Diane,
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that jazz. There's more important things to discuss right now. Namely the lack of respect being given to my New York Jets and how they "Backed into" the playoffs.
Yes, the Jets beat two teams with nothing to play for in order to get into the playoffs. So what? For years the NFL has scheduled team's opponents years in advance on a system where a team plays every team from it's division twice, games against all the teams in another division of the team's conference and games against all the teams in one division of the opposing conference, and two games against teams that they haven't faced in a while, or are rivals from another division based on proximity or history. I don't hear anyone screaming about Cincinnati being in the playoffs after beating Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland(twice), Kansas City for 5 of their 10 wins. Those teams had a combined record of 17-47. How about Dallas, who beat Tampa Bay, Seattle, Washington(twice), Oakland, and Kansas City? Record: 21-59. Dallas also lost TWICE to a New York Giants team that gave up 40+ points five times in the last 11 games.
My point in this is simple: IT'S FOOTBALL! The season is long, you have plenty of opportunities to play your way in(or out) of the playoffs. The Jets caught a break by playing 2 teams with nothing much to play for, but it happens. Both teams were talented. I doubt we'd be hearing a peep if their schedule had them playing teams that weren't any good(Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit) or were imploding (Denver, NY Giants). Give the unfair advantage talk a break and enjoy the playoff football. I know we're not going to see the Jets, or any team, roll over and die for an opponent.
EDIT: Just to continue on another rant, why is everyone all of a sudden so high on the Cowboys? Yes they did win the NFC East this year by beating an Eagles team that had just won 6 straight. Looking closer though, the Eagles best win all season was a win at Atlanta(9-7) 3 weeks ago. Of their other 9 wins they beat the New York Giants(8-8) twice, Carolina(8-8), Denver(8-8), San Francisco(8-8), Chicago(6-10), Washington(4-12) twice, Kansas City(4-12) and Tampa Bay(3-13). Combined record for ALL their wins: 50-80. Up until 3 weeks ago, Dallas was considered to be a major flop, the Division they're in to be overrated, and their QB to be garbage. An impressive win over New Orleans changed all that. But the Saints have fallen apart in the past 2 weeks, losing to at home to Tampa and at Carolina, so there's more questions about the Saints today than at the time of that win. After that, they beat up on 2 division opponents who were (say it with me now) OVERRATED on the whole. Will the Cowboys beat the Eagles on Saturday? Probably. Can they go to Minnesota and win in an ear-crushing Metrodome? About as likely as a gametime temp of 70 in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Whew, that felt good.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Back Home
Mrs. Cardinal,
Tried calling your new place last night to get ahold of that son of your's. Apparently he doesn't answer the phone if he doesn't know the number, and he doesn't know mine. Let him know I'm back in town and looking to hang out. I think he'll appreciate getting out of the house for an outing.
So I made it home safely. Exams were tough, but not impossible. I think I'm learning how to prepare for finals as I go along and it makes it easier to understand the materials. I'm hoping to continue the upward swing in my transcripts again this semester.
Went out to Tavern United with a couple of friends last night. Its one of the reasons I love coming home to Portage la Prairie so much; You go out with one or two people and you end up being around so many folks you haven't seen in forever.
But it has its downside too. Whenever you go out in a small town environment, there inevitably is someone that is sitting with you that you don't know. Since you know everyone else, it's assumed that you know EVERYONE. You can't introduce yourself, because there's that fear that you already know the person and you've forgotten. So you sit in silence, looking for clues; someone saying their name; talking about who they're dating/have dated; mentioning a drunken night that everyone was at that could jog your memory.
But if that never comes, it's time to confide to a friend. If you're lucky, that friend will know who the person is. If not, the best you can hope for is to compare the notes you've taken over the course of the night and try and figure out the mystery together.
Last night that happened 4 times to me at the same table of 12. I figured out two on my own, one I'm reasonably sure on, and one I'm still wondering about. As it is small town Manitoba, I'm sure I'll get another chance tonight.
Welcome home, Aaron!
Tried calling your new place last night to get ahold of that son of your's. Apparently he doesn't answer the phone if he doesn't know the number, and he doesn't know mine. Let him know I'm back in town and looking to hang out. I think he'll appreciate getting out of the house for an outing.
So I made it home safely. Exams were tough, but not impossible. I think I'm learning how to prepare for finals as I go along and it makes it easier to understand the materials. I'm hoping to continue the upward swing in my transcripts again this semester.
Went out to Tavern United with a couple of friends last night. Its one of the reasons I love coming home to Portage la Prairie so much; You go out with one or two people and you end up being around so many folks you haven't seen in forever.
But it has its downside too. Whenever you go out in a small town environment, there inevitably is someone that is sitting with you that you don't know. Since you know everyone else, it's assumed that you know EVERYONE. You can't introduce yourself, because there's that fear that you already know the person and you've forgotten. So you sit in silence, looking for clues; someone saying their name; talking about who they're dating/have dated; mentioning a drunken night that everyone was at that could jog your memory.
But if that never comes, it's time to confide to a friend. If you're lucky, that friend will know who the person is. If not, the best you can hope for is to compare the notes you've taken over the course of the night and try and figure out the mystery together.
Last night that happened 4 times to me at the same table of 12. I figured out two on my own, one I'm reasonably sure on, and one I'm still wondering about. As it is small town Manitoba, I'm sure I'll get another chance tonight.
Welcome home, Aaron!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Rounders
Dear Diane,
I love poker; Especially Texas Hold 'Em. So much fun to just sit at the table with a bunch of friends and spend a night talking, drinking and playing cards.
I'm sitting on my couch in my living room with a Professional Responsibility lesson on my computer and the movie 'Rounders' on the TV. The movie is one of my favorites. But the way Teddy KGB plays the final hand just caught my attention and it might ruin the movie for me.
Matt Damon's character is holding Suited 8/9 of Spades and flops 6 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, 10 of Hearts, which gives him his Straight. He has everything that he needs to win and slowplays Teddy KGB to win the hand and all the money on the table. It's a perfect end to the movie, except there should be no way that a good player would have anything that would win that hand for them.
KGB calls out that Damon is 'chasing' cards, which means that KGB already has something on the flop. KGB obviously doesn't have the straight, flush, or anything the resembles a monster hand, so why is he so confident? The best I can guess at what KGB might have is pocket 6s, 7s, or 10s, but even then he shouldn't be as confident as he is.
Bottom line, the way KGB's character is set up in the movie, it's pretty unsatisfying to see such a great movie end without him showing the cards and revealing the bad beat, especially after the great beating KGB gave him at the beginning of the movie with the pocket Aces. But I'll always love the movie anyways.
P.S. 16 here and sunny. Went ice skating outdoors without a jacket yesterday at the arena. I'm guessing no one is doing that back home, lol.
I love poker; Especially Texas Hold 'Em. So much fun to just sit at the table with a bunch of friends and spend a night talking, drinking and playing cards.
I'm sitting on my couch in my living room with a Professional Responsibility lesson on my computer and the movie 'Rounders' on the TV. The movie is one of my favorites. But the way Teddy KGB plays the final hand just caught my attention and it might ruin the movie for me.
Matt Damon's character is holding Suited 8/9 of Spades and flops 6 of Diamonds, 7 of Spades, 10 of Hearts, which gives him his Straight. He has everything that he needs to win and slowplays Teddy KGB to win the hand and all the money on the table. It's a perfect end to the movie, except there should be no way that a good player would have anything that would win that hand for them.
KGB calls out that Damon is 'chasing' cards, which means that KGB already has something on the flop. KGB obviously doesn't have the straight, flush, or anything the resembles a monster hand, so why is he so confident? The best I can guess at what KGB might have is pocket 6s, 7s, or 10s, but even then he shouldn't be as confident as he is.
Bottom line, the way KGB's character is set up in the movie, it's pretty unsatisfying to see such a great movie end without him showing the cards and revealing the bad beat, especially after the great beating KGB gave him at the beginning of the movie with the pocket Aces. But I'll always love the movie anyways.
P.S. 16 here and sunny. Went ice skating outdoors without a jacket yesterday at the arena. I'm guessing no one is doing that back home, lol.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
End of the semester
Diane,
Few short hits:
-3 exams down, 2 to go. The big ones are out of the way, and now I've got 4 days to study for my last 2.
-Flying home for the holidays on Friday. Jenna is picking me up at the airport in Grand Forks. Cheaper that way.
- Watching 'It's a wonderful life' on TV. I think this might be my all-time favorite movie. George Bailey is the character that I aspire to be. He's got the ability to make the tough choices that I haven't had to make yet. Thinks about others more than himself, no matter how much he complains about what it costs him. And at the end of the day, the respect that he earns from those around him is exactly what I want. "No man is a failure who has friends" is the inscription left by Clarence the Angel in the book he leaves for George. It's one of the quotes that's always stuck with me.
I'm looking forward to being home for the holidays. It'll be great to see you and everyone else.
Few short hits:
-3 exams down, 2 to go. The big ones are out of the way, and now I've got 4 days to study for my last 2.
-Flying home for the holidays on Friday. Jenna is picking me up at the airport in Grand Forks. Cheaper that way.
- Watching 'It's a wonderful life' on TV. I think this might be my all-time favorite movie. George Bailey is the character that I aspire to be. He's got the ability to make the tough choices that I haven't had to make yet. Thinks about others more than himself, no matter how much he complains about what it costs him. And at the end of the day, the respect that he earns from those around him is exactly what I want. "No man is a failure who has friends" is the inscription left by Clarence the Angel in the book he leaves for George. It's one of the quotes that's always stuck with me.
I'm looking forward to being home for the holidays. It'll be great to see you and everyone else.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Roommate blues
Dear Diane,
I don't think I've ever written you about my roommate Jason. He can be a nice guy, but I feel like I'm living with Oscar Madison from 'The Odd Couple'.
When I moved to Tulsa a year and a half ago, I was looking for a place on campus to live, and my only option was to live with someone. Jason seemed okay through the computer, so I agreed to move in with him. Over the course of the next year I learned that Jason is an abrasive, alcoholic shut in that has bouts of depression and a mouth that would make a sailor blush (seriously, I've looked around the room sometimes in his presence and seen the eyes go to the floor when he goes on one of his rants). His hygene sucks too, but I steer clear or his room.
People asked me how I could live with him, but it was surprisingly easy. We know we're not friends(but we're friendly), and he stays in his room alot. I get my room, plus the common areas, pretty much to myelf. When I weighed it against the posibility of living with a friend that I would probably end up being with 24/7, the choice was simple. We would have exposed each other to our qwirks and probably ruined the friendship. That would have made this year so much harder.
But recently I've been rethinking that decision. More than anything, I hate people who are dishonest and he is one of the sketchiest people I know. The electrical bill has been a real problem. Last month our power almost was cut off because he didn't pay the bill(it is my contention that since the bill is in his name he pays it and I pay him as soon as I see a receipt). He claimed he didn't have the money and it was my fault he didn't pay the bill. He went so far as to have his mother call the housing office and have me called to the carpet for it. I gave him the money and thought that would be the end of it.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the bill this month and saw another disconnect notice. Apparently he'd taken my money and paid it to the electric company, but failed to pay any himself. That sketch-bag left over $80 left on the bill after he cried to his mommy about not being able to pay the bill because of me! I was furious then, and I'm still seething about it.
Finding some of my beer missing from the fridge tonight and him claiming he must have been drunk when he did it because he doesn't remember just reminded me of the whole ordeal. I'll be glad when he graduates or flunks out.
I don't think I've ever written you about my roommate Jason. He can be a nice guy, but I feel like I'm living with Oscar Madison from 'The Odd Couple'.
When I moved to Tulsa a year and a half ago, I was looking for a place on campus to live, and my only option was to live with someone. Jason seemed okay through the computer, so I agreed to move in with him. Over the course of the next year I learned that Jason is an abrasive, alcoholic shut in that has bouts of depression and a mouth that would make a sailor blush (seriously, I've looked around the room sometimes in his presence and seen the eyes go to the floor when he goes on one of his rants). His hygene sucks too, but I steer clear or his room.
People asked me how I could live with him, but it was surprisingly easy. We know we're not friends(but we're friendly), and he stays in his room alot. I get my room, plus the common areas, pretty much to myelf. When I weighed it against the posibility of living with a friend that I would probably end up being with 24/7, the choice was simple. We would have exposed each other to our qwirks and probably ruined the friendship. That would have made this year so much harder.
But recently I've been rethinking that decision. More than anything, I hate people who are dishonest and he is one of the sketchiest people I know. The electrical bill has been a real problem. Last month our power almost was cut off because he didn't pay the bill(it is my contention that since the bill is in his name he pays it and I pay him as soon as I see a receipt). He claimed he didn't have the money and it was my fault he didn't pay the bill. He went so far as to have his mother call the housing office and have me called to the carpet for it. I gave him the money and thought that would be the end of it.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the bill this month and saw another disconnect notice. Apparently he'd taken my money and paid it to the electric company, but failed to pay any himself. That sketch-bag left over $80 left on the bill after he cried to his mommy about not being able to pay the bill because of me! I was furious then, and I'm still seething about it.
Finding some of my beer missing from the fridge tonight and him claiming he must have been drunk when he did it because he doesn't remember just reminded me of the whole ordeal. I'll be glad when he graduates or flunks out.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
BCS Thoughts
Diane,
Alabama vs Texas in the Championship. I was rooting for TCU to make it into the Championship game, but it wasn't going to happen, even though they were better than Texas, in my opinion. It wasn't because they weren't one of the two best teams in the country, it was because you couldn't make a definitive argument that they were THE BEST team in the country.
TCU plays in a non-BCS conference and their competition isn't as tough as other conferences. For TCU to have played for the National Title, they would have had to have been considered a better than 50/50 shot to win. Why? Because while those making the matchups can stomach a blowout between teams from the SEC and Big 12, there's no way they will chance the second guessing that would take place if TCU got blown out and a BCS conference school finished the season undefeated, but didn't play for the national title. Evidenced by voters letting Cincinnati leapfrog TCU into 3rd in the BCS standings as a "just-in-case".
Until they play a tougher pre-season sechedule, no non-BCS school will crack the Championship. Sad, but true.
Alabama vs Texas in the Championship. I was rooting for TCU to make it into the Championship game, but it wasn't going to happen, even though they were better than Texas, in my opinion. It wasn't because they weren't one of the two best teams in the country, it was because you couldn't make a definitive argument that they were THE BEST team in the country.
TCU plays in a non-BCS conference and their competition isn't as tough as other conferences. For TCU to have played for the National Title, they would have had to have been considered a better than 50/50 shot to win. Why? Because while those making the matchups can stomach a blowout between teams from the SEC and Big 12, there's no way they will chance the second guessing that would take place if TCU got blown out and a BCS conference school finished the season undefeated, but didn't play for the national title. Evidenced by voters letting Cincinnati leapfrog TCU into 3rd in the BCS standings as a "just-in-case".
Until they play a tougher pre-season sechedule, no non-BCS school will crack the Championship. Sad, but true.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The pressure's on
Diane,
I just heard from my mother that my cousin Alyson is getting married. I'm really happy for her and I can't wait to meet the guy, but the ego-centric question I ask myself is: What does this mean for me?
Alyson is the only cousin on my mother's side that is older than I am. In our family, it's very close in ages, with all 9 cousins ranging from Alyson(28) to Katelyn(21). With Alyson now getting married in the Spring, Barrett(turning 27) getting married in the summer, Kristen(26) already married, Jenna(25) being practically engaged, and Jordan(turning 25) and Brett(23) seemingly headed for the alter, it leaves me as the odd man out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with where I am right now. I have a great new relationship and Holly is amazing. But I'm nowhere near ready to settle down yet. I think I'm bound to be the non-married one for a while.
Let the badgering begin!
I just heard from my mother that my cousin Alyson is getting married. I'm really happy for her and I can't wait to meet the guy, but the ego-centric question I ask myself is: What does this mean for me?
Alyson is the only cousin on my mother's side that is older than I am. In our family, it's very close in ages, with all 9 cousins ranging from Alyson(28) to Katelyn(21). With Alyson now getting married in the Spring, Barrett(turning 27) getting married in the summer, Kristen(26) already married, Jenna(25) being practically engaged, and Jordan(turning 25) and Brett(23) seemingly headed for the alter, it leaves me as the odd man out.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with where I am right now. I have a great new relationship and Holly is amazing. But I'm nowhere near ready to settle down yet. I think I'm bound to be the non-married one for a while.
Let the badgering begin!
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