We’re across the pond for the next 4 days in London. Happy New Year everybody, in case I don’t post prior to 2008.

[The picture above: the Howell family headquarters in Jasper, Alabama on Christmas Eve 2007.]

Thank you all again for a wonderful year and a wonderful Christmas Season. You have no idea how much I appreciate your readership, your comments, as well as your daily struggle to keep from choking me when I make a dozen typos in a twelve-word post.

I, as well as my family, wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008. God Bless us, everyone.

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

Lights, please.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

I need to take a mental (and emotional) break from my beloved Golden Eagles for a bit; therefore I thought I would summarize some thoughts on the events of the past few months, and my hopes for the next football season.

If my thoughts toward the bowl game were a little apathetic, I apologize, though it’s been a busy past few weeks, and to be quite honest I’m just ready to be rid of inconsistent “Bower ‘ball”.

After having a couple of days to reflect and finally watch the bowl game, my thoughts on the bowl game and Southern Miss in 2008:

ESPN analyists have stated on multiple occasions: “Who does Southern Miss think they are?” Southern Miss is America’s favorite underdog. Southern Miss is a Top 5 mid-major conference school. Southern Miss is better over the last decade than either Mississippi State or Ole Miss. Southern Miss is a team that has earned respect and credibility, and wants to move onto the next level. Will that happen? Who knows… but you can’t blame them for wanting the exact same thing that you want for your college football team.

Southern Miss… TO THE TOP!!!

I’m actually in Jasper right now, but being a resident of the state of Washington I still felt inclined to quite possibly be the first Seattleite to ever wish you a Merry Christmas.

In Seattle, ‘Happy Holidays’ is the norm though Christmas is everywhere: The Christmas tree of lights which sits atop the space Needle, the boats and floating houses covered in lights… even in our Starbucks ‘Christmas Blend’ flavors which fill the shelves and cups). However, I know very few who take off Tuesday to celebrate ‘holiday.’

While a few in Seattle might not know how to celebrate Christmastime, we do… so, Merry Christmas from Seattle.

Hope y’alls Christmas holidays have started as eventful as mine…

…if you need me, I’ll be asleep ’til Christmas.

Yeah… this is gonna be ugly.

In the minds of many, this Southern Miss football season is already over. Tomorrow’s PapaJohns.com Bowl will certainly be a match-up between two opposites. Most publications and media outlets have already dubbed this the ‘biggest potential blowout’ game, with USM on the losing end of that.

This being Bower’s last game to coach, look for trick plays and fake punts, reminiscent of the good ole days when his coaching staff won 8-9 games a year and actually made calls which made sense.

If you’re there, enjoy the game without me. I’ll be in Brandon, MS photographing the wedding of college pal David Ash.

Southern Miss… TO THE TOP!!! TO GET EMBARRASSED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION!!! AGAIN!!!

I fly to Birmingham tonight, and baring any freak snowstorms in St. Louis, I’ll be able to make it to the showing of Christmas Vacation at the Alabama Theatre. If you haven’t made a trip yet into downtown Birmingham, now’s the time.

It’ll be a busy few days but I hope I’ll get a chance to bump into as many of you as possible before we depart.

This time of year (beginning about, oh, 4 days ago) is the slowest time of year on the blog. People are on vacation… spending time with family/friends… spending 5 hours in the Galleria searching for gifts, only after they spent 3 hours searching for a parking spot. We understand as we’re busy as well. However, that doesn’t mean the blog takes a break.

The blog will be on “auto post” for the majority of the next 2 weeks, which means that I’ll be feeding the beast jars of grape jelly and Twizlers. Treat the beast with respect and test the parameters of the updated comments section (ie-which words I’ve ‘blacklisted’).

Christmas Holidays:

We’ll be home in Jasper from on December 21… in Jackson, MS on Dec 22 for David Ash’s wedding… back to Jasper from Dec 23-25…. then to Hattiesburg from Dec 25-28.

New Years Holidays:

We’ll be in London from December 29-January 2, opting to ring in the new year along the River Thames. Posting will be sparse, but I’ll try to throw up a couple of photos if I get the time.