Yesterday was the last home basketball game and both pep bands were assigned. Somehow, even though there were twice as many people assigned as normal the trombones had an abnormal amount of room and I didn't end up shoved in people's armpits like has been known to happen. It was a good game, meaning we won, which hasn't been happening much lately.

Then last night Becky, Kim, and I went to dinner at an Italian restaurant my dad and I found called Franco's.

It never ceases to surprise me how other people like chain restaurants and don't try to go to privately owned places. My family has always been anti-chain. I would guess that the only chains we go to on any kind of regular basis would be Sweet Tomatoes, a restaurant like Fresh Choice. And Dairy Queen. But for Mexican I like best the little Mexican place that has two locations: in a strip mall next to a Supercuts, or the one in the strip mall next to a guitar store. For Italian we go to the pasta place that is actually in the same strip mall as one of the Mexican places, or a different one in the fake downtown in the city next door. For American we like a place called the Buttercup Grill which has three locations.

We've always tried to go to unusual places. In Atlanta in the probably two weeks we've been here together, total, my dad and I have found an excellent American place (the Colonnade), a good Mexican place (Margarita's), this Italian place (Franco's), a nice little diner (Silver Skillet), and my dad found some totally sketch looking barbecue place I haven't gone to yet.

In any case, when I suggested Italian Becky first suggested Old Spaghetti Factory, but I countered with Franco's. She'd never been there but was up for it. She and Kim were very impressed. It's a really nice restaurant. It's very nice inside, with pretty patios, and a cool metal sculpture trumpeter. The food is very good and just a step away from traditional, and all the waiters are very nice and cute.

At dinner Becky told us that she and her boyfriend are taking a break. That makes her and at least other three trombones that I know of who have broken up with long-term significant others this year. What gives? Is junior year the time everyone breaks up? Weird.