Question of the Day

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Once In a Lifetime Experience

Hola quesolitos! Good morning after thanksgiving--there needs to be a more useful morning after pill that immediately rids you of all calories and fat eaten the day before. That is science i would pay for. Anyway...

So the most incredible woman in the galxy and i went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We were standing on Broadway between 37-38th aves. Even better, we were front row. Now you never saw us on TV because what we didn't know is that 38th street and below is the silent zone, so that the TV production can film the acts at 34th st. without too much noise coming from the side. This was kind of a bummer, but no big deal--I mean we missed out on music from the Beach Boy without two members (definately no Brian Wilson), the Click Five, the Cheetah girls (me either), Aly & AJ (there is a God), and Brian McKnight (this one I would liked to have heard).

What they don't tell you is that the cold really sinks in by parade time, and then standing in cramped close quarters for an hour and a half waiting on Santa is a recipe only for pain. Then when you try to take some video, some little runt squirms his way into your spot pushing you back and separating himself from his parent whom he then cries and freaks out because he can't see. Way to go, genius. Also, the floats are as weird an idea up close. ALl in all, the ballons are awesome. I like it that every fifth one or so is a complete commerical trying to blend in with other cartoon animals--hey look es Dora the Explorer, and then there's Barney, and look Ronald McDonald. Ronald is not a cartoon character, he is acrushing and crippling economic entity to reckon with. Speaking of Ronald, on the ground in the parade, there are way to many clowns.

Favorite Balloon: Besides Barney whose leg got ripped open (oh athe agony) and the Balloon that got caught in on a light post in Times Square injuring some people (it hit and hurt a lady in a wheelchair--talk about bad karma), I have to go with either Super Grover or Charlie Brown (although the wind blew and something happened because as Charlie went by he went into what looked exactly like a gran mal siezure developing a major twitching down the left side of his body).

Favorite "star" in the Parade: Franco Harris or Marcus Allen. The NFL float was understated but loaded with talent.

Questions still remaining: Who is Rihanna, or the Cheetah Girls?

Will I do it again? Probably not. The walk back to the subway was so packed it would have triggered many agoraphobic and clostrophobic attacks. Imagine two million people in five city blocks all trying to walk on the sidewalk at once--scarring. If you fell, you were lost forever. I knew one thing, I wasn't leaving my wife behind.

Happy Thanksgiving Day, and a car heater never felt so good.

God saved the Cheese and his amazing wife.

Question of the Day

If it rains or snows in south Jersey on Turkey Day, will there still be the annual Ultimate Frisbee game?

The Key to a Happy Marriage

Okay, so it's my wedding day, my wife and I have just run out of the chapel and into the car waiting to wisk us away to our honeymoon. We get into the car and my grandfather leans in and says to me in his slow southern drawl:

"Listen to me son...in your marriage you will be forced to choose to either be right or be happy. Make the right choice, y'hear."

And with a sagacious smile he backed out, closed the door, and sent me on my way to marital bliss or rectitude.

Well, now almost eight years later, this advice has landed me on my current journey. It has been one of my wife's lifelong dreams to attend in person the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Well, come thursday morning, one more lifelong dream will be accomplished.

This is great and all, but I have to be honest here and say that this is in the category of things that my wife loves and I really don't love as much--amusement parks, parades, fairs, and festivals. I generally try to steer clear of these massive groups of joy and frivolity. I don't know why, they just creep me out a little bit--maybe agoraphobia, clostrophobia, and white-trash-a-phobia all at once.

Either way, we got a nice hotel nearby and should enjoy ourselves in the rain and cold tomorrow as we kick turkey day off with an endless litany of weird marching bands, balloons, floats (who thought those up?), and dancers. Maybe someone will fall and it will be worth it.

I love you baby.

God save the Cheese. Really.

Question of the Day

Before getting to the question, just a note: No matter how many times you choose to answer the question of the day (and you are welcome to do so), it does not hasten the forthcoming of the next QOTD. Got it? Thanks.

Okay, so now onto the real business...

Are marsupials, in light of their most distinguishing feature, cute or freakish? Explain.

The Life I Love is Making Music With My Friends

Ahhhh...my beloved quesolitos. I harken this ballad from one of music's greatest in order to simply underline how wonderful last night was. After a weekend of serious work and working seriousness, I managed to gather a group of my closest and most talented friends and we celebrated the gift of music together. What began as a couple of guitars and a mandolin, ended as five guitars, a mandolin, a fiddle (Aubrey is a multi-talented music makin machine), a keyboard, and some bongos. Sweet...sweet...sweet.

Actually, instead of working on my studies as efficiently as I need to, I have recently been putting long hard hours in at the studio. I am putting the last touches on my first album, an indie, which should drop (meaning out of my personal hand to the floor, no parties as of yet)within a couple of months (probably not near any of you, except tater--but the album has dropped basically in his house for the last few months...so whaddaryagonnado?). I am overall pretty pleased with it, although the music that I am writing now is considerably different, which is perhaps a bit odd. Still, go with the inspiration and passion as it carries you. That's what I always say (actually that is the first time I have ever said that). Once I finish the album, I may try to post a song on here if I can figure out how--but don't hold your breath. I am after all supposed to be working on a dissertation.

I am actually really glad that my life has finally slowed down some. Also, the most incredible woman in the world returns tonight and I cannot wait!

Well, hope your times are as good as mine. God save the Cheese.

Question of the Day

What time did you get to bed last night?

Busy, Busy, Busy

That is me...number 13.

I think that I may be busier in my life, right now, than I have ever been. I don't think that this is necessarily a good thing. People say it keeps you out of trouble--but honestly, I don't get into a whole lot of trouble. People say it makes you stronger--frankly I am dragging tired and getting grey hair (a sure sign of breaking down right?). I have got to break the cycle....something has to give.

Hopefully the football post tomorrow...hopefully.

God save the Cheese.

Question of the Day

The late Sylvester Ritter, a.k.a. the Junk Yard Dog, wants to know:

Have you ever watched professional wrestling?

By watched, I mean at least somewhat consistently--more than once--and kind of got into it.

If you have, who was your favorite wrestler?

Question of the Day

Jude and Angelina wanted me to ask you guys: Who are the sexiest man and woman in America?

Give me two guys and two gals.*


*No extra points are given for choosing the Cheese himself, but it will be accepted as an answer; however, only in the guy category. Thanks.

Weekly Football Update

Week #10 Top 25:
[Monday, November 07, 2005]

1. USC (9-0) – You close the year with Cal, Fresno State, and UCLA—all dangerous. But the real problem is that none of them are going to bolster the whole quality wins thing once you beat them. A lot to lose, not much to gain until the championship game. Do I smell an upset? Probably not.

2. Texas (9-0) – Shellacked Baylor, which goes a long way with me personally, but not so far in moving you further up the rankings. With two games and a championship game left against no one interesting…book your reservations in Los Angeles.

3. Alabama (9-0) – Still undefeated. Sure, the only offensive touchdowns they’ve had in three games were against Utah St., but hey, this team is still among the unbeaten. With LSU, Auburn, and The SEC championship game to go, this team will wither drop one and still have a great year, or should really cause a BCS conundrum as the only undefeated playing good teams and winning. With this defense, and the most important players still alive and healthy, I am beginning to think that Bama won’t lose this year.

4. Penn State (9-1) – Right now, looking at all three facets of the game, PSU is playing better than anyone in the country. This team started surprising us, then themselves. Now they are starting to believe, and they look really, really dangerous.

5. Miami (7-1) – The defense rose up nicely against one of the elite in college football. A very impressive beat down of Va Tech results in #1) a much higher ranking, and #2) a great team next year…if you were a recruit wouldn’t you sign on? Do you deserve to jump Alabama and take #3? I don’t think so, because you still have a loss (although it is quality).

6. Virginia Tech (8-1) – They had their chance to overtake Texas for good most likely, but instead, they couldn’t get past that Miami defense. Still, I wouldn’t want to see this team come bowl season.

7. Georgia (7-1) – So the world’s largest cocktail party was no fun without your best player. You can still hang on to the SEC east, and a strong season by winning your last two games. Winning the SEC championship against either LSU, Auburn, or Bama? That’s another story.

8. LSU (7-1) – This week you have your first real test—Bama. This pits a good offense (LSU) against a great defense (Bama). Anytime those meet, the smart money is on the defense. This is getting really interesting.

9. Notre Dame (6-2) – Is this the best two-loss team in the nation? I said: “Now they have a chance to really make some more noise in a couple of weeks by beating a serious SEC team, Tennessee.” Check that. I meant: Now they have a chance to win a game that doesn’t matter over a really crappy and troubled team, Tennessee. At least Weiss got an extension out of all this success with that schedule.

10. West Virginia (7-1) – Just another win for a team off my radar. BCS bound, baby. Go Mountaineers.

11. Oregon (8-1) – In a largely unheralded victory, the Ducks supplant Cal as the team no one really knows/cares about or really expects anything great from in the Pac 2 ½. You should ride the wave of success out for the rest of the year and play in a really nice bowl game. Congrats.

12. Florida (7-2) – I said, “The game against Georgia this week is a must win if there ever was one.” So they took care of business, then they outlasted Vandy. This team hasn’t quit yet, they just need one more Georgia loss and they are back in the driver’s seat.

13. UCLA (8-1) – Well after four tremendous comeback wins, how about getting down to Arizona and stalling out. USC was really counting on you guys for a quality win at the end of the year too.

14. Florida State (7-2) – Well, the Freshman looked like a freshman against NC State, as Amado may have saved his job for another year. That ACC is no joke, but the Seminole’s national title hopes certainly were.

15. Ohio State (7-2) – This defense just keeps on stopping folks, and finally guess what? You guys have a coupla playmakers on that team in Holmes and Ginn. Why didn’t anyone tell them they were allowed to do this earlier in the season???

16. Auburn (7-2) –Regarding games against LSU, UGA, and Bama, I predicted: “This team will lose all of those games.” I will stand by it. This is the least tested SEC team this year at this point. They are a real question mark going in to the home stretch.

17. Wisconsin (8-2) – It took Penn St. to finally trip you guys up. Congrats on a strong season thus far.

18. TCU (9-1) – Have those wins over OU and Utah lost some of the shimmer yet? Yes. Still, you are one for one in Mountain West titles to seasons. This team is dying to be in a major conference. That could work well, it looks like A&M is dying to get out of one. J

19. Texas Tech (8-1) – Somehow managed to turn the offense on in the last two minutes against Baylor, and held A&M down long enough to beat them too. I am not a believer, but your schedule has made your record look very nice and shiny. Not enough for me.

20. Colorado (7-2) – The Big 12 North can rest easy now that you guys put Mizzou out to pasture.

21. Michigan (6-3) – Another win for a team I thought was down and out. Congrats on not quitting.

22. California (6-3) – A crushing loss to Oregon in a game nobody saw. That’s okay, it was a look past game right? You could get away with that, because USC is next on your schedule. What do the fighting Tedfords have up their sleeve?

23. Boston College (6-3) – Back to back losses…guess we are through over-achieving.

24. Louisville (6-2) – Now you show up. Thanks a lot.

25. Georgia Tech (6-2) – Thank you for beating Auburn, but beyond that, you have only won the games you were supposed to, no more—that is not how you make it to being a great team.




Why I am so smart…
1. My thoughts on Alabama – There is nothing as rewarding as the repeated “I-told-you-so.”

2. My thoughts on Boston College – See…they really were just over-achieving, not actually good.

3. My thoughts on Colorado – Big 12 North champs! Who cares?

4. My thoughts on Georgia – without Shockley, strong opponents can beat this team.

5. My thoughts on Penn State – JoePa has’em looking really hard to beat.


Why I am an absolute moron…
1. My thoughts on UCLA – Defense, Adam…always go with defense.

2. Still stands: My thoughts on LSU – they are better than I thought, but I still don’t know how much better.

3. Correction: My chiding myself for leaving Marcus Vick off of my Heisman candidates list. It has always belonged to Vince Young.

4. My thoughts on Florida, Ohio State, and Michigan – I had counted you all out.

5. My thoughts on Virginia Tech – I took Tech in a rout. Ouch.


Question for this week:
Who is the best one-loss team in college football?