Before trotting off to bed . . . . .
The other day I wrote about Kevin Garnett (ex-Timberwolves, now Celtics). I was wrong about him showing up the Minnesota fans who supported him for years and years. That game was in Boston. They come to Minneapolis next Friday. . . . . .
Anybody else around here sick of cold weather? I used to be a winter fan, but no longer. . . . . .
Somebody should have walked up there and slapped that sleasy Republican smirk off Sen. McCain's face during the debate tonight. . . . . .
It was a big day in politics. And now we're down to the "final four"---Obama and Clinton on the Democratic side and McCain and Romney on the Republican side. Oh yes, I know Huckabee and Paul were there at the debate, too, but Huckabee is hanging on long enough to help McCain by siphoning off votes that otherwise would go to Romney. Then watch Huckabee corral the V.P. nomination or a cabinet seat. . . . . .
So what's the deal? Tom Brady's foot wasn't even listed on the official NFL injury report today. So the Patriots were pulling our leg all this time, ever since Brady was seen wearing a foot brace on the sidewalks of New York nine days ago. I guess they're not too uptight about this big game, would you say? I hope they win 45-6. . . . . .
Good night, Chet. Good night, David. And good night for NBC News. (You have to be pretty old like me to recognize what this paragraph is all about.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Wednesday wrap
After 90 minutes with the KFAN sports talk show from Minneapolis, the day after the Twins traded Johan Santana, I'm trying not to be totally depressed. We have to face it---the Twins organization can't compete financially with New York, Boston and California, so it's no surprise Santana looked for more money elsewhere and got it. Whether the Twins got anything of value in return for him will remain---for some time---to be seen. However, Santana had the Twins in a stranglehold---trade me now or I'll pitch this year but walk at the end of the year and you'll get nothing for me. Not much choice. But at least our Twins still have Morneau, Mauer and Cuddyer for several years to come. Classy guys, fun to watch, worthy to be cheered for! We're only three weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, and there will be baseball preseason games on the Internet in only a month! So this weather can be set aside. I talked to daughter Holly in Rochester, Minn., yesterday afternoon while they were in the midst of a blizzard. Their kindergartener and the rest of her school kids in Rochester were sent home an hour early so the school district could get its buses on the roads early. We have just cold ight now although a few light flakes of snow have fluttered down, just enough to make it necessary to get out the broom and sweep the sidewalks yet again. . . . . .
It was an interesting night of watching the politics on MSNBC last night, but before I forget, something I was going to say about State of the Union night on Monday. The best speech of the night was definitely not made by "W"---has he ever made a great speech?---but by Gov. Sibelius of Kansas, who gave the Democratic response. Keep an eye on that woman! How about as a vice presidential candidate with Sen. Obama? . . . . .
One night's election results and we take care of a couple more would-be candidates. Guiliani is going to bow out and endorse McCain today on the Republican side, and Edwards is going to step aside from the Democratic nomination race. . . . . . One commentator last night observed that Huckabee has been "running" for vice president for the past couple of months. We'll see on the debate tonight if he cuddles up to McCain. Having Huckabee as a vice presidential candidate on McCain's ticket is scary---McCain being as old as he is (71 now, 72 by the time he would take office next year!) means Huckabee moving up to the presidency would not be out of the question. A Baptist preacher in the Oval Office? Good grief! This guy would spend his first year concentrating on abortion, gay marriage and filling the Supreme Court with right-wing conservatives. . . . . . Best line I heard from any of the candidates in their speeches last night came from Mitt Romney: "America needs a president who has actually held a job out in the real economy." . . . . .
It was an interesting night of watching the politics on MSNBC last night, but before I forget, something I was going to say about State of the Union night on Monday. The best speech of the night was definitely not made by "W"---has he ever made a great speech?---but by Gov. Sibelius of Kansas, who gave the Democratic response. Keep an eye on that woman! How about as a vice presidential candidate with Sen. Obama? . . . . .
One night's election results and we take care of a couple more would-be candidates. Guiliani is going to bow out and endorse McCain today on the Republican side, and Edwards is going to step aside from the Democratic nomination race. . . . . . One commentator last night observed that Huckabee has been "running" for vice president for the past couple of months. We'll see on the debate tonight if he cuddles up to McCain. Having Huckabee as a vice presidential candidate on McCain's ticket is scary---McCain being as old as he is (71 now, 72 by the time he would take office next year!) means Huckabee moving up to the presidency would not be out of the question. A Baptist preacher in the Oval Office? Good grief! This guy would spend his first year concentrating on abortion, gay marriage and filling the Supreme Court with right-wing conservatives. . . . . . Best line I heard from any of the candidates in their speeches last night came from Mitt Romney: "America needs a president who has actually held a job out in the real economy." . . . . .
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thoughts on a cold winter's day
Late last night when I let Oliver out for his last trip outside, the wind had begun to blow as predicted. We heard it howling through the night. This morning yesterday's balmy day with temps in the 30s and melted snow running down the street had given way to renewed winter. The wind, which had broken off a limb in the neighbor's tree, was gusting up to 50 MPH, and the snow was swirling horizontally. It was cold! Oliver took a couple of whiffs of the air this morning and ran right back to the back door of the house. Enough of this, he apparently thought!
But now, nearing 1 p.m., the sun is out, the snow has long gone to Iowa, it is still breezy, and it is still cold. Even here in the house with the furnace going, there is a chill that is hard to overcome. . . . . .
I spent an hour this morning watching NFL.com where they were showing live the Media Day press conferences at the Super Bowl site in Arizona. I watched Tom Brady's, of course. He is a genuinely nice guy, smooth, polished, talented and all, but genuinely nice. Go, Patriots! . . . . .
Pathetic were the Republicans on one side of the aisle in the House chamber last night as President Bush delivered his last (thankfully!) State of the Union address. Up and down, up and down; the Republicans were like jumping jacks, standing to applaud seemingly at the end of every paragraph of the speech.
Just as pathetic is all the talk this morning about a single picture snapped by a photographer in the balcony. A split-second photograph! Some people are trying to make it appear that Sen. Obama is "snubbing" Sen. Clinton as she reached over a row of chairs to greet and shake hands with Sen. Kennedy. Perhaps, seeing her approaching Kennedy, Obama (considering that Kennedy had endorsed him so dramatically earlier in the day) intentionally looked away to greet somebody else so that Sen. Clinton and Sen. Kennedy could greet each other without any awkwardness because of his (Obama's) presence? There must be something better to spend hours discussing on the politics shows this morning. . . . . .
During the years Kevin Garnett was with the Timberwolves in Minnesota, I always admired his determination, 100% effort, etc. So the Wolves let him go so he could have his chance at a championship. But the other night when the Celtics played the Wolves in Minneapolis for the first time since the big trade last summer, Garnett, after making the steal that saved the game for Boston, went bonkers at midcourt, holding the word "Celtics" on his shirt out from his chest and hooting and hollering. Maybe just a moment he would like to have back? Or maybe he's not quite as classy as I thought. Anyway, now I have my own reason to cheer against yet another Boston team. Except for the Patriots, of course, but they're way out in the country, so we don't call them "Boston," but rather New England. I can't think of anything that would make me switch allegiance and cheer against them! . . . . .
Time for some lunch. Talk to you soon!
But now, nearing 1 p.m., the sun is out, the snow has long gone to Iowa, it is still breezy, and it is still cold. Even here in the house with the furnace going, there is a chill that is hard to overcome. . . . . .
I spent an hour this morning watching NFL.com where they were showing live the Media Day press conferences at the Super Bowl site in Arizona. I watched Tom Brady's, of course. He is a genuinely nice guy, smooth, polished, talented and all, but genuinely nice. Go, Patriots! . . . . .
Pathetic were the Republicans on one side of the aisle in the House chamber last night as President Bush delivered his last (thankfully!) State of the Union address. Up and down, up and down; the Republicans were like jumping jacks, standing to applaud seemingly at the end of every paragraph of the speech.
Just as pathetic is all the talk this morning about a single picture snapped by a photographer in the balcony. A split-second photograph! Some people are trying to make it appear that Sen. Obama is "snubbing" Sen. Clinton as she reached over a row of chairs to greet and shake hands with Sen. Kennedy. Perhaps, seeing her approaching Kennedy, Obama (considering that Kennedy had endorsed him so dramatically earlier in the day) intentionally looked away to greet somebody else so that Sen. Clinton and Sen. Kennedy could greet each other without any awkwardness because of his (Obama's) presence? There must be something better to spend hours discussing on the politics shows this morning. . . . . .
During the years Kevin Garnett was with the Timberwolves in Minnesota, I always admired his determination, 100% effort, etc. So the Wolves let him go so he could have his chance at a championship. But the other night when the Celtics played the Wolves in Minneapolis for the first time since the big trade last summer, Garnett, after making the steal that saved the game for Boston, went bonkers at midcourt, holding the word "Celtics" on his shirt out from his chest and hooting and hollering. Maybe just a moment he would like to have back? Or maybe he's not quite as classy as I thought. Anyway, now I have my own reason to cheer against yet another Boston team. Except for the Patriots, of course, but they're way out in the country, so we don't call them "Boston," but rather New England. I can't think of anything that would make me switch allegiance and cheer against them! . . . . .
Time for some lunch. Talk to you soon!
Monday, January 21, 2008
A saint with a snowblower
It's 2:20 p.m., and it's been snowing steadily---lightly, but nevertheless steadily---for 24 hours. We have long sidewalks along the side of the house on Pine Street and in front of the house on Main as well as a driveway. We've had what appears to be at least 7 inches of snow so far, but there has been no wind, so it has been snow coming down instead of being blown into drifts.
It could be a ton of shoveling, but there is a saint who lives on the other side of Pine, three houses down. He has a snowblower, and he shares! Oh, how he shares!
Every morning of a snowfall, he is out with his machine, cleaning the sidewalk all the way from his house up to Main, then on our side of the street as well. Then he plows a swath on our sidewalk in front all the way to the alley. Today he even cleaned out our driveway!
We already owe him, and we certainly will take over a gift certificate of some sort when the snow season is over. Knowing South Dakota, our big storms are still ahead in March and April, so perhaps the gift certificate is in order now, just so he remembers where we are when we have 20 inches of the white stuff instead of seven!
It could be a ton of shoveling, but there is a saint who lives on the other side of Pine, three houses down. He has a snowblower, and he shares! Oh, how he shares!
Every morning of a snowfall, he is out with his machine, cleaning the sidewalk all the way from his house up to Main, then on our side of the street as well. Then he plows a swath on our sidewalk in front all the way to the alley. Today he even cleaned out our driveway!
We already owe him, and we certainly will take over a gift certificate of some sort when the snow season is over. Knowing South Dakota, our big storms are still ahead in March and April, so perhaps the gift certificate is in order now, just so he remembers where we are when we have 20 inches of the white stuff instead of seven!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sayonara, Cheeseheads!
How sweet it is!
The Giants tried their best to give it away, but on the road, on the legendary frozen tundra, they beat the Cheeseheads in Green Bay. Right after a Favrrrrrrrrrrrve interception, too, which makes it all the better.
No two full weeks of Favre fluff now, thankfully. And good for Eli.
Now, go get 'em, Patriots!
The Giants tried their best to give it away, but on the road, on the legendary frozen tundra, they beat the Cheeseheads in Green Bay. Right after a Favrrrrrrrrrrrve interception, too, which makes it all the better.
No two full weeks of Favre fluff now, thankfully. And good for Eli.
Now, go get 'em, Patriots!
A cold football Sunday
Just like the Final Four in college basketball, it's the semifinals that provide the best day of TV viewing and couch-potato eating. So today it's the NFL's two conference championship games leading to the Super Bowl. With Heather gone to her sister's in Rochester for the long weekend and grandson Dylan at his dad's for the week, it's Oliver and I, here to munch and hope the Patriots win and the Packers lose.
It's cold here, single-digit temperatures, but not as cold as it will seem at Foxboro and Green Bay, I'm sure.
12:35 p.m.: CBS has a highlight show of last weekend's games with great film and great narration going. Too bad, Colts; you lost again today! Too bad, Cowboys; so did you! I think I'll put on some bacon and make some pancakes and save "dinner" for the second game this evening.
12:44 p.m.: Is there anything that smells better that bacon while it is frying in the pan? Even Oliver knows that somebody is going to eat something good pretty soon. Unfortunately for him; it's Purina Dog Chow, not bacon.
1:03 p.m.: The pregame show is on. For all the whining all week about how banged up San Diego is, now Turner says that Gates, Rivers and Tomlinson will all play. So quit your whining, Chargers.
1:05 p.m.: A shot from Foxboro showed some sunshine there although the sun is already getting low in the western sky there. It will be dark in Green Bay by the time the second game starts. How stupid is it to play a game of this magnitude at night in January! Just for television's prime-time. Those millions the networks pay for rights let them call the shots unfortunately.
1:59 p.m.: Thankfully the one-hour pregame show on CBS is over. If James Brown, Marino, Esiason, Sharpe and Cowher were half as funny and entertaining as they seem to think they are, a half-hour show would still have been enough. Now it's time for a fresh pot of coffee, another couple cookies to sneak into the living room without Oliver seeing them, and the game itself. Go, Patriots!
2:03 p.m.: That was a cool introduction to their telecast that CBS had---a symphony orchestra performing with Patriot and Charger highlights on the screen behind them. It's still daylight in Massachusetts (3:05 p.m. there). It's clouding over here in Vermillion, too, with snow in the forecast for tonight into tomorrow.
2:28 p.m.: I'm too used to the Patriots driving down the field on their first possession. I'm a bit uncomfortable about three-and-outs on the first two possessions. Maybe it's the weather. Let's just not let San Diego hang around for too long today.
2:40 p.m.: Patriot haters in living rooms and bars everywhere are going crazy, but we're down only 0-3. Time to go dow and throw some clothes from the washer into the dryer.
2:52 p.m.: That's more like it! A great drive, and we're ahead, 7-3.
2:53 p.m.: Funny how I assume, when looking at a TV set, that the football field runs east-west. Don't they all?! But obviously this one in Foxboro runs north-south because the setting sun is shining only on the top of the stands across the way. So a north wind really zips down this field. No wonder they said the wind would have an effect if it is blowing.
2:55 p.m.: I'm hungry again. Shall we do popcorn, Oliver? Or more cookies and coffee? How about some of the instant vanilla pudding I made yesterday. Or shall we do a sandwich along with Jell-O salad this quarter?
3:17 p.m.: All right!!! First our punt receiver bats the ball down at the 3, then an interception, then the offense cashes it in. 14-6. Steady does it. On our way to 18-0 hopefully. To the Miami Dolphins of '72: just shut up and crawl back into your caves.
3:39 p.m.: I can't say 14-9 at halftime is comfortable, but if the Patriots can hold San Diego to only field goals like in the first half, we'll be O.K.
3:52 p.m.: A long TD drive straight down the field to start the second half would be just what the doctor ordered.
3:59 p.m.: Well, so much for that notion. Another interception. This is going to be a struggle to the end, it appears./
4:06 p.m.: Another escape, if you can call giving up a field goal an escape. 14-12. Time to show the offense that has carried us all season.
4:07 p.m.: Very light, light snow starting to fall. I see a snow advisory has been issued; up to four inches possible in southeastern South Dakota. Time to send Heather an e-mail so she's aware she'll have to allow some extra travel time from Rochester tomorrow.
4:13 p.m.: Nice 17-yard run by Maroney. But 17 yards is the longest play of the day so far for the Patriots? Come on.
4:14 p.m.: Shoot! I just looked for a baking dish, and we don't have one. If I'm going to fix that tuna casserole for supper, I'm going to have to go to the store to get a dish. Maybe I'll forego the idea.
4:17 p.m.: Staying on the ground. Maroney to the 20, Maroney to the 15, Maroney to the 11. Keep it going!
4:19 p.m.: Disaster. San Diego intercepts in the end zone. The only good thing is he ran it out to the 2-yard line. This is not looking good. Brady's third interception? What is going on? Patriot haters are going crazy all across the land.
4:26 p.m.: I can't sit still and watch this. Time to unload the dryer and fill it up again. Keep moving. Now it's the end of the third quarter, 14-12, and there's no margin for error. San Diego with a chance to win this game, and they haven't even scored a touchdown. Ridiculous.
4:30 p.m.: I went downstairs, and the Pats got a good drive going. Down past the 20-yard line and on the march. Finish it off! Back downstairs I go. Whatever works.
4:35 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Bob Trumpy on the radio isn't far from wrong. He says Welker is the Patriots' most valuable player of the year. 21-12. Now hold on, defense!
4:36 p.m.: I think I'd better stay in the basement until this is salted away.
4:37 p.m.: I wonder if Jason Ferguson in his apartment over the Chronicle office in Custer just threw something at his TV set. He hates the Patriots dating back to the snowstorm game in whatever-year-it-was when the Pats beat his Oakland Raiders. He's never forgiven them.
4:48 p.m.: Patriot haters just said what a lousy spot the refs gave the Chargers on that stop. First down for us!
4:49 p.m.: I'm not being cocky, but I'm taking a chance and sneaking back upstairs to watch the rest of the game in the living room where it's warmer than in the basement. Let that clock roll!
4:53 p.m.: First down! And under five minutes! Get that AFC trophy ready, boys.
4:58 p.m.: Two minutes to the Super Bowl! Bob Trumpy on CBS Radio: "Does this team know how to win a football game, or what?!" Imagine my team in the Super Bowl on my birthday. And it will be the fourth Patriots Super Bowl in seven years.
5:00 p.m.: I can't wait for Bill Cowher on the postgame show to eat his words. He picked the Chargers. Yeah, right. They gave a good fight. Somebody will say, but they had to play without Tomlinson. So what! You face whatever the opposition gives you.
5:02 p.m.: Patriots 21, San Diego 12. Pax vobiscum!
5:03 p.m.: Now I can sit down and watch the second game, hoping the Cheeseheads fall apart.
It's cold here, single-digit temperatures, but not as cold as it will seem at Foxboro and Green Bay, I'm sure.
12:35 p.m.: CBS has a highlight show of last weekend's games with great film and great narration going. Too bad, Colts; you lost again today! Too bad, Cowboys; so did you! I think I'll put on some bacon and make some pancakes and save "dinner" for the second game this evening.
12:44 p.m.: Is there anything that smells better that bacon while it is frying in the pan? Even Oliver knows that somebody is going to eat something good pretty soon. Unfortunately for him; it's Purina Dog Chow, not bacon.
1:03 p.m.: The pregame show is on. For all the whining all week about how banged up San Diego is, now Turner says that Gates, Rivers and Tomlinson will all play. So quit your whining, Chargers.
1:05 p.m.: A shot from Foxboro showed some sunshine there although the sun is already getting low in the western sky there. It will be dark in Green Bay by the time the second game starts. How stupid is it to play a game of this magnitude at night in January! Just for television's prime-time. Those millions the networks pay for rights let them call the shots unfortunately.
1:59 p.m.: Thankfully the one-hour pregame show on CBS is over. If James Brown, Marino, Esiason, Sharpe and Cowher were half as funny and entertaining as they seem to think they are, a half-hour show would still have been enough. Now it's time for a fresh pot of coffee, another couple cookies to sneak into the living room without Oliver seeing them, and the game itself. Go, Patriots!
2:03 p.m.: That was a cool introduction to their telecast that CBS had---a symphony orchestra performing with Patriot and Charger highlights on the screen behind them. It's still daylight in Massachusetts (3:05 p.m. there). It's clouding over here in Vermillion, too, with snow in the forecast for tonight into tomorrow.
2:28 p.m.: I'm too used to the Patriots driving down the field on their first possession. I'm a bit uncomfortable about three-and-outs on the first two possessions. Maybe it's the weather. Let's just not let San Diego hang around for too long today.
2:40 p.m.: Patriot haters in living rooms and bars everywhere are going crazy, but we're down only 0-3. Time to go dow and throw some clothes from the washer into the dryer.
2:52 p.m.: That's more like it! A great drive, and we're ahead, 7-3.
2:53 p.m.: Funny how I assume, when looking at a TV set, that the football field runs east-west. Don't they all?! But obviously this one in Foxboro runs north-south because the setting sun is shining only on the top of the stands across the way. So a north wind really zips down this field. No wonder they said the wind would have an effect if it is blowing.
2:55 p.m.: I'm hungry again. Shall we do popcorn, Oliver? Or more cookies and coffee? How about some of the instant vanilla pudding I made yesterday. Or shall we do a sandwich along with Jell-O salad this quarter?
3:17 p.m.: All right!!! First our punt receiver bats the ball down at the 3, then an interception, then the offense cashes it in. 14-6. Steady does it. On our way to 18-0 hopefully. To the Miami Dolphins of '72: just shut up and crawl back into your caves.
3:39 p.m.: I can't say 14-9 at halftime is comfortable, but if the Patriots can hold San Diego to only field goals like in the first half, we'll be O.K.
3:52 p.m.: A long TD drive straight down the field to start the second half would be just what the doctor ordered.
3:59 p.m.: Well, so much for that notion. Another interception. This is going to be a struggle to the end, it appears./
4:06 p.m.: Another escape, if you can call giving up a field goal an escape. 14-12. Time to show the offense that has carried us all season.
4:07 p.m.: Very light, light snow starting to fall. I see a snow advisory has been issued; up to four inches possible in southeastern South Dakota. Time to send Heather an e-mail so she's aware she'll have to allow some extra travel time from Rochester tomorrow.
4:13 p.m.: Nice 17-yard run by Maroney. But 17 yards is the longest play of the day so far for the Patriots? Come on.
4:14 p.m.: Shoot! I just looked for a baking dish, and we don't have one. If I'm going to fix that tuna casserole for supper, I'm going to have to go to the store to get a dish. Maybe I'll forego the idea.
4:17 p.m.: Staying on the ground. Maroney to the 20, Maroney to the 15, Maroney to the 11. Keep it going!
4:19 p.m.: Disaster. San Diego intercepts in the end zone. The only good thing is he ran it out to the 2-yard line. This is not looking good. Brady's third interception? What is going on? Patriot haters are going crazy all across the land.
4:26 p.m.: I can't sit still and watch this. Time to unload the dryer and fill it up again. Keep moving. Now it's the end of the third quarter, 14-12, and there's no margin for error. San Diego with a chance to win this game, and they haven't even scored a touchdown. Ridiculous.
4:30 p.m.: I went downstairs, and the Pats got a good drive going. Down past the 20-yard line and on the march. Finish it off! Back downstairs I go. Whatever works.
4:35 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Bob Trumpy on the radio isn't far from wrong. He says Welker is the Patriots' most valuable player of the year. 21-12. Now hold on, defense!
4:36 p.m.: I think I'd better stay in the basement until this is salted away.
4:37 p.m.: I wonder if Jason Ferguson in his apartment over the Chronicle office in Custer just threw something at his TV set. He hates the Patriots dating back to the snowstorm game in whatever-year-it-was when the Pats beat his Oakland Raiders. He's never forgiven them.
4:48 p.m.: Patriot haters just said what a lousy spot the refs gave the Chargers on that stop. First down for us!
4:49 p.m.: I'm not being cocky, but I'm taking a chance and sneaking back upstairs to watch the rest of the game in the living room where it's warmer than in the basement. Let that clock roll!
4:53 p.m.: First down! And under five minutes! Get that AFC trophy ready, boys.
4:58 p.m.: Two minutes to the Super Bowl! Bob Trumpy on CBS Radio: "Does this team know how to win a football game, or what?!" Imagine my team in the Super Bowl on my birthday. And it will be the fourth Patriots Super Bowl in seven years.
5:00 p.m.: I can't wait for Bill Cowher on the postgame show to eat his words. He picked the Chargers. Yeah, right. They gave a good fight. Somebody will say, but they had to play without Tomlinson. So what! You face whatever the opposition gives you.
5:02 p.m.: Patriots 21, San Diego 12. Pax vobiscum!
5:03 p.m.: Now I can sit down and watch the second game, hoping the Cheeseheads fall apart.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Warm day, thanks to basketball
With daughter and grandson both gone for the long weekend, Oliver the dog and I had little to do today---after our walk lasted only one square block, due to the bitter cold---except watch basketball on television. The skies were blue, the sun was shining brightly, but the temperature was in single digits, and it was cold. I'll run the car into the garage head-first again tonight to protect it a bit from the weather. I don't want to have to hike five blocks to church tomorrow morning.
That was quite a half-hour along about 4:15 this afternoon. First our hometown USD Lady Coyotes kayoed the nation's #1 team, undefeated North Dakota, on one channel. Then on another channel, #1 undefeated North Carolina crashed AT HOME after barely escaping a pair of lucky wins in the past week or so. Then a few minutes later on yet another station, another team I love to see lose, #4 UCLA, lost AT HOME to USC. To make the day complete, a couple hours later, our USD men stormed North Dakota on the road, and my all-time favorite college team, Duke, rolled Clemson.
Now tonight Oliver is at my feet, and I'm going to curl up in the living room lounge chair, keep an ear cocked to Florida-Kentucky on television, and read Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and another Nicholas Sparks book.
Thanks for checking in, whoever and wherever you are!
That was quite a half-hour along about 4:15 this afternoon. First our hometown USD Lady Coyotes kayoed the nation's #1 team, undefeated North Dakota, on one channel. Then on another channel, #1 undefeated North Carolina crashed AT HOME after barely escaping a pair of lucky wins in the past week or so. Then a few minutes later on yet another station, another team I love to see lose, #4 UCLA, lost AT HOME to USC. To make the day complete, a couple hours later, our USD men stormed North Dakota on the road, and my all-time favorite college team, Duke, rolled Clemson.
Now tonight Oliver is at my feet, and I'm going to curl up in the living room lounge chair, keep an ear cocked to Florida-Kentucky on television, and read Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and another Nicholas Sparks book.
Thanks for checking in, whoever and wherever you are!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Politics is TV's best right now
I skipped a high school basketball game the other night to stay home and watch television.
No, not "American Idol," I assure you. I have wasted time watching trash on TV before---"Big Brother 8" all of last summer, for example---but the strange people they acquire to appear on "American Idol," who apparently think they can sing, are more than I can stand. Talk about raw talent! (How do I know they're so awful? I listen to a sports talk radio show daily, and the host delights in playing tapes of the worst of "American Idol" from the night before.)
No, what kept me home from the Tanagers' game was politics. It's a topic I don't understand (example: I can't grasp why Fred Thompson from "Law and Order" thinks he should run for President). It's a topic I know little about (example: I cast my first-ever vote in a presidential election unbelievably for Richard Nixon instead of John F. Kennedy in 1960). Yet it's a topic that is totally fascinating right now.
I remember most of the presidential campaigns way back to Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson in the 1950s, but I can't recall any year with the delicious possibilities this year contains. There is no incumbent president in the running. Thankfully there is no incumbent vice president in the running either (Cheney wouldn't dare!). But there is a slew of viable, interesting, intriguing candidates, like 'em or not.
I paid little attention to the presidential campaigning in 2007, figuring it was still more than a year away from Election Day. But now that 2008 is here and the conventions and the election are in sight, MSNBC has replaced ESPN as my day-long television channel of choice. No, not right-wing, conservative Fox News Channel. No, not CNN because I can't stand Wolf Blitzer. MSNBC is my channel, partly because so many of you believe what Bill O'Reilly says about NBC News and partly because Keith Oldermann is terribly funny and Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews of "Hardball," Tucker Carlson, Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw are commentators I enjoy. I don't agree with everything they say, to be sure, but I trust them, which is more than I could ever say about Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, for heaven's sake.
But back to the races! What's delicious is that there is no final candidate decided after the first few primaries. It's still anybody's ballgame in both parties. Huckabee wins one week, McCain wins the next, Romney wins the next, and we haven't even been to Florida yet where Mayor 9/11 Giuliani says he's going to win. Same with the Democrats---Obama wins one week, Clinton surprises the next, and Edwards hangs around.
What I hope happens is that the same pattern continues through the next couple of months. Wouldn't it be a kick if we went to the nominating conventions with something still in doubt? Talk about awesome television! Imagine sitting there watching the delegate totals mount for each candidate and not knowing who was going to win! That's the presidency of the United States at stake, not a football game or a tennis match.
I suspect that one candidate will emerge in each party, probably within the next month, and the fun will be gone. But the fact that the conventions are here in the Heartland this year---the Democrats in Denver, then the Republicans in St. Paul---add spice to the political calendar this year. I'd love to be there, but to get into the convention, it appears to me, you must be old, overweight, rich and willing to wear red, white and blue crepe paper hats and carry banners for a week. Never mind; I'll watch from home. And I'll probably skip baseball telecasts that week to do it!
So yes, I stayed home from a basketball game the other night to watch the Democratic candidates debate in Las Vegas, then stayed up late to watch the Michigan primary returns and hear the candidates speak and the commentators comment. More of the same lies just ahead---the Democratic primary in South Carolina this Saturday, the Florida primary next Tuesday, and then the Tuesday after that, "Tsunami Tuesday" when two dozen states have primaries or caucuses.
By the time Election Day arrives, you will assume which one will get my vote. My only regret is that it won't matter much. Since South Dakota's primary is so late, it is meaningless. Then in November, South Dakota' three electoral votes will go to the Republican, whoever it is. Spongebob Squarepants could be the Republican candidate for President and he would get this state's majority. But I already understand that. That doesn't lessen my fascination with the process, which is as interesting right now as it has ever been.
Add the Olympics and the baseball season, and it means 2008 is a great year to be alive and kicking.
No, not "American Idol," I assure you. I have wasted time watching trash on TV before---"Big Brother 8" all of last summer, for example---but the strange people they acquire to appear on "American Idol," who apparently think they can sing, are more than I can stand. Talk about raw talent! (How do I know they're so awful? I listen to a sports talk radio show daily, and the host delights in playing tapes of the worst of "American Idol" from the night before.)
No, what kept me home from the Tanagers' game was politics. It's a topic I don't understand (example: I can't grasp why Fred Thompson from "Law and Order" thinks he should run for President). It's a topic I know little about (example: I cast my first-ever vote in a presidential election unbelievably for Richard Nixon instead of John F. Kennedy in 1960). Yet it's a topic that is totally fascinating right now.
I remember most of the presidential campaigns way back to Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson in the 1950s, but I can't recall any year with the delicious possibilities this year contains. There is no incumbent president in the running. Thankfully there is no incumbent vice president in the running either (Cheney wouldn't dare!). But there is a slew of viable, interesting, intriguing candidates, like 'em or not.
I paid little attention to the presidential campaigning in 2007, figuring it was still more than a year away from Election Day. But now that 2008 is here and the conventions and the election are in sight, MSNBC has replaced ESPN as my day-long television channel of choice. No, not right-wing, conservative Fox News Channel. No, not CNN because I can't stand Wolf Blitzer. MSNBC is my channel, partly because so many of you believe what Bill O'Reilly says about NBC News and partly because Keith Oldermann is terribly funny and Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews of "Hardball," Tucker Carlson, Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw are commentators I enjoy. I don't agree with everything they say, to be sure, but I trust them, which is more than I could ever say about Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, for heaven's sake.
But back to the races! What's delicious is that there is no final candidate decided after the first few primaries. It's still anybody's ballgame in both parties. Huckabee wins one week, McCain wins the next, Romney wins the next, and we haven't even been to Florida yet where Mayor 9/11 Giuliani says he's going to win. Same with the Democrats---Obama wins one week, Clinton surprises the next, and Edwards hangs around.
What I hope happens is that the same pattern continues through the next couple of months. Wouldn't it be a kick if we went to the nominating conventions with something still in doubt? Talk about awesome television! Imagine sitting there watching the delegate totals mount for each candidate and not knowing who was going to win! That's the presidency of the United States at stake, not a football game or a tennis match.
I suspect that one candidate will emerge in each party, probably within the next month, and the fun will be gone. But the fact that the conventions are here in the Heartland this year---the Democrats in Denver, then the Republicans in St. Paul---add spice to the political calendar this year. I'd love to be there, but to get into the convention, it appears to me, you must be old, overweight, rich and willing to wear red, white and blue crepe paper hats and carry banners for a week. Never mind; I'll watch from home. And I'll probably skip baseball telecasts that week to do it!
So yes, I stayed home from a basketball game the other night to watch the Democratic candidates debate in Las Vegas, then stayed up late to watch the Michigan primary returns and hear the candidates speak and the commentators comment. More of the same lies just ahead---the Democratic primary in South Carolina this Saturday, the Florida primary next Tuesday, and then the Tuesday after that, "Tsunami Tuesday" when two dozen states have primaries or caucuses.
By the time Election Day arrives, you will assume which one will get my vote. My only regret is that it won't matter much. Since South Dakota's primary is so late, it is meaningless. Then in November, South Dakota' three electoral votes will go to the Republican, whoever it is. Spongebob Squarepants could be the Republican candidate for President and he would get this state's majority. But I already understand that. That doesn't lessen my fascination with the process, which is as interesting right now as it has ever been.
Add the Olympics and the baseball season, and it means 2008 is a great year to be alive and kicking.
Friday, January 11, 2008
'It's a different kind of cold'
All right, go ahead. You can say to me, "I told you so" or "You should have stayed" or "You can still come back, you know."
I'll admit it right here and now---I miss the Black Hills (at least the southern part of it). You can guess some of the reasons why, but you probably won't guess this one: It's because here where I am now I'm cold all the time.
Here in Vermillion where I can see Nebraska and from where I could be in Iowa in 15 minutes, if there were any reason to be, the snow and ice fell on the first weekend of December, and I've had the chills ever since. I just can't get warm, no matter how many layers of clothes I add.
Part of the blame could be the basement apartment where I spend much of my time wasn't intended, I suspect, for full-time human occupancy. There are a couple of heat vents down there, but they seem almost an afterthought. When I'm sitting at the table which serves as a desk, I plug in a space heater alongside, add a sweater over my daytime attire, and then put on a bathrobe. It's much the same when I head off to bed. I don't take off clothes---I add them and then persuade Oliver, my German shepherd, to snuggle in close once I get covered up. In the mornings when I step gingerly out of the shower stall, I set new records daily for getting into my clothes.
For respite I come back upstairs where my daughter and grandson are in residence. The year-old furnace works fine, and up here where I write on the computer it is comfortably warm. In fact, when they are away, I'm up here all the time.
But still the chill persists. I just can't get warmed up. It reminds me of one of those Wildcat football games in Custer a year ago last fall. I had on so many layers of clothes that one guy along the sidelines remarked that I had really "bulked up" since he saw me last.
The people here say "it's a different kind of cold." I don't know exactly what that means, but they are right.
Oh, I remember a couple of five-below-zero mornings in Custer last February, but it never seemed that cold. Here in Vermillion 15 above zero feels much colder than that. No one will ever mistake Clay County for the Banana Belt.
What I really need to reduce the chill in my aching old body is a couple bowls of homemade soup at the Custer Senior Center. Now that's what I really miss about your town!
Now excuse me for a moment while I grab another sweatshirt out of the dresser drawer.
I'll admit it right here and now---I miss the Black Hills (at least the southern part of it). You can guess some of the reasons why, but you probably won't guess this one: It's because here where I am now I'm cold all the time.
Here in Vermillion where I can see Nebraska and from where I could be in Iowa in 15 minutes, if there were any reason to be, the snow and ice fell on the first weekend of December, and I've had the chills ever since. I just can't get warm, no matter how many layers of clothes I add.
Part of the blame could be the basement apartment where I spend much of my time wasn't intended, I suspect, for full-time human occupancy. There are a couple of heat vents down there, but they seem almost an afterthought. When I'm sitting at the table which serves as a desk, I plug in a space heater alongside, add a sweater over my daytime attire, and then put on a bathrobe. It's much the same when I head off to bed. I don't take off clothes---I add them and then persuade Oliver, my German shepherd, to snuggle in close once I get covered up. In the mornings when I step gingerly out of the shower stall, I set new records daily for getting into my clothes.
For respite I come back upstairs where my daughter and grandson are in residence. The year-old furnace works fine, and up here where I write on the computer it is comfortably warm. In fact, when they are away, I'm up here all the time.
But still the chill persists. I just can't get warmed up. It reminds me of one of those Wildcat football games in Custer a year ago last fall. I had on so many layers of clothes that one guy along the sidelines remarked that I had really "bulked up" since he saw me last.
The people here say "it's a different kind of cold." I don't know exactly what that means, but they are right.
Oh, I remember a couple of five-below-zero mornings in Custer last February, but it never seemed that cold. Here in Vermillion 15 above zero feels much colder than that. No one will ever mistake Clay County for the Banana Belt.
What I really need to reduce the chill in my aching old body is a couple bowls of homemade soup at the Custer Senior Center. Now that's what I really miss about your town!
Now excuse me for a moment while I grab another sweatshirt out of the dresser drawer.
Happy new year . . . belatedly
Hello, all of you (all 5 of you):
It's already Jan. 11, so it's about time to put something---anything!---on this site. I have determined (resolved, as in New Year's resolutions, you know?) to write regularly here. A snide comment from a reader of my weekly Pierre-area Midweek Update, who didn't like what I said about his LSU football team and their being called "national champions" despite having lost to two teams in its own conference, persuaded me to save my personal remarks and retorts for this site and keep the Update to just spreading around the news of the Pierre gang. So read on.
I'll be back soon. I'm also writing a column monthly for my friends at the Custer Chronicle with whom I worked for 2 years, 4 months, from January 2005 to April 2007. I'll post that endeavor here, too. In fact, you may even read it here first!
It's already Jan. 11, so it's about time to put something---anything!---on this site. I have determined (resolved, as in New Year's resolutions, you know?) to write regularly here. A snide comment from a reader of my weekly Pierre-area Midweek Update, who didn't like what I said about his LSU football team and their being called "national champions" despite having lost to two teams in its own conference, persuaded me to save my personal remarks and retorts for this site and keep the Update to just spreading around the news of the Pierre gang. So read on.
I'll be back soon. I'm also writing a column monthly for my friends at the Custer Chronicle with whom I worked for 2 years, 4 months, from January 2005 to April 2007. I'll post that endeavor here, too. In fact, you may even read it here first!
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