Amelia

Home from the Kayser in Rochester.

Our team went 2-2, win-lose-win-lose to be kicked out of the 2nd event Saturday night. In general we played a lot better this year, especially in our third game against CF's Potomac team (which we were a little surprised to win). We would have won our fourth game too except that we were cold and tired and J. (the skip) was ill.

Still I had a fantastic time. Everyone was really nice and big points for staying at a hotel with a hot tub. I drove up and roomed with J. which was great because he did all the driving (even though he was sick) and has satellite radio in the car. Also good to hang out with the other half of our team (this year playing front end) insptr_penguin and S.

Yay curling!

I missed our Thursday game due to dance class, but heard we shook after the 6th.

Friday's game we were up two after the 4th. In the 5th they took 6 :(
So we're down 4 with three ends to go, not great, but not insurmountable. We took 1 in the 6th so down 3.
Then in the 7th they took 4 so I shook. I think we played well but couldn't recover from the 6-point end.

Saturday we were tied after the 6th (all 1 point ends, btw). We stole 3 in the 7th. The beginning of the 8th went well, we threw through and hit. Then we missed a few shots. I missed my first shot. My second shot was right on the broom with the correct weight, but then it picked, switched handle, and went through. So disappointing! (Someone in the warm room said I was robbed). Their final shot was good. We had to measure three stones and it turned out they had 4. We got as close to winning as you possibly could while still losing.

Thanks for excellent playing by insptr_penguin, ellen_fremedon, and afrikate. Despite all of the illness, injury, and exhaustion suffered by our team we pulled together and played well. (And thanks for giving me the opportunity to skip!) I had a great time at the bonspiel with you!

The bellydance show went well. Many, many thanks to all of the people who helped me get ready and put up with me fretting and bossing everyone around. (And who figured out how to operate the glitter brush.) I was super nervous going out, but they did a great job leaving me lots of room to dance, dimming the lights, and having the music at the right volume. Because I had so much room and people almost all the way around the room I had to adjust my routine to face different directions. I also got "tips" and because of people coming up had to abandon my choreography part way through (I don't think it showed too much though). I had a really good time, the energy in the room was great, and people we really supportive. I had $200 in funny money and $3 in real money :)

Thanks especially to flt for the opportunity for my debut!


(Now I just need to find other opportunities to perform. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.)

I spent the weekend in Utica at the Keyser.

We lost our first three games although played successively better in each. Won our 3rd game by changing the team dynamic from hierarchical to discussion group + crazy silly. penis Got 2nd in the shootout (drew to the 4 foot woo!), and proceeded to play another Potomac team. We we're doing quite well (on crazy sheet 6 ice) until heartbreak at end of 7th end and ended up losing. (Note: Mcgillicuddy's mentholmint is quite good and much better in the flask we take out on the ice than burbon). Had a great time and much much love for my team.

We had the best draw times of the spiel. We got to the club on Thursday and I tried Guitar Hero for the first time (fun!). Played Thursday night at 7pm went to bed early-ish. Friday didn't play until early afternoon I think? Chilled at the hotel in the afternoon. I watched the fantastic new Torchwood episode. Our second game was at 8pm. Got properly drunk and closed down the club with our team Friday despite the lame band. Continued at the hotel in the guys' room although probably too loudly. Saturday started with a huge, delicious brunch at ihop. Our first game (the one we won) was at 1:30, then we played again at 8pm.

Saturday night was the most fun as we were out and there was a dj and karoke. All the Potomac people got out there for Love Shack. insptr_penguin  and I helped ellen_fremedon  get drunk and sing Werewolves of London. Karoke ended with Fight For Your Right to Party and we headed back to the hotel and a room party hosted by Schnectady. At this point I should have stopped drinking and refused the sweet orange stuff (did so well the night before), but I didn't. We went back to our rooms and around 2 I was at the unpleasant drunk stage. It wasn't too bad, but I was done and went to bed at 3. (ellen_fremedon  had a much worse time of it and I think needed tending to until 6 or something?

Sunday we hit up ihop on the way out of town and had a very quiet car ride filled mostly by intermittent napping. J was awesome and drove the entire way back.

Overall a great bonspiel. Good people + curling + music + booze = fun.

We lost our 7am Sat. game to another Potomac team. We felt good about our performance and since we were out we had the entire day to hang out and watch other games (okay and drink). My parents came up Fri. night so they stayed Sat. from 7 until 2pm. I think they had a good time and it was good to visit with them. We stayed at the club until 12:30 eventually even doing a little dancing after the last draw. It was a good if long day. Today I'm skipping the finals for brunch with darhoratio and then we're heading home.

Yesterday we played our first game. We were against an established Broomstones team that had been playing together for three years (this was our first game together). We were competitive in the first half, but then gave up 3 or 4 points in the 5th end (inning) and ended up losing by a bunch and stopping in the 7th (usually you play 8 ends).

This morning we played at 9:30am against a lovely TCC (the country club) team. We played better than yesterday, we're really starting to come together as a team. Each point was hard fought, we were down 2 points going into the 7th end and when it became clear we wouldn't take it we stopped (they've been strict about stopping as soon as possible to adhear to the time schedule. I think there are 7 or 8 draw times scheduled for today.)

So we lost again, but we did our best, I'm happy with how we played, and we're having a good time (the free beers don't hurt either.) Our third event game is at 4:30 this afternoon. If we lose we're out :( and if we win we have to play at 7am tomorrow :)/:( so either outcome will be fine.