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.
laughter is the best medicine
Since the last two weeks were a little rough (and hot as hades here in the deep South), this week, the Goalie and I sat down to watch a few humorous YouTube videos. However, it all started from the last post about the infamous hockey be with the Goalie (of which he's still taunting me about, even in the comments of my own blog). He laughed hysterically about the Bruins "Don't Date Within the Division" commercial, which he had apparently missed at some point along the way (and he calls himself a B's fan… psh).
The one commercial turned into the entire series of the Bruins' playoff spots, and then as I was browsing through my favorites, I remembered one of the funniest videoes that I had seen in a LONG time. Now, it's debated on whether or not the guy actually does have a medical condition, or whether he's faking it, but holy crap, it's funny. And seriously, the Goalie and I were laughing so hard, I was crying. Here's a best-of clip so you get a taste of it:
And then we swapped over to MY favorite YouTube video which had me laughing so hard that I was in tears and my sides were hurting… Not quite the same as the Tourette's guy, but oh wow, it's cute AND giggly.
And of course, the video that makes me giggle and think: "You stupid kid, but I love you because of your stinkin' cute British accent. Plus, your chubby little brother is adorable."
So, we spent an entire afternoon laughing… and laughing… and laughing some more. Who says laughter isn't good for the soul? I think it's perfect. I'd have any day just like that, because the laughter made me keep giggling too, even if it had been rainy and gloomy outside.
Oh, and believe me… There are so many Tourette's Guy video jokes one-liners made amidst conversation between the Goalie and I to try to break the serious moods sometimes, it's not funny. But, it cracks me up. Anyone who can yell "Bob Saget!" anytime something goes wrong gets points for hilarity and originality in my book.
wordsmithing
I'm taking back an old habit that I once had before: reading. While I don't have the wealth of time that I did when I was a full time graduate student (of course, then, it was my "job" to read), I still enjoy the time that I get to escape into the author's creative center. One of my favorite authors to read is Sarah Vowell. She has a way of writing that continually pulls me in and I can't put the book down… unless of course, it's almost 1am, and I'm about to fall asleep because of how long my day has been. But, that's not the point.
Sarah Vowell tends to take on political and historical topics with a twist. Lately, she has trended toward historical topics, which as a history geek, I'm all over. Her last book, Assassination Vacation, was absolutely hysterical, and it made me want to jump in my car and start road-tripping to see dead president's graves, a task which I've already taken up (Kennedy, Taft, A. Johnson = check). Last spring, one of my graduate reading seminars focused on the factors leading into the American Revolution. Sarah Vowell's newest book, The Wordy Shipmates, focuses on the journey of the early pilgrims, the leadership of John Winthrop, and the beginnings of the Plymouth/Massachusetts Bay Colony.
If you've ever heard Vowell on This American Life on NPR, then you're familiar with her style. She's quirky, snarky, and incredibly intelligent. And most of my guy friends who have a brain can tell you that they'd love to date her, or even marry her. Hence, I'd say, I'd love to be her, too. Again, that wasn't the point I was going to make, but she's amazing, nonetheless. Take for example two excerpts from the book:
…Lincoln, early on in the Civil War, called for saving the Union because it was the 'last best hope of earth.' That was the speech in which Lincoln pointed out 'we cannot escape history.' Well, we can't. …[W]hat happened at Abu Ghraib is sickening, not only because it's just plain sickening but because America is supposed to be better than that. No: best. I hate to admit it, but I still believe that, too. Because even though my head tells me that the idea that America was chosen by God as His righteous city on a hill is ridiculous, my heart still buys into it…. Why is America the last best hope of Earth? What if it's Liechtenstein? Or, worse, Canada? …[WInthrop said] The eyes of all people are upon us. And all they see is a mash-up of naked prisoners and an American girl in fatigues standing there giving a thumbs-up. As I write this, the United States of America is still a city on a hill; and it's still shining–because we never turn off the lights in our torture prisons. That's how we carry out the sleep deprivation.
Or, another excerpt…
In terms of historical tourism, the Pilgrims of 1620 get all the glory. Families, my own included, plan vacations around visiting Plymouth's Mayflower II and 'Plimouth Plantation,' the re-created colonial English and Wampanoag village on the outskirts of town. My sister Amy, my then seven-year-old nephew Owen, and I visited it one summer. It is peopled by actors who will not, under any circumstances, break character–not even when Owen suggested they could really spruce up their cramped little houses by shopping at Home Depot or maybe even Lowe's because Lowe's offers 'everyday low prices.' …We then made the acquaintance of one Englishman Amy dubbed the 'Pilgrim Archie Bunker.' We had just ambled through the Wampanoag village and watched a woman cooking with a clay pot, so Owen had indigenous people on his mind. He told Archie about his collection of Hopi and Navajo kachina dolls he started the previous summer when we went to the Grand Canyon. After an annoying back-and-forth in which Archie determined we apparently came from New Spain and were therefore suspected of Catholicism, we returned to the subject of kachinas. Archie backed away from Owen and asked if if they were poppets. No, Owen said, 'Not puppets–wood carvings.' I told him a poppet is a doll used in witchcraft. 'You know, like when Scooby Doo goes to Salem.' Owen shook his head at Archie and said, 'Kachinas are gods, Hopi and Navajo gods.' Archie poined his finger at Owen's chest and raised his voice, 'Not the true God Jesus Christ!' Then he told Owen he's never shot an Indian personally but he wouldn't lose any sleep over it if he did, and that he would trade with the Indians, though he would never give them anything of value, perhaps 'a pot that was full of holes.' Then my sister grabbed Owen by the arm and said, 'Come on, Owen. Let's get out of here before Mama punches a Pilgrim.
Reading Sarah Vowell gives me a little more hope in the world. With my snarky, sarcastic background, mixed with a passion for history and politics, it's nice to know that there is someone out there who absolutely gets it 100% in writing, and can do it well.
But, dang it Sarah, you beat me to it. Now I have to find another dream to dream…
seriously?
OK… this story was absolutely too hilarious NOT to share. How could anyone be THIS out of touch in society, especially when you LIVE in Washington, D.C., the city of politics…
Who’s that man?: Obama asked for ID at gym
By Kris Kitto Posted: 06/27/08 02:13 PM [ET]Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) may have one of the best-known faces in the world, but that doesn’t mean he is recognized everywhere, even in Washington.
Washington Sports Club employee Takehia Wheeler was manning the front desk to scan members’ identification cards Friday morning when the presidential candidate walked in with his entourage. The gym opened a month ago in the Columbia Heights district.
“He came in and walked past me,” Wheeler told In The Know. “I was like, ‘Sir, you need to come back.’ ”
Wheeler said Obama looked familiar, but she didn’t recognize him. So she asked for his ID card.
“I said, ‘What’s your last name?’ He said ‘Obama,’ ” Wheeler explained. “I said, ‘So what’s your first name?”
Then she laughed because it was at that point that Wheeler realized who she was talking to. How did she make amends? By saying, “Sorry, Mr. Future President!”
She wasn’t alone in not recognizing Obama. Trainer Drew McNeil wasn’t sure either.
“I was training right next to him, and I was like, ‘That looks like Obama,’ ” he said.
Obama brought his security detail along. Gym staff said Obama stayed for 20 minutes.
They said he has a membership to the citywide gym network, with his home gym at the Gallery Place/Chinatown location.
Wow… just wow. There are no words that can really… yeah. I'm done.
getting a big head
So, my friend Shope saw this the other day going down the interstate through Birmingham. While it's not her picture, she did find it, and I just had to share it, because it's hilarious.
Because, seriously, what the crap do you do if you're traveling and you wake up to this? Do you wonder if the person you're traveling with has just taken you to Oz or Wonderland? Or that you're still dreaming? This is just insanely weird. And as we were all talking about it, we couldn't figure out what or why, or how. There were so many questions, we felt that our brain would fry.
But, the biggest question is this: why on earth would anyone allow a giant head of themselves to be created? If this were me, someone would SOOOOO be fired.
you’re not joking?
So, lately the buzz (and snickering) around Birmingham has been about Mayor Larry Langford's proposal to the City Council to present the City of Birmingham as a site for the 2020 Olympic Games. No, seriously… he really did. And this is exactly why we're all still laughing.
Apparently, he believes that since he's pushing for the dome stadium (that we are still unsure will be built… and why, too), and for an olympic-size pool (for what reason, might I ask?), Langford believes that we would be a perfect place. Besides, we held the soccer events for the 1996 Atlanta Games, so that makes us ready, right? I mean, since our air traffic is about to be possibly severely reduced, it makes complete sense… 
What I love is that, according to Musings on Birmingham, Langford prefaced the proposal with: “This is not a game or a joke." Again, seriously??? If you have to say that, shouldn't you reconsider it altogether? If you know they're gonna laugh and giggle, you should know it's a bad idea. I mean, this is SO out in left field, it's not even funny.
Yes, Birmingham needs some good positive PR and something good for the economy, but having to put millions (probably billions) of dollars into building for the Olympic games when the city is already in debt in so many areas is SUCH a bad idea. And, if people are already upset with Beijing's pollution problem, I can't imagine what they will think about Birmingham's smog and ill-consideration for a greener city.
However, maybe I'm skeptical, because there are some like Musings and Andre over at the Terminal who think that a push like this could be good for Birmingham. I suppose it could be a good thing for Birmingham… I've just seen things continually flop that we thought were good ideas. See: Birmingham Fire, Birmingham Stallions, Birmingham Bulls, Alabama Slammers… and that's just the professional sports realm. The only things that work here in the state are college sports and racing. I could go on, but I don't have the time or the desire to be negative. I want to see Birmingham get out of its rut. I'm just not sure that the Olympics are the way to go.
transformers
When I was a kid, I used to watch the show "Transformers" religiously. The theme song had the line: "more than meets the eye." Today, fellow friend and blogger Shope shared a link to Face of the Future, where you can upload a photo and point out specific points and then transform the photo into different ethnicities, age ranges, or even artistic methods. It's so much fun! Below are the interpretations of my portrait into a few famous artists of the past.
Botticelli:
Modigliani:
…if only other things in life worked so easily.
ikea
Shopping at Ikea is like returning to therapy:
It feels like the right thing to to do, but then you get there and realize you aren’t adequately emotionally prepared.
how to hire a woman
One of my friends, SR, sent me a newspaper clipping a while back that I lost in my inbox for a while that I came across a few days ago. I thought I would share it. It is absolutely too hysterical!
It's the 1943 Guide to Hiring Women, furnished by the July 1943 issue of the Transportation Magazine. It covers all guidelines that male employers should follow when considering females for employment. It's rather amusing.
Following are a shortened version of the 11 guidelines:
- Pick young married women. Why? They have fewer responsibilities (editorial: and, duh, you don't have to deal with their husbands).
- When choosing older women, try to find those who have outside-of-the-home experience.
- Choose a "husky" girl… they are more "temperamental."
- Have a physician on staff, especially for "female conditions."
- Stress the importance of time strictness and schedules.
- Give female employees to-do lists for the entire day so they will not have to bother the management.
- Allow inside females to change jobs from time to time… they'll be happier.
- Provide females with rest periods throughout the day. Allowing her to reapply lipstick and wash her hands can maintain her confidence level.
- Be tactful with instruction or criticism due to women's sensitivity levels; ridicule can interrupt efficiency.
- Do not swear around women. Their ears are sensitive, and their men do not appreciate it. Plus, they may grow to dislike their job.
- Make sure each woman's unifom fits properly to keep her happy.
The full article can be found here in its original form. Enjoy… and happy hiring!
