These are places that are a destination, not a “driving through” or “changing planes” visit.
No new states visited. I still stand at 47, with no sign that Alaska, Hawai’i, and North Dakota will be visited anytime soon.
No new countries visited, though going back to The Netherlands reminded me that I will have to move to The Netherlands one day and travel Europe on a monthly basis.
Most memorable trips include our 9 days in Europe, our weeks’ cruise to The Bahamas, and the 2-day Southern Miss Extravaganza in Houston, and a very classy (seriously) Las Vegas wedding.
Total states: 9
Total countries: 4
*Denotes a first time visit.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Asheville, North Carolina*
Atlanta, Georgia
Auburn, Alabama
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Bruges, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Houston, Texas
Jackson, Mississippi
Jacksonville, Florida*
Las Vegas, Nevada
Menlo Park, California
Monterey, California
Nassau, The Bahamas
New Orleans, Louisiana
Oakland, California*
Orange Beach, Alabama
Palo Alto, California
Paris, France
Pebble Beach, California
Perdido Key, Florida
Sacramento, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California*
Santa Clara, California*
Stanford, California*
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Trip to Europe, introducing Chelsea to Amsterdam’s FEBO, drinking Belgium’s beer in Brugges and Brussels, climbing the Belfry, and slamming some macaroons like a boss at Lenôtre in Paris.
Cruise with bros and their wives to Nassau, The Bahamas.
Trips to the Orange Beach. There were many, and they were fun.
Time with friends, because being out of your everyday lives for 4 years was painful. Being back in your everyday lives (especially at this stage) is joyful.
Time with family, because it’s more necessary than ever.
I’m in the middle, practicing my Truffle Shuffle, holding a candy cane.
Note: All bands and/or hipsters must contact me if interested in allowing this beauty to grace your 2012, Pitchfork perfect 10-rated, synthesizer loop filled album.
Southern Miss’ Defense broke a 40 year-old FBS record in 2011 with 8 interceptions returned for touchdowns, meaning that of their 18 interceptions (tied for 5th in FBS) almost half became a Pick 6. However, these stats only speak to part of the craziness that was the 2011 season. (Why “crazy”? Because, really, who loses to UAB only to turn around and defeat #6 Houston two weeks later?)
Overall, 25 different Southern Miss players scored touchdowns in 2011. I’ve cataloged the Defensive and Special Teams touchdowns below. On a “Crazy Scale” (official NCAA scientific terminology?) of 1-5… 1 being “Kinda Crazy, Bro” and 5 being “Very Crazy, Bro”… I’ve rated the following Southern Miss Defense and Special Teams stats from their 14 games of 2011.
The most mind-blowing (are mid-majors allowed to use that term?) game of all has to be the East Carolina, who was at one point down 21-7 to USM without Southern Miss having scored a single Offensive touchdown.
Individual games stats and videos below.
8 interceptions returned for TDs (FBS record) [Crazy scale of 5]
2 fake punts out of their own end zone for gains of 29 and 31-yards respectively [Crazy scale of 5]
3 blocked punts for TDs [Crazy scale of 4]
1 blocked FG returned for a TD [Crazy scale of 2]
1 fake field goal for a TD [Crazy scale of 1]
1 fumble returned for a TD [Crazy scale of 1]
1 punt returned for a TD [Crazy scale of 1]
Southern Miss vs SELA
Korey Williams 60-yard interception return for TD
Octavius Thomas 6-yard interception return for TD
Southern Miss vs Virginia
Danny Hrapmann fake Punt out of own end zone for 31-yard gain
Southern Miss vs Rice
Marquese Wheaton 96-yard fumble return for TD
Southern Miss at Navy
Marquese Wheaton 79-yard blocked field goal return for TD
Southern Miss vs SMU
Marquese Wheaton 41-yard interception return for TD
Southern Miss at East Carolina
Jamie Collins 97-yard interception return for TD
Tracy Lampley 60-yard punt return for TD
Emmanuel Johnson 15-yard blocked punt return for TD
Deron Wilson 79-yard interception return for TD
Southern Miss at UAB
Fake FG for TD – Ryan Hanks 10 yd pass from Peter Boehme
Southern Miss vs Memphis
Deron Wilson 35-yard interception return
Kendrick Presley 100-yard interception return for TD
Southern Miss at Houston [C-USA Championship Game]
Furious Bradley 11-yard blocked punt return
Ronnie Thornton 26-yard interception return
Southern Miss vs Nevada [Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl]
Tray Becton-Martin 0-yard blocked punt for TD
Danny Hrapmann fake Punt out of own end zone for 29-yard gain
The new year is upon us, you guys and gals. For many folks, new jobs are in the near future, especially for those in the arena of software development.
FastCompany posted an article surrounding the 5 hardest jobs to fill in 2012… and #1 is undeniably true.
Software Engineers and Web Developers
The demand for top-tier engineering talent sharply outweighs the supply in almost every market especially in San Francisco, New York, and Boston. This is a major, major pain point and problem that almost every company is facing, regardless of the technology “stack” their engineers are working on.
We (by “we” I mean Doozer) are hiring. A lot. Here’s the list. The overwhelming majority of jobs posted are for our customers throughout Birmingham and Alabama.
If you’re interested please reach out via the website and/or myself: lhowell at doozer dot com.
A Season for Miracles … Hallmark Channel … 6 AM
Home Alone (Movie Marathon Begins) … FMC … 6 AM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 6 AM
Christmas at Water’s Edge … LMN … 6 AM
Christmas Yule Log … GMC … 6 AM – 11 PM
Mickey’s Christmas Carol … ABC Family … 7 AM
The Christmas Toy … HUB … 7 AM
Jack Frost (1979) … ABC Family … 7:30 AM
The Town That Santa Forgot … Boomerang … 7:30 AM
Annie Claus is Coming to Town … Hallmark Channel … 8 AM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 8 AM
Home Alone … FMC … 8 AM
Lost Holiday: The Jim and Suzanne Shemwell Story … LMN … 8 AM
Pinocchio’s Christmas … ABC Family … 9 AM
Alvin and the Chipmunks … FX … 9 AM
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland … ABC Family … 9:30 AM
Debbie Macomber’s Call Me Mrs. Miracle … Hallmark Channel … 10 AM
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas … ABC Family … 10 AM
Home Alone … FMC … 10 AM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 10 AM
A Holiday to Remember … Lifetime … 10 AM
All She Wants for Christmas … LMN … 10 AM
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year … ABC Family … 10:30 AM
Cabbage Patch Kids Christmas … Boomerang … 10:30 AM
The Muppet Christmas Carol … HUB … 11 AM
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town … ABC Family … 11:30 AM
A Flintstones Christmas Carol … Boomerang … 11:30 AM
Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas … Hallmark Channel … 12 PM *NEW
Disney Christmas Parade … ABC … 12 PM
Twas the Night … Disney XD … 12 PM
Home Alone … FMC … 12 PM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 12 PM
A Boyfriend for Christmas … Lifetime … 12 PM
Christmas Child … LMN … 12 PM
The Year Without a Santa Claus … ABC Family … 12:30 PM
The Christmas Box … INSP … 1 PM
West Point Holiday Special … FOX NEWS … 1 PM *NEW
Mandie and the Forgotten Christmas … ION … 1 PM *NEW
Alvin and the Chipmunks … FX … 1 PM
The Santa Clause … ABC Family … 1:30 PM
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) … TCM … 1:30 PM
Home Alone … FMC … 2 PM
Christmas Magic … Hallmark Channel … 2 PM *NEW
A Christmas Story … TBS … 2 PM
A Christmas Wedding … Lifetime … 2 PM
Christmas Angel … LMN … 2 PM
Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure … Disney (east) … 2:50 PM *NEW
The Man Who Saved Christmas … INSP … 3 PM
Christmas Clause … ION … 3 PM
Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause … ABC Family … 3:30 PM
Home Alone … FMC … 4 PM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 4 PM
Yogi’s First Christmas … Boomerang … 4 PM
The Christmas Pageant … Hallmark Channel … 4 PM *NEW
A Nanny for Christmas … Lifetime … 4 PM
A Dad for Christmas … LMN … 4 PM
Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas … Disney (east) … 4:30 PM *NEW
A Golden Christmas 2 – The Second Tail … ION … 5 PM *NEW
King of Kings (1961) … TCM … 5 PM
Alvin and the Chipmunks … FX … 5 PM
The Muppet Christmas Carol … HUB … 5 PM
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York … ABC Family … 5:30 PM
Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure … Disney (east) … 5:50 PM *NEW
Home Alone … FMC … 6 PM
A Dog Named Christmas … Hallmark Channel … 6 PM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 6 PM
The Christmas Blessing … LMN … 6 PM
The Town That Santa Forgot … Boomerang … 6 PM
12 Wishes of Christmas … ION … 7 PM *NEW
Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas … Disney (west) … 7:30 PM *NEW
The Polar Express … ABC Family … 8 PM
Going My Way (1944) … TCM … 8 PM
Elf … USA … 8 PM
The Ultimate Gift … Hallmark Channel … 8 PM
Home Alone … FMC … 8 PM
Thomas Kinkade’s The Christmas Cottage (Not for children) … LMN … 8 PM
Christmas Mail … ION … 9 PM *NEW
A Wind at My Back Christmas … BYU … 9 PM
Elf … USA … 9:30 PM
A Season for Miracles … Hallmark Channel … 10 PM
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation … ABC Family … 10 PM
Holiday in Your Heart … LMN … 10 PM
Dear Santa … Lifetime … 10 PM *NEW
Home Alone … FMC … 10 PM
A Christmas Kiss … ION … 11 PM *NEW
Home Alone … FMC … 12 AM
Silver Bells … Hallmark Channel … 12 AM
The Christmas Secret … INSP … 12 AM
Holiday Heist (not for children) … ION … 1 AM *NEW
Home Alone … FMC … 2 AM
A Wind at My Back Christmas … BYU … 2 AM
The Note … Hallmark Channel … 2 AM
The Perfect Gift … TBN … 2:30 AM
The Ultimate Christmas Present … Disney (east) … 2:30 AM
Home Alone … FMC … 4 AM
A Dog Named Christmas … Hallmark Channel … 4 AM
The Ultimate Christmas Present … Disney (west) … 5:30 AM
Disney Prep & Landing … ABC Family … 5 PM
Disney Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice … ABC Family … 5:30 PM
Rudolph’s Shiny New Year … ABC Family … 6 PM
Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) … TCM … 6 PM
The Christmas Card … Hallmark Channel … 6 PM
Home for the Holidays … Lifetime … 6 PM
The Road to Christmas (Not for Children) … LMN … 6 PM
Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure … Disney (east) … 6:20 PM *NEW
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town … ABC Family … 7 PM
The Year Without a Santa Claus … ABC Family … 8 PM
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated) … ABC … 8 PM
It’s a Wonderful Life … NBC … 8 PM *FAVORITE CLASSIC
A Christmas Story (24 Hour Movie Marathon) … TBS … 8 PM
Undercover Christmas (Not for Children) … Lifetime … 8 PM
A Wind at My Back Christmas … BYU … 8 PM
A Christmas Wish … Hallmark Channel … 8 PM
Comfort & Joy … LMN … 8 PM
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) … TCM … 8 PM
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) … FMC … 8 PM
The Christmas Box … INSP … 8 PM
Alvin and the Chipmunks … FX … 8 PM
Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas … Disney (east) … 8 PM *NEW
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas … ABC … 8:30 PM
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York … ABC Family … 9 PM
Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure … Disney (west) … 9:20 PM *NEW
November Christmas … Hallmark Channel … 10 PM
West Point Holiday Special … FOX NEWS … 10 PM *NEW
The Man Who Saved Christmas … INSP … 10 PM
Margie (1946) … TCM … 10 PM
Jingle All the Way … FMC … 10 PM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 10 PM
Make Way For Tomorrow (1937) … TCM … 10:15 PM
Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas … Disney (west) … 11 PM *NEW
The Santa Clause … ABC Family … 11:30 PM
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) … FMC … 12 AM
Auntie Mame (1958) … TCM … 12 AM
The Ultimate Gift … Hallmark Channel … 12 AM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 12 AM
Undercover Christmas (Not for Children) … Lifetime … 12 AM
Comfort & Joy … LMN … 12 AM
Christmas Yule Log … GMC … 12 AM – 6 AM
West Point Holiday Special … FOX NEWS … 1 AM *NEW
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas … ABC Family … 1:30 AM
Jingle All the Way … FMC … 2 AM
Holiday Inn … AMC … 2 AM
The Christmas Pageant … Hallmark Channel … 2 AM *NEW
A Christmas Story … TBS … 2 AM
A Wind at My Back Christmas … BYU … 2:30 AM
The Bishop’s Wife … TCM … 2:30 AM
Twas the Night … Disney (east) … 2:30 AM
Christmas Magic … Hallmark Channel … 4 AM *NEW
West Point Holiday Special … FOX NEWS … 4 AM *NEW
The Christmas Child … TBN … 4 AM
A Christmas Story … TBS … 4 AM
Tenth Avenue Angel … TCM … 4:30 AM
Twas the Night … Disney (west) … 5:30 AM
