Game Day Shots

As the announcer mentioned at game time, the weather was a bit better than it was a couple of weeks ago! Darn good thing. I am not sure that AT&T would buy another "my phone just stopped working" story!!

At the pep rally, David Grimes, senior wide receiver and team captain mentioned that a coach once told him that there are 3 kinds of people. Those that make things happen. Those that watch things happen. And those that wonder what just happened! He vowed to make Purdue the latter as he and his teammates will be sure to be in the first group!

Irish Guard lead the band out for pregame!

The greatest college marching band in the land, the Band of the Fighting Irish!

Robby Parish heads to the south end zone for the pre-game prayer.



















Jimmy showing off his newly cut hair as he preps for the game.

Irish D readies to take the field

Kickoff! Let's get this party started!

OK, settle down Kyle! No need to get yourself thrown out of the game!

Duval Kamara takes it down field

My favorite madman lineman breaks through!

I would not want to be across the line from Pat Kuntz!!

Irish Line. It'd be pretty funny if they suddenly stood up and did River Dance!

Brian Smith focused!

And in the end. The Irish made things happen. We fans watched things happened. And about the Third quarter, Purdue definitely wondered what the hell just happened!!

Gentleman's Dessert?

Is it just me or does my dessert need a bra? For some reason I was VERY interested in my dessert when it got to the table. I just couldn't seem to take my eyes off them - I mean it. I didn't know if I was supposed to eat it or slip it a dollar!

Victory!!

I remain undefeated in September! 3 ND wins & a Yankee game. In fact the
only ND loss this year is the MSU game that I did not attend. Coincidence?
I think not. I better go let Charlie know!

The Only Peppy People

Chuck & I @ the pep rally tonight.

Raiders of the Lost Pep!

Well we couldn't find any pep so Chuck & I decide to manufacturer our own,
the old fashioned way. You brew it yourself!

The Mishawaka Brewery features 8 different types of beers, all brewed on
premise. So, you gotta taste 'em all right! With names like Lake Front
Ale, Indiana Pale Ale, and the Four Horsemen Ale, I end up liking the Wall
Street Wheat. Go figure!

In search of the Pep

Maybe we will find some of the pep that was missing from the pepless rally
in here, one of the local ND bars?

Ummm, no, not really! Semi-crowded beer hall style of atmosphere but with
people sticking to their own groups. Lots of ND shirts and a dork walking
around in a hat that looked like an old leather helmet. But alas no pep
really to be found.

Too Pooped to Pep?

Tonight's pep rally seemed to never really find its pep! A couple of
players got up and spoke and then Charlie. Before you know it the band
started playing the alma mater and the team started to head off the floor.
Very worried about the intensity of the team as they head into a rivalry
game. This could be bad tomorrow!

Am I in LA?

I could have stayed home for this! Why is there a traffic jam going in to
Indiana? Is there a sudden run on corn?

Are You Friggin' Kidding Me!

'Delayed Luggage' again!?!? Last week Delta managed to 'delay' our luggage
and here the very next trip it is happening again!! Note that 'delayed' is
the new term for "lost" or "we were too damn lazy to put any real effort in
making sure your stupid luggage made it onto you second flight. Deal with
it"

Well I definitely sense a nasty letter being written to Delta! And let me
tell you this view of an empty carousel and no more people waiting for
their luggage is not an enjoyable one!

9/21 - HOOOOMMMME Pleeeaasse!!

OK, I am WAAAYYY ready to hit the road - or take flight in this case. It was a good trip with Jordan, as well as Ken & Rich, but given the amount of time I have spent on the road recently and the upcoming trips, I'd like to get a move on and get home.

Now for the trip home we were not able to get our seats together. Both flights (LGA to ATL & ATL to OC) were completely full. Since my tickets were purchased and not FF award points, I got upgraded for both flights. I thought Jordan would get a kick out of sitting in first so instead of taking First Class for myself, I gave Jordan that seat on both flights. His big response - "It was OK, nothing special". OK, mental note, next time, the kid can fly in cattle class stuck between the sumo wrestler and Samoan princess and see how coach stacks up!

9/20 - AWAY GAME DAY: ND @ Mich St.

Jordan and I basically just hang out in NYC today. We actually looked at coming back early but really didn't have the option to do so.

We ended up joining Ken & Dale at MIckey Mantle's, a restaurant across from Central Park that I think the former Yankee actually owned. While we were there we could have gotten the autographs from Mantle & Martin. Ok, no not Mickey Mantle - he's dead. And no, not Billy Martin - he, too, is dead. Instead we could have had the autographs of their sons! What the hell is that about?? Why would anyone do that? Selling autographs because your father is famous without you being famous at all doesn't seem like it'd be a big revenue generator. I guess some people will take 'fame' anywhere and any place they can find. Gee, next time I am in Chicago I'll have to see if I can get Michael Jordan's son's autograph!

As for the rest of the day, really not so much action. Jordan needed to study and didn't want to really do anything. And since the ND MSU game was being broadcast on ABC, we hung out in the hotel room. Me to watch the Irish stink up the place angainst MSU and he to do his homework.

9/19 - Goodbye Yankee Stadium

Today it was off to venerable Yankee stadium. This classic venue was home to immortals (Ruth, Gherig, Mantle, Maris, etc) and historic accomplishments (World Series, Reggie's 3 home runs on 3 pitches, Maris' 61, US Papal visits, early NFL games and even Knute Rockne's infamous Gipper speech). And after Sunday this historic baseball and New York landmark of baseball will itself become history. But for today it was a chance to share history with my son and 2 of my uncles. This was a great day and one I am glad I was able to give my Yankee fan of a son. And also that I was able to share it with my uncles.

And before this bit of history, Jordan & I took a quick trip through Central Park. In all my trips to NYC I had never been able to get into Central Park. So it was awesome to wander the park and finally see what the big deal was. It was an awesome place and very strange that it is buried right in the middle of the Big Apple.

Really cool fountain near the lake in Central Park. Sorry, I take the pictures. I am not the keeper of the names of stuff I shoot!

Central Park lake with some really cool building in the background. Boy if I knew the names of anything I was looking at!

OK, this one I know! This is the tribute to John Lennon in Strawberry Fields in Central Park.

After a walk in the park, it is off to the stadium!

Took the 4 train to 161st. The subway during rush hour? Wow, it was the highlight of the trip. It was so packed I was more that intimate with several New Yorkers. In some states I think we would have to now get married!

We sat in the bleacher seats pretty much dead-center, actually. I was sitting right next to the fence that blocks off the blacked out section in centerfield.

Game action!

So that is what the little shiny square next

to the phone camera lense is for. So, if I

had to title this one, I'd call it

"Moron takes self picture

at Yankee Stadium"!

Joba in the bullpen, getting ready to come into the game. Our seats were right next to the Yankee bullpen.

Yanks win! I was happy for Jordan & Ken. I had mixed emotions though. Hate the Yankees for them stealing the best A's players all these years. But it was nice to see them get a win in closing out the ballpark.

Jordan all pumped up about an exciting Yankee win, and the chance to fly clear across the country to see the game with his dad and uncles and to see a game in Yankee stadium before they tear it down. It was hard to contain him he was so jazzed!

9/18 - Wasn't I just Here?

Off to the Big Apple, but I am finding myself in a familiar place - on an outbound Delta plane! This one is a short trip, though, and it is with Jordan so it should be pretty cool.

Sunsets as we cross the George Washington (I think) bridge heading into the city.

Once we got to the city I went out to find a bodega to get some cokes for the room. While out I figured I'd go guerrilla style photos using my phone camera.

Apparently they were shooting an episode of Gossip Girl around the block from the hotel.

I am not familiar with the show or the actors in it, but I do have to respect their code names for the stars's dressing rooms!

Rockefeller Center. Not sure why they put a stupid restaurant right next to this fountain so you can't walk right up to it ... oh, wait I did walk right up to it! Silly restaurant people thought they'd keep me away!

Psst. Buddy, you got a match?? So where is Tina Fey? alec Baldwin? I asked this guy and all he did was shrug.

And of course the NBC studios at Rockefeller Center.

Out of all the sites in the big city, I think this was my favorite!!

9/14 - HOTTT Wings and Flooded Freeways!

Time to pay the piper! Gotta get the dead phone taken care of. Called AT&T. Told I had to talk to the warranty department. Also told that I could change out my phone in the store if the store was ok with it. Cool. On my way to get this thing resolved!

RIGHT! I forgot that I was in Mayberry! I walk in to the AT&T store and get some kid that probably had to have his mom drop him off at the job. I told him my plight and before I could even finish my story said "No. Can't do it" Umm, OK, can I maybe finish my story. It includes notes that people at corporate have approved me doing this! Well, I finally finish my story and this snot nosed twit informs me that what I am asking has NEVER been done in the TWO months that he has worked there!! Oh, so this goes wayyy back!! Basically, for as long as he has had pubic hair, his store has not done this. Well, Skippy, thanks for your support! Can you please look up my record to tell me if I have insurance on the damn thing? "Our computers are down but you can look on the Internet" Look, you stupid little premie, do you understand my phone is DEAD?? How in the H*#@ am I supposed to GET to the Internet to look it up!! Yea, that was enough of that! Walked out and headed to Portage to take Dave home!

By this time, though, Dave decides the game time (da Bears!) is too close so let's hit Buffalo Wild Wings. We got a couple bloody marys and hung out to catch the game. At one point I get up to go to the bathroom and Dave asks before I leave if I want to get wings. Figuring he was going to order 12, I told him to "Get as hot as you can take". I know him and knew I could handle whatever level he'd be able to take. Well, when the wings come he got two 6 piece orders. As I bit into the first one I thought I was going to DIE! EXPLODE right there. OMFG!!! Once things calm down, I discovered that Dave thought I said "Get as hot as they MAKE". Holy sheep shit, this is NOT Hooters!

So, if you go to Buffalo Wild Wings DO NOT GET THE 'BLAZIN' unless you are seriously ready to take on the heat! Here is what they have to say about these wings on their website:
Think you have what it takes to succeed at the Blazin’® Challenge? We have one question for you. What’s your pain threshold? Have you ever slept on a bed of nails? Walked on burning coals? All child’s play compared to the Blazin’ Challenge. Simply eat a mere 12 wings prepared with our signature Blazin’® sauce in six minutes and you win. Easier said than done, of course.

Hell, I couldn't even get to four of them in a half an hour!!! NFW am I going to go for this! And if there was ever any second thoughts later on, they went up in flames the next morning as I was reminded of just how hot thosse things were!! Yep, burned me at BOTH ends!!

Once we finished that up we headed off to Portage to take Dave home. By the way, during this time it was STILL raining! And now the issue was being able to get back to Illinois without use of a boat or outboard motor! I found the irony in the fact I was heading to 'Portage' yet there was no portage available in that area to get to Illinois! So, when in doubt of being able to make it somewhere, what do you do? Find some more bars and drink!!

This was a great way to end the trip! Getting sloshed while the whole area was getting sloshed!

9/13 - GAME DAY! ND vs Michigan! - vs Ike

It is game day #2 for the 2008 season. It will be a real test for the Irish but if last night's pep rally was any indication, it should be a good day. The bigger concern, though, as a fan is the rain!! It's been raining since last night and it is not looking good at all.

My buddy Dave Hallmen is coming in for the game and it should be a memorable weekend! And it pretty much started the minute I picked him up at the airport! We went directly to the campus, parked the car and headed to the Linebacker Inn, an Irish staple located just across the street from the stadium parking lots. The rain has stopped so it looks like it will be a good day.



Yea, then came the second half of the game! Hurricane Ike, which had blown into Texas a few days prior was now making its way across the US and apparently Ike wanted to take in the game! I have never sat through such a downpour in my life! I got soaked - and was wearing a rain coat!! In fact I got drenched. and the ol' Blackberry sitting in my pocket the whole time held up like a champ - until it started raining, I guess! I pulled out my phone at one point and it was dead! Some condensation on the screen. That is not a good sign!

Well the good news is that ND won the game. And that really is the end of the day! We did not really find any life in South Bend after the game. The only place that had people actually doing something was Corby's. That is another traditional ND haunt - albeit a remake of the old Corby's, but without the mob, legal and other unseemly issues!

9/12 - Three Different Nights all in One!

What a bizarre day! After the de ja vu from this afternoon, we go into an eclectic night.

First up the pep rally! Total rah-rah! Lou Holtz spoke and the 1988 National Championship team was being honored, with most in attendance. (man those guys looked old. Amazing how I have not aged in the 20 years since they won it all, but they have!) It was great to hear Lou speak and the crowd was fired up the entire evening. They knew he was going to speak. Before he got up there though, a couple of the '88 guys got up and spoke. They really charged up the place and looked to get the team pretty motivated. Then Lou came up after Charlie spoke (Charlie noted that he was not dumb enough to follow Lou Holtz at a pep rally!)and the place just went nuts. From the looks of it I felt that the next day would be a good game. Win or lose the guys were fired up!

So, from the rah-rah pep rally it was off to a Korean restaurant with a group of non-sports women. Marci's friends were getting together for a girls' night out and I was invited. It was basically the same group I had met the year before at a dinner just like this - and at Sunny's so I was looking forward to it. I also knew it was going to be a bit more cerebral than the pep rally so I had to change my thinking cap. OK, I had to put it on! Who needs something like that at a pep rally!! It was a great night of stimulating conversation and excellent food (who knew! A good Korean restaurant in South Bend!)

The after dinner excitement started innocently enough. One of the women asked if anyone wanted to go to the neighborhood dive bar across the street, Ruby's. Marci had an abject look of horror on her face. Before she could answer though her friend Shayna said that she could take Marci back to her car (a job I had been assigned during dinner). Marci jumped at the offer so she and Shayna left, as did most of the others. There were three of us, though, that decided to check out the local watering hole. So I am sitting at the bar with three good looking women when suddenly one of the locals - a very BIG and very DRUNK local - came up to me and enquired in his best inebriated drawl "Hey, what's your story? Why 'r' you here with three women? Which one are you here with?" Of course never one to miss out on an opportunity to be a wise ass, I had to respond "All of 'em!" Well, this seem to blow away our giant drunken soon-to-be-friend. He stammered a bit and then posed this interesting query. "Well, for you to have three women you must have a lot of money or have a big ... (well, let's just substitute "well endowed" and keep the site somewhat PG!). Now if I had been sharp I would have said, "why is it either or?" But honestly, to have gone from the cerebral discussions about "films", vegetarianism and other such highbrow fancy stuff to know someone asking about my ... ummm, 'manhood' was hysterical!

Well from that moment on we were stuck with a new buddy. I got his whole life story, details about his job, his brother and his social outlook on life. Oh, and did I mention that he talked a lot about his rough and tumble bar brawl days? Or that he was reading books about serial killers because he wanted to understand how they think!! And of course while I was getting the details of this large drunken man's life he found it necessary to shake my hand. (he was impressed that I was so cool to have 3 women). Given his size and his alcohol level, this was a very painful experience as he was crushing my hand with each prolonged grip.

So, if that wasn't enough then we were joined by his equally intoxicated "lovely bride". Oh, yea, in her oh sooo sexy gin & cigarette soaked breath she asked "whass goin on herrrre" as she buried her breasts in my back. I thought for sure I was near death. If my new large buddy thought his wife was making a play on me he certainly was going to put that serial killer thought knowledge to good use! Fortunately after a short while she stopped leaning on me in various places (keeping it PG, folks!) and my pal Rick never noticed. And I had somehow resisted a tremendous urge to hurl!

The funniest point of the night came toward the end. With Rick and his wife now firmly entrenched in our company, apparently Rick told Allison that he wanted her phone number. He thought she'd be a good influence on his wife and wanted them to become friends! Well, drunkypoo wife comes back from where ever and asks Allison "Whuu'd he suyyy?" To which Allison responded that Rick thought she'd be a good influence on her. Well, the little missus whirled her head around, cocked one eye toward Allison and with a drunken, contorted face blurted out "whyzzzatt?? Izzit the way ya suck a straw!" Susan and I who got the full multimedia experience of face, voice and question LITERALLY fell over laughing. In fact we fell all over each other, which was good because the floor was the only thing that was going to stop that fall! Oh my God! I start the evening with these classy, cultured women talking about documentary films, oppression in Africa and other worldly stuff and we end up the night wondering about Allison's ability to suck a straw - which she did not even have one in the bar to be able to demonstrate!

Once we all gained our composure we decided it was time for our new friends to go off and do their couple thing - away from us. In a stroke of genius at one point Susan made a reference to me being her guy or something. We tried to act like a couple to get Rick to leave, but apparently that was way too subtle (maybe that is why he moved on to Allison?!) So, now it was time for a more direct approach. I looked big foot in the eye and said man to giant drunken ape "hey dude, I'm gonna make my move!" At which point he said "Oh, cool. Good luck, man!" and then disappeared as quickly as he had shown up! Why the hell hadn't we thought of that earlier!! Ah well. At least we had some great laughs out of it. And feeling has finally returned to my hand so I guess all went well any way!

0912 - Of Cockroaches & Kmarts

As I pulled into the parking lot I started to get younger and younger. Walking up to the entrance I swear I was swinging on my parents arms - 1 on each side. I'd run as far as I could until both feet were off the ground and then land back down to do it all over again. I walked in the doors and the time travel was complete. The same gumball machines in the entry way. The same reception counter straight ahead. I could swear I saw my dad disappear around the corner heading back to sporting goods. Oh my God. I am 45 years old but walking into this Kmart store that frankly had not changed at all I just dropped nearly 40 years off my age.

It was such a strong sensation that I was physically lightheaded and dizzy as I walked through the store. Sure it was new stuff lining the shelves, new clothes on the racks, but man it was the exact same place! Nothing had really ever changed this place. Why was it a Kmart that was affecting me this way? As I thought about it I could not remember another single place from my childhood that had gone so virtually unchanged for all these years. My schools are gone. The houses are all owned by others now and I have never gone in. Neighborhoods have changed. Parks run down or gone. Friends moved away. Basically, nothing but this stupid Kmart seemed to remain. Why? Who knows! I think the notion that hit me when I innocently pulled into the parking lot to run in and get a razor was spot on. When I first saw the place looking as it did nearly 40 years ago my thought was it has really stood the test of time. That nothing will ever kill it. They say a cockroach can withstand a nuclear holocaust. Well, I think Kmarts probably have the same fortitude!

They even still have the

candy necklaces! I think

these are actually still

left from 30+ years ago!!

9/11 - Over the River and Through the Woods ...

...to grandmother's house I go! After the short - but painful - bout with gout it is time to resume the travels. I lost a day in the whoel thing, but such is life when you are dealing with a stupid disease!

I got to spend some time with grandmother today which was great! At 89 she is still spry and gets around quite well, thank you! She even drives, which worries me!