Happy Happy Happy

Hilarious picture of one of my Hullabaloo-ettes taken during the Ruston game weekend.

So yes, friends, that game made me Happy, Happy, Happy.

I hadn't enjoyed a win like that since we put the pedal to the metal on UAB back during the final days of the Toledo Error.

Coach Hullabaloo called this the Amnesty Game, in that I behaved myself as a civil person (mostly) at the official Tulane tailgating at the ULM game.

It was hosted by the Tulane government affairs office in an effort to maintain connections to North Louisiana important people. TPTB were in attendance and I was cordial to them.

The North Louisiana Tulane alumni had this super cute centerpiece and these adorable cups. And chargrilled oysters.

Also, my cute shoes and my suuuuper cute one shoulder gameday dress made the broadcast.

Anyways, despite my best efforts, I couldn't resist and I did inflict my thoughts about the absurd auction item on the Hullabaloo Auction onto some new, and of course young, and unsuspecting Wilson Center staff members. I've been getting messages from all manner of Tulane peeps who are some kinda irate about this. Like I got any more pull to do anything about it other than just complaining on the interwebs. But seriouuuuusly y'all .... Benny Ellender and Vince Gibson totally facepalmed in their graves.

So that totally made me UNhappy, UNhappy, UNhappy. The very least, they could have used an Arkansas picture hoisting the boot, right? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot are they thinking? I told Coach Hullabaloo I had half a thought to outbid everyone on it and then use it as tinder to start a bonfire pep rally in the UC Quad. You think I'm joking? I was a Girl Scout, I know how to start a proper bonfire. Watch me. But it just goes to show that it's totally true though: Tulane can't even manage to get out of its way even if it tried. Quelle Embarrassing!!!!

And speaking of getting out of our way.... The kick off return by Rashon Ceasar? At first I was shaking my head that we go late into the third quarter with a shut out and blow it, and then laughed it off when I read a comment that Richard Carthon had an angle on Ceaser, but then Picarelli took out Carthon. Oh hilarious! Totally a signature Tulane move, just making sure to put our mark on that win and keepin' it real. Ha ha!

Anyways, the game was otherwise fantastic from beginning to end. Montana is getting MUCH better at predicting where to pluck erratic snaps from and juggling the ball quicker before getting off the play. This is a valuable skill to learn, people. Just look at Tim Tebow. Perfectly executed shot gun all five years and look at him now. Washed up in the NFL. Now if he'd had a Tulane center hiking him the ball, he'd a been trained and prepared for all matter of calamities and eventualities. Just no telling where he'd be now. Straight to the top!

So mainly the gameplan was Hand it to Darkwa (picture from Monroe Star).

Followed by some Hand it to Kelley action (picture from Monroe Star).

Mixed in with some absolutely g-e-n-i-u-s defense by Jordan Batiste & Company for good measure. You know, just to keep things interesting and keep Graff on the edge of his seat. The fumble/takeaway that Batiste orchestrated that ended with a Dominique Robertson touchdown was truly epic and definitely makes the top of Mrs. Hullabaloo's Top 10 list.

Genius moment captured by Parker Waters.

What a play. Reminded me of Robert Meachem stealing back the interception in the 2009 Saints vs Redskins game.

Oh, and this pick up of a fumble by Matt Bailey was totally Hashtag Awesome! Also captured by Mr. Parker.

We also got to meet some super sweet Tulane peeps who live up in North Louisiana. Their little club is called the Strawberry Club or something like that because they used to get together to tailgate up there and they usually ate or had strawberries and that's what people called them and the name stuck.

And so now they wear these cute ribbons with a TU tie tack. She and I totally chatted about how absurd the elimination of Newcomb College was.

The most memorable part of our sojourn in Monroe though had to be all of the Monroe peeps who thought Coach Hullabaloo was Nick's Daddy. Talk about lol. As you could see in the previous picture of my cute shoes up earlier in this post, we actually were sitting nearby, but Nick's Daddy got tired of being continually approached and skipped out before the fourth quarter. And then it wasn't too long before Coach Hullabaloo started getting taps on the shoulder and people coming up to him, groups of little kids showing up with their programs and sharpies, "Mr. Montana, will you sign this for me?"

Ha!

Coach Hullabaloo used to get mistaken for Sean Payton, and before that some pro golfer Preston something or another. Anyways, I think he just looks like Coach Hullabaloo, if you ask me. Maybe I'll wear a blonde wig at the next game and we can be a decoy couple.

These are some pictures of Malone Stadium.

I liked the Touchdown Terrace they had. I wasn't so much a fan of the tents on the opposite endzone because there wasn't any cute tablescaping, but I give them props for taking care of their donors nicely

I do have to commend the Monroe peeps on their impeccable manners. Everybody was absolutely lovely. We even had fans say to us "Congratulations, Good luck the rest of the stretch." It was very similar to how we left the Mississippi State game in 2006 after totally winning there and embarrassing them. Of course then afterwards they put a for sale sign in Sylvester Croom's yard. But at least they waited until Tulane fans went home to air their disagreements.

Unfortunately, ULM Coach Todd Berry, decided to act all a fool and gave a very unfortunate post-game interview wherein he completely threw his team and us under an Interstate 20 sized Semi. I was so embarrassed for these poor people in Monroe to have such an unfortunate coach representing them like that in the media. What an idiot.

Anyways, be that as it may, I have put it out of my mind and I am now in the throes of Homecoming preprations. I got mums to make and tablescapes to plan.

See y'all back here in a week!

Eleventh Woman

Lawd y'all! I seriously did fly over 1300 miles dragging a cute Tulane seat cushion all the way up to Syracuse and ended up forgetting the damned thing in our parked car. So I literally had to sit through that loss on those stupid metal bleachers.

Yes, I expected to be 2-2 at this point in the season. But I expected a for real 2 and 2. Not two embarrassments, plus two gimmes. The mistakes we were making against Jackson State are, hello, STILL HAPPENING.... Plus we are adding some lagniappe mistakes to our repetoire, in addition to dusting off some oldies but goodies from the Toledo Ball years.

2 blocked punts, one blocked field goal, a sack derby and my favorite: 10 men on the field! Because who needs 11 men? It worked so well for us the 2012 season, so why give it up? I'm fixin to wear a shirt that sez "Tulane, Home of the 11th Woman"

I am serious y'all! If we can't shake it, might as well embrace it.

Tulane: Cradle for
the T Formation
the Spread Offense
and now presenting, The Ten Man Scheme!

Coach Hullabaloo was telling me over dinner in Syracuse that he was so mired in all of other mistakes that the 10 men on the field almost escaped him until he watched the Syracuse offense pointing at our line and headcounting, mouthing "one, two, three" and then doing a double take and counting again. To Ten. And it happened more than once. So I have to stop considering this happenstance. It's gotta be in the playbook.

I did read some of the message boards and laughed my head off at some of the commentary by one of the Brothers B. It's been hours, and I am still busting out in random laughter about his observation that some of the money men behind TPTB must have had a "brain bris." OMG ha! hilarious! And that our only hope is that the New Orleans coroner mistakenly pick up a certain someone in charge due to a dead personality.

Seriously, I needed that chuckle. Thanks Bro B for the comic relief!

I was berated on twitter that I needed to submit my questions to the Coach's Radio Show in order to have satisfactory closure about our performance on Saturday.

So for what it's worth, as a complete hypothetical I'm gonna test drive some questions here first.....If you are catching a ball in the endzone on a punt return or kick off, do you A) run for it if the opposing team is bearing down on you B) pause with the ball in hand, gaze upon it in admiration before coming to a decision C) Take a knee or D) answers A+B.

Or if you are on a kick return assignment and the ball lands and is surrounded by the opponent's players, do you A) get in the mix B) try to pick up the ball C) Stay away from it D) answers A+B

I'll let these question stew a bit.

Another item that chaffed my hide today. The special teams line being responsible for snapping Cairo's streak. Hold the flippin line! If the Good Lord sees it fit for me to live another day, I will never be able to beeee-lieve that they did that to him after he flew 5,000 miles from Sao Paolo to New York, literally from one end of the hemisphere to another, just days after burying his father.

Inexcusable.

Now, about the gameday experience itself.....

Syracuse had a DJ who sat in the student section and actually spun some great tunes. His turntable was blue. I loved that. Could you imagine the apoplexy of the Nimbys if we did that?! Would be cool to get the Fogeldevlin Fieldhouse rockin' though.

Coach Hullabaloo was delighted that Syracuse sold beer.

But OMG on that that train whistle. It was grating my last nerve. I'll spot them the cute idea to memorialize Ernie Davis as a gametime tradition, but it reminds me too much of that stupid cannon at Michie Stadium.

And How does a stadium that is named after an air conditioning company NOT have air conditioning? Since a rainy cold front was moving through outside most everybody was in long sleeves, only to melt in the sauna which was the Carrier Dome. Oy.

Anyways, pre-game we tailgated in practically Canada, that's how far away the Skytop area is from the Carrier Dome. Syracuse is weird about on campus revelry.

This was the sweet tailgating that our lovely Wave Momma organized out in the Skytop. We did have a lovely time and got to meet some SuperFans that drove in from Long Island and New Jersey, as well as other players' families. Thank you Wave Momma for your hospitality!

Meanwhile, back on campus there were these two big official looking tents with this banner for the official "on campus" tailgating.

And that was it. (I photoshopped the quotes around fun, ha ha)

Oh, except for these people.

And here's me with the all of a dozen people watching the Syracuse Band do the official march to the Carrier Dome.

While everybody else was dealing with the shuttle transporation from the Skytop. Quelle Depressing.

In my dreams, I envision gameday at Tulane like the Boulevarding at SMU. With the Band lining up on the Newcomb Steps, all of the boosters and alumni tents spilling out along the Newcomb and UC Quads. All of the student tents along McAllister. For one long continuous revelrous procession cheering Onwards to Yulman!

Sadly, it's probably going to be something how like Syracuse has it set up. It is, therefor, my first order of business is to start a Novena that TPTB finds it in their heart to permit a tent scramble like they do in The Grove (please, please, please, pretty please!). And pray, pray, fervently pray that they do not believe that Syracuse's pre-game is a brilliant flipping plan to follow. Because the on campus areas were completely anemic. Knowing how they think, it will probably end up this way for us whiners and complainers. We very well might be banished to tailgate at Tulane Lakeside Hospital parking lot next year. Because the "brain bris" people that Brother B laughed about, the ones who support all of the bull, do not go to games or tailgate. And gameday will most likely be built around accommodating them.

Ok, so that's that. Next up is a road trip to Funroe. But before I geaux, I am compelled to beat a dead horse. Because this is my blog and I shall do as I please:

P.S. Gimmick schedules do not enhance our gameday preparation.

P.P.S. I'm NOT going to apologize for having high expectations. Some of yous may be satisfied with the excuses, complacency and "right for our situation" empty promises that continually churn out from the excuse factory. But I, however, will not.

That is all. Enjoy the rest of your week.

Classic Game

{Happy Day}

The 1998 Tulane Liberty Bowl.....and it's not even your birthday y'all!!!!!!

Lucky you that Mrs. Hullabaloo has entirely too much time on her hands to procrastinate on work work. And packing since we leave for Syracuse in 24 hours.

Been looking for this for ages.

Let's all collectively thank the Mormons for our preserving history.



......Oh to be handed a gift on a silver platter.

and word. JaJuan Dawson was awesome.

Tulane Tailgate in Syracuse

FUUUN!!! One of our Wave Mommas is hosting our tailgate in Syracuse on Saturday. Hullabaloo-ray-ray!

Tailgating starts at 9:30 am on the Skytop across from the Manley Field house. Directions to the Skytop, etc. are in my summer preview of the Syracuse Roadtrip (click for link). The Thomsons will have food, mimosas and beer. Coach and Mrs. Hullabaloo will bring zing zang bloody mary mix and pickled asparagus.

Forecast is rain, so bring your rain boots.

Syracuse provides shuttles from Skytop to the Carrier Dome.

and for a classic moment in Tulane Football, a recap of our visit to the Carrier Dome in 1990.

Roll Wave!

Roll Kyle Roll!

Ode to The Kingpin Kyle Fischer. Master of that fine 7 10 split, baby!

Did you see that? Hilarious. Here it is again if you missed it.

Ok, so this game was totally like a Charlie Brown and Lucy, Peanuts and the Gang, cartoon game. {Sue me for keeping things in perspective.} Those crazy snaps to the QB and long snapping to the punter were simply out. of. control. I almost started a betting pool up in the stands on where that sucker was gonna squirt out from next. Montana juggling it like a hot potato before he can throw, Picarelli having to pluck em out of the stratosphere before placing it down. It was totally cray.

And Holy turnovers Ben Affleck. You know how they have a homerun derbies? Well we were definitely doing our part to have a fumble and interception derby there last Thursday. The best quote from the game came from Scott Kushner.

I do have to say that Julius Warmsley's sack fumble in the fourth quarter was absolutely genius. Afterwards he went and lifted up Coach Sumrall in a bear hug up in the air on the sidelines. It was funny.

This was my favorite picture I snapped after the game.

Hands down though, my absolute favoritest moment of the season thus far has got to be the conversion on 3rd and Twenty-Freakin-Four by Xavier Rush that made ESPN Sports Center review of the game.

photo by Chuck Cook of USAToday

ROLL DAMN WAVE, y'all. My team! on Sports Center! Last time I remember staying up all night to re-watch a Tulane replay scrolling on Sports Center over and over was when Michael Jordan's interception in the Liberty Bowl made Play of the Day. I even talked to random people at the airport about that interception: Excuse me. Did you see that? Play of the Day? Tulane, y'all!

For the casual football viewer, if all you saw was that ESPN replay you woulda thought everything was tip top shape on that possession. Thanks ESPN for your fine editing. But sitting in the stands witnessing it in person.... in my mind I was throwing daggers. I could not shake the bad feeling that our going backwards on downs was going to go the way of the Houston 2009 game when we were drawing blood with first and ten at their 30, but then ended up tragically at fourth and 43 and a big ole nasty loss.

Anyways, if you gotta aks.... Yes: I'm holding my end of the bargain as a Tulane Fan and absolutely relieved we pulled out a win out of that mess. Because if I'd actually made a trip to Ruston and then lost, oooohh glory. So thank you to Kyle Fischer for missing all those Field Goals!!!!! We need to send you a bagel and rugelach basket in appreciation.

Coach and I actually skated in to Ruston with moments to spare and missed the pre-gaming. Cute picture of us at The Joe (<-- what Tech fans call their stadium).

So yes, unfortunately I only got to give a super quick glance to Tech tailgating and offer my bossy opinion. I had ended up talking Coach Hullabaloo into taking me to Dallas earlier in the week for a few days of shopping and then shooting over to Ruston for gameday. I mean, there's only so much North Louisiana to go around and we're going to be there twice within 2 weeks. I gotta leave some of the fun for the Monroe weekend.

Anyways, I snapped a few shots of things that intrigued me.

Cute picture of Angel's outfit for the game.

I thought that this tailgating pavilion that Tech has for alumni is genius. Loved this.

and now I know that Tech alumni are p-i-s-s-e-d, about how their season is turning out, but chin up. At least y'all got this cute pavillon and we still gotta look forward to shuttling in from the dome next season.

This wreath was kind of cute.

Not as cute as my door wreath.

But it will do.

And then I loved, loved, LOVED, this centerpiece with the mums, mini helmet, car flags, plush mascot.

I am totally copying this cuteness!!!! And wouldn't you know that the owner of this tailgating set up is the mom of a 2006 Newcomb alumna. I invited her to come enjoy our tailgate in New Orleans if they ever come.

My friend Chardonnay, whom I will mention below, assured me that the Tech tailgate was okay, but that from her extensive travels to Louisiana tailgates that Mrs. Hullabaloo tailgates are far and away the best tailgating. I was so touched and honored to hear that. I do it all out of love.

Other things I enjoyed: The charcoal pants and white jerseys. Sharp. I am Switzerland in the uniform controversy, other than laughing when I listened to a clip of Graff from the USA game when he had to ask which player had just scored. Up close, I love the charcoal jerseys. Really, I do. But I have to admit it was mighty nice at the Ruston game to be able to identify players out on the field instead of our Get Smart tactic of invisible jersey numbers meant to fool opponents. My middle-aged eyesight appreciated it.

And then the FUNNIEST new tradition has been started by the boyfriend of one of my newest hullabaloo-ettes whom I'll call Chardonnay. So Chardonnay's boyfriend takes to screaming "WHO'S YO DADDY?!?!?!?!?!" every time that Nick Montana completes a pass. It's hilarious. I laugh every time. And Joe has got to hear us because he usually sits a few seats away from us at the dome and also ended up just one family over from us in Ruston.

A fun thing the booster club I belong to are doing this season is we are taking this banner on the road to our CUSA road games.

Last year we had another banner for Devon that turned out great. We collect signatures in exchange for a voluntary contribution. Last year we raised over $800 at the Ole Miss game and then presented the banner to the family personally. They were sweet enough to show us a picture of it in front of his bed. So we hope that this banner does well also.

Next up is Syracuse and we are all set to go. Catch up with me after the weekend y'all!

Oy Vey, what a game

It goes without saying that we do not tolerate excessive celebration penalties at our tailgating.

Yes, this is what you think it is: Manischewitz Sangria. and He'Brew beer.

We think of everything.

Can you bee-lieve the zebras tried to pin an Excessive Celebration Penalty on us after Justyn Shackleford got that touchdown that started our Third Q Mo? The nerve to try to regulate celebratory responses in New Orleans of all places.

But alas....Coulda Woulda Shoulda on that game yesterday. Now we got 4 days to get our act together. Here's to hoping that it's like me, I work much much better as a procrastinator.

Booty Judy and I did our traditional fourth quarter in the parking lot getting an early start on post-game tailgating. We listen to the game on the radio btw.

I was shocked when Coach Hullabaloo joined us just moments before that final glimmer with a minute to go when we almost tied. Could have been like our overtime 2009 UTEP win. I surely felt bad for some of the newer fans who were sad though. Dust yourself off and give the paw to any excuse making churning out from the excuse factory. And make sure to have some good frosty beverages in your ice chest for post-game. That's my recommendation.

Anyways, God bless our cornerbacks and secondaries for carrying the load on defense. And God bless the team for caring and not giving up. Mrs. Hullabaloo noticed and saw y'all fired up on the sidelines. Barking orders to each other between possessions. Thank you for playing lights out in the third quarter and for that flash of possibility in the closing moments of the 4th.

Yes, the bad interception call sucked. And yes a thousand other things during the game. However, it might have been just me, but I thought that I had stepped into a time warp and we were back in the Toledo Error. A perennially young team, a quarterback with no time to think, the questionable calls on 4th down and for the Love of God: Up The Middle TM. And oh yes, a blocked punt for good measure.

So yes, Mrs. Hullabaloo felt that the play calling was, well, not what the team deserved. And who's responsibility was it to shake things up and to get the team mentally ready and armed with a gameplan to win? We had 9 days to prepare. It's like we were caught unawares that this was a real life game yesterday. And lawd have mercy....If I saw one more Up The Middle TM I was going to, oh I don't know....complain. or something equally devastating.

Because seriously, we are just like butter on defense, but ran into a brick wall on offense. Up the Middle TM, I'm through with you. And on fourth down at the 10, who are you going to reasonably trust to get it done? Our Lou Groza Award Winning kicker? Or our questionable offensive line to provide open lanes or a pocket? TAKE THE POINTS!

Without question I really really reeeeeeally want Coach CJ to do well. His enthusiasm is infectious and omg, I am simply obsessed with his wife Angel who is the classiest First Lady of College Football in the history of the NCAA. I'm so proud and excited that he's making the locals give us a second glance. He's recruiting some very exciting players. But we just lost to a team that has been in the NCAA for less time than TPTB has been carrying on about the state of the flower beds after Katrina at Wilson Center (P.S. Mobile got some Katrina too btw).

Tulane: inaugural member of the SEC, inaugural team of the Sugar Bowl, a school who's fielded a football program that has spanned three centuries gave this brand new FBS team their first FBS win. Congratulations! Should we send a bagel and champagne gift basket to mark the occasion?

I simply knew this was going to happen, I could just feel it. No, I do not want to expect the worst (who wants to? I'd rather be booty shaking if you ask me).

Scheduling down is always a dumb idea and now I hope you understand why. It's like me spending Coach Hullabaloo's money: gotta keep em challenged and hungry. Last week so many sweet souls got all caught up and acted like this was manna from heaven and how could we possibly conceive of losing. Scott Cowen was back to this gimmick of dying his hair and everything. and I just chuckled to myself about this one: but TPTB trotted out this whole line that we bitter and unfun fans needed to just get over ourselves and understand that there was an entire spectrum of FBS schools that lost their openers to FCS schools and we should just be doing cartwheels down McAllister about having beat Jackson State. They provided a list of the losers and everything.

Well, no thank you! I want some decent experienced linemen and I want them like yesterday. and I want long bombs successfully caught across midfield.

Not that Ryan Grant isn't the gift that keeps on giving.

image by Parker Waters

And that defensive play by Jordan Sullen to break up that endzone pass? Holy omg just how geee-nius was that !?!!!! I have not seen playing like that from a Tulane team in a very long time. Our last safety was 6 years ago, so that was totally welcome. And the kids have so much heart!! I just wish we had more of the missing parts and pieces to match that intensity.

And did I mention linemen? Because we need more of that. If last week's game masked all of our flaws, this week's game successfully did the opposite.

........So that's all I've gots to say about that. This too shall pass. Now on to the food and fun portion of this here blog post.

I supervised Coach Hullabaloo in the making of our very first brisket at Chateau Hullabaloo. and I made my very first Kugel, y'all! So proud of myself. It was like a rite of passage.

Our Challah-baloo tailgating was great, I loved it. I can't wait to reprise this again.

Shiksa In the Kitchen's Coffee and Rum Brisket

This recipe was very easy for me to supervise Coach Hullabaloo making and it was delicious. And Joel and Paula approved of the brisket at tailgating too, so I was completely verklempt. Except that Riptide somehow ended up with a little schmutz on his foot from the gravy ha ha!

A 4 lb. cut of brisket
sea salt or kosher salt and pepper
2 cups of chopped white onion
2 cups of chopped red bell pepper
3-4 good sized cloves of garlic
half a cup of dark rum
cup and a half of dark brewed coffee or espresso
cup or so of beef broth for the gravy

Shiksa Tori's instructions are very explanatory, but this is what I did: Rinse the brisket and pat it dry with some paper towels. Rub it generously with course salt and some pepper. Preheat the oven to 300. Sear the brisket in a large pan over medium heat on the stove with some olive oil. 4-5 mins per side so that you get a nice crusty brown sear on both sides. Remove the brisket and set inside a roaster. Meanwhile add onions, bell peppers and garlic into the pan you had seared the brisket in and sauté for 2-3 mins in the leftover olive oil, add more olive oil if you need some. Add the rum and cook that off a bit, making sure to scrape up the bits in the pan. Add the coffee and give everything a whirl once around. Pour the onion coffee rum mixture over the brisket in the roaster, the roaster with foil and put it into the oven for 4 hours (hour per pound).

Once it's done you can let the whole thing cool down and then take the jus with the onions and bell peppers, put it into a blender with some pareve kosher beef broth (I cheated with a kosher bouillon cube) and blend it into a gravy. Slice up your brisket into quarter/half inch slices and you are ready for Shabbat. or tailgating.

Leek and Chard Kugel

Kugel was new to so many Hullabaloo Huddlers, I was surprised. I described kugel as a Jewish mac and cheese. Except that it's sweet and cinnamony. Coach Hullabaloo called it a Jewish lasagna. I liked this recipe for a savory twist on a classic kugel and it was so easy, I can't wait to make it again.

6 oz of wide egg noodles
cup and a half of whole milk ricotta
2.5 eggs beaten (eyeball it)
zest of one lemon 2 cups of chopped leeks (white parts mostly)
bunch of chopped chard (sans rib, so remove)
half a cup of golden yellow raisins
few shakes of cinnamon
few shakes of nutmeg
water to soak the raisins in
salt and pepper to taste

Berl some hot water and pour over the raisins with some cinnamon. Let the raisins soak and cool off for a spell. Preheat the oven to 375. Meanwhile sauté the leeks in butter. dust with salt and pepper. Add the chopped chard and let it wilt a spell. Drain some of the water off the raisins, but reserve a smidge of the sugary water with the raisins. Add raisins with the reserve water and the lemon zest in with the leeks and chard. Remove from heat. Berl the pasta in salted water until al dente (important). Meanwhile beat the eggs and fold in with the ricotta and sprinkle with nutmeg and whole milk. Once the pasta is al dente, drain it and then mix with the veg mixture. Put into a greased oven casserole dish and cover with the ricotta mixture. Dust the top with salt and pepper and into the oven it goes for 35 minutes.

And in a nod to the Ashkenazi tradition of apples and honey we had Granny Smith Apple Salsa, which was very refreshing. and looked cute with blue corn chips.

1 large tomato, cored, seeded and finely chopped
3/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion
freshly squeezed lime juice
a jalapeño, seeded and chopped
2 Granny Smith apples
generous mincing of fresh chopped cilantro
a good squeeze of honey
salt and pepper to taste

We also had Challah bread (raisin and traditional), Marbled rye and then some good Jewish deli meats which one of our Westbank hullabaloo-ettes picked up from Stein's deli. She had never eaten Jewish deli food before or gone to Stein's, so the Stein's guys welcomed her as charming as they are and she reported back how funny the whole episode was.

So now begins the real test of the season: Road Games. Coach and Mrs. Hullabaloo are off on a 3 game road swing. Check back after our trip to Ruston.

Cheers y'all!