Pullman Weekend (Part Two)!!!

Homecoming Day in Pullman!

Omid and I woke up and took a walk through all the tailgate campsites.

 Walking past this campsite, we were thankful these campers weren't right next to us!

Former WSU football player Ryan Leaf.
He has just written a book & is now on a booktour.

Go Cougs!

Omid & I walked up on the campus. Look at the view of the Palouse behind Omid.
Beautiful!

After a few hours, we all met back at Lin & Ward's camper for lunch.
Ward ordered the 'Colossus' pizza from Pizza Pipeline.

Ginormous 26" pizza!

Stuffed & almost ready for the game!

We took a quick family shot before the kids left for the game.
Omid and I didn't attend, but drove all over Pullman
revisiting our favorite places. So many wonderful memories!

After the game, we met up with our friends again. Look at Remy & Jack.
These two begged all weekend long, especially Remy. He forgot all his manners & was even caught
stealing food from other campsites. Naughty boy!

Coug fans!!

Just after the game, fans were starting to trickle back to the tailgating site.
I loved the sea of crimson!

I also loved the camraderie between the Coug fans. We were all complete strangers, but everywhere you went, Cougs invited us over for a bite or drink; and we did the same. We met so many nice people this past weekend.

We had a fantabulous time visiting Nas in Pullman. We were so happy she spent the entire weekend with us.
We can't wait until our next visit!!

Pullman Weekend (Part One)!!!

We travelled to Pullman this past weekend to visit Nas and also for WSU's Homecoming! We had a fantastic time. While I am here physically, I am still mentally in Pullman. I love that place!♥

Driving near The Dalles, Oregon, we watched a beautiful sunrise.

Remy & Matty

We took a shortcut through Washtucna & saw these turkeys on the side of the road.

All I could think about was Thanksgiving dinner!

Almost there!

YAY!

We made it to Pullman and had to find where the rv parking was. It was first come, first served in our lot. Omid found this site which had great views on either side.

This is the right-side view from our campsite.

This is the left-side view from our campsite.
The WSU water tower!

Our little campsite.

 After Omid set everything up, we took Remy for a walk up on campus & to find Naseem.

Thanks to Sarah for Remy's one-of-a-kind bandana.
50 people must have asked me where I got it.

Reunited!
Nas & her baby!

Matty & Nas

After a bit, we stopped at Nas' dorm & snuck Remy inside for a visit.
He wouldn't stop barking at her friends, so we rushed him back outside.

Amy, Lin & Lia

Lin & Ward's campsite was our tailgating 'headquarters.'

Happy to be back in our favorite place.

Nas catching up on all the Camas news.

Nas brought her friend Marcus over for dinner. Her friend Leah & Leah's sister Sarah also joined us.
Omid grilled koobideh for dinner (so Nas could have a taste of home). It was a wonderful night!

Omid and I went for a walk around the some of the other tailgaters. On the rear of one diesel pusher, we saw this sticker.
Somebody important was visiting WSU.

Next up: Saturday in Pullman!

Make This!

Crab cakes!

Omid and I love crab cakes. We have tried so many different recipes and finally found one we really like that was easy and delicious!

 The key to 'perfect' crab cakes: a measuring cup!
I used the 1/3 cup size.

 Bake at 400* for 12 minutes on each side.

YUM!

The French call tartar sauce: remoulade.

I made a tangy remoulade which was a perfect accompaniment to the crab cakes.
No leftovers!

Corn Bread Crab Cakes  adapted slightly from Cooking Light
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 c sliced green onions
2/3 cup diced red pepper
1/2 jalapeno pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup mayo
4 T chopped chives
2 T chopped cilantro
1/2 t grated lemon rind
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 T hot sauce
1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1 egg
2 cups crumbled corn bread (I baked the cornbread about an hour before I needed it for this recipe).
1 pound fresh crab meat, chopped

Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, peppers & garlic. Saute for 3-5 minutes. Cool. Combine pepper mix, mayo, and all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.  Scoop mix into a 1/3 cup measuring cup. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Place in fridge for one hour. Bake in a 400* oven for 12 minutes each side.  Serve with remoulade sauce.

Remoulade
1/3 cup mayo
1 1/2 T green onions
2 T chopped cilantro
1/4 t fresh grated lemon rind
2 t fresh lemon juice
1/4 t hot sauce
1/2 t chopped garlic
1/2 t black pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Serve over crab cakes. Garnish with chopped green onions.

ERASURE!

Andy Bell & Vince Clarke

My favorite musical group in the whole wide world? ERASURE! They are my go-to group on my iPod. I've loved them ever since I heard thier first single: Hideaway (way back when!). Omid introduced me to them with this very mixed tape the first summer we were dating. One listen & I was hooked.

Beloved mixed tape from 1988!

Since they announced a North American tour last June, I just knew I HAD to go see them. Long story short: tickets sold out immediately & I was sad that I wasn't able to purchase any. Omid was so sweet & purchased tickets off of Craig's List for me. I got to see them on Wednesday at the Crystal Ballroom with my friend Donna.

Donna & I enjoying a bite to eat before the concert.
Fun Fact: if you eat/drink at Ringlers & save your receipt before a concert in the Crystal Ballroom,
 you get 'preferred entry' into the concert!!

Waiting to get inside!

 Donna & I were about #50/51 in line. Once we entered the ballroom, most of the crowd went to one of the three bars stands in the concert area. Donna & I ran to the stage. Guess what! We were about 8 feet from the stage for the entire concert! The bests seats I've ever had at a concert!

Donna Roberts!
Have a real estate need? Call Donna!
She's licensed in WA & OR!

Feeling piggly wiggly for the concert to begin!

I could not believe the woman next to me was wearing earplugs!

Opening band: FrankMusik. Dance-trance stuff (not bad!).

 After FrankMusik opened, we had to wait about 30 more minutes for Erasure to perform. We were really curious as to what Andy would wear.  He came marching on stage & looked adorable in his sparkly, red blazer & trojan hat.

Andy!

Costume change.

Vince
Fun fact: Vince is a founding member of both Depeche Mode & Yaz.

 Erasure performed for about an hour & a half and then came back and sang for another 20 minutes. It was hands down, the BEST concert I have ever attended. Andy didn't disappoint & danced away on the stage just like we'd hoped. I loved the fact that the entire Crystal Ballroom was singing/shouting to all the songs. It was a huge sing-a-long! Andy & Vince performed all my favorites!! I took several videos and uploaded them to YouTube. If you want to view my YouTube channel,  you can click here. One huge warning: I am singing along & not very well! I was really disappointed to hear myself singing that badly. I apologize in advance!

Farewell!
It was an amazing concert & I can't wait until the next time I get to see them!

Fun Fact: On October, 11 - Erasure will release a new album called Tomorrow's World!

Lastly: I always suspected Vince & Andy were super cool, but this blog post from Mike the Fanboy confirms it! Just a few days ago after their Hollywood show,  Vince & Andy spent time signing autographs & posing for photos with fans. I love that! Warning: there are a few inappropriate photos on that post.