Unemployment: Not as bad as I thought

Some of the most feared and unexpected words one might hear these days are words ending one’s time at one’s place of employment. It’s a blow to one’s peace of mind! Questions flood your head: What will I do now? How will I pay my bills, buy food, gas and all the other things we need? Will I be able to keep a roof over my head? Well friends, I was recently “let go” and I’m afraid I can’t claim to be able to solve any of these problems.

What I can do is suggest a few things that may helps distract from these questions. I would also like my readers to bear in mind that I’m single, and my list of responsibilities compared to you who have families and children is quite small. My expenses are fewer, therefore my attitude is probably a bit more relaxed. I encourage you readers to go ahead and treat this piece with cynicism; make fun of it. It will help relieve some stress, bitching about the lack of seriousness with which I approach my potential destitution. For the record, I am taking it seriously. Just the other day I was scouting the beaches for a summer home, under any one of the numerous piers Southern California boasts.

When I was first told my position was being eliminated, I confess my first thought was road trip. I hadn’t had a true vacation in a few years, and the thought of having no obligation to appear anywhere before 8AM was positively thrilling. Not the usual reaction I grant you, but the job wasn’t my favorite so sue me. However, I realized that a vacation while facing unemployment, while attractive inside my head, was in fact a very ill-advised plan.

I then was eager to get busy searching for a new job. That night, after I was informed of my position’s elimination, I sat down and began to lay out my job searching strategy that I would implement early the next morning. I would scour the internet for hours each day, I would attend every job fair I could find within a 75 mile radius, I would find a part time job to make ends meet. All these things I would do, I would descend upon the job market like a conquering army. I went to bed that night, setting my alarm for 6AM.

When I got out of bed at 9AM the next morning, I tried to feel upset that I had overslept. I couldn’t do it. I decided to go with this flow. I walked leisurely walked upstairs for a cup of coffee with my neighbor, land lord, and very old friend. As we sat in his kitchen discussing many things,none of them very important that morning, he asked if I would like to go work with him in his garden. His career affords him the time to do these things, and I wanted to understand what this was like. I agreed and, coffee in hand, we walked out to the yard in our robes to plan our course of action.

Why do I bring this up? I lost my job I should be freaking out!! I should be running down to the unemployment office…well that’s what I would be doing about 15 years ago. Now you go online and spend hours on a Web site applying for unemployment that you might get as long as you fill out all of your information correctly. Or you can talk on the phone with someone if you don’t mind waiting for 45 minutes to an hour to talk to a real person ….but that’s another issue for another time.

I bring up the garden because this is something that anyone can do. It’s productive and it gets you out of the house. Whether it’s a large vegetable garden or a few flowers, it is an inexpensive distraction that results in something beautiful and positive. Guys don’t worry about gardening not being manly. There are few things more manly than a dude with a pick or a shovel improving their living area and growing vegetables. If a woman is questioning your manhood for pruning some rose bushes, she’ll soon sing another tune when you hand her a fresh, sweet smelling rose that you grew yourself. The garden is great because you can go out there and do a little work, and when you are feeling less stressed you can leave it again to go handle other business.The morning’s work done, I took some time to post a few resumes on line and hit up some job sites and I was totally relaxed.

One thing we forget to do when there is a severe disruption to our daily routines, especially where money is concerned, is exercise. We become so focussed upon finding new income that we forget that we can’t work if our bodies aren’t healthy. I suggest stepping away from the computer or your chosen method of job hunting to get n a work out. It only takes a little while, and you’ll realize the benefits almost immediately. Your body will be healthier, your stress will be lower, and your mood will be better. Looking at all of those listings can be exceptionally intimidating whether we like to admit it or not. It is necessary to step away for a bit. Go for a run or lift some weight. One of my passions is mixed martial arts. I love watching it and I practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After a work out I’m calm and collected, and I can sit and be productive for a while.

One thing every area of the country has in common i that each area has unique places that can’t be found or duplicated anywhere else. Whether it’s natural beauty like beaches and parks, or art galleries, museums and architecture there is always something to explore. If you’re feeling stressed out, get out and see something new. Take a minute while your scouring the internet for jobs and Google your city. It doesn’t have to be Google, it can be Bing or any other search engine, the point is to find something new to see that you can enjoy for a bit. Step away and go see something new. You’ll feel better when you get back, and you’ll have something to talk about besides the endless list of job sites that you looked at. I promise that even the most supportive of people will get a little tired of hearing “So I looked at 500 jobs on Monster and another 300 on Careerbuilder.” They won’t tell you but put yourself in their shoes.

My point to all of this is that you can’t kill yourself looking for a job. When you get an interview, and you will, going in stressed to the max won’t help you. You aren’t the only person out there who is looking for a job. Have confidence in your resume, stay positive and remember to enjoy yourself. When you had a job, you didn’t work every moment you were awake. Keep that attitude even in unemployment. Get out and have some fun. For every four hours you spend job hunting, take and hour or two for yourself. Let’s be honest, you’ve got the time. Hobbies and other stress reducing tactics will help you approach unemployment in the proper way. I hope you were able to read this, laugh a little and even get some ideas for yourself. Ok, I’m going to close this now. I’ve got to go look for a job.

Sammy T’s – Felafely good (I’m sorry)

Intimidatingly delicious

I’m writing in reverse I’m afraid. Sammy T’s is the last place I’m visiting in Fredericksburg, but that reflects only timing.
Sammy T’s opened in 1981 and is located 801 Caroline St. in Old Town Fredericksburg. Initially built in 1804 as an auction house, the current home of Sammy T’s restaurant still caters to the needs of the public in a very tasty way.
The atmosphere right now as I sit is perfect. The rain is outside and the dimly, yet warmly, lit interior accents the dark wood and antique style of the place. Smooth jazz is playing at just the right volume to make you instantly relax, and the menu options ranging from carnivorous to vegan ensure that not only is everyone who enters is sure to leave well fed.
I came here because Sammy T’s felafel was recommended to me at a different eatery that was also excellent. I also came because if possible I avoid chains like the plague while traveling.
The only question when I arrived was what to drink. Decisions like this need to be made quickly, and I settled on the Fred Red Ale. The Fred Red is a local brew produced at the Blue and Gray brewery in the Fredericksburg area and I was very pleased. It was mild and smooth and very tasty.
The felafel arrived. It was huge, and the presentation was a bit awkward but the flavors made all that go away. This was excellent felafel. It was served on a pita with greens, tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers and a lemon tahini. It was very good and arrived very quickly.
The Fredericksburg, VA food scene is alive and vibrant. If you’re in the area make your way to Sammy T’s, they truly have something for everyone.

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Roadtrip!

I recently moved to California and in doing so I took a route which took me across more than 3,000 miles of this great land that most of us call home. I say most of us because I am using this point to arrogantly assume that people from other nations bother about my blog, much like I am arrogantly assuming that people from this nation bother about my blog. I had hoped to have had many interesting adventures to relay to all of you (or both of you…thanks mom and dad) but the fact is the trip allowed more time for reflection and reconnecting with old friends than it did for high adventure.

                My trip took me on the first day from Watertown, Wis., to Memphis, Tenn.

The view from the car as I left Wisconsin along Interstate 90. Taking photographs while driving is dangerous and should not be attempted. Its awesome when you get a good one though...but seriously, don't do it.

 Several people were kind enough to point out to me that Memphis was not actually on the way to California. I thanked them for the observation and said that I had in fact realized this before I left Wisconsin. My goal was to see a little of the old U.S. of A.  I started in Memphis. I arrived around 11 p.m. on Elvis’s birthday and checked into my hotel. The woman behind the desk, and I truly apologize for not being able to remember her name, was an absolute joy to arrive to. She was not at all what I expected from a desk attendant at a hotel.  She was personable and pleasant with a sense of humor bordering on rude but an absolute wonder with wit and sarcasm.

                When I left in the morning I asked directions to Graceland. Unfortunately for me, I was informed that most of the “Elvis’s” had already departed the hotel as the King’s birthday had been the day before. I had hoped to see a few but I was undaunted and went to the home of Elvis Aaron Presley. I would like to expound a bit about him. There really are no words to describe his place in Rock ‘n roll. He ushered in a new era in music, and I believe that rock would not be what it is today without the person of Elvis Presley.

                I am not one of those who collect every album, or memorabilia. I didn’t buy anything at the gift shop. I did take many pictures, and I also observed an interesting aspect of the king’s influence on music, not only in this country but across the globe. While I was standing in line waiting to board the shuttle from the ticket area to the actual mansion, I heard accents from across Europe and Asia. This is what I believe makes Elvis special. There are very few people in entertainment that can boast this type of following.

                Elvis would have celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday this year. Unfortunately for music and those who loved him, his unfortunate and untimely death from a drug overdose took place over thirty years ago. Despite of the chasm created by time between then and now, Graceland is still frequented by those who loved him then, and those who have since fallen in love with his southern blues-influenced melodies and lyrics. I saw old Elvis fans bringing their children and their children’s children (also known as grandchildren) to the home of their Rock hero. Before boarding the shuttle, to the house, guests pose in front of a painted set of gates for a picture.

It should be noted that the day I decided to go to Graceland and stand outside for what seemed like a very long time the temperature in Memphis was 14 degrees. My University of Wisconsin-Whitewater warm-up jacket was in no way suitable for a day that cold even if the football team did win the national championship this year. That really has nothing to do with the story, it is simply a shameless plug because I can.

As one group of four was posing for their photo, I observed what appeared to be several generations of women being led by an aging matriarch up to and through the gates of Graceland.

                I saw a man who I estimated to be in his mid to late twenties show a child-like amazement and excitement when he saw the home of the King from across the street. His hand flew to his mouth as he excitedly announced “There it is!!” The hand came down and the exclamations stopped, but his excitement was transferred to his knee and hip which moved in time to the Elvis tunes being pumped through the building. I was very moved to see the excitement grow on the face of a developmentally disabled man as we were making our way up to the house. I realized then that there was something special about Elvis’s music if it could inspire excitement in a group of people who were as diverse as the group on my shuttle. 

                While I have a new respect for the King and his accomplishments, I hope Elvis fans will forgive me for my thoughts on Graceland. A friend had described the home to me as “the tackiest place on earth.” I found this to be very close to the truth. My first issue was the cost of my trip to Graceland. I was able to receive a discount because of my military service which brought my tour ticket to a reasonable $24, although when I add in my $10 parking fee the term reasonable becomes a tad shaky. There were three tour packages available ranging in price from $30 to $69 for the V.I.P Entourage tour.

                Now I do understand the excitement of being able to go and possibly find a way to connect with someone you truly admire. However, there is no possible justification I could find to spend $69 to view a 13 acre property and an old plane no matter who owned it. I know that with the $69 comes a special “back-stage pass” for VIPs but I would rather spend the money downloading his songs on ITunes or buying a CD or even an old Elvis vinyl. It was hard for me to justify spending the $34 which was my total expenditure just to go walk around an old house and property. I was actually a little disappointed with the tour. Maybe you have to be a die-hard Elvis fan to really appreciate it, but it was not at all what I was expecting. I would advise going to www.Elvis.com before just showing up at Graceland to get a better idea of what to expect and how much it is going to cost. The Web site offers a complete price list and also different offers if one wants to hold a special event on the property.

                The house was much smaller than I was expecting it to be and I found the decorating to be awful. Elvis may have been a musical genius, but clearly this did not transfer over to interior decorating. I offer as proof the basement. In the first basement room you are ushered into is Elvis’s TV room.

There's really nothing I can say. To me it speaks for itself. If someone reads this and likes this style I will affirm that I respect your opinion but may God have mercy on your soul.

The story is Elvis discovered that President Richard Nixon watched three TVs at once. Not to be outdone, Elvis also had three TVs on at once. Elvis however took it one step further by painting the room bright yellow and blue, and furnished the room with bright yellow and blue furniture. If it were not for the blue, I would have imagined walking into this room would have been similar to walking into the middle of the sun. 

                The next room was a dark as the TV room was bright. The room was not painted or wall-papered. It was rather upholstered from ceiling to the floor in dark, folded, multi-colored cloth. I understand that decorating in those days was much different than it is today, but I have to ask what the hell was going on. It was dark and it was drab and I felt stifled from the minute I walked in. I couldn’t get out of that room fast enough.

                The next step was the famous jungle room. There was a waterfall and animal skulls. That’s all I have to say about it.

                I will no longer talk about the things about the tour that disappointed me in the hopes of salvaging my relationship with my Elvis loving readers (there I go assuming I have readers again). I will say the room I found to be most impressive was the trophy room. At this point I was slightly in awe as I walked down a long hallway in which hung two rows of gold and platinum records on both sides of the wall. Truly this man was an incredibly gifted talent. I know the largest gold reserve in the US resides in Fort Knox, but the second largest collection must reside at Graceland.

The sight of all of the gold and platinum in this room was truly awe-inspiring. This room not only represents great talent but also years of hard work and a level of dedication rarely seen. This room made the trip Graceland for me.

 As I walked down this hallway, and through the next room which contained memorabilia from Elvis’s many appearances on the silver screen, I realized a bit more of what Elvis meant to entertainment. He was as comfortable in front of the camera as he was in front of a screaming crowd of fans. This building contained plaques thanking him for donations made to a seemingly unending list of charities.

                To sum up, Elvis’s lack of talent as a decorator is insignificant compared to his contributions to society and entertainment. Not only was he one of the most successful entertainers of this era, he was also a true humanitarian and always gave back the Memphis community which he loved. He seemingly never forgot his humble beginnings and tried to give back as often as possible. I may have been disappointed with the size and decor of  Graceland but I now have a new and far greater appreciation for its famous occupant who was buried on the property. Graceland is an experience which will connect differently with all who visit.

Game Day

I can't think of a more exciting view than a historic sports venue a few hours before game time.

There’s something about football during a Wisconsin fall. The wind has a slight crispness and it carries a symphony of smells to extensive to identify, and too wonderful to want to separate. The walk to historic Lambeau Field simply adds to the anticipation, and the distance really doesn’t matter because once you get there the electricity in the air around this fabled football mecca recharges any energy exerted…the beer and brats one can acquire along the way don’t hurt either.

The thing I find fun about professional football is the different walks of life crammed together dripping condiments and beer on the people in the row ahead, and all is as it should be. For the next several hours it is your team against the team from somewhere else, and it is you and your fellow fans agains those others who just don’t know better.

Any other time, observing a person holding back vomit is simply a disgusting occurence. Move this into a stadium setting, a disgusting occurrence it remains, but if it is an opposing fan it brings into question the stamina of the entire region from whence that individual hails. It is dwelt upon, laughed at and adds to the experience of game day. For a time the multi-millionaire hangs out with the contractor who lives down the road. It becomes acceptable for outlandish costumes to be donned in support of the home team and adds to the atmosphere.  

Yes, this man IS wearing a coyote pelt on his head and the pelt is wearing a Green Bay Packers bandana. Note the stalwart expression and unblinking gaze. The guy in the jacket appears very focused too.

 Lambeau Field is unlike any other place I have been. I’ve watched football games in Foxborough, San Diego and in Tempe but a game at Lambeau  Field has a mystique. This is the home of the Ice Bowl. It felt the cleats of players like Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Paul Hornung,  Johnny “Blood” McNally, Reggie White and most recently Brett Favre. Those are just the Packer legends; to say nothing of other legends like Roger Staubach who came to challenge them. It is the home of fabled rivalries with the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and the hated Minnesota Vikings that have provided clips that demand to be watched no matter how long ago the events took place.

The Packers are the only team in the NFL owned by the community they represent. The Packers aren’t just an organization like many other franchises; the Packers organization is a fixture within the community. It’s an interesting dynamic to be sure. A Packer win on Sunday can in a small way set the tone of the week for some fans, or at least for the following Monday; as will a win. The games are discussed around the water cooler, at the lunch table or just in passing much to the chagrin of non-fans who happen to have the misfortune to be in the area.

The Packers threatening to score around the 20 yard line of the Dallas Cowboys on November 15. The Packers went on to win with a final score of 17-7.

I had the fortune to attend the most recent game in the storied rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau. It was a contest between a Packers team in desperate need of a win and a Cowboys team that seemed to have found its groove. As expected it was an incredibly exciting contest for a fan. the Cowboys fans represented themselves well, although as a fan of the home team I’m happy to say their efforts were in vain as the Pack came away with the W.

This was a special game to me. In January I will be moving from Wisconsin and  may not be able to attend a game in Green Bay for  some time. This is something I will miss, but I will of course be spending plenty of money trying to catch all of their games on television. The other reason this game was special is that this was the first victory I’ve seen in person. To have it come at Lambeau against the Dallas Cowboys just made it that much better.

The Pantry Cafe

Fear not gastronomers, the greasy spoon piece of Americana that we feared was riding off into the sunset actually stopped in LA, although not on Sunset. The Pantry Cafe, located at 877 S Figueroa St in downtown Los Angeles advertises breakfast twenty-four hours everyday and has everything you need for “the day after.”

This picture titled Abbey Road Revisited was taken outside The BReakfast Pantry by Sereyna Avila as we approached, ready to cleanse ourselves of the night before with a healthy helping of eggs, toast and delicious greasiness.

 There are few places I have been that seem so perfectly suited to assisting the late-night/early-morning crowd relive the events of the night before, while at the same time helping them get their heads ready for the day ahead.              

We arrived somewhere between 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning after a night of celebrating a friend’s thirtieth and golden birthday. As all such milestones require, it had been a night of fun and excess and we were about to wind down the party with a hearty breakfast of traditional American fare.

You really have to time your visits to the Pantry properly. Had we arrived fifteen minutes later, we would have had to wait in a line that began to form while we were sitting down.

This was my first trip to the Pantry, but after many outings to new eating establishments I had come to trust my friends since they have never let me down and after this trip the streak continues.                                                                                  

Allow me to set the scene. As you walk through the door you are transported into a world wrapped in nostalgia. The grill in the Pantry has been producing eggs, toast, American fries and various breakfast meats for years and years. You can practically see the customers of yester-year in their suits and fedoras sidling up to the counter with their wrinkly newspapers to gruffly order a bacon omelette and coffee, which is what I had coincidentally.

The line of hungry patrons begins to form outside the Pantry Cafe.

The server comes to the table with the aire of someone who will serve you but it is clear that they are extremely busy and will not waste time as you hem and haw over an already simple menu and rightly so. We ordered our food and as I said I requested the bacon omelette with American fries and sourdough toast.

 This is unlike other sourdough toast. This sourdough toast comes in the form of large, thick freshly cut slabs of sourdough bread toasted in the traditional way; on the grill with the rest of your food, absorbing all the flavors and grease and making it one of the most delicious things you could possibly put in your mouth. Somehow I was able to finish the rest of my meal despite cramming as much of the toast down my gullet as I possibly could. We spent a good hour and a half adding this one last bit of excess before we all went home and retired. By the time we left the Pantry Cafe there was nothing else to do but go to bed. It was truly the perfect ending to a long, fun night with very good friends. I would fully endorse the Pantry Cafe to anyone seeking the America of years ago. Be warned however, this is not one of the sprout and lentil serving restaurants some people look for. While I enjoy sprouts and lentils, there are times I want a healthy helping of eggs and nostalgia, and the Pantry Cafe has plenty of both.

Flying the friendly skies

Here is the nice new lawn in Minneapolis. I can only imgine what it looks like under the sun. I mean that, i can only imagine.

I took a short trip to Southern California over the Halloween weekend. There were several things going on out there, like a good friend’s birthday and various Halloween festivities that I wished to be a part of, but almost more than that I needed no other reason than it is October and I reside in Wisconsin. As expected I had an incredible time. However, there was one thing that got in the way of a perfect weekend. If you’re thinking H1N1 you’re mistaken although there were aspects of this that made me ill. What I’m referring to is the American air-travel experience.

I’m tired ladies and gentlemen; I’m tired of the ridiculous prices for substandard products and services. A crappy sandwich, added fees for baggage after paying already high prices for traveling, and rude service people; I’m only one person and this all happened in less than two hours.

I find the interesting thing about air travel in America is how positive an attitude you begin the day with no matter how many times you’ve traveled before. Ultimately you know something is going to go awry. YOU KNOW THIS! It’s only a matter of time.

I awoke, as I said, eager to be on my way into the wild blue, high above the clouds; possibly reading a book or plugged into my IPod, or both. I made it to the airport approximately two hours early, a ridiculous amount of time to be early for any member of my family–It’s not that we don’t try to get there that early, it just rarely happens. Don’t judge.

From that positive start, I reached the security checkpoint and engaged in a conversation with a very affable person; ribbing the FTA employees who were there to check our shoes for explosives, and to remove errant tubes of toothpaste that were ounces over the amount allowed by federal regulation. I forgot to take my belt off and was forced to go back through the gate. I was also told, with a suspicious gaze that my computer was to be inspected further, to which I responded with an equally suspicious gaze as I put my shoes and belt back on… “Ok.”Other than that everything went well.

The minute I walked through the security checkpoint the run of good luck was over. Unexpected is a term used to describe delays when one deals with air travel. At what point can we stop calling them unexpected? I don’t remember the last time I started a trip without making a comment hinting that I was expecting something bad to happen. I’ve heard this from countless other people also, and we then encourage each other to think positively and we go on our way feeling that the world is as it should be and the natural balance is in good order.

Having said all of this I ask why the airlines are the only ones who seem to not expect delays? Of course my flight was delayed for over an hour, but I wasn’t surprised or shocked in any way as you would expect had this truly been unexpected. It was not unexpected and therefore the explanations of runway construction and mist (mist, really???? I thought avionics technology had progressed further than this but I was apparently mistaken) were as unnecessary as they were vague.  I later discovered that the “construction” going on was actually the re-sodding of grassy areas along the runway after the construction was complete. I’m very happy knowing that although I and my plane-mates were delayed, the airport in Minneapolis will have a nice, lush lawn in time for winter.

Since I had some extra time I decided I was hungry and sought sustenance at a nearby vendor. I selected what seemed to be a nourishing turkey sandwich on multi-grain bread and a bottle of water. I approached the cashier, ready to greet them cheerfully since I’m sure they wanted to hear all about my impending trip so they’d have something stimulating to think about throughout the day. My attitude changed when I realized the prices of sandwiches and water had taken off before my plane had.

For $10.25 I was able to purchase this not-even-close-to-special sandwich and twenty-five ounce bottle of water. My sandwich consisted of four slices of turkey breast, one piece of provolone cheese, one leaf of ice-berg lettuce, and two pieces of bread equivalent to Pepperidge Farms or Brownberry multigrain bread. It was the kind with all the different

My "gourmet" meal courtesy of General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wis.

kinds of seeds on the crust that always get stuck in your teeth and no one wants to tell you while you’re talking to them.

If I had I not been stuck behind the security checkpoint I could have taken the $10.25, bought all the ingredients at a nearby grocery, and made about 9 sandwiches and a bottle of water and not had to purchase food for the remainder of my trip. I fail to see why food in airports is so expensive. I have no problem spending my money on a good meal, but I have yet to hear someone in an airport say, “My goodness that was an excellent meal, and at such price too! What a steal!!!”  I can totally understand why the water was so expensive. I didn’t see it at first but after further inspection of the bottle I saw that I was drinking sodium-free water, and according to the nutritional information kindly provided CCDA Waters of Atlanta, GA, there were three servings of water in my bottle; understandably worth the exorbitant amount.

Now it’s true, I didn’t have to buy these things. It is also true that I am complaining about a measly $10.25; undoubtedly a small amount of money compared to my final tab after a weekend in Los Angeles.  However after buying my ticket, and a special, surprise ticket for my bright, yellow duffel bag I was not thrilled when the price of my “gourmet” sandwich and sodium-free water cost more than half of what it took for me to get my luggage to California.

I boarded my Delta airlines flight and took my seat in time to hear another passenger request to sit in an aisle seat a few rows back from the one listed on her ticket. The flight attendant replied, “I don’t care where you sit.”  I feel that the flight attendant may not have meant this to sound the way it did; I hope she didn’t. I’m sure however the passenger to whom she was speaking didn’t appreciate it. She was boarding a late flight which had cost her a substantial amount of money and here she was being spoken to that way.

Our system needs work my friends, courtesy and service are two words that mean very little in many aspects of society these days and it is truly shameful. The service of yester-air has, and continues to become little more than a very fast, very expensive bus service. I’m not even talking about Greyhound; I’m talking about the uncomfortable city busses where you have to stand and are constantly apologizing to your neighbors when the bus turns or goes over a bump.

Having said all that, I do feel a bit better about things. However, from now on I shall pack my food, but no liquid as it may be confiscated by the feds as I go through security. In closing I would like to say to all my fellow travelers out there, I wish you all the best of luck and I also advise you to save some cash and pack a pork chop or a sandwich of some kind the next time you fly the friendly skies.

Cardiologists beware!

There are some places only certain people should go, while others should stay away. The Fat Sandwich Company on State Street in Madison, Wis. is one such place.

Ahman Green & Gold; Raiders to the playoffs???

There has been absolute comedy coming out of the NFL this week and I had to say something.

 

The first thing I want to mention is the bang-up job the Green Bay Packer organization is doing. They have clearly recognized the need to patch holes in the offensive line by going out and getting Ahman Green. Wait… what??! That can’t be right…but… there it is.

 

Green has undoubtedly been a great player not just for the Pack but for the game itself. While with the Packers he was a great runner and competitor, but the Packers released him after a series of knee injuries and low productivity. He landed on the Texans roster, and the story was the same. He was released by the Texans in February.

 

No offense intended to a great player, but what could Green possibly do for the Packers this season. Even if he wasn’t 32 and injury prone these days, how productive could he possibly be running behind a line that couldn’t keep fans from rushing a concert stage? The offensive (pronounce that however you’d like) line ranks number one in sacks allowed with a whopping twenty-five. The Packers are also circling the bowl with a twenty-five rank in total rushing yards with a total of 506.

 

Now I hope, like all Packer fans who enjoyed watching him play for the Green and Gold, that I’m wrong. I hope he can come in and pick up the running game. However, unless he’s put on about 75 pounds and learned how to block on the line, I don’t see how much he can really do.

 

Now to something I think is…well…for lack of a better word ludicrous. It came out yesterday that Richard Seymour of the Oakland Raiders was offended by some comments once by New York Giants’ linebacker Antonio Pierce. Pierce reportedly said the game against the Raiders in week 5 reminded him of a scrimmage. Seymour said this week the Giants got what they deserved after they were routed by the Saints.

 

Must Seymour be reminded what he said after the Giants allowed the Raiders to escort them up and down the field to the end zone so many times? Well I’ll do it anyway. He was quoted on ESPN.com:

 

“We couldn’t stop anything. That’s a bad feeling when you are out there and they are running whatever plays they want to. The third or fourth quarter I think they had their backups in the game and they were still doing whatever they wanted to offensively. There is no excuse for that and everybody has to look themselves in the mirror and say, ‘I have to do a better job.’”

 

Remember that Richard? It sounds to me like Pierce may have been being gracious. Here’s the link, http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291011019. Your quote is in the last paragraph.

 

The Raiders are terrible! In their second win of the season over the Eagles (apparently miracles do happen) the Raiders managed thirteen points. They have improved since the game last week when they pounded the Giants for seven points. Since the opening whistle of the 2009-2010 season, the Raiders have lit up their opponents for five touchdowns and accrued a whopping seventy-two first downs, while giving up 122. They’ve allowed opponents 872 yards on the ground and 1,321 through the air.The Giants, in their only loss of the season to arguably the hottest team in the NFL, more than doubled the point total of the Raiders against a Philadelphia team which has struggled with injuries for much of the season.

 

Seymour suggested Pierce should worry about his own defense and not criticize the Raiders. I suggest Seymour worry about his entire team, and not worry about what happened in previous weeks. Seymour then let us all know that everything he said in the interview was a joke because he also guaranteed a playoff appearance for the Raiders this season. To this my only reasonable response can be gut-wrenching, tear-jerking and suffocation-inducing laughter. I suppose when you play like the Raiders have been a sense of humor is all you really have left.

Welcome to Greg’s

This is my first post here, and it will be short… maybe.  I wrote a bit about myself in the welcome page on my site, and you’ll be able to get a sense of who I am as I write and post more. I enjoy writing, and I think this is an excellent way for everyone to express themselves publicly. I used to be a bit of a skeptic until I began reading what people had to say. Everything a person could want is out there from the fascinating to the mundane, the entertaining to the asinine and ridiculous.

One of the most interesting things, to me, about people is everyone has a story and the need to tell it. We’re all the same in that regard. Just try and go a few days without relating something that happened to you during the week to someone else. I bet you can’t do it. It’s impossible. Unfortunately, there isn’t always someone around to tell it to and no guarantee they’ll appreciate it  the same way the storyteller does.

The great thing about the ability to blog is there may not be someone in the same room aching to hear that story, but there’s sure to be someone out there somewhere with the time to read it and an appreciation for that story on that specific day.  I will undoubtedly post blogs that people will read and wish they hadn’t, but I also know the opposite will be true.

I look forward to bringing you stories and rants to drive you mad with laughter, intrigue or complete frustration and  incredulity. So to everyone who stops by in the future I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say and I look forward to your reactions. Of course I look forward to positive feedback more, but I’ll take whatever you give me. Thanks again!