Guess where this guy is going...

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I'm Back

In case you've forgotten what I look like & apologies to those who may have wanted to forget

It's been a while, but I'm back in Auburn. It's been a pretty busy day.  I spent most of my afternoon taking care of financial obligations, and I took part in the annual Brown's taking down of the Christmas tree. If you've ever been within 500 yards of the Brown household whenever the tree is going up or down then you're somewhat familiar with what goes on.

Rachel also decided she wanted to help my clean my house on wheels today. I was sort of hoping all day that it was something avoidable, but like any good female, she whooped me into shape and we started cleaning.  One thing that I love about her so much is that she's the only one that makes me want to do stuff like that. Not for any other reason than I know she wants me to be cleanly and not such a mess. I don't always want to do it, but after it's all said and done I'm very thankful that she's willing to put up with my stubbornness and make me do the things that I often put off.

It's good to be back in Auburn, and even though I'm leaving in two days I will continue to blog and update all of my readers (both of you) of the goings on in my life. I will now leave you with a few pictures of the cleaning job in progress in my manufactured home trailer.

 

Merry Christmas

I don't have much to say today.  That's a good thing because today isn't about me. It's about the birth of Jesus. Let's please remember that today while spending time with our loved ones. Remember he came for us and died for us. Think about that while you're spending time with the people you care about most. Merry Christmas!

Could This Guy Be AU's Next QB?

Cameron Newton is a 6'6 247 lb QB from Binn C.C. in Texas.  Newton played high school football in Atlanta and originally signed and played at Florida.  This kid is a beast.  Word has been circulating about Auburn recruiting him, but nothing became definitive until he made his official visit on Friday.  Newton didn't have a scholarship offer until this afternoon.  A few weeks ago Curtis Luper promised us that there would be a big surprise in recruiting.  Could this be what he's talking about? I hope so.

Enjoy...

The Big What?

The Big Ten Conference has finally come around and is seriously discussing the addition of a 12th team.  I'm not going to go into any details about it because that's why we have ESPN and the AP.  All I have to say is I don't know who they're wanting to add, but please leave the Big East alone.  The ACC already stole Virginia Tech, Boston College, and Miami from them.  They don't really have anyone left except Pitt and West Virginia.  Sure, Cincy was good this year, but with Kelly gone you know it won't last.

The question I want to know is if the Big Ten expands what are they going to call it?  The Big Twelve is already taken.  Personally, I'd like to see them take the "Big" out of it.  We already have the Big Twelve and the Big East.  We get it.  You guys are big.  Plus, having the "Big" something makes it seem like it's circa 1950s (isn't that around the time people first started talking about Joe Pa's retirement?).  It just sounds outdated and old (like the conference itself).  Let's come up with something a little less outdated and more original.    So let's open up the discussion for suggestions on the Big Ten's renaming.  My suggestions:
-The Best We Can Do Is The Rose Bowl Or Lose To A SEC School Conference
-The Conference The Used to Have A Serious Relevant Rivalry
-The Notre Dame's Reject Conference
-The Wisconsin Will Never Win This Conference
-The OhioState, Penn State, and Michigan (if Rich Rod leaves) Conference

All I have to say is that if they go through with this then all eyes will be on the Pac-10.  You guys better step it up too and get with the program.  The Rose Bowl isn't called "the granddaddy of them all" because it's relevant anymore.  Get with the times guys.

I Made It

It feels so good to be on this side of final exams.  It seems like they dragged them out longer this year, but I'm not complaining because they're done.  I survived today, which was supposed to be my hardest day, and the good news is I don't feel like I bombed any of my exams.

What sucked the most was last night...

I was sitting in Daylight Donuts last night while Rachel was quizzing me on my material and the song "Brainstew" kept playing over and over in my head.

This song is a very good description of the rest of my night.  I got back from DD around 2:00 a.m., and I thought I was gonna crash hard.  After one last glance at my notes I decided to turn off the computer and TV and go to bed.  I laid there and tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, until I looked at the clock and realized it had been hours.  3 1/2 hours to be exact.  It was 5:30 a.m. and I was extremely upset that I hadn't slept a wink (there was no "maybe I fell asleep and didn't know it" I promise you I never even came close).  So what did I do?  I was so upset that I took my frustration out on some unlikely victims, my socks.  I saw some dirty socks on the floor, and the thought of not sleeping made me mad and the thought of never having clean socks only escalated the mood.

Don't worry this is only a small portion of the mayhem

I decided to crawl around my room, closest, and bathroom in an attempt to find every dirty sock I could and wash it.  Why did this make me feel better?  I have no clue, but it did.  I washed those socks so hard they had no clue what was coming!  I'm pathetic.

After the sock washing massacre of '09 I started to realize that my first exam was in an hour.  That was when panic set in.

At that point the song "Help I'm Alive" popped into my head and would not leave me for every anxious moment that awaited me the rest of the morning.  I got a 5 hour energy shot and vitamin water energy drink at the Circle K and sped to C-Zone.  Of course Auburn must have decided to hold back everyone's exams until today because the parking lot was full this morning.  Seriously?  I'm having to fight for a parking spot during exams?!  This is when you're supposed to be able to leave 5 minutes before your exam because 90% of the student body is at home enjoying their early break while I'm having to cram for two last finals!  Regardless, I made it on time and finished my first exam in about 30 minutes.  I rocked it.  That's the best I've felt about a test all semester (now that I say that I probably made a D).

Anxiety really set in after I realized that my hardest final was up next.  I was sitting in the Communication's Library (a room with a few broken computers and a TV) going over my notes when my peers, who were arriving to get some last second cramming in before the final, sat down and we compared notes.  Everything we had was different.  People were having a hard time agreeing on what certain things in the study guide meant and what material we were supposed to review for it.  Okay, at this point I'm about to lose it.  I've been a little over 20 hours with no sleep, and now I'm finding out all of the material I've been studying is wrong?  Oh, and to make things interesting we get back our semester papers after the exams.  You know, the big paper you worked all semester (the weekend before it was due) to have perfected by the end of classes.  The one that's worth a huge portion of your final grade.  Yeah, we were gonna get those back after the final.  I'm about to freakin lose my mind at this point.

Anyway, everything turned out fine.  I couldn't remember some of the material for a few questions, but all in all I completed everything and left with an okay feeling about it.  The best part was that I got a B on my semester paper, which was a huge relief.  The only thing that kept me from doing better was my poor APA citation and referencing.  Have I mentioned before that I believe that APA citation, formating, and referencing is freakin retarded (Brown, 2009)?

So I'm fine.  I'm cool.  I'm alive.  It's over and it's time to try to get myself into the Christmas spirit.  I'm getting a little later start on it this year, but I'm so glad that it has finally come around!

Oh, I almost forgot....

References

• Brown, G.. Did you really think I was going to finishing citing this correctly? . Auburn: Whatever, 2009. I'm freakin tired.

Proof I'm Alive

Wait. Hold on just a second...

UPDATE: You guys suck at supplying encouraging support.


UPDATE: Out of my first exam, and studying for my last one today and this semester.  I'm feeling pretty good after round one.  Let's hope I can keep it up.  Leave me some encouraging support under the comments section!

Ok, that's more like it.  Yes, I'm alive.  I don't feel like it right now because it's 6:15 in the morning, and I've been awake all night.  Again.  I promise there will be a more lengthy post coming this afternoon about how much I hate school, exams, Alabama football, and the condition I've been in for the past 4 days.  In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great Tuesday morning.

Dashing through the rain/fog (weekend recap)

(If you think this is dangerous...then you're probably right)

This weekend has been one full of sleep and bad weather (I warned you).  I would like to fill you in on all the interesting going ons, but besides two finals on Tuesday there's really nothing.  I'm really ready for Christmas break.  To think that I might have to pull another all nighter again makes me cringe.  This past Thursday I studied all night until Friday morning (it didn't really do any good) and it drained me.  Eric and I both had finals on Friday morning so we stayed up at Daylight Donuts studying all night.  We both attempted to get some sleep sometime around 4:00.  I wasn't successful.  I laid on the sofa for a long time with my hood pulled over my head and the drawstrings tied as tight as they would get so as to keep out the wonderful fluorescent lighting.  For some reason when I know I have to have sleep, that's the time when I'm most likely not going to fall asleep.  I wish sometimes that I just had an on/off switch.  Not only did I miss out on sleep, but it also just threw my schedule completely off.  I ended up sleeping an hour or so Friday afternoon and then crashing sometime around 8:00 that night only to wake up at 5:00 Saturday morning.  Is there an equivalent to jet lag from studying?  If there is then I'm pretty sure I've got it.  Please hurry up Tuesday afternoon.  I sincerely look forward to the long awaited 20-something days off that you're bring me.

UPDATE: I finished this post and my studying just in time to watch King of the Hill.  I'm a lot more excited about this than I should be.

Baby It's COOOOOOOLD Outside!!!

Holy freakin moly it's cold outside! I haven't slept due to finals (I can't describe to you how terrible my final was this morning) and when I got in my car this morning it was 31 degrees.  The outlook for the next 5 days doesn't look much better.  This weekend calls for a 90% chance of rain with sub 40 degree temperatures.  Don't worry...it won't snow.  The weather channel is predicting that it'll get no warmer than 41 degrees and no colder than 38 degrees.  Translation: the weather is gonna SUCK!  Cold and wet weather doesn't sound fun.  If there was ever a weekend to hibernate then I believe this is it.

Christmas Card

click to enlarge

Anonymous Comets (take that Kurt!)

Soooooo I've sold out.  I want people to start commenting on my posts so I've decided to open up the comments section to where anyone can make a comment.  So say something dad-gummit!

This is why I'm fat

(2 lbs of shredded & sliced pork, 32 oz of beans & stew, 8 slices of bread)

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Mike & Ed's tailgate platter.  Eric and I decided this evening that we were going to take on this mammoth platter all by ourselves.  It was a classic example of man (in this case men) vs. food and food won.  There was plenty to take home and store as leftovers.  The best part is that it only cost us about $12 a person for all of this food.  I think I'm going to lay down on the sofa for a while.

Arena College Football

As everyone is aware, this is Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseums last season as the home of the Auburn Basketball Team.  I have an idea of what we can do with it.  Instead of tearing it down we should put in some artificial turf and start intercollegiate arena football.

Think of it like the JV football teams of old except this would be considered a completely different sport, separate from the football team.  Those who played regular football and arena football would be considered two-sport athletes.  The football team could send scout teamers and underclassmen who most likely wouldn't play, or redshirt freshmen who don't have much playing experience, and they would earn time getting acclimated to the college game. 


The season would start in early April and play until the end of May (this is just a suggestion).  Regardless, it would be fun to watch it in the spring.  Of  course other schools would have to fall in line to make this work, but honestly, who wouldn't want to watch Auburn and Alabama play each other in arena after the basketball season has died down and college baseball hasn't quite heated up.  

It's Official: Auburn vs. Northwestern in the Outback Bowl

I'm late on this one, but tonight all of our suspicions were confirmed.  Auburn is in the Outback Bowl, but what we didn't expect is that their opponent will be Northwestern.  I'm so glad we won't have to watch an Auburn vs. Wisconsin bowl game.  The game will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, FL on New Years Day at 10 a.m.

Tigers Eyeing Outback Bowl

Auburn fans should expect a bowl invitation to come from the Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay, FL.  It would seem as though Auburn is going to come out a real winner, out of all the 7-5 SEC teams.  It erally makes sense when you think about it.  Tennessee has frequented the bowl too much recently.  South Carolina was there last year.  And why would they invite a fan base in UGA who views their season as a disaster?  The Outback Bowl CEO Jim McVay said about the Auburn fan base after the Iron Bowl: 


"When we heard of the Auburn fans chanting at the end of Friday's game, "It's great to be an Auburn Tiger!" We knew there was something special about the excitement around this football team. The Tigers have everything we are looking for in a New Year's Day team. They are a tough, exciting team, extremely well coached...and... have what might be the best fans in college football." 


Wouldn't you rather have a fan base that's excited about the direction their program is heading?  I would think so.  Auburn's opponent will most likely be either Northwestern or Wisconsin, and everyone seems to think it will be Wisconsin.  You can order tickets from Auburn's website and students can get half priced tickets from the Auburn Ticket Office. War Eagle and see you in Tampa!

AU Students Get Half Price Bowl Tickets

You heard correct boys and girls.  AU students who attend the Auburn men's basketball game Monday Dec 7th will receive vouchers for half priced bowl tickets with a valid AU Ignited card.  Better get there early!

For Your Entertainment & My Embarrassment

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic


You're going to wonder why we did it...and why you actually watched it.  The best part is the Out-Takes towards the end.  Enjoy.

Thoughts From My Sofa

It's been a rough few days.  I've been pretty sick since Monday.  I was sitting in class early Monday morning, and I know I must have been running a fever.  I was terribly uncomfortable the entire time.  I've been awake probably a grand total of 12 hours since I got back from class on Monday morning.  It has been rough to say the least.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday.  I waited about 45 minutes to get back there only to be told that my problem was viral and that I needed to just sleep.  I was upset that I didn't get any meds.  Since I left the doc empty handed (school excuses though), my mother and father have been on a crusade to find me any and every type of medicine they can find to help me feel better.  You've got to love parents.  I really do appreciate them doing that, but I've got to say, they've come up with some crazy stuff that, quite frankly, I think aren't worth trying.  To the left is a picture of the stuff I've been trying.  There's Tylenol Cold, Zinc Lozenges, Advil (disguised in an aleve bottle), some herbal tea, and good old fashioned whiskey.  So far, the only thing that has really worked is the whiskey mixed with honey.  However, in all fairness I just got the tea and tylenol earlier this evening.  I'll let you know how that all works out.

(Picture of my living room tree, circa 2007. It hasn't been taken down since it was put up.)

I've been noticing that a lot of people are starting to get into the Christmas spirit.  I wish I could join you. Being sick and knowing that exams and papers are around the corner, I'm having a really hard time feeling the Christmas mood.  If you've been following my blog then you know that I have been listening to a lot of Christmas music lately, but the jolly spirit of the holidays still evades me.  I think once December 15th rolls around and classes are through, then I'll be in the Christmas mood.  Please feel free to help in anyway you can think of to help reel me in.  Bring cookies, presents, or food.  Yea, that'll help. Bring food.  In the meantime, I'll continue to watch the same crappy TV shows with hopes that I'll feel better soon.

Let's put another shrimp on the barbie mate!

It looks like Auburn is set for another new years day bowl with the Wisconsin Badgers.  This is the third postseason matchup since 2003 between Auburn and Wisconsin.  I don't think any Auburn fan can complain about waking up at 10/9c a.m. to watch our beloved tigers play in Tampa.  I can think of much worse situations (papajohns.com, independence, or liberty bowl).