Mighty Oregon

Hey, look what I just learned how to do!

Preparing for the annual All Saints Day festivities.

You think Halloween is a big deal? Pshaw! You try celebrating All Saints Day in this household.

First, it was decided that we needed to come up with a theme for the celebration. After all, all great parties have a premise, something all the guests can wrap their minds around and make an integral part of the carousing.

“All Saints: 24/7: 365: All the time,” was Trixie’s suggestion. While I fully understand that the phrase does aptly convey the reality of the situation, Richard and I were somewhat concerned about codifying the idea into protocol. Sorry Trix, not on our watch.

Spike suggested, “All Saints: Outside: Whatever the Weather: All Day”. While that is a wonderful idea and there are certainly aspects that Richard and I supported with all our hearts, the reality is not as promising. While Ralph and Trixie do lack opposable thumbs, the do have bodies built something like battering rams. We don’t want part of the post-party clean up to include replacing the back door. Damn, we like it, but it’s not workable. Thanks for the suggestion.

“All Saints: Quiet: Serene: All the Waking and Sleeping Hours”, was Richard’s suggestion. You should have seen Ralph eyes turn mean. If looks could have killed; well, let’s not go there. Dead in the water.

The Max started, “All Saints: Why the Hell Would We Spend a Full Day Celebrating Those Mangy, Flea-Infested Representatives of the Underworld? Why Would We Give Them a Day of Honor? Isn’t it bad Enough That We Have to Live Everyday in Close Quarters with These Odiferous, Foul-Smelling and Ill-Mannered Beasts? You Want Me to Join In a Fête For These Animals? Move On to the Next Contestant: Oh, and If I Hear That Goddamn Duck Call One Time Tomorrow, So Help Me, I Will Rip the Larynx Out of the Bastard Who Is Blowing into It. And If Anyone Picks Me Up and Dances Around the Room with Me While He Desperately Tries to Sing “Mighty Oregon”, So Help Me There Will Be Hell to Pay: All Saints Day, My [Expletive Deleted] [Expletive Deleted]. If Those [Expletive Deleted] Animals Did Anything Around the House Besides Shed Their [Expletive Deleted] Fur, I Might Be Impressed…” Max is still finishing his theme. It isn’t going to pass the muster, I’m sure. But it is possible that the Duck Call segment may pass Five to One if voted on separately.

I think you can begin to see the troubles we were having; little unity, many opposing ideologies.

I suggested something warm and fuzzy like, “All Saints: Peace on Earth: No More War: All Is Calm.” Everyone looked at me like I was a crack pot. Damn, this is a hard audience.

Finally Ralph spoke, “All Saints: Gluttony: Excess: All a Big, Bad Dog Wants.” The choice was unanimous. (I have a big, bad dog costume, don’t worry!)

Guess who is 124 years old today!

Happy Birthday

Update on the roses.

Just wanted to let you all know that we gave Richard’s little rosebush to Mrs. Murphy. I think she was pleased.

Quit your gnashing. This has nothing to do with my love of the Oregon Ducks. Anything Mrs. Murphy might have said or done was of her own free will. I can’t help it if she chants the glory of Oregon.

I smell roses.

I hear your snide comments.

“Oh my god, here comes another rambling commentary about the Ducks.”

“I hope the football season doesn’t last much longer. I’m not sure how much more of this banal drivel I can take.”

And you, second row, third from the left; I heard your rude comment about how you would rather have a root canal than have to listen to me screech my way through ‘Mighty Oregon’ one more time. I’ll remember that one when I’m selecting your holiday present.

Get a grip folks: this has nothing to do with the University of Oregon’s football team. No, this is simply a plant that Richard received after doing a narration at the Columbia Gorge Sinfonietta’s performance this afternoon.

Do you all think I am really that one dimensional?

Calculate This, BCS

Oregon 60, UCLA 13

Yes, I stole that headline from the Oregonian. I’m not even sure I got it exactly as printed. So, I admit to possibly plagiarizing a story from Portland’s daily newspaper.

Now before you all cry about ‘running up the score’, how many of you remember November 8, 1975, when UCLA beat the beloved Ducks 50-17. I do. And yes, that game was in Eugene. Or November 6, 1976 in Los Angeles, when the Bruins beat Oregon 46-0. Shed no tears for the Uclans. The power has shifted north.

And yes, I am basking in the glory of the Ducks winning their first game as the #1 ranked team in the nation. (Ranked #1 by everyone, except the BCS, which can go to hell for all I care! Remind me to rail on mercilessly about the stupidity of the whole BCS crap some day.) Anyhow, I am pretty sure I will spend another week bloated by the top ranking for my heroic Ducks!

And today is the 16th anniversary of ‘The Pick’, the play that changed Oregon football forever. Go Kenny!!!

Yes, I am content.

Just a quote.

Health food may be good for the conscience, but Oreos taste a hell of a lot better.

-- Robert Redford

I couldn't agree more.

Adieu, June

Mayfield won't be the same without you!

Pictures from Weddingpalooza

Okay, I admit that I am not a gifted photographer. Unfortunately, Shannon and John's wedding was sub-par, even for me.

A great picture of something.

I love the composition of this picture. Not one face to be seen.

At least one picture turned out of the bride and groom!

QUACK!!! QUACK!!! QUACK!!!

Research all the arcane and obsolete history books you want; study the Paleolithic Age, the Bronze Age, the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution and even the 1950’s and I promise you will never find the phrases “Oregon Ducks’ football team” and “ranked #1 in the nation” used in the same sentence. Seldom will you even find them in the same paragraph.

But today there is dancing in the streets! According to all the polls:

UO is #1!

Counting the family

Jane's got "1" down pat, and I'm sure Puds is going to make it all the way to "4".

Off to Utah

And Weddingpalooza

It warms my heart.

The Rutgers University football team plans a minute of silence in their game tomorrow against Tulane, in honor of Tyler Clementi.



You go, Rutgers!