"Waited so long...
Make that seven tickets to Paradise...
A bit of family background / context for this week's post: For the past several years, the Corrigan boys (ND Class of '71, '73, '74 and '79 which by the way, in 2019 tuition & board money would be a cool $1M investment but who's counting, certainly not Kay Corrigan who forked out, collectively, ~ $70k for all that education - but more on her later)... try to identify a home football game to get together.
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| Motion to have Mike stricken from the will. Seconded? |
With 3/4 of the sons living on the two coasts, we don't always pull off getting everyone together (missed you this year, Kev!) but we give it our best shot.
Ostensibly a family reunion, in fact, it's more an annual weekend to clarify, nay re-establish, the family food chain which Jerrence, being the youngest, is the equivalent of a paramecium.
Or road kill, if one aspires to a more evolved analogy.
Sons and daughters have traditionally also been invited, under the philosophy that watching one's father get repeatedly verbally eviscerated represents, apparently, a teachable moment.
This time was different, however. Mom was coming too. She's made it in the past but at 94, her interest in making an entire day of it has definitely begun to wane. Had to make this trip count.
Enter
Word of the Week
Used in a sentence paragraph:
First, there was the Thursday night Twin Anchors bacchanal:
- full slab
- zesty sauce
- onion rings
- creamed spinach
Blissful food coma, take me now.
Then there was Friday night in Scotchlandia - High West whiskey starters, mom's family favorite chicken casserole with a nice Bordeaux... while older brother Mike, literary noir fanboy, peppers Jerrence with "Is Bryan Gruley gonna be there tomorrow? I hope I hope I hope. You know he has a new book coming out..."Oh good Lord.
And of course, the Saturday tailgate where even though it's only 11:30am (CDT), Jerrence's mom proffers that she might 'go for a splash of white wine.' Okay then, let's get this party started.
And appearance by Judge John Lohn & Sons. This day just keeps getting more surreal.
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| "Who is this Gruley fellow that Mike keeps prattling on about?" |
And finally, game time and the magnificence of The 1842 Club.
By the 2nd half, with the game safely in hand, Dr. Tím Tím - the family headcase when it comes to ND football viewing - is uncharacteristically relaxed, perhaps heavily sedated, having been enjoying both the club's bourbon as well as the game's 50 pt. differential.
By the 3rd visit to his seat from the accommodating waitress ("Bulleit rocks again, sir?), he is offering to help her son get into Penn.
"Does he like movies? I don't wish to brag but I have some sway..."
"He's only 8 yrs. old." No time like the present.
Kay stands at rapt attention during the playing of the Alma Mater.
On the way home, the brothers listen to USC choke against BYU.
A dream-like weekend indeed.
Quote of The Day
"It was a beautiful and peaceful experience."
Nicolas Cage
On doing 'shrooms with his cat, Lewis
On doing 'shrooms with his cat, Lewis
The same could be said for watching the last three quarters of ND's game last week.
Re Nic's hallucinogenic experience, word has it he thought Lewis was his brother. But of course. Sure, why not? I mean, tripping or not, who amongst us hasn't seen a family member in one of their pets?
Ironically, we considered naming one of our cats... the mildly deranged one... Dr. Tím Tím. But then we put the tequila away.
Game Observations
It's all I can do
To keep waiting for you...
...waiting for you, indeed. I'm looking at you, ND running game. Some other fast thoughts:
1. Two wins by a combined 70 points. So why don't I feel more optimistic about this team. (As friend and confidant Jay Flaherty opined, "the least impressive 50 point victory I've ever seen.)
3. If the running game is suspect, look at our run defense! Eek.
To that former point, I'm putting the non-Book rushing yards over/under at 75 for the UGA game.
4. Honestly still not sure about Ian. He can't take 1 1/2 quarters to warm up against UGA.
5. Raise your hand if you were happy for Javon McKinley. Here's a guy who came in with a lot of buzz, and as recently as the Spring, looked like he was gonna get bounced off the team. Now, he's looking like their #2 WR. (And boy, do they need it.)
6. NBC extolled the praises of Ismar Bilal but I'm still not seeing it.
7. Unusual that we actually had to discuss the ethics of running up the score.
Small point but rather than give the 2nd string kicker some opportunities, I would've wanted to see Doerer have as many FG reps as possible. We're gonna need him flame tempered.
7. Unusual that we actually had to discuss the ethics of running up the score.
Small point but rather than give the 2nd string kicker some opportunities, I would've wanted to see Doerer have as many FG reps as possible. We're gonna need him flame tempered.
Question of the Week
Forgive me for going full pessimist re the Georgia game - this was my one expected loss in my 11 win prediction - but I found the following Q&A both relevant and strangely comforting:
Buddy's Buddy
One of the things I'm sure everyone has noticed over the millennia of watching sporting events, at virtually any level (professional, college, high school) is that when the athletes get on TV... usually in a sideline shot... they're waving / thanking / acknowledging their mothers.
Why is that?
Well maybe it's because they're the ones in most families that do the tough, heavy lifting when it comes to parenting.
- Applying age old farm methodology, she made her oldest son pick his own switch when he was going to get smacked. (Hint: big or small stick, it didn't matter, it was gonna hurt.)
- With her 2nd son, she used early waterboarding techniques later refined at Abu Ghraib, by putting his head under the faucet when he got 'unruly.' When questioned 60 years later, her response, "It worked, didn't it?"
- When her 3rd son went walkabout as a toddler, leaving the security of the backyard in an effort to discover what downtown Davenport had to offer, traffic be damned, she was asked if she was worried? "Not really."
- By the 4th son, what parenting innovation was left, really? Oh yeah - bondage. With a simple knot and nylon stocking tied to a wee leg and crib railing, we won't have to worry about a repeat of #3 son now will we?"
So for anyone with Family Social Services ties, it probably bears empahsizing that those were different times.
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| "I've always liked you guys better than own my sons." "Mom, I'm right here..." |
...here's to all of the Stayer Lot tailgaters' mothers (both alive and those who've passed)
...and in particular, to you, mom.
Four sons, 70 years of parenting and, if one doesn't count visits to the ND Dean of Students office, no jail time.
I'd call that a major accomplishment.
And a sincere, overwhelming thanks to Our Man Raz, who played benefactor Cosimo de Medici for the Corrigans this past weekend and made mom's last trip so memorable.
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| Who's going to tell Mike and Tim they have to leave when the game is over? |
That you also made the prospect of watching future ND games with the unwashed masses completely untenable for my brothers...
Well, that is merely icing on the cake.
Bob, you are the proverbial gift that keeps on giving.
Cocktail of the Week
Continuing with the family theme, it's no secret that the Corrigan matriarch enjoys her vodka. That in her "octogenarian plus" years, she has become Little Miss "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"* has been something of a revelation for her sons.
But at 94 yrs. young, have at it! Drink up - you're not driving! So, this one too, is for you.
*as well as "since you're up, you can top me off..."
The Pitcher of Dorian Grey Goose
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
By Oscar Wilde
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| "I don't think you got my chin right but otherwise..." |
Try getting your hands on the juicy early copies of Dorian and then gather a group of aging beauty queens (or simply aging queens), who'll be guaranteed to love our hedonistic youth serum.
Just keep them away from the expensive art.
MAKES ABOUT 8 DRINKS
- 2 cups vodka
- 1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate
- 10 sprigs fresh mint, washed
- Cucumber, sliced into wheels, for garnish
Tear the mint, then place in the pitcher. Add the lemonade concentrate and stir until thawed. Pour in the vodka and 3 cups of cold water and stir. Serve over ice, garnish with the cucumber wheels and remember: age before beauty.
Source: Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails With A Literary Twist
by Tim Federle
Wager 2019 - Taking the Leap
Let the good times roll
Let them knock you around...
2-0. And everyone's still alive.
Wins
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TC’s Keanu Analogy
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ND Connection
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Bettor
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12
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The Matrix
|
But in our 'ends justify the means' world, who cares? We won't. The film's financial backers certainly didn't...
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Brian M
John P Pat B |
11
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Jerrence
Spit the Elder Jim S Daryl M Dave M Peter B Theo Paul B | ||
10
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Speed
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The point is, like this film, 10 wins would be considered very satisfying to if not all, a lot of folks, including me.
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JP
Raz Dave G. Lini Bryan G Tim C Kevin C Jay Cincotta Joe S Bob J Spit the Younger Jim B Ward H Jerry W Tom F Tim S Mike G Brian W Dennis R Ryan C |
9
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John Wick
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All bets are off after that.
Like this movie, a 9 win season will leave you conflicted - it could've been so much better.
But damn there's some fun bits mixed in.
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Bill B.
Lindon Jim T. Jerry P Mike C. Joel G. Blair Garrett Kevin M Alex S Graham Gary H Shea Ungie |
8
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Bram Stoker’s Dracula
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Will you be happy with a 'regression to the mean' type season?
Of course not.
Just like I had such high hopes for this film - utterly ridiculous in every way possible, where one walks out thinking "WTF was that?" -- similar to a 7-8 win season.
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John L
Ray V Alvin |
7
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6
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Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
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No one would ever call this great cinema but it was a bit of launching point for Keanu - and that's what one would hope 5 wins would be for ND... something to build on.
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5
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4 or less
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The Replacements
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Not, in fact, a bio-pic of the influential Minneapolis band (which, Keanu as Paul Westerberg would be BRILLIANT) - but rather a really bad football flick, even Keanu couldn't save this disaster.
Honestly, there's no defense for this movie - just like a 4 win season. |
Schedule - 2019
September
14 New Mexico W
21 @ Georgia
28 Virginia Linipalooza XV!
October
5 Bowling Green
12 USC
19 OPEN
26 @ Michigan
November
2 Va. Tech
9 @ Duke
16 Navy
23 Boston College
30 @ Stanford
Schadenfreude of The Week
It's been said from near time immemorial - okay maybe since the start of the BCS Playoff format - that September is not a month for much quality football viewing. Any team with elite aspirations lines their schedule with a series of FBS patsies, making this month the collegiate equivalent of the meaningless NFL preseason.
What's a schadenfruede aficionado to do? Dig deep, that's what. There's always a pearl among the dirty oysters.
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| When the 4 yr olds start raising buy-out $, look out... |
I hope they lose every week.
4. Boston College. Dude, you gave up 48 pts. To Kansas.
Terry's Trolls
Or so they say.
This week's nominees would certainly suggest as much, spanning sports and industry alike.
Enjoy.
Well played, Rice.
2. Antonio Brown. A bitter and envious smart ass might say it takes a lot to get kicked off the New England Patriots - typically murder and subsequent incarceration - but to do so in such breathtakingly short time and to have it so self-inflicted (which part of "don't harass your accuser in A GROUP TEXT didn't you grasp, Antonio?")... that is impressive.
3. Athens, GA. Let's categorize this under "silly, harmless idiocy that college sports so inspire..." ...but the UGA college town's removal of Irish Spring soap in advance of the ND game - the brand's seizing of the marketing opportunity - is just fabulous.
Well played, simple townfolk - and Colgate.
4. NBC Sports. As loathe as I am to be accused of bandwagon jumping, I too, am not wild about the network's new camera angles for the home football games.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to apply here.
5. Sony Pictures. A recent Variety story about The Princess Bride producer Norman Lear's new deal with the studio introduced the hypothetical possibility of a re-make - with the Sony Picture's CEO being quoted as saying, "very many famous people - I won't say who - want to re-do the movie..."
First of all, name them so we can shame them.
Secondly, just no.
Don't even think about it.
Final Thought
Something in the night, just don't sit right
Looks like I'm gonna be up all night...
If one is curious as why Jerrence isn't feeling great about Saturday night's game, try this:
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