I hate to be a downer...

... but two of my blogging buddies (so to speak) are in major need of prayer. Honestly, I'm humbled and humiliated and flabbergasted to think of all the trivial things I worry about on a daily basis when currently (as in right this very minute) there are actual significant things happening all over the world (not the least of which is this.) First up is a woman I have never met named Hope. She has terminal cancer and is currently in the no-man's-land most cancer patients face at the end. She has two young boys (about my sons' ages) and an adoring husband. It is so tragic to read about what is going on with them and my heart aches for them. I desperately pray they find the peace of Jesus Christ and John 3:16 at this time. Also in urgent need of prayer for peace and endurance during a very hard time is MckMama and her young son Stellan. Hopefully you remember them from previous posts but the shortest version of a very long story is that Stellan suffered in utero with a heart condition that was in some ways similar to Crabman's. He was born in perfect health with no medically possible explanation. Now he has tested positive for RSV (which is quite severe in all young infants, especially those with a history of heart conditions) and is not doing good at all (she most often updates from the hospital on twitter.) I absolutely HATE to hear about such a situation and I'm not sure anyone will ever fully understand how much it pains --yet humbles-- me to see a baby with a heart condition not have a happy outcome. Yes, God's ways are so much higher than our ways... I cannot even begin to comprehend. I just try my best to be grateful for what I have and understand that none of what I experience on a daily basis is about me... it's all about Him! May He be glorified in both of these situations (ahhhh, but He will!) and may the Lord Jesus come quickly! Lastly, may He give us a peace that surpasses understanding until then...

Hope

God has really had the word "hope" on my mind and in my heart a lot lately. And I mean a lot. It all started with this dear woman, whom I implore you to pray for through our Lord Jesus Christ as Hope and her family are certainly deserving of our prayers and thoughts this Christmas season. And man I wish she knew just how much she is on my mind. All. the. time.

Then I read this today. I forwarded it to both Hope's husband and a friend of hers. Hopefully (there it is again!), it will be a blessing to someone along the way. It certainly was to me. And then, just now, my husband forwarded me this. I pray someday in my life I can do something as powerful and fulfilling as that. Wow.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:3-5

A Christmas Post (including obligatory kids w/Santa pics!)

Can you tell which of my sons is easy-going and which one is, um, not so much? My mother-in-law took our boys to see the Walmart Santa (obviously) while we were in Atlanta for the SECC game. These complimentary (using that term loosely) pics are definitely keepers!


Speaking of Santa, here's a verbatim (well, minus the embedded links) copy of Ricky Bobby's wish list to Santa:

1. Viking helmet (bet you were thinking this!)
2. Old-school football helmet
3. Arkansas mascot
4. Rolling-Gantry crane
5. RC toy from Toy Story 2
6. Blu-Ray
7. Blu-Ray DVDs (well, he didn't specify but I imagine something along those lines)
8. Walkie Talkies
9. Pirate playset
10. #1 Alabama vs. Ole Miss DVD (even I don't know when this matchup occurred... Anyone? Anyone?)
11. 1934 Alabama vs. 1934 UT DVD (hey, at least we won!)

As a sidenote, Ricky Bobby does in fact know what a Blu-Ray is, which is bizarro unto itself because we don't own one nor have we even talked about acquiring one (you know that much is true because we would have "discussed" it here first!)

And while I'm embarassing Ricky Bobby, here's an excerpt from his Sunday School sheet a couple of days ago: "I'm thankful for my pets JJ, Cotton, Sassy, and Horhay (The Fish), fiber, spaghetti, Crabman* (My brother), and me!" That kid... he has a real knack for making people laugh, even when he's not trying to be funny. I think he gets that from me. Hmph.

*No, he did not call him Crabman. He used his real name but you know the drill!

And not to be outdone, Crabman had his own funny moment last week while we were Christmas shopping. You see, we've tried to make a habit out of letting our kids drop some money in the Salvation Army bucket each time we see one and it's usually the highlight of Crabman's outing. Well, Plumberboy never has coin change so he just gives Crabman a dollar bill. The other day I had lots of errands to run so I decided to give Crabman a couple of quarters since we'd probably see lots of bellringers that morning but he chastised me quite loudly, saying "No, mama. It costs a dollar!" So now I suppose Walmart has a $1 cover charge until after the Holidays.

Sorry, folks. I wish I had something more entertaining and/or enlightening for you but I'm really pressed for time! I do wish each and everyone of you a Christmas filled with the peace that only comes from faith in Jesus Christ. That's what Christmas is all about and it's God's free gift to everyone.

Merry Christmas from me and my family!

2008: 'Tis the season, indeed!

Matthew 26:53

Have y'all heard about this story? Amazing, though it really shouldn't be. I know firsthand that miracles abound in hospitals but "ye of little faith" are we, all of us, in this present day and age. May the miracle of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection be real to you this Christmas season because...well...it is.

PS: Be more informed than that silly Rabbi on The Today Show this morning. The Bible tells us all about angels.

Jesus said "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."

Matthew 18:10

I'll find time to post this...

...meanwhile, I suggest Mt. Cody find a new girlfriend! :) We HEART you, Terrence!

Ground Control to Major Tom (and all other interested parties!)

Editor's Note: This isn't open to just Tom, our resident techie. I would actually love input from all of my dear readers.

We're interested in getting a new camcorder . Well, actually I'm interested in getting a new camcorder... Plumberboy is content to use any Christmas money we may or may not get to pay off Holiday expenses. (He can't understand why I'm embarassed by our Zack Morris-esque camcorder that I could easily perch atop my shoulder. Okay, okay... it's not quite that bad but it's outdated enough that I don't think it's a wise use of money to buy a new battery pack now that our current one is DOA.)

So the question is: What do you recommend and why or why not??? Thanks in advance for your cooperation regarding this matter...

Sincerely,
Steph

So much for life without parole...

How much you wanna bet the prosecutors in this case will rethink seeking the death penalty? It's times like this that I have a strong (yet fleeting) desire to spend the remainder of my life toiling away as a DA. Alas, I just have to take comfort in knowing Caylee is going to have her bestest Christmas yet while her monster of a mother rots in jail. Good riddance, Casey...

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-8

Well, who wants to be Muhammad Ali anyway???

They called it Ali v. Frazier and that's how it felt. There were punches. There were counterpunches. There were the equivalents of sucker punches by UF's Brandon Spikes. In the end, Bama was knocked out of the title ring by Florida Tim Tebow. Saturday night was the closest we've ever had to a playoff and Bama didn't make the cut so I won't complain in the least about being 12-1 but left out of the title game. The stronger team won and that's good for the game. I just can't wait until we're the stronger team... but I suspect I won't have to wait long. If Saban recruits this offseason like he did during the last offseason, we'll all have to explore the word "juggernaut" and how it applies relative to Bama's current situation. A'ight?

That said, man, it always feels colder after a loss in December. And it was raw in Atlanta on Saturday night. Despite being numbingly cold after the game, that loss stung... for the fans, the coaches, and most definitely the players. Nobody wanted the magic to end (at least not in the Bama camp, though I suspect the Jen(n)s are happy!) We all wanted the senior players to go out on top, where they deserved to be. We all wanted to give Saban a triumphant return to Miami. I personally wanted one last title season so I can semi-retire. I'm tired exhausted. I'm broke. My kids are older and I want to spend more time with them on the weekends as what used to be a weekend respite is now the hassle of all hassles. But there's no doubt about it, a win on Saturday night would have made it all worth it.

Still, I'm proud. Very proud. We won't be back. We are back. Our future is bright. We're back in the BCS Sugar Bowl (cha-ching)... but this time it's not so sweet. Thanks for EVERYTHING, players and coaches. See you in '09!

PS: With Christmas right around the corner, I won't be updating here as much as I would like. I know you are all are just lost without your daily Steph fix :) so I've started a twitter account. I believe you can "follow" me by going to twitter.com/bamasteph.

They went to the game and all I got was this lousy sign...

So there's a decent chance I'll be on TV at some point during the SEC Championship tomorrow. Plumberboy and I are sitting down low in the Alabama endzone, most likely somewhere near the UA band. I'll probably be wearing a crimson and white striped shirt and holding a sign that reads "Thanks Freddy & Doris... Matthew 7:11" Freddy and Doris are the sweet people that sold us their tickets (for face value!) and here's the Bible verse I'm referring to because I KNOW who really put those tickets in my hand. Roll Tide guys! :)

Jesus said, "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

If I had seen this side of him sooner, I might would have voted for him...

Not that it will sway the public opinion...

Hey Nick, don't feel too bad. This wasn't your fault... or was it?

Really, people should listen to me more often...

Hopefully all the Aubo readers took my advice and studied up on Mike Leach. They will be hearing that name a good bit over the next few days. Just for anybody who's keeping up, that does in fact make #4. Coincidence? I think not.

Tell me something I didn't know...

This just confirms what I already knew: 2007's seniors were a joke. Now, if I could just find out if DJ Hall really did knock up JPW's girlfriend.... Hop to it, Ian!

Moonshine, they're talking about moonshine (Don't feel bad, Lane, it took me a while to catch on too!)

I just think this is funny (which I'm pretty sure is okay because it's still UT, even without Phat Phil.)

To the victor goes the spoils...

I'd like to dedicate this to Stacy and Holly:



I believe in 36-0... and love it!

Who'd ever thunk I could recycle the title "Nada"?

Iron Bowl highlights

What more is there to say? That game was everything I knew had hoped it would be. Well, maybe I wished the margin of victory would have been a little greater but I'll take it. :) Bama has been down and oh-so-out over the past few years so it has not been easy to remain a true fan, especially considering the sacrifices made. But yesterday, it was totally worth it. It was like an out-of-body experience. (And I saw more action at the game yesterday than the one in Baton Rouge... score!) I'd do it 100 times over if I could. ROLL TIDE.

PS: Honestly, I figured a blowout was a'coming. Not because Bama/I wanted it so BAD but that's the way the Xs and Os matched up. That's not a slam on Auburn, it's a football truth. Kudos to those Aubos who were realistic in their expections and an even bigger kudos to those who stayed for the entire 4 quarters. I can respect that.

Crap! We changed the battery in our camera and the date was messed up. Ugh, I'll always remember that date though!

Nada

*Editor's note: Happy Thanksgiving in advance! I can't believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving!?!? Such a shame it had to fall on Iron Bowl week and my grandma's birthday... :) This post will probably be it for the next few days so I hope you all have safe travels. May we all remember the things God has blessed us with over the past 365 days. He's certainly blessed me with too many things to name here (in fact, my mind can't even wrap itself around all the things He's done) so I'll close with the wise words of my facebook status: "I'm thankful to God for many things, not the least of which is being born a Bama fan."

So, there's just not much out there on the WWW to discuss here, at least not regarding the Iron Bowl. Nada. But out of respect to this game, I really don't want to discuss anything else here at Steph's Other Space for the rest of the week. :) Sometimes I get all philosophical and reflect on the season as its conclusion draws near but that would just look cocky. (And really, it's too early for all that. Bama is going to be playing in January.) Or I could analyze the Xs and Os of the upcoming matchup but that would just appear cocky too. I suspect most Auburn fans realize that their chances for a victory on Saturday are none too good but I know many believe there's still some Auburn mystique that will allow them to slay their Goliath in Tuscaloosa. (Don't you think The Tide has some mystique too?) Rest assured there will be plenty of time to talk smack here after the game for at least one of us, right? For now, I will be transparent and say that I will in fact be devastated if we lose on Saturday. Why even try to pretend that a loss wouldn't cut to the bone, especially one to Auburn of all people? The only upside would be extending Tuberville's tenure for at least another season. But for all the talk that Bama might be overlooking this game on Saturday, let me resoundingly and unequviocally deny that charge. You can bet that every Bama fan from Muscle Shoals to Mobile has waited years (approximately 6) for this day to roll around again. I for one will be in the stadium when it opens TWO HOURS before kickoff. (Seriously.)

On a somewhat related note...while I know this may touch off a heated comments mudslinging debate, I have often wanted to discuss a matter that is a firm foundation for my soapbox. I hear ad nauseum about a perceived classlessness or redneckedness or general poorsportsmanshipness that festers in Tuscaloosa so let me make a humble, hat-in-hand suggestion. Get in your vehicle on Saturday and drive yourself up to the Capstone and spend a day in Tuscaloosa. I say with a large degree of certainty that you will not encounter anything more than the usual SEC-caliber banter and perhaps a couple of drunk idiots that reside at any college football game on any given Saturday. We do not show up to the game in our top hats and white gloves but I assure you we--as a collective fan body-- do not behave anything like the enemy would have you believe. You see, I have traveled to many an away game to see my beloved Tide play so I can speak of such things. When I find that a fanbase in general does not ever really travel to see their team compete on the road-- thus they only experience football as a homer--then I find that their perspective is skewed to say the least. Do you know what I encountered last year at the Iron Bowl in a section far removed from the student haunts? A steady, 3-hour barrage of f-bombs and death threats (really more like death wishes preceded by f-bombs) that would have made Bear Bryant throw a punch. I behaved myself as best I could despite the insults being hurled no more than 5 inches from the back of my head because I was sitting in free tickets given to me by some of my dearest friends and I sincerely appreciated their generosity. (Just FYI, they are two of the nicest Aubos I've ever met and I can even say that she looks cute as a button in her Auburn gear so this is no reflection on them whatsoever.) It's true that the insult-hurlers were young, though not that young, so what really shocked me was the entire Auburn section's willingness to say--you guessed it--nada. You see, I've been to plenty of games both at home and on the road when Bama fans would actually *ahem* correct an out-of-line Bammer. It's what you should do, not only to show compassion for your fellow stadium-mate but to protect the reputation of your school. I have literally gone behind unruly (read: drunk!) Bammers on the road and picked up their trash, tossed it in a garbage can, and then apologized to the nearby home fans for their rude behavior. I do it all in hopes that someone might someday say "Gee, those Bama fans really aren't THE DEVIL like I was taught from infancy." It's a shame that on the many, many, many times I've participated in a non-home Iron Bowl game, I have not been shown the same courtesy. The point of all of this is that if you haven't shown up to see your team play on another's turf, I suggest you give it a try before hurling insults and one-liners galore at the other team for their perceived evils. You might be a tad bit surprised. In fact, I can't guarantee you won't be converted.

Anyway, I'll surmise what I'm trying to say with this... We're not overlooking this game and if emotions won the game, Auburn shouldn't even bother to show up. But if you read me regularly, you KNOW I don't believe emotions win games. You know what wins games. Either way, I wouldn't bet the farm against Bama, ya know?

ROLL. TIDE.

"Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder." Bear Bryant

Speaking of Ricky Bobby...

Here is a good article on ADHD. If you have a kid with ADHD, do yourself a favor and read the article. Very interesting with good points made by both sides.

PS: In case you're wondering (and I know you are), Ricky Bobby does in fact have ADHD and you would not argue otherwise if you spent a day (or less) with him. However, we do not medicate him despite two doctors and one "behavior therapist" encouraging us to do so. I'd be happy to share more details with anyone out there who is curious but I'm not just going to bore you with the details here. You can email me if you are interested in how we're coping, in a public school system no less!

Now back to our regularly scheduled football programming...

A honest-to-goodness break from the topic of football (AKA: Where do worms come from?)

I went to the Thanksgiving program at Ricky Bobby's school this morning and during the clean-up afterwards I noticed that his desk was packed with junk. Obviously, being a good nosey mom, I started trying to sort through all the trash, important papers, etc. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon three books crammed into his little cubby, most notably one that was entitled Does a Worm Have a Girlfriend? I'm not going to go into great detail but you can read a sample page here. (True story: That is the exact page Ricky Bobby quickly flipped to and proudly showed me this morning.) Okay, now I purposely don't write much about my kids here on the blog but--as it pertains to this story--I will say that Ricky Bobby is an extremely proficient reader. There is no doubt he can pronounce every single word in that book and if given the opportunity, he may attempt to google and/or use wikipedia to further research the subject. (I'm not kidding... he knew how to use wikipedia in 1st grade.) Now his teacher does not "teach" this subject and I'm sure 99% of the other 2nd graders wouldn't understand most of the words so I'm not upset per se about these latest developments. Shocked would be more like it. Shocked that he found this book interesting enough to stash away in his desk and shocked that he's concurrently (not to mention undeniably, obviously) smitten with a real live girl at school. For once I'm actually praying that my blog is rather hard to find so that her sweet parents don't ever stumble across this post! It would certainly mark the end of their "relationship." Anyway, considering the things I have discussed here before, I find all of this rather ironic. Now I guess I get to add "Discussing reproductive habits of animals with my 2nd grader and how this relates to God's plan for our lives" to my Thanksgiving To-Do list. Yup, there it is... right between "Clean House" and "Stuff turkey." Fannnnnntastic!

PS: G-Jo and P-Paw... no need to comment! :)

Let me be clear...

... I don't care what he wears, so long as he is still our coach. (And winning... let's not forget winning.) But wow! That sweater is, um, bold to say the least.

Nick Saban 11/24/08 Press Conference Pt. 1

Roll Tide...

PS: It is in fact Iron Bowl week so look for completely gratuitous Alabama football posts. Like you've got anything better to do. Hmmmmph.

Two words:

Just win!

Geronimooooooooooooo!!!!!*

Doggone it! I really REALLY wanted Bama to be the ones who got to do this to Texas Tech. How good would it feel to smack talk smack to this guy??? (I had at least a hundred one-liners for him, all of which had to do with the fact that he wears MAKEUP to play football!)

Sure, OU is good. Real good. But come on, how many times do I have to tell you (read: quote Bear Bryant)... the same things win that always won. (And you can bet they have a bunch of different excuses for losing!) Hey Tech... why so serious?????

*That's my best guess as to what Mike Leech hollered out as Tech plummeted out of the BCS Top 5.

Maybe Eddie Murphy was right all along???

All this bailout talk reminds me of Eddie Murphy's "White Like Me" sketch... I guess he really was ahead of his time! Go ahead... watch Eddie Murphy at his finest (well, this might actually be Murphy at his finest but can you really pick just one?!?)



Seriously, where I can find one of those banks? Hmmmm...

Apparently Hitler had a ball (literally)

Why oh why do they leave all the good stuff out of our history textbooks?

PS: Apparently it wasn't all his mother's fault but I think it's safe to assume that she did screw up majorly somewhere along the way.

Whew... that was close!

Do you guys remember when UA basically hired Rich Rodriquez and then he backed out (purportedly after reading some of the bigoted posts all over the Bama boards about his Hispanic heritage... not to mention his wife)?!? Well, turns out we dodged a bullet so a big thanks to those ig-no-ray-mooses, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Anyway, this all reminds me of a funny pic we took the night the news broke that Rich-Rod would be our new coach (note Crabman's enthusiasm... har. har.):


I remember feeling so low when he officially announced he was staying at West Virginia. All the pundits, et al (read: I'm actually talking about obnoxious rival fans) went on and on about how we would never find a coach, no one wants to coach us bunch o' lunatics, yada yada. All I got to say is:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

(Sound familiar to any of you Bama fans?)

On second thought...

OF NOTE: Be forewarned, the video link below contains foul language as well as an unhealthy fascination with gynecological matters. Watch with caution (or don't watch at all and just imagine a bunch of LSU fans being--gasp!--vulgar.)

My dad emailed me this link earlier today but luckily I had just taken my diuretic/blood pressure pill so I think I'm okay (though I'm not sure I'll chance watching it a second time!) Now I'm really beginning to wonder if I AM quite intimidating after all because we got almost nothing of that sort. I did have a middle-aged woman yell at us as we first unloaded the shuttle bus but I just kept walking, arms outstretched on each side, and announced that I could do that "all day... all day!" The truth is, if you start trash-talking me (especially in a vain attempt to intimidate me) I will honestly just walk a little slower. While I try not to get in-yo-face confrontational for various reasons, I will make it known that I'm not going to tuck tail and run. You can take that to the bank (though all bets are off if I have my kids with me but let's not go there...) Anyway, I give mad props to the girls in the video for their little experiment. I cannot imagine what their motives were but if it was giving us a real-life definition (with video) of a DB (and I'm not talking about a position in football) then they should consider themselves a success!

ROLL TIDE SUCKAS!

PS: Is that guy serious with the chihuahua?!?!? I'm a lover of dogs--itty bitty dogs most certainly included--but don't "Tigah bait" somebody with a 2-lb dog... it embarasses your school. Miss Sassy (If You Nasty) would eat that thing as an appetizer. Heck, Cotton might too.

PPS: Here's a cool pic that will keep the pain a'lingerin' a bit longer for the corndogs...

PPPS: (No seriously, that's the last "p" for this post... I promise!): If you can stomach more, you can read the accompanying article written by one of the LSU-decked-out-in-Bama-gear-all-for-the-sake-of-journalism girls. Seriously, it SOOOOOOOO woulda been on if I had been grabbed in any form or fashion. Alas, my trip was rather blase... and everyone in my family breathes a collective sigh of relief (while Plumberboy exclaims that "bail" was not in the budget!)

Yet another reason I'm growing REALLY fond of Nick Saban (NOW UPDATED WITH TWO VIDEOS!)

Here's a direct quote--update: turns out to be more of a paraphrase but tomato, tamato--from Nick Saban's call-in radio show last night (courtesty of Ian Rapoport's blog... I always try to give credit where credit is due):

"On paper, people say we should beat Mississippi State," Saban said, getting worked up. "But this team has worked its tail off and won in some hostile environments and done everything we've asked them to do. And when you get to that stadium, I don't give a (beep!) who we're playing, you have to be loud for what these guys have done. You have to show some appreciation for what they've done. If you want to know how I feel, THAT'S HOW I FEEL!"

Duly noted...I'll be there (freezing my biscuits off) but will do my best to be loud. A'ight?

UPDATE: (Fast forward to about the 2:45 if you want to hear the quote OR just watch the whole thing and get really fired up!)

PS: That's not as overall entertaining as Saban Dance but it's a close 2nd. Hey Nick, you were born to coach at The Capstone!

I believe the Crimson Nation finally (and I mean finally!) has an answer to this age-old question:

They say it's your birthday... (NOW UPDATED WITH PIC... YAY!!!)

PURE AWESOMENESS (In content--not pixel quality--but I think you'll get the gist):

Hey everybody... Pee-Paw turned 60 today!!! I'm really, really, really hoping my mom will dig up an "afro" picture of him for me to post here on the world wide web but to be honest, this day has snuck up on me so I wasn't prepared. Rest assured, I'll be posting it here ASAP if she can indeed find it. It's so awesome... words just cannot do it justice!!!

Hey Demos...

You like where this economy is headin'? Look, I'm honestly not trying to pick a fight... I'm simply trying to point out that electing Obama was NOT (I repeat, NOT!) a cure-all for the malaise this country sinks further into everyday. Now we are going to have Obama and his cronies in office making decisions as all of this unfolds. I suspect we won't be happy with the results but hey, it's change nonetheless, right? Not that McCain himself would have done any better, but have you ever paid attention to some of the big name and exceedingly successful businessmen/women who supported him (and probably would have served in his cabinet of advisors in some form or fashion)? I can't imagine who Obama will put in charge of all of this... I just know that I've never, ever been impressed with the company he keeps. Regardless, watch this economy further tank with nothing but a bunch of flashy-n-sexy-yet-empty promises to hang its hat on. Great job, citizens!

PS: Neal Cavuto's head is going to explode... literally just explode right there on the Fox News set.

PPS: Sorry if you came here looking for a cheery, nonpartisan pick-me-up after watching your 401K shrink back to its 2002 value. This is my blog and I'll bitch whine if I want to. As always, you're welcome to leave comments and bitch whine right back!

Almost forgot!

I got carried away with all my research into the LSU band's playlist, etc (and by "etc" I mean the debate about whether or not them playing the song commonly referred to as "Neck" is racist and a swipe at the historic black college community) and almost forgot to mention that the LSU band actually played this... can you tell what that is?




Here's a clue:



Can you believe it???

Tit, meet Tat

Sorry in advance that this post won't be as scintillating as the title would suggest...

Well, that picture really does tell the story... the whole story. Unfortunately/fortunately (however you want to look at it), my trip to the infamous Baton Rouge just didn't live up to the hype. Now mind you, I'm not talking about the actual football experience... that part was great and a much better game than anyone could have ever imagined (though let me be clear that it was my preference for Bama to stomp them early and often so that we could make our way over to the good guys section and really enjoy the win but I'll take that win nonetheless!) Perhaps because the legendary Death Valley was so built up in my own mind, it just seemed to fall short. I mean, the stories of that place are mythic in proportion. I think I truly expected to see ragin' cajuns swinging from giant old oak trees hissing "Tiger bait, tiger bait, TIGER BAIT!" or maybe even real, live (so to speak) vampires rising up from purple-n-gold coffins in some whacky attempt to put the voodoo on us. Alas, it was tame. Very tame. Infinitely tamer than those fans who represented the storied Lousiana State University in Tuscaloosa last year. Remember this? Not even a pimp suit in sight this year. (Apparently even more went down in T'town last year as I read in a Baton Rouge newspaper that some "boorish" LSU fans took a leak on Bear Bryant's statue outside our stadium. Now as if that's not "boorish" enough, take a look at where that statue stands and imagine it on a gameday in terms of people. I can't imagine they didn't get arrested for indecent exposure but then I realized there's probably some sort of loophole for LSU fans... can anyone say "clogged court system"?) Anyway, I theorize there must have been some sort of beer-drinking contest or something for LSU's allotment of tickets to last year's game (I assure you it wasn't an essay contest) because they sure sent some doozies. Imagine my surprise/disappointment when I learned there really wasn't 90,000+ more just like them back in Baton Rouge. That's bad for funny stories here on Steph's Other Space but I think overwhelmingly good for mankind.

So, since I don't have a lot of material (and my husband, parents, and sister have all heard my "good stuff" already), I'll just post a few random tidbits from my rendezvous at the ole Red Stick.

1. The LSU band really is full of sights and sounds to behold. I'm being serious. They play the whole time, before kickoff and even beyond the bitter end. I was equally impressed with the vast number of cheers the LSU faithful have memorized as well as their willingness to participate... on many levels. First, not every fan base is willing to go all out in cheering on the home team, my beloved Crimson nation included (not always, but definitely sometimes.) Second, I would have a hard time believing they have the mental acuity to remember all those cheers (there must be at least 40 of 'em) if I had not seen it myself. There are hand motions and everything. (Cost of regular-priced tickets: $55. Watching old-white-guy season ticket holders participate during that song: Priceless.) Plus, this part was pretty cool (it's no Dixieland Delight but what they lack in music quality, they make up for in enthusiasm!) Hmmm, upon further research, now I wonder what they were shouting at us during this song.

2. Tiger Stadium is really just an oversized Cramton Bowl (those from The Gump will get the reference.) Seriously. I even heard the LSU fans complaining about their stadium's amenities in relation to the ticket prices. There was some construction going on outside so I imagine they are trying to make some upgrades but really it needs an ultimate makeover. I'm not trying to be snooty... it was just a little surprising, that's all. But in so many ways, it suits them just perfectly (as does Less Miles!)

3. The PA dude actually announced that the sun had set and it was nighttime in Baton Rouge. Hellllllllllooooooooo Captain Obvious! I believe they may also hold beer-drinking contests for the PA job* as it appeared they had given the mike to a fan, just any ole fan with a propensity to talk too much during a game ("Scott is out over the LSU forty--correction, the Alabama forty-- for a gain of two yards... boy, that was a tough two yards." And that's much closer to an actual quote from Saturday rather than a paraphrase.) Again, it definitely wasn't an essay contest that won him the job.

*Insert Kenny Stabler joke here but keep in mind Stabler is our color analyst, not the public announcer at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and besides... Stabler could/would be knee-deep in a pitcher of margaritas and still sound more knowledgeable than this guy.

4. I wasted several one-liners during the game because we were in fact severely outnumbered and I rather enjoy the use of all of my extremities. Still, I could NOT resist quietly mumbling "you can do it!" after the LSU alma mater during the pregame show. Pee-paw probably didn't hear me and wouldn't have really gotten the reference anyway but I imagine if I was in the Bama section, I would have shouted it for all to hear and subsequently been named the MVP of the Bama section. Nah, too old? Oh, who am I kiddin'... The Waterboy never gets old, especially when you're in Baton Rouge. Which reminds me, if they hate Nick Saban so much, what do they think of Adam Sandler?!?! Dare I ask...

5. Finally, below is a pic of the actual wristband for the gameday shuttle we rode from The Sheraton downtown to the stadium. (Total random sidenote: I saw this lady at The Sheraton and commented that I hoped to be just like her someday...) Anyway, an LSU fan commented to me that they could have at least made the wristbands in some color other than red and white but I told her not to worry, it appeared they let LSU pick the beer logo...

As far as the actual game went, I'm not surprised it was so tight. I thought it seemed like a mirror image of the game in Tuscaloosa last year where ultimately the best team won but the opposition sure gave it their all. Yeah, the refs made some questionable calls or non-calls in the game but I believe that's where the tit meets the tat. I know from experience that it was a heartbreak for the loser, but does anybody remember how the rest of the season turned out for the winner??? I just can't seem to put my pointed index finger on it...

PS: Nice read from The New York Times.

I'm home...

...safe and sound. Can you believe it?!?!? More to follow soon but don't get your hopes up as my first trip to the legendary Death Valley was wholly uneventful. Except, uh, that little winning thang.

SABAN: Bama would accept no Les*

*I can't take credit for that little one-liner... I saw it on some pins this weekend!

Yeah, you're right... it was definitely NOT about the coaches, this was about The University of Alabama and baby, that was Alabama football!

PS: That was NOT me on TV right after Rashad Johnson's pick-six but no less than six separate (and by separate I mean located in different states!) people have called/emailed to see if that was in fact me. I think she was a college girl sitting in the Bama section (we were entrenched in a LSU section... boo hiss! But we were there... hip hip hooray!) so a big ole THANKS to those of you who saw any resemblance at all. :)

PPS: Sorry for the screwed up format of the pictures. I don't know why I can't get them to the correct size anymore (ie: fitting onto your screen) but I'll keep trying to work on it. Let me know if you have any pointers...

Declare yourself!

Okay, I've GOT to go get ready for my trip and shore up loose ends on the homefront before I hit the road but I wanted to see if you guys and gals would humor me while I'm on the road. I'm curious to know more about my meager readership (though I was really movin'n'groovin' on the ole blog meter when I first posted that Texas Tech photo... people from all over this great country were apparently quite interested in why Tech's fan were so serious!) So, do me this favor and declare yourself in the comments section with a big "Roll Tide" (good!) or "War Eagle..." (bad!) or "Geaux Tigers!" (ugly) here. As always, you can even do it anonymously (I realize some people might be a little ashamed at this point) but I expect 100% participation seeing as EVERYONE has a preference. Sure, only 70% of the population voted on Tuesday in a historic turnout but I'm talking about college football, not electing the leader of the free world. Priorities, people! :)



PS: Cast a vote on the poll, too!

Told ya so...

Seriously, I'm not going to dwell on the election (no, really, I promise) because what's done is done. I'm not going to "rally around" Obama either but I'm really not going to spend the next 4 years knitpickin' every little thing he does or doesn't do (in fact, I won't even comment on Michelle Obama's acceptance speech dress, unlike some in the media... be honest, you thought that dress was horrendous, too!) Still, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to point out that the Dow did in fact slid almost 500 points yesterday. The media didn't harp on this fact yesterday as I guess they didn't want to look like sour grapes or worse but if it happens again today, I don't think they can cover it up. Anyway, Obama is not good for the economy. Just wait and see...

File this under "Craziness That Is My Life"

I will make this quick because boyoboy do I have a lot to do over the next 36 hours. Turns out I'm going to Baton Rouge! I know, are you friggin' kiddin' me?!?!? It looks like I'll have regular-priced tickets sitting next to an Alabama fan... how sweet is that? (Ask me AFTER the game I suppose!) Anyway, after much gnashing of teeth, it turns out Plumberboy will stay home and I'll make the trip with my dad (probably safer because he's always packin heat.) Not that it won't be fun with my dad (football is definitely our thing) but I would love to have a getaway with my husband. Alas, this is the most responsible, adult-like (read: ridiculously mature/old/boring for our age) thing to do. There were several things that factored into the decision, not the least of which is our two children behaving like hooligans over the past month. They are exhausted, thus out-of-control, so we think it's best for them to stay home for the weekend. Obviously they can't stay home by themselves and if you've been following me here at Steph's Other Space then you know who's turn it is to go (if not, you can brief yourself here.) Clemson-Schmemson... I'm going to Death Valley!!!! Full report upon my return so long as I actually make a return. If not then at least one parent has been left behind to care for the kiddos...

Note to self: Add provision to my will for someone to help Plumberboy dress the kids each day, a "clothing godmother" so to speak. Be sure to have it signed, witnessed, and notorized before Saturday at 2:30 PM CST.

Mr. President-Elect... (Updated!)

... thanks for inspiring more "God help us!" and "God have mercy on us!" than I've heard in a long time. It's good to know more people in this country will be on their knees looking upward to our Father in Heaven for protection and peace today than yesterday. That's the bright side, right? Well, that plus the fact that Obama actually supports a playoff system for college football. Yes we can!

UPDATE: This dude has obviously been reading my blog. He even stole my stolen closing line of "Yes we can!" Seriously, the next 4 years wouldn't be a total waste if an Obama presidency could actually make a playoff happen.

Calling it...

It's about 8:40 PM and I think it's safe to say the election is Obama's. Well, I guess Oprah won't have to return her fancy (probably $150,000+) dress. Now everybody just take a deep breath and remember:

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed...Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2nd Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-17

Why so serious?

Regardless of who Texas Tech plays from this point forward, I will not be rooting for them to win. (Apologies to my sis-in-law who has a dear friend that played at Tech) Below is a pic of their student section on Saturday night vs. Texas... bunch of FA-REAKS!

And that's not even mentioning their coach. Dang, momma (in my best Ellen Page Shopping with Virginiaca SNL sketch voice)... I'd freakin' love to play Tech.

PS: To the myriad of Texas Tech fans and/or folks curious about the freakshow in Lubbock who found my blog via google, I actually have no idea why they are paying homage to Heath Ledger at a football game. I think it may have something to do with a madman Leach formation known as "The Joker" but that is purely conjecture at this point. In all honesty, I think they are just anarchists. Check out the header... this is a Bama blog so I'm not that well-versed in the Red Raiders. Sorry to disappoint! By the way, any of y'all got a couple tickets to the UA-LSU game (that you'd part with at regular price) per chance? Hey, I'm nothing if not opportunistic. Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment... AND VOTE MCCAIN-PALIN!

Good Riddance!

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.... hey, hey, hey.... goodbye.



Don't look so sad,Phil! This one's for you... I believe it's called "Once I had a job on Rocky Top"



PS: If my hair was as gorgeous as Crystal Gayle's, I would totally grow it that long, maybe longer. I'm just sayin...

Nose to face: "What did I ever do to you?"

Well, T-minus 24 hours and tickin' away. Most folks seem to rejoice over the very thought that as of Wednesday, the campaigns will be over (duly noted that the election may not be decided by that time) but I personally would like to see it go on and on indefinitely because as it stands now, I think I'll be saddened by the results when this all shakes out. Yes, contrary to my gut instincts back in the summer, I now believe our country will make the wrong choice. It appears we've been bamboozled, seduced by a promise of "change" even though we all know that change just for the sake of change benefits no one. (I liken it to cutting off your nose to spite your face, hence the title.) And it's not like anyone out there can really tell us exactly what Obama will change (because he truly has no specific plan) but I suppose it's change nonetheless by virtue of his race and age. Congrats, America... you're about to get exactly what you've asked for.

Speaking of change, surely even I think we need some sort of change in this country, don't I? Actually I do and here's what I'd like to see happen (though realistically I know there's a much better chance that pigs will change their feet to wings and fly!)

The economy:
Remember the catchphrase from the 92 Presidential race "It's the economy, stupid!"? It was only after the 1st Bush lost his bid for reelection that he seemed to realize people cared more about the economy than anything else and it cost him the election. Well, I believe 2008's version would go something like this "Hey economists! It's us, stupid!" This time both candidates know that money (or lack thereof) talks so no one is overlooking the economic crises we face. However, I'd like to point out that this time, it's our fault... not the President, not Congress, not even greedy corporate CEOs. It's our fault for getting in over our collective head financially and insisting that a McMansion was in fact a constitutional right. Or at least a cellphone with unlimited texting. Take this challenge... while sitting at your computer, look to your left and then look to your right. Do either of the houses (or co-workers if you're at work) live within their means? I bet 95% said "no." That's a problem. That's the problem. And now we've elected representatives to Congress that also spend like drunken sailors. McCain pledges to halt all nonessential government spending until he can take both a "scalpel and a hatchet" to government spending. Meanwhile Barack Obama clearly believes in a bigger role for government in our everyday lives and that costs money, folks...money we don't have. I'd like to see the free market sort this whole thing out but it would be painful... extremely painful. We would likely suffer a recession/depression unrivaled since the Great Depression but eventually it would work itself out. I'm not advocating doing away with any of the current social services we have but why throw hundreds upon hundreds of billions of dollars in buyouts on top of our national deficit? Besides, both candidates voted for the $700B buyout, just FYI. Obama's big spending plans looks like more of the same administration if you ask me, except at least some of it will go to extremely liberal social causes. Watch the stocks nosedive if/when Obama wins... Wall Street does not want an Obama White House.

The combat theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan:
I don't know that "war" is the most appropriate term for various reasons, not the least of which is I actually have a degree from studying such events and the current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan look more like a soccer game gone bad than a "war" in the historical sense. I would bang my head against the wall (literally) if I was forced to think about how little people actually understand the world we live in and its collective history. Plus, every good historian knows you cannot judge current events and their success or failures until years (think decades, centuries!) later. I've always believed that Iraq was "conquered" more for its location than anything else. History may smile on this conquest someday far in the future but who knows if any of us will be around for me to say "I told ya so." Just out of curiosity, does anyone actually believe it was about oil? Anyway, I was talking with an Army Ranger yesterday who has served two tours, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, and even suffered some injuries when his Humvee was hit by an IED. Guess who he's voting for? It's not Obama, I'll tell you that much, and a majority of his comrades feel the same way. I'll always defer to the guys and gals who actually put their life on the line for our country.

National security:
Do I even need to discuss this? Even Joe Biden knows John McCain would be better for our national security than Barack Obama. Just a sidenote, I think service in one of the branches of military ought to be a requirement for presidential candidacy. Everyone likes to compare Barack Obama to John Kennedy but I think McCain is much more similar to JFK. Who do you think towed an injured soldier to shore clenching the guy's lifejacket in his teeth as he waded through dark enemy waters? Here's a clue... it wasn't Barack Obama. But it wasn't Maverick-in-Residence John McCain either. It was JFK. People seem to forget that before he was a dead President, he was a war hero. Character is everything and war has quite the brutal way of revealing true character. I'd say McCain is battle-tested, wouldn't you. Besides, he's almost assassination-proof... can anything kill that old bird?!?!

Bipartisanship:
If ever there was a need for this country to come together to tackle tough issues, it's got to be now. McCain has proven he has the ability to get things done on both sides of the aisle (ie: The Gang of 12 and McCain-Feingold) and will most definitely fill his cabinet with trusted advisers regardless of their political affiliation. Joe Lieberman was his first choice as a running mate. Joe Biden has spoken in this campaign of his fondness for John McCain. Does anyone really think Obama could close the gap in a similar fashion? Or that he would want to? Jeremiah Wright offering up the invocation at his inauguration would be a bad place to start. (Google to see who prayed with him seconds before he too the stage to officially announced his candidacy in Illinois.... or don't. You know it was Wright.)

Taxes:
Obama will raise them and McCain might too, but only one seems to think that's the right thing to do and it's not McCain. I'm all about paying my fair share in taxes... I like our smooth roads, our able-bodied police forces, and a military with might like the world has never before seen. But I think we pay enough as it stands right now... we just need to cut spending and shore up the tax code. I'm all about a flat tax system of some sort but I only have a minor in economics (and even that's in paper only) so I can't begin to accurately explain a system that I would back. I think we as a nation need to "hold the rope" until we can elect someone who's serious about eviscerating the current tax code and initiating a much simpler system.

Anything else?
I'm sure I haven't changed anyone's mind but I do feel a little better. Actually, it's already been a pretty good day so far because our left-leaning neighbor across the street brought me his wife's absentee ballot today and asked me to sign as the 2nd witness. He knew I'd be leery because his house boasts no less than 3 Obama-Biden yard signs but he assured me that his wife's vote would cancel his. He was such a good sport about it and knew I would take great pleasure in signing a ballot that casts a vote for McCain. I wish all of us could be as neighborly about it as that exchange. I also wish none of us would ever take for granted the nonviolent transition of power we enjoy every 4 or 8 years in this country. I love, LOVE seeing the candidates shake hands and share a laugh after a debate. And while I believe with all my heart that Obama is not good for this country and downright deadly for the unborn, there is no reason for this campaign to escalate into something dangerous. We all need to take our licks, whatever they may be, and live to fight again in 4 years. Bless God, America!

Follow Up

Please forgive me for not posting this sooner. In what is probably the most glaringly obvious statement of the year, blogging is in fact just a hobby of mine (hello, Captain Obvious!) Therefore, it certainly takes a backseat to all the things that mommies/wives/rabid Alabama fans are responsible for. Also probably painfully obvious is the fact that I don't usually have time to thoroughly research then persuasively convey all my thoughts, arguments, opinions on the topics but I'm glad some of you still choose to tune in and read. I appreciate it and apologize in advance if I ever seem to get all Julia Sugarbaker in my posts (really, was there any other clip to use?) It's just that I'm quite *ahem* animated in real life and very few things stoke my fire quite like politics and football... imagine that. :) Anyway, with that little prologue out of the way, here are some of my "rebuttals" (picture me using the Joey air quotes from Friends) to a few of the comments left on my "Don't Call Me Pro-Life" post.



In order:


Lacey, I want to reiterate that I know abortion to be murder and I feel that science does not even allows us to argue such a point (not that anyone was). So, to me, if it is murder then the focus should be on the victim (read: very small defenseless unborn human being) and not the mother. With that in mind, I don't see why our laws should be framed around a small percentage of women who are so hellbent on killing their child that they are stupid/desperate/both enough to use a butcher in a back alley. Again, why can't the focus be on free birth control to avoid the pregnancy in the first place (though abstinence WILL ALWAYS WORK, people!) but if that fails then you will just have to live with the consequence. Maybe that will actually act as a deterrent... imagine that. As far as enforcement is concerned, I believe it would be very easy to enforce bans on abortions and backalley abortionists, it's not a procedure you can perform via a handshake (like a drug deal) or from the back of your car. Plus, I'm sure there would be plenty of folks to come forward once their loved one was butchered. Regardless, I just do not feel that the protection should be given to the women who are at least obviously physically old enough to reproduce, especially since they have numerous options in this country. And sometimes I think people believe these children are going to starve to death if they are allowed to be born. Do we not have an abundance of social services in this country (with probably more to come under the next administration)? That's in addition to private (usually faith-based) organizations that stand willing and able to help once contacted. Death via abortion is never, EVER, (did I say EVER?!?!) in the best interest of the child and that's 100% who I'm dedicated to protecting. Pro "choice" as ironic since the babies so clearly have no choice!


Stacie: My guess is, if polled, the numbers would overwhelmingly suggest that women eventually regret their decision to terminate their child's life. However, I don't know that you could ever accurately find out because very few media outlets would want to point out such a fact and meanwhile, I don't know that the Christian community as a whole has done a good enough job of showing compassion to such women. I can only imagine how their misery is compounded by having no one to talk to about such things, though I'm a proud supporter of a clinic that offers a support group to such women. Anyway, I shudder to think who this country has aborted along with all their potential impact... literally, God only knows.


LR: You certainly gave me the most to chew on. I'll see what I can do with what you've given me... I covered some of this already in response to Lacey. You are both right that legal or not, many women will still seek out an abortion. Again, my concern is not with them at all. They currently have other options (usually free, courtesy of the tax-payers but I gladly pay those taxes!) that would result in a win-win for all involved (except for the babydaddy who would then have to pay child-support but I have no pity there) Again, if they are dumb enough to go to someone using dirty equipment on a fold-up table in a back alley then I defer to Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest." I do agree that even under W we still face a legal abortion industry but as Randy Alcorn states in his blog post on the topic (he did an infinitely better job than me but hey, he's a professional writer!), he has appointed two Supreme Court Justices to lifetime appointments. I too would have loved to have seen more action during his administration but I still have hope for his 11th hour. Nonetheless, I was wrong for not pointing out that he has done more to chip away at Roe v. Wade than any other US President since 1973. Still, even the secular mainstream media admits that the next prez will likely de facto decide this issue for the next generation with the next court appointments. If you are a Christian, it is of utmost importance that you pray about your vote. I believe God would have you cast your vote on Tuesday for the candidate who feels that Roe v. Wade should be overturned (that's John McCain if you're not keeping up with such matters) but that's between you and Him. If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, you have MUCH BIGGER issues than this presidential election. Email me! Anyway, it won't happen overnight but please remember that these are lifetime appointments with two very old liberal-leaning justices getting ready to step down (or keel over, whichever happens first!) My apologies for not raising that issue earlier. LR, you are right that there are probably bones of contention to pick with either candidate but for me personally, I find such issues with Obama to be egregious for me personally. That is to say I find so many things that disgust me that I can't even see any good in him. (But that is not to say that I think he's the "anti-Christ" like some "evangelicals," though if he were then great... that means Jesus is on His way!) As far as Sarah Palin's disputed $150,000 wardrobe, it pales in comparision to the likes of Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers. If you're relatively new here, you should visit this post. Unfortunately, McCain is too much of a gentleman or whatever to play up Obama's intimate ties with Wright. That's a shame because it is very much relevent as it gives us a glimpse not only to his personal character ("Show me the friends and I'll show you the man" or something like that, I don't know... I heard it on Army Wives but I think it's true), it foreshadows his administration. Can you imagine what Obama'scabinet will look like? Besides, don't be fooled into believing that Obama and company are "common folk" who share your plight. Politics is a rich man's sport, regardless of race. Neither him nor his wife attended a community college and Obama's step father was an oil exec for Mobil Oil so I doubt he ever went without food on the table, ya know? All I'm saying is that Obama does not represent the average black man's struggle by any stretch of the imagination. And I LOVE how people tend to forget that he's every bit as much white as he is black. He was raised by his white mother and grandparents (thus, his white mother is also the one responsible for his dangerously skewed world views) but that's neither here nor there. As far as Palin goes, I don't think she's a saint by any means either but she's a lot closer in my book. I absolutely think she tried to have her brother-in-law canned and may have even participated in some smallscale cover-up of the issue. Apparently her kids have some issues as well but I'm not voting for Mother of the Year, that's for dang sure. She has been absolutely hammered in the media (which, unless you meet her personally, is the only way we'll know anything about her) and it's obvious they have an agenda. (Just by and by, the same thing happened to Nick Saban, give or take a degree of scrutiny!) As far as experience goes, Obama has virtually none to speak of and we're voting for President, not VP, right? It is obvious to me that she has been mishandled to say the least by the McCain campaign. I've read a few articles that allude to such but I guess we'll never know the full behind-the-scenes story regarding their campaign. McCain's folks should have done a MUCH better job of preparing her for interviews or better yet, just let her be herself without the fear of walking into a trap. But let's all be honest here, do you know what the VP does? Well, for one thing, in the event of a tie they cast the deciding vote in the Senate (don't shrug off the importance of that in the current political climate!) and I definitely don't trust Joe Biden with that vote! Anyway, you can learn all about the office here if you so desire. I think it's best to vote based on the top of the ticket but with one caveat... the VP is only a heartbeat away from the presidency. I personally relish the thought of Sarah Palin as president as she's even more outspoken in her unwavering devotion to overturning Roe v. Wade.

Back to Lacey: I will personally continue to vote primarily based on the abortion issue because at 1 million+ a year, the term "holocaust" does not even begin to cover the number of lives lost. In fact, I did not use that term in my original post precisely because the holocaust of WWII only claimed approximately 6 to 10 million lives (depends on the source... regardless, it's a staggering loss) and we're already up at 35 to 40 million lives lost to abortion. That needs to stop... as in yesterday but I'll settle for tomorrow. We as a nation lose a few thousand troops over several years' in combat yet people deem that an important enough issue to vote on. As far as looking at a candidate's stands on other issues, I would ask this rhetorical question: Does anyone know what sort of economic policies Hitler favored? I believe that sometimes there are things that are so very wrong about a candidate that it overshadows everything else they do. Obama's desire to appoint justice(s) who would uphold Roe v. Wade is just that for me.

Troll: Yes, I too believe that if any changes in abortion policy ever come to pass, it would in fact become a states issue. I'm disappointed with that because I believe murder is murder is murder, regardless of the state in which said murder occured but I suppose some restriction is better than no restriction at all. Of course my goal is for a federal ban on abortion in whatever form that entails but McCain doesn't support that. I believe he's only looking to alter the Supreme Court's political makeup with his appointments. However, I believe with all my heart that Sarah Palin would be much more aggressive in her efforts if she ever had a friendly, filibuster-proof majority with Congress. A girl can dream, can't she? (And congrats on the win, by the way!)

So, to summarize: I vote based on the abortion issue and will continue to do so. It is my litmus test and I will not feign otherwise. Again, I believe a flawed view on abortion lessens (or flat-out negates) any likelihood that you will make wise decisions on anything important in the future. It's not exactly along the same lines but I think about how clouded Bill Clinton's judgment must have been during his tenure in the Oval Office. Have you ever read the transcripts of testimony from his impeachment? Let's all just pray he didn't have to make any important decisions during his "meetings" (insert more Joey air quotes here) with Monica Lewinsky. I find character and wise-decision-making ability to be of the utmost importance when voting for anything (including PTA president) so I find that I'm never being swayed by ridiculous campaing promises they never have any intention of keeping. Besides, do we ever really know what the next president will face while in office? The last time we elected a new president was November 7, 2000. Anybody think this country is a much different place now than it was then?

Postponement (whatta I think this is, the world series?!?!)

I quasi-promised a rebuttal of sorts to some of the comments from my last post but alas, it is 9 PM and I'm tired--really tired. I'm still shaking off a cold bug that leaves me drained and irritable despite finishing a round of antibiotics days ago. I thought I could drudge through another post but then my eyes went all crazy-itchy on me so I'm waving the white flag... but only for tonight. I will try my darnedest to post again tomorrow afternoon after I get back from Ricky Bobby's school. Until then, comment away! It's open season because I'll be fast asleep in 5, 4, 3, .....

I sure hope...

...you have checked out MckMama's blog for yourself by now. I hope you've been following her all along because if you haven't, you've certainly missed out on a tremendous blessing. Her story reads like a really interesting, well-written Christian made-for-TV movie... you know, the kind with lots of trial and tribulation but all along you know in your heart of hearts how the story is going to turn out (think Hallmark Channel!) Except, MckMama is, well, real. She's a real human being who was pregnant with a real human son (see post below if you need clarification on that statement!) so it's not like any of us were guaranteed that happy ending. Sometimes it was hard to read because the pain of uncertainty was tangible, palpable. And if you've been a Christian long enough then you have learned that God's ways are most certainly not our ways no matter how much we beg! (Ever wonder who came up with "because I said so..."? I believe with all my heart that notion comes directly from God on His throne!) Anyway, He never ever fails... He cannot! Still, it only takes a quick trip to the local hospital or county morgue to see that we don't always get our happy endings on this side of eternity. Nonetheless, there are still times to this very day when God performs miracles that are so outlandish, so extraordinary that they cannot be attributed to anything other than, well, miracles. And now I rejoice with MckMama and her family as they celebrate a time such as this with the healthy, miraculous birth of their son Stellan yesterday.

May God continue to bless and use Stellan and his entire family for the furthering of

His Kingdom!

Don't call me pro-life!

I've sat down at my computer many, many times before to write this post but somehow it has never come to fruition... which is perhaps quite fitting for the topic of abortion. But now it is less than a week before one of the "biggest" elections of a generation so I figure I better get on the ball, although I should make it clear that abortion is not an election-year issue for me. It is a 365-days-a-year issue for me in that probably not a day goes by that I don't somehow read about it, think about it, or hopefully do something that in some small way chips away at the foundation of Roe v. Wade (RvW). I know you guys are not a talkative bunch so I'm probably not going to touch off a comment riot here... though I relish the thought! I think it would be inexplicably awesome if we could have a genuine discussion here on the topic. (Not in hopes of changing my mind--you won't!-- but rather I'd love to figure out what is at the root of our society's apathy.) And certainly I wish I had the resources to fashion an eloquent discourse on the topic but The NY Times this ain't... it's a local-yocal blog posted on blogger. So for now, if you're remotely interested (pollsters would say you're not) you can take a trip inside my brain and read my thoughts regarding the life-and-death (with an emphasis on death) subject that is abortion.

Why does abortion matter to you and furthermore, why it should matter to me, even though it is an election year?
Abortion has hijacked the political process. That should bother any tax-paying US citizen because it means that instead of running our country as proficiently as possible, politicians spend a great deal of their time pandering to whatever special interest group put them in power on an issue that should be a nonissue. There are a significant amount of people like me who might actually consider voting more "progressive" on some of the more complex and extremely vital issues like health care, education, or even energy policy if it wasn't for the abortion issue. But you can forget me ever, and I mean ever, casting a vote for a Democrat in its current state of affairs. The DNC might as well be called the D&C as far as I'm concerned because they have clearly cast their lots with radical pro-abortionists with the likes of their leadership right now, most definitely starting at the top with Barack Obama (who is more pro-choice than NARAL just FYI.) Many Republicans don't even realize there is a problem with our current healthcare system and/or are in bed with the insurance companies as well as the energy magnates while having no concern whatsoever for "the little guy." But at least they would not appoint a liberal judiciary activist (to a lifetime appointment no less!) who view the Declaration of Independence that was signed by our country's founders as nothing more than a mere historical artifact ("We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.") So what if you happen to be a gun-totin' fundamentalist right-wing Republican born-n-bred who doesn't really agree with someone like me on the likes of health care reform, etc? What does it matter to you then? Well, in the words of the illustrious Janet Jackson, why don't you try asking the Republicans "what have you done for me lately?" Starting with the Republican Revolution of 1994 and followed by nearly 8 years of W's presidency, are we any closer to overturning Roe v. Wade? The answer is unanimously no! For those of you who haven't caught on yet, let me catch you up to speed. The Republican party as a whole (and speaking in terms of a general political machine, not individuals) has no real interest in overturning RvW and thus negating its main bargaining chip with conservative voters. Right now RvW gives them power--tons of it--come every election cycle and they don't seem to have any desire to give that up. They've had the opportunity to make real inroads over the past decade or so yet they have not. Sure, there are in fact plenty of Republicans who would actually do something if given the chance (Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul to name a few) but "the machine" usually keeps them down. Slowly but surely the religious right is catching on, thus the lackluster enthusiasm for John McCain this go 'round and an emergence of third-party voting. The irony? John McCain was voting pro-life when that didn't necessarily get you any bonus points and meanwhile his opponent is more pro-choice than NARAL (can't emphasize that enough!) That Satan is one crafty little booger... too bad he doesn't seem to understand he's already been defeated. So, to that end, believe me when I say that the abortion issue most definitely monkeys with everything from education to tax reform to national security and so on. It permeates the entire political process and in doing so, the right people for the job are not always the ones elected (no pun intended.)

But you would actually vote against someone just because of his stance on abortion?
To quote Sarah Palin, "You betcha!" Why? Because I cannot personally meet, greet, and assess each and every political candidate who will represent me in Congress as well as The White House so I just have to go with who I feel has the best character and overall ability to make good decisions. So if they think abortion is both right as well as a constitutional right, then boy oh boy did they screw the pooch. Why should I trust them to make decisions about anything, let alone war? I find it ironic that liberal-leaning voters get up in arms about alleged mass bombings of innocent civilians killing, um, dozens at a time while supporting the right to abortion on demand, which claims over 1 million lives a year in our country. And if you do the math, after 35 years we're talking numbers in a massive genocide range. Try to wrap your brain around that number and let it sink in.

So why do we let a wad of tissue in a woman's body dictate our entire political process, thus shaping our collective national policy?
Because it's precisely not a wad of tissue, that's why. Obviously, I'm a follower of Jesus first and foremost. I would never, never, NEVER want to deny such (too wise to just say "never" just read the story of Peter in the Bible!) but I do believe that the issue of abortion can and should be settled outside of the spiritual-religious context. In other words, I believe there is an abundant amount of scientific evidence to back an outlaw of abortion. (Sidenote: Roe v. Wade is not based on any sort of scientific finding whatsoever... it was legally founded on a flawed judgment of "right to privacy." In other words, the Supreme Court ruled the government doesn't have a right to view medical records to know what's going on. Even the Supreme Court in 1973--before routine ultrasound--could not have made a sound ruling based on scientific data... not that the right to privacy isn't inherently flawed but anyway.) To illustrate: While watching ER or any other medi-drama... what's the main/only determination of time of death? I'll give you a hint: It has to do with a flatline on a monitor. In other words, if the heart stops beating and cannot be restarted then they make the pronouncement (time of death...) So if that's universally the standard for death, then why isn't the converse true as the standard for life? In other words, fetuses have heartbeats. They are first detectable at 6 weeks' gestation/fetal age of 4 weeks, which is probably before a majority of abortion-minded women would even know they are pregnant as they would have only skipped one period by approximately two weeks... MDs feel free to chime in if my calculations are wrong!) I saw my child's heartbeat 8 weeks into my own pregnancy so don't think this is some work of science fiction. I suspect the heartbeat detection timeframe will only get earlier as technology increases. And do you realize that there is, for the most part, very little legislation that can be enforced regarding the timeframe on performing legal abortions? When I open my phonebook, I see that an abortion provider in my nearby neighboring state offers abortions on demand (which means they provide them just because you want one) up to 24 weeks?!?! Are you freakin' (please note that by saying freakin' I am only trying hard to not ruin my witness because my human urge is to say something else while imagining myself literally smashing my fists into Margaret Sanger's corpse) kiddin' me?!?!? My youngest son had neighbors in the NICU less than 24 weeks' gestation! Contrary to the majority's belief, they were very much viable! Actually, the cusp of viability is even earlier than 24 weeks so its very hard to make a rational argument that unchecked abortion-on-demand is not murder to its fullest extent. Speaking of fullest extent, you do realize that there are things like partial-birth abortion and the "Born Alive Act" that actually have to be voted on in our political arena?! These things should not even be open for debate... it's infanticide. Plain and simple. And be sure you check out Barack Obama's voting record on such issues. (Again, more pro-choice than NARAL.) I could go on and on if I had the time (and would if so challenged) with all the scientific evidence that exposes abortion for what is (say it with me: infanticide!) but there's still more that makes abortion so very, very reprehensible!

But it's a woman's body... who are you to tell her what to do with it?
This to me is probably the most puzzling argument of all. Even if you wanted to concede it's a wad of tissue (it's not) then you cannot deny that upon pathological investigation, said "wad" would prove to be 50% someone else's DNA. As it stands right now, the provider of that DNA has no legal standing to block an abortion. I hope someday that legal precedent will change (I believe this to be a good route for up-ending RvW) but for now that's what my sons and your sons have to work with and they would be wise to always remember that. So we've established that technically the "uterine contents" are not in fact your DNA alone. Sure, it inhabits your body but I'm pretty sure there would be major legal ramifications to a surrogate mother deciding to abort her "uterine contents." The same protection should be given to any pregnancy. And if that upsets all the feminists out there, then take up the issue with whatever force you believed created us (try starting with those stick-on plastic fish with feet attached to your bumper maybe?) because the state of pregnancy is unique and unparalleled in our world. There can be no real legal precedent because there is no other situation like being pregnant upon which to build your case. You most definitely have a body that is your own but while pregnant, it temporarily houses something that is most definitely not solely your own. Better luck (and legal argument!) with cloning.

Speaking of feminists, isn't it completely sexist to want to outlaw abortion. Aren't women entitled to reproductive freedom?
We're not talking about birth control here. It's true that dead ole Margaret Sanger first started her fight for birth control and in some ways, that was a valid fight. She believed in women having control over how many kids they could produce and thus founded American Birth Control League. But let's be honest, in 2008 no one is talking about restricting access to birth control (I'd even be in favor of forcing insurance companies to cover the costs of birth control since they cover Viagra... plus, it's good business sense for them!) In fact, its very reasonable to argue that the proliferation of birth control should nullify the need for abortion. Why can't Planned Parenthood (the little sister of Sanger's American Birth Control League) be content with handing out free birth control at their clinics? I for one will leave them alone so long as my tax dollars don't contribute and they don't come into public institutions with their agenda. Abortion-on-demand is about money first (ever wonder why abortion-alternative pregnancy centers are free yet Planned Parenthood clinics charge for everything?!?!) and then complete lack of responsibility second. (Use something or don't use something... for 300 measily bucks, there's always a safety net, right?) And choice... what, maybe you just want to be able to keep trying until you have that little boy without redundant little girls, right? That's your choice here in America... land of the free and home of the unborn dead. Women of America, wake up! 50% (give or take a percentage point) of the babies aborted are female. That doesn't scream "sisterhood!" to me. This has nothing to do with your value as a woman. If anything, it undercuts it. Abortion has nothing to do with your right to vote, drive a car, hold a job for equal pay, or anything else that in the past may have been unduly denied. Don't fall for what all the stupid (and I do mean stupid...as well as clinically insane) celebrities have to say on the subject. They never, ever offer to explain how rights to an abortion relates to your inalienable rights as a US citizen. Maybe they mention something about a back alley if Roe v. Wade is overturned but who forces you into the back alley? The government? Surely you don't believe that! The truth is, NO ONE can force you into a back alley. No one forces your daughters or sisters into a back alley. In fact, they have the right to go to the police and ask for protection against such measures. And overturning Roe v. Wade means many more of our future daughters and sisters (and brothers, equally important!) will be born and possibly change the world for the better.

But come on, Steph... what about those women who are raped?
Glad you asked. First of all, let me be clear that I believe women are in fact raped on a daily basis. I believe that within the limits of my own small city there are probably some young girls being raped at home. Just statistically speaking. And I'm sure know at least one person that has been raped, probably more. Rape is a crime and those it's perpetrated upon are most definitely victims. I cannot sympathize enough with them. And my God, the sin of rape makes for a very very complex issue when pregnancy is involved! But let's take a pragmatic rather than emotional approach. How many pregnancies do you believe are really the result of rape? Again, with the proliferation of birth control, I have to believe that rate is down and I believe it was a relatively small percentage to begin with (though let me again be clear that I think just one is one too many.) However, knowing that some pregnancies are in fact very much the result of a real rape crime, there is some actual value to the resulting pregnancy (not withstanding the human life) as obviously the resulting baby and their respective DNA would make for an excellent exhibit A in the courtroom. A pregnancy also forces action out of the victim when perhaps the first instinct might be to attempt to "shower away" the situation. Believe me, I'm all about action on the victim's part. A pregnancy makes the crime real in a very tangible, undeniable way. Why does that have to be a bad thing? Nothing would make me happier than to see a man get put away for the rest of his life because he got his 10-year-old daughter pregnant and there's no way to deny it when a pregnancy proves it. Way too many times it is the perpetrator himself that drives the victim to the abortion clinic. No harm, no foul ring a bell? And don't think it doesn't happen. If there was no easy access to abortion then what happens... maybe something beneficial for the victim? (I fully realize that in many cases the perp would just kill his victims, seeing as homicide is already a leading cause of maternal death but this shouldn't deter us from doing the right thing.)

But what would you do... force a woman to carry a baby that resulted from her own rights being violated?
If I were King of the World, in what would be my only compromise on this issue, I think perhaps I could live with myself if I permitted legal abortions on rape victims with very clear, strictly enforced parameters. First, all abortions would be performed within the first trimester after a legit effort to inform the victim of all pertinent medical facts as well as mandatory ultrasound with fetal anesthesia administered. Second and most importantly, all procedures would be performed only after a police report/formal statement had been filed by the victim. That way, if she is lying to the police just to obtain the abortion, she's open to prosecution for filing a false report. Additionally, if you ever charge someone for the rape, there should be a statute that makes a pregnancy resulting from a rape an aggravating circumstance, one that could perhaps render the death penalty (I would not be opposed to that in the least.) Remember, the police cannot catch a criminal if they don't know a crime has occurred.

The death penalty?!?! Are you telling me you're in favor of a death penalty but you consider yourself pro-life?
How on earth the issue of abortion ever got tied up with serial raping-and-murdering cretins remains a mystery to me. I suppose you could trace it to the Catholic church's stance on the issues but it seems as though plenty of non-Catholics get confused by the issue too. Are they actually equating an innocent human life that has yet to be born to that of these real-life monsters? Because it sure seems so when you make this argument. I hear/read people saying "you can't have it both ways" but actually I don't see why not. Surely they are aware that people on death row have gotten at least one trial by their peers in which they were presumed innocent until proven guilty and I imagine they've also had an automatic appeal (probably numerous appeals), aren't they? Where's the unborn child's due process? To me it's apples and oranges (more like stuffed animals and sub-machine guns or whatever else is wildly unrelated in any way!)

So, in the past you voted Republican a majority of the time but you want the government to tell people what to do?
In a word, yes. But in several words, I never said I was for small government by any means as I do believe in the stupidity of people. People are sheep (I learned that from The Bible) and I believe that in cases of life and death but specifically when it involves a minor, then yes, the government should ensure that people do the right thing. Let's see... how do you know you're in a state without a helmet law? People go whizzing past you at 80 mph on their motorcycle without a helmet! (I like to kid that New Hampshire's state motto should be "Live free and die!") That is stupidity on a grand scale yet it's obvious that people, when given the choice, will make the wrong choice on these sort of decisions! Now not wearing a helmet hurts no one but yourself (well, I'm sure it traumatizes those EMTs who have to scrape their brains off the asphalt) but ultimately it's the non-helmet-wearer that pays the price. But what about carseats? We as a people deem it necessary to enact carseat laws to protect children who cannot physically make the choice to do the right thing, don't we? I'd say it's similar to being born... what physical way can a baby assert their choice in the matter? Don't we also protect our children from pedophiles and polygamists, even though some apparently evil people view those acts as morally acceptable? In summary, if it effects just you (like, let's say, maybe a physician-assisted suicide in an adult?) then rock on.*

*Although I feel you should know this physical world is not the end.

Well, you sure sound pro-life to me... what gives? And what are you personally doing to chip away at Roe v. Wade?
For the record, I consider myself anti-abortion (and not pro-life just because of the whole confusion on the death penalty) and vote accordingly. It's not just the presidential race that's important... congressional representation is vital as well as "pro-life" state representation because there's always a possibility that the whole issue will be kicked back to the states to decide individually. So in my book, it's always important to vote based on this issue. And besides just giving way to the occasional blog rant or real life in-yo-face confrontation, I actually support the local crisis pregnancy center that focuses on the real needs of those facing an unplanned pregnancy. We give of both our time and money. This particular center offers a medical clinic as well as parenting classes and a clothes closet that provides all sorts of things that WIC does not. It also offers emotional support for those who have chosen abortion and offers STD testing for those with a negative pregnancy test. As an organization, it focuses on much more than just the unborn child with an emphasis on the mother and all those involved in the situation. I fully 100% believe in those folks' worth as a person (and child of God) too. And if I had the power (I currently do not), I would make the adoption process so much easier. I would offer tax credits, incentives, whatever necessary to make the process more affordable and less daunting. There's no reason to not hook up families who desperately want children with women/families who cannot provide for theirs. It should not cost 5 figures to adopt a child! And while it shouldn't be easy per se, there should not be so much red tape--duh!

In the meantime and on a very real, personal level... please know that Plumberboy and I stand ready and willing to take care of any child that any one of you readers would otherwise dispose of.

PS: It's almost time for me to pick up my son (I suppose someone formerly known as a "wad of tissue" that happened to inhabite my uterus) from school so I can't cover any more topics now. As always, comments are open and you are more than welcome to challenge me on anything I discussed as well as anything you would like to see me discuss. But whatever you do, please don't try to pass as disinterested party because you know that's never true on this topic.