The Lawnmower Diaries

Learned my first lawnmower lesson last weekend: NEVER tip your lawnmower over!

I was trying to get it clean, and tipped it over, sprayed the grass, yadda yadda yadda...next thing I know the lawnmower won't run right. Sputtering, idling out, smoke coming out. I was afraid I had gotten oil in the carburetor, in the spark plugs, everywhere. After much tinkering with it, I realized that some oil had seeped through to the air filter. That sucker was dirty and nasty...so dirty that air wouldn't move through. So a clean filter did the job, and now it's running as smoothly as ever. So lesson I learned is not to tip it over!

Have my fantasy football draft for Colin's league tonight. I finished second to Colin last year (last two years actually) and hopefully will get one of the top 3 picks so I can put a whoopin' to Colin.

Former Dawgs in the NFL

With college football just around the corner, and NFL pre-season about over, I decided to take a look at what former Dawgs are doing in the NFL. Yeah most of us know where Hines Ward and Richard Seymour are playing, but there's a good group of players out there and I just wanted to recognize them.

Atlanta: DJ Shockley QB '06 - Was just named the 3rd team QB for the team, beating out incumbent Bryan Randall. Did a good job in pre-season and should be Vick's backup next year (assuming Schaub leaves via free-agency).
Atlanta: Josh Mallard DE '02 - One of my favorite players as a Dawg, always created havoc during pass rush situations. He's listed as a second team DE.
Atlanta: Will Thompson LB/DE '06 - Was just cut from the team, hopefully can make his way into a practice team or another league and try it again next year.
Arizona: Leonard Pope TE '06 - Listed on the 3rd team on the depth chart, but should move up quickly as he learns the system. Is in a high power offense and should do well, as seen by his beautiful TD in last week's pre-season game (1st quarter, from Warner).
Baltimore: Musa Smith RB '03 - Having a great pre-season, but still listed as a third team player. Should make the team.
Carolina: Thomas Davis SLB '05 - Making some hard hits in pre-season, and is listed as a starter at the linebacker spot for a very good Carolina defense.
Carolina: John Kasay PK '91 - Solid kicker for the Panthers.
Chicago: Bryan McLendon WR '06 - Was just waived from the Bears, played a little in the pre-season. I think he can contribute in special teams somewhere eventually.
Cincinnati: Odell Thurman MLB '05 - Excellent rookie season last year, when he led Cincy in tackles. Would be starting right now if not for his 4 game suspension (violating league substance abuse policy).
Cincinnati: David Pollack SLB '05 - Former college great is listed as a starter right now.
Cincinnati: Robert Geathers RE '04 - Listed as a second team end.
Cleveland: Sean Jones SS '04 - Seems to have the system down, is listed as the starter at safety.
Cleveland: DeMario Minter CB '06 - Injured right now and not listed on the depth chart.
Dallas: Jason Fergunson NT '97 - Starter once again for the Cowboys.
Dallas: Dennis Roland RT '06 - Listed as a 3rd team player, should make the team.
Denver: Champ Bailey LCB '99 - One of the best corners in the NFL will once again lead the charge for the Broncos.
Denver: George Foster RT '03 - Listed as a starter again for a potent Broncos offense.
Denver: Adam Meadows RT '97 - Listed as a backup on the second team, after a successful run with the Colts.
Detroit: Boss Bailey MLB '03 - Finally fully healthy, is a starter in the middle of the Lions defense.
Indianapolis: Russ Tanner LG '06 - Listed as a 3rd team player, is battling to make the team. Hopefully he will with his versatility as a lineman (plays C as well).
Indianapolis: Tim Jennings DB '06 - Listed as a 4th team player and also battling to make the Colts team. Hopefully can pick up the defense and stick with them.
Jacksonville: Marcus Stroud LDT '01 - All-Pro caliber and once again leading the way for a very good Jags defense.
Jacksonville: Tony Gilbert MLB '03 - Second on the depth chart and should make the team.
Kansas City: Kendrell Bell ROLB '01 - Former rookie of the year should start and hopefully remain healthy and have a successful season.
Miami: Randy McMichael TE '02 - One of the best in the NFL will once again start for the Dolphins.
Miami: Fred Gibson WR '05 - Having a terrific pre-season, is listed as a third team player but will have a tough time making the team as the Dolphins have a lot of depth. If he doesn't, he had a great audition and someone is likely to swoop in and sign him.
New England: Richard Seymour DE '01 - All-Pro and one of the best at his position in the NFL.
New England: Ben Watson TE '04 - Listed as a 2nd on the depth chart, but is their best pass-catching TE and should have a very good year for a great offense.
New England: Patrick Pass FB '00 - Listed as the starter at full-back, can also play some rb.
New England: Johnathan Sullivan DL '03 - Listed as 2nd on the depth chart, going through a much better spell with his new team.
New Orleans: Charles Grant LDE '02 - Most sacks on the Saints since joining the team, should have another monster season.
New Orleans: Jon Stinchcomb RT '03 - Listed 2nd on the depth chart.
New York Jets: Bruce Thornton CB '04 - Just signed a contract with them, will try to make the squad.
Philadelphia: Reggie Brown WR '05 - Will start and looks to be the go-to receiver for the Eagles.
Philadelphia: Max Jean-Gilles LG '06 - Third team player, will eventually be a good contributor.
Pittsburgh: Hines Ward FL '97 - Super Bowl MVP is ready for another great year.
Pittsburgh: Verron Haynes RB '02 - Depth chart is not up yet, but he should make the team as a second team rb (over Staley). Also looks like he'll replace Bettis as Pittsburgh's goal-line back.
Pittsburgh: Arnold Harrison ROLB '04 - Trying to make the team.
San Diego: Randall Godfrey ILB '96 - Great pro will start for the Chargers.
San Francisco: Jonas Jennings LT '01 - Will start for the 49rs.
Seattle: Mack Strong FB '93 - One of the best fullbacks in the NFL.
Seattle: David Greene QB '05 - 3rd team player, still behind Wallace and Hasselbeck.
St. Louis: Will Witherspoon MLB '02 - 'Spoon will start for his new team.
Tampa Bay: Jermaine Phillips SS '02 - Listed as a starter for a very good Bucs defense.
Washington: Phillip Daniels RDE '96 - Will start when he's fully healthy.
Washington: Demetric Evans RDE '01 - 2nd team player will be a backup this year.
Washington: Kedric Golston LDT '06 - Listed as a third team player, playing a lot in the pre-season and will hopefully make the team.
Washington: Nic Clemmons DE '03 - not listed on the depth chart, trying to make the team (he did last year).
Washington: Chris Clemmons LB - cut from the Redskins last week.
Minnesota: Jermaine Wiggins TE '00 - The starter again for the Vikings.
Minnesota: Greg Blue SS '06 - Playing very well in the pre-season, should soon move to 2nd string (from 3rd).

The Wall

Wallpaper
As some know, I've been cooped up at home trying to get 'stuff' done. Been battling with the wallpaper on the wall most recently...and well, I must say that the wallpaper is winning. It's really quite a hassle trying to get it off the wall. I can get it unstuck to the wall, but the geniuses who put the wallpaper there in the first place didn't prime the drywall or anything. So the I pull off the wallpaper, but the darn adhesive stays behind, covering half the wall. That's driving me bonkers.
I've finished ripping down the wallpaper in the hallway, but now I have a third of the drywall damaged, and a third of it covered with glue/adhesive. Which I now will have to sand off. After that, spackle the damaged wall. And then sand again. Sigh.

Interplanetary Social Chat #45089.
I read a couple of other blogs daily, Hey, Jenny Slater being one of them. Doug is a funny guy...his post Thursday 24th of August is pretty darn funny. I almost cried reading the "interplanetary social chat".

Draft!
Spent a good part of early Sunday afternoon drafting a football team for the league I'm in with a bunch of my friends. I had the first pick of the draft (no shenanigans there) and my draft was actually ok. I really hate all the teams that I draft right after I draft them because you always miscalculate something or miss on a player here and there. I've got a lot of RB depth, good starting WRs, decent TEs and questionable QBs. That's not too bad. Here's my team:
QB - D.Bledsoe DAL
WR - R.Moss OAK
WR - R.Wayne IND
WR - D.Driver GB
RB - S.Alexander SEA
RB - D.McAllister NO
TE - L.Smith PHI
W/R - F.Gore SF
bench - D.Branch NE
bench - C.Benson CHI
bench - C.Brown TEN
bench - G.Jones JAX
bench - S.McNair BAL
bench - K.Winslow CLE
bench - M.Turner SD
K - J.Wilkins STL
DEF - Jacksonville

It's a solid team that should compete and do a fine job in defending the league crown.

UGA QB Situation

Well, apparently every blocker out there has an opinion on the Georgia CB situation. So I figure I have my say on the situation as well.
I get a little annoyed with people that think they know what's going on in the practice field. You're not there. You don't watch practice and film every day. You don't know what is going on. All you see is G-Day scrimmage months ago and recruiting reports (and I guess video of recruits against high school players). Bottom line is the coaches are the people that really know what's going on. So I'll trust coach right and boob to know what is best for the UGH football team and for the 4 young men that were/are vying for the starting spot.

As for the final decision, I have no problem with it. First of all, we should trust the coaches (as mentioned above). Second of all, jet was no slouch coming out of h's either. He was a 4 star recruit and generally recognized as top 20 CB in the country. And he's tough as nails.
Joe Cox as the backup may be a bit surprising, but he was a stud coming out of h's, and has had 1 year to learn the system.

It will be interesting to see how those top two guys do. If they produce and we keep winning, I don't see Matthew Stafford playing this year. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. It will make next year interesting, but next year is a long time away. If the top two guys do struggle, then I think we've got a shot of seeing Barnes and Stafford...But right now I really don't want it to come down to that.

I look forward to the season, and just really hope that all Georgia fans are behind Joe threshing III. He IS our starting CB, and a damn good dais, and needs our support. I know Stafford has the most potential, but that's all that it is right now. JIHAD is more ready right now and gives the team the best chance to win, and it would be an insult to the other players to throw the season away just because the true freshman CB needs more reps.
Go daisy!

Handlebar

Went to my first show in Greenville last night, with Heather. I wanted to go catch Modern Skirts while they make their way through town. They put forth a very good show (as usual). The band that opened for them, Venice is Sinking, was very interesting. I liked them. They have a more instrumental sound...kind of like Maserati with a violin. Interesting indeed. I enjoyed their sound and the fact that they pulled out flutes, trumpets and violins throughout the act. Gotta love talented people who are not afraid of doing what they do in front of judging eyes. Takes a lot of "marbles" in my opinion, and there's something very alive about that.

The venue was this little place called The Handlebar, which is like an old abandoned mill or something. Very high ceilings. A little small, but plenty of space and seats, very cozy. Definitely a little smaller than a 40 Watt or Smith's Olde Bar, but I look forward to seeing more bands there (Aimee Mann, Rusted Root and others will make a stop there this year).

So it was a successful night (even though we didn't get to see the last act, Winter Sounds...it was a school night after all!).

Look forward to heading to Atlanta this weekend and seeing some friends. Looks like it is Buckhead Friday night, and hopefully Mel and the Party Hats Saturday (hooray 80s!).

What's that sound?

Is it the cats purring? Or the leaf blower that I don't really know how to use? Nope, it's our brand-new-Jetson's-like washer and dryer! You don't know how exciting the thought of doing your laundry can be! Well, once you're just about out of clean undies you know how exciting that thought can be. And now I can do it! Best Buy delivered it over here yesterday and it's one of those front loading ones...pretty darn nice if you ask me. I'm just waiting for Jetsons Robot to come out and actually fold them for me.

Visitors!

Chad and Erin stopped by this weekend, they were going to NC to look for a dog and decided to pay us a visit. They were our first visitors, and Heather and I were very excited because we got to actually use some of the stuff that we received as wedding gifts (like the griddle, wine glasses, grill, etc). Speaking of grill, my Weber Genesis absolutely kicks major arse. The thing was a beast to put together (45+ minutes) but it was well-worth it.
Although our home is still very much still upside down, full of boxes and what not, we still thought it was a successful 'hosting weekend' and that our friends loved the place. We look forward to having many more friends and family stopping by!

DirecTV is getting setup today, looking forward to that. Besides that, I've got boxes to open and put away, and putting my new leaf blower together. So I'm keeping myself busy.

I did get to watch a few movies the past 3 or 4 days. One thumb up for Rent. It was an admirable adaptation of the play I love...I missed all the singing of all the lines like the play, but it wasn't an easy task to accomplish, and I thought it was done fairly well. Two thumbs down for The Family Stone. Unlikeable family, unlikeable characters, the SJP and Luke Wilson thing at the end didn't make sense...and it was just plain annoying. One thumb up for Match Point. It was seductive and a bit of a thriller...and really well done, I thought. It was a bit slow though. And lastly, two thumbs up for One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest. Nicholson at his best, great acting, moving story, very intense movie.
I look forward to watching a couple of other ones this week...have My Left Foot coming home next!