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Texas Tech Red Raiders #2

First things first ... What up Lynds?

Wow!!!  What a game!!  Texas Tech vs Texas on Saturday was the best college football game, and possibly the best football game I have ever seen.  If you did not get a chance to see it, check out ESPN U, as they have been replaying it all day, and should be replying ti all week.  If you do not have ESPN U, check ESPN Classic tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4, at 6:00 pm CST.

If you plan to watch it, skip to the next paragraph.  This sentence is merely here to allow you to process the thought of skipping a paragraph so that the game is not spoiled for you.  You've been warned, now move it!!!  If you want to watch the video instead of reading my play-by-play, you can scroll down and watch the video of the last few minutes.  Sheesh, can you believe the Longhorns came back and won?  What a heart breaker.  I told you to move it, so move it!!   OK now for the real results of the game.  When UT had the ball on their last drive, I looked at the clock and saw they had 4 minutes and some change.  I don't remember if I verbalized it, but I kept thinking, "either let them score so we have enough time to go down and win the game, or force them to kick a field goal and go for the onside kick.  Tick Tick Tick down to 2 minutes and change.  At this point I figured UT was going to sit on the ball and run it down under 30 seconds before scoring.  THey finally punched it in with what 1:36 left in the game.  I was so upset, but knew that our offense was one of the few that could actually march the length of the field for a score.  Our FG kicking has been sketchy at best this year, so I just knew we would drive down, setup for the FG, and it would be blocked or missed.  WIth about 10 seconds left, Graham Harrell, QB for the Red Raiders, threw a pass that hit his receiver in the hands and bounced into the air and right to a UT defender who dropped the interception almost on cue giving the Red Raiders one more chance.  That was all they needed.  With 8 seconds left Graham threw the ball to Michael Crabtree, who happened to be double covered.  Crabs caught the ball, broke away from the defender and walked into the endzone with 0:01 left in the game.  The crowd rushed the field and eventually earned 2 personal foul penalties which led to the Red Raiders kicking off from the 7.5 yard line.  

You really should watch the game, but if you can't, here is a video of the last 1:30 to 1:40 seconds of the game.  

 I will leave you with a quote from Texas Tech head coach, Mike Leach following the game against the Texas Longhorns:

"When you have fans that are as great as ours, 

sometimes you have to kickoff from the 7 yard line."

Everyone Needs A Mustache!!!

I have tried to grow mustaches in the past, but was never successful because I always grew impatient.  No, I am not talking about gardening, I said impatient ... no s.  Well, this time I did it.  I finally realized I was at a point in my life where the ones I love can do nothing but beg me to shave, and there is no need to impress any young people with my God givin' good looks.  

I had to be sneaky about it, because there is no way that Ramona would have let it happen if she knew the plan, so I started out growing a beard to conceal "The Stache".  I grew the beard for about a month, periodically trimming everything but the upper lip in an attempt to keep everything looking decent, but at the same time allowing my lip fuzz to prosper.  After about a month of growing the beard, I shaved off everything but "The Stache" and a soul patch (little part below the lower lip, but above the chin).  I laughed as I looked at myself in the mirror, and then laughed some more as I thought of what Ramona's reaction would be.

Ramona is the sweetest person I know, and I just knew exactly how the conversation would go:

Ramona: Baby ...

Me: What? 

Ramona: What's on your face?

Me: What, you don't like it?

Ramona: No, are you keeping it?  I mean, it will probably grow on me.  It's not that bad.

Me: If you don't like it, I'll shave it, I just wanted to see your reaction.

Ramona: No, it's up to you.  I don't care, because I just love you for the person, not what's on your face.

Boy was I wrong.  She was at the grocery store with Karsen when "The Stache" was born.  She came home and I was doing Physics homework, which was great because I had actually forgot that I had "The Stache", but quickly remembered after she came through the door.  THere was no, "Hello," "I love you," "Can you help me with the groceries?"  The first thing that came from her sweet lips was, "Shave that off your face.  Matthew, it looks like you have a caterpillar on your lip.  I don't want to kiss that. Go shave."  Of course I responded with, "Oh come on.  You know it will grow on you," as she was running away from me screaming something like, "don't touch me until its gone!!"  

Well, here we are, 3 or 4 weeks later and guess whose still here?  That's right, Ramona i still here with Karsen, and "The Stache" is still thriving in its natural habitat.  My mother said handlebar mustaches give her the willies, so I can't wait for her reaction.  Ramona enjoys the laughter that I bring to her life, so its not all bad.  Hope you get a laugh as well.  Enjoy ... 

 

Did someone order a mustache??

You talking to me??  Are YOU talking to me?

 

Most interesting young lad.  Tell me more.

 

Now that's just crazy talk.

 

Head shot for the "Braveheart" remake.

 

Same, but for "Tombstone" / "Wyatt Earp" / "Lonesome Dove"

 

Me sporting a pair of Ramona's shades.  

No I don't normally wear them, but yes, I think I could pull it off with "The Stache".

 

My "Friendly" Face 

Where you bean?

It seems like it has been a month and a half since my last blog post.  Where were we?  Ah yes, Hurrican Ike ... talk about a small man complex.  He came, he went, we survived.  He was all talk, just blowing wind the whole time he was here.  Sure is nice now that he is gone.

So today is Halloween and Karsen has been in costume all day.  This year he opted for a much more masculine costume.  Last year he was "Tigger the Tiger" and this year he is "Skeleton Man".

Tigger the Tiger

  

Skeleton Man

Ramona is the complete opposite of my mother when it comes to this "Holiday".  My mother, and I can't say that I blame her, will turn off all of her lights and go into the comforts of her own beyroom to avoid the rush of trick-or-treaters who have never shown up in her neighborhood.  I am beginning to wonder if there is some kind of law in this neighborhood that makes it illegal to trick-or-treat.  On the other hand, Ramona has been talking all day about how she can't wait till the little trick-or-treaters come around to which I reply in my "nice voice", "Buh-bee, you will be waiting for a long time before you see your first trick-or-treater at this house.  I think everyone knows the residents of this neighborhood are all in bed by 6:00 pm and you are just wasting your time walking through this neighborhood."  Next year, Karsen will get to go on his first trick-or-treating adventure.  He would have been able to go this year, but, his parents are both on "diets", and we haven't exactly broken his teeth in with sugar yet.

Speak of the devil, we just had a trick-or-treater.  A little one, smaller than Karsen, dressed as a fairy in her Daddy's arms.  Sorry, no pic.  Maybe next year I will take pictures of all of the gremlins and goblins.

Happy Halloween .. I need to go turn off all of the lights.

Let's Get Current ... Well, Almost

Well, here we are.  I was getting pretty tired right before the power went out and the only thing that was keeping me awake was the fact that I wanted to be able to say that I stood outside with Ike.  Luckily, I had my rain gear from hunting and was ale to wear that while I stood outside in the wind and rain to feel the power of the storm.  The winds just kept getting stronger and stronger, but I never really felt in danger.  My only fear was the roof blowing off and the house taking water during the storm.  

I was enjoying the "breezy" weather, but eventually, Ramona had enough of my storm watch, and instructed me that it was time for me to come in.  I think she was afraid I was going to blow away, so I complied with her "request" (I'm not real sure she was giving me an option, but I like to think I had a choice).  I couldn't believe it, but it was actually louder inside than it was outside.  Outside, you just heard the wind blowing in the trees, and howling, but inside it was a constant howl/roar as it blew over the chimney and whistled through the door jam.  I didn't sleep a wink, not because I was afraid or nervous, but because every time I got close to drifting off, another 80-90 mph "gust" came through making way too much noise.

The next day (actually later the same day) at around 7:30 or 8:00 am I told Ramona that I had to go sleep for a little while because I was exhausted.  I've stayed up a lot longer than 24 hours before, but I felt like I had been up for 2 days.  It's amazing how all of that nervous energy just wipes you out.  I slept for a whole 3 hours!!!

Ramona and Karsen were being so quiet while I was napping, and I knew it had to be hard, so I got up thinking I might be able to start cleaning things up.  Wrong!!  Ike was a little bigger than expected and we were still feeling hurricane force gusts in the early afternoon.  It rained all day long, but we did take a trip around town to see what kind of a punch Ike had.  Let's just say, if Ike had seen "the shirt" he would not have been very happy.  After seeing some of the damage, I think someone may have heard a little worse shirts or signs up.

We were without power for 4 solid days.  It didn't bother me as much, and I think I have those lovely days on various deer leases to thank for that.  My dad and I have stayed in some pretty rough deer "camps", ad as a child, I didn't really take naps during the day, so you learn how to deal with the boredom.  Karsen, of course, had no problems with no electricity, but he did get a little grumpy when he was forced to take a nap while "glistening" in the light.  I believe that if you refrain from using the word sweat around people when they are baking in the heat, that their attitude is slightly better.  

It never really got that hot after the cold front came in, but the second night was rough as far as sleep.  I awoke between 5:30 and 6:00 am everyday, which is something that I have not done since, well, ever.  Flash (dog) enjoyed the power outage.  He is an Italian Greyhound and they do not have an ounce of fat on their body.  He was actually able to sleep on top of a blanket instead of buried underneath multiple layers.  He has since returned to his shivering and burrowing.  Ramona is thrilled to have a/c once again, and I am really enjoying walking into a room, hitting a light switch, and actually seeing a change take place in the level of light in the room.

I still have not taken the time to get the pictures from the camera onto the computer, but don't worry, they are coming.

We Are Back!!!

We finally got power last night around 6:00 pm, but didn't realize it until 9:00 pm.  I know what you might be thinking, and to quiet your fears, no, we were not the family sitting in the dark with all the light switches off, a/c off, and all electrical appliances unplugged.  We were actually out enjoying the cold a/c from the truck while driving around admiring those who had power.  I have so much to write, but I know so many of you are feverishly checking this blog at all hours, so I am taking a little time right now to make a small post.  I was actually trying to post a blog when our power went out for good at 3:35 am on Saturday morning, so I will be including that blog in this post.  I am sorry, kind of, but you will have to wait in anticipation for the next entry which will include many of the emotions and activities that were occurring on Saturday.  It will be good, and it will include pictures.  If I can find the software to add video from our camera it will include that as well.  Thanks you all for your thoughts and prayers during this event, and I hope you enjoy our featured presentation:

Saturday Morning @ approximately 3:30 am:

We still have power, although it has gone off about 4 times since my last post.  The news is now saying the eye may miss Houston as it has taken a Northern turn.  If this is what happens, we should miss the strongest winds.  I stood outside for a good 10-15 minutes earlier just admiring the winds.  We had some pretty good gusts while I was out there, and the trees were starting to bend a bit.  I kept hearing a sound that sounded like brakes on a car as you ease off of them at a stop light waiting for it to turn green.  I also witnessed the howling of the wind as it rushes over the houses and through the trees.  The rain has arrived and the news shows that we have received .25 inches, but other places have already received 2.5+ inches in Houston.  They are estimating 10 hours of rain left for Houston before Ike moves on to greener pastures.  The strongest winds should be here within an hour.  Ramona and Karsen have moved to the living room with me.  I moved a mattress in for us to sleep on.  Storm is moving at 10 mph.  I'll continue to post for as long as I have power.

Just had our second power blip.  Centerpoint energy said they now have 1,300,000 customers without power (2.25 million people) out of 2 million customers (4.5 million people).  Another energy company has 100,000 without power.  We are getting into it now, but still aren't at Hurricane status.  The news has registered 50+ mph gusts out in Tomball and sustained winds of mid 40s.  75 mph wind gusts for the University of Houston.