The BLUE RIVER SHOOTOUT thread

[Babs]

oh, no. triple dad had to eat a dry chicken sandwich. how horrible!

I'm eagerly awaiting an update on the state of Dallas-area restrooms.

[Art Vandelay]

Posting live from Big D.

Let me begin by saying that mine anger is kindled against Dallas. My hotel is not far from the West End. This is allegedly the nightlife and social center of the city. After I checked in and put my stuff away, I walked over to eat dinner at around 9PM. Everything was closed at 9. The only places open were Chipotle, TGIF, and a few random bar/grill places (ignoring the fact that there actually was a Chipotle or TGIF in a dining center). There is also a place called "Atomic Sushi." There was a guy sitting inside watching football on TV. I went in but he said that he closed up for the night because things were slow.

I eventually went to one of the bar/grill places. There was a statue of an alligator out front, but it was one of the few things opened at the late hour of 9PM. I went in and there were about 15 people.....watching North Texas/Ball State. I asked the bartender if they were going to show the Oregon/BSU game. He said no. I tried to appeal to his logic by pointing out that the Oregon/BSU game was between two Top 25 teams. The North Texas/Ball State game was between two unranked teams. He said no again. I ate a fairly dry chicken sandwich, then walked home. By the way, it was raining by the time I finished dinner and is currently still raining, so I got soaked on the walk back to the hotel. And it also rained early when I first landed. I stopped at the 7-11 and bought 2 bananas because I was still hungry but didn't want to eat at McDonald's.

I am hoping tomorrow is better, although I am strongly considering changing hotels because this is not a good downtown. Everything closes when people go home from work. I think it would be better to stay in a suburb type place, closer to a movie theater or a Barnes and Noble or something else. I honestly have no idea how I will kill an entire day here tomorrow. I will likely go to the Book Depository in the morning, as well as spend some time in the gym. That should get me through lunch. That only leaves me with about 10 or so hours to kill before I go to bed tomorrow night.

btw, BYu71, supposed to be scattered thunderstorms off and on tomorrow. 50% chance all afternoon. hopefully it doesn't prevent your golf outing with the fam.

I hope they at least have something decent on pay-per-view (PG-13 or lower of course) for you.

[TripletDaddy]

if you are in Big D and want to hang out with a lot of college football fans, head over to the Texas School Book Depository (6th floor) or Dealey Plaza. It ir crawling with BYU, Sooner, and Georgia fans.

I guess Georgia fans are passing through on their way to OK ST and spend the night in Dallas before they head out.

I spent about 3 hours total at the Museum. It is always a great way to spend a morning. Very interesting and a new exhibit on the 7th floor that was not there the last time I visited. I spent some time listening to a group of conspiracy folks that had set up shop across the street in the plaza, right at the top of the grassy knoll where Zapruder shot his now-historic footage. It was interesting to hear their take on various theories, as well as the possibility of a second-shooter.

Another thing that always amazes me.....the cult of tourist photographs. there are two types of folks: those that love to take pictures and those that love to be in them. I think I have shared this before, but I have never understood the obsession with standing in front of historic points of interest and snapping your smiling photo....as if to prove you were there. Nobody wants to see you. They want to see the location of interest behind you. And it is as though people do not give much thought as to the propriety of the setting, either. Shortly after 9/11, I was in NYC on business....I am talking a few weeks after. Makeshift memorials around Ground Zero were everywhere. I wanted to spend some time looking and pondering, thinking to myself. I noticed there were a group of people that seemed more interested in walking up to crater, turning around, and having someone take their picture. Some people would put their arm around their kids and everyone would smile (this was a few weeks after 9-11!).

So today I notice a similar phenomenon. Despite a very reverent tone inside the museum (no cell phones allowed, for example), people outside were running into the street to take smiling photos in front of the big white X that marks where Kennedy took the fatal bullet in his skull. Couples, families, little kids, etc...everyone wanted to stand in front of the spot where JFK was assassinated and smile for the camera. I was sitting on the grass just under the Zapruder pillar trying to envision the scene from that Novemeber day, looking up to the 6th floor window, then looking back down onto the street, imaging what the motorcade looked like. I had just spend 2 hours inside viewing footage and looking at artifacts and evidence, so the weight of the event was heavy on my mind. Regardless of his politics, to assassinate our President is of monumental consequence. As I am sitting there quietly pondering (along with several other well-behaved folks), out jumps these 2 guys.....wearing BYU hats. One of the guys went as far as to kneel down and point to the white X with his mouth open, as if feigning shock.The other one stays standing, giving a thumbs-up sign. Knuckleheads.

Off to the side and behind me, a different family (also in BYU gear), notices the brief spectacle in the street. One of the kids notes, "that is lame." The dad pauses, as if to collect his thoughts, and says, "you are going to find that in life, some people are dumb."

I got a kick out of that parent-child teaching moment.

[Fiyero]

As much as you taunt people for going to tourist attractions, what are you doing at the TSBD....again?

[Babs]

woohoo! I'm here! I'm not sure if I'm more excited about the game or about the chance to finally meet David in the flesh and Blood!

[FMCoug]

This thread makes me sad ... huge game in my former town and I couldn't make it out there. Sucks.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

DDD are you by yourself? No MMM?

[JohnnyLingo]

I'm seeing a few predictions in the prediction thread that have Oklahoma scoring under 35 points. I cannot see how this is possible. Someone explain to me how this can happen... I need some hope about the game tomorrow.

[TripletDaddy]

As much as you taunt people for going to tourist attractions, what are you doing at the TSBD....again?

Dallas is awful. there is nothing to do here! I went to a Harry Potter movie tonight with my FIL.

[TripletDaddy]

DDD are you by yourself? No MMM?

MMM didn't want to come to Dallas.

[YOhio]

Dallas is awful. there is nothing to do here! I went to a Harry Potter movie tonight with my FIL.

Crap! There goes our plans for your trip to Columbus.

[TripletDaddy]

Crap! There goes our plans for your trip to Columbus.

I still haven't seen G-Force!

[YOhio]

I still haven't seen G-Force!

I could definitely see that one again.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I could definitely see that one again.

Watch out for the mole!

[Surfah]

Watch out for the mole!

Hey no spoilers!