The Worm Word

Loving the Colorful Leaves

Fall is here and it is lovely. I am going to try to get out to Giant City State Park this weekend and get some pictures of all the leaves changing colors. My favorites are the red ones, but I like them all. Tomorrow is Halloween and I can't wait to wear a costume and run around. I will be out at Smysor Plaza in Murphysboro from 5pm to 6pm for the Halloween party there. If you are going out tomorrow evening be sure to dress warm and wear bright colors so you can be seen in the dark. If you are out driving around, please keep an eye out for kids, they can be hard to see sometimes.

This is going to be quite the weekend for Saluki athletic fans. Saturday there is a basketball game and a football game. The basketball game will be at the arena at 2:05 pm against King College, it will be the first exhibition game of the season. I know there are some people out there who don't think that the exhibition games are as important as the conference games, but our guys need just as much support for both so I hope they get a great turn out. The football game is at 1:05 pm in Macomb, IL, against Western Illinois. I hope the guys enjoy getting to play in this perfect fall weather, those first few games were just too hot.

I feel like I am repeating myself just a little too much, but the SIU College of Business Online Store is up now. I am personally looking forward to getting an Official Saluki Love shirt if they make them in my size. With the basketball season starting and Christmas slowly creeping up on us you might want to check the SIU Alumni Online Store for any new products. There are also links to the Alumni Apparel, School of Law and College of Business stores from the main site, so be sure to look at them all. The Crownline Boats Online Store also has some new additions and is getting more regularly so don't forget to check it out.

I hope everyone out there has a great week and a safe Halloween.

Sezmore

Prepare to be Spooked

I kept wishing for fall weather and did I ever get my wish. I guess next time I should be more specific and ask for cooler weather and no rain. We did need the rain though, so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I hope everyone is enjoying this last little bit of October because it will be November in no time then Thanksgiving and on to Christmas.

Those Salukis did it again. 45 to 10 against Missouri State, this has been quite the winning season, and it isn't even over yet. The next home game is on Saturday, November 10th, against Illinois State. I'll be keeping an ear out for the game on November 3rd, but I never can make it to the away games. Also coming up soon is the first Men's Basketball exhibition game. The game will be on November 3rd, at 2:05pm against King College.

Since so much of rooting for the Salukis is how you look, there are a few things going on with the SIU Alumni Online Store that I want to share. The "Canes Pugnaces" Saluki Way fundraiser shirts have had their final run of printing. Time is quickly running out to get one. Remember that all of the proceeds from this shirt go straight to Saluki Way to help build the new Football Stadium. The SIU Legacy apparel will be leaving the Alumni Online Store on November 1st. The Legacy line has T-shirts and jackets with the older SIU logos on them. Be sure to take a look at them, I had never seen a few of them and really like most of them, but I'm not going to tell you which ones I like best. Some time later this week the new College of Business Online Store will go up to feature the Saluki Love Apparel. Keep an eye out for a link to that from the SIU Alumni Store.

I want everyone to have a safe Halloween next week so be sure to wear clothes people can see in the dark. Always carry a flashlight when you are Trick-or-Treating. I will be at the Murphysboro Halloween event at Smysor Plaza on the 31st so please come and say "hi." I do get spooked easily, so if you are wearing a scary costume please don't sneak up on me. If you aren't up for Trick-or-Treating you might want to check out the Halloween Pops concert that the SIU Symphony Orchestra is doing. There will be a performance of "Peter and the Wolf," various spooky songs and a "sportscast" of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. I don't know what a sportscast of a symphony is, but I am tempted to go to find out. The performance begins at 7:30 at Shryock Auditorium and is $15 for adults and $6 for students. Costume wearing is encouraged.

I'm still thinking about going out to the haunted houses in the area, so please let me know which ones are the best; I want reviews on Tallon Falls of Paducah, Chittyville School in Herrin and the Haunted Depot in Murphysboro. I hope everyone out there has a good week.

Sezmore

Enjoying the Brief Fall Weather

I think I need to take a weekend off. I have been going to so much fun stuff that I'm even more tired on Monday than I am on Friday. I am out having a good time, so I guess I will suffer through it. This past weekend was no exception. The Maroon Madness on Friday evening looked seriously exciting. I wasn't able to go, but I did catch it on ESPN. The arena looked packed to capacity. I love it when everyone, students and non alike, come together to rally around our athletes. I was also pretty amused by Coach Lowery riding in on a motorcycle, how cool is that? I can't wait for basketball season to start.

My excitement for basketball does not in any way impact my enjoyment of football, don't get me wrong. I was heartbroken that we lost last Saturday, but I will keep my hopes high for this weekend. Since it is a home game you know I will be at the tailgate. The fun starts at 10:30 and the game kicks off at 1:30. We need to be out there and cheering on those football Salukis with all of our might.

I didn't make it to the football game on Saturday because I was out enjoying the fall activities of Southern Illinois. I went out to Bandy's Pumpkin Patch outside of Johnston City. They have a corn maze in the shape of the Miner's logo. My friend and I got lost pretty bad, but we still had a ton of fun. It took us a whole hour to get all the way through the maze and find all of the stations so we could get our button saying that we completed the maze. After that I looked for the perfect pumpkin for a Jack-O-Lantern, there were just too many great ones for me to choose from. For more information on Bandy's go here.

Then I went to Herrin to check out the Breast Cancer Fundraiser Bocce Tournament. There were some really good teams out there. I think I may have to get my own team together next year to compete. I'm not the best when it comes to sports, but when it comes to bocce I don't care, I love to play.

As we get closer to Halloween I am always tempted to find all of the haunted houses in the area. I know there is the Haunted Chittyville School and Talon Falls, and I have heard something about the Old Depot in Murphysboro being haunted too. If you know of any good ones out there please let me know.

A neat event coming up on October 27th is the Murphysboro Harvest Ball and Taste of Murphysboro. This is the third year that the Murphysboro Tourism Commission has hosted the event and it gets better every year. Admission is $25 and there will be music by the Pyramid Players Orchestra and food provided by 17th St Bar and Grill, Kinkaid Boathouse, Cindy B's Cafe, Annie Mae's, Sweet Treats, Kite Hill Vineyards, Tom's Mad Pricer and Kroger. There are only 175 tickets available so get yours soon at the Daum Administrative Building or call 618-684-3522.

Waiting for Fall to Hit

I know my calendar says "October," but it still feels too warm for me. I think a cold front is supposed to blow through this afternoon. Maybe then the fall weather will catch up to the date and turning leaves. I really could have used this cooler weather to blow in before this weekend, it was pretty warm on Saturday. I really feel for the football players having to play in that weather, but as salukis are desert dogs it is no surprise that we took out those penguins. 24 to 17! That is exactly how Homecoming should be. I am sorry to say that I was busy setting up for the tailgate and didn't get to see the parade. I would love it if some devoted readers would send me pictures. The tailgate was so busy that I didn't even get the chance to take any pictures. Oh well, if you were there it isn't like you are about to forget it.

I would like to shout out a big "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" to our four Fashion Design and Merchandising seniors who won awards at the Emerging Young Designer of the Year Fashion Competition and Show in St. Charles, Mo. Rina Park took first in art to wear, Erica Hollinshead Stead took first in eveningwear, Emily Harris took first in daywear and Feng "Vicky" Li too the President's Prize for Best in Show. The competition only selects 15 entries per category, so even getting in the competition is a big deal, but our girls took home the prizes too. Way to go!

There are so many fun things going on this weekend that I hardly know where to start, so I will start with Friday. "Maroon Madness" is the name of the SIU Men's Basketball first practice. This FREE event will take place on Friday at 7pm in the SIU Arena and is going to be shown on ESPN! There will be a dunk contest, 3-point contest, prize giveaways, post-practice autograph session and, most importantly, the first look at the SIU 2007-08 Basketball team. I have no doubt that this will be a packed evening at the arena.

This weekend is Colorfest for the wineries on the Shawnee Wine Trail. There will be live music at Von Jakob, Star View, Inheritance Valley, Hedman Winery and Blue Sky on Saturday and live music at Von Jakob, Star View, Hedman Winery and Blue Sky on Sunday. If the weather breaks like the weatherman keeps promising me it will, then this will be a wonderful weekend to get out and admire the changing leaves in Southern Illinois. If you need more information on who is playing where go to the Shawnee Wine Trail site.

This weekend is pretty busy all over Southern Illinois. There is a Breast Cancer Fundraiser Bocce Tournament in Herrin. I have to admit, I love Bocce. I think there are fewer fun games that everyone can play. I'm not all that good, but you don't have to be to have a great time playing. This weekend is also the opening of the Haunting of Chittyville School in Herrin. The haunted house opens on October 12th and will run on the 13th, 19th, 20th and 26th through 31st. The house is open from 7pm to 11pm each night with a matinée on the 20th for children under 10, the lights will be on for that one. Not all of the ghouls have been found yet and there are auditions on Tuesday from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm at the school. Another one of my favorite fall things to do around here is get lost in corn mazes. Bandy's Pumpkin Patch in Johnston City is one I have gone to for the past few years. This year it is supposed to look like the Miners' logo. I am so excited about that.

I hope everyone has a great week, I know I can't wait for this weekend.

Sezmore

Just in Information

I told you about the Official Saluki Love Apparel being sold in the Faner Breezeway this week in my last post. I went out to take a look at how it was going on Tuesday, and let me tell you, all of the items look awesome! The girls working the table were super nice and helpful. I really want to thank them and everyone participating in selling this new clothing line. It looked great.

I spent so much time talking about Homecoming events earlier this week that I missed everything else going on. Though this one is still SIU related, it isn't part of the Homecoming festivities, but definitly worth mentioning. On Friday, October 5th, at 1pm in the Hiram H. Lesar Law Building auditorium there will be a special screening of "To Die in Jerusalem." This documentary about the suicide attack of 17 year old, Palestinian Ayat al-Akhras and the resulting death of 17 year old, Israeli Rachel Levy. The film started as SIU alum Hilla Medalia's master's thesis, "Daughters of Abraham." The original film won the 2004 Angelus Award, SIU Alumni Association's 2004 Outstanding Thesis Award and was shown at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, but Medalia didn't feel it was quite complete. The reworked film contains more scenes and interviews from Israel and the West Bank. The documentary will be shown on HBO on November 1st, but this is a chance to see a very powerful film early. I hope a lot of people will take advantage of this very special opportunity.

On a completely different note; on Saturday, October 7th, there will be an open practice at the Paradise MX Track in DuQuoin. Motocross isn't something I know much about, but Silkworm team member Lucas Olson will be out riding. He tells me that there will be a lot of riders out participating and a band playing too. Lucas will also be out promoting and selling his Bliss clothing line. The Bliss line contains various styles of shirts designed and printed by Silkworm, and all of the proceeds help fund his Motocross racing team, also named Bliss. I hope to get some really interesting pictures from this event.

I hope everyone has a great rest of their week and weekend,

Sezmore

WOO HOO SIU!!! Can you believe that they are undefeated? I am more excited than I can possibly say. 72 to 10, that beats the Gateway Conference record for most points scored in a league game. I can't wait to see how they do on Saturday. I don't want to jinx anything for this weekend, but how cool would it be to win the Homecoming game? I can't wait! You all know just how much I love going to tailgates, so I can hardly contain myself.

It is going to feel like such a long week waiting for the game on Saturday, good thing there are other fun Homecoming events going on to keep me amused. Today there was a Kick-off event at 11:30am at the Student Center. Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be the day to vote for Homecoming King and Queen; students can vote from 10am to 7pm at the Student Center, or 3pm to 5pm at the Rec Center. Wednesday will be a Comedy Jam in the Student Center Ballroom at 7pm. Thursday is a lecture by Joan Higginbotham, she is an SIU alum who has been to space and will talk about that experience. Saturday will begin at 10am with the parade through down town Carbondale, then the tailgate will begin at 11:30am and the game will start at 2:30pm. GO SALUKIS!!!

Also going on this week for Homecoming; Official Saluki Love Apparel will be making its debut. This new line comes from a phrase used by a group of SIU alumni who are on the External Marketing Board. The apparel is being sold by the American Marketing Association and Pi Sigma Epsilon from 10am to 3pm in the Faner Breezeway. Be sure to come by and take a look, there are some really fun pieces to this line.

One more bit of SIU information to share; this is the last week to buy SIU Legacy Apparel. You can check out the Legacy clothes that Silkworm has produced at the SIU Alumni Online Store. If you miss the old logos, this is your chance to relive those times. If you aren't familiar with the old logos then you should take a look, you might find that you like them.

That is all the news for this week. Please let me know if there is anything I missed. GO DAWGS!!!

Sezmore