Another Year Passes

Happy New Year Sports fans.  Its the end of 2012.  And if you are a Heat, SF Giants, NY Giants, Kentucky, Alabama, Man City, and any other team that came out on top, it's been a good year for you.  For all the rest of you that weren't so lucky, here's to "Next Year," always the best year for a sports fan. 

As for me, it's been a pretty damn good year.  First, the SF Giants, my NL baseball team, took the crown.  Second, the Redskins, my boyfriends team and my adopted team for 7 years now, finally got a QB who can throw something other than an INT and got to the playoffs.  Thirdly, the US women made up for their loss in the World Cup by winning a hard fought (and some insane games, especially the Canadian Overtime Classic) gold medal.  Fourthly, my undergrad basketball team, Harvard, got to March Madness to the first time in forever, helping me to experience the best postseason in all of sports as a lot of college kids get to in America by picking my team to win it all.

Lastly, and most importantly to me, my favorite team in the whole world, Notre Dame returned to national relevance.  Every sports fan has one team that means more to them than any other.  And ND is that for me.  So to have 2012 end by watching them go undefeated was a gift I never could have imagined.  And the best part?  I get to start 2013 by watching them take down Alabama and be declared national champions. 

So here's to ending the year right and starting the new year off on the right note.  Cheers everyone! Let's raise a glass of champagne to 2013.  It's going to be a good year.  I can feel it!

Lucky Charms

Have you seen that bud light commercial (Bud Light Metal 2 Shelf Portable Bar Table W/ Carrying Case (Google Affiliate Ad))?  You know, the one where the random Niners fan goes into a house of people he doesn't know as the Niners won the super bowl when he lived there, so as he said, "he didn't know what else to do."  I laughed...then I realized, I am exactly like that fan.  Which is why those commercials are so amazing, as any true fan has had at least a few moments where they did something outlandish in order to try to sway the game your teams way.
Example?  Tonight I debated what beer to get, as needless to say can't watch a Redskins game without a beer in hand.  My choice?  Brooklyn Brewery.  Why? Because the Giants fans would be rooting for us to win as if Cowboys won, they wouldn't have a chance to make the playoffs and Brooklyn is in NY.  I know it doesn't make sense.

I wish I could say that's all I've done.  But for as long as I can remember, superstition and sports have always been intertwined.  Some quick examples:

1) I always put on my gear in the same order for every soccer game I've ever played since I was in Jr High.  Left shinguard, left sock, right shinguard, right sock, left cleat, right cleat.  OCD much?

2) One ND season, my bf and I became convinced that wine and fresca had to be drank during all ND games.

3) Santana Moss (aka the real Moss) always plays better when I am wearing his jersey.  He can feel my support.  Whenever I have forgotten, its my fault he doesn't catch a TD.

4) When the Redskins went on that good run in 08, my BF and I had to drink a bucket (aka 10) Coors in the 2nd half for every game.

5) When I watch a Redskins game, not only do I have to have a beer I also have to have the beer in hand.  No setting the beer on the table for me.  What does that lead to? Much more drinking, as sipping at whats in hand is a nervous habit of mine.  Hangovers day after are well worth the win though.

Believe me, I could think of sooooooooo many more.  So the question I have for you, what's your lucky charm for making your team win?

Football In Yankee Stadium?

You Aren't Going Crazy.  That's a football pole in Yankee Stadium

There is something really weird about seeing one of the more famous and important stadiums in its sport used for a different purpose.  At least, that's what I felt when I went to the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium the last two years.

Holidays to me means college bowl games.  Doesn't matter whose playing, I'm watching.  Actually, usually the random teams are the most fun to watch.  Who can forget that Boise St vs Oklahoma game? Statue of Liberty really? That never works! But that's the magic of college bowl season.  In college bowl games, anything can happen and often does.

So of course when I moved to the city, I was pumped to find that Yankee stadium was going to play hose to a college bowl game.  I'd always wanted to go to one, but as the only one near me was the Rose Bowl, which you know is just a bit hard to get tickets to, I hadn't ever found a way to go.  So when presented with the opportunity, I jumped at it!

Just like real Yankee baseball (aka any baseball played in November, World Series time), you have to bundle up before going.  Beanies (preferably Holiday themed please), scarves, and winter coats are all necessary in order to truly enjoy this outdoor experience. 

When you first pull up, you feel just like you are going to a Yankee game...well, except for the fact that you are surrounded by Syracuse fans (as Syracuse always seems to be playing in this bowl game).  But the same bars that you go to pregame a Yankee game are still the ones you go to for "tailgating" the bowl game. 

Walking in though, that's when it starts to get weird.  Where is Jeter? Arod? Swisher?  Anyone?  No pinstripes anywhere to be seen.  And the Cathedral that is Yankee Stadium is now home to...football posts?  It just doesn't feel quite right.





Still, was it fun?  Yes.  Both times I went, I had a great time.  It's a very different crowd than that which usually go the stadium, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.  Actually, it was kind of fun as you didn't see as many corporate types as you usually do.  In fact, the special bar that we were able to go to was actually fun!  Instead of old men in business suits hitting on the young girls who were bar tenders, you were surrounded by people rocking there school colors and more concentrated on the game then looking cool.  I would recommend sitting a little higher up as we sat down on the third baseline and couldn't really make out what was going on at all. 

So if you are looking for something different to do, I would for sure recommend taking the D train up to Yankee Stadium and seeing the place in a whole new light.  It will be weird, but once you get over the fact about where the game is, you'll be able to settle in and actually enjoy the football.

Holidays and Sports, A Great Combination

Every family has a Christmas tradition and our family tradition is going to the Lakers Christmas Day Game and then spending the rest of the day around the TV watching the later games.  And judging by the ratings, we aren't the only family to spend the Holidays in this manner.  And I for one, am completely ok with that. 






There's no other game like the Christmas Day game.  Instead of the dressed to the nines crowd you usually get, you're surrounded by young kids and families in as crazy a holiday getup that they could find.  Lakers Santa Hats, Ugly Christmas Sweaters and elf costumes are the norm for this festive crowd.  You can just feel the different energy that infects the crowd, as they are not only there to watch their favorite team, they are there to spend time with their loved ones.  

Another great thing about the Christmas Day game is that you are always guaranteed to have a marquee match-up.  Throughout the years I've seen the Celtics, the Lebron-Cavs, The Lebron-Heat and the Knicks.  It didn't really matter if the games were close or not (though yes, it is much better when the game is close as it was this year).  What mattered is you got to see some once-in-a-generation talents do things that seemed physically impossible.  There's something about a national spotlight that seems to really bring the best out in the true stars.  They know the world is watching and they respond.  And when you are at the game, it is just that much more exciting and that much more entertaining.  You haven't seen Lebron dunk until you've seen it in person, trust me. 

So next time you are looking for that special gift for the Holidays, if you happen to be in a city where an NBA game is going on, go ahead and buy tickets.  Not only will the gift be a hit, but you'll get to spend quality time.  Most importantly, you'll be spending time outside of the house and therefore not in front of the TV like usual. As an addition, get a Santa Hat in your team colors so that you'll fit in with the crowd.  And, if you are really ambitious, I can guarantee that dressing up in a Santa Suit will get you on the Big Screen.  

Merry Christmas Everyone.  Hope you all had a great day. 

The Only thing that changes year-to-year are the outfits we choose to wear

Getting My Butt Kicked and Loving It

It takes a certain personality to like being yelled at and I finally realized that I respond to tough love.  I've now had a personal trainer for 3 months and instead of getting bored with it, I find myself still looking forward to my sessions with my trainer at Crunch gym. 

Twice every week I find myself visiting my local gym to get my butt kicked by my trainer for an hour.  I can still remember the firs time he introduced me to the TRX.  You know, those weird yellow suspension ropes that hang from the ceiling at your gym.  He put my feet in the ropes and told me to plank.  Knowing that this was going to be interesting, I raised myself up on my arms...only to literally fall flat on my face.  I had a black eye and everything and I'm pretty sure I scarred my trainer for life as he didn't put me back in the TRX for month.  Just a couple days ago though, we approached the TRX and did a full planking series on the TRX!  Three sets later, I couldn't believe how far I'd come in a few months.  And I know that I couldn't have gotten there without my trainers support.

  I don't know about you, but whenever I go the gym myself I find myself doing the same exact thing.  90% cardio, 10% strengthening...and let me tell you, my weight lifting was always very half-assed.  Now though, I have no choice but to spend time on strength training as my PT doesn't give me a choice.  Everything from bupees, to pull ups, to push ups (I can actually do one now!) has made it so that not only have I become leaner, I've become a lot stronger as well.  

Now personal trainers aren't for everyone.  You have to enjoy someone kicking your butt and not allowing you to stop when you don't think you can go another step.  Personally, having someone challenge me to go a little bit further makes it so I find myself doing thing I really didn't think I could.  So if you are looking for another way to lose those pounds, think about getting a trainer.  You'll see results quickly and you'll gain someone in your corner who is going to help you push yourself in ways you didn't think possible.  

Worth the money and worth the time.  I love my trainer and can't see myself giving him up anytime soon.

Please Bring Back Hockey

A plea for the NHL to get back together so my sister can fulfill her dream of becoming a LA Kings Ice Girl.  Check out her audition tape!

A Decision Must Be Made

And quickly to!  Only 35 days to go till ND vs Alabama (what is destined to be the highest rated college football game like ever) is played out in Miami.  And I find myself asking the same question that every other ND fan must be asking themselves.  Where do I watch this game?

If I had watched every game in the same location, I would for sure stay with tradition and watch the championship game there.  But I've actually watched ND games at various locations this season.  ND vs. Stanford at Blondies, vs. Oklahoma at HIMYM bar, and vs. USC at the parentals house in the Cape.  As ND pulled through in each of them, that means I have the freedom to choose where I watch this game.  With choice though comes nerves, as I know have to carefully calculate the pluses and minuses of each location. 

1) My Apartment
Positives: Most of the games have been watched at this site.  It's a controlled environment where my screams of joy/frustration won't disturb other people. 

Negatives: No one to experience the game with.  Ups/downs will be alone.  No celebration if ND pulls it off.  Could run out of beer at key part of game, leading to the question: Miss a portion of the game or go without a drink? The dilemma every sports fan hates.

2) A Bar
Positives: Surrounded by other people invested in game.  Environment/anticipation will be felt. 

Negatives: Haters frustrate me.  Prone to throwing things when upset, which can lead to high bill upon breaking glass. 

3) Miami
Positives: You're in Miami.  Once in a lifetime trip.  Can't match environment.

Negatives: Expensive.  Not see game as well. 

What am I going to do?  We shall have to wait and see...

The End of Productivity

I don't know about you, but I really have one day of the week to do chores.  You know, those annoying things like laundry, dishes, dry cleaning, vacuuming.  And that one day was Sunday.  Was is the key word.  As now that Time Warner has NFL Redzone as part of my package, I can't seem to drag myself away from the TV.

I sit down at 1 fulling planning to get up and be productive after I just see whose starting...and 4 hours later I'm still there cheering on the Packers, Hernadez (fantasy points please!) and cheering for more Sanchez interceptions (Tebow time much?).  I mean, as a certified ADHD kid, do you know how perfect this style of football watching is for me?  I never have time to get bored!

Have you ever heard of an octobox?  Ya, I hadn't either.  But all of a sudden the NFL Redzone announcer calmly announces that in all 8 early morning games, there are interesting things going on so they must put all of them on the screen.  Hence, the octobox.  You'll be tempted to watch all of them, but take it from me, that's impossible.  Instead, concentrate on a corner, as two games is for sure possible to follow.

Luckily for me, I've only realized I got Redzone for two weeks now.  And there are only 4 more weeks to go...so that means my chores will be put off for only one more month.  That's not to bad right?  Just imagine next year...four months of dirty laundry piling up during the NFL Season.Then again...in my theme of looking at the positive side of things during this holiday season...I guess that means I need to some shopping in order to survive my laundry-less state of being next fall.  Will be tough, but I'll suck it up and do it ;)

Dreams Come True

12-0!  For over 3 months, every Saturday I sat on couches, bars, and even floors to watch my beloved Fighting Irish compete.  And for the first time since I've ever been a fan and can remember (1988 doesn't count, as I was only 2), Notre Dame emerged victorious Every Single Game.  Week after week, after 3 hours of what was often torturous suspense, I was able to breathe a little easier after my team emerged the winner.  After 12 weeks, Notre Dame is perfect.  Who thought that was possible entering the season?  No one.  I mean, I know I didn't!

Saturday night, my whole family huddled around the TV.  We had our ND-watching required accompaniments (Guinness, Guacamole), and were decked out in our ND gear.  All of us were nervous as we knew that USC would love to play spoiler to this beauty of a season.  But this is why you follow a team...for the opportunity to play your biggest rival with a trip to the national championship game on the line.

Basically for as long as I have been a ND fan, USC has OWNED us.  And having grown up in Southern California, you can imagine how annoying this was.  Every other year, I would return to school/work after Thanksgiving break to the sound of very self-satisfied Trojan fans.  Only one time in the last 11 years did I get to wear my ND hat proudly the following Monday.  So you can imagine, going into the season finale, even though I knew ND was the better team, I couldn't help but think that I was being set up for a big disappointment.  We were soooooo close!  So as soon as ND dominated Wake, instead of breaking down the next weeks opponent for hours as we usually did, my family clammed up.  We all knew that USC was next and for some reason we thought that if we didn't talk about it, we wouldn't jinx it.      

We needn't have worried.  This ND team wasn't like any other in recent memory.  I mean did you see that goal line stand?  Watching the Notre Dame defense stuff the qb twice and the running back, then USC fail to convert the 4th down (every other year the Trojans broke my heart with some crazy catch...but not this year, not this team) was one of the cooler moments for me as a sports fan.  It was just will against will, and Notre dame, like its done all season, just showed that it had the stronger will.  My family knew that those 4 plays represented the game and after USC turned it over on downs, it was like we could finally breathe and acknowledge that we were going to win.  Looking around, we all had these rediculous smiles on our faces as we knew that THIS year, there would be no let down.

And finally, after 26 years of dedication, I can say that ND has earned the right to play in the national championship.  After all those years of having my heart broken (Bush Push anyone?), I know what its like to have your favorite team reach the pinnacle of its sport.  Sure, I've watch the Giants and Yankees win.  That was super fun...but every sports fan has one team that they care about more than all others.  And Notre Dame is mine.

12 weeks...12 glorious weeks of a season.  A season I'll never forget.  But...I know this is selfish of me, I really want that 13th week of happy feelings.  Now Santa Honey, I just want one thing.  Don't get me anything Christmas...instead deliver my gift to me on January 7th in the form of a National Championship!     

Working...Sort of

When are you an addict? Well, to quote dictionary.com, an addict is one who is "physiologically or psychologically dependent on a substance, as alcohol or a narcotic."  Well...I might not be a classical addict, but I am for sure addicted to sports.

I should have come to this conclusion beforehand?  Well, perhaps you're right.  But what, do you ask, finally convinced of my status as an addict?  When I found myself during work pulling up Champion League soccer games on the sly.  That's right...in order to get my fix in, I have the game streaming on the background of my computer while working.  The idea? Just have it on in the background, and even though I can't have it pulled up, at least I'll be able to listen to the action of Juventus vs. Chelsea.  Is it working?  Well...it is...but maybe too well.  

Instead of being able to just whet my appetite by listening to the announcers, I find myself pulling up the game to actually watch whenever the announcers voice suddenly gets loud and excited.  Well those English must be an excitable people, because every 30 seconds the announcer is yelling!

Lesson: An addict can't just do a little bit...they always needs more 

Regional Quirks

Every region has its quirks and I was recently introduced to one of the Northeasts.  Ever heard of candlepin bowling?  Well, I hadn't either.  But I was introduced to it this weekend...and well, it was interesting.

See that tiny little ball that fits in the palm of my sisters hand?  Well that's what you use in candlepin.  And let me tell you, you can whip it wicked hard.  Not only is the ball different, but the pins themselves are smaller.  They are skinnier and are easier to knock down.  The best part of the whole experience?  The fact that the lane shows the MPH after each throw.  Not only can you compete on the score at the end, but really the main prize went to the person who was able to throw the ball the fastest.  A little side pot always makes life more interesting.

Look I had a good time.  But to be honest, I don't really understand why they felt the need to change bowling...I mean what's wrong with bowling? I've decided it just must be a Northeastern thing.  They love when people show up and they can make them feel all stupid by asking, "Really, you've never heard of candelpin."  Boston and the surrounding area is like a secret club...and it becomes quite clear when you are on the outside looking in.  Luckily for me, I've learned one more of their secrets...candelpin bowling, you are no longer a mystery to me!!

What's the best part of a tailgate? Getting there!

Have you ever ridden on a party bus?  Well if not, I suggest you do it pronto!  If you don't have an occasion coming up, just invent one, invite all your closest friend and prepare to have one of the better nights of your life.  What occasion did we come up with?  Harvard-Yale.  Get together 20 of your closest friends, have them meet at the Harvard club, then take a drive down to New Haven.  Let me tell you, everyone was staring as we rolled up in our huge bus to the tailgate.  And why wouldn't they?  Clearly, in a campus rolling in fun, we were somehow managing to out do the undergrads.  Tailgating in style, that's us. 

Here's how the morning started.  7 am wake-up call and we pull on our matching H-Y t-shirts (in case you aren't aware, All We Do Is Win is Harvard's unofficial theme song).  Coffee and food (don't go on a party bus without being completely fueled up!) are next on the agenda.  After the business is taken care of, it's finally time to get to the fun...Party Bus Time! 


Rules for a successful Party Bus:
1) Stripper Poles add to the entertainment: There is nothing better then watching your drunk friends attempt to show you their moves on the pole.  There will be some falls, but luckily alcohol dulls the pain.

2) Playlists should be strategically created to get people in the mood:  It's sometimes hard to convince people to get the drinks flowing, especially when starting at 7 am like we were.  Solution?  Start your iPod list with the "Shots" song.  Make sure to bring something nice, such as my personal favorite Patron, and haze everyone on the bus to take a Shot as the song commands.  From there, you'll have no problem getting the party going.

3) Alcohol, and more alcohol: You know how much alcohol you think you'll want?  Well, my advice...bring more!  You'll go through much more than you originally planned, and the worst feeling in the world is when the juice runs out.  It's easy to save extra alcohol, but it's annoying to have

4) Time: Trust me, time runs away from you when you are having fun.  So make sure to have a travel plan that makes it so you don't go over the agreed upon hours.  Once you use up the time limit, they will start charging you more per hour and you'll be way to drunk to argue about it.  So leave in plenty of time to get back inside the limit.  At the worst you'll get back home with some time to spare and you can just party in the bus until they kick you out! I mean because let's be real...who wants to leave the bus anyways?  I know I never did!

 

What is this Feeling?

Nerves.  That's what I'm feeling, nerves.  I'm not going to say that I've never been nervous before, as any one who knows me, I am someone who is extremely uptight when rooting on my teams.  My poor Sony Plasma TV (first thing I brought with my signing bonus money and my most prized procession) has been on the receiving end of some tantrum remote control throwing on my end.  Sorry buddy.  But this is a whole different type of nervous for me, as for the first time since...well...forever, ND football matters again.

Sure I've seen them go to a couple BCS bowl games.  But no one really thought they were that good, and the blowouts just proved the experts right that ND wasn't back.  This year though?  I've watched them beat OK at OK, stuff Stanford on a goal line stand, and storm there way to an 8-0 record.  You would think I would be happy right?

I am! I mean, this is the most fun I've had in a college football season ever.  But at the same time, there is for sure a double-edged sword for fans of a good team.  And the counter to being happy watching your team succeed, is being so stressed out that your joy ride is going to come crashing to a halt at any second. You don't want to be blindsided, so instead of enjoying your teams success, you keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and for the fairy tale of the season to be over.

Still, what if the fairy tale doesn't end?  What if this one time, your team just keeps winning?  Well, that's the question and that's what keeps fans coming back for more.    At least it does for me.

Time for ND vs Pitt.  Let's just hope I don't wake up from this dream of a season...because Notre Dame has given me one hell of a great fall, and I really don't want this ride to end.  Go Irish!

best way to deal with nerves? drink

The Two Sides of the Extra Inning Coin

Wow...what a crazy two nights.  Two baseball games, 24 combined innings, and tension like you couldn't believe.  One night, jubilation.  The next, despair.  If two nights ever pointed out the ultimate highs and lows that sports can bring you, my last two experiences at Yankee Stadium for sure did.  Why do people like baseball? Because at the stroke of Midnight one team gets to be Cinderella...and the crowd rides the emotional highs and lows until the glass slipper fits the chosen team. 

Wednesday:
Down 1 going into the 9th inning...my rally cap is on and rubbing of my sisters Swisher cap is continually happening.  Good luck movements are happening all along the park, when IT happens.  Ibanez steps into the batters box, and two pitchers later its bedlam in the stadium.  As the ball soars over the fence, I find myself pounding my sister on the head, screaming up and down, and yelling at the top of my lungs.  The entire ball park has been reduced to a bunch of 2 year olds and we couldn't be happier!  I mean it couldn't get any better right?

Yes, it could and it did.  11th inning, Ibanez steps back into the batting box.  He couldn't do it again right?  Yep, he could and he did!  Screaming, "Oh My God" again and again, I just couldn't believe what I had just witnessed.  Tired?  No way! And neither was anyone else.  The subway car back to the apartment was electric, with everyone still chanting Lets Go Yankees, and talking a mile a minute about the latest Yankee Stadium magic.  Yankees were the team of Destiny, that's for sure. 

All it took was 24 hours for those good feelings to evaporate...

Thursday:
Extra innings...again.  As each batter came up and went quietly down, you could feel the tension of the crowd increase.  It didn't help that the Yankees didn't help release tension by giving the fans something to cheer about.  Was a base runner making it past 1st base to much to ask for?

When the orioles scored in the top of 13th, you could feel the air go out of the stadium.  No one was surprised when the Yanks went 1-2-3 up and down quickly in the bottom of the inning.  Walking out of the stadium to New York, New York blaring out of the loud speakers, I've never heard a quieter 40,000 + fans.  Had the magic really vanished that quickly?

Playoffs...its do or die.  And as a fan you can't ask for anything more. 

Home Away From Home

We've all been there.  Living in a different place than your favorite team can be a bit lonely at times.  Surrounded by the enemy, no one to share your pain, wishing you were home watching this game...sound familiar?  Well that was us on Sunday during Redskins games until we found the best Redskins bar ever in NYC. 

The Australian.  It generally caters to Rugby, Cricket and other random sports, but come Sunday during NFL season, the Australian becomes a haven for those who bleed burgundy and gold souls living in NYC.  The bar has fully adopted its DC fan base, decorating the insides with Skins banners and buying an inflatable Skins player to bade fans welcome as they enter the bar.  No other fans are welcome.  Jets, Pats, Giants fans...they've all been told, "No we will not put on your game.  Yes, we do only show the Skins game on all 20+ of our TV's".  They act extremely put out every time, but come on, really guys?  Why would you even want to watch your game with us! Literally every single Irish bar in NYC (and there are 10 on every block) will have your game on.  Go there.  

The best part though?  The celebrations the Australian has instituted after every Redskins score. After each TD, the Redskins Victory Song rings out on the loudspeakers.  With the fans clapping and singing along, the bar tenders go around carrying these huge trays of free shots to cap off the celebration.  Hail to the Redskins, for sure!

So next time your in town on a Sunday, drop by the Australian.  You'll hear the rowdy cheers from drunk Skins fans all the way down the street, and I'll be leading the clapping/stomping/screaming of the Skins fight song.  See ya there.

You Have the Best Record in the MLB...and Your Prize?

Congrats Yankees!  With your win over the Red Sox, you have now earned the best record in the AL.  Home Field Advantage in the Playoffs is yours...your fans can be assured of watching your team a least a couple of times at home. 

Sorry...wait...what was that?  The Yankees don't start at home?  And they don't know who they are going to play so will have to travel day before first game?  As a fan I could only have one chance to see my team in the playoffs?

The new playoff format for the Division Series is really crazy.  Higher seeds start on the road for the first two games and then they come home for the next three.  As a Yankee fan, I'm frustrated.  But if I was a Nationals fan? I would be livid.

DC baseball is back in the playoffs since the 1930's...and instead of having the home town crowd rocking their NATITUDE t-shirts and screaming at the top of the lungs, the young Nationals will be forced to start their playoff run on the road.

I know this is a one year aberration...but if they couldn't make the travel schedule work this year, they shouldn't have added the two wild card playoff until they could use the regular playoff format.  Another sign that commissioners really don't care about the fans.  It's frustrating right now...but come Monday if they Yanks are down two and I only get to see them that once...it will be more than frustrating.  It will be heart breaking.

Fishing is Definately a Sport

Football and crabcakes...that's what Maryland does!  I'd experienced the first before (Redskins football), but had yet to experience the fishing part of that boast...so this weekend I set out to rectify that situation by fishing off the pier on the Chesapeake Bay.  Luckily for me, it was one of the prettiest September days you will ever see.  Sun was out, the squid were ready to be eaten by some fishies, and the crabs were biting. 

Pier fishing is definitely different than fishing in the ocean off of a boat, the only other way I'd ever fished.  You have to be careful about not tangling up your lines with other people fishing off the pier, as on a nice day you really cram yourselves onto that thing.  Me?  I just let the bf handle the casting...and the putting of the gross squids/blood worms on the hook...and the touching of the fish.  Ha that's what boys are for right?

My favorite part of the experience though?  CRABBING!!! Ha it was soooo much fun.  You tie these chicken livers up in the middle of the little nets, then you slowly lower down the net (always keeping tension) and then you wait.  Every 20 minutes or so you go over to your net, and quickly pull it up.  When the net breaks the water, and you see those little blue buggers sitting in the middle of the net, the excitement is enough to make you dance!  Or at least, it made me jump up and down.

Be careful though as those crabs do not mess around.  They come out of the water struggling for their lives.  Snapping their claws, and running around, they are anything but happy to be part of your fishing party.  One time mine escaped, but again boy to the rescue!  Stepping on the crab seemed to quickly settle it down.  I, unfortunately, was unable to step on it myself as I was wearing sandals.  Lesson learned...sneakers or bust while on the pier.  It's a dangerous world there above the water ;)

An American Tradition..The Football Tailgate!

Is there any other country that accepts drinking at 9 am, as long as you are doing it in preparation for the most American of sports, football?  I'm guessing not...another reason the good old USA is my favorite place to be.  This weekend I went to my first ever NFL tailgate, and let me tell you it was an event!

Waking up at 8 am, the preparations begin.  Skins keg grill? Check.  Bloody mary mix?  Check.  Beer? Check.  O..and food...lots and lots of food!  Once we have made sure everything has made it from the house to the car, it's time to roll out and head to the Skins parking lot.  You would have thought leaving the house at 9am and arriving at the stadium at 9:30 am, we would be the first to arrive.  Well, you thought wrong!

At 9:30 am, the parking lot was already packed!  RG3 Mania has hit DC hard, and the Skins fans were out in numbers to celebrate having a franchise QB for the first time in...well...ever!  So pulling our van into a lot between a group blaring music from their redskins-decked out truck, and one playing drinking games, we jumped out and joined in the fun.  The first thing to do? Bloody Mary's of course!  What is better than drinking spicy Bloody Mary's before 10 am?  I can't think of many more things I'd rather be doing...except possibly grilling.  And that's exactly what we did next!  Fire up the grill and get down to killing all of our diets...but hey, if you can't relax while sitting outside in beautiful, sunny 80 degree weather before the first game of the season, then Hunny you don't know how to live!






What was on the menu?  Sausages, Hot Dogs, Chili, vegetables, and Chips/Dip!  Hungry yet?  Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face!  So for the next 2.5 hours we sat around the grill and ate/drank like there was no tomorrow.  After what felt like the best morning ever, it was time to stop dancing and pack up the food.  What could induce us to actually put down our forks and get a move on?  GAME TIME BABY! 

And the tailgater of the game goes to the people next to us...who had a full scale bar set up and everything!