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!

Haven't blogged in 10 days

This won't be a normal blog, more of a Twitter-esque blog. Short and sweet.

Not a whole lot going on. Elizabeth and I have traveled a little more recently, taken a few trips to Ruston to catch Bulldog basketball. Fun times at 17-3. Been calling some more games -- 3 junior high last night, JV tonight. Clearly improving.

Big Saints game this weekend with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The excitement can be felt all around. Speaking of exciting, Tech has a new football coach. Sonny Dykes. Not my first choice. Or my second. But he's growing on me. Think he'll continue the momentum.

Been reading a bit more lately. Just finished Burn, the latest novel by Ted Dekker, my favorite writer. Even after finishing, don't really get the premise. Commented to Elizabeth while reading that I wasn't sure if I actually liked the book or if I was just reading it because it was Dekker. Started The Blind Side the other night and am really enjoying it. Can't wait to pick it up again.

Like I said, short and sweet. That's about all I have for now. Hopefully, I'll check in again in the next 10 days.

Jealous? Who, me? Never. OK, so maybe A LOT!

I went up to my old hometown this past weekend for a concert. It was the CD release party for one of my good friends, Grant Terry. (Quick full disclosure moment: I think I have pretty good taste in music, but I'm also very biased. I think Grant's good, has a bright future. I'm the say guy, though, who still thinks that The Common Ground Band [CGB] is the greatest worship band of all-time, yes even better than Delirious?. I also thought that Agabus was good. And if you've ever heard Agabus, well ... enough said.)

Not only is Grant a good friend of mine, but his keyboard player also happens to be my best friend. So it was like killing two birds with stone, supporting two friends in one night. And a blast to boot.

Elizabeth and I spent a little bit more money than we were expecting. Wasn't expecting an admission charge, but we gladly paid $5 apiece to get in. Then, we bought Grant's new CD for $10. No problem with that because I want to support my friend. And it's honestly worth the investment. It's high quality production from Seth Jones, who went to high school (at different times) with me, my best buddy K-Rob and Grant (who is 5 years younger than me). But I also liked the two bands that opened for Grant, a local group of high schoolers called Waltz With Me, and Oklahoma City-based David Dunn.

If they stick together, which is always a question of a young band that is approaching the decision of going their separate ways for college, Waltz With Me has a bright future. But, to me, it was David Dunn who stole the show.

I've always loved lyrics, even if I have about as much musical talent in my body as most musicians have in a fingernail clipping. Simply put, I can't sing, I can't read music, I don't play an instrument. I just don't have any musical ability, but I do love words. I love words that are strung together to form a powerful statement. And David Dunn is an extraordinarily powerful lyricist.

I purchased his newest 5-song EP, interestingly enough entitled David Dunn EP (he's so clever). All five of the songs are very well done -- great quality and powerful poetry. I grew up writing poetry, even if I haven't written much lately. I've probably written 50 or so poems in my life, and I'd say probably 8-10 of them I would label as being very strong, worthy of being put to music and turned into songs. I would do that, you know, if I had any ability whatsoever. Instead, I listen to people like Grant Terry and David Dunn and am amazed at how they are capable of doing what they do.

The song on the EP that struck a chord the most with me is Underneath Your Skin, which I believe is a poignant look at what we as a society classify as beauty. Unfortunately, we look mostly at the outer portrait to determine what is beautiful, while many times that outward skin is simply a cover-up of something truly ugly inside, which is where true beauty lies.

Here are the lyrics to Underneath Your Skin. I think you'll see why they registered with me.

Everybody stares, anytime you go anywhere you have the spotlight
Every man you meet, he really wants you to think he's Mr. Right
Friends all say that soon someday you will be famous
Oh, the pretention, all this attention goes to your head
Goes to your head

You turn the lights on and everybody knows
That you're beautiful, that you're beautiful
You leave the lights off, will they still know?
I don't think so, I don't think so
I don't think so, I don't think so

Is there more to you than your Gucci shoes and your Mercedes Benz?
They look fine when they don't define who you really are
What you bought makes people stop, give you the attention
The wandering eyes make you despise what you really want

You turn the lights on and everybody knows
That you're beautiful, that you're beautiful
You leave the lights off, will they still know?
I don't think so, I don't think so
I don't think so, I don't think so

Underneath your skin is what makes you beautiful
Don't listen to them, they just want to use you
Underneath your skin

There's women everywhere who don't really care if they are real humans
If they have nice thighs and beautiful eyes, then they're good to go
All that matters to them is attention from men, can you say pathetic?
There's two types of boring, dull and annoying, you get to choose

You turn the lights on and everybody knows
That you're beautiful, that you're beautiful
You leave the lights off, will they still know?
I don't think so, I don't think so
I don't think so, I don't think so

I'm still working on trying to decide which of the 10 songs on Grant's new CD is my favorite, although I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to one. I'll probably post the lyrics to that song a little later and give my reasoning behind why that's my favorite. In the meantime, go check out David Dunn!

I'm resolute

No, it's not New Year's yet. Nor is it even New Year's Eve. On the double eve of the arrival of 2010, though, I'm giving my resolutions for the new year (and new decade, though, technically one could argue the new decade doesn't begin until 2011). I've never been a big resolutions guy, though I've made some in the past, even if I haven't taken them all that seriously.

But this year I'm serious, because it deals with a serious subject -- my health. Ironically, it's a subject that I simply don't talk about. Ever. Never have.

"How is your health?" I'm asked.

"Fine. I'm doing good"

"Diabetes under control?"

"Uh huh."

"What are your blood sugars running?"

"Oh, about 14o or so."

Here's a secret. All lies.

Whoa, now, you're saying. This is supposed to be positive, uplifting, what you hope to get out of the new year. It's not a confessional.

But it is. My new year's resolution is twofold -- to begin taking my health, and my disease, a little more seriously, and also to open up about it.

Here's another confession: I hate diabetes. Despise it. Always have. But not for the normal reasons you would think of. Not because it's taken sugar away from me, or that it is supposed to take sugar away from me. Not because it makes me eat really nasty tasting desserts. Or that I have to take shots, or count carbs. No, that's not why I hate diabetes. I hate this disease because it makes me different.

But diabetes is the fastest-growing disease in the country. Everybody and their momma has diabetes these days, or at least it seems that way. True. But it's different. Type 2 diabetes is the growing disease, and it can be more easily controlled through diet and exercise. I have Type 1 diabetes, and my pancreas has essentially quit on its job of producing insulin so my body can break down sugar into useable energy. Quitter! I am on life support, and I depend on two types of man-made insulin to keep me alive every day. And yes, I resent it. Does that sound a little immature? You bet it does. But it's true, and since I'm being truthful, I said it. I resent you, diabetes!

Always have, enemy of mine. I can remember getting the news as an eighth-grader, and I cried. Not because I knew what the disease meant, even though I did because I grew up around it (my mom has had it since she was a teenager). I cried because I was now different. I was rushed to the hospital and stayed there a few days while I went through education about diabetes and learned how to give myself a shot, which I've done every day since.

In high school, I hated being different. Yeah, it was funny when I got to eat snacks in class while others didn't. But secretly, I hated being singled out amongst my classmates. Again, diabetes made me different, and I hated it.

For the most part, though, I was able to take care of myself pretty well in high school, and in college, I finally rebelled against the disease. I ended up in the hospital on three different occasions because I simply stopped taking care of myself. Since then, I've done a decent job of faking it. Elizabeth stays on me, reminding me to take my shot, asking me about my blood sugar levels, and I did a decent job for a little while of working to decrease my a1c, which essentially is the 4-month average of your blood sugar levels. Over the last year, though, I've been awful. Awful.

Now is the time to change that. I'm tired of feeling badly because I simply haven't been taken care of myself. I'm tired of constantly being thirsty, and running to and from the bathroom, because my blood sugar is far too high. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of allowing my resentment of my disease to control my life. I want to take control.

I don't feel that I'm in poor health. I'm 27 years old, in relatively good shape (although, I certainly could be in better shape), and hopefully have many years ahead of me. But I can do a lot better. So my resolution is to truly dedicate myself over the next year to fixing my all-around health. I want to lose weight. Right now, I'm about 185 pounds. I'd like to be down to 170, and although that sounds awfully light in my head, I know I would be in better health if I could drop about 15 pounds. I want to get in a regular exercise routine, take advantage of the weight machine at my house that I've let sit dormant for far too long, utilize Elizabeth's Wii Fit game to work on my balance and flexibility, and couple that with all of the running I'm doing while officiating to truly get in good shape.

And beyond that, I want to open myself up to my friends and family. I don't like prying, and I don't like my life pried into. But in a way, on this issue, I need it. I want you to ask me about my health, and then don't let me shrug off your inquiries. I need accountability. It is far too easy to sluff off when it comes to this issue, to allow my hatred and resentment to again take control, and I don't want that to happen. So ask about my health. Ask about my blood sugar. Ask about what I'm eating. And then make me answer.

It's time for me to take control. And I need your help. It's the only way to secure a fruitful 2010 -- and many, many more years to come.

When my head is jumbled, this is what you get

I took a sick day today. That never happens. Ever. Except today. And tomorrow. And maybe the rest of the week is this cold doesn't leave me alone. Seriously, I don't stay home unless I'm basically on my death bed, but a cold has me staying home? No fever. Just an awful, awful cough, which has let to a deep penetrating headache, a couple of sneezes every hour and lots and lots of mucus-filled tissue. I spent the majority of the day in bed with Sandy beast, alternating between fits of sleep and fits of wet, sloppy attacks on my face. If I don't get to feeling better tomorrow, I'm going to have to go see a doctor and get some medicine. This generic Musinex just isn't cutting it.

One of Elizabeth's Christmas gifts was a game called Wii Fit, which is basically an exercise video in a game. It comes with a "balance board" that you stand on to work on strength exercises, yoga, balance and aerobics. It allows you to set targets to lose weight over a certain period of time and counts your calories, etc. It's pretty cool, designed to make working out fun. And it's a workout, let me tell you. Running, biking, yoga stretches that my body wasn't designed to do, ab crunches, and my least favorite game, the hula hoop. No, seriously, I suck at the hula hoop. It works, though. The first night, I worked out for 30 minutes and actually felt it. I've taken the past two nights off because I just don't feel well. Elizabeth is working out now, riding her bike, trying to drop some pounds and get into better shape.

Had a nice trip to North Louisiana this past weekend. Visited with my dad, stepmom and grandparents in West Monroe, before going over to Ruston for lunch with an old college buddy who was in town from Auburn. Also visited with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and had supper with them. Always fun to visit with friends and family, even if the reason we normally visit Ruston weren't in town, as they were in New Orleans at the Saints game.

Speaking of the Saints, I'm disgusted. The 13-0 start was amazing, but the team has lost its identity over the past two weeks, and it's at the absolute worst time. This is when teams are supposed to be playing their best football, entering the playoff drive. Instead, it seems as if the Saints peaked several weeks ago and are limping into the postseason. These days, you've got to be careful to say an ill will about the Saints, lest people will accuse you of jumping off the bandwagon. That's bull, though. I call it like I see it, and what I've seen from this team recentlyj is not good. If Payton and Brees don't rediscover this team's offensive identiy, there will be no Super Bowl in the future for this team. And the fans deserve better than that.

Three of my nephews are in town at their grandparents, and the rest of Elizabeth's family is scheduled to join them on Thursday for New Year's. It's an annual tradition in the Granger household to have Christmas on New Year's Eve, build a fire, roast some weiners and 'mallows, and pop some firecrackers. Generally, it's tons of fun. We might even have some friends coming down to join us this year. However, I only hope that I'm healthy by then and up for the fun. We've also got a Christmas gathering on Saturday in West Monroe. This sickness needs to leave me alone!

Have you ever regifted?

I'm working on a story today (Christmas Eve ... yes, I'm working ... ugh!) about regifting -- which is essentially the practice of recycling a gift you received but don't want by giving it to a friend, family member or co-worker. It's an interesting concept and made me wonder if anybody out there has ever regifted?

Not going to lie, there have been some gifts that I would have loved to give to someone else. And I have returned a couple that I simply didn't want. But I don't ever remember giving a gift I received to someone else. Have you?

The stats show it's a growing trend, and while there's been a stigma attached to the practice and people have kept it secret, it now apparently has become such a common practice that people are open and honest upfront that it's a regift. I just can't imagine telling a friend, "Hey, this is a gift I didn't want, and since I didn't care enough about you to actually go pick out something special for you, why don't you take this gift that I don't want?" Just seems shady to me.

What say you?

This was TOO much fun!

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/2d255af9fb72bc14aae54ca4b9b416fb/video/8248344

Kori kept saying, "Bret, are you OK? Are you all right?" Too cute!

And, of course, Connor was Mr. Big Man and had to beat up Uncle Bret!

Eventually, Gran took Kori away and Connor got after me for another 10-15 minutes. I was exhausted!!!

Simply too tired

Wrapping up the sixth and final day of my work week here at the good ole office, knowing I have to be back in here in about seven or eight hours (*sigh*), so forgive me if I don't really feel like going into too many details about this weekend.

Short story. It was a blast. Honestly, an absolute blast. I wrote a blog the other day about not having any stories to tell, but I have some stories from this weekend. Hopefully, I'll get (or make) a spare moment at some point this week to tell them.

Elizabeth and I went up to Shreveport-Bossier, as well as over to Ruston, first to visit my mom and my neice and nephew, and then over for the inaugural Friendsmas (of course, at the time of our arrival, we didn't know it was going to be "Friendsmas" but since it was so fun we've decided to make it an annual event).

Two of the funnest things in my life are a) weekend getaways and b) spending time with friends ... so when you combine the two, it's just the best of both worlds (and yes, I am singing the Hannah Montana theme song in my head ... and no, it's not lame that I know it!)

All right, I literally could write 5,000 words or more about this weekend, but I'll save them for another time. Goodnight, everyone, and merry Christmas!

Note to self

Dear Self,

Must check e-mail. No, seriously, it's ridiculous that you went SIX WEEKS without checking your e-mail. Insane that you allowed nearly TWO THOUSAND unread e-mails to stack up in your inbox. You HAVE to do better than that!

I know, I know. Most of it was junk mail -- notices from Twitter and Facebook that someone sent you a direct message or left a comment to your status. I know you check those sites religiously and don't need massive amounts of e-mail to let you know what's going on there.

I know, I know. The majority of the rest of the messages were junk mail that your filter didn't pick up on and automatically delete. I get that. Beside the point. Doesn't matter. You HAVE to do better than that!

There was some important stuff in that inbox. Like the Thanksgiving card that your stepmother sent you. And the reminder e-mail she sent to let you know that you still hadn't opened the card two weeks later. And the e-mail from your good buddy asking you to send him a reference letter. You got that e-mail nearly two weeks ago. Good thing he said he just needed it sometime before the new year.

I agree with you that it's sad that only about 20 or so of the nearly TWO THOUSAND e-mails in your inbox are still there now. Yes, it's sad. But that's what happens when it's one of those public e-mail accounts that you've had since you were in JUNIOR HIGH!

None of this changes the fact you should CHECK YOUR E-MAIL MORE OFTEN! After all, you're on the internet all the dang time. Just stop by your e-mail once or twice a week and clean it out!

Yearning for more or perfectly content?

I'm in the mood to write, but not just about anything. About something interesting. Which brings up quite a conundrum. There's not much interesting about my life.

I read my friends' blogs, or at least the few of my friends who actually keep up with their blogs on a semi-regular basis, and I'm always fascinating by how interesting their lives are. Honestly, I have some pretty interesting friends. They're outgoing, social, funny. Why are they friends with me?

Elizabeth and I live a pretty simple life, and honestly, we like it that way. We like to travel, and try to take a couple of "big" trips every year, as well as side jaunts to see our friends in north Louisiana or family members throughout the state. But other than that, we pretty much go to work, play with our dog, relax with each other, go to sleep and wake up to do it all over again. Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that. We are content with our lives. But it doesn't actually make for very interesting blog material.

Take today, for example. I was at work at 9 a.m. Worked on a couple of stories about local lawsuits, and trust me, there is nothing interesting about reading and digesting 50-plus pages of legal jardon about alleged fraud and racial discrimination. Check that ... there's obviously something interesting those topics to some people, just not for me. Reading legal jargon has to be the worst part of my job. Please keep me out of the courthouse!

I worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., working on the two lawsuit stories, as well as my weekly Sunday anchor "city notebook," which is basically a compilation of little tidbits that happen throughout the week that don't necessarily warrant their own individual stories. It's just a hodgepodge of different things. The only semi-interesting part of today was The Town Talk's Christmas luncheon. That was good food and some good time chatting with co-workers, who I see every day but don't always take the opportunity to slow down and have a conversation with.

After work, I went to my officiating meeting, where we discuss interesting stories that happen during games and get our assignments for the next week(s). Tonight, there were no interesting stories, unfortunately. I wish there were, so I could relate them in my blog and have something interesting to write about!

Oh, well. Maybe there will be some stories that develop this weekend, when Elizabeth and I will trek up to north Louisiana for the weekend. The plan is to head to my mother's on Friday night, spend Saturday morning and afternoon with her, my stepdad, my nephew Connor and my niece Kori, and then head on over to Ruston to watch the Saints game with my buddies A-Dawg and K-Rob on Saturday night. Then, on Sunday, we'll have Christmas lunch/party with the buddies and spouses. Hopefully, there will great stories to share from that!

Merry, merry, merry Christmas!

We tried. We really did!

So, Elizabeth and I really aren't the best when it comes to waiting for just about anything. Patience is not a virtue that flows very freely in this household. And when it comes to Christmas, well it's just game over!

We've been together now for five Christmases now, and I honestly doubt that we've lasted all the way to Dec. 25 before exchanging gifts. Sometimes, it's earlier than others. Last year was October. Little did we know when we gave each other our presents (Elizabeth got a new stove, and I got a sweet puppy!) that I would be laid off before Christmas. Sometimes, things just work out.

Well, we tried this year. And I hate to use the word 'fail' because it has such a negative connotation, so I won't. I'll just say we didn't make it. After finally breaking down to get the pup's gifts, we exchanged last night. Of course, because we don't do surprises very well in this family, it's not like it was a surprise. Elizabeth wanted a Sony e-Reader, and well, what Elizabeth wants Elizabeth gets (Aside: call me stupid all you want, but I've learned not to go against my wife's wishes during the holidays. When Elizabeth tells you what she wants, it's NOT a suggestion.). And I finally joined the 21st century and got an iPod nano. What was neat is that, without discussing it with each other, we both got the gifts inscribed with each other's names. That was a neat little touch.

Well, I've whined for months about an iPod. Elizabeth has one, and well, I get jealous. She's pretty good about letting me use it if I have to go on a trip or something, and she was even nice enough to make a playlist for me on her iPod. But now I don't have to borrow. I have my own! I'm so excited. I love my iPod. I've been listening to it all day, and I stayed up last night making a list of all of the CDs I need to put into iTunes and add to my iPod. Seriously, I got a 16-gig nano, and I bet that I'm going to be out of space pretty soon. What can I say? I have a lot of music!

And from what I can tell, E-beth loves her gift, too. She's in the bed right now reading it. She's an avid reader. Heck, my man cave has been overtaken by bookshelves (for the record, though, some of those books are my own)! So, it's been a successful Christmas. Elizabeth also got me a new electric shaver and trimmer, which is something every guy can use, a new pair of dress shoes that I can wear to work, and she also bought me one my favorite movies ever -- Robin Hood: Men in Tights! I also got Elizabeth a pair of ruby red shoes that I personally picked out and think are gorgeous. She says I have the best taste when it comes to choosing her clothes and shoes, and well ... she's right! In addition, she got some candy and an iTunes gift card.

Oh, and of course, Sandy-girl got a candy cane toy that squeaks (the dog LOVES squeaking toys; she's learned that is she chews really, really fast it makes more squeaking sounds, and she LOVES it!) and also a HUGE bone. Seriously, the bone has to be two feet long. It's massive, and she's already chewed to the center of it! The old commercial about how many licks it takes to get to the center of Tootsie Pop -- well it takes Sandy less than 24 hours to get to the center of a 2-foot rawhide bone! And, she still has another gift that Santa's going to bring her when we go to Granny's on Christmas morning -- a big stocking that has all kinds of fun toys!

With another 10 days til Christmas, there may be more gifts to come. When it comes to the McCormick family, never count anything out. A whim's a whim, baby!

A little Heisman talk

So a buddy of mine just called and asked me for my opinion on the Heisman Trophy, which will be handed out tonight in New York City (7 p.m., ESPN). I've had this discussion with a couple dozen different people over the past several weeks. Honestly, it's a fascinating discussion. Nearly 1,000 people vote to make this decision, and all of those people are just like me: they have their own distinct opinions. And each one has his own definition on what "most outstanding" means.

According to StiffArmTrophy.com, which has correctly predicted the Heisman winner each of hte past seven years, it's a three-horse race between Alabama RB Mark Ingram, Stanford RB Toby Gerhart and Nebraska DT Ndamukong (pronounced in-dam-uh-kun) Suh with the golden-boy QBs from Texas (Colt McCoy) and Florida (Tim Tebow) running a distant fourth and fifth.

It's funny that we're looking at such a close race with these three contenders in what has turned into one of the most wide open races in years (and perhaps the most exciting race ever) since we entered the season with all three of last year's finalists (McCoy, Tebow and last year's winner, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford) back and expected to make repeat trips to NYC for the award show. But that's what makes college football so unpredictable. Bradford injured his throwing shoulder in the Sooners' opening game, tried to come back and was reinjured before opting for surgery. Tebow was not his same dominant self as he was when he won the Heisman as a sophomore and finished third last year. The Gators simply lost too many offensive weapons and Tebow struggled. McCoy, meanwhile, seemed to be firmly in control until a near meltdown and loss to Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game, which served as a coming out party for Suh's Heisman campaign.

Here's a breakdown of each candidate in order of projected finish:

1. Mark Ingram, So., RB, Alabama -- StiffArmTrophy.com projects Ingram to walk away with the trophy, which would make him the third sophomore in a row to win the award (after having no underclassmen receive it before Tebow did in 2007) and the first player in Alabama's storied history to receive the award (which is amazing). The 5-10, 215-pounder has one thing going for him: he's the best offensive player on the nation's #1 team, which too many voters exchange for "most outstanding." His stats are solid, if not jawdropping -- 1,429 yards rushing, 6.5 yards per carry, 12 touchdowns, another 3 receiving touchdowns. But there are a few knocks. He scored only half of his team's total rushing scores, and at times you could argue that freshman RB Trent Richardson was the best running back on the Crimson Tide's team. Ingram is a powerful runner who fits perfectly in what coach Nick Saban wants to do. He'll pick up some votes because of how good Alabama's team is, and also because the Tide have never had anyone win this award. However, I'm not sure he's the best running back in the country.

2. Toby Gerhart, Sr., RB, Stanford -- The 6-1, 235-pounder is a throwback to old-school football players with his powerful running style and will to deliver hits instead of taking them. He's also a throwback student-athlete who plays two sports (he's also an MLB prospect on Stanford's baseball team) at one of the country's most prestigious universities. He's a rarity in that he's a white running back who refused to take everyone's suggestion that he'd be better suited to play LB. Gerhart's stats jump off the page compared to Ingram's. He carried the ball nearly 100 times more than Ingram, who had the luxury of playing not only with Richardson but also senior Roy Upchurch. Alabama could use a RB by committee. Gerhart was Stanford's running game, as the Cardinal's second-leading rusher was QB Andrew Luck and third-leading rusher had 55 carries. Gerhart rushed for 1,736 yards, an average of 5.6 per carry, and more importantly scored 26 TDs -- 11 more than Ingram's rushing/receiving combined. Take Ingram off the Tide and they might not be in the national title game, but they'd still likely have gone 12-0 before playing Florida. Take Gerhart off Stanford, and the Cardinal are not going to a bowl game, much less winning 8 games. He does have a few knocks: he plays on the West Coast, so many voters didn't see him play often, if at all, and the Pac-10 doesn't have the reputation of the SEC in terms of strong defenses; also there will be those who don't vote for him because Stanford lost four games, though it didn't hurt Tebow when he won the award two years ago.

3. Ndamukong Suh, Sr., DT, Nebraska -- Let me start off with all of the reasons why Suh shouldn't win the award. He not only plays defense, but he plays on the defensive line. On top of that, he plays defensive tackle, which is about as unsexy of a position as there is on the football field. He didn't play on a great team in Nebraska, which has lost four games, although that isn't Suh's fault. The Huskers' defense is great; it's not his fault the offense is offensive. While Nebraska is a program full of history, the program has been down and isn't one of the sexy programs like the SEC or fellow Big 12 teams like Oklahoma or Texas. And a reason that might seem weird, but will have a profound affect, is that many people can't pronounce his name. Who's easier to vote for -- Mark, Toby, Colt, Tim ... or Ndamukong? Seriously, that should have no business resonating with voters, but it will. What hopefully will resonate more is Suh's production: a team-leading 82 tackles (seriously, how many DTs lead the team in tackling two years in a row?), 23 tackles for loss, 24 QB hurries, 12 sacks and 10 passes defensed. Let's pause for a second. Suh is 6-4, 300 pounds and is powerful enough to dominate the running game against double teams but also athletic enough to get to the quarterback and also deflect passes and block kicks (3). He also intercepted a pass and had two INTs last year. It's no wonder he's considered the #1 prospect heading into the NFL draft, which shouldn't have an affect on the voting. What should, though, is the way he utterly destroyed Colt McCoy and almost led Nebraska to an upset of Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game. Seriously, if the Huskers had an offense, they wouldn't have lost 13-12. Of the 313 ballots collected by StiffArmTrophy.com (about 1/3 of all ballots), Suh leads the way with 92 first-place votes. But 134 voters left him off their ballots, which include the top three players (with the votes receiving points of 5-3-1). The voters have come a long way this decade (see Adrian Peterson finished 2nd as a freshman, and Tebow-McCoy winning the award as sophomores), but I just don't think they are open-minded enough to give the award to an interior lineman. Unfortunately, the Heisman is still viewed as an offensive award that should go to the best QB or RB on the best team in the country.

4. Colt McCoy, Sr., QB, Texas -- I'll admit that I've been harsh on McCoy, who I've said prior that I didn't believe deserved a trip to NYC as a finalist. I might be willing to go back on that statement. First off all, I like McCoy. He's a likeable guy who's a winner. He had some huge holes to fill stepping in as a freshman after Vince Young departed, and all he's done is win. The 'Horns have won 10 games every year he's been on campus, and now he has Texas in the national title game, even if it came with some controversy. Last year, I would have been fine had McCoy won the Heisman. His 76.7% completion percentage is the best ever. He threw for 3,859 yards and 34 TDs compared to just 8 INTs. And there were those who felt Texas should have played for the national title last year. This year, though, he just hasn't been as sharp. His yards are down (3,512), his TDs are down (27), and although he's still completing 70% of his passes, his INTs are up (12). He also doesn't have a signature game. In the Big 12 title game, after Tebow had failed and Ingram had played well but not necessarily lights-out in the SEC title game, McCoy had one of his worst games. He threw three picks, zero touchdowns, didn't pass for 200 yards, was a non-factor in the running game, and was sacked 9 times, including 4.5 by Suh. That's not to mention his lack of understanding of the basic clock rules. Luckily for McCoy and the 'Horns, the officials (wrongly, in my eyes) put a second back on the clock and allowed Texas to kick a game-winning FG, escaping with a 13-12 win, and marching to the national title game. Once Bradford went down with his injury, and Tebow started slowly, I think most people assumed McCoy would waltz his way to the trophy. That's likely the only reason he's even in NYC, and why he's fallen down to fourth.

5. Tim Tebow, Sr., QB, Florida -- Let me perfectly clear: I'm a Tim Tebow fan. He represents everything that's right about college football. He plays with passion, plays with heart, plays with pride, gives credit to God, doesn't get in trouble off the field, produces wins and is a great leader. He's won a Heisman and two national titles, and although Florida's loss to Alabama in the SEC title game prevented him for winning a third title and supplanting his legacy as perhaps the best college football player of all-time, his legacy is still tremendous. All that said, he shouldn't be here. Let's not even argue that he was the fifth "most outstanding" player in the country this year. We'll get into that in a second. But he shouldn't have been invited to NYC, and the only reason he was is because he's a former winner and now a three-time finalist. The Downtown Athletic Club, which runs the Heisman Trust, doesn't always invite five finalists. Last year, it was just Bradford, McCoy and Tebow. They normally determine it based upon a percentage of votes. According to StiffArmTrophy.com, Tebow is only on 54 of the 313 ballots that have been made public. McCoy was on nearly 100 more. Simply put, there's a major difference between the totals for McCoy and for Tebow, meaning there should only have been four finalists this year, but the Downtown Athletic Club invited Tebow because he's Tebow. As a sophomore, when he won the award, Tebow compiled 4,181 yards of offense and scored 55 total TDs (32 passing, 23 rushing). Last year, those numbers dipped to 3,420 yards of offense and 42 TDs. While he led the team in rushing with 859 yards this year, he combined for just 3,217 total yards and 31 TDs. The kid has had a great career, but I'm just not sure his stats show that is a Heisman finalist this year.

How would I vote? I've gone back and forth on this. I think Ingram is going to win it. Too many voters are looking for the best player on the best team and defining that as the "most outstanding player." I love Gerhart. He's been the heart and soul of coach Jim Harbaugh's Stanford team. A few days ago, I wanted him to win it. I think I still want him to win it. But if I had a vote, I'd have to give it to Suh. There are many ways to define "outstanding," and one of the easiest ways is to give it to the most dominant. There was clearly no more dominant player this year than Ndamukong Suh. Many people are calling him the most dominant DT to ever play college football. I won't pretend to know if that is true or not, but I can say that with my own eyes he's been dominant week in and week out. I don't think the voters are ready to take this step, but Ndamukong Suh is the type of player who could transcend history and become the first defensive lineman to win the Heisman. After Suh, I would vote Gerhart and then Boise State QB Kellen Moore. Like all Heisman voters, I have my biases. As a Louisiana Tech grad, I see Boise State a lot, and I love Moore. The sophomore threw for 39 TDs and only 3 INTs to lead Boise State to its second straight undefeated regular season. Moore has lost only one game as a starter, and that was against TCU in last year's bowl game. I also gave a lot of consideration to Clemson senior RB C.J. Spiller, who is one of the most explosive players in the country. He had a Heisman moment in the ACC title game with 233 yards and 4 TDs, and although he's "only" rushed for 1,145 yards and 11 TDs, Spiller made a difference in the passing game (33-445-4), didn't fumble a single time all year and also was explosive on special teams (918 punt/kickoff return yards and 5 TDs). In the end, though, I would lean toward Moore over Spiller.

To-do list

So, I took today off because I have an eye appointment and because my dog (who is basically like my child) needs to go to the vet. That's what sick days are for, right? Especially when you don't get sick.

My days "off" are always interesting, because I normally end up doing more work than if I actually were at work. Here's today's to-do list:

1. Take Sandy to the vet. She needs a couple of shots, her latest flea pill and to be checked for heartworms.

2. Get my hair trimmed. Not cut. There's a difference. I've decided to let my hair grow out, at least until I get tired of it or Elizabeth says enough is enough. But she's agreed to go along with this charade as long as I get it trimmed and evened up once a month or so.

3. Wash dishes. For most people, this isn't really a chore. Just pre-rinse and throw the dishes in the washer, right? Not at this house. There's no dishwasher, and really no room in the kitchen to add one. So dishes pile up pretty quickly. It's time to take care of them.

4. Wash clothes. Well, a couple of clothes. This one actually isn't one of my chores. But my officiating clothes need a quick once-over since I've got games tonight and Friday.

5. Be a wonderful husband and take my wife something to eat. She forgot her lunch and asked if I wouldn't mind bringing her something. Of course, I don't mind (please, hold your applause, no really please, stop).

6. Clean up around the house. This is one thing that neither Elizabeth and I really like to do. We've been back settled in since June, but the house still has packed boxes. How have we accumulated so much stuff in just a few years? I don't understand.

7. Get eyes examined. It's been over a year now since the latest checkup, and it's time for some new frames and lenses. This is going to be an expensive trip, but it's one that's got to get done.

8. Call hoops games. The appointment is at 4 p.m., and I've got 2 games tonight starting at 6. I'm thinking I shouldn't have too much of a problem getting to the games on time, but I sure hope I don't cut it close.

I've become convinced there really is never a "day off." There is always something to do around the house, or friends/family to go visit. It's very rare to just veg out, although that's fun too -- to just sit around with Elizabeth and Sandy and do nothing. Now THAT sounds like a plan!

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play

When I first stepped on the court to try my hand at this whole officiating thing, I came up with a metaphor to describe what I was going through. Picture a freshman basketball player. He's never played organized ball -- not at the local Y, or in a church league, or even in junior high. He's just hooped in the 'hood, in his neighbors' driveways and at the local playground. Said freshman basketball player tries out for the team and makes it, but then his head is spinning as he tries to learn all of the offensive and defensive sets of organized basketball. That's about what I felt like as I tried to learn on the fly how to officiate. You're constantly thinking. Am I doing this right? Am I in the correct position? Is that my zone? Should I blow my whistle for that, or is that my partner's call? Too much thinking, not enough reacting and officiating.

So, I went through a few practices. Showed the coach I had a little skill. Can handle the rock a little. Make a slick little pass or two. Run the break. Knock down the open J. But that's all in practice. Does it translate to the game? Get a couple of games under my belt. A little tentative at first. After all, I'm new to this whole organized basketball thing. Much different from hoopin' in the hood. The more games I get under my belt, the smoother things go, and suddenly I'm called up to the JV team. One game there, where I play my best game yet, and all of a sudden coach says he's got a uniform for me on the varsity.

So, yeah, that little freshman hoops player is stepping up to the big leagues on Friday night. My first varsity action. I've got two things going for me -- it's B/C ball, which should be an easier pace than jumping straight into big school ball, and I'm calling with two veteran officials, one of which has been sort of a mentor to me from the very beginning of the year and who actually requested that I call this game with him.

I must admit, I'm very stoked about this. I was warned from the get-go not to expect any varsity action this year. For first-year officials, those games are hard to come by. Plus, there was an influx of new guys this year, so the body-starved association I'm with now has quite a few guys to choose from. Some of the "new" guys aren't new at all. A guy I called my first JV game with on Tuesday is a five-year veteran who missed the past two years because of his service in the military and a hip surgery. So he's technically new, but not a first-year guy, and certainly ahead of me on the pecking order. My goal was to work on my craft during junior high games, take as many JV games as I could get, and hopefully earn a shot at a varsity game late in the season. To have one this early is a blessing.

Now I'm also very nervous. Am I ready? I believe so. I've worked really hard on my mechanics, and I've gotten compliments from every official I've worked with or who has observed me. I hustle. I try my best. I know I miss some calls. I'm still learning about what type of official I want to be. Some call things very tight. Others let the kids play. And you have to be a little flexible depending on the level you're calling. Of course, I'm going to be a little more lenient on sixth-graders than I am on varsity players. That's only natural.

But this is my chance to prove to myself, and more importantly, two veteran officials who can pass their observations along to the man who makes the assignments that I'm ready and willing to be an official he can lean on the rest of the year. This is a great opportunity, and I'm ready to take advantage of it on Friday night. But first, of course, is my junior high assignment Thursday night. Just another opportunity to get better and improve. Time to go to work!

Making progress

I'm getting better! No, really, I swear!

Wait, what am I talking about? Let's back up a sec. For those of you who don't know -- and, really, if you're reading this blog, then there's no doubt you know -- I started officiating basketball games this year.

Why in the world would I want to do that? Well, for a few reasons. I love basketball. Well, I love sports. And while baseball was my first love, and football is the most popular sport in the country, I have a soft spot for basketball. Since my junior high days, it's been my favorite sport, passing baseball. I remember stories of my dad calling games when he was younger, and since I've always been hard on refs, I've always felt that I could do a good job. Plus, I'm not writing about sports anymore, so this allows me to stay involved.

So I signed up, bought myself an outfit, studied the rules, passed the test ... and bam, hit the court. For the most part, I've been doing junior high games. The pace is good for a first-year official trying to get his feet wet. And the money's not bad either, especially if you can get 3 or 4 games in a night.

So after a few scrimmages, I've gotten a couple dozen junior high games under my belt. But tonight, I took the next step, signing on to call a junior varsity game -- which was essentially two half-games (two quarters for girls and two quarters for boys). The pace was faster ... not overwhelming, but they certainly move a lot quicker than 6th- and 7th-graders.

I missed a few calls, no doubt. There was one where the ball was dribbled out of bounds, and I was out of position and didn't see it. So I didn't make the call. Coach wasn't happy, but hey, you miss it sometimes. And there were a few times the game got a little too physical and I probably should have blown the whistle. But for the most part, I feel like my mechanics are continuing to improve. I feel like I'm not thinking so much, that my head isn't swimming, that I'm getting the hang of this thing.

I've requested some more junior varsity games, as some of the older guys would rather not call the JV game and then two varsity games on top of that. The more games I can get, the better I'll be. Will I get a varsity game? I'm not sure. Many first-year officials don't. If I do, will I be ready? You better believe it. I'm really starting to believe that I might be pretty good at this gig in the long term. More importantly, though, is that I'm enjoying it, getting some exercise, making some money and making some friends. I can't wait to see how this story continues to unfold.

show a little respect

There are many things in this world that demand my respect. And there are a myriad of reasons why I deliver or deny said respect. However, there's one thing that always gets that respect -- clever, funny writing.

I was just perusing a few old blog posts by one of my buddies. Believe it or not, there was some high-class stuff in there. Great stream of conciousness. Terrific one-liners. There's something to be said about the talent that is needed to write high-quality comedy. And I believe my buddy has a gift. At least, that's my snap judgment after reading a dozen or so blogs written 12-24 months ago.

I love comedy. Those who know me well know that. Others may not. I hold it pretty close to the vest, but I love to laugh. Laughter is not only contagious, but it is also therapeutic, I believe. So, if you can make me laugh, you've got my respect.

Why? Because I ain't funny. Sure, I try. I love to tell jokes. I make cracks all the time. What do I get in return? The obligatory smile and nod. You know what I'm talking about. The whole, "This guy is crazy, but let's not hurt his feelings" routine. Hey, it's true! There's no need to hide it. I'm not very funny. It's OK. I've accepted my lot in life. I can't sign. I'm not funny. I wasn't a great athlete. I'm not rocket scientist smart. It's OK. Bret, just keep telling yourself, it's OK.

But there are people out there who truly do have the gift of comedy. Stand-up comedians have built some great careers off telling jokes and making people laugh. Life is tough, man. And people want to escape it. That's why comedy is so important. It gets us an outlet, something to ease the tension and help us not think about how tough life can be. That's also what makes sports so special. We get to get away from all that troubles us and focus on something fun, exciting and not-so-important.

I know what you're thinking ... wasn't I talking about comedy? How did we get back around to sports? Because, in the case of this post, the two aren't mutually exclusive. My buddy was blogging about sports, or more specifically, his favorite professional sports team. For some reason along the way, he decided to hang up hat and ended the blog. I wish he hadn't. Or better yet, I wish he'd come out of his semi-retirement and return to the blogosphere once again.

Christmas tunes

I have a confession to make --

I am craving ... Christmas music?

My lovely wife LOVES Christmas music. Loves it. I, on the other hand, normally can do without it. But I'm a good sport. Once Thanksgiving passes, I understand that means it's time for the holiday tunes.

Yet, I don't recall hearing ANY in the past week. What is up with that?

In my car, I'm banging my head to two of my favorite new bands, Parachute and Owl City. And I'm loving them.

But I'm missing the Christmas carols, too. Elizabeth, it's time!

Thankful

It's almost 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. I must confess that I should be asleep. At 6:30, my eyes wouldn't stay open. I was stuffed. Turkey, dressing, corn casserole, green beans, lots and lots of rolls, and two helpings of peach crisp/cobbler (made with Splenda, of course). It was lights out.

Why then, nearly four hours later, am I wide awake? It just doesn't make sense! Watched a little college hoops, a little college football, after watching two NFL games earlier. It's a good day. Time for bed. After all, that 4 a.m. work shift of following around the crazies on Black Friday is going to come early! Yet, there's no blissful sleep here. Nope, just some blissful tunes as sung by Lady Antebellum.

So, I've decided to do a little soul writing. I love writing. I really do. If you check this blog often, it may not seem like it. But I write for a living. And I've discovered Twitter, which has become an all-consuming obsession of mine. Lots of writing ... in little spurts at a time. But it's not often that I do much soul writing. Have never been that great at journaling my thoughts and passions. And I've failed miserably at keeping this blog updated, mostly because I would prefer to keep my innermost thoughts inward.

However, I wanted to write tonight about what everyone writes about today -- the obligatory reasons why I'm thankful in my life.

It's no secret for people who know me that this past year hasn't exactly been easy. It's never easy losing a job, much less two of them. It's never easy living nearly seven hours away from the person you love the most on this earth for nearly six months. This year was perhaps the most difficult and trying one of my life. Yet, I have so many reasons to be thankful.

At this time last year, I had no clue what was right around the corner. It was only about two weeks later that I was laid off from my job at The Town Talk. It was a good thing that Elizabeth and I decided to have an early Christmas, or we wouldn't have had one. In fact, I spent Christmas seven hours away from my wife, miserable. I spent many miserable days and nights away from my wife and new puppy in New Braunfels, Texas -- miserable because we weren't together, yet hopeful for what our future would bring. I had a new job, and it looked like we were going to be starting a new chapter in our lives, in a new home, with a fresh start.

Unfortunately, things would only get worse before they got better. About six months after I moved to Texas, Elizabeth was finally able to join me, quitting her job at the paper that laid me off and embarking her way into Texas with a new job at the paper I was working at. Only that lasted just two weeks before we both lost our jobs, thanks to an insane publisher and my big mouth for having the gall to stand up for what was right instead of being a yes-man.

So, instead of being unemployed while my wife worked, we were both unemployed, at my own hand -- you want to talk about the worst feeling ever? How about talking your wife into quitting her job, and then being the reason she's fired at her new one? I think I reached a new low, a new brokenness, that fortunately helped bring us closer together than we've ever been. Adversity is a very funny thing. It can bring you closer together or push you farther apart. Elizabeth and I have seen our fair share of adversity, and thankfully we usually come out better off on the other end.

I say all of this just to lead up to the part of thankfulness. In June, I was about as long as I could get. I was never suicidal, but I certainly was depressed. I couldn't understand how I could have allowed myself to get into that position, and I hated myself for causing so much pain for my wife. All I've ever wanted was to be able to take care of her, and there I sat, unemployed for the second time in seven months with seemingly no options in sight.

It was a tough 2 months as I struggled to find out what the next step was. Did we stay in Alexandria? Did we look to move again? How do you know what's the right thing to do? Even when you think you're listening for God's voice, is it really His, or just what you want to hear?

Now to the thankful part -- we're better off right now that we were at this point last year. Elizabeth was able to land a great job at a credit union, and she's already been promoted. She's blown them away, and we've gotten over the initial disappointment that she wasn't able to get her job back at the paper. She has responsibility, is able to use her degree and has some great hours.

Meanwhile, I'm back where I was a year ago, even if in a different role. I'm back at the paper in Alexandria, working in city government, rather than in sports. But while sports is my passion, my current job definitely has its own positives. Much better hours. A regular schedule, rather than the "Vampire" one we lived for the previous two years. And I don't have nearly as much responsibility. Instead of being an editor at the bottom of the totem pole, I'm a writer whose responsibility is simply to do his job and not worry about the other stuff. I'm very thankful, not only to have a job after losing two other ones, but to have a job that I'm pretty good at and really enjoy, even if it has its frustrating moments.

I'm thankful that my wife and I are back together, and we have a great puppy that we love very much. That Christmas last year that we had early, well, I got a beagle mix puppy named Sandy who is now 15 months old and one of the sweetest things ever. And Elizabeth still gets to use the new stove that I bought her for Christmas, when we both thought she would lose that when we sold our house. I love my family. I'm thankful for my wife. I'm thankful that I get to come home to her, even if it's late at night because I'm off officiating a basketball game, or I have to cover a late city council meeting. I'm thankful that she's here when I get home and that she loves me.

I'm thankful for my parents, who I still do not see nearly enough or call enough on the phone. I'm thankful that they care about me, they care enough to overlook my obvious faults as a son and continue to love me unconditionally. I'm thankful for my in-laws, who are always there for me, whether it's to provide a meal, just to hang out and watch football or bull riding, to puppy-sit, or to help with one of the minor or major projects around the house. I'm thanking for my brother and my brothers-in-law and their families, my nephews and nieces, who may have more energy than I can sustain, but who also make me smile with wonder at how quickly life changes.

I'm thankful for my friends, who I get to see more often now that Elizabeth and I have normal work schedules and no longer are vampires. Whether it's a spontaneous trip up for pizza, or a planned weekend, I'm grateful that I have tremendous friends who love and care for me. I'm grateful that I can pick up a phone, place a call or send a text, and know that whether it's a joke or a serious question, they're there for me. I've never needed hundreds of friends to make me happy, but I've always held my few friends close to my heart. I hope you guys know that I'm always here, and I'm glad you're always there for me.

There's so much more that I'm thankful for that I cannot even begin to mention everything. But to sum things up, I'm thankful for today and hopeful for tomorrow. None of us know what it will bring, but after a year of struggles, I'm more hopeful today than I've ever been. I've seen things begin to turn around, and I truly believe there are only better things coming in the future.

Happy Thanksgiving Day! I have a lot to be thankful for!