I had a great week last week since I didn't make any picks.  But I'm back in the saddle this week. 

Mississippi 24, Tennessee 21--I would have picked the Vols over the Rebels had it not been for the three arrests yesterday.  I think that distraction will affect the Orange just enough to lose this game on the Rebel's home field.  Not to speak of losing our starting safety.  Clearly someone got stuck on stupid yesterday.

Ohio State 33, Iowa 20--The Hawkeyes quarterback is out with an injury.  The game is in Columbus.  The Hawkeyes season is coming apart at the seams.

Pittsburgh 30, Notre Dame 24--A loss in this game could seal Charlie Weitz's fate.  I can't see him winning on Pittsburgh's field.

Southern Cal 37, Stanford 20--Stanford is a good team but not as good as the Trojans.

Florida 27, South Carolina 17--I think the Gamecocks may surprise some people at how well they play the Gators in this game.  I don't think it will be well enough to win it though.

In the early seventies I was recently out of the Army and had started my first real job.  I moved into an apartment that was within walking distance of a newly built municipal arena that hosted everything from rodeos to rock and roll concerts.

The seventies were probably the golden age for music tours, especially rock.  And I made the most of it from my location.  Through the magic of the internet I recently discovered a listing of the groups and the musicians that played at that arena during the seventies, including the dates and the prices they charged.  I think the list is missing a few names though because I distinctly remember seeing Ike and Tina Turner there in the seventies (and if you never saw the Ikettes, you missed something).  Anyway--from that list I was able to make a list of the ones that I attended in the seventies. 

Aug. 10, 1974 - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - $6

Dec. 7, 1974 – Doobie Brothers $6

May 10, 1975 – America w/Captain - $6

Aug. 4, 1975 – Eagles w/Poco

Nov. 9, 1975 – Lettermen - $6.50, $5,50

April 2, 1976 – Neil Sedaka - $6.50

Aug. 16, 1976 – Doobie Brothers w/Heart - $6

Oct. 21, 1977 – Kenny Rogers w/Stella Parton and T.G. Sheppard - $7, $6

Nov. 19, 1977 – England Dan and John Ford Coley - $7, $6

Oct. 21, 1978 – Ferrante & Teicher - $8, $7

May 12, 1979 – Willie Nelson w/Leon Russell - $8, $6

Even after I moved from the apartment I attended other concerts in the eighties that I don't know the dates or prices.  Some of those included the Judds, Elvis and others that I can't recall.  I don't think I ever paid more than $10 for a ticket.

It seems to me that there has been a lot more attention given to this Veterans Day than in years past.  For example this past Sunday NFL football had a number of tributes, including one of the pre-game shows that originated in Afghanistan.  I think that the added attention is a good thing.

I was in the service in a period of time when the military was looked down upon.  That was during and after the Vietnam War.  Unfortunately the military took the fall for some bad decisions by the civilians in charge of the Pentagon.  It was a very dark time for anything military related and I don't think I have seen anything since that has approximated the anti-military feeling that existed at that time.

More recently I think it has been hard for the country to rally around the military as was done in the World Wars.  Our conflicts for the last fifty years have been more localized and limited in nature and that alone has been one reason they haven't been as widely supported as World Wars.  The first Gulf War was an exception to that, mainly because Saddam Hussien was stupid enough to put himself in a position that united everyone against him.

I am very glad that we seem to have come full circle in our treatment of the military.  Unlike my time we have an all volunteer army now and I think that is a good thing.  At the very least it means it's a more professional army and that makes all the branches professional.

Take the time to say thanks today to a veteran or a current military professional.  They have earned the right to be appreciated on this day.  We do not owe our freedom to a single President, congressman, senator or justice.  We owe it to our soldiers.  God bless you all, past and present.

I haven't posted for a week. 

Except for vacations I don't think that has happened since I started this blog.  I even posted once when I was in Moscow.  Anyway I had Big Brother on campus last week for a scheduled visit and as such my time was taken both day and night.  Things seemed to go well so I'm not expecting any major issues.

My busy period carried over into the weekend as I took in a basketball game and managed to get some things done around the house.  I cleaned out my clothes closet, over seeded the lawn and got some badly needed computer work done.  As a result my checking account is now balanced.  Then I celebrated the seventy degree weather by washing and waxing my car.  I have to admit it felt a little strange waxing a car in November.

I finished the weekend by catching Frost/Nixon on HBO and was pleasantly surprised by it.  It wasn't at all like the documentary that I expected but instead an excellent drama.  Frank Langella was terrific as Nixon.  The facial expressions, the mannerisms and even the way he talked was dead-on.  It was easy to see why he was nominated for an Oscar.

Finally I watched the terrific last show of the season of Mad Men.  At times this season I struggled maintaining my interest in the show as the plot seemed to meander.  But last night's episode was the proverbial home run.  The episode seemed to strike the perfect balance between what was and what will be.  It brought me back to the reasons I started watching the show in the first place.  Now I can't wait for next season. 

And now I'm back as well.  Life is good.

I am a late arrival to understanding the importance of ceremony in our lives. 

But I've often been late to understanding the more cerebral things in life.  I suppose I'm a slow learner but I also think it's due to my tendency to overlook the obvious.  The forest for the trees and such.  I recently posted about completely missing Anton Chirguh as the symbol of fate/death in No Country for Old Men.  You get the idea...

Fortunately some things are hard to miss.  One of those things occurred last night.  The church my late aunt attended holds a yearly service for those who have passed in the last twelve months.  My father and I attended in her honor.

It's the major Methodist church in my hometown and as such is the beneficiary of well-to-do members.  The outside of the building is pedestrian but the sanctuary is impressive with its simplicity and beauty.  I had been in the sanctuary before but had forgotten how it's construction and furnishings lends itself to its purpose.

The service of remembrance was primarily musical.  It was beautiful to hear and see.  A fifty something member choir was backed by two cellos, two violas, a violin, a bass and a harp player.  It sounded like the words that were sung were in Latin or some other foreign language and when I looked at the program that was the case as translations were listed for each segment.  A baritone and a soprano took their turns as well.  The massive stained glass rendering of Jesus overlooked us all and provided a stunning visual of why we were there.  My father whispered to me at one point that this was the same sanctuary that my maternal grandfather's funeral was held in.  He died when I was very young and I barely knew him but it made me feel good to know that.

There were thirty-two passings in the last year at the church, my father's sister being one of them.  As each of those names were called a representative of the family came forward to receive one single white rose in remembrance.  I recognized some names.  The former CEO of the Fortune 500 company headquartered in town.  The father of a judge was another.  A couple of names I had heard my parents talk about in the past. 

My father and I made the trip up the main aisle together and we were greeted and handed the white rose by the minister who presided over my aunt's graveside service.  When we returned to our seats my father whispered to me that she would have reveled in this ceremony and that our presence would have been important to her.  And he said, as we southerners sometimes say, she rose above her upbringing to deserve this type of service.  He was right.

My father had asked me earlier if I thought it would be OK for him to leave before the service was over.  At age eighty-nine he had put in twelve hours of work already for the day and I told him that it was fine to do so.  He left with the single white rose in his hand. 

My thoughts went to my childhood and the Mother's Day services at our small church.  Each year children of living mothers were honored by wearing a red rose on their clothes.  I did it many times. 

White roses were worn by those children whose mothers had passed.  My father, who lost his mother before he was ten years old, always wore a white rose.

We humans are sometimes capable of extraordinary things.  Ceremonies of remembrance are one of those things.

I had a terrible week.  I went 1-4, only getting the Tennessee game correct and if Alabama hadn't blocked that field goal I would have been skunked.  Adding insult to injury I picked Kansas over Oklahoma and as Katherine pointed out to me afterward I should have listened to her.  You're right, Kat.  The Sooners can win road games.  So I regressed to a 24-16 for the year.  Let's face it.  If you're in Tennessee and a football fan you're not having a good year.  Nevertheless...

Tennessee 24, South Carolina 20--Steve Superior comes to Knoxville and the Gamecocks are ranked and Tennessee isn't.  I think this is a pivotal game for the Vols because if they win this one it's possible that they could win out the rest of the season with games against Memphis, Mississippi, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.  That would make them bowl eligible.  But it starts with SC.  They have played ranked teams well this year.  We shall see.

Texas 30, Oklahoma St 17--Just too much Longhorns for State in this one.

Oregon 30, USC 27--It sounds a bit odd but I think USC ranked number four is actually the underdog in this one against Oregon who is ranked tenth.  But that makes them dangerous and therefore more apt to win.  I expect the Ducks to be fired up though and pull this one out.  But barely.

Oklahoma 37, Kansas St 17--I've learned my lesson.  Don't bet against the Sooners.

West Virginia 30, South Florida 21--South Florida plays the Mountaineers close for a half but they wear down and WVU pulls away.

1.  Marry any of the "real housewives" on television.

2.  Have anyone with the last name of Pelosi or Reid in charge of my health care.

3.  Find out that I was married to Rosie O'Donnell in my former life.

4.  Tell anyone that I'm having an argument with that I'll give them the last word.

5.  Win an award when Kanye West is in the audience.

6.  Become a guest on Oprah or Dr. Phil.

7.  Have plastic surgery anywhere other than my face.

8.  Receive a compliment from Michael Moore or Sean Penn. 

9.  Tweet.

10.  Become a greeter at Wal-Mart.   

It's been two years this month since my former company told me to take a hike. 

I've been thinking about that whole deal today.  I came to a quick conclusion.  It's been nothing but a plus for me.  Seriously.  I'm more relaxed.  I don't dread going to work each day.  And I love what I do.  For the last few years I was on my old job I remember deciding that sixty-two was going to be it.  Now I think it's sixty-five, maybe sixty-six. 

While on my former job I can remember wondering whether I would miss my job when I retired.  The fact is I haven't missed it at all.  I rarely think about it.  And when I do it's not a positive thought.

I don't keep up with my former employer but occasionally I talk with someone who is still there.  It's always the same refrain--how bad things are, how clueless the management is and how they hire vice-presidents but no workers.  Last week someone told me they had begin selling some real estate assets.  That sounds like a death rattle to me.  My conclusion is that if it were not Japanese owned it would have been shut down a year ago.  The Japanese are known for their patience in business and I used to see it firsthand.  I'm guessing their capacity might be a little low right now.

I do feel bad for the employees still there.  In the eighties and nineties it was a fantastic company to work for.  We defied recessions and gained market share.  Most of us were on incentive bonus plans that paid handsomely if you were willing to put the work in.  Then the owners and manager/stockholders cashed out to the Japanese and it's been downhill ever since.  The new management thought it would just keep on happening and provided no leadership except to reward themselves.  It was shameful.

I know that I am now in a good place.  And glad to be here.