Not Proud to be an Auburn Tiger

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeFor those who know me, I am not a very ranting person. I have to take a different take with the Auburn football situation. I can not sit back and watch what is happening with SEC football, especially Auburn, without speaking out about it.

I have always been proud to say that I am an Auburn graduate until yesterday. I understand and do not feel bad for Tommy Tuberville with the amount of money he will receive under his forced resignation. I am disappointed that Auburn seems to be giving the message that a bump in the road and a poor decision can have dire consequences.

Tommy has led Auburn for 10 years and had a winning season until this year. Yes, Auburn lost to Georgia and Alabama and had it's worse year in a long time. Have we come to a time that unless you win your rival games and do not have a winning season that you are out of job?


This season Fulmer and Groom lost their jobs for the same reason. Is Mark Richt a year away from losing his job? Tommy Tuberville and Mark Richt seemed to be coaches that are raising men as well as bringing money into the University they are employed. To me, I think that how a person treats others and their examples are more important than that "big" win. I could understand if Tuberville and Auburn had two bad years with the last year not an improvement over the previous. Auburn does not have a prayer of having a good football team for a long time. What decent man/coach would want to lead the program? You will be a loss away before your out of a job.

In the future, I will not be yelling War Eagle so loudly. Yes, I am embarrassed of the University. I was blessed to go to Auburn and learn many things both academically and morally. I just wonder what the current student body is learning.

On a final note, I can't believe I am saying this.... Go Bama! I want them to beat Florida and play for the National Championship. That's saying a lot from a die hard Tiger fan. Let's hope for a better year.

Fall, Fall, Fall !!

Image via WikipediaMonday is the beginning of the fall season. Here in Georgia it is beginning to feel more like fall. The lows are in the upper 50's. Football is going strong. ESPN game day is on the loveliest village on the plain also known as Auburn, Alabama. Fall to me is not only cooler weather, college football but also homecoming.

Where do I feel at home? My home of twelve years is Covington. Where else can I sit on my front porch drink tea and listen to the squirrels gathering nuts, the birds singing their last summer songs and hear the cows from a distant pasture. Auburn is also another place that is home. Just seeing the pictures from the loveliest village makes me want to make the two and half hour trip. Instead, I have to watch it from the t.v. Just a few more weeks and deer season will begin. Then I will be spending a lot of time experience the great outdoors. There is nothing better but just sitting outside in the woods watching the world around you. The interaction of the different species is nothing like it.

Congrats Michael!

Image via WikipediaMichael W. Smith was honored at the 39th annual Dove awards late in April. Michael was Amy Grant's keyboard player early on in her career. I remember seeing Amy first when I was at Auburn. She came to give two sold out shows with Michael. Shortly after that Michael decided to begin on his own.

Michael is considered the grandfather of modern Christian music. He deserves to be given a lifetime achievement award. I still can hear his earlier songs and they are just as powerful as the first time I ever heard them. "Friends" was a song that meant a great deal to me in college. As people graduated and when on to continue their lives, I would play that song and remember that through it all we will remain friends always. I know that even though I don't see these people often, there is a deeper connection that will always be there and they would be there for me if needed.

Erin Go Bragh

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Enjoy these two pictures of my favorite place in all of the world - Bray, Ireland!!

I have learned to love this day and celebrate my Irish heritage. Growing up, my mom always celebrated St. Patrick's day by buying green carnations. She would give my sister and I one to wear to school. As I approached my teens years, my mom started equating St. Patrick's day with our Irish heritage.

When I graduated from Auburn, my mother gave me a graduation present- a trip to Ireland. Mom and I had a great trip. I really began to see where a lot of my family traditions came from. There were a lot of aha ha moments during that trip. I was lucky enough to take two other trips to Ireland. I have not been back in twenty years but, I really look over those adventures with fondness. In a later post, I'll share some of my adventures.

Enjoy some corned beef and cabbage and think of all the Irish have impacted the world... music, literature, great talk and a community feeling!!

March Madness

It's the beginning of March Madness. This weekend was the Women's SEC basketball tournament. Auburn lost on Friday night to Vanderbilt. Vandy lost to Tennessee last night. I am rooting for Tennessee tonight in the championship. I love women's basketball.

Back in 1992, I took four days off to attend the National Championship in Atlanta. I had a blast. Auburn lost in the first round, but I just chose a winner for each game. I was able to root for my Iowa Hawkeyes who had made it to the final four for the first time in years. I think I remember that Connecticut one that year over Texas Tech. If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would snatch up tickets for the final four. It was a blast. Oh well, I must say I am rooting for Tennessee to win over LSU. Go Vols!!

Happy New Year and War Eagle!!

I hope everyone's New Year is a good and prosperous one. I should have stayed up and watched the Chick-Fil-A bowl. War Eagle! Congratulations to Coach Tubberville and the Tigers. It was a great finish and I look forward to next year's season. Paul is home with me today and we are set for a day of college football and the SEC dominance. Tonight we will be yelling for the Dawgs. We have taken down our colorful tree and are in front of the tv waiting for the Tennessee game. We had to plan what games we will watch and which we will tape. I have really enjoyed the DVR that we have. I now never have to miss a game. The game is beginning so I guess I need to get ready. Go Dawgs!! Woof Woof.

What a Week!

We had a great trip down in Florida. It took us 7 hours to go down on Thursday. We saw the most rain we have seen since sometime last year. Unfortunately, it was in south Georgia and North Florida. I have never laughed so hard while I was down there. Michael demonstrated his "hidden" talents. He did arm pit noises to the song the Little Drummer Boy. We played lots of games and made an afternoon trip to Orlando. Paul and I have decided that we would not like to live in Florida. The trip back was rather taxing. We left around noon and arrived home about 9:30 p.m. On a good note, both Auburn and Georgia won their respective games. I picked up Seamus on Monday and the staff at the vet office couldn't say enough good things about him. Dr. Kreuger came out to say that Seamus was ready to go home.

What- I have to wear that damn hat again?!!

O.k. my Auburn tigers did horribly on Saturday. I have to wear a Georgia dawgs hat of my husband's choosing next year. Wait until next year. Now we just have to beat Bama. If we don't we will have had a horrible year.

I must recommend to anyone that they get in the woods a half and hour before sunrise at least once a year. It is such an experience. I try to do it a least once a year. While you are sitting up in a tree a half and hour or so before sunlight, all is quiet in the world. There is nothing but darkness. Once the sun begins to arise the chipmunks and squirrels begin to awake and come down from their trees. First you hear the rustling of leaves and then the scraping of bark as they make their decent. The next thing you begin to hear are the different birds awakening. Occasionally before light, you might hear a great horned owl hooting and answering from one of his brothers. As the sun comes up further in the sky, you begin to hear the rooster crowing, cows beginning to moo and cars beginning to go down the road several miles away. As I said earlier there is no experience like it. It makes you aware of your place within God's plan.

I hunted hard all weekend. Up before dawn and in the woods until 11 or noon each day and then back around 3:00 to 3:30 until dark. We came back last night because Paul had to work. I got up this morning and got in the woods about 15 minute before first light. I have not seen a deer from stand all weekend. I froze this morning and decided to call it a week. I might hunt after church on Sunday. After freezing all weekend that tropical department with no air is looking pretty good.

Beat Georgia!!- Sorry honey :-(

Don't I look a mess!! Each year Paul and I make a bet on the Auburn vs. Georgia game. For the last few years, the person's team that looses the year before must wear a hat of the other's choosing. Paul and his friend Scott have decided that this year I must wear the foam dog hat. I, on the other hand last year, let Paul slip by and didn't humiliate him. Next year,(after Auburn wins on Saturday) Paul will have to wear an obnoxious hat!!

We are taking off after work tonight to go to the woods. (Although Paul has been trying to knock some sense in to me and have us leave early tomorrow morning.) At work we have been without air all week. It is rather hot and when we got to the woods it is very cold. Paul is concerned that I will get sick. I, on the other hand, do not want to give up my time in the outdoors just because they can't seem to get the air fixed at work. This happens every six months and it usually takes several weeks for them to fix it.

ELI

Well today was the last of ELI. I will not miss all the extra work but, I do look forward in pushing the project forward. I am going to miss the contact face to face with all of the fellows. I have never gotten so close to a group of people so quickly. My peer group plans to continue and for me I know it will be one of the things that can keep me sane in my insane world. I hope to bring back parts of this experience with me and share and encourage others. That's it for me know. I am going to share final moments with those staying tonight.

I am looking forward to seeing my family and spending some down time before my 11 days straight stretch. The only thing that is getting me through the next week and a half is that when it is done, I will spend seven great days with my best friend and lover. I do miss is insite and support when we are apart.

On another note- I look forward watching Auburn play on Saturday night. Go Tigers!!

War Eagle!!

It's great to be an Auburn tiger!!
How about Auburn beating Florida at home in the swamp. Paul and I went to small group last night so we got home for the 3rd quarter. I was tired and when Florida started coming back from a 17- 3 deficit, I decided to go to bed. Paul stayed up and woke me up when they won. I need to finish up my stuff for my presentation next week. I did submit my resume and cover letter earlier this afternoon.

What a week!

Well both Auburn and Georgia lost last night. Although Auburn's front line seemed to improve, the defense just couldn't defend against South Florida. Georgia well I had hope until the end that they might eke it out but it was not meant to be. My ELI assignments are kicking my butt. I am working through a sixteen question final situational assessment. Not much else happened this week.

I did want to share with you about the $7 dog. Seamus (my 14 year-old border collie) has begun his second childhood. Since Paul has been working 4 days on and 4 days off, Seamus usually has company at home. Those few days when there is not someone home he has been getting bored. If our bedroom door is open, my shoes, socks etc. seem to be fair game for chewing. A couple of weeks ago, I had $7 on my night stand. Seamus decided to take that $7 to his bed and eat it. We only know this because he actual took $8 but left $1 for evidence on his bed. I guess it's better then him eating my underwear or not.....

War Eagle!

Well Saturday night I stayed up real late watching Auburn squeak it out over Kansas State. I am enjoying my last few days off from vacation. I have not done much but it has been relaxing. Today I am going to grill one of Paul's tom turkey breast. I'm sure it will be delicious. Paul has been working on food plots for the lease so maybe we will see a few more deer. This morning he saw three does outside our side yard. Fall is coming slowly...