Sunday, September 23, 2018

Meatloaf

Meatloaf ain’t bad. Ceil is on a health kick so we haven’t been eating much meat. Every now and then she’ll cook chicken. I try to stay away from mac & cheese but sometimes fall victim. At a recent restaurant they had some special mac & cheese but I didn’t order it.
 
Speaking of meat, in honor of this week’s national cheeseburger day, all month Wendy’s has free single cheeseburgers when you buy something else. Ceil is heading off to see her mother again, so I might just swing by Wendy’s for dinner.
 
I had wanted to go to JFBC Wednesday night but things got crazy at 4:30, so I worked past seven. I always think if I can just complete a few more tasks I ‘ll have all my work done, but stuff always seems to pop up. Stopped by Taco Bell and Dollar Tree on the way home. Should’ve stopped by Wendy’s but I wanted to try their new double – something, but that was on the breakfast menu.
 
Watched the Braves replay. Now that we’re getting down to the wire the games are getting more interesting. Still too many walks. In fact the Braves are on track to set a team record for most walks per nine innings. You’ll have to ask L what Tom Glavine said about walks to Jeff Schultz. I think he said pitchers had to make up their minds they weren’t going to walk people. That they would throw more strikes. You can tell the Braves announcers aren’t crazy about all the walks either.
 
Tuesday night the game was on ESPN, so I listened to Boog Giambi and Rick Sutcliff for a change of pace. You’d be proud of me. After last night’s Braves game replay ended I switched over to ESPN for the end of the Yankees / Red Sox game. Hate seeing Yankee players wearing white shoes.  
 
Surprise surprise, I’m still having trouble with fast food. I had read an article in a “reputable” publication that Wendys was giving away free burgers in September with purchase, so I stopped by at the one at Spaulding & Peachtree Parkway. The drive thru line looked slow so I went inside, taking not of the silver Nissan I would’ve been behind. Inside there was a line. The employee was friendly but the line was going super slow. In five minutes (300 seconds) only three people’s orders had been taken, and I had yet to see any food. I left. The silver Nissan was still waiting as well.
 
Stopped at Wendys on Holcomb Bridge just east of 400. No one in the drive thru. They told me I had to have a phone app to get the burger. The article didn’t say that. I’ll try again on the way home today.
 
Thursday I had deli sandwiches for lunch, and a chicken sandwich for supper. Watched the Braves.The relievers set them down 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth. Sobotka struck out the side in the ninth. Also watched episode one of Jack Ryan on Amazon.
 
I was making a list of the Braves and Falcons jerseys I own (also a Hawks jersey). Then I started listing all the jerseys I’ve sold on eBay, and couldn’t believe the number – between 90 and 100. I’ve still got too many, but they’re all Atlanta teams now and not oddballs.
 
Ceil’s brother and nephew came down for the GT/Clemson game. Game four and Tech is already breaking out new uniforms. Just like almost every other team in the country (except the good ones: UGA, Bama, LSU, Auburn, USC, Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, and a few others). The way Tech is playing, if I went I think I would've worn orange. And I always wear GT stuff to the GT/Clemson game.
 
I need to get rid of a lot of bobbleheads. Then the old guy in Cumming wants me to help him trade about 50 of his bobbleheads. I might trade for his Blooper.
 
Ceil’s mom did ok in the storm because she’s at the rehab facility in Monroe NC, just across the state line. It’s located next to the hospital, so they have backup generators and such. There were some power outages in Jefferson and a bunch of rain, but I don’t think Ceil’s brother Rusty or cousin Phil or Uncle Lennie lost power or had flooding. Plenty of lower ground for the water to flow to.
 
Ceil said Joan was doing better. She’s eating more and getting her strength back. For the first time Ceil spent the night at her brother’s house, since her mother’s house was empty and visitors couldn’t spend the night at the rehab facility. 
 
Uncle Lennie graduated from Clemson, then was a professor at the University of Florida and later Miami. His wife Corinne has ties to Vanderbilt. They follow all four schools but mostly root for Clemson. 
 
Will & MC flew home today, after attending an outdoor wedding yesterday in southwest Utah. 

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Division Champs!


This afternoon the Braves clinched the NL East championship. This after Sports Illustrated (and most all of the other experts) predicted Atlanta would finish near the botton of the standing. They was wrong.
Incredibly, some of the players went outside SunTrust Park
to frolic with the fans in the fountains at The Battery.
Big sports day in Atlanta. In addition to the Braves,
at East Lake Tiger Woods held his lead in the Tour Championship.
At Grant Field #3 Clemson throttled woeful Georgia Tech.
Georgia State lost to Western Michigan at Turner Field.
At Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta United hosted a match.
And Kennesaw State put up 70 points on visiting Clark Atlanta.

Friday, September 21, 2018

Jersey Collection

I have finally made peace with wearing a jersey to a ball game. I love seeing a jersey hanging in my closet, though these days they certainly don’t look good on me. Now I have enough. Almost. What I can’t believe is all the jerseys I used to have, that I’ve sold on eBay – almost one hundred.
 
03 red 1980 Braves Dale Murphy BP jersey China 16.00
03 light blue 1982 Braves Dale Murphy jersey tee SGA 00.00
04 black Falcons Brett Favre jersey China 22.00
08 cream 1963 Braves Bob Uecker jersey China 25.00
09 black Cincinnati Bengals Carson Palmer game jersey 6.00
16 black UGA baseball tee thrift 06.00
21 red Hawks road Dominique Wilkens thrift 3.00
21 orange Central Chargers jersey earned 0.00
22 navy Braves road Jason Heyward jersey thrift 06.00
23 pinstriped Cubs jersey from fantasy camp 0.00
44 white Braves Hank Aaron jersey tee SGA 00.00
44 black Falcons Vic Beasley jersey tee thrift 06.00
82 green Braves spring training Ronald Acuna St. Patrick’s China 16.00
00 grey Braves road jersey thrift 06.00
00 dark grey Braves road jersey thrift 06.00
00 white Braves feather jersey Marshalls 20.00
 
$138.00 / 16 jerseys = $8.63 each
 
I’d like to add:
 
34 red UGA Herschel Walker jersey
42 red pinstripe 1976 Braves Scott Patterson jersey
21 gold Georgia Tech Calvin Johnson jersey
 
Two regrets: (1) found a brand new 1976 red pinstriped Phil Niekro “Knucksie” jersey on the clearance rack at Marshalls and didn’t get it, and (2) a Bobby Dews jersey in the Turner Field game worn store.
 
I’ve sold most of the odd football jerseys I’ve found at thrift stores over the years, including:
 
00 pinstriped home Yankees jersey
00 grey Reds road jersey
00 rainbow Astros jersey
00 MLB all star game BP jersey
00 green Oakland A’s jersey
00 Boston College hockey sweater
00 white Thrashers sweater (2)
00 brown Thrashers sweater
00 red Montreal Canadians sweater
00 blue New York Rangers sweater
00 red Detroit Red Wings sweater
00 blue vintage hockey sweater
00 purple Mighty Ducks sweater
00 white Cleveland Indians jersey
00 navy Cubs throwback jersey
00 cream Cardinals throwback jersey
00 orange NL ASG BP jersey
00 green Tulane baseball jersey
00 navy Mariners jersey
01 white LA Dodgers jersey
01 red Falcons jersey
01 light blue Braves jersey
02 red Falcons Matt Ryan (2)
04 green Packers Brett Favre jersey
05 navy USA basketball David Robinson
05 white Oregon Ducks football jersey
05 green Oregon Ducks football jersey
06 purple Clemson Charlie Whitehurst
07 red Braves Jeff Francoeur jersey
07 navy Denver Broncos John Elway
07 black Steelers Ben Roethlisberger
08 navy Indians Albert Belle jersey
08 white Cowboys Troy Aikman
08 red 49ers Steve Young
08 navy Knicks Latrell Sprewell
08 black White Sox Bo Jackson
09 navy Bears Jim McMahon
10 white Braves Chipper Jones
10 navy Braves Chipper Jones
10 white New York Giants Eli Manning
11 white Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald
12 white Jets Joe Namath
12 blue Patriots Tom Brady
12 white Carolina Panthers jersey
13 aqua Dolphins Dan Marino
13 black Falcons Joey Harrington
13 white Falcons Joey Harrington
14 white Georgia Tech Joe Hamilton
15 blue Florida Gators Tim Tebow jersey
15 blue Kansas City Kings jersey
16 red Kansas City Chiefs Len Dawson
16 blue Royals Bo Jackson
16 orange Baltimore Orioles jersey
17 white Saints Jim Everett throwback
18 white Peyton Manning Pro Bowl jersey
18 blue Colts Peyton Manning
19 green Eagles 1960 throwback jersey
20 green pinstripe Phillies Mike Schmidt
20 blue Lions Barry Sanders jersey
21 powder blue Chargers Ladanian Tomlinson (2)
23 red Bulls Michael Jordan (2)
23 white Cavaliers Lebron James
24 black UGA Knowshon Moreno
24 pinstripe Reds jersey
24 navy Braves Mark Teixeira
25 white Syracuse Chiefs jersey
27 purple Kansas State baseball jersey
28 purple Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson
28 navy Brewers Prince Fielder
30 navy Broncos Terrell Davis
31 lime green Hawks Jason Terry 
32 red 49ers OJ Simpson jersey
32 black Falcons Jamal Anderson
32 white Arizona Cardinals jersey
32 white Auburn football jersey
33 navy Rucker basketball jersey
33 teal Pistons Grant Hill jersey
33 white Cowboys Williams
33 white Red Sox Jason Varitek
34 purple Suns Charles Barkley
34 navy Auburn Bo Jackson
37 white Braves home jersey
42 white Washington Bullets Jerry Stackhouse
42 red Falcons Gerald Riggs
42 green Rucker jersey tee
44 blue Braves feather shirt
45 black White Sox Michael Jordan
47 white Utah Jazz Andre Kirilenko
51 white Mariners Ichiro Suzuki
54 navy Bears Brian Urlacher
54 white Browns Chris Spielman
80 red 49ers Jerry Rice
80 black Raiders Jerry Rice
86 navy Bears Marty Booker
88 white Colts jersey

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Vacation Photos


More vacation pictures stolen from Mary-Clayton's Instagram.
 From the Grand Canyon in northwest Arizona...
Not all these photos are in chronological order.






 To southwest Utah.





Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Evacuate!

 
We’re adding on to our plant, a year long construction process. Tuesday morning some subcontractors were drilling down deep and struck a gas pipe. They could tell there was a huge leak immediately. We had to evacuate the entire complex – two warehouses and two offices. At least it was a beautiful day.
 
A news helicopter hovered overhead. Not sure what station. Many of the office workers went to lunch but even though I had my phone and car keys, I had left my wallet and laptop inside.  Got the all clear to return to the office at 12:15 but the warehouse has to stay empty until after 5 pm. We ordered lunch for the warehouse workers, and I helped with that.
 
 
Worked past six Friday evening. Traffic was bad so C & A stopped by Perimeter Mall. My barber was working so I stopped by for a haircut. Still beat C&A home. When they arrived Anna headed back to Athens in her new car. Ceil and I grabbed a pie at Pizzeria Lucca on the Roswell Square. Watched a couple of episodes about Anne of Green Gables.
 
Saturday morning I left home at nine, and made it to the SunTrust Park Chop House Gate around ten. Gates opened at eleven. Grabbed some bobbles and a designated driver Coke. Got my picture taken with some of the top prospects. Day game after a night game so no outdoor batting practice. There was still over an hour until first pitch, and with Tech, Georgia, and Clemson all kicking off at noon, I headed back to the house. Didn’t want to sit out in the sun on a 90 degree day. No loss since I hadn’t even paid for a ticket.
 
Leftover BBQ for lunch. Did some laundry, the dishes, and other housework while watching the games. Ceil went to the grocery and cooked chicken.
 
Sunday: JFBC for S.S. and worship. Bryant preached on Moses and leadership. Leftover BBQ for lunch. Watched some Falcons and Braves, and took a nap. Cut the grass and blew the drive. Watched Cowboys/Giants while playing on my laptop.   
 
Monday night I worked until almost seven. Ceil cooked spaghetti. Helped clean up and crashed on the couch after the 12 hour day. Watched Braves and Hallmark Channel.
 
Training a new girl. Coworker Angie had her baby and will be out for a while. Coworker Chis’ wide had a baby, then he turned in his resignation. Got a job closer to home in Marietta.

Worked until almost 6:30 Tuesday night. M was at his art class. W&MC still hiking in national parks out west. more pictures below. This past weekend Joel and Willis Norman took part in a bike ride in north Georgia – over 100 miles.
 
Supper was Mexican – homemade refried beans, Mexican rice, chicken, homemade salsa and guacamole. Also tossed salad. We had a package of chips, just a small part of the bag and the chips were all cracked up, so I made nachos. Was almost finished eating and realized I had forgotten the cheese.
 
Someone brought in Krispy Kreme donuts this morning, and I broke down and ate one. Deli sandwiches for lunch.




Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Week 3 Total QB Rating

You may remember that I am transfixed by ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating system. It really is a great indicator of how productive and successful a QB is. Be it a running QB or a passing QB, the system rates all QB’s equally.
 
This season I waited three weeks before checking out the ratings for the first time. Very few surprises. I did figure out how to include backup quarterbacks, whose limited playing time might normally exclude them from the rankings.
 
Interestingly, the backup QB’s at all three schools I follow all have a higher TQBR than the starters. Also no surprise about the Alabama quarterback’s scores. Tech backup Tobias Oliver’s rating is more than twice as good as starter TaQuon Marshall’s. Similar disparity at Clemson and Alabama.
 
As hard as it is for me, this year I’ll try to limit my list to fewer QB’s of note, those in the Southeast as well as a few nationally known names.
 
1. 98.3 Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
2. 97.9 Justin Fields, Georgia true freshman
4. 94.7 Kyler Murray, OK – Baker’s former backup
7. 91.4 Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
8. 90.5 Anthony Brown, Boston College
9. 90.3 Will Grier, West Virginia
 
10. 89.2 Drew Lock, Missouri
17. 84.0 Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
18. 83.7 Trevor Lawrence, Clemson true freshman backup
22. 80.9 Jake Fromm, Georgia sophomore starter
24. 80.7 Tobias Oliver, Georgia Tech backup
33. 76.0 Shai Werts, Georgia Southern
34. 75.3 Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
48. 69.6 Joe Burrow, LSU
50. 69.2 Trace McSorley, Penn State media darling (above)
71. 62.4 Jake Bentley, South Carolina
93. 55.3 Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame
97. 54.2 Jalen Hurts, Alabama former starter
 
107. 49.2 Dan Ellington, Georgia State
118. 44.9 Kelly Bryant, Clemson senior starter
120. 43.9 Feleipe Franks, Florida sophomore
127. 39.3 TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech senior starter
139. 35.3 Deondre Francois, Florida State

Monday, September 17, 2018

Week 3 Football Recap

Watched GT, UGA, and mostly Clemson. Tech’s athletes aren’t as good as their opponents. Saw that last week as well. Taquon Marshall just isn’t a quarterback. Worst passer during the Paul Johnson regime. Backup QB Oliver needs to play. Defense did better in the second half, but still is terrible. It’s the players. Short white linebackers with short legs like Buddy Curry’s son can’t keep up with running backs and receivers with longer legs.  
 
Georgia Southern can play the big boys tough. UGA and Tech found that out in recent years, and Saturday it was Clemson’s turn. Thanks to a Clemson fumble, missed field goal, and Kelly Bryant interception, there was no score at the end of the first quarter. On Trevor Lawrence’s second possession he threw a long touchdown pass.
After that Bryant headed to the locker room with a medical issue. This is the third straight year Lawrence has missed time, a further knock on his unreliability. At halftime Dabo didn’t seem concerned, saying “his heart was beating too fast, or something like that.” Another example of Bryant not pulling through when the going gets tough. Lawrence extended the lead. Bryant returned in the second half, mostly handing off. He’ll probably have a big game this Saturday at Georgia Tech.
Unlike Clemson, the Dawgs had a huge first quarter. They used the game to prepare for tougher games down the road, letting freshman Justin Fields run the hurry-up offense. On his first touchdown run Fields took off just as the running back released out of the backfield, wide open. Understandedly, Fields has a way to go reading defenses and spotting open receivers. 
On Mecole Hardiman’s punt return touchdown an aggressive Bulldog almost clipped the punter after Hardiman had juked past. I’m sure the coaches will be pointing that out in the film room.

Speaking of punt returns, a North Texas returner faked out the entire Arkansas punt team, standing still after catching the ball, then taking off after the Razorbacks started off the field. Play of the day.
 
After losing to Ole Miss two straight years (15 & 16?), Bama again won big Saturday night. Really big.
 
Vandy put a scare into the Irish in South Bend, further exposing the Notre Dame QB as a good runner but inaccurate passer.           
 
Ohio State looked good against TCU. Herbstreit was beside himself, calling the game like a homer.
 
Good to see the Falcons beat Carolina. Wish the Falcons could score like they do at the end of the first half.
 
Former Tech receiver Demarius Thomas dropped three passes yesterday, including one in crunch time. Almost cost Denver their comeback victory over the Raiders.
 
A Bills defensive back “retired” at halftime. Way to let down your team. Not surprising in this me first generation.
 
Twice Sunday night Eli Manning gained first downs on QB sneaks. Chris Collinsworth said it was the first time Eli had ran a QB in years – like since 2010 or something. Eli has played in more games than any other New York Giant.

Sunday, September 16, 2018

The Week in Pictures

W&MC flew to Vegas Friday night, toured the city on Saturday,
then headed east to Arizona.
 Last night Ceil baked an apple pie.

 Today W&MC were hiking and camping
on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Too often I am unkind. How bout you?
 One of these four dishes included maple syrup in the recipe.

 MC (above), Anna (below)

Grace Athens, where Anna interns, recently started holding their worship services in the Georgia Theater in downtown Athens.
Ceil's hometown had power outages due to the storm.
On Richard's farm the usual tickle of a creek was a raging rapid.
We used to play paintball out in these woods
at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
A classic design. I used to have a black pair, and a young friend gave me his white pair with blue trim when he outgrew them. Wore them for years.