Not as good, but not as bad

Yesterday the Steeelers won - won easily.
A week ago the Steelers lost - lost badly.
There was a significant difference in the quality of the teams they played,
but there was also a significant difference in the way they played.
So the question is:
are they as good as this past Sunday
or as bad as the previous Sunday
or does reality lie somewhere in between?

19 September 2011
Shire on the Hudson

Milk and cookies for Mean Joe

Make sure you have milk and cookies on hand.

Leave them out tomorrow night for Joe Greene.

The Steelers play on Sunday.

No need to thank me.  Just doing my civic duty.

See you along the Trail.

Baylor 50 - TCU 48

Cheerleaders chewed purple fingernails
to the quick as the final drive of the 112th contest
between young men began.
In the midst of the offense and scoring,
a few defensive plays occurred.
Legs seized with cramps
in the Texas heat.
Penalties, stupid, stupid penalties
impacted drives.
Missed field goals early in the game, 
at the time seemingly unimportant,
suddenly mattered,
mattered deeply,
when the first and last interception
sealed the result,
leading some to storm the field,
leaving some to stare in disbelief.
College football!

2 September 2011
Shire on the Hudson

Friendship

The picture is from a couple of years back. I could say it is a bit old, but I realize that would mean that I am a bit older.

I believe this picture was taken by Tiffany Gonzales at a party at her house. Football might have been involved.

What is most important at this moment - is that friendship is definitely involved.

My friend Irene recently endured a very hateful incident. She has had the grace and courage and faith and hope and trust to share her pain and process her pain publicly on Facebook.

A number of her friends have responded with statements of support, long-distance hugs, and prayers. Tonight I decided that, in addition to my words, I would post this picture of Irene and me.

I am honored and grateful to be her friend. I give thanks for Irene and for all who share this journey with me.

See you along the Trail.

2011 Preseason Football

The reminder icon started bouncing - much less annoying than usual because of the event in question.

The NFL Audio pass subscription has been entered. With some work it the audio broadcast has been turned on.

The problems and challenges inherent to football remain.
 
It's the preseason - but it's a preseason that many thought might not happen.

But it's football. And it's the Steelers.

And away we go.

See you along the Trail.

Glover, Steelers, oldies, taxes

As well as not taking care of myself, other things have been going on.

We have had a couple of seminars at the office that went well.

I have gone through a Danny Glover phase of movies: Honeydripper (Glover plays the owner of the Honeydripper Lounge in the 1950s who is struggling to keep his club going)and Gospel Hill (Glover plays the son of a martyred Civil Rights leader who is reborn and brought back to the struggle). Both are fairly interesting flicks - nothing outstanding, but solid.

Saturday saw the Steelers game - a rather amazing comeback in the second half. Several analysts suggest that the Ravens choked. I tend to go with the opinion that the Steelers came alive and took back the game - particularly on defense. They have some young wide receivers who are coming into their own. Should be an interesting match-up with the Jets on Sunday.

I have been watching some old movies on Roku. Nothing worth commenting on.

Got my own computer - a Lenovo. Probably should write this blog on that page in the future.

Started work on taxes - always a highlight of the year.

See you along the trail.

Bowl Championship Series Championship Game

Not sure that makes a lot of sense, but it is the way things are done in Division I (or whatever they call it) football these days. It is actually proving to be a very good game. Different than what was expected, it is a defensive struggle.

Ricky's present finally arrived, a great relief. Especially since it is such a good cause.

Ordered a computer. It will be good to have one that does not belong to the Center - one that can be used for taxes and financial records and iTunes. Hopefully the mail order deal will work. Got a Lenovo since that is what Eric has and it works well.

Watched a National Geographic special on Lewis and Clark while getting ready for work this morning.

Tomorrow is an early day as a group from Virginia Tech is coming in. After that it is a sprint to the end of the day.

Now have 4 days at the gym, over 10,000 steps, and eating well in a row.

See you along the trail.

Random Ws

Worshiped at Church of the Covenant. A small congregation. Good spirit. Reminded me of Shannon City United Methodist Church which in Iowa.

Watched part of Ravens-Chiefs game but really took a nap.

Went to the gym. Walked on the treadmill. Seven days in a row of eating right. Three days in a row - feet are starting to feel better. Blood sugar reading starting to be consistently normal.

Washed clothes. Dried them, too.

Watched Packers-Ravens game on the treadmill.

Watched Bordertown, a rather harrowing look at events in Juarez where women are being killed way too often.

Wondering about rematch between Steelers and Ravens.

Will see you along the trail.

Meeting with the Committee on Ministry

The highlight of the day was a meeting with the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of New York City - a step in transferring membership. It was actually quite enjoyable. Lots of questions - but fun questions to answer. I believe that seeds were planted for future conversations as well. I think that gathering small groups of folk to talk about ways to partner in ministry may be worth pursuing.

In terms of goals - I ate well again; got a normal blood sugar reading; and walked 10,236 steps. I have not gone to the gym or engaged in concerted walking as I have a couple of sore spots on my feet. I am taking care of them and am seeing some progress so hopefully the exercise/walking will commence soon.

I got home from the COM meeting soon enough to watch Ohio State play in the Sugar Bowl. It would really be good for them to win - or at least I know many folk who would like that - I assume there are many folk who would like Arkansas to win, I just don't know as many in that position. Things started really well, but the tension is rising. Ohio State just went on fourth down and came up short giving Arkansas good field position. This could ugly for Buckeye fans.

Tomorrow there is a meeting with the Eckerd College group; then I will do some work on the Interfaith Harmony Week; and then head to Louisville where I will stay in the Shire West for one night with a CPJ coordinators' meeting on Thursday.

The Duke and the Dude

Slept in - again. I am truly liking that.

Eric and I went to see True Grit. Glad I saw it - I had somehow expected more. It was good - but I do not think it was the Coen brothers' best - at least it is not my favorite among their work.

Hailee Steinfeld was outstanding. Jeff Bridges is a better actor than John Wayne; but for this role I prefer the Duke to the Dude. Matt Damon was quite good. It seemed like some of the supporting players were almost trying to channel those who appeared in the original - particularly in terms of their voices and speaking patterns. There was some amazing scenery. A good way to spend part of an afternoon, but not a keeper - at least until I find it used and cheap somewhere.

Shopping followed. Eric and I went to Aldi to pick up supplies for Sunday's football game: Steelers v. Browns. The VanRoosDales and Francis and family will be coming over.

Then to dinner at Battiste & Dupree Cajun Grill. Quite good. We consumed a lot of shrimp between the three of us. I can't find a Web page to give them a shout out, but they are on Warrensville Center in South Euclid - 1992 Warrensville Center Rd.

Eric then headed to Solon to bring in 2011 with the cousins. Tricia and I are watching football. I am reading Fanny Kemble's Civil Wars. Pretty good.

Tomorrow brings lots of football - and games that I actually care about as opposed to games for the sake of watching football.

All in all, a good day. No wild critters spotted in the back yard, but a good day.

See you along the trail.

A potpourri day

Did several little things today:

Some work on advocacy related to child soldiers - preparing to send Red Hands to missions at the United Nations urging them to have their respective governments ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict.

Met with Francis and Isaac on the Dougbe River Presbyterian School of Liberia project. It is heartwarming to see this come together.

Took a load of books to the Half-Price Bookstore.

Got my hairs cut - at least the few that are left on my head and the many that are part of my beard.

Watched football (bowls) and basketball (Duke).

Called a potential musician for the prayer service on Sudan.

Watched The Untouchables while working on the child soldiers project.

Wrote thank-you cards.

Sean got to Madison last night and Eric went to Solon overnight and came back today.

Tomorrow - movies? And what else the day might bring.

Whatever that may be, see you along the trail.

Games played; games watched

Today was a games day - once everyone woke up.

We played Scrabble - Sean designed an Excel spreadsheet score card. Pretty cool.

Eric continued to win - I may have picked up one.

Sean left for CLE to return to Madison. I haven't checked his schedule but I assume he is there by now. Eric went to Solon to hang with his cousins. They enjoy doing that.

This led to me watching football. NC State beat WVU - thought the Mountaineers might do better. The Vikings upset the Eagles - did not see that one coming. Iowa and Missouri are now playing - Iowa has the lead which is a surprise - but good for those who once lived in Diagonal.

Slipped some work in between Sean leaving and football beginning. During commercials and long half-time shows, I watched a fair hunk of the second and third Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Tomorrow - another day to sleep in - another day to do some work.

See you along the trail.

Toward the end of an era

It has been almost two months since my last post. Numerous trips between the Shire East and the Shire West have occurred.

I have been at the Shire West since December 8. There were meetings - a wonderful celebration (including a fair imitation of lembas) led by my colleagues in the Peacemaking Program (Tricia and I made the run to Costco to buy many of the other supplies) - a great dinner at Havana Rumba with good friends - a football game won and a football game lost.

Mostly there has been transition - pretty relentless transition - working to prepare the Shire West to go on the market. Home repair is no where near the top of my list of either things I enjoy or things I do well - even when my primary role (well, pretty much my only role) is writing checks or making runs to Home Depot.

It is made more than a tad bittersweet because this marks the end of an era.

Tonight's movie - 3 Godfathers - John Wayne does Christmas.

Tomorrow - Cleveland.

Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Day 1

Accomplishments for the day:
(1) Made it to office via subway
(2) Obtained United Nations pass (with much assistance from Ricky)

Other work for day:
(1) Collected names for program review
(2) Participated in visit of delegation from Sudan - really an observer of sorts - pray for peace
(3) Began to envision Web update
(4) Began to read wonderful notes left by Jessica
(5) Worked on getting a new computer
(6) Continued wardrobe upgrade

Spectacular thunderstorm this evening - marveling at it and worrying about those who are in it.

Listened to Monday Night Football on Field Pass.

At the Shire

September 8
Travel day. Arrived at the Shire in the middle of the afternoon. Went to the gym. 12,395 steps.

September 9
Travel day. Went to Stony Point for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship's National Committee meeting. Walked around Stony Point. 11,841 steps.

September 10
At Stony Point. Walked around at Stony Point. 11,612.

September 11
Travel day. Most walking took place in the Charlotte Airport. It is actually a pretty good place for that. 10,251 steps.

September 12
Back at the Shire. Football started! Watched Steelers at Buffalo Wild Wings. Overate. But Steelers won. Made it to the gym. 10, 318 steps.

September 13
In the office for the first day in a long time. Went to gym - watched a bit of Ravens-Jets game. 12,749 steps.

Hope to get back to posting more regularly.

Today is another day

The movie in the Cardio Theater today was Silverado. I came in at the very end. They then restarted it. I realized that I had never seen the beginning of the movie. Fascinating. Apparently I had only seen bits and pieces from the middle and end of the movie. I did not see it in the theater and I had never rented it. Must have caught it on the tube. Seeing it from the beginning a whole lot of things that I remembered made a whole lot more sense.

I did the walking at the gym. Made 10553 steps. But this evening I ate too many pistachios and a couple of protein bars. At least if I had to overeat it was with reasonably healthy food - better than Doritos or Twinkies.

Tomorrow will be another day - or I guess today will since this is after midnight.

Checked out the football this weekend - even though the Steelers are no longer playing. I guess I will become a Saints fan at this point. Why? Tricia organized a trip to New Orleans for her family at Christmas. It was a great time. Sean and cousin Adam did some heavy-duty bonding during the Saints overtime loss to Tampa Bay. I watched it while listening to the Steelers beat the Ravens.It's not a permanent thing - but at least during the playoffs.

M

This was another day when the goal of 10,000 steps made me walk more in order to meet it. I finished with 10,061.That makes 4 out of 5 days when I have met the goal. I did pretty well eating today, too.

The movie at Louisville Athletic Club was GoldenEye. They appear to be in a James Bond phase.

I was surprised to see Judi Dench playing the role of M. I had not realized that she moved into the role that early. She was M in four films before the series reboot with Casino Royale.

Pierce Brosnan was Bond. James Bond. He never really worked for me in that role although I thought he was great in Evelyn and a number of other films.

Tomorrow's movie is Silverado. Football again in the afternoon.

A lot of steps left on the dresser

This morning began a bit later than recent days, sleeping in until about 9:30. I headed over to the gym not too much later. This time, I knew I would pass on the movie (Wedding Singer). I listened to the new cds from New Orleans. Great stuff!

On our Christmas trip to New Orleans, there was music everywhere - at least in the French Quarter. Music blared out of bars and various other institutions of entertainment. But there were also street musicians. It was like having a soundtrack for the trip.

Since it was a weekend, I stayed a bit longer on the treadmill than usual and did 2.6 miles. A blister seems to be developing on one of my feet so tomorrow's trip may be a bit shorter.

In the afternoon, a friend and I went to Costco. I have discovered a need for new blue jeans (the one pair I own is too big - I have enough pairs of what pass for dress pants in my life) and a belt. There are issues keeping my pants up. An intriguing problem to have on this journey.

Blue jeans and a belt were not found, but a number of other items were ranging from salmon burgers to pistachios to drain opener. Lots of walking took place - but the pedometer - and all those steps - had been left on my dresser. Sigh. I totaled 7,148 without them and would have probably exceeded the 10,000 goal had I worn it.

This evening I went to watch the Cowboys with friends - who are Cowboy fans. A good time for them!

Eating went pretty well. Chili in the bar.