René of the Day // 11.30.11 // The season in review

We celebrated the season for the I'd Hit That softball team at El Rancho Grande (AKA "The Big Nasty") and enjoyed margaritas, chips + salsa and queso sticks (served with ketchup - WTF?!) Of course, what's an event for our office without the commentary of our former "Two and a Half Men" copywriter??? I had to share his intro and my bio so I can capture it for always:

The year in review: copy-only collector's edition


How does one define "victory?" With "runs?" With frivolous little "points?" We often tell ourselves that the team that "scores the most" is the team that "wins" - but is this really the case? We of the 2011 I'd Hit That softball team think otherwise. We say that victory belongs to those who dominate in the fun department. And in this regard, we never knew defeat. Our roster included the following all-stars:


René "René Brunelle" Brunelle:
René was often seen wandering around in the outfield, leisurely weaving daisies into chains, or perusing magazines in search of the latest news on corn refiners. But this lackadaisical facade belied the heart of a ruthless competitor. When anything was hit in her direction, she'd strike like a deranged cobra before instantly returning to her private happy world.


I have to say, it made me giggle. I did not in fact futz around in the outfield - I was proud of some of the plays I made and enjoyed the comments on how fast my little legs ran to first base. It was a hell of a season - but I just realized, we didn't have a mascot....

René of the Day // 11.25.11 // A Great Day

Lunched at Senate with Mom + Kiki and did some shopping in OTR

(Poutine: fries, local cheese curds, braised shortribs + gravy - NOMS!)

North Carolina BBQ sandwich

Visited Spring Grove Cemetery and laid wreaths and Gigi's and grandpa's graves

Late afternoon cocktail on the rooftop at O'Bryon's, enjoying the balmy day with Kiki

Bowling at Star Lanes* in Newport with the Loveland gals 

(*Loved this place! A smoke-free bowling alley? Finally! And their appetizers were above par, for sure.)

One word: poutine

René of the Day // 11.24.11 // Thanks!

Via http://www.landeeseelandeedo.com

René of the Day // 11.20.11 // UT vs. Vandy

I’d had plans to stay in Cincinnati and go to a surprise birthday party this weekend. But Vale decided to take Maura to the Tennessee game so of course MR insisted that he brought me, too. We drove down Saturday morning in Vale’s big funeral home pick-up truck with his friends from work. We tailgated in our usual spot, the park on Lake Ave. Once we got to the game, the three couples spilt into different seats – it was the first time I sat in MR’s season ticket seats (see photos below).  They have an awesome view! Second row of second level, slightly to the left behind the goal post. It was the most fun UT game I’ve gone to…  Great view of the field and scoreboard.

At this game MR introduced me to Petro’s Chili & Chips (I’m still trying to figure out why he waited so long!) It’s a Tennessee tradition, with chili in a little bucket, topped with sour cream, onions, tomatoes, chili cheese, Fritos, olives, black beans and hot sauce – ah-maz-ing! Oh, and their hint of orange sweet tea is wonderful, too. (Even more wonderful when you dump airplane bottles of vodka in it, since SEC stadiums are dry and you start dragging ass at third quarter after tailing for four hours before the game. Oof.) MR had some chili and I had to taste it. Then later I got one – and he got another. Oy! (Or oink?) The game went into overtime so we went to sit with everyone else and it was unreal… a 90-yard interception return to touchdown in the last seconds of the game!!! We were all jumping up and down and yelling – so exciting! I know that a close victory over Vandy isn't anything to be overly proud of but it was still a fun game.

We went to Cool Beans after the game (of course) and MR met a UT alum who now plays for the Texans. After a few pitchers and catching up with their old college friends, we took a cab back to the hotel and passed out hard – very happy I decided to make the last minute trip to Knoxville.

View from MR's season tickets

René of the Day // 11.7.11 // NashVegas

Yet another wonderful weekend in the south. I will truly miss it when MR moves back up this way, either to Louisville or Cincinnati in the next year (fingers and toes crossed). Friday we had a nice dinner at Mauricio's, perhaps the nicest restaurant we've found in Cookeville. The restaurant is in a beautiful old home and the service was great. The food was alright - not bad Italian but again, we're in Cookeville. It's just really enjoyable to have dinner together - sadly, this may only happen once or twice a month for us. The fabulous thing about CookeVegas is the quite alone time. We have a blast at home seeing all of our friends and family, and I'm sure you've read this before but we're always drunk, stuffed or tired lol It's never just "normal" - running from friends to family to this event or that party. In Cookeville we can relax and turn our phones off without feeling guilty or like we're missing out on anything. Then Saturday, we usually go to Knoxville (football games at UT) or to see friends in Nashville... which we did!

Saturday morning we drove to Cool Springs to meet Missy and Baby Ellie Rose for lunch at the Cool Springs Brewery for lunch. We had so much fun playing with the little cutie, having a few beers and watching football. She had a grand ole time with MR and his BlackBerry "toy" (see below). After a long lunch, we went to Kenny's to relax and watch the big LSU/Alabama game and ordered pizza. It was a hell of game... but I needed a nap so I missed the end, dammit.

Then we went honky tonkin'. I hadn't been out downtown in months so it was a blast. We went to the Trailer Park and then Legends. The Bengals game was this weekend so I bumped into a ton of friends from Cincy on the streets and in the bar so that was a fun surprise. I was not impressed that MR gave his tickets to the game away to a customer but I understood he didn't want me to have to drive home so late after the game... Next year! :)

Sunday morning MR kept his promise to take me to the famous Pancake Pantry. I always wanted to go when he lived in Nash but we never woke up early enough to brave the hour-long line around the corner... It was SO worth it! We met a really nice couple who actually went to Vanderbilt right near MR's old apartment and actually now live right near his parents in Cincinnati! They were visiting for the game - the husband is a pilot and was doing the fly-over at the game. The restaurant looked like a Cracker Barrel inside and the service wasn't great but the food certainly was! I had the Village Smitty Santa Fe Cornmeal Cakes - with bacon, cheddar, and roasted green chiles inside, maple syrup, hot picante salsa and sour cream on the side - wow!! MR had classic chocolate chip, of course.

Then as we sat down he asked if I saw who drove by in the black Bentley as we were waiting outside... NO?! He replied, "Well, since you're not really into celebrities I didn't want to say anything, but Keith Urban rolled right past us." WHAT! Ugh. I said to tell me next time, for sure. So many celebrities live in Nashville because of the country music scene and he's seen tons of them but I never have. I asked if Nicole was with him and he said she wasn't.

After breakfast I decided to go to Green Hills Mall - I'm not a big fan of shopping BUT they have Z Gallerie (which closed in Cincy), a Kate Spade store, Tory Burch and Kiehl's. He was driving back to Cookeville and once we got on the street I was stopped at the light behind him texting Kenny to say thanks for letting us stay at his place. MR called and asks why I didn't see him waving his arms out of the window of his car like a fool to get my attention -??? Evidently Keith rolled by AGAIN and this time Nicole Kidman was in Bentley, too! AHH! Are you kidding me? Totally missed them... #fail

But it was a really fun weekend... I know I'll miss these when we're finally in the same place.

René of the Day // 11.1.11 // Thanks Nordstrom

Halloween has passed. 

At least one store in the retail realm gets it. 

René of the Day // 10.29.11 // Halloweeen Party!

BOO! Just kidding. We didn't dress as anything scary - just as awesome stuff. Like a Freudian Slip, an orange barrel, a Pinky Lady, the Black Swan... and MR. A pair of Depends should've been in order for the laughs we had that night. We tried to fit Maura in the back of the Yaris and the barrel pushed up and covered all but the top of her head with the headband fitted with the flashing orange light LOL Caution!

And Sanker dressed up as MR. He had texted me earlier in the day as I was taking a nap and I thought, "What the hell ever that means, I'll just see later - I'm not going to try to figure it out" and I rolled over. He showed up to Vale's house (note: Vale and MR were at a UT game in Knoxville) and we died... He was wearing khakis, boat shoes, a camo jacket, a Black n Mild, a Miller Lite in a coozie, and UT shirt and hat. Then he told me he needed me to "do his eyebrows." Bless it. I painted on thick bushy brows with Lindsey's eyeliner pencil - and he insisted on making them bigger. He posed for us downstairs and we cracked up... but something was missing. Sanker is a slim dude... MR has a big barrel chest. I made him stuff a pillow under the shirt. The girls thought it may be offensive but as soon as he did it, it became the best costume EVER! I was laughing so hard I was crying with tears rolling down my cheeks!!! When we got to Dave's party, the guys yelled, "ROBERS IS IN TOWN!!!" as they always do when MR visits - hilarious. And everyone who saw it on Facebook debated whether or not it was really him - HAHA! Twas a good night.

René of the Day // 10.16.11 // Blooms + Berries

Going to the "pumpkin patch" is one of my favorite fall festivities! I have memories of going as many years back as I can remember... My mom and aunt would plop us on piles of plump orange gourds and snap our photos as we rolled off and petted goats and ran around with burrs grabbing onto our white rolled-down socks. As I've gotten older, I love taking my niece and seeing her doing the same things. Although we go to a different farm now, it's still a special tradition. It's so funny how three years ago we were sweating in summer clothes and the following year we were bundled up for the winter. Ohh, midwest weather, how you surprise us.

Blooms and Berries in Loveland hosts Fall of the Farm and is a wonderful experience for kids of any age... They have a massive corn maze (Kylie called it a "corn puzzle" a few years ago) that we get lost in. There's a hayride, a gorgeous field of sunflowers and tons of free as well as inexpensive activities and games for children. This year MR joined us and we had a so much fun... He didn't think my pumpkin was pretty - he called it "weird" - but I think it's very "Martha Stewart," and he bought it for me anyway :) I've suggested B&B to numerous friends, co-workers and others, especially people who Cincinnati transplants, and everyone seems to love it! 

My jack-o-lantern and the "Martha" pumpkin

Kylie hiding in the corn maze.

The best photo of the day!

http://www.bloomsandberries.com/

René of the Day // 10.8.11 // Camp Champs

Early autumn is the perfect time to trek it to the woods with friends for fun around the fire, warm boozy beverages and becoming one with nature, peeing amongst the trees. As I've said before, MR' high school pals are such a great group of people and they always invite me to join in their adventures, especially on weekends like this when I haven't seen him for a month - it's nice to be with other people who miss him and get it, too.

On Saturday afternoon we drove about 45 minutes northwest to Hueston Woods State Park, right past Miami University in Oxford. Gorgeous day - turning leaves and cool breeze, sunshine. We set up our site, had a beer or two and headed to the beach on the lake for some sand volleyball. The water was blue, the leaves were all changing colors across the way and sailboats were out... very picturesque - too bad I left my iPhone in the car! After an hour of intense competition and dancing in the sand to Angie's portland iPod speakers, we headed back to the campsite to grub. I hadn't camped there since my freshman year of high school and the site was quite different than I recalled. I sort of felt like we were in a trailer park... gobs of children, RVs, loose dogs and camo-clad adults, each site just 20 feet from the next, with cars lined up inbetween. So much for the quiet, great outdoors! (Note: I would highly recommend the drive to Athens to camp at Hocking Hills. You do have to hike your stuff a long way from the car to the site but it's much more secluded.) We really made the most of it... The boys bought weinie roasting sticks - so much better than an untrusty long twig dug up from under a log. We also had loads of snacks, coolers of beer, cider to heat over the fire and Knob Creek to make it all feel alright.

The boys started playing French Darts and most of us girls decided to take a walk in the dark to the "Haunted Trail." We never made it there... As we climbed the hill, we came to an RV park decorated like the Nightmare Before Christmas - for reals. It was like The Griswold's haunted hood. And there was a big shelter with great music blaring - so we put down our drinks and went to explore. We entered a massive family fun party with a hell of a DJ. Naturally, we joined the dance party and stayed for an hour, dancing with kids and going wild, having a great time. Everyone back at camp didn't know what they were missing!! There were two people dressed like... well, either swamp things, Captain Caveman or Cousin Its - literally, just furry creatures head to toe with nothing showing - ahh! Afterwards we walked past the haunted scenes and I SCREAMED when a witch figure started talking to me - then I turned and saw a man with a microphone and remote control - yikes - these people are intense about their holiday decor. And then most importantly, we found a toilet with a flusher.

When we returned to the camp site, not to anyone's surprise, there had been an accident with the boys. Dave is the most accident-prone person I've ever met. While playing French Darts, Sanker's frisbee hit Dave's pole which is good - except the glass Corona bottle came crashing down right into his mouth, busting open his lip and knocking out his front tooth. He looked like he got jumped. This is why we girls can't leave the scene ha. The rest of the night was long, fun, safe and the weather was wonderful. We heated the cider over the fire, chatted and had some interesting conversations between trips to the woods.

The next morning we gorged ourselves at Bob Evans and spent the rest of the day doing absolutely nothing. Fabulous weekend, if you ask me.

René of the Day // 10.7.11 // Autumn Soup

Continuing my challenge for making food fit for the forecast - a new soup every week in the fall/winter - I had to cook the recipe I tasted during the Iron Chef: Pumpkin Challenge at work. When I requested the recipe it didn't come with a name so I've appropriately named it "autumn soup." I'm loving the opportunity to use my big red Le Creuset stock pot so much and if you don't mind having leftovers (it's always better the next day) or eating the same thing for an entire week, it's a very convenient, healthy and cost effective way to plan dinners. And for me, it's therapeutic. The chopping relieves stress, the creation is exciting and the enjoyment of the end product is rewarding.

I had quite a bit of this soup to share so I bought cute little plastic stemmed cups at The Party Source and brought some of the batch to our Junior League Provisional small group get together and it received rave reviews - it's definitely a new fall favorite for my recipe arsenal. 

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 medium apples, thinly sliced

1 large white potato, diced

1.5 cups chopped, peeled butternut squash, fresh or frozen

1/2 teaspoon dried sage

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/3 cup apple cider

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup milk

2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto or bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

Chopped chives, for garnish (optional)

Crusty bread, for serving (optional)

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium-low heat and add the onions, apples, potato and squash. Season with salt and pepper and cook until onion is soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in sage and flour. Add cider (pour yourself a cup and add rum, ha) and cook over high heat, stirring until thickened. Add broth and milk, cover and bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring until potato is soft, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add prosciutto or bacon and cook until crisp, turning occasionally, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Add cheese to soup and stir over medium-low heat until melted. Puree in blender in batches until smooth (carefully - VERY hot off of stove and can easily blow the lid off). Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with prosciutto or bacon, more cheese and chives, if using. Serve with bread, if desired. 

Notes: 

Purchase pre-chopped butternut squash if possible. I've seen it in the produce section before and thought it was a lazy option - until I tried to cut one up. I literally bruised myself. I threw it in the oven to soften and even then, it was a beast to get through. Kroger didn't have any in the frozen aisle, but it's worth searching around to save the time and pain. 

Add a teaspoon or two of curry powder. It gives great color and an additional flavor profile.

Enjoy!

René of the Day // 9.30.11 // Loveland "Mega" Reunion

Seven years after graduating from Loveland High School, I returned for the first time to a varsity football game on Friday night. The last time I was there, I was wearing a cheerleading uniform and flipping up and down the track. I didn't take on the request for alumni cheerleaders as the girls weren't all up for it and I was quite pleased with my decision when we had to leave by halftime because it was so cold and windy.

It was great to see Sidné, who's now living with her husband in Dayton and finishing law school, and Whitney who's a Ben-gal and did cheer during the game, and also T and Ashley and their husbands and baby boys who I do see regularly. I remember the games being so packed that you could hardly walk through the crowd and I expected the same but surprisingly, it wasn't horribly crowded. I was also surprised to see they no longer have a dance team but a pom squad, who wear knee-high socks with black stars on them and cheer half the game with the cheerleaders - I suppose I didn't grasp the point of that. Of course high schools don't serve beer at football games (just like the SEC) so we grabbed a 20 oz and airplane bottles to get through it more comfortably.

I wish more people had been there but, I'd only found out about the event two weeks prior. There was also a dinner at the Oasis on Saturday night but the people I talked to didn't find it to be worth $45/person. The person I contacted said they had trouble finding people from our class who were interested which is frustrating - we're all so easy to reach via Facebook and LinkedIn, I wish they'd asked more than just student council grads to get involved. Perhaps our 10 year reunion will be a great event, since we didn't have a fifth. And to be frank, I still stay in touch with so many people I don't think it will be a Romey and Michelle style event.

It was neat to go back to my alma mater and see what has and hasn't changed - just that week the Cincinnati news stations had announced that the school district had banned yoga pants. Times have changed. Our big battle was spaghetti straps - tank top had to be "two fingers wide" and skirts and shorts had to come to the bottom of your fists with your arms at your sides. Maybe next year I'll make it back for Homecoming - Go Tigers!

René of the Day // 9.29.11 // Toby Keith

When does his bar open at The Banks? From what I recall, this was not mentioned during his show at Riverbend in Cincinnati but it would have been prime time for marketing it to the local crowd. However, he did play looped footage of Ford commercials during his performance - we get it Toby, you're a truck-drivin' son of a gun who likes to have fun in the hillbilly sun (hey, maybe I could write some lyrics for the ole boy?)

We had a damn good time at the last show of the season at the hill on the river. We filled our lime LaCroix cans with Coronas and squeezed little lime wedges through the aluminum slots and hopped in Michelle's mom's car to head to the concert. The weather report had a pretty bad outlook but we weren't going anywhere. As soon as we got in I visited Julie at the B105 tent and the girls got scooped up by a City Beat photographer so I missed out on that opportunity. Then we ran into one of Mich's co-workers from the zoo - a short, beefy biker dude who was thrilled to buy our first beer and let us take cover under the side of the tent 15 minutes later when black clouds rolled in and a treacherous downpour began. Luckily, Mich's mom had a great golf umbrella - and Sid had a janky mini umbrella from a trip to Europe, so we squished together and stayed relatively dry (except my right arm, see photo below).

We huddled together for most of the show. The rain was on and off and the crowd was rowdy - they created a mudslide on the hill and we had front row action shots. Regardless of the weather, it was a hell of a good show and worth the sick feeling the next morning from standing out in the cold and rain. My favorite songs of the night were "Made in America" and "Shoulda Been a Cowboy" - it's one of MR's fav songs. Mich's mom was so fun and was a wonderful DD; we enjoyed buffalo wing Snyder's pretezel bites on the ride home (if you haven't had them, they're a fantastic snack.) My shit kickers (cowboy boots) are still sitting by my door mat, caked in dried mud. I think that's proof of a great country concert!

René of the Day // 9.27.11 // Spicy Ginger Chicken Noodle Soup

I've vowed myself to a "Soup Challenge." Forget du jour. I'm hoping that each week through the chilly season (perhaps just autumn, we'll see if I make it through winter), to make a different soup recipe. I love the idea because they're generally inexpensive to make, healthy, fun to cook, taste great as leftovers and last for the week - plus they can be frozen for thawing and enjoying later if I get sick of it after a few days. Plus, I love using my big red Le Creuset stock pot! My other goal with is to share the websites from which I collect a lot of my favorite recipes. I'm often asked for them after posting on Facebook or Twitter and I'd love to share my resources.

My first soup of the season came from the Serious Eats weekly e-newsletter. I've been in a habit of unsubscribing from a lot of emails lately but this is one that I never delete. Each week it features around 10 delicious recipes - from unique (Dr. Pepper ribs) to classic, usually gourmet and never overly difficult or expensive ingredients. When I saw the recipe for Spicy Ginger Chicken Noodle soup it caught my eye because I love making Asain-inspired dishes at home. I keep soy sauce, sriracha, mirin, honey, ginger, sesame seeds and other staples on hand so it's usually a quick trip for produce and I'm good to go. One thing I've started to do for certain recipes like soups is buy the little bags of Tyson cooked chicken chunks - I know my mother would scold me for wasting money and being too lazy to cook and diced the chicken, but it saves at least 30 minutes.

This soup turned out to be so delicious and lasted Saturday through Thursday - a winner! The only thing I'll omit next time are the sugar snap peas - whenever I cook with them, I get annoyed. You have to peel them or the stringy thingy on the back of the bean shreds and the little knob on the end is hard and it makes them a pain to chew. So I picked them all out.

Get the recipe here. And check back for another soup each week!

René of the Day // 9.24.11 // Gators vs. Wildcats

For my dad's 60th birthday and Father's Day this year, I surprised him with tickets to the Florida Gators versus Kentucky Wildcats football game in Lexington. He grew up in Gainesville, Florida and has been a diehard Gator fan since he was a kid. I don't believe he's been to a game since he moved to Cincinnati when he was 17 and I knew he'd be thrilled... We've anticipated the day since the early summer and I was so excited to take him. I really enjoyed riding down together, catching up, laughing and realizing we have the same favorite current country songs in common ("You and Tequila Make Me Crazy" and "Dirt Road Anthem") - I thought he still listened to classic rock all the time. But he's a good ole Southern boy so no surprise really. We had an early dinner at Pazzo's in Lexington, a pizza place a friend who's a UK alum recommended. We sat right in front of a 70" TV and watched the Alabama/Arkansas game which was great. The pizza was delicious but the wait was ridiculously long, considering they weren't slammed. But we did have some time to kill. But the ole boy wanted to get into that stadium to watch the Gators run out, even if we just sat and watched cheerleaders for a half hour til they were ready (okay, Dad, I get it, you're not dead.)

After dinner we drove to campus and searched for parking... He sure as hell wasn't about to pay $40 to park at a fraternity so we pulled down a residential street and a bunch of college kids were tailgating in their front yard and had a handwritten sign in the driveway: "$20: Spot and a Shot." DONE. Dad worried the kids would screw with his car since we were Gators fans but I told him we'd be good. A super nice kid helped us out and three of them offered us a drink as we walked from behind the house. They were clearly making bank on this parking situation so handing out a cheap drink to their customers was a great sell. Dad asked him if he was in business school and he said, "Yes sir." Dad replied, "Alright then good, because that's where you belong." I pulled out my Gators coozie, slipped it over the Bud Light a random girl handed me and we walked just down the street, over a little bridge and through the parking lot tailGATORs to the stadium. Granted, we sat damn close to the top but he was happier than a pig in sh-t. We had a great time watching Florida kill it. Their running back/track star Rainey is just impossible to catch. There was a group of six young dads behind us with their sons at their first UK game - they were super cute and entertaining throughout the game. Dad knows the game really well so it was enjoyable to talk through the plays and see how pumped he got. At halftime he grabbed us drinks and came back with two blue Powerades (of course, Wildcat Country.) He said a guy looked at him and said, "Shouldn't you be drinking Gatorade?" and he said "Y'all don't have any!" and he replied "That's how we do it." He got a kick out of that.

I was laughing all night because Dad and MR were going back and forth via my texts. Dad asked how he took Florida beating Tennessee the week before. I told him I didn't talk much smack. He goes, "I would've. I'd call him and say, 'This is your future father-in-law. CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!" LOL Later he said, "At least one of the son-in-laws likes football." Then MR text me to say he was dressing up as the Tennessee Tech University golden eagle at halftime. Pepsi put on a big tailgate for their employees and their colleagues at Tech have been teasing him to do it for quite a while - thought that night would be good to show off for the employee's kids. Dad said, "Yeah right, golden eagle? It's probably a vulture costume." Ha. He said he shook his tail feather, posed for pictures, hugged randoms, cheered with the cheerleaders and took a knee for an injured player. He's a total ham so I know he loved it. They told him he can come back to do it anytime haha!

The Gators killed it and I'm so glad I decided to buy those tickets and take a day trip together. A few days later I called Dad to chat and asked if he had a good time. He said, "Honey, it was one of the best times I've had." That statement makes it all worth it. Go Gators!

Commonwealth Stadium

René of the Day // 9.20.11 // Falloween

On a trip to Michael's craft store to inspire the fall decor for my adorable Willow House glass thimble domes that are the highlight of my kitchen table, I came across some fun Halloween items that I had to have! I spent Friday night relaxing, watching "Something Borrowed," eating English chocolate and dressing up the little scenes. Yes, I sound old and boring and lame but after endless weekends of travel, it was nice to relax at home. (Never thought I'd say that.)

One has sparkly little spiders with creepy long legs, one has two little jack-o-lanterns and a tiny black cat and one has little piles of skulls. I knew I wouldn't be able to use a whole bag of fake spider webs and I didn't have cotton balls so I pulled apart the ends of Q-Tips to improvise and line the bottoms of the domes - I think they turned out quite cute! And I have my fall set-up planned for November. Just call me Mini Martha. ;)

René of the Day // 9.15.11 // I'd Hit That

This week I finally was able to play in our softball league - I've been working or had other things to attend to the past few weeks. The weather was cool enough to make it comfortable and it was fun to get out and get a little dirty. Lucky we missed the impending storms that were expected. I didn't make it past first base the few times I made it there but had good hustle and the team was a blast to play with - and it's cool to meet people from other agencies and to hang out with co-workers who you don't always work with directly. I was thrilled that we went with the name I threw out there for the team: "I'd Hit That." Now I just need to work on hitting harder and remember my tshirt (left at my desk) and cooler of beer next week! Play ball!

René of the Day // 9.12.11 // UC vs. UT

The Cincinnati Bearcats played the Tennessee Volunteers - the ultimate line up - MR's and my alma mater playing a packed house at Neyland. He sold his season ticket seats and bought front row seats for us and Vale and Maura - hell of a good time! UC scored firs and I was hopeful - but let's be honest - Big East teams can't hold a candle to SEC football. Nothing like Saturday in the south.

MR made me wake up at 6:30am on a Saturday, bless it. He dressed his in respect orange and I in black and red. We were tailgating in Knoxville by 10:30am. Had a great group of friends from Cincinnati and UT with good food and cold Yuengling. Tailgating there is like a hoiday compared to tailgating in Clifton. In Knoxville, every single park and parking lot is bumper to bumper with trucks loaded with beer, food and cornhole sets with orange flags flying. People pay $20 to park in a car wash spot and restaurants sell their parking spaces - brilliant. Lori and Andy joined us and I'm glad they got to experience it with us. MR is totally in his element and loves showing people around campus. He's been obsessed with UT since his Uncle Jim (UJ) brought him to a game when he was 10. Cut him open, orange will ooze :)

At half time, Maura and I had a fabulous time people-watching... all of the sorority gals had on orange dresses, every style you can imagine, totally adorable, with shit kickers and a button that said "KD loves Vols" or "KKG loves Vols." The culture is so different - I'd love to wear a dress to the games, but I'd be scoffed at in Cincinnati. I really hope my kids go to an SEC school so they can experience football season in the south. Fireworks and "Rocky Top" after every touchdown - it's hard not to be passionate with all of the pomp and circumstance. The Vols ended up taking the lead and holding it through the end. After the game we tailgated more - of course - with MR's cousin Drew from Nashville. Since you can't drink in SEC stadiums, we neded to get our buzz back and watched the end of the South Carolina-Georgia game, displayed on a flat screen in the back of an SUV. Then MR guided Lori, Andy and I through campus, telling tales of college and Knoxville. We walked all the way back to their hotel by the World's Fair park, which I'd love to go back to - just beautiful. Then we walked through Market Square which is a really cool little strip with shops and restaurants with cobble stone park in between. Had delicious pulled pork nachos and sat outside at this little pub with a great band and cool murals of Where the Wilds Things Are in the bathroom. Ran into quite a few people from Cincinnati in the Square, too. 

I was absolutely exhausted but cranked out a second wind and went back to the strip and hit a few bars and met up with old college friends, drank beer and danced like fools. By the time we took a cab back to our hotel, Maura and Vale were passed out. (Vale said he'd like for me to follow him around and blog about his life, so here's his debut!) It was one hell of a long and fun day... I hope we can still do this when we're 40!

Tailgating - house divided! 

Neyland Stadium is insane! View from front row seats.

Smokey!

Get it. Vale!

René of the Day // 9.10.11 // SEC Football

This email gets passed around at the beginning of football season every year - it's too hilarious and accurate not to share, especially after my experiences in the past few years, going to college in the the north and having a boyfriend who has season tickets in the south and dad a who's an SEC fan. If you don't think it's true, join us one weekend and you'll see for yourself. Enjoy!

SEC Football

Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different from up North. For those who are planning a football trip south, here are some helpful hints.

Women's Accessories:
NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and
a fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary - that's what dates are for.

Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

Fathers:
NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath .
SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.

Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.

Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America .

Heroes:
NORTH: Rudy Giuliani .
SOUTH: Herschel Walker & Peyton Manning .

Getting Tickets:
NORTH: 5 days before the game, you walk into the ticket office on campus.
SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus, make a large financial contribution, and put name on a waiting list for
tickets.

Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because
they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the
few hung over students that might actually make it to class.

Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for
game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for
the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.

Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over
to where ESPN is broadcasting "Game Day Live" to get on camera and wave to
the idiots up north who wonder why "Game Day Live" is never broadcast from
their campus.

Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local
radio station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking
accompanied by live performance from the Dave Matthews Band, who come
over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.

Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask, "Where's the stadium?" When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it is the
state's third largest city.

Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on
it, filled less than half way with soda to ensure enough room for bourbon.

When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are less than half-full and less than half of them stand up.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.

The Smell in the Air After the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon.

Commentary (Male):
NORTH: "Nice play."
SOUTH: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs."

Commentary (Female):
NORTH: "My, this certainly is a violent sport."
SOUTH: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs."

Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a
tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.

After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to
the nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next
week's game.

HOW MANY SEC STUDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

At VANDERBILT : It takes two, one to change the bulb and one more to
explain how they did it every bit as good as the bulbs changed at
Harvard.

At GEORGIA : It takes two, one to change the bulb and one to stabilize
the rolling beer cooler the bulb changer is using for a ladder.

At FLORIDA : It takes four, one to screw in the bulb and three to figure
out how to get stoned off the old one.

At ALABAMA : It takes five, one to change it, three to reminisce about
how The Bear would have done it, and one to throw the old bulb at an NCAA
investigator.

At OLE MISS: It takes six, one to change it, two to mix the drinks and
three to find the perfect J. Crew outfit to wear for the occasion.

At LSU: It takes seven, and each one gets credit for five Semester
hours.

At KENTUCKY : It takes eight, one to screw it in and seven to discuss
how much brighter it seems to shine during basketball season.

At TENNESSEE : It takes ten, two to figure out how to screw it in, two to
buy an orange lamp shade, and six to phone a radio call-in show and talk
about how much they hate Alabama .

At MISSISSIPPI STATE : It takes fifteen, one to screw in the bulb, two to
buy the Skoal, and twelve to yell, "GO TO HELL, OLE MISS".

At AUBURN : It takes one hundred, one to change it, forty-nine to talk
about how they did it better than at Bama and Georgia , and fifty to get
drunk and roll Toomer's Corner when finished.

At SOUTH CAROLINA : It takes 80,000, one to screw it in and 79,999 to
discuss how this finally will be the year that they have a decent
football team.

At ARKANSAS : None. There is no electricity in Arkansas