Solitary Man

[Wayne23]

1/25: 70-84 at Pacific. They're one of the best teams in Conf. H so we knew this would be a tough road game. Giving up 51 1st half points didn't help. Their bench outscored ours 45-13. And TOs were a problem again, 20. 21, 4 for Wolf, 16, 6, 3 for Jona.

Food is one of the wonders of being free. I get to decide what I want to eat at every meal, and, while I don't abuse the privilege of dining out, it is a truly wonderful thing. The restaurants here in S. F., particularly the Asian restaurants are simply fantastic.

"So when are you going to start having a social life, Jax?"

"Good question, Lexi. I guess I have no idea how to start."

"How's this? I'm invited to a get together with some old friends on Saturday. How about if you tag along?"

"I don't know. That feels like barging in, crashing the party."

"It will be fine. Most of the people are lawyers, doing work like the work we do, helping poor people and victims of our capitalist society. You'd have lots in common with all of them, and there are a few women there I'd like to introduce you to."

"Uh oh. Not sure I'm ready for that. And how will they react when they find out I put a bullet in the last woman I was in a relationship with?"

She actually laughed.

[Wayne23]

1/28: 77-67 over Rhode Island here. They took an early 12 point lead. We finally woke up, got back into it, and we were up 4 at the half, and never looked back. Greg Wolf led us with 17, 9, 5. 15 for Mond, 13 for Bron, so we got a lot out of the SG spot. +12 RBs, but 16 TOs.

We're 10-7, 4-2, one of 7 teams tied for 1st, with another 3 one game back. It's early; 10 games to go.

I went to the party with Lexi. It was nice. I met a lot of people including a young poverty lawyer, Li, originally from China. She speaks perfect English. We spent a lot of time together. I spent the last half of the evening trying to think of a way to see her again, but I guess i was too nervous. Fortunately, she bailed me out.

"So we should have lunch soon. Next Saturday, maybe?"

"I'd like that."

We exchanged numbers and she said she would text me in a couple of days to discuss arrangements.

Oh, earlier in the evening I had told her about Walpole, and why I was there. It didn't seem to bother her at all.

[Wayne23]

2/1: 59-79 at ST Bonnies. Their guards ate us up. I'm beginning to wonder if we've risen as high as we can. Perhaps Conf. H is too tough for us. 14, 9, 5 for Jona, 14, 7 for Colt.

Work is keeping me busy. I'm definitely working more than the standard 9-5. I get involved in a project and take it home and work half the night on it. This work is about saving lives, taking people unjustly treated by the system and trying to get justice for them. Given my experience with that I tend to get perhaps overly dedicated.

[Wayne23]

2/4: 72-71 over South Florida here. Close game all the way. We won it on Ausi Bron's 17 footer from off a screen. He led us with 18 and 4. Alex Colt had 13, 4, 4. Last game our guards were outplayed but in this one they led the way. This team couldn't be less consistent.

Kev Wilk will be back for our next game, but Greg Wolf strained some abdominals and will miss 2-3 games. Damn!

We're 11-8, 5-3, in a 4 way tie for 4th in Conf. H at the halfway point in conf. play.

I had a great lunch with Li. She took me to a Thai style buffet place; very authentic. In Bangkok there are many buffet style restaurants that feature many, many different cuisines, from all over the Eastern world. The food was great and we found we had a lot to talk about. We're going to an art gallery next weekend.

[Wayne23]

2/8: 68-60 at Northeastern. A much needed road win. We led most of the way but they kept it close. 23, 2, 5 for Colt, 12, 7, 3 for Wilk in his return game, and 13, 2, 3 for Bron. But 20 TOs.

In a 3 way tie for 3rd.

I'm trying to not rush things with Li. I like her, but after all those years in prison I'm not sure I'm ready for a relationship. We'll see what happens. She is clearly interested. That pleases me but it also scares me a little.

[Wayne23]

2/11: 56-70 to Princeton at our place. Very discouraging. We shot 33.3%, had 19 TOs. No one had more than 11 points. Our fans, or most of them, left early, and I can't blame them.

2/12: I great day at the art gallery, actually we visited three galleries, with Li. We really had a nice time together. I'm still trying to take things slowly, but it's not easy.

[Wayne23]

2/15: 60-79 at South Dakota ST. And the wheels are officially falling off of the bus. 23-47 at the half. -8 RBs. Poor shooting and poor D. 18, 3, 8 for Colt, 17, 5, 4 for Wilk.

12-10, 6-5, in a 6 way tie for 5th. It's not too late to finish in the top 4, and we'll finally have everyone healthy again for our next game. Let's see if we can turn this around. 3 of our last 5 are at home, and the 2 road games are with weak teams, one is last in the league.

[Wayne23]

2/18: 79-56 over Drake here. First time in nearly two months when everyone is healthy and we really played well. 25, 2, 5 for Wilk, back at his natural position of SG. 16, 8 for Jona. +12 RBs, 8 TOs.

I'm not seeing Li this weekend. I'm all kinds of conflicted. I really like her and I want to be with her. On the other hand I don't want to feel trapped in a relationship. All those years behind bars made me a pretty solitary person and I find I need alone time- lots of it, and I'm really so busy that I'm having trouble making time for that. She and I will need to talk so that she understands what's going on with me.

[Wayne23]

2/22: 70-56 at Bucknell. We were down 1 at the half but we really took charge in the 2nd half. 19, 6, 5 for Wolf. 11 TOs.

14-10, 8-5, in a 3 way tie for 3rd with 3 to play.

2/23: Li and I went for a long walk and had a long talk. In the end we decided to keep seeing each other but to keep it cool for a while. She was very understanding about the fact that this is a time of transition for me and that I need time and space to build my new life.

[Wayne23]

2/25: 86-70 over Winthrop here. Down 11 at the half but we came roaring back in the 2nd. 27, 3, 5 for Colt, 14, 4 for Wilk, 13 for sub Cris Holt. 6 TOs.

15-10, 9-5, alone in 3rd place, 1 back of 1st. Things are looking up.

I'm working with Lexi on a really complex case. When the crime happened the perp was 16. He'd suffered years of severe abuse of all kinds from his mother's live in boyfriend. One night, while being beaten, he got hold of a knife and fatally stabbed the boy friend.

He was sentenced to life. We're trying to get the conviction overturned, claiming self-defense. But the kid had a history of violence and that's making it complicated.