Post-Christmas Blar

I’m back in town after a very merry Christmas in Oklahoma.

We stopped on the way up for a little day hiking in the Ouachitas. I’m going to have to get back there more this spring. I’ve missed those mountains.

Since my little hiatus here:

* UH had a dreadful bowl game, raising again the same old question of how to look at this coaching staff — are they an inept collection of high school coaches who can’t beat even mediocre winning programs, or are they actually getting the thing rebuilt (two bowl games in three years) despite UH’s significant limitations? Beats me.

* UH’s basketball team did manage to end a two-game losing streak with a win at North Texas and a tough win tonight at Hofheinz (shots weren’t falling for most of the game, so it was gritty defense that carried them through).

* The disappointment of Kevin Wilson being elevated to offensive coordinator at OU was offset a bit by Josh Heupel’s return to the coaching staff, as quarterbacks coach.

* The Dallas Cowboys remain alive in the playoff hunt, and although they do not control their own destiny, more of the scenarios than one would guess actually do favor them. If Julius Jones is back to full speed, they could be a dangerous team to face in the playoffs. They’re not a Super Bowl contender, but they might not be a team someone would want to play in the first round. If, of course, they even make the tournament.

* The NetRoots have decided that BlogAds with a defaced Bill O’Reilly and Sen. Hutchison are cute and effective ads for Barbara Radnofsky. I can’t imagine they’re anything but off-putting to most people, but that’s the NetRoots for ya.

* I got one of Rick Perry’s Christmas cards with a fake family. Very entertaining. I did not get a Christmas Card from Rep. DeLay, however. Very sad. Maybe it’s on its way, though?

* Google Mail Mobile works GREAT on T-Mobile’s T-Zones. Sadly, Google Local Mobile does not, although it does work well on Cingular’s MediaNet service. Kev and Callie’s roadtrips are very geeky, obviously.

* I will never again put up a live Xmas tree. I took that thing down today. What a mess. I *still* don’t have all those needles up. It’s so bad I ordered a Dyson. I *will* beat the pine needles.

That’s all for now. I hope everyone had a good holiday.