Christmas # 4 & 5
Christmas #4 was yesterday. We headed to Buffalo to watch an exciting Buffalo Bills game against the Tennessee Titans. This was a Christmas gift to us from Brian's dad. It was Lisa, Jeff, Julie, Patrick, John, Brian and I. The day was cold but we had lots of layers of clothing on so most of us were okay. However, Brian accidentally brought 2 left gloves. :)
We got there early enough to watch some of the tailgate parties, which included football tossing, fires and cooking, music on loud speaker systems, games with a tin can in a box with washers being thrown back and forth, and for some people there was an entire set-up which included satilite hook ups to watch the game from the parking lot. I guess $20 CDN to park in the parking lot was cheaper than stadium seats and you could still feel like you were part of the crowd. After people watching for a while we then headed into the stadium.
I must say that I didn't expect to stand for the entire three plus hours of the game, but once the people in front of you stand...you don't really have a choice but to stand, which gives the people behind you no choice either. Brian and I enjoyed some warm pizza at halftime after waiting for way to long at one of only two ATM machines at the stadium to get US money. We missed one touch down by the by the Titans and one by the Bills while we were away from our "seats". Brian saw both of them but only on the TV's by the concessions. I missed the Titans touchdown as I was in the washroom.
It is much harder to follow the plays live as you actually fall for some of the fakes. On TV they take out the guess work and put the play in the middle of the screen for you.
By the time we got back to our car after the game I was glad to sit down. The game was very tight. While we waited to get out of the parking lot we turned on the radio. The post-game commentary was about what could have changed the last home game of the season from being a 29-30 loss for the Bills to keeping their playoff dreams alive. It took us about 45 minutes just to leave the parking lot and at one point we had our car turned off while we waited in line and someone actually hit us from behind. Brian got out to check for damages and the guy apologized. He understood that he was totally in the blame but nothing was damaged, and it was Christmas and that is what bumpers are for, right?! Later there was a guy with road rage from within the parking lot and lots of horn honking and profanity was shouted. Once we got onto the road though it was clear sailing; it just took a long time to get there. Approx. 2 hours later we were at Brian's dad's house to share dinner and a few more gifts. We left at 11pm and headed home, looking for Santa in the sky.
Christmas # 5 was this morning between Brian and I. We started with what we think will be the last Christmas in a while to sleep in. Then headed to see what our stockings held, followed by more presents. We are totally spoiled! From Brian I got a photo mosaic of our Africa photos in the shape of an elephant, as well as a dock for my iPod. Brian got from me a golf ball retriever, a board game (Lord of the Rings Risk), and a jigsaw for all his upcoming construction projects. Following gifts we continued to listen to Handles Messiah, called our families and had a wonderful pancake breakfast.
It is so nice not to feel rushed on Christmas! Although if we did have to drive anywhere we wouldn't have to worry this year about the roads, as there is no snow!