Have Patience, Be Persistent and Then Run Like Hell!

Please look closely at the image above. You’ll notice that as of today, October 3rd, your very own Team G.L.A.M. is in second place in the Luxury Class of the Fireball Run. You should also notice that we have some pretty strong competition. To say that we are pleased would be an understatement.

Our current position came as a result of learning from our past mistakes. We decided to play by the rules and when we left Oklahoma City this morning, we both agreed that speeds would be legal, panic would be non-existent and traffic rules would be obeyed. We got our clue and set out from OKC on our way to the “Big Texan” in Amarillo, TX.
If you’ve ever driven through Texas on I-40, you’ve seen the signs for the 72-ounce steak free-of-charge if you can eat it in an hour. That gluttonous landmark is the Big Texan. Our clue instructed us to find the Big Texan, kiss a cow, swim from Laredo to Amarillo and eat some of their famous ‘po boys. Kissing the cow was a no-brainer as there was a huge statue of a cow in the parking lot. The swim had us confused for a few minutes until a call to our help center (Liz and Susan in FL) verified that the Big Texan had a swimming pool in the shape of Texas. The last challenge was to eat what turned out to be fried bull’s testicles. I was VERY happy that Evan had volunteered to handle the challenges today.

Prior to arriving at the Big Texan in Amarillo, I had my own unscheduled interview with a Texas State Trooper. The rumor mill indicated that a few of our team mates blew past a Texas Trooper and then tried to outrun them. That, if the rumors are true, upset the local law enforcement and they set out to stop every “Fireballer” they could get their radar guns on. No matter the impetus, it was clearly a speed trap as they were giving out tickets for speeds that exceeded the posted limit by as little as 3 MPH. Many of us were stung and most of us were not deserving. My vote is to pull a Thelma & Louise and bypass Texas at all costs in the future. Again, sorry to our readers in the Longhorn state but COME ON!

Once we finished our challenges and got over the ludicrous citations from the obviously bored Texas State Troopers, we gingerly returned to the highway and longed to leave Texas yet again. Unfortunately, the powers that be felt that we needed to be harassed a bit more and the last 5 miles of Texas hell were with a police cruiser lurking behind us. Guys, get a life.
Our last challenge was in Albuquerque, NM. We put the top down on the Saab, set the cruise control and motored on to the Land of Enchantment. Our last challenge required us to get a photo with the operator of the world’s largest elevator/tramway. Once that was completed, we had to rush to the finish line. I must confess that the urgency and excitement of the race to the finish line got the best of me this time and when we arrived at our destination a footrace ensued that had my “big-boned” frame finding it very difficult to stop. So, I used a combination of the concrete and the check-in table to slow my momentum. It was worth it as we checked in before our colleagues but my knee and shin are a little worse for wear. My move was quickly dubbed the ‘Homo Hustle”. Now….I have to find and destroy that video…….
Tomorrow we are off to Henderson, NV. Come back and see us, ya’ hear?

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