This weekend: Clemson at Virginia Tech

This weekend Clemson wraps up the 'Schedule of Champions' part of the season facing off against the defending ACC Champs in Blacksburg. It's our first big road test, but I don't think location will be too much of an issue. Even though the noise has worked in our favor and not against us this year, we know what loud sounds like, and at least we won't be surprised. What I am worried about is consistency. Anyone who has been a Clemson Football fan will tell you it takes years off your life. The biggest culprit is the stress that accompanies inconsistency. We've played some good games and some not so good games, and that make me nervous. The only good thing is Clemson usually gets up for big games, and this qualifies as big.

The best part about this game is it will be my first big 'tablegate' of the year. A good friend of mine went to med school at Virginia Tech, and we're going to watch the game in HD at her place. She has treated me to many an amazing meal, and so I'm excited to bring a tablegate spread. If you know me at all, I'm all about a party, good food and good friends.

Prediction: As soon as I pick the Tigers, I'm going to loose. But I'm going to do it anyway. I like the passion of this football team. I was impressed by our ability to finally wrap up a tackle vs FSU. VTech has a young team, and I think that works in Clemson's favor...ie our freshman are better than theirs. This is a big game and I like Clemson's track record when it matters. The first half will be ugly, but Clemson will get it together in the 2nd half. Tigers win on the road, and become the first ACC team EVER to win 3 in a row against ranked opponents. (and possibly loose the ACC in the same season. That would be our luck)

(Re)Discover Chattanooga - Church Music

I had some friends visit me in Chattanooga this summer, and in my driving them around town they made the comment "Man, there are a lot of churches here." I hadn't given it much thought, but I did a quick search of 2010 Census Data, and the Religion rating for Chattanooga is 194, or 1.94 times higher than the national average. This is even a little higher than the TN State Rating of 188.

When I was little, I didn't think about the fact that my ballet classes weren't offered on Wednesday nights. I knew that it was 'Church Night', and a lot of kids were busy. It didn't bother me when they added Jazz classes on Wednesday nights, because I got to take Jazz. I was too young to make the connection that there was an assumption that the kids wanting to take Jazz wouldn't be the kids going to church on Wednesday nights. Well, I was one of those kids, and nope, I wasn't in church. (side note: my family was always a religious family, but my dad drove race cars out of town on Saturday nights, so Sunday mornings were more about sleeping in and eating chocolate chip cookies than getting dressed up for church)

The other thing I didn't think much about as a kid is the fact that when Dave & Dex came on the local country radio station, US 101, at 5:00 on Wednesdays, they played 'Church Music." I think there were a couple of songs that they played, but my favorite was "Shake a Snake." Considering that Sand Mountain is not too far away, and famous for their snake handling churches, this song was more than mildly entertaining.

Since I've been back in Chattanooga I have not gone back to my country music roots, and I have no idea if US 101 still plays this song (Dave has since passed away). BUT, I was out playing pool last week, and someone said the phrase 'shake a snake.' I haven't thought about this song in 10 years, and we of course found the video on youtube - a digital transfer of the Pinkard & Bowen song on 45. This song is too good not to share.


Happy Church Day Everybody!

Horray for Football & Friends!

Just wanted to make a quick note that I had a Fantastic football weekend in Clemson this past weekend, and that I made a few game picks over on BOILER UP with Phats. I missed on the Clemson game, but I'm always happy when they surprise me and play up to their potential and win one they're "supposed" to win.

I didn't get to as spend time with everyone as I would have liked to, but there are only so many hours in the day, and as much as I hate it - I do NOT do well on no sleep. But I had a wonderful time listening to music, hanging out at Backstreets, getting some new stained glass projects into the design phase, meeting new friends, getting to know some old friends better, and enjoying a beautiful football Saturday in Clemson.

Photo courtesy of/stolen from @olivertwisted on tumblr

Butterfly Window

I forgot to take a picture of this window when it was finished, but it was installed today at Backstreets, and they sent me a picture from Pete's phone. I'll get a portfolio picture later. I like it, hope you do too!

Oops

I forgot to post my Bloody Mary recipe Saturday morning. There was too much football and I just forgot. Since the post was only halfway finished anyway, I'll finish it tonight, and go ahead and schedule it for this Friday.

All 3 of my teams won this weekend!! Clemson, Tennessee, & GaTech got wins, and UTC even put up 7 on Nebraska. How did your teams do?