Day 2 - Pittsburgh - Game Day - Part 1

The goal was to leave the hotel at 9:30 AM.  We left at 9:36 AM decked out in our Steelers shirts, hats, socks, tattoos, beads, earrings, hair wraps, and bracelets.  It was a chilly 56 degrees, but the sun was up and its warmth was slowly working its way into the day.  We ignored breakfast and headed toward the stadium.  As we got closer the streets were packed with fans in their black and gold and vendor booths selling all items from Steelers rugs to pens.

We paid to park and walked the streets enjoying the fans and the vendors on our way toward the stadium.  Once there we found the street where we had parked the day before closed so that more vendors could hawk their wares and so fans could walk freely without fear of traffic.  We collected free give-aways, purchased items, and had our faces spray painted.  At one point we joined some fans in front of an empty parking lot where someone told Tom the players parked and then rode a small bus into the stadium.

We watched as players and families drove in and parked.  We snapped pictures of a few players such as Issac Redman, but the most exciting thing happened directly in front of me.  I was standing and chatting with Tom when a car pulled up and began backing into the space right in front of me.  I had been watching the players and family members back into spaces for some time now and seriously they seemed to all have parking issues so I thought I should help out whoever was driving this car.  I motioned for him to turn the wheel to the left and then I hand signaled him in backing up.  He didn't listen to me all the way and so I sort of made a face at his parking job.  Eventually after some tense moments of wondering who was behind the darkly tinted windows, the door opened and out came wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Immediately the crowd started shouting his name. He had on headphones and he nodded at us and began making his way across the parking lot to the bus.  The crowd kept shouting his name and he kept walking away.

A man to my left wasn't satisfied with just seeing Brown and he kept shouting at him.  "Antonio!  Antonio!  Come on, man!  Come on, Antonio.  I came a long way just to see you my main man!"  I laughed out loud because I thought that hilarious and apparently Antonio was touched because he turned around and looked at us.  And then he began walking back to us, a smile on his face.

He shook the man's hand and signed some terrible towels and some jerseys.  Then he moved down toward me.  I had stepped back from the guard rail and snapped two pictures, but I never shouted his name or muttered a word.  A man behind me moved forward to my right and asked to shake his hand and Antonio Brown shook it.  Then he turned to me.  I figured what the hell, stuck out my hand, shook his soft receiver hand, and told him, "I follow you on twitter!"

He smiled at me and said, "Yeah?"  I said, "Yep."  He thanked me, waved at everyone, and turned around and walked toward the bus.  Never once did any fan rush the guard rails screaming like maniacs.  Those fans that were lined up on the far side of the parking lot never rushed to our side.  Everyone was very cordial and respectful and gave him all the space he could possible need or want.  A few people yelled his name as he walked away, but I reminded them that he needed to get to work.  And then we left and went into the stadium which opened at 11:00 AM.

We entered at the same area we had entered the day before because Tom needed to take care of some business at the Sideline store.  Then we walked into the area that the day before had been roped off.  It was like a mini museum dedicated to past and present players, coaches, and owners.  There were glass cases of personal items, large banners dedicated to important historical game events, and huge colored and black and white photos.

I walked past two television announcers getting ready for a pre-game show with only a glance, because I was too busy taking it all in. I walked through the Steelers walk of fame.  I pointed out players to Tom and Darcy, testing my 70's knowledge and memories.

Darcy and Tom made their way to the concession stand to order our breakfast/lunch of hotdogs and sodas, but I was still too awed by what I was seeing to join them.  Hanging above our heads were gigantic silver footballs; six of them to honor the six Super Bowls the Steelers have won.

We ate our hotdogs beneath the footballs and then we walked clear around the stadium.  Tom stopped for a hamburger off a large grill in the end zone area, and Darcy and I made a few more purchases inside another store.  We joined the throngs of fans and hiked way, way, way, up into the sky to our seats in the full sun at the corner of the end zone, second row from the top.

And waited...

Day 1 - Pittsburgh

It is hard to describe to people the feeling I got from the moment I exited the plane to join the throngs of people decked out in black and gold.  Everywhere we went there were Steelers fans.  In hats and shirts.  Carrying purses and bags.  You couldn't go anywhere without running into someone with something Steelers related on his body.  It was so incredible.

We left the airport, checked into our hotel, and then drove into the 'burgh.  I had never actually been in the city just driven around it, once when on a greyhound bus and once while driving.  This was my first trip there and it was so much more then I thought.  The city is clean and uncluttered.  The three rivers are gorgeous (and our 80 degree October weather made it that much more so) and the bridges stunning.  The people, oh, the people, were some of the friendliest and kindest people I've meet, and I'm from the Midwest.  It's like a little country of people in black and gold who understand the history, the legacy, and the importance of Steelers football.  And I felt all of that before I parked in front of Heinz Field.

We weren't the only tourists walking around the stadium taking pictures dressed in black and gold.  I think that even if you weren't a Steelers fan this stadium would still be on the list of "must see things to do" just because of the Steelers history.  Theirs is certainly a good one with heart and it is told over and over around the outside of the stadium and the inside of the stadium.

We walked around the outside and then we got to enter an area inside the stadium where the main Steelers store, The Sideline, is located.  Both sides of the stadium are blocked off and watched over by a security guard so one can only walk in and head into the store.  But I could see what was there waiting for me tomorrow and I was awed.

We made some important purchases in the store and then walked around the stadium again so that I could catch anything I might have missed.

We had lunch at Jerome Bettis' place near the stadium.  When we opened the door and walked in I thought I was back in Florida at the Steelers bar because the place was packed wall to wall with Steelers fans all in black and gold.  Every room is loaded with giant flat screened television sets on every wall and hanging from the ceilings.  Since it was Saturday each TV had a college game being broadcast and we watched LSU kick Florida's rear while we enjoyed homemade salsa and chips and Iron City beer.  Afterwards we walked down to the river and sat in real grass enjoying the sunny afternoon and the boats and people.

From there we drove across the river and rode the old cable car up the mountain and learned some of the incline's coal hoist history. 

Then we drove around the city stopping at Steelers stores and spending money to add to the Steelers room and collection.  We met a couple from Texas and I refrained from mentioning the beating his team took from Oklahoma that day despite his telling me he was sorry I was a Steelers fan.  The owner of the last shop looked at Tom's shirt and told him it was okay that he was wearing it as everyone was allowed one mistake in life.  Darcy and I tried on hats and shirts, and I even found a Steelers scrub top (which I refrained from buying).

When we returned to our hotel we showered and climbed into bed.  As Darcy turned out the lights she said, "We have a big day ahead of us and we need to get plenty of sleep.  Good Night."

Monday Morning Sports Recap

Only watched the Steelers this week IN PERSON... AT HEINZ FIELD...OMG!  So my sports recap is pretty much only about them.  Tried to catch Sports Center, but only got a bit of it so don't feel I can comment on any other sporting events.  And really, who cares, since my boys were so AWESOME!

Steelers:

• The defense was back - well some of them that was.  Missing big man James Harrison and moving players from one position to another, the defense came out determined to make it through the game and boy did they ever.  They held the Titans Chris Johnson to only 51 yards on 14 carries and had the Titans wondered what hit them.
• Big Ben - First of all, the man is HUGE in person.  His upper body is just plain big and muscular and his height adds to him giving him this power look.  He was on the money for this game, despite playing with a metal plate in his shoe to protect his sprained foot, reading the receivers and the Titans defense.  He ended up tying the Steelers single game record of touchdown passes with five, and he played by getting rid of the ball quickly instead of dancing around in the pocket, throwing off the Titans' defense.

• Offensive Line - Again playing with a group of hurriedly put together players, Max Starks was literally plucked off the couch, the line kept Ben off the ground.  They were like a group of hungry animals going after free meat, knocking linebackers right and left and giving Ben plenty of time to find his man.

• Troy Polamalu - had a great game and looked to me like the Troy of old.  I watched him a lot in the binoculars and I could see that moment when he realized where Hasselbeck was going to throw the ball.  He had two close moments of almost intercepting the ball.  Mark my words his biggest game with interception is coming soon!

• Running Backs - No Mendenhall and no Moore, but Redman and Dwyer were the bomb.  Redman twisted and turned through the Titans' defense like a men on a mission pushing his way through the throng for the downs.  Dwyer ran 76 yards on one play and ended with 107 yards total for the game giving us all hope for the running game.
• Special Teams - gave us the best play of the game with the fake punt.  The crew was lined up for a punt on fourth down when Ryan Mundy gave the call for the trick play the Steelers had practiced all week.  Punter Daniel Sepulveda faked the punt and threw the ball to Mundy 33 yards for the first down.  Heinz Field rocked!  That play eventually led Ben to throw for a touchdown to Hines Ward.
• Hines Ward - And speaking of our Dancing with the Stars champion...Welcome back!  Ward caught 7 passes, two of them touchdowns, for 54 yards, but they were awesome catches, one in which he had to jump over the Titans defender for the touchdown.  He put to rest a lot of talk about whether he still could play with yesterday's game and it was so great to see him with the ball.

• Antonio Brown - who started off the game with a 52 yard kickoff return that set up the Steelers first touchdown and got the stadium and fans fired up.  And I think it was all because HE SHOOK MY HAND before the game.  But that's a story told later in upcoming blog entries.

Other:

• I don't really know much about Oakland Raiders' owner, Al Davis, except that he tended to piss off players, fans, and coaches, but apparently he also did a lot for the game of football and for the NFL itself.  RIP Davis.  Your team won one for you this week.
• If the Tampa Rays can't be in the playoffs, then I'll root for my brother's team, the St. Louis Cardinals, who tied the series with the Brewers at 1 apiece.  And how great is it that there are no Yankees or Phillies in the playoffs this year? 
• I agree with some the ESPN Sports Center crew.  Just give Denver's quarterback, Tim Tebow, some playing time so that he can either man up or shut up the fans who yammer for him each week.  Tebow came out and played fairly decent this week against San Diego, but he still has a lot to prove.  I'm a fan of the man since football needs more guys like him in the decent department so I root for him, but I think the door is still open to whether or not he will make it in this league.

Connie Foot Photo #35

Wheeled her in. 
The Foot God looked at it.  "Looks better."
He scrapped around on the edges.
The nurse filled in the wound with the Promogran and wrapped it back up. 
Wheeled her out. 
Not much exciting this week. 
Ho Hum.  On she goes.

What was that again???

I have a terrible memory. I use to have a great memory. I think it's probably the only reason I made it through school, but since I've given birth my memory has gone downhill and is no longer great. I forget things I've thought of one minute ago. I'm lucky to remember what I'm writing about right now. It has gotten that bad. I do the daily crossword in the paper every morning, drink green tea, and take fish oil pills because I read all of that will help. I'm not sure it does.

Usually when I'm cleaning or cooking or doing any of the other number of household chores I'll think of something that we need. It could be food or toilet paper or any number of things, and unless I write it down, it is usually forgotten until I need that item and then remember that I have forgotten it. I try to be good about it and write it down on a piece of paper. That inevitably gets lost or gets left in the car while I'm inside shopping, but sometimes it makes it into the purse and all is good. Most of the time I don't have paper. For example I will be cleaning in my bedroom or bathroom, the room farthest from the kitchen or office. I'll replace the toilet paper and say to myself, "that is the last of the toilet paper so I must put that on the list." By the time I make it into the kitchen to put it down on paper I've forgotten what the item was that I needed.

I decided that what I needed was another method to remember what it is I need to remember. I started trying to remember the first letter of the item I needed. So in cleaning my bathroom I'd think we need toilet paper, T. T. T. T. When I would come across the next item, such as toothpaste, I would think, "TT. Toilet paper and toothpaste. TT." Sometimes the letters would spell a word and that would make things even easier for me, "BOAT...bananas, oatmeal, apples, and toilet paper." The system would work until I could get to paper or sometimes the store.

Wednesday I was making a mental list of all the things I needed to do before this weekend. I told Madison so that she could help me remember to do some of the items when I got home. She asked me if I could get her some cough drops. I told her certainly I could do that and that I also needed some powder to put in their shoes to soak up the god awful smell both girls' feet leave in them. In my head I thought, "CP". Later that night, not having been to a store yet, I thought of something else I needed and thought, "CPH...hmmm...CHP, chips, like the TV show. That will be easy to remember."

Thursday was SueG day, which is an every two week thing where we do food, fun, and maybe errands. I had told her I needed to run to the bookstore to pick up an order I had placed and since it was by the mall we ran in and picked up coffee and some hair products we both needed. As we drove home she asked me if I need a Target or Walmart run. I said oh, yes, I do, I need...and I thought, "CHIPS", and then I tried to remember what the hell that stood for. And I couldn't remember. The only thing I could remember was the P for powder. I explained to her the problem and she started naming off things she thought it could be.

SueG: "Candy, chips, chapstick, cotton balls, cologne, cat food, cell phone, comet..."

SueG: "Hair spray, hairbrush, hot tea, hammer, hand soap, helmet..."

We ran through everything we could thing of from personal items to household items. I could not remember. We never hit the right item or if we did it wasn't triggering anything in my memory. She wanted to go to Target and wander up and down the aisles hoping to spot the items, but I veteoed that. Instead I went home and got out my unabridged Webster dictionary. Elliot and I sat outside and I went through the entire dictionary in the "c" and "h" section. At some point my neighbor wandered over and joined in the guessing game.

Neighbor: "Chocolate, cake, coffee, hot dogs, headache medicine, ham..."

He too eventually got bored and went home. I completed the Webster dictionary to no avail. By this time I was sure I had a tumor pressing on my brain that was preventing my memory from working. I was contemplating calling my doctor to schedule an MRI when Madison came home. She knew the "C".

Madison: (coughing) "Cough drops. You were suppose to get me cough drops for my cough."

She had no idea what the "H" stood for and neither did Darcy, although they both ran through already named items until my head was spinning from all the help. I told my mother the problem.

Mother: "What was the I?"

Sigh.

I told my friend that night at dinner.

Jyoti: "What was the "S"?"

Sigh.

I gave up telling the story. I resigned myself to the fact that I might never know what the "H" stood for, and obviously it wasn't an important item that we all just had to have in our house. It wasn't until this morning that the item came to me. I was collecting dirty clothes for the laundry when I went into Madison's closet and there it was...the "H". Hamper. Madison needed a new hamper as her wicker one is falling apart and Elliot enjoys chewing the pieces that are falling off. I needed cough drops, a hamper, and some powder from Target.

Neighbor: "You realize don't you, that this anagram thing you had going will now never work again for you. You'll have to come up with a better way of remembering things."

Yeah, I'll work on that. If I can remember...

Pop! Pop! Pop!

My friend, SueG, dupped that because of all the Susan's I know, works the night shift at our children's hospital. The other day she was cleaning up things around the house in preparation for her going to work. She loaded up the dishes and started to run the machine, but realized she was out of dishwasher soap. Knowing her mother had given her some dishwashing tablets to try, she searched her kitchen cabinets and pantry. After several minutes of frantic searching, she gave up and thought. Yes, she did. She shrugged and decided that, despite knowing one shouldn't, she put a couple of squirts of dishwashing liquid in her dishwasher and turned it on.

Me: "Oh, no you didn't. Did it work? I've always wondered that."

She went and took a shower while the machine was washing her dishes, and when she came out into her kitchen the entire floor was covered in bubbles. There wasn't any water on the floor, just bubbles. Everywhere. She had to clean up her kitchen...several times. Then she had to put her dishes through the rinse cycle. Four times. Then she had to leave for work and her husband had to put the dishes through the rinse cycle. Several more times.

Me: "OMG! On TV the bubbles always come pouring out of the dishwasher and I always wondered if that were true. You are such an idiot. Did you take pictures?"

SueG: 'No, I didn't take pictures. I was too busy cleaning up bubbles."

Me: "Because if you had taken pictures I could have blogged about it."

SueG: "Then I'm even more glad I didn't take pictures."

Me: "It doesn't matter. I'm going to blog it anyway. It's too good of a story."

The 2011-2012 TV Season

The new TV season has been in swing for three weeks and I've tried to watch as many of the new shows that I can.  I'm a drama queen so those are the shows I enjoy most. For the most part, I find most sitcoms silly, poorly scripted, and just plain crap, but I've missed some little gems like, How I Met Your Mother, so I'm branching out and giving it all a try. Here are my hits and misses thus far:

Mondays:

• 2 Broke Girls - I missed the first episode, but caught the second and wished that I hadn't. Stupid. Not funny. I actually like the character of Max and the actress playing her, but jeez there is no real plot and the dialogue and humor is nil. The whole thing, from the ugly waitress outfits and the Asian restaurant owner to the creepy cook and ding dong boyfriend just seemed wrong. I felt dirty after watching it. Rating: No Go.

• The Playboy Club - This show is a look back in history when the Playboy Club was all the rage in Chicago in the 1960's.  It stars LeeAnn Rimes' new husband, Eddie Cibrian, who is one nice looking hunk with dimples.  The girls are all actresses that I've never seen anywhere else, but who are interesting and not bad.  The storyline is the typical mob storyline, but then that is the the time when these mob stories started so I forgive them that.  I enjoy the drama and am interested.  Rating:  Keeper 

• Two and a Half Men -  Yes, I know this one isn't really new, but it actually is almost. Now that Charlie Sheen is gone, replaced by Ashton Kutcher, it has a new storyline so I gave it a try. I watched this show before in reruns during the summer, and although the humor is juvenile, I found it entertaining. Unfortunately, the "new" version isn't. Despite Chuck Lorre's attempts and Ashton Kutcher's gorgeous face and body, this was a show made for Charlie Sheen and his character. Without that it is just another poor sitcom with bad, prepubescent humor. Are writers not learning anything from Modern Family? Rating: No Go

Tuesdays:

• New Girl - I enjoyed Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer so I thought this was one I might enjoy. It started off rough, but in the premiere when the three guys left their big party to make sure Jess was alright I decided it was sweet and I'd give it another go. Zooey is cute, although the big glasses to make her less attractive is so not necessary, but I do love the singing thing she has going on. The skinny guy who takes off his shirt all the time is too Axel from The Middle, but I liked the other two guys a lot (then they go up and change one character by the second episode)..  Rating:  Keeper View

• Unforgettable - First of all, the premise of this show is actually fresh, not to mention real life. It is about a homicide detective with hyperthymesia, a condition in which the person remembers everything that has every happened in his life. I was fascinated in hearing about it so I did some research on hyperthymesia and found that it does exist, only about 10 people in the world have it, and that actress Marilu Henner is one of them. Then I found out she is a consultant on this show and I thought that genius. It wasn't the best of writing or plot, but it has potential.    Rating:  Keeper

Wednesdays:

• Suburgatory -  My first thought in watching the beginning of this show was how strange it was that this girl would actually listen to her father and leave college because he demanded it.  Then I realized she was suppose to be in high school and I thought, really, they couldn't have found an actress that looks like she belongs in high school?  That right there threw the whole thing for me.  The humor is typical sitcom humor that we've seen thousands of times.  I hated the whole plastic, blonde, boob-job mom cliche along with the one character that doesn't fit that mold ugly, and fat.  I found Cheryl Hines' character interesting and I actually liked the Dad.  By the end of the show I was a little conflicted on whether or not I would watch it again as I laughed at some of it and liked the ending.  I may try it once more.  Rating:  Hmmmmm

• Revenge -  A good one here. I caught this one a week late On Demand and was so happy that I did. Good mystery with the past and the present. Interesting storyline and certainly interesting characters. It got me thinking afterwards, and I was disappointed that I had to wait until the next episode. I'm not sure how they will keep this show past a year, and I would be greatly impressed if it was around only for one year, but I'm sure if it is ratings gold it will continue on until it ruins it.  The second show wasn't as good as the premiere, too pat for my tastes, but I'm still wondering what she will do next.  Rating: A Keeper 

• Up All Night - Not exactly sure how this sitcom plans to continue with its storyline of being tired because their baby keeps them awake, but I don't plan to find out.  While I like Christine Applegate and think her hubby actor is nice to look at I didn't care for the show.  The only humor I found in it was when they decided they shouldn't bleep curse in front of the bleep baby.  The rest of it was about a couple that I couldn't relate to, and I didn't care for Maya Rudolph's character at all.  I never felt the need to go back to my earlier life after Madison was born.  I certainly didn't go out and party all night long drinking til I puked while someone else took care of my baby til the wee hours of dawn.  The next episode's previews looked a bit better, but I think there are other things I'd rather watch on this night.Nah.    Rating:  Catch it in reruns

• Free Agents -  Don't ask me what this show is about because I haven't a clue.  Two people who have lost in love have a one night stand and they work together.  The dialogue and plot was so bad that I gave up midway through.  Even my husband agreed.  Rating:  No Go

Thursdays:

• Charlie's Angels - I started this one late at night and hated it immediately. I thought the blond chick was the worst actor ever. I thought Charlie's voice sounded like a used car salesman or an announcer on a TV show. I hated the young Bosley. By the time Minka Kelly entered the picture I thought how she must really hate this job as she is so far above this show in everything. I stopped watching it and went to bed. I eventually finished it and thought it wasn't as bad as I had first thought. I still hate Charlie, but Bosley is easy on the eyes. I like the African American girl and I love Minka Kelly. Still not a big fan of the blond as she comes across as too pompous for me. Might try one more week of this before making a decision. Rating: Undecided

• Person of Interest -I didn't really get the whole machine thing that spits out these names of people that are in some kind of trouble, but it is an interesting concept. Apparently this computer program tells this millionaire guy who developed it the name of a person who is connected to a violent crime. Unfortunately it does not tell him whether the person is a victim or the perpetrator, which I didn't know in the beginning and which was what made this show suddenly more interesting. The millionaire somehow finds an ex-CIA guy who is presumed dead and hires him to help figure everything out. The storyline seemed too easily wrapped up, but it was entertaining. Rating: Give it A Go

• Whitney - I missed the first episode of this sitcom, but caught the preview that my cable company offered with Whitney and the actor playing her husband introducing some of the scenes.  I thought it funny enough that I caught the episode the second time around.  I think the preview was funnier then the show.  I agreed with Kelly that although the show is filmed in front of a live audience they still used a laugh track which was just plain weird.  Rating:  No Go

• Prime Suspect - So far the best new show on TV. I love Maria Bello's character. I love her rawness, her humor, her serious intensity to her job, and her love for those she cares about. I found the storyline good and plausible. I thought it far superior to any other new show. Highly recommend it. Rating: Keeper

Fridays:

• A Gifted Man - Enjoyed this one. Patrick Wilson is the son of our local newscaster so I wanted to support him. I liked his character, thought he played the uptight surgeon well, and he is nice to look at. Like the story of his ex-wife's ghost coming to him so that he can help her finish up some things in her past life.  Like the Anton character who wants to help the doc understand the other world.  And really, let's face it, he is a brain surgeon and I certainly can relate to that having played on myself when I wear my scrubs.  Rating: A Keeper

I still have Pan Am on the DVR and am looking forward to Grimm and Once Upon A Time.  Read today that The Playboy Club has already been cancelled due to low ratings (really? we only give it three weeks?) so here we go already.  Every new show I get hooked into watching tends to be cancelled so that's why I tried to watch as many of the new ones as I could.  Also tried some old shows that I hadn't watched, but so far nothing stands out as great.  Here's hoping some good ones emerge and stay around a few years!

Absolutely not!

Tom:  "I was looking on the website where we got Elliot."

Me:  "Absolutely not.  Don't even think of it."

Darcy:  "What?  What?"

Tom:  "I don't know what she is talking about.  I was just reading about shelties.  They are very social animals."

Me:  "Yes, yes, I know.  Elliot would love to have another dog as a playmate, but absolutely not."

Darcy:  "Oh, yes.  Elliot, would you like a brother or a sister?  A little sister?"

Tom:  "I bet Elliot would like a brother or sister."

Me:  "Absolutely not!  I'm not kidding.  No more dogs.  End of conversation."

The next morning Tom left to walk Elliot.  It was pitch black outside.  The time was 6:10 AM .  I was on the couch.  Madison was getting dressed.  Tom was gone two minutes and then he was back at the front door.  I went to the door and opened it to find him with this:

Tom:  "I found this dog.  Do you know who it belongs to?"

Me: "What?  Tom!  Did you not hear me yesterday?  I said absolutely not!"

P.S. We returned her to her owners.

Monday Morning Sports Recap

Steelers:

• Sigh.  Defense, defense, defense where are you?  I know that we have hurt players and that we are playing with rookies, but we also have Harrison, Polamalu, Farrior, Timmons, and Clark.  I don't believe that our defense is too old and too slow.  I just don't believe Coach LeBeau and the Rooneys would have kept them if that were the case.  But something is off about that whole defense and until they are back together again working as a team, I feel we are in trouble.
• How many missed tackles did the defense have yesterday?  Too damn many that is for sure.  I hope they each have to watch the tape today and count the missed tackles each one of them screwed up.  Jeez.
• Polamalu started off slow again until he sat with Dick LeBeau on the sidelines.  Whatever was said worked because he played the fourth quarter like the Polamalu I'm used to watching.  Unfortunately it was a little too late.
• The offensive line has got to work harder at giving Big Ben time.  Again by the time they got their mojo going it was too little, too late.
• Ben made some unbelievable plays and escaped some sacks, but he too is still off.  Maybe getting thrown to the ground is his excuse, and I wouldn't blame him if he used that, but we need him to fire up and lead this team.  He has to believe this team can win and he has to get the team to believe that.
• Gonna say it again...Ben should have run into the end zone for that first touchdown.  Instead he did his pussy running and sliding nonsense.  Run, Ben, run....into the end zone.  He is a huge guy.  I don't know why he worries about getting tackled when he runs.  He isn't easy to get to the ground.  We see that all the time in the pocket.  He needs that same confidence when running with the ball.
• And could we stop tackling Ben from behind?  How many times is this poor guy going to land on his leg wrong?  Apparently he left the game in a walking boot.  I'd tweet him the Foot God's number, but I don't think Ben is on twitter.
• These guys had better show me more next week when I'm at Heinz Field for my very first visit ever!

Other:

•  How great is it that the Detroit Lions are undefeated?  Great comeback.  Awesome game.  If they make it to the Super Bowl I'm going to wear blue.
• This year I'm getting soft.  All the teams I usually can't stand I find myself siding with.  I rooted for the Bengals this week.  I'm impressed with Tom Brady's passing yardage.  I keep an eye on the Jets.  I'm also sucking in the pools each week so maybe I need an awakening.  Either that or a drink.
• How about a shout out to the guy who put the arrows heading the wrong way on the Jaguars home turf this week?  Can you say embarrassed?
• I'm kind of impressed by how Michael Vick seems to feel responsible for everything the Eagles do or don't do.  It is almost like he feels he has to get a win because of his huge contract.  I wish Ben felt a little more like that.  Yet, I feel like Vick needs to relax more too or this weight is going to damage him.  There is a reason why it is called a team Michael.
• Hoping the Tampa Bay Rays can win more and keep going.  What a great bunch of guys with a lot of stamina and will power.  Fun to see.  Been fun now for a few years.  You can't help but want to root for a group like that.  Shows people everywhere that to keep working really means something.

It's beginning to look and feel like fall in Florida

I decided to start my fall decorating last Thursday.  It was in the 90's, but Elliot and I felt the need to get outside.  I put up the scarecrows that day.  It took about thirty minutes and by the time I was done I was drenched in sweat and cursing the season.

The next day I got started earlier.  I finished the outside with what little decorations I had.  I washed down the front of my house and my little porch.  Elliot barked and jumped around trying to get the water drops.  I cleaned off the chair cushions.  I washed tables and covered them with tablecloths.  I put out my pumpkins.  Elliot knocked them all over.  I put them back up.  Elliot knocked them down again.  By the time the hour was up I was drenched in sweat and cursing the season.

I like decorating for fall.  I like it more than Christmas because I feel I can still incorporate my football flags into the theme.  This year I got even more creative.  I'm still thinking about some Steelers pumpkins.  Perhaps that is a good thing for the girls to work on before today's game.

My neighbors just roll their eyes, but I know they think I'm a genius.  I'm working on the mailbox as well.  I painted the pole the mailbox sits on, but Tom thinks we should get a new box so I'm waiting until he comes around to my way of thinking and buys me the Steelers helmet mailbox at Amazon.  Otherwise I'm going to yellow stripes and put the logo on the box.  I'm not really an artist, but I know people who are.

In the meantime I'm enjoying my little fall/halloween/football decorations.  And yesterday the fall weather floated in to Florida to match my yard.  Don't you just love this season?

Rays summer concert series

We went to see the Rays last week at the end of their home concert series.  Pay for a ticket to the game and stay afterwards to see a concert.  Saturday it was country night with Miranda Lambert.  She of my fav song this summer, The House that Built Me.  I told Tom I would like to go.  We hadn't been to see the Rays all season and here they were trying to make the playoffs and Miranda Lambert was going to be served up for dessert.  Tickets included a hot dog, drink, and some cracker jacks.  How is that not win win?  He drove to St. Petersburg in the rain and scored some tickets.

It was an unbelievable game.  It was a fun game.  The errors in the first inning alone were worth the price of admission.  The nearly empty stadium started filling up with more fans and the sound grew.  By the time the game was finished the Trop was packed and the crowd rambunctious and high on the win.  Who wouldn't want to play after that?

Miranda came out with a pink guitar (I so want one!) and some spunky sass.  She played like she was singing for 50,000 people.  She did some new songs and she played some old songs.  She danced around the stage swinging her blonde hair and jamming.

 She chatted up the crowd.  She talked about her new album.  She talked about being Mrs. Blake Shelton.  She sang her songs about being a bad girl.  She played the part well.  She was tons of fun.

Our friends had joined us after the game and we sat together.  Miranda sang my song and I got teary.  I sang along.  My friend and I bee bopped in our chairs.  I swung my hair along with her.  We rocked out to some rock songs.  We embarrassed our kids.

Her band members were smooth on their instruments and choice of clothing.  They all put on an unbelievable show for one great night.  I had a blast.  I didn't know until after the game heading home when Miranda tweeted that she wasn't feeling well.  She said she hoped she did right by us. 

She did!