Beavers drop opener

The Beavers played a surprisingly tough Stanford team even through the first half, but inconsistancy, turnovers and poor decisions plagued the Orange and Black in the second half, as the Cardinal rallied for a 36-28 win last night in the Pac-10 opener for both teams, in front of 30,223 fans at Stanford Stadium.

Justin Kahut put Oregon State on top with a 27 yard field goal on the opening play of the second quarter. Stanford then scored ten straight points, getting a 1 yard touchdown run from Toby Gerhart, plus a PAT and a 41 yard field goal from Aaron Zagory. The Beavers tied the game on a 55 yard tounchdown pass from Lyle Moevao to Sammie Stroughter, with Kahut adding the PAT. Soon after, Gerhart, stopped on a blast up the middle, bounced off two tacklers and around the right side, scoring on a 46 yard run. Zagory's PAT put the Cardinal up 17-10 late in the first half. Oregon State responded quickly though, as Moevao hit Shane Morales with a 4 yard scoring strike, with just 14 seconds remaining in the half. Kahut's PAT tied the game 17-17.

Kuhut put the Beavers on top 20-17 with a 23 yard fieldgoal halfway through the third quarter, but things started going Stanford's way from there. Zagory tied the game 20-20 with a 42 yard fieldgoal, than the Cardinal took the lead 22-20 after three, as Moevoa's backwards pass in the shadow of the Oregon State goaline rolled out the side of the endzone for a safety.

Stanford took control in the 4th, as Tavita Pritchard found Anthony Kimble for a 15 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the quarter. Bo McNally then returned an interception in the left flat 34 yards for another score. Zagory added a pair of PATs, putting the Cardinal up 36-20, with just under ten minutes remaining. Oregon State rallied however. Stroughter caught a 3 yard touchdown pass from Moevao, who then hit Morales for the two point conversion, cutting the deficit to 8 at 36-28, with just three minutes remaining. The Beavers got the ball back, then drove down the field, for what appeared would be a chance to tie the game and force overtime. Daryl Catchings took a pass on the left sideline at about the five yard line with just under a minute remaining. As he was being pushed out of bounds, Catching tried to stretch the ball over the goaline from the 2. A defender forced the ball loose and the resulting fumble rolled into the endzone then out the side, resulting in a touchback, preserving the victory for the Cardinal, 36-28.

After the game Stanford Safety Bo McNally told the Associated Press "You don't necessarily like winning that way, but a win's a win. We would have liked to do a lot of things better defensively than we did. We are in no way satisfied. We have to do a lot of things better." Talking about his fumble at the end of the Beavers final possession, Catchings told the AP "I was trying to make a play for the team but unfortunately it didn't work out that way. It didn't happen. I have to learn from this and try to make better decisions."

Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao passed for 404 of the Beavers 490 yards of total offense, completing 34 of 54 passes. Stanford had 301 yards total offense, 210 on the ground, 147 of those by Gerhart.

The Beavers, who had their 8 game Bay Area win streak snapped, travel to State College on Saturday, September 6th, to meet the 22nd ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. The game, which can be seen on ABC, kicks off at 2:30p.m. CDT.

It's time for Beaver football!

Tonight, my most-favoritist college football team, the Oregon State University Beavers, kick off the 2008 season, with a matchup against the Stanford Cardinal.

The Beavers graduated several key players on both sides of the ball after last season, but are expected to be strong in the secondary, which may well hold them in games, until the offensive line gels and the quarterback situation settles itself. Watch for the Rodgers brothers to make some loud noises for the Beaver offense. This could be a fun team to watch. Stanford, coming off a down season, should be improved under Coach Jim Harbaugh, whose son is a student assistant for Oregon State. This could turn out to be a pretty tough game and the Beavers better not get caught looking past Stanford to Penn State next week(I'll be at the Penn State game. My first time seeing the Beavers live in several years!). My prediction for tonight: Beavers 23 Stanford 13.

Game time tonight is 8p.m. CDT on ESPN2.

GO BEAVS!!!!

Jimmy is 3 months old today!

Where has the time gone? Little Jimmy is 3 months old today. He continues to be a delight and the light of our lives. He is now able to roll over and holds his head up and looks around. He is using his hands more and more but he still hasn't quite "discovered" them. He's also using his legs a lot more and he will try to stand up in the tub when he gets his bath. He coos at us and is starting to "talk" to us a lot more. Daddy had him laughing in church on Sunday which cracked Mommy up. People let us know they heard him and they loved it. We don't know exactly how much he weighs but he is growing like a little weed. It's amazing how much he has changed since he was born. He's a real little person now and his personality emerges more every day. He would rather be up and playing or being held than anything. The dogs are very good with him and they don't seem to scare him at all so we're fortunate there.

We've always been a happy couple and didn't think it would be possible to be any happier. But, since Jimmy has arrived, the happiness factor in the Meissner home has gone off the charts. Three humans, two dogs, five hearts, 14 legs, lots of love!

Happy Anniversary to me!

Today, August 21st, 2008, is the second anniversary of my colon resection, giving me a surgical cure from stage one colon cancer.

To recap: I had been having "problems" for several months, with all the symptoms pointing to something heart related. In the course of treatment, my primary care physician sent me off to have a colonoscopy. Even without a history of colorectal cancer in my family, since I was 51, my doctor thought it would be best to get scoped. Well, bless her heart! The procedure revealed one single polyp, with cancer on the tip. I then consulted with a colorectal surgeon, who explained to me that, if I had surgery immediately, my chances of survial was 93%. If I waited 3 to 5 years, my chance of survival dropped to near zero. So I opted for surgery.

Prepping for a colonoscopy, or for a colon resection, is legendary. And many of us who have gone through it, consider the prep worse than the exam and/or surgery. But, when you consider the alternative, it's worth it all. Because of other things going on inside me, my surgery lasted a lot longer than expected. But the operation was a complete success and I have passed several checkups since then with flying colors.

I had a great support system at home. My wife made sure I made it to all my scheduled appointments, she encouraged me every step of the way and had great confidence in my doctors, as did I, that all would go well, which it did. And with our dogs, as well as our now three-month old son Jimmy, I have plenty of love, giving me all the reason I need to stay healthy.

I want to encourage everyone to be tested for colorectal cancer. If you are 50 years or older, or have a history of colorectal cancer in your family, you should be tested. With a history of colorectal cancer in your family, you should start getting checked at an age 10 years earlier than your relative's diagnosis. Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes on cancer deaths in the United States, but one of the easiest forms of cancer to defeat.

Don't be afraid, or ashamed of getting screened. Many times, people are told (or even ridiculed) by friends, or even physicians, that they couldn't possibly have colon cancer, or are misdiagnosed as having something else alltogether. I would encourage you to stay on top of things. After all, you are as vital a member of your health care team as any doctor. Ask for advice, keep searching for answers, until you are completely satisfied that your health care is on the proper course. After all, it is your health and your life. Be proactive in taking care of yourself. If you have any questions, ask your doctor, or contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Colon cancer, or a cancer diagnosis of any kind, need no longer be a death sentence, where you just sit around, put your affairs in order and wait to die. Now, many people are living for a great many years after a cancer diagnosis, thanks to advances in medicine and an aggressive treatment plan. It's worth the effort.

I beat cancer and I want everyone else to know that it can be done. Thanks for reading.

You must read this story

This is one of the most incredible examples I have ever read about how a cancer diagnosis doesn't just mean a death sentence, but can mean great inspiration to many people.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08233/905510-122.stm

Happy Anniversary to us!

Today is a really special day, as my lovely bride Kim and I celebrate our third wedding anniversary. We're going to go to a fun park, go for a drive and have a nice dinner together, while Jimmy is enjoying the neighbors downstairs.

Kim and I were married on August 6th, 2005 at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Orlando, Florida. We have had a wonderful time together since then, with each other, as well as with our son Jimmy and our dogs Snoopy, Freckles and Smoke. We've done a lot of things and seen a lot of places and there's no one I'd rather go through life with than my Pookie Bear.

I love you Kim. You are my heart. Thank you for saying yes!