Detroit, Days 3 & 4

I guess I should finish up my Detroit posts so I can get all this stuff recorded before I forget what we even did there (goodness knows I can barely remember what I did yesterday...).

Day 3: Sunday, April 5

On Sunday we went to a Detroit Redwings game. It was the second hockey game I've been to in my life, and the first NHL game I've ever been to. It was so much fun! There was so much energy in the arena. It was good, fun, happy energy. Not like the energy coming from the kids we sat by at the Final Four games. The Redwings won this game 3-2, scoring the game winning goal with just 40 seconds to go in the game, so it was really exciting toward the end.

We also went to Canada on Sunday, just to check it out. Starting in June, you have to have a passport to travel across the border. For now, they just require a driver's license and a birth certificate. We didn't have our birth certificates with us, because we'd heard different stories on whether or not we actually had to have them. Turns out you do. The border patrol guy on the way in to Canada told us, "Well, you really should have them, but I think you'll be fine for tonight." And he let us in.

We had fun; just bummed around at a little park, then went to the casino, gambled with some Canadian money (I won one Canadian dollar), then after a couple hours we headed back across the border. We wanted to go over the bridge this time instead of through the Windsor-Detroit tunnel as we'd entered Canada.

We almost didn't get back into the U.S. The lady at the border gave us the third degree when she found out we didn't have the proper documents. She asked us all kinds of questions, some of them were the same question just stated differently to see if we'd change our answers. She searched our car, then asked us some more questions. Then she lectured us about how she didn't have to let us in and next time we go to Canada we should take the right documents with us, or better yet, just don't go. I know she was just doing her job, so I tried to be polite and cooperate, but still. The whole thing was just crazy. I mean, isn't Canada where people go for a better life (at the very least to dodge the draft, smoke some pot and/or escape sentencing)? I've never heard of anyone from Canada trying to sneak into the U.S.

Day 4: Monday, April 5

Monday we actually slept in, which is unheard of when one goes on vacation with David. He likes to "get his money's worth," i.e. cram every possible second with something. We took our time getting ready for the day (well, I did. David watched ESPN somewhat impatiently while he waited for me to fix my hair and put on make up--but I can't have people thinking he's with some homely girl. I gotta look nice), then headed into Detroit to walk around some more while we waited for the game to start.

The game started at 9:00 p.m. local time, which is so late. But they have to start late so the West-Coasters have time to get home from work and watch. The highlights of the game for me were seeing the Temptations sing the National Anthem, seeing the 2009 NBA Hall of Fame inductees, and seeing Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (I can't remember what they were there for...). We also saw Dick Vitale and some other ESPN commentators; we actually got to see them up close, rather than from the seventh row on the third balcony.

Dick Vitale is the older gentleman in the middle. He is one of two ESPN commentators whose name I actually know, so I was excited to see him in person. See the bleachers directly above the TV camera on the left side of the photo? That's where we sat. Ford Field has some comfortable seats, though, even up that high. They were better than movie theater seats (but with slightly less leg room).

The 2009 NBA Hall of Fame inductees.

The final score of the game was North Carolina 89, Michigan State 72. The game was not really as close as the final score would lead you to believe. It was 55-34 at half time; the Tarheels led by 20 or more almost the entire game.

Above is a video of the Temptations singing the National Anthem. It was amazing. Unfortunately, my camera ran out of memory just as they got to the big finish, but just this snippet gives you an idea of how awesome the whole song was. And how annoying the boys next to us were, with their, "Go Green! Go White!" chant in the middle of our country's song.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll finish up the Detroit stuff so we can all get on with life. It's David's birthday (has been for about an hour, as I'm writing this at 1 a.m.), so I'll make sure to get pictures from that, and I also have some pictures of egg decorating with the kids. Nothin' like giving toddlers permanent dyes to play around with!