Another football sunday passed

Go Eagles! But Johnny asked a compelling question:

Is Adam Vinatieri still on the Patriots' payroll?

1st leg

We finally set out for the first stretch of the trip about 7:30 last night, after some problems with Johnny's web site and stupid iWeb.

Yes, I just called iWeb stupid.

After missing what waa probably some of the most beautiful scenery of the trip in WV and Va, we reached Lexington where we crashed at the HoJo on this mountain. The leaves are still turning here (at home our trees are almost bare) and Ilm looking forward to the drive to Richmond, home of VCU.

But first, breakfast!

Chili season starts ... now

Last night our friends hosted their first annual chili cook-off. Johnny made the first place trophy which had a golden ladle and two hot peppers dangling in a manner reminiscent of the male anatomy. There were also ribbons for 2nd & 3rd places.

It was completely fun. The weather was pretty cool, so they got the fires going around 5 or so. There ended up being 14 varieties of chili there, including 6 veggie options and a 1/4 keg of scottish ale from a local brewery. With about 30 people and at least 9 dogs there, the voting was pandemonium. There were these little plastic cups and there were several strategies in place to get around to trying the selections. I ttied one at a time and took notes. There were voting sheets suggesting the aspects of each chili to consider and we weren't allowed to vote for our own.

Johnny made this awesome chili with cinnamon and marjoram, both brilliant suggestions from her grandmother. The votes were tallied ans she won 3rd place overall! First place was a meaty kind I didn't try, but I did drink a lot of beer and had some pumpkin pie squares.

It was pretty cold and we were a little tired, so we took off a little early. It was weird though, because we both woke up around 3 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I think that has never happened to me before -- wait, it did a few times when I was trying out an allergy medicine, but that doesn't really count. I might also be coming down with a cold.

But! I am trying to sleep it off because next week is Johnny's whirlwind east coast grad school tour! I'll be joining her for part of it from Thursday until Tuesday when I fly back from Philly before she heads up to NY and beyond. Yay for trips! Philly, I can't wait to see you!