Just Rannin' Around: November 2005

Bowl Game

University of Utah is headed to the Emerald Bowl on December 29^th in San Francisco!!

Go UTES!!!!

Rival Week in College football world turned out beautiful!!

I was a bit taken back when I was informed that the Wall Street Journal ranked the Utah vs. BYU rival #4 in the nation!! It shouldn't have been too much of a shock though since Utah's student section is ranked #5 in the nation for "Best Student Section". Let's just say that this game was not to disappoint, unless of course you happen to be a BYU fan.

The Utes came out strong and with all their guns blazing. Our backup quarterback was truly inspiring and from the performance rendered may have won himself the starting position next year. They had me a little nervous and a lot frustrated during the second half of the game as their lead slowly ended in a tied game at the end of the fourth quarter. Utah had the ball first and expertly put the ball into the end zone with very little effort. Being 7 points up, it was the Y's turn to see what they could do. The defensive stepped up and denied any opportunity for them to match the touchdown.

For those that were unable to watch this game, all I can say is I'm so sorry baby!! My neighborhood probably wants to ban me from ever watching again since I was screaming loud enough to keep them all updated on what was happening in the game. It was spectacular!! Probably the best part is that my dad had called me at 8:00 in the morning to remind me that BYU was going to kick Utah 's butt and was I prepared to cry. The phone calls during and especially after the game were extremely satisfying. We were both laughing and I could hear my older sister in the background giving him as much crap about the game as I was. Poor dad!! Of course he did egg it on to begin.

Um by the way that makes four years in a row for wins for Utah over BYU…..just sayin'!!

So pretty!

Ever feel like you live in your own personal snow globe? Everything is so pristine and in place until someone walks by, picks up your world and shakes the heck out of it.

On a scale of 1 to 10

I am an avid football fan. I love football. During football season, my television is always turned onto one game or another. When watching by myself, I will admit that I will scream at the screen like it is going to make a difference in what the teams choose to do. However I only watch college ball. About three years ago I decided that it was time to turn the television off on Sundays since I had responsibilities that took me away from the house most of the day anyhow. So I can't say that I am caught up on what is happening in the NFL these days.

My team is of course my alma mater…..the University of Utah. Saturday they had a bad night. I don't even think that it is fair to say that the Lobos won. No the U lost. The line wasn't holding for Johnson and so he ended up on his rear end more than on his feet. He finally ended up going out on crutches at the end of the fourth quarter. Not that he was having a good game. Let's see I do believe that he fumbled the ball twice and threw a few interceptions. The last interception of the game that sealed their fate however was thrown by the backup quarterback. I am still scratching my head over that one. It was 2^nd down and 5 yards to go. Why didn't they hand the ball to the running back and let him get those 5 yards. The clock would have been stopped because it would have created a first down and if they didn't make it they still had a time out that they could have used. Oh the frustration!!

Well just to let all know out there….I am not a fair weather fan. I have seen this team through a lot of years of tough seasons. I will be on my feet cheering and screaming next Saturday as Rival Week hits the air waves.

“’What good are thorns?’ ‘Thorns are no good for anything – they’re just the flowers’ way of being mean!’ ‘I don’t believe you! Flowers are weak. They’re naïve. They reassure themselves whatever way they can. They believe their thorns make them frightening…’”
-The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Which is the best vantage point? Looking down, looking up, how about forward or backward? What happens when it is so extremely dark that nothing can be seen? Knowing that moving is essential to getting anywhere and yet so uncertain as to the direction. Not knowing if a search party is even en route. Seeing silhouettes, but all that seem to be moving further away. Screaming, yet not being heard.

My world is spinning and my first line of defense is to sharpen my thorns. I stand up and make it seemingly look like I have complete control of the situation and that I have absolutely no feelings. Put me in my business suit, hand me my happy, I can handle anything with a smile face and I am ready to go. Then I wonder why people never feel extremely close to or understand me. I guess it might be entertaining for most to find out that I am a sensitive mass of mush.

Decisions are hanging everywhere that I have to make. Moments in life that I would prefer not to come are gathering speed and sprinting toward me. Recent changes are still needing bandages and old times are desperately missed. Trust issues have crawled into spaces that I didn’t even know existed. I feel like the floor is missing from underneath my feet. Everything that has been my comfort and support seems to be far, far away in another world. Doubting that it was ever really there anyway and thinking that it was just my overactive imagination making me feel better.

The devil is working overtime in my life. I can feel it. It is so real. Now the biggest decision is who wins? It is an answer that I know. Heavenly Father wins! I stand on His side and I hold on tight to the knowledge and testimony that I have been gaining my entire life through moments such as this. Satan wins a battle every now and then with my self esteem or thought process, but in no way does he win the war. I don’t feel like I have any strength left to fight any more. How blessed I am that I know that there is a whole host of heaven that is surrounding and fighting for me right now!

I can’t see what is in front of me. However, I was reassured today that every time I have been through such moments in life, there are unimaginable blessing awaiting my arrival. Learning is a process which I enjoy. I guess that I am being taught that the thorns are not needed. I am being protected by the glass case being placed over me after I have been watered by the loving Care taker.

“Here is my secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”
- The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery