Going off on dreaming about what I could do if I just became a temp again, today at work was hell. There were so many things, especially at the end of my shift, that I had never seen before. I had to ask people what's going on, and one person volunteered her advice even though she's starting to get a little overbearing about it. And then, I swear, I came upon something ... and I froze because I didn't know if I needed to do something or not. And no, still being sick (WHEN THE HELL WILL I STOP COUGHING UNTIL I GAG?!) didn't help. If something comes back to bite me in the ass, I'll use that as an excuse.
I'm really struggling with getting my job right. It's been two months now (I think?), and at some point I should just slide in and do the work like it ain't no thing. But I still doubt myself, still catch myself saying, "Wait, do I do ... this?" Yes, I think some mastery should be assumed by now. But I am very, very far from that. And because of that, I'm starting to really be unhappy at work. You know, I could throw it back at them and say that my training has been inadequate. And it has. But still, I'm in sink-or-swim mode, and too many times, like today, I was sinking.
Man, I don't know. I should quit because I get the feeling I should be fired.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
A Way Out
Look, I like all the people there -- well, most of them -- and I'm starting to get my tasks right, which is no small feat. But I've got to tell you, waking up at 5:30 in the morning is getting to be a pain in the ass. I mean, am I a farmer? I really don't know if this is something I can keep up.
It's for that reason that yesterday I returned a call from someone from the temp agency. They left a voicemail saying there was an opportunity. Now, I wasn't going to take it -- unless it was full-time and paid, like, $25 an hour -- but when I left a message for her, I explicitly said that while I do have a job now, I wouldn't mind keeping in touch.
Does that sound bad? I don't think so. I'm keeping my options open, especially in case something at work changes to something I cannot accept. Maybe it doesn't really matter; I can just ring them up again if I decide to quit. But I didn't really want to burn my contact with the agency, even if she is someone whom I have never spoken to before. You never know what's gonna happen with your current job, right?
It's for that reason that yesterday I returned a call from someone from the temp agency. They left a voicemail saying there was an opportunity. Now, I wasn't going to take it -- unless it was full-time and paid, like, $25 an hour -- but when I left a message for her, I explicitly said that while I do have a job now, I wouldn't mind keeping in touch.
Does that sound bad? I don't think so. I'm keeping my options open, especially in case something at work changes to something I cannot accept. Maybe it doesn't really matter; I can just ring them up again if I decide to quit. But I didn't really want to burn my contact with the agency, even if she is someone whom I have never spoken to before. You never know what's gonna happen with your current job, right?
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Well, Now That I Know I Have A Fucking SINUS INFECTION ...
... I can get treatment for it. Thank Buddha I decided to just see my doctor at the spur of the moment yesterday and jet across town in 20 minutes in order for him to see me.
Without that visit, I would not have the antibiotics I'm currently on. I feel marginally better. Still coughing to the point of gagging. But my head no longer feels like a kettlebell. I really was hoping that one pill would completely cure me, but I guess I have to take it all, one pill twelve hours at a time, in order to slowly clear the infection.
Still feel like shit, though.
Without that visit, I would not have the antibiotics I'm currently on. I feel marginally better. Still coughing to the point of gagging. But my head no longer feels like a kettlebell. I really was hoping that one pill would completely cure me, but I guess I have to take it all, one pill twelve hours at a time, in order to slowly clear the infection.
Still feel like shit, though.
Monday, October 29, 2018
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: Positive Numbers). Another weekend, another pair of games, and another pair of victories. Sweeps, too. This time, however, these were at the Michigan schools: Michigan St. Friday (22-23-15), #12 Michigan Saturday (25-10[!!!]-20).
This club, without a doubt, is The Best Golden Gopher Volleyball Team I Have Ever Seen. Now, like I've said before, they have to go all the way. These women are scary good, but the longer they go without losing, the scarier it gets. This week: At Wisconsin for Halloween, then the Spartans come to Maturi on Saturday.
#0: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -4). So this side squeaked in as the 7-seed for the B1G Tournament. According to Chris Henderson of All-White Kit, Minnesota has no chance of getting in as an At-Large. The Gophers' only chance of getting in is to buck the odds and win the tourney.
And that is why they take the second spot: An absolutely vital and clutch 1-0 win yesterday (Sunday) afternoon at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were probably going to be in regardless, so we can question their true motives. Nevertheless, a 7-seed doesn't win at a 2-seed all that often. Thank Buddha, then, for April Bockin, named Conference Forward Of The Year and First-Team All-Big Ten on Friday, who rebounded a shot into the net in the 88th Minute.
There was a lot of carnage in the bracket Sunday. Three of the four Quarterfinals were won by the lower seed; only top-ranked Penn St. remains standing. The Nittany Lions and Illinois join Minnesota in Westfield, Ind., this weekend for rest of the tourney. On Friday afternoon the Gophers meet up with another no-hope-but-for-the-conference-championship squad, Nebraska. One of these upstarts will be play for the right to barge into the NCAAs.
#-1: Whitecaps (Last Week: 0). I don't want to give short shrift to the Whitecaps, but with Sunday's 2-1 win over the Buffalo Beauts at TRIA, this team is now the only one in the National Women's Hockey League that is undefeated. I should get to a game one of these days. But it won't be any time soon, because for some reason, they don't play until ... December. Huh.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -2). And another club that is ranked lower than it should because other teams just did better. Home wins over Los Angeles and Colorado puts the Wild on a five-game winning streak, the longest in the NHL. Unfortunately, they aren't undefeated in-conference, like the Gophers volleyball team is, didn't pull out an upset on the road to continue its season, like the Gophers soccer team is, and they aren't undefeated and first in the league, like the Whitecaps are. And also, not for nothing, but did you know the Mild are the oldest team in the league? Maybe that's not so surprising.
But now they embark on a six-game roadtrip starting tonight (Monday night) in Vancouver. They hightail it to Edmonton tomorrow (Tuesday) night, then are at St. Louis Saturday.
#-3: Gopher football (Last Week: -7). Had a passing thought about going to the match vs. Indiana Friday, but I was too sick, so nah. I don't think I had the constitution to stay out in the gloomy rain for three-plus hours. But it would've been a hell of a rollercoaster to watch. The Gophs got out to a 31-9 lead late in the third, only for the Hoosiers to rip off 22 consecutive to tie the game. I swore to myself that if the Goofers lose a game like this, P. J. Fleck may have half of next season left. But hey, Tanner Morgan tossed a 67-Yard pass to Rashod Bateman on the first (and only) play after Indiana tied for the deciding 38-31 score. This may not solve anything, but at least this squad won its first conference game of the year.
At Illinois Saturday afternoon.
#-4: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -3). Split at Wisconsin. That's all I got. Next week: A two-game series against Bemidji St. at Ridder.
#-5: Timberwolves (Last Week: -5). As the Woofie Dogs sleepwalked into a 1-2 screening week (beat Indiana, then lost at Toronto and at home versus Milwaukee by 30), the big news is that the Houston Rockets have offered Tom Thibodeau and/or Glen Taylor four first-round picks for Jimmy Butler. The four first-rounders, alternating over the next seven years, is the maximum one franchise can give another under NBA rules. So, why haven't someone said "Fuck yes!"? I don't know. If Thibs remains determined to ruin the future of this organization because he wants to win now, that's enough evidence of incompetence and/or insubordination that he should be fired without pay. I don't know if this means that the trade has been rejected or if they're in a "we'll get back to you" mode, but again, MAKE THIS FUCKING TRADE!!!
They play every other day this screening week. Home to LeBron and the Lakers tonight (Monday night) and Utah Wednesday, then at Golden State Friday and at Portland Sunday.
#-6: Gopher men's hockey (Re-Entry!). In an attempt to make men's hockey glitzier, this weekend the Golden Gopher male icers went out to Las Vegas and play North Dakota -- and lose for the first time this year, 3-1, in the U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Game.
And ... that's all I got. This weekend: A home-and-home vs. Minnesota State-Mankato.
#-7: Vikings (Last Week: -1). The Theraflu knocked me out to the point where I woke up at around 8. Turned on the TV and saw that the New Orleans Saints were leading. The Vikings were behind, but from what little I saw, they were still able to move up and down the field on them. Stood to reason, since the Saints' passing Defense is the worst in the NFL.
But then the fucking turnovers began. First Adam Thielen (who reached 100 Yards receiving for the eighth straight time, tying the record for most 100-Yard receiving games at any point in an NFL season) coughed up the ball deep in Saints' territory. Then, to start the Second Half, a scrambling Kirk Cousins throws a Pick-Six. Damn.
I didn't watch the whole game. But I've heard a couple people say that the Vikings in fact didn't put up much of a fight. That sucks. I also want to point out the ramifications. We're halfway through the season, and in the NFC, the Rams are first and the Saints are second, and they probably stay that way because the ViQueens lost to both. So whatever happens from here on out, it stands to reason that this team will not have a bye in the playoffs. Maybe that's not a bad thing. But for this team, especially one that shot itself in the foot with Turnovers like they did last night, maybe that's not a good thing, either.
The Detroit Lions visit Sunday. They have won both times they have played at the new stadium.
#-Infinity: United FC (Last Week: -6). Was going to go to a Q&A at New Bohemia on Lake St. to hear a writer for The Athletic speak, but was sick. Probably better that way: Columbus beat the Loons, 3-2, and with that win, the Crew sewed up the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, with all the push-and-pull, MNUFC managed to allow one more Goal this year than they did last year. The side does not hold the record for most Goals allowed in a season anymore -- I think Orlando blew past that this year -- but they still exceeded their own record, which is fucking sad.
After the match Manager Adrian Heath said, "I know what to do." I know what to do, too: Fire Heath. Oh, and get back Christian Ramirez.
This club, without a doubt, is The Best Golden Gopher Volleyball Team I Have Ever Seen. Now, like I've said before, they have to go all the way. These women are scary good, but the longer they go without losing, the scarier it gets. This week: At Wisconsin for Halloween, then the Spartans come to Maturi on Saturday.
#0: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -4). So this side squeaked in as the 7-seed for the B1G Tournament. According to Chris Henderson of All-White Kit, Minnesota has no chance of getting in as an At-Large. The Gophers' only chance of getting in is to buck the odds and win the tourney.
And that is why they take the second spot: An absolutely vital and clutch 1-0 win yesterday (Sunday) afternoon at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were probably going to be in regardless, so we can question their true motives. Nevertheless, a 7-seed doesn't win at a 2-seed all that often. Thank Buddha, then, for April Bockin, named Conference Forward Of The Year and First-Team All-Big Ten on Friday, who rebounded a shot into the net in the 88th Minute.
There was a lot of carnage in the bracket Sunday. Three of the four Quarterfinals were won by the lower seed; only top-ranked Penn St. remains standing. The Nittany Lions and Illinois join Minnesota in Westfield, Ind., this weekend for rest of the tourney. On Friday afternoon the Gophers meet up with another no-hope-but-for-the-conference-championship squad, Nebraska. One of these upstarts will be play for the right to barge into the NCAAs.
#-1: Whitecaps (Last Week: 0). I don't want to give short shrift to the Whitecaps, but with Sunday's 2-1 win over the Buffalo Beauts at TRIA, this team is now the only one in the National Women's Hockey League that is undefeated. I should get to a game one of these days. But it won't be any time soon, because for some reason, they don't play until ... December. Huh.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -2). And another club that is ranked lower than it should because other teams just did better. Home wins over Los Angeles and Colorado puts the Wild on a five-game winning streak, the longest in the NHL. Unfortunately, they aren't undefeated in-conference, like the Gophers volleyball team is, didn't pull out an upset on the road to continue its season, like the Gophers soccer team is, and they aren't undefeated and first in the league, like the Whitecaps are. And also, not for nothing, but did you know the Mild are the oldest team in the league? Maybe that's not so surprising.
But now they embark on a six-game roadtrip starting tonight (Monday night) in Vancouver. They hightail it to Edmonton tomorrow (Tuesday) night, then are at St. Louis Saturday.
#-3: Gopher football (Last Week: -7). Had a passing thought about going to the match vs. Indiana Friday, but I was too sick, so nah. I don't think I had the constitution to stay out in the gloomy rain for three-plus hours. But it would've been a hell of a rollercoaster to watch. The Gophs got out to a 31-9 lead late in the third, only for the Hoosiers to rip off 22 consecutive to tie the game. I swore to myself that if the Goofers lose a game like this, P. J. Fleck may have half of next season left. But hey, Tanner Morgan tossed a 67-Yard pass to Rashod Bateman on the first (and only) play after Indiana tied for the deciding 38-31 score. This may not solve anything, but at least this squad won its first conference game of the year.
At Illinois Saturday afternoon.
#-4: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -3). Split at Wisconsin. That's all I got. Next week: A two-game series against Bemidji St. at Ridder.
#-5: Timberwolves (Last Week: -5). As the Woofie Dogs sleepwalked into a 1-2 screening week (beat Indiana, then lost at Toronto and at home versus Milwaukee by 30), the big news is that the Houston Rockets have offered Tom Thibodeau and/or Glen Taylor four first-round picks for Jimmy Butler. The four first-rounders, alternating over the next seven years, is the maximum one franchise can give another under NBA rules. So, why haven't someone said "Fuck yes!"? I don't know. If Thibs remains determined to ruin the future of this organization because he wants to win now, that's enough evidence of incompetence and/or insubordination that he should be fired without pay. I don't know if this means that the trade has been rejected or if they're in a "we'll get back to you" mode, but again, MAKE THIS FUCKING TRADE!!!
They play every other day this screening week. Home to LeBron and the Lakers tonight (Monday night) and Utah Wednesday, then at Golden State Friday and at Portland Sunday.
#-6: Gopher men's hockey (Re-Entry!). In an attempt to make men's hockey glitzier, this weekend the Golden Gopher male icers went out to Las Vegas and play North Dakota -- and lose for the first time this year, 3-1, in the U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame Game.
And ... that's all I got. This weekend: A home-and-home vs. Minnesota State-Mankato.
#-7: Vikings (Last Week: -1). The Theraflu knocked me out to the point where I woke up at around 8. Turned on the TV and saw that the New Orleans Saints were leading. The Vikings were behind, but from what little I saw, they were still able to move up and down the field on them. Stood to reason, since the Saints' passing Defense is the worst in the NFL.
But then the fucking turnovers began. First Adam Thielen (who reached 100 Yards receiving for the eighth straight time, tying the record for most 100-Yard receiving games at any point in an NFL season) coughed up the ball deep in Saints' territory. Then, to start the Second Half, a scrambling Kirk Cousins throws a Pick-Six. Damn.
I didn't watch the whole game. But I've heard a couple people say that the Vikings in fact didn't put up much of a fight. That sucks. I also want to point out the ramifications. We're halfway through the season, and in the NFC, the Rams are first and the Saints are second, and they probably stay that way because the ViQueens lost to both. So whatever happens from here on out, it stands to reason that this team will not have a bye in the playoffs. Maybe that's not a bad thing. But for this team, especially one that shot itself in the foot with Turnovers like they did last night, maybe that's not a good thing, either.
The Detroit Lions visit Sunday. They have won both times they have played at the new stadium.
#-Infinity: United FC (Last Week: -6). Was going to go to a Q&A at New Bohemia on Lake St. to hear a writer for The Athletic speak, but was sick. Probably better that way: Columbus beat the Loons, 3-2, and with that win, the Crew sewed up the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, with all the push-and-pull, MNUFC managed to allow one more Goal this year than they did last year. The side does not hold the record for most Goals allowed in a season anymore -- I think Orlando blew past that this year -- but they still exceeded their own record, which is fucking sad.
After the match Manager Adrian Heath said, "I know what to do." I know what to do, too: Fire Heath. Oh, and get back Christian Ramirez.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
OK, Time For Something Different
Stayed in for most of the day. Went out in the afternoon for Target and lunch. Wanted to go to New Bohemia and be part of this Q&A with this beat writer for MNUFC, but I slept through it.
I'm not going to push myself this weekend. Rest is what I need, and if I have to not do anything in order to get better, that's what I'll do. So after my alma mater's loss last night, I went to bed and felt as though I didn't need to do another goddamn thing. So I slept from midnight till 5, checked my fantasy football lineups, thought about getting breakfast but instead fell asleep from 8:30 till 11, then woke up and went out, ate the Wendy's I bought, then slept from 2 until 8, after which I woke up, ate the rest of the Wendy's (I ate the fries in the afternoon and the salad just now), watched the abortion that was the Vikings game, saw the end of the World Series (dammit, Dodgers front office, why did you pull Rich Hill in Game 4?!), and here I am.
And I am still coughing, sadly. I don't know if I'm getting better. And even though I want to think that the medicine I was taking was working ... well, it wasn't, not really. I haven't coughed so hard that I gagged, but I thought the ton of sleep I've been getting would knock this out for good, and it hasn't.
So I went to Target to get more cough medicine because I ran out. What I bought was generic Mucinex, which is an antitussive, or cough suppressant. It has dextromethorphan, the acutally active ingredient for cough suppression, and guaifenesin, an expectorant which promotes the production of mucus and makes coughing easier ... which makes no sense, 'cause why do you want to cough easier?
Not to say it didn't completely work, but it didn't completely work, so I tried a different coterie of active ingredients. I got some Theraflu, which has diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that supposedly blocks the production of mucus which cannot be coughed up so violently. That knocked me the fuck out in the afternoon, but frankly, I still have phlegm in my mouth, so that way ain't working either.
If anything, another active ingredient in the Theraflu is making me feel better, and it's one you probably know about: Ibuprofen. I woke up with a nagging headache, but before heading out to Target for some aspiring I checked my fridge to see if we still had any. That's when I found this unopened bottle of Motrin, which is brand-name ibuprofen. This was a bottle I bought the last time I went to the nearby K-Mart when it was announced it was going out of business. These were the "pills that I could use, someday" -- and today was that someday! And you know what? Even though the bottle expired January 2016 (I bought these Thanksgiving of 2014), the headache cleared up. And the acetaminophen in the Theraflu has combated much of the pain I've felt from all the coughing and aches I've suffered. Cough hasn't gone away, and I still feel lethargic, but I'm not hurt as much.
Maybe I'll stay in tomorrow, too.
I'm not going to push myself this weekend. Rest is what I need, and if I have to not do anything in order to get better, that's what I'll do. So after my alma mater's loss last night, I went to bed and felt as though I didn't need to do another goddamn thing. So I slept from midnight till 5, checked my fantasy football lineups, thought about getting breakfast but instead fell asleep from 8:30 till 11, then woke up and went out, ate the Wendy's I bought, then slept from 2 until 8, after which I woke up, ate the rest of the Wendy's (I ate the fries in the afternoon and the salad just now), watched the abortion that was the Vikings game, saw the end of the World Series (dammit, Dodgers front office, why did you pull Rich Hill in Game 4?!), and here I am.
And I am still coughing, sadly. I don't know if I'm getting better. And even though I want to think that the medicine I was taking was working ... well, it wasn't, not really. I haven't coughed so hard that I gagged, but I thought the ton of sleep I've been getting would knock this out for good, and it hasn't.
So I went to Target to get more cough medicine because I ran out. What I bought was generic Mucinex, which is an antitussive, or cough suppressant. It has dextromethorphan, the acutally active ingredient for cough suppression, and guaifenesin, an expectorant which promotes the production of mucus and makes coughing easier ... which makes no sense, 'cause why do you want to cough easier?
Not to say it didn't completely work, but it didn't completely work, so I tried a different coterie of active ingredients. I got some Theraflu, which has diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that supposedly blocks the production of mucus which cannot be coughed up so violently. That knocked me the fuck out in the afternoon, but frankly, I still have phlegm in my mouth, so that way ain't working either.
If anything, another active ingredient in the Theraflu is making me feel better, and it's one you probably know about: Ibuprofen. I woke up with a nagging headache, but before heading out to Target for some aspiring I checked my fridge to see if we still had any. That's when I found this unopened bottle of Motrin, which is brand-name ibuprofen. This was a bottle I bought the last time I went to the nearby K-Mart when it was announced it was going out of business. These were the "pills that I could use, someday" -- and today was that someday! And you know what? Even though the bottle expired January 2016 (I bought these Thanksgiving of 2014), the headache cleared up. And the acetaminophen in the Theraflu has combated much of the pain I've felt from all the coughing and aches I've suffered. Cough hasn't gone away, and I still feel lethargic, but I'm not hurt as much.
Maybe I'll stay in tomorrow, too.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Now I'm At The Point Where I'm Gagging
I woke up from the middle of what I think was a hard two-hour sleep. I matched that with a ten-minute nap for lunch, and after both of those times my coughing was totally under control. But other times the coughing was back. And it was the worst it's been, where I was coughing so intensely that my fucking gag reflex kicked in. So happy I didn't eat anything at work or else I would have had vomit all over my car.
I have no obligations for the next two days. I hope I can kick this for good in that time.
I have no obligations for the next two days. I hope I can kick this for good in that time.
Friday, October 26, 2018
The Loneliest Place In The World Is Your Bed When You Can't Sleep
I think I've been up since 3:45 -- and if not, I think I've been up since some time in the Second Quarter of the Thursday night football game. I've been trying to sleep, dying to sleep, but goddammit, today ... it just wasn't happening. The coughing, the aches (especially in my head now). ...
I don't remember thrashing about like this as much as I did overnight. And it got so bad that I've had these weird dreams where ... you know, maybe I was asleep and I didn't know it? I had this dream where I was back at work and doing files and. ... Maybe it's just my imagination, which is something that gets away from you when you're desperate to fall asleep but can't.
Goddammit, I don't know how I'm going to make it through today. I just need some sleep -- some glorious, peaceful sleep. Please.
I don't remember thrashing about like this as much as I did overnight. And it got so bad that I've had these weird dreams where ... you know, maybe I was asleep and I didn't know it? I had this dream where I was back at work and doing files and. ... Maybe it's just my imagination, which is something that gets away from you when you're desperate to fall asleep but can't.
Goddammit, I don't know how I'm going to make it through today. I just need some sleep -- some glorious, peaceful sleep. Please.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Coughing Fit
So yeah, because I cut off the heat overnight (still don't trust that it won't leak), I got all this phlegm in my body and my joints ache. Coughing all day at work. Well, I think I've been doing that every day for pretty much the last two weeks, but still.
I was going to see my shrink after work yesterday, but I had time to go to the library and blog post the previous blog post. I was coughing up a storm and some old asshole from behind me goes, "Cover your mouth when you cough, please." That totally set me off. I really wanted to troll this fucking stranger. I mean, how dare he tell me what to do in a public library? But there were a lot of things that stopped me: I was weak and tired; I had to see my shrink in a bit; if I do start something I might be barred forever from this library, and I kind of like it; I wouldn't even know which fuckin' dude it was; and, finally, well, I've been on the other end of this fight, where some asshole was coughing up a storm and bothering the shit out of me. Besides, when I heard that warning, this childhood fear of getting into trouble seized my diaphragm. I actually didn't cough that badly for the rest of my time at the library. Well, that's what primordial fears get you.
Oh, This Cunt At Work I know is pissed off beyond belief over my coughing. We shared a quick laugh over men and women in the morning, but as I continued to hack, I know she volunteered herself to be moved to an entirely different area for the rest of the day because she couldn't stand both the sound of my coughs and the germs that I spewed. I would understand, but ... well, finding another place to work without telling me is pretty goddamn passive-aggressive, you know?
But even I realized that what I did yesterday was too much. So I asked for a mask, something people there actually use when they're coughing. Should have thought that up sooner, and I think that's weird, but really, it was time to do something about this. Don't know how many brownie points I get, but let's see where this goes.
I was going to see my shrink after work yesterday, but I had time to go to the library and blog post the previous blog post. I was coughing up a storm and some old asshole from behind me goes, "Cover your mouth when you cough, please." That totally set me off. I really wanted to troll this fucking stranger. I mean, how dare he tell me what to do in a public library? But there were a lot of things that stopped me: I was weak and tired; I had to see my shrink in a bit; if I do start something I might be barred forever from this library, and I kind of like it; I wouldn't even know which fuckin' dude it was; and, finally, well, I've been on the other end of this fight, where some asshole was coughing up a storm and bothering the shit out of me. Besides, when I heard that warning, this childhood fear of getting into trouble seized my diaphragm. I actually didn't cough that badly for the rest of my time at the library. Well, that's what primordial fears get you.
Oh, This Cunt At Work I know is pissed off beyond belief over my coughing. We shared a quick laugh over men and women in the morning, but as I continued to hack, I know she volunteered herself to be moved to an entirely different area for the rest of the day because she couldn't stand both the sound of my coughs and the germs that I spewed. I would understand, but ... well, finding another place to work without telling me is pretty goddamn passive-aggressive, you know?
But even I realized that what I did yesterday was too much. So I asked for a mask, something people there actually use when they're coughing. Should have thought that up sooner, and I think that's weird, but really, it was time to do something about this. Don't know how many brownie points I get, but let's see where this goes.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
One My Greatest Fears Realized
I'm glad I waiting until now to blog for the day.
One of my greatest fears is either pulling into or pulling out of work and having a road incident with a co-worker. It happened just now.
So our campus has an outlet that is part of a four-way intersection with stoplights. Looking at the width of this outlet, there seems to be, uh, three lanes for drivers to drive through at the same time. Unfortunately, they are not marked.
Therefore, it is up to me to figure out which lane to use, usually when I'm at a stop. I usually take a left, and therefore I take up the middle lane; I figure that the flow of traffic is going out, so I get to take the middle lane. This time, however, I'm going south, and therefore I have to go straight. Nevertheless, I decide to use the middle lane again because there are a lot of cars that I have noticed that want to take a right. If I'm going straight and I use the right lane, they can't take a right if the coast is clear. I think that's logical.
There was another car that drove up behind me. I'll be honest; I'm kind of out of it right now because I didn't turn the heat on (still worried about leaks) and the cold has given me a lot of phlegm. Anyway, I forgot about the car behind me. And when we got the green, both of us went straight. Shit.
I had to relent. And as I slowed I looked inside the cabin of the SUV next to me. Yep, I work with her.
Look, I don't know who's right. (I should bring this up to my bosses, this is an important matter.) But it's going to be so awkward to see her at work tomorrow morning. Well, awkward at least for me. But I think I'm right, right? And if so, that means ... she's a bad driver, no?
One of my greatest fears is either pulling into or pulling out of work and having a road incident with a co-worker. It happened just now.
So our campus has an outlet that is part of a four-way intersection with stoplights. Looking at the width of this outlet, there seems to be, uh, three lanes for drivers to drive through at the same time. Unfortunately, they are not marked.
Therefore, it is up to me to figure out which lane to use, usually when I'm at a stop. I usually take a left, and therefore I take up the middle lane; I figure that the flow of traffic is going out, so I get to take the middle lane. This time, however, I'm going south, and therefore I have to go straight. Nevertheless, I decide to use the middle lane again because there are a lot of cars that I have noticed that want to take a right. If I'm going straight and I use the right lane, they can't take a right if the coast is clear. I think that's logical.
There was another car that drove up behind me. I'll be honest; I'm kind of out of it right now because I didn't turn the heat on (still worried about leaks) and the cold has given me a lot of phlegm. Anyway, I forgot about the car behind me. And when we got the green, both of us went straight. Shit.
I had to relent. And as I slowed I looked inside the cabin of the SUV next to me. Yep, I work with her.
Look, I don't know who's right. (I should bring this up to my bosses, this is an important matter.) But it's going to be so awkward to see her at work tomorrow morning. Well, awkward at least for me. But I think I'm right, right? And if so, that means ... she's a bad driver, no?
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Things I Need To Talk To My Parents About
Jotting down this list helps me remember:
- Their Medicare plans are squared away;
- He is still looking at that Medicare bill;
- Water damage to the basement and office;
- Father's new credit card came;
- Deposited a new real estate check;
- Do you want any lottery tickets?
Monday, October 22, 2018
You know what I'm feeling now? Fear. Fear of going to work tomorrow. I really don't want to go because of That Bitch. I know she's going to say something underhanded and passive-aggressive.
I just realized this: I am feeling an anxiety that I haven't felt since my last year at the flu biller place. The dread of tomorrow made me physically ill. I didn't go back, and thank Buddha I didn't. So shouldn't this tell me about not continuing to work there?
Still get e-mails from classified work sites. Thought about deleting them. Won't now.
I just realized this: I am feeling an anxiety that I haven't felt since my last year at the flu biller place. The dread of tomorrow made me physically ill. I didn't go back, and thank Buddha I didn't. So shouldn't this tell me about not continuing to work there?
Still get e-mails from classified work sites. Thought about deleting them. Won't now.
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: Positive Numbers). Holy mother of God, this squad just keeps on rolling. Home victories over Iowa and Nebraska (completing a season sweep of the Cornhuskers) means the U. is on an 11-match winning streak and remains undefeated in the Big Ten, the best conference in women's college volleyball. I caught a glimpse of the opening of Saturday's match vs. Nebraska at a bar, and I saw that they dropped the first Set. I sort of thought oh no, but then I thought it was a good thing because, hey, I really think a loss will educate this squad on resilience. But the TV was switched so I didn't know till later that the Gophers freakin' came back and beat Nebraska Sets 2-4 with losing scores of 23 (whoa!), 23 (whoa!!), and 18 (they fuckin' broke 'em!!!).
As far as I know, BYU and Stanford continue to win, so it's likely that the Golden Gophers remain #3 in the AVCA Top 25. But considering the conference schedule the team is continuing to master, Minnesota might get into the field as the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament ... and it's because that team might be the best in the tournament.
Potential landmines ahead this weekend: They have a three-game roadtrip, starting with the Michigan schools this weekend.
#0: Whitecaps (Re-Entry!). Well, this is an intriguing revelation: The 'Caps went out east and beat the Metropolitan Riveters over the weekend by scores of 5-3 and 6-2. They completed a 4-0 season sweep of the defending Isobel Cup Champion Rivs -- very impressive! It seems as though many players on the Golden Gophers flocked back to Minnesota, giving the Whitecaps a superpowered team in its first year in the NWHL. Could they win the title in its first year? Maybe ... and I will not even touch any comparisons to the Vegas Golden Knights. No sirree.
This weekend they are home to face the Buffalo Beauts for two. I don't know if I have time to take in a game. But if I do, will there even be tickets available?
#-1: Vikings (Last Week: 0). I don't know if these guys have righted the ship. And any dreams that they will win the Super Bowl remain a pipe dream that will depress me if I think about it too much. But after a First Half that was won, essentially, by the MetLife Stadium wind, they pulled away from the New York Jets in the Second Half in Sunday's 37-17 rout. That's three in a row for the Vikes, and they, for now, are first in the National Football Conference North Division.
A little regurgitation of facts you have already read about Adam Thielen. He notched his seventh straight game of 100 receiving yards to start a season, which is an NFL record (and ties the professional football record), and he holds the NFL record of most Receptions through the first seven weeks of the year. At this point, why wouldn't opposing teams fucking triple-team Thielen for the rest of the season? I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. And to think this guy went to Minnesota State-Mankato and went undrafted. What a country!
Next game: The Return Of The Minneapolis Miracle, vs. New Orleans, for Sunday Night Football.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -2). They got doubled up in Nashville Monday, but has ripped off three in a row since. The win vs. Tampa Bay Saturday at the X happened in Overtime, but that was the back end of a back-to-back sweep, the first of which was a 3-1 road win at The Team That Was Stolen From Us. I don't know if this marks a turning point, but hey, Alex Stalock became the first Wild Goalie to be credited with an assist during the 5-4 win over the Lightning!
They have a few days off this screening week before hosting Los Angeles Thursday and Colorado Saturday.
#-3: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -1). Said in last week's survey that I might watch Friday's contest at Ridder vs. Ohio St. Shouldn't've said that; this game slipped my mind because I had a few important things to do and I had no decent reason to go. Missed a 3-0 wipeout. But hmmm ... the fourth-ranked Buckeyes upset the third-ranked Gophs 3-2 Saturday.
That's all I got. This team has a tough two-game series at second-ranked Wisconsin for the weekend.
#-4: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -3). Well, if you have a chip and a chair, you have a chance, they say. That's all this side has right now, because even though their 3-1 win over Iowa at Cowles Thursday (a contest I attended) pretty much got them into the B1G tourney, Sunday's 2-0 loss at regular season conference champion Penn St. kind of shows how mediocre this team is. They are the 7-seed, and they will visit Rutgers this weekend, a team that they lost to, 2-1, in (not for nothing) double OT at home Sep. 30. Even if they pull the upset over the Scarlet Knights, they still need to win the whole shebang in order to land a spot in the NCAAs. So, good luck.
#-5: Timberwolves (Re-Entry!). The calamitous shitshow called the Woofie Dogs tipped off this week with three games. Sandwiched between road losses to San Antonio and Dallas was a win in their home opener Friday over Cleveland. (Why did the NBA make this squad travel down to Texas, come back up here, then go back down to Texas?) I have no idea how, but Jimmy Butler is actually playing on this team, and for some goddamn reason he, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Tom Thibodeau haven't ripped each other's heads apart on the court. How in the fuck does this organization trip into this shit? And can this cavalcade of disaster be any good?
This week they continue to alternate home and road dates. A trip to Toronto Wednesday is sandwiched by home games against Indiana (Monday/tonight) and Milwaukee (Friday).
#-6: United FC (Last Week: -5). First of all, TCF Bank Stadium, empty upper bowl aside, was a fine pitch for soccer. My seat meant that the sun would hit the peripheral vision of my left eye many summer evenings, but the sightlines were good enough, and more importantly, the passion of the fans who attended United games filled that stadium with support and, well, love.
It was largely packed for Sunday's last-ever game at Das Bank v.1.0. The franchise made a push to break the record for attendance for a pro soccer game in Minnesota -- #50KtoMidway, they say. And they did: Over 52,000 came over for the match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
And, predictably, they saw a demoralizing, noncompetitive 3-1 loss. Zlatan Ibrahamiovich was there. He probably didn't want to because the artificial turf is hard on his old knees (a theory that is still largely considered BS). But the Galaxy needed him because they are still fighting for a playoff spot. I made a point to just look at him all match. I've done that once before at a game -- Blake Griffin, during his burgeoning years for the Clippers as they came to play (and beat) the Timberwolves. I just wanted to see what Zlatan can do. And besides an Assist on the third Goal and being in the right place at the right time to head in the first Goal (with the help of Michael Boxall inexplicably stepping toward the ball and away from marking Ibrahimovich), all he did was loiter around the Center Line and be all big and sexy. He did a lot, but other than that, he wasn't asked to do much. Because he's cocky and old.
As for our Goons ... fuck, clean house. Regular season ends Sunday in Columbus. At least I am happy that it seems as though the Crew will stay in Columbus.
#-7: Gopher football (Last Week: -4). OK, this is seriously not working. Visiting a Nebraska team that was winless and on (if you extend it to last year) a ten-game losing streak is a certain formula to come away with a victory. But not only did P. J. Fleck's charges lose to the heretofore-toothless Cornhuskers, they got their asses kicked, 53-28. That's just not acceptable. And with Fleck being at the head of the U. for a second year, we need signs of a turnaround. It should have started in Lincoln, but the football team is coming away with its tail between its legs. This defeat raises serious questions of how Fleck can be the one to revitalize this program.
I thought this club would be able to get hot in this part of the schedule. They host Indiana in an extremely rare Friday matchup. But after getting blown out by Nebraska, does anyone really think the U. will win this game ... or any for the rest of the season?
Look at the rest of the schedule. A team needs six wins to get to a bowl. (Usually, the 5-7 teams with the best APR can get into a bowl too if there is a need for teams, and the Gophers have gotten into the postseason that way, but yeah.) They are losing to Wisconsin, and after they demolished Ohio St., these Goofers are losing to Purdue. That means there is no room for error; they have to win the three games they can win, starting with the Hoosiers. If they lose Friday -- shit, that's it.
As far as I know, BYU and Stanford continue to win, so it's likely that the Golden Gophers remain #3 in the AVCA Top 25. But considering the conference schedule the team is continuing to master, Minnesota might get into the field as the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament ... and it's because that team might be the best in the tournament.
Potential landmines ahead this weekend: They have a three-game roadtrip, starting with the Michigan schools this weekend.
#0: Whitecaps (Re-Entry!). Well, this is an intriguing revelation: The 'Caps went out east and beat the Metropolitan Riveters over the weekend by scores of 5-3 and 6-2. They completed a 4-0 season sweep of the defending Isobel Cup Champion Rivs -- very impressive! It seems as though many players on the Golden Gophers flocked back to Minnesota, giving the Whitecaps a superpowered team in its first year in the NWHL. Could they win the title in its first year? Maybe ... and I will not even touch any comparisons to the Vegas Golden Knights. No sirree.
This weekend they are home to face the Buffalo Beauts for two. I don't know if I have time to take in a game. But if I do, will there even be tickets available?
#-1: Vikings (Last Week: 0). I don't know if these guys have righted the ship. And any dreams that they will win the Super Bowl remain a pipe dream that will depress me if I think about it too much. But after a First Half that was won, essentially, by the MetLife Stadium wind, they pulled away from the New York Jets in the Second Half in Sunday's 37-17 rout. That's three in a row for the Vikes, and they, for now, are first in the National Football Conference North Division.
A little regurgitation of facts you have already read about Adam Thielen. He notched his seventh straight game of 100 receiving yards to start a season, which is an NFL record (and ties the professional football record), and he holds the NFL record of most Receptions through the first seven weeks of the year. At this point, why wouldn't opposing teams fucking triple-team Thielen for the rest of the season? I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. And to think this guy went to Minnesota State-Mankato and went undrafted. What a country!
Next game: The Return Of The Minneapolis Miracle, vs. New Orleans, for Sunday Night Football.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -2). They got doubled up in Nashville Monday, but has ripped off three in a row since. The win vs. Tampa Bay Saturday at the X happened in Overtime, but that was the back end of a back-to-back sweep, the first of which was a 3-1 road win at The Team That Was Stolen From Us. I don't know if this marks a turning point, but hey, Alex Stalock became the first Wild Goalie to be credited with an assist during the 5-4 win over the Lightning!
They have a few days off this screening week before hosting Los Angeles Thursday and Colorado Saturday.
#-3: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -1). Said in last week's survey that I might watch Friday's contest at Ridder vs. Ohio St. Shouldn't've said that; this game slipped my mind because I had a few important things to do and I had no decent reason to go. Missed a 3-0 wipeout. But hmmm ... the fourth-ranked Buckeyes upset the third-ranked Gophs 3-2 Saturday.
That's all I got. This team has a tough two-game series at second-ranked Wisconsin for the weekend.
#-4: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -3). Well, if you have a chip and a chair, you have a chance, they say. That's all this side has right now, because even though their 3-1 win over Iowa at Cowles Thursday (a contest I attended) pretty much got them into the B1G tourney, Sunday's 2-0 loss at regular season conference champion Penn St. kind of shows how mediocre this team is. They are the 7-seed, and they will visit Rutgers this weekend, a team that they lost to, 2-1, in (not for nothing) double OT at home Sep. 30. Even if they pull the upset over the Scarlet Knights, they still need to win the whole shebang in order to land a spot in the NCAAs. So, good luck.
#-5: Timberwolves (Re-Entry!). The calamitous shitshow called the Woofie Dogs tipped off this week with three games. Sandwiched between road losses to San Antonio and Dallas was a win in their home opener Friday over Cleveland. (Why did the NBA make this squad travel down to Texas, come back up here, then go back down to Texas?) I have no idea how, but Jimmy Butler is actually playing on this team, and for some goddamn reason he, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Tom Thibodeau haven't ripped each other's heads apart on the court. How in the fuck does this organization trip into this shit? And can this cavalcade of disaster be any good?
This week they continue to alternate home and road dates. A trip to Toronto Wednesday is sandwiched by home games against Indiana (Monday/tonight) and Milwaukee (Friday).
#-6: United FC (Last Week: -5). First of all, TCF Bank Stadium, empty upper bowl aside, was a fine pitch for soccer. My seat meant that the sun would hit the peripheral vision of my left eye many summer evenings, but the sightlines were good enough, and more importantly, the passion of the fans who attended United games filled that stadium with support and, well, love.
It was largely packed for Sunday's last-ever game at Das Bank v.1.0. The franchise made a push to break the record for attendance for a pro soccer game in Minnesota -- #50KtoMidway, they say. And they did: Over 52,000 came over for the match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
And, predictably, they saw a demoralizing, noncompetitive 3-1 loss. Zlatan Ibrahamiovich was there. He probably didn't want to because the artificial turf is hard on his old knees (a theory that is still largely considered BS). But the Galaxy needed him because they are still fighting for a playoff spot. I made a point to just look at him all match. I've done that once before at a game -- Blake Griffin, during his burgeoning years for the Clippers as they came to play (and beat) the Timberwolves. I just wanted to see what Zlatan can do. And besides an Assist on the third Goal and being in the right place at the right time to head in the first Goal (with the help of Michael Boxall inexplicably stepping toward the ball and away from marking Ibrahimovich), all he did was loiter around the Center Line and be all big and sexy. He did a lot, but other than that, he wasn't asked to do much. Because he's cocky and old.
As for our Goons ... fuck, clean house. Regular season ends Sunday in Columbus. At least I am happy that it seems as though the Crew will stay in Columbus.
#-7: Gopher football (Last Week: -4). OK, this is seriously not working. Visiting a Nebraska team that was winless and on (if you extend it to last year) a ten-game losing streak is a certain formula to come away with a victory. But not only did P. J. Fleck's charges lose to the heretofore-toothless Cornhuskers, they got their asses kicked, 53-28. That's just not acceptable. And with Fleck being at the head of the U. for a second year, we need signs of a turnaround. It should have started in Lincoln, but the football team is coming away with its tail between its legs. This defeat raises serious questions of how Fleck can be the one to revitalize this program.
I thought this club would be able to get hot in this part of the schedule. They host Indiana in an extremely rare Friday matchup. But after getting blown out by Nebraska, does anyone really think the U. will win this game ... or any for the rest of the season?
Look at the rest of the schedule. A team needs six wins to get to a bowl. (Usually, the 5-7 teams with the best APR can get into a bowl too if there is a need for teams, and the Gophers have gotten into the postseason that way, but yeah.) They are losing to Wisconsin, and after they demolished Ohio St., these Goofers are losing to Purdue. That means there is no room for error; they have to win the three games they can win, starting with the Hoosiers. If they lose Friday -- shit, that's it.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Gonna Tell Them
Even though the basement flooded Wednesday, I think I am going to tell my parents later tonight that it flooded earlier today. If they are going to freak to the point where they either want me to call one of their contractors over or tell me to get, like, my uncle to look at it, I have time tomorrow to accommodate that/them. If they're OK with what happened -- and I'm going to tell them that I mopped everything up and there hasn't seemed to be any accident since overnight/the morning -- I think I will just spend most of my day raking leaves.
They can't reach me from where they're vacationing, but hopefully they won't hound me to death about what happened.
They can't reach me from where they're vacationing, but hopefully they won't hound me to death about what happened.
Guess She Was In Her Blue Period, Like She Was Fucking Pablo Picasso
Oh, this is so fucking passive-aggressive that I know she's a fucking Minnesota native.
Alright, so for work, we have an hourly count. This count is done on paper, and so to make sure we count correctly for the ... oh, I'll just say "things" we have done we change colored pens. It doesn't matter who -- or at least I thought it didn't matter -- but the idea is once we hit another hour, someone changes pens. And it's at least to my understanding that the new pen should be a color contrasting the color of the previous pen. Makes sense, right?
I did that. For the new hour yesterday, I selected and used an orange pen because it contrasts with the blue pen used for the hour before. Then I got done with more files and I went back to this sheet to sign them in ... and there was a different colored pen sitting there. To be honest, I get plenty confused during this job, so I wanted to make sure I had the right pen and, well, was living in the right hour. But then I noticed something: The first entry I marked on the sheet in orange was written over in blue, the color of the new pen laid out before me. I did not notice this because the pen used the hour prior (which I did not select) was also blue. It was a different shade of blue, but I had to look at the signatures really, really closely in order to see that, and really, they still looked pretty much the same.
"Isn't this the old color?" I think I sort of asked (or at least that is the gist of what I actually said) aloud to no one in particular. And the woman I'm not sure about, who I blogged about in my previous blog post, said, "I changed it."
"To ... blue?"
"It's fine."
"Ah, it's the same color."
"No, it's not. I can see it different just fine." (It was her turn to check the sheet every hour.)
It was at that point where all the slights -- her calling me out on the flag I put up the day before, her whining to me about how it took me 15 minutes to go through this file of papers -- came flooding back in my head, packed themselves into a box with wrapping on it, and unwrapped itself with a message inside that says, "I'm a cunt." Holy fuck, she actually had the goddamn gonads to change the color of a pen that I chose because she didn't like it. How fucking petty is that?
I will offer up one argument in her favor, but it's weak and you should dismiss it as soon as you read it. We need to make copies of this sheet, and bright pens don't show up on copies, as you may know. The Woman I'm Not Sure About told me this in a passive-aggressive way a week ago when she went up to the sheet after I selected a yellow pen for the umpteenth time and went, "Oh, you and your yellow pens!" I thought she was joking. I thought this was a light-hearted moment that brought us closer as co-workers. I had no fucking clue she actually was secretly pissed that I chose a brightly-colored pen.
This bullshit move is so juvenile that I shouldn't waste my time providing counter-arguments, but I'll do so anyway. We need pens that are different colors from each other so we can provide accurate counts from hour to hour. That they don't show up on copies doesn't matter to us because we're not the ones who get the copy -- and if I should care about this, I should have been told about this sooner. And finally, why in the hell did she choose a pen the same color as the one before? It would piss me off more than it would if she actually chose a pen that was not blue. But she had to choose a different shade of blue?? She just couldn't choose green or purple or brown or black?? She unilaterally vetoed my color because she decided she knew better and to just fucking spite me; she chose the same blue but in a different shade because she's fucking weird.
You know, if it's determined (not by her, ffs) that I can't choose the right color of pen, just tell me I can't choose the pens, OK? Or throw the pinks and the reds and oranges and the yellows in the trash so I don't get to them and fuck everything up. To go behind my back and say, "Eh, he chose the wrong fucking pen, I'm gonna change it" when no one else has done that to me and when no one else has told me not to choose a bright pen ... oh, that's such bullshit.
This really puts a crimp at my job. I am not looking forward to going back into work and seeing her petty-ass face again. Because I have no doubts anymore: The Woman I'm Not Sure About I am totally sure about now. She's a bitch. A catty, immature, passive-aggressive bitch. And now I have to keep my distance from her.
And all because she didn't like the color of the pen I chose! Un-fucking-believable. ...
Alright, so for work, we have an hourly count. This count is done on paper, and so to make sure we count correctly for the ... oh, I'll just say "things" we have done we change colored pens. It doesn't matter who -- or at least I thought it didn't matter -- but the idea is once we hit another hour, someone changes pens. And it's at least to my understanding that the new pen should be a color contrasting the color of the previous pen. Makes sense, right?
I did that. For the new hour yesterday, I selected and used an orange pen because it contrasts with the blue pen used for the hour before. Then I got done with more files and I went back to this sheet to sign them in ... and there was a different colored pen sitting there. To be honest, I get plenty confused during this job, so I wanted to make sure I had the right pen and, well, was living in the right hour. But then I noticed something: The first entry I marked on the sheet in orange was written over in blue, the color of the new pen laid out before me. I did not notice this because the pen used the hour prior (which I did not select) was also blue. It was a different shade of blue, but I had to look at the signatures really, really closely in order to see that, and really, they still looked pretty much the same.
"Isn't this the old color?" I think I sort of asked (or at least that is the gist of what I actually said) aloud to no one in particular. And the woman I'm not sure about, who I blogged about in my previous blog post, said, "I changed it."
"To ... blue?"
"It's fine."
"Ah, it's the same color."
"No, it's not. I can see it different just fine." (It was her turn to check the sheet every hour.)
It was at that point where all the slights -- her calling me out on the flag I put up the day before, her whining to me about how it took me 15 minutes to go through this file of papers -- came flooding back in my head, packed themselves into a box with wrapping on it, and unwrapped itself with a message inside that says, "I'm a cunt." Holy fuck, she actually had the goddamn gonads to change the color of a pen that I chose because she didn't like it. How fucking petty is that?
I will offer up one argument in her favor, but it's weak and you should dismiss it as soon as you read it. We need to make copies of this sheet, and bright pens don't show up on copies, as you may know. The Woman I'm Not Sure About told me this in a passive-aggressive way a week ago when she went up to the sheet after I selected a yellow pen for the umpteenth time and went, "Oh, you and your yellow pens!" I thought she was joking. I thought this was a light-hearted moment that brought us closer as co-workers. I had no fucking clue she actually was secretly pissed that I chose a brightly-colored pen.
This bullshit move is so juvenile that I shouldn't waste my time providing counter-arguments, but I'll do so anyway. We need pens that are different colors from each other so we can provide accurate counts from hour to hour. That they don't show up on copies doesn't matter to us because we're not the ones who get the copy -- and if I should care about this, I should have been told about this sooner. And finally, why in the hell did she choose a pen the same color as the one before? It would piss me off more than it would if she actually chose a pen that was not blue. But she had to choose a different shade of blue?? She just couldn't choose green or purple or brown or black?? She unilaterally vetoed my color because she decided she knew better and to just fucking spite me; she chose the same blue but in a different shade because she's fucking weird.
You know, if it's determined (not by her, ffs) that I can't choose the right color of pen, just tell me I can't choose the pens, OK? Or throw the pinks and the reds and oranges and the yellows in the trash so I don't get to them and fuck everything up. To go behind my back and say, "Eh, he chose the wrong fucking pen, I'm gonna change it" when no one else has done that to me and when no one else has told me not to choose a bright pen ... oh, that's such bullshit.
This really puts a crimp at my job. I am not looking forward to going back into work and seeing her petty-ass face again. Because I have no doubts anymore: The Woman I'm Not Sure About I am totally sure about now. She's a bitch. A catty, immature, passive-aggressive bitch. And now I have to keep my distance from her.
And all because she didn't like the color of the pen I chose! Un-fucking-believable. ...
Saturday, October 20, 2018
She's Judging Me
I knew when I did it, when I made the decision to flag it, knowing that that might not be the thing to do, there was a possibility that I would get caught and, if I was wrong, that I would be called out for it.
(I'm being vague here on purpose, BTW.)
But it just so happens that I was walking past the woman I'm not sure about, my supervisor, and my boss when the woman I'm not sure about asked the other two over to look at something she thought was weird. I too was curious and looked at her computer screen ... and it was that image that I wasn't sure to flag. Yeah, I got caught.
I explained myself to my two higher-ups. My supervisor explained that no, that should not have been flagged because the issue I thought I was raising by flagging it will be detected through other means, so I should not do that. Good; now I know. And then we started talking about how he didn't know I was the one who flagged it because of my name, but whatever, I'm still trying to be vague about this.
Anyway, after all this was done, I apologized to the women who I'm not sure about for doing this and holding her up. She said she was cool, and during my tangent conversation with my supervisor the four of us all started laughing. But I have to ask this question: Why would she go out of her way to, essentially, raise a flag about my raising a flag? Isn't that a big deal? And if so, well, what does she think about me now?
I still think she's judging me.
(I'm being vague here on purpose, BTW.)
But it just so happens that I was walking past the woman I'm not sure about, my supervisor, and my boss when the woman I'm not sure about asked the other two over to look at something she thought was weird. I too was curious and looked at her computer screen ... and it was that image that I wasn't sure to flag. Yeah, I got caught.
I explained myself to my two higher-ups. My supervisor explained that no, that should not have been flagged because the issue I thought I was raising by flagging it will be detected through other means, so I should not do that. Good; now I know. And then we started talking about how he didn't know I was the one who flagged it because of my name, but whatever, I'm still trying to be vague about this.
Anyway, after all this was done, I apologized to the women who I'm not sure about for doing this and holding her up. She said she was cool, and during my tangent conversation with my supervisor the four of us all started laughing. But I have to ask this question: Why would she go out of her way to, essentially, raise a flag about my raising a flag? Isn't that a big deal? And if so, well, what does she think about me now?
I still think she's judging me.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Great, Now I Gotta Goldilocks This Fucking Thing?
First of all, after I blogged yesterday, I found one of the shammies I bought. I stored it in its original box under my bed, for safekeeping. (The other one, alas, I think Father threw away, thinking it was a disposable rag.) It took soaking that shammy in the bigger-than-I-thought puddle that pooled up in the boiler room and Mother's office adjacent to the heater (a lot of things are damaged there, and the wall separating the boiler room from the office is still wet around the cracks in the wall) two dozen times, but in 45 minutes all the standing water was absorbed, wrung into a container, then dumped.
I turned off the furnace and turned it back on, for only a little bit, after I got home from work and before I went to the Golden Gopher soccer match yesterday. I was assuming, maybe even hoping, to find where the leaks were. Looking online I assumed that either a line was cracked or some filter needed cleaning and/or replacing. But even though it was only 15 or 20 minutes, I did not see any leaking. Huh. (I'm running the heater back up again, right as I am writing this, for a longer period of time to see if that triggers any condensation and/or leaks.)
In the meantime, shutting down the furnace and cooling the house seems to have caused another bad thing. The fire alarm in the upper floor of the house, the floor where I sleep in, has been chirping off and on for the past several days now. As some of you may know, that chirping is a sign that the alarm needs a new power source or needs to be replaced.
However, and this is weird, it seems as though this alarm stops chirping if it's warm enough. And after thinking about it, when the furnace has been on full blast, I don't hear any beeping. However, when I get home from work and the heat hasn't kicked on yet, I hear the loud chirping from the alarm.
Further compounding matters, when I looked at it up close, I noticed a few things. One, it is hardwired into the housing in the ceiling the alarm covers up. There is no battery to replace. Two, I have no goddamn clue how to remove this fucking thing. There is no back cover to either unscrew or pop open; whatever's in that alarm, including any beeping component, is still in there. However, someone (Father? An electrician?) was able to feed two wires into this apparently hermetically sealed alarm, and short of cutting both wires, that alarm is still going to be up there, beeping whenever the heat's off. (Oh, and three; I tried looking up how to disassemble this alarm, but I can't find any literature on this particular model because I think it's so old. Seriously, I think that alarm if from the fucking eighties.)
So, do you see my dilemma? If I turn the heat off, not only do I get cold but the alarm will start beeping again. But if I turn the heat on, eventually the furnace will begin to leak water again. (I just went down there because I heard a noise from somewhere; some boxes fell down in the pantry, mysteriously. Anyway, I checked the humidifier, and goddamn if there weren't drips of water in the mop bucket I put under the hose.) Can't turn the heat on, can't turn the heat off. I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't.
So my strategy now is to heat the house whenever I am close to having frostbite, but only for a long enough time where I don't flood the basement. In the meantime, maybe I should I reach out to somebody to get this fixed -- the heater, the fire alarm, or both.
I turned off the furnace and turned it back on, for only a little bit, after I got home from work and before I went to the Golden Gopher soccer match yesterday. I was assuming, maybe even hoping, to find where the leaks were. Looking online I assumed that either a line was cracked or some filter needed cleaning and/or replacing. But even though it was only 15 or 20 minutes, I did not see any leaking. Huh. (I'm running the heater back up again, right as I am writing this, for a longer period of time to see if that triggers any condensation and/or leaks.)
In the meantime, shutting down the furnace and cooling the house seems to have caused another bad thing. The fire alarm in the upper floor of the house, the floor where I sleep in, has been chirping off and on for the past several days now. As some of you may know, that chirping is a sign that the alarm needs a new power source or needs to be replaced.
However, and this is weird, it seems as though this alarm stops chirping if it's warm enough. And after thinking about it, when the furnace has been on full blast, I don't hear any beeping. However, when I get home from work and the heat hasn't kicked on yet, I hear the loud chirping from the alarm.
Further compounding matters, when I looked at it up close, I noticed a few things. One, it is hardwired into the housing in the ceiling the alarm covers up. There is no battery to replace. Two, I have no goddamn clue how to remove this fucking thing. There is no back cover to either unscrew or pop open; whatever's in that alarm, including any beeping component, is still in there. However, someone (Father? An electrician?) was able to feed two wires into this apparently hermetically sealed alarm, and short of cutting both wires, that alarm is still going to be up there, beeping whenever the heat's off. (Oh, and three; I tried looking up how to disassemble this alarm, but I can't find any literature on this particular model because I think it's so old. Seriously, I think that alarm if from the fucking eighties.)
So, do you see my dilemma? If I turn the heat off, not only do I get cold but the alarm will start beeping again. But if I turn the heat on, eventually the furnace will begin to leak water again. (I just went down there because I heard a noise from somewhere; some boxes fell down in the pantry, mysteriously. Anyway, I checked the humidifier, and goddamn if there weren't drips of water in the mop bucket I put under the hose.) Can't turn the heat on, can't turn the heat off. I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't.
So my strategy now is to heat the house whenever I am close to having frostbite, but only for a long enough time where I don't flood the basement. In the meantime, maybe I should I reach out to somebody to get this fixed -- the heater, the fire alarm, or both.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Very Bad Day
I missed blogging for the first time Tuesday. I thought I was going to, ironically, blog about that.
But I just saw that my basement is flooded. Again. Seems to be a leak coming from underneath the furnace. It's so bad that it's leaked into Mother's office. I don't know what to do except clean up the water, but I don't have any good towels and the goddamn mop doesn't work. I have those Shammies I bought for this fucking purpose but I don't know where the fuck they are.
I also got rejected for time off I need next week.
Goddamn this has been a bad 24 hours.
But I just saw that my basement is flooded. Again. Seems to be a leak coming from underneath the furnace. It's so bad that it's leaked into Mother's office. I don't know what to do except clean up the water, but I don't have any good towels and the goddamn mop doesn't work. I have those Shammies I bought for this fucking purpose but I don't know where the fuck they are.
I also got rejected for time off I need next week.
Goddamn this has been a bad 24 hours.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Want to note that my heart has been beating like a hummingbird's since last night. Actually tried to take a nap in the evening (before going out for a bit), and I couldn't because my heart was pumping so deliberately. And it's still beating hard now.
Maybe it's because I'm not getting enough exercise, or I'm not eating right. Or, I'm anticipating a woman coming over and giving me a handjob later this afternoon and I'm afraid she'll come with a gun (or some male buddies of hers) and rob me and the house.
Just a note.
Maybe it's because I'm not getting enough exercise, or I'm not eating right. Or, I'm anticipating a woman coming over and giving me a handjob later this afternoon and I'm afraid she'll come with a gun (or some male buddies of hers) and rob me and the house.
Just a note.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Making Money Off My Blog
Just woke up. There's something I want to blog about because I'm so pissed about it, but I want to cool myself till at least tomorrow before I confess here on WAF.
Instead, out of the blue, I decided I want to look up how much money I'm making off of impressions, views and clicks on this website. I run ads on here, you know, and I look once in a blue moon about how many people actually look at it. People seem to look at my posts more and more often. After a few days, in fact, my views reach two dozen or so, and that hadn't happened for the longest time.
But money off of those views is a different story. And I just looked that I have raised ... uh, zero cents so far this month. I looked at how much money I have accumulated per month ever since I started WAF, and this is pretty interesting: I had been picking up a few cents here and there every month, but since May I have not made any money. At all. Whatsoever.
AdSense, is this some kind of joke?
Instead, out of the blue, I decided I want to look up how much money I'm making off of impressions, views and clicks on this website. I run ads on here, you know, and I look once in a blue moon about how many people actually look at it. People seem to look at my posts more and more often. After a few days, in fact, my views reach two dozen or so, and that hadn't happened for the longest time.
But money off of those views is a different story. And I just looked that I have raised ... uh, zero cents so far this month. I looked at how much money I have accumulated per month ever since I started WAF, and this is pretty interesting: I had been picking up a few cents here and there every month, but since May I have not made any money. At all. Whatsoever.
AdSense, is this some kind of joke?
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: Positive Numbers). I actually got into Maturi Pavilion for the Illinois match on Friday. And I was also surprised when I saw that, even though it was packed (as it usually is), I don't think it was a complete sellout. Not sure why; Illinois may not be a brand name like Penn St. or Stanford, but they are ranked seventh in the AVCA Top 25.
Well, were. Because the third-ranked Gophers defeated them in straight sets, 22-19-20. Seeing them in person, this may be Hugh McCutcheon's best team in his tenure here. Many of the players' kill attempts are powerful, and you cannot win unless you have hitters who can hit. Samantha Seliger-Swenson remains a steady Setter, and it's be awesome if she can finish out her career with an NCAA title at Target Center this December.
Most of all, I have high hopes for this team for two things I saw during the game: Their digging ability, particularly covering for the blockers on a dinks over the block; and their ability to score while scrambling. Both of these are the final ingredients to what I think makes a championship squad. The latter in particular is important to refine. It'd be awesome to stay in-system. But there are too many teams that will be able to force you out-of-system. What then? Are you able to just grind out points when things aren't going your way perfectly? If the U. can continue to muster points by just out-working the competition -- man, they could finally win it all. I mean it. Let's just hope, again, that they don't peak too early.
Oh, they also swept Northwestern Saturday, giving them a nine-game winning streak and keeping Minnesota undefeated in conference play. They finish up their four-game homestand this week. Iowa comes calling Friday, and then big/bad Nebraska visits Saturday.
#0: Vikings (Last Week: -1). A second straight home game vs. an on-paper lightweight opponent starting a rookie at Quarterback. Remember what happened against Buffalo?
I was totally believing it would happen again. But credit to the Vikes, who apparently used that humiliation to the Bills to stay far ahead of The Bastard Chicago-By-Way-Of-St. Louis Cardinals, 27-17. There was a lull in the Second Half, but the Vikings remained efficient and never bogged down. More importantly, they concentrated on generating a running game, and how: Latavius Murray ran for a career high 155 Yards, and ... is this right? His Touchdown is the first rushing TD the Vikings have scored all year?? If it's true, that's very odd.
With Chicago losing in Overtime to Miami, it appears as though the Vikes are in the division race. But they can't miss a beat with next week's game, at the Jets.
#-1: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -3). In the world of women's hockey, which we Minnesotans passionately enjoy but is still a sport that remains hyperlocal and very unbalanced, the GGs swept St. Cloud St. in a weekend home-and-home by 6-2 and 4-1 scores. Wish I had more to say about this club, but I do not.
This upcoming weekend they host Ohio St. in a two-game series. I've never seen the Buckeye women's hockey team, so maybe I'll attend the Friday matchup.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -6). Won in OT Thursday against a now-mortal Chicago franchise, lost in OT Saturday to The Bastard Hartford Whalers. The problem now is that they get off to fast starts but bog down for the final 40 Minutes. That's all I got.
This screening week is a busy one, with a pair of dumb back-to-backs: At Nashville/home to Arizona tonight and tomorrow night; then at The Team That Was Stolen from us/home to Tampa Bay Friday-Saturday. Besides The Bastard Winnipeg Jets, this appears to be a very tough week for the Mild.
#-3: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -4). Any chance the Golden Gopher XI would be selected for the NCAA Tournament may have already been snuffed before this week, but dropping a 3-2 decision Saturday to ranked Wisconsin at Robbie (courtesy of a glory run by the Badgers' Lauren Rice over two-thirds of the pitch with 38 seconds to go) probably means the only way these women participate in the postseason is to win the B1G Tournament.
So says WoSo maven Chris Henderson, who has continued to believe that the Golden Gophers are out of it. In fact, ever since he started his Bubble Watch, none of his projections have put Minnesota in the field of 64 -- and, in fact, their tourney chances have gotten worse. Henderson hints that last week's loss to Indiana (also by a 3-2 score) was pretty much the dagger. Now any hope hangs in the conference tourney ... and with a 4-4-1 record and a tie with Iowa for seventh, even that playoff spot is far from secured. So, obviously, finishing the regular season this week strong is the only way to keep its season alive. Their last home game is Thursday against ... the Hawkeyes, in a match I look forward to going to. They then finish the year, probably, at Penn St. Sunday afternoon.
#-4: Gopher football (Last Week: -7). Moral victories don't mean shit, but still, let's give the Goofer footballers the privilege of not being dead last this week. I listened to most of the first half of Saturday's contest in Ohio St., and believe it or not, they stood mostly toe-to-toe with the then-third-ranked team in the country. They moved the ball fairly well, and even at will many times in the First Half to the point where they actually led twice! Meanwhile, the Defense, while cracking many times, were able to stop an unfocused and sputtering Buckeyes club at point until the Fourth Quarter, before they finally relented, 30-14.
So these guys are on a three-game losing streak and they remain winless in the Big Ten. Eh, at least they still theoretically could play in a bowl game. The good news is they are hitting the sweet spot of their schedule. The next five games are winnable, starting with a Saturday afternoon visit to Nebraska, a still-proud program that is 0-6 for the season for the first time in school history. If P.J. Fleck & Co. can't beat these Cornhuskers. ...
#-5: United FC (Last Week: -8). I am a Loons season-ticketholder. I thought about going to Saturday's match versus Colorado. But the 1 p.m. start time meant that I would have to cut out of work early. I have already begged out of a few Saturdays already, which really isn't good when I'm still very new to the job, and I have to leave work this Saturday for a volunteering thing. So I thought that I should just skip this match and sell the ticket, which I did for a measly nine bucks.
Nevertheless, after hearing the 2-0 debacle/abortion on the radio, I'm so damn glad I didn't have to witness that garbage. Saying that, when you are out of the playoff picture and your foe is also, why not just start your youngsters and see what they can do? So if that's the case, why in the hell did Adrian Heath keep Wyatt Omsberg on the bench?
The Rapids won, by the way, 2-0. MNUFC actually scored twice, but both Goals were overturned after lengthy use of VAR. After the second Rapids Goal, coming in the 97th Minute, one of its Defenders, some dumbfuck named Tommy Smith, taunted the Loons' bench, prompting a melee of frustration between two shitty teams. You should point out that Harrison Heath is on the team due to nepotism, but you have to say this for him: He knows how to squirt a water bottle. But, in all seriousness, him sticking up for his teammates may be the most important thing he does while he's on this club.
By the way, United FC have been swept by both Colorado and San Jose, the two worst teams in the Western Conference. If Minnesota had won all four matches and got all 12 Points, they'd be in sixth-place in the West instead of ninth.
The final home game of the season, and the side's last-ever game at TCF Bank Stadium, occurs late Sunday afternoon as it hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy. There is a huge promotion where the organization is opening up the upper bowl in an attempt to reach 50,000 spectators and thus break the record for largest crowd ever to attend a soccer match in Minnesota. Seems as though they've already reached that goal in tickets sold. But it'll be funny if all 50k scream for Heath's head throughout the match as Zlatan Ibrahimovich scores a natural Hat Trick against our boys.
Well, were. Because the third-ranked Gophers defeated them in straight sets, 22-19-20. Seeing them in person, this may be Hugh McCutcheon's best team in his tenure here. Many of the players' kill attempts are powerful, and you cannot win unless you have hitters who can hit. Samantha Seliger-Swenson remains a steady Setter, and it's be awesome if she can finish out her career with an NCAA title at Target Center this December.
Most of all, I have high hopes for this team for two things I saw during the game: Their digging ability, particularly covering for the blockers on a dinks over the block; and their ability to score while scrambling. Both of these are the final ingredients to what I think makes a championship squad. The latter in particular is important to refine. It'd be awesome to stay in-system. But there are too many teams that will be able to force you out-of-system. What then? Are you able to just grind out points when things aren't going your way perfectly? If the U. can continue to muster points by just out-working the competition -- man, they could finally win it all. I mean it. Let's just hope, again, that they don't peak too early.
Oh, they also swept Northwestern Saturday, giving them a nine-game winning streak and keeping Minnesota undefeated in conference play. They finish up their four-game homestand this week. Iowa comes calling Friday, and then big/bad Nebraska visits Saturday.
#0: Vikings (Last Week: -1). A second straight home game vs. an on-paper lightweight opponent starting a rookie at Quarterback. Remember what happened against Buffalo?
I was totally believing it would happen again. But credit to the Vikes, who apparently used that humiliation to the Bills to stay far ahead of The Bastard Chicago-By-Way-Of-St. Louis Cardinals, 27-17. There was a lull in the Second Half, but the Vikings remained efficient and never bogged down. More importantly, they concentrated on generating a running game, and how: Latavius Murray ran for a career high 155 Yards, and ... is this right? His Touchdown is the first rushing TD the Vikings have scored all year?? If it's true, that's very odd.
With Chicago losing in Overtime to Miami, it appears as though the Vikes are in the division race. But they can't miss a beat with next week's game, at the Jets.
#-1: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -3). In the world of women's hockey, which we Minnesotans passionately enjoy but is still a sport that remains hyperlocal and very unbalanced, the GGs swept St. Cloud St. in a weekend home-and-home by 6-2 and 4-1 scores. Wish I had more to say about this club, but I do not.
This upcoming weekend they host Ohio St. in a two-game series. I've never seen the Buckeye women's hockey team, so maybe I'll attend the Friday matchup.
#-2: Wild (Last Week: -6). Won in OT Thursday against a now-mortal Chicago franchise, lost in OT Saturday to The Bastard Hartford Whalers. The problem now is that they get off to fast starts but bog down for the final 40 Minutes. That's all I got.
This screening week is a busy one, with a pair of dumb back-to-backs: At Nashville/home to Arizona tonight and tomorrow night; then at The Team That Was Stolen from us/home to Tampa Bay Friday-Saturday. Besides The Bastard Winnipeg Jets, this appears to be a very tough week for the Mild.
#-3: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -4). Any chance the Golden Gopher XI would be selected for the NCAA Tournament may have already been snuffed before this week, but dropping a 3-2 decision Saturday to ranked Wisconsin at Robbie (courtesy of a glory run by the Badgers' Lauren Rice over two-thirds of the pitch with 38 seconds to go) probably means the only way these women participate in the postseason is to win the B1G Tournament.
So says WoSo maven Chris Henderson, who has continued to believe that the Golden Gophers are out of it. In fact, ever since he started his Bubble Watch, none of his projections have put Minnesota in the field of 64 -- and, in fact, their tourney chances have gotten worse. Henderson hints that last week's loss to Indiana (also by a 3-2 score) was pretty much the dagger. Now any hope hangs in the conference tourney ... and with a 4-4-1 record and a tie with Iowa for seventh, even that playoff spot is far from secured. So, obviously, finishing the regular season this week strong is the only way to keep its season alive. Their last home game is Thursday against ... the Hawkeyes, in a match I look forward to going to. They then finish the year, probably, at Penn St. Sunday afternoon.
#-4: Gopher football (Last Week: -7). Moral victories don't mean shit, but still, let's give the Goofer footballers the privilege of not being dead last this week. I listened to most of the first half of Saturday's contest in Ohio St., and believe it or not, they stood mostly toe-to-toe with the then-third-ranked team in the country. They moved the ball fairly well, and even at will many times in the First Half to the point where they actually led twice! Meanwhile, the Defense, while cracking many times, were able to stop an unfocused and sputtering Buckeyes club at point until the Fourth Quarter, before they finally relented, 30-14.
So these guys are on a three-game losing streak and they remain winless in the Big Ten. Eh, at least they still theoretically could play in a bowl game. The good news is they are hitting the sweet spot of their schedule. The next five games are winnable, starting with a Saturday afternoon visit to Nebraska, a still-proud program that is 0-6 for the season for the first time in school history. If P.J. Fleck & Co. can't beat these Cornhuskers. ...
#-5: United FC (Last Week: -8). I am a Loons season-ticketholder. I thought about going to Saturday's match versus Colorado. But the 1 p.m. start time meant that I would have to cut out of work early. I have already begged out of a few Saturdays already, which really isn't good when I'm still very new to the job, and I have to leave work this Saturday for a volunteering thing. So I thought that I should just skip this match and sell the ticket, which I did for a measly nine bucks.
Nevertheless, after hearing the 2-0 debacle/abortion on the radio, I'm so damn glad I didn't have to witness that garbage. Saying that, when you are out of the playoff picture and your foe is also, why not just start your youngsters and see what they can do? So if that's the case, why in the hell did Adrian Heath keep Wyatt Omsberg on the bench?
The Rapids won, by the way, 2-0. MNUFC actually scored twice, but both Goals were overturned after lengthy use of VAR. After the second Rapids Goal, coming in the 97th Minute, one of its Defenders, some dumbfuck named Tommy Smith, taunted the Loons' bench, prompting a melee of frustration between two shitty teams. You should point out that Harrison Heath is on the team due to nepotism, but you have to say this for him: He knows how to squirt a water bottle. But, in all seriousness, him sticking up for his teammates may be the most important thing he does while he's on this club.
By the way, United FC have been swept by both Colorado and San Jose, the two worst teams in the Western Conference. If Minnesota had won all four matches and got all 12 Points, they'd be in sixth-place in the West instead of ninth.
The final home game of the season, and the side's last-ever game at TCF Bank Stadium, occurs late Sunday afternoon as it hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy. There is a huge promotion where the organization is opening up the upper bowl in an attempt to reach 50,000 spectators and thus break the record for largest crowd ever to attend a soccer match in Minnesota. Seems as though they've already reached that goal in tickets sold. But it'll be funny if all 50k scream for Heath's head throughout the match as Zlatan Ibrahimovich scores a natural Hat Trick against our boys.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
I Have High Blood Pressure
Should note this: For the past couple years, whenever they take my vitals at the start of every doctor's visit, I have noticed when I got my measurements back at the end of every visit that my pressure readings, the diastolic/systolic ratio, has crept into borderline territory. The 120/80 numbers I had enjoyed all my life are now higher than that.
I don't know what to make of it. It's probably old age. But I feel the stress whenever I obsess over something really bad. Sometimes I get so lost in those violent thoughts that I catch my heart beating hard, or my chest hurting real bad. And I think that might be contributing to the rise of my blood pressure.
Just something to note.
I don't know what to make of it. It's probably old age. But I feel the stress whenever I obsess over something really bad. Sometimes I get so lost in those violent thoughts that I catch my heart beating hard, or my chest hurting real bad. And I think that might be contributing to the rise of my blood pressure.
Just something to note.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Expenses Without Receipt
OK, I am actually going to do this with more frequency. Well, at least this one.
Starting from Friday, October 12:
Starting from Friday, October 12:
- I was going to a stripper party, but then I was told I was going to have to pay cover when I thought I could just waltz in there for free. I have to stick by my principles, so I didn't go because I didn't get what I was promised. Instead, I decided to take a stab at going to the U. volleyball match. I actually thought I would be denied because they have been getting massive crowds this year and I was turned away for the Wisconsin game. But I was able to get in -- after being issued a paper student ticket -- and even though the Pavilion was packed, it wasn't packed packed, like I thought it would be. That is weird; even though Illinois may not have the name brand like the Badgers or Penn St., Illinois is ranked seventh and the Gophers third. This is a Top 10 match-up. Or, was; the Gophers swept the Illini. Anyway, a hot dog (whose condiments were shunted off to just one single table at the far end of the arena), medium Coke and program came out to just: $11.50.
- I then went to Glam Doll. Thought I would go to the one in Nordeast, but after only finding a meter that is enforced through 10 (I got there a bit past 9), I decided I would drive all the way down to the one on Eat Street because I can park on the street for free. The dude gave me my second donut for free. So two donuts, pourover coffee and tips for everything (including that second donut) totals: $9.29.
- On Thursday the 11th I went to the library to print out Arby's coupons. Arby's may be the only restaurant that 1) gives out coupons and 2) allows you print coupons from e-mails instead of scan them through its app. Thank Buddha for Arby's! Total for two coupons: 20 cents.
- Tuesday, October 9 ... late in the evening I went to my alumni club's watering hole to let management know what time we're dropping in for that week's game. Ate a late dinner, too. With tip: $17.
- After that I went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition). Got a dance from Willow, a really cute girl I've wanted an LD from for some time. With tips and Sprite: $30.
- We take it back-back-back to Monday the 8th, where Ginger came around to clean the house. You know, I'm not convinced it's a major thing to take care of, but I've got to say, her words the last time she cleaned my house, where she says the house needed to be dusted because it's sort of a health hazard otherwise, stuck in my brain. And ever since she cleaned it, I've been able to breathe a bit better. I'm still hacking up a storm, but I don't think it's from any dust in the house. She charged me six hours' worth of work even though she was there for seven: $180.
- On Sunday, October 7 I went to the Rival House in the Doubletree in St. Paul to, supposedly, watch a streaming of a game of the Whitecaps, Minnesota's NWHL expansion team. But, like I said in a previous blog post, I couldn't because that contest overlapped with the Vikings game that was going to be on a bit after the Whitecaps' game started. Oh, well. I stayed around to eat a pizza and have a beer. Don't think I'd go out of my way, but I went on a Sunday, when parking meters in St. Paul are not enforced. With tip: $18.
- Friday the 5th ... went to a play in south Minneapolis that was written by someone who went to my alma mater. It is the third play of hers I've seen. West Of Central is really good -- a hard-boiled detective story mixed in with husband-and-wife repartee a la The Thin Man and the historic reality of redlining. Better yet, for the entire run of this play (which ends Sunday), each ticket is pay-what-you-want. I guess I could have lowballed them and paid the minimum of five bucks, but for the sake of the fragile state of theatre, I doubled that: $10.
- Went to Glam Doll Eat Street after the play. With tip: $9.50.
Friday, October 12, 2018
So I got my first "error" message at work yesterday. It is a mistake that I clearly made that I should have not made. I am certain I was told this during training and also told not to take it personally. But frankly, it's difficult not to.
Combined that with our sit-down yesterday in regards to a series of egregious mistakes that were made -- mistakes I'm certain I did -- and, well, things aren't looking well for me right now.
That's all I wanted to say.
Combined that with our sit-down yesterday in regards to a series of egregious mistakes that were made -- mistakes I'm certain I did -- and, well, things aren't looking well for me right now.
That's all I wanted to say.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
The Ghost Alum
I was pressed to think up something to blog about, but after logging into Facebook, I have it.
There's this one dude who's a part of our alumni chapter's Facebook page who, after I post an Event page for our game-watching events or anything else we do, accepts. Every single time. But he has yet to come to anything the club holds. Every single time.
I have never met the man. Besides being an alum -- or so he says -- I have no connection to him whatsoever. And yet he, without fail, continues to say he's going to watch with us, or help us out here, or attend this party. And then he doesn't even show up.
I am the only person moderating the group, and I think I draw a fairly strict line when it comes to adding people. And so I wonder how in the hell did I let this ... ghost? Charlatan? ... into the group when all he does is say he'll come to things and doesn't. It's an oversight I am not particularly proud of.
Who in the eff is he? I have half a mind to boot him out of the group. That way we'll see if he's just some weird troll catfishing me, or if he really is a flesh-and-bones human being and he'll attempt to explain what exactly he's doing. This was already weird. Now, frankly, it's getting irritating.
There's this one dude who's a part of our alumni chapter's Facebook page who, after I post an Event page for our game-watching events or anything else we do, accepts. Every single time. But he has yet to come to anything the club holds. Every single time.
I have never met the man. Besides being an alum -- or so he says -- I have no connection to him whatsoever. And yet he, without fail, continues to say he's going to watch with us, or help us out here, or attend this party. And then he doesn't even show up.
I am the only person moderating the group, and I think I draw a fairly strict line when it comes to adding people. And so I wonder how in the hell did I let this ... ghost? Charlatan? ... into the group when all he does is say he'll come to things and doesn't. It's an oversight I am not particularly proud of.
Who in the eff is he? I have half a mind to boot him out of the group. That way we'll see if he's just some weird troll catfishing me, or if he really is a flesh-and-bones human being and he'll attempt to explain what exactly he's doing. This was already weird. Now, frankly, it's getting irritating.
Finally, A Long Sleep
Yesterday was a no-money day, and I was able to stick to it. I made rice for the first time since my parents left, and I need to work on it because I made too much to go with the ribs they left me.
I was thinking I was going to rest after I got home from the therapist, but instead I went online and looked at porn. Nevertheless, after I got done with myself and ate, I was able to turn off the TV some time around 10:30 ... and sleep all the night through. I think this is the first time I've had a "proper" sleep since I started working my job.
And now I'm more refreshed than I've ever felt going into work. So far, it's a good feeling. Hopefully I won't hack up and cough incessantly like I have ever since this relatively cold snap has begun. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Now I've Got To Worry About Halloween, Too?
I've always had a sort of phobia regarding Halloween. I've never been one to dress up for the holiday. I was never creative. For all you Gen-Xers out there: Do you remember those costumes in a box, where you would get a character from, like, the Care Bears, and in the box was a shirt and pants and a mask that was supposed to resemble that character? Well, we had to dress up for Halloween each year while I was in elementary school, up until the 6th grade, and every year I would demand that my parents and/or Grandmother get me to, like, K-Mart so I can buy one of those, because I need to wear something to dress up for the Halloween parade we would have at school. As I got older I noticed the other kids not doing these costumes-in-a-box, instead finding, like, actual costumes, and that just blew my mind. I mean, why put so much thought into something that is going to last you only a day?
As I got older my lack of creativity (and caring) became a source of shame for me, so as soon as I didn't have the societal pressure to dress up for Halloween, I was out. No trick-or-treating, either; I think I stopped relatively early. The last thing I did for that holiday was around high school, I think; I was going to a party and I needed a costume bad, but I outgrew those costumes-in-a-box. So I asked Grandmother and her friend to take me to K-Mart so I could buy something. I saw that there was, like, a lazy man's costume t-shirt, where there was a list of things I was supposed to be. One of the costumes was "timberwolf," and I think the Minnesota Timberwolves were still new then, and I had a Wolves hat, so that is what I was for Halloween that year. And that was the last time I dressed up.
That drought looks like it's coming to an end. The people at work are pretty serious about the holiday. Even though it's a lab setting, they were allowed to put up and even draw Halloween-themed drawings on the windows. We're supposed to have a special lunch that day. We are doing a department-wide trick-or-treat, where we have to bring a bag so people can drop candy into them. And yes, there's a costume contest, too. I don't have to compete, but dammit, peer pressure is making me think I should. And honestly, I have thought about going to one of these costume rental companies to rent out a costume for the holiday before. I now have an excuse to at least try it out. The costumes aren't cheap. I see quotes online of $50, and there might be a deposit that goes with it. But hey, I'll try it once. Maybe. We'll see.
Oh, and I know I'll have to buy candy. I could go the easy route, go to Target and get them fun size treats. But I'm thinking about going online and buying expensive ones. I haven't ordered from a boutique chocolatier in a long time, and this might be the excuse to do just that. I just need to find something of which there are 30 of them, and wrapped. And if it's expensive enough, I might shy away from getting a costume.
Egad, this is too much pressure!
As I got older my lack of creativity (and caring) became a source of shame for me, so as soon as I didn't have the societal pressure to dress up for Halloween, I was out. No trick-or-treating, either; I think I stopped relatively early. The last thing I did for that holiday was around high school, I think; I was going to a party and I needed a costume bad, but I outgrew those costumes-in-a-box. So I asked Grandmother and her friend to take me to K-Mart so I could buy something. I saw that there was, like, a lazy man's costume t-shirt, where there was a list of things I was supposed to be. One of the costumes was "timberwolf," and I think the Minnesota Timberwolves were still new then, and I had a Wolves hat, so that is what I was for Halloween that year. And that was the last time I dressed up.
That drought looks like it's coming to an end. The people at work are pretty serious about the holiday. Even though it's a lab setting, they were allowed to put up and even draw Halloween-themed drawings on the windows. We're supposed to have a special lunch that day. We are doing a department-wide trick-or-treat, where we have to bring a bag so people can drop candy into them. And yes, there's a costume contest, too. I don't have to compete, but dammit, peer pressure is making me think I should. And honestly, I have thought about going to one of these costume rental companies to rent out a costume for the holiday before. I now have an excuse to at least try it out. The costumes aren't cheap. I see quotes online of $50, and there might be a deposit that goes with it. But hey, I'll try it once. Maybe. We'll see.
Oh, and I know I'll have to buy candy. I could go the easy route, go to Target and get them fun size treats. But I'm thinking about going online and buying expensive ones. I haven't ordered from a boutique chocolatier in a long time, and this might be the excuse to do just that. I just need to find something of which there are 30 of them, and wrapped. And if it's expensive enough, I might shy away from getting a costume.
Egad, this is too much pressure!
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
She's Still Here. My God, She's Still Here
So ****e*, the stripper-turned-cleaning lady, came over. It's been two months since the house was last cleaned, and what ****e* are said the last time she was here, about dust making the inside of a house very unhealthy, is something I have taken to heart. So even though it'll be the New Year before my parents return, I was thinking two months is enough time for someone to come and clean.
So ****e* is over to clean. And as of post time, she is still cleaning. To give her the benefit of the doubt, she is thorough. To not, she is slow. At any rate, I know that she usually takes a full workday to clean my house. Unfortunately, when we arranged today, I thought that she would be coming in the morning and leaving in the evening, freeing up my evening to exercise or go to the stripclub or whatnot. But when the text saying that she is leaving for my house in the early afternoon turned into, "Oh, you know, traffic!" in the late afternoon, I had a feeling that she would still be in the house come the new day.
She is cleaning up my bedroom as I type this. As she walked in she recommended that I hire her to come with more frequency -- "That way I would not have to take so long in cleaning everything," ****e* said. You know, I don't think she'd take half as long to clean the house if I have her over twice as much. But that's just me.
I hope she knows that I only have so much money.
So ****e* is over to clean. And as of post time, she is still cleaning. To give her the benefit of the doubt, she is thorough. To not, she is slow. At any rate, I know that she usually takes a full workday to clean my house. Unfortunately, when we arranged today, I thought that she would be coming in the morning and leaving in the evening, freeing up my evening to exercise or go to the stripclub or whatnot. But when the text saying that she is leaving for my house in the early afternoon turned into, "Oh, you know, traffic!" in the late afternoon, I had a feeling that she would still be in the house come the new day.
She is cleaning up my bedroom as I type this. As she walked in she recommended that I hire her to come with more frequency -- "That way I would not have to take so long in cleaning everything," ****e* said. You know, I don't think she'd take half as long to clean the house if I have her over twice as much. But that's just me.
I hope she knows that I only have so much money.
Monday, October 8, 2018
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: Positive Numbers). Oh my word, this is impressive! The fifth-ranked Golden Gophers went into third-ranked Nebraska -- with the exception of possibly H'awaii, the most loved and supported volleyball program in the country -- and not only beat the Cornhuskers, not only beat them in only four Sets, but -- and I think this is very telling as to the tone of the match -- humiliated the host team in Set 3, 25-14. 25-14! My God, this club is scary good. But ... are they too good too early? Are they peaking too soon?
They start a four-game homestand over the next two weekends. They host the two Illinois schools this weekend. I was going to see Illinois, a top-10 team, Friday, but I've been invited to a party, and I need to see her and do some stuff.
#0: Whitecaps (BRAND NEW!!!). Ladies and gentlemen, we have a brand new team in the Twin Cities that we will be covering from now on. The National Women's Hockey League expansion club, the formerly independent Minnesota Whitecaps, began their new life as a pro team with a two-game sweep of the defending Isobel Cup Champion Metropolitan Riveters!
I was planning on being in St. Louis this weekend, but since my folks took their trip, I had to stay home. But then I remembered that the Whitecaps were bought by the NWHL and named as an expansion squad in May, and then the season was released where their first-ever games were going to be at home (the TRIA Rink, the practice rink for the Wild) this weekend, and I thought, "Sweet! There's a reason from the universe I should stay home this weekend!" And this past weekend I saw that, um, the team sold out both games, which, frankly, surprised me. But hey, the NWHL is not professional when it comes to paying its players; they're relying on side hustles, like merchandise sales, so it heartens me that there are so many Minnesotans who are willing to pay good money to see this fledgling squad.
So I didn't get to see them live. But I went to St. Paul to see them on TV, except that, unlike what the team said in its e-mail, I couldn't see the stream at the Rival House because the Vikings were playing. OK. Hey, the club won by scores of 4-0 and 3-1, so a good start, or at least I heard. And congratulations to native Minnesota Hannah Brandt, who pocketed a Goal in each game against the Rivs and was named NWHL Player Of The Week! The 'Caps (in first place!) will visit, uh, Metropolitan two weekends from now.
#-1: Vikings (Last Week: -3). I wish I had more time to talk about the Vikes, but it's getting into the afternoon and I'm tired. But kudos to them! I really thought they were going to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles by 20. And then they turned the ball over in the Fourth up by only six and I turned the game off because I thought, Well, there's that. But the Defense, so maligned since the start of the year, bowed up and induced a three-and-out. (Didn't hurt that the Iggles got called for Illegal Formation and Intentional Grounding penalties in that "drive," two of eight total. It makes it easier to win games when the other team keeps committing shooting itself in the foot.) And then Dan Bailey, who missed two Field Goals in the game, booted a 52-yard Field Goal in the ensuing drive for the winning points in a 23-21 win. They should have won by more; when Linval Joseph runs 64 Yards for a Touchdown off a Fumble that popped into the air and landed in his hands, Minnesota should have won going away. But hey, at least they stopped the bleeding.
Sunday they host Arizona in a game I'll be working. Like Buffalo, the Cardinals are a young team led by a rookie Quarterback. Can the Vikings relax? Oh, I don't think so.
#-2: Gopher men's hockey (Re-Entry!). There was a little controversy in the off-season about the NCAA mandated a standard for Overtime, but after a lot of outcry, they backed off. Leagues are now allowed to make up their own rules if a game is tied after regulation. I had no idea that the Gophers and Minnesota-Duluth decided that for their two-game home-and-home series this past weekend, once a five-minute five-on-five came and went with no Goals, they would just stop. That's old school. And that allowed the U. to leave AMSOIL Saturday with just a draw. And then last (Sunday) night they blitzed the Bulldogs -- the top-ranked Bulldogs -- 7-4 at 3M. That's great, even though #1 ranked teams in men's hockey lose all the time.
The squad has exhibitions the next two weeks. Phew! One fewer team to cover.
#-3: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: 0). In a two-game series against Minnesota-Duluth (did the two hockey teams share a plane there and back?), they beat the Bulldogs Friday, 5-2, then lost in a Shootout Saturday, 3-2. Yeah.
A home-and-home versus St. Cloud St. this weekend.
#-4: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -2). Beat the Boilermakers in Purdue Friday, 2-1, but then lost in Indiana yesterday (Sunday) morning, 3-2. I don't know how damaging that loss to the Hoosiers hurts the side's chances. They host Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.
#-5: Twins (Last Week: -Infinity). They're back in the survey a week after their season ended because Paul Molitor has been fired as Manager. I can't totally fault Derek Falvey and Thad Levin for making the move; after all, you are what your record says you are. But there are nakedly obvious facts that make this move all the more craven. Simply put (and totally understandable), when new front office people come in, they usually want their guy in the dugout. "Falvein" did not hire Molitor. The cynical thinking is that they wanted to usher out the Hall Of Famer (who is, BTW, One Of Us) as soon as last year, their first year at the helm. But, lo and behold, Molitor spurred the team into the American League Play-In Game. They gave Mollie a three-year extension after what appears to be a miracle. How could you not? But they just waited until a bad year, this year, before finally doing what they wanted to do all along.
Cynical? Yes. Understandable? Yes. But the mixed feelings don't change the fact that they are still at the tiller of a team whose young players have yet to pan out. (I mean for God's sake, Miguel Sano has been arrested for running over a cop in the Dominican Republic!) Yes, the players on the big league squad aren't their guys. But, well, they have a chance to install a Manager who's a slave to advanced numbers now, so let's see if they can uncover diamonds in the rough ... or find superstar players, the best way to get win championships.
#-6: Wild (Re-Entry!). Is there any buzz surrounding this team? They switched General Managers during the off-season, and I'm not sure if people remember that. It's almost comical that the professional men's hockey team in the State Of Hockey just began maybe their most anonymous season in its lifetime.
There is hardly anyone new -- and no, Matt Read does not count. That's a result of the tactics of the fired GM, Chuck Fletcher. He identified early players he thought had promise, signed them up to long-term deals in order to give the organization cost certainty, and hope that they blossom into the superstars (or role players) thought he would be. I don't mind that strategy at all. It's a good one. it's just that the players Fletcher gave these contracts to (Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Jonas Brodin) didn't fulfill the promise the team needed them to. Oh, and the franchise is also hamstrung by the contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, both of whom are increasingly fragile.
Again, it's a prudent strategy. But when it doesn't work, you are stuck with a bunch of contracts featuring good-but-not-great players whose plateaued talents will be around the Mild for a long, long time. Sure, people point to Jason Zucker potentially being a superstar, and Eric Staal doing his Cocoon thing, and Matt Dumba being a burgeoning two-way threat. But that's it. Three breakout candidates and, alas, a bunch of dead weight.
New GM Tom Fenton has a lot of problems he'll have to face in the future. He can't do much about anything right now except evaluate. Which is a good thing, at least for him, because there isn't a whole lot he can do in this first (mulligan) year.
That being said, I foresee the floor opening up under this squad. And if a blowout loss in Colorado followed up by a game where they were holding onto a 1-0 lead at home to Vegas before finally conceding a Goal and losing the Shootout is any indication, this will be a long season. In fact, I will predict that Bruce Boudreau will be fired in January as the Mild will accrue one of the five-worst records in the NHL. Book it.
This week: Home to Chicago Thursday and The Bastard Hartford Whalers (who are now shamelessly appropriating the Whalers' "Brass Bonanza" theme song -- IT'S NOT YOUR FUCKING SONG, ASSHOLES!!!) Saturday.
#-7: Gopher football (Re-Entry!). OK, this is not encouraging. Saturday they failed to win Floyd Of Rosedale, again, at Das Bank 1.0 in a largely non-competitive 48-31 loss to Iowa. This is the second year of P. J. Fleck's tenure at the U. after turning Western Michigan into a juggernaut. I'm not expecting a title, but I really am hoping that he springs a surprise some time this year. Will it be at Ohio St. Saturday? (Probably not.)
#-8: United FC (Last Week: -1). They've been out of playoff contention, oh, since the summer. But their playoff hopes were officially snuffed Saturday in an embarrassing 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. I have seen frozen snapshots of Manager Adrian Heath and CEO Chris Wright staring into the distance while the Loons were getting the shit kicked out of them. Owner Bill McGuire said that Heath receives a "passing grade." Come on, after that performance, hasn't that changed? Hasn't that shown that Heath is what many fans now think of him as -- a guy so stuck in his intransigent ways that he'll sooner put in his own son, Harrison, after the result was a foregone conclusion and yet won't put in the youngster Wyatt Omsberg into the Backline? Geez Fucking Christ, it's becoming increasingly obvious McGuire and Wright have to clean house -- Heath as well as Manny Lagos.
This Saturday they are home to Colorado. I have missed too many Saturdays at work, so I am trying to sell this ticket. Fuck, they might lose anyway, so staying away might be a good thing.
They start a four-game homestand over the next two weekends. They host the two Illinois schools this weekend. I was going to see Illinois, a top-10 team, Friday, but I've been invited to a party, and I need to see her and do some stuff.
#0: Whitecaps (BRAND NEW!!!). Ladies and gentlemen, we have a brand new team in the Twin Cities that we will be covering from now on. The National Women's Hockey League expansion club, the formerly independent Minnesota Whitecaps, began their new life as a pro team with a two-game sweep of the defending Isobel Cup Champion Metropolitan Riveters!
I was planning on being in St. Louis this weekend, but since my folks took their trip, I had to stay home. But then I remembered that the Whitecaps were bought by the NWHL and named as an expansion squad in May, and then the season was released where their first-ever games were going to be at home (the TRIA Rink, the practice rink for the Wild) this weekend, and I thought, "Sweet! There's a reason from the universe I should stay home this weekend!" And this past weekend I saw that, um, the team sold out both games, which, frankly, surprised me. But hey, the NWHL is not professional when it comes to paying its players; they're relying on side hustles, like merchandise sales, so it heartens me that there are so many Minnesotans who are willing to pay good money to see this fledgling squad.
So I didn't get to see them live. But I went to St. Paul to see them on TV, except that, unlike what the team said in its e-mail, I couldn't see the stream at the Rival House because the Vikings were playing. OK. Hey, the club won by scores of 4-0 and 3-1, so a good start, or at least I heard. And congratulations to native Minnesota Hannah Brandt, who pocketed a Goal in each game against the Rivs and was named NWHL Player Of The Week! The 'Caps (in first place!) will visit, uh, Metropolitan two weekends from now.
#-1: Vikings (Last Week: -3). I wish I had more time to talk about the Vikes, but it's getting into the afternoon and I'm tired. But kudos to them! I really thought they were going to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles by 20. And then they turned the ball over in the Fourth up by only six and I turned the game off because I thought, Well, there's that. But the Defense, so maligned since the start of the year, bowed up and induced a three-and-out. (Didn't hurt that the Iggles got called for Illegal Formation and Intentional Grounding penalties in that "drive," two of eight total. It makes it easier to win games when the other team keeps committing shooting itself in the foot.) And then Dan Bailey, who missed two Field Goals in the game, booted a 52-yard Field Goal in the ensuing drive for the winning points in a 23-21 win. They should have won by more; when Linval Joseph runs 64 Yards for a Touchdown off a Fumble that popped into the air and landed in his hands, Minnesota should have won going away. But hey, at least they stopped the bleeding.
Sunday they host Arizona in a game I'll be working. Like Buffalo, the Cardinals are a young team led by a rookie Quarterback. Can the Vikings relax? Oh, I don't think so.
#-2: Gopher men's hockey (Re-Entry!). There was a little controversy in the off-season about the NCAA mandated a standard for Overtime, but after a lot of outcry, they backed off. Leagues are now allowed to make up their own rules if a game is tied after regulation. I had no idea that the Gophers and Minnesota-Duluth decided that for their two-game home-and-home series this past weekend, once a five-minute five-on-five came and went with no Goals, they would just stop. That's old school. And that allowed the U. to leave AMSOIL Saturday with just a draw. And then last (Sunday) night they blitzed the Bulldogs -- the top-ranked Bulldogs -- 7-4 at 3M. That's great, even though #1 ranked teams in men's hockey lose all the time.
The squad has exhibitions the next two weeks. Phew! One fewer team to cover.
#-3: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: 0). In a two-game series against Minnesota-Duluth (did the two hockey teams share a plane there and back?), they beat the Bulldogs Friday, 5-2, then lost in a Shootout Saturday, 3-2. Yeah.
A home-and-home versus St. Cloud St. this weekend.
#-4: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -2). Beat the Boilermakers in Purdue Friday, 2-1, but then lost in Indiana yesterday (Sunday) morning, 3-2. I don't know how damaging that loss to the Hoosiers hurts the side's chances. They host Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.
#-5: Twins (Last Week: -Infinity). They're back in the survey a week after their season ended because Paul Molitor has been fired as Manager. I can't totally fault Derek Falvey and Thad Levin for making the move; after all, you are what your record says you are. But there are nakedly obvious facts that make this move all the more craven. Simply put (and totally understandable), when new front office people come in, they usually want their guy in the dugout. "Falvein" did not hire Molitor. The cynical thinking is that they wanted to usher out the Hall Of Famer (who is, BTW, One Of Us) as soon as last year, their first year at the helm. But, lo and behold, Molitor spurred the team into the American League Play-In Game. They gave Mollie a three-year extension after what appears to be a miracle. How could you not? But they just waited until a bad year, this year, before finally doing what they wanted to do all along.
Cynical? Yes. Understandable? Yes. But the mixed feelings don't change the fact that they are still at the tiller of a team whose young players have yet to pan out. (I mean for God's sake, Miguel Sano has been arrested for running over a cop in the Dominican Republic!) Yes, the players on the big league squad aren't their guys. But, well, they have a chance to install a Manager who's a slave to advanced numbers now, so let's see if they can uncover diamonds in the rough ... or find superstar players, the best way to get win championships.
#-6: Wild (Re-Entry!). Is there any buzz surrounding this team? They switched General Managers during the off-season, and I'm not sure if people remember that. It's almost comical that the professional men's hockey team in the State Of Hockey just began maybe their most anonymous season in its lifetime.
There is hardly anyone new -- and no, Matt Read does not count. That's a result of the tactics of the fired GM, Chuck Fletcher. He identified early players he thought had promise, signed them up to long-term deals in order to give the organization cost certainty, and hope that they blossom into the superstars (or role players) thought he would be. I don't mind that strategy at all. It's a good one. it's just that the players Fletcher gave these contracts to (Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Jonas Brodin) didn't fulfill the promise the team needed them to. Oh, and the franchise is also hamstrung by the contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, both of whom are increasingly fragile.
Again, it's a prudent strategy. But when it doesn't work, you are stuck with a bunch of contracts featuring good-but-not-great players whose plateaued talents will be around the Mild for a long, long time. Sure, people point to Jason Zucker potentially being a superstar, and Eric Staal doing his Cocoon thing, and Matt Dumba being a burgeoning two-way threat. But that's it. Three breakout candidates and, alas, a bunch of dead weight.
New GM Tom Fenton has a lot of problems he'll have to face in the future. He can't do much about anything right now except evaluate. Which is a good thing, at least for him, because there isn't a whole lot he can do in this first (mulligan) year.
That being said, I foresee the floor opening up under this squad. And if a blowout loss in Colorado followed up by a game where they were holding onto a 1-0 lead at home to Vegas before finally conceding a Goal and losing the Shootout is any indication, this will be a long season. In fact, I will predict that Bruce Boudreau will be fired in January as the Mild will accrue one of the five-worst records in the NHL. Book it.
This week: Home to Chicago Thursday and The Bastard Hartford Whalers (who are now shamelessly appropriating the Whalers' "Brass Bonanza" theme song -- IT'S NOT YOUR FUCKING SONG, ASSHOLES!!!) Saturday.
#-7: Gopher football (Re-Entry!). OK, this is not encouraging. Saturday they failed to win Floyd Of Rosedale, again, at Das Bank 1.0 in a largely non-competitive 48-31 loss to Iowa. This is the second year of P. J. Fleck's tenure at the U. after turning Western Michigan into a juggernaut. I'm not expecting a title, but I really am hoping that he springs a surprise some time this year. Will it be at Ohio St. Saturday? (Probably not.)
#-8: United FC (Last Week: -1). They've been out of playoff contention, oh, since the summer. But their playoff hopes were officially snuffed Saturday in an embarrassing 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. I have seen frozen snapshots of Manager Adrian Heath and CEO Chris Wright staring into the distance while the Loons were getting the shit kicked out of them. Owner Bill McGuire said that Heath receives a "passing grade." Come on, after that performance, hasn't that changed? Hasn't that shown that Heath is what many fans now think of him as -- a guy so stuck in his intransigent ways that he'll sooner put in his own son, Harrison, after the result was a foregone conclusion and yet won't put in the youngster Wyatt Omsberg into the Backline? Geez Fucking Christ, it's becoming increasingly obvious McGuire and Wright have to clean house -- Heath as well as Manny Lagos.
This Saturday they are home to Colorado. I have missed too many Saturdays at work, so I am trying to sell this ticket. Fuck, they might lose anyway, so staying away might be a good thing.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Hottest Babe In The Hooters Calendar: September
I've been delaying this until now because, like August, there are a bevy of babes on it and I just can't decide which one is the hottest!
They all have good traits. But one of the first I stopped considering, I'm afraid, is the main one, Katrina Aird of Farmingdale, N.Y. She has beautiful black skin and nice boobs emphasized by her massive cleavage popping out of her pink bikini top. But to photographer has her crossing her arms, and that obscures enough of her hot body that I say, sadly, nope. For worse reasons I remove Samantha from Fort Lauderdale; she is posed putting her right hand on a wall and her left arm over her forehead, as if she's removing sweat from her brow or checking her temperature. She seems to have the biggest tits of the dozen on the month, but alas. ...
For the others, well, I don't totally know how to differentiate the others. Um ... I like the yellow two-piece of the raven-haired Autumn (Lakeland, Fla.) and the sparkling eyes (offset by her black hair) of Tiffany of Mesa, Ariz., clad in a white two-piece bikini. Three hot babes wear one-pieces with deep V-necks: blonde Kyelie, also of Mesa, Ariz.; brunette (or is that black hair?) Mariah, hailing from Long Beach, Calif.; and redhead Brenna of Albuquerque. They're beautiful, but damn, they're not showing anything.
So, with all due respect to the other four who really are runners-up but which I don't really want to write about, I will say that the winner of a very close race is Carla of Johannesburg. Sultry smile, bronze skin, long hair, and a leopard-print two-piecer. So Carla, you win. But thank you, all of you twelve.
And I will now be able to masturbate to all of you and turn the month to October.
They all have good traits. But one of the first I stopped considering, I'm afraid, is the main one, Katrina Aird of Farmingdale, N.Y. She has beautiful black skin and nice boobs emphasized by her massive cleavage popping out of her pink bikini top. But to photographer has her crossing her arms, and that obscures enough of her hot body that I say, sadly, nope. For worse reasons I remove Samantha from Fort Lauderdale; she is posed putting her right hand on a wall and her left arm over her forehead, as if she's removing sweat from her brow or checking her temperature. She seems to have the biggest tits of the dozen on the month, but alas. ...
For the others, well, I don't totally know how to differentiate the others. Um ... I like the yellow two-piece of the raven-haired Autumn (Lakeland, Fla.) and the sparkling eyes (offset by her black hair) of Tiffany of Mesa, Ariz., clad in a white two-piece bikini. Three hot babes wear one-pieces with deep V-necks: blonde Kyelie, also of Mesa, Ariz.; brunette (or is that black hair?) Mariah, hailing from Long Beach, Calif.; and redhead Brenna of Albuquerque. They're beautiful, but damn, they're not showing anything.
So, with all due respect to the other four who really are runners-up but which I don't really want to write about, I will say that the winner of a very close race is Carla of Johannesburg. Sultry smile, bronze skin, long hair, and a leopard-print two-piecer. So Carla, you win. But thank you, all of you twelve.
And I will now be able to masturbate to all of you and turn the month to October.
Addendum To: I'm Actually Supposed To Like The Fall ...
So yesterday after work I came down with a vicious cough. A phlegm-expelling cough, or one that at least tried to expel phlegm. And dammit, until I got into my room and the house started heating back up, that's all I did -- cough.
I don't know what it is. Allergies, as far as I know, are low. I think I've been dealing with my runny nose, but obviously if I have snot down my throat, it's not totally gone. And where in the hell did that snot come from? I was trying to cough it out of my system, but whenever I breathed in it felt as though the air was passing some mass of phlegm that was attached to the side of my trachea like a free rock climber. It's dry outside -- is it? -- but does that mean I suddenly get a coughing attack?
Once again, I insist that fall is my favorite season. And yet my miserable health right now should force me to reconsider. Sheesh. And now I have to mow the lawn; hopefully I can without collapsing into a coughing fit on the grass.
I don't know what it is. Allergies, as far as I know, are low. I think I've been dealing with my runny nose, but obviously if I have snot down my throat, it's not totally gone. And where in the hell did that snot come from? I was trying to cough it out of my system, but whenever I breathed in it felt as though the air was passing some mass of phlegm that was attached to the side of my trachea like a free rock climber. It's dry outside -- is it? -- but does that mean I suddenly get a coughing attack?
Once again, I insist that fall is my favorite season. And yet my miserable health right now should force me to reconsider. Sheesh. And now I have to mow the lawn; hopefully I can without collapsing into a coughing fit on the grass.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
So I Need To Go Back To Using Internet Explorer?
So Thursday was a terrible day at work, but yesterday was OK. Today will be bad, however, as I shift back into the position I had such trouble with earlier in the week.
The company I work for is fairly by-the-book -- as in, there are detailed instructions on everything I need to do. I was given these instructions when I began, but for God's sake I didn't even look at them because it was an abstract, something akin to theoretical mathematics. How in the hell am I supposed to understand it when I haven't even begun to look at it myself? And then once I started working, I didn't have time to look at the instructions because everything was just go-go-go, and if I fucked up, well, what could I do?
Ever since I got out of work yesterday (Friday) I have been worried about the prospect of going back to this particular skill set that I simply don't have. I tried going back to the instructions for fear I've totally been not doing something I should have been doing from the start -- maybe too little, too late, seeing as I've been at this job for two months now -- but I thought about something this evening: Why don't I just look at the instructions now, from home? Maybe it's not kosher, maybe it's even illegal. But dammit, if I need to do this job, I might as well spend some time at home (when I'm not getting paid) to do this fucking job right, you know? Besides, after doing this for a while, I think I am getting the hang of the terminology and the processes that I have put into practice after essentially learning to swim by diving into the deep end of the pool. Maybe it would have been useless to even go through the instructions before I started because it would have been like looking at a menu written in Sanskrit, but I get the hang of it now, and now I can go back and fill in the holes in my work.
One problem as I tried logging into my training module site from Glam Doll: The instructions use JavaScript, and I cannot look at the instructions using my conventional Web browser, Chrome. In fact, according to the warning I see where the instructions should be, the only browser that does automatically use JavaScript as an add-on and thus will allow me to read the instructions is ... Internet Explorer. Ah, yes, the trusty, old, slow, perennially maligned browser that has been around since the beginning of public use of the Internet itself.
I have sort of noticed the inability, if not the outright blocking, of Java onto the most popular browsers such as Chrome and Firefox. I've had to use Java-enabled documents and sheets in the past, and sometimes they load really slow, and sometimes they crash. So I understand why some browsers just say, Nope, we're not going to even allow you to put in this add-on because it just screws everything up. But for some damn reason, my company, which appears to be forward-thinking when it comes to specifically spelling out instructions for my job, won't allow employees to reference those instructions without making them use what is considered the most backwards and obsolete browser still being used today. I find that a tad ironic.
And that means I can't see these instructions on my laptop. Well, I guess I could download IE onto my lap, but why in the hell would I sully my good computer that way? So I decided to come home and use Father's desktop to read the instructions because it has IE loaded onto it. I've spent the past hour or so re-reading the instructions, and even though a lot of it still goes over my head, many parts of it I go, Oh, that's what I'm supposed to do! And now I feel more confident -- just a tad, but moreso than I would have if I didn't review this. So hopefully my supervisor won't be breathing down my neck today, fingers crossed.
The only downside to all of this is that Father's desk computer is kind of old and may not have the greatest of protection. Hopefully I haven't spilled all my company's secrets.
The company I work for is fairly by-the-book -- as in, there are detailed instructions on everything I need to do. I was given these instructions when I began, but for God's sake I didn't even look at them because it was an abstract, something akin to theoretical mathematics. How in the hell am I supposed to understand it when I haven't even begun to look at it myself? And then once I started working, I didn't have time to look at the instructions because everything was just go-go-go, and if I fucked up, well, what could I do?
Ever since I got out of work yesterday (Friday) I have been worried about the prospect of going back to this particular skill set that I simply don't have. I tried going back to the instructions for fear I've totally been not doing something I should have been doing from the start -- maybe too little, too late, seeing as I've been at this job for two months now -- but I thought about something this evening: Why don't I just look at the instructions now, from home? Maybe it's not kosher, maybe it's even illegal. But dammit, if I need to do this job, I might as well spend some time at home (when I'm not getting paid) to do this fucking job right, you know? Besides, after doing this for a while, I think I am getting the hang of the terminology and the processes that I have put into practice after essentially learning to swim by diving into the deep end of the pool. Maybe it would have been useless to even go through the instructions before I started because it would have been like looking at a menu written in Sanskrit, but I get the hang of it now, and now I can go back and fill in the holes in my work.
One problem as I tried logging into my training module site from Glam Doll: The instructions use JavaScript, and I cannot look at the instructions using my conventional Web browser, Chrome. In fact, according to the warning I see where the instructions should be, the only browser that does automatically use JavaScript as an add-on and thus will allow me to read the instructions is ... Internet Explorer. Ah, yes, the trusty, old, slow, perennially maligned browser that has been around since the beginning of public use of the Internet itself.
I have sort of noticed the inability, if not the outright blocking, of Java onto the most popular browsers such as Chrome and Firefox. I've had to use Java-enabled documents and sheets in the past, and sometimes they load really slow, and sometimes they crash. So I understand why some browsers just say, Nope, we're not going to even allow you to put in this add-on because it just screws everything up. But for some damn reason, my company, which appears to be forward-thinking when it comes to specifically spelling out instructions for my job, won't allow employees to reference those instructions without making them use what is considered the most backwards and obsolete browser still being used today. I find that a tad ironic.
And that means I can't see these instructions on my laptop. Well, I guess I could download IE onto my lap, but why in the hell would I sully my good computer that way? So I decided to come home and use Father's desktop to read the instructions because it has IE loaded onto it. I've spent the past hour or so re-reading the instructions, and even though a lot of it still goes over my head, many parts of it I go, Oh, that's what I'm supposed to do! And now I feel more confident -- just a tad, but moreso than I would have if I didn't review this. So hopefully my supervisor won't be breathing down my neck today, fingers crossed.
The only downside to all of this is that Father's desk computer is kind of old and may not have the greatest of protection. Hopefully I haven't spilled all my company's secrets.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Blowing Off Some Steam
Alright, I don't need you reminding me that someone is waiting, OK? I'm trying to do this the best I can -- to get everything right while being as fast as possible while doing it. I'm still learning, and I'm back trying to do something I hadn't done in two weeks. Shit's coming at me from all sides so ... you know, back the fuck off, OK?
Look, I know I need to do this job right, but this is just getting to me. Especially that comment. Calm the fuck down, woiya?
Look, I know I need to do this job right, but this is just getting to me. Especially that comment. Calm the fuck down, woiya?
Thursday, October 4, 2018
No, I'm Screwed
I think I take back what I said in my last blog post yesterday afternoon. I don't know why I was so friggin' euphoric over being busted back down to probation and told to give all my work specifically to my supervisor for the next week or so. This is a move that should not be made. But I, because of my mistakes, apparently need to do this.
Just before I was called over to his desk, I saw him furrow his brow and rub his head, as if he was extremely frustrated. If I am right, he was frustrated over me. I don't know if I can shake that image out of my head.
Work isn't going well, is it?
Just before I was called over to his desk, I saw him furrow his brow and rub his head, as if he was extremely frustrated. If I am right, he was frustrated over me. I don't know if I can shake that image out of my head.
Work isn't going well, is it?
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
So I was told at the end of work today that I've made so many mistakes that I need some more supervision. I should be pissed or upset, but I'm not. In fact, I feel weirdly good about it! There is a ton of stuff I need to remember, so I could just the check-up. Plus, if I do good, this will be proof that I've improved.
So, I think I'm in a good spot, right? I don't think this will mean I'll lose my job, or lost that bonus, or lose any credibility at my job, right?
Right?
So, I think I'm in a good spot, right? I don't think this will mean I'll lose my job, or lost that bonus, or lose any credibility at my job, right?
Right?
Want To Borrow This: DWITT Dailys: The View
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Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Expenses Without Receipts
OK, so I'm ending this EWR a day early. But I don't want to end an EWR on Oct. 1 because I would have to look at another blog post just for expenses for one day. So, starting from Sunday, September 30:
- Thursday, September 27: ETA at 11:07 p.m. on October 5 the second and final session of the hearing experiment I had at the U., an Infusion of: $20.
Well, I didn't have EWRs then.I've been relying a lot on my credit card (even though the money is rolling in again), plus many expenses I've made I've had receipts for. But, of course, the stripclub never gives out receipts. On Wednesday, September 26 I went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version) to see a girl named Ruby, who's very bright. But the rotation when I got there was such that I was stuck at the bar while Jade was dancing, and since I had nowhere to go and Jade wasn't getting any tips, I just asked her for a dance. Ruby needs to wait another day. Yeah, I'm a pushover like that. With coffee and tip: $28.- On Monday the 24th I had time to fuck ****y. Described the tryst here. Total: $120.
- To Sunday the 23rd, where, after working the Vikings game I hit up My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition) for a Bud Light (I needed a beer after witnessing that fucking loss), tips, and a lapper with Molly: $30.75.
- I then went back out later that night, to Caffetto to work on the computer. Pumpkin pie, hot chocolate and tip come out to: $7.48.
- Thursday, September 20: ETA at 11:07 p.m. on October 5 that I forgot to add the money I made from a short experiment I had at the hearing lab at the U., an Infusion of: $20.
- Hurtling back to Wednesday, September 19 ... decided to go to the U.S. Hockey Prospects game at the X. That meant using the LRT to get there and back: $4.50.
- As for the game, well, $20 for a ticket to see high schoolers seems a bit steep. But it was nice to see one team score four Goals in a span of about five minutes to go from two down to two up. With hot dog and Coke: $32.
- On Tuesday the 18th I finally got a handjob from ****a, approximately two years after she stood me up the last time I arranged something at her parlor. She says it's $150, but I bargained her down to: $130.
- Monday, September 17 ... thought it was time to get my Docs shined, so I paid a visit to Lisa's. With tip: $15.
- I then stopped by the Bogart's kiosk for two doughnuts for the price of one. With tip: $4.75.
- Let's to back to Thursday the 13th, where I stopped into our game-watching bar to reacquaint myself. Had dinner there, too. With tip: $16.
- Then stopped by My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division). Last time I was there (which was the 10th) I saw Lola was the only one of the four strippers there not give a dance, so I decided to make it up to her by getting one from her on this date. With tips and coffee: $32.
- Back to Monday the 10th, where I went to Hooters because Chase Elliott finished in the top ten and therefore everyone receives free fried pickles. With tip: $7.52.
- I then went to a Fantastic Sams down in that area because it was high time I get a haircut. I have a receipt for the haircut, but to make it easy, I will include that total with the tip here: $17.99.
- Sunday the 9th -- My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version), after the Vikings game. Coffee and tips only: $12.
- To Saturday the 8th: Went to Target after helping out at the stadium because one of the guys there wanted me to get lemons when I came back the next morning. Lemons? For what? I still don't know. I usually get reimbursed for this, but ... hrrrmph, fuck it: $1.18.
- Then my alma mater's game was on that evening. Went to Runyon's for this one. Lively crowd, but we all saw a demoralizing loss. Was treated well by the staff, though. With a generous tip because we were loud and obnoxious in there: $30.
Monday, October 1, 2018
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: Positive Numbers). I don't know if there is a team in College Volleyball Nation playing better right now that the University of Minnesota. On Wednesday they crushed Wisconsin (then ranked fifth to the Golden Gophers' sixth) in three Sets. They then went to Indiana Saturday night and crushed the Hoosiers in three as well. That means they have won five in a row, all sweeps.
This club is getting so popular that I can't even get in. I tried getting into Wednesday's match with my student ID, and I was turned away because they already filled up the student section. I think this was 7:25 or 7:30 before the match was supposed to begin a bit after 8. And you know what? Unlike the students behind me who were expressly pissed about that, I didn't mind. First of all and possibly most of all, I had a feeling that this could happen; the volleyball team has gotten to be a much harder ticket to get in recent years, if resorting to scalped tickets is any indication. Also, I may regret saying this, but if this program is to finally get over the hump and win an NCAA Championship, they'll need even more revenue to attract the right coaching staff, upgrade the infrastructure and, most importantly, award scholarships. If they maneuver the seating arrangement at Maturi Pavilion so that more seats have to be bought ... well, I'm OK with that, at least for now. And finally, I got a good walk home and was able to eat at this poke place I sampled over the summer. Not bad, although it was a bit pricey. And I think I got my cold during this walk, but that's OK, too.
How long can this squad roll? They have road games versus Northwestern Wednesday and (and this will be a huge one) Nebraska Saturday.
#0: Gopher women's hockey (Re-Entry!). It's weird, but it's been more than a year since this program has won a title. I remember them going a year without winning a 'Chip, but two?
The squad started their season ranked third and playing a pair against Mercyhurst, who started the season ranked tenth. And they swept the Lakers, by scores of 4-2 and 5-0.
Out of curiosity I looked at the roster to see how many players on the team are not from the State Of Hockey. Of the 27 players listed, only eight are listed as born outside of Minnesota. (Many of those from out-of-state hail from British Columbia, a province both the women's hockey and softball teams have mined for, uh, "ringer" talent.) By contrast, Clarkson, the defending NCAA Champion and a team and school I have grown to hate, has a team almost exclusively made up of Canadians, although one of them actually hails from my own high school. What are you doing there? The Golden Knights, BTW, come into the season ranked first in the nation. The team that is second, Wisconsin, has only four women who hail from Wisconsin. There are more Minnesotans on the Wisconsin women's hockey team than Wisconsinites. That's fucking embarrassing, and that makes me think that the only way the other contenders for the title can compete with Minnesota is by recruiting outside of their home area because their own area is completely barren with local women's hockey talent. Clarkson and the Badgers have the right to do that, of course, and the Golden Knights have used that strategy with fantastic effect. I just like to think that Minnesota does it a little more, uh, honestly.
This weekend they visit Minnesota-Duluth, who is ranked ninth in at least last week's poll.
#-1: United FC (Last Week: -1). Didn't make it out to Saturday's match vs. NYCFC because my alma mater's game was later that night. But even though it settled into a strong start/hold on for dear life in the Second Half pattern like the game against Portland, the Loons have now strung together a two-game winning streak (and a three-game unbeaten streak) after beating the Cityzens, 2-1, at Das Bank. Too little, too late, but it could be worse. Both Goals came from the foot of Angelo Rodriguez, who finally earned his keep. Still bitter over Christian Ramirez, but it could be worse.
That's all I've got. Visit Philadelphia Saturday.
#-2: Gopher soccer (Last Week: 0). After bursting through Maryland 3-0 Friday (which was delayed a day because the Terrapins had trouble getting out of the East Coast) at home, the side's unbeaten streak ended at four with a 2-1, Double Overtime defeat Sunday afternoon to Rutgers, also at Robbie Stadium. And a second conference loss slices this club's margin for error even thinner as they head on the road this screening week to a dangerous two-fer against the Indiana schools (Purdue Friday, Hoosiers Sunday).
#-3: Vikings (Last Week: -4). I turned the game off after The Bastard Cleveland-By-Way-Of-L.A.-Then-St. Louis Rams threw that Touchdown pass before Halftime. Apparently the ViQueens got back into it on the strength of a very potent offensive attack, but at least for this game, it was the Defense that sunk the team, and they are now only a two-game losing streak with a road trip to Philadelphia coming Sunday.
I didn't realize this, but before the season began I was telling some people I thought these guys were going to go 8-8 and some others that I thought they were going to the Super Bowl. I hope I don't see anyone whom I told the latter, because this once again looks like a Vikes team that showed surprising success and carried expectations into a second year where they did nothing about underachieve. Some advanced metric mavens saw that, in particular because of the tougher schedule, the still mediocre Offensive Line and the fumbling tendencies of Kirk Cousins. But no, us Vikings rubes (and I have to include myself) got sucked into the hype. Stupid us.
#-Infinity: Twins (Last Week: -2). I really didn't think about going to the Twins' last game of the year on Sunday, even before I got sick and thought I need to cocoon myself in heat. I wanted to just sit at home and watch football, plus I had a free Hooters coupon that was going to expire that day, aka the 30th. But I was driving down 94E, past Target Field, just as I was listening to the radio broadcast in the Seventh Inning, just as Joe Mauer was stepping up to bat for the fourth time that day and, possibly, the last time ever as a Twin ... or ever. And the man who holds the franchise record for most Doubles in team history deposited a Double into left-center. Then, to start off the Eighth, he came out in Catchers' gear, and he got a huge ovation from the sparse crowd. And then, and only then, did I regret not even thinking about going.
I don't remember ever hating Joe Mauer, or at least bagging on him whenever he was playing (or not) during this huge contract that has just wound up with the season ending yesterday. If I ever did, Mr. Mauer, I'm sorry. Because all you did was all you could. You were not super-human; the chronic wear-and-tear as a Catcher caught up to you to the point where the organization had to cut its losses and the value they got from the contract they gave you as they moved you out to First Base. And yet you still remained patient at the plate, drawing Walks and the occasional Hit. And, not for nothing, you stayed out of trouble and remained an affable (if somewhat invisible) face of the franchise. If you retire as a Twin this year, and if you get elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame (some think you're a lock, some are not sure), this has been worth it. So, sorry I didn't think about going to the game yesterday. If I were not as sick, and if I thought about the enormity of the moment, I would have. And, thanks, Joe.
Oh, and the Twins finish up the 2018 season with a 6-1 screening week, cementing a second-place finish in the American League Central.
This club is getting so popular that I can't even get in. I tried getting into Wednesday's match with my student ID, and I was turned away because they already filled up the student section. I think this was 7:25 or 7:30 before the match was supposed to begin a bit after 8. And you know what? Unlike the students behind me who were expressly pissed about that, I didn't mind. First of all and possibly most of all, I had a feeling that this could happen; the volleyball team has gotten to be a much harder ticket to get in recent years, if resorting to scalped tickets is any indication. Also, I may regret saying this, but if this program is to finally get over the hump and win an NCAA Championship, they'll need even more revenue to attract the right coaching staff, upgrade the infrastructure and, most importantly, award scholarships. If they maneuver the seating arrangement at Maturi Pavilion so that more seats have to be bought ... well, I'm OK with that, at least for now. And finally, I got a good walk home and was able to eat at this poke place I sampled over the summer. Not bad, although it was a bit pricey. And I think I got my cold during this walk, but that's OK, too.
How long can this squad roll? They have road games versus Northwestern Wednesday and (and this will be a huge one) Nebraska Saturday.
#0: Gopher women's hockey (Re-Entry!). It's weird, but it's been more than a year since this program has won a title. I remember them going a year without winning a 'Chip, but two?
The squad started their season ranked third and playing a pair against Mercyhurst, who started the season ranked tenth. And they swept the Lakers, by scores of 4-2 and 5-0.
Out of curiosity I looked at the roster to see how many players on the team are not from the State Of Hockey. Of the 27 players listed, only eight are listed as born outside of Minnesota. (Many of those from out-of-state hail from British Columbia, a province both the women's hockey and softball teams have mined for, uh, "ringer" talent.) By contrast, Clarkson, the defending NCAA Champion and a team and school I have grown to hate, has a team almost exclusively made up of Canadians, although one of them actually hails from my own high school. What are you doing there? The Golden Knights, BTW, come into the season ranked first in the nation. The team that is second, Wisconsin, has only four women who hail from Wisconsin. There are more Minnesotans on the Wisconsin women's hockey team than Wisconsinites. That's fucking embarrassing, and that makes me think that the only way the other contenders for the title can compete with Minnesota is by recruiting outside of their home area because their own area is completely barren with local women's hockey talent. Clarkson and the Badgers have the right to do that, of course, and the Golden Knights have used that strategy with fantastic effect. I just like to think that Minnesota does it a little more, uh, honestly.
This weekend they visit Minnesota-Duluth, who is ranked ninth in at least last week's poll.
#-1: United FC (Last Week: -1). Didn't make it out to Saturday's match vs. NYCFC because my alma mater's game was later that night. But even though it settled into a strong start/hold on for dear life in the Second Half pattern like the game against Portland, the Loons have now strung together a two-game winning streak (and a three-game unbeaten streak) after beating the Cityzens, 2-1, at Das Bank. Too little, too late, but it could be worse. Both Goals came from the foot of Angelo Rodriguez, who finally earned his keep. Still bitter over Christian Ramirez, but it could be worse.
That's all I've got. Visit Philadelphia Saturday.
#-2: Gopher soccer (Last Week: 0). After bursting through Maryland 3-0 Friday (which was delayed a day because the Terrapins had trouble getting out of the East Coast) at home, the side's unbeaten streak ended at four with a 2-1, Double Overtime defeat Sunday afternoon to Rutgers, also at Robbie Stadium. And a second conference loss slices this club's margin for error even thinner as they head on the road this screening week to a dangerous two-fer against the Indiana schools (Purdue Friday, Hoosiers Sunday).
#-3: Vikings (Last Week: -4). I turned the game off after The Bastard Cleveland-By-Way-Of-L.A.-Then-St. Louis Rams threw that Touchdown pass before Halftime. Apparently the ViQueens got back into it on the strength of a very potent offensive attack, but at least for this game, it was the Defense that sunk the team, and they are now only a two-game losing streak with a road trip to Philadelphia coming Sunday.
I didn't realize this, but before the season began I was telling some people I thought these guys were going to go 8-8 and some others that I thought they were going to the Super Bowl. I hope I don't see anyone whom I told the latter, because this once again looks like a Vikes team that showed surprising success and carried expectations into a second year where they did nothing about underachieve. Some advanced metric mavens saw that, in particular because of the tougher schedule, the still mediocre Offensive Line and the fumbling tendencies of Kirk Cousins. But no, us Vikings rubes (and I have to include myself) got sucked into the hype. Stupid us.
#-Infinity: Twins (Last Week: -2). I really didn't think about going to the Twins' last game of the year on Sunday, even before I got sick and thought I need to cocoon myself in heat. I wanted to just sit at home and watch football, plus I had a free Hooters coupon that was going to expire that day, aka the 30th. But I was driving down 94E, past Target Field, just as I was listening to the radio broadcast in the Seventh Inning, just as Joe Mauer was stepping up to bat for the fourth time that day and, possibly, the last time ever as a Twin ... or ever. And the man who holds the franchise record for most Doubles in team history deposited a Double into left-center. Then, to start off the Eighth, he came out in Catchers' gear, and he got a huge ovation from the sparse crowd. And then, and only then, did I regret not even thinking about going.
I don't remember ever hating Joe Mauer, or at least bagging on him whenever he was playing (or not) during this huge contract that has just wound up with the season ending yesterday. If I ever did, Mr. Mauer, I'm sorry. Because all you did was all you could. You were not super-human; the chronic wear-and-tear as a Catcher caught up to you to the point where the organization had to cut its losses and the value they got from the contract they gave you as they moved you out to First Base. And yet you still remained patient at the plate, drawing Walks and the occasional Hit. And, not for nothing, you stayed out of trouble and remained an affable (if somewhat invisible) face of the franchise. If you retire as a Twin this year, and if you get elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame (some think you're a lock, some are not sure), this has been worth it. So, sorry I didn't think about going to the game yesterday. If I were not as sick, and if I thought about the enormity of the moment, I would have. And, thanks, Joe.
Oh, and the Twins finish up the 2018 season with a 6-1 screening week, cementing a second-place finish in the American League Central.
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