Augie

I used to be a “seat snob” as the family had what I guess are club seats (orange seats in the 200’s?) backing directly up to the suites when the stadium opened. We didn’t get rained on, suite windows behind us were always open so we got some AC when it was hot and some heat when it was cold. Sometimes we even got food and/or drink! We sat there for years, because that’s what we had. When I moved away and started coming back for games I figured I had so much into airfare, car rentals and hotels I was going to get the best seats I could. I’d ideally be close to the 50 and about 25 rows up regardless of cost. A few years ago I sat with a friend in the 300’s and was shocked by what a great view it is and the ability to see the whole field play out. Now? I’m just thrilled to be in the stadium when our team plays! EDIT: I also place a premium on aisle seats. I absolutely HATE being trapped in the middle of a row! Makes me feel claustrophobic.

On my 19th birthday a “friend” tried to buy me 19 shots of Wild Turkey at a college bar. Details are fuzzy, but I assure it was NOT pretty. I have not touched brown liquor since that night. Some girl almost puked on ME after the opener in the parking lot. I turned around, took half a step and jumped back before she graced my shoes with her booze. Friends were holding her hair back, but apparently they forgot the orange cones and caution tape you are supposed to put out for these events in a parking lot. Where has the parking lot puking etiquette gone? 🤷‍♂️

I can’t imagine that much family! My dad had one brother who married late in life and never had kids. My mom was an only child. My wife has enough cousins to fill Yankee Stadium. It was very confusing for the first 37 years, and continues to confound me as their kids weddings happen these days. I don’t know who goes with who, but I smile and nod a lot without guessing at names unless I’m absolutely sure. Funny thing is DIL, one of six girls from huge family, had an event with the wife’s family. After a couple hours she had it down better than I did after decades. Either I’m an idiot (probably a leading factor) or big families develop those skills. I’ve always been HORRIBLE with names. Two sisters, I got that…..

That sounds like a great “grandparents’ house”. The base camp for an entire family! Our DIL is one of SIX daughters. Her parents have a big place that can accommodate them all with spouses and kids, plus all their dogs. We were there Christmas Eve immediately before Covid was “known”. They have a routine with a dinner/party at her parents Christmas Eve, then Christmas morning at a sister’s with everyone in their holiday PJ’s. It’s huge and it’s festive and it’s awesome! I’m happy for them, and we will get by with just the wife and my mom on Christmas Day.

It’s strange, because over the years we have become the “Thanksgiving House”, with I think 23 people from multiple families this year. That was tight. We just moved to better hold events like that. Four houses down we got the great big open kitchen and family room we wanted, after cramming into the old place for Turkey Day. Now, Christmas Day is upon us, and we will sit around the (way too) big place with just the 3 of us sitting around looking at each other, no tree, no gifts and no feast. Christmas was THE big holiday for my family (the wife’s family leaned a little more to Easter), and this will strangely feel almost like a non-event. SOMEHOW I want to make this more special, if just for my mom. Today was, again, nothing but new house errands and workers at the house but we need to create a plan. Time to get with my out of state sisters and seek advice. They came with spouses for Thanksgiving/mom’s B-Day. Christmas home alone is a weird thing. If not for my mom I’d rather be volunteering at a Salvation Army or something serving other people who have far less.

Earlier today I got an email from the Louisiana food bank for my $27.27 donations for Tre White. It reminded me of how easy it was, and how much more it meant to others than it did to us. We used to be occasionally involved with the food bank in Sarasota and I was always moved by the volume of food they handled and the extent of the need. There were people we knew back in the 2006-2008 era who went from donors to the other end of the equation. It can change that quickly. Years ago our son would go to Publix and buy a ton of food (on our dime, but gladly), then come home and make countless sandwiches. He’d make bag lunches with chips/cookies, a bottle of water, etc. then load them in the car and take them to Piedmont Park in ATL. You will see some homeless people there on almost any visit, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. They set up camps back in the woods where you’ll never know they are there. He would deliver these lunches to people who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. It was a blend of kindness and a bit of crazy on his part, to be honest, but he made us proud. .

On Funk and Wagnall’s back porch?

Very non-traditional Christmas this year. Our son and DIL will be with her HUGE family in Florida, returning on the 26th. My 94 year old mother will be here and we need to do something with her. I’m not sure if she’s even comfortable going to Mass. We just moved and can’t justify putting up a tree when we are still in boxes and unsure of where to find my socks in the morning. A few years ago we took both our grown sons to the Aquarium then found a very nice seafood restaurant that was open Christmas Day. I may check to see if they are still open on Christmas Day and try for reservations. There will be no giant feast for the three of us, so that would at least make it memorable with my mom. At her age, I’m not sure how many more we will have together. We will probably assign another date to have “Christmas” at our son’s new house. At least they have a tree up and are somewhat decorated. They hope to start a family next year, and that would make it more special again.

Yeah, I think you’re indeed in the minority. A tiny minority. I played football until college, where I took up rugby. In both sports you look to hurt your opponent. You want to be physical and inflict a certain amount of pain. I never wanted to INJURE an opponent. It’s not a “blood sport”, it’s a game. At least, that’s how most decent people see it. You battle, but you respect your opponent.

What I would like to gift to the Master Cheater might be inappropriate at best (resulting in a ban), or possibly admissible in court at worst! .

A signed restraining order could be a valuable collectible! 😋

Are you trying to get me banned???

Time for an all expense paid vacation in Foxboro! Private jet, no expense spared sightseeing tour. Maybe take some of the lower paid team/stadium staff out to a dinner they will never forget! Nothing but the best for these guys! I mean, those guys who clean the locker room can’t afford a night out like we could show them!

My main takeaway is that I’m very glad Buffalo is home to the fintech founder and 7 figure condos downtown. YAY! Go WNY!!!

I hate that for any player, on any team, in any sport. Get well, sir.

So…..how many Browns are….”on the list”? I think it was 16 of 22 starters as of Saturday. Go Raiders! I’m a simple man, so I take the easy route! EDIT: I guess the Nomads would work too. .

In TV terms, it kinda felt like a cross between The Three Stooges and I Love Lucy. Wait! You did WHAT???

I was spoiled by 30 years in Hilton Head, SC and Sarasota, FL. Living in Atlanta we have better winters than WNY, but it’s a lot of gray, chilly drizzle. YUCK! More than I like for sure. Having said that, GA and SC have a lot of great options. I want nothing that resembles winter unless I have a plane ticket home. MY BIL lives in Greenville, SC and it’s a very lovely town. It’s a city I could enjoy, but I still want better winters. I hate the gray here! My mom is 94, my son is 29 and starting to think about having kids. They both live in Atlanta. I’m here for now, but trying to think about the ultimate scenario. I keep coming back to having a “home”, and a small place to get away from hot summers or cold winters. Good luck with the kids and getting thru the college years. It’s crazy how much they dictate what we do in life! But that’s what we do.

I think physicality is the thing we need most, other than, ya know……competence! We MUST be able to run the ball effectively. There are guys who like pass protection and are more finesse guys (cough…cough…Morse), and guys who want to beat the crap out of you and run the ball down your throat. You need the right blend, and that will be the goal for this offseason. People scoffed at taking Nelson so high in the draft, but I’m all over that if you can make your OLine solid. Win in the trenches and all of a sudden our RB’s and LB’s are All Pro. I love physical/nasty, but I’m not a fan of crazy.

Disagree. I was a work in progress at 22. There is not a clear line you step over on your 21st birthday. I was pretty responsible, but I made mistakes I would not make today. Life is a process, for everybody. Heck, these guys learn over the course of a season. You’ve probably heard phrases like “by week 16 you’re not a rookie anymore”. Year two is a huge jump from year one, because you have some idea of what to expect. For that matter, it’s true physically as well as mentally and emotionally. Kids just out of college learn what it’s like to play against grown men with wifes and kids and mortgages who have been in NFL weight and conditioning programs for years. .

It was unfair to put him in that position, but it was the best option we had. He had an absolutely miserable day out there, but I still love the guy, his attitude and his ceiling. YES, he has a long way to go, but I am fully behind the young man. As for the sideline “chat”, destroying the guy in that moment would have been the least productive move possible. Teach, don’t crush. Replace “nasty” with “physical” and see how it feels/sounds. We need to be more physical, and attitude is a big part of that. I have no problem with the term nasty. You can be capable of being physical, but if you’re not naturally inclined to dominate, it’s not worth much.

I absolutely get that! At the same time, a lot of good still came from it and they thought they were doing a positive thing, which they were. They got taken advantage of which does not make them bad people. Unaware, but they had good intentions. I didn’t care enough to click and read, but I think someone posted that they made a change when they became aware. Live and learn. 🤷‍♂️

Your going to need more digits. Many more digits.

No offense, but the people in Cincinnati (my former home) DID give locally. They just gave to an inefficient organization. If I send $17 (or some other nominal amount) to some foundation I’m not bothering to research to facts. I’m doing it to play along and hope it’s not too much of a mess. Whether it is local or not does not determine whether it’s a sound group to help fund. Others have said they prefer local as well, and I get that to some degree. But I prefer a good cause that is well managed as my top priority. .

It’s crazy how different our record could be with one play a game that went another way (other than the Colts, before someone has to point it out). It went the way it did, and we own those losses, but we were very close against some very good teams. That tells me if we get into the playoffs and peak at the right time, we are more dangerous than our record would indicate.