Scattershooting...

• Still waiting on Christopher. Actually, other than the contractions Hanna had last Sunday, he's been pretty calm. The longer things go, the more likely it seems that he might actually make it to his due date (12/14). I just hope he doesn't arrive on my birthday, for some reason, I just think it would be nicer for him if his birthday wasn't tied to mine. I know Hanna's pretty ready for things to get going. I think she's ready to stop carrying a bowling ball around in her gut.
• Thankful for friends and the many blessings God has given me. I'm not too excited about turning 38, but this birthday does give me a humbling perspective on how much God has given me through the many friendships that have marked my life. One of the few good things about growing older is gaining a deeper appreciation for God's grace in my life and having a wider view of the many wonderful relationships that have helped shape me in a good way.
• Wondering why Michigan is having such a tough time hiring a new coach. I'm beginning to reach the hard realization that Michigan is not quite the can't-miss-elite program that it once was. When Rutgers' coach turns you down, you're not where you think you are. That being said, I think Michigan's A.D. and search committee are clearly bungling through this process and making lots of mistakes. I still think we can end up with a quality coach, but this search is definitely not going as smoothly as I had thought.
• Love Christmas and the season. Broke out some old Christmas records (yes, I still listen to actual vinyl), put up outdoor Christmas lighting for the first time (since this is the first house we've ever owned), and I'm almost done with Christmas shopping. As long as I can remember, this season has always been magical to me. Something about Christmas seemed to bring out the best in people even going back to my childhood. Some of my favorite family memories, some of my fondest moments with friends are linked to Christmas time. I think deep down, the fact that the world actually picks itself up and rises to the occasion of our Lord and Savior's birth is the most meaningful thing to me.
• The Cowboys are back and they have that aura of a team on the march to something big. They really should've lost to the Lions today, but special teams seem to find ways to get the breaks at crucial times. Today was one of those games that the Cowboys would've probably lost in recent years, but this year's team just has that vibe and it showed today. In any case, the 'Boys are headed to the playoffs and they really shouldn't be stopped short of the Super Bowl. I'm not sure they can beat the Pats, but nothing is set in stone. Given one more shot at the Pats, you just never know.
• The Wings are rolling, too. I wish I could see more of their games, but the NHL is pretty far off the national sports radar these days. Unfortunately, it's pretty darn near impossible to get good Wings coverage here in Dallas. Still, it's great to seem them winning. Of course, they've been great in the regular season the last several years, but seem to fall a little short in the playoffs. Hopefully this team can make it back to the Stanley Cup finals. The Stanley Cup finals is still one of the great championships in sports.
• Michigan shouldn't have been picked for the Capital One bowl. They probably got picked because of their name and reputation. They will get blown out by Florida. I feel bad because I really wanted Lloyd to go out with a win, but I just don't see it against the Gators. bleah.