Saturday, December 31, 2011

Week 17 picks and My goal for 2012

Last Week: 9-7

Season: 109-115-8

Washington @ Philadelphia (-8 ½): Rumor has it ‘Skins coach Shanahanighans finally has decided to look at college QBs….amazing, after all this time of dealing with career backups. Think the Eagles want to end the season on a high note after sucking so bad in the beginning? Philadelphia

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta (-11): Raheem Morris goes out with a thud on the road. Atlanta

San Francisco (-10 ½) @ St. Louis: I don’t like the line, but I like anything the Rams are doing less. Just a lack of talent. San Francisco.

Chicago @ Minnesota (-1 ½): Chicago has booked their golf trips. Vikings DE Jared Allen is looking for a sack title. Minnesota

Detroit (-3) @ Green Bay: The Lions will play their starters, the Pack will for a half. Detroit

Dallas @ NY Giants (-3): Dallas in a pressure game? Ha. NY Giants

Carolina @ New Orleans (-8 ½): Closer than you would think. Carolina

Tennessee (-2) @ Houston: I loathe the Titans. Houston

Baltimore (-1 ½) @ Cincinnati: The Bengals will be playing in front of a full house. Cincinnati

Pittsburgh (-6) @ Cleveland: Unfortunately for the Steelers, no way the Browns lay down. Pittsburgh

Indianapolis @ Jacksonville (-3 ½): No clue why anyone thinks that the Colts will win this game-their starting QBs wife just had triplets. If you need something to watch, look for Jags RB Maurice Jones-Drew and his push to win the rushing title. Jacksonville

NY Jets @ Miami (-3): I’m a huge Dolphins fan this week. Time to shut up for good, fat boy. Miami

Buffalo @ New England (-10): I must be missing something, my beloved Pats can’t cover the pass. Buffalo

San Diego @ Oakland (-3): I don’t trust this game or the next one. San Diego

Kansas City @ Denver (-3): Come on Orton, win and flip this town off on the way out for the way they dogged you. Think I’m lying? Since Tebow has started at QB, 9 less pass attempts per game. And the Broncos defense has shown up. Way to be professional, play for one QB and not for another. KC

Seattle @ Arizona (-3): Great, the two teams where the weirdness happens. Running games travel. So does a defense. Seattle

With that, those are my regular season picks for this season.

My new year’s resolution? Accountability. One word. Means so many things to me. Own all my shit, the good and the bad. I realize I have expectations of people, but they are with the best of intentions. They will be rewarded in this lifetime for being good people. Doing right by their fellow man, and holding themselves and those around them accountable to being a decent human being. Not a tough task. I hope.

My first phone call to the comedy club for open mic night comes on Monday. It will take 6-8 of them to get on stage. Life is weird, but I’ve learned that the phrase ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’ is the truth to the nth degree. Now let’s get to work. Do what you love, you get paid in spades.

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Now playing: Supastition - Rise
via FoxyTunes

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Continuation Pt. 2, and the rest of week 16 picks

(Picks are at the bottom)


Things I’m thinking about at work today when it’s super slow and I’m counting down the minutes before I get to leave on my half-day:

What kind of guy still highlights his hair?

Thursday night’s officiating crew for the Houston/Indy game must’ve had a ton of cash on the number of penalties called. At the end, there were some legit calls, but I swear I though Peyton Manning was at the helm for the Colts with all the calls they got. Can we go back to playing football, please? It’s a violent game, folks, men will get hurt.

I saw a show on TLC called ‘Geek Love’, hilarious. $10 says half of these guys marry the first woman to touch their pecker.

While I hate this time of year, mostly because my family is discombobulated, I do enjoy certain things. I really like watching my friends’ little kids get all excited about Christmas. Some of them still don’t quite get the whole Santa thing, but they are thrilled with lights, a tree and some tinsel. And usually cookies get made. That’s fun!

Another small amount of joy I felt last Friday, when I organized my team’s holiday gathering. Well, I felt better after the one person who wanted to criticize was told politely to step up and do it herself next year. We had a potluck, white elephant exchange (known as a Yankee Swap by me up until about 10 years ago), a holiday card decorating station (construction paper, scissors, hole punch, glue, glitter, markers, crayons) and a Christmas cookie decorating station (frostings of various colors, sprinkles, candy santas). Yeah, I organized all of that. And I even felt a smile on my face. Even before I snagged my white elephant exchange gift:

I loathe the way my department does business internally. They use the term ‘escalate’ like the rest of us use the word ‘the’. No one seems to answer a proper business question unless a person in management is tied to it. It’s a wonder how anything can get done. This place runs on ‘title dictates behavior’, and since Clerks is one of my favorite movies of all time, I don’t work that way. I don’t comprehend why I have to get my management team involved to get basic business done. Am I supposed to kiss a ring or something? Baffles me.

Now for the fun part: What a cool conversation I had on Friday. I’ll be brief. It felt like catching up with an old friend. I realized a while back that I had some things that needed to be stated. Not angrily or mean or guilt-laden, just things that needed to be said. So I said them. Not out of animosity, because there is none. But more because I felt like I ought to clarify. The things that needed to be said out loud were facts. Well, at least to me they were. And so it was laid out. I was absolutely in love with that woman. I should have never put so much pressure on her for that, and for that I truly was and am sorry. That whole pedestal thing screws it all up. You can’t put a woman up on a pedestal, she’s bound to fall from grace, no matter what. Why? Because she’s human, and that makes her fallible. It’s a lose/lose proposition. I get that now. I also understand it when I see others do it, but never when it’s me. I had to hit that ‘unfriend’ button on facebook because I admitted I couldn’t watch her date someone online. No matter who that guy was in her life, no matter how well he treated her nor how much she was falling for him, in my eyes, he would have been ‘that asshole’. And I don’t want to be bitter at anyone, I’m too old for this crap. I know what I want out of life and what I don’t. I also got to listen to her tell me about her life. It sucks her roommate has turned into a dillhole. But we all have those scenarios. At the very least, she loves the people she gets to work with on a daily basis, and that goes a long way. After all the talking and listening, you part as friends and hang up. For some weird reason I felt better. I thought well before last Friday that was what’s done is done. But it wasn’t. I just felt unburdened, clearer and more in tune with what reality was for that particular situation, as opposed to all my feelings bubbling over at the surface and turning me into a crazy person. It hit me-that feeling, love, makes people do some dumb shit. That, and the feeling that instead of me being single like it’s a disease, but now it’s a choice. I’m cool with it. Better than being in a relationship and being miserable. Closure was more required than I had thought.

So here I am, 36, at the halftime of my life. God Damn I’ve been lazy at times. But no more. I feel clear. I feel sharp. I’ve bullshitted myself into thinking that I need to have a certain career, when none of my jobs, sans one, has ever truly appealed to me. Now I want a mic stand, an audience and a 2 drink minimum. Here comes the dump truck of truth…..

Last week: 8-7

Season: 100-108-8

Oakland @ Kansas City (-2 ½): Is KC for real now that they have a coach they like playing for, or was last week them blowing their collective load? I think it’s legit. Kansas City

Denver (-3) @ Buffalo: Gut feeling call here, no way the Bills can leave the faithful out in the dark losing 8 straight, I don’t think. Buffalo

Jacksonville @ Tennessee (-7): We never know which Titans team will show up, the team that can beat Baltimore or the team that loses to Indy and looks like it doesn’t care. Jacksonville

Arizona @ Cincinnati (-4 ½): Take the Cardinals out of the warmth of Glendale, AZ and put them into the jungle of Cincy. Cincinnati

Miami @ New England (-8 ½): Every time I pick the Pats to cover, they don’t. Every time I take their opponent, they win. Miami

Cleveland @ Baltimore (-11 ½): Did the oddsmakers miss that dog that laid down in San Diego last Sunday night? Baltimore, you’re a fraud, too. But the Browns, they suck. Baltimore

NY Giants @ NY Jets (-3): So everyone is in the Jets. Gut call #2, I’m going the other way. NY Giants

Minnesota @ Washington (-6 ½): Rookie QB on the road, and they can’t stop the pass? Washington

Tampa Bay @ Carolina (-7 ½): I sure hope Bucs coach Raheem Morris already has most of his shit packed, it’s going to be a loooong flight home tonight. Carolina

St. Louis @ Pittsburgh (-11): Even with Charlie Batch starting at QB? Well, Kellen Clemens is on the other side, without any real pass protection, so yes. Pittsburgh

San Diego @ Detroit (-1 ½): Who trusts either team, raise your hand. Nobody? Damn, me neither. Shootout goes to the guy I can trust more. Philip Rivers? Yikes. San Diego

San Francisco (-1) @ Seattle: Again, say it with me-“weird things happen in Seattle”. Seattle

Philadelphia @ Dallas (-1): This game could come down to the Giants/Jets game. No matter, I think Dallas has payback on their mind. But it won’t matter. Philadelphia

Chicago @ Green Bay (-11): Line seems too high. Chicago

Atlanta @ New Orleans (-7): These teams usually play it tight, and Atlanta has been throwing it well of late. Do I dare go against Breesus? Oh, what the hell. Atlanta

Thursday, December 22, 2011

week 16

I had Indy, getting 6 1/2....Shane, back me up on the pick, I sent you a text!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

continuation....

Time to really clean up some old stuff....let's get to the rambling

My crazy thoughts brought to you by Boylan's Grape Soda (DEEEEEElicious)

Can we somehow find a way to take the people that don't flush the toilet at work and give 'em a swirlie? Too much? Too gross? Flush the damn toilet, this ain't your house!!

Words/Phrases that I think we should all punch the person that says them:
"Help me understand"
"Does that make sense?"
"Actually"
"Basically"
"Litrally/Literally" (a punch to the groin if they say it the 1st way...jagoffs)

Is there anyway I, as a citizen of Denver County, can sue or impeach my mayor and governor for failing to uphold their responsibilities regarding this Occupy movement? A million bucks? And these assholes didn't even spring for a permit to organize a rally? Tell you what-maybe I'll try camping out at Civic Center Park next summer, and when I'm given a ticket, when my day in court arrives I'll just state I'm an Occupier and the city, county and state can front the bill? Why am I so upset about these people taking money from other services...gee, I wonder. Oh, that and these snot nosed brats decided to compare themselves to the Tea Party. You couldn't be more wrong, hipster-doofus. The Tea Party filled out permits, had their rally, and cleaned up after themselves. What did we get with the Occupy protests? Let's see, there's ringworm, disease, trash, rats, drugs, drug paraphenalia, feces everywhere (including on top of a cop car) and lest us not forget the biggest one-sexual assault. That's going to be the one that gets swept under the rug, mark my words. It will be under-reported and barely spoken about; how many young women went to this to be a part of something and were part of some sort of disgusting act. Don't get me wrong, some of these women put themselves in harms way and didn't think things thru. By no means am I excusing the behavior of a rapist, but like I would tell any woman I know, think it thru, please. Don't become a statistic.
Speaking of the Occupy movement, I agree with 97% of what Adam Carolla is saying here.

If this is the holiday season, why are people acting like such dicks to their fellow man?

Politics (or some facsimile thereof)
Obama claims he's the 4th best President ever? You gotta be crappin' me.

I'm not a huge Newt Gingrich fan (it's kinda hard when you leave two sick wives), but I do appreciate him calling out 'Palestinians'. I'm going to a great friend's house for dessert Christmas night, I won't bring this up, I swear.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could find his own ass if you gave him two hands and a map. Hey Harry, government regulations kill business, just like all the other programs you knuckleheads in DC come up with. Get outta the way and let smart people do some things.

The Ft. Hood Massacre has been classified as 'workplace violence'? Wow. The weakness of this administration and cow-towing is embarrassing. Remember this when your kids are taking poli-sci class 20 years from now. Sorry, but the Muslim who was in contact with a known terrorist cleric murdered 13 people, screaming 'Allah Akbar'...workplace violence happens when you steal someone's sammich from the fridge, or sleep with someone's wife (seen both beatdowns happen). It was a terrorist act. The faster we admit that people want us dead in this country, the faster we can have a real discussion.

SPORTS
Penn State-it just keeps getting uglier and uglier, doesn't it? Here's the loophole that will probably get folks out of trouble (Not you Sandusky. You'll get yours, I hope). Thx to Deadspin.

ESPN has some 'splainin' to do. Here's my disclaimer, again: I am a huge Syracuse fan. I was accepted to the school, couldn't afford to go. I'm glad I couldn't. I have two of the best friends a guy could ever ask for because of where I went to school. I have no regrets in that regard. Now, thanks to 2 websites, Deadspin.com and Troy Nunes is An Absolute Magician, I keep up with what the real dirt is on the goings on at Da 'Cuse. Crud, another disclaimer: a little over a year ago, I applied for a writing position with Deadspin, and was rightfully told, in so many words, 'No'. I say rightfully now, because I didn't realize how right the editor was/is. I have no reporting chops. I sit at my desk listening to old skool hip-hop trying to make sense of the craziness that is the world. I still love sports, but my life will go on if I miss a game.
So why do I state ESPN has some things to sort out for the rest of us? This. That and ESPN reporter Mark Schwartz may have put accusers #1 and #3 in contact? Where in the world is the head of ESPN firing Schwartz for creating a story, clearly going over and past the lines of journalistic integrity? Oh wait, they're 'the worldwide leader'...I swear if I didn't need them to watch damn near every game I'd cancel my cable subscription. I should also mention former ESPN employee Jason Whitlock, as he writes so nicely about the motivation of the media, and some of the plain faults of the media. Now, a 4th man has come forward with the allegation of sexual abuse of former asst. coach Bernie Fine. Now, let's talk about the 4 alleged victims?:
Accusers 1 & 2 have hired Gloria Allred and gone on the news show circuit. Hmmm, hiring the same lady who makes sure she bilks people out of money. Oh, and they sued Syracuse University and Jim Boeheim for defamation of character. Not Bernie Fine, the guy that allegedly sexually abused them. Anyone else find this odd? The 3rd guy that accused Fine has been deemed less than credible by the DA. And the 4th one, he's pretty much already been dismissed-he claims Fine paid him $300 to perform homosexual acts 6 or 7 years ago. This man is currently 56. Sorry pal, but if someone pays you to blow them and you're 50, you're performing legally what is known as prostitution. Since this guy is already in jail, he seems to have some holes in his story.
I'm no lawyer, but if you're Fine's lawyer, couldn't you create 'reasonable doubt' on all of these.

Let's see what ESPN does with perennial 'Sports Reporters' guest Bill Conlin. In case you haven't heard, Mr. Conlin is being accused by 4 people of sexual abuse some 40 years ago. Please take the time to read this link, I thought it was fascinating.

On to more sports, anyone else think it was ridiculous that the commissioner of a sport put the kibosh on a trade, 'for the better of the game'? David Stern can spin it anyway he wants, I call bull on this deal. The fact that Chris Paul didn't get to go to the Lakers made me giggle-Chris, that's karma for punching someone in the nuts on the court back in college.

Speaking of more college hoops, what happened between Xavier and Cincinnati was disgusting. The penalties handed out were even more pathetic. Someone that stomps on a man while he's down in a sporting event should be charged with assault, while we're at it.

Hey Earl Bennett, how dare you try and match your team's uniform!

I want a hat and a t-shirt for this team...it looks badass. Nice work Canada!!

Random
200 lbs of weed? Yeah, I think you were gonna sell it, Key-lo.

Good. I'm glad people are going to sue some companies for not even looking at them. Having been unemployed, there was nothing more disheartening than hearing that I wouldn't be looked at because I didn't have a job. I'm not sure if the adage that it's easier to get a job when you have one, but there may be some truth to it after researching things.

Lest any of you think that the holiday spirit isn't alive and well, I leave you with this awesome story of an NFL team donating a home to the widow of a soldier.
Every time I get upset, go on a rant like a lunatic, I get reminded that there is still good in the world. Like that story.

I'm off to bed, I'll get more in tomorrow.

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Now playing: Chris Brown - She Ain't You
via FoxyTunes

Monday, December 19, 2011

so much to talk about

This is my version of a teaser...but I had a damn fine weekend

Caught up with an old friend (?), the 'Cuse ruled Raleigh and the Pats came to Denver and tamed the Broncos. Add that on top of me running my group's holiday gathering, a damn fine 72 hours.

More to come tomorrow, I need sleep.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Week 15 picks

Last week: 9-5-2

Season: 92-101-8

I already won the 2 games already played, I took Atlanta and Dallas.

Washington @ NY Giants (-5 ½): NY Giants

Green Bay (-11) @ Kansas City: Kansas City

New Orleans (-7) @ Minnesota: New Orleans

Seattle @ Chicago (-3 ½): Seattle

Miami (-1) @ Buffalo: Miami

Carolina @ Houston (-4 ½): Houston

Tennessee (-7) @ Indianapolis: Tennessee

Detroit (-3) @ Oakland: Detroit

New England (-7) @ Denver: (sigh)…Denver

NY Jets @ Philadelphia (-3): Philadelphia

Cleveland @ Arizona (-6): Arizona

Baltimore (-2 ½) @ San Diego: Baltimore

Pittsburgh @ San Francisco (-3): San Francisco…I don’t trust Roethlisberger to play.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

the rest of Week 14

Last week: 5-9

Season: 83-96-6

Indianapolis @ Baltimore (-16 ½): Baltimore

Houston @ Cincinnati (-3): Houston

Oakland @ Green Bay (-11 ½): Oakland

Kansas City @ NY Jets (-10): NY Jets

Minnesota @ Detroit (-10): Detroit

New Orleans (-3 ½) @ Tennessee: New Orleans

Philadelphia @ Miami (-3): Miami

New England (-7) @ Washington: Washington

Atlanta (-3) @ Carolina: Atlanta

Tampa Bay (-3) @ Jacksonville: Jacksonville

San Francisco (-3) @ Arizona: Arizona

Chicago @ Denver (-3): Denver

Buffalo @ San Diego (-7): San Diego

NY Giants @ Dallas (-4 ½): NY Giants

St. Louis @ Seattle (-10): Seattle