It's the best day of the year

I am a bad Packer fan.  I'm disappointed but relieved when the Packers lose in the playoffs.  That means I can watch the Super Bowl without being nervous.  No matter who wins it will be a good day. You see, for the past 15 years the best day of the year is Super Bowl Sunday.

The Super Bowl is not as much fun overall when the Packers are in it.  It's a great day if they're in,  but horrible if they lose.  I hated John Elway and the Broncos for Years after the Super Bowl XXXII Loss.

Now I heart Aaron Rodgers.  He's great.  And Clay and the crew.  But the pack was just too inconsistent this year to go all the way.  They didn't deserve to be there. (That doesn't mean I'm routing for the 49ers. I have my pride after all).

I was sort of hoping for another Peyton Manning win.  I'm not sure if I should wish for an Harbargh bowl or Falcons and the Texans.  AT this point I'm cheering for the better story or better game.

As much as I'm sad the Packers season is over,  I love the NFL and can't wait until Super Bowl Sunday.

Transition, Goo Goo Dolls and Belly Rubs

2011 brought many new things into my life.

I've had a handsome boy move in with me.   I'm the one bringing home the bacon, filling the food dish and cleaning the house.  But I love my morning cuddles, hugs when I get home from work and snuggles at bed time.  (I <3 my cat Hercules)

I also closed a chapter in my life, after six years with one job, I moved on to another.  I don't know how some people can move or change jobs every year.  It's stressful and familiarity makes me feel more comfortable and confident.  I love my new job though and look forward to many, many years there.

I've fulfilled a couple of life goals, even though I don't have the "official" list any more. (It's on the HD of my old computer, too lazy to take it to computer people to retrieve data.)  Those goals include seeing the Goo Goo Dolls live in concert (be still my heart) and making/decorating my own gingerbread house.  So fun!

2011 by me:

3 words: transition, music, belly rubs

Favorites:

TV Show: Big Bang Theory

Song: Unravel, Unwind, The Spring Standards

Movie: I may have only seen one movie in the theatres ... Water for Elephants.  the best pairing of the book and screen.

Book:  I read it twice ... The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Football player: Aaron Rodgers ... that is ... b....who?  :-p

Wine: Angelique, Sparkling Wine from Stone's Throw Winery in Door County - almond flavored!

Gift Given:  Scentsy pot for Erika, I love her reaction to the gift!

Web site: Google Reader.  I have 1000 + posts to read and I know I'll never get to them all, but I can never say I'm bored!

~ * ~ * ~

Overrated:  Planting cacti, there's a reason they're picky, they shouldn't be touched.  Ouch.

Disappointed:  Missing fantasy football .... just could prepare without normal preseason coverage and job transition

I need to work on: sticking to a daily routine   -- This was my goal for 2011, I failed miserably!

Overrated Part 2: NFL Lockout, nearly broke my heart

~  * ~ * ~

Grateful for: good friends and supportive coworkers

Travel: Door County, Baraboo and Madison  AND Dubuque, IA to visit my friend Breanna & her hubby and going to my first Goo Goo Doll Concert!!!

I miss:  not second guessing everything

Somewhat obsessed:  twitter, google reader & you tube subscriptions

Here's to 2012 and all the inspiration, opportunity and possibilities it brings!

A Collection of 2010

I read somewhere that based on numerology 27 was supposed to be a fantastic year for me.  And in the most part, it has been, but I think I've been getting in my own way which caused the bad things that I've experienced.

So, I'm looking forward to bringing in 2011 and enjoying the rest of 27.  Only good things from here!

A collection of 2010:

3 words: unlucky, music, connections

Favorites:


TV Show: Wipeout

Song: The Rescue's cover of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream

Movie: The remake of Nightmare on Elm Street (even though I like the original Freddy better!)  Opening weekend on my birthday!

Football player: The Beast ~ Clay Matthews

Wine: Angelique, Sparkling Wine from Stone's Throw Winery in Door County - almond flavored!

Gift Given:  Sarah's Miche :-)

New tradition: Watching Curious George after work :-p

Web site: http://www.questcrew.com/

~ * ~ * ~


Overrated:  Sarah Palin and Brett Favre --- hello! Go away~

Disappointed:  So You Think You Can Dance? Season 7 -- no reason to watch after this & Alex left b/c of injury.

I need to work on: sticking to a daily routine

Overrated Part 2: the words Vacay and Staycation!~

~  * ~ * ~

Grateful for: new friends that feel like old friends


Travel: Two trips to Door County ... and full wine racks upon return! :-)

I miss:  old friends who used to feel like home

Somewhat obsessed:  twitter, google reader & you tube subscriptions

Here's to 2011 and all the inspiration, opportunity and possibilities it brings!

Totally ready for some football

Football is back --- Wahhooooo!!

Without it, fall would be so much less enjoyable, and Sunday would be a sad day.  I'm nervous about the potential lock out next season, and see valid positions on both sides of the table.

We got off to a great start with the Saints win over the Vikings -- but the slow, defensive battle is an indicator of the rest of Week 1 games. There weren't a lot of high flying exciting games -- at least not on my tv screen.

Farewell and good riddance to the Aughts

Here's the fourth installment of the year in review.  This time, we're saying goodbye to a decade ... my second full.  I'm not sad to see the "aughts" go.  There were generally more good than bad, but the bad moments were so trying and life-altering.


May the 2010 decade bring much happiness, prosperity, merriment and lots of posts!

Three Words to Describe 2009: Loss, Historic, Ripples

TV Show: Two way tie: Grey's Anatomy & Doctor Who

New TV Show: Gotta give this to a radio/cable tv show moment ... Danettes Dodge Ball Bets.  I would get DirectTV just for that (luckily, they are posted on YouTube)

Song: Not Meant to Be - Theory of a Deadman

Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Movie: The biggest disappointment I had when I finally got to see  ... Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.  Crappy Ending to a series that started out great!

Most Notable NFL Moment: The sign from Sunday: 75% percent of the world is covered by water, the rest is covered by Charles Woodson  (the person who thought that up is BRILLIANT)

I'll turn the channel when: any thing with Sarah Palin on! (Please, Please GO AWAY!)

Gift Given: Kelly's toys ... too, too fun

Best new tradition/habit: Ten Dozen Minutes with Jick & Skully internet-radio show. 

KoL:

Wine: 9 ~ Tomato Wine from my mom's coworker, maybe not the best as compared to "professional wines" but most interesting

Best Blog: Dooce.com

It's great with that jacket, it's like you're one big sexy fish

I've been staying up late this week, and sleeping in too.  Who needs time to get ready for work in the morning?  Apparently, not me, maybe.

I'm not sure why I'm not going to sleep at a normal time.  In the whole of September I probably stayed awake past 9:30 all of five times.  Hey wait ... maybe this means that cold is finally gone.  Except for the inexpictible stuffy nose and sneezing I was doing this morning.  But to make myself feel better, I'll pretend that was allergies.

Yesterday I watched a two hour interview with Seth MacFarlane online.   Yes, I'm a dork.  But oh yes, it was fantastic.  (too lazy to find the link for it, stayed up too late to remember what it was called).  It was some made for the Internet show hosted by a comedian.  Seth had three beverages and then asked for a salad, and then they brought him one. (it was more funny last night then what it sounds now)  Seth was on Flash Forward (fucking awesome, hopefully he's on more episodes and will maybe have a storyline.  One show at a time, MacFarlane is taking over the television)

Tonight I indulged in some Blink 182 & Mark Hoppus you tube clips.  Nice.  The Hartford concert tribute after DJ AM died brought a lump to my throat. I think the lack of sleep effects the numbers side of my brain first because all night long I've been typing 192 and then I'm all wtf? That's not right.

I'm trying to stay awake for South Park, I'm not sure if I'm going to make it.  Hmmm The Late Show with Craig Ferguson is starting to get a little raunchy. 

He says that when you want to be crazy and yell at people, back in the day they used green ink. I didn't realize that.

Last week I got Children of the Corn from the library and watched it with mom.  It has Linda Hamilton in it, and I am contractually obligated to watch anything with Linda Hamilton with mom.  It really wasn't scary by any means, but most horror films from the 80's weren't really that scary.  The male lead was dumb as a box of rocks like most characters in horror films.  It got to the point I was routing for them to kill him.  He kept trying to talk to the brainwashed, crazy, murderous children.  Don't be fooled by this ridiculous dogma he would sneer at them as they closed in around him weilding their reapers and macheties. 

Towards the end was really the best.  He yelled at one of the kids that didn't show homicidal tendencies to get out of the cornfield, but then asked him three separate times for help. He was making a molatov cocktail to set the cornfield on fire and three it to an area that he hadn't sprayed with alcohol. The kid ran and got it, gave it back to him and said "Now throw it right this time!"  Nice.

And THEN at the very end, he got attacked again (because he's that much of an idiot), and Linda saves the day.  He starts wondering what they should do cuz this girl in unconscious in the front seat.  She says, if you want to become a doctor in Seattle, we got to get the hell out of this town.  Yeah, duh---but if I were Linda I'd leave him behind to convince the crazy girl that she shouldn't follow the word of he who walks behind the rows.  For an atheist, he has too many conservative righteousness.

I just learned from TMZ that the Saints have a bye this week.  Damn, them plus the Packers, I have a lot of players I need to replace.  I hope the Colts and Steelers aren't on a Bye or I'm pretty screwed.

Ohhhh, it's the hurricane katrina episode of South Park.  Gotta stay awake for that.

The Where the Wild Things Trailer makes me smile because the song is the closing of the last segment on Fridays (Arcade Fire) for the Dan Patrick Show.  I also love when Seton plays Blink 182 songs.

CBS plays instrumentals from AvA during their pregame show.  It really puts a damper on my Sunday.  Not enough that I would ever consider watching the FOX show, but still yuck.

And with that .... Ladies and Gentlemen .... the stylings of South Park, and then to sleep.

Tingling all over

Kick off weekend was awesome.  So awesome, in fact, I think I was a little over-stimulated.

What a better way to start the season than a game that went into overtime?

Let me count the ways ...

Ah, the start of the NFL Season, only topped by the thrill of the Super Bowl. Kickoff weekend brings all the things I love about football flooding back ...

1. Feats of brain over brawn (Denver WR-Brandon Stokley running parallel so that time ran off the clock or the Brian Westbrook play last year where he took a knee on the one yard line instead of scoring so the clock would run out and the other team wouldn't have a chance to score).
2. The chatter and cadence at the line of scrimmage before the snap.
3. The beauty of a pass rocketing straight down the field to a waiting receiver.
4. Sacking the other team's quarterback.
5. A defender appearing out of seemingly no where to swoop in, intercept the ball and run it in for a touchdown.
6. The winded D-lineman when he's the one running down the field trying to make a touchdown after a fumble recovery or tipped ball.
7. Whisper of a perfect completion.
8. Thwack of a batted away ball.
9. Comrade of the players and coaches.
10. Grace of the athletes.
11. Toeing in touchdowns.
12. One handed catches.
13. One handed over the shoulder catch between two defenders.
14. A pass that's floated into a receiver and caught without breaking stride.
15. Anticipation of the big game.
16. Celebrations.
17. Pre-game choreography.
18. The synchronicity of no-huddle offense.
19. Redirection at the line of scrimmage.
20. New commercials (practically better than famed super bowl ads).
21. Holding your breath at the big play, waiting to see the conclusion.
22. Ricocheted passes that are completions and touchdowns.
23. Perfectly executed blocks.
24. Making defenders miss.
25. Shrugging out of a sack.
26. Stiff-arming a player two times bigger.
27. Nail biting final moments that pay off.
28. Making something out of nothing.
29. When reviews go your team's way.
30.  Complicated formulas to get into the playoffs.
31. Third down defensive stands.
32.  Stretching for the first down.
33.  Big yards after the catch plays.
34. Booming kick off or punts.
35. Field goals that dink off the upright.
36. Eleven hours of football (with pregame/post game).
37. The really good color commentators & pregame shows.
38. Surprises as scores come up on the ticker.
39. Bad weather games.
40. High scoring games.
41. Broken plays that gain yards.
42. Fake plays.
43. Blocked field goals.
44. Triple digit fantasy points.
45. Ending the game with an interception.

Say it isn't so

Oh Big Ben, I hope it's not true.

Ben Roethilsberger vows to fight 'reckless' lawsuit

In the on deck circle

I'm copping out.  I'm posting about what I'm not posting.  But, on the upswing I hope to grow some ambition (like I'm growing my nails, that stuff from Avon really does work!) and actually start crack-a-lacking back to the writing.

Brewing in my noggin' currently:
- The NFL Draft (this weekend) I haven't heard much about anything but Stafford but I'll throw my two cents in any way, we can always spill into general NFL -- like KC trading Tony Gonzalas (so, who actually plays there now?) or Kyle Orton and Jay Cutler switching teams ... OR Michael Vick getting out of jail and possibily being reinstated to the league.
- Grey's Anatomy and why Izzy should die.  No, I don't dislike Izzy.  In fact I loved the Izzy & Denny story line (yes, he's dead--but she saw him because she has cancer so don't you feel bad about bitching about the story line now?) I don't respect Katherine Heigel and would rather she leave the show, but I do like Izzy.
- Turning 26 shortly and the cliche that was my quarter life crisis at 25
- Blogs and sites I love, as proof of how I'm entirely addicted the Internet.

And now, it's nearly 10.  And I'm tired.  I'm going to listen to a little music, go to sleep and hope for better things tomorrow.

Good night and happy painting.

Best of the Year

My third annual year in review ... totally irrelevant, completely useless and purely Stacey.

My favorites ...

Three Words to Describe 2008: Change, Obama, Giants

TV Show: Three way tie: Grey's Anatomy, Doctor Who, Sarah Connor Chronicles

New TV Show:  (new to me) Dexter!

Song: You Found Me ~ The Fray

Book: The Lazarus Vendetta ~ Robert Ludlum

Movie (in Theater): I don’t think I went to any movies this year … how very sad

Movie (Rental): Capote

Biggest NFL Surprise: Miami Dolphins

Biggest NFL Disappointment: the New Orleans Saints

I'll turn the channel when: any thing with The Former or Sarah Palin on!

Celeb I'm sick of: The Former

Gift Given: Adele CD for Sarah

Gift Received: Get Fuzzy Calendar

Best new tradition/habit: Thursdays with Bob Ross

Commercial:  that Mercedes-Benz commercial with the guy with the sexy voice

Traveling: down that rocky road of adulthood

KoL: 10 million meat and the Boring Crimbo (not my favorite, but notable)

Wine: 9 ~ Moscato Asti, sparkling wine to toast the Giant’s Victory

Best Blog: Dooce.com

Other Notables: Finally! We have friendly cats … Sassy, George, Benny, Ava and Dexter (Ava and Dexter are gone, but we’re kept busy with the other three)

Here's to 2009 and GW out of office!

Now that 2008 is out of the way ...

First, I must preface that this post has a lot of passion behind it.  It's the fanstastic part of football, that release of emotion, great highs and stunning lows.  However, I am going to do my best to separate as much emotion from this as I can. 

Unbiasness I cannot guarantee, but this is my blog.  So I can write what I want, as skewed as it may be.

Now you might suggest this would have a different tune if Brett Favre (please note, henceforth referred to as The Former) and the J-E-T-S were playoff bound.  Not at all.  My points would be the same, but I wouldn't be able to say I TOLD YOU SO!  You may have a better record, but your stats pale compared to Aaron Rodgers.

Okay, now I have all my prologue points out of the way.

The 2007 off season The Former proved me wrong about this and that.  Hey, no hard feelings.  Actually, I have no problem that The Former changed his mind.  There have been many Packer greats (that have left the team either through retirement or free agency) to go on to play or coach for other organizations.  Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman, Ahman Green, Ryan Longwell, Craig Hendrich, Reggie White, Travis Jervey ... oh yeah, and Vince Lombardi ... just to name a few. 

Okay, so TJ isn't apples to apples.  But Reggie is a Legend.  Robert and Free were the best wide receivers of the Super Bowl teams.  And Ryan and Craig are in the top tier of players at their position.

So, as my mom said, "Why didn't you disown TJ like you are [The Former]?"

It's not because he un-retired.  It's how he did it.

First we must remember the six year debate.  Every December, could this be his last game?  Every off season, playing with the media.  And in recent years, waiting until just before the draft to make the come-back decision.

Finally the other cleat dropped.  March 4, 2008.  Then his tearful goodbye.  If nothing else, I've just expended way too much emotion on him, that I just have no more warm and fuzzies for him left in me.

Shortly after the 2008 draft, rumors start floating around that he wanted to come back.  Here's when it starts turning sour.  He denies some and is ambiguous with others.  Then he announces he never wanted to retire and the Packers forced him out.

Packers tell him in no uncertain terms that he cannot just come back and be the starting quarterback.  It's now July and the team has moved on.  August: Family Night comes and he returns to Green Bay with his wife and watches the scrimmage from a sky box.

And he's all like "What? I'm [The Former] I'll come and be your QB, because, do you know who I am?  Awe shucks, I'm a good ole' country boy wearing wrangers."  (okay...the unbiased field lapsed there, all systems restored)


This is the epitome of the true void of class he showed during the situation.  Instead of keeping it in-house, he made a spectacle.  The team paid him obscene amounts of money and love during his career.  And he showed the organization, players and fans no respect.

He went to the playground and started slinging mud.

I get that he still has that passion and abitlity to play.  Either don't retire or work with the Packers for a trade.  If they play hardball take it to the Players Association or the Commish himself.  Don't whine to the media you childish asshole.

That's right, I said it.

I always revered The Former for his child-like passion for the game.  But off the field matters are business.  This is not a family--which is what we all forgot.

I have lost respect for him as a person and professional.  I have a hard time respecting people who preach and live by one set of standards but then abandon these "values" and "character" when the chips are down.  It reveals a very different person... like the situations with Desmond Howard, Mike Holmgren and Dorsey Levens.  All disowned in my eyes.  But with time the disdain has decreased and I know it'll be the same with The Former.

I never would have admited it while he was here, but the distance allowed me to see what everyone was saying: The Former held the Packers hostage.  That is, until Ted Thompson had the balls to say you're done.  We've moved on.  To a younger, shinier, hotter model.

And boy did that piss The Former off.

I wish I could attribute this thought.  It was either Dan Patrick or Mike Turico.  When the Packers said (hell) no, we don't want you back, The Former came back to prove the Packers needed him more than he needed the Packers.  Well you may have a better record, but we're both watching Wild Card Weekend at Home.  (and may I point out the new shiny model's stats again?)

I've always acknowledged The Former's faults (and I love pointing them out more now Mr. Leads the League in Interceptions).  I accepted them because it was a part of the package: the anguish, the excitement.  What I was going to miss the most was that special spark on the field.  But hot damn, the kid has it too!  Packer fans we're in good hands.

To The Former: Good luck and thank you.  But go away.

To all you so-called-Packer fans buying jerseys and the god-damned television stations being the "official" station of an AFC TEAM in the fucking NFC NORTH ....

I respect you even less than I do The Former.

Sunday...football...Dan Patrick...Keith Olberman....Seth MacFarlane....perfection

Today was an incredibly productive Sunday.  Quite possibly the most productive in the history of time ... at least my recent history.

The Christmas Episode of American Dad is my FAVORITE!  And it's only about 48 percent because Seth MacFarlane is the voice of God.  Seriously.  Perfect.

Conspiracy Untheories

1. I respect Romo less for dating the blond bimbo.
2. I am so sick of doing dishes.
3. Life is so overwhelming.
4. I'm in a music rut.
5. I didn't do it I swear--unless I was supposed too ... then I did.
6. I haven't gone to the movies in forever.
7. I have a monkey named George who thinks he's a kitty, he also plays like a dog.
8. I also have a kitty who gets that sinister look of his namesake, Dexter.  He likes to untie my shoes.
9. The Skins are owning the Cowboys in every department so far except the uni's.  They look like they're wearing ugly red and orange couch upholstery.
10. What do you get for the person who has everything?
11. I want the new Goo Goo Doll CD!
12. Is drinkability even a word?
13. Dear G.W.,  Ha, ha!
14. Holy craptastic--he had six plates on his arm.
15. F'ing Patriots, don't win when I root for them.
16. I see things that aren't there ... like words.  Los Angeles ... where the heck did my brain pull it from?

The O-Line Lost the Vikes Game

For the love of Pete, can the offensive line of the Green Bay Packers get any more penalties?  (channeling Chandler there, by the way)

Sadly, and slightly teriffingly, the answer is yes.  They mentioned several times during today's Viking-Packer game that the Packers are leading the league in penalties.  Late in the third quarter, that totaled 65 yards.

And it's not just the penalities, they're not protecting Rodgers.  The two ends are getting old--and yes that means you Tauscher.  There's a reason the past two years hasn't had a running game and that there were two safeties in ONE quarter.  They aren't holding their blocks, following through or making the black in the first place.

Yes, Rodgers is probably holding the ball too long ... it's his ninth? game. That quick release will come in time.  For self preservation alone.  But the man should be able to do three step drop, make two reads and release.  He didn't even have enough time scramble.  And the man can scramble.
I'm not sure why or how there's so many yards on the Packers run defense.  I always thought they were solid up the middle and run only got away from them when they were overly-centric about bull-rushing the quarterback.

Did anyone noticed the Packers axed Kabeer Gbaja Biamila?  Nothing was on any of the pregame shows, or in the Packer's e-updates.  Now, I'm not saying it was a bad move.  He wasn't producing, but he was the heart and soul of the Packers defense (before Aaron Kampman) -- not Nick Barnett as some are trying to convince us.  Barnett hasn't done anything the past year either.

Is the season lost?  No, but they need to shore up the play on both lines.  They also need to stop the penalties.  I understand agressive play.  I understand the ref seeing something that wasn't there. 65+ yards is not acceptible. And if the touchdown wouldn't have been called back due to a false start there would be one more W on the postive side. 

Not perfect, but darn good

New Simpsons (I missed half because of Sunday Football Night in America)

The glory of KO and DP reunited on Sunday-F'N-America

Anticipation of a NEW FAMILY GUY!!!

One happy Stacey on her favorite day of the week.

On and on

I'm feeling all out of sorts.  So I need to go to bed.  I'll do that soon, but I also need to write here first.

I need to fall into a pattern, rhythm, habit ... something.

That's what I'm missing.  Because even though I come farther every day, with boxes put away, internet up and running (Yes!) and painting started ... I'm still not settled.

Every once in awhile I step outside of myself and wonder when I'm going to wake up.  It's still not real. 

And I think the main part of that is I don't have that comfort of familiarity around me.  Yeah sure I come home, eat, dishes, either work on the house, work or lazy around.  That's nothing like the tradition of Football Sunday or any other of the smaller traditions (habits) we tend to fall into.

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out

Everyone mourns the loss of summer. But it seems as though the intensity of the loss grows greater each year. And that need to relish in the pain isn’t working for me.


I love the long days and warmth of the sun against my skin. The flowers are breath taking, rain showers are magical and clear driving conditions are fantastic. I’d love to keep all these things longer too.

But we can’t.
I guess the general longing … that evolves into clinging to a feeling or situation that never really existed … is driving me crazy.

My soul is screaming for the masses to get over it. Close your eyes and leap. Don’t search for greener grass when you could be appreciating what you have.

But stop lamenting over memories, summer days or three-time MVP’s. The times that are upon us could refresh and revitalize you, if you give it a chance.

The Neverending Story

Will it ever end? No I’m not talking about the movie series with the funny looking flying creature thing and Jonathan Brandis escaping his teenaged angst into a fantasy world. Two words: typed with one hand on home row: Brett Favre.


I know. Ohmigod, kill me, kill me now. *Cue Music: Will he stay or will he go?*

Can we all just get along and play football? I knew this transition was going to be tenuous. And in my gut I didn’t think he was going to retire this year. But I don’t think I ever saw this mess coming.

And right now, as long as he doesn’t play for a team in the division, I really don’t care what he does. In five years time, we all will look back on this and probably shake our heads—if we even think of this whole mess at all. Who would have thought he’d pull a Michael Jordan? At least Jordan didn’t cause this much controversy (as far as I know).

Please stay retired Brett

I still haven't written my Brett Favre Reflections.  And I'm not sure if I will, because I don't know if I can produce anything that hasn't been said or done before.

Plus, how do you express what he meant to the game, an era of quarterbacks and my complete exposure to the NFL?  He defined greatness, humble persona and sportsmanship--on and off the field.

And that's rare.

With that said; however, he needs to stay retired.

He also needs to keep his itches to himself--they make creams for that you know.

Because I can't take it.  Hearing "Brett Favre wants to come back and play" makes me sick to my stomach.

He had his chance to stay ... before he announced his retirement.  And after March 4, 2008, there's no going back.  If he thought that he might be mentally ready by, oh say, JULY he should have not announced he was going to retire.  Because now the ship has sailed--and he was the one who untied it from the dock and pushed off.  It's now Aaron Rodger's team. 

Yeah, it would be great to have Brett back for one more year, five more years, forever. Because it's Brett and he always gives the team the chance to win.  That's the nostalgia talking.  I don't know it any other way.

I'm excited to see what Aaron is made of.  I want to move forward, because the team won't win looking back.

Favre said it himself, he only knows one way to play: by giving 100 percent.  Nothing less.  At this point, he wouldn't be able to give 100 percent.  He could still play; no doubt, but there would be more mistakes, more last minute salvations, more tarnish on the legend.  I'd rather have the last pass intercepted, eliminating the Packers from the Super Bowl than have it happen in a losing season or losing the Super Bowl.  It's fitting for Favre, what other way would his epic end?

I've said it before, in this win-now league Favre wouldn't (or shouldn't) go to another team.  If he was mentally exhausted in a system he's played in for 16 years (given some changes that naturally occur in an evolving offense), he'd have to put in extra work to learn the new offense of the new team.  Yes, he could show up and play on Sundays, but I think it would be mediocre at best.  We saw how average he was with young receivers, new receivers every week and poor receivers. Not to mention there's no telling the quality of the offensive line.

Favre said it well when he retired, his success was never solely because of him.  It takes every part of the puzzle fitting to create a good to great offense and quarterback.  Great quarterbacks make something out of nothing.  But it must be pretty frustrating to know that you're great and the best you can get out of the people around you is average.  Not the way a legend goes out of the game.

Here's to Brett, and his 16 years with the Green Bay Packers.  Thanks for the memories and how you played the game.  Here's hoping you retire with the honor you played.

And here's to Aaron Rodgers and the next era of the Green Bay Packers.  I don't know where you'll take us, but I'm excited for the journey.