[Bill,
October 31, 2007]
Hi
Nothing to report. As you were. What's up with you?
[Bill,
October 29, 2007]
I didn't hate the New England Patriots until last night ...
... when they ran up the score against Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins. 38-0, 4th and a few on the seven -- you don't keep Brady in. You pull your first string, take a knee, and have your second string defense practice the "prevent" defense and your second string offense practice running up the middle.
Sure, Washington would've scored a few times. But wouldn't 38-14 be more classy and respectable than 52-7.
Honestly, if I were Joe Gibbs, on that 4th down play I would've sent everyone after Brady, and had my players go in low and late. Sure, there would be a hail of yellow flags. So what? The more important thing is Beelzebubchek would get the idea not to keep his quarterback in too long.
Sure, Washington would've scored a few times. But wouldn't 38-14 be more classy and respectable than 52-7.
Honestly, if I were Joe Gibbs, on that 4th down play I would've sent everyone after Brady, and had my players go in low and late. Sure, there would be a hail of yellow flags. So what? The more important thing is Beelzebubchek would get the idea not to keep his quarterback in too long.
[Bill,
October 29, 2007]
Back but busy
Busy digging out. Paris & the 'dam were great.
Thought I was being mugged in Amsterdam when I was only being asked for a light. Pretty funny. This menacing 20-something kid said what I thought was, "Do you have something for me?" That is, meaning he was asking me for my money. I immediately assumed a defensive stance, got ready to whack his throat and said no. But his friends said, "He wants fire for his joint." His English wasn't good. His three friends laughed pretty hard. I lent him my lighter.
Amsterdam -- seems like a very livable city, and it's still a great place to visit. But it doesn't quite have the Wow factor of Paris. Still, a nice, unpretentious and quite beautiful city. I'd recommend going.
BTW, regarding two posts down -- I was only checking my email at Smokey's. I didn't purchase or toke, but I did inhale some of the smoke inside the bar. Amusing: There was a vending machine selling chips and other munchie snacks in the marijuana bar. They know their clientele.
Didn't visit the Red Light district with the prostitutes in the windows -- I know, I know. Just didn't feel like it.
Not a lot of churches. Whereas in Paris, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Catholic Church. Mass in French in an old cathedral -- just mind-bogglingly beautiful. The cathedrals aren't empty, either, btw. It was full on Sunday Mass.
Went to confession at Notre Dame cathedral. Wasn't even given penance. Later, back home, proceeded to commit the same sins just confessed. If I make it to Heaven, it'll only be by the grace of God.
Catacombs in Paris -- spooky. There's the bones of six million folks there. A woman (alive) who was behind us took a picture & got a picture of a ghost. The ghost looked like a big skull. I'm not making this up.
Paris is bigger than I remembered. It was nice seeing sections of town I hadn't seen before -- specifically, Montparnesse. (My previous trip had been mostly in the northern areas, Montmatre and Sacre Coeur, that sort of thing.)
Meanwhile, back home -- Springsteen's new album is pretty good. Ignore the lyrics, but the music's the best since Tunnel of Love.
Trip went extremely smoothly. A little bump getting a taxi in Paris when we arrived on Saturday (probably a two-hour wait). The Rugby World Cup final was in Paris that day, and we were up to our ears in English rugby fans. (Who, btw, didn't seem remotely hooliganish. Just enthusiastic). The French metro workers took that opportunity to strike, but then they stopped after the World Cup and the Metro was back online.
The whole trip wasn't that expensive, either.
That's all. Hope all's well with you folks.
Thought I was being mugged in Amsterdam when I was only being asked for a light. Pretty funny. This menacing 20-something kid said what I thought was, "Do you have something for me?" That is, meaning he was asking me for my money. I immediately assumed a defensive stance, got ready to whack his throat and said no. But his friends said, "He wants fire for his joint." His English wasn't good. His three friends laughed pretty hard. I lent him my lighter.
Amsterdam -- seems like a very livable city, and it's still a great place to visit. But it doesn't quite have the Wow factor of Paris. Still, a nice, unpretentious and quite beautiful city. I'd recommend going.
BTW, regarding two posts down -- I was only checking my email at Smokey's. I didn't purchase or toke, but I did inhale some of the smoke inside the bar. Amusing: There was a vending machine selling chips and other munchie snacks in the marijuana bar. They know their clientele.
Didn't visit the Red Light district with the prostitutes in the windows -- I know, I know. Just didn't feel like it.
Not a lot of churches. Whereas in Paris, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Catholic Church. Mass in French in an old cathedral -- just mind-bogglingly beautiful. The cathedrals aren't empty, either, btw. It was full on Sunday Mass.
Went to confession at Notre Dame cathedral. Wasn't even given penance. Later, back home, proceeded to commit the same sins just confessed. If I make it to Heaven, it'll only be by the grace of God.
Catacombs in Paris -- spooky. There's the bones of six million folks there. A woman (alive) who was behind us took a picture & got a picture of a ghost. The ghost looked like a big skull. I'm not making this up.
Paris is bigger than I remembered. It was nice seeing sections of town I hadn't seen before -- specifically, Montparnesse. (My previous trip had been mostly in the northern areas, Montmatre and Sacre Coeur, that sort of thing.)
Meanwhile, back home -- Springsteen's new album is pretty good. Ignore the lyrics, but the music's the best since Tunnel of Love.
Trip went extremely smoothly. A little bump getting a taxi in Paris when we arrived on Saturday (probably a two-hour wait). The Rugby World Cup final was in Paris that day, and we were up to our ears in English rugby fans. (Who, btw, didn't seem remotely hooliganish. Just enthusiastic). The French metro workers took that opportunity to strike, but then they stopped after the World Cup and the Metro was back online.
The whole trip wasn't that expensive, either.
That's all. Hope all's well with you folks.