orange is not my color

Growing up in South Carolina pretty much means you're going to be a college football fan, and generally, you're going to pull for one of two teams.  You're either an extremely loyal Gameock fan, or you're a Tiger fan.  As the saying goes, we have a "house divided." I'm a Gamecock fan, and Blaine...well, he's a Tiger fan. The thing is, neither of us went to school at either, so I don't feel quite as bad about what I'm about to tell you...

Even though I might pull for help Blaine pull for Clemson on occasion (never when they're playing Carolina, of course), I've never dressed up in their colors and gone into their stadium intending to cheer for them; but last weekend I suited up in purple and orange and walked into Memorial Stadium with those very intentions.  I realize this doesn't make me sound like "an extremely loyal Gamecock fan," but it's okay because being "an extremely loyal Gamecock fan" doesn't mean I can't ever support the Tigers...especially because...come November 27, I won't be wearing this:

On November 27 I'll be decked out in garnet and black...which are definitely better colors; orange is not very becoming on me.  Blaine's brother has no problem wearing orange though.

Luckily, Mrs. Marti, Blaine's mom, is a Gamecock, too; she'll be wearing garnet and black with me when we enter Tiger territory on November 27.  Too bad Jade has already decided she's a Clemson fan.

I even promised Blaine I would do the "C-L-E-M-S-OOOOOOOOO-N, fight Tigers, fight Tigers, fight, fight, fight" with hand motions...and I came through with my promise.  In fact, I did it several times. 

As much as I enjoy being at the game, I have to admit it's easier for me to watch football on t.v.; I am too easily distracted by the band, the cheerleaders, the wave (which, I must say, I was quite impressed with the wave at the game...best wave I've ever seen and/or participated in), the conversations going on around us, etc..  The fact of the matter is this:  I enjoyed myself at the game...but it's the last time I will be pulling for the Tigers when I enter Death Valley this season!  Blaine, good luck to you and your Tigers when we come to town November 27. 

cheap wine critique

I've been meaning to post this since that night...

About two weeks ago my friend Neely sent me a text message asking if I wanted to go grab some dinner with her that night.  Instead of going out to eat, I suggested that she and her husband Eric come to mine and Blaine's house.  I also wanted Nelly (remember, I call her Nelly) to see our house since she had never been there (even Eric had been there before).  I also wanted her to see that the dish they gave us for our wedding (pictured below on our coffee table) went so well with our decor like I told her it did. (I digress...and yes, our coffee table looks kind of bare, and no, I did not put the dish out just because Nelly was coming over).

We agreed on a time for Neely to come over (Eric couldn't make it) and she said she would bring some wine.  On my way home from work I stopped by Walgreens to pick up a prescription.  While I was waiting I stopped to check out the wine selection (mistake #1).  I thought, "maybe I should pick up a bottle just incase"(mistake #2). The shelves were stocked with wines ranging in price from $2.99 to somewhere around $12.  As I searched for a bottle of cabernet I remembered hearing various friends rave about wine they have picked up from Trader Joe's for less than $5.  When I saw the $2.99 (it might have been $3.99, the point is it was really cheap)I thought maybe I had stumbled upon a little secret treasure like that at Trader Joes (mistake #3...looking back on it I should have remembered I was in a drug store, not a grocery store like Trader Joes).  So, I decided to take my chances and get a bottle of the cheapest cabernet, hoping that I had discovered something good (pictured below).

When Nelly arrived I told her of my purchase and we decided to open my bottle first incase I had stumbled upon something special (mistake #4).  I poured a glass for Nelly and one for myself, then put my nose to my glass like a seasoned wine expert and swished the wine around (if there are technical names for these practices I am unfamiliar, but feel free to fill me in on what they are, mistake #5).  Ordinarily this might be a good thing to do with wine, but not in this case. I think I may have released additional aromas and additional flavors, which as I said, in this case, was not a good idea.  The wine smelled terrible, but I proceeded to take a sip.  It tasted equally as bad, but with an added chemical aftertaste.  I told Nelly I couldn't drink it, but being a gracious guest, said she'd drink hers.  I couldn't allow her to drink it though (Blaine, who doesn't like to waste a thing, told us to pour it back in the bottle and that he would drink it later....which he did...and he doesn't even like wine). I apologized to Nelly for serving her this putrid wine and we popped open a different bottle. 

The purpose of this story is this: a public apology to Nelly for subjecting her to Walgreens wine.  The morals to this story are these:  1) don't buy wine at the drug store unless it's absolutely necessary, 2) if you must buy wine at the drug store, don't opt for the cheapest bottle, 3) don't buy the cheapest wine anywhere (unless you're at Trader Joes), 4) don't serve the cheapest wine to your dear friend without trying it first, and 5) always have a back-up for your back-up on hand incase your back-up bottle is filled with Southern Point.

Oh, and I have to give credit where credit is due... Blaine made dinner (as he does 95% of the time) on the grill outside while Nelly and I sat inside on the sofa, sipping wine from the good bottle.  Such a sweet husband!

in all fair-ness

In all fairness, I didn't tell him...

One night last week we were supposed to have a meeting at work, but when I found out it was cancelled I asked Blaine if he wanted to go to the fair.  When he agreed I decided I would slip out of work a few minutes early in hopes of picking up Blaine and leaving the house earlier, which would allow us to miss some of the traffic, get to the fair earlier, and ultimately get home earlier (afterall it was a weeknight).  Well, when I pulled into the driveway I realized Blaine was not home.  I called him on his cell and said, "Ummm....where are you?!" in a slightly impatient tone.  He said, "Sportsmans Warehouse," and asked me why I was home already.  I then realized I neglected to tell him my meeting was cancelled.  Therefore, it would be wrong to be upset about him not being home, because in his mind, he was just using his time wisely.

In all fairness, I am bigger older now... 

Getting older means gaining new perspective.  Gone are the days when the long lines of traffic leading to the fairgrounds add to the excitement and anticipation of what lies beyond the entrance.  Those were the days when you would talk about who else you might see while you're there, the rides you would ride, the games you would play and how much food you would eat.  Now, the things that come to mind while sitting in those long lines of traffic are: where will you park, what will you eat and how many pounds that might pack on, how much it will all cost, whether you are dressed appropriately for the weather, if you might get home at a reasonable hour since you have to work tomorrow, and for me, how I will sanitize my hands before I eat.

In all fairness, he came through...

Once Blaine got home from Sportsmans Warehouse we got in the car and headed towards the fair.  We were a few miles from the fairgrounds when we encountered significant traffic.  So while we were sitting there in line Blaine told me he arranged parking for us.  Still slightly miffed by the fact that he wasn't at home and ready to go when I got there (yes, I realize it is my fault for not telling him about the cancelled meeting) I told him it didn't matter because everyone could park for free in the fairgrounds lot.  As we finally made our way to where we could see the fair entrance the frighteningly long lines to the entrance Blaine pointed in the direction of the lot where he arranged our parking.  I pulled into the lot and quickly realized we had hit the fair parking jackpot.  We ended up in a lot that backed up to several rides and we were able to walk right into the fair, rather than wait in what appeared to be the longest line I've ever seen.

In all fairness, it wasn't completely terrible...

As if we didn't have enough potentially artery clogging options to choose from, the "food" vendors at the fair this year decided to add  this little gem to the assortment of unhealthy choices:  the Doughnut Burger. 

Yes, this means instead of regular hamburger buns, doughnuts would be the "bread" of choice for hamburgers this year at the fair.  And the doughnut of choice...none other than Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  And yes, my husband was dying to have one.  Er go: this expression... while he patiently waited for his special treat  (actually, this was not his initial expression...he was slightly embarrassed by the fact that I was taking his picture, so this is the one taken after I told him to "look excited"):

And proof that he ate it is right here, the first bite.  He was so pleased with the taste of this fair masterpiece, he let out a "hell yeah" (quietly) as if he had just conquered a difficult task.

and look closely at the "bun"

So, just so I could say I tried it, I took a bite.  Here is my critique:  If you went to Waffle House and ordered a hamburger patty and mixed it with an assortment of other ingredients and sprinkled all of them with sugar, you have mastered the flavors of the Doughnut Burger.

In all fairness, it is fungus made in a caboose.

While Blaine's plan was to indulge in the Doughnut Burger, my food of choice was fried mushrooms.  It took quite a bit of searching and walking in a few circles before we finally found a vendor selling these little fried hunks of goodness. 

For those of you who detest mushrooms, this does not excite you I'm sure.  (I have a theory about people who like mushrooms; therefore, I also have a theory about those of you who do not like mushrooms...so I can only let you in on that secret if you actually like them, too.) 

After Blaine got this shot of me holding my coveted fair fried mushrooms I dug right in...only to be somewhat disappointed.  They were not nearly as good as I remember them being.  I chalk my disappoinment up to the fact that either the food was never that good and I've gotten older and now have the wisdom to realize it, or that it's because it was fungus cooked in a caboose.

In all fairness, young or old, good food or bad mediocre food, the South Carolina State Fair is definitely a great way to kick off the fall season.