Happy New Year Everyone ! ! !  I HOpe this is the best year of your life ! 

To all of my female subscribers who are mentally exhausted from reading my football ramblings, I ask you to pardon me once again as I tread into the realm of the good old fashioned pig skin.  Just think, this is the last game of the season.  My fingernails will be happy for the break (maybe they will be able to grow now).  Oh no, I forgot about the bowl game.  Anyway, back to my introductions...and to the male subscribers who read my football updates and think that I am the craziest football fan in the female population (a compliment by the way), here's to you...

I am going to keep my comments to a minimum because I think that my fellow blogger Todd Sponsler's report "A Greek Tragedy"  sums up pretty much how I feel along with 99.9% of Penn State football fans.  You can find his report by logging onto this link http://blog.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2007/11/a_greek_tragedy.html  (pardon any offensive language). 

I will attempt to translate into english a small portion of the "game" that we witnessed on Saturday.  So right from the start things were shaky as usual with the Spartans scoring the first touchdown; however, the outlook brightened as Penn State shakily came back with their own touchdown.  At this point my little sister (who is the biggest nine year old Penn State fan) excitedly replied in a tone of confidence "that's my boys".    My excitement is starting to build as Penn State recovers a Spartan fumble and scores another touchdown.  By half time the future is looking bright and the road to victory laid before us in all it's glory as the score board shows a three score lead.  But wait, are my senses deceiving me or, no it can't be!  Things begin to crumble rapidly.  Instead of continuing the running game (which was going great according to my calculations),  someone gets the brilliant idea to let our "all star QB"  start a passing game.  RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!  Ok, so at this point I am trying to look for phone numbers because I need a private audience with several top Penn State officials during the next time out!!  This cannot be happening!!!  My worst nightmare is coming true!!  I thought we wanted to win this game! 

As I chew into my one last finger nail and consider a coaching future I hear sounds like "touchdown Spartans"..."touchdown Spartans"...touchdown Spartans"!  I begin to consider whether I might be rooting for the wrong team?  Before I had the time to say "run", "throw", or "tackle" the three score lead was going in the opposite direction and I was left to consider the possibilities of knocking my head against the nearest wall and loudly crying "what are you thinking"?  [Side note:  The best thing about banging your head against the wall is that it feels so good when you stop.]   

Kudos to my game mvp pick Kevin Kelly.  He made such a variety of plays on Saturday that for awhile I was questioning whether it could possibly be a one man game.  I am so proud of you man!!! 

Well, I must close this dialogue before I fall asleep.  I have a few last minute comments to add before closing.  I want to say a special thank you to God for the change of seasons (football being the fifth one)!    I could not keep going all year round, my heart would never take it.  Joe Pa, if you are reading this it is high time to retire.  Anthony, no offense, but I suggest you keep your day job.  You're gonna need it!  To the rest, no matter what, you all never fail to surprise me.  Most of the time this season those surprises have been quite disappointing but no matter what I will always say "that's my boys"!  Love ya Lions!!!                      

Ok, so I know this post is a little different from my usual football rantings; however, I felt the need to pass this email on to my single girlfriends.  Love you girls!!!!  Beijos. 

There is a special kind of woman placed the world around
  In every town, city or church she will be found.

Men in their blindness have passed her up
  But God is well able to fill her cup
 
She's free from the care of husband and child
  Wet diapers and runny noses never drive her wild
 
If supper is not on the table at half past six,
  Hubby doesn't come in the house all out of fix
 

She can eat when she pleases whatever she wishes
  She can serve it in pots or the best china dishes
 
Her bathrooms not occupied unless she is in it,
  The phones not tied up when she needs it next minute.
 
She can sleep in,if she choose on her day off
  She's never awakened by a child's cough.
 
When you haven't seen her for a week or two
  She's on another trip and its not to the Zoo!
 
The married woman looks at her freedom with an envious eye,
  While she tackles laundry made by small fry.
 
But her lifes not all roses,nobody's will be
  Sometimes lonliness is absolute misery.
 
Who loves me anyway,what difference do I make?
  What, when I get old, who cares when I ache?
 
Who fixes her roof,puts salt on the ice?

 Shovels the snow and kills the mice?
 
Who tills the garden and pays for the rent,
  Washes the car and fixes the dent?
 
Who mowes the lawn, and pulls the weeds,
  Sweeps the driveway and plants the seeds?
 
She does, of course, who else would?
  Maybe sometime you and your husband should.
 
And the names we give her are uncalled for too,
  She's a lovely lady just like you.
 
Not a spinster,old maid, or leftover blessing,
  To her we may need to do some confessing.
 
She takes time to visit, lends a listening ear,
 gives attention to the little folk and aged so dear.
 
She bakes a fresh pie and takes it next door,
  Never considers kindness a chore.
 
She works at a job from seven to three.
  But still finds time for you and me
 
She remembers birthdays with a card or note,
  Takes neices and nephews for an ice cream float.

Praise is quite scarce but she keeps doing good,
  Have you encouraged her the way that you should?
 
When life is all over and the trumpet shall sound
  At God's throne we'll gather around
 
The rewards will be given to each Child of the King
  And the single lady won't miss out on a thing.
 

This song has really been and inspiration to me.  I just wanted to share it with you.  Remember to live each day to the fullest! 

When The Sand Runs Out

I spent the morning at an old friend's grave
Flowers and Amazing Grace, he was a good man
He spent his whole life spinnin' his wheels
Never knowin' how the real thing feels
He never took a chance or took the time to dance
And I stood there thinking as I said goodbye
Today is the first day of the rest of my life

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I wanna be runnin'
When the sand runs out

'Cause people do it everyday
Promise themselves they're gonna change
I've been there, but I'm changin' from the inside out

That was then and this is now
I'm a new man, yeah, I'm a brand new man
And when they carve my stone they'll write these words
"Here lies a man who lived life for all that its worth"

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
Learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I wanna be runnin'
When the sand runs out

by Rascal Flatts