It's an historic occasion

In case you haven't heard -- and if you haven't, please, I'm begging you please, climb out from under the rock you've been hiding the last couple of weeks -- the New Orleans Saints are headed to the Super Bowl on Sunday. Let me rephrase that: the New Orleans frackin' Saints are going to win the Super Bowl on Sunday!

Honestly, I can't put into words what this means. I'm a Saints fan, have been as long as I can remember. I wouldn't classify myself in that diehard category. I mean, I didn't grow up in New Orleans. I haven't been around for all FORTY-THREE years of the franchise's existence. I've only been to a couple of games in the Superdome in my life, although for as long as I can remember, I've been watching the Saints play on Sunday afternoons. I'm a fan. But I'm not like some of my friends who openly weeped when the Saints knocked off the Vikings two Sundays ago in the NFC title game to advance to Miami for a date with hometown hero Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Still, it's a big moment in my life. Honestly, it's one I never thought would happen. Ever. I went 19 years on this earth before the Saints won a playoff game, when they knocked off the St. Louis Rams in 2001. I was 24 years old before the Saints ever really threatened to make a Super Bowl. I'll never forget the day that Reggie Bush looked back at Brian Urlacher and taunted him on his way to a touchdown in the 2006 NFC title game. At that moment, I knew -- JUST KNEW -- that we were going to lose. Reggie ... you don't piss off Urlacher!

After a couple of frustrating 8-8 seasons missing the playoffs, this year was the year. The 13-0 start. Followed by the 0-3 slump. That brought back all of the questions of whether these were just the Same Ole Saints. If you're honest with yourself, you had doubts. They looked awful. It wasn't the same team we'd followed all year. I don't even think limping into the finish is the right phrase to describe it. It was downright painful to watch. But perhaps Sean Payton knew what he was doing. The team looked DOMINANT against Arizona, then seemed like a team of destiny, somehow defeating the Vikings in the Superdome.

Honestly, if you had asked me what would happen first -- my alma mater, Louisiana Tech, winning a national title in football or men's basketball, or the Saints going to Super Bowl -- I'd have placed my money on the Bulldogs. Honestly. No, seriously, I'm not joking. Call me a disbeliever all you want. I prefer to be called truthful. I knew the Saints had some weapons. Drew Brees is as good of a QB as almost anyone in the league. The backfield combo of Bush/Thomas/Bell is very dangerous. And Brees has so many weapons to throw to, especially when Jeremy Shockey is healthy. The offense never was the question. It was the defense that had been holding the Saints back. Gregg Williams simply has done an amazing job resurrected a pitiful defense, and that side of the ball has been the catalyst to get us to this point.

Unlike a good buddy of mine from work, I'm not satisfied. He said making the Super Bowl is enough. I disagree. I want to win! Peyton Manning is the best of the best, but you don't get to the big game and not expect to win. And you don't get to the big game and not expect to not be coming back every year. The victory over the Vikings has completely changed the expectations for Saints fans. The '06 trip to the NFC title game made Saints fans expect playoff berths, but this trip to the Super Bowl will make us expect Super Bowl trips. And win or lose -- and winning is the only option -- we're going to expect to be back in the big game again and again.

It's not just the Super Bowl on Sunday that's going to be historic this weekend. On Friday, I will make my officiating debut in varsity action. I can't express how excited I am. I've put in a lot of work in my first year officiating, working junior high games and freshman games and a couple of junior varsity games, working at my craft to improve, all in the hopes that it will pay off into a varsity assignment. The season is almost over. The girls playoffs begin after next week, with the boys following the week after that. There's no chance I will get any playoff assignments, but I was hoping beyond hope for the opportunity to call one varsity game. I've put in the work, have improved noticeably, and have continued to have older officials tell me how advanced I am for a first-year official and that I'm going to be pretty good at this gig down the road. Now I've got the opportunity to call a varsity game, and I hope I can make enough of an impression that next year it's an every week occurrence.

Ask and ye shall receive

Apparently, Ryley has asked for her own blog post. At least, that's what Elizabeth says. And, well, since I'm here to serve, she will get it.

It hasn't even been two weeks yet, but she's already part of the family. Elizabeth and I were out and about on a Saturday afternoon (a day I thought I would be officiating, but I didn't have a gig) when I got in the mood to look at some dogs. There's a group of people who sell puppies near the Sam's Club in Alexandria, so we headed that way. We looked, but the selection wasn't great. The dogs weren't that group, especially when the owners started mentioning prices like $275, $350, $500! What the heazy?!?

After leaving there, we went across the street to PetSmart, which usually works with one of the area shelters to put animals up for adoption. Now there were a few cuties here, including this long-haired terrier mix that was the sweetest little thing. She absolutely stole Elizabeth's heart, and since she was only 80 bucks, we said what the heck! We weren't looking to add a second puppy until like Christmas, but you know, like the Cialis commercial says, you just need to be ready when the right moment happens.

Honestly, I've wanted to get a second dog for quite some time. I just always felt bad leaving Sandy alone in the house. Well, now she has a little sister. She's not a puppy, per se. Best we can tell -- the humane society didn't have much of a back story on her -- she's about 14 months old, only a few months younger than Sandy. We missed all of the puppy stages, and I swear she had to have been trained, because it didn't take her long to understand the doggy door, and she hasn't messed in the house!

It's been an interesting adventure. Sandy still doesn't understand this little pest that has invaded her room, stolen her bed and continues to play with her toys. Ryley, meanwhile, has just made herself at home, like she's been around since the day we got Sandy! They truly act like sisters, playing together one minute and then barking/growling at each other the next. Sandy likes to bully her little sister (and little is the appropriate word, as Sandy is about 50 pounds and Ryley is about 12!). True story: I'll give them each a piece of rawhide to chew on. Sandy drops her, goes and steals Ryley's right out of her mouth. Doesn't bother Ryley, as she goes and picks up the one Sandy drops. Then Sandy does it again. It's a never-ending cycle. Sandy wants what Ryley has!

It hasn't taken Ryley long to learn how to defend herself, though. Especially when food and treats are involved. Ryley will growl, show her teeth and snap at Sandy when she comes over to take something from Ryley. She's also learned to shield the object of her desires with her body so that Sandy can't just snatch it out of her mouth. Seriously, Elizabeth says she's got an evil side. It certainly looks that way when she bares her teeth, but I think she's just learned quickly how to survive having a bully of an older sister.

It's still early -- like I said, it hasn't even been two weeks yet -- but it's been a fun experience. She's such a cute little furball, and she's so soft. And her personality is the opposite of Sandy's for the most part. Sandy is very independent and isn't exactly a lap dog. She loves to play but doesn't want to be touched or petted much (except to be scratched on her chest, over and over and over again). Ryley, meanwhile, loves to be touched. She'll curl up with you, and she loves to roll on her back and have her belly rubbed.

The girls are still learning how to interact with one another and share things, which is certainly natural, considering Sandy spent more than a year without another dog around. I think we're making progress, but Ryley's such a natural. Despite her protective instincts, she's a sweet, loving, gentle little animal that I am so glad is a part of our family!

Going to the 'Big D' ...

For the past couple of years, I've gotten into an almost weekly bonding exercise with my in-laws. Every Sunday evening (except for the six months that I was stuck in Texas purgatory) E-beth and I cross the river to have supper at her parents and watch the PBR.

(Note: Those of you who know me -- and if you're reading this blog, then you obviously know me -- can testify that I am not a cowboy. I am not a bullrider. It's safe to say that I wouldn't exactly fit in very well behind the scenes of the Professional Bull Riders tour.)

My in-laws have been following the PBR for quite a few years, and I don't remember when exactly, but I casually began watching it with them on Sunday nights. Those casual viewings eventually turned to something more than casual. Don't get me wrong: I am by no means a fanatic, and I can certainly survive without the PBR. But I have come to enjoy it, honestly.

Like many other sports that I watch, I know the athletes. I'm not exactly sure if that's the right word. After all, most of these guys are shorter than I am, and certainly are much more crazy than I am, but you have to have some type of athleticism to continue taking the constant pounding that they take every single weekend. That's something I can respect. But it's not just the riders. I know the bulls too. Just as easily as I can point out Kody Lostroh, J.B. Mauney, Guillerme Marchi and Travis Briscoe, I can tell you all about Bones, Code Blue and Chicken on a Chain. Don't ask. I can't explain it.

I've been to a couple of the smaller events -- the PBR has its top tour, the Built Ford Tough Series, as well as a couple of minor leagues similar to baseball where young up-and-comers and older retreads attempting for one more shot at the show battle it out -- in Monroe and in Kinder (which I actually covered for the paper I work at). But I haven't been to a BFTS event, although that's going to change this month.

For my birthday, my in-laws bought me two tickets (one for me and a "friend" who they happened to assume -- wisely -- would be their daughter) to my first BFTS show. It also will be my first trip to the new Cowboys Stadium, when the PBR invades for a unique one-day event, the Iron Cowboy Invitational, which will be a little different than most events. Usually, the riders will compete for either two or three rounds, with the top 15 riders returning for a final round to determine a champion. It's usually a Friday-Sunday or Saturday/Sunday event.

The Iron Cowboy Invitational, however, is a one-day event which will pay the winner about $250,000. The top 24 riders -- the top eight in last year's standings, as well as the highest 16 in this year's standings as of last night -- will compete in a bracket-style competition against the best bulls on tour. It's the best riders vs. the best bulls -- a PBR fan's dream. I'm honestly very excited about it, but I'm even more excited about getting to watch it in Cowboys Stadium with that massive jumbotron!