Watching Me Work

Watching me work is obviously a very exciting way to spend your day. By the way, all the boxes lining the futon edge are protection against Jozy's tennis ball game. This is the game where she pushes the ball under the futon and then growls and barks at it until I get up from my desk and get it back for her. She subsequently pushes it right back under.

Torres Goal vs Germany

"...a lapse of concentration from Philipp Lahm, one of the few other Germany players of genuine class, let Fernando Torres score the goal that brought 44 years of hurt to an end for Spain."

For those of you who watched the Euro '08 final this past weekend, which saw Spain winning 1-0 over Germany, I am curious as to what you think.

1. Should Lehman have stayed on his line longer and let Lahm push Torres wider and then closed the angle?
2. Did Lahm slow his run because Lehman was coming out? Or did Torres just beat him?
3. Am I just partial to taking the side of defenders? Or does the press have this all wrong? Because I think Lehman was the one with the mistake in this play.

Festival International de Louisiane - Monthly Mix

The latest Monthly Mix is slightly different than the traditional mix you see from me. This mix was inspired by the bands that performed at this past year's Festival International in Lafayette, LA. For those of you not from around here, this festival cannot be missed. It is truly amazing and completely free! So all in all, a great time to visit your favorite blogger.

Official Festival Site can be found here.

The bands on this mix represent a mix of great local musicians as well as musicians from around the US and other countries. Enjoy.

1. Crack Haus - MarchFourth Marching Band
2. Katrina - The Red Stick Ramblers
3. Laisse autant le vent tout emporter - Les Breastfeeders
4. Guajira (I Love U 2 Much) - Yerba Buena
5. Salala ft. Peter Gabriel - Angelique Kidjo
6. Bon Rêve (Sweet Dream) - Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
7. Stay All Night - The Red Stick Ramblers
8. J'aurais bien voulu - Babylon Circus
9. Fall on My Knees - The Figs
10. Le Reel De Melon d'Eau - T-Sale
11. Maline - Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
12. Bajo y Piano - Javier García
13. Tu Peut Pas M'Arreter De Rever - Lost Bayou Ramblers
14. Hot Tamale Baby - The Red Stick Ramblers
15. J'pourrais pas vivre avec toi - Les Breastfeeders
16. Cross That Bridge - The Figs
17. El Burrito - Yerba Buena
18. Cler Achel - Tinariwen
19. Dances of Resistance - Babylon Circus
20. Les Oiseaux Vont Chanter - The Red Stick Ramblers
21. Allons danser - Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
22. Do Dokka Ditty - MarchFourth Marching Band

What Jozy Ate

So we planted some items in our front yard over 6 months ago, possibly more...not sure what they are called but they are really popular around here. They look like long thick grass plants and they flower. Ours never flowered really, until now. I was all excited to finally see them bloom and then...

Update: My wife tells me they are called Agapanthus.

The Staple Gun (v2)

If you want to see the staple gun in action, and if this video stays up, you can see it in here around 4:42.

The Staple Gun (Turkey vs. Germany, Euro 2008)

In case you missed the awesome semi-final game last night between Turkey and Germany, here is one of the major highlights. At some point in the game, a Turkish and German player banged heads and both were left a little bloody. The Turkish medical staff promptly pull out a staple gun and patch the Turkish player right up. Awesome.

Update: The highlight with the staple gun was removed from the service I connected to. Here are highlights to the game instead...best I could do.

Turkey put up a hell of a fight but just couldn't pull it out over the Germans. It would have been amazing to see them win it all and I think they could have in the end. I am sad to see them eliminated.

Ground

Around 7:15 this morning, when my wife was in the shower, an electrical shock traveled through the pipes in the house and shocked her as she adjusted the water. She is ok - so don't worry. No harm done. But it certainly was alarming when I thought about it afterwards. The power went out at the same time throughout the house. So something definitely went wrong somewhere...

Afterwards (at around 8 AM), cable, internet and phone were down and the utility guys were outside so I went out to investigate. Turns out "something blew through the line" and burnt out "that porcelain thingy" on the telephone pole behind our house. I asked them about the shock that happened and subsequently there was a party with a bunch of old Cajun electricians and Jozy in our backyard. Turns out we have no "ground" from our incoming electricity lines.

"You should get that fixed. It will protect you."

NOMO - Nu Tones

It's Wednesday and more specifically, it is halfway through Wednesday and I am ready for the weekend. Here is a tune that is currently blowing me away - and just might get me through the rest of the week. Be prepared to ask yourself: So what is that instrument exactly?

NOMO is from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

For the love of the game...

I was in a pretty crappy mood tonight until I watched this video. My favorite might be the police station that starts at 1:19.

Created and produced by Rémi Gaillard; Found via Kottke.org

Decisions

When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within ourselves. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature.

(Sigmund Freud)

Vacillating people seldom succeed. Successful men and women are very careful in reaching their decisions, and very persistent and determined in action thereafter.

(L. G. Elliott)

Please all, and you will please none.

(Aesop)

Objectivo

Cool t-shirt on Objectivo...If I had any room in my t-shirt drawers, I can see myself buying a few of the shirts on this site. If you have a soccer fan in your life, or room in your t-shirt drawer, check it out.

I thought you might be worried about the security of your...

"I thought you might be worried about the security of your shit."

...the plot will focus on the world of the CIA, physical fitness in Washington, D.C., and internet dating. Sounds good right? Trailer looks pretty funny too - Burn After Reading is the new Coen brother's film coming out in September. If I was actually getting to the theater these days to watch movies, this would be on my list.

Being Single (Again)

My wife has been out of town since Saturday morning so I have been playing bachelor for the last 2.5 days. So how am I spending my time? Relishing in bachelorhood? Not quite.

• Watched at least 6 hours of soccer including Euro 2008, MLS, and and FSC classics from the EPL or Barcelona. Now suffering from withdrawal as we await the semis.
• Watch Mission Impossible 2. Liked it.
  
• Mowed
• Jozy started her next round of dog classes - Intermediate level obedience stuff.
  
• Checked out new music on the internet
• Coached 7 v7 soccer; Played 6 v 6 soccer
• 3 take out meals; 2 cooked meals

Nothing very exciting, just the essentials. Soccer, food and music. Token chore. Turns out I am a predictable guy...

It Starts Here - Extended Version

If this does not make you want to leave work early, strap on your boots and go kick around, I don't know what will.

This video is the start of U.S. Soccer's new video campaign in support of the National Team's preparation for qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Matt Pond PA - Last Light

Here's a cool Matt Pond PA song that I dug up over the weekend.

Previous MP PA posts:
1. So Much Trouble
2. Misc mention...
3. Monthly Mix - Dream of Fleets

Jozy's Day

Most of Jozy's day consists of what you see here. As I work all day, she sleeps on her favorite chair. Tough life.

2008 Democratic Primary in 8 Minutes

I stopped paying attention to the primary a while back - thus, this was a good recap. Not only is it to the point, it's really funny. Check it out.

Joy and Determination

I've been watching a lot of Euro 2008 games this past month and Turkey has been outstanding. They have come from behind 3 times to win games and have done so with a roster that gets smaller and smaller. At this point, they have reached the semi-finals and play Germany this Wednesday. The emotion in the picture above just seems to sum up the passion they are bringing to the field every game.

The whole tournament has been a joy to watch. Yesterday's game which saw Russia capture a 3-1 upset over the Netherlands in overtime was phenomenal. Today is Italy vs. Spain.


(photos found on The Big Picture)

Always Have a Plan

I was watching the local news tonight and we were under a severe thunderstorm warning tonight. They decided to give their viewers some thunderstorm safety tips in case you happened to be caught outside. I enjoyed two of them in particular.

1. Always have a plan.
2. Seek shelter, cars are OK as long as they are not convertibles.

Chris Jordan - Picturing Excess

What better way to start the weekend then to feature a video that leads you to question our culture and question how individual choices that we make can potentially lead to a greater impact? I was really struck by this speaker and how he has chosen to highlight and draw awareness to the enormous influx of data and statistics that we have access to and how it can make us grow numb to the human aspect under the numbers. This is worth 11 minutes of your time.

Cloud Cult - Everybody Here is a Cloud

I'm really liking this song by Cloud Cult.

...and everybody here is cloud
and everybody here will evaporate
cause you came up from the ground
from a million little pieces
have you found where your place is?

From wikipedia:

• In 1997, lead singer Craig Minowa created Earthology Records to release his band's recordings. This nonprofit label uses only recycled materials and donates all profits to environmental charities. The band also tours in a biodiesel van.However, this environmentalism rarely shows up in the band's lyrics.
• One of the most distinctive features of Cloud Cult shows is the live painting by Connie Minowa and Scott West. Over the course of a show they each complete a painting that is auctioned off at the end.

Chris Walla - Sing Again

Chris Walla is the guitarist and producer of Death Cab for Cutie. If you like DCFB, you'll probably like this tune. Check it out.

Identity Crisis

Every once in a while (ok...daily), Jozy goes a little crazy and runs around our living room, jumps over pillows and hurdles chairs. She gets some energy out this way. The other day, she added a new stunt to her repertoire. In the middle of running around, she stopped, straddled a pillow and starting humping it.

I am left with two possible conclusions:

1. Jozy is a man trapped in a female dog's body.
2. She is imitating behavior she learned from her trips to the kennel and does not realize that this is a distinct behavior trait of male dogs.

Either way - it is damn funny.

My Favorite Ladies

Ballack's Goal vs. Austria

If you missed the goal by Ballack yesterday on his free kick against Austria, check it out (37 seconds into this video). This was a rocket. You get multiple angles including a view that just shows Ballack's face throughout the whole shot. Pretty cool.

Germany beat Austria 1-0 and advances in the European Championship and will play Portugal in the quarterfinals on the 19th. That should be a great game.

Socializing Jozy

Jozy is slowly shattering the myth that she doesn't get along with other dogs. The report from the kennel when we picked her up after regional weekend is that she gets along with the big dogs and plays with them during playtime. In fact, she "likes to show them who's boss."

Later that day, our friend Mark stopped by with his dog Maggie. Jozy and Maggie proceeded to have a blast in our backyard. This was in contrast to their last meeting, where the decision was that the next time they mey, more space was required. Looks like that was the trick!

Here are a couple more photos:

Jozy gets a little confused and thinks she is a boy. Perhaps she is imitating what the dogs in the kennel do to her...

After she mates, she usually eats her lover.

Regional Update

For those of you who were following the tournament: the team that knocked us out went on to win the whole thing. So we were eliminated by one of the top 4 teams in the country. There is some measure of consolation in that fact, but not too much. I think we could have beaten them.

Happy Birthday!

Today was my wife's birthday. I couldn't manage to get her top choice of birthday presents: a regional title, so we settled for a nice dinner last night and tonight, a game a badminton, a foot rub or two, an 8-0 US MNT victory over Barbados and a play date with Jozy and Maggie. Since it was a travel day as well, it may not have been the most relaxing birthday for her but I think it was a relative success.

Happy Birthday to the one person in the world who makes all of my days be filled with purpose. You are truly amazing.

Regional Update

We lost our last game 3-1 to NC. The guys played a great game and the score fails to tell the story. We went down 1-0 and then came back to tie it 1-1. With 10 minutes left we threw almost everything up top and gave up a goal. The final goal against us was a questionable PK decision in the dying minutes. The NC team we played was probably the best we came up against and it wouldn't surprise me if they make the finals and win it.

In hindsight, it appears we may have had the toughest bracket draw in the tournament. There was 1 bracket of 4 teams and 2 brackets of 3 teams. Our bracket games (a bracket of 3) all ended in 0-0 ties. Not a single team in our bracket actually beat each other. So the one cross bracket game that each of our competition had was the game that decided who advanced. We ended up playing the NC team who outscored all of their opponents 10 - 2 in their games. That is a tough draw to advance with.

All in all, the guys played awesome and had an amazing season. Roll Thunder!

"No Rain" Dance

There was a pop up thunderstorm that hit during our second game today. 10 minutes into the second half, we had to head to our cars. After a 30 minute break, the tournament officials felt it was safe enough to continue. After another 2 minutes, the refs decided it was not safe. In true form, my players rebelled. They wanted to stay on the field and play. So what do they do? They invited the NC team to a pick up game. All of a sudden, the competitive atmosphere of the
game was put aside and a group of 17 year old kids were out on the field (in the middle of a lightning storm) laughing and messing around.

Needless to say, we didn't play a pick up game but I think that group of kids just might have. The refs were eventually convinced to start the game again. Prior to starting though, my team initiated what they called the "no rain" dance.

The "no rain" dance consisted of gathering in a huddle, lifting one of our player above their heads, spinning him in the air and chanting. They then dropped him, and ran around him in circles performing some sort of lion king ritual. This all occurred within the center circle of field 13 at the Region 3 President's Cup. Teams from every state and their fans were bewildered. I just stood there laughing. It was awesome to see my team respond to such a high pressure situation with humor and a unique team chemistry that can probably never be replicated. They are a special group of guys. Advance or not. I am proud of them.

I have no pictures from the spontaneous "no rain" dance. But here is a candid/blurry shot of a few of the guys that just sums up how much fun these guys have.

Regional Update

Argh! We tied again! 0-0 against NC. Great news is that we can still win our bracket. If we win tomorrow and FL beats NC, we make the semifinals. That is definitely possible - especially since the team we play tomorrow has no need to win because they have already advanced to the semis. It will be a long nervous night in the hotel. Our destiny is not 100% in our hands.

Regional Update

We tied Florida this morning, 0-0. Extremely physical game and we did not play our best. The good news is that we did not play our best, but managed to tie the highest ranked team in the tournament. Next game is at 5 pm eastern vs North Carolina.

Ready to Play

The guys are ready. The water bottles we received as tournament gifts have been filled and are stocked in our hotel fridge. Time for bed. We play FL at 11 AM eastern. They are usually one of the best teams in Region III so we go into this game as big underdogs. Wish us luck!

Regional Update: Opening Ceremonies

The team went to the tournament opening ceremonies today. Carlee took these shots as we lined up with all of the other teams at the tournament.

We are in orange at the front of this picture.


Here is a good shot of the crowd - gives you a sense of the number of people at the festivities this evening.

After opening ceremonies we had our ritual team dinner: Chili's.

The Road to Columbus (2)

The Road to Columbus paused in Gulfport, MS last night so we didn't make it very far. You do not want to hear this when you check in to a hotel:

"We'll give you a discount since you might hear the sub-woofer until about 4 am. It's ladies night though so your wife gets in for free."

The Road to Columbus

We're driving to Columbus, Ga tonight for Regionals. We check in the team tomorrow and have opening ceremonies. Friday we play a team from FL and a team from NC. Saturday we play another team from NC and the semifinals. Sunday we play the finals and after we win that we start training for the national semi's. Wish us luck! I'll post updates throughout the tournament.

I thought a good parting post would be to show you my two favorite t-shirts designed by my team after winning the state title for the third year in a row.

First, our "Three Pete" shirt. The kid's nicknames are across the bottom of the shirt and there are more across the back. The back of the shirt also has a small Thundercat logo at the base of the neck. The three Pete's on the front make this shirt pretty much kick ass.


The other shirt was a total surprise. Hand crafted by one of the kid's parents to fit Jozy!


I'm not big on dressing up dogs but I'll make an exception for this one.

Law 11

For those of you wondering if Ruud van Nistelrooy's opening goal in the Netherlands' 3-0 win over Italy was actually legal, UEFA has weighed in on the proceedings. I already knew it was completely legitimate because we had the luxury of having a national candidate referee over at our house watching the game. He made the correct call as well. Nice job by the ref crew in this game.

Blind Melon - No Rain

Been listening to a little bit of this lately. Good tune by an old favorite, Blind Melon.

How do you pronounce Tommy Smyth's last name?

After watching a few days of Euro 2008, the current question of the day is:

How do you pronounce Tommy Smyth's name?

I have been using a long "I" ever since I started listening to him. But then ESPN2 covers Euro 2008 and I heard them say "Smith" a few times today as I watched Italy get thrashed by the Netherlands. What do you think? How do you pronounce Tommy's last name?

Here is what Wikipedia thinks.

By the way, Italy got trounced 3-0. This makes me a happy camper.

What's that smell?

Jozy has had a bath 2 days in a row now. She is getting into something outside that smells rancid. I spent 15-20 minutes today attempting to find out what it is. So far my best bet is some sort of wild mushroom that may be growing in our yard. Not sure though. Maybe she is hunting truffles. If I am right, we'll just have to hope they are not poisonous.

Tooth

Jozy lost a tooth today. I have to assume it is an occupational hazard.

US MNT vs Argentina

Yesterday, we held a big team BBQ to kick off our trip to Columbus, GA for the Regional Finals this week. The guys and their families all came over to watch the game, eat some burgers and socialize away from the practice field and game environment. It was a great time. Top that off with a strong performance by the US team against the number 1 team in the world (Argentina) and it was a great Sunday.

I didn't get to watch too much of the game because I was spending time with the families and with the grill but that's what Tivo is for. My impressions of the game as of today are:

1. What an atmosphere. It looked like the stadium was rocking. Over 70,000 people. Awesome.
   
2. Tim Howard - Huge game. Incredible saves. To state the obvious and pedestrian feedback after watching that game: I was extremely impressed.
3. Why couldn't Gooch's header have been just a little bit lower?
4. We're lucky the ref didn't call that PK.
5. Can you complain about our performance too much? Argentina's speed of play looked really dangerous but we still held them to a tie. That is pretty impressive no matter how you slice it.

Action Hero

Jozy has decided to stake her claim for her right to be an action hero. Today, as we were driving in our neighborhood, we passed the golden retriever (Jake) who lives down the road from us. As we were passing, at about 20 miles an hour, Jozy hurdled out the back window of the car! Upon hitting the ground she executed a perfect forward roll and was up on all fours ready for action.

She is ok - has a couple scrapes here and there and is probably ready for the next car ride already! We might keep the windows rolled up a little higher next time though.

US MNT vs Spain

Anyone watch the US vs Spain game? The 1-0 loss was another non-event in my mind. Except of course for two points:

1. Freddy Adu looks good. Period. He needs to start more and play more. He was one of the only interesting highlights for that 90 minutes of my day.
2. Eddie Johnson is horrible. Why do we continue to put him on the field. Give up on him now and start grooming someone else.

US vs Argentina this upcoming Sunday! Please please please God, let us win one.

Spinto Band - Oh Mandy

Grabbed this tune off of one of my long time favorite music blogs: My Old Kentucky Blog. Check it out. Happy Wednesday.

Exterminator

I discovered one of Jozy's secret activities when we let her out at night. She likes to hunt large 2-3 inch flying cockroaches. They are like small birds. I didn't get a picture of it...but you might be ok with not seeing what her prey actually looks like.

Usain Bolt Sets 100m World Record

100m in 9.72 seconds. If your last name is Bolt, I figure you're destined for greatness. Check out how fast this man is. This is only the 5th time he has run this race professionally. Apparently he is a 200m specialist...

Unlucky Goalie

Found this while cruising through really long lists of unread posts on Google Reader this morning. Made me laugh out loud. Wait until the third angle from right inside the goal. I guess it should come as no surprise that this guys team was facing relegation as well. Wow.

Update: Can't seem to get this video to plug-in, so here is a link. Well worth the click through.