Red River Shoot-out 2010

Because I am the luckiest Clever Girl on Earth- I’m currently having an ice cold Bud Light and fresh lime with my go-to sports guy- Erin Hogan of ESPN Austin. I can’t imagine anything as enthralling as the all-football-almost-all-0f-the-time talk we are going to have for days on end. He and the rest of the guys- Sean Adams, Geoff Ketchum, Chip Brown and Chad Hastings- will be at Dick’s Last Resort in Victory Park from 1-7 p.m. Friday and Dick's will be gameday broadcast headquarters Saturday. Come out and get a load of them. Again, So Very Handsome group of guys- any Clever Girl can find something to gaze upon.

However, do not show up if you have not done some research. So, this is a three-part post and I expect you to put some time into your approach to gameday- and I do mean beyond figuring out what jeans you are going to wear (incidentally, the ones that look best should be on the top of your list).

Top Five Reasons a So Very Clever Guy’s Girl Should Read Bleacher Report

5. Because you're lazy if you don’t.

4. Oprah is retiring and what the freaking hell else are you going to do during that 40 minutes (in fast forward through commercials) you carved out daily?

3. They do the work for you- by researching all available media portals to provide the discerning sports talk junkie with the most up to the minute info a Guy’s Girl could ask for.

2. You will likely not survive for one minute in a group of sports minded dudes without at least reading the top two stories delivered to your e-mail (could not be any easier for you) prior to game day. Unless of course you have Erin Hogan as your front man- as I DO.

1. I was going to punk out with "It Rules," but Erin insisted we relax a bit and be more Clever. Because it requires so little investment of time to showcase your prowess- why would you not do it? Don’t forget, if you are stumped- say "Wow, I’d never thought of that," or "What do YOU think?" or "You are so Clever." Works every time.

What is higher than one? Like higher than the 4.0 grade point average? Your man will consider your knowledge on par with a nooner. This is the type of thing that happens when E and I share a few beers. So Very Clever commentary – for YOU.

Top Five Reasons Texas is Going to Lose the Red River Shoot-out

5. Better more experienced quarterback generally wins. V to OU.

4. The Longhorn’s best receivers are a freshman and a sophomore- the freshman is hurt. The rest can’t catch a cold or run junior high passing routes. Perhaps they would do well on Appalachian State or, hell, on University of Michigan the last two years.

3. The Texas offense has mastered grab-ass- but that is not as effective as taking anyone to the turf or, hell, even blocking them.

2. This team is on par with football turf when it comes to rating their football IQ- it seems team play is not as intuitive as it should be for one of the best recruited teams in the nation.

1. Unless there’s been a personnel change- Greg Davis will still be calling the shots.

Now- just so Julie doesn’t quit speaking to me after almost two decades of friendship- I am going to have to challenge all of this with …

Top Five Reason Texas is Going to Win the Red River Shoot-out

5. I look better in Burnt Orange than Crimson. Aside from that, I’m pressing E Hogan to be So Very Clever- The Sooners once vaunted D has given up an average of 28 points to the likes of Utah State, Air Force and Cincinnati (are you listening Greg Davis?)

4. The Okies O-line (offensive line) has also attended the grab-ass academy of holding and are drawing some significant penalties. Muschamp's (UT defensive coordinator) front seven (defensive line) will abuse them.

3. Under pressure, Landry Jones (Clever Girls- this is the OU man at the helm- and by helm I mean QB) makes coffee nervous and becomes color blind. Honestly- there is no end to E Hogan’s Cleverness.

2. The Sooners have their Greg Davis equal in Brent Venebles who has a similar approval ratings in Oklahoma as our Commander in Chief.

1. Bob Stoops, once known as "Big Game Bob Stoops" is now "Big Flop Bob" outside Norman. Since being humiliated in the 2004 National Championship game by USC (now, regardless of whether the NCAA strips USC of that title- they still got spanked- and it wasn’t the good kind of ass-slapping) the Sooners are a .500 football team- away from the friendly confines of Norman, Joklahoma. This includes four of five straight drops to Texas.

I’m now relatively sure the amount of s*&^ I'm going to take from Julie is just about what I can stand. I'm going to put up HORNS proudly- I can take a loss as well as the next girl. Hell, I'm a UM fan and I'm from Detroit. It's the hard-knock life for us.

Side note- University of Michigan- D-Rob is clear for play (Denard Robinson) which should make for some riveting play action on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind. I CAN NOT wait. I know, right know, RichRod is counting his freaking blessings for the fact that D-Rob is going to save his head from the guillotine. I was the one in the hood, BTW- I guess I’ll have to WAIT until Jim Harbaugh dares to return to UM.

Have You Seen the Budget Line for Photography YET?

OK, Clever Tribe- it’s time to start putting our heads together and sell some books. As you know, my first novel, "Consumed," is available for presale on bn.com. It can be purchased now but will be shipped mid-December.

I want to reward those of you who are loyal readers of Clever, and/or your family members and friends. So, I am going to run a contest.

This is how it will work: If you or anyone you know is getting married in December of 2010 or in any month in 2011- this is something you want to get involved in.

The RULES-

1. You have to become a fan of Clever Girl on Facebook. I'll cross check your name with your e-mail.
2. You have to e-mail me at soveryclevergrl@gmail.com and tell me the bride and groom’s names, and the date and location of the wedding. After this, I will return the e-mail and give you a contest code. This number will allow me to keep track of all your entries.
3. Refer all your friends and relatives (hell, everyone on your invite list, co-workers etc. …) to http://www.soveryclever.com-/ where they will read and comment daily between now and the 31st of October. They will begin each comment with your order code.
4. You (bride or groom) and all of your referrals must then purchase "Consumed" athttp://www.bn.com/ and e-mail your receipt to soveryclevergrl@gmail.com- use your contest code in the subject line. When your friends, family members and co-workers order "Consumed" from http://www.bn.com-/ they have to forward the receipt tosoveryclevergrl@gmail.com with your contest code in the subject line (this will be your proof of purchase to be added to the bride's total count).
5. So, to recap. In order to qualify for the contest you must become a fan of Clever Girl on FB (encourage all your friends and family members to do the same)- e-mail me atsoveryclevergrl@gmail.com and introduce yourself- give me all the details pertinent to your wedding (or your sister’s wedding or you mother’s wedding- whom ever you are supporting). Every day, all of your people need to log ontohttp://www.soveryclever.com/, read the blog and leave comments. All comments have to begin with your contest code so I can add it to your profile. Each person who buys "Consumed" between now and the 31st of October will give you another chance to win. All receipts from http://www.bn.com/ need to be e-mailed to soveryclevergrl@gmail.comwith your contest code in the subject line.

WHAT DO YOU WIN?

In case you didn’t know, I am a professional photographer as well. I have been shooting weddings all over the world for 13 years and simply LOVE it. You can preview my wedding website at www.lidestriphoto.com. At the end of October, I will be offering the person who has followed the rules and referred the most people to Clever Girl and whose "team" has purchased the most copies of "Consumed" wedding photography any where in the country free of charge. Now, this is a $7,000 value. It will include me photographing your wedding for seven hours (continuous time) and giving you a disc of all the images. You will own them and therefore be able to do with them as you wish. I will handle all my own travel expenses.

As an added bonus- anyone in Dallas who refers one hundred people (each referral must also buy "Consumed") will be eligible for an engagement or family sitting (all images on disc). Within one hour from Dallas proper.

So, tell all of your friends who are getting married!! I’m really excited to do this- and thank you so much for your continued support.

Happy Anniversary, So Very Clever!

Clever Tribe- I can not believe it’s been a year already! Thank you So Very Much to all my readers who have been with me since day one and all the new readers. There is so much going on on my end- I’m winding up the editing process on my first novel, "Consumed"- it’s been an a amazingly long process- beginning when I wrote it almost seven years ago. Check this out for details.

I added our first author podcast- a small question and answer portion. This first installment is me interviewing Alisa- we are answering questions from our readers via video. Should be fun. Click here to watch.

This is a defining year- I said I’d be published by 40 and I will have a book published one month before my 41st celebration. Whew. I don’t like when my predictions (especially in football) do not come to fruition.

I’m working hard on Book Two. The research is a bitch- no kidding- and I have a feeling it’s about to become a bit painful. You will understand all of that when you read it.

I want to express my gratitude to you all- this blog has been a gift to me. The most difficult thing for any writer is to write daily and you’ve keep me so inspired this year I have been able to do just that. Your comments and lines of communication have opened up the So Very Clever concept.

At the onset- the blog was simply a place to test drive the content for a book (still upcoming) called "The So Very Clever Girl’s Guide to Being a Guy’s Girl." Immediately, however, the content started evolving and you were asking my opinion on fashion and parenting and wedding planning. I have so enjoyed expanding and the creation of the content has stretched me as a writer. What more could you ask from a symbiotic relationship?

I’ve had women accuse me of marriage bashing. That is not my intent and if you feel offended by my marriage posts- you might want to examine WHY you are offended. Could be you are perpetrating some of the frauds I cite. Just a guess. I find offense usually comes from two places- the other person is on the mark or so far from it there is not reason to be offended.

I plan to explore the male realm vividly in the next six months- there is so much left to experience- I can’t wait. Love all things male- even trimmings in the bathroom sink and socks on the floor. How can you deny things so quintessentially MALE?

There is a bit of a nip in the air and that just gets me all hyped up about football. I promise, Clever Girls- the content in the sports posts will save your ass- especially on game weekends. Don’t just be a wallflower- read up and get in there. Start TALKING.

There is a new platform coming your way as soon as I catch up with social media paragon Jeremi Karnell for some tutorials. He really is the best at what he does, just a bit elusive as of late. I am promising a community where we can all get to know one another better. It’s time to get this thing monetized as well- writing is an addiction and it needs funding.

OK- over and out. Expect UT/OU talk in the next few days, I am lucky enough to be able to spend a couple days with the So Very Clever Crew from ESPN Austin. These guys know the score, so weigh in with them at Dick’s Last Resort on Friday morning!

Thank God for Those Who Dodged Bullets Today

In light of the shooting scare at University of Texas this morning, I have a few things I need to say. I dropped a child I absolutely cherish off in front of Jester (21^st & Speedway) on Sunday and as I looked at the tower wistfully I said out loud- "Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again." Merely two days later, I am staring at her dorm on TV- the shooter’s dead body is in the library across the street.

At this point- some confusion exists as to whether there is another shooter than the one who has committed suicide. All students are under lock down and I’ve been able to text Jenny, who is safe in a professor’s office with other students.

When I was in high school, I wrote a paper called- “Punk, Rock and All That Jazz.” There was some speculation at the time (a lot of it by the Big H) punk music caused young people to become violent and disillusioned. My final word on the subject was this- no media can influence you to such an extent if you weren’t a bit off to begin with.

I still believe this. The problem is, mental illness either seems to be rampant these days among young people- or it’s just there are finally diagnoses available. I remember when my parents were young; you were either crazy or you weren’t. There wasn’t much in the way of differentiation. Now, you have ADD, ADHD, tons of personality disorders- some dangerous, some harmless- depression and anxiety. Where is it all coming from?

I have a theory. As parents seem to be consumed with their own lives- I see children being less and less engaged with their nuclear family. We are plugged in to electronics and unplugged from one another. We are more concerned with social media than being social. Our children are growing up without the connections with people- they are digesting massive doses of inappropriate media (movies, TV, video games, comic books, music, Hollywood) and it is EVERYWHERE.

Young people are being bombarded with negative messages, held to impossible learning standards, asked too much of academically, expected to look perfect and HAVE everything. It’s become the new death by consumption. The pressure is one for kids to have it all- be everything to everyone- in order to compete. This pressure coupled with disconnection in their environment leads to loneliness and stress.

If children turn to music, video games and Hollywood as the most substantial source of cultural literacy- their views will become slanted no doubt. However, in my estimation, there is a big leap from shooting people in video games to shooting people in real life. It would take someone not mentally sound to be influenced to such an extent.

HOWEVER- I do believe there is limitless damage that can be done to children witnessing intense violence. It desensitizes them to it making them able to tolerate more and more- we lose compassion in this. A child who might not be strong mentally to begin with is a time bomb.

Parents are So Very NOT Clever if they let their young children watch violent programs and movies- or to play excessively violent video games. Such exposure can "reset' the normalcy button for a young person. "Oh, if you’re pissed off at a classmate- just kill them- I see it on TV all of the time." Children develop the ability to recognize consequences, and if you have a child who has never been held accountable- consequences won’t factor into bad decision making.

I’ve mentioned this before- when I was in high school- a cheerleader from a neighboring town left the house to walk her dog before school. She was following her daily routine when she was shot in the chest by the 11-year-old neighbor boy who wanted to "see what it was like to shoot someone for real."

Now- do "normal" children think this way? No. But children who are a little off and are exposed to intense violence in media can be influenced and desensitized to such an extent it seems well within "normal" to kill or maim.

The joy they take when they "kill" their opponents on a video game could be escalated to a real-life playing field. I believe that Hollywood and media contributed to Columbine and maybe every single "Columbine" there after- and I believe parents are the first line of defense against these messages.

There is no doubt there are those children who are born bad, poorly wired, mentally ill and beyond help- but their problems will be identified early teachers and family friends even if the parents are not willing to see the problems for what they are. A Clever parent will listen. We have enough sociopaths out there.

I think I am going to run an "Indecent Proposal" series. My outlandish thoughts for righting some wrongs.

Enough out of me today.

This and That- But Mostly Football

I need to preface this post and all those that I write between now and October 1st with the notification that my editor, Alisa, is relaxing somewhere on a cruise ship. It seems unfair she would not only leave me but leave me with typos, grammatical errors and- gasp- punctuation issues! You will see rampant use of the "dash" while she is gone and I will take hell for it when she returns.

OK, Clever Girls, University of Michigan might not be your team, and I am sure everyone is tired of me going on and on about my Wolverines, but history is being made here and it’s important for you to read sports-related blurbs because whether or not you or anyone else likes UM- the following names are going to come up time and again this season: Rich Rodriguez and Denard Robinson- RichRod and D-Rob, respectively. A So Very Clever Guy's Girl will know all about this.

Why? Because RichRod came from West Virginia, where he did an impressive job coaching though the translation to UM has been rocky to say the least. He came in insisting he implement a spread offense and we didn’t have the right players to execute it. Finally, his ass and his job are about to be saved by a young man named Denard.

In order to execute a spread option, you need a quick, intuitive, efficient and highly mobile quarterback who can handle the shotgun (the center pitches the ball to the quarterback) and play under center (the center hands the ball off to the quarterback). In the ideal (what UM has with D-Rob at the helm) scenario, you have a solid pocket (the protection area for the quarterback made up of the offensive linemen) giving your quarterback plenty of time to find a receiver or hand off the ball.

D-Rob elevates this set up by having little concern for whether or not the pocket will collapse- if he is unable to execute the desired play he runs for daylight. He doesn’t just find holes- he creates them. Impressive, explosive- which is why I am jacked out of shape about his bruised left knee. RichRod says he is going to play this weekend, but his knee isn’t going to get a break for a couple weeks.

Why else is history being made? Well, two years ago UM had two walk-on quarterbacks and now we have THREE viable options and they all are young boys. I thought for sure they would red-shirt Tate Forcier, but D-Rob’s injury forcie’d a quick decision and Tate now owns a bit of UM football history having completed 12 of 12 passes- an efficiency record for UM. Fantastic- so glad he is being given a chance to redeem himself after the disaster last year. I will never hang the miserable record on Tate. Fact is- he was not the person to lead the charge on an offensive strategy RichRod was forcing. It is, in part, the coach’s job to admit failure- you can’t implement a play style if you don’t have the right players for the job. He should have put more effort into recruiting and found the right players. We suck in recruiting- we got lucky with Denard and perhaps a national championship will help us to regain some of our former glory we deserve as the winningest college football team in history. My gosh, we should have players banging on our doors like UT does. It’s embarrassing.

Now- about those Hogs. The only silver lining to that cloud is that Mallett messed up in the end getting picked off (throwing an interception). The Heisman race is hot already, Clever Girls- so the names Mark Ingram (Alabama), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) and Denard are going to be coming up a lot. The Arkansas loss will keep Denard at the top of the Heisman pundit poll despite the fact he only played for seven minutes he amassed almost 200 yards- if he’d stayed in that game we’d have hung a hundred on Bowling Green (there is a reason Corvette leaps to mind and not football- but a win is a win). The bad news? 'Bama rolls on and so does Mark Ingram, and the Heisman voters have been itching for another back-to-back Heisman winner. Hell, Archie Griffin was the last one and Sam Bradford blew his chance with an injury.

Just to manage your expectations- you can count on a weekend wrap-up Monday and a gameday post Friday. It’s just through college football season- don’t panic. More good news- Soupfest is October 9th and I've actually brought someone into the fold to simply write down the recipes. They will be coming your way to carry you through football season and chilly northern winters. Yum.

I’m trying to decide how I should commemorate one year of So Very Clever. The anniversary is in two days. Hmmm. Any ideas?

I’d like to thank my new readers for their interest and a special thank you to my So Very Loyal readers.

If you are interested in the progress on "Consumed," check out my fiction site at www.lidestrigriffin.com.

A Clever Way Out of Paying for Your Wedding Photos

OK, Clever Tribe- it’s time to start putting our heads together and sell some books. As you know, my first novel, "Consumed," is available for presale on bn.com. It can be purchased now but will be shipped mid-December.

I want to reward those of you who are loyal readers of Clever, and/or your family memberfs and friends. So, I am going to run a contest.

This is how it will work: If you or anyone you know is getting married in December of 2010 or in any month in 2011- this is something you want to get involved in.

The RULES-

1. You have to become a fan of Clever Girl on Facebook. I'll cross check your name with your e-mail.
2. You have to e-mail me at soveryclevergrl@gmail.com and tell me the bride and groom’s names, and the date and location of the wedding. After this, I will return the e-mail and give you a contest code. This number will allow me to keep track of all your entries.
3. Refer all your friends and relatives (hell, everyone on your invite list, co-workers etc. …) to http://www.soveryclever.com-/ where they will read and comment daily between now and the 31st of October. They will begin each comment with your order code.
4. You (bride or groom) and all of your referrals must then purchase "Consumed" athttp://www.bn.com/ and e-mail your receipt to soveryclevergrl@gmail.com- use your contest code in the subject line. When your friends, family members and co-workers order "Consumed" from http://www.bn.com-/ they have to forward the receipt tosoveryclevergrl@gmail.com with your contest code in the subject line (this will be your proof of purchase to be added to the bride's total count).
5. So, to recap. In order to qualify for the contest you must become a fan of Clever Girl on FB (encourage all your friends and family members to do the same)- e-mail me atsoveryclevergrl@gmail.com and introduce yourself- give me all the details pertinent to your wedding (or your sister’s wedding or you mother’s wedding- whom ever you are supporting). Every day, all of your people need to log ontohttp://www.soveryclever.com/, read the blog and leave comments. All comments have to begin with your contest code so I can add it to your profile. Each person who buys "Consumed" between now and the 31st of October will give you another chance to win. All receipts from http://www.bn.com/need to be e-mailed to soveryclevergrl@gmail.comwith your contest code in the subject line.

WHAT DO YOU WIN?

In case you didn’t know, I am a professional photographer as well. I have been shooting weddings all over the world for 13 years and simply LOVE it. You can preview my wedding website at www.lidestriphoto.com. At the end of October, I will be offering the person who has followed the rules and referred the most people to Clever Girl and whose "team" has purchased the most copies of "Consumed" wedding photography any where in the country free of charge. Now, this is a $7,000 value. It will include me photographing your wedding for seven hours (continuous time) and giving you a disc of all the images. You will own them and therefore be able to do with them as you wish. I will handle all my own travel expenses.

As an added bonus- anyone in Dallas who refers one hundred people (each referral must also buy "Consumed") will be eligible for an engagement or family sitting (all images on disc). Within one hour from Dallas proper.

So, tell all of your friends who are getting married!! I’m really excited to do this- and thank you so much for your continued support.

Game Day Action

Well! The results of the Heisman Pundit poll are in for week four- hmm. Clever Girls, you need to know this is a mini-Heisman vote of only 13 of the regular voters and is considered the most accurate pre-Heisman Trophy Trust vote.

Denard Robinson is 13 points above the next two tied QBs- Terrelle Pryor (nemesis from Ohio State) and Kellan Moore (of Boise State)- IMPRESSIVE.

Now, UM is not as strong a team as they need to be, nor is the offense yet to respond to RichRod’s spread offense- however, Denard Robinson (D-Rob) is a much better QB to execute RichRod's spread option, as he's highly mobile, agile and exceedingly comfortable carrying the ball. He's absolutely riveting to watch- explosive. If he had a solid offensive line- we’d look like the Longhorns under Colt or Vince. That would be a fantasy come true.

Looks like Tate Forcier is on the path to being a red-shirt freshman this year- Clever Girls this is one way to add a year of eligibility to a player. If they go an entire season without playing a down- they are given an extra year. Now, why would this transpire? A couple of reasons- perhaps the player was active in their freshman year (a true freshman), but due to injury, attitude or performance was not as qualified as another player their sophomore year, but the coach knows they will become a stronger player and wants to develop that talent. OR, they got ousted from their job by an incoming player the next year. It seems that was the case with Forcier and Robinson. It happens. But those are two definitions any Clever Girl needs to know.

Michigan has two more relatively easy weeks- then homecoming vs. Michigan State- a bye week- and then they get hit hard for the rest of the season. So, theoretically, Denard could remain in the top of the Heisman polling for the next four weeks! Obviously, the homecoming game will be a tough one for me. I still root for UM, but am happy (ish) either way.

NOW- to challenge a term I love- "The best defense is a good offense." In the case of UM- this is not true. No matter how good D-Rob is playing, he can not carry a team and if the defense does not stop the opponent- we lose. So, the defense has GOT to pull it together. This is absurd. When we start confronting some of the opponents who are offensive powerhouses- it might be a high-scoring game- but we will lose.

OK- coolest game of the week? I’ll be watching UM, UT and Arkansas vs. Alabama. I’ve made no secret of the fact I want 'Bama to get rolled early so it’s time for Arkansas and Ryan Mallet to live up to the hype. What does that mean, Clever Girls? Well, offensively Ryan Mallet (QB for Arkansas) and Mark Ingram (RB of 'Bama and reigning Heisman champion) will be struggling for honors- so, it will be a fantastic battle.

It’s really next weekend I am looking forward to. Texas OU is one of the most exciting weekends of the year for me. This year will be a little different- I will be at Dick’s Last Resort with ESPN Austin as they broadcast live on Friday. Cannot wait to see Chip, Geoff, Erin and Sean- this is a fantastically handsome bunch, ladies, so round up your men and join them.

I'm Here to Get Hit On- Just NOT By YOU

OK, this just needs to be said- in response to those girls who are clearly NOT Clever. I was having a post-Dallas Stars Calendar shoot adult beverage at my favorite local and there were women EVERYWHERE. Now, normally this would be vastly unappealing to me- but when I am afforded the opportunity to observe behavior- it's fantastic.

So, the two women next to me were dressed to kill- and I don’t mean hunt animals. They were on the hunt no doubt- no equivocation. These were not the ladies who exploded from a supermodel bomb, nor were they of the sensible-shoe-and-attire variety either. However, they did send a very clear message and I’d like to spell it out for my male readers.

I could see the gentleman at the end of the bar observing for a while- likely formulating an approach. I was proud of him for taking his time- I could see he was calculating.

When he finally did make his way- both women anxiously turned to him and after determining he was not of interest- one of them said "I’m sorry, I’m just here to visit with my girlfriend- not to get hit on."

Two bold-faced lies in that statement. If you wanted to "visit with your girlfriend," unmolested, you’d have stayed in. With Clever Girls- who you are with is ALWAYS more important than where you are. Second lie- intimating they don’t want to get hit on.

What she really meant is "I am looking to meet someone, but it’s not you." I found her rude and offensive. Men generally don’t have to deal with being approached by women tirelessly, However, if you continuously base your options on looks and nothing more- the chances of you EVER meeting anyone up to par are slim.

What happens after someone meets your physical standards? Is it possible they might also fulfill what you desire in a man? I have a reputation for dating men who are what most women would find not very attractive. This is because I realized two things at a young age- no one was asking me out, so if someone did, I vowed to go (unless they appeared to have escaped from prison or were decidedly NOT Clever). Once I started accepting those dates, I realized what was truly important to me in a man and looks were not even in the top five. Sense of humor, confidence, gentility, intelligence and ambition.

So, the point to all of that is: While there are men who are the whole package- they are as rare as a pink diamond. So, the best idea for Clever Girls is to do some excavation before you toss out what could be a perfect gem.

If you have not heard- I am running a contest to promote my fiction and the release of my novel, "Consumed"- look to Clever Contest for rules.

A Very Clever Contest

OK, Clever Tribe- it’s time to start putting our heads together and sell some books. As you know, my first novel, "Consumed," is available for presale on bn.com. It can be purchased now but will be shipped mid-December.

I want to reward those of you who are loyal readers of Clever, and/or your family memberfs and friends. So, I am going to run a contest.

This is how it will work: If you or anyone you know is getting married in December of 2010 or in any month in 2011- this is something you want to get involved in.

The RULES-

1. You have to become a fan of Clever Girl on Facebook. I'll cross check your name with your e-mail.
2. You have to e-mail me at soveryclevergrl@gmail.com and tell me the bride and groom’s names, and the date and location of the wedding. After this, I will return the e-mail and give you a contest code. This number will allow me to keep track of all your entries.
3. Refer all your friends and relatives (hell, everyone on your invite list, co-workers etc. …) to http://www.soveryclever.com-/ where they will read and comment daily between now and the 31st of October. They will begin each comment with your order code.
4. You (bride or groom) and all of your referrals must then purchase "Consumed" athttp://www.bn.com/ and e-mail your receipt to soveryclevergrl@gmail.com- use your contest code in the subject line. When your friends, family members and co-workers order "Consumed" from http://www.bn.com-/ they have to forward the receipt tosoveryclevergrl@gmail.com with your contest code in the subject line (this will be your proof of purchase to be added to the bride's total count).
5. So, to recap. In order to qualify for the contest you must become a fan of Clever Girl on FB (encourage all your friends and family members to do the same)- e-mail me atsoveryclevergrl@gmail.com and introduce yourself- give me all the details pertinent to your wedding (or your sister’s wedding or you mother’s wedding- whom ever you are supporting). Every day, all of your people need to log ontohttp://www.soveryclever.com/, read the blog and leave comments. All comments have to begin with your contest code so I can add it to your profile. Each person who buys "Consumed" between now and the 31st of October will give you another chance to win. All receipts from http://www.bn.com/ need to be e-mailed to soveryclevergrl@gmail.comwith your contest code in the subject line.

WHAT DO YOU WIN?

In case you didn’t know, I am a professional photographer as well. I have been shooting weddings all over the world for 13 years and simply LOVE it. You can preview my wedding website at www.lidestriphoto.com. At the end of October, I will be offering the person who has followed the rules and referred the most people to Clever Girl and whose "team" has purchased the most copies of "Consumed" wedding photography any where in the country free of charge. Now, this is a $7,000 value. It will include me photographing your wedding for seven hours (continuous time) and giving you a disc of all the images. You will own them and therefore be able to do with them as you wish. I will handle all my own travel expenses.

As an added bonus- anyone in Dallas who refers one hundred people (each referral must also buy "Consumed") will be eligible for an engagement or family sitting (all images on disc). Within one hour from Dallas proper.

So, tell all of your friends who are getting married!! I’m really excited to do this- and thank you so much for your continued support.

"ND Defended that Very, Very Well"- Uh, Lou?

OK, I admit it. If we were talking about picking a doctor, I’d be accused of doctor shopping right now. If you don’t know what that means, it's a system where you visit with a doctor, do not like what he has to say, so you visit a different one- on and on until you hear what you want. Not a great idea if the first four told you that you have cancer.

So, I have decided to go with the ESPNU Fan Rankings for week 4 instead of the AP, Bleacher Report, ESPN or USA Today- why? Because the Wolverine fans have come together and pushed UM up to 19 on the fan poll where everyone else has seated them 21 or lower.

Now, it’s no secret this is a vote, and the votes are taken from sports writers across the nation- and that it is fundamentally flawed (because I don't get a vote). That said- what did I think about Saturday?

You won’t get any Monday morning sniveling from me regarding performance. Despite the fact Michigan State is my alma mater- they don’t get a fair shake from me so I need to BLOW IT UP right now. Nice freaking fake, guys! Holy Cow. If you have not seen this faked field goal (that Lou Holtz stated Notre Dame defended very, very well- uh …) you need to. Now, it has been ruled no delay of game penalty should have been called, so ND fans can Zip IT. I want to acknowledge the fact that MSU coach Mark Dantonio was admitted to the hospital following the over time victory with a heart attack and after surgery is doing very well. (Clever Girls- you need to know who Lou Holtz is even though I can't understand a freaking word he says. He is a retired football coach- college and pro- an author, a sportscaster and a motivational speaker- though the only thing he motivates me to do is drift off. He was the coach at ND for ten years from 1986-1996).

I’ve said it before, UM plays to their opponent and I wasn’t too happy with their performance on Saturday day, but a true UM fan can admit- ugly as it was- it's still a V and this is where it traditionally falls apart for us so ...

UT- hmmm. I’ve got to say, I miss the shot gun, but that was a tense game for me. I had skin in it so all I can say is – WHEW. OU is going to be a zinger- can NOT wait. An unanticipated scheduling conflict will prevent me from watching the game, as I have every single year for a decade, with ESPN Austin’s Erin Hogan. Rain check, E. 11-20.

Ingram got out there and a rather impressive first two runs gave credence to his Heisman victory- but yes, I’m still stinging about Colt.

So, that is that- for me today, back to editing “Consumed.” If you have not seen the new, longer video trailer for the novel, check it out on youtube.com (search “Consumed Book Trailer”)- it will be on www.lidestrigriffin.com soon.

I initiated a Clever Contest- look to the right for rules of engagement and WHAT YOU WIN. I will be reposting the rules every other day on the main blog area so those who miss it- can be reminded. We all know someone who is getting married- let’s take the sting out of the photography line in the budget.

OVER and OUT.

CLEVER CONTEST

OK, Clever Tribe- it’s time to start putting our heads together and sell some books. As you know, my first novel, "Consumed," is available for presale on bn.com. It can be purchased now but will be shipped mid-December.

I want to reward those of you who are loyal readers of Clever, and/or your family memberfs and friends. So, I am going to run a contest.

This is how it will work: If you or anyone you know is getting married in December of 2010 or in any month in 2011- this is something you want to get involved in.

The RULES-

1. You have to become a fan of Clever Girl on Facebook. I'll cross check your name with your e-mail.
2. You have to e-mail me at soveryclevergrl@gmail.com and tell me the bride and groom’s names, and the date and location of the wedding. After this, I will return the e-mail and give you a contest code. This number will allow me to keep track of all your entries.
3. Refer all your friends and relatives (hell, everyone on your invite list, co-workers etc. …) to http://www.soveryclever.com-/ where they will read and comment daily between now and the 31st of October. They will begin each comment with your order code.
4. You (bride or groom) and all of your referrals must then purchase "Consumed" at http://www.bn.com/ and e-mail your receipt to soveryclevergrl@gmail.com- use your contest code in the subject line. When your friends, family members and co-workers order "Consumed" from http://www.bn.com-/ they have to forward the receipt to soveryclevergrl@gmail.com with your contest code in the subject line (this will be your proof of purchase to be added to the bride's total count).
5. So, to recap. In order to qualify for the contest you must become a fan of Clever Girl on FB (encourage all your friends and family members to do the same)- e-mail me at soveryclevergrl@gmail.com and introduce yourself- give me all the details pertinent to your wedding (or your sister’s wedding or you mother’s wedding- whom ever you are supporting). Every day, all of your people need to log onto http://www.soveryclever.com/, read the blog and leave comments. All comments have to begin with your contest code so I can add it to your profile. Each person who buys "Consumed" between now and the 31st of October will give you another chance to win. All receipts from http://www.bn.com/ need to be e-mailed to soveryclevergrl@gmail.com with your contest code in the subject line.

WHAT DO YOU WIN?

In case you didn’t know, I am a professional photographer as well. I have been shooting weddings all over the world for 13 years and simply LOVE it. You can preview my wedding website at www.lidestriphoto.com. At the end of October, I will be offering the person who has followed the rules and referred the most people to Clever Girl and whose "team" has purchased the most copies of "Consumed" wedding photography any where in the country free of charge. Now, this is a $7,000 value. It will include me photographing your wedding for seven hours (continuous time) and giving you a disc of all the images. You will own them and therefore be able to do with them as you wish. I will handle all my own travel expenses.

As an added bonus- anyone in Dallas who refers one hundred people (each referral must also buy "Consumed") will be eligible for an engagement or family sitting (all images on disc). Within one hour from Dallas proper.

So, tell all of your friends who are getting married!! I’m really excited to do this- and thank you so much for your continued support.

Late to the Game- So Very NOT Clever

OK, Clever Girls, accept my apologies being So Very late with this post. Fact of the matter is, I am buried alive right now in editing "Consumed." It simply has to be a priority- along with sports. It's GAME DAY- OMGOSH, the air is a little cooler (somewhere other than Dallas), you can almost smell the tailgate parties, and if I weren't hung over, a cold beer would sound fantastic.
I'm going to give you some information that would be interesting to throw around while you are hanging with the guys who "invited" you to watch the game because you are So Very Cool.
Former UT star Sergio Kindle fell down two flights of stairs- no idea if he was hammered or not but -it might have effectively ended his pro football career. In a gesture of kindness, his coach, John Harbaugh (yes, the brother of Jim Harbaugh), has decided to try and work out a deal where they are able to wait for an answer on the future of this valuable player.
Today UT is headed to Tech, the hallowed ground where they lost in 2008- this, however, is a different team than in 2008. "Mike Leachless" Tech is a vastly different team- it will be a VERY interesting game. I'm going to take UT (emotional). Worth noting, I did state last year Mike Leach would still be trying to sort out what I feel is a legitimate gripe with Tech. Do I still think Adam James, his accuser, is a whiny bitch? YES. Honestly- buck up, dude- you play football- oh, that's right, you weren't playing, which is why you decided to used your one scintilla of "power" and fry your coach. So, translation for newly Clever Girls: Last year, the son of an almost-famous sports commentator, Craig James, accused quirky but effective coach of Texas Tech Mike Leach of abuse. Mike Leach lost his freaking job. Unreal.
What else? University of Michigan. Am I excited we are ranked? First time in a long time we have broken the top 20- I am So Very Proud. Here's the deal. A couple of problems. Though Sports Illustrated selected D'Rob (Denard Xavier Robinson- Clever nicknames prove your interest) their top week three Heisman pick- the Heisman voting is based on more than individual effort. They like to see Vs (victories) or Ws (wins)- they also like to see the way the individual performance creates an entire line of productivity. So, what does that mean? The offensive line is going to have to start performing. D'Rob can NOT carry an entire team. What other problems does UM face? They have not played a conference game yet and the Big Ten (though not as glorious as it once was) is an ass kicking. There is also the fact that UM tends to play to the competition. If they played Ann Arbor High, they might get their asses handed to them because they play to the opponent's skill level. This could be a good thing in conference play- Ohio State is going to be THE game to watch and I hope it's not because UM will become the laughing stock of the Big 10 between now and then.
Alright- back to "Consumed"- what an apt title, as it is truly consuming my life right now. I love every single second of it. I am So Very BLESSED to be doing what I love and not being paid for it. Someday.

Pentalies for Game Day Violations can be Stiff

OK, Clever Tribe- it is clear my weekend did not go exactly as planned. However, the two games in which I was most emotionally invested turned out EXACTLY as HOPED. Now, University of Texas is battling a new offensive strategy and normally that takes years (reference University of Michigan) to adapt, but UT fans aren't as patient. So, G2 (UT quarterback- Clever Girls, having Clever nicknames for your favorite players shows your intimate knowledge and interest) had to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and make it work. Now, the goal here was to play under center. That means instead of utilizing the shotgun (the center pitches the ball backward to the quarterback) position, the quarterback takes a hand off directly from the center.

Week Two- Alabama, Florida and OSU Each Need a Loss

I think we all learned a valuable lesson last football season- I am driven by emotion. So, I will never make "predictions." After all- what do I know?

So, this is about what I WANT to happen today.

We need to knock Alabama down early- so let's have Penn State do that this week- why not?

Obviously University of Michigan will be the victor over Notre Dame (Yikes- did I just say obviously? I'm already doing it again. Pardon my assumption).

There is NO doubt in my mind Texas will dominate Wyoming- did that sound decisive?

Miami must kick the asses of Ohio State- and just a head's up for anyone who might have traveled to Ohio for this game: These fans are exceedingly unpleasant and they move in packs. The logos of the visiting teams seem to incite them into a frenzy of sorts. It's best to wear a basic gameday outfit- just a suggestion. I barely made it out alive and had been warned. I didn't stop to think I should steal some Ohio license plates and switch mine out exactly 50 miles from the Shoe.

It would help me out in dealings with my neighbor if Idaho could serve up a whoopin' on Nebraska- all I heard last season was "SUH"- UGGG.

Can South Florida do it on Gator turf? It would be So Very Freaking helpful in the long run.

I think everyone who reads my blog knows Jim Harbaugh's team needs to be dismantled. I wouldn’t care if they were playing Ohio State- I'd root for OSU (Does that tell you ANYTHING?)

OK, Clever Girls- I hope you are outfitted in your hottest pair of jeans and favorite flattering T-shirt today. I’ve been reacquainted with how hot that really is- so work it.

I got to spend all day yesterday at Sebastian's Closet fingering fabric of men's clothing while I attempted to outfit the Dallas Stars for their upcoming calendar shoot Monday and Tuesday. My senses were heightened, as I do enjoy being surrounded all things male.

I made some decisions you might really enjoy in the end. I guarantee the translation will be HOT.

AG jeans. Is there a sexier brand? The answer is NO. My advice to all in the Clever Tribe is not to wear what is "in style" but the jean that works for your body type.

So, go out there today in your gameday best. I'll be at you again on Monday, licking my wounds, as my hopes and dreams will undoubtedly be dashed today.

I will be all hockey all the time on Monday though- so …

IF I Were Vince?

OK- the Clever Tribe has requested my opinion on the USC sanctions- I couldn’t be happier about vilifying Reggie Bush for something it would seem likely EVERYONE does. I'm going to weigh in (110, btw).

This is not a matter of off-field conduct. Frankly, if it were- I’d say that O.J. Simpson might need to be stripped- over and over and over. It is a matter of blatantly violating NCAA rules regarding eligibility.

Now, what to do with the Heisman? Take it away and give it to the runner-up. I’m not just saying that because I love Vince Young. I’m not even saying it because I’m a fan of the University of Texas. I’m just saying it because that is the way it works in a forfeiture. So, no reason to depart from the rules of engagement.

If there was a revote, Vince would win- so …

I can all but guarantee the Heisman Trophy Trust will not be interested in a blight in the annals on par with a BLANK. THAT is NOT going to happen, people, so let’s all accept the fact that Vince SHOULD have won it in the first place. I’m laughing out loud right now- literally, because I KNOW I’m going to get some nasty comments from BUSH lovers.

Now- fact of the matter is that schools need to police their teams and their players and do the right thing. I understand the politics and the undercurrent of gifting, courting and the like. However, if they are going to accept the conduct- the existence of it- then they need to be prepared to accept the consequences as well.

As far as having to give up the victories between December 2004 and the Rose Bowl in 2006- I do not agree with that. The games were not won on the merit or accomplishments of ONE player. While his contribution was immense- some of those games might have been won regardless- so, there is no way to tell.

The Heisman is a different issue altogether. This is an award given to the best college football player in the country- which he was- apparently (I think it came down to popularity and hype). So, when you think about the value of his play- is that affected by his taking donations? Perhaps. Imagine the mental stress some players are under during play? Maybe they have to wonder how they are going to manage their finances outside of a scholarship? Maybe they are concerned their family may have to give up their home or that their parents can’t come to games because they don’t own a car?

So … perhaps many other players could have elevated their play if they didn’t have to worry about money. Hmm.

If I were Vince? I wouldn’t want it. I’d do the power finger (trademarked by my brother, David- you'd have to see it to appreciate it fully) toward the Heisman voting committee and tell them to sit on a blank in the annals.

Sextrology is Tres Sexxxy

OK, Clever Tribe- it is time to check in with "Sextrology" by Quinn Cox and Stella Starsky. I was having lunch with a dear friend and she was relaying to me what a lovely time she’s been having in a new relationship. Truth be told she has been out of a relationship for quite some time and before that she’d been with the same man for 25 years!

Let's call her Barb. Barb lowered her voice and leaned in to me and said, "I'm concerned he’s not very attracted to me."

"What? You've spent every waking and sleeping moment with him for two weeks!"

"Well, we've had sex and … he doesn’t remain- uh, engaged, and it takes a really long time. He says he is enjoying it, but I am left feeling like I'm not that appealing to him."

"Is he a Taurus?"

"I don’t know. His birthday is May 13^th."

"Taurus. It's not you. It's him."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a book you need to get- it's called 'Sextrology.' It will explain everything."

Fast-forward to the next morning when she knocks on my door- "Sextrology" clutched to her chest- her color high- her mood elevated.

"It's not me! Now I know how to please him and I did last night. This book is amazing. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to read my dad and my brother. Maybe I will gain some understanding of my whole family."

Barb is not overstating the value of this book. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have had to dig around a bit where some people are concerned- if they fall closer to one month than another. For example- I was speaking to a longtime close friend of mine and suddenly said- "Are you a Capricorn?" He said, "No, Sagittarius." I inquired as to the date of his birthday and I’ll be damned- it is the last day of Sag and late in the eve. So, perhaps he was born a week early- but meant to be a Capricorn because let me tell you- if anyone is a quintessential Cap male it is him.

You won't believe the things you can learn about the people in your life with this book. I’ve read the profiles of EVERYONE in my family and those friends who are part of the inner sanctum and find I’m much better able to navigate my relationships and make those relationships far more productive through my understanding of WHO they ARE.

I've said it before and there is no way to under value being KNOWN- it is such an honor to feel people have invested in you- taken the time to truly listen to what you say and internalize it. So, when you have some information going in- it helps so much dodge land mines and take care with certain issues.

Because I am such a devotee of "Sextrology," I now have people ask me about their sign and I refer them to the book. There are no simple answers, but everything you need to know is covered between "Sextrology" and "Cosmic Coupling"- both books by the preeminent authors in the field of astrology.

I’m not an expert but a HUGE fan. An apprecionado, if you will.

I especially enjoy reading about people prior to meeting them- whether it's a business or social setting. You don't have to read the whole profile to scan for interesting tidbits of information. It is So Very Clever to be able to say, "Are you a Libra?"- they don’t know you already know that- they feel listened to and valued. Undoubtedly the response will be- "How did you know?" Tell them the truth- "It's the way you carry yourself …"

I can promise you, the spotlight will be squarely on you for all the right reasons. Critical in a social situation where you are meeting the hot guy to whom your friends have been dying to introduce you. Most people post their birth date on Facebook and you KNOW how I feel about being purposeful. Take a few minutes to look them up- see what you can see and do some research.

Look up the music they enjoy- listen to a few songs. Depending on your level of interest- dig in. Watch a couple of his favorite movies and remember the funny lines to drop into conversation- it will pique his interest no doubt.

Isn’t fun the best thing to have? The Clever Tribe knows how to maximize an encounter.

Let's Define Terms- A Tribute to the Season Opening

OK, Clever Girls, there is one thing you can count on- watching football comes with a lot of lingo and terminology. Understanding the words being thrown around helps to increase your enjoyment of a game you are coming to LOVE.

The important thing here is that unless you have actually played football - and I am not talking about the Thanksgiving Day excuse for grab-ass- you will be challenged, so be cautious and prepared to stand behind your assertions.

I cannot stress this enough- NO ARGUING. It is So Very unappealing to men to be challenged on sports. Always end your "statement" with a question like tone? "It was the Cowboys that year?"- that way you are not saying "No way- the Cowboys won." It sounds better and defers to him in front of the other dudes.

Terminology

Clipping- connecting with the back of an opponent’s legs or hitting him from behind below the waist while coming from behind. Be careful declaring this as there are exceptions and someone will be more than happy to debunk your theory.

Dead ball- a ball not in play.

Double foul- a foul for each team during the same down.

Down- a period of action that begins when the ball is put into play and stops when the ball is dead. These control the movement of the ball.

Fair catch- a member of the receiving team signals, by way of one arm extended overhead and waving from side to side that he intends to catch a ball. This wards off the defense.

Foul- a violation of the rules by either side.

Fumble- the loss of possession (carrier MUST have possession for this to be a fumble) of the ball. If the ball is stripped, it is forced from the hands or arms of the carrier.

Live ball- a ball that has been either free kicked or snapped legally. The ball is live until it is dead.

Loose ball- a ball not in possession by any player.

Muff- (less raunchy than you think) the touching of the ball in an unsuccessful attempt to possess a loose ball.

Neutral zone- is a space the length of the ball between the two lines of scrimmage. Both teams must remain behind their end of the ball until it is snapped.

Offside- is when any part of a player’s body is beyond his scrimmage or free kick line when the ball is snapped or kicked. This is a favorite term for guys to bandy about because it happens ALL of the time and they look really informed when they yell- "offsides."

Possession- a player is in possession when he controls the ball after clearly touching both feet or any other part of his body other than his hands to the ground inbounds.

Punt- a kick made when the player drops the ball and kicks it while it’s dropping.

Roughing the passer- hitting the QB with unnecessary force after the ball is released.

Hail Mary- a long pass in hopes of scoring- usually in a tight scoring situation (this usually occurs in bars at 1:30 a.m.)

Shot gun- the QB takes a long snap, giving him more time to evaluate the post-snap play.

Sudden death- the continuation of a tie game until one team or the other scores.

The Divisions

The National Football League is divided into two conferences: the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. Each have several divisions. It is critical to know which division your home team plays for and what division his favorite team plays in. This is where the iPhone gets really handy. In a bar, see a dude with a Giants hat on- pull out the phone- go to NFL.com and look up the team. Never a better time to be So Very Clever!

AFC

AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals

AFC East: New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans

AFC West: San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs

NFC

NFC North: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Red Skins

NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons

NFC West: Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals

The Playoffs

At the end of regular season play, the six teams in each conference with the best record enter the playoffs. These are elimination tournaments in that in each matchup - who ever loses is eliminated. When the playoffs are finished, one team from each conference heads to the Super Bowl.

Bowl Games

Unlike college football, which has as many bowl games as there are corporate sponsors, the NFL has two. The Super Bowl began in 1967, which means 2008 marked the 42nd Super Bowl on February 3, when the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots. This is the football version of Clash of the Titans, when the NFC champion competes against the AFC champion for the title of Super Bowl Champion and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The first Super Bowl took place January 15, 1967, at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif., and the Green Bay Packers were victorious over the Kansas City Chiefs. A Clever Girl would commit the last five winners to memory. Remember, I am not giving you this information to "quiz" men or to show off. Use it with caution. Note powerhouses Patriots and Steelers. They are two of the winningest teams in Super Bowl history.

The Dallas Cowboys have the most appearances with 8- a record of 5-3.

The Steelers have the winningest record with 6-1.

The Patriots are 3-3- destined to improve on that percentage with a healthy Tom Brady at the helm.

XXXVIII

New England Patriots over Carolina Panthers

XXXIX

New England Patriots over Philadelphia Eagles

XL

Pittsburgh Steelers over Seattle Seahawks

XLI

Indianapolis Colts over Chicago Bears

XLII

New York Giants over New England Patriots

XLIII

Pittsburgh Steelers over Arizona Cardinals

XLIV

New Orleans Saints over Indianapolis Colts

The next Super Bowl will be played February 6, 2011, at the new Cowboy Stadium in Dallas.

Pro Bowl

Since 1980, fans, players and coaches have voted to elect players to report to an all-star game in the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the best of the AFC and the best of the NFC are matched up.


Important Events in Football (make other plans)

Depending on the level of enthusiasm your guy has for football, you should recognize and perhaps vacate the premises on the following days. I am giving you advanced notice so you do not whine or complain. Make plans with the girls and suggest a draft party- prepare some snacks and then take off.

Scouting Combine- in February, NFL personnel gathers to watch as perspective NFL players are run through six days of rigorous and challenging drills. It’s a chance for the hopefuls to show off and get picked up.

The Draft- in April, the NFL begins the acquisition of the players ending their college careers and beginning their NFL careers. This event generally takes place over two days and seven rounds of selections. Each team makes a selection in each round (NOTE: draft picks are often a commodity traded during the season for the acquisition of a key player), beginning with the team with the worst record and ending with the winner of the Super Bowl.

Training Camp- begins in July and the teams semi-publicly begin to train as a unit.

Pre-season- I know what you are thinking- "Aren’t there enough games during the actual season?" No. Consider yourself lucky if your man is a football fan instead of a hockey or baseball fan- there are only 16 regular season games in football compared to the 183 in baseball.

The Season opener- now associated with the saying- "Are you ready for some football?" The answer from your man will be a wistful "Yes," the response from you might be "Aren't we done with football season?" but if you love him, you are going to have to buck up and be a good- you guessed it, sport.