Thoughts for the day…missed y’all.

1. No I didn’t.  Tough to miss anyone when you are in the French Quarter in New Orleans.  But maybe a little.  I went unplugged since Friday until Tuesday night.  Lots to cover.  Let’s move.
2. Wow.  I looked over my lengthy list.  I have not blogged for an eternity it seems.  Let’s try and keep this close to 100 hooks.
3. No intern yet.  Not rereading this.  Sorry for any grammatical errors.
4. Come ON snow.  Let’s do a solid one.  Anything over a foot is what I root for.  Otherwise, it is just irritating.
5. In bball, we were all wondering if the Hoosiers would bring it this year, and whether Wisconsin was rebuilding.  Neither are true thus far, as the Hoosiers look a little soft, and Wisconsin appears to have simply reloaded and not rebuilt.
6. After spending more money than I preferred to in New Orleans, it was nice to see me come home and win the 40 person college bowl pool I was in.  That at least puts a tiny dent into the vacation damage.  My FSU pick was gutsy I think given the band wagon that was created as Michigan football.  As I said before, FSU will always have the pure athletes to hang with anyone on any given day.  That was the later pick that pushed me over the edge.
7. I didn’t bet the entire holiday time.  I haven’t decided whether I am making an immediate comeback or not, but it was kind of nice not knowing the point spreads each day.  But, a part of me still missed the action…
8. I am not saying you can’t have a loud laugh.  I have a loud laugh every once in a while.  What I AM saying is to try and have a normal laugh except for really, really funny moments.  Kind of like a  coach yelling at his football team.  They believe him more during that yell session IF he didn’t just yell all of the time every day.
9. Traveling for fun as opposed to work sucks of course because of not getting some per diem food money back at the end.  Not having a fridge in the hotel room and eating as much as I do compounds that problem tenfold.  No in room snacks.  I am not going to figure out how to store Lunchables in a city with the food of New Orleans.
10. That is a lie.  I had some Lunchables the first night when I got home.
11. We went out the night before leaving for New Orleans.  We wanted to watch the Rousey “fight.”  I assume that is the last Rousey fight I will feel the need to go out during.  Fork in her big time.  I hope she saved all of that acting and appearance money she made after rolling through her early fights.  And I admit it.  I thought she would get it back with this one.  WAY wrong.  Pretender who had her 15 minutes and then some.
12. I previously was so pro Rousey.  I am not being a  hypocrite.  But, watching how she HANDLES these defeats has made me NOT a fan anymore.
13. Wait.  Jon Jones is giving Rousey ADVICE?  Yeah.  I want someone who can’t even get IN the ring because of exploits to be telling me how to get BACK into the ring.
14. It is a smaller burger than the servings of other places, but the new Blue Print restaurant on 17th in Uptown Denver brings it.  Find a coupon and go try it.  You will love it.
15. Having Chris bartend for you at Avenue Grill is just a really, fulfilling, happy experience.  She is awesome.
16. I might not go totally digital and will have my legal paper on me still, but let’s say I am going much MORE digital.  Baby steps.
17. I will be honest with you.  I thought KU was a more complete basketball team preseason.  But youthful mistakes and a front line by committee DOES seem to complicate things.  They barely beat KSU last night.  Some teams can’t take advantage of their faults, but good teams will be able to.
18. And he DID travel obviously.
19. Wow.  Lots of holes in all of the top teams (but that is why college basketball is so great).  Scary that Gonzaga looks like the most complete team up and down the roster outside of Nova.  UK and Duke are having some problems, but the youngsters will hit their stride.
20. The Duke problems run deeper than just player health or coach health.  When you need the veterans to step up and lead these youngsters, and they aren’t doing it, you have more than point scoring problems.
21. Grayson Allen is already back tonight.  Love you, Coach K, but that was too soon to bring the kid back.  Very surprised you did.
22. I don’t know where Chip Kelly’s next job will be, but I know it will be entertaining.  Kind of weird timing with a lot of college gigs already filling up.  Well, at least he will be getting paid by the Eagles AND 49ers next year for NOT coaching.  Pro version of Charlie Weis…
23. I get WHY they are responding in SOME form, but not sure Clemson players telling everyone and their mom they KNOW they have been grabbing and holding opponents ALL season long is the smartest thing on earth.  Just GIVING the refs an out.
24. Some things we will never fully understand.  I haven’t heard that the city of Miami was going to shut down.  Have you?  Anyway, not sure why Beckham and Cruz feel the need to celebrate with Justin Bieber BEFORE the playoffs begin (and not even a bye week like Romo pulled years ago (and his was with Jessica Simpson at least)).
25. Cruz said he is just focused on the Packers, not Miami.  Well, you got busted, and we can think you are focused on whatever you appear to be focused on.  We only have so much info to go on.
26. Enjoy the 2016-2017 NFL playoffs, because apparently there is no point even playing next season.  Alshon Jeffery guaranteed the Bears would win the next Super Bowl.  This is the same Bears with no real QB.  This is the same player who is not only a free agent but also got suspended for 4 games for PED’s.  What a world we live in.
27. The same world where Adam Jones is confused by once again being the thug he is.  Talk about “garbage.”  Your past makes me believe it without any more facts, buddy.
28. The same world where a Celtics player is being sensitive about some fans yelling “Gordon Hayward” a little loudly???  Who wouldn’t thunk that could happen 10 years ago?
29. The same world where Mixon said that he felt like he got punched by a guy…
30. I will say that NO one is harder on themselves after a loss than Serena Williams.  That being said, EIGHTY EIGHT errors is…a LOT.
31. SUCH an interesting NFL HOF finalist list.  Think about it.  You have two defensive players who were consistent in their career but not amazing (Dawkins/ Taylor).  You have a RB who was the best in the league regularly, but never sniffed a Super Bowl (LT).  You have a RB whose career got cut short by injuries, but WAS a main reason why his team won it twice (Davis).  You have a QB who came out of nowhere with no hype, won a MVP AND a Super Bowl, and made the QB position look as effortless as you could make it for a couple great years (Warner).  So intriguing.
32. The Lions will keep Caldwell next year, giving him peace of mind going into his playoff game.  Plus, someone must have told the Lions brass how freaking confusing they have been over the last decade or two.
33. You don’t like how they backed in the playoffs, but at least they are THERE?  That would be the spin.
34. I even took a few naps in New Orleans-not usually my style, but needed in this case.
35. The Superdome was cool and nice to cross off the bucket list, but also made me want to attend a classic baseball place now…Wrigley Field.
36. I already did Fenway.
37. All of this talk about the mediocrity of Jeff Fisher before he got canned makes you wonder how long that one title can carry Sean Payton.  I think he is fine for now, but every season but one in the last 6 or so has been 7-9, 8-8. etc.  With an aging QB at 38 years young, that is not a great setup for next year.
38. Tom Brady just passed Dan Marino on the all time passing list for yards.  Probably not going to catch Drew Brees until he retires, so maybe they will both pass Favre and Manning within a year of each other barring injuries (or Deflategate suspensions).
39. Way to tuck the Raiders-Texans game no one wants to see in the early Saturday slot, NFL.  Then the probable blowout in Seattle.  Thanks for keeping my time allotment the same at 11am on Sunday, and allowing me to relax at home during what will be the BEST game (Giants-Packers).
40. I like the Raiders and Seattle, Steelers and Packers.  Not splitting atoms there, I know.
41. Sure, Chargers.  Might as well fire your coach when deciding whether to totally move your franchise too.
42. If you ever doubted whether the Eastern Conference in the NBA was weak overall, mull over the fact that the Paul Millsap trade has been talked about a balance of power changer?????  THAT is not good.  Love that guy, but sad when we are simply trying to figure out the second best team that can give the Cavs 6 or 7 games.
43. Did Talib need another thing to tie his gun down when we took that gold chain off of Micheal Crabtree?  He does the most intriguing bad field stuff.
44. Western Michigan made that score and game pretty respectable against Wisconsin considering the first half quarter or so.  Wisconsin looked like it might run away with that game.
45. Loved it because it was 3 doors down in the harder rain at that point, but loved the creole crab cake benedict at Oceana Grill on Conti Street.
46. I didn’t have a bad meal of course the entire time I was there.
47. The most ridiculous meal of the weekend I think was at Bon Ton Cafe, where we were treated to a tour of amazing food by two regulars.  We had a couple cocktails also.  Rum Ramseys I believe they called them.  They said “two is a good time, and three is a nap.”  We had two.  
48. We all know that Nick Saban is a genius and will figure out this Lane Kiffin absence, but ODD timing.  Something was a lot bigger than missing a bus or two.   Clemson shut out a VERY good Ohio State team in astounding fashion, and they have a chip on their shoulder from last year.  Got a feeling…love Clemson at this point with everything going on (hope they don’t talk smack to Bama pregame though).
49. I might have won money on the Sooners over Auburn, but I probably would have lost on USC minus the spread a little earlier  What a game apparently we missed in that PSU-USC matchup.  Wow.
50. You know, it is scary.  The only loss Washington had season before the Bama game was that USC team.  26-13.  NOT a team you want to play and most other teams are glad it is the end of the year.
51. I was very surprised about OU fans leaving a couple of large empty sections for the Sugar Bowl.  I should have clarified that the empty seats I put on Instagram were DURING the game.
52. I will also say that aside from the guy sitting in front of me at the game, that Auburn fans were respectful and knew their stuff the whole weekend.
53. Not surprised that Florida beat Iowa.  I WAS surprised they beat them as soundly as they did in a neutral stadium though.
54. This Kubiak situation creates a very intriguing job opening.  Sure, you have a questionable QB situation.  But you have a shot at Dalvin Cook in the first round of the draft, have a first round QB sitting on the bench, a great fan base, and a RAKING defense.  Aside from the improved divisional competition, this job is on the short list for anyone looking to make a name for themselves, or for a seasoned veteran not wanting to go into a rebuild.
55. Have I mentioned recently how much Frontier sucks?
56. Sure, the viewing of the commercial hit right during a fun weekend and maybe I was slightly confused anyway, but I watched that Tim Tebow rapping commercial in true disbelief.
57. Perine sure passed some high quality running backs in getting the all time OU record.  He passed my favorite OU player, Billy Sims.  He will now jump to the NFL.  Maybe he wants a shot at stardom, or maybe he is hoping just to run from Brent Musburger Joe Mixon television rants.
58. Perine I feel will be a middle rounder unless he blows us away with speed and strength in the measurables.
59. 88 is a LOT.  The UCONN women keep on trucking.
60. Listen.  The Washington Huskies went down to Bama as expected, but that program is in GREAT shape.  Oregon is slightly down, and Chris Petersen has HIS guys coming in now.  Bama might have called them soft, but they are probably not really going anywhere far down in the short term.
61. So adorable that both father and son Rivers got ejected this weekend…
62. I opened up Sports Weekly on the way to New Orleans and it said “Rockies pitching a question mark.”  Riveting, and that hasn’t  been a relevant article in the last 20 years.
63. I was reading the Sports Weekly so thoroughly because I had fallen for the WEEKEND USA Today trick on a Saturday.  Dammit.  Ugghhh.
64. Isaiah Thomas had 52 points with zero assists a couple games ago.  He had 29 with 15 assists a game later against a tired Jazz team.  It doesn’t matter whether it was forced after criticism or not.  Still impressive.  For a 5’9″ player in the NBA, dude can ball in so many different methods.
65. I am not sure exactly why I like seeing Rajon Rondo failing/ being benched in the second half regularly, but I do to a point.
66. Pretty cool.  We got extra cold ice water sithout ice at Root Down before flying out.  Formed its own ice, and of course, I took a photo of it.  
67. Today is national spaghetti day.  I would say that I would celebrate, but considering I eat spaghetti literally every single day multiple times, YOU go celebrate.
68. I was reading a summary of fantasy football for this year.  As expected, people who picked Gronk in the first round had season long problems.  Thanks.  News to me.  The ONE time I go out on a limb in the first round.
69. Patrick Mahomes will be going pro.  Sad to me, as I would rather have to catch a Texas Tech game here and there and hear his cool name rather than waiting to hear commentary on a backup QB for a bad NFL team.
70. In my 2016 seat at work, I wonder how many free sandwiches I missed out on when further down the floor.  Snagged a much needed one today and it made my afternoon.
71. Free food always makes my afternoon.
72. FSU basketball will be dangerous and not a team to be trifled with at tourney time.  That being said, seeing the score against UVA while in New Orleans was painful.  But, after reading about the game, I will take it as a write off, even while being at UVA’s crib.  Why?  If a college kid scores 26 of his 29 points on the road in conference play, I will assume it was just meant to be.  Impressive win by Bacon and the Seminoles.
73. Well, the Blue Jackets will not have an easy road to NHL history and will have to earn it if they do it.  Caps and Rangers?  No slouch teams.  For the tie at 17 straight wins and then the tie breaker.
74. I noticed there is a new Underworld coming out.  To be honest, I thought that movie run was over.  Well, I am not starting NOW.  I missed out on that whole franchise.
75. With the upcoming championship game, it should be interesting about fan turnout.  Tampa Bay is within about 15 miles total from both places.  Tampa will get a NICE influx of business for that game.  900 miles give or take.
76. When A.P. talks about wanting to keep playing and willing to take a pay cut, we will see.  I believe the first part.  I am curious how MUCH of a pay cut he is willing to take on the second part.  Seriously.  I bet the Broncos would be willing to pay you 1/18th of your upcoming contractual salary to run behind some big dudes.  You are not getting paid $18 million to be hurt again.
77. Malik Hooker is not a household name because he has only played one single year at Ohio State.  But, everything I read about him indicates he is a top 10 pick in the draft and will be ready to play at the NFL level.
78. The Winter Classic just gets bunched up with bowl games and NYE and gets forgotten about.  LOVE that thing and mad I missed it this year.
79. We were going to take a nap, and then Lindsey dragged me in The Famous Door.  I have been to the place before, but THIS band ended up playing my favorite three song set …like ever…without me even asking for any song.  Sweet Child O’ Mine, Here I Go Again, and Livin’ On a Prayer.  Back to back to back.
80. That is also where I enjoyed the very end of the useless Steelers game.
81. Ordering whiskey in New Orleans is a little weird.  Not exactly a bourbon hot spot.
82. Did the ball drop for New Orleans look as bad on TV as it looked in the pouring rain on Decatur Street?  The energy of the street over accommodated for the less than stellar fireworks or ball.  But who cares?  We were in New Orleans.  
83. I love rain, but the constant precipitation was definitely bothering SOME fans out there.  Not me,but others.  I am Aquaman.  
84. I definitely need a waterproof phone at SOME point.
85. Some of the live acts down there really are amazing.  At Bamboula’s on Frenchmen.  Lead singer of the band was Mark Rubin/ Jew of Oklahoma.  
86. He had a good line I might use moving forward.  “If I don’t see you in the future, I will see you in the pasture.”
87. The Punch Snap Hammer is a pretty cool basketball play.  Not sure if it should have been the HEADLINE on ESPN on a slower sports day, but still a pretty cool play.
88. So, did Chan Gailey retire split seconds before all of the other assistants were FIRED?
89. I hate being teased with stories.  Dammit, Johnny.  Just “at” the same club as your ex?  Nothing more?  Come ON.
90. So….am I to assume Tracy Claeys will be calling primarily on jobs in the south?  Got it.  Way to pinpoint where you get a future job.  Good plan.
91. I think it might be fun to have some type of public access to my blog list, but then the same jokers who draw on my legal paper at bars would add stuff online.  But working on something on this level…
92. So, prepare yourself for future years.  We get a couple years of NOT having the college football playoff on NYE, but then get jacked again in 2021-22, and 2022-23.  So, enjoy the normalcy before our night is ruined yet again.
93. The OU pep rally was fun, but very short.  I almost attended the Auburn one just to compare.  Wife wouldn’t like that though.
94. The Stanley is always a winner around Jackson Square.
95. Got to go to the French Market too.  
97. No Cafe Du Monde or Cat’s Meow this time around, but there is next time and we will definitely be back to go again…and sing again.
98. Always fun traveling to a big sporting event.  A LOT of our plane ride there was with Boomer or War Eagle people.
99. I notice myself not asking for hot sauce near as much in New Orleans.
100. I would definitely put Johnny Po-Boy’s on the short list of places to eat in New Orleans.
101. We did dinner at Mr. B’s one night.  Basically, it was how a shrimp should taste all the time.  Delicious and worth the couple extra bucks.
102. Nothing like eating a great brunch at Court of Two Sisters and a marching band walking by.  I paused from eating one of the best buffets I have ever had in my life.  
103. JT Barrett coming back for Ohio State is great news for them for stability.  I am sure the other H.S. All American QB’s on their roster were pissed, but oh well.
104. The Raiders are going further into their QB depth and scared, and the Texans are going less and equally scared.  Cook vs. Osweiler.  Playoff football.  Wow.
105. The ladies at the Rousey viewing party.  
106. New Orleans parade.  
107. LOVE this place forever.  Jackson Square.  
108. L.M. at The Famous Door.  MAN, he got up there in between band sets and rocked it out karaoke style.  
109. Even Bourbon Street is quiet at times.  
110. What would New Orleans be without a mask.  
113. How about Panic at the Disco for free across the street?  
116. RIGHT as we were heading to airport, it kind of cleared up.  Great pic of Jackson Square.
119. Even a guy from the #1 burger joint in CO made it there.  
120. That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Will I blog tomorrow?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  Onward and upward.  Peace.