Last night was one of the most incredibly surreal nights I've ever experienced. When I went to do the Ethics bowl for debate, me and a few of the other debaters got tickets to go see the Grizzles game, (hockey not basketball) down at the east center. So me, Addison Stuart, and Austin Higley decided that we would go together to see the game.
Yesterday I called Addison and asked him how he was going to get a ride there. After much negotiating and certain people *cough*Andrew*cough* bailing out on giving us a ride, at the last minute Addison's parents got home and he convinced his dad to drive us. I gave Addison directions to my house (I should have let Shelli give them) and decided that I had better go wait down by the school for them just in case they didn't understand the directions I gave. After standing on the street corner for a while (in which I wrote about 5 poems) Addison's dad pulled up. Thankful to be out of the cold I climbed into the car and we headed to Austin's house.
As we were driving Addison's dad Commented on the fact that I have a slight accent *is very proud of her individuality* And was also told by Addison that I have a very pleasant voice to listen to. Finally arriving at Austin's house (which took a while as we were looking for a broken tree which actually turned out to be an evergreen with it's top sawed off.) At this point they chose to inform me that we were riding the Trax up to the east center as Addison's dad did not want to drive all the way there. I was also introduced to the world of hockey by Austin who has watched it many a time. Some examples of this great knowledge are that the "blue line" is called that A) so the Hockey players could remember it and B) because it's actually blue, that the most commonly called penalty is "Icing" (when a player illegally crosses the "blue line") and that if A hockey game lasted for 3 hours there would be no one left alive in the rink.
When we got to the Trax station and were about to buy our tickets a shock swept over us as we discovered that the ticket thing said it only took 1$ bills and change. As we were frantically trying to find enough 1$ bills to cover the fare, a man came up and commented that the machine actually would take up to 20$ bills. Confused at this we looked at the machine only to discover that it did indeed take money other that 1$ and that the sign that had the 1$ on it was for the change and that it took silver and gold dollars as well as other coins. Feeling rather sheepish, we bought our tickets (Addison wouldn't let me buy my own *grumble*) and waited for the bus to come while we observed and talked to a group of couples (and one loner *chuckles*) dressed up for preference. (I know what you're thinking Hairball) A Trax train came and they all climbed in while we waited for a bus going uptown to come. We figured out later (as we were watching the Trax car drive away in the direction we wanted to go) that we should have taken that one. So we waited for another one. During the time we were waiting Addison agreed that I could be the Italian fruit merchant of Frain. (which means that I am the advice-giver to random people on the street ^^;) Little did I know at the time that I would be exercising my position so soon.
When we got on the bus and it started moving, all three of us realized that we had no clue what exit to get off at. Fortunately I had taken matters into my own hands and had gotten at least partial directions down to the east center from my dad before I left. As they were written in my notebook (which I had out at the time as I was putting the finishing touched on one of the poems I wrote) I looked at them and discerned from the map of all the stops which one we needed to go to (at which point I was deemed official navigator). Using those we managed to get as close to the east center as we could using the Trax.
After we got off our fearless leader (Addison) decided we should ride a bus the rest of the way, even though we were about an hour late for the game and figured that it would be over anyways by the time we got there.
While we were on the bus we joked over the fact that we were absolutely defenseless in the case of anyone trying to attack us. Austin tried to prove otherwise so both he and Addison started to crack their knuckles in a threatening way as I sat there and laughed at them. To our surprise the guy sitting behind us told them that cracking his knuckles was the reason why he got arthritis in his fingers and if they knew what was good for them they wouldn't do it either. At this Austin, in his typical debate fashion, proceeded to disagree with this guy while Addison and I were whispering to him to shut up. Austin finally took our advice and agreed with the guy who then asked us where we were going. We replied that we were going to see a hockey game that, by this time was probably over, down at the east center. I was rather shocked but very pleased when he told us he knew which stop we needed to get off at. (The guy knew the route so well that he had to give the bus driver directions. *no kidding* ) Addison escalated my apprehension of the situation when he whispered that at least we found someone nice enough to give us direction and that he just hoped that he wasn't some guy who would tell us the directions to the "bad side of town".
To my great relief we were at the right stop and soon made it to the east center. Pleading that the ticket takers would not laugh at us as we gave them our tickets (we were beyond late to the game) we were happy to find that it was still in the second inning (I think I have the right terminology there.) So we took our seats and waited for the fights to start. I was so upset when the refs kept breaking up the fights (as were Addison and Austin but they were pretty busy laughing at me for my enthusiasm at the time). In frustration I finally yelled at the players to hit the ref with a stick (which spawned many private jokes at the time) and they laughed at me some more. *mutter mutter*
The second inning ended with no fights (not in my mind at least) so we decided to walk around for a bit before the third inning started. Austin disappeared for a while and so Addison and I made fun of the beer wristbands (long story) and commented on how cool this one girl's coat was (you would have liked it too Flip, it was a very Matrix inspired trench coat) until he came back. Both Austin and Addison then decided to get food. (I wasn't hungry.) To show you the difference in their personalities Austin got a hotdog and Addison got Sushi. *chuckles*
Heading back to our seats Austin made fun of Addison for his raw fish. Addison offered me some and as I will try almost anything once I ate it. To my surprise it wasn't that bad. (even with this chemical-burn type sauce stuff that was included.) The game over, we headed back outside and walked to the bus stop. After sitting there for a while and seeing no bus (although we did see the girl with the cool coat again) we decided to ask for directions. Walking into a gas station Addison asked the workers if they knew when and where the bus came. One of the workers couldn't understand us and the other had no clue where anything was. We finally did get an answer from a guy who looked like the last thing he had to drink was alcohol, and that his bed was the very bus bench we were looking for.
After a long wait Addison decided to call his dad and ask him to pick us up. He went across the street to find a payphone while Austin and I sat on the bench and waited for either the bus to come, or Addison to come back. While we were sitting there Both Austin and I realized the Addison didn't have any change left. At that point Austin went into a frantic climax of "we are so screwed" and I sat there and tried to laugh at the situation (Austin didn't think it was funny).
Despite the fact that both Austin and I would not have been surprised if a crazy ax murder decided to make us his next victims, and though I was hoping and praying we'd get out of there alive, I really wasn't upset about the situation. It was the first time I'd been to salt lake without a parental figure of any kind. In the last few hours I had ridden the Trax (again first time without parents) rode on a city bus, (first time period) Tried sushi and liked it, watched my first good 20 minutes of a live hockey game, mourned that there were no fights during the game, watched a little boy punch the mascot and cheered him on (the bear deserved it O_o), walked the streets of salt lake, went to the east center, had been the only one with a cell phone and that cell phone didn't have service, admired Addison's jujitsu knife, considered the possibility of him actually having to use it, compared my hobo coat with the one that our bus guide was wearing, had in mind about 10 poems I couldn't wait to write down, and decided I would do it all again without a moment's hesitation if I could.
As I was pondering all this, Addison came back towards us looking not at all his usual happy self. Scared for the worst we waited for him to come and give us the bad news. I was very relived when he said that he had found a calling card with 1 minute left on it and that he had managed to get a hold of his dad, who said he would pick us up at the east center. We then walked back the now familiar road to the east center.
By the time we got to the east center it was probably about 10:30 and it was rather cold out. Sitting on the steps Austin continued to scold Addison for his lack of planning and lamented that if we had called him and had him organize it the this never would have happened. (although I personally feel that, even though Austin was the only one of us who can drive, Addison was more than justified in not asking him to drive us up there,) as we huddled on the steps I could tell that Addison was a lot colder than I was so I took of my coat intending to offer it to him as I had a sweatshirt on underneath my coat and was perfectly fine without it. Before I could say anything both Austin and Addison both verbally reprimanded me for having the audacity (me being a girl) to give up my coat to a guy, and, in doing so, ruin a perfectly good stereotype. I tried to placate them by not giving but sharing my coat with Addison. Still upset with me Austin took of his coat and tried to give it to me. Insisting that I wasn't cold and scolding Austin for trying to force me to take the coat I gave it back. After a good deal of arguing and both of them trying to do everything to prove that I was in fact cold, I won *Bwahaha!* and Austin and Addison (grumbling the whole time that it was "not how it's supposed to go") sat down and we huddled together as we waited for Addison's dad to show up. After awhile I think Austin was glad I didn't take his coat as he was colder that I was too. (I think my blubber protected me ^^;)
The boys mostly placated, we sat waiting, during which time I listened as Austin and Addison sang songs, Insisted I was not cold and refused Austin's offered coat several more times, used all of the Private jokes we had come up with in one snatch of dialogue, and laughed at how much can happen in one little night. In a way I was almost sad to see Addison's dad finally pull up.
I nearly fell asleep on the ride home. We drove home, Addison's dad got onto the wrong road (I can now see where Addison get's it) we talked about a variety of subjects, discovered the Austin's tree really does have a sawed off top, dropped him of, then drove to my house. I got our of the car, reassured Addison that I was not upset at him and thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and walked into my dark house at 12:00. I said goodnight to my dad, went down to my room, wrote all the poems I could remember and went to sleep.
This morning I drove my siblings to church all by myself (my mom had just gotten home from work and my dad was sick) wrote more poems during church, teased GusGus with the fact that I drove, managed to get out of the parking lot without incident (parking is the only thing my dad was worried about when he asked me to drive), came home, talked a bit to Russ before My dad made me get off the computer, and have typed this 4 page long Journal entry.
I hope now that in one grand sweep I have satisfied both Hairball's and Pockets's desires that I should update, (for the first time in months) and make them reconsider ever letting me update again.^^;
well it is now 11:40, my poems will have to wait until tomorrow to be put on Fiction press (sorry Hairball I'll let you read them tomorrow) and I am going to go write some more.
Adieu, farewell and all those other goodbye things baby,
fAng
