It's That Time Again!

6 days... SIX DAYS PEOPLE....

until it's COLLEGE FOOTBALL season!

Tailgating, red and black, Firefly vodka, Beam and cokes, Red Coat Band, GLORY GLORY, sundresses and flip flops, road trips, Arch Bar shenanigans and all of the other many reasons to celebrate the fall are upon us. I can hardly wait.

There are so many questions about the season and the team and our tough schedule both SEC and non-conference, but none of that really matters anymore. In six days the Dawgs will take the field in Stillwater, Oklahoma and I will officially be unable to think or speak about anything else, and I like it that way.

For the next three months if you want to find me, I'll be at Firefly in NYC or in Athens or on the road following my Bulldogs. Anything else? I'll talk to you after the last bowl game is played.

JLH

The City, My City

I am reaffirming my long held belief that everyone should live in the city at some point, at least for a little while.

In a few weeks, I will have lived here for an entire year, and I still feel like a NYC rookie. After moving to a new neighborhood, a decidedly more quiet/family/practically suburban area better known as the Upper West Side, I feel like I am experiencing the city for the first time again. Everything around me is new!

For instance, I'm going on a first date later tonight, meeting only for drinks. The idea of meeting just for drinks before I moved here seemed like a cop out, but now it seems like the best, and only, appropriate option. I can no longer imagine the horror, HORROR, of sitting through an entire meal with someone until after pre-screening them in a commitment-free, drinks-only meeting.

Should the initial date lead to dinner later on tonight or otherwise, then so be it. Who buys before they test drive anyway?

But when this guy asked where in my neighborhood we should meet for drinks, he was greeted with a less than sexy and smooth, Ughhhh... Well.... I did mention I JUST moved here, right? That's what google is for! Luckily he's practically a professional Manhattanite with a full 3 years experience in the city, so within seconds he was able to pluck the name of a date worthy wine bar that happens to be only blocks from my new place.

With enough restaurants and bars to try, not even mentioning the endless options for concerts, shows, museum exhibits and other activities, it's a wonder that I ever even spend time at my insanely overpriced apartment. Yet strangely, that's all just part of the allure that is this great, wonderful, center-of-the-universe city. For now, there isn't anywhere I'd rather be.

JLH

La La Bomba!

Another friend assumed her place in the ranks of married life this weekend, and I was happy to be on hand to share in her joy by drinking too much in the best town in America.  

 

While I've known for many years that Athens is a special place, it's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder and after many months of missing it, I was so happy to have a non football season excuse to go back.  I've always believed that life is a series of lessons, and we're here to collect what we can from every experience, so the following are a few things that Athens taught me or reminded me this weekend.

1.  Booze really does taste better when it is Athens priced.

2.  Sundresses and flip flops are appropriate attire for all situations.

3.  A meal with my girls at Last Resort can make me happy no matter what else is going on in life.

4.  Weddings are better with mariachi bands and sombreros.

5.  Arranging for transportation to the church, reception and back down town so you don't have to have to go back to get your car in the morning = priceless.  Three cheers for the Game Day shuttle!

6.  Going to a wedding without a date almost always ends up being more fun.

7.  Having pokey sticks delivered after last call is the stuff dreams are made of. 

8.  I should never challenge groomsmen's fathers to tequila shot taking contests, as evidenced by this photograph.

Congrats to the newlyweds, Mr. & Mrs. Noah Goodwin.  Special high fives and winks to the bride whose new monogram, V.A.G., will give us a supply of jokes that should last at least until we celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary.

JLH

Infinite Road Trip

My life of late feels like a jumbled mess of changing itineraries, carry on baggage requirements, delayed flights and all of the other joys that come with frequent travel.  I know I'm not even in the same league as many road warriors who take weekly trips and sometimes more than one per week.

Even so, I have been in 6 states in the last 7 days, including connecting flights through random airports, which is quite a whirlwind even for me.  I've come to appreciate the little things in air travel that really do keep you sane.

*Medallion Status-  I had never understood the allure of occasional upgrades and the relative few other benefits the airlines afford to its best customers.  Now, even as a lowly silver medallion member on Delta, I can finally say that I get it.  Just the free checked luggage and premium security and check in lines make it worth it.  For me though, the benefit I appreciate most is speaking to a customer service agent on the phone who is in the US and goes out of their way to accommodate me as an "elite" customer.

*Sky Clubs-  This has long been a favorite part of travel for me (See this trip),  I have come to appreciate it even more this summer as airlines have started overbooking flights more and more frequently and the terminals have become unbearable oases of pedestrian travelers.  If not for the relative calmness and free pre-flight cocktails, I'm not sure I could bear spending countless hours in airports.

*Taken just this morning in the crown room, approx 6 a.m.  Woof!

*Routine-  It's strangely comforting for the LGA Sky Club bartender to recognize you and start pouring your preferred cocktail before you even reach the front of the line.  What's more is my now uncanny ability to time my departure from Manhattan nearly to the minute to allow for travel time to get to the airport (in a black car, obviously), then adequate time to pass through security, pop by the crown room to have a cocktail and check last minute emails, and finally arrive at my gate just in time to check the upgrade board and cross my fingers that I have cleared.

Life on the road is more good than bad for me, at least for now.  I've had the chance to see some very cool places, and getting away from the concrete jungle every now and then is good for my sanity.  For those brave road warriors out there, hopefully I'll run into you at an airline lounge or security line along the way.

JLH

City Livin'

I just thought y'all would enjoy a glimpse of what living in NYC is really like.  I bought this retro style chair on Craigslist from a guy who lives on a 5th floor walk up.  This is what I went through (with help from my awesome roommates, thankfully) to get this into a cab and to our apartment in Chelsea....