FOR AN EXPLANATION ABOUT THIS ENTRY, AS IT GROWS THROUGHOUT THE EVENING, CLICK HERE.
NOTE: Each new 'entry' will be added to the bottom of the page, above the all-caps note about checking back for updates. So if you keep your page open on the last line and periodically hit the 'refresh' key, you can read along real-time.
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So I'm here. In the press box. And feeling VERY special and important. We passed several famous people in the halls and I, of course, felt compelled to act nonchalant, like I see that all the time and hey...I'm special, too, so ...no big whoop. Course...I didn't utter the words 'big' and 'whoop' out loud (yet) but the night's still young.
I wasn't sure what to expect, and I didn't announce the fact to anyone that I was last year's Fan Correspondent (but Ben told everyone a bit later). One of the bloggers (I'll get his URL and link to it) shouted out before we began "Okay...WHO does American Angst?!" and I raised my hand and he was soooo sweet and just heaped praise on Gracie, which I'm very uncomfortable with in public (but secretly Loooooooove), so I knew the night would be a good one (with such a great start, how could it NOT be?).
We were given a tour of the entire arena from a staff perspective. The underbelly, the zamboni machines, video rooms (and even the Beer Room, where they store a magrillion kegs of...beer, duh). This is so cool, even though I've already been here before and had the same tour...still so cool. And still I'm ashamed at my excessive envy toward Ben and Micah. That they get to do this every home game...that they get PAID to do this. I'm thinking that maybe I should stop poisoning George's food and move to spiking Ben's corn flakes. I've no doubt they're all just aching for me to work for them...in all my subtle grace.
God. How self-absorbed am I?? There are probably 15 other bloggers here with me and *I* am probably the only one NOT watching the players doing warm-up and instead writing about knocking off tonight's host to get his job.
I'm going to go to my proverbial ROOM and think about what I've done. (Also to scope out the hot players up here with us...from the scratch list...and to act more like I'm soooo old hat and this means NOTHIN' to me. I = a good liar. ;-p
CHECK BACK THROUGHOUT THE EVENING....I'LL BE POSTING MORE!!! LUCKY Y'ALL!!
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Update: The game hasn't started yet, but I just looked down into the stands (we're high up above everyone) and I see George in his seat and I think...yes, I think I see him shooting deathray glances my way. I know he wishes he was up here and really...it probably should be him more than me. He is SUCH a diehard hockey fan and so loyal to this team...I feel a little guilty.
Not guilty enough to LEAVE the press box, of course, but ...guilty enough to seem like a good wife, right?
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It's certainly a different perspective up here. Much easier to see the strategy and the patterns of play. Also interesting to see how many of my fellow bloggers just compLETELY ignored the Press Box Rule about not cheering for one team or the other when we scored a minute ago. Hehehe. I can't blame 'em really...it's SO hard to be up here and not yell or moan. Hell, I even had to resist the OVERWHELMING urge to pop into the judge's box beneath us and introduce myself as the Girl Who Frequently Gives them the Finger and Yells a Really Lot at them.
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In addition to the different perspective, you also notice (along with the flip-flop of your tummy) that there is NO railing or any guard whatsoever between us/our laptops and a 200 foot drop into the stands. I'll be back soon...right after I throw up.
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DOOOD! We have scored THREE goals in less than FIVE minutes!! And I can't cheer!!! This is TORTURE!!!!
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Pretty cool to see Dunham on another NHL team. Hate to lose him, but I really like him and am happy he got picked up.
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The guy who heaped wondermous praise on Gracie at the beginning of this event is Chris Carolan and his website is http://carolan.org/thrashers Go check him out and bump up his hit stats a bit!
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'Nother cool fact: throughout the game, various people come by and give us pieces of paper (or we can run down to a table and grab others) that list the most up-to-the-minute stats, playing rosters, scores, injured lists, etc. GOD this is cool. Ben...better check your corn flakes, bud!
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Did I mention that we're playing the Islanders? Yeah...duh.
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Wow. I cannot believe that my (so-called) fellow fans just BOOed Mike Dunham. How rude. And considering how well he did for us when we had such goalie hell last year?? Shameful. FOR SHAME Thrashers fans...for SHAME. Tsk tsk n' all that scolding mother crap.
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WTF? Every time I see George in the stands...when we catch each other's eyes? ...I have to wave. Seriously. EVERY time. This is a new and bizarre compulsion that I'm finding I'm unable to resist.
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George, too, noticed my retardation and sent the following text message to my phone: "U Equal Dork!"
I'm SO loved.
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So it's the first break (we're up 3 to 1) and I was walking around, being nosy and stretching my legs and saw a sheet of paper on the wall that lists each 'station' up here and who is assigned that seat tonight. Oooooo...there are quite a few well-known peeps up here. Some radio personalities...some Islanders...TV personalities...MAN. While I think I'm doing well acting nonchalant with these people up here? I cannot even pretend to be cool with you guys. Can I just say? ...this freakin' ROCKS.
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I'm checking my stats periodically and it's very cool to see how many of you are staying on the site here, checking my updates as we go along. Hi! I seeeeee you!!
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So the score is now 3/2 (us) and we had a scare with Hossa getting slammed from behind (sadly, I was in the potty when that happened and had to get the scoop from George by text message...GOD). I also see that McCarthy is back in play, which is terrific. I've really missed him. He was a great choice last year and surprised lots of people. Gracie Hearts McCarthy. ;-)
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Let-None-In Lehtonen is amazing. He just made one HELLUVA save by doing a split no man should be able to do! hang on...there's a six-man-pileup at the net...be right back
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Damn. The score is now tied. I take back what I said about it being torture to have lots o' goals and not being able to cheer! I take it back! Yes, I KNOW the game is solely dependent on me and my quirks and what I do and don't say...DUH.
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So the runner chick just came by and dropped off another set of game stats (this time it's the up-to-the-minute scores of all other hockey games being played tonight) and one of the teams listed is Buffalo. The girl sitting to my right just told me that she wants Buffalo to LOSE and that's all she wants. She says it's because it's her ex-boyfriend's team and since they're no longer together, she's rooting for the other team. She says that she never wishes any of her exes (or their teams) ill will, she isn't bitter or angry or "YOU = ASSHOLE!" about it. Just...matter of factly roots for the other guy and it makes her happy. Isn't that fantastic?? I love it!!
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Aw crap. They just rounded us all up and forced us to have a group picture taken. They got on my case for insisting on hiding out in the back. Ben, the web guy on the thrashers site, was next to me in the back and kept saying "Uh...you have to actually be IN the picture, you know..." and I disagreed. It was even worse because about four other people handed the guy their cameras too, so we were blinded several times. I HATE being on film. Truly.
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YAY!! Hossa's back and okay (not on injured list, woo!) and SCORED! Bringing us to a 4/3 lead (let's keep it that way!)
I'm going to shut down now since we have to leave a bit early to get to the press conference. Giddy!!
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CHECK BACK THROUGHOUT THE EVENING....I'LL BE POSTING MORE!!! LUCKY Y'ALL!!
