Today is my big official day as a member of the "media" with credentials for a game. What should be really exciting has turned into a bit of a circus. I felt good going into this. JP and Eric McErlain were great with advice and telling me what to expect. I even got a few tips from a nice helpful individual on the Thrasher's staff. Unfortunately they told me to expect to show up at MCI Verizon Center at 9:30 today to pick up my credentials. Wouldn't you know it--turns out there is basketball there today. Some bug-eyed guy whom I assume is with the Hoyas thought we were completely crazy. He told me "It's basketball today. Come back at 5." So I go out and send JP a panicked email. "HELP" I plead and yes, he calls. Amber, my partner in crime for the weekend, and I follow JP's instructions and head over to Ballston Commons Mall where the Caps practice for morning skate. We track down the contact with the Caps who tells us--I don't have your passes now, come back to MCI at 4 today. So to sum up it is now 12:30 and we have treked all over DC on the Metro (the train, not the player--minds out of the gutter people) for no good reason. We did get to see part of the morning skate (that is public at the practice facility) and we watched as Hanlon (the CAPs coach) took time to sign a bunch of autographs for fans standing in an autograph queue. I'm optimistic about tonight, hopefully it will go smoother. Now I'm off to spend more time treking around DC with my laptop in shoes too nice to trek around the streets...