Sorry it's been so long, but I've been sick, feverish with school work. I've tried to shake it. I can't though. Maybe a couple of weeks more and I'll be clear.
I have events of note though. Many of us lost a friend earlier this month. Ron Jones, a former editor at the Watertown Daily Times and a generally good man, died and it's a god damned shame. He was as sharp as sudden lower back pain and by all accounts carried a huge trouser snake that all women other than my wife found beautiful.
I wish him the best.
But the circle of life continues, and I'm sure Ron would like us all to recognize that Bob Diehl, the mad monk of Jerusalem Road, and Julie Berry, 4 time winner of the Femme Fatale North Country Agricultural Related Employee Award of the Year, brought a fiesty little girl into the world Friday November 24. Well, actually Julie did the hard part and from what I hear, Bob spent most of his time trying, "to score some meds off hospital employees."
(Pictured above is Bob Diehl killing bugs with an electrified tennis racquet.)

Sorry it's been so long, but I've been sick, feverish with school work. I've tried to shake it. I can't though. Maybe a couple of weeks more and I'll be clear.
Some notes though. Many of us lost a friend earlier this month. Ron Jones, a former editor at the Watertown Daily Times and a generally good man, died and it's a god damned shame. He was sharp as sudden lower back pain

The first Sunday in November 2006
Bye week can be tough for anyone, but when your Philadelphia Eagles team is 4-4, dropping three games in a row, games that they should have won, but lost after failing to play like professionals, well, at that point, bye week is a welcome respite. If you're smart and you have an honest man at the helm, you use the bye to drill like hell with one consideration only -- beating the snot out of the next team on the schedule, in this case the Washington Redskins, the Beltway Bullies if you will.

The squad needs to watch game tape, recognize the strategies the Washington power elite will throw at them, and then develop a plausible response scheme. It's possible , no matter what a few weak-kneed national Democrats have asserted. I mean, watch the match up of Dallas and Washington earlier today -- a cruel, but literary twist for President Bush. The Skins won off a dirty Cowboys face mask, and a 15-yard penalty issued by the black and white striped officials of justice. With no time left on the clock, and due to the technicality that the game can't end on defensive penalty, Washington kicked a 47-yard-field goal, just barely, through the uprights.

Texas and the Republican Party faced a similar disaster earlier this year when Tom DeLay, "The Hammer," left the seat for his staunchly Republican district open to Democratic molestation in Tuesday's election. And only because he maybe screwed around with a few minor campaign finance laws and then didn't withdraw from the ballot at the proper time. A good team pays attention to the rules. False starts on third down will kill a drive.

The Republicans will probably ask themselves how they fucked up this badly -- oh, that whole war thing.

"Well, I wasnt' for it!" they'll scream like Al Gore, when pressed about Clinton's philandering.

This could turn into a serious shift to the left. It takes a while for these things to gain momentum, but the power always shifts.

Time for one more greyhound and then sleep, sleep and dreams of a divided executive and legislature. And if not divided then at least fractured.

Dog attacks good looking journalist. Dog claims journalist bit her first in attempt to stir up news. More on this story as it develops.

CONTEST REMINDER:
The 2006 M.B. Pell Vernacular Contest is coming to an end 2 p.m. December 24. That's a strict deadline. I need at least an hour to go over last minute entries before I start deciding winners and losers. Oh, yes, there will be a losers category.

There have been some strong entries thus far. Leigh, Bob NoKnow, and Dunn have jumped out in front of the West Chester crew, while Owen Lewis reigns supreme from the north country category. I think Country Bob shold stop his belly aching and start throwing some good terms at me. I mean jesus, dude spends how many years following hippy festivals and he can't toss out a few phrases of pure stoner jargon?

Big Daddy's example of the term "creamer" is exactly what the judges are looking for.

Definition, "creamer," a thick, smokey bong hit that looks milky, almost yellow, in the tube before inhalation. Creamers are intimidating and usually far in excess of the daily recomended dose. For extra points include an instance of the term or quote. For example, I remember taking a particularly nasty creamer one night in R's Rafters after hanging our at Andrea T.'s house. I threw up cheese doodles all over myself. And then passed out on the floor.

Get to work people for there will be prizes.

I never thought it would happen to me...
Recently at an MU football game I garnered the attention of two charming fellows, good chaps. It turns out they were state troopers though. The hat, poncho and repeated warnings to me from them should have alerted me to this fact earlier, but MU was driving and I didn't fully appreciate their authority or anger until they were poking me in the ribs with billy clubs, prodding me out of the stadium. Apparently you're allowed to sneak whiskey into the game, but screaming at the coaching staff for terrible play calling...well, that's another matter all together.

I'd do it again though. I don't understand a team that starts first and goal on the one yard line and doesn't run one play with a running back. Five wide receivers and an empty back field from the shot gun four plays in a row, the fourth play being a fade pattern to a tight end who had already dropped three wide open touch down passes in the first half. It's called bunk ball ladies and gentlemen and while it may fly in the collegiate level, it doesn't work in the pros. That goes for every aspect of life too. It's a concept my trooper friends don't understand.

You can't fake power and determination. I don't care how many Middle Eastern nations you reduce to rubble, if you're witless, spoiled, chowder head, people will eventually notice. Not all people of course. Shit, some fans out there still support the spread offense. They don't care about meat and potatoes, time of posession and defensive stands, or well thought out policy and honest communication. These people are morons though and once I launch my voluntary sterlization plan, they will no longer be a concern.

Sleep well.