Brady Does It Again

I picked against two different factors, both of which are pretty much written in stone. Picking against Tom Brady in the playoffs, he is now 12-1. Also picking Marty Schottenheimer in the playoffs, he is now 5-13. I know there are much to it than just mystique to either of those records but you can't win money in Vegas betting against 12-1 or with 5-13, it just won't happen.

I really feel bad for either the Saints or the Bears, you will have to face either Peyton Manning (who if he gets to the Super Bowl is going to throw like 5 or 6 TDs) or Tom Brady, good luck.

Of course I'm forced to point out that Julie picked all four games this weekend correctly. Silly.

One year ago today

What a great game, what a great savior of a great season. Thanks Ben.

Beauty in the differences

Watching the two teams that won today, Indy and New Orleans, it is a study in contrast. Both of them make their money with very explosive offenses but they do it differently.

The Colts run the same personal on just about every play. They might substitute their halfbacks but that is about it. They use a TE who can also play a 3rd WR and their other TE can also play FB. Basically they use the same personal for like 80% of their plays. They run those 80% of plays from like four or five different looks and that is it.

The Saints are very different than that. They use like 10 different skill players, 1 RB, 2 RB, 3RB, 4B (it helps when you have two RB who can split out wide), 3TE, 4WR, 5WR, it is just crazy. They have four running backs to bring, three different TE, and five WR. Even with all of the different personal they run a variety of different formations and looks.

These differences yet similar success is what I really like about NFL football. Well I'm 1-1 for picks today yet both teams I wanted to win won. Tomorrow I will go 1-1 again if both teams I want to win would win. Go Bears and Patriots!

Bathroom no-no

You should not talk to someone on your cell phone will in the bathroom. The past three trips to the public facilities in this complex has had someone talking to someone on their phone in there. That is just bad ju-ju.

Playoffs!

This week has four really good looking playoff games, well at least on paper.

Baltimore 22, Indianapolis 13
When Peyton loses in the playoffs it is almost never in a shootout. The finesse offense of theirs gets shut down, a physical 3-4 team (Patriots, Patriots, Steelers) just destroys them. That is what is going to happen this time. I want to pick them as an upset because I think Peyton actually likes the underdog roll but I just can't pick them. The good 3-4 teams, well Baltimore plays that 4-3/3-4 hybrid that New England players, the good ones just beat Indy. Yet another year with sub-par results in the playoffs should cost the Indy OC his job but it won't. Everyone wants to blame Indy's losses on the defense but it is all the offense. In Peyton's six playoff losses he's only needed to score 25 or more points once, when they were blown out by the Jets 41-0. The other five losses, 19-16, 23-17, 24-14, 20-3, 21-18 (what a fun game), it looks to me that the D is doing their job.

San Diego 44, New England 10
In the past year Bill Cowher and Tony LaRussa both won the Championship so maybe it is Marty's time. In this round of the playoffs 14-2 teams don't lose very often, if at all. I could easily see it going silly for the Chargers as well, in experience at QB and Marty as a coach, silly can happen. Plus I heard a rumor that Tom Brady guy can win some in the playoffs (11-1 I believe). Still I'm picking the blow out, first play, play action deep, Rivers to random SD WR on the side that Samuel isn't on, Touchdown!

Chicago 24, Seattle 17
This game's score will appear much closer than the game will be. Sexy Rexy or not, 13-3 teams don't lose to 9-7 teams in the playoffs. The Bears will throw some deep but just pound the ball on the ground in 3 wide sets because the Seahawks D is weak and even weaker against a 3 wide set. The Bears D is just been playing on cruise control since like week 8, they'll be fine. Plus the Seahawks don't have Steve Smith.

New Orleans 38, Philadelphia 14
Five wide, all the time. The Saints are going to come out passing and passing often. Then when you think they'll run they will pass again. The Eagles stop the run well but must blitz to stop the pass and Brees will shred them. The Eagles will then force themselves to throw too often thus eliminating their best weaspon, Westbrook.

I really want it to be NE, Indy, Chicago, NO but I think I might luck out and get half that. Of course The Football Gods could continue the year of spite and have the Seahawks and Eagles win, two teams I can't stand.

Crazy Driving

First let me say go me with my qualified prediction of a UF upset over THE OSU.

Now onto the crazy driving I've witnessed over the past 24 hours.

First the craziness.

Yesterday about 6:00pm on a rather busy, four lane plus middle turning lane, there was a crazy guy on a bicycle. I'm in the left lane heading north, the traffic is moving pretty quick but there is a good bit of traffic. The bicycle guy jumps out onto the road heading west (across traffic) directly in front of the truck to my right. The truck breaks then the bike goes north for about 20 feet then pulls out directly in front of me. I'd already slowed down at this point which is good, he goes north for about 10 feet then heads west again. On his trek he almost gets hit by a car heading south. Once he reached the side of the road he zooms back across the road heading east almost getting hit a few times. Once again when he reach the other side he went back across completely ignoring the cars. At this point I can't see him in my mirror anymore but I decide to call the police. I'm fairly certain he is on drugs, drunk, or just trying to get hit by a car. I just let the police know he is just zooming back and forth trying not to avoid traffic. I didn't read about a man in a bike being killed so hopefully he didn't get hit.

The second crazy thing was this morning. There is only one way out of my complex and in the morning there are these two girls who set up what can only be described as a lemonade or hotdog stand. We live with a lot of construction worker or daylabor types and I guess they buy whatever food they are selling. They set up about 25 feet from the end of the complex. It is usually very annoying because there is usually at least one car just stopped in the exit way of the complex buying some random food thing. Today there is no one parked and I'm the third car in a line of cars leaving the place, me, a huge white truck which I can't see around, and a car. Before we reach the end of the complex the truck breaks and then swerves to the left. I obviously slow down but eventually have to swerve as well. The car in front of the truck has decided to back up quickly to the food stand, with apparently no regard for the fact that there were cars behind him. He just stopped, put it in reverse, stepped on the gas, and wanted a hotdog.

Idiots

The fun things were just me enjoying my new Mustang.

Yesterday Jdub and I were out to lunch and we took the interstate back even though we didn't need to because I wanted to open the Mustang up a little. Not a lot of traffic, only 2.5 miles between exits. There was enough traffic and it being at 12:45 that I decided to slow down. We were up to about 95 or so, in fourth, at about 5500 RPMs so she had plenty more to give. Maybe when I don't have a passenger and not on a busy road we can see what she'll actually do.

Today after the I finally get on the road some guy wants to be a jerk. The back way I take to work is two by two lanes but eventually goes to one by one. At the light before it goes down to just two lanes total I'm in the left where the lane will still be in 150 ft or so and then there is a Honda Civic in the right lane. Apparently he was trying to get my attention, he wants to cut in front of me to avoid the lane disappearing but apparently I didn't look his way fast enough or he is wired wrong or something. He has his turn signal on and I look over after he laid on his horn, then he points towards me, indicating he wants to get over. Before I can even register what he is doing he flicks me off and honks again. Then he starts to rev up his circa 1995 Honda Civic. Normally I wouldn't try and take some guy off the line but was a little fun.

2006 Mustang 1, 1995 Honda Civic 0

National Championship Game

I can't really root for either team for various reasons. I won't be rooting for UF but I do like it when the press is wrong. The press and 'experts' have been so strong OSU and Big Ten this year. The SEC is the best conference in football, it has been the best conference in football for 10+ years. Winning the SEC is huge, I expect the Gators to give THE buckeyes a good game, maybe even an upset.

Newest Toy

I'm a person who really likes toys, be it an actual toy like the many on my desk or some new tech thing like an iPod or Xbox 360. Here is my newest toy and boy is she nice.














Since as long as I can remember I've wanted to mess around with this style of toy. I'm from the south, my family and friends were always into cars. Big muscle cars were the ones of choice. When I was actually old enough to drive however this type of car wasn't viable, I just never had the money. Now we're doing a okay, for the most part, and it was time.















The nice thing about a Mustang is that they aren't really considered a sports car. It has room in the back, well kinda, enough for the little one. We didn't get a GT/V8, we got the V6. She is actually used, a 2006 but only 2400 miles on her. We looked for new ones but saved almost $7,000 on the sticker by getting a used one. With only 2400 miles though she is virtually a new car, basically we got a new car without paying the 'drive it off the lot' tax.














As you can see about she is the best kind of new, fast car, mine. Sure Pretty Bird can drive it once she figures out how. Pretty Bird can't drive a manual so right now this beauty is all mine.

We actually picked her up on Wednesday but it has been raining all week so I couldn't get a good picture. We also didn't want to spoil the surprise to my youngest brother, he has a ~1991 GT 5.0 and like any good American just loves the 2005 and beyond Mustang.

The Corvette will have to wait. We almost bought a 1984 Corvette with only 78,000 miles on it instead but wanted to wait. When we get a house with a garage we'll buy a 70's style Corvette and fix her up. Right now though we'll be fine with this beauty. Not quite a sports car but she sure is worthy of the Mustang tradition.

Only One Week!

Thanks Bill

161-99-1 including ten trips to the playoffs, six trips to the AFC Championship Game, two trips to the Super Bowl and one Super Bowl win (not bad for an ex-Brown). It has been a great 15 years. During the last 15 years the term "Steelers Football" really meant something. The Steelers have rushed for the most yards and allowed the least amount of rushing yard in the entire league. As of last year no team had won more games but I'd have to add it up myself to figure it out, too much work.

No team played harder than the Steelers during this last 15 years. I've really enjoyed watching the Steelers for 15 years, most of the teams were exactly the same. Run the ball, stop the run, blitz the QB on 3rd and long, and throw deep some.

I know he'll be retired for about two years or so and I'm sure he'll coach for a team that isn't the Steelers when he returns. He'll always be a Steeler to me though.

McQueen

New Year, New Look!

Sorry I haven't been posting very often but Pretty Bird and I have been very busy the past few weeks. I'm simply haven't been in front of a computer with any spare time. Work is also really busy which means I haven't been able to update from work. Soon things will slow down and I will post on a regular-ish basis.

Merry Christmas

We're on our way out of town for a few days but wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas before we left.

See you in a few days.

Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!

I'm at a complete loss for words after seeing Rocky (#5, because Rocky #5 didn't happen) Balboa. It isn't that the movie is that good, although it is really good. In fact it is probably the best movie I've seen all year. My surprise and amazement comes from that how unexpectedly good it was and the crowd reaction. I love all four Rocky movies (again there is no #5, just like the 1996 World Series it never happened), the first one is an incredible sports movie, #2 is pretty good, and #3 and #4 are just great guilty pleasures. I wasn't expecting much from this one but I had time to kill and for some reason I wanted to see it. It was really, really good but again the thing that really got me was the audience's reaction. Twice in the movie there was a huge ovation including a standing one at the end of the movie. This was in a very uppity part of town, I wasn't expecting that at all.

If you like sports movies or Rocky movies or both do yourself a favor and go see Rocky Balboa. Make sure you stay through the credits, that was the best credit sequence I've seen in a long time.

Expensive Days

The past two business days have been pretty expensive.

On Friday I received a notice that the IRS wants $2200 from two years ago. They say I received an investment dividend and didn't report it as income. I never received any money. I know this because mainly I didn't receive a check but also because I didn't have any investments at the time, nor did I ever have any investments with that firm. The fun thing is that with the IRS and back taxes the burden is on me to prove I never received that income. Hopefully the investment firm will work with me, if not well I guess I get to pay an additional $2200 this year.

Today we had our first snag with our new company. We finally found out about our new 401(k) plan. The issue is two-fold both involve vesting. Vesting going forward with any new money and then what happens with any money that was previously not vested. The vesting going forward is bad but not bad for me since I'm only 20% vested. Starting January 18th everyone starts their vesting schedule over again but again not a big deal because it effects new money. Now the part I'm upset about. I'm 20% vested with RC2 so 80% of the company match and the dividends that money earned I don't have. RC2 has decided it wants that money back which is really nice of them. It only costs me about $5500 or so. What makes me even happier is that it was only two months later and I would have an additional 25% of that $5500.

The only hope I have is that we're done with this and the near exponential increase in money I'm losing doesn't continue tomorrow. I would hate to lose $11,000 tomorrow.

At least the Steelers destroyed the Panthers.

IT Hell

I think I’m just destined to work at companies that aren’t exactly the best in terms of IT. The service industry jobs I’ve worked were not state of the art at all and most people who read this blog know the greatness that was D’s IT quality. RC2 actually had pretty good IT people we just did our best down here in Charlotte to work around them, against them, or ignore them. Now that we’re not part of RC2 it really shows how good our in-house IT people are. To get a great view on how things really are, myself and one of our TCG designers are now helping with the migration and support issues.

I bring this up not to pick on my newly formed company but to give a funny quote. The quote needs background or it isn’t funny. One of the things I’m helping with is migrating email from the old soon to go away server to the new hotness server. There were some things, not overly complicated, but complicated enough that everyone had to do to insure you wouldn’t lose any email. The designer person and I helped some people with the tasks. One day before I left I checked in with the head of the office to see if he had completed it or needed help.

Trevor - “Did you move your email over?”
Boss – “No.”
Trevor – “Do you need help?”
Boss – “No.”
Trevor – “Well, okay. You know it needs to be done by tomorrow right? I can help if you want.”
Boss –“I told him [the IT person] I wanted him to come do it. He told me to follow the instructions that were given out and it would work. I didn’t understand them nor do I have time to figure them out. He told me my email would go away if I didn’t do them and he said I should follow the instructions”
Trevor – “Again, I can help.”
Boss – “Nope that’s okay. I told him to do it. I dare him to delete my fucking email.”
Trevor – “Okay, sounds good.”
Boss – “Have a good evening, see you tomorrow.”

Tonight's the night

If there is going to be a time for New Cleveland to defeat the Steelers it would be tonight. The Steelers are without both starting wide receivers and both starting safeties. As bad as that is it also puts Pittsburgh without their two best players, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu. Some would argue that Alan Faneca is their best or at least second best player but I think Troy is #1 and Hines #2. They are very different teams with those guys in there 100% compared to without them. Anyways this is your time New Cleveland, come into Pittsburgh and defeat the Steelers, put up or shut up.

I love my daughter more than anything, a lot more than even the Steelers. That being said why do you schedule her Christmas recital the same time as a Steelers game, that is just mean.

This shirt is dry clean only...which means it is dirty.