Sunday, October 19, 2008

Key learnings and tailgating

It's that time again, the weekend is over and as I sit here with a cup of cocoa and soft lighting, I'll share with you some of the things I learned this weekend.

Sit back and enjoy the sharing.

Key Learnings:
  • When you put your wallet in your desk drawer and say out loud, "hey I have to remember to put this back in my purse so I don't leave it at the office tonight," actually do that. CVS isn't happy (neither are you) when you realize that you didn't follow through with that piece of advice
  • It's okay to break your rule of "not drinking before noon" on college game day (Blood Mary's at 9 a.m. will do that)
  • Going to a home game and supporting the visiting team in the stands leads to a lot of teasing and taunting
  • Guys that "chew" are automatically unattractive
  • Spending eight hours in the car in one day can make you and your carmates crabby
  • Continuously eating food and walking can keep you awake
  • Shrimp on the grill is delicious
  • French onion dip with potato chips is like a slice of heaven
  • I should not own a dog
  • When you shower on a daily basis and then skip a day, it makes you very heightened to your temporary new smell
  • Port-O-Johns are never enjoyable to use
  • Finding your favorite college, non-Boones, beverage at a bar can totally make your day
  • It's always good to get out of the city for a day or two and enjoy the country scenery. There's something soothing about looking out at a farm field with the wide open sky and fall colors
As I mentioned on Friday, I went to Iowa for the Iowa vs. Wisconsin NCAA football game this weekend. And if you follow college sports, you will know how that game turned out. So that was definitely not a high point of my whirlwind 24 hours, but I do have to tell you about some amazing tailgating.

My family members are not big tailgaters. We're more of the "let's go pay for someone to cook and wait on us rather than cook it ourselves" kind of people and we don't like to carry all the stuff to the game and store it. So I was forewarned about the amazing tailgating that I would be a part of before the game on Saturday. And my warning was correct because it was AWESOME (said in a sing-songy voice).

I was reminded how much I love french onion dip with salty potato chips and homemade mac and cheese. This on top of an amazing spread of chips/salsa, cheese squares (also a solid choice), grilled shrimp with butter and garlic salt, homemade trail mix with pretzels, Chex Mix, pecans and corn puffs all mixed with caramel. O-M-G it was amazing.  So I thought that was great but then the pork chops, homemade mac and cheese, baked beans and potato salad came out, of course followed by two dessert trays. Seriously, I did not think it was possible to eat that much and not keel over. That's what Bloody Mary's will do for you :)

The food was amazing, which will now become amazing leftovers this week. Even better! We were able to tailgate on someone's front lawn near the Iowa football stadium, which was perfect to get into the game on time, but our restroom facilities consisted of a Port-O-John in the backyard, which the men used more as a leaning device while urinating in the bushes. Gosh I love college football.

So that is the story of my key learnings for this week and my awesome tailgating story. How was everyone else's weekend?

Reader Note: Thanks everyone for your comments on my personal. I appreciate the offers to date me too! Very sweet. Believe it or not, I'm not that picky when it comes to guys, but I'm really glad you all enjoyed it!

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I haven't been tailgating in ages, but I used to love my college Homecoming. Nothing better than good food and excuse to drink at 9 a.m. :)

This weekend I found most of the finishing touches for my Halloween costume...and convinced Ted to dress up too! :)

LJ said...

DAMMMMNNN!!!! That food sounds so delicious right now! I totally agree with you French onion dip and chips ROCK! Sounds like you had a blast!

I had a fun full filled weekend of working! Yippeee! I started a healthy eating kick as well, so yep you could say I have been in a total B*tch mood!! :)

LBluca77 said...

"When you shower on a daily basis and then skip a day, it makes you very heightened to your temporary new smell"

That made me uncontrollably laugh. Such a true statement. Your weekend sounded great and all that food has made me hungry.

Heidi Renée said...

Michigan State lost too. Big boo. But Michigan also lost, so that tempers my heartbreak somewhat. Big Ten sports are the best!

Anonymous said...

The Badgers are having quite the rough year so far but I'm glad you still managed to enjoy the tailgating at least :)

Rachel said...

I've never tailgated but I want to sooooo bad, especially after reading your post....

Mandy said...

I love tailgating and you had a primo tailgating time! So glad that you had a great time at the game.

alexa @clevelandsaplum said...

it would have been better if you said shrimp on the barB. ha

i'm glad you had such a good time though but i would be crabby after an 8 hour car ride too.

Sunflowers said...

"When you shower on a daily basis and then skip a day, it makes you very heightened to your temporary new smell"

lol.. very true!

Anonymous said...

Seeing this makes me wish (even more than I already do) that I went to a school where we actually won a game! We lost 43-7 last night. Boooooh!

Thanks for the flower love, that really makes my day!!!

Anonymous said...

Totally drooling over the french onion dip and chips. Mmmmm.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had a fun weekend. I've done that with my wallet before.

Ben said...

Chew is disgusting. I honestly don't even know what those guys are thinking when they're doing it.

L.C.T. said...

Great lessons. Really want to go and find some crisps and dip now...

pink jellybaby said...

I've tagged you!

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm... french onion dip.

Anonymous said...

Personally, I think the tailgating food is the best part of any sports game! (Goes to show you how much I love food. I don't hate sports, I'm just kind of indifferent.)

As far as the guys that chew thing goes, well, anyone who spits in public who is over the age of 3...yeah...

Shrimp on the grill is so good with a sprinkle of chili powder and some lime! (finishing off with a shot of tequila optional...)

Cheryl said...

Sounds fun! And now I want some french onion dip and potato chips. Mmmmm.

Stephanie said...

Chips.
Onion dip.
Soda.
Now all added to my grocery list. :)

Anonymous said...

Umm I hate you for rubbing it in my face that I still have 7 WEEKS before I get to eat American food againnnn... I just hope somebody good ends up in the Superbowl so I can go to a party and recreate that delicious smorgasboard of tailgate food.

Jen K said...

Extremely jealous that you got to go to Iowa this past weekend. I went back for the Iowa/Iowa State game and it was just as heavenly as I remember it. I love any excuse for early morning drinking!

Miss Coutant said...

i automatically dislike chewers too! i had a guy come into the office once that had a wad in his mouth and was carrying an empty water bottle to spit in. um, gross much? blech.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had an awesome weekend. College tailgating is fun (especially in the SEC - everyone always goes all out) but I always drink too much and never make it to the game...oops!

Ashley // Our Little Apartment said...

Any occasion that involves food is where I want to be.

Yum. I went on a trip this weekend. Yay!

KA said...

guys that chew are absolutely disgusting! Good point. As for your purse, i've done that a million times!

laurwilk said...

Oh, I hope you had so much fun. Without a doubt, one of my most favorite things in life is a tailgating a morning game in Iowa City. It is so, so wonderful!

I think your comment about chewing is hilarious. Were all the Iowa boys walking around with huge dips in?

We should have made a bet of some sort over the game. GO HAWKEYES!!!!!! (Not gonna lie, winning made my weekend!)

Athena Valentine said...

I'm glad I'm not the only that showers everyday. Some people tell me I'm obsessed with cleanliness but I am actually obsessed with odors. :)

CC said...

Mmmm...tailgating food sounds so delish right now! Glad you had fun this weekend!

Jenny Grace said...

TOTALLY agree about the chewing that is disgusting!

EP said...

Tailgating makes anything OK. My favorite part is that you can drink whenever, and it's all right. Glad you got to do that this weekend!

It sounds like you had a lovely weekend. As always!

Anonymous said...

I always, always, always, do the damn wallet thing. Always leaving stuff in the wrong places. Which is why I now write incessant notes to myself!

Megkathleen said...

I can not tell you how many times I've left my wallet on my desk. Every time I put it there I think to myself, "This time will be different. This time I'll remember." And I never do.

Anonymous said...

Tailgating-always fun.

Shrimp-always delicious. Especially when grilled.

Uhh...that's all I got for now.

Katelin said...

oh man it's days like those that i wish i went to a huge college and could have tailgated like that. it's crazy and delicious and so much fun. glad you had such a great time.

Pretty Unfamous said...

MMM! Hot cocoa! I'm jealous!

And I think chewing tobacco is SOOOOO much more disgusting than cigarettes. Cigarettes are gross by themselves, but it's not as ugly as a giant wad of nastiness stuck in a guy's lower lip!

a girl said...

all the mentioning of food makes me hungry and i just ate!

Anonymous said...

you are so right about getting out of the city - it makes a huge difference to see some open spaces (esp in the fall when the leaves are changing)