CT road trip

So, I think it may be time to revisit my trip to Upstate NY and Foxwoods Casino. I had ended the last post about this with me leaving my cousin's house, in Charlotte, after having a great time golfing and hanging with friends and family. I like it there, and I started to feel that way that Monday morning as I drove north on I-77.

It is a beautiful drive as you leave the city and drive through Statesboro, where the speed limit decreases to like 55, by the way. After avoiding that speed trap, that does not accomplish anything because people fly through there anyway, you begin the climb into the the Blue Ridge Mountains. I love the high country! I've gone off on the rant before, so I'll skip it now...

Anyway, the drive to I-81, through Virginia, into West Va for a short time (like 8 miles or something), then into Maryland (for another 15 miles or something), and finally across the Pa border was uneventful, thankfully. No bad weather, few drivers that made me say "Huh? What is WRONG with you?", so, it was all nice. Once I got closer to NY state I called my buddy, Mike. I had to get the final directions to his home near Albany.

Mike is one of my closest friends. We have known each other since he came from that "church school" that he attended until the 6th grade. He and I became fast friends because we both loved sports. We played soccer, basketball and golf together in high school. Mike and I, along with other friends, had the fortunate opportunity to travel to Spain during our junior year in high school. We went to separate colleges but have stayed in close touch. Mike was in my wedding, but only the first one. The distinction of attending both of my weddings goes to a couple of other very good friends who are actually a brother-sister combo. Thanks you John and Robin.

Ok, so Mike and I are close, and he told me over the summer that if I got my butt to NY he would take me to the Jets-Jags game in Giants Stadium. I wonder if the Jets get psyched to play once they think about playing in a stadium named after their cross town rivals? Well, I could not pass this up, especially because I already knew he had great seats on the lower level. I was only hoping the Jags could give me bragging rights at the end of the week.

I was able to reach Mike and get directions. Actually, let me re-phrase that last sentence. I was unable to directly reach Mike by phone, so I left him a message. I then stopped for a bathroom break at a roadside rest area. Once I got back into my car, where I had left my phone, I saw that I had three messages. Amazing how that happens, isn't it? I drive all day long, getting the rare call from the wife, but more or less hearing from no one, and then I am away from my phone for 15 minutes and I get three messages. Is that ironic?

Not really. Mike had left me three messages. The first one was directions to his home in Saratoga Springs. The second message was something about whether his home in Albany was closer to Foxwoods, Ct. or his second place in Liberty, NY. Mike is a Superintendent of a public school district in Liberty, NY. His message was going on about I could go either to Saratoga or Liberty and he was giving my some lock box number for his place in Saratoga. I don't know really, cause the message went on for a while. The third message was a list of three or four phone numbers with the name of his assistant and which number was best to text him, call him, or send him Facebook messages. The third message was directions to his place in Liberty, I think.

See, I'm not sure EXACTLY what any of the messages were because I was driving down the road at that point. Mike is one of the most organized and particular people I know. He could make a Nazi look frumpy. I think that is part of why he is so damn successful. At least I had the info, which was necessary. Eventually, I was able to reach Mike and we decided I would come to Liberty, NY and we would get something to eat that night and watch MNF.

I met Mike at his office behind the high school. He has done a lot of good things for that school. They have new fields, a new gym, a new cafeteria (maybe), and they remodeled the auditorium. All of this is because his apparent ability to prove to the state of NY that his district deserves the money more than other districts. The school, and I saw the old parts as well, definitely needed a face lift. As Mike and I toured the school we would run into teachers and even students who all seemed genuinely happy to see him. One of the male teachers even made a comment about all Mike has done for them since he began as their Super.

I told the young gentleman that I was sure they would have Mike organizing the file cabinets in the teachers lounge by now, but if he says so...no, I'm proud of my buddy. He's doing good things.

Ok, enough blubbering about Mike. He still hits a wicked slice on he golf course, and he used to tackle like Dieone Sanders when we played football in the backyard of Dave Mcavoys house. I'll finish this up next time. I got to run to the poker room in a few minutes.

Codsey out.