Terps and Tempesto

The "Heart-Attack Kids" at the University of Maryland did it again.  The Terrapins Men's Basketball Team took another game down to the wire in their first (second) round game in the 2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament, finally winning in their match against Valparaiso, 65-62, in Columbus, Ohio.  It was the 13th game this season that Maryland has played that was decided by 6 points or less, and the fact that they've won 12 of those 13 is impressive.  However, it doesn't allow the fans any chance to relax.  Whew!  These are the games that count the most, too, so the stress level is that much higher.  Maryland, the 4-seed in the Midwest Region, beat 13-seeded Valparaiso, and move on to face 5-seed West Virginia University tonight (Sunday) at approximately 8:40 p.m.  That's after my bedtime, but I'll be watching!

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Meanwhile, the Maryland Women's Basketball Team had a big win in the first round of the NCAA -Tournament, hosting the New Mexico State Aggies.  Maryland, a 1-seed, defeated the 16-seeded Aggies, 78-57.  In the opening act, 8-seeded Princeton, undefeated this season, beat 9-seeded Wisconsin-Green Bay, 80-70, at Xfinity Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD.  My daughter, Melody, and my father joined me at the games, and the atmosphere was electric.  In attendance for the Princeton win was President Obama.  Michelle Obama's niece plays for Princeton.  There was an immense security presence as a result.  But we had a great time!

Yes, that's the President

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While the snow on Friday morning was great to see, I'm very happy there were no delays.  Schools around here have already missed a week's worth of days due to the weather, and students will have to make them up at the end of the year.  As it is right now, the last day of school for Howard County will likely be June 19th, which erases any possible time off for my daughter because camp begins the following Monday, June 22.  That's disappointing.  Melody typically has a week or two to spend with her grandparents, and that won't happen now until August.

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So we're about a week away from a few days at our favorite theme park, Busch Gardens, in Williamsburg, VA.  We haven't had a getaway since Christmas, so this is a long time coming.  We are mulling over one of the VIP tours of the park, just to make it a little different.  This is a park we've been going to since I was about 9 years old, and I still get excited about going there.  We've watched many roller coasters come and go.  I rode my first coaster at this park, the Glissade.  The Loch Ness Monster is one of my favorite roller coasters of all time, and is a favorite of my daughter now, too.  We loved the Big Bad Wolf, though it is now gone, as is Drachen Fire, which was another of my all-time favorites.  Apollo's Chariot is one of the best coasters around, and it just got a new neighbor, a new coaster called Tempesto.  Word is that it will open officially around April 25, which means we won't get to ride it when we go at Spring Break.  Fortunately, we have season tickets, so we will definitely ride it on another day, but we'll miss it when it opens.  We are roller coaster fanatics!

Tempesto picture © WTVR.com

Have a great evening, everyone!  Go Terps!