Day 60: Holiday with the Hawks

Stuck in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day, the Day 60 thing I'd never done before was to go to my first NBA game, the Atlanta Hawks versus the Orlando Magic.

Going to a Hawks game was the last way I had planned to spend Thanksgiving. I had hoped that there might be some sort of charitable way to commemorate the holiday.

My friend John and I called several local charities the week of Thanksgiving to see about volunteering at a soup kitchen or delivering meals to the elderly. No one wanted us. All the volunteering opportunities had been filled months before, which is great for those who needed the help. Not great for those who missed their chance to help out. Since this would've been a first for me, I admit I was surprised that there were an abundance of volunteers during the holidays. The people that I spoke to on the phone almost sounded offended that I would even try, the week of Thanksgiving, to help their organization.

It was as if they were saying, "Where the hell have you been the rest of the year?"

Since helping others was apparently not going to be possible this holiday, I was going to have to try something else. That's when Mo, always the man with the plan, said, "I've got tickets to see the Hawks on Thursday. Let's go."

I've lived in Atlanta for five years, get free tickets to see the Hawks and still haven't been. Shameful, I know.

I'm really not a huge professional sports fan. I don't dislike professional sports, but I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and we don't have any pro sports teams. My parents are from Ohio and I remember as a kid rooting for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Reds because my dad did, but my allegiance to both of those teams has wavered over the years and I don't really follow either team anymore.

But maybe after five years, this was my opportunity to start paying attention, my time to get excited about my local sports teams.

I figured if there was any way I was going to like the Hawks, it would be going to a game with Mo because he's probably the biggest and well-connected sports fans I know. He's also one of the luckiest and he's always stumbling upon SEC championship game tickets, $600 in raffle winnings, and club level seats to this Thanksgiving day showdown. Not too shabby for my first game.

We arrived at the game and I was surprised at how many people were there. I guess the excessive eating and family time had really worn everyone out and they were looking for a chance to escape the togetherness for a little bit and take in some professional basketball. I don't blame them. I have a family too. I understand.

From the moment we went to our seats, my eyes were darting all over the place. There was so much to look at, I found it hard to focus. What I love about the professional sporting events I have attended is all of the miscellaneous activities that go on separate from the actual game. This game was no different. It had the trivia games, the mascot antics, the kiss cam, dunking contests. I love stuff like that. These gimmicks make games fun for even those without any vested interest in the team. People like me.

The teams were still warming up when we got there. When it was time to introduce the starters for the game, I was pleased to see that it went down just like it does on TV. Phillips Arena went dark except for a large spotlight shining right on players as they rose from the bench. The announcer gave his best, "Let's get ready to rumble" voice and called each starter's name. That player would then slap his teammates a high-five before taking his place on the court. The only thing I noticed that was different from how I had seen it go down was the enormous torches above each of the backboards that were ignited, lighting the place up with flames. It was exciting, in a I-hope-they-don't-burn-this-place-down kind of way.

A former dancer myself, I was most excited to see the dance team, the A-town dancers. They didn't make their first appearance until well into the first half. I don't know if I built them up too much in my head, but I was really disappointed. They were pretty girls and their costumes were cool, but their performance was lackluster. I considered maybe they weren't giving it their all because they were still full from Thanksgiving. Regardless the reason, they seemed off. I realize I am a has-been dancer still living in the past, but I swear I could do better. I know at least my 16-year old self could have.

Perhaps choosing Atlanta Desperate Housewife Kim Zolciak's song "Don't be Tardy for the Party" for one of their routines also threw me off. I didn't know whether to be embarrassed for them or proud of them for extending Kim's 15-minutes of fame a little bit longer.

Midway through the game, a couple of ladies wheeled a dessert cart around with the most decadent and elaborate cakes and cookies I've ever seen. I found this completely odd, and not fitting with the sporting event vibe, but wanting to really experience the Hawks game and everything that entailed, I had no choice but to eat something from the cart. I chose carrot cake, figuring if carrots are in the cake then it's actually good for me. Right?

The ladies also had Gran Marnier, that they poured into a chocolate shot glass. At a basketball game? Really? I was happy with just cold draft beer, but if this is the way it is done, I'll play along.

They pulled out a trampoline at one point and a line of performers, including Skyhawk, one of the Hawks' mascots, starting using it to make some pretty impressive dunks.

The best part came when Harry the Hawk, the other mascot, starting freak dancing on one of the referees. The referee stood there, looking stoic and staring straight ahead while the Harry danced all around him. The crowd was going crazy, when all of a sudden the referee broke rank and started booty dancing too. It was a decoy referee! Hilarious.

As for the game, I did watch some of that too. I was in constant amazement at how big the players are. I kept checking my program to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me, or if indeed, Orlando's Dwight Howard is 6'11" with a 7'9" wing span. He is a beast. I have a new found respect for the players and the game. It was fast moving and exciting. I was impressed, despite the Hawks losing to the Magic, 93-76.

As we were leaving Mo said, "why do I get the feeling that you're going to talk about flames, dancers, and cake in this blog entry and hardly mention the game at all?" He knows me too well.

The Hawks may have lost, but I considered myself a winner. First NBA game down, and likely many more to go.

Day 59: Driving Range, for One

After staying on PGA West Golf Course in Palm Springs for the Phish festival, I made a promise to myself that I would work on my golf game. Evident by the three tries and misses it took me to sink one very easy putt, I had clearly been letting too much time lapse between visits to the driving range and lessons from my golf instructor.

As promised, to myself and to my dad, Day 59's thing I've never done before was to go to the driving range by myself.

I've been to the driving range dozens of times with friends and family, but going alone was something that was new to me, and therefore intimidating. I hoped that I would remember what size bucket of balls to get, where to go to pick them up, and how to set up my clubs against the stand. I also wanted to pull it off with enough finesse so as not to scream, "THIS IS MY FIRST TIME!"

There was an obvious advantage of going alone, however, and that was that I wouldn't have anyone judging my every swing and critiquing my technique. The last time I played golf with my dad and brother, the two of them took turns correcting my mistakes. And there were many mistakes. I was already trying to recall everything my golf teacher had ever said to me, so every time I went to swing the club, I'd have a ten minute freak out trying to rememeber what all three of them had ever said to me. I was so nervous, and my game was a disaster. So I was kind of excited for it to just be me, free of all the advice and the judgment of all the men in my life that know how to play golf. I could hit the ball, or not hit it, anyway I pleased.

There was also another reason going solo had the possibility for fun. Single girl? At a golf course? Come on, don't tell me you didn't think of it.

Even my dad considered the possibility.

I texted him, sure that he would be most proud that I went, especially by myself. "I'm at the driving range," the text read. "Solo."

"Good for you," he texted back. "Any cute guys there to help you with your swing?"

So maybe in addition to working on my golf game, I was also considering the possibility that maybe I would meet some new friends. Don't judge me.

That possibility would obviously require there actually being other people there.

There were none.

One person showed up as I was taking my last swing, but for most of the time I was there, it was just me.

This is so typical of my luck on both fronts. I did not meet any new friends and I probably shot better and more consistently than I've ever played in my life and there wasn't a soul there to see it. I used my pitching wedge for the most part, since that's what I've been learning on with my golf teacher. But I also hit some bombs with my driver, making it sing. I sent balls flying, one right after another, straight up the driving range's fairway. I remembered, once again, why I enjoy this game so much.

I have no idea what my technique looked like, if my feet were lined up correctly, or if turned my shoulders the right amount. But whatever I was doing was working for me. I swear. It really was.

I may add another thing to the list of things I'm thankful for: #101 A good day at the driving range.

Day 58: A Day of Thanksgiving

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving I was looking for something to do for the blog that was holiday-related. I have heard Oprah talk about how keeping a gratitude journal will help a person attract positive things in their life. I decided to start one of my own and on Day 58, I made a list of 100 things I'm thankful for as the thing I've never done before.

Still lying in bed on Tuesday morning, I started making the list in my head.

1. God (he's the man, always there when I need him, definitely number one)

2. Family and friends (they love and support me, make me laugh, help me through the tough times)

3. Ron

Ron? What?

Ron is my brother's dog. I'm not sure why Ron came to my head as the third thing that I'm most thankful for, but he did. He's a pretty awesome dog and I do wish that I saw him more (he lives in Charleston), but I'm not sure Ron and I have spent enough time together for him to win the number three spot on my list.

Spray tans and fabric softener also made it into the top ten, though, so I resolved that past the first two entries, this list was not going to go in order of importance.

#14 was Mexican food, which I eat more often than I should, but am always thankful for. This was a dangerous entry, because then I started listing off other foods and drinks that I was thankful for. #15 Margaritas, #16 Chili, #24 Sushi

I quickly put a stop to these entries. I didn't want all 100 things that I was thankful for to be food.

#22 Live Music, #31 Eating Outside, #34 Laughing so hard I cry

#36 http://www.someecards.com/

#37 http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/

Again, I made myself stop, or I probably could've rattled off 50 websites that I visit daily.

This list was fun, though, and it instantly made me feel good. I easily came up with 100 things that I've experienced or are in my life, right now, that I was thankful for. And I definitely could have come up with more.

#58 Gospel choirs, #62 Honesty, #73 Sincere compliments, #85 Sun on my Face, #89 Hotel rooms

#100 Sand in my toes

Yes, my list is all over the place. Just like me, I guess.

I hesitate to blindly buy into everything that Oprah promotes, but I think she's onto something with lists like these. Writing down the good things in my life made me forget, if only for a few moments, about the negative ones. How can I feel sorry for myself with #9 Clean Sheets, #23 Cold Draught Beer, and #79 Good Jeans?

True, life doesn't always go my way, but do have a lot to be thankful for.