Here's what you missed on Brittany...

Obviously I've gotten really bad at blogging. It took me weeks to finish my Texas vacation recap, then it took me weeks to write two posts on one of the best days of my life. I'm not going to feed you excuses. I'm just busy and lazy and exhausted and overwhelmed and all those other happy things. So, if you're even remotely interested, allow me to catch you up on all things Brittany:

- I got a new job. Sorta. It's actually the same job at the same place, but I went from working 29 hours to working 40 hours. Hence, the exhaustion. I also have benefits now and my bi-weekly paycheck doubled, so that's been a positive change around here.

- I'm getting married really soon and we might even have a wedding planned for the occasion. I mean, I still don't have a florist or transportation for pictures. I still haven't done a hair trial or picked up the rings or the dress. I did send out invitations this week, though. So hopefully someone else will be there to witness it.

- Football season is in full swing and I'm over-the-moon excited. We did a live fantasy draft a couple weeks ago and it was a blast. Any excuse to talk about football and stuff my face with food, right? We even followed the draft with some euchre, so I was in my hometown happy place. On top of that, the Bengals, the Packers, the Buckeyes, and my fantasy team (Watt Me Whip, Watt Me JJ) are undefeated.

- This probably doesn't deserve its own bullet point, but Wheat, LP, and I each received a free large one-topping pizza from Pizza Hut because apparently no one else watches College GameDay. On the opening day of college football, they announced before a commercial break that Pizza Hut was giving away 10,000 free pizzas with a special promo code. We assumed that by the time we ordered, the pizzas would be gone, but we each got one. We felt a little bad when we showed up together to pick them up, but FREE STUFF IS EVERYTHING.

- The past few weekends have consisted of: trips to Ohio for wedding planning, a full round of golf (where I didn't play, but drove the golf cart), a Bengals preseason win at Lucas Oil Stadium (which was technically on a Thursday), pumpkin pie blizzards from Dairy Queen, Fear the Walking Dead, a free root beer float from the Boy Scouts of America, a quick trip to Iron's Fruit Farm for apple cider and cinnamon-cider donuts, a stroll through IMA's incredible art park, and lots of quality time with my family. It's been really nice.

I also feel obligated to point out that fall is coming and I can feel it in the air. I can also taste it in my mouth because I'm currently devouring everything pumpkin-flavored within a 30-foot radius. I'm anxiously awaiting the first day where I can finally switch from looking like an overheated summer mess to looking like a presentable girl with a cardigan, boots, and scarf. It's coming, friends.

Man Meat Monday #26

It goes without saying that I can't wait for football to start. So, I've decided to honor the first of many football players for the upcoming season.

This week, I bring you the quarterback of my favorite NFC team and Nathan Adrian's fellow California Golden Bear...

Aaron Rodgers

There you go, Morgan. That's the closest Justin Timberlake will ever come to a Man Meat Monday post.

Claim to Fame: Quarterback for the Green Bay Packers

Birthday: December 2, 1983

In complete honesty, I liked the Packers before I liked the Bengals. My mom was raised in De Pere, Wisconsin, a tiny town of cheeseheads that live and breathe Packers' football. Her inbred love of the Packers followed her to Baltimore, then to Cincinnati. So, instead of growing up as a Bengals' fan, I watched Brett Favre work his magic throughout the '90s, including one glorious Super Bowl win in 1997.

I remember very well when Aaron Rodgers was drafted by the Pack in 2005. For three years, Rodgers sat back, bided his time, learned from Favre, and refined his game. Then, in 2008, Brett Favre, the lord and savior of the cheeseheads, announced his tearful "retirement." Not surprisingly, commentators and critics droned on and on about the big shoes Rodgers had to fill, their eternal love for Favre serving as a borderline condemnation for his protege.

After finishing his first season as a starter with a disappointing 6-10 record, Rodgers came back in a huge way in 2009, leading his team to the NFC wild card game and a 11-5 regular season record. 2010, however, was Aaron's time to shine. Finishing the season with a record of 10-6, the Packers ran over the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Bears before defeating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers completed three touchdown passes in the win and was named the game's MVP, an honor that his all-hallowed predecessor never received.

Oh yeah - if Aaron's talent and leadership isn't sexy enough for you, he's also 6'2", well-spoken, and great with his fans.

Random Tidbit: He has his own record label, Suspended Sunrise Recordings.

Only downfall?: He doesn't wear the orange and black. On second thought, this is probably a good thing - my beloved Bengals aren't getting to the Super Bowl any time soon.

My favorite thing about Aaron, however, is his celebration. Whenever he makes a game-changing play (particularly rushing or passing for a touchdown), he pretends to put on an imaginary championship belt. During his post-Super Bowl speech, teammate Clay Matthews put an actual WWE Championship Belt around his shoulders.



So, readers: It's your turn. Is anyone wondering what else Rodgers is packing?

...because I guarantee he does the championship belt in bed.

Green & Yellow, Green & Yellow! 31-25!

Tonight was my version of Black Friday. My own personal Christmas morning. The ultimate goal. The glorious culmination of the greatest sport on earth. The Superbowl.

Now, I'm no Nostradamus, but I may or may not have predicted a Superbowl appearance by the Packers in September.

Unfortunately for me, I also predicted the Ravens would be the representative for the AFC. Those damn Steelers...

At any rate, the game did not disappoint. Most of the game was spent pacing anxiously in my living room, making pessimistic comments and hiding behind my enormous cheesehead.

Blog-version of the highlight reel: Rodgers looking razor-sharp. TD pass to Nelson, 7-0, Green Bay. *cue the belt celebration* Big Ben throws an ugly interception to Nick Collins, which he returned for a TD. 14-0, Green Bay...and boom goes the dynamite. The Steelers' kicker actually hits a 33-yarder. 14-3. Green Bay had a ghetto fabulous, "Oh hell nah" moment - Rodgers to Jennings. 21-3. Sighs of relief from the Cheeseheads. No team has ever overcome a deficit of more than 10 points to win a Superbowl. Even I allowed myself some breathing room.

Then, suddenly, disaster struck. The Steelers began a nearly-historic comeback when Roethlisberger threw a touchdown to Hines Ward (the bane of my existence). 21-10 at halftime. Battered by injury, the Packers had a rough third quarter. Pittsburgh, 21-17. Who cares how or why? However, man-beast Clay Matthews took charge in the fourth quarter - combining with Ryan Pickett to force a key Mendenhall fumble. Moments later, Rodgers to Jennings (again), 28-17. Roethlisberger answered in his usual way - dancing on some bars, following young girls to the restroom, and making a huge pass to Mike Wallace. 28-25, still Green Bay. My mom expertly captured my exact reaction:

Of course, instead of calming my nerves and easily putting the game away, Green Bay marched down the field for a field goal, not a TD. 31-25, Green Bay with a couple minutes left. Too close for comfort. Nausea. Sweaty palms. Chewing on the cheesehead. Luckily, the Steelers turned the ball over on downs. Aaron Rodgers goes all Mortal Kombat with two "FINISH HIM!" knees. Game. Over.

The Green Bay Packers become the champions of Superbowl XLV and bring the Lombardi trophy back home to Wisconsin for the first time since 1997. Proud big sister moment. In addition, Aaron Rodgers was named MVP (3 TDs, no interceptions) - helping him move even further out of Favre's gloomy, sexting shadow of betrayal. Hooray!

All in all, the game was close to perfect. Dramatic until the very end. I forgot to mention: Midway through the game, the Packers lost their all-time leading receiver Donald Driver and defensive captain Charles Woodson to injury. Why not? Yes, waiter - I'll order another side of adversity, please.

I do wish my brother had been home to watch the game with me. He would have been in his green and yellow glory.

In other news, Christina Aguilera messed up the words in the National Anthem. Yikes. The halftime show performance by the Black Eyed Peas was just what I expected. Techno, light show, choreographed dancers, Fergie sounding awful live. Special appearances by Slash and Usher? Bizarre. What did you guys think of halftime and the commercials?

Originally, I intended on listing my top five favorite commercials, but I really didn't like any of them. Disappointment. The best one? The Doritos finger-licker commercial. Thank you for being creepy, Doritos. I approve.

Tomorrow, Man Meat Monday. Glee-cap on Tuesday. Promise.

LP-isms.

I miss my brother today.

Don't get me wrong. I've missed him every single day since he left, but it's been one of those days - those days where it just hits you like a brick wall. This was the first day that I've really felt his absence.

Tonight, I realized a number of things he would have done had he been here. He would have:

- Made fun of me for crying during American Idol.
- Begged me not to monopolize the TV with the Penguins/Islanders game.
- Called Crosby a few choice words for still being out with his concussion.
- Farted on me and ran away.
- Eaten 25% of the brownies my mom made.
- Squeezed my arm fat (his favorite thing to do).
- Discussed the upcoming Superbowl with me in great detail.
- Confidently predicted a Packers' win.
- Accused me of loving the Steelers (vomit) because I like the Penguins.
- Hugged me roughly 15 times.

...getting closer to April 22nd all the time. So proud of my buddy.

Sidenote: That picture is horrible and five years old. I apologize for subjecting you to it, but it had to be done. It is being used only to demonstrate my long-standing Packers' solidarity with my broski. Can't wait to hear the band-wagoners after their Superbowl win Sunday. Think happy thoughts.

Other sidenote: We had some serious balls that night. We were at a Bengals' home pre-season game. Hecklers had a field day with us, but that's alright...

Because you knew it was coming...

...a football update.

Today was a huge weekend for NFL football. This, of course, translates into a huge day for me. Both the AFC and NFC championship games were played today, resulting in the Superbowl 45 matchup for February 6th - Packers vs. Steelers

Game 1: Packers vs. Bears

I was beyond torn for this game. Although my family allegiance and my heart lies with the Green Bay Packers (in fact, my grandma is a team stock-holder), my beloved Brian Urlacher plays for the Bears. He's getting close to retirement age and I would love for him to win a Superbowl ring before his glorious career is over. Although the Packers shot out to an early lead, the Bears battled back, despite losing their starting quarterback Jay Cutler in the 3rd quarter to a "knee injury." In a championship game, I think it would take a very severe injury to keep a player from helping his team win. The Superbowl is on the line and it would take something catastrophic to keep me from playing. From my admirable position as couch quarterback, it appeared to me that his injury was a bit exaggerated, due in part to his poor performance. Only Cutler knows just how "injured" he really was...and I'll let his sexy (yet wimpy) conscience deal with that.

At any rate, Brian had an interception, a sack, and led the team in tackles. However, his heroic efforts weren't enough to carry the Bears to single-handed victory. The Packers won, 21-14, clinching not only a spot in the Superbowl, but dominance of the NFC North, some bragging rights for cheeseheads nationwide, and a little closure after the horrifying Favre aftermath. GO PACK! Oh yeah - Aaron Rodgers and his belt celebrations are amazing. However, absolutely nothing beats big BJ Raji and his phenomenal touchdown dance. There is nothing I like more than a 338-pound defensive player scoring his first touchdown and getting down with his bad self.



Game 2: Jets vs. Steelers

Yikes. I absolutely loathe the Steelers, so my game-time enthusiasm was directed solely toward Rex Ryan and his Jets. The first half looked atrocious. The offense forgot to show up and Mark Sanchez looked more afraid than me at the dentist. 3-and-out mania. Because the defense was constantly on the field, they wore down easily. The Steelers took a 24-0 lead by halftime. Ugh. Then, I'm not sure what happened in the locker room. Rex Ryan must have lit some serious fires under people because the Jets came out ready to play. They started a nearly-heroic comeback, posting an impressive 19 points and holding the Steelers to 0. However, in the brilliant words of teen star Jojo, it was simply 'too little, too late.' The Steelers, aka the bane of my existence, held onto the lead, winning the AFC title for the third time in six years. *vomit*

So, in order to distract myself from this horrible news, I've decided to show you a little something special that happened during tonight's big game. Although I used to love Ben Roethlisberger (he is the pride and joy of my alma mater), I've come to terms with the fact that he is a pompous jerk who doesn't make the best life decisions. Everyone knows about the rape allegations made against Big Ben in the past. So, does anyone else find it funny that he got a tiny taste of his own medicine from his own teammate tonight? Hump away, Mendenhall. Hump away.



*throws flag for roughing the passer*

In other sports' news, QB Carson Palmer is demanding a trade from the Bengals and threatening to retire if said trade isn't made. I, of course, am throwing a giant party at my house to celebrate my long-awaited retirement as the conductor of the Carson Palmer doubt train. Feels good.

...and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren't playing in the NHL all-star game this weekend. Sid is still recovering from his "mild" concussion (who the hell labeled this 3-week concussion as 'mild?'). Geno has a banged-up knee and a sinus infection...that he clearly got from violently making out with me. For which ailment am I to blame, you ask? The cold or the knee? I'll let you decide. ;)

Finally, my little brother left for boot camp today - for real this time. I could not be more proud of him. Today felt so much easier than last time. The timing wasn't right in December and everyone could feel it. It felt so hard to let him go. I still had a hard time today, but something felt better...and I can't quite put it into words. Either way, I'm thankful we had the extra time with him and I cannot wait to see him graduate in April.