Follow the sea of Blue & White

For Saturday’s game (mention the result, and you’re not allowed to read anymore.) we headed into Georgetown. There’s an ‘unofficial’ Penn State bar there, which is an idea I’m in love with. The parents and I tried to hit it up for the Ohio State game a few weeks ago, but it was standing room only with four hours until kick-off.
Um, no.

This time I was prepared. I knew how to get there, and I knew to go early. And basically had my fingers crossed that it wouldn’t be as crazy since we were playing Iowa. (Seriously. IOWA. gahhhhh). I sported my jersey, as usual, and the roomie wore navy blue because she’s a good sport. I actually almost walked right past the bar while I was looking for it (who knows…), and I’m like “I think it’s close….” and one of the bouncers outside is like “Um, right here. Upstairs!”.

Oh, he knew. Penn Staters, follow the sea of Blue & White.

We were there and seated (whooo) with almost two hours to spare. So, we waited……

One hour later, we ordered the first pitcher. And this is what it looked like about 10 minutes before Game-tiiiime.

They played the PSU fight song, twice. There was somebody doing the cowbell thing so we could chant “P-S-U”, there was pleeeenty of “We Are…..PENN STATE!!!”s (always politely followed by the “Thank you, You’re welcome!”), and there was “Heyyy, hey Babyyy” playing nice and loud right before the 4th Quarter!! Oh, and they played Journey “Livin’ on a Prayer”.

Yup. Everything was as it should be. Love.

Right before half-time the waitresses/waiters walk around asking whether or not you’re playing Flip-Cup. Uh, whaaat? Just wondering, so they can grab you another pitcher and more cups. Yes Pleeeease!

My side of the table may have lost about 5-2, but now I remember how to play flip-cup. Which is much more important.

I am still amazed at how good it feels to be surrounded by people who understand your obsession with a place, a team, and an old coach that we will love no matter what. I’m also still in shock over what happened in the last minute of the game. Mention it and we can’t be friends anymore.

I might not have stepped foot in Beaver stadium this season, for the first time in four years, but I’ve definitely found the next best thing.

Needing the one with a hole in it

Last weekend in State College, I got lucky.

Not that kind of lucky.

Saturday night we decided to stop by an old favorite, a certain “Night club”. It was after midnight, so my logic is that we won’t have to pay the $5 cover. Or, they still take the “free admission” cards that we hoarded last year. Not likely, but ya never know.

Every time I present my I.D. they look at me like I’m crazy. By “they”, I mean almost every single bouncer. Or waiter/waitress. Or bartender. Every one. Because I’m over here on the East and I’m from wayyyy over there in the West. The most common response “Well, you came a long way for a drink. Ha ha.” Hilarious.

Anyway. I got a new ID over the summer, which apparently doesn’t match up with their little Reference book. It’s the new-er version from the State, which, I must admit, is much prettier than our old ones. And I like my pretty licenses. Um, my point: they didn’t think it was real, because it doesn’t match the picture in the book. Who knows how old that stupid book is. Every time they use it (happens pretty often), it takes them forever to match up the picture with the ‘real’ thing. It’s ridiculous.

So this guy comes back and says “Did you just get this over the summer?”. Yup, sure did. You can see that by looking at the “issued on” date. These bouncers……

I answered him, and offered another form of ID. His response “Well, you look pretty familiar, I know you’ve been here before…” oh, how flattering…. “..Do you just have your old ID? So I can look at that?”

And why would I carry around an expired ID? It has a hole in it. It’s not Valid. Are you allowed to let me in on the basis of something thats expired? I think there’s a law against that. I mean, if that were the case, I’d just give it to the little sis and she could go crazy. Which, I’m not doing. Don’t arrest me.

I was a little baffled. I guess in that situation I can see where having the “old” one would do me some good. But does anybody actually carry those things on them? Isn’t it just as convincing to have like 4 credit/debit cards with your name, along with an old Penn State ID (which is still valid by the way….til December 08. yessss) ??

He let me in. On the basis of “you’ve def been here before, so go ahead. But I’d recommend carrying your old ID with you. ” Yes, thanks for the advice. I have no idea where it is.  Once we got upstairs, and realized they are still charging cover at 12:30, we turned right back around and said Nevermiiiind. Because the drink specials are over, and that’s just crazy.

Remaining on the card

When it comes to gift cards, I basically hoard them. Give me a gift card, and it’s likely it will be at least 6 months before I even think of spending it. Why? I have No. Idea. It’s almost like I think it’s ’special money’, that can only be spent on the very best. And I will wait until I find those things. Never mind the things I need, that I could spend the card on. No, no. It must be the extravagant things. Apparently that’s what gift cards are for, according to me.

Thanks to my little running habit, a very good family friend got me a gift card for Lady Foot Locker. The card said “this should help with your new hobby!”. Until then, I had never thought of running as a hobby. Scrapbooking? That’s a hobby. Blogging? That could be considered a hobby. But running….? Hmm. Interesting. Running is my hobby. And let me tell you, it can be a very $costly$ hobby.

So I have this money at my disposal, and I’ll give you one guess as to what I’ve done with it…….

Nothing.

I’ve had it since July, and done nothing with it. Mostly because I’m saving it to buy new shoes, which I can’t do online. Because that’s a nightmare. And the closest store could be anywhere from 2 miles to 50 miles away for all I know. I know what you’re thinking, and Yes. I googled it. And, um, they aren’t close.

So I’m browsing online, under Track & Field/XC, to see what I can find. The variety of “running gear” that a website can make you think you need is quite surprising. If you’ve been to a “Running Expo” before a race, you probably know what I mean. I walk around those going, what’s that for?? Clearly not an elite over here. I don’t even know what my Garmin does besides tell me a time, a pace, and a distance. Don’t bother me with the instruction book, those things are confusing. Oh, I also know how to race my virtual running buddy. But it took me two months to figure out how to get the backlight to come on. Gah.

With all of the money still on the card (guessing a shoe cost, and subtracting. Cause, seriously, I need those shoes), I could get……..

A “Storm” Jacket. Which comes with a new attitude…Bring it on, winter! I’ll be fiiiine

…Or a “Pastry” boot. Seriously, it’s a “Fab Cookie Boot”. Clearly.

They are purple. Which is pretty sweet. But they’re also high-tops and metallic silver. Which is a little crazy.

What I really want is a running singlet that has a pocket in the back for a key/iPod/ID/cell phone/whatever won’t bother you bouncing against your back. I honestly think that’s a cool concept. And it definitely beats taking my key off the keychain and stuffing it in my armband every time I run. Because putting it back on the keychain always hurts my finger. I also want a waist-band (I refuse to use the word “fanny pack”) so when I start doing the long ones I can actually bring “nourishment”. Which basically means I can put in a baby water bottle and a bag of gummy worms. Yummmm. Not so into those gel-ish protein/caffeine flavored things. Sugary candy? Yes, maybe I’ll spend the rest of my gift card on that.

Go, make History

I’ve actually followed this election since the beginning. For the first time in my young-adult life, I’ve actually turned on that little News show (aka Today) every morning. Impressive, right? Right. I’m still a little surprised by how habitual it has become. And by how much you can learn, through television. Crazy.

And now, here it is!! Election Day.

I care who you vote for, but that’s not my thing. Just go Vote.

Either way, we’re making history today. And we not only get to watch it happen, we get to make it happen. We’re taking a step towards Change. And we definitely need some of that.

Finally, ‘alumni’ gets added to the collection

I did a little shopping today at the Student book store, this time in the ‘alumni’ department. Weird.

And then I saw the football one, you can never have too many Penn State football shirts. Especially while we’re #3!!!!!! in the nation.

It was a very strange feeling to be back there after 5 months. Half of me felt like it was just any other weekend, and I’ve been there all along. The other half of me wanted to cry when I drove by *our* apartment and realized how badly I wanted to just walk in the door and see my roomies sprawled out in the living room watching Top Model and painting their finger nails.

I went for a run around campus on Saturday morning, just to get the full view. I went by everything I wanted to see, and witnessed some things I definitely didn’t need to see. Many walks of shame and awkward taxi good-byes, with way too many people still in full slut-costume gear. That’s a lot of skin to witness by 11 in the morning. But also very entertaining.  It was absolutely gorgeous outside, a sunny 60º, with bright red/orange/yellow leaves everywhere. Love.

Saturday just felt normal.  I went to see the kids I babysat, I wandered around Target, and then I had a haircut appointment. That’s right, I went back to my first love. And I’m convinced that for the rest of my life I will be making routine trips to State College, because he is the only person that I’m allowing to cut my hair.  I let him chop it again, thinking it could be a while before I’m back, and hair grows. But of course, I love it.

We had dinner downtown, went out, watched the Texas-T.Tech game (seriously….omFg. that was amazing), and hopped around a few bars.

Then I woke up Sunday remembering I had to come back to MD. Gah.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t too reluctant to leave. I know I’ll be back in 3 weeks, and thats when the real reunion will happen. All 4 of us, together, for the first time since graduation. Can.NOT.Wait.

In the meantime, LB & I will be plotting how to kick out the current residents and get our old apartment back for the weekend. Just to make things authentic.  That’s not crazy, right? Right.