But hey, a quick early shout out to the ladies of the Spirit/FP who always seem to make cold weather look so good with the scarf/boot/furry coat collar business they are sporting in and out of the arena these days. Makes me almost happy to see the cold... almost.
This week marked a couple of milestones: first, our beloved Clips are now under .500... which isn't really a milestone, but certainly sucks, and makes the reality of our injury situation much more prevalent (Sam, Elton... seriously... come back soon...I mean it); second, there was finally a game that I didn't work at... I know, it's tough to keep me away... I figure one of these days Jessie will figure out that I'd seriously do this gig for free and just take me right off the payroll altogether... but it never fails that despite the fact that I only miss 4-5 games a year in the locker room - I always seem to miss something fantastic (to be addressed later in Sunday Love Quotes of the Week); third, the FP holiday party has officially come and gone (pictures below).
As the Spirit found out, I tend to get a little festive this time of year, and for all of the stress and heartache of shopping, holiday travel, etc., I do love the LOVE that this season is about. I love that we FINALLY have a group that feels like family. I love that I get to spend this time with all of you and that we take the time, each week, to catch up with each other.
WHAT a game on Tuesday!!! Well, at least for the first three quarters... but as I sat in the seats (Section 110 thanks to new marketing guy Brendan) in "regular" clothes, I got to really appreciate just how amazing everyone looks out there! Also, the promo pictures that they roll across the jumbo-tron are seriously, SERIOUSLY hot... For the Spirit, I haven't seen that much gravity defiance since they broadcast pictures from the international space station... I even heard that Jessie got that top from a girl that DIDN'T make the team... at least she can feel good knowing that it got put to very effective use. And for the FP, our photo roll-through looks like the credits for a Laguna Hills reality show... (which I think is called, "The Hills"???)... I laugh every time I see Nina's (Fan Patrol Nina) picture flash up there and I think of her at the photo shoot: "You guys, I don't really know how to pose..." right before she kicked through about eighteen different calendar-quality positions... CLASSIC. And, I FINALLY made it onto the jumbo-tron dancing in the seats! (not even wearing my uniform!)... of course, it was mid-way through the fourth quarter and I was the only person left in Section 110 that wasn't headed for the door.... but HEY, I still got on the jumbo (followed by a text from Coach: "Camera Hog"... nice)
Spirit, your routines look amazing from the seats, and I don't care what DeMarco Farr thinks... your dancing makes the Laker Girls look like an act from America's Got Talent that didn't get a chance to finish. Which reminds me, how about Kristin and Harmony on the Steve Mason show?! That guy really can't stop talking about Jessie... (he's probably seen some of the zesty game outfits)... just wait until he sees the new haircut... I think she might become an honorary co-host. Shout outs to follow...
And SUNDAY'S GAME? Well, at least they're getting CLOSE... although the heartbreak of getting that CLOSE to a win that we really needed is almost worse than getting beaten by 20. I have to say, for a game that coach said wouldn't really have much going on - I sure was tired afterwards!
Hey, how about that halftime show? Okay, I know these are Josh's friends... but seriously, watching about a hundred and twenty kids HOLD while the instructors perform for five minutes and then they let them do a one minute routine and get unceremoniously ushered off? Somehow that just doesn't seem like a great deal. And those two tumbler guys they have? Wow. Just when I thought there wasn't anything that could make the middle-aged baton twirling men from pre-game look masculine, these two guys come prancing out. And seriously, who does the baton guy think he's fooling by wearing a SLEEVELESS CAMOUFLAGE top? "Uh, well, he's twirling a baton (something I think my little sister used to do in grade school)... but CHECK OUT THE CAMO! What a bad ass! ... did you see that high toss and pirouette???" For the record, I don't believe that holding the world record for something makes it good halftime entertainment...
Eg:
http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD
http://thelongestlistofthelonge
http://www.headbalancer.com
Do I need to go on?
Okay, okay... I'm tired of waiting for them... SUNDAY SHOUT OUTS (and a few BLASTS - David said I had to write that)
FAN PATROL - What a great holiday party! It was so good to spend that time with you all... Some pictures below.... but what's with all the liquor gifts? ... it looked like the gift table at Ted Kennedy's birthday party up there...
http://picasaweb.google.com
where to start...
JESSIE - first off, for picking up the MASSIVE dinner tab... for getting us an AWESOME table at the Liberty Grill for the party... for that FANTASTIC new haircut (which I spent almost the entire game thinking was just your old hairdo tucked into your sweater, lol). Okay, but with the "it makes me look five years younger" thing... cut it out already... if you looked five years younger, you'd look 24, and that would just be creepy - especially with your daughters running about. For a great speech at the party - we love you too! For THAT FACE while the halftime show was going... oh, what an honest look that was :)
JOSH - for, instead of Sunday practice, making us run through the hot song at least EIGHT times full out... like I don't sweat ENOUGH during warm ups (for the record, Joey was sweating, too!) But hey, that was an aggressive and fun routine - and you made damned sure we had it down! for (and this one was big) for showing up to the holiday party, even though you have a HUGE test tomorrow... it wouldn't have been the same without you. Also, although its long overdue, for taking the initiative to head back to school - we're all VERY proud of you. Hope the test (and speech) go well!
DAVE SANCHEZ - for your increasingly awesome stuntage at the games... you look great stepping up out there! You always remind me to get up into the stands at every opportunity... sorry the Santa hat didn't fit over the mop - but you managed to look festive nonetheless... for always leading the cheers... for the nearly empty bottle of ibuprofen in your truck that has clearly gotten you through some games you would have been better off not doing... that's dedication Holmes. Looking forward to that snowboarding trip... who knows... maybe we'll make it a team event.
JOEY - for that DOUBLE-CUPIE at Tuesday's game. For being ever at the ready with the homosexual double-entendre if I were ever to miss one... for being a crack shot with rubber bands AND rubber wristbands (how do you shoot those things so well?!) It truly never gets old to see you fire those at Katie... good times at hockey... but seriously, can ONE of our teams win a game soon? It's downright DEPRESSING... Awesome work on camera while holding up silent auction items, you look about as comfortable doing that as a UCLA fan in downtown LA... (sorry Coach)
CORTLIN - not only do I not have a single quote from you about awkwardly personal sweating habits this week, I hear that the most shocking thing that happened in the locker room when I wasn't there had NOTHING to do with you... Are you feeling ok? :) Was good to have you at the party, though - and you managed to sneak a quote in JUST under the wire.
LESLIE - for your awesome attitude... you're always down to head up into the stands, cheer, tumble, or whatever it takes. I don't think I've seen a thug give you that look for weeks... did you lose your touch? for your unnatural obsession with "Hello Kitty" ... I mean, you have to be farthest thing EVER from a Japanese schoolgirl - and yet, you still put Arturo's present in a HK gift bag... you have to love the irony of a RAIDERS shirt in that bag, though... and, in fairness, when you put it with that smile of yours, it totally works. Hope you don't mind if I use that picture of us from the holiday party to tell all my friends back home who I'm dating here in L.A. :) (I may also use the pictures of Nina, Summer and Kristen for the same thing, lol)
KRISTEN M. - for that laugh, every time someone mentions alcohol - like someone's mentioning an old, beloved friend of yours... for looking fantastic in the red uniform on Tuesday night, and for another "last straw"... seriously, you may have enough of those to fill a good sized barn by now. You have the best facials of anyone out there... and I love that you see the bright side in the Bruins loss (See Quotes)
DAVID W. - for putting together an AWESOME gift for Coach... for your continually bad-ass tumblage... for NOT being those halftime guys... for ALWAYS putting the time in to get things together. At least three of those halftime cheerleaders asked for you while we were up on the concourse before the game... apparently you're pretty well known with that crowd!
KATIE - for TOTALLY coming on the Sacramento Trip! For dancing in the corners (and on the court during warm-ups and pre-anthem)... for NOT warming up your basket... for that undeniable smile... for being referred to as that "six pack girl"... For, by far, the cutest cold-weather gear (something about you in a scarf, reminds me of Annapolis in the winter)... for sharing in my Navy Football joy (along with Taylor)... for just being, well, you.
NINA E. - for an AMAZING game today! Basket after basket after basket... you were just as much fun to work with in the corner as I expected, and actually a little bit more. For tolerating my behind the basket free throw silliness... for breaking hearts ALL OVER the arena... a really good way to get ONLY your wrists on camera is to stunt with Nina... Seriously, if that HD camera guy got any closer to you, he would have been wearing your shorts with you. For not being my Secret Sister, and saving me a ton of money on that Caribbean vacation, lol. For taking "one big step" into that tarzan-up-to-shoulders... just so you won't go up with the wrong foot!
NATE & NICOLE - totally missed you two at the party today! Come back soon! If your talent gets into any greater demand you may have to clone yourselves! Word on the street is, you have some pretty sweet gifts waiting for you... HURRY BACK!
TAMI - for ALWAYS showing up at Open Gym! Even when it's just you and me in there, I always get a tremendous amount of great work in... and you're a trooper! For always being ready with a high five after a successful stunt - and for always being ready with encouragement if things don't go perfectly. Sorry about the butt-catch while warming up walk-ups - at least we were back-stage! Wish we would have gotten some more time to work together at the game, but you and Dave looked great... Looking forward to Open Gym again soon - and SO excited that you're coming on the Sac Trip!
ARTURO - for being BY FAR the most excited to get your Secret Santa gift... I have never seen someone take so much joy in life's little pleasures. That's probably a lesson for all of us... no, that's definitely a lesson for all of us. For always showing up... for always stepping up. I remember thinking that when we met that it would be so great to someday have you as a teammate... and I was TOTALLY right. :)
SUMMER - for being an AMAZING game partner (I think that's the most we've ever stunted together - and you were great), for being my surrogate Secret Sister, and still looking surprised. For still being happy, even when you didn't get brownies from your secret sister... for not being from the Spearmint Rhino (okay, for those of you that don't know - when the FP girls first debuted the red unis, Summer got asked if she was from that joint ... which apparently is a strip club, but you'll have to ask Joey... I'll take that that means our girls look great ... and aren't wearing very much, lol). For your "little voice" in the corners... I'm sure I haven't said this enough - but it's good to have you back.
....
SPIRIT!!!! You ladies looked AMAZING with the Junior Jam... and seriously, after watching the baton-twirling pre-game and cheer-dance-thing halftime, you were a sight for sore eyes (no really, my eyes were really sore - and you should have seen Jessie's!) Don't think I forgot about y'all!
ASHLIE R. - for proving the Sunday Love Law of Tripping, which states: if you trip in uniform and you think no one saw you... rest assured, Sunday Love saw you! But seriously, with a smile and hair flip - you TOTALLY pulled it off.
KRISTIN E. - for, while the rest of the girls were dancing around and enjoying the Christmas music I put in your locker room, freaking out because someone had been in your locker room! I mean, I understand that people have been in there and stolen things in the past, so you should be concerned... but what sort of sick bastard would do that and then leave behind Christmas music?!?! For the record, I DID tell Whitney that I put it in there before she went in... so you can blame it on her... :)
... and speaking of...
WHITNEY - for not QUITE making the half-court shot over your back, but still making it look oh-so-easy and oh-so-good... for always stopping by the FP locker room just to say "hi" (which we LOVE by the way!), for always having a smile and kind word for us when we come off the court... You're so much more than the "cute, curly haired girl"... How many fans have asked me "Do you know Whitney?"... to which I always answer... "Um, of course, ... we're dating".
HARMONY - for being EXCEEDINGLY nice to Steve Mason on the radio (along with Kristin E)... I really NEVER get tired of this clip: http://stations.espn.go.com
TIFFANY and MELISSA - SO EXCITED that you're joining us for the Sac trip... and Tiffany rolling with her fam, and the rest of the posse... rollin' RV/road-trip style - I think you two are in for a real treat... and if you haven't spent time with a bunch of cheerleaders before - a little heads-up... we're NOT very quiet at these outings...
KELLEY - for rolling back from Santa Barbara on a Sunday morning to make a 10 o'clock call time... and still rolling out with the girls for noodles after the game... that's commitment y'all... and also, coincidentally, the only way to avoid traffic coming back from Santa B.
ALEX - so GOOD to see your smiling face back out there...
SHANNON - It's so weird that I shout "SMILE SHANNON!" while you're dancing - especially because you're always smiling... and I officially haven't seen your socks in, like, three weeks now... what's up with that?
Hey Spirit... seriously, can I get a little help here? This is the last week I'm going without - if I don't get some dirt from you all - I'm getting another locker room correspondent. Come on, now ... who's got some props to give out?!
.....
OKAY, now I'd be remiss not to mention some BIG College Football stuff that happened over the weekend...
As many of you already know - USC defeated UCLA in L.A.'s biggest cross-town rivalry, 24-7. So Jessie's, Kristen's, and Tami's Bruins couldn't repeat last year's feat, and end up sending the Trojans off to the Rose Bowl to face Illinois from the Big 10... much trash was talked, and Joey, who put his money where his mouth was, came out ahead for the second week in a row - this time with a nice bottle of Ketel One for his trouble. But what's even more awesome about this bet, is that Jessie will get a chance for revenge as her beloved Bruins will face off against Joey's alma mater, BYU in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22. What are you kids betting this time?
NAVY capped off one the most successful seasons ever, by dump-trucking Army 38-3. The win marks the sixth straight, and is the first time that EITHER team was won at least six straight in the 108 year history of the rivalry. It also finished up the highest scoring season in NAVY history - a mark previously held by the 1917 team... yes, 1917 (My senior year in HS, right, Joey?) And in another odd turn of events, NAVY will be facing off against Kelley's UTAH squad in the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20th... and I think we all know who's going to win that....
So, the college football regular season is done - and another week where #1 and #2 both lost ... it's finally set... Ohio State will play LSU on January 7th for all the marbles. NOTRE DAME, at a dismal 3-9 will not be playing in a bowl this year (their bowl losing streak will have to wait another year to be continued)... but I got a very interesting letter from a Notre Dame grad that I will forward on later this week.
So - pretty soon I'll have to find something else to put in this part of Sunday Love - that or start talking about Navy's season in 2008 :)
...and OF COURSE, last, but certainly not least - the NOW FAMOUS, SUNDAY LOVE QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
"F U", "F U", "F U" - the three consecutive text messages sent by Jessie to Joey, after he texted "How bout those Trojans?" at the close of the game. Simple, yet still eloquent, Coach. :)
"Yeah, but hers looks dirty" - Tami, after I remarked that she and Kristen both stick their tongues out when they're up in stunts. Ah, Bruin Love...
"Turn around and raise your hand" - Kelley to Laura, so she could point out "the girl that made that half court shot" to some friends in the stands. Ah, the high price of fame. At least she was waving to the right box this time.
"*CENSORED*", "*CENSORED*", "*CENSORED*", "*CENSORED*"... - Nate reading Kristen M.'s text messages aloud, which I completely missed by not being in the locker room... Censored due to explicit sexual content - some of it misspelled. There are two morals to this story: 1. If you're saying something to someone that you wouldn't ever want them to tell all of their teammates about, it's probably best to say it, instead of writing it down and 2. Kristen's boyfriend says some really, really funny stuff (ask to borrow her phone).
"No, I'm not going.... I mean, I COULD... but I'm not going" - Cortlin, when I looked surprised that she wasn't going to Lakers game after the holiday party. I guess it's better that way... I don't have to worry about her getting stuck in the upper concourse and freaking out. Besides, I'm sure even the Owner's Suite gets boring after a while. :)
"I got down on the appetizers!" - Nina E., trying to explain why after ordering a half chicken entre, she consumed about 3 bites of it (see photos).
"She looks like the morning after, the night before" - me, which David S. reminded me of... but we can't remember what the heck, or who the heck I was talking about...
"Well, at least I have a TON of liquor left over from the party" - Kristen M., finding the silver lining in the cloud that was the UCLA loss...
.....
Okay, folks... I know this is now Monday Love instead of Sunday Love, but I wrote MOST of it last night, so I think I still get Sunday credit. Let me take a moment to thank Marianne for giving me the continuing opportunity to co-host ... it is an awesome opportunity, and I have a blast out there with Traci (who is amazing and who I'm learning a ton from).
Hope you all have a tremendous week... next Sunday I'll be writing about the big Sac trip... and hopefully Jessie wont be flying up to bail us out of jail...
In case you're interested (and I've already fielded one request), I'll burn you a copy of my holiday mix if you're so inclined ... buy a copy to play loud from a hidden location in Kristin's house, Holiday fun for everyone :)....
Happy December all!
Truitt... OUT.
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