Weekend

Now that it’s almost over, I have to say I’ve had a very relaxing weekend.  Sure, I still hit Target & Harris Teeter, and also managed to do a couple loads of laundry.  But I also played about 4 games of baseball, watched the Indy 500, watched a couple of Yankees games, and generally just took it easy.

By the way, even though this isn’t my sports blog.  I should point out that the Yankees managed to take the first game in a four game series from Detroit.

Gee, I hope I can make it the next 3 days before leaving for Michigan.

Another Saturday

It’s 9:30 am as I’m writing this.  As usual for a Saturday (as I am a creature of habit…and routine), I’ve already been to Target and Harris Teeter to pick up the groceries and other household items.  If you really must know, my list for this week included:

Milk, Frosted Flakes, Mott’s Apple Juice, ham (for sandwiches), Miracle Whip, bread, a toothbrush, Chips Ahoy cookies, Fritos, Uncle Ben’s microwavable white rice, soap (Tone), Q-tips (to keep the ears clean) and a couple of ice packs.

Somehow, I discovered that I’m down to one ice pack to put in a cooler, and that’s designed for cans.  I used to have a couple of others, but I’m not sure where they disappeared to.  Since I’m off to Michigan in a couple weeks, I figured I’d pick up a couple replacements.

Speaking of Michigan, I’m starting to formulate a bit of a speech for Mom’s retirement dinner on June 4th.  For years, Mom has been telling her classes (and parents) stories of things Chad & I have done growing up.  Now it’s our turn to exact a little bit of payback (all in a fun way, of course).  However, if anyone has any good stories about Mom, feel free to either post them or email them to me.  I won’t promised they’ll be used, but it will be fun nonetheless.  For those of you who may have heard it, I’ve warned Mom that I will be telling the vacuum story.  For those of you who haven’t, I’ll try to post it after I get back from Michigan (don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone who will be attending this little shindig).

On Thursday, I went to go play tennis with Curtis from TNG.  Yes, this is on top of the regular Tuesday basketball workout I’ve been getting.  Exercising once a week (even if it is a pretty vigorous hour and a half) just doesn’t quite allow me to keep my slender figure anymore.  Actually, I’m not sure it ever did, but up until I moved south, I was probably doing something like basketball, volleyball, tennis, and/or softball at least 2-3 times a week.  Anyway, those of you who live in Charlotte probably remember that it was pretty breezy on Thursday.  While warming up, we both got into the habit of aiming for outside the court, knowing that the wind would blow the ball back onto the court.  This was actually rather fun.  I also seemed to be able to keep more of my shots in this way than with no breeze.  So if anyone knows of any wind-tunnel leagues starting up, please let me know.  As far as the tennis goes, we didn’t actually get past the warm ups before the rain started, and HARD.  We’ll try to go again this coming week.

Not much else going on besides that.  I’m hoping to get a couple of more games in on my ’75 replay.  I was a little pissed off that no one was showing the Yankees-Mets game last night, so I’m hoping for a different result today.

Leash 'Em Up

OK, I put ONE thing up that’s not my own, but worth sharing, and I start taking heat.  So I’ll try to write everything I can think of for the next hour or so.  Prepare your brain to get information of many types from all kinds of different directions.

1. Welcome back to Bob (http://theforensicdaily.blogspot.com/) and Rob (http://www.ragryphrants.blogspot.com/).  Both actually posted about a week ago after 9 and 4 month layoffs, respectively.  OK, Bob only posted that he’ll be posting something soon, but it’s a start.  Rob’s given a decent update as to what he’s been up to.


2. I actually saw a picture of a kiddie leash on the Chelsea Handler Show this weekend.  Yet another idea I had (and actually advocated) years ago, but didn’t bother to manufacture or sell.


3. Speaking of kids on leashes, people really should be using these.  It blows me away how many parents just let their kids run all over the place while not behaving.  I bet that wouldn’t happen if the parent got flogged every time the kid ended up doing something he/she shouldn’t be doing.


4. I had a productive weekend.  Grocery shopping, 3 blog postings (including this one and the one on my sports blog), cleaned the air filters, cleaned the sinks, did some reports for church, requested maps for my trip to Michigan coming up, and did some prep work related to my job search.  Today at church, I managed to read the opening announcement, run the sound board for the early service, and count the offering.  I got home and ran 2 loads of laundry.  I also remembered to call Mom & wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.  Hope y’all did the same (at least on that last one).


5. Saw Newt Gingrich on Meet the Press today.  While he’s partly to blame for how partisan things are now, I miss a House Speaker who actually had a clue about legislating.


6. It was also nice to see what a real conservative looks like (and Bushies are not conservatives).


7. Even if you accept the premise that the NSA needs to keep track of everyone’s phone logs (and I had to wonder how they would know who to listen in on if they didn’t), do you believe George’s argument that they’re not mining the info?  I don’t either.  This is why your approval ratings suck.  Most of us don’t believe you a) have a good grasp of what’s going on, or b) if you do know what’s happening, you keep lying to us.  Can you say Nixon?


8. Would someone tell ESPN that showing paintball matches is just embarrassing?  This is worse than listening to their cheerleading commentators.

Hope this keeps everyone going for a few days.  

Man Rules

I have to thank Mike the Barber for this one.  Instead of forwarding this, I figured it was worth posting.  If you have any rules you’d like to add, post them in the comments.

• It is OK for a man to cry ONLY under the following circumstances:      (a) When a heroic dog dies to save its master.      (b) The moment Angelina Jolie starts unbuttoning her blouse.      (c) After wrecking your boss's car.      (d) One hour, 12 minutes, 37 seconds into "The Crying Game".      (e) When she is using her teeth.


• Any man who brings a camera to a bachelor party may be legally killed and eaten by his buddies.


• Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.


• If you've known a guy for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever unless you actually marry her.


• Moaning about the brand of free beer in a buddy's fridge is forbidden.  However complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.


• No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man.  In fact, even remembering your buddy's birthday is strictly optional.  At that point, you must celebrate at a strip bar of the birthday boy's choice.


• On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.


• When stumbling upon other guys watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.


• You may flatulate in front of a woman only after you have brought her to climax.  If you trap her head under the covers for the purpose of flatulent entertainment, she's officially your girlfriend.


• It is permissible to drink a fruity alcohol drink only when you're sunning on a tropical beach...and it's delivered by a topless model and only when it's free.


• Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick another guy in the nuts.


• Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.


• Friends don't let friends wear Speedos.  Ever.  Issue closed.


• If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.


• Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.


• A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.


• Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both; that's just greedy.


• If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.


• Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she's withholding sex pending your response.


• Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man while lifting weights:


• Yeah, Baby, Push it!


• C'mon, give me one more!  Harder!


• Another set and we can hit the showers!


• Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing:  i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc.  For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.


• Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her.  Keep a stopwatch by the phone.  Hang up if necessary.


• It is acceptable for you to drive her car.  It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.


• Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.  Unless you put your favorite team’s logo predominantly on the car.


• The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox.  End of story.


• There is no reason for guys to watch Ice Skating or Men's Gymnastics.  Ever.

We've all heard about people having guts or balls.  But do you really know the difference between them?  In an effort to keep you informed, the definition of each is listed below."GUTS" is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to say, "are you still cleaning or are you flying somewhere?" "BALLS" is coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass and having the balls to say, "You're next!"We hope this clears up any confusion.

The Duke Thing

Hooray!!  I’ve finally posted something again.  I know, I’ve been delinquent.  The truth is I just haven’t felt much like writing lately.  No particular reason, though time has been a little tighter of recent.  

Just to get you up to speed with what’s going on:  I’m still at TNG on a consulting/temporary basis, no change there.  I continue to try to sell my franchise, though I’m not really holding my breath.  I’ve been watching Yankees games whenever possible.  Went to a church leadership last weekend (Friday night/Saturday morning), which was interesting, if not a bit confusing.  Still playing basketball once a week (on Tuesdays), and got some tennis in on Monday, getting my butt kicked 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.

Tonight, I managed to get the house picked up and dusted.  I also finished reading last week’s Newsweek (more on that later).  I’m watching the Yankees-Devil Rays game as I type this.

Speaking of Newsweek, the whole Duke lacrosse thing made the cover last week, so I figured I’d throw my two cents in.  Normally, I’d post this on my sports blog, but given the fact that the story has gotten national attention, I think it fits here just fine.

Even though I’ve said this before, I’m going to reiterate this fact:  I’m not a Duke fan.  I’m a UNC fan.  Even so, something doesn’t sit right here.  Now, I don’t know anything more than what I’ve read and heard, and I can’t speak to the status of race relations in Durham, but my gut tells me there won’t be any convictions.

Please notice that I didn’t say that some kind of assault (sexual or otherwise).  I wasn’t there.  But the bits of information that have leaked out (using pictures of only lacrosse players for the ID instead of a mix of suspects and non-suspects, negative DNA tests, time-stamped pictures from the event) don’t seem to stack up very strongly.

Where I have less doubt is in saying the Duke administration over-reacted by canceling the season.  They allowed a bunch of knee-jerk reactionaries (Sharpton & Jesse Jackson included) to dictate a punishment before the court system could even get started.  If you want to suspend, or even dismiss players charged, that’s completely understandable.  But this is just overkill.

So now I’ve got something new up.