Last week I posted about being a Cleveland sports fan. Seams to be a much talked about subject lately, especially by ESPN who has recently ranked the sports cities by their franchises.
In ranking Cleveland, one can definately see the torment. Most of Cleveland worst moments are tied to their best moments: ESPN.com - ESPN 25 - City standings: Cleveland
After proclaiming Cleveland as the most tortured city in the land, ESPN reviews the 10 worst moments in Cleveland Sports history: ESPN.com: Page 2 - Mistakes by the lake
Then, just for a little fun, ESPN reviews why Clevelands torture will go on for another 100 years: ESPN.com: Page 2 - Cleveland's torture will continue
There now, wasn't that a fun trip. Alright, everyone with me now....."Maybe next Century". Of course, I do believe that it will get better in the very near future. Why? Because I'm a Cleveland fan....that's why.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
No Scissors Allowed
Continuing my daughter's thoughts from last week about buildings falling down. We had just visited our local gas station/convenience store, which happens to be a well known stop on the highways of California. Breanna turned to me while we were getting in the car and said:
I'm starting to think the she may grow up to be an architect. She sure has an interest in what makes them fall down.Breanna: You can't take scissors in there.
Me: Why?
Breanna: Because you might cut the strings.
Me: What strings?
Breanna: The strings that hold the building up. You might cut them, and the building will fall down.
Filed in: OutOfTheMouthsOfBabes
Monday, July 12, 2004
Usual Deposit
On Saturday, Marcy and I took a visit up to our favorite wine country. This was a test for us because we are in the process of getting rid of all debt, which means spending money on things like wine is not an option. So why the trip? We are still part of one wine club there and we needed to pick up wine. There was also nothing stopping us from tasting, we just can't buy, so a little tasting is just what we did. Much less than usual, I'll have you know, and since Breanna decided she wanted to spend the day fishing with her papa (pics to come), we decided to have dinner on the way back home, at our friendly neighborhood indian casino. Gotta make the money to pay off the bills somehow. Red 35, woohoo, let it ride.
Now usually we approach gambling like we are donating money, because we know the chances we take. Like I said though, throwing money away is really not an option right now, good thing someone else is looking out for us, because we decided to hit the ATM, for a very small withdrawal mind you, and hit the casino floor running.
After several hours of mostly standing around waiting for the appropriate denomination of blackjack table, a goodish portion of our funds was "donated" to said charity. So we decided that it was time to go home with a little under 50% of what we started with, until I spotted our favorite machine on our way out that is. As I said, someone was watching out for us, as Marcy made the machine hit and gave us back our original withdrawal amount. With our money back in our pockets, we hit the door and headed for home.
Now I hope everyone learned a lesson or two from our experiences. One, wine tasting can make for a fun and inexpensive day as long as you are cheap and don't purchase any wine, no matter how much you like it and; Two, don't gamble that which you can not afford to lose, unless of course you intend on winning it all back just before you leave, or something like that.
Now usually we approach gambling like we are donating money, because we know the chances we take. Like I said though, throwing money away is really not an option right now, good thing someone else is looking out for us, because we decided to hit the ATM, for a very small withdrawal mind you, and hit the casino floor running.
After several hours of mostly standing around waiting for the appropriate denomination of blackjack table, a goodish portion of our funds was "donated" to said charity. So we decided that it was time to go home with a little under 50% of what we started with, until I spotted our favorite machine on our way out that is. As I said, someone was watching out for us, as Marcy made the machine hit and gave us back our original withdrawal amount. With our money back in our pockets, we hit the door and headed for home.
Now I hope everyone learned a lesson or two from our experiences. One, wine tasting can make for a fun and inexpensive day as long as you are cheap and don't purchase any wine, no matter how much you like it and; Two, don't gamble that which you can not afford to lose, unless of course you intend on winning it all back just before you leave, or something like that.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Just a Hard-Luck Cleveland Sports Fan
URL: Boozer double-crosses Cavaliers
This is so not good for all of us Cleveland Sports fans. But then again, we should not be surprised, not in the least. Cleveland sports fans have been dealing with heart-ache time and time again for the past half-century.
Boozer was supposed to be part of the Cavaliers return to the playoffs. I can't say return to glory, because they have never acheived glory, more on that later though. What's worse is that he gave his word to the team and to the city that he would remain in Cleveland, if we let him out of his contract, of which he would have earned a measely $790K, so that we could sign him to a bigger deal. Oops. Gotcha. Boozer is just the latest in the last decade, since the dawning of free agency, to spurn Cleveland for more money. The Indians sure can attest to what that feels like, ahem, Albert Bell, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, ahem.
Anyway, as I was saying, we as Cleveland sports fans should be used to this heart-ache. The Cavaliers have never been to the NBA finals. The Browns have never been to the Super Bowl. The Indians have been to the World Series, but have not won it all since 1948. In fact, from 1954 to 1995 the Indians did not even reach the playoffs. All we have are images of heart-breaking losses that have been deeply burned into the roots of our memories.
Images such as Jose Mesa crumpling on the mound after giving up the game-winning hit in extra innings of game 7 in 1997 against the Marlins. Images such as Michael Jordan soaring over Craig Ehlo to hit the game winner, "The Shot", and advance to the finals giving the Bulls their first NBA title. Images such as Earnest Byner fumbling, "The Fumble", as he was heading into the endzone to score the winning touchdown which would have sent the Browns to the Super Bowl over the Broncos in 1987. Images such as Elway marching the Broncos 97 yards, "The Drive", to send the 1986 AFC Conference Championship in OT where they beat the Browns by a field goal and went on to the Super Bowl. Stop laughing JStu. Stop lauging Peat.
So after all this torment and heart-ache, is losing Carlos Boozer really that big of a deal? Maybe not, we still have LJ. But, it is another knuckle in our rib cages, grinding away at our collective hearts at which I have to say, thanks Booz. Thanks for reminding all of us Cleveland sports fans what it means to be a Cleveland sports fan. Thanks for reminding us the meaning of our favorite motto, "maybe next year".
This is so not good for all of us Cleveland Sports fans. But then again, we should not be surprised, not in the least. Cleveland sports fans have been dealing with heart-ache time and time again for the past half-century.
Boozer was supposed to be part of the Cavaliers return to the playoffs. I can't say return to glory, because they have never acheived glory, more on that later though. What's worse is that he gave his word to the team and to the city that he would remain in Cleveland, if we let him out of his contract, of which he would have earned a measely $790K, so that we could sign him to a bigger deal. Oops. Gotcha. Boozer is just the latest in the last decade, since the dawning of free agency, to spurn Cleveland for more money. The Indians sure can attest to what that feels like, ahem, Albert Bell, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, ahem.
Anyway, as I was saying, we as Cleveland sports fans should be used to this heart-ache. The Cavaliers have never been to the NBA finals. The Browns have never been to the Super Bowl. The Indians have been to the World Series, but have not won it all since 1948. In fact, from 1954 to 1995 the Indians did not even reach the playoffs. All we have are images of heart-breaking losses that have been deeply burned into the roots of our memories.
Images such as Jose Mesa crumpling on the mound after giving up the game-winning hit in extra innings of game 7 in 1997 against the Marlins. Images such as Michael Jordan soaring over Craig Ehlo to hit the game winner, "The Shot", and advance to the finals giving the Bulls their first NBA title. Images such as Earnest Byner fumbling, "The Fumble", as he was heading into the endzone to score the winning touchdown which would have sent the Browns to the Super Bowl over the Broncos in 1987. Images such as Elway marching the Broncos 97 yards, "The Drive", to send the 1986 AFC Conference Championship in OT where they beat the Browns by a field goal and went on to the Super Bowl. Stop laughing JStu. Stop lauging Peat.
So after all this torment and heart-ache, is losing Carlos Boozer really that big of a deal? Maybe not, we still have LJ. But, it is another knuckle in our rib cages, grinding away at our collective hearts at which I have to say, thanks Booz. Thanks for reminding all of us Cleveland sports fans what it means to be a Cleveland sports fan. Thanks for reminding us the meaning of our favorite motto, "maybe next year".
Thursday, July 08, 2004
If you build it, it will fall
Part of my morning ritual has me going by Breanna's room to wake her up and say goodbye before I go to work. She doesn't really wake up this early in the morning, but at least she will be easier to wake up when she has to, to get ready for school.
This morning's visit brought a surprised conversation. After I said my goodbyes to her closed eyes, like usual, she snapped them open. She then told me that when "they" build stuff, it gets old and falls apart. Then "they" need to build it again.
Any idea I may have gotten from her about who "they" are was then lost as she closed her eyes again and went back to sleep. It's a rather strange thought to wake out of a dream with for a six year old, but she probably wont remember, even our conversation. She has said some things waking in the morning that indicate she has some pretty vivid dreams. I wonder if that's a good thing...
This morning's visit brought a surprised conversation. After I said my goodbyes to her closed eyes, like usual, she snapped them open. She then told me that when "they" build stuff, it gets old and falls apart. Then "they" need to build it again.
Any idea I may have gotten from her about who "they" are was then lost as she closed her eyes again and went back to sleep. It's a rather strange thought to wake out of a dream with for a six year old, but she probably wont remember, even our conversation. She has said some things waking in the morning that indicate she has some pretty vivid dreams. I wonder if that's a good thing...
Filed in: OutOfTheMouthsOfBabes SleepTalking
Matrix Fan Film
While browsing the Unknown Geek I found this fan movie. Before Mr. Anderson became Neo, there was a A Glitch in the Matrix.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Go Browns
NFL Expert predicts 8-8 Record for Browns. Hopefully will be better, but .500 would be better than last year. Time to do happy dance, oops better stop. Boss walking down hallway.
URL: Browns need a healthy Garcia in AFC North
URL: Browns need a healthy Garcia in AFC North
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