Thoughts

So here's what happened. I was enjoying my 5 hour slumber, minding my own business. At one point I was conscious of my movement as I rolled over onto my stomach. My body was hence contorted in a horizontal ladder climbing pose if that helps you visualize. I had an arm over my head and a leg rotated up and out, bent at the knee. As I settled into the position described, I had a euphoric feeling that this position in which my body found itself was the position of legend. Try all I like, I would never find something so comfortable. Instead of any feeling of panic or anxiety over the fact that this would be my only chance for such luxury, I lost myself in the moment. My body melted into the mattress; I was one with my bed.

Though this sounds as if it were drawn out over time, the entire thing happened in a matter of merely one second.

The following second my alarm sounded...

What a week for football. 8 games decided by 3 points or less, one of which was in overtime. That and one game which came down to a final play, but there is more details on that coming up.

I offer my half-hearted congrats to Peyton Manning for setting the record for passing touchdowns in a season. As mentioned before, I like Peyton, but I idolize Dan Marino (previous holder of the record).

Controversy strikes! My apologies to the Chicago Bears for getting screwed out of the game against my Lions. The Bears lost the game 19-13, though on their final possession threw a pass to the end zone which was caught for what I would have considered a touchdown. I'm of the school of fan who awards touchdowns to receivers who catch the ball in the end zone by establishing possession and getting two feet in bounds. Apparently I am more lenient than the referees in that game.

The news in Detroit is that you will never make Lions fans happy. You lose and they (though used to it) are bitter. You win and they wish you'd lost for better draft position. I overheard a woman trying to explain to her young children that she was upset with the Lions for not taking a dive in that game in order to ensure a better draft pick. Do you think your 6 year old would really comprehend that idea? Is sandbagging for a draft pick a lesson you want to teach your child? Mind you I am not trying to tell her how to raise her children, but it did appear to be a silly conversation.

One more week. One week in which you will see most teams play like they did back in August. Starting QBs if they play at all will only play a series. Key players may take the week off to rest up for the playoffs. Only the few teams who are still in the hunt will actually play this weekend. For those of you who will be ending your fantasy season in week 17, have a stellar week. I'm glad our league ended when it did (Did I mention I won?).

It was nice to be in attendance for a Pistons win last night over anyone, but especially the Nets. For any of you who are actually New Jersey fans, first let me say how sorry I am for that fact, but also allow me to share this: Vince looked nasty last night. I think you'll be quite happy with his performance. The important thing, however, is that Half Man + Half Amazing still = a loss to the Pistons. He played very well and should have made you all proud until he quit. He "suddenly" got a cramp or something similar in what appeared to be his hamstring. Instead of taking his lumps and losing graciously he left the game and was worked on by the trainer for the last few minutes. Sure, he could actually have been hurt...maybe I'm biased, but it sure looked like he was fine until the proverbial nail was in the coffin.

Last season the Pistons were the first team to hold Jason Kidd scoreless at any point in his career. You may not agree, but I find some comfort in the fact that last night Kidd had 2 points. Each point represents made free throws he attempted as penalty to the Pistons for technical fouls. Take out some poor officiating and maybe Kidd goes scoreless again.

Enough about the actual game...I have a rant about Palace management.

I am not sure if it there was some special occasion at the Palace last night, but there appeared to be an unusual amount of handicapped people at the game. I saw one blind kid, a handful of mentally handicapped children and a large group of physically handicapped children (many in wheelchairs) lined the court to greet the Pistons at the beginning of the game with high-fives. That is merely a point of fact, I mean it with no ill intent. If this is the case, please explain to me why the house band (I believe their name is the Sun Messengers) decided it was a good time to play their Black Eyed Peas cover which cross-breeds the edited and unedited versions of the song "Let's Get it Started"? "Let's get it started, ha. Let's get retarded in here! Let's get it started, ha. Let's get retarded in here!" Maybe I'm too sensitive about that, but I felt it a little too inappropriate when I heard them play it at the game last week when I didn't see any handicapped attendees.

Some kid held up this sign, it was easily my favorite : "The Nets got Pist.on".

What is worse than staying awake to try and watch the whole game and falling asleep with roughly 4.5 minutes left in a game where the team you want to lose falls apart and gives up an 11 point lead to lose in the final 4 minutes of the game? Nothing. Nothing is worse than that. No, not even nuclear winter. How do you like these apples: more posting about the Patriots...THEY LOST TO THE DOLPHINS! Brady's "errant pass"...you know, the one that BLEW THE GAME, at least opened the door for me to win my fantasy match up this week putting me in the championship this coming weekend. My thanks to miamidolphins.com for such appropriate photos.

I would think the big news this week is the injury. Terrell Owens underwent surgery today on his right ankle to repair ligament damage. Rumor has it he should be able to play from February 6 if the Eagles can get there. Unable to score points as they were this week will certainly not help them make it to the Super Bowl. Were they that shook up at T.O. getting hurt? I could show you a picture of his ankle injury...or another of Tom Brady getting sacked.

Do I have to address the Lions/Vikings game? Can't I just pretend it never happened? Is it so wrong to do that? Or can I just change the details in my memory? How is this for a change: In my version, Nick Harris (P) does NOT think the long snapper will get a "do-over" and actually tries to make a football play instead of waiting to get tackled THEN throws the ball. Was he serious? This is live, Nick. I know the Lions don't score many touchdowns, but when they do, it is customary to attempt the extra point. Sure, on the time previous they tried for a two point conversion (and succeeded), but now it's time to kick it. Yes blame the long snapper. It was a terrible snap that bounced to the holder (Harris), but do not give him the sole blame. Was this the first time this has happened in the history of the game? No. Teams actually practice the scenario of a missed snap. If you are not going to place the ball for the PAT try, then stand up and either try to run the ball or throw it into the end zone. I'm getting a little too worked up over here...

Peyton has moved up to now only 1 touchdown pass shy of tying Dan Marino's record set back in 1984. Hype Manning all you like, given the option between the two, I take Marino any day of the week. Sure I'm biased. Sure Dan Marino is my all-time favorite NFL player. I still think he did more with less and made it more fun to watch than Peyton does now.

Jaguars are holding press conferences to explain that their player was not actually intending to hurt Packers' receiver Robert Ferguson. Donovin Darius was fined $75,000 by the league for the hit pictured, which left Ferguson temporarily paralyzed. Reports say he regained feeling in his legs while being treated at the hospital. I am not meaning to make light of the situation when I point out that I believe this is why the league outlawed head tackling in the first place. I never want to see a player seriously injured, Ferguson is no exception. Hopefully his recovery will be full and timely.

It was truly a fun week football-wise. Steelers almost losing to the Giants, Patriots squandering an 11 point lead in 4 minutes, Falcons beating Carolina in OT, Lions' near comeback against the Vikings, did I mention the Pats/Dolphins game yet?

Can you think of any better way...

...to embarrass your little sister?

I can't wait. There is no point. Why hold off until the end when you can jump on the bandwagon and slander Jake Plummer for his "action" in week 14? Heckled by a fan after throwing another interception in this run away disaster of a season, Plummer decided he'd take matters into his own...finger.

Here, a comment on the Pats. Enjoy it...
The Patriots made many of their supporters doubters in week 14 by giving up 28 points to the Cincinnati Bengals. People who were earlier on the New England fan bus are now questioning the Pats ability to defend.

In related news more and more people are turning their heads to the Steelers as Super Bowl favorites. The credit is not going to Ben Roethlisberger. The credit isn't going to anyone actually. I am not sure if anyone cares who gets the credit, as long as someone is picking up the slack. Game in game out that is the motto in Pittsburgh. Good for them.
I still like the Eagles come Super Bowl time.

Giants continue to let Eli lose. Some people are complaining, they want Warner back in the lineup. My words to them are simple and few, "Joey Harrington."

I did find the best place to watch Monday Night Football (details may or may not come in a later post) and it was actually a fun game to watch...kinda. I was going to comment on the two teams playing without their stars, but can we even call McNair the star Quarterback in Tennessee anymore? I didn't think so either.

Things got off to a bad start Friday afternoon as I began my excursion. I had a 7pm flight so I did the smart thing and left work at 4 in hopes of making decent time by hopefully beating the traffic. This plan was met with construction and bumper to bumper traffic.

I was thrilled.

Good thing I left early, however. I eventually made my way into the airport and found out that the gate from which I was set to depart was the furthest away from where I came in. I can use the exercise so I hoofed it to the gate and see "NY, La Guardia" on the monitor. Now last time I had checked New York was not on the way from Detroit to Orlando, but maybe they moved it. My gate was moved to right next to where I entered the airport. I make the trek back and wait in line to ask for my exit row seat.

Upon my asking, the woman behind the counter tells me that there are no empty seats available period, including exit row. She says she will write down my seat number and let me know if anything comes up...how kind of her. Much to my surprise I was soon paged back to the counter. She hands me a new boarding pass marked "01 B". My only guess here is that there were openings in first class and they were trying to fit standby passengers on the flight. Why not bump and existing passenger to first class and let someone standby take his seat in economy? I like it.

This was only my second experience in first class and my first on this particular airline. As it turns out, this airline likes to flood your body with booze. Who knew?

=> Read more!

Now, I know I am late with this post. I have been relatively busy recently. There is my excuse.

That aside, I managed to grab my camera on the morning of December the first before I headed off to work and took a few shots of my "first snow".

Ok, having lived in Michigan for the better part of my short life and in Pennsylvania for the rest, I've been through a snow fall or two. It even snowed the night before Thanksgiving, just three weeks ago. The snow flakes on the morning of December 1 were the first while I was living at my condo*.

The pictures are of the gazebo located right next to my building. When I opened my garage I thought it looked nice in the morning snow and decided to capture the moment. Sure it's lost on you all, but it was nice for me, so BACK OFF! I am still adjusting to this whole "owning my own home" thing. Please, be patient with me.

(*Due to my ankle injury I could not drive and had moved back in with my parents for about three weeks time which included the day of the earlier snow fall.)

I'm going to get to the good stuff early this week so you can skip the rest if you so feel the need. You're welcome in advance.

The team to beat this year is the Philadelphia Eagles. What happened against the Steelers a few weeks ago to give the 'Birds their only loss of the season is certainly an anomaly. Say all you want about record numbers for Peyton Manning folks, I'll take Andy Reid's corps. What is the x-factor? Defense. Indianapolis may have the "Edge" on offense, but in a head to head match up I like Philadelphia. The only question becomes: Will the Eagles simply beat themselves in the NFC Championship? Give McNabb two out of the three Stokley/Wayne/Harrison to accompany TO and we'll again say goodbye to current record holders.

Are the Atlanta Falcons officially the most overrated 9-3 team? Blanked by the Bucs? They have serious Jekyll and Hyde issues in Atlanta that might need some attention from the front office. Is it chemistry? Do they not like each other? Would moving a few players around make a team that's rough around the edges play more cohesively? More consistently? I think it is safe to expect an early exit by the Falcons from the playoffs this year.

I continue to support the program in San Diego as they keep rolling, but I just cannot see them being too successful this post season. To me the Chargers are just a good mediocre team beating mediocre good teams right now. As much as I would rather see them play in February in the place of Colts/Pats, I won't hold my breath.

I look at the success some rookie quarterbacks have had in this league recently (Ben Roethlisberger/Chocolate Krenzel this year, David Carr a few years ago) and I like to think I can look forward to some rookie success by a new Lions quarterback next season. I'm sorry Joey, it is time I went public. Yes, you won in Arizona this week. Yes sometimes they simply drop the passes (Roy Williams), but you just seem preoccupied up there, buddy. Love life got you down? 90% of the women in Detroit would have your children. AND, if you start winning 90% of the men would too! What can we do? I am afraid it is entirely out of our control and we're forced to wait out your contract.

Sorry, I need a moment....

Ok, I'm better now.

So other than that no two teams combined for over 100 points, does that make week 13 a disappointment?

And wouldn't you know it: We finally had an exciting Monday Night game. What is a shame, however, is that the game sucked until 85% of the viewing audience gave up on it and went to bed. Go figure.

It has been called into question why I leave the New England Patriots out of my week end comments. I want to set the record straight that the only reason they are excluded is because they are boring.

I wrote that they beat the record for wins, I wrote that they were beaten by the Pittsburgh Giant-killers. I feel as though I mentioned that they have a potent passing offense that holds threat of the "big play" more than any other offense in the league.

I leave them out the rest of the time because they are not flashy. They don't do any fun end-zone dances. Their games do not get exciting in the last few minutes. They are not a part of games with 13 touchdowns scored. They are quiet. They go out and win. I do give them that, but they do it with no style. I refuse to say they look good doin' it.

This may seem like an endorsement for the team in disguise, but understand it is not. Many people look at the characteristics listed above in a positive fashion. Many say that they are signs of winners, of championship ball clubs. So what.

I am a Detroit Lions fan through and through. I need flashy. My team will not make the playoffs this season. Please put teams together who will be fun to watch. The New England Patriots...are...BORING.

There was more action in week 12, which is nice to see. I will admit, however, that my attention on football this past Sunday was lessened after the "Thursday Incident."

I think it is safe to say that I jinxed the Lions. It was my "Any Given Thursday" post that was intended to motivate the team, not demoralize them. It will be nice to be in the record books with Peyton Manning as one of the teams to help pad his stats...

Imagine eight weeks ago. You look at the upcoming schedule and you see Buffalo at Seattle. How many points do you favor Seattle by? 408?
Bills 38 - Seahawks 9.

Monday night Mark Bulger went 35-53 for 447 yards with 2 touchdowns. Brett Favre (in his record 200th consecutive start) was 18-27 for 215 and 3tds. Those numbers do not portray a 45-17 shellacking that the Rams took at the hand of the Packers. I do not like the Packers, but I do have a tremendous amount of respect for how Favre leads his team.

It was nice of Denver to play host to the Snow Bowl on Sunday as conditions were a little...precipitous. As the Broncos have rolled through this season, they hit a road block in the form of visiting Oakland Raiders. If anyone saw the catch Jerry Porter made over his outside shoulder at the end of the first half then you can share in my desire to see that in a highlight reel.

Congrats to those Dolphins down in Miami for winning their second game against a San Francisco team that could not have tried harder to lose. 4 fumbles? Did Tim Rattay start Miami's defense in his fantasy league this week?

In week 12 the real winners were the fans. I forget now which player it was, but I would like to thank whoever it was for celebrating his touchdown by parking it like it was hot.

I guess I can close with a comment on Cleveland v. Cincinnati. Not a big game. Not much happened aside from the 13 touchdowns and five field goals. Cleveland scored 48 points and gained 462 yards, and lost. I don't even know where to start...

I would also like to thank Jeremy Shockey for making himself look like an idiot again by catching 2 passes for 31 yards. His 26 yard catch was followed by a flapping of his arms as if he was Terrell Owens. Jeremy, don't taunt the team that is kicking your [expletive deleted]!

And can I say how perturbed I am for not being able to find a shot of Shockey mid-flap?!?!

There is a special aura surrounding Thanksgiving Day football. Consider, for example, the nation's biggest college football rivalry: Michigan and Ohio State. No matter the personnel, no matter the records of wins and losses, no matter the location, this game will always be competitive. Either team always has a chance to win. It is magical. Follow me, if you will, to the NFL. There is one such situation that is as magical as stated above, and that is the Detroit Lions playing on Thanksgiving. Detroit could be in the midst of a 2-14 season, they could be on their way to 6-10, but you can never count them out on Turkey Day. This is how it is. This is tradition.

Today, this needs to be explained to Joey Harrington. He is yet to realize today is a special day. He will be gifted beyond his ability today and needs to capitalize. The Lions face the most high powered offense in the NFL today as they match up with the Indianapolis Colts.

For a win today, the Lions need to come to play. I hope Joey buys into the tradition and leaves last week and previous weeks behind him and walks into Ford Field today a man possessed. If only we could give you our confidence in this team for one game to let you understand.

Today is not about NFC vs. AFC. Today is not about Super Bowl favorites vs. a team vying for a good draft pick. Today is about sheer emotion. Today is about Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving, the Lions come to play.

Another boring week of football. Maybe it's just me. I'll admit I'm ready for this season to be over. Perhaps I am just that excited about hoops, who knows? Anyway, down to business.

There were really no big surprises this week, maybe that is what is making these games unfun to watch. Of course, if Peyton Manning continues to play as he's been playing thus far, consider most if not all single season QB records shattered.

I guess there were two things that slightly stand out of the pack from this week.

-The Buffalo Bills are winning games. After starting the season as competition with the Miami Dolphins for bottom feeder of the year, the Bills have found a rhythm. Kudos to Willis McGahee for sparking this offense.

-Bill Parcells gave us our first taste of former Michigan Wolverine quarterback Drew Henson. After only a few weeks prior when Parcells said he would not start Henson since he was still yet to give up on this season, look for Henson to start in week 12. Infer from that what you will.

I cannot say enough about Eddie Drummond. This could be because his kick/punt return choreography overshadows all other news reported on the rest of the Detroit Lions, it could also be because he has emerged as one of, if not the single best return man in the league. Drummond was untouched this week as he took the opening kick off against the Vikes to the house (Lions lost).

An annual offer made to our employees is this: for $2 a day, you can "dress down" each day from Monday until the end of December (20 days in total). Fridays are already casual days here, so they are not paid for by the employees. All proceeds from this program go to charity.

A memo went around yesterday indicating we had the chance to vote for two charities to be the recipients of this year's donations.

What little I know about charities, my favorite was picked as one of the two. My $40 will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Tempers were high last night as the Detroit Pistons hosted the Indiana Pacers in the first match up since Detroit advanced past Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals just six months ago.

It is no surprise that the intensity level was through the roof the entire game. The game was, however, relatively tame until there were only about 48 seconds left in the game. Indiana sat atop a comfortable lead when Ron Artest fouled Ben Wallace from behind on a lay up. The foul was not incredibly hard, though it was unnecessary when up with the game in the bag.

Wallace responded to the foul with a shove to Artest's chest. Ben Wallace overreacted. I can admit this. He should not have taken his aggression out on Ron Artest. This move caused a scrum of all players on the court. Both teams were most likely both mentally and physically exhausted at the end of such a potent rivalry.

Soon the players were pulled apart after a minimal amount of pushing and shoving. What escalated the situation in Auburn Hills was a fan throwing a cup that hit Ron Artest in the face. Artest was laying on the scorers table in an uncharacteristic attempt to stay out of the fire. Once the cup hit him, however, he took off into the stands after the STUPID patron who threw it. Pacer Stephen Jackson was not far behind in the rush to the stands.

The players were soon pulled back to the court though the brawling was incomplete as some more people still felt the need to walk onto the court. They paid the price.

These people who became involved with the players were in the wrong. I will not call them fans. They paid to see the game, some wore Pistons merchandise, but they are not fans. Pistons fans, NBA fans, sports fans would not conduct themselves in this manner. There is no excuse for how those in the stands handled themselves during this situation last night. I am not siding with the Indiana Pacers. I am a Detroit Pistons fan. Choosing sides here is not between the two teams, it is between class and no class. The people who assaulted the players showed no class and I am embarrassed to root for the same team as them.

I honestly hope that no one applauds the efforts of the guy who threw the cup at Ron Artest. He was the catalyst in what is a scar against a reputation the Pistons fans have earned throughout the league as the best fans. Do not judge the rest of us by the actions of one idiot. What happened last night was not funny. What happened last night was unfortunate. When you attend a sporting event of any variety you are not a participant, you are merely an observer. What went on on the court may emotionally charge though, though you have absolutely no right to act out.

Why would you do this? What could you possibly gain from this? I just cannot understand.

Finally the powers that be listened to my pleadings for exciting football. Three games this week went to overtime (each at 17-17 actually) as well as a few others that came down to the wire. It is nice to not feel as though you wasted your Sunday afternoon from watching mediocre football. My time in week 10 was well spent.

One of those overtime games was Lions v. Jaguars. Let's hope this isn't a contract year for Eddie Drummond or the Lions organization may have to shell out some significant cash to keep this guy. Both Lions touchdowns were scored on punt returns by Drummond in the 4th quarter to force overtime. If Joey Harrington used up all of his confidence in the first 4 games of the season then at least I have an explanation for lack of production. If, however, he has any left...let me be the first to tell you, Joey, we're ready for you to use it. Blame the offensive line if you want, though you'll only be partially correct. Joey has time and whether he is overanxious or not he is off his mark recently. This is the Joey we're used to, though not the one the Lions thought they were drafting. He is a very capable quarterback and one used to pressure (on and off the field) so he should be able to perform. We had one Andre Ware, please do not be the second.

More evidence this week of how the Steelers are simply a machine running on all cylinders. Ben Roethlisberger had a pretty poor game considering, though other players stepped up to the plate and made plays. Kudos to Jerome Bettis for dominating opponents he faces on the field, and also his critics in the press who said he is too old.

Welcome back to the season, Daunte. Thank you for showing up this week. Dare I say that it actually looked like you were having FUN on Sunday?!?!?! Weird to think that making plays could feel so good. He may have seen now that though Randy Moss is a beast, Daunte can still get the job done without him if he relaxes and does what he does best, and making it look effortless in the process.

What is there to say about the Dallas Cowboys? They need a change. What will that change be? Coach Parcells has already said that we will not see Drew Henson quarterback this struggling team as, he is not ready to give up on this team. That is not a direct quote, though it was not far off what he said about the matter. Does that mean that Parcells is now stuck with Testeverde just because he cannot start Henson without giving the impression now that he has given up? After being abused by a highly efficient Eagles offense on the Monday night stage, maybe he should be look into starting Henson after all.

Can Peyton Manning be stopped...by anything other than a Super Bowl? Or could this be the year that he proves his "curse" untrue? Maybe he is just showing off to make young Eli fill even bigger shoes as he will see his first start in week 11. We'll have to wait and see.

I have been discovered. No longer am I able to walk amongst normal people. Today I am wearing shorts, as I have been every day since last Tuesday when I hurt my ankle. What is different is that we are being visited by a potential client, so today I have added a tie to my get up. To give you the full visual, I have a long sleeved oxford shirt, tie, cargo shorts, and one shoe.

I put the tie on after seeing my boss for the first time, so when she saw it she turned to the coworker I was with and said while laughing, "He looks like a dork." Apparently wearing a tie with an outfit that involves shorts is a faux pas. And here I was simply trying to go the extra mile to look nice for potential business.

Sure we can play the game that she never said I am a dork...just that I look like one. Understand that in the great scheme of things this matters little.

I feel as though I had her fooled for so long, though no more.

Secret's out...

Whereabouts of Kyle were unknown until moments ago. Last seen bolting from his grandmother's house in Dallas, Texas, Kyle has apparently been spotted at England's marvel, Stonehenge.

Reports show this international lady killer thought it was a good idea yesterday to refer to himself as someone's "manfriend" in conversation to his "uber-religous" grandmother.

Sources close to the action remember feeling great apprehension towards supporting Kyle in his choice of wording to grandmother.

Kyle thought the comment would hit for sure. Turns out he was incorrect and is on his own with this one. Good luck buddy. Maybe you should stick to volunteering at churches for linen cleaning services.

Grandmother could not be reached for comment.

Ok, so it's been an interesting week. I may or may not have forgotten to get this post in this week, but regardless here it is.

To be honest I would have never forgotten to write this up had there been more exciting football this past weekend. What does that say when all professional football begins to bore you?

Bills winning games. Chiefs losing games. This season is still yet to right itself. There is something terribly wrong with the league.

One thing that is right with the world is the giant killers in Pittsburgh. Here is a worthless stat: I believe the Steelers are the only team in the history of the NFL to beat two undefeated opponents consecutively. They are probably the only team in history to ever PLAY two undefeated teams consecutively. But that is not meant to detract from the fact that this team gets it done. Give Roethlisberger his due, but he's not the star of this team. They are a well oiled machine that simply outperforms teams week after week. Do I think they have the staying power to make it to the bowl? I will be so bold to say that they do. Is my prediction that we will see the Pittsburgh Steelers represent the AFC in the Super Bowl? No, but that is not to say they are some incredibly overrated team that has no business being there. That make any sense?

There were big games from Jake "the snake" Plummer and Shaun Alexander who each lifted their teams to big wins in week 9.

Bigger numbers from Daunte Culpepper (we see a pattern developing here?) could have spelled 'W' for the Vikes. Though this was the first Monday Night game with some excitement to it. It did come down to a Vanderjagt field goal, though overtime could have spelled victory for me in my fantasy league.

Look out sports world, get ready for that team from San Diego to charge onto the scene. This team is quietly dominating teams on their schedule this season. It may appear that Drew Brees has hit his stride as leader of this ball club. Couple him with the most proficient back in the league over the past few seasons. This could equate to some excitement in San Diego.

Thanks for showing up to the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

I went to the gym after work yesterday to play basketball. That is nothing new. I hurt myself playing basketball yesterday afternoon. That, also, is nothing new. "Why," you ask, "would anyone hurt them self playing basketball?" Well, I have to admit I was a bit curious. I decided to conduct a case study as to just how perpendicular to the floor I could get my foot. It was a pretty basic experiment. All I needed was one loose ball as it bounced off the rim and one misplaced foot from another player. The difficult measure was timing. I had to chase the ball at the precise moment so as to land on the other guy's foot at the right spot to allow for maximum rolling of the ankle. I learned a few very valuable pieces of information in this process.

1. My foot, when placed properly, is capable of the 90 degree angles to be exactly perpendicular to the ground.
2. When my foot hits that point of perpendicularity I feel a small pop above my ankle.
3. Ouch.

Through many previous encounters with doctors, my faith in the medical profession is somewhat in the red. Last night however, I did some soul searching. I thought about all of those pay checks I have opened and the dirty looks I shoot at the check where it shows my insurance deduction. If I pay for it, why not use it? Right? I'm learning.

So the woman who admitted me to the emergency room last night took off my shoe to see what was wrong. I having been around my fair share of ankle injuries in my day knew better than to take the shoe off prior to proper care. She takes one look at my ankle and she said that it certainly looked "suspicious." Great word, don't get me wrong. I just don't think suspicious is a word I want used to describe my injury, especially by a member of the hospital staff.

Signs were posted all over the x-ray receiving room that told me that I should tell the technician if there was a potential health risk by having the x-rays. So I did as the signs told and said to the technician as he wheeled me down the hall to the machine, "I should tell you, I may be pregnant."
"That is fine, I'll just prepare the 20 forms for you to sign."
"It might almost be worth it just to see the face of whomever will process the paperwork."
He got a kick out of that. So did I. Hospitals are such downers. Those people need to laugh more.

So I had my picture taken and he told me that it would be a few minutes while he developed the film. He came back to me a short time later to take me across the hall and I had the realization that the solution in which he developed my x-rays smells surprisingly similar to cigarette smoke. I never would have guessed that.

Consider now that I am sitting on a hospital bed waiting to see a doctor. While there I sit quietly reading my book, the doctor is at the next bed stitching up an elderly woman's head. She apparently requires a hearing aid and must have been rushed out of the house without it on her way to get the blood gushing out of her forehead cleaned up. So this doctor is yelling everything to her. I was fine with this. He isn't bothering me I thought. Then he tells her that he is going to give her a shot to numb her head so he can make with the stitches. Post shot he yelled to her that he was glad she wasn't in any pain as he tried real hard to get the nerve in her head with the needle. I'm glad she had no pain, I just wish I was less grossed out by the whole conversation I had no choice but to listen to. Sorry, I digress.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, cue the doctor...

"There are varying degrees of ankle sprains. First, second and third degree sprains are for differing severity; third being the worst.
"From the swelling we can see that you have a third degree ankle sprain."
Dramatic pause. My doctor must be an aspiring actor. Oh yes, there's more.
"You didn't break [the ankle], per se."
(Imagine the look of shock on my face at being the first person to kind of break a bone...though not really break the bone...and all of this just a short time after speculation that I may have been pregnant.)
"There is a sizeable piece that chipped off the bone, though it did not do so without help. There are three ligaments that run over the ankle bone. One of your ligaments pulled away from the bone and took with it that chip."
(This would explain the lovely pop I felt in my ankle at the point of injury.)
"We can also see a chip on the inside of your ankle beneath the bone that may or may not have occurred during this same injury. We have no way of knowing that."

He then advised me to see an Orthopedist in case further care was necessary. I am in a "half cast" for what should only be a few days then I'll have an air cast for 6 weeks or so.

Now, the short version for those of you who are attention deprived:
I went to play ball. I rolled my ankle. It hurts enough for me to go to the hospital. Doctor said I have a third degree ankle sprain and there is kinda sorta some ligament damage as well as a bone chip. I'm on crutches, though only for a short time. At least that is what they told me.

World of Warcraft street release is 11.23.04

World of Warcraft $49.99
Collector's Edition $79.99

I got home late last night and immediately turned on the TV to see how the electoral count was coming along. As no surprise to anyone the presidential race is deadlocked and coming down to the wire. I went to so far as to turn on my laptop as I watched the recap of the polling, but shut it down before it booted. My plan was to write an elaborate post about how convoluted the election process has become. I wanted to cry out to the so very few of you who actually read this page and plead to you to move on. The time to vote has passed. The election is now out of our individuals hands. Regardless of how things turn out now, we have a leader being sworn into office in a short time. He will be in charge for four years. Is there a chance that the half of the country who's candidate did not win will support he who did? I was going to try and appeal to the rational side of each of you and try to get you to see the silver lining. I wanted to have you focus on whatever could be construed as positive over the next four years.

Obviously this was a post I did not make. And it appears that this is a good thing. Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press has taken it upon himself to do the work for me. He has taken the stance I have taken and...well...he's better with words so I'll just link you and Mitch take it from here.

Full Article: Will we let winner actually lead us?

So apparently there is a gentleman who has too much free time on his hands. Listening to Drew & Mike on WRIF radio in Detroit this morning, I heard the interview with the inventor of the TV-B-Gone. Sure his rational for his brain child was poor, but the gadget itself is pretty cool...in theory. The device (shown) is roughly the size of the key fob for locking and unlocking the doors on your car and has a single button that can turn off any television. It is essentially a palmable universal remote with the sole ability of turning off television. The item lists at only $14.99 and will actually turn the TV back on, too. This will become the number 1 tool for bitter people and individuals who think they are funny, though are not. The TV-B-Gone will be an outcry for attention, it really serves no other purpose. Marketed for people who want to turn off a television that no one is watching, the company cannot keep up with orders. They have apparently underestimated demand. I guess this means they have also underestimated human kind's inherent trait to be obnoxious.

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Many people have been searching for the components of these sanwiches as they have become popularized recently with the success of Steeler's rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. I figured I would take the liberty of digging up the different blueprints for you.

Peppi's "Roethlisburger" is beef, breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, and American cheese.

Brentwood Express has the "Ben Roethlis-burger" which is a burger with bacon, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, cheddar and provolone cheeses. Ask for the "Big Ben" for an extra hamburger patty.

Full Article

It was a lunch hour well spent today as I headed over to the middle down the street from my house to vote in today's election. I will openly admit that I did not do my homework on my state/county/township specific elections. I waited in line for 45 minutes to fill in my vote for President and my vote on one of the proposals on the Michigan ballot. My butt had hardly hit the chair and I was on my way to turn in my ballot.

I will say one thing...well I say a lot of things...can't help it, but one thing I will say (that sounds better) is that I do feel as though I accomplished something today by exercising my right to vote. I am not a big political nut so this voting thing is not something I lost sleep over last night, but there is a definite feeling of accomplishment for having voted.

A widely held opinion on this election is that there was no better candidate, there was only a lesser of two evils. This was an opinion I share. I have come to terms with the fact that my political interest is fleeting at best, so I simply looked at the information and asked myself not "which is better," but "which isn't worse?"

I am glad I voted. It is an interesting experience.

So here it is. Week 8 has come and gone. What a boring week of football this was on all accounts. There were no huge performances, few...if any...outstanding plays, and no major injuries.

It has been decided that the team goal for the Atlanta Falcons for the 2005-2006 season will be to do whatever it takes to get Michael Vick to play hard for 16 games. It was nice to see one of the few games this year he decided to show up was in week 8, a week in need of highlights. He played his own brand of football. He was a runner possessed against the Broncos on Sunday.

Ding dong the witch is dead. 21 and out for the Pats. What a pathetic record. Who can't win 22 straight? I mean honestly.

I had a few hours worth of memories of Bobby Ross and Marty Morhninweg while watching the Lions perform below expectations versus a struggling Cowboys team. If only I could draw I would include the image in my head of the Lions team limbo-ing under the words "peter's expectations" one player at a time. How low can you go?

The strength of the Minnesota Vikings from day 1 was the fact that Culpepper is able to throw to 8-9 different receivers in any given game. If one is covered then there are many other players willing to step up and make the big play. The Vikings were a team that could win even without Randy Moss. That is, until Moss hurt his hamstring and missed the last two weeks. This team has fallen apart. The most dominating player in the league through 6 weeks (5 if you consider the bye week) was Daunte Culpepper. In the two games without Moss he has been a non-factor. Onterrio Smith is to return from his 4 game suspension in week 9, perhaps he can offer some renewed energy to this team.

And who is in charge of scheduling the primetime games? Do they pick teams out of a hat? Sunday night and Monday night games have been less than entertaining. Please excuse me if I was mistaken in thinking they are given the national spotlight in these time slots so as to attract an audience. 49ers/Bears and Jets/Dolphins this week. Who on earth cares to watch these games? I would wager even the coaches of these teams were too bored to want to even stand on their own sidelines...ok, maybe that is a little extreme.

The first show of this new season at the Fisher Theatre/Masonic Temple in Detroit was Thoroughly Modern Millie.

The music was great. The choreography was better. The voices were decent overall, though I felt as though the lead was a little thin.

This was a fun show; I am glad I went. I love seeing plays/musicals, but Millie was not my favorite. I just think the story was not as strong as some of the other shows I have enjoyed more.

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What is it about the "away message" that is tantalizing to so many people? What secrets does one keep there? Might the mysteries of the ages unfold in front of you for reading them? What would happen if one day you missed one? Could you ever forgive yourself?

Either you or someone you know has been known to spend significant amounts of time reading away message after away message. Often times the screen names you check are people you don't even talk to! All I want to know is why?

I can admit that from time to time even I have reduced myself to seeing why my friends were not at their computers to entertain me through my fits of boredom, though I do not make practice of it.

Have you ever sat down at someone else's computer and checked their friends' away messages? These people exist, I have witnessed it. You know who you are. You are sick.

Do you have "buddies" on your list and you're not quite sure as to who they are? But you won't delete them because you read their away messages?

Do you have "buddies" you have not talked to nor seen in years though you will not delete because you read their away messages?

Do you have "buddies" on your list that were placed their by a friend? Why won't you delete them? Oh, right...you read their away messages, how could I forget?

No conversation should ever begin, "Hey, did you see my away message today?" Yes, this is an entirely plausible scenario under the correct circumstances, though it does encourage the act of actively seeking out away messages.

If you are legitimately concerned about the location of an individual, by all means, check the away message. If you do happen to attempt to leave a message for someone while they are "away" and get the message as an auto-reply, by all means, read it. We need to loosen AIM's grip on your attention span. You need a hobby...and don't say that reading people's away messages is a HOBBY!!!

Yes I am bitter. Yes I have put significant time and thought into this matter. No, there is not a good reason for me to harbor such feelings towards this issue. I'm glad we were able to clear that up.

O Daunte Where Art Thou?

Was it out of spite that Daunte Culpepper took this week off? Could he have possibly known that I renamed my fantasy team The DaunteCulpeppers in his honor? Vikes won easily so there was not much production out of Culpepper.

Kansas City set all kinds of records with Holmes and Blaylock rushing for four (4) touchdowns each. Yes, each. That means that the Chiefs ran for eight (8) touchdowns in the game! Had Holmes' ankle not been slightly tender, maybe all 8 would have been his... Needless to say they annihilated the Atlanta Falcons.

Maybe that wasn't the Atlanta Falcons after all, however. How else do you explain a team that started out so hot and has gone ice cold since? Was the dominating defeat they suffered at the hands of the now 3-0 on the road Detroit Lions that devastating? Or is this what I like to call the "Villanova Syndrome?" (Allow me to explain: the Villanova Syndrome is a situation in which the Villanova men's basketball team would beat a team and shock the country. The team they "upset" would then have a less than .500 remainder of the season, thus completely devaluing the Villanova win.) The Detroit Lions beat a Falcons team that was to that point undefeated and is now apparently unable to win even an intrasquad scrimmage. I hope Atlanta is able to pick up the pieces some.

The Jacksonville Jaguars do not have any flashy superstar players, they do not blow other teams out of the stadium, what they do is win games. This team digs deep and comes out with victories. Week in and week out the Jags go down to the wire. I am not sure a team has shown this much heart in a long time.

Congratulations to the Miami Dolphins for saving what appeared to be an 0-16 season with a win in week 7 over the St. Lous Rams.

(My fantasy team is once again named "Privatjokr," Culpepper can go back to throwing 6 tds...I'll need it in week 8.)

This is a great place to stay in Phoenix. The resort itself is huge, it is more of a compound. The setting is magnificent: as you sit at a table in the back you overlook the resort's aqueduct (for lack of a better term) with a backdrop of palm trees and mountains. Although I was not there with a second to relax, I can imagine that given the opportunity to do so there are few places better. An incredible pool, a golf course designed by Nick Faldo, 900 rooms, a desert setting, multiple restaurants of different genres; what does this place lack?

My only recommendation, however, is to rent a car if you stay in Phoenix. The onsite restaurants are nice and the food is good, but there are others in the area I would recommend more, such as the Old Town Tortilla Factory in Old Town Scotsdale.

On a Thursday evening shoot down to Old Town Scottsdale and enjoy the art walk exhibit as the strip of art galleries are open extended hours and some have artists in store to talk, work, and answer questions.

There is not very much worth noting about week 6, however I will do my best.

Permit me to start with the Bills v. Dolphins showdown Sunday. This was a matchup of two undefeated teams to see if there was an actual way two teams playing each other could both lose. As it turns out, this is not possible and the Bills had to win. Can I interject that the screen pass the Jay Fiedler intended for someone other than Takeo Spikes may have been the worst pass I have EVER seen thrown, and that is at any level of play.

Ben Roethlisberger appears to be the real deal in Pittsburgh. I have loved this kid since his days at Miami of Ohio. He has the talent and he has a level head on his shoulders. Sure he was handed a team that is pretty capable on their own, but I still give him the benefit of the doubt. The test will come soon when they are scheduled to play against teams that actually pose a threat. I would like to see him thrive in Pittsburgh, but maybe that depends on how much he has come to like IC Light...

I have officially renamed my fantasy football team to "The DaunteCulpeppers." He continues to be the reason I win games. Sunday night he set an NFL record for three (3) games with five (5) touchdown passes. He still cannot dance, though. And he keeps on trying...

Welcome back Lions. My boys in Honolulu Blue brought my feet back to the ground. I was all nostalgic watching that game. Why I actually watched the whole thing I cannot say.

I would like to finish this week with a small rant about a growing trend in the NFL. Please put and end to the increasing popularity of the halfback pass. Emmitt Smith threw a touchdown in a previous week and now every RB in the league thinks he's Joe Montana. I will opt against bringing up the td pass Ahman Green threw to Donald Driver Sunday. Even Mewelde Moore of the Minnesota Vikings is throwing passes now. When the season began was he even on this roster? Fourth string RB? But come on, why when you have the most potent passing attack in the league as you rest on the shoulders of Culpepper do you feel the need to let Moore throw the ball? I think Mike Tice is a great coach, this is the first point on which he and I have disagreed.

Chicago is arguably my favorite big city. It was hands down my favorite until I lived in Philadelphia for even just the short time I was there. For a few days last week I was back in my element. There is nothing like being able to walk freely through the downtown area of a big city. Chicago is a city where you can go time after time and never be forced to do anything twice. Each day I was there, I walked for at least a mile. From the central location of the Hyatt Regency of Chicago I walked up and down Michigan Avenue and down by the water. If shopping is your thing, then Michigan Ave. is for you. There are bars and restaurants all over the city, many chains, though more that are unique to the area. Chicago has a tremendous amount of character and caters to visitors of any interest. The weather was not ideal, though decent enough in which to walk and enjoy the city. The architecture of the old buildings is breathtaking and the contrast of the color changing leaves was beautiful. And on top of all of this, how can you not love a city that is so clean? There were not even many cigarette butts on the streets. You cannot beat Chicago.

After such a great dinner at Gene & Georgetti's, I was under the assumption that dinner in Chicago could not get any better. I was under the assumption that steak could not get better. I thank the concierge from the Hyatt Regency in Chicago for showing me the light. She essentially talked me out of a reservation at a different steakhouse in Chicago as she told me of her personal favorite: Keefer's (20 West Kinzie). This is a more modern/contemporary restaurant, dress is more business casual to professional. I have never known a more informed wait staff. Our server knew his menu so well that he was able to detail the exact preparation steps for the items. If you have ever looked at an item description written on a menu and found yourself suddenly hungry, imagine a more interactive version of the same where an individual actually describes it for you. He had us at hello. The only thing I would have asked for differently would have been chunks of lobster in the bisque instead of the "seafood dumpling," my steak was out of this world. I think it is safe to say that the steak I had at Keefer's was the best steak I have ever had. For that I thank Chef John Hogan.

Visit Keefer's website HERE.

While in Chicago last week, I was taken out to dinner at Gene and Georgetti's (500 N Franklin St.). This was a great dinner at a great restaurant. If you are looking for a place with the feel of a private club and/or the feel of a family owned Italian steakhouse you will not be disappointed. Prices were high, though the atmosphere was obviously included. The service was very attentive and courteous and the food was delicious and well presented. I had the bone-in ribeye steak and some garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was large and well cooked. Others had the fillet which was easily 4 inches tall and still exactly how they wanted it prepared. They are apparently known for their tiramisu, though for dessert I simply had the chocolate mint ice cream. It was very good.