Latest on the Reds

By popular demand, a Liverpool update... More to come as the season wraps up in continental Europe and the UK.

April 21
Liverpool 2 - Wigan 0
(Something interesting. Unlike the US, in European/English football the team listed first is the home team.)
This game against Wigan was an English Premier League game, and Liverpool is in the hunt for third place in the League this season. The season's almost over, so they won't get much higher than third this year. With the win, they didn't lose any ground. It also happened to be a game that they needed to win to qualify for next year's UEFA Champion's League tournament. Interestl, their next game was a semi-final in this year's tournament against Chelsea. You'd think that making it to the final four in the Champion's League tournament would qualify a team for next year, but apparently it doesn't.

Onto Chelsea vs. Liverpool. Chelsea are like the NY Yankees of UK football. They have in the last few years started buying loads of talent. Liverpool has history on their side here leading Chelsea in Champion's League play over the last two years. Chelsea hasn't even been able to score against Liverpool in these games. You know where this is going, don't you?

April 25
Chelsea 1-Liverpool 0

European and UK play is interesting in the way it's scored for tournaments, cups and such. In Champions League, once they get out of group play, they don't play "best of" series like we do here in the US in other sports. They actually only play two games. Obviously, the score itself has a lot to do with it, but teams also get points based on whether they are playing at home or away, and how many goals they score. For instance, an away goal is worth more than a home goal (not in the game itself, but in the amount of "points" a team gets in the tournament standings).

So, with Liverpool down a game by one goal, and then playing at home in this Tuesday's game, Liverpool need to win by at least two points. At least, I think this is the way it needs to happen. I believe that if the game ends with the standings tied, then it would go to overtime, then penalty kicks. I'm not positive about this, though. I'm trying to find the info online, but can't seem to find out exactly what Liverpool need to do on Tuesday. I can tell you that eveyone seems to think Chelsea's going to do it. It's pretty much Manchester United and Chelsea winning everything else right now, anyway.

April 28
Portsmouth 2-Liverpool 1
This was a Premier League game.

I don't understand everything about English and European football yet, but I'm learning.

English Premier League is called the "League". As I'm sure you can tell by its name, only teams in the EPL play to win this League. There's even a pretty interesting system for how teams come in and out of the EPL.

UEFA Champions League is called "Europe". These are the European club teams that qualify for the Champions League in the season prior.

The FA Cup is called "The Cup". I haven't quite figured out how this one works, yet.

There is at least one other championship that EPL teams play for. Like I said, still learning. OK, I'm done, now. This went on a lot longer than I planned, and I'm sure much longer than any of you care. But there it is. In the future, I'll just include scores and a little game summary.

Stuff and M*Space

Well, what's been going on. I'm still decompressing after passing my tax final on Monday night. I barely made it, but in a pass-fail class, barely is still good.

Work this week has been crazy. "What's new?" you may ask. Well, the big migration project is three weeks away, and finally all of our partners have started testing the new system. That means lots of work for Whitney that's outside of her normal job description. Luckily my boss gets it, and is giving me a bit of a pass on the regular work that is part of my job description. Not all of it, but some. Again, I will say that if it wasn't for my incredible understanding boss, I don't know how'd I'd be hanging on.

Tonight I'm making a Lyle Favorites CD for my mom and coworker who need to have some Lyle prep before the show on June 15. Did I mention we have a TABLE at Chastain for the show? I'm not even sure what to do with that information right now. I'm so so so excited. And K.D. Lang is opening. She's one of those singers (like Annie Lennox and the lead singer of Keane) whose voice is done no justice by current recording media. My parents and I went to see K.D. Lang in the late 80s at Center Stage (now Earthlink Live), and I still remember how amazing her voice was. I can't wait to hear her again.

Let's see, what else? Oh, thinking about adding a bit more to the M* Space profile. Right now, there's nothing - only an account so that I can look for other people. Can anyone give me a good reason why I should add to it?

So next week the retirement planning class begins. And work gets crazier. And the Lyle show gets one week closer.
And with that, I'll leave you a Lyle lyric (Alone at Sea's favorite) from the Favorites mix and a random picture ...

I walked on through the door and she just smiled
In a long pony tail and a pretty white dress
She said ,"Hi, bull riders do it best"
I said "Oh my God, what's your name
My name's Lyle"

Apalachicola, FL - 2004

The Reds

Liverpool 2, Middlesbrough nil

Gerrard scores both.

I can only hope that I would be this brave

But, honestly, I don't think I am.

This man is a hero in the VA Tech tragedy, and I'm sure we'll find out he wasn't the only one.

More of the same, sort of

What can I say? Not much changes around here. Busy as usual seemingly doing something every night after work. The last three weeks have been crazy with stuff. Next week will be different. There will be no after work plans, barring any emergency of course, because I absolutely cannot procrastinate until the weekend to study for my Tax final. I failed the midterm, badly, and I have to do much better on the final. So, every night next week will be spent creating note cards to remember the most asinine, convoluted, incomprehensible garbage that is the US tax code.


Work is stressful as ever. We have this huge project going on and about half the company are doing five people's jobs. I'm probably doing the jobs of three. Luckily, I have an amazing boss, and he's in town this week. I was able to sit down with him today and vent a little, and he never ceases to impress me with his ability to make me feel so much better. He doesn't change things or prove to me that it can all get done, but when I'm down on myself and my ability to do my job, he lets me know that it really will get better, that I can hang in there, and that he and plenty of other people think I'm doing a good job.


I guess it's time for another picture. Here's one of a moth that got into our house a while back. I've never seen one like this. It was beautiful, and probably about five inches wide at the wingtips.

Creepy is really the only word I can think of right now ...

but I'm sure more will come to me.

News from the BBC indicates that England's surveillance program is getting more and more surreal by the day. At first I thought this was a story leftover from April Fool's Day, but it doesn't seem to be.

As if cameras all over the place aren't bad enough. There is then the fact that some have operators monitoring them who yell at people when they see them doing something bad. Oh, but it gets so much better than that.

Competitions would also be held at schools in many of the areas for
children to become the voice of the cameras, [Home Secretary] Reid said...

There are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain.

A recent study by the government's privacy watchdog, the Information
Commissioner, warned that Britain was becoming a "surveillance society".

I've got news for them. Britain has already become a surveillance society. And a creepy surveillance society with little British children serving as the voice of Big Brother.

Catching up

Boston was great. I got my baby fix, and was even able to see a friend while there. I was sad that I missed Bean, though. The weather was pretty nice, too.

There's not much going on right now besides the usual, so here's another picture...

Another Saturday night ...

And we're sitting here comfortably, about to watch Click. Dave's girl is in it, and it does look cute. We just got back from the liquor store, and word has it that Yuengling is finally working on a distribution agreement in Georgia. Summer Hummer is back on the shelves. And hubbie got a new beer that looks ... interesting - Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre. We'll see.

Pensive Whitney came and went very quickly, so that was nice. There's a little bit still in there, always is. We have a lot going on right now, so it makes sense - a lot of decisions to make or at least start thinking about making.

My hubbie was kind enough to find some wonderful podcasts dedicated to my Reds - Liverpool, so now I can finally keep up with how my boys are doing. I can always read about them, but sports commentary is much better delivered with at least audio, I think.

What else?

I'm headed to Boston this week. I'd love to see some friends if we can work it out, but I'm not sure if it will work. I'll be visiting with my three week-old God daughter and helping out my friend with this whole new baby thing.

I think it may be time for a new picture, especially since I'll be away from the blog for a little while.














Sunset and canoers over Lake Chatuge

Want to blog

But just don't know what to blog about.

I really am at a loss. I'm so sleepy all the time. And I pretty much think about two things lately - work and class. Work is just insane. There's just no end to it, no catching up, no accomplishment. I thank God that I have a wonderful boss. If my boss wasn't so understanding and genuinely nice, I don't know how I'd make it through the day at work.

As far as class goes, I spend more time thinking about how I should be studying than I do actually studying. It's tax class this time around, and it's just so much information. And it's so painfully obvious how ridiculous our government is and how absurd the tax code is. You think you know? If you haven't taken a tax class, you have no idea.

Besides that, we've started something new lately. We've started running. Seriously. A coworker of mine runs every Saturday morning at a park just down the street, and he invited us along. Since I've entered my first triathlon, I knew I needed to get out and get going. I've always hated running, or thought I did. Whatever I was doing, it wasn't right, or it just wasn't the right time. I'm absolutely loving it now. It's hard and painful, but about 20 minutes in, I feel amazing, and I just want to keep going. I haven't made it very far yet, but I make it farther every time. And I've started joining Erich on Wednesday nights after work, too. My goal is to be able to run 10K on a regular basis.

Tonight's one of those nights. I should be in bed, but I'm not. I'm sitting here in the living room, rambling on the blog, and listening to country music. Pensive Whitney is back for a night, hopefully for just a night. It's just one of those times. I could sit an listen to music all night. The songs I listen to when I get like this aren't all country. Actually, it's mostly not country, but the country video station is the only one that actually plays videos all day and night. Some of the songs on the playlist for these times ...

(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
North Dakota, Lyle Lovett
Why, Annie Lennox
Better Days, Bruce Springsteen
I Don't Understand Anything, Everything but the Girl
Boys of Summer, Don Henly
Secret Garden, Bruce Springsteen
Washing of the Water, Peter Gabriel
Monument in Green, Big Head Todd and the Monsters
New Boy, The Connells
Crystal, Fleetwood Mac
Biloxi, Jimmy Buffett
Winona, Matthew Sweet

There are more, but those about sum it up. With most of them, it's the music more than the lyrics. Some of them take me to another place. Some of them just take me inside my own head.

And then I start thinking about how lucky we are in the United States, in the middle class, hell, even in the lower classes, to be allowed to be so self-indulgent as to sit back, listen to a playlist on the iPod and think about what it all means and how to make it all mean more. I worry about money, but I sure as hell don't worry about where my next meal is coming from.

Oh, and last Wednesday was the tenth anniversary of my college graduation. Any takers on whether that has something to do with all this?

Beer Pong may not want to get his hopes up, but ...

Rep Barney Frank is currently reviewing the internet gambling ban for possible repeal. There's not much to hope for in this article, but maybe it's a start.

Now for the promised and eaten blog

Blogger ate my post yesterday, and I was just annoyed, so I didn't repost it. I really don't even remember what it was, so here's another one...

As promised, one picture a week. I didn't promise anything about quality, though.

The other two boys in the house, having naptime.

Not much went on this weekend, but I feel like we stayed busy. Go figure.

Oh, we did see 300. Really cool. I wasn't in a great mood going in, though, so my opinion is a little tainted.

Must think of a theme

Fargin blogger lost my post, so this will be shorter. Anyway, I'm thinking I need some sort of theme for regular posts. Every post doesn't need to be in the theme, but I'd like to have something going, maybe similar to WaB's Secret of Life posts.

I'm not usually very good at keeping things like this going, but I'll see what I can do. I'm thinking of a photo thing. Maybe once a week I'll post a picture. I'll start with pictures from the past, and then hopefully move on to taking at least one cool picture a week and posting it here. That may be tough because it's been a while since I was in photo mode. But we'll see.

First attempt ... a picture I took in the late 90's in Marshfield, MA.

Good thing

that movie was free.

pictures from 2006

I don't know who's interested, but I spent the weekend going through pictures from 2006. Thought I'd post a few.

April business trip to Geneva, OH, on Lake Erie

Rockport, MA, in June for a wedding.

May in Key West for a wedding.

Moonrise over Lake Minnetonka, MN - September

A newly painted and decorated spare bedroom

Grandparents in September

Emerald Pointe Triathlon, October - Team Scallywag and Adam

Pirate dog for Halloween, and not too happy about it.

Belize trip ...

Reef off Cay Caulker

Still waters inside the reef

La Connection at sunset off St. George's Cay

On the way to Goff's Cay

Tobacco Cay (I think)

Southwater Cay (I think)

Monkey enjoys the sun and surf off Southwater Cay

Baggage claim, San Pedro, Ambergris Cay, Belize

Dinner, third (?) night on the boat

Our boats on a stormy afternoon.

New Year's Eve

(Generally, I wasn't too happy with the NYE pics, so that's why more aren't posted of the girls. Also, this post would have taken forever with more pictures.)

bullets for the weekend

• Didn't go running this morning like we have been for the last few weeks, so we slept late, which was wonderful.
• My god-daughter was born yesterday. I haven't even seen her, and I love her already. I can't wait for pictures and to go see her for real.
• I could be on a plane to South Africa right now. I'm not, and that makes me happy.
• Today has been odd. I'm getting a bit of cabin fever because we've been inside pretty much all day. We were both sick this week.
• We're probably going to go see Ghost Rider later. Brainless and explosion laden sounds good for some reason right now.
• Tomorrow will probably be more of the same.
• Maybe I'll post some pictures from 2006, while I have computer time.

belated political post

I meant to blog about this a while back, but I can't express how happy I am that a couple of Georgia state reps are pushing back on the red-light camera craze. Typically, red-light camera's don't end up being about public safety, but about revenue and are ripe for abuse. See this instance in Texas (one of several stories I've seen), as posted by the Agitator.

Also, an editorial by new libertarian (?) Bob Barr on the proposed legistlation.

So, what's going on...

So much. I spent the week before last editing Belize pictures for our post-trip picture swap dinner. Then I spent all last weekend, last week, and this past weekend studying for a class final. The studying apparently paid off, and with 4 gimme points, I passed and managed to bring my average up from my midterm grade. The next class starts on Monday, but at least I have a week to not think about that stuff.

I guess that means I need to clean the house, which hasn't been done in two weeks because of working until about 7pm every night, then coming home to either study or do more work of some sort. It's a wreck, and my lovely system is out the window.

And now I've got some bug that makes it feel like someone's standing on my chest, very difficult to breath, and not fun at all. And poor Dave has thrown his back out somehow and can barely move. We're a pitiful pair right now.

And the big news is that we had a passing in the family on Saturday. Because of studying and class, I haven't been able to call a few people, so I'm very sorry for that. WaB, I should have called you, but just haven't had a chance. Anyway, my Aunt Lou died on Saturday - peacefully, in her sleep. She is really my great aunt, and she's been in homes (assisted care, then nursing) for the last few years. The last three or so were spent in a true nursing home because of her advanced Alzheimers.

So, while we are relieved that she has gone on to a better place (Look out, Uncle Frank!), I can't say it was expected. Outside of the Alzheimers, she was physically very healthy. We actually had reason to believe that she would go on for years. So, it was a shock, and even though I know it's for the best all around, it still makes me very sad.

Aunt Lou was an amazing woman with a spirit many people never have. A quick Radcliffe temper, but so loving, creative, and fun. She never had children of her own, but with 10 brothers and sisters, there were plenty of nieces and nephews to care for. And my mom and her sisters spent many great times with Aunt Lou and Uncle Frank. And then there were the great nieces and nephews, too. I loved spending time in Thomaston.

When I think of Aunt Lou, I think of many wonderful weeks and weekends. And so many other things: hammocks made out of sheets hanging from the huge trees in her front yard just for my visits, walking the railroad tracks, sleeping in the king bed between her and Uncle Frank, playing solitare, flowers, her neighbor Hazel, fried pies, fishing, eating catfish, digging up earthworms, pouring salt on slugs, swinging in the backyard, climbing the magnolia tree, walking around the block, walking to the convenience store for candy, walking to Dairy Queen for a Blizzard, pool room hamburgers, pot roast, movies at the Ritz (particularly Six Pack with Kenny Rogers), driving her red Chevette around the block to the churches and back when I was way too young to be driving, hanging out in the attic, the ice crushing "machine" she had, those ice cold bottled cokes, the Braves (where she worked for Hank Aaron), her typewriter and the way she'd type out letters and recipes. There's so much more.

With the Alzheimers, she obviously hadn't been herself in years. But there were glimpses, even recently. Last time I saw her, she was very chatty, and though most of it was gibberish, she let out a couple of "shit"s and some of her glares and exasperated tones, and those knowing grins.

I will miss her so much. I've missed her for years, but now it's real.

And I also have to give so much credit to my mom during all of this. Because Aunt Lou didn't have kids, my mom really stepped up when Uncle Frank died in 1992. She took amazing care of Aunt Lou, in spite of horrible treatment by some members of the family and often by Aunt Lou herself, who really didn't understand what was happening at the time. I hope that if the time ever comes for me to do something so generous, I can be half the woman my mom has been through the last 15 years.

Who I'll be voting for in the primaries next year

Based on Radley Balko's recent Fox column, it will be Congressman Ron Paul.

Now, I'll admit that there's a long time before the primaries, and I could very well change my mind. But right now, this is the guy.

Sunday blogging

Well, I have the computer out because I need to be doing some work. I can't get my VPN to launch, though, so I can't get to any of my files. This actually kind of stinks because I have a presentation in Minneapolis on Tuesday, meetings all day tomorrow, then class from 6-9pm, and my flight is at 7:50am to MSP. That makes it kind of hard to prepare the presentation, which is what I intended to do tonight. I'm sure I'll find a way.

As for blogging itself, it's looking like next time I log in, I'll have to update to new blogger. Based one what I've heard from the circle, I'm not real thrilled about this. Another, oh well.

This weekend was pretty full, but not too eventful. I would have liked to have gotten more done.

Well, it's off to the great white north on Tuesday and Wednesday. At least they've had a warm front come in and it will be highs around 14 on Tuesday and 10 on Wednesday. That may sound awful, but it's a smidge better than last week's weather which was a high of 1. Seriously. Plus, if I don't want to, I don't ever have to go outside. I can take the habitrails everywhere. But I think I'll at least stick my head outside one night to see what -6 feels like.

Dinner with the girls

Every once in a while some college friends get together and have dinner. WaB and I are two of those girls. Tonight it was supposed to be five, but it turned out only to be three because two got stuck at work. We had fun conversation and interesting people-watching, and then WaB and I went to Super Target to get a purse for her sister. All-in-all a nice night. But my favorite line of the evening ...

"I've been reading your blog lately, and you sure are filled with the Spirit."

All I could think to say was, "Yes I am."

Oh well. I am, and when it comes right down to it, I'm really not sure yet how to talk about it. I don't want people to think that I'm trying to push anything on them, but yes, I'm happy about where I am and about some realizations that I've had over the last seven years, leading to my being "filled with the Spirit." So there it is.

If you want to talk about it, then go ahead and ask, just understand that it may be a bit awkward at first. If you don't care or don't want to know, don't worry, I won't be asking any of you about your relationship with God unless you bring it up first.