Go Green!

Michigan State Spartans got a win in the Shoe!!! It goes without saying that as much as I want Luke Fickell to keep his job and for the Buckeyes to do well, this was the one game where I had to cheer for the visiting team. And we didn't get flicked off by more than a few students, either. Honestly, I was very impressed with the civility of the OSU students around us. Maybe they were just shocked, or maybe they had low expectations for the result of the game, but they hardly bothered us - something that would never fly at MSU where students pelt "traitors" with insults in garbage until they get kicked out or arrested. Anyhow, props to Buckeye student fans for setting a great example. And to those 4 jerks two rows in front of us, well, your mommy probably bought you those Sperrys and brand new baseball caps that float on top of your head but never provide your face any shade, but she'd be ashamed to know you shoved your mouth full of chew and shook your hands unintelligibly at the air for two quarters before you once again left the game. Too bad you only bought football tickets to impress the girls in the seats around you, because you've failed at that.

My sincere gratitude to Dani and Gail for making huge drives to see Amanda and I, and for braving the weather to go to the game with me and cheer for the alma mater. Amanda was right when she said that MSU would always be in my heart, and my heart was glad for the team which has struggled against itself since Saban left.

Go Green!

Pictures!

Brace yourself, it's high volume picture season. This summer I've added about 8 GB of pics to my computer, but during this week alone, another 8-10 GB are added to my computer for the Delaware County Fair. With the addition of Amanda on the photography staff at the county fair, I'm thinking it's about time she got a Picasa album of her own to showcase her good shots. She has some really good pictures, especially from the sheep show last night and we both also have winnings this year again in the open photography show!

I'm toying around with some watermark ideas as well. Some pictures are getting put this year on the county fair website, so I don't want something obnoxious, but I do want something which draws more people to my Picasa album and hopefully eventually some photography gigs someday. I'm still in the growing stages and so looking for practice rather than contracts with expectations - this freelancing for Del. Co. Fair has been perfect. I'd appreciate commentary on two things: 1) watermark locations - I don't want to be obnoxious, 2) keeping the ScotchPine Photos name is a go?

Speaking of pictures, I'll share the MSU photos through this link for the jazzy uniforms to be used in the Michigan game this year (which we'll be at!). There's a lot of debate going on about the MSU uniforms and I agree with most people's intelligent commentary. I realize the traditions of school colors, and also the history lesson in the bronze inclusion - but to paraphrase a LinkedIn comment, "Why bronze, isn't that third?".

Steakhouses, Part II

It was 3 years before my next adventure into a Japanese steakhouse. Long cast from those high stress situations which used to literally ruin my days, and into a healthy relationship with the woman who became my wife, it might've been the concussion or the newfound social comfort that led me to be comfortable to once again set foot into a place that always swallows your cash no matter how much you bring. This became increasingly true after I turned 21 and could enjoy adult beverages as well.

Accompanying Michelle on her team formal was one of the most casual and easy-going stand-ins I ever did. Since she was single without a date, she was looking for a friend to go with that would get along easily with her and not be awkwardified by lack of previous interactions with anyone else at dinner. I can't remember what I did the night before, but I do remember her visiting that day to finalize details and freaking out because I was wearing marker all over. "Nothing a scratchpad couldn't remove", I assured her. Since I also hadn't recently shaved and she wanted it reduced to stubble, we can confidently say that between scraping off marking and clipping off 2 weeks of facial growth, I was sufficiently raw in the face by the end of it.

We carpooled to Ukai Japanese Steakhouse on the West side of Lansing and met up with a huge group. Alcohol always eases people into large groups and this was no exception. After a bottle of red wine, the food was on its way through the tradition of onion volcanoes and egg tricks that leave you convinced the chicken ate so much calcium it must've had kidney stones. And this is where I learned my second lesson. Red wine is not a Japanese steakhouse friendly drink. It's not that it makes you sick, but rather it masks some of the wonderful tastes present at the table. They serve their own cultural wines for a reason; take them up on it rather than imposing your own drink upon a foreign food.

All told, Ukai was a great, busy, happy and loud place where I had the opportunity to watch other people struggle through their utensils and food while enjoying every second of the evening. The noise and atmosphere really made the trip feel like a party and since we alone brought about 30 people there, that was exactly the atmosphere we wanted. Nothing I would consider date material, but it really set the tone for the night. What a great time.

Boise State falls to #4

It took a lot of debate for my headline today, but out of all the top 25 NCAA rankings shake-ups from this weekend, I think that one is the biggest. I'm not going to lie, it's more irritating to me to have Kellen Moore as a Heisman candidate than it is for his team to be so overrated, but if you look at the only 2 teams of rank they've beaten and their track records, BSU just isn't that impressive. Sure, they might have a great team, but they need to schedule more difficult games or get into a better conference if they really want to be taken seriously. They perform a thriller every week against their opponents, but I want to see them perform a thriller against a good team.

The same goes for the Buckeyes, but I still hold that Tressel is limiting the team for now. I'm not going to be as open in my criticism of Tressel though. He is a great coach who knows exactly what he's doing. I can't blame him for conservative play call in the Illinois game this weekend. If I had Pryor making mistakes and getting hurt, I'd probably go to my guaranteed win too. Was it pretty? Of course it wasn't pretty but it got the job done and in a game where your star is struggling, you can't wow everyone; you just need to escape with the win and have an educational experience.

And then there's the Spartans. Going into their away rivalry at U of M, I will be breaking out Spartan green all this week as we prepare for a #17 at #18 match-up. Even more difficult for me will be the Baumgart wedding as I sit there and miss the big game. No amount of dvr will be able to compensate for the internal agony I will suffer. Now's the day when I wish for a smart phone to watch the game under the table, almost.

On a totally different note. The weather has taken a turn for the cold today and I am finally able to break out all of my favorite cool weather clothes. Living in Michigan has prepared me well for this time of year.

Finally, if anyone is interested in this new type of dating, we are more than willing to host you in our garden.