Offseason Insurance Policy

I really hate this time of year. Don't care much about baseball and NBA playoffs. NHL playoffs are better, but haven't really spent much time watching.

The Georgia Spring Football game was a bore - giving little to look forward to this fall.

Although we are a good five months away from College Basketball, I am eating, sleeping and breathing Big Blue basketball as the spring signing period winds down next week.

You see, I used to follow the Cats like a DeadHead in the mid-90's. Rick Pitino was a god. He took over for that drunk Eddie Sutton after the whole Emory package scandal and the death penalty. He recruited three in-state boys and a stud from NYC to turn the program around. Now all the Unforgettables jerseys hang from the rafters (Mashburn, Woods, Pelphrey, Farmer and Feldhaus). I can still remember that spring day in 1997 shortly after losing in the title game. I went to Ricky P's book signing at the Ansley Mall Chapter 11 store. I told coach that "no matter what you decide, I appreciate everything you have done to turn around the program." A few weeks later he left for the Celtics. The Celtics had the most ping pong balls in the lottery. They lost out to San Antonio in the Tim Duncan sweepstakes. Pitino would later say that he would have never left UK if he knew he wasn't able to draft Duncan.

What does all this mean? April Fools brought us Coach Cal. He is an absolute rockstar. He has said all the right things. Bring back former players - check, recruit the best players - check plus, plus, plus. Rivals and Scout.com rank the recruiting class number 1 and they are still in the mix for top point guard John Wall. Many believe that this class will supplant the Fab Five from Michigan. Are you friggin' kidding me? I had to be talked off the ledge this spring! For all the things Billy Clyde Gillispie did wrong (sleeping with a player's girlfriend, lack of in-game adjustments and PR skills, etc.) - all is now forgotten.

From N.I.T to the Final Four? It's possible. Maybe even probable. October can't get here fast enough...

Jesus in Prison

Elle has been learning a lot about Easter at Pre-K over the past week. As a Catholic school drop out, I am not the most informed about the story of Easter.

Elle: "Why is Jesus in prison?" Laura: "Elle, do you mean Jesus is Risen?" Elle: "Uh, huh."

Further proof kids say the funniest things!

Pro Choice At Age 5?

Each night when Elle gets in her bed to go to sleep, she will ask Laura and I questions while we lay in our bed. Usually we get things we as parents can handle. Let's just say we weren't ready for what she sprung on us a few nights ago! For whatever reason, Elle obsesses about not wanting to have a baby. Question: " What do you do if there is a baby in your tummy and you don't want it in there anymore?" Me to Laura (slightly shocked and laughing): "Oh shit, what are we going to tell her?!" Jason to Elle: "Elle you don't need to worry about those types of things." Laura to Elle: "If you don't want it, it doesn't have to happen." Elle(whining): "But, I really don't want one in there."

I have a feeling this discussion is far from over...

Why Winning Isn't Everything

I changed things up a bit this year. I joined three fantasy football leagues. In addition to Greater Atlanta Fantasy Football League (GAFFL), I jumped at the chance to compete against some guys my buddy Michael used to work with in Claims and another league with a bunch of guys I used to work with in Underwriting. I got smoked in the non-money league of Underwriters. I think I finished 3-11.

Different story in GAFFL and Claims league. I rode the arms of Kurt Warner and Jay Cutler, the legs of Marion Barber, Frank Gore, Clinton Portis, Steve Slaton and Marshawn Lynch, and the hands of Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Steve Smith.

I had never before competed in the championship game. This year two championship games. Two championships!

The excitement was short-lived, however. I remember what happened when I got paid for making the playoffs last year. No one likes to pay up. They figure "I am going to get my monies worth"! This year was no different. Can't wait to see the teller's face. See for yourself.

White Castle

I have been eating White Castle hamburgers for as long as I remember. Yes, they are different than Krystal's! It is all about the steamed buns, grilled onions and Dusseldorf mustard! I refuse to eat the frozen sliders from the grocery. They aren't near as good. My Uncle Doug came down last weekend for Elle's Bday and for the UK/UGA game. I begged him for weeks to "pick up a crave case, stuff them in an insulated bag and drive them down from Lexington, KY. Not only did he come through, he even brought 97 packets of Dusseldorf mustard! We have joked for years about breaking the Billips family record of 12 in one sitting set by my Uncle Charlie years ago. Last Thanksgiving I ate, gulp, 11 and decided not to push it. I had high hopes of breaking the record by eating half of the Crave Case. I didn't come close. I ate 2 luke warm ones before we left for Elle's party and 7 afterwards. Next time!

Just a few of the packets of mustard
Crave Case!

Creeker Holiday Hoedown

Special thanks to Spence and Barb for hosting the Creeker Holiday Hoedown on January 3rd. It was great to act like I was 16 again. Everything remains the same at Spence and Barb's house. That's what makes it so special. There it all was...pool, beer pong, junipers, orange couch, recliner with hidden nickel in it! I kind of regret bringing Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit with me. It prevented us from catching up on all the old stories. That is not to say that we didn't have fun rockin' out the show. There is video floating around of Anne singing "Like a Virgin" and Evan singing "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me." Both had amazing stage presence! Todd did great with "Band On The Run." Kim was quite a performer and really showed her vocal prowess when we broke out American Idol. I think I did okay with Nirvana and Oasis. Unfortunately, Evan did not provide an "encore" for everyone to end the night!

"Some Might Say..."

Kim and Laura

Todd Johnson And Wings

"I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back!"
Rebekah and Wendy
Ev gets his beer pong on.

Owen, Evan & Todd measure up the pool table.

Christmas 2008

It was a busy December. Elle couldn't wait for the Big Man to come to our house. There were many warnings of the naughty list and even a call or two by Santa and Mrs. Claus. December started with the State Farm Children's Christmas Party. This was Elle's chance to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. Perhaps she should have suggested a smoking cessation program and Crest White Strips for him!



Elle's Christmas program at MCA Pre-K featured her and her classmates in the Nativity. Elle was one of the horses. Not sure if the horses brought the frankincense or myrrh. After assembling on the alter, Elle and the rest of the Shining Stars class sang a variety of Christmas tunes.

Dad's Barbershop Chorus, Atlanta Vocal Project performed their Christmas show at Sandy Springs UMC. Jeff and Paul were able to make it up for the performance. This is one of my favorite pictures. Elle mimicking Granpa's singing face!

Elle and Paul horsed around during the intermission. They were singing that "move it, move it" song and doing their best to knock over the Christmas tree.

Elle and her prized possession - The Disney Monorail play set! If only Santa would have let us know that the track takes up half of the room!

Christmas contentment!