USMNT - United States Mutant Ninja Turtles

World Cup Qualifying, one of my favorite times.  The US Mens National Team are back at the top of the CONCACAF table.  All I can really say is "boo ya grandma."

On 9/9/9, which I guess is special for some reason,  I went to the bar to support the boys in blue, or white for this game I suppose.  It was a lonely game.  I was the only person there who was actually there to watch the game.  That being said there was soccer on 4 tv's in a non soccer bar, I was in my element, only wishing there were more people (singing is not as fun when people just look at you like you're insane).

The USMNT has been a jekyll and hyde of team, and coming in, I was unsure which team I was going to see against Trinidad and Tobago.  It did not take long into the game to get that answer.

WEAK SAUCE!!!

We played passionless soccer.  We looked so slow and lazy that I was beside myself yelling at the screen.  The midfield was practically non-existent.  Passes were so sloppy i don't really know how we ever moved up the field.

I took notes in my phone and they just said
No Speed
No Passion
No Finishing
No Midfield

We were lucky to get the win, but Clark's Goal was awesome.  What a cracker in the 62nd minute, swerving away from the goaltender, rippling the back of the net, I jumped to of my bar seat and screamed...  What a goal.

A few people around me were happy, but far from excited.  But there was one gentleman (age probably 25) who said "Man, F*** Soccer."  I snarled in discussed.  I am not upset that he doesn't like soccer, everyone is  entitled to their own opinion on sports.  But it is my humble opinion that people should back their nation.  It doesn't matter where or when but HAVE SOME PRIDE!!!  I absolutely hate when someones irrational dislike for a sport, soccer in this case, outweighs their national pride.  Stand up for your country, our military does it every day, play your part and do it when you can. (Rant over)

Not the sweetest victory, but still, one step closer to the WC SA 2010.  Come on you yanks, against Honduras.

Labor Day - Report

This past weekend was labor day and I went home to see my family/hang out with friends. Got on the road Friday at around 1130 and the drive was uneventful. The last few times I've had some issues (shredded tire and such) so it was nice to just roll in with no real problems.

I was dropped off in Brighton, and I joked with a few people that Sonia said, "Ok, get out, this is as close as I'm getting to your house." and drove away. This of course is not how it happened, but it probably would have been a funnier story to retell if it had.

At any rate my father picked me up and drove me home the rest of the way and that night I hung out around the house and in the evening we went to see Michael W. Smith. What does the W stand for I wonder? The concert was really nice, a much more low key shindig than the Blink 182 concert I went to a month earlier.

Went home that night and got a decent nights sleep because in the morning I had plans. I was picked up in the mid-afternoon by my friend Adam. It sounds so weird to me to say that because he is so much younger than me, it makes me feel old. But we were off, headed for Ann Arbor. It was the start of College Football season and it was gameday!!

We arrived in AA round noonish, and had to scramble to get an ID for someone but we made it happen. We ended up going to a tailgate near the Big House. Had some Burgs and Dogs. It was too hot for beer (well maybe one or two) but it WAS probably around 90 or 95 and just sunshine straight down on ya.

Wrapped up there, and headed into the stadium. It was hoooooot! As luck would have it though there was a young lady passing out free U of M towels and I went down and grabbed some for our whole row. we put them on our heads and that seemed to help a little bit. The game was on, I didn't make notes so I cant tell you what really happened, but we sang and screamed and cheered till the game was over. Michigan played well and pulled out a W.

After that it was back to The T's house for pizza and the USA Soccer game. What a game it was. I definitely had my homer glasses on and was begging for calls and dives and cards. It certainly was annoying to the house of referees. They ended up winning and after the game we wanted to jump in the Kaltz's hot tub.

A text message was sent and we found out that the hot tub was broken.

PAINFUL!!!

We decided to go over anyways to chat and play some Loaded Questions.

After the usual funny stories of what happened in the last couple days, and for me months having not been back to Michigan for a while, we busted out the game and had a right good time playing. the game went on to about 145am or so and we went three houses down and sat on the couch. Wanted to play some video games but I decided I was too tired and had Jason drive me home.

Checked my email, got a drink of milk, and got in bed at 230am.

You'd think I'd crash after all that activity but I got my second wind and laid there, wide awake, until about 430am. Woke up the next day feeling real heavy headed. Had a cup of coffee, and got ready for church. Church was good, had a very small class and got to talk with some people who really gave me some words that I really needed to hear.

Coming home after never seemed like a better idea. I laid down on the couch after a quick lunch and just conked out to a baseball game. Woke up around the 6th inning. mulled around a little more and then decided I would go to the barbeque that my parents were going to with their Sunday School class.

Glad I did.

I played this game with frisbees and also some soccer. I came to a point where I was exhausted and needed to pack up some stuff and went home. I Packed, watched tv, and slept well.

Next day I was excited. Big lunch with my grandparents. We had everything you could ever want. burgers, chicken, grilled veggies, fresh fruit, fresh corn on the cob, and STELLAR desserts including lemon meringue pie, apple crisp, blueberry Jello, and French pastries. Oh, it was amazing. I ate my fill had a cup of coffee and then I got some gifts, since I wont be home for my birthday. I got a shirt, a few ties, a pan, and a book, it was lovely.

Thanks Mom and Dad!

Great Day!

Came home without incident and much conversation with Sonia. It was awesome. Listened to some good music and had another uneventful ride home.

Got home.

Unpacked.

Went to bed.

Slept well.

Weekend over.

Fatty Nostalgia

As you may know, or more likely don't know, because anyone who is reading this probably accidentally stumbled upon it, I have been trying to live healthier. This means eating better, working out on a regular basis, and over all just trying to be at peace with my current situation.

This has not been too difficult for me, however, there are times when I am sitting in my recliner that i miss the, how can I put it, "Fat Culture."

The doctor told me that my blood pressure was high and that I needed to lose weight to keep it down. So i got right on that, cut out fatty foods and more importantly salty foods. It seems to be working, I went from 250 to where I am now at 223, but yesterday I discovered a song on my computer that made me miss the old days where I didn't care about the fat coating my veins or the most important muscle in my body.

This song was written one night, when I had a huge craving for one of my favorite things. I think its really catchy but lyrically it could probably use some work (seeing that I wrote it in 15 minutes). And the audio is pretty rubbish since I recorded it on my computer with no real software or hardware.

Anyways, I will keep pushing forward trying to loose weight, be healthy, and not worry, so that I can keep on living.

Enjoy

Really?!?! The Worst You've Ever Seen???

I've been watching the old series "The Real Football Factories." Its a series that aired in the UK in 2006. The premise basically is that Danny Dyre, the actor who played Tommy Johnson in the 2004 movie "The Football Factory," a movie about football hooliganism, goes around to different cities and even countries meeting up with the firms top boys. He talks to them about the firm what they are about, their motto's, football violence, how far they would go, what the teams mean to them, etc..


As I'm sitting here sipping my drink, I start to think about some events that took place last week in Jolly ol' England.

For anyone who grew up in England or for anyone who has seen the movie "Green Street Hooligans" you understand that there is a bitter rivalry between the clubs West Ham United and Millwall. If neither of those apply to you, They HATE each other and they hadn't played each other in a long time.

Well, Last week at Upton Park, West Hams ground, there was a meeting of the firms outside the ground, and numerous pitch invasions inside. The old bill were supposed to be out in full force but from what I have seen they were utterly under prepared.

Long story short a man was stabbed and there was lots of fighting (a news story reported broken beer bottles, bricks and other weapons strewn across green street). When this happens it is inevitable that the stories will hit the paper quickly. I saw the first one, even while the game was going on, obviously only because I was expecting a tear up between the boys and was hitting f5 to keep up with goings on in the news and the game.

Cutting to the chase, the point of this post is just that every time there is any football violence or hooliganism, it seems to be, according to the press, exponentially worse than last time. You will inevitably hear the words, "The worst scenes of football violence/hooliganism since the 80's," or something to that effect.

I'm sick of this. Its not the worst. and having watched these shows and heard the people in England and in other countries it is obvious that there have been obvious worse things than what happened there.

I don't want anyone to think that I'm defending these actions but I'm just sick of hearing that, anytime the Hoolies show up or do anything. It wasn't the worst it wasn't even close. The violence was sure scary, the pitch invasions were disgraceful, but nowhere near the worst ever. In some countries there have been civil wars started over football hooliganism, don't tell me its the worst.

Forgive me if I've offended or overstepped a boundary but i just think its kinda funny, when i saw the first story i said to myself sarcastically, "the worst ever, you just wait." I wasn't there, maybe I'm wrong, but I sure feel better having spewed about it.

Rant Over!

Here are some links to some stories:
From the Guardian
From the BBC

Pinching Pee

So, I was walking the dog the other day, and its peeing practices interested me. I was wondering, in my brainsicle, if it is easier for dogs to pinch off pee than it is for humans. When I'm peeing, I can not pinch it off without, at least, a little bit of pain. I know I certainly couldn't do it, if I knew I had to walk a ways more before i could finish. These dogs just seem to be able to pinch it off with absolutely no trouble. They just keep walking like there's nothing to it, even deciding from time to time to go some more, pinch it off again, and keep walking. They seem to be able to keep this up for miles on end. Even on long walks they tend to hold at least a little back for the last quarter mile. Simply amazing.

Short and Sweet

BOOOOOO SCHOOL... YAAAAAAAAY FIG NEWTONS!!!

I Might Even Keep Up

It seems like everytime i start a blog or do something like this i do it once or twice and then i get bored and more importantly lazy and it just becomes that something or other that is on the back burner... but with this one i want to try to keep up with it. I need somethinglike this to help me to recorm my life. I often try to remember back and think about what I did some time ago and I just cant remember... this should help. I probably, inevitably, become lazy about it again and just like the other 6 million blogs I've started will end up as nothing too important. But its all I can do to try.
A random Picture will accompany each post... woot!
Picture taken in London near Tower Bridge. Lee Bournes (Left) and Me (Right)