Monday Night @ The Rink

What a day!

I drove like a madman to get back from Fort Meade, where we had been running rifle  qualifications... (Fort Meade is in Anne Arundel County, Maryland... I live in Prince William County, Virginia... a distance of 61 miles) I had to get back early enough to get my hair cut (because my hair is so long, right?).

Mission accomplished, just in time to get to the school and pick up soccer girl, who is nearly always one of the first kids out the door.

Dash to Wegmans... ice cream for Mrs GF (Hagen Daz:  Bailey's Irish Cream), and a couple of other items to make dinner, as soccer girl tries to consume two slices of pizza.

Get home. Soccer girl gets organized (and finishes her pizza) while I sort the kitchen.

Soccer girl starts homework while I start making dinner... we're having Manicotti tonight.

Soccer girl goes out to ride her scooter, I continue cooking.

I call soccer girl inside to change for skating while I finish stuffing the Manicotti tubes.

She finishes changing and gathering her gear.... I'm not done yet.  Damn!

OK, finish stuffing, try to SORT of reorganize the kitchen (failing miserably), put on thermal shirt (it's cold inside the rink, you know?).

Dash for the door... Damn!  We're going to be late... unless the traffic signals are kind.

Make it to the first major intersection at Route 1 and Cardinal drive.  This is a long light... not helped by the woman in the red SUV who is talking on the phone as she sort of coasts through it and proceeds to drive @ 30 MPH in a 45 zone, all the while flinging her hands as fast as she is flapping her lips.  I might have said some unpleasant things here.

Did I blow off that red light by the police station?  No.  I 'm sure it was yellow... that's my story.  Keep going, if that cop had a beef, he would have pulled me over, right?

OK, Dodge the freakin' moron who is driving while texting WITH BOTH HANDS (dude, wtf is up with that?).

It's 5:58... the class starts at six.  I'm still a few miles and quite a few lights away... quick, make that corner before the light changes, hit the horn so stupid lady on the corner doesn't try to cross against the light.  I can tell that she was thinking about it!

The rest of the lights fall nearly perfectly for us.... we arrive at the rink at 6:04!  Soccer girl hops out, and I park the car, and organize myself (which means that I tied my until now UN-tied shoes), and head in.

By the time I get inside, soccer girl is already on the ice.  Whew.

I head for my usual place to sit, and say hello to touchy lady from last week, who is animatedly talking to the man with her, her husband, I think, and then say hello to the mom of one of SG's school chums.

Once settled, I spent a few quiet moment with my iPod (I was listening to Adele), while I contemplated starting the new book that I just got ("The Weapon", by Michael Z. Williamson) or writing the review of the book I finished at lunch time ("Angels In Iron", by Nicholas Prata).    I whipped through the notes for this post while thinking about it, and wouldn't you know it, it's time for class to end. 

I had to go to the entry-way to the ice to give SG her free-skate pass, and while I was returning to my seat, it was time for "An Uncomfortable Moment with Gunfighter".  As I approached my seat, still listening to music, I noticed a small person in my field of view, trying to get my attention.  It was M, a girl that I had coached in soccer a few seasons back, and whose mom is new to our church... meaning M is one of my Sunday School students, too.  I said hello to M and chatted with her, trying to see where S, her mom, was.  I didn't see her mom and then I noticed the man giving me the "who-are-you-and-why-are-you-talking-to-my-kid" look.  Oh.  Her dad... the ex-husband.  I introduced myself as M's former coach and current Sunday School teacher, and we shook hands, but it was kind of weird, because I know WAY too much about this guy from things that M's mom has told me.  This guy is a real creep.  Anyway, I talked to M for another minute and got back to my seat.

Now, the time is 6:33, and I have 27 minutes to myself before it is time to go.  Blessed peace.  The time to have my own quiet thoughts with no responsibilities, right?  Yeah, fat chance, bucko!

I hadn't been seated a minute when touchy mom comes by and starts chatting about music... and her life... and her recent divorce.  Dude.  In no time, the free-skate was over, and I was off to get SG and head home... and finish cooking.

Exciting night, eh?  Well, not as exciting as what I have planned for Saturday night... stay tuned.