Princess Sparklefists

It cost more than I'd really like, even on sale, but I did at least get a discount on a DVD player for buying it at the same time. Now I can sit on the couch, watch Bones reruns, and type this on my laptop! It's multi-task time wasting. :) I was going to buy a TV stand too, but when I went to Ikea I discovered the box was too big to fit in my little car! Boo. For now, the coffee table gets to stand in.

This means I can watch Ohio State play Navy tomorrow! At some point earlier in the summer I decided I wasn't going to march in the alumni band, which I am now kind of regretting. It makes sense, since I've already been to Columbus twice in the last two months, and at the time I though it wasn't a great idea to leave again right as the semester started... but I've been having major nostalgia for Columbus, OSU, and TBDBITL the last few weeks and I just wish I could be there. One of my rookies (who's a fourth year now!) texted me just a bit ago to see if I'd be there.

Watching on my shiny new TV will have to be the next best thing to being at the Shoe. I can also look forward to the homecoming game, to which I now have tickets, courtesy of my dad's girlfriend. Hurrah!

Regrettably, yesterday’s game aired on the Big Ten Network, which, oddly enough, is not included in Montreal cable. Instead of watching on TV, I kept track of the game via live updates on ESPN.com. Basically, it gives updates on each play, shows the current drive and field position, and has stats for both teams. It’s not nearly as good as watching on TV, and nothing at all like being there in person.

My little sister was at the game, and she sent me several text messages. Since I was sitting in a school computer lab while she was in Ohio Stadium, I was a little jealous.

The Buckeyes are currently leading the Boilermakers 23-0 in the fourth quarter! What makes that even better? The game is nationally televised on ABC, so for the time this season, I can watch the Buckeyes in action! (Finally!) The commentators have started talking about the potential of another National Championship appearance for OSU. After saying that, they remarked that hundreds of fans in Columbus are hurrying to book tickets to New Orleans in January. It's funny because it's true...

The past week I've been feeling particularly nostalgic about Ohio State, specifically about marching band. The OSUMB was such a huge part of my life for the past four years, so it's very strange to realize I'm done for good. My freshman year, my first friends were in M Row and in my rookie class. On a night like tonight, we would have gathered together at someone's house to watch the game. We'd have a couple Buckeye pizzas from Adriatico's, plenty of chips and dip, and, of course, beer. After the game we'd probably head over to the Spot to hang out with H Row. That first year, the vets made sure that we freshman never sat around alone in our dorm rooms. Sitting here alone in my living room in my very quiet house (most of my roommates are home for Thanksgiving) is pretty weird.

Sure, there're plenty of things I won't miss about the band, but mostly I remember the good things. And the good things are mostly the people. I miss meal plan dinners, crazy bus trips, stupid inside jokes, parties in Piqua, pre-game sleepovers, basically, the camaraderie that comes from spending every day for four months with the same group of people.

Ugh... they're talking about the Penn State game two years ago. Bad memories. The national championship loss last year was perhaps more humiliating, but Penn State was completely miserable. Losing is bad enough, but losing on the road on a cold, rainy night while being constantly harassed and shoved around by rude fans is worse. At least I had a really awesome homestay on that trip; others were not so lucky.

I think I made the right choice to start grad school right away and move on with my life, rather than staying in Columbus just so I could have a fifth year in the band, but I still sometimes think of what might have been. I've got my OSU jersey on and my bowl of orange slice (though I feel like they should be Swedish Fish or Swiss Cake Rolls) and the Buckeyes are going to win! It would just be even better if I had my friends here with me.