Update ready!

Update ready is something we say at work when we want to get information out in a quick fashion to the rest of the operating crew. I haven't blogged in a while, so here are some random thoughts from the last few months or so.....

UCLA beats Tennessee....are you kidding me?
Wyoming beats Tennessee....that dull thud you just heard was my program hitting the ground.
Auburn beats Tennessee...c'mon, they fired their offensive coordinator AFTER beating us!
Tennessee beats Vanderbilt...God is sovereign.

Barack Obama whomps John McCain in the electoral college...congratulations Mr. President-elect, I sincerely wish you the best, as I am an American first, and a Republican second.
Ahem...liberal friends, please read my above statement...it's called losing with class, and I hope you will practice it when the tables turn next time.

Federal bailout....my congressman is fortunate that he voted NO twice on the bailout, or we would have thrown him out on his rear.
Republican party 2000-2008...what is wrong with you guys? Go home and don't come back. You're not welcome for hijacking my party the last 8 years.
President Bush...excellent job on the war on terror. On domestic issues, why did it take you 6 years to find your veto pen? Thanks again for the last two election cycles Mr. President and Republicans in congress.
Republican party...if you guys don't pull your head out, I will register as an independent. Don't even THINK about nominating Giuliani in 2012.

2008 sports:
Seattle Mariners-the first $100 million team to lose 100 games
Seattle Seahawks-I thought Holmgren came back this year to win the big one
Tennessee Volunteers-you have broken my heart, luckily spring practice is coming
Seattle Supersonics-thanks for leaving....my kids are becoming Lakers fans now...seriously, this is a family tragedy.
Washington Huskies-you guys are so awful colleges might recruit some of your players thinking you were a high school squad
Washington State Cougars-don't laugh at the Huskies...besides them you beat mighty Portland State.

So much for the rants. School is in full swing, and I'm very happy with the boys and their school. Seriously, the tuition is the best money I spend all month. We have family coming to town for Thanksgiving, the more the better, hoping to have a houseful.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

More flag football

It's sad but true, but these kids have more offensive talent than my Tennessee Vols! If we don't pull something out against Georgia or Bama I think I'm going to need to take a leave of absence from work until football season is over!

Football!

This blog is not about my disappointing Tennessee Volunteers, who didn't show up and gave the PAC-TEN officiating crew the opportunity to not call a penalty for a lineman downfield at the end of the 4th quarter. I'll forgive this one as soon as I forgive Don Denkinger for his blown call in game 6 of the 1985 world series, and as soon as I forgive Steve Spurrier for forsaking his heritage as a preacher's kid from Tennessee and turning to the dark side of the college football world.

This blog is about flag football starting for Gavin...check out the pics, he was tearing it up, and had a great time.


In this first pic, he's driving for the "sack"

Going after the ball carrier
He got the flag!
Reading the defense, watching his blockers...he scored a touchdown on this run!

Watch this...it'll make you a better American.

Just watch it, it'll make you smarter!

McCain Palin '08

Mariners lose again!

To celebrate the 9th anniversary of freedom day (The day I got out of the Navy) we decided to take another trip to Safeco to watch our beloved Mariners play the Cleveland Indians. We had pretty good seats out in right field, in "Area 51" to watch our favorite player, Ichiro.

To make a long story short:

• If you are a major league catcher, catch the ball!


• If you are a Billion dollar organization, why would you rob me?

That's right, by the third inning I had been robbed. Not by a vagrant or other urbanite, but by my beloved Seattle Mariners. The score was 9-1, and it was time to buy some food. There should be a rule that all food is free if we are down by 6 or more runs.

Anyways, the game did get a bit interesting, Vidro and Ibanez hit a couple of home runs to make the score 9-4 going into the bottom of the ninth. Brady told me that he wanted to see Ichiro bat again, and I told him that if Betancourt could get on base we would be able to see Ichiro one more time. Sure enough, with two outs in the ninth, Betancourt managed to get a hit, allowing Ichiro to come to bat one more time. It is at this point that Becca leaned over and said that it would be great if he would hit a home run before we left.

Next pitch: a shot by Ichiro to right center, right over the wall for a two run homer and a final score of 9-6.

The good news in all of this, after this season every baseball season will seem like the Mariners are doing great. Here are a couple more pictures from our trip.

Nevada, Day 2

Nevada, Day 1

Arizona, Day 2

Colorado Day 8, Arizona Day 1

Colorado, Day 7

Colorado, Day 6

Colorado, Day 5

Colorado Day 4

Colorado Day 3

Colorado, Day 2