Phew

Pohono was a bad party guest today. The family was invited to a birthday party for one of Pohono Jr's school friends - the party started, of course, at 5pm. The bills played at 4. So there sat Pohono, at the little kids party, refreshing the blackberry every 60 seconds to keep tabs on what was happening. thankfully, all were very understanding. i think.

here's what was happening... First half i was irritated at the lack of playmaking by the bills. down to the Rams, looking bad. Hobo was at a local establishment with the area Bills Backers, and was just as annoyed. Emails were exchanged. Second half, somehow they learned how to play. I guess i give jauron credit for getting this team fired up at half time, but c'mon, there are a lot of teams in this league, and in our division, that won't let us back in it if we can't get things going in the first half. and whats the story with our O-Line, especially old man Peters? don't get me started.

Highlight of the day - Pohono Jr. wore his #51 Poz home jersey and i wore my Poz away jersey - i'm proud of the boy! Secondary Highlight of the Day: Redskins gave the Cowboys the first "L". good stuff. Jerry Jones can go cry in his PSL money.

Camper Lot Review - 2008

I can't say a whole lot more than my boy suhoski said in his post below. Good man, good summary, and damn good 30 lbs of wings. and steak. and labatts blue. and lager. and 50. and for our friend hobo, a fine can of Natty Light.

since suhoski posted eloquently below, i'll stick with pictures and some comment...

Friday: Suhoski and i drove about an hour to pick up the camper. Drove back to papa's house, giving Hobo a 20 min "cushion" on our ETA to arrive timely. he was late. very late. we were not surprised. Rolled to my family's cottage, took the boys out for a real old fashioned western new york fish fry (can't get 'em like it in central PA), and took a couple of beers down to the dock and chilled the night away.


Saturday: Up early (very early) to roll into Orchard Park. In the camper lot by 8:15 or so (only 20 or so folks in ahead of us) and got the camper set in a prime spot on the rail, overlooking Ralph Wilson Staduim Lot 2. Made friends with others parked near us pretty quickly, especially our new best friend Mike, who in exchange for letting Hobo watch the Notre Dame game on his TV, was the recipient of Suhoski's accidental spillage... ah well, what are neighbors for...
Breakfast consisted of a feast fit for a king, prepared by our very own chef Papa. Chef Papa made bacon, sausage links, sausage patties, biscuits, sausage gravy (Papa likes his sausage), and eggs all washed down with a fine dose of barley and hops.

mmmmmmm, breakfast meat.

Hobo, apparently in need of a post-breakfast nap.

Papa. yes. thats a chicken wing.

Saturday consists simply of: Eat. Drink. Toss the Football until Winded (3-5 min). More Eat. More Drink. More Football. Wander the lot (now full of campers) and make friends. Repeat.

Saturday Night Entertainment: Papa and I make some friends and play the now famous game of Cans. think horseshoes. but with empties. and a make shift "goal" made of logs. and rules made up by a drunk bills fan. For the record, Pohono is UNDEFEATED. Also for the record, Hobo and Suhoski slept through the entire competition, which went a solid hour or so.

Saturday Night Entertainment II: Hobo is passed out asleep on his lawn chair. Pohono decides to test the laws of gravity and random muscle twitch, placing a solo cup (large) on hobo's head. The cup did not move for over an hour. Gravity is apparently weak. and of course, during the time, all of our neighbors in the camper lot came over to get their picture with the knucklehead with the cup on his head. and do creepy things to him while he was asleep. Mike, our neighbor, thinks this is the funniest thing he has ever seen. Papa has pictures, i will get them and post them.

Sunday: Game day - what can be said that suhoski hasn't said. Two of our other buddies (Pat LaFontaine and his bro) drove up leaving PA at 3am to enjoy the tailgate and game with us, and drove back after the game. Mad props to those guys - thats a LONG day, and i don't think either of them regret it a bit. they'll be there for the whole weekend next year, no doubt.

Nothing like celebrating a win in the camper lot with friends, ribeye steaks, another 10 lbs of wings, and a victory cigar (thanks, suhoski, for not smoking my victory cigar this year!). Oh, lets comment on the chicken wing hat. Papa got mad props for it. except for the guy who yelled down from above us when we were walking in... "Hey. You. Hey! Hemorrhoid Head! Whats that thing on your head". And the other guy that yelled "Hey, he's got a pork chop on his head".

we'll get those pics from papa and get more posted, and hopefully a little video as well...

Don't even know if I should come or go

I just spent ten minutes typing about last weekend and I had just gotten to the part where we were drinking on the water by Pohono's mother's cottage. I decided to change my approach to writing.

For you who don't know me, my name is Suhoski and I am former coworker (thankfully not a former friend) of Pohono. This was the fifth year in a row that I went to Buffalo with Pohono to see a Bills game. The last three years the two of us were joined by Hobo and Papa Morgan, and a couple other random people joined us different years.

I've already posted the "It's a celebration, bitches!" pictures after Rian Lindell hit the 38-yard field goal to beat the Oakland Raiders. Now I will provide in bullet form the highlights of the weekend (in no particular order of chronology or importance):

• 30 pounds of buffalo wings. !!!
• When Pohono and I arrived to pick up the trailer, one of the salesmen yelled to another that the guy examining our trailer had better hurry up or he was "going to rip his left arm off and beat him with it." That drew a laugh. It didn't dawn on me until we were in the vehicle hours later how cruel that comment was when you consider that the guy examining our trailer was missing his right arm.
• Vodka. Coke Zero or diet ginger ale. Mix them together enough and you start spilling your drink down an unsuspecting neighbor's neck.
• Bottles and cans and just clap your hands (and just clap your hands). Next year I would like to be awake during the game of Cans. Unfortunately I don't think it has to do with the girl wearing the "I Love Dick" shirt pictured in my previous post.
• Drinking on the lake gave me a chance to tell someone else why Extreme rocks.
• Speaking of the lake, darnit that was a great fish fry.
• Who the F--- plays The Best of Bon Jovi not once or twice but THREE TIMES during a tailgate? The same kind of people who then complain after the game that our generator was too loud for them, even though we had to shout to carry on a conversation while tailgating.
• For the first trip to the Buffalo Bills store in the last three years, there was no player present for me to ignore.
• I didn't smoke any of Pohono's better cigars this year. Progress.
• Just how many candy bars did Hobo buy from high school kids in the parking lot? At least in that environment it looks less creepy than when he spends hours at random school parking lots offering the kids candy of his own.
• Roscoe Parish is 5'9" and about 170 pounds as a wide receiver/punt returner for Buffalo. The only sizes of Roscoe Parish jerseys sold in the Bills store were XL and XXL. Does it sound like Roscoe himself would buy any of those jerseys? Instead I had to settle on buying a Paul Posluzny jersey.
• Although I did come very, very close to also buying a Brian Moorman jersey.
• Papa cooked the hell out of all that food.

That's about all I got to say about that. Hit me back.

Let your fingers do the walking

For my initial post I want to simply provide pictures from the postgame celebration of Rian Lindell's 38 yard field goal as time expired Sunday. I will post more when I am not sifting through the couple hundred emails I missed in my two days off from work.

what a day!

Last second Bills win, what a way to go. Hobo and Pohono and the boys were livin it up in the stadium, nothing like the atmosphere after a game like that. The camper lot has thinned out, but we're holding down the fort tonight, looking forward to a night of chillin around a fire.

Go Bills!!!!

Sunday tailgate...

Game day - our second group showed at 8:15am, not bad considering they had a five hour drive.... Slow morning after the fun of last night, but gettin' warmed up for a great day...

Hobo would post, but he's either been passed out or close to it... Just kiddin, but wait till he sees the pics...

FIRE

Great day, friends. Great day. We only made it thru 20 of the 30 pounds of wings, but tomorrow is another day! Gotta be 100 campers in the lot - GO BUFFALO!!!!!!

Sitting around the campfire - wish you all were here!!!!!

Hello, Camper Lot

Up early this morning to get in. Last night was a good night, beers on the dock looking over the lake, followed by a fire in the fireplace. Crashed by 11:30 so we could get the necessary early start.

Arrived at the camper lot at 8:15, with about 25 other bills fans with style. Lovin it. Camper is set up, breakfast was outstanding. Papa Morgan cooked us up breakfast meat in 4 varieties, plus eggs and biscuts. That papa morgan is a good guy.

Now chillin...

Tryin to upload pictures, but no luck so far from the bberry...

Hanging at the Cottage

Here we are, the first night of the camper lot weekend. First night hanging at the Pohono family cottage, havin a beer on the deck. After dinner its beers on the dock, then a few hours sleep before heading to orchard park for the main event. More to come!

2 - 0 !!!!

Bills win. Two and oh!!! Go BILLS!!!!!!!

Trouble in Tailgate Land!!!!!!!!!!

Today was a great day that ended badly. Very badly. I left work early, and the pohono family went to the "Largest RV Show in America". Pohono saw LOTS of ideal tailgate vehicles, including one RV customized as the "Tailgate Edition". I fell in love. With all due respect to Mrs. pohono, this one will be in my dreams for the near future... Walk in and immediately to the left was a bar. a real, honest to goodness bar with a flatscreen behind it. 3 bar stools. instead of a traditional rv table, it had a long couch that faced the Bar (and, of course, TV) with bar tables. H-E-A-V-E-N. All to be had at the "show price" of a mere $78,000... so, pohono came home with nothing, but saw lots of other slightly more affordable (and slightly LESS affordable) RV's that would make the camper lot pretty comfy...

Tonight, driving home, the pohono-mobile stopped at a red light. the car in front of pohono was stopped. the car behind pohono, however, most certainly did NOT stop. not sure the speed, but had to be rolling around 30mph with no braking, pushed me right into the car in front of me. the pohono-mobile is in sorry shape right now. tailgate busted up good. bumper hosed. rear lights busted. she's not been beat up like this before.

here's the thing. hobo, pohono and the boys are hitchin the trailer up in 7 days to go tailgate in the camper lot. while i THINK the hitch is in good shape, i have some concern that the rental place won't like my busted up truck towing their rig. i'll call 'em tomorrow and find out, hopefully. 'cept here's the other thing - they are all over at that same RV show, so i'm not sure who will answer the phone...

oh, and biggest pisser? my brand new (just bought last week at the game) Buffalo Bills hitch cover was in the accident. it survived, but it's a little banged up too.

Where's my voice???

Monday, 30 hours post-game. I still can't talk. I've been to a lot of games at the Ralph, but the staduim was rockin' as loud as I ever remember it. Awesome experience. First of MANY home openers for Hobo and Pohono. Let me tell ya, Season Tix were a great idea. Thanks Hobo!

The tailgate was outstanding. ranks up there. We decided to park the Pohono-Mobile in Lot 1 based on some feedback from the messageboards that it was THE place to be. I've almost always parked in Lot 2, but from now on, Hobo and I are lot one people. you'll see the flag flying, friends! Yes, i said it. THE FLAGPOLE. nothing ghetto about it. rave reviews from bills fans everywhere!

As said in a post from the weekend, we went with Growlers from ABC - here's Hobo and Pohono celebrating a swig in the lot...

Tailgating with Natedogg88 and his lady friend - good people. flew up from tampa for the home opener - that's dedication! look forward to catching up with Natedogg again at the New England game - we'll have a beer in your honor over the next few tailgates...

Hobo has more pics, and Natedogg is sending us a few. Notably missing from this post... Hobo and Pohono visit Pinto Ron... but i'll let my boy Hobo post on that.

Bills Win!!!!!!!

What a start to the season ticket experience! Bills win big!!!!!! We'd have posted from in the game, but the gentle downpour all game put a damper on getting out the electronic equipment. All in all, a great day. Now we just kill time to get out of the lot. A great tailgate, a great game, and now the long drive home...

Two weeks until the camper lot!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tailgate!!!!!!!

Pohono and Hobo are in the lot and the tailgating has begun!!!!! Nothing could be better on this fine Sunday morning that what we're doing right here, right now! Sitting in lot 1 next to Natedogg, a dude we know from the buffalo bills.com message boards. Good stuff, people. Drinking the growler, ready to fire up the grill...

And yes, the flagpole looks spectacular, and has already drawn some great feedback from our fellow tailgaters!!!!!

Arrival!

The anticipation of opening day mounts!!! After an uneventful drive, we're here at the pohono family summer cottage. Only 45 min from The Ralph, so we're celebrating with one of those cold miller lites from the cooler. Just the sight of the growlers sitting in the pile of ice made my mouth water!!!
Look for game day updates, friends!!!!!!!!

From The Road

Well, hobo and pohono are on the road. With the powers of modern technology, we have the ability to blog from the road and keep all of the buffalotailgater followers up to speed of our adventures. Pohono is driving and hobo is blogging.

We have packed our cooler with 2 64oz growlers of abc water gap wheat beer, 12 miller lights, 5 johnsonville brawts, and various other munchies. Just stopped at sheetz in sunbury for some drinks and jerky. 2 and 1/2 hours from our overnight accommodations. More posting to come.....

To Buy, or Not To Buy...

That is the question. As I'm sitting here less than 48 from KICKOFF to the 2008 season, I find myself pondering this very question. You're probably asking yourself, "what does Hobo want to buy?" Well fellow buffalotailgater blog followers, Hobo has a tradition of purchasing a new Bills jersey each of the last two seasons. 2006 was a home Coy Wire jersey (now considered a classic), 2007 was an away Marshawn Lynch jersey. Not only do I love purchasing a jersey each year, but I love the experience of doing so. 2006's purchase resulted in me running into Brian Moorman, 2007 was the infamous Poz encounter.

This year I'm at a crossroads. Which jersey do I buy? Do I purchase a rookie jersey (Hardy or McKelvin), do I support our second year starting QB (Edwards), do I wait and hope Lee Evans signs a long term deal to stay in Buffalo and pick up his jersey? Do I buy a home, away, or throwback jersey? Do I by a classic Kelly or Tasker jersey? All very good, very tough, questions that need answers. I may purchase this weekend, I may not. I can however make this promise to you, I guarantee you that a purchase will be made no later than the Oakland game.

I need your help, please leave comments on this blog on what I should do. Help Hobo out!

In 48 Hours...

In a mere 48 hours, we're en-route to Buffalo. Spent a few minutes late afternoon making plans w/ Hobo for our tailgate. parking lots open at 8am. the Pohono-Mobile will be in line at 7:45 for them to unlock the gate.

quick story: Hobo and I took our wives to see the Bills/Eagles game at the end of the season last year in Philly. Mrs. Pohono and I stayed with family outside of Philly (who were kind enough to watch Pohono jr. and Pohonette). Hobo and Mrs Hobo stayed in a hotel near the stadium. Mrs. Pohono asked me what time we were picking them up to go to the stadium. My answer of "oh, sometime between 7 and 7:30" was met with a stare, a quizzicle expression, and "doesn't the game start at 1pm"? it took me a little while to explain that a good day at an NFL game requires at a minimum 4 hours of tailgating, and preferably 5. Mrs. Pohono was a trooper and we were in the parking lot with the Hobo's at a nice early hour. A "few" beers later, Mrs. Pohono started to understand why Mr. Pohono insisted on such an early start!!!!!! It was Mrs. Pohono's first tailgate, but certainly not her last...

Lady Pohono - Lady Hobo

Final thought on the Bills - Sign Lee Evans. NOW. Ignore Peters - he hasn't proven he's the team player to deserve the extension, but Lee has. Oh yeah, and wrapping up the preseason by tossing Angelo Crowell on IR is not what we wanted rolling into the first game of the season, but fortunately Ellison has enough experience to plug the hole. maybe not as completely, but it's not a disaster. Poz rolling his ankle, now that might be a disaster...

Hurricane Hanna, please don't get up close and personal with the fair city of Orchard Park on Sunday! Tailgates are great in the sun, better in the snow, but always lose a little something in a hurricane!!! and, quite honestly, i'm not so certain the flagpole would hold up!!!!!

Introducing Hobo

Now that Pohono has created the "Buffalo TailGater" blog and introduced himself, I felt it was time for me to do the same. I am Hobo. I am the closet Bills fan Pohono met 3+ years ago upon his moving to Central PA. Yes, I am the friend of a former Buffalo Bills player (and have the phone number to prove it) and a passionate (some would say obsessive) fan of the Bills. I am thrilled to be a season ticket holder and excited about battling the in the AFC East this year (did someone say playoffs??)

For my first post on "Buffalo TailGater" I thought I would list my Top 5 experiences at the Ralph over the past few years:

5. Discovering my fondness to a.) labatts blue beer, b.) homemade chicken wings in the parking lot, c.) a guy named Julio from Miami that gave us some good wood (for burning!).

4. Meeting Paul Posluszny at the Bills Store in December 2007 and slurring the words "Congratulations" to him. Remember, Paul broke his arm in week 3 last year and was out for the season...hardly something I should congratulate a man on.

3. Attending the Bills/Bengals pre-season game with my wife in August 2006. She is a wonderful woman who earned the "wife of the year award". Not only did she attend a meaningless pre-season game with me, she sat in our seats during pouring rain, and preceded our trip to the Ralph with a visits to Ted's (best hot dogs on the planet) and Duff's (best wings on the planet).

2. Watching the Bills destroy the Fins the past two Decembers. Its unfortunate that I can't witness a third such display due to the Toronto initiative.

1. Arriving to tailgate at a Bills game more than 2 full days in advance of the kickoff. I have quickly learned that nobody tailgates like the Buffalo Bills (or circles the wagons) and I'm excited to continue that experience this fall with Pohono 6 more times.

More posts to come, looking forward to the season. Go Bills.

The Flagpole

When Hobo convinced me to go with a "yes" for season tickets, i made a promise: "I'll provide the tailgate flagpole". Note - there is some disagreement between whether i said "provide" or "buy". here's the thing - they are $90 or more. i'm cheap. so, in the spirit of gettin' it done, i created the redneck flagpole out of PVC and other small parts. Upon construction, i decided it was too flexible, so plan B was to mount it to the roof of the car, on my cargo basket, to be exact. about $13 of materials later, here ya go. pic's will be taken on opening day, and posted here...

Hobo is providing the hanging gear for opposite my bills banner. i believe he has something spectacular in mind...

the other thing we talked about getting for tailgates... a school bus. more on that another time.