Same Old Falcons

Same old Falcons. Too bad they can't win like the Braves. The Falcons have continued to improve their personnel. They have the best roster in the NFL, a QB putting up hall of fame numbers, the best player in the NFL in Julio Jones, a dynamic rookie receiver, an above average tight end and running back, perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL – and they can't score points. Only way the offensive coordinator shouldn't get fired after the season is if they win the Super Bowl. Holding the World Champs to 18 points should've been enough to win. I watched some of the first half then went to bed.

Philadelphia, a.k.a. Loserville, wins their first NFL title in almost sixty years. They unveil their world championship banner before the game, then when the first half ends the fans boo the team. You'd think they'd give them a little more leeway.

 

Also: Matt Ryan broke his knee brace.

Word of the Day: a noun: Schadenfreude; noun: schadenfreude scha·den·freu·de ˈSHädənˌfroidə/

1. pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.

Used in a sentence: "Angie quite often experiences schadenfreude."

 

 

Aug 30: worked past six. Ceil and I went up to Moxie Burger, for the first time in a long time. She got a salad with lots of stuff on it, including chicken. It also came with a pile of onion rings on the top, not the huge onions rings but the good kind, the small stringy rings. I ordered a chicken sandwich with BBQ sauce, which is actually bigger than their burgers.

 

Got home and watched two more episodes of "Making It." You really need to see this show, on NBC. Last night they decorated doorways for the holiday of their choice. They made scary Halloween costumes. One was a sock-eating dryer, another the huge head of the artist's dog swallowing the artist. Also stadiums with moving parts, made out of food. One was the Roman Coliseum made out of Rice Krispy treats. The season finale is next Tuesday night.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Will passed his big certification test! He is an official Physician's Assistant. Now to get a job.

 

Aug 31: jersey day at work. Mike wore a Barry Sanders jersey. Zack a 49ers t-shirt. Shane a Falcons t-shirt. I wore a Vic Beasley #44 jersey tee. Also a UGA polo. May change into my new Braves t-shirt later. Kim wore a FSU jersey, to the delight of our general manager.

 

Might've told you about all the food at work on Friday: hot dogs, beany weinies, breakfast sliders, corn dip, etc. I never ate dinner Friday evening. Had three team members out but since work was slow I didn't feel dad about leaving at three. Drove over to SunTrust and got to visit with Jeff Yearwood a little. Then walked to the park and met up with Will. No reason to get there so early except to beat traffic.

 

We walked around The Battery and visited the SunTrust On Up experience for the first time. Vince Dooley was signing autographs at 5:30. There wasn't much of a line, so I dragged Will into it. Took a little longer than expected, but we had lots of time. As we got close I realized what I could say: that I played football with Mack Guest and Steve Dennis, two of his All-SEC players from Macon. Coach smiled and said in his familiar drawl "I saw Mack yesterday!" We had a quick chat, we took pictures, and he autographed mini-footballs for us.

 

Saw three couple from our Sunday School class on the walk back to the ballpark. Introduced Will to them and to Miss Marian, my usher friend. Went to the outfield for batting practice, then walked around the park. Got Cokes and headed to our seats in the upper deck near third base.  It was Auburn night, so we were surrounded by fans in orange caps. An African American family sat on the other side of Will, and he chatted with the grandfather. The young granddaughter received lots of attention from a bevy of Auburn coeds sitting nearby.

 

We stayed until the end of the game, but not the postgame concert. Walked back to the car. Looked for something to eat, but since it was after 11 pm everything was closed or had long lines at the drive through. I drove Will home, and stopped by the new East Cobb RaceTrac for some Vitamin Water Zero lemonade.

 

Worked upstairs Saturday morning, then watched Clemson/Furman, GT/Alcorn, UGA/Austin Peay, Notre Dame/Michigan, West Virginia/Tennessee, Auburn/Washington, and Bama/Louisville. Did laundry and other chores.

 

Sunday Matthew and Ceil drove down to worship at W&MC's church in the West End: Cornerstone Church. C&M had lunch at W&MC's, then went to Ponce City Market. I made it to JFBC, grilled BBQ chicken sandwiches, took a nap, and watched the Braves. W&MC went to the Braves game. Later we watched Miami/LSU.

 

I had signed up to help at Johnson Ferry's Holy Smoke Festival on Monday morning. They had a 5K road race, and by ten there were just a few people there. But in a just a few minutes there was a line of young kids at our bouncy house: kids had to jump from on big ball to the next, a junior sized American Ninja Warrior course. Of course all the high achiever parents and kids had to try. For my hour the stream of kids was constant. I had as much fun as the kids.

 

At 11 am my shift ended. Saw Lynn Taylor and others. Ate Williamson Brothers BBQ with Buddy, who'd studied architecture with Ceil at Clemson. Hundreds and hundreds of people were there. After lunch I checked out the antique cars, there were several dozen – almost a hundred. Made it home by noon. Ceil had gone to the YMCA, then was cleaning in the living and dining room. I helped, and also washed some clothes, folded laundry, did the dishes, and watched the Braves.

 

Later I drove Ceil to Perimeter Mall. we got off 400 to go to Perimeter Mall. The hotel across the street had three flags flying, but only the American flag in the middle was at half-staff (more like 40%). The Hampton Inn flag was at 100%, and the Georgia state flag at 90%. Kinda sloppy.

 

On the way back we ate at Chuys. Not my favorite. The chicken tasted funny. Watched FSU/Virginia Tech. Went to bed before the game was over.  

 

Tuesday I left work at three. Walked up to the Chop House Gate just after four, there were already a boatload of fans in line. Had a bobblehead sold before the gates opened at 5:30. Walked around and people watched. Saw MC's dad and several bobble buddies.

 

Wednesday: worked from home, so there was lots to do plus several distractions. Ceil is headed to SC – her mom was sent to the hospital yesterday. Wasn't a UTI like they hoped. Cleaned out the fridge and freezer. Had a burrito and hash browns.

 

With Ceil on a health kick and me without a car yesterday, I had to forage for food. The fridge and freezer are always packed, so it wasn't hard. Between breakfast lunch and dinner I ate: a PB&J, hash browns, a frozen bean burrito, and smaller black bean taquitos. Organized the fridge and got rid of two duplicate jars of peanut butter. Plenty more to eat going forward: ravioli, soup, chili, beans, popcorn, yogurt, grilled cheese. Lunch today was leftover pizza and chicken soup.

 

Work was busy. Dialed into two conference calls, and of course Barney was barking during the calls. Turned on the Braves game. Last night I watched several episodes of 30 Rock, plus two movies: At Middleton (Andy Garcia) and Waitress (Andy Griffith).

 

Thursday: worked past six. Drove straight home. M and I ate at Moes. Later a couple of his friends came home. I was sleepy so I hit the sack.

 

Friday: Mrs. Miller is doing better. Ceil may come home tomorrow. Meeting at work catered by Jason's Deli. Not much else. Guess I'll car shop this weekend.

 

Matthew bought Drew Kelly's father's 1996 Buick Park Avenue two years ago. It runs great. Had a few minor problems, but it's been great. Yesterday he rode my bike 4-1/2 miles to his doctor's appointment, and 4-1/2 miles back. He needed the exercise.