Football (and More) Saturday

My friends Steve and Carol invited Mrs. lightning and me to go to the University of Illinois football game and pre and post game tailgates yesterday, so how could we refuse? Carol and I first started working together ... ummm ... 32 years ago when I started my first professional job. Old friends are good friends!

Since Steve is a frequent flier at a local butcher shop, he scored free pre-game tailgate passes to a large tent sponsored in part by the shop. Free tailgate that included free draft beer? Score!

The game itself was interesting. Of course, a school like Illinois that is from a major conference is expected to win against lesser conference schools. However, Illinois hasn't exactly been a football power for some time. Western Kentucky gave the Fighting Illini all that it could handle. The final score was 42-34 -- a narrow escape for the home town team. Former Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt passed for 456 yards and three touchdowns for the Illini. The good news is that Illinois is ranked 8th in the country in passing yards -- 370.5 per game. The bad news is that they are 122nd in rushing yards -- 71 per game. Next week they play at Washington. Things might not be so cheery a week from now.

After the game, we set up our own tailgate. And just so that Pete P. Peters knows that all members of the lightning crowd are not total pikers ...

Yes -- those are filets that you see on the grill -- the same filets that helped score Steve the pre-game tailgate passes!

And no -- we did not bring any Stags' Leap or even Jordan cabernet with us. Instead ...

So, with a face that was burned a pretty shade of red and with a belly full of choice steak, bloody marys and Torpedos, I returned home from a fine afternoon.

But wait ... one thing was missing. Where was the poker and/or the button mashing? Before the evening was over, I decided to cash in my free play at the closest slot lounge. Of course, free gambling money is always great gambling money.

The last time I visited the lounge, the machines were all cold and I left rather quickly. This time, however, my favorite Lotus Flower machine had a little hot streak in it. For example:

I usually go to the lounge late in the evening since others have generally cleared out by that time. Hmmm ... a guy goes to mash buttons later at night and wants to be alone doing it. I might have heard of someone who does that before.

All in all, it was a great Saturday. Now it is Sunday, and time to go from one orange and blue team to another:

Go Bears -- and have a great football Sunday!