Instead, today, I just signed and mailed a letter declining $40,000/year to go to school to get my PhD. When I got ready to drop it in the mailbox, I had to call one of my friends who always gives witty perspectives so that I could laugh as I put it in the mail. Her response: "You don't want that money; it's New Jersey, it's mafia money, anyway." I chuckled, and dropped it and went on my way.

About two months ago, I struggled with the decision of what I would do, whether go to school in NJ and get my PhD in Urban Systems or possibly get a second Masters in Urban Planning somewhere else. This is all because of one event during the spring semester that put me behind. One class shattered the pathway to my PhD, and made it virtually impossible to make up over the summer. And by virtually impossible, I mean that it was possible, but I'd be so braindead that I'd not even want to begin studying in the fall for another program. I needed the summer to breathe, not study. And, it wasn't possible. So, I was left with a decision to make: PhD or less.

I told myself that I would wait until after my family vacation to decide. We went to Walt Disney World. In all truth, it only took one day with my family to decide what I wanted to do. As the week progressed, my decision was confirmed. As we returned home and tragedy struck our family, my decision again was confirmed. As I've continued to try to dig roots where I am now that I've decided to stay, there are so many ways that my decision has been confirmed, and I've not turned back. 

I may have been a tad nervous to drop that letter in the mail, but I never hesitated to sign my name and mark "I decline" on my response form. I'm completely confident in what will come forth in the upcoming days, months, and years, even though this decision is completely different from what I expected just a year ago. Yes, life is taking me a different route than what I planned, but isn't that sometimes the most fun part of the journey?

For now, I'm enjoying the scenery while not trying to break the bank, but also trying to see what options are available (which are often slim to none with my degree background, but plentiful with my skill set) for work. I'm thankful that I will be close to my family for a while, and I will continue to enjoy the travel, as I've got a list of places to see that is still growing. Mostly, I'm continually watching in expectation to see just how one decision can change my life.

I'd like to take a moment to tell you that I'm not happy. Not one bit. I'm practicing my right to voice my opinion… and I can do that, since I voted. And I voted for you, actually, since the thought of McCain saying "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" scared the bejeesus out of me. So, I won't lie, you weren't my first choice… mine conceded early in the primary. But, holy crap, right now? I'm really disillusioned.

You see, I'm a historian by nature. So, I look at things in the light of what has happened in the past. It's not always fair, but it's how I work. And in times of crisis, a president should jump to the aid of its people. The 2010 Gulf Oil spill, known as Deepwater Horizon, began on April 20, 2010. You still have yet to set foot near the Gulf of Mexico (and you won't until tomorrow). Instead, you did a flyover a little more than a week after. I'm calling you out. I'll be the first one to call other presidents' mistakes out, and right now, some of the worst legislative presidents in history are making you look like a chump. Our most recent president, George W. Bush, almost immediately after 9/11 was on rubble in New York City with a bullhorn rallying Americans, and just a few days after Katrina was in both Mississippi and Louisiana on the ground speaking with residents. [Of course, Vice President Cheney didn't help things when he told the world to eff off, but I digress.] Americans need a president to come to their aid and more than anything right now, Southerners needed YOU to have already visited and tell BP to step up their efforts to stop the spill.

You see, it's not an educated estimation, but I can't help but wonder if something would have been stopped sooner if you had stepped up sooner. Instead, now as oil plumes are reaching Mobile Bay, the South is in danger of losing pieces of the ecosystem, months (or years) of the fishing industry, and a hit in tourism which drastically affects our economy. The farther this goes, the worse it gets, and it will continue to get worse especially if a hurricane(s) comes through. 

Kudos to you sir, for standing up and taking responsibility today. This is now the largest oil spill in U.S. history, and will far surpass the Exxon Valdez spill. But, if this top kill doesn't work, what are your plans? Will you continue to let big business let states and their economies be devastated while they continue to rake in a profit, or for once, will the U.S. stand up for its own people and not let another travesty like Katrina blemish the government?

This may not be fair. But, you initially blamed BP; BP said they're not in charge, and then today you said it's your fault. Southerners are searching for answers as our region is beginning to suffer because of what has happened. The South is watching your actions, Mr. Obama, just as we watched Mr. Bush five years ago. So far, you've scored just as poorly and it's our governors who are looking like the superstars.

Civically yours,
VM

P.S. It's interesting to see how news outlets pulled apart the your oil spill presser… CNN chose to focus on the "Top Kill" project, while MSNBC looked at the administration response times of Deepwater Horizon versus Katrina and 9/11, and FOX attacked the Obama administration's delay in the Sestak allegations. And people don't think that their media is biased…

You said the following: "This is Alabama. We speak English. If you wanna live here, learn it." You know Mr. James, I don't mean disrespect [actually, yes, yes I do... just a little], but I've only met maybe a few hundred people in this state who speak proper English. So, I've decided that I like your plan… Of course, I don't mean to change the license tests. I mean to challenge every Alabamian to the test of speaking English. I teach in the Alabama public college system, and I read (and hear) the simplest of grammar rules broken every single day. In breaking these basic rules, it proves to me that Alabamians don't even know English, so how can we expect anyone else to follow the same example?
 
I've provided a guideline of specific rules that should be counted against citizens of the state should your policy go forth as you deem appropriate. My guess is that your preference to the original codification of the licensure tests in English would be a one-time deal, but I'm sure after reviewing the following list, you might choose to give Alabamians at least a three-strike chance before booting them to neighboring Mississippi.
 

Let it be known that under the future governor Tim James (if elected), English will be the official language on all legal forms in the State of Alabama. Under the "Alabama Speaks English. Live Here, Learn It" initiative, citizens must follow spoken guidelines, or be subject to consequences, as decided by the judiciary.

I.    Please know the difference between the following words, do not confuse their spellings, and know their proper usage, as each word carries separate connotations:

·      Accept / Except
·      Affect / Effect
·      Allusion / Illusion
·      Capital / Capitol
·      Elicit / Illicit
·      Emigrate / Immigrate
·      Principle / Principal
·      Than / Then
·      There / Their / They're
·      To / Too / Two
·      Your / You're
·      Lie / Lay
·      Set / Sit
·      Who / Which / That
 
II.    Also, just for clarification: The following phrases should also be corrected immediately in daily usage, as they are appropriate usages of the English language.

·      It is “supposed to” not “suppose to.” And also, it is “used to” and not “use to.”
·      There is no “s” at the end of “toward.”
·      The word “anyway” does not have an “s” at the end.
·      The proper phrasing is: “I couldn't care less.” If you could care less, then you care some, yes?
·      It’s a chest of drawers, not a chester drawers.
·      And it’s “for all intents and purposes,” and not “for intensive purposes.”

 
There you go, Tim James… You’ve unleashed a beast. Just be careful, because I’m watching everyone one of your campaign videos and speeches to see if you can practice what you preach.
 
ALABAMIANS FOR GOOD GRAMMAR!

Well, actually history is too. But, it's the NHL playoffs. So, I'm rolling with this theme for now…

I don't actually remember my first hockey game, but I know I was a kid. We had a team in Birmingham that was part of the ECHL. The Birmingham Bulls. They were "re-introduced" to the city, since we previously had a team with the WHA also named the Bulls. The ECHL Bulls came in 1992. As high schoolers, games became a group outing with our friends. And then I left high school and went off to college, where there was a bigger sport that demanded attention in the state of Alabama: football.

My years at the University of Alabama weren't my best academically, but I made some of the greatest friends, one of whom was a hockey fan and grew up in St. Louis (of course, Blues fan by trade). Whenever we went to our friends' apartment, hockey games were usually on, so I began to really learn the game. Our group of friends would go back to Birmingham Bulls games for fun (and I'd watch the game this time). When it was time for me to look for cities for an internship in 2001, I discovered two of my greatest opportunities were in Atlanta and St. Louis. Obviously as a proud Alabamian, I chose St. Louis. I drove up during spring break and visited and fell in love with the city. But, the best thing about my trip was the visit to the (then) Savvis Center, where I got to see the Blues take on the Chicago Blackhawks in an impressive victory, as well as the meanest slapshot in the league: Mr. Al MacInnis. It was then and there that I fell in love with hockey.

I continued to watch the Blues whenever I could. Sadly, 2001 was the last season for the Birmingham Bulls, who packed up and headed off to Atlantic City (then to Stockton, Calif. in 2005). The summer in St. Louis was glorious, but the fall back in Alabama meant more football. However, Nashville was close by, and so were the Blues whenever they were in town. I soon found out that Blues fans amassed into Nashville for those games and found myself at home… but also learned not to sit near section 303 (Cellblock 303) anytime that I was up there for a Blues game. I always felt like somehow someone in NHL scheduling loved me because the Blues and the Preds played around my birthday IN Nashville for several years. Destiny? Perhaps.

In the middle of all of this, I left UA. I worked for three years. The lockout happened during that time. I went back to school while I was working. I graduated from UAB and decided to visit Washington, D.C., and I fell in love. And actually, because I loved the city so much, I postponed going to graduate school, as I had already been accepted at UAB's history program. So in May 2006, I moved to Washington. I looked forward to the fall with the return of both football and hockey. For hockey, things weren't so great, even though the likes of Alex Ovechkin were in play, other components that the current team has were still yet to be determined. However, I did get to see the last year of the heinous black, blue and gold jerseys laid to rest. Attendance at the Verizon Center was sparse, but I remember the opening 2nd period video like it was yesterday: the song "Hysteria" by Muse. No matter how many losses though (and there were almost twice as many as wins), I stuck through the season, and claimed the team as my own, since Washington was my new home city.

…Except I moved back to finish my Master's degree in 2007. But I never left hockey. I kept my two teams: St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. However, while the Blues are my first love, and I'll never forget them, it's like the Capitals are the love that will never go away. I can't describe it. [One of my favorite players to ever wear the uniform was Matt Pettinger and now he's a call-up for the Canucks… go figure.] Back in my Master's program, I often got caught looking up scores and watching games during class (yep, totally guilty). Sadly in 2007, the Caps really shook up the team. And they had some great success, which continued into the 2008-09 season.

When I started my 2nd year of my Master's, my school had a major screwup, and I had to find a full-time job to pay for school. I literally looked for 3 months and applied for every job available, only to hear that I was overqualified over and over again. So, I did what every person who's ever worked in D.C. does: move back. So, I found a job in D.C. and moved back by the summer of 2008. It was perfect timing. I picked up tickets for the Caps and it was a great season. In fact, it was also a great season for Alabama football, who made it to the Sugar Bowl. Although when Alabama lost (embarrassingly) to Utah in the Sugar Bowl, the Caps gave me the bongo fight to remember instead. During the playoffs, when I never thought I needed more hockey in my life, a network of tweeps opened up into #caps108 and NHLTweetups in the D.C. area, where I met some of the greatest fellow Caps fans I've ever known. In the end of the season, the Caps lost out in the conference semifinals to the Penguins. And I was there to witness it. And I cried… a ton. But I also witnessed a forever long standing ovation for the team and their season during the last two minutes of the game and for minutes after as the Caps wrapped up game 7.

Yep, you guessed what happened, UAB did fix the screwup, actually just after I initially moved. So I waited until my lease was up and headed back to Birmingham in May 2009 (sadly, it looks like I move with hockey seasons, but it's purely coincidental). And I started the 2009-2010 season with Center Ice. This year, I traveled to several hockey games and visited new arenas and got to see the Caps twice, both were wins… the season road opener in Boston, and the other, which I cherish (OH SO MUCH) was the season series opener with the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

There's a point to all of this. While my life has sometimes been turned upside down (and believe me, this is the short version), hockey is a constant. No matter what, I can turn on a game (or go to a game), and I know that no matter what, it will be a competition, whether it's two high-ranked teams or two teams that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. It's a mental game, a physical game, a game of strategy, and a game of big hits, sweet goals, and amazing saves. I can watch any game and I know that I'll be able to see that. No matter what is going on in life, I know that hockey is constant.

And that team… clad in red, following a captain who people either consider to be either one of the most talented players to play the game or one of the dirtiest players in the league (depends, who are you asking?), that team is my extended family. When they score goals, I cheer. When they win a game, I dance. When they lose, yes, it is just a game, but I still mope. When they lose a series in the playoffs, I cry. A lot. And when a team member loses a loved one, I mourn. These guys on the ice, while they'll never know it, allow me the chance to escape from my abrupt life, and see something that I know will not change.

Watching this team has helped me through a really rough year. I expect that my team will be hated by others. But, I love this team, and I will love them no matter what decisions I think should be made or shouldn't. And I'll love them and stick with them if they have a terrible year. I am very proud of those fellas, and I will continue to be a proud Caps fan.

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"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." -Mark Twain 

It's right at times when I think that I have gotten the hang of my day-to-day life when I get a shocking bit of news to absolutely bamboozle me once again.

Just as I turned 30, with a new lease on life, you might say, I jump to Chicago, and I found out that a few days prior, one of my former students had been brutally murdered. What an incredibly young precious life was taken long before her time. She had so much to offer, and could turn the world upside down with her smile and optimism. 

Today, I'm about to embark on another trip, and I received a call that a friend, a colleague that helped lead several junior high weekends years ago at Camp Sumatanga and Camp Springville, died in a tragic accident. As I sit in the airport, I'm still in absolute shock. He would prank call me at work and lead me on and make me so frustrated, and then let out his boisterous laugh before his authentic pronoucement of my name that was completely his trademark. Yet again, another life gone long before his time, and someone who could change your life and make you think, make you smile, and make you want to prove to him that you could do better.

Of course, it's always selfish to think that people are taken before their time and to want them back to say everything you wanted, but we aren't allowed those moments all the time. But, it's in these glimpses of time when we do realize that we need to tell the people we love that we do love them… to embrace those who mean so much to us… We never know the next time we will see each person on our path. 

Live your life to the fullest. Love those around you with all your heart. You never know when you won't have the chance to do so. 

[crossposted on pickmyNHLteam.com on December 31, 2009]

The Washington Capitals… up until a few years ago, locals and people across the country paid little attention to this talented team on the ice. Now, they’re the most discussed team in Washington, D.C., and they get mentions during NFL coverage of Washington Redskins games. Right now, the Caps are the hottest team in the city, and one of the hottest teams in the NHL. And there are a few reasons why this team deserves the love it gets… (in no specific order, mostly)

The Horn Guy: Consider him our personal cheerleader. Throughout the games, you hear “bwah bwah bwah” and it signals an immediate “LET’S GO CAPS!” from the entire crowd. Even if you are watching the game from home, you can hear Horn Guy on the broadcast, always cheering on the Caps at every home game, without disappointment.

The Franchise: The Washington Capitals have retired four numbers, to honor Rod Langway, Yvon Labre, Mike Gartner, and Dale Hunter. The Caps even have four Hall of Famers: Mike Gartner (2001), Rod Langway (2002), Larry Murphy (2004), and Scott Stevens (2007). While there may not be a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals name on it, the team has claimed an Eastern Conference Championship in 1997-98, and Division Championships in 1988-89, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2007-08, and 2008-09. The Washington Capitals organization also works with the AHL Hershey Bears (2008-09 Calder Cup Winners) and the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays (2008-09 Kelly Cup Winners). The depth of players in the organization is unreal, and the talent keeps getting stronger. About 1/3 of the current Caps roster played in Hershey before moving up to NHL play. We believe in our organization, and have faith in our rosters, and our fans support our franchise teams.

The Leadership: Under the leadership of owner Ted Leonsis, who blogs, tweets, and even offers his email to fans (and yes, answers them too), the Capitals have seen amazing success in the past few years. Combined with the General Manager George McPhee who has an eye for talent and making the budget and an often teddy-bearish and snarky Head Coach Bruce Boudreau (who was in Slapshot, just saying), the Caps have been able to continually climb in standings year after year and clinch the Southeast Division, and progress into the post-season. They’ve also increased the depth of talent in the farm teams by spotting great talent in the draft. The management and ownership is open and honest with the fans and makes themselves available to questioning. But, what is the best part of the leadership? It’s gotta be Boudreau’s one-liners in pressers and appearances on local commercials, where his comedic genius that he never got to show in Slapshot really shines.

The Fans: Fans show up and pack out the Verizon Center to “rock the red.” It’s a sight to be seen. Our fans are from all walks of life, from the city to the suburbs, from working on Capitol Hill to protesting Capitol Hill. And since it’s D.C., the best signs and t-shirts show up, showing that fans have truly made Washington, D.C. into a hockey town. Whether it’s a no-diving sign for the Pens game, a sign endorsing Bruce Boudreau for president, or even the terrible jersey fouls that PuckDaddy loves to point out, Caps fans get creative when it comes to games, especially the teams that fans love to hate: the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the fans only lead into the next best part of being a Caps fan…

The Phonebooth: The Verizon Center, built by the late great Abe Pollin, is the most electric building in all of the NHL, and I’ve been to a few arenas (and even heard the National Anthem at the United Center). None of them compare. The energy in the Phonebooth is contagious. You’ll find yourself standing half of the game, hoarse after the game is over, and high-fiving and hugging your seatmates. (But sometimes, chances are, though, you’re a season ticket holder and you knew their names and phone numbers and they have called you before to see where you were and why you sold your tickets to whomever was in your seat one night.) In fact, last year, during the playoffs, NHL employee Mike DiLorenzo commented on Twitter during the Caps-Pens series during Game 5 in DC: "The top may come off this rink if the #caps brek [sic] thru. This is insane right now. #pens" It gets so loud in fact, you might as well just hit ignore on your phone, even during intermission, because there’s no point, you can’t hear anything on the other line.

The Wes Johnson: If you have to Google this guy, go ahead, and it’s worth every penny. Our arena announcer, Wes Johnson makes the games so incredibly exciting, and he’s a character during and after the games. The tone of his voice tells you exactly what you should know even if you don’t know what he’s saying. Wes Johnson, is in fact, the best arena announcer in all of the NHL. There’s nothing quite like hearing him announce a goal, and crediting it to various players. The Capitals would not be as exciting and as fun-filled without the voice of Wes Johnson.

The Location: The Washington Capitals are located in one of the greatest cities in the U.S.: Washington, D.C.! Outside of the Phonebooth are the country’s best museums and travel spots. Plus, whether you’re visiting or if you live in D.C., there is always something to do. The cultural aspects of the city are vast. From a plethora of food to music to the arts, even to sports, if you’re not at a hockey game, you’ve got plenty of things that can fill your time in the city. And, if that doesn’t excite you enough, you can always be on the lookout for the next spot the President will turn up, because he loves to dart in and out of the city.

Alexander the Gr8: Last, but not least, the Caps wouldn’t be the Caps without Ovi. As a Capitals fan, I learned one thing really fast, people love to hate the Washington Capitals, and specifically Alexander Ovechkin. Actually, they love to hate him because he’s so good. He’s the most talented player of the league, scoring like no other player, taking in NHL honors left and right, and one of the most physical players on the ice, and he’s a forward. He’s essentially the face of the NHL, whether Gary Bettman likes it or not, and people flock to see him play in other NHL towns. He’s a star, he’s passionate, and he’s an entertainer that brings fans to the game, regardless of Don Cherry’s distaste. Oh, and ESPN will actually give him coverage.

So, the fans of the Washington Capitals ROCK THE RED with pride, because we know, without a doubt, that our boys will consistently play great hockey and stick up for their team. But much more than that, the organization cares for the team and its fans enough to create an incredible hockey family. 

And just for good cheer, enjoy the "Caps Rap."

*All photos used in this post are my own, and cannot be used without permission.

Anyway, in the craziness that was December, I TOTALLY forgot to make all of my college football bowl picks. So, instead, I'll just post all of them for the games from here on out. Of course, I don't claim to be a pro. I always like to make guesses with friends and family on who will win and why. Feel free to argue… I enjoy the rivalry and competition. 

Picks (in bold) after the jump…

Outback Bowl (Tampa, Florida – 1/1, 11am EST)
Northwestern v. Auburn
Why? Well, this one was a toss up really… OK, not really. If you saw that Iron Bowl, you know that Auburn almost toppled Alabama from it's number 2 ranking at the time. While Auburn's conference ranking may not be that hot, it's in the West Division of the SEC, which is the most competitive, and five of its six teams snagged decent bowls. Northwestern can play ball in the Big Ten, but matched against the defense of the Tigers, and I think they'll fall flat.

Capital One Bowl (Orlanda, Florida – 1/1 1pm EST)
Penn State v. LSU
Why? I really feel like I can't pick a winner in this one. I know I'll be cheering on LSU because I'm an SEC fan girl when it comes to bowl season, and I hate Penn State. There are a few reasons I can't come to a conclusion on a pick: 1) I think PSU is completely overrated, and always has been (which is why I'm excited Alabama plays them next year), 2) LSU has suffered a plethora of injuries and continues to do so, which makes them vulnerable, and 3) when it comes to Les Miles, you really never know what you're gonna get… he can make things happen with 2 seconds on the board and win the game, and all of a sudden, you feel like you got gut-punched by your 80-year old arthritic Aunt Margaret and never saw it coming.

Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Florida – 1/1 1pm EST)
West Virginia v. Florida State
Why? Florida State is quickly running out of gas, and it was long time ago that Jimbo Fisher should have taken the reigns. Either way, they barely made bowl eligibility, and are a notable name that will pull in money. Also, while they may be a hometown favorite, West Virginia did damage in the Big East, and will most likely embarrass the home crowd in a spoiler.

Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California – 1/1 4:30pm EST)
Ohio State v. Oregon
Why? As much as I hate picking Ohio State, because some days I hate Tressel's sweater vests, I just don't see Oregon being able to match up to what OSU can bring to the table. Oregon plays in the Pac-10, which yes I'm a hater, I don't consider a competitive conference. It should be a good game, but I think the Buckeyes will take it because of their tenacity and the tradition behind their team playing in the Rose Bowl.

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana – 1/1 8:30 pm EST)
Cincinnati v. Florida
Why? Do you have to ask? Florida will tear Cincy to shreds for one reason and one reason alone: Urban Meyer's recent announcement to take an extended leave of absence. They'll play this one for the coach, which means that the Bearcats, whose coach also quickly departed for a shaky tenure at Notre Dame, will be wondering when the mercy rule goes into effect. Not only that? Florida fans will pack the house, since it's SEC local.

International Bowl (Toronto, Ontario – 1/2 12pm EST)
South Florida v. Northern Illinois
Why? Alabama has played Northern Illinois before and they are often underestimated, and I expect that USF will waltz into this game thinking the exact same thing… just as Alabama did when they almost were beaten a few years ago by NIU. Plus, NIU actually had a winning record in its conference… USF was 3-4 in the Big East (lame).

PapaJohns.com Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama – 1/2 2pm EST)
South Carolina v Connecticut
Why? Why not? South Carolina's defense alone will wipe UConn off the map. No, Garcia isn't the best quarterback… if he even IS a quarterback. But, the Gamecocks should take this game easily, especially under Spurrier's command. If he doesn't, consider him to call it quits and retire, as he'd be the laughing stock of the SEC to lose to a team that went 3-4 in the Big East. Plus, I'm going to this game, so I'd really like for the SEC to have a win in my presence!

Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas – 1/2 2pm EST)
Oklahoma State v. Ole Miss
Why? I know the Big 12 is so great according to ESPN, but so is the SEC. All 4 losses that Ole Miss suffered were to the SEC… OSU's weren't. Plus, in tight situations like this, I'm always going to side with the SEC team anyway. I know the news earlier this year about the KKK hooded guys showing up to protest the ending up the song "Dixie" are terrible, and I'm not a fan of what's going on… but for football's sake, I still say, Hotty Toddy!

Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee – 1/2 5:30pm EST)
Arkansas v. East Carolina
Why? I know East Carolina has a great Conference USA record, but it's CUSA. While I'm an alum of a CUSA school, Arky has to beat out SEC teams on a regular basis, and I've seen the arm of their sophomore quarterback, Ryan Mallett… he could be the SEC's next near-Tebow.

Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, Texas – 1/2 9pm EST)
Michigan State v. Texas Tech
Why? It's tough to call MSU on the game for this, but considering that TTU just fired Leach effective immediately under the circumstances, it will have an effect on the game, as assistants will be scrambling for the bowl game, and it will be chaotic. While MSU has a barely-bowl eligible record coming in, the frenzy of TTU might work in their favor. Still, could go either way… as Texas teams typically play big or go home.

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona – 1/4 8pm EST)
Boise State v. TCU
Why? Boise State, yes, you're undefeated. You intimidate with your blue field… You've got the WAC beat. But, TCU is coming out of TEXAS. And if there's anything a southern knows outside of the SEC is that Texas teams know how to play ball. Plus, who doesn't love the mascot Horned Frogs?!

Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida – 1/5 8pm EST)
Iowa v. Georgia Tech
Why? Georgia Tech did well in the ACC, which isn't a terrible conference. However, Iowa has stepped over a few hurdles to climb the rankings to get where they have and fight in the Big Ten, which in my opinion is usually stronger than the ACC.

GMAC Bowl (Mobile, Alabama – 1/6 7pm EST)
Central Michigan v. Troy
Why? I'm going with the hometown favorite in this one. Troy will draw a big home crowd since Mobile is only a few hours away, and they are a bigger threat than people give them credit. Just ask Florida why they couldn't score in the first quarter whey they played Troy.

EDIT (1/2/2010): Due to the poor picks that I have already made, I've removed my pick for the national championship game, because I am INSANELY superstitious. So, obviously, I am an Alabama fan. So, I'll pull a Herbstreit and act like I can't make a pick due to partiality, and I've deleted my pick. So sorry, but I can't even possibly chance the situation that my picks could jinx this game for my team. Yes, it's that serious. In the South, football is serious… it's sacred, and it's a second religion. 

Who knows… I might miserably fail. I might get a perfect record. Challenges?

Except, this December, I celebrated my 30th birthday. It was great. I loved it. It didn't change much. I actually would always accidentally tell people I was already 30, and then have to correct myself. Maybe I was preparing for it before? Who knows…

But, with the insanity of December also came the end of the semester for teaching and for grad school, which I fortunately aced, but not without some bit of exhaustion. After I finished each of those, I felt I was due a vacation, so I headed off to Chicago. I am due for a recap of my trip to Chicago, and I hope to do that in a few days, and include some pictures. 

Also, my resolution for 2010: be better at updating my blog… Ha! It actually does keep me on my toes about my writing. 

So… a short update since my last blog was in November, but the #EpicDec Chicago update will be here soon!