- Greetings and salutations, people. Thanks for coming aboard (the boat). It is the plane today somewhat as I am laying the foundation in the air, cleaning up with some pics in the next day, making some additions, and posting. Let’s move.
- Why can’t I write this tonight? Because I can’t predict my energy level nor cats’ demeanor, and MAYBE I will walk down the street to check out 38 Special tonight. Plus, it is Labor Day, so feel like tomorrow sounds like a better release day.
- I was in Vancouver and Seattle, so forgive me missing totally or only catching part of stories.
- We will do this in four segments. The first will be sports stories I jotted down when occasionally on WIFI, the second segment will be my thoughts on Seattle, the third segment will be my notes on Vancouver, and the fourth segment will be sports additions I added in my first day back in Colorado.
- Plus, the stewardess just said it is only 2:10 from right now to Denver. That is a little shorter than I was mentally preparing her to say.
- CHAPTER 1: Sports Catchup
- I think I won about $30 all weekend in my minor college bets. Worth it? Not to some. Entertaining? You bet your ass it is, and watching that last leg on a $10 parlay that pays $50 is just FUN.
- I think Lindsey’s friend said it best on Facebook. Brock Osweiler coming back to Denver is like a kid moving out from the parents’ place, being unsuccessful in adulthood, and crawling back to live there again. Say you love it ALL you want, Brock. You are just needing a reboot. We get it. It just so happens the Broncos have QB problems.
- Hey, Broncos, please pick up Kaep too. That way, you could have an entire cupboard of subpar and minorly irritating QB’s to select from. We just got back from Canada. Do you watch the CFL, John Elway? Just thinking out loud.
- I honestly thought I would get back to the states with Kaep finally getting a gig. This is BS.
- One other thing on the TJ Ward thing. I get it. Numbers, age, stats, and it is what it is. But, I am finding a way to keep him. When some of your leaders are…sort of crazy (Talib, Miller, etc.), I like keeping a more stable guy in the locker room.
- I had on my list to comment on my FAVORITE sports item of the week, the Joe Haden signing by the Steelers, and now have MORE to add to that. Take the composite of TE McDonald, Haden, AND now safety JJ Wilcox, and the Steelers are putting MUCH more than Band-Aids in some real important spots.
- THANK you, Broncos, by the way. If you don’t release TJ Ward, than the Bucs don’t want him, and know they can now drop a DIFFERENT secondary guy. The Steelers probably sat there on hold on the phone the WHOLE time while they figured that out in Tampa. So pumped.
- You don’t understand why I am so excited about Joe Haden? Sure, he might have lost a half step. Sure, he has had some injury problems. But, if he is above par, this is a solid pickup. But, IF he can recapture ANY of that magic from 2-3 years ago, then this is a big SCORE. Not trying to create “islands.” Trying to create a secondary where we don’t feel the need to play stupid zone against Brady in January.
- Because we WILL be playing Brady in January…but IN Pittsburgh this time.
- I see the Kyrie Irving flow chart is now complete. Yes, we made some jokes about the Cavs getting Jayson Tatum also, but they ended up with a second round pick. It doesn’t matter. The Cavs already got the better part of the deal (when taking in account that they were dealing with a disgruntled proactive request) anyway. The first round Brooklyn pick WAS the trade dynamic in full.
- Michigan beat Florida, and who did the Gators even play at QB for the game? Weren’t they down to a basketball PG and fourth string WR by game time? I love losing the tiny little play bets, but sometimes get a little bitter at not upping the ones I feel most confident in…like the Gators-Wolverines game. Life seems so easy on those types of games and doubling down on an 11 against a dealer 6 and pulling a ten. It’s having enough of those OTHER times that makes it hard to up it.
- I didn’t get to watch MUCH of the FSU-Bama game, but it appeared to me like FSU was moving the ball early on, a couple of turnovers kept them out of it, and then typical, patient Bama just slammed the door when in control late. What a game that changed the season. FSU wouldn’t have been out of the national championship picture…until they lost their QB. Bama would look indestructible, but lost their OLB’s for the season, so now they just bring in two former high school All-American players who have to “mature more quickly” and make them look a little more mortal.
- I backed off putting any action on the Texas game against Maryland, because I thought the spread should have been about 10-12. I was right. No I wasn’t-I am being sarcastic. It went ten the OTHER way. You have to respect Herman. Instead of teasing Longhorn fans for a couple of weeks with a strong start, he just cleared up things IMMEDIATELY by getting smoked at home in the FIRST game. That is brilliant if you ask me. Stress free year for the Longhorns. The Red River Shootout will be ALL they have to look forward to this year. That could be scary for the Sooners as far as Texas motivation, IF they beat Ohio State at the Shoe (not likely, but that is why they play the game).
- Sumlin and Herman are having drinks right NOW somewhere. Both lost the fan base in two horrible ways. Sumlin gave up a 34 point lead, and Herman did his show in a HOME debut.
- But, you could combine the sadness between A&M and UT and STILL not equal the HAPPINESS that Baylor football lost in another upset.
- (wow, this was a BAD week for Texas football)
- Sooners-Buckeyes MIGHT be an epic game this weekend. Home field makes me fearful for the Sooners though, especially since I sat through that Ohio State pasting IN Norman last year live.
- But, Baker Mayfield has a shot, has the experience along with JT Barrett, AND threw only one incomplete pass this weekend in his game.
- The Texans have the defense. The Texans now have their star WR locked up in Hopkins, and now just need to get that whole QB thing straightened out. In my humble opinion, the faster they figure out that they should be starting DeShaun Watson, the better. But, I get that Savage gives them a better chance THIS year.
- I love Watson to be a star though down the line. His story and background combined with his physical attributes make him a star.
- Speaking of the Texans, what Watt is doing for Houston is amazing. He isn’t even just raising the money. He is half planning this stuff and learning on the job. Awesome story. Over $20 million before posting this.
- Listen, once again, I remember being one of the biggest Tiger Woods fans you ever HEARD of, but this constant updating is getting WAY old. He is “cleared to pitch????” Will I receive an update on the irons and woods and driver also? Can I just have that texted to me directly? One of the best ever or not, I don’t need to know how a 40 something old golfer is progressing in his pitching.
- But in the meantime, PLEASE keep informing me on things like the above and Lakers fines regarding a player they didn’t even get in the end.
- Before you think that Justin Upton is not a big addition to Mike Trout’s Angels, process this. Justin Upton had more HR’s last year than the left fielder of the Angels had the last three years COMBINED. Upton will get Trout back into the playoffs and back in the spotlight we care about. I am not an Angels fan. I am a Mike Trout fan. Basically, a BASEBALL fan, and that guy needs to have AB’s in the postseason.
- MLB is just DROOLING over a future Harper-Trout World Series. Bryce has at least mastered the getting IN the playoffs item. Mike just needs to GET there first.
- When the stories are done about the Houston flooding and normalcy sets in a little, the baseball teams in that town will be more than glad to think about how the Astros laid like a cat in the grass before the trade deadline and then snagged a PERFECT match in Justin Verlander. When they get back home, it will be special.
- Seriously, please don’t even tell me about the trade deadline next year, MLB. You have more action after the deadline than before this year. Waivers, other rules, whatever. No deadline exists in reality.
- The Tigers traded twice in a DAY this week, including that Verlander one.
- Social media will get you. Wayne Rooney was drinking at a bar celebrating his “retirement,” posted something on Instagram about it, and then got a DUI on the way home. I am pretty sure his big retirement day wasn’t supposed to end up in a jail cell.
- I TOLD you Manny’s government schedule would mess up his boxing career. He pulled out of the Horn rematch because of government functions.
- I didn’t tell you that. I just wish he would tell us he is scared to get beat again. Think about it. Getting beat once in a questionable decision against a no-namer is not so bad. Getting beat twice affects your legacy if that guy goes on to do nothing much more special, which Horn probably won’t. This IS his 15 minutes.
- Things are cyclical. 10 years ago I felt Duke was getting all of the big time ballers. 5 years ago I thought it was UK. Now, and especially with the quiet story of Cameron Reddish (#3) committing, it is back to Duke. Kind of sarcastic as I wish cyclical things involved more than two teams, but you get what I am saying. Reddish is a great players and depresses us ACC non Duke people just a little bit more. Another classy, smart, ultra-athletic basketball player heading to Durham.
- All we did was sit in Canada watching the 17-3 score NOT change, but I heard I missed some non-existent reffing in the CU-CSU football game. I had the under, so I just stayed happy the whole time except for being a little sad for my wife’s team. But, it doesn’t help her to hear “come back, but don’t let THEM score anything and be less than THIS amount overall.”
- I have figured the US Men’s Soccer team out. They are cyclical too. They make sure they either lose closely to a very good team, or get smoked by a very BAD team. Then, when we are most depressed, they make sure they win about 5-6 matches in a row and get us JUST right THERE on eternal world domination, and at that PERFECT time in life, they lose to Costa Rica while I am out of the country. It really is a perfect script to be honest. It saves me I suppose from getting past THAT point where I might become even MORE depressed later in the cycle? See? That is a positive spin on things. I feel better.
- Sharapova lost before I got on the plane today. That makes sense whether you are for or against her comeback. She beat highly ranked Halep, so that is a success in its isolated way. But, as far as winning the whole thing, she can’t sustain that level and focus for this Slam. She bows out, but will be dangerous again next year. What is the overall effect on the tourney? We lost a star. We are star-less now aside from Venus Williams. What does women’s tennis NEED? They need one of the upstart US women to break through. THIS is the time. Keys or Vandeweghe. This is YOUR time.
- I don’t know about YOU, but I can’t wait to find out where Aguayo ends up NEXT. I haven’t cared this much about a kicker since The Polish Cannon came into the league. And guess what? Aguayo has a younger brother. He is the kicker for FSU, meaning he won’t have to worry about missing any kicks in the college playoff this year.
- The Polish Cannon is actually my fantasy kicker this year oddly. Not sure how I made that pick but we have come full circle evidently.
- (and even more oddly before releasing this, he is asking for more money and might not even PLAY)
- There will come a big day when my drop down tabs on the site are up to date…but that day is NOT today.
- I have to tell you. It is SO good to be talking football again. Whether it is a joke on the CFL, NFL predictions, or college breakdowns, I love that it is back.
- The blind long snapper playing a down is one of the best sports stories this year, and props to USC coaching for not losing focus on what is important and what is not important in college athletics overall.
- The inverted spin on that in college sports is that I bet you Charlottesville is glad that Virginia football is back playing, even if we stink.
- We MIGHT even be 2-1 before the wheels come off the train in Boise for the season.
- I won’t pretend to know all of the details, but did Cravens threaten to retire peacefully and then get CUT? THAT is ridiculous.
- Judge broke the Yankees HR record…before the break I believe. Bellinger just broke the Dodgers rookie HR record. Judge and Bellinger are acting like Harper and Trout did back in the old school days of being youngsters.
- Can you IMAGINE the final four teams in MLB being the Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, and Nats????? The four biggest young stars right now? That COULD happen and would be AWESOME.
- One of my favorite stories of the week was the Clemson band trolling Ohio State’s band by spelling out 31-0 in their halftime show. Get them while they are hot. You might only have until the end of this year to tease the kids from Columbus.
- I already was pissed and hated LaVar Ball for many, many reasons. Reason #167. He doesn’t care what the NCAA thinks about his middle kid’s $395 sneakers. Way to parent, LaVar.
- I was happy for Howard University for WINNING a game they were 45 point underdogs in until I found out it was Cam Newton’s younger brother. Guess he was too much in the public eye to cheat into getting into school.
- Still cool though. Vegas didn’t even have a money line 2on that game. And Howard was playing UNLV, making it flow chart weird.
- I may or may not try/ remember to find the link for you, but find the viral link on Facebook with the pissed off cat swimming through the flood. I won’t steal its thunder, but it is FUNNY. It is someone coming over to being a fan of cats simply because of the look of this cat swimming.
- (find it on your own-I am tired and catching a cold post trip before releasing this)
- CHAPTER 2: SEATTLE
- My quick, one sentence thoughts on my 1 day, 2 night trip to Seattle. I don’t have bandwidth to expand on my trip stuff, so I guess the point is A) for people who have been there, they will get the jokes and B) for people who haven’t, it will give you a clue and some cool pics and C) this is my blog so I can pretty much do what I want and don’t feel I live a very boring life.
- If you ever wondered what happens when your Uber/ Lyft breaks down on the way to the airport, you just figure out in your head how no other Uber or Lyft driver would EVER pick someone up for a 5 minute ride to the airport, hope there is a resolution, and then come to find that there is a cop who drives up and down Pena and ONLY assists drivers, so you will make your flight. That guy found us luckily.
- We did Car2Go for this trip to change things up, and fun system if you want to use it, and know that they now have sweet Mercedes in the fleet that cost just marginally more and are worth it on the longer drives.
- Rocco’s pizza in Belltown is not only some of the best pizza I have had in my life, but we went back for the trip capper the next night.
- Belltown Inn I would recommend on all levels for a hotel, and we loved our stay, and you just need to get over the fact that you might die by a homeless person in the block or two outside of your hotel…then you are fine.
- There is a drag in Belltown right by the hotel that reminded us of 16th Street Mall in Denver, and that is the same drag you could possibly die on.
- I still go to pubs even on my plan, and although we were there during the week, the Belltown Pub looked like it would be a very fun place on the weekend, and don’t forget about the full length billiards table upstairs.
- I can see why it is a cult place with mad popularity, but I actually felt like Biscuit Bitch’s breakfast was a little dry…but the menu is awesome in itself.
- I hate driving in Seattle…kind of like the less clustered, still lane ending with parked car version of Washington DC.
- I smiled looking for radio stations and hearing all sorts of Alice in Chains, STP, Soundgarden, Nirvana, etc.
- If you visit, take the 10 minute drive to see the Fremont Troll.
- Gasworks Park WOULD have been my favorite place for the trip and I will have to go back and see it, but when we were there on a frenetic schedule, it rained like only Seattle can.
- I would recommend one person waiting in Pike Place Chowder line and the other person going to get Beecher’s Mac and Cheese.
- (I won’t have time to do pics for everything, so know you can always contact me for my extended group of pics)
- We missed the early part of it, but got to see like two fish throws, and I recognized the guy who was on MNF from there this past season.
- You have to see the gum wall, because it is simply right below all of the other sites you are seeing.
- If you are going to see a city, might as well expedite things and see it from ABOVE…the wheel.
- Sunset outside of Elliott’s.
- Take the drive to Snoqualmie Falls, even if you catch the lighter season of it.
- Cursed Oak and PintXO, and Some Random Bar were all cool bars to go to en route to stuff.
- Of course, had to squeeze up The Space Needle.
- I had more pics to show for Seattle and Vancouver, but I got sick on the way home, and I will keep this shorter.
- Notice all four things I got in this picture.
- The Cascades Train was cool, but maybe negotiate getting on the correct side of the train…had to go to a different car to steal these two.
- Summary? My first visit there in 2000, I thought I would want to live there. It has now moved down on the list and the city itself is kind of like a one trick pony. Rent a boat if you go for more than one day.
- CHAPTER 3: Vancouver
- I would recommend the Coast Plaza hotel for location and niceness, it is the only hotel I have experienced right above a dollar and liquor store that was incredible, and get a higher floor for a balcony and beautiful view for sunrise/ sunset.
- Summary? As advertised and what I hoped for from the pics, and it is now in my top five towns to move to near the U.S.
- I could go more in length on this and make it funny, but let’s just say that Car2Go DOES include permit parking and don’t drive around Vancouver looking for hourly parking (learned that kind of late in the game).
- The Cactus Cafe on English Bay is not as pricey as it should be, and gives you decent food and a great view of the best beach in the city.
- Not sure what their thing is about tree trunks/ logs on beaches, but didn’t see a beach without them.
- Plan on spending at least 3 hours on Granville Island, as 2 hours was a little slim…neat island.
- Ironically for me the GNR fan, GNR played in town on the Friday we were there-would have gone had we not already seen them in Denver.
- Walk across the WHOLE city…it is worth it, and one of the cleanest big cities I have ever seen.
- Their version of The Space Needle is The Lookout, and we got tickets for once in daylight and once at sunset (once again, cities are most easiest seen from HIGH up).
- Seattle has Gasworks, San Diego has Gaslamp, and Vancouver has Gastown…cool area.
- Check out the steam run clock when in Gastown.
- They are not Bloody Mary’s in Vancouver, they are Caesars, which makes sense.
- Go to Ritual for breakfast before renting bikes before the best part of the trip…Stanley Park (the best park in the whole world, people).
- Stanley Park you bike or run around with views that are unmatched, can go to clearings to play frisbee, can go to one of three beaches in the park, and can mountain bike to the top if you want…it is a monstrous MOUND of land surrounded by water.
- Most frustrating thing about Canada is that NO one carries unsweetened iced tea…NO one.
- The badass aquarium is IN Stanley Park.
- You have no idea how hard I worked for that pic above…a little luck and skill and patience and timing.
- We went on the slide for the same reason we went to Vancouver in the first place…because it was THERE.
- Luckily, I LIKE the idea of gravy on fries with cheese curds because that is what they do in Canada.
- We went to see a band at Roxy’s, and it is the time when I realized that Nickelback is Canadian, because it was the only time I heard a band CHEERED for playing a Nickelback song.
- When by the sea, you will eat seafood.
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