Streams of Consciousness

Yes, Benny's eyes get demonic-red like this when an opposing team scores on the Steelers.

O.K., I'll admit up front that perhaps I'm simply saying this because I like Jerome Bettis and the Steelers are my favorite team. However, it seems to me that there are more stories and opinions about the "overreporting" of Jerome Bettis's connection to his hometown Detroit than there are actual stories about it. I've read so many blog posts, opinion articles and news stories about how much people are tired of hearing about Jerome Bettis and seeing his parents at every game. I mean, after all, it is an interesting story. I'll be the first to admit that I get tired of continuously reported storylines (Such as the genius of Bill Bellichek or the stupidity of Terrel Owens.) But, the truth is, I have been watching and reading about the Steelers virtually nonstop since Sunday afternoon, and I have not seen nearly the amount of "Bettismania" about which many people are complaining.

Detroit, Rock City. Two weeks from today: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks for the whole enchilada!! We had fun today. Popped some champaigne and shot off some fireworks after the game. It's going to be a fun two weeks. I'll try to keep everyone updated with my groundbreaking analysis. Here we go Steelers, Here we go........

I think that both games this weekend are excellent matchups. Denver and Pittsburgh seem to be about mirror images of each other (except that Denver cheats). Honestly, I can see either team winning, which is good news, I think, for playing a third road game in a row. I know many people wanted the New England / Indy matchup, but I thought that would be boring, not least because it would have had to have been played in a drab dome. Plus, given the way that Indy and New England played last weekend, I think we clearly have a more entertaining game on our hands with Denver/Pittsburgh. I have a good friend that is a Denver fan. I haven't called him yet, but I will before the week is over. I'm going to tell him that the Steelers gave the AFC title to Denver at Three Rivers back in '97 so that Elway could get his first ring. It is only fair that Denver return the favor so that The Bus can get his ring. I am also giving the NFC teams a lot more credit than what they are getti...

Allright. I've now had nearly 24 hours (although its taken me a couple of days to complete this post) to calm down, reflect upon and digest the improbable gut wrenching game yesterday in which the heavily favored Colts lost to the Steelers 21-18. I wrote last year of not being as emotionally attached to the Steelers as I have been in the past. I wrote last week of how I thought that I might be spending too much valuable time following the Steelers, especially since I have absolutely no control over the outcome of their games. Let me just say this: yesterday's game was probably in the top five emotionally draining, and ultimately gratifying, experiences of my life. Ouside of my wedding and the birth of my two sons, I can't remember being as nervous, deflated, joyful, stunned and exhilirated as I was yesterday----all withing about a ten minute stretch of seemingly neverending time! What could have been a devestating loss to live with in the offseason (and, forever, for Jerome...

Wow! That's about all I can get out right now, just, wow....... I'll have plenty to say later.....once my heart slows down a little bit.....

Things over which I have no control, yet devote too much time and energy: 1. National politics 2. The Steelers Things over which I have complete control, yet devote too little time and energy: 1. Spending quality time with my wife and kids 2. Losing weight and becoming physically fit

Since I have not been lifting weights regularly (or, at all, for that matter), I thought rowing would help me to gain some upper-body strenght while simultaneously getting a good cardiovascular workout. I have been rowing regularly (approx. 2 times per week) since about mid-October 2005. If there is a harder and more complete workout than rowing, I have never done it! I feel completely fatigued after rowing for 30 minutes. It reminds me of two-a-day football practices in the humid Augusts of southeast Iowa. I have been rowing on the Concept 2 rowing machines at my gym. Concept 2 actually has a good website where you can read all about rowing, track your rowing workouts and even have yourself ranked worldwide. My ranking is 295 out of 794, which I think is pretty good, considering I have hardly ever rowed, and I'm assuming that most people that log their workouts are fairly serious about rowing. It will be fun to see if I can move up in the rankings. I have noticed that it ...

It has, after all, previously happened to the Colts. One never knows.......

Well, I've figured out how the Steelers can beat the Colts on Sunday......just take out Peyton Manning's left knee during his first pass attempt of the game. Seriously, what happened to Carson Palmer is a damn shame. It cast a pall over what would probably have turned out to be an awesome game between two clubs that are pretty evenly matched. It sucks for Carson. It sucks for Kimo, who will forever be linked with the unfortunate play. I hope that Carson recovers quickly and is able to come back better than ever. Can the Steelers beat the Colts? The honest answer is, probably not. This is the only playoff game that I can remember in which nearly everyone unequivocally expects the Steelers to lose, including myself. However, perhaps that is exactly what the team needs. There is definitely less pressure involved going into a game as heavy underdogs. Plus, I do think it will serve as extra motivation, even though many will say that you don't need any extra motivation f...

It's halfway over as I write this on Saturday night. As I expected, the Redskins and Pats both won. The Patriots are simply amazing. In a way, they are actually winning me over a little bit, meaning I don't abhor them like I previously have hated the Cowboys, 49ers and other dynasties. If the Steelers do not pull the miracle of winning three road playoff games and the Super Bowl, then I will be rooting for the Pats. I would definitely like to see Brady take down that cry baby Manning----again. I don't care if it is in the dome or not, I think the Pats would beat the Colts. However...... Let's hope they DON'T meet, because that would mean the Steelers would have lost. If the Steelers continue to win, the Pats and the Colts will not meet, and the Steelers could meet the Pats again in the AFC championship game--again. Who knows, anything can happen. Many people will think I'm crazy, but I do think the Colts are a little overrated in the media this year. ...

Marketplace is broadcasting from Shang-hi all next week. Hearing their "pre-game" warmup pieces about the Chinese economy led me to some very high level thinking about the socio and political economic relationships betwen the two countries. Admittedly, this is simplistic, but I have to start somewhere: China is still a communist country, at least in name. However, there is a rising tide of business leaders and philosophers that are trying to steer China to a market based economy, so as to increase their own riches, and that of their country. Now, I've been trained to believe that true free trade gives the greatest benenfit to the greatest number of people. However, I know that true free trade, without politics, is an ideal that is likely to never be achieved. There is a rising business class in China. More and more people are getting rich. Suppose it is only a matter of time before these neo-millionaires begin to influence their government, and indeed become candidate...

One of the most amusing byproducts of the current political climate is the complete changing of opinions and political philosophies. The hypocrisy is stunning. I'm quite sure this is taking place in both major political parties, as being in or out of power has a tendency to change views. I happen to notice it more on the Republican side because that is the party that is currently making me the most angry. I mean, really, can the Republican party honestly, with a straight face, call themselves conservative anymore? How about their "former" position of advocating for a small government, and opposing nation building. I have a lot of respect for true conservative principles, even though I don't agree with some of them. I especially liked the libertarian glow that the Republicans used to reflect. In my opinion, the current administration, in its power lust, has completely turned the Republican party on its head. I'm wondering if this is how major political tra...

Today I had the opportunity to stay home with the boys for an entire work day. It was Sharon's last day of work, and my last day of vacation. Dominic (5) and Benny (5 months) were both well behaved throughout the day. But, it was tough work taking care of both of them. I simply cannot give as much attention to Dominic as he would like. I hate flopping him down in front of the TV, but that always seems like the quickest fix for me to be able to focus on feeding the baby, changing the diaper or getting him down for a nap. I seriously don't know if I would be able to do this on a daily basis. Today, I saw it as a type of challenge, and it was fun. I love spending time with both of my boys. But, man, the stress level runs high at times throughout the day. In my opinion, staying home to take care of kids is AS HARD as any job I've ever held, and likely HARDER than some of the jobs I've held. To all who can raise decent children--I salute you. In any case, I'm ...

One of my ongoing resolutions, be it weekly, monthly or yearly, is to become better organized. By this, I mean both physical and mental organization. I've simply got too many things running through my head most days. It's very exhausting. I'd like to improve my focus and concentration, and become better at prioritizing things that I want to go after. There are a bunch of things I'd like to accomplish in 2006. However, I don't want to become so stressed-out about all of it that I effectively lock-up, and don't get any of it done. Sadly, this has been a common experience in years past. I'm cautiously optomistic with 2006. I've been thinking about all of this for a good while now. In unrelated news, one of my specific resolutions/goals for the new year, and forever, is to become less self-conscious. This has become an increasing problem of mine over the past several years. There was a time when I thought I had this bug licked, but it crept back u...

The Steelers clinched a wild care spot in the AFC playoffs today, earning a rematch, indeed a rubber-game, against division rival Cincinatti. The game is next Sunday afternoon. I think it will be a good game. Hopefully, the Steelers running game continues down the track it has been progressing the past few weeks, and the Bengals defense keeps giving up big runs. The teams split during the regular season. However, I thought our win in Cincinatti was more convincing than their win in Pittsburgh (come on, everyone wins the big games in Pittsburgh anymore :() I'm way too emotionally involved to give an objective predection, but I have a premonition that the Steelers are going to send the Bengals packing early. The Bengals are clearly going to be the sentimental favorites of most third party observers, since it has been a gazillion years since the've been in the playoffs. Oh well, it should keep the attention on them, and allow the Steelers to just take care of business. By th...