My wife Jennifer and I, and our friend Mark H. drove to San Antonio from our home in Austin. We had arranged to meet our friends from Indiana, Brook and Brian E., to have lunch and see the sights together.

Don't want to hear about the Pep Rally? Go straight to the game!

Lunch, as luck would have it, was certainly available at Dick's Last Resort---Home of the Big Ass Beer. I'd eaten here twice before and each time is a new experience. Dick's is known for it's (deliberately) crabby wait staff.

The now-infamous seven-straw picture. Mail me if you're qualified to see it. dec. 27 1998 12:36:28 pm

This is where the waitress put my bib. dec. 27 1998 12:50:16 pm

Left to right, Mark H., Brian E., Brooke E. dec. 27 1998 12:50:34 pm

After lunch, we decided to put on our sea legs and take a ride on the river. This is a good way to see much of the river and learn a bit about its history, as well as the history of some of the buildings along the river.

MOVIE: Brooke says, "Every time I open my mouth something incriminating comes out. dec. 27 1998 2:47:08 pm

Jennifer relaxing on the boat ride. dec. 27 1998 3:16:26 pm

A purdue tree. dec. 27 1998 3:38:32 pm

The same tree, take 2. dec. 27 1998 3:39:12 pm

Not long after our boat ride Brian and Brooke left for a while to do their own thing. Mark, Jen and I hung out at Rivercenter. We planned to meet with Brooke and Brian at the pep rally. As night began to fall, the Christmas decorations on the river began to stand out.

MOVIE: blinking lights at rivercenter. dec. 27 1998 5:13:22 pm

A luminally challenged picture of the riverwalk all decked out for Christmas. dec. 27 1998 5:32:02 pm

Riverwalk, still lit for Christmas. dec. 27 1998 5:35:16 pm

Mark and Jen posing in front of the bridges and lit trees. dec. 27 1998 5:36:22 pm

A better shot of Mark and Jen with the lights in the background. dec. 27 1998 5:36:30 pm

A different shot of the river decor. dec. 27 1998 5:39:30 pm

The pep rally for the Alamo Bowl teams in 1998 was held at the little theatre on the riverwalk in La Villita. We thought it strange that the rally included both teams, and while the river theatre is very quaint and special, it is also very small. There was barely room for the participants!

The cheerleaders, Rowdy and Pete at the pep rally. Note the purple balloons on the left for KSU. dec. 27 1998 6:28:58 pm

I've totally forgotten who this man is---he's giving a speech. dec. 27 1998 6:35:36 pm

Rowdy and pete seem interested in what the man has to say, though. dec. 27 1998 6:35:44 pm

The Purdue cheerleaders, a little out of focus. dec. 27 1998 6:51:08 pm

The cheerleaders in focus and in better formation. dec. 27 1998 6:51:18 pm

The crowd at the pep rally. dec. 27 1998 6:56:46 pm

MOVIE: Hail to Old Purdue! dec. 27 1998 6:58:52 pm

MOVIE: Fighting Varsity. dec. 27 1998 7:00:56 pm

The band arrives at the pep rally by boat. dec. 27 1998 7:09:18 pm