I just saw Dad's bird feeder picture and it reminded me of what I saw the other day. Friday afternoon I was stopped at a red light, sitting right next to the Bowman Field/Le Relais parking lot. I was staring straight ahead, mostly zoned-out as I waited for traffic to start moving, when out of the corner of my eye I saw something fall very, very fast right outside my passenger window. Startled, I jerked my head around (quickly enough that it hurt a little) to see what it was.
After a few moments I spotted a large hawk a dozen or so yards away. He was grappling with (okay, mauling) a chipmunk. I assume he speared the little critter right next to my car and ended up where he was after veering out of his nose-dive.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wooooooo Hooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
I'm very happy about Kentucky's win. It was huge. Huge. Huge. It means a lot for the program. More than even the players realize, probably.
Kentucky had every reason to fail and found a way to win. That was great.
On my way home I heard a statistic that astounded me. Kentucky's 3 starting linebackers had 38 tackles. That's phenomenal. Wow.
And:
Why does Steve Ortmeyer still have a job? How many blocked kicks does it take to lose the special teams coaching job? At least his return team players haven't run into the punter every other time like the last 2 years, but UK's special teams blockers still suck.
Kentucky puts the 'special' in special teams. That unit rides the short bus to school and licks the windows.
I have high expectations. The QB situation is still very up in the air, but tonight Cobb and Locke proved conclusively that the Wildcats have 2 absolute SEC offensive stars, which is 1 more than Kentucky's ever had in my lifetime. Don't ask me to explain the math, but 2 stars make the offense about 5 times more effective than 1.
The Cats' 3-3 record looks awfully good with the schedule they have remaining. I now expect 7 wins, with a strong possibility of 8.
Plus I'm 4-0 vs the spread (I think my 4 picks are a total of 15 points off) this year and 4-0 picking straight winners. Not bad. And my overall game scenarios have been pretty spot-on as well.
Kentucky had every reason to fail and found a way to win. That was great.
On my way home I heard a statistic that astounded me. Kentucky's 3 starting linebackers had 38 tackles. That's phenomenal. Wow.
And:
Why does Steve Ortmeyer still have a job? How many blocked kicks does it take to lose the special teams coaching job? At least his return team players haven't run into the punter every other time like the last 2 years, but UK's special teams blockers still suck.
Kentucky puts the 'special' in special teams. That unit rides the short bus to school and licks the windows.
I have high expectations. The QB situation is still very up in the air, but tonight Cobb and Locke proved conclusively that the Wildcats have 2 absolute SEC offensive stars, which is 1 more than Kentucky's ever had in my lifetime. Don't ask me to explain the math, but 2 stars make the offense about 5 times more effective than 1.
The Cats' 3-3 record looks awfully good with the schedule they have remaining. I now expect 7 wins, with a strong possibility of 8.
Plus I'm 4-0 vs the spread (I think my 4 picks are a total of 15 points off) this year and 4-0 picking straight winners. Not bad. And my overall game scenarios have been pretty spot-on as well.
Friday, October 16, 2009
I watched Big Blue Madness. Lots of hype and sloppy basketball. Yaaaay Kentucky!
Then I watched some baseball. Booooo Yankees!
Then I visited Mark's art store. Yaaaay Mark!
I would have bought something but I don't have any money. Boooo poverty!
So I guess I'll just post my football prediction and call it a night:
UK 27
Auburn 26
That's going way out on a limb, I know. I just have a feeling.
I think last week's loss to Arkansas was the beginning of a big let-down for Auburn that will see them stumble this week. They'll struggle some and make some dumb mistakes, and for once UK will capitalize on them.
I think UK will use all 3 QBs, but settle on either Fidler (probably) or Newton almost exclusively in the 2nd half. None of the three will look too great, but I have a feeling Kentucky will somehow come up with 2 or 3 really big plays that will make the difference.
Then I watched some baseball. Booooo Yankees!
Then I visited Mark's art store. Yaaaay Mark!
I would have bought something but I don't have any money. Boooo poverty!
So I guess I'll just post my football prediction and call it a night:
UK 27
Auburn 26
That's going way out on a limb, I know. I just have a feeling.
I think last week's loss to Arkansas was the beginning of a big let-down for Auburn that will see them stumble this week. They'll struggle some and make some dumb mistakes, and for once UK will capitalize on them.
I think UK will use all 3 QBs, but settle on either Fidler (probably) or Newton almost exclusively in the 2nd half. None of the three will look too great, but I have a feeling Kentucky will somehow come up with 2 or 3 really big plays that will make the difference.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
A Work Complaint- with very few specifics so as to protect the innocent (me):
The last year has seen some personnel changes in the powers-that-be. The powers-that-be have initiated further changes. Things have gotten steadily worse, performance has gotten steadily worse, morale has gotten steadily worse.
The powers-that-be are sure it's the fault of us peons- even though things were going okay before and the only thing that has changed is them. Since it's not their fault, apparently there will have to be more changes. And I'm sure that will make things steadily worse. Or perhaps drastically worse.
The only comfort is knowing that- eventually- changes will be made that will bring procedures and routines and rules back in line with where they were a year or so ago. And at that point the powers-that-be will take credit for the improvement.
I used to wonder why so many people in positions of power are idiots. But as I got older and wiser I realized that despite appearances, the percentage of powerless idiots is actually much greater. The idiots with authority just stand out a lot more because they are in position to do so much damage.
The last year has seen some personnel changes in the powers-that-be. The powers-that-be have initiated further changes. Things have gotten steadily worse, performance has gotten steadily worse, morale has gotten steadily worse.
The powers-that-be are sure it's the fault of us peons- even though things were going okay before and the only thing that has changed is them. Since it's not their fault, apparently there will have to be more changes. And I'm sure that will make things steadily worse. Or perhaps drastically worse.
The only comfort is knowing that- eventually- changes will be made that will bring procedures and routines and rules back in line with where they were a year or so ago. And at that point the powers-that-be will take credit for the improvement.
I used to wonder why so many people in positions of power are idiots. But as I got older and wiser I realized that despite appearances, the percentage of powerless idiots is actually much greater. The idiots with authority just stand out a lot more because they are in position to do so much damage.
Friday, October 9, 2009
According to Vegasinsider.com, Kentucky is a 13-point underdog against South Carolina tomorrow.
I can't quite bring myself to predict a victory, but I really like the idea of taking the points.
I expect a tight game with both teams scoring in the 20's, and Kentucky could very well win. However, after running my complex score-picking logarithm through the supercomputer, I say:
Gamecocks: 26
Wildcats: 24.
I can't quite bring myself to predict a victory, but I really like the idea of taking the points.
I expect a tight game with both teams scoring in the 20's, and Kentucky could very well win. However, after running my complex score-picking logarithm through the supercomputer, I say:
Gamecocks: 26
Wildcats: 24.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
One of Those Days
Today I...
*started my day with a gulp of spoiled milk,
*misplaced my work badge, which I need to swipe to get in the building,
*had a generally bad day at work with numerous problems cropping up,
*broke a glass in the kitchen sink.
*ruined my gourmet dinner (actually, burned my grilled cheese sandwich because I was busy picking glass shards out of the sink), and
*tried three times to comment on Mom's blog, but for some reason I can not. Perhaps I'll try again later.
Plus the rain is no fun. And of course my bathroom light burned out.
Finally, after I ate my dinner of burned grilled cheese, I was ready to sit and read and move as little as possible- because I was operating on the theory that if I don't move the rest of the day nothing else will go wrong.
But I sat about 3 minutes before remembering I'd left my rent check in the car and I really needed to mail it today. So I had to go do that.
Now I'm back and resuming the 'do nothing' plan. I'll finish reading "The Bourne Identity" tonight and make a start on something else. I think I'll try "Altered Carbon" by Richard K. Morgan. I picked it up at Half-Price Books last week. It looks interesting.
I could get on the stationary bike, but I'm afraid I'll wreck.
*started my day with a gulp of spoiled milk,
*misplaced my work badge, which I need to swipe to get in the building,
*had a generally bad day at work with numerous problems cropping up,
*broke a glass in the kitchen sink.
*ruined my gourmet dinner (actually, burned my grilled cheese sandwich because I was busy picking glass shards out of the sink), and
*tried three times to comment on Mom's blog, but for some reason I can not. Perhaps I'll try again later.
Plus the rain is no fun. And of course my bathroom light burned out.
Finally, after I ate my dinner of burned grilled cheese, I was ready to sit and read and move as little as possible- because I was operating on the theory that if I don't move the rest of the day nothing else will go wrong.
But I sat about 3 minutes before remembering I'd left my rent check in the car and I really needed to mail it today. So I had to go do that.
The postman delivered-Willie Nelson, "The Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning"
A "past due" bill notice
The alarm clock rang two hours late
The garbage man left all the trash
On the sidewalk
And the hinges fell off of the gate
And this morning at breakfast
I spilled all the coffee
And I opened the door on my knee
But the last thing I needed
The first thing this morning
Was to have you walk out on me
Now I'm back and resuming the 'do nothing' plan. I'll finish reading "The Bourne Identity" tonight and make a start on something else. I think I'll try "Altered Carbon" by Richard K. Morgan. I picked it up at Half-Price Books last week. It looks interesting.
I could get on the stationary bike, but I'm afraid I'll wreck.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
MLB Records
Baseball fans love discussing statistics and records. I've heard lots of discussions about which records are least likely to be broken.
Most commonly mentioned are Cy Young's 511 wins, Dimaggio's hitting streak, Aaron's home run record (now almost certain to fall fairly soon), and a .400 batting average (which isn't even a record, so I'm not sure why it comes up).
Here's one that never gets mentioned: Connie Mack's 7755 games managed. Tony LaRussa moved into second place on the all-time list today. Now if he just keeps going and doesn't miss a game (and if my math is right) he'll pass Mack- in May, 2028.
What a historic day that will be as LaRussa's Seoul Black Tigers (까만 호랑이 to the locals) take on the Caracas Turpials in an early season contest that could well determine the World Series favorite. I like LaRussa, but I'll be rooting for the Caracas squad to whom I remain faithful after they leave St. Louis in 2021.
Most commonly mentioned are Cy Young's 511 wins, Dimaggio's hitting streak, Aaron's home run record (now almost certain to fall fairly soon), and a .400 batting average (which isn't even a record, so I'm not sure why it comes up).
Here's one that never gets mentioned: Connie Mack's 7755 games managed. Tony LaRussa moved into second place on the all-time list today. Now if he just keeps going and doesn't miss a game (and if my math is right) he'll pass Mack- in May, 2028.
What a historic day that will be as LaRussa's Seoul Black Tigers (까만 호랑이 to the locals) take on the Caracas Turpials in an early season contest that could well determine the World Series favorite. I like LaRussa, but I'll be rooting for the Caracas squad to whom I remain faithful after they leave St. Louis in 2021.
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