Football and the office

I work in a small office with all guys. Not only am I the only female, I'm the only Browns fan among a bunch of football fanatics. The season is still a week away and there has already been a lot of trash talking, always done in my presence and always directed at my Browns. I keep telling them they'll be sorry once the season starts and McCoy, Hillis, Cribbs and company start kicking ass and taking names. Today, I thought my boss was working hard and printing out a document on my printer. Nope. He was printing out the top 300 fantasy football rankings. And quizzing us on where the first Browns player falls on the list. It's Peyton Hillis at #25. Four of us are in a fantasy league together--and I can't wait to take their money at the end of the season! The trash talking is only going to get worse come next weekend. I can't wait for football!

USS Abraham Lincoln

I was sooooooo excited when I read that the USS Abraham Lincoln would be stopping at the Port of LA for Navy Week--and giving free public tours. Not only is it 3 football fields long, 20 stories high, weighs 97,500 tons when fully loaded for combat, but it would be the first time in 20 years that an aircraft carrier docked in our harbor. I knew I had to see it. Tours were from 10am - 4pm. A friend and I left my house around 9:15 for the half hour drive to San Pedro. We made it over the Vincent Thomas Bridge and into the port area. Traffic was pretty backed up, but I wasn't worried about it yet, since we were right there. And I was still so hyped up to see that boat--waiting a little while was a small price to pay. After inching forward about 20 yards in 40 minutes, we decided to forego the parking lot and drive up the hill into the neighborhood and park there. A mile and half walk donwhill was fine. We get into the port and can finally see the MILLIONS of people who had the same idea. Everyone from LA and Orange Counties, and every single tourist in Southern California must have been there! The Navy was overwhelmed by the crowds. Tours were closed for the day by 11am, as those in line then would make it by 4pm. I wasn't going to get on the ship! It was hard not to cry! But my friend talked to the cops who said we could get a good view from Cabrillo Beach. So, we walked a mile and half back UPHILL to get to the car (great exercise), and took off for Cabrillo. We rounded the curve on the hill above the beach and OH MY GOD!! It was spectacular! To see that giant ship just off our shore, it was amazing! It was beautiful! We were very jealous of the people who live in the oceanfront homes who got that view for a whole week. It was breathtaking. And we never would have had this view of it had we made the tour. It was definitely the silver-lining! Hopefully, Navy Week will return to LA very soon--and we'll be in line at 6am for the tour!