Oh Atlanta

Spent the past weekend down in Atlanta...the centerpiece of the trip was the BC-Georgia Tech game, won by the Eagles 24-10. Had a great time and got to see some college friends for the first time in years.

Started Friday morning with L driving me out to Logan for a 12:25 flight. Met up with the Captain and Count Macula and settled in for a $9 bloody at Game On. A beer and it was time to board, suitably relaxed. First time I'd flown in 3 years, and all went well. We were held up approximately 15 minutes due to some weather in Atlanta. A safe landing and we were off to get the rental.

From the time we got off the plane to leaving the terminal, it started to rain. Hard. By the time we got to the rental lot, it was pouring. We discovered we had been given an SUV...which I had never driven before. We got out on Rte. 85 north, and the wipers couldn't keep up with the rain. Cars had their four ways flashing while driving 15 mph. Great fun! I thought I was being crowded by cars on either side, until I realized the SUV was big enough to fill the lane.

We stayed at the Wingate Inn in Buckhead, and I recommend this hotel highly. Good value, clean rooms, great staff. They steered us around and gave us a good recommendation on barbecue for the tailgate. We checked in, got squared away and repaired to the bar for a few beers.

Drove out later to visit my friend Scott and his family...he was kind enough to grill us steak, fry us some okra and make us feel at home. Drove back later in the evening and met Count Macula at the ESPN Sports Zone to catch the end of the Yanks-Sox game. Met a couple of BC fans down for the game there, then headed over to Fado's to close the evening out. When we were down in Buckhead in 1998, it was hopping. They've had a lot of trouble there since, and the area's being converted to a Rodeo Drive shopping area.

Woke up a bit fuzzy-headed Saturday morning...after a few coffees and Advils, I stood ready to face the day. Wound up driving the Captain down Peachtree St to the GT campus in the late morning. Tech fans were already out tailgating at 11:30 - a good 8+ hours before gametime. Stopped and checked out The Varsity - The Captain has horrified by the greasy food on display, and we both took a pasadena on eating there. Bought a Tech shirt for G and headed back. I met a former colleague from my old job, who had moved to the area with her husband a year ago. We had lunch across the street at Tin Lizzy's cantina, and we had some excellent tacos. Spent some time talking with Michele about work and life - she's a great gal.

After lunch, I walked back to the hotel and my friend Steve and his S.O. Lynn had just arrive. hadn't seen him since my last visit in 98. They checked in and started in on the Michelob Ultras in their cooler. Not my first choice, but better than no beer at all. Scott and his family arrived a bit later, and we had our traveling party.

I had borrowed a cooler from Scott the night before, and had already bought some beer and ice during the day. The Captain and I finished buying provisions and got some barbecue at a place I can't remember the name of. We gathered up everyone and made the trip to the campus just after 5. I knew where the pay lots were - what I didn't realize was that one of them was directly across the street from The Cheetah, Atlanta's premier gentlemen's club. In the interest of full disclosure, two members of the traveling party made their way over for a visit (no names please, and rest assured your humble blogger wasn't one of them). Everyone enjoyed the 3 Bs (beer, Bushmill's and barbecue) and we were fed and lubricated for gametime.

The walk over to the stadium was an experience. We went down frat row and saw more drunk students than you could shake a roofie at. The Tech fans were a gracious sort for the most part, with the exception of the drunk kids throwing bottles on the field during the game. We got to our seats in the BC section and rooted the Eagles on to victory. Saw a few people I know from the home games, along with the CFO from where I currently work.

The game ran long and we didn't get back to the hotel until nearly 1am. Tried to get a last beer at Tin Lizzy's, but it was packed full of kids and we called it a night. The next morning we all met up for breakfast, said our goodbyes and we were on our way to the airport for a noon flight home. Got in early and after dropping the Captain off in North Station, got home by 4pm.

Plenty of fun, shared with good company. And we won.