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May 2, 2005

Looking back at my four years at Penn State, it's important for me to keep in perspective what I wanted when I came here and how things turned out. With that in mind, here are the grades I'd give myself for college, with every aspect I can think of covered:

1. Academics - B: I came in expecting to do well, namely to average around a 3.5 or higher. Though I only got a semester's GPA above that number once, I feel good about the fact that I was able to dig myself out of an early hole (created by an apathetic first year and three killer D's in my third semester). I wound up finishing with a GPA of over 3.3 over a two year span (this semester not included), good enough to get me into a good graduate program. It's hard to feel bad about those results.

2. Typical College Experiences - A-: I went to a frat party. I was president of a school organization and participated in a major fund raiser (THON). I went on a road trip with friends. I had a spring break road trip. These in addition to pulling an all nighter, going on a pub crawl, attending rock concerts on the quad and in a club, going out to eat past 3 am, and having a major internship. I may not have done everything, but I was able to get many of what I feel are the quintessential college experiences. A complete college experiences touches all phases of the campus culture. I can honestly say that that was what I had.

3. Social Life (Friends) - A : Coming in to college, I had a few close friends who lived at home and a number of acquaintences spread throughout various academic institutions. I had a tough time making friends to start with (Pat being the lone notable exception), but with time I started to get a little better at it. It was in this area that I really broke out in college, starting mainly with my Junior year. It was my friends who truly made Penn State worth coming to, and it will be my friends that will make me miss Penn State the most. I had some unbelievable times with them, and they are everything the word friends can mean. Thanks guys.

4. Social Life (Dating) - F+: Yes, I know that there is no such grade. At the same time, there is no way I can justify anything higher than an F. I did, however, want to denote that there was effort at least put forth occasionally. Thus, I think F+ fits. Along with my organization and time management, I consider this something that never really quite improved from high school.

5. Roommates - B+: When the worst thing you can say about your worst roommate is better than the average thing most people can say about their average roommate, you know you're in good shape. Pat and Sid were awesome, while Brian was pretty cool. All in all, good times. That's not to say I don't enjoy the single I've had this semster, just that the people were cool when we had to deal with each other.

6. School/Overall - B+ : Is Penn State perfect? Of course not. It's not the best school in the state, although it is probably at least the best school west of Lancaster (or, more likely, Philly). Penn State certainly has its warts. The school newspaper sucks. Most political groups on campus genreally have oversized egos, small capacities for reasoning, and misguided practices (I'm looking at you, College Republicans, Democrats, and Young Americans for Freedom). The religious zealots can be a bit much at times. Heck, sometimes it seems like everyone has some agenda. I suspect, however, that most schools put up with some form of this. The mere fact that Penn State can even house all these interests and flaws sends a positive message. The YAF can needlessly and senselessly bitch all they want about the political orientation of professors at Penn State, but the conservative voice at Penn State is alive and well. Everyone's voice is heard. The result is a diverse student body and faculty. A place where you can go to live as well as learn. A place where there is always something to do, where you can find people like yourself (or completely different form yourself, if that's what you want), and where you can be yourself, no matter who that may be. That is the Penn State experience. That, as much as anything else, is why I would recommend Penn State to anyone. No, they're not perfect, but they do a damn good job.

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April 24, 2005

On April 20, 2005, my grandmother passed away at the age of 80. This is in rememberance of her.

When talking about Dearie, you realize that words don't really do her justice. She loved unconditionally, though even that is quite possibly not a strong enough term. She was stubborn (indeed, one of the most stubborn people I've ever met), but that only added to her mystique and charm.

The best illustration of both of these points can be seen in the origin of her nickname. When my Uncle Jerry married into the family, they had a conversation about how to address each other. After "Mom" was ruled out as an option (along with Mrs. Hauser), Jerry decided to call her "Dearie." My grandmother, who associated the name with a song about old people, refused any association with the name. After all, she wasn't old. After some consternation, Dearie finally accepted the title. It would be one of the few arguements she would be known to lose. As kids, a few of my cousins and I would call her "Granddearie." The name became part of her identity. It was her stubbornness that brought about the name in the first place. It was her love for her family that enabled her to embrace a title she had resisted.

Another thing I think of when it comes to Dearie is the way she touched the lives of everyone she met. Normally, saying that is a tired cliche. With Dearie, it's not only accurate, but accurate to a degree that few I have ever met have achieved. It makes me think of my family's friends, such as Paul Keenan and Marianne McGettigan (now Walker), who viewed Dearie as a second mother for much of their lives. It makes me think of my friend Kelli who, despite only actually meeting Dearie a few times, kindly volunteered to be there for me at the funeral (Side note: I was pretty much wrong about Kelli. Looking back, the whole deal where we didn't talk was pretty stupid. I'm glad we were able to clear that up without too much consternation).

Most of all, it makes me think of Doug Goldberg. Doug is my brother in law Mark's best friend and his best man in St. Thomas. Given that those in St. Thomas essentially fell into two categories (a)current/soon to be members of the Henry family and b)Doug), it was quite understandable that Doug felt more than slightly out of place. Yet, it was Dearie more than anyone who treated Doug as if he was part of the family. By the end of the trip, he had so ingratiated himself into that part of my family that he was invited into the Hauser family portrait. From that moment on, Dearie always thought of Doug as her "Jewish grandson." Doug was often present for Christmas dinners afterwards, further lending creedence to this title. Though I did not personally field the phone call, it was apparently Doug who was among the most distraught at the news of Dearie's passing. Though Doug had only known Dearie for a few years and met her only on select occasions, her kindness and ability to make him feel welcome resonated with him in a way that made him feel like he had, in fact, lost his grandmother as well. This was, to one extent or another, the effect that Dearie had on everyone she met. No matter who you are, you remember meeting Dearie.

If this sounded disjointed or at all off, I refer back to my opening statement. It is hard to put what Dearie meant to me (or, indeed, to anyone she met) into specific words. She is what I like to think of as among the absolute best of humanity: a kind, gentle, loving, honest, principled, funny, intelligent, and overall wonderful human being that we can all look up to. If I were to have one wish in the world, it would be to become half the person Dearie was. If I could make half the impact on people's lives, experience half of the love that she shared with all her family and friends, be half as, well, Dearie-like as Dearie was, I will say it was a full and rewarding life. It would be an achievement of which anyone would be proud.

At her funeral, a rendition of "Danny Boy" (Dearie's favorite song) was sung, led at first by my dad and Marianne. As the song went on, more and more people joined in. Since Dearie hated fuss, she may have feigned some annoyance at the impromptu chorus. On the inside, though, we all knew she'd be smiling, happy to see everyone together. Most of us sang through tears of mourning, but the song was a final celebration of and farewell to someone who meant more than words can truly describe to those who knew her. We knew no better way to pay her one last tribute, one she so richly deserved.

To all who attended the viewing and funeral, to all who expressed sympathy, and to all of those who have offered their support, I offer you a most humble and appreciative thank you. This is indeed a sad week. The world has lost one of its truly great people. I don't know what will happen as the world continues to turn. I only know that it will be a little darker without one of the brightest lights in the lives of everyone she has touched.

Goodbye, Dearie. You will be missed.

In fond rememberance,
Anne Theresa "Nancy" Hauser
(1924-2005)

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April 9, 2005

Due to circumstances, the website update and new eulogies will be postponed until a later date. The update will probably be after I graduate and the eulogies...well, I probably won't get to those until way after the situation with my grandmother plays out.

In lighter news, the bands at Movin' On 2005 have been announced and THE SUBURBAN LEGENDS ARE COMING BACK!!! Anyone who saw them last year either on the side stage or opening for Reel Big Fish knows how awesome they are. If you ever get a chance to see them live, do so. You'll be glad you did.

When this year began, I gave it a sort of unofficial tagline: it's all been leading up to this. Yes, I'm a victim of the consumerist culture where everything needs a line or a gimmick. I felt it was appropriate, however, given that this year, even from the beginning, felt like a culmination of everything that had happened before. This was the year I was going to take what I had learned from my previous twenty one years on Earth and put it to some good use. In essence, I'm in the final month of my time as full fledged "student" (since even in grad school I am likely to have some kind of substantial job in addition). My initial read on this was correct, to a degree that I could not have forseen. Even some of the newer events are clearly rooted in things that had happened before. Some examples, of random timeframe and importance:

- The system that had gotten me through the last few years (read: wait until the last minute to do stuff), fails for the first time while writing a psychology paper.

- Thanks to Napster, songs I haven't heard in years (even decades) resurface (to me) for the first time in years. "Everybody's Free," a song I used to listen to all the time in tenth grade, suddenly finds its way onto my playlist at a time when I really needed to listen to it.

- All sorts of people, who I haven't heard from in years, start reentering my life in one form or another. A lot of this can be traced back to facebook, as evidenced by the fact that my friends list include friends from Abington, Penn State, and American. Kelli, Pat, and Ashley (among others) have made appearances for the first time in over a year.

- My graduate school search has come down to two schools that were part of my final four schools but finished runners up to Penn State the last time around. For the second time, I've been offered admission to the George Washington University. However, whereas last time I decided not to apply to Penn, this time I am waiting for their decision to be handed down.

- Like sophomore and junior years, I've been rejected, but this time in what has to be the weirdest and funniest way possible. Namely, I was rejected by someone I had never met (through a set up attempt) not only because I had the wrong MAJOR (which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard) but also because, as a senior, I'm "only interested in marriage." I'd be pissed at her insolence if her stupidity wasn't so hysterical.

- Finally, and least pleasant of all, like senior year four years ago I have a grandmother that is very, very ill. It's really upsetting that I can't be there to be with not only her, but Pop-Pop, my mom, my aunts, my uncles, and my cousins. Such times are always hard on a family. I've found the best way to get through it is to stick together to get everyone through. Indeed, this is true of a major illness or (god forbid) death. Petty quibbles over possessions or cheap shots about parenting skills are not only counterproductive but make the person sound like an arrogant asshole. Thankfully, the Hausers seem to wholeheartedly adopt the proper method of dealing with things. When I was home over Easter, I had either seen or heard about everyone visiting Dearie in the hospital. Everyone who was there acted as part of a support system for the others. I wish I could be a part of that system. I'm at least happy that it seems to be working so well while I finish up my career here at Penn State.

Why do I bring this up? I'm going through a very strange period in my life. Part of this is because events resemble things that have happened before, yet are not exactly the same. I was happy to be graduating high school and could not wait to go to Penn State. I am not so anxious to leave here, and I am quite nervous about what lies ahead. At least with some certainty this is relatively minimized, but it is still a somewhat frightening prospect. When Grandmom died four years ago, it was after a long battle with cancer that we knew would claim her eventually. While it hurt to know this, I was able to prepare myself for it over time. Dearie got sick quite suddenly, leaving me in shock when I heard just how bad her condition was. I'm still trying to come to grips with her status, knowing that the only thing that I can do to help the matter is be there and pray that she makes a miraculous recovery.

There is one last occurence that kind of mirrors the past. Four years ago, through an internet dating service, I met a girl from Massachusetts who I started talking with. At the time, I was single and just waiting out the end of high school in anticipation of a fresh start in college. Those who know me know the rest of that story already, so I'm not going to get into it here. I've spent the last four years (or, rally, three), improving myself in every way possible. Even with improvements, however, nothing seemed to get in the way of the things at which I was truly incompetent (as evidenced above). Now, one month before graduation, I have met someone else, the first girl I've really been interested in since the beginning of the school year. Is it too late to do anything about it? Even if it's not, can I get past the one thing that's been holding me back more than anything else (namely, me)? Will it even matter?

This year truly is a culmination. I spent the first seventeen years of my life trying to figure out who I was. I spent the next three and a half figuring out how to show it. Now, at the end, I need to bring it all together. I need to look at my mistakes, learn the lessons from them, and use what I have learned to get me through these times. One thing I have learned, though, is that as much as talking about these things cleanses the soul, the only way to get real answers is to live life. Whatever happens, happens. If nothing else, that's what I hope I've learned in life. Now, it's time for me to show it.

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February 21, 2005

As a brief note to anyone who may be reading, I'm going to be redoing my site, probably over Spring Break. It'll hopefully make the site a little easier to navigate and look more spiffy. We'll see how that goes.

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize for those who may have been confused by my last entry (as there were apparently several of you). This is my (Andrew Henry's) website. If you're not here for me and my material, you're in the wrong place. Also, apologies to Kevin Kurtz for the inconvenience. As a result of all of this, I'm instituting a quasi-comment feature. If you would like to respond to what I write here, simply click on the link at the top of the page. Email me what you want to say, and I will post it. As with all things on this site, please remember I withold the right to edit comments. I promise to keep the spirit of the message in tact and not alter the point of your submission in any way.

Since it's kinda late, I'm gonna keep this short. With Kat coming up this weekend (and Kevin and Ada cementing their relationship status), it hit me that I am one of a few single guys left among my main group of Penn State friends. This was a fact that I of course knew. It has been true for some time now. Yet, this is the first time it's really been an issue since sophomore year. I guess the time I spent with friends over the last year and a half, coupled with making Kevin and Ada my "pet project" for the last month, distracted me from this fact to the point where I no longer cared. Now, though, my main female friends from last year are elsewhere (Virginia and Spain, to be exact) and Kevin and Ada no longer require any extra attention. This, coupled with comments from people close to me (from my Uncle Lou to most of my friends), really brought it home that, while I have grown in many ways over the last 21 years, I still have a long way to go in certain areas. The thing is, I was happy in my distracted state. I could be happy without changing myself. No work, lots of reward. Now, I don't know what to think. If I went on a date tomorrow, it would be a disaster. There is no doubt in my mind about that.

I guess I need another distraction.

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February 11, 2005

NOTE: This is a long entry. You'd better get some snacks

Valentine's day is on Monday. It is common knowledge that I detest Valentine's day and what it stands for (namely that it is the very definition of a Hallmark holiday). It also doesn't take much of a mental leap to figure out that I have never had a good February 14th. Such things are true regardless of relationship status, but how these factors are treated does depend on whether a person has someone to be with on that most horrible of holidays. Someone in a relationship could at least distract themselves from the sheer ludicrousness of the day because they are able to be a part of what the day claims to stand for, namely love.

For those of us who are single, the day still sucks and reminders of why it sucks are everywhere. When you're alone, there's no doubt that everything good is somewhat dulled (such as the good time spent between friends) and everything bad is magnified (like a Super Bowl loss, academic trouble, and, yes, dating strife). However, in an attempt to at least give Valentine's day a chance this year (since there's too much going on to dwell on my own well documented incompetancy with women), I'll analyze two distinct types of love, experienced by myself and my closest friends, and attempt to offer an upside to those situations. With a rediculously overforced smile, I begin:

-We all have our loves in life. Even apart from our relationships with others, we each have our hobbies, activities, and other distractions from life that give us joy to the point of calling it a "love." Some love their cars (and, indeed, other cars). Others love film. Still others experience a deep love of music. The emotion itself may be somewhat different, but the intensity of the affinity towards our particular love is still the same. Such a concept is not new to anyone, yet somehow we always manage to be ignorant of this fact when our loves clash with the loves of others.

I love Philadelphia sports. I love tracking wins, losses, which players come, which players go, and which players SHOULD come and go. I anxiously await drafts and believe that every year is the year that the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, and Eagles go all the way. Granted, some questionable logic generally helps, since Philly teams are rarely the favorite. This phenomenon, called hope, is as central to being a sports fan as it is to living: with it, anything seems possible; without it, nothing is.

I suppose that's why I was not only rooting for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl, but picked them as well. Many predicted a Patriots blowout, but I noticed that when they did they used nothing to back it up other than "the Pats have been there before." Now, I used that logic in an earlier commentary, but only because I thought the game would be so close that such a quality would come into play. The Patriots blew out the Steelers on talent and execution, not experience. All tactical evidence for the Super Bowl pointed to a close game. The strength of the offense (passing for the Eagles, running for the Patriots) seemed to hit the weakness (or closest thing to it) on each defense. Experience could (and, it could be argued, did) win the day. The game itself was kind of sloppy, but as a football fan I could appreciate the close, hard fought game. As an aside, TO was simply astounding. There is no other way to put it.

Why, then, knowing that my team had lost a close game to a team at their level did it still hurt? As someone who has followed this team all his life, I feel like they are a part of my family. I want them to do well because I've been there through the ups and downs with them. Without the players, there are no fans. Without the fans, there are no players. For me, it even goes deeper than that. Philadelphia, as a city, has always been surrounded by its more successful peers. Its teams, when good, have never quite been good enough (or, at least, not the best). When the teams are bad, they are awful. Once in a while, for a moment, a team breaks away from mediocrity to make a run at true greatness, at well deserved success. Each time this occurs, those who have followed that team's path hold their collective breath, waiting to find out if this is the time that they get to shine. Without fail, they are left disappointed. The success is seen as a sign of better times that never come.

Seen in this light, its not hard to see why I relate to the plight of the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, and (most recently) the Eagles. We are capable of better things than we have accomplished. Somehow, we always trip, unable to break through those things that hold us back. In the end, all that's left is a weak, hackneyed rallying cry of "Next year!" When the Eagles lost (again), it seemed to be yet another sign that we are condemned to our mediocrity. Hope for them, in some ways, is hope for me: the lovable loser who falls just short. After all, there's a reason Rocky was shot in Philly. However, I am used to the disappointment by now, both with myself and with my teams. This may be the scariest thought of all.

Some people can't understand this. Why not? It has nothing to do with any lack of capacity, nor any lack of intelligence (no matter what we think when others show their ignorance). No, they don't understand because their minds simply can't make that conversion. After all, what sports is to me may be what cars is to another, or charity work is to someone else. This does not make one better than another. They simply don't get it. They never will. I can't ask them to. I can only ask them to look at themselves and ask whether it's worth it to (genuinely) insult a friend in an attempt to get in a cheap shot at a sports team. I truly pity those who say yes.

- As much as I may wish to avoid it, one can't talk of love without getting into relationships. Given that a) I haven't been on a date since high school and b) that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon, I don't really have any kind of basis to comment. As such, I'll use my friends to illustrate my point.

Over the last six years, since I started helping my friends deal with their relationships, I've seen a lot of people come and go. Some stay for long periods of time (Chris F., Georg, and Alex (who is now my friend John's wife) come to mind), while many others are out of the picture as quickly as they entered it. Among my closest friends, only one couple (Kat and Jeremy) has stayed together for the length of time that I have known them. At times, helping these friends out by providing advice or a willing ear is akin to pulling for your team. Does it truly affect you if you get the outcome you want or not? On the surface, no. The emotional investment is what makes a difference to us.

My friend Kevin (K., for those who know both) recently met a girl he instantly fell for. It's not hard to tell when that happens, if you're there for the moment it occurs. The entire demeanor and style of the person shifts. That's human nature. For those who don't know him, Kevin is a poli sci major (like myself) who has a very strong personality. He will tell you exactly what's on his mind, regardless of whether that may or may not be the "appropriate" thing to do. He has a similar sense of humor as my other friends, which is to say biting, sarcastic, and filled with references to things he observes in life. Kevin is probably the flirtiest of my friends, but he also has the strong character and loyalty that I admire in people. These are people I try to surround myself with (and generally do).

When Kevin met Ada, he suddenly gained a filter in his brain to keep himself from saying something that would offend her. This, as stated before, was a first. I don't know a lot of what went on between them. I do, however, know Kevin well enough and I talked to him enough to know that this was not some random girl to him. This was someone he considered to be special, and he'd be damned if he screwed it up. Sure, she had a boyfriend. When someone like that comes around, though, you don't just let something like that get in the way. You go for what your heart tells you is the right one for you.

Again, I don't know exactly what happened. What I do know is that, as they got comfortable around each other, Kevin began to let himself return to normal. He let his humor and flirtiness return to their original levels. Apparently, this was enough for Ada to begin to doubt...something. Kevin? The concept of them being together? Her choice of lunch entree? I don't really know. What I do know is that it was apparently enough to question whatever the two of them had. She also let it slip that she thought that he was the type of guy who was only after the one thing that all guys are supposed to be after. Whether these two are related or not is not for me to speculate. What it tells me, though, is that she didn't really know him.

The constant among those I listed at the beginning of this section was a willingness and ability to be themselves. On top of that, there was a willingness and ability to deal with their significant others being themselves. This means accepting faults as well as loving the good stuff.

Is Kevin a saint? Hell no. He, like everyone, has his flaws and quirks. Neither are Jeremy, Kat, John, Alex, Chris, Jaymie, Georg, or Krissy. Which is more likely? Kevin was only after sex, or Kevin started to revert to his flirty ways, confusing Ada, resulting in her making the wrong read on the situation? Knowing Kevin as I do, there is little doubt in my mind that Ada simply couldn't reconcile the tame Kevin she first met with the wilder Kevin that she has gotten to know the last few weeks. If this is indeed the case, it is a damn shame. The fact is, both sides are equally Kevin, along with many other sides that weren't addressed.

Both sections had similar elements: staying true to what we hold in our hearts, the notion of falling just short, a large emotional investment, and the concept of hope. It hurts for Kevin because of the time and energy he put into trying to do things right, only to have them go wrong anyway. It hurts for me as a spectator, forced to watch another one of my rooting interests fall short again. The only cure for the hurt suffered is the same thing that caused it in the first place. It is the same thing that brings sports fans back, time and time again, to support their teams. It is the very thing that, during this or any time of year, gets people to roll the dice in an attempt to find a date. Simply, no matter what failures lie in the past, there is hope that next time will be different.

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February 2, 2005

I don't normally do stuff like this, but while fighting a bout of depression I was trolling through livejournals when I found this quiz. It was very accurate. I am amused. I highly recommend it. (You'll have to highlight to read the text...it doesn't mix well with the black background)

You scored as Mindfuck. Congratulations, you scored Mindfuck. You've probably seen a lot of movies, and have grown to hate mainstream shit. You're looking for the movie that will leave you breathless, and with 21 questions to think about. Check out: Donnie Darko, Being John Malkovich, Pulp Fiction, Memento.

Mindfuck

95%

Artistic

75%

Sadistic Humour

75%

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

70%

Drama/Suspense

50%

Mindless Action Flick

40%

Romantic Comedy

20%

Movie Recommendation.
created with QuizFarm.com
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January 20, 2005

I was 2-2 in my Wild Card round picks, but made up for it with a 4-0 divisional round. Here, now, are my thoughts on who advances to Jacksonville:

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers: For the life of me, I've never had a harder time picking the winner of any game as I did for this one. Even on offense. Even on defense. Even on special teams. Just when you think you see an advantage one way, something else negates it. It took me a while to pick a winner, because I wanted to make sure of my reasoning before I said anything.

The conclusion I came to is that this will be an incredibly tight ballgame. Both teams have outstanding running games and can beat you in any way imaginable. Though they say defense and the run game wins championships, one must also take into consideration the coach, the quarterback, and the kicker (and for those who disagree with my last point, you obviously didn't watch either Jets playoff game this year). The defenses are even. The Steelers have a slight edge in the running game, but not enough of one to have it be a true advantage. The kickers are a position you could argue: normally picking against Adam Vinateri is a sin, but Josh Reed knows that horrible Heinz Field turf better than anyone. This leaves the coaching and the quarterback. I have a great deal of respect for Bill Cowher, the longest tenured head coach in the NFL. He took a team that seemed to be going nowhere and brought them to this precipice. Roethlisburger is a true find and a great talent, but there's a reason no rookie quarterback has ever played in a Super Bowl. I'm picking the Patriots this week for the same reason I picked them last week: Tom Brady just simply doesn't lose in the playoffs and, as last week proved, you can never bet against Bill Belichick.

Prediction: Patriots 20, Steelers 17.

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles: As anyone who has dealt with my predictions before knows, I am willing to pick against my team when I see fit if I feel that there's no other choice. One need only look at the Flyers/Lightning prediction to see that I will convince myself of things that aren't necessarily true to get myself to feel better.

I start like this because, for the first time, I don't need to spin. I don't need to find some minute advantage to exploit. There is no "if" or "this time." Three years ago, the Eagles played their third straight playoff game in St. Louis against a dominant Rams team. These upstart Birds went the distance with the Rams. In the end, the better team won. The next year, fans were filled with a sense of destiny. It was the last game at the Vet against a team they had owned in previous years. The problem was that the Eagles had gotten a little lax, McNabb was still feeling the effects of a broken leg, and Jon Gruden was a better coach for that team than Tony Dungy was. The Bucs were prepared, the Eagles weren't. The Eagles offense wasn't up to the challenge against the Bucs' D. The next year, the Eagles made the NFC Championship Game largely off of their offense that suffered a major blow when Westbrook got hurt. The Panthers were opportunistic enough to expoit that and hold the Eagles to three points. Their D didn't do poorly, but their offense could not put up points against a good defense.

Can any of these things be said this year? The Eagles have proven to be the better team. They are healthy (save for TO). Most importantly, they are focused completely on this game. After three losses in the NFC title game, there is no reason for them to be overconfident and take their opponent lightly. Of course it won't be easy. Michael Vick is a factor and will get his yards. Dunn and Duckett make an excellent tandem out of the backfield. Alge Crumpler is one of the top three tight ends in the league (along with Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez). Their defense is much improved from last year. What must be considered is that, with the exception of the run game, whatever the Falcons do, the Eagles do better. The Eagles have more talent, more desire, and more experience than their Atlantan counterparts. I've seen some blowout predictions, but you won't find one here. I see a good, hard fought game. Eagles pull away in the third quarter, with a late touchdown making the score closer than it was.

Prediction: Eagles 24, Falcons 13.

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January 5, 2005

I hope everyone is enjoying/enjoyed their holidays. These are just some random thoughts and highlights from the past few weeks:

-It felt really weird attending my friend Kat's graduation knowing I'd be on the other side of the rail in a few months (now a little more than four and closing). It further threw into sharp relief how fast everything is moving.

- I went to the Eagles/Cowboys game a few weeks ago. It was always one of my dreams to go see that matchup. The experience did not disappoint. As much as that psych paper was hell for me, my heaven was found in the parking lot. Free Lee's hoagies, making fun of Dallas fans over live radio, surrounded by my fellow fans and an Eagles victory. There was no traffic on the ride home. The downside, of course, was seeing TO's injury. It looked painful, and as the game progressed I kept looking at the tunnel, hoping to see him come back out of the locker room. The loss is a blow to the team and, likely, will prevent them from winning the Super Bowl. I still think they get there, with decent shots should Indy or San Diego play them. A matchup against the Patriots would also be interesting, because of the injury to Ty Law. I don't, however, see them defeating the Steelers without their primary target.

While I'm on the subject, NFL first round playoff predictions: COLTS over Broncos, CHARGERS over Jets, RAMS over Seahawks, and PACKERS over Vikings.

- I was impressed that dinner with my dad's older sister and her husband went through without incident. I say impressed because there was an effort to provoke me and I didn't take it. Yet another victory for the maturation process.

- Atlantic City was fun. Going to Atlantic City or Las Vegas is something that everyone should do at least once, if nothing else but for the experience of it. The best way to do it is to go in a group and set an amount ahead of time that you're willing to lose. If you go in with a hundred dollars (or a few hundred if you can afford it) with the understanding that the world doesn't end if you lose that money, you'll have a lot more fun than if you keep taking out money to try and come out ahead. I wound up cashing in $500 worth of chips, though due to a prearranged deal with my father (he gave me an extra hundred for 50% of my take) I only got to keep $250. Still, the more important thing was that when I was there and got to know the people at the roulette table, I had a lot of fun win or lose.

- Another experience I can cross off the "things I always wanted to do" list is to attend a comedy club. Though I enjoyed Ellis Island, the Comedy Cellar was the highlight of the New York trip. With talent from "Tough Crowd" as well as a writer for Chapelle Show, the comedy was outstanding. Of course, I was the first person to get pointed out.

"Where you guys from?"
"Philly"
"Oh, cool. I'm from Philly. What part of Philly are you from?"
"Northeast"
"Weird"
"Yeah"
"You an athlete in the Northeast?"
"Nah"
"No? You wasted all that big?!"

Needless to say, if I ever write an autobiography on the failures of my life (or, indeed, publish these commentaries), I'm entitling it, "You wasted all that big?!" Story of my life really.

Anyway, this has been an enjoyable break. It is the last of its kind, and it went as well as I could have asked. Good friends, good booze, good times.

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