Too much

So this past week has been nuts. The first of my huge tests is tomorrow and I only feel moderately ready. My brain has never been so inundated by useless information. I have been working every day since last Saturday, most days for 10+ hours. Cramming, thinking, memorizing. One coworker compared our studying to how a poly-sci major studies. No offense to all you poly-sci's out there. I think it's an adequate comparison. 7.5 hours of writing and information regurgitation.

I took a break from studying on Sunday to play hockey. It was looking pretty bleak as we went down 4-1 to a vastly better team. We have a new guy on the team who has crazy moves and skates more gracefully than I can ever dream of. He decided to take over and start scoring. I even had a goal. Now I know what you're thinking, "Scott is super awesome at hockey. I'm lucky to know such a star." False. I've owned my skates for 11 years and they finally fell apart. Sole rotting, rivets breaking, etc. I was less stable than normal Sunday. I fell in front of the net, and as I was getting up, the puck hit my stick and went in. Boom. So late in the third period the score was tied, 4-4 and the other team threatening with the puck in our zone. I see a guy headed toward the net and so I step in front of him. Collision. He gets up in my face accusing me of an elbow. Too bad he hit my shoulder. He threatened retaliation. I laughed. Ensuing faceoff, I head to the corner to get the puck with 10 seconds left. All of a sudden I'm hit from behind. I get to my feet and see this idiot grinning. I see that the ref called him for boarding and he would have to sit in the box during the shootout, unable to contribute. We won the shootout 3-0. Last laugh goes to Scott.

I did pick the first squash of the year today. I'm pretty stoked. Ok one more story. You're a trooper if you're still reading this. So today I parked in a spot at work where you get towed if you park after 3 pm. So at 255 I went to move my car realizing I needed more time at work. So as I approach my car, a very large man on a big Harley pulls up and parks. At 255. I watch. I have no room to make fun of people for how they dress, but this dude was crazy. Shorts, ratty loafers w/ no socks, German bike helmet that was about 5 sizes too small, huge beard, you get the picture. So he walks up to a public trashcan and pulls out a tape measure. He starts measuring the trash can. Every dimension available. He finishes, gets back on his bike, and gets back on the interstate. It's moments like this that occur almost daily in the 757. Such a confusing place.

Evolution

The playoffs are over. The Flyers lost in game 6 in overtime. I'm proud of the Flyers and happy for Chicago. They played well the entire series and I am happy that I got to grow my fiercest beard yet. I even got to have some fun after the series was over. I have included some pictures.

It was a great series and I'm excited that hockey continues to gain in popularity. I hope ESPN picks up the NHL next year. That needs to happen. In other hockey news, my team and I have lost a few games in shootouts lately. We still get a point for going to a shootout, but we need wins.

Dad was in town 2 weeks ago for a golf weekend. He brought 2 of his golfing buddies down which gave me an excuse to test out some of the areas better courses. I am pleased with what I saw. I don't have any golfing friends here so I will not be playing on those courses again anytime soon, but it was fun.

I think this sums up the next few weeks of work. I have my first 8 hour exam next Thursday and the other one July 8. No doubt I will be spending more hours at work trying to cram everything there is about submarine engine rooms into my small head. I will have 2 breaks in studying. First, joining Dad and my sisters in the Outer Banks for a few days and Blacksburg for July 4th to celebrate my friend David's wedding.

One story before I leave you. I see some ridiculous things on the way to work. My school is in the south end of Newport News, which can be a tough part of town. So as I walk to work, I admit that I avoid some groups of people at the bus station. I shy away from awkward conversations. So I was doing just that last week, almost at the front gate, when I hear the following:

"Are you prepared for the snow?" I stop. It's June, it's 75 degrees at 7 am and I'm confused. I look as a 6'3" slender man with long hair anticipates my answer. I think for a second for a valid reason as to why he asked me that. I look at my feet. I'm wearing flip flops. Maybe he's making a joke. I point at my feet and say, "I guess not." I begin to walk away when I hear, "Wouldn't it be crazy if we got 4 feet of snow today?" Now I'm really confused. "I think that would be awesome." I do love snow. I continue to walk away hoping he's done. Nope. "The whole Commonwealth of Virginia would shut down if we got that much snow." I spent the rest of the day confused.