Feb. 25, 2009
What’s up Tech Fans?
This is Caroline Hilton hailing from Room 103 of ULC. That’s the Undergraduate Living Center (where we live) for those of you who don’t know. I’m sitting in my room with my roommates Jessica “COCO” Coan, Shannon “Gris” Bear, and Jessica “Weav” Weaver. Kelsi Weseman is over too. We just got back from the sunny state of California. And since you guys have never been on a long road trip with us I’m going to tell you a few stories from our trip.
Our flight to and from California was broken up into two flight. We had a two hour layover in Dallas. This was really cool for Emily Schreck because she is from the Dallas area and her parents met her at the airport and she got to see them for a little while. The flight from Atlanta to Dallas was a little boring but things quickly livened up after everyone got a bite to it at the Dallas airport. Everyone was sitting in random seats on the plane so we all got to meet strangers and talk to them about life. My seat mate was a nice British lady who had married an American and relocated to Palm Springs.
Side Note: At times the entire GT softball team talks in British accents. This came about from a YouTube Video. Search Ouch Charlie.
So after I explained to my new British friend that we talked in British accents she told me to try mine on her. I did and she laughed. After she got done laughing at me she told me all about Palm Springs. It was very hard for me to keep a straight face while hearing a real British accent but I did my best. Once we landed in Palm Springs and walked up the tunnel into the airport terminal we were all surprised to discover that the Palm Springs airport is outside! Yes ladies and gentleman outside. Circus like tents are all that separate the concourses from the elements.
We arrived in Palm Springs at 8:00 California time on Thursday but the coaches didn’t want us to go to bed yet we went to the park to watch games. I have to say that they park we played at was possibly the coolest thing ever. There were a total of five fields at the park, but three of them were over the top. The three marquee fields are replicas of Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, and Wrigley Field. The outfield backdrops are painted murals of the outfields in the three different big league parks with actual people in the stands. There is also a sports bar behind the three fields for the fans to enjoy.
My roommate Jen Yee and I both woke up really early on Friday morning. I chose to lay in the bed while Yee went exploring in the hotel. She came back to the room around nine o’clock and opened our curtains. To my shock when I looked out of the window I thought I was looking at a picture. The view from our balcony was breathtaking. Close to the hotel was a beautiful pool and golf course. Off in the distance there were snow capped mountains.
Our play during the tournament was a little disappointing but we finished the tournament strong with a 6-0 shutout victory over Oregon State. After the game we had thirty minutes to shower so that we could rush off to the airport and get home. I had a huge test on Monday so I had convinced myself that I was going to study on both flights and the layover to be ready for it. My plans were quickly squashed. I boarded the plane and took my seat only to find out that it was between Coach Perkins and Coach Downes. I had my book and notes out, but trust me when I say that no studying got done. Jokes were a plenty and I’m sure people on the flight were irritated at how much fun we were having.
At the two hour layover in Dallas we all got some food. Most of us got coffee and Mountain Dew as well. We needed a jolt of caffeine for studying. The flight to Atlanta wasn’t full so we got to sit wherever we wanted. Yee and I took full advantage by sitting on the exit row with more leg room and more space to study. The studying didn’t begin until after take off though. We all had to get a good laugh in for the night. So we made references to Talladega Nights and some of our new favorite YouTube videos. Hilarious. We got back to our rooms about 1:30 in the morning. My roommates went to sleep and I stayed up to study. Don’t worry I got to nap on Monday afternoon and I’m all caught up now.
Now that you have heard how cool we all are I’m sure I will see you at our first home game in the new stadium on March 10th. Until then all the best from campus and keep it real.
