Life is better in orange...

In case anyone has been living under a rock, Peyton Manning was at our first home game, against UT Martin. He had a checkerboard belt and I've been looking for it for two weeks.

Well, I found it and a few other Volunteer items at a wonderful website: Smathers & Branson

All of the Smathers & Branson products are needlepoint, which means they're expensive. But everything is super cute! I wish their college line featured more things for women.

So, in case any of you are wondering what to get me for Christmas, *cough* checkerboard flask *cough*

Have no fear non Vol fans, Smathers & Branson's collegiate collection is pretty vast...I'm sure you can find your team there too.

The "Peyton" belt...$165.00

I like this one, but like the checkerboard more

Where has this been all my life?

Or this one for that matter?

Journey to Antarctica

I want to go to Antarctica. Why? #1 -- I want to visit all seven continents & #2 I want to hug a penguin. They're just go cute!!

Earlier this summer I requested information from National Geographic. Big mistake on my part. They sent me these amazing travel guides, now all I can think about is one adventure after another.

There are may different tours, but I want the "Journey to Antarctica". It's a 14 day trip, goodness knows I have the PTO for it, but do I have the roughly $12,000? That would be a big fat "NO"! But heck, I can dream, right?

Maybe one day...if I ever win the lottery or win the MegaBucks in Vegas.

Vote for Smokey

Our beloved Smokey is up for Capital One's National Mascot of the Year! He's on a two week winning streak, beating Sebastian the Ibis and the Oregon Duck.

This week he takes on the University of Maryland's Testudo. After 12 weeks of voting, the top 8 mascot's advance...Smokey's currently #2 overall. I don't know how Big Blue from ODU is #1 overall, but I have no doubt Smokey will end up as the top dog.

Click here to vote for Smokey!

My almost 15 minutes of fame

It must have been a slow day in Knoxville if someone wanted to interview me for a Vols football package.

Check out govolsxtra.com for the video "Strong tradition of Tennessee football keeps Vol fans constant".

Visit to Ground Zero

I flew to NYC for the first time in the fall of 2007.

My friend took me down to Ground Zero and my jaw dropped. I remember the first thing we saw was a church. There was a high fence all the way around it, and you could still find jackets, boots, hats, helmets, etc. This is where a lot of the first responders left their items before rushing to do their job, saving lives, in the World Trade Center.

Sadly, they never returned to collect their belongings. At that moment, I wanted to call everyone I knew to tell them that I loved them. From that moment forward, I decided never to take anything in life for granted. You never know when it may be your last.

Hard to believe the Towers once stood here

I've never seen a work site so quiet

If you don't get emotional here, you need your pulse checked

9/11...nine years later

I woke up this morning with the following Zac Brown Band lyrics in my head, "I thank God for my life & for the stars and stripes...may freedom forever fly, let it ring..."

Nine years ago, our world was forever changed. I'll never forget where I was when I found out the Pentagon and Twin Towers had been attacked. I was in Hodges Library, on the University of Tennessee campus. I was finishing an advertising project and decided to surf the web before I headed to my next class. And then I saw it, one of the Twin Towers in New York City smoking....then an image I still can't get out of my head...the second plane headed straight for the other Tower.

I ran into a few friends on my way out of the library and couldn't get my head around what was going on. I felt sick, like I was in a daze. I kept thinking, how could this happen? Why would this happen? Then I got angry. I was angry because it was such a cowardly act. How dare these terrorists take so many innocent lives & how dare they do it on American soil.

I come from a military family, I knew we were headed toward war & I knew there was a chance I'd have to see some family & friends sent overseas. My uncle, a long retired Marine helicopter pilot, went down to the Marine base in Hawaii to re-enlist. Due to his age, he was turned away.

But that's what I loved seeing, love for and pride in our country. We would not be where we are today without the service and sacrifice of these brave men and women. For that, I will always be grateful.

It's college football time...

Bristol Peyton's all Vol...