Well, week one is over!  Last weekend was my first trip and in a few hours I leave for trip 2.  It's pretty nice having 4 days off!  I've spent the week exploring Baltimore with friends. So here's a breakdown of the week. sorry a bit long, but I hope entertaining : 

Monday: Went to the Inner Harbor on a mission to find a seafood restraunt where we good eat some 'famous' Maryland blue crabs.  We stopped and talked to the guy selling pretzels on the sidewalk, whom it turns out has a wife who works for Southwest.  Anyway, he tells us that the best place is about 7 blocks away.  So we start walking... and walking. We walk through a little Italy, yet no sign of Oberickie's.  The one thing we do notice is that the houses seem to be getting more dilapitated.  Dann says, " I smell projects!"  So Cassandra runs into a real estate office and asks the guy there how much further until the resteraunt.  "About 7 more blocks."  OYE! He kind of shakes his head... "and in about 2 blocks you're going to be in a REALLY bad part of town. But, it's daylight, so you should be ok, just walk fast."  I think us three white folks set a new speed walking record.  On our way we pass by a Mexican street, Dann suggests that on the way back if we go up a block maybe it will be the Mexican projects which he'll be much  more comfortable with... .  Anyway, we finally found the place. Ordered some beers and a few crabs and chowed down for nearly 3 hours.  It was fun. There is something about being able to use a mallet on your own food that is quite releasing.  Anwyay, the walk back... so we did as Dann suggested and boy was that a mistake!  Now, we're most DEFINATELY in the middle of the projects.  It doesn't help when Cassandra panicks and thinks that a gang of street thugs starts to follow us -- talk about speed walking!  Luckily they weren't and in a few short blocks we were in the safe confines of "Little Italy." 

We found a really good pastry shop that had the most awesome cannolies I have ever tasted in my life!  I bought some gelati and a Napolean to take home... heaven!   On our way back to the Harbor we stopped at the Hard Rock for a pit stop and a refill on beers.  From there Cass and I were in the drinking mood so we forced Dann to go with us back to this bar that the cabbie had told me was the 'flight attendent' hang out.  When we got there we ordered some more food had some beers and pretty soon some more classmates showed up.  Next thing you know Cass and I are howling to DMB's "Granny" and "It's the Time of the Season". I'm sure it wasn't pretty.  Anyway, we stayed there till close and then I went with some other girls back to another FA's apartment where they grilled some steaks and we drank more beer.  Don't know when I got home but when I woke up in the morning my light was still on and my iPod was still playing.

Tuesday:  Woke up with helacious headache!  Didn't do much, but finally got someone to go to the baseball game with me.  The Tiger's were in town and I was just itching to check out Camden Yards.  So hopped on the Light Rail to head downtown.  On our ride I noticed this guy decked out in Cardinal's gear from head to toe.  So, I asked him if he was from St.Louis, he wasn't.  He was just a big fan who has been going to games whenever he can and loves games in St.Louis. He said we were the best fans by far.   When we got there this lady asked us if we needed tickets.  She sold the 3 of us 4 for $50.  They were good seats too, right on the 3rd base line, just above the box seats.  I tried to get rid of the 4th ticket but didn't have much luck, so as we're walking in I went up to an usher and said, "We've got an extra ticket, send us a cute guy!"  He laughed and started talking to me.  I started to walk in when he asked me where I usually get my tickets, I tell him it's my first game and he says, "come here.  He writes his name and number on a piece of paper and says, "Next time you need tickets call me.  I like you're sense of humor I'll help you out!" Oh yeah!

Anyway, the game was great.  A couple right behind was from St. Louis so we talked some baseball.  The Tiger's lost, but it was a good game to watch.

After the game we attempted to find this place called Federal Hill which has a bunch of bars and is supposed to be pretty cool.  It was a really neat historic neighborhood but by the time we got there we only had time to enjoy one beer before we had to leave to get the train back.  I'm definately going back when I can spend some more time there.

Wednesday:  We were supposed to go the baseball game but people baled on me. Instead we went to the Inner Harbor again.  From there we walked to this place called "Fell's Point" which is a neighborhood with a ton of bars.  I mean a we're talking bar, after bar, after bar.  We met up with some other friends and stopped at three places.  The first place was a hole.  The 2nd was this place called Max's which had 90 beers on tap.  Their list of beers was sorted by alcohol content.  We had a couple (9%) there.  When I went to get my card, the bartender says, "OK Southwest..."  Apparently the locals can spot us from a mile away.  From there we went to this place called Shucker's and had some more food and drinks.  By this time it's getting late and we're all ready to really get things going, but we have to leave to get back on the train.  We do and then called a cab to take us back to Howards.  When we walked in some more of our classmates were there.  They had just spent 3 days in Vegas.  So once again lots of money on the jukebox and a morning with another headache.

Yesterday was low key... It was rainy and I ended up just going to the grocery store and watching tv. 

Tonight I leave for San Diego and my 3 day.  I think next week we're going to another baseball game as the BoSox are in town.  I'm probably going to head back to Detroit as there are a few things I HAVE to take care of.  The week after that is the Spirit Party in St. Louis at the Brewery!  Then the next two weeks I've got two DMB concerts to attend, in STL and Detroit! Woohoo!