Friday, September 12, 2008

No but seriously...

That is right. I finally worked up the courage to call the Florida Democrats office and get the number for a field officer working for the Obama campaign in the Florida panhandle. And now I wait to find out if they can accommodate my request to volunteer for a week or so. Here's hoping that I'll be able to make some kind of a difference with my time. Who knew living next to a battleground state could be so much fun!

For those who do not know: John Richards and his Morning Show on KEXP are amazing. Thank you streaming archive and wireless connection for allowing me to partake in greatness.

Also, have you seen the new Gil Mantera's Party Dream band photo? It is amazing. Why, oh why does GMPD have to be so awesome. They pull me right back in every time I think my allegiance has started to falter.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The President's...oh let's be honest and call it a Mansion

Gil Mantera's Party Dream played a show this evening in Birmingham. I know that I am not the woman I once was, because I skipped said show to attend a reception at the President of Auburn University's gigantic house for new faculty and their guests. It was a huge catered affair. The President shook hands with everyone as they came in and inquired about the department they were with. Good food. Crazy digs. I mean, big and super fancy. We had a decent time. Pretty sure it isn't as good as a Gil show though. Still it was a pleasure as always to chill in our little group consisting of Joshua, Brandt and myself.

Plenty of fun was had afterwords however. We went to Cambridge coffee and had some espresso, which by the way is why I am up typing blog posts at 4:50am on a Wednesday morning. Then to our apartment for random youtube offerings, finally ending up at the previously mentioned bar, Rooster's.

Hopefully GMPD won't give up on me (and the south) just because I've spurned their most recent advances. I only want justice.

Rooster's

We finally found it people. Ok, found might be a bit misleading...let's say we were finally presented to awesome-wise. I knew from the first moment I looked through the front door of the place that this was going to be the watering hole for us. Like a beautiful omen, I saw the bouncer, sporting a honest to god mohawk. The first I'd seen in Auburn. A bar that is regularly filled with people who look like us. (Ok, Ok. So, I don't have a mohawk. But I like them. I tend to feel good when I can see one on a person near me. I wish it were the case that everywhere I went there was at least one person with a mohawk and that I could see them.) The clientele exhibit the regular (read: the way I dress) to hipster looking fashion. For those in Rochester I'd say kind of like the Lux but a little lighter on the "Alt Kid Street Cred" look. For those from the Bellingham days I'd say it is like a cross between a hipster bar and maybe the Up & Up but smaller and cooler. Gone are the days of three stranded 20/30 somethings adrift in a sea of undergraduates wearing polos and sun dresses. This bar offers a refreshingly diverse crowd, with at least one kind, competent bartender and decent drink offerings. Andrew & Neal, they've got Jameson! (You would not believe how tricky it is to find decent non-bourbon whisk(e)y in bars around here!) It has only one pool table, which some people might find lacking, but I think it is great because I rather dislike pool. They have a pub quiz night, karaoke night, live music and a lovely outdoor seating area.

How's that for an endorsement. Take that other bars of Auburn.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Auburn v. Southern Miss Game Day Pictures

Ladies and Gentlemen...Jordan-Hare Stadium

Brandt & Bree in Jordan-Hare Stadium
All Auburn, All Orange!



Joshua in Jordan-Hare Stadium, All Auburn but Less Orange
(before monsoon like downpour)

Joshua & Bree in Jordan-Hare Stadium

(after monsoon like downpour)

I'm a Believer

People told me that I wouldn't be able to imagine southern football. Even with the descriptions and stories, that I wouldn't quite understand until I'd seen it for myself. Last weekend, we stepped a toe into the shallow end of the football pool. We walked around and people watched. Bought some alcohol, pulled up a patch of curb and attended the Tiger Walk. We were there, at the end of the Tiger walk when the eagle came by in its van with a police escort. When the marching band, over 400 members strong came marching to the intersection next to the stadium, filling each of the four streets, playing different songs until they merged, we were there. Standing, waving, clapping, wondering at how this sleepy little town could so suddenly burst to life. We spent the game at Skybar, watching Auburn soundly beat ULM (that's University of Louisiana-Monroe) 24-0. I thought I had the idea of what southern football was about. That evening after the game ended, we sat at home listening to the sounds of undergraduates partying around us and I said, "I think I'm over this whole football thing."

I spoke to soon.

We bought tickets for today's 11:30am Auburn v. Southern Miss football game a few weeks ago. Brandt and Eric (two of the other visiting 1 year instructors) come over at about 10:30am and lock their bikes at our apartment complex. We walk to Cambridge Coffee to get a caffeine boost and head to the stadium. As we get closer to the stadium, I start to get pretty excited. We are in a sea of orange. People are flocking to the stadium, en mass and we are streaming in right along with them. Once getting through Gate 1, we start the long climb up the ramps that zigzag sharply along the side of the stadium. We catch glimpses of orange and green as we go up and up, finally exiting at the very top. Nosebleed section, big time. We finally walk out into the seating area and bam!

Jordan-Hare Stadium. An amazing view, of the stadium and beyond. Everyone in orange and blue. Ok, some people in the Southern Miss colors of yellow and black, but so few it doesn't ruin the effect. Right when we get to our seats the announcer booms: "Will everyone please direct their attention to sections 110 & 109 [we are sitting in 110] for a special sight! Spirit, the eagle, will now be released for the traditional flight around the stadium!" We look up and here comes a beautiful bald eagle flying over our heads swooping around the stadium before coasting over to the field and diving down to the 50 yard line. A sight to be seen.

The marching band comes onto the field.

Southern Miss runs onto the field. And then...

The AU football team enters. The whole stadium is up and cheering.

The offense is great. Someone, last name of Dunn I believe, wearing the number 3 jersey, is amazing. Weaving through these huge Southern Miss defensive linemen like it is nothing.

The AU defensive line is a force to be reckoned with. Each time the defense comes onto the field the slogan "Protect this house" comes onto the Jumbo Tron.

I start to feel it. The Auburn Tigers are good. Real good. They are amazing. They represent this university and city. They are members of the kick ass SEC (Southeastern Conference) and play at a level of college sport here to wit unknown by me. In this sea of fans, screaming "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaar Eagle, hey!", "Go D!", and "Weagle, Weagle, War Damn Eagle, Kick 'em in the butt big blue!" it is hard not to buy in. After the game, walking back to our apartment I see a T-shirt that says, "Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger." And I know it must be true. I've been inducted into the cult of southern football by AU. All Auburn, All Orange, as the saying goes. I watched that football game with 87, 450 other football fans. We stood in the rain 'til we were soaked to the bone. I cheered until my voice was hoarse. My face is burnt, I am dehydrated and worn out but I'm happy.

War Eagle!