There is a phenomenon I've picked up on the past few years. First I noticed it when I was playing Everquest back in the day, then as that morphed into several other MMORPG games....well all of the other MMORPG games out there I sunk hours and hours into.
Then I noticed it when I saw the movie trailer for Darkon and eventually the documentary. Watch it or refer back to my blog post about Darkon.
Now this might be the next incarnation of the trend of not being happy with your own reality and injecting massive amounts of fantasy into your life.
The idea of being a crime fighter is appealing to most people. However when it comes to reality you go out in a costume, walk around, hope to find exactly what? A crime in progress? Ok so you happen to come across a gang banging dope slinger and confront him...in your costume.
Well you can imagine exactly what would likely happen. Not to mention the repercussions of the eventual driveby shootings of his dope slinging gang banging homies on your secret lair.
All of this makes me wonder again why people strive to be a hero in a fantasy realm instead of a hero in the real world. They could go out and about helping the elderly in real life clothes, it would appear that the costume would hinder that endeavor.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tom Cruise Reviews
“…his earnestness suggests at best some kind of fictional American soldier trying to infiltrate the Luftwaffe.”
Roger Friedman - Fox News
“In the end, you just have to wonder why a flick featuring a one-armed, eye-patch-wearing Tom Cruise who tries to kill Hitler isn’t more fun than this.”
Sean Burns - Philadelphia Weekly
“But with a cardboard Cruise at the core of ‘Valkyrie,’ you just never care.”
Brandon Judell - Culture Catch
“He’s distractingly bad.”
Christy Lemire - AP Movie Critic
“Tom Cruise the movie star never disappears into Claus von Stauffenberg the brilliant military man.”
Moira McDonald - Seattle Times
“Alas, incongruous vocal intonations aren’t even the most significant problem plaguing Singer’s film, what with Cruise — missing a hand and saddled with an eye patch, making him seem like a National Socialist pirate — apparently engaged in a contest against himself (and cinematic history) to see how long he can hold the same, intensely resolute expression, and the answer unfortunately turning out to be 120 minutes.”
Nick Schager - Slant Magazine
“If Mr. Cruise doesn’t work in ‘Valkyrie,’ it’s partly because he’s too modern, too American and way too Tom Cruise to make sense in the role…”
Manohla Dargis - New York Times
“Cruise cannot suggest the aristocratic hauteur or the steely authority needed in this role. Watching ‘Valkyrie’ (which begins with a tense, well-staged battle scene in 1943 Tunisia in which Stauffenberg nearly dies), you wonder why the German officer we’re rooting for is an American, while most of the other Germans are British, except Wilkinson, who is English but really does seem like a Nazi.”
Michael Phillips - Chicago Tribune
“Most disappointingly, there’s a gaping hole at the center of ‘Valkyrie,’ and his name is Tom Cruise.”
Alonso Duralde - MSNBC
“Think of ‘Valkyrie’ as a reasonably entertaining drama about the time Tom Cruise tried to kill Hitler.”
Mick LaSalle - San Francisco Chronicle
“…he’s quite simply bad in ‘Valkyrie.’ It’s arguably his worst performance.”
Brian Tallerico - HollywoodChicago.com
“Cruise is unconvincing and stiff as the disenchanted Col. Claus von Stauffenberg.”
Claudia Puig - USA Today
“His penchant for disfiguring or masking his famous face (’Vanilla Sky,’ ‘Minority Report’) has hit the silly point, yet he’s still too showy to disappear into the role. Plus, he may be the poofiest-haired Nazi in history.”
Joe Neumaier - New York Daily News
Gee...who didn't call this a while back?!?!?!
Roger Friedman - Fox News
“In the end, you just have to wonder why a flick featuring a one-armed, eye-patch-wearing Tom Cruise who tries to kill Hitler isn’t more fun than this.”
Sean Burns - Philadelphia Weekly
“But with a cardboard Cruise at the core of ‘Valkyrie,’ you just never care.”
Brandon Judell - Culture Catch
“He’s distractingly bad.”
Christy Lemire - AP Movie Critic
“Tom Cruise the movie star never disappears into Claus von Stauffenberg the brilliant military man.”
Moira McDonald - Seattle Times
“Alas, incongruous vocal intonations aren’t even the most significant problem plaguing Singer’s film, what with Cruise — missing a hand and saddled with an eye patch, making him seem like a National Socialist pirate — apparently engaged in a contest against himself (and cinematic history) to see how long he can hold the same, intensely resolute expression, and the answer unfortunately turning out to be 120 minutes.”
Nick Schager - Slant Magazine
“If Mr. Cruise doesn’t work in ‘Valkyrie,’ it’s partly because he’s too modern, too American and way too Tom Cruise to make sense in the role…”
Manohla Dargis - New York Times
“Cruise cannot suggest the aristocratic hauteur or the steely authority needed in this role. Watching ‘Valkyrie’ (which begins with a tense, well-staged battle scene in 1943 Tunisia in which Stauffenberg nearly dies), you wonder why the German officer we’re rooting for is an American, while most of the other Germans are British, except Wilkinson, who is English but really does seem like a Nazi.”
Michael Phillips - Chicago Tribune
“Most disappointingly, there’s a gaping hole at the center of ‘Valkyrie,’ and his name is Tom Cruise.”
Alonso Duralde - MSNBC
“Think of ‘Valkyrie’ as a reasonably entertaining drama about the time Tom Cruise tried to kill Hitler.”
Mick LaSalle - San Francisco Chronicle
“…he’s quite simply bad in ‘Valkyrie.’ It’s arguably his worst performance.”
Brian Tallerico - HollywoodChicago.com
“Cruise is unconvincing and stiff as the disenchanted Col. Claus von Stauffenberg.”
Claudia Puig - USA Today
“His penchant for disfiguring or masking his famous face (’Vanilla Sky,’ ‘Minority Report’) has hit the silly point, yet he’s still too showy to disappear into the role. Plus, he may be the poofiest-haired Nazi in history.”
Joe Neumaier - New York Daily News
Gee...who didn't call this a while back?!?!?!
Good Vacation So Far
Really enjoying doing nothing and having no responsibilities! I'm sure it will go old soon enough but right now I'm sort of forced to do nothing. I'm almost broke after Christmas and I won't get paid from the fantasy league win yet. Hopefully this week though. Our treasurer went in for surgery yesterday and he keeps the funds in his safe deposit box.
So hopefully in the next day or two I'll be fully funded again!
Other than that I've been destroying my low sodium diet....not intentionally but I just don't really want to eat low sodium right now. I'm on vacation after all.
So hopefully in the next day or two I'll be fully funded again!
Other than that I've been destroying my low sodium diet....not intentionally but I just don't really want to eat low sodium right now. I'm on vacation after all.
Monday, December 29, 2008
One More Week
Of vacation is left! So it is about half over. It has been great so far and I'm thrilled it has been good!
Today is supposed to be really nice out. Over 60 for the high. My cold is just about gone. I feel pretty good now. Still excited for winning my fantasy league, that was pretty sweet.
I'm watching the news reports about the Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza. It has been in retaliation to the nearly eighty rocket attacks a day over the past few weeks and months. They finally had enough and decided to clean out Hamas. Hamas has refused to acknowledge Israel as a sovereign state and undermine all peace talks.
It should be interesting to see how this wraps up, if they stay confined to Gaza or spread out onto other territories. Israel can pretty much take out any country in that area with their firepower.
On a lighter note, the Dallas Cowboys flopped a huge belly flop yesterday. They had to win to get to the playoffs and wound up being destroyed 44-6 I believe. They have become the New York Yankees of the NFL. Its a good thing that the NFL has a salary cap or they would have been buying every free agent and Jerry Jones would have gone broke by now....and still wouldn't have bought a championship.
Black Monday has started and so far the Cleveland, New York Jets, and Lions head coaches have been fired. I'm sure there will be more to come. The Lions need to dismantle the entire management structure and rebuild. It is very difficult to become 0-16 in this age of the league. You have to make a LOT of bad decisions in a row to be that bad.
It almost has to be a concerted effort to be that bad! They did it though, as much as last year was a masterpiece of a season for the Patriots it was a culmination of years of bad decisions for the Lions which resulted in sort of an inverted masterpiece of a season.
Today is supposed to be really nice out. Over 60 for the high. My cold is just about gone. I feel pretty good now. Still excited for winning my fantasy league, that was pretty sweet.
I'm watching the news reports about the Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza. It has been in retaliation to the nearly eighty rocket attacks a day over the past few weeks and months. They finally had enough and decided to clean out Hamas. Hamas has refused to acknowledge Israel as a sovereign state and undermine all peace talks.
It should be interesting to see how this wraps up, if they stay confined to Gaza or spread out onto other territories. Israel can pretty much take out any country in that area with their firepower.
On a lighter note, the Dallas Cowboys flopped a huge belly flop yesterday. They had to win to get to the playoffs and wound up being destroyed 44-6 I believe. They have become the New York Yankees of the NFL. Its a good thing that the NFL has a salary cap or they would have been buying every free agent and Jerry Jones would have gone broke by now....and still wouldn't have bought a championship.
Black Monday has started and so far the Cleveland, New York Jets, and Lions head coaches have been fired. I'm sure there will be more to come. The Lions need to dismantle the entire management structure and rebuild. It is very difficult to become 0-16 in this age of the league. You have to make a LOT of bad decisions in a row to be that bad.
It almost has to be a concerted effort to be that bad! They did it though, as much as last year was a masterpiece of a season for the Patriots it was a culmination of years of bad decisions for the Lions which resulted in sort of an inverted masterpiece of a season.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
It Happened!
My team went off and finally fulfilled its year long potential!
I tied the highest score of the season with seventy five points!
It was an amazing day! I wrapped up the points championship, won first place this week, and tied the high score! With seven hundred eighty six points I dominated!
I won the points championship by a comfy fifty nine points. So now I'll be likely be singing a lot of Queen's We Are The Champions for a while! Thank you very much!
I tied the highest score of the season with seventy five points!
It was an amazing day! I wrapped up the points championship, won first place this week, and tied the high score! With seven hundred eighty six points I dominated!
I won the points championship by a comfy fifty nine points. So now I'll be likely be singing a lot of Queen's We Are The Champions for a while! Thank you very much!
Wrapping Up The Championship!
Currently the second place team would have to score exactly sixty one points to beat me out for first overall. Not only that but this week my team is in the midst of having that mythical "going off" week I knew was coming!
Right now I'm sitting at fifty eight points. Peterson scored a bonus td, Turner had a td and tons of bonus yards, Andre Johnson had two tds and bonus yards, the Steelers had a huge defensive day scoring me fourteen points by destroying Cleveland, Larry Fitzgerald has one td right now against the Seahawks....and I still have Rivers going tonight as well as my kicker Matt Prater.
I'm sitting in first place right now not only in the overall league score but this week! I'm in line for a double payday! This would cap off my most successful season in my money league to date. In over a decade of playing this has been my best year even though I've been close and in the money before.
So I'm at fifty eight points and counting....
Right now I'm sitting at fifty eight points. Peterson scored a bonus td, Turner had a td and tons of bonus yards, Andre Johnson had two tds and bonus yards, the Steelers had a huge defensive day scoring me fourteen points by destroying Cleveland, Larry Fitzgerald has one td right now against the Seahawks....and I still have Rivers going tonight as well as my kicker Matt Prater.
I'm sitting in first place right now not only in the overall league score but this week! I'm in line for a double payday! This would cap off my most successful season in my money league to date. In over a decade of playing this has been my best year even though I've been close and in the money before.
So I'm at fifty eight points and counting....
Testees
Yeah, Testees. I watched the entire first thirteen episode season yesterday and I've got to tell you that it was really funny. There were some genuine laugh out loud moments over the course of the show.
Here's the breakdown, the show airs on FX and just wrapped up its first season about a month ago. Two thirty somethings who really have no goals or aim in life are human guinea pigs for Testico, a drug testing company. There are some great pop culture references, not quite as many as in the brilliant Spaced but enough to keep you occasionally surprised.
The stuff they test is really where a lot of the comedy comes from, the episode where they lose their memory is great, the episode where they get glued together is LOL funny, the episode where they test the pheromones is outstanding. And that is just three of the ten! There really isn't a weak episode here.
You can catch the series on Hulu.com and with almost no commercial breaks. There is the occasional fifteen second break for Absolut Vodka but that's about it!
So if you have some time off, catch it!
Here's the breakdown, the show airs on FX and just wrapped up its first season about a month ago. Two thirty somethings who really have no goals or aim in life are human guinea pigs for Testico, a drug testing company. There are some great pop culture references, not quite as many as in the brilliant Spaced but enough to keep you occasionally surprised.
The stuff they test is really where a lot of the comedy comes from, the episode where they lose their memory is great, the episode where they get glued together is LOL funny, the episode where they test the pheromones is outstanding. And that is just three of the ten! There really isn't a weak episode here.
You can catch the series on Hulu.com and with almost no commercial breaks. There is the occasional fifteen second break for Absolut Vodka but that's about it!
So if you have some time off, catch it!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Head Cold
Yeah I've had a head cold the past couple of days and it really isn't the way I wanted to spend my time off. It is just about over with now though. The congestion isn't as strong and the cough is less than it was yesterday.
I've been pretty buzzed up on cold medications the past two days. Oh well the past three days didn't cost me anything in leave as they are company vacation days! Next week I'll be a lot better and I'm sure I'll come up with some way to spend my leave wisely!
I'm sure there will be some quality napping next week. Perhaps lunch with friends. I know there is a huge New Year's Eve blow out at a friend's house he just bought! I'm really looking forward to that!!!!
I've been pretty buzzed up on cold medications the past two days. Oh well the past three days didn't cost me anything in leave as they are company vacation days! Next week I'll be a lot better and I'm sure I'll come up with some way to spend my leave wisely!
I'm sure there will be some quality napping next week. Perhaps lunch with friends. I know there is a huge New Year's Eve blow out at a friend's house he just bought! I'm really looking forward to that!!!!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Opens At #4
As I predicted Valkyrie has opened lower than expected. It debuted yesterday on Christmas as the number four movie nationwide. In the top spot is the Owen Wilson/Jennifer Anniston pic Marley and Me. So essentially Cruise is being beat out by a dog, Brad Pitt (which is understandable) and Adam Sandler.
This was Cruise's second lowest opening performance since 1986. His lowest was the agenda driven Lions for Lambs which was soundly rejected by the American viewing public.
Quite honestly this was still higher than I expected it would do. There is a weak slate of movies out right now in the holiday season. Nothing huge and epic that would drive better numbers. No huge Pixar holiday classic, no massive epic, nothing huge.
I would love to see Gran Torino, the latest and possibly last Clint Eastwood endeavor as a director and star. Alas it has not opened here. It appears to be a Bronson meets Eastwood vigilante movie, well if the trailers are accurate. If that is the case I can't wait!
This was Cruise's second lowest opening performance since 1986. His lowest was the agenda driven Lions for Lambs which was soundly rejected by the American viewing public.
Quite honestly this was still higher than I expected it would do. There is a weak slate of movies out right now in the holiday season. Nothing huge and epic that would drive better numbers. No huge Pixar holiday classic, no massive epic, nothing huge.
I would love to see Gran Torino, the latest and possibly last Clint Eastwood endeavor as a director and star. Alas it has not opened here. It appears to be a Bronson meets Eastwood vigilante movie, well if the trailers are accurate. If that is the case I can't wait!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
To each and everyone of you Merry Christmas!
I hope you find yourselves in the company of loved ones!
I hope you find yourselves in the company of loved ones!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
A Great Night!!!!
All of my friends decided to get together for the holidays this year so last night was the night.
We all cooked something and brought it, I volunteered the meat so I cooked some drip beef (really yummy!) spiral cut ham, and a pork loin. It was all great but not as much fun as having all of my friends together.
That was precious.
I wish everyone had the same quality of friends that I have!
We all cooked something and brought it, I volunteered the meat so I cooked some drip beef (really yummy!) spiral cut ham, and a pork loin. It was all great but not as much fun as having all of my friends together.
That was precious.
I wish everyone had the same quality of friends that I have!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Holidays
What would the holidays be without a little drama? This drama is pretty good though, I've got to do quite a bit of cooking today.
Quite a bit for tonight. A spiral cut ham, easy enough to cook right there but I'm trying a new recipe for a roast that was outstanding at work. Someone brought it in and I've got to say it was incredible and it is kind of labor intensive. Soooo I'll start that around noon since we are eating around seven tonight.
I've got to brave Walmart at one point as well today. That'll be an adventure! It isn't even eight o'clock yet in the morning, I should be there right now in fact! Perhaps I'll do that. I'll go start the truck and jump into the shower and get that done while the whole town isn't out there yet.
Quite a bit for tonight. A spiral cut ham, easy enough to cook right there but I'm trying a new recipe for a roast that was outstanding at work. Someone brought it in and I've got to say it was incredible and it is kind of labor intensive. Soooo I'll start that around noon since we are eating around seven tonight.
I've got to brave Walmart at one point as well today. That'll be an adventure! It isn't even eight o'clock yet in the morning, I should be there right now in fact! Perhaps I'll do that. I'll go start the truck and jump into the shower and get that done while the whole town isn't out there yet.
Monday, December 22, 2008
One Week Left!
Week seventeen is coming up and I'm in first place. Not only that but I put nine points on second place and thirteen points on third place.
Fourth place is basically out of contention to overtake me. I'm sixty seven points ahead of that team. In our league it is very difficult to make up points. We don't give many bonus points so we are really a td and yardage league. If the players don't score tds they don't get many points. So if your team doesn't have many tds then you don't score much.
One week left and I've got a thirty nine point head start going into the games next week. It feels good too. That is a good sized head start. Not as big as last years, the first place winner had nearly two hundred points. He had Ladanian Tomlinson and two other players who had career years. It wasn't even close. He won first many weeks in a row and I think he had things wrapped up by week ten.
Which reminds me I'm sitting at forty seven points going into tonight and I'm in first place right now. One team who is contention has forty four points and has the Chicago Bears D/ST. So I can be caught, it just feels good to be in first right now. Another player, Beersnob in fact, has three players going tonight and has thirty six points so he has a good shot at first as well.
Fourth place is basically out of contention to overtake me. I'm sixty seven points ahead of that team. In our league it is very difficult to make up points. We don't give many bonus points so we are really a td and yardage league. If the players don't score tds they don't get many points. So if your team doesn't have many tds then you don't score much.
One week left and I've got a thirty nine point head start going into the games next week. It feels good too. That is a good sized head start. Not as big as last years, the first place winner had nearly two hundred points. He had Ladanian Tomlinson and two other players who had career years. It wasn't even close. He won first many weeks in a row and I think he had things wrapped up by week ten.
Which reminds me I'm sitting at forty seven points going into tonight and I'm in first place right now. One team who is contention has forty four points and has the Chicago Bears D/ST. So I can be caught, it just feels good to be in first right now. Another player, Beersnob in fact, has three players going tonight and has thirty six points so he has a good shot at first as well.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Week 16
I've already mentioned my lineup but to recap it is Rivers, Peterson and Turner, Fitz, Holt, and Johnson. Praters is my kicker and I'm running with the Pittsburgh D against the Titans today.
I'm concerned about the Cardinals game since it is in a blizzard in New England. That will really limit what Fitz can do even though he is a beast. He could really have a great game or a terrible game.
At this point I just have to outscore two teams as the fourth place team is almost fifty points back with only two weeks. He could catch up to one of the other teams but I really doubt if he could bring it all the way to number one.
If I continue to put points on two teams then I should be really good come next week! It could be a very happy new year!!!!
I'm concerned about the Cardinals game since it is in a blizzard in New England. That will really limit what Fitz can do even though he is a beast. He could really have a great game or a terrible game.
At this point I just have to outscore two teams as the fourth place team is almost fifty points back with only two weeks. He could catch up to one of the other teams but I really doubt if he could bring it all the way to number one.
If I continue to put points on two teams then I should be really good come next week! It could be a very happy new year!!!!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Bowl Season
Starts today! I've got my office pick sheet in and after today I'll be off and running!
Even though the BCS is a catastrophe there are still a couple of good games out there to watch.
Oklahoma State vs. Oregon will be a very good match up.
Normally I wouldn't care about any Big 10 team as they all pretty much suck anymore but the Fiesta Bowl will be interesting to see how many points Texas can run up on Ohio State. I think the over under is around 90...
TCU vs. Boise State is one I'm really looking forward to. I do enjoy watching Boise State play ball. They are exciting and very tough. They really deserved to be in one of the best bowls.
Utah vs. Alabama should be good and if Utah wins it will lend further weight to destroying the BCS system. Go Utah!
Maryland vs. Nevada, I can hear you now, What?!?!?! Nevada vs. Maryland?!?!? Yeah, not because of the teams but because it is played on the Boise State home field. Yeah, it is on the Smurf Turf and with the weather being what it is right now it will likely be a snow or blizzard game! Now that is worth watching! As for who is playing? Who cares, bring on the weather!
Those are the games I'm looking forward to! As for the "big" games? Eh....it really won't settle anything until there is a playoff system in place. So I am pulling for chaos to win out this year!
Even though the BCS is a catastrophe there are still a couple of good games out there to watch.
Oklahoma State vs. Oregon will be a very good match up.
Normally I wouldn't care about any Big 10 team as they all pretty much suck anymore but the Fiesta Bowl will be interesting to see how many points Texas can run up on Ohio State. I think the over under is around 90...
TCU vs. Boise State is one I'm really looking forward to. I do enjoy watching Boise State play ball. They are exciting and very tough. They really deserved to be in one of the best bowls.
Utah vs. Alabama should be good and if Utah wins it will lend further weight to destroying the BCS system. Go Utah!
Maryland vs. Nevada, I can hear you now, What?!?!?! Nevada vs. Maryland?!?!? Yeah, not because of the teams but because it is played on the Boise State home field. Yeah, it is on the Smurf Turf and with the weather being what it is right now it will likely be a snow or blizzard game! Now that is worth watching! As for who is playing? Who cares, bring on the weather!
Those are the games I'm looking forward to! As for the "big" games? Eh....it really won't settle anything until there is a playoff system in place. So I am pulling for chaos to win out this year!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Yes!
Yesterday was my Friday! I'm off for two full weeks! My next day at work will be January 5!!!!
I didn't have anyone playing last night. I left David Garrard on the bench as I am going to start Rivers. Peterson and Turner will go head to head this week and I'm sure they will both want to out duel the other one. I'm hoping that is the case anyway!
I'm still 30 and 35 up on second and third place so a really good week would almost win me the league and a nice paycheck! That would be incredible! I am planning a trip to Vegas this coming March and that would cover it!
I didn't have anyone playing last night. I left David Garrard on the bench as I am going to start Rivers. Peterson and Turner will go head to head this week and I'm sure they will both want to out duel the other one. I'm hoping that is the case anyway!
I'm still 30 and 35 up on second and third place so a really good week would almost win me the league and a nice paycheck! That would be incredible! I am planning a trip to Vegas this coming March and that would cover it!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Why
Do I always wait to the last minute to Christmas shop? Actually it isn't the last minute yet, next week will be and THAT is when I plan on Christmas shopping.
As big as I am about planning things out you'd think that I would have been doing this months ago! But NNOOooooOOOooo.....I have to wait until NEXT week to Christmas shop! How nuts is that?!
It isn't even that I hate shopping or anything. I would much rather buy a gift for someone else than have someone buy one for me. Maybe I'm wired a bit differently but honestly I know I'm the hardest person in the world to buy for. If I want something I usually have it. If I don't (like a 52", 1080p, plasma or lcd tv) then I'm trying to save for it.
Oh well, such is the way I think I guess. So if any of you have any ideas about getting me something, do me a HUGE favor and donate that money to a charity or adopt a family to have Christmas for. Let me know ahead of time and I might have some left over to kick in to help YOU out.
As big as I am about planning things out you'd think that I would have been doing this months ago! But NNOOooooOOOooo.....I have to wait until NEXT week to Christmas shop! How nuts is that?!
It isn't even that I hate shopping or anything. I would much rather buy a gift for someone else than have someone buy one for me. Maybe I'm wired a bit differently but honestly I know I'm the hardest person in the world to buy for. If I want something I usually have it. If I don't (like a 52", 1080p, plasma or lcd tv) then I'm trying to save for it.
Oh well, such is the way I think I guess. So if any of you have any ideas about getting me something, do me a HUGE favor and donate that money to a charity or adopt a family to have Christmas for. Let me know ahead of time and I might have some left over to kick in to help YOU out.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Three More Days
And then I'm off for two full weeks. Yeah I know I've mentioned this a time or two the past couple of blogs but you know something? I'm excited about not being at work for two weeks!
There has been a big to do at work lately anyway about one section being behind so they are asking for volunteers to go and work there. The problem is though that there is no guarantee that there will be people called back from the layoff. It goes a bit more indepth than that, lots of union and company rules to abide by and overlook you know.
Anyway no one is happy about how they are going to do it but they are happy that it is going to be done. Does that make sense? If you worked where I worked it would make perfect sense.
My main concern is getting people who were laid off back to their jobs. My job happens to be pretty recession proof. We aren't dependent upon lots of market factors that dictate how many people work or not. The layoff happened well before the financial crisis and in my opinion was planned when the company bid the contract a year ago. I believe they bid layoffs into their price.
I might go to the union meeting this coming Saturday, there is likely going to be a fight and lots of yelling and screaming at Johnny Friendly, our corrupt union boss. People want accountability and they don't feel they are getting it.
Personally I'm grateful for my job! A very good friend was laid off and I keep him informed about any jobs that might be posted so he can get back to work, even if it isn't the job he left. One came up yesterday and I believe he is going to take it, he would get all of his benefits back and because it is a different pay grade he will go to the top of that pay scale. He was making more when he was laid off, I don't believe they will call him back in the next year, maybe ever.
There has been a big to do at work lately anyway about one section being behind so they are asking for volunteers to go and work there. The problem is though that there is no guarantee that there will be people called back from the layoff. It goes a bit more indepth than that, lots of union and company rules to abide by and overlook you know.
Anyway no one is happy about how they are going to do it but they are happy that it is going to be done. Does that make sense? If you worked where I worked it would make perfect sense.
My main concern is getting people who were laid off back to their jobs. My job happens to be pretty recession proof. We aren't dependent upon lots of market factors that dictate how many people work or not. The layoff happened well before the financial crisis and in my opinion was planned when the company bid the contract a year ago. I believe they bid layoffs into their price.
I might go to the union meeting this coming Saturday, there is likely going to be a fight and lots of yelling and screaming at Johnny Friendly, our corrupt union boss. People want accountability and they don't feel they are getting it.
Personally I'm grateful for my job! A very good friend was laid off and I keep him informed about any jobs that might be posted so he can get back to work, even if it isn't the job he left. One came up yesterday and I believe he is going to take it, he would get all of his benefits back and because it is a different pay grade he will go to the top of that pay scale. He was making more when he was laid off, I don't believe they will call him back in the next year, maybe ever.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Cold!!!!
It barely hit 13 degrees yesterday afternoon. That really wouldn't have been so bad except for the wind that accompanied freezing cold! I've been running my faucets night and day since Sunday to keep everything flowing.
Had my experiences with frozen water and broken pipes a few years back....that really sucks! Won't let it happen again that's for sure.
The third place team had Brian Westbrook last night and he apparently didn't score anything for him so I maintained my overall lead! Two more weeks to go!
Weezy will be in this week to visit for the holidays! I can't wait to hang out with her, I miss her quite a bit. She has been doing wonderfully well in LA pursuing acting and it will be great to see her in a couple of days!
Had my experiences with frozen water and broken pipes a few years back....that really sucks! Won't let it happen again that's for sure.
The third place team had Brian Westbrook last night and he apparently didn't score anything for him so I maintained my overall lead! Two more weeks to go!
Weezy will be in this week to visit for the holidays! I can't wait to hang out with her, I miss her quite a bit. She has been doing wonderfully well in LA pursuing acting and it will be great to see her in a couple of days!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Increasing The Lead!
I've now got a thirty point lead over second and a thirty five point lead over third in my fantasy league standings!
This is exciting! I was able to increase my lead over the two teams I really needed to put points on. With two weeks left in the season a thirty point lead is pretty good. Not enough to be comfortable with but it is nice. If my players maintain what they have been doing it will be really good!
Well the show is over, it closed yesterday and we all pitched in to tear down the set. That was quite a chore. It took about three hours to finish.
Finally I get some much needed rest! After the past three weeks of doing something nearly every evening with the show it will also be a bit weird. You'll actually be wanting to go and do something with the show but there is nothing to do since there is no show.
That's alright though, I'll get over that part in a day or two! Five work days left until I take a two week vacation! That is thrilling! No plans, just get to do what I want when I want!
This is exciting! I was able to increase my lead over the two teams I really needed to put points on. With two weeks left in the season a thirty point lead is pretty good. Not enough to be comfortable with but it is nice. If my players maintain what they have been doing it will be really good!
Well the show is over, it closed yesterday and we all pitched in to tear down the set. That was quite a chore. It took about three hours to finish.
Finally I get some much needed rest! After the past three weeks of doing something nearly every evening with the show it will also be a bit weird. You'll actually be wanting to go and do something with the show but there is nothing to do since there is no show.
That's alright though, I'll get over that part in a day or two! Five work days left until I take a two week vacation! That is thrilling! No plans, just get to do what I want when I want!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Week 15
Well the season is winding down. I'm out of the playoffs but still leading the league in scoring. Three weeks total and I'll be good!
My lineup this week looks like this, Rivers, Peterson, Turner, Fitz, Johnson, and Holt. I'm going with Feely as my kicker and the Pittsburgh D as they take on the Ravens.
I might change the D though and put the Giants in as they take on the Dallas team in turmoil. Its a tough call but still it is only the defense and special teams.
Today is my last show of Yes Virginia! I'm worn out. Last night was a sold out crowd and it was a really good audience. Today's show is a producer's matinee. The proceeds are going to the March of Dimes though which is really nice.
This week is my last working week of the year! Five days and then it is two full weeks off! I'll get my Christmas shopping done, spend lots of time with those I love, and just relax the last of the year away!
My lineup this week looks like this, Rivers, Peterson, Turner, Fitz, Johnson, and Holt. I'm going with Feely as my kicker and the Pittsburgh D as they take on the Ravens.
I might change the D though and put the Giants in as they take on the Dallas team in turmoil. Its a tough call but still it is only the defense and special teams.
Today is my last show of Yes Virginia! I'm worn out. Last night was a sold out crowd and it was a really good audience. Today's show is a producer's matinee. The proceeds are going to the March of Dimes though which is really nice.
This week is my last working week of the year! Five days and then it is two full weeks off! I'll get my Christmas shopping done, spend lots of time with those I love, and just relax the last of the year away!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Its Time
For the yearly TO meltdown in Dallas. Every time there is a news story about the Dallas Cowboys the theme to the old tv show Dallas needs to be the bed music.
Terrel Owens has been vocal in the past few days about his quarterback...as he has done in the past when he burned down the 49ers and the Eagles after that. TO seems to have a limited life span as a team player.
As long as he feels he is getting the ball he is happy, when he feels he isn't getting enough attention he is unhappy. This past week he claimed that Tony Romo and Jason Witten have been drawing up secret plays to freeze TO out of the game.
Well lets see if TO has a beef here.
Week 12 vs. the 49ers TO had 7 receptions for 213 and 1 td.
Week 13 vs. the Seahawks TO had 5 receptions for 98 and 1 td.
Week 14 vs. the Steelers TO had 3 for 32 and 1 td.
Those are good numbers.
Let's take a look at Witten's numbers.
Week 12 vs. the 49ers Witten had 1 for 11 yards.
Week 13 vs. the Seahawks Witten had 9 for 115 and 1 td.
Week 14 vs. the Steelers Witten had 6 for 62.
So TO had 15 receptions and Witten had 16. TO had 2 more tds and 155 more yards than Witten. I can't find a dropped balls stat but I'm sure it is out there somewhere and I would almost wager that TO had more dropped passes.
Look as much as it pains me TO is likely a hall of fame receiver. The thing is that Witten might as well be a hall of fame tight end and is one of the best tight ends in the game right now.
So since the numbers really don't make TO's argument there has to be something else eating at TO. He is just another NFL diva receiver who doesn't appreciate his status in life right now.
He has made generational money. He gets paid to play a game he loves. He is featured on one of the most popular teams in the NFL. What exactly is eating TO? I believe he might have some psychological imbalance where he can never be satisfied. He appears to be jealous of Jason Witten. That's kind of cute but not very professional.
Terrel Owens has been vocal in the past few days about his quarterback...as he has done in the past when he burned down the 49ers and the Eagles after that. TO seems to have a limited life span as a team player.
As long as he feels he is getting the ball he is happy, when he feels he isn't getting enough attention he is unhappy. This past week he claimed that Tony Romo and Jason Witten have been drawing up secret plays to freeze TO out of the game.
Well lets see if TO has a beef here.
Week 12 vs. the 49ers TO had 7 receptions for 213 and 1 td.
Week 13 vs. the Seahawks TO had 5 receptions for 98 and 1 td.
Week 14 vs. the Steelers TO had 3 for 32 and 1 td.
Those are good numbers.
Let's take a look at Witten's numbers.
Week 12 vs. the 49ers Witten had 1 for 11 yards.
Week 13 vs. the Seahawks Witten had 9 for 115 and 1 td.
Week 14 vs. the Steelers Witten had 6 for 62.
So TO had 15 receptions and Witten had 16. TO had 2 more tds and 155 more yards than Witten. I can't find a dropped balls stat but I'm sure it is out there somewhere and I would almost wager that TO had more dropped passes.
Look as much as it pains me TO is likely a hall of fame receiver. The thing is that Witten might as well be a hall of fame tight end and is one of the best tight ends in the game right now.
So since the numbers really don't make TO's argument there has to be something else eating at TO. He is just another NFL diva receiver who doesn't appreciate his status in life right now.
He has made generational money. He gets paid to play a game he loves. He is featured on one of the most popular teams in the NFL. What exactly is eating TO? I believe he might have some psychological imbalance where he can never be satisfied. He appears to be jealous of Jason Witten. That's kind of cute but not very professional.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Last Three Shows
Last night's show was probably the best show for the actors. They all did outstanding jobs and were really on.
Its Friday and I have one more week of work before I'm off for two glorious weeks!!!!
I'm very excited about that!! I haven't had two straight weeks off before in a very long time!
Just need some down time after the past two shows! I've been at the theatre almost every evening with a few exceptions since a week before Twelve Angry Jurors started in October!
Yeah, just need some down time.
Its Friday and I have one more week of work before I'm off for two glorious weeks!!!!
I'm very excited about that!! I haven't had two straight weeks off before in a very long time!
Just need some down time after the past two shows! I've been at the theatre almost every evening with a few exceptions since a week before Twelve Angry Jurors started in October!
Yeah, just need some down time.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Typical
Icy roads yesterday, warms up a bit, clear roads this morning!
That is our weather. It is really rare we have slick, icy roads for more than two straight days. It happens sometimes but not often. I'm ok with that though. It was certainly very cold and is right now even. Got the Suburban warming up right now. I like stepping into a warm cab! I guess that is a simple pleasure, a warm cab on a cold morning.
Well I don't have anyone going in tonight's game which features the Bears and Saints. I won't be turning in my lineup this morning. I could as it probably won't change between now and Sunday but I'll just hold off in case I decide to pick someone up.
I think I'll go to the pub tonight before the show starts. Well it is really a full on dress rehearsal with a special needs crowd we are putting on for free. Been ordering Irish Coffee the past couple of times I've been there. Nice and warm on a cold evening!
That is our weather. It is really rare we have slick, icy roads for more than two straight days. It happens sometimes but not often. I'm ok with that though. It was certainly very cold and is right now even. Got the Suburban warming up right now. I like stepping into a warm cab! I guess that is a simple pleasure, a warm cab on a cold morning.
Well I don't have anyone going in tonight's game which features the Bears and Saints. I won't be turning in my lineup this morning. I could as it probably won't change between now and Sunday but I'll just hold off in case I decide to pick someone up.
I think I'll go to the pub tonight before the show starts. Well it is really a full on dress rehearsal with a special needs crowd we are putting on for free. Been ordering Irish Coffee the past couple of times I've been there. Nice and warm on a cold evening!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Minor Snow Storm
Our first storm of the year hit yesterday. About an inch of snow but it had rained some first and that is what froze and is under the snow.
The roads are slick and icy. I've had my Suburban running for almost a half hour now. A warm diesel is a happy diesel! Yes I plug it in at night too and have anti gelling fuel additive in the fuel.
Well rehearsals start again tonight. We have a show for special needs kids tomorrow night that is like a rehearsal but with costumes. Then another three show run with the set strike being on Sunday afternoon.
That will take a good two hours to take apart and put up. Maybe a bit longer. After that I have some down time, much needed down time! My two week vacation starts the following week! I'm thrilled about that!
The roads are slick and icy. I've had my Suburban running for almost a half hour now. A warm diesel is a happy diesel! Yes I plug it in at night too and have anti gelling fuel additive in the fuel.
Well rehearsals start again tonight. We have a show for special needs kids tomorrow night that is like a rehearsal but with costumes. Then another three show run with the set strike being on Sunday afternoon.
That will take a good two hours to take apart and put up. Maybe a bit longer. After that I have some down time, much needed down time! My two week vacation starts the following week! I'm thrilled about that!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
I Lost
My weekly match up which also happens to be the first round of the playoffs. I was winning by a comfortable margin too!
That's alright though, I did maintain first place by eighteen points! My team can maintain that or increase it! The payoff for any of the top three places will be a nice one!
Its cold outside. Not icy like they were predicting though and that's nice. Today The Dark Knight comes out on DVD! Great movie that I'm looking forward to seeing again!
That's alright though, I did maintain first place by eighteen points! My team can maintain that or increase it! The payoff for any of the top three places will be a nice one!
Its cold outside. Not icy like they were predicting though and that's nice. Today The Dark Knight comes out on DVD! Great movie that I'm looking forward to seeing again!
Monday, December 08, 2008
BCS Debacle
In what seems like a yearly occurrence the BCS has botched college football. If I remember correctly the BCS was made to put the best teams in the best bowls. So tell me why in the world Ohio State, Cincinnati, and Virginia Tech have BCS games while Texas Tech, and undefeated Boise State don't.
Yes yes Boise State isn't a BCS school but they are unbeaten and deserve a better bowl game than 9-4 Virginia Tech. It is all about conference champions and automatic bids. That is why this system SUCKS. Everyone in America is crying out for a playoff system except a handful of NCAA executives and heads of the conferences.
A playoff system would be the best. You take the top teams regardless of conference and put them into a playoff bracket. That way the teams who are in the best conferences who beat each other up aren't penalized as much as the teams who play NO ONE like Ohio State and USC. Their schedules are pathetic!
It is a travesty to any college football fan to put some of these teams into good bowls. We deserve better.
In other news I'm now back on top of the points lead as our playoffs started yesterday. I am the only team over six hundred points with six sixteen. Second place has five ninety two and third checks in with five eighty two. So I've got a decent lead and if my team pulls together one more game like yesterday I think I'll have it secured. I'm in second place going into tonight with forty eight.
First has fifty seven. I won my playoff match up as the second seed and have moved onto the next round.
Yes yes Boise State isn't a BCS school but they are unbeaten and deserve a better bowl game than 9-4 Virginia Tech. It is all about conference champions and automatic bids. That is why this system SUCKS. Everyone in America is crying out for a playoff system except a handful of NCAA executives and heads of the conferences.
A playoff system would be the best. You take the top teams regardless of conference and put them into a playoff bracket. That way the teams who are in the best conferences who beat each other up aren't penalized as much as the teams who play NO ONE like Ohio State and USC. Their schedules are pathetic!
It is a travesty to any college football fan to put some of these teams into good bowls. We deserve better.
In other news I'm now back on top of the points lead as our playoffs started yesterday. I am the only team over six hundred points with six sixteen. Second place has five ninety two and third checks in with five eighty two. So I've got a decent lead and if my team pulls together one more game like yesterday I think I'll have it secured. I'm in second place going into tonight with forty eight.
First has fifty seven. I won my playoff match up as the second seed and have moved onto the next round.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
So So Second Show
The audience was horrible and nearly unresponsive. They really either didn't have any energy or they just thought the show was bad which it wasn't last night. The cues were good, the actors were on, they didn't lack any energy.
Some audiences are great and respond to everything and then some are like last night's audience and they are flat from the start.
Today's show is a producer's show, they will be very responsive since they kicked in some money to make the show happen. It also happens to be during the games today so I won't really know how my team is doing until later in the afternoon.
That's alright, it will be a nice surprise to see how they are doing while I'm not watching. Maybe they will really go off this week and I won't know it until later! That would be an incredible surprise!
I'm meeting friends for lunch today at eleven. That'll be fun, always is!
So today I am starting with fifteen points, my opponent has ten in the first round of the playoffs. I'm the second seed after last week's loss so I'm taking on the fifth seed. Would have been the the top seed if it hadn't been for last week.
It's alright though! This is a new week!
Some audiences are great and respond to everything and then some are like last night's audience and they are flat from the start.
Today's show is a producer's show, they will be very responsive since they kicked in some money to make the show happen. It also happens to be during the games today so I won't really know how my team is doing until later in the afternoon.
That's alright, it will be a nice surprise to see how they are doing while I'm not watching. Maybe they will really go off this week and I won't know it until later! That would be an incredible surprise!
I'm meeting friends for lunch today at eleven. That'll be fun, always is!
So today I am starting with fifteen points, my opponent has ten in the first round of the playoffs. I'm the second seed after last week's loss so I'm taking on the fifth seed. Would have been the the top seed if it hadn't been for last week.
It's alright though! This is a new week!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Opening Night
There were some jitters among our youngest actors on opening night. Nothing that wasn't worked out by the second act though. All in all it went very well.
The crowd was a little flat but did pick up some later in the show. A couple of the actors were sick and really had to step up their game to cover for that. With a large cast it is bound to happen this time of year.
This was a very long week. I didn't think Friday was ever going to get here to be honest. I was going to work, coming home for a short time and then heading to the theatre until nearly ten every evening. Then repeating the process the next day. I need a vacation.....which I'll be taking at the end of this month for two weeks!
I plan on doing nothing I don't have to!
The crowd was a little flat but did pick up some later in the show. A couple of the actors were sick and really had to step up their game to cover for that. With a large cast it is bound to happen this time of year.
This was a very long week. I didn't think Friday was ever going to get here to be honest. I was going to work, coming home for a short time and then heading to the theatre until nearly ten every evening. Then repeating the process the next day. I need a vacation.....which I'll be taking at the end of this month for two weeks!
I plan on doing nothing I don't have to!
Friday, December 05, 2008
Fifteen Points!
I got a nice amount of points from Philip Rivers last night as the Chargers routed the Raiders! I'm now in first overall this week and in the league! The week is barely underway and I'm looking forward to the games.
The problem is that I won't be able to see much of the games as there is a Producer's show on Sunday afternoon.
So it is kind of a good news bad news thing. I'm in first but won't see my teams play.
Last night's final dress rehearsal went very well! The friendly crowd was into it, the clapped several times that were unexpected, laughed at all the right parts, and enjoyed the show. I blew one cue badly as I brought the lights down a few lines too fast.
Despite that everything went well and everyone enjoyed the show!
The problem is that I won't be able to see much of the games as there is a Producer's show on Sunday afternoon.
So it is kind of a good news bad news thing. I'm in first but won't see my teams play.
Last night's final dress rehearsal went very well! The friendly crowd was into it, the clapped several times that were unexpected, laughed at all the right parts, and enjoyed the show. I blew one cue badly as I brought the lights down a few lines too fast.
Despite that everything went well and everyone enjoyed the show!
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Best Rehearsal To Date
There were few flaws, my cues were perfect, the spotlight was perfect, the ADHD kid was not on stage a couple of times which made the other actors relax and those scenes came off perfect, we finally have a show!
I'll be there bright and early for the show tonight. Well not so bright and early as I'll be there around 6:30 and it will be dark and cold but I'll be there!
This is the first show with an audience, a test audience of family and friends but since some of the kids haven't been in front of an audience before it will be a good experience for them. Last I heard the tickets were going really quickly and really close to being sold out for a couple of shows!
That's really good when that happens!
I'll be there bright and early for the show tonight. Well not so bright and early as I'll be there around 6:30 and it will be dark and cold but I'll be there!
This is the first show with an audience, a test audience of family and friends but since some of the kids haven't been in front of an audience before it will be a good experience for them. Last I heard the tickets were going really quickly and really close to being sold out for a couple of shows!
That's really good when that happens!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Second Act Chaos
I've been to rehearsal every evening for Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus as I am running the light board and computer that dims the lights. The first act went well, the actors were on, the cues were flawless.
We took the break between acts and came back and nothing went right. Our spotlight guy was a tad late and had to use another light on the fly for the spot. One of the actor's child is in the show and apparently he is ADHD and can't sit still for two minutes or remember anything from five minutes ago. He jumped a large scene with a line and from then on my cues were off, several of the actors had a hard time following, and it just descended from there.
Hopefully the show tonight will be better.
We took the break between acts and came back and nothing went right. Our spotlight guy was a tad late and had to use another light on the fly for the spot. One of the actor's child is in the show and apparently he is ADHD and can't sit still for two minutes or remember anything from five minutes ago. He jumped a large scene with a line and from then on my cues were off, several of the actors had a hard time following, and it just descended from there.
Hopefully the show tonight will be better.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Still Second
But I gained ground on third place and now am only one point behind first! I can live with that. I knew it would tighten up as the season wound down. This is just happening now instead of later.
The only year that we haven't had a close race for the overall lead was when a team had LT in his prime a couple of years ago. He won by around two hundred points and came in first several times that season on the weeklies.
It was a runaway victory all around for him. Peterson isn't having that kind of year but if he have had a run of twenty tds this season I would be that dominate despite my receivers under performing td wise.
This is going to be a tough run in the next four weeks. I really need my team to step up and do what it did during the start of the season and get into the sixties for a couple of them to have a good chance at winning it all.
The only year that we haven't had a close race for the overall lead was when a team had LT in his prime a couple of years ago. He won by around two hundred points and came in first several times that season on the weeklies.
It was a runaway victory all around for him. Peterson isn't having that kind of year but if he have had a run of twenty tds this season I would be that dominate despite my receivers under performing td wise.
This is going to be a tough run in the next four weeks. I really need my team to step up and do what it did during the start of the season and get into the sixties for a couple of them to have a good chance at winning it all.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Second Place
Again!
I've lost my heads up match this week badly, 59-32. I've also lost first place to the second place team and now trail 569-562 overall. I've got Andre Johnson going to night and if he breaks out and has a stellar game I'll be back in first.
Third place put a ton of points on me as well and I lead him by a mere two points but he is done for the week.
This wasn't a good week for me at all. It started out so promising with two tds from Larry Fitzgerald and then went no where. Turner had a good rushing game. Peterson had a good game. Rivers did nothing. My kicker had a mere five points. Usually he is good for double that.
Its alright, there is just a three way chase for first place now!
I've lost my heads up match this week badly, 59-32. I've also lost first place to the second place team and now trail 569-562 overall. I've got Andre Johnson going to night and if he breaks out and has a stellar game I'll be back in first.
Third place put a ton of points on me as well and I lead him by a mere two points but he is done for the week.
This wasn't a good week for me at all. It started out so promising with two tds from Larry Fitzgerald and then went no where. Turner had a good rushing game. Peterson had a good game. Rivers did nothing. My kicker had a mere five points. Usually he is good for double that.
Its alright, there is just a three way chase for first place now!
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