Yes, I do realize that it was a sad and completely empty September. But, you know what, I think you'll get over it. I really have nothing of substance to tell you… with the exception of a few points that may or may not be offensive to some.

1. Alabama won their season opener against Clemson, and completely melted the minds of all sports commentators alive… then, 'Bama was ranked. Hallelujah!

2. Alabama won Tulane and Western Kentucky, both out of conference teams, with ease, making us a wonderful 3-0.

3. 'Bama rulled over the Hogs of Arkansas in the SEC opener with a BIG win AT Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, AR. It was a lovely beginning to a wonderful year. 'Bama 4-0.

4. Well, 'Bama answered to UGA's Blackout with a Whiteout of our own, and let the 'Dawgs wear black to their own funeral, as we buried the 'Dawgs 41-30 (the score does not actually resemble the game) between the hedges IN ATHENS! AND we broke the GameDay Curse, as Lee Corso PICKED Alabama when GameDay was in town. It was a lovely day, and 'Bama cruises to 5-0.

Now, the University of Alabama rises to #2 in the AP polls, and we take on an undefeated Kentucky this week, and we have an off-week next week, and then we take on Ole Miss (who knocked off Florida last week). It has been a joyous year this year in SEC football.

So, other than work, which has bogged me down like no other, at least I have a few hours on Saturday to escape and live vicariously through football and scream my lungs out and enjoy the wonderful bliss of vicious hits, sacks, and blocks that is none other than SEC football. S-E-C! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

I got an email from CareerBuilder.com a few days ago (I can't figure out how to get off the list… I've tried like 15 times! ahhh!). However, I struck gold with the following article that came through this past week. It listed ten of the wackiest excuses that people had used for work. Ready? Here they are:

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
2. Someone stole all my daffodils.
3. I had to go audition for American Idol.
4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.
5. My route to work was shut down by a presidential motorcade.
6. I have transient amnesia and couldn't remember my job.
7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
8. The line was too long at Starbucks.
9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
10. I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawnshops were closed.

Seriously… If you live in Washington, D.C., you could have used half of these. I've personally been late for something because of excuse 5. It wasn't a presidential motorcade, but it was a vice-presidential motorcade. When I was at my first job in D.C., I was on the route that the VP took from the Senate to his home at the Naval Observatory down K Street. And while there are 15,000 (or it seems) Starbucks in D.C., there is ALWAYS a line (which is why I just always said no to $5 coffee, and just took my own soda from home).

And if you had to go to court, you might really need to get your gun back from the police. I mean, hello, the Supreme Court just gave D.C. it's right back to handguns. There might be a lot more people calling in late to work now…

I've decided that it would really be a great thing if we could choose our states of residence based on the governor of the state and whether we like him/her or not. I mean, I know that makes things much more complex and probably requires the implementation of term extensions, blah, blah, blah. But, humor me.

I was watching 'Meet the Press' today. First of all, it's just strange… Tim Russert is gone, and it's just not the same. However, I will say that Tom Brokaw is asking tough questions. But, I've gotten off my point. Today, it was based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the Western Governors Association recently held their annual meeting. Brokaw had two democratic governors on the show, and questioned them about Obama's candidacy for President. On board were Gov. Dave Freudenthal (WY) and Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr. (CO). During the show, I decided that I really, really liked Gov. Ritter. No offense Freudenthal. I mean, you said that you sort of liked McCain. But, Ritter, you're cool, man. So cool.

After watching the show, I'd like to share my current list of states that I'd like to live in based on governors currently in office:

1. Maryland: Gov. Martin O'Malley – He has a band, good looks, and some great political moves. And, he's moving Maryland in great ways. I'm impressed. Plus, I lived there before, and I'm homesick like crazy, and I want to come back. Will you stay in office until I get there and then stay a little longer? OK, thanks.
2. New Mexico: Bill Richardson – He was my first pick for President when the contest first heated up before he dropped out of the race, and he's still my hope for Obama's VP. And, I think he's such a fantastic and experienced public figure. 
3. Colorado: Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr. – While he may have the highest evangelical haven in Colorado Springs, he's hosting the greenest Democratic convention in U.S. history, and he's very excited about his state. Plus, he's the first Colorado-born governor in something like 35 years. Go Ritter. If I liked the mountains, I'd be headed your way.
4. Alabama: Gov. Bob Riley – Strangely enough, as much as I have a love/hate relationship with Alabama and Birmingham, I really like Bob Riley, even though he wears cowboy boots with his suits. And even stranger… he's a friggin' republican! But, you know what? He's the best dad'gum governor that Alabama has had since James E. "Big Jim" Folsom, and has brought so many jobs to the state. Sadly, this is his last term, but my only hope is that the guy who will follow him will be current U.S. Representative Artur Davis. 

It's probably sad that I've thought so much about this. But, wouldn't it be nice if we could make our decisions based on this instead of property values and schools and economics? The world would be such a simpler place.

OK… this story was absolutely too hilarious NOT to share. How could anyone be THIS out of touch in society, especially when you LIVE in Washington, D.C., the city of politics…

Who’s that man?: Obama asked for ID at gym
By Kris Kitto Posted: 06/27/08 02:13 PM [ET]

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) may have one of the best-known faces in the world, but that doesn’t mean he is recognized everywhere, even in Washington.

Washington Sports Club employee Takehia Wheeler was manning the front desk to scan members’ identification cards Friday morning when the presidential candidate walked in with his entourage. The gym opened a month ago in the Columbia Heights district.

“He came in and walked past me,” Wheeler told In The Know. “I was like, ‘Sir, you need to come back.’ ”

Wheeler said Obama looked familiar, but she didn’t recognize him. So she asked for his ID card.

“I said, ‘What’s your last name?’ He said ‘Obama,’ ” Wheeler explained. “I said, ‘So what’s your first name?”

Then she laughed because it was at that point that Wheeler realized who she was talking to. How did she make amends? By saying, “Sorry, Mr. Future President!”

She wasn’t alone in not recognizing Obama. Trainer Drew McNeil wasn’t sure either.

“I was training right next to him, and I was like, ‘That looks like Obama,’ ” he said.

Obama brought his security detail along. Gym staff said Obama stayed for 20 minutes.

They said he has a membership to the citywide gym network, with his home gym at the Gallery Place/Chinatown location.

 Wow… just wow. There are no words that can really… yeah. I'm done.

So, my friend Shope saw this the other day going down the interstate through Birmingham. While it's not her picture, she did find it, and I just had to share it, because it's hilarious.

Because, seriously, what the crap do you do if you're traveling and you wake up to this? Do you wonder if the person you're traveling with has just taken you to Oz or Wonderland? Or that you're still dreaming? This is just insanely weird. And as we were all talking about it, we couldn't figure out what or why, or how. There were so many questions, we felt that our brain would fry.

But, the biggest question is this: why on earth would anyone allow a giant head of themselves to be created? If this were me, someone would SOOOOO be fired.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court announced that the Second Amendment applies to Washington, D.C., concluding that residents of the district have the right to bear arms and to carry their own handguns. Tonight on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert's take was:

Woo! Finally, the residents of Washington, D.C. have the right to defend themselves… from each other, one can assume… This is great news for some, folks. This means CNN can bring back 'Crossfire' with actual crossfire.

Of course, it's not all fun and games everywhere. It is a little scary considering that we were always told that the courthouse planters were checked and cleaned out every month because people planted their guns and knives before going through the metal detectors and forgot exactly where they put them.

The WaPo suggests that it will only increase individual and gang violence. This is probably true… although, I must say the title, "The Thugs Win the Case," is quite offensive and harsh. Not everyone who owns or wants to own a handgun for protection is a thug. According to the Supreme Court, D.C. is accorded the same rights that every other state of the country has been given according to the Constitution by the Second Amendment. Withholding that right is unlawful, regardless of the author's opinion. And, as much as I hate to admit that it might allow more violence, the Second Amendment is still the Constitution. While I may not agree with it, it's still legal precedent. And if one state is allowed, they all should be deemed the same opportunity. Now that the handgun ban has been ruled unconstitutional, it is the district's responsibility to step up its police protection (which it should have been doing anyway) to reduce violence with handguns.

So, lately the buzz (and snickering) around Birmingham has been about Mayor Larry Langford's proposal to the City Council to present the City of Birmingham as a site for the 2020 Olympic Games. No, seriously… he really did. And this is exactly why we're all still laughing.

Apparently, he believes that since he's pushing for the dome stadium (that we are still unsure will be built… and why, too), and for an olympic-size pool (for what reason, might I ask?), Langford believes that we would be a perfect place. Besides, we held the soccer events for the 1996 Atlanta Games, so that makes us ready, right? I mean, since our air traffic is about to be possibly severely reduced, it makes complete sense…

What I love is that, according to Musings on Birmingham, Langford prefaced the proposal with: “This is not a game or a joke." Again, seriously??? If you have to say that, shouldn't you reconsider it altogether? If you know they're gonna laugh and giggle, you should know it's a bad idea. I mean, this is SO out in left field, it's not even funny.

Yes, Birmingham needs some good positive PR and something good for the economy, but having to put millions (probably billions) of dollars into building for the Olympic games when the city is already in debt in so many areas is SUCH a bad idea. And, if people are already upset with Beijing's pollution problem, I can't imagine what they will think about Birmingham's smog and ill-consideration for a greener city.

However, maybe I'm skeptical, because there are some like Musings and Andre over at the Terminal who think that a push like this could be good for Birmingham. I suppose it could be a good thing for Birmingham… I've just seen things continually flop that we thought were good ideas. See: Birmingham Fire, Birmingham Stallions, Birmingham Bulls, Alabama Slammers… and that's just the professional sports realm. The only things that work here in the state are college sports and racing. I could go on, but I don't have the time or the desire to be negative. I want to see Birmingham get out of its rut. I'm just not sure that the Olympics are the way to go.

Source: PhD Comics 

Oh, it's SOOOO true, in every aspect of studying versus life outside of school. It is a constant battle, one which I continually choose school, and lose out on life. And, that's exactly why I have no life at all… One day, I'll pay for it. But, oh the guilt of feeling horrible for not studying like I should. Why do they do this to you? It's absolute torture.

Well, things in Birmingham obviously aren't getting any better, as noted in several sources lately. Lately, Men's Health and the Boston Globe wrote a story on the greenest and the less green cities in the country. Birmingham, in a list of 100, made 96, and scored a big, fat "F." I'd say that is pretty consistent with the city, considering that most people don't attempt to carpool, use public transportation, and refuse to do anything but commute alone. Plus, God forbid you get behind a bus in the city, or your car will be filled with black exhaust when they hit the acceleration pedal. 

Because Birmingham is such a commuter city, and gas prices are so high, you rarely see things that happened this morning. A local radio station's morning host from 960 WERC, opted to ride her horse to work. While backing up traffic, she also decided to pick up her breakfast through Arby's drive-thru. You can check out pictures of the exciting parade through the streets of Birmingham here.

Seeing how "The Magic City" also loves its cars, it's also no surprise that the airport is also under risk of further suspensions and reductions in air service. Of course, that's not so great for people who live here. Not only will flights cost even more now, it will mean that every flight will continue to require connections in other city… most likely Atlanta: the city that Birmingham loves to hate. But, as the old adage says, "If I die and go to hell, I'll have to layover in Atlanta." It's so true, and it seems it will only remain so for as long as I will live, and generations beyond.