As I sped through the darkness Saturday night racing toward my next assignment, I hit the seek button on the radio over and over again. I was hoping to hear a broadcast of the Alabama-Georgia game delivered by UGA's snarling, growling play-by-play announcer, Larry Munson.

But that was not to be.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the University of Georgia took the field at Sanford Stadium in Athens without the legendary Munson behind the microphone. No wonder the Dawgs wore black.

Last Friday all eyes were on Ole Miss as the two Presidential candidates opened the debate season in Oxford, Mississippi. If you are wondering what the scene in the little Delta jewel looked and felt like, one Ole Miss senior took nonpartisan notes for Southern Living in the tailgate-like atmosphere.

Recently, Time Magazine (a publication owned by our parent company) published a story titled, "50 Authentic American Experiences." These huge types of magazine articles always intrigue me. Rarely do I not grab the magazine or click on the story to see what editors spotlight as the best BBQ in Texas, the greatest songwriters of all-time, or America's favorite beaches. I love the breadth of expertise and the narrowing down of opinions.

Time, though, missed the mark, especially in the South. I'll offer my thoughts and you can decide.

Granted, I'm not a Texan. But my daughter is quickly becoming one, and that makes me an honorary Texas mom. It's a position I take seriously. So when one of my fishing buddies from Seabrook (a Houston neighborhood near the water) sent me the link to a series of post-storm images, my world stopped till I saw each one.

Where but in the South, I ask you, could you just drive down the road and see something so colorful and so joyously unexpected as windmills constructed of bicycle rims and and fan blades? I spotted these while cruising through Eatonton, GA, and they made me turn my rental car around. They were unattended, keeping company with a satellite dish and a sign proclaiming the art  - and that's what they are - could be had for a price. Nobody was home when I knocked, leaving me only speculation about the stroke of genius that led to the creation of these serene beauties, spinning silently in the gentle early fall breeze, circles inside circles.

This was big-time college football at its best. No. 6 LSU at No. 10 Auburn. Tigers vs. Tigers.

During a recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee Livings People and Places editor Tommy Black dropped by the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Washington, Texas has always been a place for Houstonians to escape and relax on the ranch. Only 60 minutes from downtown Houston, the four-star Inn at Dos Brisas is a place to ride horses, gaze out at blue bonnets, and sip good wine. Today, as Houston recovers from the recent storm, the home away from home helps out by taking its role more literally, from no-cost dry cleaning to helicopter rides ($600 round trip) to the city. The Inn also offers to pay 100 miles worth of gas for storm-hit travelers, which will almost cover driving from Houston. Oh, one more thing, the WiFi is working.

Virginia Tech escaped with a 20-17 win over Georgia Tech Saturday evening thanks in large part to Tyrod Taylor's legs.

The recently unredshirted quarterback scrambled for 74 yards on 15 attempts, scoring a touchdown on a two-yard keeper late in the first half. Though Taylor completed only 9 of 14 passes for an anemic 48 yards, his happy feet seemed to energize the orange-clad crowd. "See!" exclaimed the man in front of me, who turned around each and every time the fleet-footed playmaker sprinted across the field. "Sean Glennon could never do that."

This good-natured ribbing occurred because I foolishly declared a desire to see senior quarterback Sean Glennon play after interviewing him over the summer. Because his team offers little pass protection and a lack of talented receivers, the strong-armed Glennon is useless to the Hokies and was left sitting Saturday.

Of course, Taylor had some help from Georgia Tech's mistake-riddled offense. The 'Jackets tallied 387 yards total offense, but coughed up the ball three times, twice turning over the ball. They also had eight penalties for 61 yards and one interception. The Hokie faithful breathed a sigh of relief when the last play ground to a halt, and most felt lucky to end the day with a win.

I was tripped up by Hanna.

In a perfect world, I would have gone to Jordan-Hare on Saturday to watch Auburn manhandle Southern Miss. Instead, I sat on the tarmac in Philadelphia, suffering a long, miserable "weather delay" supposedly caused by fast-moving Hurricane Hanna.

I was downright blue...until I discovered the free wireless connection in the Atlanta airport (while waiting for yet another weather-delayed plane to take me to Birmingham). Soon I was surfing cyberspace, hunting down football-themed treats to accompany the perfect tailgate or football party.

Follow my search, and add your own.

Wetin na yu nem? Last week, I traveled to Sierra Leone and Liberia in west Africa with a non-profit group called Living Water International. Beyond the many poignant interactions, the hopefulness among such great physical need, and daily dirt-road adventures, the trip opened my eyes to the connectedness between the places where I travel for Southern Living and the villages that welcomed me in Africa, especially in how we speak. By the way, earlier, I asked you your name. Wetin na yu nem?

Tonight (Tuesday, September 2) James Beard-winner John Besh's New Orleans Brasserie Lüke reopens after Hurricane Gustav. Quite a turn-around. It's the first of Besh's four restaurants to turn the lights back on, and it's a good sign for the city post-storm.

Doors open at 5 PM, no reservations are necessary, and guests are invited to walk in at their leisure. The menu will be limited, but shall include some of Lüke’s signature dishes - Lüke Burger with Allen Benton’s Bacon; Carmelized Onions and Emmenthaler Cheese; Pressed Sandwich of Whole Roast “Cochon de Lait” with Cherry Mustard; and Croque Monsieur Croque Madame et Frites with Emmenthaler Cheese.

Also, try the French "75" cocktail. A friend described it as "like kissing a ruddy-faced, blonde-haired boy on the beach." I'll take her word on that one, but i tried it. Perfect summer drink. 

The band never quit.

That's about the best thing that can be said about Virginia's painful 52-7 loss to Southern Cal at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville Saturday. That and the record crowd of 64,947 may have seen the national champions play.

Still, I love the first day of football season. Every team is undefeated, and fans are drunk on high expectations. When players go to sleep on Friday night, visions of national championships dance in their heads. It's sunshine and roses on every campus in America.

Until the game starts, anyway.