Archie Sports Illustrated Cover

Sports Illustrated cover on September 14, 1970

Sports Illustrated Cover

Unless this is a hoax, Greg Hardy will be on the cover of next week's Sports Illustrated. From what I hear this will be the first time Ole Miss has been featured on the cover since Archie played here...

Bless their hearts! Ole Miss 31, Florida 30

Bless those Gators hearts...and Go Rebels! Kentrell Lockett is my new favorite player!

Confirmation

This picture is confirmation that I was in fact sitting next to Tom Brokaw's wife and dauther at the Debate. I "borrowed" this picture from Chad Mills facebook page...that is them! Special thanks to Chad for supplying AA batteries when mine died early in the day!

Door Hanger

Finally...something other than the Debate. This picture is of the door hanger I made for Kim's door at the hospital when she had Addyson. Special thanks to Cherie for going to Walmart with me and for sacrificing the tips of her fingers to the heat of the glue gun! The hanger was a lot of fun to make...if anyone needs one made, let me know! I'd love to do it again!

Other Scenes from the Debate

Spin Alley inside the Media Filing Center

Network exterior platforms outside the Ford Center

Network exterior platforms outside the Ford Center

The Candidates

I was able to get pictures of Senator McCain but not Senator Obama (although Senator Obama came out and waved at the reporters before and after the Debate). Both candidates entered the Ford Center underneath a big tent. The first series of pictures are of Senator McCain's motorcade and were taken as he left the Ford Center after his walk thru...

Many of you have already heard this story before...but for those who haven't...

On the first night of our honeymoon, Justin and I ate dinner at Nick's in Niceville, Florida. Nick's is across the bay from Destin. It is a hole-in-the wall restaurant that we only knew about because we had eaten there with Justin's parents before. The restaurant reminds me a lot of Taylor Grocery. While we were waiting on our meal we noticed Senator McCain in the restaurant. He was having dinner with a large group. This was prior to the days of everyone owning a digital camera. All we had was our cheap throw away...I attempted to take a couple of pictures without being obvious, but none of them turned out...if only we'd had the digital I would have known to take others. We even tried to get him on video...that didn't work either. His picture is hanging in the restuarant from that night...After the election on November 4th, Justin and I may be able to say that we have had dinner with the President (sort of)...

That night is one of the reasons I didn't mind taking pictures of all of these people at the Debate...opportunities like this only come around once in a lifetime.

The picture above is the arrival of Senator Obama and his traveling press.

His big bus......

Secret Service everywhere...

Secret Service talking into the hand mike...

Media Personalities

Media personalities were also everywhere you looked on Friday. Below are some pictures...I never did find Katie Couric or Tom Brokaw...but I did get a picture with John Grisham (see below). Also rumor has it that Oprah and Arnold Schwarzenegger were there, but I never saw them either! Greta Van Susteren from Fox News...she was so nice and very petite!

John Grisham and Joe Birch (Action News 5 - Memphis)

I wasn't going to ask for a picture but he approached me after I took the picture of him and Joe Birch...so I asked if he'd take one with me, and he was very kind to oblige...

Alan Colmes from Hannity & Colmes. Their show was broadcast after the Debate from the Media Filing Center. Greta's show followed immediately. I was spotted on television during Greta's show...I made every attempt to not act like the two blonde girls in front...I didn't want to be "that girl" on her cell phone, waving at the camera, or mouthing "I love you" as one of the girls did early in the show...the camera men just kept laughing at them...they would slide over every time the camera shot changed!

Shepherd Smith interviewing the Chancellor prior to the Debate. I have a lot of pictures of Shepherd simply because there was no one else arount taking pictures...

Politicians at the Debate

I spent a lot of Friday afternoon of the debate taking pictures of famous politicians...some I recognized and others I didn't. If someone had a lot of media around them taking pictures I would take one as well...I've since identified all of them! My first encounter was Rudy Giuliana. After that it seemed as if they were everywhere!

Madeleine Albright - First woman United States Secretary of State (appointed by Bill Clinton)

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican)

Senator John Kerry - He must of stood outside talking on his cell phone for almost half an hour...all the while media and others taking pictures of him.

He finally made it inside to be interviewed...

Bill Richardson - Governor of New Mexico (Democrat)

I went to the Debate!

SO much to say! I got to go to the Debate...just happened to be in the right place at the right time! I'm still in shock! It's all so surreal! One of the things the moderator pointed out that I loved...what a privilege it was to be in that audience. After this election is over we will either have the first woman Vice-President or the first African American president! History in the making either way...and I was there! I chatted briefly with the lady sitting next to me. Turns out her husband is moderating the debate at Belmont...okay...I just did a google search to see who is moderating that debate...unreal - I was sitting next to Tom Brokaw's wife and daughter! Insane! What are the odds? She told me she had been to Oxford before but it was her daughter's first time here. She was so friendly! Wow... Now to the pictures...I'll try to put an explanation with each one!

Debate Activities in the Grove

Kim and Addyson were kind enough to meet me in the Grove with a digital camera so that I could get some better pictures. This picture is of me and Addyson in front of the concert stage. The weather couldn't be more perfect!

Kim and Addyson...I think she's starting to look more like Kim.

She supports McCain & Palin.

Me and my favorite gal under 2 months old!!!

This tent is located on the University Avenue bridge coming onto campus. Secret Service is stationed here with metal detectors. I went back thru clearance after I took this picture right behind Katie Couric!!! I tried to get a picture, but there was a golf cart waiting for her. She was gone before I got the chance...I'm on the search for her.

When I drove in this morning, I came in on Old Taylor Road. I went thru 3 clearances before I ever made it to the metal detectors in the Music Building. At one clearance I had a dog circle the vehicle. It was very interesting.

Debate Pictures

My few hours of fame...the picture above was taken right as the McCain announcement that he wanted to delay the Debate came out...

This view is from the back of the media tent. It has been my view when I've had down time.

The above picture is the view at the front of the media tent.

This picture is of a workspace in the Music Building (old Education building).

More pictures to come...

Hunting Expo

Justin took these pictures of Cousar on their outing to the hunting expo. As you can tell, Cousar shares his daddy's love of recreational vehicles. I can see his mind churning..."Which one do I want?"

It's hard to tell, but Cousar is looking in a gigantic fish tank. He is obsessed with fish and fishing. The fish tank was the only way Justin was able to pry him away from all of the ATVs. After the expo, they went to Scruggs farm supply store and weren't able to leave without buying a toy fishing pole, rain boots, and a video about John Deere tractors. (And Justin says I buy him too much!!!)

Ear Infections and the Debate

It's been a while since I've posted mostly because of the subject header. Barrett has had an ear infection the entire month give or take a few days, and I've been super busy working the Debate...that may not even happen. Some notes/moments/thoughts from the last few weeks...

-This picture was taken on Wednesday night with my phone...I think it may be the only picture I have with both of them looking at the camera. As you can tell they look nothing alike. It's such a surprise because on April 16th Barrett came into this world looking just like Cousar. They are the sweetest boys ever. We are so blessed!

-Cousar loves school now. His teacher is Ms. Lisa, and she is wonderful! He finally has some consistency every morning! Our new routine when we get to school in the mornings: He puts his backpack on and walks in. He presses the elevator button, and when we get to the 1st floor he walks down the stairs by himself. (He let me help at first, but now he is Mr. Independent.) We drop Barrett off with Ms. Zandra and Ms. Mervet (both fabulous as well - I really think Barrett loves Ms. Zandra more than me!). Cousar ususally plays with the other kids while I put away bottles and sign Barrett in. We walk across to his room. He helps me hang up his bag, and then he gives me a kiss. He then takes off to the play ground waving by. It is such a bitter sweet moment in my day. I'm so sad because he's growing more independent, but I am also so happy that he doesn't cry when I leave him anymore. And Barrett is too little still to realize that I'm leaving him...

-Barrett and I went to the football game Saturday night with our friends Gerald and Lauren. He stayed awake for the entire game, and never cried once! Everyone around us kept talking about how good he was. Cousar missed the Grove and the game. He and Justin spent the day together at a hunting expo in Tupelo and then dinner at Pizza Den. He was out like a light when we got home after the game.

-My job during the debate this week has been to act as the University's representative for the McCain campaign to make sure they have everything they need in their various work spaces around campus. It has been such a neat experience. Everyone with his campaign has been so nice, and I feel like I'm playing a part of history. My picture was on the home page of the Clarion Ledger on Wednesday for a few hours after McCain's request to postpone the Debate.

I really think that we will read about this week in the history books one day...the week that the face of the American economy changed forever...maybe even the debate that ultimately won/lost the election for either candidate. As I'm typing this Fox News just announced that McCain is in fact coming! Thank goodness...at least we aren't losing again in the 4th quarter! I guess I will have a busy day after all now!

Inside the "fence" is like a little city. There are golf carts buzzing around everywhere. Secret Service, production crews, University volunteers, media, and satellites are in every direction. I'm going to post pictures soon. Tonight I'll be in the media filing center with Greta VanSusteren and Hannity and Colmes among others...and down the hill from Sheperd Smith's production...all in little bitty Oxford.

I'll try to post pictures...In the mean time, go Rebels! Beat the Gators. (I'm not really counting on it!)

Labor Day

On Labor Day, I took the boys to visit my Dad and Charlotte (Big Pop and Grandma). We had a great visit as always! Cousar always has so much fun over there mainly because Grandma gives him everything he wants and then some!

As you can tell by the picture above it doesn't take us (meaning Cousar) very long to turn the entire house upside down! Big Pop and Grandma are very kind to let us (meaning Cousar, again) take over every time we visit! (Also in the picture are my niece, Taylor, and her friend Kathleen! They were great with the boys!)

Cousar is really into talking on the phone these days. Whenever one of our cell phones or the house phone rings, he starts yelling "Hello!" He carries on full conversations when he plays with the phone, but we can't understand a single word he says! I would love to know who he is talking to!

Barrett listening to Big Pop and showing those precioius dimples! He is beginning to sit up on his own now!

Not long after he is completely conked out!

Playing on the computer with Big Pop! They were looking at pictures and naming off who was in them...Just stay away from the pens, Cousar!

Cousar loves playing with all of the toys at their house! Big Pop and Grandma got this one when he was around 9 months old, and he would cry everytime we turned it on! Now it's the toy he always goes for first and plays with the most!

A special thanks to Grandma for always being the photographer! I wouldn't have very many pictures of my boys without you and Sweets!