Thanksgiving Memories

Random memories from favorite (or most memorable) Thanksgivings past:

• Sophomore year of high school. Grandma was home from the hospital just in time for Thanksgiving. First experience with pre-prepared dinner from Bob & Carls...yummy. Also remember picking up biscuits with my mom from KFC (when it was still Kentucky Fried Chicken:)
• Early Thanksgivings at Granny's. Hanging out in Granny's kitchen. Grandpa saying grace before we ate.
• Our first Thanksgiving in TN in our own home. Realizing how easy it was to fix a turkey. Using our new dining room furniture for the huge spread of food. Isabelle wandering through the house meowing at the smell of turkey cooking in the oven!

What I'm thankful for this year (top 5):

• Healthy, fantastic and active JAKE!
• Mom's health!!!
• Spending Thanksgiving in Ohio (which means no cooking:)...and seeing family
• Andy, Andy, Andy
• Spending Friday with Mikah

Glendale Here We Come!

Well, I guess I'm not technically headed to Glendale. We opted to buy the new flat panel HDTV instead. I also just realized that I have a jury trial that begins the morning after the National Championship game. So, as thrilled as I am that OSU is making it's second appearance in 5 years, it looks as though I'll be watching the game later in the week:(

The Rice household is obviously beaming over Saturday night's victory over MI. Based on the polls out today, I think that nearly the entire nation is in agreement: MI remains the #2 team in the Nation. Accordingly, I think it only makes sense that MI face OSU in the National Championship, right? What a surprise, an SEC coach doesn't agree:

Florida coach Urban Meyer said Sunday a rematch between Michigan and Ohio State would be cause for immediate change to the BCS.
"If that does happen, all the (university) presidents need to get together immediately and put together a playoff system," he said. "I mean like now, January or whenever to get that done."

Is he serious? FL struggled against Vandy and GA and barely won against SC and TN. Yet Meyers thinks the BCS is flawed if MI and OSU meet again? Is he kidding? Is he disputing that MI is the #2 team in the nation. Please keep in mind that 1. As an Ohio native, the Wolverines are my sworn enemy and 2. As much as they deserve to be in Glendale, I'd be perfectly happy if OSU were to meet another team (not anxious to go through the anxiety of last weekend again). But, fair is fair...and right now, fair is to have a rematch in my opinion. Because of strength of schedule, if USC wins out, I do understand how they could jump into the #2 position....but they lost to unranked Oregon State! MI lost only to the #1 team in the nation...by only a field goal.

To sum it up, Urban Meyer just won himself a position up there with Tuberville as a snot-nosed whiner!!!

In truth, I would love nothing better than for FL to get the bid to the National Championship game. The only thing sweeter than a Tennessee victory over the Gators would have to be the Buckeyes kicking the crap out of them!!!

The Time Has Come...Almost

1 Day, 2 Hours, 35 Minutes . . .
Click here for official countdown on espn.com.

I'd love to talk about my Buckeyes and my anticipation of the big game, but a more important story just came across the wires.

Rest in Peace, Bo. I was just reviewing the obituaries in my hometown newspaper and thinking how terrible it would be to pass away just before this game. Okay, so I admit that I'm a freak:) I'm sure Woody will look forward to seeing the game tomorrow with his old friend.

So Close!

1 Day, 21 Hours, 45 Minutes . . .
I know that I promised to find something interesting to blog about today. I'm sorry, I've failed. I, however, did come across a great website today. Check out Songs of The Ohio State University. It not only has lyrics to all relevant OSU songs, but also offers a history of the song and audio. Reviewing these songs also has me in the mood to relearn the alma maters for Denison and UT (which I usually remember this time of year just from attending the games...I miss my Vols this year).

Another Day Down

2 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes . . .

With all the anticipation for Saturday, it's difficult to focus on any other topic for discussion. I'll work on something interesting for tomorrow.

The Countdown Continues

3 days, 23 hours . . .
And my heart continues to race with the anticipation.

The Countdown . . .

5 days, 2 hours, 5 minutes . . .

If you have no idea what I'm counting down, check out any Sports website (espn.com, si.com, etc.) and you'll find it as the top story. Read a few while you're there. I did today and had goosebumps the whole time! I'm even more excited now that the Rice household has joined the ranks of HDTV watchers. The scarlet and gray never looked so sweet!

Playing Catch Up

Okay, so I’ve been MIA for a long time. Well, now I have a lot to catch up on.
1. We’re having a BOY!!!
2. OSU v. Michigan in 9 days . . .
3. The Democrats took both houses of Congress….and Rumsfeld is out!!!
4. Just got back from a fantastic trip to NYC with 6 of my girlfriends.
5. Did I mention we're having a boy?! I think that will have to be the focus of this post. So, this first ultrasound picture proves it. If you can't tell, the arrow is pointing at the penis. How funny is it that I have a penis growing inside of me? :) Anyway, this shows his little bottom and his legs. The next picture is my very favorite . . . This one shows his perfect little face with his hands up just in front of his chin. It was truly amazing how much he's grown!

I'm also feeling him move regularly now...and I love that only I can feel him right now.

So, world, meet my son...Jacob (Jake). Formally to be either Andrew Jacob or Jacob Andrew. Isn't he gorgeous?! :)