Not that you noticed, but I was on vacation last week. There was turkey. There was stuffing. There was cranberry sauce. But there was no Cup Check. I'm assuming you survived.

The good news is (at least for fans of lowbrow sports-related pandering), I'm back this week and so is the column. While a one-week break from Cup Check may have been called for, a two-week break would have just been indulgent and insensitive. Not that it would have stopped me - but I only had one week of vacation time left.

The even better news is Chicago Bears' quarterback and professional pouter Jay Cutler and reality TV starlet Kristin Cavallari are engaged. Again!

And the crowd goes wild!

Not only do I love a good wedding, but anytime Cutler and his multiple chins make headlines for something other than multiple-interception games or multiple-aloof shrugs (which have both become commonplace), I like to pounce on it as prime Cup Check fodder. As I've admitted on more than one occasion, there's simply nothing I enjoy more than making fun of Jay Cutler (or his currently injured thumb). Cutler's up-and-down love life, much like his up-and-down on-field performance so far throughout his career, have provided plenty of opportunity.

As you may recall, after what's perhaps best described as a "whirlwind romance," and perhaps worst described as two people doing something anyone should give a fuck about, Cutler and Cavallari were engaged for three months before calling the whole thing off back in July. According to reports in Life & Style at the time, the sudden breakup - which was initiated by Cutler - came after Cavallari chose a work commitment over plans with the moody quarterback. "It enraged Jay," a source was quoted as saying.

Please take a moment to envision an enraged Jay Cutler.

OK, back to the story at hand. While Cutler and Cavallari were splitsville back in July, as time has gone on the two former lovebirds have been not-so-slyly rekindling the flames. In September, People reported that Cutler and Cavallari were "working it out."

"They're not officially back together but they're definitely talking and figuring things out," an unnamed source (maybe Brian Urlacher?) told People at the time.

Then, in early November, came the tweet that rocked the world. As the Bears prepared to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football Nov. 7, Cavallari sent some electronic encouragement Cutler's way.

"To the man with the best butt in football, good luck tonight @jaycutler6 ill be watching," Cavallari tweeted.

To which Cutler replied (via-Twitter), "thanks babe."

After swallowing the vomit, it was apparent to anyone paying attention that the relationship was back on.

Not to be forgotten, the Bears won the game, though it was generally accepted by most female fans that there were several asses on the field more appealing than Baby Jay's.

Despite Cavallari's Twitter tease, the reenergized couple managed to keep things somewhat hush-hush until this week, when reports surfaced that the engagement was back on. On Monday, Life & Style "exclusively" revealed that, "Jay has proposed for the second time-and Kristin has accepted!"

"Kristin is over the moon with happiness," a source (perhaps Matt Forte) shared with the gossip entertainment news rag. "She's already told her friends that the engagement is back on. They haven't set a new date yet."

And, so, all is right with the world.

But one has to wonder what awaits the star couple as they (presumably) enter marriage. Will strains in their professional lives - like Cutler's possibly season-ending thumb injury, or Cavallari's unexpectedly short run on Dancing with the Stars - affect their home life? Will Cutler get moody again when "work obligations" (like shitty reality TV appearances and straight-to-DVD acting work) starts stealing from the time the couple gets to spend together? And if the couple ever reproduces, just how arrogant and entitled will the kids be?

These are all questions yet to be answered.

And since I'm out of vacation time now, you better believe I'll keep you posted.

BOX SCORES

It was reported Tuesday that Bobby Valentine - the former manager of the New York Mets and Texas Rangers and a current baseball analyst for ESPN - was hired by the Boston Red Sox to fill the club's vacant managerial position. Though Valentine's name was not on the initial list of candidates to replace the fired Terry Francona (or at least the list released to the public), Joe McDonald of ESPNBoston.com reports that Valentine was formally interviewed by the Red Sox Nov. 21, but attempts were made to keep the possible hiring quiet out of a sensitivity for Valentine's employer. Do you think Urban Meyer made the same request when talking to the Ohio State? ...  Speaking of coaching changes, Paul Wulff was let go by the Washington State University football program this week and reportedly replaced by former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. Leach, as you'll recall, was last seen refusing to apologize for allegedly locking one of his Texas Tech players - the son of ESPN analyst Craig James - in an equipment room because of a concussion he'd sustained. Luckily, they don't bat an eye about such things on the Palouse.