Tony and Shannan: January 2009

Saturday, January 10, 2009

The Sugarbowl

To begin, we entered New Orleans to be greeted by this billboard, which we passed multiple times but kept missing it with the camera. We got this shot on our way out of town when we flipped a Uey just to get it.

Here's Tony at the tailgate party wearing an expensive Styrofoam hat. Yes-it's an oxymoron.

I included this pic due to the story it involves during the tailgate. We put our stuff down on this table at the exact same time as another couple sat down at the table. No biggie, there were plenty of seats for them and all the other people for which we had to save seats. The first thing I did was pick up the U, then I decided to steal it. My plan was simple: wait till everyone was distracted and stuff it under my shirt (I already knew it was going to be too big for my purse.) The party went on and at some point the U, which had been resting comfortably near me, ended up back towards the center of the table. The random "I don't know anybody at this table, but I'm going to sit here anyway" lady picked up my U. She eventually put the U back down on the table in front of her. I sighed a sigh of relief and began figuring out a way to get the U back towards me. I think she was an evil mind reader because she then picked it up again and said something to her random "I don't know anybody at this table, but I'm going to sit here anyway" husband and PUT IT IN HER LAP! Can you believe the nerve? I was going to steal it first! If by some chance you are reading this lady, you know what you did. GIVE ME BACK MY U!

Shortly after the evil mind reading thief incident we headed towards the door. It's a good thing we weren't running from the law because I had just stolen a U in my shirt, because due to perfect timing I was in the front row to cheer on the team as they got on the bus. Yes, I saw Louie up close, and not just in my dreams. Too bad my camera was on the wrong setting-this is the best pic I got (except for the back corner of Louie's head.) I only know Matt Asiata and Paul Kruger behind him in the back. It sure was exciting to be there!

Here we are outside the Superdome...surrounded by Bama fans. We actually enjoyed talking with all their fans, in fact one nice Bama couple took this pic for us. It did start to grate on our nerves that anytime Utah started chanting ANYTHING someone would yell "Roll Tide"! If you watched the game you can assume they were silenced pretty quickly.

This was taken during the pregame warm ups from where the majority of the Utah fans had their seats. We were all pretty close to the field.

This was actually taken from our seats. We were five rows up, lower level behind the Utah goalpost. They were great seats except we couldn't see much of the other Utah fans.

Here's my Louie warming up right in front of us. Beautiful.

Here's Matt Asiata taking a direct snap. Man, I love this team! I'm so proud of them. The BCS system is terrible and needs to be modified. As far as we're concerned Utah is the best team in the country. 2 wins agains top 10 opponents. 4 wins against top 25 opponents. No one beat them. That's how BYU won its championship in 1984. The only difference for '08 Utah and '84 BYU is that Utah played a harder schedule and beat a better team in its bowl game. If the only thing Obama does for our country is bring enough heat to have the BCS modified to give smaller conference teams a chance to play and beat the "big boys" his presidency will have been a success - in Tony's humble opinion. The final score...as if you missed the game. I accidentally deleted the ones Tony took with time expired. O0ps. Notice all the empty seats? The 'Bama fans began to bail in mass quantities midway through the fourth quarter. They outnumbered us in this game 6 to 1, but if you watched the game you heard the Utah fans hold their own.

It was such a party after the game. Nobody wanted to leave. I have to say that Tony and I like to travel and are fortunate enough to do it fairly often. Of all the trips we've been on and of all the games we've ever watched THIS was the best and most memorable. I'll never forget how it felt to be there and watch them do what lots of people thought wasn't possible. I don't think the feeling can be beat....until we're given the chance to win a championship! As far as we're concerned, Utah's 2008-09 team is the best in the country. Are we wrong? Prove it.

Monday, January 5, 2009

New Orleans Trip

I've decided to divide this trip into two posts. This post is all about our trip to New Orleans, the next one will be all about the Sugarbowl. We arrived to New Orleans on New Year's Eve-what an incredible way to end the year. The very first thing I did was run to Zoltar to get my fortune-what else is there? He gave me some kind of BS about being happy. Do I look sad to you? Stupid fortune tellers-I wasted a buck.

Then we met up with our friends from the ward for dinner at Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse. Notice the pendants on the wall? New Orleans was all kinds of decked out in Utah stuff.

After dinner we walked to Jackson Square where there was live Jazz (of course) and they dropped their version of a ball. It was the symbol for the Saints football team...I think. By this time I was sloshed so I can't really remember. (You know I'm kidding Mom, but do you see Tony's eyes in this pic? He's questionable.) I am, however, holding some Utah football beads that I earned. Am I kidding this time? You'll never know. What happens in New Orleans....

The next morning we spent time exploring New Iberia. Tony had some work to do there, but we found out that's where most of our sugar comes from. We saw field after field of sugar cane being harvested. It was a really scenic drive with all the swamp and sugar cane fields.

We drove back into New Orleans and stopped for a quick bite in the French Quarter. I can now say that I've eaten alligator (sorry Devon.) It was pretty bland and rubbery, but it was fun and different.

After dinner we took the "Ghost and Vampire Tour." Apparently New Orleans is the most haunted city in America. The history behind the city is facinating...we didn't see any ghosts though. Maybe because we don't believe enough, although we did have an encounter on game day-but that's another story. Here we are at a stop in a bar on the tour. Do you see our Dorky "Hey, I'm a tourist!" tags?

After the tour we walked back to Jackson Square to eat a beignet and have hot chocolate at Cafe Du Monde. The beignets are yummy donut like pastries and if you know Tony at all, he can't visit any place without trying their hot chocolate. He thinks he's a connoisseir.

The next morning-before the game, we were supposed to take a Swamp Tour, but got lost and had to postphone it to the next day. Fortunately, we drove by a cemetary that we stopped to explore and it happened to have a tour group that we joined. Again, it was facinating! This tomb was actually in a movie and apparently I was wasted again because I don't remember which one. Anybody recognize it?

After the tour we ate lunch at Muriels. It's known for a ghost that haunts it so we decided to check it out. This ghost has its own table and is known for making stuff in the restaurant disappear. Nothing unusual happened till Tony had to pay and his wallet had disappeared. I think it was because he was taunting the ghost and didn't believe. Or maybe I shouldn't have hidden his silverware while he was in the bathroom? Anyway, luckily, I had my wallet. The ghost had apparently taken the wallet and put it in our rental car...at least he didn't give it to a theif.

Our last morning in New Orleans we took a swamp tour. This was the biggest alligator we saw; the rest were hybernating. I wonder if he's related to the one we ate? Our tour guide was so back woods it was crazy fun. Did you know there are more alligators in Louisiana than Florida? Our guide claims you always hear about Floridians being attacked on golf courses because the gators know when a golf ball lands in the water-dinner is about to be served.