Happy 17th

I can't believe my first baby girl is already 17 years old!  How in the world did that happen?  In my head she still looks like this:

We celebrated by visiting Grandma Connie for the day and then ordering Thai food for dinner with Kelly.

Darcy and I got this cake when it was just going to be the family after dinner.  But then the cousins visiting from Chicago called and said they would join us for cake and present opening after dinner so we had to add to the dessert.

The day was a good one.  The night even tastier.  Happy Birthday Madison!

Tomfoolery

My husband has some OCD when it comes to clutter.  He likes things to be in a place where he things they should be.  Unfortunately, he can get a little crazy with this.  An example of this is that the man can not come into the kitchen and sit down for dinner if there are pots and pans left on the stove.  He will wash these items first before eating.  If there are dishes in the sink, he will put them in the dishwasher.  By the time he is done cleaning the "clutter" we will have finished dinner and he will eat alone.

He does not like to come home from work and find us eating in front of the television because that means we have glasses of liquid sitting out.  Or empty plates waiting to be carried to the kitchen.  He feels that once we take that last bite we should get up and clean our plates.  Who needs drinks next to them when it only causes condensation to run down on to the coasters?  Drink the drink and put the glass in the dishwasher.  He has been known to pour out a full glass of liquid while you are in the bathroom because, "I thought you were done.  You left."

We have visited his work on the weekends en-route to somewhere else and he will have the same reaction there.  He will be showing us a training room and if he spies trash on the floor, "There is a trash can right here," or a water bottle sitting on a table, "Seriously?  Throw this away," or papers left behind, "Slobs.  How hard is it," he will rant and rave and clean and clean.

We have a drill at my house.  Everyone who knows me or my kids well knows the drill.  We see Tom's car pull up and we yell, "Daddy's home!  Places people, places."  And we all jump up and begin a quick clean of clutter.  Dining room table have books and hairbrushes on them?  Darcy takes that.  Glasses and plates out?  Madison washes those.  Shoes lying on the floor?  I'm on it.  Blankets out that aren't being used?  Pillows out of place?  Dog toys on the floor?  Kelly takes that.  And on and on.  We have it so down pat that we can have it all spick and span and be back on the couch in front of the TV before the man enters the house.  It is easier then having to listen to him.

We all have idiosyncrasies.  His, for the most part, is mild.  I'm not saying that I don't explode when I find my desk "cleaned" or, when the kids were younger, toys in the trashcan, but I can live and deal with this part of him.

During football season I spend Sundays planted on the couch first at my house for the pre-game shows, then at my buddy's house for the Steelers, and then back on my couch for the second games and Sunday night football.  I am a fanatic like this until February.  My husband is very good about this and cooks dinner on Sundays.  Two weeks ago he was making BBQ shredded pork in the crockpot and working on it about the time I was heading over to my buddy's house.  He was in the spice cabinet and had taken out several containers of spices and had them spread out over the kitchen counter.

Him:  "How many spices do you have here?  Do you even know?"
Me:  "Yes.  I know exactly what is up there.  I just cleaned it out recently.  Please don't mess with my spices.  I have the three spices I use the most right where I want them to be."
Him:  "Well, I can't find anything in here.  There are so many in here.  How many containers of cinnamon do you have?  Do you even know?"
Me:  "Seriously?  Yes, we have two containers of cinnamon up there.  Who cares?"
Him:  "I do.  We don't need two containers.  And chili seasoning.  We have more then one of those.  It's just crazy."
Me:  "No, crazy, is how you are acting right now.  But I don't have time for this.  I'll see you later."

I left.  I figured how much damage could the man do to a spice rack?  The next day I found out.  I opened up my pull out cupboard and found that he had taken three spices and put them on the shelf that is for tomato and spaghetti products.  Left them.  Sitting there.  As if that was a better place for them then the spice rack.  Heaven forbid we have more then one spice in the spice rack.  I took a deep breath, did some muttering, and put the spices back.  My pull out cupboard is organized and there are specific places for everything in there and spices is not one of them.  Why he would put them in there made absolutely no sense.

Then I opened my refrigerator to find this:

Me:  "Why would your father put the chili powder in the refrigerator?  That man has seriously lost it."
Madison:  "Maybe it was too hot."
Me:  "That's actually funny."

Later:

Me:  "Why would you put the chili powder in the refrigerator?  Please explain that one to me."
Tom:  "What?  I didn't do that."
Me:  "I left it in there, so please feel free to go see that you did."
Tom:  "I think I may be losing it."
Me:  "That is exactly what I thought.  I mean, really?   It was bad enough you put the other spices in the cabinet, but chili powder in the refrigerator?"
Tom:  "I must have thought it was too hot."

I give up. 

Monday NFL recap week 12

Steelers: Be still my beating heart...another fabulous, well played defensive game. Could it be? Could it be we are just now warmed up?

Troy Polamalu - When the view is wide enough I always have my eye on Polamalu. Try it. Watch this guy on a series. He starts out in the back. Then he is in the front. Then he is running backwards. Then forwards and to the right. The man is everywhere. Yesterday he was making plays like a crazy, well, Troy Polamalu. He read the quarterback. He popped balls out of receiver's hands. He got his hands on the ball. He tackled under and over and around. It was wonderful to see him back. 

Defense - So much for those haters whining about how defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau should retire. Pfft. He has newbies that just needed some time and veterans who just needed a butt kicking. William Gay being one of those. Yesterday he had a good game with a pick and a strip and we need more of that from these veterans. 

Weather - It was a wind chill of 1 degrees and snow flurries. Prime weather for the three rivers guys who play in an outdoor stadium in a state known for chilly degrees. 

Antonio Brown - He is certainly proving why management went with him over Mike Wallace. Another solid performance from the receiver who had the Browns best defender on him like ketchup on a hot dog. 

Playoff Picture - Now that the Steelers are winning and the other AFC teams are losing and the records are mimicking one another the future isn't as bleak as originally thought.  Now I have to hope that other AFC teams in the hunt - Chargers, Baltimore - start losing.  I have to stop worrying about winning a pool (sorry Kelly) and channeling my energy into making other teams fumble.  Of course, I still have to pull the Steelers through as well.  Ah, football at the holidays!

Other:

Broncos/Pats - Better start out with these guys, the cause of my late sleep in this morning thus a late post. Holy crazy game! The Broncos defense came out to play and in the first half they led 24-0. Peyton had little to do except throw in the red zone for the most point to get the points. But give Belichick credit because whatever he said in the locker room worked. The Pats defense came out and got Brady on the field and this time his line held and Brady did what Brady does and suddenly the Pats were ahead 31-24. Peyton was not Peyton until then and sure enough he brought it to a tie and into overtime. 

Coin toss - I actually had to rewind to make sure I hadn't lost my mind. Belichick wins the coin toss and gives the ball to Manning? Gives the ball to Peyton Manning. P EYTON M A N N I N G. Turns out old Bill felt the wind would be a disadvantage. Turns out old Bill knew something because Manning couldn't get the score. But then again neither could Brady. 

Ending - Both teams had to punt, but as the Pats punted the ball it went short, due to wind, and it bounced and knicked a Bronco player on the hand making it a live ball. The Pats recovered it and kicked the field goal to win the game. All the announcers and tweeters have whined about seeing a game like that end this way. Pfft. Welcome to football guys. Welcome to COLD weather football. Welcome to what the Super Bowl is going to be like in February. And what? You wanted a tie?

Super Bowl - And speaking of that bright idea of playing in MetLife Stadium in New York in the dead of winter...maybe the reason most teams have losing records this year is because they would rather be in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl. 

Ass whopping - That would be what the Arizona Cardinals did to the Indianapolis Colts. 40-11. No comeback here for Andrew Luck. That is sometimes what happens when your old offensive coach knows you so well. 

Texans - Put a fork in them. Their record now is 2-9, the same as the Jaguars the team that hadn't won a game until last week and who beat the Texans this week. They have now lost nine games straight, lost their coach to a mini stroke, and been attacked from a veteran player as he exited the team. Problems, problems, problems. 

Cam Newton - He made a play that I think Ben Roethlisberger could be making at least niece each game. The Panthers were on their own 5 yard line. The center hiked the ball to Newton to pretended to give it to his running back, but who instead kept the ball and strolled onto the end zone for the score. I just think so many times that when the Steelers go for it on fourth and one that is the play we should be doing. Or throwing. No one expects that on fourth down. 

Tie Game - The Minnesota Vikings game at Lambeau Field ended in a tie with the Green Bay Packers because neither team scored in the two possessions in overtime. Whose bright idea was this rule?

Chiefs/Chargers - My pick played off as Philip Rivers did what he hasn't been able to do in the last three weeks...come back and win. He did it with 31 seconds on the clock and a beautiful pass to the corner of the end zone. 

NFL picks - week 12

Last week - 10 - 5

Overall - 102 - 61

New Orleans over Atlanta - Whew.  That was close.

Pittsburgh over Cleveland - If the Steelers can play like they did last week they have a shot.  A shot is better then a kick in the groin as my father use to say.  If they play like they normally do, well it will be a long three days until they meet again on Thanksgiving.

Detroit over Tampa Bay -Yes, the Bucs are smokin' at the moment.  Let's not get carried away.

Green Bay over Minnesota - My gut said the Vikings, but then it said the Packers.  I went back and forth.  What to do, what to do?  I went with the home team.

San Diego over Kansas City - I had to do something crazy to be different from the rest of the pool pack.  It is possible. 

Chicago over St. Louis - The Bears don't seem to be too hampered without Jay Cutler so what the hell?

Carolina over Miami - Yes, the Dolphins have won like three in a row.  They haven't faced a red hot Cam Newton yet.

Baltimore over Jets - Only Jets fans would pick them here I think, and the Ravens have the same record as the Steelers.

Houston over Jacksonville - First I had the Jaguars, but then I thought, "surely the Texans...."  Might be time to stop listening to those thoughts.

Tennessee over Oakland - I know the Raiders are on a roll, but these two teams seem evenly matched from what I've seen when watching the.  I like the Titans uniforms better.

Indianapolis over Arizona - Coach against the man who hired him.  Coach against the man who held his job while he was out sick.  Coach against coach.  The Colts are the better team despite the coaching.

Dallas over Giants - Yep, Eli Manning is playing better and getting more protection.  I just didn't see that happening today.

Denver over New England - Oh, my.  Tom Brady doesn't care for Peyton Manning (in my opinion) because he gets the commercials and more of the buzz.  (Hey, Tom, might be because he is warm, funny, and more open to chatting with folks.  Try smiling more.)  He wants to beat Peyton, no matter what team he plays on.  Brady lost last week on an iffy call (in his opinion).  I thought New England initially, but I talked myself out of it.  The Broncos defense is going to have to come out big today.

San Francisco over Washington - RGIII went down last week.  Since the whole injury incident last year his confidence seems shaken.  His counterpart on the opposition, Colin Kaepernick, got shaken this year when he didn't come out blazing like last year.  I went with the better coach to quarterback ratio.

Good thing we have a week of rest

Since the girls were 6 years old they have played recreation soccer.  I signed Madison up first at a field and organization different from the ones her friends from school played in because I wanted her to meet other people.  She played with the same girl from 6 years old to 14 years old except for the year we had two girls teams and they were split up.  (After that her mother and I would write on the forms that they had to be together because we liked visiting during the games)  After 14 the organization didn't go any further and Madison played her freshman year in high school on the JV team.  A few of the girls were girls she played with through her years in recreation, including our friend.

Darcy followed Madison after she turned 6.  She, of course, excelled in the game and was asked to join the competitive team.  She did that two years before we found the parents crazy, the fees high, and our time dwindling.  She went back to recreation soccer and even got to move up an age group to play on Madison's team one year which made our soccer weekends SO much easier.  Darcy also played in middle school so it was just natural for her to join the JV soccer team this year in high school.

Madison meanwhile hung up her soccer cleats after her freshman year.  It took up too much of her time and she just couldn't fit it in with all of the other things she wanted to do.  This year, however, she had to add a fitness activity to her schedule for the IB program.  She decided she would like to get back into soccer.  There apparently is a rule about upper classman on the JV team so we enrolled her in the recreation soccer league that all of her classmates played in back in the day.  The one that was closer to our house.  The one my husband moaned about each time we drove to the other recreation field that wasn't close to our house.  This league goes to 19 years of age.

Darcy decided that her soccer days were over.  She was going to swim and then play flag football in high school.  At the end of swimming she changed her mind.  Unfortunately, the two sports overlapped so she couldn't be at both practices at the same time.  Darcy, being Darcy, worked it out with both coaches that she would go to swim practice four days a week and soccer one day until swimming ended.  But then she made districts in swimming, which extended the sport a week and then she made regionals, which extended the sport another week.  Meanwhile the soccer team had games starting.  By the time swimming ending they had played three games and Darcy was thrown into one practice before the next game.  Foreshadowing...

She played in the game and went to practice for the next few days.  Then she came home and complained of her foot pain.  Several years prior she had been diagnosed with Sever's disease and ended up in a boot like her grandmother.  A boot that we threw behind her wardrobe because we had no other place to store it after her foot healed.  She practiced again and played in another game.  After that game she couldn't do it anymore.  Her foot hurt too much and after much searching we found the boot and she is once again clomping around in it.  The team only has two more games before the season ends (odd season this year since the varsity team is just getting started and goes until end of January) so Darcy has taken to helping with the coaching and spending more time on her studies.  Okay, I made up that last part.

Back to Madison.  She plays in a game every Saturday.  Two weeks ago she got tangled up with another player and the two ended up on the ground.  The girl on the other team got up.  Madison didn't.  She couldn't.  She was holding her ankle and the coach and two girls helped her limp off the field.  At halftime I got her some ice and trudged across the field to survey the damage.  I found her on the bench with ice on her knee.  Huh?  She rolled her eyes, shook her head, told me she was fine.  I went back to the sideline and in a few minutes she was back on the field.  Later she explained that the coach took one look at her pronating feet (not in her orthotics like they should have been) and thought something was wrong with her knee since on a normal person it wouldn't be turned in like hers was.  She tried to explain that to him, but he didn't believe her or didn't listen.  She said the ankle was what she had hurt, but it was fine.  She went all week and never mentioned the ankle again.  Then came the next soccer game.  At the end of the game she fell again, this time getting caught up in a pile of four players.  She kept playing.  After the game we went to dinner and after dinner she said she was sore and her thigh hurt.  We looked and discovered she had a nice bruise. (we forgot to photograph it)

When we got home and she took her shoe off we discovered her ankle was swollen.  Really swollen.  The same ankle that she had hurt the previous week.  While she could walk on the ankle she couldn't turn it side to side or, say, kick a soccer ball.  We had her ice it and elevate it for the rest of the weekend.  Monday after walking on it all day at school the ankle was swollen again.  Back to the ice and elevation.  By Wednesday it looked better, but then she had to sprint down the street to catch the bus.  When she came home the ankle was swollen again.  We don't have a boot for that.

Saturday we wrapped the ankle and she played in the soccer game.  It held up, but not enough for her to kick the ball hard enough into the goal while standing in front of said goal.  She claimed that was the heat and not her ankle's fault.  It was 83 degrees on Saturday with a full sun and she had not lathered up with sun screen.  Ey yi yi!  I'm just glad we have a week off of sports so that both of these girls can heal before the next round of sports begin.  I'm tired of tape, wraps, boots, and whining.

Five Thursday Things

I don't know if it is because my birthday is coming up or because I've been looking through old photos or because my girls are growing up and out so fast or because my mother is ill, but lately I've been thinking a lot of the past.

1. Red Velvet Cake - The only odd cake of my childhood, different then the vanilla and chocolate my mother baked, was red velvet that my neighbor made at birthdays.  I wasn't a big fan of the taste, but the cake itself awed me.  First of all, it was a deep red color that made it more regal then regular cakes and certainly more powerful then confetti cake.  Secondly, my neighbor made it with two rounds instead of the sheet version that I was accustomed to and the rounds always made cake more exotic.  Lastly, the fact that the cake was only made for special occasions and baked from scratch, not from a box, just added to the mystic.  I never knew anyone else who made or ate red velvet cake.  It was the cake of all cakes in my mind.  A few years ago my mother and I were having lunch at a small tea room and the dessert of the day was red velvet.  I hadn't seen or heard that name since childhood and I had to have a piece.  Now red velvet is the it cake.  Every fall red velvet cupcakes, tortes, candies and cakes appear in bakeries and on television cooking shows.  While none of it stands up to Sue's red velvet cakes, I do enjoy the memories it brings me.
2. Canada Bonnie -  She worked at the school my children attended.  She was a whirlwind and one of those people that could do everything.  She ran that school in every department and was always upbeat and cheerful.  So much so that I didn't know about her anguish until the day I got the call to help her and her son pack to run home to Canada.  She made it and last I heard all was well.  Recently she has been on my mind.  Little things trigger memories and I wonder how she is doing and what is happening with her and H man.  People come and go in this life and we really should make a better effort to hold close the ones who make an impact.
3. Babies - I think all the time about when my kids were little.  I rehash moments and tell stories.  The other night I had a dream about holding a baby girl.  She was as cute as could be and I held her and rocked back and forth and just stared at her.  She belonged to one of my neighbors (who does not have a baby and does not plan another one as she has three kids) and the dream went on with me pretending to breastfeed the child so a policeman wouldn't think we were driving around the city with a baby in the front seat.  No need to get into that dream.  Two days later I opened facebook to find that 2, TWO, people I know are pregnant.  Both women have two children already and hadn't planned on more, at least I don't think so.  I thought it odd that it happened so close to my dream.  And then on Saturday Madison and I worked at a school related function and Darcy's teacher showed up with her newborn baby who we all stood over and cooed at.  I've stopped now with the baby stories in hopes that this all disappears.
4. House on 8200 - After my mother sold the house (from under me) I dreamed about it all the time.  All the time.  In the dreams we were living in the house until the new owners moved in.  Sometimes we were there illegally other times the owner knew.  I haven't had dreams in a long time about the house until recently, but now they are back.  Not the same dreams, but just dreams of the house.  I go and stare at the house when I go back to Indiana.  So does my brother.  He sends me photos sometimes when he is there.  There was just something about that house, our lives in it, that we can't let go.  This summer when I was sitting in front of the house the owner, a woman, came out to get her mail.  I briefly thought about introducing myself and asking to go in like a friend of mine did years ago after she came home for a visit.  But then I was mad that she was outside interrupting my memories.  She didn't belong in them.  Instead I sped away, annoyed.  Perhaps I didn't get my yearly closure, thus the dreams.
5. Records - I know they have players out now, but what about the records themselves?  I have Christmas albums I love so maybe that is why they are on my mind as I dig those out at this time of the year.  I still have a workable player.  I worry what will happen if the needle breaks.  Where would I go to get a new one?  Recently old songs are in my head and I look them up online just to hear them.  Itunes doesn't have some of them.  Back in the old days of downloaded music for a fee I tried to get most of the music loaded on my Ipod that I had 45's for.  It is in a playlist called "Cara's 45's".  The other day I found my missing Ipod and spent the day listening to it after I fixed my IHome.

Good day

My birthday came and went this weekend and it was a good one.  I was surrounded by family and friends, the Steelers beat the Lions in a well fought game, I had peanut butter pie, and I received lots of presents!

The first gift to arrive for my birthday, a week early, was this from my SIL.  Oh, and from my brother too as his name was on the card, but something tells me if I ask him what he got me he would have no idea.  It is from a store that is in their area, Charming Charlies, that I find fabulous and enjoy wandering for hours when we visit each summer.  Apparently we have one in Tampa, but I have yet to make the drive over the bridge to the big city to explore it.  The purse is purple, has lots of bling, and is very, very soft.  I will carry it when I wear this:

"Mom!  That is a workout shirt," Darcy said.  It is made with that special fabric for when you sweat, but it has long sleeves.  They have obviously not seen me after a workout and the thought of running miles in a long shirt is hilarious.  So is the thought of me running even down the street.  Ha, ha, ha.  The shirt is nice and makes me look thinner.  I need shirts.

This CD is from my girls and goes against everything my husband believes in now that we have Apple technology.  But he took them to buy it because I wanted it.  Every year that Toby Keith comes out with a new album it is in October and I can't wait.  I buy it.  This year I waited.  Because it was sold out.  Tee hee.  The girls found it.  I haven't listened to it yet, but the radio DJ said it was great.

Kelly, who hasn't blogged in forever, got me a bag of goodies including coffee and this great plastic Mason jar replica drinking cup.  I will be able to drink iced coffee from it.  Along with the coffee I also got Starbucks gift cards from my SIL and my family.  I will be set for the holidays to enjoy my peppermint mocha coffee drinks.

Oh, yes, I also got some new ImPress nails from Darcy and Kelly.  With the purse, the shirt, and these nails I will be rocking the holidays!

Thank you to everyone for my fabulous gifts and dinner party.  The best gifts I have all year long are you guys, but it is nice to get other things on my birthday!  I love you all!

Monday NFL recap week 11

Steelers:  Jeez, they aren't making it easy.  After yesterday's game we came out battered and exhausted as if we too had been fighting the fight (no, I'm not Tom Cruise).  I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed after the game.  I'm thinking now that the gray hairs that popped out of my head are the results of the Steelers and not my being a year older.

Defense 1st half - They started off hot, but after our first two scores it was like they didn't think they were needed. I've never seen such laziness. Ike Taylor missed tackles and an interception that Strafford threw right into his hands, and then he just racked up penalties, holding and pass interference, and then for good measure missed another interception on the one yard line. Suddenly we were out scored 17-3 with 327 yards allowed, and still Strafford kept coming, throwing and throwing and throwing. He ended up with 300 yards passing in the FIRST HALF. Awful. 

Dropped catches - We couldn't even hold on to the ball on a kick off let alone on one of Ben's passes. Heath Miller has dropped and lost more balls this year then he has caught. The one he couldn't hold on to in the end zone was heartbreaking. 

Defense 2nd half - I don't know who spoke in the locker room at halftime, but it worked. The defense double up coverage on Calvin Johnson and suddenly the Lions offense couldn't move the ball. We intercepted. We smacked down passes. We sacked the quarterback. We covered the receivers so well Stafford had no where to throw the ball. Suddenly the curtain was back.  Fabulous. 

Ben - 367 yards, 4 touchdowns, and the win. He called plays. He dictated on the field. The offensive line kept him safe. He threw power passes. The man knows football and he came through yesterday. Oh, and he even ran a bit. 

Jim Schwartz - Leading by three with a fourth down in the red zone, he pretended his team would kick a field goal. It didn't work. The holder running the ball fumbled and the Steelers recovered, eventually getting a touchdown. Everyone said, "What the hell was that? Why? Why?"  I didn't. Schwartz is a pompous ass who wanted to rub it in the Steelers face. And really, with the way the defense had been playing, why wouldn't he think it would work? But that's the trouble with getting cocky when it is still early in a game. That's the problem with getting too full of yourself and running forward in your mind. Actually, that's the problem with being a pompous ass. 

Antonio Brown - He was a stud with two touchdowns and 147 yards. He definitely is a team player willing to put in the work and not give up. I wish he would take the leadership role, but like Polamalu he is too soft spoken and his religion keeps him humble. 

Beards - I'm over these too. Yes, Brett Keisel, who sat on the Steelers' sideline with an injury, has made money for charity the last few years by growing his beard during the season and then holding an event to cut it. He started it back years ago on the way to winning the Super Bowl. Superstition kept him going the next year, but it has been too long now and, psst Brett, it ain't working anymore. You look too hairy and too grungy, and now Big Ben is sporting an ugly beard and Troy has a moustache. Ugh. Let's try something new. Let's get clean cut and shaven and act like respected citizens. 

Polamalu hair - And since I addressed the beard I might as well talk about Troy's cutting his hair for charity on Veteran's Day. It was touted as a big deal since Troy hasn't cut his hair since he was like two years old, but it turned out to be no big deal. At least in the cutting. Several people got to snip about an 1/16th of an inch of a follicle of Troy's hair. Polamalu posted video on his Facebook page, and while the first snip had him passing out on the floor for humor, the rest was sort of a let down. I hope he raised tons though. 

Big Ben Rumor - I don't know what the true story is regarding all this talk of trading him. I don't know who started it or who wants what, but I can speculate and give my opinion:  Roethlisberger doesn't care for OC Todd Haley. Personally, neither do I. But I don't think the Steelers management cares. I dont think that they care much for Roethlisberger as a person, despite his going straight, his marriage and the birth of his son, and his turn around as a peaceful-get-along-with-fans-media-and-players man.  The Rooneys want straight arrows on their team and Ben's past troubles have left a bad taste in their minds. Frankly, I wonder if it hasn't done the same to guys on the team. I count our troubles to back then, despite us getting to the Super Bowl that year. We haven't been the Steelers since then.

I also don't see that Ben has the leadership of that locker room. With the loss of Bettis and Hines I wonder if anyone does. That being said, the man is good. He can play football. He can play great football. He won that game last night. He ran the no huddle and called plays and marched those guys down the field to the win. He has flashes of moments of leadership on the field when he wants to and when the team wants him to. The problem is that he has to,carry that leadership and momentum all the time. 

Now, Ben doesn't make the money other QB's, especially those from last season like Joe Flacco, Matt Schaub, and Matt Ryan, are earning. Quarterbacks that haven't done what Roethlisberger has done in his ten years in the league. Can't sit well,with him. Of course he wants that. What you make in the NFL gives you power, earns respectability, and means you are great. Who wouldn't want that and the millions of dollars that come with it. He probably also knows the feeling of management and the team. He certainly knows that he is getting bruised and battered by his own line. I see his agent putting the rumor out there to keep Ben's hands clean and to start things rolling. Whatever. It's business in this league and loyalty and love for the game is a crock. Ben is a good quarterback who isn't having fun coming to work. If that is the case then it won't get better. Doesn't mean the team and owners should let him dictate how things run. Either way the Steelers have a lot of work to do in the off season no matter what decision is made. 

Other: 

Tornado Warning - The skies in Chicago turned ugly and black in the first quarter and Soldier Field was quickly evacuated with players heading to the locker room and fans taking cover under the concourse with the Ravens ahead 10-0. The delay lasted two hours and then the skies cleared as if nothing had happened and the Bears came out and won the game. Unfortunately, multiplemtornadoes did hit the Midwest, killing five people and destroying tons of farms and towns. 

Worse Injury - How nasty was the Saints cornerback Jabari Greer's leg injury? I could only watch one replay and still keep,down my lunch. 

Ed Reed - Last week he was playing for the Houston Texans and after their loss he gave his thoughts and opinions on why to reporters. This week he played for the Jets after being traded for opening his mouth. Wonder if he gives his opinion on the Jets loss or if he needs an extra week to assess. Wonder if he is sorry he isn't still with the Ravens. Wonder if the Ravens wish he were still with them. 

Texans - And speaking of Reed's ex- team, what has happened there? Not sure which team has spiraled down the quickest, the Falcons or the Texans, but the media made a big deal of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson exchanging terse words on the sideline after Johnson missed a pass. Whoop-de-do. Guys should be getting fired up. Especially teams that suck. I want to see some fire and some accountability. Doesn't mean much beyond that. The media is just bored. 

No undefeated - And then there were none...undefeated teams that is. Peyton Manning and the Broncos handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season. Doesn't mean much until we get to the playoffs. 

Offensive Line - See what happens when your quarterback is beat up from last week and needs extra protection this week?  The Broncos did a great job of keeping Manning safe. No sacks on the quarterback with wobbly ankles and it gave him time to make the great plays to win the game. 

Beats - Ever notice how sports players are always shown arriving, working out, and exiting stadiums with Beats headphones over their ears? Yes, we know you make enough money to own several pairs, but I'm wondering what it would be like if all of you took off the headphones and communicated with one another. 

Fox Sports - I'm a huge fan of Curt, Terry, Howie, and company, but yesterday's lead in with Minka Kelly just led to the men acting like pigs. They slobbered all over the beautiful woman and made stupid, childish remarks. And Fox has got to come up with a better beginning to their show instead of trying to plug their TV line up. Stick to football. 

Rob Riggle - I will say, however, that I do enjoy the lightheartedness of Fox's Rob Riggles segment each week on his picks. This week he had kids of not so great teams, whew the Steelers weren't one of them, as part of his skit. My favorite. "Is it true the Bucs all got cooties?"

Brett Favre - He doesn't want his son to play football. Really? He doesn't have a son. This is the headline that came from his interview? How about the fact that he can't remember things from all the hits to his head over the years?

NFL picks - Week 11

Last Week - 7-7

Overall - 92-56

Indianapolis over Tennessee - Jeez, almost lost this one. 

Jets over Buffalo - After watching the Bills last week I just don't see it this week. 

Baltimore over Chicago - I can't keep track of Jay Cutler so I'm going with Joe Flacco, 

Cincinnati over Cleveland - They are leading the division, but I hope the Browns run them into the ground. Just don't think it will happen enough to pick them. 

Philadelphia over Washington - The Eagles seem to be flying right now and RGIII doesn't have much help. 

Pittsburgh over Detroit - It's my birthday, we are wearing the Bee Uniforms this week, so I see a win. 

Tampa over Atlanta - Feel the Bucs this week. 

Arizona over Jacksonville - Yes, the Jags won last week, but let's not go crazy. 

Houston over Oakland - Hmmm...rethinking that now, but I keep hoping the Texans will get some footing. Plus, their coach is back for the game after suffering a mild stroke two weeks ago. Win one for Kubiak. 

San Diego over Miami - After picking the Dolphins to be the team to watch this year, they have sucked. Their players seem to be clueless to one another. The Chargers meanwhile are playing normal, win some, lose some. Today they win. 

New Orleans over San Francisco - The Saints loss two weeks ago was a wake up call. The 49ers will have their hands full. 

Giants over Green Bay - Another team with revolving quarterbacks, the Packers seem lost without Rogers. The Giants are working hard at finding their footing and seem to be succeeding so I went with them this week as my crazy pick. 

Seattle over Minnesota - The Seahawks are rolling. 

Denver over Kansas City - THE game of the day. Could be a toss up. I went with my heart. 

New England over Carolina - I thought long and hard about going with Newton, but he ain't no Tom Brady. 

Out of the mouths of my babes

Darcy: "I want to make something I saw to take to school tomorrow. Can we go to the grocery?"

Me: "I am going after I drop you off at practice. What do you need?"

Darcy: "Chocolate chip cookie dough, frosting, marshmallows, and peanuts. But I only need a few peanuts"

Me: "I have to buy a whole container of peanuts? We won't eat those."

Darcy: "Just buy the Paul Newman kind."

Me: "Huh? Paul Newman kind?"

Darcy: "Yes, the one that has him as a peanut with a top hat, big eyes, and the dancing legs."

Me: (after I stopped laughing): "I think that is Bing Crosby, but I'll just get Planters peanuts."

2013 10 month resolution check

And speaking of resolutions... I suppose I should check in on what this years resolutions even were as I'm sure I have not followed them in quite some time. 

1. To get down to a certain weight (which will not be mentioned here for all to see) by eating healthy and exercising - Oh, my, this is one that I really wish I had paid closer attention to and worked at.  I really, truly want to do this goal, but for some reason I'm not motivated.  I seriously have got to stop whining about it though, or waiting for something horrible and major to happen to make me start working on this goal.  I should continue this one for next year, but start now.  Score: 0
2. To organize my schedule, my desk, my home, and finish the scanning/organizing of photos.  That means getting rid of stuff and boxing up and storing other stuff. -Well, this one I got off to a great start with, but lately, well, it has been lacking in this department.  I think my schedule is fairly organized.  My home is somewhat organized.  The desk and the scanning of photos still need work, but the photo scanning is a huge project.  I do think I have done some of that.  Score: 6
3. To work on my patience and try to not be so uptight.  To channel my inner Sharons, two people who I think handle life calmly - Hmmm...well, I suppose this one is one that I've done better at.  Yes, I do believe I have. Score: 7
4. To get into couponing to save money - No matter how many coupons I cut out I very rarely use them either forgetting them or never having them with me.  Sigh.  Score:  2
5. To contribute more articles to Yahoo and Google and try to earn some cash - Nope.  Haven't written daily.  Haven't finished my online classes.  Have sucked at this one.  I might have to continue this one too as I really wanted to do this one. Score: 0

Total:  15 out of 50 points - Well, I refuse to get down on this score.  I have a month and a half to kick it into gear.  Go, girl, go!

Slumbering...not enough time

I am not getting enough sleep.  It makes my mother crazy when I say that, but it is true.  I am lacking in sleep and am constantly dragging.  Since I can remember, back when sleeping was even on my radar, I liked to sleep.  I suppose when I was very young it wasn't such a big deal, but as I got into my teens I craved sleep.  I remember the feeling of waking at noon and stretching and feeling the cool, soft sheets and knowing that I had nothing to do but sleep.  Saturdays were the days I could sleep late, if my parents allowed it, because Sundays football started at noon.  It drove my dad crazy that I slept late, he being the early bird tugging at the worm, but my mother usually let it go on Saturdays.

When I moved to Florida and became responsible for myself I took a job where I started work in the afternoon.  I was always a night owl and that didn't change as I got older so working the one to ten shift fit in nicely.  I would go to bed well after midnight and sleep until I had to get up to go to work.  Back then I didn't answer to anyone and life was carefree.  As long as I got eight hours of sleep I was good to go.  Then I met Tom.  He didn't need much sleep and got up before the sun rose on the weekends to bike 60 miles, or run marathons, or swim in the gulf.  He would talk about the beauty of the sun coming up over the water and he would try to get me to join him.  I did it once that I remember, and while I had a nice time I preferred sleeping.  The sun already up over the water looked just as nice to me.

When the first kid arrived I thought I would never make it from the lack of sleep.  Madison wasn't a sleeper and could stay up late and be up early.  She didn't want to take naps and if it weren't for my pediatrician insisting she have "quiet time" I might never have made it through those years.  He told me to put her down in her room and tell her she didn't have to sleep, but that she did have to read or play quietly for an hour.  While she was hopping around in her crib talking to herself I would be napping.  When I was pregnant with the second one I would get up Madison, get her juice, plop her down in my bedroom in front of Sesame Street and catch another hour of sleep while she was busy learning her ABC's with Elmo.  Yes, I was one of those parents.  When the second one came out as a sleeper I couldn't believe my luck, but unfortunately Madison was well past the "quiet time" and TV watching at that point.

I need eight hours of sleep.  I can go days without it, but eventually it catches up to me.  As the girls got older I got more sleep.  For a while there I was doing well managing my sleep, but when Madison started high school it reverted back to those days of babyhood.  High School here starts at 7:05 which means the girls catch the bus at 6:30 which means we start awakening at 5:30.  To get eight hours of sleep that means that I need to be in bed by 9:30 pm.  Therein lies my problem, and last night I figured out why I just can't manage to do so.

From the moment my girls get out of school at 1:35 we are busy.  Each girl has a sport, a club, or an activity that I have to run them to and from.  Then there is dinner to prepare and homework to help with and before I know it is late evening and then I want some time to unwind.  While most days I have that time for six hours during the day I am busy with the normal day to day activities, chores, and things.  After then running around like a whirling dervish with the girls I want to just spend some quiet time myself .  I can't just go to bed without having that because I will only lie there and think, think, think.  While I noticed last night that we are finishing up earlier with the time change I have too much to do in the way of relaxing.  It has been days since I took my turns playing games on the Ipad.  I have taken out too many books from the library and they are due.  My DVR is full of television shows and running out of room.  I have obligations in relaxing that are not being met.  So I try to fulfill those and suddenly it is midnight and I'm only going to get a little over 5 hours of sleep.

The other issue is that these relaxing obligations take up quite a bit of time.  I'm not someone that can just read one chapter of a book and then put it down.  I feel the need to play all the turns on all of the games I am playing just to "clean up" the little reminders that tell me it is my turn.  And don't even get me started on browsing through facebook, my mail, and the Internet.  Talk about sucking you in. 

Somehow I have got to try to manage my time better to allow time for relaxing so that I can finally get the eight hours of sleep that I require.  That I need.  That I crave.  Perhaps I shall approach it along with my need for getting healthy, bundle them all together.  Or perhaps I shall go back to napping.  Either way that is something I might have to consider as a new resolution for the coming year because the way it is going now I'm not going to make it.  I'm tired.

Monday NFL recap week 10

This year it is all about the food. My Steelers buddy and I plan a meal at half-time and we each have items to bring to share. Which made me late to the game yesterday running around trying to find the dessert I wanted to bring. I listened to the radio where I was told the Steelers were marching quite nicely down the field with a running game. As I let myself into his house Ben threw an interception. Scott laughed and I fixed my appetizer and we sat on our places on the couch chowing down and planning on making the most of it.  Then a funny thing happened. The Steelers started playing football, decent football, and suddenly we had a game and boy, did our halftime meal taste delicious!

Steelers:

• Trade talk - Gotta start with this because we heard enough about it during the game. The NFL Network reported that Ben Roethlisberger was frustrated at the direction the Steelers were going in ((Translation: I hate Todd Haley with a passion) and had asked about a trade in the off season.  Ben, of course denied the rumor. His agent claims Ben wants to retire in the black and gold. And the Rooneys said whoop-de-do we haven't looked, nor do we plan to trade. Hmmm...gonna keep an eye on this one. 
• Running Game - Welcome back. The Steelers have figured out that the offensive line can't protect Big Ben so they played a game heavy on the run. For once in two years it worked. Welcome to Pittsburgh Le'Veon Bell. 
• Defense - Perhaps knowing that their beloved coordinator Dick LaBeau might be forced to retire got them moving and motivated. I don't know, but it was nice to see them not making as many mistakes and getting some sacks and licks. It wasn't perfect, got to work on those missed tackles, but it was a start. 
• Air touchdowns - When Ben threw into the end zone to Cotchery for the first touchdown I couldn't believe that it was his 13th of the season. Seems like Shaun Suisham has been our point guy for so long. I prefer the seven points over the three. 

Others:  I think I'm a football seer, albeit one that doesn't listen to herself enough to win the football pool, but a seer nevertheless. I said yesterday that this was the week for the Jags to win, thought the Ravens would pull this one out, and had Carolina beating the 49ers. Too bad I changed it all when it came down to putting it in the computer and on paper. 

• Carolina/San Fran - So I was little off here on who would pull this game off. The Panthers defensive won this game. They sacked (6times), tackled, and intercepted their way into the win column. 
• Jacksonville - So, no longer winless with a win yesterday against the Titans with the Jaguars defense holding off a comeback. Hello, Tamap Bay, can you do it too? 
• Overtime - The Ravens led and then they didn't and the game went into overtime on a Hail Mary pass that the Ravens helped into the Bengals hands. But the Bengals shot their wad on that one, got cocky, didn't take the field goal, and lost the game. What an odd division we have going on now. 
• Crazy catches in the end zone  - How about Seahawks Golden Tate's one handed catch in the corner of the end zone with a defender on him like a fur coat? Kept his feet, all three of them, down in the grass for the score. We just happened to catch it while on a commercial from our game. Whoop. But then there were more with Texans Andre Johnson catching one in the left corner, and our own Jerricho Cotchery catching one in his left corner. 
• Colts - Wow, what the @$&? happened here? Let's recap. Home game for the Colts. first possession series the Rams knock the ball out of Luck's hands, recover, and score. 7-0. Then the Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin rushed through the Colts defense 51 yards for a score. 14-0. Then Austin pretended he would let the Colts down the punt near the two yard line, but instead flicked the ball out of the air, and ran straight down the sideline 98 yards for the touchdown. 21-0.  What fun. Let's do some more. So Austin then caught a 57 yard down the other sideline for another touchdown. 28-0 at halftime. So now everyone is expecting Andrew Luck to come running out of the tunnel at halftime to turn the game around like he did last week and has previously. Uh...no. Austin then catches a pass, his second of the entire game, and runs 81 yards for his third touchdown. 35-0.  So now comes Andrew Luck? Uh...no. Instead here came the Rams defense. Why should the offensive have all the fun? Luck in the red zone lobs a pass to the corner of the end zone for an easy score, but instead Trumaine Johnson dives to the left to intercept the ball. Still 35-0. And since that was so easy the Rams did it again, intercepting mid field, and then again in the end zone. While Luck tried and tried, he passed for over 300 yards, he was sacked three times and picked off three times, and then he showed his frustration on the sidelines by crumbling a water cup and throwing it. Reggie Wayne's return can't happen soon enough. 
• Saints - 625 yards in offensive yesterday. This is what teams should be doing after a loss from the previous week. Get mad after getting embarrassed and then go out and kick butt. Didn't hurt either that the team you slaughtered use to be the team your defensive coordinator use to coach. 
• Peyton Manning - He went down with 1:44 left on the clock in the closing minutes of the Broncos 28-20 win over the San Diego Chargers in a late, low hit to the legs. His lower right leg will be in an MRI machine first thing this morning, although knowing Manning he probably has one at home. Just when I'm trying to salvage the season with excitement by cheering for Manning, he goes down. WTH. I hope Trent Dilfer is right and that this will only send Manning to extra work on rehabbing his leg and not keep him off the field. Manning himself seemed loose in his press conference, trying hard to avoid allowing his annoyance show at low hits, and being funny with his quips. Bet Kansas City is keeping their fingers crossed, but in a different way then I'm crossing mine. 
• Groin injuries - This injury had players dropping out like flies from quarterbacks to wide receivers. Stretch that out boys! 
• Incognito Ingerview - A Fox exclusive with Jay Glazer interviewing the "bully" of the Miamo Dolphins who supposedly ran off teammate Jonathan Martin. He came across in looks, manner, and speaking as a rational, what is going on here, good guy. Only I didn't buy it. His first lie was calling Martin a friend. You don't leave voice mail messages on your friend's phone calling him derogatory names and threatening to kill him and slap his mother. Friend? Joke? Sick is more like it. Then he brought up how the guys in the locker room haven't said anything bad about him and how Martin himself claimed he didn't release anything naming Incognito. Yet it is out there. If it didn't come from Martin then gee, my guess is that someone in the locker room must have thrown you under the bus. This guy really believes he is innocent and that guys will be guys in the world of football and in the locker room. That to me is scary. 

NFL picks week 10

Last Week - 7 - 6

Overall - 84 - 50

The pool I'm involved with includes all the pro games and a handful of obscure college games.  I've never understood the college portion of the pool, but since that is the way it is I've had to pay attention to the NCAA games.  This week two of the games were played on Thursday night along with the NFL game and I lost all three.  All three.  I figured it would be downhill the rest of the way.  My partner and bookie chose the optimistic version.  "Perhaps you'll get all the rest of them correct."  My response?  "Pfft."

• Washington over Minnesota - I watched RGIII last week and liked what I saw.  I had hope. Yes, yes, Christian Ponder did wonders last week too, but I liked RGIII better.  WRONG.
• Seattle over Atlanta - Okay, now seriously who went the other way on this one?
• Detroit over Chicago - Cutler in?  Cutler out?  I went with the Lions.
• Philadelphia over Green Bay - Win one for the injured quarterback at home?  Back up, older quarterback Seneca Wallace vs. back up, younger quarterback Nick Foles?  I went with the guy who threw 7 touchdowns last week despite his crappy team.  Not too hopeful now with my crappy track record so far this week.
• Tennessee over Jacksonville - Well, like the Atlanta game who wouldn't?  This could be the week though for the Jags.
• Indianapolis over St. Louis - You just have to like this Andrew Luck guy despite his replacing my beloved Peyton Manning at Indy.  I can't dislike him no matter how hard I try.  He is aw-shucks, polite, and well, Peyton-like in life and at work.  I can't see them losing to the Rams.
• Giants over Oakland - Had to go crazy with a pick.  Why not this one?
• Pittsburgh over Buffalo - And this one.
• Cincinnati over Baltimore - And had the Ravens winning this one at one point, but decided two crazy picks was enough.
• San Francisco over Carolina - Went back and forth on this game as Cam Newton has stepped up lately.  In the end I went with the line.
• Houston over Arizona - The Cardinals keep winning when I don't pick them and the Texans lose when I do.  I just keep thinking the Texans will get it together and what better time then now with their coach ill?  They didn't do it during the game and that is understandable what with the unknown on his condition, but know they know.  Let's see what they have as a team pulling together during hard times.
• Denver over San Diego - I'm a Broncos fan now too.  Not enough to buy a shirt, but then again I don't like orange.
• New Orleans over Dallas - The Cowboys lost today when the Saints got their butts kicked last week.
• Miami over Tampa Bay - My bookie argued this one.  Felt perhaps the Dolphins locker room was in disarray.  Of course it is, but the difference is vast.  A team mate felt he had to LEAVE the team which tells me the Dolphins in the locker room obviously didn't see an issue at all.  Ho Hum just status quo in the room.  Bucs Palace, on the other hand, well, that is a messed up place right now.  Can the Bucs pull out a win?  Sure they can.  Might kick butt today, but at the time I made the pick I didn't feel it.  Went with the gut.

Five Thursday things

1. My goal is to buy one present a day until December 24th whether it be for a birthday or for Christmas.  We have several birthdays in November which complicates matters for the holidays, in my opinion.  For example, my eldest daughter has a birthday at the end of November and she can never think of things she wants after her birthday.  Most of the time she says she doesn't need anything for her birthday!  (Very different from the second child)  This year she actually has a list so I have hopped on the computer and purchased a few of them.  Today I purchased a Christmas gift for the second daughter.  I say I shall do this every year, but this year I'm actually managing to accomplish one gift a week thus far.  I'm revving it up to every three days until I actually make the one a day.  The problem is that I might buy two items on one day and think that excuses me for the next day.  I have to say though that several people have submitted lists to me which does make my life easier.
2. This week has been another crazy one.  I thought nothing could top last week, but so far the first three days of this one have been a doozy.  I've been sick.  My mother has been sick.  She needed me.  I needed rest.  Unfortunately, my mother's health continues to decline.  While her body is slowly giving out her mind is not.  Because she is a fighter and it is in her nature to fight she does so despite her body going.  At some point it will get to be too much and she will not have the strength to keep fighting.  This week we had to get someone to come in the morning to help her get up, dressed, and ready for the day.  She already has someone that comes at night.  I do the driving to doctor's offices and various appointments like grocery shopping and haircuts.  All of it takes a toll.  She doesn't like it.  I don't like it.  We both feel guilty and then we argue.  Eventually we talk it all out and we continue on.  Que sera, sera.
3. I have to begin to devote one day a week for college scholarship searches.  Both my kids belong to the Duke Tip Program, a southern program for gifted children that helps with education.  They have a great website and offer various other websites for help with college applications, choices, and scholarships.  There are thousands of scholarships out there for the taking, but it requires tons of time and research.  I count this a part of my job as a SAHM.  I just haven't done much with it.  At first it was, "Oh, I have plenty of time for that." and now it is, "*&^%$ Where does the time go?"  I get up at 5:30 am. and suddenly it is time to pick up the girls and fix dinner.  I'm thinking the best way to approach this is to set hours that are to be spent at the computer and NOT on blogging, organizing my desk, or reading ESPN.  But then if I'm at my desk doing this how am I out buying gifts?  Perhaps this should be one of my 2014 resolutions.  Hmmmm....
4. My youngest made Regionals in swimming!  Last week she was picked by her coach to swim at districts.  It was south of us an hour and a half away at a huge facility with thirty lanes.  I ended up jammed between crazy swimming parents who knew their entire teams best times and what times were needed to qualify.  The parents were from two different high schools, but apparently knew each other from swimming elsewhere because they chatted and chatted and chatted.  I had the worst headache by the time the six hours of swimming was over.  Talk about intense!  Hell, I didn't even know my daughter's times until I paid the $2 for the program and read them in there.  My kid needs some major stroke and turn work, something I promised her we would work on after the season, so I haven't gotten to the little league swimming parent point yet.  But then after the meet I researched her times and the times of the other two districts in our region (which I found on the internet) and figured out that she placed 27th out of 63 swimmers in her 100 butterfly.  The top 24 advance to the Regionals.  She missed it by mere tenths of seconds and she wasn't even really trying.  Well, she was trying, but she wasn't any club swimmer like a lot of these kids.  Tom and I were impressed.  She and her teammates did qualify 15th in the 200 freestyle relay.  They take the top 16 in relays so she does move on and gets to experience Regionals.  They placed 17th in the 400 and missed it by one.  She also swam the 50 free, something she never swam during the season in competition, and placed 47th out of 119 swimmers.  All in all not bad for her first year.  She thinks she wants to continue so I copied all of the results and shall memorize them in preparation for next year.  I want to be prepared seating among those proud parents!
5. Football is halfway over!  How is that possible?  One minute I was lamenting the fact that it was starting and now I'm whining because it is already at the halfway mark.  The NBA has already started.  College basketball won't be far behind.  And what a crazy season it has already been.  Last year we had the refs and the lawsuit. This year we have bullying and coaches collapsing.  Last year we had teams winning a lot.  This year we have teams losing a lot.  The NFL has seriously got to take a look at itself in the off season and start getting a grip or they are going to look as bad as Congress.  Obviously, things aren't working.  Sit down.  Talk it over.  Give a little.  Push a little.  Come to an agreement that makes everyone happy from the owners to the players to the fans.  You won't make everyone happy, but the arrests, the keeling over from stress, the hazing, the head hitting, etc. has all got to go.  Make the NFL something to be proud of in terms of something beside making billions.  And now that the halfway mark is here, how about the Steelers start playing some winning football?

Monday NFL recap week 9

Steelers:

• Defense - What can I say that I haven't said before?  For the last three years.  Missed tackles.  Wrong positions.  Penalties.  Only thing worse would have been to have been ahead by twenty something and lost like the Bucs in overtime or like the Texans did Sunday night. 
• Offense - We can score.  We tied the game at 24.  But then the defense allows another score and it just seems to deflate the offense.
• Home field advantage - Most lopsided officiating with the pass interference calls I've seen in a while.
• Ben's 200th pass - Only Terry Bradshaw had done it for the Steelers and now add Roethlisberger to the list.  Ben threw for his 200th and adding two more for 202 career touchdowns.  Doesn't mean much without the win is what he will say, but it is a feat nonetheless. 
• Polamalu - What is with him and the penalties?  By now you ought to know where you should stand and what is right and wrong.  No excuses from a great veteran player like Troy.  I don't know what is going on in that locker room, but something ain't right.

Other:

• Fox NFL Sunday's show -  The show had a nice interview with Cam Newton, quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.  He talked about how he was a loner and very unapproachable to any of his teammates.  He talked about how he misbehaved after coming into the league and how his father and his brother sat him down and made him watch his antics on television.  They discussed if that was the kind of person he truly was, and knowing he wasn't, why was this happening and how would he change it?  Newton said he began watching the greats; Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees and the way the three of them handled football, life, and those around them.  He didn't want to be who he was playing on the field.  He wanted to be like the three "greats".  Now his teammates feel they can talk to him and approach him at any time.  He makes an effort to call them up to hang out together.  I thought it a great interview and just along the lines of what I've been saying about Manning.  We need these guys to show the others how it is done.  The fact that Newton recognized that.  Wow.  Power to him.
• Staying with the Fox show -  I laughed when Terry said he had a million things running through his head on a question that Curt Menefee asked him.  The guys kidded him and said, "Only a million?"  Terry counted back by telling them he had 15 other voices in his head that he needed to keep placating.  Hilarious.  
• Johnathan Martin - The Miami tackle left the team for "reasons other than football" raising concerns about his mental health among other rumors.  One such rumor is that he was being bullied by his teammates.  The NFL has got issues if this is a reality.  It goes back again to my first entry on "other".  You have great leaders that can play on the field and off the field without incident.  The NFL has got to utilize those guys.  The NFL has got to provide help for players, especially these young guys just entering the league.  Some need help from wacky coaches.  Some need help from players.  Some need help from outsiders and some need help from themselves.  I think the NFL has got to step up and offer some assistance to these players if they want to keep the league clean.
• Gerald McCoy - Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle mentioned on his radio show this week that some of the coaches were unhappy with his helping the opposition up after a tackle.  See?  This is what I'm talking about.  Seriously?
• John Fox - The coach of the Denver Broncos went to visit his heart doctor this bye week and discovered that surgery he had put off for February would need to be done now.  He will miss out on over a month of football, maybe more.  I'm not worried at all and something tells me that John Fox ain't worried either.  He has Peyton Manning and we all know that Manning coaches the team through the game anyway.  Plus more motivation for a team to win.  Look at the Colts last year with their coach.  I'm cheering the Broncos all the way.
• Jets & Eagles - Whoa!  Where did they come from?
• Nick Foles - The backup, yes the backup, quarterback to Michael Vick threw 7 touchdown passes all before the fourth quarter when the coach took him out as a show of sportsmanship.  Foles had a day that only Peyton Manning understands and that many dream of.  Good for him.
• Bucs - We should have watched this game instead of the Steelers, but then again after a 21-0 lead the Bucs couldn't hold on and lost in OT to the Seahawks.
• Gary Kubiak - The Houston Texans coach fell to his knees walking to the locker room at halftime and ended up going to a local hospital by ambulance. Later in the third quarter NBC cameras went to the Texans GM and owner sitting all cozy watching the Texans choke. Nice to know the coach means enough to your organization that one of you could follow him to the hospital. 

NFL Football picks - week 9

Last Week - 11 - 2

Overall - 77 - 44

Cincinnati over Miami - Yep, I knew it.  Had Miami in my gut, but saw the Bengals play last week and went with that.  Wrong.  Safety in the end zone in overtime for the Dolphins to win the game.  Pfft.

Buffalo over Kansas City - Another gut pick.  The Chiefs are undefeated, but only by a hair.  Are they that good?  The Bills are up and down and win weird games and they are at home.  Could be a blow out that will change my mind.  Could be the Chiefs lose.  My bookie and I thought we had to go crazy this week for a win.  This was one of those games.

Dallas over Minnesota - I thought maybe I should gut this one to the Vikings, but with all their issues at quarterback and injuries I went with Romo and company.

Tennessee over St. Louis - This game I went back and forth on and couldn't tell you why I went with the Titans.  Like the Bills, they just win odd games that they weren't suppose to win.  The Rams meanwhile lost their quarterback and actually tried to convince Brett Favre to come out of retirement to help them.  Seemed desperate to me.

New Orleans over the Jets - The Jets are doing things that no one thought they could, but only once in a blue moon.  The Saints meanwhile just keep marching on.

Washington over San Diego - Another one of those crazy picks to shake up things in the pool.  No rhyme or reason here, just a belief that RGIII is working on coming back healthy and strong.  Of course, he got hurt last week, but he swore it was nothing, just like last year.  What was I thinking?

Carolina over Atlanta - The Falcons are probably one of the saddest teams right now with tons of potential and a high paid quarterback and not enough wins in the column.  Cam Newton and the Panthers' MO is to kill these down on their luck teams by a wide margin so I went with them.

Oakland over Philadelphia - The Raiders aren't great.  The Eagles aren't great.  Someone has to win today so I went with the home team who I watched play last week.

Seattle over Tampa Bay - Do I really have to explain this pick?

Baltimore over Cleveland - Could be the Browns kick butt today, but I didn't feel it.  The Ravens had rest last week.

New England over Pittsburgh - Yep.  First time I haven't picked my own team.  Traitor.  Yep.  I feel  terrible.  Traitor.  Yep.  I've lost faith.  Traitor.  Doesn't mean I won't cheer for them and agonize and pray for them to win.  Traitor.  Just means I'm thinking the other team is better and has a better chance of winning, and therefore winning me some money.  Traitor.  Or maybe I'm thinking that when they read this blog entry it will motivate them and they will win.  Crackpot.

Indianapolis over Houston - Both teams coming off a week of rest.  The Texans at home.  Yeah, this is another sad little team like the Falcons.  Should have done more.  Should have been more.  I took the Colts.

Green Bay over Chicago - Great rivalry.  Aaron Rogers will do enough to win.

Crazy week

I haven't blogged much this week because it was the crazy week here at our house.  Every day was jam packed, which isn't unusual here, but it was with different things thrown in.  I've highlighted those.

Monday - Girls off to school.  Tom off to work.  Cara to Connie's for a day of errand running.  Darcy on bus home.  Maddy missed bus home.  Found ride home with a friend.  Connie's computer system beeping.  Cara crawling around under the desk trying to solve the beeping issue.  Cut the power to the phone line.  Spent more time trying to solve that issue.  On phone with husband the computer guru for help.  Problem solved.  Forgot that Darcy had swim practice.  Cara home three hours late.  Run to grocery for dinner supplies.  Make dinner.  Cara impromptu board meeting for school organization that she scheduled because she can't be there at regularly scheduled meeting due to other activities.  Meeting lasted three hours instead of one.  Organization closed down Panera.  Came home.  Went to bed.

Tuesday - Girls off to school.  Tom off to work.  Sleepy from day before so go back to bed.  Woke groggy and with no energy.  Can not go back to bed in mornings.  Laundry day.  Ironing day.  Texts from girls rearranging normal plans as I'm driving to pick them up at school for regularly scheduled program.  I forge on to the school to get one girl.  Other girl texts never mind as I'm leaving.  Turn back to get her.  Take Madison to her volunteer job.  Darcy and I go to grocery store to finish grocery shopping that didn't get done the day before.  Darcy needs supplies for extra credit food project.  Go home, unload groceries.  Darcy changes into bathing suit.  Take Darcy to swim team practice.  Leave there and pick up Maddy from her volunteer job.  Take Maddy home.  Fix dinner.  Pick up Darcy from practice.  Home.  Darcy bakes her food project (vampire teeth cookies) which takes most of the night and is very messy.  Walk the bridge with our club.  Bed.

Wednesday - Girls off to school.  Cara off to jury duty.  Tom leading Cara to jury duty because he thinks she needs help? or because it is right next to his work?  Cara plays the game.  Signs in for jury duty.  Fills out information card where she has to admit her spouse works in law enforcement.  Goes to bathroom and looses her seat.  Sits in new seat and has a seatmate that reeks of alcohol and who announces he is "deathly sick".  Guy coughs and coughs.  Also wants to talk.  First round of people called for duty.  I don't get chosen, but my seatmate does.  I thank the jury gods.  First round of people called to go home.  I don't get chosen.  Sit.  Sit.  Sit.  Next round of people chosen for duty.  I am called.  Follow bailiff up three flights of court house and down a huge, long, long, hallway.  Sit.  Sit.  Sit.  Go inside court room.  Spend an hour and half answering various, odd questions with the rest of our panel.  Go back outside court room.  Sit.  Sit.  Sit.  Back in court room.  Six people of our 21 get selected for jury duty on this trial.  I am not one of them.  I am dismissed.  Text husband who walks over and takes me to lunch.  Leave and go to Target for some supplies and Christmas shopping.  Daughter texts that she is staying at school for tutoring help.  Other daughter at school for club.  Pick up both girls and neighbor at school.  Take youngest daughter to swim practice.  Drop off neighbor.  Home.  Change clothes, play with dog, hop back in car to pick up younger daughter who texted that swimming ended early.  Pick up daughter and friend who announce that they have to bring drinks to party tonight.  Back to grocery store to do so and to pick up items for older daughter's science project and for some food extra credit project.  Takes forever.  End up spending way too much money as we buy things not on the list.  Back home.  Unload.  Take youngest daughter and friend to party.  Return home to find older daughter baking and making a mess.  Eat dinner.  Pick up daughter from party.  Return home.  Go to bed and don't care where everyone else or what they are doing.

Thursday - Girls off to school.  Tom off to work.  Cara begins readying house for Halloween party.  Cleans house.  Vacuums.  Starts food prep work.  Makes soup in crockpot.  Cleans the outside driveway and porch.  Laundry.  More ironing.  Sets up tables outside.  Moves cars around so driveway is clear.  Youngest arrives home on bus.  Hop into car to get her Halloween costume.  Arrive back at home an hour later.  Youngest is picked up to attend her old school's championship football game.  Finish last minute prep work for party.  Feel good that all is right on time.  Relax.  Get text from eldest daughter on someone else's phone that her academic meet 45 minutes away is over and she is heading home with friend.  Please pick her up at friend's house.  Head out to do so.  Wait and wait at friend's house.  Pick up daughter.  Head home in traffic.  Panicking that there is so much to do and will not be home in time when guests arrive.  Get home.  Shower.  Dress in costume while running around pulling out food and drink items.  First guest arrives.  Neighbors begin arriving.  Mix punches with friend's help.  When my back is turned friend adds more rum.  Husband arrives home.  Youngest daughter announces she needs ride to friend's house for trick or treating.  Husband takes her.  Everyone arrives for outdoor party.  Everything ready.  Relax and drink too much punch.  Party ends.  Clean up party crap with friend's help.  Have headache from too much rum.  Husband picks up youngest daughter.  Eat some candy.  Shower.  Go to bed.

Friday - Girls off to school.  Tom off to work.  Cara to Connie's for doctor appointment, hair cut, and grocery errands.  Headache from too much rum.  Girls text that they missed the bus.  Found a ride, but going to eat lunch out first.  Head home.  Arrive home same time as girls.  Youngest daughter announces swim practice has been canceled.  She goes to bed for nap.  Oldest daughter goes to sleep in my bed while talking to me.  Take care of rambunctious dog.  Make salad.  Play with dog again.  Walk him.  Order pizza.  Leave and pick up pizza.  Return for Friday night food and TV.  Go to bed.

Saturday - Raining.  Pouring down.  Get up and pack for the swim district meet an hour and a half away.  Pack bag with poncho, another set of clothes, etc.  Pack cooler.  Wake eldest daughter who has a soccer game.  Coach texts they will play in rain.  Husband at vet with dog.  Everyone returns.  Husband and older daughter leave for soccer.  Youngest and I head out to drive to district meet.  Everyone gone by 9:30 am.  Rains the entire drive.  Takes one hour and 45 minutes to arrive.  Still raining.  Get text that soccer game cancelled.  Spend six and a half hours at swim meet.   Go to dinner.  Drive home.  Takes one hour and 17 minutes to get home.  Arrive home at 7:30 pm.  Shower.  Husband gone.  Read.  Call husband to find out he is at Connie's fixing the computer beeping issue permanently.  Change clocks.  Husband home.  In bed by midnight, which by my clock is only 11:00 now.  

Sunday - Plan is for youngest to have classmate over for school project.  Eldest daughter going to classmates house for school project.  MIL coming for dinner.  Steelers buddy and wife coming for dinner.  Youngest daughter and MIL off to play practice.  Need to get eldest home.  Will be happy when week ends.