Monday, January 17, 2011

Playoffs Part Two- And I Thought Yesterday Was Bad...

Why? Why the Jets? Why negate the greatest instalment of Monday Night Football last month? I would have rather lost to Cleveland again and for even more than lose to the Jets. Now for the AFC title it's gonna be Steelers/Jets. I'd rather castrate myself with a weed-whacker before I even think about taking sides in that contest. At least I'm pretty alright with both Chicago and Green Bay so I'm rooting for an NFC champ for the third year in a row this coming Stupid Bowl.

Two out of my four picks came through. I need to get better at that. I only really played one game on emotion- I honestly thought Baltimore was gonna pull off a win. They deserved to win the game based on that sneaky touchdown after stuffing the hell out of Rapethisberger and causing him to fumble. If dickweeds like Flacco and Sanchez are the future of the NFL, I think I'm gonna pick up tennis again.

At least this weekend wasn't a total loss. It never is when I'm with Paul, my best friend since the 8th grade. I've been in his new apartment in New Hampshire since Saturday. My stay has basically been a 10 year old boy's dream of what being in college would be- your friend having his own place where you can stay up as long as you want, play with Nerf guns, watch TV, and live on the comfiest chair with a million blankets and pillows.

I usually find whatever intangible sentiment I'm searching for when I come to New Hampshire. Last night we walked across this bridge in the center of town on our way to a Chinese restaurant. I looked over the bridge to the cold water running down stream over rock after rock as the snow fell gently. It was like a scene from a T.C. Boyle short story idealizing New England. Bursting, I exclaimed "This is my country." Paul laughed. In cold weather, joy is contagious. This state is almost too much to take. Perhaps because personally, it doesn't have the same baggage Maine contains- my former golden state.

Switching gears, winter always makes me think of Barenaked Ladies. Each of their albums have a cold snap in them- save Maroon. It's music to huddle around. I spent a lot of time trying to warm myself in front of the glow of my stereo in middle school while memorizing the words to "Upside Down" or trying to teach myself the harmonies on "The Great Provider." Here's a deep cut from their wildly successful 1998 album Stunt as played in a bathroom by songwriter Ed Robinson.  It gave me chills when I was 13 and still does so seven years later. This song is winter in Harwich, MA.

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