Social Sunday

Today didn't start off too great.  Or maybe Saturday night never really ended?  Too tired to tell the difference.  All I know is insomnia and a migraine are not a good combination.  I was up until 5:30 AM.  Wide awake.  With a raging headache.  No Bueno.  But the Bagel Boy took good care of me.  I do luv me some Bagel Boy on Sunday mornings! 

So we're down to the ten day mark.  In ten days T-bone will be leaving for college.  The Auburn girls were moving in today (I think Rush starts tomorrow) and I know the Alabama girls can't be far behind.  Thinking of all the moms (and dads!) today.  I know it's going to be much harder on me (and Coach) than it is T.  She's excited to start this new chapter in her life and I'm going to have a hard time letting go.  And I can tell you right now Coach is going to be a wreck.  This is the man who cried when the girls got their ears pierced. 

Ok!  Moving on to Social Sunday!  So excited for this week's questions!  I luv, luv, luv the Fall.  It's the best time of the year in our house . . . my b-day in September, our 20th Anniversary in October, Coach's b-day the day after that and KJ's 13th b-day the day after that!  I hate Alabama summers but luv Alabama Autumns!  I luv being able to open the windows and get some fresh air.  I luv sleeping with the windows open.  I luv waking up with a slight chill in the air.  I luv football season.  I luv having friends over to watch football on the back deck with a bonfire going.  I luv decorating the house for Fall.  I luv decorating the house for Halloween.  I luv Thanksgiving.  Yup.  Best time of the year for me! 

This weeks questions:

1. What is your favorite Fall activity? I absolutely luv everything about the Fall so this is going to be a tough one.  I would say Friday night high school football games, Saturday college football games and Sunday NFL games.  Decorating the house for Fall, bonfire evenings, and Halloween.

2. Do you follow a football team? if so which one and why? We've always been Alabama fans and of course this is a New York Jets house.  I guess this year we'll need to root for Ole Miss, too.  

3. What is something fun about Fall in your area? We've been going to the same pumpkin patch since we moved here 13 years ago.  It's a family tradition.   And Coach carves the pumpkins with the girls.  It's just one of those "dad" things.   

4. Fav Fall outfit staples? Jeans, a long-sleeve V-neck t-shirt from either Gap or Old Navy.  Cute scarves.  Lots of bracelets.  A great brown leather bag and brown leather boots with a heel because I'm vertically challenged in a big way. 

5. Thing you are looking forward to most about this coming Fall season? I am really, really excited about football season.  I'm really looking forward to tailgating in the Grove.  I'm looking forward to seeing Brye play and Rory cheer!  

6. Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions? Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday.  It's just such a simple holiday.  No cards.  No gifts to buy.  It's just a day to reflect, be thankful and spend time with your loved ones.  I luv cooking the turkey, I luv the textures of Fall, I luv the smells.  I luv having the girls help in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day (they like to make the mashed potatoes and crescent rolls).  I luv when Coach carves up the turkey.  

Next Week's Questions:

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?

What foods do you avoid at all costs?

What meal reminds you of your childhood?

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

RAGING Debate? Huh???

Good article from Fox Sports News but had to chuckle at the "Raging Debate" sensationalist headline. Typical Fox News.

Here's an excerpt:

"Tebow is not the worst quarterback in America. Nor is he a savior of the football variety and certainly not of the John 3:16 kind. He is a kid who has proven he can play football in this league, who has earned the right to be the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos next season and now he joins the long line of them trying to justify the faith and win a Super Bowl as he prepares to lead Denver against New England in the divisional round Saturday in Foxborough.

I say this not to diminish what Tebow did Sunday. The touchdown pass on the first play of overtime after so much time had been spent on his passing deficiencies was one of the most iconic moments of the season. It is one of those great playoff moments that people will talk about years from now. It is where hype met results.

It is not unlike the entire Tebow phenomenon. Whatever you think of his long-term quarterbacking potential, it is indisputable that Tebowmania was refreshing. He is what we love about sports. He was inspirational. He made you believe. It is sad actually how many were unable just to enjoy the ride and instead turned everyday on a referendum on religion and Tebow's longevity when the truth is we do not know.

I have written about the hypocrisy of mocking his faith and personally believing in his ability to do what most say he is incapable of in recent months. And I am often asked what I believe as the Tebow story unfolds. I am not sure it matters. I am also willing to share. What I believe is God does not have a cheering interest in any sporting event. I do not believe Tebow's good games were divinely intervened, just like I do not believe his bad ones were because God chose to watch the Cowboys through the hole in the roof that Sunday instead. What I believe is an abiding faith, like what Tebow has in God, is a steadying force in times of trouble. "

So, so, so tired of hearing about Tebow. The media is making this a bigger issue than it really is. Tim Tebow is NOT the first Christian athlete nor will he be the last. I don't care what is faith is. I think that's personal and entirely between him and his God. I do think he seems like a genuinely nice, kind kid who was raised with morals and principals which is rare in today's world and I'm happy and proud he lives in a country that allows him to publicly recognize and rejoice in his religion. Good for him for professing what he believes in. However, he was hired to win football games and put rear-ends in the stadium seats. Nothing more. It doesn't make me the anti-Christ or an atheist if I don't buy into his hype. Nor do I believe that if God had a favorite football team, the Denver Broncos would be it.

From posters on the Fox Sports message boards: (finally! some folks who "GET" it! I don't have a problem or issue with Tim Tebow as a man. I don't have a problem w/ him "Tebowing" on the sidelines or his 3:16 eye black or whatever. I have a problem with kids "Tebowing" for Tim Tebow! Stop putting athletes on a pedestal and WORSHIPPING them. If you're going to pray or assume the prayer position, please do it for someone OTHER than Tim Tebow!!!).

Jesus is real. Jesus is AWESOME. Tim Tebow is just a man. The Media is acting like he is a god. Well, he is not. With that being said. MARK MY WORDS. The Patriots are going to CRUSH the Broncos tomorrow night. Love you Tim, keep marching strong for Jesus but I gotta go with my home team. By the way, one day every knee is going to BOW to the name of Jesus.

Why is everyone making a big deal out of it? You'd think that there was massive Devil worshipping going on before Tebow was allowed to start in the NFL.

Tim Tebow is a Christian. Fine. Deal with it. Tim Tebow is a very well-compensated professional athlete. Fine. Deal with it. The two are neither inextricably linked nor mutually exclusive. The problem lies in the diversion of Tebow's message from being about his faith to being about him. I personally think his sideline antics ("Tebowing") are kind of naive and silly and wish he'd spent less time praying and more time studying defensive sets. But that's just me. What I REALLY have problems with are kids assuming Tebow's classic prayerful position "out of respect for Tebow". Shouldn't they be assuming that position out of respect for whatever diety they pray to rather than respect for some highly-paid jock engaged in an activity that no god of my understanding would give a fig for?

Athletes have been thanking God after athletic accomplishments for a long time. Why is this guy any different? And the US is a great country because of the separation of church and state. In America, you are allowed to believe whatever you like, as long as you don't break the law. In turn, I am allowed to believe or not believe anything that I'd like. That is what makes America great! That you cannot impose your religious will upon me. FYI - I am a Christian, but I am one that actually believes in freedom of religion.

I think Tebow is a good role model and is very genuine to himself and his faith and his game of football. I do not think he is doing anything for attention. However, I do not like the majority of the photos people are sending in or posting online of themselves "Tebowing" as the majority of them have no idea what it really means or represents. When Tim Tebow bends on one knee, he is literally praying and affirming his faith, thanking God for his life and abilities and blessings. I don't think the majority of the ppl, especially the kids and ppl in different countries, who are "Tebowing" even know it is associated with God, and they are surely not praying. At best, some may be pretending to do so, which only serves to mock Tebow and God, not revere or respect.