Having just returned from the National Championship game, where OU was the "home team", I am wondering why the Orange Bowl Committee would even begin to give OU that label.
Give me a break. By design Dolphin Stadium was laid to out to be "equal" no matter which teams made it to the national championship game. It just didn't work out that way. Each school gets 1/4 of the stadium which encompasses a corner and then reaches out in both directions to about the 25 yard line. The Orange Bowl committee sold the 50 yard line on both sides down to the 25 yard lines respectively to "sponsors" who amazingly all were wearing bright blue and obnoxious orange.
Of course OU's seats sold out before the tickets went on sale. They were all sold in a pre-game package to season ticket holders.
As I watched the game from the press box, which hangs over the Oklahoma endzone, I was impressed by Oklahoma's showing. Everyone got the memo... wear red. Unfortunately, the rest of the stadium got the "wear blue and obnoxious orange" memo.
This stadium amazed me for several reasons. I was there to watch OU and USC play back in 2005.. at the time I thought it was amazing. This trip totally trumped that experience. USC fans have class. Florida's 60,ooo fans were classless, drunk, crazy, gator-mouth slapping jackasses. No other way to put it. So far I'm not too impressed with the SEC.
Most of the fans were within some sort of driving distance - seeing it was being played in Florida (the REAL home team) - so they had all types of tailgating going on since the crack of dawn.
These people grilled, danced, drank, stripped - and not the good looking ones - drank some more, pee'd in the parking lot, slapped that annoying gator chomp thing with their hands, and drank some more. The poor OU fans that dared put up a tent and roll out their Cirlce K styrophome cooler they picked up on the way to the stadium didn't have a chance. The Florida faithful were everywhere. And obnoxious as ever.
So, back to the amazement.. these 60,000 Florida fans filled up that stadium and were so loud I honestly didn't know if OU could pull off a play. I'm sure if you had the chance to truly ask one of the players they would say the same thing. It almost took your breath away listening to these people chomp their stupid hands like gators and sing some really gay "ain't it great to be a gator" song. Now, I was sitting above the Sooner fans, so I can't honestly say how loud they were compared to the Florida fanatics but there is no way. Sooners were outnumbered 5 to 1 easily.
So I just ask this one question? What's the point of having a "home" team when clearly the system isn't set up for that? Just part of the game.. I know. Just another part of it that I don't think it too fair.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Country Livin'...
You know you live in the middle of nowhere when:
1) ... the family in the trailer down the road spends more on a marquee sign advertising 'Christmas Fireworks' than they do for any dental care in the past year.
I mean there are several reasons why fireworks and Christmas just don't seem to mix for me, but the most obvious one is this.. the family advertised that fireworks make "great stocking stuffers".. really? I'm no firefighter or smokey the bear-type but it doesn't seem to take a rocket scientist to figure out explosives hanging by socks infront of a fireplace spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R!!!
2) ... you go on a nice little run and can use road kill as mile markers.
True story, happened today. I set out on my quest to conquer 4 miles of country road. I found as I pounded the pavement there was a dead skunk at mile marker one. Shortly before knocking out two miles I had to step over a flattened oppossum. The third mile brought with it a special stinch of dead raccoon and maggots.. and then I turned around and passed it all over again on the trip home. I was mildly pleased to see the skunk the second time around - it meant I only had one mile left to go.
3) ... your friends and neighbors mark every special occassion by shooting off fireworks.
It's really the trailer families fault, but it seems that people in my neighborhood find every excuse in the book to blow something up. It causes the dog and baby to go nuts. We aren't big fans of fireworks in my household. The chaos they cause just doesn't seem worth it for me.
4) ... the opening of a Subway sandwich shop 4 miles away from your front door seems like you've struck gold.
If only I could get them to open a Sonic. I'd truly be in heaven.
1) ... the family in the trailer down the road spends more on a marquee sign advertising 'Christmas Fireworks' than they do for any dental care in the past year.
I mean there are several reasons why fireworks and Christmas just don't seem to mix for me, but the most obvious one is this.. the family advertised that fireworks make "great stocking stuffers".. really? I'm no firefighter or smokey the bear-type but it doesn't seem to take a rocket scientist to figure out explosives hanging by socks infront of a fireplace spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R!!!
2) ... you go on a nice little run and can use road kill as mile markers.
True story, happened today. I set out on my quest to conquer 4 miles of country road. I found as I pounded the pavement there was a dead skunk at mile marker one. Shortly before knocking out two miles I had to step over a flattened oppossum. The third mile brought with it a special stinch of dead raccoon and maggots.. and then I turned around and passed it all over again on the trip home. I was mildly pleased to see the skunk the second time around - it meant I only had one mile left to go.
3) ... your friends and neighbors mark every special occassion by shooting off fireworks.
It's really the trailer families fault, but it seems that people in my neighborhood find every excuse in the book to blow something up. It causes the dog and baby to go nuts. We aren't big fans of fireworks in my household. The chaos they cause just doesn't seem worth it for me.
4) ... the opening of a Subway sandwich shop 4 miles away from your front door seems like you've struck gold.
If only I could get them to open a Sonic. I'd truly be in heaven.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Goals
So in my quest to not weigh a million pounds and be like every other woman who has had a baby and not happy with themselves, I set a goal for myself. I want to "run", or should I say complete, a marathon before I'm 40. That gives me 3 1/2 years to do it.
I decided for the first time in a long while that I would not procrastinate on this one. I am the queen of working under pressure.. in fact, it is under pressure that I do some of my best work. It is what makes me a great fit for the career I'm in... working well under pressure.
But for this task I have decided to not wait until I am 3 months shy of turning 40. I don't know why I picked 40, it just seemed like a good age. The time in your life when you are either in your prime, or quickly climbing to the top of "the hill".
Well today I took my first step (pun intended) toward reaching my goal. I've done the research, talked with successful marathoners, downloaded a training guide, bought new shoes and winter running gear, and told just enough people to embarrass myself if I don't follow through. I am ready. Up until today it was just talk. Today, during my lunch break I actually began the training schedule. I don't officially have to start the training schedule until the week of Christmas, but hey, I am an overacheiver.
I ran 2 miles at lunch, grabbed a salad and am halfway finished with my 70 ounces of water for the day. Not bad.
Problem is this.. I went to my normal boot camp class this morning. We focused on legs!! So when I stop to think about it I did 700+ squats this morning, my normal core work and then ran 2 miles. No wonder my legs were on fire the last 1/2 mile.
As I was running at noon with my face freezing off because it's 25 degrees outside I thought to myself.... why am I doing this? Who is making me do this? Oh yeah, that would be ME.. just ME.
I don't know if I'll meet my goal in April of running the full Memorial Marathon, but I am sure that when I'm officially "over the hill" I'll run to the top and coast all the way down the back side of it!!
I decided for the first time in a long while that I would not procrastinate on this one. I am the queen of working under pressure.. in fact, it is under pressure that I do some of my best work. It is what makes me a great fit for the career I'm in... working well under pressure.
But for this task I have decided to not wait until I am 3 months shy of turning 40. I don't know why I picked 40, it just seemed like a good age. The time in your life when you are either in your prime, or quickly climbing to the top of "the hill".
Well today I took my first step (pun intended) toward reaching my goal. I've done the research, talked with successful marathoners, downloaded a training guide, bought new shoes and winter running gear, and told just enough people to embarrass myself if I don't follow through. I am ready. Up until today it was just talk. Today, during my lunch break I actually began the training schedule. I don't officially have to start the training schedule until the week of Christmas, but hey, I am an overacheiver.
I ran 2 miles at lunch, grabbed a salad and am halfway finished with my 70 ounces of water for the day. Not bad.
Problem is this.. I went to my normal boot camp class this morning. We focused on legs!! So when I stop to think about it I did 700+ squats this morning, my normal core work and then ran 2 miles. No wonder my legs were on fire the last 1/2 mile.
As I was running at noon with my face freezing off because it's 25 degrees outside I thought to myself.... why am I doing this? Who is making me do this? Oh yeah, that would be ME.. just ME.
I don't know if I'll meet my goal in April of running the full Memorial Marathon, but I am sure that when I'm officially "over the hill" I'll run to the top and coast all the way down the back side of it!!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Facebook Freaks Me Out!!!
I cannot possibly be the only mid-30 something who is completely freaked out by Facebook. Don't get me wrong, it's been an entertaining 4 months since I signed up.
I gave it the kiss of death a few years ago.. boldly saying that "I'd never have a social network page".. and then work stepped in and suggested that I get a Facebook page because we were requiring all of our on-air talent to sign up. Facebook spread through our station like a wildfire. It seems like almost everyone I work with is now a "friend" of mine.
Here's what freaks me out about Facebook.. there are people I haven't seen since high school, college, or a random encounter along the way and THEY ALL FIND ME.
It is very addictive. I will have to admit. I check it all the time, get updates on my phone, and am disappointed when there is nothing new when I log on. I am pathetic. The worst part is now I'm on LinkedIn, Plaxo and something else that I will never figure out... oh yeah, don't forget Twitter (that was a work suggestion as well - follow our website folks as they Tweet?!?).
It has been fun catching up with people without REALLY having to talk to them. Is that bad? I like knowing what is going on in their lives without really having to make the effort to stay in touch. That is what I'm the worst at.. staying in touch. It's not that I don't think about some of these people.. wonder what happened to them, how many kids they have, where they work, etc.. it's just that I don't ever take the time to actually call or track them down.
What is most ironic, I have learned more about my so called "friends" in the past 4 months than I have in the last 20 years in some cases. I love that.
I gave it the kiss of death a few years ago.. boldly saying that "I'd never have a social network page".. and then work stepped in and suggested that I get a Facebook page because we were requiring all of our on-air talent to sign up. Facebook spread through our station like a wildfire. It seems like almost everyone I work with is now a "friend" of mine.
Here's what freaks me out about Facebook.. there are people I haven't seen since high school, college, or a random encounter along the way and THEY ALL FIND ME.
It is very addictive. I will have to admit. I check it all the time, get updates on my phone, and am disappointed when there is nothing new when I log on. I am pathetic. The worst part is now I'm on LinkedIn, Plaxo and something else that I will never figure out... oh yeah, don't forget Twitter (that was a work suggestion as well - follow our website folks as they Tweet?!?).
It has been fun catching up with people without REALLY having to talk to them. Is that bad? I like knowing what is going on in their lives without really having to make the effort to stay in touch. That is what I'm the worst at.. staying in touch. It's not that I don't think about some of these people.. wonder what happened to them, how many kids they have, where they work, etc.. it's just that I don't ever take the time to actually call or track them down.
What is most ironic, I have learned more about my so called "friends" in the past 4 months than I have in the last 20 years in some cases. I love that.
Back to blogging
About 3 years ago my friend Paula and I decided to start blogging. Only problem is it lasted about 3 months and I have no idea even how to find the old blog.. So here I am again, promising myself I'll take another crack at it.
I work at a television station which means nothing more than I have access to some of the strangest stories and video you can ever imagine. I have the job of whittling down what is pertinent and meaningful for the masses. Some times we hit the mark, and sometimes we couldn't hit the side of a barn if we had to.
So story dilema number one (not really, but I find this interesting).. Governor Brad Henry has asked the US Ag Secretary for monetary relief for PECAN farmers in the state of Oklahoma. I'm not knocking pecan farmers, pecan is indeed my most favorite Thanksgiving pie and probably my most favorite nut all around, I am just wondering hard bad is it?
Given the state of the economy today aren't WE ALL feeling the pinch? I personally am feeling more than a pinch, but seem to be making it work. The Governor uses rain from Hurricane Ike and an ice storm last year as the reasons for extra help for the pecan farmers.
I am nowhere near a farmer-type, I don't even have a garden, but my childhood memories involving pecans include an old leathery football and about 8 paper grocery sacks. My dad and grandpa would throw the ball up into the pecan tree ... while my brother and I ran after the falling pecans like squirrels saving up for a long winter. We'd fill up the sacks and then my grandmother would use the pecans for some of the best pecan pie you've ever tasted on Thanksgiving afternoon. The extras were used to make chex mix that I'd destroy on Christmas.
So I write all this to say... I'll be giving thanks this week to the Governor for trying to save, whether needed or not, the pecan farmers of Oklahoma. Long live the pecan farms!! Long live pecan pie - pumpkin is no match.
I work at a television station which means nothing more than I have access to some of the strangest stories and video you can ever imagine. I have the job of whittling down what is pertinent and meaningful for the masses. Some times we hit the mark, and sometimes we couldn't hit the side of a barn if we had to.
So story dilema number one (not really, but I find this interesting).. Governor Brad Henry has asked the US Ag Secretary for monetary relief for PECAN farmers in the state of Oklahoma. I'm not knocking pecan farmers, pecan is indeed my most favorite Thanksgiving pie and probably my most favorite nut all around, I am just wondering hard bad is it?
Given the state of the economy today aren't WE ALL feeling the pinch? I personally am feeling more than a pinch, but seem to be making it work. The Governor uses rain from Hurricane Ike and an ice storm last year as the reasons for extra help for the pecan farmers.
I am nowhere near a farmer-type, I don't even have a garden, but my childhood memories involving pecans include an old leathery football and about 8 paper grocery sacks. My dad and grandpa would throw the ball up into the pecan tree ... while my brother and I ran after the falling pecans like squirrels saving up for a long winter. We'd fill up the sacks and then my grandmother would use the pecans for some of the best pecan pie you've ever tasted on Thanksgiving afternoon. The extras were used to make chex mix that I'd destroy on Christmas.
So I write all this to say... I'll be giving thanks this week to the Governor for trying to save, whether needed or not, the pecan farmers of Oklahoma. Long live the pecan farms!! Long live pecan pie - pumpkin is no match.
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