Alabama Football and Iron Bowl Week!

This week is a special one for Alabama and Auburn fans alike...we are now only 6 days away from the Iron Bowl!  This is one of the biggest rivalries in sports, so for all you non-Alabamians, just know that this week is HUGE.  I was raised as an Alabama fan and I've been loyal, even through the really terrible years.  In fact, those terrible years have comprised most of my football-watching life.  I remember our last national championship in 1992, but I was only 6 years old.  So this is really the first time since I've truly been watching football that we've been really, really good.

Another factor that makes this year huge is that we haven't won an Iron Bowl in 6 years.  That gets really hard.  When you look forward to one game all year and you haven't won it in over half a decade, that's just sad.  Well, Auburn's had a terrible year this year, so just logically we should win with no trouble.  But that's just not how the Iron Bowl goes.  This game is all Auburn has to live for, and they will fight for it with everything they've got.  All bets are off when it comes to this game.  If Alabama does win, I'm going to be ecstatic because we've finally beaten Auburn and it will give us a perfect 12-0 season.  Now, we'll still have to play Florida for the SEC Championship, but I'm focused on ending the regular season perfectly.  Then I'll focus on us beating Florida, which 

will truly be the toughest game we'll play all season.

One more interesting thing to note: the BCS, AP, and USA Today rankings.  Alabama is #1 in all the polls, but each poll has a different #2.  The BCS says it's Texas, the AP poll says Florida, and USA Today gives it to Oklahoma.  Wow.  This really sets an interesting stage for the national title game.  In my opinion, you've got to give the #2 to Florida because they are AMAZING.

BUT one thing is for sure: Alabama is #1 for the first time since I've been around, and if we beat Auburn and Florida, we are going to the National Championship.  Speaking of, I really am behind all the people who say we need to reform the way the national champion is choosen.  I agree with a playoff system, because then two SEC teams could play for the title.  This makes so much sense to me, because it is by and large the strongest conference in college football.  It's ridiculous that teams from the same conference aren't able to play each other for the national title, even if they deserve it.  Anyway, there's my two cents.

Happy Iron Bowl week, everybody.  

Roll Tide!

Acoustic Concert

Hello all....

A few days ago, I played an acoustic concert at the UCF House during one of their art sales. It was a really cool atmosphere with some great art, and it was a great place to do my first acoustic solo show. There's a lot of songs that I've written that accumulated over the years that just aren't meant for the band, so this is a perfect chance to get those songs out there. Please see my facebook page for some recordings (both live from the concert and in-studio) of some of these songs. I'm going to edit this post again tomorrow and put up a live recording or two from the other night at the UCF House.

The concert went well, except for the fact that my guitar crapped out in the second song and I had the play the rest of the set on the piano. That's fine with because I really like the piano better anyway, but I'd just never played some of the songs on the piano before, so it was pretty interesting. Ellen was there supporting, as well as my parents, some people from work, and several great friends. Thanks to everybody who came! I really appreciate it. Here are some pictures (thanks, Claire!) from the night.

3 New Things

1) Job. So right before Matt and I left for New York, I got a new job!  I am the new girl intern for MBCC's youth group.  It is so bizarre being the intern since interns in the past have had a pretty huge impact on me.  Because I knew how much difference an intern can make in the youth's lives I was pretty overwhelmed, intimidated, and nervous about starting.  I really was putting a lot of pressure on myself before hearing Tim's sermon on Sunday morning.  Through his words I realized that as long as I am speaking truth and investing in them with love I am doing the right thing regardless of the "results" I see in their lives.  Planting seeds is pretty excited. I can't wait to see what the Lord does.

2) Season.  Fall is here!  It has been so fun decorating the house with Matt.  We had the rockin-est little pumpkin and autumnal wreath for the front door but I failed to take a picture.  I know you're crushed.  Just wait for Christmas though.  Ooooh I am excited.

3) #1 Football Team. Go bama!  AND we just found out Matt's dad got us tickets to the SEC championship.  Florida is going to be tough.