggers at the lass. And whilst we were still kids, barely removed from high school ourselves and a mere 19 years old or so, this was almost certainly a 17 or 18 year old high school girl.  After a LOT of leering between frames, the young lady unabashedly approached my buddy and said “I’ve noticed you staring me all night. Are you gonna come talk to me, or are you just gonna keep staring?”  My friend, who had a girlfriend and was enjoying ogling preconfrontation, stammered out, “uh, I’m just staring,” at which point she stormed off ostensibly disappointed and we all had a good laugh at it.

Honestly, I’m not even sure if that’s a good story anymore, so let me know in the comments.

What’s On Tonight?

NBA

76ers @ Mavs, 6:30PM DFO time on TNT
Clippers @ Warriors, 9PM DFO time on TNT

NHL

A shitload of games allegedly on ESPN+

NCAA

Michigan at Illinois, 6PM DFO time on ESPN
Wichita State at Houston, 6PM DFO time on ESPN2
Marist at Iona (wat), 6PM DFO time on ESPN3
Arizona State at UCLA, 8PM DFO time on ESPN
Memphis at SMU, 8PM DFO time on ESPN2
Quinnipiac at Fairfield, 8PM DFO time on ESPN3
Purdue at Wisconsin, 8PM DFO time on FS1
Cal at Oregon, 10 PM DFO time on FS1

Alright, that’s all she wrote. Get to the comments and hasten the arrival of Friday and the weekend!