Saturday night I had the guys over for cards. It was the first time we’ve played since New Year’s Day after watching Michigan get embarrassed by Texas in the Rose Bowl.
I jumped out to nice lead. In the first hour and half I forced one guy out three times (we allow players to buy back in until a set time). That was rather fun. I was clearly the chips leader, by a healthy margin. Then ‘ole mo got up and walked to the other side of the table. I didn’t win one hand from 9:30 to 11:30 when I finally went out.
With only two players left we decided to call it a night. There was fifty bucks on the table. The first guy finished counting his chips and he had just over $25, the other guy, obviously, was just under $25. A near tie in poker? That’s unusual.
My bowling team had a rough night on Sunday. Going into last night we were tied for seventh. A marked improvement from the previous night of bowling. We were facing the team that we shared that seventh place spot with. We were short a player, due to illness. Our opponents were short two players. The league as a whole had a pretty light turn out because of the snow storm that was rolling through.
We struggled through the first game. It was a competitive, albeit very low scoring, into the tenth frame. Our opponents squeaked out a 9 pin victory. The second game was more of the same. Thanks to two strikes in the tenth by their second bowler they pulled off a 19 pin victory. The third game was just as close. In the tenth, with our anchor up, we’re down by 5 pins. He’s able to get those 5 on his first throw. So we’re tied. All he needs to do is hit anything, one pin would be fine. The ball is rolling down the alley headed toward the group of pins. It looks pretty good as the ball makes its way toward winning at least two points for us. Then an amazing thing happened. The ball made a hard curve to the left coming to the full embrace of the gutter.
All the remaining pins were standing there laughing at us. We tied the third game.
‘You tied?’ asked our league president when I asked him how it gets scored. ‘How’d you tie?’ asked the alley manager when I asked her the same question. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.’ said several other people standing around.
Two ties in the same weekend? What are the chances?
2005-02-21
2005-02-18
Better Days Ahead
Thanks to my friends in the pharmaceutical industry I'm feeling better today. I'm still not 100%, but I'm definitely better than the past few days.
So, I had a meeting with my boss on Wednesday about my future with 'the firm' and my possible options of places to move too. It was a productive discussion. She told me of two other groups, besides the one I've been looking pretty hard at, that will likely be looking for people in the very near future. One of those is called the FLC (Finance Leveraged Center). This would be a completely different environment and job than I have now. It would be much more focused on the financial analyst side rather than splitting my time between analyst, data entry, and general administrative type duties. So that has some potential.
She, my boss, has a meeting today to discuss, with her peers, personel movement. She told me that she will be talking about me and trying to find out what the best fit for me may be. Right now, I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that she will truley look for what is in my best interest. She has a track record of disregarding this infavor of others interests. But over the past few months she has surprised me with several positive things she's done for me and the team. So I'll cut her some slack and see where this goes. I'll fill you in as I learn more.
So, I had a meeting with my boss on Wednesday about my future with 'the firm' and my possible options of places to move too. It was a productive discussion. She told me of two other groups, besides the one I've been looking pretty hard at, that will likely be looking for people in the very near future. One of those is called the FLC (Finance Leveraged Center). This would be a completely different environment and job than I have now. It would be much more focused on the financial analyst side rather than splitting my time between analyst, data entry, and general administrative type duties. So that has some potential.
She, my boss, has a meeting today to discuss, with her peers, personel movement. She told me that she will be talking about me and trying to find out what the best fit for me may be. Right now, I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that she will truley look for what is in my best interest. She has a track record of disregarding this infavor of others interests. But over the past few months she has surprised me with several positive things she's done for me and the team. So I'll cut her some slack and see where this goes. I'll fill you in as I learn more.
2005-02-16
I Feel Like I’ve Been Hit By A Truck
Monday night was the Valentine Party. We had a pretty good turn out. There was about a dozen people there. The gift exchange was fun. The gift I brought was a small stuffed animal, a purple fuzzy gorilla holding a heart that said “I Flip For You”. In case you are wondering I went with option 2 for the card; ”Why be alone when we can be together, baby. You can make my life worthwhile. I can make you start to smile.” Which, if you remember your cheesy 80’s hair bands this a line from, the band, Mr. Big and their song “The Next To Be With You”.
The gift that was voted the cheesiest was actually the gift that I ended up with. It was a Joe Boxer underwear set. It was a pair of boxers and a g-string both designed in a tuxedo-esque style. No I have not tried them on. Yeah,.. anyway.
After heading home I tried to go to bed but was starting to feel not so good. I was up much of that night wearing out a path between my bed and the bathroom. Because of this I called in sick on Tuesday, and spent nearly the entire day asleep.
Today, against my wishes, I got out of bed and came into work. I’m feeling better in that I’m able to keep myself upright. Although I’ve found myself dozing off a couple times. My whole body is just screaming out to crawl back into bed. That is where I likely will spend the rest of the evening.
The gift that was voted the cheesiest was actually the gift that I ended up with. It was a Joe Boxer underwear set. It was a pair of boxers and a g-string both designed in a tuxedo-esque style. No I have not tried them on. Yeah,.. anyway.
After heading home I tried to go to bed but was starting to feel not so good. I was up much of that night wearing out a path between my bed and the bathroom. Because of this I called in sick on Tuesday, and spent nearly the entire day asleep.
Today, against my wishes, I got out of bed and came into work. I’m feeling better in that I’m able to keep myself upright. Although I’ve found myself dozing off a couple times. My whole body is just screaming out to crawl back into bed. That is where I likely will spend the rest of the evening.
2005-02-14
What's In It For Me? Hopefully Nothing.
Today is Valentine’s Day, which you all know. Depending on your point of view this is either the most romantic of days, when you have the opportunity to show your love to your significant other, or the biggest of all “Hallmark Holidays”, created to guilt people into showing their love to significant others through buying cards, flowers, etc.
I have begun this day by reading several monologues covering such topics as; learning the art of manipulation (klryan75.blogspot.com), what’s the point in dating/marriage (warmincarolina.blogspot.com), what is the meaning of life (randomnight.blogspot.com). Each of these postings deal with how we relate to each other and what we can get out of it for ourselves. If you haven’t already I encourage you to visit each of these blogs. As we can all benefit from each other’s insight. Not to be left out, please also visit our friend in the world of forensics at theforensicdaily.blogspot.com if you haven’t recently.
I read about one persons theory that the meaning of life is tied in with how we effect others lives (hopefully for the positive). Not only those in our daily lives but also those around our country, and world for that matter, that are in need. Let me start by saying I don’t disagree with this theory. Showing love to those around us and those in need (even those we are unaware of) is, no question, part of the meaning for each of our lives.
I was amused by niece’s discovery of yet another way to manipulate her brother. It always amazes me how early kids learn this kind of stuff, just through interacting with their siblings and other kids they come in contact with. I think that is how the flu spreads also, but that’s an entirely different rant.
I also read a confirmed bachelor’s theories on the uselessness of dating, and ultimately marriage, in his life. I have to admit that I don’t have much ground to stand on when defending these things that most people see as a natural part of life. I also have to agree that there are people in this world who aren’t meant to travel down that road, or who simply choose not to. To liberally borrow a line from Bob’s reply on this, it’s not a good or bad choice, just simply a choice. In some people’s live there are things that are more important to them.
One thought that I had while reading all three of these is during our interactions with each other, on no matter what level or age, there seems to be a sense of ‘what’s in it for me’. Whether it’s the innocence of a four year old, or young adult trying to understand how they fit into the world, or some one trying to explain, justify, or simply rant about choices that require none of those actions. We all seem to be asking where’s my benefit, what can I get out of this, what’s in it for me?
I should stop here and say that I am no different than anyone one else. I am not getting on my soapbox to preach. View this rant as somewhere between ‘thinking out loud’ and convincing myself that I need to be more aware of my own motives.
Valentine’s Day is, regardless of your point of view, a means of putting ‘love’ in the faces of all of us. To add my two cents, (maybe 2 cents Canadian), for what it’s worth; the meaning of life is showing love to others. The love that I speak of is not the kind that every one of us shows from time to time. The ‘I’m doing this because at some point I’m going to need something from you’ kind of love. The ‘alright, I’ll do this because you’re my friend, but be aware what an inconvenience this is to me’ kind of love.
I fell into the grips of this very thing this morning. I volunteered to give a ride to work to a friend. All I could think on the way to her house this morning was ‘I hope she knows how inconvenient this is’. But then I had to remind myself that she didn’t plan for her car to be incapacitated this morning.
We shouldn’t look to showing love as way to feel better about ourselves or to give meaning to our lives. Although showing love to others without regard to our personal sacrifice, or personal gain, almost always leads to giving our lives more meaning and feeling better about ourselves.
We shouldn’t look at our relationships and interactions with people in the context of how will I benefit from this person being part of my life. Although letting people into lives, regardless of what the context is, almost always leads to some ultimate benefit, even if it remains hidden for a very long time.
When I find myself asking the question ‘what’s in it for me?’ Hopefuly I can answer ‘nothing, but that’s ok.’ I think an appropriate way for me to wrap up this rant is to remind myself, and anyone reading this how St. Paul defined love in I Corinthians 13 (NIV).
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I have begun this day by reading several monologues covering such topics as; learning the art of manipulation (klryan75.blogspot.com), what’s the point in dating/marriage (warmincarolina.blogspot.com), what is the meaning of life (randomnight.blogspot.com). Each of these postings deal with how we relate to each other and what we can get out of it for ourselves. If you haven’t already I encourage you to visit each of these blogs. As we can all benefit from each other’s insight. Not to be left out, please also visit our friend in the world of forensics at theforensicdaily.blogspot.com if you haven’t recently.
I read about one persons theory that the meaning of life is tied in with how we effect others lives (hopefully for the positive). Not only those in our daily lives but also those around our country, and world for that matter, that are in need. Let me start by saying I don’t disagree with this theory. Showing love to those around us and those in need (even those we are unaware of) is, no question, part of the meaning for each of our lives.
I was amused by niece’s discovery of yet another way to manipulate her brother. It always amazes me how early kids learn this kind of stuff, just through interacting with their siblings and other kids they come in contact with. I think that is how the flu spreads also, but that’s an entirely different rant.
I also read a confirmed bachelor’s theories on the uselessness of dating, and ultimately marriage, in his life. I have to admit that I don’t have much ground to stand on when defending these things that most people see as a natural part of life. I also have to agree that there are people in this world who aren’t meant to travel down that road, or who simply choose not to. To liberally borrow a line from Bob’s reply on this, it’s not a good or bad choice, just simply a choice. In some people’s live there are things that are more important to them.
One thought that I had while reading all three of these is during our interactions with each other, on no matter what level or age, there seems to be a sense of ‘what’s in it for me’. Whether it’s the innocence of a four year old, or young adult trying to understand how they fit into the world, or some one trying to explain, justify, or simply rant about choices that require none of those actions. We all seem to be asking where’s my benefit, what can I get out of this, what’s in it for me?
I should stop here and say that I am no different than anyone one else. I am not getting on my soapbox to preach. View this rant as somewhere between ‘thinking out loud’ and convincing myself that I need to be more aware of my own motives.
Valentine’s Day is, regardless of your point of view, a means of putting ‘love’ in the faces of all of us. To add my two cents, (maybe 2 cents Canadian), for what it’s worth; the meaning of life is showing love to others. The love that I speak of is not the kind that every one of us shows from time to time. The ‘I’m doing this because at some point I’m going to need something from you’ kind of love. The ‘alright, I’ll do this because you’re my friend, but be aware what an inconvenience this is to me’ kind of love.
I fell into the grips of this very thing this morning. I volunteered to give a ride to work to a friend. All I could think on the way to her house this morning was ‘I hope she knows how inconvenient this is’. But then I had to remind myself that she didn’t plan for her car to be incapacitated this morning.
We shouldn’t look to showing love as way to feel better about ourselves or to give meaning to our lives. Although showing love to others without regard to our personal sacrifice, or personal gain, almost always leads to giving our lives more meaning and feeling better about ourselves.
We shouldn’t look at our relationships and interactions with people in the context of how will I benefit from this person being part of my life. Although letting people into lives, regardless of what the context is, almost always leads to some ultimate benefit, even if it remains hidden for a very long time.
When I find myself asking the question ‘what’s in it for me?’ Hopefuly I can answer ‘nothing, but that’s ok.’ I think an appropriate way for me to wrap up this rant is to remind myself, and anyone reading this how St. Paul defined love in I Corinthians 13 (NIV).
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
2005-02-11
Underwear & Holy Crap
Tonight my family is celebrating my little brother’s birthday. It’s hard to believe, but Michael is 13 now. It really freaks me out that all the kids my mom used to baby sit for when I was in high school are now in high school, or college. I know that if I look at the calendar I’ll see that I’ve been out of high school for soon-to-be 16 years. But it sure doesn’t feel like it’s been that long… Has it really been 16 years? My twenty year reunion will be here before I know it. Holy Crap!
Michael wouldn’t or couldn’t tell me what he wanted for his birthday. I told him he better give me some idea or I’d get him socks and underwear. He never did give me any ideas, guess what he’s getting. I’m getting him something else, but I can’t wait to see his face when he opens the bag from me. I just wish some of his friends were going to be there. I take great pleasure in embarrasing him.
As I was shopping for his gift I stopped at a Bible bookstore. One of the ideas that was passed on to me was an item I would find there. I decided to look at Bibles. The one I’ve got is kind of cheaply bound and is falling apart already. I found one that I really liked. But I noticed there was no price tag on it, or on any of the Bibles. I was suddenly hit with the question, 'what is a fair price for something that is the divinely inspired, infallible, word of God'?
I decided to go ahead and buy the one that I liked even though I wasn’t completely sure the price. After the guy rang up Michaels gift, my new Bible, and couple other small things, the total was $109. ‘What?! How much was that Bible?’ I asked. The clerk said, rather smugly ‘$69.99’, with a tone in his voice that echoed the question I had asked myself. Holy Crap!
Michael wouldn’t or couldn’t tell me what he wanted for his birthday. I told him he better give me some idea or I’d get him socks and underwear. He never did give me any ideas, guess what he’s getting. I’m getting him something else, but I can’t wait to see his face when he opens the bag from me. I just wish some of his friends were going to be there. I take great pleasure in embarrasing him.
As I was shopping for his gift I stopped at a Bible bookstore. One of the ideas that was passed on to me was an item I would find there. I decided to look at Bibles. The one I’ve got is kind of cheaply bound and is falling apart already. I found one that I really liked. But I noticed there was no price tag on it, or on any of the Bibles. I was suddenly hit with the question, 'what is a fair price for something that is the divinely inspired, infallible, word of God'?
I decided to go ahead and buy the one that I liked even though I wasn’t completely sure the price. After the guy rang up Michaels gift, my new Bible, and couple other small things, the total was $109. ‘What?! How much was that Bible?’ I asked. The clerk said, rather smugly ‘$69.99’, with a tone in his voice that echoed the question I had asked myself. Holy Crap!
2005-02-09
Love Stinks
I have adjusted the settings on this site to allow people to leave comments without signing up for their own blog space. I’ve gotten wind of several people visiting and not leaving comments for that reason. You’ll probably still need to register for an ID, but that should be it; plus it’s free. So come on. Let me know you were here and what you think.
My small group has decided to have a Valentine’s Party, since the holiday falls on the same night we’d normally be meeting for Bible study. We are giving it a twist though. Since nearly all of us are single we have decided to do ‘mystery gifts’. Meaning everyone brings a small gift and card that will be given, at random, to someone else at the party. No distinction will be made between guys and girl. So, the gift I bring has a real possibility of ending up in the hands of another guy. The only guidelines seem to be under $10 and the cheesier the better. Gift ideas would be appreciated also.
Right now my thoughts have been focused on the card. I am the type of person who can’t give a card to someone without at least trying to write something thoughtful, or witty, or heartfelt, or sarcastic in the card. So I’m trying to decide what to right. I’ve ‘borrowed’ three short passages from different sources. I thought I’d ask you all to vote and give me your opinions. I know there are lots of those running around on these blogs, so let’s hear them.
1) You love her, but she loves him, and he loves somebody else, you just can’t win. And so it goes until the day you die. This thing called love will make you cry.
2) Why be alone when we can be together baby. You can make my life worthwhile. I can make you start to smile.
3) In our next lives I promise to look for you harder, find you sooner, and not waste so much time on all the others.
Now, I never claimed these were original thoughts. If you can guess where all three are from you get 50 bonus points.
My small group has decided to have a Valentine’s Party, since the holiday falls on the same night we’d normally be meeting for Bible study. We are giving it a twist though. Since nearly all of us are single we have decided to do ‘mystery gifts’. Meaning everyone brings a small gift and card that will be given, at random, to someone else at the party. No distinction will be made between guys and girl. So, the gift I bring has a real possibility of ending up in the hands of another guy. The only guidelines seem to be under $10 and the cheesier the better. Gift ideas would be appreciated also.
Right now my thoughts have been focused on the card. I am the type of person who can’t give a card to someone without at least trying to write something thoughtful, or witty, or heartfelt, or sarcastic in the card. So I’m trying to decide what to right. I’ve ‘borrowed’ three short passages from different sources. I thought I’d ask you all to vote and give me your opinions. I know there are lots of those running around on these blogs, so let’s hear them.
1) You love her, but she loves him, and he loves somebody else, you just can’t win. And so it goes until the day you die. This thing called love will make you cry.
2) Why be alone when we can be together baby. You can make my life worthwhile. I can make you start to smile.
3) In our next lives I promise to look for you harder, find you sooner, and not waste so much time on all the others.
Now, I never claimed these were original thoughts. If you can guess where all three are from you get 50 bonus points.
2005-02-07
Return To Respectibility?
Let’s start off today’s rant with a positive note about my bowling team. Somebody taught us to bowl! We pre-bowled on Sunday so that we wouldn’t miss the ‘Big Game’. Our first and third games were above 800 (804 and 825). Getting that kind of score, in this league, puts you in a good position to win most games. Our middle game was our off game. We came in with a 724. We needed to hope our opponent was struggling. We currently sit in a tie for ninth. With the seventh and eighth place teams tied and two points ahead (and playing each other).
Our scheduled opponent was my parents team, they are currently in fourth place. Mom called me during my Super Bowl party to let me know that they didn’t break 750 in any of their games. The one game they had a chance to beat us they finished with just under a 720. Look at that. We were able to follow up the surprise of last time with a solid 8 point victory and maybe two places in the standing. Our return to respectability may have taken another step forward.
As a former marketing major I always feel obligated to judge and rank my favorite commercials from the game. This years lot seemed to be much ‘safer’ than in years past. That is probably understandable after last years halftime show. Even still the commercials were generally creative, some a little weird, some a complete waste of money. Here are my favorites in no particular order:
FedEx: Burt Reynolds and the dancing bear (funny. I loved the last line. The bear says ‘I loved you in Smokey and Bandit’)
Ford: Frozen Mustang (a little morbid, but creative)
Bud Light: sky diving pilot (kind of changes the outlook of throwing yourself out of plane that will probably land safely)
Pepsi: P-Diddy’s truck (always nice to see Carson Daly being mocked, even if it’s by himself)
Career Builder: I work with monkey’s (got my attention)
Pepsi: free music ad’s (I thought those were creative and fun)
24 : ‘buy another pair you’re going to need it’
Ameriquest: convenience store hold up. (I saw it coming a mile away but it was funny watching those Asian people beating up that idiot on the phone – I hate those phones)
Tabasco: the hot swimsuit (If I had had TiVo I likely would have missed the rest of the game)
GoDaddy.com: Senate hearing malfunction (paying $8 a month to them for my domain name now seems TOTALLY worth it)
Finally, the Tigers land a free agent position player. Yes, we over spent giving Magglio Ordonez $15 mill a year. Yes there are questions about the stability of his knee. Much like last year with Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Dombrowski was able to structure the deal to offer us at least some protection against recurring injury. I am excited about the potential upside of this deal. I don’t really expect him to have the same level of impact that Pudge did last year. But, if he remains healthy, he could have a big impact on this coming season. With him in the clean up position we’ve got a nice middle of the line up.
I am going to jump head first into a trap that Derek loves to lay out for me every year. I’ll go ahead and make a prediction, with a qualifying statement. Assuming Pudge and Mag’s stay healthy for much of the season, and they both have respectable performances. I will say that the Tigers will finish with a .500 record for the first time in many years. Playoffs in 2006? It's not out of the question.
Our return to respectability HAS taken another step forward.
With my comment about my nephew in my previous rant I was able to suck my sister into the world of blogging. Welcome Kim. We look forward to hearing from you. klryan75.blogspot.com
Our scheduled opponent was my parents team, they are currently in fourth place. Mom called me during my Super Bowl party to let me know that they didn’t break 750 in any of their games. The one game they had a chance to beat us they finished with just under a 720. Look at that. We were able to follow up the surprise of last time with a solid 8 point victory and maybe two places in the standing. Our return to respectability may have taken another step forward.
As a former marketing major I always feel obligated to judge and rank my favorite commercials from the game. This years lot seemed to be much ‘safer’ than in years past. That is probably understandable after last years halftime show. Even still the commercials were generally creative, some a little weird, some a complete waste of money. Here are my favorites in no particular order:
FedEx: Burt Reynolds and the dancing bear (funny. I loved the last line. The bear says ‘I loved you in Smokey and Bandit’)
Ford: Frozen Mustang (a little morbid, but creative)
Bud Light: sky diving pilot (kind of changes the outlook of throwing yourself out of plane that will probably land safely)
Pepsi: P-Diddy’s truck (always nice to see Carson Daly being mocked, even if it’s by himself)
Career Builder: I work with monkey’s (got my attention)
Pepsi: free music ad’s (I thought those were creative and fun)
24 : ‘buy another pair you’re going to need it’
Ameriquest: convenience store hold up. (I saw it coming a mile away but it was funny watching those Asian people beating up that idiot on the phone – I hate those phones)
Tabasco: the hot swimsuit (If I had had TiVo I likely would have missed the rest of the game)
GoDaddy.com: Senate hearing malfunction (paying $8 a month to them for my domain name now seems TOTALLY worth it)
Finally, the Tigers land a free agent position player. Yes, we over spent giving Magglio Ordonez $15 mill a year. Yes there are questions about the stability of his knee. Much like last year with Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Dombrowski was able to structure the deal to offer us at least some protection against recurring injury. I am excited about the potential upside of this deal. I don’t really expect him to have the same level of impact that Pudge did last year. But, if he remains healthy, he could have a big impact on this coming season. With him in the clean up position we’ve got a nice middle of the line up.
I am going to jump head first into a trap that Derek loves to lay out for me every year. I’ll go ahead and make a prediction, with a qualifying statement. Assuming Pudge and Mag’s stay healthy for much of the season, and they both have respectable performances. I will say that the Tigers will finish with a .500 record for the first time in many years. Playoffs in 2006? It's not out of the question.
Our return to respectability HAS taken another step forward.
With my comment about my nephew in my previous rant I was able to suck my sister into the world of blogging. Welcome Kim. We look forward to hearing from you. klryan75.blogspot.com
2005-02-04
Well, Duh!
I got a desk calendar for Christmas that has each day a ‘stupid fact of the day’. The calendar is called "Well, Duh!" There have been a few amusing ones. One that stood out for me was as follows:
Two guys, presumably inebriated from some chemical crutch, and presumably from some hick town in Arkansas, thought it would be a good idea to recreate the William Tell scene of shooting an apple off another persons head. The guy that volunteered to put that apple on his head discovered that if your buddy is going miss you REALLY want him to miss high. Oh well, he apparently hadn’t been using that part of his body except as a place to put his John Deere hat.
As a follow up to my last post, we had a pretty good time at the basketball game. The suite we were in was at the top of the arena, so we were a pretty fair distance from the court. Mark, my nephew, didn’t understand this. He asked both me and his dad when we were going to go down stairs to watch the game. I was surprised at just how little leg room there was in the suite. Although the suite we were in would have been an ideal place to watch the now infamous fight night at the Palace.
My nephew did manage to remind me (somehow I let it slip my mind) about the power cute kids have to act as chick magnets. We had to stand in the atrium area waiting for our tickets. While we stood there a steady stream of very attractive women smiled, waved, and talked to him. This included several members of the Pistons dance team. I need to learn how to take advantage of that, and use it for my personal gain. Kim or Chris, if you’re reading this, I may have to borrow your kids occasionally.
Two guys, presumably inebriated from some chemical crutch, and presumably from some hick town in Arkansas, thought it would be a good idea to recreate the William Tell scene of shooting an apple off another persons head. The guy that volunteered to put that apple on his head discovered that if your buddy is going miss you REALLY want him to miss high. Oh well, he apparently hadn’t been using that part of his body except as a place to put his John Deere hat.
As a follow up to my last post, we had a pretty good time at the basketball game. The suite we were in was at the top of the arena, so we were a pretty fair distance from the court. Mark, my nephew, didn’t understand this. He asked both me and his dad when we were going to go down stairs to watch the game. I was surprised at just how little leg room there was in the suite. Although the suite we were in would have been an ideal place to watch the now infamous fight night at the Palace.
My nephew did manage to remind me (somehow I let it slip my mind) about the power cute kids have to act as chick magnets. We had to stand in the atrium area waiting for our tickets. While we stood there a steady stream of very attractive women smiled, waved, and talked to him. This included several members of the Pistons dance team. I need to learn how to take advantage of that, and use it for my personal gain. Kim or Chris, if you’re reading this, I may have to borrow your kids occasionally.
2005-02-02
I'll be safe when the punches start flying
I went to my local haircutting place last night to, obviously, get a haircut. I found myself in a chair with an attractive Russian woman cutting my hair. Ok, actually she was Ukranian, but it's all the same to us cold-war capitalists. Even though the thought crossed my mind I decided not to ask if she could recommend any house cleaners.
After leaving there I headed over to my local video store. I needed an evening of sitting on the couch doing little to nothing. Looking around I found lots of movies that I’ve already seen and even more that I had no desire to see. I came across one that looked intriguing. It was called ‘Employee of the Month’. What caught my eye was a picture of a scantily clad Christina Applegate. Those of us that grew up in the 80’s will see this as a very good thing. I decided to give it a try even though it had the appearance of a low-budget indi-film.
After stopping at my favorite sandwich place (Quizno’s), I went home and popped it in. Oh, I forgot to mention Matt Dillon was in the male lead role. It started out rather promising. Then the movie goes through more ups and downs of good-to-bad acting, good-to-bad dialogue, good-to-bad plot twists. Basically the movie follows Dillon’s character as he experiences an unbelievably bad day. He starts hi day by getting fired from his bank job, then his new fiancé (Applegate) dumps him, in front of her parents, for his infidelity, with her best friend.
A recurring theme throughout the movie is that nothing is at it appears. Following that theme the story takes an interesting twist when his bank is robbed. Dillon is shot, then kidnapped, after trying to defend his, now former, co-workers. We then realize he was part of the hold up.
This movie reminded me a lot of another Matt Dillon classic “Wild Things”. The end goes through twist after twist after twist. To the point where I was thinking ‘ok, enough already’.
Over all not a bad movie, but not great. I’d probably give it a B-/C+. If there is nothing else at the video story it might be worth looking at the box.
On another note, I am going to the Piston’s game tonight. My brother-in-law got free tickets from one of this companies suppliers to use their suite. So I can be safely behind glass when the punches start flying. We are taking my soon-to-be three year old nephew. He already seems to be intrigued by sports. I’m going to have to start teaching him the basics; throwing, catching, etc. probably starting this spring. I have to take on that responsibility, as uncle and God-father, because his parents while very smart people, just don’t know much about sports.
After leaving there I headed over to my local video store. I needed an evening of sitting on the couch doing little to nothing. Looking around I found lots of movies that I’ve already seen and even more that I had no desire to see. I came across one that looked intriguing. It was called ‘Employee of the Month’. What caught my eye was a picture of a scantily clad Christina Applegate. Those of us that grew up in the 80’s will see this as a very good thing. I decided to give it a try even though it had the appearance of a low-budget indi-film.
After stopping at my favorite sandwich place (Quizno’s), I went home and popped it in. Oh, I forgot to mention Matt Dillon was in the male lead role. It started out rather promising. Then the movie goes through more ups and downs of good-to-bad acting, good-to-bad dialogue, good-to-bad plot twists. Basically the movie follows Dillon’s character as he experiences an unbelievably bad day. He starts hi day by getting fired from his bank job, then his new fiancé (Applegate) dumps him, in front of her parents, for his infidelity, with her best friend.
A recurring theme throughout the movie is that nothing is at it appears. Following that theme the story takes an interesting twist when his bank is robbed. Dillon is shot, then kidnapped, after trying to defend his, now former, co-workers. We then realize he was part of the hold up.
This movie reminded me a lot of another Matt Dillon classic “Wild Things”. The end goes through twist after twist after twist. To the point where I was thinking ‘ok, enough already’.
Over all not a bad movie, but not great. I’d probably give it a B-/C+. If there is nothing else at the video story it might be worth looking at the box.
On another note, I am going to the Piston’s game tonight. My brother-in-law got free tickets from one of this companies suppliers to use their suite. So I can be safely behind glass when the punches start flying. We are taking my soon-to-be three year old nephew. He already seems to be intrigued by sports. I’m going to have to start teaching him the basics; throwing, catching, etc. probably starting this spring. I have to take on that responsibility, as uncle and God-father, because his parents while very smart people, just don’t know much about sports.
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