Not even lying...

As I went to post an ad on Craigslist this morning, here is a picture of my word verification:

It's a bird... It's a plane... No - It's the Caped Polygamist! Curious about special powers? Just use your imagination.... Haha... Does anyone else find this funny but me?

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We watched the Mizzou vs. Kansas game yesterday. What a heartbreaker. I always feel so bad for those kids - basically, because that's what they are: kids. They go out there and there is so much pressure on them. For the Mizzou team, within the first weeks of the season, the expectation was set for them to go undefeated. I just imagine what it must feel like for these young guys the day after a game they were "supposed" to win. Must be really hard on them.

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Christmas is showing around our house. We got both trees up over the weekend and hopefully will be able to keep Sparky out of them. So far, it hasn't been too bad.

And - as an new precedent, Dave & I got up on "Black Friday" and went shopping. We figured since we are up before seven o'clock on a normal day anyway, it couldn't hurt to see if we could catch a few deals. We were successful in getting a few things bought and were home before ten a.m. Can't beat that!

Olympic Junkie

Hi, my name is Violet, and I'm addicted to the Olympics.

It all started in 1996, I was 16 years old and watched in amazement as Kerri Strug completed that momentous vault and helped her team with the Women's Gymnastics gold medal. Then, four years ago, I was captivated by Michael Phelps and the Swimming events. I used to be a swimmer, so I don't mind watching even the distance events; it is all exciting to me.

Yesterday, I watched the men's Archery finals. I hit my bottom when I realized I was sitting on the couch this afternoon watching the qualifying rounds of the Olympic Trampoline event. I didn't even know that Trampoline jumping (and flipping, apparently) was an Olympic sport.

It doesn't matter what country wins - when I see the flag being raised and the anthem being played and the athlete stands on the podium looking so proud, tears well up in my eyes.

Even the commercials set off the waterworks. Have you seen this one?



I guess the only good things about my addiction is that I'm only afflicted every other year for about two weeks. Dave can't stand it. But, it could be worse. I could be addicted to WWE Wrestling or soap operas. Those never end!

Football Fun

The weekend began with a road trip along with the fam to Columbia, Missouri to watch the Mizzou Tigers take on Western Michigan. My little bro is a frosh up there. Notice his first college injury...

That Guitar Hero game is a bitch.

Here's a pic of me, doing what I do. Don't mind the tiger ears...

This was the first time that I'd been to a Mizzou football game and the energy made it a really exciting experience. The weather was absolutely beautiful and it was so cool to see practically an entire city converge to support their team. The stadium, of course, was packed.

We drove back Sunday night, crashed for not-quite-a-full-night's sleep, and woke up at the crack of dawn to meet and tailgate with friends for the St. Louis Rams' game.

Nothin' like chili at 8:30 in the mornin' to get you goin'... Well, that and some Bud Light.

Diana, chillin' by the tunes on the tailgate.

Don't ask what is happening here.

Or here, for that matter.

Our seats were definitely in the nosebleed section, but there really isn't a bad seat in the dome. We were able to see all the action! The game was a nailbiter 'til the very end.

Not that everyone in our group would know that it was a nailbiter, though... Some (unnamed) members of the group left the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter because the stadium stops selling beer at that time. They ditched out and went back to the cars to drink... I have to admit, I was disappointed...

But, maybe I just take my football a bit too seriously. :o)

Once we made it back home, Dave and I hung out with Paula at the house for a while until Miss Ella arrived home. Paula decided to take a little nap in Ella's playhouse... Maybe that had a bit to do with the leaving the football game early, if you know what I mean. Love you, Paula!!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Ahhh, baseball. Getting out of work on a Friday afternoon, heading down to the stadium, and tailgating (in the hot sun!) with some beer and burgers before heading in to watch the World Champion Cardinals play the Los Angeles Angels. Could life be any more perfect?

Look at this cool grill that friends Mike and Diana brought for the cooking of said tailgating food stuffs. Thanks, Dr. Mike, for this find. It did a damn good job of grilling up the burgers and dogs!

Speaking of hot dogs... (Photoshop, anyone?)


This is my dream job! Every time these guys run out onto the field, I'm like, "Man, I could totally do that job!" Hang out at the stadium, schmooze with the players, watch the games, and have the all-important job of smoothing out the infield dirt.

Do you think that these are the same people that get to drag out the tarp for rainouts? Does anyone have any connections at the stadium that might be able to get me this job?

Another one of the highlights of baseball for me is the search for the freakish triple peanut. Dave found the only one of the bag last night. Luckeeeee!


Although we lost the game, we scored runs in each of the first four innings and were up 4-0 going into the fifth. Duncan, Pujols, and Stinnett each hit homers; each time, we were jumping up and down cheering, and the bald guy in front of us (who reminded me of Bill, in more ways than just his haircut) gave high-fives all around. I love that!

Just so you know, I do actually pay attention to the game. Kip Wells had a respectable start, but when you rip through half of your bullpen in a single inning and still give up six runs, it is kind of hard to win a ballgame. Oh, well. As you can tell, we had a good time anyway!

SOUP-er Bowl

A Picture Story

So, yesterday we all gathered at Bill's Garage 2...

...to watch the Super Bowl. For food, we decided that everyone would bring a different type of soup for a soup cook-off.

Dave and I decided on bringing a new recipe that we found: Roasted Corn and Crab Soup. It was mmm-mmmm good.

Mikey's entry wasn't quite as gourmet, yet great tasting just the same.

I lost the "Overall Best Soup" by one vote... That one vote would be Dave's. He thought it would be funnier to vote for Bill's "soup" instead. It wasn't even really a soup.

We did one of those grid football pool things. How much B.S. is it that the first and second quarters both went to the same square? Then, the wife of the guy who won the first two quarters won the third quarter. The fourth quarter went to Dr. Mike, but I think the "must be present to win" rule takes effect here, so I'm keeping his money!

The night ended with Bill and Dave doing shots of Ten High. I drove the Hummer home.

And they all lived happily ever after!

Thoughts for a Thursday Morning

Thank god that the stupid Patriots are not going to be in the Super Bowl again. I think they should make a limit on Super Bowl wins for teams... You know, like the President can't be elected for more than two terms, so football teams shouldn't be able to win more than two Super Bowls within a ten year period. Just like the Dallas Cowboys in the early 90's, the Patriots have worn out their welcome at the big game... at least for the time being.

On that note, I am pleased with both of the teams that made it to the game. I have to say that I am kind of pulling for the Colts to win. I like the Bears, too, but I would really love to see Peyton Manning get the win.

But, the best part about it is that no matter who wins, it won't be the freakin' Patriots.

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This past Sunday was my mom's birthday. I invited the family (including both of my divorced parents) over to the house for dinner. The menu included: Salad, Beef Roast, Steamed Asparagus, Rice Casserole (Grandma's secret recipe, which I memorized on Christmas), and, of course, Birthday Cake.

This was actually the first time that I'd been in charge of cooking a full meal for my family. I've cooked lots for friends, but between college, living at my mom's house, residing out of the area, and living in a tiny apartment that wouldn't have enough room to host everyone anyway, I've never played host for my own family. I've helped cook and even made lasagna for the family at my mom's house before, but it has never been just my show.

Everything went perfectly. But, the coolest thing for me was that my dad seemed really impressed with the meal. Like, I think he was surprised that the menu didn't consist of Easy Mac or burgers on the grill. I've struggled my whole life to get my dad to see me as an individual who, although the choices I've made haven't necessarily been the ones he wanted me to make, is successful and competent.

Amazing that being able to know when to pull a roast out of the oven helped him to realize that just a little bit more.

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Dave and I watched SNL on Saturday night and made a realization. Everybody talks about how Saturday Night Live just isn't the same and isn't as funny as it used to be. But, we have a theory the SNL is just as funny as it has always been.

It is just that people aren't smoking as much pot.

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So, Dave and I bought our PowerBall tickets last night. I haven't checked yet to see if our numbers match or not... I'd rather let the dream that we could be multi-millionaires last just a little bit longer.

240 million dollars! Can you imagine? Well, we'd probably take the cash option, which would cut it in about half, then we'd have to pay 1/3 of it in taxes, but, still, 80 million dollars! What the hell would we do with all that money? Well, first, we would split it with Dr. Mike, Paula, and Mikey, since we that was the deal we made on Tuesday night. But then, we still each have approximately $16 millioni each....

People always say that they would keep working... Haha... Yeah, right. I would probably finish out the remainder of my current contract at my job, but there's not a freakin' chance in hell that I'd go back to work after that! I'd get a house on the beach and one in the mountains and travel and write and work out... What a life. At some point in the future, if all of that stuff got boring, I might go ahead and open a little coffee shop or something. I'd hire people to run it, but it would give me something to do... but, I'd get to make my own schedule, of course.

Talking with some friends the other night about the possibility of winning the lottery, the topic came up revenge. I mean, think of the people you could screw with if you had 80 million bucks lying around! I don't know that there is anyone in my life that I resent enough to need revenge, but the thought that I could if I wanted to is nice. Maybe just a little prank here or there for some of the people who get under my skin... What do you think? Would there be anyone you'd want to pay back for things they'd done? What would you do to them?

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Word of the Day: Contumacious - (Adj.) Persistantly, willfully, or overtly defiant of authority.

Throw that one on your kids when they won't listen: "Would you stop being so damn contumacious!!!" They'll be so confused over what you're talking about, they'll forget why they were being stubborn.

Caption Contest

To help get us all in the spirit for the Super Bowl, how about a little caption contesting fun?


Winner to receive one leftover can Pabst Blue Ribbon from last football season.

GO CARDS!!!!!

Sports Corner 3

(To the tune of The Fray's "Over My Head")

I always knew
I always knew the Cardinals would come through
That all the fans would be waiting on a queue
For tickets to the Series in the Lou
That’s how its gonna be
Suppan’s fastball and then a strike three
The homerun hammered over the wall by Yadi
Then Shea stadium goes silent and

Everyone thought they were in
Over their heads
Over their heads
Eight innings of tied game
Ninth’s not the same
It’s not the same

Let’s rearrange
The batting order and maybe make a pitching change
Tony puts in Wainwright for the last exchange
The Redbirds are finally on center stage
So let’s disregard
Predictions that the Mets will beat the Cards
Have faith in Eckstein and Belliard
Then the Mets are beaten in their own backyard

Everyone thought they were in
Over their heads
Over their heads
Eight innings of tied game
Ninth’s not the same
It’s not the same

And suddenly, the Mets are part of our past
The predictions just don’t seem to last
And we’re winning and it seems effortless
With a crack of the bat, the Cardinals will never look back
Head to Detroit and unpack
Never thought that we'd make it this far
Won't let it go we win four more

Everyone thought they were in
Over their heads
Over their heads
Eight innings of tied game
Ninth’s not the same
It’s not the same

Sports Corner 2**

So how 'bout those Cards?!?!

A couple of thoughts that I've had while watching the playoffs:

You know the jerk who has the expensive seats behind home plate and you can see him talking on his cell phone? All of a sudden the guy starts waving frantically because the person on the phone tells him, "Hey, I see you on TV!"

Don't be that guy!

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Another guy you don't want to be is the idiot who still hasn't learned the lesson that it is NOT a wise decision to try to lean over the wall onto the field to grab a ball that is still in play. You may think that it is foul or that you are catching a home run, but come on! Remember the poor guy for the Cubs a few years back? Do you want that to be you? Last night a fan leaned over and scooped up a ball that was fair. It was an automatic double for the Mets, which it probably would have ended up being anyway, but for God's sake, grow a brain!

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Every year the Cards are in the playoffs, there is a player from the other team that we all love to hate. Last year, it was Berkman of the Houston Astros. This year, it is Jose Valentin.

What's with the moustache? I mean, seriously. This guy looks like he belongs on Super Troopers or Me, Myself, and Irene. (Do you know why I pulled you over, meow?)

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Watching sporting events has really improved my lip reading skills. I can recognize words like What the fuh... and Dangnabit.

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Let's go Cards! One more game! Hopefully Carpenter can make it happen for us tonight up in Shea Stadium.

**Back by special request by Dave!!

Sports Corner

So, today marks the official beginning of the new NHL season. And, for the first time in years, I'm actually looking forward to the season. I, along with many other St. Louis sports fans, are hoping that the 2006-2007 St. Louis Blues Season will mark the beginning of a new era in St. Louis hockey.

New owners mean refreshed interest. A willingness to spend money on players that will help to build a successful team. What a novel idea!

In addition to new ownership and new players, the home of the Blues also has a new name. Instead of the Savvis Center, it is now the Scott Trade Center... That is going to take a little getting used to.

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The Cardinals won their first playoff game in San Diego yesterday.

Ya gotta love Pujols and that look on his face when he knows he's clocked a ball into next week. And Carpenter is truly amazing to watch. But, the highlight for me yesterday was the catch that Belliard made of that line drive into the right field and the way he fired that ball to first base to make the Padres strand three runners on base.

I hope that the Cardinals do well in this series... Last year was such a disappointment. (F#%* Houston and their g$#^!& buzzing bees!) Hopefully, with Edmonds and Eckstein back, the Cards will be able to hold their own. But, as everyone in St. Louis pretty much knows, it is going to come down to pitching.

I've always been a Cardinals fan, (can you be a true St. Louisan and NOT be a Cardinals fan?) but, over the past two years I have watched a lot more baseball and learned a lot about the game. I am really able to have a true appreciation for the skill level of the players. I've even learned how to tell the difference between the different types of pitches and what some of the strategy is between choosing one over the other. And, I learned the difference between a designated hitter and a pinch hitter.

On a side note, I think it sucks that the games in this series are all played at 3 o'clock (central time) just because St. Louis and San Diego aren't big markets like New York and L.A. But, as everybody in professional sports knows, it always comes down to the almight dollar.

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How in the world do the St. Louis Rams have a record of 3-1?

Not by any skill, except perhaps the skill of Jeff Wilkins...

Want to know the easiest way to become known as the best kicker in the NFL? Join a team that can't score once they are in the red zone.

I'm not big fan of Marc Bulger. Never have been, doubt that I ever will be.

I was hoping that once we got rid of Mike Martz that the Rams organization would get over this shtick of always trying to pass the ball and being unsucessful in the process. But, apparently, we're still stuck there.

RUN THE FREAKIN' BALL!

But, that's just me. We'll take the 3-1 record, no matter how sloppy it was to earn!