This is where the magic happens.

This is where the magic happens.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Recapping the Weekend

We got back home today just in time for me to turn on the TV and see Ryan Fitzpatrick complete a short pass over the middle to Donald Jones.  It seemed like a relatively insignificant play until Jones slipped a tackle, cut upfield, and turned it into a 68-yard touchdown.  Just like that, the Bills had a 21-7 third quarter lead over the hated Patriots.  Ralph Wilson Stadium was rocking, I was smiling, and life was good.  Then the wheels fell off.

Today's game may very well have been the most pathetic performance by the Buffalo Bills since the first of two Super Bowl losses to the Cowboys.  My weekend, which had been going so well, had hit a major speed bump.  Since 3PM, I've been sighing heavily, groaning loudly, frowning continuously, and cursing (mostly silently).  Kim and Jay are sick of me.  Who can blame them?

Anyway, I'm going to try real hard to start thinking positively.  I'll start by recapping my favorite three things about our trip up to Penn State to see Nick for Parent's Weekend.
  • Visiting the Sigma Nu basement.  I'd forgotten how awesome the smell of cheap stale beer in a fraternity basement can be.  I'd also forgotten how great it is to have your sneakers stick to the floor with each step you take.  Now, If only they had a real pong table.
  • Seeing the Corolla parked in the lot at Hannah's dorm, freshly adorned with a '409' sticker.  I just love her passion for JVP.
  • Watching the Penn State - Illinois in the basement of Nick's dorm with him.  Nobody's as passionate about football as Nick.  Hearing him call for the return of the first-string defense as Illinois drove down the field, down 28 points, in the final minute of the game, sums it all up.  High-fiving him after the second-teamers made a touchdown-saving tackle on the goal line on the final play was the capper.
I lied about covering only three things.  I've got to add a fourth.  This morning, I went for a run in State College.  I left the Ramada on South Atherton Street and headed towards campus.  (As an aside, do yourself a favor and never stay at the Ramada in State College -- it's the grossest hotel I've ever seen.  Mind you, this is coming from someone who's also stayed at the Ramada in Altoona.  I didn't think anything could be worse than that.)  I ran into town, through the campus, and then decided to take a spin past the Paterno's.  Wouldn't you know that SuePa has one of those cheap plastic holiday screen door liners adorning her front door?  It's a Halloween one that shows a black cat peering out from behind a pumpkin.  You've gotta love it.