Alright. Alright. I know everyone's dying to know what we have to say about Jarrett...I will simply say that we ran into Clemson's Women's soccer team in the airport (see below)Thank you to Kristen Mc-effing-Donough for approaching these ladies and asking them if they happened to know a Jarrett Lewis? Clemson soccer?

The girls' response, "Jarrett who?"

So Jarrett, who are you? Really?

Feeling the pain of the phone centers...

We arrived in Gulfport after a rather uneventful flight over the beautiful Gulf Coast. Beaches as far as the eye could see. Imagining ourselves lying out soaking up the rays and apparently the girls imagining Dave running down the beach ala Baywatch.

Hertz was more than kind to provide us with brand new Mazda Tributes to cruise the strip. With the ladies hanging out the windows. "Holla!"



Once checked into the hotel (a Comfort Inn--that has a make your own waffle station, no less), we headed over to Wicker campaign HQ. They quickly ushered us into their call center--we were apparently their only volunteers this evening. Quick highlights as we decide where we want to grace Gulfport with our presence...

1. Adam decided to use fake names because his was not good enough.
2. Bry was such a good caller one voter decided she needed to flush her toilet to voice her displeasure.
3. The two times Bry actually made a successful call (to an actual Wicker voter), she was sure to make the entire room know--and anyone who was on a call with one of us as well (it was only us).
4. Kristen was able to successfully mask her Boston accent even though Roger Wicker may be the most difficult name in the English language for a Bostonian to pronounce properly (apologies to Nomar Garciaparra).
5. Kristen even found a McDonough in Gulfport--unfortunately the phone number was disconnected. Nevertheless, she proved the obstinacy of POSers and continued to dial on the number hoping her long lost relative would answer.
6. Me you ask? The most eventful thing I did was stand up and talk to people. I kept wanting to make phone center/PD jokes, but then I realized that no one there would have gotten them.
7. Since we are in Mississippi (God bless the South), halfway through dialing, the campaign staff was more than happy to provide us with quality beverages (no whiskey to be had, however).


8. Hobart is happy to be here and wishes that Jarrett would learn how time zones work.
9. Zaxby's is delicious and the first Southern restaurant to be crossed off my list (Waffle House, you are next. Hopefully before I go to bed.).

Houston, we have a a problem

We are sitting in george bush in houston so we made it through the first part of the trip, but not without a couple kinks in the machinery...dave forgot to keep his boarding pass out while going through security, so the entire line had to wait while the people brought every item back through the scanner. This is especially funny because Dave was the one taking charge and telling everyone where we needed to go...way to go grizzled veteran.
Once we arrive in Houston, we were q'd up with some not so amicable texans to take a shuttle to the next terminal. Very ass backwards if you ask me. The Senator and trace face were almost separated from the group at this point because there wasn't enough room. The Senator would not stand for this, so needless to say they got to go with the others afterall. Yay!!! Our flight is now boarding for Biloxi...we'll let y'all know if we win big at the casinos.

P.S.-more to come about the "infamous" Jarrett Lewis

I packed my bathing suit

Top priorities after getting the word about Wicker out on the streets -

1. Tricking AND treating - ourselves to drinks
2. Sonic Drive thru
3. Maize Maze part II (thanks Dave Dog)
4. Beach (maybe just for a look; 75 degrees isnt THAT warm)

We will send pics of us in costumes later on!

Let the posts begin

Those of us heading down to Gulfport have enjoyed the posts from Cincinnati so much that we figured our friends on the Chabot trail might want to check in on the Wicker crowd.

We are leaving the office at 11:00 for a 12:30 flight out of Reagan
Short layover in Houston (praying all goes smoothly here)
ETA in Gulfport is 5:14

We're planning to check in to the hotel then head over to HQ. We may or may not be handing out fliers at some high school football games...
All I know is that we will be locating the nearest Sonic/Chick-fil-a as soon as possible.

Later tonight, I will be getting into costume (Happy Halloween, btw) and trying to convince everyone else that you only live once, and venturing out in Gulfport, MS could be worthwhile.

Stay tuned, Ohio. And stay warm.