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.

Yet another rip-off:

I know I'm always bumming posts off of Ian Rapoport but this pic was too good NOT to post here. I may just make it my profile pic. :)

(I know some Aubs may deduce that Nick Saban is kneeing Brandon Deaderick in the nads in this pic but he's actually initiating a chest bump with the player. Hmm... didn't know "Coach Satan" did those sort of things, did you???)

Self-explanatory

Someday...

...I'll finally get around to posting more about politics (um, I have exactly 7 days to try to change the collective mind of 2/3 of the electorate but I'll settle for two or three random Obama supporters who might stumble across my blog.) For now I wanted to link to this story and implore you all to read, even though it is in fact UA-football-related. You won't be sorry you did, unless you don't like crying at your computer.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

PS: I'm such a nerd (don't have to tell you!) and every week during football season I change my profile pic on my myspace page to represent the player/person of the game (sometimes it's JP Wilson, sometimes it's UGA, as in the dog. I almost used a photoshopped pic this week of Phil Fulmer wearing a shirt that read "I beat anorexia" but I digress...) Anyhoo, Saturday night I "awarded" this highest honor to Roy Upchurch just because something seemed so inspired and special about his performance. Guess now I know why. (I can't get the a pic of Upchurch from Saturday's game to upload properly so check it out here. If you look closely on his left arm, the tape reads "RIP Micah.")

UPDATE: Ian Rapoport, the guy who wrote that article, posted a little bit of background on his blog. Good stuff, as well as the comments the readers left behind.

Every plumber has his day...

HAPPY 31st so that means I did NOT marry a younger man BIRTHDAY PLUMBERBOY!!!

Yeah, he was plumbing...when plumbing wasn't cool.

"Sunovabiscuit!"*

Well, I'm pretty sure that's not exactly what Phil Fulmer said but potato, patato. If I wasn't so tired I'd stay up and listen to his postgame conference on the net just to see if he resigns. Alas, I'm tired (and still trying to kick a cold) and oh so ready for bed. Hopefully I'll actually get some sleep tonight despite the fact that Ricky Bobby is attending his first-ever sleepover party tonight. Ugh...very hard for me to accept this fact but it is what it is. And by "it" I really mean that I don't have any babies anymore. :(

But Bama is 8-0 so :)

*Hey, I know those refs blew some calls but please ask me how much I care. Sure, a phantom offensive pass interference plus a questionably close fumble call went in our favor tonight but ya know, Phil was the stinkin' "secret witness" (read: SNITCH) in the case that dang-near brought us the death penalty (and for all intents and purposes would have for any other program in the division formerly known as 1-A) so I'd say that's still advantage UT. Choke on it, Big Orange!

Roll Tide!

If plumbing is now the political, then what's the personal? It's the UA-UT game, that's what!

I think I pretty much covered my feelings for UT last year so I thought I'd let the old-timers take it over this year. Below is a thread of comments from Ian Rapoport's blog on al.com and I think it perfectly encapsulates our fanbase's collective opinion of Tennessee.

PS: Feel free to start your own thread here! ROLL TIDE...


Posted by 69alumni on 10/20/08 at 8:48PM
Well I hope they know the rivalry of the UT game, if the new ones don't they will by Sunday morning. I grew up 3 miles from the TN state line and from the time I new what a football was, I have hated UT. I don't hate Auburn but I HATE UT. I pull for Bama and who ever plays TN. Too many fights I guess back and forth across the state line in my younger days I guess. It would make me happy if we beat them 100 to 0. Yeah, I grew riding the school bus with that dumb a$$ Wendell Smith and graduated from high school with the other dumb a$$ R. Keller that were part of the probation mess. I personally always thought Smith was a TN fan but my wife ( a cousin of his) says he wasn't. Anyway, Roll Tide Beat the hell of UT

Posted by lebowski1 on 10/20/08 at 8:58PM
I remember when before the game the other teams band would play the other teams fight song. That's before Alabama cheated and Phil turned them in and this game got ugly.

Posted by joelarbear on 10/20/08 at 9:07PM
Yep, Bama cheated. Thank goodness Tennessee never did. T Martin never accepted a dime, did he lebowski1, you hypocrite. This game's always been ugly. Study your history. Check into the first time these two teams played. I know what happened, do you?

Posted by probama on 10/20/08 at 9:08PM
So Ian.....a TuPac photo. Im impressed....... R.I.P. It strikes me as (something?) that the picture is from a cd with a title that could, in a sense, describe the Alabama football team this year.For those of you who dont know, it is: ALL EYES ON ME!
Wasnt it Donta Hightower who came up and stopped the OM runner on 4th and a half-yard? His effort on that play alone was worth a couple of game-balls if you ask me.
The taste of koolaid should now be thoroughly washed out after these last two weeks. The offensive line just had their first game where they really didnt win their battle at all, so they should be really fired up. Like CNS said, OM is a good football team. Very physical.More physical in their lines than I expected. UT will be ready sat, butI expect Bama will be hitting on all cylinders for this one. If so - The Tide is gonna roll big.
Roll Tide!!!

Posted by lebowski1 on 10/20/08 at 9:24PM
Hey bear, did I say Tenn was clean? Fact is we got caught they didn't. Everyone cheats but the NCAA was out to get BAMA along with fat Phil. As I said earlier, out of respect (and you true BAMA fans that have been going to games a long time) each teams band would play the other teams fight song before the game, at that time it was pretty cool. Now both teams and fans hate each other.

Posted by joelarbear on 10/20/08 at 9:38PM
As I posted, read your history. This is a quote from Al Browning's book THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER. "The first meeting between Alabama and Tennesse set the stage for the series. It ended with two thosand fans on the field fighting. Nothing was resolved that day. The teams played to a 6-6 tie. But Birmingham hosted a red-letter event in sports history on November 28, 1901, and wounds were opened that have never been totally healed."Read your history. Alabama and Tennesse have always hated each other. I personally consider it a bigger rivalry than Bama - Auburn.

Posted by Whahoo35124 on 10/20/08 at 9:46PM
Damn right "WE" BAMA fans hate Tennessee ! Fullmer is a back stabbing low life cheating snitch.

Posted by joelarbear on 10/20/08 at 9:59PM
As far as your "true Bama fans" comment goes, I was selling cokes, programs and parking cars to get in to the games in the 70's. The first game I attended was in the 1968 season against Miami. I am a TRUE Bama fan from way back.

Posted by Crimsonwood on 10/20/08 at 10:22PM
(Editor's Note: This comment was deleted out of respect to my Aub friends.)

Posted by IanRRapoport on 10/20/08 at 10:59PM
Pro: What can I say? I grew up on it. I Get Around was my favorite song for about four years... Between him and Biggie, that's all I needed... (Editor's Note: Ian, seriously?!?!? I bet you also do the white boy frat-daddy dance in your Newbies at parties. Monticeto... where you at?)

Posted by tiderollsga on 10/20/08 at 11:11PM
I never remember the bands playing each others fight song. The Tennessee band only knows one song and they play it over and over. This game was the first football game ever televised, sometime back in the 50s I think. Alabama and Tennessee are both in the top 10 in all time wins so are considered among the elite of college football traditions (Sorry War Eagles you have had some good years, but only 1 NC. even Ole Miss has 3 NCs, not sure how many Tennessee has, but its more than 3 ). It is one of the great rivalries and will always be so. When SEC divided in to two divisions, Alabama-Tennessee was the reason for at least one permanent opponent from the other division. Most Alabama fans love the rivalry, and don't hate Tennessee, they just hate Fat Phil.

Posted by probama on 10/21/08 at 12:49AM
Ian. I hear you. Me too. I really liked and appreciated his work thatwas a little more um...serious though. I can still dig some Biggie. (Editor's Note: Ha.Ha.)
tiderollsga - Speak for yourself...I hate Tennessee. Always have.Always will. No matter who's ever been coaching. In fact, UT is theonly team in the country that I truly despise.
Roll Tide

Posted by jarrekk on 10/21/08 at 5:40AM
re: Tenn, Ala. rivalry; wasn't it these games ( regardless of the home team) that "first" started these "record-breaking crowds?" How anyone could not know that Tn used to be (and still one of) our biggest rivalries is beyond me. I'm not even from here and I knew this.

Posted by tampabama66 on 10/21/08 at 6:55AM
TENN -v- BAMA is a big game and all the players know it. These teams played in the first nationally televised college football game in the early 70's. I think 1971.
Having said that, the game took on more significance in the late '60s because of D-Coordinator Coach Ken Donahue. He was a lineman at Tenn in the 50's with my cousin Charley Stokes while Jim Goosetree was a trainer at Tenn at the time. Coach Donahue went on to be Coach Bryant's D-Coordinator for over 20 years and Goostree was the head trainer at Bama for many years.
Coach Donahue and Goosetree did not want to lose to Tenn and they would talk about the significance of the game all week leading up to the game. I can hear him now, "Here come the Vols, they're coming after you Saturday, you better be ready". Coach Donahue brought the cigar tradiation to Alabama and he really pumped the rivalry up. In fact, if we won, Coach Donahue would do a little 'victory dance' in front of the whole team on Monday before afternoon practice. It was very out of character for him, so we all wanted to see that dance.
This game meant a lot to Coach Bryant, Coach Donahue and Goosetree and therefore, it was a big, big game for us as players too.
My favorite story is that in the Tenn game in 1981 our center Steve Mott got player of the game because NG Reggie White didn't make a tackle all day. The secret is that White didn't even play over Mott that day. He played over the guard because of their defensive alignment that day but because he didn't make a tackle all day, Mott got the award that should have gone to Doug Vickers.
I'm ready for the Vols! Let's put toe to leather. When we win Coach Donahue can do a little irish jig in heaven.

Posted by keith03582 on 10/21/08 at 7:25AM
Ah finally the 3 saturday in October, well the 4th this year but still its time for some serious football. This is the type of game where records dont matter, TN is only a 6 point underdog. Good thing we run the ball alot, that should make Berry a bit more useless and since our special teams is our weakest link, dont kick it to him. ROLL TIDE!!!!

Derelict of duty

I know, I know. I haven't talked much football around these parts lately. My sincerest apologies for that but please know that I most definitely have not forgotten about football. :) Anyway, I don't really have much to contribute since last week was a bye for Bama and well, I just don't have words for all the other *ahem* situations elsewhere in the SEC. But since pictures are worth a 1,000 words, here's one that I believe is entitled Elephants Stifling Laughs While Trying Not to Burst Appendices. It should be available online.

Okay, now to my thoughts on this weekend's game. The Crimson Nation is pumped... in a fight-or-flight kinda way so don't think the fans are overlooking this weekend's game. Most (including Plumberboy) have been fearful of this game with Ole Miss since last year's game in Oxford. First, UM is definitely seeking revenge for what they feel (but in actuality was not) an unjust ruling that ultimately ended last year's game. Second, they are now coached by Houston Nutt and he's about as wily and unpredictable as, well, Houston Nutt. And now that Bama has a big ole target on its back (rivaled only in size by Texas'), our team has to be prepared this week and every week like it's the Orange Bowl. I'm personally not that "worried" about this week. Saban's teams have a habit of performing very well coming off a bye week so I think they will be fully prepared. Now next week's game in Knoxville, that's a whole 'nother story! But being an honorary cap'n and all, I'll lead by example and only concentrate on this week for now. I'm just praying Plumberboy makes a speedy recovery from a nasty head cold before tomorrow or else I might need to have a little blog giveaway for his ticket. :)

Well, I guess it's back to work now on the homefront... where I have most definitely abandoned my post as of late. Happy Friday!

The plumbing IS the political! (UPDATED!)

If you watched the final Presidential debate last night any sort of political news at all in the past 24 hours then you know that "Joe the Plumber" is a political buzz phrase right now. You'd probably be surprised at how many political conversations Plumberboy actually has while he's on the job. Those plumbers sure can be a political bunch! I for one am just amused by all the similarities between Joe the Plumber and Plumberboy (except Plumberboy has hair.) Bizarre...

A couple of updates: First, Plumberboy definitely shares some similarities with Joe the Plumber. However, I need to clarify that Plumberboy most definitely pays his taxes, is not divorced, and is in fact a licensed plumber (a master plumber to boot... it's not often that I get to brag on him!) Now Plumberboy's name is NOT Joe but it appears that Joe the Plumber's first name ain't Joe either. Anyway, here's a super-interesting article about plumbers and I for one am glad to see them getting their dues (at least a little bit) considering they really do provide a vital service yet remain the butt of jokes. Har, har. Anyway, yay for plumbers!

I need help (Anyone? Anyone?)

Friday Night Lights is already two episodes into the new season (with episode 3 airing tonight... TONIGHT PEOPLE!) and I still have not found a way to watch it. Does anyone have DirecTV??? Has anyone found a bootleg site for the new episodes??? How about a verbatim episode guide to bide my time??? Lyla and Tim are back on and I'm not able to tune in....... AYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! Should I just wait patiently until the episodes re-air on NBC? Trick question. Because, seriously, AYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! I really do need help.

Because making a decision about an abortion really is as simple as Chinese or Italian?

Good gravy! I know I shouldn't be surprised at the ridiculous level of incompetence (and clinical insanity!) nearly every single celebrity exhibits on a daily basis... yet somehow I always am! Exhibit A and Exhibit B. Those are just two of the readily available examples that appeared on usmagazine.com yesterday. Why, OH WHY (somebody please tell me!), do we let these people dictate any sort of trend in our culture, let alone politics?!?!? I fear we as a nation--sooner or later-- will get exactly what we deserve.

As a dog returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

Proverbs 26:11

PS: Mr. Timberlake, if you really are this--shall we say--simple, then by all means do us a favor and keep it in the box. Signed, The Human Race

6 things you honestly don't care one thing about (nope, not even the slightest...)

Apparently I was "tagged" by Shannon a few weeks ago so now--for the sake of blogging etiquette-- I must list 6 things you probably do not know about me (but let's face it, I'm not going to divulge any deep, dark secrets here... C'MON!) In no particular order:

1. Despite a deep and abiding love for all things Crimson (except lipstick), I did not graduate from the Capstone and actually graduated from Auburn University Montgomery. For the record, that makes me a Senator and not a Tiger, a weagle, or anything remotely related to the bodygettas. However, I did manage to meet Mr. Plumberboy in Tuscaloosa and while we were both students at UA, neither of us ever graduated from there. And no, Alabama does not have a plumbing science department... he was an athletic training major. I was an American Studies major (which is really just a history degree but WAY cooler!)

2. Speaking of schooling, I always thought I wanted to be a vet until I actually worked at a vet clinic during high school. Then I decided to become a lawyer, because that's the next logical step, right? So I worked at a law office during high school too and that didn't dissuade me but two little lines on a pregnancy test did. Now I doubt I'll ever go to law school but I am the proud owner of three (3!) dogs and a fish. Lucky Mr. Plumberboy...

3. I do not eat fruit. Seriously, no fruit at all. Not watermelon, not apples, not strawberries. Nada. I love lemon juice but not lemons. Go figure.

4. I hate flying. Loathe it. Still, I've managed to travel to both Canada and Mexico. By the way, I'm probably the only person you'll ever find that hates cruising. Hate it. I'm a homebody (not to be confused with homeboy.)

5. I have only been to one real concert. I saw Lenny Kravitz at Oak Mountain Amphitheater. Blues Traveler was also there (can't really remember because that was a looong time ago but somebody please tell me Kravitz did NOT open for Blues Traveler... that would be all kinds of wrong.) One big reason I never went to any concerts is that almost everyone I respect musically is dead.

6. I'm allergic to anything and everything environmental. EVERYthing. I'm allergic to plants, animals (including my three dogs... I had hives for a week after bringing Sassy home), even myself. Oddly enough, I'm not allergic to any foods but Crabman is allergic to tree fruit. We are bizarre folk. Bonus factoid: My blood type is O-.

Sassy Update*:

She is getting bigger. LOTS bigger. She probably weighs about 25 pounds now. She also poops a lot. A LOT. Plus, I underestimated the ickiness of puppy poop. Sure, I knew big dogs made big poop but I forgot how squishy, smelly, and impossibly unscoopable puppy poop can be. I was 100% prepared to scoop poop but I am not quite sure how to handle our current situation. Hopefully eventually she'll be worth all the trouble. (Fingers crossed.) For now, she is just Lazy. And mouthy. She chews virtually everything but has a distinct taste for Webkinz. Yet another reason the boys are not so big on having a new dog. They have suggested many times that we "sell" her and Ricky Bobby has referred to her at least once as a "filthy beast." But I assure you Crabman is not scared of her. Annoyed by, but not scared of.

Addendum: If I told you that the dog's name is Palin Mae Sassafras of Calhoun County but I call her Miss Sassy If You Nasty, what would you think of? This? Mr. Plumberboy had no clue why I called her that and is not really even familiar with the song. Anyway, even I think it's a little off kilter to hear my 4-year-old call her Miss Sassy If You Nasty but it sure is cute... ("Sit, Miss Sassy If You Nasty." "No, no Miss Sassy If You Nasty." "Go to your room, Miss Sassy If You Nasty!") So I guess it's a nod to Janet Jackson but in all actuality, I think her name will always sounds a bit like this in my head.

*On a related note, I am very pale.

Back by... (aghast!) popular demand?

So, I know it's been a little slow here lately and my apologies to my one fan. You see, I just got the sweetest email from a friend of mine that was chock full of blogging encouragement. And to be honest, it couldn't have come at a better time. (So much so that it makes me wonder if my dear sister put her up to it since she has probably grown weary of my blogging complaints...) Regardless, that email was a much-needed shot in the arm propelling me back into the great blogosphere. It wasn't that I ever, ever blogged just for all the mad props I envisioned receiving (hey bloggers... don't we all?!?! We are, in fact, a needy bunch.) But I do have to admit that I have a hard time finding-- shall we say--motivation when it appears on the surface that my only readers are my parents and my sister plus my husband when he is sufficiently guilted. Because let's face it, it's easier to just pick up the phone and have a conversation with any one of those people than it is to compose my thoughts, spellcheck my thoughts, and then publish my thoughts out there where everyone in the English-speaking (ok, reading) world can critique them. Not that they do, mind you. But you know, they could if they so choose and that leaves me feeling a wee bit vulnerable. Believe me, I've come a long way in letting people read anything I've ever attached my name to. I even hated for my teachers to read it and then (gasp!) use their nifty red pen to junk it all up. But even that didn't bother me all that much because A) it was probably written at the breakfast table a mere hour before it was due and B) it was about the state of Pennsylvania or Edgar Allan Poe (not that there's anything wrong with that... it's just not near and dear to my heart.) So to actually discuss (ok, type) politics or--even riskier-- college football is quite a stretch for me. And if you were to sneak a peek at my daily to-do list, you would see that blogging just isn't and can't (hello tyranny of the urgent!) be near the top. That's why it has been mucho easier-o to just rant to my husband as of late than actually sit down at the ole desktop and pound out a post. And I'm sure that's why it's probably always easier for you, the reader, to just glance at my posts without leaving a comment or even so much as CLICKING TWO LITTLE, ITTY BITTY TIMES to vote in my latest poll (not bitter or anything) so I totally understand. But you'd be surprised at what a little "CHOMP" here and a "hi" there would do for a girl like me and her humble blog...

Another poll!

But this time it's not mine. It's a poll at PBS asking whether or not you think Sarah Palin is qualified. I got an email forward from my dad about it and decided to check it out just to see what all the hullabaloo was about. You can read all about it here and here. You can VOTE here. Just doin' my part to help a sistah out.

PS: Upon further research, it appears that I'm extremely out of the loop seeing as this whole thing erupted back in late September but eh, what can I say? I have a life.

"Intended to reflect the style of football that we play at LSU."

Go Gators! Gators Go!

PS: I recognize that this means I am in fact talking football but it's not Bama ball so it doesn't alienate some readers count, does it?

Nosedive

Stocks plummeting, people panicking... and I'm not even talking about football (for once!) Nope, not this week in honor of the bye week for my beloved Crimson Tide. In fact, it's a bye week here at Steph's Other Space. Busy, busy times. Ugh.

Alas, I couldn't see the Dow dips almost 700 points (again!) without making some sort of quasi-statement here. First of all, I'm glad I'm broke (relatively speaking anyway) as the fluctuations don't mean that much to you when you have so very little invested in the market anyway. But I know there are lots and lots out there whose stomachs are in knots as they watch the ole ticker everyday just to see their hard-earned pennies melt away. I have no good advice whatsoever (I mean, shifting all your assets into gold would have been genius a few weeks ago but that's too little, too late now!) so I thought I'd refer you to my favorite financial handbook to see what it says. Hang in there, folks! God watches o'er His own.

Jesus said "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21

We should all be so blessed...

Be sure you click here and watch the video as well as read the accompanying article. Good stuff... regardless of your football persuasions.



PS: Just to placate those of you whom the earlier poll may have offended, there's now a new poll. (I tried to add another voting option but it wouldn't let me since a grand total of 2 people had already voted.) Now you can let yourself be heard...rock the vote!