December 28th - 26 to 19

Never mind my Wild win (4-3 over the Kings in Los Angeles), my dog is gone.

I chained her up yesterday before going outside to shovel the snow. The kids were out front with me, then went to the backyard. About 20 to 30 minutes after first chaining up the dog, I went out back to check on the kids.

No dog. No chain. She somehow yanked it up out of the ground and made off. The kids said they never saw her back there, and figured I'd taken her inside. So, my dog is gone, and had a nearly half hour head start on me. Needless to say, I couldn't find her. Tried following her footprints and the chain track, but that disappeared when she reached Martin Road. Drove around the places she's been known to go when getting loose before, but nothing. I even dumped the kids with the neighbors so I could continue looking (no car seat for Sophie, and it was snowing pretty heavily), but an hour later, it was getting too dark to see anything.

I think she could survive the night despite the 15 degree temperature. She's a husky, after all, and she knows how to find the warm areas. There's also the chance someone took her in. But we live in a largely wooded area, so she could've ended up there, possibly got her chain stuck on something. Also possible she got hit. Things I don't want to think about. Tieraney posted a notice on Craig's List and is checking the pound. I'll be going out again with Sophie.

This is sad. Over the past few months, Gelert has been great. No more peeing problems. No more chewing and scratching at her cage. Things were going good, and now this. It's heartbreaking.



And that's Miracle in the Meadowlands style play. Botched snap. Somehow, Life ends up recovering a fumble. The crowd is stunned, and Life's still alive with seconds to go.

Life's ball. 1st and 10 on their own 41.

December 26th-27th - 26 to 19

Boy, my Seahawks suck. Two weeks ago, I mentioned on Facebook and on the forums that this is the worst Seahawks team in franchise history. People thought I was nuts. No one's disagreeing with me any more. That's a horrible product we keep putting out there. Go draft picks!

My hockey team, on the other hand, won again on Saturday night. I think we shook off a five game slump to the Blue by finally beating them 4-3 at home. The new Canadian got two of our goals. Guillaume Latendresse had two goals, including the game winner, for the lift. Lat has been one of those rare instances where he was underperforming on his original team, but is shining in his new surroundings. Nice to see that finally swing my way.



Even better, my team won the Turkey Bowl on Saturday. Actually, considering when we play it now, I should start referring to it as the Sausage Breakfast Casserole Bowl. Down 7-14 at one point, we moved Jack Jose to QB, and quickly saw a 35-14 swing. We called it at 35-21, and started a new two-possession game to end it. I had one TD and one fumble recovery, but never once played QB. My favorite play was when I got absolutely drilled by Steve Uhler, who hasn't played in about ten years (we had eight on eight, by the way...nice turnout). I shook a couple defenders on crossing pattern and thought I had a TD, but turned to see Steve barreling down on me. Tried to stiff-arm him, but he blew right through it and slammed me down into the mud. It was awesome. For a moment, we were both 23 again. When I woke up on Sunday, though, I was closer to 48.

Worth it, though. Totally worth the pain.

And because of the game, I got to miss 3/4 of the Patterson family Christmas party. Bonus! I hung out with former Shattered Image band members Steve Johnson (drums) and Jack Jose (keyboards/vocals) and the wives at BW3 Saturday evening before heading home. All in all, a good time.

Another run for eight, and that's the game. All that's left is to take a knee.

My ball. 1st and 10 on Life's 39.

December 25th - 26 to 19

Know what's a good Christmas? One where you don't have to go anywhere. We got up with the kids (we actually had to wake them up at around 8:00 a.m....we were tired of waiting for them, having already showered and all), opened gifts, cooked up the breakfast casserole (there are few meats I enjoy more than the ground sausage), and waited for our parents to arrive.

The kids seemed pleased with what they got. Tieraney was okay with her gifts. I was okay with mine. She got me this thing:



Sad thing about this is that they don't work in garages. I'm guessing it's the cold. The instructions do say that they're for indoor use only, but I figured that was a rain/sun thing, not a temperature thing. But it doesn't want to stick to my wall, so I'm periodically stapling it in place as it peels in new areas. Eventually, I figure it'll just stop. If not, that's either a lot of staples or a $90 gift down the drain.

Even in my garage, the Seahawks find a way to disappoint.

My parents were up first for a little bit, and Tieraney's parents pulled in right as mine were leaving. Most didn't eat the food Tieraney had prepared, so that means leftovers. And since I'm off my workout schedule until after the new year, that means weight gain.

But who cares? I'm married. I don't need to look good.

Run up the middle gains four.

My ball. 2nd and 6 on my Life's 47.

December 24th - 26 to 19

Good day at work, but you'll have that when you're there all alone. Got some solid work done, handled only a few calls, ate Chinese food. Nothing wrong with any of this.

Christmas eve service was fine. Out church has an odd habit of doing mini-plays or dramatic readings or something. Church members over the age of 55 reading from scripts. Angels talking to various people. Thing is, most of these people were teachers, so they sound like teachers reading to grade school kids. Not sure I get it. I'd rather we just sing for an hour straight, but it's all okay in the end when we do sing "Silent Night" by candlelight. It's beautiful. I mean, "Silent Night" is the second most beautiful song ever written. But there in church, everything is so quiet. It's peaceful. I means something, and I like that. It's why I don't care about the commercialism and the shopping crowds and the non-existant war on Christmas, because I get that moment on Christmas eve. Everything that people freak out about because they think we're losing the purpose of it all, it's all right there. I don't need it to be in airports or on TV, and I'm not sure why everyone else does, either.

So, I'll call it a successful night. Kids in bed by 9:00, me and Tieraney by 10:45 because we had nothing to put together. Merry Christmas, all of you who don't even know this blog exists. As Kermit the Frog once sang:

I don't know if you believe in Christmas
Or if you have presents underneath a Christmas tree
But if you believe in love, that will be more than enough
For you to come and celebrate with me

Incomplete pass. I take over on downs.

My ball. 1st and 10 on my own 49.

December 23rd - 26 to 19

Well, good. We got off the losing streak before it could become a streak, beating the Oilers 3-1 at home. Goals by Brunette and Nolan, and an empty netter at the end from Latendresse. Apparently, the Wild finished the game very strong. I haven't watched the highlights yet.

Never mind. Just did. I like hockey. Look at these two:



They're men, dammit. Fuck football.

Spilled coffee on my keyboard at work. New keyboard at work. Tieraney went to her company's holiday party yesterday afternoon and proceeded to win nothing. They gave away Wiis, PlayStations, widescreen TVs, but no. She got a $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas. I'll take that, sure, but shiny new TV would've been cool.

Incomplete pass.

Life's ball. 4th and 7 on my 49.

December 22nd - 26 to 19

Finally bought my wife's Christmas gifts yesterday. Took care of that in one trip, although I have an idea for another one that'll come later on. We'll see how she does with my gifts. As the Dead Milkmen once said, "There's a time for taking and there's a time for giving, but ripping off the Butthole Surfers is how I make my living."

That does nothing to solidify my point, but I'll blame the Milkmen for that.

Grocery shopping after worked to make sure we're ready for the guests come Christmas day. KFC for the supper. Wrestle with the kids for a while. (The chirrens love to be body slammed to the couch. What's the move where you pick your opponent up by the neck and slam him on his back? That's what I do.) Put them to bed. Exercise. Appletell featuring the aforementioned chirrens. Put myself to bed. Nothing exciting, but that's how you want to wind down the year, right?

Incomplete pass.

Life's ball. 3rd and 7 on my 49.

December 21st - 26 to 19

Another Wild loss last night. Down 1-4 at one point, they came back to make a game of it, but lost 3-4 in regulation. And did you know they lost their equipment in a fire? True. Happened on the Ottawa, I guess, where the equipment van caught fire. So, they were playing in rented equipment that night. Pads didn't fit and such. Weird.

Back to back losses kills any momentum we had. Sad. We outshot the Avalanche, but Backstrom continues his sucky ways. So it goes.

Got some business for the company yesterday. An old funiture retailer client of our went out of business a few years back. The guy I worked with now works at a new furniture retailer, and he brought us in. I made the pitch, and I got the gig. THIS is how I help the company. Do good work, and people will bring you back. Just ask my wife.

BOOM!

Run up to Christmas. I'm working, Tieraney's at home with the kids. She made the cookie style objects. I ate some.

QB can't find a man open downfield, but completes a pass to the sideline to stop the clock.

Life's ball. 2nd and 7 on my 49.