November 3rd-6th

Thursday –Travel Day

Columbus > Gainesville

Our Producer and Ops Producer organized a bowling outing for us tonight.  It’s always a lot of fun when we have a group outing!

We even got our own private room, which made it all the better!

Michael/Dirk/Jill

Steve W.

Thomas/Mark

Kris/Kevin/Lance

Chad/Jerome/Jim

I am “Sparkles” (awesome score)

The Crew

Friday – Set Day

After seeing the awesome set up at our hotel yesterday, Chad decided he wanted to have a cook out tonight.  So we all pitched in $10 and then night became something of a legend.

Nic (Sous Chef) & Chad (Chef)

Firepit bonding

The food, fun and fellowship were outstanding!  One of the most memorable nights to date in all my years of freelancing.

Saturday – Game Day

Vandy vs Florida

War Cheeto continues…

After the game I didn’t do much.  Was so exhausted from all the extra activities this week.  Got take out from Steak-n-Shake and hung out for a bit to watch football with the boys.

Excellent weekend!

Philadelphia

MLS Playoffs: Houston vs Philadelphia 

After a short night, I was back at it again.

I had never been to Philly’s new MLS stadium and I was told it was in a bad neighborhood, so I rode in with my friend Todd.

Yes, you go thru some pretty scary areas and then the stadium is next to a prison.

But the stadium itself is really nice and has an amazing view!

The game went well and I was excited to get back to the hotel, have dinner and get to bed!

October 27th – 29th

Thursday –Travel Day

Columbus > Nashville

Dinner at Pie in the Sky, then drinks at Midtown.

Friday – Set Day

Lunch at Rotiers.  It’s a local joint with a lot of history.  It’s ok, I am not gaga.

In the evening, a bunch of us went to a gun range for a group outing.  It was a lot of fun!

Chad and his wife were our “hosts” – they live in Nashville and have a lot of guns.  They did an excellent job at making sure we were all safe.

Mike – Lance – Chuck

John

Lance

Chad’s wife & Mike

Mike

Chad & Chuck

“My” gun

Chris

The guy running the place was your typical gun rights dude.  He was hysterical.  He made me think of a line from a little known movie – “UHF” – “Guns don’t kill people, I do”

Afterwards some people went out – I went to bed.

Saturday – Game Day

Arkansas vs Vanderbilt

Early in the season, our Ops Producer bought us Flaming Cheetos for one of our snack items.  Well that has turned into a joke and we won’t open the bag.  It just re-appears each week and a photo is taken.

After the game, I headed to the airport.  I was flying to Philly for a MLS Playoff game tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a freak snowstorm was hitting the northeast.  Endless flight delays and cancellations.  Gonna be a long night.

I was booked on United.  They could do nothing for me.  Everything that was still running was out of seats to anywhere within a 3 hour drive of Philly.

My only option was to go to Baltimore on Southwest.  But since they don’t have agreements with any other airlines, I have to go thru Emergency Travel to get booked.

Since there were hundreds of us now stranded across the country, it took just under 2 hours for an Emergency Travel person to pick up.  I literally was sitting on the floor of the Southwest ticket counter, plugged into an outlet so I wouldn’t lose the call.

Since the flight to BWI was delayed, I was able to get on it.

Finally made it there and then set out on the drive to Philly.  The snow was almost gone by the time I was driving – the roads where just wet.  I was beyond exhausted.

Got to the hotel and to my bed around 1am.

Wow, this was a brutal day!

Happy Birthday Smokey!

Well...  Happy Adoption Date at least....

October 20th – 23rd

Thursday –Travel Day

 Columbia > Memphis > Oxford, MS

I ventured downtown Columbia to a great little lunch spot – The Gourmet Shop.  Had a fabulous lunch!

Then headed to the airport for my flight to Memphis.

Once in Memphis, it’s about a 75 minute drive down to Oxford, MS.

A bunch of us met up for dinner at Ajax.  Which is so incredibly awesome, but so very terrible for your body.  I steered clear of the meatloaf this time, I’ve learned.  I just had a few sides and called it quits.

After that we headed to Irie.  Which is kind of a grown up restaurant until 10pm.  Then all the adults clear out for the Coeds. 

Dollar well drinks.  Insanity ensues.  You can’t move in that place; I really dislike it actually.

When Steve decided to get us all $1 well drinks, he asked Thomas what he wanted.  Thomas said “Jameson”.  Steve said, “Is that whiskey?”  Thomas said, “It’s Jameson”  Steve got him a $1 whiskey, which Thomas refused to drink.  We have called him ‘Jameson’ since.

We ventured on to The Library.  Which is THE bar in Oxford.  There is always a long line and cover.  But one of our camera guys has a VIP card that gets us all in and for free.

The drinks kept flowing.  It was getting a little out of control but we were having so much fun!

I took a photo of the horrific toilet, but now that I look at the photo, it doesn’t look as bad as it did in person.  Aside from the fact that the seat is smaller than the bowl.

There was pee everywhere and none of the doors closed properly.

I am 37 years old in a college bar and I can’t even pee with dignity.  What has come of my life?

Ugh.  2am.  This is too late for me!

But we had a great time, so that’s what counts!

Chuck – Steve – John – Lance

When I got back to my room, I looked at the wristbands from the bars and had a giggle….

DUI Lawyer adverting on it.

Friday – Set Day

Short night.

Went to Lil Abners for lunch.  It’s overrated chicken strips and fries.

Dinner at Volta – our favorite Greek spot.

Saturday – Game Day

Arkansas vs Ole Miss

Add a palm tree (and a different stadium) and you have the South Carolina state flag!

The sunrise was pretty, so I grabbed this photo.

This is my kind of fall Saturday morning.

Crisp skies...  sunrise...  football!

I just love Oxford.  I would live here if it wasn’t so far from an airport.

Field shots pre-game…

A little behind the scenes action….  Our director has a meeting with his camera guys after breakfast.  He breaks down assignments and storylines that we will be following.

Game went well.

Afterwards, we all headed up to Memphis; we stay near the airport since we have early flights in the morning.  But we first had to stop at Uncle Lou’s for some Sweet Uncle Lou’s Spicy Love Sauce.  Awesome chicken and biscuits to die for.  I also get a grilled cheese that has honey drizzled on it. This is living.

A great weekend was had by all and Thomas has a new nickname!

Got to bed early; I was exhausted.