BayBears at Suns – Billy the Marlin

The Jacksonville Suns are AA team for the Miami Marlins. Billy is the ultimate professional – he signed caps & bats, posed for pictures, worked the crowd…it was very nice to see.

BayBears at Suns

It was Southpaw’s birthday at the Suns game- all his mascot friends showed up!

Yes, we KHAN!

The football team here in Jacksonville was sold last year at the end of the season. The owner is a naturalized citizen who came to the United States as a teenager. He went to school, worked hard, and built his own corporation. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the EPITOME of the American Dream – the new owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars – Shahid Khan.

This Thursday, the National Football League will kick off its 77th annual draft. By Saturday, 253 young men will be on their way to achieving their version of the American Dream. But there is one man for whom this year’s draft may be even more special. Jacksonville Jaguar’s new owner Shahid Kahn will spend his first draft inside the situation room as he continues to fulfill his own American Dream.

A native of Pakistan, Kahn came to the United States in the winter of 1967 with nothing but an acceptance letter from the University of Illinois. He found lodging at a local YMCA for $2 per night. In an interview with Forbes, Kahn explains his motivation for coming to the United States.

When asked what experiences motivated him to come to America, Kahn said, “I heard the streets were paved with gold. I found that to be true.”

On his second day, Kahn accepted his first job as a dish washer. He made $1.20 per hour. Looking back on his first job, Kahn recalls his thoughts:
“My God, what a country. I’m making more money than 99.9 percent of the people in Pakistan. This can’t get any better. Then I began engineering school, which was hard. And I would be saying, you know, if I can make this kind of money without a degree, why should I even be going to engineering school?”

Please read the rest at The Foundry! And

GO, JAGUARS!

Spring is sprunging!

I ‘babysat’ Kaylee Friday night. Grandpa came home on a break, we had a little supper then he went back to work after playing a bit with her. She’s so sweet! After Grandpa left, we got ready for bed, brushed our teeth, and I read her a story – “Grover Stays Up Very, Very Late.” After I tucked her in, I ordered the Grover book that was one of Kaylee’s mama’s favorite bedtime stories – “Grover’s Resting Places.” Look forward to reading it again!
Her parents came to get Kaylee the next morning, after we had cereal…then apple…then a bagel…for breakfast. The girl can EAT! I loved having her with me!

Kaylee doing some ORIGINAL cut and paste!

Then I went after groceries. Yay. Watched “The Way” with the ol man Saturday night – really really enjoyed it.

Sunday we had one more day and night of Florida Winter – which is much like early autumn where I was born – and are now leaping into Spring. Going to be mid-70′s today! Having had no real Winter this year at all, the bugs will be horrendous…and hiking will be uncomfortable, to say the least. So we’re looking forward to kayak season, which is nice to do when it’s too damn hot to hike. In expectation of a GREAT kayak season, my lovin’ hubby spent the weekend working on my little truck.

Good to see my Go Bananas pad again!

Both trucks and the house got a good washing, thanks to nice weather and an industrious husband. All I did was make chili and watch the Sprint Cup race – no, Mark Martin didn’t win.

Busy week ahead, hope the weather and health stay good for everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

*sigh*

When love is lost, do not bow your head in sadness;

instead keep your head up high and gaze into heaven

for that is where your broken heart has been sent to heal.

~Author Unknown

Post-SuperBowl Party!

We hiked the Willie Browne Trail yesterday morning with four friends. I carried a pack with about 12 pounds in it – hammock, tarp, clothing, water – because I want to hike the second half of the Foothills Trail with Duffy in April or May. He mentioned it after I told him last week I’d like to try to hike the AT if I had time and gear and…time. But I don’t have time or gear or…time. Well, the Foothills Trail is closer, simpler, easier for a beginner…but I just realized yesterday that this may mean he doesn’t go do another section of the AT! Don’t want to keep him from that, it’s what he lives for!

I’m going to keep training, hiking with weight, walking around the neighborhood and yard with the pack. I need the exercise, whether I ever get to hike a proper trail or not.

It was a lovely day, my new Columbia hiking pants worked well, the pack only caused a bit of a rub on my shoulders, no hot spots on my feet that I can tell – I was wearing my medium weight merino wool socks from Target and my everyday Nike Alvord 8′s , so pretty pleased with that. Half way through, we stopped for a drink and a snack, and I zipped off the legs of my pants because it was pretty warm. The weight of the pack didn’t seem to slow me down or wear me out.

We headed home a little after 1pm, with a stop at Publix for sausage and salsa, then Sally Beauty Supply for hair colour. I got Lovely Daughter a packet of hair repair goop, if she wants it, and if not, I’ll use it some other time. Dropped Duffy off at the house so he could rest and shower, while I went to Firehouse for a couple King’s Hawai’ian sandwiches. YUM!

After showers and sandwiches and a little rest (I’m not used to that level of exercise), I put together The Best Yet SuperBowl Casserole, a tradition begun 26 years ago, when Lovely Daughter was 4 days old, we were POOR, living in a single-wide trailer, and I got to watch the Bears whup the Patriots – on a black and white television! The recipe for a hot dog and pork&bean casserole was on the inside of the pork and beans label. I gave directions, Duffy cooked, that day. THIS year we had andouille sausage, 4 different kinds of beans, and salsa that was more like pico de gallo. And that casserole is FABulous!

Watched the SuperBowl, glad the Patriots got beat again! Here’s my favorite commercial, with just one observation…I think I’m the only American woman who isn’t reading or watching or dreaming vampires and zombies:

Hubby’s up, gotta git. Have a great day, thanks for stopping by!

Ready to Rise!

Jaguars have a new head coach. Was just announced by the Florida Times-Union that Mike Mularkey will take the head coaching job in Jacksonville. Here’s the story, so far:

Jaguars hire Mike Mularkey as head coach

Posted: January 10, 2012 – 9:56pm  |  Updated: January 10, 2012 – 10:05pm

By Tania Ganguli 

Mike Mularkey will be the third head coach in Jacksonville Jaguars history, sources told the Times-Union on Tuesday night.

Mularkey, 50, was previously head coach with the Buffalo Bills, and went 9-7 in 2004 and 5-11 in 2005. He interviewed for the job Tuesday.

Mularkey’s Falcons were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday in a 24-2 loss to the New York Giants. His development of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who developed quickly, is part of the draw for the Jaguars. Ryan was drafted out of Boston College in 2008 and threw for 3,440 yards in his rookie year and had an 87.7 rating. He threw 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions that season.

In the 2011 season, Ryan threw for 4,177 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He had a rating of 92.2.

The development of Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be a prime task for Mularkey and his staff. 

Mulkarkey, a Miami native, is familiar with the area, having played for the University of Florida. He played tight end in the NFL for nine seasons (1983-91), six with the Minnesota Vikings and three with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He’s been the Falcons’ offensive coordinator since a two-year stint as an assistant coach under Nick Saban with the Miami Dolphins. He was scheduled to interview for their head coach opening this week. He was offensive coordinator under Saban in 2006. 

Mularkey began his pro coaching career as a tight ends coach for Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, then became the Steelers offensive coordinator from 2001-03 before going to Buffalo. 

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2012-01-10/story/jaguars-hire-mike-mularkey-head-coach#ixzz1j7HEuB7Z

I don’t see Shahid Khan, the new owner, as skimping, or doing anything not in the best interest of WINNING. The Jaguar fans I know aren’t exactly thrilled with the hire. Mularkey must’ve been pretty impressive in the interview…Mularkey’s kid is on the Jaguars scouting staff…I insist on being hopeful… Go Jaguars!

The “Football Experts” said he’d never play successfully in the NFL.

Right. I’m not going to predict that the Denver Broncos will get to the Super Bowl or anything, but they’re now so far beyond what anyone SAID would be possible with Tim Tebow as quarterback, I’ve decided to stop paying attention to the dumb jocks who pass for experts on tv. What a balls-to-the-wall football game it was!

Found this at The Daley Gator, thank you:

“May we hope that Tebow has another miracle in him,” he (Rev. Gregory Cleveland) said, referring to Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, a devout Christian and mystical game manager.

From my Friend at et cetera*, posted with thanks:

Just one play into overtime, the Broncos shocked the Steelers with an 80-yard touchdown strike from Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas.

Overtime…Steelers must not have been TOO beat up. Number One Defense in the NFL, eh? Yeah, here’s a quarter, call someone who might believe you. For a guy who supposedly couldn’t throw, couldn’t run, wouldn’t do well in the NFL, would never be a success in the NFL…whatEVER! Tim Tebow is busting expectations all over the country. From a 1-4 record to 8-8 and then a playoff win, I think the ‘experts’ should all have to eat the pages their blather was printed on. In public.

Sometimes the good guys come out on top, and no one does it better than than young #15 of the Denver Broncos.

Thank you, God.

AFC South has a few surprises…

It ain’t the vaunted Colts, it’s the Houston Texans that have stunned the football world this season and yesterday in their first-ever playoff game. A team that shouldn’t have been where they were, they played as if everyone on the team knew what to do and when to do it.  Especially this young guy named Watt…who has come a long way since 2008.

George H.W. and Barbara Bush were in attendance. Gotta love them! I told the ol man that while Houston may have the Bushes, the Jaguars now have an owner who’s the  epitome of the American Success Story. Just a matter of time…

There is no better Friend…

……than Kae,  author and proprietor at Kae’s Bloodnut Blog. To lift my spirit – which had been flagging, as a result of some personal turmoil I’d been going through – she’s gathered up and sent a package full of goodies all the way to this little corner of the world. I’ve also sent the following in an email, just to make sure she knows how much we appreciate her thoughtfulness:

Kae, a box FULL TO THE BRIM with TimTams and other goodies arrived today! It was like Christmas morning! Duffy says to tell you he thinks you’re THE BEST, and THANK YOU!!! He had 3 of the double chocolate cookies bikkies before he left for a hammock hang in Gainesville for the weekend…I was surprised he didn’t take them along! I’m keeping the dark chocolate ones hidden away, just for me! They are SO GOOD!!!

I love the tea towels and little trays. There’s a koala hanging on the mirror of Duffy’s truck as he heads west…and the other is on the rear view mirror in my Dakota.  The magnet holds its place of honour on the fridge and I will think of you fondly every time I see it. Which will be often. And I will carry the little silver koala with me whenever I leave the house. Duffy’s right – you are THE BEST!

Doesn’t look like melting was a problem, everything is in perfect order.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!