How Sweet It Is!

Back to back. Champions once again!!

BAMA WINS 42 - 14 over Notre Dame and seizes the crystal football to be the 2012 National Champions!!

After some of the atrocious comments and horrible T-shirt slogans being bandied about, Bama sent the leprechauns home in tears wondering where their magic went. I'm sure that the Fighting Irish didn't think they would be reduced to whimpering pups by the end of the game. Frankly, I'm sure they didn't think they would be in desperate straights by the end of the first quarter of play.

Alabama was just firing on all cylinders in a truly complete game. It was a sight to behold... again and again and again...

Although I know what it feels like to put all  your heart and soul on the line for a game, I also know what it is like to lose a game that means a lot to you and ride the bus home feeling sad that your chosen team was demoralized and defeated.

They had a good year and went undefeated in the regular season. But National Champions are not crowned in a regular season game. Nope. They are crowned in a game where everything from the whole season is shoved out onto the line like a desperate Vegas gambler betting it all on the chance to win the crystal football. Many try to get to that game, but only two teams from the ENTIRE D-1 make it.

Whining and crying won't get it done, son. You either have the wheels to make it, or not.

Bama, for one night, had the complete package, and the Irish were sent packing, lock, stock, leprechaun and barrel. They had NO answers and Bama prevailed.

It wasn't even close. Bama could have jammed more points on the board. They were, however, reminded that the second and third string players needed some game time for the experience it could provide them.

In the end, it didn't matter which squad was out there for Bama. The Million Dollar Band's groupies just might have scored on a lackluster Irish defense that seems to have just given up after the first half. That is NOT a slam to the band or their groupies,  just an acknowledgement that for this one night, it all seemed to be rolling Bama's way. If you were clad in crimson and white, you might snatch a bit of the glory. It's good to be for the Crimson Tide tonight!

Some players will leave for the NFL. Some will hang in for one last season and the opportunity at more glory and the brass ring that is actually shiny gold. Regardless of the joy we feel in the Bama Nation right now, we must temper it with the reality that next season's team will NOT be this one. Not by any stretch.

We can't rest on our laurels. We can't expect success without work.  Nick Saban said it best. This year's team owes nothing to next and next year's team cannot hope for any help from this year's run. They will begin their season 0 - 0.

Who knows what another season brings. Win, lose or draw, as Bear Bryant said "It's just a danged ol' football game!" But oh, how we love to win.

And win they did for the VERY FIRST TIME against Notre Dame.

Bama 42 - Notre Dame 14.

ROLL TIDE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

December 24th and the children who are steadfastly waiting on Santa Claus are counting the minutes until bedtime when Santa's sleigh arrives to dispense toys and goodies.

For observant Christians, the 24 of December takes on a reverent hue as the anticipatory night before the Savior of the World arrives to fulfill the prophetic mission for which He was ordained. A star, brilliant in its glorious light, appeared in the night sky. The way was shone by the star to the very place where the infant King lay.

Humble work-a-day shepherds heard of the birth first. Perhaps it is more than fitting that the news, angelic in delivery and message, came to some of the lowliest workers in the entire region. Shepherds, entrusted with the flock, guarding with their very lives the tiny lambs who needed so much care and who spent each night in the field with their sheep knowing them all by name.

Emblematic of the Savior who is indeed the Light of the World and the Good Shepherd of us all, these were no mere accidental coincidences of time. Rather, the message of Isaiah, of Zenos and of Zenock were fulfilled. The Messenger of the Covenant, the Bridegroom to be, He who's right it is to rule and reign in the fullness of time was coming into the world!

They heard the message and obeyed the invitation to come and worship at the rude stable. Shepherds keeping watch over their flock left the fields and came to worship the Shepherd who would keep watch over the flock of the Church. Those who had their eyes open and their heart prepared received the message that this day Salvation had come to the earth.

Wise men, not just kings with loot, but truly wise and prepared men, also saw that brilliant and foretold star. Setting out to cross the trackless wastes and barren desert from oasis to oasis until they reached the humble home of the young child, the Wise Men brought the temporal gifts that would be needed to sustain the mortal existence of the Christ-child. Only the gold, frankincense and myrrh were more than mere gifts. Each priceless even to this day, they represented the best that could be offered to royalty, for Divine Royalty this Christ-child was and is today.

Their journey was long and treacherous and I imagine it to have been difficult. Coming to know Christ is not an easy task and requires much sacrifice and labor. Those wise men had no modern conveyance to bring them and no easy way to arrive in Egypt where Joseph had fled with Mary and the  newborn Jesus to spare him from King Herod's evil and twisted edict.

Herod, ever zealous of his own power, also knew of the prophecies. He would not brook competition to his throne even though the literal Son of God was He who had been foretold. In his cruel and malicious mind, Herod thought if he copied the Pharoah's idea of simply killing all the male children that he could stay the very hand of God and thus retain his earthly power, influence and control.

But God knew ahead of time what was to come and how HIS plan was to unfold.

Prompting Joseph in a dream to take the baby Jesus and his mother and flee to Egypt, God thus preserved the infant King for all that was to come.

Though we focus at this time of year mainly on the birth of the Savior, the story is incomplete without a flash forward through His life and ministry to see the Son of Man who had willingly volunteered to be the sacrifice - the Lamb of God - who would Atone for our sins, suffer, bleed and die for them, then rise on the third day with healing in His wings to make us whole. The Atonement along with the suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Resurrection make possible our opportunity to return to the fold of God - to be lead by The Good Shepherd who protected us and gave His very life for us so that we could return to God one day and be welcome to enter into His kingdom and dwell with God and Christ.

The star that burned bright over Bethlehem that sacred night still burns brightly today. We can also approach and be welcomed into the fold of God and His Christ. Wise men and women still seek Him who is Christ and for those who seek, they shall find. Those who knock will have the very door of Heaven opened up to them.

May your Christmas be merry now and always.

Puppy sitting or sitting on puppies

We have in residence for a few days a rambunctious puppy named Alex.

He is a cute little furball who thinks that we are chew toys and personal servants.

Due to his visit, Gypsy is once again polishing up  her best teeth and offering up her finest holiday growls to this tiny interloper who thinks everything is his and  his alone. Gypsy is educating  him otherwise.

New to the world, this little dude has been treated like a furry sultan. Due to injury to his leg and pelvis, he was shunted away to the animal  hospital at the hands of Beth, who has ensured he received proper treatment for his injuries. Concern for his healing and care has prompted the miniscule mutt to be in residence at the Merrill Mutt Motel.

Alex is learning to do his potty chores outdoors. We've had a few accidents on the way to potty training, but that is normal with a puppy just like with a kid. The only difference is that generally there isn't a lot of additional laundry in the attempt until the mangy mutt pees on my slippers. Not cool, Alex, not cool at all!!

Alex has developed a taste (pun intended) for cooking shows on PBS. He cocks his head from side to side trying to discern what the various chefs are attempting to prepare. He sometimes barks at the screen. I believe this to be his way of saying "HEY!! Don't put booze on that steak!" I wholeheartedly share his sentiment.

Alex has also learned that the radio is not some sort of mutant life form. The first day or two, he wasn't too sure about that as he glared at the radio with a jaundiced eye, wary of where those tiny music producing Christmas violins might be hiding.  

The other night, we discovered he had left a "holiday gift" beneath Jared's bed. The aroma was sufficient to lead  us right to the unwrapped present. Alex  had the nerve to smile and laugh his puppy laugh about it.

While I have received some "interesting" gifts during the Christmas season, I can  honestly say this is the first time I wanted to give one back. Well played, Alex, well played.

I'm sure in his tiny evil puppy heart, he was planning on blaming the mess on Jared... or Gypsy. But wise to the ways of wicked pups, Gypsy quickly refused the blame and barked directly on Alex' head.

Out to the pen in the yard to finish emptying the "poop valve" which is apparently attached to a secretly enclose 10 gallon tank, you would have thought we were beating Alex with all the pitiful howling and barking he was doing. The neighbors even came over to see what the ruckus was. Bad dog!

Once they saw Prince Pig in the pen doing  his best "feel sorry for me" impression, they were as unmoved as we were. No one let him  out until his potty chores were complete - for the moment.

Gypsy has been pretty good shepherding Alex around. He now knows that the door out to the back yard is the "potty door". Easily navigating the steps up and down, he is able to go out without us having to carry him like a sack of spaghetti.

What is it about children and dogs??? You pick their formerly solid frame up to relieve the "potty dance" before disaster strikes (generally after a bit of trickling has begun!) and suddenly they are like a Ziplock of Jell-O that no longer  has either bones or the will to move on their own!!

The other day, as Gypsy had decided she had been patient enough with Alex chewing on her and barking and attacking her, she simply sat on him... and smiled. It was like "kid, you bother me". Hilarious! Reminded me of when Nana was guesting in our home and was learning the ropes from the old hand, er, uh, make that old paw.

Right now, the house is deceptively quiet.

Both hounds are sleeping.

It won't last.

Soon, the pizza guy will show up at the nursing home across the street and the revelry will begin. Gypsy HATES the pizza guy. His truck has an annoying whine that must hurt her ears. Plus, he never even offers her so much as a crust from the pizzas.

Then, when the barking starts, Alex will attempt to show you just how big and bad he is. Tiny mouth screwed up into the perfect little "O" he will bark and howl  his bad to the bone self into exhaustion.

Always funny to watch.

Back to the chores of the day. Best let sleeping dogs lie.  They won't be there long.

Depends on circumstances

While talking with my friend Sophie about the weird stuff that graces the shelves each holiday season, we got to the theater of the absurd moment.

She was at a store and some woman had on a shirt boldly emblazoned with the following "Sometimes I laugh so hard I have tears running down my leg!"   The implication is that one has managed to pee a bit while laughing and since that is a malady that affects a lot of folks, I can't imagine advertising it. However we all know that there are those kinds of persons who would advertise other bodily function if given less than half a chance.

Of course, if you worked for the Depends company, that might be considered a worthy slogan for product sales. They could give away free t-shirts with every few packs purchased.


Since the folks at Depends have come out with their recent line of colored and patterned briefs for incontinence to make people feel less conspicuous by wearing something that is alleged to be fashionable, I'm quite sure other innovations are coming.

For years, they've had a 'wetness indicator' to help caregivers assist those less able to be freshened up. But what if you are able-bodied, just not always sure if you've "gone" or not? You can't exactly walk around unzipping to see if the color change stripe is blue. People would notice. And if you duck into the bathroom a gazillion times to check for undue moisture, those Depends can and will rip to shreds leaving you pants-less.

The answer is an auditory alert! No ordinary alert however. Mere beeping or buzzing would be embarrassing. After all, this is a technological age and we can do better.

From the second you start to go, a seasonal medley will begin to play. The undies can be crafted to be seasonally relevant and thus play music accordingly. I'm sure no one would notice the music coming from your pants since a lot of people have mp3 songs for ringtones on their cell phones. They would just figure you for one of those clueless folks that doesn't remember to shut off their phone in social settings. You then have the perfect alibi for a quick change... "I've gotta take this..." you mumble absently and leave the room. Everyone would understand. Or at least they'd THINK they understand.

Just imagine - the spring floral print Depends can play "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" or "April Showers Bring May Flowers".

Christmas Depends could offer a selection of songs like "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow" or maybe a nice "Do You Hear What I Hear" for those moments of sound effects related embarrassment.

Halloween patterned undies could sing a time honored classic "Thriller". Anyone who saw the creepy music video from that song when it first came out surely had the pee scared out of them.

The ideas are virtually limitless. It could open up a whole new market. There could even be a sensor that would wirelessly connect to your personal mp3 player to run through your own chosen medley of songs that remind you when you gotta go... you could cue it to play the GO-GO's.

Or, for those who have things sneak up on them, it would play "Born to Run"...

Wonder if that idea would help with our rising generation of 'connected kids'. It could help them potty train.

And folks, you have just witnessed what happens when a mind becomes a terrible thing that went to waste.

Happy trails.