The trip back

I was sick most of vacation. Sunday was our last day and I woke up with bad stomach cramps. I took some medicine and went to church anyways. After church we went out to eat. I took my golf clubs just in case. There is a par 3 course behind the restaurant. I ended up feeling good enough to try and play. The longest hole on the 9 I played was 90 yards. So nothing impressive. We left that afternoon and I tried to listen to NFL on the radio. Not real easy. I decided that Beckley West Virginia might be a good stopping point so I had Steph call my parents and ask them to get online and see what was there hotel wise. While she was on the phone a tunnel came up that would've cut the reception so she got off. Dad would call with the info. We never got cell service again. Southern West Virginia had nothing for us and usually we get good service. Not even in Beckley. So we pulled into Beckley and I was wondering if my dad had made reservations somewhere. I was thinking I had to get a hold of him because if he did we'd have to go there so we didn't get stuck trying to cancel or get stuck with the room. I think it's pretty hard to cancel a reservation around midnight. I pulled into a gas station to use a pay phone. It's a Verizon phone. I follow the directions for making a coin call. They don't work. So I try a collect call. It doesn't work either. So I go to the next gas station. Verizon phone again. I tried anyways in case the other phone was broke. Nothing. Next gas station. Verizon phone. I try making a credit card call. Nothing. Next gas station. Verizon phone. I'm furious. Finally I get a credit card call through. Dad had not made reservations. So I just need to pick a hotel. I try the first one only I make a wrong turn somewhere and launch myself down a windy WVA road with no turn around spots. I get back and try the next hotel. It doesn't look that nice. So I try the third one. I go in and ask if there's a room. There is! It's expensive but at that point I don't care anymore (and I had help). Nice bed and a good night's sleep. Next morning on the road again. The brakes aren't working right. Almost not working at all. So we do the entire trip and stop at a parts store. I fixed the brakes after the long trip. They pad had come off of the backing. One of the pads had come apart and part had gotten stuck. But it's all fixed now. Great drive.

first day back

I feel good. I still have a cough but it isn't that big a deal. I feel so good I may even run.

I have some vacation stories to share but they'll wait until tomorrow. I spent today visiting in the hospital. And there weren't even any funny stories to share from that. Except from maybe when the sedated guy rolled over and showed us he was wearing a backless hospital gown. But that almost isn't even funny anymore.

still sick

It's Laura's birthday. I'm old. I have a 5 year old. She's out putt putting with her Aunt, Uncles, cousins, Grandparents, mother and sister and I'm sitting here in the living room with my pajamas on. I have a fever, did a little vomiting and just feel lousy. It's 63 degrees and beautiful outside. Supposed to get up to 67. I should be putt putting and then going real golfing. But I'm stuck watching college football alone. Maybe tomorrow. It'll be 66 tomorrow.

Steph got up at 4:20 this morning to go shopping. She's crazy. Her mom and brother went too. At least she was able to get gifts for all the cousins and get them at a good price. South Carolina has this neat thing going on this weekend. There is no sales tax today or tomorrow. It makes me want to go out and buy a car or huge t.v. or something. So it works. It's a good economy stimulator. Maybe it's a good thing I'm sick.

Bo Schembechler

I'm a huge sports fan. So something like Bo dying is a huge sports story. Bo said some bad things about Notre Dame. So I wasn't a huge fan. But he is a giant in NCAA football history so I thought I'd put some Bo quotes on the blog. Of course all of this is stolen from other places, I never met Bo.

Bo on discipline. "I screamed. I kicked players in the butt. When someone screwed up, he was sent off for laps. Around the field. And around again. Keep going until I stop you. One time, I sent a kid out there and flat-out forgot about him. I think he was running for two hours before someone said to me, 'Hey Bo, he's still out there.'"

Bo on Dan Dierdorf when Dierdorf played for him. "'Hello, Coach Schembechler', he said, very politely. 'I'm Dan Dierdorf.' I stared at him, went right past his hand to his waist, and grabbed a fistful. 'YOU ARE FAT!' I said. And I walked away."

Bo on Woody Hayes "I never met anyone like him. I never will. He was the greatest teacher I have ever see, the greatest motivator I have ever met, and quite possibly the best coach in the history of college football."

Bo on his death. "I will die one day from a bad heart. I've pretty much accepted that."

pneumonia

I'm sick. I cough constantly, so wash your hands when you get off the computer. I'm trying to get better before we head down to South Carolina. I'm tired of doing nothing. Bed has gotten boring. So I went to work today. Work got boring so I went to bed. Sick stinks.

New football movie

Hey there's a movie out in some theaters called Facing The Giants. It's about a football coach and team. It looks pretty interesting from the trailers. Here's another thing that makes it interesting. It cost $100,000 to make. I saw the directors on Headline News this morning. They are both pastors at a Baptist church in Georgia. All of the actors are volunteers and the movie is not only clean but full of the Bible and God. I've watched the trailers and it doesn't look like one of those cheap Christian movies. It looks good. Here's their website.

Facing The Giants

Notre Dame - part 3 the game

The game was just like I remember all Notre Dame games. A little chilly and a little drizzle. We had really good seats though.

Notre Dame won and we had a great time. Thanks again Mr. Strong!

Notre Dame - part 2

After we got our tickets it was off to do some of the pregame traditions. We went to the grotto. We didn't do any praying there but we did watch others light some candles.











Then we went and watched the players walk from mass to the stadium. Do you know who that is walking towards me giving fives? That's right I got a five from Brady Quinn.











I like this picture of players with the Golden Dome in the background.














This is the band warming up. The older guys in front of them are the band Chicago. They played 2 of Chicago's older songs.

Notre Dame - part 1

I went to two different top 10 NCAA football games in consecutive Saturdays. And I may go to the Central Michigan vs. Western Michigan rivalry game this Thursday. I love fall. So here is the story of the Notre Dame game.

My college roommate, the great Tobin Strong, has a younger brother named Justin. Mr. Strong, the way he referred to himself during our dealings (which was perfect given the spy theme), is a law student at Notre Dame. Because of this very distinguished position, he sometimes has an opportunity to buy tickets to home games. He very graciously agreed to do that for me. However he did not have the opportunity to get them until late in the week. And he was not going to be in South Bend on Saturday. He devised a very James Bondish way for me to get the tickets and I readily agreed. I took a kid from youth group and Saturday morning we headed south. Upon arriving on the campus, we headed for the law school. We went down the stairs and followed a hallway that was full of turns and was very mysterious. It opened up into a lockerroom and we found the correct locker. It has been years since I've opened a combo lock and I couldn't do it. Joe, being still in school, has more recent experience and on his second try opened it. There taped on the back of the locker in an envelope was the tickets. I taped the check to the back of the locker and we were off.

Halloween

We didn't do much trick or treating but the girls dressed up and did a little. Here are their costumes.





And here's my treat. Our local store has a $2.99 a pound New York Strip sale. I had mine cut really thick.

Sick and tired

Sorry I haven't posted much since I got sick after the Michigan Northwestern game. I'll try to catch you up a little on the last couple of weeks and I'll probably use a lot of pictures to do it.

College football rule changes

In the past I've been very critical of the NCAA clock changes. This last Saturday I was all for them. It was cold and raining and I wanted the game to end. I also renewed a disdain for the t.v. timeout guy.

So now it's Wednesday and I'm still sick from Saturday. I'm coughing up brown stuff and just feel sick. Big fun.