The Irish Bust the Trojans

Of all the games this season and every season, the one I look forward to most is when Notre Dame takes on The Trojans of Southern California. It's a rivalry game at it's finest and as soon as the schedule is posted, I make sure to circle that date. Recently however; and by recently I mean the last 8 match ups and 2 coaches ago, Notre Dame hasn't made this meeting much of a rivalry. The closest and best game was in 2005, Charlie Weis' first season, when Notre Dame lost 31 - 34 on the infamous "Bush Push" play. Reggie Bush went on to win the Heisman that season and his Trojans were defeated by the Texas Longhorns in the National Championship, Hook'em.

Bush Push

It's 2010 now, Reggie Bush is no longer the proud winner of the Heisman Trophy and The Fighting Irish are now coached by Brian Kelly. The feeling was different this season, instead of believing there was a chance ND could win this game I knew they could. They had the talent and heart to do it and they had just come off a two game win streak, with a win over USC they would be undefeated in November.

Unfortunately I was unable to see the game as I live in the heart of BIG XII country, Austin, Texas and ESPN on ABC was regionally and pretty much nationally showing the Oklahoma vs Oklahoma St. game. I guess it makes sense, they were respectively ranked #13 and #9, while Notre Dame is unranked and USC is under sanctions so they don't really matter. But that sucked for me. At least Notre Dame is on point and put the highlight reel together. How I wish I could have seen this game, guess I have to wait until they go bowling.

Robert Hughes Game Winning Touchdown. AP: Jae C. Hong

GO IRISH!

Hol-i-day

There’s no party like a Thanksgiving Party cause a Thanksgiving Party don’t stop. Des bulee those words rang true this year, from the moment The Wife and I loaded up and strapped Lil Money in his car-seat we were on go.

First stop, The Cowan House, there we gathered with The Wife’s family, enjoyed conversation and a lot of good food.



Shot by: The Wife



Just before the Dallas game started my tribe loaded up once again and headed to my mom’s house for more family, football and all around good times. This year was a good year, we were able to share this Thanksgiving with my Aunt Kim and cousin Richard, they’ve been in South Korea for a long time and we rarely get to spend time together so it’s always good when we get to see them. While at my moms we ate more and played with the kids my niece and nephew and Lil Money, it’s an awesome thing knowing that many holidays ago I was just a little one playing on the floor, now I am a father to that tradition.

Last stop, a holiday visit with our good friends Chris and Brandy… Hmmm, if they were a famous couple what would their “name” be…? Bris? Nah that’s lame and has no shine. I’m thinking Chandy, yeah that’s sweet, like candy. It’s settled that’s their now famous couple-name. Dig it. Visits with Chandy are always a good time, we enjoy the same things, movies, shows and we even read the same books and Chris even introduced me to the oh so sweet goodness that is BIG BLUE. Thanks Chris and Brandy, good times.

I wish I had taken pictures of the holiday weekend but I was just too busy living it to stop for a flash.

I am Thankful.

I am thanful:

... That I am a father to a healthy, handsome litte boy, I love you.

... To be married to a beautiful and strong woman, I love you.

... That my brother is no longer in that big sandbox & finally safe at home, thank you and I love you.

... For the loving and caring of the friends & families that I have and am a part of, I love you.

Sometimes we are too consumed with the mundane episodes of our day-to-day that we often overlook what is really important in our lives. I am no stranger to this at all, sometimes I wake up fighting mad and sometimes I feel as though I was born to lose, but it's those quiet moments when I am afforded the opportunity to contemplate and meditate with my thoughts that it all becomes clear. This clarity reminds me that I am not alone, it could be so much worse, I will experience the worst of times and just the same feel the joys of the best of times. I wish you all the best this Thanksgiving and Holiday season.

Austin Burger Bracket: Champion

As you know tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a time of traditions, family, friends, football and FOOD. And after the consumption of that midnight "snack" of a turkey sandwich, stuffing, broccoli & cheese casserole and combination of pies, also comes the many holiday traditions of parties, overspending and more food.

Unfortunately my goal to fill my belly with as many burgers that Austin could provide will have to come to an end. Scratch that, I'm not giving up burgers, what I meant to say is that the Austin Burger Bracket competition will have to come to a sudden end. While I started this bracket with the best of intentions; I didn't anticipate the occurrences of life (Work, family, friends, chores, etc) would interfere. I'm kidding, work didn't interfere, I ate most of the burgers during business hours and maybe even blogged about it too.

All joking aside, I wish I could have eaten my way to a Champion Burger but sometimes things just don't work out as planned. But in the spirit of things I have chosen a champion from the establishments I was able to enjoy. The Austin Burger Bracket Champion of 2010 embodies what a good ol American Austin Burger should be. A burger that isn't trying to be anything more than what it is and yet satisfies more than you'd expect. A burger you can't wait to eat and when finished wished you had more. A burger that teases you after you've eaten it by leaving it's aroma on your hands reminding you why you love it so much. This burger should be so good that if/when you do have another, you feel regret for your choice in meal, I know I have.

Number Three Honors:

P. Terry's Burger Stand - A staple to my lunch time dining, this burger joint keeps it real, from fresh vegetables to all natural Black Angus Beef. If you find yourself on empty and happen to be near this establishment, I recommend the Double w/ Cheese and add on a fresh squeezed lemonade and a cookie for desert.

Number Two Runner-Up:

Doc's Motorworks - In the heart if South Congress sits Doc's, a great place to enjoy a drink, people watch and of course devour delicious food. You can catch a game on one of the TVs inside or step outside the garage bay doors and enjoy the cool breeze of their patio. If you're ever in the area treat yourself to the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, you're belly will thank you.

And drum roll please...

Number One Champion:

Dan's Hamburgers - For my money there isn't anything better than Dan's Hamburgers, of course I order my with cheese every time. I've eaten at four different locations and at each I am given the same great quality as the last. If you ask me where the best place to eat a burger is, I'm going to direct you to the hometown hero, Dan's.

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Thanks for following along, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. I wasn't able to enjoy as many burgers as I hoped but I look forward to finally eating and/or trying the rest of the burgers from my Austin Burger Bracket.

Wrigley Field vs Yankee Stadium

One got it right and the other... Got it horrbily wrong. Stamp FAIL on it, cause this is a joke. And what was ESPN's College Gameday thinking hosting their show there? The better choice should have been obvious. I would choose tradition in excellence, always, before anything else.

Wrigley Field FAILED

Holiday Look N°3: Lil Money

Army vs Notre Dame @ Yankee Stadium

 

New York Times: Army-Notre Dame Stirs Yankee Stadium Ghosts

Holiday Look N°2: The Wife

Holiday Look N°1

1000 Words: Train Party

Family of Bloggers

Everybody’s doing it…

Just try it, they say.

You can quit any time.

But it’s not true; once you start you’re hooked.

For me, I see blogging as something that is forced but also happens organically. With that I mean that there are times when I’m doing something and while doing whatever awesomeness that I am partaking in, I am thinking about blogging. And just the same for the parallel, there are often times when a blog post just happens; none better than the other they are just the same… But different.

I think I got started a short time after my older sister started her original blog. I was then followed by The Wife who started a blog for the same reason as myself and my sister, to track the success and failures of our 101 things to do 1001 days.

For the longest time The Wife and I would bug my younger sister and brother to start a blog. For posterity’s sake. My brother a former Marine traveled a lot and by no doubt had stories to share and pictures of places and experiences to show. My sister, lives in the D.C. area and since living there has had the opportunity to experience Autumn and Winter like never before, so pictures and her accounts of those snowed in days would be awesome to follow, especially as I sip a Lone Star while wearing boat shoes, snorts and a T-shirt in November. They wouldn’t budge, they kept us waiting and wanting until finally after months of nagging, they each started their own blog.

And what’s this, my youngest brother has jumped in the mix. I never really thought he’d get into this blogging thing, but I guess it’s his time. So far he’s blogged about Call of Duty Black Ops (Typical) and his current views on his personal life… I’m interested to see where he goes with this. And as a gift, I made him a shiny new banner for his blog, Mind of a Lazy Man.

Austin Burger Bracket: UPDATE

Whur all muh burgers zat? My brother and I started this deal over 4 months ago but since have been slacking on the whole Austin Burger Bracket. I don't know what happened; I started off strong, eating a burger at least twice a week (sometimes from the same joint, but I was trying to be thorough), I even gained a little over ten pounds. Dats what I'm talkin-bout.

Now... It's been over 2 months since I last posted about the bracket, too damn long. But with the holiday's just around the bend I think beef is gonna take a back seat to the bird, turkey that is and possibly a couple dozen tamales. That's right it's that time of year, Turkey's in the driver seat with Tamales ridding shotgun and Burgers bagged in the back, nah-mean?

I don't want this to carry over to 2011 and actually (maybe foolishly) thought I'd consume a bracket's worth of burgers (Thirty-two) by now, but that hasn't happened yet. But in the spirit of competition I will still choose a winner from the burgers I was able to devour (Only 9 joints so far)... Still not sure when that will be but definitely before the clock strikes midnight on 2010.

Never Forget

Veterans Day

Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

A Legacy is Born

During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.

A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.

The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.

As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776.

Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.

-Marines.com

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1000 Words: Planting a Tree

1000 Words: Rockin B Ranch