Say no to "Amnesty" reform

This blog may anger some of you and may cost me plenty of friendships. But if it shouldn't, I hope to engage many of you to pick up the cause on my behalf, a legal, tax-paying but non-voting resident of the U.S.A.

Some of you may be aware of the political storm brewing around the Immigration Reform Act as of late. The McCain-Kennedy bill wanted to grant amnesty to illegals the guest-worker program. According to The Washington Times: "Sponsors said it is not an amnesty because it would require illegal aliens to pay all regular fees as well as a $1,000 fine to join a guest-worker program and, after six years, another $1,000 fine to obtain a green card signifying legal permanent residence. Green card holders eventually can apply for citizenship." What is $1,000 these days, even for struggling illegal farm workers? They send more than that home.

Many of my friends had witnessed first-hand the angst I went through for my legal H1B working permit. The cost was more than $1,000, and the paperwork was torturous. Each H1B visa lasts 3 years and an applicant can only have up to 6 years of H1B permit total. After that, if one chooses to continue to work in this country, the application for Green Card is next. That also took umpteenth paperwork, time and money, and emotional investment. All said and done, I had endured about a decade's worth of paperwork and anxiety while daily awaiting approval or decline from the government.

Since my college days, I had treaded with care not to break the laws, paid my taxes and medical bills, while these illegals have been given free medical care because they don't meet the income.

Now, this bill is going to grant an easy walk-on to those who had disregarded the law of the land, and reward them this easily? Granted, the greedy, profit-crunching employers are to be blamed for the permissiveness of this culture. So's the government who are obviously playing politics and trying to garner votes for their sweep into Congress this upcoming election.

Do I have a better solution? Not necessarily. But I do have some criteria to crack down on illegals. I understand that workers from Mexico are generally entering the U.S.A. to perform work considered undesirable by the North American population. Since these are seasonal jobs for the most part, why not provide a seasonal pass? In addition, they need to contribute to the taxes. Right now, our taxes are partly channeled to their welfare. That is incredibly unjust.

For those who had brought their families over or had offsprings born in this land, hence granting the latter their legal U.S. status, have them sponsor their parents. That's what I have to do if I were to have my family join me. Do I whine and cry about how unfair it is that I'm separated from them? No. I'm sad to be of such great distance but if I want them to join me, I would go about it the lawful, albeit arduous way.

Senator John Cornyn, Texas Republican and chairman of the Judiciary immigration subcommittee, sums up my idea of reform better: ' "I favor a work-and-return bill, not a work-and-stay bill," he said. "We already have laws in place that allow people to apply for legal permanent residence and American citizenship, so I think that's going to be a subject of some debate and perhaps disagreement in the Senate and in the House." Mr. Cornyn is working on his own bill, and he said that to meet his approval, a bill would have to include enhanced border security, enhanced interior enforcement, employer accountability and a temporary worker program.' Furthermore, Mexican President Vincente Fox had the gall to chastise the U.S. a few weeks ago that we'll be begging for their citizens to return to the U.S. in a few year's time. This government, if nothing, is kowtowing to him. The biggest problem I have with this entire bill right now is the reward program they grant those who are illegal, while I, who am legal, is not even granted the right to vote by the government.

If I had struck a sympathetic cord, please join in the fight to stop this by calling your congressman at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/webreturn/?url=/usbc/issues/alert/?alertid=8591911

Thank you for your support.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responses to earlier post:
Karen Ryan: i TOTALLY understand and support what you're saying here. especially the work-and-return bill. why can't the u.s just do what singapore does for foreign workers?! make the employers pay a levy, their health insurance, everything!! and no, the family can't follow suit unless they have employers sponsoring them as well. it's obvious that the mexicans are doing work that the americans don't want and if the employers need them, then they have to pay the government! it's not that complicated is it? we, as LEGAL immigrants, go through hell and back during the green card application process. i am sick and tired of being treated like dirt by the ins - and some ignorant citizens. i have applied to be a permanent resident in this county because my husband is american and we have decided to start our lives here. not 'coz i have nowhere else to go. certainly not 'coz i think my life is better in this country. i am not taking any of your jobs away. in fact, i pay taxes and maintain to help the u.s economy through my weekly manicures and pedicures, retail industry and certainly the sorry, on-again off-again collapsing airline industry.why should the illegal immigrants be rewarded?! i say NO! there are many ways to come into this country legally. if you can't do that, stay in your own.

Bob Oh: I don't know what the new law may be about but maybe they were considering the cost of sending immigration officers finding these illegals (very hard and costly) or just awarding them amnesty so they can come out from wherever they are and apply for it. Thus, cutting cost and earning revenue instead. How many illegals x $1000? That itself will create some new positions for legal migrants or americans!Maybe (cunningly), a big percentage won't get it (citizenship) and maybe alot would get deported?They also would start paying taxes, yes not direct taxes, but I am sure you have lots of indirect taxes over in the US of A right?What about the jobs that can be created for middle management or white collar workers? For every 10 foreign workers, you need maybe 1 local supervisor? Ok, maybe 100 FW and 1 local manager...it is STILL one more job created. Then we have the sales team right? Selling the stuff these workers produce? I am sure the sales team are true blue Americans?Then the accountant, the techie guy, the CEO....**********************************************I fully agree with the concerns displayed, they are real and definitely sucks big time, as it seems honesty don't seems to pay off right?At the larger scheme of things, we are one way or the other also beneficiaries of some other historical figure or some tax loop hole or some law that came about from such incidents.Let us not deprive others their luck (if u can call it).

Patrick: I disagree with you, but not so much that I'd consider losing your friendship. Here's the thing:"Amnesty" is a loaded political term invented by demagogues who are trying to cloud the debate here. Bearing in mind that I have the utmost respect for you, I take serious issue with you quoting the Washington Times as a source. It's a rag if there ever was one, run by the Reverend Sun Young Moon as an unapologetic mouth piece for the most conservative wing of the Republican party. Likewise, John Cornyn is not a paragon of responsible rhetoric.If you can't come up with a better alternative than the ones being floated, you're not helping. The House version of the immigration bill, as I understand it, would make it a crime to not only be here illegally, it would make it illegal to even give shelter or food to those people. It's very easy to just say "Well, go home if you're not supposed to be here," but the practical implications are not so simple. Are you really prepared to ask a priest to ask every one at his soup kitchen to have I.D. proving citizenship so he doesn't get arrested? Do you know how much chaos and civil disobedience that will generate? The real political pandering is not going on in the Senate, it's in the House, which is no surprise, since everyone there is up for re-election (the Senate is, coincidentally, not)I can't understand how frustrating thsi must be for you, because I'm not in the same situation. But I do sympathize. What's the point of jumping through hoops if everyone else seems to get a free pass? But we can't pretend that these people aren't here, nor can we pretend we don't need them, espescially in places like New York City. In a perfect world, we would not have allowed them here in the first place, but it's too late for that. And guess passes suck too, for the obvious reason that they're basically indentured servitude. Dubai anyone? Also, why would you bother learning anything about a country or it's culture if you knew you had no chance in hell of becoming a citizen?Interesting little side note. This argument should have taken place back in 2001, because before 9/11, immigration was supposed to be Bush's big issue. I guess it's better late than never.

My response to Patrick: There are going to various sides to this issue and I'm glad that the voices are coming out. I also appreciate your sympathies and my movement comes out exactly from own personal circumstances. However, amnesty is not the loaded word for this immigration proposal set by Bush, McCain and Kennedy. As for the demagogues, aren't all politicians one? The Washington Times may not be the most respectable rag out there but neither are a lot. Even those we had worked at. But that doesn't mean that the people who work at these establishments are avid subscribers of the owners' philosophies. I merely quoted the Times as it clearly explained to the uninitiated bloggees what this whole immigration reform bill is.You know, I am a hardliner when it comes to this issue. If I were to encounter an illegal (and I had and there are various reasons why they are), I wouldn't so much as turn him in but ask him to turn himself in. If I had the guts and the ability to use a firearm, I may even join the minuteman movement.But the feasible thing I could do now is to engage everyone who's able to vote and hopefully, influence their government to do so on my behalf.I don't see guest passes as indentured servitude. The latter is not synonymous to slavery. Guest pass is a choice and a legal one, one where immigrants register and pay taxes. Indentured servitude is employment without the chance of ever leaving it.
Yes, this argument should have taken place decades ago. The government and special interest are to be responsible for letting it come to the mess it is today. Let's hope and pray they fix it. As for me, I'm holding on to my present citizenship for now in case this country becomes not the country I respect.Then I have a place to return to.

Buh-bye, U.S. airlines

I consider myself a savvy traveler. And very much a picky one.

My recent trip home required some preparation, mainly in the case of finding reasonable fares and total traveling and transit time less than 26 hours. I had also made a stipulation that I will avoid Singapore Airlines, my home-based carrier, for the simple reason that I had a relatively unpleasant encounter years ago that I wasn't as warmly received as my richer counterparts (read: business and first classes, and Westerners). I swore to boycott them, so to speak.

For years until a year ago, I also had been the proud cardmember of the Northwest frequent flyer program. The reason why I abandoned it will be listed as a point I'll be making regarding the abovementioned headline. But let me add the sorest point of all is their miserable black-out dates.

Without further ado, here are three simple reasons why I will be seeking friendlier skies with Singapore Airlines and other non-U.S.-owned carriers. Please note that there will be unavoidable circumstances when I will have to travel with U.S. carriers, mostly in transits to smaller cities and within the continental U.S.

1. Poor customer service. This is a rant on strictly personnel matters.
(a) Observe carefully the next time you board the plane, the only times you will see a smile is when you board it and when you unboard it. Seldom in between, unless you are a well-behaved baby or toddler, will you be flashed those pearly whites by your attendants.
(b) On my recent flight back from Japan onboard American Airlines, an attendant came down the aisle with various custom forms. When I asked if I needed an I-94 form in addition to my custom form since I'm a Permanent Resident, she icily cut me off by saying that I only needed the latter.
(c) I was unlucky (again) to be seated with a dysfunctional monitor. The channels were switching rapidly and there was no way I could stop it. The only functions I could access from it were music and flight path. Fortunately, I had the brains to utilize the monitor on the empty seat to my left. However, the picture wasn't clear as I was receiving screen glares. I had to incline my chair to get a better look. Since it wasn't a full flight, you'd think a conscientious attendant will notice that and offer to find me a seat with a working monitor. This wasn't the first time it happened to me. A year ago, on my way back, again from Japan and again on another American Airlines plane, I had to request for a new seat due to the similar circumstance. I was greeted with disbelief when I showed them the problem. But they offered to check the computer to make sure it was really not working right. Geniuses! Which leads me to point number ...

2. Skimping on products/services.
(a) I had traveled on various international airlines -- Japan Airlines, Thai Airways, Garuda, Singapore Airlines (SQ), and Qantas. The products and comfort level of the U.S. airlines pale in comparison to these international carriers. I had the good fortune of returning from Singapore to Japan on Singapore Airlines. I know I said I would boycott them but I had no idea that my scheduled carrier, the Japanese ANA (All-Nippon Airways) is on the same alliance as SQ. This time round, SQ amazed me by their attentive service to the cattle class (economy). They offered REAL warm hand towels that stayed warm even after you touched it. This is in comparison to the cheap wet-ones I was constantly offered in U.S. carriers. Have you realized the minute those warm wet-ones were dispensed, they immediately turned colder than cabin temperature? What is the frecking point of that!
(b) SQ has foot rests on their economy class. This is especially important for those of us who had to endure more than 8 hours of flight. Believe me, every bit of comfort counts.
(c) SQ's lavatories have a complete range of wash products, with caps intact. American ones only provide soap and lotion, the latter of which is grimey with lotion smeared over the bottle. SQ even made sure that the trash is emptied regularly and the wash area dry. How often have I ventured into U.S. planes to find the tiny washroom's trash brimming over with towels. Gross.
(d) Often, in international flights, you find international travelers. Some of these travelers could either only communicate in their own language or have as basic grasp of a foreign language. I have often seen soft-spoken foreigners attempting to speak in English to these American attendants, who in turn raised their voices as though they would be understood better. Furthermore, I find it extremely belittling when these attendants speak really s-l-o-w-l-y, as if it made a difference. (Tip: good attitude makes a world of difference. Try that next time.) There were times when I had to step in and translate. Now, you know why I hesitate to have my mom travel solo? It's humiliating, to say the least. Why can't these U.S. carriers staff more bilingual attendants? Even if they had one onboard, they should tell these poor foreigners to wait and bring that solo bilingual attendant over later. Common sense, afterall, right?
(e) I was on Thai Airways a year ago, from Singapore to Bangkok. At that time, the economy was quite bad in many countries. Imagine my surprise when on my return flight home, I was handed a beautiful LIVE orchid-and-fern corsage (see picture below). It may be nothing to some of you. The point is, they made the traveling experience just a little more pleasant. It's like getting a present from the colleague/neighbor you never knew.

3. Poor food. I am not expecting gourmet fare on economy class. But does it hurt to have proper silverware, and not plastic ones? Most Asian carriers carry relatively superior fare. And we get a choice. Imagine my shock on my flight from Japan to Singapore, I was onboard United. Since it was only a 6-hour flight, we were given a snack. Now, bear in mind that we have international travelers. Oftentimes, the Pacific-route passengers are Asian and may include Buddhists. There wasn't a choice. Instead, we were handed a box (which they later recycled, a gross idea since it contained crumbs that fell from my mouth) of roast beef sandwich. Since I eat anything, I didn't check it. Also, I was ravenous. Imagine if I were a non-red-meat eater, that would have devastating impact on my psyche!

Have I convinced you to be more wary, savvy travelers? I hope so. If there's anything blogs can achieve, it's to share and input that little bit of awareness in all of us. Please, my American counterparts, I'm not writing this as an effort to slam the country. It's my years of collective travel and comparison traveling that finally prompted me to make these theories.

So, here are my final words to the U.S.-run carriers, shape up and quit cost-cutting all the nitty-gritty if you are going to retain loyal fliers or else BUH-BYE from this one.

The quest for cheap tuna

This story, my friend, is a glimpse of what's to come when you are watching every penny, and very possibly when we all hit that senior citizen stage.

Explainer: To my non-newspaper bloggees, an insert is that piece of advertisement that comes with the daily newspaper, most notably, the supermarket ones that show up either on Mondays and/or Wednesdays, primo placement days for food ads.

Anyway, I didn't know what possessed me to STUDY the Albertson's insert Monday. And boy, am I glad I did. There is an 8-hour sale from 3 to 11 today on tuna fish, mayo, Miracle Whip, diapers, toilet papers, water etc. What caught my interest was the StarKist tuna in water going for 29 cents (if you have your preferred card, dear customer). Wow, can you beat that! This is no generic brand. But each customer is limited to six cans per visit.

Before you deem me pathetic, let me explain the importance of canned tuna fish a la chicken of the sea to this family of 4 (2 adults and 2 pets). Two cans of tuna go a long way for us. Drain the juice (we get the ones in water. Oil is too messy) and Bubba gets a condiment bowl-ful of pure bliss. Scrape the drained tuna into a bowl, Mark and I get fixin's for a tuna salad. The scraps that cling to the inner rim and lid? That's Bentley's little taste of heaven. I have to add that our usually sedate cat gets extremely excitable when he has a whiff of that tuna. Makes you feel like you've done your job as a parent, y'know.

So, what would you do for 29-cent tuna? Well, if you were me, you rushed to the store in the morning, loaded up the basket and be informed that the sale begins at 3 p.m., oh, a mere 6 hours away. Drats.

Luckily, the day passed by quite quickly, and before I know it, I was hitting the first Albertson's. This is where I thought I ended up in a retirement home. All around me, a mass of energetic silver-haired seniors were loading up their carts, inserts in hand, making sure they didn't miss out on any deals. That explains why all the carts were gone. No matter, I only wanted one Miracle Whip and 6 cans of tuna.

The popularity of this sale was phenomenal. Rules were pushed to the wayside as the self-checkout counters and minimum-items counters were jam packed with shoppers, some of whom had never used the new technology in their lives. But never mind that, even the self-checkout lanes were staffed. That's service and great foresight, my friends.

Finally, I managed to leave with my goods. I would go back and get more tuna but the thought of waiting in line for another 6 cans is quite daunting. I decided to hit the second Albertson's.

Yes, I was desperate for a good deal. But I'm living on one income and I have an obligation to seize a deal when there's one. And this is too good to pass up. The second location is just as packed. Thankfully, I was directed to the customer service counter as I had only my limited 6 cans of tuna. That, again, was great customer service. There were only three of us in line. I wondered if I dared ask the cashier if I could return with another 6 after my purchase. I would have to see if she's pleasant. She was wonderful and told me I could return as often as I wanted.

Now, there comes a point when even desperation can seem well, desperate. I returned just once more, making out with a total of 12 cans (i.e. 2 trips) in the end, and happily loaded up my car and drove home.

I will be back later tonight for a few more. Afterall, I have till 11 p.m. One can never have too many tuna.

Do you feel better if I say "Egrish?

I'm absolutely floored, flummoxed, frustrated and _____ (fill in the alliterations here).

Among the basic words a child is taught is "low". As in high/low. That incidentally is my last name.

But strangers will insist on pronouncing it "Lau." Now, I know some of you have been guilty of it...grrrrr. But I really don't hold it against you. Honestly.

So, what is it about my name, especially when it's sight unseen, that anyone will assume "Low" is not pronounced the way they had been accustomed to pronouncing?

I understand the mistake can be committed when my accent and features betray my ethnicity. But wouldn't one err on the side of calling a spade a spade before being corrected?

Incidentally, my dad's birth certificate and IDs have him registered as Low as well as the alias Lau. But that's because Lau is the dialect derivative of Low.

Confusing, no? or is it Nau?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Patrick: You say pot-ay-to, i say po-taw-to, I say to-may-to, you say to-maw-to........Incedentally, did you know that when for awhile, when you searched for my name in the New York Times web site, it says "Did you mean to mean "Patrick Virile?"

I haven't a clue as to why someone would mispronounce your last name. Mystified, even.

Me: Your name is tricky. And I can see the horrific association. When I first met you, I had to be careful to stress on the "el" syllable.

Jeremy: You know, if we simply spelled everything using the International Phonetic Alphabet, the problem might be solved. I'd make it so where there'd be a few clicks in my name for good measure, and maybe a back of the throat glottal stop, like in Qatar (pronounced like "gutter" except the "g" sound is so far in the back of your throat that it sounds like you're coughing up a hairball), just to mess with lazy American mouths.

If the "Low/Lau" thing is bad, how about those people who pronounce "Craig" as "Greg?" Seriously, there are people who can't.

Me: But that's a cultural difference, whereas a simple "low" or "eat" or "stupid" should not be mispronounced in the first place! And what you mentioned brought me to another point (but i didn't want to digress from my blog) is that why do newscasters insist on butchering other culture's pronounciation. We can't even say Iran like how the natives would say it, which is phonetically ee-run, not eye-ran.

I must admit I had difficulty getting a hang of "craig" when I first got here.

Jeremy: Honey, TV people aren't paid to be accurate. They're there to smile and look pretty.

Ray: You don't want to know how people mispronounce my last name ...

Me: Oooh. That name just opens lots of doors for taunts and abuse. Sorry...

Bob: Michelle's surname is Ten, yes Michelle TEN.

But from civil servants to disneyland staff, they insist of spelling it as TAN. Well, AS IF we did not KNOW how to spell our OWN names!!!

When we talk to telephone operators, some even say "are you sure?"...gosh!

Since we are on this topic, how do you pronounce Bevan?

Me: That's an interesting twist to my situation. I must admit I would do a doubletake as well. Check this out, my Singapore friend's surname is E, just E. Talk about the possibilities of being second-guessed everywhere they go.

Jeremy: I've heard it pronounced two ways: one way rhymes with "Kevin", the other is bev-AN, with the accent on the second syllable (but that's the British pronunciation--only time I've heard it that way was when I was learning about the British Labour party at University and Aneurin Bevan, founder of the NHS).

Me: Jeremy, you are so highly cultured. You're right on the latter.

Money is no substitute for quality time

I am beside myself with delirium. After months of agonizing if I should spend money we don't have (my husband differs but he's the generous one), we finally forked over a huge chunk of change for a round-trip ticket home.

Some of you know that I've been lamenting in recent years the long distance from my family. Each phone call home, I am updated with tales of how my 10-years-and-younger cousins and niece are growing up so quickly. These stories always bring a lump to my throat, which I never share with my mom. Not only do I miss out on their formative years, I am sure I am also almost a nonexistent entity to these young relations. Sure, the older ones know who I am. But I'm simply a distant relative, not one who is there to be a viable part of their lives.

Furthermore, my only surviving and most favorite grandparent is now 93. I want to be sure to be able to spend as much time I possibly can with him. And of course, my long-suffering mother, who's been patient with me from day one, and whose relationship with me in recent years has been more solidified than ever. Her health is declining, which makes her visits to me more strenous and infrequent. She always jokes about being a surrogate grandparent to my cousin's daughter, and her brother's children. But behind those jokes, she is secretly wishing my brother and I would soon produce some offspring for her. (We're working on it, ma. Pray for us. hahaha)

This visit will be extra special, too, as it will coincide with the celebration of Chinese New Year. It's been more than a decade since I've had a reunion dinner, which is much like Thanksgiving in this country.

Isn't it funny how most of us cannot wait to be away from our family when we were younger? As we mature, we crave for their advice, company, and admit our love for them?

It will also be special since I've reunited with a couple of old buddies from high school. I cannot wait to see their children, catch up, and reminisc about our youth.

While this trip will have me watching my pursestring tightly, it will definitely be one that will be worth every penny. The only downside is I'll be spending a month away from M (boy, do I sound like a newlywed or what? LOL), who will be on a tuna fish diet and possibly dining alone during his lunch hours.

Thankfully, he has the unconditional love of Bentley and Bubba to return to every night.

When authority fails to be role model

The lonely hours of unemployment, short of the commitment to work out, housework, dinner preparation and spurts of self-improvement on various hobbies, can lead one to rely on daytime television on occasions.

No, I don't indulge in Dr. Phil, soaps, Lifetime movies. I haven't sunk that low.

Rather, my sense of adventure led me to Bravo's "Party Party." I think it is their version of Sweet Sixteen, the little glimpse of which left me to deduce that it's an exploration of spoilt, rich brats squandering their parents' money on their graduation party? Like I said, it was a glimpse.

I watched only one episode of it the other day. It showcased two families whose daughters were graduating from high school, and how they planned to throw the most fabulous party, like, ever.

What prompted me to write this blog is my ever increasing amazement at the parents, as observed in this show, and various youth-oriented networks.

This one mother encouraged her underage child to drink secretly, and protected her and her friends when the police showed up. In her drunkeness, she slapped her young son across his face because he didn't resign to his room as told, and later carried on an argument with her husband before the children. All the while whining that he wasn't "on her side."

I'm not a parent yet. But I like to think that I'm putting serious thought in child-rearing before I have my own. I don't believe in making your child your friend. I believe strongly in not sparing the rod. I believe in spanking, but not in anger. I believe in being able to dictate what my child wears to school and in picking out the clothes. I don't think the child should hold on to gift money, when it should be deposited in a savings account.

I fear the day when I flip on the television and see my offsprings prostituting themselves in some R-rated Cancun expose. I hate to think that they would resort to reality TV as the means to a livelihood, like those oversexed, constantly drunk twentysomethings Real Worlders and Road Rulers.

I understand that these perceptions are shaped by what the entertainment industry provided. But something has gone wrong somewhere in their upbringing. And I wonder what.

From the Dust bowl to the Cotton Bowl

On New Year's Day, we left the horrific Dust Bowl of Lubbock (see blog below) and headed for the Cotton Bowl 2006, which pitted Texas Tech against the University of Alabama.

The five-hour drive to Dallas took us along the backroads where we were a few distance away from the grass fire. It was a surreal sight to see the glow of the fire and smoke in the horizon. What wondrous colors in the midst of a horrible situation.

We awoke early the next morning at 6 a.m. to make it to our parking spots at the Texas Fair Grounds. Yes, we had parking permits. Not only that, we also had tickets to the 3rd row on the 40 yard line. It's good to have connections, baby. Now I know why management hate to give up their jobs. Along with that, they'd have to give up with perks.

Some of you may not know this. M's from Alabama, near Mobile. His parents went to the University of Alabama (and Auburn subsequently). We got tickets via the AJ's connections. Guess who we are rooting for

We had earlier planned to root for both teams, generally a good game. So, there we were, seated among the Tech fans (with the exception of another Alabama supporter, see 2nd picture), cheering for both teams.

I felt rather schizophrenic after a while. I gave up around the 2nd quarter. Make up your mind, Ling. Stick to one and stand by the decision.

So, after Alabama made a touch down in the first 4 minutes of the 1st quarter (a play that was disputed AFTER the game), an approximate 80-yard run, I switched allegiance.

To be fair, I was going to root for Bama. I figured blood is thicker than water and since M's mom couldn't be with us, somebody gotta be the unpopular one among the Tech fans. I'm not afraid.

And did my allegiance pay off. Bama broke the tie at 5 seconds to the end of the game by kicking a field goal, making it just inches from the bottom left of the post. Now, that's a game. 13-10.

Photo below: A few of us thought he was a chicken. M immediately figured he was a cotton ball. How brilliant. He even had the physique for it! Oops, that was rude.