Yeah, people suck.
Today was the famous Cortaca Jug game at Ithaca College, "the biggest little rivalry in college football." SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College.
Gibson had arranged to get me a ticket, and we'd laid plans to go together. Those plans changed considerably earlier this week, but that's not the point. I had reservations about going (namely, I'd never gone because I'm not comfortable with large crowds of obnoxious drunk people), but I thought to myself, "Well... she went to the trouble of getting me a ticket. I don't feel like going, but... maybe I'll have a good time, and it's worth a shot to have a good time."
I'm still regretting those words.
For starters, it wasn't even a good game. Ithaca got crushed. The cheer in the Ithaca stands is always "Cortland SUCKS!" (and yes, that really reflects the kind of intelligent people we have at that institution of so-called "higher learning"), but clearly, Ithaca sucks. They couldn't do anything right on the field, it seems. The one touchdown I did see them get, their extra point got blocked and returned by Cortland for a two-point conversion. Pathetic. So, the point of this paragraph: when the home team's losing, you're bound to have a less-than-ecstatic attitude.
Next, we'll get to the other fans: remember, I already mentioned the caliber of people we have at that institution (see the favored cheer, above). But for this game, they really go all out. Apparently, in order to really, truly appreciate this fine sporting event, one has to start drinking at about 3 in the morning (for an 11:00 game). EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE STANDS is plastered out of their minds, except the pep band... and even that's questionable, knowing some of them. Every time people cheer or yell and scream, the smell of alcohol hits you like a brick wall -- and that's when the clouds of weed-smoke aren't wafting by, too. People get so drunk, they don't even realize you're sitting on the bench in front of them. How dare you? That's where they want to put their feet (yes, I had some idiot college cutie straddling my back for the first half hour or so). Then there was the guy who left to take a leak (hey, you drink that much and you've got to go every ten minutes at least), and came back and accosted me for taking his seat. I hadn't moved. He kept pointing at his stuff on the bench IN FRONT OF ME, saying, "dude, what are you trying to do? That's my stuff. That's my seat. Why'd you take my seat?" Uh... I DIDN'T, thanks. It's still your seat, and I'm still in mine. Thanks for proving that the standards of American Education are dropping like a rock.
So he proceeded to stand on top of the bench in front of me, blocking my view.
In fact, everybody had to stand, because nobody was considerate enough to the people behind them as to actually let them SEE THE GAME. The people in front of us started heckling people standing in front of them, but it didn't do any good, so they had to stand, so we had to stand... pretty soon everybody's standing. Why'd they bother even having bleachers? Nobody's using the benches, thanks.
Then there are the people I went with. Okay, I really appreciate people inviting me along for things. I really do, because honestly, if it weren't for that, I'd never leave the house. But seriously, lately I just feel like a fifth wheel. They're college kids -- I've been done with college for nearly two full years now. They're worried about grades or papers, I'm worried about paying the bills. We have nothing in common, and nothing at all to talk about. Most of the time I was at the game, I was ignored, or if I wasn't ignored, I only got attention from the stupid drunk people around us. So I was a little upset with that.
I was ready to leave by halfway through the first quarter, but I toughed it out until halftime. Then, I just couldn't take it any more, and had to leave.
Of course, that meant getting out of the stadium. Here's the best part of my day. The crowd is not moving at all, or very slowly making progress. Now, I'm not thrilled with this at all, but I can wait. Not like I have anywhere to be. Then, I hear a typical bimbo-voice behind me, saying "come on, I have to pee! Let's go! Why aren't we moving?" followed by a shove in the back. Yes, the girl was literally trying to push several hundred people out of her way. I turned back and said, "I'm sorry, I'm going as fast as I can, but there's just no room to move!" She replied with, "yes, there is, just push people."
Okay, what? Sorry, I'm not an asshole. I'm not going to push people like that.
Okay, so maybe I am a bit of an asshole. At one point, I lost it and shoved back, almost planting an elbow in some other girl's face. Then, the pusher finally got ahead of me -- just ahead of me -- when the line suddenly hit open space. She was still shoving the girl in front of her, who went down. So (God help me, I don't know why I did it), I patted the shover on the back and said, "Nicely done! Good work." So she pushed me again. Must be her favorite thing to do. Thank God I didn't think too fast, or she'd have been in the Health Center tonight with a broken nose.
Needless to say, I am entirely unimpressed with the whole thing. THIS is why I never went in the previous six years I've lived in Ithaca. I KNEW I wouldn't have a good time; why did I even bother?
Once I got home, I went for a run. A really hard run. I tore up Cascadilla falls gorge faster than I thought possible. By the time I hit the top, I was still mad, but at least I was too exhausted to do anything other than try to get my breath back. Finished the run and came home. Once I got home, I turned off and unplugged my phones. I did not, and still don't really, want to deal with people. Any people. I don't care who they are; I don't care what they want. I don't want to talk to them.
In fact, I'm seriously considering scrapping plans for grad school or flight school... let's just go to forestry school, get a job as a ranger, and live alone in a fire-watch tower. Even bears have better manners than the crowds here. Why bother with people? They only serve to annoy, frustruate, disappoint, and hurt.
Other stuff happened today, but I really don't feel like getting into it now. The whole day wasn't awful, honestly. There were some nice things that happened... like the weather was nice, and... and...
Dammit. Yeah, that's about it.