January....Longest Month of the Year

Maybe its the post holidays, winter (although not necessarily winter like weather!) blues, maybe its the anticipation of a super exciting February (and 2012 as a whole!), mabye its just really, seriously long, but January has seemed never ending and I am so excited about February coming this week. We have definitely not been sitting around with nothing to do....actually lots of exciting things have gone on. Here is a recap:

*Our house went on the market!!
*We put in an offer on a new house and we should close on February 13th!!! (I will post all about it once it is official...now we are hoping our old house sells quickly!)
*We attended "John and Jen" at Workshop Theater
*We attended Columbia Classical Ballet's "Lifechance Gala" and cast party. At the silent auction we came home with a very cool, artsy bracelet, one of my favorite difusers, a gift basket and a gorgeous piece of art
*We visited our neighbor's church.
*I bought a waterproof to 10 ft Olympus Tough camera to take to the Bahamas for underwater pics....it does real cool things such as the fish eyed photo of Ben above.
*Ben had baseball conditioning to prepare for tryouts in February
*Ben spent three days on a field trip at Camp Thunderbird
*Ben and Glenn went to several Gamecock basketball games and I joined Glenn and Ruben for the first SEC win of the year against Alabama!
*Planned for next month's Bahamas and Washington, DC trips
*Booked a vacation to the Xcaret in Mexico for me and Glenn in June
*Began prepping for a spring break road trip for me and Ben...we are going to travel from SC to Houston, TX!

Now I am looking forward to so much in February, moving in the new house and the next six months that I am almost giddy!!

Three In A Row For USC

To round out what might have been the busiest weekend of 2011 we tailgated and went to the USC/Clemson game. Almost all of our usual tailgating friends were there and many of Glenn's lifelong friends and their wives as well. The sights of this game were almost as entertaining as the game itself.

It was a LONG but fun day with another great Gamecock WIN against the Tigers!!!

Wounded Warrior Game -- USC vs. Auburn

It was a disappointing game. We lost. But, we had a great time anyway!

The girls: Sherrie, Victoria, me and Tammy

GAME....

Wounded Warrior Day Pre Show

National Champion Coach

Recently Belinda and I met to grab a bite to eat at Cantina 76. It just so happened that Make a Wish was hosting a fundraiser with Coach Ray Tanner and the championship trophies as the draw. After we ate, we stopped by to chat with him for a few moments and get a photo snapped. He was the nicest guy! USC should be very proud to have him as a part of the athletic staff.

USC vs. Vanderbilt

For the Vandy game it was just us and the Moragos. We had literally just set up our tent, opened the food and torrential downpour.....Carolina Walk Park became a mud pit and about two seconds after this picture of me and Victoria was taken, the tent blew off us! It was quite an interesting day. But, again, thankful for a WIN!

Ben spent the entire time reading...who is this child?!?!

First Home Game of the Season

After two weekends of away game we were excited to finally have a game in Columbia so we could tailgate at Carolina Walk Park and unveil our new toy.........yes, a Gamecock theme golf cart! We had lots of friends come out for this first tailgate and had a great time topped off by a "W"! Go Cocks!

Ben and Victoria

me and Victoria

Ruben and Ben

taking the girls for a ride around the stadium

my Phi Mu friend, Cindy

Sawyer and Ben on the golf cart

Beat the Bulldogs!!!!

On Friday afternoon Glenn and I loaded up the Yukon and headed to Athens for the weekend. We've planned for months to go to the game and meet up with our friends, Rich and Andrea. And, it was great to see and spend time with them.

Dinner at DePalma's on Friday night was fabulous. I had a delicious meal of polenta and seafood pasta. But, the best part was spending time with Rich and Andrea, their friends Leigh and Jack, and our friends, Amy and Bryan. We had such a great time at our divided table ---4 UGA fans and 4 USC fans!

I woke up on Saturday running a fever and feeling terrible. So, instead of meeting Rich, Andrea, Leigh and Jack to tailgate we stayed in our room and watched ESPN so I could rest and try to feel better. Luckily after lunchtime the fever was gone and I felt like eating finally. By late afternoon we walked to the Holiday Inn where they were all tailgating as well as my in law's friends, Phil and Nina and their family and friends. We spent about an hour with everyone before trekking to the stadium for the game.

I hope you watched the game, because I really can't describe it. A UGA guy described his take after the game: "We were up, we were down, we were up, we were down, we were up, we were down....we lost." Change that for us to "WE WON!!!!" It was the most nervewracking, fingernail chewing game I have ever been to. I am so thankful I started feeling better and was able to go! Now, with this being 9/11's 10 year weekend, they did a beautiful remembrance. It started with a flyover before the game, recognitions of soldiers, emergency responders, etc. during time outs and the bands from both schools joined together for a patriotic tribute at half time, including a stirring version of "Amazing Grace", during which the first (and last) breeze blew through the stadium.

Afterwards we walked back to the Holiday Inn to post-tailgate with both sets of friends and get some food from the HI restaraunt (food was good, but that was an ordeal!).

It was the most fun away game Glenn and I have ever attended and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Amy and me
my yum yum meal

Amy, me and Andrea

us and the Bordens

going in to Sanford Stadium

GAME.....COCKS!!

9/11 Flyover

both bands at halftime

WE WON!! WE BEAT THE DAWGS !!!!!

Almost Like Christmas!!

The first day of the Gamecock season is one of our favorites. We always look forward to wearing our Gamecock gear, tailgating and cheering on the team. This year's first game was on Saturday against ECU at Panther Stadium in Charlotte. After a not so good start to the morning (a rock hit and cracked the windshield to start!) we arrived, stopped at a great restaraunt, Vivace, for a quick lunch and then got a little lost. But it worked out beautifully because as we sat at a Dilworth stop light we saw my mother in law, Gwen and another friend of their's waiting to cross the street! Talk about timing!

Once we got in the right direction, we headed to a warehouse lot on Mint Street to tailgate with one of Glenn's vendors. It was a LOT of fun! One of his pest control buddies from Aiken, Scott (aka...DJ Sizzle) played tunes all afternoon and Mark, from Forshaw grilled up chicken, brats and more. The only downside is that the RV was supposed to be there and the guy in charge of it lost the keys! (He found them in the trash on Sunday morning!)

At the stadium, we waited for kick off and sat with friends, Judah and Connie. The first half was not so good....we were pretty sure ECU was going to win. I guess its proof that if we leave things turn around. Our friends were hungry and wanted to leave during half time so we did and went to Epicenter to watch the rest of the game and eat sushi. I'm glad we did....the Cocks staged quite a comeback and won!

my mother in law, Vickie, Gwen and us
first tailgate of the year!

the grill is fired up and check out the spread!

first "2001' of the 2011 season!

Bad Boy...Bad Boy...

I forgot to post earlier about this photo. While at Paula and Ben's birthday party, who should be there but USC's resident football team bad boy....Stephen Garcia! Glenn "suggested" I go talk to him and have my picture made with him.d I guess, based on the way he's laughing in the background he didn't think I would really do it!

Red, White and Black Tie Gala

On Friday night we went to the annual Red Cross Gala (which also serves as the kick off to Red Cross Month). Our friend, Hilda, was on the committee so we decided to go. Glenn's grandmother was unable to go so we invited Peggy and Muoud to go with us. It turned out to be a blast! The food was good, the band was great and the undercover Gamecocks were awesome!

Ready to go

me and Peggy

Peggy, Hilda and me

my new to me Manolos!!

Marcus Lattimore and me

Glenn and Marcus

Glenn, Stephan Gilmore and me

Glenn,, me, Tammy and Dylan Thompson (I used to go to church with them and now he plays for the Gamecocks!)

Decorations and cupcakes!

Mr. M, Glenn, Belinda, me, Peggy and Muoud

Muoad and Peggy

Peg, Hilda and me