SEC Championship Game

College (American) Football - Alabama fell to it's first defeat of the season yesterday, losing 31 - 20 to Florida in the South Eastern Conference (SEC) Final. We made it to the Final by winning all 12 of our regular season games. Florida were the favourites going into the game - the line from Vegas was about 9 points - and so it proved. It was a great game with 4 lead changes and Alabama came out of the game defeated yet with their heads held high.

This defeat drops Alabama Crimson Tide from 1st to 4th in the National rankings, and instead of going to the National Title game against Oklahoma, we head off to New Orleans to play Utah in the Sugar Bowl. Utah have gone undefeated through their season, but against undeniably weaker opponents and Alabama will be clear favourites going into the game.

It's a great second prize opportunity, and there is always next year to win the National Championship!

Roll Tide Roll!

Fantasy Baseball 2009

Well, Fantasy NFL is nearly done for the year. I missed the draft and the autodraft messed up, filling my bench with low ranked QB's so a successful run was never likely. I'm currently 6-7, looking to get to evens and then make a run in the consolation play-offs. I've done well with my team, and as we are able to keep 1 player for next year based on where we drafted them, my FA pick up of Matt Ryan has me salivating.

Fantasy NBA is well underway - my team is doing well. Took King James with the 1st overall and snagged Danny Granger with the 1st pick of the 3rd. Got my mancrush Rudy Fernandez late on too. So I love my team, it's doing well ... but ... I just find Fantasy NBA a bit dull.

I'm ready for some Baseball!! But it's months away!!

My main team is about to start it's 3rd year in a keeper league. I love this team. We keep 5 players and this is my plans at the moment:

Looking at the mock drafts going on, I have 3 first rounders in 10 team leagues, and this is a 12 team one, in A-Rod, J-Roll and Kinsler. Add in Morneau and that is a very solid in-field. I swayed on keeping Markakis or Granderson, but plumped for Markakis and managed to trade Granderson for a draft pick bump, believing he wouldn't make it back to me in the 8 spot on draft day.

Draft plans - looking to take 3 Starters in my first 5 picks and attempt to get some sort of a rotation. There is some wiggle room in our league settings for next year in doing a few daily add/drops so pitching depth doesn't overly concern me. Will need to keep a close eye on Saves - don't want to draft them too early but don't want to be left out completely at the start of the season either. Catcher position is just a touch deeper than normal so i'm in no rush to fill that. I made a mess of that last year - J.R. Towles - and ended up using multiple Catchers throughout the year.

So ... the brain is getting in gear for the 2009 season already. I have Burnett on my team and I'm hopeful I can get someone to bite on giving up a draft pick for him if he lands in Boston or New York, but it's not likely. They're a savvy bunch in my league.

Thanks for reading, and if you need a smile, picture the Scottish Sluggers preparing for battle during this cold, bleak winter.

24: Redemption Trailer

A nice change of scene, and it looks bad ass!

My truck

Can't be male in Alabama and not have a truck. Simply can't. And I got me a good one! Got a 2001 F-150 XLT Supercrew. Only had 37,000 miles on the clock and these things are built to run well over 100,000. Got a good deal from a Ford dealership, so was happy with the price and the security of getting it from a dealer. It runs great, the air conditioning is cold and I absolutely love the driving experience.

Came with the added foot stands, bed cover and rain guards over all the windows.

Love the colour too. My first ever car was a green 1.1l Ford Fiesta - now I have a green 4.6l V8 F-150 ... and I love it!

Wedding!

Well, our wedding was brilliant. Slight issue with the dress reaching the bride a little later than expected - no idea who was to blame for that... - but it all turned out perfectly.

Some pictures:

Busy week - immigration update

Had a busy week - worked five days and squeezed in a trip to London for my immigration medical. Dropped my boxers and had it confirmed I am male which was nice, and got a lecture about how there is more tobacco in cigars than cigarettes and how i should not drink coffee prior to medicals. They took blood, did a chest x-ray and if I hear nothing from them then everything is okay. Just had a day trip down there, but had time to wonder round a bit and stop for a post-medical beer at the Walkabout in Covent Garden.

Got my flat on the market too - will be in the property guide this coming Thursday. Hopeful it will sell relatively quickly. It's pretty crucial to my plans that I have it sold before I leave. It's been priced to sell, but will still make me a tidy return to use to support myself whilst getting set up out there and a downpayment on a house once i have established some credit.

Got my immigration interview date for the 27th May in the post yesterday, so another trip to London beckons at the end of next month. If all goes well there, then I should have my passport returned to me at the start of June complete with a K1 immigraton visa to enter and reside in the US of A.

So ... that just leaves planning a wedding and finding somewhere to live!

Immigration update

Just thought I would update everyone on how things are going with my big move.

All forms have now been completed, notarised, signed, sealed and delivered to the US Embassy in London. Thanks to everyone who has assisted in this. Ginger's petition to bring an "Alien Fiance'" (yes, I've heard the jokes!) has been approved so it's up to me to now get accepted at an interview at the Embassy. The date of my interview has yet to be determined, but based on onformation from others going through this process I'm expecting it to be 4-8 weeks from now.

Before the interview, i have to pass a medical to ensure I don't have any nasty, pestilent diseases which i'll transport over there. Makes me sound like a piece of fruit! I have that booked for the 17th of April ... and yes ... it's in London. The Embassy are insistant that their designated doctors carry out the exam, so it has to be down there. I'm just doing a day trip on the 17th as my appointment is early afternoon. Early flight down to Gatwick then flight back in the evening. Was hoping to catch up with some of you in the big smoke, but this will need to wait till the actual interview.

Got a couple of Estate Agents coming round on Monday and Tuesday so will hopefully get the flat on the market some time next week. It's looking good - again, thanks for the help for those who have, much appreiated. Hoping i'll get a relatively quick sale - it's an excellent first time buyers or buy-to-let option, and also has great potential for someone willing to invest in new windows, kitchen etc and sell it on. Selling all the white goods, curtains etc with it too. Have found new homes for some of my furniture, but if anyone local needs any clock radios, DVD players, lamps, cushions, kitchen appliances, rugs, towels etc let me know - it will all be charity shop bound if i don't have any takers.

As for setting a wedding date, I'm afraid that is still in the air. I really don't anticipate any issues with my interview, but I am loathe to set a date before it. I also need to make sure the flat is sold before I can go. Current financial plans involve using hthe profit from the sale to get me set up over there. I will let everyone know a date as soon as I possibly can though.

So, the great immigration adventure continues. It's hard work, expensive and slow, but isn't everything when you do it legally?

Take care all,

Ben xx