Sigh . . .

Herb Sendek Frank Beemer Wins a Game

State loses to the nut less, flightless Birds of Blacksburg. Frank gets to keep his job and doom VT to yet another year of slightly better than average football.

Last week, State basically gave the game to Louisville.

This week, State continued to lose by making inexplicable errors, but to their credit, Virginia Tech actually put forth a good effort and won the game.

The thing is - before the season started, State looked like it would have a really good 8 and 4 season. I figured our losses would be to Louisville, VT, Clemson and Florida State. With a close game to UNC.

So far, it's working out that way. Except that Louisville and VT are not nearly as good as I had expected. The losses are the same as expected - but it just seems like State is losing badly played games to bad teams. Not close, well played games to great teams. But crappy games to somewhat crappy teams. It just doesn't feel good.

Actually - VT started out looking pretty crappy against Pittsburgh and especially to EZU. Last night - VT looked pretty good.

Also, I bought into the hype that maybe, just maybe, State was getting ready to take that next step up - and a 10 and 2 season was a realistic possibility.

Nope.

We are still a very young team - mostly sophomores and red-shirt freshmen. An 8 and 4 season is a great accomplishment for where we are. And we'll get better. The bad feeling is mostly our own making. Counting chickens before they hatch. It's a process and we have to be realistic.

But I still can't believe the way we are losing. We're playing and looking worse than we are. Even if we lose - we need to step it up. We can definitely play better than we have against L'ville and Tech.

Next up - a bye week and then Wake Forest. We should win easily. And probably will.

Focus

Did not get the car towed to the shop. Instead, I recalled the last time the battery died (due to old age) - the symptoms were the same. Lots of sparks and smoke when I tried to boost it. And, speaking with Bill H (Cameron Village Auto) - he said it is more common nowadays for old batteries to short out. Seems they used to just give out - without all the drama. What makes them short out? It's a mystery.

Anyway, picked up a new battery ($103 plus tax) - put it in - car started right up. Saved a towing expense.

The car has 210,000 miles - the truck 160,000. Getting my money's worth out of them. I expect both to last till 250,000 miles. Looks like they'll exceed expectations.

As long as they are reasonably repairable (alternators, power steering pumps, things like that) - I'll keep them. I doubt I'll replace either of them unless the engines ass-plode.

Sunday

I still need to cut the grass.

It's still raining.

Woulda Coulda Shoulda

Louisville 20 - NC State 13

Don't get me wrong - Louisville is a very good team and won the game. But NC State helped Louisville win by making so many unforced mistakes - especially on offense. We just kept getting in our own way.

The game was so close throughout that it just seemed that any moment NC State was going to get it's act together and start dominating. We'd make great defensive plays time and time again on first and second down - big huge stops, sacking the quarterback, putting Louisville into 3rd and really long - and then boom - just like that - Louisville makes the play to get a first down. Over and over.

Likewise on offense. State made some great highlight reel long plays - and then had to punt.

It wasn't even a fun close game - the kind where both teams play great and it's sad one team has to lose. Nope - not this game. It was more like watching two teams not execute. And in addition to not executing, State added blunder after blunder.

Not fun at all.

Really, a disappointing game. We really should have won. Solidly. We just didn't.

WallyWorld

Went to two different WalMarts in Raleigh last week to stock up on cheap disposable rain ponchos. I've always kept them in the truck for football games. Was down to my last three. Both WalMarts were sold out.

So, I went to WalMart in Sanford on Thursday. They had them in stock. Bought ten. However - all this is beside the point.

They were putting out CHRISTMAS merchandise. The first day of October.

Sunday

Breakfast Special - $4.99 - including coffee.

Had breakfast at Fairview Dairy Bar. The place that had the fire. The original had lots of stuff on the walls - all lost in the fire. The rebuilt Dairy Bar walls now has large photos of the old Dairy Bar.

Here's a shot of the interior.

And a close up showing a photo of the same shot of the original Dairy Bar.

The original Dairy Bar had a larger than life photo of Marilyn Monroe - in all her bosomy splendor.

Well, obviously blurry.
As we all know - bosomy splendor is always better in real life.

Focus

After breakfast, drove to Raleigh to Chip and Erica's casa. Chip had borrowed my car while his was in the shop. Got his car back but then mine wouldn't start. Sounds like a drained battery. Might have left a light on or a door not quite closed and the interior light on.

Anyway, drove up there - hooked up the cables to jump start the car. Rather - attempted to hook up the jumper cables. Much sparks, smoke and fireworks!

Hmmm - on second thought, let's not jump start the car. Looks like we'll be getting it towed to my long time mechanic - Bill H. at Cameron Village Auto.

Nothing much else going on. I need to mow the grass but it's too wet.

I received a summons for jury duty for next week. But - per the Friday evening confirmation call - service not required and I'm excused. This has been the case for every time I've received a summons. Which is fine by me. I do not want to have to sit in judgement of other people.