Black Saturday

As the stadium filled with hopeful OSU Beavers all turned out in the orange and black, the energy was absolutely palpable. Smiles all around, more than enough pre game "refreshments" to keep the spirits high, and "terrible towels" given out at the gate in hand. We would twirl them in the air and do our first down cheers with them held aloft. Information was exchanged all around about flight and hotel accomodations to Los Angeles; could we get tickets for "Jay Leno"? Maybe get on "The Price is Right" and return home with some loot. Oh, and Disneyland and is in my package, how about yours. Do you have your Rose Bowl tickets ordered? Shopping on Rodeo Drive (looking I suspect), and New Years Eve with the Beaver Boosters all in the California sun in December!

One quarter of football is all it took to get the feeling in the pit of my stomach that things were not going to go so well. It's the bleak understanding that we all looked beyond our arch nemisis, the Oregon Ducks, to the big game New Years day. RATS! As the game proceeded, we showed absolutely no defense (we were rated # 2 defence until today) and actually scored enough points to have won most college games. 38 is good. But, the ducks went on to run up the middle, around the ends and go over the top for so many points and yards I lost count. Holy Moly... talk about pay back! 65 to 38 final score (can you believe 103 total points scored). Are you kidding?

So, I'll be home for Christmas, as will the rest of my family! Won't go to Texas (El Paso) for that Bowl, a decision we had made some time ago. I surely will miss the anticipation that led up to this game. It was fun thinking of all the great times had 44 years ago at the last Rose Bowl I attended. I ran into some old classmates and will no doubt see them from now on at future home games. So that's the end of our football saga circa 2008. What a ride.

A Happy Thanksgiving

I have chopped, sliced, rolled and done my prep work for our feast tomorrow. Even got the baking done on time and have an outside shot at not having the "what have I forgotten" moment just before we sit down for dinner. I want to send this note to wish all who see this a most Happy Thanksgiving. Wherever you spend it, with family, friends or both, may the plenty on our tables remind us all that we are indeed fortunate to live here. We are, even during this time of financial strife, so much better off than folks in other countries. If nothing else, the history making election we just experienced gives us hope for the future. I also hope that those who are able have had the time to donate to some food bank, kitchen or coat drive and spread our good fortune around. Happiest of holidays.

Oh, & Go Beavs!

One down - One to Go

Whew, what a game. After we lost two of our best players I was feeling the likelihood of the Beavs pulling this one out was pretty slim. Imagine that we win by a last second field goal (when field goal kicking has been our nemesis all season) in Arizona! We are on track for the Rose Bowl if we win the Civil War next weekend. It should be an incredible game with lots of pregame celebrating and hopefully a lot post game too! What a great diversion from serious matters of state and world. It is fabulous to be brain dead for just a few weeks after the knot holes we crawled through this election year. Now if we can get our guy Quizz Rogers and quarterback Moevo back in the game, we have a chance. I am holding my breath and packing a bag for Pasadena just in case.

I am writing this before the kick off of the game between Oregon State University and the University of Arizona. I can still be hopeful and positive in my belief that we can go all the way to the Rose Bowl!

Wow...I was there in the meeting between Michigan and the Beavs in 64 as a student. I was so excited as my best friends brother carried the ball early on to the end zone for a touchdown. Oh Boy! We have a chance and we are on the board at the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately, it was the last time we would hear our fight song for the day, and we were beat by a score of 34 to 7 I think. Coach Prothro deemed we would kick on third downs, and is ever known as "Punt Prothro" to all of us who witnessed our demise. The results of the game did not dampen our overall experience. We had the most fantastic time being a part of it, doing New Years eve with the boosters, supporting the whole OSU experience.

I am hopeful for all old Beaver supporters and all the new Beavs who have come along since, that the event will take place. Getting by Arizona and then winning the "Civil War" with U of O will do it. But the scenario if we loose one on the way is interesting too. Lose to one team we go to San Diego to the Holiday Bowl and lose to the other, we go to Vegas. Both good deals but not the holy ROSE of them all.

Keep the good thoughts. GO BEAVS! More after the game today.

President Obama!

We win! The country wins, the world wins! Did you see the faces in the crowds in NY city, Chicago, Spellman University, Portland, Los Angeles? The congruity of ethnicity, sexes, ages, all smiling, crying, still, in stunned belief that the dream has been realized. I am so grateful that this candidate came along in my lifetime, to take American back to where it belongs; a decent,mindful leader giving us back our national pride. Now pray for Barack and his family during this transition and that he can satisfy the hunger this nation has for unity and something to believe in again. I opened a vintage bottle for this one! Clink, chin chin, moseltov(sp), prost.

Election "Empty Nest" Syndrome

The end of this election is near and I have done my duty: I have worked for the campaign, I have tried my darnedest to get people to at least here my reasoning for supporting various candidates, I voted early. Now what do I do? It is such a helpless feeling to know all that can be done has been accomplished. Now we just wait. It feels a lot like when you realize that your child no longer requires your advice, but may chose to request it from time to time. It's like feeling this terrific exhilaration working hard on something you believe in and then handing the final design of your product off to strangers to complete.

This campaign has done more for me than just give hope for us and our children's futures. It has reacquainted me with very old friends not heard from for 30+ years. It has reignited a spark in me that I can contribute to our society in a meaningful way. It has given me hope for our country and it's reemergence in the world as a decent and thoughtful nation. Now, if my candidate wins, I will have faith once again in the ability of fellow Americans to have the courage to do the right thing.

I have some good wine ready for tonight's poll watch and hope I'll be sipping instead of feeling the need to swill.