College Trip - Day 3 - A&M Tradition

Our tour guide. Amazing coincidence that each tour guide is cute, positive and perky.  Turk wondered why A&M didn't give out water bottles before the tour (it was 95+ today.)  Jim tried to explain that Aggie tradition requires a few missteps.

Jim with Will and JW.  A&M branding in effect

Gov Russ, who became president of A&M to save its closure.  When a student thanked him for his academic success, Gov Russ said all he wanted from the student was a "penny for his thoughts."  Around exam time pennies and other currency are found around the statue's feet in hopes to help with exam grades.

Turk investigated and found some coins left from recent exam preparations. Those of you who know the Turk realize how hard it was for her to leave the coins behind....

No idea at all where Aggie jokes might come from.

JW snapped this photo. Again is this "High School" or "College" Humor. The feed back from UT's photo was that falls within High School Humor...

The Century tree. Legend here predicts that if you walk under this tree together, you will spend your life together.  If you walk under the tree alone, you will spend your life alone.  Will wondered what happened if 2 dudes walked under the tree together.  Jim muttered something about don't ask, don't tell.

Terri under the Century Tree.  Jim went back and got her to spare her a spinster's fate.

The Cougar and her college exploring cubs.  Huge replica of the A&M class ring, with the Corps slogan of "An Aggie does not Lie, Cheat or Steal, nor tolerate those who do."  This is apparently printed for signature on many exams to reinforce the expected A&M ethics.

The famous Aggie "12th Man." Very ironic. This was a baseball player, was out of the stands and put into an injured football players uniform during a football game when the only uninjured Aggie football players were those still playing the game. This guy didn't actually play, and maybe that's why he (and the coaches decision to put a non-player into a player's uniform) is honored by a school with the slogan of "don't lie, cheat or steal?"

Our beautiful guide with Will and JW (who didn't miss the action today.)  Will the Turk continue to smile so much when she realizes her cubs are growing up and she will have to give them up some day??


A&M today, decent tour with lots of stories of the espirit d corps and Aggie tradition.  The boys found the campus to be in between TT and UT in terms of layout and charm.  The were spared the admissions spiel today since it was Saturday and only a tour was provided.

We drove to Memphis, TN after the tour (JW did around 3 of the 9 hours drive, today on a combination of roads.)  He didn't park too well when we stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner, but hey Dad nearly made a fool of himself earlier trying to (according to the Turk) parallel park a 16 foot car in a 12 foot parking spot.

Yes we are 1500 miles into the trip and nearly 100 gallon of gasoline used.  More on that tomorrow.  Tomorrow's itinerary is a simple travel day, another 500 miles to Oxford OH, home of Miami University, which is Jim's alma mater.

Today's on the road entertainment included 2 composers, Haydn and Mozart, the 2nd half of the Andromeda Strain (6/10, but definitely watchable,) some classic rock on the iPod,  Resident Evil: Extinction (5/10 but definitely watchable for Milla Jojovich's customary strong performance.)  Turk set her office up and got 4-5 hours of Bicycle-Heaven work done which really helps her psyche on a trip.

Thanx for reading.