(And I'm back to saying this in the second person.) I know what you meant when you said that in front of me. You do know that I've worked with you more times than any of the other guys, right? So he's now your go-to guy instead of me? Man, I can take guesses, but I really, really don't know what I said or did to piss you off, I really don't. Looks like I did, however, because that is some petty, passive-aggressive bullshit you pulled on me. Whatever.
The more think about it, the more I think this working relationship is irreparable. No one, even the angriest ones, even the ones with violent outbursts, have gone out of their way to marginalize me at this job the way you did. It was so covert that I didn't even fucking realize it till now. Good one! Shoot, if you do bring me back -- and don't get me wrong, I still love this job and I'd be very goddamned heartbroken if I don't get called back to every single game I can work -- how can I face you? And how in the hell can you face me?
You've made your decision, and you've sealed my fate. Why? One look? My tone? What the fuck ever, man. ...
Monday, October 14, 2013
Addendum To: Ummm ... OK, I'll Say "Fuck You" To You Because You Guys Apparently Don't Have The Balls To Say "Fuck You" To Me
OK, upon even further reflection over the course of the day, several things. First, I left something back at the truck. When I was abruptly moved out of the truck I thought it was temporary, and then, amidst all the chaos of going onto and out of the field, I forgot. Thanks, I guess that's my gift to you.
Second ... well, fuck, I've calmed down, but I'm still wondering if this is the last time I'm working for these guys. And for what, a question? My attitude? You just decided you don't like me?
I have repeatedly said ... well, wait a second, I always believe after working a game that it's my last. I usually screw something up so badly that I think I'll never be hired again. This time it's different. I really believe that all the blow-ups in the past were in the heat of the moment -- I forgot a number, I was late on a stat, something like that. This is different. He had several minutes to think about what he wanted to do, and it appears that he deliberately changed his mind because he didn't want me near him. I guess that's his prerogative, but if after some consideration he decided this, the possibility that I'll just be able to hang out in the truck again, that things will be as they were, have markedly decreased, I'm afraid.
Now maybe he was just separating us for the day -- blowing off steam, just over a long period of time. Hey, that's fine with me. Maybe I got a little heated. I don't think calling to make sure was the worst thing in the world, but if you don't want me to do that again, I won't. Bygones? I will as soon as this post is over. Will he? Shit rolls down, so unfortunately that is beyond my control. I certainly want to work games, and since I've been doing this a long time (a couple times with this crew), I think I've earned a reputation, or at least another opportunity, or at the very least a direct explanation as to why I won't work for him ever again.
But hey, like I said, that's beyond my control. It's totally unfair, but now I can only wait. Not letting this bullshit go is going to eat me up.
Third, I realized today that if the team is really upset they could make a big, giant stink to the production, and then that would be a surefire way for me to get fired. How? The media. That's why I should avoid watching the news, for the first few days now and a few days before the next home game. If they somehow do complain, well, I'm fucked.
Fourth and finally, I wonder what he was saying while I was gone. Was he really pissed at me? If so, what did the others say? I realized at work today that they really could have thrown me under the bus. Wow, betrayal. ...
Man, for what? I'm just trying to do my job and make y'all happy. ...
Second ... well, fuck, I've calmed down, but I'm still wondering if this is the last time I'm working for these guys. And for what, a question? My attitude? You just decided you don't like me?
I have repeatedly said ... well, wait a second, I always believe after working a game that it's my last. I usually screw something up so badly that I think I'll never be hired again. This time it's different. I really believe that all the blow-ups in the past were in the heat of the moment -- I forgot a number, I was late on a stat, something like that. This is different. He had several minutes to think about what he wanted to do, and it appears that he deliberately changed his mind because he didn't want me near him. I guess that's his prerogative, but if after some consideration he decided this, the possibility that I'll just be able to hang out in the truck again, that things will be as they were, have markedly decreased, I'm afraid.
Now maybe he was just separating us for the day -- blowing off steam, just over a long period of time. Hey, that's fine with me. Maybe I got a little heated. I don't think calling to make sure was the worst thing in the world, but if you don't want me to do that again, I won't. Bygones? I will as soon as this post is over. Will he? Shit rolls down, so unfortunately that is beyond my control. I certainly want to work games, and since I've been doing this a long time (a couple times with this crew), I think I've earned a reputation, or at least another opportunity, or at the very least a direct explanation as to why I won't work for him ever again.
But hey, like I said, that's beyond my control. It's totally unfair, but now I can only wait. Not letting this bullshit go is going to eat me up.
Third, I realized today that if the team is really upset they could make a big, giant stink to the production, and then that would be a surefire way for me to get fired. How? The media. That's why I should avoid watching the news, for the first few days now and a few days before the next home game. If they somehow do complain, well, I'm fucked.
Fourth and finally, I wonder what he was saying while I was gone. Was he really pissed at me? If so, what did the others say? I realized at work today that they really could have thrown me under the bus. Wow, betrayal. ...
Man, for what? I'm just trying to do my job and make y'all happy. ...
Ummm ... OK, I'll Say "Fuck You" To You Because You Guys Apparently Don't Have The Balls To Say "Fuck You" To Me
You know, after sleeping on it for about five hours, I'm still pretty upset. I've always felt a little stressed out after working games. It's a feeling that always comes new to me even though I've been doing this for a long time -- waking up early and feeling good about myself that I'm working a game, then afterward having to go to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division) to decompress and still thinking to myself, "Fuck, I can't do this again." But I do.
This time ... well, yeah, I still like doing it. But I don't think I've been so personally disrespected after working for these guys. I don't think anyone there had the authority to sack up and actually communicate with me. Instead, they just didn't like what I did or didn't do, and I was just cast off as a screw-up. I don't appreciate that feeling, at all.
From this point on, I'm addressing this in the second person. It's the best way to communicate how I feel. Also, if I do it any other way, I might be found out.
OK, was it when I waved you up the stairs? You could have told me not to, and I would have apologized for offending you. But, at least on my end (and you may not give a shit, but, uh, I do) things just went to shit with the banners. I hate 'em, I admit that. But if I have a job you tell me to do, I'll do it. What I need is for you to communicate -- oh, this goes for all of you. If none of you like it, you have to tell me how. Things don't go well when I don't know how it's wrong. In retrospect, maybe it's obvious. If so, that's my fault.
However ... well, my emotions on this go all over the place after the banners. Overall, I could have used more support in it. I could be in trouble for deciding to hang that up where I did. Again, it may be obvious to you, but it wasn't to me. But if you don't like it, why don't you fucking say so? That's why I called. And you promptly ignored me, even though you guys said yourself you had nothing to fucking do until the game starts. I make one call to make sure everything's hunky-dory, and you just cast me aside. If I do something, I kind of like back-up, either support if someone doesn't like it or critique if you don't like it. Don't cast me aside. Honestly I felt kind of abandoned today. I hate that.
So when you look later and see that the banner is not where it's supposed to be, don't fucking blame me, OK? You just blurt it out when I and everybody else who had to rush out there? I thought you'd be a little more savvy than that. I thought you'd be less passive-aggressive than that. Apparently you're not. And it's obvious you did not listen to me at all. So when you tell me to "take care of it," like you said to me over the phone, (and I shouldn't type in all caps, but in this case I want to shout) DO NOT FUCKING COMPLAIN WHEN I "TAKE CARE OF IT." You had your chance to have me fix things. It's when I did my goddamn job and called you. Get it? Shit, don't you fuckin' listen?
Instead of actually listening to my concerns, which only were for the sake of the production, you just kind of shunted me off. I really hate that, because now I know you're irritated but you won't fucking sack up and tell me you're irritated, and in turn I get irritated. Hey, I need the exercise -- which among us don't? But was this really a spur-of-the-moment necessity? Was I absolutely needed on the field, even though, yeah, I have to thank you for putting me on the field for the first time ever? Because it seems as if after I tried calling you guys and asking for your input, you didn't want anything to do with me. And that you, in my opinion, were being passive-aggressive about that, which I think is what is going on, gets me even more.
Was it my questions? Maybe I was trying to overcompensate, but my intention was to help. Oh ... was it the pen? It was the pen, wasn't it? Goddammit, it's a fucking pen. Like it's a fucking banner to be honest with you, it's a fucking pen. And by the way, the banners looked beautiful. Fuck you, just to be cast off by you because of the pen. You've got to be fucking kidding me. CAN'T YOU JUST FUCKING MAN UP AND SAY WHAT YOU REALLY THINK?!?!?!
And you, you! I thought we were bros, man! And you just lump me with the guy who shows up today? If that's the case then I should switch places with him: Stay in the truck, crunch the numbers, get the same thanks as a guy who busted his ass for you all weekend.
Oh, so back to you. You, by all accounts, are a guy who's really finicky. I don't know you, but I thought our vibe was a bit better than that. Guess not, at least not anymore. Alright, so you don't think much of me anymore -- none of you guys think much of me anymore. That, honestly, saddens me. But hey, if that's the case, and it doesn't appear like you guys are the type to work through problems, hey, I guess I just need to focus on working for the money. That's what we're all doing, right?
So, for me, I have to be aware of two points at which I could lose said job. There could, I imagine, be an edict from the team regarding the banners in the next week. I know that asshole who once tried to have me fired probably wasn't happy, and if he gets the team to "clarify" policy, I could get the worst of it because, as you say, shit rolls downward. Again, I don't think you should be surprised because I raised the question, but hey, shit rolls downward. The other tipping point, of course, is the next game. Am I working it? Maybe going back to working just that day may seem like a demotion, but considering all the shit I went through today, maybe one day's enough. Have to see how the next game goes -- if there is a next game.
Till then -- blow it out your asses, guys, blow it out your asses. You people are not hot shit.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
NFL Anti-Picks, Week 6
Record, Week 5: 2-5
Overall Record: 12-20
Total Outlay, Week 5: $500.00
Total Winnings, Week 5: $301.40
Loss, Week 5: $198.60
Overall Loss: $471.38
Not a good week for me at all. I feel really good that I was able to nail the Colts upset over Seattle -- hey, they're at home and they're a good team, what's not to like? But at the very least I should've parlayed those two instead of two other two-leg combinations. I was downright wrong on the Patriots, Lions and Chargers, so therefore I have dug a fairly deep hole.
---
Have to wake up in a few hours to go to work, so I may not know what I'm doing:
1) Kansas City -8 (OK, Covers has their Power Rankings, which may not be scientific at all, but it looks scientific, and that's all the matters, right? Crunching their numbers, they say visiting Oakland should lose by 11. So if the line is 8, I have to take K.C., no? I'll try tracking this to see if this has any juice) $50
2) Philadelphia -2 1/2 (Although the Eagles are playing in Tampa Bay, and Michael Vick probably won't play, the Buccaneers are so in disarray that I don't think it matters. I'll Best Bet this) $100
3) New York Jets -1 (Another Covers Power Rankings bet. They host reeling, almost hapless Pittsburgh, and the site says the Jets should win by 4 1/2. We'll see) $50
4) New Orleans-New England Over 50.5 (I know Tom Brady can put up points, even if he doesn't have great chemistry with his receivers yet. I think Drew Brees will be able to do the same, even outdoors in Foxborough. And neither defense is awesome. This could be a great shootout like the one we had last week between Denver and Dallas) $50
5) Put your money where your mouth is, Covers: 1) with 3), for $50.
Good luck!
Overall Record: 12-20
Total Outlay, Week 5: $500.00
Total Winnings, Week 5: $301.40
Loss, Week 5: $198.60
Overall Loss: $471.38
Not a good week for me at all. I feel really good that I was able to nail the Colts upset over Seattle -- hey, they're at home and they're a good team, what's not to like? But at the very least I should've parlayed those two instead of two other two-leg combinations. I was downright wrong on the Patriots, Lions and Chargers, so therefore I have dug a fairly deep hole.
---
Have to wake up in a few hours to go to work, so I may not know what I'm doing:
1) Kansas City -8 (OK, Covers has their Power Rankings, which may not be scientific at all, but it looks scientific, and that's all the matters, right? Crunching their numbers, they say visiting Oakland should lose by 11. So if the line is 8, I have to take K.C., no? I'll try tracking this to see if this has any juice) $50
2) Philadelphia -2 1/2 (Although the Eagles are playing in Tampa Bay, and Michael Vick probably won't play, the Buccaneers are so in disarray that I don't think it matters. I'll Best Bet this) $100
3) New York Jets -1 (Another Covers Power Rankings bet. They host reeling, almost hapless Pittsburgh, and the site says the Jets should win by 4 1/2. We'll see) $50
4) New Orleans-New England Over 50.5 (I know Tom Brady can put up points, even if he doesn't have great chemistry with his receivers yet. I think Drew Brees will be able to do the same, even outdoors in Foxborough. And neither defense is awesome. This could be a great shootout like the one we had last week between Denver and Dallas) $50
5) Put your money where your mouth is, Covers: 1) with 3), for $50.
Good luck!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
College Football Anti-Picks, Week 7
Record, Week 6: 1-3
Total Record: 16-14
Total Outlay, Week 6: $300.00
Total Winnings, Week 6: $190.90
Loss, Week 6: $109.10
Overall Gain: $210.35
Did not notice until I moved my cursor to the "Total Outlaw" line that I didn't have to, because I had calculated the same number, as well as the same "Total Winnings" line, from the week before. Didn't realize that I wagered the same amount and won the same amount. Luckily I was saved from total failure because my loss was so small my current overall payroll was able to absorb the hit. Still trending downward, however.
---
I feel I have a better understanding of this Saturday's game, so I'm going to break the $300 limit the past two weeks and bet on some more games:
1) Nebraska -14 (The Cornhuskers are underwhelming and they are on the road, but Purdue may very well be the worst team in the Big Ten) $50
2) Michigan St. -10 (Banking that visiting Indiana has overlooked this game after upsetting Penn St. at home last week) $50
3) Baylor -18 1/2 (OK, I have just read that the Bears are currently the most surefire team in college football betting. They have covered the last 10 games. They are on the road against underachieving Kansas St., but what the hell, I'm getting on the bandwagon -- and making this a Best Bet) $100
4) Baylor-Kansas St. Over 73.5 (I have also heard that Baylor has gone Over the total in, like, 23 of its past 26 contests. Sure, I'll bite on that one too, and I'll also make it a Best Bet) $100
5) Kentucky +27 (They say Alabama this year isn't as good as Crimson Tide teams of the past. Plus, the Wildcats are playing this one at home. Why not another scare for the top team in the land?) $50
6) UNLV -8 1/2 (I also read somewhere -- where and when I don't remember -- that the Runnin' Rebels have won their past four [since their season-opening loss to Minnesota]. Seeing as they are also home to Hawai'i, and I can see them winning by ten points or so. Shoot, why don't we Best Bet this?) $100
7) Texas A&M -6 1/2 (Trends favor the Aggies over host Ole Miss) $50
8) Parlay 2) with 7), for no good reason, for $50.
9) Let's double down on Baylor: Parlay 3) and 4), also for $50.
Good luck!
Total Record: 16-14
Total Outlay, Week 6: $300.00
Total Winnings, Week 6: $190.90
Loss, Week 6: $109.10
Overall Gain: $210.35
Did not notice until I moved my cursor to the "Total Outlaw" line that I didn't have to, because I had calculated the same number, as well as the same "Total Winnings" line, from the week before. Didn't realize that I wagered the same amount and won the same amount. Luckily I was saved from total failure because my loss was so small my current overall payroll was able to absorb the hit. Still trending downward, however.
---
I feel I have a better understanding of this Saturday's game, so I'm going to break the $300 limit the past two weeks and bet on some more games:
1) Nebraska -14 (The Cornhuskers are underwhelming and they are on the road, but Purdue may very well be the worst team in the Big Ten) $50
2) Michigan St. -10 (Banking that visiting Indiana has overlooked this game after upsetting Penn St. at home last week) $50
3) Baylor -18 1/2 (OK, I have just read that the Bears are currently the most surefire team in college football betting. They have covered the last 10 games. They are on the road against underachieving Kansas St., but what the hell, I'm getting on the bandwagon -- and making this a Best Bet) $100
4) Baylor-Kansas St. Over 73.5 (I have also heard that Baylor has gone Over the total in, like, 23 of its past 26 contests. Sure, I'll bite on that one too, and I'll also make it a Best Bet) $100
5) Kentucky +27 (They say Alabama this year isn't as good as Crimson Tide teams of the past. Plus, the Wildcats are playing this one at home. Why not another scare for the top team in the land?) $50
6) UNLV -8 1/2 (I also read somewhere -- where and when I don't remember -- that the Runnin' Rebels have won their past four [since their season-opening loss to Minnesota]. Seeing as they are also home to Hawai'i, and I can see them winning by ten points or so. Shoot, why don't we Best Bet this?) $100
7) Texas A&M -6 1/2 (Trends favor the Aggies over host Ole Miss) $50
8) Parlay 2) with 7), for no good reason, for $50.
9) Let's double down on Baylor: Parlay 3) and 4), also for $50.
Good luck!
Friday, October 11, 2013
OK, *Now* I Know We're Giving Up The Store. I Think. Maybe.
My Father has been calling me out of my bedroom a lot lately. Usually he does that to ask an insipid question or have me type a letter, and then he'll use our face-to-face to tell me to clean my room or go to sleep early or something else dumb. This time was a little different and a whole lot more depressing.
He was looking over a couple pieces of paper in his hand, peering into them with his failing eyes in the dining room when I answered his call to me. This time he didn't want me to write a letter but an e-mail, to the guy ... (ahem) ... representing the company next door to The Store who said ... (deep breath) ... that they are buying it.
"Oh."
My parents said a lot of things detailing what the e-mail should contain and why they need me to write it, but I really remember only one thing Mother said: This company next door had a board meeting late last month and they assumed that they were putting the finishing touches on the sale.of The Store. The e-mail, in short, is asking how the meeting went.
Well, now we have an end date. It appears that The Store will be out of their lives, out of my life, out of the family history by about the end of the year. No more coming in and draining the water out of the buckets my folks laid out to catch the water falling from the leaky roof. No more walking up and down the aisles. No more climbing the conveyor belt. No more Saturday afternoons helping my parents. No more American Dream. I've been whining about how the impending end of The Store means a big chapter in my life and a huge hunk of our family's story will fade to memories. Well, this time is different because we've got something concrete -- a sale date.
Or do we? Looking closer to the pieces of paper Father was looking at, I discovered that they were just printouts of e-mails between him, this company representative and the real estate agent brokering the deal. Not in any of the correspondence did I see a sell, or words to that effect. What stands out, in fact, is an e-mail from the company rep saying that the money the company was allocating to the purchase of The Store will instead be used for something else. That doesn't mean we get to keep it or anything; I think that e-mail allows for the possibility that the company will revisit acquiring The Store next year. But My Father ordered me to change my e-mail to him to include the phrase, "Where is my check?" I don't know if a combination of entitlement and assumption is good when you're asking someone to buy something you want to sell.
Who knows, the sale may already be a done deal. But Mother did say that if the company backed out or delayed this, they will have to make contingencies. That certainly includes me; I think they're going out of the country in December, so I know I'll be in charge of taking care of The Store while they're gone if it's still ours. And even though it'll be a pain-in-the-ass to make sure the structure's still standing (especially after a blizzard), I really don't mind still having it in our possession, and in my life.
He was looking over a couple pieces of paper in his hand, peering into them with his failing eyes in the dining room when I answered his call to me. This time he didn't want me to write a letter but an e-mail, to the guy ... (ahem) ... representing the company next door to The Store who said ... (deep breath) ... that they are buying it.
"Oh."
My parents said a lot of things detailing what the e-mail should contain and why they need me to write it, but I really remember only one thing Mother said: This company next door had a board meeting late last month and they assumed that they were putting the finishing touches on the sale.of The Store. The e-mail, in short, is asking how the meeting went.
Well, now we have an end date. It appears that The Store will be out of their lives, out of my life, out of the family history by about the end of the year. No more coming in and draining the water out of the buckets my folks laid out to catch the water falling from the leaky roof. No more walking up and down the aisles. No more climbing the conveyor belt. No more Saturday afternoons helping my parents. No more American Dream. I've been whining about how the impending end of The Store means a big chapter in my life and a huge hunk of our family's story will fade to memories. Well, this time is different because we've got something concrete -- a sale date.
Or do we? Looking closer to the pieces of paper Father was looking at, I discovered that they were just printouts of e-mails between him, this company representative and the real estate agent brokering the deal. Not in any of the correspondence did I see a sell, or words to that effect. What stands out, in fact, is an e-mail from the company rep saying that the money the company was allocating to the purchase of The Store will instead be used for something else. That doesn't mean we get to keep it or anything; I think that e-mail allows for the possibility that the company will revisit acquiring The Store next year. But My Father ordered me to change my e-mail to him to include the phrase, "Where is my check?" I don't know if a combination of entitlement and assumption is good when you're asking someone to buy something you want to sell.
Who knows, the sale may already be a done deal. But Mother did say that if the company backed out or delayed this, they will have to make contingencies. That certainly includes me; I think they're going out of the country in December, so I know I'll be in charge of taking care of The Store while they're gone if it's still ours. And even though it'll be a pain-in-the-ass to make sure the structure's still standing (especially after a blizzard), I really don't mind still having it in our possession, and in my life.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Expenses Without Receipt
Wow. I realize I have to keep a strict eye on tracking these Expenses Without Receipts or I will completely fuck this up. And I know I fucked this up, royally. There are many days where I have no idea what I did. What you are about to see is a shitshow in list form. Starting from Tuesday, October 8:
- Thank Buddha for working, 'cause that means I have no idle time to spend money. So let's go back to the weekend, specifically Sunday the 6th, where I started out my day going to the Minnesota Golden Gopher soccer team upset #7 Penn St. under the soft yet heavy drizzle of the afternoon. (Fast fact, courtesy of ESPNW: It's the first time ever that powerhouses Penn St., Stanford and Notre Dame lost on the same day.) Free ticket, program, hot dog and small Coke: $8.75.
- I then went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division) in the afternoon. Now that my parents have retired The Store, I don't mind going there during daylight hours. Coffee, tips for three because one girl was missing equal: $8.
- I didn't mean to leave the house that evening. I didn't want to leave the house that evening. But my ATF, ***e*, wanted me to "cum" over to *e**'s party. I was already home so I didn't plan on it, so I was about to text her back something to the effect of, "Uh, I really can't. ..." But then I got a text from my brother. He came over Saturday afternoon to pick up Father's desktop, which had gone on the fritz, and now he says it's ready and that I am supposed to get it from his house. And, even though *e**'s party is pretty far away from me, it's fairly close to where my brother lives. So I took this as a sign from up above that I was supposed to shell out even more money to go to the party. Let's just say that after I picked up Father's computer, I had to take ***e* to this place she was crashing at in South Minneapolis because she was getting her car fixed at a place within walking distance of my house. Oh, and to thank me for driving her to her friend's place I got a handjob from her, at a discount. That HJ plus the dance at the party: $70.
- Back to Saturday the 5th ... After washing and drying my bedsheet, turning over my bed after six months, and talking to My Father, who thought I should be able to hear his quiet voice through my bedroom door and my blaring TV, I went to the Farmer's Market in Northeast Minneapolis, where I tried what may be The Best Food Truck In The Twin Cities, Vellee Deli. Very hot Korean BBQ Burrito. With a Coke to cool down my tongue and tip: $10.
- I then tried Psycho Suzi Motor Lodge's Brown Sugar Babies, which are very good, although a bit on the sugary side. (I love bacon, I love cocktail weinies, and I love weinies wrapped in bacon. I also like sugar. But sugar-tasting weinies wrapped in bacon? Not quite.) I've heard awesome things about Psycho Suzi's, especially their tiki cocktails, but I've only been there once, and that was a long time ago. However, when I walked into the Market one of the girls behind the table waved hi to me. She was cute. So, she got my business -- and by that I mean my money. With tip: $4.
- Was debating between going to the North Star Roller Girls season premiere bout, the Minnesota United FC game (which was a matchup between the two top teams of the North American Soccer League against the reborn New York Cosmos, or at least a franchise that was able to take the Cosmos name), or just staying home in the rainy, very cloudy weather. While I came through the front door, my parents were going the other way. Said they had to go to The Store to pour out the water. I think they would've gone earlier if they hadn't had to stay home to wait for my brother to come and fix Father's computer. Anyway, My Fucking Father took out the key I put into the lock and, instead of giving it to me, he put it off to the side. Well, I didn't like that; can't you see me? Then, when I went downstairs to fetch my bedsheet out of the dryer, I went to the downstairs fridge to grab a Coke. But the one that I put in there was half-drank. My Fucking Father, once again, did not have the decency to at least put another Coke in. That did it; I'm going out tonight. So I went to the soccer game, which turned out to be a loss. Ticket, hot dog, fries from The Anchor food truck, beer and tips: $25.50.
- And then, because I didn't want to go home too early tonight -- I told them when I left for the soccer game the radio station wanted me to help out on a game; coming back so soon at night would raise suspicions as to why I worked such short hours -- I went to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place. Big salad and Coke only. With tip: $6.50.
- Friday the 4th ... Treated myself to the Gopher soccer game ... after spending a couple hours at Scalvo's, the hotel restaurant/bar that was close to the flu biller's former office building. Program, hot dog and small Coke: $8.75.
- Then I went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version). This is the visit with the ripoff bitch. This is how it works, babe: If I give you two and you're nice to me now, I might give you twenty through a dance later. But if you order me to give you five now, you'll get zero from me, now and forever more. But thank you for helping me save a couple bucks in the future. Coffee, tips, and a dance from the always classy ... I'll just call her ******a: $30.
- After that I tried going to this relatively new coffee place relatively close to home, but they close at 11, way too early for a coffeeshop, in my opinion. So I went back to Caffetto for a mocha and an hour of seeing my computer not connect to the Internet. With tip: $3.50.
- After work Tuesday, October 1 I needed some time to myself, mostly because My Fucking Father wanted me to write a stupid goddamn letter trying to make their home insurance company reconsider what he thought was a low estimate for wind and hail damage to the house back in November, damage I can't even see. And since My Fucking Father downloaded something so bad that it's fucked up his computer, I have to type this useless letter on my laptop. Since I have to do that, I might as well type it away from home. Anyway, I went to the Cobalt Cafe to indulge in a frappe in what will be one of the last warm days of the year. With tip: $4.50.
- I then had to print out said useless letter: 10 cents.
- On Sunday, September 29 I decided to risk lowering the quarter-tank of gas that had to last me till Tuesday in order to drive down to the other car wash I patronize (I lost the entire quarter-tank just to get down there, but I was able to live "below the slash" till Tuesday morning). There are two car washes I go to, and the one closer to where I live seemed to jack up their prices, so I wanted to know if I have to go to this farther car wash in order to save money. Not only was that not true, I believe prices have gotten even more expensive at this car wash. So I guess I just have to deal with the higher prices ... or not get my car washed. Have a receipt for the car wash, but I obviously don't have one for the tip: $2.
- I then went to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the end of the Vikings game. I went out because I can't fucking stand a whole day with my parents, especially after I helped them move our giant scale home from The Store that morning. Felt kind of weird; although I ordered just a beer, so what I had to pay was simple, she was so occupied with helping others that I decided I wanted to get change from her instead of giving her my whole $5. The tip, if I calculated it to be 15-20%, meant I was supposed to get fifty cents in change back. But since she kind of kept me waiting, I insisted more and more until she finally got around to me. In other words: $4.50.
- Saturday the 28th: Jackson's Hole for a GameWatch. For the raffle: $10.
- Back to Thursday, September 26, where I finished a long night out with a concert by the Cold War Kids. Reviewed it here. Best thing about the show was that I got a scalped ticket cheap. That, along with $6 for PBR and tip, equal: $16.
- This is the hole in which I barely remember any EWRs. Just was having too much fun, and being busy, while my parents were gone. On Sunday, September 22, I decompressed from a bad day at work by going to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition). Coffee, tips, and a dance from my parking lot whore, ****e*: $30.
- A couple days before I was invited by ***e* to *e**'s party, which now happens on Sundays instead of Mondays. Since my folks were away and I was gallivanting around the Twin Cities, I decided to drop on by. Both girls promised this would be a more "intimate" party. I think what they meant was there were going to be just two strippers instead of three or four. Unfortunately there were three guys there once I came over. But I got dances from both, and I got to take out my penis to both, and ***e* squeezed my pee-pee: $40.
- Saturday the 21st, Jackson's Hole, raffle: $5.
- Christ, I made it a point to remember how much money I spent at My Favorite Stripclub (Cover Division) Friday, September 20. And now I totally forgot. Fuck me. Let's see ... Corona, lots of tips and dozen dances with my Claudia equals ... oh, I'll just pull a number out of thin air: $156.
- On Thursday, September 19 I started my day having my full at the chili and soup cookoff at work: $5.
- After work I went to the Heights Theatre for the first time in a long time. It's a beautiful place; I should go there more often. The excuse I gave myself for going -- besides the fact that my parents weren't there to nag me about going out so often at night -- was the movie, Blue Jasmine. Great film, first Woody Allen I've seen in more than a decade. At one point I thought to myself, "Huh, that scene kind of reminds me of A Streetcar Named Desire." Turns out the whole movie is a takeoff of A Streetcar Named Desire. Nevertheless it was great. Maybe I should have stayed away from the regular popcorn-and-large pop deal; there was no one there to prevent me from getting a refill. That food plus the $8 ticket: $16.
- I then went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version). Coffee, tips, and a dance from Danielle: $30.
- Wednesday the 18th the only EWR I had was one tip at My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division). I wanted to stay longer, but I was so, so tired that I really didn't want to anything else but immediately go to bed. First time I've ever felt that when I was there: $2.
- Tuesday, September 17, I had an illegal massage for the first time ever. I should talk about this, shouldn't I? I will; soon, if I remember: $120.
- After I woke up from the unconsciousness I suffered after enduring a 14-hour, 45-minute shoot the morning of Sunday the 15th, I went out that evening to see my fellow temp's high school team scrimmage. Except that when I got to Robbie Stadium (home to the University of Minnesota soccer team) the gate was padlocked, the goal nets were pulled up and laid next to each other, and the place was empty. The next day my co-worker told me they moved the scrimmage to a place near the U. The good thing was that allowed me to not only go to The Store and dump out the water ahead of schedule, I also could go to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version) ahead of schedule. Coffee, tips and a dance from the beautiful ****e* -- inside, not extras in her car: $30.25
- I think I then went to My Favorite Late-Night Place for an extended dinner watching Sunday Night Football and Breaking Bad. With tip: $8.
- On Friday the 13th I went to a party to celebrate a stripper's birthday. This is the first time in three chances I got dances from every single dancer working the house, all four of them at $20 a pop. I like the vibe, but there are no extras. With a cover: $90.
- Then I finished my night by going to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place. It's been the first time I've been in there on a Friday in a long time. Met the guy who's always there on Fridays. Good guy. Unfortunately he's in a state of hurt right now, I'll say that. Dinner-sized salad with soup plus tip equals: $9.50.
- Going back to Thursday the 12th, where the only EWR was for the ticket to the Saul Williams spoken-word performance. Williams is a poet, and Thursday night appeared to be the first of a nine-city, ten-date poetry tour mainly through the Midwest. That was one of the two reasons why I went out late on a school night (the performances, including a very good opening "act" by an up-and-coming slam poet named Guante). The other reason was I know Williams because his song, "List of Demands," may be the most striking song I've ever heard used in a Nike commercial. I realized early that he wasn't singing, but I still wanted to see him. Cool gentleman, even though he admitted onstage that he's not rehearsing and he "doesn't know what the fuck I'm doing." By the way, this "concert" was held at one of the newest well-reviewed restaurants in town, Icehouse. Looking around for reviews, I bought the recommended buffalo wings and the Little Richard cocktail. I had to charge $22 for both, but they were really good. One other thing: Ran into a stripper at the Williams spoken-word. She told me she saw my face and it drove her crazy where she knows me from. She was shocked when I called her by her stage name. Price of the ticket: $20.
- Tuesday, September 10: My biggest mistake was forgetting how much I paid for the (slow-arriving) food at the closest/only restaurant from work. I knew as soon as I didn't get the receipt I got for charging my order the day before that I would forget. And I still really don't know. I don't even remember what I fuckin' got for lunch that day. Was it a burger and fries? So I am going to conjure up an amount for this, too: $9.
- Haircut. Have a receipt for the cut, but never one for the tip: $2.
- On Monday the 9th Father paid me back for the Powerball tickets he wanted me to buy for him after work alongside chicken. But after looking closer, I think he gave me more money than he should have. Was that for tickets I got him a week before? Eh, I shouldn't take the money, but they're on a cruise right now, so I will. An Infusion of: $30.
- To Sunday, September 8 ... where I was at Robbie Stadium for a doubleheader featuring the women's soccer team of my alma mater. I don't remember what I bought. I know I bought something, a hot dog and a Coke. And I at least wrote down the totals for how much a hot dog with each size Coke would be. But which size Coke did I get? Beats the hell out of me. So I'll say I got a medium one. With said hot dog and a program: $9.75.
- Pretty sure I went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition) afterward. But did I get a dance? Was I given a small coffee like before instead of the bigger, more expensive cup that's supposed to be the new price this day? Beats the hell out of me. So I will guess I just spent money on a new-sized coffee and tips, which makes this into: $11.
- The only EWR Saturday the 7th was the admission I paid to work out: $3.
- Wednesday the 4th ... ? The day began as an extra at a movie. I was in desperate need to check the Internet at the shoot, so I went to the coffee place closest to the set to steal some surf time. I had to pay for a can of Coke. With tip it comes out to the exorbitant price of: $1.10.
- I was lucky that I got cut in the middle of the afternoon. That way I could go to the mall closest to me and get a chocolate malt from Diary Queen for happy hour. Half price for that is: $1.61.
- The most galling thing about this receded date is that I blogged at some length of conducting my fantasy football auctions at Caffetto and the Internet cutting out. I vaguely, only vaguely, remembering buying a pie. I am less certain that I got a medium coffee. Assuming I'm right -- and I could be wrong but I could be wrong in a multitude of ways -- adding a tip would make that "meal" come to: $6.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Ripoff Stripper
Sorry, I thought you were cool, because you are hot, because you wanted to dance with me the first time I saw you. And I swear that if there was a shift where the other girls were getting dances but you weren't, I would give you one. Shit, if I had given the other dancers dances in the past, I might have given you one. But when you told me tips are $5, not $2, I had to wipe you off my queue, off my big brain, off my little brain and off my wallet for good. Bitch, I've been to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version) for over a decade now. I was OK going from a buck to two because I quickly realized no one was tipping just a buck. But others have been tipping $2 for a long time. And if that's not true, I've been tipping $2 for a long time. And none of the other classy, nice strippers there have pitched a bitch-fit over this. I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday, missy.
I wish I could give out her name. I spell out all the girls who give me lapdances and handjobs -- well, OK, I asterisk all but one of the girl's letters. But to not reveal the name of the ripoff bitch seems very backwards. Still, I can't do it. I know I should, but I can't. I'll just have to be content with not giving her any money anymore as my form of revenge.
I wish I could give out her name. I spell out all the girls who give me lapdances and handjobs -- well, OK, I asterisk all but one of the girl's letters. But to not reveal the name of the ripoff bitch seems very backwards. Still, I can't do it. I know I should, but I can't. I'll just have to be content with not giving her any money anymore as my form of revenge.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
#-1: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -3). Yeah, they tied against Ohio St. Friday night, the first time this season they did not get a result besides a win at Robbie Stadium. But on Sunday afternoon they defeated seventh-ranked Penn St. A few droughts were broken with the Gophers' 1-0 victory: It was the first time they beat the Nittany Lions in six years (and only the fourth time ever); it was the first time they've beaten a Top 10 team since 2010 (when they beat ninth-ranked Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA Tournament); and it was the first time Penn St. has lost a conference game in two years. That history, made possible by a 17th-minute cross into the box from Steph Brandt to Haley Helverson, is the reason I'm putting this team above a team poised to win a league championship this week.
Special recognition goes out to Tarah Hobbs, who kept her sheet clean with a pair of seven-save games and notching what is now three straight shutouts. For that she was named conference Defensive Player, and co-Freshman, Of The Week. Most importantly, the Gophers notch yet another upset of a ranked team (to go with their 1-0 win at then-#13 Michigan the weekend before), which must boost their RPI and give them an ever-stronger resume to reach the tourney for the first time in three years. Now to avoid a letdown in their only game of the screening week, at Northwestern Saturday.
Side note: I've been to all but one of this team's home games this year. I usually prefer volleyball games, but somehow I've managed to make it here six times already. There are three games left, and I think I'm free the weekend of the next two games.
#-2: Lynx (Last Week: -1). I was worried that the Atlanta Dream would be motivated by revenge of their sweep at the hands of Minnesota in the WNBA Finals two years ago. If the Lynx can duplicate what they did in Game 1, uh, nope.
They throttled the Dream the way I still want to throttle that usher that humiliated me all those years ago, 84-59 Sunday night to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Probably the most critical development in the game was the 20 points by sixth man Monica Wright, who has now fully come into her own as the first player off the bench for this team. But the way this team can just score at will is the best thing about them. Vikings, Wild, Gopher football, are you guys taking notes?
Game 2 is tonight (Tuesday); Game 3, assuming the Lynx are poised for a sweep then, is in Atlanta on Thursday. (Game 4, if it comes to that, will also be in Atlanta and will be on Sunday.) I wish I could go, but I already have to be out Thursday night for a GameWatch and my days of waking up for a 7 o'clock workday is starting to catch up with me, so I think I'll pass. But I'll be able to listen to the game on the radio, and they'll probably beat the shit out of Atlanta the next two games anyway. I'll be out and about Thursday evening, so I think I'll be able to go to our bar and witness the Lynx win their second championship in three years, and I think that'll be enough.
#-3: Vikings (Last Week: -4). I honestly don't know what to think of the news that the ViQueens signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Josh Freeman. On the one hand it's good to see that this team will spend the money to sign someone in an effort to improve. On the other hand he comes with a lot of baggage: He has not played well so far this year, as well as last; he was busted for taking Ritalin, which apparently is a banned substance in the NFL; and he had a bad falling out with Tampa Bay Head Coach Greg Schiano -- although, to be fair, Schiano apparently is a paranoid nutbag.
First of all, wither Christian Ponder? He was drafted to man a West Coast offense, yet he doesn't have an arm even for dink and dunk passes. But although he was buoyed by a Running Back having a once-in-a-lifetime year and a tenacious defense, you have to admit that Ponder was the QB when the team won the final four games of the regular season, four games the Vikes had to win in order to make the playoffs. No, I was not impressed at all with his play so far this season, and no, I don't think he's the answer. But people are looking at Matt Cassel as The Second Coming. And those same rubes probably are thinking we got a steal now that we have a player who started as QB for another team to begin the season. I'm not sold on either Freeman or Cassel. And step back to look at the big picture: The Vikings are 1-3, and they were only a goalline stand from possibly being 0-4. Is Cassel the long-term answer? Shit, is Freeman the long-term answer.
That's why I don't know what to think of this signing. This could be an improvement. But I don't see a difference to making a team a Super Bowl contender, especially after this squad began the year with three straight losses.
Head Coach Leslie Frazier said that Freeman will not play this Sunday at home against Carolina. He was noncommittal about Ponder, but Cassel has to have the start for the game after the confidence he showed in throwing the football around the field, and accurately. If they win to get to 2-3 ... could we possibly be seeing the slow rise of a team that still could contend for the playoffs?
By the way, I am very tempted to knock this team down a notch after last night's phone conference with Freeman and General Manager Rick Spielman. City Pages reporter Aaron Rupar noted, in turn confirmed by jacking up the ambient sound during the teleconference that I heard on The Common Man Progrum on KFAN (and soon to be coming to a newscast near you), that Spielman was whispering what Freeman should say to reporters at the other end of the line. It seriously is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Which also scares me because of all the possibilities it raises. Can't Josh Freeman carry a conversation on by himself? Is he hiding something to the point where he needs to check on Rick "QB Whisperer" Spielman to tell him what to say? And would you trust a guy who can't answer a question over the phone to run an offense? Funny, yet embarrassing, I believe.
#-4: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -2). A 1-1 week, but it's not just that. First, in a match against what should have been a good but equal-strength opponent, Nebraska, hosting not just in a hostile environment but an arena (the Devaney Center) that has been rejiggered to improve sightlines for volleyball, swept the Goofs. Not totally unexpected, but the Cornhuskers were vulnerable, and a typical loss at the same place usually means this team isn't going to win an NCAA title.
But the next day they had to rally from 2-0 to beat B1G doormat Iowa. I don't have the actual statistics in front of me, but I'm sure that of the 12 members comprising the Big Ten, all but Iowa have made the NCAA Tournament at least once in the past five years. And they gave away the first two sets to these guys? Losing five consecutive sets is not usual for this program, not at all. So even though they fought back to win, I believe there is something seriously, seriously wrong with this team. Has it got anything, anything to do with the fact that Assistant Coach Erich Hinterstocker? He lost his job, Head Coach at North Dakota St., after administrators found out he verbally and physically abused his players. I wonder if fans know about that.
Morale isn't going to get any better this week. They go to the eastern reaches of the B1G, visiting #4 Penn St. Wednesday and Ohio St. Saturday.
#-5: Wild (Re-Entry!). So far, so ... bad. If you know me, you know that I take overtime/shootout wins in the National Hockey League as actual wins and overtime/shootout losses as actual losses. Therefore, the opening-season SO loss to L.A. and the OT defeat to Anaheim -- both at home, mind you -- mean they are so far winless. Sure, they have two points, but wake me when that damned point system is easy to understand.
Most prognosticators believe that the Mild will get better. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will still be the best players on the team. Mikko Koivu, reputation battered after an underwhelming last year, is at least being overlooked for now. The fortunes of this club rest on the continued improvement on the young guns -- Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker. Right now, Coyle might be out for a month, Granlund has continued to underwhelm and Zucker was busted down to AAA Iowa before being called back up because of the injury to Coyle. Only Brodin has stuck and done well, and I only surmise that because I haven't heard any news where he has screwed up.
Two things troubling through the first two games has been the goaltending. It's been surmised, at least on The Common Man, that Goalie Nicklas Backstrom is the type of guy who makes the saves he should make, but can't stand on his head and make the saves he shouldn't make. I can cosign that. Also, he's been the main Wild netminder for a long time, hasn't he? The other cause for concern is nothing new, unfortunately: The Mild's tendency to not come through in the clutch, either offensively (getting a goal to win a game) or defensively (conceding a goal that ties a game). That happened against the Kings, where Minnesota was nursing a 2-1 lead but lost it, and eventually the game, late in the third period. (Granted, that was helped out by Kings Goaltender Jonathan Quick standing on his head.) That late collapse did not happen against the Ducks; no, the Mild gave away two goals very early in the game and had to play catch-up.
Could Head Coach Mike Yeo be in trouble if they continue not winning? The beginning of a very busy part of the schedule happens this week: At Nashville tonight, home to The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers Thursday and The Bastard North Stars Saturday, then on the road to Buffalo Monday.
#-6: Gopher football (Last Week: -5). OK, this has gotten surreal. The 42-13 loss at Michigan is bad enough. But the worse part of this is Head Coach Jerry Kill was not on the sideline. In fact, he didn't even make it to Ann Arbor, Mich.; he felt sick Friday, and even though he planned to take a flight to the Big House Saturday morning, he suffered a seizure. In three seasons at the helm of the Goofs, Kill has had five seizures. Three of them have happened while he was on the sideline, the second this season, following a win at home against Western Illinois.
At some point this has to be too much. All those who supported Kill after suffering his first seizure (caused by epilepsy, in turn caused by treatment for cancer) had to have thought that these episodes would not happen again, or at least could be controlled to the point where they would be infrequent. But having a second seizure in four games (and in less than a month) had to change some peoples' minds. Jerry Kill seems to be a nice guy, and his work off the field with efforts to battle epilepsy are admirable. But don't tell me high schoolers aren't thinking twice, if not shying away, from Minnesota because of this. And don't tell me fellow B1G Head Coaches aren't recruiting against this. College football isn't a place for nice guys. You cannot fire a Head Coach for medical reasons, but could Kill step aside?
At least he has two weeks to think about it before the next game at Northwestern.
Special recognition goes out to Tarah Hobbs, who kept her sheet clean with a pair of seven-save games and notching what is now three straight shutouts. For that she was named conference Defensive Player, and co-Freshman, Of The Week. Most importantly, the Gophers notch yet another upset of a ranked team (to go with their 1-0 win at then-#13 Michigan the weekend before), which must boost their RPI and give them an ever-stronger resume to reach the tourney for the first time in three years. Now to avoid a letdown in their only game of the screening week, at Northwestern Saturday.
Side note: I've been to all but one of this team's home games this year. I usually prefer volleyball games, but somehow I've managed to make it here six times already. There are three games left, and I think I'm free the weekend of the next two games.
#-2: Lynx (Last Week: -1). I was worried that the Atlanta Dream would be motivated by revenge of their sweep at the hands of Minnesota in the WNBA Finals two years ago. If the Lynx can duplicate what they did in Game 1, uh, nope.
They throttled the Dream the way I still want to throttle that usher that humiliated me all those years ago, 84-59 Sunday night to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Probably the most critical development in the game was the 20 points by sixth man Monica Wright, who has now fully come into her own as the first player off the bench for this team. But the way this team can just score at will is the best thing about them. Vikings, Wild, Gopher football, are you guys taking notes?
Game 2 is tonight (Tuesday); Game 3, assuming the Lynx are poised for a sweep then, is in Atlanta on Thursday. (Game 4, if it comes to that, will also be in Atlanta and will be on Sunday.) I wish I could go, but I already have to be out Thursday night for a GameWatch and my days of waking up for a 7 o'clock workday is starting to catch up with me, so I think I'll pass. But I'll be able to listen to the game on the radio, and they'll probably beat the shit out of Atlanta the next two games anyway. I'll be out and about Thursday evening, so I think I'll be able to go to our bar and witness the Lynx win their second championship in three years, and I think that'll be enough.
#-3: Vikings (Last Week: -4). I honestly don't know what to think of the news that the ViQueens signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Josh Freeman. On the one hand it's good to see that this team will spend the money to sign someone in an effort to improve. On the other hand he comes with a lot of baggage: He has not played well so far this year, as well as last; he was busted for taking Ritalin, which apparently is a banned substance in the NFL; and he had a bad falling out with Tampa Bay Head Coach Greg Schiano -- although, to be fair, Schiano apparently is a paranoid nutbag.
First of all, wither Christian Ponder? He was drafted to man a West Coast offense, yet he doesn't have an arm even for dink and dunk passes. But although he was buoyed by a Running Back having a once-in-a-lifetime year and a tenacious defense, you have to admit that Ponder was the QB when the team won the final four games of the regular season, four games the Vikes had to win in order to make the playoffs. No, I was not impressed at all with his play so far this season, and no, I don't think he's the answer. But people are looking at Matt Cassel as The Second Coming. And those same rubes probably are thinking we got a steal now that we have a player who started as QB for another team to begin the season. I'm not sold on either Freeman or Cassel. And step back to look at the big picture: The Vikings are 1-3, and they were only a goalline stand from possibly being 0-4. Is Cassel the long-term answer? Shit, is Freeman the long-term answer.
That's why I don't know what to think of this signing. This could be an improvement. But I don't see a difference to making a team a Super Bowl contender, especially after this squad began the year with three straight losses.
Head Coach Leslie Frazier said that Freeman will not play this Sunday at home against Carolina. He was noncommittal about Ponder, but Cassel has to have the start for the game after the confidence he showed in throwing the football around the field, and accurately. If they win to get to 2-3 ... could we possibly be seeing the slow rise of a team that still could contend for the playoffs?
By the way, I am very tempted to knock this team down a notch after last night's phone conference with Freeman and General Manager Rick Spielman. City Pages reporter Aaron Rupar noted, in turn confirmed by jacking up the ambient sound during the teleconference that I heard on The Common Man Progrum on KFAN (and soon to be coming to a newscast near you), that Spielman was whispering what Freeman should say to reporters at the other end of the line. It seriously is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Which also scares me because of all the possibilities it raises. Can't Josh Freeman carry a conversation on by himself? Is he hiding something to the point where he needs to check on Rick "QB Whisperer" Spielman to tell him what to say? And would you trust a guy who can't answer a question over the phone to run an offense? Funny, yet embarrassing, I believe.
#-4: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -2). A 1-1 week, but it's not just that. First, in a match against what should have been a good but equal-strength opponent, Nebraska, hosting not just in a hostile environment but an arena (the Devaney Center) that has been rejiggered to improve sightlines for volleyball, swept the Goofs. Not totally unexpected, but the Cornhuskers were vulnerable, and a typical loss at the same place usually means this team isn't going to win an NCAA title.
But the next day they had to rally from 2-0 to beat B1G doormat Iowa. I don't have the actual statistics in front of me, but I'm sure that of the 12 members comprising the Big Ten, all but Iowa have made the NCAA Tournament at least once in the past five years. And they gave away the first two sets to these guys? Losing five consecutive sets is not usual for this program, not at all. So even though they fought back to win, I believe there is something seriously, seriously wrong with this team. Has it got anything, anything to do with the fact that Assistant Coach Erich Hinterstocker? He lost his job, Head Coach at North Dakota St., after administrators found out he verbally and physically abused his players. I wonder if fans know about that.
Morale isn't going to get any better this week. They go to the eastern reaches of the B1G, visiting #4 Penn St. Wednesday and Ohio St. Saturday.
#-5: Wild (Re-Entry!). So far, so ... bad. If you know me, you know that I take overtime/shootout wins in the National Hockey League as actual wins and overtime/shootout losses as actual losses. Therefore, the opening-season SO loss to L.A. and the OT defeat to Anaheim -- both at home, mind you -- mean they are so far winless. Sure, they have two points, but wake me when that damned point system is easy to understand.
Most prognosticators believe that the Mild will get better. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will still be the best players on the team. Mikko Koivu, reputation battered after an underwhelming last year, is at least being overlooked for now. The fortunes of this club rest on the continued improvement on the young guns -- Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker. Right now, Coyle might be out for a month, Granlund has continued to underwhelm and Zucker was busted down to AAA Iowa before being called back up because of the injury to Coyle. Only Brodin has stuck and done well, and I only surmise that because I haven't heard any news where he has screwed up.
Two things troubling through the first two games has been the goaltending. It's been surmised, at least on The Common Man, that Goalie Nicklas Backstrom is the type of guy who makes the saves he should make, but can't stand on his head and make the saves he shouldn't make. I can cosign that. Also, he's been the main Wild netminder for a long time, hasn't he? The other cause for concern is nothing new, unfortunately: The Mild's tendency to not come through in the clutch, either offensively (getting a goal to win a game) or defensively (conceding a goal that ties a game). That happened against the Kings, where Minnesota was nursing a 2-1 lead but lost it, and eventually the game, late in the third period. (Granted, that was helped out by Kings Goaltender Jonathan Quick standing on his head.) That late collapse did not happen against the Ducks; no, the Mild gave away two goals very early in the game and had to play catch-up.
Could Head Coach Mike Yeo be in trouble if they continue not winning? The beginning of a very busy part of the schedule happens this week: At Nashville tonight, home to The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers Thursday and The Bastard North Stars Saturday, then on the road to Buffalo Monday.
#-6: Gopher football (Last Week: -5). OK, this has gotten surreal. The 42-13 loss at Michigan is bad enough. But the worse part of this is Head Coach Jerry Kill was not on the sideline. In fact, he didn't even make it to Ann Arbor, Mich.; he felt sick Friday, and even though he planned to take a flight to the Big House Saturday morning, he suffered a seizure. In three seasons at the helm of the Goofs, Kill has had five seizures. Three of them have happened while he was on the sideline, the second this season, following a win at home against Western Illinois.
At some point this has to be too much. All those who supported Kill after suffering his first seizure (caused by epilepsy, in turn caused by treatment for cancer) had to have thought that these episodes would not happen again, or at least could be controlled to the point where they would be infrequent. But having a second seizure in four games (and in less than a month) had to change some peoples' minds. Jerry Kill seems to be a nice guy, and his work off the field with efforts to battle epilepsy are admirable. But don't tell me high schoolers aren't thinking twice, if not shying away, from Minnesota because of this. And don't tell me fellow B1G Head Coaches aren't recruiting against this. College football isn't a place for nice guys. You cannot fire a Head Coach for medical reasons, but could Kill step aside?
At least he has two weeks to think about it before the next game at Northwestern.
Monday, October 7, 2013
The Ax Fell ... On Someone Besides Me
Well, after feeling that I was pretty safe in my job, I come back for a fresh week of work today to see that two of my fellow temps were, for all intents and purposes, fired. They were part of the four girls comprising this "second wave" of billers, and apparently they didn't meet production.
I had no idea how well they were doing. In fact, I don't think I have spoken with any of this "second wave," and I did not speak with either of the two canned employees. But I show up today to start my day, and we lost them.
I had thought that not only I but all of us were safe. My boss did mention to this "second wave" before we all left Friday that not all of us met production, but he said he would talk to his supervisors. I thought that would buy time for those that didn't reach the magical number, but, well, that's not true.
Let me be honest: I think those four girls are kind of aloof, in fact pretty rude. One of them wouldn't hold the door open for me when we came in to start the day one day last week. And none of them has asked me for help with anything. Maybe they don't need my help. Or maybe they're bitches. However, I feel for the two who lost their jobs. I wonder when they learned that they were shitcanned. And I wonder how they feel. If they cried the rest of the day and night, I would totally understand.
I had no idea how well they were doing. In fact, I don't think I have spoken with any of this "second wave," and I did not speak with either of the two canned employees. But I show up today to start my day, and we lost them.
I had thought that not only I but all of us were safe. My boss did mention to this "second wave" before we all left Friday that not all of us met production, but he said he would talk to his supervisors. I thought that would buy time for those that didn't reach the magical number, but, well, that's not true.
Let me be honest: I think those four girls are kind of aloof, in fact pretty rude. One of them wouldn't hold the door open for me when we came in to start the day one day last week. And none of them has asked me for help with anything. Maybe they don't need my help. Or maybe they're bitches. However, I feel for the two who lost their jobs. I wonder when they learned that they were shitcanned. And I wonder how they feel. If they cried the rest of the day and night, I would totally understand.
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