Pictures!

I've finally figured out how to add pictures from my phone! So far, I've added visual aids to some of the Tampa Trip and Pinstripe Bowl posts, so enjoy. More will follow.

Otherwise, the game goes on pretty much as before. Seven-plus inches of rain Sunday night into Labor Day Monday, meaning my front lawn got a good drink. Friday will be a rake and mow day. We camped out most of the day, watching The Right Stuff in all its three-plus hour entirety.

And football season is here in Alabama. The First Lady and I are newly-minted season ticket holders, section NN (upper deck, north end zone), row 15. This means we're roughly in Azerbaijan as we watch the game.

But we're there, and we stayed for the first three quarters of a season-opening win over Kent State. We had to leave early due to my work, but we saw what we needed to see. And let's just say Parking Services did us no favors that day, and let it go at that.

After my shift, I got home in time to see Kansas State score a TD and win (thankfully, I missed five purple turnovers), and to read about (no TV) a UTEP rally from two scores down to win in overtime.

House Blessing

The First Lady and I have been in our new home for a little over three months and pretty much have the kinks out, and have things where we want them. We knew we wanted to have a house blessing, it was just a matter of getting back to town and finding a day where our priest was available. Saturday, August 20 turned out to be that day.

The day started early, with a 5K road race I ran as a member of a local race team. 5:45 wake up for a 7 am start. I was home by 9:30, and after an apple fritter and a Bavarian crème-filled long john, I cleaned up and got about the business of being a host. We had the munchies and antifreeze already, so some light cleanup work was all that we needed.

We invited friends from all our different circles, and they started to arrive about 3:10. We had a full house about a half hour later. We were absolutely thrilled that so many people (41 by our count) wanted to share in our joy—we love our house, our friends and our church, so this was a great chance to put it all together. Father Marc started by blessing the water and praying over each room, sprinkling the water throughout the room at the end. Entryway, kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom and even the master bathroom were covered. Not covered in the prayer book were storm cellars, of which we have one, so that was the last room to be blessed prior to coming back upstairs for closing prayers and dismissal. I’m on record here as truly loving our church and its priest and people, so it was really special for Ann and me.

We’d timed the event for 3-6 and the actual blessing at 4, since we knew folks had plans. But our trivia friends hung around and helped us get rid of some of the beer in the fridge. Much food, music, fun, libation and laughter were had by all. The conversation had found a dull point at one juncture, and the music from my Ipod got a razzing. The Wayman Tisdale albums had run their course, so I continued with more jazz from my Weather Channel collection. I like the stuff, but it was kind of like bad wallpaper. So out came the rap. I have no idea who most of the artists were, but I did learn that I have friends who know their rhymes.

The whole day turned out to be something really special for Ann and me—a home we love, surrounded by friends we love. I know it sounds corny, but it really was a day we’ll both remember for a long, long time.

EAOS +18

August 9, 1993 was a great day in world history. It was the day that marked the end of my active obligatory service in the U.S. Navy, closing the first four-year chapter of my post-high school life. I marked the occasion back then on my brother’s couch in San Diego, on my way back from Honolulu. It’s where I came to love that town. Great climate and lots to do. Went to a few Padres games, even an Angels game as Robert picked me up at LAX early one morning.

One thing disappointed me on that trip—my good friend John, with whom I grew up swimming and playing games with, was on the USS Constellation, which had just pulled in to town after dry dock in Philadelphia. I left a message onboard, but got his last name wrong, since his mother had remarried before he was born. We could’ve touched base back then and been better friends, instead of seeing him for the first time since high school in Harrison, Arkansas, stopping for lunch on our way to Alabama. We were virtually strangers, but I was happy to reconnect.

By now, August 9 is just another day, and I spent it at the running store. It was a very busy weekend there, with Alabama’s statewide tax-free weekend in full effect. Our store isn’t very big to begin with, and it was pretty crowded most of the time. Our new manager has taken over, and he seems like a nice guy. There’s another new guy there also—someone looking for a few extra bucks. He was in the store all the time anyway—I used to joke that we should put him on the payroll, but I didn’t think he’d take me seriously! But he’s a nice man, and will be fun to work with.

Yesterday I had to change a tire on the SUV for the first time in two years. I was on my way to the bank and took a corner too tight (a sewer drain corner, btw) and blew the right rear tire. You know how it is, when you hear rattling—you hope it goes away. But then that old familiar sound that reminds of a helicopter swooping down kicks in, and suddenly, plans change.

Now it’s 9:15 am in Tuscaloosa, but it’s still steaming hot. I was on the shady side of the car as I got down to business, but it was a small comfort, as sweat just poured off me and onto the pavement. It reminded me of the time I changed a tire in the parking lot at KCI after our house-hunting trip in July 2009. That was midnight, midsummer in the Midwest, and it was way worse then as compared to Wednesday.

Things worked out well enough—I got chores done and got back in time to open the store at 10, but I was an absolute mess. Thankfully, it was the first day of school in Tuscaloosa County, so business was slow enough to where my condition wasn’t an issue.

Tampa Trip, Vol. II

We’re back to the grind in Tuscaloosa, some time after returning from vacation in Tampa. Boy, was it a helluva time. Most of the trip has already been documented, but I thought I’d take a minute or two to talk about the experiences that didn’t involve food or running.

First off, church. Ann and I absolutely love going to church together. We go for pretty much the same reasons, and we take great joy in worshiping together. We went to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, which is just down the street from our cousin’s home. It was the final sermon for their rector (priest in charge) before retirement, so he spent time hitting some of the highlights of our prayer book—things he thought were most important, since it would be his last time in the pulpit. We’ve always found Episcopal hospitality to be some of the finest around, and this was no exception.

The same can be said for the following Sunday, as we traveled downtown for a trip to St. Andrew’s. The building is a Spanish mission-style building, built around 1904, according to their web site. The parish itself formed in 1874. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. We thoroughly enjoyed the worship experience. We noted a plaque in the sanctuary after the service, and an usher, likely noting that we weren’t regulars, told us the story of a gentleman whose name was on the plaque. Apparently there was a storm many moons ago, and he, I believe a vestryman, was on a ship at the time, and apparently is still on patrol.

Tuesday was tour day, as Ann and I toured Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play. Six bucks per person, but truly a bargain.

There were about 75-100 people there, basically with the intent of taking pictures, ourselves included. Locker rooms, on the field, near the famous pirate ship, skyboxes, etc. It’s quite the excellent facility.

The Tampa Yankees were also at home, playing the Palm Beach Cardinals, in minor-league baseball.

We sat six rows behind home plate for six bucks a ticket for a thirsty Thursday game. It was pretty steamy outside, and I had my polyester Cloud County baseball jersey on, so it was a little rough. The stadium is pretty good-sized, so as to handle large spring training crowds, so it kind of looked like nobody was there. Decent crowd, just spread out all over the park. The rugrats in the stands didn’t have much competition as they chased the foul balls.

Wednesday afternoon was soccer day, as the U.S. Women’s National Team played France in the World Cup semifinals. As I drove to the waterfront for my runs, I noticed a bar that would show the match, set for a noon kickoff on the east coast. . I’m a soccer watcher and follower, but I’m not hard core. I watched Abby Wambach head the ball in late against Brazil Sunday, so I was already invested, and ready for some ball. An early goal meant free beer as long as the gals were ahead. France tied the game, but our side scored again, so more beverage, followed by a victory.

The finals were Sunday against Japan, which made it interesting, logistically, since it was getaway day. Saw our first goal at the house, heard about the second one on gametracker on my phone, heard the US take the lead as I was going through security, and the rest on an airport TV. We were pretty bummed, but I saw an Asian (presumably Japanese)walking in the terminal and smiling from ear to ear.

I also hit the local running store, and was pretty jealous of how much space there was there, as compared to my store. I’d forgotten my body glide, so we had to pick some up.

Sadly, I had to leave Florida and Ann behind, but lots of great memories remain.

The Week in Tampa, vol. I

I've been back from Tampa nearly two weeks now, and reliving the week I spent with Ann in Tampa. I flew back Sunday evening, leaving the First Lady to dog sit two sweet Border Terriers (Fred and Ginger) on her own. But it sure was a week I’ll always look back on fondly. I’ll talk more about my runs on my Woodrow Miles blog, and try to break down the rest of the trip here.

I’ll start with the food. Ann is a world traveler, and loves good food. She knows where to look and how to get to some great restaurants. First off, Monday night at Mad Dogs and Englishmen in Tampa proper. It’s not a very big place, but they’ve been doing this for 20 years, and we were not disappointed. We split a yummy raspberry brie as an appetizer. I had a shepherd’s pie with blue cheese as the main course that was the best I’ve ever had. I’m into portion control, so I ate half and saved the rest for another day. But I definitely was not disappointed either time.

Tuesday night, The Columbia in Ybor City.

A bit of a historical district, as I believe Teddy Roosevelt got some dirt on his shoes from the area, during the Spanish-American War era. The restaurant is Spanish/Cuban, and has been in business since 1905. I started with a bourbon and coke, and I believe we had some fried calamari as an appetizer. I had some delicious pork here that was so tender it didn’t even need a knife to be cut. Add in black beans and rice, yuca and platanos, and it was quite a feast. The Columbia also has entertainment, in the form of a 20-minute Flamenco dancer show, which was also very entertaining.

Thursday we went to the Tampa Yankees game, and feasted on Square One burgers for pregame. The place is owned by a guy from Norman, Oklahoma. Hamburgers are all they do. I actually suggested the artichoke hummus with chips as the appetizer, which made Ann’s eyes pop out of their sockets, as she’s not used to me wanting to eat such fare voluntarily. I ate the bleu bacon burger, which had bacon and bleu cheese crumbles. Delicious.

Friday: The Refinery. I wasn’t really hungry, so I had a bowl of soup and several bottles of chocolate milk. Ann’s cousin came up from Ft. Myers and they told old family stories. Fun to be a fly on the wall, and also fun to realize I married into this family.

Saturday: Crabby Bill’s, St. Pete. I wasn’t feeling too well this day—must’ve been all the good food I’d been eating. Bowl of clam chowder and a salad and some Devil Rays baseball on the TV. And an excellent view of the Gulf of Mexico, realizing that Houston was about 1100 miles to my right.

Sunday: Circles, South Tampa. This meal followed church downtown. An excellent cup of coffee got us started. We enjoyed some fresh bread with a mixture of butter and strawberries—something I’d never tried before. Yummy. Next up was one of the best Western omelets I’ve ever eaten. I’m starting to grasp the concept of using all my senses when it comes to good food, and the combination of the company, the meal, the service and the atmosphere certainly contributed to an excellent dining experience.

Oh yeah—I also liked the honey-roasted peanuts Southwest Airlines handed out.

Top Five Cold

Whenever it gets really, really cold outside, I always refer to it being top-five cold. It’s a reference to one of the five coldest times of my life. Now that I think about it, they all involve ball games. In honor of the dog days of early summer, here they are, in no particular order.

1982 Sun Bowl, North Carolina 26, Texas 10.

El Paso is known as the Sun City. Sometimes, the Chamber of Commerce doesn’t get the memo. This was one of those times. Dad was radio/TV editor of the El Paso Herald-Post, the former afternoon daily newspaper, and he had an assignment that involved covering those who covered the game. In other words, he was in the press box, drinking hot chocolate. Meanwhile, mom, Kenny and Ursula and I were sitting on our seats on the east side of the stadium. I don’t remember much about this game, except for the famous Coca-Cola episode. We bought a Coke from one of the vendors (who probably also suffered that day), and Ursula put some antifreeze (rum, I think) in said drink. I’m 11 and won’t be introduced to the concept for several years. We’re shivering, dad’s in the press box, and I made mom buy me another drink. It’s lost to history, but I’m guessing I didn’t have too much Coke that day.

Tiger baseball

I lived in Clay Center, Kansas for 7 ½ years, covering high school sports across the area as the Assistant Sports Director for two stations in North Central Kansas. Great times, to be sure. One fine spring day (2008?) in the Sunflower State, I broadcast Clay Center Tiger baseball, as they were in Manhattan to play the Wamego Red Raiders. Wamego, east of town, is in the process of remodeling their ball field, so we played our scheduled doubleheader at Cico Park in MHK. Spring in the Midwest can be a finicky old lady, and this day was a prime example. No snow, just a cold and constant wind from the north at about 25-30. It’s not like there’s lightning or rain or snow, (read: no chance of postponement) so play ball. The folks at WHS were always very helpful (thank you, Athletic Director Mark Stephan) and as was customary, provided a chair and a folding table so I could set up shop. Thing is, the cold north wind cuts right through you after a while, and there’s no getting away from it. The kids and umpires are out there trying their best, but the innings go on and on and on. There doesn’t seem to be enough Kleenex to wipe my nose. Finally, game one comes to an end. If you can find a wall that blocks the northerly wind (i.e. near the men’s room), it’s not all that bad outside. Sadly, this is not where they’re playing baseball. I call Ann, who was my fiancée and lived in Manhattan. She saves the day by bringing me a nice warm blanket so I can broadcast/survive game two.

8-Man state football championships, November, 2005

Duane Toews (aka the Moundridge Mauler) is still the farm director at our two-station conglomerate, and in those days, he and I would do a lot of ball games together. He was an all-league DE for the Wildcats back in the days of leather helmets. We’d do eight-man finals, league basketball tournaments, etc. And have some great times. This event took us to Russell, KS (home of Senator Bob Dole) for a football doubleheader that started at 11 am. I did these games in Russell and in Newton, and apparently Ma Nature didn’t like the games being played at RHS, because I can’t remember doing games there when it was nice. But when the finals moved to Newton, the chamber of commerce ordered up some fine (if atypical) Kansas weather. I’ve gone prepared for cold weather and have had to take off coat, gloves, and hoodie, with nothing but sunglasses and a t-shirt and jeans.

No such luck this time. DT reads the weather at least 427 times a day during his weekday morning shifts, yet has no idea it’s gonna be cold for the games. I’ve got layer upon layer on, and I’m getting by, but Duane is severely underdressed for the occasion. He brought a medium-strength jacket and some gloves, but he’s got no shot against this northerly wind. I don’t recall the first game being as cold as the second one, when the sun starts to set behind the school building, but I do remember us sitting in the company car with the heat cranked up so as to thaw as much as possible before game two. The biggest problem I had during the nightcap was that it was so cold, my pens wouldn’t write anymore, making it hard to keep stats. I had to carry the broadcast, since I’d look over at ol’ Duaner and he’d just be there shivering like a freezing bobblehead. South Barber and Waverly were your winners and eight-man champions (two divisions) that day.

1984 Sun Bowl, Alabama 28, SMU 7

This was another year where the phrase ‘Sun Bowl’ was a bit of a misnomer. Highlights included the Mustang mascot hurting an ankle doing cartwheels/flips during pregame, and the SMU types being very vocal in their displeasure about coming to El Paso, thinking they deserved better. The entire Woodyard clan went to this game, which turned out to be my first Crimson Tide game. Much coldness here, too. The four of us wrapped up in blankets, one of which was spread across the laps of all four of us, with me on the far left of the formation. Now I’m cold, but gee, mom sitting next to me doesn’t look to be as bad off as me, so I start badgering her to swap with me. Eventually she relents and we switch, and I learn that it was warmer where I was. Crap. I don’t even remember if I tried to get my spot back. I *do* remember that there was no booze at this event, as there was in ’82. We left this game at halftime, it was so damn cold.

Okay, so that’s only four. But a couple of entries on the honorable mention list can make up the difference.

Whitharral/Valley six-man football coverage, 1999. Valley HS is near Turkey, Texas, and a Saturday evening game over Thanksgiving weekend. My parents were up for the weekend, joining me at base camp in Levelland, and were along for the ride. They sat and enjoyed the matchup between the Panthers and Patriots. I was in the press box, and sort of bundled up, but my feet were cold, and you know how that goes. If your feet are cold, your whole body was cold. That was me that night.

Hanover at Axtell, sub state eight-man playoff game, 2008. Yikes. They put heat machines on each sideline, and even the typically hardy (if somewhat crazy) Kansas high school football player didn’t stray far, and likely didn’t look forward to heading out to play ball and leave what little warmth there was. This game was in sharp contrast to the following Saturday’s state championship game in Newton, as mentioned above.

Okay, now go back outside and warm up a little.

Tampa Two

The First Lady and I have touched down safely in the Sunshine State (still finding no travel trouble issues) for a house and dog sitting job. Her cousin is crossing the pond for two weeks and asked us to come down to help. The dogs are two Border Terriers named Fred and Ginger. Sweet as can be. Ginger has already pegged me for a softie, as I've already had a stint of 20 straight minutes of belly scratching.

Her cousin Ellen has already treated us to a wonderful seafood supper-- the three of us and Ellen's ten-year-old son. I had delicious pecan-breaded trout with two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc. The food, the company and the conversation were all top shelf.

It has been a bit of a culture shock-- both Ann's and my legs have been bitten up by mosquitoes, requiring a trip to Whole Foods for bug ointment. Truly a remarkable store. It's on the first floor, with a Target store on the second. So we're seeing a lot of things we've not seen before, or in a long time. We were here two years ago for our first Thanksgiving as Southerners.

Who knows what we'll see or do in the days to come-- we really have no agenda. But it's gonna be a hell of a ride.