Vernal Villan - Quick Hits

I'm spending the first three weeks of January teaching a course at the University of Maryland on the history of Rock music. It's a pretty amazing opportunity after TAing the thing for the past two years. The one downside is that it's a short-term class, which means 3 hours/day, 5 days/week. The practical impact is that I have almost no free time right now. So that means this week, and possibly next, you'll get a few quick bullet-point thoughts on Villa from me. I'll be back to normal posting around the end of the month. And please chime in with any thoughts you may have in the comments. Just because I'm short of time doesn't mean I'm not spending most of it reading about Villa.

• I'm beginning to feel a bit like Kirsten, what with tummy aches from the club and all. But unlike Kirsten's gastro-problems, mine are being caused by the roller coaster of emotions we're riding. One moment it's "Well, we should consider a snapping point," and the next it's "WOOOOO FA CUP WIN!" Somewhere in between we lose the ginger menace and I'm all sorts of confused. That said, it's at least interesting.
• Between being a Seattle Mariners fan and this year as a Villan, I'd forgotten the stress that winning gives you. My other big sports love is the Green Bay Packers, who won a close playoff game in Philadelphia last week. My heart rate didn't return to normal (nor did my stress) until long after the game ended. Sure, winning was nice, but good lord the stress nearly killed me. Jeff Sullivan of Lookout Landing nailed it when he wrote about watching a team with no expectations. It's easier on a fan. That said, as much as that game time is a bundle of nerves, it's also an amazing feeling. I really hope we get to see Villa do something like that this year, and in something other than a relegation battle.

Alright, that's it for this week. Sorry to be so quick, but I look forward to your random ruminations below!