December 26-28th

Monday – Travel Day

Quick night in Ohio and then back out on the road again today.

Flew to South Bend on Monday evening – it has easily been 10 or more years since I have been there and I am pretty sure I drove last time.

Got to the hotel and was too tired to go out for dinner so ordered a pizza.

I realized once I got settled at the hotel, that I left my laptop power supply at my parents house.  So I will have to find a Radio Shack on my way to work in the morning.

Tuesday – Game Day

Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame

Found a Radio Shack and bought a new power supply.  The jerk there told me that "this isn't a rental business so don't plan on returning this when you find your other one".

My feet got completely soaked walking from the parking lot in the slush and snow.  No room for boots on this trip unfortunately.

Went to a yummy spot downtown for lunch with my friend Josh (he lives here).  Afterwards we went to an Urban Outfitters across the street so I could get dry socks.

Game went well. 

Wednesday – Travel/Work

Lamar vs Kentucky

All sorts of travel issues today.  Only on a couple hours sleep so I am in a mood!

Delays, cancellations, standby, re-routing, mechanicals, the list goes on and on.

Somehow, I actually made it to work and was only a little bit late.  My luggage did not make the trip however.

At dinner I went back to the airport to pick it up.  I didn’t really have a choice because I am driving to Cincinnati after the game tonight.  It was the only way I could make it to work on time tomorrow.

Yah!

Game was good and I got on the road ASAP.  Got to my hotel at the Cincy airport about 1a; getting up in 2 hours to start it all over again.

December 20-25th

Headed to the parents house for Christmas on the 20^th.  As usual, I got my window seat on the right side of the plane so I could have my moments of Zen on the final decent.

Something about the sight of Upper Captiva, Captiva, Sanibel and then Ft Myers Beach – brings a sense of calm over me.

The pics above are Upper Captiva.  I dream of a vacation there again.  Haven’t stayed there since 1996, but I will again one day.

Of course, I am sure it’s nothing like it was then.  No cell towers, no cars…  I guarantee there are at least cell towers by now.

ANYWAY… back to reality!

Christmas Eve day was spent on the boat.

Merry Christmas!

Santa brought us toys!

Christmas morning is exhausting!

Took a mid-afternoon flight back to Ohio.

December 15-18th

2011 FCS Semifinals: Georgia Southern vs North Dakota St

Thursday – Travel Day

Columbus > Fargo, ND

This was my first trip to North Dakota.  There are only a few states left that I haven’t been to – so this was exciting!

My Producer insisted I watch the movie Fargo – so I downloaded it to my iPad and watched it on the way out.

No snow on the ground…  but crazy cold.

I checked into the hotel and told the girl it was my first time there – so was there anything I “had” to see.  She told me about a sporting goods store with a Ferris wheel inside.  Um… ok.

I found it and that was perfect because Dave wanted a NDSU t-shirt.

Yes, there is a Ferris wheel in the middle of the sporting goods store; which you can ride…  but it’s pretty sad when this is the one thing “you have to see” when visiting Fargo.

This billboard was near my hotel.  I finally had to take a pic when I was at a light.

Really?  The best soup and salad bar in town is at a gas station?

Friday – Set Day

So it did snow overnight.  A lot.  This is what it looked like from inside my car this morning.

Am continually thinking – “Why would anyone want to live here?”

I am not with my crew this weekend – they are at Sam Houston St.  Some of us got split up   However, I am with my former football crew from a few years ago – the Big East Syndicated crew.  So it was nice to see everyone and catch up!

In the evening, we walked across the parking lot to a place called Redbirds.

It was delish!

Saturday – Game Day

The game was fine.  Just really weird not working with my SEC crew.  Feels very bizarro. 

Went to bed early – it’s gonna take 3 flights to get home tomorrow.

Sunday – Travel Home

I had two connections today – but I don’t mind at all.  That extra flight is gonna likely seal the deal on me getting “Diamond” Status on Delta.  Fingers crossed.

While waiting for my flight in Atlanta, I did a triple take at this sight….

OMG!  Yes, there are lit up Christmas lights on the luggage, including a wreath.

And it’s a Delta flight attendant!

Wow.  That’s something.

Thanksgiving Special

For whatever reason, I forgot to post these – they are from Thanksgiving day on the boat.  We started a new tradition and decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on Wednesday, so we could relax on Thanksgiving.

It's been a few months, but the pups LOVE time on The Sh'Ed II !!
Salty dogs :)

Here's the fam...  Me, Mom, Dad and my brothers...
Hamish & Hadrian

College Basketball: Cincinnati at Wright St

When I took this game a few months ago it was slated to be a simple game on the internet.

Well, a couple days ago some Cincinnati players got into a brawl during a game vs Xavier; suspensions followed and here we are today – the team’s first game back – minus several players.  Needless to say, this went from being on the internet only to being nationally televised.

Not that big of a deal – other than I had a ton of legal statements to type – always nerve wracking because they have to be just so and then approved by the news editor standing over your shoulder.

The day went well and I headed back to Columbus afterwards.

December 9-11th

NCAA Volleyball Regional

Friday – Travel/Work/Double Header

Orlando > Gainesville

VERY short night last night.  Like only a couple hours in my room to pack, sleep, shower and leave.

Thankfully, my friend Mike is drove us up to Gainesville for our volleyball game.  We were a little late, but it was expected.

Lots of Coca-cola and candy got me thru the double header.

Saturday – Game Day

Got some sleep and then headed in for the game.  

All went well and in the evening, I sat on the patio of the hotel with my friends Mike & Barb around the firepit.

Sunday – Travel Home

Whirlwind week – glad to be going home.

December 6-8th

College Football Awards Show

Tuesday – Travel/Set Day

Columbus > Charlotte > Orlando

Up at 2:30a; yah!  Had to leave at 4a.  Good times.

Once in Charlotte, I wandered to my gate to Orlando, where I met up with a bunch of my friends/co-workers from the Charlotte office.

This worked out well because then I had a ride once in Orlando and didn’t need to take a cab.

Got checked into the hotel and then walked over to site.

As I arrived, I walking and talking to the Director and before I knew it, I was on the ground!  Totally tripped over a sandbag that was holding down a barrier fence.  Fell REALLY hard and had my 30lb backpack on…  the director helped me up and I quickly knew I was hurt.  

Wobbled into the truck where I pulled up my pant leg and found a bloody knee with all my skin stuck to the inside of my pants.

My boy Mike got out the first aid kit and fixed me up good.  We had to do it quickly because of management discovered it, there was gonna be endless paperwork to fill out.

Before long, my graphics counterpart arrived – Pete.  We headed for a walk on the boardwalk and caught up on gossip and such over ice cream (for lunch).

Afterwards, we got our machines set up.

In the evening, I met up with my friend Mark for dinner.

Wednesday – Rehearsal Day

Not much to report – just a long day of building graphics and rehearsing

My knee is not doing well.  It’s hard to keep it bandaged – it needs air too.  But as soon as scabs start to form, I have to move my knee and they rip open again.

Thursday – Show Day

Nice walk in the morning and breakfast with friends.

This show really stresses me out.  It’s very important to the company; therefore I put a lot of pressure on myself to be flawless.

Thankfully, I was able to ‘nail it’ again this year.  Whew!

Some photos from the past few days.