Reflections on 2006

Last year I started a "favorites" list for the previous year. As we put another one behind us, I like this way to reflect and record what made an impact on me. These aren't anything serious and it's not a reflection of the years events .... news programs can do that.

2006 Bests and Favorites:

TV Show: Grey's Anatomy & Family Guy (tie)

New TV Show: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

CD: Let Love In ~ Goo Goo Dolls

Song: Without You Here ~ GGD & 155 (+44) (tie) 155 is a song from Mark Hoppus' new band (+44).

Movie (in theaters): The DaVinci Code (I didn't see many)

Rental: RENT (It changed my CD rotation--I listened to it 45 days straight and the movie makes me cry every time!)

Football player: Packers Aaron Kampman

Football player I wish I could watch more: Saints' Drew Brees

Biggest Surprise: Chad Pennington and the New York Jets

I'll turn the channel if ______ is on: a Jessica Simpson commercial, Two and 1/2 Men and any Nick Lachey song

Celebrity I'm sick of: Mel Gibson

Best Gift Given: Beauty & the Beast Soundtrack to Mom

Best Gift Received: RENT Christmas gift from Mom

Wine: 15 bottles, Favorite: Muscat Cannelli from San Francisco trip that I opened on my year anniversary at work.

Most enjoyable new tradition/habit: Reading the Sunday Comics during Monday night's supper

Commercial: Peyton Manning's MasterCard commercial where he cheers on the regular people ("Rub some dirt on it!")

Traveling: week stay at the Hilton in Chicago and dining 80 stories up.

KoL Moment: Ascending in 15 days--fastest run yet, reaching 500,000 meat & getting a ghost pickle on a stick

Happy New Year everyone! Best wishes for 2007.

Packer Post -- Installment 50

December 21, 2006: Vikings at Packers
Sorry folks, this was aired on the NFL Network, and since we don’t have any form of cable I was out of luck. It’ll be nice for the nice folks in the broadcasting world to work out a deal so the Official Packer stations could share the game with our Central Wisconsin ones so the rest of us could watch the Packers.

Here’s the AP Story…always good to get a win (and SWEEP!) over the Vikings.
http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2006/12/21/2/

* First Quarter: 3-0 ~ Packers *
* Second Quarter: 6-0 ~ Packers *
* Third Quarter: 6-7 ~ Vikings *
* Fourth Quarter: 9-7 ~ Packers *

December 17, 2006: Packers at Lions
DE-Cullen Jenkins starts instead of DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Packers start the game with a defensive battle. Jenkins and DT-Colin Cole sack QB-Jon Kitna. Lions recover a Packers fumbled snap, but CB-Al Harris intercepts a tipped pass.

TE-David Martin drops two touchdown passes and Packers settle for a 24-yard field goal. Jenkins finishes the quarter with another sack.

* First Quarter: 3-3 ~ Tie *

CB-Jamar Fletcher intercepts a Favre pass in the redzone. Packers lose a Driver catch to coach’s challenge. TE-Donald Lee gets enough yardage for the first down—15 yards purely from his second effort. Favre to Driver for another first down and Morency scores a touchdown off a 14-yard rush.

* Second Quarter: 10-3 ~ Packers *

A couple of penalties stop a Packers drive and former Packer LB-Paris Lennon intercepts another ball in the end zone.

* Third Quarter: 10-6 ~ Packers *

CB-Dre Bly intercepts Favre in Packer territory, but all the Lions can eek out of it is a K-Jason Hanson field goal. Morency gets the Packer touchdown and Lambeau Leap

Packers rack up six sacks and the win.

* Fourth Quarter: 17-9 ~ Packers *

December 10, 2006: Packers at 49ers
49ers get on the scoreboard first with a 24-yard field goal. RB-Frank Gore broke off a 73-yard run, setting it up. Gbaja-Biamila and S-Marquand Manuel miss tackles as Gore powered his way through.

The Packers offense answered on the next drive, Morency set up good yardage with a rush to the 36. Favre connected to Driver for 23 yards and threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to WR-Ruvell Martin for his first career touchdown.

Special teams come up with a good play as CB-Patrick Dendy downs the Packer punt on the two-yard line. Gore fumbles on the next play and the Packers recover.

* First Quarter: 7-3 ~ Packers *

Green gets the touchdown run.

* Second Quarter: 17-6 ~ Packers *

Collins picks off 49er QB-Alex Smith in the second half. Favre hits Driver on a 68-yard touchdown strike. In his excitement, Favre rushed downfield 68 yards, picked Driver up over his head, bench pressed him and carried him to the sidelines.

The defense gets the ball back for the Packers with a Kampman sack and Hawk interception in the end zone, but the offense is only able to get field goals out of the possessions.

* Third Quarter: 24-13 ~ Packers *

Favre throws a block (that really doesn’t do anything, but it’s the thought that counts) on a 38-yard rush by Morency.

The 49ers take a knee with one minute left in the game.

* Fourth Quarter: 30-19 ~ Packers *

NFL News (but not from today)
Denver Broncos Rookie QB-Jay Cutler was welcomed to the NFL with two fumbles and two interceptions.

Carolina Panthers QB-Jake Delhomme is out for the season with ligament damage in his right thumb, replaced by Chris Weinke.

College News: Ohio State University QB-Troy Smith received 87 percent of the No. 1 votes for the Heisman Trophy, winning by the largest margin in history.

Broken Records
San Diego Chargers RB-LaDanlian Tomlinson scores 26 rushing touchdowns, the new record for the most in a season, eclipsing Seattle Seahawks RB-Shawn Alexander’s record set last year. Tomlinson dubbed “best football player.” (Note: not running back, the man is a powerhouse: runs, catches, throws nothing but touchdowns.)

Atlanta Falcons QB-Michael Vick reached 907 rushing yards—most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback. This continues my belief that Vick is an amazing football player, not so much a complete quarterback.

Falcons K-Morten Anderson scored 2,437 points in his 24-year career—breaking K-Gary Anderson’s record.

New Orleans Saints QB-Drew Brees is on pace for a 4,000+ yard season, and MVP Buzz.

Dallas Cowboys WR-Terrell Owens spit in the face of his friend Falcons DeAngelo Hall in the Cowboy 10 point victory. The incident happened away from the play, Owens said he was frustrated by DeAngelo’s constant smack talk and apologized on the NFL Network—later recanted saying it never happened.

Commentary
The color guys during the Pcaker-49er game questioned the effect Favre’s extended tenure would have on the development of QB-Aaron Rodgers. Their general argument is the front office doesn’t have confidence in Rodgers; otherwise, they’d have put the reigns in his hands.

My opinion is learning behind Brett Favre could never be a hindrance. Look at all the successful quarterbacks to come from behind Favre or any other great quarterback—Tony Romo, a three year back up (not to mention that guy from San Francisco Steve Young) are prime examples.

This is an opportunity to makes young quarterbacks smarter, more able to win games and manage the challenging times when their team is behind. This year Favre was able to help teach the players to stick through it, finish plays and not give up during games. Now they’re learning to win. In a “Win Now” league I don’t know if they have a better chance winning Favre vs. Rodgers—but I think Favre will hang up his cleats when the day comes that he isn’t helping them win.

And put away any thoughts of Favre going to a different team. Like I said, Win Now. If he’d go put on someone else’s colors, he’d have to win. To do that he’d need to learn a new offense, new coaches and new players. There’s no guarantee there’d be “W’s” in his future.

And he knows that.

A Mix of Obligation, Stupidity and Disregard for Others

So here I am again.

As I grow older, I seem to have mixed reactions about the holidays. I love doing the gift-giving and getting together with loved ones. It's the general large gathers of family that I'm not enjoying anymore. We don't go because we can't wait to see people. We go because we have to. And I'm getting sick of that.

I was able to get out of going to Christmas Eve this year. Each year we would go to church and then to Grandma & Grandpa O's for presents and food. Well after I turned 18 the presents dried up--okay that sounds really bad and it's not like I ever got anything good anyway. Last year there wasn't enough chairs so my mom and I stood half the night. Then we got to sit between the fridge and dishwasher. No one said anything to us. Then as we were leaving grandma asked me "do you really liked your hair like that?" No how is work? Congratulations on graduating college, what are your plans for life? Nothing. For whatever reason I've always been lower class in that family.

Now since we've been gathering at the Lions Shelter, Christmas with the K's isn't that fun either. It's always freezing there, too loud, too many kids running around (literally running from one end of the building to the other) and families mostly stay within their own little pack without interacting.

Families are where you feel you belong. I don't feel like that with either group. In fact, I dread the afternoon of Christmas, and can't wait to get home. I love the Kilty side, but would rather it be in a different place or visiting each family separately.

Sorry that's so blue, but sometimes it feels good to expel the truth.

We went shopping today, and the baltent disregard people have for others is just unbelievable. My mom parked in a part of the parking lot that wasn't even a space--I'm just running in quickly, we do it all the time, she said. No freaking way.

Then, in a shopping aisle where there's hardly room for one cart about three idiots have their carts. This was the clearance Christmas stuff so there were about eight people in each aisle plus three carts and no place to move. I mean, seriously people.

I ducked and slithered and glared a few times. I did not elbow anyone and I even said excuse me a few times. But some people are a mix of stupid and inconsiderate. And should be smacked.

Magical Gift Cards of Christmas

So, this is my 101st post. It took a couple of days to finally post again, but no specific writing buds have come to me.

On a KoL note, I finally received a tiny plastic from my Spooky Advent Calendar ~ whoo! It's a Tiny Plastic Gift-Wrapping Vampire.

On a second KoL note, now that the bulk of Crimbo adventuring is done, I'm feeling a little restless. While adventures are still important, they aren't as precious as in a speed run. It's losing it's purpose. I don't know how people never ascend and still keep interest.

I'm starting to look forward to Christmas. I think I did a particulary good job shopping this year, especially for mom, and I can't wait to see if she likes everything.

I had a huge internal conflict (I know, who else thinks like that?) about buying presents for the nieces this year. I haven't seem them recently to know what they like. And the girls are getting to the age that it's harder to buy presents. When little girls are young you can buy them a huge range of toys: barbies, coloring stuff, craft stuff, dolls and all sorts of accesories to go with each of these things.

Now they're becoming teenagers and you can only buy them so much nail polish. Who knows what they listen to, read or are generally intersted in.

Mom gave me a lot of flack last year for giving them gift cards, but Lisa said that was bascially they're favorite gift last year.

I don't want to be the person in their lives giving them gifts that they'll hate or never use. I enjoyed that for 18 years. Jewerly boxes for every birthday and Christmas is enough to make a person a bit jaded.

When I got these gifts where I just had to smile, pretend and say thank you I felt hurt. Hurt that they didn't ask my mom what I wanted. Hurt that they didn't know me. Hurt that they didn't care.

So that's why I get so frustrated when I'm shopping and can't find the perfect present for my loved ones. There was a news report that Miss Manners frowns on giving gift cards. It says I don't know enough to buy something else for you, or that I don't care. This seems to be the constant debate this year. Is a gift card good enough?

I buy gift cards to say I care. I care enough to get you something that you will like and use, not something I think is good for you.

Day 10 -- Quest to Save Crimbo

YAY FOR ME ~~ IT'S MY 100th POST!!

The last time I blogged, I was on Day 4 of my Crimbo Quest. It took one or two days for Phase 3 of Crimboween to unfold. I didn't do much extra adventuring in Linnea's spooky Crimbo Town. I looked on wiki which items I wanted and went back to my other quests after Linnea made those toys for me from what I collected from her minions.

Then, on Day 6 or 7, I ventured back to Crimbo Town ... You decide that now is a good time for another nap. What exactly are you doing that makes you so sleepy, anyways?

You are awakened in the middle of the nap to see three figures standing over you. Well -- two are standing, one seems to be kind of hovering. All three are dressed in black robes, but you see that one’s an average-looking white guy, one’s some kind of golden spider duck, and the hovering one appears to be a squat crimson pig.

“Hey,” the golden spider duck says. “Don’t you think you’ve spent about enough time in the present? It’s time for you to go back to the future!”

“Back to the future?” the squat crimson pig says. “s/he hasn’t even been there yet! How can you go back?”

“Beck to the future?” the average-looking guy responds. “I don’t know if that’s where it’s at.”

“Anyway,” the average-looking guy continues, “you’ve been in Crimbo right-about-now for quite a while. Why don’t you try Crimbo in the not-too-distant future? If you want to rescue Uncle Crimbo, you’d better get on the ball.”

“Some balls are held for charity,” the golden spider duck chimes in.

“Do not taunt happy fun ball,” the pig agrees.

So what you wanna do?

The three figures fade into the dark. One says, "when you awake, you'll be able to visit THE FUTURE!" "INDUSTRY!" shouts another. "Science and technology!" "She blinded me with..."

So now I'm transported to Crimbotown Not-So-Distant Future. Uncle Crimbo had evolved, or maybe was kidnapped and assimilated into Uncle Crimborg. He assimilates machinery into really awesome (but complicated to make) toys. I adventure in the Crimborg Collective Factory and get my ass handed to me several times over by (Killer) Festive Elfbots that assemble weapons, calibrate lasers, weld and apply decals and Rudolphus of Crimborg (think Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer meets RoboCop).

After taking a break from the ass-whooping and continuing with my other adventures, I learn from wiki that the Borg minions level to my stats, so I use the "beaten up" adventuring to collect much of what I need to assimilate the awesome toys from Uncle Crimborg.

Peppermint oil drops and I mix it with fermenting powder. After all this adventuring I indulge myself with this festive holiday spirit and ...

Before you drink the peppermint schnapps, you decide to pour a little out for your homies. The schnapps forms a little puddle on the floor. You look into it and see a desert island with a hammock strung between two palm trees. Suddenly, a deeply tanned arm reaches out of the puddle and grabs the whole flask out of your hand! You hold onto the flask tightly and pull Uncle Crimbo out through the floor.

"Thanks, kid," he says. "I knew you could do it. Well, actually, I was pretty sure you couldn't. But thanks for proving me wrong. See ya on Crimbo Eve!" With that, he lays a finger inside of his nose and rises up into the sky.

About halfway up, Uncle Crimbo yells down, "Hey, you wanna play with my sleigh for a while? Wait, no, I mean literally, kid, geez. I don't need it until Crimbo Eve, so have yourself some fun, you've earned it."

You acquire an item: time sleigh

Whoo! Look at me, saving Crimbo. And that time sleigh is pretty spiffy. I went back to Crimbo Rock to make all the items, and I'm going to do the same with Linnea. Of course, I'm also still battling the borg, trying to assimulate all the toys.

I'm a little disappointed with the Advent Calendar right now, no tiny plastic drops. I've gotten 1 Spooky Eggnogs, 3 Candy Stakes, 4 Ancient Unspeakable Fruitcakes and 2 Gingerbread Horrors.

I have finished all of my Council of Loathing quests, and I'm one muscle point away from becoming Level 10. I'm 14 days into this run, and though I am a little disappointed that I couldn't use all of these awesome new items for a hardcore speed run, maybe I'll be able to get a couple more trophies since I won't be ascending until after Crimbo.

I'll let ya know if anything else unfolds, so far no trophies or outfits discernable from this Crimbo, but there are plenty of days left.

The Crimbo Town of Right About Now

Day 4 of the Quest for Crimbo ... I've gotten some ancient fruitcake and two candy stakes (in case there is ever a vampire living on my tongue) from my Advent Calendar. I figure it's just about time to go to CrimboRock and see if there's anything else cooking in the quest and ...

You decide that now is a good time for a nap. You're not sure why, but you do.
After sleeping soundly for about 10 minutes, you wake up to the sound of a flat, electronic beat playing loudly in your bedroom. You push aside your bed-curtains and look out. Since you don’t have any bed-curtains, and may or may not have a bedroom or a bed, you’re pretty sure you’re dreaming.

You see a shimmery, transparent guy standing in front of two turntables. He doesn’t appear to have a microphone, though. “Greetings, adventurer, he says. “I’m the ghost of Crimbo right-about-now. Greetings, adventurer. I’m the ghost of Crimbo right-about-now. Greetings, adventurer. I’m the ghost of Crimbo right-about-now.”

He stops and thumps himself upside the head. “Sorry, got stuck in a loop there. Anyway, I’m here to tell you that you’ve spent enough time in Crimbo Rock, and you should come to my realm now. If you ever want to save Uncle Crimbo, you’ve got to get with the now, man. Don’t you want to meet Linnea, the Scream Queen? Quit living in the past. Are you ready to go to Crimbo right-about-now? Are you ready to go to Crimbo right-about-now? Are you ready to…”

The ghost smiles and fades away, repeating "When you awake, you can visit Crimbo Right-About-Now. When you awake, you can visit Crimbo Right-About-Now. When you awake..."

When I awoke and went back to the Big Mountains, Crimbo Town of Right About Now was waiting for me. It seems as the Screem Queen has made herself at home.

Lucky for me, her minions ... mummies who tie bows and zombies that ... well I don't know what they do, but the put up a big fight! Anyways, lucky for me, her minions drop well and I was able to collect a spooky frank to make and eat some spooky franks and beans ...

You start to chow down on the franks and beans, but before you can take a bite the plate levitates into the center of the room. A deeply tanned arm reaches through a magical portal and grabs the plate. "Thanks, kid," Uncle Crimbo's voice says. "You're getting even closer."

Until tomorrow ...

Packer Post -- Installment 49

November 12, 2006: Packers at Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are first in the league against the rush, which could have proven to be a tough ride when the Packers rely on establishing the run.

QB-Brett Favre, under pressure by the blitz, steps into the pocket and delivers a bullet to WR-Donald Driver for 22 yards. RB-Ahman Green can’t convert on a third and inches and Packers take the points from K-Dave Rayner’s 28-yard field goal.

LB-Brady Poppinga sacks Vikings QB-Brad Johnson forcing a fumble; Packers recover on the Vikings 22 yard line. Green rushes for 19 yards and a first down, but drops a touchdown pass. RB-Noah Herron is caught in the backfield for a loss of two, but they give the all back to him and he moves in for a five yard touchdown run.

* First Quarter: 10-0 ~ Packers *

Johnson connects with WR-Bethel Johnson and CB-Al Harris blows coverage, letting Bethel Johnson go deep with no one on him. On the next Viking series, LB-Nick Barnett missed a tackle on a third down and Bethel Johnson makes a one-handed catch on the 30. Johnson scrambles and completes to RB-Chester Taylor, LB-AJ Hawk’s tackle causes a fumble, but WR-Billy McMullen falls on it for the touchdown.

Favre goes deep but overthrows WR-Greg Jennings. WR-Ruvell Martin drops a pass and the Packers punt. Vikings start on their own 15 because of an illegal block on the punt return. Johnson hits WR-Bethel Johnson for a big gain that’s increased by a holding call on Harris. The drive self-destructs when holding on the offense creates a 2nd and 16 and TE-Jermaine Wiggens drops a 3rd down pass.

Favre lasers the ball to WR-Greg Jennings for the first down. Green pushes the ball forward three yards and Favre hits Driver for an 82 yard touchdown pass. In Favre’s true fashion, he rushes 82 yards down the field to pick up Driver and carry him to the sidelines.

* Second Quarter: 17-14 ~ Packers *

Packers offense sputters in the third quarter, but are able to get in the red zone for a Rayner field goal that bounced in after hitting the left upright.

T-Mark Tauscher is injured and leaves the field.

Packers defense holds strong, shutting the Vikings out.

* Third Quarter: 20-14 ~ Packers *

Packers defense roughs the Vikings up. Barnett sacks Johnson and on the next Vikings drive, CB-Patrick Dendy intercepts Johnson, and Packers get three points off the turnover.

Vikings K-Ryan Longwell hits a 34-yard field goal. Vikings attempt an onside kick, but are off sides and are forced to re-kick, which then goes out of bounds.

* Fourth Quarter: 23-17 ~ Packers *

November 19, 2006: Patriots at Packers

Patriots WR-Troy Brown is playing nickel back, because of all the injuries in their secondary. Doing double duty on the field, but it doesn’t show in his play.

On their first drive the QB-Tom Brady connects to TE-Daniel Grahm for the touchdown.

Packers recover a RB-Corey Dillion fumble on the Pats 30 yard line, but Rayner misses a 44-yard field goal.

* First Quarter: 0-7 ~ Patriots *

Poppinga gives the Pats easy yardage for a first and goal on an interference call and Dillion takes it in for a yard.

Brady connects with WR-Reche Caldwell for 54 yards and another touchdown.

Packers offense makes some big plays but can’t string any together on the same drive.

Favre sacked and lands on throwing shoulder, leaves game holding his wrist.

QB-Aaron Rodgers walks on field to a chorus of cheers, but doesn’t do any better.

* Second Quarter: 0-21 Patriots *

Rodgers broke his foot in the third quarter, but continued to play through the fourth.

* Third Quarter: 0-28 ~ Patriots *

* Fourth Quarter: 0-35 ~ Patriots *

Packers defense has 31 sacks, LB-Aaron Kampman leads the league with 10. Rookie LB-AJ Hawk has 90 tackles.

November 27, 2006: Packers at Seahawks

* First Quarter: 7-3 ~ Packers *
* Second Quarter: 14-12 ~ Packers *
* Third Quarter: 21-19 ~ Packers *
* Fourth Quarter: 34-24 ~ Seahawks *

I didn't get to see the game ... check out the AP Story from Packers.com: http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2006/11/27/2/

December 3, 2006: New York Jets at Packers

Packers are the youngest team in the league and show it in the 38-10 loss to the Jets. The bright side of this lop-sided match is the Jets didn’t leave Lambeau Field with a shutout.

Packers lead the league with most points allowed in a game and showcased it with 31 points scored in the first half.

LB-Nick Barnett’s broken hand that kept him out of the Seahawk game limited him against the Jets, incurring penalties and missed tackles.

Favre turned the ball over twice in the first half, a fumble and an interception.

Jets QB-Chad Pennington spread the ball around to several receivers and got his running back active in the scoring.

Rayner missed a 40-yard field goal.

The defense isn’t being effective because of the Jets constant offensive shifting there is motion until they set before the snap causing general confusion on coverage.

Jets scored on every possession in the first half.

* First Quarter: 0-10 ~ Jets *

* Second Quarter: 0-31 ~ Jets *

Packers special teams is playing better, consistently giving them field position on the 25-35 yard line.

Green and RB-Vernand Morency put together a solid drive capped off with a 34 yard field goal. Some fans booed for the Packers settling for a field goal, but Packers needed to get points on the board to zap the shut out.

CB-Charles Woodson picked off Pennington’s deep pass, but the Packers don’t capitalize.

Corey Williams and Kampman pressure Pennington for an incomplete pass and the next down, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila hits him and CB-Patrick Dendy intercepts it.

Favre hits Driver for a touchdown. Driver does the Lambeau Leap but all Favre celebrates with is a grim smile.

In a huge momentum swing, Packers attempt an onside kick, the officials rule that Dendy touched it within ten yards, making it a re-kick situation. The replay showed 56 touching it before the Packers and McCarthy challenges it. Favre points to the big screen and takes the offense on the field while they review it.

Unfortunately, the Packers can’t keep the momentum in their favor and go three and out.

* Third Quarter: 10-31 ~ Jets *

Jets score one more time, and Packers don’t put anything together for another score.

* Fourth Quarter: 10-38 ~ Jets *

NFL NEWS

A new rule is instated: if a coach challenges an unchallengeable penalty, the team will be charged a time out or lose 15 yards (if there are no time outs remaining).

Patriot’s coach Bill Bellichek was on the field screaming at the officials about a call. The next week, the NFL issued a Memo reminding the coaches that they are to stay in the Coaching Box, which is between the 32 yard lines.

San Francisco Great Bill Walsh announced he has leukemia.

Dallas Cowboys QB-Tony Romo is from Wisconsin and went to college in Eastern Illinois.

Atlanta Falcon QB-Michael Vick gives the dirty bird to the home crowd after losing to the New Orleans Saints, and is fined $20,000.

Denver Broncos QB-Jake Plummer is benched for Jay Cutler.

New York Giants blow a three-touchdown lead with ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter. A rookie defensive end doesn’t wrap up QB-Vince Young, which would have ended the game. The next series instead of throwing the pass out of bounds, QB-Eli Mannning lobs it up for an interception, returned for a touchdown.

No holiday spirit shown on Thanksgiving Day by the personnel of Detroit Lions stadium when they announce Miami Dolphins QB-Joey Harrington to the tune of “Piano Man.” The Dolphins specifically told the Lions staff NOT to announce Harrington during on field warm-ups so he would not incur boos. Announcers around the league label this a disgraceful and classless act.

Records
Minnesota Viking’s QB-Brad Johnson is the oldest quarterback in the league, with Brett Favre coming in second.

Indianapolis Colts are first team since 1929-30 Packers to go 8-0 two seasons in a row.

New England Patriots two game slump is the first time the Patriots have lost two consecutive games in four years.

Buffalo Bills QB-JP Lossman throws for 215 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Injuries
Washington Redskins RB-Clinton Portis breaks his wrist, is out for the season.

Baltimore Ravens LB-Ray Lewis is out for three games.

Philadelphia Eagles QB-Donovan McNabb tears his right ACL—is out for the season. Jeff Garcia takes over the helm.

New Orlean Saints WR-Joe Horn out for a couple games.

Returns
- KC-Trent Green back
- Oak-Aaron Brooks back

Again, what’s up with the third Uniform color?!
- Panthers light powder blue
- Titans powder blue
- Giants Red Jerseys
- Bills have odd helmets

Crimboween Days 2 & 3

I return to the Kingdom of Loathing for my daily alottment of adventuring. I wander back to the Big Mountains to help Uncle Crimbo. I visit the simple tool making cave and gather 2 sticks, 1 stringy sinew and 1 big leaf. This was no simple task, mind you, the elves just weren't dropping what I needed. But finally, I visted Ugh Crimbo (featured at left) and made a cigar and fire(because apparently Uncle Crimbo has a smoking habit). I go back to my inventory to combine fire and unlit cigar ...

You hold up the lit cigar, take a puff, and blow a square smoke ring. It hangs in the air like a window, and through it you can see what looks like a tropical island. Suddenly, Uncle Crimbo reaches through the window and grabs the cigar! "Thanks, kid," he says. "You're on the right track."

I also was able to piece together a new familiar ... the toothed pet rock (yet another familiar I need to name).

I also put together a combat item (a Yo). I'm not going it use it, because zapping a yo-yo produced a snowy owl, so this might have a similiar result.

Of course, I'll need to get a wand before I can even think about zapping, and that is far in my future. During the course of this, I was in a battle to defeat Baron Von Ratsworth, and he kicked my ass up, down, across, sideways, diagonal and every other which way he could. So in the process of trying to defeat him, I spent way too much meat on healing items, so my purse is now quite light.

Today I gave up, conceeding that having a bartender in a box sooner is much more important that getting the monocle--though it pains me to turn off the rat faucet without it.

However, other than my meat situation, I am right on track with everything else. I have each cavern of the Bat Hole revealed and my Knob Harem Girl Outfit + perfume. I figure I'll investigate which setting of the Candian Mind Control Device I want to defeat them at, take a Tomato Reagent Potion and make quick work of both these foes.

I'm at Level 7, and finally was able to get my Hat from the Dark & Dank Cave. Reagents, Meat and Cocktail Crafting Accessories are my general focus until the next part of Crimbo unfolds.

So now I'm waiting for the next part of the Crimbo Quest to continue, and going abut my merry little way. I have realized that I won't be able to attempt a speed run this time around. I don't want to ascend mid-Crimbo season, it might mess everything up.

Happy Adventuring to All and to All a Good Sunday!

The Adventurer who Saved Crimbo

Oh no--Uncle Crimbo is missing and adventurers around the Kingdom have received their advent calendar. But wait! There's a lonely Crimbo Elf in the Mountains where Crimbo Town had been.


A quest unfolds ... huzzah! Come with me as I chronicle it for you (and partake in it myself--this has to be some world exclusive exciting thing (if you ignore wiki))

As you're walking around the Big Mountains, looking for Crimbo Town, you notice a sad, sniffling little Crimbo Elf. He spots you, and says, "Man, this is ridiculous. I never dreamed something like this could happen? It's almost Crimbo time, and where's Uncle Crimbo? He's been bewitched, I tell you, bewitched by that evil Scream Queen. It's like a bad dream, man."

"I thought she banished him to a dreamy desert island," you say.

"Oh yeah, banished, sure. Nah, she scrambled his brain with some weird spell! He's on a dream vacation. He doesn't even remember that he's Uncle Crimbo. He's going to luaus and wearing brightly-colored shorts, living the dream, and meanwhile the Scream Queen's taking over Crimbo. You've got to find the three magical things that will remind him who he is."

"You mean, like, candy canes and gingerbread?"

The elf laughs. "You don't know him very well, do you?"

"Where should I start?" you ask.

"I wouldn't dream of telling you that," the elf replies.


I return to my campsite and punch my Advent Calendar: Spooky Eggnog (the secret ingredient is Spooky Nutmeg) and a lump of chocolate. After using my chocolate, I learn that it was really a lump of chocolate covered potato--yummy.

Back at my campsite I rest on the ground (regretfully, as I am only Level 5 and working my way towards more adventures).

Nightmare 1

You wake up in the middle of the night and see a bright light outside of your bed curtains. Since you don't have any curtains (and may or may not have a bed), you're pretty sure you're dreaming. You hope it's not curtains for you, though.

You push back the curtains and the bright light solidifies into a ghost! He has the requisite long, white robe, but some decidedly non-requisite dreadlocks hanging down past his shoulders. He gazes piercingly at you and speaks.

"Hey, mon," he says. "I be Marley's Ghost. I come to tell ya that tonight ye will be visited by tree spirits."

"Tree spirits?" you ask. "You mean those fruity little things in Canadia?"

"Nah, mon," he says. "One, two, tree -- tree spirits."

"Is this about me realizing I'm a horrible person and resolving to change, and ending up all giddy as a schoolboy?" you ask. "Because, if so, I'd rather just stay horrible. It doesn't bother me, except when people move my chair."

"Nah, mon." The ghost answers. "Uncle Crimbo's gone missing, and these tree spirits are going to help yah rescue him. The first is de ghost of Crimbo Way, Way Past. The second is the ghost of Crimbo Right-about-now. You'll like him, he's a funk soul brother. The third is the Ghost of Crimbo In The Not-Too-Distant Future. You'll see the first one the next time you fall asleep."
"Seriously," you say, "I don't really want to bother with any ghosts, man. I mean, I don't even have my proton pack."

"Expect the first one the next time you fall asleep," the ghost repeats, and starts to fade away, singing some song about martial bison.

Nightmare 2

You wake up to the sound of someone banging a bone against a rock. Well, you don't know that's what the sound is until you get up and look, but that's what it is.

You see a shimmery, transparent caveman (who may or may not have just saved a lot of money on his car insurance), dressed in furs and squatting on your floor, pounding said rock with said leg-bone.

"Me Ugh. Gwee tonga nala tonga macha pooka." he says, gesturing and grunting at you.

"You're Ugh, the ghost of Crimbo Way, Way Past, and you want me to go to the Big Mountains, where Crimbotown was last year, and I'll be magically transported to CrimboRock, which is Crimbotown thousands of years ago?"

"Ugh. Gwee zug fech haraka ool."

"And you say that once I'm there, I can fight monsters, make toys, and find part of the magic spell for rescuing Uncle Crimbo?"

"Ugh," the caveman says, nodding his assent.

Wow, I wish I could speak Caveman.

Now I trek back to the Mountains to behold Crimbo Town of yore, as I get closer I realize that it looks like a Christmas Tree, hmmm, fancy that.

I make quick visits to the Toy-Making Cave and the Eating Cave and spend about 5 adventures in the Simple Tool-Making Cave.

Even though Uncle Crimbo is lost, I must still remember the other inhabitants of Loathing, there are rats over running the Typical Tavern (and delaying my bartender in a box), the Boss Bat is making a rukus in the Bat Hole, the Goblin King is terrorizing Cob Knob and there's an unspeakable foe in the Dark & Dank Sinister Cave.

So for now I'm going to eat and drink my fill and return tomorrow on a muscle day to help Uncle Crimbo and save Crimboween.