nolechica

Friday was long, as I met Tyler at Aladdin's after lunch with Rachel. Needed internet and chill time. We hung out with Lisa doing homework (editing is much easier in person), and being useless, didn't even see my resume on my laptop until late Friday. Dinner was at Samrat, never has the food been so good, garlic and cheese naan, samosas, and lamb tikka masala. Rain and cold canceled our clubbing plans in favor of hookah and drinking at Lisa's. It was cool minus the end of the Boise St game. I should've taken a Jager bomb though. Would've made the sex discussions more fun. However, I wish we could've gone out, as I kinda wanted boy time. The night ended late as even with the pump, my being on the airbed woke Rachel up, again.

Saturday morning came too soon and cold. Wanted to stay in bed rather than be crazy drunks. However, tequila, vodka, pizza and chips won out, along with lots of pictures. I was more buzzed than I intended, but everyone else was happy. As such, I remember the pre-game craziness of pictures by the drum and Tyler getting a Gator to do the tomahawk chop. Also, having to meet up in the student section because they crossed the stands faster than I could. The first half is kind of a blur due to the aforementioned alcohol. I do remember the spear being handed to a presumably actual Seminole for the planting, and the Senior Day festivities. We scored first, but Florida went up 7-3 before we ran off 28 unanswered points. The second half was slow except for the anticipation. I laughed when the board was asking for more crowd noise and we were cheering non-stop. Tyler and Rachel and I were thrilled to be back together for the win, many high fives and much commentary. Tyler and I forgot to get a picture of just us in the stadium though, would've been fun for music fandom purposes. And Tyler, Rachel and Lisa left early to get in position to rush the field if they allowed it. So not my thing, but I loved the fireworks and the Maryland-NC State game finally being on the jumbotron after a game of passing the score among fans. That game wasn't over until Sara and I were half way to the car with Maryland's win giving us the ACC Atlantic title. We play Va Tech on Saturday, wish I could be there.

After we got back to the car, warchanting and singing the end of the fight song along the way, Tyler, Rachel, and Lisa were waiting. We then waited quite a while to get to dinner due to traffic and needing to retrieve my forgotten phone and Tyler's charger. However, hibachi was fabulous, chicken this time after shrimp at my birthday, and a great chef. We were so full that many wanted to sleep. I went to Rachel's and packed my stuff to move to Brooke's then Sara took me to Aladdin's because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Tyler. We just chilled and talked, even found out Lisa's an Adam fan when Dust in the Wind came on the radio. She wanted to go to a concert, but didn't think her boyfriend would like it. I told her about my grad trip. Great final evening. Ended without tears being shed in front of Tyler.

The next day I woke up to a note saying Sara was with her boy. When she came back we grabbed lunch and discovered I need to order a score shirt. There were only XLs at Bill's and a XXXL at Garnet and Gold. I'm going to order from Garnet and Gold though because they have gray and the white is damn near see-through. This was a great trip, but I need a job, so I can either move back or visit more.

I've been tasked with test-running another computer before I go back to Tallahassee, as Daddy tried to fix my desktop and failed, so this is a second attempt. As for my laptop, I'm in laptop hell, with the final straw on the old one coming Christmas morning. Apparently Santa thinks I don't deserve a laptop. Newsflash, that's not negotiable. A co-worker of my dad's has an old one he might give/sell him. So, I may be testing another new computer tomorrow. As for the rest of my holiday, it was good, but busy. I should've come into town closer to Christmas and worked out leaving more carefully. Greyhound changed the schedule going from Mobile/Pensacola to Tallahassee and that bus is now majorly inconvenient. As such, I'll be watching NYE coverage from my parents' house, not my apartment. 2am live stream in the garage is not my idea of fun, but it's a necessary evil. Told Daddy he can watch Auburn play in peace because I'll be sleeping unless Adam vids appear on You Tube at a reasonable hour.

Football at 10am is optional, 12pm is not. This is when the FSU game starts and due to the fuckwads on the Board of Trustees, it's Bobby Bowden's last game, and not his choice. Forcing a legend to resign is bullshit and I hope Jimbo Fisher fails and the Trustees have to eat their words. One more season wouldn't have done anymore damage than has already been done. And Bobby is pissed enough that he's leaving Tallahassee. That should never have had to happen. If Jimbo can't win in Bobby's shadow, he doesn't deserve the job. However, this idiocy did get FSU a Gator Bowl bid we didn't deserve, so I'll take it. Too bad I couldn't go. Would've loved New Year's in Jacksonville with Tyler rather than in Mobile. Plus, Tyler's not coming back to Florida until March now. So mad I missed him last time he was in town. Totally amused my dad thought Tyler was Thomas. Nope, the latter I've barely spoken to lately because he's in Boston again. Plus, computer hell means no Yahoo messenger and barely working AIM. I need a working computer ASAP.

I never thought I'd see the day when I was convincing Sara to buy a ticket to an FSU home game, but that's just what happened Homecoming weekend. That game was at noon because a shitty season means Kate gets zero sleep to support the team. We didn't go out, but we didn't get to the stadium super early either. I still got a good seat, but the game was nightmarish. We won, not a given on Homecoming against NC State, but it wasn't easy. We scored twice late for a 45-42 win. Much like the GT game, lots of offense, no defense. Normally I like that, but not this year.

The last home game of my collegiate career was not nearly as emotional as I'd anticipated. Partly because I'm not graduating until Spring and will be here for the Garnet and Gold game and partly because the game was hella stressful. Won 29-26 on a last minute touchdown. Never have I been so glad to be bowl-eligible in my life. Normally that's a given, not a worry. Six wins isn't the goal, ten or more is. We almost lost to 2-8 Maryland and had on hideous uniforms to boot. It was Seminole Tribe week, so we had black helmets and black feathers on our garnet jerseys. It looked a bit too Atlanta Falcons for my taste. However, we got an awesome halftime surprise when Dr. Tommy Wright conducted the fight song, which he wrote in 1950. I heard him play it in my freshman year music class, but only after we begged and it was the last day of class. In addition to this, it was Mickey Andrews's last game at Doak, so he was honored and planted the speared at the fifty. Osceola almost fell off passing the spear to him. Yes, this former rider notices stuff like that.

Anyway, given the way the season went, I was glad I skipped the trip to Gainesville, as another loss, with those ticket prices, wasn't what I needed. Even if it was surreal to be with the fam for Thanksgiving weekend. I did kinda miss celebrating Thanksgiving and then saying peace out to go be in a football stadium. Instead, I sat in silence as Mom, Daddy, and Em stressed over the Iron Bowl, knowing that my Alabama fan self would be thrilled if they were furious. Em doesn't understand how I'm still a Bama fan, but old habits die hard and if Saban and company can beat Florida, I'll be thrilled. Need to e-mail Charles to celebrate. Especially after the Hell that was the Florida game. It was 37-10 and it wasn't ever close. We were playing Trivial Pursuit before it was over. My parents now know that playing against Sara and I is dangerous because a History degree comes with the ability to remember lots of useless shit. When Emily played with Sara and I the first time, we said that they had brought this on themselves by paying for college. ;-)

I'm in Mobile for the weekend, trying to finish the thesis from Hell. I can't get internet on my laptop, so having to go back and forth between it and my mom's computer. Have the bibliography done save one citation and checking a few others, but need to do abstract and acknowledgements. I've called manuscript clearance three times for different things to make sure this is right before my defense on Wednesday. Reading sample abstracts is next, as acknowledgements are optional and therefore have less format.

As for the rest of my week, my birthday was fun after a little towing scare. Went to dinner at Samrat with Rachel, 'tis becoming a birthday tradition. Thought about Masa, but I was broke, and so was she. I might need to ask to go to Stix tomorrow night, as Manci's was yummy last night, but not my choice. I did get more gifts though. A crap load of money, NOLA's gonna be great! And the music on my iPod for the trip? Even better if Em delivers my bday gift soon. Unless I decide I need a hard copy at midnight after the AMAs. However, first, I plan to see 2012 this weekend, hopefully tonight, as tomorrow will be football. The FSU season has sucked so hard that the game is on at 11am on ESPNU. That will require going somewhere to watch it, which Daddy and I discussed at 3am. He slept through my music snippet fest, but woke up ready to talk NFL relocation and NBA. WTF, he never wants to talk basketball now. The news of the day isn't the Lakers being in first place, but rather LeBron wants to change his number to honor Michael Jordan. Apparently having MJ show up at your games sparks something, who knows. I'd love to see him succeed in getting the number retired, but I don't see it happening. Too many players wearing the number now.

Ok, game tomorrow, no game last weekend, guess it's time to relive the Georgia Tech game. I swear to God, if we don't find a defense soon, we'll lose Homecoming and get plastered by Florida. We spent the entire FSU/GT game playing what Sara dubbed musical endzones. Meaning we'd score, then they'd counter. The entire first half. We were lucky to be up at half 35-28, but that didn't last long, as they received to open the half, and had tied the game before the 13:00 mark. GT took the lead just before the quarter ended at 42-38, but we ended up losing 49-44. Scoring 44 points is evidence that the offense isn't the problem for the first time this decade, but we now have our worst record in probably two decades at 2-4 and the head of the Board of Trustees is calling for Bobby's head on a silver platter. There were signs at the game supporting him, but the students seem to be divided. Personally, I think it's his call when he retires, and calling for him to step down won't expedite the process. Bobby's scared to retire because of what happened to Bear and I hate to think that's why he's stayed so long, but I know that's at least part of it.

As far as the rest of life, my thesis is finished and sent to the committee. First revisions and defense to come. So damn happy to have the thing written. Kinda scared of what Gray will do to it. Hoping it's not much, as I still have citations to insert. Ordering my cap and gown this week as well, graduation's finally starting to seem real. I don't have a permanent job lined up, but a temp agency called and I might be making phone calls for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for their next fundraiser. That interview was fun, much of it was 20 questions about my rings, a claddagh, gecko, and kokopelli, the latter of which is great fun to explain. Oh, and since when do I turn my room inside out looking for boot socks and get mad when I read the mail. First thing on the inside of my Vera catalog? An espresso clutch, which I desperately need, as I have no dressy brown purse. Since when did I care about this? Where is my jeans, t-shirt, no bags self? And can I have here back? I put on a ribbed turtleneck sweater and boots with my jeans and full jewelry to go to the library and write because I planned to go to the on-campus Chilis to celebrate when I finished. I finished, I went, I didn't get carded, but the Pats game wasn't on when I got there. Still not sure why I dressed up.

Ugh, my body hates me. My sleep is out of whack again, so I'm wide awake at 5:30am, but I had to take Valium because my meds are screwy and my hand's been tight all day. I met with Dr. Gray on Monday and he wants my intro finished ASAP, but the wedding will consume the rest of my week and I have reading to do before I can write the advertising portion of my historiography. The mascot portion is finished though, finally. Hoping I can at least finish the reading before next week, but we'll see. Might actually be sleeping on the bus, as Em's meeting me in Atlanta, with Nick on his birthday, poor him. Then we have to go to Augusta for manis and pedis for the wedding, the latter of which I desperately need, as my feet are shit and my heels are open-toed. I have managed to get out of any extraneous shopping due to a casual rehearsal dinner and having acceptable bridal luncheon clothes. Yay, but I do need to tan, my top is way to white, should have been wearing sleeveless tops and and studying on Landis, not in Strozier. If I still had my crazy creek, I'd probably be tan by now, damn it.

Anyway, my weekend was entertaining. Surprise trip by Sara to town for the game, but we mainly partied. Went to Bull's on Friday with Meg and Katie, that was interesting. I hate playing follow the leader around bars with staircases. We actually hung out on dance floor for a while and I had fun thoughts of the songs that should be playing the next time I'm on the dance floor. Shots were taken and Meg and Katie met up with old "friends". Good night over all. Until Sara dropped them off and didn't come back for a while, as her rendezvous was cut short by frat brothers arriving in town. She's lucky I was up at 5am. I paid for it later though, as I got up at nine for the game and was at the stadium to get seats at ten. Got sunburnt and dehydrated, and we lost, oh and it rained. Where did Murphy find me, and why last week? Lack of ability to defend a running quarterback, or convert at the goal line cost us dearly. Oh, and our kicker still fails at life. Why have home games sucked this year? Fortunately, our loss was small potatoes after UF's golden boy got a concussion and the whole state freaked out. They have this week off though, so he should be fine by their next game, hence me not getting the freak out. And yes, I've had a concussion, and dealing with mine was a pain in the ass, as it involved a trip to the neuro and much hovering, which I hate. This definitely colors my perception.

As for the rest of the weekend, we went out for drinks at the Painted Lady, but a Sex on the Beach is best made by your truly, Tally bartenders fail. Also, Sara and I are planning a trip to New Orleans for my birthday, possibly instead of Gainesville at Thanksgiving. The timing of the trip with depend on when I get the CD I'm awaiting. I hope I can pre-order, but am broke now. This should be fun, as Sara's never really been and I'm always up for playing tour guide and finally having a fellow history geek to go to cemeteries and the WWII museum with, doing that with the fam resulted in Twenty Questions about D-Day. Fortunately for them, I knew the answers. And the timing of this discussion was amusing as pics of Adam Lambert surfaced (with facial hair, never seen so much fandom drama ever) from his New Orleans trip, including a Hand Grenade container from the Tropical Isle, only my favorite drink on Bourbon St. I love hurricanes, but prefer mine from scratch, not Pat O'Brien's mix. Yes, too many Mardi Gras has made me picky, but I'm worse about King Cake. And on the food front, Sara and I discussed frying a turkey for Thanksgiving, which apparently Emily wants to do as well. I wish I still has the Emeril Thanksgiving special I watched years ago. Anyway, Thanksgiving could be an adventure this year, with a fabulous soundtrack. ;-)

Saturday was busy. I had to go get my dress fitted, which turned into an adventure. My phone book failed me and the first address I had wasn't in downtown Tallahassee, but downtown Quincy. As such, I had to find a second shop on the fly, as I didn't have cab fare to spend on a second trip for this. Then, trying on the dress was an adventure, as I had to take apart the sash and put the dress on over my head. Add to this my heels and strapless and I was not amused. I hope that I don't regret having the dress measure to the floor, as walking could be tricky. Fortunately, there won't be a groomsman to drag to the ground if I fall, as we're having a way long processional. Speaking of processionals, I told Greer she's owe me, as this'll be the first time I've been in a church since May 2004. That's damn near impossible in the Deep South, which Tallahassee still is, much to my dismay. Anyway, realized I need to quit biting my nails or a manicure will be pointless. I do apparently occasionally have vain thoughts. Still debating the tanning though, might do that the old-fashioned way, unless the rain continues.

As for the never ending thesis, got some reading done, need to write next and reed more. I want to finish the intro by Friday, as I have a meeting with Gray on Monday and game weekends are shit for being productive. Plus, my sleep is more screwy than normal. After a summer as a slave to youtube and mp3 editing, my body finally said enough. I slept twelve hours Sunday and then my power was cut off today and so my sleep is even more out of whack. I might be making a pre-dawn trip to Strozier to write. We'll see if I'm still motivated after I straighten out my ipod playlist, or maybe not exactly, but organize at any rate. I need to finish the mascot section and start on the advertising historiography, without seeing red. Some of the mascot stuff is tough because I'm writing this paper, but I still know the warchant by heart, still do the chop, paint my face (need to retrieve glitter paint for Halloween game), and will always have a soft spot for Osceola and Renegade. Add to this the fact that Dr. Frank probably won't like my thesis, especially after our last chat, and I'm kinda twisted in knots.

As for a brief football update, FSU went to Provo and beat #7 BYU! First victory over a top 10 team in two years. Maybe now beating Florida isn't such a long shot, and Thomas will have to stop being such a shit. Didn't expect a 54-21 victory though, but yay for a recovering secondary, even if our kicker can't make extra points to save his life. Scoring on our first five possessions felt damn good. Add to this an injury to the USF QB and I might make it through this week with sanity in tact. Provided it doesn't rain during the White Out of course. I hate white t-shirts at games, but might get a Nike one and hope for clear skies. Bigger problems come from a noon start, which means being at the stadium at ten. Now I know why Em bitched about Auburn games. That's too damn early, even for a girl who bleeds garnet and gold.

It's been six years since Sara and I chalked "Rix Sucks. Let Wyatt Start." at the entrance to the practice field, but I thought about it Saturday. Not because we lost, but because we almost did, to a team we should've killed. However, I'd forgotten, as had our defense apparently, that Ryan Perrilloux is damn good. Honestly, I'd forgotten that he's the only reason I knew of the existence of Jacksonville State in the first place. Even my mother, whose day at work tomorrow the Noles made way more interesting than she intended, didn't believe me when I said that was in Alabama. She assumed it was in Florida. She has apparently forgotten the defensive coordinator and head coach that played for Bama and the connections they still apparently have to the state. This is the fourth Alabama school we've played recently, and the third cupcake to have almost bitten us in the ass. The FSU/Bama game left me conflicted, but ultimately thrilled, as Charles left Tuscaloosa and I chose FSU over Bama, but damn wouldn't it haven been entertaining to see what Emily would've done if I'd gone to Bama. Ultimately, her decision would've probably not changed and my parents would own a bunch of "House Divided" stuff.

( FSU and USC games )

Ok, so, Miami game on Monday. First off, why must the schedule makers keep doing this? Miami game on Labor Day is good for tv, bad for my nerves. Too much pressure to deal with tickets the first week of class. Anyway, Monday began at noon with Sara still sick and without a ticket and me fine and with a ticket. We got lunch and t-shirts from Garnet and Gold before returning to put on game clothes. I wore my jersey, capris and flip flops, stylish, but painful. Got to the stadium about 5:15 for an 8:00 kickoff because the gates open at six and student seating is now general admission, fuck you athletic department. I got a decent seat and chilled until seven when I went and applied face paint. This is as close as yours truly gets to makeup on game day. Not long after, everyone stood up and we'd remain that way the rest of the game.

( UM Game )

Ok, this is about to be possibly the most random entry ever. Football season is almost here. This means I need to register for hours and figure out the new ticket system ASAP, as I can't afford the student ticket package you can now buy. As for the rest of the new system, general admission, WTF? There goes an extra two hours of game day and ever seeing skull session again. Fortunately, we have several night games early, starting with Miami, which is why the ticket urgency. I have no idea why that game is Labor Day again, way too much stress. I miss mid-October, that'd be the perfect wedding decompression, but no. Instead, I get a bachelorette party in Atlanta and game day in Tally in 48 hours, with Sara in town Sunday, genius planning I tell ya.

However, the start of football season also gives me a target for finishing my thesis, as Matt, a Miami fan from my AOL board days, asked to read it when he IM'd me last night. Holy blast from the past hadn't heard from him since February and probably not more than twice in the last year, both short e-mails. He's married now and a dad, the latter of which is so surreal I don't even know where to start. Was just thinking the other day how much I miss him. I need some balance in my football discussions as Tyler has worse garnet and gold goggles than I do.

I may have just found that balance though, in the form of an interested admirer from an online dating site. We first messaged and talked about two months ago, as his profile picture was him sitting in The Swamp, but he lives in Tally and is not an FSU student. Turns out, he's a Gator fan, but dating the enemy could be intriguing, especially since he wants to go to an FSU game with me. He'll see another side to me, that only a handful of friends know exists. I told him we must me up before then though. And if I'm not in Gainesville for the Gator game, I will be watching it with him, whether he likes it or not. He told me he likes watching Gator games alone because he has a temper. He shouldn't have done that...

( potential controversial NFL discussion ahead (sensitive topics) )