This holiday weekend has been a mostly unfrusterating carnival of technological mishaps for me.  Or maybe now that it’s over, I’m forgetting the frusteration I felt Saturday afternoon.

First, my headphones that I use to watch House on my laptop (I actually prefer that because it has better sound/picture than my TV) and listen to pump-it-up music on my phone stopped working.  Okay, it was still half working: the left half.  What can I say, left is better!

Then, the biggest issue happened Saturday.  While I was cleaning my room and my laptop was supposed to be minding it’s own business, it decided to get freaky on me.  It’s only 9 months old (a mere baby…okay, child), but for whatever reason no matter how many different fixes I tried, it would not get past a certain point in the start up.  Every type of system restore I attempted wouldn’t work because there was something wrong with the disc (really? hadn’t noticed) and needed to run the Scan Disc thing.  Of course, that would require it to fully start up…

I consider myself decently handy when it comes to computer things, but this was beyond my skill set…at least my old skill set.  I ended up having to reinstall Windows on my lappy and all the rest of the programs.  I’m very thankful that I didn’t really have plans this weekend, so I had time to get it back in working order!

The last technological mishap comes from Facebook.  For whatever reason, all the updates are stuck at Saturday afternoon.  Of course, that means that it’s full of “I’m so excited for the game!” and “Boomer Sooner!”  Like rubbing salt in the wound…

Seriously though, this weekend has been relaxing, with double the alone time and doing pittly things time.  I’m very thankful for these types of weekends, especially when they fall between two very busy weeks!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well!

Though I’m nerdy and fairly girly (in the hate-spiders-love-skirts-and-pink-and-flowers kinda way), I love college football.  Nothing new, I know, but it hasn’t always been that way.  I clearly remember thinking football was barbaric and nonsensical.

When offered season tickets prior to my freshman year at OU, I scoffed, thinking I’d never want to go to such things.  It was the year after our last national championship  (7 total, but who’s counting?) and we had a fab young coach, so our campus was all abuzz about the new season.  It seemed like everyone but me was into it, but I still thought it was stupid.

Fortunately, I had upperclassman friends who taught me the lay of the land, and besides teaching me that tests actually do require studying, they took me to a football game if only for the experience.  To be honest, I couldn’t even tell you who we were playing that first game, but it was some small team.  And you know what?  I liked it.

After that, I got tickets for the OU-K-State game.  Being from Kansas, I never liked those purple cats, so I was excited to see us beat them (that was when they were good, too).  That sealed it…I absolutely loved being a part of Oklahoma Sooner football.

Though another national championship wasn’t going to happen that year (or the next, or the next…maybe THIS year is our year?), I fell in love.  When we lost to Nebraska late in the season, it was my first experience at disappointment (which I’ve experienced many times since).

So, with that in mind, I’m excited for another year of Sooner football, my 9th as a fan (which means it’s the 9th season since our last national championship!).  Boomer Sooner!

Thanks for the help yesterday (if you haven’t checked it out, I recommend/ask/beg you to do so now!).  Unfortunately for blogging, I’m still mulling over the same things, but perhaps not so intensely.  I have decided that I am going to try to do it if at all possible, but I won’t be able to make that decision until I know better how life is under my budget. *cough* student loans *cough*  Hopefully in a couple of months I’ll be able to think better on this matter as well.

You know what I’m excited for?  (And it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m likely taking 3 out-of-country and 4 in-country trips in the next year.)  Football season!  Who’s with me?

Football season is probably my favorite thing about the fall (especially that I’m now not a student).  And don’t be fooled…when I’m talking about football, I’m only talking about college football.  I’ve yet to develop an interest in fully grown men going at it like boys.

Besides, one day when I marry, I figure I have to allow my husband’s team preferences to influence mine.  Since I won’t budge on the college football (I’m all Oklahoma Sooners!), I at least can root for his pro football team.

Would I turn down a marriage proposal from a Texas or a Florida fan?  Who knows…  You know how I feel about orange teams!

Congrats to the Florida Gators, really.  Though he wears orange, I’ve admired Tebow and what he’s done in the name of Christ.  I was disappointed there at the end though, with his taunting (not that others weren’t doing it, including Sooners.  It’s just that I expect better conduct out of one who openly proclaims his faith.).

It was a good game as expected, but we lost.  I wish I didn’t know this feeling oh-so well.  Let’s review:

In 2001, Oklahoma lost to Nebraska (yes, Aubrey, you all were my first loss as a Sooner fan) in a regular season game, but it was my first opportunity to feel this type of heartbreak.

In 2003, late in the season we were dubbed “the best team ever” as if we had earned it without playing a championship game.  Then we lost to K-State in the Big XII championship.  And again to LSU in the national championship.  That year, I was at a big Christian conference that was a great distraction.

In 2004, we played for the national championship against USC.  And of course lost.  I was spending time with friends at my parents’ house and had just bought a bunch of new clothes with birthday and Christmas money, so I focused on that rather than our loss.  Less than a week later, I met Jason White, our Heisman-winning and 2-time losing national championship quarterback.  I was proud that he was willing to face a crowd of angry fans in a busy Norman Walmart on a Saturday (I was his cashier).

In 2006, we were in the Fiesta Bowl, against a presumedly easy opponent, Boise State.  On a trick play in overtime, we lost.  We were tricked, all right.  This is considered one of the best games in recent times, which isn’t really something to be proud of.  To forget about the loss, I had our big office move to pay attention to this time around.

In 2007, we once again were in the Fiesta Bowl.  But this time, we were playing an even easier opponent in West Virginia.  Does the Big East even know how to win football?  Apparently, because they beat us.  I didn’t have time to focus on this, though, as I had a class to read for.  And politics to pay attention to.  Those were a great distraction.

And now this year, what do I have to distract me?  You guys.  Go ahead, tell me a joke, amuse me, give me a funny anecdote.  Tell me your most embarrassing moment, the strangest thing your child has ever done, the time that you shot Dr. Pepper out your nose.  Anything.

But hey, we’ve been 2nd best 3 of the 8 years I’ve been a fan.  I just had hoped that we would be THE best.  Someday…

Yesterday I was fairly miserable with a cold, but I think I’m feeling better.  Nothing can drag me from watching the game tonight, but I’d like to be as awake and energetic as possible.

You love me, right?  Then  I have a favor to ask of ya.

Root for my Sooners tonight.

Okay, okay, maybe you don’t like football.  Fine.  I’m not gonna make you watch.  But if you are a sports fan and are otherwise unaffiliated with the enemy the Florida Gators, I’m asking you to support the Oklahoma Sooners.

We just might need every little bit of cheering we can get.

Boomer!  Sooner!  Let’s go for National Championship number 8, the first since I’ve been a true blue crimson fan!

As a public service to you, my dear readers, I am declaring today “Orange Awareness Day.”  It has come to my attention that the dubious color orange has taken a rank in the world that it doesn’t deserve.

Orange is not a pretty color.  Sure, it has a rightful place on the color wheel, but there is good reason that Sorry, Trouble, Candyland, and other reputable children games do not have orange game pieces.  The color simply does not belong in the hands of babes.

Orange is the color of construction signs for a good reason.  Orange construction barrels caution you to stay away.  Both construction and orange are best if avoided.

While there is nothing particularly objectionable about orange the fruit, you may notice that the part that is the most orange, the peel, is not eaten.  The concentration of orange simply makes it bitter and inedible.

I recently was encouraged to hear this very message in a young child who was playing with a toy that had the ill fortune of having some orange beads among it’s myriad of colors.  I asked her if we liked orange, and she properly responded, “No.”  I asked her what color we do like, and she respectfully listed the rest of the rainbow.  Attagirl.

Orange should not be the color of toys, pens, beds, jewelry, cars, or shoes. 

Most of all, orange should never be the color of football jerseys.

Please forward this message to any Clemson Tiger, Oklahoma State Cowboy, Florida Gator, or texas longhorn fan you may know.  It is the time for new beginnings.

And one last thing…

Boomer Sooner!

• I saw a sign in the Atlanta airport that said, “This machine takes money without bailing anything out.” Reminds me of a certain government of ours.

• All the right teams won yesterday. Texas Tech gave me a scare, but they came through. It was fun rooting for the Jayhawks with the family, and the mostly tolerated the Sooners. Now we just have to wait and see what the BCS does to see if we play next week or not. If we don’t, then we’ll almost certainly still go to a BCS game which was my hope as I won’t be able to watch the Cotton Bowl game. (Bad planning on my part.)
• Probably because of the item above, I dreamt about football all night.
• Today we’re celebrating Thanksgiving 2 of 2.
• I’m actually looking forward to this week. It’ll be a change of pace, which will be nice.
• This is the last day of NaBloPoMo. Besides a couple of hard days (including today), it was a piece of cake. It helps when I regularly post 6 times/week. Congrats to my fellow NaBloPoMo survivors!

Thanks for your help with bloggy block. Here’s the answers that you’ve been dying to know:

Irish Coffeehouse asks:

What is your favorite Christmas memory? When did you truly, truly understand what Christmas was all about, and how did you that impact your Christmas that year?

Favorite Christmas memory? Wow, that’s a hard one. The thing with traditions is that you do them each year, so they kinda blend together in my mind. I think some of my favorite Christmas memories are the little things: fighting with my dad over which cookies get the sprinkles (he doesn’t like them, and I think I’ve already made my sprinkle stance clear), laughing at my aunt’s story of there being sparkly-things in the air, my grandma asking each year whether we open stockings or presents first, my brother wanting to wake up super-early Christmas morning to open presents but getting stalled by sleepy parents and sister as well as a breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls.

I’ve always been told about the real meaning of Christmas: Jesus being born in a manger. Each Christmas Eve my family reads both the Night Before Christmas and the Christmas story in Luke. But I guess I hadn’t really thought through the meaning behind the well-told Christmas story. It’s not just that some baby was born who would save the world, it’s that God became a man. The miracle of incarnation is what we celebrate at Christmas, and I think only last year was that awesome truth sinking in to my Christmas celebration. To me, it makes Christmas as well-packed with spiritual significance as Easter. I simply can’t get over it.

She asks further:

What are you reading right now? What’s next after that?

I always am reading several books. Right now I’m reading Ender’s Game and am really loving it. I hate to put it down. Thanks, What a Card, for recommending it! I’m also reading David Copperfield which I’m sure will take me a while. I love Dickens in part for his wordiness, but at 800 pages, his books certainly are quick reads. Finally, I’m reading They Were Single Too, a book drawing lessons from 8 single people in the Bible.

Next, uh, I suppose I should know what comes next, but I just started these books. Probably Queen of the Big Time, Atlas Shrugged (hey, this book make David Copperfield look short!), and Night.

Vicki says:
Hmm, Now that I’m being put on the spot to figure out writing topics my mind is blank… Maybe try a limerick or a haiku.

Now, to write a rhyme or two,
Can be something quite silly to do,
Now just for you Vicki,
Not something sticky,
Just a limerick so you won’t sue!

Just as the leaves change
So is my life changing now
I hope I’m ready

Vicki also suggests:

Maybe write about Kansas vs. Carolina… I don’t know.

• If this is a basketball match up, Kansas wins. Kansas Jayhawks, 2o08 national champions!
• If it’s a question of topography, Kansas is an inclined plane while North Carolina is an arm broken out in hives, no flat surfaces anywhere.
• If it’s a matter of vegetation, Kansas is a prairie while North Carolina is a forest and a beach.
• If it’s a matter of people, they’re both friendly, but native Carolinians will be friendly with an accent.
• If it’s a matter of economy, cost of living is much higher in North Carolina.
• If it’s a matter of BBQ, Kansas does it better: beef brisket vs. vinegar-cured pork.
• If it’s a matter of the sun’s preference, Kansas is more loved.
• If it’s a matter of weather, North Carolina’s is simply more mild, with the minor exception of tropical storms and hurricanes.
• If it’s a matter of me, I call them both home.

Denyse asks:
Sorta pulling from Irish Coffeehouse’s question, but who’s your favorite author? fiction or non?Did you read the Twilight books?

ane Austen is my favorite, but Charles Dickens is close. I’m basically in love with 19th century literature.

I read both fiction and nonfiction, but I find reading fiction more fun.

I did not read the Twilight books and I’m pretty sure I won’t. I don’t particularly enjoy popular books as I love reading classics, and nothing about Twilight is appealing to me (vampires? what? and I don’t care particularly for love stories). None of my RL friends are reading them, so I’m not getting any pressure to, either.

Brenda asks:
If you could celebrate only one holiday which would it be?

Definitely Christmas. It’s my favorite. I think Easter is loaded with meaning and highly important to the Christian faith, but there would be no Easter without Christmas.

Plus, I love giving gifts.

Iva asks:

Do you like chocolate? If so, what is Ronnica’s Chocolate of Choice?

I’ve been remiss! I’m sure you’ve read plenty about my love of Diet Dr Pepper, but chocolate is right up there, too. I eat it way too often. My favorite chocolate is probably Reese’s peanut butter cups, but I enjoy any milk chocolate sans mint. Who wants their chocolate to taste like their toothpaste?

Rhea asks:
What’s your favorite fairy tale and why?

I’m a sucker for fairy tales. I know that some Christians shy away from fairy tales because they often have a magical element in them, but I think they are far less dangerous than many stories told today, because they still retain a clear distinction between good and evil.

Which is my favorite? The Princess and the Pea makes me laugh, because I think that the girl who was so particular that even a small pea under many blankets was unpleasant would be high-maintenance. I’ve always enjoyed Rapunzel, because I like the idea of having extraordinary long hair. But I guess I would have to say that Cinderella is my favorite, because I love the idea of being pulled up out of poverty and cruelty and made a princess. It’s exactly what my God has done for me, except He didn’t need the help of a fairy godmother.

And:
If you had to jump into a book, which one would you choose?

Good question! I’ve already mentioned my obsession with the 19th century, so that’s where I would head, but there’s so many good books in that time period. It’d be good to go to England, because at least I’d know their language, mostly. I think I would have to choose one of Jane Austen’s books because nothing truly terrible befalls any of her characters, and though they are often in want of money, they are all of the upperclass. I think Emma would be a good one since it takes place in the country and I’d be less overwhelmed than if I went to London or Bath.

And Rhea’s last question:
If you could be super talented in one area, what art would you choose? (Singing, painting, writing, playing an instrument, etc)

Definitely writing. I want to be a great writer, as I enjoy it so much. Blogging has definitely improved my writing skills as has all those papers I’ve written for school, but I hope to work on my creative writing now that I’m finishing up school. If I could do any profession for a living, it would be to be a writer.

hi-d asks:

Did your mom have you make crafts or ornaments for Christmas when you were a kid? IF so, what are your memories of that time together making them? And did you ever believe in Santa or were you raised without that?

Yes! I specifically remember 3 crafts. One year we made candy canes out of pipe cleaners and beads; I think they still go on the tree. Every year for about 8 or 10 years we painted little clear bulbs, writing on them and dating them. I still have mine in my Christmas decorations. Lastly, my brother and I each made Christmas paper chains that we added onto each year. It’s hilarious to see the differences over the years in our skill in making such a chain. I used to make fun of my brother for how bad his chain looked early on. We still put these chains on the tree.

I was raised with Santa, but I don’t think my parents really emphasized him. I know that I never believed in him and got in trouble in my preschool class for telling others that he didn’t exist. Santa’s probably my least favorite part about Christmas now, particular for the line “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…” Uh, no he doesn’t, but GOD does!

Mrs. Mouthy asks,
How about your most embarrassing moment ever? Or if you could choose a moment in life that really defines you, what would it be?

Most embarrassing moment? Fortunately I haven’t had too many. Maybe I don’t embarrass easily, I don’t know. I think I probably was most embarrassed when I didn’t know what to do on stage at my high school graduation when I was called as the salutatorian. We had like 5 or something at our school, and for whatever reason, my name was called first even though it wasn’t first alphabetically. The reason why I didn’t know what to do was that I had missed rehearsal for a science competition. I would have figured out what to do if they had only called someone else first so I could mimic them, but they didn’t. So it was rather embarrassing to be meander around stage in front of 360 fellow graduates and their family and friends.

A moment that defines me? Ooh, good question. Fortunately, it’s not the moment above! I think that a moment that defines me is not only my initial step of faith when I was 10, but the step towards obedience when I was 18. It was at that moment (whenever it was, not exactly sure), that I made the comment to follow my Savior all my days.

Fellow Sooner, Angela asks:
Am I crazy to think Bob Stoops is good looking? and Do you think OU will pass Texas and make it to the Big XII championship game?

Oh no, you’re not crazy. Bob Stoops is good looking. Not movie-star good looking, but nonetheless not bad to look at.

I do think that a win over OSU this week will put us past Texas in the BCS. I’m hoping that A&M will beat Texas on Thanksgiving to relieve the pressure. Of course I want us to go to the Big XII Championship game (and to the national championship game), but the real reason I want us to go to a BCS game is that I mistakenly scheduled my flight back to North Carolina during the Cotton Bowl. Oops.

Bama-obsessed JenEfer (that’s how I say in my head; I don’t know why) wants to know my:
Favorite childhood snack that you STILL have to have today… even if it is just at “comfort food” times.

Cheez-its. Totally fits that description. I don’t eat them very often, but I love to get them every once in awhile. Something else that isn’t a snack food per se is mashed potatoes. I’ll be getting some of those this weekend!

She also asks:
Do you ever find it hard to be a Christian?

Yes. There was one point my senior year of college I thought about walking away. I think more than anything, it scared me that I could even think this thought. At other times, I’ve found it hard to be a Christian because I’d just want to be selfish and just live for me.

I praise God that He’s not allowed me to walk away, and even when I’ve strayed, He’s kept me on a short leash and lead me home.

And:
If you could have one thing under the Christmas tree (and I mean material thing here… not world Peace wrapped up with a big bow) what would it be?

No, I just want world peace. =) Okay, that’s not true. I’d love a laptop sitting right under that tree (or in my lap for birthday or graduation since they come first). It would be integral for me since I want to work on my writing.

And finally:
If you were ever coming to Alabama, would you look me up (lie if you have to)?

Well, you’re obviously wanting a certain answer here, so I guess I’ll give it to you. Of course I’d look you up. I’m about 98% certain that’s not a lie. Sadly, I’m also about 98% certain that I won’t be in Alabama anytime soon.

Thanks, all! Those were some good questions!

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I’m thankful that this is the last workday of the week and first thing tomorrow morning I’ll be on my way to Kansas!

It takes all kinds…of college football fans, that is. If no one was rooting for the other side, it wouldn’t be so fun to beat them. But who knew that we could all get along in the bloggy world?

As you know, I’m a Oklahoma Sooner fan. That doesn’t keep me from being friends with:

A Nebraska Cornhusker, by far the most dispicable on this list. Sorry, Aubrey, but I’m more of a crimson girl than red!

A Texas A&M Aggie. I’ll never forget watching OU smash them 77-0 (and yes, we were trying to be merciful, but they were letting us score) and the whole time the group of Aggie fans one section over were cheering until the final whistle. I can respect that.

An LSU Tiger. I like Dawn, but don’t like her team. Hush about the fact that they beat us a few years back for a national title.

A Notre Dame Fighting Irish (is that how you would say it? I’ve never really had a Notre Dame supporter as a friend). I’d like to think that I had something to do with Liz admiting her football loyalties.

An Alabama Crimson Tide-r (again, I have no idea how to put that). Jen’s great. Her team’s not that bad either. Something about their colors or something.

A Boise State Bronco. Okay, I don’t know if Jennifer is a football fan or not, but she’s taking classes there. And I’ve heard firsthand reports that everyone in Boise is a fan. And no, I don’t seem to remember that embarrassing Fiesta Bowl. Statue of Liberty? What? Moving on…

A Georgia Bulldog. Leigh Anne is a new friend, but an encouraging one. Oh, and I love her blog! She’s a

Anyone I’m missing?

I never get the paper, but last Sunday I did, to get some coupons that were in it. I didn’t take the time to read the paper (except for the Comics, can’t skip those!), but something caught my eye:

Aerial Delivery Goes Awry

It seems that UNC wanted to kick off the season by having parachute jumpers land in the stadium with the game ball. Due to bad weather, miscommunication, and poor judgment, the parachute jumpers were dropped off at the wrong stadium.

The stadium of UNC’s big rival, Duke. I’ve been trying to make a spiritual analogy out of this, but really, this is just a funny story in and of itself.

I laugh because the story says that the jumpers knew “only when they landed in [Duke's stadium] that they were in the wrong place.” Their slow descent into the stadium, where they could see the fans decked in the team colors, apparently didn’t give it away because there were few/no fans there an hour before their game. The ACC just doesn’t do football like other, Bigger (ahem) conferences.

Have a wonderful, restful, worshipful, and re-energizing Sunday!