Sometimes, I really hate sports. I do.
Why? Because one damn game can ruin my whole day.
I wish it didn’t affect me so much. But, there is nothing I can do. I’m just going to be salty for a while.
Happy friggin birthday to me.
*sigh*
Answer: 52-15
No, the question is not what the final score of the Boise State v. Hawaii football game on Friday.
Instead the real question is “What was the halftime score of the Boise State vs Montana Tech basketball game?”
In fact, the game was so out of hand, we actually left at the half. I haven’t left a BSU game at half in a long time. But, we were bored and were both feeling that we would rather chill out on the couch in our jammies. So, that’s what we did.
Now, I’m as big a fan of one sided blowouts as the next guy… probably more… but in basketball it’s just not fun. I will take 60 to nothing every single football game, especially conference games. But basketball? Meh.
Besides, there were very few people there. The cheerleaders, and I’m assuming a bunch of fans, are in Hawaii for the big game. The atmosphere was kinda dead. As was the opponent. By the way, the final score was 107-53.
Anyway, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I can’t wait. Great meal. Hangin out with the fams. Watchin some football. Sounds like a great day to me.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Controversial
This Friday is the “Big Game” in the WAC as the top two teams, Boise State and Hawaii face off on the island for all the marbles.
I’ve had a feeling about this Boise State football season that has been banging around in my head for the past few weeks. I have been unable to put my finger on just what it was. Maybe it was because I was so busy and didn’t have time to think. Maybe its because the very thought of it was distasteful to me as a fan, and I felt less of myself for even harboring the possibility. I’m torn. I’ve agonized personally but, I’ve spent some time deep in thought and I have came to a realization…
I would prefer Boise State to NOT play in a BCS game this year.
A House Divided
Today was the day. Rivalry game. Boise State University vs. University of Idaho.
Let’s just say it was interesting. For those of you who don’t know, I am a gigantic Boise State Bronco fan (and an alumnus), Jess is a life long Idaho Vandal (an alumnus). This is the first game day since we have moved in together.
Like I said, it was interesting.
This whole week has been very easy. Neither of us discussed the game much. We have both been so busy lately, we just haven’t had the time to gently jab each other about this upcoming weekend. I guess part of that is that the teams are so unevenly balanced at the moment. I try not to rub it in too much, specifically because I still remember when BSU sucked, and its not fun. So, we’ve been remarkably civil to each other.
It’s been crazy
I haven’t written in awhile. You may have noticed this.
It’s not that I haven’t had anything to write about. Quite the contrary. My head is busting with ideas and topics. The real enemy here is time. It is simply that time of year when events get ramping up and there just isn’t anything I can do about it. For example, here is my schedule since the day before I left for Vegas with Jess on the 28th of October.
- Saturday – Party at Friends
- Sunday – Vegas
- Monday – Vegas
- Tuesday – Vegas
- Wednesday – Return from Vegas (Halloween)
- Thursday – blessed rest
- Friday – BSU Basketball
- Saturday – BSU Football
- Sun – Leave again for Vegas
- Mon – Vegas
- Tue – Return from Vegas, exhausted
- Wed – Steelheads Hockey
- Thurs – a little more rest
- Fri – BSU Basketball
- Sat – Drive to Logan, UT (and back) for BSU Football Game
- Sun – Dinner at Jess’ folks
- Mon – Finally, nothing
- Tue – BSU Basketball
- Wed (yesterday) – Friend’s B-Day dinner and Steelheads Hockey.
For those of you scoring at home, that would be 3 separate trips, 7 sporting events (3 basketball, 2 football, 2 hockey), 3 dinners out (not counting travel days) and a grand total of 3 evenings of rest where I had nothing going on.
Of course, those ‘rest’ days weren’t even all that restful since they landed on weekdays and because in the midst of all this, work has been absolutely crazy. Not bad-crazy by any stretch, just super busy. Everyone is trying to get sites I’m working on done before the Thanksgiving holiday, and its putting a pretty good crunch on me.
To be perfectly honest, I’m kinda surprised I’m still fully functional. This does sort of resemble my previous life except for a few crucial differences. a.) Before, this sort of schedule would go on for weeks or months at a time. b.) Also, back then, most of the events we’re not ‘my’ things… All of this stuff I’ve been doing has been stuff I wanted to do. Not events to which I was committed and had no say at all, but was still expected to attend and have my game face on. That makes a big difference. c.) Top that all off with the fact that I really like my job now, and the whole world has changed.
So, yes, some things have suffered. The blog for one. Dad, your website for two. I ain’t seen Georgie or Hillman in weeks. There’s been a bunch of movies I’ve wanted to see, and my TV sports watching has fallen off dramatically.
At least, with ye olde birthday coming up, I should be able to catch up with just about everyone then. For anyone that hasn’t heard, I’m heading to Busters on Broadway on my birthday (6:30pm, Saturday the 24th) for finger steaks and beers. Anyone and everyone are welcome to stop by, even if only to have a drink and laugh at me for getting old.
And if you think I’m not looking forward to a most relaxing Thanksgiving, hanging out at the parents, watching football, drink in hand, before gorging myself on mom’s excellent dinner, you’re crazy.
Stay tuned. Maybe I’ll get a few spare seconds to write some more. No guarantees.
Lance Armstrong is an Idiot
Tuesday night the Schwab Institutional IMPACT conference held their gala. Jess and I spent the afternoon wandering around seeing more Vegas, having another drink, and getting trapped in the M&M World, but thats a different story. We chilled out in the room for about 2 hours before we had to head down for the shuttle bus to the MGM where the gala was to be held.
Pai Gow Adventure
Greetings from beautiful Las Vegas!
Yesterday, when Jess was in meetings I decided to go play some pai gow. For those that don’t know, pai gow is a pretty simple and very fun game. The basic premise is each player and the dealer is dealt 7 cards, and your job is to make the best 2 poker hands you can, a 5 card hand and a 2 card hand. The only rule is that your 5 card hand must beat your 2 card hand. (full wiki here). To win, both of your hands must beat the dealers 2 hands. To lose, both must be lower than the dealers. If you split, you push and get your money back. Very simple.
Anyway, yesterday I played for about 2 hours and did pretty well. I ended up about 40 bucks and got a couple of beers out of the deal. I was up almost $100 at one point, but hit a cold streak before I picked up.
Happy Halloween
I’m spending today watching football and packing for Vegas, so I don’t have a chance to properly recognize Halloween. We won’t be back in town until Halloween afternoon, but I wanted to say a little something about the season…
Jess refers to Halloween as the start of the “Eating Season” which lasts from now until Valentines Day. I hadn’t thought of it, but she’s right. Halloween candy, thanksgiving dinner and pumpkin pie, Christmas gorging, super bowl parties, and Valentines candy. By the looks of it, we’re looking at a couple of hundred thousand extra calories. God, isn’t it glorious?
Please read my Halloween thoughts from last year (And the silken sad uncertain rustling…) I talked about childhood, costumes, trick-or-treating and candy. It still stands up. However, the Simpsons clips have been removed from Youtube. Lot can happen in a year…
And just because, here are some huge images of my Boise State pumpkin from 2004. Pic 1, Pic 2.
If you don’t hear from me from Las Vegas, you’ll hear from me after.
Happy Halloween, everybody.
Vegas Home Vegas
No, “Vegas Home Vegas” is not a totally awesome spin on Home Sweet Home. It is actually my itinerary for next two weeks. Lemme explain.
A few months ago, Jess found out that the national Charles Schwab conference was going to be held in Las Vegas this year. She used to work for Schwab before her little company broke away and went independent. But, she still knows a lot of people over there and still works with them for her clients. Anyway, she also found out that the keynote speaker is none other than Bono of U2. For those that don’t know, Jess is a rather obsessed U2 fan and has seen them something like 9 times in concert. (despite the fact they’ve never been to Boise).
Obviously, she was geeked to go. Plus, since Vegas is one of my favorite places on the planet (I’ve been there like 9 times), it was a perfect match. So, she went to work on her boss to get the company to pay her way down for this conference. Needless to say, she finally wore them down and they agreed. She got her hotel and air paid for, and all I had to come up with to go down with her was my own airfare. No way was I gonna skip this one.
We leave Sunday morning (the 28th) and return Wednesday afternoon on Halloween. 3 days of Mandalay Bay. Of course, she will be in meetings and seminars a good deal of the time… I wonder if there is anything fun for me to do in Las Vegas… Hmmmm… I’ll have to check into that.
As many of you know, I started a new job in August with probably the coolest company on the planet, Wirestone. I had heard rumors, even before I started, that Wirestone has it’s own Las Vegas conference where they send all 200+ employees (from the various offices around the country) to Vegas on the company dime. Supposedly, the first few years they did it, they actually attempted to get work done. Well, recently all pretense of “work” has been thrown out the window and it basically turns in to 2 days of drinking. The words of advice I’ve received from those who have been before, “Bring your stunt liver.” Check and Check.
Not long after we got the go-ahead from Jess’ boss for her conference, I found out when Wirestone was planning their Vegas party at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
November 4th through the 6th.
Basically, what this boils down to is I am in Vegas Sunday through Wednesday with Jess, am home for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, then head BACK to Vegas on Sunday to return home on Tuesday.
Either, this will be the greatest 10 days in the history of mankind, or I will return a broken empty shell of a man. I guess those aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.
Plus, the first Boise State Basketball exhibition game is on Friday, the 2nd, and on Saturday is Boise State Football home vs. San Jose State. So, I guess technically, the title would be more accurate stated as “Vegas, Boise State, Vegas” which might well be the definition of heaven in my book.
You’ll hear from me again, provided I survive.
My Saturday
I’m fighting a cold this weekend, which sucks. Basically, I’ve spent all day on the couch watching football.
Well, not all day. Jess was running in the Barber to Boise fun run today, so I dragged ass out of bed to take her down there and meet her at the finish line. It was only a 5k, so it didn’t take all that long. I stopped for a Starbucks and took the paper to read while I was waiting.
On the way home, we stopped on Crescent Rim to take a quick couple pictures… the panorama below is the result. This is Ann Morrison Park and downtown Boise, along with the foothills in the background. Click on the image to get the bigger version.
The Boise State vs La. Tech game was ok. Ian Johnson is out with a bruised kidney, but it all turned out good in the end. I was kinda zoning out while watching. I don’t have much to add.
Plan to spend all day tomorrow relaxing on the couch too, in order to get this cold out as soon as possible. Goin to bed now.