Everything that went right in the first half of the season (no injuries, good plays, opponents bad games) came crashing to a halt in the second half, almost costing me a playoff spot. I said almost.
Week 8- I took on the Bully on the Block- Team Bullies, tied with me for the best record in the league at the time with a 5-2 record. The owner of this team is also the owner of the league, and unfortunately I allowed myself to dream about rocking the boat. Alas, it was not meant to be- and I mean really not meant to be. I got walloped 158-90.
What went right- McNabb (26), Turner (22), and the Colts D (20) had decent weeks for me. Oh, and 2 of his players didn't score in double figures.
What went wrong- Where to start? Well, this was a bad time for me to have bye weeks- 3 starters (Big Ben, Randy Moss, and Ochocinco) had them, meaning that I got to start Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB (0 points), and Torry Holt (1 point) and Mark Clayton (3 points) at WR. I did have 38 bench points- all of which came from my reserve defenses, and neither of which would have made the beating any less of a beating. The Bullies had 8 players in double digits (4 with 20+, 2 more with 19).
Bonehead move- Having a crappy bench, and not realizing that 30% of my best players were all chilling on the same week.
Week 9- Well, after I put some salve on the wounds of my ginormous beating, I was able to pick up the pieces of my shattered ego and get things back on track with a 134-133 win over Team Josh for Now (a controversial event in our league that led to some bad blood- not my win, the fact that there even was a Team Josh for Now).
What went right- Some divine intervention to start with- Big Ben threw 2 real TD passes in the 4th quarter (after I had went to bed), including one with under 2 minutes to go and the Steelers holding an 11 point lead, to give my my second Monday Night victory of the season. Of course, I also needed Turner's 30 and Randy Moss' 23, as well as a stinker from Joe Flacco of my opposition.
What went wrong- I lose the defensive position battle by 19, as my Colts D scores all of 9 points. I don't know how to explain it, other than that is a terrible performance in our league for a defense.
Bonehead move- For most of the season, the performances of my defenses have either been close enough to negate the idea of a wrong play, or else good enough to justify my play. For arguably the first time this season, I made a poor play (although it didn't seem to be so at the time) as I left 21 point scoring Denver's defense on the bench. I just didn't want to play a defense that was also playing against one of my starting QB's- it just didn't feel right. And as a result, I had to go to bed that Monday night feeling like I was going to lose my matchup.
Week 10- The week my Fantasy season stood still. I lost a heartbreaker to Fergy, 121-119. But that isn't why it shook me to the core.
What went right-McNabb and Moss were totally rufus for me- each racked up 30 points. Michael Turner had 12 points before halftime of his game! And none of my opponents players went over 20 points.
What went wrong- Ugh. Where to start. Oh, how about Mr. Turner? He had 12 points before halftime- and finished with 12. Because he got hurt in the first half, a high ankle sprain that, for all intents and purposes, ended his season. Oh, Ronnie Brown got hurt too. Another season-ending ankle injury. My opponent had 7 guys in double figures, and while McNabb had 30 big ones, Big Ben had 5 very little ones. Real-life turnovers killed my team as well (4 of them- that's 8 fantasy points). Folk, my kicker, had 0 points. My defense, the Denver Broncos, couldn't shut down one of the worst offenses in football (Redskins). And I left points on the bench.
Bonehead move- Keeping Betts on the bench and starting Maroney in the swing position. Betts had 18, and Maroney had 8. I'm not a math major, or even very good at post-middle school math, but 18 beats 8. And 10 beats 2.
Week 11- The much hyped (in my head) rematch with my dad ended up a stinker, with the Snow Flurries falling 128-108.
What went right- My QBs played out of their freaking minds. Big Ben and McNabb combined for 49 points (led by Big Ben's 30), and Maroney was able to step into the feature back role and pick up 17 points. I was also able to hold Adrian Peterson to 9 points. Well, not me per se. And really, not even my team. That's one of the great things about Fantasy Football- 0% defensive accountability!
What went wrong- I feel like a broken record. Betts gets hurt in the first quarter of his game and is lost for the season. It's probably going to be somewhat funny when I look back on this season with my therapist...the guy that I put in to replace my running back with a season ending injury gets hit with a season-ending injury. I left Pettigrew's 13 points on the bench, but it wouldn't have mattered. My dad left a crapton of points on his bench too, led by Terrell Owens 26. After the game, Terrell was insistent that it wasn't personal, that it was purely coincidence that his biggest game of the season came against the team that gave up on him. Okay, he didn't really say that. But this is fantasy football, right? One part football, one part fantasy.
Bonehead move- Not accepting a trade offer from team Bullies. Randy Moss for Calvin Johnson, Jamaal Charles, and Miles Austin. My pride really got in the way here, and as a result I missed being able to pick up a pretty good RB (at a time in my season when good RBs were dropping like flies). The sucky thing is that I ended up taking this basically same trade later on, except instead of Jamaal Charles, I got stuck with Greg Olsen. Thanks a lot, pride.
Week 12- My very dispirited team, once a front-runner for a first-round bye, is crushed by Team Josh for Now, 116-79. The playoffs, once a certainty, are starting to fade away from reality.
What went right- While Maroney still isn't considered the lead dog for his actual team, he shows enough on game days to make himself a certified #1 fill-in RB for my team and has his 2nd straight strong game. And that's pretty much it.
What went wrong- I left the Jet's defense on the bench- during a week when they racked up 41 fantasy points. And they were playing the Panthers, so it's not like I was thinking 'Crap, the Jets are playing an unstoppable juggernaut- I better bench them lest they hurt my chances of winning'. The real kicker about all of this is that my opponent got 4 whole points out of his starting WRs. You might have heard of them- Larry Fitzgerald and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. And I wasn't able to take advantage. Partly because of the aforementioned Jets D fiasco, but also because...
Bonehead move- I wasn't on top of the whole Big Ben concussion thing, and as a result, I messed with my roster much too late to sign his backup, Dennis Dixon. While Dixon's 17 points wouldn't have made a significant difference, it would have made the final score a little more respectable.
Week 13- While I wasn't able to stop the bleeding- or even slow it down a little (I lost to 151-142), I did back into the playoffs because my dad lost his game. I guess.
What went right- One of those frustrating weeks in fantasy sports. You know what I'm talking about- where you compare your score to every single other team in the league, and you realize that if you would have played anybody else but the person you did that you would have won. That was me this week. My QBs are solid, again. Newly-minted Miles Austin racks up 17 points. The Broncos D is almost the first Snow Flurry unit of the season to cross the 40 point mark in a single game (39).
What went wrong- Part of the reason Austin has 17 points is because his real-time QB (Romo) is scoring 34 for the War Machine. Aaron Rodgers had 27 points- 19 points-worth to Jermichael Finley...more on that in a minute.
Bonehead move- Starting Olsen at TE (0 points) and leaving Finley (19 points) on the bench. Game-changing decision.
Well, I ended up at 6-7 for the regular season. A streaky season, full of highs and lows. Injuries really killed me- I know it's kind of the same boat everyone is in, but I really feel like I got the short end of the stick as far as the injury department goes. But I'm proud of my guys. They competed, week in and week out (except that one game against team Josh for Now). Next time, I'll be detailing my scintillating playoff run- or is it? Only one way to find out...if you're not in my Fantasy league. Or in my immediate family. Or on Facebook.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Fantasy Frustration part 2
Thanks for reading part 1. You did read part 1, right? Anyways, this is weeks 1-7 of my fantasy football season.
Week 1- Lost to El Diablo 138-99
What went right- McNabb and Big Ben outscored my opponents QB's- by 4
What went wrong- His D (Steelers) put up 31 points, my RB's (Brown and Turner) combined for 11 points. McNabb got hurt in the 3rd quarter.Chris Cooley had 12 points on my bench, while Owen Daniels had 4 as a starter. Titans D outscored my starting Colts D by 10. Wouldn't have mattered though
Bonehead move- None- I played my roster pretty solidly.
Week 2- Much more competitive, but lost to Disco 142-131
What went right- I made almost no wrong moves, as 7 of my players put up double digits, led by Ronnie Browns 26.
What went wrong- I said almost. Moss (2), Folk (8), and Cooley (8) would have looked much better as Ochocinco (15), Vinateri (11), and Daniels (13). It also didn't help that Disco's Chris Johnson racked up 46 points.
Bonehead move- None, really. True, hindsight could have scored me some more points, but no reason to bench Moss. EVER. Daniels put up his 13 points against the Titans defense, which at the time was considered a great defense.
First win in Week 3, 104-94 over Dennis.
What went right- In a pretty low scoring affair (in our league), it was more about who I left out than who I put in. My decision to not start Owens or Ginn paid dividends as each WR had 0 points. Collins only had 8 points at QB, but it was enough. Just what you'd expect from vet backup QB's in real life- just don't lost games. My opponent left Willie Parker (18 points) on the bench- outscoring his starting backs by 7.
What went wrong- Not much, although Steve Smith, in his first game as a Snow Flurry, had 12 on my bench, while Ochocinco had 3 in the starting lineup.
Bonehead move- Note really any- mostly because at this point, my bench really isn't offering much to make me regret much.
Week 4-My team flexes it's muscles with a 161-128 win over Jenn
What went right- Everything. 9 of my 10 players scored double digits, 4 had 20+ points (led by Steve Smith and Big Ben with 26 each). Jenn could have played her highest point totals for the week at every position and I still would have won by 6 (yes, I took the time to figure that out).
What went wrong- Nothing...well...I could have had 8 more points if I would have played Cooley instead of Daniels. You know, looking back over these game summaries, I am surprised that Daniels was the #1 tight end when he got hurt. I know he had some big games though.
Bonehead move- Nothing. When you're hot, you're hot!
Week 5- This is definitely the most intense game of the season. It's against dad, with first place in the division on the line...goes down to the last play of the Monday night game, and I win! A squeaker, 154-152. The Snow Flurries are starting to assert themselves as a legitimate force in the Center league.
What went right- My backfield kicks ass and takes names. McNabb (31), Big Ben (27), Turner (27), and Ronnie Brown (20) carry my team. Brown cements himself in my personal FFHOF by scoring 2 game winning touchdowns against the Jets- one for his actual team, and one for my actual team. Also, he doesn't score too many points, enabling my buddy Marty to win his fantasy matchup. Also, my dad played Mewelde Moore (2 points) instead of Tim Hightower (10 points) and Marshawn Lynch (11 points).
What went wrong- It's a good thing my backfield put up some heavy numbers- because my receivers did jack squat! Daniels had a decent game (9 points), but Ochocinco, Moss, and Smith combined for 17 points. You know it's bad when you're looking at the boxscore and thinking 'Man, I should have played Ted Ginn Jr.'
Bonehead move- Looking at the boxscore and thinking 'Man, I should have played Ted Ginn Jr.'. 20/20 hindsight and all, but seriously, that type of thinking should never EVER happen.
Week 6- 4 wins in a row as I dispatch Fergy 144-129. I'm starting to take Fantasy football more seriously at this point...which will come back to bite me right on the bottom.
What went right- Randy Moss makes up for his 3 point Week 5 with a 31 point explosion, and Owen Daniels starts to look like a #1 TE with a 19 point outing. But really, what went right for me was what went wrong for my opponent- Jason Campbell (QB), Braylon Edwards (WR) and Steve Smith (RB/WR) combine for 5 points- and Fergy leaves 24 points on the bench from Donald Driver and Cadillac Williams.
What went wrong- Again with the hindsight, but I left Maroney (20 points) on the bench, and due to the Colts bye week, I had to start the Titans defense- on the week when they gave up 59 real points to the Patriots.
Bonehead move- Allowing 2nd guessing to start to creep it's way into my psyche.
Week 7- My first rematch, and my team is on fire as I beat down El Diablo 146-112.
What went right- The Colts play the Rams, so my defense racks up 31 points. Daniels has his 2nd consecutive 19 point outing, and I now remember why I was so devastated when he went out with an injury. Tight End is one of those positions that can elevate good teams to greatness. When Daniels and Cooley went down, it left a gaping hole in my team that I still haven't been able to fill. Also, for the 2nd straight week, my opponent has a QB rack up 1 point.
What went wrong- Nothing- the only significant point getter on my bench was the Jet's defense (25 points)- but they were outscored by my starting defense. So no harm, no foul.
Bonehead move- 5 wins in a row has allowed my excitement in fantasy football to a fever pitch. It's all about to come crashing down.
Well, this is the first half of the season. I'm sitting comfortably at 5-2. I have the #1 TE in the league, 2 very good QB's and 2 very good RB's. My season is about to fall apart. Or is it? (Note: I have pretty much already told you that it does. This is a poor use of suspense by me. If you are, in fact, still in suspense about the fate of my Fantasy Football season, then that's on you bro. That's on you)
Week 1- Lost to El Diablo 138-99
What went right- McNabb and Big Ben outscored my opponents QB's- by 4
What went wrong- His D (Steelers) put up 31 points, my RB's (Brown and Turner) combined for 11 points. McNabb got hurt in the 3rd quarter.Chris Cooley had 12 points on my bench, while Owen Daniels had 4 as a starter. Titans D outscored my starting Colts D by 10. Wouldn't have mattered though
Bonehead move- None- I played my roster pretty solidly.
Week 2- Much more competitive, but lost to Disco 142-131
What went right- I made almost no wrong moves, as 7 of my players put up double digits, led by Ronnie Browns 26.
What went wrong- I said almost. Moss (2), Folk (8), and Cooley (8) would have looked much better as Ochocinco (15), Vinateri (11), and Daniels (13). It also didn't help that Disco's Chris Johnson racked up 46 points.
Bonehead move- None, really. True, hindsight could have scored me some more points, but no reason to bench Moss. EVER. Daniels put up his 13 points against the Titans defense, which at the time was considered a great defense.
First win in Week 3, 104-94 over Dennis.
What went right- In a pretty low scoring affair (in our league), it was more about who I left out than who I put in. My decision to not start Owens or Ginn paid dividends as each WR had 0 points. Collins only had 8 points at QB, but it was enough. Just what you'd expect from vet backup QB's in real life- just don't lost games. My opponent left Willie Parker (18 points) on the bench- outscoring his starting backs by 7.
What went wrong- Not much, although Steve Smith, in his first game as a Snow Flurry, had 12 on my bench, while Ochocinco had 3 in the starting lineup.
Bonehead move- Note really any- mostly because at this point, my bench really isn't offering much to make me regret much.
Week 4-My team flexes it's muscles with a 161-128 win over Jenn
What went right- Everything. 9 of my 10 players scored double digits, 4 had 20+ points (led by Steve Smith and Big Ben with 26 each). Jenn could have played her highest point totals for the week at every position and I still would have won by 6 (yes, I took the time to figure that out).
What went wrong- Nothing...well...I could have had 8 more points if I would have played Cooley instead of Daniels. You know, looking back over these game summaries, I am surprised that Daniels was the #1 tight end when he got hurt. I know he had some big games though.
Bonehead move- Nothing. When you're hot, you're hot!
Week 5- This is definitely the most intense game of the season. It's against dad, with first place in the division on the line...goes down to the last play of the Monday night game, and I win! A squeaker, 154-152. The Snow Flurries are starting to assert themselves as a legitimate force in the Center league.
What went right- My backfield kicks ass and takes names. McNabb (31), Big Ben (27), Turner (27), and Ronnie Brown (20) carry my team. Brown cements himself in my personal FFHOF by scoring 2 game winning touchdowns against the Jets- one for his actual team, and one for my actual team. Also, he doesn't score too many points, enabling my buddy Marty to win his fantasy matchup. Also, my dad played Mewelde Moore (2 points) instead of Tim Hightower (10 points) and Marshawn Lynch (11 points).
What went wrong- It's a good thing my backfield put up some heavy numbers- because my receivers did jack squat! Daniels had a decent game (9 points), but Ochocinco, Moss, and Smith combined for 17 points. You know it's bad when you're looking at the boxscore and thinking 'Man, I should have played Ted Ginn Jr.'
Bonehead move- Looking at the boxscore and thinking 'Man, I should have played Ted Ginn Jr.'. 20/20 hindsight and all, but seriously, that type of thinking should never EVER happen.
Week 6- 4 wins in a row as I dispatch Fergy 144-129. I'm starting to take Fantasy football more seriously at this point...which will come back to bite me right on the bottom.
What went right- Randy Moss makes up for his 3 point Week 5 with a 31 point explosion, and Owen Daniels starts to look like a #1 TE with a 19 point outing. But really, what went right for me was what went wrong for my opponent- Jason Campbell (QB), Braylon Edwards (WR) and Steve Smith (RB/WR) combine for 5 points- and Fergy leaves 24 points on the bench from Donald Driver and Cadillac Williams.
What went wrong- Again with the hindsight, but I left Maroney (20 points) on the bench, and due to the Colts bye week, I had to start the Titans defense- on the week when they gave up 59 real points to the Patriots.
Bonehead move- Allowing 2nd guessing to start to creep it's way into my psyche.
Week 7- My first rematch, and my team is on fire as I beat down El Diablo 146-112.
What went right- The Colts play the Rams, so my defense racks up 31 points. Daniels has his 2nd consecutive 19 point outing, and I now remember why I was so devastated when he went out with an injury. Tight End is one of those positions that can elevate good teams to greatness. When Daniels and Cooley went down, it left a gaping hole in my team that I still haven't been able to fill. Also, for the 2nd straight week, my opponent has a QB rack up 1 point.
What went wrong- Nothing- the only significant point getter on my bench was the Jet's defense (25 points)- but they were outscored by my starting defense. So no harm, no foul.
Bonehead move- 5 wins in a row has allowed my excitement in fantasy football to a fever pitch. It's all about to come crashing down.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Fantasy Frustration part 1
Why do we play fantasy football? It is maddening. You can't watch football the same again. Ever. You don't see a 50 yard touchdown run, you see 11 points. You don't see field goals, you look at how far the kick was and add a point for every 10 yards. You don't get mad because your defense gives up a touchdown- you get mad because now you don't get the bonus points.
And don't even get me started on the hindsight. You look at the box score and see your future Hall of Fame QB score 14 points, while the ragtag journeyman has 15, and you think to yourself 'if only I had started that bum'. I mean, really? Do you think real football coaches think those types of things?
Well, this is a chronicle of my season. It's been fun at times, it's been depressing at times. I've projected on to my team, which has never said die throughout the ups and downs. I don't know what will happen from here- I'm watching the Eagles play the Giants, with my last two players of the week needing to score over 20 points (and hoping that the Cardinals defense gets lit up) to advance to round 2. I've been injury-riddled beyond belief. But I managed to sneak into the postseason, and I'd like to stick around for a while.
I am in a league that my dad is in with a bunch of guys he used to work with. I inherited a team from a guy who played last year. It's a keeper league, and my 2 keepers were Michael Turner, RB and Donovan McNabb, QB. You could definitely do worse heading into a season.
This is my draft, and some comments about my picks.
1- Randy Moss, WR- A superstar who was very strong for my team. Even when I had to trade him for depth, I was able to get some other big point producers. A
2- Laurence Maroney, RB- Probably a reach, although due to injuries for his real team and my team, he was able to step in late season and pick up some points for me. Overall, he didn't really live up to his draft position though. C-
3- Ryan Grant, RB- Didn't see much from Grant, traded him for some guys that didn't do much for me. D
4- Ted Ginn Jr., WR- Nothing. Definitely reached for this one. F
5- Ben Roethlisberger, QB- Other than that week when he had a concussion, a staple in my line-up. Had an excellent season, and I'm definitely thinking about him as a keeper. A
6- Terrell Owens, WR- I joked at the beginning of the season that my WR corps was the best in the league- in 2005. Well, for Owens, that was definitely true. I dropped him maybe a little later than I could have, as he really didn't do anything for me. D-
7- Chad Ochocinco, WR- Solid. He had some spectacular outings, but mostly he was just consistent for me. Which is really all you can ask for out of a 2nd WR. B
8- Ronnie Brown, RB- I probably reflect better on Brown than he actually did because of that huge week 5 touchdown he scored for me (more on that later). Nonetheless, he did very solid for me before going down with a season ending injury. B+
9- Colts D- Probably a reach. Didn't do too much for me, other than not suck. C
10- Titans D- Wow, this unit definitely didn't live up to their press. I dropped them as soon as I could after New England lit them up for 59 points. D-
11- Owen Daniels, TE- Another player that I reflect on more fondly than he probably deserves, due to some clutch performances during my win streak. Nonetheless, he was very good at times, and his season ending injury spelled the downfall of my production at the TE position. B
12- Kerry Collins, QB- Surprisingly he was able to be productive in the couple games I put him in while McNabb was out. Fortunately, I didn't have to play him when he put up -4 points against New England. D+
13- Chris Cooley, TE- Another casualty of being on my roster. He had some nice numbers, and I'll remember him mostly for being on the bench and outscoring Daniels early in the season. C
14- Michael Crabtree, WR- Never set foot on the field for the Snow Flurries. F.
15- Adam Vinateri, K- Had some decent games before getting hurt. He's a kicker, so I don't really know what to say. C
16- Michael Jenkins, WR- I'm not sure I ever put him. F
17- Justin Fargas, RB- Definitely never put him in. F
Now, obviously no one ever goes through a whole fantasy football season with just their draft roster- you have trades, waiver pickups, and free agents. Fortunately for you, I went through and figured out all of my transactions- for your viewing pleasure! Also, I added some comments. Because you should know what I'm thinking. I guess that's why you're reading this blog, right?
Sept 16- Added Nick Folk, K- Decent, until he started missing field goals like they were going out of style.
Sept 22- Dropped Crabtree and Fargas- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Sept 23- Added Steve Smith, WR- Definitely my top pickup of the season, and I really really wish Eli Manning wouldn't have gotten hurt early in the season- Smith could have been even more of a point producer for me.
Oct 13- Dad loaned me Nate Kaeding, K- Kaeding helped me win a game the week I had him, and I picked him up for the playoffs because I couldn't trust Nick Folk.
Oct 20- Dropped Owens and Titans D- Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Oct 20- Traded Grant for Jets D, Santana Moss, WR- Actually wish I wouldn't have made this trade, for a couple reasons. First of all, RBs started to drop like flies for me, and I could have used a decent starting RB to fill in the gap. Second of all, Grant scored 21 points during the playoff game. Right now I'm trailing by about 20 points. Finally, the Jets D and Santana Moss really didn't do much for me in terms of production.
Oct 21- Added Broncos D- A couple big weeks. Glad I added these guys.
Oct 21- Added Torry Holt, WR- Again, if there was any way I could go back in time and take my WR corps, I would be the king of the league. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to pick up the 2005 Torry Holt. I picked up the 2009 Torry Holt. More on that later.
Oct 21- Dropped Collins- I got what I needed out of him before the Titans yanked him.
Oct 28- Added Tony Scheffler, TE and Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB- Why?
Oct 28- Dropped Ginn- Finally.
Oct 28- Added Mark Clayton, WR- At this point, I must have been just reaching. Maybe Vince Papale wasn't available?
Oct 28- Dropped Jenkins- Added precisely nothing to my team.
Nov 3- Dropped Vinateri- Out for the season at this point.
Nov 3- Dropped Fitzpatrick, Clayton- Thanks for playing guys. NOT.
Nov 4- Added Trent Edwards, QB, Jermichael Finley, TE, and John Carlson, TE- Yes, at this point I was hurting for a 3rd QB and any TE.
Nov 10- Dropped Daniels- With a tear...so devastating to my team.
Nov 11- Dropped Scheffler- Another 'why did I add this guy?' guy.
Nov 11- Added Brandon Pettigrew, TE- The search for the perfect replacement TE continues. You know it's bad when you're looking to the Detroit Lions for salvation.
Nov 11- Added Ladell Betts, RB- Could have been a great pick up, if he hadn't gotten hurt. With a season ending injury. I'm sensing a pattern here.
Nov 11- Dropped Holt- I think I played him once...and vowed to never do so ever again.
Nov 13- Added Roy Williams, WR- You know it's bad when you're looking to former Detroit Lions for salvation.
Dec 1- Dropped Pettigrew, Betts, and Cooley- All 3- season ending injuries. Maybe I should rename my team to the North Michigan Season-ending Injuries.
Dec 1- Traded Moss for Miles Austin, WR, Calvin Johnson, WR, Greg Olsen, TE, and Justin Forsett, RB- I had to take this trade after all my RBs died. I was offered this trade a couple weeks prior, except insert Jamaal Charles for Justin Forsett. In my pride, I turned it down- and I wish I wouldn't have. Charles has had a pretty good stretch as the man in KC, while Forsett is locked in a time-share with a running back that he is clearly better than. Regardless, I still wish I could have kept Moss.
Dec 8- Added Nate Kaeding, K- Hopefully some of that Kaeding magic will rub off on my playoff run.
Well, you've managed to make it through the transactions- this is how my team got to where it is now. Next time, I'll walk through the first half of my season.
And don't even get me started on the hindsight. You look at the box score and see your future Hall of Fame QB score 14 points, while the ragtag journeyman has 15, and you think to yourself 'if only I had started that bum'. I mean, really? Do you think real football coaches think those types of things?
Well, this is a chronicle of my season. It's been fun at times, it's been depressing at times. I've projected on to my team, which has never said die throughout the ups and downs. I don't know what will happen from here- I'm watching the Eagles play the Giants, with my last two players of the week needing to score over 20 points (and hoping that the Cardinals defense gets lit up) to advance to round 2. I've been injury-riddled beyond belief. But I managed to sneak into the postseason, and I'd like to stick around for a while.
I am in a league that my dad is in with a bunch of guys he used to work with. I inherited a team from a guy who played last year. It's a keeper league, and my 2 keepers were Michael Turner, RB and Donovan McNabb, QB. You could definitely do worse heading into a season.
This is my draft, and some comments about my picks.
1- Randy Moss, WR- A superstar who was very strong for my team. Even when I had to trade him for depth, I was able to get some other big point producers. A
2- Laurence Maroney, RB- Probably a reach, although due to injuries for his real team and my team, he was able to step in late season and pick up some points for me. Overall, he didn't really live up to his draft position though. C-
3- Ryan Grant, RB- Didn't see much from Grant, traded him for some guys that didn't do much for me. D
4- Ted Ginn Jr., WR- Nothing. Definitely reached for this one. F
5- Ben Roethlisberger, QB- Other than that week when he had a concussion, a staple in my line-up. Had an excellent season, and I'm definitely thinking about him as a keeper. A
6- Terrell Owens, WR- I joked at the beginning of the season that my WR corps was the best in the league- in 2005. Well, for Owens, that was definitely true. I dropped him maybe a little later than I could have, as he really didn't do anything for me. D-
7- Chad Ochocinco, WR- Solid. He had some spectacular outings, but mostly he was just consistent for me. Which is really all you can ask for out of a 2nd WR. B
8- Ronnie Brown, RB- I probably reflect better on Brown than he actually did because of that huge week 5 touchdown he scored for me (more on that later). Nonetheless, he did very solid for me before going down with a season ending injury. B+
9- Colts D- Probably a reach. Didn't do too much for me, other than not suck. C
10- Titans D- Wow, this unit definitely didn't live up to their press. I dropped them as soon as I could after New England lit them up for 59 points. D-
11- Owen Daniels, TE- Another player that I reflect on more fondly than he probably deserves, due to some clutch performances during my win streak. Nonetheless, he was very good at times, and his season ending injury spelled the downfall of my production at the TE position. B
12- Kerry Collins, QB- Surprisingly he was able to be productive in the couple games I put him in while McNabb was out. Fortunately, I didn't have to play him when he put up -4 points against New England. D+
13- Chris Cooley, TE- Another casualty of being on my roster. He had some nice numbers, and I'll remember him mostly for being on the bench and outscoring Daniels early in the season. C
14- Michael Crabtree, WR- Never set foot on the field for the Snow Flurries. F.
15- Adam Vinateri, K- Had some decent games before getting hurt. He's a kicker, so I don't really know what to say. C
16- Michael Jenkins, WR- I'm not sure I ever put him. F
17- Justin Fargas, RB- Definitely never put him in. F
Now, obviously no one ever goes through a whole fantasy football season with just their draft roster- you have trades, waiver pickups, and free agents. Fortunately for you, I went through and figured out all of my transactions- for your viewing pleasure! Also, I added some comments. Because you should know what I'm thinking. I guess that's why you're reading this blog, right?
Sept 16- Added Nick Folk, K- Decent, until he started missing field goals like they were going out of style.
Sept 22- Dropped Crabtree and Fargas- Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Sept 23- Added Steve Smith, WR- Definitely my top pickup of the season, and I really really wish Eli Manning wouldn't have gotten hurt early in the season- Smith could have been even more of a point producer for me.
Oct 13- Dad loaned me Nate Kaeding, K- Kaeding helped me win a game the week I had him, and I picked him up for the playoffs because I couldn't trust Nick Folk.
Oct 20- Dropped Owens and Titans D- Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Oct 20- Traded Grant for Jets D, Santana Moss, WR- Actually wish I wouldn't have made this trade, for a couple reasons. First of all, RBs started to drop like flies for me, and I could have used a decent starting RB to fill in the gap. Second of all, Grant scored 21 points during the playoff game. Right now I'm trailing by about 20 points. Finally, the Jets D and Santana Moss really didn't do much for me in terms of production.
Oct 21- Added Broncos D- A couple big weeks. Glad I added these guys.
Oct 21- Added Torry Holt, WR- Again, if there was any way I could go back in time and take my WR corps, I would be the king of the league. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to pick up the 2005 Torry Holt. I picked up the 2009 Torry Holt. More on that later.
Oct 21- Dropped Collins- I got what I needed out of him before the Titans yanked him.
Oct 28- Added Tony Scheffler, TE and Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB- Why?
Oct 28- Dropped Ginn- Finally.
Oct 28- Added Mark Clayton, WR- At this point, I must have been just reaching. Maybe Vince Papale wasn't available?
Oct 28- Dropped Jenkins- Added precisely nothing to my team.
Nov 3- Dropped Vinateri- Out for the season at this point.
Nov 3- Dropped Fitzpatrick, Clayton- Thanks for playing guys. NOT.
Nov 4- Added Trent Edwards, QB, Jermichael Finley, TE, and John Carlson, TE- Yes, at this point I was hurting for a 3rd QB and any TE.
Nov 10- Dropped Daniels- With a tear...so devastating to my team.
Nov 11- Dropped Scheffler- Another 'why did I add this guy?' guy.
Nov 11- Added Brandon Pettigrew, TE- The search for the perfect replacement TE continues. You know it's bad when you're looking to the Detroit Lions for salvation.
Nov 11- Added Ladell Betts, RB- Could have been a great pick up, if he hadn't gotten hurt. With a season ending injury. I'm sensing a pattern here.
Nov 11- Dropped Holt- I think I played him once...and vowed to never do so ever again.
Nov 13- Added Roy Williams, WR- You know it's bad when you're looking to former Detroit Lions for salvation.
Dec 1- Dropped Pettigrew, Betts, and Cooley- All 3- season ending injuries. Maybe I should rename my team to the North Michigan Season-ending Injuries.
Dec 1- Traded Moss for Miles Austin, WR, Calvin Johnson, WR, Greg Olsen, TE, and Justin Forsett, RB- I had to take this trade after all my RBs died. I was offered this trade a couple weeks prior, except insert Jamaal Charles for Justin Forsett. In my pride, I turned it down- and I wish I wouldn't have. Charles has had a pretty good stretch as the man in KC, while Forsett is locked in a time-share with a running back that he is clearly better than. Regardless, I still wish I could have kept Moss.
Dec 8- Added Nate Kaeding, K- Hopefully some of that Kaeding magic will rub off on my playoff run.
Well, you've managed to make it through the transactions- this is how my team got to where it is now. Next time, I'll walk through the first half of my season.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Wrigley
A few days ago, I returned from a 3 day-mancation with my dad and some of his buddies from work. It was epic. And I totally would have blogged about it earlier...except that the hotel we stayed at (Hyatt Regency) didn't have free WiFi. Or a pool. Or a hot tub. 4 star hotel my ass. I'll bet you even the Bates motel had free WiFi.
Ah yes, thank you for coming so quickly sir. I was in the middle of a shower when some guy with a knife came and tried to kill me. I'm not sure I'll be coming back unless you take care of that situation. Or unless you get free WiFi.
Our trip overall was very awesome- aside from the fact that we had a bout with a half-sleeping cabbie who enjoyed braking at the last second. And the fact that we hoofed it around the city about 4 miles on our first day because we were idiots.
This trip was all about Wrigley field, and it didn't disappoint. It was my first trip to Wrigley. Actually, it was my first major league game that did not take place in old Tiger Stadium. I've never been one of those guys who wants to see games in every major league stadium. I didn't even care if I saw another baseball game again.
But my dad, who retired in June, wanted to go, and he asked me if I wanted to go. I figured it'd be a neat opportunity, so I said 'sure'.
It hadn't even been ten minutes after the game and I was already excited about our next trip (hopefully Fenway)! That one game restored baseball in my soul. I still don't want to see every ballpark- but I want to see as many as I can. Walking into Wrigley made me feel like a little boy again- that's the magic of the ballpark.
I'd pit baseball right up there with hockey as being sports you HAVE to see live. They work on TV...but not nearly as much as they do when you are there in person. The crack of the bat, and you swear that every single fly ball is going to leave orbit. Of course, it ends up being a routine infield fly-ball...but it's just so amazing. Football and basketball are cool, but you can totally get by just watching those on the tube. Baseball? Hockey? If you get a chance, see a game.
We had an absolutely beautiful day- it was probably lower-to-mid 80s, no clouds, low humidity. We sat in section 202, which, as we found out, was underneath another section. That means that we got to sit in the shade (maybe like a half inning of some sun seeping through), with a nice cool cross breeze. We had very minimal obstruction (couldn't see 3rd base very well).
Probably the coolest feature of the stadium was the way the outfield bleachers were set up. In the stadium itself, there weren't a significant number of bleachers. But on top of the buildings across the street, there were bleacher sections set up. Looking at it from where we were, it looked like the stadium was bigger than it actually was, but it was really neat to find out that the top half of the outfield sections were not even in the stadium!
The game itself was great. We saw Ryan Howard hit a 3-run homer. We saw Cubs fans throw the ball right back. We saw last year's AL Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee, pitch 8 innings of strong ball for the Phillies (oh, by the way, we got to watch the defending World Series champs). We got to take part in the 7th inning singing of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame', led by Jim Belushi. Congratulations baseball- you have been returned to my heart. Fenway (or another ballpark), here we come!
The old school hand-operated scoreboard. Needless to say, we were scoreboard-watching the Tigers, as they beat the BoSox 2-0.
(Sigh)...those ivy covered walls were so beautiful!
If you get a chance to see a game in Wrigley, I HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you don't like baseball, the chance to take part in this piece of history. And who knows, maybe you'll become a baseball convert like me.
In the next couple days, in honor of the upcoming college football season, I'm going to post a diatribe on the state of the NCAA bowl system (of course, I'm not really sure what diatribe means, but I obviously wanted to use it. So I did.)
PIC:
Norman Bates: http://www.legendsofhorror.org/images/bates/ppic1.jpg
Ah yes, thank you for coming so quickly sir. I was in the middle of a shower when some guy with a knife came and tried to kill me. I'm not sure I'll be coming back unless you take care of that situation. Or unless you get free WiFi.
Our trip overall was very awesome- aside from the fact that we had a bout with a half-sleeping cabbie who enjoyed braking at the last second. And the fact that we hoofed it around the city about 4 miles on our first day because we were idiots.
This trip was all about Wrigley field, and it didn't disappoint. It was my first trip to Wrigley. Actually, it was my first major league game that did not take place in old Tiger Stadium. I've never been one of those guys who wants to see games in every major league stadium. I didn't even care if I saw another baseball game again.
But my dad, who retired in June, wanted to go, and he asked me if I wanted to go. I figured it'd be a neat opportunity, so I said 'sure'.
It hadn't even been ten minutes after the game and I was already excited about our next trip (hopefully Fenway)! That one game restored baseball in my soul. I still don't want to see every ballpark- but I want to see as many as I can. Walking into Wrigley made me feel like a little boy again- that's the magic of the ballpark.
I'd pit baseball right up there with hockey as being sports you HAVE to see live. They work on TV...but not nearly as much as they do when you are there in person. The crack of the bat, and you swear that every single fly ball is going to leave orbit. Of course, it ends up being a routine infield fly-ball...but it's just so amazing. Football and basketball are cool, but you can totally get by just watching those on the tube. Baseball? Hockey? If you get a chance, see a game.
We had an absolutely beautiful day- it was probably lower-to-mid 80s, no clouds, low humidity. We sat in section 202, which, as we found out, was underneath another section. That means that we got to sit in the shade (maybe like a half inning of some sun seeping through), with a nice cool cross breeze. We had very minimal obstruction (couldn't see 3rd base very well).
Probably the coolest feature of the stadium was the way the outfield bleachers were set up. In the stadium itself, there weren't a significant number of bleachers. But on top of the buildings across the street, there were bleacher sections set up. Looking at it from where we were, it looked like the stadium was bigger than it actually was, but it was really neat to find out that the top half of the outfield sections were not even in the stadium!
The game itself was great. We saw Ryan Howard hit a 3-run homer. We saw Cubs fans throw the ball right back. We saw last year's AL Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee, pitch 8 innings of strong ball for the Phillies (oh, by the way, we got to watch the defending World Series champs). We got to take part in the 7th inning singing of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame', led by Jim Belushi. Congratulations baseball- you have been returned to my heart. Fenway (or another ballpark), here we come!
The old school hand-operated scoreboard. Needless to say, we were scoreboard-watching the Tigers, as they beat the BoSox 2-0.
(Sigh)...those ivy covered walls were so beautiful!
If you get a chance to see a game in Wrigley, I HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you don't like baseball, the chance to take part in this piece of history. And who knows, maybe you'll become a baseball convert like me.
In the next couple days, in honor of the upcoming college football season, I'm going to post a diatribe on the state of the NCAA bowl system (of course, I'm not really sure what diatribe means, but I obviously wanted to use it. So I did.)
PIC:
Norman Bates: http://www.legendsofhorror.org/images/bates/ppic1.jpg
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Kids will be kids...and kids are idiots...and kids are idiots because their parents are idioters.
Well, I just finished my paper...and you know what that means...a blog post! With my full attention! For you!
I'm going to try and do this differently. Normally, I try and set up stories and my blog posts just end up getting long-winded and very wordy, very quickly. So instead of trying to set up the story, I'm just going to tell the story. Ironically, in my attempt to cut down on the length of my blog post, I have inadvertently added a whole paragraph that will, at the end of this whole shebang, make the blog post longer than it would have been if I had just tried to tell you this story. So....
How hard is it to be a parent? Well, it's not hard...and yet it's the hardest thing you'll ever have to do. So much of it is 'common sense'...so much of it is 'OMG I have no freaking idea what to do?'. See, there are three 6-7 year old girls that live in our apartment complex. Delaney loves them- she's always looking out the window, seeing if they're out there. She always wants to go play with them. If they're outside when we're outside, then she'll go racing over to them, excitedly saying 'Hey guys, whatcha doin?'.
Yesterday, we were outside playing. I built a house for a couple of the girls out of some life-size tinker toys (I don't know what they really are...Delaney calls them blocks. Maybe I should just say, blocks). Delaney was really excited that I was building the house, because I had built a block house a couple days prior, and she loved it (I should make it clear at this time that these are not actually our blocks, but they did not belong to either of the kids I was building the house for either. I guess that isn't really pertinent information).
Well, one of the girls, who has a bully rep, didn't want Delaney to play, and she was very vocal about this...not obscenely vocal, but every time Delaney commented on my building of a house for her, the girl (whom I shall call Poster Child) made it clear she didn't want Delaney to play with them.
So I keep building, and I get the little house set up, and the girls go to play in it...and of course Delaney wants to play. And of course Poster doesn't want her to play. So she keeps telling her 'No Delaney', and tries to wall Delaney off from the house, with her arms as the wall. Eventually, they move the house.
Now here is where my heart breaks. I know full well that the older girls have a right to play by themselves. I can understand that they might want some space, and some privacy. But Delaney looks up to those girls- she loves them, she adores them- and all the playground/hierarchy/social crap hasn't hit her yet. She is so naive, so innocent, so unaware of the rejection. All she knows is that she wants to play. Her eyes have not been tainted by the stain that is the dark side of humanity.
So she follows them. She asks me to help her drag along the block box as her own house. At this point I'm torn- I know Poster doesn't want Delaney around them. I also know how much Delaney just wants to be with them. So I bring the box over, because...I don't know why. Maybe I thought Poster would have a change of heart. Maybe I saw a good teaching opportunity. Maybe I just didn't have the heart to tell my daughter 'no' in that moment. Well, obviously Poster moves the house again.
Rather than walk you through all the details, I'm just going to tell you that Poster reached a point where she sulked away (as she often does), threatening to go inside because she wasn't getting her way. As she's headed for her door, she says something like this 'It's all your fault Delaney'.
Um, excuse me? How about, no????
I'm getting a little fired up even thinking about this now. I chewed her out something fierce for saying that (understand in context that I'm not a fierce man, so the objective outsider might not call it fierce. Those that know me, know that it was fierce). Where the hell does she get off saying that to Delaney...a three year old who does not realize in the social world she was doing wrong...because she just wanted to play. With her friends.
Shortly after, I went over to Poster. I apologized. I explained that Delaney loves the older girls, and just wants to play, and doesn't understand their need for space. I told her that I understood where she was coming from.
Because it's not really Poster that I'm angry with. Oh sure, she was the conduit. She was the face at that moment. But what really pisses me off about this situation is the fact that her parents are not around. Ever. I don't know what goes on behind their doors, so I would hesitate to say she is a victim of poor parenting. But when Poster spends most days outside alone, I believe that I can say that she is not getting the attention or supervision that she needs.
Her mom? Nice lady. But where is she? Her daughter is not old enough to be left alone outside all the time, especially when she bullies the other kids. She is extremely manipulative, making threats about 'not being friends ever again' or 'I'll tell your mom you are mean to me'...and the poor other girls get sucked in- because they just want to play. They just want to have fun.
Yes, kids can't be constantly supervised. They need some freedom, they need a chance to fail so that they can learn to succeed. But Poster has had problems before. There have been complaints. There has been many altercations with many children because the same problems that happened months ago have not been addressed because the mom is not around to see what the hell is going on.
Parents, spend time with your kids. Monitor them. Pay attention to them. Love them. I realize that no child is going to be perfect. I realize full well that there will come a day when Delaney loses the innocence, and becomes a child of this world system, where we all file in to our societal roles, and so-and-so is the alpha male, and so-and-so is the pawn...but damn it, don't just give up on your kid. We have a finite period of time in which we can do tremendous good with our children. They are so impressionable, but only for so long. The messages we send in these formative years will stick with them for their entire lives. Oh, they may not know it. They probably won't have any clue. But it will be there. So don't just leave your kids to do whatever. Be there for them. Parenting is hard, I know. But's it's so easy.
So I obviously failed at making a short blog post. Not only that, but I added an extra paragraph, because I tried to tell you how I was going to make this post shorter, when actually I didn't do that. In fact, it's longer because of that first paragraph. Actually, you can probably add this paragraph to the gratuitous length factor. All I can say is, 'I'm sorry'.
I'm going to try and do this differently. Normally, I try and set up stories and my blog posts just end up getting long-winded and very wordy, very quickly. So instead of trying to set up the story, I'm just going to tell the story. Ironically, in my attempt to cut down on the length of my blog post, I have inadvertently added a whole paragraph that will, at the end of this whole shebang, make the blog post longer than it would have been if I had just tried to tell you this story. So....
How hard is it to be a parent? Well, it's not hard...and yet it's the hardest thing you'll ever have to do. So much of it is 'common sense'...so much of it is 'OMG I have no freaking idea what to do?'. See, there are three 6-7 year old girls that live in our apartment complex. Delaney loves them- she's always looking out the window, seeing if they're out there. She always wants to go play with them. If they're outside when we're outside, then she'll go racing over to them, excitedly saying 'Hey guys, whatcha doin?'.
Yesterday, we were outside playing. I built a house for a couple of the girls out of some life-size tinker toys (I don't know what they really are...Delaney calls them blocks. Maybe I should just say, blocks). Delaney was really excited that I was building the house, because I had built a block house a couple days prior, and she loved it (I should make it clear at this time that these are not actually our blocks, but they did not belong to either of the kids I was building the house for either. I guess that isn't really pertinent information).
Well, one of the girls, who has a bully rep, didn't want Delaney to play, and she was very vocal about this...not obscenely vocal, but every time Delaney commented on my building of a house for her, the girl (whom I shall call Poster Child) made it clear she didn't want Delaney to play with them.
So I keep building, and I get the little house set up, and the girls go to play in it...and of course Delaney wants to play. And of course Poster doesn't want her to play. So she keeps telling her 'No Delaney', and tries to wall Delaney off from the house, with her arms as the wall. Eventually, they move the house.
Now here is where my heart breaks. I know full well that the older girls have a right to play by themselves. I can understand that they might want some space, and some privacy. But Delaney looks up to those girls- she loves them, she adores them- and all the playground/hierarchy/social crap hasn't hit her yet. She is so naive, so innocent, so unaware of the rejection. All she knows is that she wants to play. Her eyes have not been tainted by the stain that is the dark side of humanity.
So she follows them. She asks me to help her drag along the block box as her own house. At this point I'm torn- I know Poster doesn't want Delaney around them. I also know how much Delaney just wants to be with them. So I bring the box over, because...I don't know why. Maybe I thought Poster would have a change of heart. Maybe I saw a good teaching opportunity. Maybe I just didn't have the heart to tell my daughter 'no' in that moment. Well, obviously Poster moves the house again.
Rather than walk you through all the details, I'm just going to tell you that Poster reached a point where she sulked away (as she often does), threatening to go inside because she wasn't getting her way. As she's headed for her door, she says something like this 'It's all your fault Delaney'.
Um, excuse me? How about, no????
I'm getting a little fired up even thinking about this now. I chewed her out something fierce for saying that (understand in context that I'm not a fierce man, so the objective outsider might not call it fierce. Those that know me, know that it was fierce). Where the hell does she get off saying that to Delaney...a three year old who does not realize in the social world she was doing wrong...because she just wanted to play. With her friends.
Shortly after, I went over to Poster. I apologized. I explained that Delaney loves the older girls, and just wants to play, and doesn't understand their need for space. I told her that I understood where she was coming from.
Because it's not really Poster that I'm angry with. Oh sure, she was the conduit. She was the face at that moment. But what really pisses me off about this situation is the fact that her parents are not around. Ever. I don't know what goes on behind their doors, so I would hesitate to say she is a victim of poor parenting. But when Poster spends most days outside alone, I believe that I can say that she is not getting the attention or supervision that she needs.
Her mom? Nice lady. But where is she? Her daughter is not old enough to be left alone outside all the time, especially when she bullies the other kids. She is extremely manipulative, making threats about 'not being friends ever again' or 'I'll tell your mom you are mean to me'...and the poor other girls get sucked in- because they just want to play. They just want to have fun.
Yes, kids can't be constantly supervised. They need some freedom, they need a chance to fail so that they can learn to succeed. But Poster has had problems before. There have been complaints. There has been many altercations with many children because the same problems that happened months ago have not been addressed because the mom is not around to see what the hell is going on.
Parents, spend time with your kids. Monitor them. Pay attention to them. Love them. I realize that no child is going to be perfect. I realize full well that there will come a day when Delaney loses the innocence, and becomes a child of this world system, where we all file in to our societal roles, and so-and-so is the alpha male, and so-and-so is the pawn...but damn it, don't just give up on your kid. We have a finite period of time in which we can do tremendous good with our children. They are so impressionable, but only for so long. The messages we send in these formative years will stick with them for their entire lives. Oh, they may not know it. They probably won't have any clue. But it will be there. So don't just leave your kids to do whatever. Be there for them. Parenting is hard, I know. But's it's so easy.
So I obviously failed at making a short blog post. Not only that, but I added an extra paragraph, because I tried to tell you how I was going to make this post shorter, when actually I didn't do that. In fact, it's longer because of that first paragraph. Actually, you can probably add this paragraph to the gratuitous length factor. All I can say is, 'I'm sorry'.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Flip that Tax-return ammendment
Okay, so honestly I should be working on a paper...I'm just going to sneak in a little up-date.
I don't really know what to say really, or how to say it, or how to make it short. I've been really struggling lately, really just wrestling with lots of deep thoughts and ideas...wrestling with God, and the concept of God, and the Bible, and what I even think about the Bible. Yeah, I know. Deep stuff.
So I don't want to get too much into all that right now, because a) I'm supposed to be working on a paper, and b) I'm still sorting things out. Basically I just want to deliver a message that might change the tides of victory...or at least make our bank account swell a little bit.
So I did our tax return this year, like in February. Filled it out, sent it in, got a few thousand back (being poor and having children is pretty awesome in terms of tax returns). Moved on in life. Got a letter from the IRS a month or so later, that we may have been eligible for some additional child-tax credit. Cool, right? Well, I fill out the form that they send us, do the math, do the math again, and I come up with $49. Hmmm...well, it's $49 that we don't have. So I send it back.
A couple months later, they send it back to us. Sara didn't sign it. Ugh. So Sara signs it, we send it back in. Now keep in mind, that all this time, we are being sent through the financial test of our lives. That trivial $49 in the spring is like an oasis during the summer. We're scraping by on pins and needles...constantly getting reminded of the word spoken over us...
...fed by ravens...
I mean, glory to God we're making it...it's just crazy tight. We're learning about trust, and about being smart with our money...but it's crazy tight. $49-would-go-a-long-way kind of crazy tight.
So anyways, fast forward to today. The last week has been kind of stressful because I accidentally sent one of our bills in early...and we had to buy some diapers...and car insurance was due...and Sara wasn't able to give plasma (I know we'll look back on this time and smile at the fact that we are having have blood pumped out of our bodies in order to survive).
So (wow, I'm getting long winded, aren't I? I'm almost done, I do really need to get crack-a-lackin on this paper) I donate plasma this morning ($50 day whoot whoot), run to the ATM, run right to the bank...and find out we've overdrawn. Crap. Good news is we'll have enough money in the account for when the car insurance gets taken next time. Bad news is we're down $19.
Here's the cool thing- I wasn't overly upset about it. I wasn't really that pissed about it (ask Sara about my attitude on such things in the past). A few hours later, I check the mail, it's the IRS again. That's 3 heart attacks this year that the IRS has caused me, because every time I get something in the mail from the IRS, I think that I've done something wrong and I'm either going to jail, or else I owe a crap-ton of money.
So this letter says blah blah blah we've processed your form blah blah blah, and you have a math error blah blah blah your credit is now $1300 instead of $49 blah blah b..wait, what? What???
Wow. You know, I am realizing more and more that I'm not all that smart. Really. And it isn't anything to do with being off by over $1200 on a tax statement. No, I'm realizing that I don't want this burden of objectivity. I don't want this burden of thinking that I can know all the answers. I don't want this burden of denying my subjective experiences....that our human interpretation of evidence is some sort of last word.
I'm still asking questions, I'm still seeking, I'm still knocking. I don't think my faith is going to look the same when this is all over. I don't know what it will look like. But I'm finding out that there is something going on behind the curtains, something pulling strings, and it can't be measured. It can't be debunked. It can't be proven, it can't be disproved. And I intend to find out what it is.
I don't really know what to say really, or how to say it, or how to make it short. I've been really struggling lately, really just wrestling with lots of deep thoughts and ideas...wrestling with God, and the concept of God, and the Bible, and what I even think about the Bible. Yeah, I know. Deep stuff.
So I don't want to get too much into all that right now, because a) I'm supposed to be working on a paper, and b) I'm still sorting things out. Basically I just want to deliver a message that might change the tides of victory...or at least make our bank account swell a little bit.
So I did our tax return this year, like in February. Filled it out, sent it in, got a few thousand back (being poor and having children is pretty awesome in terms of tax returns). Moved on in life. Got a letter from the IRS a month or so later, that we may have been eligible for some additional child-tax credit. Cool, right? Well, I fill out the form that they send us, do the math, do the math again, and I come up with $49. Hmmm...well, it's $49 that we don't have. So I send it back.
A couple months later, they send it back to us. Sara didn't sign it. Ugh. So Sara signs it, we send it back in. Now keep in mind, that all this time, we are being sent through the financial test of our lives. That trivial $49 in the spring is like an oasis during the summer. We're scraping by on pins and needles...constantly getting reminded of the word spoken over us...
...fed by ravens...
I mean, glory to God we're making it...it's just crazy tight. We're learning about trust, and about being smart with our money...but it's crazy tight. $49-would-go-a-long-way kind of crazy tight.
So anyways, fast forward to today. The last week has been kind of stressful because I accidentally sent one of our bills in early...and we had to buy some diapers...and car insurance was due...and Sara wasn't able to give plasma (I know we'll look back on this time and smile at the fact that we are having have blood pumped out of our bodies in order to survive).
So (wow, I'm getting long winded, aren't I? I'm almost done, I do really need to get crack-a-lackin on this paper) I donate plasma this morning ($50 day whoot whoot), run to the ATM, run right to the bank...and find out we've overdrawn. Crap. Good news is we'll have enough money in the account for when the car insurance gets taken next time. Bad news is we're down $19.
Here's the cool thing- I wasn't overly upset about it. I wasn't really that pissed about it (ask Sara about my attitude on such things in the past). A few hours later, I check the mail, it's the IRS again. That's 3 heart attacks this year that the IRS has caused me, because every time I get something in the mail from the IRS, I think that I've done something wrong and I'm either going to jail, or else I owe a crap-ton of money.
So this letter says blah blah blah we've processed your form blah blah blah, and you have a math error blah blah blah your credit is now $1300 instead of $49 blah blah b..wait, what? What???
Wow. You know, I am realizing more and more that I'm not all that smart. Really. And it isn't anything to do with being off by over $1200 on a tax statement. No, I'm realizing that I don't want this burden of objectivity. I don't want this burden of thinking that I can know all the answers. I don't want this burden of denying my subjective experiences....that our human interpretation of evidence is some sort of last word.
I'm still asking questions, I'm still seeking, I'm still knocking. I don't think my faith is going to look the same when this is all over. I don't know what it will look like. But I'm finding out that there is something going on behind the curtains, something pulling strings, and it can't be measured. It can't be debunked. It can't be proven, it can't be disproved. And I intend to find out what it is.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Favorite Project 86 Albums
Well, it's arrived- our final addition of Project 86 Mondays. I hope you've had as much fun following as I've had reliving my favorite band. If you haven't heard of these guys and you are inclined to listen to heavy music, I highly recommend them. If you have heard of them then I'd love to hear what you think about my choices.
Tomorrow the new LP Picket Fence Cartel hits shelves. I preordered mine a few weeks ago, and I'm super excited- Project 86 FTW!!!
Where will Picket Fence Cartel rank amongst Projects' albums? Only time will tell. For now though, I present you my ranking of Picket Fence Cartels ancestors.
8)Project 86, 1998- Their self-titled debut, and the CD that got me hooked on these guys. It hasn't aged particularly well, although there are still some gems like Bleed Season and 1X7. Nonetheless, I do enjoy to listen to it every now and again as a reminder of where I've come from.
7)The Kane Mutiny EP, 2007- It's really hard to rank to rank a five song effort any higher, especially when two of the songs are remixes. To be fair, though, the remixes are solid, and I really like what the did with From December. Rte. 66 is a nice song, but what makes this EP worth the $5 purchase price is Lucretia, My Reflection and The Kane Mutiny, which are definitely two of the most B.A. songs that Project 86 has ever done.
6)Drawing Black Lines, 2000- Their sophomore release is still a solid effort, and if it wasn't for the amazingness of their later works then this would have ranked higher. There are some very intense songs on here, Stein's Theme, One Armed Man, and Set Me Up. I really like Sad Machines, and Star is one of the classic melodic songs that Project has ever done (to be fair, it's one of the only melodic songs they've ever done).
5)This time of year EP, 2008- Again, EP's are hard to rank very high, since they have a much smaller body of work. However, the fact that this is a Christmas album gives it some bonus points. I always wanted to have a Project 86 Christmas album, and when I got it I wasn't disappointed. Well, maybe a little disappointed. There definitely should have been more songs. However, this is definitely worth listening to for Shiny Skin, a song about presents, and a very unique interpretation of What Child Is This?.
4)...And The Rest Will Follow, 2005- Definitely their hardest rocking album, this starts off with the absolutely hard and heavy Sincerely, Ichabod, and goes from there. There is enough filler to keep this from ranking higher, but I would definitely put All Of Me, Necktie Remedy, and From December against any other trio of songs. Doomsday Stomp and My Will Be A Dead Man are very interesting as well.
3)Rival Factions, 2007- This is by far the most adventurous album that Project 86 has undertaken. I was particularly impressed by how far Andrew Schwab was willing to stretch himself as a vocalist. Out of all the albums they have done, this one sounds the least 'Projectish', and yet you can definitely tell that it is a Project album. This is to their credit as musicians, that they were able (and willing) to take chances, regardless of what critics said. If they had included The Kane Mutiny on the regular release (it was only available if you purchased the album on iTunes), then I would have ranked this higher. But they didn't, so I didn't. Fair is fair.
2)Songs to burn your bridges by, 2004- At first, I didn't really like this CD...I felt like most of the songs sounded all like, and so I didn't really listen to it too much. But it had staying power, and grew on me, and before I knew it, I just absolutely fell in love with it. True, there are songs that I don't get into so much, but the cream of the crop is superb- there are powerful worship tunes (Safe Haven and Shadow On Me), hardcore rocking tunes (Spy Hunter and Sioux Lane Spirits), and just flat-out amazing songs like Breakdown In 3/4. But I really had to rank this album at number one because a) it is so cohesive as an album, and b) it is not as amazing as my number one pick...
1) Truthless Heroes, 2002- A concept album dealing with the trappings of our society, this is probably their most (in my opinion) inspired work to date. The whole album is solid- there just aren't any bad songs. I just love listening to this whole thing- and that to me is what makes a great album. To be sure, there are some absolute cut-above-the-rest songs- Soma and Hollow Again come to mind- but this whole album is just rocking. The best thing about it though is the lyrics- Andrew Schwab brings his sharp wit and worldview on this musical social commentary. His wit is especially biting on SMC, Another Boredom Movement, and Hollow Again.
Thanks for reading! Tune in next time for...well, shoot, I don't know! I might write about Jon and Kate, I have an article that I've been sitting on about how there are too many bowl teams- and who knows what will happen between now and then! Love to all, God bless. See you on the flip side!
Tomorrow the new LP Picket Fence Cartel hits shelves. I preordered mine a few weeks ago, and I'm super excited- Project 86 FTW!!!
Where will Picket Fence Cartel rank amongst Projects' albums? Only time will tell. For now though, I present you my ranking of Picket Fence Cartels ancestors.
8)Project 86, 1998- Their self-titled debut, and the CD that got me hooked on these guys. It hasn't aged particularly well, although there are still some gems like Bleed Season and 1X7. Nonetheless, I do enjoy to listen to it every now and again as a reminder of where I've come from.
7)The Kane Mutiny EP, 2007- It's really hard to rank to rank a five song effort any higher, especially when two of the songs are remixes. To be fair, though, the remixes are solid, and I really like what the did with From December. Rte. 66 is a nice song, but what makes this EP worth the $5 purchase price is Lucretia, My Reflection and The Kane Mutiny, which are definitely two of the most B.A. songs that Project 86 has ever done.
6)Drawing Black Lines, 2000- Their sophomore release is still a solid effort, and if it wasn't for the amazingness of their later works then this would have ranked higher. There are some very intense songs on here, Stein's Theme, One Armed Man, and Set Me Up. I really like Sad Machines, and Star is one of the classic melodic songs that Project has ever done (to be fair, it's one of the only melodic songs they've ever done).
5)This time of year EP, 2008- Again, EP's are hard to rank very high, since they have a much smaller body of work. However, the fact that this is a Christmas album gives it some bonus points. I always wanted to have a Project 86 Christmas album, and when I got it I wasn't disappointed. Well, maybe a little disappointed. There definitely should have been more songs. However, this is definitely worth listening to for Shiny Skin, a song about presents, and a very unique interpretation of What Child Is This?.
4)...And The Rest Will Follow, 2005- Definitely their hardest rocking album, this starts off with the absolutely hard and heavy Sincerely, Ichabod, and goes from there. There is enough filler to keep this from ranking higher, but I would definitely put All Of Me, Necktie Remedy, and From December against any other trio of songs. Doomsday Stomp and My Will Be A Dead Man are very interesting as well.
3)Rival Factions, 2007- This is by far the most adventurous album that Project 86 has undertaken. I was particularly impressed by how far Andrew Schwab was willing to stretch himself as a vocalist. Out of all the albums they have done, this one sounds the least 'Projectish', and yet you can definitely tell that it is a Project album. This is to their credit as musicians, that they were able (and willing) to take chances, regardless of what critics said. If they had included The Kane Mutiny on the regular release (it was only available if you purchased the album on iTunes), then I would have ranked this higher. But they didn't, so I didn't. Fair is fair.
2)Songs to burn your bridges by, 2004- At first, I didn't really like this CD...I felt like most of the songs sounded all like, and so I didn't really listen to it too much. But it had staying power, and grew on me, and before I knew it, I just absolutely fell in love with it. True, there are songs that I don't get into so much, but the cream of the crop is superb- there are powerful worship tunes (Safe Haven and Shadow On Me), hardcore rocking tunes (Spy Hunter and Sioux Lane Spirits), and just flat-out amazing songs like Breakdown In 3/4. But I really had to rank this album at number one because a) it is so cohesive as an album, and b) it is not as amazing as my number one pick...
1) Truthless Heroes, 2002- A concept album dealing with the trappings of our society, this is probably their most (in my opinion) inspired work to date. The whole album is solid- there just aren't any bad songs. I just love listening to this whole thing- and that to me is what makes a great album. To be sure, there are some absolute cut-above-the-rest songs- Soma and Hollow Again come to mind- but this whole album is just rocking. The best thing about it though is the lyrics- Andrew Schwab brings his sharp wit and worldview on this musical social commentary. His wit is especially biting on SMC, Another Boredom Movement, and Hollow Again.
Thanks for reading! Tune in next time for...well, shoot, I don't know! I might write about Jon and Kate, I have an article that I've been sitting on about how there are too many bowl teams- and who knows what will happen between now and then! Love to all, God bless. See you on the flip side!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Favorite Project 86 Songs
Well, that week certainly flew! Thanks for tuning in to part two of my Project 86 Monday series, in anticipation of the July 14th release of their newest LP Picket Fence Cartel. This week I will be reviewing my favorite songs done by my favorite band. Where will their new stuff rank? Only time can tell. If you want to hear it ahead of time, they have four brand new songs posted on their Myspace account, which is: www.myspace.com/project86
Well, now that we have the formalities addressed, let's get on to the main event, shall we? My top-twenty favorite Project 86 songs!
20) Sioux Lane Spirits, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
19) The Forces Of Radio Have Dropped A Viper Into The Rhythm Section, Rival Factions
18) Another Boredom Movement, Truthless Heroes
17) Know What It Means, Truthless Heroes
16) Shelter me, Truthless Heroes
15) Pull Me Closer, Violent Dancer, Rival Factions
14) From December, ...And The Rest Will Follow
13) All of me, ...And The Rest Will Follow
12) Slaves To Liberty, Rival Factions
11) Sincerely, Ichabod, ...And The Rest Will Follow
10) Safe Haven, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
9) Sad Machines, Drawing Black Lines
8) Shiny Skin, This Time Of Year
7) The Spy Hunter, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
6) Hollow Again, Truthless Heroes
5) Little Green Men, Truthless Heroes
4) Necktie Remedy, ...And The Rest Will Follow
3) Soma, Truthless Heroes
2) Breakdown in 3/4, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
1) The Kane Mutiny, Rival Factions
Hmmmmm...not bad, not bad! Again, I wanted to make a top-ten list, but I just couldn't trim it down! I had a hard enough time trimming this to just twenty, let alone ten. Now, know that I am not some blind fanboy, who worships everything that my favorite band puts out. There are Project songs that I don't like, there are Project songs that I think suck. What makes these guys my favorite band is that those songs are few and far between, and the fact that their top songs kick serious behind.
Next week is our 'season' finale. Join me as I put to rank the Project 86 album catalogue!
Well, now that we have the formalities addressed, let's get on to the main event, shall we? My top-twenty favorite Project 86 songs!
20) Sioux Lane Spirits, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
19) The Forces Of Radio Have Dropped A Viper Into The Rhythm Section, Rival Factions
18) Another Boredom Movement, Truthless Heroes
17) Know What It Means, Truthless Heroes
16) Shelter me, Truthless Heroes
15) Pull Me Closer, Violent Dancer, Rival Factions
14) From December, ...And The Rest Will Follow
13) All of me, ...And The Rest Will Follow
12) Slaves To Liberty, Rival Factions
11) Sincerely, Ichabod, ...And The Rest Will Follow
10) Safe Haven, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
9) Sad Machines, Drawing Black Lines
8) Shiny Skin, This Time Of Year
7) The Spy Hunter, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
6) Hollow Again, Truthless Heroes
5) Little Green Men, Truthless Heroes
4) Necktie Remedy, ...And The Rest Will Follow
3) Soma, Truthless Heroes
2) Breakdown in 3/4, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
1) The Kane Mutiny, Rival Factions
Hmmmmm...not bad, not bad! Again, I wanted to make a top-ten list, but I just couldn't trim it down! I had a hard enough time trimming this to just twenty, let alone ten. Now, know that I am not some blind fanboy, who worships everything that my favorite band puts out. There are Project songs that I don't like, there are Project songs that I think suck. What makes these guys my favorite band is that those songs are few and far between, and the fact that their top songs kick serious behind.
Next week is our 'season' finale. Join me as I put to rank the Project 86 album catalogue!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Favorite Project 86 lyrics
One of the things that really makes or breaks music for me is lyrics. The coolest chord progression or rhythm/beat or what-have-you can be utterly destroyed by lame lyrics. That's one of the reasons that 'pop' music bothers me so much some times- the lyrics are so cookie-cutter, blah-blah-blah, with no substance. I want music that makes me think and feel. Project 86 does this better than most bands that I've encountered. Except maybe Baby Cannon (this message has been brought to you by Baby Cannon. A band that isn't famous but is awesome).
I'll limit this to a top-15 (I couldn't narrow it down to just 10), since they have a bevy of songs. Also, I'll limit it to a line or two, or a few- that is, I'm not ranking songs according to their overall lyrical content, I'm just rating sections of lyrics that I have found to be particularly inspiring, intellectual, or just plain B.A.
Now that I have laid the ground rules, I present without further adieu...my top fifteen Project 86 lyrics!
15)Shadow On Me, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
Take me in these fleeting moments of solitude in you
Remove this fascination with shadow and remove
This shattered self of preservation, this commitment to undo
All that you forgave and give, and all you promised to...
14)Sad Machines, Drawing Black Lines
Now so many wonder why it is so much has gone awry in all of this
And being makes you sigh that you exist but you can't escape this
Seemingly undeserved is your lot but generations past and you forgot
We chose to eat our fill and tell it not
This pain is here reminding us to turn and leave to come back home
This lyric is followed by the most amazing musical scream I have ever heard
13)A Toast To My Former Self, Drawing Black Lines
Kill the day and fill me, break my past renew me
Lift up my head, I'm weary, strip my thoughts and I'll kill this day, now fill me
12)Know What It Means, Truthless Heroes
Remember what its like to be you?
Remember what its like to be me?
All that I see these eyes in my dreams
These thought police coming for me
11)Another Boredom Movement, Truthless Heroes
The grins of your puppeteers are beaming because the quotas will be made
Or your time in the spotlight will fade at the hands of the same pigs that made you
10)PS, Drawing Black Lines
It is a basis for your heartfelt hunger so gaze
At the page, at the page, at the faces of nameless...
You're alone again and this distortion is an apt replacement for
An unquenchable desire for more
More pages strewn across this sickening floor
I can't look at this, I can't look at you, I can't look at me, I can't
9)Little green men, Truthless Heroes
History's a stage for re-runs for 3 A.M. insomniacs who quote the episodes
If tricycles came with guns we'd all be safe
8)Bottom Feeder, Truthless Heroes
So little of what seems to be is ever really there, so much of what's here I resent
7)Sincerely, Ichabod, ...And The Rest Will Follow
I know who I am in the depths of spirit and truth
I've seen the face of redemption and He isn't you
I'm through indulging the tastes of my cruelest nature
So I think this blade better suits you
6)Safe Haven, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
I'm just a stranger here, despite your everything
I'm not attached to your world of disease
Like father always said, and I can only agree
'Son they will hate you because they always hated me'
And even though I feel alone
I know that I could never be
5)Spy Hunter, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
Pawns standing in awe of the game, of the stage
You've worked so hard at building an empire of secret rooms to display yourself
And add to your wealth
4)Soma, Truthless Heroes
If you can amputate my heart then I will learn to smile and then
You can replace me with yourself and I'll become the model citizen
And I will tell them all that I had this breakthrough surgery
They give you a pill, then remove your heart and replace it with a battery
3)Breakdown in 3/4, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
When you're just a memory I'll be there to remind you of what you said
As ash to ash so you will return... "You once made such noise, but now so obsolete."
2)Hollow Again, Truthless Heroes
And all along here I was told by fallen men in their charade
That we could find a hope inside the safety of this empty place
1)Kane Mutiny, Rival Factions
So far you've been able to have your way without a fight
Oh, it's long been overdue you will not survive the night
You're not gonna stop us tonight
No one's gonna take us alive
Well, I hope you've enjoyed this weeks edition of 'Project 86 Monday'. If you have a particularly favorite lyric that I didn't name, let me know! I hope you were inspired, insmartened, or B.A.ed reading these sweet lyrics. Tune in next Monday to find out my favorite Project 86 songs of all time!
I'll limit this to a top-15 (I couldn't narrow it down to just 10), since they have a bevy of songs. Also, I'll limit it to a line or two, or a few- that is, I'm not ranking songs according to their overall lyrical content, I'm just rating sections of lyrics that I have found to be particularly inspiring, intellectual, or just plain B.A.
Now that I have laid the ground rules, I present without further adieu...my top fifteen Project 86 lyrics!
15)Shadow On Me, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
Take me in these fleeting moments of solitude in you
Remove this fascination with shadow and remove
This shattered self of preservation, this commitment to undo
All that you forgave and give, and all you promised to...
14)Sad Machines, Drawing Black Lines
Now so many wonder why it is so much has gone awry in all of this
And being makes you sigh that you exist but you can't escape this
Seemingly undeserved is your lot but generations past and you forgot
We chose to eat our fill and tell it not
This pain is here reminding us to turn and leave to come back home
This lyric is followed by the most amazing musical scream I have ever heard
13)A Toast To My Former Self, Drawing Black Lines
Kill the day and fill me, break my past renew me
Lift up my head, I'm weary, strip my thoughts and I'll kill this day, now fill me
12)Know What It Means, Truthless Heroes
Remember what its like to be you?
Remember what its like to be me?
All that I see these eyes in my dreams
These thought police coming for me
11)Another Boredom Movement, Truthless Heroes
The grins of your puppeteers are beaming because the quotas will be made
Or your time in the spotlight will fade at the hands of the same pigs that made you
10)PS, Drawing Black Lines
It is a basis for your heartfelt hunger so gaze
At the page, at the page, at the faces of nameless...
You're alone again and this distortion is an apt replacement for
An unquenchable desire for more
More pages strewn across this sickening floor
I can't look at this, I can't look at you, I can't look at me, I can't
9)Little green men, Truthless Heroes
History's a stage for re-runs for 3 A.M. insomniacs who quote the episodes
If tricycles came with guns we'd all be safe
8)Bottom Feeder, Truthless Heroes
So little of what seems to be is ever really there, so much of what's here I resent
7)Sincerely, Ichabod, ...And The Rest Will Follow
I know who I am in the depths of spirit and truth
I've seen the face of redemption and He isn't you
I'm through indulging the tastes of my cruelest nature
So I think this blade better suits you
6)Safe Haven, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
I'm just a stranger here, despite your everything
I'm not attached to your world of disease
Like father always said, and I can only agree
'Son they will hate you because they always hated me'
And even though I feel alone
I know that I could never be
5)Spy Hunter, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
Pawns standing in awe of the game, of the stage
You've worked so hard at building an empire of secret rooms to display yourself
And add to your wealth
4)Soma, Truthless Heroes
If you can amputate my heart then I will learn to smile and then
You can replace me with yourself and I'll become the model citizen
And I will tell them all that I had this breakthrough surgery
They give you a pill, then remove your heart and replace it with a battery
3)Breakdown in 3/4, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
When you're just a memory I'll be there to remind you of what you said
As ash to ash so you will return... "You once made such noise, but now so obsolete."
2)Hollow Again, Truthless Heroes
And all along here I was told by fallen men in their charade
That we could find a hope inside the safety of this empty place
1)Kane Mutiny, Rival Factions
So far you've been able to have your way without a fight
Oh, it's long been overdue you will not survive the night
You're not gonna stop us tonight
No one's gonna take us alive
Well, I hope you've enjoyed this weeks edition of 'Project 86 Monday'. If you have a particularly favorite lyric that I didn't name, let me know! I hope you were inspired, insmartened, or B.A.ed reading these sweet lyrics. Tune in next Monday to find out my favorite Project 86 songs of all time!
Project 86 Monday! Project 86 Monday! Project 86 Monday!
Mark your calenders- July 14th, the best band in the history of ever (Project 86) releases their newest LP, Picket Fence Cartel. In honor of this very cool epic event, I will devote the next three Mondays to putting out high quality blog posts in honor of this amazing, hard rocking band. If you have even the slightest affinity for heavy rock or deep lyrics, then I highly recommend these guys.
Why do I love this band? Well, this was the first band I attached to as a young Christian. They were the first band that showed me my musical future would involve much more than just hymns and Point of Grace. Alex Albert, the drummer (through most of their albums) doesn't do anything that is too crazy amazing (which actually inspires me) but is extremely tight. Andrew Schwab, the frontman, writes amazing lyrics, and when we went and saw them in concert for the first time, looked right into my soul. He's so frickin intense! Steve Dail (bass) and Randy (guitar) round out the band, and they are both really good as well.
This band writes really phenomenal bridges. So yeah...
I once rode 7 hours (from Marquette to St. Paul, MN) to watch this band- me and the bro-in-lawski went there on a Tuesday, watched Project (and some other bands), camped one night, and then drove back the next day in time to get to work. Wow! I'm so hardcore it is not even funny!
Anyways, I'm just wasting time right now. I have to work on my first Project 86 Monday! post- my favorite Project 86 lyrics. Enjoy!
PIC
Logo- www.myspace.com/project86
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Do we really need the letter 'E'?
I love words. I love playing around the phonetics, pronouncing words on incorrect syllables. I love screwing around with grammar. The origin of words fascinates me. I mean, to think that we define so much of our existence by the way that the tangible things we experience are defined for us...it's really quite amazing to think about. Definitions have power. Words have power.
(I feel like I should point out here that I am not taking this post in a serious direction...although I think this intro paragraph is very good, and would fit very well in a blog post I was thinking about doing about the very power of words and definitions, I will save that for another day)
The letter 'E'. The mother of all letters, the most popular letter in the English language...shoot, 'English' starts with an 'E'! We've all played Hangman, and 'E' is one of those sacred fish-in-a-barrel letters that you guess first...after all, lots of words have an 'E'! Why mess around and risk getting hanged, right? What letter is most prominent in Scrabble? You guessed it- 'E'.
But I have a problem with the letter 'E'- I think it is overrated. Not only that, I find it to be the parasite of the alphabet, latching on to any word it can sink its bloody claws into. I find it no coincidence that the word 'evil' begins with the letter 'E'. Also, 'Ebola', enemy' , and 'enema'. All start with 'E'. Oh, and 'Ewok'. 'Ewok' starts with 'E'.
The letter 'E' will eat you easily every chance it gets. 'E' is everywhere. The end.
We are enablers. By allowing the letter 'E' to attach itself to the end of words that have no need of a letter 'E' (cape, rune, made, bite, slime, hate, shame, use, sludge, dude), we have basically surrendered our Constitutional-given right to bear arms! I mean, to vote! I mean...well maybe I'm thinking of the Declaration of Independence. Life? Liberty? Pursuit of Happiness? Ever heard of 'em? While we were busy enjoying elephants and egg nog, the letter 'E' infiltrated our language, brainwashed our teachers, and left us for dead on the doorstep. How's that for independence?
If we are not careful, the letter E will soon be in position to take over. As in, everything. Our economy is in peril. Employment is falling. People don't have enough to eat. Educational systems have failed us, and even our entertainment industry is falling apart. I don't have time to go into details here, but suffice it to say that I have known of this sinister plot by the letter 'E' for quite some time. And I know how to stop it.
No no no, it's not the Wi. It's the Wii. Notice the difference the second 'I' makes.
Thanks to our friends in Japan, we have our weapon against 'E'. Or should I say, wii have our anti-E weapon. The letter E has bullied us and forced us to believe the lie that our language will fall apart without its' existence. Friends, nothing can be further from the truth. Our language not only can survive, but it can thrive. Wii do not need the letter 'E'...the letter 'E' needs us. Shoot, even Wikipedia, the bastion of truth, declares that silent E has not always been around. If Wikipedia says something, you know you can take it to the bank.
Join with me, brothers. There is a war coming. The letter 'E' sweeps over the land, the silent killer, the black plague. It taunts us every time we hit the spellcheck button. Damn. Forgot the 'E' at the end of 'plague'. But hidden deep inside of our alphabet is buried the foil for this tyrant- the letter 'Y'. Well, and the letter 'I', also. Technically the letter 'A' too, I guess. These letters have the intestinal fortitude to not only conquer the letter 'E', but to make sure that it never returns.
We can win this war. There will be casualties- maybe your favorite word or name will have to be killed. But when it rises, it will be clean, free from the stain of the illegitimate letter that has contaminated our whole language system. Imagine, if you will, a 25 letter alphabet working together in unison and harmony, with no letters fighting for dominance, no posturing amongst them- 25 letters, working as 1 letter. John Lennon sang the song 'Imagine', but I submit that his vision of world peace was perhaps a bit shortsighted. For see John, you cannot have peace and the letter 'E' in the same sentence. Sing with me: Imagine there's no 'E's...I wonder if you can...
(I will end with this phrase, meant to be chanted repeatedly until a state of frothing frenzy is achieved, at which point I am not responsible for what may or may not happen) Down with 'E'!
PICS-
Letter E- http://www.learningtreasures.com/suite101/Letter_E.jpg
Wii- http://www.techdigest.tv/wii.jpg
(I feel like I should point out here that I am not taking this post in a serious direction...although I think this intro paragraph is very good, and would fit very well in a blog post I was thinking about doing about the very power of words and definitions, I will save that for another day)
The letter 'E'. The mother of all letters, the most popular letter in the English language...shoot, 'English' starts with an 'E'! We've all played Hangman, and 'E' is one of those sacred fish-in-a-barrel letters that you guess first...after all, lots of words have an 'E'! Why mess around and risk getting hanged, right? What letter is most prominent in Scrabble? You guessed it- 'E'.
But I have a problem with the letter 'E'- I think it is overrated. Not only that, I find it to be the parasite of the alphabet, latching on to any word it can sink its bloody claws into. I find it no coincidence that the word 'evil' begins with the letter 'E'. Also, 'Ebola', enemy' , and 'enema'. All start with 'E'. Oh, and 'Ewok'. 'Ewok' starts with 'E'.
The letter 'E' will eat you easily every chance it gets. 'E' is everywhere. The end.
We are enablers. By allowing the letter 'E' to attach itself to the end of words that have no need of a letter 'E' (cape, rune, made, bite, slime, hate, shame, use, sludge, dude), we have basically surrendered our Constitutional-given right to bear arms! I mean, to vote! I mean...well maybe I'm thinking of the Declaration of Independence. Life? Liberty? Pursuit of Happiness? Ever heard of 'em? While we were busy enjoying elephants and egg nog, the letter 'E' infiltrated our language, brainwashed our teachers, and left us for dead on the doorstep. How's that for independence?
If we are not careful, the letter E will soon be in position to take over. As in, everything. Our economy is in peril. Employment is falling. People don't have enough to eat. Educational systems have failed us, and even our entertainment industry is falling apart. I don't have time to go into details here, but suffice it to say that I have known of this sinister plot by the letter 'E' for quite some time. And I know how to stop it.
No no no, it's not the Wi. It's the Wii. Notice the difference the second 'I' makes.
Thanks to our friends in Japan, we have our weapon against 'E'. Or should I say, wii have our anti-E weapon. The letter E has bullied us and forced us to believe the lie that our language will fall apart without its' existence. Friends, nothing can be further from the truth. Our language not only can survive, but it can thrive. Wii do not need the letter 'E'...the letter 'E' needs us. Shoot, even Wikipedia, the bastion of truth, declares that silent E has not always been around. If Wikipedia says something, you know you can take it to the bank.
Join with me, brothers. There is a war coming. The letter 'E' sweeps over the land, the silent killer, the black plague. It taunts us every time we hit the spellcheck button. Damn. Forgot the 'E' at the end of 'plague'. But hidden deep inside of our alphabet is buried the foil for this tyrant- the letter 'Y'. Well, and the letter 'I', also. Technically the letter 'A' too, I guess. These letters have the intestinal fortitude to not only conquer the letter 'E', but to make sure that it never returns.
We can win this war. There will be casualties- maybe your favorite word or name will have to be killed. But when it rises, it will be clean, free from the stain of the illegitimate letter that has contaminated our whole language system. Imagine, if you will, a 25 letter alphabet working together in unison and harmony, with no letters fighting for dominance, no posturing amongst them- 25 letters, working as 1 letter. John Lennon sang the song 'Imagine', but I submit that his vision of world peace was perhaps a bit shortsighted. For see John, you cannot have peace and the letter 'E' in the same sentence. Sing with me: Imagine there's no 'E's...I wonder if you can...
(I will end with this phrase, meant to be chanted repeatedly until a state of frothing frenzy is achieved, at which point I am not responsible for what may or may not happen) Down with 'E'!
PICS-
Letter E- http://www.learningtreasures.com/suite101/Letter_E.jpg
Wii- http://www.techdigest.tv/wii.jpg
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Sequel
I'm starting to see a pattern here- movies today have an unbalanced ratio between hype and substance. Okay, so maybe this revelation isn't such a big deal...but the last two 'Blockbuster' movies that I have seen, Wolverine: Origins and Transformers 2 have both been sub par compared to my expectations for them.
Now this isn't the first time this has happened. I've been initially disappointed in sequels before. 'Two Towers', for instance, was very disappointing to me the first time I saw it- mostly because I had hyped up this movie in my mind to levels that it could not possibly attain. When I saw it again, I realized that it was, in fact, a great move. And I haven't had a chance to do is get a second viewing of these movies, so maybe I'll be wrong. Unfortunately, I don't think a second viewing is going to help.
I'll focus mostly on Transformers 2, because a) I saw that movie last night, so it is still fresh, and b) it has the best chance to actually rank as a good movie in my eyes.
Thinking back on it, Transformers 2 reminds me of a 1980's sequel. You remember those, right?
Only the 80's would have taken a movie revolving around two guys pretending their dead boss was still alive...and then made it into a sequel. Really? No one realized he was dead? In the second movie? Wow. Can we just retcon the 80's from existence?
PICS:
Weekend @ Bernies 2- http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/16/A70-8099
Bobblehead- http://terminallaughter.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/office_space_bobbleheads.jpg
Now this isn't the first time this has happened. I've been initially disappointed in sequels before. 'Two Towers', for instance, was very disappointing to me the first time I saw it- mostly because I had hyped up this movie in my mind to levels that it could not possibly attain. When I saw it again, I realized that it was, in fact, a great move. And I haven't had a chance to do is get a second viewing of these movies, so maybe I'll be wrong. Unfortunately, I don't think a second viewing is going to help.
I'll focus mostly on Transformers 2, because a) I saw that movie last night, so it is still fresh, and b) it has the best chance to actually rank as a good movie in my eyes.
Thinking back on it, Transformers 2 reminds me of a 1980's sequel. You remember those, right?
Only the 80's would have taken a movie revolving around two guys pretending their dead boss was still alive...and then made it into a sequel. Really? No one realized he was dead? In the second movie? Wow. Can we just retcon the 80's from existence?
80's sequels sucked- basically all they did was rehash the same jokes from the first movie, maybe change the wording a little bit- it was the Decade of the Disney sequel- straight-to-video quality stuff. This was why I hated Waynes World 2 (although technically I guess that was a 90's movie) initially- it ruined the magic of the first movie. I realize how hard it is to write a script for a great movie, but I'd rather they try to be original and fail than to copy and fail.
This was the format of Transformers 2. It's like they took everything that was great from the first movie and tried to make it bigger and still the same.
Funny parents, sexy Megan Fox, tiny appliance/transformers, jive-talking transformer, John Turturro in underwear, Linkin Park song at the end- all of these things were done in the right amount in the first movie and served to enhance the greatness of both the story and the special effects. Everything was in balance, nothing was out of place. It was a great movie.
The second movie tried to take these things and making them ginormously bigger than they were before- imagining going in for some minor cosmetic surgery and then coming out with a Bobblehead:
SPOILERS START HERE
Funny parents of first one leads to mom scoring a marijuana brownie at the college amongst other ridiculosities. Sexy Megan Fox leads to extremely gratuitous shot of her (basically)humping a motorcycle in her first scene. Really? Was that necessary? Jive-talking transformer is now two jive-talking transformers- twins to boot! John Turturro in underwear is now John Turturro in a jock strap (and yes, they went there). The Linkin Park song at the end? Not nearly as epic as 'What I've Done'.
This movie suffered from a serious case of identity crisis. It couldn't tell whether it wanted to be a comedy or an action or a drama. Maybe it wanted to be a coctioma. Or a dromedtion. Or something else entirely.
I counted no less than eight (8!) characters/units whose sole or primary purpose was to elicit guffaws, or 'laughs'. Let's see, there was: The parents, John Turturro, the Transformer twins, the butt-humping dogs, the hacker-roommate, the president's assistant, the little Decepticon, the old robot. That's a lot of laught eliciters. And it wasn't that they weren't funny- for the most part they were funny. That was the problem- they really disrupted the flow of the story at times.
Ah, the story. I won't go too much into detail (I have a sucky memory and I don't want to spoil too much anyway), but suffice it to say that I thought the story was somewhat weak and that perhaps all these laughs and special effects were in place to cover up that fact. I'll definitely have to give it another viewing (unlike Wolverine, which cannot possibly experience storyline redemption). The special effects were amazing, but I was hoping that Hollywood would have learned from Lord of the Rings or the first Transformer movie that you could indeed have a good story AND good effects in the same movie. Alas, maybe G.I. Joe will prove different. Probably not though.
By the way, Peter Cullen, who does the voice of Optimus Prime, is also the voice of Eeyore. So....take that for what it is worth...
This was the format of Transformers 2. It's like they took everything that was great from the first movie and tried to make it bigger and still the same.
Funny parents, sexy Megan Fox, tiny appliance/transformers, jive-talking transformer, John Turturro in underwear, Linkin Park song at the end- all of these things were done in the right amount in the first movie and served to enhance the greatness of both the story and the special effects. Everything was in balance, nothing was out of place. It was a great movie.
The second movie tried to take these things and making them ginormously bigger than they were before- imagining going in for some minor cosmetic surgery and then coming out with a Bobblehead:
SPOILERS START HERE
Funny parents of first one leads to mom scoring a marijuana brownie at the college amongst other ridiculosities. Sexy Megan Fox leads to extremely gratuitous shot of her (basically)humping a motorcycle in her first scene. Really? Was that necessary? Jive-talking transformer is now two jive-talking transformers- twins to boot! John Turturro in underwear is now John Turturro in a jock strap (and yes, they went there). The Linkin Park song at the end? Not nearly as epic as 'What I've Done'.
This movie suffered from a serious case of identity crisis. It couldn't tell whether it wanted to be a comedy or an action or a drama. Maybe it wanted to be a coctioma. Or a dromedtion. Or something else entirely.
I counted no less than eight (8!) characters/units whose sole or primary purpose was to elicit guffaws, or 'laughs'. Let's see, there was: The parents, John Turturro, the Transformer twins, the butt-humping dogs, the hacker-roommate, the president's assistant, the little Decepticon, the old robot. That's a lot of laught eliciters. And it wasn't that they weren't funny- for the most part they were funny. That was the problem- they really disrupted the flow of the story at times.
Ah, the story. I won't go too much into detail (I have a sucky memory and I don't want to spoil too much anyway), but suffice it to say that I thought the story was somewhat weak and that perhaps all these laughs and special effects were in place to cover up that fact. I'll definitely have to give it another viewing (unlike Wolverine, which cannot possibly experience storyline redemption). The special effects were amazing, but I was hoping that Hollywood would have learned from Lord of the Rings or the first Transformer movie that you could indeed have a good story AND good effects in the same movie. Alas, maybe G.I. Joe will prove different. Probably not though.
By the way, Peter Cullen, who does the voice of Optimus Prime, is also the voice of Eeyore. So....take that for what it is worth...
PICS:
Weekend @ Bernies 2- http://www.movieposter.com/posters/archive/main/16/A70-8099
Bobblehead- http://terminallaughter.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/office_space_bobbleheads.jpg
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Heart of a champion part 2
Well, it's over. Congrats to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They came into Joe Louis Arena and beat the Red Wings in a do-or-die game 7 to win the Stanley Cup. I was 50% on my predictors for a Pens win...I believe Malkin had 1 assist, Crosby missed most of the game, but Fleury did play out of his mind. That last save was the stuff of legend.
As I alluded to before, this was a very bitter defeat for me. I actually forced myself to watch this series the way I never really had before. I think it taught me a lot.
In some ways it is silly to get wrapped up so much in a game. I mean, I'm not even the one playing, or doing any of the work, how can I think that watching these 7 games was in any way going to allow me to partake in any sort of victory? That's what sports is about though. It's a way for us to get involved in some much bigger concepts than merely statistics and scores. It's about sacrifice, it's about discipline, it's about teamwork. It's about groups of people working together for a common goal.
Hockey is the embodiment of this. I actually might chew on shaving some sports out of my watching docket. Basketball is too individual. Football? I'm sure once training camps start, I'll be hooked back in. Baseball has always been a seasonal pastime for me, filling in the gaps between sports that I like to watch. But I've realized that it's the camaraderie in hockey that makes it so appealing. It's the idea that someone would willingly throw themselves into a dense piece of rubber traveling at speeds of up to 100 mph in order to achieve victory. It is the defense of the goalie. It's the way that the team celebrates goals. Even the whole two assist thing. Maybe this is why Americans don't like hockey. The NHL might try to market glitz and glam players and plays, but at its core, hockey is more communist than capitalist. It's about sacrificing self for the greater good.
That's why, as I write this the day after, I am starting to feel a sense of peace and calm about the whole thing. This was much more than a sporting event for me.
I was able to put myself out there, to become vulnerable. Did it pay off? Well...in a sense, it didn't. I was obviously hoping to be able to release unbridled excitement by being able to watch the Wings win another Stanley Cup (one that I actively participated in as much as I could). But I think some day, I'll be able to look back at this Cup final and probably point to it as one of my favorites.
I still believe that the Wings have the heart of a Champion. Some might say that they blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2. Maybe they were just able to stretch the Penguins to 7 games. That might sound defeatist, as though I am trying to take something away from the Penguins. And I'll be honest- in some ways, I don't feel like they deserve the Cup. I still think their stars are too immature to be considered champions (thinking back to Crosby and his slash of Zetterberg in game 5). I would have liked to have heard more Penguins tipping their hats to the Red Wings. Maybe I didn't pay attention to that stuff last year, but I know the Wings are a classy team. I expect champions to have some class...I didn't see enough of that coming out of the Penguins.
Gamewise, if Rob Scuderi (Pens defensemen) doesn't make a couple killer plays in game 6, then we're having a party in Pittsburgh again. Game 7, Osgood baits Talbot a little too much, gives up the dagger 2nd goal. Kronwall hits a crossbar late in the 3rd.
Yes, Pittsburgh had some bad bounces the first two games, so that is why I don't put too much stock in the close calls department. Those things tend to balance themselves out.
Anyways, back to my point. We started the series without Pavel Datsyuk. Jonathan Erickson had his appendix taken out at the end of the Chicago series. We had a couple days off before having to play back to back games to start the Finals. I'm not trying to make excuses here- those are all things that happened. What I am saying is that the Wings showed tremendous resolve to take those first two games, and to battle back and take game 5, and they gave it their all for games 6 and 7. We came up short, but I'm extremely proud of the way they battled.
Congrats again to the Penguins. And congrats to the Red Wings. They may not be the official 'champion', but to me, they have proven that they are indeed, champs.
As I alluded to before, this was a very bitter defeat for me. I actually forced myself to watch this series the way I never really had before. I think it taught me a lot.
In some ways it is silly to get wrapped up so much in a game. I mean, I'm not even the one playing, or doing any of the work, how can I think that watching these 7 games was in any way going to allow me to partake in any sort of victory? That's what sports is about though. It's a way for us to get involved in some much bigger concepts than merely statistics and scores. It's about sacrifice, it's about discipline, it's about teamwork. It's about groups of people working together for a common goal.
Hockey is the embodiment of this. I actually might chew on shaving some sports out of my watching docket. Basketball is too individual. Football? I'm sure once training camps start, I'll be hooked back in. Baseball has always been a seasonal pastime for me, filling in the gaps between sports that I like to watch. But I've realized that it's the camaraderie in hockey that makes it so appealing. It's the idea that someone would willingly throw themselves into a dense piece of rubber traveling at speeds of up to 100 mph in order to achieve victory. It is the defense of the goalie. It's the way that the team celebrates goals. Even the whole two assist thing. Maybe this is why Americans don't like hockey. The NHL might try to market glitz and glam players and plays, but at its core, hockey is more communist than capitalist. It's about sacrificing self for the greater good.
That's why, as I write this the day after, I am starting to feel a sense of peace and calm about the whole thing. This was much more than a sporting event for me.
I was able to put myself out there, to become vulnerable. Did it pay off? Well...in a sense, it didn't. I was obviously hoping to be able to release unbridled excitement by being able to watch the Wings win another Stanley Cup (one that I actively participated in as much as I could). But I think some day, I'll be able to look back at this Cup final and probably point to it as one of my favorites.
I still believe that the Wings have the heart of a Champion. Some might say that they blew leads of 2-0 and 3-2. Maybe they were just able to stretch the Penguins to 7 games. That might sound defeatist, as though I am trying to take something away from the Penguins. And I'll be honest- in some ways, I don't feel like they deserve the Cup. I still think their stars are too immature to be considered champions (thinking back to Crosby and his slash of Zetterberg in game 5). I would have liked to have heard more Penguins tipping their hats to the Red Wings. Maybe I didn't pay attention to that stuff last year, but I know the Wings are a classy team. I expect champions to have some class...I didn't see enough of that coming out of the Penguins.
Gamewise, if Rob Scuderi (Pens defensemen) doesn't make a couple killer plays in game 6, then we're having a party in Pittsburgh again. Game 7, Osgood baits Talbot a little too much, gives up the dagger 2nd goal. Kronwall hits a crossbar late in the 3rd.
Yes, Pittsburgh had some bad bounces the first two games, so that is why I don't put too much stock in the close calls department. Those things tend to balance themselves out.
Anyways, back to my point. We started the series without Pavel Datsyuk. Jonathan Erickson had his appendix taken out at the end of the Chicago series. We had a couple days off before having to play back to back games to start the Finals. I'm not trying to make excuses here- those are all things that happened. What I am saying is that the Wings showed tremendous resolve to take those first two games, and to battle back and take game 5, and they gave it their all for games 6 and 7. We came up short, but I'm extremely proud of the way they battled.
Congrats again to the Penguins. And congrats to the Red Wings. They may not be the official 'champion', but to me, they have proven that they are indeed, champs.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Game 7 here we come!
Wow, what a cup finals its been! And I know this because I've actually watched most of the games...for those of you who don't know me this is actually quite a big deal (ask my friends about my emo stint after the Wings got clobbered in game 4)- I tend to not do so well when we lose. It's why I followed most of last seasons finals via the Internet the day after- I actually only watched the third period and overtimes of game 5 and (part of, I believe) game 6.
This year I have forced myself to watch...I guess I feel like it's the only way I can really share in the excitement of victory, by exposing myself to the agony of defeat. And it's led to this moment...game 7, winner take all. Of course, the loser takes none, and this is why I'm a little nervous.
I shouldn't be, because it's the Wings, in game 7, at home...we have Datsyuk back, and we played SO good in game 6...a couple bounces here or there and we are marching down the streets of Detroit with the Stanley Cup en tow. I wrote a couple days ago about the heart of a champion, and how Pittsburgh doesn't really have it yet.
I'm still not convinced that they do- but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that they still have a chance to win the Cup, and it's come down to one game for both teams. All it takes is some fluke bounces, crossbars, what have you, for Sid the kid to lift the cup for the first time.
Actually, scratch that...if Pittsburgh can come into Detroit and win game 7 on the road against the Wings, then I think that would qualify as the next step for them. I believe this for a couple reasons:
1) Crosby and Malkin are going to have to produce. We've held them pointless the last couple games, and I'm nervous about our ability to contain them yet again. If we can, then I think we'll win the Cup. If not, there is a good chance that Pittsburgh will be champs. This is not set in stone though, because...
2) Fleury in goal needs to play the game of his life. He has been brilliant in Pittsburgh, and very pedestrian in Detroit. Obviously I hope this pattern holds serve. If Fleury stands on his head though, then again I think that Pittsburgh deserves the Cup.
I think that if one of these two scenarios comes to fruition (Crosby/Malkin step up, Fleury stops everything), then Pittsburgh can win. If neither of the two happens, I think we got it in the bag. Arrgghh! Two more days!
Adding to my aggrivation is that we'll be in Republic on Friday night, playing music for a special service up there...so I will completely miss the game. Don't get me wrong- I'm very excited for the opportunity, any chance I get to worship God through music, I'm all about it- it'll just be a little nerve wracking not being able to see the game. Especially since I've invested so much of myself in these Cup finals, to not be able to see the clincher is going to be a little...strange.
Regardless of how this series plays out, I see it as a changing of the guard of sorts. I think Pittsburgh is definiteily positioning themselves to be a great team and championship contender for years to come. While I wouldn't count Detroit out by any stretch of the imagination (they've made 2 Stanley Cup trips and a conference championship appearance in the salary cap era), there is definitely a feeling that this current core is reaching the end. Maltby, Draper, Lidstrom, Osgood, Chelios- it's been quite a run, but it's nearing the end. Certainly we have the horses to keep things going- Zetterberg, Franzen, Datsyuk (who is quickly emerging as my favorite player), Erickson- but nothing is guaranteed.
So what is my reason for this post? I'm not sure...just some random thoughts about the Cup, and I think part of me is just trying to sort my thoughts out...I'm really just trying to keep from thinking about game 7, so maybe by writing all these thoughts out, I'll hopefully not be thinking about all this stuff.
I still think the Wings are going to win, but I'm going through hundreds of scenarios in my head. Will Hossa come through big? Can Crosby break out of his slump? Which goalie will show up....for both teams? Is the presence of Datsyuk enough to take us over the top?
I do think that if we had Datsyuk for the first four games, this series would be over. Last night we looked like a completely different team than we did during game 4. You can never play what if in sports (because literally every play has a what if scenario)...but if we lose this game I guarantee that I will keep coming back to this very thought.
In conclusion, it's been a hard fought series. Perhaps the most rewarding part about it is that I've learned a lot about myself in the process. I think for too long, I've been a 'headline' follower, instead of a participant. I think that you can draw satisfaction as a headline follower, but nowhere near what you can as a participant. There is more risk, to be sure...but the possible reward is priceless. And weighs 35 pounds. Unless you are lifting it, in which case it has an undetermined weight.
This year I have forced myself to watch...I guess I feel like it's the only way I can really share in the excitement of victory, by exposing myself to the agony of defeat. And it's led to this moment...game 7, winner take all. Of course, the loser takes none, and this is why I'm a little nervous.
I shouldn't be, because it's the Wings, in game 7, at home...we have Datsyuk back, and we played SO good in game 6...a couple bounces here or there and we are marching down the streets of Detroit with the Stanley Cup en tow. I wrote a couple days ago about the heart of a champion, and how Pittsburgh doesn't really have it yet.
I'm still not convinced that they do- but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that they still have a chance to win the Cup, and it's come down to one game for both teams. All it takes is some fluke bounces, crossbars, what have you, for Sid the kid to lift the cup for the first time.
Actually, scratch that...if Pittsburgh can come into Detroit and win game 7 on the road against the Wings, then I think that would qualify as the next step for them. I believe this for a couple reasons:
1) Crosby and Malkin are going to have to produce. We've held them pointless the last couple games, and I'm nervous about our ability to contain them yet again. If we can, then I think we'll win the Cup. If not, there is a good chance that Pittsburgh will be champs. This is not set in stone though, because...
2) Fleury in goal needs to play the game of his life. He has been brilliant in Pittsburgh, and very pedestrian in Detroit. Obviously I hope this pattern holds serve. If Fleury stands on his head though, then again I think that Pittsburgh deserves the Cup.
I think that if one of these two scenarios comes to fruition (Crosby/Malkin step up, Fleury stops everything), then Pittsburgh can win. If neither of the two happens, I think we got it in the bag. Arrgghh! Two more days!
Adding to my aggrivation is that we'll be in Republic on Friday night, playing music for a special service up there...so I will completely miss the game. Don't get me wrong- I'm very excited for the opportunity, any chance I get to worship God through music, I'm all about it- it'll just be a little nerve wracking not being able to see the game. Especially since I've invested so much of myself in these Cup finals, to not be able to see the clincher is going to be a little...strange.
Regardless of how this series plays out, I see it as a changing of the guard of sorts. I think Pittsburgh is definiteily positioning themselves to be a great team and championship contender for years to come. While I wouldn't count Detroit out by any stretch of the imagination (they've made 2 Stanley Cup trips and a conference championship appearance in the salary cap era), there is definitely a feeling that this current core is reaching the end. Maltby, Draper, Lidstrom, Osgood, Chelios- it's been quite a run, but it's nearing the end. Certainly we have the horses to keep things going- Zetterberg, Franzen, Datsyuk (who is quickly emerging as my favorite player), Erickson- but nothing is guaranteed.
So what is my reason for this post? I'm not sure...just some random thoughts about the Cup, and I think part of me is just trying to sort my thoughts out...I'm really just trying to keep from thinking about game 7, so maybe by writing all these thoughts out, I'll hopefully not be thinking about all this stuff.
I still think the Wings are going to win, but I'm going through hundreds of scenarios in my head. Will Hossa come through big? Can Crosby break out of his slump? Which goalie will show up....for both teams? Is the presence of Datsyuk enough to take us over the top?
I do think that if we had Datsyuk for the first four games, this series would be over. Last night we looked like a completely different team than we did during game 4. You can never play what if in sports (because literally every play has a what if scenario)...but if we lose this game I guarantee that I will keep coming back to this very thought.
In conclusion, it's been a hard fought series. Perhaps the most rewarding part about it is that I've learned a lot about myself in the process. I think for too long, I've been a 'headline' follower, instead of a participant. I think that you can draw satisfaction as a headline follower, but nowhere near what you can as a participant. There is more risk, to be sure...but the possible reward is priceless. And weighs 35 pounds. Unless you are lifting it, in which case it has an undetermined weight.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The heart of a champion
I'm just going to be honest and say that this post has potential to go many different places. I want to focus on the Stanley Cup finals, but I'll probably get around to talking about LeBron James also. Grrrrrrr....
First of all, let me preface this by stating that I have probably watched more playoff hockey this year than I can remember (which isn't saying much because A-I haven't watched that much and B-I have a bad memory). I've always been content to just kind of follow along passively. It's not because I'm not a huge Red Wings fan- I am. I just have a hard time sitting through the agonizing moments of sporting events that I am involved in. Objectively? I love watching sports. It's when the subjective aspect is involved that I really struggle.
Watching this year, I've had a chance to see the Detroit Red Wings in all their glory. Everything about them that makes them great- 4 lines, gritty play, timely goaltending. But the fact that their lesser known players have stepped up when the big names (Datsyuk and Lidstrom) have gone down has been particularly joyful to me. It's kind of a vindication of the Red Wing Way. I said to my friend Matt last night that a Wings Cup win this year would be the crown jewel, the epitome of that way. He said he felt like I say that every year. I thought about this, and deemed it Not So...
1997- I was just happy to win the cup and break the drought
1998- We needed to win that one for Vladdy
2002- Basically we bought the Stanley Cup
2008- Probably the closest that Matt could come to making the argument that I say the same thing every year, but last year was more about coming back from a disappointing loss to the Anaheim (previously mighty) Ducks the year before in the conference finals.
I admit that I kind of bought into the hype before the series- '2 games in 2 nights? What will we do?', 'Crosby-Malkin 28 points each in the playoffs, what will we do?', 'Marian Hossa is a traitor, what will we do?'. I actually said that I would be happy if we just took one of the first three games, giving us some time to rest and position ourselves for a push at the end of the series.
I'm sorry Red Wings. I sorely underestimated your heart and your determination. I am ashamed to admit that I doubted their resolve, their ability to overcome adversity. And that reason (their resolve, not my shame) is why they are the defending Cup champs- they have the heart of a champion.
I'm not a hockey 'expert' (of course, most of the people on both sides of the fence who spout their mouths off on message boards aren't either), but there are a few things that I know:
1) No fan on either side can objectively comment on this series. We're too invested in it emotionally, especially after the same two teams met last season. So just stop it!
2) The Penguins have played very well overall, and are a couple bounces here or there away from the series being 1-1 or even 2-0 Penguins. By no means is this over yet. However...
3) The Red Wings are going to win the Stanley Cup this year.
Now, that third item may just be juvenile posturing on my part, and maybe I'm trying to overcome some sort of insecurity by feigning bravado. I think that the Penguins have the guys to be a major player for a long time in this league. But they will not win this year.
Here's the deal- we all thought going into the finals that the Penguins had learned their lessons. We thought that the back-to-back game nights would be a serious hindrance to the older, ailing Wings team. We thought that Crosby-Malkin were unstoppable. But we forgot that the champion Red Wings have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to pay whatever price is needed in order to achieve victory.
I do think that the Penguins have learned some lessons, and if they learn to apply those every playoff night then they will be great. They were down 2-0 against the Capitals. Okay, so Pens fans are rallying all over that one.
But it's the WASHINGTON CAPITALS. In the SECOND ROUND. If that is your body of work to describe how you are able to pull this one out, because of confidence obtained in the second round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals...well, then you need to be taught more lessons. The Red Wings remind of Edmund Dantez in 'Count of Monte' Cristo', when he's talking to the trader-smuggler buddy after they ported in his old home town. 'In life we're all either kings or pawns'- My point is that Dantez had a very large body of work from which to draw his life experiences. It's not enough to say it- you have to be willing to pay that price. I don't really see that from the Pens squad.
I think back to the '97 playoffs, when everyone was going goo-goo for Eric Lindros. There was this big brouhaha about how Mario Lemeiux and Mark Messier had passed the torch to Lindros, and that the Red Wings were just the next obstacle in his path to greatness. We all remember how that turned out, right? My point is that I feel like there has been this same sort of thing happening with Sidney Crosby and Icantspellhisfirstnamefrommemory Malkin- it's like everyone is so quick to jump on this torch passing bandwagon...I believe that they will learn how to take the next step and be able to hoist the Stanley Cup...but don't just anoint them.
Ahh, I was wondering when I'd get around to LeBron. See, I have a lot of problems with LeBron James, and his behavior after the Cavs were eliminated the other night confirms those. Here is a James quote (taken after he went AWOL after the game instead of manning up and accepting defeat. Way to make your teammates take the fall buddy):
'It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them," he said. "I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm a competitor. That's what I do. It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand'
Really? I'm sorry, but that is a pretty lame excuse. I can think of numerous other 'competitors' who are able to swallow their pride and admit defeat. That's what makes them men, that's what enables them to take the next step towards greatness. Shoot, in hockey, you have to line up and shake hands with every single opposing 'competitor'. Just one of the reasons I enjoy watching hockey rather than basketball.
I guess the root of my issue with LeBron is pride. LeBron James spends the whole season puffing up his 'image' (the Talcum powder throws, the angry scowl when he makes a great play)- so when things don't go his way, he pouts and sulks. It's not all his problem- how many countless millions help puff up and stroke his ego, heaping praise on him, scorning his teammates and refusing to hold him accountable. LeBron James isn't going to win anything until he stops believing in his greatness and learns a little humility...maybe LeBron, instead of hitting the golf course (I don't know if he actually golfs, it's just sort of the cliche' of athlete's that end their season before the championship) should watch the Stanley Cup finals, and learn what it means to sacrifice self for the sake of the team.
LeBron Angry!!!!! LeBron no win!!!!
Pics:
LeBron- http://www.playoffbeard.com/2006/05/
First of all, let me preface this by stating that I have probably watched more playoff hockey this year than I can remember (which isn't saying much because A-I haven't watched that much and B-I have a bad memory). I've always been content to just kind of follow along passively. It's not because I'm not a huge Red Wings fan- I am. I just have a hard time sitting through the agonizing moments of sporting events that I am involved in. Objectively? I love watching sports. It's when the subjective aspect is involved that I really struggle.
Watching this year, I've had a chance to see the Detroit Red Wings in all their glory. Everything about them that makes them great- 4 lines, gritty play, timely goaltending. But the fact that their lesser known players have stepped up when the big names (Datsyuk and Lidstrom) have gone down has been particularly joyful to me. It's kind of a vindication of the Red Wing Way. I said to my friend Matt last night that a Wings Cup win this year would be the crown jewel, the epitome of that way. He said he felt like I say that every year. I thought about this, and deemed it Not So...
1997- I was just happy to win the cup and break the drought
1998- We needed to win that one for Vladdy
2002- Basically we bought the Stanley Cup
2008- Probably the closest that Matt could come to making the argument that I say the same thing every year, but last year was more about coming back from a disappointing loss to the Anaheim (previously mighty) Ducks the year before in the conference finals.
I admit that I kind of bought into the hype before the series- '2 games in 2 nights? What will we do?', 'Crosby-Malkin 28 points each in the playoffs, what will we do?', 'Marian Hossa is a traitor, what will we do?'. I actually said that I would be happy if we just took one of the first three games, giving us some time to rest and position ourselves for a push at the end of the series.
I'm sorry Red Wings. I sorely underestimated your heart and your determination. I am ashamed to admit that I doubted their resolve, their ability to overcome adversity. And that reason (their resolve, not my shame) is why they are the defending Cup champs- they have the heart of a champion.
I'm not a hockey 'expert' (of course, most of the people on both sides of the fence who spout their mouths off on message boards aren't either), but there are a few things that I know:
1) No fan on either side can objectively comment on this series. We're too invested in it emotionally, especially after the same two teams met last season. So just stop it!
2) The Penguins have played very well overall, and are a couple bounces here or there away from the series being 1-1 or even 2-0 Penguins. By no means is this over yet. However...
3) The Red Wings are going to win the Stanley Cup this year.
Now, that third item may just be juvenile posturing on my part, and maybe I'm trying to overcome some sort of insecurity by feigning bravado. I think that the Penguins have the guys to be a major player for a long time in this league. But they will not win this year.
Here's the deal- we all thought going into the finals that the Penguins had learned their lessons. We thought that the back-to-back game nights would be a serious hindrance to the older, ailing Wings team. We thought that Crosby-Malkin were unstoppable. But we forgot that the champion Red Wings have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to pay whatever price is needed in order to achieve victory.
I do think that the Penguins have learned some lessons, and if they learn to apply those every playoff night then they will be great. They were down 2-0 against the Capitals. Okay, so Pens fans are rallying all over that one.
But it's the WASHINGTON CAPITALS. In the SECOND ROUND. If that is your body of work to describe how you are able to pull this one out, because of confidence obtained in the second round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals...well, then you need to be taught more lessons. The Red Wings remind of Edmund Dantez in 'Count of Monte' Cristo', when he's talking to the trader-smuggler buddy after they ported in his old home town. 'In life we're all either kings or pawns'- My point is that Dantez had a very large body of work from which to draw his life experiences. It's not enough to say it- you have to be willing to pay that price. I don't really see that from the Pens squad.
I think back to the '97 playoffs, when everyone was going goo-goo for Eric Lindros. There was this big brouhaha about how Mario Lemeiux and Mark Messier had passed the torch to Lindros, and that the Red Wings were just the next obstacle in his path to greatness. We all remember how that turned out, right? My point is that I feel like there has been this same sort of thing happening with Sidney Crosby and Icantspellhisfirstnamefrommemory Malkin- it's like everyone is so quick to jump on this torch passing bandwagon...I believe that they will learn how to take the next step and be able to hoist the Stanley Cup...but don't just anoint them.
And that brings me to LeBron James.
Ahh, I was wondering when I'd get around to LeBron. See, I have a lot of problems with LeBron James, and his behavior after the Cavs were eliminated the other night confirms those. Here is a James quote (taken after he went AWOL after the game instead of manning up and accepting defeat. Way to make your teammates take the fall buddy):
'It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them," he said. "I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm a competitor. That's what I do. It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand'
Really? I'm sorry, but that is a pretty lame excuse. I can think of numerous other 'competitors' who are able to swallow their pride and admit defeat. That's what makes them men, that's what enables them to take the next step towards greatness. Shoot, in hockey, you have to line up and shake hands with every single opposing 'competitor'. Just one of the reasons I enjoy watching hockey rather than basketball.
I guess the root of my issue with LeBron is pride. LeBron James spends the whole season puffing up his 'image' (the Talcum powder throws, the angry scowl when he makes a great play)- so when things don't go his way, he pouts and sulks. It's not all his problem- how many countless millions help puff up and stroke his ego, heaping praise on him, scorning his teammates and refusing to hold him accountable. LeBron James isn't going to win anything until he stops believing in his greatness and learns a little humility...maybe LeBron, instead of hitting the golf course (I don't know if he actually golfs, it's just sort of the cliche' of athlete's that end their season before the championship) should watch the Stanley Cup finals, and learn what it means to sacrifice self for the sake of the team.
LeBron Angry!!!!! LeBron no win!!!!
Pics:
LeBron- http://www.playoffbeard.com/2006/05/
Friday, May 8, 2009
Daddy daughter date
It isn't every day that you get to spend over three hours and $300 at a car dealership and it ends up being one of the most fun days you've ever had. But that's what happened to me today!
I get my oil changed at the dealer, because when we bought the car, we got some warranty thingy that basically gave us free oil changes for many moons (well, we paid for it...maybe we paid like $15,000 for oil changes and got a free van!). So I went there at 1:00 with Delaney in tow. Last time, we had a great time (and we got glow sticks and had a glow stick party that night), so I figured this would be a great time to get some great quality one on one time with my oldest. This paragraph is brought to you by the word 'great'. 'Great'- It's better than 'good', but worse than 'excellent'. Or 'amazing'. Or 'awesomefantabulouscious'.
First, I'll lay out why we were there for three hours. I had to get an oil change, and I figured I'd have them take care of my brakes also, since they were starting to squeak. I'd had someone do them a while ago when they started to squeak, but they didn't fix it, so I figured I might as well have someone professional do them. I also had them look at the alignment (last oil change, they suggested that). Of course, they told me that my calipers may or may not seize up soon, and that the steering column (I think?) might be in need of changing soon or else later. But that's neither here nor there.
I had SO much fun with Delaney that it didn't even bother me. First, we went and looked around in the show room. There is some special sale going on, and all the cars had helium balloons attached to them. Then we walked out of the show room into the adjoining strip mall. We went into Dunham's sports, because they had tons of bikes by the mall entrance. She loved it! Then close by they had these MSU and U-M foam hats, so we took some pics with those:
Then we walked around some more and stumbled upon their selection of kayaks and canoes. Oh my goodness, she just LOVED those! She kept saying 'oh my', and I honestly wish that I would have had a video recorder with me...because my words are much too pale to describe how I felt inside while watching her wander through this (pardon the pun) sea of kayaks and canoes, and watching her talk about them, and look at them! I never tire of seeing my children experience this world as a thing to be explored in newness at all times.
After this, we went to the nearby dollar store, where I got her a helium balloon (a Disney princess one- first one she grabbed, and she couldn't see which string she was grabbing- I thought that was kind of cool). Then I bought her a pair of red fairy wings (she is really into Tinkerbell right now) and a sparkly baton.
We came back to the strip mall, and found out that we had about another hour to go (argghh). What else to do? Well, Delaney laid down on the bench (she was a little tired), and I told her some stories- made 'em up all by myself, thank you very much. Then we started playing with these two cars that were sitting out in the hallway between the show room and the strip mall. Oh, we weren't vandalizing them, rolling down the windows, or spitting on the windshields...we pretended that the cars were alive (mommy truck and daddy truck), and I pretended to be their voices, and then Delaney pretended that she was the voice of the balloon! I love the imagination of a child, and we hung out in the hall for probably a good half hour or more.
Of course, when a child has a helium balloon, it is Murphy's law that the child will inevitably let go of that balloon exactly underneath the point in the room where the ceiling is the highest. Which is what she did. So we tracked down a Dunham's employee and got an extendo tool to get the balloon down. I could have just let it go (or just gone back and bought another balloon for $1), but I thought it was my fatherly duty to get her balloon back for her. Needless to say, I feel much more fatherly now.
After that, we went into their waiting room and watched some TV while they finished up...at this point, it was going on three hours and Delaney was starting to get a little tired (she did REMARKABLY well for the whole excursion, especially when you consider that we had forgot her juice cup at home and that it was three hours). We build a Lego castle...well, I built a Lego castle. Then it was done, and we left.
So here I am at home, $300 poorer, with around $800 of future auto labor possibly or possibly not lurking to strike (can you really trust people who take care of your automobiles? I've never really trusted that they'll be on the up-and-up), but feeling like the King of the world. I love my daughter, and I'm so thankful to God that anything we do with children can turn into the most amazing thing we've ever done.
I get my oil changed at the dealer, because when we bought the car, we got some warranty thingy that basically gave us free oil changes for many moons (well, we paid for it...maybe we paid like $15,000 for oil changes and got a free van!). So I went there at 1:00 with Delaney in tow. Last time, we had a great time (and we got glow sticks and had a glow stick party that night), so I figured this would be a great time to get some great quality one on one time with my oldest. This paragraph is brought to you by the word 'great'. 'Great'- It's better than 'good', but worse than 'excellent'. Or 'amazing'. Or 'awesomefantabulouscious'.
First, I'll lay out why we were there for three hours. I had to get an oil change, and I figured I'd have them take care of my brakes also, since they were starting to squeak. I'd had someone do them a while ago when they started to squeak, but they didn't fix it, so I figured I might as well have someone professional do them. I also had them look at the alignment (last oil change, they suggested that). Of course, they told me that my calipers may or may not seize up soon, and that the steering column (I think?) might be in need of changing soon or else later. But that's neither here nor there.
I had SO much fun with Delaney that it didn't even bother me. First, we went and looked around in the show room. There is some special sale going on, and all the cars had helium balloons attached to them. Then we walked out of the show room into the adjoining strip mall. We went into Dunham's sports, because they had tons of bikes by the mall entrance. She loved it! Then close by they had these MSU and U-M foam hats, so we took some pics with those:
Then we walked around some more and stumbled upon their selection of kayaks and canoes. Oh my goodness, she just LOVED those! She kept saying 'oh my', and I honestly wish that I would have had a video recorder with me...because my words are much too pale to describe how I felt inside while watching her wander through this (pardon the pun) sea of kayaks and canoes, and watching her talk about them, and look at them! I never tire of seeing my children experience this world as a thing to be explored in newness at all times.
After this, we went to the nearby dollar store, where I got her a helium balloon (a Disney princess one- first one she grabbed, and she couldn't see which string she was grabbing- I thought that was kind of cool). Then I bought her a pair of red fairy wings (she is really into Tinkerbell right now) and a sparkly baton.
We came back to the strip mall, and found out that we had about another hour to go (argghh). What else to do? Well, Delaney laid down on the bench (she was a little tired), and I told her some stories- made 'em up all by myself, thank you very much. Then we started playing with these two cars that were sitting out in the hallway between the show room and the strip mall. Oh, we weren't vandalizing them, rolling down the windows, or spitting on the windshields...we pretended that the cars were alive (mommy truck and daddy truck), and I pretended to be their voices, and then Delaney pretended that she was the voice of the balloon! I love the imagination of a child, and we hung out in the hall for probably a good half hour or more.
Of course, when a child has a helium balloon, it is Murphy's law that the child will inevitably let go of that balloon exactly underneath the point in the room where the ceiling is the highest. Which is what she did. So we tracked down a Dunham's employee and got an extendo tool to get the balloon down. I could have just let it go (or just gone back and bought another balloon for $1), but I thought it was my fatherly duty to get her balloon back for her. Needless to say, I feel much more fatherly now.
After that, we went into their waiting room and watched some TV while they finished up...at this point, it was going on three hours and Delaney was starting to get a little tired (she did REMARKABLY well for the whole excursion, especially when you consider that we had forgot her juice cup at home and that it was three hours). We build a Lego castle...well, I built a Lego castle. Then it was done, and we left.
So here I am at home, $300 poorer, with around $800 of future auto labor possibly or possibly not lurking to strike (can you really trust people who take care of your automobiles? I've never really trusted that they'll be on the up-and-up), but feeling like the King of the world. I love my daughter, and I'm so thankful to God that anything we do with children can turn into the most amazing thing we've ever done.
Friday, May 1, 2009
I will make it happen again
Okay, this is part two. If you have not read part one, then read part one. Because this is part two. And I just really don't want you to screw this up.
There is a very cool story that I will not relay in it's entirety. Suffice it to say it is very cool. It is a story about a man who lives in a town that is flooding. As the waters rise, he has a car, a boat, and eventually a helicopter all offer him rides out of the town. Each time he declines, saying 'God will rescue me'. Well, the man drowns in the flood, and in heaven he asks God what the hell happened? He probably doesn't use that exact phrasology, but I did, because it strikes me as funny. God says, 'I sent you a car, a boat, and a helicopter. What else do you want me to do?'.
The reason I love this story is because it is the summation of many people and their view on miracles. We expect God to show up in this Thunder cloud and do some sort of Houdini magic trick. Really though, God operates on a much more practical level than that. It doesn't mean that the crazy David Blaine stuff doesn't happen- but God is often pretty low-key with His miracles.
So let me really get to the heart of this whole post- and it all ties in, I swear! Back to the house situation (cue flashback effects, music), an opportunity came along to relieve the burden of our car payment and we took it. Even if the house thing falls through, it'll still be like $200 less per month that we have to pay on the car.
The only thing is that in order to get this going, I had to go all-in, so to speak, and put us in a couple week stretch of extreme financial tightness...as in, don't buy toilet paper, we'll just use all those carbon check thingys and credit card apps financial tightness. Of course, if you've ever had money, you know that this is a terrible place to be in ever, let alone to put yourself in on purpose. It's definitely a calculated risk,though- this should make it easier for us to qualify for the loan, and it will definitely be easier to make our month stretch to the end of the money.
The problem is that I had figured it out pretty much to where we would be okay as long as no other purchases or expenses came up. I had my calender, my calculator- right down to the day, we were good to go. HA. Yeah. Right.
Long story less long, I had bought something on Ebay a couple days before this decision had been made. Now, I knew this in my calculations, so that is not why it is an issue. It is an issue because stupid Paypal decided to push the payment through two days before I was figuring it was going to go through. Awesome! $19 overdraft fee! Plan! Gone!
So I had my employer (who is also my mother-in-law) pay me a day ahead of time, and I sold back a couple books that I was originally going to sell online (I ended up making $5 less than I would have selling them online, but the money was right away). This was on Tuesday- Tuesday right around 5 to be exact. We ran to the bank, made the deposit, and we were in the clear. Crisis averted.
Now earlier in the day (again, cue flashback effects, music) we had found out that there was going to be a barbecue at the church that night. Normally we don't go to the Tuesday night 'Connections' as it is called- but hey, free food, hanging with the friends, beautiful day, why not?
Well, about twenty minutes later when we got pulled over for not having a current license tab and an expired registration, we had a couple hundred reasons why not. I was furious. We hadn't gotten the re-up in the mail, so it had completely slipped our minds. In addition to having to get a new license tab/registration, Sara got a ticket. We had just averted a minor financial crisis, and now this? I was steamed at God, and I let Him know it. I let Sara know it. I was determined to let everybody know it.
But I'm a different person now than I have been. And when I got a few minutes to process it, I did. I talked to Sara about how I was feeling, and why I was feeling that way. I talked to God about the whole situation.
And what is the miracle here is that God has used this situation to teach me about trust, and about believing in Him. I will make it happen. Now, God has not divinely put the extra money in our account. There has been no Western Union angel delivering a check for the amount needed. Don't think, though, that God has not been in this.
There has been a couple little things- 'real-life' miracles. Sara got $20 back for turning in her music practice room key. A friend referred me to the bank where he works- I got $50 for free for setting up a checking account. The cool thing about this is that he just texted me out of the blue. Hmmm...
You know what the real miracle is though? I have peace in my heart about this situation. On paper it probably doesn't rate as a very powerful statement- if you know me and how I am with money though, then you have to realize that either I have snapped and gone off the deep end, or else there is something going on here that is powerful. I looked at the calender, and thought, 'Wow. We can do this'. And it's not a thing of 'wow, I way overreacted, because I obviously got this in the bag'. I know God is going to come through, and I'm really excited to see where I am at after this whole thing is all said and done.
I will make it happen.
There is a very cool story that I will not relay in it's entirety. Suffice it to say it is very cool. It is a story about a man who lives in a town that is flooding. As the waters rise, he has a car, a boat, and eventually a helicopter all offer him rides out of the town. Each time he declines, saying 'God will rescue me'. Well, the man drowns in the flood, and in heaven he asks God what the hell happened? He probably doesn't use that exact phrasology, but I did, because it strikes me as funny. God says, 'I sent you a car, a boat, and a helicopter. What else do you want me to do?'.
The reason I love this story is because it is the summation of many people and their view on miracles. We expect God to show up in this Thunder cloud and do some sort of Houdini magic trick. Really though, God operates on a much more practical level than that. It doesn't mean that the crazy David Blaine stuff doesn't happen- but God is often pretty low-key with His miracles.
So let me really get to the heart of this whole post- and it all ties in, I swear! Back to the house situation (cue flashback effects, music), an opportunity came along to relieve the burden of our car payment and we took it. Even if the house thing falls through, it'll still be like $200 less per month that we have to pay on the car.
The only thing is that in order to get this going, I had to go all-in, so to speak, and put us in a couple week stretch of extreme financial tightness...as in, don't buy toilet paper, we'll just use all those carbon check thingys and credit card apps financial tightness. Of course, if you've ever had money, you know that this is a terrible place to be in ever, let alone to put yourself in on purpose. It's definitely a calculated risk,though- this should make it easier for us to qualify for the loan, and it will definitely be easier to make our month stretch to the end of the money.
The problem is that I had figured it out pretty much to where we would be okay as long as no other purchases or expenses came up. I had my calender, my calculator- right down to the day, we were good to go. HA. Yeah. Right.
Long story less long, I had bought something on Ebay a couple days before this decision had been made. Now, I knew this in my calculations, so that is not why it is an issue. It is an issue because stupid Paypal decided to push the payment through two days before I was figuring it was going to go through. Awesome! $19 overdraft fee! Plan! Gone!
So I had my employer (who is also my mother-in-law) pay me a day ahead of time, and I sold back a couple books that I was originally going to sell online (I ended up making $5 less than I would have selling them online, but the money was right away). This was on Tuesday- Tuesday right around 5 to be exact. We ran to the bank, made the deposit, and we were in the clear. Crisis averted.
Now earlier in the day (again, cue flashback effects, music) we had found out that there was going to be a barbecue at the church that night. Normally we don't go to the Tuesday night 'Connections' as it is called- but hey, free food, hanging with the friends, beautiful day, why not?
Well, about twenty minutes later when we got pulled over for not having a current license tab and an expired registration, we had a couple hundred reasons why not. I was furious. We hadn't gotten the re-up in the mail, so it had completely slipped our minds. In addition to having to get a new license tab/registration, Sara got a ticket. We had just averted a minor financial crisis, and now this? I was steamed at God, and I let Him know it. I let Sara know it. I was determined to let everybody know it.
But I'm a different person now than I have been. And when I got a few minutes to process it, I did. I talked to Sara about how I was feeling, and why I was feeling that way. I talked to God about the whole situation.
And what is the miracle here is that God has used this situation to teach me about trust, and about believing in Him. I will make it happen. Now, God has not divinely put the extra money in our account. There has been no Western Union angel delivering a check for the amount needed. Don't think, though, that God has not been in this.
There has been a couple little things- 'real-life' miracles. Sara got $20 back for turning in her music practice room key. A friend referred me to the bank where he works- I got $50 for free for setting up a checking account. The cool thing about this is that he just texted me out of the blue. Hmmm...
You know what the real miracle is though? I have peace in my heart about this situation. On paper it probably doesn't rate as a very powerful statement- if you know me and how I am with money though, then you have to realize that either I have snapped and gone off the deep end, or else there is something going on here that is powerful. I looked at the calender, and thought, 'Wow. We can do this'. And it's not a thing of 'wow, I way overreacted, because I obviously got this in the bag'. I know God is going to come through, and I'm really excited to see where I am at after this whole thing is all said and done.
I will make it happen.
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