Going to West Virginia (with a banjo on my knee)

[Paul]

(Above, the mayor and a couple of the city councilmen anxiously await our arrival later this evening. "How'd you boys like some possum stew and a swag of some 'shine?")

In about six hours, six brave men will meet at the designated coordinates and head east to wild and wonderful West Virginia. Will there be drinking? Yeah, you can depend on it. Will I be part of it? Not at first, I drew the dubious assignmetn of driving the first three hours.

Our mission is a simple one, really. It is the annual "guys trip" of the year and we are bound and sworn to cram in as much fun and innuendo as we can in a roughly 30 hour timeframe.

Past ventures have landed us at Rutgers (would love to forget that one...) Cincinnati, Tulane, Va Tech, Memphis...yeah, we've been doing this awhile.

This is actually the first driving trip in a few years. Normally, it's a flight, rent a van, find a liquor store and warn hotel security that we may be in late, rowdy and weaving. This is generally tolerated, except for the year one of our group took out a small potted tree in the hotel lobby. It was a clean hit, but hotel management had a problem with it and we were asked to leave and our money refunded. No big deal, we just went to the hotel down the street.

What will we see when we are there? Our accomodations are top notch and fairly inexpensive, thanks to a travel agent with some pull. There is a hotel lobby bar, which bodes well for us. The downside is we'll be back up and preparing for an god awful, too early tailgate mere hours after we wander off to sleep. We also expect to see a little football. We'll be parked in prime West Virginia tailgating territory, thanks to a return favor from an influential WVU administrative official I "showed a good time" when WVU came down here in 2006. He's promised our safety, we're not so much concerned about that as we are about the chilly weather possible Saturday morning and whether anyone will be grilling Italian sausage that early. It is a must...along with spicy brown mustard.

On the field, I'm hoping for the best but resigned to the fact that it may be a long afternoon for those of us dressed in red. It could be one of those trips where we get a "pass" out of the stadium at halftime (which they allow at WVU) and refortify ourselves during the intermission and part of the third quarter.

It should be interesting. We are walking boldly into a land where the people are passionate, graphic and outspoken about their football team. We may be staggering or limping back out, but sometimes that is the price you pay to play.

[Terry Jackson]

Good luck with all that. Sounds like a fun trip even without at least a hope of a chance for a win. Drink one for me Paul, I'll be thinking of you while on the lake.

[Shannon]

Great article! I made an article out of it, and it is o the blog, over at rivals, and out on CD and louisville buzztap twitter.

Be warned!

Man, you need to take some pics while you are up there! I know one of you guys will have a camera, and be snapping some pics.

Hook us up man, and I have told readers you would issue a full report of your game experience upon return, so be aware of that, and now we will be anticipating it.

You are the go-to guy on this one Paul........

[Sonja]

Just an update..."the big guy" has arrived at their hotel and they are going for dinner before exploring the West Virginia wildlife. He still sounded sober.

As for me, an excellent day at the Downs watching the Breeders Cup. See my reply to my original post for the details and a post with my picks for Saturday in a little bit...

[Sonja]

Another update on the Paul journey. He just called from the tailgate and they are having a good time. He sounds a little rough this morning..sounds likethe boys had some fun last night. They treated the "rookie" on the trip (Kenny) pretty rough last night and he's supposed to drive part of the way back. They are tailgating about 100 yds. from the back entrance to the stadium and near the UofL section. He's happy, they're doing a breakfast tailgate and he got his italian sausages cooked. He said it's a little chilly up there this morning....about 40 degreess when they left the hotel but the wind is blowing too hard yet. They expect almost 70 degrees this afternoon, so it sounds like a great day for football.

I'm headed over to Churchill in a few hours. Had a great time with Tom, Joe and Norma yesterday and won nice money. Joe hit a Pick 3 that paid over $1200 bucks. Wish I would have bet it. Oh, well. Today is another day.

[Shannon]

Thanks for the report Sonja. Paul sent me an e-mail earlier at 7:26, and he could still type, so he was not that drunk yet.

All this talk of sausage, I just hope Paul does not get on the tequila, and have his pants come off......

I just pray he does not put the wrong sausage on the grill..........:->

Hey! I want you to put $5 to win on whatever horse that you feel will win for Nikki and I today, if you could.

If not, cool too. But if you decide to do it for us, let us know what horse we have, so we can sweat the horse in with you.

Shit, I wish I could hook up with you before the race, to give you some $$ to bet for us.

I should of been thinking of this, a lot earlier than I am.

Or do a $4 bet to win, and do me some kind of $1 straight trifecta box to sweat in.

Not trying to break you, but if you have an extra couple of bucks you could put up for Nikki and I, we would greatly appreciate it, so we can have some fun watching the race.

[Sonja]

Hey, glad I checked this before I popped out the door.
This is what I'll do for you.
$4 win on Goldikova in the TVG Mile because she's my favorite horse of the day

$1 tri straight on Zenyatta, Rip Van Winkle and Einstein in the Classic.

OK...good luck and I'm out the door to Churchill.

[Shannon]

I OWE YOU AND PAUL BIG!

Man, I love that Einstein horse! I think he is from Brazil, and I have followed him for I think 2 years. I made some bank on that horse before he came on the radar. One of the few times........sniff, sniff

Sonja is in the house!!!!

Thanks girl, and you and Paul make it back home safely from braving these venues.

[Sonja]

No problem. Sorry the trifeta didn't hit, but the win wager for you on GOLDIKOVA at least came in.

I crushed 'em out there today. Hell, all of us did in our group and I'm in a little late because of the celebration that followed.

The "big guy" didn't leave Morgantown until around 5:30 so he'll be in late.

[Shannon]

Thanks! The horse paid 4.80 for $2 (9.60), so you just keep the winnings on that, and have an extra glass of wine for the Syracuse game.