tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13578155.post-1135474584796641262005-12-24T20:36:00.001-05:002005-12-24T22:11:06.623-05:00<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <div style="text-align: right;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77021710/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/36/77021710_8121cd5c8d_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /></div> This fall, I needed a companion to accompany me to Columbus to an Ohio State football game. Traveling Spike was happy to oblige -- even if it wasn't Manchester United.<br /><br />Our first stop was on High Street at the marker for the original Ohio Field. Traveling Spike said that back then the Yanks played "real" football, with little protective equipment and death on the fields. Good times, good times.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77021711/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/40/77021711_7d748a2c17_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /></div><br />Here a couple of Williams hang out together. William Oxley Thompson was president of the university for 26 years, during the first part of the 20th century, and was considered a visionary in education. During his tenure, the student population grew from 1,000 to 14,000. His statue stands in front of the main library at Ohio State.<br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><br /></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77021712/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/40/77021712_213e2c76d7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><br />His next stop was Mirror Lake. He regretted not being able to see his reflection in the water.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77021713/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/40/77021713_fc7b2f7da4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /></div><br />On the way to Ohio Stadium, Traveling Spike and I stopped by my old stomping grounds of the Journalism Building. Spike relaxed on what is now a museum piece in the computer age -- a teletype machine. He confided the tip that a bit of ink in a pint of blood will spice it up a bit.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77021714/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/77021714_1cb7a621f5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><br />Finally, we arrived at The Horseshoe -- Ohio Stadium. With its present seating capacity of 101,568, Ohio Stadium is the fourth largest on-campus facility in the nation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77022005/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/38/77022005_fa440b3f03_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /></div><br />Traveling Spike took his seat but was seriouly bummed when he found out that alcohol was not served in the stadium. No beer? It's sacrilege! He nearly left again when he realized the stadium is smoke-free as well. Is this a sporting event or a bloody tea party?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77021715/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/40/77021715_78d2ce2c35_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><br />Look at all those thousands upon thousands of Happy Meals on Legs -- not that Traveling Spike is into that sort of thing anymore.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77022004/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/42/77022004_25c358fbeb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><br />After the game, Traveling Spike had the opportunity to think about the experience while enjoying the hotel's hot tub. What can be said about a group of men who are covered in padding and play only half the game -- and even that is in stops and starts?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39914770@N00/77022006/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/39/77022006_9e18afdcac_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><br />"Nancy boys. The whole lot o' them."<br /></div><br />-- Alane<br /></div>Traveling Spikenoreply@blogger.com