Dear Grey Area, Middle of the Road, Flip Side of the Coin, Other Hand, etc.
I'm tired. I am plumb worn out. By social media, by conversations with people, by the news, by trying to explain complex situations to my kids. Maybe it's working with budding lawyers, or being a budding theologian (ha!) myself, but I wish there were easy answers to some things. It's starting to feel like while truth is truth (and facts are facts), there's no one way to apply truth. So it comes down to interpretation, life experience, and opinions. "Opinions are like...
Coin purses? Everyone has one, and it feels like I can see a little sense in them all?
No. That's a terrible analogy.
The point is, whether it's in pop culture (YES, Beyonce' should maybe put on some pants, but NO, I don't think her Halftime outfit was nearly as bad as a lot of the swimsuits I see on folks who might judge her, and why do ballerinas get a pass?); politics (NO, I don't want Hilary to be president, but YES, I'm a Democrat and would support certain women in the White House; I'm also pro life from "womb to tomb," so there's that); sports (NO, Cam Newton shouldn't have been rude, but YES, cut the poor kid some slack and appreciate all that he has done, and of course I think race plays into people freaking out); religion (YES, I'm a Christian, but NO, I'm not afraid to have friends of other belief systems, science included); or even food (NO, I don't think it's good to eat everything fried, buttered, and bacon-ed, but YES, I see the cultural value and tastiness in Southern food); I often find both sides of the argument compelling, or at least interesting. And that is exhausting.
Even when I think I've found a topic that I just can't see the other side of, it seems I start reading my Twitter feed, talking to classmates, or listening to the radio, and suddenly I start to understand. For example:
DONALD TRUMP IS A TERRIBLE HUMAN BEING AND IF HE WINS THE ELECTION, I WILL CRY
buuuutttttt... I get why people are fed up with politicians and like what they perceive as a "straight shooter" kind of persona.
or, how about:
JUST VACCINATE YOUR DAMN KIDS ALREADY BECAUSE THE RESEARCH IS CRAP AND DISEASES ARE COMING BACK BECAUSE OF THIS NONSENSE
yeeettttttt... I can't imagine the grief of being told that a vaccine caused your child to have autism and I can imagine the passion to stop something that seems to be so dangerous.
I really want to escape from you, Mr. Uncertainty. I'd really like to have an unassailable opinion, Madame Context. But I guess as long as my Facebook feed, my church, my neighborhood, and even my family remain diverse, that's not to be. So I'll stake my claim on Christ, and him crucified, dead, buried, raised, and returning. Even when everything else seems muddy and confusing, and even though my understanding is pitiful, limited, and tainted by sin, God is certain. He is unassailable. He is the answer in any context. He is perfectly true, infinitely diverse, and gloriously, graciously with us. I guess that's enough to keep this confused person going.
With Love and Contradictions,
A Walking Exception to the Rule
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Monday, October 26, 2015
To Our Team (Players as well as Fans)
Dear Brave and Bold,
Yeah, this is going to be a pretty shallow, ridiculous letter. Frankly, I'm behind the eight-ball on paperwork and classwork and papers and classes and just plain work. So sometimes it's nice to just turn the brain off, talk trash, and revel in the feel of a ridiculous, beautiful, phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes type of college football win.
Well done, boys. Good job, team. Thank you, coaching staff. And hell yeah, fans! I was there back in 2003 when we took down Auburn (and consequently, the goalposts) in an unprecedented upset. Kennan and Team Redd and I took to the field back then, and it was amazing. I would expect nothing less from fans for this game. I so wish I had a piece of goalpost... I know it's destructive and expensive but I envy our friends who have ragged chunks of bright yellow metal on their desks. I settled for a chunk of turf because I was young and crazy then (as opposed to now being older, crazier, but also theoretically more responsible, and concerned with the well-being of my kiddos).
I guess I'll get just a little political here and say: why not expand the definition of the "brave and bold" to include not just the football team but all of GT and her fans? I didn't even understand why the proposed song amendment "If I had a daughter sir, I'd dress her in white and gold; and put her on the campus to join the brave and bold" didn't make sense, because all along, I'd been thinking of the brave and bold as everybody. Which I realize doesn't make great sense, but hey--this proposed change wouldn't be the first time it was changed, anyway, as shown by these lyrics. If nothing else, "... put her on the campus to improve the ratio" is another option. Not necessarily the most flattering, or even helpful, but it at least acknowledges that engineering is a (sadly) male-dominated field.
As far as changing lyrics, I've been doing that ever since I became a fan, anyway. I sing, "He would yell, 'To Hell with Georgia!' like his mommy used to do!" so it's obvious I'm not above interjecting my own feminist politics into sacred words (I do the same thing with praise songs and hymns whose lyrics I find theologically questionable, though actually not targeting gender bias... but that's another post entirely). Really, I'm just here to cheer the team to victory, which is actually kind of possible. I remember another great game, in 2006 against Miami (weird to think of the days of Chan Gailey and Reggie Ball with fondness), where my delusions of fan grandeur were actually confirmed when I HELPED FORCE A TIMEOUT. We had amaaaazing seats in the student section, thanks to friend Kdids, and I screamed my heart out, along with everybody else, enough so that their QB had to call a timeout because nobody could hear the audible. This did not help me to calm down and not take things so seriously. But it was soooooo much fun. There's a small part of me that thinks that they can still hear me through the television, from hundreds of miles away. Like I said, now more responsible, in theory only.
Anyway, it's a rainy Monday morning but the glow from the weekend is sunshine enough for me today. Up with the White and Gold! Am I watching the #BlockSix clip online, again and again? Maaaaybe. Can you blame me? Go Jackets!
Drinking to All the Good Fellows (gender-neutral...?),
A Ramblin', Gamblin', Helluva (Wife-uva) Engineer!
Yeah, this is going to be a pretty shallow, ridiculous letter. Frankly, I'm behind the eight-ball on paperwork and classwork and papers and classes and just plain work. So sometimes it's nice to just turn the brain off, talk trash, and revel in the feel of a ridiculous, beautiful, phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes type of college football win.
Well done, boys. Good job, team. Thank you, coaching staff. And hell yeah, fans! I was there back in 2003 when we took down Auburn (and consequently, the goalposts) in an unprecedented upset. Kennan and Team Redd and I took to the field back then, and it was amazing. I would expect nothing less from fans for this game. I so wish I had a piece of goalpost... I know it's destructive and expensive but I envy our friends who have ragged chunks of bright yellow metal on their desks. I settled for a chunk of turf because I was young and crazy then (as opposed to now being older, crazier, but also theoretically more responsible, and concerned with the well-being of my kiddos).
I guess I'll get just a little political here and say: why not expand the definition of the "brave and bold" to include not just the football team but all of GT and her fans? I didn't even understand why the proposed song amendment "If I had a daughter sir, I'd dress her in white and gold; and put her on the campus to join the brave and bold" didn't make sense, because all along, I'd been thinking of the brave and bold as everybody. Which I realize doesn't make great sense, but hey--this proposed change wouldn't be the first time it was changed, anyway, as shown by these lyrics. If nothing else, "... put her on the campus to improve the ratio" is another option. Not necessarily the most flattering, or even helpful, but it at least acknowledges that engineering is a (sadly) male-dominated field.
As far as changing lyrics, I've been doing that ever since I became a fan, anyway. I sing, "He would yell, 'To Hell with Georgia!' like his mommy used to do!" so it's obvious I'm not above interjecting my own feminist politics into sacred words (I do the same thing with praise songs and hymns whose lyrics I find theologically questionable, though actually not targeting gender bias... but that's another post entirely). Really, I'm just here to cheer the team to victory, which is actually kind of possible. I remember another great game, in 2006 against Miami (weird to think of the days of Chan Gailey and Reggie Ball with fondness), where my delusions of fan grandeur were actually confirmed when I HELPED FORCE A TIMEOUT. We had amaaaazing seats in the student section, thanks to friend Kdids, and I screamed my heart out, along with everybody else, enough so that their QB had to call a timeout because nobody could hear the audible. This did not help me to calm down and not take things so seriously. But it was soooooo much fun. There's a small part of me that thinks that they can still hear me through the television, from hundreds of miles away. Like I said, now more responsible, in theory only.
Anyway, it's a rainy Monday morning but the glow from the weekend is sunshine enough for me today. Up with the White and Gold! Am I watching the #BlockSix clip online, again and again? Maaaaybe. Can you blame me? Go Jackets!
Drinking to All the Good Fellows (gender-neutral...?),
A Ramblin', Gamblin', Helluva (Wife-uva) Engineer!
Friday, October 16, 2015
Free Shipping Fridays: Beautiful, Broken Christian Ancestors
Dear Readers,
Still not famous, nor have I won the lottery, so no makeup samples or totebags or cars to send to you. However, may I present: folded in half, rolled up neatly, secured with a rubberband, and tossed expertly on your topmost porch step (I was a papergirl in Jr. High), a gracious, nuanced, helpful article diving into the complexities of race in the South, especially in the church.
Sometimes we follow tradition, and are grateful for it. Sometimes we strive for progress, because we see the need for change. But always, Tish Harrison Warren reminds us, we follow Jesus.
Christianity Today article (link should work for non-subscribers, too)
Still not famous, nor have I won the lottery, so no makeup samples or totebags or cars to send to you. However, may I present: folded in half, rolled up neatly, secured with a rubberband, and tossed expertly on your topmost porch step (I was a papergirl in Jr. High), a gracious, nuanced, helpful article diving into the complexities of race in the South, especially in the church.
Sometimes we follow tradition, and are grateful for it. Sometimes we strive for progress, because we see the need for change. But always, Tish Harrison Warren reminds us, we follow Jesus.
Christianity Today article (link should work for non-subscribers, too)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
To Our Coaches
Dear Coach Hewitt,
I have to agree with the new Coke Zero (should I put a TM or somesuch in here so I don't get sued? Probably.) ads that proclaim "nothing but taste." Indeed, sir. You are a classy man. I'm sorry that we're such slacker fans--it's not that we don't love you or college basketball; it's that football is easier to keep track of due to the more consistent schedule (and fewer games overall). So we're not fairweather fans, just lazy ones.
Well, good luck at the Big Dance! We believe in you.
Love,
a Yellow Jacket family whose wee daughter is dressed in White & Gold
Dear Coach Johnson,
What do you mean it's not football season yet? Could you work on that? Oh, and can you bless our baby? Hat-tip to Sam for the priceless video. If only we were so cool.
We're excited for the upcoming season, when we will be coming back into town from MS on many a Saturday. And this, dear Coach, this is the year when we break the bowl game curse. We believe in you!
Love,
a Yellow Jacket family whose wee daughter cheers the Brave & Bold (or improves the ratio, either way!)
Sunday, May 04, 2008
How to be Difficult...
... it's worked for me, anyway!
Organize furniture so it is NOT feng shui.
Shoot the cats with the spray bottle.
Not answer the cell phone.
Curse.
Pick fights with Georgia fans.
Change the lyrics to praise songs that are theologically questionable. Sing loudly.
Multi-task.
Continue drinking from a Nalgene bottle.
Hit the snooze button. Several times.
Run 5-15 minutes late. For EVERYTHING.
Talk incessantly about things like ICHC, Stargate, and the cats.
Start reading 5 books at once but never finish any of them.
Take 5 big, heavy books on a trip. Read none of them.
Get weird urges to vacuum at 3 AM.
Support Obama just to spite Clinton.
Keep a blog. Pout if no one reads it. Repeat.
Organize furniture so it is NOT feng shui.
Shoot the cats with the spray bottle.
Not answer the cell phone.
Curse.
Pick fights with Georgia fans.
Change the lyrics to praise songs that are theologically questionable. Sing loudly.
Multi-task.
Continue drinking from a Nalgene bottle.
Hit the snooze button. Several times.
Run 5-15 minutes late. For EVERYTHING.
Talk incessantly about things like ICHC, Stargate, and the cats.
Start reading 5 books at once but never finish any of them.
Take 5 big, heavy books on a trip. Read none of them.
Get weird urges to vacuum at 3 AM.
Support Obama just to spite Clinton.
Keep a blog. Pout if no one reads it. Repeat.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
No, Really.
I voted for Ron Paul in the Primaries.
I can eat an entire jar of pickles in one sitting.
I love small dogs that bark a lot.
My favorite colors are red and black.
I wish I lived in Texas.
I know all the words to "Enter Sandman."
My secret ambition is to meet Janet Reno.
I've decided to become a nun.
I once caught a fish this big...
I think David Hasselhoff is hot.
My cat likes to eat peanut butter.
My favorite magazine is Star.
I've been calm and obedient since 1978.
Yes, Happy April Fools' Day! You decide which ones are true.
I can eat an entire jar of pickles in one sitting.
I love small dogs that bark a lot.
My favorite colors are red and black.
I wish I lived in Texas.
I know all the words to "Enter Sandman."
My secret ambition is to meet Janet Reno.
I've decided to become a nun.
I once caught a fish this big...
I think David Hasselhoff is hot.
My cat likes to eat peanut butter.
My favorite magazine is Star.
I've been calm and obedient since 1978.
Yes, Happy April Fools' Day! You decide which ones are true.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Where to Start?
Aw, shucks. Sam linked us off his blog, and here I haven't posted in months. Let's not discuss how long it's been since Kennan posted.
So I now return, with gusto, in the name of international friendships and recycling!
If you are expecting anything epic (either in meaningfulness or length), this post may disappoint you.
If, however, you are expecting a bit of rambling of what our life has been like for the past several months, here it is... in no particular order... the good, the bad & the ugly:
we've finally started recycling, and I'm pretty excited about it... Kennan has become as addicted to Facebook (the applications, mostly) as I am... we got to leave the good ol' US of A for the first time ever, traveling to both Taiwan and Thailand to go to two weddings and to meet my Thai family... we lost our first child to a miscarriage in November, and though we're sad, are healing... the groups at Emory and Tech are doing well, and I'm still loving my job... GT lost to Fresno State in the bowl game (AGAIN) and I'm disgusted with my team (but pessimistically hopeful for next fall)... we got the complete series of Stargate SG1 for Christmas and it's fabulous... I've been using the word "fabulous" a lot lately, and I'm not sure why... our cats are as bad and as cute as ever... our unbelievable friends threw a surprise party (happy b-day Kennan/condolences/bon voyage) for us before we left for Asia, and I have never before felt so loved or humbled... seeing the Taipei 101 "explode" with fireworks on New Year's eve was fun, but a little freaky... I'm finally reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, and it's excellent... I continue to be amazed by how God loves us even when we're angry at him... Aaron and Becky are engaged, and that's super exciting!... I'm pleasantly surprised by the array of choices in the presidential election thus far... 99.7 is now Q100 and 100.5 is now a rock station with some of the old 99x peeps, and it's confusing... it snowed in Atlanta the day we got home from being in 95+ degree weather in Thailand... our apartment flooded while we were gone, and the Hwangs and the Mustains saved the day!... I turn 30 this year and am a little freaked out by that... Paul and Sarah are eagerly awaiting the sprouting of The Bean and (I'm excited that) I'm excited for them... Pretzel the Bear is now a world traveler... it was great to see family at Christmastime and I don't know where 2007 went... we slept from 9:30 pm Tues. to 6 pm Wed. when we got home from Asia... we're doing much better about our sleep schedule now and it's 10:30 so I'm going to say goodnight!
So I now return, with gusto, in the name of international friendships and recycling!
If you are expecting anything epic (either in meaningfulness or length), this post may disappoint you.
If, however, you are expecting a bit of rambling of what our life has been like for the past several months, here it is... in no particular order... the good, the bad & the ugly:
we've finally started recycling, and I'm pretty excited about it... Kennan has become as addicted to Facebook (the applications, mostly) as I am... we got to leave the good ol' US of A for the first time ever, traveling to both Taiwan and Thailand to go to two weddings and to meet my Thai family... we lost our first child to a miscarriage in November, and though we're sad, are healing... the groups at Emory and Tech are doing well, and I'm still loving my job... GT lost to Fresno State in the bowl game (AGAIN) and I'm disgusted with my team (but pessimistically hopeful for next fall)... we got the complete series of Stargate SG1 for Christmas and it's fabulous... I've been using the word "fabulous" a lot lately, and I'm not sure why... our cats are as bad and as cute as ever... our unbelievable friends threw a surprise party (happy b-day Kennan/condolences/bon voyage) for us before we left for Asia, and I have never before felt so loved or humbled... seeing the Taipei 101 "explode" with fireworks on New Year's eve was fun, but a little freaky... I'm finally reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, and it's excellent... I continue to be amazed by how God loves us even when we're angry at him... Aaron and Becky are engaged, and that's super exciting!... I'm pleasantly surprised by the array of choices in the presidential election thus far... 99.7 is now Q100 and 100.5 is now a rock station with some of the old 99x peeps, and it's confusing... it snowed in Atlanta the day we got home from being in 95+ degree weather in Thailand... our apartment flooded while we were gone, and the Hwangs and the Mustains saved the day!... I turn 30 this year and am a little freaked out by that... Paul and Sarah are eagerly awaiting the sprouting of The Bean and (I'm excited that) I'm excited for them... Pretzel the Bear is now a world traveler... it was great to see family at Christmastime and I don't know where 2007 went... we slept from 9:30 pm Tues. to 6 pm Wed. when we got home from Asia... we're doing much better about our sleep schedule now and it's 10:30 so I'm going to say goodnight!
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Two-win Saturday!
Okay, Sam, you asked for some trash talk, so here it is.
Georgia Tech ROLLED over poor Samford today 69-14, AND Georgia lost to South Carolina at home. Whoo hoooooooooooooooooooo!
Go Jackets! Go Taylor Bennett (8 of 9 for 85 yards with no INT... he might have had more yards if he had played more than just the first quarter)! Go John Bond (new Offensive Coordinator, his boys racked up 399 rushing yards to Samford's 84)! Go Tashard Choice & Chan Gailey (Deuce-Deuce had 110 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first quarter before gracefully bowing out to let Coach Gailey put in the younger guys...he had the same number of players hit the field as T-Money had yards on one of his TD runs--73!)! Go special teams--that are no longer "short bus" special this year (lovely punts by Durant Brooks, as usual, plus some fumble recoveries that rocked the house)! Go Big D (strong and solid as always, even the fourth string boys)!
Go Gamecocks! Go Steve Spurrier!
And Go Matthew Stafford for throwing the interception that ended any chance of U(sic)GA victory in the last minute of the game! Heh heh heh.
Whoo hoo! I love college football season! It's been a fantastic day in the Crane house with a 2-Win Saturday, as well as a great event over at Emory this evening with the Grad Fellowship. I will sleep well tonight!
Georgia Tech ROLLED over poor Samford today 69-14, AND Georgia lost to South Carolina at home. Whoo hoooooooooooooooooooo!
Go Jackets! Go Taylor Bennett (8 of 9 for 85 yards with no INT... he might have had more yards if he had played more than just the first quarter)! Go John Bond (new Offensive Coordinator, his boys racked up 399 rushing yards to Samford's 84)! Go Tashard Choice & Chan Gailey (Deuce-Deuce had 110 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first quarter before gracefully bowing out to let Coach Gailey put in the younger guys...he had the same number of players hit the field as T-Money had yards on one of his TD runs--73!)! Go special teams--that are no longer "short bus" special this year (lovely punts by Durant Brooks, as usual, plus some fumble recoveries that rocked the house)! Go Big D (strong and solid as always, even the fourth string boys)!
Go Gamecocks! Go Steve Spurrier!
And Go Matthew Stafford for throwing the interception that ended any chance of U(sic)GA victory in the last minute of the game! Heh heh heh.
Whoo hoo! I love college football season! It's been a fantastic day in the Crane house with a 2-Win Saturday, as well as a great event over at Emory this evening with the Grad Fellowship. I will sleep well tonight!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Robert
I have "office" hours in the Panera Bread in Emory Village now, which is fun. It gets me out of the house, there's a cozy little nook where I can hole up and get work done (and people watch ;) using the free wireless, and there's Robert.
In the middle of College FB Season (so impatient for the rankings to come out!), ministry life (so far, so good), friends & their families going through heartache (we're praying for you, Negii!), and the day-to-day of life, there's always Robert.
Robert is the employee at Panera that won them an award from the Bobby Dodd Institute (a fantastic organization, by the way). Robert is "mentally handicapped," or whatever the PC term of the moment is, and yet is such a wonderful example of the "least of these" that have so much to teach the rest of us.
Robert limps around Panera, picking up plates and spreading cheer wherever he goes. Everyone knows Robert, and not just because he wears a nametag. Everyone knows Robert because you get the feeling that Robert knows you, and likes you anyway. Somehow, with his limited perspective, Robert manages to see others with the eyes of Jesus in a special way.
I love watching Robert. I dare you to be rude to him (half the restaurant would "escort" you out if you did!), or to not be encouraged by him when he comes over to sweep up some crumbs or take your trash away for you. Notice I didn't say "cheered up by him," although he certainly does bring a smile to my face, because I think Robert defies the stereotype (and bad theology) that the solution to a problem is being "cheered up." Like Job's friends, before they lost their minds and started preaching, I truly believe that Robert would weep with a person as readily as he would laugh with them. I'm obviously making some assumptions here, but from my observations, Robert gets what a lot of us don't: be in the moment. Not in a Nike, Sprite, corporate feel-good, me-me-me way, but in the true Biblical sense. Instead of always worrying and fretting about what isn't and about what could be, Robert goes about his day, trying to do good work and to show people kindness. And ironically, because he just focuses on one task at a time, Robert embodies what could be for all of us.
Maybe I'm just feeling a bit sappy because I'm sleepy, but this is what I think of when I see Robert. True, childlike joy that lives in the moment and enjoys good work and people. Oh, Lord, make me more like your son Robert! Make me more like the Son that you gave up for your people and that I see reflected in the eyes of Robert.
In the middle of College FB Season (so impatient for the rankings to come out!), ministry life (so far, so good), friends & their families going through heartache (we're praying for you, Negii!), and the day-to-day of life, there's always Robert.
Robert is the employee at Panera that won them an award from the Bobby Dodd Institute (a fantastic organization, by the way). Robert is "mentally handicapped," or whatever the PC term of the moment is, and yet is such a wonderful example of the "least of these" that have so much to teach the rest of us.
Robert limps around Panera, picking up plates and spreading cheer wherever he goes. Everyone knows Robert, and not just because he wears a nametag. Everyone knows Robert because you get the feeling that Robert knows you, and likes you anyway. Somehow, with his limited perspective, Robert manages to see others with the eyes of Jesus in a special way.
I love watching Robert. I dare you to be rude to him (half the restaurant would "escort" you out if you did!), or to not be encouraged by him when he comes over to sweep up some crumbs or take your trash away for you. Notice I didn't say "cheered up by him," although he certainly does bring a smile to my face, because I think Robert defies the stereotype (and bad theology) that the solution to a problem is being "cheered up." Like Job's friends, before they lost their minds and started preaching, I truly believe that Robert would weep with a person as readily as he would laugh with them. I'm obviously making some assumptions here, but from my observations, Robert gets what a lot of us don't: be in the moment. Not in a Nike, Sprite, corporate feel-good, me-me-me way, but in the true Biblical sense. Instead of always worrying and fretting about what isn't and about what could be, Robert goes about his day, trying to do good work and to show people kindness. And ironically, because he just focuses on one task at a time, Robert embodies what could be for all of us.
Maybe I'm just feeling a bit sappy because I'm sleepy, but this is what I think of when I see Robert. True, childlike joy that lives in the moment and enjoys good work and people. Oh, Lord, make me more like your son Robert! Make me more like the Son that you gave up for your people and that I see reflected in the eyes of Robert.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Out of the Woodwork
Well, if anything can get me out of a non-posting slump, College Football Season is it! Whoo hoo! Just 5 days, 5 hours & 27 minutes until kick-off for the season opener at Notre Dame. I'll just pause a second and let that sink in.
Ah...
Yes, there is much excitement in the Crane household. I'm excited because the season is about to start, Kennan is excited because that means I'll stop asking him, "Is it Football Season yet???" in my most annoying voice, and the cats are excited because they have toys to ignore and behinds to lick. All is well in the universe...
Except that I'm a bit annoyed because what with the Michael Vick controversy, I haven't heard them "talk Tech" YET on 790 (The Zone). It's getting a bit annoying. I mean, we're playing Notre Dame, people. I could even understand if we were, like Virginia Tech, playing East Carolina (slackers), but we're playing Notre Dame, for crying out loud! I know they're wildly overrated (time and again), but come on! A little coverage would be nice.
So what does everybody think? Are we going to bring home the W? Are we going to see Charlie Weis get all purple in the face watching his offensive line crumple against our mighty D? Will T. Choice be able to charge down the field into the end-zone like usual? Will Travis keep his aim true, and will the mighty Durant Brooks keep dropping 'em inside the 20 like it's nothing? And will all our hopes and plans come to fruition in the charming duo of Taylor Bennett & James Johnson? (Or, will Calvin Booker or one of the other QB hopefuls sneak in and seal the deal?)
And will I forgive Kirk Herbstreit for leaving Tashard off the "Best Running Backs" Herbies list, since he did include Tenuta on the "Favorite Defensive Minds--Ruthless Aggression" list? Hm...
Ah...
Yes, there is much excitement in the Crane household. I'm excited because the season is about to start, Kennan is excited because that means I'll stop asking him, "Is it Football Season yet???" in my most annoying voice, and the cats are excited because they have toys to ignore and behinds to lick. All is well in the universe...
Except that I'm a bit annoyed because what with the Michael Vick controversy, I haven't heard them "talk Tech" YET on 790 (The Zone). It's getting a bit annoying. I mean, we're playing Notre Dame, people. I could even understand if we were, like Virginia Tech, playing East Carolina (slackers), but we're playing Notre Dame, for crying out loud! I know they're wildly overrated (time and again), but come on! A little coverage would be nice.
So what does everybody think? Are we going to bring home the W? Are we going to see Charlie Weis get all purple in the face watching his offensive line crumple against our mighty D? Will T. Choice be able to charge down the field into the end-zone like usual? Will Travis keep his aim true, and will the mighty Durant Brooks keep dropping 'em inside the 20 like it's nothing? And will all our hopes and plans come to fruition in the charming duo of Taylor Bennett & James Johnson? (Or, will Calvin Booker or one of the other QB hopefuls sneak in and seal the deal?)
And will I forgive Kirk Herbstreit for leaving Tashard off the "Best Running Backs" Herbies list, since he did include Tenuta on the "Favorite Defensive Minds--Ruthless Aggression" list? Hm...
Friday, February 09, 2007
Harry Potter is Evil
No, I haven't lost my mind and joined the ranks of Harry Haters---especially not the woman in Gwinnett County! I still feel that it is not a problem for a Christian to read Harry Potter, provided that the occult is not a stumbling block for him or her. And I loved a comment I read on one of the many HP-themed sites when someone said that there are far more dangerous books at a Christian bookstore... hoo hoo hoo! Take that, Jabez!
But perhaps a more accurate title might be, "My Obsession with Harry Potter is Evil." I can't stop. I've read an unholy amount of theories, prognostications, and random silliness since the title and release date of Book 7 has been announced. My problem is not with the content of the books, but rather that I've become obsessed (almost to the point of possession) with all things Harry Potter. My poor husband is at his wits' end with my endless chattering about invisibility cloaks and horcruxes and scars and spells and time turners and... and... and...
Football season ended, with its usual tinny implosion, and I found myself another idol to fill the void. Why, oh why, do I do this? Where is my passion for Christ? For graduate students? For InterVarsity Press (yet another addiction, but not as time-consuming)? Why is it that I don't lose track of time and spend hours looking at websites about the plight of people in Africa, the Middle East, etc.? I made a rule about Harry Potter rumor-mongering only on the weekends. I broke it. It seems the harder I try to stop obsessing, the worse it gets. Like those stupid finger traps or a raccoon with its grubby little paw stuck in a trap, unwilling to let go of the prize to get away free.
Someone once told me that I should be willing to be as free during corporate worship as I am at a football game. I disagree. At Tech games, I'm loud, obnoxiously spirited, and concerned mainly with my own entertainment. Perhaps I'm too bogged down in "outdated traditions" (sorry about getting that sarcasm on your computer screen) but I think there is more to corporate worship than that. Or at least there should be.
So that begs the question, should I be as obsessed with God as I tend to get with GT football, HP, etc. etc.? I think not. There is no discipline, no control, no goal except to entertain myself. When I am getting too wrapped up in the world of Harry Potter, I am living rather vicariously through the characters. I am escaping from the real world, and I get rather feverish and frantic to know more, theorize more, read more. That is not what a life lived for and through God should look like. When I am getting wrapped up in God's word and his gracious and eternal plan (getting "too" wrapped up is not possible!), I am not escaping or living vicariously. I am instead living the life I was meant to live, and I am neither feverish nor frantic. Instead, I am hungry to know more, dream more, read more. I can tell the difference. Sometimes I just let myself ignore what I know to be true.
There is a distinctiveness to being engaged, excited and enthused about what God is doing here on earth as he is in heaven. Not a frenetic scrambling to please a merciless, lazy, whimsical god, but a life lived in energized obedience to a dying daily to self, with the help of a merciful, active, unchanging God.
I'm going to go read my Bible. It may not be as "fun" as other things I could do, but God has been gracious to give me the desire to do so, and it seems a shame to waste it.
But perhaps a more accurate title might be, "My Obsession with Harry Potter is Evil." I can't stop. I've read an unholy amount of theories, prognostications, and random silliness since the title and release date of Book 7 has been announced. My problem is not with the content of the books, but rather that I've become obsessed (almost to the point of possession) with all things Harry Potter. My poor husband is at his wits' end with my endless chattering about invisibility cloaks and horcruxes and scars and spells and time turners and... and... and...
Football season ended, with its usual tinny implosion, and I found myself another idol to fill the void. Why, oh why, do I do this? Where is my passion for Christ? For graduate students? For InterVarsity Press (yet another addiction, but not as time-consuming)? Why is it that I don't lose track of time and spend hours looking at websites about the plight of people in Africa, the Middle East, etc.? I made a rule about Harry Potter rumor-mongering only on the weekends. I broke it. It seems the harder I try to stop obsessing, the worse it gets. Like those stupid finger traps or a raccoon with its grubby little paw stuck in a trap, unwilling to let go of the prize to get away free.
Someone once told me that I should be willing to be as free during corporate worship as I am at a football game. I disagree. At Tech games, I'm loud, obnoxiously spirited, and concerned mainly with my own entertainment. Perhaps I'm too bogged down in "outdated traditions" (sorry about getting that sarcasm on your computer screen) but I think there is more to corporate worship than that. Or at least there should be.
So that begs the question, should I be as obsessed with God as I tend to get with GT football, HP, etc. etc.? I think not. There is no discipline, no control, no goal except to entertain myself. When I am getting too wrapped up in the world of Harry Potter, I am living rather vicariously through the characters. I am escaping from the real world, and I get rather feverish and frantic to know more, theorize more, read more. That is not what a life lived for and through God should look like. When I am getting wrapped up in God's word and his gracious and eternal plan (getting "too" wrapped up is not possible!), I am not escaping or living vicariously. I am instead living the life I was meant to live, and I am neither feverish nor frantic. Instead, I am hungry to know more, dream more, read more. I can tell the difference. Sometimes I just let myself ignore what I know to be true.
There is a distinctiveness to being engaged, excited and enthused about what God is doing here on earth as he is in heaven. Not a frenetic scrambling to please a merciless, lazy, whimsical god, but a life lived in energized obedience to a dying daily to self, with the help of a merciful, active, unchanging God.
I'm going to go read my Bible. It may not be as "fun" as other things I could do, but God has been gracious to give me the desire to do so, and it seems a shame to waste it.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Oh, Google will be the Happy Death of Me!
I love my gmail account... but between the chat feature and the personalized, tantalizing links all over the place, it's a wonder I get anything done.
This one made me laugh. It sounds dirty, and the pictures are even worse, but apparently, it's quite legitimate.
www.bananaguard.com
This one made me aggravated. Why, oh why, do we let angry atheists distract us from Jesus? Apologetics is important and valuable, but at the end of the day, being right doesn't bring peace. Someone did make the valuable point that evolution is as much a leap of faith as is creationism, but that got bogged down in ad hom attacks and out-of-context Bible verses vs. scientific jargon. Good times.
Lord help us.
And there's always Endgaget links... this one features some of the geekier Superbowl commercials. GM's Lonely Robot was my favorite, followed by Sprint's Connectile Dysfunction.
The Bears let me down!
While the Bears performance was less than stellar, Bud Light came through in spades!
The King Crab one was my favorite.
This one made me laugh. It sounds dirty, and the pictures are even worse, but apparently, it's quite legitimate.
www.bananaguard.com
This one made me aggravated. Why, oh why, do we let angry atheists distract us from Jesus? Apologetics is important and valuable, but at the end of the day, being right doesn't bring peace. Someone did make the valuable point that evolution is as much a leap of faith as is creationism, but that got bogged down in ad hom attacks and out-of-context Bible verses vs. scientific jargon. Good times.
Lord help us.
And there's always Endgaget links... this one features some of the geekier Superbowl commercials. GM's Lonely Robot was my favorite, followed by Sprint's Connectile Dysfunction.
The Bears let me down!
While the Bears performance was less than stellar, Bud Light came through in spades!
The King Crab one was my favorite.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
By the Numbers
23---number, in pounds, of turkey that we cooked on Thanksgiving day
3---number of turkeys that we cooked Thanksgiving week
2---number of days after Thanksgiving that I moaned & groaned about eating too much
6---number of years that we have lost to Georgia IN A ROW
4---number of times the football team has broken my heart this season (hey, it's an improvement!)
1,367---number of times I screamed at the TV during the U(sic)GA game and the ACC championship
29, 9 & 2---number, in order, of attempts, completions and interceptions that Reggie had against Wake Forest
0---number of touchdowns by either team in the championship game (WTP... what the poo?!?)
182---number, in dog years, that Kennan has been on the planet
10---number of human years that I've gotten to celebrate Kennan's birthday with him :)
2---number of years that I have gotten to go to the Andrew Peterson Behold the Lamb show at the Ryman
6---number of people that we fit into 5 spaces so that we could all sit together at the show
482---number of chills that went up my spine because of the haunting beauty of the show
17---number of times I was spooked out by the similiarities between our friends Robert & Charissa and Team Redd
80---number of people stuffed into a townhouse for the church Christmas party
2---number of times that our associate pastor stole from us during the white elephant exchange
19---number of times I had to escape from the crowd into the "introverts' room" in the office
344---number of quilt squares I've cut out in the past 2 weeks
16---number left to go!
8,463---number of craftsy projects that I've started in my life
9---number, in percentage points, that I've finished
19---number of students involved with the grad group at GT (woot!)
17---number of students involved with the grad group at Emory (double woot!)
3---number of months I procrastinated on filling out my Fall Field Report for InterVarsity
12---number of minutes it actually took me to finish the thing
26---number of minutes I've managed to procrastinate on other work by writing this post!
3---number of turkeys that we cooked Thanksgiving week
2---number of days after Thanksgiving that I moaned & groaned about eating too much
6---number of years that we have lost to Georgia IN A ROW
4---number of times the football team has broken my heart this season (hey, it's an improvement!)
1,367---number of times I screamed at the TV during the U(sic)GA game and the ACC championship
29, 9 & 2---number, in order, of attempts, completions and interceptions that Reggie had against Wake Forest
0---number of touchdowns by either team in the championship game (WTP... what the poo?!?)
182---number, in dog years, that Kennan has been on the planet
10---number of human years that I've gotten to celebrate Kennan's birthday with him :)
2---number of years that I have gotten to go to the Andrew Peterson Behold the Lamb show at the Ryman
6---number of people that we fit into 5 spaces so that we could all sit together at the show
482---number of chills that went up my spine because of the haunting beauty of the show
17---number of times I was spooked out by the similiarities between our friends Robert & Charissa and Team Redd
80---number of people stuffed into a townhouse for the church Christmas party
2---number of times that our associate pastor stole from us during the white elephant exchange
19---number of times I had to escape from the crowd into the "introverts' room" in the office
344---number of quilt squares I've cut out in the past 2 weeks
16---number left to go!
8,463---number of craftsy projects that I've started in my life
9---number, in percentage points, that I've finished
19---number of students involved with the grad group at GT (woot!)
17---number of students involved with the grad group at Emory (double woot!)
3---number of months I procrastinated on filling out my Fall Field Report for InterVarsity
12---number of minutes it actually took me to finish the thing
26---number of minutes I've managed to procrastinate on other work by writing this post!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
They'll Break Your Heart...
Sigh.
At least Notre Dame got a well-deserved beat down. And we're still on our way to Jacksonville. To play Wake Forest. Wake Forest?!?
I hope Georgia's star freshman QB implodes the way ours did. So sad.
Such is the life of a Yellow Jacket fan.
At least Notre Dame got a well-deserved beat down. And we're still on our way to Jacksonville. To play Wake Forest. Wake Forest?!?
I hope Georgia's star freshman QB implodes the way ours did. So sad.
Such is the life of a Yellow Jacket fan.
Monday, November 20, 2006
All Things Football
Sigh. Football season is drawing to a close. And while this means that the most exciting games are coming up (and that Christmas is on its way!), it's still a bummer. Saturday was the last home game, which we won quite handily. We're on our way to Jacksonville, and hopefully (the critics are liking our chances) the Orangey-Floridian theme will continue. We might just play a BCS bowl for the first time in (I do believe) 16 years. The pundits are putting us up against Louisville. Not sure how I feel about that... it's a nice neutral opponent, but I sure would love another crack at Brady Quinn and the stupid Irish. Would we get our butts kicked? I don't think that's a certainty at all. We did excellently in the season opener (that seems so far away now!), and Notre Dame's 10-1 record is a bit misleading. Michigan beat the snot out of them, Michigan State nearly pulled off the upset, and their wins over 1-10 Stanford, 2-9 North Carolina, and 3-8 Army aren't that impressive. Which is not to say that we haven't had our share of small teams to thump (winless Duke and AA Samford certainly come to mind, not to mention that we didn't do too well against UNC), but NOTRE DAME ISN'T OHIO STATE, PEOPLE! OSU has also had their share of games this season against sub-par teams, but in each game, they have resoundingly THUMPED the competition.
I'm willing to say it: this season, Notre Dame has been as inconsistent as we are. Bah. Jerks. KaMichael Hall would eat Brady Quinn for lunch. Ooooooh, the hype around Notre Dame and their BCS #5 ranking makes me unreasonably angry. Moving on.
On Friday, we had the weird but fun experience of North Georgia High School football. We went with our friend Lacey to Blue Ridge to see her hubby Michael filming the game. It was like being home again, except a little more "Deliverance" and a little less "Hee-Haw." It felt weird cheering for the all-white Fannin County Rebels against the predominantly black Manchester (who won, by the way). I found it amusing that Fannin County had nicer uniforms, a nicer band, were bigger, etc. etc. than Manchester, but still weren't that good. Before anyone blasts me for knocking North Georgia, High School football, or the South in general, let me just say that I enjoyed it, I wasn't particularly offended, and it was fun to see folks enjoying themselves and not worrying about traffic, building codes, or pollution. The two things that freaked me out the most were: 1) UGA paraphenalia EVERYWHERE, and 2) how much it felt just like our home stadium back in rural New Mexico. Badly bleached hair, tons of eye makeup... no smell of cows, though. I'll count my blessings. Mooooooo.
Well, in just a little while, football season will be over, and I'll find something else to obsess over. Because I'm not talking football during the off-season. Certainly not discussing Calvin Johnson. Especially not during the NFL Draft.
CALVIN, DON'T LEAVE US!!! auuuuuughhhhhhh
I'm willing to say it: this season, Notre Dame has been as inconsistent as we are. Bah. Jerks. KaMichael Hall would eat Brady Quinn for lunch. Ooooooh, the hype around Notre Dame and their BCS #5 ranking makes me unreasonably angry. Moving on.
On Friday, we had the weird but fun experience of North Georgia High School football. We went with our friend Lacey to Blue Ridge to see her hubby Michael filming the game. It was like being home again, except a little more "Deliverance" and a little less "Hee-Haw." It felt weird cheering for the all-white Fannin County Rebels against the predominantly black Manchester (who won, by the way). I found it amusing that Fannin County had nicer uniforms, a nicer band, were bigger, etc. etc. than Manchester, but still weren't that good. Before anyone blasts me for knocking North Georgia, High School football, or the South in general, let me just say that I enjoyed it, I wasn't particularly offended, and it was fun to see folks enjoying themselves and not worrying about traffic, building codes, or pollution. The two things that freaked me out the most were: 1) UGA paraphenalia EVERYWHERE, and 2) how much it felt just like our home stadium back in rural New Mexico. Badly bleached hair, tons of eye makeup... no smell of cows, though. I'll count my blessings. Mooooooo.
Well, in just a little while, football season will be over, and I'll find something else to obsess over. Because I'm not talking football during the off-season. Certainly not discussing Calvin Johnson. Especially not during the NFL Draft.
CALVIN, DON'T LEAVE US!!! auuuuuughhhhhhh
Monday, November 13, 2006
Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin-eater
I'm stealing Laura's idea/last Sunday's Bible study icebreaker question...
In the fall, I love the
sight of the crowd at Bobby Dodd stadium as the players run onto the field...
smell of nutmeg and eggnog...
sound of AP's "Behold the Lamb" cd...
taste of pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce and stuffing and leftover turkey sandwiches and... and... and...
feel of crunching through piles of leaves on a walk with my best friend...
So what have the Cranes been up to? Our friend Katherine got us amazing seats at the Miami game: 5th row up, right above the players' tunnel. Whoo hoo! She caught #6 Pat Clark's glove (I was so jealous!) after the game. It's a disturbing sign of my personality that I coveted a sweaty glove...
Choir practice has started up and we're having a blast. I had a slight panic attack last night when I thought that the finale for The Amazing Race was the same night as the Christmas Celebration, but it's a week earlier; so everything's okay. Priorities, people!
What I do love about Choir practice is that the emphasis is on speaking (or singing) the gospel, not on having a performance. It helps me not be so prideful about my singing abilities. It's a good reminder that whatever gifts God has given to a person, he does so that he might be glorified.
We helped to host a baby shower for Team Redd & the Frazers... that was a lot of fun! It was no typical shower, mind you! We watched the game (we didn't play very well, but at least we won; and that means we're on our way to Jacksonville for the ACC Championship!), had a finger football tournament, and ate large amounts of meat, in addition to the usual present-opening, cutesy-cake-eating, girly-squealing good time you might expect to see at a baby shower.
And in case you were wondering, there are few things more wrong, yet more entertaining, than putting a crumpled up ball of masking tape on your cat's back, right between the shoulder blades where he can't really reach. I'm such a mean pet parent.
In the fall, I love the
sight of the crowd at Bobby Dodd stadium as the players run onto the field...
smell of nutmeg and eggnog...
sound of AP's "Behold the Lamb" cd...
taste of pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce and stuffing and leftover turkey sandwiches and... and... and...
feel of crunching through piles of leaves on a walk with my best friend...
So what have the Cranes been up to? Our friend Katherine got us amazing seats at the Miami game: 5th row up, right above the players' tunnel. Whoo hoo! She caught #6 Pat Clark's glove (I was so jealous!) after the game. It's a disturbing sign of my personality that I coveted a sweaty glove...
Choir practice has started up and we're having a blast. I had a slight panic attack last night when I thought that the finale for The Amazing Race was the same night as the Christmas Celebration, but it's a week earlier; so everything's okay. Priorities, people!
What I do love about Choir practice is that the emphasis is on speaking (or singing) the gospel, not on having a performance. It helps me not be so prideful about my singing abilities. It's a good reminder that whatever gifts God has given to a person, he does so that he might be glorified.
We helped to host a baby shower for Team Redd & the Frazers... that was a lot of fun! It was no typical shower, mind you! We watched the game (we didn't play very well, but at least we won; and that means we're on our way to Jacksonville for the ACC Championship!), had a finger football tournament, and ate large amounts of meat, in addition to the usual present-opening, cutesy-cake-eating, girly-squealing good time you might expect to see at a baby shower.
And in case you were wondering, there are few things more wrong, yet more entertaining, than putting a crumpled up ball of masking tape on your cat's back, right between the shoulder blades where he can't really reach. I'm such a mean pet parent.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Fortnight in Review
Over the past several weeks, I have had or at least overheard a number of interesting discussions/arguments. To wit:
college football vs. pro (college, all the way)
Calvinism vs. Armenianism (Happy Reformation Day!)
celebrating Halloween vs. not (pass the candy, please)
church planting model vs. church growth model (megachurches freak me out)
redemption of the entire earth theology vs. redemption of souls theology (for lack of better terminology; and as for my stance on this issue, let's just say that I've been accused of being a "neo-Calvinist," whatever that means)
Georgia Tech vs. U(sic)GA (not even a contest)
cats vs. dogs (actually, we like both... but when you live in 650 sq. ft...)
PCs vs. Macs (I'm quite happy with my Dell, but the pro-Mac commercials do make me laugh)
small house/small commute vs. big house/big commute (see "cats vs. dogs")
Daylight Saving Time vs. Arizona (not sure I really have an opinion on this one... it does bother me that AZ also doesn't celebrate MLK Day)
bunny ears vs. cable (we watch way too much TV as is!)
Team Trivia vs.... well, okay... versus nothing. I just wanted to mention that we got first place tonight! WHOO HOO!
Palestine vs. Israel (do NOT get me started on this... let's just say I listen to NPR)
Episcopal/Presbyterian church government vs. congregational church government (all in favor of not voting on every little thing, say AYE)
T-Mobile vs. Cingular (Cingular has rollover mins. but you sure do pay for them)
Skittles vs. Starburst (I like that Skittles are both crunchy and chewy)
Theism vs. Secular Humanism (sheesh... whether or not we descended from monkeys, some people sure do still act like apes, and on both sides of the argument)
Greek (fraternities & sororities) vs. non-Greeks (okay, so I'm not Greek and not the greatest fan of the system, but I've had my stereotypes challenged, and that's a good thing)
Yup, it's been an interesting couple of weeks indeed! I love having diverse friends, even when it makes life confusing and/or aggravating. So has anyone else had any good discussions that they'd like to share?
college football vs. pro (college, all the way)
Calvinism vs. Armenianism (Happy Reformation Day!)
celebrating Halloween vs. not (pass the candy, please)
church planting model vs. church growth model (megachurches freak me out)
redemption of the entire earth theology vs. redemption of souls theology (for lack of better terminology; and as for my stance on this issue, let's just say that I've been accused of being a "neo-Calvinist," whatever that means)
Georgia Tech vs. U(sic)GA (not even a contest)
cats vs. dogs (actually, we like both... but when you live in 650 sq. ft...)
PCs vs. Macs (I'm quite happy with my Dell, but the pro-Mac commercials do make me laugh)
small house/small commute vs. big house/big commute (see "cats vs. dogs")
Daylight Saving Time vs. Arizona (not sure I really have an opinion on this one... it does bother me that AZ also doesn't celebrate MLK Day)
bunny ears vs. cable (we watch way too much TV as is!)
Team Trivia vs.... well, okay... versus nothing. I just wanted to mention that we got first place tonight! WHOO HOO!
Palestine vs. Israel (do NOT get me started on this... let's just say I listen to NPR)
Episcopal/Presbyterian church government vs. congregational church government (all in favor of not voting on every little thing, say AYE)
T-Mobile vs. Cingular (Cingular has rollover mins. but you sure do pay for them)
Skittles vs. Starburst (I like that Skittles are both crunchy and chewy)
Theism vs. Secular Humanism (sheesh... whether or not we descended from monkeys, some people sure do still act like apes, and on both sides of the argument)
Greek (fraternities & sororities) vs. non-Greeks (okay, so I'm not Greek and not the greatest fan of the system, but I've had my stereotypes challenged, and that's a good thing)
Yup, it's been an interesting couple of weeks indeed! I love having diverse friends, even when it makes life confusing and/or aggravating. So has anyone else had any good discussions that they'd like to share?
Monday, October 16, 2006
Tech had a Bye-week on Saturday
... and yet we still had a W for the day. Vandy beat Georgia. At home. Hoo hoo hoo hoo hooooo!
Sadly, we are no longer ranked above them in the Top 25... BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER IN THE TOP 25! Beautiful, just beautiful!
Saturday was a weird day for college football. A lot of upsets, and a lot of near-upsets. Poor Ole Miss. I was really pulling for them against 'Bama. (Sorry, Sam... and what would you have done if BenJarvus Green-Ellis had gotten the best of your beloved Tide?) They were soooo close. College football is weird, because although they lost to Georgia back in Week 5, Ole Miss did beat Vandy (one of their 2 wins, sadly). I've been told that soccer (excuse me, my international friends... football) is even crazier for upsets, but Week 7 definitely gives it a run for its money. I was pulling for Arizona State to get the upset over USC, too... more than anything because it would have wreaked havoc with the BCS (Bowl Championship Suckiness). But that's another discussion for another day!
Saturday was also a lovely chance for Miami to prove their thugishness. Not only did they get into a brawl with little FIU, but one of their alums who was calling the game was happy to see the brawl. Good grief. I talk a lot of smack, especially where Georgia is concerned, but I wouldn't be happy to see a brawl at the Tech-Georgia game. Making fun of slack-jawed yokels is one thing, but taking your helmet off and using it as a weapon is quite another. And while it's true that FIU apparently started the brawl, and that one FIU player was taking swings at players with his crutches, Miami was already beating them on the scoreboard. Did they really have to let it get physical? Well, they're Miami, so... yes, yes they did. It's not like this type of behavior is new for them.
It's a shame that the suspensions are only for one game. It would have been nice to have that going on our side for Homecoming... but at least poor Duke will have a chance this Saturday... tee hee... snrrkkk... hoo hoo... AHEM. Sorry.
The funniest thing to come out of the drama was Coker being asked during a press conference if he has control of the team. He was not amused by the question, but I sure am!
Okay, Clemson, here we come! It might just be the ACC Championship Game preview...
Sadly, we are no longer ranked above them in the Top 25... BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER IN THE TOP 25! Beautiful, just beautiful!
Saturday was a weird day for college football. A lot of upsets, and a lot of near-upsets. Poor Ole Miss. I was really pulling for them against 'Bama. (Sorry, Sam... and what would you have done if BenJarvus Green-Ellis had gotten the best of your beloved Tide?) They were soooo close. College football is weird, because although they lost to Georgia back in Week 5, Ole Miss did beat Vandy (one of their 2 wins, sadly). I've been told that soccer (excuse me, my international friends... football) is even crazier for upsets, but Week 7 definitely gives it a run for its money. I was pulling for Arizona State to get the upset over USC, too... more than anything because it would have wreaked havoc with the BCS (Bowl Championship Suckiness). But that's another discussion for another day!
Saturday was also a lovely chance for Miami to prove their thugishness. Not only did they get into a brawl with little FIU, but one of their alums who was calling the game was happy to see the brawl. Good grief. I talk a lot of smack, especially where Georgia is concerned, but I wouldn't be happy to see a brawl at the Tech-Georgia game. Making fun of slack-jawed yokels is one thing, but taking your helmet off and using it as a weapon is quite another. And while it's true that FIU apparently started the brawl, and that one FIU player was taking swings at players with his crutches, Miami was already beating them on the scoreboard. Did they really have to let it get physical? Well, they're Miami, so... yes, yes they did. It's not like this type of behavior is new for them.
It's a shame that the suspensions are only for one game. It would have been nice to have that going on our side for Homecoming... but at least poor Duke will have a chance this Saturday... tee hee... snrrkkk... hoo hoo... AHEM. Sorry.
The funniest thing to come out of the drama was Coker being asked during a press conference if he has control of the team. He was not amused by the question, but I sure am!
Okay, Clemson, here we come! It might just be the ACC Championship Game preview...
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Saturday, September 30, 2006
What a Day!
Days don't get much better than today. This morning, we had a retreat for the graduate fellowship groups at Emory, Tech, and (boooo) Georgia. Pete Bocchino was a fantastic, engaging, humble speaker who actually said "Apologetics is all about relationships." Sadly, you don't often hear that out of many of the spooky-brilliant minds that study the Bible and come up with amazing insight. At the end of his session, I felt better equipped to share the gospel of Christ with love and humility, as opposed to just gaining a lot of knowledge to throw at people. Good apologetics (silly sounding term, but apparently it's from the original Greek apologia, to defend a position against an attack) is gaining knowledge about God so that we can glorify him by sharing that knowledge in love. So there, rude people. PPPLLLLLBBBBTTTHHH! Take that.
After we left the retreat, we headed up to Taco Mac to watch the game. No, no, make that THE GAME. We beat no. 10/11 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg (scary scary stadium) 38-27. We in the Crane household are still in a little bit of shock. And we also have very sore throats from screaming, hooting & hollering so much. GOOOOOOO JACKETS! Holy poop. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep for a week! What a sweet, sweet victory for so many reasons!
And then we went to a benefit event for Mamelodi Township, South Africa. For just $10 a head, we got to eat ridiculous amounts of pig, sides & peach cobbler. We got to hear some really awesome Gospel/Blues singers. We got to laugh with friends and also be moved to tears by the pictures & stories of the people, and especially the children, of Mamelodi. Sitting next to my laptop are two beautiful soapstone carvings that we bought from African Leadership Development, a fantastic ministry that works to come "alongside and help fan into flame the gifts already there... [to find] 'African solutions for African problems.' " One carving is a little hippo that makes me smile because Kennan picked out the one that is yawning, and you can see its little teeth. The other is a family (mother, father & child) all holding hands. I rejoice that somewhere in Africa the life of a family will be improved because... I got to enjoy myself with friends. How wonderfully ridiculous is that?
Today we got to be educated, humbled, & uplifted; we got to cheer our team to a crazy victory; we got to celebrate with friends and family for a good cause. Today was indeed a glimpse of heaven! :)
After we left the retreat, we headed up to Taco Mac to watch the game. No, no, make that THE GAME. We beat no. 10/11 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg (scary scary stadium) 38-27. We in the Crane household are still in a little bit of shock. And we also have very sore throats from screaming, hooting & hollering so much. GOOOOOOO JACKETS! Holy poop. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep for a week! What a sweet, sweet victory for so many reasons!
And then we went to a benefit event for Mamelodi Township, South Africa. For just $10 a head, we got to eat ridiculous amounts of pig, sides & peach cobbler. We got to hear some really awesome Gospel/Blues singers. We got to laugh with friends and also be moved to tears by the pictures & stories of the people, and especially the children, of Mamelodi. Sitting next to my laptop are two beautiful soapstone carvings that we bought from African Leadership Development, a fantastic ministry that works to come "alongside and help fan into flame the gifts already there... [to find] 'African solutions for African problems.' " One carving is a little hippo that makes me smile because Kennan picked out the one that is yawning, and you can see its little teeth. The other is a family (mother, father & child) all holding hands. I rejoice that somewhere in Africa the life of a family will be improved because... I got to enjoy myself with friends. How wonderfully ridiculous is that?
Today we got to be educated, humbled, & uplifted; we got to cheer our team to a crazy victory; we got to celebrate with friends and family for a good cause. Today was indeed a glimpse of heaven! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
