NFL Picks - week 11

Last week - 10 - 3

Overall - 92 - 54

Miami over Buffalo - I'm not falling for the Bills this week. Not in Miami.

Minnesota over Chicago - I took da Bears, but then I remembered the last two weeks and changed my mind. Can Bridgewater pull off another one?

Cleveland over Houston - The Browns are at home so I went with them, but I'm not so sure as they can't make up their minds if they want to break their decades+ curse or not.

Seattle over Kansas City - Here I go again picking against the Chiefs, but really are the Seahawks seriously losing their mojo?

Denver over St. Louis - This isn't my team, but I realize I keep picking them every week. But I believe in Peyton Manning and the Rams, despite their grit, can't beat him.

Cincinnati over New Orleans - The Bengals, despite my apathy for them, are playing some football.

San Francisco over the Giants - The other Manning brother has had too much trouble this season to pull off a win here.

Washington over Tampa Bay - Weeks ago I took the Bucs because eventually they will win one. I'm not sure I can say that now in all seriousness.

Carolina over Atlanta - The Falcons are suddenly back to playing some football and these two teams are about the same in my head. I just went with the Panthers because I felt it.

San Diego over Oakland - The Chargers will have their shit together this week against this team.

Green Bay over Philadelphia - Two weeks ago I would have picked the opposite, but I don't think back up quarterback Mark Sanchez will pull off a win in the frozen Lambeau tundra.

Detroit over Arizona - I'm not sure what I was thinking on this one. Oops.

Indianapolis over New England -  - Are the Patriots really that strong in their comeback from the beginning of the season? The Colts play well at home,  Andrew Luck won't want to look wimpy against Brady, and maybe the warm indoor air will make the Pats sluggish.

Pittsburgh over Tennessee - I missed football last week and will miss Sunday football again this week as my flight overlaps, but I do get to see my boys. Plus it is my birthday so I'm expecting a win because they will want to give me that.

Indiana Fall

Me: "Look at those beautiful trees!"

Me: "Look at the vibrant colors! Beautiful."

Me: "Oh, look at that one! Gorgeous!"

Him: "Would you stop saying that? Beautiful trees was two weeks ago. You're late."

Me: "Not when you are from Florida. This right here is new for me and it is just beautiful."

Throwback vs Now

At Darcy's Regional swim meet a week ago I waited for her afterwards outside the venue. It is on the water south of us and I sat on a bench and had some time to reflect on life. As I sat there looking around I suddenly remembered that I had been here once before with Darcy while Tom was swimming at the pool.

I don't remember why we were with him or why we didn't swim (although it looked a tad chilly in these photos), but Darcy and I hung out by the water. I sat on a bench and she ran and played. There was a jungle set up of three sizes of bars on the beach and Darcy spent a lot of time climbing and swinging from these bars, trying to work her way up to the highest one.

The same jungle set was still there, just down the way from my bench seat. So when Darcy finally met up with me to head home I made her go out and recreate that scene for me so I could take her picture again.

Me: "Please. Please, oh, please?"

And so she humored her mother. And once she got going she found she could still climb and swing. Although the high bar was no longer high.

Darcy: "I remember this being taller."

 

Sigh. It was. A long time ago.

Halloween 2014

My kids don't trick or treat anymore so I figured my spooky Halloween would be just handing out candy and enjoying a cocktail with my neighbors. A few days before my neighbor across the street,l Sid, saw me out with the dog and invited me to my next door neighbor's house to help him decorate it. Which I found odd as my next door neighbor is currently in Texas.

Me: "Uh? O-K?"
Sid: "I want to decorate it and then send him pictures of it and tell him we found it like this when we went in to check on things."

This is the neighbor who who entertained me when I was out of town so I refrained from rolling my eyes. Sid had recently had surgery on his foot and I was concerned he would do something to mess that up so I went with him and his woman, Gloria, to decorate for Halloween. They brought along the supplies which included a giant spider that they were going to make their little Yorkshire wear that night, a spider web, and duct tape.

The idea was to decorate a room, take a picture of it, and then take down the decorations and move into another room. I'm not going to lie. We giggled and snorted and tip toed around my neighbor's house as if we were really pulling a fast one on him.

Sid and I hung up the web and stretched it out to cover any object we thought might look good. Gloria took the photographs. I'm not sure we missed any room.

The snickering really began when we went into the bedroom. My neighbor had left for the airport, forgetting his laundry was still in the dryer and so he had asked if Gloria (notice he asked the woman) could fold that up for him and put it on his bed. He told her to ignore the underwear, which she didn't because the underwear was Izod. He took some ribbing with that and so I decided that it would be even funnier to include that in the pictures.

My neighbor is 93 years old. He recently got an Ipad to go with his Iphone and he and I text to stay updated about every other day or so. I let Sid and Gloria send him the pictures and mess with him and when he texted me that a large spider had been lose in his house and was now somewhere outside, lock up Elliot, I responded with:

Me: "Note for next time: Be careful of who you leave your keys with when you leave town."

NFL picks week 10

Last week - 7 - 6
Overall - 82 - 51

Cincinnati over Cleveland - Well, really, who thought it would be the other way around?

Kansas City over Buffalo - As sure as I picked this I knew it would be the other way around.

Detroit over Miami - I like the Lions. I like Matt Stafford. I'm not a Dolphins fan. Detroit is coming off the bye, but Miami is coming off a big win. What to do, what to do. I think the Lions play big in the cold.

New Orleans over San Francisco - The Saints have slowly worked their way past that beginning they had and San Francisco can't seem to find a way out of whatever hole they have gotten themselves into so I'm going with the home team.

Pittsburgh over the Jets - Oh, boy. Here we go. Everyone is expecting a blow out, but I know my boys. They get lazy when they play a no win team, and they think teams like this are no big deal, and they come out sluggish and yawning. I hope I'm wrong and they keep on the streak they have had now for two games. I'll be on an airplane when they play so I'll get the news when I land, but I will be decked out in black and gold!

Atlanta over Tampa - I can't even work up anything to say about this game. God love them both.

Dallas over Jacksonville - In London. Again. WTH? I don't get it. I really don't. The big news this week besides the game on the other side of the ocean is that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo made the flight despite having to sit hours in a plane with a bad back. Does that mean he plays this week? Frankly, I'm not sure it matters. While Jacksonville hasn't been lying down on the field snoring despite their losing record and depite back-up Brandon Weedon's memory loss that he is a quarterback, Tony Romo is floppily either on game or off when he plays. This could turn out to be a good game. Or not.

Baltimore over Tennessee - The Ravens lose again? What a great birthday present that would be, but I can't see that happening.

Denver over Oakland - Who is worse the Raiders or the Bucs. Shouldn't those two teams be playing each other just so one of them could feel better? This is kind of sad that they have to play against a Peyton Manning team who lost last week.

Arizona over St. Louis - I thought Philadelphia was the team to watch, but how about those Cardinals? I'm liking them more and more, but then I'm partial as Bruce Arians use to be ours.

Seattle over the Giants - This is certainly the week of huge mismatches of great teams against mediocre teams and this one right here would be another match. Poor Eli and the Giants. They can't find themselves as a football team. They won't find it in Seattle either.

Green Bay over Chicago - The Midwest is pumped for this cold game, but Aaron Rogers will throw far and long and win.

Philadelphia over Carolina - The Eagles have lost their quarterback. Can they depend on Mark Sanchez, the former Romo of the Jets? I'm going on the thought that they are still running on their high from that great comeback last week. Plus they are at home on a Monday night. This could be my oops game.

5 things to start the weekend

1. I'm leaving tomorrow for a trip to the frozen tundra. I had to buy some clothes to wear there and I still don't think I'll be prepared for warmth. I spent all day trying on my winter clothes and by the time I had a few outfits to pack I was sweating. Our weather here is beautiful. Why would anyone want to live in the cold?
2. I checked the weather for the week and snow is a huge possibility. While that is exciting I have no shoes for that either. My daughter asked me if my SIL was the same shoe size as me and I laughed. My brother would be more like it.
3. I tried to plan out the week for everyone here. I set up rides for my children. I had dinner plans set for them. I then tried to discuss this with my husband and he blew a gasket. He accused me of being a planner and a worrier. "You should be worried about planning for what you are going to do when you get to Indiana," he said. "We will be fine here." I secretly left a list for the girls of phone numbers and helpful information just in case.
4. My SIL is having her 5th chemo treatment while I'm there if all of her blood work checks out. I'm the designated caregiver, and I mentioned to her how I didn't think I was very good in this role, especially with my mother. She told me it involved a lot of sitting around watching television and talking to her. Now that I can do!
5. "One thing. If I feel like getting up and making myself an egg or something to eat," she told me. "Please let me. Don't tell me how you are here to do that and get on me about sitting down and taking it easy. If I feel like doing it, I need to get up and move around. Ok?" My reply? "Will you make me an egg too?"

Florida living whether we like it or not

Our weather turned cooler a couple of weeks ago and so I opened windows to air out the stuffiness of a closed house. My front door is usually always open during the day because I have another door(I'm sure there is a name for all these doors, but for the life of me I'm drawing a blank...storm door?) that is top to bottom windows for the dog to see out and for light to be brought into my otherwise dark house. There is a magic window within the door. Pull down the window and it becomes a screen. It is the best door. Except when it lets in flying Florida cockroaches.

One Friday night Madison, Kelly and I were watching our Friday night television when Tom decided to take out the dog. He opened the door and then stood there with it open while he tried to watch just a little more of the program we were watching. As he exited and the door was closing behind him, in came this LARGE flying object. The three of us inside followed its flight pattern across the room until it landed on the wall directly above the couch that I was sitting in. Immediately Kelly and I were on our feet and across the other side of the room screaming at the top of our lungs as if the grim reaper himself had entered our house with a scythe. Madison never moved, but stared at us as if we had completely lost our minds.

Kelly/Cara: "OMG! OMG! A cockroach!! Kill it! Get it! AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Madison: "What? Why are you screaming?"
Kelly/Cara: "THEREISACOCKROACHTHESIZEOFCALIFORNIAONTHEWALLOMGKILLIT"

About this time the cockroach decided to have some fun with us and he flew DIRECTLY AT US. Kelly and I fell over one another as we turned to escape the reaper. It was like a comedy where two people go in opposite directions, bang into one another, turn to go elsewhere and come full circle into one another again. Eventually we got it right. Kelly ran into the kitchen and I ran in the opposite direction into the hallway. At some point as I ran I realized that if I continued running down the hall I would not see where the cockroach landed and thus would never be able to enter the living room again. So I stopped in the hall and peeked out the entrance. The cockroach, sensing the hysteria he was causing, would land on one wall and then take off again from one end of the room to the other. Eventually I lost the bastard. Through all of this Kelly and I continued to exercise our lungs which had apparently been dormant for far too long and needed to let off steam.

Madison slowly got up off the couch and returned with a can of Febreeze.

Kelly: "What are you going to do with that? Make it smell better? For god's sake get a shoe!!!"
Madison: "You two need to calm down!"

Which of course had the opposite effect. Kelly immediately returned, half of her in the room, her hands on her hips.

Kelly: "Don't tell me to calm down. You have never had one of those crawling up your leg in the middle of the night! You haven't had one lurking over you while you were washing your hair in the shower. When that happens to you I seriously doubt you will tell me to calm down!!"
Madison: "What is the big deal? Why is this animal so much more frightening than say a rat?"
Kelly: "A rat? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? A rat is cute with four little legs, two little ears, and a nose. It has fur that is soft and cuddly. A roach is none of those things. NONE OF THOSE THINGS!! It is skeletal. It has a hard shell that is crunchy when you step on it and spindly little legs and antennae. NOTHING ABOUT AN ANIMAL THAT CARRIES ITS SKELETON ON THE OUTSIDE IS RIGHT."

At this point I was back on the couch. As long as the critter was out of sight I was okay. Kelly paced back and forth going on and on about the anatomy of a cockroach and then spiders and then insects, talking in a very loud, stern, why-are-you-such-an-idiot voice. It finally got me laughing, which in turn made her angrier until she finally got caught up in our laughter and calmed down some. She sat back down again, but kept jumping any time she felt a twinge on her skin. Madison went around spraying the Febreeze around the room until I couldn't breathe from all of the chemicals and had to put my shirt over my nose.

Kelly: "Madison. You don't perfume bugs. You kill them! With a shoe! Kill them! Kill them dead."
Madison: "I'm not going to kill them just because you don't like them."
Kelly: "Well, that is where you are wrong! Cockroaches should be killed and killed some more. You mark my words. There will be nothing but trouble with that thing because you didn't kill it."

Ah, foreshadowing. The next night while I was home alone watching television who should appear out from behind my television on the wall? He slowly crawled up the wall toward the ceiling which I thought was a good sign. I have a bug guy and I was hoping that his magical spray had slowed the little sucker down. I got up and went looking for the roach spray. It wasn't under the kitchen sink. It wasn't in the garage where it usually is. I could feel myself becoming frantic. I peeked into the room and he was still in the same spot so I got out a bottle of water and vinegar and tried to spray him. Only the nozzle on the spray bottle wasn't working properly and a small vapor of spray fizzled into the air about five inches from the bottle and then drifted downward. The roach went back behind the television. I got one of Tom's shoes.

I waited and eventually he came back up the wall. I went to hit him and he took flight. I had to duck to avoid getting touched and he flew across the room to the wall above the couch. I went toward him and he flew to the other side of the room. He ran behind some decorative nonsense I have hanging there so I hit the wall with the shoe and he scurried out. I tried to hit him, but he he was at an odd angle and I missed. He went into the foyer by my front door. I did not venture into the small alcove. Instead I texted Kelly.

Me: "The roach has reappeared."
Kelly: "KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"
Me: "I tried. I missed. He is somewhere by the front door."
Kelly: "Get a shoe. You have to KILL HIM!"
Me: "I have one. And I also have the stupid Frebreeze."
Kelly: "Listen to me...KILL HIM. KILL HIM DEAD."

At this point Madison arrived home from a babysitting job. She came in and began talking about the five month old baby she was caring for, but I couldn't stop looking for the roach. As she talked and talked suddenly I jumped up. The roach was crawling up the same wall where the front door is. He was behind the door near the bottom. I picked up the shoe, but Madison jumped up and put her hand out. She went to the door, opened it, and coaxed the roach outside where he ran off into the grass.

Madison: "He's out. There. Are you better? See that wasn't so bad."
I texted this to Kelly.
Kelly: "That was a mistake. He will return...with friends. YOU SHOULD HAVE KILLED HIM."

Two days later my bug guy showed up for my three month spraying. So far all bugs discovered have been on their backs and DEAD.

Monday morning NFL recap week 9

Steelers: I'm going to be honest. Ninety percent of me didn't believe we would win this game. I'm glad the ten percent of me knows her stuff and obviously overpowers the majority.

Officials - I'm starting with this because these guys, especially the head ref, earned their money in last night's game. Bill Vinovich and crew were outstanding. That game was rough, crazy, and someone could have seriously been injured if not for those guys in the zebra stripes. Vinovich maintained calm and poise and at one point told both coaches to get their team in control or he would start sending guys to the locker room. I was impressed with how well they did in keeping that game from getting out of hand. Kudos to all of them.

Rough - The Ravens are nuts. I really believe that. Ever since I read the Sports Illustrated article where I learned how John Harbaugh talks to his locker room before playing the Steelers I decided that as long as he was in charge the Ravens would be nuts. There were times in the game that their players just made dumb, uncalled for mistakes that could have resulted in someone being out for the season. I realize that there are times that is unavoidable, but because both teams were playing for keeps stupid came crawling out of the woodwork way too often.

Mental vs Physical - The Steelers were in the Ravens head after our defense began to come awake. The Ravens retaliated with force. Let's see...Ray Rice played for what team? These are adults that have got to learn to man up and walk away from taunting. Either that or play like the Steelers did.

Big Ben - He threw for six touchdowns last night that gave him another NFL record. He is the first quarterback in history to have back to back games with six consecutive touchdowns. Woo Hoo! More important to me is how he conducts himself in his interviews. He is all about his teammates and giving them the credit. He talks about having a lot of work still to do, about the ones that got away, and about how proud he is of his guys.  That's a far cry from who he was four years ago in front of fans and cameras. I hope he is this guy elsewhere in his life too, proving that redemption is possible.

Troy Polamalu - Gone from the game at the end of the first half after making a tackle and getting pounced on. He is said to have a knee sprain and whatever the hell that means medically what we fans hear is that Troy is gone from the game. And that is never good for the Steelers.

Terrell Suggs - My buddy calls him a thug and he certainly lived up to that title last night. He was assessed several penalties, but the worst was his hit on LeGarrette Blount after the whistle had blown the play dead. In real time it looked like the hit had crippled Blount with broken legs and the entire stadium, as well as the announcers, were heard gasping and booing. Upon slow motion replay it wasn't as nasty with the hit coming to the hip and thigh, but the fact that Suggs had already stopped running and tackling and was walking off to suddenly come at Blount at a full run and tackle was uncalled for. He was flagged, but that kind of stuff is what makes everyone inside and outside the NFL cry "dirty".

Mean Joe Greene - His number 75 was retired at last night's game, only the second player to have this done in Pittsburgh. His story is a cool one. When he was taken as the Steelers pick in 1969 no one outside of Texas had any idea of this kid. He soon changed that and now no one else in the Steelers organization will wear the number 75. He was my favorite player along with Terry and every day I sit at my computer he watches over me as I have his name and number painted on my wall above me.

Halftime Ceremony - I thought it tacky that CBS did not show the halftime retirement of Joe Greene's jersey. Yeah, I know. Money, money, money needs to be made, but this was Mean Joe Greene. Mean! Joe! Greene! What he meant in Pittsburgh, and what he meant to the Steelers organization, and what he meant to kids all around the world in the 70's who loved coke...come one. The station could have showed a portion of something. Thank god for the Internet where I was able to watch his private ceremony, as well as the one on the field.

Speech - Joe Greene fired up the defense and the rest of the team by giving the pre-game speech. He kept it short and simple and told them to get out their and do some butt kicking. No wonder our guys played like they did. Greene had one of those personalities that I talk about on this blog. If he thought a teammate needed to step up, he told him. So when he told the team to kick butt...well, they did exactly that. Now if we could just have Greene do that every week we would be good.

Other:

Bucs game announcers - Thom Brennanman and David Diehl drove me crazy with their after-the-fact discussions that had no bearing on the live game. They showed us plays that they felt controversial, but that the officials obviously didn't because no whistle was blown. They kept rambling on about plays that had happened two plays previously where again no whistle was blown and no challenges issued. I finally had to turn the sound off.

Mike Glennon - He can throw, but in this day and age of bomb throwers the poor Bucs quarterback can't even light the fuse. He also is such a weeny, little thing that I worry someone is going to crush him on the field and he'll just disappear in a poof of smoke and everyone will wonder what happened to Mike Glennon.

Arizona - I better start paying more attention to this team. I knew I should have have changed my pick at the last minute. The Cardinals demolished the Cowboys in their own stadium, and I swear they just kept running all the way back to Arizona.

Chargers - Whoa. What happened here? They are playing like the Steelers were in the beginning of the year, but even we didn't lose three in a row. Maybe they need Joe Greene in their locker room. Has anyone called Dan Fouts?

Brady vs Manning - I don't get as caught up in this nonsense as the media does. Jeez, this is all they talked about for a whole week. Even Terry Bradshaw and company had a round table discussion about who they would take as their quarterback. Here is the scoop. Tom Brady is jealous of Peyton Manning. He always plays well that first game and he usually wins. Which is fine with me. Because when it really counts, the playoffs, Manning will win. Especially if he was beaten once before by that team. I'd take Peyton Manning over everyone anytime anywhere.

Tony Gonzalez - His head is so perfect with the back drop of the NFL Network GameDay that I feel like I'm watching a cartoon. I could say the same thing about Michael Strahan over at Fox. They just have these perfect, chiseled features that makes me forget all about what they have to say.

Eagles - Oops. Lost their quarterback Nick Foles to what is being reported as a broken collarbone. Just when you think you have a team... Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, he of the wishy washy maybe today I'll play or maybe today I won't stepped in as the back up and brought home the win. Fans are wondering though if he can continue to be the leader this team needs. I think this is Sanchez's time to man up and show the NFL what he believes he has always been capable of.

NFL picks week 9

Last Week - 9 - 6

Overall - 75 - 45

Carolina over New Orleans - I went with the home team although both teams are on the same page as whether or not they come to play.

Cincinnati over Jacksonville - I wonder if anyone went the other way?

Cleveland over Tampa Bay - I don't know. Perhaps Tampa plays better on the road. Perhaps this week they get it together. I didn't believe either one of those statements after it snowed this week in that there parts of the midwest. Our boys aren't use to that as of late so I went with the Browns.

Dallas over Arizona - Here is the game that makes me go hmmm... The Cardinals are the real deal in the west and Tony Romo's status is day to day. I probably should have gone the other way, but the Cowboys are at home.

Kansas City over Jets - The Chiefs showed up last week and the Jets, well, the poor, poor Jets. I hope they do pull one off here because the Steelers play them next week and surely they will eventually win a game. I'd rather it be this one, but I obviously didn't believe it would be.

San Diego over Miami - The Chargers have lost two in a row. They won't lose this week.

Washington over Minnesota - This might be a good game. I took the Skins as they played well last week and I like Jay Gruden.

Philadelphia over Houston - The Eagles were handed a wake-up call last week. I think they score big this week.

San Francisco over St. Louis - The Rams let me down this week and I might have been annoyed because of that.

Denver over New England - The big game between the two top quarterbacks. Denver is on a streak of wins so you know that has to come to an end at some point, but their defense is just better than what Brady has on his side. I know if there is a game that Tom wants to win it is this one, but I just like the way the Broncos have it all together.

Seattle over Oakland - Uh, does this game really need to be played?

Pittsburgh over Baltimore - Oh, boy. Last week was so great that there is no way we can keep it up. Unless we really truly have got it together and are planning on tearing up the rest of the schedule. Oh, from my fingers to their ears...

Indianapolis over Giants - The Colts will blow them away on a boring Monday night game.

5 things to start the week

1. Darcy's swim season has come to a close. She swam Florida Districts last week and Regionals this week. She made it through to Regionals in the 200 girls freestyle relay and missed qualifying individually in butterfly by two people. She dropped her time more than two seconds from her best time and dropped it by more than ten from last year's District time. Her goal is to swim through the summer and work hard to make that fly Regional next year, but we are proud of her accomplishments this year!
2. Tom's brother is coming into town this weekend and we haven't seen him in over a year so it will be great to spend some time with him.
3. My computer back up battery is down so my electrical expert is on the case while I use his Apple laptop, which I have to say is quite nice. No wonder Darcy has confiscated it. 
4. My friend Sharon lost her brother on Friday morning. He was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer two years ago and wasn't suppose to live long. He defied the odds given to him and made the most of his time these last two years, spending quality time with her and his parents. He bought presents for her boys for her to give out each year until they reach 18. He will be missed and my love and prayers go out to her and her family.
5. I'm heading to Indiana next week on business and to take my turn with my SIL through her next chemo treatment. It snowed there on Halloween yesterday so I'm heading to the mall today to find some warm clothes. I'm going to freeze to death!

Out of the mouths of babes

I recently took on the job of picking up my friend SueG's child from the bus stop. He attends a magnet school outside his zone thus the bus stop is two and a half miles away. Her husband used to have this job, but he is working a new job and is unable to get away and SueG works the night shift, leaving before the child gets home. Depending on her schedule I pick him up two or three days a week. He is in the seventh grade, short and stocky in build, and very quiet.

Last week Darcy had her district swim meet south of here. Our school was hosting the event and so I was working it and was unable to pick up Alex. We tried to think of solutions, but in the end he had to walk the two and a half miles home carrying his thousand pound backpack that I can't even lift. It took him fifty minutes. Since I hadn't seen him since his big walk I was eager to get the low down yesterday when I picked him up.

Me: "Hey, buddy."

Alex: "Hi."

Me: "How was school?"

Alex: "Fine."

Me: "You seem tired. Are you tired?"

Alex: "Not really."

Me: "I forgot to ask you. How was the walk home last week?"

Alex: "Arduous."

Me: "Can you spell that?"

Alex: "A-r-d-u-o-u-s"

Me: "Okay, then."

Step in or step back?

Teen drama has entered our house and in this day and age of bullying and social media it is hard to decide what to be truly concerned about and what to be left to the teen to handle on her own. Teen drama back in my day, now considered the ancient age of no electronic devices, caller i.d., and remoteless television, was handled by us teens and mostly kept from our parents' prying eyes and ears. Nowadays parents are suppose to keep on top of that sort of stuff, tiptoeing near doors to listen in on phone calls and monitoring text messages, facebook, and twitter.

I'm one of the fortunate. My girls talk to me. I feel I'm clued in on most of what happens with them although I think the eldest is more quiet than the younger. With my first born drama is usually school work related and being overwhelmed. She isn't as forthcoming as her sister whose issues are more vast and run the gamut from tiny to humongous. My baby is my social butterfly who wants to have multitudes of friends who like her and she wants to have a life much like the lives of the teens she watches on television. Reality for her in this sense is knocking her down.

Her freshman year she told me she liked this boy. Turned out that he liked her, and so after a lot of talking everything through we agreed they could "date". That meant holding hands during school and meeting up occasionally at after school events. We met his parents and we spent some time with him when he would show up for her sporting events. His parents happened to be friends of my Steelers buddy and happened to be from my hometown in Indiana. It was all very innocent and I made sure that the lines of communication were open at all times. Plus I tiptoed around listening in on conversations whenever I heard her voice. Just in case.

They way I observed things was that it was all good in the beginning. All the kids hung out in groups back then and everyone was friends, but eventually some of the boys started offering up relationship advice to the beau, who would text her to discuss where they should be headed. Instead of just relaxing and going along for the ride he let others dictate how he and she should be acting, and by the time summer was halfway through he was consumed with what others thought. When the first months of the new school year didn't get better in his eyes he became demanding over text messages, telling her she wasn't a good person. Drama ensued. The boys and some of the girls were on one side and other girls were with my daughter on her side. It became this he said, she said that parents consider nonsense, but that is the end of the world for teens. I remember. Everything back then was so blown up in proportion and so life altering. Eventually my kid had to call it quits because she was so unhappy that her stomach was constantly in knots and she spent more time crying in her room then she did on schoolwork.

Of course that wasn't the end of it because the beau won't let it go. Or others won't let him let it go. Or whatever it is that is causing nasty rumors to swell and be tossed around by students that aren't even people my kid considers friends. Next came information about unflattering pictures with sexual comments being circulated via messenger. To hear all of this you would think that nothing is getting done that is school related because all of these kid' time is taken up with this couples' business. Yesterday I had enough. My daughter came home on the bus, opened the door, and fell into my arms sobbing. I listened and then became a mama bear. I gave her one week, at her request, to deal with this guy and then I was calling his parents, or if necessary, would bring it to the school's attention.

It is a whole different world from the one I grew up in. Bullying is a serious crime today with kids ending their lives because of harassment from school mates and others coming after the bullies with retaliation that escalates into violence. Social media adds to the ease of knocking someone down, and issues are circulated quickly and instantly. School officials and parents are having to redefine what they thought they knew about kids. When do we intervene? What is too much? Is it better to let the child handle situations or step in and take over? It is hard when your child doesn't want you involved. Again, I'm lucky. My child keeps me in the loop and wants my help to either knock around ideas on solving issues or to just listen to her vent.

When I was in high school I had a neighbor boy who harassed me. He would write in chalk on the back of my chair so that the word would come off on my jacket when I leaned back in it. He would follow me off of the bus and yell insults at me. I had no idea what set him off. He wasn't someone that I even talked to or hung out with. I ignored him. I ignored what he did and said for weeks, but finally one day I had enough. I turned around and came back at him and then I told my parents. I told them that if they didn't do something that I would and I couldn't guarantee what that would be. I remember being very dramatic because it was that important to me. The next day my dad went to school and met with the counselor. The kid never spoke to me or harassed me ever again. It was as if it had never happened.

My child has asked that I respect her wishes. I told her that I would give her that week to deal with things, but that if at the end of the week it was still as bad as it is now then I was taking over. It is a compromise I guess. A learning curve for both of us. I hope we are doing the right thing.

NFL Monday morning recap - week #8

Steelers: Holy Bumble Bees! What a game! Glad it came out with a win on our end, but to be perfectly honest with everyone I felt the win all week. We  play well in those uniforms at home. We do. Seriously. I LOVE those uniforms and I don't care what anyone says about them.

Throwback Uniforms - I guess I already talked about those above, but I'll mention them again. I don't know why everyone hates them. I don't think they are that awful. At one point the Steelers wore those stripes going in the opposite direction making them look like jailers so...

Big Ben - First and only quarterback to have multiple (2) 500+ yard games. Woo Hoo. He was a beast yesterday throwing for 522 yards, going 40 of 49, and finishing with six touchdowns. He was 33 yards shy of the all time record, but the Steelers ran the ball with a little over two minutes left in the game. He was quick in the pocket and really only had to scramble a couple of times, one time practically shaking off a defender who was holding his leg. I bet he practices that at home with his son.

Post Game Conference - Humble Ben. He looked good and said everything right. "Like I said it's not me. Those guys gave me time up front and everyone else made plays." He has come a long way.

Offensive Line - I always yell at them in this column/blog entry so this time I shall bow down to the greatness they showed yesterday. It was incredible. They gave Ben so much time that he was so relaxed and patient in the pocket. That was some awesome protection of the quarterback.

William Gay Dance - The cornerback intercepted Colts Andrew Luck and took the ball 33 yards into the end zone for a touchdown and then because he was so pumped to have finally done something right that he began, uh, dancing? He did this little short step strut on his tip toes with his hands up by his helmet like he had antennas. The NFL Network's Amber Theoharis called it the Funky Wasp. I actually got up after that pick and danced with him. Oh, yes I did!

James Harrison - If you are going to argue that you still have game in you, then showing that you do is key. Welcome back James Harrison!

Antonio Brown - As always this man is money. He had two catches, one in the end zone, that were again phenomenal. I don't know how these guys make these catches, but this guy is one of the top five for sure. And I shook his hand in Pittsburgh when I was there.

Martavis Bryant - Well, Welcome to Pittsburgh buddy. Hoping he does more of what he did today; making key catches and scoring touchdowns to take the heat off of Brown.

Safety - Andrew Luck got tripped up on the five yard line, fell backward with the ball in the end zone, and hoping no one noticed threw it away. Unfortunately no one was around in the vicinity of where he threw the ball and even if there had been someone there video showed that Luck couldn't see a damn thing when he threw the ball. Either way it was ruled intentional grounding and since he was lying back in the end zone it was a safety and the Steelers upped their score by two points.

Phil and Jim - These two announcers rub me wrong; Phil Simms and Jim Nantz. Too much lip.

Andrew Luck - I like him. I don't like his beard. Dude, you are so good and you will end up being one of the greats. Set a standard yourself and stop copying all that beard nonsense. You look like a little kid playing dress up with a dead animal tail.

Others:

Celebrating - I've said it once, and by golly I'll say it again: Stop celebrating as you run toward the end zone. Yesterday during the Bills game receiver Sammy Watkins started celebrating his touchdown before he, well, made said touchdown and he was brought down short of making that touchdown. And while I'm griping about that, what is with everyone looking behind them to see how close defenders are? When I was a swim coach I forbid swimmers from rolling their heads to the side to see where their opponents were. Why? Keep your eyes straight ahead and focus. Jeez, run like a maniac with a knife is behind you. Think Freddie Kruger! Run like your life depends on it to the end zone and stop checking out where everyone else is.

JETS - One of the fans was wearing a shirt with the JETS on it and next to each letter it said: J-ust E-ndure T-he S-uffering. Nothing was more suffering then having to watch the Jets try a trick play by having T.J. Graham lying in the end zone during a kick off. I guess the plan was for the receiver to catch the ball and then throw it to Graham, but seriously? Are the Jets really that desperate? Did they think that the Bills wouldn't notice someone lying down on the field? Sadly, the play did not work and the Jets lost again.

Tampa - Fumble in overtime to lose the game after coming back from zero after half time. Sad, sadder, and just plain sobbing. Hold the ball! The NFL has two new things that stand out now; quarterbacks throwing more and guys trying to pop the ball out of hands. Squeeze that ball like it's your baby, would you?

England - I forgot all about this yearly gig for two teams until I realized my recorder wasn't recording Fox's pre-game show. I turned on the television and got to see the last ten minutes and Detroit beat the Falcons in London. I find the whole lets travel across the ocean for one week thing odd, but the stands are always crowded and boy, did the fans get a game. The Lions missed the go ahead field goal with four seconds on the clock, but oops a penalty. The penalty was actually on the Lions for delay of game which put them 5 yards back and gave them a re-do. This time the Lions kicker Prater made it and bam game over.

Chicago - Every year a team has issues in the locker room and on the field and this year it looks like the Bears. Last week we had the whole Brandon Marshall yelling in the locker room and this week we have Lamarr Houston celebrating in the fourth quarter for sacking, not Tom Brady, but his back-up. He started acting like he had stopped a huge play for the win, (the score was 48-23 with the Bears on the losing side of that) skipping and jumping, and when he came down from that big jump he injured himself and had to be carted off the field. Word is he is scheduled for an MRI on his knee and it doesn't look good. So pitiful. More nonsense celebrating.

Jay Cutler - Terry Bradshaw wants him to smile and have some fun on the field. I just want him to throw away that jacket he was wearing at his post game conference. I didn't find it a good luck. Perhaps he needs to take note of Steelers Antonio Brown's look from his post game conference from Monday night.

NFL picks week 8

Last Week - 10 - 5

Overall - 66 - 39

Broncos over Chargers - This should be a sling fest between two top quarterbacks, but as anyone who reads my blogs knows, Denver's Peyton Manning is the best so I'm going with him.

Detroit over Atlanta - At some point the Falcons are going to win again. This might be the week as the Lions sometimes come to play and sometimes don't. But I'll stick with the better team and hope the Lions play like they did last week.

Baltimore over Cincinnati - Should I or shouldn't I? If the Bengals hadn't beaten the Ravens in game one I would have taken them since they haven't won a game since game 3. But they didn't. So I'm taken the Ravens who hate getting smacked down twice within the division.

Houston over Tennessee - The Texans will fix those mistakes they made on Monday night against the Steelers.

St. Louis over Kansas City - My wildcard game. The pre-game shows have them and sometimes I have them. I like what St. Louis is doing with their team of misfits.

New England over Chicago - Tom Brady against a locker room full of men who are annoyed at themselves, each other, and their quarterback? Snore.

Buffalo over the Jets - Another boring game except for fans. The Jets could get lucky. Maybe I should have gone with that same at-some-point-surely-they-will-win-a-game feeling I have with Atlanta, but...nah.

Tampa Bay over Minnesota - The Bucs want to fix what is wrong. I'm not so sure that will ever happen this year, but I think they can pull out a win here at home this week.

Seattle over Carolina - The Seahawks won't lose today.

Miami over Jacksonville - Good for the Jags. They got the monkey off their back last week with a win. They won't get that this week.

Philadelphia over Arizona - The Eagles could come off the bye week sleepy on the road. This should be the game of the week with both teams at 5-1. I'm not sure why I took the Eagles, but I did.

Cleveland over Oakland - The Browns got beat by a losing team last week. They won't let that happen again this week at home.

Pittsburgh over Indianapolis - Okay, so I'm crazy. Maybe I'm still on the high from Monday night's game. The Steelers are looking for an identity. They are running around the field all willy nilly wondering what is happening, but every once in awhile they come together enough to pull out a win. I'm hoping this happens tonight because I'm already getting texts from Hoosier family making comments about my Terrible Towel becoming a crying towel. Talkin' smack a whole week early...

Green Bay over New Orleans - Are the Saints still marching on? That whole division just puts me to sleep and as long as the Packers play their game this should be another one in the bag for them.

Dallas over Washington - Maybe the Skins will give them a game. This could be fun. I just went with the Cowboys who have a better record, a stability at quarterback (cough), and are playing at home.

5 things to start the weekend

1. I'm tired of people asking me about Madison and her college applying. I have nothing to say to these people. Last week I actually had a women demand that I have her apply to Vanderbilt University because her son got a full ride there. Kudos to her kid, but my child hasn't shown an interest in Tennessee. That didn't stop this woman from shrieking at me about what she thought my child needed to do. Listen people. While I am happy to help my child when she asks for it, and occasionally throw in my two cents of schools, Carnegie Mellon University, this is something she has got to do herself. She has to pick where she wants to live the next four years of her life, not me. Although if she went to Carnegie Mellon I would visit her faithfully every time the Steelers had a home game. Promise.
2. The Ebola crisis has got my youngest scared to death. She is not one to worry about sickness, but suddenly she is concerned that this virus is going to affect one of her loved ones. She admitted this the other day after I made plane reservations for myself for a trip to Indiana. She told me she is just terrified of having to fly to South Carolina for Thanksgiving and couldn't she just stay at home with our housedog sitter? I told her that if she learned the country that she lived in she would see that where we are traveling is only eight hours away by car and that we have opted for that option instead of spending $$$ to fly and rent a car. Whew. She was so relieved. I didn't have the heart to tell her that the virus isn't carried by airplanes.
3. This month I have killed it on the remembering birthdays on time. I have gotten cards out on time. I have gotten gifts sent out on time. I have texted wishes on time. I am so proud of myself that I'm taking next month off.
4. I like to organize and have helped several friends do just that. Recently I helped my friend clean and organize her kitchen. It took all day, but we reorganized her walk-in pantry, her cabinets, and her counter tops. While her husband acted as if nothing was different when he came home from work, her children couldn't stop talking about it all evening. Just wait until I do the same to their rooms this weekend.
5. My friend sent me the video about the Potty-mouthed Princesses that the company FCKH8 made to sell T'shirts promoting feminism. The premise is that society should not be worried about little girls cursing, but instead should be fighting for gender equality. First of all, I found the video funny and powerful, but secondly, I also found it overboard and self promoting. Which it probably meant to be all of that as it is selling a product. I think the princess idea was right on, but the word itself is more powerful if used less instead of more and would have made the message stronger. But shock value gets people watching and more people watching gets the product out there for purchase. Kudos to the company though for donating $5 of every purchase to worthwhile projects. Supposedly the company has already donated over $250,000 so somewhere someone knows what they are doing.

Out of touch and not liking it one bit

I lost my Iphone for the first time. Well, that statement isn't true since I lose the damn thing all the time in and around the house, but I meant it as I actually lost it somewhere outside my house/car range far, far, away. It was a terrible feeling.

I keep my cell phone in my front pants pocket all during the day. It is there now while I type this. Since I own three pairs of the same jean shorts and wear them all most every day I have no problem, but on the days that I wear my workout clothes or my other pair of shorts with no pockets (why did I buy these) I have issues with my phone. On this day I had worked out and had opted not to shower as the day was so nice that I came home and sat outside by my pool. By the time I was suppose to climb into a car to pick up kids it was too late to change and so I just carried my cell phone with me in the car. From the school we ran to Sam's Club. I went to a different Sam's Club then the one I usually go to because I thought this one was closer to school and because I figured I wouldn't run into anyone I knew on that side of town dressed as I was with sweaty workout hair.

That is some foreshadowing there, of course, because the distance from my house to the club is farther and because I did run into someone I knew, someone who is drop dead gorgeous no matter what she is wearing and who looked exceptionally beautiful on this day. Of course. My phone was in my purse up until I ran into this friend at which point I removed it to show her a picture. I remember carrying it with me up to the check out, but after that is a blank.

I paid. I took my receipt, and because you can't get out of the door without it, I had to keep it in my hand. I also had my club card in my hand. From there we stood in line to get some pretzels for the girls. That in turn gave me another receipt. At that point Darcy reminded me that she had swim practice. She has had swim practice every day at the same time since before school started yet it never crossed my mind. We are in a carpool and I'm the leg that takes the girls to practice. Now I realized that I was far from home, practice started in twenty minutes, and my hands were full of cups, napkins, lids, receipts, and cards.

The line to fill the drinks and then the line to get out seemed endless. By that point I was coming unhinged, panicking at having forgotten swim practice and panicking because I needed to get her to swim practice. We left. I drove south at a speed that was probably faster than normal, picked up the carpool, drove home and dumped out Madison and waited while Darcy changed. From there I drove to practice. We were fifteen minutes late which actually put me closer to the time that I had to pick up my friend's child at his bus stop not far from practice. I drove there and wondered what I would do to kill the time until the bus came having forgotten my normal book. I figured I would play on my phone.

That is the first time I thought about the phone. Immediately I remembered it was in my purse. I pulled off of the road to wait, shut off the car, and prepared to relax. I pulled up my purse from its position on the car floorboard and opened it for my phone. There was no phone. What? I dug some more. I began to feel the panic creeping in. I patted my non existent pockets. I looked in the console between the seats of my car. OMG! My phone! My phone was gone! I had lost my phone! Full panic mode hit me.

My life is in that phone! Immediately, I reached for my phone to call Madison to see if she had my phone. But of course I didn't have a phone to reach for to call anyone. Hopelessness. Despair. I can't call anyone! I looked at the time and contemplated speeding home to see if Madison had picked it up. I was desperately racking my brain, rewinding my last half an hour of life. All I could come up with was my full hands of receipts and cards and cups. I had to have lost it at Sam's. My guess was at the register.

The wait for the bus was a long one when in reality it was mere minutes. This bus is a crazy stop with a different substitute driving the bus daily so that the time of arrival is anyone's guess. The time is suppose to be 4:40, but the earliest has been 4:25 and the latest 5:30. The ironic thing about me sitting and waiting for the bus with my phone being lost was that two days previous I had sat with my friend at the phone store helping her to purchase a phone for the kid I was waiting to pick up. Where we discussed whether or not to purchase insurance on whether or not he would lose the phone.

By the time the bus pulled up and the kid got into my car I was a maniac as I'm known to get. But I didn't want to scare this poor kid who is still in middle school so I tried to remain calm while I explained my situation. He was sweet. In a calm voice, much like Madison would have done, he went over my last few hours asking me if I had gone home after Sam's, had I checked my purse thoroughly, where was the purse now, etc. At his house I called Madison who did not have my phone. I yelled at her to find it, hung up on her, said good-bye to the kid, and raced back to my car. Only as I drove home, telling myself that it was just a phone and that my family was safe and sound, did I think that I could have just dialed my phone number instead of Madison. And then I reached for my phone to call my phone and panicked all over again because Holy-Mother-of-God-I-had-no-way-of-reaching-people!

I raced through my front door to find Madison calmly playing the piano.  She stopped and informed me that Sam's had my phone. I know I heard what she said, but it was like I couldn't turn myself off. I was heading to the computer to look up the app that would tell me where the thief I knew had my phone was living with my phone. I was halfway to said computer before her words registered and I stopped. And immediately burst into tears.

Madison had called the number and a Sam's employee had answered and informed her the phone was at customer service no worries. I put on a pair of pants with pockets, got back into my car and drove back to practice to pick up the carpool again because the mother who normally did that leg of it had a hair appointment. At practice I had to actually park and get out and go in to get the girls because I had no way of texting that I was there. Sigh. How do people do this? After dropping off the girls, I got back into my car and headed back to Sam's to get my phone.

The round trip took me an hour in traffic, but it gave me time to calm down. The phone was with a supervisor and I refrained from kissing it when she handed it to me. I put it into my pants pocket and proceeded to pick up an item I had forgotten earlier when shopping there. The trip back home was much more relaxed and I thought about the good ole days when we didn't carry our lives in our phones nor our phones on our person. And that made me feel old and I dripped some more tears down the cheeks before I got a grip, took a deep breath, and drove up into my driveway safe and sound and once again connected.

2014 Fall TV Preview

Every year I get excited when the new fall season of television starts. What will catch my fancy? What writers will blow my mind? Lately, though I've been discouraged as networks don't give many shows a chance. Still I keep on watching. Here are my ratings, after trying to watch each show more than once, from 1-10 of the new shows.

• Forever - This show is pretty much like every other autopsy/medical examiner show, and like all those other shows it has its own spin. The spin in this one is that the examiner can't die. He is shot, knifed, hit by cars, etc. and always awakens naked in water alive. I love medical examiner shows having been a fan of Quincy, Crossing Jordan, Body of Proof, and now Unforgettable, and Rizzoli & Isles, and I like this show too. The whole unable to die thing is interesting because it explains why this guy is so intelligent and knowledgeable, hell the man has lived through centuries. I like Judd Hirsch in the role as his son, a twist I didn't see coming, and it gives the show some depth that might not otherwise be there. Rating: 7
• Black-ish - I'm not much into comedy, unless the writing is sharp and witty, and I don't find that many comedies have that. This comedy had huge hype, and I really wanted to love it, but after the first episode I had some doubts. That is why I watch an episode again, and I'm glad I did because this comedy is funny, has good acting, and the writing is above par. Rating: 8
• Mysteries of Laura - Here is another show that got better after its pilot. I really almost gave up on this show after that first episode where Debra Messing's television twins were so obnoxious and naughty that I just knew these kids were going to grow up as sociopaths. The writer must not have kids and is projecting his/her hateful feelings into these two hellions, but get past that part of the show and it is entertaining. Messing plays a cop and she is not a cop to be messed with. Her ex-husband, the divorce papers were just signed, is now her captain (like that would happen in real life) and the two are ying and yang. The writing is not great, but Messing tries really hard. I'll keep checking in on it online as it comes up against two other shows I record. Rating: 7
• Red Bank Society - I don't know much about children living in hospitals, but most television is not within the realms of reality in the first place. I like this show. I like the kids and the writing. I love Octavia Spencer. The character of Kara was a tad overboard, but I hope she will tone down as the season wears on. Rating: 4
• How to Get Away with Murder - I hate when college professors use students to commit murders or to do their dirty work. Are students really this cut throat or desperate? I've only seen two episodes, but I find the show creepy. It isn't something I jump to watch when I sit down to empty out the DVR because it seems like I've seen the movie version already. I get the whole Shonda hype, but she can do better. Rating: 5
• Bad Judge - I thought this show was a drama. My first thought was am I really suppose to believe this kind of behavior exists in the court system?  But then much to my embarrassment I was laughing out loud more than once. The writing is witty and quick, and while the main character is over the top, her bailiff has the best lines and the best comedic timing. Plus it has some heart. Rating: 8
• A to Z - Maddy likes this show, but I find it boring. We watch it after The Middle, Modern Family and black-ish, and it is no where near the level of those shows. The writing isn't terrible, but the characters bore me. The female is so insecure and the male is so sweet and they are oil and water. I don't see this relationship lasting and frankly, I really don't care whether it does or not. Rating: 5
• Scorpion - I will admit that this show is a been there, done that show, but I enjoy it. It is fluff TV that isn't terrible. It isn't great, but it holds my interest when there is nothing on that I want to watch. Rating: 6
• Gotham - Here is another show that I didn't expect to like, but enjoy nonetheless. It is pre-Batman era, with Bruce Wayne as a middle schooler and Commissioner Gordon just a lowly detective. The back drop is pure Gotham and all the characters are there, just before they became foes of the masked one. Rating: 8
• Madam Secretary - THE BEST NEW SHOW ON TELEVISION! Love it! Tea Leoni is the bomb! I would vote for her for president and for every other elected position she wanted. The writing is smart and sharp and the characters are real. Leoni plays, for once, a strong, independent, beautiful woman who doesn't let men tell her what to do. She is a former CIA agent who has been asked by the president, her former CIA boss, to fill the position of secretary of the state. Her husband is loving and supportive. Her children aren't anything like the rest of the children on the new shows, but are intelligent and well behaved. The stories are out of the headlines, but no matter the weekly issue, Leoni's secretary kicks ass! Rating: 10
• Gracepoint - I read that this is a remake of a show across the pond and the stories and characters are much the same, even the main actor. The author of the article wasn't very happy about this, but since I've never seen the original I have no problem with it. It reminds me of the a show two seasons ago about a group of people involved in a bank robbery. I like that show and I like this one. The show is going to wrap up this season so that the mystery ends and it won't get too tedious, and besides Nick Nolte is in it. Rating: 7
• Marry Me - I was tired when I saw the first episode, but like A to Z I wasn't too caught up in these two lives. I liked the main characters better, but a show about proposing just right makes me, well, tired. Rating:6

Just a few reasons why I love this woman

Me: (singing)  "Happy Day After Your Birthday to you. I didn't want to call on that day like everyone else. I'm calling now to extend the fun. Happy Day After Your Birthday to you!"

Sharon: "Who is this?"

***

Me: "Did you like my card? I loved that card."

Sharon: "You and my mom were the only cards I received on the day of my birthday."

Me:  "But did you like the card? I thought the card was the best. It was kind of pricey, but I loved it so much I bought it."

Sharon: "Yes, I turned the card over first thing to see how much you thought I was worth."

***

The card read on the outside: "We will be friends until death." Inside: "And then I hope we will be ghost friends, and we will walk through walls and scare the shit out of people. That will be so fun!"

Me: "I read the card to everyone. Tom thought it appropriate. Madison rolled her eyes."

Sharon: "Then she will be the first person we scare the shit out of when we walk through walls."

***

Me: "Uh, Sharon. It's been awful quiet for the last twenty minutes. Where are the boys?"

Sharon: "They're fine. I gave them knives to play with."

Me: "Of course. Good thinking."

Sharon: "Some moms give lollipops, but that doesn't last long. Give them knives and it keeps them occupied forever. Well, until someone bleeds. But that hasn't happened yet."

Monday NFL recap - week 7

Well, on a week that looked to be a pick gimme things went south quickly. Steelers Depot tweeted, "The way this Sunday is going, the #Steelers are likely to beat the #Texans 60-2." Hmmmm....

Peyton Manning - I'll lead with the greatest because, well, he is unsurpassed in the records book now. Last night against the San Francisco 49er's Manning broke Brett Favre's record, and started adding to his own, by becoming the leader in career touchdown passes. Favre had 508 touchdowns and coming into the game Manning needed three touchdowns to take the lead. It was all anyone talked about today on the pregame shows and during the games. Would he do it? It made for a bunch of nervous nellies, but Manning came out cool, throwing #507 to ex-Steelers Emmanuel Sanders and tying the record with #508 to Wes Welker who ran for his life toward the end zone. Demaryius Thomas was the receiver that will go down in the history books with catch #509 in the end zone where he drug his two feet after making the catch. I'll admit it. I cried. It is one of the first times I've seen Manning really be emotional over one of his records. Sniff. He is the best. Ever.

Keep away - Manning has said that he doesn't ever get to keep game balls of other records he has set because the receivers always take the ball. After he threw #509 he went to get it from Thomas who then threw it over Manning's head to another receiver who then threw it back in a monkey in the middle game before Manning finally ended up with it.

Brett Favre - He was on the NFL Network today live from his home in Mississippi talking football and shaving. I would have liked to have heard more from him regarding Peyton Manning, but he did say that he had no doubt his record would be surpassed that night. It was a fun piece. He looks great and his whole family was there in the background.

St.  Louis - Tom came in right after Russell Wilson led the Seahawks down the field and into the end zone. He asked me how Seattle's defense was and I said, "Uh, Richard Sherman" who then deflected the ball on third down. St. Louis lined up to punt and I said, "Better watch for the trick punt. They're going to throw." Tom now knows that Cara knows football.

Wild Ending - The Rams needed another first down to just be able to run out the clock, and Tre Mason got it and more. But whoop he fumbled as he went to the ground and both teams scrambled as the ball rolled and twirled from one player to another. In slow motion it looks like Seahawks Richard Sherman has the ball under his legs where it slowly rolls up into his arms, but the refs ruled it St. Louis' ball. Word is there was no clear evidence to prove Seattle had the ball. Uh? I thought Pete Carroll was very professional in his post game conference. I'm not sure I could have been, but Carroll was uncharacteristically calm and nonchalant. "Richard was on top of the ball, but he was on his knees and he couldn't get flat on the ground. They could have said he had it.. They could have looked in there if they saw it and given him the football. But the time wore on in the pile and the ball got moved around. They did a good job getting it back."

Detroit Comeback - New Orleans dominated the first half and looked to have the game locked, but the Lions refused to quit. Drew Bree's threw an interception, Matt Strattford threw the go ahead TD, and the Lions defense sealed the deal. The catch by Corey Fuller was so sweet. He had to propel his airborne body back to the turf so that he could drag in his two feet. Awesome.

Da Bears - I got this game locally, along with Green Bay, and boy, what snoozers. Every time I pick the Bears they lose and vice versa. Apparently, after their loss the players erupted at one another in their locker room. Twitter was crazy with all of the scoop which pretty much told us nothing other than there was some yelling and Brandon Marshall was at the center of it. Well, yeah, you usually want to beat the team that let you go so I understand his frustration, but maybe he should have done more on the field, huh?

Redskins quarterbacks - Thank goodness we have something to speculate all week. Who will be Washington's quarterback now that Kirk Cousins was benched and Colt McCoy won the game? Does anyone even really even care?

NFL Network - I alternated yesterday between my favorite pregame show on Fox and the NFL Network which I have never watched before. I'm glad I did because I loved it. I know some people don't like the whole guys laughing and cutting up, but I like it. Sometimes they go overboard and embarrass themselves, but it is all good fun, and the NFL Network line up was a keeper. My favorite besides the Favre piece was Warren Sapp giving us the lowdown on Dallas' play last week with a tiny Sapp on the screen as a player.

Steelers - We play tonight. I'm hoping we do as well as we have done in the past on Monday night, but I don't necessarily have a lot of hope. Yes, I do. 

NFL picks - week 7

Last Week - 11 - 3

Overall - 56 - 34

New England over Jets - In New England playing the Jets? This is a no-brainer.

Buffalo over Minnesota - This week seems easy, but that can be deceiving. Neither one of these teams is a standout, but the Bills have a better record by one and a more experienced quarterback. Plus they are the home team.

Chicago over Miami - Out of all my picks this weekend this is the one I went back and forth on as I always do with a few picks. I'm going to be annoyed if the Dolphins pull out the upset.

Detroit over New Orleans - Some Sundays the Saints march out and play and some days they don't even bother to show up. The Lions at least give a good game.

Green Bay over Carolina - The Panthers could play like they played last week, but the Packers are at home and it is usually very hard to beat them in Lambeau.

Indianapolis over Cincinnati - Okay, maybe I should add this game to the iffy pile along with the Bears over the Dolphins. Now that I'm typing this I'm having second thoughts. The Bengals aren't happy with the tie they took in overtime last week, but their defense is struggling and ailing. Will they come out crazy enough to beat the Colts at home? I'm locked in with my pick, but oh, this should be a good game.

Seattle over St. Louis - The Seahawks will run all over the Rams this week. Guaranteed.

Tennessee over Washington - Apparently the Skins are favored. Huh. Who knew?

Cleveland over Jacksonville - Come on Florida football team that can't seem to win! Pfft. As much as I hope the Jaguars beat the Browns, I sure can't bet with them.

Baltimore over Atlanta - The Ravens just seem to always win.

San Diego over Kansas City - My SIL said that my brother was depressed about his Cardinals losing to the Giants and remarked, "Now what do I have to get excited about?" I told her that he has his Chargers. Jeez. The Royals are smokin' right now, but the Chiefs? Not so much. The Chargers are the are hot, hot, hot. and won't lose this one at home.

Dallas over Giants - Poor Eli. I hope he practiced this week getting up off the ground since that seems to be what he does more than anything so far this year.

Arizona over Oakland - So this week I found out, via some article, that Bruce Arians allegedly never wanted to retire from the Steelers. Turned out for the best for him after a stint in Indianapolis as coordinator and then fill-in head coach that led to this head coaching job in Arizona. Right now he too is smokin' hot and the Raiders won't give him any grief I'm sure.

Denver over San Francisco - The question is can the Broncos keep on playing their game week after week? I think they can.

Pittsburgh over Houston - Because I don't bet against my team. Well, rarely. Sigh.

5 things to start the weekend

• Our neighborhood Walmart is moving across the street into a renovated old Kmart. While I am a Target girl there are certain things that Walmart has that I will enter the doors for, but our local store is disgustingly dirty and in a terrible spot to get in and out of. People are always panhandling and will approach you as you enter and exit the store, sometimes scaring the hell our of you when you are busy loading groceries into your car. I try to avoid going there, but the new store across the road is going to be beautiful. This week I found out it opens next week and so I called SueG and said, "Yo, girl, guess what?"
• Madison actually applied for two colleges this week! She is such a procrastinator, but the deadline for one of the schools was the 15th and so I cracked the whip as she needs to get as much money in scholarships as possible. Together we filled out the application which ended up giving me a headache and made me very cross. All the nonsense of information these institutions want? How the heck am I suppose to remember what month, day, and year that I became a Florida resident when I can't even remember why I came into a room?
• We have a three day weekend starting today. As usual we made no plans for fun, for visiting colleges, or for something different. I'll make my kids clean. That'll show 'em.
• The whole senior year is going to be the death of my husband because it means big $$$. First expense thus far for us has been senior pictures. The cheapest package is $250 and the poor man came unglued. I'm starting off small with him so that when it comes time to pay the first tuition bill for college he might not have a heart attack.
• Kelly buys these toffee peanuts at the Family Dollar store and they are so delicious. She left the can here last night and Tom and I finished them off. Later I saw that it has a 100% satisfaction guaranty and if I'm not happy it says to return the empty package for a refund or exchange. I wonder since it has to be empty if I can just do that and say I was only 97% satisfied and that maybe another can might help me change my mind. 

Ten months too long

At the beginning of this year, I wrote an entry about my grocery store closing and the woe I was in about finding another place to shop. The store was suppose to be remodeled, but upon inspection there were issues and the entire building was demolished and then rebuilt. I've had terrible experiences at other groceries and each time I would drive by the construction of my neighborhood Publix I would lament aloud how much I hated this whole process.

While shopping in September at the Publix I'd chosen as a temporary replacement I spoke with a former employee of my Publix and she told me the store would be opening the first of October. I was beside myself with glee. October? That was months before scheduled. I immediately began making plans. I told my kids that they could miss school that day because we would camp outside the Publix the night before so that we could be the first ones in the door on opening day. They were a tad concerned that I was serious, and while I thought it would have made a great blog entry, my cohort, the only friend that would actually consider doing something so off the grid, had to work. But we made plans to meet up that morning to attend the opening.

We fortified ourselves with breakfast at 7:15 at McDonald's across the street and we were at Publix by 7:45 for the 8:00 a.m. opening. Unfortunately, we were not the first in the door. Apparently, other people were just as excited as I was about our store re-opening.

We stood in line and chatted with the people in front and in back of us. My friend, while a good egg, thought it was ridiculous that we were all standing in line for a grocery store. The guy in front of me wasn't even from our area, but had been told by someone to come here to do his shopping. That annoyed me and another lady who told him we had been waiting for 9 months and 9 days for this very day. He was impressed, but did not offer to let us cut in front of him. In fact, when the father of Darcy's buddy, showed up and came over to talk this same guy kept mentioning how cutting in line was not something people tolerated. I found that humorous.

Me: "Do you have an issue with him standing here with us instead of going to the back of the line? He doesn't even care about getting a free shopping bag."

Him: "I don't care, no. But some people get down right angry about people who cut in line."

No one beat us up, and after the store manager announced the opening and we all cheered, the doors opened. It took a while for us to make it to the front of the store, but there was a man playing music on a steel drum and there were danishes, donuts, muffins and coffee to fortify us if we chose. When I got to the entrance I threw up my arms, took a deep breath, and crossed the threshold. With tears in my eyes.

SueG: "Are you *^% kidding me? There's something wrong with you."

I shook the manager's hand, took the free insulated Publix shopping bag, and walked into the new store. Of course, it was completely different, which Darcy had warned me about, and while that part sucked because I liked our original layout, I was happy nonetheless.

There were free samples of food as we made our way around the store taking in the sights. We had cider, bacon, pineapple, an egg casserole, and french toast. The women all received complimentary carnations. We got a pharmacy bag with goodies as we rounded the end and we got bags of goodies as we exited the store. I didn't really need groceries, and my friend had to drop her son off at his bus stop, but I did pick up some juice and fruit for my husband per his request that morning. After I got my car at McDonald's, I drove back across the street and reentered all over again to get a flu shot at the pharmacy. I tried to pooh pooh the goodies that were offered to me all over again, but they insisted because of how I'm their number one fan.

The pharmacist gave me $100 in gift cards to use for switching prescriptions to Publix and two $5.00 off coupons for groceries. I left there quite happy with the opening and with no pain in my arm as the pharmacist "gives his shots with love". Welcome back my neighborhood Publix!