I'm back...

At least I hope so, as I need a creative outlet...or at least another one...We'll see what happens...

Wow, what's happened with these last two-plus years...Actually, I'm really not sure...

More to come soon (I think)...I hope everyone has been doing well...

Lent Is Upon Us...

As an Episcopalian, I've never really felt a lot of pressure to give something up for Lent each year...That doesn't mean I haven't tried to give things up in the past, though...

In fact, I did give up smoking for Lent four years ago...Cigarettes, that is...

And tonight, as I sat in church for our Ash Wednesday service, I wondered what I should focus on this year...

I don't necessarily have to give something up, by the way, as another option is trying to better myself...

In fact, I was joking around with my buddy Getschow the other day, and he recommended that I try to quit being a jerk for Lent...Which I think is what I'm gonna try to do...

And while I'm at it, I can also try to be a little healthier--you know--as part of trying to better myself...

I have gone running a few times this week, and hopefully I can keep it up, if my bad back permits...

So, to summarize, I'm gonna try to get a little healthier this Lenten season, while at the same time, quit being a jerk...

Unfortunately, I'm not really sure how you quit being a jerk, but I guess there are certain things I can try to focus on...

Perhaps I can make a list soon...

More on that later...

Go Bears...

I know that it has been quite some time since I've posted anything--almost two and a half months--but I had to call my shot on today's Super Bowl...

I actually like both the Colts and the Bears, so this year is different than most, where I either don't give a crap about either team so I only care about getting tanked and watching the commercials or I hate one of the teams so it's easy to pick a team to cheer for...

Anyway, I'll be throwing on my Brian Urlacher jersey in a few minutes--the road white version which stands out a bit more than their home blue jersey--and then head to a couple different friends' houses for the Super Bowl festivities...

Yes, I'll be cheering for and representin' Da Bears...

Even though the Bears are a 7-point underdog--and the fact that they have Rex Grossman at quarterback--I still have to cheer for the Bears today...

Maybe it's because I feel that I identify with the Chicago fans more, as it's hard not to see just how passionate they are about their Bears...Or maybe its because a few of my closest friends from college live in Chicago and are all huge Bears fans...Or maybe its because one of our friends' dads used to be the defensive coordinator for the Bears, which was around when I picked up my Urlacher jersey...

I guess it's just a combination of a lot of these factors--and again, I have nothing against the Colts--but today I'll be cheering for Da Bears...

GO BEARS!!

No Turkey For You...

As either 'Big Black Guy' or 'Even Bigger Black Guy' said in the movie "Trading Places" (I swear those are the actual character names listed on the movie's IMDB page): "It ain't cool to be no jive turkey so close to Thanksgiving!"

Yet tonight, I think I was a jive turkey, as I missed out on the opportunity to win a free $25 turkey for Thanksgiving...For the first time in my life, I would have been able to sponsor my family's Thanksgiving dinner, yet some things aren't meant to be, I guess...

You see, the younger sister of one of my good friend's from Rice is a freshmen guard for the Texas Tech women's basketball team and some of us went to their game tonight against the University of Houston...

And yes, I did say we went to a women's college basketball game--the first women's game I've been to in a long time--but it was a good time...Oh, and the tickets were free...

Anyway, as we were walking in, a member of the U of H marketing staff asked me if any of us would be interested in taking part in the halftime festivities: a five-person relay race...It seemed like this girl was having trouble finding people to participate, so after recruiting two other friends to participate, we were set to go...

The set-up of the race was for each person to run down the floor with a basketball between their legs while also flapping their arms like a turkey...Then, once we got to the opposite end of the court, we were supposed to hit a lay-up and then hand the ball off to the next participant...

Each member of the winning team would get a free t-shirt and a gift certificate for a $25 turkey, although it looked more like a money order for $25...I'd already gotten my hands on a free t-shirt during the first half (more on that later), but I have to admit that I was looking forward to the opportunity to win a free turkey for Thanksgiving...At the same time, in my head I was thinking I would give it to someone else if we won, as I think most of the families on our team will be spoken for when it comes to food by the time Thanksgiving rolls around...

But still, on paper it seemed like my team would have the advantage, as my team was made up of four guys (three in their twenties and one likely in his early teens) and one girl, while the opposing team was made up of five females covering an age range of probably 12 to 45...

Yet tonight wasn't our night, I guess...Clearly it was ladies' night, which made a lot of sense considering we were at a women's basketball game...

However, I still had a chance to win it for my team, but I bricked my layup...The other anchor--who I'd beat down the court--made her layup on her first try...I only had one shot, and it was from my left-side (I'm right-handed), but yes, I bricked it and we went home empty-handed...

Let's see now, here are a couple other excuses I've come up with...Only one member of our team (the kid in his early teens) made his layup on his first try...Someone also pointed out to me after-the-fact that the lady I was going up against was cheating by not properly holding the ball between her legs, by not flapping her arms (although I wasn't doing a great job of flapping either), and by running too early at the end before taking her shot...

Or maybe it was karma coming back to haunt me...You see, last Halloween I dressed up as a member of the U of H band, so maybe I received some negative karma on the U of H home floor...

I also felt that I didn't have the proper shoes for this event, as the shoes I was wearing were originally laced up to never be tied...So maybe the fact that I couldn't really afford a freak turkey race accident was weighing heavy on my mind...

Finally, my right arm was bothering me a bit, as I think I may have gotten a spider bite on my wrist the other day...Either that, or maybe I've had an 'allergic rubber-band reaction' to the new bands I've been sporting...

Oh well, whatever the reason for the loss--and despite my disappointment in my performance--I was at least happy with my sportsmanship after the tough loss, high-fiving and congratulating each of our opponents...

Really, I think I was most disappointed for Porsche--with one of those apostrophe things on the 'e'--the one female member of our team...You see, right before we started I overheard her say, "Man, I could really use that turkey!"

She didn't seem to be too disappointed in the performance of the three white stiffs on her team, but I really wish we could have won her that turkey...Maybe her statement was on my mind a little too much as I approached for my shot and maybe I should have gone to my right hand, and in doing so, block out my opponent's lane...

But yes, she didn't seem too disappointed that she didn't get that turkey...Still, I was a little nervous for the first few minutes there--and at one point I even considered leaving the game a few minutes early to avoid getting jumped--but things ended up being ok and we enjoyed the end of the game...

Finally, I mentioned above that I'd already gotten my hands on a free t-shirt, although it did come as a bit of a surprise...During an early timeout, some of the U of H cheerleaders were throwing t-shirts to the fans and I soon found myself yelling "What's Up Baby!?!?!" at one of the female cheerleaders...

Within seconds--and as I was looking in a totally different direction--I was hit square in the chest by a red t-shirt, although I took me a second to locate it in the seat in front of me...Luckily, one of my buddies didn't realize there was a free shirt in the seat next to him, and I was able to claim my prize...

Thus, I didn't walk out of there with a free turkey, but I did get a free t-shirt...

That being said, anyone want a U of H shirt?

Channel 5 News...

Here's a random youtube link that Teen Wolf's mom sent our way...This video is from a Minnesota news station reporting live from a drug bust, and apparently the cops were still collecting 'evidence' as Channel 5 went to the scene for their live report...

Now, I'm not sure if the cops had this item in mind as 'contraband' when they filed their application for the search warrant, but I'm sure they could find some valid reason to remove it from the scene of the crime:

What's in the box?

Thanks Everyone...

If you haven't heard already--either from myself or a mutual friend--I passed the Texas Bar Exam, which I earlier described as the 'worst experience of my life'...

Well, studying for the Bar was the worst experience of my life, but I'm comfortable and confident when I say that passing the Bar is the greatest accomplishment of my life...

Nearly three months ago--I think it was during Labor Day weekend--I ended up getting pretty bombed at a tailgate for Rice's first football game, where I also was able to watch the first Ohio State game of the year...After the game, I had an opportunity to chat with my dad for a while, as my parents and a couple friends didn't want me to drive home until I sobered up a bit...

My dad and I spent the next couple hours chatting about many things, but the Bar had to be one of the topics we spent the most time on, as that test has been an important part of my life these last six months or so...

The Bar exam consumed pretty much every minute of every day of mine for two and a half months this past summer, or at least it seemed that way...And because of that, I think it was one of the most significant contributing factors for one relationship failing, while also putting a strain on some friendships (I went nearly two months without talking to some of my closest friends from high school and college)...

Anyway, as my dad and I spoke that night--and as I dipped Wintergreen Skoal in front of him for some reason--I pretty much convinced him that passing the bar would be my greatest accomplishment over these first 29.5 years of my young (hopefully) life...

Considering that I'm not married and don't have any kids (that I know of, at least), I don't think that such a statement would be much of a stretch...

That being said, I've never worked so hard in my life as I did this past summer...

And I didn't do it alone, either...I had a lot of support, not only from friends preparing for the exam with me, but also from friends who'd already passed the Bar, friends yet to take the Bar, and friends who'll never have the great honor and opportunity to take the Bar...I also had a lot of support from my family, my girlfriend (at the time), my roommate, and so on...

Anyway, since finding out that I passed the Bar, I've received a lot of congratulatory phone calls, emails, text messages, and so on from my family, friends, friends' parents, classmates, ex-girlfriends, fellow attorneys, and so on...I even received a letter in the mail from a good friend's dad congratulating me on passing the Bar, while also spending a paragraph to discuss his thoughts on Ohio State's huge upcoming game with Michigan (he knows me very well)...

Thus, I just wanted to thank all of my friends out there who have contacted me over the last 10 days or so to congratulate me on passing the Bar...

I appreciate your congratulations now, but I also wanted to thank all of you for your support before, during, and even after the exam, as that was a pretty long three months that we waited for our results...

Obviously some people were there for me more than others (you should know who you are), but honestly, I couldn't have done it without all of you...

Thanks everyone...

Zero Posts for October...

Has it really been a month since I've posted anything? I guess so...

I'm not really sure where all that time went, but I am sure there are plenty of things I could've blogged about...

Oh well, maybe I can post a few more things tonight and close October with a bang, much like I did at the end of September...

Or maybe not...

Musberger and Just Coop...

Here's another one from the 'Random File'...

I began my post before the Ohio State-Texas rematch three weeks ago with a quote from my good friend 'Just Coop' who is a UT alum...In case you don't remember, he said: "Although you are a buck, you are a great college football fan. I wish you could make this game..."

Just Coop was able to make the game, and we shared a few text messages throughout the game...He also sent me a note of congratulations after the game (well, it was another text message)...

But the best text message he sent me that night came even later in the evening...Unfortunately I no longer have a copy of that message because my phone broke two weeks ago...But the gist of it was that he just got a photo with one of our all time favorites, Brent Musberger...

Anyway, he sent me a copy of the photo when he got back to Houston, and I promised to post it on this blog soon after...Well, better late than never...


By the way, Just Coop is on the right, while his boy Wolf is on the left...Not to be confused with Teen Wolf, of course...

Anyway, I'm jealous Just Coop...

Explaining Donte...And Looking Forward to Iowa...

Three weeks ago, on the day of the big rematch between Ohio State and Texas, I posted that I wish Donte Whitner was going to be there, although I never quite I explained why...

Well, even though Ohio State lost 9 starters from last year's stellar defense--including fellow first-round picks AJ Hawk and Bobby Carpenter--I felt the guy Ohio State would miss most in that game was former strong safety Donte Whitner...

Basically, I felt that with UT's great stable of running backs, the new-look Ohio State defense--and especially the young secondary--would miss Whitner's leadership and, more importantly, his strong run-support...

And early on in the UT game, my biggest fears were coming true, as UT seemed to be averaging 7 or 8 yards per carry...Yet--for some reason that I still haven't figured out--UT decided to abandon the run, which up to that point was having great success...

Anyway, when all was said and done that evening, Ohio State left Austin with a victory, and apparently the young Ohio State defense didn't miss Donte Whitner as much as I expected them to...

And now to this week's game...Another night game on the road against a ranked opponent...

My biggest fear for Ohio State this weekend is not who they don't have on their current team, but rather it's who the opposing team has...

Basically, my biggest fear for Ohio State this weekend is Drew Tate, a fellow Texan, no less...

No offense to Colt McCoy and Anthony Morelli, but Tate will be the best quarterback that Ohio State has faced so far this year...Tate is a proven winner and a three-year starter...He's a big-time QB...

Ohio State will also be facing a great coach in Kirk Ferentz, and many are saying this will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest game in Kinnick Stadium history...

Thus, Ohio State will have to neutralize a great QB, an exceptional coach, and a raucous crowd as they face another major test under the lights on the road...

At least the weather reports for Iowa City this week are a lot better than the pouring rain that Ohio State and Penn State were forced to deal with last week in Columbus...Those poor conditions really seemed to slow down the Ohio State passing game last week, and I'm sure it had an effect on the Penn State offense, as well...

Regardless, tonight's Ohio State vs. Iowa game should be a fun one...

On a side note, I'm putting the over under on the number of Rolaids tablets I consume at 7...

The Guardian...

First things first...I'm confident to say that I'll never see the movie, "The Guardian"...

The movie looks awful, and I don't think I could ever handle an action/drama starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher...In fact, I really don't think I'll ever be able to take Ashton seriously in a movie role, and it's been a while since I've enjoyed a Kevin Costner film...

Yet beyond my initial reaction to this travesty of a film--opening this weekend if you're interested--the worst part about The Guardian, in my humble opinion of course, has been its commercials...

One of the commercials declares this film to be 'The motion picture event of the fall'...Umm, I doubt that...In fact, I would be surprised if this film survives October...

Even worse, though, was the commercial that aired a week or two ago, soon after their (self-proclaimed) very successful sneak-preview weekend...

This commercial declared "The Guardian was one of the best playing and highest scoring pictures in Touchstone history."

Huh?!?

Must have been some sneak-preview weekend...

Well, whatever that means, I'll never see The Guardian...

Speaking of AC Slater...

I have yet to see an episode of 'Dancing With the Stars'--this season or any other--but I assume Mario Lopez has yet to be eliminated...For some reason, I think the day he gets eliminated will be major news in the pop culture world...

Anyway, I want to make a random request...

I don't know how they decide what dances the contestants will attempt, but I hope they let Mario break out a freestyle at some point, because I think he needs to treat America to "The Slater Dance"...

(Click here for the Remix)...

HIT IT!!!

Judge Mario Lopez...

Here's a random note from my boring life...

After turning on the TV a few days ago, I was immediately mistaken by something on the digital cable channel guide...

For a brief moment, I thought AC Slater now had his own TV court show, much like Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, and even good ol' Judge Wapner...

Yet, I was quickly disappointed after clicking on the channel, as the show turned out to be Judge Maria Lopez...

Not Mario...

Thus, I didn't stay on that channel for long, just a minute or two...But still, even after such a short period of time, I found this lady pretty interesting, so I decided to google 'Judge Maria Lopez,'...

And sure enough, I found her website where--apparently--Justice Will Be Served SPICY!!!

White & Nerdy...

I just caught the tail end of "Best Week Ever," and this week, Weird Al Yankovic is having the Best Week Ever...

The main reason for this is due to the release of his new album, and the success of the first single, "White & Nerdy" (check out the video here and be sure to pay close attention for the fanny pack shout-out)...

The reason why this stood out to me was because the way I first found out about the new song, which is a parody of Chamillionaire's recent hit "Ridin' Dirty"...

I actually read about the song in a recent interview of Chamillionaire in the local paper, as the rapper hails from Houston...The thing that stood out to me about Weird Al's song is that Chamillionaire found the parody to be an honor:

"The people he's done, like Michael Jackson, they're legends. And he's a Grammy-winning artist. (His video) takes my record to megarecord status. It's one thing to go platinum. Where do you go from there? Then"Weird Al" calls.''

I think his reaction is pretty refreshing--in my humble opinion--and I'm glad he's enjoying his recent good fortune...Keep up the good work my man...