Good news

A quick update: All the news from my brother's friend sounds positive. I don't have many details, but it sounds like the doctors believe they rid his body of the cancer via the operation. I imagine he will still need either chemo or radiation...but, heck, I'm no doctor.

Two steps forward, one step back

Three weeks down, 14 to go. Another mixed bag for my fantasy football teams again this past Sunday and Monday. On the positive side, I won two of three games. The kicker you see here (picture courtesy Elsa/Getty Images) tried his best to send my most important squad to 0-3. He missed field goals from 42 and 43 yards, causing me to utter something like, "Mr. Wilkins, you have greatly vexed me! If you were in my presence, I would deliver unto you a most thorough thrashing!"

The bad news is that the best club I own, a 2-1 juggernaut that leads the inter-office league in points, is riddled with injuries. One of my starting running backs strained his abdomen; the other tore the ACL in his left knee. And Mr. Andre Johnson, featured in the previous fantasy football post, will miss a second straight game in Week 4. Oh, and my quarterback has cracked ribs. Good times.

Alas, injuries are all part of the journey that is fantasy football...we persevere and move forward.

I'm so popular...

For the second time in less than a week, I've been invited...nay...begged to fill in for a softball game. Last Friday, I led was part of a co-ed club that won both games of a doubleheader. Tonight, I'll be suiting up for a men's league game. Word on the street is that I'll be behind the plate. Donning the tools of ignorance, if you will. I plan on calling mostly fastballs. Maybe mix in a curve or two. A few sliders. I wish softball games had runners to throw out on steals.

From my one summer of men's league experience, all I can pray for is a victory. We males can be awfully surly and stupid when we don't win.

And here's the video that goes along with this picture. Possibly the best episode of all time.

Family News

It's been an interesting few days on the family front.

First, the fun news. Check out my future brother-in-law. It's especially endearing at about the 1:30 mark...aww....

Second, my mom is currently on a month-long trip in Europe. One of her best friends is a world traveler who often persuades my mom to peruse the corners of this Earth. This particular time is a boating venture on the major European rivers. They stop in many places and (apparently) take bus tours from there. If you know my mother, you'd know that the bus part is not her cup of brew. In her words:

"The trip has been an adventure so far - lots to learn about Eastern Europe. The boat is beautiful but the people on it are ugly Americans for the most part. Even (my friends) are goofy! Nobody wants to skip out on the bus trips and go have a beer. They always think it's a crime to venture out on one's own and it's driving me crazy!!! One day when the boat was docked and we were told to stay aboard and it was a beautiful day, I hopped over my little balcony and went ashore. It was great. "

I love her....

Third, and this one is a downer, my brother's good friend had surgery earlier this week. He is 32 or 33 and has testicular cancer. What little I know is that the operation went well, and hopefully the cancer didn't spread. Yet another reminder of our vulnerability, even at a young age.

Praise be my WRs

Two down, 15 to go. After a disappointing 1-2 start, my three fantasy teams rose to the occasion and...wait, I went 1-2 again in Week 2. Dammit. The positive spin is that my one victory came in my inter-office league, which allows for a small degree of bragging rights. Mr. Andre Johnson (pictured here, courtesy of AP/Mike McCarn) and his fellow starting wideouts (Terrell Owens, Donald Driver) led my squad to the second-best score of the week.

Unfortunately, Johnson also sprained his left knee and could be out for a week or more. Why wouldn't it be? The fantasy football fates wouldn't want me to win two in a row, right? *shakes fist at sky*

And, in other news, Aarrggh! If you find some buried treasure today, will you split the booty with me?

Robert Jordan

I'm sad today. My buddy Tim sent me an email this morning regarding the passing of James Rigney at the age of 58. That man wrote under the pen name of "Robert Jordan" (seen in that there image to the left). That first link sends you to a blog of writer George R.R. Martin, whose works I purchased solely because Jordan provided a promising quote for the cover. You got that right, Mr. Martin.

Roughly nine years ago, my friends Mike and Kristy introduced my to Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series, which began in 1990 and currently includes 11 books and what seems like 10,000 pages. I enthusiastically conquered the first seven novels before losing some interest. But my personal feelings about the series don't diminish Jordan's accomplishments and his place in the fantasy writing industry. Millions of people have read his works.

Anyway, I'm sad that Mr. Rigney wasn't able to complete this epic, epic work. He poured his heart and soul and mind into this masterpiece of fantasy fiction for at least 20 years. I can't even imagine such an undertaking. And he was working on the 12th and final book when he passed. It makes me want to cry. I'm sure some other capable writer will gain access to his notes and outlines and finish the Wheel of Time, but it won't be the same.

This is a better link from CBC News about his life and accomplishments.

p.s.
Yes, I am a nerd who reads fantasy books. Sue me.

Nature or Nurture?

I have a habit. I'm not sure if it's a good habit or a bad habit. I think it's just a habit. I'm pretty sure this trait is a cross between my penny-pinching Dad and my dollar-spending Mom. And maybe add in a bit of my personal Minnesota roots (that is: Norwegian frugalness, Catholic guilt for spending too much).

To the point... I have a strong tendency to buy the second-worst of everything. Usually I don't think of it that way, but it's the truth.

For instance, let's pretend I go to Target tonight in search of a paper shredder or a bath towel or a spatula. Chances are, barring any on-sale stuff, I'll identify the cheapest product and then buy the next-cheapest one. I'm probably just tricking myself into thinking I'm not cheap...while secretly being cheap.

Does anyone else fall into this pattern? I'm not saying I do this for absolutely everything (I've broken out of this mold for jeans), but given the option, I'll probably act in this manner.

Sounds like my Uncle...

Sit right back and you'll read a tale... of one of the greatest beer drinkers of the modern era. Ladies and gentlemen, take the time out to read about the daily exploits of Mr. Wade Boggs.

2005 Hall of Fame Class
Career .328 average
3,010 hits
Thousands and thousands of Miller Lites.

FF Season

One down, 16 to go. It's the NFL football season again, which means I spend roughly nine hours every Sunday in the workplace. It could be worse, I guess. We do spend the day watching all the games, commenting, eating, and writing articles. It could be better, too. Like if my company allowed us to have a day off during the week as compensation for working on Sunday.

Anyway, my personal fantasy squads are off to a mediocre 1-2 start, thanks in part to jackass Plaxico Burress scoring three touchdowns for my opponent (photo from Getty Images). Yes, I'm supposed be to an "expert," but I'm also playing against "experts." I've instructed my fantasy football players that it's a long season and that they should not get down on themselves.

What, we're not supposed to talk to our fantasy football players? The strange thing is that they actually respond. In my head.

Yawn

It's Friday afternoon. Nearly three hours to go at work. I'm bored. Booooorrrreeed. All my pencils and spreadsheets are aligned for the first Sunday of the football season, and I can't think of anything better to do than look at hybrid dogs who share my name or job postings in the area.

Such afternoons drive me straight to the bottle. Who am I kidding? Everything drives me to the bottle. Or the mug, as available.

Maybe I should switch over to the financial industry, then I could spend today freaking out about the US employment numbers. That seems like a blast. My own penny-full portfolio is losing cents by the minute. Sweet.

Can't Miss

I apologize for the lack of posts recently. I could come up with an excuse (laziness) or two (NFL season) or three (no home computer until last week), but, really, I'm just a bum.

A headline on a popular, general website that I read today got me to thinking about the incompleteness of my life, my ability to socialize, and how this fall's choices will ultimately affect my soul. The headline: "10 Can't-Miss TV Shows"

At first, I thought that the list would be about 10 new shows that could not possibly fail. No chance. Never happen. Remember those 10 shows that didn't miss last fall? Me either. So maybe the headline means something else. Maybe they are saying that I, Ted, cannot possibly miss these shows...

...or what? That's the cliffhanger. The thorn in my brain. What will happen to me? Will I be a social outcast? Will my life be somehow less complete? Will I not get into heaven? I'm scared.