Friday, January 04, 2008
VT.... what are we going to do?
We have been to 3 BCS Bowl Games and have lost all of them. I'm sad but I think we will be ok. There's always next season. I'm going to start saving for the National Championship in Miami on Jan 8, 2009.
Trying to run again....
I really tore myself up with that half-marathon 3 months ago. I ran 4 miles this morning and thought I was going to die...
My Birthday Present
My friend S. gave me a lovely birthday present. It is a bulb in a pot. I planted it immediately when i got home on 12/16. Here is what it looks like today. YEA!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
To heat or not - that is the question
So... Capitol Swell says that it is bad to keep pastries and croissants under a heat lamp but that muffins are ok.
I disagree. I think we need to break this down even more.
There is a fundamental difference between pastries with filling (fruit or dairy based) and pastries without filling. (Also please note - bagels and donuts are not included in this discussion.)
Pastries with filling can really hurt you if they are hot. I have burnt my tounge more than once on a poptart.
Pastries without filling such as muffins AND croissants are better when warm. This is a fundamental truth.
I'm not sure what else I need to say about this.
I disagree. I think we need to break this down even more.
There is a fundamental difference between pastries with filling (fruit or dairy based) and pastries without filling. (Also please note - bagels and donuts are not included in this discussion.)
Pastries with filling can really hurt you if they are hot. I have burnt my tounge more than once on a poptart.
Pastries without filling such as muffins AND croissants are better when warm. This is a fundamental truth.
I'm not sure what else I need to say about this.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
My turn at the helm...
Well... it has been a while since it was my job to hold down the fort until last votes. I guess it could be worse. It looks like i will get out of here by 8 and hopefully be on the 8:40 train. I was hoping the boss would tell me to just go home - but no dice. Honestly - if we worked until midnight today and tomorrow just so we don't have to work on Saturday I totally would. Working on the weekends is BS. There should be no need for it. Of course, now that we are going to vote on a CR that will take us to 12/21 then maybe there isn't a need to work on Saturday. I hope so.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
My Birthday
I turned the big 31 the other day. Woo Hoo. No one cares when you turn 31. Last year was cool b/c we had a huge party and everyone was there and I had a great time. This year was still nice (got a great present from S.O. - going to see Ave. Q @ the Hipprodrome) but a lot less exciting. I guess every birthday can't be a huge party... S.O. and I had a lovely dinner at Pazza Luna and then went out for drinks with N & C at Captain Larry's. I can't wait for the smoke ban to go into effect. My clothes smelled like ASS. I had to leave them in the hallway b/c i didn't want them stinking up my bedroom. 50 days to go. Ban goes into effect on February 1, 2008. Gosh i can't wait!
Vick Sentenced
So, Michael Vick was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 23 months and 29 days in jail for his crimes. I don't have much to say about this other than I understand b/c of sentencing guidlines that it was unlikely he would get less time than his "co-defendents" but it still makes you think about what is wrong with our judicial system when someone convicted of RAPE and MANSLAUGHTER against a HUMAN BEING gets less time in jail than someone who committed crimes against ANIMALS. I love animals. I think Vick got what he deserved - But i also think that we need to seriously think about increasing the penalities for crimes committed against humans - rather than lowering them for crimes against animals.
I pretty much agree with everything in the following article.
The Sentence Reflects the Lies
By Michael Wilbon
Tuesday, December 11, 2007; E01
ATLANTA -- It caught most of us by surprise, the length of the sentence handed down Monday, when perhaps it shouldn't have. When two of his co-conspirators were sentenced a few weeks back to 18 and 21 months respectively, we should have known Michael Vick wasn't going to get a year or 15 months. He wasn't going to get less jail time than the people who delivered him to the feds. He wasn't going to get less jail time when it was his money that financed the dogfighting enterprise that was his undoing.
Maybe we were caught by surprise because we thought there was still a little bit of influence left in Vick's name, because he reported to jail before it was time, because he's a celebrity athlete and we're accustomed to most people in the culture being lenient when it comes to the rich and famous, or perhaps because the St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little got only 90 days in the city workhouse and four years probation for killing a motorist when driving while drunk, which turned into an involuntary manslaughter plea.
The talk turned, very prematurely we can see now, to whether Vick could be back for the 2009 season, maybe even by minicamp that spring. Clearly, none of this mattered to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who sentenced Vick to 23 months in a federal prison. It was a stunner to digest, from the time assessed to the fact that Vick was dressed in black-and-white prison garb instead of one of his own suits, which a whole lot of hardened criminals are allowed to wear to sentencing. Immediately, it seemed downright excessive and meant to embarrass. More serious crimes yield smaller sentences all the time, every day really. In fact, the entire reaction to Vick's heinous behavior at times has seemed excessive in the context of crimes like rape and manslaughter.
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape, yet he and his crime didn't generate anything close to the outrage of the Vick case. I have no tolerance for what Vick did, from financing the enterprise to actually killing dogs. Jail is where he deserves to be. But have we really come to the point, agitated by the frighteningly influential animal rights lobbyists, where an animal's well-being is more important than a woman's? It's sad if our priorities are that twisted. The reaction to Vick's crime reached a feeding frenzy that seems to ignore all context.
I was reminded by multiple lawyers Monday night, one in my own family, that it needs to be restated that Vick's crime was a federal offense, carrying mandatory sentencing guidelines. There was virtually no chance he'd receive less jail time than his co-conspirators. And it's a near-certainty that Vick, once again, made his own situation worse by lying.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, drained by the day's ordeal before the start of the Falcons-Saints game, told me just before kickoff that, from all the information he solicited, Hudson "is incredibly thoughtful, bright and fair. And there's information we weren't privy to that drove him to his decision on this." It was impossible to not see the disappointment on Blank's face, like a parent who is angry with his child but in despair nonetheless. On the topic of whether the sentence was excessive, Blank lamented that "Michael had been something less than forthcoming since his plea agreement."
In other words, Vick simply lied too many times. He lied about whether he actually killed any dogs, then admitted to hanging two. Testing positive for marijuana certainly hurt. Vick failed an FBI polygraph and lied about a positive marijuana test in September. In fact, Hudson told Vick in court Monday afternoon, "I'm not convinced you've fully accepted responsibility."
In other words, the early surrender, the public apology, the participation in an animal sensitivity training course might have impressed PETA to some degree, but it was not enough for the judge to outweigh Vick's constant lying, going all the way back to the spring of 2007 when he lied to Blank and to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the depth of his involvement. Vick was denied an "acceptance of responsibility" credit that could have reduced his sentence. Reportedly, federal prosecutors opposed giving him the credit.
In other words, every time Vick could have done himself some good, he lied or failed to take responsibility for his actions. Seeing that, Hudson nailed him.
It's fair to wonder now at what point Vick will take responsibility -- and not in some phony public relations way. This doesn't have anything to do with the NFL and what the commissioner's office thinks. It doesn't matter to me at the moment whether Michael Vick comes back as a quarterback or a running back, to the Falcons or Raiders, or whether he comes back at all.
For essentially the next two years Michael Vick will be incarcerated, not free to come and go as he pleases. At some point you have to hope Vick comes to realize the key to his future isn't what Hudson thinks, or what Blank or Goodell or those who will excuse him any act feel, but whether Vick understands that it's going to be difficult to build any kind of tolerable future without coming to grips with his recent past.
I pretty much agree with everything in the following article.
The Sentence Reflects the Lies
By Michael Wilbon
Tuesday, December 11, 2007; E01
ATLANTA -- It caught most of us by surprise, the length of the sentence handed down Monday, when perhaps it shouldn't have. When two of his co-conspirators were sentenced a few weeks back to 18 and 21 months respectively, we should have known Michael Vick wasn't going to get a year or 15 months. He wasn't going to get less jail time than the people who delivered him to the feds. He wasn't going to get less jail time when it was his money that financed the dogfighting enterprise that was his undoing.
Maybe we were caught by surprise because we thought there was still a little bit of influence left in Vick's name, because he reported to jail before it was time, because he's a celebrity athlete and we're accustomed to most people in the culture being lenient when it comes to the rich and famous, or perhaps because the St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little got only 90 days in the city workhouse and four years probation for killing a motorist when driving while drunk, which turned into an involuntary manslaughter plea.
The talk turned, very prematurely we can see now, to whether Vick could be back for the 2009 season, maybe even by minicamp that spring. Clearly, none of this mattered to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who sentenced Vick to 23 months in a federal prison. It was a stunner to digest, from the time assessed to the fact that Vick was dressed in black-and-white prison garb instead of one of his own suits, which a whole lot of hardened criminals are allowed to wear to sentencing. Immediately, it seemed downright excessive and meant to embarrass. More serious crimes yield smaller sentences all the time, every day really. In fact, the entire reaction to Vick's heinous behavior at times has seemed excessive in the context of crimes like rape and manslaughter.
Mike Tyson was convicted of rape, yet he and his crime didn't generate anything close to the outrage of the Vick case. I have no tolerance for what Vick did, from financing the enterprise to actually killing dogs. Jail is where he deserves to be. But have we really come to the point, agitated by the frighteningly influential animal rights lobbyists, where an animal's well-being is more important than a woman's? It's sad if our priorities are that twisted. The reaction to Vick's crime reached a feeding frenzy that seems to ignore all context.
I was reminded by multiple lawyers Monday night, one in my own family, that it needs to be restated that Vick's crime was a federal offense, carrying mandatory sentencing guidelines. There was virtually no chance he'd receive less jail time than his co-conspirators. And it's a near-certainty that Vick, once again, made his own situation worse by lying.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank, drained by the day's ordeal before the start of the Falcons-Saints game, told me just before kickoff that, from all the information he solicited, Hudson "is incredibly thoughtful, bright and fair. And there's information we weren't privy to that drove him to his decision on this." It was impossible to not see the disappointment on Blank's face, like a parent who is angry with his child but in despair nonetheless. On the topic of whether the sentence was excessive, Blank lamented that "Michael had been something less than forthcoming since his plea agreement."
In other words, Vick simply lied too many times. He lied about whether he actually killed any dogs, then admitted to hanging two. Testing positive for marijuana certainly hurt. Vick failed an FBI polygraph and lied about a positive marijuana test in September. In fact, Hudson told Vick in court Monday afternoon, "I'm not convinced you've fully accepted responsibility."
In other words, the early surrender, the public apology, the participation in an animal sensitivity training course might have impressed PETA to some degree, but it was not enough for the judge to outweigh Vick's constant lying, going all the way back to the spring of 2007 when he lied to Blank and to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the depth of his involvement. Vick was denied an "acceptance of responsibility" credit that could have reduced his sentence. Reportedly, federal prosecutors opposed giving him the credit.
In other words, every time Vick could have done himself some good, he lied or failed to take responsibility for his actions. Seeing that, Hudson nailed him.
It's fair to wonder now at what point Vick will take responsibility -- and not in some phony public relations way. This doesn't have anything to do with the NFL and what the commissioner's office thinks. It doesn't matter to me at the moment whether Michael Vick comes back as a quarterback or a running back, to the Falcons or Raiders, or whether he comes back at all.
For essentially the next two years Michael Vick will be incarcerated, not free to come and go as he pleases. At some point you have to hope Vick comes to realize the key to his future isn't what Hudson thinks, or what Blank or Goodell or those who will excuse him any act feel, but whether Vick understands that it's going to be difficult to build any kind of tolerable future without coming to grips with his recent past.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Pooped On - AGAIN
look, i'm not crazy. They really are after me. We had a fire alarm pulled in my building this morning and so i went across the street to another building and just hung outside under the awning for the "all clear." As i'm waiting i get pooped on. AAAHHH!!! At least I was wearing a hat - but still - how gross.
I am not imagining this. They really are after me. It's happened before....
I am not imagining this. They really are after me. It's happened before....
Trying to get back into it....
I've been starting to run again. It is taking a really long time for me to recover from the half-marathon. It's been almost 2 months and i an only now starting to get myself back together.
My knees and ankles are killing me.
On Sunday I ran to the Fort and 2 times around before I had to head home (it was freezing cold!) This morning at the gym I ran 4.4 miles in 50 minutes (starting with a 2 minute walk, ran 20 min, walked 2 min, ran 25 min, walked 1 min). I really wanted to go further but my legs were killing me. I'm going to try again Friday morning and see how i do.
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is coming up in April. Sign-up is next week. I really want to do it.
We'll see.
My knees and ankles are killing me.
On Sunday I ran to the Fort and 2 times around before I had to head home (it was freezing cold!) This morning at the gym I ran 4.4 miles in 50 minutes (starting with a 2 minute walk, ran 20 min, walked 2 min, ran 25 min, walked 1 min). I really wanted to go further but my legs were killing me. I'm going to try again Friday morning and see how i do.
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is coming up in April. Sign-up is next week. I really want to do it.
We'll see.
Monday, December 03, 2007
YEA VT!
We beat Boston College in the ACC Championship Game and we will be playing Kansas in the Orange Bowl on January 3rd. I was attending a baby shower at the same time the game was on so I didn't see much of it. It was on the TV but the sound was low and with so much going on during the party that it was difficult to focus on the game. I did hear the last 5 minutes or so on the radio on my way home. YEA! We are going into our bowl game ranked # 3 in the country!! How awesome is that!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Inspired Thankful
Inspired by Capitol Swell's list - here is what I am thankful for this year...
good health
my family
my fiancee
good friends who will shoot this shit with you and the next minute be there for you when you need them
my kitties
Virginia Tech
Italian wine
my auto insurance company - refund baby!
good Dem candidates for President
the Chinese food place that delivers even though we can't be google mapped yet
my Good Housekeeping Cookbook
Diet Coke
.....
good health
my family
my fiancee
good friends who will shoot this shit with you and the next minute be there for you when you need them
my kitties
Virginia Tech
Italian wine
my auto insurance company - refund baby!
good Dem candidates for President
the Chinese food place that delivers even though we can't be google mapped yet
my Good Housekeeping Cookbook
Diet Coke
.....
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Go VT!
We beat UVA today. YEA! They took the lead once for a few minutes but then we came back and kicked their behinds.
Next Saturday at 1 pm we will be playing Boston College for the ACC Championship. Sweet.
The only thing that sux is that I won't get to watch the game. I will be attending a friend's baby shower - which is occuring at the exact same time. I plan to TIVO the game but i doubt i will watch it unless something really crazy happens. I've given S.O. a pass so that he can watch the game instead of attend the baby shower (it is a coed shower).
He owes me big time.
Hokies win Coastal division with 33-21 defeat of UVa
Tech gets rematch with Boston College in ACC title game
November 24, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Looking for an ACC title game bid with a slim two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Virginia Tech Hokies scored 10 unanswered points in the final period to clinch the ACC's Coastal division and punch their tickets to Jacksonville, earning a 33-21 win over rival Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium.
With the triumph, the No. 8 Hokies (10-2, 7-1 ACC) secured a rematch with Boston College in next Saturday's ACC Championship game, which is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Tech also recorded 10 wins for the fourth consecutive season, beat the No. 16 Cavaliers (9-3, 6-2 ACC) for the eighth time in nine tries, and improved to 15-1 in ACC road games since joining the conference four years ago.
"We need to give our seniors a lot of credit," Tech head coach Frank Beamer said after the victory. "I think they are the first group to get 10 wins in all four years, and to beat a team like Virginia all four years is an accomplishment, too. The turnovers kind of got us in trouble but you've got to live with those. The big plays kind of got us, but we made some big plays ourselves.
"I'm proud of that too," Beamer said of the 15-1 road mark. "I always preach that it doesn't matter where you play, when you play or who you play; we need to play the same way with consistency. I think we have kids who like the challenge of going into a visiting stadium and taking the crowd out of the game."
Statistically, Tech tailback Branden Ore broke out with his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season, tallying 147 yards on 31 carries. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor recorded 17 yards on nine carries including two scores, and in the highly successful two-quarterback system for the Hokies, Sean Glennon enjoyed another solid day, completing 13-of-19 for 260 yards and a touchdown. Split end Josh Morgan hauled in four balls for 75 yards, while flanker Josh Hyman caught four for 63. Defensively, Cam Martin registered nine tackles, while Vince Hall, Brandon Flowers, Chris Ellis and Barry Booker each made seven stops. Five of Booker's tackles were for a loss.
Virginia Tech opened the game with some trickery after forcing a Virginia punt. On the return, Eddie Royal pitched the ball to Justin Harper on a reverse, and 43 yards later, Harper was out of bounds at the UVa 41 with great field position for the Hokies. An 8-yard run by Branden Ore was sandwiched by a pair of catches by Royal - a 16-yarder from Glennon and an 8-yarder from Taylor - before Taylor took the ball into the end zone from nine yards out to give Tech a 7-0 lead at 12:12 of the first quarter.
The Hokies increased their lead to 10-0 on their next possession, when at 5:47 from 20 yards out, Jud Dunlevy hit his first of four field goals on the day to cap a 12-play, 65-yard drive that lasted 5:23.
"He's been a big part of our football team," Beamer said of his kicker, who now has 21 field goals on the season, one shy of the school record of 22 held by Shayne Graham and Chris Kinzer. "He's been solid as a rock."
The Cavaliers countered on the ensuing drive to cut the margin to three. On third-and-10 from his own 28, UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell connected on back-to-back 22-yard passes - the first to Maurice Covington and the second to Jonathan Stupar - to the move the ball to the Tech 28. After another 1-yard completion to Stupar, tailback Mikell Simpson busted up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown run at 2:37. Chris Gould's PAT made it a 10-7 game.
The Hokies didn't waste much time getting Dunlevy back into field goal range, as 1:53 later with 34 seconds on the first-quarter clock, he drilled a 37-yarder to give Tech a 13-7 lead. The drive was keyed by a 56-yard bomb from Glennon to Royal on the opening snap, and was one of six catches for a career-high 147 yards in the contest for the senior flanker.
Royal and the Hokies tried to continue their creativity on their first possession of the second quarter, when Royal attempted a pass on another trick play. His pass was under thrown and picked off by UVa's Chris Cook, who returned it to the Tech 48. Seven plays later, Sewell ran it in from eight yards out and Gould hit his PAT to put the Cavaliers on top 14-13 with 6:35 left in the half.
The Hokies, however, were able to get the momentum back right before the intermission. Virginia was again threatening in Tech territory when Brandon Flowers jumped Sewell's pass with a diving interception - his fifth of the season - at the Tech 35. After a 26-yard completion from Glennon to Josh Morgan, Royal made up for his miscue by hauling in a 39-yard scoring pass from Glennon with 12 seconds remaining for his third touchdown catch of the year. Dunlevy's PAT gave the Hokies a 20-14 lead at the half.
"It was the game plan - we saw a match-up that we liked and we kept going at it," Royal said of his big day. "That's why I came to Virginia Tech - to make plays like that. [On the touchdown], the ball almost knocked me down it was such a good throw. That play was all Sean Glennon."
Dunlevy's third trifecta of the game was set up when freshman Davon Morgan blocked a punt from the UVa 38 that the Hokies recovered at the 26. It was just the second blocked kick of the season for the Hokies, with the last one coming from Stephan Virgil on a punt in the Duke game. Dunlevy extended the Tech lead to 23-14 at 7:51 with a 29-yarder.
The Cavaliers' final score of the game, like its second, was set up by a Hokie turnover. This time, UVa's Chris Long sacked Glennon and forced a fumble that was picked up by UVa's Antonio Appleby at the Tech 28. Seven plays later, Sewell battled into the end zone from the 2-yard line for his second rushing score of the day. Gould's PAT at 2:51 made the score 23-21 and kept the outcome in doubt heading into the final period.
The Hokies erased that doubt, however, with 11:50 remaining when Taylor rushed for his second touchdown of the game to cap an eight-play, 68-yard drive. His designed draw up the middle was denied on third-and-goal from the UVa 5, but the freshman improvised and beat a Cavalier defender in a foot race to the pylon to give Tech a 30-21 advantage.
Dunlevy set the final score with a 26-yard field goal at 4:26 to set up Tech's battle with Boston College, which stole an improbable 14-10 victory from the Hokies at Lane Stadium back on Oct. 25th.
"Now that we've got 'em, we've got to figure out how to beat 'em," Beamer said of the rematch with the Eagles for all the marbles. "That's a big ballgame for us, but it's the one we worked so hard to get to. Now it's time to take care of business."
Next Saturday at 1 pm we will be playing Boston College for the ACC Championship. Sweet.
The only thing that sux is that I won't get to watch the game. I will be attending a friend's baby shower - which is occuring at the exact same time. I plan to TIVO the game but i doubt i will watch it unless something really crazy happens. I've given S.O. a pass so that he can watch the game instead of attend the baby shower (it is a coed shower).
He owes me big time.
Hokies win Coastal division with 33-21 defeat of UVa
Tech gets rematch with Boston College in ACC title game
November 24, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Looking for an ACC title game bid with a slim two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Virginia Tech Hokies scored 10 unanswered points in the final period to clinch the ACC's Coastal division and punch their tickets to Jacksonville, earning a 33-21 win over rival Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium.
With the triumph, the No. 8 Hokies (10-2, 7-1 ACC) secured a rematch with Boston College in next Saturday's ACC Championship game, which is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Tech also recorded 10 wins for the fourth consecutive season, beat the No. 16 Cavaliers (9-3, 6-2 ACC) for the eighth time in nine tries, and improved to 15-1 in ACC road games since joining the conference four years ago.
"We need to give our seniors a lot of credit," Tech head coach Frank Beamer said after the victory. "I think they are the first group to get 10 wins in all four years, and to beat a team like Virginia all four years is an accomplishment, too. The turnovers kind of got us in trouble but you've got to live with those. The big plays kind of got us, but we made some big plays ourselves.
"I'm proud of that too," Beamer said of the 15-1 road mark. "I always preach that it doesn't matter where you play, when you play or who you play; we need to play the same way with consistency. I think we have kids who like the challenge of going into a visiting stadium and taking the crowd out of the game."
Statistically, Tech tailback Branden Ore broke out with his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season, tallying 147 yards on 31 carries. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor recorded 17 yards on nine carries including two scores, and in the highly successful two-quarterback system for the Hokies, Sean Glennon enjoyed another solid day, completing 13-of-19 for 260 yards and a touchdown. Split end Josh Morgan hauled in four balls for 75 yards, while flanker Josh Hyman caught four for 63. Defensively, Cam Martin registered nine tackles, while Vince Hall, Brandon Flowers, Chris Ellis and Barry Booker each made seven stops. Five of Booker's tackles were for a loss.
Virginia Tech opened the game with some trickery after forcing a Virginia punt. On the return, Eddie Royal pitched the ball to Justin Harper on a reverse, and 43 yards later, Harper was out of bounds at the UVa 41 with great field position for the Hokies. An 8-yard run by Branden Ore was sandwiched by a pair of catches by Royal - a 16-yarder from Glennon and an 8-yarder from Taylor - before Taylor took the ball into the end zone from nine yards out to give Tech a 7-0 lead at 12:12 of the first quarter.
The Hokies increased their lead to 10-0 on their next possession, when at 5:47 from 20 yards out, Jud Dunlevy hit his first of four field goals on the day to cap a 12-play, 65-yard drive that lasted 5:23.
"He's been a big part of our football team," Beamer said of his kicker, who now has 21 field goals on the season, one shy of the school record of 22 held by Shayne Graham and Chris Kinzer. "He's been solid as a rock."
The Cavaliers countered on the ensuing drive to cut the margin to three. On third-and-10 from his own 28, UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell connected on back-to-back 22-yard passes - the first to Maurice Covington and the second to Jonathan Stupar - to the move the ball to the Tech 28. After another 1-yard completion to Stupar, tailback Mikell Simpson busted up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown run at 2:37. Chris Gould's PAT made it a 10-7 game.
The Hokies didn't waste much time getting Dunlevy back into field goal range, as 1:53 later with 34 seconds on the first-quarter clock, he drilled a 37-yarder to give Tech a 13-7 lead. The drive was keyed by a 56-yard bomb from Glennon to Royal on the opening snap, and was one of six catches for a career-high 147 yards in the contest for the senior flanker.
Royal and the Hokies tried to continue their creativity on their first possession of the second quarter, when Royal attempted a pass on another trick play. His pass was under thrown and picked off by UVa's Chris Cook, who returned it to the Tech 48. Seven plays later, Sewell ran it in from eight yards out and Gould hit his PAT to put the Cavaliers on top 14-13 with 6:35 left in the half.
The Hokies, however, were able to get the momentum back right before the intermission. Virginia was again threatening in Tech territory when Brandon Flowers jumped Sewell's pass with a diving interception - his fifth of the season - at the Tech 35. After a 26-yard completion from Glennon to Josh Morgan, Royal made up for his miscue by hauling in a 39-yard scoring pass from Glennon with 12 seconds remaining for his third touchdown catch of the year. Dunlevy's PAT gave the Hokies a 20-14 lead at the half.
"It was the game plan - we saw a match-up that we liked and we kept going at it," Royal said of his big day. "That's why I came to Virginia Tech - to make plays like that. [On the touchdown], the ball almost knocked me down it was such a good throw. That play was all Sean Glennon."
Dunlevy's third trifecta of the game was set up when freshman Davon Morgan blocked a punt from the UVa 38 that the Hokies recovered at the 26. It was just the second blocked kick of the season for the Hokies, with the last one coming from Stephan Virgil on a punt in the Duke game. Dunlevy extended the Tech lead to 23-14 at 7:51 with a 29-yarder.
The Cavaliers' final score of the game, like its second, was set up by a Hokie turnover. This time, UVa's Chris Long sacked Glennon and forced a fumble that was picked up by UVa's Antonio Appleby at the Tech 28. Seven plays later, Sewell battled into the end zone from the 2-yard line for his second rushing score of the day. Gould's PAT at 2:51 made the score 23-21 and kept the outcome in doubt heading into the final period.
The Hokies erased that doubt, however, with 11:50 remaining when Taylor rushed for his second touchdown of the game to cap an eight-play, 68-yard drive. His designed draw up the middle was denied on third-and-goal from the UVa 5, but the freshman improvised and beat a Cavalier defender in a foot race to the pylon to give Tech a 30-21 advantage.
Dunlevy set the final score with a 26-yard field goal at 4:26 to set up Tech's battle with Boston College, which stole an improbable 14-10 victory from the Hokies at Lane Stadium back on Oct. 25th.
"Now that we've got 'em, we've got to figure out how to beat 'em," Beamer said of the rematch with the Eagles for all the marbles. "That's a big ballgame for us, but it's the one we worked so hard to get to. Now it's time to take care of business."
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Wedding Biz: A Complete Scam or A Complete Sham - You Be The Judge!
FIRST - WTF? What in the heck is this ridiculous thing? A pink flask - this is marketed as a bridesmaid gift (can be personalized). AAAHHH!! This is what's wrong with the wedding industry. Slap the color pink on it and the word "wedding" and you are good to go! you can sell anything this way...I digress....
S.O. and I have been planning the wedding in earnest over the last few months and let me tell you... it has been a very eye-opening endeavor.
Add the word "wedding" to any product and immediately add 25 - 50% to the price of whatever it is you need to buy: party invitations or wedding invitations; party DJ or wedding DJ; photographer or wedding photographer. Ridiculous.
I've been trying to be as low maintenance as possible through this whole process and I've been trying to do this "my way." Which is to say - carefully, logical, and thorough. Unfortunately the wedding business is not set up this way - I am being thwarted at every turn in my efforts.
Wanting to do this "my way" or be an "unconventional bride" is quite difficult.
The industry conspires against you the moment you say "yes." I tried from the beginning to avoid BRIDAL SHOWS but was unsuccessful. We needed a florist, photographer, and DJ and thought that "wouldn't it be a great idea to go to the bridal show and kill three birds with one stone in one afternoon."
S.O. and I were able to pick a location and a caterer on our own and thought we were doing pretty well without delving into the seedy underworld of BRIDAL SHOWS but we took a chance.
OH MY GOD! From the moment we walked in to the moment we were able to escape it was the most horrifying moment of my life.
As soon as you walk in the door you have to check in at the front desk - this involves filling out a form with all of your contact information and some really fine print that i should have read. (i now get at least 3 fliers A DAY in the mail trying to sell me wedding crap.) Next you are assigned a number and you get a sheet of paper with your number printed on it 100 times. What you are supposed to do is then for every vendor you visit you put your number in a little box and at the end of the day (5 pm - must be present to win) each vendor chooses a number and that person wins a prize! Yea! AAAAHHHH - the first thing i did was throw my numbers away. While we were there looking for a florist, DJ, and photographer - it seemed like all of the other brides (most of whom were about 5 - 10 years younger than me), moms, and girlfriends were there for EVERYTHING. Caterers, Cakes, Jewelry, Dresses, etc. They even had department stores getting people to register for gifts and banks to help people sign up for mortgages. Thank god we were late and "missed" the wedding dress fashion show.
S.O. was one of about 10 males in the place that wasn't a vendor. It was quite a painful afternoon. We left with a bag full of fliers and other crap that got thrown away as soon as we got home.
Through this process I have learned that the entire wedding industry is based on the following assumptions: (this list is in no way complete)
1. the average age of a new bride is 23.
2. the engaged woman has been "dreaming" about this "special day" since she was 10 and knows exactly what she wants.
3. the traditional rules still apply and that the bride's family will pay for almost everything and therefore it is OK to have ridiculously inflated prices
4. That women become retarded as soon as we get an engagement ring on our finger and lose all rational thought
5. That every wedding couple wants the standard wedding format complete with a "tossing bouquet" and a DJ with props
6. That the groom has no opinion on anything and whose only role is to show up
I understand that assumptions are necessary if you want to serve the greatest number of people - the problem with these assumptions is that the industry is ignoring a certain part of the population and their inflexibility makes doing this any way other than the "standard way" quite difficult.
First of all, I am a 30 year old bride who HAS NOT been dreaming about this day since i was 10. When I was 10 I was imagining that I would be the first woman astronaut on Mars and that I would have a really cool job and make lots of money. I can honestly say that I don't remember EVER imagining what my wedding would be like (i did assume that i would get married however.)
Second, I am a 30 year old bride who will be paying for ALL of this herself (along with her spouse.) No parental help here. It would be nice if people in this business didn't assume that my parents are paying for ANYTHING let alone ALL of it.
Third, because there is no financial assistance from the parents I am certainly going to make rational decisions about what I am going to spend my money on. Sure a $2000 wedding dress is nice - but so is a $800 dress, etc, etc, etc.
Fourth, In this partnership the groom is as involved in the decision making as the bride is so please AT LEAST acknowledge his presence in the room when we are having a conversation about flowers, music, etc.
.... So.... fast forward a few months... it is now mid/late November and the horrific experience of the bridal show has finally stopped haunting me. We still need a DJ and florist. We have interviewed 4 florists and received a proposal from one - should get two more soon and another one by the end of next week. We are pretty good on the florist front.
We have interviewed two DJs and decided that we need to meet with at least one more to feel like we have a good idea about the range of prices and types of DJs. Having forgotten the bridal show expierence a few months ago we decide that it would be a good idea to go to a "wine and cheese" showcase event at Martin's West and meet another DJ and their company.
The company hosting the event, "The Pros," are a "full service" wedding vendor. They have DJs, videographers, and photographers.
The event was last night - 2 days before Thanksgiving. The event start time was 6:45 - we got there around 6:55. The "Pros" were not there and were stuck in traffic. Lovely. They were coming from PA (where their corporate HQ is) and there was an accident on 95 S. So much for "Pros". We got some cheese and a glass of crappy merlot and wandered around the room looking at photo albums of people who probaly have no idea that their wedding is being used to sell a product.
Around 7:30 they announce that the "program" will being in about 5 minutes. OK great. If they didn't start by 7:45 we were outta there. The program started at 7:35 with a really crappy "stand-up" introduction by the Baltimore/Washington, DC manager. He sucked. He tried to be funny. It was starting to get uncomfortable.
After a few minutes of wedding jokes about how grooms are stupid, and moms getting emotional, and how there always someone at the reception who drinks too much, the guy introduces the head douche-bag in charge of operations - head sales schmuck. This guy's job is to tell us about the different services they provide and why their company is better than the other guys. EVERYTHING that came out of this guy's mouth was a sales pitch designed to sound like a sappy story that would (hopefully for them) make you realize that you ABSOLUTELY had to have a videographer and that without a video your kids and grandkids will hate you for it.
I really needed a drink but the wine was so crappy that it wasn't worth getting up.
When this guy was done he passed the mic back to the manager who proceeded to introduce the 6 DJs that were there. Apparently the company has 30 local DJs but only 6 were able to come to the showcase.After the first DJ was introduced they each introduced the next DJ - i think this part was supposed to show us a how each DJ spoke and sounded. 4 of the 6 were total mush mouths and had to read the introduction of the next DJ from a card. Not a good first impression.
After all of the DJs were introduced the manager started to play some music and they (the DJs) started to do the Electric Slide - to music that WASN'T the Electric Slide song. They did that for a minute and then started to pass out leis in the audience. This was one of the little things they did during receptions to get the guests involved.
Guests are supposed to pass the leis around and when the music stops whoever has one gets a prize. yea. So we pass the leis around and at this point the evening went from "uncomfortable" to "really bad".
So they stop and start the music a few times and of course there is no "real" prize - they just tell a stupid joke... Then the last time the music stops they said whoever has the leis really DOES get a prize - they "get" to go up on the dance floor and be their "party people" for the next few songs. AAAAHHHH!!!! Thank GOD neither of us had a lei. It was at that moment that the evening went from "really bad" straight though "god awful" and directly to "Most Horrifying Event - Worst Than The Bridal Show."
We took that moment as an opportunity for escape. We got up and left. We couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. We hopped in the car and drove away as fast as we could. We couldn't shake the stink off. It was just too disgusting and weird.
After thinking about it for a minute i realized that the "showcase" was not the right sales pitch for us. Maybe that is the best way to sell your product to those people who fit the basic assumptions about people who are getting married - but it DEFINATELY was not the best way to sell your product to us. I am still traumatized. And we still need a DJ....
PS: take a look at the Comments Section. Pretty funny given what i just wrote about the industry. Does this guy really want me as a customer???
Monday, November 19, 2007
Dog Killer
I am still unbelievably disappointed in Michael Vick. It just kills me when I see people with such great talent (football, art, music, whatever) fuck it up by doing something ridiculously stupid. Part of is jealously on my part for wishing I had some sort of great talent. He has talent. He was a great football player - admittedly more so in college than in the pros. Still. He was a great figure that we could all support. Watching him play in person at Lane Stadium was one of the coolest things ever. Then these horrible charges come to light and we learn who the real Michael Vick is. Someone who has no regard for the lives of other living animals. Dogs (and cats - holla!) are part of our families and our lives. People spend ridiculous amounts of money on their pets every year on toys, food, health care, etc. That is why what he did is so horrible. It isn't the same as cockfighting or bull riding (although i don't support either of those activities either.) Anyone who has that level of disregard for a dog is just a short slippery slope away from feeling that way about a person.
The great number 7 turned himself in to the authorities today to start serving his sentence (whatever that might be) - three weeks before his scheduled sentencing hearing.
Let's hope that he learns something while in jail. But what is done is done. He will never be the same in my eyes. If I owned a Vick jersey I would have sent it to the ASPCA just like all of those other former fans. I am so disappointed...
Vick surrenders early to begin dogfighting sentence
Story Highlights
Sentencing set for December 10 on dogfighting charges against Michael Vick
Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty in August
Monday, he surrendered to begin whatever sentence he gets on December 10
He faces 12 to 18 months on charge of running dogfighting ring from his home
(CNN) -- Michael Vick turned himself in to authorities on Monday to get a head start on serving his sentence for running a dogfighting ring, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10 on a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling the dogfighting operation.
Vick, 27, voluntarily turned himself in around noon, said Kevin Trevillan of the Marshals Service, and is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia, until the sentencing hearing.
The quarterback, who has been suspended indefinitely by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, faces 12 to 18 months in prison on the charge.
He pleaded guilty in August after three associates admitted their own roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
On September 25, a Virginia grand jury indicted Vick and the three co-defendants -- Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia -- on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at Vick's home outside Newport News.
The Surry County grand jury brought two charges against the four men: one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each is a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison term.
In addition, Taylor faces three additional counts of unlawful torture and killing of dogs.
A hearing in that case is set for November 27, but Vick does not have to be in court at that time.
In September, Vick was put under tight restrictions by the federal court after he tested positive for marijuana use.
Vick tested positive for the drug on September 13, a court document from the Eastern District of Virginia shows.
As a result, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ordered Vick to "submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance."
Those methods could include random drug testing, a remote alcohol testing system "and/or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing," the order said.
Vick was also ordered to stay home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., "or as directed by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer," the order said. He was to be electronically monitored during that time.
Vick must participate in substance abuse therapy and mental health counseling "if deemed advisable by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer" at his own expense, the order said.
The great number 7 turned himself in to the authorities today to start serving his sentence (whatever that might be) - three weeks before his scheduled sentencing hearing.
Let's hope that he learns something while in jail. But what is done is done. He will never be the same in my eyes. If I owned a Vick jersey I would have sent it to the ASPCA just like all of those other former fans. I am so disappointed...
Vick surrenders early to begin dogfighting sentence
Story Highlights
Sentencing set for December 10 on dogfighting charges against Michael Vick
Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty in August
Monday, he surrendered to begin whatever sentence he gets on December 10
He faces 12 to 18 months on charge of running dogfighting ring from his home
(CNN) -- Michael Vick turned himself in to authorities on Monday to get a head start on serving his sentence for running a dogfighting ring, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10 on a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling the dogfighting operation.
Vick, 27, voluntarily turned himself in around noon, said Kevin Trevillan of the Marshals Service, and is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia, until the sentencing hearing.
The quarterback, who has been suspended indefinitely by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, faces 12 to 18 months in prison on the charge.
He pleaded guilty in August after three associates admitted their own roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
On September 25, a Virginia grand jury indicted Vick and the three co-defendants -- Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia -- on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at Vick's home outside Newport News.
The Surry County grand jury brought two charges against the four men: one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each is a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison term.
In addition, Taylor faces three additional counts of unlawful torture and killing of dogs.
A hearing in that case is set for November 27, but Vick does not have to be in court at that time.
In September, Vick was put under tight restrictions by the federal court after he tested positive for marijuana use.
Vick tested positive for the drug on September 13, a court document from the Eastern District of Virginia shows.
As a result, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ordered Vick to "submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance."
Those methods could include random drug testing, a remote alcohol testing system "and/or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing," the order said.
Vick was also ordered to stay home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., "or as directed by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer," the order said. He was to be electronically monitored during that time.
Vick must participate in substance abuse therapy and mental health counseling "if deemed advisable by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer" at his own expense, the order said.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Revenge update....
looks like Boston College beat Clemson last night so as long as we beat UVA next weekend we will play BC in the Championship game...
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Revenge....
I hate Miami. I am glad that we kicked the crap out of them earlier tonight. And like I said, we need to beat UVA next Saturday to go to the ACC Championship on December 1st.
Currently Boston College is playing Clemson. Whoever wins this game will also be in the ACC Championship. I hope it is BC. That way when we end up playing them in the big game we can give them a little pay-back for what happened on 10/25 when they beat us in the last 4 minutes of the game....
Revenge is a dish best served cold....
Currently Boston College is playing Clemson. Whoever wins this game will also be in the ACC Championship. I hope it is BC. That way when we end up playing them in the big game we can give them a little pay-back for what happened on 10/25 when they beat us in the last 4 minutes of the game....
Revenge is a dish best served cold....
We Are.... Virginia Tech!
The "Hokies Thank the World" event brought together thousands of Hokies on the Virginia Tech Drillfield to spell out a message of thanks to the world in recognition of the global outpouring of support and love for the Virginia Tech community following the events of April 16. The message of thanks was recorded by ground, aerial, and satellite imagery and will be shared with the world for free through www.HokiesThankTheWorld.org. The event took place on November 17, 2007 beginning at 10:35am and ending at approximately 11:12am on the Virginia Tech Drillfield in Blacksburg, Virginia. check it: www.hokiesthanktheworld.orgby the way - VT kicked the crap out of Miami tonight - 44 to 14. We still need to beat UVA next weekend if we are going to play in the ACC Championship.
Movie Review: Anger Management
I got Anger Management starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson delivered from Netflix last week. S.O. and I watched it last night. I was not impressed.
I am a fan of Adam Sandler and usually like his movies (Waterboy - classic). This movie just didn't do it for me. Overall, it wasn't funny. There are a few (4) funny scenes in the movie and two of them involved the fat cat named Meatball. The third - in case you are interested - is when the Lawyer (Kevin Nealon) threw a tennisball at a blind guy in court to see how blind he really is. The 4th is when Woody Harrilson is dressed up in drag.... geeze. It has been a while since i wanted to turn off a new movie mid play. it really was that bad.
I can't wait to see what the next moviedelivered is...
I am a fan of Adam Sandler and usually like his movies (Waterboy - classic). This movie just didn't do it for me. Overall, it wasn't funny. There are a few (4) funny scenes in the movie and two of them involved the fat cat named Meatball. The third - in case you are interested - is when the Lawyer (Kevin Nealon) threw a tennisball at a blind guy in court to see how blind he really is. The 4th is when Woody Harrilson is dressed up in drag.... geeze. It has been a while since i wanted to turn off a new movie mid play. it really was that bad.
I can't wait to see what the next moviedelivered is...
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