Nostalgia

It's almost Thanksgiving here in the football pool head office, and I'm feeling a little wistful for days gone by.  Days when we were young and uninjured enough to play football on T-day.

Days when I'd never heard of Turducken (until today, I truly thought Turducken was a John Madden invention.  Turns out it's not, and it further turns out that the creation of this product makes me about as queasy as the name itself).

Days when stores opened for Black Friday at the completely reasonable hour of, you know, 4:00 a.m.

Days when people wouldn't start camping in Best Buy's parking lot until, say, late tomorrow instead of, you know, right now.

Hats off to Tim Mitchell, winner of this thing last weekend.  113 is a nice count, and he needed every one of those points.  There are 25 of us in the pool and the top 22 were all within 13 points of our winner.  True story.  I am sure that's never happened before.

The obligatory reminder: please get those picks in!  Three games on Thursday (that's now today where I am). And of course.....have a great holiday.  Be safe.  Be cool.

Urquhart Uber Alles

Quick note of congratulations to Ben, who not only won the....hang on....Aaron Rodgers just threw another touchdown pass....ok....Ben not only won the week, but he has also assumed the position.  The one where he's leading everybody else for the season-long jackpot.  That position.

This week's update is brought to you by my new favorite twitter feed (for the next few minutes), the Bad Jersey Blog.  Any Catholics reading may be interested to learn that the Messiah has really crappy seats at Mile High Stadium.

Anyway.  Enjoy the rest of your week and keep your head up.  Rodgers may be about to throw you a touchdown pass and you'll look silly if the pass doinks off your hands and into the coffee cup of the guy in the next cube.

Spot The Ninja

Question: Can you find Dean Pattow in this picture?

Answer: No. You cannot.

You do not see, hear, or otherwise sense Dean, even when he's near.  If he wishes his presence to be known, that is his choice.

Chuck Norris has never seen Dean.

He and Marlene executed to perfection their 16-on-the-Monday-dog (patent pending) play this past weekend, emerging from the weeds at the last possible moment to surprise Amy, Roo, and Aaron.  The strategy does not always pay off, of course, but what is past is prologue.  It has happened before.  It will happen again.  You will not see it coming.

And now....this important notice.  Thursday games and 30 degree temperatures have arrived.  Neither is welcome as far as I'm concerned....your mileage may vary (especially if you have NFL network)....but Thursday rules must now kick in.  Your pick for tomorrow's game is due either one or two hours before game time - I can never remember which.  You can do all picks now, of course, or if you need to, the rest can be done before the normal deadline.

Good night, and good luck.

Diana > Kim

All the carnival barkers can talk about this week is the dissolution of the Kardashian/Humphries union after ten whole weeks.  Traditional marriage at its finest.  What the paparazzi are ignoring, of course, is my sister-in-law Diana, our resident rookie, who got her first taste of the victor's spoils by edging Mrs. Commish by a solitary point last weekend.  My brother Jim and I are both exceedingly proud of, and very committed to, our lovely wives, and no, we were not told to say that.

Speaking of commitment, or better yet, being committed, Kelly is a little more competitive than most of you probably know.  She gets a little chapped when she just misses out on a win.  So as the Monday night game ended, I found I was to be the messenger and I therefore prepared to stare down both barrels.

12:00 a.m. two nights ago
She (mumbling, stirring from her slumber while I get ready for bed): Who won?
Me: The Chiefs.
She: Did I win? Did I win?!
Me: No, but you were right there in second.
She: [contemplative silence]
Me: Everything ok hon?
She: I lost! Aaaaaagh!
[I spent the next several minutes under attack by a blonde wielding a stuffed penguin]
Me: Hey!  What the...?
She: I lost! Aaaaaagh!
Me: Yeah, but you did great.  Maybe next w-
[I spent the next several minutes being repeatedly poked in the ribs]
She: I lost! Aaaaaagh!
Me: It's gonna be okay. If you just-
[I spent the next half hour listening to disparaging rants about Bill Belichick's soup-stained hoodie]
Me: Um, I think I'll keep quiet.
She: Smart guy.  Night night.

Hey, for any and all who might be interested....little old birthday happy hour this Friday night after work at The Rumpus Room (cool name), an English style pub that replaced Eagan's in downtown Milwaukee.  Cheers.