Day 1:

Blogging from the Grey Cup may prove to be more of a challenge than we originally anticipated.  We're still a little tipsy, it's freezing outside, and A-Rad seems to be passed out on the floor in the tuxedo that he's wearing from yesterday's post.  Onwards we press...

11:00 AM We show up at the airport and head immediately to the bar... where they aren't serving until 11:15.  Seems like a bit of an arbitrary time.  Number of people lining up at the Terminal 3 bar for beer at 11:00AM on a Wednesday: 18.

12:15 PM Lining up for the flight we notice that the gentlemen in front of us - Blue Jays play-by-play man Jamie Campbell - is looking kind of impatient, which leads to the following exchange:

Campbell: "You're serving on this flight, right?"

Flight Attendant: "No, you're going to have to wait until Winnipeg"

Campbell looks distraught and may start to silently weep...

Flight Attendant: "no, no, I'm just kidding..."

1:00 PM The flight officially runs out of beer

1:01 PM We officially switch to rum

1:30 PM "This is your captain speaking... The weather in Winnipeg is -30 and there is currently 2 feet of snow on the ground"  An eerie silence takes over the plane as we all believe that this is entirely possible.

2:00 PM Touchdown in Winnipeg.  I'm the only person who makes the obligatory touchdown signal. 

2:15 PM Hey, Bob O'Billovich was on this flight.  Hey... Bob O'Billovich has a pink suitcase.  Hey... Bob O'Billovich has three pink suitcases?

2:30 PM Our driver mentions that they are currently renting rooms in Brandon for the game.  Those people who didn't book on time are idiots.

2:35 PM Shoomy gets recognized for his Jerome Davis jersey by an Argos staffer.  "I knew it was you because only you and his girlfriend have a Jerome Davis jersey."  (We can only assume that Jerome's wife is an Arland Bruce fan.)

2:45 PM We get to the Delta Winnipeg where we are told that Expedia never called them to book the room.  They don't know if they can accommodate us... but they may have a room in Brandon.  We regret not asking our driver which rooms in Brandon are available.  (Big ups to the Delta Winnipeg who figured out a way to accommodate us.  Jeers to Expedia who basically couldn't book their way out of a paper bag.)

3:00 PM Recommence drinking.... Things get a little hazy around this point....

9:00 PM End up at the Tigers Lair and meet the gentlemen who claimed to be Stripes from this story... Stripes claims that A-Rad got him into some trouble, we find this improbable.

9:10 PM Shoomy reveals his plan to get a picture of a cheerleader from each team kissing him on the cheek.  A member of the Outriders mentions that she's not allowed to do "anything sexual" while in uniform, but gives him a hearty "air kiss".  Shoomy spends the next 3 hours trying to figure out if there actually is a ban or if she just isn't a Jerome Davis fan.

9:30 PM The Blue Lightning show up and immediately dispel the notion that the ban on anything sexual stretches to the dance routines.  Is that a fake bobsledding routine?  Jermaine Copeland would be so proud.  Shoomy re-evaluates his opening lines.

11:00 PM We see the stadium as we drive 20 minutes past it and into oblivion to get to the Spirit of Edmonton. 

11:30 PM Four shuttle buses go by the Spirit of Edmonton as we wait to go back downtown. One of which was going to Brandon.  Who stays in Brandon?  You've got to book ahead for these sorts of things.

Midnight:  We run in to Noel Prefontaine who is both in and having some fine spirits after his snub at the CFL awards.  Noel appears to be less impressed with the Rolling Stones cover band at Riderville than A-Rad. 

12:10 AM: Just when you think things can't get any more Canadian than being at the Grey Cup... we spot the Riderville make your own caesars bar.  Beautiful.

Time to start drinking again, see you tomorrow.