 |
Testing 1,2,3
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
I've moved!
This'll come as no surprise to my Facebook friends, but I have established a new blog over at wordpress to start a new year....
I invite you to check out Salmagundi Stew!
I invite you to check out Salmagundi Stew!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Just a thought.
Over the course of the last two days two stories have appeared regarding college football players cuttin' and runnin' early.
The first was Alabama's Andre Smith, and even if you believe that he was just stickin' his toe in the water to see if he'd get a good nibble, what he got instead was (rightfully) a bite in the nether regions from Coach Saban who wasted no time in exerting his determination to keep the program clean by yanking Smith out of the bowl game this weekend. This is a good thing. Smith is gone, for all intents and purposes.
And now I read where Auburn's Sen’Derrick Marks has announced his intention to enter the NFL draft a year shy of his own senior year. Hey, at least he gets props for doing that before calling an agent, or accepting a call from one.
Don't get me wrong -- in theory, I have no problem with an athlete weighing his options and (bring out the mini-violins) opting to go for the legit bucks while he's hot -- what I do have a big problem with is the fact that universities have invested bucks in these guys -- they've gotten a free ride to educational opportunities based on their talent.
If a player gets through his eligibility -- with or without a degree -- and has contributed to the program, all's even.
But when a player cuts out after a three year (or so) all-expenses paid (pretty much) training camp, doesn't he owe something back to the university?
I sure think so, and I think they ought to repay every dime the University "spent" on their tuition and whatever else they are legally able to do -- and that that money should go into the general scholarship fund to provide access to higher education for those who want desperately to attend college.
Otherwise, it's money down the toilet.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Post-Christmas Rehash
So, another Christmas under our belts, and this one definitely goes in the EXCELLENT category.
Like everybody else, I think, ours was scaled way back, and there was something lovely about that, actually. Others seem to be doing this, so here's my list o' things...
* Excellent cold weather walking apparel from Henry. (Now I just need the weather to match.)
* Excellent fuzzy slippers and fuzzy socks
* Excellent gift certificate to Moe's
* Excellent Pink Panther (the REAL one, with Peter Sellers) DVD.
* Excellent heavy trivet, suitable for argument ending
* Excellent Old Family recipes, hidden for generations (Sunshine Sauce, and Uncle Walter's Famous Cookies)
* Excellent addition to bank account
There was one other thing, which you'll see in a bit.
Oh, and here was the final tally -- I wrapped 578 gifts at the bookstore from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. I kept track this year, because every year at some point close to the last day of business Cheryl and I say to each other, "I wonder how many gifts we've wrapped?" There was a simple way to find out, so duh. We expect she wrapped about the same number. I'm hoping to carve out a little time in the next week or so to get a professional manicure, because said wrapping just does a number on the nails/hands. Not today, though -- too many little sore places that I want to not have to scream through maintenance for.
Without further ado, here's the Upchurch Family Christmas Video. Enjoy.
Like everybody else, I think, ours was scaled way back, and there was something lovely about that, actually. Others seem to be doing this, so here's my list o' things...
* Excellent cold weather walking apparel from Henry. (Now I just need the weather to match.)
* Excellent fuzzy slippers and fuzzy socks
* Excellent gift certificate to Moe's
* Excellent Pink Panther (the REAL one, with Peter Sellers) DVD.
* Excellent heavy trivet, suitable for argument ending
* Excellent Old Family recipes, hidden for generations (Sunshine Sauce, and Uncle Walter's Famous Cookies)
* Excellent addition to bank account
There was one other thing, which you'll see in a bit.
Oh, and here was the final tally -- I wrapped 578 gifts at the bookstore from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. I kept track this year, because every year at some point close to the last day of business Cheryl and I say to each other, "I wonder how many gifts we've wrapped?" There was a simple way to find out, so duh. We expect she wrapped about the same number. I'm hoping to carve out a little time in the next week or so to get a professional manicure, because said wrapping just does a number on the nails/hands. Not today, though -- too many little sore places that I want to not have to scream through maintenance for.
Without further ado, here's the Upchurch Family Christmas Video. Enjoy.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Just for Anne....
I laughed out loud when I got a plaintive little e-mail from a faithful reader of this blog to ask WHERE'S THE FOOTBALL POST????
So here we go.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
At the beginning of this season, every Bama fan I know was thinkin' we'd have an 8-4 year at least, and a 9 - 3 would be amazing. Well, here we sit at 12 - 0, and not a one of us isn't giddy and surprised.
We are sittin' at the top of every national poll -- by fairly wide margin -- and for those of us who just wanted Bama to end the regular season somewhere in the Top 15, this is gravy. Very, very nice gravy.
Some suggest (and make a valid argument) that we shouldn't be there, and on a reasonable day I understand those arguments, yet I always come back to this: all the other teams who sat at the top for a week or two got in a game somewhere along the way (and not always to "superior" teams) that found them off their feed, and they folded.
We bumbled through a couple like that ourselves -- but we found a way, a resolve, to WIN. There ya go.
Our victory over Auburn this past Saturday wasn't any big surprise, but since Auburn fans were jubilant when they beat a sub-par Bama team in the past I'm not turning down the volume on my glee.
Just in case you're wondering, my thoughts on the notorious "icing the kicker" play:
I don't like this rule. I think you ought to win a game on the field, and not in a rule book. That said, the rule exists and has been used by virtually every coach -- sometimes to their advantage, sometimes not. Every kicker knows this is a possibility, as does every kicking coach, and it is their job to prepare physically and mentally for it. It is not up to Nick Saban to preserve the delicate ego of a young player on an opposing team. One Auburn fan I know on Facebook got a little whiny about the poor fella, but give me a break. This isn't T-Ball, people.
And my thoughts on some noises that winning with a shut out -- by the widest margin in the history of the game -- was somehow tacky: What??? Was Alabama supposed to take a coffee break on defense just to help Auburn score? Were we supposed to perform a ballet midfield when we were in possession of the ball rather than PLAY THE GAME? Geez.
It would have been tackily aggressive had our first team stayed on the field the whole time, but that was not the case. Coach Saban gave us all a glimpse at the future of the team when he called on his second and third squads -- and it appears to be solid.
To my Auburn friends: we understand your pain. We've been there, we know what it's like to play a game where you can't buy a break. We have enjoyed the rivalry even when we've been on the short end of the stick, and what any true football wants when this game is over is the opportunity to exercise braggin' rights for a few days without worrying that fans of the other side are going to bill us for therapy to repair their bruised egos. Auburn fans have stuck those fingers up in the air for six years running -- when Bama made a habit of shooting themselves in the foot with stupid coaching choices, reeling from sanctions (that they deserved), and was in the process of trying to find a solution to our myriad problems.
So, guess what? It was our turn this past week. Deal.
As for what's ahead? I go back and forth over our chances in the SEC game this Saturday. There are a growing number of sportswriters who are beginning to think that we DO have a shot at this. What I want is for Alabama and Florida to have a good game that rivets the attention of the national press and college football fans everywhere, and winning would be nice.
But I already got more than I ever hoped for this season, and win or lose Saturday, and win or lose in whatever bowl game lies ahead -- this season was a keeper.
ROLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLLLLLLL!!!
So here we go.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
At the beginning of this season, every Bama fan I know was thinkin' we'd have an 8-4 year at least, and a 9 - 3 would be amazing. Well, here we sit at 12 - 0, and not a one of us isn't giddy and surprised.
We are sittin' at the top of every national poll -- by fairly wide margin -- and for those of us who just wanted Bama to end the regular season somewhere in the Top 15, this is gravy. Very, very nice gravy.
Some suggest (and make a valid argument) that we shouldn't be there, and on a reasonable day I understand those arguments, yet I always come back to this: all the other teams who sat at the top for a week or two got in a game somewhere along the way (and not always to "superior" teams) that found them off their feed, and they folded.
We bumbled through a couple like that ourselves -- but we found a way, a resolve, to WIN. There ya go.
Our victory over Auburn this past Saturday wasn't any big surprise, but since Auburn fans were jubilant when they beat a sub-par Bama team in the past I'm not turning down the volume on my glee.
Just in case you're wondering, my thoughts on the notorious "icing the kicker" play:
I don't like this rule. I think you ought to win a game on the field, and not in a rule book. That said, the rule exists and has been used by virtually every coach -- sometimes to their advantage, sometimes not. Every kicker knows this is a possibility, as does every kicking coach, and it is their job to prepare physically and mentally for it. It is not up to Nick Saban to preserve the delicate ego of a young player on an opposing team. One Auburn fan I know on Facebook got a little whiny about the poor fella, but give me a break. This isn't T-Ball, people.
And my thoughts on some noises that winning with a shut out -- by the widest margin in the history of the game -- was somehow tacky: What??? Was Alabama supposed to take a coffee break on defense just to help Auburn score? Were we supposed to perform a ballet midfield when we were in possession of the ball rather than PLAY THE GAME? Geez.
It would have been tackily aggressive had our first team stayed on the field the whole time, but that was not the case. Coach Saban gave us all a glimpse at the future of the team when he called on his second and third squads -- and it appears to be solid.
To my Auburn friends: we understand your pain. We've been there, we know what it's like to play a game where you can't buy a break. We have enjoyed the rivalry even when we've been on the short end of the stick, and what any true football wants when this game is over is the opportunity to exercise braggin' rights for a few days without worrying that fans of the other side are going to bill us for therapy to repair their bruised egos. Auburn fans have stuck those fingers up in the air for six years running -- when Bama made a habit of shooting themselves in the foot with stupid coaching choices, reeling from sanctions (that they deserved), and was in the process of trying to find a solution to our myriad problems.
So, guess what? It was our turn this past week. Deal.
As for what's ahead? I go back and forth over our chances in the SEC game this Saturday. There are a growing number of sportswriters who are beginning to think that we DO have a shot at this. What I want is for Alabama and Florida to have a good game that rivets the attention of the national press and college football fans everywhere, and winning would be nice.
But I already got more than I ever hoped for this season, and win or lose Saturday, and win or lose in whatever bowl game lies ahead -- this season was a keeper.
ROLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLLLLLLL!!!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Yes, I Did
I was an undecided voter, the one you may have read about on other blogs in terms that were, at the best, ungracious, and at worst, deeply wounding.
I was not undecided because there wasn't a vast difference -- I was undecided because neither candidate or political party comes close to being a comfortable fit for me. Like many other voters who may identify themselves with one party or another, I have never given up my inclination to deeply listen, to thoughtfully contemplate, or to do a gut-check at the last minute.
Some folks picked a side and stuck with it, and became fairly idiotic in their fervor -- and that goes for both sides. It was as if, once decided, all listening stopped except for the things that made taking swipes something of a national pasttime.
To my friends and family who supported Barack Obama: Wear this victory with grace, and become the change you have been desperately hoping for. I have admired your passion, if not always your expressions of it, and understand that there were those -- like me -- who stepped away from my party of choice not because we are leaving it, but because we want it restored in a way that can make us proud again. We voted with you because we wanted to send a message that the dog we had in this fight -- the beginning of a return to center -- was abandoned. I'm not celebrating with you so much as I am hoping that, in time, more right things will happen than wrong things.
To my friends and family who supported John McCain: I was deeply disappointed that the candidate I initially supported with a sense of excitement was hijacked, and my choice was not the sound of me turning my back on the party. I still proudly call myself a Republican, and I am hopeful that the message that was sent yesterday is that my party cannot ignore the center anymore.
I do hope that, in light of the apparent failure of Prop 8 in California, my Democrat friends will quit blaming every backwards-thinking legislation on the Republicans, and acknowledge finally that there is irony within your own party. It's every bit as ironic as this Republican's fervent anti-death penalty stance, and her support of the rights of all human beings to choose the partners of their heart with whom to share a life (and legal decisions), and to provide homes for otherwise unwanted children. Anyway, let's just put the "paid" to close-mindedness being the province of the Republican party, okay?
If you have not read John McCain's concession speech, now would be a good time. In it I sense his own personal regret for not sticking to his original ideals, but there is, in those words, a man whom I would have been proud to call President.
In a conversation with my father this morning, he said quite poignantly, that he's been on the losing side of many an election, and this was likely his last. As stringent as his support was for Senator McCain, he knows things change, and he's first and foremost an American who wishes no ill to any elected leader of this country, and he is hopeful that the country will recover from her deep wounds. It is his deepest fear that the security he constructed for his family might be eviscerated --along with love and grace, it's his legacy to us and no government should wind up the chief beneficiary of his hard work.
Anyway, that's all I have to say on the subject. I'm not dancing in the street, but I'm not cowering in a corner either.
I was not undecided because there wasn't a vast difference -- I was undecided because neither candidate or political party comes close to being a comfortable fit for me. Like many other voters who may identify themselves with one party or another, I have never given up my inclination to deeply listen, to thoughtfully contemplate, or to do a gut-check at the last minute.
Some folks picked a side and stuck with it, and became fairly idiotic in their fervor -- and that goes for both sides. It was as if, once decided, all listening stopped except for the things that made taking swipes something of a national pasttime.
To my friends and family who supported Barack Obama: Wear this victory with grace, and become the change you have been desperately hoping for. I have admired your passion, if not always your expressions of it, and understand that there were those -- like me -- who stepped away from my party of choice not because we are leaving it, but because we want it restored in a way that can make us proud again. We voted with you because we wanted to send a message that the dog we had in this fight -- the beginning of a return to center -- was abandoned. I'm not celebrating with you so much as I am hoping that, in time, more right things will happen than wrong things.
To my friends and family who supported John McCain: I was deeply disappointed that the candidate I initially supported with a sense of excitement was hijacked, and my choice was not the sound of me turning my back on the party. I still proudly call myself a Republican, and I am hopeful that the message that was sent yesterday is that my party cannot ignore the center anymore.
I do hope that, in light of the apparent failure of Prop 8 in California, my Democrat friends will quit blaming every backwards-thinking legislation on the Republicans, and acknowledge finally that there is irony within your own party. It's every bit as ironic as this Republican's fervent anti-death penalty stance, and her support of the rights of all human beings to choose the partners of their heart with whom to share a life (and legal decisions), and to provide homes for otherwise unwanted children. Anyway, let's just put the "paid" to close-mindedness being the province of the Republican party, okay?
If you have not read John McCain's concession speech, now would be a good time. In it I sense his own personal regret for not sticking to his original ideals, but there is, in those words, a man whom I would have been proud to call President.
In a conversation with my father this morning, he said quite poignantly, that he's been on the losing side of many an election, and this was likely his last. As stringent as his support was for Senator McCain, he knows things change, and he's first and foremost an American who wishes no ill to any elected leader of this country, and he is hopeful that the country will recover from her deep wounds. It is his deepest fear that the security he constructed for his family might be eviscerated --along with love and grace, it's his legacy to us and no government should wind up the chief beneficiary of his hard work.
Anyway, that's all I have to say on the subject. I'm not dancing in the street, but I'm not cowering in a corner either.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Quick Takes
How many times can a person apologize for not staying more updated with their blog before people begin to roll their eyes?
Anyway.
Here are just some quick takes on stuff that's been on my mind lately.
Politics: Uninspired by either candidate, and beyond the point of exasperation with the "gotcha" style reporting of every inconsequential sniffle, this may well be the first time since I registered to vote in 1976 that I choose not to choose. The candidates have turned me off (or perhaps it's more accurate to say that the "machines" of the candidates have turned me off); enthusiasts from both sides have effectively made me nuts; and frankly, I don't think it makes a dime's worth of difference who wins anymore. Neither of them will accomplish a third of the good things they've promised, thanks to an entrenched Congress, so it's really hard to get all fired up over rhetoric. Heck, at this point I'd be more thrilled with a candidate who said, "I can't make you any promises. I can only try."
Religion: I am loving the Jesus in the Gospels Bible study we're doing every Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Dr. Jason Borders. It's been an interesting observation of mine that when Henry and I don't sit together, Henry really participates more in the class, and it's very neat to sit across the room from him and listen to the stuff he comes up with. Last night he and Jason got off on a discussion of Gnosticism, and it was incredibly interesting.
Parents: My mother has now lost just over 50 pounds, and it's been amazing to see the transformation in her. She wore a new outfit to church yesterday -- and it was like she'd lost another 20 pounds because it FIT HER. She was out weeding in her yard yesterday afternoon, according to my sister-in-law, and I'm pretty sure she hasn't been able to do that for probably 15 years. My father continues his occasional, rather dramatic moments of downsliding. Yesterday he was introducing himself to someone with whom I was speaking, and said, "I'm Eleanor's .......... well, I know Eleanor." Whether he was tired, just lost the word "father," or honestly just couldn't remember, I don't know -- and it could, of course, be an effect of the brain tumor. Really anxious for the re-scan to see what we're dealing with, but that is still a few months away. And here's an interesting GUY thing -- he is very quick to take my arm to help him walk, and holds on to me like he's holding on for dear life, but he will not let Henry help him. I have to think that it feels "weaker" to him to have to depend on another man for help. Anyway, he retains his sense of humor, still enjoys the football games on Saturdays, and most of the time is an older, slower, crankier version of his old self.
Financial Meltdown: Plenty of blame to go around here (politicians who thought it would be an excellent idea to create shortcuts to the achievement of the American Dream; lenders greedy to obscenely capitalize on the above mentioned; and borrowers who got stars in their eyes from the rocks in their heads.)
Particular Frustrations of the past couple weeks: Half-assed commitments. #2 in the polls (Hello?? Bama has beat 2 top ten ranked teams -- Texas???? One. This does not a leapfrog justify.) Failing to hit the 12 mile mark on my walk Saturday. Icepick headaches.
Best Moments of the past couple weeks: Cooler temps. Working out at Y's Up with my best husband and cutest son. An "all-clear" report from my sister's second breast biopsy.
So. There ya go.
Anyway.
Here are just some quick takes on stuff that's been on my mind lately.
Politics: Uninspired by either candidate, and beyond the point of exasperation with the "gotcha" style reporting of every inconsequential sniffle, this may well be the first time since I registered to vote in 1976 that I choose not to choose. The candidates have turned me off (or perhaps it's more accurate to say that the "machines" of the candidates have turned me off); enthusiasts from both sides have effectively made me nuts; and frankly, I don't think it makes a dime's worth of difference who wins anymore. Neither of them will accomplish a third of the good things they've promised, thanks to an entrenched Congress, so it's really hard to get all fired up over rhetoric. Heck, at this point I'd be more thrilled with a candidate who said, "I can't make you any promises. I can only try."
Religion: I am loving the Jesus in the Gospels Bible study we're doing every Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Dr. Jason Borders. It's been an interesting observation of mine that when Henry and I don't sit together, Henry really participates more in the class, and it's very neat to sit across the room from him and listen to the stuff he comes up with. Last night he and Jason got off on a discussion of Gnosticism, and it was incredibly interesting.
Parents: My mother has now lost just over 50 pounds, and it's been amazing to see the transformation in her. She wore a new outfit to church yesterday -- and it was like she'd lost another 20 pounds because it FIT HER. She was out weeding in her yard yesterday afternoon, according to my sister-in-law, and I'm pretty sure she hasn't been able to do that for probably 15 years. My father continues his occasional, rather dramatic moments of downsliding. Yesterday he was introducing himself to someone with whom I was speaking, and said, "I'm Eleanor's .......... well, I know Eleanor." Whether he was tired, just lost the word "father," or honestly just couldn't remember, I don't know -- and it could, of course, be an effect of the brain tumor. Really anxious for the re-scan to see what we're dealing with, but that is still a few months away. And here's an interesting GUY thing -- he is very quick to take my arm to help him walk, and holds on to me like he's holding on for dear life, but he will not let Henry help him. I have to think that it feels "weaker" to him to have to depend on another man for help. Anyway, he retains his sense of humor, still enjoys the football games on Saturdays, and most of the time is an older, slower, crankier version of his old self.
Financial Meltdown: Plenty of blame to go around here (politicians who thought it would be an excellent idea to create shortcuts to the achievement of the American Dream; lenders greedy to obscenely capitalize on the above mentioned; and borrowers who got stars in their eyes from the rocks in their heads.)
Particular Frustrations of the past couple weeks: Half-assed commitments. #2 in the polls (Hello?? Bama has beat 2 top ten ranked teams -- Texas???? One. This does not a leapfrog justify.) Failing to hit the 12 mile mark on my walk Saturday. Icepick headaches.
Best Moments of the past couple weeks: Cooler temps. Working out at Y's Up with my best husband and cutest son. An "all-clear" report from my sister's second breast biopsy.
So. There ya go.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
