The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

This weekend is one of my most hated weekends: the Georgia-Florida game. G-r-o-a-n. I live about 400 feet from the party central for the Georgia confederacy of this rivalry, a local pub named Brogen’s. Not only will I, the Georgia Tech alumnus, be surrounded by UGA fans, I’ll be surrounded by drunk, obnoxious UGA fans. Joy. I’ll spend a good part of the weekend sitting on my front porch knitting and watching normally sensible people act like idiots as they walk down my street screaming “Go Dawgs!” at the top of their lungs to no one in particular.

Each year I pray that Georgia loses. Not because I particularly hate UGA. I personally think they have a fine athletic program. I pray for a loss so that I have minimum property damage. If UGA loses, all I have to deal with is a collection of beer cans and bottles in my shrubbery. If they win, there will be vandalism. Added to the beer cans and bottles will be whatever they can find to break: my mailbox, my landscaping posts, trees, lighting, whatever. Why do they break these things? Because they are drunk and happy and apparently this is how you celebrate when you are drunk and happy.

Today is Thursday and the hoards have already started to arrive. On the corner of one of the few intersections in the area with a traffic light was some guy with a sign that said “looking for tickets.” Everywhere you look is UGA stuff: those annoying little flags on people’s car windows, UGA hats and shorts, red and black balloons attached to everything.

This year the game is surrounded by controversy. Are there gambling allegations? No. Is there a drug scandal? No. The controversy has to do with the nickname of the event: “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” University of Georgia President Michael Adams objects to the use of the phrase "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" to describe the annual Georgia-Florida football game. Is he unclear on what people do at this game? They drink and then drink some more! I know people who go to this game every year and don’t know who won until they see it on the news the next morning because they were so drunk! Get a sense of humor, UGA President Adams!

Pumpkins Past and Present

One of my favorite annual events is going to the pumpkin patch. I think of it as the initiation of autumn and of the holiday season. Monkey Boy loves it, too. When his dad suggested we pick a pumpkin up at the grocery store, Monkey Boy flatly refused and reminded him that we took photos when we got our pumpkin.

Every year we do this. It is our ritual. It is a beloved tradition. I hope that Monkey Boy will still want to get a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch for many years to come. I love everything about it. I love seeing the sea of orange. I love the smell of Fall in the air. I love seeing watching Monkey Boy search for the perfect pumpkin.

Every year there seems to be a different definition of 'perfect.' Some years Perfect = Big. Other years Perfect = Round. I let him make the decision. I’m just here to watch and enjoy. Here are a couple of photos from pumpkin patch visits gone by:

This year we went to a produce stand, named aptly enough, the Pumpkin Patch. Supposedly there is some kind of pumpkin shortage this year. I did notice that the pumpkins were smaller. As a matter of fact, the pumpkin Monkey Boy picked out has to be the smallest we've had. Here are some shots of the event:

Every year, as per our tradition, I pick out my favorite shot from the pumpkin patch excursion. Here's this year's winner:

The pumpkin did have a stem on it when we bought it but Marco, the psychotically needy puppy, promptly chewed it off!

Sea Urchin Belly

Have you ever noticed how some cats get a poofy tummy? I was on a website the other day and they called it 'sea urchin belly.' It is the perfect name for it, the way it hangs there in a little ball, the fur looks like sea urchin spines. Here's Miss Kitty's sea urchin belly:

"Damn Paparazzi! Why won't they leave me alone?!"

I want you to check out a special post at my BIL's blog. It is a lovely story honoring a much beloved pet that passed away. It really is sweet.

Last but not least, never believe that you can't hurt yourself using a computer. Moments ago I was burning DVDs and got up to get another DVD. I forgot to close the DVD drive drawer and totally nailed myself on it. I now have a painful gash that is over 4 1/2" long! Yes, in the interest of science and journalism, I measured it! OUCH!

Me and the Gov

A couple of days ago I posted that I (as in I, the United Way Director) was awarded a grant from the Governor of the Great State of Georgia, Sonny Perdue. Here's the photo evidence. I think Sonny digs me!

Grant

In other posts, I've mentioned my new job as a Director for our local United Way. I submitted my first grant application a little over a week ago and guess what? I was awarded a $5,000 grant today. I got a giant cardboard check and my photo taken with the governor. A very cool day, indeed!

Cute Overload

There's a website that's sure to lift your spirits when you need it called Cute Overload. Its full of photos of cute animals. I mean really, really cute animals. They put out a daily email update of what's new on their site. Monkey Boy and I have a ritual of looking at the updates together. I'm thinking that the following photo may need to be submitted to Cute Overload:

"I'm totally cute and know it! Now pet me or I'll lick the camera!"

A Bit of Summer before Fall Creeps In

I know that in most of the country, Fall has arrived. Even here in the Coastal South, the temps have been in the 70s and low 80s and the humidity is noticeably lower. But before summer seems like a distant memory, I would like to present to you an icon of summer: the Slip 'N Slide. Monkey Boy loves to play on the Slip 'N Slide when we visit my parents in Mississippi. He slides over and over and over again. Pretend you are the one slipping and sliding as you enjoy these photos:

Costume

I'm going to play catch-up for the next few days. I finally installed my new media card reader (which I love!) and can load photos. Here is one I know that you've been waiting for: Monkey Boy's DragonCon costume. He did end up going as the anime character named Cloud from the Final Fantasy video game and movie. Check out the hair. He wanted a chunky, funky kind of style. He has long-ish, silky, straight hair. Chunky, funky is hard to do with long-ish, silky, straight hair. There is a TON of hair wax on that head!

Monkey Boy says, "Fear me!"