Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Seriously

It's not even the end of October, and it's snowing.  A lot.  And it's sticking to the ground.  What does that mean the winter will be like this year?

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Yes We Can Can

I keep expecting to hear Allen Toussaint singing his amazing song with a photo montage of Barack Obama.  But I think Marc Broussard has a version that is pretty good, too.  I like computers, but I sure don't have time to do it justice.  Anyone else been hearing this in their heads?  Well, here is a version with Lee Dorsey singing from youtube.  

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Abita Pecan Harvest

I like this beer a lot.  Except after a six pack I feel like all my teeth have little socks on them. 

Not at all related note:
I wonder how many weekends the Saints, Tulane, and LSU have all won their games.  LSU and Tulane lost.  Is this a good or bad omen or just normal?  Is there any relationship between the actual teams and my fantasy football teams (all 3 of them).  I need to start keeping better records, though I have to admit when I lose all 3 fantasy leagues I am a pretty pissed off person.  (For my poor students, if the Saints lose Monday sucks, and if I lose, Tuesday sucks for them - when did I become Harry Clark?)

Friday, October 24, 2008

Halloween Story

My apologies to anyone who lived in the Bonnabel area or anywhere north of West Esplanade in Metairie around Halloween 1987.  The story I am about to relate is true, and no attempt has been made to hide the identities of those mentioned.* 

On Halloween 1987, I was a senior in high school.  Things were going great, and I had a 1983 Nissan Stanza with a sunroof.  On the way to school that Friday, I refused to let anyone sit in the front seat of my car as it was occupied by an inflatable skeleton.  I drove around in a green-skinned mask with pink cotton hair.  I have no idea where either of these items came from.

Halloween was a Saturday that year.  I believe that we went to the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the old Sena Mall.  My memory is hazy, but I think I was with Chris and George.  Carlos was supposed to join us, but he bailed so he could hang out with his girlfriend, Tina.  That, we thought, was lame.  We didn't care for her, and he blew a chance to hang out with the guys.

So we drove around collecting pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns.  We filled the trunk of my little stanza three times.  Each time, we emptied the full trunk of pumpkins on Carlos' yard at the end of Ridgeway.  When we were finished early in the morning, his entire yard was covered in small, medium, large, and extra large sized orange globes. 

But we weren't finished.  We drove around stealing everything that wasn't nailed or tied down.  And some things that were.  Some people near Causeway had an entire family of scarecrows stuffed with brand new clothes, many with the tags still on.  We divided the clothes, the prize being the long-sleeved Stolichnaya t-shirt.  We didn't even know what Stoli was back then, but the shirt was great and was only recently retired from the LatinTeacher collection.

We stole sheets hanging from trees and every other scary Halloween thing.  We filled the trunk and half the back seat with clothes and plastic items and headless horsemen.  One of the stuffed creatures we stole had a pole which would not fit in the car.  We did not want to leave such a marvelous find on the side of the road, so we opened the sun roof and held on as we continued to pilfer things.  I can only imagine what this must have looked like though I am not sure many saw us.

At the end of the night, I guess we dumped the sheets somewhere because I have no idea now what we would have done with them.  I know we kept one to create a compartment in the trunk in which to hide beer.  The rest had holes cut out or were stained or damaged in some way.  As a student who went to a school where uniforms were required, it was great to have some clothes that weren't bought by my mom or khaki.  Sure I didn't know what Stoli was, but I had a cool shirt that the chicks would dig.  And Carlos had to pick up pumpkins all morning.  Serves him right for dissing his friends. 


*I will tell this story as though it were Halloween night, but it may
have been All Saints' Day night because I think Carlos got in a lot of
shit on a school day.
  I think I remember him coming to school later than usual because he had to clean up all the pumpkins in his yard.  However, I am getting old and my memory isn't what it used to be.  10 years ago, I could have told you the time that we stole each item.  It might make more sense as to why there were so few cars and people about, but then again, I remember it being late which would not have been so likely on a Sunday.  The point is that this was really fun, and I can't believe we didn't get in trouble for doing so much mischief.  The year before, in my pink paisley shirt, I walked home along the levee smoking cigarettes as people jogged by in the early morning sun.  My mom gave me a curfew of dawn because my dad was out of town.  I didn't make it.  But that's another story

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

By the numbers

This weekend in Columbus, OH, I ran in the Columbus 1/2 Marathon. 

Here are the numbers:
13.1 miles
2:34:02
Helped to raise over $25,000 for a family whose mom died from a rare cancer in March
11,000 others ran in the race
2 blisters the size of quarters- one on each arch
1 beaten up knee (the left)
5:00 AM wake up call
10:45 AM first beer
0 glasses of water after running

It was fun and challenging.  If my knee would cooperate, I would do it again.  I would love to run a full one before I turn 40 in a couple of years.  I think I would need to train a little more diligently than I did for this one.  You know, the Mardi Gras Marathon is coming up....  And I already know I can run 13.1 miles...I wonder is I have enough time to train.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Missing my friend

I sure wish I had Brian around.  I have so many things I want to talk to him about and share with him.  As ornery as he could be sometimes, he always listened to me and gave me good advice. 

He would be loving the Saints this year. 

Hoodoo on You you

Apparently, the New Orleans Voodoo of the AFL are dropping out of the league. No particular reason is given, but I am glad that I have a hat and some other memorabilia.

My
buddy Brian had season tickets and loved going to see the games. I
never made it to one since I was up here. I hope they come back one
day.

Where are the Voodoo Dolls going to go?

Friday, October 10, 2008

Jason David Sucks More Than You Know

As much as I think Martin Gramatica is an ass clown and douche, Jason David cost us the Viings' game.  Here's how I see it:

Kaesviharn HAD to interfere.  #42 had been burned like my wife's rice.  Kaesviharn was simply taking charge of the play. Even though he was out of position, he wasn't passed by. 

I sat here watching and saw 42 in the game.  Oh, shit, I said to myself (and maybe out loud - I was slightly inebriated at that point).  And Gus Frerotte said, "Look at that shit.  They put him in.  I know who's getting my next pass."  And lo, so it was said and so it was done.

Result:  Pass Interference at the spot of the fowl.  Ryan Longwell hits a game winner. 

It is my personal opinion that Jeffery, Clio, Berto, Cliette, me, the ghost of Hap Glaudi, or golden throated Jerry Romig could do a better job of coverage than Jason David. 

Special Note to Mr. David:  Sir, I don't know what it is that happens in practice, but you have to a) pay attention to the opponent and b) TRY to do what your coaches tell you.  They can talk all they want but you are the one that has to perform the actions.  I strongly doubt that you "kick ass" at practice but just can't figure it out during the game.  When I used to play flag football, even I knew not to let the receivers get behind me.  How is it that you, a paid professional, do not understand this?  I suggest you tear up your contract and start coaching high school football.  Just don't coach the defensive backs.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Assclownery

Seriously. WTF? Reggie's head was turned and then the jackass who pulled his face punched the ball out. And there was no flag. Ed Hochuli may have just refereed his final game in the NFL.

Changing focus

Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks Martin Grammatica Sucks


UPDATE: He is going to cost us another game. We need to score 9 touchdowns per game.

Warning Track Power

Tony Kornheiser said something brilliant tonight about Reggie Bush (roughly paraphrased) "In college at USC, he hit homeruns all the time. In the pros he has warning track power. He starts hitting homeruns he will become a star of stars." He also said that he was one of the most exciting players in the league today. I like Tony.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Saturday, October 04, 2008

SEC vs. Big 12

There's been a lot of sports talk about which conference is stronger. And today the number 1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners opened conference play. Against Baylor. And they won. Big deal. It's Baylor. How can anyone who watches and comments on Division I football possibly think that the Big 12 is better? From top to bottom, every team in the SEC can win any given weak. Ole Miss beat Florida last week, for chrissakes. Is Baylor really going ever to compete with Oklahoma? When is Texas A&M going to return to their glory years (the 50s)? Kansas has a football team (are they better than Duke's?) I don't even think I can name all 12 schools. Even this year, Vandy is 4 and 0 and giving a much better Auburn a run for their money. SEC rules.

If you were to ask me about the top of each division, I would say that perhaps the best Big 12 team is better than the top SEC team. However, I can watch that happen shortly after New Years in the BCS Championship Game. Unless somehow it's Big 10 and SEC. I just don't see how the SEC won't be in it.

This is what people need to do to waste time on TV. There really is no debate.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Getting it off my chest

Years ago while in school at Jesuit, there was a young man. I remember his name, but I don't necessarily want to print it here. I remember him being in the accelerated classes, though I could be wrong about that. But I remember more importantly that he was absolutely tortured by some of the other students. I don't recall having a particularly close relationship with him, but I did stand up for him from time to time. I just could never understand - here is this kid, one of the brightest in his 7th grade class, that has to be excited about going to Jesuit. Maybe his parents were elated. Maybe his grandfather had gone to school there. He was obviously bright enough and talented enough. But for some reason, he was teased by others in our class. And his responses just egged them on.

On more than one occasion, my frustration brought me to the counselor, Father Hecker. I am not sure he knew how to help a teary-eyed 13 year old, and Father never found me to see how I was doing. I don't think my classmate ever knew.

So here we are, 25 years removed from 8th grade, and I can't get the thoughts of the bad things they did to him out of my head. One student pulled a chair out from under him, embarrasing him in front of our 8th grade class with Mrs. Kreller. I can still see him walking in front of school. And years later some continued to tease him as he worked at the Esplanade Mall.

I do not understand why this is affecting me so much, but I wanted to apologize to him. I am sorry that you were treated so poorly at a school I love. I wish I had done more to help you. I hope you are doing well, and that you did not take all that personally, even though it clearly had to be torturous. I hope he has found some great way to improve this world. I also hope he has done something great to really show the assholes that made his life hell that they didn't effect him one bit.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Joey's Back

But why? Don't the coaches know we need a corner back and not a quarterback? This is insane.