This week's picks

I have to start posting these earlier because of those silly Thursday games...

Ravens over the Bengals
Rams over the Cards
Redskins over the Falcons
Pats over the Lions
Colts over the Titans
Chiefs over the Browns
Bears over the Vikes
Jets over the Pack
Chargers over the Bills
Saints over the Niners
Texans over the Raiders
Fish over the Jags
Cowgirls over the Giants
Steelers over the Bucs
Seahawks over the Broncos
Panthers over the Eagles

Movie Review - Casino Royale

Saw the new James Bond over the weekend. First James Bond movie that I've seen in the theatre that didn't star a guy named Pierce Brosnan. So I wasn't too sure how I'd adapt to seeing someone else as Bond. And who was this Daniel Craig fellow anyway? My roommate and I had talked about how we thought Clive Owen would have made a better Bond. But after seeing the movie, I'm glad they didn't choose Owen.

Casino Royale picks up Mr. Bond as he has just achieved his "00" status. As this Bond is a freshly minted "00," he doesn't escape from every situation without a scrape or bruise. He definitely takes his lumps. The opening scene really sets the tone with a fun chase scene through a town and a construction site. The action in the movie is interspersed well throughout the movie and the movie is paced pretty well. Two hours plus zipped by pretty quickly. There was this one torture scene which was kinda on the brutal side, but that was the only part that made me cringe. Bond purists will be disappointed that there is no "Q" this time around, but Dame Judy Dench returns as "M." The Bond girls this go 'round are Penelope Cruz and Eva Green. Cruz is forgettable, Green, not so much...

I liked this movie almost as much as the Spiderman 3 trailer before it. I really think that Craig is the future of the Bond franchise and I can easily envision him doing several more Bond movies. I'm giving this movie a "9" on the ol' rating scale.

I think this is week 13?

Lions over the Fish
Cowboys over the Bucs
Broncos over the Chiefs
Cards over the Vikes
Panthers over the Skins
Bengals over the Browns
Jets over the Texans
Bills over the Jags
Falcons over the Saints
Ravens over the Steelers
Chargers over the Raiders
Rams over the Niners
Bears over the Pats
Giants over the Titans
Colts over the Eagles
Seahawks over the Pack

Going down....

So gambling is now legal in the formerly great state of Pennsylvania. All the progressive folks are excited. And now they're more excited because the house and senate approved a bill allowing for alchohol gratis in the casinos.

Put me down as disappointed.

The People I Love

Thanksgiving is something that I try to celebrate everyday. But I usually only have a turkey dinner with my family once a year. Here's a little poem that I wrote as I was recalling some of the things I'm thankful for. And for a change, it's not a rhyming poem. It's called "The People I Love.".

The people I love
They have many names
They like sports
And they couldn't care less about sports
They remember me
and they forget about me
We can relate
and we can't understand each other
They know too many Monty Python quotes.
I know two.
"Wink, wink, nod, nod, say no more, say no more"
And "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"
They don't like hymns
I do.
They drink whole milk
I drink skim
They like numbers and equations
In two semesters of Accounting I averaged a C-
We're different,
But we're the same.
They're the people I love
And you know your name.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Roxette

As promised, here's a photo of Niners coach Mike Nolan rockin' the suit (courtesy of getty images). No photos yet of Jack Del Rio because the Jags are playing tonight.

Looks pretty sharp, huh?

Kudos also to the Messiah College soccer programs who once again are headed to the D3 soccer final four. Also of note, Wheaton College is sending both it's programs to the final four as well and it is possible that we could play each other for the championship. Both the men and the women.

Review - Stranger Than Fiction

So it's been a while since I've reviewed any movies. Long enough that I can't remember the last movie I reviewed. Thursday night I decided that I was going to go to the movies. I shot an email over to my movie-lovin' friend to see if she was interested in seeing some Will Ferrell, but I didn't hear back from her. So I went by myself. (And lo and behold, I noted at least two other single males in attendance.)

After sitting through previews for the new Will Smith movie and that movie where Cameron Diaz switches homes and boyfriends with Kate Winslet, as well as Mandy Moore's next movie (dig that polka-dot dress!), the movie started.

For those who haven't heard, this movie follows an IRS Auditor (played by Farrell), who begins to hear an audible voice narrating his life. I don't want to give away all of the movie, but I will tell you that he attempts to locate the narrator. This movie is a huge departure from most of the films that Ferrell is known for (gems like Night at the Roxbury, Zoolander, and Anchorman). It's still a comedy, but it's a slightly darker comedy. He makes a good single, aloof IRS employee. This movie also features Dustin Hoffman playing the role of faculty lifeguard and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a baker. It's a quirky little movie that should probably be considered more of an independent movie. But with Ferrell's star-power it has received a much broader release.

I liked it. It wasn't a great movie, but I found it funny, touching, and even inspiring. It made me want to really live each day to the fullest and to seize the day. Not something I think about often, but I'll try to think of it going forward. And I'm going to give this movie an "8."

Week 11 Picks

But before I get to the picks, check out some good news. Those of you who know my fashion sense (i.e. classy), will understand. The downside may be that it's made by Reebok. Look for pictures on Monday!

And the picks:

Rams over the Panthers
Redskins over the Bucs (I'm the eternal optimist)
Saints over the Bengals
Eagles over the Titans
Bears over the Jets
Vikes over the Dolphins
Chiefs over the Raiders
Pats over the Pack
Steelers over the Browns
Ravens over the Falcons
Bills over the Texans
Lions over the Cards
Seahawks over Santa Clara
Colts over the Cowboys
Broncos over the Chargers
Giants over the Jags

Audience Participation

I've got a question for my readers. Here it is:

Will you eat a meal in a restaurant by yourself? Why or why not?

It's probably more applicable for single folks than for marrieds, but everyone's welcome to comment.

I'll start by saying that I don't mind eating a meal by myself in a restaurant. I'm not a super-social person, so I don't need someone everywhere I go. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have some good conversation, but if I'm hungry and I want to eat out, I'm not going to let a lack of people stop me from eating out. Now it may cause me to eat somewhere less expensive (i.e. Atlanta Bread), but I'm still eating. But there is one caveat. I won't eat dessert by myself. That I'll take to go. I can't explain that, except to say perhaps it's more fun eating sugar with others. I dunno.

So how do you feel? Will you ask for a table for one?

We're gonna party like it's your birthday

Okay, special scoop for my readers. Some of you know that "FREE" is my favorite word. Today, I'm going to share with you the free food stuff you can get. Just because it's your birthday.

*Red Robin - it's a burger joint known for it's never-ending french fries. Sign up here for their eClub to receive a free burger on your birthday. AND this year they've also added a free sundae!

*Maggie Moos - the home of wonderful ice cream flavors like chai and apple pie. Sign up for MaggiE-mail to receive coupons throughout the year AND a coupon for a free cone for your birthday.

*Damon's - sports bar with half-price wings during Monday Night Football and a very decent Caesar Salad. Sign up for their eClub to get email updates as well as a free entree on your birthday (with another entree purchase). Plus they'll give you a free coupon just for signing up.

*Macaroni Grill - First italian restaurant chain (to my knowledge) to serve whole wheat pasta. Sign up for their Mac Pack and get a free appetizer just for signing up. Then get a free desert for your birthday!

*Houlihan's - the new kid on the block now open in Hershey. When you sign-up for their list, they'll send you a coupon for a free appetizer. And a free entree on your birthday. No purchase necessary. I actually had lunch at Houlihan's yesterday. It's a nice place. (Ellie, they do a great burger and Caesar Salad combo.)

I should also note that some places will celebrate the anniversary of your email sign-up. Maggie Moos gave me a free shake and Damon's gave me $5 off an entree.

So there ya go. If you know of any other birthday freebies, let me know and I'll post them!

I just don't understand

I can't even begin to fathom this ad that I saw posted on Craigslist today. And let's not even talk about their "selective reduction" requirement.

Make the bad men stop.

The men I'm referring to above are my beloved Redskins. They scored 3 points. They are playing bad. So bad that it is seriously hard to watch them. Why do I want to watch a team go three and out? Or drop catchable balls? Or give up big pass plays?

I think of my friends who are Bills fans and the rough years that they've endured. And I wonder how they did it. Did they put bags over their heads? Did they just not watch?

As a Redskins fan since birth, my loyalties will always lie with the burgundy and gold. But following them this year has been painful. Moreso because Joe Gibbs is at the helm and I really hold him in high-regard. Oh, and he took us to a few Super Bowls. And I know we have a lot of individual talent on the team, but all that talent doesn't appear to be meshing well.

And that is all I have to say about that.

Saturday night

It doesn't happen too often, but last night I was lonely. I don't make a habit of putting myself in an environment where my singleness is magnified. But I really wanted to go see Jars of Clay. And I didn't know anybody who was available or interested in attending. So I went by myself. It wasn't super-sad, but it was kinda sad. And I asked myself this question: Where is my princess?

That's how I think of her you know, as a princess. Not a queen, although in my hierarchy they're pretty much equals (but I think ladies would rather be called princesses than queens - although maybe that's why I'm still single). So I was wondering where she was at. I pray for her. Maybe not as often as I should, but I do. And I know my mom and grandma do as well. The catch of course is in the timing. As well as who she is. Hey, maybe it's Reece Witherspoon. That sounds laughable and I'm sure some of you did laugh. But I'm a dreamer. And a lover.

But I'm better today. No less interested in finding my princess, but much more in control of my feelings. I've been reading Psalm 27 over the past couple of days and the last verse of the chapter is a verse I'm going to work on memorizing. Here's what it says:

Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

And as much as I'm going to want to do it in my own strength, that's the verse that I'm going to try to apply in my quest.

New Spiderman

Spidey 3 trailer here. I like it!

Week 10 Picks

Here's who I'm pickin' for week ten:

ravens over the Titans
Colts over the Bills
Falcons over the Browns
Vikes over the Pack
Texans over the Jags
Chiefs over the Dolphins
Pats over the J-E-T-S
Skins over the Eagles
Lions over the Niners
Chargers over the Bengals
Broncos over the Raiders (again)
Saints over the Steelers
Cowboys over the Cardinals
Rams over the Seahawks
Bears over the Giants
Panthers over the Bucs

What's your stream?

So I finished up the latest Ortberg book over the weekend. There was an interesting chapter on the different "streams" in which we find God. He uses streams do describe the different ways that people can see and hear God in a manner that best relates to them.

Regrettably, I have since returned the book to the library and can't recall all the different streams. I do know that there were seven of them and that one of them was Creation. It stuck out because it's one of the primary ways I find God. It's in the animals. Whenever I see a rabbit, without fail, I will greet it with a "Hello Rabbit!" (and you have to emphasize it the same way that Pooh does when he greets Rabbit - hel-LO RAbbit). When I see the mountains when I'm driving to church, or the sun setting, I see God. I actually wrote an entry on a sunrise last Friday which I hope to post this weekend.

One of the other streams that I recall is an intellectual stream. This one I recall because I have several smart friends. People who like math. And they may find it easier to see God in the intricacies of our world. In equations and theorems.

Anywho, I wish I had kept the book a little longer, or written this a little earlier. But the gist of the chapter was that while there are certain streams where God sticks out to us, our neighbor, friend, spouse might not see it as well as we can. And it's important to remember that they may not see it as clearly as we can.

Oh good, something else

There are many things that I'm good at. This is not one of them.


I tried. Really I did. But it didn't go down all that well. But maybe it's the sort of thing that you have to do a bunch of times before you can figure it out. Or maybe my mathematically-minded friends can get it in the first crack. It's called Sudoku and it has swept the globe. And I am gleaning what was left behind.

**This was not the actual puzzle I attempted initially, but it is one that I have printed out to try.

Oh yeah.

I voted this evening with an electronic voting machine. It was all very exciting. In case you didn't have electronic voting in your precinct/district/country, here's a demo that shows you how these machines work. I asked the poll people if I could take a picture of my voting screen, but they weren't too sure. So I didn't take a picture. But I did get the sticker.

Don't Forget to Vote Today!

I found some actors who made a video to try and impress upon you the importance of voting. So watch and think about your favorite Leonardo DiCaprio movie. And why there's no women in the video.

Good Eats

That right there is some good pizza. Chicago-style, from Giordano's.

Fun Link o' the Day

How many people in the United States share your name? Find out here.

There's two of me.

This weekend's picks. A day early.

Falcons over the Lions
Ravens over the Bengals
Cowboys over the 'Skins (sigh)
Pack over the Bills
Giants over the Texans
Rams over the Chiefs
Saints over the Bucs
Bears over the Dolphins
Titans over the Jags
Vikes over the Niners
Chargers over the Browns
Broncos over the Steelers
Pats over the Colts (this one will be close, but the Pats are at home)
Seahawks over the Raiders