Eagles Win The Super Bowl!

What a game! 

Nerve wracking!

Final score:

Philadelphia Eagles:      41
New England Patriots:   33

The Philadelphia Eagles football team won their first Super Bowl.

Folks, I was living and working in Philly when Philadelphia won their first major sports trophy, the Stanley Cup for hockey in 1973.  I was working at Girard Bank with was located right next to City Hall. Perfect location to celebrate. Over a million Philadelphians spilled out in the streets to congratulate the Broad Street Bullies, aka Philadelphia Flyers.

The next major sports win was the 1980 World Series. I was in my fourth floor apartment at 2124 Spruce Street, center city when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson of the Kansas City Athletics. I could feel the city erupt after that final whiff.

Now for this Philadelphia center city celebration when the Eagles return to their home city from their outstanding victory in Minneapolis.  I have to tell you folks, I'm glad I'm not living in center city Philly now because for me, and my aged arthritic body this celebration would be too much.

But I will also tell you, this win means so much for Philly. For so many years Philly has always been treated like the red-headed country cousin of major American cities, not even good enough to be included in the general weather reports on national TV when reporting weather across the United States. They always would say Boston and Baltimore but never Philadelphia, which always annoyed me.







I watched the whole game yesterday on my TV. First time in years that I watched a football game beginning to end on my TV. I have to tell you folks, at times it was very nerve wracking and I was tempted to turn it off. New England Patriots Golden Boy Tom Brady was throwing long bombs. His team was barreling down the field to touchdown after touchdown. But the Eagles won out in the end after a couple of gutsy calls. 

Enjoy your day in the sun Philadelphia, You deserve it.

Go Eagles!

My co-workers Christine and Renee at First Financial Bank February 4, 2005, the last time the Philadelphia Eagles went to the Super Bowl - unfortunately they lost but not this time!

Super Bowl Sunday folks!

I don't usually watch the Super Bowl but I will this Sunday.  That's because the Philadelphia Eagles are in it. 

The last time I was this excited about the Eagles being in the Super Bowl was in 2005 when I worked at First Financial Bank in Downingtown. 

Somewhere in my 90,000 plus photos I have a picture of myself in my Eagles shirt but I can't find it now so this one will have to do of my friends Renee and Christine.

Folks, I'm convinced that the Eagles are going to win this Super Bowl. As a former resident of center city Philly, I wish I was there when the celebrations commence.

I was in Philly when the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup.  Yep, I was right in the middle of it.

I was also living in Center City Philly when the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series in 1980. What a night that was!  You could feel the electric energy flowing though you.

Unfortunately I won't be in center city Philly when the Eagles win the Super Bowl but I tell you what folks, my heart will be there.  

And this victory will be sweet because the Eagles (of course) are the underdogs. Philadelphia is almost always the underdog. Well, this time they're going to win and wipe that smirk right off the face of the Patriot's self-satisfied quarterback, Tom Brady.

Fly Eagles!

Random Thoughts on a Super Bowl Sunday

Okay folks, this is one of those blog postings that doesn't have one subject but just me rambling, clearing thoughts out of my head.

A photo I took from the 1958 Thanksgiving Day football game between my high school and our biggest rival.  Back in this day I was too shy to ask anyone to take a photo of me so I took a photo of my fellow bandmates.  Yes, I was in the marching band - Sousaphone (look it up).

No, I'm not watching the Super Bowl.  However, if I can time it right I would like to see and hear Renee Fleming sing at the half time show.  But as far as the game goes, COULD.NOT.CARE.LESS.
I used to watch football religiously on TV until I realized that the "football games" were actually one continue commercial interrupted occasionally for a few downs of football. Ever wonder why soccer never caught on in the U.S.?  Not enough time outs for the commercials.  When the soccer players play their game, they're actually playing instead of standing around after yet another time out, patting each other on the ass and discussing the next 4 second play with the sideline coaches.  No thanks folks, I caught onto the NFL scam years ago.  And no, big lugs in skin tight football pants doesn't do anything for me.

Whatever

Abrupt change of subject!  I'm just about to make a decision about dropping my $59.99 a month land line phone.  I bought a Magic Jack phone at Walmart this morning to replace it but once I got home I thought "What am I doing? 95% of my calls will still be from marketers like Credit Card Service."  I have a wonder iPhone which is never more than six inches (don't go there) from me (in my side pocket).  My only regret should I get rid of my landline is that I have a easy to remember phone number.  I'll make my decision tomorrow but I'm really leaning towards make the break for good.  Hard for this old bird to change a life long habit.  

Another abrupt change of subject. I got the stitches out of the slices of flesh that were taken from me by dermatologist last week.  The good news is that both biopsies came out clean. Thank God, my dermatologist did drop the word "melanoma" because of the uneven borders of the growths on my skin next to my ear and on my knee. The bad news is that I when my stitches were removed they hurt like Hell.  I've had them removed before with no problem but this time the (new?) guy picked and poked at the stitches.  The patch of skin that was sliced next to my right knee is still inflamed and icky looking.  I may have to call their office tomorrow about that.  It should have been on the healing mode by now, based on my past experiences.  Always something isn't it.  I think I even have a slight fever.  Great.  This is all I need.

A couple of weeks ago, someone who I didn't even know posted a comment on Facebook that I and some other person who I don't know should take the lead in helping some of the members of our community (LGBT) with their medical appointments, shopping and such.  Hey folks, I have my hands full just taking care of myself and my 85 year old spouse.  Nothing like a major guilt trip posted on my Facebook account for all to see.  Here's my feelings on that move, we have an organization down here in Gayberry that purports to be for the "community" but they seem to be all about fund raising and not so much about helping members of the community, or at least what I can see from my vantage point.  Their "community" activity seems to be occasionally organizing a group of volunteers to clean up the yards of one of the low income (and drug infested) sections of Gayberry.  You know folks, I wasn't going to mention this little action (publicly suggesting) by folks who I don't know, but I had to get this off of my chest. No names but they know who they are. Mother Teresa I'm not. 

  
My car is major gunked up from all this snow, salt, slush and road spray.  Last night I went to the car wash, it was packed.  I had a hard time circling even to get out of there.  This morning I went early, confident in the knowledge that my slothful Milton neighbors would not be at the car wash at 8 am.  They weren't but none of the car wash bays were working.  Figures.  As I was leaving I told the mouth breathing car wash attendant "None of the bays are working."  He looked at me like I just stepped off a space ship.  I repeated my declaration.  I think the second time my statement sunk in because he turned to look at one of the bays.  I wheeled myself out of there and drove down to Walmart. A Walmart visit always lifts my spirits after early morning frustrations. 

Super Bowl 2013 Observations

Super Bowl 2013

Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to watch just a little bit of the much hyped Super Bowl game.  Actually what I wanted to see was how Beyonce sounded live, without the lip-synched backtrack.

So there I was, preparing my dinner with the TV on in the background and I saw one of the sports announcers interviewing the San Francisco Forty-Niners' quarterback, an odd looking fellow with the equally odd name of Colin Kaepernick.  Who was this?  He has that "Pirate Look" that has always triggered my darkest fantasies.

Colin Kaepernick - gorgeous!

As I was putting the tray of Adouille sausage and potato wedges in the oven for reheating, I heard this fellow Colin laughing and giving relaxed and honest answers to his interviewer.  No, this wasn't your usual zombie-like, monotoned dumb jock answering questions in one syllable, this was a real person.  He had a PERSONALITY. 

Graceful and beautiful as a gazelle

I closed the oven and got my kitchen chair and pulled it up on front of my kitchen TV, I had to see more of this unusual looking guy with the infectious smile.  Ah yes, I remember him now, I saw a story about him in the National Enquirer. His mother had given him up for adoption because he was mixed race (I assume) and she tried to contact him now that he's successful and famous but he didn't want to have anything to do with her. My goodness, was this guy ever attractive!  Move over Ryan and Bradley, I have a new heartthrob, oh my oh my, be still my.....well....um...you know.

The "other" GB - Joe Flacco versus Colin Kaepernick - one has a personality and the other has none.  Guess which one.

I decided to watch the game.  First Super Bowl I've watched in ten years.  Yes indeedy.

I used to be one of those fanatical football fans, the Philadelphia Eagles were my team of choice.  But I was so let down by them in the 2004 Super Bowl, that I just gave up.  Besides, I always thought the whole Super Bowl thing was over hyped.  The games I watched were always boring. Overhyped snorefests. 

Well folks, let me tell you, yesterday's game was anything but boring.  I didn't fall asleep once. Even the commercials, which is why I hate to watch live TV and always DVR whatever TV programs I watch, were interesting.  No, they weren't all good, in fact some of them were downright awful like the one with the beautiful model French kissing that repulsive nerd (God, who thought THAT was funny?)

I think what made this game so interesting for me was the fact that I was rooting for somebody, that "body" being Colin Kaepernick.  It's always more fun to watch a football game when you have an investment.  I just loved watching this guy move around the field. He was so lithe and graceful, like a gazelle.  I loved watching his facial expressions from disappointment when his throw was intercepted to pure joy when he ran into the end zone to score a touchdown and also make the longest run by a quarterback in Super Bowl history for a TD.  I wish I was there to give him a great big hug.....or more.  

I love the "Colin" smile and even that too-hickey on his chin-e-chin-chin-chin

I probably should have titled this posting "My Crush on Colin" but I do have other observations about the Super Bowl, snarky observations.  Now wouldn't you be disappointed if I didn't have my usual snarky comments?  I strive to not disappoint.

So what was the deal with the Baltimore Ravens' and their black Spandex outfits?  Wow.  They looked like a bunch of black widow spiders.

What?  Trying out for the Baltimore Ballet?

So what about Beyonce, the original reason I tuned into the Super Bowl festivities?  Well folks, she was fabulous!  Congrats to Beyonce, your show may have blown out have the SuperDome lights but it was worth it.  You put on a fantastic show.  You are redeemed Beyonce for your lip-synching goof at the President Obama's inauguration.  Beyonce can sing!  Who knew?

The fabulous Beyonce!

Now about some of those commercials, I can't go into them all but I'll pick out a few of them that stuck in my mind for good or bad.  Of course the bad ones tend to stick in my mind more than the good ones.   This Go Daddy commercial was probably the worst.  I had to take a shower after watching this.  What were they thinking? The beautiful model Bar Refaeli (and former girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio) swaps spit with a truly repulsive nerd (there are cute nerds, why not use one of them?)  All I could think of after watching this commercial was "What the hell?" Actually I used a different word at the end beginning with an "F" and ending with a "K" but this is a family blog so I had to clean it up a bit.  One thing is fer sure, Leo isn't going to tongue check Bar anytime soon.

Way high on the ick factor

Oh, then there was the Samsung smart phone commercial with those two smart asses Paul Rudd (who I absolutely cannot stand, he reminds me of a bobble head doll) and Seth Rogen.  I think they were trying to be funny with all the inside jokes but they were just annoying, as usual for these two overrated actors (?) These self-satisfied jerks seem to always permeate the entertainment industry.  I never been able to understand who finds them attractive or interesting.  BORING.  

Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd - Go Away

One commercial that I really like was the one with the Doritos eating goat.  The aggressive Doritos eating goat.  No self absorbed actors to get in the way of the commercial, just a funny, entertaining message of how good Doritos are and I should know.  I'm about to have my daily fix in about an hour for lunch. No goats in this house, thankfully.


Oh, how about the commercial the beach bunny chowing down on a hamburger.  I'm gay but I can see the appeal to straight guys.  Sexy commercial guys, sexy.

Ever notice when they have a beautiful women in a commercial they almost always have her putting something in her mouth?  A subliminal message maybe?  Just saying.

But then if one wants to talk sexy, and this 100% gay guy here (that would be me) does, this is who held my attention yesterday, Colin.