LET'S GET IT ON!!

Now that we have all the "introductory" stuff out of the way (and there's still LOTS of juicy tidbits to learn about little old me!), let's get it on! First of all, thank you to all who came and joined us for our "Cooking School 101" Kickoff Event on Friday Aug. 14. I couldn't believe the turnout! It was so much fun, and I promise we will do some more wonderfully cool events like that in the future. Speaking of that, you NEEED to be on the schedule for our cooking classes, with the first one being next week, Sept. 3. It's the "Tailgating 101" class, and the fun level can NOT be measured for it. We're going to do some of your favorite tailgating treats, as well as give you some important information concerning "Tailgate Ettiquette". Oooh, aahh!! So what is tailgating, really? Well, we know you're going to a sporting event, right? And you gotta park the car and perhaps get a little bite to eat, correct? Yes yes yes, but there is much more to it. Tailgating and the art of it has evolved over the years into a real "science". Okay, so not like "Rocket Science", but a science in its own rite. You see the big motor homes and SUV's with big grills being pulled behind them; tents galore all over the campus and parking lots of your favorite team. But that's not just what this "Throwdown" is all about. It's about family and friends, and in our area where we're all about the college and high school sports, it's about tradition and memories. When I hear the Clemson U. alma mater, for example, a begin to choke up. I think of the days of putting on my coat and tie and heading over to our fraternity house, getting there early so I don't miss a single "event" that might take place (Kappa Sigma....Go SNAPPERS!) The cool Autumn air, the smell of the grills, the awesome sea of Orange, and the laughter and excitement of the children....it's all about the experience. You're coming together with family and friends that perhaps you haven't really had the chance to see in awhile, and now you're all together again for a magical event. In my case, the band marches to the Hill, the buses pull around to the gates, the cannon fires, and our Tigers come down the hill with reckless abandon to the sounds of Tiger Rag echoing through the land! You all have your own experiences at your schools such as USC, Furman, Wofford, UGA and much more. Believe it or not, these are some of the things that frame our lives. So when we tailgate, we are celebrating family and friends, as well as memories that help to make us who we are. Have fun and be safe. Join me next week for our class and let's see if we can't enhance some memories together. Until next time, Cheers! Mark "Chunkman" Pollard, chef, friend, father and husband to a Princess!