I wish I had a happier occasion to post my first diary; however therapy is too expensive, I love my kids too much to beat them and I need to do something with the rest of the night.  Forgive the rambling nature and sloppy editing. This is a first and only draft and it's hard to see the keys what with all the tears and stuff.

Dear Cowboys,

Well, I don't know what to say.  You've broken my heart again. Not in that "you cheated on me" way.  It's more like the "I wish you hadn't gotten drunk and told off my mom" way. Don't get me wrong. You're only human and I know you're devastated too. Or at least I assume so. I turned the TV off after the last incomplete pass. Well, not so much turned it off as threw my remote control across the room and somehow that turned the TV off. Mission accomplished in any case. I'm just glad I missed the plasma TV. Next season is all I have now, after all.

The excitement of the first 3/4 of the season is gone. I really thought this was the year. Yes, I know beating the Patriots in The Game would've been tough. (Or the Chargers....LOL OK gotcha there...)  I think we could've done it. Just like I think we would've pulled it off against the Packers.  I know. I was blinded by the light.

Yes, the officiating was bad.  I can't blame that. We gave the game away.  We dropped passes and made lots of mistakes.  The Giants aren't a better team; they just knew when to get out of the way and let us trip over ourselves. Maybe if we didn't lose intensity during the last part of the season things would be different.  Maybe if we'd lost the Bills game and the Packers game and didn't end up with that first round bye we could've been the ones on a roll. Who knows? I don't. At least I have six or seven months to think about it now.

More than being disappointed by the end of our season, I have a few other things that I'm already starting to dread...just as I know you are...or will be once you're able to lift your head up again and recognize your season could've been a whole helluva lot worse.  Like what? Glad you asked...

• I can't believe I'm going to have to listen to another year of sportscasters (the inept and the well-meaning) talk about how Romo and the 'boys can't pull it off in the clutch. It'll be like Peyton all of those years...and not particularly true either. Why? It's like saying we lost because I didn't make my daughter wear her T.O. jersey for the whole game. I didn't, but she's 4 and being true doesn't make it the whole story.
• I can't believe I'm going to have to listen to anyone who has ever heard of the NFL or TMZ talk about the reason they lost was because Romo is dating Jessica Simpson.  See the story about making my daughter wear her T.O. jersey above.
• I can't believe I'm afraid to turn on the TV or go to any of my favorite sports websites right now for the simple reason that I know one of you is going to say something bad about your teammates that you don't really mean and will only make you look bad. It's inevitable. I understand why you're going to do it and I forgive you, but that doesn't mean I have to like watching.  And no, I'm not talking about anyone in particular.  In fact, I doubt it'll be T.O.  My money is actually on Jerry Jones. PS Please don't fire Wade Phillips.
• I can't believe I have to listen to the two Giants fans I work with talk about how they "kicked our butts" for the next six months. I know they'll keep going even when Favre hands them their own tails and puts the game out of reach by the third quarter next week. I might actually have to quit my job and that bites because it's not all that bad. Plus, my boss and the hot HR lady are Cowboy fans and that's good for wasting several hours each week while still seeming productive.  Honestly, I like PEYTON Manning (who lost today, of course) but Eli always reminds me of my spoiled cousin....you know him....he's going to hold his breath and tell Mommy unless HE can be Boba Fett when we play Star Wars.  I want to give him AND Eli an atomic wedgie just 'cuz they....well...just cuz.
• I can't believe I will get no enjoyment out of the last three games of the season. (Aside from the aforementioned Favre-Giants thumping....which is still sorta like getting that ribbon for "participating" when you were a kid.) Not only that, odds are that I will have to watch the Patriots win the Super Bowl and I decided a few weeks ago I hate them more than I hated the 49ers in the 90s. (Thought I think the Giants might take over that spot once I stop crying.)
• I can't believe I get to listen to the prognosticators wonder whether Big Tuna could've taken them all the way this year. Please. Just don't.
• I can't believe I'm going to have to try to be gracious when my wife and four year old spend the next two days trying to sympathize with me and make me feel better. I know they don't really understand why I'm this bummed out and they're really just trying to help. Being Dad means that (especially for the 4 year old) I have to let them think they really are cheering me up.  Then again, the four year old just might pull it off.  The wife? Aside from supporting me her best reason for being a Cowboy fan is that she thinks Romo is hot...and given the choice I think I know who she'd rather cheer up. Oh well. I'm still OK with that. But if it happens can I at least borrow Jessica?

Don't worry, though, Cowboys. You're my team. I'll never leave you. I think you had a helluva a season. As long as the taste in your mouth isn't too bad, I think most of you will be back. Certainly almost all of you who contributed the most. Plus, we got some good draft picks this year as long as Jerry doesn't trade them for some magic beans and a sacraficial goat.

Hang in there. The next three weeks will suck the most then it will start getting better. If you still aren't feeling better after that you can go to work for me.  I promise you'll feel better after that.

See you next year,

(Still a) California Fan

PS- Yes, next year I'll make my daughter wear the jersey for the WHOLE game.