9/14/05---The Perfect Storm?

Saw this quote today...and thought it was hilarious.  Beano...what a hoot the guy is.

Speaking of predictions, I don't know how many of you listen to Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio, but I like the guy (and Eric Cricilias too -- both more than Dan Patrick). He's a USC lover, but not a Notre Dame hater. Anyway, he had Beano Cook on this morning and immediately started giving him shit about his reputation for leaning toward ND. Cook says he actually doesn't like Notre Dame itself, just the players on the team and the history of the team. He was seriously trying to distance himself from the Irish. Even said that ND has stunk it up the last decade or so and it hasn't hurt college football one bit. He said Notre Dame's "arrogance" has turned him against the University. Then he went on this spiel about how Hesburgh was the greatest university president of the 20th century, and things were done properly under him. He said that when Hesburgh left and "the new regime" made that "back room deal"
with NBC and at the same time had a representative speaking with ABC, he lost all of his respect for the University. Then he went on to say that he predicted at the beginning of the season that if ND beat Michigan they would win the National Championship. Cowherd was ripping him, saying that with the athletes at USC and Tennessee, not to mention Texas and Miami and Georgia, etc. we would never win the National Championship..."they're just not that good." Beano responds that if it had just to do with athletes, college football would be a different game altogether. That sometimes everything just comes together in one place at the right time, the "perfect storm." He closed by saying, "The perfect storm is forming at Notre Dame as we speak."


All together now......wooooooooooooooo

9/11/05---Game? There was a game yesterday?

9/8/05---Going back home again...well, not really...

So it was a couple of months ago that I got a call from my friend Chris, who informed me that his wife Leslie had gotten snagged speeding by a motorcycle cop (the absolute worst--don't get me started).  He wanted to know if I could help her out, and I got a friend of mine who's an attorney to take her case and get a satisfactory result for her.  From the beginning, all I asked for was for Leslie to make me some of her homemade cookies--which, I gotta tell ya--are unbelieveable.
So now the case is over, and its time to collect my payment.  Now, what you may not realize is....Chris & Leslie live right down the hall from the former Mrs Me # 2.
Lately there has been an olive branch extended by both of us, and things have been relatively peaceful an harminous, so I thought this might be a good time to go over and see Chris & his wife.  It had only been 7 years, ya know?
And yet, I felt the butterflies floating in the stomach as I drove up the oh-so-familar drive to the condo that I had lived at for almost 7 years.  I looked at what was the same, and what had changed.

"...friends look a me, they say I've changed,
but something's lost and something's gained,
in living every day."

For the record, that's the first time I've quoted a song by Judy Collins.  Yikes!
Anyway, I'm wondering what's going to happen if I run into Kelly.  Based on our emails, we both have indicated that the meeting will be civil....but who really knows?
So I went into the situation prepared to be okay if I saw her, and okay if I didn't.
I knocked on the door and Chris' answered.  The last time I saw him he was about 9 years old.  Now he's 17 and working on a set of sideburns.  Where did that part of my life go too?  Chris hasn't changed....not even a little bit.  Its good to see him.
When my time on earth is done, (and hopefully that will be quite a ways down the road) Chris will definitely stand out as one of the true characters I've met in my life.
A big burly man, with a beard that looks like Santa (or maybe a "Bad Santa"), he is what someone I once knew referred to as a "journeyman" drinker.  Let's just say that if half of what Chris tells me is true, the man's liver must be screaming for help.
Anyway, we talk for about 20 minutes...catch up...talk about old times and, in general, reminisce.  Then its time to go.  We stand out on the front step near the stairwell and finish up our conversation.  Two ladies from our condo come walking up and Chris tells one who I am.  Don't you recognize him, he asks?

"Why...you're Misty's dad, aren't you?"
"Well, yes....I guess I was.""
"Well its been forever....how have you been?"

We make some small talk, and she turns to the lady behind her....who is quite a bit older...bordering on the "cranky old lady". 

"Lee....you remember Misty's dad, don't you?"
"What?  Well...yes...it is you.  Honey, you've put on way too much weight."
"Why thank you.  I appreciate you noticing."

Nothing like coming home again for a little insulting.  It was funny in retrospect I suppose. I remember when I left...that first time.  I remember when I "walked through the fire", as my brother called it.  When I decided that it would hurt worse to stay than it would to leave.  Some of my friends, like Chris & Leslie, knew that the time was coming quickly.  So did another neighbor, Paul.  I'll never forget something that Paul told me about a week before I finally left.

"The day you drive away from here....you're going to feel this huge weight come off your shoulders.  Its going to feel like such a sense of relief."

But, I didn't feel that on the day I left.  I drove away feeling ashamed.  Not for leaving.  I felt ashamed for the WAY I was leaving.  Like a dog with its tail between its legs.  So I said goodbye to Chris and walked to my car.  I found myself looking over to Kelly's condo, wondering if she would come walking out "accidently".
I looked to see if I could see a kitchen curtain parting, to see if someone was quietly watching me leave...for a 2nd time.  But no one was at the window.  And I drove away....and I felt that sense of relief come over me.  That feeling that....I was so glad that I didn't live there anymore.

Later,
Jeff

9/7/05---My dog, Midnight

Boy do I love my dog Midnight.  Here's an example of why:  Yesterday morning, its about 5:40am and I woke up before the alarm went off.  I hear Kim opening the backdoor to let Midnight & Jazz out in the backyard.  Couple of things real quick.
Beezer does not like to go in the backyard.  Who knows why?  Its just not his cup of tea.  Jazz will go back there, but gets a little wigged out if its rainy or wet.  Well, on this particular day...it was absolutely pouring rain.  So Jazz is of course, hesitant to go out.  Midnight of course, is the complete opposite.  He could care less if its raining, it only adds to his playtime.  It means he gets to run underneath all the wet bushes, and walk through the muddy areas of the yard....he's just having a good old time. 
Anyway, so Kim lets the dogs out, and I'm just laying there, waiting for my alarm.
It finally goes off, and like 7 million other people in this country, I immediately hit the snooze and lay back in bed.  I hear Kim let Jazz in, and she promptly walks into our room and begins shaking herself dry--all over our new bedspread (thanks Jazz).
So now Kim still has Midnight outside...and what follows is a fairly accurate transcription of what I heard:

"Midnight!  Get in here...and I mean right now."  (loud whispering...its 5:45am)
Couple seconds of silence.
"Midnight!  I am warning you...you better get over here right now!"
BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK!!!
"MIDNIGHT!  You better quit that barking!  I mean it...get over here...right now!"
BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK!!!
"MIDNIGHT!  You are getting me mad!  You better get in out of this rain!"
BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK!!!
"MIDNIGHT!  I told you to stop that!  You better....get over here right this minute!"

Now, at this point, I'm laying there...and I'm thinking.  Oh boy, I am going to have to get up and I mean in a hurry or Midnight is going to be in some big trouble.

"MIDNIGHT!  You better come over here....get out of that mud!  Right now!"
BARKBARKBARKBARKBARK!!!
"MIDNIGHT!  Stop that barking!"

I'm serious.  It was like an Abbot & Costello routine.  Kim was Bud & Midnight was Lou.  I kept waiting for "who's on first?"  So finally, I get up and walk into the bathroom and ask Kim to step aside.

"BOY!  You better get your ass in here rightnow!"

Out of the darkness this black figure comes running in the rain, and I swear to you...
I mean I swear to you....he had a smile on his face.  I stop him there in the bathroom, Kim hands me a towel and walks out grumbling....and I'm toweling him off...sort of giving him a little bit of grief about not listening to his Mom.......and I swear....he's got this look on his face.....like he had planned the whole damn thing.

And that....THAT....is why I call Midnight....not my dog.....but my other son.

Later,
Jeff

 

9/4/05---Ahem....football fans...hello...are you there?

  HERE COME THE IRISH!

I report from ground zero. It is caged mayhem.

The Irish infestation has taken over this tri-rivered city. Bewildered Pirate fans watched dumbfounded as Cub fans shouted from seemingly every seat at PNC park. Later, the bars mirrored that makeup. Irish from Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Miami and parts unknown comandeered microphones unleashing Irish hell on fans who really only care about the black and gold. The Panthers don't even rank as an after thought here.

Charlie Weis was seen at the front of a four bus convoy thrusting his fists into the air at the Irish fans saluting and screaming in the streets. Patton has arrived. Run for the hills. Hide in the basement. Head butt your dog. Mayhem is at the door. And he speaks with a brogue accent.

Later,
Jeff

9/3/05---Football returns (ladies, proceed at your own risk!)

Well, its finally here again.  The anticipation of another football season.  You can tell its almost football season a number of ways.  No, not the crispness of an autumn wind, not the sounds of helmets and shoulder pads cracking against one another.....
no, I was thinking of the fact that baseball's Chicago Cubs are once again taking a late season crap and that I got my notification for the annual fantasy football draft.

Of course, before we get to the fantasy football draft, allow us to pontificate momentarily on what really matters.  Its a college football Saturday, its a Notre Dame football Saturday, we've got a new coach, and  (shockers on top of shockers)
we have a coach who.....if we are to believe that which we see and hear....(gulp)....

MAY ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.

Yep, Notre Dame grad (class of '78) Charlie Weis has been coaching 'em up over the spring & fall camps....and more than anything, I believe he has the kids confident about themselves.  You have to know that at the end of last year the confidence level in this team was at just about an alltime low.  Charlie, along with (GASP!) a group of assistants that is HIGHLY REGARDED (when's the last time you heard THAT about a group of Notre Dame assistants??), has got the kids to believe in themselves.  And ya know what?  All that ridiculous babble you hear from the talking heads on ESPN about how the Irish don't have any talent?  Folks, there's a reason that Notre Dame is listed at # 3 as far as schools with the highest number of players in the NFL.  And like Casey Stengel used to say:

"You can look it up."

That's right....# 3.  Right behind Miami & Florida State, two football programs that have been...oh, I dunno....fairly successful over the last 10 years.  So how come Notre Dame is still sending players to the NFL on a regular basis but is not doing so well on the field or on the scoreboard?  Hmm....gee....kinda makes you wonder, huh?  Makes you wonder if its.....hmmm.....COACHING?

My prediction?  Notre Dame.....7-4.
Tonights game?  I say.....Notre Dame-31  Pitt-17.

Our annual fantasy football draft was last evening, with a lot of good food and good conversation about football.  Here's how my team ended up looking, keeping in mind that I play in a "keeper" league and was allowed to retain up to four players from last season.  The guys I retained were:
QB--Daunte Culpepper
RB--Julius Jones
WR--Andre Johnson
TE--Tony Gonzalez

Pretty good start I think.

So last night I picked up:
RB--Brian Westbrook
WR--Laveranues Coles
Defense--Carolina Panthers
WR--Lee Evans
RB--Michael Bennett
RB--Warrick Dunn
RB--Deshaun Foster
TE--Doug Jolley
RB--Ciatrick Fason
QB--J P Losman
Defense--Cincinnati Bengals
K--Shayne Graham
TE--Ben Watson
RB--Brandon Jacobs

Not a bad lineup.  I took some guys who can help me now, along with a couple of picks with an eye towards next year's draft (Losman, Fason & Jacobs).  My crew of running backs is very deep, so I have value at that position to trade if the need should arise.  And now......

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL????

Later,
Jeff