The End is Near..............

Unless you a Mayan descendant/believer its just the end of the year.  Time for a little reflection, wrapping up any loose ends and a glimples ahead.

2012 has definitely been an eventful year. In April I turned 57, In October DKW & I celebrated our 3rd anniversary, and DKW had one of those birthday thingys in November.  Those are some annual events. 
During the summer my oldest son and family moved to Newark, NJ.  It will hopefully only be for a year.  His wife has been placed in a position with the Newark School District.  I don't know all the specifics but its some type of residency she has to work out before her doctorate is validated and she can hang her own shingle out. Nothing against Jersey - just hate having my grandson so far away.  My youngest son is in the Coast Guard and was promoted to Chief (E-7) on Dec. 1st and on Dec. 14th my oldest daughter graduated from East Miss. Community College. My youngest completed her ACT and hopefully will be starting college in the New Year.  My middle daughter just completed another college semester in Portland, Or.  (Her 3rd or 4th).  She continues to carry a 4.0 average. 
On a non-personal note (but things that do interest me) - Miss. State completed an 8-4 football season and will be playing in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.  And yes, DKW and I will be attending.  Go DOGS!  Starkville High started the football season 1-3, but went on a tear and never lost again.  They finished the year 12-3 and are the 2012 Mississippi 5A State Football Champions.  Next year though, we move to 6A.  Things get tougher!  Go Jackets!   On the Division II College scene, Valdosta State (where my wife got her Masters Degree) won that level's National Championship this past Saturday (15th).  I follow them and Bloomsburg (where she got her undergrad degree).  I tell foks I'm an alumni by marriage. :-)
For the most part, the year has been positive and I try to keep that outlook.  I hope 2013 brings everyone much success and I will be back to blog in January.
Everyone have a great day!  Great week! Great Month! and Great Year!

WE are the CHAMPIONS, My Friend............

The Starkville High School Yellowjackets are the Mississippi 5A Football State Champions as of this past Saturday night. In a game dominated by defense and filled with trick plays and turnovers, the Jackets won 28-11.  The Championship Game can be viewed for the next couple of weeks on ESPN3.

My youngest son was also promoted to MKC (Chief, Machinery Technician) in the United States Coast Guard on December 1st.  DKW and I were able to be in Jacksonville (FL) for the promotion ceremony.  I will confess to getting a lump in my throat and a pounding in my chest - I was so proud.  That evening Christ and I enjoyed the championship game together in his livingroom - thanks to the internet and ESPN3.com.  I would have loved to have been on hand in Jackson for the game - but I would not have missed out on his promotion for the world.  Semper Paratus!

Just thought I'd throw this pic out.  Since I drive a Mini - thought it was funny

Miss. State (8-4) accepted a bid to meet Northwestern (9-3) in the (Jan. 1) 2013 Gator Bowl.  Once the announcement was made, the opening line has MSU favored by 2.  So it could be anyone's game.  I would like to point out though that for the 2011 Gator Bowl MSU was an early 4 point favorite against Michigan and won by 38 (52-14).  I'm just sayin'.... - ya know.  But using that (albeit - faulty) logic - MSU should win  by 19!.  GO DOGS!

Everyone have a great day!

Wow! WOw!! WOWWWWW!!!!

That pretty much says it all.  This past Friday night (Nov.23rd), I was privileged to see what was (to me anyway) one of the greatest games ever.  Starkville jumped out in front early with two nice touchdown drives to go up 14 - 0, but West Point mounted a drive of their own and scored with 7 seconds to go in the half and we were 14-7 at the half.  SHS kicked off to the Green Wave and starting a drive at their 20, they went the length of the field but missed the extra point.  SHS up 14-13.  After a couple of penalty-laden possessions each, West Point scored and made the two-point conversion to go up 21-14.  But our QB, Gabe Myles, put the team on his back and on 4th down threw a 15 yard touchdown pass and the extra point tied the game at 21.  Starkville stymied the next West Point possession and drove down to the 7 yard line and had time out with one second left.  Well, that ever tough Green Wave bowed up and blocked our field goal attempt.  So, overtime here we come!  SHS won the coin toss and went on Defense (such as it was) first.  West Point scored in one play and went up 28-21 - so the Yellowjackets knew what they had to do.  First down resulted in a two yard loss.  Second Down was incomplete.  Third down was another tackle for a loss.  So SHS was down to 4th and 15, a defensive error resulted in 2 defensive backs covering the same guy and Gabe was able to throw to a wide-open receiver for a touchdown.  As soon as the score was confirmed, there was NO hesitation by Coach Jamie Mitchell.  He held up two fingers and left the offense on the field.  He stated later that this had been decided when the 4th quarter ended.  He did not want to give West Point a second shot as they were impossible to stop from the ten yard line.  (In overtime in Miss. High School football you start at the 10 yard line.)  So Starkvillle lined up for a called pass play but the receivers were well covered and Gabe had to scramble.  No fewer than 6 defensive players had hands on him, but he scrambled free and the stadium erupted in Jubilation.  SHS-29, WPHS-28.    My friend, Ron, and I could only look at each other and go WoW!  What a finish it was!
So next week we head to Jackson and play Saturday, December 1st, at 7:00 PM against the Pascagoula Panthers for the Mississippi High School 5A Championship.

Oh - and we also had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving.  We had 8 folks in attendance. DKW, Myself, our Moms, My youngest and her roommate, and my friend Ron and his wife, Thelma.  We had a very pleasant time.  Hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday also!
Everyone have a great day!

Well - Maybe not that close............

Turns out that SHS just decimated Saltillo last week.    The final score was 45-7, but it was even really that close.  It was 24-0 at the end of the first quarter and I'm pretty sure that every guy that dressed out saw at least a little playing time in the game.  So on to the 2nd round of the playoffs.  Oxford (11-1) will be coming to town this Friday.  Even though they have the better overall record, their one loss was to West Point in 5A Region 1 (and WP went 7-0 in the region for 1st place as did Starkville (8-3) in region 2).  Since we were both at home last week (Oxford defeated Provine 27-14) and SHS is the higher rated regional seed - Oxford comes here.  Regardless of the outcome,  this will be Starkville's last home game of the year.  West Point hosts Ridgeland this week in the other north-half semi.  If Ridgeland wins, we would go there since they are on the road this week.  If WP wins, we go there.  Since both are #1 regional seeds, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head ,  and we lost to WP early in the season.  I really feel we are a better (and healthier) team now.  If we get there, should be a close game for the North-Half championship (on 11/23).  It almost like last year, in 2011 we lost to WP in the regular season but won the North-Half championship game with them to go to the 5A State championship. (A loss to Picayune).  It would be nice to pull it out again and head to what looks to be a rematch with Picayune on December 1st.  But, lets not put the cart before the horse.  I will keep my fingers crossed though.
Tomorrow is also DKW's birthday.  I'm taking off work early to take her out and enjoy a little time together  before I head out for the game (dressed warmly I guarantee you).
After starting 7-0, MSU has lost 3 in a row and hopes to get off the skid when they host Arkansas on Saturday.  MSU is favored by 7, but the  defense needs to step it up and hopefully our running game will get going again.  Our #1 rusher was hurt a couple of games back and missed playing time - but he should be back in action against the hogs.
Everyone have a great day!

Election Day Musings

I'm actually not going to say much about the big vote today.  I know how I'm leaning, but I'm of the opinion that whoever wins - America is the loser.  That being said, I'm of the firm opinion that if you don't exercise your right to vote- you lose your right to bitch.  Not that that ever stopped anybody.  Moving on........
This is about the 3rd time that I've started to blog since we lost CoCo.  It hit us that hard.  But I need to do this.
DKW and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary on October 31st.  We took a little trip and spent a couple of nights in Natchez.  We stayed at the Blufftop Bed and Breakfast - where we went on our honeymoon.  Its a very nice place and very restful.  It overlooks the Mississippi River and a ways into Louisiana.  I can't recommend it enough.
Speaking of places I can't recommend enough. As we meandered back home we came across a little restaurant located in an old brick train station in Flora, MS (outside Jackson).  I can say without reservation that I had the absolute best burger I've had in over 20 years.  The Blue Rooster is the best place you've never heard of.  They hand-make every 8 ounce patty from fresh mississippi beef and it is cooked to order!  When is the last time you had a great medium rare burger. The next time I'm in the Jackson area - I plan of making this a stop. You should too.
MSU has now suffered two beatdowns in a row and are 7-2 on the year.  As much as I want to be optomistic - I'm afraid a 3rd beatdown is on the horizon as we travel to LSU this weekend. C'mon Dawgs! Time to bow up!!!
SHS finished their regular season with a victory over Neshoba Central 21-10.  They have gone undefeated in Region 2-5A for the second year in a row (7-0).  Their over all record is 8-3.  The playoffs start on Friday, (Nov. 9th) with Starkville hosting Region 1-5A's #4 seed Saltillo High.  The Tigers are 7-4 on the year and 4-3 in Region 1. (Their 3 losses all to the 3 higher seeds).   Should be a very close game. 
Everyone have a great day!

Bye Little Girl . . . .

As I'm writing this I'm trying very had to keep from bawling.  As it is, my nose is running and  my face is twitchy and wet from tears.  Little CoCo, who DKW and I have only had since October 3rd, passed away around 3 this morning.  Yesterday morning DKW was woken by Sophie barking fiercely in the kitchen (I was already at work) and came out to discover CoCo comatose on her back in her cage.  She immediately got her to the vet and was told that her body temp was very low and her blood sugar was so low it wouldn't register (50 being the lowest measurement on the device they use).  When I got off work yesterday I met DKW at the vet's and we got to hold her and talk to her for a while.  We were told her temp was back close to normal and her blood sugar was still low but was up to about 80.  However, she was alternating between twitching  and moaning/yelping and seemingly dozing off.  We were told there were no visible problems (x-rays were taken) and that the problem seemed to be neurological.  The vet planned to keep her overnight and keep giving her injections to get her sugar up.  At least that was the plan, and we left hopeful that she would respond but honestly trying to steel up for the worst, and unfortunately that happened. 
CoCo had a short, hard life.  She was born July 20th, 2012 and died October 30th, 2012 - 102 days.  I will pick her up from the vet when I leave work today and take her out for burial on my farm, where DKW and I will say goodbye! You will never be forgotten little girl. For such a little dog (3 1/2 pounds) - she has left a huge hole.
R. I. P. CoCo

Chilly Double-Homecoming Weekend

After starting the year 1-3 against some pretty stiff competition, Starkville High is the only undefeated team in Region 2-5A at 4-0 (5-3 overall) going into tonight's Homecoming game with Yazoo City (4-4) (2-2 in Region 2).  SHS is favored and looking at some of the previous opponents they've faced I expect they will win tonight by 4 or more touchdowns.  SHS has already (with 2 more games after tonight) clinched a playoff spot and are playing now for the #1 seed  (and a first round home game) from our region in the state playoffs.
This is also homecoming weekend (tomorrow at 6 PM on ESPN2) for the UNDEFEATED Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-0) (3-0 in SEC).  I know, I know! But let me enjoy it while I can -we have to go to #1 Bama on October 27th for what I expect to be a severe reality check.  But MSU is favored by 20 this weekend and both them & Bama should be 7-0 next week.  Regardless of how it ends, I will watch the Bama game.  Some ESPN writers (3 that I've read) are saying that they expect State to finish this year at either 11-1 or 10-2.  The only losses being to Bama and maybe LSU.  They are also saying that if State does finish 11-1 that they will get a bid to one of the BCS games.  Wouldn't that be sweet!
The temps at kickoff are predicted tonight to be 59 and tomorrow 61.  With drops of 3-6 degrees during the game.  Can you say "FOOTBALL WEATHER"!  Wooo Hooo!

Everyone have a great day!