Hi world. Hope your holiday weekend was great.
I'm back in the Windy City after spending a couple of days in Iowa seeing the family. My sister's birthday party on Friday night was good times...a round or two or Drink Until You Boot to get things started, and we powered through until the wee hours of the morning.
Santa was kind to me this year, which I expected because I've been very good. I got many clothes, some new luggage, other miscellaneous items, and the crown jewel was an all-expenses paid trip to Dave Pelz short-game school at Cog Hill next May. I'm very excited. My short game and putting sometimes torpedos great rounds for me, as I am already long and strong with the woods and the irons. What I need is some touch around the greens and be able to knock it stiff when I'm in a tight lie or in the sand. I hope to make a lot of strides next season.
This week has been good, I'm slowly recharging after over a year with no significant vacation. I'm working from home each day, and it's nice, but I'm still pretty much accountable for work when I get up each morning, so it's not a true vacation. I guess that will have to wait until March, when the Bachelor Party to end all Bachelor Parties takes place in a foreign locale.
NYE plans are locked down. We are rolling very deep for the party at Pint, and coupled with a hangover brunch hosted by yours truly and the Hawk game Monday, it should be quite a bender. Hopefully some of my siblings will be joining us, we'll have to see.
That's all for now, time to get back to work. Enjoy what's left of the holiday season.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
It's Santa Time
I'm heading home in an hour or two for Christmas.
Merry, Merry Christmas everyone.
More after the weekend: when I return to Chicago, I'm on vacation and it's on.
Tim
Merry, Merry Christmas everyone.
More after the weekend: when I return to Chicago, I'm on vacation and it's on.
Tim
Thursday, December 22, 2005
A Family of Bears go to Hawaii
Congratulations to the Chicago Bears for leading the NFC with 6 Pro Bowl selections and several more alternates that may get their shot at a trip to Hawaii as well.
This teams deserves it, and more. I wouldn't have been surprised to see two or three more guys punch their ticket to Hawaii from the defensive unit, and Thomas Jones certainly looked like a Pro Bowler for the first ten weeks of the season.
Anyway, I am very happy to see Olin, Nate, Mike, Brian, Lance, and Tommie get their due. This defense is probably the unit most singly responsible for the success of its team in the entire NFL. They play fast and hit hard, and it's been a pleasure to watch them work. Have fun in Hawaii fellas.
Note about the Cubs trade: Rumor has it that the Cubs are looking at a possible multi-team trade with Baltimore and some other unnamed teams that would bring superstar shortstop Miguel Tejada to the Cubs and ship Mark Prior to the AL West. We would certainly be hurting for a starter if that happened, but the thought of that lineup is tempting. Prior is great, but has been so unreliable since he was overworked in 2003 that I am leaning towards favoring this deal. What if we bail out on it and then he tweaks his elbow again? It doesn't matter how good you are when you start your season in July every year.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The Jenn Sterger files (or, Why I Chose the Wrong College)
Most internet-savvy males know by now about the hoopla that was created when FSU football fan and ridiculously attractive co-ed Jenn Sterger's Facebook picture album spread far and wide across the internet. After some attention from the ABC cameras during an FSU game, she and her fellow FSU cowgirls gained quite a bit of notoriety, which she has now parlayed into photo shoots for both Playboy and Maxim. In addition to the now-famous pics on Facebook, her profile on MySpace is also in circulation.
Now, why is a wholesome blog like the Offering taking note of such a phenomenon?
1) First and foremost, she is now doing interviews for blogs. (via deadspin) Which means that she may be willing to answer a couple of questions right here on this humble web page. In the immortal words of Lloyd Christmas, "So you're telling me there's a chance?" (Jenn, if you are reading this: I promise, no lewd questions or propositions, no recycled, low-brow questions, and if you so desire, helpful advice on getting into and succeeding at law school while still having time to tailgate on a bi-weekly basis. It can be easily done.)
2) This whole episode is Exhibit A in showing why I chose the wrong undergraduate institution. Yes, mine was an idyllic community full of bright, motivated, attractive, well-prepared students. But the six month winters, Division III football team, and general lack of school spirit in the fall led to an alarming absence of cowgirls, which I now realize is 100% unacceptable. Even my years at a Big Ten law school seem like a sorry consolation prize when faced with the prospect of participating in the social scene at these football-crazy institutions south of the Mason-Dixon line.
And so, I salute you, Jenn. And everyone else, cowgirl or otherwise, that makes these debaucherous fall Saturdays what they are, whether in Tally, Athens, NashVegas, or home sweet home. And Jenn, if by chance you do stumble across this blog, drop me a line if you would like to answer a few respectful, dignified queries on your meteoric rise to fame.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
(Who?) Jacque Jones! (Who?) Jacque Jones!
The hot stove heated up tonight for a few lucky teams, and the Cubs got themselves a piece of the action.Cub Nation welcomes Jacque Jones to the Friendly Confines. A lifetime .279 hitter who can cover ground, throw out runners, get on base, and round out our lineup is most welcome to a Cubs team that had a gaping hole in right field. We got Jones for three years ($16 million) for nothing more than a compensatory draft pick because the Minnesota Twins offered him arbitration. What a great deal for us. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what he can do in a hitter's park like Wrigley Field.
And now we have a chance to trade Corey Patterson for a pitcher, hopefully a starter, which I think we are probably going to need.
The Yankees cashed in too, breaking the hearts of Red Sox fans everywhere by snatching Johnny Damon away for four years to the tune of $52 million. Wow, they play each other about 18 or 19 times next year, and I imagine Johnny Damon is no longer going to be welcome at the games played in Fenway.
I'm getting excited for the season already. Pitchers and catchers report on February 16th. Cub Nation will really have something to look forward to if Jim Hendry pulls one more rabbit out of his hat.
One more footnote: Another lackluster performance by the Hawks tonight in a 65-60 win over Drake. We needed two Adam Haluska three balls in the last minute and a half to get past the Bulldogs, and were losing with less than four minutes left. At some point, we're going to have to start playing good basketball or the rest of the Big Ten is going to give us the rough ride. We have Robert Morris on Thursday and then we finish off the preseason with St. Louis, who have played us tough lately. Let's go fellas. Time is short before we start playing the big boys.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Ron Mexified
Ugh. Monday.
Well, as the Sofa King mentioned last night, we kept expecting the weekends to decrease in intensity as the football season wore on and the winter set in, and they didn't. This weekend capped off a string of consecutive celebrations starting back in September in spectacular fashion, and I am looking forward to taking next weekend off and sitting at home around the fire.
Friday night's recipe for disaster included an open bar at a west loop art gallery where LongMan and I made lots of new friends, and Saturday was our holiday party. Both were tremendous successes, and I didn't talk to anyone that attended either that was without a viscious, persistent hangover on Sunday- the true indicator of success. Props to LongMan for hosting and all of our guests, especially those that traveled great distances. That Champagne Punch was good.
Sunday night was a classic battle in arctic temperatures at Soldier Field. I was there and the Jumbotron showed temperatures of -8 as The Pride and Joy of Illinois punished the Falcons by suffocating their vaunted rushing attack. The W paves the way to a possible playoff bye and helps us get some great momentum heading down the stretch. Best of all, however, was the return of Rex Grossman, the unceremonial abandonment of Kyle "Good in College" Orton, and a new-look offense that could be just what the doctor ordered come playoff time.
Game balls go to:
1) Rex Grossman, for coming in off the bench and completing 9 of 16 (if Moose and Desmond Clark don't each drop an easy one, it's 11 of 16), starting the second half off with two scoring drives and giving a boost to a dormant, lifeless offense.
2) Brian Urlacher, for containing Michael Vick, totaling 12 tackles and batting down a pass at the line. He was a force as usual, and the hits were extra painful on one of the coldest games in Bears history.
3) Mike Green, who had been left for dead by many Bears fans and the defensive coaching staff. With Chris Harris, Mike Brown, and Todd Johnson all out with injuries, Mike Green got the start at safety and forced two turnovers by intercepting a Ron Mexico Special, a horribly underthrown ball on a fade route intended for Roddy White, as well as absolutely decleating Michael Jenkins on a crossing route that popped the ball loose and allowed Nate "Right Place, Right Time" Vasher to make his team-leading 8th theft of the year.
Now it's time for work, but more soon.
t
Well, as the Sofa King mentioned last night, we kept expecting the weekends to decrease in intensity as the football season wore on and the winter set in, and they didn't. This weekend capped off a string of consecutive celebrations starting back in September in spectacular fashion, and I am looking forward to taking next weekend off and sitting at home around the fire.
Friday night's recipe for disaster included an open bar at a west loop art gallery where LongMan and I made lots of new friends, and Saturday was our holiday party. Both were tremendous successes, and I didn't talk to anyone that attended either that was without a viscious, persistent hangover on Sunday- the true indicator of success. Props to LongMan for hosting and all of our guests, especially those that traveled great distances. That Champagne Punch was good.
Sunday night was a classic battle in arctic temperatures at Soldier Field. I was there and the Jumbotron showed temperatures of -8 as The Pride and Joy of Illinois punished the Falcons by suffocating their vaunted rushing attack. The W paves the way to a possible playoff bye and helps us get some great momentum heading down the stretch. Best of all, however, was the return of Rex Grossman, the unceremonial abandonment of Kyle "Good in College" Orton, and a new-look offense that could be just what the doctor ordered come playoff time.
Game balls go to:
1) Rex Grossman, for coming in off the bench and completing 9 of 16 (if Moose and Desmond Clark don't each drop an easy one, it's 11 of 16), starting the second half off with two scoring drives and giving a boost to a dormant, lifeless offense.
2) Brian Urlacher, for containing Michael Vick, totaling 12 tackles and batting down a pass at the line. He was a force as usual, and the hits were extra painful on one of the coldest games in Bears history.
3) Mike Green, who had been left for dead by many Bears fans and the defensive coaching staff. With Chris Harris, Mike Brown, and Todd Johnson all out with injuries, Mike Green got the start at safety and forced two turnovers by intercepting a Ron Mexico Special, a horribly underthrown ball on a fade route intended for Roddy White, as well as absolutely decleating Michael Jenkins on a crossing route that popped the ball loose and allowed Nate "Right Place, Right Time" Vasher to make his team-leading 8th theft of the year.
Now it's time for work, but more soon.
t
Friday, December 16, 2005
Quick Hits- Friday Edition
In the style of the Sofa King's blog, here are a few tidbits worth mentioning on this lovely Friday:
1) It's holiday party time, round III. We welcome G-Unit into town this weekend for a stopover at a holiday party thrown by the crew from his alma mater on Friday, and then the Offering will host a holiday party with LongMan and the K-Rock Saturday night. Back to back debauchery. Drop me a line if you don't know the details for Saturday.
2) Formal charges were handed down to four Minnesota Vikings for their actions on the now-famous Love Boat cruise, and they are as scandalous as everyone hoped. The Smoking Gun has the formal police reports that describe the, uh, lascivious acts that led to the charges. Because the Offering is a family publication, we won't comment further on said acts.
3) I got my ticket to the Bears-Falcons game Sunday night on ESPN. It's going to be freezing out there, but it's time to Bear Down, Chicago Bears. We need this game as much as Atlanta does, and with Minnesota facing a tough Pittsburgh team, we could put some distance between ourselves and everyone chasing us in the division.
4) Maybe fighter jets have become obsolete, but the new F-22 Raptor is so cool.
5) For the last time: Shut your mouth, Terrell Owens. You feel like the Eagles "used you to win games"? Guess what? THAT'S WHAT SPORTS TEAMS DO. GET GOOD PLAYERS AND THEN USE THEM TO WIN GAMES. And when you beg the Eagles to save you from going to Baltimore and they pay you $50 million to do so, that's not being used. I honestly wonder sometimes if people can hear themselves talk.
6) I saw King Kong last night. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. The scenery is phenomenal, the action is well-done, and Manhatten in the early-to-middle of the 20th century is depressing and eerily atmospheric. A great film. It's a long one, clocking in at 187 minutes, but Peter Jackson doesn't make 'em any shorter these days.
That's it for today. Have a great weekend. One more week to get all that shopping done.
t
1) It's holiday party time, round III. We welcome G-Unit into town this weekend for a stopover at a holiday party thrown by the crew from his alma mater on Friday, and then the Offering will host a holiday party with LongMan and the K-Rock Saturday night. Back to back debauchery. Drop me a line if you don't know the details for Saturday.
2) Formal charges were handed down to four Minnesota Vikings for their actions on the now-famous Love Boat cruise, and they are as scandalous as everyone hoped. The Smoking Gun has the formal police reports that describe the, uh, lascivious acts that led to the charges. Because the Offering is a family publication, we won't comment further on said acts.
3) I got my ticket to the Bears-Falcons game Sunday night on ESPN. It's going to be freezing out there, but it's time to Bear Down, Chicago Bears. We need this game as much as Atlanta does, and with Minnesota facing a tough Pittsburgh team, we could put some distance between ourselves and everyone chasing us in the division.
4) Maybe fighter jets have become obsolete, but the new F-22 Raptor is so cool.
5) For the last time: Shut your mouth, Terrell Owens. You feel like the Eagles "used you to win games"? Guess what? THAT'S WHAT SPORTS TEAMS DO. GET GOOD PLAYERS AND THEN USE THEM TO WIN GAMES. And when you beg the Eagles to save you from going to Baltimore and they pay you $50 million to do so, that's not being used. I honestly wonder sometimes if people can hear themselves talk.
6) I saw King Kong last night. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. The scenery is phenomenal, the action is well-done, and Manhatten in the early-to-middle of the 20th century is depressing and eerily atmospheric. A great film. It's a long one, clocking in at 187 minutes, but Peter Jackson doesn't make 'em any shorter these days.
That's it for today. Have a great weekend. One more week to get all that shopping done.
t
Monday, December 12, 2005
Monday Exhaustion
One of the worst times of the week is Monday afternoon, when it's 4:30 and completely dark. Your day isn't over, the week has barely begun, you're still paying the price for the weekend gone by, and your modest goal of going home and laying on the couch seems unattainable. That's where I'm at right now. Great.
This past weekend was a good one, it was installment number 2 in the holiday party season. Friday involved the office Christmas party and it was a tremendous time, as expected. I made it an early evening, after spending some quality time with my summer classmates following the party and then calling it a day. Saturday I took my car in for some TLC, and that is going to end up costing me an arm and a leg. Sorry everyone, Christmas presents are going to be cancelled this year.
Saturday night was a blast, I was the first guest at Jim&Matt's holiday gig. They had good food and good conversation waiting, and I had fun as always. Following that, I tried out a new place on Halsted called Landmark which I enjoyed for its good views from our tables on the catwalk, smoke-free atmosphere despite a capacity crowd, and excellent service. We polished a few bottles of this delicious elixer at the club and left, as usual, when they turned on the lights.
Sunday was a relaxing day as the crew got together to watch the Bears get pummeled by the Steelers. It was a disappointing, although not surprising, loss. Both of our starting safeties are out with injuries right now, and they play a huge role in our defense. And let's face it- the Steelers played exactly how the Bears play, but better. They run the ball, count on their QB to throw just a few passes per game and not make any mistakes, play tough defense, and make the other team want to give up with their physicality. We got beat up pretty bad on both sides of the ball on Sunday, and the defense was uncharacteristically unsound. We missed tackles, didn't fill gaps, couldn't defend screen passes, and didn't stiffen up in the red zone, all things we don't usually do.
Also, the Steelers really needed the win. Let's just hope that it doesn't turn out that the Bears needed it too. With the way the Vikings are playing right now, it could turn out to be a huge loss for us. We have to take care of business at home next week and stay focused. I have confidence that this team will come back hungry next week and atone for this dismal performance.
Also, I checked out the Pompeii exhibit at the Field Museum, which was cool. It is quite an assortment of various relics, facts and stories from the Vesuvius eruption in AD 79, which also leveled nearby cities Herculaneum and Oplontis. Quite interesting. Also, you get to learn cool phrases like "Pyroclastic Surge". I just about had a pyroclastic surge last Friday after the office party. Yikes.
This week will involve getting caught up on work and also planning our holiday party, to take place next week at Chateau de LongMan. We're getting a few people in from out of town to attend, and it should set new lows for bad judgment. It should be a nice finale to the holiday party season here in Chicago, but the weekend after we'll be continuing the party in Iowa City.
That's it for me. I want to see a movie tonight, but King Kong isn't out yet and I don't have a burning desire to see a whole lot of other movies. Screwsan loved Brokeback Mountain, and I'll probably see it so that I can find out what all the buzz is about, but I didn't read the book. I suppose Syriana is the next best option.
And since I was talking about the death penalty a couple of days ago, I'll mention the moral dilemma going on in California right now. Tookie Williams, founder of the Crips, is going to be executed at 12:01 tomorrow morning for murders allegedly committed in 1979. Since then, he has been an outspoken leader for peace and in general, has tried to atone for his sins by educating young people who are susceptible to gang life. The victim's families in this case still want to see him executed, but what is the effect on pro-death penalty arguments if a person to be executed is legitimately a valuable, influential member of society? The death penalty certainly isn't a deterrant, and it certainly isn't a cheaper alternative to life in prison, so what do you have left? The argument that victim's families deserve retribution, and the argument that society is better off without these people. But what if society isn't better off? It seems that the argument for the death penalty is significantly eroded. Although, to be fair, I suppose that this would lead to a "slippery-slope" situation whereby we would have to decide on a case-by-case basis how valuable a person's contribution to society is before we spare them, thereby putting a sort of "philanthropic price" on a human life and allowing death row inmates to buy their lives back with service to the community. Maybe we don't want to go down that road. I was just chewing on this issue today. Chime in if you like.
That's it for today. My hangovers seem to be decreasing in intensity, but increasing in length. Hmmmm. I wonder that means.
t
This past weekend was a good one, it was installment number 2 in the holiday party season. Friday involved the office Christmas party and it was a tremendous time, as expected. I made it an early evening, after spending some quality time with my summer classmates following the party and then calling it a day. Saturday I took my car in for some TLC, and that is going to end up costing me an arm and a leg. Sorry everyone, Christmas presents are going to be cancelled this year.
Saturday night was a blast, I was the first guest at Jim&Matt's holiday gig. They had good food and good conversation waiting, and I had fun as always. Following that, I tried out a new place on Halsted called Landmark which I enjoyed for its good views from our tables on the catwalk, smoke-free atmosphere despite a capacity crowd, and excellent service. We polished a few bottles of this delicious elixer at the club and left, as usual, when they turned on the lights.
Sunday was a relaxing day as the crew got together to watch the Bears get pummeled by the Steelers. It was a disappointing, although not surprising, loss. Both of our starting safeties are out with injuries right now, and they play a huge role in our defense. And let's face it- the Steelers played exactly how the Bears play, but better. They run the ball, count on their QB to throw just a few passes per game and not make any mistakes, play tough defense, and make the other team want to give up with their physicality. We got beat up pretty bad on both sides of the ball on Sunday, and the defense was uncharacteristically unsound. We missed tackles, didn't fill gaps, couldn't defend screen passes, and didn't stiffen up in the red zone, all things we don't usually do.
Also, the Steelers really needed the win. Let's just hope that it doesn't turn out that the Bears needed it too. With the way the Vikings are playing right now, it could turn out to be a huge loss for us. We have to take care of business at home next week and stay focused. I have confidence that this team will come back hungry next week and atone for this dismal performance.
Also, I checked out the Pompeii exhibit at the Field Museum, which was cool. It is quite an assortment of various relics, facts and stories from the Vesuvius eruption in AD 79, which also leveled nearby cities Herculaneum and Oplontis. Quite interesting. Also, you get to learn cool phrases like "Pyroclastic Surge". I just about had a pyroclastic surge last Friday after the office party. Yikes.
This week will involve getting caught up on work and also planning our holiday party, to take place next week at Chateau de LongMan. We're getting a few people in from out of town to attend, and it should set new lows for bad judgment. It should be a nice finale to the holiday party season here in Chicago, but the weekend after we'll be continuing the party in Iowa City.
That's it for me. I want to see a movie tonight, but King Kong isn't out yet and I don't have a burning desire to see a whole lot of other movies. Screwsan loved Brokeback Mountain, and I'll probably see it so that I can find out what all the buzz is about, but I didn't read the book. I suppose Syriana is the next best option.
And since I was talking about the death penalty a couple of days ago, I'll mention the moral dilemma going on in California right now. Tookie Williams, founder of the Crips, is going to be executed at 12:01 tomorrow morning for murders allegedly committed in 1979. Since then, he has been an outspoken leader for peace and in general, has tried to atone for his sins by educating young people who are susceptible to gang life. The victim's families in this case still want to see him executed, but what is the effect on pro-death penalty arguments if a person to be executed is legitimately a valuable, influential member of society? The death penalty certainly isn't a deterrant, and it certainly isn't a cheaper alternative to life in prison, so what do you have left? The argument that victim's families deserve retribution, and the argument that society is better off without these people. But what if society isn't better off? It seems that the argument for the death penalty is significantly eroded. Although, to be fair, I suppose that this would lead to a "slippery-slope" situation whereby we would have to decide on a case-by-case basis how valuable a person's contribution to society is before we spare them, thereby putting a sort of "philanthropic price" on a human life and allowing death row inmates to buy their lives back with service to the community. Maybe we don't want to go down that road. I was just chewing on this issue today. Chime in if you like.
That's it for today. My hangovers seem to be decreasing in intensity, but increasing in length. Hmmmm. I wonder that means.
t
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Juan Pierre, welcome to the rave.
Here is a picture of what happened the last time D-Rock and Juan Pierre played on the same team. They (along with ex-Cub Dontrelle Willis, in the middle) celebrated a World Series title. Cub Nation happily welcomes Juan Pierre to the chaos of Wrigleyville, where his outstanding demeanor and positive clubhouse presence along with his well-known abilities as a leadoff hitter will really give the Cubs a boost next year.
K-Rock's blog noted that he has great splits for day games, and he really should benefit from playing at Wrigley (which is known for long, thick grass). I'm starting to get excited seeing the 2006 squad shape up. If we add a starter and one more outfielder and get some clarity on the middle infield situation, we just may have something to get excited about.
That's the big news for today. The second weekend of holiday party season kicks off tomorrow night with the office Christmas party, which is always a big hit, at an Italian restaurant downtown and then Saturday is a double dip as TheGirl and I hit Matt & Jim's soiree before some folks will welcome Mary back to town at Hawkette HQ...LongMan has promised to "unleash the devastator", so it should be a memorable evening. Friday and Saturday of next week are already booked as well with a classy event downtown and Gate's holiday bash, which takes us the LittleSis's birthday in Iowa City on the 23rd, and then of course the reunion on Christmas night at Vito's. It's a great lineup and I look forward to embarrassing myself and my family at each and every party.
New Year's Eve looks like it's going to be in Chicago. We have perused some options and there are a ton of good events to attend, but right now the wrecking crew is looking at this one and this one as front-runners. Do you have a good idea for or a line on a great party? Let me know. I'll be getting my monkey suit dry-cleaned, stain-guarded, and ready to rock for the big night. I will not, however, be making any New Year's resolutions. I'm happy with the status quo.
Happy holidays.
t
Monday, December 05, 2005
O Heeeeeear the Angel Voooiiiiices...
I've been working on the Christmas mix tonight (with some unsubtle suggestions from TheGirl) and it's about done. It's mostly Christmas carols with a few regular tunes thrown in there and some unorthodox renditions mixed in with a lot of classics. I discovered a bunch of new Christmas songs while doing this that I really like, so it was also a learning experience. God Bless Itunes. Anyway, here is the tentative lineup, and if you are a friend of the Offering, you may just get a Christmas CD in your stocking this year.
Carol of the Bells-Mannheim Steamroller- A classic Christmas tune, nothing says shopping in a department store like this tune.
O Holy Night- I got a generic verision of this one after listening to about 20 different ones...this is my favorite carol but none of them were just right.
All I Want for Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey- I hate Mariah Carey like poison, but this is the best rendition of this tune and it's a must-have for the mix. Sorry.
God Only Knows-The Beach Boys- This is the first non-Christmas song, but it's used in lots of holiday movies (for example, Love Actually), and it's a great tune.
Rondine al nido-Luciano Pavarotti- Pavarotti is the only repeat artist on this thing, because he'll help out on Nessun Dorma for the last track. This is probably my favorite aria of all time. Perfect words, perfect music, and nobody does it better than the man.
White Christmas-Bing Crosby- TheGirl loves Bing, and he sings this one better than anyone. This is the 1942 Holiday Inn rendition of White Christmas.
Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe-Barry White-Most definitely not a Christmas carol, but I'm on a Barry White kick right now and this song seems to fit for the holidays. Find yourself some mistletoe and a morally casual friend.
Sleigh Ride-The Ronettes- a courtesy pick for TheGirl and all the traditionalists out there, this is the best-known rendition of this tune. Not bad, but fairly standard.
The Christmas Song-Frank Sinatra-Can't go a whole Christmas collection without a song from Frank Sinatra, and I like this one. Nobody knows the name of this song, but everyone knows every word when it comes on.
If I Could-Phish- A sentimental favorite, this ballad has Alison Kraus on vocals and dates back to 1994. A favorite slow song by Phish.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)-Death Cab For Cutie- I almost put the U2 rendition of this one on the album, but 1) everyone's heard that a million times, and 2) this has been a Death Cab year for me more than any other, so they get a track on the holiday album.
O, Come All Ye Faithful-Nat King Cole- And the trifecta of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole is complete. This is an underrated carol in my opinion.
Love is all Around- Wet Wet Wet- A fun holiday tune done by some cheesy british band. It's a heartwarmer.
I Want You Back-Jackson 5-I didn't want anyone falling asleep here, so I dusted this baby off. Classic tune, upbeat yet not inappropriate for a Christmas party.
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch-The MGM Studio Orchestra- A crowd favorite and a good tune to boot. I like this song.
Ave Maria-Andrea Bocelli- I went back and forth on who I should put on the album singing this classic, and I went with Bocelli because it's a nice, well-done version. I have a good one with Domingo and Vienna Boys Choir, but it's a little too falsetto-freaky for me.
Little Drummer Boy-.38 Special-This was a controversial pick according to TheGirl, but the slow, brooding hard-rocking style of .38 Special just fits this tune. I agree that it doesn't work for some other carols, but I really like this one.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year-Andy Williams- Probably the most oft-played song on this album, from commercials to radio to movies to pretty much everyone's stereo. Can't leave it off. It encapsulates holiday cheer, which I have a lot of.
Easy-Commodores- Not a Christmas song, but Easy like Sunday morning is how I feel around the holidays...it has always been about a nice long break from school/work, sitting around fires, sleeping late, and not moving too fast. I thought it was appropriate.
Do You Hear What I Hear-Martina McBride- I have really no idea who this Martina McBride is, but it was this or the Vanessa Williams rendition, which is also pretty good. I forgot how much I like this song, and I think it sounds better with a female singer.
Nessun dorma- Luciano Pavarotti & Zubin Mehta (Conductor)-A monster aria to finish things off, with one of my favorite singers, performed live in Rome. Not a typical Christmas aria like Ave Maria, but it's famous enough that even non-opera fans usually enjoy it and I've always liked it a lot.
That's it, an even 20 songs and just over an hour. If you don't celebrate Christmas, you are still welcome to enjoy the album, we're non-denominational here at the Offering (despite our noticeable bias toward Christian songs).
I'll be burning these soon.
Only 19 more days of being good until Santa arrives. Stay strong.
t
Carol of the Bells-Mannheim Steamroller- A classic Christmas tune, nothing says shopping in a department store like this tune.
O Holy Night- I got a generic verision of this one after listening to about 20 different ones...this is my favorite carol but none of them were just right.
All I Want for Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey- I hate Mariah Carey like poison, but this is the best rendition of this tune and it's a must-have for the mix. Sorry.
God Only Knows-The Beach Boys- This is the first non-Christmas song, but it's used in lots of holiday movies (for example, Love Actually), and it's a great tune.
Rondine al nido-Luciano Pavarotti- Pavarotti is the only repeat artist on this thing, because he'll help out on Nessun Dorma for the last track. This is probably my favorite aria of all time. Perfect words, perfect music, and nobody does it better than the man.
White Christmas-Bing Crosby- TheGirl loves Bing, and he sings this one better than anyone. This is the 1942 Holiday Inn rendition of White Christmas.
Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe-Barry White-Most definitely not a Christmas carol, but I'm on a Barry White kick right now and this song seems to fit for the holidays. Find yourself some mistletoe and a morally casual friend.
Sleigh Ride-The Ronettes- a courtesy pick for TheGirl and all the traditionalists out there, this is the best-known rendition of this tune. Not bad, but fairly standard.
The Christmas Song-Frank Sinatra-Can't go a whole Christmas collection without a song from Frank Sinatra, and I like this one. Nobody knows the name of this song, but everyone knows every word when it comes on.
If I Could-Phish- A sentimental favorite, this ballad has Alison Kraus on vocals and dates back to 1994. A favorite slow song by Phish.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)-Death Cab For Cutie- I almost put the U2 rendition of this one on the album, but 1) everyone's heard that a million times, and 2) this has been a Death Cab year for me more than any other, so they get a track on the holiday album.
O, Come All Ye Faithful-Nat King Cole- And the trifecta of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole is complete. This is an underrated carol in my opinion.
Love is all Around- Wet Wet Wet- A fun holiday tune done by some cheesy british band. It's a heartwarmer.
I Want You Back-Jackson 5-I didn't want anyone falling asleep here, so I dusted this baby off. Classic tune, upbeat yet not inappropriate for a Christmas party.
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch-The MGM Studio Orchestra- A crowd favorite and a good tune to boot. I like this song.
Ave Maria-Andrea Bocelli- I went back and forth on who I should put on the album singing this classic, and I went with Bocelli because it's a nice, well-done version. I have a good one with Domingo and Vienna Boys Choir, but it's a little too falsetto-freaky for me.
Little Drummer Boy-.38 Special-This was a controversial pick according to TheGirl, but the slow, brooding hard-rocking style of .38 Special just fits this tune. I agree that it doesn't work for some other carols, but I really like this one.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year-Andy Williams- Probably the most oft-played song on this album, from commercials to radio to movies to pretty much everyone's stereo. Can't leave it off. It encapsulates holiday cheer, which I have a lot of.
Easy-Commodores- Not a Christmas song, but Easy like Sunday morning is how I feel around the holidays...it has always been about a nice long break from school/work, sitting around fires, sleeping late, and not moving too fast. I thought it was appropriate.
Do You Hear What I Hear-Martina McBride- I have really no idea who this Martina McBride is, but it was this or the Vanessa Williams rendition, which is also pretty good. I forgot how much I like this song, and I think it sounds better with a female singer.
Nessun dorma- Luciano Pavarotti & Zubin Mehta (Conductor)-A monster aria to finish things off, with one of my favorite singers, performed live in Rome. Not a typical Christmas aria like Ave Maria, but it's famous enough that even non-opera fans usually enjoy it and I've always liked it a lot.
That's it, an even 20 songs and just over an hour. If you don't celebrate Christmas, you are still welcome to enjoy the album, we're non-denominational here at the Offering (despite our noticeable bias toward Christian songs).
I'll be burning these soon.
Only 19 more days of being good until Santa arrives. Stay strong.
t
Let the Holidays Begin
Hello everyone, and a happy Monday to you all. A quick weekend recap:
Friday night was lots of fun, TheGirl and I tried out the Capital Grille for dinner and liked it, so I guess our rehearsal dinner is going to be held at the Las Vegas location. Good stuff. The steak is good, the decor classic, the service excellent, and the wine list extensive. Sounds like a winner. We then headed to the outdoor Christkindlmarket, an outdoor German holiday festival at the Daley Center. I joined Tito, Gate, Sarah and our new Dutch friends Miriam and Arnica, who will be helping us out with upcoming bachelor party festivities in the Spring in their hometown of Amsterdam. I had my first ever glass of Gluhwein, a hot spiced red wine beverage. Mmmm.
We retired to Gate's place for drinks afterward, where once again we did damage to his carpet/furniture/nice new condo. I bet they're tired of guests.
Saturday saw the two best teams in the land destroyed their last opponents of the year and punched their tickets to Pasadena. I am looking forward to matchup, the star power and the head-and-shoulders-above-every-other-team factor that should make this one a classic.
Saturday night was a perfect storm for troublemaking. Tito, KRock, LongMan, and I had a few beers during the football games and then headed out to Big Bar for drinks preceding a holiday charity party at the Hard Drive. It was good times and more importantly, 48 oz. beers followed by an open bar. Props to A-Ha for hosting us at the event, which was a rollicking success. We then headed to Elm St. to hit a club that had a very long line, so we went next door to a much smaller club whose name I never caught. Bottles of Grey Goose and silver trays crowded with Red Bull and shots of Jagermeister followed, and nobody was really seeing straight when the lights came on at 4:00 AM. Joined by a number of rowdy Hawkettes, we drank well into the early morning hours. The revelry was punctuated by one of our more enthusiastic partygoers who may have taken the concept of the awesomedose a little too far, thus banishing me to my couch for the evening. But nothing could have put a damper on what was expected to be, and was, a great kick-off to the holiday party season. Next up: Office holiday party and aftermath, this Friday. It's sure to be a big winner.
Now on to important things: THE HAWKS ARE GOING TO TAMPA! Against all odds, the Hawks pulled into a four-way tie for third in the Big Ten and got selected over Michigan for the Outback Bowl on January 2, 2006 in Tampa, which will be a rematch of the 2004 Outback Bowl against the University of Florida. I was at the 2004 Outback Bowl, and we really gave Florida a taste. I doubt they will be sleeping on us again, so I hope we're ready to play.
This is just a great, great thing for our program. It allows us to play a team ranked higher than we are (as opposed to going to the Alamo Bowl, which would have us pitted against unranked Nebraska), it is a great rematch and back story, it helps our recruiting down south, it allows us national recognition, it has a much bigger cash payout, we're on prime time national TV, and we become one of only a couple teams in the nation to play in January bowl games four years in a row. As all Iowa fans, I am ecstatic that we pulled off a miracle Outback Bowl berth. We had what most people (me included) consider to be a bad year, but a huge win on January 2 could really change how people remember this year and allow us to move forward as a program. I'm very pleased.
And the Bears finally beat Brett Favre at home too, extending the win streak to 8 and setting up a huge road match against the stumbling Steelers next week. Game ball goes to the defensive backs, not just for their speed and big-play abilities, but for the physicality that they are playing with every Sunday. They love contact, they aren't afraid to make hits, and a physically imposing set of defensive backs is a thing of beauty to watch. If you get a chance, check out the hits that Mike Brown and Charles Tillman put on Brett Favre in this game, both of which caused fumbles. They were both just bone-jarring. Add to that the fact that Peanut and Vasher made game-changing interceptions and you have to say that this unit is playing as well as any set of DBs in the league.
The US got failing grades in terrorism preparations, but at least we're now allowed to bring more stuff on planes (via LongMan).
...and finally, it's time Tuesday for one of my favorite TV events of the year, the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Not only will all the usual suspects be there, but we'll also be saying goodbye to a legend. Thank you, Tyra Banks.
More soon.
T
Friday night was lots of fun, TheGirl and I tried out the Capital Grille for dinner and liked it, so I guess our rehearsal dinner is going to be held at the Las Vegas location. Good stuff. The steak is good, the decor classic, the service excellent, and the wine list extensive. Sounds like a winner. We then headed to the outdoor Christkindlmarket, an outdoor German holiday festival at the Daley Center. I joined Tito, Gate, Sarah and our new Dutch friends Miriam and Arnica, who will be helping us out with upcoming bachelor party festivities in the Spring in their hometown of Amsterdam. I had my first ever glass of Gluhwein, a hot spiced red wine beverage. Mmmm.
We retired to Gate's place for drinks afterward, where once again we did damage to his carpet/furniture/nice new condo. I bet they're tired of guests.
Saturday saw the two best teams in the land destroyed their last opponents of the year and punched their tickets to Pasadena. I am looking forward to matchup, the star power and the head-and-shoulders-above-every-other-team factor that should make this one a classic.
Saturday night was a perfect storm for troublemaking. Tito, KRock, LongMan, and I had a few beers during the football games and then headed out to Big Bar for drinks preceding a holiday charity party at the Hard Drive. It was good times and more importantly, 48 oz. beers followed by an open bar. Props to A-Ha for hosting us at the event, which was a rollicking success. We then headed to Elm St. to hit a club that had a very long line, so we went next door to a much smaller club whose name I never caught. Bottles of Grey Goose and silver trays crowded with Red Bull and shots of Jagermeister followed, and nobody was really seeing straight when the lights came on at 4:00 AM. Joined by a number of rowdy Hawkettes, we drank well into the early morning hours. The revelry was punctuated by one of our more enthusiastic partygoers who may have taken the concept of the awesomedose a little too far, thus banishing me to my couch for the evening. But nothing could have put a damper on what was expected to be, and was, a great kick-off to the holiday party season. Next up: Office holiday party and aftermath, this Friday. It's sure to be a big winner.
Now on to important things: THE HAWKS ARE GOING TO TAMPA! Against all odds, the Hawks pulled into a four-way tie for third in the Big Ten and got selected over Michigan for the Outback Bowl on January 2, 2006 in Tampa, which will be a rematch of the 2004 Outback Bowl against the University of Florida. I was at the 2004 Outback Bowl, and we really gave Florida a taste. I doubt they will be sleeping on us again, so I hope we're ready to play.
This is just a great, great thing for our program. It allows us to play a team ranked higher than we are (as opposed to going to the Alamo Bowl, which would have us pitted against unranked Nebraska), it is a great rematch and back story, it helps our recruiting down south, it allows us national recognition, it has a much bigger cash payout, we're on prime time national TV, and we become one of only a couple teams in the nation to play in January bowl games four years in a row. As all Iowa fans, I am ecstatic that we pulled off a miracle Outback Bowl berth. We had what most people (me included) consider to be a bad year, but a huge win on January 2 could really change how people remember this year and allow us to move forward as a program. I'm very pleased.
And the Bears finally beat Brett Favre at home too, extending the win streak to 8 and setting up a huge road match against the stumbling Steelers next week. Game ball goes to the defensive backs, not just for their speed and big-play abilities, but for the physicality that they are playing with every Sunday. They love contact, they aren't afraid to make hits, and a physically imposing set of defensive backs is a thing of beauty to watch. If you get a chance, check out the hits that Mike Brown and Charles Tillman put on Brett Favre in this game, both of which caused fumbles. They were both just bone-jarring. Add to that the fact that Peanut and Vasher made game-changing interceptions and you have to say that this unit is playing as well as any set of DBs in the league.
The US got failing grades in terrorism preparations, but at least we're now allowed to bring more stuff on planes (via LongMan).
...and finally, it's time Tuesday for one of my favorite TV events of the year, the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Not only will all the usual suspects be there, but we'll also be saying goodbye to a legend. Thank you, Tyra Banks.
More soon.
T
Thursday, December 01, 2005
God Bless America
Hello out there. It took me a while to recover from the weekend, and I'm just now getting caught up with work and non-work stuff, so sorry for the layoff. All of you thousands of people that just sit at home all day and all night reloading this web page to eagerly devour my entries, my apologies. You may now exhale.
Anyway, wow, what a Thanksgiving break. Wednesday through Friday morning was spent playing golf, touring the gorgeous red cliffs and other scenery in southern Utah, and eating bird. Good times. The InLaws have quite a place up there. Also, we test-drove the locale for the Big Event and it is really something. Just beautiful. Set between the red cliffs and white mountains in fields of lava, it is picturesque, flawlessly manicured, and quite impressive. The golf course winds its way through the lava fields and the clubhouse affords fabulous views. It's going to be a good party next September.
Friday after lunch me and LittleBro headed for Sin City. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, which proved to be an excellent choice. Lots of people, lots to do, and the gaming wasn't too crowded. Friday night we ate steak at the south end of the Strip, and then headed northward, stopping at the New York, Boardwalk, Paris, Bellagio, Caeser's, Venetian, Treasure Island, Mirage, and finally the Wynn. Both LittleBro and I sustained heavy losses but ingested copious amounts of White Russians and Vodka Tonics, so it wasn't all doom and gloom. We made it back to the hotel by sunrise, and caught a couple of hours of sleep. Saturday was spent taking care of some car-related business (LittleBro was rear-ended on his way from L.A. on Wednesday) and then hitting the blackjack tables to gain some of that ground back from Friday night's buzzsaw of cold cards. I ate a light dinner at this inappropriately-named restaurant while taking in the Stanford-Notre Dame game, and then we headed out once again to try our luck. We hit many of the same places Saturday, with post-dinner cocktails at Caesar's and then a gambling binge that landed us at the San Remo (soon to be the Hooter's Hotel and Casino) at 5:30 AM. I wrapped it up shortly after that because I had a wake-up call for 7:30 and headed to the airport at 8:00.
Awesome things about the Hard Rock: 24 hour lingerie room service, satin comforters on all the beds, good gaming, widescreen HDTVs, great music, great people watching, and I ran into Depeche Mode.
Not awesome things about the Hard Rock: Inordinately expensive liquor, not enough casual bars, easy to get to the strip but not as easy to get home.
Overall, I give it an A. Rock on, Hard Rock. I'll be back for seconds as soon as possible.
There is no better way to celebrate the quintessential American holiday than in the city that the Pilgrims hoped and dreamed for when they landed here those many thousands of years ago: Las Vegas. Las Vegas should be our national capital, and Hugh Hefner should be on the one dollar bill. Those two things are the encapsulation of the American Dream. Okay, enough about that.
Happy Holidays! I love this time of year, and the holiday festivities start off with a bang this weekend, as we welcome Tito Puente and his dutch mistresses to town for a visit. We'll enjoy the last of the college football season Saturday with conference championships stacked up and then a holiday charity event at a downtown club courtesy of brand new uncle and snappy dresser A-Ha. Forecast for the weekend: Steady showers of Jager and Red Bull with 65% chance of scattered blackouts.
Bachelor Party Update: For those that are or want to be included, it looks like the bachelor party hosted by myself and Gate, in our own honor, will indeed be in late March in the great city of Amsterdam, Netherlands. We have a couple of details yet to work out, but start planning for it. We hope to set a number of records, none of which are fit to be discussed on a family website like the Offering. If you want info, you should get in touch with me or Gate. If you don't know how, you're not invited.
Cubs Update: I won't rehash the whole situation right now, but the hot stove is heating up and KRock did a nice job of getting the relevant transactions in summary form, so go ahead and read it to get up-to-date. My feeling is that I wouldn't mind Cedeno for Wilkerson, but only assuming we get Furcal. The Walker for Bradley trade would be a nice second option if we don't get Damon or Pierre, but only if those two don't happen. It's a coin flip whether Milton Bradley is going to murder another human on any given day. He's unbalanced, and we have a weird enough clubhouse as it is.
Hawks Update: I just don't know what to think about this team. We still haven't played our best basketball yet, although we looked good against Kentucky, pretty decent but quit at the end against Texas, and then just flat-out terrible against N.C. State. But we got two wins in three games against ranked teams, including N.C. State, where we shot 29% and turned it over 19 times. When the Big Ten season rolls around, that isn't going to cut it. We'll have to see...we need more contributions from our bench, better and more consistent inside play, and our guards have to wait until people are looking before they pass the ball. That, and Pierre Pierce back. Just kidding.
Iowa fans, remember to vote in the Outback Bowl Fan Poll for the Hawks! Let's give them a reason to bring us back to that game. I went to the game last time they were there, and it was a blast. And we only blew up one RV on the way, so it was an easy trip.
Random Tidbits:
What is on your Christmas list this year? I've got to get my shopping started, and I have no idea what I'm getting for people this year. I love Nike IDs, but it takes a while to design, order and have them shipped.
What am I getting? I don't know, but I've been good this year and do not expect any coal.
I caught Sarah Silverman's movie last week, and I really liked it. Very funny, good staging on the songs, and although the shock comedy thing is getting kind of played, it's still worthwhile.
How does a snarky tool like Jimmy Kimmel get a hilarious cutie like her?
Bush is selling a plan for victory in Iraq, but America isn't buying. I foresee more PR problems for the Prez in the coming weeks; this is the time of year when pictures of our troops abroad hit hardest at home. Those guys and gals want to be here for the holidays, and I don't blame them.
Finally, Hooray! We're all set to execute our one thousandth death row inmate in this country, so congratulations to all who worked so hard so that our civilized government is able to kill its own citizens. The Offering isn't per se for or against the death penalty, but I was fortunate to be working at the ACLU several years ago when the famous Liebman Study came out of the University of Columbia, so I got my free copy along with Prof. Liebman's phone number...it definitely made me re-think my views on the subject. It's interesting reading to say the least.
That's all for now. Hope you're ready for the holidays. More soon.
T
Anyway, wow, what a Thanksgiving break. Wednesday through Friday morning was spent playing golf, touring the gorgeous red cliffs and other scenery in southern Utah, and eating bird. Good times. The InLaws have quite a place up there. Also, we test-drove the locale for the Big Event and it is really something. Just beautiful. Set between the red cliffs and white mountains in fields of lava, it is picturesque, flawlessly manicured, and quite impressive. The golf course winds its way through the lava fields and the clubhouse affords fabulous views. It's going to be a good party next September.
Friday after lunch me and LittleBro headed for Sin City. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, which proved to be an excellent choice. Lots of people, lots to do, and the gaming wasn't too crowded. Friday night we ate steak at the south end of the Strip, and then headed northward, stopping at the New York, Boardwalk, Paris, Bellagio, Caeser's, Venetian, Treasure Island, Mirage, and finally the Wynn. Both LittleBro and I sustained heavy losses but ingested copious amounts of White Russians and Vodka Tonics, so it wasn't all doom and gloom. We made it back to the hotel by sunrise, and caught a couple of hours of sleep. Saturday was spent taking care of some car-related business (LittleBro was rear-ended on his way from L.A. on Wednesday) and then hitting the blackjack tables to gain some of that ground back from Friday night's buzzsaw of cold cards. I ate a light dinner at this inappropriately-named restaurant while taking in the Stanford-Notre Dame game, and then we headed out once again to try our luck. We hit many of the same places Saturday, with post-dinner cocktails at Caesar's and then a gambling binge that landed us at the San Remo (soon to be the Hooter's Hotel and Casino) at 5:30 AM. I wrapped it up shortly after that because I had a wake-up call for 7:30 and headed to the airport at 8:00.
Awesome things about the Hard Rock: 24 hour lingerie room service, satin comforters on all the beds, good gaming, widescreen HDTVs, great music, great people watching, and I ran into Depeche Mode.
Not awesome things about the Hard Rock: Inordinately expensive liquor, not enough casual bars, easy to get to the strip but not as easy to get home.
Overall, I give it an A. Rock on, Hard Rock. I'll be back for seconds as soon as possible.
There is no better way to celebrate the quintessential American holiday than in the city that the Pilgrims hoped and dreamed for when they landed here those many thousands of years ago: Las Vegas. Las Vegas should be our national capital, and Hugh Hefner should be on the one dollar bill. Those two things are the encapsulation of the American Dream. Okay, enough about that.
Happy Holidays! I love this time of year, and the holiday festivities start off with a bang this weekend, as we welcome Tito Puente and his dutch mistresses to town for a visit. We'll enjoy the last of the college football season Saturday with conference championships stacked up and then a holiday charity event at a downtown club courtesy of brand new uncle and snappy dresser A-Ha. Forecast for the weekend: Steady showers of Jager and Red Bull with 65% chance of scattered blackouts.
Bachelor Party Update: For those that are or want to be included, it looks like the bachelor party hosted by myself and Gate, in our own honor, will indeed be in late March in the great city of Amsterdam, Netherlands. We have a couple of details yet to work out, but start planning for it. We hope to set a number of records, none of which are fit to be discussed on a family website like the Offering. If you want info, you should get in touch with me or Gate. If you don't know how, you're not invited.
Cubs Update: I won't rehash the whole situation right now, but the hot stove is heating up and KRock did a nice job of getting the relevant transactions in summary form, so go ahead and read it to get up-to-date. My feeling is that I wouldn't mind Cedeno for Wilkerson, but only assuming we get Furcal. The Walker for Bradley trade would be a nice second option if we don't get Damon or Pierre, but only if those two don't happen. It's a coin flip whether Milton Bradley is going to murder another human on any given day. He's unbalanced, and we have a weird enough clubhouse as it is.
Hawks Update: I just don't know what to think about this team. We still haven't played our best basketball yet, although we looked good against Kentucky, pretty decent but quit at the end against Texas, and then just flat-out terrible against N.C. State. But we got two wins in three games against ranked teams, including N.C. State, where we shot 29% and turned it over 19 times. When the Big Ten season rolls around, that isn't going to cut it. We'll have to see...we need more contributions from our bench, better and more consistent inside play, and our guards have to wait until people are looking before they pass the ball. That, and Pierre Pierce back. Just kidding.
Iowa fans, remember to vote in the Outback Bowl Fan Poll for the Hawks! Let's give them a reason to bring us back to that game. I went to the game last time they were there, and it was a blast. And we only blew up one RV on the way, so it was an easy trip.
Random Tidbits:
What is on your Christmas list this year? I've got to get my shopping started, and I have no idea what I'm getting for people this year. I love Nike IDs, but it takes a while to design, order and have them shipped.
What am I getting? I don't know, but I've been good this year and do not expect any coal.
I caught Sarah Silverman's movie last week, and I really liked it. Very funny, good staging on the songs, and although the shock comedy thing is getting kind of played, it's still worthwhile.
How does a snarky tool like Jimmy Kimmel get a hilarious cutie like her?
Bush is selling a plan for victory in Iraq, but America isn't buying. I foresee more PR problems for the Prez in the coming weeks; this is the time of year when pictures of our troops abroad hit hardest at home. Those guys and gals want to be here for the holidays, and I don't blame them.
Finally, Hooray! We're all set to execute our one thousandth death row inmate in this country, so congratulations to all who worked so hard so that our civilized government is able to kill its own citizens. The Offering isn't per se for or against the death penalty, but I was fortunate to be working at the ACLU several years ago when the famous Liebman Study came out of the University of Columbia, so I got my free copy along with Prof. Liebman's phone number...it definitely made me re-think my views on the subject. It's interesting reading to say the least.
That's all for now. Hope you're ready for the holidays. More soon.
T
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