Livin' It: Train Ride for Turkey Day

Well, I survived the Amtrak #6 to SLC. It was actually quite nice not having to worry about where I would stop for gas or which book on tape I wanted to listen to AGAIN from the local library. I read, ate, texted, talked and even slept for about four hours before the train dropped me in SLC fifteen minutes early at 3:30 am Thanksgiving morning. The only catch was that my ride wasn't there to get me. I called and the phone was off. I waited patiently until the time I was really supposed to arrive and then called again; the phone was still off. I texted a couple of times. The funny thing is I know tons of people who COULD HAVE come to get me from the train station in SLC, but the only person who was coming had a funky phone that sometimes turns off in the middle of the night, so I was stranded for a while. Around 4:10 I finally called my ride's wife and she told me that he was....just on his way. ( : I crashed on their couch for three more hours and then got ready to go play some football with some of my family and their neigborhood! For those of you who don't know, football is my absolute favorite sport to play! Yes, I love to play it even more than soccer!

When my brother and I got to the field we were a little disappointed with how many people were playing, and how many 'little' people were playing. It looked like 20 on 20. We didn't think the game would provide much action. Shortly after we arrived the powers that be decided to split the game into two games and sent a bunch of the people under five feet to play their own game, although some still ended up scrambling back. This was much better because then the teams were only 13 on 13-ish. ( :

We were playing FLAG football, which always presents an interesting challenge for those who like to wrap up or run through people. There really wasn't much action for the first bit. I did snag a nice catch the QB sent my way but then got pummelled when I caught it. Did I mention that we were playing FLAG football? The tackler did not even try to go for my flag. In fact, she took my leg out, and I have the shin length bruise to prove it. It was nice to have a piece of the action though.

A bit later in the game I was playing defense and this kid got the ball and tried to run THROUGH me. (Remember, this is FLAG football.) I had already let a couple of runners slip by because I was playing by FLAG football rules and didn't wrap up on them. Well since this guy decided that he was going to go straight for me, I decided that he wasn't going to get past me; no matter what. I reached for his flag but bodied up on him and he let me stop his shoulder with my face. Immediately after impact I threw his flag on the snow and then leaned over so I wouldn't get blood on my clothes. Yep, I got a bleeder. That hasn't happened in years! If you have ever been popped on the nose you know that tears come with it.

This little drip turned in to this....

And eventually led to this....

I wasn't in any pain, just trying to get my nose to stop bleeding. I tried and tried to pinch off the artery, and after about twenty minutes it finally worked. I left a nice bright patch on the field. ( : After I was certain the dripping had finally stopped, I got back out on the field. I didn't want to miss out on some great game time.

After the game I went to my sister's house to shower and get ready for some serious family time. I can't believe how much bigger my two youngest nieces are since I last saw them! It seems like Piper has doubled in size! We had some amazing food, as well as some great conversation. It was so nice just to be around my family again, it has been far too long.