March 05, 2007
big bertha was the first to go
3/5/07
Tomorrow's our last full day in Chapel Hill, and though I hate to bust out superlatives, this was damn near a perfect visit to the Southern Part of Heaven™. In terms of work, I got the beginning of a new script written, and Tessa firmed up an hour-long pilot we've been finishing. In terms of everything else, well... what else can you ask for?
1) I got to play two hours of hoops with Chip and a few of the old crew at Carrboro Elementary while it was 70 degrees outside.
2) We ate at Bullocks, Dip's, Crook's and the new Pepper's, in that order. Barbecue, barbecue, shrimp & grits, and the spinach calzone.
3) We got to meet a host of new students through Peter's class, and gossiped with several. I even went by the Daily Tar Heel and talked shit with pals old and new. Katie from the DTH Front Desk is wonderfully nice, and Kevin Schwartz has not aged a day since 1990. Shout out to the Jessicas Scism and Schonberg; one is the editorial page editor, and the other is a current Pink House resident. One cannot get much cooler than either.
4) We witnessed a Dook game that accomplished many things: extended our streak, continued their misery, and exposed their program for what it really is.
5) Our nephew Sam came to visit the campus, as he is in 11th grade and taking his tours. Great weather and great kids to lead him around. We're not pressuring him, and hope the place sells itself, but wouldn't it be awesome? Dear Carolina: give this young man a full ride; you won't be disappointed.
6) Lucy got to meet everyone and their kids, as well as further adventures with her godmothers and godfather!
As for the rest, I'll just post some pictures. Here's me, Tessa and Peter before class:
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Lucy and Godfather Chip:
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GFWD and Annie hooping during the lunar eclipse:
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Lucy plays with Meg at the Weaver Street "no kids allowed" fountain!
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The crowd growing restless after Hansbrough was assaulted:
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Here's a detail of the same picture: note Roy vs. Krzyhwersjyi staredown:
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And here's an even cooler detail of the same pic: I took my nephew to the game and scalped separate tickets for Tessa and Chip. I was experimenting with high quality definition on the camera, figuring I might be able to spot some friends in the crowd later in Photoshop. I went to the upper right corner of the image, and lo and behold, there's Chip and Tessa! I had to do some wonky brightness and contrast filters, but it's still pretty awesome:
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For fans of mob mentality and social anthropology, you can download the original 3.2MB file by right-clicking (PC), option-clicking (Mac) or just plain clicking on this link. Note how every Dook player stands with their hands on hips, in the traditional "defiance" stance, whereas the Heels (except for a couple) are loose, perhaps due to shock, righteous indignation, or an attempt to quell anger. Note several people in the stands describing their take on Tyler's nose, and the managers being summoned to clean up blood in the tunnel.
Even more interesting: note the number of people in the stadium - thousands - following the lead of both alpha males Roy Williams and Koach K, with their arms folded in a combination of impatience, disbelief and worry. Even my wife is doing it. I dunno, I find this stuff fascinating.
Hi Ian, I found your blog yesterday via google. Yes I will have to admit I was searching for a picture of the human brain. I went back and read the blog where you posted how people found your blog and laughed. So, thanks for the picture! I am a graphic designer and just simply needed a human brain picture. I have been very enlightened by your entries. I almost feel as though I know you now. I hope all is well wherever you are when you read this. Have a wonderful day.
GFWD, your backside does not in the least resemble a Mini!!
That picture is hypnotic. Amazing.
I wish you guys could swing by your little home in the New York area. C'mon, it's 15 degrees!
Oh yay.
"Packer said he has been assigned to broadcast three games at the ACC tournament -- two Thursday and North Carolina's first-round game Friday."
I must also add, you have a beautiful family.
Living vicariously through you like lots of other old north staters stuck here in the cold, cold north. Great blog title BTW, 'tho some o' yer blogizens may need a primer on Big Bertha's bio. There's something warm and cozy about a walk-in beer fridge. Good Health (my kids' favorite toast)!!
Beth, thanks for not likening my arse to a Mini Cooper. You rock.
Just picked up on the reference in the title. I was trying to comprehend why you were talking about a golf driver.
As an underaged lad in the waning days of Big Bertha, I recall that the standing rule was that you couldn't even carry the BEvERageS of choice or the checkout people would card you. So, I was always tapped to carry the stuff just close enough to where I wasn't in sight and then my older friends would complete the last little trek to the checkout lines.
As an epilogue to Billy P[e]cker, methinks that it's apt that he has to call our games and see us win more often than not. As much as we hate him, he's gotta hate having front row seats to so many Carolina victories.
Ashamed as I am to say it, our custom was to cruise inside Big Bertha's massive gullet and "sample" a few coldies before actually picking up a full sixer/twelver/case to purchase. I recall when Fowler's closed and everything went on sale. I drank cheap wine for weeks!
Glad your trip to Blue Heaven went well (minus a broken schnozz for H-Bro). You've been making me terribly nostalgic for the place. If they only had an ocean next door...
Thanks indeed for bringing back memories of the great Big Bertha. Someone once told me that the freezer itself survives at a new location, but that could be a village myth. My Dad once told me that Fowler's had the largest rack of pornography in Chapel Hill in the 1970s, and there was a big protest that caused Fowler's to stop selling such magazines. (Which, in turn, led the largest porn rack in town to be relocated to that strange drugstore near the Local 506 that never seemed to sell anything.)
As for Billy Packer, I've spent a lifetime hating that man. When I was really little, he used to do a pregame show called the "Thacker/Packer Report" with the late Jim Thacker, a less loathsome individual who always sounded like his mouth was full of mothballs. My favorite Packer moment was late in the '05 Final when Deron Williams was switched over to guard Raymond Felton, prompting Packer to yell "Mr. Shutdown!" just before Felton sent the decisive three-ball straight down Mr. Shutdown's throat. Go home, Billy, you miserable know-it-all. You never could beat Dean, and you've never gotten over it.
Great to see y'all...sorry we had to leave town this week because it would be great to see more of you, Tessa, Lucy, Sam, et al.
It was good to meet you, Tessa, and Lucy. I feel better now about being a "lurker" on the blog. Whenever you are in town, Lucy has a playmate!
Why wasn't there a photo of IAN HOOPING?!?!?
I have one, if you don't! Looks good. Also a great one of Tessa but my auto-focus was slightly off.
Love you guys! SO delighted to have a chance to hang with the Lulubeans...posted a couple of pix of her on my tribe page--will send you a link.
Your basketball is safe with me. See you in April!
I'm married (very happily) and all but Annie hoola hooping makes my heart go all pitterpatter. Dang.