I waited 12 years for this feeling again. Is it ironic or hypocritical that I'm such an advocate of mental and social independence yet I root for a sports team? No. Tar Heels win!

I guess it's a good time to be a fan; three of their five championships have been in my lifetime. I was too young in 1982 to remember it now. I was at home watching the 1993 game in the same living room in which I saw this one, also with the same people. That, of course, added to the experience.

I had the same feeling both times. It's camaraderie on a grand scale. It's a legacy you're tied into. Having this experience of winning the national championship is something very rare and unlikely, something that happened before and may happen again, hopefully. And if you're lucky you might get to see it. Sure, it's just a game. But the game is made of relationships and history. The statistics and numbers aren't that important to me. I was happy just seeing Jordan and Dean Smith there. I wish Dean had stayed a little longer. I wish Jordan would come back and coach, although I have no idea how well he would do.

I thought it was a good game. If only it had been against Duke. Illinois gave them a good fight, though.

I'm sad to see Jawad Williams go. He was my favorite, ever since I first saw him play. I can't really explain it, I just like the guy. There are rumors that the Tar Heels may lose May, Felton, and Marvin Williams in addition to McCants. I hope they don't go, and I can't even guess as to whether they will or not.

It was a great night. I was up until 4am doing a little mild celebrating. Who knows how long it may be before this happens again?

PS: Sorry, Bill.

My dog Gig, part beagle, dalmatian, mostly et cetera, has lived through three different decades. He saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of globalization. Gig lived through the endless patterns of seasons with their floods and droughts; the freeze of winter and hot haze of summer. He witnessed me, from the age of 7 until today at 23-years-old. On this day in 1989 Gig was born. Our yard has never been the same.

I spend time with him often, as I always have. Yesterday our time was especially drawn, and I took my camera just for fun. He's much older now, in every way one can be. He has arthritis and is much slower. He's probably lost 85% of his hearing or more, and his sight isn't much better. I still see him running and skipping about every now and then, though. To be very honest, very blunt, however, I must say that I think this is his last birthday. I usually buy him some type of bone on which to chew, but I don't think he can this year. I fed him very well—lots of people food. He's old and feeble, but I think he's happy.

Here are the pictures I took. I eventually started taking pictures of the grass for some reason. I'm afraid that when I wind up buying the new camera I want that there will be many, many more pictures of this sort. Just preparing you.