A Long Overdue Win

A long overdue win... After four straight years of losses due to last minute touchdowns, poor coaching, and just general bad play, Lehigh destroyed Lafayette today, at Lafayette, 31-15.  While there are telecast parties all over the U.S., there are in fact none in Canada.  So I couldn't watch the game, but it's still nice to have a victory over them.  

A little history... It was the 144th time the two teams have met.  It is the most played rivalry in college football history and also the longest running consecutively played rivalry (since 1897).  Lafayette holds the lead over Lehigh in the rivalry game, with a record of 76-63-5.  I'm fairly confident that this year was the start of a fifteen year winning streak for our boys, so I'm expecting that statistic to be revised.  Check back in 2022.

An eye witness view, sort of... Zoom was at the stadium, but couldn't get tickets.  So my brother, a Lehigh grad as well, decided to heckle the Lehigh tailgaters.  On several occasions he was on the brink of starting a disturbance, before admitting he was just messing with people.  To each his own.  

My memories... Sophomore and Junior year, we went undefeated and at one point had the longest unbeaten streak in NCAA Div I football, capping off each year with a win against Lafayette.  During my undergrad years, Lehigh was 3-1 against Lafayette.  My favorite chant at the rivalry game is "Safety School" for two reasons.  The first being that it is true, for a large percentage of applicants to Lehigh, they also apply to Lafayette in case they don't get accepted.  And secondly, Lafayette doesn't have a comeback for it.  

In honor of the victory, I leave you with the words of our school song:

Raise up that...

Old silver goblet, with Lehigh upon it

And we'll open up another keg of beer (more beer!)

'Cause we all came to college

But we didn't come for knowledge

So let's raise hell while we're here

Prom :)

Imperial Oil's Christmas Party! Really how often do we have the chance to dress up as adults?  We had so much fun! 

Hi Ho Cheerios

So I'm no professional, but I do try my best.  Coming from an Italian family I have a few family secrets up my sleeve and I think for the most part Andy would declare that I'm a good cook.  I'm not entirely sure, but I think so.  He tends to be nice about it when I know its not entirely truthful.  For instance the other night I attempted mash potatoes, that although have come perfect in the past, looked more like they had been chewed and brought back up than anything remotely appitizing.  I couldn't stomache  more than a bite or two, but my devoted husband ate an entire helping while trying to convince me they were fine.  He didn't argue though when I threw out the leftovers.  But seriously for the most part I do well.  On Tuesdays and Fridays I have night commitments, so I usually try to prepare dinner ahead of time.  Well, this past Tuesday the buffet was left overs.  We had a couple of options in the fridge and I figured it would be best to use up what we had.  Instead of choosing off the menu Andy said he' have cereal.  I took this as a " I don't really like the leftovers and will settle for something simple I don't have to clean up." So I then offered to make something new coming up with plenty of intriguing options.  It was then that he stated that we never have cereal for dinner, in a almost disappointed tone.  What??? I steer clear of cereal even in the morning.  I feel like it is milky crackers, not a meal.  Andy actually asked that we put cereal in the rotation and include it in our daily consideration of evening meals.  Stunned I just looked at him, and then I told him I had to blog about this.  Unbelievable! Everyone always told me that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach.  I took this to mean learn how to make pies, and cookies; sauces, and pot roasts.  If the truth be known the actual interpretation is "Buy him a bowl of cheerios, and you'll be a hit!"  Oh brother!

Eggnog Latte

I love those days that start out relaxing and continue on in that manner.  Yesterday was one such day.  Andy and I started out with one goal in mind.  Starbucks commenced their Christmas season with the return of their holiday drinks this week; we wanted to start celebrating with them.  So off to the mall we went with eggnog lattes on our mind.  While drinking our hot beverages and touring the mall we happened upon a few sales...how fun!  We have been searching for some pictures to hang on our bare walls.  Although most of the house looks like a home, two of our rooms felt a bit bachloresk.  So for the past month we've been searching.  Who would have guessed that while we were just strolling by, with no intention to purchase, the two most perfect pictures would be staring right at us ON SALE.  Thrilled at our new purchase we used our new found energy to discuss what gifts we might buy our families for Christmas.  After each of us helping debate who would like what and where and when do we find each item we started to discuss our Christmas plans.  This year we have made the decision to purchase one big gift together that would be for the two of us.  We had decided a month or so ago that this Merry Christmas to us gift would be a video camera.  Just as we are confirming these plans we walk by the Sony store where they as well are having  a SALE.  Someone must have phoned ahead and told them that we were coming.  So I guess we decided to celebrate Christmas a bit early (in true Canadian style...since they are playing Christmas music and hanging lights already).  So what was meant to be a short, simple, financially frugal trip to the mall turned into a longer, exciting, found everything we needed on sale trip.  I love days like these...and just had to share. I'm tempted to go out for Lattes again next week. :) 

OHH and with our new camera in hand you can be sure to look out for the video tour of our casa!

Favorite Color

At some point in our lives we were all asked what our favorite color was.  For me this was a question that although consistently answered with the utmost integrity was still answered differently almost every time it was asked.  For me a favorite color is like your favorite drink: it may be lemonade in July, but on a cold winter day you'll be saying hot chocolate.  My favorite color changes with the mood I'm  in, the stage of life I'm going through, and most importantly context.  If I'm commenting on curtains pink suddenly doesn't look so inviting, but it is quickly again my top runner when I pick out a new purse.  Just as a testament to how different Andy and I truly are, his favorite color has never and seems to never be in danger of changing.  Although he will consistently tell me it is my choice when picking out colors for the bathroom, bedroom, or kitchen, when asking his opinion I am always assured of my answer.  Blue not to be confused with turquoise or periwinkle...just simple blue.  So this year, as we are starting to map out some of our new Christmas traditions Andy, without even realizing it, picked out blue Christmas lights, a blue stocking, and hopes to find a blue 'ish' star for our tree.  I guess green and red are out. The Prescott's celebrate the season simply blue. 

Happy Holidays!!!

So in Canada they celebrate Thanksgiving at the beginning of October.  That means that Halloween is after Thanksgiving, a concept I am still trying to get use to.  We aren't quite sure if the Canadians stole our Pilgrim story to tell, or if they are just remarkably similar ;)  In any case, the great thing is that we start celebrating Christmas much sooner.  Everyone is already getting set for the big day; Christmas lights went up the day after  Halloween.  So we decided to embrace our new culture and join in the festivities.   As you can see the weather cooperates around here, so it actually feels like Christmas as well! 

Canadian Politics

I am unashamed to say that I know very little about Canadian politics.  I know enough about their government to understand it is run very different from the United States, but unless I am about to have a say in their governing strategies I'm not to upset about it.  I am willing to learn, and by living in this country I am sure I will soon enough.  For instance I don't know who the Premier is at the moment or who is Prime Minister.  I plan on finding out, but I think most of my fellow Americans would need a reminder in order to call to mind these names.  In contrast every Canadian knows who is President. In fact in an 'online' vote (just for fun ...and I couldn't even believe this was happening) the Canadians voted on who they wanted to be President.  What?? I can't believe how much they follow our politics.  I sat in on a history class the other day at a nearby college.  The professor went into a tangent all about American Presidents.  The sermon I heard on Sunday (  a church I was visiting ) ended with a quote from Obama.  I guess in a way it makes me feel ignorant. I should know more about other countries governments and their leaders.  On the other hand I feel special that they are that interested in my country.  They only pretended to vote, but I actually got to.  It also makes me feel a sense of responsibility.  Our country is a leader and we need to be active in what our country is doing. I have no voice here in Canada, but I do in Texas and in the United States.  What am I doing with it?  I was excited about this election for one reason (I really couldn't find any other reason to be happy about it) we as Americans spoke.  We made time in our daily lives to speak....we voted and not just the few but we set records last Tuesday....we came out and used the rights that were given to us by so many who died to protect and provide them.  I like my new home, but I'm very proud to be an American.  

Our Beautiful Country

The view from our Balcony!! BRRRR

Andy looking Canadian :)

It happened

We woke up today to a blanket of white covering what we now call home.  Well, at least I know now that my jacket works.  I have recess duty tomorrow so we'll see how it holds up when I'm not just running from the store to my car!

The big questions

So our church has been doing a series called "Life's tough Questions."  I am so excited to be in a church that isn't afraid to ask things that seem almost too hard to explore.  The truth of course is that God is bigger than everything and big enough for anything we bring to Him.  So the past month has brought serious discussions and bold preaching.  I've loved it! Today we tackled the popular "science vs God" debate.  In summary our pastor spoke on the Why of creation being the Bible's focal point and it being so often missed because we are so caught up in the How.  He gave lots of statistics and quotes that clearly showed that a Christian can be a scientist and one does not negate the other.  Personally I find it arrogant that we as humans believe that we know enough to draw up a debate with God.  We were convinced at one time that the world was flat until Columbus, and how many ridiculous theories about the human body that were strongly believed to be true were negated once we cut open a cadaver?  The point is that we don't have the whole story, and so faith does play a part in our world perspective.  Whether it be faith in a hypothesis or faith in a Creator we believe to make sense out of our existence.  I know that I am not the world's most educated on this topic and I know that these arguments disturb many.  I guess I just feel that seeing and knowing God in my personal life is evidence of His existence and the details I will wait to speak on until He explains it to me face to face.  I know people aren't satisfied with a non-answer.  But who is to say that we are suppose to have an answer? Maybe we are just to believe,  and allow God to confirm it within us.

Stanley Cup of Baseball

So this week Andy and I popped the cork off a Champagne bottle to quietly celebrate the Phillies victory in the World Series this year.  For almost every game we hosted a small party.  We have found a few Canadians that were willing to enjoy the sport of baseball with us...and put up with Andy's antics during the game.  Anyway, we made cheese steaks and hot dogs just to try and recreate the scene up here in snow country.  All in all we enjoyed our World Series week; for a few moments we almost felt back in the City of Brotherly Love.  Of course that was short lived when we were met with blank stares by people at work when we came in celebrating a World Series victory.  After explaining that it was the 'Stanley Cup' of baseball we finally got a smile and the congrats we had hoped for.  All in all a great week!