I haven't been online as much in the last two days, and for very good reason. I got fed up. Ever happen to you? Well, it did to me. Fed up about what? The biggies, of course. 80% of it has to do with not working and looking for work, having friends tell me to keep my chin up, keep the faith and blah blah and more blah. Please, enlighten me on how much more faith I should have. Tell me how to keep my chin up, because since August of last year I've done a damn fine job of it, if I do say so myself. Meanwhile, I get to watch the news and listen to Harry Reid tell people that domestic violence numbers go up along with unemployment among males. Gee Harry, thanks for the well wishes. I didn't have the desire to punch anyone, but you're looking like a fine target.
I don't want compassion or empathy, I want to work, damn it. It's affecting my ego. And those that know me well enough know that I don't have a giant ego, but one that does exist and shows at the most opportune times. Well, I'm not broken, but I'd like to catch a break.
One of my boys called me on Tuesday night, and since it's one of my best friends, he can tell over the phone what the heck is going on. He had advice, and I took it. His advice was simple-that while not being on my laptop all the livelong day, get out of the house. Go for a long drive. So that's exactly what I did. It only took me a little over 12 years, but I finally went to Estes Park. Beautiful drive, good music, unreal weather. And I thought about nothing. Ah, quiet mind. How I've missed it so. You may think I'm kidding, but when you put all the BS that's gone on the last few weeks into the blender that is my brain, with nothing to put your energy into and free time to let it swirl around, you'd feel this way too. At least a little. So here's some mind-dumpage for you, updates on some things, and my take on a couple of other things going on..
Peyton Manning had surgery
on his neck. Really, sometimes the punchline just writes itself.
Hockey trade deadline
it came and went. No gigantic deals, but I will say this-I don't like the Avs dealing Wojtek Wolski, mostly because of the cool name, but because I liked watching him play. Yes, they potentially got talent back, so what? I'm a fan, when I get to watch (don't get me started on the whole DirecTV/Versus stupidity, I wanna watch hockey damn it). I'm just curious if there will ever be another huge trade, like the Joe Thornton deal a couple of years ago. Damn right I want the Bruins to get a haul of talent again. Guess we'll have to wait until the offseason.
NFL Tender-time
Free Agency opens up in less than 24 hours, so let the ad nauseam discussion of where Julius Peppers, LT2, Brian Westbrook, Chester Taylor and even TO can go continue throughout today. I'm more interested in the tenders that teams placed on restricted free agents. Chicken Tenders? No, ya 4th grade numbnut. There are players that can be signed to an offer sheet, and based on the tender placed on the player, the signing team will have to give that draft pick tender up as compensation. There are 3 players in particular that I have no idea what their respective teams are doing. They are:
Brandon Marshall-1st round tender; you mean I have to give up just a 1st round pick and I can get a Pro Bowl WR who has 3 straight years of 100+ receptions and is just 25 years old? Yes, there is baggage, and yes, I bagged on him myself just a few days ago. Still, talent is talent, and if Marshall wants out of town, is there a team out there with the structure in place to deal with someone like him? Gee, maybe New England? And if you don't think that there aren't kids around Boston right now firing up Madden to see if this scenario could work then I have some lovely oceanfront property Denver to show you.
Jared Gaither-1st round tender; so he's a starting LT for a team that is top 5 rushing, and he's 23. So would you rather draft a guy and hope he pans out, in the 1st round, who is probably 22 years old, or a guy who has played 2 years and is already considered solid by most personnel people in the league? Just asking, is all.
Kirk Morrison-3rd round tender; once again the Oakland Raiders do things that make even the most ignorant of fans scratch their heads in wonderment. Can Morrison play all 3 LB roles? Check. Has he been a solid citizen and defensive captain? Check. Led the team in tackles the last 4 seasons? Check. Just turned 28? Check. Ah, can anyone get a hold of New England head coach Bill Belicheck and implore him to just give up the draft pick now, he can have Morrison for the next 3-5 productive years for virtually nothing. The only reason Oakland baffles people on a continual basis is because they do crap like this. 3rd round tender a very productive LB while placing a 1st & 3rd round tender on a freaking nickel CB. Who is on the field more, you're MLB or your 3rd CB? Done and Done.
Bargains, bargains, bargains
The Tampa Bay Lightning were just bought for $110 Million. Along with the property around the arena and the company that runs the arena. The guys that owned the team bought it 2 years ago for $208 Million. Damn that's a steal!!
Little Brother update
Apparently someone is noticing the errors of their ways. I was hoping that the kid would recognize he was being a bit douchey, and he has. He's apologized to my Mom, realizes he needs to straighten some things out, and as I suspected, is using 'his way' to work things out. And it ain't working. He hasn't spoken to me about it yet, and I know he will in good time. I just want him to know that while I can't imagine what he's dealing with, I am there to listen and be there for him. As I always am.
Serial Killer Whales
I didn't even know they existed. Is there a description we should be on the lookout for? Are they all White, or all Black, or a mix? Is there a certain weight we need ought to be aware of, like say, 3 tons? Does this whale or group of whales belong to a particular Whale Gang? I heard that the Hartford Whalers were big in disbanding a group around the New England coast, maybe we should call them, and of course their leader, Ron Francis. Are they like Dahmer and Son of Sam, grew up in bad family relationships? See, I now have to get on to researching this. Warpspeed to Google....engage!
Scotty Lago
So, guy wins a bronze medal. Guy goes out with bronze medal. Guy gets picture taken with cute girl while wearing said bronze medal. Girl then drops down to the beltline and picture is taken. Clothing is still on. Yes, it looks a little risque. US Olympic Committee tells Lago he can apologize and leave Vancouver or just leave. Lago leaves. The pride of Seabrook, NH doesn't say much, so I will for him. Who gives a crap? Let some hot little number be anywhere near my beltline willingly and snap a picture, and I'll post it on this damn blog. Two conclusions-the USOC is a thankless bunch (apparently 3rd place ain't good enough), and crusty old white people suck....or they forgot about being sucked. Get Bent.
The Canadian Women's Hockey Celebration
Oh, the horror. So a team of women win the gold medal, on their home turf, and party like it's 2012. Then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) takes umbrage with the manner in which these ladies celebrate. First, allow me my ignorance-is there a pro women's hockey league in Canada? If there is, cool. If not, then they pretty much stop playing after college. Even if there is one, I don't care. Would I watch it? I've watched much, much worse. FYI, I have no want nor need for the locker room cam, either. Much like the men, I can wait until they've had time to shower and get dressed. I'm pretty sure I'll get the same answer whether guys are danglin' under a towel or in the confines of skivvies, really. Second, the IOC is upset because it was like a real celebration, like they won something. Maybe it was over the top. You know what else? Tough shit. If someone had beaten this group of women (please, don't take that out of context) and they had to play for the bronze, I'm certain the celebration would have been mild, or even nothing. Hockey is Canada's passion, it's national sport, hell, one might venture to say Identity. Close your eyes and think about Canada, and what comes to mind? Strange Brew? You Can't Say That on Television? Alanis Morissette? Youngblood? Strip clubs with way different rules than us here? What did you come up with? I'm going to guess Hockey, Pond Hockey, Ice Hockey or Don Cherry came to mind. Now, unless you've been to Canada (and no, not some drunken drive up to Montreal for a bachelor party), you might be in your right to think all of those things. But Hockey matters up there. It's where the Hockey Hall of Fame is (Toronto to be exact, and I've got the t-shirt and pictures of me next to the Stanley Cup to prove it). It's who they are. I also don't know how long these women have been playing together, but my guess is that it's not like the men's side, where they slap together a pro all-star team and say have at it after 5 practices.
Let me be crystal clear about this celebration-I thought it was awesome. Why? Because it ain't cocky if you back it up, and if I ever busted my hump the way those women did, you're damn right I'd smoke a cigar and drink a beer. You ought to be thankful they weren't bumpin' rails off the blue lines. "One of those women may have been underage, she's 18, legal drinking age is 19 in Vancouver." Sorry, not jumping all over this one, either. Because we all look at laws like we do when we get told that we have to go see our grandparents...."Really?" None of us look at each and every law and agree with it. Want more proof? Fine-have you ever exceeded the speeding limit? Ever driven less than sober? Ever had a drop of booze without parental consent before your legal birthday that states you can drink? Then in this regard, can it. And this wasn't her first beer, either. Of that I can guarantee it. I was an asshole when my student loans got approved, danced the jig in my parents living room. If it were me in this instance, I would've been the guy with the butane lighter and a bottle opener. Done and Done.
That covers the latest of the requests received.
I will leave you with this for the day....no matter what happens, you can't give up trying. If you try and fail, so be it. But I for one would hate to keep questioning myself 'What If?', and that is what is currently driving me. If you don't try, you can't fail, and that seems like a rather mundane existence. Boring!
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