The first -
NC State is currently #45 in the RPI having played the 3rd toughest schedule in America. 6 points (UNC, ND, Wofford) from being Top 20.
And the second - LOL -
Monday, January 26, 2015
NC State Haiku
Following last night's thrilling game with ND - There were a couple posts on StateFansNation that I thought were pretty good:
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Weekend Update 1/24/2015
Saturday
Spotted a 3 lb top sirloin roast on sale a couple weeks ago - half price. Put it in the freezer. This wasn't a less tender cut - it really was a sirloin. Price was $12 marked down from $24. Don't know why they didn't cut it up into steaks.
Anyway, took it out of the freezer and into the fridge Friday to thaw. Saturday morning I first cut 2 thick 1-1/2 inch steaks out of the middle and put them back in the freezer. Browned the rest of the roast (two pieces now) and put into the crock pot along with red potatoes, celery, and carrots (browned the carrots and potatoes a little also).
Came out great. What's on the platter is just one of the portions of roast and most of the veggies. Looks small from the angle. The rest was still in the cooker.
Great winter comfort food on a chilly winter day.
I cut up spring onions instead of regular ones. I'd use regular ones in the future. But the interesting thing was I used scissors to cut the green tops into small pieces and put them in the bottom of the crock pot under the roast - For seasoning / flavor - along with ground pepper and kosher salt. The liquid was just regular water (from deglazing the pan where I browned the roast first) and a little red wine. The green onions completely dissolved during cooking! I've never seen that happen before. And you could taste them in the veggies. Really good - but kind of weird seeing them disappear like that.
Sunday
Notre Dame at NC State at 6:30. Usually Sunday games are in the afternoon. Kind of rare to have a late Sunday game. But - TV / ESPN sets the time. So be it.
Winning would really help our RPI and NCAAT seeding. Plus - we just want, and need, to win.
We are thinking about stopping at KFC on the way. Maybe get a box - eat there and bring home the rest for later in the week.
Addendum
Lost by 3 in overtime.
Actually, we should have won by 4 in Regulation, But we screwed up on our last 2 offensive possessions. The first - we missed a sure score that would have put us up by 4. Then we turned over our in bounds pass.
We were still in it during overtime. But we were a bit deflated by regulation and ND had the momentum.
Still - a great game. We can win any game we play.
Good riddance to Herb Sendek.
Spotted a 3 lb top sirloin roast on sale a couple weeks ago - half price. Put it in the freezer. This wasn't a less tender cut - it really was a sirloin. Price was $12 marked down from $24. Don't know why they didn't cut it up into steaks.
Anyway, took it out of the freezer and into the fridge Friday to thaw. Saturday morning I first cut 2 thick 1-1/2 inch steaks out of the middle and put them back in the freezer. Browned the rest of the roast (two pieces now) and put into the crock pot along with red potatoes, celery, and carrots (browned the carrots and potatoes a little also).
Came out great. What's on the platter is just one of the portions of roast and most of the veggies. Looks small from the angle. The rest was still in the cooker.
Great winter comfort food on a chilly winter day.
I cut up spring onions instead of regular ones. I'd use regular ones in the future. But the interesting thing was I used scissors to cut the green tops into small pieces and put them in the bottom of the crock pot under the roast - For seasoning / flavor - along with ground pepper and kosher salt. The liquid was just regular water (from deglazing the pan where I browned the roast first) and a little red wine. The green onions completely dissolved during cooking! I've never seen that happen before. And you could taste them in the veggies. Really good - but kind of weird seeing them disappear like that.
Sunday
Notre Dame at NC State at 6:30. Usually Sunday games are in the afternoon. Kind of rare to have a late Sunday game. But - TV / ESPN sets the time. So be it.
Winning would really help our RPI and NCAAT seeding. Plus - we just want, and need, to win.
We are thinking about stopping at KFC on the way. Maybe get a box - eat there and bring home the rest for later in the week.
Addendum
Lost by 3 in overtime.
Actually, we should have won by 4 in Regulation, But we screwed up on our last 2 offensive possessions. The first - we missed a sure score that would have put us up by 4. Then we turned over our in bounds pass.
We were still in it during overtime. But we were a bit deflated by regulation and ND had the momentum.
Still - a great game. We can win any game we play.
Good riddance to Herb Sendek.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Movie and a Game
Movie
Watched The Grand Budapest Hotel last night.
I'm am NOT a Wes Anderson fan. I think he's way overrated. However, this time he's hit a home rum. The Grand Budapest Hotel is outstanding and highly entertaining.
Basketball
We lost to Miami last night. We clearly looked like the better, more talented team - Miami just outplayed us. That, and a lot of shots we put up just wouldn't go in. And foolish turnovers. It was like we were half-a-bubble off all night.
It really would have helped our NCAAT seeding if we had won that game. On the other hand, the loss helps Miami move off the bubble and solidly in to the tournament.
Sunday is home vs. Notre Dame. A win will really help State in a lot of ways.
Watched The Grand Budapest Hotel last night.
I'm am NOT a Wes Anderson fan. I think he's way overrated. However, this time he's hit a home rum. The Grand Budapest Hotel is outstanding and highly entertaining.
Basketball
We lost to Miami last night. We clearly looked like the better, more talented team - Miami just outplayed us. That, and a lot of shots we put up just wouldn't go in. And foolish turnovers. It was like we were half-a-bubble off all night.
It really would have helped our NCAAT seeding if we had won that game. On the other hand, the loss helps Miami move off the bubble and solidly in to the tournament.
Sunday is home vs. Notre Dame. A win will really help State in a lot of ways.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
I Love Watching These Kids Play Basketball
Unless you watched the game, you won't know what it's like.
This State team never, ever gives up.
Down by 10 with under 3 minutes left? No problem, Plenty of time to come back.
Down 2 with 7 seconds? Heck - we can force 3 or 4 more trips to the foul line and possessions till it's 0.2 seconds and down by 3. All we have to do is sink the first free throw, bounce the second off the rim and put it back for overtime. Damn near happened too! LOL
In this stretch we've played the number 3 team (and a close loss), the number 2 team (a win) and the number 15 team (close loss). On paper, we should have lost to all three rather handily.
I love watching these kids play.
It really is too bad we lost to the UNCheaters.
This State team never, ever gives up.
Down by 10 with under 3 minutes left? No problem, Plenty of time to come back.
Down 2 with 7 seconds? Heck - we can force 3 or 4 more trips to the foul line and possessions till it's 0.2 seconds and down by 3. All we have to do is sink the first free throw, bounce the second off the rim and put it back for overtime. Damn near happened too! LOL
In this stretch we've played the number 3 team (and a close loss), the number 2 team (a win) and the number 15 team (close loss). On paper, we should have lost to all three rather handily.
I love watching these kids play.
It really is too bad we lost to the UNCheaters.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
It's college basketball season so I'm either watching games on TV or, sometimes, there's a weekend home NC State game.
So here's a typical winter Sunday.
Woke up around 6 AM as I always do. Did a few minor chores around the house. And I spent some time reading a mediocre book by Michael Crichton - Prey. But, not bad enough to quit reading.
Around mid-morning I soaked in the hot tub for a while. The colder the weather, the better the hot tub soak.
Then around 11:00 we left to get lunch and to go to the Dook at NC State basketball game.
I had to remember to bring a coupon for a BOGO McDonald's foo foo coffee. The coupon expires today so we'll get 2 mocha's after the game for the drive home.
Oh yeah, that's a urine sample in the jar that tastes amazingly like 8 year old bourbon.
Lunch was at Outback Steakhouse. Got there before noon so there were only a couple tables used. We asked the hostess for a table / chairs - and specifically ask for 'not a booth'. So, she promptly takes us to - a table that is a booth on one side, chair on the other. Yeah, one of us wants to sit in a chair facing a wall and neither of us want the booth seat.
Look young lady, 1) there's NOBODY HERE so there's about 2 dozen tables available and 2) we asked for a table and explicitly requested 'not a booth'. We understand you're young and still learning the whole 'how to work' thing - but open your damn ears. Jeebus.
We asked (nicely) again for a table without booth seating. Got a great waiter. Very great personality and cheerful - really made up for the hostess lack of IQ or ability to listen.
I had the soup and salad, Nuke got the small steak and a beer. Outback is a very conventional mass oriented restaurant chain - but they have their formula down pat and they prepare very good food at an amazingly reasonable price. Plus - we had - yes - another coupon.
After lunch - On to the game.
NC State sends out football and basketball season tickets in spiral bound books. Makes it great to keep track of the tickers. I leave mine in the seat pocket of the car - so we never 'forget' to bring the tickets.
Dook is ranked Number 2 in the nation. Going into the game, I just wanted us to play well.
We're in the midst of a tough schedule of games. We lost on the road to Number 3 Virginia. Even though we were right with them till about 8 or 9 minutes to go in the second half. We played well - but - the better team won.
Today, I kind of figured we'd lose. I never imagined we'd win. Much less in such a dominating fashion. We absolutely controlled Dook in the second half. Although, with Dook - it's never over till it's over. The Dookies played hard, in your face, defense till the last few seconds of the game. What a great game.
During halftime, visited with our friend Chip, who works at the PNC. Forgot to take a photo for today's blog entry. Sorry Chip. But, you can see the previous blog entry for a photo of 'future Chip' - LOL
We talked a bit about maybe getting together at his and Erica's casa for the Superbowl. Will communicate and see what's what.
After the game, stopped at the McD's near the arena and got 2 medium mocha coffees - which we spiked with a little libation. It made for a tasty beverage on the way home. But not anywhere near enough to cause problems driving. I wouldn't do that. If I had to guess - I'd say I would have blown maybe a 0.00001. Most of the libation went into Nuke's coffee. Mine was just a taste floated on top.
Now it's evening. And we're home.
I'm watching the NFL playoff game. Nuke is in his lair watching the game, listening to music and monitoring world events on the computer.
Nuke has great taste in music. Sometimes, like right now while I'm writing and editing this post, I'll put the TV on mute and listen to what he's playing - even though it's upstairs and his door to the stairs is closed.
For example, the last four songs he's played are (clickable links): Green Car Motel - Destino de Abril; Eddie Vedder (cover) - Hard Sun; Civil Twilight - Letters from the Sky and Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans.
So - that's what a typical winter Sunday is like at the Bill household in the Greater Moncure Metro Area.
So here's a typical winter Sunday.
Woke up around 6 AM as I always do. Did a few minor chores around the house. And I spent some time reading a mediocre book by Michael Crichton - Prey. But, not bad enough to quit reading.
Hot Tub
Around mid-morning I soaked in the hot tub for a while. The colder the weather, the better the hot tub soak.
Nuke Getting Ready for the Game
Then around 11:00 we left to get lunch and to go to the Dook at NC State basketball game.
Coupon
I had to remember to bring a coupon for a BOGO McDonald's foo foo coffee. The coupon expires today so we'll get 2 mocha's after the game for the drive home.
Oh yeah, that's a urine sample in the jar that tastes amazingly like 8 year old bourbon.
Lunch at Outback Steakhouse
Lunch was at Outback Steakhouse. Got there before noon so there were only a couple tables used. We asked the hostess for a table / chairs - and specifically ask for 'not a booth'. So, she promptly takes us to - a table that is a booth on one side, chair on the other. Yeah, one of us wants to sit in a chair facing a wall and neither of us want the booth seat.
Look young lady, 1) there's NOBODY HERE so there's about 2 dozen tables available and 2) we asked for a table and explicitly requested 'not a booth'. We understand you're young and still learning the whole 'how to work' thing - but open your damn ears. Jeebus.
We asked (nicely) again for a table without booth seating. Got a great waiter. Very great personality and cheerful - really made up for the hostess lack of IQ or ability to listen.
I had the soup and salad, Nuke got the small steak and a beer. Outback is a very conventional mass oriented restaurant chain - but they have their formula down pat and they prepare very good food at an amazingly reasonable price. Plus - we had - yes - another coupon.
After lunch - On to the game.
Ticket Book
NC State sends out football and basketball season tickets in spiral bound books. Makes it great to keep track of the tickers. I leave mine in the seat pocket of the car - so we never 'forget' to bring the tickets.
Moments Before Tip-off
Dook is ranked Number 2 in the nation. Going into the game, I just wanted us to play well.
We're in the midst of a tough schedule of games. We lost on the road to Number 3 Virginia. Even though we were right with them till about 8 or 9 minutes to go in the second half. We played well - but - the better team won.
Today, I kind of figured we'd lose. I never imagined we'd win. Much less in such a dominating fashion. We absolutely controlled Dook in the second half. Although, with Dook - it's never over till it's over. The Dookies played hard, in your face, defense till the last few seconds of the game. What a great game.
State upsets Number 2 Dook by 12 points
Team and Kids Take the Court
During halftime, visited with our friend Chip, who works at the PNC. Forgot to take a photo for today's blog entry. Sorry Chip. But, you can see the previous blog entry for a photo of 'future Chip' - LOL
We talked a bit about maybe getting together at his and Erica's casa for the Superbowl. Will communicate and see what's what.
After the game, stopped at the McD's near the arena and got 2 medium mocha coffees - which we spiked with a little libation. It made for a tasty beverage on the way home. But not anywhere near enough to cause problems driving. I wouldn't do that. If I had to guess - I'd say I would have blown maybe a 0.00001. Most of the libation went into Nuke's coffee. Mine was just a taste floated on top.
Now it's evening. And we're home.
Indianapolis @ Denver
I'm watching the NFL playoff game. Nuke is in his lair watching the game, listening to music and monitoring world events on the computer.
Nuke has great taste in music. Sometimes, like right now while I'm writing and editing this post, I'll put the TV on mute and listen to what he's playing - even though it's upstairs and his door to the stairs is closed.
For example, the last four songs he's played are (clickable links): Green Car Motel - Destino de Abril; Eddie Vedder (cover) - Hard Sun; Civil Twilight - Letters from the Sky and Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans.
So - that's what a typical winter Sunday is like at the Bill household in the Greater Moncure Metro Area.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
I Can See the Future - It's Got a Multi-Color Mohawk
Time
for a weekend report.
State
played at Virginia this week. Lost by 10 but the game was much closer than the
score. It was a back and forth one point game until about 9 minutes to go. That’s
when Virginia went on a 10 point run and that’s where it stayed till the end.
It
was a great game and I’m very happy with how NC State plays. Intensity right to
the end. As Nuke pointed out, we can screw up, but we don’t wholesale mess up
like we used to. We make mistakes but we play hard right through it. Young
team. I sure hope they stay together and nobody gets the big head and turns pro
too early. Stay together, we’ll only get better and better.
Sunday
Dook comes to the ESA / RBC / PNC / ABCDEFG. I hope we play well again. With
the home court crowd – there’s always the possibility of an upset win. Our guys
can play with anybody (well, Kentucky . . . .) – but, can we play with them the
whole game and finish to win?
Future Chip
We
have a friend, Chip, who is always saying he wants to move to Seattle.
Went
over to Hwy 55 Burgers in Pittsboro for lunch Saturday.
While
we’re waiting on our orders, Nuke looks over at the counter, laughs and says “There’s
Chip when he moves to Seattle”.
ROFL
Yep
– and here’s the photo:
Karl
Hess
Karl
Hess is actually one of the best college basketball referees. Except when he has his head shoved up his ass. Which happens way too much.
This
week the ACC finally ‘disassociated’ itself from Karl Hess. Which is another
way of saying the ACC has fired him from working in the ACC.
Other
conferences will follow. As will the NCAA.
Good
riddance to an egotistical arrogant jack-ass.
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