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?