2. umm… awkward.

3. this is pretty awesome.

4. my current feelings about sports. ready? go > i hope the Hawks do good. they killed Miami in game 1 but then almost couldn’t find their way to the court in game 2. i want to see them do well. they’ve sucked for the longest time and it’s good for them to play to sell-out crowds. the Braves need to pick it up. they started the season off great but have slacked off since the Marlins came to town. i mean, seriously? you beat the Nationals 1-0 off a bases loaded walk in the 9th? step it up. and do it now. the NFL Draft is this weekend and it was good to see that the Falcons picked up Tony Gonzalez yesterday. now, we won’t have to draft a tight end. i hope they make smart decisions this weekend. it looks like Matthew Stafford may be the first pick in the draft. i’m not sure that the Detroit Lions (who got new unis and a new logo this week) are making a smart decision. it makes sense to take the best player in the draft if you’ve got the first pick, but if you can’t protect a quarterback and don’t have a running back or receivers (with the exception of Calvin Johnson) that he can get the ball to, why would you take a quarterback? (not even to mention, a quarterback who declared early – bad move on Stafford’s part) however, it is good to see a UGA player (and possibly two) go extremely early in the draft – even though it appears that Miami’s streak of having a player taken in the first round will come to an end this year. heck, you may not even see a Miami player taken until day 2 of the draft. cornerback Bruce Johnson is Miami’s one and only hope of having a player selected on the first day. and, chances are, he won’t probably be selected within the first two rounds. 

i can’t wait for College Football season.

2. softball season starts back this upcoming Tuesday night and i’m pretty jacked up about it. we had “practice” last night which reall just constitutes all of us taking turns hitting while everyone else fields. i have a bruise on my hand this morning from catching a ball at first last night. i don’t know who threw it but i didn’t catch it in the pocket like you’re supposed to (obviously). first game is Tuesday night at 8:30.

3. heading out of town tomorrow for a quick day trip. i can’t say anything else about the trip because  you never know who reads your blog. so i’m not going to say any more about my quick one-day trip out of town. check out my twitter tomorrow for updates.

4. FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! this Sunday at Freedom we’re continuing our “Let’s Get it On” series and we’re talking about dealing with conflict in marriage. it should be a great day – especially coming off of the Sex Challenge this week. i expect to see many happy, smiling couples on Sunday morning.

i’ll try to make up for it here.

this one caught me off guard. Upset over fee, man wields bat to get back cat

i thought the dude had a live bat – like the flying ones – and was going to release it inside the animal shelter to get his cat back. ha! i was WAY off! i like my story better. mine is much funnier.

now for Thursday’s post.

my awesome fiancé bought us tickets to the Miami/Georgia Tech game tonight!! i can’t wait until 7:30! we’ll be there along with a few other friends from Freedom – but we won’t be together. we’ll all be in the stadium, just not with each other.

i’m so freakin pumped! this is a HUGE game for the ‘Canes and they are riding a 5 game win streak and are 2-0 in conference games on the road this season. not to mention, they pushed their Thursday night game record to 13-1 over Virginia Tech last week in their final home game this season. Georgia Tech is coming off a bye week after a loss to UNC in which their coach, Paul Johnson, said his team played the worst they had played all season.

i’m not going to give a pick, but i know that this game will be good and that i will be in the stadium wearing my orange and green and cheering on the ‘Canes!

if Miami wins, they need UNC to lose this weekend OR need to beat NC State next Saturday to earn a trip to Tampa for the ACC Championship. if Tech wins, they make their chances of slipping into that ACC Championship game a little favorable. not to mention Miami is on top of the division right now with Georgia Tech sitting pretty at #2.

we’ll see how it all plays out tonight at 7:30pm on ESPN for all of you who won’t be at the game.

2. Miami plays FSU tomorrow at 3:30pm. this game used to be big until just a couple of years ago. now, it’s been relegated to ESPN2. both teams are in a “rebuilding” phase (whatever that means) and are not as strong as they were in years past. both teams look shaky. Miami is having trouble finishing in the 4th quarter and FSU hasn’t played anybody except Wake Forest (loss for the ‘Noles) who got manhandled by Navy the next week. we’ll see how it all plays out at 3:30…

3. i absolutely LOVE this. i can’t wait to hear more stories!

4. we’re kicking off our “NEXT” series at FreedomChurch with baptism this Sunday! i am super pumped about it. it’s going to be like a party all day long! “NEXT” is going to be the best series we’ve ever had at FreedomChurch, only to be eclipsed by “Debt Free Acworth” next month! you do not want to miss it!

2. Miami plays UNC tomorrow and UGA has Bama coming in between the hedges. should be a good day for football. all that in addition to USC (the California version) losing last night to Oregon State.

3. “The Office” is back! Season 5 premiered last night. finally – something to watch on Thursday nights again.

4. Callie and i are headed to the North Georgia State Fair tonight and from what i’ve heard, it should be pretty interesting. we’re getting in for free thanks to one of my co-workers who is running for probate judge.

*bonus* FreedomChurch is going to be great on Sunday. we’re getting ready for baptisms next week and it will be a party like none-other!

friday night :: kick-off to the weekend. not really anything special planned – just getting pumped up for the next two days.

saturday :: my groomsmen are getting themselves fitted for their tuxes. we had a rousing good time last time we all were fitted for our tuxes for another wedding, so this should be fun.

Miami plays Texas A&M at 3:30. i’ve missed the ‘Canes since they were off last week and i’ve decided, i HATE bye weeks. i know the players love them but for fans, it is quite horrendous to go two weeks without watching your favorite team play.

UGA plays Arizona State at 8:00pm saturday night. after squeaking by South Carolina last week, the Dawgs need to step up their game as they travel west for the first time since Eisenhower was president. in that game, they played USC in front of only 25,000 fans because one of the first presidential debates on television was in the same time slot. go figure.

sunday morning :: FreedomChurch will continue the 2nd week of our series entitled “Jesus”. some of the attorneys i invited from work told me they were coming so i hope i see them on sunday morning. if they don’t show up, i’ll be sad until…

sunday night :: FREEDOM GENERATION IS HERE! finally, the long-awaited, much-anticipated FreedomChurch student ministry kicks off sunday night! i can’t wait to see all of the students show up on sunday night. we’re giving each of them a chance to win $1,000 or a Nintendo Wii. and if no body wins the Wii, i’ll take it for a wedding present.

2. (yeah, that was all #1) the Daniel fast continues. this morning, i went to open the refrigerator and my dad had cooked t-bone steaks last night. he doesn’t understand what he’s doing to me!

3. Callie and i have been to two pre-marital counseling sessions thus far and it’s going very well. we’re meeting with Pastor Moore from Allen Temple and he’s a great guy. he and his wife have been married 42 years which is quite an achievement.

4. everyone on staff is now twittering except Blake. oh, well maybe one day.

2. Miami is off this week and plays Texas A&M next saturday. UGA faces off against USC (that’s South Carolina – for you non-SEC football people) tomorrow at 3:30pm.

3. Callie and i are headed here tomorrow night for one of her friend’s birthday celebration. i’ve never been there before – never had a reason to go there. should be interesting because…

4. the Daniel Fast begins tomorrow. Callie and i have decided to not do the hardcore D.Fast but instead do a slightly modified version. we’re cutting out meat – completely – and we’re sticking to fruits and vegetables and legumes. however, in the real D.Fast, you’re supposed to watch and make sure there’s no added sugar or preservatives. i’m just gonna go to the store and buy what i think is good to eat on the D.Fast. i’ll get fresh vegetables and stuff but i’m not going to be concerned with if what i’m eating has added sugar or preservatives. i just know i’ll get to consumed with the ingredients of what i’m eating instead of focusing on why i’m fasting. which is, because FreedomChurch begins our best series to date this sunday called “Jesus”. i can’t wait. it’s going to be an awesome next 3 weeks!

saturday
+ Callie and i went to a friend’s house to watch the UGA game.
+ i saw a grown man hurdle another grown man
+ Miami played very well
+ Robert Marve showed some really good potential
+ the U needs some receivers that can actually get open and catch the ball!!
+ SEC officials should not call out of conference games in an SEC stadium

sunday
+ GREAT day at FreedomChurch
+ more people signed up for Groups yesterday!
+ at least 3 people gave their lives to Christ!
+ we wrapped up “No Freakin’ Way” and start “Jesus” next Sunday!
+ baptism is coming up soon which is always a great thing!
+ my naps were good yesterday
+ i can’t wait for next Sunday at Freedom!

2. this is the last week of the “No Freakin’ Way” series at FreedomChurch. next Sunday starts our biggest series to date : “Jesus”. yes, it really is that simple.

3. heading here tonight for date night with my smoking hott fiancé. i’ve never been before but somebody told me i have to try this chocolate thing they have. then we will go home and continue watching season 4 of “the Office” on DVD. i know, you’re jealous.

4. pretty sure this will not be on the menu tonight. i can’t figure out if i want to throw up or try one…

there have been many significant events over the past years. the rivalry began in 1938 and the last game between these two teams was the 2004 Peach Bowl (I was there – my first UM game EVER!) where we spanked the Gators 27-3 and Devin Hester ran a missed field goal all the way back down the field for a touchdown.

1938 :: UM 19, UF 7 > Miami came back with three second-half TD’s to silence the Florida fans in Gainesville.

1959 :: UF 23, UM 14 > both teams arrived at the neutral site in Jacksonville with road white unis. Miami threw 5 interceptions.

1961 :: UM 15, UF 6 > UM QB George Mira switched the ball to his left hand and shot put the ball to Nick Spinelli for a TD as he was getting sacked. this has since become known as the “Mira-cle”.

1966 :: UM 21, UF 16 > Heisman Trophy winner UF QB Steve Spurrier gets beaten a week after winning the most prestigious award in college football. he then proceeds to call the officials “gutless”.

1971 :: UF 45, UM 16 > “The Gator Flop” (picture is a little difficult to see, i know). UF QB John Reaves was 13 yards short of breaking the NCAA passing record after a UM interception. the UF defense laid down on the field to allow Miami to score to give Reaves another chance to break the record. Reaves did so with a 15 yard pass before time expired. UM coach Fran Curci refused to shake UF coach Doug Dickey’s hand after the game. smart man.

1980 :: UM 31, UF 7 > fans in Gainesville pelted Miami fans, coaches and players with frozen oranges, ice and bottles. Miami recovered a fumble with one second left and UM coach Howard Schnellenberger sent Danny Miller to kick a 35-yard field goal. smart man.

2003 :: UM 38, UF 33 Brock Berlin, former UF QB, rallied the Hurricanes from a 23-point deficit including an 89-yard drive finished off by a 12-yard Frank Gore TD run with only 1:37 left.

which brings us to 2008. the trash talking has already begun. you can bet Randy Shannon’s bunch won’t be talking too much until Saturday.

i LOVE college football season!!