New Pictures from the UCF vs UAB Game... courtesy of Annika

How cute are they???

SEC Championship Game

Ricky and I enjoying the SEC Championship Party

Daryl and Andrea... some of the other pictures they took had Daryl holding a Gator flag...

Carter and Cameron... I think Cameron was foreshadowing Daryl's face for the end of the game

Now as all of you know, Ricky and I both went to UCF and unfortunately our football team decided that 4-8 was an acceptable season record and that the season should end on the 29th of November. But a good group of our friends are actually Gator fans, and for them the season continues to be an exciting one. So this past weekend, Daryl and Andrea invited us over for a party to watch the Championship Game. This game was especially exciting for them because Andrea is a Gator fan and Daryl is a Bama fan. It was truly a house divided. This was also an exciting time for me because we got to meet the twins for the first time. There are so adorable! They were each dressed in one school or the other (Carter in Gator gear and Cameron in Bama gear). It wasn't until Andrea pointed it out that I realized that I actually made the choice as to which baby got to wear what. Before the twins were born, Ricky and I got Build-A-Bears made for the boys and had them personalized. One had a Gator shirt and one a Bama shirt. So Andrea matched the bears to the boys. It was so cute. 

I actually got to hold Cater for a good deal of time and aside from the couple of times he spit up, was all smiles and giggles. The spit up didnt bother me at all, but I think the smell got to Ricky a little. It was so much fun to play with the boys though. Not to mention being able to get together with Daryl and Andrea since we hadn't seen them in awhile. 

It was a great game, and for all of you Gator fans out there you know how it ended, but I was definitely excited about for Andrea (and Patrick) because I know how badly you wanted to win.. and as for Daryl... let's just say they didn't let him live down his smack talk. 

A change in the schedule

One of the things that tends to stink about work is the fact that is interferes with your schedule. I know many of you are saying that work is a priority in a person's schedule, but we must remember that I had been unemployed for quite some time. I was able to do things when I needed to and I wasn't on any kind of schedule. I knew when I needed to get things done and if I needed to run errands, I did. Now don't get me wrong... I am grateful for the being able to finally do something. I needed to be able to help out with the finances and it has definitely made the holiday season a bit easier. At least next week I am on a more consistent schedule which should help out a bit. My schedule has just been thrown off of my routine that I had going that my body has been rebelling against me. I haven;t felt as good recently, but I think with the schedule next week it should get me back on track.

International Auto Show @ the Convention Center

Dodge Challenger... if Ricky had his way, this would be his car

This was the Interceptor... its one of the prototype cars.. I wasn't a huge fan of this one..

Yesterday I experienced my first auto show. Well, I guess typically this is the first larger auto show I have ever been to. Ricky and I have been to the Turkey Rod Run in the past to see the different older cars, but this show was more for the up and coming cars from the different companies. We met up with some friends and walked around to all of the different displays. 

Not having been to a car show before I was a little confused as to the nature and purpose of the show, but one of our friends explained it quite effectively. She explained that if you are in the market for a new car, you could drive around to hundreds of dealerships and search online for your new car, or you could come to the car show, pay $9 bucks and see what all of the companies have to offer. Then you aren't wasting time and gas, but instead, you can really see if you like the cars. The really cool thing about this show is that for the most part you can get into all of the cars and press al the buttons or play with the folding seats to see if you like what the car has to offer. So you can truly decide if you like a vehicle or not. 

After I got over the initial shock that we could actually play with the cars, I started to get a little more into it and actually sat in a few cars that I would never buy in a million years. Reversely, I think we found the next car we are going to get when the time comes (granted it wont be the same car since these are for the next 2 years, but we have an idea of what we are looking for).

All in all it was a fun trip. Ricky said that the show was much smaller than it was in the past, but I have a feeling the economy had something to do with that. Hopefully once things start to pick up again, the shows will get bigger. I definitely think this would be something fun to do on an annual basis.

Happy Birthday to Me!

It doesn't get any better than Donald Duck Cartoons!

Opening my gifts from Kenneth & Kristine... and yes they wrapped my wrapped presents..

My turkey "cake" ... actually they are pull apart brownies from Publix.. Delicious!

Ricky & Me on my birthday.. he smelled like mesquite smoke because

 of the turkey.. but I wanted a picture anyway..

UAB??? Really... At Least I Got to Put Up My Christmas Tree...

Our Christmas Tree

This little girl was sitting in front of us... her face looking at the score board says it all

Yea... that's the empty student section.. depressing.. they get in for free

Ricky & I prior to the game starting... little did we know...

Well that's it... the end of the UCF season started the way it began: an incredibly boring game to a team we should have stomped all over and yet we managed to act as though first downs were against the rules of football. Today UCF played UAB to a crowd of "some." The students who get in for free didn't even want to show up. How depressing is that? This season has just been a disappointment in general. The only positive thing about this season is that Ricky and I have been able to spend it together and comfort each other in our misery. What's that old saying... Misery Loves Company.. in UCF's case misery loves the company of over 45,000 students and heaven only knows how many alumni. We all suffer together...Yay! I think the funniest part though is when Ricky made the comment today that, "There's always next season." Coming from a Cubs fan (Cubs are going on year 101 since they have won a World Series) that wasn't very encouraging.. funny yes, encouraging.. no. 

After the defeat and disgrace, we decided to drown our sorrows at our favorite Orlando area cheesesteak shop, Briantos. We met up with another one of our friends and discussed the nonsense of the game over delicious subs. After dinner, I was ready to put up our tree.

This year I had more casualties than I usually do with my ornaments. Unfortunately, since we have ceramic tile in the house, every time I dropped an ornament, pieces would break off. I had 4 dismemberments today, but with a little super glue all is well again. The tree actually came out very well. It only took me 5 hours or so to get it all up. Granted, many of you are thinking.. "Five hours, what were you doing for all that time, it takes us 45 minutes." I can't remember the last time it only took me 45 minutes to put up a tree. I have so many ornaments (each with their own boxes) that I have to remove them for their packaging, add hooks and then decide where I want to put the ornaments in relation to where I can see them. Tedious, yes. Time consuming, yes. But thoroughly relaxing. Besides, I will get to enjoy the fruits of my labors for the next month plus some, so I think it is definitely worth my while. 

All in all it has been a great weekend so far. I had a great birthday/Thanksgiving (more pictures of that to follow), I survived Black Friday, UCF finished off their losing season with a lost to UAB, and after work tomorrow we are heading over to the car show at the convention center. I must admit, I am glad I have Monday off. 

Happy Thanksgiving!