Although we didn't actually make it over the border, we took the family almost 500 miles north from southeastern PA to the coast of Maine for a week long, much needed vacation. Since family oriented trip reports aren't nearly as fun as those other kinds (check back mid-December for the next one), I'll be brief.
Friday - left around 5:00, grabbed dinner along the way in NJ, and found a place to crash in MA around 11:30 PM.
Saturday - finished the drive after the wife mandated pit stops in Kittery and Freeport. Arrived at our cabin on Georgetown Island around dinner time, grabbed some grub and chilled for the rest of the night.
Sunday - Reid State Park - although the beaches were all closed (something about a bill out in the ocean), kids has a good time in the lagoon. Let me tell you, though, 18-20 foot waves crashing down on a rocky coastline are really impressive.
Monday - only bad weather of the whole week. We took the kids to see Shorts at the closest metroplex on the mainland. The 8 year old LOVED it. The 4-1/2 year old realized that she really likes goobers (the chocolate covered peanuts, you scum bag).
Tuesday - York Wild Kingdom & Amusement Park - the 2 hour drive each way pretty much made this the only event of the day. Nothing compared to America's oldest zoo, but still cool to get within 5 feet of a full grown bengal tiger.
Wednesday - Popham Beach State Park - arrived half way between low and high tides. Stayed until the land bridge between the beach and Fox Island was completely covered by the returning waters. Typical beach day with small children.
Thursday - returned to Popham, but right before low tide. Climbed to the top of Fox Island, helped the kids try to find some sand dollars (we found 4 good ones), and some more time in the water and on the sand. Then back to Freeport (where it wouldn't suffer from weekend crowding) for the obligatory souvenir shopping.
Friday - a morning boat ride and tour of Robinhood Cove courtesy of our cordial host, followed by some kayaking. Then the wife took the girls blueberry picking while I got everything together and into the car. I was determined to make it all the way home without stopping and, despite the torrential downpours that started halfway through Massachusetts, managed to get home by 12:30 Saturday morning.
Yikes, that was some family friendly week. I'm bored just having typed it. Just over 3 months until Vegas where there will be absolutely no thoughts of blueberries or sand dollars.
Saturday was my fanatasy football draft where I think I put together the most meh team in history. I got to pick 9th in a 10 team league and after my starters were set, I mostly concentrated on possible good value position picks. My roster, in as close to drafted order as I can remember: Andre Johnson, Chris Johnson, Roddy White, Pierre Thomas, Larry Johnson, Tony Gonzalez, Matt Cassel, Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler, Jericho Cotchery, Titans DST, Mason Crosby, Jeremy Shockey, and Ricky Williams.
At least I'm not going into the season starting Laurence Maroney and Ronnie Brown as my running backs like last year. Oh wait, I won my league last year. Interestingly, none of the Patriots RBBC was drafted, but all of both the Giants' and Titans' were.
Every year, we try to set a team name theme. This year we finally got around to a Simpson's theme. I am The Flying Hellfish. Best name? Nerds Pummelled In Football Melee. Worst Name? Fat Bald Guy.
And there go another 5 minutes of your life you're not getting back...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
My Vick Dilemma
Last week on Facebook, I publicly asserted that the signing of Michael Vick officially made the Philadelphia Eagles dead to me. Was this a knee-jerk reaction based more on emotion than on an internal logical conclusion? Probably.
Am I stating now that I have absolutely no problem with bringing in a player who commited, was convicted of, and served 2 years for an absolutely abhorrent act? No. Resoundingly.
However, upon deeper reflection, am I also willing to discard almost 35 years of faithful fandom to an admittedly frustrating football franchise based on what seems to be a poor decision by management? I don't think I can.
If this was purely a decision that the coaching staff and front office made, that would be one thing. I could easily separate my distaste for the signing from my love of the team. But it was reported that Donovan McNabb actively campaigned to bring this guy in. And that complicates things for me. What were HIS motivations for such action? Does he know things about Vick that are not widely reported or is there something else?
Of course, Jeff Lurie said all the right things at the press conference introducing his newest Eagle. And it really sounded like he struggled with the decision, having put Vick through an extremely rough interview process before agreeing to proceed. Make no mistake, I don't believe that Michael Vick needs to merely show that he is reformed. Just one slip up, and the owner has already promised he is gone. He needs to go out of his way to attempt to mend his reputation as a human being. Above and beyond. Way above.
That means lots of dollars to the local SPCA's, shelters, and rescue organizations.
That means volunteer time at one or more of the above on a continual basis. Bathing strays, cleaning shit out of kennel runs, anything and everything.
That means speaking engagements and PSA's.
And that means never, and I mean never, have contact with anyone associated even tangentally with that operation.
This man is going to be under the microscope, and I honestly hope that he has been reborn in a way. For his sake, and for the sake of my team. I will leave it to the offensive coaching staff to make the best use of his unique on field talents and I have no doubt that it will be at least mildly successful. A guaranteed deep playoff run again? I don't think this guarantees anything, but with the proper schemes and some good fortune on the injury front, the Eagles go from having a lot of questions offensively pre-draft to a downright scary team for an opposing defensive coordinator to prepare for.
So what have I really been blabbering about? I am retaining my fandom and going to take a wait and see attitude with Vick in particular. I hope I'm not let down.
I'll let you know in Vegas at the Winter Gathering.
And there go another 5 minutes of your life you're not getting back...
Am I stating now that I have absolutely no problem with bringing in a player who commited, was convicted of, and served 2 years for an absolutely abhorrent act? No. Resoundingly.
However, upon deeper reflection, am I also willing to discard almost 35 years of faithful fandom to an admittedly frustrating football franchise based on what seems to be a poor decision by management? I don't think I can.
If this was purely a decision that the coaching staff and front office made, that would be one thing. I could easily separate my distaste for the signing from my love of the team. But it was reported that Donovan McNabb actively campaigned to bring this guy in. And that complicates things for me. What were HIS motivations for such action? Does he know things about Vick that are not widely reported or is there something else?
Of course, Jeff Lurie said all the right things at the press conference introducing his newest Eagle. And it really sounded like he struggled with the decision, having put Vick through an extremely rough interview process before agreeing to proceed. Make no mistake, I don't believe that Michael Vick needs to merely show that he is reformed. Just one slip up, and the owner has already promised he is gone. He needs to go out of his way to attempt to mend his reputation as a human being. Above and beyond. Way above.
That means lots of dollars to the local SPCA's, shelters, and rescue organizations.
That means volunteer time at one or more of the above on a continual basis. Bathing strays, cleaning shit out of kennel runs, anything and everything.
That means speaking engagements and PSA's.
And that means never, and I mean never, have contact with anyone associated even tangentally with that operation.
This man is going to be under the microscope, and I honestly hope that he has been reborn in a way. For his sake, and for the sake of my team. I will leave it to the offensive coaching staff to make the best use of his unique on field talents and I have no doubt that it will be at least mildly successful. A guaranteed deep playoff run again? I don't think this guarantees anything, but with the proper schemes and some good fortune on the injury front, the Eagles go from having a lot of questions offensively pre-draft to a downright scary team for an opposing defensive coordinator to prepare for.
So what have I really been blabbering about? I am retaining my fandom and going to take a wait and see attitude with Vick in particular. I hope I'm not let down.
I'll let you know in Vegas at the Winter Gathering.
And there go another 5 minutes of your life you're not getting back...
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