King Arthur Movie Tristan

Alright, let's be honest, nobody is reading this until tomorrow.

I've got the early picks ready...

Auburn OVER Northwestern

WVU OVER FSU

LSU OVER PSU

Player to watch in these games is Noel Devine of WVU
Game to watch is LSU vs PSU...should be good...

Late game picks coming tomorrow...

Oregon vs OSU

Cincinnati vs Florida

Have a great NYE

Be safe....

I want to wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year! Best wishes for 2010! I hope you all find some wonderful new reads this year.



Thank you all for stopping by my blog and always taking the time to read my posts and comment. I do appreciate your friendship, you guys always make me smile :)

Bring on 2010.
:)

Alright let's make this short and sweet I know everyone has parties to go to...

Were taking...

Air Force OVER Houston...28-14

Oklahoma OVER Stanford...26-14

Missouri OVER Navy...21-19

Iowa State OVER Minnesota...32-28

Virginia Tech OVER Tennessee...16-13

Alright...go make some money...

2ndnShort 6-9

Vegas 7-8

My Grandpa and Uncle Boo used to say there are only two teams you ever cheer for -- the Saints and whoever's playing the Cowboys.

This code of fandom was usually reminded to me on the way home from a Saints and Buccaneers game in the Dome, back in the '80s, when the Bucs were horrible and I was young --  and older relatives joined my Grandpa and Uncle Boo for better games.

So it still pains me to have watched the Saints get a boot in their ass from the Cowgirls.

And it churned greasy bacon and eggs on top the previous night's whiskey and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in my stomach to watch the Saints get shutout by the Bucs in the second half and lose by an overtime field goal. 

I was bitter. And I was traveling and visiting relatives during the holidays. Without a laptop. And too pissed to hop on an in-law's pc and blog about two games the Saints showed up a total three quarters for.

I'm sure we're all bitter. But remember this: so far this season has been one a fan can only dream about. And it's far from over.

Ironically, the Saints can prove their road invincibility by beating Carolina, although the only road win that matters from here on out is the one in Miami: the Super Bowl.

Still, the Saints should destroy the Panthers -- like they did the Jets, Giants and Patriots -- so they can get their swagger back and game-plan aggressively with confidence for the playoffs.

After all, it'll be a new decade. A new year to spit-shine the rust off the run-defense that made Cadillac Williams look like a Pro Bowler and Tony Romo a Top Five quarterback, instead of just a smirking douchebag.

Let's hope the offense in this Carolina game will get back to 40-plus-point scoring fashion. It will be special against a Panthers defense that has allowed less than 12 points a game in its last five match ups.

I want to see the Saints air it out. Let's watch Drew Brees and our offensive arsenal torch them cats -- let's do what we do and let's be special.

The running game, honestly, with Brees and Sean Payton -- and the arsenal -- forever shall be, secondary. We are the forerunners in the modernization of the NFL: pass, pass and more pass. Only rely on the run in red-zone, short-yardage and run-out-the-clock situations.
Let's slide into this postseason with our guns blazing. Our defense is still ranked third in pass defense, behind the Jets and Bills, and Jabari Greer is due back.

Our defense is still ranked ninth in http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/2_988_Bendability_Index.html">bendability index.

And our offense is the only one to score 500 points. And by the way, Brees leads the quarterbacks of the Colts and Chargers, teams that lead in power rankings, with a 109.6 passer rating and 33.3 ppg.

The Saints are doing better than your TV-shooting-neighbors would lead you to believe. It's damn hard to win more than 13 games a season. Just ask the 2008 Steelers (12-4), 2007 Giants (10-6), 2006 Colts (12-4), and 2005 Steelers (11-5).

Who was the last team to win a Super Bowl with 14-2 reg-season record, you ask? Yep, the 2004 Patriots. And they did it in 2003 too. But shit on them.

So it's time to concede that I, jshox, the alter ego of Jeremy Shockey, is a bit disappointed my namesake did not make the Pro Bowl. But this blog is really about the Super Bowl!

And there's always next year.

However, let's congratulate the Saints who have been honored this year among peers and fans: Brees, Jahri Evans, Darren Sharper, Jonathan Stinchcomb, and Jonathan Vilma.

Now let's put our Who Dat! asses in Miami for another reason.

Sometime games are too close to call, this should be a very interesting one. Arizona has had an incredible season and so has Nebraska.

I think that this game will be close the whole way...

Nebraska in a close low scoring affair...18-16

don't forget about...



one of the most dominating defensive player to come a long in a while...

When you lock a player in an electrical closet for three hours...you get fired...

Pretty crazy...a lot of stuff here to sort out

oh, and he lost $800,000, he was supposed to get that today...yikes

Freddie Barnes, Freddie Barnes, Freddie Barnes...enough said


Bowling Green 40-34

2ndnShort 5-8
Vegas 6-7

UCLA has had a down year, and Temple is playing very well right now. Led by Bernard Pierce I think Temple pulls the upset and wins this one...26-24

Miami has had a roller coaster ride of a season and will look to cap it off right with a win against Wisconsin. I think Jacory Harris and company get it done and Miami wins...33-27

Get ready for some football...Ed Reed will help

(31spoonerstreet)

I woke up at 4pm today and heard the awful news The Rev had passed away yesterday.
Avenged Sevenfold were a huge part in my growing up, an friend of mine got me into them when I was 13/14 and have always been one of my favourite bands..
The Rev was a genius, his drum-playing was unbeatable. He was amazing!
I'm still in shock over this news... A7X will never be the same without The Rev.

His legacy lives on!

Joe Cox and the Georgia defense pulled through and won big 44-20 over a mistake prone Texas A&M team.

Aron White had two touchdown receptions for the Bulldogs.

A&M was led by Christine Michael who ran for 78 yards and had a TD.

2ndnShort 5-6

Vegas 5-6

AJ Green and Joe Cox will have to be on the same page tonight as Georgia takes on Texas A&M. AJ Green is one of the best WR's in college football and if Joe Cox can get him the ball he can make plays for the Bulldogs.

A&M will need to get the ball to Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray if these guys can do some work on the ground the Aggies can win this game.

I look for A&M to struggle stopping the Georgia offence and think that the Bulldogs will win...33-24


2ndnShort 4-6

Vegas 4-6

Clemson just beat Kentucky 21-13. CJ Spiller had a touchdown(of course) and set a record as he had one in every game this season. He is nasty and I can't wait to see him run in the L...172 all purpose yards tonight...

2ndnShort is now 4-6

Vegas 4-6

Well, looks like Florida head coach Urban Meyer will return to the team after a leave. He made statements this morning and said he will be back next year. This is great news for Florida.

CJ Spiller has 1,145 yards on the season and I expect him to add at least 125 to that total tonight when Clemson takes on Kentucky. To have a chance at winning this game Kentucky has to try to contain Spiller.

For Clemson to win they need to get Spiller the ball, a lot. They also need to make sure that Randall Cobb does not get hot. Cobb is a threat to run and catch and the Wildcats need him to be productive to win.

Look for this one to be close for a while until the Tigers pull away late...Clemson wins 34-22


and were all tied up...

2ndnShort 3-6

Vegas 3-6

PS...CJ Spiller is really good, just look below

I have finally gotten around to talking about my wonderful Christmas!
Now I must admit, I'm not usually the biggest fan of Xmas (Xmas is easier to type, so I'll use it throughout..) - I'm more of a Halloween person myself, but this Xmas was great!
I woke up at 11:30 and I already knew (or so I thought..) what I was going to get. I had asked my Mam for camera originally instead of money, but then changed my mind. Due to the recession, I was expecting a camera and maybe a small present! But no, I was wrong! I first opened up 'Love Kill Slowly' - the perfume by Ed Hardy.. Which I've wanted for AGES!, A Giant Toblerone, Every single Marilyn Monroe movie (I already had most of them, but this was a boxset with all of them together!), A big black Marilyn Monroe portrait with her autograph, an Audrey Hepburn calendar, Some pyjamas and socks etc, A €25 iTunes voucher, Rihanna's new album (which is BRILLIANT btw!). I then opened my Xmas card with €300 in it.... I was like YAAAAAY! Then out of the blue she hands me another present.. and it was a GORGEEEOUSSS Panasonic PINK camera! I was shocked!!! Best present ever :)
My Dad, Step-Mum and sisters then arrived, I got boots and leather jacket previously off my Dad and tons of gig tickets! He also got me my own (I always stole his..) Band Of Brothers boxset :D My sisters got me a FrontCover eyelash and eyemake up set, which rocks!
I went to my Dad's, stuffed myself with 2 plates of Xmas dinner and just chilled and watched the Incredibles. Was a very good Xmas tbh!
Tomorrow I am getting up early to go shopping in the sales with my mullah, was meant to go today but I slept until 2:30 in the afternoon, as I was so tired haha!
Write again during the week, byeee! :)

Happy Sunday Salon everyone. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas :) We had a nice one here, thought I am glad it's finally over. I think there's just too much hustle and bustle during this time of year.

Santa was good to me this year, and got me the new Stephen King book I asked for as well as the perfume I wanted :)

And friends spoiled me with gift cards to BarnesnNobles, Starbucks and two of my favorite clothing stores. So I can be well dressed and smell good, while reading and drinking a latte :)



We did have a snowstorm last week, and my kids enjoyed the first snow day of the year. I wrapped Diego up in his coat and took him outside with the children to see his reaction to the white stuff. He was weary at first, but then he actually liked it. He was running around in it.





My son was pulling my daughter on her sled, and Diego was chasing them. After about five minutes of playtime, I brought Diego inside, he's such a tiny little thing.




Once inside, Diego cuddled on the couch with me for his usual massage. By the look on his face, can you tell he's a pampered pup?







Now, I wanted to share my list of Favorite Bookish Quotes of 2009.



I have found some excellent books this past year and I thought I'd share my favorites, just a few tidbits from books that really stood out as I was reading. Passages that made me go 'awwwww' or 'wow, that was good', as I read them. That's how I know the book I'm reading is good, when a passage jumps out at me and grabs my attention. I love it when that happens.




Here they are in no particular order. Well, I think the Benny & Shrimp one is possibly my favorite.




1.


title: Benny & Shrimp



author: Katarina Mazetti

Love makes others into doves,

gazelles, cats, peacocks-but I,

quivering, wet, and transparent-

am your jellyfish.

2.

title: The Other Boleyn Girl



author: Philippa Gregory

There was nothing I could do but take second place and smile. The king might bed me at night, but all the day he was Anne's. For the first time in all the long while that I had been his lover I felt like a whore indeed, and it was my own sister who shamed me.

3.


title: Best Intentions


author: Emily Listfield

The past is never really over. Our interpretation of it may shift like a kaleidescope, it may inform us or lead us astray, it may bring comfort or delusion, an excuse to hate or a reason to love. Some of us race too quickly to try to escape it, some of us cling so tightly it blinds us to the present. But one way or another, it is always with us.

4.


title: Frederica


author: Georgette Heyer

She would have drawn her hand away as he spoke, but he prevented her, lifting it from the banister, and lightly kissing it. She had the oddest sensation of having suffered an electric shock; she even felt a trifle dizzy; and it was several moments after he had left her before she went back into the drawing room. It was no longer customary for gentlemen to kiss hands; and although oldfashioned persons frequently kissed the hands of married ladies, his lordship was not oldfashioned, and she was not married.

5.


title: Tao Te Ching


author: Lao-Tse

He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent. He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.

6.

title: Just Ella

author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

If I'd learned nothing else from my life thus far, it was that you don't always end up where you think you're going.

7.

title: Stardust

author: Neil Gaiman

He imagined he could see the very faces of the stars; pale they were and smiling gently, as if they had spent so much time above the world, watching the scrambling and the joy and the pain of the people below them, that they could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.

8.

title: Inkheart
author: Cornelia Funke

He was probably right, but there was another reason why Meggie took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar voices, friends that never quarreled with her, clever, powerful friends-daring and knowledgeable, tried and tested adventurers who traveled far and wide.

9.


title: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

author: Laurie Viera Rigler

I do not know how I come to be in this time, in this place, in this body. But I do know that any place where there are six novels by the author of Pride & Prejudice must be a very special sort of heaven.

10.

title: Just After Sunset

author: Stephen King

No, she thinks from her place by the sink. I don't want to hear the scary part. But at the same time she does want to hear the scary part, everyone wants to hear the scary part, we're all mad here, and her mother really did say that if you told your dreams they wouldn't come true, which meant you were supposed to tell the nightmares and save the good ones for yourself, hide them like a tooth under the pillow.

11.
title: Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair

author: Pablo Neruda

As all things are filled with my soul

You emerge from the things

Filled with my soul

You are like my soul

A butterfly of dream

And you are like the word: Melancholy

Those are some of my favorites, what are yours?

How was your holiday everyone? I'll be trying to catch up on blog visiting today, enjoy your Sunday :)

Urban Meyer has just stepped down as head football coach at Florida. This was completely unexpected and right now I am still catching my breath. Apparently Coach Meyer went for a check up and had some health concerns. This news just broke 6 minutes ago so we are still waiting for details.

Check "2ndnShort" on Twitter for the latest details...this is crazy...

Coach Meyer WILL coach them in their bowl game against Cincinnati and it will be his last...

Montel Harris will be the key to this game for the Golden Eagles. He runs very hard, and displays power when running in between the tackles. Montel Harris is the reason the Boston College Golden Eagles will win this game.

USC does not want to be in this game, and honestly I don't think they are focused. I have not been in their locker room, but I'm sure they were looking towards the Rose Bowl earlier in the season. Sure USC has loads of talent despite the down year but I don't think they play as well as a team as BC does. BC is very happy to be here and they are eager to get this win for their program.

BC will win this game 28-24



why not...

This game should be great. The Pitt attack led on the ground by Dion Lewis against the air attack of TJ Yates and UNC. Spread is Pitt -3 and I think it will play out just about as close.

Dion Lewis could be a top pick in the draft in a couple years so definitely watch for him. QB TJ Yates is a strong leader for the tar heels and should be successful against the Pitt pass defense.

I look for Pitt to win in a close one 29-25....

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

after Ohio just lost to Marshall we are now 2-5...Vegas stands at 1-6

Marshall will try to shut down Theo Scott and the Ohio passing attack, and Ohio will have to deal with the running of Darius Marshall. I think that Ohio will get the better of this match up and win the game.

Ohio 28
Marshall 19

2ndnShort 2-4
Vegas 1-5

SMU rolled Nevada last night...yea, we don't want to talk about it...

2ndnShort is now 2-4
Vegas is 1-5

Let's shake this off and enjoy Christmas...more games to come tomorrow

Merry Christmas! I hope Santa brings you all you wanted. Many wishes for health and happiness.

Colin Kaepernick will lead 8-4 Nevada against 7-5 SMU tonight in Hawaii.

Nevada has THREE 1,000 yard rushers and is first in the nation in running the ball averaging 362 yards a game. SMU will have a hard time stopping the run for sure.

To win the game SMU will have to control the run and get Emmanuel Sanders the ball, he is their play maker and if he can get involved SMU can win the game.

I see this game staying on the ground and Nevada taking control early...

NEVADA 44-28

::BOWL PICK SCOREBOARD::

2ndnShort 2-3

Vegas 1-4

Utah beat Cal last night 37-27 as Jordan Wynn led the passing attack with 338 yards and 3 TD's. David Reed caught 103 of those yards.

Utah was down 14-0 early then scored 24 straight to end the half.

Shane Vereen did all he could in the loss rushing for 122 yards and 2 TD's.

Utah has won nine bowl games in a row.

2ndnShort is now 2-3 with the picks

Because everyone loves to gamble we are going to gamble against Vegas...they are 1-4 right now with their bowl picks...let's see of we can beat them...let the competition begin...

Sean Vereen will be the man to watch tonight as Cal tries to beat Utah. Vereen has the responsibility of filling some huge shoes. Cal RB Jahvid Best was considered by many as the best RB in the country. Since going down in a scary injury Vereen has been filling the void.

Utah started the season on fire, but then fell to Oregon and TCU. Cal has also been very streaky as they were once a top five team and now find themselves unranked.

This should be a good game and hopefully it proves more entertaining then last nights game.

With Jahvid Best out I'm going to pick Utah....24-17

2ndnShort is 1-3 on the bowl picks so far, but so is Vegas...let's get hot here

As you all know were not big time fans of BYU on this blog. But props have to be given where they are due...Gongrats, big win for the program...

Tuesday brings us an early Christmas present as we get a very good match up tonight.

Max Hall vs Sean Canfield and Harvey Unga vs Jaquizz Rodgers.

Max Hall is the QB for BYU and he is a solid veteran ready for the big stage. The same can be said for OSU's Sean Canfield who is making his 24th start at QB. These two dudes will be responsible for starting the game on the right foot for their respective teams, but after that anything can happen.

Harvey Unga is having a great year and has run for 1,016 yards and ten TD's so far. If the Beavers struggle to stop Unga then Max Hall will have a field day. Those numbers are hard to top, but not many are better then OSU's RB Jaquizz Rodgers. Rodgers has a boastful 1,377 yards and a school record 20 TD's this year. The BYU defense is ranked 23rd in the country in rush defense, but let's be honest nobody can shut down Quizz completely.

This game should be an all out battle for the duration and I think the Rodgers Brothers will come out on top...

OREGON STATE 34-26

this should be a great game...

oh PS...Jaquizz Rodgers scored 135 TD's in High School...IN THREE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!

Oregon State vs BYU tomorrow in what should be a very good game...preview tomorrow, for now...tease

title: Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair

author: Pablo Neruda

genre: poetry

first published in 1924 as Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada, first translated in 1969

rated: 5 out of 5



Pablo Neruda's Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair is a wonderful collection of beautiful poems that will break your heart, but in a good way. Know what I mean?

These are poems I'll be reading time and time again. I also enjoyed reading the poems in Spanish.

Here's one of my favorites:


I Like For You To Be Still


I like for you to be still

It is as though you are absent

And you hear me from far away

And my voice does not touch you

It seems as though your eyes had flown away

And it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth

As all things are filled with my soul

You emerge from the things

Filled with my soul

You are like my soul

A butterfly of dream

And you are like the word: Melancholy



I like for you to be still

And you seem far away

It sounds as though you are lamenting

A butterfly cooing like a dove

And you hear me from far away

And my voice does not reach you

Let me come to be still in your silence

And let me talk to you with your silence

That is bright as a lamp

Simple, as a ring

You are like the night

With its stillness and constellations

Your silence is that of a star

As remote and candid



I like for you to be still

It is as though you are absent

Distant and full of sorrow

So you would've died

One word then, One smile is enough

And I'm happy;

Happy that it's not true.






I was introduced to Pablo Neruda by Kelly...aka...TheChicGeek. Thanks Kelly!