Yesterday I took a trip. It’s been planned since Christmas, no whims here. But boy does it feel good to be down in Shreveport, LA! Let me tell you all something. Practically Canada is cold! It sneaked up on me gradually, so I guess I didn’t notice just how cold it is up there this time of year. Then I got off a plan in S’Port on February 5 and stepped into 68 degree sunshine. Holy cow, it felt nice.
The last thing Derek and I did before I left town {early Tuesday morning} was attend our weekly curling night. It’s been a while since I told you about our introduction to curling…the great north sport. So I thought I’d take a little time to fill you in on what’s happening.
Curling is so fun. We absolutely love it. Derek and I are now official members of the Minot curling club. We play each week with a father and son duo who are pretty much curling masters. They’ve both played competitively, and Kyson {a senior in high school} has been to junior nationals and competed on the Junior Olympic team. Pretty legit, right?
Here are the things I’ve learned about curling in the last two months of playing:
1. The place where curling takes place is called a “Curling House.” Not a rink. {That was a weird moment.}
2. There are four people on each team. Team members throw two rocks each, the rocks closet to the center of a bullseye {called the House} score points.
3. A curling game consists of six “ends.” An end is each player throwing their rocks.
4. Before a game starts players shake hands and wish each other luck. Players may simply say “Curling,” to one another. Which is short for saying, “Good curling.” That was really confusing at first too.
5. The curling house is cold. A crisp 25 degrees on the ice.
6. The Minot club has a lodge-like clubhouse on the second floor. It’s cozy up there. There are some tables…and coolers of beer. Fridges of beer. Beer on tap. And beer in another cooler. Oh…and a few sodas on tap too. But I’ve quickly learned that curling and beer go hand in hand. We played in a tournament last weekend. When we arrived at 9:30 to begin most of the other players had already settled in to breakfast {doughnuts and beer.} Another player explained the allure of curlers to beer to me this way: “You’ve got to take advantage. It’s the only sport will keep a beer ice cold while you play.”
7. Maybe this last item is the most important thing I’ve learned about curling. Do NOT sit on the toilet in the curling house. Like I said, there is a lodge upstairs. It’s fully heated and there is a bathroom there. On Monday I used the bathroom on the unheated main floor. Let me ask you this. Have you ever sat on a block of ice with your drawers down? Because that’s about what it felt like. Lesson learned. Won’t happen again.
Welcome to my world. The land of icy toilets and refrigerator sports.
I’m glad to be in the south again. But to be honest the weather has nothing to do with it. I’m here with my bestie and that the most important thing. {Seeing blooming flowers is a nice bonus though!}
Amy
