My judge (Cal alumnus) has a running bet with one of my other favorite judges, Judge Higa (UCLA alumnus). Whenever Cal plays UCLA, the loser has to buy the winner a six-pack of specialty beer. This morning, I passed my judge in the hallway who told me that he was stepping out for a few minutes. “We won this weekend!” I said, dangling my UCLA keychain attached to my work keys. “I know,” he grumbled, “I’m on my way to bring beer to Judge Higa right now.”

Later on, we were in another judge’s chambers singing happy birthday to a coworker over Boston Cream, lemon meringue, and Dutch apple pies. My judge reached for my court keys and said, “Mind if I borrow that for a minute?” I was about to hand it over, thinking he needed to access a locked door or something, when he continued, “I’m gonna stomp on that keychain for a minute.” I snatched my hand back.

Sports nuts. tsk.