Entries from January 2008 ↓

1. I don’t have time.

2. I’ve done this before.

3. I know how to do this.

- Courtesy of Ronald Shapiro’s book, Dare To Prepare

Somebody (unauthorized I’m sure) released David Lee Roth’s vocal track to “Runnin’ With The Devil.” There are no instruments on this track and it’s one of the funnier things I’ve heard in a long, long time. Click here and enjoy!

by Erma Bombeck

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s” - more “I’m sorry’s” - but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back.

- Erma Bombeck lost her fight with cancer in 1996

I suspect there now exists an entire generation that knows not of her writing. You should grab a book - any book - and dive in. Her humor and wit was domestically centered. The woman was very funny. I miss her work.

I often wonder what errors in judgment I’m making in living my life. For those of us who do not know if we’re dying or not - I wonder how we’d answer her question, “If I had my life to live over?” It’s certainly more worthwhile to ask it while we’re on this side of eternity - able to alter our lives. For me, everyday is an alteration.

- LK

There must be millions of chili recipes on the Internet.
I’ve printed off about 50 of them so far.
I’m in a chili kind of mood.
Not Cincinnati style chili (served over spaghetti).
Not a chili-flavored soup.
I don’t want some highly liquid-based product.
Chili.
Not turkey chili.
Or some other abnormal meat product.
Beef is normal.
I want a beef-based chili.
Sausage is okay as an addition to regular beef.
Everything else is abnormal.
The kind of chili that goes great with cornbread.
That’s what I want.
Chili and cornbread.
And I don’t want my recipe to include celery because I hate celery!
I’m not like many Texans who claim “real” chili doesn’t have beans.
I like beans.
So, I can live with a recipe that includes beans.
Got a recipe you’re proud of?
Let’s hear it.
I’m on a mission.
For chili.
But not just chili.
A chili experience!
-

The Cowboys bought into their own hype. They thought they were so good they could go through the motions and win their first playoff game in a decade. They had their popcorn ready. And they choked on it. Probably too dry - needed more butter.

Offensive Line - couldn’t protect Romo from the onslaught of the Giants rush

Penalties - managed to commit rules infractions at the worse possible times

Quarterback - Romo is a Jedi, but his light saber was absent. Rattled, frustrated - his immaturity came shining through. He’s a Jedi, but he’s a young Jedi.

Running game - this is on the coach. Barber grinds down defenses late in the game. He looked too tired to do that after rushing for over 100 yards in the first half. Leave well enough alone, Wade.

Wide Receivers - dropped passes, poor running of routes and Clayton talking more than catching was enough to help any defense look good

Special teams - they were special. Somebody call the short bus to come pick up this entire squad.

Second Half Adjustments - 3 points scored in the second half proves the adjustments failed.

Coaching - players play, but coaches are obligated to put them in the best position possible. They failed.

Some great records were set though.

- It was as good a REGULAR season as any Cowboys team has ever had.
- Since 1990 it’s the first time a #1 seed in the NFC has lost.
- It is a tie for an NFL record losing 6 consecutive playoff games.
- Wade is now 0-4 in playoff games as a head coach.

And now preparation for the off-season begins. Way too soon.

This means the moronic media circus will rise to a new low. Tony Romo’s trip to Mexico with Jessica had no bearing on the outcome of this game. Yes, he’ll be asked about it a gazillion times. Yes, he’ll have to learn that every action is magnified because he’s an NFL quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. We’ll see how he decides to handle that. In the meanwhile, too many “reporters” will report on this non-story. And more circus-like behavior will ensue as it always does when a team loses. Second guessing and over analyzing galore. Had the Cowboys coaches not over analyzed the game plan and just done what they do best - the outcome may have been different. Maybe not. Fact is, they lost. And the media is going to have a field day running wild with speculation to answer the question, “Why?”

An exceptional season ended in a mediocre performance. Mediocrity never begets exceptional success! The Giants played exceptionally well. The Cowboys did not. Exceptional beats mediocre every time.

No matter. The Cowboys were going to choke on their popcorn eventually. The only question was if it would come at the hands of the Giants, Packers or Patriots. Many thought it would be the Patriots who would cause it. Instead, it happened two games too early.

Coach Bob Stoops continues to prove inept at preparing the Sooner football team for bowl competition. At least he does it in grand fashion. They lose big to teams they’re supposed to soundly defeat.

Here are my top 10 reasons why the Sooners continue to be Stoopified in “post-season” play.

10. Being a Christmas elf tires Bob out before January.

9. Too much eggnog.

8. Turkey makes him sleepy.

7. Warm weather LPGA visor doesn’t work well in winter months.

6. Christmas shoplifting.

5. Paid for Big 12 Championship and getting to a BSC Bowl. Needs more money for winning a bowl game.

4. Locker room speeches lack the lispy motivational delivery of Lou Holtz.

3. Busy setting records for “most penalties” leaving no time for offensive production or defensive play-making.

2. Doesn’t smoke on the sidelines like Barry used to.

1. Calls bone-headed plays at crucial times of the game.*

* An on-side kick in the 3rd quarter? This after the defense has had two consecutive 3 and outs holding the opponent to no points - and giving the OU offense the opportunity for two consecutive scores. Stoops enjoys excellent timing for moron play calling. He’s a genius.

Note: Yes, I’m a bitter, bitter OU fan. Stoops is a great coach in so many ways, but I’ll argue that if the coaches were locked in a room and the teams allowed to take the field to just play, OU’s players are so clearly better than West Virginia’s - they should win on talent alone. Which leaves you to realize that Stoops was woefully out-coached by Coach Boy Scout. Stoops has been out-coached every year for four consecutive years now.

OU fans everywhere should rise up and give Bob more grief than he’s ever had. OU has been about accountability. It’s time Bob step up and accept blame for not having his team prepared — and that he apologize for idiotic play calling, penalties and all the rest. Bob, you didn’t put your team in the best position to succeed. And that is precisely your job.