EPT
3pm: I had left work as early as I could and got home at about 3. I grabbed my weekend bag and other stuff and get back into my car. I drove over to the train station to pick up schamtoo.
3:30pm: Schamtoo was waiting for me in front of the Dunkin Donuts next to the train station. He put is stuff in the back seat and hopped into the passenger seat. I programmed Orient Point into my GPS and off we went. It was about a 2 hour drive to get there.
5:41pm: Our 90 minute Ferry ride to New London required that we get there 20 minutes early. We were 19 minutes early. They informed us we couldn't get on to the ferry. We asked if we could get bumped to the 7pm ferry. They said there was availability, but we'd have to pay for new tickets. Schamtoo and I reluctantly agreed... he forked over another $15 as a passenger, and I forked over another $50 for the car.
7pm: We are loaded on to the ferry and set sail. I am hanging out on the deck for a few minutes just as we get past Plum Island (I actually suggest reading the history of this island). While I'm not paying attention, a surprisingly large waves comes from out of nowhere (it was fairly calm), hits the side of the boat, and splashes me. Now, I'm soaked from head to foot with seawater. It was getting pretty freaking cold too so I went inside to the cafeteria where schamtoo was sitting in a booth. He got quite a laugh let me tell you. I was fairly dry by the time we got into port in Connecticut.
8:30pm: We get into the car, drive off the ferry, and set the GPS for the Providence Biltmore, which is only a block or two from the convention center where MLG is being held.
9:30pm: We arrive at the Biltmore, and the valet parking circle is so congested that there is nowhere to leave the car. We circle around for about 20 minutes. Finally we leave the car with our stuff. The valet driver screws up, stalls the engine, and nearly crashes my car into the brand new Audi in front of us. We go to the lobby (walking through a crowd of korean progamers) and check in. We have this strange small room near the elevator that is supposedly an original 1920s floorplan. It features two separated twin beds (lol) which normally would be weird but is perfect for us. We get up to the room (7th floor) and... they pushed the beds together. The maid is just finishing putting them together when we enter the room, actually. I start to try to explain that we would prefer the beds apart, and suddenly schamtoo gently grabs my hand and smiles at me. This freaked me the fuck out so I just announced "SPLIT THEM APART", march out by myself, and start walking to the convention center.
~10pm: I end up walking alongside MMA to the convention center. Even though it was close I wasn't sure exactly the best way to get there so I just followed him. I kinda wish I spoke korean for moments like these. We get to the convention center, I cut the autograph lines of a few English-speaking players to chat, and then make my way over to another hotel for Mafia.
In actuality, everything worked out very smoothly, and Schamtoo did not at any point come on to me. I was just getting bored of blog after blog of standard providence itineraries and thought I'd jazz things up a bit.
The trip up went smoothly, the hotel worked out perfectly (I slept diagnoally on the KING bed while Schamtoo was on the floor lol), and the event was a lot of fun.
There was a shortage of chairs though...
On my way back from lunch (food court a few buildings over) I was standing in a a hallway ("the skybridge") chatting with AGiantSmurph and a few other people when Husky went walking by on his way back from lunch. I got this sudden urge to tackle Husky. In my mind was trying to decide what the fallout would be. Something like this is bound to happen sooner or later as Esports grows.
After Naniwa's win over Huk on day 3 I noticed him being interviewed on another floor (the place where I went for the less crowded bathroom. After he was done, he signed a couple of autographs of the few people who were waiting for him to finish. I went up to him, reached out my hand to shake his (he reciprocated) and said "Naniwa, I was looking forward to meeting you at the TSL afterparty!" with a smile on my face. He hesitated then responded "Yeah...... I didn't really want to go to that." I continued smiling (which took a bit of effort) and said "Good luck in the rest of the tournament" and he was on his way. lol
Kinda sucked I had to leave early (4pm or so) on Friday to get back home in time for bed+work.
Sorry Schamtoo for painting you in such a lavender light lol (he has a gf)
Finally I'm glad I got to meet all the Liquid members! For the first time in my life I had met them all.... or so I thought until I got home and saw the news-post about Liquid`Zenio. <<
