Bucket Day is off to a good start, with I.U. ahead 14-0 just after the first quarter of play. A victory is on my bucket list every year. I.U. basketball plays this afternoon, and I.U. soccer tomorrow, as our Wine Country Weekend continues with tastings in-between sporting events. Friends are visiting from sunny Tucson, struggling to stay warm in our near freezing temperatures. We booked an additional week with them for Spring Training in March. They leave for Maui next week to thaw-out from their Pacific Northwest experience. We want to eventually be like them with their envious travel plans all over the world. 

We are in tiny McMinnville, Oregon at the charming Atticus Hotel, as Purdue scores twice to narrow the score. We covered three vineyards yesterday, with an additional tasting back at the hotel and champagne upon check-in. As the score gets tighter, I will need another glass soon. We may take a break in drinking this afternoon to visit the Spruce Goose, Howard Hughes’ famous airplane at the nearby Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Herbert Hoover’s boyhood home is also in this area, if we need an additional educational experience this weekend. One can only drink so much Oregon Pinot Noir!

After breakfast and another Indiana touchdown, we are headed for our first winery of the new day, It’s 28-10, as the Hoosiers continue their quest to stop a two-year victory streak for the Boilermakers. Regardless of what happens today, Purdue will continue to dominate the overall series that stands at 74-41-6 before today’s rainy Bucket battle in West Lafayette. Purdue somehow hangs-in-there to make it 28-17. I will soon need a bucket of wine to calm my nerves. In the meantime, my wife continues to parade into the room with her many purchases from the local merchants. It is, after all, “Small Business Saturday,” and she’s certainly doing her part. 

Yesterday as we arrived at the hotel, we had to weave our way around the road-blocks set up for the annual Holiday Parade. The streets were crowded for the arrival of Santa Claus, so it was a challenge to get to the front door. As soon as it turned dark, the trees in the downtown area began to twinkle in holiday splendor. In the spirit of the season, favored Indiana continues to “gift” Purdue with three missed field goals and too dam* many silly defensive penalties. As is typical with Bucket games, the underdog always finds a way to stay in the game. It’s now 28-23 I.U. with nine minutes remaining. 

I was forced to leave before the game ended, and lost cellular service on the way to our first tasting. When I finally got an internet connection, the game was tied at 31 in overtime.  The Hoosiers eventually won in double overtime 44-41. Twenty-six years ago was last time I.U. had secured 8 victories and a winning conference record. Coach Tom Allen is undoubtedly hoarse from his high-energy cheer leading. I.U. basketball also won to move their record to 7-0, another standard that hadn’t been reached in years. I.U. soccer plays early tomorrow morning P.S.T., so the excitement of wine and sports will continue in McMinnville. Go Hoosiers!