Happy Birthday to Sean
Somebody turns 35 today…five years wiser than thirty, but also closer to forty. As far as birthdays go, this one shouldn’t be too shabby. I mean, see above. We’re in the Perhentian Islands. Let’s hope those dark clouds that have been persistently following us since we crossed the border into Malaysia go away. If not, we’ll be under water – we start our advanced scuba diving course today.
Happy birthday, Sean – even though our bickering has reached an all time high after nearly a year on the road, I love you more than ever and there’s no one I’d rather travel with than you. Next year, South America, perhaps?
Ouch.
Losing the Super Bowl hurts just as much halfway around the world as it does at home. And that’s all I have to say about that.
I know what I’d be making for the game if I was at home…
…but instead I’ll be eating pho in Vietnam. Sad face.
Check out this black and gold recipe from one of my favorite food/travel bloggers Akila and her Steelers-loving husband Patrick at The Road Forks. May I note that they don’t even live in Pittsburgh and their dog wears a Steelers shirt. Steeler Nation is awesome.
Good afternoon, Vietnam.
It’s a New Country Day and we arrived in Vietnam a few hours ago. We hear Vietnam is pretty wired, which is good because I haven’t had the chance to post much due to a combination of being on the move and not having the best internet. But I won’t be on Facebook for the next three weeks or so, courtesy of the Vietnamese government. They better not block the Super Bowl!
Steeler Nation Comes to Cambodia.
Tomorrow morning, at 6:30 a.m., from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we’ll be watching the Steelers play the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game at Heinz Field. And though I’m not a morning person, and it won’t be nearly the same as watching the game at home, it will be awesome.
I realize not all of my readers may not be Steelers fans. To outsiders, it may be hard to understand the fanatical reverence Pittsburgh has for its Steelers. It may be hard to understand why being away for the entire season was a serious concern we had about taking this trip. It may be hard to understand why I just won’t shut up about it.
There’s many reasons why Pittsburghers love their Steelers. Because they are blue-collar work ethic, personified. Because they’re in contention, almost every year. Because they’ve won more Super Bowls than any other team in the NFL (6, to be exact). Because it’s tradition. Because it’s contagious. Because they get you through the winter, without fail.* Because it’s fun.
*The Facebook status of almost all of my Pittsburgh friends for the last few weeks has mentioned something or other about the game. People are pumped and in cold, dreary January, what else is there to be pumped about? At kickoff during Sunday’s AFC championship game, the temperature is supposed to be 13 degrees. We met an American guy from San Diego in Thailand and the topic of sports came up. I don’t really follow sports, he said. We’re usually outside doing things instead of watching t.v. Well, in Pittsburgh, there’s nothing to do in 13 degrees. Except sit in the cold at Heinz Field, of course.
To give anyone who wonders what is like to be at Heinz Field during the playoffs a taste of the excitement, check out this video:
I’d tell you to put watching a Steelers game at Heinz Field on your travel bucket list, but be prepared to pay a scalper top dollar because every.single.game is sold out.