Turkey Bowl 2005

For a few years following high school graduation, a group of my friends would get together after Thanksgiving at the high school football field and play a game of tackle football. We called it Turkey Bowl. I only participated in Turkey Bowl 2000, but it was one of the more memorable games (which my team won on a long TD pass thrown by yours truly). It was pretty brutal at times but all in good fun. Eventually, the tradition began to fade.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2005. I go out with the core of this same group of friends and we meet up with many of the original Turkey Bowlers. We drink. and tell stories. and relive the memories of past games. No one is saying anything, but we're all thinking about it. It's time to bring back the tradition.
So that is how, at 2 a.m. on Thanksgiving night (technically the day after but who gives a shit), I ended up running throught dogshit, throwing passes, and delivering stiff arms to my old drinking buddies in a tiny front yard in downtown Beaumont. Drunk. as all get out. But happy. Happy as I've been in a long time.
I've said it before but and I'll say it again. I MISS PLAYING FOOTBALL.
But I'm getting too old for it now and I've got injuries that creep up on me.
I told you this story about playing football to tell you another story. This one is about baseball.
Don't worry I am going somewhere with this, it's just going to take me a minute or 3.

As much as I love football, baseball has always been my mistress. I've played the game since I was 5. I was pretty good in little league because of hitting puberty early and being bigger than the other kids. Later on they would all catch up with me and level the playing field, so to speak.
I've played on good teams, decent teams, even really shitty teams. But no matter the situation, I just love to play. It's something about the camaraderie. and the groupies. and sunflower seeds. But I need to finish this story or else it's going to be too long of a post.

So it was a bittersweet day in late May of 1998. Two weeks from graduation. Quite possibly the last organized baseball practice of my life. We were playing Orangefield the next day for a shot at the playoffs.
At the end of the day I volunteered to stick around and throw batting practice to a friend. I did this mostly because I knew it was the end of an important period in my life. And partly because he had a bitchin fuck story to tell about his new girlfriend.
If you know anything about manual batting cages you'll know that there is a certain amount of inherent risk involved in being a BP pitcher. Therefore, you have an L-shaped screen in front of the pitcher to deflect liners hit back up the middle.
What this does not account for is the possibility of a bankshot off the side posts of the batting cage. If I had the tools at hand I would draw you a picture.
Anyway that is how I caught a screaming liner, which had ricocheted off the aforementioned side post, with my nose. Squarely. And the blood did flow.
And my nose wasn't just broken. It was shattered.
2 weeks before my high school graduation. The day before my final baseball game. We lost the game to Orangefield and missed the playoffs. I sat in the dugout and damn near cried. Okay, maybe I teared up a little but that's not important.

Sidenote:
I had the most unimaginable streak of bad luck that year. 1998 was a shitty one for me.
Anyway, I got the nose fixed as best as possible and did all the cool things seniors get to do during their last week of high school with a big white cast on my face.
But I did it all in a pillfucked stupor. They gave me good Vicodin back in those days. And by this time I had come to know the difference between good pills and weak ones pretty well. Remember the scar story? It's over on the sidebar if you haven't heard that one yet. That terrible series of events occurred at the beginning of 1998.
I still have a good deal of blockage, but can usually breathe with mouth closed with little or no trouble.
However, I am very cautious about not reinjuring the snout. Usually.
Unless I've been drinking and playing football late at night. Which brings me to the conclusion of this long drawn out ramble.

Turkey Bowl 2005. About 3:15 a.m. Beaumont, Texa.
It's 4th down. My team is up by 1 touchdown. The other team has the ball. I line up over the center and blow through him. The quarterback (who is a big boy) ducks his head as I'm coming up. His head meets my nose. Explosion of blood. Tears in the eyes.
"FUCK I broke this damn thing again!!"
He goes down and I pull off my shirt to stop the bleeding. Turns out it may not be broken. But it still hurts like a sonofabitch.
But at least I got the sack and we won the game.
I remain undefeated in Turkey Bowl competition. Maybe I should just retire and go out on top.
and my nose is still hurting today.

Right back where we started from

I got drunk at the neighbor's apartment Friday night after I helped her move a bunch of furniture and shit. They got a new bedroom set. It's pimp. I'm a little jealous because all my stuff is old hand-me-down shit. I kind of like it that way though. I'd rather spend the money on a fun weekend.
Speaking of which, this weekend turned out to be pretty cool. I played a softball tournament Saturday.
Well honestly, it was more like I played one game (sober) at 10 am (won 15-0). Then went to the bar to watch Ohio State and Michigan until about 2 pm. Then played (good hard buzz) at 3 pm (lost by 4).
After that we went to the horsetrack and bet on the ponies until about 7 pm. I actually came out losing less than usual this time. I'm getting better at this gambling thing.
Then we played our last game (good and lit) at 8 pm (and lost by 2 runs).

I left my apartment a total of about 3 times Sunday, but just to walk the dog. He's been shitting a lot lately. Hope he's okay.
Cowboys won again and I'm on a 3 game win streak in my fantasy league. If I keep this up I may even make the playoffs.

In other news, the job search is officially on. I am actively pursuing other career opportunities. One such possibility exists in California, which would be a big move. Farther away from home than I've ever lived. But it's Cali. That whole OC and Laguna Beach thing kind of appeals to me. I'm sure life over there is exactly like they portray it on those shows. Isn't it?

With mustard and relish

Bad news at work. Still no news from the other company. It's 2 and I've done all I can do for the day/week. I'm catching up on blogs and sending emails to my mom. I'm housesitting for them over Thanksgiving break. Party up in here. I mean there. whatever
It's getting colder and I don't like it. Not one bit.
I'm playing softball tomorrow and watching the game Sunday. That's the only plans I've made so far.
Except chili dogs. I made a pot of chili last night and decided hot dogs was a good idea for tonight. Yeah, that's how pathetic my life has become. I'm excited about chili dogs.

How Bout them Cowboys!!!!!

Awesome comeback last night. Don't ever... ever ever ever count these Cowboys out. They showed some heart last night. Roy Williams is THE MAN.

I feel fine now. The whole food poisoning thing has passed. Think I'm going to be a semi-vegetarian for a while. Just the thought of steak makes me gag.

Still no word from the other opportunity. I'm thinking I didn't get the job. I'm disappointed but that's how these things go.
On the bright side, I've been talking to the NewGuy and he said there are much more lucrative opportunities in this field that are available for someone willing to travel and live in hotels. I love travel and living in hotels is fun. Maybe I'll pursue that in the future.
Gotta run.
GO COWBOYS!!!! I'll be at the Detroit game sitting on the first row behind the right goal post.

So why don't you kill me?

Friday night I went to the horsetrack and lost. That set the tone for the entire weekend.

Saturday night I went to a poker tournament at my friend's house. I lost again.

Let me back up though. Before leaving for the poker game I cooked two of those bacon wrapped beef filets in the oven. Being in a hurry to get out the door I didn't let them cook long enough. Big mistake.

After the poker game I felt a little rumble in my tummy. Which grew stronger. And stronger. By the time I got home I was racing upstairs.
Food poisoning is a mother fucker.
It's now noon on Sunday and I can finally keep some Gatorade and Pedialyte down. But my arms feel really weak and I ache all over.
This sucks.
Hope your weekend was better.

Guess I should update this thing

I killed a deer this weekend. It was an ugly kill. Gut shot from about 250 yards away. Stupid. I should've waited. Had to finish him off up close. I hate doing it that way but he was suffering. It was a nice little 8 point.
My cousin killed his first two deer this weekend. He was really excited.
I suck donkey balls at fantasy football.
I played softball last night for the first time in about 2 weeks. We won and I felt good but am sore this morning.
Still haven't heard anything about the new opportunity back home.

If I had a million dollars you know what I'd do, man?

Two chicks at the same time, man.

Priorities?.... check

So I'm watching the "breakout" (pun completely intended) hit of the season Prisonbreak Monday night when I realized something.
TV show writers must think I'm stupid.
If the Secret Service can intercept a phone conversation, don't you think they could intercept a text message too?
I'm seeing a lot of holes in this show but it's too late to quit watching now. We've come too far.

Also, My Name is Earl and The Office are great. NBC may have found the replacement for Friends and Seinfeld they've been missing since those shows ended.

And Rodney is awesome, but it comes on at the same time as Bones. That chick from Bones is hot. and the show's pretty good too.
You should already know how I feel about House.

Hazy Hacking Homecoming

The interview was early Thursday morning and I got lost on the way. Luckily I had left way early, so I was still right on time.
It went well. Now I just have to wait. Which sucks. I wanted to know if I got the job right away. I'm impatient.
That night we had the fire, steaks, and beers I had hoped for. The weather was perfect. I stayed up late talking to an old friend and throwing logs on the fire. We got pretty wasted and passed out in my mom's living room.

I spent most of Friday in my stepdad's recliner watching old home movies and doing laundry. Then I went to my real dad's house and ate brisket with the family. We ate birthday cake and ice cream, then I left for Nac.
I got really wasted at my old bar, Headliners, and then went to Shack. I ended up crashing out on my friends couch. Fully clothed with boots, hat, and jacket still on.

Saturday was a blur of hazy recollections. I started off at Chili's where we had about 4 Jagers and a couple of Shiners before 1:00 pm. Then we went to the tailgate party. After that, it's really foggy but I'm pretty sure I went back to Headliners and then to Sport Shack again.
The after party was at the Sig Tau house. I remember there was a really hot fairy running around. Her eyes were beautiful and I'm pretty sure I told her so a couple of times.
Last thing I remember was Taco Bell with Clay-Z. Then I passed out in the dance room.

I woke up Sunday at the Sig Tau house and decided I should haul ass to DFW. Got about 5 miles out of town before realizing that I'd left half my stuff. Turned around and ended up watching the Cowboys play (hitting their stride midseason) while nursing an increasingly horrible headache.
The drive home was one of the worst.
I developed a really nasty cough. Everytime I coughed it made my head hurt worse. I was miserable. I took lots of meds and tried to sleep it off. Key word - tried.

After a night of little sleep, I got up Monday morning and came into the office. Piles of paperwork on my desk. Huge heaping piles.
"Hey, you know we need all this taken care of by noon today right?"
No. Goddamn you all to hell. Why? Fuck.
And on top of that it rained. Hard. No softball.
Yesterday sucked. Leave it at that.
Today isn't much better, but at least I'm not feeling sick anymore. TheraFlu is magic.