Go Time

Beaumont, TX

We have arrived at the YMCA in Beaumont, behind which sits a large blue trailer where we will be living for the next seven weeks. There is a team from Perry Point here right now, but they are heading back to Maryland on Sunday; another team will be down in a little more than a week to replace them. Work begins on Monday; it's nice to have a couple days to unpack and get to know the area before we have to get busy.

Our living setup isn't bad; it is not one trailer but rather four combined to make one surprisingly large building, complete with bathrooms, a lounge, several different sleeping rooms, and storage. It won't be bad, but apparently we will be forced to move at the beginning of June due to the YMCA's summer camp programs. The problem, unfortunately, is that at the moment, we are not sure where our housing will be at that point. Oh, the joys of government service.

I am quite enthusiastic about one particular aspect of our housing: there is, apparently, a Waffle House within walking distance. Why, might you ask, does this excite me so much? The answer is simple: Waffle House is a brilliant place. It's cheap, greasy, and open all night. What's not to like? Since our team will be cooking for ourselves, it will most likely be useful to have a place like that to go when (not if) one of our cooking attempts go astray.

Onto other matters. My Penguins overcame a 3-0 second-period deficit against the New York Rangers to win the first game of their semifinal series tonight. It was AWESOME. The Rangers are good, but we're on a roll this year.

And I seem to be the only person around that is actually excited about the NFL Draft tomorrow. I can understand why many football fans aren't fond of it; there's no actual football, it moves too slowly, and these kids are getting paid obscene sums of money without having ever taken a snap in the NFL. I love it, however, and I'll tell you why. It's all about the potential that these guys represent. They are, for better or worse, the future of the teams that they join tomorrow and Sunday, and the anticipation that comes along with such a label is palpable. For example, most casual Dolphins fans won't marvel at the play of their first overall pick, tackle Jake Long. They know, however, that Long will most likely be on the left side of their line for the next decade, clearing paths for the running game and giving their quarterback protection. So who will the Rams draft at #2? What about my Steelers, or the rival Browns, Ravens, and Bengals? Furthermore, who will those players become: the next Joe Montana, Reggie White, Jim Brown...or the next Ryan Leaf or Ki-Jana Carter? I LOVE THE DRAFT.

Ahem. Rant over. Thank you for your time.