The Holy War

Utah Fans: This is the image I want you to burn into your brains for the next 52 weeks.

I must confess, I became disillusioned yesterday somewhere during the second or third quarter. Strangely, none of the television stations in Memphis, Tennessee carry BYU games so I was left with a Utah-slanted play-by-play through the 2007 Mercury Milan's optional Sirius Satellite radio. They obviously picked up a feed from Utah's sports radio. Trying to listen to the game on the radio and watching BYU's eight-game winning streak get soggy, I eventually turned the radio off and decided to hear about it in the morning. I am my father's son.

Well, morning could not wait. When I got home my computer was open to the scoreboard where I had left it hours before and there it was in big sans serif letters:

Brigham Young - 33
University of Utah - 31

More importantly, I was quick to notice the small "F" next to the score indicating it was final. I spent the next hour scouring the multiple college football games that ARE broadcast east of the Mississippi hoping for a highlight reel.

What a play John Beck.

So to all you Utah fans out there, know this: winning is hard, losing is even harder.

There is always next year.

Cayden: Week 6

Where is the off button? Last week Suz, Cayden and I went for a family tour of Arlington at 3:30 am. It worked. Cayden went to sleep. It just worked about four hours later than we would have preferred.

This week we tried something new. We put him in his car seat and stuck him on top of the dryer while it was running.

Who knew? Literally after one minute of the tumble cycle Cayden's eyes were drooping and blinks became longer and longer. It worked and burned less gas than a midnight tour of Arlington. We've used it twice already. But, like a narcotic, it is addicting and we don't want little Cayden to feel like he needs to be strapped to a huge machine to fall asleep.

We'll keep you posted...

New Car: 2007 Mercury Milan

The Eddie Bauer Explorer was a nice car. It had all the goodies -- suede leather seats, DVD navigation, room for seven. It was also fun to drive, but after Cayden pee'd on the dashboard, the Explorer lost its luster. Done. Gone. On to the next one.

Enter the 2007 Mercury Milan. Aside from all the goodies I have unfortunately come to take for granted, this sucker will scream on the highway and off.

Here are the stats:

• 3.0L V6 good for 221 hp
• All-wheel-drive (a segment exclusive)
• Satellite Radio
• DVD Navigation
• mp3 Input Jack for iPod
• Two-tone leather seats

All in all, it has plenty of gusto and holds the road like a fat man holds a greasy fork.

Cayden: 1 Month Old

Believe it or not, little Cayden Blair is now one month old and 31 days closer to getting his driver's license.

The parents have long since returned home to Utah, leaving Suzanne and I at the controls (that should read "leaving Suzanne at the controls.")

We are proud to announce that he officially has a belly button now. No more unsightly dead, dry flesh plugs. Just a pink little button on the center of a melon-shaped belly.

He manages to sleep on and off during the day and night. Somehow he manages to stay awake between 10:00 pm and 1:00 am most nights. It is hard to stay mad at him though.