crying havoc in new york

Jack lifted this guy off the ground--I was one proud sis.

For those who have traveled with me, you know that I'm one of the most prepared travelers on the face of the earth (which isn't always a good thing). I always spend an excessive amount of time packing (though I never overpack--I'm just an efficient packer), I always double check my flight status about twelve times, and I always arrive at the airport way too early (I'm talking hours). Always. So when my alarm went off at 5:45 Friday morning, and I rolled over to check my phone before jumping in the shower, the email from Orbitz entitled "Flight Cancellation Notice" shot waves of panic through my body. Really, it skipped over "delayed" and "rescheduled," straight to cancelled? That sure woke me up faster than any dose of caffeine ever could have. It ended up working out just fine-- I channeled my flight or flight panic reaction into flighting to my computer to check for other flight options, and Delta's website was surprisingly helpful. As if to apologize for freaking me out, Delta set me up with a much faster and easier travel schedule than I had originally planned for-- I left an hour later, had a quick 40 minute flight to Cincinnati (whose airport was far easier and less stressful to navigate than JFK would have been), and my layover time was cut in half. (Side note: I used to confuse "layover" with "hangover." Now I know why I would get funny looks in the airport when I was younger...)

xo

The trip went smoothly, though I had two hours to kill at the airport before Jack could come get me because he had practice (which I am 100% okay with, considering the kind of game I saw on Saturday). For the first time, I hit up the airport bar. After paying $9 for a beer, I can confidently say that will also be the last time I'll hit up an airport bar (until I'm no longer #livingoffstudentloans, at least). Jack and one of his roomies/rugby teammates Fink picked me up at 7, and I was welcomed by a slightly belated birthday prez- a homemade card and a CD. Pretty sure Jack hauled a typewriter with him to the airport to finish the card, but regardless, it's pretty cool. After the hour or so drive to Hamilton, we hit up the diner for a deliciously greasy dinner. Jack was even nice enough to let me sleep in his bed, while he took the couch. (Clean sheets were a prerequisite for my coming to NY.)

Saturday was gameday. Or, as the HCRFC (Hamilton College Rugby Football Club) likes to say, "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!" (Kind of weird, I know, but apparently it's a quote from a famous rugby coach.) The girls played at 11, so I spent 80 minutes trying to decipher some of the rules and figure out how exactly this crazy sport is played. I had a pretty good grasp of it come Jack's game at 1, and lucky for me, saw what I hear was the best game the Exiles have played all year. The forecast called for temps in the mid-40s, rain (I swear I saw a few snowflakes, by the way), and 100% chance of mud-- miserable conditions for spectators, but pretty great conditions for playing, I hear. The Exiles won big against RPI, a team they lost big to last year, and Jack scored twice. My body was numb and my fingers lost circulation, despite the blankets some of the rugby girls and I wrapped ourselves in, but it was thrilling. 

at one point, his shirt was white and his shorts were blue--I didn't dare get too close.

Risky Business with Julia and Rizzo

That night, one Super Pie (a gigantic pizza that doesn't fit through the door horizontally), two hot chocolates and a nap later, we donned our best Risky Business outfits and headed over to the social hosted by the girls and guys rugby teams. This was one thing I didn't pack for, but thankfully Nick had a few extra buttons downs that Rizzo and I borrowed. The referee (referred to as "The Sir") even made an appearance, and took down a beer pong team or two. We ended the night the same way we started- with a brief nap before another Super Pie, our second in about 9 hours. 

Sunday was the epitome of a lazy day. Slept in, and barely left the room (which, by the way, is a pretty cool setup- a quad and a double connected by a big common room, complete with wooden floors and a fake brick fireplace) before dinner. Jack and I trekked over to the WHCL studio for his radio show at noon (tune in here: WHCL 88.7), which was pretty dang cool. He and a few pals spend an hour each Sunday talking and playing a few of their favorite new tunes. Today, we chatted about the big Exile win and Dad's 28th Twin Cities Marathon finish this morning, and they even let me play a few songs. 

My picks for the radio: "Mine Is Yours" ~ Cold War Kids and "Blue Cassette" ~ Friendly Fires.

After I digested my sesame chicken (we ordered $87 worth of Chinese food for about half the rugby team that spent the day in Jack's room), I went on my customary new town run (the least I could do after a diner meal, two super pies, a 3-keg social and Chinese, all in about 36 hours). It was a gorgeous sunny day in Upstate New York, and I was treated to some breathtaking views of the valley (I knew taking Valley View Road would be worth it). 

{courtesy of hamilton.edu/photos}

At about 7, Jack decided it was time to be productive (somehow, I don't remember ever being able to afford starting homework at that hour in college, but that's just me), so now, we're at the science center studying/blogging/trying to figure out how the only two winning sports teams in MN are soccer and women's basketball... {The Stars won their first playoff game last night, and the Lynx are in the national championship?!} Tomorrow, I say adios to Jack and to Clinton, NY and head back to IL for just 9 more days at ORS. If only I could spend a few more days acting like a college kid on this gorgeous campus, but back to reality...