Jovie and The Pussycats

JOVIE AND THE PUSSYCATS

The Cast by The Fillerbuster

28 February 2021

BEEN A WHILE:

My last blog was “flip the script.”  I hope that everyone found a way to do that.  The Browns didn’t win, but the culture is different without a doubt moving forward.  What I DIDN’T know was that my life situation would flip the script more than I would know.  I think I tried to mentally prepare for owning an untrained 8-week old puppy, but I couldn’t prepare for this.  It is brutal and exhausting.  Yes, it is just a puppy and not a human being, but I like my time and it is brutal for me personally. 

Anyway, I missed you all.  The problem is this.  I missed a lot during this initial training puppy time.  But, I still have things to say about stuff that has come and gone.  Therefore, we are going a little old school in this one.  I wrote the bulk of this during my solo weekend watching the puppy, and then added during the week after before releasing.  It is long.  Sorry.  I even filtered out a BUNCH of stuff.  But, I wanted to have some fun writing this too…now that my eyes are CONSTANTLY on a puppy to make sure she doesn’t pee in the house.  But, the BIGGER problem is that our house is the space shuttle right now.  With compression chambers and gates and stuff.  If Jovie the puppy was allowed free reign, then this would be much easier.  Keeping the demon cat Jackson separated from her is what is making this exhausting.  Not sure when this separation stage will end before I feel confident that I won’t come home to a puddle of blood or massive scratching.  What a pain.  And this is just an animal.  I respect you people who raise human beings so much more now…

The puppy, Jovie.  One demon cat, Jackson.  One nice munchkin cat, Charlee.  Hence, Jovie and the Pussycats, the theme that literally was teed up naturally.

TORCH:

Who were you rooting for in the Super Bowl?  You either had the beginning of a dynasty and taking the torch away from a 43-year old, or you had that same old man drawing a line in the sand, and saying (in the words from The Gladiator)…”not yet.”  My money and emotions were all over Tom Brady (+3 of course).  And what a show we got.  It is interesting in talking about passing the torch, as I come up with two trains of thought where my mind goes.

• It is very hard to retire on top and know when you are done.  So, you risk the torch being passed without your permission every single game after you win your last one.
• It is a champion who still wins during what should be PAST his time.

I loved it.  It wasn’t as if he pulled a Trent Dilfer and relied on his defense.  Brady was good too.  Very good.  Yes, Mahomes had a bad wheel, but they were a Chad Henne fourth down conversion from not even being in this game anyway.  Love Brady.  Hate Brady.  But, in the end, here is what you have.  This dude is the best football player ever, he is cheesy, he has a model wife, he has a chip on his shoulder story, this is one of the first times he won going away as he typically won close games in the Super Bowl, and he took a new system, coach, and players and won…again.  Oh, and in ONE single year.   In the epic words of that viral video we all love, “Boom, goes the dynamite.”  Patrick is the next great player obviously, and he already had a taste of the title drink, but the torch is a little harder to grab than you think AFTER you have tasted that drink.  Now, Patrick will have an up and coming Josh Allen to deal with coming out of that side, along with a rejuvenated Baker Mayfield, so it doesn’t get easier.  And, who knows, that torch guy might be on the other side as a 44-year old, waiting to draw that line in the san once again.

NORMALCY:

We are not there yet, folks.  Maybe in 2022, my wife can ask me our travel plans for the year, and I can name off venues and dates for every sporting event out there for the entire year.  But, not yet.  The Ivy League already cancelled its spring season.  March Madness will be ALL in Indy.  We are more surprised when a game isn’t cancelled because of contact tracing than when it isn’t.  We have another 6-7 months of this crap.  Deal with it.  Embrace it.  It stinks for all of us.  Love minor daily victories, and don’t complain about cancelled weddings or trips.  Many people have it worse than you.  Trust me.  We are used to fake crowd noise in arenas.  Duke hoops is being beaten at home with no Cameron Crazies.  Ohio State is getting in the college football playoff with like 6 less victories than other schools.  We are used to players being six feet apart on the “benches.”  Beal and Westbrook are getting balls under the rim like we used to retrieve balls under the cars nearby on a city park court.  Things are on the uptick, but sports still won’t be the same.  Everything will have an asterisk.  Hug your people, welcome each day, and watch whatever sports is on and just be glad it exists in whatever state it exists in presently.

FINAL SUPER BOWL NOTES:

• Brady has more SB wins than all FRANCHISES.  Let that sink in, all.
• Tom got a HOME Super Bowl.  It is like he was Nostradamus and went there BECAUSE the Super Bowl was in Tampa.
• Chad Henne steps up to seal win for Chiefs in the AFC Championship, and that was so awesome.  They ran the same play they did with Mahomes on fourth down to Hill with him throwing it.  Lots of confidence in the backup QB, as it should be.  Watch the tape.
• Watching Brady have to beat Rodgers in the NFC Championship was fun as hell.  Wish we had more of that over the last ten years.
• Tom Brady not only is the best but he throws Lombardi trophies over open water, gets hammered on boats, and the trophy maker is offended.  Then, he goes home to a model.  His life is pretty rich.
• The guy who ran on the field actually netted $300k, because he took a prop bet that it would happen, and then took matters into his own hands.
• The yearly mattress guy bet paid off.  Lots of discounted mattresses for everyone.
• I woke up that morning and decided Gronk was going to have a big game.  Needless to say, I did well on the Big Game.
• I still can’t believe it took me until 3 years ago to realize that no one can actually SAY the words “Super Bowl” when talking about the game.
• Brady merchandise sales is at a record high, because he is really hurting for cash.
• He did it in one single year, folks.  For us older people, he successfully did what Wayne Gretzky and Joe Montana TRIED to do.
• It was extremely painful for me to see the teams I didn’t want the most in the final game to be in it.  Bell and Brown.  Good that they didn’t really do anything constructive, but still painful they got to dance the dance.  Ugghhh.
• Questioning some of the KC adaptations at halftime?  Me too.  There is NO way that the Britt Reid crash wasn’t on a father’s mind and that it didn’t affect every single move on the field.  Shame.  Really bad timing for something horrible, Britt.
• Do you think that when The Weekend was picking a name for himself, he might have been thinking about chicks?  Like, for example, after a fun fin de semana, do you think he said to the girl “did you enjoy the long weekend?”  When he discussed his employees, he could quote Loverboy and say “Everybody’s Working For The Weekend!”
• GOAT thoughts-Brady, Lebron, Serena, Tiger/ Nicklaus, Gretzky, Ruth, Ali, Jordan, Phelps, Pele, and Bolt off the top of my head.  One could argue that Brady had 10 other guys on the field with him, but what he did sure did dent whatever Devil’s Advocate plan you had.
• It was a shame to hear about Mahomes’ turf toe.  That being said, he was pressured more times than any QB in Super Bowl history, so I am pretty sure he might have gotten only one TD closer if he had a good wheel.  He was pressured 29 freaking times.
• Matt Light told a story the week before on CBS Sports about stealing the Cardigan of Brady’s to knock him down a notch.  He found it in the locker room, worked out in it personally, then sent a picture of him doing that to Brady on his way home, and we all assume Brady tried not to wreck his fancy car and tossed the sweater out the window.  Funny story.
• Hope it didn’t have a red dot on it…
• I think it is true that the only 2 QB’s that Matt Light protected for in college and the pro’s were Brees and Brady.  Not a bad pull.
• Brady was the first QB to beat three Super Bowl MVP’s in one postseason.  You can’t argue he had an easy road.
• This was the first time that the two Super Bowl teams were ranked #1 and #2 in passing yards going into the game.  Interesting.
• This was Brady’s third Super Bowl in his 40’s.  No other QB as one.
• We have to recognize that the game was well officiated, and it had the first woman ref.  About freaking time.
• How do some of these companies have enough money for an ad in the Big Game?  Like Oatley as an example?
• I loved the Will Farrell-Norway commercial and am sad I haven’t seen it since the Big Game.
• Man, walking into Drake from State Farm was gold, Jerry.  GOLD.  Ovaltine.
• Of course, I loved the Costanza commercial.
• Great line from Jim Rome the next day.  The Weekend dancers showed up more than the Chiefs.

NFL:

• Marty Schottenheimer died.  He wasn’t the biggest winner.  He was known for The Drive and The Fumble more than anything unfortunately.  But, he was one of the most respected coaches, players loved him, he was a master motivator, and his legacy is NOT in his stats.  RIP, Marty.
• The Browns didn’t win it this year, but they put up a fight against a possible dynasty, took another step further into the playoffs, and they are here to stay.
• I get SO tired of mental mistakes in the playoffs.  Lose on great plays.  Lose on better offense against the defense.  Lose on special teams ball bounces.  But DON’T lose on penalties, taunting, personal fouls, touchbacks while trying to score (Browns), or anything else between the ears.  I hate it.  And, by the way, that touchback should have been targeting, and it would have been a whole different second half after that.
• Deshaun Watson:  This is another example of a player forcing himself into a trade.  BUT, in this case, there have been moves previous that indicate it is a sinking ship.  So, who would blame him?  I personally like him on the Broncos, as Lock has not shown me anything against higher competition, and I am not even a fan of theirs.
• JJ Watt:  Totally understand HIM wanting out after all of the other moves.  Come to Pittsburgh, bro.  Please.  Brotherly love.  And you and TJ would OWN both sides of every offensive line in the league.
• Brees and Rodgers both will be forever known as two of the best of all time.  And they have a total of TWO Super Bowls between them.  Crazy.
• The Saints last three playoff losses…were all at home.
• Rivers retires, and I love the non-cussing guy, but he is NOT an HOF’er.  I am very selective on this item, and the Hall should be too.  I was beyond mad when Curtis Martin made it.  Consistency should be respected far and wide, but not rewarded with a gold jacket.  Curtis and Phillip were competitors, and very good every single year, but not excellent.  We will respect Rivers, but let’s not give him a bust.
• I am so proud to be a fan of a team that has a minority coach.  Not just because they have that, but because they are an example to the league.  I have NO idea on how Eric Bienemy does not have a head coaching job, but I am more disturbed about the lack of interviews and calls to him.
• If you haven’t heard the kneecap speech by Dan Campbell, Google it.  “Kneecap and Dan Campbell” will probably get you there.
• So, the Eagles have decided that a Super Bowl ring lasts you only a couple of years.  Their new hire is good, but how the fallout behind closed doors of Doug is beyond me.  How their QB situation, and who was playing, became such the main part of this problem is beyond me.
• Changes of environment are typically overrated.  But, sometimes, it just makes sense.  I love, for both teams, the trade of Goff and Stafford.  It gives two QB’s in their prime, a chance with a decent roster.
• Although I am nervous about “next man up” on my team (Steelers), I find it so cool that the two twin Pouncey brothers retired…together.  Badass.  Young, not too beat up, the best at what they did, and dropping two mics on the way out.
• The Bills are on the uptick folks.  Bet on them next year.  Josh Allen is for real, the fans meet you at 3am after a loss, and they donate to Lamar’s charity after his early exit and loss.  That town is not the most aesthetically pleasing city, they jump on tables for fun, but if there was a town that loved their football team through thick and thin, THAT is it.
• Urban Meyer will inherit Trevor Lawrence and things will be fine.  HOW he thought he could hire Chris Doyle under the radar is beyond me and makes me think that Urban is NOT a step ahead.  Whether he did it thinking it was not a big deal, or whether he thought no one would notice, both are oversights.
• That before the half TD vs. the Packers by Scottie Miller was just as much the throw and lacking coverage than speed.  Give me Tyreek Hill in the race against Scottie Miller…ALL DAY.
• Jason Witten retired again, but he was successful in the comeback.  He was a good roster move, did his job well, let’s hope he scratched the itch that needed to be scratched, and we will again enjoy his magic in the booth.
• Big Ben will have to restructure his $40 plus mil contract to be a QB again for the Steelers.  I had a bad feeling the QB battle in August would be Rudolph vs. Haskins before recent developments, and I felt sick.  But, I still am very unclear on how they are restructuring that big pricetag.
• Carson Wentz is going to the Colts.  He has a good offensive line, a coach who made him MVP, and a running game.  I think he will be fixed like Ryan Tannehill II.
• The new HOF class will include Calvin Johnson, who might dodge having gray hair while making his speech by like 10 years.
• Aaron Donald is the best player in football right now, but him and Aaron Rodgers would trade their trophies for the other trophy in a heartbeat. 
• I see at least 10 teams changing starting QB’s in a historic QB musical chairs.  Could be as high as 15.  Crazy offseason.
• No one wants to be Kirk Cousins and do two franchise tags in a row.  Everyone wants money.  And no one is worth $40 mil in my opinion.  But, Dak will probably get it, and sleep well on that bed he is pimping in his off time.  If they sign him, do you think they will redo that hype video that included Troy Aikman but not him, their present QB?  What an odd absentee.
• Russell Wilson got heat for talking about how the star QB should have a say on the roster.  Whether he is wrong or right, that team would be .500 without him, so maybe he shouldn’t say it publicly, but they probably SHOULD take his two cents.  THEN, Russell said he is fine staying in Seattle, but IF they were to dance that dance, he named his four teams.  THAT is how you play THAT game.
• AP wants to play into his 40’s, but doesn’t he kind of HAVE to given the debt he owes?
• Cam Newton has spent millions of dollars on clothes he has worn once.  That isn’t so bad, but making that info public post-pandemic probably doesn’t make you the most loved person in town.  Wait, I forgot he was already NOT the most loved person in town…or anywhere.
• RIP, Terez Paylor.  WAY too young to die, and we enjoyed your contributions and word is that you were even a better man.
• Washington Football Team resigned Taylor Heinicke.  If you watched his losing effort in the playoff game, you would want him on your team in some capacity right NOW.  Good call.
• Still waiting on the final story version for Vincent Jackson, but, again, too young to die.  RIP.
• Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon are reunited in some startup Atlanta league.  At least they have someone to have drinks with when wanting to discuss a blown career.
• Drew Brees already has an announcing contract in place, and has taken a pay cut to the league minimum, all symbolizing the impending retirement.  But, the recent workout video and the long delay ARE somewhat unexpected.
• The Packers deferring to Brady late in the game was not smart at the beginning of the game, but kicking FG and giving it back late was worse.  Sometimes, if you have a possible GOAT, you should probably make sure the guy on the other side of the field is not the BIGGER GOAT.  He was.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL:

• Tennessee hired Josh Heupel.  Not a bad hire, but naming Tennessee coaches in the 2000’s will be a trivia question someday, and it shouldn’t be.  They should be a brand, like in the 80’s and 90’s, that has a figurehead that is consistent.
• UCF hired Gus Malzahn.  Somehow, they upgraded.  Wow.  He inherits a football team that already is dangerous to the big boys.  Imagine how much fun the ex-Auburn coach will have pissing off those guys?
• Northwestern extended Pat Fitzergald.  They should have.  That is a smart school that doesn’t traditionally excel at football.  But, they are feisty every year, are always in the Big Ten title game or in the mix, and he should be rewarded for that.  Building a brute empire who play in front of a bunch of smart people is tough.
• OU got the #3 RB in the nation for 2022 in Raleek Brown.  Now, let’s hope they don’t play him for a year and then let him transfer to Ohio State.  They need some depth at this position.  They always have the other skill positions, and just keep taking a step back with starting RB injuries. 
• So, someone intercepted Deion’s house while he was coaching?  They robbed him while he was on an island?

NBA:

• I hope Paul George works through the injuries.  Whether they win it all or not, it is nice to see him play as the Paul George we knew before going to LA.  Well, except when coach decides the minutes restriction between 30 and 34 minutes is a big deal.
• If fans are allowed back in the arena by the NBA Finals in full, and if the Utah Jazz continue on their path, they will totally ruin the LA-LA matchup we all expect and want to see.  To do what they are doing during the pandemic is one thing.  Once they get fans back in their house, they will hit another level.
• The Utah Jazz are the perfect example of addition by subtraction and watching players grow up right in front of you instead of insisting on personnel change.
• Love James Harden.  Hate James Harden.  But, the fact that he is at a 24 PPG and leading the league in assists means his talk is more than talk.  He is delivering big time, and they are the most fun team to watch in the league.  They rank 28^th in defense, which could pose problems in the playoffs, but they are in the East, and probably just need to win a series against the Bucks or Sixers, and the Clips or Lakers.  So, they can get by and simply improve.
• The AD injury seems very cryptic.  I feel like I am getting so little information.  It makes me believe it is something much more serious.  They can’t win it all without him.  They are an irritating playoff team with only LeBron.  They are feared WITH AD.  Bottom line.
• What did the Timberwolves expect as a win total this year?  They inherit the #1 draft pick, and are at the bottom of the barrel.  Then, they fire Ryan Sanders mid-year.  Makes no sense.  You were not a playoff team, the Big Kat was out a lot, and give the guy a chance.
• What Steph Curry is doing right now without his brothers in arms is amazing and fun.  Did anyone forget that 25-foot jumpers were fun?  I think not.  He inherited a rising star in Klay Thompson, and then lured Kevin Durant over for a couple of years, but we forget he didn’t need anyone before to really be magical.  Think about this.  He just passed Reggie Miller on the 3FG list.  Reggie took 18 seasons.  Steph took…11.  Also, he runs about 2.5 miles per game just getting open.  Amazing stuff.
• Bradley Beal is leading the league in scoring.  Dude just needs a Robin who he likes and that team is dangerous.  And, no.  Russell is NOT Robin anymore.  Oh, and they are in the East, so it is easier.
• It was the one-year anniversary of Kobe’s death, and it made me remember what a crappy year 2020 was.  Man, was he good. 
• And, the movement has started to make him the NBA logo.  Kyrie has this brilliant idea.  Not so fast, folks.  Is this the guy from Memento who forgets everything?  Kobe was a big loss, and was one of the best ever.  But, we can’t exactly wipe that rape fully under the rug and make him the visual for the NBA forever.
• Sekou Smith dies from COVID at 48, and RIP, and that is again way too young.
• Tuesday, February 15^th, was the anniversary of the 14-minute triple double by Denver’s own Mr. Jokic.  Seriously, think about that.  He got more than 10 in three columns in the SECOND quarter.  Everyone is talking about the Nuggets slow start, but he is keeping them afloat, is very much in the MVP conversation, and is magical to watch.
• Blake Griffin will be traded, and I feel like he is like Eddie Murphy.  He SUDDENLY got old and slow and couldn’t dunk, and Eddie, in Beverly Hills Cop III, SUDDENLY got not funny.  I hope those guys have drinks soon.  I also hope Coming To America doesn’t suck.
• LeBron got his first flagrant foul since 2014.  He is a smart player who understands that mental mistakes put you a step behind.
• Damian Lillard had two 3’s in 8.9 seconds.  Not as good as Reggie Miller thought, bro…
• Draymond Green ranted on Andre Drummond and respect to players.  I get what he is saying.  I will say this.  Whether I agree or disagree with his take (sort of disagree), the NBA NEEDS him.  They need someone to just say his mind without filter in these sensitive times.
• I don’t think the All-Star Game should happen.  Too much going on post-COVID.  If it happens, I love the idea of the halftime show being the dunk contest and three-point shooting contest.  Putting the NBA players in COVID-loose Atlanta might be a bad idea though, and leaving the non-ASG players alone for a weekend is probably a worse idea, but I guess they are rolling the dice regardless.
• Derrick Rose went to the Knicks and I think I will be 80 and Rose will be traded to random teams in the NBA.  What a great trivia question that dude will be someday.
• MJ’s birthday was this past week, and as a 48-year old diehard MJ “is the best” fan, I admit that if LeBron wins it all this year, the conversation might possibly be flipped.  Dammit.  Why did you take off two years for baseball, MJ???
• Whatever is going on with Mark Cuban and the national anthem, know this.  He means well, is classy as hell, and is doing the right thing in the right way, whether you realize it or not.  If you don’t think he is doing the right thing, it is probably because we don’t have all of the information.
• Bill Russell’s birthday was this past week, and just a reminder that he has more title rings than fingers.
• Does Jamal Murray need to go back to a bubble to be really good again?  But, between writing that sentence and then adding stuff, he goes for 50…WITHOUT a single free throw attempt.  Amazing.
• Then, Embiid hit 50 points about 45 minutes later on the other channel.  My wife is out of town, so of course I caught both.
• Hubie Brown announcing games is magical to me.  When I die, just play a recording from any NBA game with him announcing to be on repeat in my grave.  It can be the Knicks and Wizards.  It will still play just fine.
• Trae Young and Devin Booker did NOT make the All-Star Game.  Whatever dude they have to apologize for the change of heart, they should DO it.  Those two guys are the future of the game and need to be on the squad.  Their stats support the movement.
• Jeremy Lin said he has been called “Coronavirus” in G-League games.  First of all, basketball smack is to be left on the court and not complained about ever.  Second, that is way too long of smack nickname.  You had your 15 minutes, Jeremy, years ago.  Just do your thing in that other league now and stop starting rumors.
• Ben Simmons made a three pointer the other day.  That means a comet probably is going to pass Earth tonight.  His fourth in his NBA career, and fifth ever if you include college.
• These are the stories we don’t hear enough of.  Misunderstood Jimmy Butler apparently turned down an All Star Game invite because he thought Bam should be invited first.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

• My revised Final Four
  • Gonzaga:  Not splitting the atom here.  They might not be the best team Mark Few has had, and they are not that deep, but they ARE the best offensive team he has had, and any of the top 6 guys in the rotation can score 20 in any given night.
  • Baylor:  Gonzaga’s offense will meet the best defensive team, with a little more depth.  Baylor has almost lost at times in games, and then they do a Duke-like 1990’s run that dismantles whoever dared to get up on them in a game.  The recent KU loss is a blip on the resume, not an overly concerning loss.  It was in Lawrence, and they get a pass on their pursuit of perfection.
  • Michigan:  They are deep, they are defensive, they are offensive, they have height, they have a backcourt, they have experience, and they don’t lose much.  Baylor and Gonzaga don’t need them on their side of the draw.
  • I had UVA here weeks ago before the puppy, but the FSU and Gonzaga  (and on Sunday additions, the close Duke loss) demolitions made me think they are a year away.  I think Illinois is too young, I think OU is bipolar (although they have the most wins against top 15 teams).  Iowa has the player who can put them on his back, but lacks the overall defense to run 6 games and frequently plays down to its competition.   I am going to go with WVU.  I like WVU’s depth, their defense, their coach, and this year they have shooters.  I would also debate Iowa, Ohio State, Florida State, USC, and Houston here.  I have seen enough of Bama to not be sold.  Nova has some really bad losses recently.  Butler???  Creighton was supposed to overachieve during the regular season and hasn’t lately.  Texas has internal problems.  Texas Tech plays up and down to its competition.
• Blue Bloods:  I have lost some good money on Duke, KU, Kentucky, North Carolina, and UCLA this year GETTING points.  That is ridiculous.  Like all of them have been out of the top 25 most of the year.  Most of them won’t make the dance.  Crazy.
• THEN, on 20 Feb, the one time I DIDN’T bet on all of them with points, they all win.  Ugghhh.
• THEN, after my 28 Feb additions, Michigan State is making a run, KU just beat Baylor, and UNC just beat FSU.  At least Duke is still losing at home to Louisville and UCLA is getting dropped by CU.
• THEN, today Michigan State lost a winnable game at Maryland, which might just seal their fate in the NIT.
• Philadelphia is a tough town.  I am from right around there.  John Chaney was the legendary Temple coach.  He made Temple play like tough Philly and always be a contender.  He never won anything big, but his kids became men, and he was respected from everywhere.  RIP, great man.
• Jalen Johnson Duke opts out midseason.  Sorry if I have this pandemic thing wrong.  Opting out before the year is respectable and won’t be talked wrong about.  Opting out in the middle of the year is QUITTING.  Let’s not sugar-coat this thing.  I hope NBA teams penalize him when they draft him later.  But, they won’t.  Someone will talk about a “high ceiling” and about how they can “fix him” and draft him in the lottery.  Funny how Duke started showing a pulse AFTER his “opt out.”
• Weird year.  UNC booked a home Northeastern game through a tweet.
• Want parity?  Florida, Creighton, Villanova, and Houston ALL lost to UNRANKED opponents in the same night.  All are contenders or dark horses except for Florida.
• Enoch Boakye is a five-star basketball recruit.  He recently decommitted to Michigan State.  He says because they are bad, the frontcourt will be overloaded as kids will stay.  Good point.  It also eliminates the situation of an Emoni and an Enoch being on the same team, so that is good.  Both oddly named kids are absolute studs and future NBA material.
• Related to this, MSU just had its worst home loss in the entire Izzo era.  That is bad.
• THEN, they knock off Illinois and Ohio State.  That is good.
• The Chris Beard ejection was spectacular a couple of weeks ago.  He gave a fist pump to Bob Huggins before checking out Gene Hackman-Hoosiers style.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7vi91CIjk
• More parity.  Missouri lost by 21 to Ole Miss after being up 21 against a top ten Bama team two weeks ago.
• USC hoops is more than the Mobleys.  Nine players play more than 17 minutes a game, and they are really good.  Elite 8 team at least.
• COVID is weird.  It is very odd seeing teams play back to backs.  When I go to bet, I have to make sure that I didn’t already bet the game.  NBA is doing the same thing.
• BC fired coach Jim Christian midseason.  This makes NO sense.  If BC was a college basketball blue blood, then fire him for underachieving.  But, the team played hard for him, he made them slightly competitive, if you were going to fire him you should do it preseason or after season, and I don’t get this.  He is just being consistent to how his teams were in past years.  I hope he lands a job.  Shame on you, BC.  Who do you think you guys are in the college hoops landscape?
• If you watched the Texas-WVU game a week ago, you would have seen internal Texas friction in the huddle.  They not only blew a massive lead in that game, but then looked off again this weekend at Texas Tech.  Be cautious about picking Texas to go too far in your bracket.  There is something off internally, and they will be ripe for a mid-major, early round knockoff.
• Watching the Duke-UVA game.  Bilas just quoted a GREAT line from Tony Bennett.  “We are thankful for the lessons that adversity teaches us.”  That is fantastic.  Kind of lines up with my Viktor Frankl books.
• Duke-UVA:  I can’t really break down this game for you.  After the dismantling at Florida State, I am kind of sad.  But, if they lost, I thought it would have been more decisive.  Actually, I am more pissed that we lost by one single point, with a chance to win.  UVA focuses on doubling in the post, drawing out the shot clock, not turning the ball over, getting good open shots on offense, and not fouling.  Many of those elements were absent here and there, and I love Clark as my PG, but his late turnovers are getting a little irritating.  Don’t try to do TOO much, bro.  I thought this group would keep elevating as the year went on.  That development hasn’t occurred, and they need another year.  They will end up being a 4 or 5 seed, and that won’t be an easy place to make a run.  They will hit Michigan, Baylor, or Gonzaga in the third round and that is too soon.
• I know the COVID layoff makes you rusty, but admittedly didn’t think it would be a 45-point amount of rust.  Louisville got SMOKED by UNC.  Of course, then they beat Duke at Duke, so not really sure what that means.
• Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus last weekend, and know that it could be a Final Four preview.
• Butler beat Villanova today?????? Wow.  Crazy stuff.
• Roy Williams not only became the fastest coach to 900 wins in history, but he did it in style against a Final Four quality team in FSU after being down 16 in the game.  Great stuff at UNC, whose team is coming around and might be dangerous in Indy.

MLB:

• RIP, Hank Aaron.  You got the exalted HR record during racial prejudice against you.  You were the man, sir.  You were also a hitter though.  You would still have 3000 hits if we took away all 755 home runs.  That stat is amazing.
• RIP, Pedro Gomez.  Your contributions to baseball media were unrivaled.
• Nolan Arenado was traded to the Cardinals in the last few weeks.  I feel like the smaller market clubs need to make a decision and stick with that plan.  You are either doing the Oakland A’s perennial budget-conscious, low spending approach all the time, or you spend money to keep talent and get new talent.  The Rockies thought they were spenders, but now have traded away another big piece in the division title equation.  I have been in Denver since 1997, and coming from the East Coast, I am used to passionate fan bases.  The Rockies fans are that through and through.  Shame to see the Rockies have them lose another star.  If you throw enough body blows on the fan base, they eventually will fall down and check out.
• Either George Springer didn’t feel like having fans in the stands to heckle their cheating team from years ago, or him signing with the Blue Jays (6 years-$150 million) is…simply ALL about the money.
• Talk about spenders, Trevor Bauer went to the Dodgers for $40 million…just in his first year.  That is absurd.  Well, it is absurd that they can do this after overpaying everyone else on their roster.
• No one was voted into the MLB HOF this round.  I like this.  I hate the HOF’s that allow people in just because, and having weakening standards overall.  Don’t let anyone in if no one deserves it.  Well done.
• Tim Tebow probably was waiting FOR the invite to spring training before he retired just so he could say he was still wanted and went out kind of “on top.”
• The Padres decided to pay Fernando Tatis 14 years /$340 million.  There are times to criticize this kind of long time, high money deals.  This isn’t one of those times.  San Diego is an easy place for someone to want to stay for a long time, he is the face of the franchise, he is still extremely young, he has all of the skills you need, and they have locked up their guy.  Maybe Rockies fans can be Padres fans just because of their effort.
• Kevin Mather resigns after 45 minutes of digging a hole.  That was brutal.  What goes through a person’s mind to be able to say those things out loud…in front of a large group…being recorded.
• Shohei Ohtani is apparently throwing 97 MPH in spring training.  Thanks for teasing me AGAIN.  I hope he doesn’t get hurt, and I will be tuning in to watch them when they play, hoping for that new oddball 3 HR, pitching win games.

NHL:

• Once I get back to normalcy in my life, I will comment more on the NHL.  For the moment, I will comment on this.  It HAS to be the most cyclical professional sport.  It amazes me how there really are no teams that are perennial contenders year after year with no rebuild time.  Glancing at the standings, all of these teams have been really good in the last 10 years.  And ALL of them are at the bottom of their divisions in this young year.  Predators, Devils, Wild, Wings, Rangers, Sharks, and Canucks.  Well, not as much with the Red Wings, but you get my point.  I still like the Avs to take it this year.  They have had some lopsided recent losses, but when healthy, I think they are elite.

PGA:

• Jordan Spieth has showed signs, in the last two weeks, of returning to title form.  Or has he?  With no pressure, he has gone low.  When the pressure was on, he faltered.  So, his swing might be back, but is he there mentally yet?  Probably not.  He is in the mix again, but his lack of closure indicates something is still off between the ears.  What an unpredictable, early descent no one saw coming with Spieth.
• Brooks Koepka won a non-Major.  He doesn’t normally waste his time being good in the smaller ones.  The field should be scared as we slowly approach Major season.
• Tiger Woods crashed his car and was lucky to walk away with his life.  Not drunk, curvy road, higher speed, and this was merely an accident.  We hope he can run with his kids before we even care about him playing golf again, but the support he has received has really shown again where he stands with society.  He is loved and respected in his turnaround, and although we will miss him this year on the links, it makes you again realize what really is important in life.  The fact that the media was talking about when he would get back to GOLF instead of staying alive after the crash was embarrassing.  And so cool that all of his fellow golfers were wearing red on Sunday.

UFC:

• McGregor’s whiskey commercials would be so cooler if he had beaten Poirier.  I am personally glad he lost.  I love him as the antagonist, I love his fighting style and ridiculous reach, but Dustin’s losses over the years since the loss to McGregor were ONLY against the best, and Dustin had come a long way.
• So they are on UFC 259 next, and I remember seeing the first one with Royce Gracie.  Ouch.  That makes me remember my age.
• I still love no fans in the stands for UFC fights.  I love hearing the corner talk and the hits.  With COVID, we all want normalcy back, but there are some things in life that I have liked a little more during the pandemic.
• UFC fighter Rafael Alves missed weight by 11.5 pounds, a new UFC record (157.5 and needed to be 146).  Dude must have booked the fight, ate doughnuts and watched porn, and just decided to miss BIG.

TENNIS:

• Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams in the semifinals of the Australian Open and then cruised in the finals.  You get the feeling that she is the tennis Patrick Mahomes.  She is here to stay, she is very young to already have won everything, she is a class act, on decent days for her she will destroy you, and she is now the face of tennis.  Tom Brady chose to draw a line in the sand and not pass the torch quote yet.  Serena had the decision made to her to quietly go back to her little one at home.  The sport is in good hands, but Ash Barty is not the Bird to Osaka’s Magic.  We need one of those.  We need a Evert-Lloyd to the Navratilova, a Connors to the McEnroe.
• Sad to see Nadal check out earlier than he expected, but the Nadal Open is next on the calendar, and you can just book that one for another year or two.  I hope we get one more magical run of clay mastery from Nadal.
• Djokovic won his 300^th Grand Slam match this tournament.  That is a LOT.  It is nuts to think that we have all three of the greatest tennis players playing at the same exact time.  As far as timeline and career convergence, it would be like Jordan coming in the league 4 years earlier and hitting Bird-Magic in THEIR prime.
• The quarantine situation for the Australian Open was nuts.  They literally stopped fans midway through the tourney.  Freaking COVID.
• Zrevev, Medvedev, and Thiem are all really, really good and will win many, many titles in their prime.  But, to this point, they won’t be able to say that they broke through DURING the reign of the Big Three.  They merely had to wait their turn until they got too old.  At least Thiem snagged last year’s US Open.  Otherwise, they have nothing.  Medvedev needs to hit the weight room a little.
• Nick Kyrgios did his usual thing again.  The guy has talent almost up to par of the Big Three.  But, what lies in between the ears lacks.  He was up two sets in an earlier round, and again outed himself after some theatrics, some temper tantrums, and some losing his cool.

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Michael McDowell’s first win was at Daytona, which is kind of like Brooks Koepka only winning golf Majors.  Well, I guess he needs to win the next two years too to be Brooks.  Anyway, I would either have loved or hated to have a Daytona party, as either people would get bored the race never ended on time, or your party was an absolute shit show.
• Bubba Wallace became the first black driver to lead a lap at Daytona, and that is refreshing and fantastic.
• I came onboard as a Jim Rome clone in 1997, and recognize all of the old school callers (Terence from Sierra Madre being my favorite).  Anyway, Trapper died in the last few weeks.  Very sad.  He was one of the most successful, educated clones, who also knew his sports.  His calls were low key, knowledgeable, and he could have probably had his own radio show if he wasn’t already successful in life.  RIP, man.  Your calls were the early ones who got me hooked on the most brilliant radio show of all time aside from Howard Stern.  Rome made the show a game, and you won by not freezing up on calls and having solid “takes.” For the record, my opinions are called “hooks,” but I based the concept off of what he did. 
• UCONN women’s hoops might be finally fully back, and they took down South Carolina last week.  If you haven’t seen clips from Paige Buecker/Buckets, you should check it out.  Saddens me though, as South Carolina’s coach is Dawn Staley, who went from one of the best PG’s in women’s history to building an empire of women’s hoops at South Carolina almost from nothing.  The rematch could be the title game.
• Leon Spinks died.  RIP, man.  Don’t know him?  No worries, and here is all you need to know.  He beat Ali.
• Dale Earnhardt died 20 years ago.  Man, he changed racing, and it is STILL the last FULL car race The Fillerbuster has ever watched.  Hence is why I don’t tune in anymore (aside from repetitive left turns).
• Arenas will start allowing fans at a capacity.  We slowly get back to normalcy, but let’s hope we don’t rush anything.  It has already been almost a year.  What is another careful 3-4 months and not rush things?
• Mikaela Shiffrin won Combined Gold at the latest event, winning her 6^th World Title.  I don’t know skiing and I don’t ski myself.  But, that sounds pretty badass.  Sounds like Lindsey Vonn II.
• The McDonald’s All-American high school hoops game was cancelled, so we are not back to normalcy, and we miss a night on hearing how everyone is going to Duke, UNC, KU, Michigan State, and Kentucky.
• Zlatan has told LeBron to stay in his lane and stick to basketball.  Yeah.  Whether you agree or disagree pre-pandemic, the events of the last year pretty much dictate that the biggest US star MUST stay involved in other lanes.
• What a weird world Canelo Alvarez is in.  He is an all-timer, but lacks competition.  He won easily this weekend, and his next fight might even be boring.  The poor guy is Magic and has no Bird, using that reference again.

WORLD:

• I had a bunch of items for this, but I don’t dive into politics (ironic given I was a Political Science major), and we are over much of it.  You read the news. Make your own jokes on COVID, Trump, Biden, the East Coast storm, etc.

LOCAL:

• As an ex-bartender, I am over-analytical admittedly about service at a restaurant, but I balance that by making a “bad” tip 20%.  Anyway, we booked the downstairs at Parisi, a place we LOVE right down the block.  Horrible service, they had our food order 15 minutes in with us still not even having water in front of us, and I demand better service at expensive places.  We walked before our Valentines Day dinner.  Went upstairs, and talked to the manager, Genarro, who became very confrontational.  Very odd.  Shame they lost our business…at least downstairs.  The food upstairs is amazing, and we will just do to go stuff moving forward.
• Sassafras is an amazing local New Orleans restaurant with a couple local locations, and is an amazing brunch place.  If you go, I suggest putting pimento cheese in their mac and cheese.  Makes awesome move to mind-blowing.  All their food is great though.  And the location on 32^nd street is a quaint little house that you are seated in.
• I have my travel notes from Pagosa.  This blog is long enough.  If you go there, ping me.  I now know everything about that town.  And, if you are going there, you MUST be going for the hot springs, because there is not much else there.  My last rankings of hot springs in this great state.
• Rankings are below.
• Actually, on the final additions, I threw my notes at the end of this monster blog.
• The burnt ends at Post Oak, usually only on Fridays and the weekend, are worth the trip to Tennyson.
• We did a double date at Angelo’s Taverna, and I had the Lobster Gnocci.  I wasn’t overly impressed on that dish, but I will be back because I have to test the Vodka Penne, which looked amazing and apparently is their best seller.  Cool little spot though.
• We just drove by a place called The Radiator, which we never even heard about.  Cool looking spot.  Right by Monkey Bar.  Wait to go for drinks, as they are awaiting their liquor license, but just spreading the word that it looks cool.  If you are one of those people who like drinking coffee while staring at your laptop, it is already the spot for you though.
• If you go to El Jefe, get the queso appetizer.  It is delicious.  My go to entrée is the Market Omelet, but if you are like me, don’t forget to cancel the breakfast salad (who eats a salad for brunch?) and sub the breakfast potatoes.
• Postino in Denver is a rarely talked about place that is always a choice if we disagree with what to get delivered.  I recommend the bruschetta (you pick 4, and make sure you get the Salmon one).  For sandwiches, although I got the nine iron for the first 5 delivery orders (mainly because I liked the name and because I overuse the nine iron when I play golf even though I understand what club I SHOULD be using for distance), my last two times have been all about the Prosciutto & Brie one.  Delicious sandwich.
• I oddly have a limited list (I have a list for everything in life) for best mac and cheese.  That list is now refreshed and started.  At #1 for the moment?  Golden Goat OG Mac and Cheese.  I ordered it for delivery while Lindsey was out of town this weekend.  Ridiculous.  Mac with cheese, goat cheese, jalapenos, onions, and pork.
• I had no idea there was a local chicken nugget place called Raising Cane.  I had it the other day.  Pretty good.  Get ALL the sauces.
• Noshery.  Very embarrassed that I have lived less than a mile from it and not ordered from it.  Badass breakfast burrito with pork green chili inside.  Incredible mac and cheese.
• We had brunch at Le Bilbotec this weekend in Cherry Creek.  Get the Crocque Madame and get hollandaise and cheese sauce on the side.  Delicious.
• We stopped by The Grind before meeting our friends.  That will be our next stop for brunch, and if you like sour beers like my wife, their selection is ridiculous.
• We had Texas de Brazil again recently also.  Awesome place as I assume you know.  Their flank steak and lobster bisque (cue the Seinfeld reference) are off the hook.  If you are wondering how they do the salad, then know you fill out a checklist, and they get it for you.  If you are there for the steak, order a half salad unless you want to waste a bunch of food.
• Senor Bear is a really good Latin place to eat.  I hate that they changed up their queso recently and also nixed brunch, but at least they made it through the pandemic.  Queso is still worth ordering, and the Choripan is one of the better sausage sandwiches I have had recently.  If you order hot sauce, it is homemade, and VERY potent.  One drop per bite MAX, folks.

THIS AND THAT:

• The puppy has ruined my progress on The Mandalorian, but I look getting back to Season 2.  We finally at least watched the last episode we watched before so we are reminded of where we are at.  I just found out that Mando is the Prince from GOT who had his head smashed in.  I am pretty sure, actor or not, that Mando will make sure to finish ALL fights before talking trash or getting too close.
• If you want the cheesiest, cheesiest, 80’s based, and cheesiest show ever in the history of life, watch Cobra Kai.  It is so over the top, that it makes it really, really good.  And they called EVERYONE from the movies, and if those people were alive, they answered the call to be in it.  If you are cool with watching life after EXACTLY what happened in the movies, then this is your dream show.  Can’t wait for Season 4 (being made right now).  Oh, they aren’t hour long shows.  30 minutes for each.  You can blaze through a season in a day if you decide to scratch anything productive.
• I worked at a restaurant/bar for 14 years, and I admit this holds true.  How come they don’t change their scheduled employees for holidays?  If I had a dime going in on a holiday, and someone saying they were short staffed for the crowd, I would be rich.
• Back door covers are the best undeserving feeling ever, and in-game betting is so smart, so addictive, and so dangerous.
• Death to 2020 is a really funny take on the pandemic if you haven’t seen it and are in a mood that needs to poke fun at the pandemic year.
• The Night Stalker documentary might be disturbing, but if you think that serial killers are cool like my house does in some weird way, then you should check it out.
• On that note, did you see SNL this weekend?  Funniest, totally true skit I have seen in YEARS.  Glad my wife can laugh at herself.  Here you go.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4RdcE6H4Gs
• When reading about the palindrome dates we just had, and the future ones we have later this year, I was surprised to realize I have never heard the palindrome phrase “A Toyota is a Toyota.”  Weird.
• I also keep seeing Erin Brockovich on commercials for some reason recently, and I admit to thinking she was a movie character and not real.  Of course, I also don’t proactively seek out Julie Roberts movies.  The only good one I remember of hers was The Pelican Brief.  But, now I know this Erin person is real.
• I remember doing that Tag Team dance from that commercial with the couple in the kitchen cooking dessert.
• Wendy’s is embracing not keeping resolutions in their commercials, and I admire that approach.  Let’s be real with ourselves while being marketed to.
• But, let’s drag that AT&T commercial with the two guys doing the Western gunfight in the store…out in the alley and shoot it.  Enough is enough.  It occurs during every single basketball game, I feel like.
• As a normal guy, I am dying to see Godzilla vs. King Kong. This need to watch monster movies normally might be problematic for my wife, but Alexander Skarsgaard apparently is in the movie, so we are a go.  She has a thing for him.  This isn’t a remake, right?  How the HELL has no one pulled the trigger on THIS idea before????
• My wife and I love the game Shut The Box, a UK bar game.  We ordered the four-person version.  I will let you know that it is the same game, but just with four people.  Nothing crazy awesome new about the game.  Just no notepad needed.
• Toys R Us stores closed.  I thought they were already closed.  Sears is closed, right?  JC Penney also?
• The Little Things movie was masterful for 2/3 of the movie.  Then, it is like the creators all disagreed on how to end it. It was bad at the end.  Not only did we get no resolution, not only were watchers waiting for it to end (bad sign watching a movie), but it just was all over the place.  It has you soundly for about 90 minutes though.  Shame to waste Denzel’s talent.
• Screech died.  Every dinnertime at my frat house, a bunch of Stiffler manly frat guys would for some reason watch Saved By The Bell.  One of the mysteries of my life.  But new guys just embraced the ritual, and it kept going and going.  No one questioned it.  RIP, Screech.
• I read that Colorado teens lit the wrong house on fire in their revenge tour and killed a family of five.  That is so, so sad.  They will not only be villains and killers for the rest of their lives, but also on the list of most dumbass mistakes in crime we have ever seen.  It was said it was a drug deal they thought they got ripped off on.
• People outside of Colorado thinks it snows here all the time.  It does not.  It snows a lot, then melts in a day.  Love this place.
• The new eTrade commercial is genius because it combines Karate Kid music WITH Rocky drinking an egg before his run.  For those who know me, that and the Costanza Super Bowl commercial are my favorites right now.
• I think having a show about the Young Rock is really pushing the envelope of his success and the masses’ attention.
• I think I might watch the show Kenan, but that would ruin the streak of me not watching any new show on “regular” TV.  I am in the bubble that all good things are on HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Hulu, etc.
• Dan Levy was pretty funny on SNL.  I watched Schitt’s Creek because I was in the room when my wife was addicted to the show, but I get the genius, whether my style or not.
• The Dig was a solid movie.  Worth watching, but not mind-blowing.  I describe it as a very slow, high quality Indiana Jones movie.
• My wife talked me into watching Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar during Valentines Day weekend (I allow everything, even The Notebook).  It was basically two older Jersey chicks having fun, but was much more trippy than I expected.  If in Colorado or a state that allows it, smoke up and THEN watch it.
• The History of Curse Words is a very good show, and Cage is the perfect host.  I found out my wife doesn’t dig Cage.  I then made a LIST of ten movies that are why he is good.
• List is below.
• The Chile’s 3 for $10 deal is pretty good during COVID times.  Get the Cajun Chicken Pasta, my go to.
• 25 years ago, Happy Gilmore was created.  Classic.  Easily the best golf film outside of Tin Cup, it was filmed when Adam Sandler was still funny, and getting Bob Barker in a fist fight made the watching worthwhile alone.
• Rush Limbaugh died at 70, and I have never seen so little people be sad about someone’s passing.
• ESPN irritated me by not letting me read articles without logging in.  Now, SI.com is on the charging initiative.  I am not a fan of this.  No mags?  Fine.  Making me pay to read stuff.  No.  This is beyond irritating.  I was on Yahoo Sports today reading crap.  Horrible.  At least Deadspin is still awesome and free for me.
• Larry Flynt died, and I am pretty sure every normal dude knows HIS imprint on this world.
• Ozark returns Feb 27.  Thank GOD.  What a great show, and if you don’t love Jason Bateman and his pained characters, then something is wrong with you.
• Great video, but how I the HELL did Axel F not make the top five or even the list overall??????  Best keyboard intro’s ever video:  https://youtu.be/CzmqzM4Nb5E
• Linds and I LOVE magic.  HQ hosted “Claire Voyant” and it was awesome.  Small crowd, very personal, and I dig the mentalist stuff.  When everything is random, plants are tough to do, and they still pull it off, my brain explodes.  Our friend got involved, and Claire aced it.  Our friend had to name a chocolate flavor that disgusted her.  She said “dark chocolate coconut.”  The guess at the time was “delicious coconut.”  So, ballpark, still impressive, and we moved on.  But, at the END of the show, the magician had “dark chocolate coconut” in a balloon that had been on stage since before we arrived.  Along with a bunch of other “corrections.”  Mind-blowing.
• We all hate COVID, but I am an optimist.  As I mentioned before, I like COVID for these things.  The gym is more clear.  The crowds are spaced.  I guess what I am saying is that JUST as I get old enough to not love being in a mass mosh pit, the pandemic cleared everything out.  Perfect.
• Nathanial Raitliffe and Regina King were on SNL weeks ago.  Great stuff.  Regina King was in my #4 underrated movie of all time, Enemy of the State.  I was sad there was no skit on that for that movie, but I guess, as I get older, no one has seen that fantastic movie.  Rounders, The Score, and The Edge are my 1,2, and 3 most underrated movies ever, if you care.  If you haven’t seen any of them, shame on you.
• No day sports on Presidents Day?  Whenever I am off from work, I expect hoops in the middle of the afternoon.
• The Mandalorian actress was fired after being very Trump-ish.  Shame.  She is a badass on the show.  When we picked up watching the show again, I was a little sad knowing she would be phased out.
• Impractical Jokers is a show we got into the pandemic, and then we realized that the show is impossible to make now because no one wants a stranger confronting them randomly.  Interesting concept that is totally derailed because of the pandemic.  Well, actually, they had run their course anyway.  You can’t keep doing those dares when you become famous outside of NYC.  And, they did the dinner thing during the pandemic, and we just watched an episode where they send out one of them on a mission to drive a car with a bunch of muppets to deliver stuff to each friend that was hilarious.  Must be nice to be four friends who became millionaires just going out in public and doing frat stuff.
• To do something different and off the beaten path, we bought tickets to Winterfest at Gaylord Rockies.  Fun, dumb idea.  I won’t tell you how fun it was since this weekend was the last hurrah and it is shut down, but they had a killer tube hill, ice skating, and ice bumper cars.  And Christmas lights.  Fun stuff.  And we are pretty sure we were the only people over 30 years old there without kids.  And witnessing me try to ice skate is a show in itself.
• I used to think that parents loved their kids and played with them.  Now, after having a puppy and going through that process, I realize the real truth.  They just want the kid or puppy to get tired so they can grab a nap or some alone time.  Reality bites.
• Nick Jonas was the host and musical guest on SNL the other night.  I hate SNL combo hosts.  It is like they are cutting corners.  I get that it is just a really funny musician, but pay the extra person.
• Cherokee Nation is complaining about the Jeep Cherokee model name suddenly.  This is a perfect example of people engineering new ideas on existing things to take advantage of the world’s ridiculous amount of sensitivity.  The Cherokee SUV has been around for a long time.  This is the first I have heard of a problem.
• Denver was 54 one day, and had snow the next day.  Again, love this place.
• The Voice is back March 1, with Nick Jonas back on it.  That is our #1 compromise show in the household.  Music, Blake, and mindless watching.  Perfect.
• Someone shot Lady Gaga’s DOG WALKER, and if there is an example of how jacked up society is these days, that unfortunately is definitely one of them.
• My wife saw a Whitesnake meme and commented that it looked different than the poster in my garage (yes, I have a poster of Whitesnake in my garage (along with White Men Can’t Jump, St. Ides, Predator, Rambo, Rocky, etc.)).  I said, “it does, because they needed TWO guys to replace John Sykes when he left.”  THAT is a whole other subject I have covered in this thing from time to time that I will pass on today.

FILLERBUSTER:

• The name Jovie, unsurprisingly, came out of many, many iterations of many, many lists that I made.  A name advancing was like a hoops team winning a game in March Madness.  Why Jovie?  Because we both never want Christmas time to end (she likes everything, and I just like Christmas lights and would have them up year round if I didn’t want to make neighbors irritated).  Because Jovie is the character in the movie Elf, which is a favorite of Lindsey’s.  Because the first syllable reminds us of a friend, Joe, that we lost.  And because it WASN’T on any popular name lists.  And also because I didn’t want to yell “Buttercup” at dog parks in front of people (Princess Bride name almost won).
• The second cat got he good name.  Charlee.  From Top Gun.  Dammit.
• Since Jovie is a pure-bred dog, apparently I have to pick out an AKC (American Kennel Club) name.  I have researched how to do this.  Your names, your location, the kennel name, etc.  My initial thought is Jovie Kyle Pagosa of the Selah Mountains.
• One year ago, we were in Ecuador right before the pandemic hit.  SOOOO thankful we had our big trip early in the year right before lockdown.  Luckier than others.
• I read that Viktor Frankl book I told you about, which changed my entire opinion on life.  After that whole Texas weather event, if you have working heat, then all of your other problems are nothing.  Get over it and embrace life.  Stop complaining about things not in your control.  Someone has it worse.
• Know that if I was vaccinated, I would be FULL ON going to Indianapolis to be part of the pandemic March Madness.  Indianapolis is also the last major city I have never visited.
• People always judge me wearing my khakis and think I am uncomfortable.  That is not true.  I went to UVA for one semester, started wearing a sport coat and khaki’s and drinking bourbon, and they are the most comfortable pants in the world.  I could literally be in a Dockers commercial and mean it.  I wear them constantly.  They are my jeans.
• I went to sleep early on Friday to get ready to take Jovie out three times during the night.   Lindsey woke me up (well, it was only like 11pm) to play Home Sweet Home for her friends in Arizona (where she was).  I accepted.  It wasn’t too bad of rendition.  Asking me to play 80’s song is not unreasonable no matter when it happens.
• We all have signs we are getting older.  Here is my latest one.  Eyes are healthy, but I officially have “reading glasses.”  I will squint when in public and not wear them out of pride, but I admit to using them at home.  And given that many menus are QR codes on our phones now, I MIGHT have to bust them out in restaurants.  Dammit.
• I love my house for many reasons, but the fact that I can be literally ANYWHERE in the house and see my big screen…is right near the top.
• I took Jovie to a puppy socialization class last week.  She attacked the biggest puppy there and played.  She was one of the few pups who didn’t pee in the venue.  And then she just looked for food on the ground for the last 30 minutes.  Jovie is a badass.  And I was reminded what dog fights are for pilots.  The trainer was telling me if Jovie was tired and didn’t stay engaged, that she had to move to the non-active side.  It reminded me of Maverick and Ice during that final scene.  “It doesn’t look good.”  “Dammit, I KNEW it!”
• My dog’s favorite toy is the bucket that is supposed to HOLD her other toys.  She barks at it like it is living thing until I put it in another room.
• So, I have to have something to do when I take Jovie out for 45 minutes.  Talk about the most useless skill like EVER.  DO you know the ring game?  String, hook on tree?  The game that was invented at the Soggy Dollar in the British Virgin Isles?  Well, all I do when I take her out is play that game.  The normal person makes it on the ring about 1 out of 15 times or so.  I am down to about 1 out of 3.  And I can do it in the dark out of “feel.”  I will never use this skill ever except at my house parties or at some random picnic, but pretty impressive regardless.
• I love that we are at the time of year when the CBS March Madness song plays and it WILL happen this year.  As I have said in this blog, I went to see Lindsey’s dad sing at a concert, and actually MET the dude who wrote that tune.  I was embarrassing of course when telling him how much I loved his song.
• When Lindsey was out of town, I got stuck on A Few Good Men yet again.  Grave danger.
• Dazed and Confused Day is coming together slowly.  It will involve an all-day watch party with the following movies:  Sixth Sense, Déjà vu, Tenet, Inception, and Memento.
• I kind of want to bleach my hair, but Lindsey says I am too old.  She also mentions that gray hair doesn’t bleach as well.  Dammit.
• I bleached it once.  It looked great.
• Everyone, please stop saying “Super-Excited” in front of me.  It literally kills me.
• My wife is starting to travel again solo, as she is vaccinated.  I want to travel again so bad.  After the puppy is not a puppy though.
• The next time my wife travels is the first weekend of March Madness.  I am pretty sure I can give Jovie nonstop attention for four days while watching 12 hours of hoops daily.
• One thing about being a musician is that it is quite simple to pump out a decent quality Valentines Day song in about 20 minutes.  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the piano lessons.  It is a skill I will use until I am face up.
• My work is having us stay remote until at least July minimally.  I am happy about that.  Especially since I have a puppy.  Then, we get the option.  My option will be working more remote than in office without a doubt.  Again, there are many positive spins on this pandemic.
• Speaking of Karate Kid and Cobra Kai…if I have control of TV movie?  Top Gun, Karate Kid, Rocky IV, Rounders.  Wife has control?  Wedding Crashers, Pitch Perfect, Elf, Bridemaids, Superbad, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. 
• Betting is fun because you have to have a short memory and keep shooting.  As my CRO says, you also have to be comfortable being uncomfortable sometimes.  What that means in betting is to forget your slump and lay a larger sum on the comeback game.  You are either this person or NOT this person.  I have fun being that person.

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Remember two things.  First, feed yourself, feed your family, but always, always remember to…feed the wolf.  Second,  if you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.

And, if you care, here are my Pagosa Springs notes:

PAGOSA SPRINGS CO January 2020

• Not sure if Pagosa Springs is an end game for any trips (we found out it is not), but we were heading there with bags for a trip, and coming back with a puppy.
• We split up the trip into two parts.  We decided to stay in Salida the first night, and make the rest of the trip on that Friday.  It was supposed to snow on Friday night out that way, so we had great roads to drive.
• My 4Runner is the shit for trips.
• We got lucky and caught a killer sunset on 285 right where you hit the straightaway after Fairplay.  Bright red and beautiful.
• Our thing is to hit every hot springs wherever we go.  We have hit most of them in Colorado.
• Wendy’s also seems to be our go to when traveling and wanting a quick stop for food.
• So…we hit up the Mount Princeton Hot Springs before getting to Salida.  It is just a few miles off 285 outside of Buena Vista, and you definitely should hit it up next time you are in area.  Surprised we never hit it up actually.  It is on the opposite side of the mountain as Cottonwood Hot Springs.  Mt. Princeton was really cool.  You need to be a member to hit all of the pools, and probably should do it during the day for a great mountain view, but it had a natural wonder going on I still don’t fully understand.  There is a line of small natural pools just guarded from the river by rocks.  Pools were hot, river was mountain cold.  Crazy.
• We had a full moon the whole time, which oddly allowed us to kind of see the mountain tops in the complete dark.
• We headed to Salida and barely made the 8pm COVID cutoff for accepting tables.  Cool place.  It was the fancy place in town that had loud music, and locals dressed in flannels.  Awesome.  We had lobster queso, and wondered why we didn’t encounter this dish more, and why more did we stumble on to it in a very land locked mountain town.  I also had the burger.  Very, very good, and probably comes in the top ten on my list of burgers.
• Salida has a bigger downtown than I expected.  It had the main drag, but had more side streets than other mountain towns.
• Salida also has a main drag with fast food and strip malls.  That is where our hotel was, as we didn’t find anything of note downtown, and it would have been too late to do anything anyway.
• We stayed at the Loyal Duke Lodge, and we liked it.  Not the fanciest place, but it felt clean and was quaint.  We snuck in a hot tub appointment, and had a hotel party.
• Loyal Duke Lodge’s rooms have what you never find anywhere…a BIG hotel room trash can.  Crazy.
• Morning work meeting that was an absolute waste of time.
• Off to Pagosa at 11am.
• We drove a LONG time on 285 and what do you know?  We saw those sand dunes on our left a long way away.  If you have never hit those up, you are missing out on another natural wonder.
• Colorado plains where you can see the snowcaps in the distance are SUCH a pretty drive.
• Before Wolf Creek pass in Del Norte, we hit up Ofelia’s for lunch.  Delicious enchiladas I had, Lindsey had some drinks, and it was a one family stop where the kids were in a separate room probably all day.  Cheap as heck.
• She warned us about Wolf Creek Pass, but it was really just another normal Colorado mountain pass.
• We checked into the Nightingale in Pagosa.  PERFECT for our needs.  Cute motel room with kitchenette and very clean with hardwood floors.  We dropped our stuff and booked it to the hot springs to try and beat the post-skiing traffic.
• Mission was successful, as we were #97 and #98 of an allowed 101 people.  We paid the $45, but considering our favorite (Strawberry Park) was $20, this better be a gem.
• They have about 17 normal pools of various temperatures, some higher up VIP pools for members or hotel guests, and then a plunge in the river, which was ALL cold in this case.
• Wife met lots of people, and although the pools had COVID limits, there were still plenty of people to chill with.
• Yes, I did the cold plunge, although briefly, as it was truly cold.
• The hotel looked nice, but considering it was $300 a night or so, not sure it was worth it.  I like our Nightingale place for less than $100.
• Headed back to hotel, and caught happy hour at the Neon Mallard (adjective animal yay).  Dark place that had some mystic and weird decorations.
• We went to Kip’s Cantina and I had the best quesadilla I remember ever having…seriously.  We got to sit at the BAR…in COVID.  Linds spent most of her time showing the bartender (Courtney) pictures of our future pup.
• Early to bed for Linds.  I stayed up until 10, watched most of the Seinfeld Coffee shows, and then crashed.  This hotel was one of those weird places that didn’t have regular TV.  Too hard for me to track down simple SportsCenter.
• It was 100% chance of snow that night, and I looked out, and it came down HARD.
• Still brainstorming dog names.
• Started my hot springs rankings list.
• Woke up without an alarm, and decided to hit up Two Chicks and a Hippie for breakfast.  It was great.  I had the Skier, which basically was eggs, sausage, green chili, cheese, and gravy all on a plate.  Delicious.  We had a delicious Bloody Mary and of course Lindsey had to have their “Pagosa Mimosa.”  Man, that town walked into THAT special drink.
• So, there is this frontage road that connects that place with Pagosa, and it is basically 5 miles of spread out stores in between.
• We were sad to see that a mini-golf bar place was closed.  Shooters and Shenanigans.
• It was “explore time,” meaning I parked and we bumped from store to store like tourists.  We bought some rocks at some cool store named Rokt, and some other dumb stuff, and stopped ourselves from buying some hummingbird things.
• She tries to find something to buy.  I try to NOT find anything to buy.
• We also booked a Sunday sunset spot at the Overlook downtown hot springs.  Highly recommended.
• Check out a cool store and cool lady at Coyote Jane’s.
• We found a dive bar that didn’t show up on our phone maps.  Pagosa Bar.  We grabbed two drinks, which meant that we had four, since the smoking, drinking bartender Jeff decided to buck the system by just pouring the automatic stop spout twice.
• Back to hotel.  Linds nap.
• Then mini-party and then we walked the OTHER way, which had a bunch of other stuff by river (River Center).  We hit up Aquasol, a cool place by the river with tent and outside area.  Get the PB-OB if you go there, a peanut butter fruit drink that is off the hook.  Also, get the dry rub wings.
• They had a caution sign about ice falling.  Ice fell and broke the heater while we were there.
• Hodge Podge is a store that has all SORTS of stuff in it.  Fun place.
• We also hit up Riff Raff Brewery, the local brewery.  The guy who owns the place was a Texas Tech guy (Jason), so I had the UVA loss to talk to him about along with a ridiculous basketball cover by his boys that netted me some money earlier.
• Back to room.  Only thing that Nightingale sucked at was shower pressure.  They had the walk-in, but hadn’t invested in the pressure, although the bathroom sink soaked you by just nudging it.  Weird.
• Back to the tiny hotel trashcan.
• The 6 inches of snow from last night is almost melted already.  Crazy.
• We have decided to now snowmobile.  It doesn’t call to us like other stuff.  I want to Jet Ski at the beach if getting on something like that.
• We nixed ice skating too.  It was just at the River Center, but I didn’t see anything for me to run into to stop.
• Back to hotel.  Tired.  Played some Quixx.
• I went to Mountain Pizza for the recommended Hellfire pizza.  Met some people, made Lindsey come down (block away), and we had one round with them at Neon Mallard (Texas Tech people again).
• These people had the craziest names, and maybe they were just messing with me.  I introduced myself to them after they asked if I was Norwegian, and they said these were THEIR names:  Buford, Ridge, Evan (girl), Regan, Slap Dick, Coley,
• Nightingale also has thin walls.  Heard some people very clearly from our bathroom during this trip.  Linds thinks the chick was faking.
• Watched The Little Things.  It was really good until about 2/3 of the way through.  Then, it was all over the place.
• Bed.
• Planned on hitting up Rose’s for breakfast, but we wanted a vacation early drink (and because it would just be more smothered stuff lol), so we went to Los Dos Charros (over by Two Chicks and a Hippie) because Linds wanted some pozole.  They were out.  At 9am.  This one old guy must have eaten it all.  I had machaca and it was a breakfast mess that was good.
• I have noticed that they put eggs in their enchiladas everywhere in this part of the country.
• Then, we found out the really cool thing about the town.  We went to the Hippie Hot Springs (meaning free I assume).  Very cool.  Accessible by anyone, right by a walking path by river, and hot springs right by the cold river formed naturally with a great view.  We could see the $45 hot springs from where we were.  MUST do on your list.
• Peak Deli is oddly closed on weekends.
• I have become a sticker guy (on my computer, on my keyboard, etc.) and I couldn’t find a good Pagosa sticker oddly.
• We went to Pagosa Bar again, as the fun atmosphere sounded good before we hit Overlook Hot Springs.  Jeff the bartender was on his day off, and we played him and his wife (Jeanette) at pool.  Won both games.
• So, Overlook has courtyard pools that are cool individual ones, and you get a fun desk person who delivers you drinks.  I highly recommend this experience and it will be potluck if you get a fun group like what we had.  6-8 people in each group.
• Early to bed as we needed to pick up the dog tomorrow.  Now, reality settling in that our life is about to change.
• Hit up Peak Deli in the morning.  My Porkarito was great, but her pork belly one was even better.
• Some random notes:
• Driving to and from, you experience real Colorado.  We saw Hairy Coos and actual buffalo herds just chilling out by road.
• We didn’t get to Alley House, but heard good things about it.  Oversight and not enough time for us.
• It is VERY cold in some of these mountain towns.  My car alarm didn’t even work here and there.
• Thought we lost some things, and found them all while packing up.
• For a puppy just stolen from its home, this puppy was chill as hell on the way home.  Good sign of things to come.  Easy breezy.