Here I go, girl

I've never been called dainty. I was the tallest person in my class--male or female--until junior high. While the rest of my classmates were still shopping in the kids' section, I was buying bras and old lady shoes. And yes, I did pageants for six years, which means that there was a time in my life when I willingly paraded around wearing a swimsuit in public, but it's not ever been something I'm comfortable with. I've always been the big girl.

As I've gotten older, my aversion to swimsuits hasn't changed. If anything, it's just gotten more pronounced. Thankfully there are few occasions that call for bikinis these days and I managed to avoid wearing a swimsuit at all for several years.

Something one can't avoid? Blue jeans. After all, they're America's casual wear. And when you're overweight, they're one of the hardest articles of clothing to buy. At my largest, I remember standing in front of the mirror at Gap, trying to find a pair that looked the least horrible on my fat thighs and covered my muffin top completely. It was painful, excruciating even, to try on that unforgiving denim. Bring on the yoga pants!

So it's not a coincidence that, 14 months ago, when I started this diet journey, I promised myself that getting to my goal size would be rewarded with a really great pair of blue jeans.

Yesterday was that day. After giving up on the Hogs' Oxford debacle, I traveled to Tulsa and entered the premium denim section of Saks. And while I'm still not ready for skinny jeans, I did purchase a really expensive pair of jeans that make me feel fabulous and help me celebrate the achievement of my goal. They're FOUR SIZES smaller than the jeans I bought just over a year ago. And yeah, they were an extravagant purchase, but every time I wear them, I'll think about all the hours and hours of sweat on the treadmill. The hundreds of yoga poses and thousands of gallons of water. All of the times I really wanted a cheeseburger but ate the salad instead.

I'll be showing off my fabulous butt in my new jeans this Friday evening on my date with Jen. :) Until then, it's lettuce and water.

Where did the weekend go?

While I realize that the work week is five days and the weekend only two, it seems those two blessed days are much less than 28% of my week. The time from Friday at five until Sunday at ten seems to fly by, and I'm often left wondering how in the world I wasted the past 52 hours. Don't get me wrong, I love my job and thank God for it every single night, but still... I'd be lying if I said that I never considered what it would be like to be a lady of leisure. I live for my weekends and days of watching football (hooray for the first full weekend of the pigskin!), reading books, visiting friends, and sleeping in. Hey, 8 a.m. is sleeping in these days.

Last week was quite busy, so I was in bed before 9 p.m. on Friday night. Yesterday I slept in, watched football all day, then headed over to Rogers for church. I've been looking for a church home for over a year, first in Conway and now in NWA, and have never found a place where I belonged. Every time I get to go to chapel at work I leave filled with the Spirit and full of peace and joy, and I really want to find that same feeling someplace on the weekends. Oh, I know worship is about Him and not about me, but still, I really want to be someplace I can be happy.

So yesterday I crossed the county to meet a coworker and his family for Saturday night church (and no, it wasn't LDS), and I loved it. The praise and worship was awesome. The message was inspiring. Granted, it was only my first trip, but I think it's a great start. So I'm praying for God's guidance on whether that will be my new church home.

After church I went to visit some friends who recently moved to Rogers who paid $35 to watch the Hog game on PPV. Yeah, we won, but it was not pretty. It's going to be a loooooong season, Razorback fans.

Now I'm gearing up for the week. I'll be traveling to all four of our offices in 24 hours, so it will be a crazy few days. Oh, and I have 300 bags of microwave popcorn in my trunk, so now my car smells like butter. Hmm...

The good news is that the Cowboys looked great today (yeah, they played the Browns, but still), and Felix had a TD. The bad news is that pretty boy Tom Brady is evidently out for the season with a torn ACL. Guess the MVP award is officially up for grabs.

Later, kids.

Christmas list recap

Since I have a stat counter on this website, I get some decent info on who's reading my blog (stalkers, take heart... I can't tell individually who you are, just where you're from). Last week I had one person who read 97 entries on my blog. So I decided to look back and see what I've written.

It amused me see what random thoughts I've had in the past year. Then I stumbled across last year's Christmas list. So here's the update:

• Tom Brady in a big, red bow (and nothing else!) - nope on that one, but after reading the interview in this month's Esquire, I'm convinced he's a wank
• Tickets to Super Bowl XLIII, where the Cowboys play the Pats - Pats made it, Cowboys did not
• A private Bon Jovi concert, where Jon sings my favorite song to me, "Bed of Roses" (it has that great line... "tonight I won't be alone, but you know that don't mean I'm not lonely") - so it wasn't private, but he still sang "Bed of Roses" and touched my hand on April 17
• A red Hermes Birkin bag - no Birkin, but two Coaches and a DB zebra bag
• One week with no news from Britney, Lindsey, or Angelina - um, don't think that happened
• A trip to Italy with someone tall, dark and handsome - next May with Joe and Estella! yay!
• Lasik eye surgery - nope
• Liposuction - nope
• A good coach for the Hogs - YES
• A 42" flat screen TV for the living room - yes, a beautiful Philips ambilight in time for the Superbowl
• A facial (never had one!) - not yet, but lots of massages and pedis
• Season 3 of "The Office" on DVD - Jen had to take it back, because I bought it for myself
• Sirius satellite radio - still no
• "Sixteen Candles" on DVD - yes
• Saute pan from Williams Sonoma - YES, with the GC Lon and Jen bought me
• A really amazing new job in 2008 - YES!!!

So here's my list before Christmas '08....
• Winning season for the Hogs
• Facial
• Season 4 of "The Office" on DVD
• Le Creuset stock pot
• A really fantastically great first date with a great guy

Auld Lang Syne

Well 2008 got off to a rockin' start. This is the first NYE in quite some time that I've actually had anything to do, much less stayed up to ring in the new year. Joe and I had fun. The restaurant is beautiful, the food amazing, and a good time was had by all.

This is me with Joe and Kevin, at the party.



Unfortunately my good mood didn't roll over into '08, as New Year's Day was kind of a bummer. I had a headache all day and the Piggies got the poo beat of out them in the Cotton Bowl, but I did get to go hang out with my good pals Brent and Dave and eat good food. Plus, I took a three-hour nap after the game. And I didn't waste time and money going to Dallas for the game (sorry, Sorne).

In moving news, I confirmed with the moving company this afternoon, and they'll be in Conway to pick up my stuff in 19 days... yikes! Must get packed.

Happy belated birthday to my Daddy, who turned 62 yesterday, and I didn't blog. Sorry! But happy birthday, anyway.

I will, but...

Well if the 24 text messages I got last night are any indication, Bobby Petrino's acceptance of the Arkansas job is quite big news. I, for one, found the whole thing a bit anticlimactic after six other coaches turned down the Hogs. And I'm sure that Jeff Long is happily wiping the egg off his face.

I've been a bit surprised by the polarizing comments from the media and fans about Petrino's quick exit from the Falcons helm, with one fan proclaiming, "Petrino makes Saban look classy." Ouch. Granted, if I were a Falcons fan, I'd find it upsetting that ol' Bobby bailed with three games to go (and a 3-10 record), but let's face it, due to the dogfighting debacle, Petrino's first season in Atlanta certainly wasn't all it was supposed to be.

Let's be real. The days of employee loyalty are gone, replaced by a search for greener pastures and a "what have you done for me lately" mentality. In my parents' generation, people worked for the same company for 40 years. With my generation and those younger than I (which is more and more people all the time), we're always looking for a higher salary, a better opportunity, a chance to advance. Perhaps that's because we were raised to think the world revolves around us. And sadly, most of the time it does.

Mike Greenberg pointed out this morning that Petrino has signed three contracts (totaling 20 years) in the past 18 months, proving that contracts are seldom worth the paper they're written on. Now, not only is a man's word no longer ironclad, but it appears that not even a notary seal binds you to your committments.

I'm curious to see if Petrino's ethics are questioned by the parents of prospective players, as many sports writers have recently suggested. More likely, said parents will be dazzled by the promise of glory he brings to the program because sadly, at the end of the day, a winning coach can get away with questionable integrity. And victory covers all sin.

The BIG news...

Well the job interview is over. Everything went well. And since you know it was for a position in NWA, I guess I can come clean.

I am the new head football coach at the University of Arkansas. Well, maybe. They offered it to me, but right now I'm leveraging it into a pay increase in my current position. It's not insulting to be the sixth choice, is it?

Anyone want to interview to be an assistant?

Ding dong the coach is gone

The Nutt era is officially over. For all of the drama surrounding the Hog football team in the past year, tonight's press conference seemed a bit anticlimactic. Kudos to White et. al. for allowing Houston Dale to exit with dignity. He did some great things for Razorback football (losing to Vandy and going 0-3 to end last season after starting 10-1 notwithstanding), but then again, Nolan did some great things for Razorback basketball... sometimes, it's just time to go. Of course, if someone would pay me in excess of $3 million to leave, I'd pack up my cubicle tomorrow and not shed a tear. Any takers? Anyone?!?

On a much different topic, why is Marie Osmond still on "Dancing?" That doll routine tonight was just a travesty.

And we got to see all the Spice Girls. Posh, of course, wasn't smiling. What's that about? If I had Becks and a Birkin in every color, I'd have a permanent grin on my face.

Around the world in 96 hours

First, the colossal event... how 'bout them Hogs?!? My comments about the game are as follows:
1. Darren McFadden had a Heisman-worthy performance. He's the best player in college football, especially when you consider that he plays for a less-than-stellar team. He and Tebow should finish 1/2 simply because they play in the nation's best conference. The Big 12's best player is not as great as either of these guys. Anyone remember Jason White?
2. Where the heck has Peyton Hillis been all year? Wowzers.
3. C. Dick played a heck of a game. Good for him.
4. Houston Dale showed after his well-timed time out why so many folks are praying for his demise... that cocky grin he showcased to the world. Have fun packin' for Waco.

I'm not sure what was more exhausting, that game or driving around the world for the past few days. I spent Thanksgiving day at Sorne and Vance's, eating turkey and egg rolls. Then I headed over to my aunt and uncle's to visit Mom's fam. Thursday night I watched "The Office" and went to bed at 9 p.m.

Yesterday I got up early to meet Dad and the rest of the fam at the Village Inn. Then I went to pick up the kids and head to Hartford to watch the game. Brady, Chance and Ave had their own game in the backyard. Brady and Chance "versed" Avery, and the scary thing is that, even though it was two against one and they're both two years older, Avery scored on them several times.

Wyatt, Peyton and Hope took a bath. Peyton was pointing at Hope and thinking "One of these things is not like the other..."

Chance and Hope got a new dog, Rocky. It weighs about two pounds and kept me up all night last night whining.

Forget the Hogs, this was the big game in town.

This one's for the boys...

Ladies (and some of you guys) look away. This one's for the sports fans.

Well I guess Ricky Williams will be back in the Dolphins' lineup soon. (Imagine my best raggae voice here) Welcome back, mon. The winless Fins can certainly use a boost, and Ricky can really light it up (pun intended). Suddenly I'm craving rum punch and Bob Marley.

And at the end of the day, wouldn't you rather have a teammate who contributes on the field but likes to party a bit too much than a teammate who, unless he can't start, will take his paper dolls and fly home first class? (Yes... I'm talking to you, Stephon Marbury.)

So what do you think Stephon has on Isaiah? Will Ricky smoke (hee hee) the defense and bring South Beach its first win? Can Sexy Rexy finally have a good game for Chi-town? And will Tom Brady finally tire of his supermodel and give the girls with some extra cushion a chance? These are the questions that plague us, sports fans. That, and why are the Hogs favored against a team that beat Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama (all of whom beat the Hogs)?

Why I love sports

If you get the chance, read Rick Reilly's column in last week's issue of Sports Illustrated. While Reilly certainly has his critics, I find his weekly rants mostly amusing. But if I were making $2 million per year, I probably could find a way to be funny, too.

Last week's column discussed how sports is more than just a game. Sports allow us to band together with strangers for a common cause (victory, recognition, hatred of Houston Nutt, etc.). There's little gray area in sports, with clear winners and losers. And it's okay to dislike someone for his or her athletic allegiances.

Want to get someone's dander up? Simply don a baseball cap with a rivalry's logo. Just ask LeBron James about that. Three years ago my nephew's friend dared wear a Longhorns cap to an Arkansas vs. Texas game, and let me tell you, Hog fans aren't afraid to shout obscenities at elementary school students. Especially after a loss.

I've been thinking a lot about why a lot of us (mostly men) are so obsessed with sports. Why we eat breakfast during "Mike and Mike" on the Duece and dinner to "SportsCenter" on the original. My best guess is that sports allow us to believe in something. To have heroes. To watch mere mortals accomplish great feats. To cheer for a team simply because our grandfather liked them. Because, at the end of the day, we all want to be winners. Or at least cheer for them.

Which leads us to the good news of the day... guess whose two favorite teams are now ranked first and second in the NFL? Boy, it's a good NFL season to be me.

Driving Me Nutts

How 'bout them Hogs?

I saw Nutt on the news tonight when I got home. His assessment was that the Vols played so well yesterday because they're worried about Fulmer losing his job. Gee, too bad the Hogs didn't seem to feel the same way. But I guess that's just wishful thinking on my part. That game was like a train wreck. That's why I spent the second half napping through my depression.

We had another great dinner last night and another great round of Mexican train before bedtime.

I got up early-ish this morning and walked four miles on the golf cart track (walked on it, Alisa... didn't drive on it this time). Then we had brunch at the club, put up Estella's Christmas tree, and headed back to Central Arkansas. Now I'm watching the 'Boys beat the Giants and doing laundry.

Can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow. Ick.

Football and Dwight P. Shrute

For the third weekend in a row, I've been very unproductive. This weekend, however, I did manage to make it out of the house. I got up at the crack o' dawn yesterday to go watch Brady play football. His team's really good; they're undefeated, and yesterday they played the other premier team in the league, and ended in a 18-18 tie.

Here's a video from yesterday. Brady's the QB (#7), and I call to your attention the flagrant and very illegal tackling by the other team.

Other than that, I've watched a lot of football (hooray for the Hogs, Pats and Cowboys) and the entire second season of "The Office" thanks to Lonnie who loaned me seasons two and three. That show makes me laugh out loud.

It's Homecoming week, so we get to wear jeans to work on Tuesday due to "Paint the Town Purple." How very sad that's the most exciting thing I have to report.

Sick of being sick

Another weekend, another 48 hours of feeling like poo. I'm really sick of being sick, but as my pal Alisa said, " 'tis the season." So I've been in the bed/on the couch since Friday night. And neither the Hog game nor the Cowboys game did much to make me feel better.

Taylor informed me that I shouldn't be too bummed about the Pats/Cowboys since I like both teams. He, on the other hand, hates the Pats, so he's upset. I told him that he'd have to learn to like New England when Tom Brady becomes his uncle, and he's assured me that, should that happen, he'll work on it.

This is going to be a strange week at work. My boss left around 11 a.m. on Friday for good, and my new boss isn't planning to be in the office 'til next week, so this will be a long five days, especially since Thursday and Friday are fall break and I seem to be the only person planning to work. At least I won't have trouble finding a parking place.

Upset much?

And that's why we watch college football, ladies and gentlemen. Upsets. Underdogs. Watching the mighty fall. But this year has been more exciting than most.

Michigan v. Appalachian State, anyone?

I stayed up late last night watching the LSU v. Florida game, then I finally went to bed when I realized that, since they're both equally distasteful in my book, I really didn't care who won. Were Spurrier still at Florida, that would tip the scales pretty far in the Gators favor on the ick-o-meter, but alas, I'm relegated to rooting against the Gamecocks now.

Speaking of disliked visor-wearing coaches and "big" games that I found it hard to pick someone to root for... I also wasted a few hours watching OU v. Texas. How can any self-respecting Razorback fan cheer for either of these teams? Not only are they vastly overrated (see Colorado and Kansas State), but their fans are fanatical to the point of castration. I'm so sick of hearing SEC v. Big XII comparisons, too. Anyone remember Jason White? I'm pretty sure he's now delivering furniture for his uncle, not playing in the NFL.

And the much-overhyped USC Trojans got beat by Stanford. Stanford... where your SAT score is more important than your 40 time. How many professional football players went to Stanford? How many Heisman trophy winners have they had?

So it will be a case of fruitbasket turnover in the rankings again. And the Hogs will still be left out because they barely got by the lowly Chattanooga Mocs (what the heck is a Moc?). And they suck.

Whose bandwagon should we jump on now?!?