Soggy but Happy (Miami Recap)

Holy cow. What a weekend. I think I’m still drying out. (Mental Note: Quit balking. This is the year I break down and get a rain suit.) Seriously. The really fun part was the soaking feet. My socks were just like glorified sponges by halftime. Felt like I was walking in wet sand or something all evening. Joy. I hope I’ve done no permanent damage to the interior of my vehicle with all the wet rain and tailgating gear that got unceremoniously tossed into the truck before the game. Rain games. Man. Always a treat.

We got set up nice and early - 9am! (Red Bull = honorary Non-Alcoholic Tailgate Drink!) Promptly put the hair up and the fleece on because it was COLD and WET. Thankfully Steve was not far behind us with his tents, because boy, did we need them...it rained ALL DAY.

All things considered though, we had an amazing tailgate and, seriously, who doesn’t LOVE throttling Miami? We brought the wood. Ryan Williams is the STUD I knew him to be back in the Spring Game...and Tyrod has finally been turned loose to work the magic that he is capable of. I love it!! (AND, we blocked a kick! BeamerBall, Baby!!!)

I am having some computer issues, but will try to get pictures up soon…I’ve got a couple of us huddled in our little Tailgating Tent City. But in the meantime, I’m just going go revel in the fact that I get to take a break from traveling this weekend, since it’s an away game. Whew!! Excellent! And, it should hopefully be a nice one to watch on tv, with an early start so I can actually get caught up on all the things I’ve put off over this last month’s weekends. (Man, y’all don’t want to know my laundry situation, seriously!)

I’ll be back…

Schedule Madness: Are we seriously playing Miami in September??

I am so excited for this weekend!! Thankfully I have Friday off, so I can drive down during the day and not have to work all day before driving. Whew! This will also make it easier to make sure my tailgate supplies are in order (I was sorely lacking the stronger adult beverages, of the miniature variety, for the game last weekend because I just didn’t have the time and, really, this is unacceptable.)

The Miami game brings to a close one heckuva month of football and Tailgating Good Times. The Fun Pusher has been on the road every weekend this month to watch her beloved Hokies play. Goodness. Even a Die Hard Fan like myself hits a wall at some point…I think I’m there. I need to recover physically, emotionally, and financially (dude, tailgating is not an inexpensive hobby!).

But, I can’t start recovery until we’ve closed out September. Let’s show those Hurricanes that they can have all the swagger and general “The U”-tude they want, but they’ve got to get thru Blacksburg first! (Of course, for this little “threat” to be effective or have any sort of meaning, VT also has to find some semblance of an offense…which…well, frankly hasn’t really shown up much so far this season. or last season…or the one before…and so on… Ugh.)

Oh well, we will have fun. We always do.

Bright and early, Gurus… Good Times in Blacksburg await…

I Gotta Hand it to the Hokies

Go Hokies!!! It was great...started out the morning with a fantastic drive to Blacksburg...catching up with Naomi, Bri, and April...then, a brisk walk (ahem..."brisk" is referring to "we tried to walk as fast as we could") across Tech campus. Okay...I have to stop here for just a moment. What the heck was up with this...we parked in the commuter lot, and it took 1.35 hours...yes...H-O-U-R-S to get to the German Club. Sumfin' ain't right cha? Right. I love Hokies...but dang, really? Do THAT MANY Hokies not know where the dang stadium is?

We went EVERYWHERE...I now know all the dorms, side streets..and now - even the trails through the woods. Did you know that there were WOODS on campus? WATCH OUT there are!!! Along with a big dork dressed in a tight shirt acting like some kind of friggin' bouncer for this random dag-on path...who didn't know where the stadium was. Weirdo...he must have had a corn cob stuck somewhere else.

Anywho...by the time we saw the stadium it was like seeing heaven...unfortunately...the tailgate was still quite a bit farther...but, I will tell you that April and I drank about 6 beers each in 23 minutes once we arrived. It was GREAT!!! So, the partying began! Shout out to Shelley for bringing the AWESOME tent!

I learned many new things at this tailgate...1) Mike still wore the exact same outfit. Some folks just don't listen. 2) His buddy can't have mug shots on the tailgate blog...he is in the CIA... 3) P.S. smells realllllly good! 4) Tequilla Chicken doesn't get you drunk...CA Car Bombs do! 5) Tequilla Chicken tastes really good after CA Car Bombs... 6) I suck at beer pong...but, that works out the best - for me :) 7) Matty is now too old to smile in pictures 8) You get more sun than you realize at every Hokie game 9) I don't sit at the tailgate...I lean...on the tailgate...chairs are just for looks 10) It is possible to have a child and not know you were pregnant...Not me...but, wow!!! Dude - that was the craziest story EVER - shout out to Lil Hunter!!! Way to freak your mom out lil dude!!!


Regardless...I have to hand it to the Hokies...the four of us get back to Roanoke while the game is wrapping up the 4th Quarter. We're chilling on the deck, tired as can be and the next thing I hear is one of my neighbors 5 houses down scream out, "THE HOKIES SCORED A TOUCHDOWN!!!" All I could say is "Woo Woo!!! GO HOKIES!!!" What a way to give that corn cob back to 'em...

Dude, do they really wear a corn cob on their head?

Alright, y’all! Here it is. Nebraska weekend! I know that when you saw this on the schedule over the last few years, you were like, yeah right…it won’t happen. But it IS! Despite our Athletic Department’s obvious disdain for all things fun and, well, competitive (see: last year’s schedule with Furman & Western Kentucky, and next year’s schedule, blech), we do, in fact, have The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers coming to Lane Stadium this weekend! And, honestly, what a September this is…open against Alabama. Throttle Marshall. On deck – Big Red. And closing down the ninth month of the year with Miami. Dear Lord. All my years of suffering under crap schedules seems to have finally paid off. Yesssssss. (fist pump) I’ve only spent countless thousands on football in the interim. How’s that for return on investment! Boo-yah!


Plans are fully underway, as we speak, to pull off another fabulous tailgate. Folks, we are talking Grade-A, Prime Time tailgating. We’ve got some guests this week providing Tequila Lime Chicken. Dude. Can you say, yum? We’re going to have a few corn dishes in honor of the thrashing we’re going to give to those Huskers. And of course, the usual goodies.


And, let me just say, the newest additions to the Tailgate are fitting right in. Brought games and goodies last week and they are down for the Good Times. Solid.


Now, on to our cast of characters this week….


Mr. Fun Pusher is making an appearance. Good News: his battle with The Ick seems to have mostly ended (in a draw, it would seem) and he’s ready to get back to Lane. Bad News: I seem to have picked up The Ick and am semi-over it at this point. But, as I said before, unless I’m delirious or incapacitated, I’m going to this game. H1N1 doesn’t count. Ya’ll will just have to Purell the heck out of yourselves around me. Lol. Christy and Tim (of Alabama game fame) are also coming. Went thru quite the Quest (the Incredible Journey?) to find tickets for them, but we were finally successful. Rachael is coming, perhaps bringing fellow Girls’ Cabin Weekend party-goer, Naomi and her daughter – the 80’s Fashion Icon herself - Brionna. Trey made the GOOD CALL and opted out of WORKING this weekend and is, instead, coming to the game like a good little Beer Man. (Smart move, buddy.) April is still up in the air but I’m betting she comes through. And the rest of the crew (Steve and Meg, Tommy, Brian and Leslie, Mike and Andy, Shelley and her crew…man, am I forgetting someone, I must be…) will all be there, ready to rock!


Here we go, folks. Big Time Football is going to be played in Blacksburg this weekend. Big Time Tailgating is going to be happening with the Hokie Margaritaville crew. Hokies win in a slugfest, by a touchdown, and beat the spread. Bring on the Good Times and GO HOKIES!!!

The Important Stuff...LOL

Mmmmwwwwhhhaaa haaa haaa!!!! What a WONDERFUL time that was had! From beginning to end...it was a BLAST!!! We met some new folks and partied hardy!!! My favorites were:

1) Ken as a look alike for Doomsday...meant in a good way...see below.

2) Mike's fancy velcro sandals. Watchout Ladies!!! Mike said he is kickin' it up a notch for the Nebraska game...I believe him. And his Canadian wife...

3) Dancing around to "Friends in Low Places"...I love that song and that means a lot coming from me...I hate country music.

Let the Good Times Roll!

Marshall Tailgate Photos!!!

We were among the first ones in our lot.

Beautiful Blacksburg day!

Apparently something cool was going on, outside the frame of this picture...

Games (but no fabulous prizes)

I don't think he's supposed to be aiming for shins like that, but maybe??

Fun Pusher (Jess) and Tommy (who doesn't have an Official Tailgate Role yet, but deserves one!)

The Gurus

Aforementioned Omelet in a Bag. Methinks someone put too many

omelets in this particular bag??

Fun Pusher and Rachael

Time to EAT. :-)

You caught me!

Say it, say it again. ;-)

GO HOKIES!!!

Tailgate Recap - Marshall

Marshall weekend started off in the best way! The day dawned glorious and sunny. No one overslept and, other than a brief interlude spent searching for an M.I.A. visor, we were on-time for tailgate arrival! The Gurus got a primo parking space and joined the members of the Hokie Margaritaville tailgate already enjoying the morning…

A couple of key things about this tailgate are worth mentioning. First, we upgraded the musical stylings of the tailgate, thanks to Rachael’s fabulous Ipod stereo with wireless speakers and Fun Pusher’s “Chill Playlist”…which went over very well with the tailgate crew. Oh yes.

Second, Fun Pusher made the difficult, although wallet-friendly, decision to go back to her normal tailgate beer. It had been a summer of higher-priced, higher-quality offerings…but, you know the cliche, and it had to come to an end at some point. So, for the Marshall tailgate, I bit the bullet (bottle?) and went back to Miller Lite. Although at least it was in bottles. (I have SOME standards, lol. For now.)

And, finally, we tried out a new recipe (sadly, to somewhat mixed results). If you haven’t done an omelet in a Ziploc before…well, a few Words of Wisdom: the most important thing is to use good quality bags (or double bag…b/c the cheese will melt thru that cheapo bag that you thought was a good deal) AND make sure you cook for at least 15 minutes…mine was especially stuffed, so it took a solid 20 minutes. I think we had some folks that were a bit anxious for their omelets and, well, I think they maybe weren’t as pleased with the outcome. For myself, I filled my bag, tossed it into the boiling water, and set about getting back down to some Good Times for at least 20 minutes. (Aside: I mean, seriously...who wants to watch water boil an omelet in a baggie for that long…? Let it hang out and do its thang. Go back to your adult beverage of choice. Finish that funny story you were telling (or hearing). The food will be there. We always bring enough to feed an army anyways. And, I don’t want to brag or anything, but I know I had the prettiest omelet there!)

In general, this was just a laid-back kind of Good Time and a great way to open the season at home. Coming off the tough loss (and especially crazy weekend for the Fun Pusher) against Alabama, it was such a treat to have a really pretty day and get to watch VT actually put up some real offense. I think we’re talking like 5th most yards gained ever! Two running backs over 150 yards. Passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns…got a little bit of everything. Except the blocked kick I was looking for. But, in this game, it’s not like VT needed it so, as they say, it’s all good. Capped off a great morning of tailgating with a terrific performance on the field…and then a bit more tailgating until the crowds thinned out…and then it was off to Rachael’s aforementioned fabulous house, complete with Fun Pusher’s guest suite, and onto a night of Good Times and karaoke. Don’t hate. Because it’s too late to Apologize, unless you’ve got a Halo. (Sorry, inside joke to the Karaoke Queen.) ;-)

Until I post again....

Game Day - Marshall

Let's GO!!!!

It's Game Day, folks!!! The Gurus are headed to the 'burg and going to get our tailgate on...pics to come. Maybe. ;-)

GO HOKIES!!!

How I Became a Hokie

Not to long ago, in the galaxy known as Roanoke, there lived a girl right in the heart of Hokie-land. She wasn't very fond of that school known as Virginia Tech.

Yeah, I admit it. I haven't always been a Hokie fan. In fact, I really didn't like the Hokies that much. It wasn't the school itself that I had a problem with. I didn't even mind the athletes. (Well, there were two I really couldn't stand. They will remain nameless though.)

It was the fans that annoyed me so.

I was surrounded by people that would throw those darn Hokies in your face with every single win, but if they were losing they didn't want anything to do with them.

You see, I consider myself a True Fan of sports. When I pick a team, I stick with them win or lose. I'm a long time fan of another ACC school in basketball (I won't name it either because I don't want to see Fun Pusher's eye twitch at the tailgate tomorrow.) and there have been some very painful seasons with that team, but I stuck by them.

I realize that every team has THOSE fans that are only around during the winning seasons, but when you live right in Hokie-land, man, they're every where.

Then one day a couple of seasons ago, Fun Pusher said to me, "What if I took you to a game? What if I showed you MY Virginia Tech?"

So, I went, keeping an open mind. And I fell in love with that school.

What I found was that there were True Hokie Fans. They show the best of sportmanship, they stick with them win or lose, rain or hurricane. (I'm not kidding on the hurricane, folks. Get Fun Pusher to tell you.) They will tell their own unruly fans to please be respectful to the other team's fans. For the most part, they ignore other teams' unruly fans. They get at the tailgate bright and early and display their Hokie colors proudly.

While they love the teams, cheer proudly for them, it isn't the sports that cause them to love their school. They love Virginia Tech simply because it exists.

That day at that tailgate, I stood for long periods of time and just watched. I just took it all in. I loved every single second. That day, her Virginia Tech became MY Virginia Tech, and I became a Hokie. (Honorary, anyway. I did go to that other school.)

So, I head to Blacksburg bright and early tomorrow morning, to watch my Hokies take on Marshall. Who's coming?

2009 Tailgate Kick-Off

So, I got the email on Monday that I needed to start coming up with some ideas for this week’s tailgate…but I have to be honest, y’all. After the non-stop-ness of last weekend, I was seriously not really giving this weekend’s tailgate much consideration….AT FIRST! Now, I’m all about it. Let’s get this party started and all that jazz! But, just a quick (LOL) recap of last weekend…since, even with the loss, I do think it was the BEST way to kick off the season.

For this Hokie Margaritaville Tailgate President, there was no better way to start than with a Jimmy Buffett concert on Thursday night. Several hours tailgating…and it was such a beautiful day (not like the previous years, where we practically melted before the first strains of Cheeseburger in Paradise poured out of the speakers). Multiple coronas were imbibed. We even ran into what I’m calling an honorary Hokie in the concessions line who handed us an airplane bottle out of sheer goodwill (well, that and he had so many they were starting to slide out of his pants leg). That’s Good Times. So, other than getting lost once apiece on our ways back to the blanket, Mr. Fun Pusher and I had a fabulous time, wasting away again in Margaritaville.

Then, Friday was the big travel day! Packing up every article of Hokie clothing (and accessories, I am a chick afterall) and hitting the airport for the flight to ATL (where VT opened the season against #5 Alabama). So many good signs – tons of Hokies in the airport and on our flight; our pilot was even a Hokie! Our shuttle to the hotel had another Hokie on it as well. Atlanta was invaded, for sure! Mr. Fun Pusher and I met up with several friends from my grad school program at VT, and headed on over to see the Braves play the Reds. Again the weather was gorgeous…we all had a great time, doing a little tailgating before the game and then “rolling with it” on over to Turner Field. The Braves lost, but our seats were GREAT, there were fireworks after the game, AND the crowd broke out into “Let’s Go, Hokies” chants multiple times!!! I’m telling you, the ‘Bama and UGA fans that were there…they were a bit annoyed by the Hokie presence. Loved it.

So, then, bring it on to Saturday. Game Day. Everyone was pumped. We piled into the truck (which, thank goodness was large enough for 6 adults!), headed on over to the Jawja Dome and set up one fine little tailgate, if I do say so myself. Of course, we had some issues with the (up-til-this-point-well-loved) Chic-Fil-A people moving us from our initial spot…but they made up for that in free chicken biscuits, sandwiches, and CFA merchandise. So. It all worked out, I suppose. But, seriously, y’all. We got to the lot before 8am. And the game didn’t start until 8pm. With a brief intermission for a trek to ESPN’s GameDay setup (which now I’m completely over and will never feel compelled to do again), we’re talking almost 12 hours of tailgating, people!! Oh yes. I think that has to grant you some sort of Special Status, no? I mean, really? Who does that??? Well. I do, that’s who. ;-) And I would do it again. We had a blast…and other than the outcome of the game…that was one of the best days ever!

So, all of that brings us up to now, and, given that much partying and Good Time-ing it…well, you can SEE why I was a bit, I think numb is the only word for it, when I got the planning request on Monday.

But. Today is a new day.

And Tailgate Fever is starting to pulse through my veins once again.

So the plans are starting to come together…We’ve got The Regulars (whom you will learn more about soon enough!) joining us for another season. We’ve got some new faces, which we’re super excited about. We’ve got some forgotten faces that we’re happy are coming. And we’ve even got some folks that are just going to stay at the tailgate because, really, that’s what it’s all about, right?? (Although if there’s no beer left when I get back to the ‘gate…that’s one serious party foul…and totally against the Rules, too, I might add!)

SO. Grab your party hats. Put on some version of a Hokie Shirt (SCA wants white. I say maroon and orange are perfectly acceptable…and I’ll spare you my RANT on the “Effect” games and the Stepford-ization of Lane Stadium, so consider yourselves lucky.) Put the brew on ice. Pack the purse and/or cargo shorts with maximum airplane bottle storage. It’s time to get this show on the road…and rain touchdowns on the Thundering Herd. Ryan Williams is going to amaze and astound you. We’re blocking a kick in this one, I can feel it! (Oh, and seriously, we’ve got a B-1 flyover at the stadium before the game!!!)

Bring a donation for the D-Day Memorial (sponsored by the Corps of Cadets). (I am nothing if not civic-minded; don’t snicker.) I will not miss kickoff this season! I will not miss kickoff this season! I will not miss kickoff this season! (It’s sort of my new mantra; if you knew me, you’d understand.) Neither should you. Be in your seats! Game-time’s 1:30pm. No excuses.

And…

Here…

We…

GO!

Let the Good Times Roll

Fall was made for football and football was made for tailgating. And, by our way of thinking, there is no better tailgating than Hokie tailgating, particularly if it takes place in that little slice of Heaven known as Blacksburg, VA. So, here we are…another season of Hokie tailgating is upon us. We’re talking Virginia Tech football here, people! For the uninitiated, we’re talking Good Times (in caps because while y’all might have fun…WE have Good Times Events). We take it seriously and we think (hope/dream/fantasize?) that we have an amazing group of Tailgaters representing the Hokie Nation and Good Times fans. So, without further ado (who hasn’t wanted to say that?), we want to welcome you to our little web homage to Good Times, especially those Good Times associated with Virginia Tech football and tailgating. Other Good Times Events might sneak in here because, well, why limit yourself to just one Season of Fun, right? But, our hearts bleed Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon, and that’s our favorite. So. Who the heck are we...? Oh, honey, we thought you’d never ask! WE are the Gurus of Good Times!!

(Guru #1) Fun Pusher: aka the original “Guru of Good Times,” Fun Pusher is one Big Time Hokie chick. Graduated in ’02 and ’04 (loved VT so much she had to do it twice!). Has been going to games since ’00 and a season ticket holder since the 2006 season, and is batting a perfect .1000 attendance record for all home games since then. She has a planner’s spirit and LOVES nothing more than planning up Good Times Events, especially tailgates. She is serving her third consecutive term as Madam President of her tailgate (yes, there is a governing council, folks, this is how things get DONE!) She has a Hokie husband and has made efforts to indoctrinate all family members and friends into the Hokie Nation. She remembers the “Stick It In” cheer and has a bad habit of buying things just because they have a VT on them. Or are orange. Or maroon. (Seriously, you should see her house and closet.) Favorite Hokie Player Ever: Bryan Randall, followed by Deron Washington (Basketball) and Xavier Adibi. Favorite drink: bourbon and coke zero. Always down for the Key Play and trying new beer. Also one of two original organizers of the Annual Girls’ Cabin Weekend Extravaganza (and knows y’all are jealous of that). And the rest you’ll find out as we go…

(Guru #2) April: April is the most recent addition to the Good Times Planning Committee. She was headed down a dark and dangerous road until Fun Pusher showed her the light that is the Hokie Nation. Even though she's not a season ticket holder, April has a pretty damn good attendance record for the past two seasons. She now drives the Hokie-mobile (burnt orange Ford Escape), and the Virginia Tech campus is one of her favorite places on Earth. (Even though she did graduate from Roanoke, ahem, Go Maroons.) April lives in her tiny little house where she proudly displays the Hokie colors. Favorite Drink: Who can have just one? April is a beer taste tester by heart. She is a contributing organizer of the Annual Girls' Cabin Weekend Extravaganza, and can also be found blogging at Did That Just Happen? and The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans!!

(Guru #3) Rachael: Fun Pusher’s sister and long-time Partner in Crime (bwa ha ha ha). Hokie by Heart (and that’s what counts). Proud wife, and mom to two adorable Future Hokies. Rachael went so far as to purchase her new house because of the guest suite that would give the Fun Pusher a fabulous place to crash on game weekends. (Ok, so this is not completely true, but the guest suite IS a nice perk that Fun Pusher takes advantage of often.) Rachael is a Karaoke Queen and the other original organizer of the Annual Girls’ Cabin Weekend Extravaganza. She might like to tailgate even more than going into the game. Most Often Seen With: California Car Bombs or Miller Lite.

So, we welcome you to follow along on our little journey. Keep up with our antics and check out our updates. Hopefully we can provide some entertainment!! If nothing else, we will entertain ourselves. GO HOKIES!!