Thursday, November 3, 2016

College Football - Week 10

New rankings starting this week as the CFP rankings were released.

SEC 4-2↑(57-18) and 3-2↔. Top 25 7-9↑ (78-42) and 10-6↔

Picks for the week (T25 will be using the CFP system and all SEC ranked schools will be in that list)

SEC (non-ranked)

Seems the site I was looking at to get the spreads only had some games and not all games; I've already missed 2 Top 25 games and at least 1 SEC game; was in a hurry and didn't double check ><  so the results will be a little off ;)

Tennessee hosts Tennessee Tech (noline)
South Carolina  hosts Missouri(-7)
Georgia  at Kentucky(-2.5)

Top 25:

#1   Alabama at #13 LSU: ↑LSU(+8.5)
#2   Clemson hosts Syracuse: ↑Clemson(+26)
#3   Michigan hosts Maryland: ↑Michigan(-31)
#4   Texas A&M at Mississippi State: ↑A&M(-13.5)
#5   Washington at California: ↑Washington(+17)
#6   Ohio State hosts #10 Nebraska: ↑OSU(+17)
#8   Wisconsin at Northwestern: ↑Wisconsin(-7)
#9   Auburn hosts Vanderbilt: ↑Auburn(+25.5)
#11 Florida at Arkansas: ↑Ark(+3.5)
#12 Penn State hosts Iowa: ↑PSU(+7.5)
#17 Baylor hosts TCU: ↑Baylor(+7.5)
#18 Oklahoma St at Kansas State: ↑KSU(+3)
#19 Virginia Tech at Duke: ↑VT(-11)
#20 West Virginia hosts Kansas: ↑WV(-34.5)
#21 North Carolina hosts Georgia Tech: ↑NC(-10.5)
#22 Florida State at NC State: ↑FSU(-5.5)
#23 Western Michigan won on Tuesday night (argh)
#24 Boise State hosts San Jose State: ↑Boise(-29)
#25 Washington State hosts Arizona: ↑WSU(+17)

Thursday, October 27, 2016

College Football - Week 9

My ATS scores are awful, but I have not actually been picking ATS. What I have been doing is picking a score and then later putting the spread on it and basing my ATS on the score I selected.

Starting this week (and I missed the VT game natch) I will be picking winner straight up (↑)and ATS (↔) and not picking a score.

While I'll be tracking my overall numbers on w-l I will be starting the ↔ numbers over. The favorite is in bold (so as to see which one I picked ↔)

 Last week a perfect week in the SEC 7-0(53-16) as the picks were easy (not ↔ though) and Top 25 11-6(71-33)

SEC:

#18 Tennessee at South Carolina: ↑ UT  ↔ (-13.5)
Kentucky at Missouri: ↑ KY ↔ (+4.5)
#14 Florida at Georgia: ↑ UGA ↔ (+7.5)
Samford at Mississippi State: ↑ MSU ↔ MSU (push)
#15 Auburn at Ole Miss: ↑ Auburn ↔ (-4.5)
New Mexico State at #9 Texas A&M: ↑ A&M ↔ (+43,5)

Top 25:

#22 Navy at South Florida: ↑ Navy ↔ (+7.5)
#10 West Virginia at Oklahoma State: ↑ WV ↔ (-3.5)
#2   Michigan at Michigan State: ↑ Mich ↔ (+23.5)
#24 Penn State at Purdue: ↑ Penn State ↔ (-11.5)
#5   Louisville at Virginia: ↑ Cardinals ↔ (+31.5)
#6   Ohio State hosts Northwestern: ↑ OSU ↔ (+27)
#4   Washington at #17 Utah: ↑ Utah ↔ (+10)
#8   Baylor at Texas: ↑ Baylor ↔ (-3.5)
#13 Boise State at Wyoming: ↑ BSU ↔ (-13.5)
#16 Oklahoma hosts Kansas: ↑ OK ↔ (+40)
#7   Nebraska at #11 Wisconsin: ↑ Nebraska ↔ (+7.5)
#3   Clemson at #12 Florida State: ↑ FSU ↔ (+4.5)

Thursday, October 20, 2016

College Football - Week 8

Hard week of picks (and very hard UT game to watch natch)... 4-2(3-3 ATS) in the SEC for a 46-16(15-17 / year doesn't match because no ATS picks 1st 2 weeks) season record and 10-7(10-7 ATS) in the Top 25 for a season total of 60-27(43-41-3).

Decent week for picks this week and Tennessee is off so hopefully we can get healthy for the finish run.

SEC:

#1 Alabama hosts #6 Texas A&M(+18.5): Questions all week on whether the Aggies can run on Bama. I think the most important thing will be whether Knight can throw and not have turnovers. It's at Bama and I don't think A&M is quite ready for the big time. Ala 34-20

#17 Arkansas(+10) travels to #21 Auburn: Auburn has found a team, Arkansas is playing very well. This should be a great game, home field should make the difference in this one. AU 24-21

#23 Mississippi at #25 LSU(-6.5): No Fournette seems to be no problem for this offense now. They have (somewhat) of a passing game and the o-line is killing it blocking for whomever is running the ball. Ole Miss can't seem to stop people but their offense is on fire also. LSU's defense will make the difference. Tigers 20-13

UMass(+20.5) at South Carolina: Tune-up game before SC plays Tennessee: SC 34-21

Middle Tennessee(+7) at Missouri: Missouri in a normal year would win this going away; they won't this year though. Middle by 10 at 24-14

Tennessee State(+24.5) at Vanderbilt: Vandy wins another; 44-20

Mississippi State at Kentucky(+3): Kent needs this to get closer to a bowl, MSU needs this to stop the season from spiraling out of control. Wildcats get it done at home: 24-22

Top 25:

#2   Ohio State(-19.5) at Penn State: Buckeyes 34-14
#3   Michigan(-39) hosts Illinois: Wolverines by 40  (49-9)
#5   Washington(-36.5) hosts Oregon State: Huskies 48-10
#7   Louisville hosts NC State(+19): State should have beaten Clemson; 'Ville 24-21
#8   Nebraska hosts Purdue(+24): Huskers 32-20
#10 Wisconsin at Iowa(+3.5): Hawkeyes upset 21-20
#11 Houston at SMU(+21): Houston rolls 44-35
#12 West Virginia hosts TCU(+6.5): I still have no faith in WV .. TCU 28-20
#14 Boise State(-7.5) hosts BYU: BYU had problems with Miss State; Boise 35-21
#16 Oklahoma at Texas Tech(+13.5): Tech Air-raid against Stoops D; TTU upset 38-35
#19 Utah(-7) at UCLA: No Rosen, no chance; Utes 28-10
#20 Western Michigan(-23.5) hosts Eastern Michigan: Directional U! West 48-20
#22 North Carolina at Virginia(+9.5): NC big (unless there's another hurricane) 38-31
#24 Navy hosts Memphis(-2.5): Magical run ends for Navy: Memphis 40-20

Thursday, October 13, 2016

College Football - Week 7

Decent picks last week; thought I would do much worse so a pleasant surprise. The one I wanted I missed though (double ot sucks).

4-1(3-2 ATS) (with LSU-Florida cancelled) in the SEC for 42-14(12-14) on the year. 9-5(6-8 ATS) top 25 (argh) for a 50-20(33-34-3) season so far.

SEC:

#1 Alabama travels to #9 UT: Tennessee's habit of slow starting and turnovers finally caught up to them, they played a hell of a game considering. With 7 turnovers, they were still able to get to OT against a good A&M squad.  Alabama cruised like every week (except Ole Miss) so far. UT will be able to move the ball on Bama, but I'm not sure they've fixed the fumble problems and they still have 7 people injured. Bama 34-31 in a very close game (as they all seem to be)

Mississippi State travels to BYU: Friday night game for the bulldogs as they look to get back on track toward a bowl game. BYU is playing inspired ball at the moment and is at home. BYU 27-19

Vanderbilt at Georgia: Vandy needs this win to get closer to a bowl; UGA needs this to stay in the hunt for a good bowl. Georgia at home will win even with Vandy's defense harassing the dogs all night. UGA 21-14

Missouri at #18 Florida: Gators have major problems on offense and Mizzou 'was' one of the best offenses in the SEC. LSU exposed them and Florida will finish them. UF 35-13

#12 Ole Miss at #22 Arkansas: Razorbacks smarting after getting beat up by Bama; they had a great offensive game if they didn't turn it over, but they did. Ole Miss looks to keep rolling after getting back in the rankings. A shootout; Miss handles the ending 44-41

Southern Mississippi at LSU: Southern upset Vandy to start the season, enough said. LSU (refound offense) 35-20

Top 25:

#2   Ohio State at #8 Wisconsin: UW should have beat Michigan; buckeyes are rolling over everyone. Badgers get it done on defense. Wisc 17-14
#3   Clemson hosts NC State; Wolfpack coming off the big win over Notre Dame, Clemson rolling toward the playoffs. Clemson big 44-30
#7   Louisville hosts Duke: don't sleep on the blue devils, they seem to play up or down to the competition. They will play great this week, but too much Lamar, UL 38-35
#10 Nebraska travels to Indiana; Nebraska is almost relevant again; they'll get over this hump and remain undefeated: Huskers 21-20
#11 Baylor hosts Kansas; Sleeper city, Baylor 50-28
#13 Houston hosts Tulsa: Houston's path to the playoff is dead and quite possibly their path to a NY6 bowl. Tulsa can run up and down, shootout but Houston rights the ship at home: UH 44-39
#14 Florida State hosts Wake Forest: Seminoles got a big win against Miami last week, keep it rolling this week: FSU 35-20
#15 Boise State hosts Colorado State: Chance for a NY6 bowl in Boise can win out. Don't overlook CSU for an upset: Boise close 28-27
#16 Miami hosts North Carolina: Miami lost a heartbreaker and NC got crushed in the rain (they pass well, not run).  One of them has to win; the U holds NC to under 400 passing; UM 31-28
#17 Virginia Tech at Syracuse: Syracuse plays no defense, VTech has looked awesome since losing the Battle of Bristol to UT; VT 38-10
#19 Oklahoma hosts Kansas State: Everyone is saying that no one wants to play Oklahoma right now, I think State would relish it: KState in the upset 24-22
#20 West Virginia at Texas Tech: WVU is undefeated and plays some defense; Tech plays no defense but is lights out on offense; I think turnovers will be the difference as the Big 12 loses another playoff contender. TT 52-44
#21 Utah at Oregon State: Should be a good game, but Utah's defense looks to be back on track. Utes 20-13
#24 Western Michigan at Akron; WMU hoping for that NY6 bowl by being the highest ranked 'Group of 5' team in the final rankings. Akron is playing inspired and this is a conference game. Zips in the upset; Akron 28-21
#25 Navy game was postponed

Thursday, October 6, 2016

College Football - Week 6

Sec was a good week; UT pulled off a hail mary win over Georgia (after the bulldogs had their own miracle that was a win but wasn't) and I went 8-0(2-6 ATS) on my picks.

Top 25 wasn't as good, but still decent at 14-7(9-12 ATS).  Year-to-date SEC 38-13(11-16) and 41-15(27-26-3) T25.

Might miss all the picks this week; they're not easy.

SEC:

#1 Alabama travels to #16 Arkansas:  Arkansas hasn't beat Bama since '06 but came very close last time at home (missed extra point). Alabama is on a roll and Arkansas has a decent pass game so I expect this will be close. I don't think the hogs can pull it off, but they'll make em sweat. Ala 24-21

#9 Tennessee is at #9 Texas A&M: First trip to Aggieland and only the 3rd time these teams have met. UT has a habit of slow starts and big finishes and A&M is more even keeled (but doesn't play their best in the 4th). Two of the best defensive lines and offensive lines squaring off. Both quarterbacks run better than they throw, but Dobbs (UT) is the better passer of the two. This game comes down to special teams and Tenn has an edge. UT 30 A&M 28

Auburn at Mississippi State: Au got the offense warmed up last week and look to keep rolling since the miracle win over LSU. State has been Jekyl and Hyde in their games all year. Auburn should roll, but it'll be tight. AU 24-19

Vanderbilt at Kentucky: Both teams underachieve and both teams need this win. It's at Kentucky so they have a slight edge, although Vandy's defense is much better. KY 10-9

Georgia at South Carolina: Georgia is much better but has historically had difficulties at SC. They get it done this week. UGA 31-14

LSU at Florida has been cancelled (Florida to win if they play it)

Top 25:

#2   Ohio State hosts Indiana: Ohio State rolls upset minded Indy: OSU 44-10
#3   Clemson at Boston College: This isn't last year's BC defense: Clem 40-6
#4   Michigan at Rutgers: OSU 58-0 over Rutgers last week... Mich 59-0
#5   Washington at Oregon: Ducks are hurting but own UW:  Oregon 42-40
#6   Houston at Navy: Cougars need this badly to stay in the hunt: Hou 35-29
#10 Miami hosts #23 Florida State: FSU is 0-2 in the ACC, Miami helps: FSU 21-19
#15 Stanford hosts Washington State: The Trees got killed last week: Stan 28-10
#17 North Carolina hosts #25 Virginia Tech: at VT I'd go with em: NC 24-23
#19 Boise State at New Mexico: Big blue keeps rocking, BSU 32-13
#20 Oklahoma vs Texas in the Red River Rivalry: UT beats ranked OK usually: OK 42-28
#21 Colorado at USC: Trojans are coming back: USC 25-20
#24 Utah hosts Arizona: Utes got beat by Cal's defense (?) but right the ship: Utah 28-27

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

College Football - Week 5

Bad week (picking) good week on results.

5-4(4-5 ATS) on SEC (30-13 : 9-10) and 11-5(7-8-1 ATS) on the Top 25 (27-8 : 18-14-3)

SEC:

#11 Tennessee at #25 Georgia: UT coming off the big comeback win over Florida (breaking an 11 year losing streak in the process) looks like the team they were supposed to be. Georgia lost big to Ole Miss but has been shaky all year. UT keeps it rolling, 42-21

Alcorn State at #20 Arkansas: The Razorbacks will be looking to fix their run defense, this is a good game to do it. Ark 55 - Alcorn 10

#23 Florida at Vanderbilt: The gators will be looking to rebound in a big way against a team that seems to be trying to just stay alive. This game is usually close, this time it won't be. Florida is pissed. UF 34 - Vandy 3

Louisiana Monroe at Auburn: Big win last week keeps Gus alive. Should be easy this week, it won't be just because Auburn doesn't do easy. AU 30 - ULM 28

#9 Texas A&M at South Carolina: SC lost to Kentucky ... A&M may be looking ahead to UT but it won't matter. They run very well, SC won't stop that run. A&M 40 SC 20

Kentucky at #1 Alabama: heh heh heh Bama 45 - UK 14

Memphis at #16 Ole Miss: Revenge game?  Memphis embarrassed the Rebels last year; no Lynch or Fuentes this year and it's in the Grove. Miss 48 Mem 34

Missouri at LSU: Will the Tigers rally after losing their coach? Can Mizzou keep that offensive juggernaut going? No and no, but it will be enough Fournette to win. LSU 20 Mizz 18


Top 25:

#2   Ohio State hosts Rutgers: Buckeyes run it up 55-14
#3   Louisville at #5 Clemson: Louisville is this year's darling (after putting 60+ on FSU who wouldn't be) and Clemson has 'struggled'. The ACC rights itself this week and Clemson's D asserts itself. Lamar isn't the top contender for the Heisman after this game. Tigers 38 Louis 31
#4   Michigan hosts #8 Wisconsin: Are the Badgers real? Is Michigan? Maybe we'll find out. The maize and blue stop their 40+ point a game streak but the Badgers take over as the B10 favorite. Wisconsin 24 - Mich 22
#6   Houston hosts Uconn: 60-20
#7   Stanford at #10 Washington: The Tree is the class of the Pac-12, Huskies are the up-and-comers. Washington pulls it off; UW 21-20 over Stanford
#12 Florida State at North Carolina: NC needs a signature win; The noles won't give it; FSU 38 - 20 NC
#13 Baylor at Iowa State: Baylor runs away; 40-20
#14 Miami at Georgia Tech: Hurricanes are untested, GT is under performing; Canes 21-20
#15 Nebraska hosts Illinois: Huskers in a walk 31-14
#17 Michigan State at Indiana: Sparty is pissed, Indiana sucks; 42-21 MSU
#18 Utah at California: Utah is skimming by, Cal scores in droves; Utah plays defense, Utes 28-27
#19 San Diego State at South Alabama: USA only wins if the State players stay on the beach, SDSU 43-19
#21 TCU hosts Oklahoma: Sooners were the pick to win the Big 12; they lost to Houston and Ohio State (two highly ranked teams) and people still think they are good; they aren't. TCU 44-22 OK
#22 Texas at Oklahoma State: Texas sucks, Oklahoma State does too. OK upset 28-27
#24 Boise State hosts Utah State: Boise is better than their entire conference combined, however, conference play is weird. Utah State pulls the major upset; 21-20

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

College Football - Week 4

Great games this week means hard picks.

Currently 25-9(5-5 ATS) in the SEC and 16-3(11-6-2 ATS) top 25:

#1 Alabama big over Kent State (55-3)

#17 Arkansas at #10 Texas A&M: Which team will discover its offense first? Both are winning with defense and the winner has the inside track to challenging Bama for the West. Expect a hard fought game but I think Arkansas ability to run will make the difference. Ark 24-21

#12 Georgia at #23 Mississippi: Ole Miss led by 21+ against FSU and Alabama, both losses (first time in over 10 years a team did that) and seem not to want to play in the second half. Last week they showed life and could have easily won that game with a couple of different calls. Georgia needed a 4th down touchdown to beat Missouri. Last year that would be damning, but not so sure this year as Missouri has improved. It's the 2 point win versus Nichols (?!?) and THEN needing the 4th down play versus Mizzou that worries you. I think the Rebels finally do something in the 2nd half and win this one going away. Miss 34 - Geo 25

#19 Florida at #14 Tennessee: This year or none. Florida has beat UT 11 straight (quite a few they shouldn't have [ie. last year]) and looks to keep it alive. UT was picked by some to make it to the playoff this year but has problems with focus. They (UT) will be without a couple of stand outs in the defense but get a much needed boost on the o-line. Florida lost their starting QB and will have to go with a transfer out of Purdue. Butch Jones needs this more than anyone. UT finally breaks through; 28-20

#18 LSU at Auburn: The hot-seat game. Which ever coach loses might not be coaching at the end of the year. Auburn has looked awful while playing multiple quarterbacks, LSU has a run game and needs a quarterback. Both defenses look good and usually that would mean to go with the home team. This time, however, I think Fournette runs through the Auburn defense to 150+ yards and Gus gets on the hot(ter) seat. LSU 30 - Auburn 14

Mississippi State travels to UMass :  Florida beat them 35-7; State will beat them by more; MSU 48 - 10

Delaware State at Missouri: Sleeper game; Mizzou 39 - 15


Vanderbilt at Western Kentucky: Vandy has to win this to even think about the post season; they won't. WKU 28 Vandy 13

South Carolina at Kentucky: A must win game for Kentucky (see Vanderbilt). Which SC team shows up? Who knows??  I think Kentucky is just that bad; SC 35 KY 31

Top 25

#3   Louisville at Marshall: 56-30 UL
#4   Michigan hosts Penn State: 42 - 24 UM
#5   Clemson at Georgia Tech: upset alert -- 28-27 Clemson
#6   Houston at Texas State: 44-20 UH
#7   Stanford at UCLA: 28-24 Stanford
#8   Michigan State hosts #11 Wisconsin: 29-14 Sparty
#9   Washington at Arizona: 28-25 UW
#13 Florida Sate at South Florida: upset alert -- 35-34 South Florida
#16 Baylor hosts Oklahoma State: upset alert -- 42-35 OK State
#20 Nebraska at Northwestern: 28-21 Neb
#24 Utah hosts USC: 30-20 Utes

Sunday, September 18, 2016

College Football Results

Rough week for me in the SEC, went 6-3 with losers on the Ole Miss-Bama game (great game), South Carolina pulling out a win over East and Vandy not showing up after the first quarter against Georgia Tech.

(ATS picks  SEC: 5-5 [based on my score pick versus the actual line] Top 25: 11-6-2)
From 19-6 to 25-9 in the SEC.

Much better in the Top 25 picks (some overlap as the SEC is well represent in the T25).

I picked the Louisville win over FSU, correctly thought that Texas and Notre Dame were both over rated based on their double overtime game against each other and had the Buckeyes beating up on Stoops and the Sooners.  Big miss on the Miami versus App State game, but who knew Miami would gel?

Overall in the Top 25 I was 16 and 3, so a very good week on the picks.

One note: Talking to Colbie Friday about the Iowa and North Dakota State game (ND is a FCS school that makes a habit of beating FBS teams); I had the game as Iowa winning 21-20 on a missed field goal at the end by the Bison. It went exactly as I called, except the kick was good (23-21 ND) so missed it by that much :)

Friday, September 16, 2016

College Football - Week 3

Time for college football picks (will be starting fresh with Top 25 picks and going to week 3 of the SEC, my first 2 weeks didn't get published, so you'll have to just trust me;))

SEC first: [19-6 overall so far]

#15 Tennessee hosts Ohio; UT looked good in the 2nd half last week against an overmatched Virginia Tech squad and it's the defense that's doing the deed. Ohio averages 500 or so yards on offense so they can move the ball and score. Look for that total to be cut in half; UT 49 - Ohio 21

Vanderbilt is at Georgia Tech: Vandy got off the snide last week with an impressive (for them) run over Middle Tennessee. GT is looking rather average for a triple-option offense and that could be the difference. Vandy runs and GT doesn't: Vandy 17 - GT 13

#1 Alabama at #19 Ole Miss: Rebs have won 2 in a row against Bama and are at home with a prolific offense and 'stout' defense. Alabama is rolling but has a freshman QB taking his first start on the road. Unless the Crimson Tide gets up by a couple scores in the 1st half, Mississippi can win this. And they will, dethroning the #1 team and 'shocking' the football landscape. Miss 24 - Ala 23

East Carolina travels to South Carolina: SC came back to beat Vandy then laid an egg against Mississippi State last week; EC brings it.  EC 28 - SC 24

New Mexico St at Kentucky: Ky was supposed to turn the corner this year; game 1 they were up 25 and cruising ... loss. Game 2 (against Florida) they lost 45-7 in a game that wasn't as close as the score (heh and for the 30th straight time). This week they look to pick on the little people and get a W. KY 44 - NMSU 28

Miss St at #20 LSU: Mississippi State looked lost against South Alabama(?!?) and looked found against a bad South Carolina squad. LSU looked normal (no qb) against a good Wisconsin team (in Green Bay) and then found a QB in a ho-hum win over Jacksonville State. If Fournette is healthy (and reports are he is) then this game will be close till the 4th. Too much #7 at the end. LSU 35 - MSU 21

 North Texas at #23 Florida: warm-up game. Florida found it last week, rolls this. Fla 52 - NT 10 Texas State at #24 Arkansas: warm-up game. Ark upset TCU now feasts on the little kids. Ark 50 - TSU 3

 #16 Georgia at Missouri; both offense are looking better (not good) and Georgia needed help to outlast Nichols (?!?) last week. This would be the perfect time for Mizzou to make a comeback. But they won't.  UGA 20 - Mizzou 19

Top 25 (non-SEC): Take the Houston win but didn't realize it was on last night so no pick

#2 Florida State at #10 Louisville: UL 35 - FSU 29
#3 Ohio State at #14 Oklahoma: OSU 28 - OK 14
Colorado at #4 Michigan: UM 32 - CU 10
S Carolina St at #5 Clemson: zzz Clem 66 - SC State 10
USC at #7 Stanford: Trees 21 - Condoms 14
Portland State at #8 Washington - zzz UW 50 - Port 24
Georgia State at #9 Wisconson - zzz Sconsin 44 - GSU 16
#11 Texas at California: Cal 38 - Tex 35
#12 Michigan State at #18 Notre Dame: Sparty 21 - Dome 20
North Dakota St at #13 Iowa: Iowa 21 - NDst 20
#21 Baylor at Rice: Sex Assault U 50 - minutes 14
#22 Oregon at Nebraska: Last Century 28 - Last Decade 21  
#25 Miami at(?) App State: UPSET App State 23 - Miami 20

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Lazy Day

New tablet, units are off and there is almost literally nothing to do. After tonight, we will on our way to the beach to celebrate Ashlyn's 14th birthday. Should be fun and should have lots of pictures.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Yes, I was a meanie head and I'm sorry

So last week I owed my hubby a big, humble, apology... I had only slept a little over an hour the night before (no excuse), then dealt with having the alarm installer here most all day up until time to pick up the teenager from school, only to have to go back to the cable company to switch out a box and question our bill, to come home and it felt like everything was going wrong...
  The alarm camera wasn't working. Then, I couldn't do my hair like I wanted and just did my whole head purple. Spending over an hour trying to get my hair to rinse clean, then washing it and hoping to pull some of the darkness out. As if I didn't have enough, I started in with a horrible toothache which was throbbing.
While I was fighting the urge to freak out over my hair, hubby just kept telling me "it actually looks pretty good, he likes it and when I'm all nicely tan, it will look even better." So then I calmed somewhat and tried to eat, BIG mistake! It made said toothache MUCH worse. So then my loving and amazing hubby started talking to me about the alarm camera and I growled so hateful at him and was taking my cranky, bad day out on him. Amazingly he still helped my hateful, cranky self figure out what was going on and we got the camera back working.  So finally after a long week at work, he finally gets on Xbox and then I have a printer malfunction and was on the verge of a meltdown, so he stopped his game and spent over 30 minutes fixing it... Later, in the still of The night my mind was going over the events of the day and I was racked with guilt for being such a cranky pants, meanie head to my caring, compassionate, and loving hubby... I owe him his favorite dinner or maybe we can have a lunch date. Just the two of us... Or maybe an even bigger gesture, let him go ahead and send his car to be painted.  Heh...

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Best Intentions

  We are all too familiar with Pinterest and all of the wonderful and amazing DIY projects that you can find on just about any event or idea the mind can imagine.  Usually I just repin tons of recipes I will never cook, projects I will never make, and so many other topics that remind me I have 2 left hands, so to speak, when it comes to being crafty.

  I used to be a chronic list writer. I had notebooks, planners, sticky notes, and clipboards of well intentioned lists. Well, my hubby "lovingly" reminds me often, that when I kept those crazy, often unorganized lists, I managed to get more done and forgot way less... So I went to Pinterest for ideas... My 1st mistake, lol. I found the world of Filofax and also bullet journaling.  For those who have never heard of these, like me 5 months ago, Filofax is this very pretty, very organized planner system that is extremely customizable to anyone's needs. There is a Filofax company you can buy your starter system, or like many Pinterest poster's love to do, you can use a plain 3 ring binder and create these amazing planners that look similar to carefully executed scrapbooks. Bullet journals are plain graph composition books (usually) where there is a complex system of using bullets to create this wonderful system of lists using bullet points, colorful pens, highlighters, stickers, beautiful tapes, and so many eye pleasing tricks, with the sole purpose of keeping their day to day errands, calls, chores, etc all together in this beautifully laid out lists. 

  I just couldn't resist!!! I drank the koolaid and began to think " I CAN DO THIS!"  This was my 2nd mistake... I set out to gathering my needed supplies.  Stickers, sticky notes, markers, colorful binders, clips, pens, etc. I even purchased nice small plastic bins with snap lids to house my New stockpiles of crafty items. "I can really do this" I keep thinking.  I research and study, taking notes as If I am back in my college biology class. I was hyper-focused. For most of the month of February I use a practice journal to note all my to-do lists, calls,and errands and to figure out the best system for me.  As March speeds closer And closer I get so excited. I have changed from using a 2 inch 3 ring binder, because how would I even lug that thing around??? Then the graphed composition notebook, and finally, 2 days before March 1st, I find this small 3 ring binder and I fall in love.  The binder is portable but I can change the pages around, add tabbed dividers, and totally customise it. Visions of posting my beautiful, completely organized binder, dance through my head. I am now about as excited as a child on Christmas morning. March 1st can't get here fast enough.... Until it did. Insomnia struck the day before the end of February and then my semi-organised system started fraying, then by March 1st it all completely unraveled.  Now it is March 3rd and yet again, I am running on less than 2hours of sleep and my poor, brand New, colorful polka dotted, mini 3 ring binder sits on my side table collecting dust. 

  This binder and all that has gone on the month before, the planning, the excitement, and wonderful expectations is so much a picture of what our lives can sometimes be.  The binder being all our goals and plans and the frustration when things just don't turn out how we plan or picture. It can get to the point we just give up and feel like we just can't do something, long before we even start.

  The sad part of it all? It doesn't have to be that way. We get a New chance to start over and implement changes and work towards goals, every single day. Instead of planning to start working towards a goal until "the 1st of the month" or "until the timing is just perfect", we can start brick by brick TODAY!

Things won't always be perfect and that's okay. What is important is that we try. We start our new journey right now. We need to stop comparing ourselves to the Ideas of perfection that we see all over the internet and even on TV and just do what works for us and makes US happy. 

It was a pity party kind of day

Well as long as I have fought my battles and felt like a warrior I must finally stop, take a step back and submit to the reality that my relationship with many people I held close and dear to me, is now part of the casualty of my illness. No fibro didn't make me stop calling, texting, reaching out. No my lupus didn't form the walls I have built around myself. But over the past 20 years I have grown tired.  Tired of begging people to understand, tired of trying to explain why one day I am on top of the world and moving mountains and the next day I can barely move my legs. I'm tired of hiding the pain and burying it deep within, forcing a smile when really I Just want to cry and have someone really understand my pain.  I'm tired of making excuses for why I can't make some important function, or spending a week getting over making myself attend birthday parties, weddings, and others. I am tired of the fear I have every time I have to go to Wal-Mart and hearing someone cough and sneeze, or avoiding all public places when there is an outbreak of the flu or a stomach virus... Most of all I am just tired... Tired of knowing that complete strangers in all these wonderful groups knowing more and caring more about what medical problem, test, or procedure I'm having, or seeing that the ones who drop a msg, or sweet voice of caring compassion aren't the ones I've known most of my life, the ones I will and have done all I can and more when they need me, only to feel lost and alone when I am down or not feeling the best... But as I have known for many years, being one of the earlier diagnosed back when most in the medical community didn't even comprehend what Fibromyalgia was and you intentionally left it off your medical history when you met a New Dr or specialist for the 1st time in fears they would just look at you and offer a referral to a shrink... I have known of many who had lost their spouse's, parents, siblings, even their own children, when they were going through the motions of diagnosis and all that one was put through 20+ years ago.... Tonight is a rough night for me and I know it will pass. I know that in a day or few I will be out of this fog and better for it. But for now, just right now, I am hurt, I am angry, and I am sad...

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Life?

New laptop :)  May start actually posting again. Will at least try to get Lady to post pics from this trip (we are in Sacramento CA)

Warzone

 Recently played a few games on Caldera (warzone) and then... Lots of luck in this one, but satisfying