trying to keep busy

as my mother used to put it when i was a child, i was busier than 9 cats trying to cover up shit in a windstorm today. between doing my laundry, fucking around on the computer, listening to music, trying to sleep, watch tv, feed the cats and wonder where the fuck the sun has gone; it has all been an effort to keep my mind off of tonight. probably the biggest basketball game the Dayton Flyers have played since 1967.

if Dayton can beat Stanford tonight and make the Elite 8, i will be unbelievably happy and stunned at the same time. we're the only school left that is basically a small school. every other school left has a football program that brings in millions upon millions each year. the only sport that makes money at Dayton is men's basketball. all that money has to pay for everything else. so, tonight is a big fucking deal to say the least. but, i am a realist. any win from this point on is gravy. i didn't expect them to get this far, so i'm not going to pretend to be shocked if they lose. but that doesn't mean i won't party my ass off if they win.

and to get everyone else in the mood, enjoy the Flyer Pep Band:

the New York Rangers won their fifth in a row last night, beating Philly 3-1. they own that team at MSG. hopefully that will continue if they meet in the playoffs.

i did watch most of Duck Dynasty last night. when i saw the wrestling ring being built for the family reunion, i paid a little more attention. must be nice to have money. Legit was really fucking funny last night. i had Ali G on while i was going through my email. lately, the show is more background noise for me than actual humor. maybe i'm just older now.

after the game tonight, i will either be drunk or really bummed. regardless, i'm going to try to get some writing done. and i should probably get some sleep as i do have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.

i hope this finds everyone well. i will be on here late in the afternoon tomorrow. at least that is what the plan is.

peace and chicken grease bitches...

music:

AC/DC - Back in Black
Guided By Voices - Human Amusements at Hourly Rates

"Violence is one of the most fun things to watch." - Quentin Tarantino

cinderella wears red and blue

i am absolutely spent from the game last night. this sort of borders on the kind of shit i never thought i would get to see again in my life. but, as Dayton beat Syracuse last night, 55-53, to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 30 years, i literally screamed and went nuts. that was the proudest "L" i have ever written on my bracket sheet. when this last happened, when i was 8 years old, i never understood the importance of it. now, as a long suffering fan, i do. i'm tempted to try to go to Memphis to see them play Stanford, but i have a doctor's appointment the next day. so, that's not happening. but i will be wearing the same clothes, and hoping that this ride doesn't stop. here's a picture of the university president crowd surfing last night after the victory:

picture courtesy of The Sporting News, who got it from a student i do believe.

this victory will do wonders for the program, the school, the city, everything. as i said to my cousin last night on the phone, HOLY FUCKING SHIT... perhaps the best victory beer i have ever had in my life.

on top of that, the New York Rangers won again, 2-0. that shutout gives The King the team record. it's his 50th of his career. also, the 2 points help get them that much closer to the playoffs. they next play on Monday.

today has mostly been a day of recovery. and since it is trash day, of course the wind is going nuts. and looks like winter is making a comeback. i don't think it made it out of the 30's today. that is probably hell freezing over.

i did catch the ROH episode i slept through last night today at noon. absolutely loved the match with Adam Cole, Mike Bennett and The Briscoes. one hell of a match.

tonight will be my hodgepodge of Total Divas, Girls, Vice, Shameless, House of Lies and whatever college basketball games i can sneak in. my brackets are shot, but who gives a shit.

the team i have lived and died over since i was a child is in the SWEET 16 for the first time since i was 8 years old.

also, for those of you who didn't get to see the goal i was talking about yesterday. enjoy this beauty from Wayne Rooney:

that is all for me kids. i hope everyone is having or had (depending on when you read this) a great weekend. i'll be on here tomorrow after i get some sleep and get the hate out of my system for the fucking snow that is coming. spring in Ohio. what a fucking joke.

peace and chicken grease.

music:

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends

"The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing." - James Brown

back to the madness

looking forward to the Sweet 16 games tonight. that will give me something else to watch in case the New York Rangers are spitting the bit tonight up in Ottawa. and given how they have played against that team this year, laying an egg is a possibility.

started up my daily fantasy baseball teams today on ESPN.com. no salary caps this year, so i guess i'm going to find out just how much i really do know about advanced statistics. also, i guess it's rather appropriate the New York Yankees start this season on April Fools Day.

the doctor's office called me this afternoon and asked me to call them back. like a good boy i did. all results are normal and their recommendation is just an annual check. i can understand everyone's concern given the family history of just about every fucking disease known to man. but, just like the blood clots that should have killed me at 32, i don't fit any molds or anything that should be. i'm sure not drinking any pop for over a decade and not running to the doctor every time i get the sniffles has actually been a good thing. and knock on wood, hopefully it stays that way.

also, a little f.y.i. for everyone that has my phone number. if you call and leave me a message, i will call you back. if you call and don't leave a message, i won't. i'm pretty simple that way.

i went to bed last night thinking Jarome Iginla was traded to the Boston Bruins. woke up this morning to see that he was actually traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. seeing that if the playoffs started today, the Rangers would be playing the Penguins, to say i'm a bit disgusted with this news would be a vast understatement. but, that's getting way ahead of myself. the Rangers have to make the damn playoffs first before i can start having dreams of Crosby crying over a playoff upset.

did see that the Miami Heat win streak finally ended at 27. maybe the NBA regular season can go back to being boring again now.

was hoping i would come up with some poetry today while cleaning the toilets and vacuuming the first floor. sadly, nothing came to me other than a little back pain. and all those poems have been tapped for the time being.

are all the telemarketers calling because it's the end of the month or is everyone on a crusade to try my patience?

i'm not happy with the weather forecast for next week. yet more chances for fucking snow. i suppose i will be getting a late start this year on mowing the grass. i was already on cut number 2 by this time last year.

hopefully, if the air stays in my shitty truck tires and my synapses still fire, i'll remember to take the camera with me into town tomorrow. maybe get some pictures to post on here over the weekend.

music today:

Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights

"Cleanliness becomes more important when godliness is unlikely." - P.J. O'Rourke

moments of happiness

the sun came out today. most of the snow has melted. i have noticed as i have grown older it's the little things that tend to bring me the most joy. and somewhere the evil side of me is now making a penis joke.

last night the New York Rangers looked like the team i absolutely loved last season, destroying Philly 5-2. very fun to watch, as most of the goals were scored by guys on my fantasy team.

i was even happier about team USA's 0-0 draw against Mexico. a HUGE point to get on the road in World Cup Qualifying. the nightmare start of the qualifying round is over and i do believe this team has found an identity. hopefully the good play continues.

podcast goodness to share: check out The Sam Roberts Show Online, episode 48.  it's an absolute must listen, especially if you want to laugh your ass off. it can be found at iTunes, Stitcher, and by going to http://notsam.com/podcast.html. and if you are doing some shopping at Amazon.com, use the link on the podcast page to help Sam out.

made my picks for the Sweet 16 this morning. i have been so off this tournament, i will be shocked if the 8 teams i picked will win.

not sure what i'll be watching on tv tonight. i suppose i should be getting myself ready for baseball season and the nightly ritual that becomes.

i did enjoy night two of The Voice. looks like this season will be just as good or better than the previous three.

flirting with the idea of breaking out the watercolors one of these days and letting my imagination out to play. not that i'm any good at painting or anything, i just find it's helpful to keep the creative juices flowing. and here we go finishing off with yet another place for a penis joke.

music today:

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." - Salvador Dali