Random Thoughts for the Week of April 30, 2012

• In all the excitement and anticipation and planning and thinking about Mindi, Alex and I moving back to Omaha … I forgot to tell my own parents.  I just thought I did at some point.  Well, my out-of-the-blue e-mail requesting use of their home during the transition must have been quite the shocker.  E-mail is an impersonal tool for communication, so I can only assume that my parents jumped for joy at the news, in spite of the lousy way they received it.  Sorry guys!
• Listening to the audio version, so far I don’t see the big deal about “Fifty Shades of Grey.”  It’s a very basic story almost exactly like the Twilight saga so far.  Supposedly it’s going to get steamy.  Meh.  We’ll see.  Could make mowing the lawn a little more exciting though.
• Snookie, please, have your child and disappear into a happy, private life.  Please.  Oh, and take the cast of Teen Mom with you.
• The world will be a better place without the NFL Pro Bowl and with a BCS playoff system.
• With every episode I like Person of Interest more and more.  I love how they extend the arc story all the while dealing with the true story of helping people.  Of course this week Finch correctly asked, “Did we really help anything?”  Can they every week?  I want to keep watching to find out.
• My guilty pleasure since moving to Columbus:  CW’s Vampire Diaries.  Sure, it’s 90210 meets Twilight.  The vamps can walk in the sun thanks to a seemingly endless supply of magic rings.  They’re sultry, evil creatures that somehow still get the high school kids to fall for them.  Even still, the mythology and most of the characters are interesting me.  And Elaina is easy on the eyes.  The hybrids are just stupid.
• For the past few days I’ve been all but sedentary.  I never felt the effect so powerfully.  I was a piece of shit Sunday morning with no energy, drive or even desire to get up off the couch.  After forcing myself to vacuum the house, the effect was gone and I felt alive again.  Yeah, won’t let that happen again.  I don’t like being the Pity Monster.
• I think the NFL Network’s Top 100 players lists are a waste of ink.  Seriously, who gives a shit?  What’s more, the criteria they use to set the list is so subjective it’s barely quantifiable much less logical.  But, it is a good way to pass the time until August, so all the power to them.
• I watched Veep.  I didn’t laugh.  Once.  Dumbest thing I’ve seen since “Bean.”

RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NFL DRAFT

• The new CBA definitely changed the nature of the first round to what I think it should be like … teams vying with each other to get the players they want, regardless of the potential costs involved.  No longer is the #6 pick so expensive to a team that they will refuse to move up and get the player they want.  Teams now effectively trade with lower-round picks to score position in top rounds.  I have to say the biggest winner of the draft this year were the GM’s and how they managed the trades.  Very cool.  Also kept it interesting for the viewers.
• Andrew Luck is one weird looking and sounding guy.
• Was it just me or did Jon Gruden look like he was falling asleep behind that desk?
• Chris Berman, I’m a huge fan and still think you and Tom Jackson are the best analysts out there today.  But you were out of your comfort zone this weekend, and we could tell.  Your fillers were unenlightened, and your commentary watered down and tasteless.  Stick to your Sunday job next year.
• I like Calvin Johnson more after his humble appearance on stage.
• Roger Goddell is quite the hugger.  So is RGIII.
• My passing grades on the draft go to the teams that needed the most help (Rams, Bucs, Colts, Redskins).  Each team filled their immediate needs with strong players who will impact immediately.  Of course, they need to gel quickly in order to translate that to wins.  So, don’t flounder on any of them if they still are sub-500 next year.  Given time and good coaching they’ll all come out way stronger.
• As expected, the Packers’ draft was pretty boring.  Even still, they drafted well, filling holes with key players that should see game time in their first season.
• Not only is Kirk Cousins not going to be a good NFL QB, he did not make things better for RGIII in Washington.  A bad pick.
• I like Russell Wilson in Seattle behind Flynn.  Let’s face it, Flynn is untested.  He’s got the bench experience and a couple of huge games under his belt, but he’s never led a team.  If he can’t do it, Wilson is a good person to turn to and take over.
• Don Banks pointed out that two of the Rams’ draft picks have been tased by police in the past year.  Hilarious.
• You read it here first, folks.  Ryan Tannehill is going to fail.  Maybe not Ryan Leaf fail, but maybe Matt Leinart fail.
• I would have been okay if the Packers had traded for Colt McCoy.  Right now, if Rodgers goes down, the season is over. 
• Did Oakland have any picks?
• I like the Browns picks, but I wonder if the fans will give these guys the years they need to develop into a power team.
• The Bengals could be scary good FF team this coming season, right up there with the Saints, Patriots and Packers.  How fucked up is that?
• I know a lot of writers, and Chris Berman, yelled at the top of their lungs for Kellen Moore to be drafted.  Little ol me, sitting here in Columbus with my limited knowledge of football, knows more than all of them.  Answer me this, folks … name one June Jones QB that actually translated to an NFL QB.  Yeah, they’re all pass happy, just like they were when he was coach at Hawaii.  It’s easy to get those numbers when 95% of the play calls are passes.  It’s easy to get those wins playing in weaker conferences.  That doesn’t happen in the NFL.  Hell, it shouldn’t happen in the NCAA.  But June’s QB’s like to throw, and it takes more than that to be an NFL QB.  Sorry, but I called this one better than you did.

ALEXANDER UPDATE

• Going to DC this week for work and then the self-imposed moratorium on travelling for me takes effect. The final stretch is most definitely in sight.
• Well, we’re pretty sure that Alex has dropped, which I now understand what that means.  All I know is he’s still confusing Mindi’s bladder for a pillow and that wakes us up even more often at night now.
• I think it’s sad I can’t remember more books from my childhood.  Mindi and I have walked around a few bookstores searching for good books to read to Alex as he’s prepping for bed.  I swear, I don’t remember anything I read or had read to me.  Thankfully, Mindi remembers a lot.  That and the big book of Mother Goose poems should help keep this from happening to Alex.  Not a complaint, mom and dad, just a little disappointing.