Saint Tacky

Our fourth missed his flight from Phoenix and I paid for my entire trip by selling his ticket about an hour before kickoff.

There are actually four Scout programs that are co-ed. Venturer Guides, Sea Scouting, Exploring, and Learning for Life. Nothing will change and the sky isn't falling. I tell parents in our Troop that if you believe in Scouting, then you must believe that spreading the ideology, challenges, and advantages of Scouting is a good thing. The world needs more people that believe in and abide by the Scout Oath and Scout Law, not less. Let me know how it goes.

Such as the Sopranos, right?

FIFY

I rushed out of the Rose Bowl after the trophy presentation to get to LAX for a red-eye back to Houston and then a connection to Columbus for my sister-in-law's funeral the next morning (my wife insisted I go to the game). I'm waiting to board my flight, still decked out in Texas gear, when a t-shirt USC fan coming off the plane actually starts talking shit about how USC is going to crush Texas. MF'er didn't even know the game just took place. I don't even remember what I said to him, but I do remember how happy I was to say it.

England or Argentina. Winner gets the Falklands.

I love this first-round match-up. It brings up great memories of my first trip to Omaha and the 1985 CWS. Before our game with Arkansas the Texas "Wild Bunch" had a pig roast in the parking lot right outside of Rosenblatt. Afterwards they stuck the head of the pig on top of a broomstick and we walked all the way around to the other side of the stadium simply so we could walk in front of the Arkansas fans behind a person carrying the severed pig's head, screaming "send the Hogs home!" The pig head was then passed over the top of the dugout and placed on top of the Texas bat rack. Bill Bates led off the bottom of the 10th with a triple down the right field line and with no outs they walked the next two hitters. "Send the Hogs home" was in a pitched frenzy when they then proceeded to walk in the winning run. We lost our first game of the CWS the next day, and I had to hoof it back to Austin right after for summer school. Monday's deciding game was rained out and Tuesday was a real kick in the balls.

Our Troop enjoyed BTSR so much last summer, that they wanted to go back this summer; however, the "boy led Troop" was hijacked by a Mom with an agenda and they are going to Constantine. We were caught in a flash-flood on a trek to "the Needle" and 99% of the kids will tell you it was their favorite part of the entire trip. Thanks for the heads-up.

Peep this. Each week me and my boy, you know, we go to different theaters and stuff and sneak in and check out the movie.

Durango is our non-BSA target (or, was). We are eyeballing what's going on up there very closely. My personal preference is Northern Tier, but a couple of the kids on our Philmont trek just did Northern Tier last summer and aren't as anxious to go as we are. We've been up there for Okpik, so we know the scenery and can imagine how difficult it would be. Another option would be to call Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch between Balmorhea and Fort Davis and ask if we could come out there and do their boundary trail.

REI Garage Sale today. Made a beeline for the tents and grabbed as many red and orange bags as I could get in my hands. Put them up one by one and bought a MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 for $120. It needs to have one segment of the pole repaired. Also, picked up a near-pristine Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 for $250.

3 miles up, 3 miles down. Hi Ho Silver! Seriously. She can do it if she's fit. Though I've never done it during the summer. We've always done it in January. We left at 6 a.m. and hit the top right around lunch time. Took lots of breaks, primarily because it was alternating between light snow and sleet. It's a great experience. What I hated the most were all the "false" summits. There were a half-dozen times I thought, "hoo-damn-ray, we're here!" only to find out that we weren't. Made it back down in a fraction of the time.

We are already signed up for Sea Base scuba diving next July. So, I don't know what we are going to do. I'll probably suggest Philmont for us in June and send my Scout to Sea Base w/o me in July.

I really do appreciate all the suggestions. i just thought you might find it interesting that BSA is working overtime to create opportunities for us this summer at the other high adventure camps, Northern Tier and Seabase. Lots to think about in a short period of time.

Cedar Mesa looks amazing. It's been on my bucket list since I first starting seeing pictures and hearing about it. But, 14-15 hours in a van may be too much though. Plus, I'd prefer to spend more than just a few days running about in between van rides. Someday!

Welp. Bad news. Email from Philmont today says our trek this summer is cancelled due to the wildfire that is currently raging unchecked. We are beyond disappointed, but the safety of the firefighters and staff is our utmost concern. SO, I NEED YOUR HELP. We are looking for a week-long trek (7/7 - 7/15) to substitute for the two-weeks we lost at Philmont. It must be within driving distance of the Metroplex (8-12 hours, after all we were driving to Philmont). Somewhere challenging and memorable, that the kids will enjoy. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Arkansas (Fayettenam) AT&T (Big12 Title Game & UCLA) Auburn Baylor (Floyd Casey) Boise State (does getting drunk and sneaking in after dark count?) Cal Central Michigan Colorado Cotton Bowl Houston (old, Astrodome & Robertson) Houston Astrodome (Bluebonnet Bowl, real old) Ole Miss LSU Missouri Nebraska Notre Dame Ohio State Penn State Meadowlands, NJ (Penn State) Michigan State Rice SMU (Texas Stadium) Syracuse TCU Tech Tennessee Texas Texas aTm UCLA (@Rose Bowl) USC UTEP (@Sun Bowl) UTSA (Alamodome for Big12 Title Game)

never go full retard

"Question for those who have seen it - I didn't understand one thing:"

It's been reported that there was one NFC team that had him completely off their draft board due to a neck injury, but as stated previously the Cowboy doctors had checked him out and given him a thumbs-up

Agreed. I love watching position runs with everyone scrambling to get into the mix while the getting is good. Its more interesting than just waiting for the next pick to be turned in. The Giants taking a QB could also be the best case scenario for the Browns. Their number four pick then becomes even more coveted by that franchise trying to jump into the QB run, or steal Saquon Barkley, or Bradley Chubb. The Saints are now alleged to be looking to move into the QB mix. Swap first round picks with New Orleans, take the Guard from UTEP later in the first round and stockpile more picks.

This. Straight up blind taste test and Ohio sweet corn destroys that ethanol product they grow in Nebraska

Our last trip to Lincoln I walked out of the stadium thanking the College Football Gods that I would never have to return to Lincoln, Nebraska - ever - again. To put the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on those sentiments an elderly Husker fan must have seen the smile on my face and cut a beeline through the crowd to plant herself in front of me to give me an earful. She promptly told me to fuck off and that despite the results was had observed just a few paces away, that we sucked and Nebraska would kick our ass in the Big 12 Championship Game. To which I just smiled and politely explained that her beloved Huskers had just lost to the worst Longhorn team in the better part of a decade, with Garrett Gilbert at quarterback. Not only did Texas have no business winning in Lincoln that day, but that there wasn't even a snowball's chance in hell there would be an opportunity for a grudge match in the title game. In fact, you probably even won't live long enough to see Nebraska and Texas play again. It makes me warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it.

and, Good Will Hunting. Not in the ballpark, but geographic theme is on point. "Ibid, your Honor."

Casey Affleck was so good in GBG he almost pushes GBG past Mystic River on his own. But, too much talent in Mystic River. I like The Town just for the car chase scene. "Now that's how you drive a fucking car."