Wow, this is why I'm a football fan. Just when it looked like the Eagles were going to finish another season on a huge let-down (losing to the Redskins after collectively raising the hopes of all Eagles fans).....they find a way to DEMOLISH the Cowboys.

Thanks to clever scheduling by the local CBS & Fox stations, we were able to track the Raiders/Bucs game, and the Vikings/Giants game. Both games had meaning to the Eagles, though it was the combination of the Bucs & Bears both losing that opened the door for the Eagles.

Earlier in the afternoon I had said to Linford, it's probably like a 5-10% chance they actually make the playoffs. For one, the Raiders had next to nothing to play for, while the Bucs on the other hand were at home, would clinch a playoff spot with a win, and were trying to stop a 3-game losing streak.

Of course then it came down to which Eagles team were we going to see: the listless, unimaginative team that lost to the Redskins, or the exciting, passion-filled team that beat the Giants, Cardinals and Browns in 3 weeks running.

Turns out it was better than anything we could have imagined.

Very few games in sports are just out-right enjoyable games. Too many games (Football & Baseball) are the type that you enjoy along the way, but with a degree of nail-biting.

This one had the same feel that Victorino's grand slam against C.C. did....in that the team I was rooting for, in this case the Eagles, was going to win, and it was going to be quite a ride.

I felt that way after seeing defensive-lineman Chris Clemons rumble 75 yards for a touchdown, after a Romo fumble bounced right into his hands, AND stiff-arming a player before falling over in exhaustion in the end zone.

What a game!!!!!

Now, it's setting up for a let-down game, on the road against the Vikings, but it's not inconceivable that they win there, and play strong against the Giants a week later. The second part is considerable harder than the first, because usually only 1 team of the 4 that advances to the 2nd round (and play the rested 1 & 2 seeds) will win that second game.....but you never know....could be a nice ride.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

I'm looking forward to a little time off, okay 1 day, after a whirlwind of activity.

We haven't had much snow in the east, but have had our share of ice and cold winter weather. The wind makes all the difference (negatively).

It's the kind of weather that makes reading a book in front of a fire enjoyable....if you have a fireplace. If you don't have a fireplace....well that's a different kind of trouble...

I was in line with a lady today who was complaining about Christmas "today". She said out-loud, to no one in particular, why do we spend so much money at Christmas, and become so busy.....why can't it be like the "old" days.

You mean like the days without indoor plumbing, the days during the World Wars, the Crazy 60's/70's, "Cold" War, Gas shortage, recession of the 80's.....which days might you be referring to???

Ironically she was in line to buy something...sooo....if you don't want to spend so much money, why are you buying more stuff?????

Sure culture/society has something to do with it all, but if you want to change the way you perceive Christmas and the Holiday season, than do it....

....but like always, I kept my mouth shut, and minded my own business.

What is Up

Life moves along these days at a pretty stiff pace. When I here "12 days of Christmas", I'm usually thinking of the time before it, when we get extremely busy at work.

When I'm not at church in the evening, or at work, I've taken an evening (okay 2) to play NCAA Football on xBox. I'm living in the past, because I have the year when B.Quinn and Mardze were great. I shutout Michigan the other night for a cheap, video-game thrill.

I think I'm going to take a Sunday afternoon, use my created player who's rated 99 (why give him weaknesses) and try to lead the university of Toledo to a national championship (Go Mud Hens!).

On a professional level, I am rooting for the 'Birds to make every Eagles fan's Christmas wish: an improbable trip to the playoffs with 2 wins over the Redskins and Cowboys. They created this mess by losing to the Bears, and tying the Bengals, but maybe....just maybe...



(No Kittys were harmed in the making of this image)

(Though in somewhat related news, we are now down to 1 kitty: Joshie is no longer with us).