Day Trip

Well, I am back at work for today and then I am out again on a mini-vacation till next week. My mid-section still feels like I maxed out the sit-up section of the APFT for a 22 year old male. I finally have my hydration levels back to where I do not have a consistant headache, and I am enjoying soup once more. If I did not think that it was all just food in the digestive tract I'd be more happy about the 7 pounds I've lost in two days. But on the good side I was only off my feet a day and a half, and my beloved took very good care of me. :) I was going to post on Monday about my favorite American Football team - the Carolina Panthers. A lot of the 'trade' magazines have picked them as Super Bowl favorites which is disapointing to me. Not that I don't want them to go, but when every one expects them to go and they fall short it is disapointing. I just want to avoid the hype and enjoy football season again - which for me starts on 12-August when the Panthers open up the pre-season against the Buffalo Bills. Now, everyone knows that, the preseason does not mean anything towards anything other than player evaluation and the chance to practice game speed against unfamiliar players. But it does mean that I will be able to see some of the Panthers on the field for whatever reason. It's say an appetizer to get me to the main course - the regular season which begins (for me) 10-September when the Atlanta Falcons come to visit the Panthers in Charlotte. But I am most looking forward to the following games: 15-October @ Baltimore Ravens - why? Because most of the guys in my National Guard unit are Ravens fans. :) 26-November @ Washington Redskins - why? Because the Redskins used to be my favorite team until what they did to Art Monk. And the post Joe Gibbs era. But they faded from my fancy when I realized that the only reason I liked them was because my parents liked them. So I rebelled and struck out on my own when the NFL announced their expansion teams in Charlotte and Jacksonville. 17-December vs. Pittsburg Steelers - why? Because a very good friend of mine is a Steelers fan, and it has been many a year since these two teams have played against each other. The last time coming (if memory serves - which is touch and go ;-) ) when the Panthers beat the Steelers in Charlotte. Oh, and since the Steelers are the current Super Bowl chapions - it jsut makes it more fun. I also enjoy all of the divisional games. Atlanta just seemed to own the Panthers for the longest time. Even before the Panthers I was anti-Atlanta most due to Deon Sanders. his arrogance just seemed to annoy me to no end. But now with Micheal Vick this, and Michael Vick that - blech. The Saints have never been a consistant contender, but they always seem to play the Panthers hard, and many memorable games (for me) have come from this divisional rivalry. And for some reason I look forward to the Bucanneers games the most. I think this comes from when they were SB champs and Warren Sapp talking all that 'smack' and then getting their tails handed to them like 3 out of 4 games after their Super Bowl win. But one thing I love is the Bucanneer flash video's that they create for their website. They are fun to watch, and tastefully done. Well, I have rambled on long enough. And I could probably go on for a lot longer. But I really need to get back to work. See you all next week... and thank you again for your prayers. I will try and catch up on all the blogs I visit frequently - but I am not hopeful. please know that you guys are in my prayers as the Lord brings you to my mind. :) Verse for today: Psalm 8, esv O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [2] and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!