I tried playing Pat with a 38mm ball today, and had a hard time keeping it on the table. The ITTF only supports the use of the 40mm now, which is the only size the club uses, so I wasn’t used to the lightness of the 38. Basically I had to play conservatively the entire time, which is fairly frustrating when the best part of my game is smashing and counter-driving. After an hour, sweat started to sting my eyes, and I had a hard time keeping track of the ball. On a good note, my backhand loop is getting much better, even though fatigue has a heavy affect on the consistency.

I’m now a member of the best table tennis club in Canada. The facilities are amazing, with excellent lighting, top notch tables, competition quality balls, and tons of room. The U-21 Canadian national team trains there, and I’m currently in a group of recreational players, such as the national team coaches, umpires, and past competitors. The lighting is so good that I can play for three hours and not have tired eyes. I can actually effectively counter-drive now with the amount of space available for maneuverability, which is generally the best part of my game as long as I can move far away enough from the table. After practices I’m left ravenously hungry, and generally sore all over.

My Stiga Prestige WRB paddle arrived, and I had the first chance to use it today. The rubbers are the 2.0mm Triumph series, and the grip is concave. The thing about the WRB system is that the handle is hollowed out so that the centre of gravity of the paddle shifts closer to the top, giving it more power but less weight at the same time, which makes it a great offensive but adaptable paddle.

Actually trying it out today was amazing though. I had way better control of the ball than before, and the light weight really helped in speed rally situations. The handle gives great feel, since each hit strikingly reverberates through the entire hollowed part, and the rubbers are fucking great in speed. Oddly enough, spin is the weakest part of my game, but the rubbers have a good spin rating too, so I’ve been working on my underspin for defense situations.

Another exhausting day. It feels good to be tired again, to feel like my eyes are made of lead when I lie down. Most of the summer was staying at home, barely moving, feeling restless.

Aaron and I went to the Unicentre to do some table tennis, and some cocky prick was mouthing off (rather loudly) to his friends about how he so easily beat them all twice. When Aaron heard enough he suggested a partner swap, just so I’d shut him up. I managed to beat the guy 21–3 (pre-2001 ITTF rules) and he promptly had to go.

I cracked and bought F-Zero GX and seasons one and two of Mr. Show on DVD. I must be crazy depressed.

A Halloween party is looming on the horizon, and Aaron and I are looking for costume ideas. If we can find enough good uniforms, we’ll be going as Super Troopers, hopefully with the both of us along with Trolley, Wheaties, and Nick. Other ideas were going as Bob and David, or as a white guy and a Chinese guy.

Speaking of Super Troopers, while Nick was swapping his burner at Future Shop with Stacey, Aaron and I went around the store pulling off the repeater, seeing how long we could go before the salesmen figured it out or got pissed off. We ended up being the ones pissed off though, astounded by how ignorant the salesmen were and eventually we’d both ditch the same salesman with looks of disbelief on our faces, one after the other.

I have never smelt so badly. Pat has given me the best workout in my life, playing me in table tennis. I’m sore from neck to toe and I feel as if I’ve been running all day. Even my ass is sore. How the fuck is my ass sore?

Pat and I are so evenly matched that after playing for two hours he won only by a few points. After the first twenty minutes sweat was pouring into my eyes. They started stinging as if they could taste the salty enthusiasm exuding from my skin.

I’ve never felt so exhausted but so exuberant at the same time. I’m determined to do this more.