I have to be honest- this post is sort of just a 'hey, I told them I would blog every day, and I don't have anything to say, but I'm not about to lose my goal in the first week of the new year, so I'm going to just throw any old thing on here' post. Don't worry- I'll make it worth your while (of course, after that inspirational beginning, if you stop reading here, then I don't blame you).
I've been thinking about changing the background template to my blog. I know, I know- change is hard, and I've had this template forever since 2008.
This is not a decision that I enter into lightly. I've seen the fallout from websites switching template designs on other sites (Facebook, HCRealms) to know that this is not something to tread into lightly. People's lives are at stake, man.
However, I also know that there is an entire world of unexplored template designs out there. When I designed this blog, I basically picked the default one and went with that. But now that we've been together for a while...I'm starting to get that wandering eye. I visit other people's blogs and come back to mine feeling like the thrill is gone.
I'm thankful for all the contributions that my template has made. It's been there, and has been so visually unappealing that it has forced people that stumble on my site to actually look at the words that I type. And to that, I am very grateful. But now, it's time to move on. It's time for me to test the merit waters with my writing boat and idea oars. Basically, I can no longer ride on the coattails of a lame blog template and mediocre writing.
Other than filler purposes, the only point to this blog is to let you know that change is coming. Unless you have an Internet Interior Design degree (or have spent time with Tim Gunn), then I'm sure you're just as clueless as I am- and I am way too stubborn and hardheaded to take advice from my peer group. Look for a change coming...and soon.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
My initial foray into grad school searching- or also, how I was attacked by ninja pirates
I'm sorry Bible, but I have seen the light, and I believe in evolution. I just have to- because it's the only explanation for how those graduate school admission workers descended directly from Velociraptors.
Tim....Tim....Don't do it! Just keep your Bachelors degree and spend the rest of your life underemployed!!!
Assuming that my shocking opening paragraph and stunning visual aid did their job, a bit of background info is probably in order- I graduated from college back in May with a degree in Social Work. In August, my wife started back to school working towards her undergraduate degree in Music Education- relegating me to stay-at-home dad duty and part time employment. Which is fine by me- I get to see my kids, hang out, and set ridiculous goals like blogging every day.
My part time job is at a local Christian school, running an after school program. Working in a school district has been a lot of fun. While I am acutely aware that this job is not all that indicative of the actual experience of working in a school, I can definitely see myself working in a school setting when Sara has graduated and I am able to move onto a "real" (read: full-time) job. I enjoy the setting- and the thought of weekends, holidays, and summers off would be totally off the hook. Yo.
So anyways, I was doing some preliminary (as in, not anytime in the near future) checking into the educational requirements to be a guidance counselor. I found out that a Bachelor of Social Work degree is a no go- you need a Master's level degree with a School Counseling emphasis. However, I have never been one to easily give up. That is, if you don't count the times I have easily given up.
I got on the computer, and went investigating (actually, I went to work and left some tabs open and then got on the computer after work over a nice hot 10 piece nugget and medium fry...with Egg Nog shake). First, I checked on the websites of a couple of in-state schools (Western and MSU). The Michigan State website had some fancy little blurb that indicated they were killing their program (when 'moratorium', 'discontinuation' and 'no new students are being admitted to the program' are on the front page of your on-line brochure, I think it's safe to call off the search), and I wasn't feeling too much like snooping around on the Western page. So I started checking into on-line schools.
Apparently, on-line schools use the money they aren't paying for a physical location to hire guys like Dogg the Bounty Hunter, Bobba Fett, or James Vampire. I mean, seriously- I felt like I just mentioned Blackbriar on the phone, they were on me so fast.
Hello...why yes, I requested information from a grad school. Wait, what? Step away from the window?
The first university (which I won't mention by name becuse I'm like 100% sure that they have tracking technology that could take me out the second my fingers brushed the keys) called me literally within 2 minutes of submitting my request for information. That's right- I wasn't applying- I was just asking for more information (never mind the fact that I said it would be most convenient to call me in the morning). I don't even want to know how these guys work with applications- will I be on my way out the door to mail my app, only to be greeted by Agent K?
Within 20 minutes of sending out a handful of e-information requests, I had 7 e-mails and 4 phone calls (in fairness, I'm assuming that 2 of them were, because I didn't answer the phone). I'm starting to think I may have made a mistake- but unfortunately, I've obviously put myself on "The Radar"...and if I try to back out now, I might just get erased from existence.
Where from here? Well, I'll await the information they send me, look it over, talk it over with my wife...and then wait 2 years until we can actually do something about it. Of course, by then there's a good chance that I will have been kidnapped and mindwiped. By the Graduate-program mind-reading CIA ninjas.
Tim....Tim....Don't do it! Just keep your Bachelors degree and spend the rest of your life underemployed!!!
Assuming that my shocking opening paragraph and stunning visual aid did their job, a bit of background info is probably in order- I graduated from college back in May with a degree in Social Work. In August, my wife started back to school working towards her undergraduate degree in Music Education- relegating me to stay-at-home dad duty and part time employment. Which is fine by me- I get to see my kids, hang out, and set ridiculous goals like blogging every day.
My part time job is at a local Christian school, running an after school program. Working in a school district has been a lot of fun. While I am acutely aware that this job is not all that indicative of the actual experience of working in a school, I can definitely see myself working in a school setting when Sara has graduated and I am able to move onto a "real" (read: full-time) job. I enjoy the setting- and the thought of weekends, holidays, and summers off would be totally off the hook. Yo.
So anyways, I was doing some preliminary (as in, not anytime in the near future) checking into the educational requirements to be a guidance counselor. I found out that a Bachelor of Social Work degree is a no go- you need a Master's level degree with a School Counseling emphasis. However, I have never been one to easily give up. That is, if you don't count the times I have easily given up.
I got on the computer, and went investigating (actually, I went to work and left some tabs open and then got on the computer after work over a nice hot 10 piece nugget and medium fry...with Egg Nog shake). First, I checked on the websites of a couple of in-state schools (Western and MSU). The Michigan State website had some fancy little blurb that indicated they were killing their program (when 'moratorium', 'discontinuation' and 'no new students are being admitted to the program' are on the front page of your on-line brochure, I think it's safe to call off the search), and I wasn't feeling too much like snooping around on the Western page. So I started checking into on-line schools.
Apparently, on-line schools use the money they aren't paying for a physical location to hire guys like Dogg the Bounty Hunter, Bobba Fett, or James Vampire. I mean, seriously- I felt like I just mentioned Blackbriar on the phone, they were on me so fast.
Hello...why yes, I requested information from a grad school. Wait, what? Step away from the window?
The first university (which I won't mention by name becuse I'm like 100% sure that they have tracking technology that could take me out the second my fingers brushed the keys) called me literally within 2 minutes of submitting my request for information. That's right- I wasn't applying- I was just asking for more information (never mind the fact that I said it would be most convenient to call me in the morning). I don't even want to know how these guys work with applications- will I be on my way out the door to mail my app, only to be greeted by Agent K?
Within 20 minutes of sending out a handful of e-information requests, I had 7 e-mails and 4 phone calls (in fairness, I'm assuming that 2 of them were, because I didn't answer the phone). I'm starting to think I may have made a mistake- but unfortunately, I've obviously put myself on "The Radar"...and if I try to back out now, I might just get erased from existence.
Where from here? Well, I'll await the information they send me, look it over, talk it over with my wife...and then wait 2 years until we can actually do something about it. Of course, by then there's a good chance that I will have been kidnapped and mindwiped. By the Graduate-program mind-reading CIA ninjas.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Don't get mad...unless it immediately involves getting libs.
If you know me or just read some of my blogs, you probably know that I have a fascination with language. Words, sentence structure, pronunciation- I wouldn't quite put it at a 'fetish' state- but it's gotta be pretty close.
I don't really remember when it started or how it began (another trivia tidbit about me- I have a horrible memory about certain things), but I would be very willing to be that Mad Libs played a pretty important role.
Mad Libs is a word game in which a story of some sort is given to you with some key words left out. It can be played by an individual, although it is infinitely more fun in larger groups. Your job is to fill in the missing words according to which part of speech it is (noun, adjective, adverb, etc.). On the surface, this might seem to be like a waste of time.
Where the hours of wacky fun come into play, however, is that this is a blind exercise- that is, the people that are offering you the different words have no idea what the context of the story is. It could literally be anything- from a movie quiz to a letter to a jilted lover, to a famous presidential address- you just don't know until the reader plugs your words in and reads it to the group.
At a rate of about one in a million, someone will suggest a word that actually fits in the context of the story. Sometimes there are things that just don't fit well, and tend to kill a little bit of the moment. Often times there is ridiculous silliness that invokes laughter- and other times, you dig up comedy gold. "I wouldn't trade that for all the saliva in China"- there is an infinite amount of crazy good times in each booklet of Mad Libs!
Each person has their own style and way of having fun. A couple of tricks that I have up my sleeve:
-Bodily functions, parts, and fluids- Hey, we're all adults here. So we can speak freely and honestly. And the truth is, gas is funny. Oh sure, we tell little kids that it's not- but that's just because we want to control them. But farting, burping, stomach gurgling, bile, pee, snot, penis- they all are pretty much guaranteed laugh getters in Mad Libs.
-Chuck Norris serves very well as a Famous Person, Celebrity, Male Celebrity, Politician, Athlete, and Person in Room. Just saying.
-I am a huge fan of the Word Stack. Usually I add an adjective with a noun, but there are many combos (adjective-adjective, noun noun, adverb noun, etc.). For example, 'Abe Lincoln' becomes 'Fabulous Abe Lincoln'. 'Death' is now 'Death via Roundhouse Kick'. Those sorts of things.
-Finally, I enjoy messing with the parts of speech. Don't tell me that 'fart' is not an adjective- because that is my choice for adjective. You plug it in there- just trust me. Using proper nouns (names or places) as regular nouns, people as places, nouns as adjectives- the list goes on. One time, while playing Mad Libs at a family camping trip, we made 'awesome' into a verb, and then spent the rest of the time awesoming.
I don't get paid by Mad Libs- so you can wholly trust me when I say that your life is not complete unless you have a contingent of Mad Libs at your disposal. Mad Libs will solve all your problems. It will end global warming, the economic crisis, and war as we know it. Are you looking for a significant other? Get some Mad Libs. Unemployed? Mad Libs. Stuck on the john and out of toilet paper? Mad Libs.
Simply put- Mad Libs: Get Some.
I don't really remember when it started or how it began (another trivia tidbit about me- I have a horrible memory about certain things), but I would be very willing to be that Mad Libs played a pretty important role.
Mad Libs is a word game in which a story of some sort is given to you with some key words left out. It can be played by an individual, although it is infinitely more fun in larger groups. Your job is to fill in the missing words according to which part of speech it is (noun, adjective, adverb, etc.). On the surface, this might seem to be like a waste of time.
Where the hours of wacky fun come into play, however, is that this is a blind exercise- that is, the people that are offering you the different words have no idea what the context of the story is. It could literally be anything- from a movie quiz to a letter to a jilted lover, to a famous presidential address- you just don't know until the reader plugs your words in and reads it to the group.
At a rate of about one in a million, someone will suggest a word that actually fits in the context of the story. Sometimes there are things that just don't fit well, and tend to kill a little bit of the moment. Often times there is ridiculous silliness that invokes laughter- and other times, you dig up comedy gold. "I wouldn't trade that for all the saliva in China"- there is an infinite amount of crazy good times in each booklet of Mad Libs!
Each person has their own style and way of having fun. A couple of tricks that I have up my sleeve:
-Bodily functions, parts, and fluids- Hey, we're all adults here. So we can speak freely and honestly. And the truth is, gas is funny. Oh sure, we tell little kids that it's not- but that's just because we want to control them. But farting, burping, stomach gurgling, bile, pee, snot, penis- they all are pretty much guaranteed laugh getters in Mad Libs.
-Chuck Norris serves very well as a Famous Person, Celebrity, Male Celebrity, Politician, Athlete, and Person in Room. Just saying.
-I am a huge fan of the Word Stack. Usually I add an adjective with a noun, but there are many combos (adjective-adjective, noun noun, adverb noun, etc.). For example, 'Abe Lincoln' becomes 'Fabulous Abe Lincoln'. 'Death' is now 'Death via Roundhouse Kick'. Those sorts of things.
-Finally, I enjoy messing with the parts of speech. Don't tell me that 'fart' is not an adjective- because that is my choice for adjective. You plug it in there- just trust me. Using proper nouns (names or places) as regular nouns, people as places, nouns as adjectives- the list goes on. One time, while playing Mad Libs at a family camping trip, we made 'awesome' into a verb, and then spent the rest of the time awesoming.
I don't get paid by Mad Libs- so you can wholly trust me when I say that your life is not complete unless you have a contingent of Mad Libs at your disposal. Mad Libs will solve all your problems. It will end global warming, the economic crisis, and war as we know it. Are you looking for a significant other? Get some Mad Libs. Unemployed? Mad Libs. Stuck on the john and out of toilet paper? Mad Libs.
Simply put- Mad Libs: Get Some.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Ding dong the witch is...about to be bought out for $2.5 mil?
Does anyone else feel that Rich Rodriguez (U-M football coach) is gone? I know, I know- I'm really going out on a limb here. But seriously- in an era where a vote of confidence for a coach that's on the hot seat is usually a veil to hide the intention to fire, silence is like a big "I'm getting fired" millstone on a coaches neck. The fact that Jim Harbaugh hasn't yet made a decision about any coaching jobs (including returning to Stanford, who reportedly has offered to pony up the dough for him) is not a good sign for Mr. Rod.
The fact that I eschewed the new hotness of hyperlinking to bring back the in-post picture is probably also a bad sign for Rodriguez.
When Rich Rod was hired on at U-M, I was moderately excited. I don't know if 'excited' is the right verb, but I do remember thinking it was a good change. Michigan had been mired in mediocrity ever since the 1997 National Championship team. 3 losses here, 4 losses there- and even a 5 loss year. Getting badly outplayed against Ohio State and in Bowl Games against the other powers- USC, Texas, and Nebraska.
I was excited (maybe intrigued is a better word, but it's too late to go back now) for Rich Rod because I felt that a change was exactly what the doctor ordered. Even though we were only about 10 years removed from that National Championship, it was probably closer to 20 years removed from serious national relevance. Change for the sake of change isn't good- but it was obvious that the Wolverines needed some sort of shift. Richie Rich, in my mind, was representative of possibilities. The possibility of becoming a major player on the national scene again, and not the butt of so many jokes- the ideas were mesmerizing.
I knew that there would be a painful transition period, so the 3-9 debacle of 2008 wasn't a complete surprise. I mean, you're completely overhauling a program and trying to plug square pegs into round holes. That's not going to be easy, and if Michigan fans are anything, they are spoiled by a long and enduring record of not losing a lot.
But then 2009 happened...rumors from players that practice time limits were being violated. An NCAA investigation into those allegations (a BIG no-no for Maize and Blue supporters), and a second losing record. Now, a generation of Wolverine fans who had only known an upright program that always had winning records and went to bowl games were now experiencing an NCAA probe and back-to-back losing seasons. All under Rich Rod's guidance. It doesn't take a genius to see that this is a recipe for the hot seat.
This was the atmosphere surrounding the Michigan program heading into the 2010 season, and to say there was some negativity around the program would be like saying there were some people that didn't think W was a good President.
Like our former Commander-in-Chief, not all was bad in the big house this season- bowl eligibility was earned, they beat Notre Dame (which is always a good thing), they were able to capture lightning in a bottle (Denard Robinson) and of course we beat Ohio State. Actually, we didn't beat Ohio State. Ohio State actually throttled us 37-7. Ouch.
It was, of course, that loss to the hated Buckeyes which probably was the straw that not only broke the proverbial camels' back, but set it on fire and dropped a safe on it. It wasn't just the fact that the Buckeyes were victorious- it was the manner in which they were. Unlike the mid 1990's, when Michigan would seemingly lose 4 games every year and yet still beat the #1 or #2 ranked Buckeyes, there was no way in Sheol that this years team was even going to come close to victory. Defensively- a sieve that was broken upon the rocks of the Wisconsin running game a week earlier and proved to be unable to slow the Buckeyes down. Offensively- a smoke and mirrors outfit that proved to be too fast for lesser foes- and too mistake prone and soft versus real opposition.
Many fans railed for Rich Rod to be fired after the Ohio State game, but Michigan AD Dave Brandon chose instead to wait until after the bowl game to make any sort of decision. In many ways, I applaud this. Too often, decisions seem to be made too quickly, or based on the whims of a fan base. Of course- it's tough to say what sort of affect that this cloud of impending doom had on the Michigan program and its preparation for their New Years bowl game against Mississippi State.
Unfortunately for Rodriguez, it seemed to have a significant impact on game "preparation". At least, that's how the finished product came across. A 52-14 loss to Mississippi State (that wasn't even that close, honestly) was absolutely not the right kind of message to send to your AD if you're hoping to keep your job. I'll admit it was quite distracting to watch the game and keep hearing Mike Patrick and Craig James keep speculating about his job- but honestly, there wasn't much of a game for them to talk about. The whole show was humiliating- and I'm not even much of a Michigan fan anymore.
In regards to Rich Rod's status, Brandon said on Saturday that he's not going to make a decision until later in the week. I think he is good as gone- even with some visible progress, the atmosphere is too toxic for him to continue on at this point. Many people I know want to see former Michigan QB and current Stanford head man Jim Harbaugh get the job. That would be pretty cool- I really liked Harbaugh the QB, and I admire what he has done with building a very good program at one of the more prestigious academic universities (AKA one of those football schools that actually makes their players go to class).
To Rodriguez- I wish you nothing but the best in your next endeavor. You gave it your best, and it just didn't work out. To Michigan- I hope your next coach can restore the program to its former glory- or at least to get back to 8-4 years and victories over the Buckeyes.
PIC: http://www.meonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/rich-rodriguez-fired.jpg
The fact that I eschewed the new hotness of hyperlinking to bring back the in-post picture is probably also a bad sign for Rodriguez.
When Rich Rod was hired on at U-M, I was moderately excited. I don't know if 'excited' is the right verb, but I do remember thinking it was a good change. Michigan had been mired in mediocrity ever since the 1997 National Championship team. 3 losses here, 4 losses there- and even a 5 loss year. Getting badly outplayed against Ohio State and in Bowl Games against the other powers- USC, Texas, and Nebraska.
I was excited (maybe intrigued is a better word, but it's too late to go back now) for Rich Rod because I felt that a change was exactly what the doctor ordered. Even though we were only about 10 years removed from that National Championship, it was probably closer to 20 years removed from serious national relevance. Change for the sake of change isn't good- but it was obvious that the Wolverines needed some sort of shift. Richie Rich, in my mind, was representative of possibilities. The possibility of becoming a major player on the national scene again, and not the butt of so many jokes- the ideas were mesmerizing.
I knew that there would be a painful transition period, so the 3-9 debacle of 2008 wasn't a complete surprise. I mean, you're completely overhauling a program and trying to plug square pegs into round holes. That's not going to be easy, and if Michigan fans are anything, they are spoiled by a long and enduring record of not losing a lot.
But then 2009 happened...rumors from players that practice time limits were being violated. An NCAA investigation into those allegations (a BIG no-no for Maize and Blue supporters), and a second losing record. Now, a generation of Wolverine fans who had only known an upright program that always had winning records and went to bowl games were now experiencing an NCAA probe and back-to-back losing seasons. All under Rich Rod's guidance. It doesn't take a genius to see that this is a recipe for the hot seat.
This was the atmosphere surrounding the Michigan program heading into the 2010 season, and to say there was some negativity around the program would be like saying there were some people that didn't think W was a good President.
Like our former Commander-in-Chief, not all was bad in the big house this season- bowl eligibility was earned, they beat Notre Dame (which is always a good thing), they were able to capture lightning in a bottle (Denard Robinson) and of course we beat Ohio State. Actually, we didn't beat Ohio State. Ohio State actually throttled us 37-7. Ouch.
It was, of course, that loss to the hated Buckeyes which probably was the straw that not only broke the proverbial camels' back, but set it on fire and dropped a safe on it. It wasn't just the fact that the Buckeyes were victorious- it was the manner in which they were. Unlike the mid 1990's, when Michigan would seemingly lose 4 games every year and yet still beat the #1 or #2 ranked Buckeyes, there was no way in Sheol that this years team was even going to come close to victory. Defensively- a sieve that was broken upon the rocks of the Wisconsin running game a week earlier and proved to be unable to slow the Buckeyes down. Offensively- a smoke and mirrors outfit that proved to be too fast for lesser foes- and too mistake prone and soft versus real opposition.
Many fans railed for Rich Rod to be fired after the Ohio State game, but Michigan AD Dave Brandon chose instead to wait until after the bowl game to make any sort of decision. In many ways, I applaud this. Too often, decisions seem to be made too quickly, or based on the whims of a fan base. Of course- it's tough to say what sort of affect that this cloud of impending doom had on the Michigan program and its preparation for their New Years bowl game against Mississippi State.
Unfortunately for Rodriguez, it seemed to have a significant impact on game "preparation". At least, that's how the finished product came across. A 52-14 loss to Mississippi State (that wasn't even that close, honestly) was absolutely not the right kind of message to send to your AD if you're hoping to keep your job. I'll admit it was quite distracting to watch the game and keep hearing Mike Patrick and Craig James keep speculating about his job- but honestly, there wasn't much of a game for them to talk about. The whole show was humiliating- and I'm not even much of a Michigan fan anymore.
In regards to Rich Rod's status, Brandon said on Saturday that he's not going to make a decision until later in the week. I think he is good as gone- even with some visible progress, the atmosphere is too toxic for him to continue on at this point. Many people I know want to see former Michigan QB and current Stanford head man Jim Harbaugh get the job. That would be pretty cool- I really liked Harbaugh the QB, and I admire what he has done with building a very good program at one of the more prestigious academic universities (AKA one of those football schools that actually makes their players go to class).
To Rodriguez- I wish you nothing but the best in your next endeavor. You gave it your best, and it just didn't work out. To Michigan- I hope your next coach can restore the program to its former glory- or at least to get back to 8-4 years and victories over the Buckeyes.
PIC: http://www.meonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/rich-rodriguez-fired.jpg
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Exactly how much of me do you want in your life? Note: Please don't answer that question actually. We'll just assume it's a large quantity.
You know those moments where you are just doing your thing, and then all of a sudden, the glimmering white light of brilliance comes out of nowhere and blinds you...and when you come to, you are standing on the pinnacle of your dreams?
Yeah, well that's not what I'm going to be writing about. Actually, what I'm going to be writing about is much more...well, base in it's nature. Maybe not base...maybe....bass?
I have a plan this year. Scratch that- it's not a plan. Definitely not a plan. I'm not even sure if it has any plan-like features, other than having the obligatory goal at the end. Actually...all it that it is is a goal. And I suppose, isn't that what New Years is all about? We make resolutions, we make goals, and they sound good and make us feel like we're moving forward- even if most of them are strewn by the wayside within a matter of weeks (I suppose that this is where one could make the argument that the basic tenets of planning can alleviate all of this failure. Eff that).
My goal for 2011 is to blog more. Yes, dear reader, with a host of noble causes and efforts that I could have tapped into in order to bring myself into a more intense state of wholeness, I decided that I want to blog more. As in, a lot more. As in, every-single-day more.
Yes, I know. You've heard this song and dance before. I can't even begin to count how many times I've talked about wanting to write more, apologizing for not writing more, promised to write more about x topic (sincerest apologies to Jack Bauer and textbooks everywhere). I've talked big and walked small. I have failed.
So I accept any and all skepticism. And if I can find a way to process that down to it's natural elemental state, I will grind it into a powder and throw it into a sort of motivational stew. Then I will pump that stew into my veins through an IV.
I should forewarn you that this will probably mean posts that seem like filler (like this one could arguably be)- at least in the beginning. The way it goes, so I'm told, is that if you constantly stay at it, pounding away during those times of mental blankness, a habit of writing will eventually form, and then my fingers upon the letter keys will begin to consistently spew the literary equivalent of rainbow-pooping puppies. There's a good chance that I could bring peace to the Middle East and a Super Bowl to the Lions as well. So now don't you feel bad about complaining about my post detailing my accomplishments in Tetris?
Do I have a plan to accomplish this gargantuan task? Of course not! And that, BTWs, is all part of the plan. See, that way, if I fail, I can blame it on a lack of a plan. A latent function of this decided lack of preparedness is that I am setting pieces in place for my eventual foray into politics.
Tomorrow I will be writing about Rich Rodriguez, the possibly-soon-to-be-erstwhile coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines. Otherwise, I might write about what I had for breakfast. Either way, it's bound to be.
Yeah, well that's not what I'm going to be writing about. Actually, what I'm going to be writing about is much more...well, base in it's nature. Maybe not base...maybe....bass?
I have a plan this year. Scratch that- it's not a plan. Definitely not a plan. I'm not even sure if it has any plan-like features, other than having the obligatory goal at the end. Actually...all it that it is is a goal. And I suppose, isn't that what New Years is all about? We make resolutions, we make goals, and they sound good and make us feel like we're moving forward- even if most of them are strewn by the wayside within a matter of weeks (I suppose that this is where one could make the argument that the basic tenets of planning can alleviate all of this failure. Eff that).
My goal for 2011 is to blog more. Yes, dear reader, with a host of noble causes and efforts that I could have tapped into in order to bring myself into a more intense state of wholeness, I decided that I want to blog more. As in, a lot more. As in, every-single-day more.
Yes, I know. You've heard this song and dance before. I can't even begin to count how many times I've talked about wanting to write more, apologizing for not writing more, promised to write more about x topic (sincerest apologies to Jack Bauer and textbooks everywhere). I've talked big and walked small. I have failed.
So I accept any and all skepticism. And if I can find a way to process that down to it's natural elemental state, I will grind it into a powder and throw it into a sort of motivational stew. Then I will pump that stew into my veins through an IV.
I should forewarn you that this will probably mean posts that seem like filler (like this one could arguably be)- at least in the beginning. The way it goes, so I'm told, is that if you constantly stay at it, pounding away during those times of mental blankness, a habit of writing will eventually form, and then my fingers upon the letter keys will begin to consistently spew the literary equivalent of rainbow-pooping puppies. There's a good chance that I could bring peace to the Middle East and a Super Bowl to the Lions as well. So now don't you feel bad about complaining about my post detailing my accomplishments in Tetris?
Do I have a plan to accomplish this gargantuan task? Of course not! And that, BTWs, is all part of the plan. See, that way, if I fail, I can blame it on a lack of a plan. A latent function of this decided lack of preparedness is that I am setting pieces in place for my eventual foray into politics.
Tomorrow I will be writing about Rich Rodriguez, the possibly-soon-to-be-erstwhile coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines. Otherwise, I might write about what I had for breakfast. Either way, it's bound to be.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A letter to 2011
Dear 2011,
'Sup. My name is Jason Parks. I won't tell you too much about me- after all, I think the best way to start out any relationship is to foster a healthy amount of intrigue and mystery. Besides, I don't really know too much about you either, so I think it's only fair that we start off on the same foot. After all, I'm coming off of a rocky relationship with 2010, and I really want to make sure that we do this right.
I know that normally it's not a good idea to bring the previous relationships' dirty laundry into a brand new relationship- but I have been hurt before- not just by 2010, but 2009 as well- and so I need you to know going in that I am a wounded man backed into a corner. What does that mean? Well, it means that I'm emotionally fragile- and I'm liable to lash out if things start going downhill. Wait, that came across as a lot more threatening than I meant it to. What I was really trying to say is watch your ba...no, that's not it. You know what? Let's just get to the next paragraph.
Anyways, enough about me- let's get onto 2010. I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable- let me just tell you that I only have eyes for you right now. I just need you to know what went wrong for me and 2010, so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. And by 'we' I guess I really mean 'you'.
2010 wasn't all bad- we definitely had some good times. There was that one time that I graduated from college for the first time- that was pretty special. And then there was that other time when my sister graduated from high school for the first time, and we got to see my other sister's family from Colorado. What a great time!
And yes, there were great times with my family, watching my kids grow, and hanging out with friends. Those are some things that 2010 gave me that I will always think of with great fondness in my heart.
But 2010 also did some things to me that I am still recovering from, and I need you to know that so you can not make the same mistakes that she made. First of all- I need the job that I have now (which I happen to really like, BTWs) to continue on it's present, upwards course, and not to hurl me into the furnace of hell like that one job that 2010 had me in. For about 3 months, I was subjected to daily toxic doses of stress, anxiety, and fear. And for what? A decent paycheck? Experience in my 'field'? I'll be the first to admit that I was a little young and naive, but still- it wasn't 2008 that was with me during that horrible time- it was 2010.
2010 and I were together through a rash of issues all around me. A very influential teacher battled with cancer last year, as did a friend from church- and a neighbor boy not much older than Delaney. Families fell apart- not just families in the news, but families that I know. A friend and former classmate (and mother of 4) was murdered about 2 weeks before Christmas.
On a lighter note- 2010 was even cruel to me in my sports teams. The Red Wings got bounced in the second round- and their rival Blackhawks skated with the Cup. The Pistons took a wrong turn at Albuquerque and ended up traveling down the road to irrelevance. The U.S. soccer team made it to the round of 16- only to lose to a team they were favored to beat. Did I mention that I spent 3 months at a job that was trying to kill me from the inside?
And don't even get me started on the macro picture- be it in Michigan, the United States, or the world at large, crap was hitting the fan from all angles. I mean, how can I deal with the crumbling walls in my own life- when the foundations of this world are falling apart?
But enough about that. 2010 and I are finished. Our relationship is over. I look forward to spending the next 365 days with you, 2011. I have high hopes for us. I know that there will be some down times- but if you would just show me the love that I deserve, then I know that we can weather all of the storms that will come our way.
It's not too early to say 'I love you', 2011. And I do love you. I just hope you love me...or at least don't try to kill me.
From somewhere in the left ventricle of my heart,
Jason
'Sup. My name is Jason Parks. I won't tell you too much about me- after all, I think the best way to start out any relationship is to foster a healthy amount of intrigue and mystery. Besides, I don't really know too much about you either, so I think it's only fair that we start off on the same foot. After all, I'm coming off of a rocky relationship with 2010, and I really want to make sure that we do this right.
I know that normally it's not a good idea to bring the previous relationships' dirty laundry into a brand new relationship- but I have been hurt before- not just by 2010, but 2009 as well- and so I need you to know going in that I am a wounded man backed into a corner. What does that mean? Well, it means that I'm emotionally fragile- and I'm liable to lash out if things start going downhill. Wait, that came across as a lot more threatening than I meant it to. What I was really trying to say is watch your ba...no, that's not it. You know what? Let's just get to the next paragraph.
Anyways, enough about me- let's get onto 2010. I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable- let me just tell you that I only have eyes for you right now. I just need you to know what went wrong for me and 2010, so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. And by 'we' I guess I really mean 'you'.
2010 wasn't all bad- we definitely had some good times. There was that one time that I graduated from college for the first time- that was pretty special. And then there was that other time when my sister graduated from high school for the first time, and we got to see my other sister's family from Colorado. What a great time!
And yes, there were great times with my family, watching my kids grow, and hanging out with friends. Those are some things that 2010 gave me that I will always think of with great fondness in my heart.
But 2010 also did some things to me that I am still recovering from, and I need you to know that so you can not make the same mistakes that she made. First of all- I need the job that I have now (which I happen to really like, BTWs) to continue on it's present, upwards course, and not to hurl me into the furnace of hell like that one job that 2010 had me in. For about 3 months, I was subjected to daily toxic doses of stress, anxiety, and fear. And for what? A decent paycheck? Experience in my 'field'? I'll be the first to admit that I was a little young and naive, but still- it wasn't 2008 that was with me during that horrible time- it was 2010.
2010 and I were together through a rash of issues all around me. A very influential teacher battled with cancer last year, as did a friend from church- and a neighbor boy not much older than Delaney. Families fell apart- not just families in the news, but families that I know. A friend and former classmate (and mother of 4) was murdered about 2 weeks before Christmas.
On a lighter note- 2010 was even cruel to me in my sports teams. The Red Wings got bounced in the second round- and their rival Blackhawks skated with the Cup. The Pistons took a wrong turn at Albuquerque and ended up traveling down the road to irrelevance. The U.S. soccer team made it to the round of 16- only to lose to a team they were favored to beat. Did I mention that I spent 3 months at a job that was trying to kill me from the inside?
And don't even get me started on the macro picture- be it in Michigan, the United States, or the world at large, crap was hitting the fan from all angles. I mean, how can I deal with the crumbling walls in my own life- when the foundations of this world are falling apart?
But enough about that. 2010 and I are finished. Our relationship is over. I look forward to spending the next 365 days with you, 2011. I have high hopes for us. I know that there will be some down times- but if you would just show me the love that I deserve, then I know that we can weather all of the storms that will come our way.
It's not too early to say 'I love you', 2011. And I do love you. I just hope you love me...or at least don't try to kill me.
From somewhere in the left ventricle of my heart,
Jason
Friday, December 31, 2010
A New Years post that actually says nothing- but is still being made...because I'm American, and I feel like I should say something on New Years.
Well, here it is- the last blog post of the year. On the last night of the year. And you know what? I have nothing to say. Well, not entirely true- I actually have something to say. I just don't have time to say it. Because between the cleaning today, and the spending of time with old friends, and helping move a piano, and spending time making puzzles with my children, and getting ready to have friends over, and playing Mad-libs with my friends on Facebook- I haven't had time to sit down and write down my thoughts about this past year.
And you know what? Maybe that's a good thing. After all, sitting here in a (marginally) clean house, with friends and family- life can't get much better, can it?
Here's hoping that 2011 brings more cleaning, friends, and fun, for all of us. Be safe everyone- and have a happy New Year!
And you know what? Maybe that's a good thing. After all, sitting here in a (marginally) clean house, with friends and family- life can't get much better, can it?
Here's hoping that 2011 brings more cleaning, friends, and fun, for all of us. Be safe everyone- and have a happy New Year!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Blow it up and start over: a draft recap gone awry.
After a week of crying myself to sleep, drinking myself into a stupor, and peeing my pants, I have started to come to grips with the fact that the NORTH Michigan Snow Flurries did not make the playoffs- and while I continue to rail against the schedule, the durability of my players, the conclusions of horoscopes, and the results of the lottery, the truth is that I may (possibly) have to accept a little (more) blame about the 4-9 record our team put up. This tale, then, is a tale about the drafting exploits of one man- and how much they sucked.
A comment about my preseason thoughts- my season thoughts- and my moving-forward thoughts. Also- did you see how I showed you how they would be distinguished- without actually telling you? Clever, huh?
Keepers-
RB Michael Turner-He got hurt last season, but there aren't many teams nowadays that have a bell-cow back- and Turner is one of those guys. After a slow start, Turner really picked up and had a very strong season for me. I'm not sure if he'll be a keeper for me again- but if I don't keep him, I'll definitely have to think about drafting him in the first round if I want him again. Grade: B+
QB Tony Romo-The Lord giveth...and, the Lord taketh away. Romo was having a really good season for me when he broke his collarbone in week 7 versus the Giants. I had some decent QB play the rest of the way- but not nearly at the level Romo was performing at. Definitely thinking about him as a keeper- but it'll depend on how he progresses in his recovery. Grade: Incomplete (A- for the games he completed)
Draft-
1- RB Ryan Grant- Green Bay looks like they might have the best offense in the history of ever. While that certainly did not end up being the case (and it is here that I shall choose to gloat about the Lions 7-3 win over the Packers yesterday), it is also not the fault of Ryan Grant. And yet, it is probably his fault- because he didn't even make it out of the first game unscathed. Obviously you count on injuries throughout a football season- but this injury was simply devastating, and we never really recovered. I'd consider him with a mid-round pick- but no higher. Grade: Incomplete (Incomplete for the games he completed- because there was none).
2- WR Steve Smith (NYG)- I can't really afford to whiff with my #2 pick for 2 years in a row. I don't think I would classify this a whiff- but it wasn't an extra base hit either. Another case of the injury bug struck Smith at the midway point of the season- but even when he played, he was a 50/50 proposition (half of his games he didn't reach double digit points). Looking back, I realize that this was a reach. At least I had the best Steve Smith in the league though. That counts for something- right? I'd draft him again- he's an Eli Manning 3rd down favorite- but not before the 4th round. Grade: Incomplete (B- for the games he completed)
3- TE Jermichael Finley- This guy was banged up at times last year. When he was healthy? He was unstoppable. This guy was banged up at times this year. When he was healthy? He was unstoppable. The problem is- he spent every week after week 5 being banged up on Injured Reserve. Another guy I drafted too high- I'd draft him again, but with his injury history, it won't be nearly this high. Grade: Incomplete (A for the games he completed)
4- WR Michael Crabtree- I think that this guy is going to be a stud. I think this guy was a stub. Not quite a dud- he did have 5 double-digit point games, after all- but definitely not stud material. I don't want to give up completely on this guy- but man, I just don't know if the QB situation in San Francisco is going to help him reach the elite level anytime soon. Grade: C
5- WR Dwayne Bowe- If Bowe comes out and lays a goose-egg...then I will come back and edit this post. For the early part of the season, it looked like I was going to have to come back and eat some crow. 3 of his first 4 games were sub-5 pointers. And even the last 2 weeks have been stinkers. In between though? A magical run of 5 20-point outings in 7 games (including a pair of 30+ pointers) that really carried my team. Thanks for the memories Dwayne. A real candidate for a keeper position- but the last two weeks have me a little cautious. Grade: A-
6- RB Ronnie Brown- Possibly a reach...maybe too high to draft a running back that has an injury history. No, September Jason- definitely a reach. We just completed week 14, and Mr. Brown has racked up all of 2 double digit point games (high of 15). Unfortunately, I hadn't planned on Brown to play as big of a role as he did, due to injuries. Ronnie Brown will not be back with the Snow Flurries next season. Grade: D
7- Ravens Defense- Do they still have Ed Reed? If so, then they'll be awesome in the fantasy format. They did have Ed Reed, and they were a really good real defense- but unfortunately, they didn't force many turnovers or score many TDs, so for fantasy points, they were a much worse undertaking than the Arizona Cardinals D. No idea- because when you draft a defense, you're drafting an entire unit- there is so much that can change between now and then. Grade: D+
8- WR Mohammed Massaquoi- I have my starting WRs, so anything this guy gives me is gravy. Geez- he didn't even give me gravy. Not even the cheap powder stuff so that I could make my own gravy. Thanks for playing Mo- but no mo Mo. Grade: D-
9- QB Chad Henne- I'm not going to need Henne to be the second coming of Dan Marino...I just need him to not be the second coming of Ryan Leaf. Well, if this was a scale, Chad was closer to Leaf-territory than he was Marino. He did, however, have a solid outing or 2 for me, and I was later able to parlay him into Jay Cutler. Whatever that means. I'd take a flyer on him in later rounds- maybe. Grade: D+
10-RB Darren McFadden- I felt like I could take some flyers on guys that could potentially have some serious impact...or at the very least, put up acceptable stats for bad teams. Probably one of the best draft picks I've ever made- yes, even better than grabbing Bowe in Round 5. He simply exploded in 2010, setting himself up as an elite back who can affect games both on the ground and through the air. So obviously, I traded him away late in the season. For Steve Johnson. Ugh. I'm seriously hoping that the guy I traded him to doesn't decide to keep him- because I am definitely scoring him next year. Of course- he was hurt again this year for a spell- so maybe that's a red flag. Grade: A.
11-TE Dustin Keller- Whatever- I drafted him. And then I traded him. And I might draft him again. Or not. Grade: C-
12-Bears Defense- Hey, 2 games against the Lions should make this defense worth it, right? If I would have played this D more than I did, I might have won a couple more games (and thus made the playoffs). As it was, they were a very good unit for me. And that's taking into account that 2 of their lowest scoring games were against the Lions. See Ravens comment above. Grade: A
13-WR TJ Houshimanzada Meanwhile, a 13th round pick for a back-up WR is not much to spend on a guy that could end up starting and being a #2 receiver. Unfortunately, I didn't really keep him long enough to figure this out, because injuries and ineffectiveness started to wreak havoc on my season, and I absolutely needed to have someone to produce right away. Sorry TJ. Maybe next time. No seriously- maybe next time. You'll have a full offseason to hang with your Ravens buds, and I have no doubt that you're still a great receiver. Grade: Incomplete
14-K Lawrence Tynes- I just had to make sure that his name wasn't Nick Folk, and that he was in no way, shape, or form associated with or existed in a former life as Nick Folk. And he wasn't Nick Folk. What a great pick. I don't really put much thought into my kickers- as long as they aren't Nick Folk. Grade: B-
15-WR Donnie Avery- . Just perfect for my drafting philosophy. Ah yes. My drafting philosophy. While my 'drafting philosophy' scored me Darren McFadden, it also exposed the fact that I did not do any preparation at all heading into the season. Zero. I read no magazines or articles, watched no talking head commentary, scanned none of the injury reports. Looking back, I wonder- is this what the Matt Millen era was really like? I'll make you a deal, Donnie- you don't suffer a season-ending injury in the pre-season, and I will definitely consider drafting you. Grade: F- (Yeah, I know- incomplete- but I have to give myself an F- for drafting a guy that was already out for the year).
16-RB Jason Snelling- I figured I'd protect my investment a little bit. And my investment protection just sat there on the bench- looking all investment protecty, except for the 2 games where he blatantly outscored Turner and reminded me that he existed. You'd look really nice on my transaction register next year, Jason- as a 16th round pick to protect my investment. Grade: D
Overall, I had a pretty rough draft. I picked many guys rounds ahead of their value. I know that this stuff is all hind sight- but still, I think that my lesson is learned. I know it's ridiculous to buy tons of Fantasy Football magazines and try to memorize offensive coordinators tendencies in the red zone for home games indoors, but a little bit of prevention surely has to be worth it's weight in cure.
A comment about my preseason thoughts- my season thoughts- and my moving-forward thoughts. Also- did you see how I showed you how they would be distinguished- without actually telling you? Clever, huh?
Keepers-
RB Michael Turner-He got hurt last season, but there aren't many teams nowadays that have a bell-cow back- and Turner is one of those guys. After a slow start, Turner really picked up and had a very strong season for me. I'm not sure if he'll be a keeper for me again- but if I don't keep him, I'll definitely have to think about drafting him in the first round if I want him again. Grade: B+
QB Tony Romo-The Lord giveth...and, the Lord taketh away. Romo was having a really good season for me when he broke his collarbone in week 7 versus the Giants. I had some decent QB play the rest of the way- but not nearly at the level Romo was performing at. Definitely thinking about him as a keeper- but it'll depend on how he progresses in his recovery. Grade: Incomplete (A- for the games he completed)
Draft-
1- RB Ryan Grant- Green Bay looks like they might have the best offense in the history of ever. While that certainly did not end up being the case (and it is here that I shall choose to gloat about the Lions 7-3 win over the Packers yesterday), it is also not the fault of Ryan Grant. And yet, it is probably his fault- because he didn't even make it out of the first game unscathed. Obviously you count on injuries throughout a football season- but this injury was simply devastating, and we never really recovered. I'd consider him with a mid-round pick- but no higher. Grade: Incomplete (Incomplete for the games he completed- because there was none).
2- WR Steve Smith (NYG)- I can't really afford to whiff with my #2 pick for 2 years in a row. I don't think I would classify this a whiff- but it wasn't an extra base hit either. Another case of the injury bug struck Smith at the midway point of the season- but even when he played, he was a 50/50 proposition (half of his games he didn't reach double digit points). Looking back, I realize that this was a reach. At least I had the best Steve Smith in the league though. That counts for something- right? I'd draft him again- he's an Eli Manning 3rd down favorite- but not before the 4th round. Grade: Incomplete (B- for the games he completed)
3- TE Jermichael Finley- This guy was banged up at times last year. When he was healthy? He was unstoppable. This guy was banged up at times this year. When he was healthy? He was unstoppable. The problem is- he spent every week after week 5 being banged up on Injured Reserve. Another guy I drafted too high- I'd draft him again, but with his injury history, it won't be nearly this high. Grade: Incomplete (A for the games he completed)
4- WR Michael Crabtree- I think that this guy is going to be a stud. I think this guy was a stub. Not quite a dud- he did have 5 double-digit point games, after all- but definitely not stud material. I don't want to give up completely on this guy- but man, I just don't know if the QB situation in San Francisco is going to help him reach the elite level anytime soon. Grade: C
5- WR Dwayne Bowe- If Bowe comes out and lays a goose-egg...then I will come back and edit this post. For the early part of the season, it looked like I was going to have to come back and eat some crow. 3 of his first 4 games were sub-5 pointers. And even the last 2 weeks have been stinkers. In between though? A magical run of 5 20-point outings in 7 games (including a pair of 30+ pointers) that really carried my team. Thanks for the memories Dwayne. A real candidate for a keeper position- but the last two weeks have me a little cautious. Grade: A-
6- RB Ronnie Brown- Possibly a reach...maybe too high to draft a running back that has an injury history. No, September Jason- definitely a reach. We just completed week 14, and Mr. Brown has racked up all of 2 double digit point games (high of 15). Unfortunately, I hadn't planned on Brown to play as big of a role as he did, due to injuries. Ronnie Brown will not be back with the Snow Flurries next season. Grade: D
7- Ravens Defense- Do they still have Ed Reed? If so, then they'll be awesome in the fantasy format. They did have Ed Reed, and they were a really good real defense- but unfortunately, they didn't force many turnovers or score many TDs, so for fantasy points, they were a much worse undertaking than the Arizona Cardinals D. No idea- because when you draft a defense, you're drafting an entire unit- there is so much that can change between now and then. Grade: D+
8- WR Mohammed Massaquoi- I have my starting WRs, so anything this guy gives me is gravy. Geez- he didn't even give me gravy. Not even the cheap powder stuff so that I could make my own gravy. Thanks for playing Mo- but no mo Mo. Grade: D-
9- QB Chad Henne- I'm not going to need Henne to be the second coming of Dan Marino...I just need him to not be the second coming of Ryan Leaf. Well, if this was a scale, Chad was closer to Leaf-territory than he was Marino. He did, however, have a solid outing or 2 for me, and I was later able to parlay him into Jay Cutler. Whatever that means. I'd take a flyer on him in later rounds- maybe. Grade: D+
10-RB Darren McFadden- I felt like I could take some flyers on guys that could potentially have some serious impact...or at the very least, put up acceptable stats for bad teams. Probably one of the best draft picks I've ever made- yes, even better than grabbing Bowe in Round 5. He simply exploded in 2010, setting himself up as an elite back who can affect games both on the ground and through the air. So obviously, I traded him away late in the season. For Steve Johnson. Ugh. I'm seriously hoping that the guy I traded him to doesn't decide to keep him- because I am definitely scoring him next year. Of course- he was hurt again this year for a spell- so maybe that's a red flag. Grade: A.
11-TE Dustin Keller- Whatever- I drafted him. And then I traded him. And I might draft him again. Or not. Grade: C-
12-Bears Defense- Hey, 2 games against the Lions should make this defense worth it, right? If I would have played this D more than I did, I might have won a couple more games (and thus made the playoffs). As it was, they were a very good unit for me. And that's taking into account that 2 of their lowest scoring games were against the Lions. See Ravens comment above. Grade: A
13-WR TJ Houshimanzada Meanwhile, a 13th round pick for a back-up WR is not much to spend on a guy that could end up starting and being a #2 receiver. Unfortunately, I didn't really keep him long enough to figure this out, because injuries and ineffectiveness started to wreak havoc on my season, and I absolutely needed to have someone to produce right away. Sorry TJ. Maybe next time. No seriously- maybe next time. You'll have a full offseason to hang with your Ravens buds, and I have no doubt that you're still a great receiver. Grade: Incomplete
14-K Lawrence Tynes- I just had to make sure that his name wasn't Nick Folk, and that he was in no way, shape, or form associated with or existed in a former life as Nick Folk. And he wasn't Nick Folk. What a great pick. I don't really put much thought into my kickers- as long as they aren't Nick Folk. Grade: B-
15-WR Donnie Avery- . Just perfect for my drafting philosophy. Ah yes. My drafting philosophy. While my 'drafting philosophy' scored me Darren McFadden, it also exposed the fact that I did not do any preparation at all heading into the season. Zero. I read no magazines or articles, watched no talking head commentary, scanned none of the injury reports. Looking back, I wonder- is this what the Matt Millen era was really like? I'll make you a deal, Donnie- you don't suffer a season-ending injury in the pre-season, and I will definitely consider drafting you. Grade: F- (Yeah, I know- incomplete- but I have to give myself an F- for drafting a guy that was already out for the year).
16-RB Jason Snelling- I figured I'd protect my investment a little bit. And my investment protection just sat there on the bench- looking all investment protecty, except for the 2 games where he blatantly outscored Turner and reminded me that he existed. You'd look really nice on my transaction register next year, Jason- as a 16th round pick to protect my investment. Grade: D
Overall, I had a pretty rough draft. I picked many guys rounds ahead of their value. I know that this stuff is all hind sight- but still, I think that my lesson is learned. I know it's ridiculous to buy tons of Fantasy Football magazines and try to memorize offensive coordinators tendencies in the red zone for home games indoors, but a little bit of prevention surely has to be worth it's weight in cure.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Snow Flurries Season 2: 2nd half synopsis
Sometimes, when I do these game summaries, I go back through, looking for anything that might give me an edge for the next game, or the next season. Analyzing tendencies, scouring weather reports, reading briefings. Then I remember- it's all fake. And there is no method to any of this madness.
With that said, here is how the 2nd half of my season played out.
Week 8- My first of two shots at a .500 record, and a (seemingly) favorable matchup against the Parx Rangers (my dad's team)...and I fire blanks, losing 117-96.
What went right- Recent acquiree Cardinals D fills in admirably for da' Bears by scoring 28 points. Janikowski has 15 points. I also get solid efforts from McFadden (14) and Fitzpatrick (16).
What went wrong- Apparently it was the Snow Flurries bye week, as many of my top guys (Turner, Bears D, Boldin, Smith) do not play against anyone other than themselves. Michael Crabtree scores 11 points- but he does so on the waiver wire, because I cut him to pick up Mike Williams (2 points). I feel like the ghost of Matt Millen still haunts me. Also, the one game of the season that Matthew Stafford starts and finishes- yup, it's against me. 32 points. It didn't help that Larry Fitzgerald had his highest scoring performance at 19 points.
Bonehead move- Because of all the byes, it's really tough to say because no roster combo would have netted me any more points. Sure, dropping Crabtree was a hindsight stupid, but it was his first game with Troy Smith at QB. How was I to know Troy Smith wasn't going to royally suck?
Week 9- A rematch against my brothers' Team Doomsday, with 3rd place (and a playoff spot) on the line, and my team comes through for me. HUGE. Snow Flurries win easily (sort of) 123-99.
What went right- When it's your fantasy day, it's your fantasy day. 7 of my 9 players go for double digits, and I even left points on the bench at 3 positions. My brother leaves Phillip Rivers (33 points) on the bench for Big Ben (11 points), and his K Bironas has a bye week.
What went wrong- It didn't cost me this week- but Brown outscored McFadden 15-8, and da' Bears had a 41-24 margin over the Cards' D. Like I said, it didn't cost me- but it could have.
Bonehead move- There are no bonehead moves in victory. I have to tell myself this. Because my self esteem is really low, and if I don't speak positive things to myself, I'll just fall apart.
Week 10- Chance number 2 at .500, and I fail. Utterly and completely fail. This is probably the most painful loss of my fantasy career, on many levels. Suffice it to say that my 112-110 loss to Team Fergy is still resonating deep in my happy place even today.
What went right- My team worked their asses off. Coming back from a 30+ point deficit, they scored a total that (even with my foul-ups) would have beat most other teams in the league. Dwayne Bowe is the latest child of fortune, as the Broncos jump all over the Chiefs and force them to throw the ball all the time (Bowe ends up with 31 points for me). In fact, I was leading Fergy 110-109 heading into the last game of the night- Patriots versus Steelers. More on this in a second.
What went wrong- Smith is out with an injured peck- jeez, I didn't realize that this was the La Leche league (um, just kidding Steve- hurry up and get better). I decide that the Cardinals D (18 points) playing against the Seahawks was a better choice than da Bears (35 points) against the Vikings. Now, this isn't as asinine of a move as it might seem. Matt Hasselbeck was not guaranteed to start versus the Cards, and Favre was coming off of a career high 446 yards passing. Of course- I forgot that Favre's arm fell has completely fallen off. Also, I left Todd Heap (11 points) on the bench in place of Aaron Hernandez (assuming he got lost on the way to Heinz field and just didn't show up to the game). Hernandez not only scores 0 points for the Patriots, he does so in such a fashion that the National Center for Missing Adults gets involved.
Bonehead move- Relying on human beings for this game. Why don't we do fantasy Madden? Seriously, nobody is more disappointing than human beings. You know how many different ways I could have won this game- or at least tied it- without humans making human mistakes? Josh Scobee (my fill-in kicker) misses 2 field goals. Chansi Stuckey fumbles in OT against the Jets (Fergy's D). The Chiefs miss on a pair of 2-point conversion passes to Bowe. Mike Williams misses a pass in the red zone. Jason Snelling scores 12 points against the Ravens, while his forward-up Turner racks up all of 3. And how about WHAT WAS BELICHEK THINKING!?!!? Seriously, just one week after scoring 2 TDs against the Browns, Hernandez is AWOL while fellow rookie TE Rob Gronkowski scores 3 TDs against the Steelers. 3 TDs!!! Couldn't at least one of those gone to Aaron Hernandez? Remember him- you threw a pair of scoring passes to him last week? That guy?
Week 11- This is the point where all the injuries and all the mistakes start to add up. We are a mentally weary bunch, falling apart at the wrong time. Playing my arch-nemesis War Machine and needing a win to keep my dim playoff prospects alive, the Snow Flurries instead find themselves on the short end of a 127-96 score.
What went right- I felt bad for the Dolphins. Having lost their top two QBs to injury on Sunday, having to play their 3rd string QB against the Bears on a short week (they played on Thursday), knowing how much injuries have ruined my own season- I almost left the Bears D on the bench. Almost. Then I snapped into cutthroat mode, started the Bears, and watched as they racked up 22 points in a shut-out effort. Bowe and Turner also went for 20+ each for my squad. Jeff also made a (hindsight) bad move by leaving Thomas Jones and his 19 points on the bench in exchange for the 5 points that Stephen Jackson put up.
What went wrong- My match-ups were horrible. McFadden vs. the Steelers? He was forecast for 17 points (which I knew was not going to happen)- but still, to have him only put up 2 was a huge letdown. And it wasn't like I could sit him for a more favorable match-up, because Ronnie Brown was going up against a Bears D that could afford to ignore the pass. Additionally, Aaron Rodgers racked up 39 points, which destroyed me.
Bonehead move- I played Crabtree (1 point) over Williams (11 points). The move wouldn't have won me the game- but it would have helped.
Week 12-Ah yes- the week of the trade deadline. Also known as mercenary time. In real sports, the contenders try to solidify their title hopes, the fringe playoff teams try to make that final playoff push, and the dregs try and get something to show for their talented free agents that plan on leaving during the off-season. You can probably guess which one of those categories I fall into. Needing to win both of my last 2 games and have Josh lose both of his last 2- I make a couple blockbuster deals to swing the pendulum. Unfortunately, we played against Team Disco, the highest scoring team in the league. Still, my boys gave it their all. Despite trailing by over 50 points at one time, the Snow Flurries battled bravely and fell by a (narrower than it appears) 153-128 score.
What went right- Dwayne Bowe came to play- 36 points for my main man. Turner had a nice 18 on the day as well. And, perhaps most importantly of all, Chris Johnson of Team Disco has a big goose egg. Yes, you read that right. Chris Johnson. 0 points. How can I lose?
What went wrong-How can I lose? Well I am about to tell you. Rent-a-cop Big Ben, projected for 26, needed all of regulation and most of an OT period even have 10 (the other QBs on my roster each had twice that at the halftime mark of their respective games). Steve Johnson, whom I traded for Darren McFadden, had 6 and dropped a pass in the endzone that would have won the game for the Bills. Of course, McFadden had 6 too- so this week the trade was a wash. Oh, and how about Brady and Peyton Hillis each putting up 38 and Nate Kaeding having a 20 spot for Team Disco.
Bonehead move- You know what? I didn't make any bonehead moves. I'm tired of taking responsibility for these slackers. I put my faith in some of you guys- and you let me down. You let me down hard. So I made all the right moves. I was genius. Sheer brilliance. And really, it wasn't even my guys, either- because we had the 2nd most points in the league this week- meaning that if we would have played anyone else- ANYONE ELSE- we would have won. FRICK!
Week 13- Nothing to play for. No hope for a playoff birth. The end of an era. Season finale. The Snow Flurries have given everything for me this season- and it pains my heart that their perseverance will not be rewarded with a playoff birth. Instead, we'll be sitting home watching the playoffs. And we'll all have a nasty pukey taste in our mouths, thanks to the 85-67 stinker against El Diablo.
What went right- Well...Boldin came out of his coma to score 18 points. And Turner had a nice 14 point outing. And I guess da Bears D came up solid with 16 points against the Lions.
What went wrong- Last week, Dwayne Bowe came to play. This week, Dwayne Bowe came to get shut down. 0 points. Can't have your top guy score 0 points...unless someone else steps up. And that's just it- nobody else really stood up. Sam Bradford, starting as a Snow Flurry for the first time, played like a rookie (5 points) while seasoned vets Cutler and Big Ben each had 14. Steve Johnson followed up his 6 point effort by halving it (meanwhile McFadden had 16 points for someone else...man, those points would have looked nice on my roster).
Bonehead move- It should be probably be noted that Hernandez had 11 points in Waiver-land, while Heap hurt on 1st play of game and Gronkowski was not a factor. Leave it to Bill Belichek to kick me in the nads one last time whilst I lay writhing in agony on the floor.
Season over. Playoffs- not accomplished. It was quite a ride- and now it's over.
Next week (or maybe even this week if I feel motivated) I'll grade my draft effort. Then I'll look at the grades I gave my draft before the season started. Then I'll laugh at myself. And then? I'll start getting ready for next season. The NORTH Michigan Snow Flurries are going to be back with a vengence.
With that said, here is how the 2nd half of my season played out.
Week 8- My first of two shots at a .500 record, and a (seemingly) favorable matchup against the Parx Rangers (my dad's team)...and I fire blanks, losing 117-96.
What went right- Recent acquiree Cardinals D fills in admirably for da' Bears by scoring 28 points. Janikowski has 15 points. I also get solid efforts from McFadden (14) and Fitzpatrick (16).
What went wrong- Apparently it was the Snow Flurries bye week, as many of my top guys (Turner, Bears D, Boldin, Smith) do not play against anyone other than themselves. Michael Crabtree scores 11 points- but he does so on the waiver wire, because I cut him to pick up Mike Williams (2 points). I feel like the ghost of Matt Millen still haunts me. Also, the one game of the season that Matthew Stafford starts and finishes- yup, it's against me. 32 points. It didn't help that Larry Fitzgerald had his highest scoring performance at 19 points.
Bonehead move- Because of all the byes, it's really tough to say because no roster combo would have netted me any more points. Sure, dropping Crabtree was a hindsight stupid, but it was his first game with Troy Smith at QB. How was I to know Troy Smith wasn't going to royally suck?
Week 9- A rematch against my brothers' Team Doomsday, with 3rd place (and a playoff spot) on the line, and my team comes through for me. HUGE. Snow Flurries win easily (sort of) 123-99.
What went right- When it's your fantasy day, it's your fantasy day. 7 of my 9 players go for double digits, and I even left points on the bench at 3 positions. My brother leaves Phillip Rivers (33 points) on the bench for Big Ben (11 points), and his K Bironas has a bye week.
What went wrong- It didn't cost me this week- but Brown outscored McFadden 15-8, and da' Bears had a 41-24 margin over the Cards' D. Like I said, it didn't cost me- but it could have.
Bonehead move- There are no bonehead moves in victory. I have to tell myself this. Because my self esteem is really low, and if I don't speak positive things to myself, I'll just fall apart.
Week 10- Chance number 2 at .500, and I fail. Utterly and completely fail. This is probably the most painful loss of my fantasy career, on many levels. Suffice it to say that my 112-110 loss to Team Fergy is still resonating deep in my happy place even today.
What went right- My team worked their asses off. Coming back from a 30+ point deficit, they scored a total that (even with my foul-ups) would have beat most other teams in the league. Dwayne Bowe is the latest child of fortune, as the Broncos jump all over the Chiefs and force them to throw the ball all the time (Bowe ends up with 31 points for me). In fact, I was leading Fergy 110-109 heading into the last game of the night- Patriots versus Steelers. More on this in a second.
What went wrong- Smith is out with an injured peck- jeez, I didn't realize that this was the La Leche league (um, just kidding Steve- hurry up and get better). I decide that the Cardinals D (18 points) playing against the Seahawks was a better choice than da Bears (35 points) against the Vikings. Now, this isn't as asinine of a move as it might seem. Matt Hasselbeck was not guaranteed to start versus the Cards, and Favre was coming off of a career high 446 yards passing. Of course- I forgot that Favre's arm fell has completely fallen off. Also, I left Todd Heap (11 points) on the bench in place of Aaron Hernandez (assuming he got lost on the way to Heinz field and just didn't show up to the game). Hernandez not only scores 0 points for the Patriots, he does so in such a fashion that the National Center for Missing Adults gets involved.
Bonehead move- Relying on human beings for this game. Why don't we do fantasy Madden? Seriously, nobody is more disappointing than human beings. You know how many different ways I could have won this game- or at least tied it- without humans making human mistakes? Josh Scobee (my fill-in kicker) misses 2 field goals. Chansi Stuckey fumbles in OT against the Jets (Fergy's D). The Chiefs miss on a pair of 2-point conversion passes to Bowe. Mike Williams misses a pass in the red zone. Jason Snelling scores 12 points against the Ravens, while his forward-up Turner racks up all of 3. And how about WHAT WAS BELICHEK THINKING!?!!? Seriously, just one week after scoring 2 TDs against the Browns, Hernandez is AWOL while fellow rookie TE Rob Gronkowski scores 3 TDs against the Steelers. 3 TDs!!! Couldn't at least one of those gone to Aaron Hernandez? Remember him- you threw a pair of scoring passes to him last week? That guy?
Week 11- This is the point where all the injuries and all the mistakes start to add up. We are a mentally weary bunch, falling apart at the wrong time. Playing my arch-nemesis War Machine and needing a win to keep my dim playoff prospects alive, the Snow Flurries instead find themselves on the short end of a 127-96 score.
What went right- I felt bad for the Dolphins. Having lost their top two QBs to injury on Sunday, having to play their 3rd string QB against the Bears on a short week (they played on Thursday), knowing how much injuries have ruined my own season- I almost left the Bears D on the bench. Almost. Then I snapped into cutthroat mode, started the Bears, and watched as they racked up 22 points in a shut-out effort. Bowe and Turner also went for 20+ each for my squad. Jeff also made a (hindsight) bad move by leaving Thomas Jones and his 19 points on the bench in exchange for the 5 points that Stephen Jackson put up.
What went wrong- My match-ups were horrible. McFadden vs. the Steelers? He was forecast for 17 points (which I knew was not going to happen)- but still, to have him only put up 2 was a huge letdown. And it wasn't like I could sit him for a more favorable match-up, because Ronnie Brown was going up against a Bears D that could afford to ignore the pass. Additionally, Aaron Rodgers racked up 39 points, which destroyed me.
Bonehead move- I played Crabtree (1 point) over Williams (11 points). The move wouldn't have won me the game- but it would have helped.
Week 12-Ah yes- the week of the trade deadline. Also known as mercenary time. In real sports, the contenders try to solidify their title hopes, the fringe playoff teams try to make that final playoff push, and the dregs try and get something to show for their talented free agents that plan on leaving during the off-season. You can probably guess which one of those categories I fall into. Needing to win both of my last 2 games and have Josh lose both of his last 2- I make a couple blockbuster deals to swing the pendulum. Unfortunately, we played against Team Disco, the highest scoring team in the league. Still, my boys gave it their all. Despite trailing by over 50 points at one time, the Snow Flurries battled bravely and fell by a (narrower than it appears) 153-128 score.
What went right- Dwayne Bowe came to play- 36 points for my main man. Turner had a nice 18 on the day as well. And, perhaps most importantly of all, Chris Johnson of Team Disco has a big goose egg. Yes, you read that right. Chris Johnson. 0 points. How can I lose?
What went wrong-How can I lose? Well I am about to tell you. Rent-a-cop Big Ben, projected for 26, needed all of regulation and most of an OT period even have 10 (the other QBs on my roster each had twice that at the halftime mark of their respective games). Steve Johnson, whom I traded for Darren McFadden, had 6 and dropped a pass in the endzone that would have won the game for the Bills. Of course, McFadden had 6 too- so this week the trade was a wash. Oh, and how about Brady and Peyton Hillis each putting up 38 and Nate Kaeding having a 20 spot for Team Disco.
Bonehead move- You know what? I didn't make any bonehead moves. I'm tired of taking responsibility for these slackers. I put my faith in some of you guys- and you let me down. You let me down hard. So I made all the right moves. I was genius. Sheer brilliance. And really, it wasn't even my guys, either- because we had the 2nd most points in the league this week- meaning that if we would have played anyone else- ANYONE ELSE- we would have won. FRICK!
Week 13- Nothing to play for. No hope for a playoff birth. The end of an era. Season finale. The Snow Flurries have given everything for me this season- and it pains my heart that their perseverance will not be rewarded with a playoff birth. Instead, we'll be sitting home watching the playoffs. And we'll all have a nasty pukey taste in our mouths, thanks to the 85-67 stinker against El Diablo.
What went right- Well...Boldin came out of his coma to score 18 points. And Turner had a nice 14 point outing. And I guess da Bears D came up solid with 16 points against the Lions.
What went wrong- Last week, Dwayne Bowe came to play. This week, Dwayne Bowe came to get shut down. 0 points. Can't have your top guy score 0 points...unless someone else steps up. And that's just it- nobody else really stood up. Sam Bradford, starting as a Snow Flurry for the first time, played like a rookie (5 points) while seasoned vets Cutler and Big Ben each had 14. Steve Johnson followed up his 6 point effort by halving it (meanwhile McFadden had 16 points for someone else...man, those points would have looked nice on my roster).
Bonehead move- It should be probably be noted that Hernandez had 11 points in Waiver-land, while Heap hurt on 1st play of game and Gronkowski was not a factor. Leave it to Bill Belichek to kick me in the nads one last time whilst I lay writhing in agony on the floor.
Season over. Playoffs- not accomplished. It was quite a ride- and now it's over.
Next week (or maybe even this week if I feel motivated) I'll grade my draft effort. Then I'll look at the grades I gave my draft before the season started. Then I'll laugh at myself. And then? I'll start getting ready for next season. The NORTH Michigan Snow Flurries are going to be back with a vengence.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Captain Abuse
So if you're even a little bit aware of Facebook, you know that there is this new "thing" going around where you change your profile picture to "campaign against child abuse" (as one status I read worded it).
A couple things. First of all- I did it. Call me a 'lemming', but I read the cause, knew it was something I wanted to participate in, and hunted down a Captain Planet photo.
Secondly, I'm very aware that child abuse will not cease because I did this. And I would hope that everybody who took a few seconds to find a new profile pic realizes this as well. Unless we dip into the magic profile pic pool, then we're more than likely not doing anything more than decorating our Facebook profile with a virtual bumper sticker.
So why do we do this stuff, then? Why do we post the "97% of you won't repost this" statuses? Why do we change our profile pictures , or post provocative "I like it in _____" statuses, or fill out 'Top 25 Random Things About Me' notes? I think it's because we miss being a part of people's lives- and letting people into our own.
Genuine human connection is virtually gone. I know that I have a difficult time functioning in the face to face world some times- there's always this awkward tension as we constantly bump into people who are trying so hard to put their best mistake-free social face on- just like us. But the virtual world? Sign me up, man! I can cut and paste, I can erase, I can change my face. And if I don't feel like participating? I tune it out, I shut it down. I don't respond. The consequences of my silence are usually much less severe than in reality, and I have much more manipulative power over my social persona.
So these Facebook memes, as they're apparently called (I know, right? Who would have thought me, behind the times?), serve a pretty important function- they allow us to feel connected with people. They make us feel like we belong, like we a part of something that is more than just our own existence.
Is this pathetic- or is it the new reality? Things have been changing so rapidly over the past 20-30 years, and the snowball is an avalanche, at this point- I'm not so sure it can be easily stopped (if at all).
But some of it is that we (and I staple myself to this bad boy, lemmetellya!) get so drawn into our patterns, and our routines, and our own private virtual realities, that we are just content to live there- venturing out into the real world only in small increments, at our own convenience.
Unfortunately, not everyone lives at that level of luxury. Not everybody can afford to just switch it on and off. And this whole Facebook child abuse awareness thing has got me thinking on that. I changed my profile picture to 'campaign against child abuse', as I said earlier. But is that really what I'm doing? Is Captain Planet really going to save all the babies?
Now, I don't want to go the polar extreme and say that I'm wasting time. It's not a waste of time. First of all, like I said, it's a human connection, which is usually a good thing. I see all the pictures of my friends changed into cartoon characters, and it's pretty cool. In a weird, and probably Hallmark-movie cheesy sort of way, it feels like 'they're with me on this- they got my back'. Second of all, there could be people that legitimately don't know much about child abuse, or don't think about it because it hasn't impacted them. So there is an opportunity for raising that level of social awareness.
However, as I have thought about it and talked it through with a giant dinosaur (trust me, it's not as weird as it sounds), I realize that it simply cannot end here. I can't just put my smiley pretty face back up on Monday and just go about my business. Because then, it really becomes a question of why did I participate? Did I participate because I thought it would be 'cool'? Well no, I really want to make a difference. Did I change my profile picture because other people did? Um, no...while I'm not immune to following the crowd, I generally do a decent job of thinking for myself. So why?
Well, obviously it's because as a father of two young children, I realize their precious innocence, and how important and formative these years are and how big a part love and affection play in their development. Having worked with abused and neglected children for almost five years, I know the short and long term effects that abuse can have- destroying all the potential of a young life before it even gets started.
So that is why I have to keep taking this forward. Because there are people out there that don't have the ability to just flow in and out of reality. Many people are stuck where they are- and sometimes that involves cigarette burns and beatings. We live in such a crazy, messed up world, and I know I can't save it- but that doesn't mean I can't make it better for someone else.
It's tough sometimes because there simply isn't enough time/energy/resources to get involved with every single cause that I want to. But this is one of them. This is one of them that I want desperately to succeed. Like the starfish washed up on the shore, I know that we can't save them all- but man, to even make the difference in the lives of a few- even one- how wonderful that would be!
A couple things. First of all- I did it. Call me a 'lemming', but I read the cause, knew it was something I wanted to participate in, and hunted down a Captain Planet photo.
Secondly, I'm very aware that child abuse will not cease because I did this. And I would hope that everybody who took a few seconds to find a new profile pic realizes this as well. Unless we dip into the magic profile pic pool, then we're more than likely not doing anything more than decorating our Facebook profile with a virtual bumper sticker.
So why do we do this stuff, then? Why do we post the "97% of you won't repost this" statuses? Why do we change our profile pictures , or post provocative "I like it in _____" statuses, or fill out 'Top 25 Random Things About Me' notes? I think it's because we miss being a part of people's lives- and letting people into our own.
Genuine human connection is virtually gone. I know that I have a difficult time functioning in the face to face world some times- there's always this awkward tension as we constantly bump into people who are trying so hard to put their best mistake-free social face on- just like us. But the virtual world? Sign me up, man! I can cut and paste, I can erase, I can change my face. And if I don't feel like participating? I tune it out, I shut it down. I don't respond. The consequences of my silence are usually much less severe than in reality, and I have much more manipulative power over my social persona.
So these Facebook memes, as they're apparently called (I know, right? Who would have thought me, behind the times?), serve a pretty important function- they allow us to feel connected with people. They make us feel like we belong, like we a part of something that is more than just our own existence.
Is this pathetic- or is it the new reality? Things have been changing so rapidly over the past 20-30 years, and the snowball is an avalanche, at this point- I'm not so sure it can be easily stopped (if at all).
But some of it is that we (and I staple myself to this bad boy, lemmetellya!) get so drawn into our patterns, and our routines, and our own private virtual realities, that we are just content to live there- venturing out into the real world only in small increments, at our own convenience.
Unfortunately, not everyone lives at that level of luxury. Not everybody can afford to just switch it on and off. And this whole Facebook child abuse awareness thing has got me thinking on that. I changed my profile picture to 'campaign against child abuse', as I said earlier. But is that really what I'm doing? Is Captain Planet really going to save all the babies?
Now, I don't want to go the polar extreme and say that I'm wasting time. It's not a waste of time. First of all, like I said, it's a human connection, which is usually a good thing. I see all the pictures of my friends changed into cartoon characters, and it's pretty cool. In a weird, and probably Hallmark-movie cheesy sort of way, it feels like 'they're with me on this- they got my back'. Second of all, there could be people that legitimately don't know much about child abuse, or don't think about it because it hasn't impacted them. So there is an opportunity for raising that level of social awareness.
However, as I have thought about it and talked it through with a giant dinosaur (trust me, it's not as weird as it sounds), I realize that it simply cannot end here. I can't just put my smiley pretty face back up on Monday and just go about my business. Because then, it really becomes a question of why did I participate? Did I participate because I thought it would be 'cool'? Well no, I really want to make a difference. Did I change my profile picture because other people did? Um, no...while I'm not immune to following the crowd, I generally do a decent job of thinking for myself. So why?
Well, obviously it's because as a father of two young children, I realize their precious innocence, and how important and formative these years are and how big a part love and affection play in their development. Having worked with abused and neglected children for almost five years, I know the short and long term effects that abuse can have- destroying all the potential of a young life before it even gets started.
So that is why I have to keep taking this forward. Because there are people out there that don't have the ability to just flow in and out of reality. Many people are stuck where they are- and sometimes that involves cigarette burns and beatings. We live in such a crazy, messed up world, and I know I can't save it- but that doesn't mean I can't make it better for someone else.
It's tough sometimes because there simply isn't enough time/energy/resources to get involved with every single cause that I want to. But this is one of them. This is one of them that I want desperately to succeed. Like the starfish washed up on the shore, I know that we can't save them all- but man, to even make the difference in the lives of a few- even one- how wonderful that would be!
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