House Mountain Hike #197, 12-26-2024: the Day after Christmas (published 12-30-2024; article #509)

Introduction

Some people celebrate the day after Christmas as Boxing Day or the beginning of Kwanzaa. While this Appalachian Irishman respects the meaning behind those observances, the day after Christmas, for me, was celebrated by going on my third hike in three days on House Mountain! The first article published today shares my Christmas Eve hike. The second entry today recounts my Christmas Day hike.

The late morning propane delivery that filled our underground tank delayed my departure. Afterward, I filled up my tank before the hike. The usual sandwich and apple were washed down with a few ounces of Coke.

Properly hydrated and with hiking gear ready, my 2006 Frontier took me to the upper parking lot. I recall about 20 vehicles already there.

The morning low of 37 degrees Fahrenheit had already warmed to the upper 50s. Morning clouds had given way to sunshine and wind, but the sky became mostly cloudy, once I started hiking. Rain was coming, but not today! Let's hike!

Hiking Up the West Trail Again

Starting late, I touched the marker near the sheltered picnic area at 2:19 PM. Fifteen minutes later, I started hiking up the six upper switchbacks. The four lower switchbacks and lower areas were behind me.

Seven minutes later, I reached the final upper switchback. Making good time, other hikers and I shared holiday greetings, as we passed each other. In thirteen more minutes, at 2:54 PM, I reached the west bluff, touched the rock, and noticed the time. I matched my time hiking up on Christmas Day, 35 minutes.

Selfie at the West Bluff

I should have worn only the T-shirt! The button-up short-sleeve shirt had to come off, along with Mike's ball cap. My forehead dripped with sweat. Temperatures in the 20s or 30s are better hiking weather! You don't sweat!

Having swallowed a few sips of water from my old canteen and wiped forehead sweat onto my patched-up blue jeans, I took the following “selfie” at 3:02 PM.

I was sitting on the highest rock on the west bluff. The view looks northwest. The breeze evaporated sweat from the T-shirt. No one else, except God, was with me. I had the bluff to myself.

Still sitting on that rock, two minutes later, I photographed my other shirt, canteen, and Mike's ball cap.

Deciding not to venture east across the ridge, I chose to hike down and out on the same west trail. Can you tell that I like that trail? I thought so.

Hiking Down and Out: Squirrels are Hard to Photograph!

I started back down at 3:08 PM. It took me 55 minutes to touch the sign near the picnic area to end the hike. At 4:03 PM, the sun was setting quickly, but I had almost two more hours of daylight. I wish that I had hiked east across the ridge, reached the ridgeline bluff, and hiked down and out on the east trail.

What delayed my hike down and out? Have you ever tried to photograph a squirrel? I tried twice and failed both times!

At an upper switchback, I saw the first squirrel, perched on a nearby tree stump. Slowly and silently, I removed my “semi-intelligent” phone from its case, clipped to my belt. Using the camera, I tried to zoom in to shoot that squirrel! He was in a perfect position, looking at me. As I began to snap his image, the squirrel jumped off the stump and bounced far away. I thought that I heard him say, “You just think that you can take my photograph! Watch this!”

Undaunted, just beyond the lowest upper switchback, the second squirrel leaped directly across the trail on his way down! He paused briefly, just long enough for me to take out my phone. Well, ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not, that squirrel jumped away, before I could even focus a shot! Did I hear that squirrel laughing at me?

I know what you're thinking! I had the same thought. Was it the same squirrel or a different one?

Conclusion

Late last year, I enjoyed hiking House Mountain three days in a row. Hikes on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of November 2023 are chronicled in the article from 11/19/2023.

The conclusion of the 11/16/2024 article, about my 194th hike on House Mountain, shared my goal to hike my mountain for the 200th time by year-end. Weather conditions and more pressing obligations prohibited me. That's okay! Lord willing, I plan to reach my 200th hike on House Mountain next month. That is still my goal, even if it was delayed.

See you on the trails!

House Mountain Hike #196, 12-25-2024: Christmas Day (published 12-30-2024; article #508)

Introduction

Well before sunrise on Christmas morning, I awakened to see Mrs. Appalachian Irishman already busying herself with food preparations for the meal at her father's house. Before noon, she loaded up our 2012 Sentra with food fixings and headed to her father's house. There, she joined her two sisters, our niece, and a family friend. The five women scurried about like ants to finalize the afternoon meal. My father and my wife's two male first cousins must have watched or listened in amazement.

With Christmas dinner at my father-in-law's house not starting until at least 2 PM, what did I do? I got in a quick hike before Christmas dinner! It was my 196th hike on House Mountain. The first article published today shares my Christmas Eve hike on House Mountain.

Photographs from the West Bluff

The early morning breakfast (cereal and coffee) didn't last long. Before noon, my digestive system signaled the need for more food. I couldn't wait until 2 PM. So, after my wife left for her father's house, I fixed and ate a sandwich and apple (my usual noon meal), washing it down with about six ounces of Coke.

Canteen filled with water? Check. Sheath knife on belt? Check. Mike's ball cap on my head? Check. Let's hike! As on Christmas Eve, my 2006 Frontier once again became the 14th vehicle in the parking lot. I joined and met in passing several other Christmas Day hikers.

Touching the marker near the picnic area at 12:46 PM, I started up the west trail, just like the day before. Fifteen minutes later, I started up the six upper switchbacks. It took me only seven minutes to reach the highest switchback. I was making better time than the day before. After a lucky 13 minutes passed, I had hiked across and up the trail below the ridge. At 1:21 PM, I touched the rock near the west bluff to mark my time. On Christmas Eve, 40 minutes were required. On Christmas Day, I made the same trek in 35 minutes. My “lame mountain goat” precautions continue to slow me down. My goal is to hike up the west bluff in under 30 minutes, as I did before becoming a “bionic” man.

Enough of the me-against-me battle to hike up faster! What about the photographs from the west bluff? The following is the first of the two that I took:

The above photograph was taken at 1:26 PM, looking northeast. Mike's ball cap, first mentioned in the 8/5/2023 short story, rests above my trusty canteen. Unlike Christmas Eve, the sky was sunny and a crisp blue. The temperature was in the upper 50s.

Two minutes later, from the same location, I turned slightly northwest to photograph the view.

Mike's ball cap and my canteen are still visible. A group of three young people was resting on the rock in the background. I didn't speak with them. I don't think that they noticed me. Overhearing their conversation, they seemed to be discussing a technical topic about business. I asked myself, “Who hikes to the west bluff of House Mountain on Christmas Day to talk about business?” Well, these three young folks did!

Oh, no! What time is it? It's 1:30 PM on the dot! I need to get off this mountain and to my father-in-law's house for Christmas dinner! Let's hike down and out the west trail as fast as we can!

Conclusion

Thankfully, I was not overly cautious, as I usually am, while hiking down and out. I was making excellent time.

At the third switchback down, however, I was pleasantly delayed by a fairly brief but engrossing conversation with three hikers, who had paused to catch their breaths. The older man, a few years younger than me, was from Knox County. The lady, ten years my junior, and the young man, probably in his late 20s, were from Florida. Christmas Day greetings turned to conversations about hiking. Those led to the realization that the four of us were Christians. We enjoyed a moment of Christian worship and prayer at that switchback! I hope to meet those folks again. The older man has Irish roots, just like this Appalachian Irishman. All four of us are rooted in Christ.

At 2:22 PM, just as I was about to touch the marker near the picnic area to end my hike, my “long-suffering” wife called to ask where I was! I still hiked down and out in 52 minutes, including the enjoyable conversation that delayed me. “Yes, dear, I'm walking out to my truck. I'll be there in about ten minutes.” I was.

Arriving at my in-laws' house, the final preparations were still underway. Dinner was served shortly thereafter. As usual, it was a fine meal with far too many leftovers. Christmas presents were then exchanged. Having requested that no one give me gifts, I still received a few.

You see, dear reader, I already have the gift of Christ. Why do I need any other gift at Christmas? I'm too old for gifts or Christmas stocking stuffers.

The next article will be about my hike on House Mountain on the day after Christmas. Three House Mountain hikes in three days, before, on, and after Christmas Day, were a memory in the making.

House Mountain Hike #195, 12-24-2024: Christmas Eve Silence (published 12-30-2024; article #507)

Introduction

On Christmas Eve, I was perched on the ridgetop, watching in silence. Below me, frenzied shoppers were fighting traffic bottlenecks and hordes of fellow crass consumers. Earlier on Christmas Eve, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had been one of them. Not me.

This 72nd entry in the Hiking topic section celebrates, not the coarse commercialization of Christmas, but the silent Christmas Eve solitude on a House Mountain ridgetop. Christmas Eve marked my 195th hike on House Mountain.

I hope that your Christmas Eve was relaxing and enjoyable. On “my mountain,” Christmas Eve was wonderful, even if it was too warm for snow. Come along and hike with me!

Hiking Up the West Trail

Early on Christmas Eve, the cool morning low of 21 degrees Fahrenheit and sunshine warmed quickly into the upper 40s. Clouds filled the once sunny, blue sky. I should have started hiking early that morning.

Instead, my trusty 2006 Frontier carried me to the parking lot just after the noon meal. Thirteen vehicles were already parked. Several hikers were already on the trails. I joined them.

At 1:15 PM, touching the sign near the picnic area marked the beginning of my hike up the west trail. The first four days of last week brought rain, followed by three days of clouds. The two days of sunshine before Christmas Eve, however, dried most of the mud in the usual low-lying areas. Seventeen minutes were needed to hike up the four lower switchbacks, negotiate through the lower and rocky areas, and start up the six upper switchbacks.

Eight minutes later, I reached the highest and final switchback. Hiking up to that point, brief conversations with fellow hikers exchanged Christmas greetings. A young man in one group expressed, “Happy holidays!” My reply was, “Merry Christmas!” I always reply that way, when someone extends to me that politically correct greeting.

After another fifteen minutes, I had hiked along and up the narrow, rocky, and steep trail below the ridge. At 1:55 PM, I touched the rock at the west bluff to mark my time, 40 minutes exactly from base to bluff. Brief conversations with other hikers and pauses to view the remarkable surroundings slowed my ascent. Well, my “lame mountain goat” precautions, due to my surgically reconstructed right kneecap and right heel, still slow me down a little.

I photographed the following view from near the west bluff at 2 PM exactly. The view looks southwest, toward Knoxville.

Despite cloudy conditions, I was impressed by the artwork in the sky. I turned northeast to hike for a while along the ridge trail, which is behind me in the above photograph.

Christmas Eve Silence on the Ridgetop

The west side of the ridge trail soon reaches a crest. Continuing northeast beyond that, the trail dips and rises three times, before reaching the high and north-facing bluff. The west side crest was peaceful and quiet. I relaxed and enjoyed the silence. The following two photographs are from that crest.

At 2:24 PM, I photographed the next panoramic view, looking north.

The light clouds hovered gently above. The farther northeast segment of House Mountain is visible. Can you hear the frantic noise of last-minute Christmas gift shopping below? I didn't think so. Hearing only the gentle rustling of squirrels and birds in the underbrush, I enjoyed Christmas Eve silence on the ridgetop.

Two men and a boy were coming up and across the trail from the east. Exchanging Christmas Eve greetings, I left them and started hiking back west the way that I had come. Four minutes after the previous image, I photographed the following section of that ridge trail, heading back west.

I have always enjoyed the clean serenity of that location. The clouds were showing potential breaks to allow the sun to shine through them.

Hiking Down and Out

At 2:32 PM, I reached the west bluff again and started my descent down the same west trail, up which I had hiked.

Still heading east along the trail below the ridgeline, I took the following and final photograph at 2:43 PM.

That is one of several huge rock outcroppings along this trail. The view looks up and to the north. Do you see the seemingly petrified tree trunk, jutting out from the gaping crevice? That is what I call the “Defiant Tree.” I touch it while passing beside it. Long ago, the tree grew out from that crevice. Eventually, the trunk split apart, and the severed section fell down the steep bank below. The “Defiant Tree” has been the same, since my first hike on House Mountain. That first hike was on the Sunday afternoon of April 23, 2000. A niece, age 12 at the time, and I, at age 39, hiked.

Conclusion

I hope, dear reader, that you enjoyed reading about my Christmas Eve silence on House Mountain. It was far more enjoyable than shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts! Driving out and back to a main county road, the sun broke through the clouds. How quickly the weather changes.

The gift of Christ is the reason for the season. Share the gift of Christ with all, who will accept it. It is the Gift that keeps on giving.

I also hiked House Mountain on Christmas Day and the day after Christmas, for three hikes in three days. Forthcoming articles, also published today, will be about those hikes.

The Homeplace has a New Roof! (published 12-23-2024; article #506)

Introduction

On the eve of Christmas Eve, greetings, dear reader!

Has the crass commercialization of Christmas and the frenzied last-minute shopping overtaken you? I hope not. Today, it did for my “long-suffering” wife. This Appalachian Irishman, however, celebrates Christmas by honoring the birth of Jesus, God, the preincarnate eternal Word. The marketing and sales exploitation of the holiday puts me off profoundly.

Welcome to the 107th entry in the Heritage topic section. The weather today was perfect for hiking. Other priorities came first. One of which was this article. This entry follows up on the 12/11/2024 article, under the section “Trip to Hawkins County.”

The homeplace has a new roof! It is a Christmas gift to family heritage.

After the New Roof

Last Friday morning, I was pleasantly surprised by communication from the roofing contractor's office. A cancellation in Bean Station meant that the new roof for the homeplace could be installed that day! The weather was cool and windy, with a few snow flurries. It did not rain! Thanks, Lord!

Yesterday afternoon, I drove up to the homeplace in my 2006 Frontier. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman chose to spend time with her family. The weather was seasonably cool and sunny. I didn't see a cloud. Yesterday was the first completely sunny day that we've had since Thursday, December 12. Upon arrival, I saw that the new roof looks great!

Below, I photographed the front side of the new roof at 2:41 PM. The sun was beginning to set in the west.

A minute later, I took the following photograph of the back side of the roof.

Yes, that's my shadow. The new shingles are settling down nicely. What about before photographs? That's next.

Before the New Roof

Once the roofing contractor and his crew started removing the old shingles, they discovered sections of damaged plywood, more than they thought would be there.

Last Friday, the outstanding and hands-on contractor, who is the same age as me, sent the following three photographs of damaged plywood.

That's nasty. Thankfully, the underlayment, or roofing felt, prevented water damage to the ceiling below.

Those are the contractor's shoes! I had offered to drive up last Friday to help as needed. There was no need. I would have just gotten in their way.

All the damaged plywood boards were replaced properly with new ones! Thanks, Arlie and crew!

With permission, I would include the full name of the contractor and his business contact information. His roofing company does not need to advertise, and he is busy enough already. The quality of the work done with attention to minute detail is the way any business should be run. Yesterday, for example, I didn't find a single piece of trash, left behind accidentally, around the house. That's what you call tidying up!

Conclusion

In 1974, the first roof was on the newly constructed house. In November 1995, the house required a new roof. My wife and I, while still doing Christian missionary work in Russia, gifted my parents with a new roof. Sometime between 2001 and 2005, homeowners insurance paid for a new roof, after a sleet storm damaged it. Dad was still living, and he handled the details.

Last Friday's new roof on the homeplace was a Christmas gift to family heritage. The shingles should last 30 years. Will I still be alive at age 94? The homeplace continues to stand in honor of family heritage. May that godly heritage continue.

2024-25 College Football Playoff and Bowl Games: List and Commentary (published 12-17-2024; article #505)

Photograph by M. Fearghail on 10/28/2022, as included in the 8/4/2022 article, updated on 10/28/2022.

Introduction

The conclusion explains why the above photograph was chosen for this article. Bowl games and toilet bowls have something in common.

Greetings, sports enthusiasts! Welcome to the 18th entry in the Sports topic section. Today's edition focuses on the College Football Playoff and the myriad of bowl games. For the third year in a row, this article is a public service to college football aficionados. The previous two public service articles were on December 10, 2022, and December 10, 2023.

Recent Saturdays have been stocked with college football games. According to weekly calculations based on NCAA: 2024 Scoreboard: Football: FBS, between 40 and 75 games were scheduled on any given Saturday since August 31. Those were great football Saturdays, even when my teams lost.

Last Saturday fielded only two lackluster games: Navy trounced Army West Point, and South Alabama beat Western Michigan. Wait! I almost forgot. There were also two obscure bowl games that day, if anyone cared. In the Celebration Bowl, Jackson State celebrated by dominating South Carolina State. The Salute to Veterans Bowl saw South Alabama defeat Western Michigan. Last Saturday, I experienced FWS (football withdrawal syndrome)!

Not to worry! The four first-round games in the College Football Playoff (CFP) will be played this Friday and Saturday! We will jump into that section next.

Watch out for the conclusion! It explains why bowl games and toilet bowls have something in common. Furthermore, it bemoans Mrs. Appalachian Irishman's Saturday morning television selections and proposes renaming the Southeastern Conference to the Sun-Earth Conference.

College Football Playoff (CFP)

Jumping now into the CFP, this is the first 12-team playoff season. I'm sure that a few kinks need adjusting. For instance, Clemson (#16 CFP, 10-3, including an early loss to Georgia) earned the 12th seed in the playoff by upsetting SMU (#10 CFP, 11-2) in the ACC championship game on December 7.

Consequently, the final CFP ranking includes four teams, not in the playoff, that rank higher than Clemson: #11 Alabama, #13 Miami, #14 Ole Miss, & #15 South Carolina. Arizona State is ranked #12 and is the fourth seed in the playoff. Those four higher-ranked schools, especially Alabama, have reason to be upset!

My suggestion is to rank the 12-team playoff based on the final CFP ranking, without giving weight to conference champions. If that were done this year, then the 12 teams would be:

#1 Oregon (Big Ten, 13-0), #2 Georgia (SEC, 11-2), #3 Texas (SEC, 11-2, both losses to Georgia), #4 Penn State (Big Ten, 11-2), #5 Notre Dame (FBS Indep., 11-1), #6 Ohio State (Big Ten, 10-2), #7 Tennessee (SEC, 10-2), #8 Indiana (Big Ten, 11-1), #9 Boise State (Mountain West, 12-1), #10 SMU (ACC, 11-2), #11 Alabama (SEC, 9-3), and #12 Arizona State (Big 12, 11-2).

 

The top four seeded teams would have a first-round bye. The four first-round matchups would be in the first bracket: #12 Arizona State at #5 Notre Dame and #9 Boise State at #8 Indiana. The second bracket would match #11 Alabama at #6 Ohio State and #10 SMU at #7 Tennessee. My suggestion is simpler. That's my opinion. Feel free to make it yours!

Of course, this coming Friday and Saturday, the first-round matchups will be in the first bracket: #12 Clemson at #5 Texas and #9 Tennessee at #8 Ohio State. The second bracket matches #11 SMU at Penn State and #10 Indiana at #7 Notre Dame. Sources: College Football Playoff, College Football Playoff: 2024-25 Bracket, and NCAA: 2024 Scoreboard: Football: FBS.

My bracket would pair off #10 SMU on the road at #7 Tennessee this Friday. Instead, Tennessee travels to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes this Saturday at 8 PM. I hope that I can go to bed before the game is over, knowing that the Vols have a comfortable lead. Go Vols!

On New Year's Day, in the Sugar Bowl, #2 Georgia takes on the winner of the Indiana at Notre Dame first-round game. The game doesn't start until 8:45 PM on ESPN. I wonder how long I'll stay up, watching that game. Go Dawgs!

Bowl Games

Following the tradition of the two previous public service articles from 12/10/2022 and 12/10/2023, this section lists in a more user-friendly fashion the 47 (count 'em, 47) bowl games. As mentioned, the first two were last Saturday. The final will be on Monday, 1/20/2025, the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Ready for the exhausting list? Drum roll, please! The following is the user-friendly list of the 2024-25 bowl games:

Saturday, Dec. 14: 2 games
-- Celebration Bowl, Atlanta, GA: Jackson State 28, South Carolina State 7
-- Salute to Veterans Bowl, Montgomery, AL: South Alabama 30, Western Michigan 23

Tuesday, Dec. 17: 1 game
-- Frisco Bowl, 9 PM, ESPN, Frisco, TX: #25 Memphis vs. West Virginia

Wednesday, Dec. 18: 2 games
-- Boca Raton Bowl, 5:30 PM, ESPN, Boca Raton, FL: James Madison vs. Western Kentucky
-- LA Bowl, 9 PM, ESPN, Inglewood, CA: #24 UNLV vs. Cal

Thursday, Dec. 19: 1 game
-- New Orleans Bowl, 7 PM, ESPN2, New Orleans, LA: Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern

Friday, Dec. 20: 3 games
-- Cure Bowl, 12 PM, ESPN, Orlando, FL: Ohio vs. Jacksonville State
-- Gasparilla Bowl, 3:30 PM, ESPN, Tampa, FL: Florida vs. Tulane
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 2 First Round Game, 8 PM, ABC/ESPN, South Bend, IN: #8 CFP/#10 seed Indiana at #5 CFP/#7 seed Notre Dame

Saturday, Dec. 21: 3 games
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 2 First Round Game, 12 PM, TNT, University Park, PA: #10 CFP/#11 seed SMU at #4 CFP/#6 seed Penn State
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 1 First Round Game, 4 PM, TNT, Austin, TX: #16 CFP/#12 seed Clemson at #3 CFP/#5 seed Texas
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 1 First Round Game, 8 PM, ABC/ESPN, Columbus, OH: #7 CFP/#9 seed Tennessee at #6 CFP/#8 seed Ohio State

Monday, Dec. 23: 2 games
-- Myrtle Beach Bowl, 11 AM, ESPN, Conway, SC: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA
-- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2:30 PM, ESPN, Boise, ID: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State

Tuesday, Dec. 24: 1 game
-- Hawai'i Bowl, 8 PM, ESPN, Honolulu, HI: South Florida vs. San Jose State

Thursday, Dec. 26: 3 games
-- GameAbove Sports Bowl, 2 PM, ESPN, Detroit, MI: Pitt vs. Toledo
-- Rate Bowl, 5:30 PM, ESPN, Phoenix, AZ: Rutgers vs. Kansas State
-- 68 Ventures Bowl, 9 PM, ESPN, Mobile, AL: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green

Friday, Dec. 27: 5 games
-- Armed Forces Bowl, 12 PM, ESPN, Fort Worth, TX: Navy vs. Oklahoma
-- Birmingham Bowl, 3:30 PM, ESPN, Birmingham, AL: Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt
-- Liberty Bowl, 7 PM, ESPN, Memphis, TN: Arkansas vs. Texas Tech
-- Holiday Bowl, 8 PM, Fox, San Diego, CA: #21 Syracuse vs. Washington State
-- Las Vegas Bowl, 10:30 PM, ESPN, Las Vegas, NV: USC vs. Texas A&M

Saturday, Dec. 28: 8 games
-- Fenway Bowl, 11 AM, ESPN, Boston, MA: UConn vs. North Carolina
-- Pinstripe Bowl, 12 PM, ABC, Bronx, NY: Boston College vs. Nebraska
-- New Mexico Bowl, 2:15 PM, ESPN, Albuquerque, NM: TCU vs. Louisiana
-- Pop-Tarts Bowl, 3:30 PM, ABC, Orlando, FL: #13 Miami (FL) vs. #18 Iowa State
-- Arizona Bowl, 4:30 PM, CW Network, Tucson, AZ: Colorado State vs. Miami (OH)
-- Military Bowl, 5:45 PM, ESPN, Annapolis, MD: NC State vs. East Carolina
-- Alamo Bowl, 7:30 PM, ABC, San Antonio, TX: #17 BYU vs. #23 Colorado
-- Independence Bowl, 9:15 PM, ESPN, Shreveport, LA: #22 Army vs. Marshall

Monday, Dec. 30: 1 game
-- Music City Bowl, 2:30 PM, ESPN, Nashville, TN: #19 Missouri vs. Iowa

Tuesday, Dec. 31: 5 games
-- ReliaQuest Bowl, 12 PM, ESPN, Tampa, FL: #11 Alabama vs. Michigan
-- Sun Bowl, 2 PM, CBS, El Paso, TX: Louisville vs. Washington
-- Citrus Bowl, 3 PM, ABC, Orlando, FL: #15 South Carolina vs. #20 Illinois
-- Texas Bowl, 3:30 PM, ESPN, Houston, TX: LSU vs. Baylor
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 2 Quarterfinal Game (Fiesta Bowl), 7:30 PM, ESPN, Glendale, AZ: #9 rank/#3 seed Boise State vs. the winner of bracket 2: SMU at Penn State

Wednesday, Jan. 1: 3 games
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 1 Quarterfinal Game (Peach Bowl), 1 PM, ESPN, Atlanta, GA: #12 rank/#4 seed Arizona State vs. the winner of bracket 1: Clemson at Texas
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 1 Quarterfinal Game (Rose Bowl), 5 PM, ESPN, Pasadena, CA: #1 rank/seed Oregon vs. the winner of bracket 1: Tennessee at Ohio State
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 2 Quarterfinal Game (Sugar Bowl), 8:45 PM, ESPN, New Orleans, LA: #2 rank/seed Georgia vs. the winner of bracket 2: Indiana at Notre Dame

Thursday, Jan. 2: 1 game
-- Gator Bowl, 7:30 PM, ESPN, Jacksonville, FL: #14 Ole Miss vs. Duke

Friday, Jan. 3: 2 games
-- First Responder Bowl, 4 PM, ESPN, Dallas, TX: North Texas vs. Texas State
-- Duke's Mayo Bowl, 7:30 PM, ESPN, Charlotte, NC: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech

Saturday, Jan. 4: 1 game
-- Bahamas Bowl, 11 AM, ESPN/ESPN2, Nassau, Bahamas: Liberty vs. Buffalo

Thursday, Jan. 9: 1 game
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 2 Semifinal Game (Orange Bowl), 7:30 PM, ESPN, Miami Gardens, FL: the two winners of the bracket 2 quarterfinal games

Friday, Jan. 10: 1 game
-- College Football Playoff Bracket 1 Semifinal Game (Cotton Bowl), 7:30 PM, ESPN, Arlington, TX: the two winners of the bracket 1 quarterfinal games

Monday, Jan. 20: 1 game
-- College Football Playoff National Championship Game, 7:30 PM, ESPN, Atlanta, GA: the two winners of the semifinal games

This article was published before this evening's Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl, featuring #25 Memphis versus West Virginia at 9 PM. For those, if any, interested, Frisco is a town that is a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, metropolitan area. Scooter's Coffee is a coffee franchise that doesn't interest me. The Frisco Bowl is one of the 37 meaningless bowl games that should be flushed down a toilet bowl!

I hope that your eyes didn't cross, while reading the previous list! I should have warned you. Adding the list to this article made my eyes glaze over. My mind briefly turned to mush. I had to go outside and move around for a while, even in the too warm, cloudy, and rainy weather.

I emboldened the ten bowl games that should be played. Those are, in scheduled order, the Liberty Bowl, Sun Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl. The other 37 bowls should simply be flushed like last night's kitsch! As a true Appalachian Irishman, I don't eat kitsch. I don't even know what it is.

I underlined the 13 of 16 SEC teams that are in bowl games. Only Auburn, Kentucky, and Mississippi State were not bowl eligible.

Conclusion

Why did I include the photograph of my toilet bowl and bathroom library? Certain bowl games, about 37 of them, and toilet bowls have something in common. All need to be flushed! If honoring mediocre teams were not the norm, then we would have fewer bowl games. In a capitalist economic system, however, in which wealthy corporations, television networks, and sports fanatics want to flush money down the toilet, well, let them.

Football Saturdays place me firmly in control of the television remote. Favorite channels include those showing football games. My “long-suffering” wife is excluded from her usual lineup of sappy movies, home improvement channels, cooking channels, and 24/7 news channels. I was in control until last Saturday, when Mrs. Appalachian Irishman gleefully returned to her morning to early afternoon shows, much to my aggravation.

As in my public service article from 12/10/2023, this article concludes by calling on the Southeastern Conference (SEC) to rename itself the Sun-Earth Conference (SEC)! This season saw Oklahoma and Texas join the SEC. They joined three other SEC teams that are not in the southeast: Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M. Now, five SEC teams are not geographically in the southeast. That's almost a third of the conference!

This article welcomes the SEC newcomers, but it also asks, “Why can't the Southeastern Conference be renamed the Sun-Earth Conference?” That way, any team under the sun and on the Earth could join!

What say you?

Saturday, 12-7-2024, Pearl Harbor Day: Hawkins County Trip & SEC Championship (published 12-11-2024; article #504)

Photograph by M. Fearghail on Saturday, 12/7/2024, at 1:14 PM. The view looks north.

Introduction

On Saturday, December 7, the 82nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, this Appalachian Irishman and his reliable 2006 Frontier took a road trip to Hawkins County, Tennessee! We returned home about midway into the first quarter of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship game. In all, it was a good “man day.” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had the invitation to accompany me, but she declined. Her priorities were doing three loads of laundry and visiting with her father and sister.

Welcome, dear reader, to the 106th article in the Heritage topic section, which is also the 17th entry in the Sports section. The story begins with stops and visits in Hawkins County. Transitioning, it ends with the SEC championship game.

Saturday's weather, unlike today, was seasonably cool and sunny, perfect conditions for a “man day” adventure! Today's weather is cool, windy, and blustery. The morning dusting of snow melted quickly. Coming down in big flakes, the falling snow was enjoyable to watch.

Picky Aside

As a picky digression, the Imperial Japanese air force struck Pearl Harbor early on the Sunday morning of December 7, 1941. Last Saturday, therefore, was the 82nd anniversary of that infamous attack, not the 83rd as several online articles state incorrectly.

The first anniversary was on December 7, 1942. Last Saturday marked 83 years since the attack.

Trip to Hawkins County

Moving past that picky aside, let's hit the road and drive up to Hawkins County! Wanting to leave the house by 8:45 AM, I cranked my truck at 8:57 AM to start the trip.

What delayed me? I guess it took 12 minutes to thoroughly “mow” (trim) my unruly beard and mustache hair! Those wild hairs wouldn't trim down without a fight!

Homeplace

The first stop was at the homeplace, included in the previous photograph. Arriving at 10:03 AM, the roofing contractor was already waiting on me. A few minutes after I arrived, the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor arrived. I had arranged to meet both contractors at 10 AM.

My wife and I had visited with my youngest brother and his family on Saturday, November 30, which was also Granny Molly Gertrude Archer Ferrell's birthday in 1892. After a fine meal and great visit, we checked on the homeplace. The condensate removal pump for the furnace was not working. A small amount of water had drained onto the basement floor.

The local HVAC contractor, whom I consider to be a friend, replaced the defective pump. Thankfully, the pump had not leaked more water onto the basement floor. Whatever tinkering that I had done to the old pump the previous Saturday must have fixed it temporarily.

Farther back, on Saturday, October 12, my wife and I met my youngest brother and his family in downtown Rogersville for Heritage Days weekend. As usual, Main Street was crowded with vendors and bipedal shoppers. I didn't recognize anyone. For my wife and me, we bought chicken sticks and lemonade from a food vendor, paying $13 each for two chicken sticks and $8 for one 32-ounce lemonade, which we shared. That was $34! The shock of that expense thwarted any interest in further vendor shopping. The six of us, however, enjoyed the sunny and warm weather. Standing near the old White Store building, we had a good, long visit.

Afterward, my wife and I drove to check on the homeplace. At least one shingle on the northeast corner of the roof had blown off, due to the remnants of hurricane Helene that blew through the area from September 25-30.

The roofing contractor, a new friend, who had arrived before me, had already inspected the roof. He and I are the same age. Looking eye-to-eye and shaking hands, we agreed on the roof work that is being scheduled as of this article's publication date.

Just before the two contractors left, the man, who mows the field behind the house and harvests the hay, dropped by. The four of us conversed on various topics for a while. Thankfully, this fine man keeps the field looking great.

As I was finishing several chores outside, in the basement, and inside the house, our good neighbor from across the road knocked and came inside to greet me. Standing in the kitchen, we talked about recent and upcoming life events. He said that his wife, who remained at home, was doing well. We swapped yarns about trivial domestic disputes with our wives. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, by not being present, missed a chance to defend herself! His wife did too!

Just before leaving, I called my good friend, Bill, and photographed the house and land in the previous image. The house has some age and wear and tear, but it's still standing, just like me!

My Friend, Bill

The article from 6/20/2024 mentions Bill, my friend since grade school, and his mother. His mother attained the spry age of 90 on Saturday, June 29. My wife and I drove up and spent time with Bill and his mother on her birthday. Still able to get around and drive locally, Bill's mother still has that look in her eye that used to tell us boys that we were in trouble! We reminisced about childhood memories and enjoyed cake and ice cream.

Bill and I visited for a good, long while, and we conversed openly on several topics. I always enjoy seeing Bill. Since we talked for so long, and I wanted to visit my youngest brother and his family, Bill said that he would tell his mother, who lives next door, that I didn't want to bother her with my glib, Irish tongue! In honesty, Bill said that his mother would talk with us for so long that I might not get to visit my brother and family.

Youngest Brother's House

Leaving Bill's, I paused along the side of the road to call my youngest brother. Unable to reach him, I left his wife and him voicemails. I almost decided to drive through downtown, on Main Street, to reach their house. I'm glad that I didn't.

Knocking on the door, upon my arrival, I found no one home. A neighbor's dog came into their yard to greet me. I could hear their two dogs barking from within their sheltered pen behind the house.

Later on, my youngest brother returned my voicemail. His wife, their two daughters, and he had gone to the Christmas parade, which started at 4 PM. It's a good thing that I chose to take the bypass, instead of driving through Main Street! Downtown would have been blocked to traffic for the parade.

Leaving their house, my truck decided to drive through St. Clair and Morristown, to reach Highway 25E. From there, I got onto Highway 11W at Rutledge.

Hungry and with the need to clean bird droppings that splattered directly onto the driver's side windshield, I stopped at a local convenience store. A damp paper towel cleaned the bird splatter. The Coke and corn dog, which cost just over $3, held me over until supper.

SEC Championship

My ol' truck and I returned home about 4:40 PM. The SEC championship football game had started at 4 PM. My “long-suffering” wife knew to have the television on the game.

After playing with and petting Molly, our nine-year-old “puppy,” I went inside, washed my hands, and did a few other things. Once I'd settled down, I started watching the game. Eventually, after supper, Molly joined us inside. The three of us watched most of the game.

Who won the game? Georgia defeated Texas in overtime, 22-19! Great win, Bulldogs! I wish, however, that you would learn how to play a consistent game. Coming from behind in the second half or winning in overtime is getting old.

Up next are the College Football Playoffs! If interested, check out the College Football Playoff: News: “College Football Playoff Selection Committee Announces Final Top 25 Rankings of 2024,” 12/8/2024! In the first round, 9-seeded Tennessee goes on the road to take on 8-seeded Ohio State on Saturday, December 21. On New Year's Day at the Sugar Bowl, 2-seeded Georgia takes on the winner of the Indiana at Notre Dame game. I'm excited! Go Vols! Go 'Dawgs!

Conclusion

Well, that's a wrap, sports fans! Further, I trust that those, who find value in family heritage, enjoyed the story about my trip to Hawkins County.

After my mother went to see Jesus, my father said, “Boys, we're just trying to keep things going here.” He was speaking about life at the homeplace without his wife.

Mom and Dad, I'm still trying to keep things going there. I love and miss you both, but I will see you again.

Worldviews in Conflict: 2024 November Election Day Results (published 11-29-2024; article #503)

Photograph by Janine Robinson on Unsplash. Free to use under the Unsplash License.

Introduction

Twenty-four days ago, it was finally over. On the day after Thanksgiving, I am thankful that it is behind us now. I am relieved.

The recent presidential election result was better than four years ago. Lord willing, Donald Trump, the 45th president, will become the 47th president next year on Monday, January 20. I held my nose and voted for him on Election Day, November 5th.

Welcome to the 25th entry in the Worldviews in Conflict topic section, dear reader. This article is a follow-up to the three-part series from last month.

What is the origin of the phrase “Don't let the camel get its nose under the tent”? The conclusion will explain. Further, it will share my Black Friday humor from yesterday, on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone except a first cousin of my wife understood it.

Last Month's Three-Part Series

Late last month, I published a three-part series on the then-upcoming election day. The focus was on political worldviews in conflict. The lofty goal was to encourage this nation and every nation to unite under the biblical worldview.

Part one, on 10/29/2024, focused on the ground view and then the aerial view of the political worldviews in conflict. Part two, the next day, contrasted the 2024 Republican Party platform with the 2024 Democrat Party platform. The final part on Halloween contrasted the positions of former President Trump and current Vice President Harris on key issues.

The noble efforts by many Christian commentators, orators, and writers that encourage political unity based on the biblical worldview may continue to fall on deaf ears. Perhaps enough are being persuaded.

2024 Election Results

President

The November 5th presidential election marked the sixtieth presidential election cycle, since President Washington became the first president in 1789. Thankfully, former President Trump defeated Vice President Harris.

The electoral college votes were 312 for Trump and 226 for Harris, with 270 needed to win. Trump won the popular vote with 76,838,984 votes (50%) to Harris' 74,327,659 votes (48.4%). Trump carried 31 states. Harris won 19 states plus the District of Columbia (DC). Source: Google: 2024 US elections: Results: Presidential.

For recent perspective, National Archives: Electoral College Results shows the following electoral college results:

2016: Donald Trump, 304. Hillary Clinton, 227.

2020: Joseph Biden Jr., 306. Donald Trump, 232.

The previously referenced source shows upcoming “Key Dates and Events” as follows:

● By December 11, 2024, electors are appointed: “The State Executive of each State signs the Certificate of Ascertainment to appoint the electors chosen in the general election.”

● On December 17, 2024, electors vote: “The electors in each state meet to select the President and Vice President of the United States.”

● On January 6, 2025, “Congress counts the vote: Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes (unless Congress passes a law to change the date from a Saturday or Sunday).”

● January 20, 2025, is Inauguration Day: “The President-Elect is sworn in as President of the United States.”

Let us hope, trust, and pray that all goes well between now and Inauguration Day. May the incoming administration govern by and influence this nation to follow the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. That is my hope and prayer. Those noble documents are based on the biblical worldview.

Senate

The Senate, composed of 100 senators, flipped to a slim Republican majority. With 53 seats, Republicans gained four seats and took control of the Senate. The four seats that flipped Republican were in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Democrats gained one seat in Arizona. Democrats hold 45 seats, but two independent senators caucus with Democrats, giving Democrats 47 seats.

Thirty-four Senate seats were up for election, including 19 held by Democrats, 11 held by Republicans, and four held by Independents. Of the 34 seats, nine were open, since the incumbent did not seek reelection. Republicans won 15 seats, gaining the four stated previously. Democrats won 17 seats. Independents won two seats. The two independent senators that caucus with Democrats won reelection in Maine and Vermont. Sources: Ballotpedia: United States Senate Elections: 2024; Google: 2024 US elections: Results: Senate; Politico: 2024 Election: Results: Senate; and 270toWin: 2024 Senate Election Live Results.

I cast my vote proudly for incumbent Senator Marsha Blackburn. She defeated her rather raucous and obviously socialist-Democrat opponent by a landslide.

Partisan bickering may continue. Republicans lacking backbones may give in to socialist agendas. I hope not. Instead, I hope that the Republican majority has a collective backbone, does not waver, and advances an agenda that follows the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Those impressive documents align with the biblical worldview.

House

Elections were held for all 435 districts of the House of Representatives. Before the election, the Republicans held a slim majority by seven members over the Democrats, 221 to 214.

Amazingly, twenty-four days after the election, one House race in California is yet to be called! After Election Day, the Republicans still hold a thin majority, by six members, 220 Republicans to 214 Democrats. That totals 434 members, with one race still undecided but leaning Democrat. Sources: Ballotpedia: Election results, 2024: U.S. House; Google: 2024 US elections: Results: House; Politico: 2024 Election: Results: House; and 270toWin: 2024 House Election Live Results.

I was honored to vote for incumbent Congressman Tim Burchett, who represents the 2nd District. The Democrat opposing him didn't have a snowball's chance in an extremely hot location.

Presumably, the divided House of Representatives will continue to play tug of war. Republicans should be strong and united enough to pull Democrats into the mud pit most of the time. Perhaps Republicans will be able to pull Democrats through the socialist mud pit and onto their side, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are upheld. Those impressive documents hold true to the biblical worldview.

Conclusion

On the day after Thanksgiving, I decided to finish and publish this article. I had shelved it for several days. Concluding thoughts focus first on the origin of the phrase “Don't let the camel get its nose under the tent.”

Research indicates that it is an old Arab proverb. A man takes shelter in his tent from a sandstorm. Outside, his camel endures the sandstorm, as it is designed to do. The camel, seeking to be more comfortable, asks polite permission to place his nose under a tent flap, to better protect it from the blowing sand. Sympathetically, the man agrees. The camel progressively and so politely continues to ask to allow more of his body to enter the tent. The man proceeds with his compassionate allowance. Eventually, all the camel's body is in the tent with the man. The small tent is now cramped. The camel, being larger than the man, aggressively forces him out of the tent and into the sandstorm.

On the day after Thanksgiving, I am thankful that a slim majority of voters had enough sense to keep the socialist camel from slipping further into the tent. Moreover, I hope that the socialist camel will be pushed completely out of the tent. It can stay outside in the sandstorm, where it belongs.

Final concluding thoughts focus on my Black Friday humor from yesterday, Thanksgiving Day. Yesterday, eight family members and a family friend gathered at my father-in-law's home. I wanted to hike House Mountain, before the traditional meal, but the damp, windy, and cloudy weather prohibited me. After the delicious meal, over which my father-in-law gave thanks, various conversations flowed like gravy over slices of turkey.

Some of the ladies were discussing their shopping today on Black Friday. I had the opening. I took it! In sarcastic humor, I complained that the term “Black Friday” was offensive. In jest, I suggested that today should be called “Person of Color Friday,” so as to not offend those, whose skin is much darker than mine. Everyone except a first cousin of my wife understood my satire. I even stated that I was speaking in humor, as if I held a so-called “woke” mentality.

I left before my wife, who had arrived earlier and stayed later than me. After I departed for home, I learned that, in total seriousness, this cousin-in-law had accused me, behind my back, of being racist! The man made the accusation, while outside with my wife and our niece. My wife told me, once she arrived home.

In loving kindness as a Christian, I may need to confront and correct my cousin-in-law, if he persists in his false accusation. Articles from last year offer my statements on the “woke” mindset (1/22/2023) and on racism (3/17/2023). I suggest that my wife's cousin read those articles.

In final close, on this infamous shopping day after Thanksgiving, what did my wife and I do? Well, she visited with her nearby family. I hauled off the trash and recycling and did a few household errands. This morning, the weather was cloudy. The afternoon, while I was about my chores, had turned sunny, cool, and breezy. I should have gone hiking, as I did on this day last year!

Belated happy Thanksgiving to you all! Please don't tell me that you endured the mass hysteria of shopping on Black Friday! By the way, the article from 12/1/2023, about my hike on this day last year, includes the following:

. . . Black Friday started, in 1869, when two investors caused a market crash of 20%. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, changed the meaning of Black Friday, to mean tourism and shopping. In the late 1980s, Black Friday became widely known as the frenzied shopping day after Thanksgiving. It's called Black Friday, not Red Friday, since accountants use red ink for financial losses and black ink for financial gains.