My First NFL Game

I finally made it to my first NFL game ever! (Now I think I just need an NHL game to get that whole quadfecta?) But even better because it was the San Diego Chargers, woop woop!

My friend Kevin from New York City (whom I met playing volleyball) works for a company based in Los Angeles, so he comes out this way a bit. He's originally from Denver so he's a huge Broncos fan, and when they were playing San Diego on a weekend he would be in California, he bought tickets and invited me to go since I am a CHARGERS GIRL.

That's how I ended up at the game on Sunday.

I got up early and drove down to San Diego around 7:30. It was a 1p game and we had plans for breakfast and to tailgate. I brought my new GoPro and tried playing with it on the drive down. This is what you get in the car.

We had breakfast at the Hard Rock and then, being around the corner from the trolley stop, and already having a great parking space, we decided to just take the trolley to Qualcomm.

It was a rough day for a few reasons. First of all, I was consistently surrounded by Broncos fans. Eating in the Hard Rock and then taking the trolley was all something only out of towners (aka Denverians) would do so I felt like the only Chargers supporter for miles. There was some fun banter, but it was all tempered since I was with a Broncos supporter too.

We got there and found a Broncos tailgating party. As I walked through I heard someone shout "CHARGERS!" and I turned, thinking it was another Chargers supporter, but I was confused to see a guy with a Broncos jersey and an arm stuck out, until I realized that he was actually silly stringing me instead. Womp womp!

Our seats inside were actually pretty great. We were in the first ring and it felt very close to the field. We were under the overhang, but we ended up moving up after a little while.

Well, you may know the rest of the story. After a long, sloppy game, the Broncos won 22-10, but I still had a good time and was excited to see the Chargers play.

Also, makes sense it would be at an NFL game but still, it was vindicating to go to the bathroom and walk by a loooooooong line of men for their restroom and walk straight into the women's!

Notice NO LINE for the women and a long trail of men in the back!

Post game. Me lamenting and him gloating

After the game we took the trolley back to downtown and ended up at Oceanaire, a fancy seafood restaurant where we got tons of oysters, Brussels sprouts, Mahi Mahi and swordfish. A day well done.

The One Where Doug Proposed To Pam

On Saturday, December 6, Doug was able to pull off a long-planned (and quite elaborate) proposal to Pam, which included surprise guests from San Francisco, New Mexico and Nebraska. Basically, Doug and Pam were hosting a holiday tree-trimming party. Doug proposed to Pam, Pam said yes, and the local ones of us show up afterwards, alerting her that we were aware that she was being proposed to and that we were here to celebrate.

Then, we show her a video compilation of her closest friends from out of town, and mother, and cousin, saying congratulations and they wished they could be there to celebrate. Then there was a knock on the door, and all the people from the videos came swarming in for reals! It was awesome! As a matter of fact, even I was nervous and had my heart pounding for most of it!

Hanging at a nearby bar, waiting for the call from Doug that she said yes!

James, me, Ankita and Luke, some of the Nor Cal crowd that made it down

Justin, Pearo, Yohann and Kacey

Watching the video from the out-of-towners who "couldn't make it"

Holiday party with a view!

Festivities

Making a toast with everyone

Cheerio

Kacey making a speech

I can't remember what was so intriguing

Me and Sruti are like the only ones who got into "funny face" pictures

Yaysies

Group shot in the mirror

It was such a fun time. We partied til the break of day. At one point I was on the couch, drinking my champagne and talking with Rob and Raf and Sri, and Sri looked around at the room, filled with people, the glittering tree, the champagne, the holiday music and said "This is the holidays."

I agree.

Thanksgiving 2014

In a stark contrast to my Thanksgivings (and Thinsgivings and Friendsgivings) of as recent as 2012, spent trekking through snow or freezing winds to the East Side or Queens to be with Ronnie and Betsy, I spent this Thanksgiving with a combination of AC and windows down as I drove in the 90+ degree heat into Orange County with a bottle of red wine to celebrate with my Aunt and her family.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving, with cousins, kids, significant others and friends around two tables with our delicious spread and fun conversation. We even finished off with birthday celebrations for 2 attendees and who would have thought that the birthday cake went faster than the pumpkin and apple pies??

We even did that "thankful game" that Uncle Steve supposedly hates but then was the first to pipe up that he wanted to go and said that he was thankful to have a woman that he could grow old and be happy with and I think I cried a little bit, it was just so sweet. Of all the marriages that I have seen or witnessed, this one ranks among the top 3 and is such a wonderful example of what it means for both the individual and the couple. (The second would be the parents of my best friend Alice, and the third is open for debate!) I love being able to be a part of their family and witness it!

I stayed late, drinking coffee and talking books with my aunt and Game of Thrones with Uncle Steve before I headed home to feed Khaleesi some leftover turkey and crash in my bed!

The rest of the weekend was spent at the downtown Festival of Lights lighting ceremony, cleaning, decorating for Christmas, then visiting Grandma on Sunday and polishing off an entire box of root beer creamsicle popsicles! Mmmmm.

Now, today is EXTRA hard after all that time off. Make it stop! (But I do love Christmastime!)