Tragedy in Connecticut

I am absolutely sick to my stomach thinking about the horrific school shooting in Connecticut.  As a parent, I can’t imagine the pain that those parents of the students who lost their lives are dealing with at this time.  My boys are the same age of some of the kids who were helplessly shot and killed.  There is no reason for anyone to go into a school and open fire but to do it in an elementary school is 100 times worse!

Please keep all of those who lost their lives and those in that community in your thoughts and prayers over the weekend and if you have kids, please hug them extra tight when you see them.  I know my boys will be getting plenty of hugs from me this weekend.

SEC Championship Game!

The stage is set, the winner of the SEC Championship game this weekend will face the Fighting Irish from Notre Dame in the National Championship game in January.  So the SEC Championship game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide is basically a semi-final game.  This picture basically shows how most SEC fans feel about the pending National Championship game.

As you know, I am part of the Dawg Nation and I feel like the Dawgs will come out victorious against Bama.  I feel like Coach Richt's team matches up well with the Tide but we are better in key positions.  All of the athletes on both teams are top notch, but the Dawgs have a better QB, better running backs and better linebackers and defensive backs.  The Tide's offensive and defensive lines are strong so who knows how it will turn out.  Either way, I feel like the National Champion will once again come from the SEC!  I just hope the trophy ends up in Athens and not Tuscaloosa again!

Go Dawgs

Goodbye Hostess!

What a sad day it was when I heard that Hostess was going to go away!  They are an iconic brand and produced some of my favorite childhood treats.  I grew up eating Twinkies, Cupcakes, Ding Dongs and Snowballs!  I rarely eat those kinds of things now, but they still bring back good memories.  Also, my kids love the Twinkies and Cupcakes now and were also devastated when I told them the news. 

Starting last week, Hostess began to stop production and started going through the bankruptcy and liquidation process.  This means the closing of the following:

33 bakeries
565 distribution centers
5,500 delivery routes
570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States
And letting go of their 18,500-member workforce

Now is a good time to stock up!  You know most of their products have extremely long shelf lives!  Also, it could be a good way to make some money on eBay!

I will miss the treats as will my kids, but at least they had the chance to enjoy them. Their kids will unfortunately not have that pleasure. Thanks for all of the yummy treats and some great memories!  Hostess, you will be missed!

It is autumn in America and that means several things; football, leaves falling, cooler weather and in the world of wine, it is harvest time.  Here is what some of the winemakers in the different regions of California are saying about this years harvest.  Looks like 2012 is going to be a nice vintage!

2012 Harvest Update

Napa Valley: "Conditions are perfect.  If you could review a year, this would be 100 pts.   Warm but not hot days have been ripening the fruit wonderfully." --Claus Janzen, Bacio Divino Cellars Sonoma Valley: “Harvest is full steam ahead!  It is looking like a banner year.  We have brought in all of our Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Muscat, and one vineyard of Zinfandel and Russian River Pinot.  The flavors are beautiful and the crop load is full.” --Erik Miller, Kokomo Winery Santa Cruz Mountains: “A wonderful year and the growing conditions have been about as close to ideal as possible and the vines show it.  We are pretty excited about what the fruit tastes like in the vineyard. The crop is full and the fruit is clean.“ --John Bargetto, Bargetto Family Estate, Celebrating their 80th Harvest! Santa Barbara and Central Coast: “2012 is shaping up to be one of the best harvests in the last 4-5 years.  It’s been warmer than most years, but not too hot.  It’s a nice, even crop.  There are a lot of grapes out there, and they are good quality.” --Christian Garvin, Oreana Winery Lodi (Northern California):  “Winter and spring were quite dry and mild, with bud-break being about a week early. The summer months were textbook perfect with a few days over 100 degrees and typically cool evening breezes. The month of September was much warmer than normal, accelerating the ripening of red grapes still on the vine.” --Mark Fedorchak, Valley Wine Works

The Cocktail Party!

It’s back! The game all Georgia and Florida fans look forward to every year! The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is taking place this Saturday in Jacksonville. This is what it is all about! The Dawgs are ranked 10th in the BCS polls while the Gators are ranked 2nd so this is yet another top ten matchup for both teams.

I am really worried that the Dawgs are going to have trouble stopping the Gators running game, but if the defense actually plays the way they should play and stop their strong ground game and force them to throw the ball, the Dawgs have a real chance of winning. Also, the special teams needs to perform without any major mistakes. I feel that Georgia QB Aaron Murray has the edge and the experience to guide the offense down the field and score ample points to win, but if Coach Mike Bobo continues to be predictable with his play calling, the Dawgs could be in trouble.  This will be a huge stage for the true freshman running backs to announce their presence to the college football world with the game being televised on CBS in the coveted 3:30 time slot!  Get ready world, here comes Gurshel!  (Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall)

As with most of the matchups between these two teams, I think it is going to be a competitive battle and I think that Georgia will upset the Gators.  I do know it is going to be a great atmosphere and there are going to be a lot of jabs back and forth between both fan bases. Also, I know there will be lots of Gator fans that look like this guy!

This is my favorite picture of the typical Gator fan! They all don’t look like this guy, but they all wish they could!

Go Dawgs!

Mickelson Attempts KPMG Chip4Charity

Since they didn't show Phil Mickelson's shot on the live broadcast on Monday night, I thought I would provide the video for those of you who want to see how Phil did in his Chip4Charity.  I will say that the target was a lot smaller than I expected and how was he supposed to control the spin and distance hitting of that mat? 

Anyway, nice work Phil!

Mickelson on Monday Night Football

No, Phil is not going to suit up in pads and a helmet (that would be a sight!), he is going to be attempting a shot for charity.  KPMG LLP announced this week that Mickelson will attempt a $1 million “KPMG Chip4Charity” shot at halftime of the Monday Night Football game on Oct. 15, when the San Diego Chargers host the Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium.  At stake for the 100-yard shot is as much as $1 million for First Book, a non-profit organization which provides new books for children in need.  Mickelson will be located in one end zone, aiming for a target in the other end zone, which will have a green ($50,000/20,000 books) and three rings ranging from $100,000/40,000 books (outer most ring) to $1 million/400,000 books (bulls eye center ring).

KPMG’s Family for Literacy teamed with Mickelson and First Book to create KPMG’s “Blue for Books” program in March 2012.  The program encourages golf fans to purchase Mickelson’s authentic blue KPMG Tour hat at PhilsBlueHat.com. KPMG donates 100% of the net proceeds to First Book, which provides deserving children three books for each hat sold.  Mickelson’s “KPMG Chip4Charity” is a marquee component of the “Blue for Books” campaign.

“This Chip4Charity is very exciting, and has the potential to provide a significant contribution to youth literacy. We created ‘Blue for Books’ as a way for Phil’s fans to wear his hat while also supporting KPMG’s Family for Literacy (KFFL),” said John Veihmeyer, Chairman and CEO of KPMG LLP, the U.S. Audit, Tax and Advisory firm.  “We understand that the toughest roadblock to children’s literacy is access to books. KPMG and Phil share a passion for doing whatever we can to help children in need get off to a good start in life.”

Mickelson said, “My wife, Amy, and I, feel strongly that literacy and education are critical to the future success of today’s youth.  I am extremely proud to be part of the Blue for Books campaign and it’s just great to know that for every blue hat I see out in the gallery each week, three new books are in the hands of kids who need them most.”

Good luck Phil!

#5 vs. #6

       
It is games like this one that makes me love college football!  The Georgia Bulldogs will be traveling to Columbia, SC this weekend to play Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks.  This match up puts the fifth ranked Dawgs against the sixth ranked Gamecocks.  I am already nervous about the game! 

This should be a dandy of a game!  The Dawgs are averaging 48 points a game with 536 total yards per game but the Gamecocks defense has only allowed 11 points per game and 289 total yards per game.  So something will have to give! 

I predict is going to be a low scoring, knock down, drag out fight with the Dawgs barely getting by.  The difference is going to come from the lines.  The Gamecocks have one of the toughest defensive lines in the country while the Dawgs have a young and inexperienced offensive line.  But if they can contain the two stud defensive ends for South Carolina and make some holes for Gurshall (Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall) the Dawgs might be able to get some yards.  If the Dawgs can win the turnover ratio, I think they can win the game. 

Also, ESPN’s Gameday will be broadcasting from outside the stadium, so I am not the only one who thinks this is a big game!  I just hope Lee Corso doesn’t pick the Dawgs to win!  He record is horrible! 


Go Dawgs! 

Ryder Cup 2012

Now that the FedEx Cup playoffs are over (great job Brandt Snedeker), it is time to focus on some team golf.  The 2012 Ryder Cup tees off this weekend just outside of Chicago at Medinah Country Club.  I love the Ryder Cup!  I love the aspect of playing golf as a team not just as an individual.  I love to see the patriotism from both the players and the fans.  I love to hear about the events of the week and all of the things that happen in the team rooms.  Also, this week usually brings out the best in all of the players.  There are always some amazing shots during the matches and usually some shots where you can tell the pressure has gotten to someone.  

Team USA with Captain Davis Love III

 It is such a great sporting event and every shot is important for the players and the teams.  The teams are made up of 12 players for each side and all of the players on the two teams are ranked in the top 30 in the world.  It really is exciting to follow and the crowds will be crazy!  I can only image how that affects the players both good and bad?  There will be a lot of pressure on Team USA because they are playing at home and they want to get the cup back from the European team.  Two years ago, it came down to the finial match and the Euros walked away with the cup.  The American’s are looking for redemption!  It is going to be a fun weekend of patriotism and great golf!

Go USA!

Mac’s 8th Birthday Bash!

My oldest son recently turned 8 years old. I still can’t believe it! I can still remember the day we brought him home from the hospital and that seems just like yesterday. I am so proud of how he has grown into a well rounded, intelligent, and respectful young man. He is a great son, an incredible big brother and a good friend.

He went back and forth on deciding the theme of his party but finally decided to go with an Angry Birds party. Once that decision was finalized Meg kicked into party planning mode and started thinking and creating things for the party. As usual, she went all out with the decorations, the food and the games. Also, we were really glad he went with a video game theme since we had reserved a video game truck to arrive in the middle of the party. This was a surprise to everyone at the party including Mac. Here are some pictures from the big event!



Meg hand made all of the signs and ballons



All of the food had a clever names to with them, for example there were Pigs in blankets, Bird feed, Pig logs and of course Bird Poop!  The kids really loved that. 

Mac right before he blows out the candles



The video game truck.  It was really cool!



Here are some of the kids playing.  There were four different flat screens that had several gaming systems hooked to them so there could be several different games going at once. 

The kids could play a real life Angry Birds game.  They shot mini water ballons out of a slingshot and tried to knock down all of the boxes.

Then there was always the pool to keep the kid busy!

It was another great party and I think all of the kids and the adults had a great time.  I still can't believe that Mac is 8!  It is true, they do grow up too fast!