I have taken up squash. Last week I joined a local athletic club and with a borrowed racquet and eye protection, I'm picking up the game and it is loads of fun.

I played tennis for several years, but after the arrival of the boys and with our new time constraints, something had to give and it was tennis. Unfortunately, my belt buckle is also starting to give, so now that the kids are settling in and with Kari's encouragement, I've been looking for exercising opportunities. My friend Allen has been pestering me for a while to give squash a try, so I did. It's all still new, but I'm having fun and the people I've met at the club have all been very friendly and fun to play with, even given the disparity in skill level.

Some of the strategy and techniques seem to be comparable with those in tennis. One can volley, or hit a drop shot, or drive, or lob. But playing within a walled room adds a whole 'nother dimension, leading to play which includes “boasts,” hitting into the “nick,” controlling the “T,” and the problem of player interference. Anyhow, it's fun. I can see a separate blog being born, devoted to chronicling the travails of a squash n00b. Or maybe I'd rather spend that time playing.