I believe we were looking at the top 5 all time TCU games I have attended since the resurgence of the program.
Game 5 was a week ago (which included remembrances of a TCU/ECU game that included David Garrard who then promptly got cut after my post), Game 4 over a decade ago.
The Top 3 are all more recent.
Number 3: November 14, 2009 TCU 55 Utah 28 The Gameday Game
Although I was at a JYF (4th and 5th graders) lock-in the entire night before the day, I was on campus for the entirety of College Gameday and was one of the record breaking crowd at Amon G. Carter that evening.
Number 4 TCU took on Number 14 Utah and flat demolished them.
It wasn't even close.
The feel of that game, the excitement of Gameday on campus, was a game, nay, a College Experience, that I wondered if I would ever feel again, much less equal.
Thankfully the end of that season would answer that question, although with less exciting results on the field.
Number 2: January 4, 2010 TCU 10 Boise St 17 The Fiesta Bowl
Sure, the game didn't end the way we wanted it to, and both our team and fans and Boise's team and fans were disappointed that we didn't get a chance against a so-called BCS power but instead played against our non-AQ cousins, but all that aside, it was a big time bowl and it was an awesome experience.
It was a great game that honestly could have gone either way.
As disappointed as I was at the time, looking back, losing that game might have been the best thing that could have happened for the Frogs.
As I mentioned in the previous post on my thoughts on the recent loss to Baylor, I was reminded of a couple of previous Horned Frog games. One was the ECU game I have already written about.
This is the other game that came to mind.
Losing this game is what powered the TCU run last season that culminated in winning the Rose Bowl.
Sometimes failing is what pushes you to even greater successes. That was certainly the case with the disappointment that followed this Fiesta Bowl loss, and the heart and determination shown in the loss to Baylor coupled with the heartbreaking way that it ended might be what the current young team needed to force them into growing up.
We might look back at the Baylor loss at the end of this season and point to it as the reason for a successful finish to the year.
Is there any doubt what number one will be?
Number 1: January 1st, 2011 TCU 21 Wisconsin 19 The Rose Bowl
I will never forget the moment when Tank Carder knocked down that 2 point conversion pass and the game was sealed.
Tears ran unabashedly down my face.
We deserved a shot at the National Championship, but there was no shame in finishing #2 (behind the under suspicion Auburn Tigers and their probably payed for QB Cam Newton) and winning the Grandaddy of Them All.
By far the most amazing college football experience I have ever had, hearing the Horned Frog fans take over that stadium despite being outnumbered by the Wisconsin fans will stay with me forever.
although the fan split looks a lot closer in the photographs
Whatever ends up happening this year, it is hard to feel bad, because at the (very) beginning of this year, we couldn't have flown any higher.
Friday night, TCU football returned after 144 days without a single game-time snap.
The Rose Bowl still fresh in the minds of all who were there, TCU took a relatively young and inexperienced team (having lost 27 seniors, including a starting QB and most of the starting Offensive and Defensive lines) to a very underrated Baylor team with a Heisman hopeful Robert Griffin III at QB.
While the outcome was disappointing, Baylor ended up winning 50-48, the game was anything but. In fact, despite the loss, it was one of the more exciting games I have been a part of in TCU football history. And I'm not just saying that because I was caught on camera by the ESPN National broadcast.
Me on TV!
In fact, it probably fits itself into one of the top 5 TCU football games that I have actually attended. Here is the list and the reasons why each game is where it is on the list.
Friday night's TCU vs Baylor game would be number 5
Number 5: Sept. 2, 2011 TCU 48 at Baylor 50
Part of the reason that this game is here, is because it is one of those games that a young team has to have, a loss that shapes who the team becomes. The fact that our defense (generally the most dominant aspect of our team) got shellacked is going to provide them with some motivation throughout the rest of this season, and looking closer at the actual events of the game, the apparent demise of the defense is not as obvious as it might have appeared.
Sophmore Jason Verrett (#2) started at corner back, and all 3 of Baylor's first three passing touchdowns showed him way out of position. Late in the second quarter, he was replaced by redshirt freshman Kevin White (#25), and the TCU secondary got markedly better as a result.
After that, Baylor was still able to score a few long touchdowns and complete a few long passes, but on each of those plays, White or McCoy (#7) where in good position but were unable to stop great receptions by Baylor's wideouts on perfect throws from Griffin.
Of all of the quarterbacks remaining on our schedule this season, the only other one coming close to the talent of Griffin is another Heisman candidate, Boise St. senior Kellen Moore.
The defense will not look nearly as bad as they did for much of Friday night again this season.
The offense, with a new offensive line and a first time starter at QB wasn't supposed to turn many heads early in the season. However, they were fantastic.
Sophomore Casey Pachall (who we could have for three full seasons!) showed off his powerful arm and his ability to put the ball in exactly the right place. He did have a propensity for staring down his target and not looking much past his first option, but those are issues that will get fixed with game time experience, and the plusses far outweighed those minor minuses. The kid was recruited (and offered scholarships) by other big time programs, but chose TCU, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's in talk for a Heisman before his career here is over.
The fourth quarter is what really put this game in the top 5. TCU entered the fourth quarter down by 24 points, and many felt that this game was over. TCU didn't feel that way though. They proceeded to score 25 unanswered points and take the lead 48-47 before Baylor was able to just sneak in the game winning field goal with just over a minute left. If there had been even a couple of extra minutes in this game, TCU would have walked away victorious in a game that looked completely lost, and that type of heart goes a long way in the college game. This is a team that will simply not be denied no matter how long the odds look, and that is something that is very important, especially considering the leadership that this team lost.
This game reminded me a lot of a couple of my other favorite TCU games of all time, both losses, one of which is on the list at number 3 so I will hold off on talking about those comparisons until them, the other didn't make the list so I'll talk a little about it now.
It was a Tuesday night game, October 30, 2001 (nearly 10 years ago). TCU was playing East Carolina University.
It started out ugly, and the few fans that had come to the odd Tuesday night start left when the Frogs went down 27-3 at Half Time.
Myself and a few good friends stuck it out, sitting in our customary seats behind the band. Sean Stilley had started for the Frogs, but Casey Printers came in for TCU in the second half after a Stilley injury.
Playing QB for the Pirates was future NFL starter David Garrard. Casey Printers would go on to be an NFL backup QB and a Grey Cup winner and CFL MVP. Of course, none of us knew that would be in the future for either of these players. Instead what we witnessed was a remarkable comeback led by Printers and a determination to stave that comeback off by Garrard.
TCU got it to within 30-23 with about 5 minutes left and even had the ball. However, Printers (as was always his wont) through an interception that allowed ECU to push the lead back to two scores, making it 37-23 with 3:54 left. TCU was not to be denied, however. Printers led us down the field and with 1:49 left hit Adrian Madise in the endzone to make the score 37-30. The Frogs then recovered the onside kick and got to first and goal before failing to tie the game, an incompletion on fourth and goal turning the ball over and allowing ECU to hold on to win.
It was a heck of a game and a heck of a finish that with a little more time might have ended differently. Of course, at the end of this season, Printers would do as much (or more) to lose the bowl game against A&M as he did to make this game respectable.
Number 4: Nov. 20, 1999
TCU 52 vs UTEP 24
I will never forget this game. Sitting in my customary student time seat of behind the band, I watched as LT broke run after run against the UTEP defense. The year before in El Paso he had burned the Miners for 300 yards and they vowed they would stop him this year. As we watched LT break through the eight and nine man fronts that the Miners piled in front of him, my friends and I tried to put together how many yards he had. Thankfully the announcer informed us. "LaDainian Tomlinson this afternoon has set an NCAA Division 1 record. 406 yards rushing! LT!"
Shane Ladewig was the center for the Frogs in that game, and his parents were shooting video. Relive the moment for yourselves.
Seeing as this post is already pretty long, we'll return with games 3, 2, and 1 tomorrow.
That must mean this blog will start getting some attention again.
Rick Perry is starting to gain some steam in the Republican Primary. As a person who has lived in Texas throughout Rick Perry's exceedingly long time as Governor, I can't even begin to understand how the rest of the country could even consider him based on his record, to say nothing about the last Texas Governor (with similar ideals) that became the President of the United States.
Many of my friends in education here in the state of Texas have many more problems with Rick Perry and his record on education than with the specific point I plan on making today (and at some point we might delve into that as well), but due to an article in the Guardian (a paper from the UK) I thought I might focus on Rick Perry's desire to have Creationism taught in school's alongside Evolution.
"I am a firm believer in Intelligent Design as a matter of faith and intellect, and I believe it should be presented in schools alongside the theories of evolution."
I'm not sure that Rick Perry is going to be pushing this agenda on the campaign trail (the article stresses that a concerned/ and to be fair, pushy/ mother got her son to ask about Creationism specifically), but it is clearly a belief that he holds, and something that he might attempt to enact.
Quite clearly, this idea is against the US Constitution and the separation of Church and State that this country was founded on.
For those of you who don't know, I am in school getting my Master's of Divinity. I am a Christian, although my views and those of fundamentalist Christians are very different.
What seems ironic to me is that views held by these fundamentalist Christians, allowed by this country, are only possible because of the separation of Church and State that was very important to those who founded this country. To go against that by enacting a law such as what Rick Perry is suggesting would be going against the very process and freedom that allows them to have their own religious beliefs free of government interference.
And being free of government interference is supposedly what the Republican Party is supposed to be about, which makes the idea that a religious idea has to be taught in public schools seems anti small government to me.
It's okay for the government to tell you what to believe in regards to religion, but it isn't okay for the government to try to make sure we all have adequate health care.
Personally, I believe that God has a place in creation, and even in evolution.
That doesn't mean that I believe that public schools need to be telling children that evolution or creation wouldn't have been possible without God.
Talk about that at home and especially at church, sure, but the school isn't the place for those ideas, especially because everyone's religious beliefs are different, and this country was quite literally founded on that very idea.
I'd certainly prefer a President who understood that, and knew that our beliefs are different and that's an important part of our culture, giving us strength. To lead this country, you shouldn't ever try and force your religious beliefs on the rest of the country.
After going down 3 games to none quickly against the Vancouver Canucks, a team that in the previous two seasons the Blackhawks had forced out of the playoffs, things didn't look good for the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
After backing into the playoffs on the last day, many people were hesitant to pick the Hawks against the team that had the best regular season record this year in the NHL, even if the Hawks had dominated them in the past.
After all, this was a different Hawks team, after so many players were forced out due to salary cap issues, and it seemed that this was a different Canucks team as well, one that was finally going to live up to all of the promise.
After quickly handling the Hawks in the first three games, it appeared that everyone was right.
However, in Hockey more than any other sport, going down 3 games to none doesn't guarantee anything.
Just last season, the Philadelphia Flyers became the third NHL team to come from down 3 games to none to win the series, and they did it while trailing 3-0 in game 7!
Win the 4-3 overtime win tonight, after embarrassing Vancouver 7-2 in Game 4 and 5-0 in Game 5, the Hawks become only the 7th team ever to force a game seven in the NHL playoffs after training the series 3-0.
3 of those teams went on to win the series.
The Hawks seem poised to be the fourth.
After all, momentum has clearly shifted in their favor.
Before Game 6 tonight, the Hockey Night in Canada host joked, "Chicago leads the series, 2 games to 3."
Roberto Luongo won the Gold Medal in the Olympics last year as the starting goalie for Team Canada. He is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy this year, given to the league's best goalie. He is in the second year of a huge 12 year contract. He is both the present and the future of the Canuck franchise. He got pulled after giving up 6 goals in Game 4. He got pulled after giving up 4 goals in Game 5. He was benched in favor of a rookie goalie in Game 6, then had to come in when that goalie got injured, and Luongo gave up the game winner in overtime to rookie Ben Smith.
Luongo is one of the best goalies in the NHL, but the Blackhawks are clearly in his head, and if he starts Game 7, you have to wonder where he will be mentally.
Going with the rookie, Cory Schneider who might not be able to play after suffering from cramps in the third period tonight, probably won't instill the Canucks with a lot of confidence either.
Not only is it almost unfathomable that the Canucks have somehow blown the 3-0 series lead, but the way that they have done it has to be incredibly demoralizing.
They were embarrassed 7-2 in Game 4.
Then they were blown out again in Game 5, and, to add insult to injury, they were also shut out, 5-0. In Vancouver.
They played arguably their best game of the series in Game 6, but proving how far momentum has shifted towards the side of the Blackhawks, they still lost 4-3, albeit in overtime.
They have done almost nothing in the last week to show that they have any chance of slowing down Chicago and finally winning this series.
However, the beautiful thing about Game 7s is that absolutely anything can happen.
Even if you were at one point down 3 games to none.
If you enjoy hockey at all, this game is shaping up to be a classic, can't miss game.
The Stanley Cup defending Champions back from the dead.
The President's Cup winning Vancouver Canucks trying to prove once and for all they can somehow beat the team that has sent them packing each of the last two seasons in the playoffs.
One team will move on.
One team will go home.
And as the NHL has been telling us for the last two weeks...
George R.R. Martin has finally announced the official release date for the fifth book in A Song of Ice and Fire, A Dance With Dragons.
The wait for this book has been incredible, but I believe that ultimately it will be worth it.
Martin's series is simply the best written fantasy series of all time.
While almost all fantasy (Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Wheel of Time, even Harry Potter) is at its heart a story of good verses evil, that isn't what Martin is about at all.
Some of the characters in the epic series are good, and some of the characters are not so good, but the characters that are good are capable of doing some terrible things, and the characters that are "evil" often have very good reasons for their terrible actions.
The thing is, there is no clear good guys or bad guys (and I really shouldn't use the term "guys" because there are some amazing and strong female characters in this series).
Martin tells each chapter from the perspective of a particualar character; you spend the chapter in their head. He doesn't limit it to just the protaganists either. You will get perspectives from all sides, and at times your alligences might change.
While there is no guarentee that the next book in the series will arrive anytime soon (the wait between the last book, the fourth in the series, A Feast For Crows, was released on November 8, 2005, over five and half years between it and the new one), the series, about to be five (very long) books strong, is well worth the read, even if it means you might spend the next five plus years waiting (not so patiently) with the rest of us for book six.
Don't swallow it uncritically. Think about it. Wrestle with it. Just because I'm a Christian and I'm trying to articulate a Christian worldview doesn't mean I've got it nailed. I'm contributing to the discussion. God has spoken, and the rest is commentary, right? - Rob Bell from the description of his book "Velvet Elvis"
I haven't really ever been the biggest Rob Bell fan. Something about his whole presentation turned me off, so I haven't really ever sought him out.
Perhaps that was a mistake on my part.
He has built up a large following (including among many of my youth minister friends) with his short videos looking at various bible passages or theological hot topics.
His latest book, however, has riled up a lot of people against him.
The book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, apparently takes a universalist approach.
Oh, the horror!
Except, I believe in Universal Salvation.
Can a God of love really ever condemn someone, anyone, to eternal damnation? I just can't see it.
Rob Bell makes the point in a promotional video for the book that under a traditional Christian understanding of Heaven and Hell and who goes where, Gandhi is in Hell.
Gandhi's in hell? He is?-Rob Bell
The announcement of this book and the promotional video caused Justin Taylor, a blogger for the evangelical website The Gospel Coalition, to respond calling Bell out for "false theology."
The problem is, there is no good proof that Bell's assertion of Universal salvation is actually false theology.
I think that a lot of the problem with this understanding from evangelicals and other Christians is due to the reading that they make of John 14:6.
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'
No where does this verse say that only by believing in Christ will you be saved. You could argue that perhaps Paul and other New Testament writers make that claim, but Jesus himself never says it. In fact, all that Jesus says is that salvation will come through him, in other words through his actions, not through our actions at all.
And that is what the common Christian view of this Scripture seems to say, that it is our actions that matter, whether or not we accept Jesus differentiates whether or not we will be worthy of God's grace.
It isn't up to us.
The Bible makes that pretty clear.
Telling Rob Bell that his theology is wrong or false just means that yours is equally wrong or false. Rob Bell is making the argument that God's grace will ultimately be given to everyone. Taylor is making the argument that only a certain few are worthy of God's grace, providing they perform the requisite steps first, namely accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Taylor likes to talk about Paul and his views on false teachers in his post (although he takes the one direct Bible quotation he uses completely out of context, and then his reference to 1 Timothy is referenced as also being by Paul, whereas no modern Biblical scholars actually believe that Paul wrote this letter), but the more common theme throughout Paul's writing is the idea that it is impossible to do any work to gain God's grace, that God's grace is a gift that we cannot earn.
The idea of accepting Jesus Christ has become an earmark towards earning salvation in today's Christian rhetoric, and that is not the point of faith as Paul understood it. By no means, as he would say.
Salvation is not something that can be earned, and that is the understanding of salvation that Taylor seems to be advocating.
I am completely okay with Justin Taylor, and all of the 26,600+ people who liked his blog post on Facebook, believing that there is a Hell (even if I can't believe in such a place, or at least the fact that anyone would be put there), and I'm okay with them having different understandings of what Scripture says.
I am not okay, however, with Taylor intimating that Rob Bell is a false prophet or teacher, or insinuating that those who listen to him or happen to believe the same as him are destined for Hell.
Just because others don't reach the same conclusions that you do after studying the Scripture doesn't make them wrong, anymore than it would necessarily make you wrong.
When you argue that it does you are guilty of ignoring other Gospel teachings, such as those found in Matthew 7:3.
Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’seye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?
I for one am looking forward to reading Rob Bell's new book, and perhaps finally giving him the chance he probably deserved all along.
Been a while since we've done this! I'm still alive, and my New Year's Resolution was to blog more, which currently has had Fat Train getting all of the attention, but I remember this site as well, and promise to give it some love.
I'm actually in the middle of a paper that is due tomorrow right now, but I saw this quote and thought I'd put up a few thoughts on it...
Everything you can imagine is real.
- Pablo Picasso
I honestly believe that in a way this is true. It is real in your head, at the very least, real to you, if you will, but there is a part of me that believes that it is more substantially real as well.
There is a thought in Quantum Physics that some particles don't exist except when we are looking at them (or for them) at which point they do exist.
Clearly our minds do have some sort of connection to (if not some form of control over) the universe in which we live.
And we clearly don't understand completely the universe in which we live, much less rather or not it is the only such universe that there is.
It is completely possible (and perhaps even scientifically plausible) that everything that we imagine does truly exist in some universe, even if not in ours.
TCU is headed to the AQ (automatic qualifying) Big East, starting in July of 2012 (just in time for the world to end... coincidence?) in all sports.
Part of me is ridiculously ecstatic in regards to this development, part of me dies a little inside due to the fact that we are going to be buying into a system that is so obviously corrupt, elitist, and illogical.
Put it this way, the conference that we are currently in (non automatic qualifying Mountain West) has two teams currently ranked in the Top 25 (us at three, Utah at 20 in the BCS, 21 in the AP) with two others also receiving votes (San Diego State would be at 32 in the AP and Air Force would be 33). The AQ conference we are going to (the Big East) has one team currently ranked in the Top 25 (West Virginia at 24) and only one other team also receiving votes (Connecticut would be at 29). The Big East currently has 6 teams that are bowl eligible, one more than the Mountain West does, but of those bowl eligible teams, only one of the six has more than 7 wins on the season, all but one of the Mountain West bowl eligible teams have at least 8 wins on the season. West Virginia, the only of the bowl eligible Big East teams with more than 7 wins, only has 8 wins on the season.
The bottom of the Mountain West certainly appears weaker, with four teams with worse overall records than any in the Big East (Colorado St and Wyoming each at 3 and 9 and New Mexico and UNLV each with double digit losses), but there are two teams with only 4 wins in the Big East (Cincinnati and Rutgers), but then there is the fact that the Big East has one less team than the Mountain West overall, meaning that an additional cupcake can be added to the home schedule for each of the Big East teams. So if you real close look at it, the bottom of the barrel for the Mountain West isn't really that much worse than the Big East.
I think that it is safe to say without much doubt that the Mountain West is currently a superior conference when compared to the Big East in football.
That being said, the Big East has an automatic spot in a BCS bowl, meaning that their teams can get into a BCS bowl despite losing a game or two (and, in fact will get a team in this year with at least 3 losses, and probably one with at least 4) which for some reason makes the powers that be regard them as having faced stiffer competition and more worthy of National Title consideration.
It is very rare for there to be lots of teams with zero losses on the regular season. Last year, there were 5. That isn't normal. The reason that I am glad that we are moving into the Big East is that had there only been 3 teams at the end of the regular season last year (as will be the case this year assuming Oregon and Auburn win out, which certainly is not a given) Cincinnati would have been in the National Championship game over us. Simply because they came out of the Big East. The final rankings had them at 9 after they got completely embarrassed by Florida. We also lost our bowl game, but finished at 6, meaning when it was all said and done, no one really thought that Cincinnati was actually better than we were, but they would have been in the National Championship game based solely on the fact that they were from an AQ conference.
The way things stand this season, it might not matter if we were in an AQ conference or not. If we were undefeated in the Big East right now, we would still be third behind an unbeaten Auburn and an unbeaten Oregon, but I can tell you this, there wouldn't be any talk of us possibly getting left out of the National Title game if one of them slipped up on Saturday. Right now, there are people saying that it could be that Wisconsin will jump us or that Auburn would remain ahead of us even with a loss. Personally, I think that if either of those teams slip up, we will get our chance, but there would be no question that we would get our chance if we were already in the Big East, despite the fact that the conference we are currently in is better.
That shows how ridiculous this system is, and how we really have no choice but to take the opportunity to put ourselves in the system, make ourselves one of the haves instead of remaining co-ruler of the have-nots with Boise St.
Take a look at them for why this move had to happen. They lost to a very good Nevada team in overtime for what will be their only loss of the season, but they will be in an early bowl game probably against the third place team from the MAC. That is horrible. They deserve much better than that. In BCS bowls in their place will be an at least 3 loss (but probably 4 loss) Big East team, the ACC Champion which will either be 2 loss Virginia Tech (who lost to a D1-AA team and, yup, Boise St) or a three loss Florida St team, and the Big 12 Champ which will either be a 2 loss OU or a 2 loss Nebraska. None of those teams deserve a spot over a 12-1 Boise St.
This system is corrupt and unfair, and to get to a National Title game as a non-AQ requires that there be at most only one undefeated AQ team and a preseason ranking inside the top 10. Anything else makes it impossible, and even when these criteria are met it isn't a guarantee.
As much as I hate this system, and will continue to, it will be nice to be on the side that benefits from the corruption for a change.
This move will also prove hugely beneficial to both the men's and women's basketball programs and the baseball program due to the better TV exposure, more respectable (unquestionably in basketball) conference, and (again, especially in basketball) access to better recruits. Right now, it has been quite some time since our men's basketball team has been respectable (although they currently sit at 5-2 after beating USC yesterday... GO FROGS!) and there will probably be some tough games in the beginning, but with the chance to get to play perennial NCAA tourney teams such as Pitt, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut, and Notre Dame every year I truly believe that it won't be long before our men's basketball team gets serious and can contend even if not actually win the conference. Trips to the Tourney won't be out of the question and on years we don't make it to the big dance, the NIT won't be a terrible consolation prize. As for the women's team, no more 25 win seasons followed by a 12 seed.
The positives far outweigh any negatives (and travel isn't really a negative because we will actually travel less in the Big East than we would in the soon to be reconstructed Mountain West) so it is hard to not like this change.
I just wish the system wasn't one that made it totally necessary.
Go Frogs! (And go South Carolina and Oregon St this weekend!)
So, a friend of mine has a D&D group every Sunday night here on campus.
Now, I think we can all agree that I am a nerd. I am obsessed with Sci-Fi (as opposed to SyFy the ridiculous renaming of the Sci-Fi Network, but that's another post and probably should be on Fat-Train) most of my non-scholastic reading is in the fantasy genre, I have spent numerous hours playing through every possible scenario in every Bioware game, and I am an expert on the entire universes of Marvel and DC, but in my life I have actually never played Dungeons and Dragons.
I know. It's actually rather surprising to me as well.
Ever since I've found Wil Wheaton's blog (oh yeah, I really love Star Trek too, and so it shouldn't be a surprise that I am a fan of the blog from the guy that played Wesley Crusher) I've had a little more interest in getting involved with this style of gaming. Wil does a great job in some of his posts talking about why games such as D&D are important and those posts certainly have me more intrigued with the idea of joining my friend's game.
However, I have standards.
By which I mean that I'm going to do it my way, and in as original way as I can manage. If I'm going to finally play D&D when I've gone through my whole nerd life without ever playing D&D, I'm going to do it right.
My friend told me the different character types I could use in the game, and it included minotaurs (a torso of a bull but a man waist down) and centaurs (torso of a man, but the body of a horse below the waist), so clearly, I decided that my character should be a Min-Centaur, having the torso of a bull (like a minotaur) but have the body of a horse below the waist (like a centaur).
He has yet to agree to let this type of character into the game, and therefore I have yet to play D&D, but that hasn't kept me from imagining some back story for my character.
He is a loner, having no idea who his parents are; he is rejected by both the minotaur society and the centaur society as a freak. Throughout his life he has made his own way, and been forced to learn to fight in order to protect himself from all of those who would see it as a huge mark of honor to kill this unique "monster."
Of course, he would also have a heart of gold and be fiercely protective of all those that he considers to be outside of the norm and discriminated against.
I hope that my friend reconsiders and allows my Min-Centaur into the game, because I think that there are many possibilities for this character to grow and add to the overall story of the game that my friends are playing. And if I'm going to finally break down and play D&D, it is with this type of storyline potential that I want to engage the game.
And as original an idea that the Min-Centaur seems to be, as my friend Justin points out in a recent blog post of his own, "There is a new kind of law since the advent of the internet that if you can think of something, it's already on the internet." And that turns out to be true about the Min-Centaur as well.
So, I will close with a pic I found of two of these magnificent creatures.
I'm an adult on the Youth Ministry Council for the Trinity Brazos Area, which is just a lot of words saying that I help the high school youth on the council plan and execute the CYF (high school age) events for the TBA.
Our first event with this council was Fall Retreat in December, and Adam (another adult on the council) decided we needed a more creative way to present the rules for the events. I agreed, and as the person on the council with a film degree, and the only one with an awesome Canon XL-2 video camera, I agreed to help put together a rules video using a bunch of Adam's action figures.
We shot the first one the night before the event was going to begin, leaving me little time to edit it, and so I'm not in love with how the first one turned out, however, the idea was funny enough, and it went over very well with the youth, plus it was a ton of fun to make, and that is really the important thing.
For the second video, for Mid Winter which was this very weekend, we shot it on the Monday before which allowed me all week to edit it, and therefore I am much more excited about the finished product.
It was over twice as long which meant that I had to split it up for YouTube, so the outtakes, which at the retreat were shown with the video, are here in their own video.
Again we had a lot of fun getting together to shoot the video, and although it was a lot of work, I really enjoyed editing the video, and again, the youth really enjoyed it, so overall, the project has been a great success.
I also really enjoy the fact that there is a major storyline developing throughout these videos, and I have already begun work on the story for the culmination of what will be the Rules Video Trilogy, with the final video debuting this summer at CYF Conference.
I'll post it here afterward.
Remember, Follow the rules or JOSH TOULOUSE SMASH!
Today is Ash Wednesday, and the official begininng of Lent, leading up to the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, culminating in Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection.
Many people, especially in the Catholic tradition, use this time of Lent to give something up, as a way to commemorate and symbolize the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Throughout my life I have gone between participating in this tradition and ignoring it.
The last couple of years I have participated in Lent, but more because I saw it as a way to better myself, not primarily as a way to get closer to God or to try and identify with the suffering of Jesus. Two years ago I gave up sweets and since that time have done a better job of not overdoing it with candy. Similarly last year I gave up fast food, and since, I have not eaten fast food with the regularity that I did before last year, and in fact have eaten fast food less than once a week so far this year (granted it is only February).
Both of those were things that I wanted to "give up" in order to better myself, however, and not really something that I was giving up that would cause me any suffering or real sense of loss, especially since I have tried to continue that practice beyond Lent each of the last two years.
This year, I wanted to give up something that would truly be difficult, and something that I would be extremely glad to get back when the Lenten season was over. I also wanted it to be something that in its absence would allow me a way to grow closer to God.
I've found that item, and this is definitely not going to be easy.
I am giving up the radio. I am giving up listening to music or even sports talk when I am at home (via Internet radio, iTunes, X-Box live, the Sirius/XM ap on my phone, etc.), when I am at work (XM online and Pandora are normally almost always streaming on my computer, and when neither of those are, my iPod is, but not now), and most importantly and most difficultly, in the car.
Working approximately 30 minutes away from where I live, the radio is an essential part of my daily commute. Forcing myself to make that drive in silence will hopefully allow me time to meditate and make more of an effort to commune with God daily. It is hard to drive in that silence and not think about why I am driving in that silence, and that, I believe, will make this a much more rewarding experience than just giving up something that I wanted to or knew that I should give up anyway.
I look forward to seeing how this spiritual discipline will affect me as the Lenten season progresses.
"But I think you create [your own luck]," Patterson followed up. "As Yoda says, 'Try not. Do ... or do not. There is no try.’ " - from a story in the Star-Telegram.
Can I love Gary Patterson any more? Not only does he have my Horned Frogs on the cusp of a National Championship, but he quoted Star Wars!
GO FROGS!!!!
I hope that everyone in Fort Worth or the surrounding areas will make it to the game Saturday, so that we can fill that stadium again. I would be there if I were in the country, it takes clearing customs to keep me from being there, so you shouldn't really have an excuse!
I was 21 and back in school. After a disastrous first year of college I had taken a couple of years off and was in actuality very close to never going to school again. That summer however I had a conversation with a very good friend named Jerry Self who helped me to make the difficult decision to try and make something of myself. So I was back in school at Tarrant County College (formally Tarrant County Junior College, but they were trying to make themselves look better so they dropped the "Junior") working to get my GPA up so that I could get accepted into TCU.
I knew Jerry thanks to church camp. For the past few summers, Jerry, myself, and a group of a few others had worked the JYF (4th and 5th graders in the Disciples of Christ denomination) camp for the Trinity Brazos Area of the Southwest Region of the DOC. We became a tight-knit group, and had hung out numerous times that summer before the real world intruded and separated us for the time being. Jerry was the one who was furthest away, as he was in his Junior year at Texas A&M.
While I had started back in school that semester thanks in large part to the talks that Jerry and I had had that summer, I was also continuing to work at Kroger, a job I had had since high school. I had been in management, but when I went back to school I had stepped down from that position to put my focus on my school work.
I had to work early that morning ten years ago, November 18th, 1999. I was on my way into work before 6am and I had the Ticket on, but I wasn't really listening. It was just background noise. I only barely realized that they were talking about A&M, but it didn't mean anything to me and I didn't pay any attention.
It was a little after 8 when the customer service representative came to the cash office door and told me that there was a phone call for me and whoever it was calling was in tears. I answered the phone and it was my sister Cara, a part of those JYF camps. We had grown closer those past couple of summers as we got to spend time together as friends instead of just as brother and sister, and I suppose it would be fair to say that Jerry had played a part in that as well as he was such an important part of the group dynamic. As I answered the phone and heard the tears of my sister as she sobbed uncontrollably I thought back to the radio conversation I had payed so little attention to. I knew instantly that something terrible had happened at A&M and I knew instantly that something had happened to Jerry.
"It's Jerry, isn't it?" I asked, tears beginning to form in my eyes as well.
My sister somehow managed to get out the words, "His picture is on the TV. They're saying he's dead. They're saying Jerry's dead."
At 2:42am that morning, the Bonfire had collapsed and Jerry was working on it when it did.
It was the worst news I had ever received in my entire life.
Six years earlier my Grandfather died, and that was terrible, but doctors had told him that he wouldn't live long enough to see me turn one. He almost saw me turn 16. It was terrible, but it was something I could understand. There was no understanding this.
Jerry was younger then me, for goodness sake. It couldn't be possible that he was dead. I had talked to him less then one week earlier. I was calling to see if he would be around for Thanksgiving, I thought that perhaps we could all get together on Thanksgiving weekend. He answered the phone and I could barely hear him. He was in a car with the top down, on an impromptu road trip with some Aggie friends. He had trouble hearing me as well and he said, "Hey man, don't worry about it. We'll talk real soon." Those were the last words he said to me, less then a week before, "We'll talk real soon." How could he be dead?
It was very hard on all of us, Dayna, Beth, Jason, Elissa, my sister, and myself. It really just did not seem possible. It just did not seem real.
To be honest, ten years later, it still doesn't.
Sad to say, that group hasn't spent a lot of time hanging out together in quite some time, although we are always planning to fix that. I hate that I don't see them as often as I'd like, although it was a joy to get to do camp this summer with Beth and Jason, and also this summer, Elissa was there working in the hospital while Cara gave birth to her first child, so that was awesome as well. And thanks to Facebook, I've recently gotten to reconnect a little bit with Dayna.
Despite the fact that as a group we aren't as close as we were ten years ago (when our group was held together by Jerry) I know that I love every one of them and that every one of them loves me, and I know that I could count on any one of them for anything. I hope that they know how much they mean to me and how important each and every one of them are to my life. I plan on telling them all that today, because I never got the chance to tell Jerry that.
Ten years ago was a time in my life when I was having a lot of questions regarding my faith, and while you might think that an unexpected death like this might damage my ability to believe even further, ultimately the opposite was true. Jerry had a faith that was stronger than the faith anyone else I have ever met. He believed in God and he believed in Jesus and he made it seem easy to live a Christian lifestyle. That isn't to say that Jerry was perfect, no one is and I know that Jerry wasn't either, but he loved everybody and made everyone know that he loved them. It was impossible not to feel special and wanted when Jerry was around. Jesus preached that the most important commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself and Jerry did that effortlessly. When I think of what a true Christian looks like, I think of Jerry. It is Jerry that I think about to this day when I strive to be a better Christian. And when I read or hear stories of "Christians" who persecute others, spread hate and bigotry, condemn others, and tarnish the image of the millions of Christians who don't act in those ways I wish that the world could have known Jerry and would be able to replace the image that they have of those "Christians" with the image I have of Christians simply because of knowing him.
I made the decision this summer to once again go back to school, ten years after the last such decision. It was a tough decision to make, but one that I know Jerry would have supported.
I am now in Seminary working towards becoming a minister and that is something that never would have happened if I hadn't known a young man named Jerry Self.
It doesn't feel like it has been ten years, but whether we want it to or not, time marches on.
We still miss you Jerry.
I have no doubt that we always will.
Thank you for everything you meant to me and continue to mean.
I had no idea I would be as saddened as I am by the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. I feel that this is a momentous time in our country's history as our historic President attempts to right a wrong that has long plagued this country in regards to our health care system, and that is a cause that was long championed and worked on by Senator Kennedy. There is no doubt that his strong leadership and commitment is sorely needed by us now on this issue. I can only promise that my dedication to seeing health care reform pass, with a National Health Care system in place, has been redoubled. I will attempt to make my voice heard amongst the noise and disinformation being spread about in honor of what I know Senator Kennedy would have wanted, and I can only hope that others will as well. As sad as his death is, perhaps it will bring with it a reconcerted effort by the Democrats to push for a National Health Care system in his honor. Even though he is gone, we can remember what he once told us, "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Rest in peace, Edward Kennedy, we go on in your spirit, led by your memory, hoping to follow your example and make a difference in the world.
First of all, Happy 4th of July! We are privileged to live in such an amazing country.
Yesterday afternoon, Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, announced her resignation with over a year left in her first term.
If you are a regular reader of this blog (which, of course, even the most sporadic reader of this blog can claim to be as my posts have been few and far between of late, sorry about that) you might recall my post upon the decision of John McCain to select Ms. Palin as his running mate. I claimed then, and firmly believe now, that that decision cost McCain any shot he had at the Presidency.
It was a foolish decision that I couldn't believe the man chosen to lead the powerful Republican party could make.
Now, there is a lot of talk about Sarah Palin being the future of the Republican party. If there is any truth to that, one would think that she would have some advisers from the GOP that would forestall any foolish decisions on her part that would damage her chances at a White House run, and yet her decision yesterday did just that.
When she is unable to finish her only term as Governor of a state due in part to media scrutiny (and if you think you are under tremendous media scrutiny as the Governor of Alaska, do you really think that you can handle being President of the United States of America?), and due in part to feeling that finishing out her term as a lame duck "would be just another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose."
Now, I'm all for changing the climate of "politics as usual", but quitting because of lame duck status doesn't strike me as something that I want to become the norm in politics. Especially considering that we have term limits in place, the idea of a lame duck leader is something that is here to stay, and when you get sworn in to any position in government you do so agreeing to serve your full term for the people who voted for you, not just until you know that you won't be in that same position a year and a half down the road.
According to CNN, a source in the Republican party close to Palin's staff says that the decision was made to "move on" in part because her "book deal and other issues" were "causing a lot of friction" in Alaska. I take that to mean that her outside interests were causing her to be unable to fully do the job that she was elected to do and if that is the case, she is certainly not someone that I would want in charge of this country, who knows what outside influences she would have keeping her from performing a much more difficult job when she is struggling to preform as Governor.
Ultimately, I don't think that quitting with a year and a half to go as Governor will have anything but a negative impact on her decision to run for President. Whoever decided this was the best move for her future political career is someone that I hope never advises me on any decisions I might make for my own future, because I can't see this decision as anything other than political suicide.
I truly don't think that there will be any recovery from this, as whoever runs against her in the Republican primaries is now armed not only with her relative political inexperience, but can truthfully brand her a quitter unable to manage her previous post as well as the national notoriety that came with the ill advised decision to choose her as McCain's running mate in the last presidential election. She now has no hope of surviving the primaries.
AMoL if you don't already know is A Memory of Light, the final book in the Robert Jordan series The Wheel of Time.
Robert Jordan died with his epic series incomplete back in 2007. Young fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson was hand picked by Jordan's widow (who also served as his editor) to complete the series.
As of yet, I have not read any of Sanderson's published works, although three of them are on my bookshelf ready to peruse.
Let me tell you how much I love The Wheel of Time...
It was far more advanced then anything I had ever read at that point in my life when I finally gave it a chance. I remember clearly the first time that someone gave me a copy of The Eye of the World and said that I should check it out. It was a friend who together we had devoured the words of David Eddings so I trusted him when he said it was much, much better then the Belgariad ever could hope to be. At the time I was probably around 13. I started it and couldn't get through the prologue. At the time I wasn't sure why, I think I just wasn't ready for something so serious yet. At the same point in my life I loved The Hobbit, but couldn't get far into The Lord of the Rings.
About a year later, the same friend told me to just keep reading. Get through the prologue and through the first two chapters and he assured me that I would not be able to put it down. He was right. It was an incredible story that kept getting more interesting as more was revealed. And the characters were all so real. And there were so many of them. The world was just so complete.
After I tore through the Wheel of Time books that were out at that point I went back and read The Lord of the Rings for the first time. (Yes, I didn't read The Lord of the Rings all the way through until I was 14. I'm sorry.) I was actually a little pissed at myself that I hadn't made myself read them earlier.
So, despite the fact that The Lord of the Rings inspired Jordan's Wheel of Time, it was Wheel of Time that got me to read The Lord of the Rings!
When Jordan died, I was devastated. Primarily because one of my favorite authors, a man that I had never met but who meant a lot to me regardless, had passed away, but also because his series might never be completed, and the series meant a lot to me as well.
Shortly thereafter, the news came out that someone was going to finish the last book, and I met that news with some relief as well as some trepidation. Who was this Brandon Sanderson that was getting to finish the Wheel of Time? For quite some time I honestly had no idea the answer to that question.
Then I discovered his blog.
Slowly as I read his updates on A Memory of Light, my trepidation began to slip away and my relief began to grow into excitement. It was clear that this Brandon Sanderson cared as much about the series as I did. And I could see how his work was progressing on the book that I so desperately (along with so many others) wanted to see thanks to the progress bars on his blog.
Yesterday I read the news that A Memory of Light was going to be split into 3 books and I was instantly angry. It was only supposed to be one more volume. I've already waited so long for this book, I didn't want to wait any longer!
Then the most amazing thing happened. Brandon Sanderson explained the situation in his blog. He told his readers exactly how this decision was made and why. He went into excellent detail on why this decision (while still unpleasant) actually was the best decision possible to make.
And I feel better.
How rare is it for an author to be so up front about what is going on with a novel as anticipated as this one is? I for one am extremely thankful that this one is.
Thank you Brandon Sanderson for your dedication to this project and for your dedication to us, the fans. It shows and it is much appreciated.
Today the Supreme Court of California heard arguments on Prop 8 and whether or not it should be overturned.
The main thrust of the case against Prop 8 being overturned was that the people had spoken and the court shouldn't be able to overturn the will of the people.
The problem with that is, especially in this case, that the people making their will known in this case are largly unaffected by the results of the laws they hoped to inact. The majority of people will not be personally effected by the inability of gays and lesbians to get married. It won't matter to them personally because they aren't homosexual.
Plenty of laws that have been held by a majority of the people have been found to be unconstitutional. It's the whole reason we have a constitution in the first place. In fact this whole country is founded on it. Laws were being made in England that affected the lives of those in the colony known as America. We became our own country because we disagreed with laws that were being made by those who were unaffected by those laws. We felt that we had inalienable rights that were being ignored by "the will of the people" in England. The Federal Constitution is in place to protect those rights as is the California Constitution.
A few months before last years election in which Prop 8 barely passed, the California State Supreme Court recognized that Sexual Orientation was a sub group just as deserving of equality. They wrote that you could not discriminate against a group of people because of their race, sex, or sexual orientation according to the state supreme court. Because of that, they wrote, the state must recognize same sex marriages.
Prop 8 hoped to recognize marriage as something that can only take place between a man and a woman thereby denying marriage to homosexuals. By definition this is discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation.
However, the court opened the session pointing out that the Constitution is an evolving document meant to support the will of the people and that Prop 8 is a change to the document that was handled as any amendment should be and that overturning it could be seen as a judicial misuse of power in overturning the will of the people.
So, what is the case of the state in hoping to overturn Prop 8?
Simple, it is by the will of the people that the court has the right to overturn a change to the Constitution that changes the Constitution from what it is fundamentally, that being a document meant to protect the rights of all. The state's case boils down to the idea that a majority should not be able to limit the rights of a minority simply because they are a majority.
If Prop 8 is upheld, the precedent that could set would be enormous. Despite the fact that the Constitution opens with the idea of equality for all (the very thing that this nation and each state under it is supposed to stand for) this idea would mean that you could take away the rights of any group in the State of California simply by convincing enough people to vote for it. I have no doubt that this is not what the framers of that Constitution intended. And it is because such a thing is possible that the Constitution gives the State Supreme Court the right to overturn such a misuse of power by the majority.
The will of the people is an important thing, but they shouldn't be allowed to take away the rights of others simply because they are a majority. Checks and balances are another thing that this country was founded on.
The arguments are over and we await the decision of the court, it should come within 90 days, and I hope that the court recognizes the dangers inherint in not overturning Prop 8. That is a dangerous precedent. Far more dangerous then any person in the slight majority erroniously claiming Judicial Misuse of Power.
Wow, I have been very neglectful of this blog! And I apologize for that.
That doesn't mean I haven't been blogging at all however, in fact, far from it.
My other two blogs are getting plenty of action.
You see, I have a blog specifically for Baseball (and primarily the Cubs) entitled Tinkers To Evers To Blog (do you see what I did there) found at chcbaseball.blogspot.com.
And I have a blog specifically for pop culture (primarily television and film) called Josue Speaks found at www.xanga.com/josue23.
And I also twitter at www.twitter.com/joshuatoulouse. For when I have something to say that requires 140 characters or less.
So if you're really jonesing for thoughts from me you can find them there.
Meanwhile, this blog is for everything else, and since I've been so preoccupied with the start of Baseball (Tinkers to Evers to Blog) and LOST, BSG, and the Oscars (Josue Speaks) lately, this blog has been getting the short shift.
So, again, I apologize, but remember this isn't the only place to get great blogging from me! So, check out my other blogs, and I promise I'll see you here more regularly soon!
Every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
-President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama. That sounds right. What an amazing day today. I am not ashamed to say that I was brought to tears by the momentous occasion that occurred today. The first black President of this country when such a short time ago such a thing would have been considered impossible.
It is an amazing achievement that our country, our voters, have made possible.
We as Americans should be very proud of ourselves.
But what else this new Presidency stands for is also very important. In the last eight years our country has gone from being respected and loved world wide to ridiculed and untrusted around the world. Events that have taken place at the behest of our government in the last administration seemed to me, not that long ago, to be impossible to overcome. With the election of Barack Obama (and by such an overwhelming electoral vote), we showed the rest of the world that the way our government had acted and the actions they took were not actions that we agreed with or that we felt America stood for. We are returning to a country with a government Of The People, and For The People. Barack Obama used his inaugural speech to remind us and the world what this country stands for, what this country was based on, and that we would not lower our standards or lessen our ideals for any reason no matter what we faced.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
-President Barack Obama
Much has been made during this run to the presidency about the civil rights movement. Yesterday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr's Day, today we celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and so it is fitting that we remember the steps that Dr. King took to help make such a thing as today possible. We remember the ideals of non-violent resistance. We remember a woman refusing to be pushed to the back of the bus simply because she was black. We remember people coming together to march on Washington DC, people of all races, marching because segregation was wrong, because separate does not mean equal, marching because it was the right thing to do, marching because it was the American thing to do.
Today we are called to action again. Called to help show the world the right way once more. Called to do our part as our new president hopes to do his. Our President reminded us in his speech that the times are difficult, but that in our history we have faced tough times before, and that as we have in the past We Will Overcome.
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
-President Barack Obama
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
-President Barack Obama
Today we have made history. Today we have embarked on a journey that will place this country back on the path of truth and justice and freedom on which it was founded. Today we look forward so that one day we can look back, look back and remember today. The day that everything changed. The day we became that which we always hoped we could become. The day we began once again to believe.
