Post-Christmas Reflections

I just realized that it has been almost a month since my last post. Funny how the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can sidetrack a person. I'm happy to say that we had a nice Christmas as I hope all of you had. To those stationed overseas, and especially if you are in a combat zone, Merry Christmas, and I sincerely hope you will be coming home to your families soon, safe and sound.

What do I see for the new year? Well it looks like Saddam will be executed in the next couple of hours (technically not part of the new year, but what else can usher in a new era for the Iraqi people than the execution of a heinous dictator). The Saints have a better chance at a Super Bowl appearance than they've ever had. Michigan has a good chance at beating USC in the Rose Bowl. And hopefully all of our troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan come home.

The ball's dropping at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.

I'm better now

Sorry for the past rant. Don't know what came over me. Maybe it's the stress of the holidays. Yeah, I'll blame that. :)

I thought about the best holiday movies and that got me in a better mood. C'mon kids say it with me. Red Ryder BB Gun! I realize that TNT/TBS will be showing this movie in its entirety in the next day or so, and won't stop showing it until the turning of 2007, but I still love it. Even if it has been perverted into a mobile phone service commercial. The bunny pajamas. Need I say more?

Also another holiday movie of note...Love Actually. While not a Christmas movie per se, it is wonderfully festive, and I almost fell off my chair watching Hugh Grant dance to the Pointer Sisters. The belief that love will conquer all is a wonderful message to send during the holidays. And the fact that a slightly goofy-looking English guy can find 3 hot women in a bar in Milwaukee willing to take him home, that's just funny. If that has ever happened, let me know. I'm betting I won't get any responses on that.

On a sidenote, do the English find our accents as charming or attractive as we find theirs? Just wondering. Because, let's face it, a guy, or girl for that matter, can be semi-attractive, but if they have a great accent, their attractiveness is at least two-fold. Maybe it's just me.

And what Christmas movie list does not include National Lampoons' Christmas Vacation? Was it the drooling/snotty dog, the cousin from hell, the house decorations that could light up an entire third world country for a year, the boss taken hostage or the turkey that split in half? Classic.

Any other suggestions? Please send them in!

19 more shopping days at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com

The Golden Rule

You know, I'm not that old, but it seems like that whole "Golden Rule" thing I was taught as a kid is no longer in effect. I'm not trying to be cynical or sarcastic, it's simply an observation. I like to do nice things for people, not really expecting anything back, but when it seems that certain people just give and give, and others just take and take, it puts me a not-so-great mindset on how the world works. What brought this on you ask? Well it's because I'm sitting here, during the lunchtime hour at the office by myself while everyone else is off eating lunch. Did anyone else ask if I had something to eat? One person, who is the only person who ever asks about my well-being mind you and I didn't want her to miss her lunch for my own selfishness. Did anyone ask if I wanted to get anything before they all left the office? Nope. Do I ask people if they want something when I go out to get food? All the time. If this had been the first time it had happened, I could shrug it off. Unfortunately, it isn't the first, second, or third time. I don't like myself when I feel this way. Maybe I shouldn't be so shallow, I should be above this. Maybe I'm just getting way too peevish in my old age, but this whole, me, me, me thing is getting old. Not the way I want to be during this time of year. You feelin' me?

It's not just me either. My co-worker stopped a car (Mercedes nonetheless) to let them know that their tire was going flat. Did she get a "thank you"? Nope, she got a huff and a barely audible "thanks", like she was inconveniencing them by mentioning they were scant fractions of an inch from riding on their expensive rim. How sad is that? With the world in the state that it's in now, with world peace nowhere near the distant horizon, shouldn't we be treating our fellow man with compassion and caring? Guess not. Even "please" and "thank you" on a regular basis seems to be too much to ask. Why is that? 'Tis the season...to think of oneself apparantly. Enough of my venting...

Bah, humbug at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com

Lest I forget

Okay, so I was so distraught over the sham of a BCS Selection Show that I neglected my NFL teams. As you may already know St. Reggie got 4 touchdowns yesterday. 4! More than he had all season to that point. Maybe he was just in a bit of a slump from the pressure of being the top draft pick, being a pillar of the New Orleans community, etc. I felt kinda bad for Deuce though as he is the quiet workhorse. He gets yard after yard and touchdown after touchdown yet he does it quietly and with more dignity than you see from most of the other high scorers in the NFL. He kinda got shoved to the side yesterday and it made me sad. He's such a great leader for the team, he should definitely get some kudos.

Now don't get me started on the Lions. How could they be beating the Patriots in New England and then lose to them? As my fellow Lions follower stated, "it's just what they do". How sucky is that? I know they could be winning, but somehow fall apart just when they could be pulling ahead. I don't know if it's the front office, the coach, the players, but they need to find the answer to the equation and soon. I see a first pick of the draft coming their way in '07. And that's not a good thing.

Christmas is a mere 3 weeks away. Seems like it's come too fast. Maybe it's because there is only one season down here...hot. Up north at least you could see it coming with the cold weather. Down in snowbird hell, it's 80+ degrees until New Year's. Not the usual festive weather. Kinda hard to think about decorating a Christmas tree when you're sweating your butt off.

Filled with the Christmas spirit at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.

Let the arguments begin!

The BCS bowl bids have been announced, and lo and behold, Florida was chosen to go to the National Championship game. After reading this, I couldn't agree more with ol' Gene. Michigan was totally Robbed! Yep, I capitalized it and used an exclamation point just 'cause I'm that pissed off. But as mad as I am, how mad must Auburn and Wisconsin be? Who got into a BCS bowl ahead of them? That's right Notre Dame. Yep, they sucked big time both to Michigan and USC, getting totally creamed both times, and yet they get to face #4 LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Why you ask? Because there is supposed to be only one team from each conference to go to these bowls. Oh wait...Notre Dame isn't in a conference. They will never have to worry about another team taking the spot. How is that fair to every other team? It's not, one more argument against the BCS system. The only good thing about this development is a) OSU creams Florida in the National Championship game proving Michigan, who only lost by three points in Columbus, should have gone to the game, b) Notre Dame will get creamed by LSU, and barring any catastrophes should be a reality, showing Notre Dame should never have gone, c) the powers that be finally realize there should be some sort of playoff system. I'm not sure how much of this will actually happen, but I can hope.

Writing hate letters to the BCS at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.