Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like the Cubs' chances of winning the World Series in 2011. Many fans of the Chicago Cubs find a source of pride in the fact that the Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 (haven't been to the big show since 1945). There's a bit of mystique there, for sure. But the stars are lining up for the Cubs to finally win it all again. Why am I so confident? Because ALL of my favorite teams/athletes are on a roll. Auburn just won the college football national championship, Duke is on their way to winning a second straight college basketball championship and Phil Mickelson could very well win his second straight Masters Golf Tournament in a few months.



OK, so I adopted the Sacramento Kings as my favorite NBA team before this season started and they are currently the 2nd worst team in the league. I'm not an expert. The Cubs have a new manager, some new players and will be running on high emotions after the recent death of local icon Ron Santo. They may not win it all this year but it will definitely be an interesting season!

This week, I love (recent) history. My company is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. I performed some light research to determine the more significant events that have occurred since my company opened for business. You know what? A lot of interesting stuff has happened in the last 75 years! I never enjoyed history classes because I couldn't relate to things that happened in the 1600's. But I find that the closer the even happened to my lifetime, the more interest I'll show in that event. Landing on the moon, inventions, cultural moments - stuff like that. I want to learn more about World War II now. If there is a must-read book about WWII out there, let me know about it!

This week, I don't like being torn about not attending the viewing of Auburn's BCS Coach's Trophy. The trophy was paraded at a few Wal Marts in Georgia and Alabama last week. It also made a stop very near to our house here in Birmingham. I figured that since this location was an Academy Sports and not a Wal Mart, it wouldn't be considered too tacky if I were to have my photo taken with the trophy. I really, really, really wanted to go but opted not to at the last moment. I had that rotten feeling you get when you pass up one of those "now or never" moments. But, it turns out that A LOT of people went with their gut feeling. I'm glad I missed that big crowd. I'm not sure about the caliber of fans at the Academy Sports though. Reports show that some interesting characters showed up at the Wal Mart stops prior to the Birmingham appearance.

A Weekend to Remember

Last Saturday my in-laws arrived.  They came in town for a visit and to watch the National Championship game with us. 

On Sunday afternoon we started to get some freezing rain...then sleet...then snow.  This pattern continued through the night and into the day on Monday.

This probably doesn't seem like a lot to some of you who are used to frozen tundras but for us here in Alabama this shuts the city down...literally. 

Monday - NO WORK!!!!  Which worked out really well and allowed me to prepare for our National Championship party!



Here we are before the game....calm, cool, and collected.  (Wellllll maybe not calm.)

And here we are after the game!  Auburn wins!!!!!!  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!



Couponing = Cluttered Pantry

For all of you who coupon I am sure you have this problem as well...NO SPACE.  I went from buying 1 box of cereal a week to 4 and 1 bottle of salad dressing now I have 9 in my pantry.  Love those saving, but man my pantry was out-of-control. 

This post would have been so much more effective had I taken a before picture, but I didn't.  Just take my word...it was bad!

Not anymore...nice and organized! 

Yes folks that is 9 bottles of salad dressing...but at $ .15 each I can't help myself!

Like, Love and Don't Like

This week, I like feeling better. I came down with a bad cold right before Christmas. My symptoms included a failing voice, lots of coughing and lots of congestion in my chest. Nearly a month later, I can now say that I've kicked the cold. I still suffer from an occasional cough but I think that's because my body is used to coughing - it's just a normal reflex now.

This week, I love the Auburn Tigers! Who would have imagined a national championship? Not this season - but ever?!?! I don't want to take a way from Oregon's great play but I think the Auburn players were rusty and nervous - particularly Cam Newton. But they got the job done and brought home the crystal! How about that Auburn defense?!?!



This highlight doesn't include the safety.



Thumbs up to: The Auburn Defense, Michael Dyer and Special Teams.
Thumbs down to: Nick Fairley's personal foul penalty, Eric Smith's missed block that almost killed Cam, Eric Smith's dropped touchdown pass and Eric Smith's personal foul penalty.

This week, I don't like ice. On January 9th, we received a constant pelting of tiny frozen rain droplets at our house. These droplets stuck together and formed a thick sheet of ice over...everything outdoors. The temperature has been so cold this week that much of that ice remains. I'm sick of looking at it. It's not snow...it's ice. I'd probably have a different outlook if it was snow. Snow is fun. Ice is not fun. By the way, what happened to the 8 inches of snow we were supposed to get in central Alabama? Sign me up to be a meteorologist because not having to account for false information seems like easy money to me.