AMERICAN HISTORY 101

Hello All, 

After Charleston, SC , I made my way to Washington, DC.  I had been there on business, but never to experience our nation's capitol.  I was impressed!  I was able to spend some time with my old Clemson pals Abby and Josh.  It was so great seeing both of you.   Also, I had a Spring Hill College Reunion! (site of my first freshman year of college before transferring to Clemson).  My friends Blaire and Blake, from Spring Hill, played both host and tour guide extraordinaire!  I can't thank you both enough for the past few days! 

If memory serves me correctly, Blaire beat me out for freshman class president at Spring Hill College in 2002.  Thank heavens they didn't have any hanging chads in that election.   Had I somehow won, I'd have led that place into the ground.  Blaire on the other hand, is on Capitol Hill dominating Congress.  We couldn't go 10ft in DC without some SUIT waving her down for a minute to talk.  What an impressive woman!  Blaire Bartlett.  Remember the name.

Blake is working on the Senate side.  Also, doing quite well for himself.  His security clearance badge got us right into The Capitol Building, past all sorts of security, and out on to The Speaker of The House, John Boehner's private balcony!  This overlooks the Presidential Inauguration podium, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and much of DC!  The view was spectacular. There was one thing prettier than the view though.  That would be the 15 out of 10 knockout that is currently serving as Boehner's secretary.  I didn't say anything coherent to her as I walked past her to get out to the balcony, but lord knows, I tried.  Blake, for goodness sake, you are a handsome guy.  Ask her to dinner!  If not for you, do it for me!

Over the course of a few days, I went to pretty much every single monument and memorial in DC.  I also spent from dawn to dusk in many of the Smithsonian museums.  Silly me, I thought there was one place called THE SMITHSONIAN.  Yeah, that's not the case.  Hope Diamond.  WW II stuff.  Dinosaur bones.  Pretty cool stuff.  This experience as a whole was so impressive to me and probably long overdue.  If you have not made it to our nation's capitol to take a look around, you are missing out!

Thanks so much Blaire and Blake!

After DC, I made my way to Baltimore to catch up with my cousin Daniel, and my friend Susan to tour the University of Loyola, Maryland.   After the tour, our guide handed me a survey that she was giving to all prospective students.  I was confused.  She was confused.  Turns out, she thought I was 17 and looking at colleges!  That's when Daniel chimed in and reminded everyone within shouting distance, that I was half way to 60!  What a punk.  I had a great day touring the school, which I thought was gorgeous, and hanging out with Daniel and Susan at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and 9/11 Memorial at the top of Baltimore's World Trade Center.  I finished my day off here by trying a crab cake.  For most people, this wouldn't be worth mentioning.  However, I have the diet preferences of a toddler, and this was my first crack at a crab cake.  Loved it!  I'll have another.  

Peace out Baltimore!

Mark/Chops

PS.. Rowers, Head of The Charles is this weekend!  Both Clemson and BC High Crew are going into the weekend as high seeds!   Good luck to both.  Don't crash at the world's biggest regatta like the author of this blog did many moons ago!

SKY ABOVE GROCERY STORE - CHARLESTON, SC

WWII MEMORIAL

THOUGHT ABOUT FORREST GUMP'N IT AND WALKING INTO THE WATER YELLING FOR JENNY!

BETWEEN WASHINGTON MONUMENT AND LINCOLN MEMORIAL

VIEW FROM LINCOLN MEMORIAL STEPS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL

THE NEXT FEW PICTURES ARE FOR MY GOOD FRIEND, AND VIETNAM VETERAN, JIMMY PETTITI.  THANK YOU JIMMY.

 VIETNAM MEMORIAL

JIMMY'S BUDDY PAUL V. GRASSO.  RIP.

QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS HONORING THEIR VETERANS!

NEWEST MONUMENT IN DC - MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., HERO

MLK - 1963

FDR MEMORIAL - PERHAPS MY FAVORITE OF THEM ALL.

IF I HAVE HEARD OF A QUOTE BEFORE, IT HAS GOT TO BE FAMOUS

WALKING TO THE JEFFERSON MONUMENT

WASHINGTON MONUMENT REFLECTING OFF THE POTOMAC RIVER, I THINK

THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE FUNNY OLD GUY FROM ALL IN THE FAMILY...

THE WHITE HOUSE 

HOPPED THE FENCE FOR A BETTER VIEW 

THIS IS FOR MY BUDDY DANO THE BASEBALL NUT.  FOUND IT IN THE SMITHSONIAN

PART OF APOLLO 11?? NOT SURE.  PRETTY COOL.

SPRING HILL COLLEGE REUNION!! TWO OF MY FAVORITES. BLAKE AND BLAIRE!! LUNCH DATE ON CAPITOL HILL!

VIEW FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BALCONY.  PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION PODIUM BEING BUILT

BLAKE AND ME ON SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, JOHN BOEHNER'S PRIVATE BALCONY!  INCREDIBLE VIEW! DON'T ASK HOW I GOT PAST SECURITY

THE HOPE DIAMOND IN THE SMITHSONIAN!  

INNER HARBOR, BALTIMORE. VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER/ 9-11 MEMORIAL

TAKING ON BALTIMORE WITH SUSAN AND DANIEL!  TOURED UNIVERSITY OF LOYOLA, MARYLAND THEN CHECKED OUT THE INNER HARBOR

HAD TO GO TO MARYLAND FOR MY FIRST EVER CRAB CAKE! WENT TO SLIDERS ACROSS THE STREET FROM CAMDEN YARDS.

JACKIE ROBINSON'S RETIRED NUMBER IN FRONT OF BALTIMORE ORIOLES' CAMDEN YARDS .  LIKE MLK, A HERO.

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

CLEMSON TACKLES CHARLESTON, SC!

Hello All,

So, the journey south continues.. This time, I found myself in Charleston, SC for a big time Clemson affair!  Brad and Amy's wedding!  As soon as I rolled into town, there was one thing on my mind.  Other than the wedding that is.  WAFFLE HOUSE!    My longtime pal and college roommate, OC, picked me up from my train hopping jaunt from Virginia and off we went.  Waffle House is heaven in the form of waffles and hash browns available 24/7.  Delicious.  From there, I began to prepare for a weekend of absolute chaos. After all, I was about to spend a weekend with about 20 Clemson Crew guys.  That typically means epic proportions of fun, combined with a moment or two of uncertainty as to whether or not everyone will survive.  This weekend proved to be exactly that.  

Friday, we had a great night at Brad and Amy's rehearsal dinner.  This was held outdoors at a really cool public park on the outskirts of Charleston.  Plenty of great food and libations for all.  Combine this with catching up with folks I had not seen in years, a few playful brawls, hunting for alligators, and some pretty women, and I'd call it a great night.  

Saturday, we all made our way over to Sullivan's Island to hit up the beach for the day.  Gosh, beach days in October really strike my fancy.  I could get used to this.  

Saturday night was the wedding!  Brad and Amy crushed it at the church.  Amy, you looked so very pretty.  Brad, you looked so very lucky.  Together, you two looked perfect!  Shortest wedding ceremony of the season!  Solid effort there!

The wedding reception was a site to be seen.  I took to the dance floor with my partners in crime, Adam and Adam.  These guys know how to work a wedding dance floor like no one I have ever seen.  Total domination!  Bless the bridal party/family and friends.  I don't think they had ever seen anything like the 3 of us in their lives.  3 guys.  No rhythm, but also, absolutely no fear to let loose and go wild.  We danced like our lives depended on it from beginning to end.  Diving off chairs.  Bouncing off walls. Sacrificing our bodies in honor of the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Brad Friebel!  I am fairly certain that nobody of the opposite sex felt comfortable dancing within 10 feet of any of us.  Shockingly, the three of us are single.  No idea how that is possible...

Today I was lucky enough to spend the day with my dear pals OC and Tayler!  We made it to brunch in a locale with no shortage of tall blondes in New England Patriots jerseys ( no complaints), followed by a trip to see the new bride and groom, and ended the afternoon with a trip to Home Depot!  Unfortunately we didn't have time for Bed Bath & Beyond. What a day!

Anyways, I am rambling.  Charleston and I have a love affair.  I love love love this place.  Brad and Amy's wedding was a blast and I just hope they are still friends with me after my criminal behavior on the dance floor.  I expected to have an amazing time with the Clemson Crew, and it lived up to the billing and then some.  What a wedding! 

Finally, I want to thank OC and Tayler for the incredible hospitality they have shown me during my time in Charleston.  Tayler, I am so lucky to have you as a friend.  OC, you are so lucky to have Tayler as your wife.  Tayler, sorry for having to put up with me this week, and for having to put up with your husband everyday for the rest of your life.

Mark/Chops

PS.. Brad and Amy, I have no doubt you two are headed for great things in life.  Each of you in your own right are a man and woman for others.  You each do it all to bring happiness into the lives of many.  With each other, you have found your equal.  

PSS.. Thanks for the brownies Miss Marsha! and Elizabeth Ann, how did we not get a picture for the blog??!!??  Frown.

HELLO CHARLESTON!

WITH THE BRIDE AND GROOM!  CONGRATS GRAMPS AND AMY! 

FIRST STOP IN THE DIRTY SOUTH, WAFFLE HOUSE WITH MY MAN OC!

JOE GRISWOLD FOLKS

THE MAYOR OF EASLEY, SC - DERRICK DBOMB SIMPSON

PROM PICTURE WITH BRIDE TO BE! AT THE REHEARSAL DINNER!

BRAD PUTTING THE MOVES ON HIS SOON TO BE BRIDE!

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, CHARLESTON

MY HOST IN CHARLESTON.  99% ANGEL.  1% THUG.  THE BEAUTIFUL TAYLER!

CLEMSON CREW!!

67% OF MY COLLEGE ROOMMATES!  NATE AND OC.  

JOE GRISWOLD FOR A SECOND TIME.  WHY? BECAUSE  I LOVE THIS GUY.

MORE CLEMSON CREW!! MO, CLINT, AND GWA!

BRAD AND AMY, FIRST DANCE!

CLEMSON PHOTO! LOOK UP HIGH.

C'MON! WHO DID YOU THINK WAS GOING TO CATCH THE GARTER?  WITH THE GROOM, GRAMPS! AWESOME PHOTOBOMB BY AB!  DRESS SHIRT DESTROYED!

MY ROOMMATE IN CHARLESTON. SAY HI TO BANKS!

SOME HOW THIS LED TO....

THIS! CAUGHT IN THE ACT BY TAYLER!  HOW MANY CLEMSON GRADS DOES IT TAKE TO INSTALL A CEILING FAN? WE COULDN'T DECIDE IF WE WANTED TO BREAK OUR LEGS OR GET ELECTROCUTED.  WE TRIED FOR BOTH.

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

THANK YOU ALISON ALEXANDER

Hello all,

I have been working my way down the east coast and have spent the last few days in Virginia with the one and only Alison Alexander.  Better known to the Clemson Crew as AA.   While here, I have managed to do some really cool site seeing, a lot of reading/research, shared a million laughs with AA etc.  That said:

Dear Alison,

What can I say?  Thank you?  Well, that's not saying enough.  Nothing I can write or say to you would be enough to express what you have meant to me over the past 10 years.  You are such a wonderful woman/friend and make everyone's world you enter, better.  Most certainly mine included.  Even though we couldn't agree on a single item to put in the cart while grocery shopping, I had a wonderful time with you this past week.  I hope that I will see you again some day soon.  Until then, be good!

Love,
Chops

PS.. While Alison was at work the past few days, (she will most likely be the next Mayor of Hampton, VA), I read the book Mountains Beyond Mountains - The Quest Of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World.  By Tracy Kidder.  (Thanks for the book Colleen Shea!)  Perhaps the best book/story I have read since Conversations With Myself.

Anyways,
continuing south in the morning!

Mark/Chops

AA IN FULL ON TOUR GUIDE MODE IN VIRGINIA!  

LOOKING OUT OVER THE LARGEST NAVAL BASE IN THE US! PRETTY COOL!

CHARMING COASTLINE- HAMPTON, VA

AA TRYING TO GET ME CAUGHT UP ON MY US HISTORY.  SHE IS WICKED SMAHHT.

SHORTLY BEFORE AA SMOOSHED MY CAMERA IN THE GLASS OF ICE WATER TO PROVE TO ME IT WAS WATERPROOF! WOMEN!

POST CAMERA IN ICE WATER.  YOU BE THE JUDGE!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days