Being somewhat of a stats/history geek I figured that since no 4 number 1 teams have ever met in the final four I'd better pick at least one lower seed. My lower seed was Texas. They messed it up. Thanks Longhorns.
I did discover though that I may be in love with Connor Atchley . Sure I've never met him but that doesn't really matter. I feel bad about changing college basketball boyfriend's so soon.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Goal of the week
I was having a conversation the other day with a co-worker about new year's resolutions. I've never believed in New Year's resolutions, mostly because I know that I will never stick to it. But I can probably stick with something for a week so here it goes.
After writing this it got me to thinking about how much money I spend that I really don't need to. So my goal for this week (as of Friday night) is to opt for a tall drink at Starbucks rather than my usual Grande. Perhaps this will lead to only 4 days a week of coffee. But for right now this is my compromise.
After writing this it got me to thinking about how much money I spend that I really don't need to. So my goal for this week (as of Friday night) is to opt for a tall drink at Starbucks rather than my usual Grande. Perhaps this will lead to only 4 days a week of coffee. But for right now this is my compromise.
The greed of my generation.
Excuse me while I get up on my soap box for a minute. If you don't want to be offended then perhaps you'd best not read this particular entry but I think it needs to be said.
First of all I'd like to say that while it's going to seem hypocritical of me to say the things I'm about to say but more than anything it's actually an observation about the things that I need to change in my life. Alright here we go.
Yesterday I was talking to one of my co-workers who is considering going back to school. She has both financial and time constraints to completing here education. She tells me she can't afford it right now but she wants to be done her education by the time she's 30. This prompted me to think about the way all of the people of my generation are living.
I once read an article that said the the average Canadian is spending $1.25 for every $1.00 that they earn. When I first read this I was in University and quickly justified this by saying I'm in debt right now I'm spending $10,000 a year and earning about $7,000 a year at best, every other student in the country is in the same situation. Now that I'm out in the "real world" I realize that this is not just a problem for students.
Having watched my brother struggle with debt, I swore up and down that I would not live paycheck to paycheck once I got a job. However now that my roommate had moved out and I'm paying all of my expenses myself I realize that perhaps I'm living beyond my means. It's not that I don't have enough money to pay for my basic needs I can easily pay rent and grocery bills but it's all of the other little things.
My first thought was "where is all my money going? What can I live without?" For example do I really need high speed Internet at home? Yes. Do I need to have the largest range of channel packages on TV? Also yes. Do I need to buy Starbucks coffee every morning? probably not.
While this is not an extensive list of all of the money that I spend in a month. It made me think about all of the things that I have and all of the things that I want that are strictly for my own enjoyment or convenience. But when did it become nearly impossible to live on a salary of $40,000? Hell I lived on a fraction of that while I was in school and some of that went to pay tuition.
Another thing I've noticed at my company is the length of time that people stay here. Recently some of my co-workers have celebrated 30 or more years at my company. While it's listed as one of the top companies in the province very few people of my generation intend to stay here for any length of time. So what's the difference. Some would call it ambition, the desire to move up to a better job even if it means changing companies. The problem with this is that the ambition is less the desire to move to a better job and more to move to a better paying job. No longer is it desirable to be the "company man".
I really do have more to say on this topic, things like the idea that it is the "right" of young people to attain higher levels of eduction. But I think I've been up here long enough. Time to get down from the soap box before I fall off.
First of all I'd like to say that while it's going to seem hypocritical of me to say the things I'm about to say but more than anything it's actually an observation about the things that I need to change in my life. Alright here we go.
Yesterday I was talking to one of my co-workers who is considering going back to school. She has both financial and time constraints to completing here education. She tells me she can't afford it right now but she wants to be done her education by the time she's 30. This prompted me to think about the way all of the people of my generation are living.
I once read an article that said the the average Canadian is spending $1.25 for every $1.00 that they earn. When I first read this I was in University and quickly justified this by saying I'm in debt right now I'm spending $10,000 a year and earning about $7,000 a year at best, every other student in the country is in the same situation. Now that I'm out in the "real world" I realize that this is not just a problem for students.
Having watched my brother struggle with debt, I swore up and down that I would not live paycheck to paycheck once I got a job. However now that my roommate had moved out and I'm paying all of my expenses myself I realize that perhaps I'm living beyond my means. It's not that I don't have enough money to pay for my basic needs I can easily pay rent and grocery bills but it's all of the other little things.
My first thought was "where is all my money going? What can I live without?" For example do I really need high speed Internet at home? Yes. Do I need to have the largest range of channel packages on TV? Also yes. Do I need to buy Starbucks coffee every morning? probably not.
While this is not an extensive list of all of the money that I spend in a month. It made me think about all of the things that I have and all of the things that I want that are strictly for my own enjoyment or convenience. But when did it become nearly impossible to live on a salary of $40,000? Hell I lived on a fraction of that while I was in school and some of that went to pay tuition.
Another thing I've noticed at my company is the length of time that people stay here. Recently some of my co-workers have celebrated 30 or more years at my company. While it's listed as one of the top companies in the province very few people of my generation intend to stay here for any length of time. So what's the difference. Some would call it ambition, the desire to move up to a better job even if it means changing companies. The problem with this is that the ambition is less the desire to move to a better job and more to move to a better paying job. No longer is it desirable to be the "company man".
I really do have more to say on this topic, things like the idea that it is the "right" of young people to attain higher levels of eduction. But I think I've been up here long enough. Time to get down from the soap box before I fall off.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Dream Diary Episode 1
I’ve often wondered where dreams come from. One of my friends once hypothesised that dreams were really a collection of things that you subconsciously thought about throughout the day but didn’t have time to actually deal with.
Occasionally I’ll have dreams about people that I haven’t seen in years or places that I’ve never been but more often they are about people and environments which I deal with everyday. So I’m really not surprised when I dream about co-workers.
I am surprised (and worried) that I’m having recurring dreams about the same co-worker. Typically this dream occurs sometime between 5:30 and 6:15. So it’s likely (and hopefully) just that I’m thinking about having to go to work in the next hour or so and that works itself into my dream.
If dreams were really a reflection of what I’m thinking about during the day then my dreams should probably be focused on Tyler Hansbrough. However I have avoided that one so far.
Edit: I've now posted more entries in the month of March than I did all of 2007.
Occasionally I’ll have dreams about people that I haven’t seen in years or places that I’ve never been but more often they are about people and environments which I deal with everyday. So I’m really not surprised when I dream about co-workers.
I am surprised (and worried) that I’m having recurring dreams about the same co-worker. Typically this dream occurs sometime between 5:30 and 6:15. So it’s likely (and hopefully) just that I’m thinking about having to go to work in the next hour or so and that works itself into my dream.
If dreams were really a reflection of what I’m thinking about during the day then my dreams should probably be focused on Tyler Hansbrough. However I have avoided that one so far.
Edit: I've now posted more entries in the month of March than I did all of 2007.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
NCAA Pool - Sweet 16
I could do what I did last year and just update each matchup for the sweet 16 but this might be more fun.
Here are my picks for the 16 hottest remaining players in no particular order.
Oh look Tyler's crying!
Here are my picks for the 16 hottest remaining players in no particular order.
- DJ Augustin -Texas
- Chase Buford - Kansas
- Joe Alexander - West Virgina
- Dante Jackson - Xavier
- Conor Teahan - Kansas
- Cam Thoroughman - West Virgina
- Josh Shipp - UCLA
- Wayne Chism - Tennessee
- Micheal Flowers - Wisconsin
- Brennan Bechard - Kansas
- Taylor Rochestie - Washington State
- Will Scott - Louisville
- Ryan Childress - Tennessee
- Connor Atchley - Texas
- William Archambault - Davidson
- Tyler Hansbrough - UNC
You can find the pictures for all of these guys elsewhere on this blog. Except Tyler Hansbrough. You know I was reading Sports Illustrated in the Chiropractor's office on Monday and it described the Hansbrough brothers as college basketball's version of the Manning brothers. You can see how this is only going to turn out badly for me.
Oh look Tyler's crying!
Monday, March 24, 2008
huh?
You all know that I'm a huge sports fan (except baseball because it's crap). But when I came home today I found Championship Bridge on TV.
Seriously cards are not a sport. Period. End of story. Don't even try to convince me that poker is a sport. Game yes, sport no.
Seriously cards are not a sport. Period. End of story. Don't even try to convince me that poker is a sport. Game yes, sport no.
Easter Weekend Review
So one would think that I would enjoy having a long weekend. One would be wrong.
As much as I dislike being at work I find that my weekends are almost too long. Sure I don't want to go to work on Monday but for me the alternative is probably sitting at home either on my computer or on my couch watching TV. Don't get me wrong these are both wonderful past times and I have taken over the world numerous times on Civ 4, but you really can't do either for more than 2 days and even that seems too long. My point is really that I didn't quite know what to do with myself for 3 whole days. So I made my way out to the farm after the near heart attack during the final minutes of the Duke/Belmont game.
First of all I should NOT be allowed to drive at night without my glasses. I can't see very well at long distances and the lights of on coming cars are not pleasant on the eyes. Nothing exciting happened Thursday night it was about 10:30 by the time I got home and I wanted nothing more than to sleep.
Friday I pretty much sat around and watched Basketball. Good times. Yes I probably should have been working on my accounting course but really it's a long weekend so I'll excuse myself. That night the whole family went to visit my grandma. You know she's lonely when she offers to make you a pizza just so that you'll stay a little longer. Poor grandma.
Saturday morning my brother and I helped Dad cut wood. Not a big deal except that it was more physical labour than I've done... well ever really. My arms are still killing me today and I think I messed up my shoulder pretty bad because my whole right arm is a dull ache right now. This was all followed by more watching of college basketball followed by taking my Mom out for dinner for her birthday. Oh I also helped name cattle for registration purposes.
Sunday I watched a little bit of basketball and then played computer games until it was time to head to OB2's for Easter Dinner. It wasn't your typical Easter dinner. We had BBQ'd ribs and chicken, followed by some more college basketball and OB2 and I complaining about all the stupid bracket picks we made. Freaking Drake. The real excitement came when the little brother and I went back to my apartment so that he could grab some stuff he had left there. He drove and then forgot to give me back my car keys. So now my keys are at the farm but my car is in the parking lot behind my building. It's gonna be an interesting week.
As much as I dislike being at work I find that my weekends are almost too long. Sure I don't want to go to work on Monday but for me the alternative is probably sitting at home either on my computer or on my couch watching TV. Don't get me wrong these are both wonderful past times and I have taken over the world numerous times on Civ 4, but you really can't do either for more than 2 days and even that seems too long. My point is really that I didn't quite know what to do with myself for 3 whole days. So I made my way out to the farm after the near heart attack during the final minutes of the Duke/Belmont game.
First of all I should NOT be allowed to drive at night without my glasses. I can't see very well at long distances and the lights of on coming cars are not pleasant on the eyes. Nothing exciting happened Thursday night it was about 10:30 by the time I got home and I wanted nothing more than to sleep.
Friday I pretty much sat around and watched Basketball. Good times. Yes I probably should have been working on my accounting course but really it's a long weekend so I'll excuse myself. That night the whole family went to visit my grandma. You know she's lonely when she offers to make you a pizza just so that you'll stay a little longer. Poor grandma.
Saturday morning my brother and I helped Dad cut wood. Not a big deal except that it was more physical labour than I've done... well ever really. My arms are still killing me today and I think I messed up my shoulder pretty bad because my whole right arm is a dull ache right now. This was all followed by more watching of college basketball followed by taking my Mom out for dinner for her birthday. Oh I also helped name cattle for registration purposes.
Sunday I watched a little bit of basketball and then played computer games until it was time to head to OB2's for Easter Dinner. It wasn't your typical Easter dinner. We had BBQ'd ribs and chicken, followed by some more college basketball and OB2 and I complaining about all the stupid bracket picks we made. Freaking Drake. The real excitement came when the little brother and I went back to my apartment so that he could grab some stuff he had left there. He drove and then forgot to give me back my car keys. So now my keys are at the farm but my car is in the parking lot behind my building. It's gonna be an interesting week.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Hotness Bracket results
I just wanted to let you all know (because I know you were wondering) that my hotness bracket final 4 based on actual seedings but ignoring the results of the actual games to this point are:
- Tennessee
- Kansas
- Texas
- Xavier
Which actually isn't all that far off my actual bracket picks of UNC, Kansas, Texas, UCLA. Also both my actual bracket and my hotness bracket are kind of screwed thanks to Drake.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
NCAA Pool Round 1: Drake vs. Western Kentucky
Only Drake is featured here because the hottest guy on the Western Kentucky roster was the coach and I'm not giving points for the coach this year.
Score 5-0 Drake
NCAA Pool Round 1: Mississippi State vs Oregon.
I'd like to add a little disclaimer here the only reason I added Maarty Leunen is because he's an econ major and I'm a bit of an econ geek, even though I did really poorly in Econ of Sport and Leisure at University.
Final Score 5-3 Oregon
NCAA Pool Round 1: Clemson vs Villanova
It's been a long week at work even though technically it's been a short week. Also it's a long weekend and I'm kind of sick of this so I'm not putting much effort in. Again this always seems like a good idea at the time and then about 15 teams in I get sick of it. Next time I'm doing the Sweet 16 on. Remind me!
Final Score: 3-0 Clemson
Final Score: 3-0 Clemson
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
NCAA Pool Round 1: Connecticut vs San Diego
Like last year I will be breaking down all of the NCAA basketball matchups (or trying too. There are alot of matchups) and assigning a hotness score to each team to determine the winner. I had big plans for it this year but it didn't pan out. Anyway enjoy this year's edition:
Just so you know everytime I think of UConn I think of the show Hang Time, 'cause that's where the female player was going to go to college. Now I want to try to find old episodes of that show so that I can relive my youth.
Final Score 2-2
Just so you know everytime I think of UConn I think of the show Hang Time, 'cause that's where the female player was going to go to college. Now I want to try to find old episodes of that show so that I can relive my youth.
Final Score 2-2
NCAA Pool Round 1: Marquette vs Kentucky
You know this always seems like a good idea at the time but if you look at some of the matchups I've done so far and how I've scored the teams you'll notice that it changes from day to day. Additionally it changes a bit depending on my biases. That said everyone has a chance to score the match-ups themselves in the comments.
Final Score 7-2 Marquette
Final Score 7-2 Marquette
NCAA Pool; Round 1: Cornell vs Stanford
So I'm in love with this game. I'm one of those geeky academic types (no kidding, eh?) who gets really snobby about what school they attend. Sure it wasn't a big deal in undergraduate but my grad school plans are all based on name recognition. Anyway on with the chlorophyll:
Connor Mullen is sporting a pair of fangs there but that's okay.
Final Score 3-2 Cornell.
NCAA Pool Round 1: USC vs Kansas State
Like last year I will be breaking down all of the NCAA basketball matchups (or trying too. There are alot of matchups) and assigning a hotness score to each team to determine the winner. I had big plans for it this year but it didn't pan out. Anyway enjoy this year's edition:
Final Score 4-2 Kansas State
NCAA Pool Round 1: UNLV vs Kent State
Like last year I will be breaking down all of the NCAA basketball matchups (or trying too. There are alot of matchups) and assigning a hotness score to each team to determine the winner. I had big plans for it this year but it didn't pan out. Anyway enjoy this year's edition:
Final Score 4-1 UNLV
NCAA Pool Round 1: Louisville vs Boise State
Like last year I will be breaking down all of the NCAA basketball matchups (or trying too. There are alot of matchups) and assigning a hotness score to each team to determine the winner. I had big plans for it this year but it didn't pan out. Anyway enjoy this year's edition:
Before I give my final score I'd just like to say that if the seniors were anywhere near as attractive at my school as Tyler Tiedeman I would have stayed an extra year.
Final Score 3-2 Boise State
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