Feels Like Home

This past weekend we had a major building outage where we cut power to it and go in and do some major work. We found something interesting in the electrical switchgear that reminded me of home.

There was a possum that had made a nest in the high voltage electrical gear. Later, he accidently brushed up against two hot wires. He was instantly cooked. Unfortunately we didn't find him until much later, and to top it off, the voltage was so high that he was well overdone.

Oh well, almost supper.

It's Over

The flag has been lowered and the flame extinguished and now we can get back to watching mindless tv. There was Bode and Apolo, Sasha and Sabrina, Chad and Shani, and Drew and Cheryl.

Which just goes to show...if your going to make it in this world you've got to be recognizable by one name. Mick, Madonnna, Ali, Elvis, Jordan, Hakeem, Wilt, Kareem, JohnWayne. So start working on your one name moniker or you'll never make the Olympic team.

Round Ball Fever

I know everybody is excited about the BasketVols. But here, I don't get to see them. In fact, I don't get to see anybody interesting. So it's hard for me to get worked up over them or talk about them intelligently.

But I do understand that a coach can make a difference. These are the same players the other guy had and look at the difference. I don't remember hearing of a Bernard King addition either. So when somebody tells you it's all about the players show them this team.

That Pearl dude is sure paying for himself.

Thursday's Sheeps

Sow Cows and All That

Tonight's the biggest night of the Olympics. The skating divas take center-stage. It's the women's figure skating free skate final. Can Sasha Cohen finally pull together the solid finish she so desperatley needs? Will Irini Slutskya nail her difficult triple sow cow? Or will perky Sara Hughes sneak in and steal the show?

I can't wait to see the triple toe loop, double toe loop, triple over and under with a half double twist combination jump. Wow. It should be a night to remember.

Wore Out

I'm kinda tired of watching the Olympics so I took last night off. I know the girl skaters did good and Chad and Shani didn't win. I'm tired of their fueding too. The Austrians are way deep involved in a doping scandal, which is very tiring. And those cross country skiers look, well, tired.

C'mon, USA. Somebody wake us out of this slump.

Olympic Moments

Overall, I'd say we aren't doing the greatest this year. I'd give us a solid "B" so far. We did do whiz bang yesterday at ice dancing though. The semifinals featured ice dancers falling all over themselves, but in the final the US pair of Agostino/Babel grabbed the silver with gusto. Costumes were the highlight. I saw "Pirates of the Carribean", "Deadwood", "Anthony and Cleopatra", "Florence Nightingale", "Snow Dogs" and "Star Tek" themed costumes.
Tonight features some big stuff.

The womens compulsory program for ice skating. The "Divas" competition as Dick Button calls it. Also, the big showdown in the mens 1500 meter speed skating event. Shani versus Chad.

But alas, the most Olympic achievement this weekend belongs to the 62 year old great-grandmother from Redding California who just gave birth to her 12th child. Her oldest son is 40.
And sadly, Curt Gowdy passed away this weekend. I can't watch Elk hunting in Wyoming on tv without hearing him whisper "we're about 200 yards downwind".

Olympics Tanka

Olympics started,
Chad won a speed skating gold!
Flying tomato.
I know what skeleton is,
I never want to do it.

Sheeps

Oke Rij

I was talking business with a feller from Oak Ridge yesterday. At the end of the conversation I aske dif he was from Tennessee and he said yes. He asked me if I follow Tennessee basketball. I replied "yes, when I can".

He then proceeded to praise Bruce Pearl for about 45 minutes straight without catching his breath. You would've thought Bruce had caught saddam Hussein and Osama with his bare hands. His enthusiasm for UT basketball was overwhelming.

I suppose that Pearl guy is doing a decent job....

Snow???

Let me see if I get this right...you get 41 inches of snow on Mt LeConte so you cancel school in Cedar Bluff? You guys are panicking way too early. Back when I was a kid it actually had to snow before school was cancelled. And if they didn't make the call in time, you just didn't go anyway cause you knew they would cancel it eventually when nobody showed up.

We are getting way too conservative as a nation. Part of the fun is overcoming the obstacles to becoming a winner. How's that for a jump from local snow to national malaise???

Blizzards

I understand Knoxville was besieged with one or two inches of snow yesterday. I think DC had some too, I'm not sure.

Sadly, I don't believe we are going to get a freeze this year. Last week there was a threat of it dipping below freezing one night for about an hour. But alas, it didn't quite make it. So we are going to go a whole winter without the temperature hitting 32. A whole winter.

The amazing part is the newspeople were warning us to bring our pets in, wrap our pipes, and cover our plants because of the (their words) "bitter" cold coming our way. Since when is near freezing "bitter" cold??? When's the last time that your pipes busted when the thermometer hit 40 degrees?

Flying tomater

The red headed snowboarder won, as did the Texan who ice skates. And now that Kwan has bowed out, another Texan steps up as first alternate in womens ice skating.

She has an odd name though. She is Katy Taylor. She lives in Katy Texas, and goes to Taylor high school. Just like you say "Knoxville Carter" we say "Katy Taylor". So Katy Taylor hails from Katy Taylor. Weird.

Olympics Is Near

My prediction for the Friday opening ceremonies....

Skaters in flowing outfits looking all artistic. You scratching your head saying "what are they supposed to be?" Your wife chiming in with "They represent world kindness and the need for cooperation among humanity." You replying "When does downhill start?"

I'm out tomorrow so no more posts (most likely) til Monday. Go USA.

My Unique Qualifications as a reporter

People have asked me numerous times...what makes me qualified to report on these Winter Olympics? Let me tell you, I have a unique and longstanding tie with the Games hometown of Turin (or Torino) Italy.

When I was in high school, I bought a ten speed bike that I road all the way through college and still ride today. In fact, I recently pumped up the tires and put significant miles on it during a recent athletics challenge. What is the brand name of this bike? It is a "Gios Torino".

Interesting you say, but it get's more freaky. In high school I ached to have my own car. My dad finally took me to look at a used car which had the definite potential to be my first car ever. Freedom, popularity all rode with convincing him this was the perfect fit for me. His interest of course, was much more along the "Does it run good and is it cheap" line of thinking. When we arrived at the sellers house I peered out into the driveway. There sat this orange behemoth of a vehicle. Not regular orange, not burnt orange, not even bright Tennessee orange. This was orange of seven shades brighter than traffic cone orange. And what kind of vehicle was to become my first ever car? What make and brand was to forever be my "first vehicle"?

A screaming orange Ford Gran Torino.

Freaky, huh? Don't you think these early character imprinters with Torino Italy make me uniquely qualified????

Ice Dancing and Skeleton, Yin and Yang

The two oddest events at the winter olympics? No, not curling. It's strange yet understandable. Ice dancing is one. I can appreciate it's a fun thing to do if your into that sort of thing....but an olympic event?

My favorite odd event has to be skeleton. That's right...skeleton. What a cool name for a sport. Do they fly pirate flags at the event? Do participants have to pledge to the pirate code? Instead of the national anthem when you win, do they play Alice in Chains "Dem Bones" as you stand on the podium with your gold medal? Is it a gold medal or gold dubloon? I want to do skeleton, whatever it is.

Forget The Super Bowl

Something much more entertaining is happening this week. The opening of the Winter Olympics! Ice Dancing, skeleton, half-pipe to just name a few of my favorite events. The games are smaller than the summer version, the stars are smaller, and everything is just a little more fun.

Look for complete coverage here. Especially for the 4 man bobsled team led by a Houstonian. Don't ask me how.

Super Bowl Tanka

Super Bowl Sunday,
Seattle versus Pittsburgh,
What a great matchup.
Will it be a bus or bird?
Seahawks thirty-one to 7.

Look for Big Ben to blowup and litter the field with interceptions. It was a good run Steelers. Shame it ends this way.

Groundhogs Day Sheeps

Anonymous Reply

"Anonymous" recently submitted this entry "Nickname for Pearl should be Mosses - he is leading this program out of the wilderness. " and then asked when his prize would be forthcoming.

First, he (or she) oughta make a few more Sunday School classes cause I think the fella's name was "Moses" not "Mosses". Perhaps he was thinking of Randy Moss?

And I'm proud to report that his prize was mailed yesterday. It was addressed to "Anonymous, USA". I'm sorry I didn't know a zip code so it may take a few extra days to arrive.

Today is Groundhog Days' Eve. Have you got your presents bought?