News of the Ajax
Starting with football, The Headbangers' fantasy football season is officially over. The two incarnations that made the playoffs this season won a total of one game in the post-season, so there will be no championship trophies hoisted this year in Ajax-land.
However, in the for-money league where I missed the playoffs by a whisker, a prize was given for the ultimate winner of the Consolation Ladder -- which was me! I pocket $160.00 as a result, which would be greater consolation if the entry fee hadn't been $200.00. Still, it beats collecting nothing at all...and I also still have an outside chance to win another $200.00 in the pick 'em contest, if I can make up 4 games' worth of ground in the next two weeks.
Also in football news, I'm kind of scratching my head at the despondency that's engulfed my fellow Bears fans between Thursday (when we beat the Saints) and Sunday (when the Vikings beat the Cardinals). Yes, the Vikings still hold the tie-breaker, but to be honest the Cards were the easiest game they had left. I have trouble imagining them victorious against either the Giants or the Falcons, and I give Da Bears a decent chance to beat the Pack on Monday night and the Texans next week. So we're still in essentially the same position we were in Thursday night -- needing to win out to make the playoffs. Why all the boo-hoo?
Anyway, we've already won more games than we did last season, and 10-6 (or even 9-7) is nothing to sneeze at considering how low expectations were back in August. Going back to the draft pool knowing we have a Matt Forte in our pocket and that the core of the defense is now under contract (even given this year's backsliding) is reason enough for feeling good.
The weather has sucked. Bitter cold and snow and ice and winter doesn't even officially begin until Sunday. My commute in the snow on Tuesday night took three-and-a-half hours. And more snow is expected today and tomorrow. Time to start saving up for a trip to Austin -- I have a feeling I'm going to need one sooner rather than later.
I recently bought a string of 300 Christmas lights and put them up along the ceiling in the living room, more out of a desire for some low-intensity lighting than any particular festive feeling. To complete the package, I also purchased an outlet timer via Amazon, which has been handy for me not coming home to a pitch-black house, but also not leaving a light on all day long. The only fly in the ointment: Oreo decided I had in fact bought her a new toy, and has busied herself by removing the little pegs that operate the switches several times, as well as twisting the timer around to random hours, when she's not just pulling the plug out of the wall altogether. If this keeps up, I'll have to buy an extension cord to keep the darned thing out of her reach. Pestiferous kitty!
A new Papa John's has opened! I was quite distressed when the one near me closed, because although there are plenty of pizza places in Chicagoland, PJ's was perfectly situated between the ultra-cheap, low-quality options (Pizza Hut, Domino's, Little Caesar's) and the high-quality, high-dollar options (Rosati's) that will deliver in my area. Plus, you can order online! Now, if we could only get another Brown's Chicken around here...
Last, but certainly not least, I got myself a date for Saturday night. Yay me!
--- Ajax.
However, in the for-money league where I missed the playoffs by a whisker, a prize was given for the ultimate winner of the Consolation Ladder -- which was me! I pocket $160.00 as a result, which would be greater consolation if the entry fee hadn't been $200.00. Still, it beats collecting nothing at all...and I also still have an outside chance to win another $200.00 in the pick 'em contest, if I can make up 4 games' worth of ground in the next two weeks.
Also in football news, I'm kind of scratching my head at the despondency that's engulfed my fellow Bears fans between Thursday (when we beat the Saints) and Sunday (when the Vikings beat the Cardinals). Yes, the Vikings still hold the tie-breaker, but to be honest the Cards were the easiest game they had left. I have trouble imagining them victorious against either the Giants or the Falcons, and I give Da Bears a decent chance to beat the Pack on Monday night and the Texans next week. So we're still in essentially the same position we were in Thursday night -- needing to win out to make the playoffs. Why all the boo-hoo?
Anyway, we've already won more games than we did last season, and 10-6 (or even 9-7) is nothing to sneeze at considering how low expectations were back in August. Going back to the draft pool knowing we have a Matt Forte in our pocket and that the core of the defense is now under contract (even given this year's backsliding) is reason enough for feeling good.
The weather has sucked. Bitter cold and snow and ice and winter doesn't even officially begin until Sunday. My commute in the snow on Tuesday night took three-and-a-half hours. And more snow is expected today and tomorrow. Time to start saving up for a trip to Austin -- I have a feeling I'm going to need one sooner rather than later.
I recently bought a string of 300 Christmas lights and put them up along the ceiling in the living room, more out of a desire for some low-intensity lighting than any particular festive feeling. To complete the package, I also purchased an outlet timer via Amazon, which has been handy for me not coming home to a pitch-black house, but also not leaving a light on all day long. The only fly in the ointment: Oreo decided I had in fact bought her a new toy, and has busied herself by removing the little pegs that operate the switches several times, as well as twisting the timer around to random hours, when she's not just pulling the plug out of the wall altogether. If this keeps up, I'll have to buy an extension cord to keep the darned thing out of her reach. Pestiferous kitty!
A new Papa John's has opened! I was quite distressed when the one near me closed, because although there are plenty of pizza places in Chicagoland, PJ's was perfectly situated between the ultra-cheap, low-quality options (Pizza Hut, Domino's, Little Caesar's) and the high-quality, high-dollar options (Rosati's) that will deliver in my area. Plus, you can order online! Now, if we could only get another Brown's Chicken around here...
Last, but certainly not least, I got myself a date for Saturday night. Yay me!
--- Ajax.