First day initiation

I'm working on forging a new path for my future, and in doing so I signed up to do some volunteer work at my church. I attend a congregation that welcomes everyone of all faiths, beliefs, backgrounds, sexual orientation, etc. It has fit me well, and when the call for a blog editor went out over social media I realized that fit me well too, and so I responded. I am now the blog administrator for the congregation, and since I was on a roll I also signed up to work in the office twice a week. Forging my new path...

Friday was my first day. It was to be a day of training to learn the ropes, and I was quite nervous, wondering what I had gotten myself into. Working behind the scenes for the blog was one thing, but working where people could see me was another. I'm not too keen on new things, especially when I feel I don't know everything about a subject, and I tend to be reserved and quiet (shocking, I know). My trainer, I'll call her TJ, met me and immediately put me at ease with her outgoing personality and niceness. She showed me where we would be working, and then decided to give me a tour. We had just come out of the supply area when the admin woman told us a young man was at the front door inquiring about the church. I told TJ I would follow her and observe. I had been at the new job for all of ten minutes at this point.

We went out into the foyer, and TJ opened the locked door and in came the man. He was probably late twenties, dressed in a shirt and trousers, a suit jacket, and barefoot. I saw the bare feet almost instantly, and alarm bells went off in my head. I'm a woman always on the look out for danger, and a man with no shoes coming into a church nestled back among residential areas gave me a twinge. There were three women in this building, and now we were admitting a man inside...with no shoes. TJ, however, seemed at ease and immediately put out her hand introducing herself. The young man pulled back his hand, explained that he had some metacarpal damage and thus needed to shake gently, and proceeded to do just that, introducing himself as Jim (name changed to protect the innocence). He then came toward me with his elbow tucked tightly against his side, his hand out, fingers curled. I gently took his hand and introduced myself, and immediately grew more suspicious at the dead fish handshake, something I totally find repulsive having been taught the importance of a good handshake.

TJ: "So I understand you are interested in learning more about our congregation. What types of things are you looking for?"
Jim: "God has sent me here. God told me that this church was a welcoming one. God told me that this church welcomes everyone."
TJ: "That is very true. We welcome everyone. What are you looking for, Jim?"
Jim: "Well I know that God is great. I know that God is good. I know that depression is not really depression and that bi-polar is not really bi-polar, and that the Bible is true, and that God loves us all."
TJ: "Okay, well, I'm not sure that this is the right fit for you. Have you tried the church across the street?"

Up to this point Jim had been pretty mellow, but not mellow enough that my guard was down. I figured he was a street preacher, and that he didn't really like what the UU's were all about, and was here to set us all straight. He reminded me of a guy who use to stand on a box on my college campus every week and shout out bible verses that would save all of us heathens. Again, TJ seemed at ease, smiling and nodding her head as he spoke. Her demeanor relaxed me, but not enough that my head wasn't thinking of various dangerous scenarios and how I might respond to them. But when TJ suggested the church across the street, Mr. Mellow suddenly got a bit agitated.

Jim: "I will NOT go to that church. Do you know why? Because they say that GOD IS A WOMAN! GOD IS NOT A WOMAN! DO YOU BELIEVE GOD IS A WOMAN?"

My first thought as soon as he said the first GOD IS NOT A WOMAN was here we go again with another male who will vote for Trump, hoping that women will go back to being submissive. I did not say this aloud as the "recognize danger" part of me knew that would not be the right thing at this moment. Instead I turned to see how TJ was going to handle this one, my feeling at this point that this woman was GOD herself seeing as how calm and collected she appeared to be at handling this crazy situation.

TJ: "Well, actually I'm the wrong person to ask that question of because I personally don't believe in God."

Jim and I both looked at her in disbelief, albeit for different reasons. Up to this point, I thought she was going to save us from danger and get this guy safely back outside on the other side of our locked door, but as soon as that came out of her mouth I was sure we were goners. I was thinking in my head how that would probably not have been the right thing to say at this time of the conversation, and my head spun around to Jim wondering if he had any kind of weapons inside his suit jacket and whether or not I could diffuse a bomb if he had that strapped to his chest under his shirt.

Years ago, when I first moved to Florida, I worked for Kelly Girl and had a stint at a church in the city downtown. It was not in a good neighborhood and was kept locked tightly up during the weekdays. A camera and intercom was at the front of the church, and my job as the temporary secretary was to answer questions from people who rang the bell. I was warned that all sorts of people would attempt entry and that under no circumstances was I to unlock the door, not even for deliveries. After the first three visitors, I understood why. I had one person who wanted to come in to rid the church of the devil who was lurking inside. He had incense that he kept waving around the door of the church. I had another person who told me a sad tale of losing a job, needing to feed kids, and when the minister spoke to him through the intercom he pulled a weapon, issued threats, and I had to call the police who came and moved him along. Immediately, all of this came flooding back to me as Jim stared at TJ in utter disbelief of her proclamation.

I waived between my stances; standing tall and fighting or flight. There was silence, and then suddenly Jim's head swiveled on his neck and he stared bullets at me. I had to fight down the urge to shrug my shoulders and say, "Don't look at me. This is my first day on the job." That phrase coming from a story my friend told me of her first day as a bank teller about to be robbed. Wisely, I kept my mouth shut and smiled at Jim.

He was good. He looked back at TJ, took a deep breath, and told her it was okay and that God loved her anyway. TJ thanked him, and then proceeded to gather some brochures for him to take with him. He followed her over to the brochure stand.

Jim: "God is telling me right now that he forgives you. He loves you even if you don't believe."
TJ: "Well, I appreciate that. I really do, Jim. Now here is some information for you to read. Let's see what else I have here that might speak to you."
Jim: "You know, TJ, God is telling me that you once were a believer when you were young. You believed as a child, but something happened to cause you to lose your way, and he is okay with that. He forgives you because he knows you will repent and find your way back to him. He is telling me he can wait."

I refrained from looking around the foyer for God, but that was flitting through my head seeing as how God was apparently talking to this young man right then. That thought almost had me laughing because by now I was a bundle of hysterical nerves, and thinking about how these types of situations always seem to happen to me. I knew the poor man was obviously having a episode, most likely some sort of manic bi-polar episode seeing as how he brought that up in the beginning of our conversation, but that didn't put my mind at ease. Danger still lurked in there for me, as it always does.

Jim: "I really like that you have a Zen Center here. God says that I need to see the Zen Center. Would it be possible for me to go through the Zen Center?"
TJ: "Yes, yes, we have the Zen Center on property, but it isn't affiliated with the church. Unfortunately, it isn't open right now. It is open on Wednesdays so if you want to come back then you can surely speak with them at that time."
Jim: "That won't be possible. I won't be here on Wednesday."
TJ: "Oh, are you just passing through then?"
Jim: "No, I will not be here after tomorrow."

My mind kicked in on that one wondering why he was here asking for information if he wasn't going to be here for Sunday service. The next thing I know he and TJ are discussing the Rapture which apparently, in Jim's mind, was happening the next day.

Jim: "That's why I'm not wearing shoes."

I had no idea what that meant and was rolling that around in my mind. By now TJ had successfully moved toward him causing him to walk away from her. It was like she advanced toward him and he retreated. The direction was toward the door, and I was feeling like the end, of his visit, not the Rapture, was near, but then right as he got to the door, Jim swung away and walked over toward me.

Jim: "Do you have any books I can read?"
TJ: "No, we don't really have any literature in here."
Jim: "I've only read the Bible. I would like to read the Koran. Do you have the Koran?"

Back popped the danger in my head. TJ actually looked around the foyer as if searching for the Koran, but then I thought maybe she was searching for a defense weapon, and so I looked around the foyer too. Jim didn't pay much attention, but launched into a dissertation regarding Arabic and how if read backwards it spelled out numbers. By this point, my nerves and my brain were shutting down, and I just wanted to sit down. I wanted to put my hand in my head and scream, "Why can't we all just get along?"

But there was nowhere for me to sit unless I plopped down on the floor, and I couldn't do that. TJ continued moving him toward the door, and this time he went. They both went outside where she thanked him for coming, told him good luck, and he climbed on to a bicycle that I hadn't noticed when he first came inside. TJ turned to come back inside and found the door locked. She peered through the window at me and mouthed, "Help! Let me in!" and I did, this time allowing the nervous energy to come out in a sharp laugh.

TJ: "Okay, please do not quit. I promise that this doesn't happen. In fact I've never had this happen before in all my years of volunteering."

We went back inside to the office where the admin was waiting for us. We all agreed he was suffering, and while we certainly didn't belittle that, it was quite the initiation for my first day. So much so that when a gentleman arrived to take my picture for the volunteer board he was putting together, when he asked me for a line or two on what I would say to others who might be thinking of volunteering, I suggested, "RUN. RUN FOR THE HILLS."

He didn't take my picture.

More information about bi-polar disorder and depression can be found HERE. I actually have friends with this disorder, and do not take it lightly. The above story is like the rest of my entries: occurrences that happen to me in my life. 

NFL Monday recap - week #9

Steelers: I feel like I say the same crap every week, every year. Nothing changes. We either play well, or we don't. There is never any in-between. This week we didn't even play until it was WAY too late.

• Ten penalties in the first half. Yep, nothing new there.
• Quietness from Antonio Brown. Yep, nothing new there.
• Missed tackles. Yep, nothing new there.
• Celebrating when a tackle is finally made. Yep, nothing new there.
• What did I say about Mike Wallace in my picks? Uh-huh. I know. I wish we had more guys on our team that feel that fire. And then who go out and do something to put it out. 
• Ben was off. He overthrew, wasn't mobile, made tons of mistakes, couldn't push off his left leg, and generally looked confused. I'd say he came back too soon, and it showed. At halftime, Tomlin was interviewed on the field, and said Ben "was solid." We all fell off of the couch. WTH? Tomlin needs to get his head out of his ass, stop being friends with his players, and hold them accountable. Ben had 66 total yards at halftime. Not our Ben. Let's hope he can pull it together for Dallas next week at home.
• The Steelers had only 2, T-W-O, first downs in the first three quarters. Ain't going to win a game playing like that.
• The game was over when the Ravens blocked our ninth punt of the day. Not one Steelers player, not even our kicker who granted was on the ground, attempted to go after the ball rolling around the field. So the Ravens picked it up and scored. It was as if the Steelers knew it was all over.
• James Harrison was in beast mode on defense. He had a sack and a forced fumble and gave the Ravens offense something to think about. If only he had scored for the Steelers.
• The defense showed up, but the offense was flat out, well, hell, I don't even know what they were doing. Sleeping? They sure weren't doing what they are paid to do. Jeez.
• Oh, hello Eli Rogers, where were you in the first three quarters?
• Ben ran for the second touchdown. Yep, that's what we had to do. Have our two weeks from surgery, still limping, quarterback score. So much for having the number one wide receiver on our side.
• With less than ten minutes left in the game, we woke up. We scored two touchdowns to avoid a shut out and to make it look like the game was close. We haven't been shut out in ten years, so I suppose that was a plus, but not even those two touchdowns could take out the nasty taste of this game.
• Our attempted onside kick was seriously the craziest thing ever. Boswell thought he was playing soccer. He took a few little hops, twisting his legs around one another, and tried to kick with his right leg behind his left leg. He missed. "He was doing the ballerina," my buddy said. So much for a turnaround. The seven refs gathered midfield, laughing. They had no idea what to even call that. At least we'll make the SportsCenter reel. 

Other:

• Last week Cam Newton talked at his post-game conference about his lack of calls from the refs and his intent to discuss the situation with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The two did meet to discuss the case, and Newton said the discussion went as well as could be expected. Cryptic, but nothing new when it comes to talks with Goodell. What annoyed me was how other NFL players dissed Newton's complaint. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said, "...if I didn't want to play football, if I didn't want to get hit, I'd be playing tennis." Seriously? Where is the solidarity? 
• Detroit's quarterback Matt Stafford looked like he was sunburned in overtime of the Detroit/Minnesota game, but it was just pure exertion. He's a fighter, that one.
• Kudos to Detroit's kicker Matt Prater for his 58-yard field goal straight between the uprights. Someone knows his job and works to earn his keep. Got the Lions into overtime.
• The Lions won the game in overtime, but wide receiver Golden Tate better stop that somersaulting into the end zone because I didn't think he got the TD. Luckily, for him that breaking the plane nonsense saved his ass.
• I have come to the conclusion that Odell Beckham Jr. hears voices and talks to them on the sidelines. Anyone else with me?
• Nice win for the Dolphins with that 99-yard punt return to win the game. I hope Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't dream of 300+ pound men intercepting him tonight. Oh, wait. That did happen for real.
• I wish I knew what Aaron Rogers and Andrew Luck said to one another after the game. A lot of nice long bombs, a couple of interceptions, a few scrambles, and these two quarterbacks were blazing. Too bad one had to lose, but it's always nice for me to see the old man get schooled by the youngster. A little quid pro quo.
• Do we really believe that Dallas' Jerry Jones is truly undecided on whether or not he wants Tony Romo back as his quarterback? Please. He isn't fooling any of us, and I wish the media would stop asking him what his plan is when Romo is healthy. I'll tell you. Romo will be on the sidelines just like he is now. If Jones smokes something and puts in Romo next week against the Steelers, he'll end up on a stretcher. Put a fork in him. He's done.

2016-2017 NFL picks - week #9

• Atlanta over Tampa - Not a bad game in the first half, but then the Falcons showed why I picked them.
• Dallas over Cleveland - I'm impressed with what the Cowboys have done this year, hands down. I don't expect them to mess it up this week. I'll wait and let that happen next week.
• Kansas City over Jacksonville - Okay, the Chiefs have convinced me.
• Jets over Miami - Okay, I had the Dolphins up until I started putting all of this down for the blog, and then I got to thinking that maybe the bye will slow them down. Then I was sorry I changed my mind since they are at home, and have done so well since they played the Steelers. These two are evenly matched in statistics. A toss-up.
• Minnesota over Detroit - Another one that I'm unsure of in my pick. The Vikings are at home and have lost two in a row, so I think the odds are more in their favor, but then Detroit has my boy Matthew Stafford, the comeback king.
• Giants over Philadelphia - Hmmmm, I maybe should have changed this one, but the Eagles are up and then down, and then, what was I thinking?
• Baltimore over Pittsburgh - It pains me to do that, it really does. I've only gone against my boys once before (I was right), but this "will Ben play or will he not" nonsense is not good. He shouldn't play after having surgery two weeks ago. The Ravens have lost four, FOUR, in a row. They are at home against a team they absolutely-truly-are-sickening-hateful against with a coach who is truly-batshit-crazy-in-his-hatred of us. They also have our old teammate Mike Wallace, the other Antonio Brown, who, of course, is playing like he did in his former Steeler days. He will want to kick our asses. No Ben? Poor little Landry Jones doesn't stand a chance. But, Go Steelers!
• Carolina over Los Angeles - Go, Cam, go. Jeez, he has felt the wrath this week, but I hear him. More on that tomorrow.
• New Orleans over San Francisco - I'm a believer in Drew Brees when he is on, and so far this year, he has earned some serious fantasy points for Darcy.
• Green Bay over Indianapolis - This might turn into a passing fest today, but poor Andrew Luck can't stay off of the ground.
• San Diego over Tennessee - Well, maybe Phillip Rivers comes out swinging and throwing to the correct jerseys, but then again, perhaps not. I've got Mariota as my fantasy quarterback because Ben has been out, and he is pretty consistent, but....yeah, now I'm second-guessing myself. Hmmm....
• Denver over Oakland - I feel the Broncos are the better team despite the hype for the Raiders.
• Seattle over Buffalo - One never knows which Buffalo team will show up, but I figure the Seahawks get a pumped-up speech from their coach this week after two crazy, low scoring games.

To the Halloween thieves...Boo

When my kids were small, and we trudged around the neighborhood, seeing Halloween through their wondrous eyes, two of my neighbors sat together in one driveway, passing out candy and enjoying adult cocktails. I told them that one day I would be able to join them, and several years ago I did. Eventually, they joined us in our driveway, food was added, and more neighbors joined the circle.

This year my neighborhood is different. Gone are the first couples who started the trend. Our new neighbors next door who joined us last year inquired on whether or not my driveway would be open. I hemmed and hawed. I got sad thinking about my neighbor who arranged the previous year's gathering with such joy, and who had us laughing with his silly costume. He got sick two months after Halloween and died two months after that, and it just seemed too much to continue the tradition.

Then an impromptu visit from friends from Indiana and a couple of trick or treat aged children changed my mind. I set up chairs in my driveway, my friend made some cocktails, and one by one the neighbors trickled in. We handed out most of our candy, admired the costumes, and had a lot of laughs. It was a nice evening.

Darcy dressed up and went out trick or treating with her friend and her younger brother in their neighborhood, but she returned in time to join our next-door neighbors for a small party. She left the canvas bag full of her candy haul between my chair and a cooler.

Since the neighbors around us were turning off lights, we decided to call it a night. Tom wanted us to walk down to see the neighbor's haunted house. I felt we should clean up first, and we did, leaving only our chairs, Darcy's bag of candy, and our left-over Halloween candy on top of a cooler. At the last minute, I went back and collected my phone and keys. Tom pooh-poohed my worry of thieves.

When we returned home, we had been robbed. Someone drove by and stole our bagged candy and Darcy's canvas bag, which also included a make-up bag full of expensive cosmetics. Suddenly our lovely evening wasn't so great. I felt violated. I mean, really? Take the candy on top of the cooler, but don't take a canvas bag clearly hidden. That's a crime, and it left a foul taste in all our mouths.

Thankfully, the thieves did not enter our house despite the front door being left wide open. My friend's husband was inside, but he was sound asleep in the bedroom.

We discussed it and then let it go. We didn't need the leftover candy. We hoped the thieves felt crappy when they discovered her bag contained personal items.

The next day my neighbor across the street gave Darcy her leftover candy and a hug when she heard what had happened, and we realized that good neighbors and good friends will always triumph over ugliness.

10 month resolution check

Gulp. Two months until I have to think of new resolutions? What?

I grade from 1-10, with 10 being the highest.

1. To get into a routine with my physical therapy exercises and to have massages - I would say that the routine with the workouts has gone well. The massage thing had to be placed on the back burner due to the cyst-that-wouldn't-die. That can't be helped, although I have paid for massages that are waiting while this thing heals. Grade: 6
2. To be serious about getting healthy, lose weight, exercise regularly, swim - Again, out with the swimming due to the cyst-that-wouldn't-die. The healthy, weight loss, and exercising have been sporadic. Grade: 4
3. To celebrate people's birthdays via my blog - I have considered this resolution a success. Done. Over. Completed. Grade: 10
4. To scan all my photos and organize them on the computer - Not sure why I said ALL my photos, but I have done well with this resolution. Check. Grade: 10
5. To work on myself mentally - Yes, I think that having the cyst-that-wouldn't-heal helped me to get into this resolution. I'm going to call this one completed too. Grade: 10

Total Score: 40 out of 50 - Still have two months more to go, so maybe, just maybe...

Birthday Shout out # 16

This shout out is to my right arm, my main squeeze, my partner in crime, Sharon Lea. Her birthday wasn't too far away, it was in October, so maybe I'll get some brownie points for not being too late.

I met Sharon when I moved to Florida and got a job at the city's recreation department. She was this tall, dark-headed, bundle of energy, and light that didn't let anything or anyone get her down. She was full of laughter and silliness and a happiness that made people smile. She was only eighteen then, but wise beyond her years, having lived more in eighteen years than I had at twenty-five. I credit her with showing me the world.

Our first meeting - I was sitting in the front office area at the welcome area, which back then was a high, chest level wooden counter that jutted outside for the customers, and ran inside along the window and to the left, giving us a desk area. An old fashioned cash register sat to the right of the window, and a swivel bar stool was where we sat to take the patron's money. The door leading into the entrance foyer of the building was to the right of the cash register, and behind the bar stool was an open entrance that led into the guard room, the manager's office, and the door to the pool area.

I was sitting at the bar stool quietly running through my head the instructions on how to use the cash register when the door from the pool area opened. I turned to see who was coming in the door, and Sharon entered, moving quickly and stealthily. She muttered she had my back, and then she sprinted from the door to the other side of the open entrance, flattening against the wall out of sight from anyone entering the foyer. She outstretched her arms above her head, hands clasped together, pointer fingers straight out, thumbs raised in the shape of a gun. She peeked her head out from behind the wall, and then, as the door to the building opened, she jumped out, arms straight out, gun hands pointed, and she yelled, "Freeze! Cagney and Lacey!"

I fell off the stool, laughing. As a fan of Cagney and Lacey, not to mention my fantasy of becoming a private investigator, I immediately loved her and her sense of humor. We worked that entrance into that guard room and office together many times, alternating who was Cagney and who was Lacey since we both had dark hair, much to the dismay of our co-workers.

She was everything I wasn't--she had no fear, tried everything and anything, and her motto was: "I was born to do this." We believed her. She was a sponge when it came to soaking up information from sources, and she had a memory that retained it all. 

Today, she is all of that and more. She's the most determined person I know, and if she's knocked down, she will crawl and fight until she's on her feet again, smiling.

On meeting my mother - When my mother came to town, and I had to work, Sharon volunteered to pick her up, sight unseen, and to show her the area. Sharon drove a little blue pick up truck back then, and after picking up my mom, she edged on to the ramp to merge onto our busiest highway. Suddenly, she jammed on her brakes, opened her car door, hopped out in the middle of the ramp, ran to the side of the road, picked up a beer can, and jumped back into the car, handing the can to my mother as she put the truck back into traffic. "Cara, told me you collect beer cans off the sides of the road," she said, "Here's one from this area." My mother loved her from then on.

Our routine - Sharon and I worked "the night shift," which meant our hours were from 1:00 pm to 9:30 pm, and we closed down the pool. We were a great team and could get things done quickly and efficiently, and then we would head to Chilis, where we talked and talked over several margaritas. That's where I really learned about Sharon's past, her strengths, and her fears, and she learned about mine. She was easy to talk to, had a lot of ideas, suggestions, and comments, and she always had an answer to solving any problem. She refused to let life get her down, and she pulled me out of the doldrums more times than I can count.

Things in common - Big feet, love of basketball, Larry Bird, and the Boston Celtics, height, the gift of gab, more knowledge than the rest of our co-workers, excellent teaching skills, strength when backed against a wall, humility, kindness, love of margaritas, common sense, swimming, motherhood, an excellent sense of humor, silliness, love.

Her biggest downfall - She was a speeder. "I was born to drive." The city where we worked had its own police department, and two of the officers used to come into the pool in the evening to workout. One night while I was taking one of the officer's money at the front desk, Sharon came barreling into the office. She looked at the officer. "I know you," she said. He looked at her and then pointed. "Corner of CR1 and Curlew". Both officers knew her well, and she always sweet-talked her way out of a ticket. Most of the time. Once, we both ended up in traffic school together.

Crazy things we did together:

• We once went to a country concert with a handful of different acts, including Garth Brooks, the Judds, Alabama, Sawyer Brown, etc. It lasted until two o'clock in the morning, and we couldn't hear for like a week afterward. 
• When we would see suspicious activity while driving, Sharon would pull her car out of traffic while I pretended to throw the cop light on top of the vehicle, and we would pretend we were going to make an arrest.

The thing I admired most about her: After Sharon had her first baby, she had trouble nursing, and I went to stay with her for a weekend. She really wanted to nurse, so I taught her everything I had learned from my crazy issues with nursing. We set timers, and every two hours, we worked together to get that kid to latch on to the breast. Sharon made appointments to have him weighed and looked at to make sure he was getting enough food. She was bound and determined, and she hung in. When I left, her kid was sucking like a pro, and Sharon was an expert. Nothing stops her. 

Sharon eventually left town to seek a more adventurous life, but we stayed in touch, and when she returned, it was as if she had never been gone. 

She encouraged me to date Tom. We went into business together, vacationed together, got married, and had kids. We got older. Through it all we have stayed friends. I can't imagine my life without her. She is my rock, whether she knows it or not. When I am genuinely down, she is the one I call because she is the only one who can lift me up. I love her dearly.

Happy Birthday Sharon Lea. May your next year be filled with love and light.

NFL Monday recap - week #8

No Steelers today as this is their bye week. Big Ben threw some this week, but he won't be back any time soon. So much for my fantasy league. Blah. A lot of good games, however, around the league this week.

Other:

• Hey, another game in England. Is this every week now? That game with the Bengals and the Redskins ended up going into overtime, and guess what? It ended in a tie just like last week. Wanna bet that the English fans felt just as cheated as the American fans on this weird new rule?
• In overtime, the Redskins had a chance with a 34-yard field goal attempt to win the game, but alas, their kicker Dustin Hopkins missed the kick after making it first while the Bengals called a time out. First, please, stop this "icing" the kicker nonsense at the last minute. Blow the whistle before the ball is snapped. Second, Hopkins, you have one job to do; kick the damn ball. 
• And still going on with this England game, the kicker missed, the ball went to the Bengals who fumbled it and lost the ball back to Washington. It was exciting overtime stuff. Unfortunately, due to NFL rules, a lot of people didn't get to see the end of the game because once 1:00 came, the network had to switch to the regularly scheduled game. Luckily, for me, I got to see it as we didn't have a local game scheduled. Nope, I missed an infomercial on nipping and tucking.
• Twenty-four penalties on the Raiders today. It was a record in the NFL. Yeah, that's a record you won't be proud to own. Jack Del Rio needs to be doing some screaming in the locker room.
• Wow. I wish I could have seen the Seattle/New Orleans game which came down to the wire, but Russell Wilson's pass to the end zone, while caught, was just a tad out of bounds, and the Seahawks went home with a loss.
• Some fan in Tampa wore a full gorilla suit and sat in it at the Bucs game. In 87 degree weather. Are people just nuts?
• Denver's defensive coordinator took a massive hit while standing on the sidelines. Phillips was hit by Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, who was pushed from behind into the Broncos sideline and right into Phillips. Phillips was moving as they carted him off the field and taken to a local hospital, but the hit was a big one, and Phillips had no time to put his hands back to break the fall. Scary moment. The Broncos have had a time with their coaches in the hospital what with head coach Gary Kubiak's hospitalization two weeks ago and now Phillips.
• Panthers Cam Newton totally went off in the post-game news conference regarding the missed hit he took below the knees. I was with him. He's right. These refs have different calls for different players, and that makes the whole "we are cleaning up the league" nonsense that the NFL bigwigs spout is, as Newton said, "bullshit."
• Kudos to Drew Carr for his big game yesterday and his win, but man, he is one scary looking guy with those eyes of his.

2016-2017 NFL picks - week #8

Tennessee over Jacksonville - Whoop!

Cincinnati over Washington - Ugh. Picked this one for the home-field advantage, but then realized these goobers would be in England. Because...yeah, why?

New England over Buffalo - Because everyone says they can't be beaten...

Jets over Cleveland - I don't think the Browns will go winless this season, but I don't see them taking the W home today.

Kansas City over Indianapolis - The Chiefs have done well at figuring things out these past few weeks, and the Colts are having WAY too many issues.

Seattle over New Orleans - The Saints are just too wishy-washy for me against a Seahawks stellar defense even at home.

Oakland over Tampa - Yes, I know the Bucs have done well the past two weeks, but now they are home. They aren't so spiffy at home as they are on the road. They might pull it off if they can keep it together, but I don't feel it this week.

Arizona over Carolina - I think the Cardinals want some points this week.

Atlanta over Green Bay - The Falcons always fall at the end of the season, but despite their last two losses, those were good games. They get a win today.

Dallas over Philadelphia - I thought the Eagles were going to be tough this year, but alas, it is the Cowboys that have everyone talking.

Minnesota over Chicago - Well, Cutler returns, but one never knows how well he wants to play until he runs out on the field. The Bears are at home, but well, I'm not sure what my thinking was on this one. I like purple?