Law Of Surprise

Law of Surprise

The Cast

Date: 26 March 2020

FILLERBUSTER’S ELEVEN

BACKGROUND:  This started as a long-winded numbered blog.  It transformed into an organized long-winded category blog.  Now, it is a quick-hitter to ease your pain.  I lack time.  So, the preparation of the blog actually made me procrastinate from writing the thing.  Let’s see who makes the cut.  Barely edited as usual unfortunately, so please excuse any mistakes during my stream of consciousness.  I feel the need…the need for speed.  Let’s turn and burn.

SETTING: This is written almost all on Wednesday night.  Touched up briefly and released Thursday after work hours.  I needed a blog night before diving into my next show-watching binge.  I even wrote this during a poker game, so this must be important.  (wipes back a tear…this would be Opening Day in baseball today, folks).

TODAY IN HISTORY: On this day in history, since we don’t have present games going on, the rivalry of Magic and Bird began in the 1979 NCAA Final. They would go to perennial franchises at the next level, they would both win MVP’s and titles, and be linked forever. But, it all started here. It STILL, folks, is the most watched BASKETBALL game OF ALL TIME. They changed the sport for the good forever. And if Magic called Larry today to remind him of the battle and say happy anniversary, Larry would STILL hang up on him.

1. EVERGREEN:  Olympics.  We feel for athletes in every sport these days.  They are losing finality.  They are missing a year in their window.  They are missing controlling their own immediate destiny.  They are saying “maybe next year.”  But, I feel different levels of sadness for these athletes.  For the Olympians, I save my largest amount of sadness.  They don’t have annual seasons.  Theirs are every four years.  Everything is aimed and targeted at that four-year mark.  There are always stories about part-time employees putting together the scratch and time to train for some odd sport we get reminded of every four years.  For most, the sport is not their living.  I am glad the athletes will get their shot in one year at worse case.  And I hope there aren’t too many stories about Olympians needing to skip next year because of money, injury, work, age, complications, etc.  I hope there are very, very few stories of athletes who could only do 2020.  Their athletic windows are in groups of four, and for most of them, and again, for many, that sport is NOT their life.  I feel for them the worst. 
2. EVERGREEN 2:  Void Fillers (see what I did there?).  Everyone has there plan almost in place for filling the void during this quarantined social distancing.  My initial list was like a lot of my lists.  Too long, and more likely to be a flow chart instead of a list.  Anyway, I have simplified.  I believe my list is be fluent in Spanish, get my six-pack fully back, break down and build up my garage, watch The Wire, learn to be handier around the house, and get my skills back on my Roland.  I didn’t accomplish my long ago to-do of making the garage a part time gym, so now I will have to take up my hated running activity along with busting out the TRX and a tree branch.  Lindsey was doing yoga in the yard today, so I will just add to the flavor.  Oh, my buddy left his guitar over our house at the final party.  I might learn guitar also.  Should be pretty easy for me.  Good luck with YOUR void fillers
3. EVERGREEN 3:  COVID-19 Notes.  It is tough to write my notes, as everything changes day to day.  I laughed at the beaches being packed on TV and the non-buy-in of the masses, but the Mayor was right about Denver.  People packed Sloan’s Lake according to MY eye, and I heard it was the same at Wash Park, amongst other places right before the stay at home order.  But, the stay at home order was coming regardless.    It is fascinating that people are going to remote places to escape the pandemic.  But, then the very small population of where they go gets even more angry at the newcomers.  It is interesting seeing who can handle the quarantine and who are having problems.  And they aren’t even problematic handling of it in reality.  It is more about introvert vs. extrovert.  So, for example, in my relationship, I am handling the stay at home without a sweat, while Lindsey is definitely a little antsy.  I like people but am happy hanging solo.  Lindsey wants to be around people.  I think some of my colleagues really miss their colleagues.  I unfortunately don’t miss much except for the routine of work, the more immediate solving of problems, and the workout room at work.  I write this during a poker game online with my colleagues and ex-colleagues.  Not yearning for that yet.  One of the funny two hours of Denver life was when the Mayor said liquor stores would close.  I got a glimpse of it, and that was enough.  Hope we don’t really close them or start running out of stuff or test the mass reflex in other ways.  Hoping this is just a dry run.  OneFold in Uptown Denver is selling its entire menu for $8 each item.  I would suggest contributing to their business and that killer financial offer.  Lindsey is working from home also now most of the week.  We are soaking it up.  I feel bad for families or couples who this is making it tough on.  Sad they are in that deal.  We are lucky.  Pretty sure our expensive white cat is NOT liking us home all the time, while the ratty inexpensive black one is loving this and follows us around like a puppy.  It was tough initially getting into a quarantine routine, as we were all tested with just blowing the new free time.  But, probably for most of us, order is restored, and a routine is more in place.  Before the lockdown, I returned an Amazon gift for Lindsey.  The UPS Store had 6 feet areas marked on its carpet.  The stimulus package is almost fully passed.  We need it.  Individuals need it, health care needs it, unemployment needs it, and businesses need it.  Denver is always all over the weather channel nationally when it snows.  Did we get any pub for being 65 and sunny all week this week?  Are Corona Beer sales doing worse or better?  I am enjoying seeing random acts of kindness, along with clever business angles that entities are doing during this odd time.  I am even digging these social distancing logos from companies. The separated “M” for McDonald’s is awesome. Maybe Steph Curry shouldn’t be the optimal person to be asking Dr. Fauci questions, but he sure pulled a crowd regardless. NextDoor was funny before and I marveled at people having the time to write on there.  Well, now it is just ridiculously funny, with everyone having MORE time.  I haven’t decided whether to use this time and just grow my hair out ridiculously or to learn how to cut my own hair.  I think the former will win.  Let’s blow it up.  Roger Federer donating a mil of Swiss money to the cause,  the Brees family just gave $5 mil to the local area,  and we will hopefully hear lots more of these stories from celebrities of course.  Jackson Browne has CV, and maybe Tom Hanks can take a jog over there to make sure he is not running on empty.  Looking at where we are now, I am pretty sure that Lindsey and I had one of the later kickass parties before this whole thing went down.  It was for her birthday, so our hand was forced, but man, I am glad we tore it down one more time before this crap.  We have all learned to do social distance, but the numbers are still going the opposite way.  Highest spike in U.S. deaths thus far.  We are finding out COVID causes lung DAMAGE in some cases too.  So scary.  I can’t believe the visual of nurses wearing trash bags.  Let’s get them what they need.  Between DC, Vegas, Mexico, and see The Eagles live, my long time readers know in what order I miss those things.  A woman in Pennsylvania coughed on $35k worth of food at a grocery store.  Man, these people.  Lock her up six feet away from her cellmate.  Lindsey passed on an article saying this year’s hurricane season activity on the Atlantic would be higher than normal this year.  Great.  We will recover from this and then they get storms that make them get closer.  I am already tired of questionnaires on Twitter.  Like where have you lived and ranking the Rocky movies and other stuff.  Geez.  Stop it.  But, if you have to know, Bridgeton, NJ, Charlottesville, VA, Newport, RI, Gautier, MS, Charlottesville, VA, Virginia Beach, VA, Denver, CO.  And it is Rocky IV, Rocky II, Creed, Rocky, Rocky III, Creed II, Rocky Balboa, Staring Blankly at the Wall, and then Rocky V.  A National Cathedral oddly had a boatload of masks in its “crypt.”  You know it is a pandemic if it is able to close Waffle Houses (420 closed this week).  Ammunition sales are up, in case you are worried about this becoming The Purge.  And, on this Opening Day that isn’t Opening Day, all of the Yankees players are using this time to FINALLY grow beards and break their team rules.  Stay safe, all.  Moving on…
4. NFL:  The Hoodie is a genius, but he is really testing himself these days.  Jarrett Stidham is apparently the next Tom Brady, unless it turns out the Brian Hoyer has been a journeyman only up to this point.  McCourty has been around the block, and apparently his vote is totally towards Stidham.  Personally, I LOVE Stidham in college and he has kind of a Baker Mayfield story in some ways.  Kid is smart and fiery.  And apparently Bill doesn’t need a veteran to kick field goals and extra points either, as he cut Gostkowski to the wind.  Of course, we still have one more shoe left to drop.  Cam Newton.  I doubt he ends up as a Patriot, but wouldn’t it be ironic if the one type of QB Belichick has problems in solving he just recruits to his own team?  Cam had bad teams like the Skins trading for his competition (Kyle Allen) and not him.  That is bad.  Well, I guess Jameis Winston would be HALF a shoe to drop.  The Rams rebranding looks like a D2 school colliding with an Arena League team.  Matt Rhule is picking up kids like PJ Walker that played for him at Temple, but at some point, shouldn’t he also remember that Temple wasn’t exactly a juggernaut?  Peyton Manning turned 44 this week and turned down MNF.  We know what the birthday boy needs.  He wants to run or own a team BADLY.  The Bucs introduced Tom Brady, and it was adorable how he wanted everyone’s phone number.  Two things.  One, this definitely helped the sports talking heads for a day lacking other material.  Two, doesn’t each new player get…like a phone list or something?  Or did someone feel the need to forcefully broadcast how much Crocs Boy cares.  I like the TBxTB thing.  Part of me wonders if he was on the fence and then thought of that branding and said “YES!”  Montana dissed the Pats for the separation, but even though they don’t have Steve Young already on the roster, should Joe being throwing his hat in this ring since he didn’t finish with the 49ers? Different situation though, and Joe is my guy. The Jaguars signed Tyler Eifert for two years.  Now they just need someone reliable to throw him the ball.  I think the NFL Draft should follow the lead of every other single event out there, and just cancel itself.  It doesn’t matter whether it is remote, without people, or whatever.  It doesn’t need to happen right now. Are we worried about construction delays on any of these new stadiums in L.A., Vegas, etc.? Not sure, but it came to mind. Oh, and happy birthday, Marcus Allen. You won the MVP and title at both levels. Your party for that achievement would be very, very small, with or without social distancing.
5. COLLEGE FOOTBALL:  Nice week for Ohio State fans.  Trey Sermon, one of the studs for OU’s backfield when healthy, announced his transfer there this week.  I get a little sad knowing this caused Buckeye joy at the expense of my wife’s team.  Tua really got screwed by the virus like everyone else.  If anyone needed to be up and personal with scouts with his injury situation, it was him.  Instead, he just released a simple video.  Or, maybe it will help him.  Dude got hurt and was projected in the teens, and he hasn’t done anything but heal and he is up to #5.
6. COLLEGE BASKETBALL:  Today is the anniversary of Bill Walton’s 21-22 title game performance. UCLA was 60-0 when he played for them. I know I should be reading a new, long book during stay at home time, but articles are just as delightful.  Especially, when they involve a “bracket.”  I would be heading to Vegas in two days if this whole thing didn’t go down.  My bracket may or may not have busted already.  UVA could be in the Sweet Sixteen.  This is my favorite time of the year.  Ruined.  Anyway, I love anything that has to be relating to a bracket.  ESPN is doing the greatest college basketball player of all-time bracket.  Fun.  Men’s and women’s.  First of all, it is a walk down memory lane reading their summaries.  I read each and every one.  Now, the bracket is being “played.”  Fan voting.  There are upsets, as there should be.  Shaq over Kareem?  OK.  I get it.  But Zion Williamson over Danny Manning made me flip a switch.  One and done players can be on this list, but can’t be beating too many people.  Melo and Anthony Davis both won titles, so at least they have SOME complaint about what I said.  Zion?  Didn’t win anything.  Not even a Final Four!  Danny Manning was a model college hoopster.  And his role players were called the freaking MIRACLES.  Anyway, he had a title from an sixth seed slot, and now he LOSES this BS tourney as an eight seed?  Hate it.  Redo that region, folks.  Fans, your voting is too recent-biased and horrible.  At least AI is still trucking, although Maravich SHOULD at least beat him.  The Pistol averaged over 44 points a game for three years, shooting from midcourt, WITHOUT a three point line.  Maybe the committee messed up with HIS 13^th ranked seeding.  Also, the best thing about this tourney is the breakdowns from Bilas and folks, like they would do for the real tourney.  I love how they questioned the committee on seedings pre-tourney.  They got into it.  Other items.  Seth Towns was a monster transfer pickup by Ohio State that no one will hear about.  He played at Harvard and was one of the top targets.  He turned down Duke, Kansas, UVA, etc.  Tyrese Haliburton and Obi Toppin both declared for the draft.  I love both of these guys’ upside.  They won’t be 1 or 2, but definitely won’t drop past 10.  Haliburton lit it up for an underachieving Iowa State team, and Toppin might have given the Dayton Flyers a “surprise” championship.  On the women’s side, I am sad for a UVA alum, Dawn Staley.  She had a very possible winner in South Carolina before the season shut down.  UCONN was reloading, Oregon had one player to stop, and the rest of the top ten had flaws.  Her team was legit.  A lost chance.  Finally, back on the men’s side, it is never too soon to talk about next year.  Or if I just want to read about UVA’s Sam Hauser’s sit out year being done.  He can play next year.  I hope everyone enjoyed their time beating up a little on my boys.  And UNC.  Their recruiting class is UK-isque. Both will have some offense next year.  https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28936673/villanova-tops-college-basketball-way-too-early-top-25-2020-21
7. NBA:  Tobias Harris is treating Instagram like the games haven’t stopped.  He thanks his teammates and glorifies rookies’ play each night after the fake games.  Kind of fun.  And go figure.  Apparently, the Sixers are HOT accordingly to him.  Lots of wins.  You know we are lacking some sports stories when I actually open UP the story about a New Orleans zoo naming a baby penguin after Mr. Williamson. Curly Neal died today. He was an all-timer as a Globetrotter, a ball handler that inspired such HOF’ers such as Isiah Thomas, and just a really, really great dude. Happy trails, and you will be missed.
8. NHL:  The NHL is postponing its draft.  Not as glamorous as the NFL one, but its big brother should, again, follow that lead.  Records.  This goes for ALL of sports, but this pause is hurting a lot of contracts and records.  Think about this.  Alexander Ovechkin was at 48 goals when COVID slammed the brakes on them.  Ovechkin is behind, by one season, only Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky for most seasons all-time with 50 goal seasons.  Not that he won’t tie them next year, but you never know how many chances you get to tie The Great One at anything.  And I don’t really even care what the Cowboys and Dak are talking about.  He has won nothing WITH weapons and a damn good O-Line.  Don’t overpay him yet.
9. MLB:  Noah Syndergaard will need Tommy John surgery.  This saddens me as a baseball fan.  He just signed a one-year contract, his ERA was a full point above his career average, and you just felt like he was going to have a special season this year.  Of course, maybe the higher ERA was BECAUSE he needed this, so I guess that makes sense.  I had a really good time reading this article.  Best prospects that the guys who should know have ever seen.  https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28944913/the-best-prospects-ever-saw-kid-swing-phenoms-feats
10. THIS AND THAT:  Linds and I just finished The Witcher.  Great show.  It is basically a fix for people still aching for Game of Thrones.  Same vibe.  Be aware before you watch it that they pull some timeline tricks on you, so just be cognizant that things don’t go in absolute order.  No spoilers, but just some teases.  The Law of Surprise is a takeaway from the show, meaning you will hear me use it in normal conversation.  If someone saves your life, they can use the Law of Surprise to even the transaction, and it typically involves taking your son or daughter.  Frequently, it is one born or created while you were off getting your life saved.  It can be used for anything at any time, pretty much, although we are just learning it.  There is also a Child Surprise, but we are pretty sure that just means you have a child who is a surprise.  Or maybe that is the definitive child version of the Law of Surprise.  Not sure.  We got past the talking dragon, the overdone love story while searching for that talking dragon, and what had to be shared sets with GOT to LOVE the show.  The main dude is Henry Cavill.  I loved his necklace of the wolf and want one.  Love the symbol usage before each show.  Kind of tees it up like Ozark did for its shows.  The ending actually resolved the problem I thought it would in the air, and left open the one that I thought it would resolve.  Dragons, sorcery, sword fighting, etc.  Worth your time.  One season, eight episodes.  I won’t say Law of Surprise as it means it in the show. But, when I plan on surprising something about absolutely anything, I WILL say “I invoke the Law of Surprise.” Westworld is done episode 2.  I am very confused as everyone is (and the ones who aren’t will end up wrong anyway), but at least the dragon from GOT made an obvious cameo.  Loved a newer Family Guy where he coaches the minor league team.  Caught the Jim Rome show during the day while working, and I had no idea they brought back his old school type of radio show.  I was a hard-core clone back in the day.  Terence from Sierra Madre was my favorite caller.  March 23^rd was National Puppy Day, and not sure they need their own day when they own the other days of the year too.  Saw a commercial for Blacklist.  That is still ON?????  I watched the first season before it went haywire in the second.  Thought it should vanish a WHILE ago.  Lindsey watched some show called Love It or List It.  Hadn’t seen it before and thought it was a cool concept…well, since all she does is watch house shows and murder shows.  Hope we keep our house and stay alive.  If you can’t beat them, join them.  I got sucked into Taken 2 the other night.  Still blows my mind that they would mess with that guy for two more sequels.  And then again in Antarctica and on that train lol.  I was excited to get a true 80’s rocker on The Voice.  Well, he lost his battle but was saved.  So, basically, I might only see him ONE more time.  Todd Michael Hall.  Dammit.  Nick Jonas is the new coach on the show, but he sure showed his chops in arrangements of his first two battles.  Guess I have to pick a new favorite person.  We still love catching up on Shark Tank.  Delta faucets have models that can pour an exact amount dictated by phone????  THAT is dirty.  It will be cool for 15 years until they drown their owner humans when the robots take over and erase us.  Remember, don’t be TOO mean to those robots on the automated phone messages.  They will be the first to turn.  A man in France completed a marathon in his house.  But, that is not the kicker.  He did it on his deck, which is 23 feet long.  He did like 3000 turns.  It took him double his normal time, so 7 hours.  That man needs some help or some cash to buy a treadmill.  El Paso just had an earthquake, which means they are juggling different problems right now. And although it belongs in “miscellaneous,” did I just see that UFC fighter Jon Jones just got arrested AGAIN? You were UP, then down. Then, we accepted you back and you were UP. Now, while everyone else is quarantined, you get a DWI WITH guns? Dude, at least pay for a private driver to eliminate ONE of those. Get a locked glove compartment and maybe you can eliminate the other one. OR, you could just STOP doing dumb stuff.
11. THE FILLERBUSTER:  We had a Colorado family get together.  We covered everything from toilet paper rolls to ammunition owned in case The Purge does occur.  They really do have that perfect mountain house if things went south. It would be like reenacting Red Dawn for me. If you want to test your fortitude, go on Old Navy’s site and try not to buy things at 50% off.  Lindsey bought 8 things for $100, and I bought 7 things for same amount.  Or, you can do what I was doing before my wife coerced me to go on there, and just ignore these sentences.  I still can’t believe that we were lucky enough to squeeze our big annual trip to Ecuador in BEFORE this stuff went down.  It felt weird doing the trip in February initially, but now it feels like we knew the future.  And with Trump talking smack about Venezuela terrorism, even more glad we got back from that part of the world.  We realized that we forgot hot sauce on our last grocery trip before the lockdown.  Lindsey ordered some Merf’s.  Apparently, there was a free shipping limit she wanted to hit.  The box came.  She ordered $50 worth and we have bottles for months now (it would be about five years in other people’s houses, but we use a LOT of hot sauce).  I put up shelves in our bathroom, and if you understand anything about my handy skills, you know that I basically just built a car from scratch or split the atom.  I hate doing sales stuff for work right now as it is sensitive time, but I think my VP said it best.  We didn’t lose our leg.  We BROKE our leg.  And when we are standing back up, things will need to be prepped for and ROLLING.  Temporary down time.  Accomplish stuff.  Going to go now.  Gotta get my rest before doing that running activity I detest so much but now seems necessary.  I can run with Rocky music on though. That is a fact that I still roll with those tunes. Plus, I can’t run more than a mile without Gonna Fly Now or Going the Distance. Or, if I don’t feel like running, maybe I will submit an entry into the #distancedance contest.

ALTERNATE CATEGORIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT:

1. THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK (because the best song this week IS the best song ever…for now):
2. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
3. LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE
4. TRAVEL
5. THIS WEEK’S LIST
6. MY NUMBERS
7. GONE FISHING (the riddle for money):
8. PICS BY MY PIXEL (pictures from my phone):
9. LIFEGUARD ENTRY:
10. TWEET OF THE WEEK

The theme?  The Witcher.  Law of Surprise.  No, I don’t want any surprise kid, but it was kind of funny to hear this ancient show drop that term so easily.  And apparently, it outranks everything else.  And, per Google, it is a “custom as old as humanity itself.”  Opening Day just barely lost, as I like pop culture themes over sports themes for my sports blog. Social Distancing got beat out for a second week in a row.

And our weekly reminder of the greatest sequel ever made coming out next summer… Top Gun 2.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epgkqPJ_bc0

My next blog can be whenever. We are quarantined nationally, and I can use the Law of Surprise.

MWTILMGBDEOASMGUWGEMCDFTWBIPMFBRMBWC

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.

THROW IT BACK IN THE POND

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kraft takes out full page goodbye ad

slay to wear 24 this season for kobe

dubai world cup cancelled

falcons pick up wr treadwell

Gregory boys files reinstatement

charles barkley tests negative for covid

champions league final postponed

triple h jabs wilder on twitter

boys ol Frederick retires

chiefs sign xfl qb ta’amu

76ers devils 4 day work week

ex-A&M guard from 90’s dies from coronavirus

ballmer buys forum-on path to build arena

mariota says this is derek’s team

TD ushers laid off

cuban hoping for mid-may return

prince Charles has cv

mnt focus is want lawsuit

trevor lawrence allowed fundraiser

winged foot closing might delay us open

perriman signs with jets

vikings pick up tajae sharpe

okongwu declares

patrick tape commits to duke

arians says brady can still throw deep ball

suh to stay with bucs

dickerson to talk through rams logo problem

nhl to cut league office salaries temporarily

former nets jason collins tests positive virus

kat’s mom in coma

bryce beekman wash state safety dies

Hamlin wins virtual race

Olympic decision four weeks

Canada won’t send athletes to olympics

la liga suspended virus

olympics will be in…

dick pound

texas bans abortions

Sean payton cleared, feels better

Prince Charles has CV

manning joins online UT cheer group

cb dennard again a FA-no deal with Jags

curry-fauci

bison-montana reporter

Norwegian cruise line might have downplayed CV

Great barrier reef bleaching and killing self

Bindi Irwin gets privately married in a zoo

Sofi stadium construction continues with new rules

Lebron provides food for 1300 people in akron

Cameraman from jazz game march 7 in coma cv