Christmas Day isn't quite what it used to be. This year, I slept in until 11am (still early for me but far from the 6am when I was a kid) and my sister wasn't even there to spend the night. She was sick, remember, so my dad when and picked her up about when I was starting to awaken. Once she got here we had a nice, relaxed Christmas morning opening presents. Nothing too exciting, so I'll get right to the pictures:

Someone was happy to get a digital camera.


The kid's gift to the parents. Included wine from Italy, fancy chocolates, fancy tea, and more.


Just like the good ol' days.

Soon after that both of my grandmas came to eat dinner. My aunt Lena was supposed to be there too, but got sick. So that was kind of disappointing. More awkward 1-on-1 time with the MoeMoe and the gang.

Anyways, we had Capino (sp?... sounds like CHUP PEEN OH). If you don't know what that is, just think of it as a cooked seafood graveyard in tomato sauce. It's a soup with a bunch of seafood floating around in it. Now, I like seafood, I don't go wild for it... I dunno, I'm just SICK of this meal on Christmas. I basically ate a lot of bread. But I think my mom for trying.

Anyways, it was pretty uneventful. As for the presents I got... I got a toolset from my dad, a Beavers hoodie sweatshirt... uh... god what else? I don't even know. Some money. I don't really care about Christmas anymore, everything I want it too expensive. Nice to be with the families and whatnot though.

The grandmas opening their presents.

So another Christmas Eve is down in the books. I could just copy the post from last year and call it good, but I'll actually write about what happened.

What we did was very similar to last year. The main differences are:

1) We did not go out for cocktails before dinner, breaking a 2 year tradition (it better start up again next year!)
2) We did not get hit-and-run rear ended by a drunk driver.

So all in all the changes were a wash. To review what happened last year, you can click here.

Okay, so we pick up my sister and head out to eat dinner. We decided to go to Il Piato again since we liked it so much last time. Our reservation was at 6:00pm, right when they opened, so it wasn't very busy but it was pretty damn cold. I remember it being packed last year for Christmas Eve, but this year it never got above three quarters full while we were there (over two hours).

Here are some pictures (we sat about 5 feet (one booth) away from where we sat last year):

Looking over the menu.



My sister, looking happy. She actually was pretty sick.



Parents smile despite the bill.



Me and my sister.

Next we went to church. Adrienne didn't go because she was sick, which she was, but also because she hates it more than anything in the world. We arrived pretty late this time, right before the service started, so we were kinda stuck out in the boondocks.

Our view of the church.



Picture from last year, showing where we sat this year.

The church wasn't as gloomy as the first picture shows, it was just dark and so I brightened it up artificially. The service wasn't too long, just over an hour and I kind of enjoyed it. I just like the choir, the songs, the candlelight atmosphere. Once it was over we drove home... without my sister. She wanted to stay at her own place since she was sick so my dad will pick her up in the morning.

Stay tuned for Christmas Day!

We have an update to the "Robert" saga. Same guy calls me today, from a differnt number and asks for Robert. Real hesitant like. I go, "There is no Robert here, this is Thomas" and then he goes "I'm sorry" and hangs up really quick.

He sounded scared. I know I am pretty scary in the morning, especially at 7am. Oh the drama.

Ok so I was wikijumping tonight (moving from one article to another on Wikipedia, the start and end points of your chain can be completely different). Anyway so I started at "The Office" and ended at "Dakota Fanning". Nothing special. I started to read her page though and had to laugh out loud:

"Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia as a three-eyed pie monster, to Steven Fanning (a former rapist who now works as a hobo in Los Angeles)"

I know people vandilze certain pages in Wikipedia, but this was the first time I ever read something ridiculous. It looks likes its been like this for a few days too. Just found it funny.

To the douche who called me at 7:23am (*cough* (503)530-2658 ) there is no Robert here. Never was. After you ask five times, Robert is still not going to suddenly appear. Ugh.

Reminded me of Family Guy when they play Pictionary and the guy keeps guessing a jackel and Stewie goes apeshit on him.

As you all probably know, I went to the Civil War last Friday. It was the 110th rendition between the Ducks and the Beavers and a lot was on the line (other than bragging rights... the most important), much like 2004. Winner goes to the Sun Bowl, loser goes to some lower tier bowl. It took a while but Reser sold out for the first time since 2004, so over 44,000 people soaked in the action (probably 4,000 of them Ducks).

I recommend going here to see pictures of the game and a couple of videos I took as well. Should give you a pretty good idea of what it was like. So yeah, remember that I woke up at 3 am for those tickets near the 40 yard line, but needless to say it was worth it.

For the game... first of all it was raining, steadily. It never let up. It was cold as hell. Last Civil War in 2004 it was dry and cold so it wasn't as bad (but I still remember being frozen) but this time around the cold soaked into your very soul (in the form of water!).

It didn't matter though. The Beavers were playing the Ducks, and that's all people cared about. Oregon looks like shit early, and the Beavers go into halftime up 20-7. Their kicker missed two 34 yard-ish field goals, including one that clanked off the upright. So extra demoralizing! But the Beaver defense looked solid enough and the offense was moving the ball as necessary.

Third quarter they exchanged touchdowns. On Oregon's first drive they took it all the way for the score. 20-14. Shit? No. Beavers respond with a drive that yields a touchdown to make it 27-14. After that neither team scored for a number of possessions.

Fourth quarter rolls around and nothing happens until we're under seven minutes. The Ducks go on a scoring drive to make it 20-27. The extra point attempt was blocked however, something that thrilled me because now they wouldn't be in the lead with another touchdown (yet they found a way). The Beavers can't get a first down on their next possession and have to punt. Reser is now very, very nervous. Ducks move the ball down the field quickly and score. 27-26 Beavs. Do they try the extra point?

In one of the main storylines, Ducks coach Mike Bellotti loses faith in kicker Paul Martinez so he decides to go for two points. Takes everyone by surprise. Brady Leaf runs the ball in and the Ducks lead 28-27 with about three minutes to go. Shit.

But out come the Beavers and quarterback Matt Moore, one ripped on, now celebrated. He leads them on a quick drive that will go down in Beavers lore. A couple of strikes to Sammy Stroughter and the Beavers are in field goal range. They run the clock down to 1:20ish before they have to take the field goal.

At this time I'm so nervous I'm just standing there quiet and not saying a word. Once Alexis Serna puts the ball through the uprights though, I, along with everyone else, goes nuts. Beavers lead 30-28 with just over a minute to go!

Kickoff. Ducks returner fumbles it! Everyone is thinking this is a break... instead it disrupts the rhythm of the coverage and the Ducks returner goes 40 something yards with the return. A couple of down field strikes and the Ducks have a field goal to win it.

Shit, shit, shit, shit. I was so scared at this point. Instead of sending out the kicker that missed two FGs and had a PAT blocked however, the Ducks send out the backup kicker. When he lines up to hit it, the whole stadium is just roaring. Probably the loudest its ever been. Little backup kicker, trying a 44 yard field goal to win the CIVIL WAR.

SHANK! He slams it so low it bounces off a Beaver player's helmet! Game over! Beavs win! Students rush the field (that's me!). Total bedlam. We are in the middle of the field in a mob, jumping around. Steam is rising from our wet but now warm (due to the huddle) bodies. We lifted a few players into the air and carried them off, including Matt Moore. Good times.

Here is a video showing those final plays for your enjoyment!

So I hung around the field a little longer, just soaking in the victory. Any victory against the Ducks is special. You know how much this shit means to me, for the next year I'll be happy as a clam no matter what.

Now some more personal pictures:

Thomas has a Civil War ticket (at the 40 no less!)


Being cold and looking like the Emperor in Star Wars.



Boo ya! Scoreboard!

So yeah, that's it. Awesome, awesome, awesome game and it was certainly sweet to beat the Ducks AGAIN.