MMX

Wow, what a way to ring in the New Year! No, I'm not talking about a bibulous night of drunken debauchery (we were in bed by 10:30 and prefer to celebrate New Year's on Icelandic time...) No, I'm referring to the victory in the Outback Bowl by the mighty Auburn Tigers over the pesky Wildcats of Northwestern high school, err, I mean, from the Big Ten conference. I think Ashley and I each had two major heart events during the game. If you missed it, allow me to give you a brief recap (and also so I can document exactly when the damage to our hearts occurred for our future medical problems...) Auburn jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead, but NW fought back. It was a good game, but by the mid-4th quarter, Auburn was again up by 14, leading 35-21. However, Auburn had intercepted NW five times, so it was like we had a 12th player on our side. NW proceeded to move the ball and scored with ~four minutes to go but they MISSED the extra point. Auburn 35, NW 27. We're up by eight, and I even called a friend and said, "Well, at least we can't lose in regulation." NW tries an onside kick, but Auburn easily recovered it. All they needed was a couple first downs and the game was ours. Ben Tate rushes for an easy eight, and it's looking good. He runs again and FUMBLES! OMG! Now there's less than three minutes, and Auburn's defense looks like the French against the Germans. NW moves the ball, rather easily downfield, but amazingly, Auburn stops them enough to force a 4th down conversion. Auburn blitzes and sacks the NW quarterback. Game over...? NO! There's a penalty on Auburn. While sacking the quarterback, they pulled on the QB's facemask. Oh the humanity! Personal foul and automatic first down! Needless to say, NW quickly scores, but I'm confident Auburn will stop the two-point conversion, and I think they do, until I realize NW was running a trick play. They did a reverse and then passed to a wide open guy in the end-zone. Tie score. Looks like we're going to overtime...except Auburn FUMBLES THE KICK-OFF. Oh the humanity (again)! Now we're really worried, as there's about a minute to go. NW again easily drives down the field and tries a~37-yard field goal with seconds to go. Fortunately it was WIDE RIGHT! Overtime. Auburn gets the ball first, and Ben Tate runs the ball down to the NW five-yard line. NW couldn't stop him (except when he fumbled). So I'm clueless as to why the next three plays were either Kody Burns runs or some lame pass attempts. The result? An Auburn field-goal, and we lead 38-35. A good thing, except for the fact our defense had not stopped NW in a long time. NW gets a first down near the Auburn 12 or 13. We're worried. Then, they get sacked for a big loss. Auburn forces NW to try a FG. Same kid who just recently missed at the end of regulation. He kicks...it's long enough...and IT HITS THE RIGHT UPRIGHT. NO GOOD...? Except there's a flag. Auburn roughed the kicker! (Bode, earmuffs) F---!!!!!! Personal foul, automatic first down. It's not looking good. NW drives the ball inside the ten yard line, and we're really worried. Somehow, the boys muster a good defensive stand, and it's 4th and goal from the four yard line. NW brings out a different kicker because their primary kicker was injured when Auburn roughed him (it looked pretty bad--knee got taken out). The announcers are talking about the back-up kicker as he's setting up. The camera is focused on him. But then, there's some commotion. NW was running another trick play. They did a quick snap, fumble-rooski type play to try to catch Auburn off-guard. Instead of a FG, it's a fake! We see the NW guy trying to get the corner, but somehow the Auburn defender fought off the block and knocked him out of bounds at the two yard line. We hesitate-any flags? No. GAME OVER! THEY WON! THEY WON THE FIRST GAME OF 2010! And then we collasped, exhausted.

After the game, Ashley lay there, elated, but tired. Bode came over to play with her. They were having a great time...
until Bode jumped on Mommy's tummy. Ouch! Mommy's down!Fortunately, she was ok. I told her she obviously needs to do more situps to strengthen her abs. She was not amused.

Here's a good shot of me and the Bode-man playing with his Legos. He's able to put them together and take them apart...although his favorite seems to be building the big tower and then pushing it over.Finally, here's a good picture of me and the little Dude.We had a wonderful holiday break, but like all breaks, it ended and we went back to work this week. It's bitterly cold here. I don't think the high has been above freezing all decade :-) Plesant day to all.