...and see directly into our apartment! After what seemed likes months of waiting, it finally happened. Our trusty ole wooden balcony was replaced today with a nice bright and shiny rod-iron balcony. Now anyone who wishes can stare directly into our apartment and we lose our private little sun room.
As I write this, I must say that even if people can see into our apartment, our view down from our balcaony has dramatically improved. I can see all the grass and trees, and even all the people walking by. Now we have a much better location for people watching, we can just sit there and stare straight through the metal balcony and look at everything below.
So after all that moaning about the loss of privacy, I may actually grow to like this new view.
October 26, 2007
October 13, 2007
Friday Night Lights
Tonight, we went to the home of "MOJO," the home of the Permian Panthers, and the original home to "Friday Night Lights," Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, TX to watch the Odessa Permain Panthers take on their rival Midland Lee Rebels.
I guess it is something that must be witnessed by any true sports fan. Watching at game at Ratliff Stadium even made an ESPN list of "101 Things All Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die." It came in at #92, but the list includes anything from around the world! (Click Here for the article)
I have witnessed many friday night ballgames on every level, but nothing compares to a rivalry game at Permian. What a site! The parking lot was packed with cars everywhere. With over 4700 parking spaces and at least twice that in people, the lot was a mad house. This is the first High School game that I have been to that required advanced tickets to get in the gate. We even had our hand on some season tickets. Season tickets for a high school team.
It was something to see, a needed cultural experience for anyone who has no idea how big football is in Texas. Just come to Odessa and see first hand what a big deal it is. After all this MOJO football, I'm ready to get back to the sixman ranks next week.
I guess it is something that must be witnessed by any true sports fan. Watching at game at Ratliff Stadium even made an ESPN list of "101 Things All Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die." It came in at #92, but the list includes anything from around the world! (Click Here for the article)
I have witnessed many friday night ballgames on every level, but nothing compares to a rivalry game at Permian. What a site! The parking lot was packed with cars everywhere. With over 4700 parking spaces and at least twice that in people, the lot was a mad house. This is the first High School game that I have been to that required advanced tickets to get in the gate. We even had our hand on some season tickets. Season tickets for a high school team.
It was something to see, a needed cultural experience for anyone who has no idea how big football is in Texas. Just come to Odessa and see first hand what a big deal it is. After all this MOJO football, I'm ready to get back to the sixman ranks next week.
October 9, 2007
Best Sixman Game Ever
After a week of work, we drove 3.5 hours to watch a sixman football game in Happy, TX. The game featured the #5 Valley Patriots vs. #9 Happy Cowboys. The game turned out to be one of the most exciting games I have seen ever. (A close call between this game and the Valley v. Paducah 54-53 game a couple of years ago in the playoffs.) The Patriots were leading most of the game and were ahead 20-14 at halftime. The Patriots could have had a more commanding lead had they not had two drives stall inside the 20 yard line.
After halftime, the tides turned. Valley continued to lead throughout the second half, but Happy was finding it easier to score. Valley would drive 4 yards at a time, working really hard to score and extend the lead. Happy however, would score quickly after 3-4 plays to close the gap again.
Finally it happened, one of Valley's drives stalled and Happy struck quickly to take a 36-33 lead with 5:00 remaining in the game. Now it was Valley's turn to try to methodically drive down the field to regain the lead. After reaching the 15 yard line and running 2 plays, Valley was faced with a 3rd down play with 0:40 remaining in the game. FUMBLE!! The ball is snapped over the QB's head and Happy recovers! 0:38 remaining.
Happy wins, right!? Happy is celebrating like crazy, because they now have the ball and can simply take a knee to end the game and win their homecoming. First down, routine kneel down, and Valley timeout to extend the game. 0:36 remaining. Second down, routine kneel down again, but wait FUMBLE!!! Valley recovers with 0:31 seconds remaining.
Valley runs 3 plays that go nowhere and are faced with a 4th down play with 0:13 remaining. After calling their last timeout, Valley heads back onto the field for one last shot at winning. Valley throws a misdirection screen pass to SCORE A TD! After the extra point, Valley 41 Happy 36 with 0:05 remaining in the game.
Happy has one last shot after the kick off and manage to run down to the 30 yard line before fumbling the ball. That's the ball game. Click Here for the article from the Amarillo Globe News.
I had almost posted the final score online as Happy 36 Valley 33 when the first fumble occurred. Thankfully, I hadn't yet submitted the score. I can only image how it would feel to lose a game, much less homecoming, on a fumbled kneel down. The question remains: "How do you fumble a kneel down?"
After halftime, the tides turned. Valley continued to lead throughout the second half, but Happy was finding it easier to score. Valley would drive 4 yards at a time, working really hard to score and extend the lead. Happy however, would score quickly after 3-4 plays to close the gap again.
Finally it happened, one of Valley's drives stalled and Happy struck quickly to take a 36-33 lead with 5:00 remaining in the game. Now it was Valley's turn to try to methodically drive down the field to regain the lead. After reaching the 15 yard line and running 2 plays, Valley was faced with a 3rd down play with 0:40 remaining in the game. FUMBLE!! The ball is snapped over the QB's head and Happy recovers! 0:38 remaining.
Happy wins, right!? Happy is celebrating like crazy, because they now have the ball and can simply take a knee to end the game and win their homecoming. First down, routine kneel down, and Valley timeout to extend the game. 0:36 remaining. Second down, routine kneel down again, but wait FUMBLE!!! Valley recovers with 0:31 seconds remaining.
Valley runs 3 plays that go nowhere and are faced with a 4th down play with 0:13 remaining. After calling their last timeout, Valley heads back onto the field for one last shot at winning. Valley throws a misdirection screen pass to SCORE A TD! After the extra point, Valley 41 Happy 36 with 0:05 remaining in the game.
Happy has one last shot after the kick off and manage to run down to the 30 yard line before fumbling the ball. That's the ball game. Click Here for the article from the Amarillo Globe News.
I had almost posted the final score online as Happy 36 Valley 33 when the first fumble occurred. Thankfully, I hadn't yet submitted the score. I can only image how it would feel to lose a game, much less homecoming, on a fumbled kneel down. The question remains: "How do you fumble a kneel down?"
October 3, 2007
Top Ten Baby Preparations
1. Properly install the car seat
2. Set up the nursery
3. Complete the hospital pre-registration paperwork
4. Complete the HR paperwork for M'Lynn's maternity leave
5. Watch the Lamaze DVD
6. Go on a stork tour
7. Wash all the new clothes
8. Pack our hospital bags
9. Assemble all the baby gear
10. Enjoy our last days as just the two of us
2. Set up the nursery
3. Complete the hospital pre-registration paperwork
4. Complete the HR paperwork for M'Lynn's maternity leave
5. Watch the Lamaze DVD
6. Go on a stork tour
7. Wash all the new clothes
8. Pack our hospital bags
9. Assemble all the baby gear
10. Enjoy our last days as just the two of us
12:2 Times October 2007
Showers of Abundance
Thank you to all who have showered us with baby gifts in preparation for The Baby. You have blessed us more than we could have ever imagined. Thank you again.
The Baby’s first baby shower was in Garden City, actually St. Lawrence, on September 15. M’Lynn opened all the gifts and visited with all of her friends and family. It was incredible to see the car loads of gifts arrive back at our house. There were so many great things that The Baby will love and we will use daily. The only thing we are missing now is The Baby.
After the baby shower, we visited with our grandparents. M’Lynn’s grandmother and mine were both able to make it to the shower. They stopped by the GC house to have lunch and look on as we went through all the gifts again. It is always great to receive the advise from grandparents (and mothers too) about the way that they raised their children. We have learned many tidbits of advice from them that can only be learned from years of experience.
Again, a GIANT thank you to all who attended the GC shower.
Family Reunion
Keeping with the new tradition that we are to be busy ever single weekend in September, we attended a family reunion in Wall on September 22. We had a great time visiting and just generally hanging out and talking with relatives that we haven’t seen in a while.
After the meal, we drove out to visit M’Lynn’s grandparents in Eola. We stopped by their house, sat around the table, ate some watermelon, petted the kittens, and took tons of photos. We were encouraged to see Raymond, M’Lynn grandfather, in good spirits and acting like his normal self again. It was the first time is a long time that we were able to sit around and catch up with them without the business of a planned celebration. We really enjoyed our time.
Thank you to all who have showered us with baby gifts in preparation for The Baby. You have blessed us more than we could have ever imagined. Thank you again.
The Baby’s first baby shower was in Garden City, actually St. Lawrence, on September 15. M’Lynn opened all the gifts and visited with all of her friends and family. It was incredible to see the car loads of gifts arrive back at our house. There were so many great things that The Baby will love and we will use daily. The only thing we are missing now is The Baby.
After the baby shower, we visited with our grandparents. M’Lynn’s grandmother and mine were both able to make it to the shower. They stopped by the GC house to have lunch and look on as we went through all the gifts again. It is always great to receive the advise from grandparents (and mothers too) about the way that they raised their children. We have learned many tidbits of advice from them that can only be learned from years of experience.
Again, a GIANT thank you to all who attended the GC shower.
Family Reunion
Keeping with the new tradition that we are to be busy ever single weekend in September, we attended a family reunion in Wall on September 22. We had a great time visiting and just generally hanging out and talking with relatives that we haven’t seen in a while.
After the meal, we drove out to visit M’Lynn’s grandparents in Eola. We stopped by their house, sat around the table, ate some watermelon, petted the kittens, and took tons of photos. We were encouraged to see Raymond, M’Lynn grandfather, in good spirits and acting like his normal self again. It was the first time is a long time that we were able to sit around and catch up with them without the business of a planned celebration. We really enjoyed our time.
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