Football, My Love, You're Back

You know that feeling you get, when you meet eyes with someone cute and they smile and your heart gets like warm butter on hot toast? Well, that's how I feel when Seminole football is back...only better.

You're probably aware of my excitement for the return of college football. I mean, I don't really try to hide it much less try to keep it a secret. You're also probably well aware of the team I support and the team I pledge my loyalty. Again, that's not much of a secret. Knowing that, you're probably well aware of my gratitude for the return of the college football season.

There is something to be said about college football. The amount of money that is involved in the sport is staggering, especially in respect to the fact these athletes aren't considered professionals and really, aren't suppose to receive a cut. Yes, they do receive nice perks by being on the team, but it all comes at a cost.

While most college students can disregard their alarm clock in the morning, football players and really any athlete are tied to it like a ball and chain. Waking up early to work their bodies into great machines to win important games. But they're also working to win more than that game and the games to follow. They're working to win the approval of their teammates, the approval of their coaches and the approval of their respected college community. If they drop the ball, they lost the game. However, if at the end, we stand victorious, we are the winners.

It's easy to think the cost of being a college athlete is easily overweighed by the perks, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Walking around campus as a celebrity isn't necessarily glamorous. Knowing you walk into an environment with a target on your back and on your chest isn't the most comforting. To go out on the field, week after week, it's a feat.

As the season begins, with each team standing level with one another, each with the same the number of wins compared to loses, I want to take a second in gratitude. I want to thank them for their early mornings and tough practices. I want to thank them for playing to win and putting it all on the line. And finally, I want to thank them for playing the game we all love to play and watch.

Go Seminoles!

Sincerely,

Cybill

{Photo Credit//GIF Credit}

Lessons For My Daughter

When you start college...

It's August, which only means one thing (okay, two if you count the beginning of the college football season). School is right around the corner and many young girls are packing their bags to begin the wild ride that is college. One day, you'll be packed and nervously excited, awaiting the beginning of amazing expedition. Thinking back to my four years are Florida State University, it's hard to say what I loved most and hold as my deepest regret. But last night, when my roommate asked me for some advice she can share with her cousin, it got me thinking about some of the best takeaways unearthed outside the classroom.

1. Low maintenance friends of high quality are the best friends. The amount of push and pull that happens within the span of four years can be daunting. The pressures of deciding a career path, pursuing goals and embracing the mistakes that turns into lessons are best managed with a group of friends that just get you — no make-up, no fuss, no inhibitions. Find them. Trust in them. Grow with them. Finding the right people who will frame your memories without cluttering the picture is a true treasure and a gem to be kept forever.

2. Study abroad. Study abroad for a semester, for the summer or for the whole year. Live, grow and learn in a new country with different smells, different languages and different people. There is a lot of stretching, leaning and yearning in college and in your early twenties. Do it in a different country and collect stories of places far from home. I'll miss you, but I know the growing you'll do abroad will open and fill your eyes with spark to better see the world and live your passion.

3. Go out on a school night. Alright, this one I advise with some reservation, but I will say, it's okay to go out on a school night. You're young, so do it now while you're body can still rally the next day. When you have an exam the next day, it's probably best to stay in (though it isn't completely off the table). I trust your judgement and trust me, you'll always be surprised by the people you meet and the relationships that form on those random school nights out.

4. Go beyond the college town. Drive two hours west to go camping. You've flown halfway around the world to surround yourself with the unfamiliar and continue to do that in any way possible. It probably won't be the same. It won't have the same kind of sparkle, but it'll open your eyes to something beyond the every day. Tell yourself you're going to do this and then do it.

5. Live for now, but work for tomorrow. Live and study. It's a balance. It's a give and take, a push and pull that will take a little while to fully grasp. But learn how to do everything you want to do and everything you have to do early. There will be sacrifices, but at the end of your four years in college, if properly done, you'll have a great future to look forward to and great friends to share it with as you reminisce on great memories.

Sincerely,

Cybill

The Anatomy of My Not So Romantic Meet Cute

In your twenties, you'll come to find a number of your friends, classmates and acquaintance begin to settle down and get married. It can be a little weird. One minute you're in school and the next minute, they took Beyonce's advice and put a ring on it. Anyways, I'm not complaining. I love weddings! I mean, who doesn't love a party where you get all dolled up and celebrate the love between two people? I'm such a sap.

Wedding talk aside, I have to say, I really enjoy hearing about how two people met and  how they almost didn't. It almost makes you wonder if there is such a thing as fate. Do soulmates really exist? Can the meeting of two people really be kismet? 

In June, I had my own rub with fate. In a small way, I had my own meet-cute. But don't call Katherine Heigl just yet. This is no Rom-Com.

Setting
I was traveling to Portland from Orlando for my cousin's wedding. Waking up around 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning, I had packed, got myself to the airport and made it as a stand-by passenger on the first flight to Chicago. My early start had afforded me smooth sailing and about two hours to eat breakfast in O'Hare International Airport. However, my two and half hour layover morphed into five and a half hours thanks to a three hour delay. One croissant, small coffee, almond pretzel, over-priced water bottle, small bag of trail-mix and three hours later, we were finally boarding the flight to Portland. It was a four and a half our flight and I had a middle seat.

I thank the powers of God and the universe for joining together, because as soon as I reached my row, the lucky girl who had window seat had asked me if I wanted to trade seats with her friend a few rows back. Homegirl had a window seat and it didn't really take much convincing. Window seat for a four hour and a half our flight?! WIN! All that was next was for me to pull my FSU baseball hat low over my eyes and embrace the nap ahead of me, but where's the romance in that?

The Meet-Cute
Enter Tyler. We'll call him Tyler, because, well...that's his name. In he walks, excusing himself past Jerry (the 17-year-old who attends a snowboarding high school — snowboarding high schools are real) and wearing an Oregon Ducks hoodie. Without too much hesitation, I asked him if he attended the University of Oregon and conversation quickly turned to college football. With my alma mater, the Florida State University Seminoles winning the National Championship earlier this year, the topic of conversation is probably no surprise. But what surprised me was how long Tyler and I talked and what we talked about.

Thinking back, I think we pretty much touched on almost everything. We discussed and suggested books and movies, learned about jobs and places traveled, traded sibling stories and even touched on the topic of sex and joining the mile-high club (not with each other, what kind of girl do you think I am?!). It was strange and in a way, comforting. There's something about meeting someone and simply talking and trading stories. They have no idea who you are and you haven't a clue about them.

At the end of the flight, we exchanged numbers and went our separate ways.

The End of the Rom-Com, Maybe?
Now, you're probably wondering what happened. Did we meet up one day and frolic around the city, taking adorable pictures worthy of any pre-teen magazine? No. We didn't. He invited me to hang out with his friends Saturday evening, but that was my cousin's wedding day and an opportunity to catch up with my family whom I haven't seen in months. The choice was easy, but perhaps a small part of me wonders what could have happened if I snuck away for an hour and a drink.

A few members of my glam fam. 

Relationship Status
Our relationship status (and I'm not talking about Facebook "Relationship Status") is friends...ish. Perhaps we're more distant friends or simply acquaintances. We're two ships passing in the night, or maybe more like two plans passing in flight.

We've texted a bit here-and-there, but that's kind of it. It's the end of the meet-cute. The rom-com without the rom...and perhaps the com. The beginning, "middle" and abrupt end, leaving you with what-ifs and what could have been. 

Youthful Optimism
Meet-cutes are real! Rare, but real. They happen, and while you may not realize it at the time, it's great story to share with girlfriends. Yes, the what-ifs can drive you mad, but as a lover of love, this does give me a little hope...and who knows, maybe this isn't the end of the "Rom-Com." His Oregon Ducks may find themselves matched up against my Seminoles...and that would be a great next chapter to this story.

I should also add, Portland and the surround area is a really pretty place to visit.

Sincerely,

Cybill

{Photo Credit//Personal//Personal//Personal//Tyler}

Winners & Losers

In life, especially in the game of football, there are always winners and losers, but last night and today, the Florida State University Seminoles are winners!

Did y'all watch that game?! I hope you did, because it was one heck of a game. The lows were definitely present, with Florida State trailing for most of the first half and going into halftime behind. But the high at the end was absolutely amazing and I'm still riding it.

With less than two minutes left in the game, Florida State scored the touchdown to put us on top leaving 13 seconds left. However, I still wasn't able to breath easy and I don't think Gabby could breath at all. Gabby is probably going to hate me for sharing that picture of her, sorry Gabs! But back to the game, I know the score can change and I've seen Auburn do it with one second on the clock. I'll hand it to those Tigers, they never gave up the fight, but as the clock winded down, as cheers rang throughout Tallahassee (and any/every where there was a Seminole), we claimed our victory. It felt good. It felt really good and I'm so happy!

Is it possible to fully describe this kind of happiness? I don't think so, but it's AWESOME! I mean, it was a great game, that's for sure, but it was definitely made better with the win. I would have hated to walk away from that without the victory and I am in no way envious of any Auburn fan. (Sorry I'm not sorry.)

The text messages exchange between friends following the victory made the sweet moment even sweeter. Yes, we weren't together, it was just me and my friend Gabby, but we celebrated, because it didn't matter. It didn't matter, because WE WON! Yeah, you shouldn't count on me forgetting that fact EVER nor should you expect me to not to mention it...at least for a couple of weeks. (Again, sorry I'm not sorry.)

I must also point out that this is could very well be the first big presence of kefi. I know I've mentioned how this year is the year of kefi, the year of triumphs and if this win isn't a sign of the celebrations to come, I don't know what is!

Just in case you missed a second of the game, or like me, you want to bask in the glory of victory,

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Sincerely,

Cybill 

Feels Like Christmas

If you woke up this morning feeling a sense of excitement that can only be compared to the feeling you get Christmas morning, odds are you're a Florida State Seminole (or an Auburn Tiger), because today's game day!

The long awaited day is finally here and I don't know what to do with myself until kickoff. I enjoyed some ESPN coverage of the game with my morning coffee, but that just got me more excited, and that mixed with the caffeine, has me more wired than necessary. I'll totally take it though, because this is a big day for Seminoles everywhere! Man, I really wish I were in Pasadena...

You can probably concluded that I'm really excited about tonight's game. However, that's not all. I'm just excited! Genuinely excited, but for no particular reason. Part of me thinks it's because I'm channeling Kefi (I'm really all about the kefi), but I don't know if that's just it. Something's different and God, the universe, the push and pulls of the world are definitely working toward something, for something...and for something big. (Okay, I'll stop being all Pocahontas. You probably think I'm officially crazy.)

Anyways, seeing as this blog post doesn't seem at all focused — aside from my excitement for tonight's game —I'll leave you to your Monday/Game day. Hopefully, I'll be back basking in the glory of a victory, as it is a year of victories! GO NOLES!

Oh yes, the happiest of birthday shout outs to Mr. Famous Jameis! Kick ass and take names tonight!

Sincerely,

Cybill 

Thanksgiving & College Football

Thanksgiving has come in gone, December is officially in full swing and we just had a crazy weekend of college football. In short, Alabama no longer stands on top. That spot now belongs to Florida State (holla!).

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Whether you chowed down on turkey, turducken or filled up on stuffing and cranberry sauce, I hope the feeling of satisfaction from a meal was nothing compared to the gratitude for what you have.

As for me, my family and I celebrated Thanksgiving evening and the following days in Orlando. My brother arrived (surprisingly on time) from Chicago Wednesday evening, so my family of four was reunited once more. The next day — Thanksgiving — my Mom had to work (the pains of a career in the medical field) so we celebrated when she got home. After our meal, we jetted to Orlando. Orlando has some pretty awesome outlets (just in case your were wondering) and the rest of the holiday weekend including surviving the crowds (and some of cold) around some of those outlets.

However, the craziest thing to go down this weekend was of course, college football! Do y'all keep track of the madness (not to be confused with March Madness — that's basketball)? Oh my goodness, what a weekend! Rivalry weekend is always fun and this one definitely lived up. While my Seminoles may have had a rough start, they were able to get in shape and come out with a victory over the Gators. Ohio State and Michigan took it the fourth quarter, but no ending could compare to the Iron Bowl, Alabama at Auburn.

Before I continue, I should state that I have no affiliation with Alabama or Auburn. However, one of my closest friends, Colleen, would probably rank Auburn as her number two favorite team. Our mutual friend, Kristen, is an Auburn graduate. With that, I guess you can conclude that I'd side with Auburn. You can probably conclude that I didn't mind an Auburn win, especially since it'd mean my Seminoles would sit atop the rankings! And they are sitting very nicely at #1!

Some may say it isn't something to write home about. It may also feel like birthdays. You know, when you're a year older and people ask if you feel any different, but you don't... Well, I don't know about you, but #1 sure feels better than #2.

Before I say adieu, I leave you with a story...

With Carling, Liz, Kallie, Gabby & Colleen | April 2012

"'twas the night after Auburn and all through the land, not a 'Roll Tide' was uttered, by a Crimson Tide fan. — They used to be boisterous, they used to be loud, they used to be boastful, and cocky and proud. — But they lost all their swagger, they lost all their swing. For one little second had changed everything. — The score, it was even. The clock had run dry. When Nicholas Saban then started to cry. — He demanded a second be put on the clock. The worse that could happen? A miss or a block. — But fate it is fickle, and greed has a price, and what happened next just wasn't too nice. — The previous kicks, wide left and wide right. So he put in a rookie, 'twas not very bright. – The kick was a boomer of 56 yards, but the extra yard needed was not in the cards. — And back in the end zone, a lone Tiger stood. He caught that ol' football, he caught it real good. – He started to run, he heard the cheers grow. The Crimson Tide offense? Too fat and too slow. – One hundred and nine, he ran for the score. If need if could have run one hundred more. — The crowed it erupted while storming the field. The Crimson Tide's season was settled and sealed. — A cry of 'War Eagle' soon echoed the plain. Nick Saban's expressions was one of pure pain. — And up in Ohio they shouted "Go Bucks!" for it gave hope to all, well except for the Ducks. — And in Tuscaloosa you could hear a pin drop. And in Tallahassee the Tomahawk chop. — For the night after Auburn, the Tide does not roll. The new boss in town wears Garnet and Gold."

Sincerely,

Cybill 

Playing for Payton

In light of the recent allegations against Florida State quarterback and Heisman Trophy front runner, Jameis Winston, coupled with the mess between Miami Dolphins offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin, it's easy to find yourself rolling your eyes and sighing.

As we live in an age of overpaid athletes, student-athlete-celebrity hybrids, public pre-Madonna tantrums it comes at no surprise when scandal stands as the leading story. But for anyone who believes in the the spirit of sports, specifically Florida State football, you know there's more to it than National Championships, Heisman Trophies and what's considered ESPN newsworthy. There's the reason guys play the game and so many people cheer for them, there's the inspiration they invoke in others and others invoke in them, and there's the story of Payton Poulin.

I share the video and story in hopes to deviate from the negative and focus on the positive reasons to play. With everything bad that can and do go on in our day-to-day, maybe leading stories should start focusing on sparking smiles instead of sighs.

I hope y'all have a great weekend! Go Noles!

Sincerely,

Cybill 

College Football: A Love Affair

No, thank YOU, Stanford. | November 7, 2013

As someone who is emotionally invested in Florida State Football, I quickly learned the messy love affair that is college football.

Last night, a number of Seminole fans (myself included) huddled around televisions to cheer on the Stanford Cardinals as they played the Oregon Ducks. The Nole Nation was invested in this game, as a Stanford victory was a step closer to a BCS National Championship game between Alabama and Florida State. That investment and that support from Nole Nation was obvious scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed with so many Seminoles going as CardiNoles that evening, but it also lead me to wonder, How many times have I hoped a team would fall short one evening only to cheer for them later in the season?

In retrospect, I can't count the number of games I've watched when I found myself glancing at another screen (or channel) to check on another game. However, I do recall moments during FSU home games when they'd update the crowd with scores from other games going on around the country. In those moments, the crowd would hoot and holler when outcomes were in our favor and of course, whenever the Gators were falling behind.

Now, I'm not going to go into the complexity of college football, the rankings -- AP Poll, Coaches Poll, BCS -- and how a team's record, coupled with their conference determines who and when they play. However, I will say it's the reason for the love affair, it's the reason you cheer for other teams and it's probably the reason it's so much fun.

There's a certain level of friendly rivalry and camaraderie within college football. I will go ahead and admit, while I'll cheer for an ACC team whenever they play out of our conference, I won't cheer for them when they play Florida State, but I believe it's that small link that ties college fans together. No matter where you are in the season and whom you may be playing that evening, it won't always be a lose-hate relationship and it may very well be the only accepted love affair.

I hope y'all have a great weekend and may your football team(s) take home a victory. Go Noles!

Sincerely,

Cybill

{Photo Credit}

The Company You Keep

As the saying goes, "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family." I don't discredit whomever may have coined the term and the number of people who quoted it, but to certain extent, you can pick your family. 

It's the first wedding, but definitely not the last party. | September 14, 2013

Now, I'm not talking about your biological family, but I am talking about the friends that become your family. Specifically, the friends you carry with throughout your life, the friends that grow with you and grow up with you.

I found that special group of people in college. In those four to five years we spent "figuring things out" and enjoying some new found freedom, we learned lessons and they weren't always in a classroom. Some of us learned how to mend a broken heart, others learned how to mend wounded knees and some of us learned the art of getting through a north Florida "winter." Then there is the invaluable lesson of the company we kept and the special place they'll have in our heart forever. Together we formed bonds, created memories and laughed with (and at times at) each other, piecing together what forever will be our college years.

For all you twenty-somethings out there, I'm sure you're picking up what I'm putting down. You're probably thinking of your group of friends, your go-tos, your ride or die, your family away from home. Maybe you've known this group since you were kids in elementary school or, like me, they are a group of individuals you didn't have the pleasure of meeting until college. However, you can't imagine your future with out them.

FSU Graduation | April 2012

They've impacted you. You've learned with them and from them. You've laughed, you've cried and hopefully, you've cried because your were laughing so much. Along with your family (your real family), they're people you picture surrounding you during the big moments in your future: marriage, kids, job promotions, cross-country moves...

Finding this group and weeding out the ones that don't stick can cause some heart ache and some drama. At times you may wonder if everyone is stuck in the high school, teenage, drama-driven mentality.  It's work and it's hard work, but it's great work. It's holding someone's hand through a crowded bar so you don't loose each other. It's picking up your roommate from the gym so she doesn't have to walk home dazed, because she didn't eat before she worked out. It's the "text me when you get there so I know you're safe" yell down the hall. It's the effort, it's the laughs and it's the love...and it's what makes them your family.

Kallie Lamb's 21st Birthday | September 2011

You're going to but heads, you're going to disagree, you're going to call each other out on chewing too loud they can't hear the television (true story by the way), but you're going to know there's no malice behind it. You're going to know is from a sacred place in their heart, a place that you and you alone can fill.  
Just as you have carved out your own nook they'll carve out their own cranny. They'll build bookshelves and line those shelves with snapshots of some of your greatest memories. Those snapshots will bookend rows of novels filled with great adventures and a dynamic ensemble. 
You want to know the best part? You'll be part of those stories. 
Then, months or years down whichever road you've all traveled, you'll find yourself sitting quietly and reaching for something nestled on a bookshelf. The memories will fill you and a smile will find its way below your nose and above your chin. You'll remember where you were and the moments that made you laugh, but most importantly, you'll remember with whom you shared those moments and who was laughing next to you. You'll pause and be grateful that it's the company you'll have moving forward, because it's the best kind of company to keep. 
Sincerely,   Cybill