Throw Jimmy Smith the damn ball

Hello readers. I apologize for the long break. Things at school have really picked up and with coaching volleyball and getting adjusted to having 29 kids per class (3 classes are that big) I have just grown tired and at times frustrated. That's another story though for another time.

Today kicked off the NFL season. I wasn't all that excited to watch football after almost puking nearly 5 times during the Hawkeye's abysmal performance yesterday(this will be the only reference to the "game that must be forgotten") but when the NFL season kicks off, that means my Fantasy Season kicks off! This year I'm in two leagues. One with friends from Lineville and another with friends from Hy-Vee in Algona. Funny that my leagues are both former places of employment. Anyways, looks like both teams are going to be victorious this weekend, so I'm off to a good start. One team was automatically selected online and I don't really like that team much. The other was drafed live, in-person and I think I put together a swell team. I love College Football and enjoy it 20, maybe 30 times more than I do the NFL, so being involved in a Fantasy League that revolves around the NFL can be though at times. I also really enjoy how I cheer for about 6 different teams in one day, and sometimes I cheer for 2 teams playing each other. Fantasy Football is an amazing thing. If I have a Quarterback that I want to put up good numbers, but I also have that defense he is playing, now I'm at odds as to who I want to do better. The moment today that I realized that even though Day One of Fantasy Football isn't even over with but I'm totally hooked was while watching some stats online and having the television playing a game too. I noticed one of my recievers, Jimmy Smith of Jacksonville, had caught a couple early passes but had nothing since then. I started watching highlights on the t.v. and frustrated that Jimmy hadn't caught anything for awhile, muttered to the television "throw Jimmy Smith the damn ball." He ended up having a huge day for me, but what's funny is how into this I was. I talked to the television about throwing the ball to someone who I couldn't pick out of a crowd if he had a "I'm Jimmy Smith" sign around his neck. Just one of the odd things we pull ourselves into for enjoyment I guess.

On a more serious note, today is the 4th Anniversary of 9/11. One of those days that I, nor will anyone else, ever forget. Now that we are four years removed, some of the feelings of that day are gone. We all know where we were or what we were doing when we first heard the news. We remember people freaking out with emotion or with their pocketbook when rushing to the gas station to fill up because gas was supposed to "spike." What we dont sometimes remember are the "true" emotions that we felt that day. The grief. The TOTAL shock. The unbelievable uncertainity. That all came running back to me as I watched on Friday night an HBO documentary with never before seen footage from people with their cameras that day. Seeing those planes crash in again, watching people jump from the high floors of the WTC, hearing the stories of heroism (especially of those in the Fire Departments) made shivers go up my spine. What an incredibly sad day and no matter your politics, one that hopefully never happens again whether we fight wars in foreign countries or beef up security at home. Then again, it is tough to concentrate on those events four years ago when a natural diaster has ravaged the south and killed thousands upon thousands. Keep all those in your thoughts and prayers.