The Summer of Contentment!

I just have to say that, all in all, this summer is going pretty well. I don't know exactly why I am feeling so satisfied with life right now, but I am. It must be the little things...

My job is a touch on the boring side right now until I my next big project can get going and the class I'm taking this summer has turned out to be retarded at best. And it has been raining for the last 5 months (or so it would seem). None of that is going to get me down though.

I have the greatest family ever with three hilarious kids and an awesome wife. I have a stable job with a boss that laments that I won't work for her forever. I am nearing the end of the road with school and I am getting a newfound burst of motivation that I think I'll be able to ride until May. And I'm just content with life. I don't know how else to say it, things are just good right now, or at least that's what I have convinced myself. And that's good enough for me.

History Lesson: Why am I The Loser?

I have been asked a few times since renaming this blog (from whatever it used to be...) why I call myself a loser. First off let's be clear, I call myself The Loser. As for why...

I take you back to the fall of 2003, it was my first year in the RRFFL (a.k.a. Round Rock Fantasy Football League). Coming out of the draft I was very happy with my team and really liked my chances to win the league. Well things went about as poorly as possible and were only compounded by a stupid desperation trade that I made at mid-season. I only ended up winning two games and tied for the worst record in the league. Fast-forward a year and I found myself in a similar situation a couple weeks into the 2004 season. Resorting to the ever popular weapon of a fantasy team name change The Madden Curse quickly became Born to Lose. My team immediately got hot and I only missed winning the title thanks to a Shaun Alexander goal line fumble on the first week of our playoffs (yes, it's scary that I remember these things). Somewhere along the way during all the message board battles Born to Lose was affectionately shortened to B2L. And the rest as they say is history.

Ever since that season almost all of my fantasy teams have had some form of lose or loser in their name. Some of these teams include Lose Big or Go Home!, Lucky in Lose, Mighty Red Losers, Lone Star Losers, el Losero, and Losers for Life. This pattern/superstition has led to an amazing run in my fantasy fortunes. Since the B2L revolution began, my fantasy baseball team Loveable Losers in 2005 is the only team to not finish in the top 3. As for the RRFFL, I took the title in dominating fashion in 2005 with B2L 2k5 and then pulled off the repeat in 2006 with e=B2L (best name ever!). The 2006 triumph was especially sweet since I regularly blew away my opponents despite wearing the defending champ bullseye and having the whole league out to get me. I have also won back-to-back titles in my other fantasy football league as well. Another moment of Loser bliss was in 2005 when I pulled off the fantasy treble. I won my football, baseball, and hockey leagues that year.

So the reality is that I wear the Loser label as a badge of pride. The name has done me well and I don't plan on hanging it up. As we speak Lose on First has a relatively comfortable lead in my fantasy baseball league. And the best part of this whole story for other fantasy players is I've gone into retirement from fantasy football. I don't think it will be permanent, but I definitely won't be playing this year. I have to admit, it's kind of nice going out on top.

Book Review: The Children of Hurin

Let's get one thing clear right from the start here... it's hard not to be impressed when a guy who has been dead for over thirty years writes anything, let alone a book this good. Now that we have that out of the way...

This book will obviously appeal largely to Lord of the Rings fans, but they might not get what they are looking for. That's not to imply that they won't be happy with what they get, they are just very different books. One of Tolkien's greatest abilities has always been to adapt his writing style to suit his desire and the mood of the tale (I still have a hard time believing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were both written by the same person). Well The Children of Hurin is no different in that regard.

While The Lord of the Rings was a story of clinging to hope in the face of seemingly unavoidable doom, The Children of Hurin is a tale of an inescapable curse despite moments of triumph. The Children of Hurin revolves mainly around Turin, the son of the titular hero Hurin. After Hurin is captured by the dark lord Morgoth (Sauron's old boss for you Rings fans) his bloodline is cursed and he is bound to a mountaintop where he is forced to witness the curse play out on Turin and his daughter Nienor, who was at that time still unborn.

Most of the book follows Turin as he travels throughout Middle Earth trying to fight back the ever growing forces of Morgoth. Raised for the most part by the elves of Doriath, Turin is a mighty warrior and has many triumphs against Morgoth's minions, but there is a shadow that follows him wherever he travels and Turin's life is one filled with great sorrow. During this time Turin meets in battle and eventually defeats the great dragon Glaurung (one of the most purely evil characters ever), but it is the encounter with Glaurung that ultimately leads to Turin's undoing and the culmination of the curse on the children of Hurin.

I won't go into any more detail because I highly encourage you to read the book for yourself and don't want to give anything away. It is pretty accessible for a Tolkien work and there is even a comprehensive list of names in the appendices in case you lose track of someone or something. This is a good thing since, much like roads in Texas, everything and everyone in Middle Earth seems to have three or four names at least. Turin alone renames himself a number of times as he tries to flee from his past over the course of the book.

Bottom Line: This is an excellent book that is a must read for Tolkien fans. I would also recommend it to anyone looking for a rich piece of fiction to get lost in for a week or two. It's a pretty quick read so you really have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. I could honestly see myself reading The Children of Hurin on an annual basis. If that's not praise enough for a book than I don't know what is.

So this is what the other side of the hill looks like!

I'm back! I'm sure you missed me... right? Someone? Anyway, let's get caught up shall we:

• I turned 30 on Tuesday. I can honestly say that it was no biggie at all. I felt much more like an "old man" on my 20th birthday than I did this time. So I'm 30, life goes on.
• My break is over and I am back in school for 5 weeks as I take Software Engineering this summer. It shouldn't be that bad as long as the other two guys in my group carry their weight on our project. Then I'll have almost 2 months off to recharge (and work on my correspondence course) before fall semester starts and I get my lunch handed to me.
• Most of my break was spent writhing in pain as I managed to come down with some random virus that made me feel like crap and randomly attacked my joints in a very painful manner. And that is coming from someone with a history of joint "issues".
• At least I have this to show for the break. Going forward pretty much any sports related writing/posting that I do will go there. So if you're interested, check it out, and if you aren't then don't (be that way!)

I'm sure there are other things I should be including here, but I can't think of them at the moment. I hope to be posting more regularly now that I'm back on a consistent schedule, but we'll just have to see how that goes.

Spring grades are in...

• Computer Ethics - A
• Discrete Math 2 - A
• Fundamentals of Technology - C
• Historical Geology - B

All in all I can't complain. I dug myself such a huge hole on the first quiz in Fundamentals that a C was pretty much the best case scenario. The B in Geology was a nice twist since I just wanted to get through that class alive and with a C.

So on that note... let's kick it!

Spring semester is finally over!

Well, I'm out of school for almost a month. This semester seemed like it was never going to end and I am all too happy to put it behind me.

A more comprehensive post is forthcoming...

Hi, remember me?

So I'm at work right now. Ainsley is here with me because it's take your kid to work day and I'm a nice Dad so put two and two together...

What child labor laws?

I don't get paid enough for this.

Kaylee was supposed to come but bailed at the last minute. Ainsley, to her credit, was quick to jump on a way to get out of going to school for a day. That's my girl!

I'll post to explain my prolonged absence from here soon.

Well my laziness paid off!

For the past couple of weeks I have been all set to write a rant about how lame 24 has been this season. Well I would be eating crow big time right now if I had because season 6 just saved itself... Jack is off to fight China!

Although my prediction of Audrey dying is now back in the pending file, this is an excellent development that has completely revived the show for me. Hopefully the last 7 episodes will concentrate on Jack taking out two years of frustration on helpless Chinese people and not worry about whatever Wayne Palmer's problem of the hour is. Happy days are here again!

Wednesday is going to be a long day.

Here's the breakdown:

• Liverpool plays the home leg of their Champions League quarterfinal with PSV Eindhoven. Not a huge deal since they're up big thanks to their 3-0 away win, but it's still the Champions League none the less.
• The Penguins open their playoff series against Ottawa (my least favorite team for the next two weeks). First playoff game for the Pens since 2001 when The Moose made believers of us all.
• I register for Fall semester.
• I have a Geology lab quiz. I kinda sorta care.

My head may explode at some point during the day.

And exhale...

I just got out of my latest "quiz" for Fundamentals of Technology. All in all I think it went well. I'm hoping for another B. Then I just have to nail the final and keep on keepin' on in the lab. My life would be so much easier if I hadn't bombed that first quiz. Oh well, life goes on.

All stations, report in!

Okay, so the fallout from my pre/post Spring Break barrage of major assignments has settled. Here's the breakdown:

Geology:
-Test: 84/100 (just need to pass this class, no need to show off)

Computer Ethics:
- Mid-Term: 89/100
- Presentation: 100/100

Fundamentals of Technology:
- "Quiz": 81/100 (that's solid for that class. 3rd highest grade in the class.)
- Lab Mid-Term: 85/100 (this lab is a mess!)

Discrete Math 2:
- Mid-Term: 87/100 (he's letting us hand in corrections, so it will be a 92.)

All in all things turned out well. Fundamentals class is the only one I really need to worry about since I bombed the first quiz so bad. Everything else is under control.

A nice stroll through Holland

The Champions League quarter-finals got under way yesterday and the Reds came out flying. Hot off their trouncing of Arsenal, Liverpool took it to PSV Eindhoven from the get go and took an early lead thanks to a Steven Gerrard header from inside the box.

It's Superman!

John-Arne Riise would add a goal off a poor clearing attempt by the PSV defense. And then it was time for Crouchy to strike! A brilliant header from Peter Crouch (compliments of a gorgeous Steve Finnan cross) put the Reds up by three.

Celebrate good times come on!

Liverpool now has one foot in the semis as PSV would have to beat them by four goals when the teams meet again at Anfield to advance. That just isn't going to happen.

Don't even think it.

Bring on the winner of Chelsea/Valencia!!!

Postpone those tee times!

Well it took me almost as long to post on the Pens making the playofss as it took them to do it, but after 6 long, painful years the Penguins are officially back in the chase for Lord Stanley's Cup!

They did it in the most fitting fashion too... a come from behind win over the Caps.

Don't forget your sand wedge Olie!

So the Pens are currently a point up in the division over the Devils thanks to their OT loss in Toronto tonight, but the Devils have a game in hand and an easier schedule down the stretch. I still think the boys can get it done though. Even if they don't, if you had told me in September that the Pens would have the inside track to the 2 seed in the East with a week to go in the season, I would have gladly taken it.

Things to note:

• The Pens have the best record in hockey since the All-Star break.
• The Pens have the best home record in the East.
• The Pens are arguably the toughest team in the league to play against right now.

Welcome back Croucher!

Liverpool had a huge tilt with Arsenal this afternoon (or morning for us Yanks), with 3rd place in the Premiership on the line. 3rd is more critical than ever with the new UEFA Pres. trying to change Champions League qualifying from the top 4 to the top 3. But I digress...

Peter Crouch, back in the lineup after surgery to repair his broken nose, scored just 4 minutes in thanks to some nice work in the corner between Pennant and Arbeola. Crouchy added another before the half ended. Daniel Agger put in a nice header in the second half before Arsenal finally got one by Pepe Reina. And then it happened...

Suck it Gunners!

Now the team is off to Eindhoven for their Champions League tie on Tuesday. But not before Rafa met with Hicks and Gillett this evening to tell them how he is going to spend their money this summer.

Odds and ends...

So I am smack in the middle of mid-terms this week (3 down, 1 to go) which is why I still haven't gotten back to posting much. I had a pretty solid day though so I figured I'd give it a go.

• I spent pretty much my entire work day today watching my boss go over my last 3 (or so) months of work with a fine toothed comb (and sharp, red pen) only to have her come to the conclusion that it more or less rocked the house. At which point she informed me that I am never allowed to leave her. So yeah, I'll get right to work on my new book "How to Survive Working Only 22 Hours A Week" as soon as this semester ends.
• So far mid-terms have been pretty solid. Saturday is the one I really need to nail though. Keep the faith!
• My new Gerrard jersey arrived in the mail today... good times!
• I was again unable to get school to waive my second PE unit, so it appears that I will be taking Beginning Golf in the Fall. FORE!
• Finally, if this doesn't bring a smile to your face nothing will. YNWA!!!
  

24: How stupid do they think we are?

So the batteries on my Official Jack Bauer Suspension of Disbelief Emitter ran out this week and here's what I came up with:

• If it's 6:30pm in L.A. it is 7:30am in Omsk, Russia... I somehow doubt that the Russian President's wife would be giving a speech at 7:30 in the morning. Call me crazy.
• There is no way Wayne Palmer would have Powers Boothe as his VP! Especially after David Palmer had the power hungry VP in season 2. Nevermind that Powers Boothe only plays bad guys. Didn't Wayne see Sudden Death? Didn't that play into his decision?
• After doing some rough math I've determined the most conservative estimate still puts Jack in his late 40's. Realistically he's probably at least 50. Not to mention the fact that he has a little wear and tear on those old bones. Is this really the guy we want the fate of our country depending on? Can they reanimate Curtis or something?

The truly sad part is... these are the kinds of thoughts that go through my head. A little sad, yes?

Victory at last!

Just another manic Monday!

So Chris, how was your day?

Well:

• Some dopey lady rear-ended me on my way to work. I guess her lame conversation with her three dopey lady passengers was more important than not running me over. Damage is minimal and she seems to be being pretty cool about the whole thing.
• I got a 69 on my Geology quiz. That's actually not a bad thing. You'll have to trust me on that one...
• Mario sent out a letter effectively telling local PA officials that they had better put together a real proposal like yesterday, or they can start saving up for their new Kansas City Penguins jerseys.
  
• Draft status on Fantasy Baseball was set to Ready!!! Fantasy Baseball, this time it's Roto!

So yeah, happy Monday to all. On the positive side of things, I'm telecommuting tomorrow. Yay...

200 reasons why Wayne can suck it!

It has begun... The Kid has started his assault on Wayne's records. And it's gonna get worse for The Gambler before it gets better.

The picture above pretty much says it all. The guy in charge of the big NHL record book had better get used to erasing Gretzky and writing in Crosby. Maybe it has a search and replace feature or something. In any event, any day that makes Wayne a little less special is a good day.

"Man do I suck..."

Meet your new Pens!

There's nothing like trade deadline day in the NHL to get the blood flowing. The Penguins were arguably the most active team and for once weren't just dumping salaries. Here's the breakdown...

We got:

• Gary Roberts - LW
• EDIT: Gary Roberts is going to be wearing number 10... JERK!!
  
• "Big" Georges Laraque!!! - LW/Muscle
  
• Nolan Schaefer - G
• Joel Kwiatkowski - D
• Minnesota's 2007 3rd round pick

We gave up:

• Dominic Moore - C
• Danny Carcillo - W/undersized goon
• Noah Welch - D
• 2007 4th round pick
• 2007 7th round pick
• 2008 3rd round pick

My commentary:

• I'm not a big Gary Roberts guy, but if he can produce in the playoffs (assuming we make it) then I will be okay with him. He allegedly agreed to re-sign for next season too. I do think it was too early to give up on Welch, but we shall see.
• Losing Dom Moore hurts a little, but the other acquisitions gave us too many forwards plain and simple. Something had to give.
• I think Schaefer could end up being a huge get. I expect him to take over the backup role from Thibault next season and run with it. Just give us 15-20 quality starts.
• Freaking Georges Laraque!!! This makes it all worth it! I personally was not a part of the evergrowing group of people that felt the Pens needed an enforcer. But if you can bring in arguably the toughest guy in the NHL and he can actually play... I'm all for it.
• I was hoping for a top 4 defenseman and got nothing. I think that will come back to haunt us in the postseason. But if you told me in September that that would be my biggest complaint this season I would have taken that gladly.

Here's a little BGL in action: