Mae's First Hawks Game

So it was time to introduce Mae to the old barn (the United Center) where the Blackhawks play. She had seen me walk out the door plenty of times and this time she was coming with us.

To get in without a ticket you have to be less than 36" tall. Mae is about 37.5" and yes, the lady at the door was very strict about her getting measured. What she wasn't strict about was the way Dad "measured" Mae up against the built-in tape measurer on the wall. Success!

We headed to our seats where Mae was actually way more into the game than I thought she would be. We got lucky because the two seats next to us were empty so Mae got her own seat and watched the entire first period of the game.

Then we went down onto the concourse during intermission looking for Tommy Hawk. He's the guy dressed in a black hawk outfit, like a bird, who bangs on the drum and everyone screams "LET'S GO HAWKS!!" No success. We didn't find him, but we found a cool Blackhawks necklace that we both loved so kind of success. You don't have to tell me, I know I kind of look like a gangster with the head tilt.

Had to show you my Patrick Kane shirt from the back. Mae had to show you... I don't know... just the back of her shirt.

As if the game wasn't fun enough, we headed for the door after the second period looking for a rickshaw. We couldn't seem to find one but as we were walking down the sidewalk a white stretch limo pulled up and offered us a ride for $20.

Where it got a little hairy was the fact that we were not buckled in and our driver was going about 50mph down Damen, very concerned that the cops saw him pick us up (limos are not allowed to scoot around the city acting like taxi cabs, big no no).

So Mae and I rolled around the back of the limo giggling like crazy and having ourselves a hoot of a time.

Mae's first Blackhawks game? Success.

Greetings, From Hilton Head

Okay, we've only been in Hilton Head about 24 hours but here's the shakedown of yesterday:

I woke up at 5:30am and caught our ride to the airport. Some people take a cab to the airport, some people ride the L, I happen to know people like Jay-Z, who sent a stretch SUV to pick me up while I was still in my jammies (actually, I don't know Jay-Z, my Dad's friend owns a limo business, but my first story sounded way better).

And this sign was in there, which really aggravated me because I had to put out my cigarette. Next thing you know they're gonna make me empty out my vodka tonic.

Okay, next stop the airplane. Jay-Z put me on his private jet and... oh, forget it. Here's Dad and me on the plane. Notice I'm smiling...

This photo was taken approximately 78 minutes before I threw up an entire egg mcmuffin all over my seat, the back of the seat in front of me, my soccer jammies and Dad. Yep, stomach flu time. We got to Atlanta and drove about two hours before I threw up again, this time all over the car seat and the rental. Had to stop in 104-degree heat at a rest stop, empty the back seat and clean everything, then Dad took me into the rest stop bathroom, stripped me down as I stood on the counter and had to clean the puke off of me and out of my hair.

So I know what you're thinking - sweet trip so far, Fin. Yeah, not a good start.

But then we got to Hilton Head, I ate dinner and was fine and we headed to the beach. These are all my cousins and second cousins on the Skertich side.

And Soph Dogg and I rocked it out in the water.

Soph, my buddy.

Mabel got into the action, too. Had herself a hoot and a holler in that water with the wind blowing in her face.

And then Luke and I went back to the condo and had ourselves a peanut butter sandwich.

More photos to come from the trip in the coming days... til then.