october epic
Yes, I know. This post is so far beyond delayed, it's not funny. My life is so far behind now, it's not funny. But, you know what? What'll you do? At least I'm posting it. Why? Well, for one. I want to remember this.
From the beginning, October Epic (or from what the Twitter hashtag became #OctoberEpic) started as a joke. I said that I wanted to visit New York to my friend Dani (@dani3boyz), and it just continued. I hadn't taken vacation in about 6 years. And I knew that I would've LOVED to see the new #1 draft pick John Tavares play with the Islanders, so I knew that a trip was in order. I also knew that I was going stir crazy, as I spent the entire summer at home searching for a job and having no success, which mean the inability to do anything, since I was saving my money.
So, I booked it. Original thoughts were to make the trip for the Caps/Isles game, but as a strong southern football fan, the weekend of that game is one of the most holiest of weekends for Alabama fans: the big rivalry game against Tennessee (and as it turns out, very thankful I didn't miss seeing that game, although it almost gave me a heart attack). I now owe Terrance Cody my gratitude for saving my life. Twice.
Anyway, I booked the trip, and decided to stay out on Long Island, since I was going to the Islanders game and seeing some friends. When we were planning the weekend, it coincided with another friend's plans, Kim from Ottawa (@sabotek). Combine two tweeps from out of town into a town of lots of Isles tweeps, and we knew we'd have a blast. Oh, and did I forget to mention the NHL Store was also said mecca closeby? I knew it would be a treat.
As planning got closer, I realized the Caps season opener in Boston was during that weekend, and started looking at logistics. Sure enough, I could pull it off. I bought my tickets, and I booked my bus from NYC to BOS, and hit up @cameronfrye to see if she wanted to go to the game, and sure enough because of her undying affection for Brooks Laich as a B's fan, she quickly said yes.
So I was set.
I literally left the house running the morning of October 1. Everything was going wrong, I lost contact numbers for when I arrived to LGA, and I only had 2 hours of sleep. But I made it in early, and my chariot awaited in the form of Mr. @dani3boyz with a sign that simply said: "@vulcansmuse." I died laughing. As we drove down the Long Island Expressway, I got to see Citi Field, the old Fairgrounds, and learn a ton about Long Island that I never would have gotten from a cab driver. It was brilliant. I got to the hotel, and they thankfully let me check in early, because I had to literally drop my bags, get my jersey, and go to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to catch the train to Penn Station to find my bus to ride to BOS. We're talking about a 10 minute window. Then when I get to Penn Station, I had a 15 minute window to catch my bus. I apparently thought I was superwoman in booking this… But, I made it. I caught the bus, and was off to Boston!
The bus got late into Boston, but @cameronfrye was waiting, with sign in hand with a gorilla (she had topped @dani3boyz!) greeting me there. We ran up to the food court, grabbed a fast dinner, and then hailed a cab and booked it to TD Banknorth Garden. We walk in literally as they drop the puck. WOW. I've never been in such an amazing arena, except for the Verizon Center of course. And, it also helps that the Caps put a REALLY quick quiet on the B's. However, I have a lot of respect for the Bruins… Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara are some of my favorites to watch in the league. As I walked through the concourse, we found fellow tweep Doug (@dwatson783), as I was harassed for my Caps jersey. I quickly found that I could fire back on the continual comment of "Red's not your color, honey!" with "At least it's not a Habs jersey." That got agreeances and many times high fives and laughs. Needless to say, my experience with the fans was top-notch. I was told I could come back anytime. And I even found a Caps fan on the lower level who was dating a B's fan from Alabama. Small world, eh?
I found my way back to NYC, SO LATE… I crashed on the bed and slept until Dani called. It was our NYC outing day with her and Kim, which meant a trip to the NHL Store… and a dent in my bank account. As we stood outside the store, I was about to take a picture, and suddenly, the Naked Cowboy walks by. It was brilliant timing since I had my iPhone out and ready to catch a photo. Then I turned back over and caught the Caps logo over the NHL Store. And boy did I make a dent in there… 3 vintage shirts, an Ovi road jersey and a Kariya third. And also when I met up with Dani, I picked up a Tavares Islanders third! So, I'm slowly working on my jersey collection. Feel free to donate to the fund. Ha!
Nick (@LetThereBeLH) and Carlos (@speakofthedevs) joined up with us, and we traipsed around the city, and, literally, since the address for the Rangers NHL Tweetup was wrong. But we finally found it, and met up with a few Rangers fans before we departed ways. Nick, Kim, and I headed to Sweet Revenge to get some AMAZING cupcakes, and then off to Ethiopian in Greenwich Village. I know, I know, but why not dessert before dinner?
Saturday was game day. I spent some time trying to catch a little bit of coverage on the Alabama/Kentucky game and seeing what else was on for football… and also trying to rest some, since I had been going ninety-to-nothing. For the afternoon, Dani picked me up and me and her 3 boys took a history outing over to Levittown, and I got to geek out over the country's first suburb and share a bit of my history knowledge with her sons, which they either really enjoyed or were really good at faking. After that, back to change into gameday gear, and it was off to the Islanders game.
If you've never been to an Islanders game, it's one to experience. The only thing I can relate it to is a Hershey Bears game, just because there is a parking lot there, and people tailgate. Same thing at Nassau. TONS of folks, and who knows how long they've been there. And jersey names from almost every player in the league. Because hey, "We're all Islanders!" The game was packed out, since it was the season opener. It was a girls-night-out, with me, Dani, and Kim. And I got to see a TON of folks (including @bgill89 who couldn't make it to the Tweetup!). I just wanted to see what the hype was about John Tavares, and he didn't prove me wrong. He got a goal, an assist and was a star of the game! And they pushed Pittsburgh to a shootout. It would've been nice to see them beat PIT, but still… it took PIT 65 minutes and a shootout to beat the Isles, and they're supposed to be the reigning Stanley Cup Champs. Not too shabby Isles. Post game, we had an epic meal… all breakfast. And these girls and I can eat. I'm proud to call them my friends.
On Sunday, I was glad to have a little bit of free time before the Tweetup. Dani came to pick me up and we enjoyed some sunshine as we watched her kiddos play flag football and I got to hear the ins-and-outs of the community life on Long Island. But then not so long into the day, it was time to change gears again and get ready for the Long Island "All Teams Edition" #NHLTweetup.
There were so many folks there! I met a such great folks! I don't know that I can name them all here, but I'll try!!! There was Peter (@peterg11742), Kathy (@kathygc) and her hubs, Katrina (@katrina_doelle), Mike (@islesblogger), Doug (@NYIsles10), and Michael (@tavarescountry). Others I knew that were in attendance: Dani (@dani3boyz), Carlos (@speakofthedevs), Nick (@LetThereBeLH), Kim (@sabotek), and Mr. @dani3boyz. There were a core of there for, I do not kid, 6+ hours. So much fun. So much laughter. It was the best ending to my trip.
On Monday, I had to pack it all up, and head on out to LGA, but not before some breakfast with Dani, in which she tweeted about my chocolate milk compared to her coffee. I told her chocolate milk was my comfort food, and I'd need it to cry into. After another long great conversation, I had to go. I got back to the hotel just in time to see my car ready to pick me up to take me to the airport.
My flight was delayed and the airport was insane. And when I got back to BHM, my flight had disappeared off the screens and was nowhere to be found. I was afraid my luggage had gone missing (OH NO THE JERSEYS! Sadly, that's really what I was worried about.). They finally showed, and I was off to the house. October Epic had come to a close… or so I thought.
Because then I came down with the flu. Then the flu turned into pneumonia and bronchitis. 2.5 weeks out sick. So if I wasn't cabin crazy before, now I really am as I am trying to catch up to everything that was going on before, even grad school and classes that I teach.
But now I have something new to look forward to… In December, I have a big b'day coming up… And I'm going to Chicago with a bunch of tweeps again to celebrate it and to see some hockey. So in the twitterverse, #EpicDec has already come to fruition, and it's just a little more than a month away.
Until then, check out the pics from #OctoberEpic:
halloweening in history
Yesterday in class, I gave an extra points opportunity, which I like to do from time-to-time to help those who really are trying in the class and just can't quite get over test humps, pop quizzes, etc. I know they are studying; their answers are reflected in essays. They know the material, but they get test anxiety. They are in essence, me as an undergrad.
For fun, I offered them the chance to dress up for Halloween. Now, it's a Tues/Thurs class, so Halloween didn't fall for a few more days, but still. It's a points-based class, so anything and everything helps, too! They received 5 bonus points for ANY Halloween costume, and 25 bonus points for a historical costume. Of course, the historical costume had to be relevant to the course (Western Civ I=premodern to c.1300, Western Civ II=c.1300 to present), and they had to be able to tell something about themselves. Boy did I have no idea what I was in for during class…
For Western Civ I, I got a ton of kids in togas, which I half expected. We study a lot about Rome and Greece, so there were the Marc Antonys, the Julius Caesars, the Aphrodites, a Demeter… We had Cleopatra, Muhammad, and Anubis, which was an amazing costume. Also appearing was Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a 50s poodle girl, an Eagle Scout and me, the rabid hockey fan (and I forgot to show off my Stanley Cup Finals ticket and hockey stick bottle opener on the lanyard). Below my jersey was my "Sidney Crosby Sucks" shirt, of course. Both Julius Caesars and Marc Antony gave hilarious diatribes about how they would be screwed over by the people of Rome, but you should give them their loyalty, because after all, they lead Rome, and they're awesome. I also had 2 students tell me they came as Adam & Eve, but they thought it was inappropriate to come to class naked. Nice try kids… But the best part? Telling the girls in togas that in Greece, women in togas were seen as ladies of the night. They about died. One girl aptly responded, "Well, all the pictures of Aphrodite had her in the nude, and there was NO WAY I was coming to class that way." Touche. Here's a look at the first class, which about 1/4 of the class opted to dress up.
Julius Caesar, Muhammad, Cleopatra. Floor: Anubis, Caps Hockey Fan (ME), Eagle Scout.
