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!