Roasting the Hog...SOOOOEEEEE



 It was another wet day in Tuscaloosa for Alabama vs Arkansas.  We arrived at the RV about noon...right before the bottom fell out.  One of the many times throughout the day.  I think it rained harder this time than it did last weekend.  Shana and Donnie came by and we got our rain gear on to head to the game.  It drizzled but we fortunately didn't get that wet.  Isabelle, James, Leah, Jimmy Ray, Ellen and Nan went on ahead of us so they got to play in the rain on the way.

As soon as we got into the stadium, it was rain gear off and not a raindrop.  The sun even poked out a couple times.  The game was great and Alabama looked really good!  35 - 7.
We roasted the hog when we got back and enjoyed some pig in a blanket, appropriately named for the thematic tailgate.
Isabelle game rushing into the RV to tell us Mt. Cody was outside the door.  She was so excited to meet him and get him to sign her football.  She also took a picture with Baron Huber, our tailgates favorite player. 
I got stiff armed by Julio as he tried to escape around the back.  Tanya and Tim's RV's neighbors were kind enough to bring us some of the BEST friend catfish I've ever put into my mouth!  John also brought over some yummy boiled peanuts.

Another two weeks before we head back to Tuscaloosa for Homecoming against South Carolina.










                                       





Rain, Rain and Bama Football

We left for T Town around 5 p.m..  Grabbed a sandwich in Rome and headed to Bama.  We of course played Disc 2 Track 10 once we hit the border.  "Sweet Home Alabama".  We hit several storms along the way.  Arrived about 9 p.m. to the Hilton Garden Inn.  Of course it wasn't an easy check in because it never is.  After another room change we settled in and watched some TV.  Had to get up early since the game was at 11 a.m..
We woke up the next morning to the pouring down rain.  We ate an omelet and headed over to Academy Sports to make sure we had enough rain gear.  Got to the RV about 9:30 a.m..  Everyone was crammed up in the RV because the rain was brutal!  Poor Unc was out in it trying to fix the satellite.  Michele and her husband Harold came by for a bit and went to do some shopping after the rain let up.  It was nice to finally meet her.

We made our way over to the stadium with overcast skies and 1 million percent humidity.  It was so stinking hot!  Of course, it's Tuscaloosa.  Campus wasn't as crowded this weekend.  I guess because it wasn't a major team we were playing and the forecast called for rain. 




As we got into the stadium, the sun started to peek out.  Minutes later, it was scorching!  The sun was beating down and making it even steamier.  Steve only made it through the 1st quarter and had to leave.  He was getting sick and sweating way too much.  Isabelle stuck it out and stayed.



So even though it was hot, we watched the whole game and happy with the performance....and score.  The breeze cam in every once in a while and it drizzled here and there but no major rain.
Next week is Arkansas.  Ready to get some SEC play under the belt.

You can see the North Texas cheerleaders.  They pretty much stayed like this the entire game.  It was funny when we started singing the Rammer Jammer and no one knew what to say.  I think they were the Eagles?  Not sure, but the cheerleaders were dancing to the beat until one realized what we were singing.  Still, one lone cheerleader continued to dance.  Ah well...

















We walked back to the RV for some Timz Dogz and some yummy goodies.  It started raining again shortly after we got back to the RV.  It was a total down pour!  Ivan left around 3rd quarter of the Florida vs Tennesse game.  I predicted that the score would be within 10 points with Florida winning, however, I didn't think it would be a blowout.  Called it right on!  Leah and James took off right before it was over.  We were going to leave too, but decided to stay another night to watch Georgia vs Arkansas and Auburn vs West Virginia.  We had a great time at the RV.  It was nice to be able to hang and relax with Auntie and Uncy.  Uncy broke his chair so we got a great laugh out of that!

Auburn kicked off a little late because their field was underwater.  The game was good.  West Virginia pretty much handed it to Auburn with 6 turnovers and a lot of mistakes.  Still, Auburn has  improved a lot from last year on offense.  Isabelle and Uncy stopped the ice cream truck and brought us ice cream.  It made Isabelle super hyper so she attempted some expressive dance in the RV lot and a lot of giggling ensued.  Later we smelt a lot of black water so I guess Uncy thought we could cover up the smell with burnt Jiffy Pop.  He and Isabelle attempted it twice and both times the little tins were thrown out the door!  By the end, there were fans blowing and the door wide open.  Either it was the burnt popcorn or the black water but some toxic smell caused everyone in the RV to pass out.  We headed back to the hotel before the game ended.  We got checked in and got snuggled into bed and watched the rest of the Auburn game and a littel sports center.  Bama moved up to #3 since USC, in typical fashion, lost to an unranked team.  This time it was Washington.  Thank you University of Spoiled Children.  Looks like we got a little something handed to us too this weekend!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Tuscaloosa or Bust!

Our first trip to Tuscaloosa this season.  Alabama vs Florida International.  Steve, Isabelle and I dropped off Zeke and Bryant with Nana.  I thought we'd get a pictures of all of us together since we all had on our Bama gear.  Zeke of course was not cooperative.



We arrived in Tuscaloosa about 2 o'clock and parked on our usual sidewalk by the steps of the Colesium.  I'm just waiting for one of these years when they start towing us for it, but for now, I'll take it!  We unloaded our stuff and headed over to Tim and Tanya's RV.  We spent the next few hours watching Michigan and Notre Dame.  Once we changed the channel, Michigan pulled ahead so we kept watching UCLA and Tennessee.  YAY for UCLA.  They beat TN 19-15.  We met some friends of Tanya's and the newest tailgater Nicolette.  She's a hoot!  For a time there we had quite a crowd.  Pretty cool. 

We finally headed to the game. Found this little girl with a sign.  Looks like one of my favorite players has an admirer.  Cute!


It was so different having Ivan and Jimmy Ray walk with us to our seats.  Jeremy, Gage and Jacob joined us this time since Leah and James weren't able to come.  Once we got in, we found Jimmy Ray and Ivan.  You can Jimmy Ray getting  a picture of me to send to Leah and Ivan was very excited as you can see!  He's the one with his hands in the air revival style!  The construction continues at Bryant Denny.  I wasn't happy at all having to crane my neck to the right to see the screen but next year we'll have it made with two big screens!  WOO HOO!

The game was pretty slow.  Bama didn't look great the first half.  Julio was out with ice on his knee the rest of the game, but we were able to see our offense without him.  Mike McCoy and Colin Peek really are stepping up.  It's nice to see a little depth.  



Our regulars in front of us were not there but their kids were.  Leo and his crazy sister weren't at the first game as usual.  They have their ticket sto a couple Bo and Jenny.  Jenny graduated from Auburn but quite obviously, Bo intends on bringing her to our side.  He introduced himself saying that Leo told them we'd be cool to talk to.  Well that's nice we have a good rep with the drunk dude behind us.  Really though they are nice couple and the got married since last football season.  Steve was happy to not have to sit by Smokey Smokerson this game.  Isabelle actually got into the game.  She cracked us up when it got quiet and she suddenly screams out "COME ON...LET'S DO SOMETHING BAMA!"  She's planning on going to the North Texas game with us next weekend.  We'll see how she does without Gage and Jacob to entertain her.  Jimmy Ray, Ivan, Auntie and Unc got sick of standing behind the red headed dude who wouldn't sit down.  OK he's red headed what do you expect, but anyway, we were happy to have them down close to us.  


Game was won 40 to 14.  Almost covered the spread.  I think we proved tonight we have depth for sure.  Florida International put up a good fight.  Cristobal their coach had a vendetta.  He was on the 1993 Miami team that Bama beat for our 12th National Championship.  


We walked back to the RV and had some food and watched the rest of the USC vs Ohio State game.  Even after our rooting for Ohio State, USC scored with a couple minutes left and wound up pulling it out.  Oh well, chalk another one up for the University of Spoiled Children!


The three of us headed to the Hilton Garden Inn for some much needed sleep.  Upon arrival, they guy told us they'd had a disaster with reservations and we didn't have a room.  Needless to say we were too tired and sweaty to hear that.  Poor guy found us a room and had to call and make sure no one was in it.  After he verified it was empty, he then offered us bottled water for our trouble.  As he went to the cooler, he said he was out of water and told us to take whatever we wanted.  Poor fella.  We told him we just needed a bed and an air conditioner.  We slept great and had their FABULOUS french toast and omelet!  YUM!  So worth it!  We headed to St Francis for church.  Father Holloway greeted us and remembered us.  We saw a lot of the same faces we remembered from 5 years ago.  The church seemed so small.  We sat on the same pew we sat in when I got to hold Mike Shula's hand.  Ah memories. 


We did a little shopping at The Campus Store, Alabama Express and The Trunk.  We were going to have lunch at Buffalo Phil's but there was a wait and not a whole lot of organization on seating so we headed to Baumhower's Wings.  It was a bit of a wait but yummy.  We went to midtown and went to Alumni Hall where Isabelle and I got some new shirts and Steve found some awesome houndstooth shorts.  


We headed home finally.  Picked up Zeke and Bryant about 7 p.m..  Been a long day but can't wait until Friday when we head back to Tuscaloosa.  Had a great time as always and looking forward to Bama vs North Texas.  


Roll Tide Roll!

Tattoos, tailgating and Timz Dogz!






The Dome ~ Atlanta, GA
September 5, 2009
Our first tailgate! We were very fortunate that Unc and Auntie gave us their parking pass by the RV. We arrived about 10 a.m.. Headed up to Game Day in Cenntenial Park. Tons of Virgina Tech fans EVERYWHERE!

Came back to scrumptious Timz Dogz. Had a lot of napping going on.
Headed to the Dome about 5 p.m. and entered the Dome 2 hours early for pre game. Our band looked GREAT! 400 members this year.

After a nail biter and rough start, Bama comes out victorious 34-24!