Party-hardy Blingdom!

Today the Blingdom celebrates 75 years of hound dogs, jail house rocking, hotels of heartbreak, returned mail, hunks of burning love, and tender love. Being the builder of our recent favorite tourist trap, we would like to honor the one, the only, the real hound dog and king of rock…Elvis Presley with a nice little blog post. So in honor of the old man take some time out of your day to kick back, relax, and bathe in the music of the eternal King.

Round of Applause

As you all have now seen our time in Memphis was fantastic. We saw, we ate, and we conquered. (And Paige took forever to blog about it.) But a little piece of each of these past posts should be dedicated to our most lovely hosts throughout our trip. They are known across the country as the toughest, most intimidating of scrabble competitors, but we know them more personally as loud enthusiasts of catch phrase and slammers of ping pong. Paige and I would like to thank the Branston’s for their surprise collaboration, their warm and inviting upstairs beds, Mama Branston’s most awesome pizza, their help in fulfilling our life long dream of seeing Elvis’ pad, Arkansas Riesling, and being all-around awesome hosts of BBQ and Cinema Paradiso soundtracks.

Hi Abby!

This weekend would certainly have not been the same without them.

We would also like to send a little shout out to our favorite wiener dog, Abby.Thanks for being our personal cuddle buddy and morning alarm clock.

Here’s to you Branston’s! And thanks Memphis (and Patrick Swayze) for the time of our lives.

Here's to you Branston's

Must-Eat Memphis: Katy Did Not Yack

When in Memphis, Eat as the Memphians do.

From the previous reading I am sure it is clear that a trip to Memphis is not just about the sites, but rather a symbiotic relationship between the sights and tastes of the city. Our trip to Memphis was as much a food tour as anything else. In between all of our lovely adventures we nom’d on some of the best food possible.

Must-See Memphis: Katy Did Not Wear Khaki

Memphis, Tennessee. Home of the Memphis Tigers, Graceland, and a ginormous pyramid. And, oh yeah, Katy.

When visiting The River City (and I think you should), there’s a great deal to do and see, especially if you’re a music lover. Fortunately for us, we were under the leadership of life-time resident Katy B, who eagerly whipped out her Elon Tour Guide skills faster than Usain Bolt off the blocks in the 100m. Unfortunately for you, this khaki-donning, backwards-walking princess of Memphis is booked through the holiday season, due to high demand for Memphis Tourism Package #2, which is so great Billy Mays stepped down from his Oxy-Cloud to promote the package for the LOW LOW PRICE OF $59.99! (Too soon?)

After our grand entrance, we were informed that we had been upgraded to the ultra-exclusive O.O.Z. Crew Package© – 72 hours of rolling through Memphis VIP style. This was a big deal made bigger by the fact that Katy will soon be participating in M-Town Tours’ westward expansion to Missoula, Montana. In terms of wow-factor, jury is still out on what was better: our whirlwind taste of Memphis or the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Beijing – but since China used that lip-syncing girl and Katy brings the real deal TayTay style, I’m pretty sure Memphis will win. With the permission of Katy and M-Town Tours®, you are being allowed inside access on the O.O.Z. Crew Package – brace yourself, and consider this the best day ever.

interstate intrigue

On the road again... Katy is that you?!

Ever since the beginning of time, there’s been a rumor circulating that the open road can be a pretty lonely and boring place. I disagree. I’ll concede on Kansas, but from the days of walking to the Promised Land to a modern-day RV road-trip out west, there have always been plenty of micro-adventures to be had and cool things to witness (even Moses had that whole Red Sea thing). The road is generous in bestowing her adventures to those who genuinely seek. All you really need in your road-trip toolbox are good friends, top-notch playlists, car games and a few well-researched tourist traps and scenic overlooks.

Despite forgetting my iPod (Music Coordinator Fail), Heidi, Emily and I went mix-CD and radio style all the way to Memphis, Tennessee. None of us had ever made the drive to the western half of the Volunteer State, so between the laughs and jams, we kept our eyes peeled for the finer things Tennessee has to offer. In the 21 hours of our journey, she did not disappoint.

…seriously?: how to cause a scene in an airport

I adore surprises. I love all the secrets and scheming leading up to the surprise, and even more than that, the moment of shock on a person’s face when, as they try to comprehend what the H is happening, you know you pulled it off. Wide eyes, dropped jaws, yelling, laughter. All elements of a GREAT surprise.

When Emily and I initially discussed visiting our dear elf-footed friend Katy in Tennessee, there was no question in our minds that some element of the visit would be a surprise. Because really, what’s better than a visit from friends? A SURPRISE visit from friends. Duh. And we wanted it to be big – a reaction that would rival that of the Nintendo-64 kid. And we suceeded.

So how did we do it, you ask? Well, it’s easy. And to help you out, Emily & I have created a simple 5.5 step process*. Really, the majority of this process is plan development. So put on your game face friends, because when it comes to surprises, the motto is: Go Big or Go Home.

thanks & giving

Meet Amber. She’s 8 years old, loves t-ball, wants to marry a cowboy and has a smile that can light up a room. She also has rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of childhood cancer. And then there’s Tyron, a 3 year old who dances and sings to Gospel music with so much energy, you’d never guess he had Burkitt lymphoma.

These are just two of countless children who have been given a chance at life and the freedom to dream, thanks to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. These are also some of the stories that make me realize just how much I have to be thankful for.

Mem-phist Pump: Katy Did Not Know

BBQ, a gigantic pyramid, Elvis, a really great Zoo, Katy Branston – these are just a few of the reasons that year after year, tourists flock to Memphis, Tennessee, eager to pay homage to their site(s) of choice. For Emily, Heidi and I, this was more than a visit – this was the culmination of weeks of secrets and planning.

Story of an Immigrant/Foreigners flicking frisbees fiercly for Free2Lay

Its funny how an ultimate team seems to attract those foreign bodies. It all started with a Thai-American who knew her right from her left better than her real origins. She was such a world traveler that by the time she was done telling you “where she was from” it was time to blow out another candle. It also seemed that all this travel made her mightily hungry, for she ate more than any other her size. This girl, seemingly named after your favorite Japanese cartoon where Bulbasaur happened to be the perfect fusion between plant and dinosaur, was given a mighty nickname for her play on the field. It was so given for her amazing 0 to 60 power and precision cutting. Motor was the first of our “foreign” players.

This year a whole new breed of foreign has come along, in fact we are still searching for her documentation.

ultimate & udders

Got the Fuel, the Fire, the Hot Desire

Boone, NC — Don’t say you’ve seen it all until you have been to an Ultimate Frisbee tournament.

Free to Lay, Elon University’s Club Ultimate Frisbee team went westward last weekend for the Blue Ridge Blowout 2009.

Though this year’s team is young, their performance was not one to reflect having lost ten players from the previous season. The moment their cleats touched the lush fields, the defending BRB champions prepared to exploit and demoralize, as the collectively said to themselves, “No guts, no glory.”