I Have Arrived (tongue in cheek)...

This is my 15 seconds of fame...
http://www.atlantathrashers.com/View.aspx?Levels=1300&CID01=b11f57a2-0646-4b78-b335-332c601b2155#blognight
(you'll have to scroll down for the pic)
I never thought I'd see my picture on the Thrashers website. I wonder what my remaining 14 minutes and 45 seconds of fame will be. It definitely won't be on American Idle. Perhaps Deal or No Deal. Hmmm...
I also want to give props to The Web Guy for a job very well done in organizing the Blog Night.

Pledge!!!

I finally made it. I am a pledge!!! Okay, so I'm not a "Greek" pledge as that's really not my thing. But I am officially a Taco Mac Passport Club pledge. It means I'm on my way to consuming 325 different beers at Taco Mac... barely. The pledge t-shirt means I've had 13 different beers at Taco Mac. I think I have to get to 62 beers before my next "reward." If you live in Atlanta and you're not a Passport Club member, you need to join. My friend and I have decided to start a Thursday night Passport Club Club. Thursday night is the night you can get a pint glass if you order the beer of the month. So, cheers and here's to the beers around the world!

Thrash and Me

Well, I had plans to write more about last night today but I've got to get going so I will have to do so later. I have to admit though that having my picture taken with Thrash was a highlight of my evening. For whatever reason, I've never gotten the chance during other games.

Inside The Locker Room

I don't know why these pictures came out this way. We were told we wouldn't get to go to the locker rooms so this was an added bonus.

The Press Conference Room

We weren't allowed to take flash pictures during the press conference with a flash on. I couldn't figure out how to turn off my flash so this is the best I could do. However, another blogger took pictures during the press conference and here is a link to his pictures...
http://www.uploadit.org/gallery/14401/

The Game

Wireless Woes

Several of us had issues with the Philips Arena wireless network but I, for some reason, could barely get online. My last Word post said this- I just "met" Thrash and had my picture taken with him. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get my pictures from the camera to the computer. In other news, the score is now 4-4 with 13:06 left in the game. Current writing: After a while of trying to get back on-line I gave up on the posting and stopped typing. The game went into overtime and we won 5-4. I'll fill in the rest of the evening (press conference and locker room action) tomorrow but I'm gong to bed now. I'm about 90% back to full health but this week has been exhausting with teaching the after school classes and a school event until 9:00 last night.

Nothing of Value to Contribute

Compared to the other bloggers here, I really have nothing of value to contribute to the game. Heck, even not compared to the other bloggers here, I have nothing of value to contribute to the game. Damn it, I just love hockey and I don’t know why! I’m a Southern woman and hockey is not really our thing. However, for some reason my sister and I started coming to Knights games in the 90’s and we were hooked. So then I became a Flyers fan for the dumbest reason- I met a guy at the beach and he gave me his Flyers hat “to remember him by” (I don’t know why, we didn’t even kiss). I remember the day I became a Thrashers fan as clear as if it was yesterday. I was driving down I-85 and I saw a billboard declaring that Atlanta was getting its own NHL team. I nearly drove off the road and I denounced the Flyers and embraced the Thrashers from that day forward. But, all these years later, I still don’t have anything of value to say about tonight’s game except for things like that Hossa looks hot tonight (I don’t actually know that, he’s too far away, but I’m sure I’m right.) and other unimportant things. So, if you are reading this for technical insight into the game, you are in the wrong place; try the other bloggers. If you want to know the score, it’s 3 to 3.

Another First

For the first time ever, I am not able to clap at a sporting event. Apparently, there is no clapping in the press box. I have managed to find a bright spot for this. When I’m eating (and I love to eat), I don’t have to choose between eating and clapping. I can continue to eat and clap on the inside. And there are plenty of reasons to clap!! We are five minutes and thirty-five seconds into the game and we’re up three-nothing. The Islanders have already pulled their starting goalie. Maybe he can go to the back and grab a beer, even if I can’t. ;-)

Well, the score is now three to one. My wireless keeps going out so I lost the above post and now time has passed in the game. I’m now typing in Word and then when the wireless comes back I’ll copy and paste to the blog.

A Night of Firsts

1. This is my first hockey game (since my sister and I went to Knights' games in high school) where I cannot drink beer. I guess they don't want a dozen drunken bloggers in the press box.
2. Tonight is the first time I've been given a tour of the "underbelly" of Philips Arena. I enjoyed it, but I have to admit that is wasn't as exciting as I expected.
3. This is the first time that I have sat in a press box... ever. These are awesome seats. They're high but they are far out so it's like having a birds eye view of the game.
4. It's the first time I've blogged from a sporting event.
5. And, later, it will be the first time I go to a post Thrashers game press conference.

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

My roommate and I moved our tree to our porch a few weeks ago and kinda forgot about it. Hey, who (non-smokers at least) goes out on their porch in January?! Plus we couldn't take it to put it by the trash compactor during the day since we're really not supposed to do that. So tonight we, finally, snuck our tree out there under the cover of darkness. It was our stealth Christmas tree mission. Mission accomplished! And good riddance tree... although I keep finding it's damn needles even though it's been outside for weeks.

Will Blog For Food

Friday night I will get to experience two things I love... Atlanta Thrashers hockey and free food. Oh, and beer, but I'll have to buy that. A few weeks ago I was perusing the Thrashers blog when I noticed they are having a Blog Night on the 26th. So this Friday I am heading to Philips Arena to blog from the game. A few of the perks include a ticket to the game, "Spirit bucks" (for the food), and a seat in the press box. So, check out my blog Friday for live updates and pictures from the game.

State of the Union= Drinking Games

Yesterday I looked in the TV Week to see if it said anything about tonight's episode of 24 (which it didn't). Then I flipped to tomorrow and read their commentary on the State of the Union Address. Basically, it said that it won't be interesting and you should pick your channel based on which news announcers you prefer. But, wait, that's not all it said. It also said that since it is so boring/unimportant that viewers could make a drinking game out of watching the State of the Union. Like when Bush (or as he is known by much of my family, "The Asshole") says a certain word or words everybody drinks. Politics is really going down the drain when we turn the State of the Union Address into a drinking game. But, hey, I'm still going to stop by the liquor store so I can play along with my fellow Americans. I feel it is my patriotic duty!

My Siblings

This is one of my favorite pictures of my siblings and me. I ran across it while going through picture files today... I said I was stir crazy. This is from my sister's wedding and we are all freezing our asses off because her wedding was in January. Although two of my brothers live in Wisconsin so they probably weren't as cold as me. Actually, my three brothers are step-brothers but our parents will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this year so I consider them brothers, no step. I do have another step-brother and step-sister; our parents will celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary this year so I do use the word step. We all get along great; I think we have the most functional should be dysfunctional family ever. Okay, I'm rambling, but I'm so very bored!! Even the Saints v. Bears game is barely keeping my attention even though this is the only time of year I pay any attention to the NFL. Go Saints!

Stir Crazy

Well, my assumption that my illness was a virus that just had to run it's course was wrong. After being sick for over two weeks and getting better for less than a week, I got sick again. Finally, I went to the doctor since my treatment plan of beer and burritos was clearly not working. I'm supposed to be in NC for a wedding. Instead I've been holed up in my apartment since Wednesday and I am going crazy! I'm taking my steroids and antibiotics. I'm sleeping- a lot. I'm drinking more fluids than one would think humanly possible. And I'm even staying away from beer. But I still have no voice and feel like crap and my stomach muscles feel like I've been doing sit-ups for days because of all my coughing. I'm sick of watching movies and sports (although I did enjoy watching the Thrashers beat the Rangers today; however, watching Georgia lose to Alabama in the final seconds wasn't good since they led literally the entire game- including an 18 to 2 lead when I first turned on the game) and reading and doing nothing. While I enjoy the occassional lazy day, I do not like forced consecutive lazy days. I am going stir crazy- emphasis on crazy.

Smoking Ban= Water Conservation

Twice in the past week (not tonight though- I had to stay in for the 24 premiere) I've gone to bars where smoking is still allowed. I've come to the realization that allowing smoking in public places leads to excessive use of water. Seriously. Both nights I showered right before I went out. And both nights I felt compelled to shower again as soon as I got home. I just could not bring myself to get in bed with my hair and skin reeking of cigarette smoke. So, if cancer wasn't reason enough to ban smoking, think about the earth's water resources!

What happens in Vegas...

stays in Vegas!! Well, I'm hoping that I do a better job of this than Britney Spears. I also hope I don't pass out at a bar at 2:00 A.M. Really, if I'm going to drink so much that I pass out, I hope I make it until at least 4:00 or 5:00 A.M. ;-) I have just tentatively planned my "big" summer trip and it includes a stop in Vegas. I've never been before and I'm really excited! Three girlfriends and I are going to go to Las Angeles, San Francisco, Wine Country (I'm not sure where. My uncle had a house in the Russian River Valley but just bought a new house somewhere else; I think closer to Napa or Sonoma; but it may still be in the Russian River Valley), and then Vegas. I know it's early to get excited, and I have at least four trips that I'm going on before then, but it's Vegas baby!!