Trip to Columbia

This past weekend I went to Columbia, SC for the Gator Gamecocks game. Lindsay and I stayed with her brother and his four roommates. They life in a giant old mill turned to contemporary lofts. When I say giant, I mean huge four people in enough space for five people to live comfortably and probably never even see each other. Plus a view of Williams-Bryce Stadium.

We were able to sneak into the student section to sit with her brother. I stood out like a sore thumb in my orange corduroy pants and Gator polo. We were about 15 rows up form the field in the end zone. It was my first game of the year in person, and was as nail biting as every other game this year has been. Otherwise, a very good time Wednesday has come and I am still recovering.

Over that ten-day span from the previous Friday when Lindsay’s friends, Donna and Brandon came to town, I have been up to at least four AM four times. I am just saying that over this time frame I have been up until four more than I have the previous two years combined. So, my body pretty much hates me.

But you have to know when these choices are worth it; for friends and family it definitely is.

No News Yet

Got an email from the admissions department today letting me know they are excited I will be joining the program. I have followed the link for new students that was attached to the first email from the department. The links for November aren’t available yet. So, temporarily the new information train has stalled.

Project 1: Paint Wood Furniture

1970's Era Wooden Bar on Wheels

I have this nice little 1970’s era rolling dry bar I bought at Goodwill in Saint Augustine, Florida while I was visiting my mother. I was instantly drawn to it as it was very detailed and an original piece. It had many flaws, as all real wood furniture does. But, in it I saw promise. Two years after I purchased the bar, It remained in exactly the same state it was in when I bought it. I was ready to toss the old bar and take my losses. LM wouldn’t let me toss it, because she liked it. I thought I would use my manly magic to “fix” the bar.

Let me tell you, I think I am really handy. I also believe I can do every project myself. Occasionally, I try something and destroy it in the process, case in point the pool stick fiasco of 2007. My roommate in college, JW, and I were playing bumper pool on my table (also purchased at Goodwill) while watching his Chicago Bears play on Monday night football. Opposing team returned a Sexy Rexy Grossman pass for a pick six. In a blind rage John slammed the pool stick against the couch, and crack… Now I have two much smaller pool sticks.

I know he felt badly, so I just “fixed” it with super blue and moved on. It was never anywhere close to the same again. So… thankfully, I have the option of using the Internet. I don’t know what we would do without the Internet anymore really. In my searches I found this blog. She was my motivation, and my teacher for this project.

I sanded the original wood Primed the wood for paint. Now, I knew I wanted this bar to be a dark, antique-y red. I went to the depot to choose my paint. The paint sales lady really had me second guessing myself, telling me that it would look pink and not red, unless I put on thick layers of paint. Thick layers would remove my desired effect of the wood grain slightly showing through. My girlfriend encouraged me to stick by my original idea. Boy am I glad I did. And applied five very light coats of red paint for the final step: I am really happy with the way it turned out. While I was driving around town, I found this little number on the side of the road. Considering it is a desk, and I don’t currently have one, it must really be a sign about my impending return to education.

Finally Finished

Camouflage Jersey's for USCe on Nov 14

(AP PHOTO)

I am proud that South Carolina will support the Wounded Warrior Project by wearing these black and camouflage jerseys above on November 14 when the Gamecocks play the Florida Gators on CBS at 3:30. Players names will be dropped in favor of motivational words.

Two teams, Carolina and Maryland, will wear the jerseys on this day.

Murphy's in the Virginia Highlands Review

Last night for Lindsay’s birthday we went to Murphy’s in the Virginia Highlands. We have been there a couple times. No better time than now to review one of our favorite restaurants.

Lindsay and I went there for the first time prior to a show at the Fabulous Fox, Cinderella (Ballet). I had the "Georgia White Shrimp and Grips" (a personal favorite). It was so tasty I ordered it every time after. We have never had a bad experience.

Yesterday we went with her parents and are happy to report the experience as wonderful as before. They had the "Guiness Braised Beef Brisket" and the special "Surf and Turf", she had a "Grilled Chicken Paillard" and I enjoyed (a twist) the "Baby Back Ribs". The brisket was flavorful and tender. The steak was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The chicken was the best dish on the menu, I think. And the ribs were tender and the "honey chipotle glaze" great.

I am all about supporting local growers. At Murphy's all fruit and vegetables on the menu are locally grown and organic, a trend I am pleased to report.

The service is always spot on, everyone has an expansive wine knowledge. Every time someone asks for a recommendation for a nice dinner that doesn’t break the bank, I always recommend Murphy’s. Chances are you may run into us there.

Happy Birthday Lindsay

Gator Fooball Weekend Recap

This was the first time in five years that I didn’t make the trip to Jacksonville for the Florida game. It is hard to justify the trip due to saving money for school that starts in January. I must say, watching on TV is a much different experience than being at the game. Here are a couple observations.

1. Verne Lundquist and Gary Daniels are perhaps the absolute worst play-by-play announcers in the history of College football. They make listening to Lou Holtz bearable. I find myself making statement at minimum five minutes before they notice the same observations. I would prefer CBS find a way to just have actual crowd noise instead of announcers if this is the best they come up with.

2. Georgia is just not very good at Football. The more I watch the Bulldogs play the more I realize that Mark Richt is not the man he pretends to be. He coaches his players to break the rules (the stomp in 07); all the while playing coy about the intentions. The bad blood between these two teams is contrived at this point, as the results on the field haven’t warranted the hatred.

3. Richt stinks of Zook. He has recruited top-notch talent year over year and continues to fail epically on the big stage. With the talent he has accumulated he should be competing for a national championship year over year. I am a pro SEC guy, I route on ALL of the SEC teams in out of conference play, and I can say that it is hard to watch UGA play any talented teams. But as long as Richt continues to salvage 9 and 10 win seasons it will be difficult to let him go. Thank God he does continue to beat inferior opponents and pull these above average (but not great seasons), a perfect fit for the Bulldogs style is Charlie Strong, and that would make me throw up in my mouth some.

4. Tebow is the heart beat of this Gators team. If Brantley is as good as the Gator Nation is told he is, I think he would have started against LSU. I do, believe though that the future is bright for Gator football (even in the post Tebow era).

5. It was nice to see Steve Addazio open the play book past page two. The offense looked good in the first quarter. After taking the 14-0 lead though, I think Urban requested that he shut the offense down. Which is fine for me, I was just pleased to know we still have explosiveness when needed.

Surprisingly I didn’t hate watching the game at home, it was ultimately pretty relaxing. Lindsay’s brother goes to South Carolina, so we will be making that trip in two weeks, and the Gators clinched a trip to Atlanta, so I will be at that game for sure.