well, over the last couple of weeks things are going so-so. at work, at least the schedules have generally been more stable, body-clockwise. and that makes a good deal of sense, since it took a lot of my vacation back in PA just to get it back on track. back there, i did get to play a game of wii bowling with abby and austin (and they beat me by 30 pins, legit). and as well i did get to see the new firetruck for HP. not a bad model. and it's even nicer since they can now use foam on the more weird fires (like the stuff they used a couple of times on the show "emergency"  ['squad 51"]). 

then when i got back, i had to miss a work party over at Mystic Lake Casino in Shakopee because of the shift i was on (the weather doesn't stop just because i want it to). but those who couldn't make it were still given a bit of seed cash for the casino and a gift card for dinner and such. so the tuesday after the party, i had a day off, the weather was calm, so i took a ride out there. I was doing so-so after an hour, losing only 5 of the original 40 even though i played in total probably 80 bucks if you were to add it all up. so i have to admit i was thinking i would take my loss and go. then i thought "let's try one last machine". it was a nickel slot with a SF theme. well, a couple of plays on that and i hit a big jackpot, $102. add that to the other 20 that was still on the side, and i was for a minute tempted to play for something else, but common sense took over and i said to myself "let's take the $$$ and run, i tripled the cash, why screw with that?". so i admit i spent about 80 of it. but the other 40 is waiting in an envelope for another day: for my first cash poker tourney, up at running aces over in Forest Lake. And that will be at the end of the month (you may have already seen this on my facebook). how i do with it? who knows. i'll be happy if i cash.

otherwise, it's been rather slow and calmer up here. as for tomorrow, i know a lot of friends are rooting for the groundhog to not see his shadow so winter can be over with. unfortunately, being that i like active patterns as forecast challenges especially since the upcoming month has it so i can more speculate from the sidelines, I have a silent rooting in me for Phil to see his shadow. *evil grin*

as for the next couple of months, we'll see where they lead. but i have hopes and dreams that have yet to be fulfilled. and i am hoping soon i'll be able to fulfill them. at least the only walks in the snow i am foreseeing in the next couple of months are those that come normally in a minnesota winter.

well, weatherwise, this was one of those years with wide swings a lot of cold air to start and end the year (-10F to -20F is definitely an experience for those not totally used to it). in the middle, it wasn't as hot as it could have been in the twin cties (which is good for my electric bills). And as well, I actually experienced hearing a tornado siren for the first time (once outside of work and once at work). and that is definitely  bit surreal for people like me from the valley, where twisters just don't happen often. so i was a bit startled at first. but after that i was ok. still though a bit surreal.

as for socially, i am so-so at poker still. but at least last january or so i actually did win once or twice. so there is hope that i can do it again. now whether i get the stones to do it for real cash, not at the bars, that's the issue. but i am hoping one or two low-end tourneys just to see how i'd do. in dealing with the angel in my life, the good news is that it seems that the vast majority of her family is neutral or positive on me. the bad news is that at times i still wanting her mom to join the rest of her family. but there's only so much that can be done, especially with michelle still having trouble getting a job (thank you economy). but there is some hope out there. after all this is year 3 in the twin cities coming up. and at least i am gaining ground there (as a result of also registering over at st bernies as a church member).

in the family dept, my older brother got married to his long time GF, which s real good news. too bad i couldn't be here for the ceremony, due to timing issues and such. but at least there's good news. on the other side of the coin though, my younger brother's marriage has been on the rocks since the middle of the year (details on why, i am not totally sure, but from witnesses on both sides, i can report that it's her that's seeming to act like the jerry springer guest here). and that looks to be coming to an end, which will be good for several unnamed reasons and one reason i can name (abby and austin can go back to being normal kids again).

as for work, it's been up and down. between changing shifts ( mornings to afternoons/evenings to some of everything), dealing with some real wacky weather events [predicted and upredicted] (multiple twister events (telegraphed and non-telegraphed), blizzards, heat spells and cold spells, hail storms), some live calls that went well and others that were more like the ones for beeps and blunders shows {but no fcc violations though :)  }.

overall though, it's another year in the books. hopefully the upcoming year will be better. but only time will tell.

well, this is something that a lot of meteorologists can agree with, i would think anyway. working the holidays...  it's not the easiest thing to do, especially since in a lot of places outside of the stores and the military,police, or medical fields, weather is one of the professions that never comes to a totally complete stop just because the rest of the world does. all the deities are out there still working their magic while someone has to keep track of things, mainly so the roads are clear and noone literally freezes their @$$ off. and it's not always easy for me either, given that for a lot of the part, i am still by myself in the pad, noone to greet on my way home as i end another battle with mother nature.

but it's not all the worst, either. after all, even with the biggest storm, the roads aren't as bad since most people are not usually on the road for a holiday itself. and as long as it's not cloudy for several days beforehand, sometimes seeing a winter landscape with less people around is not a bad thing. eventually you do reap some rewards from it, despite having a real screwed up body clock and the such from unusual shifts. one of the biggest things you appreciate is when you actually do get a holiday off, you actually cherrish it more than most.

this holiday season, i thought we were getting a gift of all snow. instead though, like the fine print on the warranties of the gifts that never seem to cover something that actually breaks without a "restocking fee", mother nature and the deities decided to make the best forecasts go up in a ball of flames. She decided to not only make the system more negatively tilted than a campaign run by karl rove and james carville, but to basically shut off the snow and make everybody including me look bad. some people in various weather chatrooms call it "blowtorching". I just know that it made me not only feel ashamed to think i had missed it, but also pissed to the point in which my place broadcasted on satellite so that we could not have to worry about using several $300k words to describe what happened. but in the forecasting life, like gambling at the poker or blackjack table, sometimes even the best of forecasted results get busted. at least i was a part of a storm like this so that if i ever see it again, i'll know how to not get screwed next time. will other forecasters around the US also learn from it? you can only hope. especially in these days were the models are so deceptively better than they were about 10-15 years ago, that most people (even myself on occasion) more go only on the models rather than look at reality and be willing to go "off the board".

that all being said though, i have the next couple of days off. tomorrow, while the lot gets plowed, i head out and get a new weather calendar for next year (yes i actually buy mine). this year though, i'm not sure whether to go with the Weather Channel one or to get a weather one made by a local TV station for more "minnesota" content.  as well though on Tuesday night, it's time for the Big 10 Mens Basketball Opener baby, Penn State vs Minnesota at Williams Arena. And i have my ticket for the game (as well as an extra ticket i thought i was going to need then not need it [looking down towards Texas], so if anyone is looking for a last-minute seat here in the TC, all i am asking for is face value, $35). And for those who know me from college, yes I still have that Penn State tanktop from back then. and I may even post pix and/or video of me in it over at facebook, so stay tuned and see if that happens. after that, i actually work two mornings (30th and 31st), then get to actually celebrate new year's eve with the rest of the country  before working the evening shift on new year's day and the day after. After that, I then head back to PA, in just over a week from now. and after the hell of a year i have had this year, I am hoping that next year will be better for everyone.

happy new year folks!!!!   

well, last night, the snow was totally over, and there was a snow emergency declared earlier in the evening in st paul. which means until the roads are cleared, don't park on the street in front of where i work, lest you have to go to the impound lot and become ~$200 or so lighter. and with the city in a budget crunch out here like most cities, i wasn't sure that all the streets would be done in time, leaving me pretty much no place to park within about 2-3 blocks when i were to go into my shift this afternoon. so i decided that i would take the bus in today so i didn't have to worry about that despite the cold outside and everything else.

so when i get to work today, i find everybody is parked like normal outside and i am looking like, "ok, when was this finished?". well, it ends up that grand ave actually is repoened to parking at 8 am the day after the snow emergency is declared, no matter if it's totally ready or not. it was at the bottom of the sheet with the info, but that's not the part i read. *bull shannon self-slap in the face moment*. i went thru the touble of leaving early, walking to get the bus, and such, only to find out i didn't need to. $%^$*^%&*^&*%. well, at least i know for next time.

last winter you remember i was still working mornings and parking was much more a premium, so you could see where i was worried about having a spot to park and such. but it's still one of those things i guess i live and learn.

but on the small consolation side, i got to use my heavier shirt/jac that i picked up on the cheap for wintertime usage as well as the pants with the fleece liner in them on the way in. and they did make a huge difference at 0 F/-18C compared to last winter. no half-frozen legs and such. so at least i know i'm better prepared for the cold.

such is the life of the bear in the east side of the twin cities, though. now my battle will be to keep the head cold from becoming a chest one.

cheers.

well, it's a good thing that i am off today and tomorrow. because this is the run-up to a big storm in the midwest. and as much as i love forecasting and broadcasting the weather, there is something to be said as well for being able to just armchair-quarterback the weather for a big storm, not have the big DoD storm to forecast (this one probably 3.3 in the diving scale). here in the twin cities, by the time this is all said and done, i wouldn't be surprised if the southern and eastern suburbs (close to if not south of michelle bachman) get closer to 8" while the west end (near al franken's home town in st louis park) gets closer to 6".

but as well, snowfall can be quite peaceful as it falls down. yes, i know some scientist actually said snowfall would sound like screams, not peace according to his acoustic research, but who notmally listens to a snowflake from a couple of microns away using an ultra tiny microphone with sensitivity to -120 dB? as it comes down though, it does make for an interesting glow in the streets and the cities as you walk thru compared to most nights. and if you're alone moving thru the snow, it can actually be not a bad experience.

driving in it? well that is good when alone and the visibility is still ok. but once you start looking at visibilities lower than 1 mile, it can get bad. and if there is a road full of other people driving, you know one or two @$$holes will screw it up for everyone else.

but playing in the snow, making snowmen, making the first decent snowball of the season, seeing the snow forts go up, and such? that's what winter is all about. will have to drive back into work once it's all over? yes. and may i even have to take a bus in on thursday once the snow emergency is declared in st paul? probably. but such is life in the north. and as much as the cold and ice can be sometimes a pain to go into, a decent but not overbearing snowfall is actually a nice reward. will the same be said when such snow turns into sand-like ice in the middle of january when it lingers and the temp only goes into the teens for highs? probably not. but such is the life at 45 N latitude.

here's my turn at being a talk show host....

given a salary of 32600/year (assuming the salary is the same on both sides of the border, and given the currencies would be otherwise equal, they are within 3-5% of that now so this may not be all that unrealistic

take the following in a paycheck per month in minnesota (say in international falls):

state tax : $105
medicare tax: $39
federal tax: $ 213
social security: $ 168
health insurance premium: $225

total outlays: $750

if i earned the same salary in next door ontario, say in rainy river (using the current withholding tax tables according to revenue canada):

federal tax: $283
provincial tax: $117
canada pension plan: $117 (canadian social security)
employment insurance $ 47
supplemental health insurance $100 (that's on top of the government plan that comes with being a resident in canada, equivelent to our cadillac plans here in the US, and that's the last i remember. if they are higher now my canadian colleagues in oakville, please let me know so i can get the right numbers))

total: $ 664

yes, they also have a sales tax of 13% up there compared to 6.75% here in minnesota (higher in some cities), and the gas taxes and cigarette taxes are higher. but if you were to look at the take-home pay, before running into those sales taxes every month (which are more variable depending on what you use and how you use it), someone want to show me how much take-home pay will drop worse than our nearest economic competition attm if we pass health care reform?

so how are things going? well, the start and midpoint of the day were ok, as i got in my usual payday shopping and such.

then when i got home, i checked my mail. and i have to admit, I am worried enough now to have to take action. as you all know, there's a big gouging going on with banks, credit cards, and people. and sorry to say, with all the resources that have been extended over the years between job searches and the equipment to make those searches, relocation expenses, and such, I am one of those who built up more than a bit on a credit card. I also made some purchases here and there, some of them i could have maybe done without, most of which i can do with. but overall, the balance is in the 10.5k range. and i know, that's pathetic to have done that. well, with the 2nd 3-point jump in 6 months from citibank (first 12.99 to 15.99, and as of the beginning of next year 15.99 to 18.99, even with otherwise good credit). it seems that my doing more by cash instead of credit card isn't good enough these days (being that since i moved here and incurred those expenses, i have made it a point to pay cash as much as i can for my needs and wants, and if it's a major trip and i have the cash on the side, i did put it on the card, adding that cash to the normal payment to pay that expense off like it was cash). but that seems to not be enough.

so tomorrow in step 1, I am headed over to the bank and going to see if I can get a fixed rate loan for a much lesser percentage to pay off my credit card in full. and if i get that loan, then i make the payment, take the balance to zero. then the next month, as soon as i get the statement confirming that payment in full, I will call citibank asking that my credit becomes lowered signifigantly down from 24k (and refuse any raising of my credit limit afterwards, no matter what the rewards say). And i know you're all saying why the hell potentially ruin your credit score that way with that much of a cut? well, it's simple, I don't want to get in the same mess again, and i do not know anyone who hasn't taken a ding on their credit score lately (at least from what i have seen). but also i would have it available in a much smaller for any unexpected expenses (car breaks down, sudden medical bill, etc). Will it take 5-6 years to pay off that amount? yea. but you want to know something? it will be gone, out of my life, and not hanging over me like an albatross. ironically, it would also be about the same time the student loan would be paid off, if all goes to plan.

then i can worry about things like retirement and such like everyone else.

is this a stupid plan or a smart plan? not sure, you tell me. but i just see it as finally saying enough of how life is now, and i want it to change direction for the better, for a change, instead of more "damned if you do damned if you don't" situations. long term-success is what i am after. and if it takes 5 or 6 more years to do it, then so be it. but at least i want an end in sight.

first off, i am off the next couple of days, and because i had trouble sleeping saturday night (due to intestinal gas not heading out the exhaust pipe), i was able to catch up on my sleep this morning and slept in about as well as can be expected. but as well, it looks like more laundry tomorrow. but such is part of life. if only i was washing more than my own clothes, i wouldn't mind it as much.

but that all being said, at least the weather is calmer than it has been for a while up here. hell, we're actually above normal. not as outrageously warm as it was at times last week (as much as 20 degrees above normal), but still not bad for november. it's definitely better than what they'll be seeing from the florida panhandle to near the big easy the next 24-36 hours as Ida comes to Mobile Bay for a visit. but i guess it's better than the below normal month of October up here.

As for my holiday shopping, not even thinking about it yet. and to be honest, i'm not even thinking past thanksgiving, as it looks like i'll be eating out before work this year, given the work schedule and all. but given that, I am still frustrated that the stores are already having christmas sales and such before thanksgiving even starts. I hate to say it here as i have said this already on facebook as a status update, but what ever happened to going one holiday at a time with your sales and sales displays? it's an annoyance that i think just shows desperation on the store's part since people aren't necessarily buying on the merit of the goods these days (partially because of the job market as well, but that's a different story). But one thing that is good out of this downturn, layaway is making a comeback. It's a lot better than using credit cards, from an interest-rate perspective, and also in a satisfaction standpoint (i know because i bought a quality bowling ball that way when working one summer). But one shopping thing that is kind of ironic. Today, i got in the mail a etter from the bestbuy reward-zone program: we're having a special holiday sale for reward zone members only this sunday, between 730 and 930pm. That sounds nice, until you see that I am working the 1-10 shift on sunday. Not like i would have bought anything anyway, given i don't need anything from them attm, but still, just the luck of the draw.

But at least when it comes to drawing at my local poker game lately, I have been doing better. in the Monday night game a couple of weeks ago, I was a respectable top 1/4 of the tourney. And last Tuesday, I actually placed 3rd out of 30+ people. So maybe i can start drawing a few better things soon.

But finally, going way out on a limb here, does anybody remember back to say 2004 or so, when the then republican-led senate said they were frustrated about the republicans wanting to change the rules in the senate to essentially get rid of the filibuster via the "nuclear option"? The the dems caved and allowed a vote on several issues? What if the dems didn't cave back then, the nuclear option was passed, and the filibuster would have been essentially done away with? Would we have had several more things to undo from the neocons (different from republicans in that most republicans actually have principles where neocons don't have them)? maybe. but wouldn't that be a good thing right now for the dems to get health care reform passed? or maybe that's why the GOP didn't drop the nuke on the rules to begin with? So hypothetically here: what if harry reid brought back the threat of using the nuclear option on health care? would Sen Reid actually have the balls to do that? would he actually use the previous "nuke option" support by the republicans against them to get it passed? Or will the dems come up neutered and spayed again? time will tell.

oh well, such is life. time to make some pizza dough for tuesday. and time to get going so i can get a roll of quarters for laundry. later peeps.

well, first off, where did i end up going on my trip this set of days off? nowhere. the cashflow wasn't as good as i would have liked heading into it, so instead of going into negative flow, i just decided to wait. but i will probably explore next in duluth when that clears up.

as for other goings on, i'm back to a steadier schedule for the time being, which is great for no other reason than my body clock will be back in order. and noone more than me appreciates that. since even if i don't have the best shifts, having consistent ones make for at least planning what to do when off-hours. will i make changes again anytime soon, who knows. but at least right now it's better.

as for other things in life, well at work for the friday pot-luck lunch, i hope my co-workers will like stromboli...  i admit it's my first time making that exact dish. but most of the materials that make up the dish, i am good with. i already have the crust made and chilling. i have the peppers and onion. and i am planning 2 stombolis, which if they work, should be good eats. one will be a cheesesteak variety (steak, 3 cheeses, red and yellow peppers), and the other more one that i would go after (ham, salami, 3 cheeses). but they will likely have to be reheated since i don't have a hot bag to transport them.

as for the pad, i have a new desk chair for my comp desk (the other one had one of the plastic arms snap on me). it may not be the strongest chair in the world. but at 10 bucks with no arms, it'll work for the time being.

now only if this weird weather pattern will break, i'll be happier. but i guess god, mother nature, and the meeting of deities just don't want to make things easy.

but at least the phils are back in the series, which is a good reason to have the night off. now if only they'll be able to get the game in, that way they could whip some yankee @$$ and make hell into a permafrost instead of just freezing it over.

finally, a couple of things on tv programs lately. top chef this season is looking good, Daria (the series, not the movies) is coming out on DVD next year,  and otherwise, can we all get along?

i have a 3-day off stretch coming up next week. and i was thinking of doing another exploration day trip. i was thinking generally 1 of 2 places to explore (just because they are there mainly, but also because i want to see more of the state and region where i live). this time around, i was thinking one of two places, both similar driving times from here in st paul. and i'm sort of split on which way to go.

so i'll leave it to you guys/gals....  which way do i head? Duluth, or LaCrosse? or is there somewhere else on a similar distance that would be just as good this time of year?

the ball is in your court.

ok, here's how i did things this day to this point...

well, after having a simple breakfast, i went out to get a present for my soon to be 3 yr old nephew. so where else do you really get kids' presents? the local K-mart? maybe since one is just up the road from me. but there's a place better than that for kids...  and that place of course is Toys R Us. so i was looking at some things after finding out from my folks what austin was doing with his playtime lately. and since it was some of everything, i decided to try something a bit different than my folks have dealt with but with something some of my friends let their kids play with: Moon Sand. It was either that, a 24-color pack of Play Dough, or try to find something different. So I went with the Moon Sand. I just hope my folks and/or brother will not kill me in trying to clean some of it up. But i figure he'll have a blast with it. 

so while i was there at Toys R Us, i decided to wander over towards their video games section. it's not the best one of the bunch compared to a lot of stores, but it's not that bad. So i walk in, check a couple of things out, and what do i see on the promotional monitor in front of me? promos for a few games and such. ok..  but then when the promo switches, and I start to see the Old-style board and whammies, I was thinking "Holy Crap, they actually are putting the old style Press Your Luck into video games? I might actually want it". So I ask the salesman there when it would be on sale and would it be on PS/2? He said Wii and I thought he said PS/2 will have the game, and it'll be out in ~ 2 weeks (from the ubisoft site, i just checked it's on PC, nintendo DS, and Wii, maybe they'll eventually port it to the PS/2). when i heard that, I have to admit i lit up. Not only because "Press Your Luck" was one of the cheesier but more watchable of the modern game shows, But let's face it they were getting quite original with how the whammy took the cash, bringing out Tammy Wamette, the barbershop quartet, and others. So how the game will be, i am not sure. But i may take a shot and get it for the PC. let's hope it isn't a whammy.

When i got home, and started packing austin's gift to get ready to send, i decided to put on the TV and see what was on. I do that and what do i see on the digital TV listings? "Let's Make a Deal" on WCCO. so i figured, ok, it's a new version of a classic game show, how bad could that be (knowing some of the new versions bomb and others do ok) ? Well, with Wayne Brady as a host, it's really a crap shoot. either it's real good or a real bomb, usually not in between. So i put it on, and i have to admit, he actually didn't do bad with it. And for the most part, it went well. But when it came to the big deal, they screwed up. The old version, they had 2 of the previous prize winners go for the big deal, making for a lot of drama. This version, only 1, and it seemed like a bit more of a crap shoot. if it wasn't for that falling-flat moment, i would say not bad otherwise.  But it does make you wonder though....  Was being on "Whose Line is It Anyway?" a gateway for bigger and better game shows? After all Drew Carey took over for Bob Barker at TPIR, and Wayne Brady has had several shots at a game show now. even Colin Macherie has had a couple of TV shows up in Canada (including 1 or 2 seasons on "This Hour Has 22 Minutes").

So overall, i'm going to make a small supper here and then get ready for the bull pen duty in the AM shift again tomorrow morning (and next Monday i might add) and then go around the clock with the shifts. It's part of the job, due to some circumstances attm at work. But at least we had our snowfalls this week, less than an inch on saturday and 2-3 inches on monday. now maybe someday i could get a game show. :)

well, see you on the other side folks.

last night while i was over at the bar playing poker as usual, some lady who i have played before was hearing me cheer for the twins a bit. and she commented "you have a voice for radio, you know that?" well, i didn't have to say a word about that because most of the other regular players know i'm a meteorologist and i'm on the radio (i don't necessarily brag about it, but if i'm asked what i do for a living, i don't hide it either). so the old guy next to me told the lady while she was texting away "you do know he actually is a radio weatherman, right?" the lady had the look on her face like "no crap". lest to say, 5 hands later, i busted her out after she went all in and won. she's a good player but didn't get the cards that night.

so with that all being said, it does make me wonder a bit here..  i know 2 of my co-workers are poker players of some capacity, and as for the others who knows. but if i were to go against all the other forecasters and meteorologists in the metro area; tv, radio, nws, other private companies such as meteorlogix and wind logix, and even independent consultants; in a charity poker tourney, how would i fare? would i end up with bragging rights? would i get schooled? or would i end up somewhere in the middle? just a curious thought.

culinarily speaking, anyway...

i'm trying my own marinade this afternoon of some chicken....  what's in the marinade? white balsamic vinegar (first time using it, yea it'a a cheaper brand); a combo of ground white, red, green, and black pepper; honey; vegetable oil; basil; poultry seasoning; oregano; and garlic powder. how will it turn out? who knows when i bake it. but i think the combo should work out.

on top of that, i will be serving corn, probably au gratin potatoes, corn (canned by a minnesota company), and stuffing. and when i make that plate, i'll be having 1/2 of what i make for supper and the other half will be a work meal tomorrow night. let's hope that works....  

i'll even consider making a cake here, mainly for snacking at work. it'll be chocolate with white icing for those curious.

why do all this cooking? why not. with a lot of manufactured foods out there, there are some decent flavors with the best of them. but some things are better portioned and better made at home.

besides, what's not sexy about a guy that can cook decently well?

well, heading into the new month of october, things will be getting scary for people more than the trick or treaters. within the first couple of weeks, we get some nice nasty storms to start things off...  t-storms in NE, IA and MO and snow in the dakotas in the next couple of days. then we get a break before a potential trinidad low gets going in the middle of next week. very lovely. fall's supposed to have calmer systems as the seasons transition. I guess we go from summer to winter. you think this is from the lack of sunspots, from el nino, or just mother nature knowing something i don't and saying i'm going to make life hell on you as you try to forecast my next move? who knows...  but it is just in time for me to do a one-off substitution on the morning show before heading to the art bell slot.

i'll make it for sure, but i think mother nature just put me on a new poker table in the poker tourney of life. and it's got cunningham, matasow, lederer, jen hartman, phil ivey, and doyle brunson on it. let's hope i make it out with a shirt on my back.

let's take a look at them and see how i did... (green meaning a hit, red a miss, black meaning a push)

temple +30 over psu

ohio state -19.5 over toledo

kansas -22.5 over duke

minnesota +14 over cal

usc -21 over washington

utah +4 over oregon

Michigan state +10.5 over ND

BYU -7 over FSU

texas -17.5 over Tx Tech

boise st -7 over fresno st

colorado -7 over wyoming

buffalo +3.5 over central florida

well, going 6-5-1 on the week is so-so at best. texas apparently had an ugly first half, so that didn't help. and utah as well as BYU tanked it. I have to admit, i was hoping that the "Holy War" would have been nastier than usual this year at the end of the season. oh well. still wouldn't want to be an innocent bystander there. buffalo was at least within 1 score, so they aren't doing that bad. and what a tank job by USC.

next picks on thursday.

well, why would i put my picks out there first off, and why didn't i pick weeks 1 and 2? just because i can. besides, i'm not that bad against the spread, at least with most games. so with that all said, these will be picked with the tuesday vegas lines, according to yahoo.com. and i'll pick say 10 or so games (no particular order) and just see how i do. please feel free to ridicule or congratulate me as you see fit... 

• temple +30 over penn state  - as much as i am a nittany lion fan true and blue, nittany lion fans also know joepa doesn't like to run up the score against his opponents. will penn state win the game, easily. will they win with the vegas spread, not this time. 
• Ohio St -19.5 over Toledo   - while penn state doesn't like to run up the score, ohiop st needs to after last week's loss to USC.
• Kansas - 22.5 over Duke  - there shouldn't really be a question here. this game would be competative with no spread needed in basketball. but this is football.
• Minnesota + 14 over Cal  - not sure if minnesota will be able to win many more games this season. but cal won't be able to cover this spread.
• USC -21 over Washington  - is there any doubt? this high number may be nowhere near high enough. this is going to be ugly
• Utah +4 over Oregon  - Utah may not be quite as good as last year, but other than USC, the pac 10 2nd thru 4th teams aren't as good as the WAC 2nd thru 4th
• Michigan State +10.5 over Notre Dame -  yes there's some personal preference against ND here. but that being said, if the game was to be bet straight up, ND would win that way. just not sure they cover the spread after the heartbreak loss last week.
• BYU -7 over FSU   -  i know some folks in Talahassee will not be happy to hear this, but they wish they had their team from when BYU last won their national championship (remember, BYU did that back when Robbie Boscoe played and won in the holiday bowl back in 84). but they don't. so got to go against the noles (even if they are masters of the tropics, unfortunately tropical systems hate mountains)
• Texas -17.5 over Texas Tech   - if this game was in lubbock, i'd love the red raiders more than a good chance to cover. unfortunately, this game will have the texas statehouse and the live music capital of the world (6th street) in the background. so horns win it big
• Boise St -7 over Fresno State   - Boise St. is looking good this year, and should be in contention for the WAC title again. Fresno looked decent in their game with the Badgers. but alas, it was against the badgers. give the points, even on the road here
• Colorado -7 over Wyoming  - the battle above 850mb this week  will head the way of south park over the land that cheney came from.
• Buffalo + 3.5 over University of Central Florida  --  buffalo's not as bad a team as some may say they are. and UCF isn't as good as last year. seeing the spread here would mean this game is a near pick otherwise (home teams usually get a 3 point home field advantage).

well, let's see if i do well, whether i suck, or all the way to the SBS level.

cheers folks. and happy watching

not sure about you, but i have a bit of a different perspective on 9/11. not some wierd conspiracy-based one as most of you might think. but this is because i was in toronto at the time of the attacks. that morning, i was sleeping in on a day off. not even awake at 9 am. then all of a sudden i get a call from brad saying "you see what is going on with the twin cities?" No I said. then he said, "well turn on the TV". so i turned on CNN. and in my mind, it was like "Holy Shit". i saw the towers burning, i saw the replay of the clips of the planes hitting the towers, i was just horrified. as well, i had the stern show on from when i was sleeping (yes when i'm alone a lot i will have the radio on softly to help me get to sleep and that night/morning i had on q-107). i have the show on, and i hear howard going nuts, trying to get the facts, wondering about how his daughters are downtown, going back and forth between fox news, cnn, msnbc, and even local news in NYC. then i hear him off and on talking to the different wack-packers. making light of te situation? no. in fact cabbie, being a former member of the army, was describing what he was seeing in the air, between the different military and civilian planes, about how NORAD should have been reacting to the situation, etc. the others were describing what was going on in different parts of the city when the people walked the bridges to get out, the dust cloud from the collapse, etc. howard's show was even extended until almost 12 before he broke down and said that he had to get going, that he just was scared as hell.

and that was just the start of what was going thru my mind. later that day and the next day, with my mind still a bit wacked out from what had happened, i got quite wary for a while about where i went and even about my car. for you see, i never switched the plates over to Ontario from PA, so i was clearly labeled as an american. and being that toronto has people from almost 100 countries, and 10-15 countries at least represented in my apartment building alone, i was a bit leery for a few days that someone could have secretly wired my car to blow up while i was sleeping so that when i turned the ignition that it would blow up instead of start the car. hank god hat never happened (i still had 1.5 years of payments left, so i didn't want to lose it, especially that way).

as for the reaction in the streets of toronto, most of life went on, on the surface. but beneath the surface, there was a ton of concern, canadians wanted to do all they could to help NYC recover, toronto and montreal wanting to send rescue crews to help find the survivors, sending blood from the blood banks, clothing donations, etc. i even was starting to hear the stries of all the people who were ready to fly home to the US from overseas having to be landed instead in halifax, gander, st johns, syndey, moncton, vancouver, montreal, toronto. just travelers stuck all over the place while their hosts did all they could to help them in their time of need. I remember the stories up in Gander where the whole town came together and gathered what they could from their own pantries and chipped in to make meals for the stuck people, even giving them shelter in their houses. total strangers going out of their way. it was a great story.

then we make the case for war in afghanistan, and even canadians were in favor of that, given the evidence at the time. but then the rumblings came about iraq. and all the goodwill that we had built up abroad was going down the toilet. everyone else in the world knew we were idiots for heading into there. even the conservatives, who were all for heading into afgnanistan and backing our american neighbours, said whoa to iraq, in parliment (i remember seeing some of the debate on the CBC and CPAC). and then the rest is history.

so that is my memory of that day and the days after, for what it's worth.

well, work was a quieter affair for a change. not much severe to talk about (just 1 or two warnings all weekend). so i will take that.

as for yesterday, well the fair was the fair. i wish i wasn't there amusing myself as much as being with someone else. But that being said, at least it was a great day weather-wise (low 80's a small breeze and partly to mostly sunny skies). you really can't ask for much better up here for early september. as for the trying the chocolate bacon, i missed the booth (how you may ask, well i just did). but that being said, maybe when i could get michelle up here for xmas and/or new years, maybe i'll have to try to make it here.

as for today, well the snacks i made went over decently. no complaints. so that's always a good thing. but my boss, who brought a couple of games there, brought in the lawn darts (with metal tips i might add). well, thank god noone attempted to be the "javelin catcher" with those. but it was good with brats, burgers, some decent conversation, etc.

so as for tonight, not sure what i'll do. but i am thinking of staying home since i go out yesterday at the fair.

well, for me, back to work tomorrow. so back to the routine. in the meantime though, on MTV Hits (digital cable), they are showing a lot of stuff from past MVA shows (videos from the winners, live performances, etc). i have to admit, this year's lineup looks so-so compared to past years.But there are some memories that made for good showmanship.

question of the day..  what are your most memorable MTV VMA award moments (as opposed to the MMVA's in toronto, they don't count here)? no moonmen will be given out here, but i know most people have watched this show at least once (even if you haven't admitted it to this point).

curious question for all, because there are probably a lot of barbecues, picnics, college football games, etc going on for all.

but here's what my plans are, as i see things:

• work tonight (art bell time)
• watch the penn state game (unfortunately probably at home because of the shift schedule, but who knows)
• tomorrow evening work the 2nd shift
• church on sunday morning
• sunday/afternoon/evening work
• live audio wrestling to close out the night
• head to the state fair monday (i actually have the holiday itself off)
• tuesday, have the day off but have a work party (which i will be making pizza-dough-based breadsticks (cinnamon sugar and chocolate-cinnamon sugar variety as one of the snacks)

why would i reveal this? why not. it's one of those things where life is what it is. besides, maybe i'll get a better deal for potential souvienirs at the fair (trying to get rid of stock at the end). as well, who knows..  maybe i'll do the karaoke this year over at the cool108 booth. any song suggestions for my 2nd karaoke song (and yes it'll be done sober) ?

just have to watch the roads heading to/from work of course. after work tonight it shouldn't be too bad. but heading to and from work tomorrow should be interesting (MN football game, then the usual clubsgoers). and sunday, i have to watch out for viking fans. at least i don't have to deal with RNC revelers/protesters (ask michelle about that). 

other than that in life, things are going. the new tires are still going strong on the car (but they might get a test if the sealer on the new pavement on the maryland ave/I-35 bridge doesn't cure before the next rain showers). gas is only 2.40 to 2.45 a gallon.

and the Nanticoke Trojans are starting their season tonight against Wyoming Area. I'm not saying Nanticoke has the best of chances, but our offensive line is more experienced this year (as last year they were mainly freshman), so there is room for surprises from my HS alma mater.  Besides, now that we have a stable band director again, we should get back to kicking the WA Band's butt on the marching field (yes there are rivalries between HS bands; just ask Pittston, Lake Lehman, Hazleton, Lackawanna Trail, Governor Livingston, and others in competition).

Now, i have to admit here in my section of the twin cities (the north end of st paul), I would love to see this battle happen in several sports to see what happens. sort of a "battle for the north end" bragging rights multi-sport battle. Who between? St Bernards on Geranium Ave and Arlington HS on Rice and Nebraska. As long as it remained an on-the-field rivalry, i could see it as quite the interesting sports battle.

but that's enough opining my thoughts today. have a safe and happy labor day weekend folks.

where did i go you may ask? weell it was just a simple drive.... i took hwy US 61 north to highway US-8, took highway US-8 to hwy WI-46, hwy WI-46 to hwy US-63, US-63 to US-12, US-12 to I-94. the route took me thru st. croix falls, forest lake, amery and rogers. it was actually kind of a nice drive for the most part. a lot sunnier than the forecast i heard on one or two of the local radio stations that i flipped onto from time to time before heading back to satellite. amery was actually quite a small town. but a nice one probably to visit, especially when they have their festival on sept 17-19. and the descent into st criox falls got me to use some of my hill-descent skills from PA. it's not like coming down 309 from mountain top, 115 thru bear creek, or giant's despair mind you. but those type of skills come in handy, especially to save the brakes.

as for the car itself, actually the mileage wasn't too bad. and the new tires, oh my god did they make a difference. when i made my trip to and from mankato about a month ago, my car would shudder if it came near 70 (in stretches where it was legal, of course). but coming in on the highways today, nothing. just a perfect ride, very nice handling, and no shudder. so i guess i needed the tires. But if these tires hold to their promise in the winter, it will have been a very nice thing to get those michelins with the tax rebate. i just wish i didn't make those travels alone. could i have had the potential to get lost if i had michelle with me, maybe (almost everywhere we've gone as a couple we've gotten lost at least once, whether it's in the middle of western mississippi, in the middle of a civil war battlefield at dusk, being in the wrong lane on the schuykill and ending up in northeast philly, or even making a wrong turn in houston and almost missing chris' the wedding reception). but i'd rather take that risk and not be alone on that road than alone but knowing where i am going.