In Memory of My Mother on the 75th Anniversary of Her Birth

*****

October Going Out Like a Lion

The most unpleasant weather feature that comes with living in Cheyenne made its first real appearance this autumn for much of this past week as strong winds blew almost every day from Monday through today. We had our first cold days on Tuesday through Wednesday with temps never making 40 degrees and a small dusting of snow covering vehicles and vegetation, but not streets and sidewalks. That will come soon enough. Fortunately things did improve as it got much warmer by Saturday with a high temperature that neared 70 degrees but accompanied by continued ferocious west and northwest winds all day and night that I could hear through the vents. The forecast for the week is for a brief noticeable cooldown on Sunday then back into the low to mid 60s for the next several days, including Halloween surprisingly. Keeping winter at bay as long as possible is always a positive in any way.

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My past week improved as it went along. My sadness, depression, and malaise over my mother's passing ever so diminished as time elapsed and I kept busy at work. I ended up with just a few hours of overtime but also learned I would get paid for taking a couple of days to grieve the loss which is a small compensation for the tragedy. I continued to have trouble with the battery in the truck as my vehicle would not start without a jump on Wednesday. My juicer died which created an inconvenience. I had to take the battery out after I got home early Thursday morning and put it on the charger overnight to renew its power which was unpleasant in the icy cold winds blowing that night. Fortunately it took the charge and the last three days have been without incident. But I remain concerned the problem will recur soon and I may be looking at replacing the battery in the coming weeks.

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Saturday was a nice relief as the sunny skies were very much welcomed in spite of the hostile winds. I arose about 11:15am and then headed over to Todd's after stopping for my weekly frozen cappucino mocha from Baskin Robbins with a coupon to make it less costly. We ordered some pizza to tide us over through the afternoon. I departed about 5:45pm. This was probably the last time I get to go over this season to watch college football at his home as his schedule for the remaining coming weeks is largely prohibitive with the possible exception of the 8th and 15th of November. Hopefully we can continue the practice in January when Mountain West Conference basketball gets into the full conference game schedule on Saturdays.

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It was back to the home unit where I relaxed through the evening surfing the 'net and watching some more football as well as parts of the Sabres / Avalanche game won by Colorado on a shootout; and parts of the 3rd game of the World Series that started late due to rain and was won by the Phillies after 1:45 local time in the City of Brotherly Love. Later I caught parts of SNL as the political sketches were quite enjoyable. Supper consisted of eating the leftover pizza from earlier in the afternoon. I retired for the night around 12:30.

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Sunday saw me awaken around 9:30 am. I headed over to Safeway around 10:15 am to pick up some milk, bread, bananas, and the Sunday newspapers. It was quite colder than Saturday as the temperature was right around freezing. The wind had also calmed down significantly from Saturday's sustained 35 mile per hour winds with 50 mph gusts to something like 15 and 25. I got back home and just relaxed. I really should go do the laundry but I am totally unmotivated to take on the task that requires me to haul three bags of clothes plus baskets, hangers, and chemicals down the flight of stairs to the truck and drive across town to the laundromat. I need to do it soon but there will come a day in the next few weeks where the time will be right. Instead I watched NFL and surfed the 'net until around 4:15 when I laid back on the recliner and took a nap for about 75 minutes. I then enjoyed Sunday TV while keeping the World Series game four on the small television: 60 Minutes; the debate on PBS between Chris Rothfuss and Mike Enzi for one of the US Senate seats; Desperate Housewives; and Brothers and Sisters. Supper consisted of the rest of the leftover pizza. I caught the end of the game as the Phillies pounded the Rays to take a 3 -1 series lead with a possible worlds championship to be completed tomorrow (Monday 10/27) evening. I continued to surf the 'net and less than half-heartedly listen to the television until I retired around 2:30am. It was 19 degrees outside when I called it a night.

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The week ahead does not seem like there is anything that needs special attention to be paid to unlike the last two weeks. I imagine I will only get the most minimal of overtime, if any at all, this week at work. The weather forecast is for improving conditions and much above normal temps with less wind through the end of the week. Even Halloween is supposed to be nice and mild which seems to be the exception to what we normally experience here in the Front Range region. Maybe I can find the motivation and energy to work on some projects around the place and do some further organizing and straightening up. I can also think once again about making a trip down to Denver to possibly see my nieces and their father as well as Matt, and check into some businesses like Newsland, Microcenter, Best Buy, and elsewhere to see what or if there are any products that I am interested in. I also need to get that bleepin' laundry done and get the recycling taken care of while the weather is favorable. And a trip to Walmart to restock with food is on the horizon, either this upcoming weekend or the next.

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One thing I will be doing with great interest is following the economy and markets this week. I believe this week may be the worst yet with quite a few shocking developments, downturns, and unsettling news. It will be darkest before the dawn that is on the horizon that starts with the elections next week that I will be deeply focused on as well.

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*****

A Long Difficult Week

I am grateful in a very small way for this weekend to arrive. While I am not physically tired, I am mentally drained and still hurting after hearing the news of the passing of my mother. The news was quite unexpected and was devastating to me as well as my siblings. I will not go into any details here but suffice to say the following hours and days were very difficult. I took Tuesday off from work after hearing the news and only worked two of the three remaining days of the workweek. I largely spent the time during the week away from work in reflection and I was upset quite often. I really wish that things could have gone different and ended much differently. The passing of one's parent gives one serious pause to think about many things. I believe I will be in this mindset for quite some time, which means a strong lack of focus or concentration on other matters.
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As Saturday arrived, I continued to have trouble sleeping as has been the case the last few days. I got up around 9:30 after having gone to bed last night around 2:30. I largely was cathartic until I drifted off into a nap around noon that last until around 4am. After I arose, I went to get myself a frozen coffee to try to snap me from my lethargy. I had the television on to college football and Game Six of the ALCS, but my attention was poor at best. Around 7pm I got some energy and motivation and did some straightening up; washing dishes and utensils, scrubbing the range top and its pieces, gathering up and taking out the trash, shaking rugs, picking up around the main room, and letting some air in. For supper I had a couple cans of chile.
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It was a warm day as temps made it to the mid 70s under partly cloudy skies with only a light breeze. Thankfully the last few days have been pretty nice after a stretch of rather cool unsettled weather. But as is usually the case in mid to late October, changes are again on the horizon as the forecast for most of the upcoming week to be noticeably cooler and probably very windy. Some precipitation will fall, possibly in the form of snow, but it will not accumulate at lower elevations and largely melt quickly. I have had to only use the heat for about eight hours so far, but that may have to increase this next week with the cooler temps. I still believe that I will not have a bill for 1 December as I still have a credit balance of over $97 from the crediting back of my initial deposit. And some of that credit will still be applicable for 1 January bill hopefully.
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Sunday I spent the entire day at home. I meant to go out and get the newspapers and pick up a few items at the grocery store, but I never got to it for a couple of reasons. I awoke around 10am and watched football which was particularly enjoyable to see one of the worst teams in the NFL, the St Louis Rams, absolutely and completely slaughter and kick the butts all over the place of the Dallass Cocaineboys, who were utterly hapless. To see the epitome of all evil get trounced is thoroughly rewarding and pleasing. May it continue eternally. I then watched on and off the late game between the Colts and Packers. Later I got a call from one of my sisters whom I have not talked to in some time and we had a rather lengthy and satisfying conversation and discussion. I then focused on the ALCS Game Seven between the Rays and Redsox which was a close and entertaining game won by upstart and enthusiastically young Tampa Bay. For supper I had Spanish Rice with a can of tomatoes mixed in. I am drinking a lot of juice to try to be healthful. Among my favorites I try to keep on hand is grapefruit, grape, orange, plum, and blueberry-pomengranate. I am even considering trying to regularly drink prune juice. When I go shopping next time, I need to pick up a jug of apple cider which I deeply savor. What I really need to do is purchase that Jack LaLanne juicer and start grinding up my own mixture of various fruits and vegetables and apply juices and water to make them of varying thicknesses from that of a smoothie or shake to a juice of their own.
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This upcoming week is one that will be more routine than last week with a full week of work planned and not much else. I do need to get to the post office to mail J's & C's gifts. And since I did not get to the store over this weekend I will have to make a pit stop to grab some bread, milk, bananas, and anything else that catches my eye. Other than that it will be time to hunker down and hang close to home with a blustery and windy few days lying ahead.
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*****

An Incredible Extraordinary Game Four Victory by the Phillies

I did not get to watch it, and I am down about that ... but this was perhaps one of the better games in the playoffs in recent years. I believe this article by longtime Philadelphia denizen and baseball columnist Jayson Stark does a fantastic job of capturing the experience and moments as good as it could be. Barring a major Dodger comeback, the Series is returning to The City of Brotherly Love for the first time since the memorable epic 1993 World Series fifteen years ago, against either the defending champion Boston Redsox or, more likely, the upstart wunderkind Tampa Bay Rays.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3642376
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*****

Myself, an Island of Calm in a Vast Unprecedented Storm

I feel real fortunate to be in the position I am currently in. Sure, things are not perfect or ideal, but compared to many others I am in a status of relative fortune. Compared to some of the lows and hardships in the past I have suffered through and endured, I am in a good place. I have limited liabilities and no assets that are tanking or imperiled. I have a comfortable home that clearly meets my needs and I want for nothing. I have a cabinet and freezer full of food and a somewhat comfortable bed to rest and sleep in. My motor vehicle, while 31 years old, runs fairly well and is completely mine. I live in a sleepy boring town that is strongly averse to risk and change for the most part and is all but insulated from the growing financial collapse and crisis being witnessed and felt around the globe. Indeed, sometimes its better not to have much and nothing really of value relatively speaking. Things are pretty good for me compared to many others, and I am grateful for that as things worsen for many.

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Since I became enlightened and well read when I was in my late twenties and early to mid thirties, I have dreamed of the end of the American model of capitalism and its strong seemingly invincible core based on Corporatism and the Corporacy. I have believed since then that the economic model of Extreme Capitalist Market Absolutism was wrong and largely immoral and unjust. Putting corporations ahead of people was plain wrong. The situation and environment has only been exacerabated by strongly growing income inequality and mass wealth accumulation by a small group of wealthy individuals and families that were not paying their share and contributing to the nation and the well being of its overall citizenry. Capitalistic models being followed in Europe, particularly in Scandanavian nations, seemed to me the better alternative. Communism is flat out a failure and I am opposed to it firmly and the Communist Capitalist system being utilized in Red China is just as bad and inhumanely destructive. You might label me a socialist, and I probably am, but I favor the mass break up of large corporations and the maximizing of competition to fully realize the potential of capitalism. It does not necessarily have to remain an ideal in my opinion. I largely believe businesses should be limited to doing business in just one or a few states, and those businesses that must have operations across many states should be strictly regulated and probably be ran in a partnership with either the federal or other governments. Examples of this are railroads, commodities, and other primary level business activities. While I never seriously thought this could happen, the current economic collapse and crisis might eventually result in an economic system here in the US that is closer to my ideals and values, but there is a long way to go for that to still happen.

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Enough pontificating. It was a less difficult week at work as only two and one-half hours of overtime accumulated. I got good rest overall and the lessening of work hours is making me feel better overall. The weather was fairly nice during the first half of the week but went downhill starting Thursday. Friday it only reached 42 degrees and the wind was strong and cold. That night fog dropped in and a misty rain started falling that continued into Saturday and increased in intensity. Snow is expected overnight Saturday into Sunday as it cools from the highs in the mid 30s to temperatures that will support snowfall. It supposed to get better by around Wednesday but the trend overall is down as is the norm.

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I spent the day off primarily at home. It certainly was a day outdoors fit for neither man nor beast. I did walk over in the rain to the DQ to get a frozen cappucino latte in mid afternoon. Later I removed my battery from my truck again to put it on the charger for several hours as I have been having to jump the truck for the last four to five days probably because I left the brake pedal partially pressed down which left the brake lights on the rear of the truck on all night last Sunday or Monday night without me being aware of it. I need to remember to get that taken care of when I go to get my repair work done in the coming weeks. For dinner I prepared myself some rice and red beans which I find always tasty as I grind up some very sharp cheddar cheese into the mixture after its done cooking to add even more to the rich flavor, although the beans leave me bloated and flatulent.

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For the most part I watched college football and the superb ALCS game that went into extra innings. I also surfed the 'net and worked on the blogs; put away the fans for another six months or more; mounted all the loose pictures of relatives (mostly nieces) onto the posterboard frames I had gotten in recent weeks; and did a little straightening up. Todd had some obligations away from his home on Saturday but we talked on the phone and made plans for me to come by Sunday to watch the NFL since he has the NFL Sunday Ticket on his DirecTV. I hope to have that for myself to enjoy some year, but I think being able to go out to a sportsbar to watch is probably the preferable option. Here in Cheyenne there are probably about ten places at least that have Sunday Ticket, but when I get back to Denver next year the choices are numerous and offer a lot of variety in atmosphere.

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Sunday saw the cool cloudy foggy weather continue with some occasional snow showers that resulted in no accumulation. I arose about 11:30 and had some cereal for breakfast before driving over to Todd's about 1:45. I watched parts of four NFL games that were fairly competitive but as the Jaguars / Broncos game got somewhat boring I focused on seeing the Arizona Cardinals defeat the fading Dallass Cocaineboys. I ordered a pizza for a late afternoon meal from Papa John's and hung around until about 9pm visiting and catching the evening game while checking in on the NLCS that was decided early as well as the Avalanche / Oilers game that was tied until the final seconds. On the way home I made a pit stop at Walmart to pick up some bananas, applesauce, milk, and a peach pie for the week ahead. The remainder of the evening was spent relaxing as I was tired for some reason and starting to feel like I was under the weather. Maybe I just need a good solid night of sleep which I will embark upon around 12:30am.

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It will be a cold night as things start to clear and a morning low near 20 degrees is possible and Monday will only see a high around 42. That means when I take my breaks at work when I go outside I will have to bundle up. But some nice Indian Summer weather will emerge by midweek with highs in the mid to upper 60s with no precipitation in the forecast for now. This week will be less than a full one as I am taking Thursday off. A little break now and then is good for the spirit as the routine gets to be boring week after week.

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Not much else to look forward for the upcoming week. I have no other projects or objectives other than just to make it through the week. Just staying on top of the ongoing economic crash will keep me busy and occuped enough...

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*****

October's First Weekend

We are into the first weekend of October and changes are blowing in the air. After a three week span of nearly ideal weather with warm temps and mostly clear skies here across the Front Range, a cool and wet few days loom ahead as the transition from Summer to Winter starts in a small way. At this point, the change is short-lived as nice weather will be back by no later than Tuesday with temps bumping back up from beneath 60 to around 70 before another forecasted change that is even more powerful comes in Friday and next weekend that even includes a chance for snow showers from Cheyenne south to Colorado Springs from Friday night into next Sunday. Here in the Magic City of the Plains (as Cheyenne likes to fancifully label itself), leaves are changing colors en masse and starting to tumble down. All the late summer rain in August and early September kept the prairie and foliage much greener and lively than usual which is making the change of seasons seem a little more spectacular with the intensity of the colors greater than what I think I normally perceive.

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After another long week of work that had its ups and downs with some really late nights, I was glad to have Saturday finally arrive. I rested until around 2am and it seems each weekend I feel better as compared to the prior and past weekends since I started this job. My hands and wrists have improved and although they are still stiff when I waken, the intensity of stiffness, pain, and numbness is considerably less than in past weeks which is a positive I greatly welcome. I had a couple of bowls of cereal and halfheartedly watched some college football until about 3:30 when I decided to run a couple of errands. I checked the post office box first and then made my way to the local Grease Monkey to get an oil change for The White Knight that was long overdue. It only took about 25 minutes to get the job done. I then made my way down Lincolnway to Baskin Robbins for a frozen Mocha Cappucino that I got to use a dollar coupon for. Then it was on to Family Dollar to pick up some shampoo and some two liter bottles of Coke that were being sold for just one dollar each which is at least about one - third less than I ever see anywhere else. I also picked up some inexpensive gifts for my young nieces J and C in Castle Rock that I will have to get a large envelope for and mail off in the next few days. I then crossed the parking lot to stop into Murdochs, a western and country supply store that has a large inventory of products for ranchers, farmers, horsemen, and pet owners.

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I always think when I go into a store like this how great it would be to own horse property and a nice size piece of land of my own. Maybe someday, but the idea of continuing to live simply with little if any outside responsibilities is also a favorable option as ones freedom is clearly greater than the former option.

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I got back home around 5:45 and settled in for a relaxing evening at home watching some college football and the MLB playoffs. I participated in a fantasy hockey league draft that took about an hour and briefly talked to my hardworking good friend Matt on the phone. Todd had his monthly national guard weekend duty so there was no going over to his house to watch football for the first time in about a month. For dinner I prepared some bratwurst sandwiches, boiling the sausage and adding mayonnaise, swiss cheese, heated sauerkraut, and mustard to the Kaiser rolls and meat. I also worked on my blogs and surfed the net. I opened the window and the front door to let some ventilation in.

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It will not be long before I cannot do that for a number of months. Hopefully that end will not arrive until around after Thanksgiving or close to Christmas as I am reading that the upcoming winter will be warmer than usual with about a normal amount of precipitation (snow) over the next three to six months. Let us hope so as the reports of upcoming higher utility bills is quite unsettling and angering.

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I have decided to make the move back to the Denver area in 2009. The earliest window under consideration, all things remaining predictable and the same over the next seven months, would be during the month of April or May. The latest month that would be under consideration would be next October or November. I will not be moving in July or August due to the heat and the risks and toll it would take on me physically to labor in such conditions. Factors that would make me delay from May would be if the economy gets worse or shows little improvement; or if my work hours drop off during the winter and I am unable to put away sufficiently more money which would make the temptation of working through next summer and racking up some big paychecks to save to further buttress me during the move and the months afterwords while I get onto my economic and situational feet; or if some unforeseen circumstance occurs which forces my plans to be delayed. I still hope to move on to the Pacific Northwest in the coming years, but I will hold off until someone I know moves up there such as Brant, Matt, or Hank. I know one thing I am looking forward to is having to deal with the Cheyenne winter only one more time and perhaps the Great Plains winter and summer of The Front Range for just about another three to seven years.

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Since I am on a body clock schedule with this job that keeps me awake until around 5 am, I do not get to bed until around that time again.

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Sunday saw me awaken somewhat earlier than expected as I was unable to sleep after about 10am. I had some toasted frozen waffles for breakfast and watched some NFL ( San Diego at Miami) for about two hours before I drifted off into a nap on the recliner until about 4pm. I then caught the end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Denver Broncos game which did not have the excitement value of games in recent weeks. The weather did change to a cool steady rain as the afternoon got later. I went out about 5:45 to go to the grocery store, Albertsons, to get some milk, bananas, a pie, and the Sunday newspapers. Afterwards, I stopped into Arby's for a couple of beef and cheddar sandwiches and to read the papers. I drove back home around 8:15 in the steady rain. Upon returning home, I settled in to watch the Angels / Redsox game and clip coupons. Among the coupons I found was one for a photo session at Walmart. This may be a possible idea for Xmas gifts for relatives, but I am concerned that such a gift will make me seen conceited and somewhat egotistical and selfish. I will have to see if I get any feedback that is contrary. The game went into extra innings and kept me away from watching Sunday Night NFL between the Steelers and Jaguars, as well as compelling me to put the Sunday Night TV programs onto the DVR for later viewing which I spent doing after 11pm.

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If this upcoming workweek is a little less of a grind, maybe I will drive down to Denver on Saturday and spend the night in a motel and get away from here in Cheyenne. There are about three or four businesses ( Newsland, Best Buy, Microcenter, among others) I need to stop into and check out. I will just have see how I feel and how much rest I get during the week. Although the weather forecast is gloomy, it will not be anywhere near enough of a concern to take into consideration for a small trip.

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*****

A Belated Look at the MLB Playoffs

This is a little late, but here is my outlook for the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Playoffs, the Divisional Series. In the National League, I picked the Phillies and Cubs. I thought Philadelphia would easily handle Milwaukee, winning the series in three or four games. The only reason the Brewers made the postseason was because of another monumental collapse by the New York Mets in September as the Brewers largely staggered though the final five weeks of the season and were fortunate Hurricane Ike took the sails out of a streaking Houston Astros club by forcing postponements and relocations of key games at a critical juncture. At the end of the regular season the Phillies had about the best team on paper and had demonstrated that on the field with a prolific offense, solid defense, better than expected starting pitching, and the best bullpen in the game led by the unbeaten Brad Lidge. Philadelphia is my pick to go all the way in the NL as they have more than enought to upend the Cubs, or now LA, in the NLCS.

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As for the Cubs, at the time of this post they have been eliminated in a three game sweep by the seemingly upstart Los Angeles Dodgers. I thought this series might go five as I saw it largely evenly matched, but the Cubs looked old and tired much as they had down the stretch in the final six weeks after a strong first four and a months into the season. LA caught lightning in a bottle for this series and overwhelmingly outplayed Chicago surprisingly. I thought the Cubs would step it up for the postseason but they had clearly lost it and badly underperformed in all aspects of the game as the cracks in their armor I saw in August and early September became inevitably clearly and obviously evident. In some ways they were victims of overwhelming expectations that put an enormous amount of pressure on everyone of the players that was all but impossible to meet as clearly Chicago had the most to gain and the most to lose in this postseason. It is going to be a long cold hard bitter winter in Chicagoland as the second century dawns without a world championship for the Northside Windy City baseball club and its eternally disappointed fans. I believe the Pirates will win another World Series before the Cubs ever do again. Can the Dodgers maintain this momentum in the NLCS ? Possibly, but they will be likely facing a club with virtually no expectations in Philadephia which should slow LA down.

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As for American League, the Anaheim Angels, like the Cubs, had the best record in their league and were a clear favorite to win the AL pennant. I believed they would oust the defending champion Redsox in five games in a hard fought largely evenly matched series. But Boston has jumped out to a 2-0 series lead with two road wins at The Big A and seems all but sure to oust the Angels making for an upset. Anaheim has had their chances but has failed to take advantage of opportunities in the first two games as they did during the regular season, and K-Rod blew at least a hold in a epic manner with the Drew home run off him in the 9th in game two. Can Anaheim come back ? It seems unlikely, but its not impossible with the team they have. But I now think Boston will take with two games upcoming at Fenway.

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Meanwhile, the upstart Tampa Bay Rays are doing just what I expected in rather easily handling an obviously overmatched and fatigued Chicago White Sox in probably three games. Chicago had to work very hard with two extra games after the normal end of the regular season Sunday just to make to the ALDS. The young Rays are pretty much doing everything right in all aspects of the game and they continue to live the dream and pursue the impossible -- worst to first. Their run this year is simply amazing, much like the Mets in '69, the Pirates in '79, the Mariners in '95, and the Rockies last year. I cannot see the White Sox stopping them. It seems we are headed for another classic all AL East ALCS for yet another year with the Redsox defending their pennant against the young Rays. Will youth be served, or will experience overcome ? I think the Sunshine Boys will continue their march towards a sweet destiny.

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In conclusion, at the start of the playoffs my picks were for the Angels to meet the Rays and the Cubs to face the Phillies in each of the league's championship series. I now think it will be Tampa Bay and Philadelphia in the World Series with the Rays taking it all.

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One other thing...isn't it sweet and great not to have the New York Yankees in the playoffs...

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*****

Paul Newman, 1925 - 2008

Saturday brought sad news of the passing of the incomparably great actor and humanitarian Paul Newman at the age of 83 from cancer. One of my favorite actors, Newman had a long successful Academy Award winning career in film with roles that spanned over five decades. Newman served in the US Navy during World War II as a gunner. Later in his life Newman was an owner and enthusiast in motor sports. His greatest contributions were as a philanthropist, giving millions to charity and worthy causes for years. Newman was also a fervant political activist who worked for a variety of progressive causes. As I matured, I came to greatly respect Newman's work and enjoy his many films, often trying to attend their debuts in the theatre. Over his long career in film he is nearly unmatched in his craftsmanship and consummate expertise as an actor. Among his nearly 65 films that are most noteworthy are the Silver Chalice;The Long, Hot Summer; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Exodus; The Hustler; Hud; Harper; Cool Hand Luke; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; WUSA; The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean; The Macksintosh Man; The Sting; The Towering Inferno; The Drowning Pool; Slapshot; Fort Apache the Bronx; Absence of Malice; The Verdict; The Color of Money; Fat Man and Little Boy; Blaze; Mr. and Mrs. Bridge; The Hudsucker Proxy; Nobody's Fool; Twilight; Message in a Bottle; Where the Money is; Road to Perdition; Our Town; and Empire Falls. My personal favorites are Slapshot; Road to Perdition; Cool Hand Luke; and Nobody's Fool. Newman played roles that were often described as being anti -heroes. He disdained the glitter and pomp of the Hollywood lifestyle and lived away from it in rural Connecticut. Newman is survived by his wife of over fifty years, actress Joanne Woodward; five daughters, and two grandchildren.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Newman
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/movies/28paul.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/movies/28newman.html
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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newman28-2008sep28,0,7543479.story

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-09-27-newman-obit_N.htm
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http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/

http://blogs.usatoday.com/entertainment/paul_newman/index.html

http://www.usatoday.com/life/2008-09-27-newman-timeline_N.htm
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*****

A Glorious Autumn Weekend

September 2008 is drawing to a close over the next few days and Mother Nature has given us across the Front Range region a long stretch of spectacular weather. It has been largely warm and sunny for the last two weeks and the forecast is for that to continue through the first weekend of October. I enjoyed my Saturday off after a long week of work that included about nine hours of overtime. I rested until about 12:30 and then headed over to Todd's to watch some football after picking up my weekly frozen cappucino latte at Dairy Queen and checking the mail. I was a little sore after working with my quadriceps tight and in pain after doing some squats to install window glass into frames as part of my work on Friday night/early Saturday morning. I stayed at Todd's until close to midnight,watching parts of many games and "dining" on pizza from Papa John's. After I got home, I surfed a little on the 'net and watched televison briefly before retiring around 1:30am.

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Sunday was a repeat of Saturday weatherwise and just a few degrees cooler under brilliant clear blue skies. The trees in the forest canapy are now turning colors and beginning to shed their leaves. I awoke around 11:30 am and then watched the Broncos' game which was a disappointing defeat to Kansas City. I then caught the end of the Marlins / Mets game which saw NY miss out again on the postseason by losing their finale for the second consecutive year. Around 3:30 I went out to get the Sunday papers. I enjoyed some ice cream at Baskin - Robbins while reading them. I then went up to Barnes & Noble and browsed for about 45 minutes before going over to Walmart to get some milk and bananas. Unfortunately they were out of bread which means I will have to pop in again midweek to get some as my supply will last only a few more days. On the way back home I made a pitstop at the recycling bins and got rid of all the newspapers and aluminum pop cans that have been cluttering the vehicle for many months. I will have to do a complete recycling mission before the cold weather firmly kicks in. Upon returning home, I largely did little and relaxed for a couple of hours watching 60 Minutes, a little of Sunday Night NFL, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers and Sisters. I then put up my three shelves that I have been procrastinating on for nearly four weeks and moved the items on them. I need to pick up a couple of sealable storage totes to put my towels and linens in so they do not get dusty. As the evening continued I watched my two other regular television shows, Baseball's Golden Age and Amazing Sports Stories. I finally tired around 2:30am and retired as another long workweek looms ahead.

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*****

...And the Days Go By... I can feel 'em Flying like a Hand out the Window as the Cars go by...

Plenty of long hours and overtime marked this week of work that wrapped up on Saturday in the pre-dawn. The problem with such long hours is that is leaves one with no time for much of anything beyond sleep, eat breakfast, check the email, listen to the news, prepare for work, go to work, work, come home from work, take a shower, have a light meal, check the email and surf the net, and watch a few television shows, and go to bed. This is my schedule five days a week and it rather monotonous and overly routinized. This last week saw me work until 4am, 3:30am, 3 am, 2:30 am, and 1:30 am. By the time I can fall asleep it is usually after 5:30am. Thankfully it is now dark at that time as recent weeks have seen an obvious lengthening of night. This does help a little in getting me to fall asleep.

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Saturday morning I got home from work around 4am and drifted off to sleep once again sometime after 5:30 am. I arose around 1:15 pm. I had previously arranged to go over to Todd's to watch some football. I first stopped to get a frozen cappucino at Baskin Robbins, a tasty treat which also helps me become fully alert. Todd ordered some pizzas to eat and we watched some college football until about 7pm. I then went back home in the darkness amid a good driving thunderstorm which was somewhat surprising given we have reached the latter half of September. The remainder of the evening was quiet and relaxing as I surfed the 'net and watched a variety of television. As I had gotten a little less sleep the prior morning, I went to sleep around 1:30.

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Sunday was a day where I lacked any energy for much of the day. I languished about the place until after 7pm. I was so unmotivated that I never got the Sunday newspapers. When I finally got the oomph going, I went over to Walmart for the monthly grocery shopping. I found most everything I needed but they were out of bread which may force a return trip before weeks end unless Safeway has a good bread sale this week. After putting away the groceries, I had some meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and the remaining two slices of my Hawaiian bread for supper.

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I am thinking that for college football watching at Todd's next Saturday that I will pickup either some guacamole for nachos or get the big shrimp ring which I have not partaken of in several years. Pizza is great but a little variety is nice also. For the most part I do not do variety in my meals at home during the week. Breakfast is cereal with nonfat milk but I do have toasted frozen waffles about once every two weeks. And with colder weather nearing, oatmeal will be back as regular menu item as I will probably consume it about three days per week starting in later October. I am also planning on adding Cream of Wheat to my diet. I do not believe I have eaten this since sometime in the mid - 1970s. Lunch at work is pretty consistent: three sandwiches on wheat bread with either peanut butter and grape jam, or I have a lunch meat sandwich with that Carl's shaved sliced meat or some ham or turkey and mayonnaise; a couple of sandwich cookies; a banana; a cup of cinnamon applesauce, and a bottle of diet green iced tea with citrus flavoring. As the colder weather comes, I believe I will get some of those microwavable cans of Campbells soup to partake of as well. When I do get home from work, I am usually too tired to prepare anything difficult, so often I will either have some bread and oleo; or a can of pasta; or two burgers, chicken, or fish sandwiches; or some instant mashed potatoes; or a can of vegetables like spinach, carrots, corn, or a mixture; or a can of soup. Once in awhile I will make myself some tuna or hamburger helper, but usually this is too heavy for me to have so close to bedtime. Noodle and rice mixes are also an option I partake of at least once or more per month. I also think that with the colder weather I will start buying frozen pot pies and pizzas to bake in the oven for those late suppers as the heat generated from the oven will be helpful rather than detrimental as it would be in the warmer months. So it is a rather straightforward and standard fare I largely follow for the most part every week.

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Sunday evening wrapped up with some television watching. I caught the final inning of the final game ever at Yankee Stadium and there were some sentimental and thoughtful moments and words in the postgame. I then watched NFL highlights before switching over to watch Lost as that show is now in syndication which gives me an opportunity to see episodes I never saw when they were originally aired a couple of years back. I am also looking forward to the syndicated reruns of Boston Legal starting next weekend which are always thought provoking, entertaining, and wryly humorous. i wrapped up the evening doing some straightening up of the kitchen: putting away some pots and dishes; filling the recycling containers with the various containers that have accumulated in the last few weeks; shaking the rugs; sweeping the floor; and organizing the counters and shelves somewhat better. Right now the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom are pretty well organized while the office is still a major work in progress and the living room is about 65-35 good. I then watched my regular programs of Baseball's Golden Age and Amazing Sports Stories. I halfheartedly watched while I worked on my blogs and surfed before retiring around 3:30am.

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The final full week of September is now underway, and the changes brought in by Autumn are now clearlye evident. I see a lot of trees changing colors and it will not be long before the vast forest canapy starts to lose its leaves here in Cheyenne and elsewhere. We have been blessed with a nice run of warmer weather this last week as temps made it into the low to mid 70s everyday, and the forecast is for more of that all this upcoming week. Other than my perennial endless list of small projects and tasks around the place, I do not have anything I really need to do this upcoming week. I am considering going to Denver for the weekend on Saturday 4 October and Sunday 5 October to check into a few things and just escape Cheyenne for 36 hours. It would be nice if I could rendezvous with HBL and the girls for a lunch or dinner; or join Matt for a cold one at a sports bar. We will have to see if their schedules and obligations will allow for that. I will not make a decision about this probably for another nine or ten days.

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Its amazing to think that there are now but about 100 days left in 2008. Time flies when one is always is busy and the perception that time moves faster as one ages is always being reinforced in one's everyday life. So much to do, so much that one wants to do, and so little time it seems...

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*****

Summer's Final Weekend

Summer 2008 wraps up its official last full weekend, and after nearly two weeks of near record and often unseasonably cool, cloudy, and rainy weather, sunshine and blue skies were the order of the day for Saturday 13 September. I had a decent week at work and actually got home early on Friday night as production demands were only supple enough to keep us working until around 10:30pm. I got to bed relatively early (3am) compared to nights/mornings in the last two to three months and arose Saturday around 12 noon. After cereal for breakfast, I headed over to Todd's house which is about five miles N of my residence. His home is newly constructed and sparkling with exquisite designs and very nice furnishings. We watched some college football through the afternoon and on into the evening while another friend of his Greg prepared some homemade nachos that were quite tasty and filling. I hung around there until deep into the evening and returned home a little before midnight. I watched SNL on delay on my DVR and with the exception of the opening skit, the show stunk. I retired around 2am.
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Earlier I attempted to find out what the impact of Hurricane Ike had been on the oldest of my three younger sisters and her family who reside in the northwest part of the Houston metro area and a considerable distance away from the coast. I was anticipating grim news concerning the status of their property, but by Sunday evening I had received news that all was well for them considering the alternatives. Property damage was evidently limited, but they were without utilities and public services except for cellular phone service. MKW gets a few days off from her job due to the destruction and disorder in the area where they reside, and hopefully any hardships and sacrifices will be kept to a minimum. There are all sorts of stories both positive and tragic with a catastrophe of this magnitude, but this one story brought me a smile.
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Sunday was a cool day in the area as temps barely reached 60 degrees despite cloudless blue skies. There was also a relatively strong constant cool breeze, a small harbinger of what awaits us in the coming months. I stayed in until around 5:30pm watching NFL games that were pretty good and then some. The first game saw Carolina come back from a two touchdown deficit to overcome Chicago. The second game was one for the ages as Denver and San Diego went back and forth in a colossal memorable struggle won by the Broncos in the last minute on a daring and shocking two point conversion call by Shanahan to pull it out with the critical help of a couple of tough officiating breaks that went against San Diego. I then went over to Safeway to get some milk, bread, bananas, juice, and the newspapers. Upon completion I had dinner at Burger King using a two for one Whopper coupon and read those Sunday newspapers. I returned home around 7:15 and watched the Sunday night game won by the Steelers over the Browns in a rainstorm. Later in the evening I did a little straightening up as the work week nears and a schedule that will be back to five full days with overtime inevitably likely at least three nights this week after two weeks that went only four days.
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The weather is supposed to be splendid this upcoming week for the final full week of summer as temps here in Cheyenne may touch 80 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. I figure this must mean that next week will see our first snowfall and subfreezing temperatures as that is usually how things work around here in the Front Range region in mid to late September. Tonight marks the rise of the brightest moon of the year, the Harvest Moon; the full moon closest on the calendar to the autumnal equinox and another sure sign Autumn is about here...
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*****

30th Anniversary of Release of "Animal House"

It is hard to believe it has been thirty years now since Animal House was in moviehouses around the country creating hilarious laughter everywhere and inspiring roadtrips and toga parties. The film is timeless and a classic and always worth watching. It was and continues to be a significant cultural influence. There were lots of lines in the movie that are still remembered to this day. The music in the film was fantastic. And who can ever forget the awesome Shelly Dubinsky...
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http://www.acmewebpages.com/animal/trivia.htm
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/quotes
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon
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http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/animalhouse/index.html
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8psQi7ScQQ
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*****

Wonderful Sports Series

I have truly enjoyed the privilege of watching throughout the summer a regular one - half hour series on Fox Sports Net entitled "Baseball's Golden Age". The series started on Sunday 6 July and runs for thirteen weeks through 26 October. It's been an outstanding series with lots of history, exceptional photography and videography, and heartwarming stories. It really is a great show and does an outstanding job of taking one back to when baseball was a big part of America collectively and a pastime that touched lives in little and small ways every year before it became a big business, television rose as an entertainment alternative, and the National Football League took over center stage. I sincerely hope the series gets plenty of reruns in the coming years for many more people to take it in to appreciate and that it becomes available for purchase on DVD. This show has been followed by another exceptional program entitled "Amazing Sports Stories" which more often than not is as good as Baseball's Golden Age.
. thi=

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/8261514/FSN-revisits-

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http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/07/fsns-great-summer-schedule-adds.html

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http://www.davidpietrusza.com/baseballs-golden-age.html

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http://www.strike3forums.com/forums/major-league-baseball-discussion/29444-baseball-s-golden-age-fsn.html

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http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6571787.html

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http://www.star-telegram.com/319/story/727092.html

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*****

New Years' First Weekend

The week after Labor Day really is the start of the New Year for all intents and purposes. Autumn arrives in at least some of the nation in a small way, football gets going, everybody that is going to go to school is enrolled and attending classes, and the days have become noticeably shorter. The weather in September and October (and in many places November) is the best of the entire year. Here in Cheyenne, autumn is here. This last week it was in the low to mid 60s (or less) for highs and nights are quite cool requiring the wearing of a coat after dark. Thankfully we get a little warmer week coming up with forecast highs in the low to mid 70s for most of the week ahead. The 90s are for sure done with and it is strongly doubtful we will even see an 80 degree day again for the remaining 115 days in 2008. Although I have yet to see any trees with their leaves changing colors, it can be expected to start in the next week to ten days and be in full force before the equinox. And snow is probably on the horizon within the next week to two weeks or so. But Indian summer along the Front Range is among the most splendid times of the year and truly worth experiencing and enjoying as much as possible such as going to parks or just sitting on the porch.

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I had a largely relaxing weekend. I did make it out Saturday to Advance Auto Parts to get a new gascap and air filter. Both those items should help out in improving the gas mileage in the White Knight. I popped into Walgreens but did not see anything that could be beneficial for my hands and wrists. I then got three of the 99 cents Arby Q sandwiches for supper. I watched some college football throughout the day and night while at home and some of the games were good.

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Sunday was a repeat of Saturday but by dusk the cloud ceiling had dropped and we were engulfed in thick fog with a light rain mist and temperatures around 40 degrees. Around 3pm Todd stopped by with his menagerie of dogs that he had been out walking. He stayed for about one - half hour. I then went out to do the tasks of checking my post office box, getting gasoline (we are down to less than $ 3.50 per gallon now), picking up the Sunday newspapers, and having a meal at Village Inn. I had a chicken fried steak skillet with scrambled eggs and a small stack of pancakes with grapefruit juice. I had not eaten at VI in about two years or so when I used to go to the one on East Hampden in SE Denver. Their menu has gotten quite pricey and most of the other diners were geezers. I won't be back anytime soon as Perkins and other restaurants seem to be a better value. Earlier I watched some of the Astros / Rockies and Angels / White Sox games. I watched hardly any of the opening Sunday of NFL games as the matchups we got on TV were less than compelling: SEA / BUF; NYJ / MIA; KC / NENG; and the Dallass Cocaineboys / CLE. As the season goes along, I will make it over to Shadows Sports Bar downtown to catch games not on local TV. Next Saturday I will watch college football at Todd's new home as he has his HDTV home theatre set up and he is fully moved in after getting out of his old home about a month ago.

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I am taking Monday off from work partially as a break and also to be able to watch the two Monday Night football games. I also have to get out and get a haircut; stop at the newsstand; and perhaps even get an oil change at Walmart if time permits. Meanwhile tonight I will do some chores and tasks around the place including paperwork cleanup and filing and installing my shelves.

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With Monday off this will be another short week at work thankfully which will help in continuing the long slow reduction of pain in my fingers, hands, and wrists. They are improving and most days I wake up with little stiffness and atrophication. The job I am doing of handling the windows and wrapping them in a film wrap - applying piece of equipment is less stressful on the hands, wrists, fingers as most of the strength used to handle the products comes from in the arms, shoulders, backs, legs, hips, and elsewhere which results in soreness and stiffness there instead, but being that those are muscle strains and injuries results in them being able to be treated successfully with substances like Ben-gay and Icy Hot. Ah, the price of aging...

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*****

Don Haskins, 1930 - 2008

The world lost a giant of a man literally with the passing of legendary and history making college basketball coach Don "The Bear" Haskins, who won over 700 games in a 39 season career at the University of Texas-El Paso. Haskins is a Hall of Fame honoree for his contributions to the sport and world particularly in integrating the college basketball game and winning a national title in 1966 when the school was called Texas Western College, an accomplishment captured in the bestselling book and great recent film Glory Road. I remember Haskins for over a generation as a scowling bear of a coach prowling the sidelines whenever I would watch a game in which UTEP was a participant. His teams were always prepared, well coached, disciplined, and fundamentally sound. UTEP did not always have the best talent, but that did not stop Haskins from coaching numerous championship teams in the WAC and regularly having his teams in the NCAA tournament. Haskins' strategy and tactics of coaching always worked to the strengths and plusses possessed by his teams - some years they played a slow methodical style and other years they ran - but UTEP was always known for playing solid defense at both ends of the court.
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I was fortunate enough to witness many UTEP games in person: once on occasion at the Special Events Center in El Paso; on a number of occasions at University Arena (The Pit) in Albuquerque and the Arena - Auditorium in Laramie; and once each at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, and McNichols Arena in Denver. Although Haskins had a drop off in his energy level and intensity in his later years on the bench, he was always capable of giving an errant referree an earful and staring down officials like Irv Brown who got on his bad side. He is survived by his lifelong wife Mary and three of his four sons.
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http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_10405771
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http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10431648
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Haskins
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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3574739
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*****

2008 College Football Outlook

College Football is been underway since last Thursday, 29 August. Here is a slightly belated look at what could and should happen across the nation. Most of the serious contenders are programs swimming in money with a long tradition of winning for the most part. Until college football institutes a playoff with 16 teams sometime in the future ( after 2019) , there is little hope for wunderkinds, underdogs, and Cinderellas to contend seriously for a championship nationally and only slightly more so on the conference level.
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Here is my outlook for the '08-09 season:
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ACC: Atlantic Division - Boston College; Coastal Division: Virginia Tech; Hokies win conference championship game.
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SEC: East - Florida; West - Auburn; Gators win conference championship game.
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BIG XII: South - Oklahoma; North - Missouri; Tigers win conference championship game.
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Big Ten: Ohio St edges Wisconsin for league title.
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Big East: West Virginia takes title again.
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Pacific Ten: Southern California wins again as they are nation's best team.
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MWC: BYU edges Utah to earn BCS slot.
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WAC: Fresno St finally wins a WAC title outright.
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CUSA: East Carolina edges Tulsa to win conference championship game.
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MAC: Bowling Green beats Central Michigan to win conference championship game.
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SBC: Florida Atlantic edges Arkansas St to win conference.
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Bowl Championship Series representatives (10 teams)
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Ohio St, Wisconsin, Florida, Auburn, Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Southern California, West Virginia, and Brigham Young.
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National Champs: Southern Cal over Missouri
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This season, due to time limitations for myself, will not have any weekly predictions and picks for college football games as I have done in past years.
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*****

2008-09 National Football League Outlook

The National Football League is back for its 89th season as the kickoff game occurred earlier Thursday 4 September between the defending champions New York Giants and the Washington Redskins to get things going. The National Football League has done the best job of all the four major sports in getting close to parity with the opportunity for every club to move into playoff contention in only a few years with the optimum management of personnel and coaching (Unless one is talking about the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals). There will probably be at least 3-4 different clubs in the playoffs as compared to last season, and it would not be surprising at all to see a Super Bowl winner that is a first timer or one that has not been there in many, many years.

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My outlook on the divisions of both conferences:

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AFC EAST

1) New England: solid, could make it a fifth SB appearance in eight years.

2) New York: Favre not enough but they will be better with around 7 victories.
3) Buffalo: a possible sleeper team to make playoffs but still much to prove.

4) Miami: the Fish (actually mammals) are rotten and will still stink.

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AFC SOUTH

1) Indianapolis: Colts hang on to division barely in their swan song.
2) Jacksonville: Solid everywhere, just need to put and keep it all together.

3) Houston: Solid dark horse that could go deep into the playoffs.

4) Tennessee: Vince Young sucks and the Titans will be down this year.

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AFC NORTH

1) Pittsburgh: Steelers win playing tough and hard and look superb again.

2) Cleveland: Can they take the next step ? Close but no cigar again.

3) Cincinnati: Not a team but a collection of hot dog individuals dooms the Bengals

4) Baltimore: Rebuilding and will stuggle.

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AFC WEST

1) San Diego: The best team in the AFC and a favorite to win it all.

2) Denver: Will all the young players deliver ? Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no...

3) Oakland: Mediocrity and haplessness the order of the season for the East Bay.

4) Kansas City: The worst team in the AFC, may only win one game.

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NFC WEST:

1) Seattle: Best of a so-so bunch in the league's worst division top to bottom.

2) Arizona: If things go right, Cardinals win division and more.

3) San Francisco: Another long year for the Niners as the glorious past seems far away.

4) St Louis: Rams will be better but nowhere near playoff contention.

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NFC NORTH:

1) Minnesota: Vikings have it all except top notch QB which may come through the season.

2) Green Bay: Rodgers will keep the Pack playing winning football all season.

3) Chicago: Bears a sleeper team to make playoffs depending on QB play.

4) Detroit: Another woeful year for the eternally hapless Lions.

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NFC SOUTH:

1) New Orleans: Best team on paper in the NFC; has all the weapons to go all the way.

2) Tampa Bay: Decent team that will contend for playoff slot.

3) Carolina: Another sleeper team that could emerge and make the playoffs.

4) Atlanta: Worst team in the league and may win only one game all season.

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NFC EAST:

1) Philadelphia: Andy Reid is the best coach in NFL and Eagles soar again this year.

2) New York: Giants drop a notch but still solid and in contention.

3) Dallas: A step down this year with 'boys set to underachieve under egomaniacal Jones.

4) Washington: Not nearly good enough in probably the best division in the league.

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Wild cards: Tampa Bay, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Houston

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Super Bowl: Minnesota defeats Jacksonville.

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This season, due to time limitations for myself, will not have any weekly predictions and picks for NFL football games as I have done in past years.

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*****

Labor Day 2008

While this holiday has all but lost its real meaning for Americans across the nation, the news about the state of the workplace and the labor movement has never been more grim. Negative developments of the last 30 years and more due to an ineffective and corrupt government as well as merciless, soulless, and greedy corporations has left the American workforce in tatters with serious social issues and vast community problems. This report sums up pretty well the situation as it stands. I consider myself among the unfortunate; I may have a good paying job relative to my recent experiences, but it is totally inappropriate and wrong for me with my education, intellect, experiences, and wisdom. Doing painful hard physical labor at age 50 is not where I wanted to be; I should have been employed in the public sector as an administrator, manager, or some kind of bureaucrat long ago, but it appears those dreams and opportunities have passed. I simply was never given an opportunity to do just that and I was often in survival mode most months and years just to make ends meet which kept me from completely focusing on securing such employment. I am unsure what my occupational future holds as physical labor of any sort for me must end within the next few years and I am totally not cut out to be any kind of a sales person or representative, hustling products or services for cash from others for a soulless immoral greedy corporation that cares nothing for its workers -- been there, done that. Hopefully some alternative emerges that turns out to be a godsend that will compensate me more than adequately and also fills my self esteem and intellectual needs. Obviously the same holds true for millions of others like me across the nation -- what a striking indictment about the inefficiency, immorality, and ineptitude of our nation and economy.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26485812
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http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/
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http://www.opednews.com/articles/Labor-Pains-The-Mass-medi-by-Brasch-080901-906.html
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http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/97489/
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*****

September List of Holidays

Here is the monthly list of eccentric and unusual holidays for the month of September. The days I am looking forward to are the 5th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 18th, 19th, and 20th. Days that are a little troubling or disturbing possibly are the 2nd, 5th, 11th, 13th, 19th, 23rd, 27th, 28th, and 30th.

For the Month of September:
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Classical Music Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Fall Hat Month
International Square Dancing Month
National Blueberry Popsicle Month
National Courtesy Month
National Piano Month
Chicken Month
Baby Safety Month
Little League Month
Honey Month
Self Improvement Month
Better Breakfast Month
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1 Emma M. Nutt Day, the first woman telephone operator
1 Labor Day - first Monday of month
2 VJ Day - Surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri formally ends WWII
2 National Beheading Day
3 Skyscraper Day
4 Newspaper Carrier Day
5 Be Late for Something Day
5 Cheese Pizza Day
6 Fight Procrastination Day
6 Read a Book Day
7 Grandparent's Day - first Sunday after Labor Day
7 Neither Rain nor Snow Day
8 International Literacy Day
8 National Date Nut Bread Day - or December 22!?
8 Pardon Day
9 Teddy Bear Day
10 Sewing Machine Day
10 Swap Ideas Day
11 Make Your Bed Day
11 No News is Good News Day
12 Chocolate Milk Shake Day
12 National Video Games Day - also see Video Games Day in July
13 Chinese Moon Festival 15th day of 8th Lunar month
13 Defy Superstition Day
13 Fortune Cookie Day
13 National Peanut Day
13 Positive Thinking Day
13 Uncle Sam Day - his image was first used in 1813
14 National Cream-Filled Donut Day
14 National Pet Memorial Day -second Sunday in September
15 Make a Hat Day
15 Felt Hat Day - On this day, men traditionally put away their felt hats.
16 Collect Rocks Day
16 Step Family Day
16 Mayflower Day
16 Mexican Independence Day
16 National Play Doh Day
16 Working Parents Day
17 National Apple Dumpling Day
17 Citizenship Day
17 Constitution Day
18 National Cheeseburger Day
19 International Talk Like A Pirate Day
19 National Butterscotch Pudding Day
19 POW/MIA Recognition Day - Third Friday of September
20 National Punch Day
20 Oktoberfest, begins, date varies
21 International Peace Day
21 Miniature Golf Day
21 National Women's Friendship Day - third Sunday in September
21 World Gratitude Day
22 Business Women's Day
22 Elephant Appreciation Day
23 Checkers Day
23 Dog in Politics Day
24 National Cherries Jubilee Day
25 National Comic Book Day
26 Johnny Appleseed Day
26 Native American Day - fourth Friday of the month
27 Crush a Can Day
27 International Rabbit Day - Fourth Saturday in September
28 Ask a Stupid Question Day (one of my favorite days)
28 National Good Neighbor Day - Always September 28, previously the 4th Sunday in month
29 Confucius Day - Try your luck. Get a Fortune Cookie.
30 National Mud Pack Day
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*****

Major League Baseball at the Labor Day Pole

We have reached the final month and final four weeks of the Major League Baseball regular season. Virtually all the pretenders have been pared from the ranks of the contenders and some key results await in these closing weeks. The biggest surprises have been the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins, and St Louis Cardinals, while the biggest disappointments are the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies. Here is my outlook for each division going down the stretch.

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AL EAST

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Tampa Bay is enjoying a fantastic season and it does not look as if it will end in the regular season. The young Rays are clicking on all cylinders despite some injuries and are headed to an AL East title. They do have six games remaining with Boston that will be the final determination on who wins it. The Redsox could still overcome Tampa, but it appears the Rays are too much particularly when it comes to starting pitching. New York is a significant underachiever and is doomed to miss the postseason for the first time since 1993. Toronto is playing much better as of late, but it is not anywhere near enough. Baltimore will play spoiler down the stretch as the Orioles will finish a much better record than what was anticipated at the beginning of the season.

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AL CENTRAL

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Chicago and Minnesota have been in a tight race for the AL Central flag for much of the season, but it looks like the remaining schedule favors the Twins to win it. Minnesota has been much better than expected with unanticipated improved pitching and a full team contribution day in and day out all season. The quiet professional experienced leadership of Manager Ron Gardenhire is also an important key to the Twins' success. Chicago has the firepower and fire with testy manager Ozzie Guillen, but the Chisox are up against a tough schedule down the stretch and are a step behind the Twins in the pithcing department. Detroit has been a major letdown with poor pitching and key underperformances by offensive players. Cleveland has had a season long hangover from blowing their 3-1 lead in the '07 ALCS to Boston and never got it going. Kansas City has been painfully encumbered by an anemic offense which doomed them to yet another losing season in the cellar.

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AL WEST

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The Anaheim Angels have played well and consistent all season and have ran away with the AL West pennant since before the All - Star break. On paper and on the field, the Angels are baseball's best team and have plenty of veteran experience and leadership which should be enough to carry them to the World Series. Texas has played about as expected with all their pitching deficiencies. Early on a contender with the Angels, Oakland collapsed after the Blanton and Hardin trades and spiraled down towards a sub-.450 season. Seattle, an expected contender, was nowhere as good on the field as on paper and may yet lose 100 games, although the Mariners are starting to play better with more young players getting playing time in recent weeks.

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NL EAST

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The managerial change the Mets made going with Jerry Manuel has paid dividends as New York has asserted itself into the race after early dalliances. New York has significant relief pitching problems which will be their ultimate undoing. Philadelphia will win the East in spite of their poor starting pitching and inconsistent offense. Florida has surprisingly stayed close in the race until the last ten days as the heat and fatigue has finally done in the young Marlins. Atlanta was expected to contend but suffered several major injuries especially with their starting pitching and never was able to establish any consistency. Washington has been in the tank all year with an atrocious offense and pitching that leaves much to be desired.

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NL CENTRAL

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Chicago has been the class of the division for almost the entire season, but as September arrives, cracks can be seen in the Cubs machine and concern is legitimate on whether the Northsiders can hang on to win and outlast the streaking Brewers. Chicago is all but a postseason certainty at this time unless spoilers Houston and St Louis do lethal damage to the Chicagoans' hopes. Milwaukee has been a team on fire the last few weeks and have the momentum to overcome the Cubs and take the NL Central flag. The Brewers have the easier schedule in the last month and play Chicago six times which may get them their winning margin. St Louis has stayed close for most of the season but is fading. The Cardinals ondoing is an inept bullpen and flagging starting pitching. Houston has been inconsistent with long periods both good and bad but may have reached a level where they may overcome St Louis and finish third in the division with 85 wins. Cincinnati was viewed as a dark horse at the beginning of the season, but the Reds have played poorly in all aspects of the game for much of the season. And, sadly, Pittsburgh is headed for yet another last place finish and their record breaking 16th consecutive losing season as the Pirates' pitching has been an unmitigated disaster throughout the season and through the roster.

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NL WEST

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This is clearly baseball's worst division by a long mark, as all five clubs have played poorly most of the season and underperformed with the possible exception of the Giants. Arizona got off to a 28-16 start and has limped through the rest of the season barely above .500 with serious offensive shortcomings and bullpen deficiencies. But they will hang on to take the NL West flag again. Los Angeles on paper should be the best team in the league, but the Dodgers have played poorly in most every aspect of the game for long stretches of the season and have clearly underperformed and failed to meet even the minimum of expectations as injuries have exacerabated the circumstances. Colorado has had its fair spell of injuries as well, and Rockies' pitching has been largely inconsistent and poor much of the year with poor clutch hitting a serious negative factor as well. San Francisco has played about as what was expected, but the Giants have failed to take advantage of the downfall of their four division rivals as the Giant offense has been often pathetic and pitching has been erratic. San Diego is the NL version of Cleveland as the Padres have been a season long funk after blowing a certain postseason appearance the last weekend of the '07 season. The Padres have lots of injuries, but they have clearly stunk it up with pitching, offense, and defense for long stretches throughout the season.

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With four weeks to go, my AL picks are Tampa Bay, Minnesota, and Anaheim, with Boston as the wild card. In the NL, I am going with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Arizona, with Chicago as the wild card. The Brewers play the Phillies in the NLCS and the Rays take on the Angels in the ALCS. I am going with a Milwaukee and Anaheim World Series with the Angels winning it all.

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