JumboTron Drama

From News Reports

Bryant-Denny Stadium scoreboard gave one last display Thursday as a section of it burst into flames.

Crews were using a blowtorch to separate the massive scoreboard above the stadium’s south end zone into four easier-to-carry pieces when plastic foam in the scoreboard’s innards ignited. A brief fire erupted, with flames and smoke seeping out. It was mostly extinguished before firefighters arrived.

“It really actually looked a lot worse than it was,” said Eddie Pugh, battalion chief for Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Service Station 1.

Tuscaloosa firefighters went into the scoreboard with fire extinguishers to make sure nothing was left smoldering, he said.

No one was injured, and demolition was halted for about two hours, said Thad Turnipseed, director of athletic facilities at the University of Alabama .

A section of the west side of the scoreboard about 20 feet high and 4 feet wide sustained damage, with paint on the outside of the scoreboard damaged by smoke and fire.

At least four fire trucks and an ambulance responded to the scene, with more than a dozen firefighters engaged. Firefighters and the University Police Department responded to the call shortly before 1 p.m., according to a UA news release.

Installed in 1998, the scoreboard with its large video screen is being taken down to make way for an $80.6 million expansion to the stadium. When it is finished, the south end zone will nearly mirror a recent expansion to the north end zone, with premium seating and an upper deck filling in the space above the lower bowl.

Instead of one giant screen in the south end zone, two video screens will rest on both sides of the upper deck when construction is finished before the 2010 football season.

The scoreboard’s video screen, commonly called a jumbotron, is being sold for parts since its manufacturer no longer makes replacement parts for that model, Turnipseed said.

The rest of the scoreboard will be recycled, he said.

“I don’t see where damages are a big deal because it looks like it’s all going to the scrap yard,” Pugh said.

My conclusions:

1) Good thing we took this engagement pic in 2006.

2) Well phooey! Guess we have to get a newer, bigger, more-ginormous-than-anyone-else’s jumbotron now.

School Update

The Good News: I did really well on my public econ midterm.

The Bad News: The celebration is short-lived because my stats midterm is next week and it's going to be much more difficult. Statistics is truly like a foreign language. Not intuitive whatsoever.

The Best News: Robert found out the last three classes he needs will be offered this summer and he can graduate in August!!!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's 55th birthday. I know that because in a couple of weeks it will be my 25th birthday. He was thirty when I graced his and mom's life with joy and delight (and probably a few other thousand things we won't mention here), so I've always been able to remember his age because it's just my age plus 30. (Darn it, now my secret is out!)

I tried to find the most embrassing picture of him I could and this is all I got. Trust me, he got away easy because there are some pretty crazy ones out there. This is actually from our Fouth of July celebration last summer. I have no idea what he is eating. It was probably something he picked up from Scott McBrayer's election compaign tent!

Right now my dad is working had trying to "sell more toilets," or so he always told all my friend growing up, much to my chagrin. I mean, he could have just said manage the plumbing supply shop, right? But dad's humor is one of the things I love most about him, and he has a tremendous work ethic, providing for my family through the years. When I graduated college and got my first job I practically had to beg him to take the gas card back since I was earning a salary and could pay my own way. His response, "Well, why don't you hold on to it just it case."

I think we're all planning to celebrate the big 5-5 this Saturday at Leonardo's on Rocky Ridge with an all-out celebration! Can't wait. I love you Daddy and Happy Birthday!

5K pics

For your viewing pleasure, photos of Robert running the 5K are posted here. Just found these this morning.

Valentine's Dinner Party

Our sweet friends, Justin and Lisa Driver, hosted a Valentine's Dinner Party for several young couples from church last Friday night. We all dressed up, enjoyed a wonderful meal Lisa prepared, and then watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, which was voted the best romatic movie of the evening. We love this group of couples and really had a great time spending Valentine's Eve with them.

As you can see, everyone looked really cute in their fancy Valentine's attire. Here Rory and Anne are demonstrating the three most popular prom poses before Rory had to head home pre-movie to get some rest. He had to be at the hospital bright and early the next day for something like a 16-hour shift. Luckily he was able to join us for dinner.

They look so cute in their matching red!

Here are a few other pics from the night. Lisa has some great groups shots she took with her new camera which I'll have to get from her and post.

(The cat got pretty close to attacking David a one point, but you can certainly see why!)

Our Valentine's Day

Our Valentine's Day was jam packed this year. It started much earlier for Robert than for me since he got up way too early for a Saturday to run in the 5K race sponored by his company. It's all part of the festivities and races that coincide with the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham that took place this past weekend.

Rob runs the BE5K each year and always enjoys it, and since BE&K pays for his sponsorship he ends up getting some exercise and a free t-shirt out of the deal. The race benefits Kid One Transport, a nonprofit providing transportation for low-income and rural children to doctor's appointments and other health-related visits. It's a great nonprofit.

Robert actually finished fourth in his age division! If you don't believe me (you should) check out his stats here. He's the third line on page 7. I would say 3.2 miles in 22:25 isn't bad for literally rolling out of bed, throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt, kissing his wife goodbye, driving downtown, getting out of the car, and starting to run. I'm sure it was all very Forrest Gump-esque. He just ran.

I, on the other hand, participated in zero physcical activity on Valentine's Day and instead had the pleasure of going to Decatur for a bridal shower for my sweet college roommate, Leigh. As you can see, she loaded up on a ton of great wedding gifts. It was so good to see her. I can't wait for her wedding - March 14!

And, finally, we headed to Trussville to babysit my little niece (technically my cousin's daughter, but for all practical purposes she's my niece - and it's just easier to say!) Victoria while her mom and dad went out for a nice Valentine's dinner. We had a great time reading books, building blocks, watching "Simba," aka The Lion King, and eating popcorn.

She is getting so grown up and is excited about "Baby Sister" who is arriving in late April. Though as big as Kristi is I don't know if she will make it full-term!

Okay, now that I look at these pics I thinks it's funny how completely unfit to babysit we look! Rob looks like he's about to fall alseep (he really wasn't), and I'm zombied out on the couch stealing the child's popcorn! Oh boy. We all survived, I promise!

It really was a lovely Valentine's Day - topped off by these beautiful flowers my sweet husband sent me because he's just that thoughtful!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Meant to post this closer to his actual birthday, but a big "Happy Birthday" goes out to my baby brother Ryan (the youngest but somehow the biggest of us all) who turned 16 on February 6 and succesfully passed his driving test. Watch out folks, he's on the road! As you can see he was thrilled at our choice of birthday card and gift bag for his present. The actual present - a Polo shirt - he liked much better!