Are you ready?

Ok, so it should be all set. We will be getting into HVegas on Friday evening, July 21. Should we try for a Saturday morning tee time?? I spoke with Jeremy and Fil today and they sound like they are a go. Larry, we've been chatting, plus you check the blog, and I think that's good for you as well. Do we got traditional...Squirrel Nest followed by the Pond, or break tradition and try something new. I'm game for whatever, just looking forward to hanging out with you guys. The Shaft is almost thawed out and ready for a trip down south. Unfortunately, I could probably just leave it here.

Another good article

This blog by Jamie Trecker is pretty insightful. Check out USA questions 1-5. Compare and contrast the professional developmental leagues in the NHL with the club and college preparation system used in the US.

Is the US good at any sport on the world stage?

This is a funny, yet realistic article about US athletics on the world stage. Hey, at least we won the Tour de France 7 straight years... very good comparison of coach Arena to Larry Brown after the US basketball debacle in the last summer Olympics.

Wish me luck

I'm going to need it if I'm going to find a place to watch the US-Ghana game in about 30 minutes. I'm guessing 100% of the tvs will be showing Italy-Czech. Oh well, at least thez will show our game right after that. Then tonight we'll be watching Croatia-Australia with a few thousand desparate Croats. They need to win to advance, just like us. Come on USA and Croatia!!

Welcome to the jungle

Well, being married to a future vet is having its impact. Below is a picture of our newest addition. Kind of a long story, but when we were visiting Jen's mother's house we found this lovely in her garage. Apparently he belonged to the neighbors who were moving and trying to find him a home. That's all Jen needed to hear before we were driving 6 hours back to Madison with a cat, dog, and mother-in-law in the backseat. As you can see he has an extra toe (polydactyly for all you vetinarians). He's actually adjusted pretty well, except that he wants to be an outdoor cat, but we haven't let him out...at least not intentionally. We have some potential new owners, so the plan is for him to be living with us only temporarily. We'll see.










These next two are only here temorarily (thank God). They are pretty low maintenance except that they drag things in the house with all that hair. Jen is on a list at the vet school for pet sitting. It has actually been quite lucrative this summer. We'd probably do it for free, but it's nice to bring in a little extra cash.











I share all of this with you because there are currently 7 animals in our house. I just want to prepare you so that if you read about us in the newspaper you won't be shocked.

The blogmaster

James, I want to congratulate you for you relentless pursuit of blogging. The posts have been very sporadic by the general vegan populus, but you my friend have stood strong. So here's to you Mr. I'mgoingtowritesomethingeventhoughnobodyreadsitanymore. (Boner singing in false setto, "Mr. I'mgoingtowritesomethingeventhoughnobodyreadsitanymore").

I loved the game yesterday. Matt, if you see any Italians, tell them we smacked them in the mouth and then looked them in the eye. The US can play on the worlds stage. While I am elated about the tie, we actually should have won the game. We dictated the play and attacked the entire first half and some of the second half while down a man. The US squad fought hard, showing the true US spirit, the entire game. Sure we missed the net on some shots in the second half, but I don't think any team would have had the legs playing with 9 guys for 45 minutes to place shots accurately. (James, I disagree with your assessment on Reyna. He is sill controls play through the midfield. Most developments went through him in the midfield, and his shot in the Check game shows that he can attack when he needs too). The player I most wonder about is McBride. He is the prototypical workhorse American, but he isn't very creative. i would like to see Eddie Johnson play more, but hey, I'm not the coach. the table is set for us to advance. We have to beat Ghana, who will be without their two leading scorers, and Italy has to beat the Czechs, who will be without half their squad due to injury and cards. I think we go.

James, I feel your pain, i won't get to watch the game live either. I have an all day meetin that I have to attend.

Let me know the exact dates you will be in H'ville. I leave for Alaska on 7/25.

it would be nice to hear from some of the other Vegans.

Still alive

What an incredible game today. The US actually looked hungry and played with some intensity. I take back what I said about other teams raising their game when playing us. I think the Italians thought they would win easily with out much effort. It's hard to be mad when we got out with a draw, but what could have been if we had an entire 2nd half with a man advantage. Instead they go down a man and hold their own. Something to hang their hats on. Again, I haven't watched much, but I think the US can carry this momentum into a 2-1 victory of an emotional Ghana team. From the little I saw of Beasely, I hope he doesn't get on the field. He showed me nothing. Also, I realize that McBride is sort of the poster boy for a hard working striker who is great in the air, but he just doesn't bring much of a threat otherwise. We need some creativity and play making up front. Reyna seems to be past his prime. He had a wide open look in the 2nd half that he couldn't even put on target. The defense played solid, but it will be interesting to see how they fair without Pope. I didn't see the game against CR but Keller played well. There were times when it looked like Grissom vs Vestavia in the 1992 state championship game with Larry as an unpenetrable force. Now I've just got to figure out what do about the game on Thursday...call in sick perhaps??

Most spoiled athletes

I just caught the sportscenter segment on the US Open and how difficult Wingfoot has been the last two days. They were interviewing players who were talking about how grueling it is and that after 15 or 16 holes you're tired and you're mind starts to wander. I you friggin kidding me?? You play golf for a living. Not to mention, 95% of them probably come from well-to-do family's where they grew up playing country club courses. I wish more courses would tighten things up. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I actually like to see these guys work a little. What skill does it take to blast a ball 320 yards and then hit a half sandwedge into a big, soft green? Hit the ball straight then it doesn't matter if the rough is 3 feet deep. The only area I can tolerate some complaining is the greens. I do believe the greens should be appropriate for putting. Anyway, just thought I'd vent about that.

I'm finally going to get to watch a little WC. I have know idea if the US has a chance, but my suspicions tell me they lose by 2. I just think every other country raises there game 3 levels when they play the US. I'm sure the liberals will blame Bush for our poor performance.

Summer sweet summer

Wow, I was gone for a few days and now I don't now when I'm going to find time to read all the posts. Just kidding. Well, we had barely graduated another class of Trojans and summer school has already began. Not quite the cush job I was hoping for. Still, I get done at noon so I can't complain too much.

Plans are starting to fall into place for the Southern Tour. We probably won't actually be in Huntsville until Friday, July 21, or Saturday July 22. It looks like we are going to head straight to B'ham to celebrate my mom's birthday and from there head to the gulf for a little R & R on the beach. Once I know definite dates that I will be in H-Vegas hopefully we can pull something together to play some golf or just hangout. It would just be great to see you guys.

Ahhh yes, even Jesus felt the frustrations of being a teacher

Got this from one of our English teachers.

Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and gathering them around
him he taught them saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Bessed are the meek.
Blessed are those who mourn.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are they who thirst for justice.
Blessed are you when persecuted.
Blessed are you when you suffer.
Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven...

Then Simon Peter said, "Do we have to write this down?"
and Andrew said, "Are we supposed to know this?"
and James said, "Will we have a test on it?"
and Phillip said, "What if we don't know it?"
and Bartholomew said, "Do we have to turn this in?"
and John said "the other disciples didn't have to learn this"
and Matthew said, "When do we get out of here?"
and Judas said, "What does this have to do with real life?"

Then one of the Pharisees present asked to see Jesus' lesson plans and
inquired of Jesus his terminal objectives in the cognitive domain...

And Jesus wept...

It would be interesting

This is a cool article. It wonders what the US National team would look like if the best athletes from other sports played soccer. I say, what if the best soccer players played other sports?? Oh wait, not much to offer ther.

World Cup Pickem on ESPN

I have set up a group on the World Cup Pick'em game on ESPN. Join the group.

Group Name: He's done it, it's the record
Password: billfold

You don't have to make all the picks for the whole tournament. The games are locked at kick-off. You can choose your picks daily.

Any one else excited about the World Cup?

By the Way

The Indian food hasn't been nearly as hot going down as it has coming out. Holy sh*t fellas! I've been scarfing down Asian food for two months now and I believe my stomach and intestines are starting to revolt. I had a nasty bout with explosive 'rhea in Cambodia that put me out of commission one night. Now I've got the slow burn kicking my tail on the subcontinent. The food is awesome, but I'm paying for it on a regular basis.

We're Alive

Yes Larry, the answer is we are in fact alive. Please forgive me for my lack of posting on both blogs recently. We've either been busy checking out ruins, busy traveling, busy making travel plans, or just in a place with a really slow or non existent internet connection. Right now, we are in the Indian state of Goa. It's like their Florida. And right now I'm kicking off their monsoon season in style...with a tropical depression that has knocked out power all across the state and dumped massive amounts of rain all over. Lucky us. Hopefully we'll be getting on a train tonight and moving along to our next destination. I say hopefully because we're on a wait list for our tickets and the train was running about 12 hours late yesterday thanks to all the rain. Wish us luck.