The Karma is strong here, saw a red Ferrari (or was it a Ferrari, a Tesla Roadster mebbe?) as I left my townhouse yesterday on the way to the 'burg. The travel gods are with me. Drove straight through to Rector field house to watch the VT T&F invitational, and just as I walked in the national anthem played. I will try to carry this Karma wave into the Monday Hoo game.

I was hungry b/c I hadn't stopped (well, there was that stop in New Market) to catch the men's 400 dash at 1:45. I asked for a chili dog at the kiosk and was informed they don't sell them anymore, too many people had complained they were "unhealthy." Unhealthy? What kind of spectator sport doesn't have chili dogs? I wasn't planning to run an event myself. Bbq chicken sandwich it is then... which was pretty decent. I talked with a women triple jumper from Elon College. (My uncle lives there blah, blah, blah) She had come over to get a packet of mayonaise, they didn't have that either, also unhealthy I suppose, but I could see a competitor wanting that "unhealthy" food a litlte bit of fat, salt and protein after an event. Oh, well.

And besides, I was totally screwed up. My goal was to see Jacory Patterson but this was not that kind of event, more for all the small colleges in the area to meet up JMU, VMI, Elon and Concord (in NC) and Hokie freshman to compete, Also, one Air Force dude who smoked his field so i guess he just looked around for an event on home leave or something. This seemed to be more for the runners to develop rather than team standings so no Jacory Patterson. That's me, learn stuff the hard way, but othewise it was kinda mesmerizing watching different events every few minutes. The only "name" I would have seen was VT freshman Cole Beck if I had been there on Friday. They did do a ceremony for a senior in the pole vault who had, as someone near me said "world class scores" and would be lookng at Olympic trials next year. I dutifully hung-out for an hour being a good sport (and enjoying the atmosphere) gathering more Karma points.

Hotel check-in, dinner and then watching the Pitt game in the hotel lobby, Kind amusing hearing the hotel staff alternately groan and burst into applause watching some other unseen tv somewhere. Guy walks by afterward "A win's a win" and me back at him: "A win's a win" then I hurried off to the Moss Arts Center...

...to watch VT wrestling stomp the Hoos. Never been to the Moss Center and in fact, never knew where it was. Figured it was that eyesore on College avenue "Theater 101" if I have to learn everything the hard way, so be it. I even looked at the real MAC on my way to College Avenue thinking it looked like a beehive. My cell phone humorously gave me directions away from it presuming I was driving a car out Draper, then left, then left again. Anyway, apologize for all those years calling the Moss an "eyesore." Theater 101 is an eyesore. Now I know.

Nice facility actually, I had even considered getting there Friday night to see a wind quartet. but hung out in one of the balcony seats with TSL celebrity. Nice high angle gives you a good view of the wrestling action. I haven't attended many wrestling events but really got into it, scoring is fairly obvious w/an occasional arcane call. Late in the match the hoo's Meuller shoved Joey Prata after beating him by not too much. Joey wheeled on him but the ref was right there and didn't let it get started. The hoo then paraded across the front of the stage apparently flipping off the crowd, didn't see that, but saw the same FU look in his face, same difference. You know if you're going to do something real stupid, don't do it in front of a thousand witnessess.

Stupid as a hoo.

Attended the little get-together afterwards w/pretty decent catering. Somehow, I immediately got pulled into the Sleigh family, what I assume were mom and dad and and older guy, grand-dad? He probably saw me as someone similar in age and someone to talk to, asking me if I had a kid wrestling then on to basketball etc. (He did mention he went to PSU in the 60's and I kinda wondering now if it wasn't a setup to mention PSU beat VT in bball, OK, you got me.) Now I was standing there and all the other players and coaches, asst, coaches, and Robie came up to us (me) to say hello. Tried to get a rise out of Robie with my Sertc shirt eg at least a "Thanks for the support" but his mind was clearly racing elsewhere.

Funny thing about wrestlers, any of those guys could probably rip my arm off, deep fry it and snack on it w/a little blue cheese, but anytime I or they bumped into each other no matter how lightly, I kept getting, "excuse mei" "sorry" etc. Yeah it was kind of what I call a "friends and family" gathering. but what a polite bunch of kids, also quite a few of them seem to be majoring in information sciences and otherwise not easy classes.

It's Sunday morning now, cold and raining outside, and kinda pleased with myself that I have a free day and can kinda chill. Exercised a lot this past week, and sadly two beers is probably one too many for me so a take it easy day. But, I did pay my $10 to join the Blacksburg Community Tennis Association and another $10 to play a couple hours of round-robbin at the VT Burrows Burlesons tennis center this evening. This would be my first time there even though it was there when I as at VT in the 70s.

Storing up my mojo for a good win against the hoos tomorrow in basketball.

I'm ready.


PS Let's be clear that I, in no way, condone violence as a way to solve issues...

...but I would have enjoyed Prata taking him out.












[Post edited by `lag at 02/17/2019 11:53AM]