Happy New Year!

So it has been a little while since I updated this. Like to say I've been busy but I've actually been enjoying some time off with the fam down in Houston. Anyway, Happy New Year and all that jazz. Now, when I insert talking about my blog into random conversations I can say that I started it last year. How exciting! OK, I know, not really.

Anyway, I wanted to start out with some random thoughts. First of all, as I watched the college bowl games over the last week I was subjected to ads for the latest reality-TV experiment in absurdity titled "Armed and Famous." For any of you that have not seen the previews (and if you have managed this you are my hero and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter) the premise is that celebrities go through police training and (supposedly) become actual cops. I cannot help but think (which is incidentally why I don't watch reality shows -rimshot-), would it even be possible to do a parody of a reality show nowadays? This thought first occurred to me when Chappelle's Show did a spoof of the popular TLC show "Trading Spaces" and called it "Trading Spouses." A little over a year later, there was not one but two actual reality shows with the same premise, one of which even used the same name as the parody. Mr. Chappelle, if he was a litigious person and/or ever needs the money, has what I believe is an airtight lawsuit.

A couple of weeks ago, during a seemingly innocuous trip to the Argo Tea Cafe I was momentarily rattled when the late-teen/early 20s guy behind the counter bade me farewell by saying "dig the night, dude." While I definitely chalk this up to just quirkiness from a strange hippyish looking tea cafe employee, it did get me to thinking. I am rapidly approaching (or may actually already have passed) the point where expressions that sound strange and stupid to me are actually part of normal pop culture that I am just no longer aware of. And, of course, it also follows that at the same time that starts happening, I will be using expressions which seem normal and modern to me but will make me appear hopelessly dated and clueless to anyone else. And at that point, you might as well just grow a mustache and play up that whole angle. I think the point is simply this: I need to stop saying "Holla!" and "what up" immediately.

Lastly, for all you sports fans I hope that no one missed the Fiesta Bowl on Monday night between Oklahoma and Boise State. It truly ranks as one of the greatest sports games I've ever seen. I'm not going to recap it here, because you can get that anywhere and no recap could possibly do it justice anyway. Suffice it to say that it had absolutely everything you could possibly want in a game (except, of course, if you are an Oklahoma fan): big momentum swings, trick plays, and a miracle finish. I am reminded of what I said after watching the Illinois-Arizona Elite 8 game 3 years ago (the most remarkable comeback I've ever witnessed): You watch sports your whole life and while most games are entertaining they are also quickly forgotten. But the reason you keep watching is that maybe once or twice a year (40-50 times in your life if you're lucky to live that long) you get to see something truly spectacular. The kind of game where even people that don't ever watch sports stop and say "wow, that was really exciting." A game where you know without question that what you are seeing is genuine emotion and passion from all the players, coaches, and fans and you are right there with them. You may not remember the specific sequence of plays, any of the players names, or even what the final score was, but you will never forget that feeling you had while you were watching it.

On the flipside, of course, is game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. Catch the f#%*in' ball Gonzalez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!