Sunday, September 27, 2009

Back in the Saddle

Tech Smacks North Carolina, 24-7

Coach Johnson must have lit quite a fire under his squad after last week's miserable showing against Miami -- the Jackets were a different team on Saturday. Jonathan Dwyer was back to his usual awesomeness, and our defense pretty much shut the Tar Heels down all afternoon. There were a few glitches (Scott Blair? Two missed FG's AND two out-of-bounds kickoffs? Not good!), but overall, Tech looked really good. And as a bonus, we're back in the Top 25 after dropping out last week.

|

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Glorious

I've never been so grateful to see blue skies.



Perhaps this is why Jacob is refusing to nap -- he knows it is finally sunny after six days of non-stop rain. His brother, however, is oblivious and happily napping, which is why we aren't going outside just yet. But soon!

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for the days of ceaseless rain which have helped replenish Lake Lanier, without which we'd all go thirsty, but I'm also hurting for all those devestated by these floods. It wasn't like a hurricane where you can prepare somewhat. Just rain and rain and more rain until the creeks loosed their banks and it seemed the very ground was springing up with water a la Genesis.

I hope today's clear skies are signs of drier days ahead. Enjoy this day, wherever you are and whatever the weather!

|

Monday, September 21, 2009

Gather Them Two by Two


(Courtesy AJC.com)

This is Atlanta's downtown connector, I-75/85, earlier this afternoon. If the picture had panned a little more to the right, my office building would be visible. (Thankfully I was at an off-site meeting all afternoon.) Needless to say, the ATL has gotten a ridiculous amount of rain over the last few days. Team Redd's neighborhood is safely above water for the foreseeable future, but other parts of the city haven't fared as well. The flood photos coming in to the local news outlets are simply unreal. And there's more rain yet to come...

|

Friday, September 18, 2009

Book Review -- North! Or Be Eaten

“Wild escapes. A desperate journey. And the ghastly Fangs of Dang!”



When I was little, I reveled in tales of far-off places, thrilling dangers and the fulfillment of legend. Even now, as an adult, I long to be lost in language, to immerse myself in a world that is both foreign and familiar, and to ultimately be captivated by a story that gives us a glimpse of the larger Story in which we find ourselves.

Andrew Peterson’s latest addition to his children’s book series, North! Or Be Eaten!, does just that, and yet it never takes itself too seriously. This is a good thing.

You may remember Peterson from his debut novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which we reviewed here in 2008. This latest installment picks up where the last ended and continues at a galloping pace, careening through the landscape of Skree with twists and turns that might break your neck if you’re not careful.

There are swordfights and sea dragons as well as poetry and song. Each chapter's exploits lead quickly into the next, and I found it hard to put the book down and return to real life. Even more humorous proper nouns and quick quips kept me rolling, while the robust plot in this faster-paced installment had me hooked until the end. This book is also a bit darker, but only in the sense that bad things still happen to good people and the author doesn't shy away from the reality of death. Thankfully, the story overflows with more hope than the waters of Fingap Falls.

“Whether crushed or sheltered by the Maker’s hand, ’tis beneath it we go, from breath to death.”
— Triliban Plubius the Bruised, The Bridge, (Skree City Press)

In the midst of frenetic chases, family quibbles, measured despair, and weighty choices, short bursts of beautiful prose appear, sentences that make your breath catch and your heart yearn for More. Somehow Peterson manages to mingle the earthly and ethereal and yet still appeal to adventuresome eight-year olds. As always, the threads of redemption are subtly woven throughout this tale of trolls, toothy cows and troublemakers. I don't know how he does it, but I'd pay to be able to mix the silly and the sacred like that and make it work.

I would recommend this to anyone with an imagination and a heart. (That means you!)

If you're curious for a bit more, I'd suggest you check out the Wingfeather Saga online.

Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com

|

Friday, September 11, 2009

Phew

No. 15 Yellow Jackets hold off Clemson 30-27

It was like watching two different games. In the first one, Tech was up 24-0 in the second quarter. Anthony Allen had an 82-yard touchdown run. Jerrard Tarrant -- for the second game in a row -- ran a punt back for a score. Even Scott Blair -- our kicker! -- got in on the action, completing a touchdown pass on a fake field goal play. After that, he put up a field goal for good measure. By mid-second quarter, it looked like an easy win.

Then the second game started. Our offense fell apart, and Clemson put up 27 unanswered points. It finally ended after a VERY tense fourth quarter kicking duel, with the Jackets putting up the winning field goal with under a minute of play left.

A win, but an ugly one. I don't envy the butt-chewing the team is going to get from Coach Johnson this week. We've got to get our act together for Miami next week (another Thursday night!).

College football, I still love you. But you are probably not good for my health.



|

Happiest Little Yellow Jacket Fan

Yay! The Jackets pulled through for the win over Clemson!

This is how Ethan responded when we told him the good news:



My favorite quote (I love the vivid imagery):
"When a team scores 27 unanswered points, that shows we let down a little bit," [Anthony] Allen said. "That's something we've got to work on. When we get the lead, we've got to keep on punching them in the mouth."

Here's to more games like last night's first (and fourth) quarters! (We'll just ignore that middle part for the rest of the season, okay?)

|

Saturday, September 05, 2009

So It Begins

No. 15 Yellow Jackets down Jacksonville State 37-17

Sure, it might not seem like much to beat up on Jacksonville State, but it's always good to win the season opener. (Isn't that right, 'Dawgs? Oh wait ...)

Despite the easy win, Coach Johnson has some work to do to whip the team into shape before the ACC opener against Clemson next week. Nobody wants to look bad on the big ESPN Thursday night game!

College football, welcome back. We have missed you.

|

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Mobility

Over the last week or so, Ethan discovered a new way of getting around. I call it the "commando turn-n-roll."

He wasn't quite crawling yet, but he's been an expert roller for a few months. If we put him on the floor and he wanted to go somewhere else, he would roll on his tummy, turn himself so that he would be parallel to where he wanted to go (perhaps a book, toy box, or anything shiny or brightly-colored) and then roll in that direction. Once he reached the object, he proceeded to turn himself again so that he would be in the adequate rach and grab position.

On Sunday, he moved on to actually commando crawling! I'm posting the video on Facebook as soon as I can.


See that look? Watch out, he's coming for you!

Near the beginning of the short video, he looks at me as if to say, "Yeah, you just watch. I can do it again for your camera AND pull up on the toy box. You have no idea what I'm capable of, do you?" I had to stop recording in order to prevent him from pulling the toy box on top of himself!

One of the cutest things today he did was to crawl toward the dinner table, grunting, like a little monster-child. That's what I really need to catch on the camera!

Here's another still pictures to tide you over. Babies + paper = hours of entertainment.






|