The Distance Was Quantifiably Smaller

But Our Original Plan Was a Bit Over and Above Our Budget
by Mil'vardea

Our goal: Buy Flyers tickets and make it safely to Philadelphia and back for a game.

We successfully bought the tickets; this was nearly a month ago now. We decided the March 12th home game Philadelphia Flyers against the Washington Capitals would be appropriate, considering Smoo is a Caps fan (why? Seriously? Man-crushing on Ovie much?).

After I convinced him that wearing a Caps anything into Philadelphia would be a bad idea, we bought the tickets, rearranged our schedules, took off work (well, Canada and I had too; Smoo's job at xkcd is chill).

March 11th: The weather was warm for March, but we thought if it would hold out for the game, it would make the experience all the better. Nice weather = Nice driving conditions. I got my nails done and my things packed, ready for a pretty day of driving, camaraderie, and NHL hockey.

March 12th: The weather changes abruptly, plummeting down twenty degrees in less then 24 hours, making the skies overcast and the air a windy 25 degrees. We leave for the game around 11AM, giving us plenty of time to make it to the game, or so we thought. We made it just in time, magically turning a four-and-a-half hour drive into a seven or so hour drive. Jeebs. Four thirty saw us at Passyunk and 9th, where everyone who ever wanted a cheesesteak (and not a mis-steak) goes (Pat's, for anyone who has never been in Philly).

We got to the game a little early and missed all the human traffic into the Wachovia Center. I even had time to say goodbye to the Spectrum before the game. The game itself was disappointing, for me at least, we lost 1-2 to the Caps; however, it was worth the trip. I don't think I've ever had that much fun ever.

We're Off to See the Wizard

The Wonderful Wizard of Guns
by Mil'vardea

Today was fantastic! I finally had a day off where I wasn't sick or at an artshow, so Smoo, Black Beard, IrishCream, and I decided to go to the gun range.

Several hundred rounds later (I shot almost 150 rounds just by myself with my .22), we left the gun range giggling and happy, and stepped out into the parking lot, where IrishCream chased after the alley cats and screamed "Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" The day was a success; the two boys and I had some good fun and IrishCream felt safer I think, for having learned to shoot. A great day all around; here's to the gun range! Enjoy our videos!

IrishCream with my .22


Black Beard with the rented .9mm

..::heartsinfall::..

I Just Love Pretty Pictures

I think only mudwrestling could be funner.
by Mil'vardea

I left our group to travel to D.C. for my Aunt's very first art show. She's been painting since before I was born, and is an extremely talented woman. But, despite the fact that I was out of town, I can't do anything without an entourage, so I invited my buddies from my college dorm days to join me on my little romp to NoVA.

Vienna, Virginia, if you've never been there, is a delightful little, and safe, town, right outside of the city, offering CEOs and other ritzy folks a retreat from the dangers and dirt of the city, without living too far from work (with a ritzy little price tag attached to all of those homes and apartments, let me tell you). This place is pretty, and probably one of the safest places within a 150 mile radius of Washington D.C. We had quite a time on the town.

Liz, my old college roomie, and her husband Matt, and another old college roomie, Jess, and I dressed to the nines (which is our books means wearing our new jeans instead of the holy ones, and something other than a t-shirt) and paraded gallantly through not only the artshow, but the spiffy little sushi restaurant downstairs. All-in-all, it was prettiest experiences of my life, and I enjoyed it throughly.

My aunt has her own website; check out her art for she is very talented: pamelabickford.com. The show was a success; my dad and my other aunt were among the people purchasing Glicees that evening. I think Aunt Pam also had a fantastic time; she was grinning ear to ear and was bouncy, which is cute as hell to watch. Like a kitten with a ball of yard, but smarter, and much much more talented.

The Beautiful Artist and her Work

..::heartsinfall::..