NOT a passenger…

Thoughts for the day…

1. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I had too much fun, but I guess that is what I do here and there.
2. Yes, I am wearing shorts today.  Anything above the 25 degree mark.
3. Why the theme?  Let’s get this out there right away.  Every one of my friends and wife are across the street watching Passengers.  Have you read the plot?  No amount of Jennifer Lawrence nudity would drive me to go watch that movie for $10-$12.  I assume all 8 of them will come out and say “damn, you were right.”  Plus, I missed a blog yesterday, so I have a lot on my mind, and this clears the night schedule for hanging with the wife.  I am such a nice guy.
4. Been a while since I wrote a blog from the bar, but I am such a nice guy that I figure I would be across the street when their movie watching agony ends.  Plus, got me a Boston bartender with a very much Boston accent (no “r’s).  Love it.
5. So, as they say in the Old Milwaukee mid 1980’s commercials.  It doesn’t get any better than this.  Broncos are out.  Steelers are in.  Steelers can rest everyone next week.  Steelers play most likely against two teams that are missing their #1 QB, Dolphins and Raiders.  I already booked my plane tickets to see Mr. Brady.
6. Just kidding on the plane tickets, but not something that would be OUT of my daily doings.
7. George Michael died yesterday.  I may or may not have organized an improv karaoke session last night at Avery’s singing all of the George Michael tunes.  I did One More Try.  I may or may not have pleased everyone there.  Probably not.
8. Say you didn’t say it, Russell.  You know you WERE thanking Kyrie for hitting that shot last night against KD.
9. I rank the Dixon Steelers viewing experience as a solid B.  They were aware that I  had my game, but to get an A they would have had to time dinner for DURING halftime.  My ‘rents would have done that for me.  Actually, my ‘rents would have changed up the entire day’s schedule for the Steelers game AND the Warriors-Cavs game, but that is neither here nor there.  Learning curve without jacking up the entire holiday schedule.
10. The Broncos started 4-0 and finished out of the hunt.  Not only that, they have no clear QB path of the future.  Sure, I only have a couple more years of enjoying Big Ben before the wheels come off the train, but I at least have a couple more years.
11. No intern until 2017.  Please excuse grammatical errors.
12. It is amazing that the NFL MVP race might be between a RB not making the playoffs, a QB who sucked the first 10 games, and a QB who didn’t PLAY the first FOUR games.
13. Props to the Browns, for not tanking for that #1 pick.  Play for dignity, boys.
14. Plus, you might as well let someone ELSE pick #1 so you don’t jack that up too.
15. To expand on what I was mad about Saturday.  I love Terry Bradshaw.  But I love Tomlin also, and love him in every way as a coach.  How dare you throw him under the bus.  I know you battle depression and other stuff, but stay home away from a mic if you have things to say like that about your old team.  You are the most par QB to win multiple Super Bowls.  Once you get past that fact, you can say NICE things about who is running the Steelers show.  I wouldn’t trade Tomlin for any coach on earth.  Be depressed quietly.
16. False advertising.  The pastor Saturday did NOT portray Trevor Siemian.  I was down about that.  And keep the service to 1 hour if you ARE going to do false advertising, bro.  We have things going on for Christmas Eve.
17. Still always a sermon that is above and beyond what I have heard ANYONE ever do in church.  The Sanctuary in the Highlands.
18. Lindsey and I watched the 30 for 30 (or the outside the lines-I always forget) on Steve Smith the other night.  Great show.  There are very few ways you can find to dislike Steve Smith.  Dude is a gamer.
19. I won’t list all the things I got for Christmas, but just know two things.  A) it is amazing how much happier you are the day after Christmas when you make a LIST and B) Lindsey still won the gift giving battle.  I am getting closer, but still not to her standards.
20. Real shame that two up and coming QB’s, Mariota and Carr, both went down for a while on the same day.  Fast healing, guys.
21. No.  Ralph did not text me Saturday.  In case anyone cares, the only four Steelers jerseys I would ever wear are Lambert, Bleier, Swann, and Polamalu.
22. #twocatmark has noticed a trend at home.  I am no longer guarding Charlee from Jackson.  It is the opposite.  Charlee is the demon and destroys everything in her path.
23. I truly don’t understand what intrigues Jackson so much about the fridge’s ice machine, but he just becomes entranced.
24. I forgot that the T2 guy was in Diehard II.
25. I am amazed the Vikings let that freelance article leak.
26. I told you UCLA basketball was going to be really, really good this year.
27. Wait until Lonzo’s brothers get there, people.
28. The van finally left from outside our house.  We are alive, and our house is safe.  Better ending than what I expected.
29. In the argument leaked to the media between Richardson and Brandon Marshall, I believe Sheldon.  Why?  Because I think Brandon Marshall is like the receiver version of Jeff George.  What does that mean?  Prominent skill position player destined to never win anything.
30. Listen, people.  We very well could have another Packers-Steelers Super Bowl.  I know THIS.  NO one, and I mean NO one wants any part of either of those teams.
31. Listen.  You can thank me later when everyone is doing The Pully at clubs in about three months.
32. I am just kidding.  When I have not drank, it sucks.  When I have a couple pops, it is the greatest thing…ever.  Awareness is half the battle.
33. Aside from being in a hurricane, I don’t remember feeling wind like what was in Genesee yesterday.  Powerful.  Seriously, able to blow me over.
34. Why do I mention the hurricane thing?  Because when Hurricane Gloria hit the east coast years ago, I took a cooler and a twelve pack, and sat on the beach and enjoyed the full wrath of the hurricane personally.  It was…amazing.  It was like Lt. Dan.
35. My woman got me new blog cards.  They are amazing.  If I have time, I will sneak in a pic of them at the end (this entire timeline is based on when they get out of that horrible movie).
36. Lindsey got me a putting green with Cavaliers on it.  Awesome.  Will go great with the new golf bag she got me.
37. Got poker chips too.  I can host all events now.
38. I busted out my leather coat Christmas Eve.  Man, I look great in that coat.  Where did I get it?  I work at OTT in Littleton and some idiot let it get to the lost and found.  I waited a week before snagging it.
39. I would comment more on the whole best bball shoes ever that ESPN is doing, but I think I had some Jordans and called it a day.  Wore Marbury’s in my more recent years.  $14.95.  Dude is a like a God in China right now.
40. I think that the Lala’s Sunday dinner (done on Saturday this year because of Xmas) is like my perfect meal.  Yes, it has pizza.  Yes, it has pasta.
41. You might be smarter than me, but I thought what Greg Olsen just accomplished had already been done.  I would have guessed three other guys before going with him on the three straight 1000 yard seasons.
42. I picked a colleague’s football picks this week.  I got the Browns and Saints as mild upsets, but of course missed too many for him to win too.  Sorry, Dave.
43. I don’t remember a season in the last 20 years where the top four teams have so many questions (aside from the Pats of course).  Seattle is SOO inconsistent.
44. So, just when we thought the Jets played the Pats tight, they get destroyed.
45. I have no problem with Reid calling the Poe play.  We are approaching the playoffs.  Practice what you need to against whoever with whatever score.
46. The Skins are just like the Wizards.  So confusing.
47. I am confused.  Is Atlanta actually good this year going into the playoffs?  I feel like I am partying like it is 1999.  Was that the year?  I think so.  Whatever.  I wanted to use that joke whether I am wrong or right.
48. I think when I was a kid I was exactly like Ralphie from A Christmas Story.  Glasses.  Blond hair.  Sarcastic.
49. I missed out on two things when becoming the badass piano player (I refuse to use the term “pianist”).  Showtunes and jazz.  But, not many people thought Mozart was weaker than Beethoven and thought Liszt could kick both their asses.
50. I was special.  Technically, I got kicked out of a music school.  Not many people can say that.
51. I feel like Conor McGregor has some pops and thinks about stupid shit to say to the media.
52. Note to the Steelers.  Immediately, when you came out in those Nike uni’s, I loved them.  Let’s totally change over.  I loved that look.
53. So, at both stops yesterday, I scored.  I am a bourbon guy.  First stop?  Jameson bottles just sitting around because Steve doesn’t drink anymore.  Second stop?  Jameson just sitting around because Avery’s roommate had too much of it the other night and didn’t even want to look at it.
54. Pancho seriously is one of my favorite people…ever.
55. Lindsey is a foster parent of an elephant, Malkia, but I got about 20% of the reaction I was expecting.  I thought that was a money gift.  Dammit.
56. The gift I DID get almost tears from?  I wood block with some nice writing on it from Artesian Center.  I have told you guys.  Artesian Center is where it is at.  Gifts that will blow her mind.
57. Villanova is the quietest four straight week #1 team that I can remember.
58. Tree.  Forest.  Sound.  Not sure if anyone outside of Storrs knows that UCONN fired their football coach.
59. Pics.  Pic from last week.  
60. The Dixons.  Avery giving everyone the finger, and Steve saying don’t take the pic.  
61. This was the loser present pile.  Learning curve.  
62. Seriously, this is me as a kid.  
63. I got a BB gun.  Once I killed a bird, I decided I should miss more often.
64. This cat IS pretty adorable.  
65. Pancho and friends.  
66. Pancho buying into the George Michael themed night.  
67. Yes, candy canes were the mic’s.
68. Not sure how our DD tolerated our festivities, but she is one COOL chick.  Thanks, Cooler/ Kristin.  
69. This apparently was my best gift.  
70. This is Avery.  
71. This my wife and friends at brunch.  
72. Yes, I will be a hobby pro photographer.  
73. They are out of the movie.  Gotta go.  See ya!
74. That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Will I blog tomorrow?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  Onward and upward.  Peace.