A Day Trip...

Today my friend Drew and I went on an adventure to Richmond going to an antique and tool show; then Drew decided that since I had yet to explore any of the Civil War Battlefields that surround Richmond that we should detour our way back to Williamsburg by stopping at some of the sites along the way. We were able to visit several important sites around Richmond, including Cold Harbor, Chickahominy Bluffs, and we finished by a stopping at Malvern Hill. Here's a couple shots that I snapped with my phone at the Malvern Hill Battlefield:

(Clicking images will enlarge them)

This is looking up at the Union artillery line from about as close as the Confederate Line got before being turned back.

This is looking down the hill from just behind the Union line...the tree line in the distance is where the Confederates begin their attack.

Worth Pondering: Question Of A Lifetime...

One of the gifts I opened on Christmas morning contained a small blue box with this question printed on top: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" when I opened the box this same question was imprinted on the silver paperweight that was inside the box.

The weight of this question is much heavier than the paperweight, I can assure you of that. I have pondered this question for several days. I think maybe a few years ago I might have known my answer to this question, but at present I can honestly say I have no idea how to answer.

I think I might have a few ideas as to how I might answer, but honestly I don't know.

What about you? Do you know the answer to this question for yourself?

A Very Happy Puppy...

Thanks to my sister Ashley and her husband Zack even Portia had a gift to unwrap this morning!! Happy Christmas Everyone!!

A Very Special Meeting...

So I have to brag...I can't help it...and I don't think you can really blame me...but last weekend I was able to go "home" to Oregon for a quick visit. The main purpose of my trip was to attend a family wedding in Portland. But as an added bonus I was blessed with the opportunity to meet my "niece" little Miss Georgia Benson. Georgia's mom and I have been friends since Middle School, and some of you may recall I served as a bridesman in her wedding. Well, little (and I do mean little) Georgia was born in October so this was the first meeting (the first of many I hope)...I absolutely adore this little girl. Here's our first visit together:

And before I left town I went over one more time to visit with her and we shared a special moment together when she figured out how to hold onto her pacifier and keep it in her mouth all at the same time:

I can't wait to watch this little girl grow up and see all that she has to offer this world!! I eagerly await our next opportunity to spend some time together!

It Truly Is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

I bet you thought I was going to make some post about it being Christmas time, didn't you??

Well, to be honest I think the only thing that could make this time of year even better would be if the Commissioners of NCAA Division I-A Conferences, the Director of Athletics at Notre Dame, and the representatives of the bowl organizations would finally come together and agree to a 68 team Division I-A College Football BCS Playoff.

I mean really most teams have a full month or more off the field before they even get to play in a bowl game. Plus, you end up with multiple undefeated teams at the end of almost every season. And this year we have been left with two Cinderella stories who will be playing against each other (Boise St. vs. TCU in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl) so how do you have the Cinderella ending when they play each other? How hard would it be to bracket the 68 teams playing in the Bowl Series this year into four regions, rank and bracket those regions, then have your playoff. Use the existing sites for each round of the playoffs, have each game and site sponsored just as they are now, sell your commercial time and your TV contracts (much like you do already), then use your existing BCS Bowl sites for your Quarterfinal Round, i.e. : Midwest final at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ; West final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA; East final at the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL; and the South final at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, LA. And then have your semi-final and final games played at which ever site is in the rotation for that year's championship as per the current "double-hosting" system. Let's face it the match-ups would draw in more viewership, especially when a bowl game is slated to go head-to-head against an NFL, NHL, or NBA game...under the current system the weaker bowls are losing viewership due to this, I mean who really thinks that tonight's R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl featuring Middle Tennessee vs. Southern Mississippi is going to win in the ratings against the Sunday Night Football match-up of the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Carolina Panthers? The true advantage for having a playoff is no longer watching artificial match-ups selected by committees and voters that in turn leads to true Cinderella stories where David actually has a chance to defeat Goliath cause he fought his way there and didn't have to rely on some computer system running some numbers to see if he could get his chance against the giant.

I know, I know...wishfully thinking. But a boy can dream right?? Regardless, I am going to enjoy these 34 games in 20 days, cause no matter what College Football Bowl Season is truly the most wonderful time of the year!!