14 and Counting

I know this a few days late, but I just now got around to writing this. The Atlanta Braves kept their unbelievable streak alive this year. They have won 14 consecutive Division Titles. That is crazy in this day and age. The powerhouse New York Yankees couldn't even come close to this streak.

Atlanta, with a record of 90-69 is going to the playoffs again. Hopefully we can win a World Series this year, but it will be tough. They are playing well with their young team. Jeff Francour is playing very well for his rookie campaign. Francour, if you don't know, was called up in the middle of the year from our Mississippi Braves. He has contributed oh so much. He came out of the gates roaring. He has also added a little pop to the line-up along with Andruw Jones.

In closing, I would like to say GO BRAVOS. Bring one home this year. Everyone knows you are America's Team.

Closer than it seemed

The night started out great. Norwood ran hard and hit all the holes. State jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the first drive of the game. After that, we couldn't move the ball at all. All we needed was 1 or 2 turnovers to go our way and it would of been a different game.

State contained Shockley as well as any team this year. They made him beat us with his arm instead of his legs. He did beat us with his arm. It was a heck of a game though. I was very proud of our defense. They played extremely hard all game long. We came so close to making a few picks that would of drastically changed the outcome of the game. The game ended up 23-10 Georgia.

I am proud to be a Bulldog. We will be back in the bowl games before to long. Croom is doing a wonderful job as head coach.

MSU vs. UGA

Mississippi State University VS University of Georgia

That's right. It is that time again. Time for MSU to come out and play. The game that was originally scheduled for 8:00 p.m. for ESPN 2 has been changed to the prime time game of the night. The game has taken the place of Florida vs LSU. That game has been moved to Monday night. The State vs Georgia game will now be played on ESPN at 6:45 p.m.

The matchup looks tough. The 3-0 Dawgs from Athens, Georgia who are now #7 in Polls will face The 2-1 Bulldogs from Starkville, MS. The Dawgs are leaving their home field for the first time this year. Hopefully that will help our MSU Bulldogs.

Team Goals

MSU- Defensively Stop the over Powering Offense

Offensively Get off to a quick start and run, run, run the ball

Georgia- Defensively Stop the running of Norwood

Offensively Exploit the Defensive Backs

I am going to be realistic. The MSU Dogs don't have a chance, but deep down I feel like we are going to do some damage. Maybe not win the game, but give Georgia fits all night. I will be drinking heavily and probably screaming at the TV all night. Everyone enjoy. I hope I will be able to.

GO STATE, GO STATE......

Mississippi State Hangs On

State vs. Tulane. I expected State to blow them out. What I didn't realize was that Tulane had a lot going for them. They had the crowd, the media, everyone in America rooting for them. State was not to be denied the victory though. With the running and catching of touchdowns by Jerious Norwood, State held on for a 21-14 victory. I would like to give some credit to Tulane. They could of packed it up and gone home after State got up 14-0, but they didn't. They held on and kept fighting till the end and made it a lot closer than it should of been.

I am proud for the Bulldogs who in years past might of given up and lost the game. Coach Croom did a good job of keeping his team together and pulling out a victory. State is now 2-1 and off to their best start in over 5 years. I hope our luck doesn't run out in this three week stretch where we are going to face three teams that are nationally ranked in the top ten, Georgia, LSU, and Florida. I will keep you updated on the teams success. I'm Out.

Heads up vs Windham and Lacy

The game is softball. The place is Shiloh Park in Brandon, MS. There will be a match up of two teams, Heads Up and Windham and Lacy. Heads Up has the talent and the know how, but Windham and Lacy has the experience. It was heard that Windham and Lacy might be the team to beat this year in the first coaches meeting of the year. I have my doubts though. I know one player, Mr. Drew Hollis, and kind of know another player through work. They don't seem to be the most athletic team, but it is softball. You don't have to be athletic to be good.

Heads Up is coming off a stellar game vs. 9/11. They won decisively on the unbelievable pitching from Jeff McNeece. After giving up a 1st inning Home Run, he bounced back by only giving up another 2 hits in the game. There was also another player that became one of the teams best outfielders. That man is Will Crisler. He was filling in for Ben McDonald, who couldn't make it to the game due to a Nascar race in Tennessee. Will was named Defensive player of the game. He made catch after catch in his debut.

Heads Up looks like the team to beat. If they can continue to show up game after game, they should finish high in the standings. These next two weeks will be very decisive in the way this team will place. You see, they are on a stretch of 4 games in two weeks. That is almost unheard of in softball. This team must come through this week unscathed if they want to win the title. Aaron Dees found out what will happen if you try to hard in practice. He has a pulled calf muscle. He needs to watch himself or he could find himself on the DL during this long stretch of games. Another strong player is Will Purnell. He is on the Dl already due to a Viral Infection. His play in the outfield will be missed. Will Crisler will be filling in for Purnell this game. Ben McDonald will be back for the Nascar race, so the outfield should be okay.

The line-up for tonight game will be:
1. Ben LF
2. Matt SS
3. Jeff P
4. Brad 1B
5. Aaron RCF
6. Will C. LCF
7. Brian 3B
8. Dave 2B
9. Todd RF
10. John C

This should be more than enough talent to get them through tonight's game.

Predicted score HEADS UP 12 WINDHAM AND LACY 6

My Angel

The angel in my eyes. The star that always flies. Aubrey is above everything in my life, along with my wife. She can make me smile. She can make me laugh. She can make me feel like I am the only one on earth. She likes to giggle. She likes to talk. She likes to laugh when her mommy talks. I am amazed at how things have turned out and how easy fatherhood has been. Because, when you have the perfect daughter, there is no doubt. I love you so, I love you so. I just can't say that statement more than enough times.

You are the jewel in my eyes. You are the diamond in the rough. Us together, nothing will be tough to accomplish. Your sweetness will always shine through. Even if you are feeling blue. Wipe the tears from you eyes, daddy is here to listen to your cries. I will always have a shoulder to cry on as long as I can breathe. I will love you forever. This I can promise. You are my Pumpkin, you are my Pooh, you are my Punk, only me and Mommy know the truth.

Dooms Day

That is about all I can say. State came out flat in the first half. Auburn played a lot better than last week, and we just couldn't get the offense going. The running game was shut down and we couldn't connect on important downs. Auburn played well, and State didn't start until the second half.

I am glad to see the the Bulldogs didn't give up like they usually would in blow out games like this one.

The one stat that stood out was the turnover ratio. State killed themselves all day long with the penalties. It seemed like every offensive possession started with 1st and 15 or 1st and 20, all because of the stupid penalties.

I will end with this. I haven't thrown the season away like I would of in the last three previous seasons, but I will need to see some scoring in the next game, or I won't be a happy camper. Next up for the Bulldogs is Tulane in Shreveport, LA. I think we can bounce back next week with a win, but we will have to see.

MISSISSIPPI STATE vs AUBURN

This is a matchup that in most peoples eyes should be a blowout. MSU coming off a romping of Murray State 38-6, started slow, but got it going in the second half to finish off the Racers for good.

My boy Jerious Norwood, rushed for 123 yards on just 16 carries. He is keeping himself in the eyes of the Heisman voters. If he keeps this up, he will definitely be on the top 10 Heisman list.

Omar Conner had a very good game as well. He was 17-24 for 233 yards. The suprising stat is that he only played about half the game. The Bulldogs took a decisive lead in the second half, so Croom decided to take him out so he could rest up for this weeks game.

This week, the Bulldogs will be traveling to the Plaines to take on the Auburn Tigers. The Tigers are coming off an ugly game where they were beaten up by Georgia Tech 23-14. I expect Auburn to rebound this week, but the Bulldogs are hungry. They are hungry for some Tiger meat.

STATE PULLS THE UPSET IN AUBURN, ALABAMA 31-27.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT!!!!!!

Daycare Blitz

It starts every morning when the alarm clock goes off. I try to wake my better half, but fall back asleep instead. I forget to hit the snooze, so I awake late as usual. I turn the light on so the wife will finally awake from her night of many dreams. I go to the kitchen to make the bottles, as Julie hops into the shower. We still have plenty of time to get there on time. As long as we hurry it won't be that bad. Things keep happening to make us more late. There is no hope, we are destined to be late. As I awake little Aubrey, Julie starts to dry her hair, for a woman must take 2 hours to fix her pretty hair. I give Aubrey the bottle so she can be fulfilled. It only takes about 5-10 minutes, but it feels like an eternity. You see I still have to shower and shave. I usually only get to do one, but at least I am clean. We are so lucky that Miss Aubrey is amused by the TV. If it wasn't for that, we would be doomed. I hop from the shower and start to get dressed. I run to the kitchen to fill the daycare bag, and try to find something edible to take for lunch. I start to get anxious because we are almost out the door, but oops there it is, to our dismay, we forgot to change Aubreys diaper, hurray. Julie runs her to the back to make the big change. I start to get angry. Why? I don't know. We shoot to the car to make the 10 minute trip, to Daycare we go lickity split. We arrive in a flash, but the Daycare assistant wants to take her sweet time. All I want to do is give sweet Aubrey one final kiss. I try not to be rude as I am trying to leave the room. Finally, we're back in the car for the traffic filled ride to work, LATE AS USUAL.

Why Us Katrina?

Katrina rips through the MS coast and does more destruction than any other Hurricane EVER.

Katrina, I would just like to know why you effected so many people I know and love. My father-in-law lost his home in Pascagoula due to you and your rath. He is the nicest man I know, and you have to ruin his home. Why?

The Camp in Bay Saint Louis might be destroyed. My wife and I go there to vacation and hang out with our family. I just don't understand how you could make us change our lives so drastically. Why?

The Farm in Hattiesburg (90 miles from the coast) is devastated. This is where my father-in-law went to get away from you, and all you do is tear every tree down and rip the roof from the house. These are some of the nicest and kind people around. You gave them extra work when they should be enjoying their retirement. Why?

My house in Pearl (150 miles from the coast) was spared except for an uprooted tree and some other trees on the fence. I feel lucky, but for what? Your Rath has changed my life as well as my wife's life. She lost all her childhood possessions, her house she grew up in, and all the great memories from her past are distorted due to your wreckage left behind. Why?

We have been worried about family members from Bay Saint Louis, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, as well as Chalmete, Louisiana (Where Poppy Herb's house and son's house was flooded and probably lost).

I can just have a lot of Faith and Hope that everyone will one day rebuild and make the coast a much nicer place to live and visit. Katrina you may have destroyed a lot of peoples lives and may even be remembered longer than any one of my family members, but you will not and did not win. THE COAST WILL BE REBORN.

AUBREY COURTLAND

I remember when these two words were just words. When they had no meaning, only what would be. Now that our girl is finally here, these words have a meaning greater than life. Aubrey, you are the dearest being in Julie and my life. Every day you make us laugh, smile, and enjoy each day more and more. You are our sunshine, especially in this time of distress with the hurricane. You make everyone that sees you smile. You are by far the most precious thing I have ever laid my eyes on.

The day was May 12, 2005 at 12:36 p.m. You had us worried for a second, because the nurses rush in. They looked at us and said lets try a little push to see if you were ready to see the world. You were. It only took Mommy three pushes and there you were. You had a full head of hair. It was incredible. I never in a million years thought that this would be happening to me and that it would be this unbelievable. You were 8 lbs 10 oz and 21 3/4 inches long.

I remember carrying you to show the family in the waiting area. I could barely see. The tears were already coming down my face. I heard the nurse yell "Kalahar Family". All I saw was a stampede of people running to see. Gran, Pop, Maw Maw, Paw Paw, PePa were the first to see how wonderful their granddaughter would be.

In the beginning it was rough. Julie and I had no idea what to do about anything. We just had to learn as you taught us each day. I will admit that you have to be the best baby around, because all you do is smile. Mommy and Daddy are better today for you coming into this crazy world and making life so much better than before.

Today you are almost 4 months old. I can't believe the time has gone by so fast since you were born. You are smiling all the time and even laughing at both Mommy and Daddy. I guess that means you love us as much as we love you. I just want you to know that we will love you always no matter what happens through the years and just remember that you can talk to us about everything. We Love You Aubrey.