To say the least, today was AMAZING and totally worth the wait. I took 5 jillion pictures, got sharpie marks all over my arm thanks to some overzealous dude behind me, practically got sweated on by Adalius Thomas and Laurence Maroney, came within one foot of true genius and spent $200 in the Pro Shop.

You’ll have to visit Mike Reiss for a professional analysis of the camp, but I can mention that I saw Eric Alexander do some pretty extraordinary moves while stretching. Kelley Washington was having a blast with the crowd. Every time he raised his hand, people went nuts.

People also went nuts when the players started signing autographs. Grown adults pushing and shoving like children… no, not like children because the children there weren’t doing that crap… I guess it’s the punishment for getting there early and sitting right up front. The moment coaches started yelling, “Field Goal,” which I guess most people assumed meant the end of practice, these grown men started kicking me as I sat trying to get as close as possible. When I stood up, I was shoved against the ropes. Some guy literally used my shoulders as stabilization while he leaned as far forward as he could when Tom Brady walked past. I had stranger arms over both shoulders AND my head! Insanity!

But the best part of today was it got me back into a football state of mind. It’s been hard after you know what to even think about it but I’m ready. I’m really ready. Bring on the Chiefs!

ADDENDUM: I almost forgot to mention that Tedy Bruschi signed almost every autograph he could. I mean, seriously, the guy took forever to make it around the bleachers and to the end zone. And then when a horn sounded, he wanted to sign more but told us he couldn’t, but relented anyway and signed more. I hope he didn’t get in trouble with Belichick.

My car has been jinxed thanks to my abnormally lucky sister who has never had to deal with things such as bad luck. Last week when discussing my car (which was once her car), she just had to continuously stress how great my car is. “180,000 miles and no problems! I mean, wow! Nothing at all! If a Honda as old as yours can still be in such excellent condition, they must make great cars!”

“KRISTINA! YOU’RE JINXING ME! I DON’T HAVE GOOD LUCK LIKE YOU!”

Damage done. The jinx has been set.

It all began with my brakes last week. Out of the blue, they began pulsating and the brake light remains on. If you’re not familiar with car stuff, brakes are kinda important. Then, a rusty crater opened up in my exhaust pipe last night further ghetto-ifying my car. And for the icing on the cake, a truck took off my side mirror yesterday.

But, given my history with automobiles, this is only the beginning. Next will come the alternators, radiators, belts of a timing and fan nature… ultimately leading to a busted transmission and/or seized engine….

So, after a quick trip to a nearby Midas (great place, honest owner, highly recommended), the damage comes to over $800 *dying* (and that’s with free brake pads!) but we’re skimping on the brakes and only doing the more damaged back brakes. BUT, knowing that this kind of stuff is mostly wear and tear, i.e., driving on inadequate, pothole-ridden Massachusetts roads ruins your car, I can’t complain much. Honda is still the best car maker in the world. It’s not Honda’s fault Massachusetts would rather spend money on symphonies than potholes.

Fortunately, everything (minus the front brakes) is getting fixed today because, I’ll be God damned if I don’t get to Patriots Training Camp tomorrow! Take that, Gods that find amusement in making my life as miserable as possible!

It’s been a few months now since that fateful evening in February when my…. *gasp* …Patriots lost… *gulp* …the… *ugh* …Super… *vomit* …Bowl. BUT… in fewer than two weeks, my dad, sister, and I will be driving down to good ol’ Foxborough for the start of Patriots Training Camp! The season is so close, I can almost taste it! (And I do realize that wishing for football season is also wishing away the summer, but I do not care. Screw summer).

And, although that horrible Sunday night feels like just yesterday, so much has happened since:
* I learned to knit.
* The Boston Celtics won a World Championship.
* David Ortiz went on the D.L. ¹.
* Sister moved out.
* My office moved.
* I got a raise.
* Cigarettes went up a $1.50 (which could play a huge role in the season when it comes time for me to smoke my “defensive cigarettes ²”).
* Boyfriend got a new job.
* The New Kids on the Block reunited.

…I mean, this is like a whole different planet since Super Bowl 42! It’s like an alternate universe where I do something girly like knit while grooving to NKOTB.

I haven’t really thought about the Patriots too much in the last few months, partly because it was too painful, and because I knew it was like FOREVER until the season began again. But when WEEI announced yesterday that, in addition to Patriots Monday, they will now also be doing Patriots Friday, I could no longer keep my mind off my beloved Pats.

Now, if I can just wait patiently for two more weeks…

¹ “Disabled list,” not to be confused with “Down Low.”
² A “defensive cigarette” is a cigarette that I MUST smoke while the Patriots defense is on the field. This cigarette is crucial to the overall performance of the Patriots D. Think I’m full of it? Since I’ve been smoking my defensive cigarette, the Patriots have attended five Super Bowls, winning three of them.