The End Is Near, Tailgating, Anyway

Seems like it was just yesterday, the days were hot, and excitement was building for another season of tailgating!  Now, the bitter chill is starting to set in that tailgating 2015 is almost over.

The reality of it is parked in my driveway.  Pickup loaded down, with three years of gear that has accumulated in Starkvegas:  three tents, three tables, ten chairs, two cooler bag stands, and various other items that you pick up here and there, all on sale, of course!

Man cub has worn himself out this season with doing our thing and also doing tent setup for Southern Tradition Tailgating.  He will be working for them during the Egg Bowl,  so we will just be attending the game.

It's kinda funny, having season tickets for both schools.  The game is the same, but that's where the similarities end.  We got "reseated" this year at both places.  Time to meet new people and build some new friendships.  New friend in Starkville yesterday shared a picture of the new grandbaby, and the loss of a parent, bittersweet for sure.  New friends in Oxford are actually an old family acquaintance  from growing up in Nelson in the 1960's.

You know the food was good when it's all gone by the end of the day. Makes for packing up that much easier.  In Starkville it's about feeding a bunch of college kids.  In Oxford, we're feeding the Popo!  Same outcome, food gone!

In Oxford, it's all about the Grove experience.  The tents, the table prep, the girls all dressed up, and watching folks learn the hard lessons regarding beer delivery and alcohol consumption.

In Starkville, we are a more laid back crew, over by the chapel.  Crowds are smaller but we still get to watch our favorite group cooking 18 slabs of ribs, an a dozen chickens, with open bar, music blaring, with two blowup couches, and 60 inch tv!

For me, it's all about the food prep.  Ok, what will it be this week?  I've lost count on how many batches of cheese straws and dozens of cookies have been baked. In past weeks it was briskets, pork butts and even tamales. This week it was prep for red beans and rice.  Figured that one out by cooking it in the crockpot and transporting it in ice chests.  Great substitutes for hot boxes, and the food was still steaming hot five hours later!

Yep, the end of tailgating is now upon us.  That truck is still in the driveway, and still loaded down.  Now time to figure where to store it all and at the same time start prepping for that last run to Oxford.

Nothing else left to say but #HailStatell and Hobby Lobby!