Friday, April 13, 2007
All put out - and probably over nothing.....
Ya ya ya, so here's the part where I use my blog to bitch about how I feel crappy today because of other people and their careless comments - or something like that...
Ok, so a few weeks ago my best friend since forever gave birth to her 2nd child. While this isn't a world changing event, it's big news for me. I'm thrilled for her and very much wanted to be there (especially since I missed the birth of her first child due to rediculous work constraints). Nonetheless, knowing that I might not be able to pick up and drive 3+ hours on a moments notice to witness the coming of the 2nd child, I asked that I please be one of the first people notified when, infact, labor was taking place or the baby had been born. Clearly family would be at the hospital and would know prior to me, but in the phone chain of things I did not think this was a rediculous request. Wouldn't you know that not only was I not called, I was notified 4th person. Her parents called my mom who told my sister who then proceeded to pick up the phone to call me. So, I'm a little put out by this. I got over it. I told her that her husband was back on "my list" for not enacting the proper order on the phone tree (i.e. - call Caroline prior to the rest of the world). He's been on my "list" for most of their relationship, so this shouldnt' come as a shock to either of them. Nonetheless, that has passed, she and the baby are both happy and healthy and I have no need for continued complaint. I only tell this tidbit because it provides a little back story for what happend today.
I've got a "work husband" or at least I've got an "ex-work husband" seeing how we don't actually "work" together anymore. I love the guy dearly. He's put up with my moaning, groaning, bitching and complaining and I have reciprocated for well over a year and a half now. Even though we don't still work together, we talk often and I like to keep it that way. I don't have a whole lot of friends who "get me", and he "gets me". It's just nice to have someone in your life who you can be completely honest with, who gets your jokes, who you can say anything to and they won't be all pissy with you, and who has seen you at both your best and worst and still likes you in spite of yourself. (Yes, generally one's spouse occupies this position, as mine does, but it's a double bonus when there's a non-spouse who also "gets you".) So, said "work husband" and I had chats all last week. Talked about nonsense, and non-nonsense, family, work, lunch...whatever. I just so happend to email with a mutual acquaintance of ours over the weekend and today I get an email from him telling me about a really big event that is happening in "work husband's" life - but he didn't tell me about it. Now, I am gonna go out on a limb here and say that our mutual acquaintance came by this information rather backhandedly and not from the mouth of "work husband." Nonetheless, this is not the way I want to find out big news. I don't want this information third hand, or second hand for that matter. I want this kind of information first hand. At this juncture I can't decide if I should be upset with "work husband" or if I should be upset with the acquaintance. I'm leaning towards the acquaintance because I'm nearly positive that when "work husband" finds out that the acquaintance has told me this big news, prior to him telling me, and prior to him wanting it to be public knowledge at all, he's going to be pretty freakin' pissed. But, I will have to wait and talk with "work husband" to be sure. Regardless, I was really put out to get this sort of news - once again - not from the horses mouth. I was so put out that it really disrupted my work day - primarily because I was having a hard time understanding why this kind of information wouldn't be readily shared with me. No doubt, I am entirely over reacting, but it's bothersome to me and that's what the blog is for, right? To vent!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - New Joby Job
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
New Joby Job
Well, after a brief detour in to the world of high paying - yet completely meaningless jobs, I have landed myself something quite interesting and appropriate. Today I signed an offer letter with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, otherwise known as AAHPERD. Starting very soon I will be the Joint Projects Program Administrator. I'm very excited about the new job, meeting new people, and learning new things. Please check out the joint programs if you happen to check out the website - they're partnerships with AHA named "Jump Rope For Heart" and "Hoops For Heart", and together these programs raise millions for the American Heart Association's research and education programs each year while promoting physical fitness and heart health to school children.
New Joby Job
Well, after a brief detour in to the world of high paying - yet completely meaningless jobs, I have landed myself something quite interesting and appropriate. Today I signed an offer letter with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, otherwise known as AAHPERD. Starting very soon I will be the Joint Projects Program Administrator. I'm very excited about the new job, meeting new people, and learning new things. Please check out the joint programs if you happen to check out the website - they're partnerships with AHA named "Jump Rope For Heart" and "Hoops For Heart", and together these programs raise millions for the American Heart Association's research and education programs each year while promoting physical fitness and heart health to school children.
Monday, November 27, 2006 - Boo-hooing over Matty..........
Well, I suppose at this juncture, if you have been my friend, let's say - since March, you know full and well about Matty. He's not a boyfriend, or even a good friend, or even a friend of any sort really. He plays guitar (the bass for all intents and purposes of this blog) and has a really great stage character. He likes to entertain Shannon and I when we stand in his corner, and he is fun to talk to. He plays UNO while waiting for the show to start. So, my friends all know that I've been fully obsessed with this local band, Welbilt, since about March. They're songs speak to me, I absolutely go crazy if I can't see them play live (luckily they're local), and I really have a "thing" for Matty. Now, I have a "thing" for Matty, like I have a "thing" for Mark Hoppus. It's not that I wanna date the guy (clearly), or lust after him, or anything like that. He's just my favorite person in the band. (I do wanna throw myself at Mark Hoppus a little, but that's another story.) So, over the summer, Matty got engaged. His fiance is super cute and seems to be a very nice girl. I am completely thrilled for him, and for whatever reason it never occurred to me that this might result in him wanting to not spend his time in bars till 2 am 4 nights a week being the objects of much less mellow girls than myself. Thus, about a month ago it came to pass that Matty would leave the band and move on to other things (probably ones that are far better for his pending nuptuals and relationship overall). I heard about this second hand because I had been too busy to see the band when this all came about.
Devastated as I was, I attempted to come to terms with it and accept it as part of life. I bucked up on Thursday, called a friend or two, and headed out to TT's to see the band, not knowing whether or not Matty would be present. I figured, better to go ahead and see what has happend. The band played, without Matty, but instead with a new bass player. He's not Matty. He's not Matty. He's NOT Matty. He's old (meaning probably like my age), he's married (this means absolutely nothing, but nobody else in the band is), he's not attractive (Matty is), and he thinks he's a rock-star (most likely at the coaxing of other band members, but he should not attempt to rock-out as such - even Matty knew better than that and he IS a rockstar). So, they sounded just fine. On a couple of occasions I nearly forgot that things were different as I was trying to focus solely on Buddy and Nate to divert any attention from the right side of the stage. As long as I didn't look in Matty's direction, he would always be there. But alas, I looked for Matty, and what I got was not, in the slightest bit, comparable. Needless to say, the hilight of my night was when Nate finally took off that stupid bandana and hat he's been wearing for a few months now and let his sweaty head out. His hair was a bit funky - as if he'd had a mohawk at some point that was dyed blonde (this wouldn't strike me as all that odd, but it could explain why he's been wearing the hat and bandana). Nate is a cute boy and frankly I've been despising whatever look it is he's been trying to project since the summer has ended. I like the guy without a hat, sweaty as usual, where I can see his face. Back to my problems with the band.
So, I had been trying to plan a trip to Winchester to see the band play Sweet Caroline's the day before my birthday, and then finish out the weekend with my birthday celebration at TT's with the band. This entire plan has been scrapped now. I am so completely put-out by the loss of Matty that I can't come to terms with the new "look" of the band and frankly I believe it will completely ruin whatever birthday festivities I might have had planned.
I'm 100% positive that this all sounds very silly, frivolous and childish, but I can't help it. I've been boohooing over Matty since the day I heard he was leaving and now that I've seen the replacement my grieving will only continue. I was boohooing about Matty before I went out, and I'll be boohooing about him for a long time to come.
Devastated as I was, I attempted to come to terms with it and accept it as part of life. I bucked up on Thursday, called a friend or two, and headed out to TT's to see the band, not knowing whether or not Matty would be present. I figured, better to go ahead and see what has happend. The band played, without Matty, but instead with a new bass player. He's not Matty. He's not Matty. He's NOT Matty. He's old (meaning probably like my age), he's married (this means absolutely nothing, but nobody else in the band is), he's not attractive (Matty is), and he thinks he's a rock-star (most likely at the coaxing of other band members, but he should not attempt to rock-out as such - even Matty knew better than that and he IS a rockstar). So, they sounded just fine. On a couple of occasions I nearly forgot that things were different as I was trying to focus solely on Buddy and Nate to divert any attention from the right side of the stage. As long as I didn't look in Matty's direction, he would always be there. But alas, I looked for Matty, and what I got was not, in the slightest bit, comparable. Needless to say, the hilight of my night was when Nate finally took off that stupid bandana and hat he's been wearing for a few months now and let his sweaty head out. His hair was a bit funky - as if he'd had a mohawk at some point that was dyed blonde (this wouldn't strike me as all that odd, but it could explain why he's been wearing the hat and bandana). Nate is a cute boy and frankly I've been despising whatever look it is he's been trying to project since the summer has ended. I like the guy without a hat, sweaty as usual, where I can see his face. Back to my problems with the band.
So, I had been trying to plan a trip to Winchester to see the band play Sweet Caroline's the day before my birthday, and then finish out the weekend with my birthday celebration at TT's with the band. This entire plan has been scrapped now. I am so completely put-out by the loss of Matty that I can't come to terms with the new "look" of the band and frankly I believe it will completely ruin whatever birthday festivities I might have had planned.
I'm 100% positive that this all sounds very silly, frivolous and childish, but I can't help it. I've been boohooing over Matty since the day I heard he was leaving and now that I've seen the replacement my grieving will only continue. I was boohooing about Matty before I went out, and I'll be boohooing about him for a long time to come.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - How I got the bubonic plague
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
How I got the bubonic plague
So I started my new job a week ago. So far, so good. Had some serious trouble with traffic and such the first couple of days so I had no option but to take the VRE in. This is fine and dandy, but it leaves me little option but to catch a train home at 6:56pm. I can't go any earlier and I can't go any later. There are pros and cons to this. It does give me some additional exercise tho, and I'm relatively greatful for that. I'm a little bit worried about how all this sitting on my butt all day will affect my newly found skinnier self, but I've been trying not to eat junk all day and I've also been trying to make it more of a power walk to and from the subway/train.
Let me tell you all how I managed to dodge the pneumonia/bronchitis bullet at the big G. Seriously, every kid in the joint had some form of flu like ailment over the course of October and I managed to come out unscathed. I knocked on wood ALOT. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew that as soon as I left it would all come raining down on me like SARS, or the Bird Flu (take your pick of modern day plagues here). Sure enough, I started last Wednesday and by Friday I was sick. Felt a bit crappy during the day on Friday, but certainly not so bad that I would skip out on my much anticipated Happy Hour. Got about 5 hours in to it and could not take anymore. I felt as though my throat might fall right out at any moment and my head was begining to hurt. This was not a good sign as I'm a bit too prone to strep. I awoke Saturday morning to find my throat better, not worse as I had anticipated, but still feeling under the weather. Made it out to Josh's soccer game, came home, and spent several hours napping. Still feeling pretty crappy I hauled myself outta bed and trekked over to JC Penney to take advantage of a sale and get some clothes to wear to work. Sunday I still felt bad, but made it to yet another soccer game. I finally visited McKay's Used Books and loaded up on John Grisham hardbacks at $4 a pop! Can you believe it? I was shocked and amazed. Too bad they didn't have any Dan Brown (at least I couldn't find it). After that I went by CVS to grab some drugs to curb my increasing illness. Monday morning I manged to get in to work without incident, but felt really awful the whole day. Two people were out sick, so I know it's not just me. Today was considerably worse and I'm quite certain now that I have the plague of some sort. For starters, when I got up this morning I didn't bother taking a good look in the mirror before showering. Upon putting in my contacts I noticed a large "blister" next to my already split open mouth. It looked like a big drop of water so I went to wipe it away. It immediately popped and the skin peeled off. Basal cell carcinoma is what it looks like. I'll have to wait and see how it progresses from here before I make a final diagnosis, though. How does one end up with a basal cell carcinoma when she slathers on the sunblock and spends most of her time inside? It happens......I know. To make matters worse my entire forehead proceeds to breakout with painful bumps.............WHAT THE HELL! Now I am truly convinced something is seriously wrong with me. I can't eat, drink, or touch my face without some form of pain. I made it in to work, but felt really awful all day long. At one point, after downing my second shot of Robitussin for the day I raided the company pill cabinet and took 2 Advil. Normally this is a cureall for me and I feel ten-bazillion times better. Not so much today, although I can tell you that I felt worse again when it wore off.
I took my time getting to the train this evening as I had about 45 minutes to get there. Enjoyed a cheese danish which seemed to make my day alot better. I felt pretty good once I got home, although my face still hurt considerably. I've decided that if I don't feel alot better when I get up in the morning, I'll make an appointment to see the doctor. This will involve having to call out of work (which isn't a good thing in your first week).
In my bedtime prayers tonight I'll be asking specifically to wake up with a face free from plague-like blemishes, no hacking cough, and an absence of phlegm in my chest.
How I got the bubonic plague
So I started my new job a week ago. So far, so good. Had some serious trouble with traffic and such the first couple of days so I had no option but to take the VRE in. This is fine and dandy, but it leaves me little option but to catch a train home at 6:56pm. I can't go any earlier and I can't go any later. There are pros and cons to this. It does give me some additional exercise tho, and I'm relatively greatful for that. I'm a little bit worried about how all this sitting on my butt all day will affect my newly found skinnier self, but I've been trying not to eat junk all day and I've also been trying to make it more of a power walk to and from the subway/train.
Let me tell you all how I managed to dodge the pneumonia/bronchitis bullet at the big G. Seriously, every kid in the joint had some form of flu like ailment over the course of October and I managed to come out unscathed. I knocked on wood ALOT. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew that as soon as I left it would all come raining down on me like SARS, or the Bird Flu (take your pick of modern day plagues here). Sure enough, I started last Wednesday and by Friday I was sick. Felt a bit crappy during the day on Friday, but certainly not so bad that I would skip out on my much anticipated Happy Hour. Got about 5 hours in to it and could not take anymore. I felt as though my throat might fall right out at any moment and my head was begining to hurt. This was not a good sign as I'm a bit too prone to strep. I awoke Saturday morning to find my throat better, not worse as I had anticipated, but still feeling under the weather. Made it out to Josh's soccer game, came home, and spent several hours napping. Still feeling pretty crappy I hauled myself outta bed and trekked over to JC Penney to take advantage of a sale and get some clothes to wear to work. Sunday I still felt bad, but made it to yet another soccer game. I finally visited McKay's Used Books and loaded up on John Grisham hardbacks at $4 a pop! Can you believe it? I was shocked and amazed. Too bad they didn't have any Dan Brown (at least I couldn't find it). After that I went by CVS to grab some drugs to curb my increasing illness. Monday morning I manged to get in to work without incident, but felt really awful the whole day. Two people were out sick, so I know it's not just me. Today was considerably worse and I'm quite certain now that I have the plague of some sort. For starters, when I got up this morning I didn't bother taking a good look in the mirror before showering. Upon putting in my contacts I noticed a large "blister" next to my already split open mouth. It looked like a big drop of water so I went to wipe it away. It immediately popped and the skin peeled off. Basal cell carcinoma is what it looks like. I'll have to wait and see how it progresses from here before I make a final diagnosis, though. How does one end up with a basal cell carcinoma when she slathers on the sunblock and spends most of her time inside? It happens......I know. To make matters worse my entire forehead proceeds to breakout with painful bumps.............WHAT THE HELL! Now I am truly convinced something is seriously wrong with me. I can't eat, drink, or touch my face without some form of pain. I made it in to work, but felt really awful all day long. At one point, after downing my second shot of Robitussin for the day I raided the company pill cabinet and took 2 Advil. Normally this is a cureall for me and I feel ten-bazillion times better. Not so much today, although I can tell you that I felt worse again when it wore off.
I took my time getting to the train this evening as I had about 45 minutes to get there. Enjoyed a cheese danish which seemed to make my day alot better. I felt pretty good once I got home, although my face still hurt considerably. I've decided that if I don't feel alot better when I get up in the morning, I'll make an appointment to see the doctor. This will involve having to call out of work (which isn't a good thing in your first week).
In my bedtime prayers tonight I'll be asking specifically to wake up with a face free from plague-like blemishes, no hacking cough, and an absence of phlegm in my chest.
Thursday, October 19, 2006 - NoVa and RoVa - Stolen from The WP... too funny
Thursday, October 19, 2006
NoVa and RoVa - Stolen from The WP... too funny
So, I read this column yesterday in Style and found it really humorus so I decided to share. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did
NoVa and RoVa: Welcome to a State Of Disagreement
Wednesday, October 18, 2006; C01
Recent polls confirm the common assumption that Northern Virginians tend to be much more liberal than those in the rest of the state. In fact, NoVa seems to be a world apart from RoVa (the rest of Virginia). In NoVa, for example, when people speak of a "trailer," they mean a movie ad, and in RoVa "sprawl" is what you do on the couch after Sunday dinner.
Herewith, a few more ways NoVa differs from RoVa:
· In RoVa, they hope the South will rise again. In NoVa, they hope the souffle will.
· In NoVa, a lab is the family dog. In RoVa, a lab is the family meth business.
· In NoVa, people spend their dough at Starbucks, shooting the breeze. In RoVa, people spend time in the breeze, shooting does and bucks.
· In NoVa, a "fur piece" is something a woman wears on a special occasion. In RoVa, a "fur piece" is unit of distance.
· In RoVa, people pick blackberries. In NoVa, people click BlackBerrys.
· In NoVa, they listen to NPR. In RoVa, they listen to the NRA.
· NoVa has Crate & Barrel. RoVa has Cracker Barrel.
· NoVa: Chain Bridge. RoVa: Chain saw.
· In RoVa, they like freshly killed venison. In NoVa, they like Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
NoVa and RoVa - Stolen from The WP... too funny
So, I read this column yesterday in Style and found it really humorus so I decided to share. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did
NoVa and RoVa: Welcome to a State Of Disagreement
Wednesday, October 18, 2006; C01
Recent polls confirm the common assumption that Northern Virginians tend to be much more liberal than those in the rest of the state. In fact, NoVa seems to be a world apart from RoVa (the rest of Virginia). In NoVa, for example, when people speak of a "trailer," they mean a movie ad, and in RoVa "sprawl" is what you do on the couch after Sunday dinner.
Herewith, a few more ways NoVa differs from RoVa:
· In RoVa, they hope the South will rise again. In NoVa, they hope the souffle will.
· In NoVa, a lab is the family dog. In RoVa, a lab is the family meth business.
· In NoVa, people spend their dough at Starbucks, shooting the breeze. In RoVa, people spend time in the breeze, shooting does and bucks.
· In NoVa, a "fur piece" is something a woman wears on a special occasion. In RoVa, a "fur piece" is unit of distance.
· In RoVa, people pick blackberries. In NoVa, people click BlackBerrys.
· In NoVa, they listen to NPR. In RoVa, they listen to the NRA.
· NoVa has Crate & Barrel. RoVa has Cracker Barrel.
· NoVa: Chain Bridge. RoVa: Chain saw.
· In RoVa, they like freshly killed venison. In NoVa, they like Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Thursday, October 12, 2006 - We're supposed to take 95 South......
Thursday, October 12, 2006
We're supposed to take 95 South......
Ok, so I last left off at the end of our long ass trip north to Worcester, Massachusetts. Scruffy and I got all cleaned up and went out to a club. Carl, his chic, and another coach met us out a short while later and we all had a pretty good time until I had a violent reaction to a drink and the night ended poorly. My best guess is that I somehow ended up with Scruffy's drink (vodka and tonic) which I am highly allergic to. Vodka and tonic looks identical to Gin and tonic (which is one of my favs) and I'd venture that the two were mixed up at the bar when we ordered them. Nonetheless, it may be awhile before I live down that adventure............. moving on...........
The next day we had our football game. Shocking as it may be......we actually lost a game. First one ever with this program. I feel that everyone handled it very well, especially with the level of distraction going on with the protests back at school. The second half of the game the team played very hard and almost came back to win it, but it just wasn't in the cards for us that day.
We packed up the van and headed for home, stopping along the way for some refreshments. Took a more scenic route from Worcester to Providence which prooved to be quite nice and quick. Once we got back on 95 South in Providence it was smooth sailing. We quickly made our way through Rhode Island without incident and waved as we passed our previous party spot, Stamford, Connecticut. Coming in to New York there were signs directing which way 95 south went. I saw this and asked our trusty driver, Carl, if he'd seen the sign. "Sure," he says, to which I answer, "so then you'll need to be 2 lanes over." Carl obliges by moving over just one lane and missing the exit for 95 south putting us on 295 south heading to the Bronx. Scruffy and I both repeat to him "we're supposed to take 95 south!" We decided to just take the same route we'd taken on our trip to NY, but this was also not in the cards for us. Once we crossed over the Throgs Neck Bridge in to Queens, the only exit was heading east, instead of west on the Cross Island Parkway. This explains how we managed to have to take a lovely detour through Flushing, Queens on our last trip. I whip out the trusty map and plan our next move. We'll just follow the park way to the east and it will loop us around the city, across the bridge to Staten Island and across to Jersey where we'll hop back on 95 South. Again, this was not in the cards for us. We needed gas, so again we make a stop off in Queens, although this time in Bayside. I'm finding that I grow fonder and fonder of Queens everytime we stop on our way through there. Getting back on the parkway there is an accident which we get by relatively quickly and without incident. Shortly after that we take yet another detour when Carl decides to put us on the Long Island Parkway instead of continuing on the Cross Island Parkway. An exit, u-turn, and reentry is in order here and is executed well under the circumstances. We pass JFK airport, Coney Island, and eventually make it to the Verrazamo Bridge which takes us across to Staten Island. From here it is relatively smooth sailing although the distance and time of day is taking a toll on all of us. We made it back about 30 minutes before the bus, major detour and all, and took a quick cat nap in our trusty minivan before unloading the bus and heading home.
I'd like to mention that the soundtrack eminating from the radio was one of the best ever. I would love to take all of those songs and put them on one CD. Through extensive scanning we had a fantastic mix of classic and modern rock, hip hop, dance, country, jazz and bit of blues. One could not have asked for better listening, although it was disappointing to not have any Michael Jackson as we'd had on our last trip.
I really enjoy travelling with my partners in crime and will truly miss the good times in the van and with football altogether when I start my new job at the end of this month.
We're supposed to take 95 South......
Ok, so I last left off at the end of our long ass trip north to Worcester, Massachusetts. Scruffy and I got all cleaned up and went out to a club. Carl, his chic, and another coach met us out a short while later and we all had a pretty good time until I had a violent reaction to a drink and the night ended poorly. My best guess is that I somehow ended up with Scruffy's drink (vodka and tonic) which I am highly allergic to. Vodka and tonic looks identical to Gin and tonic (which is one of my favs) and I'd venture that the two were mixed up at the bar when we ordered them. Nonetheless, it may be awhile before I live down that adventure............. moving on...........
The next day we had our football game. Shocking as it may be......we actually lost a game. First one ever with this program. I feel that everyone handled it very well, especially with the level of distraction going on with the protests back at school. The second half of the game the team played very hard and almost came back to win it, but it just wasn't in the cards for us that day.
We packed up the van and headed for home, stopping along the way for some refreshments. Took a more scenic route from Worcester to Providence which prooved to be quite nice and quick. Once we got back on 95 South in Providence it was smooth sailing. We quickly made our way through Rhode Island without incident and waved as we passed our previous party spot, Stamford, Connecticut. Coming in to New York there were signs directing which way 95 south went. I saw this and asked our trusty driver, Carl, if he'd seen the sign. "Sure," he says, to which I answer, "so then you'll need to be 2 lanes over." Carl obliges by moving over just one lane and missing the exit for 95 south putting us on 295 south heading to the Bronx. Scruffy and I both repeat to him "we're supposed to take 95 south!" We decided to just take the same route we'd taken on our trip to NY, but this was also not in the cards for us. Once we crossed over the Throgs Neck Bridge in to Queens, the only exit was heading east, instead of west on the Cross Island Parkway. This explains how we managed to have to take a lovely detour through Flushing, Queens on our last trip. I whip out the trusty map and plan our next move. We'll just follow the park way to the east and it will loop us around the city, across the bridge to Staten Island and across to Jersey where we'll hop back on 95 South. Again, this was not in the cards for us. We needed gas, so again we make a stop off in Queens, although this time in Bayside. I'm finding that I grow fonder and fonder of Queens everytime we stop on our way through there. Getting back on the parkway there is an accident which we get by relatively quickly and without incident. Shortly after that we take yet another detour when Carl decides to put us on the Long Island Parkway instead of continuing on the Cross Island Parkway. An exit, u-turn, and reentry is in order here and is executed well under the circumstances. We pass JFK airport, Coney Island, and eventually make it to the Verrazamo Bridge which takes us across to Staten Island. From here it is relatively smooth sailing although the distance and time of day is taking a toll on all of us. We made it back about 30 minutes before the bus, major detour and all, and took a quick cat nap in our trusty minivan before unloading the bus and heading home.
I'd like to mention that the soundtrack eminating from the radio was one of the best ever. I would love to take all of those songs and put them on one CD. Through extensive scanning we had a fantastic mix of classic and modern rock, hip hop, dance, country, jazz and bit of blues. One could not have asked for better listening, although it was disappointing to not have any Michael Jackson as we'd had on our last trip.
I really enjoy travelling with my partners in crime and will truly miss the good times in the van and with football altogether when I start my new job at the end of this month.
Monday, October 09, 2006 - We're supposed to take 95 North........
Monday, October 09, 2006
We're supposed to take 95 North........
I've been on two long trips this year with football. The first trip was to Connecticut/NY to play SUNY- Maritime. Alot of funny stuff happend on that trip, but I neglected to blog about it after we got back and consequently forgot alot of the funny things that happend. I will post my favorite quote from the trip which is "Look kids, Big Ben!"............ moving on.
The second trip was this past weekend to Foxboro/Worcester, Massachusetts. Now, none of us actually wanted to DRIVE this far. We'd contemplated flying ourselves out there, but alas, those plans fell through and 6am Friday morning we were in a minivan on our way north. I'll make note here that at most times during this story, "we" refers to two coaches who have been my partners in crime as of late, and my fantastico student whom I mucho heart cause she's just that great. For ease in reading I'll call these people "Scruffy," "Carl," and "Lizzy." The four of us generally occupy a van together on football trips. I appolgize in advance for what I perceive to be hysterically funny events (if in fact, you do not find these events to be nearly as funny as I assume they are).
A bit of back story first. GU is currently under a great deal of distress which I'm sure you've seen in the news recently. There have been multitudes of protests and unrest since the appointment of our soon to be new president. She's not very well liked by the campus community and the students in particular have taken to extreme demonstrations to try and make some changes. Our caravan was leaving in the early hours of the worst day of the current protest as was evident by the camping out of the media just off campus.
With Scruffy at the helm, we managed to get off to a decent start, just ahead of the bus and other van travelling with us. We stopped for gas and then our traditional breakfast at Chick-fil-a. Generally, our stops at Chick-fil-a are a bit longer than they should be because Carl is "that guy" when it comes to ordering. I've noticed recently that there's a commercial on the radio about such "guys" who can't manage to just walk in and order whatever it is they want from the menu. Carl in particular likes to have recommendations from the staff and at this particular restaurant managed to get free breakfast burriots as a "sample." But, nonetheless, we got our foot and were on our way shortly thereafter.
The weather was disgusting as we head north and make our way through Delaware where we failed to get on the New Jersey Turnpike, but instead stayed on 95 local through Philly. This turned out to be ok because it saved us a toll or two and made for a more interesting excursion. Nearing NY, the weather started to clear a bit, but was still dreary.
After spending sometime trying to figure out exactly where the bus was in reference to us we managed to catch up to it and pass (this was essential because I'd told the head coach we were already ahead and would find an appropriate place to stop so the team could get out and eat.) At this point we were only about half way to our destination of Foxboro, Massachusetts. We all piled back in the van after some grub and a quick fill-up on gas. The head coach requested we follow the bus, but we quickly ignored that statement and left ahead of it. It is important to know your own bathroom break schedule and plan in advance for these stops. Following the bus would be detrimental to said schedule.
About an hour in to the second leg of our trip, Carl says that we'll need to find some facilities.....and fast. We see an exit ahead that state there are facilities to be had there. I truly wish I had taken a picture of what was to follow. Upon exiting 95, we find that we are really in the middle of nowhere.
There are no gas stations, no fast food establishments, no nothing really. We drive a little ways out the road and find a country club under construction with a sole port-o-pot in the parking lot. There's nobody around at all, so Carl hops out. He attempts to open the door but is shocked to find that it's locked and is greeted with grunts from the port-o-pots occupants who is most likely just as surprised by the interruption. Carl gives up, hops back in the van and we take off. Once we made it back on 95 we found a lovely rest stop just a mile up from where we'd stopped.
As we made our way further north we contemplated why Rhode Island is dubbed "The Ocean State." Any insight in to this would be much help. None of us had been through Providence before, so this was an added bonus to our trip. Eventually, we made our way in to Foxboro, Massachusetts where arrangements had been made for the team to have a surprise practice at the New England Patriots' indoor facility. They were ready for us, but spelled our name wrong which was a big disappointing (at least for me). The kids were really excited to be there and a local news station and photographer came out to interview our coach and film some of the practice.
After a fun time at Foxboro we headed off to Worcester to check in to our hotel. We had a nice team dinner and came back to get ready to go out for the evening. I'll have to leave the second half of this story for another blog.
We're supposed to take 95 North........
I've been on two long trips this year with football. The first trip was to Connecticut/NY to play SUNY- Maritime. Alot of funny stuff happend on that trip, but I neglected to blog about it after we got back and consequently forgot alot of the funny things that happend. I will post my favorite quote from the trip which is "Look kids, Big Ben!"............ moving on.
The second trip was this past weekend to Foxboro/Worcester, Massachusetts. Now, none of us actually wanted to DRIVE this far. We'd contemplated flying ourselves out there, but alas, those plans fell through and 6am Friday morning we were in a minivan on our way north. I'll make note here that at most times during this story, "we" refers to two coaches who have been my partners in crime as of late, and my fantastico student whom I mucho heart cause she's just that great. For ease in reading I'll call these people "Scruffy," "Carl," and "Lizzy." The four of us generally occupy a van together on football trips. I appolgize in advance for what I perceive to be hysterically funny events (if in fact, you do not find these events to be nearly as funny as I assume they are).
A bit of back story first. GU is currently under a great deal of distress which I'm sure you've seen in the news recently. There have been multitudes of protests and unrest since the appointment of our soon to be new president. She's not very well liked by the campus community and the students in particular have taken to extreme demonstrations to try and make some changes. Our caravan was leaving in the early hours of the worst day of the current protest as was evident by the camping out of the media just off campus.
With Scruffy at the helm, we managed to get off to a decent start, just ahead of the bus and other van travelling with us. We stopped for gas and then our traditional breakfast at Chick-fil-a. Generally, our stops at Chick-fil-a are a bit longer than they should be because Carl is "that guy" when it comes to ordering. I've noticed recently that there's a commercial on the radio about such "guys" who can't manage to just walk in and order whatever it is they want from the menu. Carl in particular likes to have recommendations from the staff and at this particular restaurant managed to get free breakfast burriots as a "sample." But, nonetheless, we got our foot and were on our way shortly thereafter.
The weather was disgusting as we head north and make our way through Delaware where we failed to get on the New Jersey Turnpike, but instead stayed on 95 local through Philly. This turned out to be ok because it saved us a toll or two and made for a more interesting excursion. Nearing NY, the weather started to clear a bit, but was still dreary.
After spending sometime trying to figure out exactly where the bus was in reference to us we managed to catch up to it and pass (this was essential because I'd told the head coach we were already ahead and would find an appropriate place to stop so the team could get out and eat.) At this point we were only about half way to our destination of Foxboro, Massachusetts. We all piled back in the van after some grub and a quick fill-up on gas. The head coach requested we follow the bus, but we quickly ignored that statement and left ahead of it. It is important to know your own bathroom break schedule and plan in advance for these stops. Following the bus would be detrimental to said schedule.
About an hour in to the second leg of our trip, Carl says that we'll need to find some facilities.....and fast. We see an exit ahead that state there are facilities to be had there. I truly wish I had taken a picture of what was to follow. Upon exiting 95, we find that we are really in the middle of nowhere.
There are no gas stations, no fast food establishments, no nothing really. We drive a little ways out the road and find a country club under construction with a sole port-o-pot in the parking lot. There's nobody around at all, so Carl hops out. He attempts to open the door but is shocked to find that it's locked and is greeted with grunts from the port-o-pots occupants who is most likely just as surprised by the interruption. Carl gives up, hops back in the van and we take off. Once we made it back on 95 we found a lovely rest stop just a mile up from where we'd stopped.
As we made our way further north we contemplated why Rhode Island is dubbed "The Ocean State." Any insight in to this would be much help. None of us had been through Providence before, so this was an added bonus to our trip. Eventually, we made our way in to Foxboro, Massachusetts where arrangements had been made for the team to have a surprise practice at the New England Patriots' indoor facility. They were ready for us, but spelled our name wrong which was a big disappointing (at least for me). The kids were really excited to be there and a local news station and photographer came out to interview our coach and film some of the practice.
After a fun time at Foxboro we headed off to Worcester to check in to our hotel. We had a nice team dinner and came back to get ready to go out for the evening. I'll have to leave the second half of this story for another blog.
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