Goodbye 2012

It's the first weekend of the new year, and spirits are high!  Everyone's (more than likely) coming off a short work week, there's tons of meaningful football on TV, and diets don't start 'til Monday.  Roll Tide!* 

"2013 is going to be MY YEAR!"  I've probably said this 50 times in the past week.  And I've meant it.  Passionately.  And believe it.  Whole-heartedly.  

But the more excited I get about the possibilities 2013 has to offer, the more I think back on 2012 and wonder why I am so adamant that it WASN'T my year.  Granted,  I did not accomplish a single item from this list, but, if I'm being completely honest with myself, half of those were probably unattainable anyway.  

The more I think back, the more I begin to realize that 2012 was kind to me.  Good things happened.  I had fun. 

I took this picture on opening day:   

Merry Christmas To All

Luke 2:2-14 (KJV)

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

'Tis the Season!

Best part of the holidays? Drinking holiday beer.  Best part of drinking holiday beer?  Southern Proper's tacky holiday sweater coozies.

Get "LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE" Here: http://www.southernproper.com/accessories/coozies.html

Bombay Bicycle Club

A&M- LSU

It is a big day in College Station.

If anyone tells you they knew the Aggies would be 5-1, 2-1 in SEC play, with their only loss coming to what is now the #2 team in the country, they are lying.  To your face.  The Aggies' offseason was one of change and rebuilding.  They fired a coach.  They hired a coach.  They had to find a replacement for a 1st round NFL quarterback.  Gave the job to an 18 year old kid named Johnny.  Oh, and they moved to the toughest football conference God ever made.

Excitement was high, but expectations were low.

But this season has been a pleasant surprise thus far.  A 5-1 start.  Good conference wins.  The emergence of Johnny Football.    

But now the Tigers come to town, and the cajuns can play.  They are the highest ranked one-loss team in the country, and they play big boy SEC defense.  It will be interesting to see how Johnny Football handles a defense as speedy as LSU's.

Are the Aggies really as good as they seem, or have victories over inferior and deflated teams created a false confidence.  We shall see.

All I know is that it is great to see the purple and gold come to Aggieland.

I could get used to this whole SEC thing.

Week 1

Carthage 38       Lindale 21

This game, on paper, had all the makings of a classic.  The Carthage Bulldogs are a bit of a dynasty, having won the 2008, 2009, and 2010 class 3A state championships.  The Lindale Eagles (my hometown) were coming off of a  31 - 14 shellacking of last years 3A state champs Chapel Hill.  The two teams played an extremely competitive game last season, with the Eagles coming out on top 31-21.

But they don't play the games on paper.

Week Zero

Van 41       Pine Tree 28

First Friday night game of the season, and for me,  it was a tough one.  Van, Tx.  A town for which I have felt nothing but utter disdain since Day 1, Kindergarten, Lindale Primary School.  A pointless, unfounded hatred, but a hatred nonetheless.  Blame it on geography.  According to Googlemaps, Van and Lindale are a mere 14.4 mile stretch of asphalt apart from one another, so, naturally, we hate each other’s guts.  Always have, (maybe) always will.

So granted, I had my trepidations when my Friday night cohort suggested we go see Van host the Pirates from Pine Tree for our first game of the season.  He, also of Lindaloneon descent, moved to Van about five years ago and has taken quite a liking to the town and its football program.  I, a grown man of 27, a man just one year away from the tenth anniversary of his high school graduation, felt I had matured enough to handle such a situation with class and dignity.  And I tried.  I really, really tried.