Here's What I'm Thinking

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 – Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport!

Posted on January 6, 2016 | 1 comment

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 – Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport! Or Some Puzzling Questions.

A most valued reader of Here’s What I’m Thinking left a football puzzle as a comment the other day. Thank you, Reader Reggie for reading and the comment. I do not know the answers so I am offering the puzzlers to others today. I can think of many D-I college football coaches that are considered donkeys, but I am going have to jump around online to research coaching kangaroos.

And now, jumping to our puzzle.

“Dear Madam Rose……… Now that most bowl games are behind us…….until 1/11 that is…… here are a series of bowl related puzzlers to ponder while waiting for the Ags to select a QB and/or OC.

A Div 1 bowl team is blessed with a kangaroo for a head coach. Can you name the coach & team ?

A different Div1 bowl team’s head coach has kangaroos on his résumé……..as well as the Hall of Fame. Can you name the coach?

Yet another Div 1 bowl team, in a record tying victory, utilized a QB who is a member of a kangaroo family. Can you name the team & QB ?

Hint….think Old Main.”

Initial thoughts.

# 1: Too bad it is not Kliff Kingsbury from Tortilla Tech. It would make such great alliteration.
# 2: Dear Coach Kingsbury, I know you love your alma mater, and you are cranking it up a notch, but just in case you have not heard, the Offensive Coordinator position is open at Texas A&M.
# 3: One QB has already selected the Texas Aggies and with high school signing day now less than a month I am sure others will select the Harvard on the Brazos as their choice. Meanwhile – SEC! SEC! SEC! ROLL TIDE!

Old Main? – Sam Houston State University once had a building called Old Main.

I shall seek intellectual guidance and stimulation at the local Academic Salon where all Aggies go to think deep thoughts.

Campus tour 7.5.2014 2014-07-05 098 (800x600)

If you can solve the puzzle, please contact Reader Reggie for your prize. I think it is a stuffed kangaroo.

1 Comment

Posted in College Football, Native Texan

Tagged Alabama, college football, Kliff Kingsbury, Roll Tide, Texas Aggies, Texas Tech

2015 in review

Posted on January 5, 2016 | 1 comment

Tuesday, January 5, 2016 – I Would Like to Thank the Members of the Academy, my high school English teachers and you.

I am going to a meeting today so read this instead. Remember the goal of Here’s What I’m Thinking is to make at least one person smile/laugh and/or think every day.

Here is the Annual Report from the crunchy number people at WordPress about Here’s What I’m Thinking. Thank you again. Please continue to read and follow in 2016.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,500 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Monday, January 4, 2016 – The Last Monday After Saturday Football Awards for this Season

Posted on January 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

Monday, January 4, 2016 – The Last Monday After Saturday Football Awards for this Season

And then there was one. There is only one more college football game on January 11 between Clemson and Alabama for the National Football Championship. Then it is withdrawal until September, watching ESPN Classic on cable TV, or watching the 2005 National Championship game over and over on The Longhorn Network.

So today is my last college football awards until kickoff next Fall. And the winner is:

The backup to the backup to the backup … Quarterback. To the Jakes, Jarretts, Chrises, the Oregon back-up, all who stepped up when the guy in front of you left for whatever reason and especially to Bram Kolhausan from TCU: All of you win the Ready, Wait and Win Award. TCU – Thank you for a game for the ages. Thank goodness I flipped back to ESPN (who else?) just as the first of three overtimes began.

So if sports and athletics teach you about life, then learn from these back up players.

Be ready.
Never give up.
You are the best at what you do or you would not be where you are. But there is always somebody waiting just behind you who can take your place.
Regardless of how good you are, or think you are, you are not indispensable.

Photo by me – Cooper Landing, Alaska – 2014

Happy Monday. Roll Tide. Bye-Bye Coach Spavital. See if Uncle Will Muschamp needs any help at South Carolina.

SATURDAY, January 2, 2016 – A Special Saturday Announcement

Posted on January 2, 2016 | 2 comments

SATURDAY, January 2, 2016 – A Special Saturday Announcement

Attention all personnel! Another college bowl game recently added!

Attention all college football players recently suspended from your teams’ respective bowl games and colleges. Please report to your Mama, Your Auntie, your probation officer and/or the rec room in your city or county jail if you are currently incarcerated.

You have been selected to play in the Suspension Bowl brought to you by Bridges of Stupidity. You can play in this bowl game with other suspended players on an X-Box as you contemplate the consequences of your actions.

Buddy Glasses

2 Comments

Posted in College Football

Tagged college football, suspensions

Thursday, January 1, 2016 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted on January 1, 2016 | 7 comments

Thursday, January 1, 2016 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Did I not tell you that the Crimson Tide of Alabama would roll over the Michigan State Spartans like a Category 5 Gulf Coast hurricane blowing in during the night? I believe this hurricane was named Jacob. That is what you call a “storm surge.” One more game and Roll Tide. SEC! SEC! SEC! Then we can all go to the Wal-marts in Alabama to see the National Championship Trophy. I hope Larry Culpepper is there selling ice cold Dr. Pepper.

As for the Big 12 Conference – the good news was that a Big 12 team made the national playoff. The bad news was that the team was not from the state of Texas. Even worse news for some is that the school and team named Texas was not in any kind of playoff. And even worse than all of that, Oklahoma (OU) lost to Clemson.

However, it is a new year. Official high school signing day is slightly over than four weeks away. If you can run and throw a football, please call the Texas A&M Athletic Department. They are interested. If you can coordinate an offensive unit, please send your resume Attn: Texas A&M Football Program. If you are a realtor, the Sumlins would like to speak with you about future possibilities.

The Fedora brothers might just want to sign the entire Navasota Rattlers high team to the University of North Carolina. Bet you did not know the coaches for the two mentioned team are brothers, did you? I am so informative.

I hope today begins a wonderful and prosperous new year for you, your family and all the people you love.

Photo by me. The butterfly symbolizes transition.

Remember the goal of Here’s What I’m Thinking is to make at least one person smile, laugh and/or think every day. Thank you for reading, liking, and commenting.

ROLL TIDE!

And BTHO UCLA – Texas A&M opening game 2016!

7 Comments

Posted in College Football, Native Texan

Tagged 2015 College Football Bowl Games, Alabama, Big 12 Conference, Crimson Tide, National footbal championship, SEC, Texas A&M

December 31, 2015 – That Last Day of 2015 – The Hours are Slip Sliding Away

Posted on December 31, 2015 | Leave a comment

December 31, 2015 – That Last Day of 2015 – The Hours are Slip Sliding Away

And the sunset slowly sets on another year.

11.10.15 Veterans Park 2015-09-27 008 (601x800)

Photo by me. College Station, Texas 11.10.15

The Aggies were outscored and time ran out in the Music City Bowl. In spite of all the sour notes from Nashville, I am still proud of them as always.

I do have a question and a comment for the A&M coaching staff. I was wondering, like the entire Aggie nation, did you not watch any footage of the quarterback running to his left? I mean, he only ran it at least once in about every series. I actually kinda caught on to it about the third time and I do make enormous incomes as all of you do. And that change of cadence count at the line of scrimmage? Nice job, Louisville. I think that falls into the “Outcoached” file for A&M.

But let’s climb into the press box.

Andre Ware – we know where you attended college. (University of Houston, during the Southwest Conference days) Tom Hart, who are you?

Since both of you so subjectively offered your unwanted opinion on every topic from the broadcast booth, I wanted to share my opinion of both of you. I could wax and wane about your lack of objectivity when you only made positive comments toward The Cardinals. I could opine ad nausea as both of you did offering your personal and unwanted opinions regarding players, coaches, referees, the Fourth of July and the British royal family and the Kardashians having a cook out together that day. OK – I was just making up that last part.

I could go on and on about your commentary. However, let me just sum it up in two words – YOU SUCK! I did not think any two could be worse that Brent Mushburger and Old Florida quarterback, or the two idiots on CBS.

This just in from Aggieland – “I feel my hynie heating up.” Kevin Sumlin.

May the coming year bring peace, health, and happiness to all. Maybe it also bring several quarterbacks and at least a new offensive coordinator to College Station. And ROLL TIDE!

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 30, 2-15 – An Attack of Bureaucracy, Bears and Tigers and On My T-Shirt Soapbox

Posted on December 30, 2015 | 1 comment

Wednesday, December 30, 2-15 – An Attack of Bureaucracy, Bears and Tigers and On My T-Shirt Soapbox

But first – Who needs a quarterback when you can just run the football? Congratulations to Baylor and their record setting college football bowl game for most rushing yards. Run, Johnny, Run. Speaking of running and rushing, how about that Leonard Fournette? Geaux Tigers!

Texas Tech, the red shoes were working for you. They looked good on TV. Too bad you could not click your red shoes together three times and say “There’s no place like Lubbock.” You still have one of the best looking coaches and next year you will have a defense. Meanwhile, tie that quarterback down. He is a good one.

As I said, I had an attack of bureaucracy the other day when reading a Facebook post and decided to make up some rules to alleviate the attack.

The great, Kris Kristofferson sings the theme song of all bureaucracies “When you waste your time a talking to the people who don’t listen, who do you think’s gonna care?” Nevertheless, like all recovering bureaucrats, I am still going to respond. I told you I had an attack of bureaucracy, but I did not call together a committee or focus group. It is just my brain, as usual.

The individual’s post was the person’s reflection on college student athletes and their inability to articulate during an interview. The individual went on to say “perhaps the athletes should be required to take an English course to learn to speak.” I just happen to know the individual is a T-shirt wearer only and never attended college.

Here’s What I’m Thinking – There is a distinct difference between the individual who only wears the T-shirt of their favorite college or university and one who attended and earned it. We see the sacrifices from the inside not the outside. Unless one actually put in the sacrifices necessary to earn that T-shirt, one has a completely different perspective. This includes spouses’ and parents’ sacrifices so their husbands, wives, children and grandchildren could attend college and earn that T-shirt. An even better proof of sacrifice is the sheepskin with the funny looking letters written on it for the Baccalaurean Degrees (or other designated degrees) Sidebar: when is the last time you used “Baccalaurean” in a sentence? See what going to college can do?

Here are some thing for you to think about, FB Poster, before you criticize a student athlete and their skill sets.

Rule 1 – NEVER criticize the student-athlete. This is a young person who is performing in a classroom setting that just happens to have millions of people watching.

Rule 2 – Do not make judgements based on a single interview of an individual player.

Rule 3 – Be in the moment. Think back to when you were 18-to 21 years old. How articulate were you when a national reporter shoved a microphone in your face? Especially after the adrenaline rush of a football game you have just played. One just might be a paleontology major with a 3.0+ GPA who really does not like to speak in public.

Rule 4 – Ensure you have the correct course of study. Student athletes are required to take public speaking courses. Not English courses. They are not going to write a book or a poem or diagram a sentence. They not only take courses in public speaking, they are required to take seminars in professional dress and professional dining etiquette. This is not to mention job interviewing skills.

Rule 5 – One may criticize and/or critique the coaching staff, the refereeing squad and the so-called “professional” commentators. Most of these people should be criticized, critiqued and even fired for their lack of speaking skills and use of proper grammar and their inability to articulate. They are paid to be “professional.” The student athlete is not. He or she is just trying to do what they love and be the best at it.

I am so glad FB Poster loves college football and supports their team, but please think about this – the players may be 10 feet tall, weigh 400 pounds, or can out run the wind, but inside they are still kids.

Now, I am going to put on my T-Shirt for tonight’s Music City Bowl. Gig ‘Em, Aggies!

BTHO Louisville

Myles Garrett – Paleontology Major at Texas A&M with 3.0+ GPA. Oh yes, he is a pretty good defensive end too.

Coins for good luck at Sully’s Boots.

1 Comment

Posted in College Football, Education, Native Texan

Tagged Baylor, College Football; Texas Aggies, Johnny Jefferson, Leonard Fournette, LSU, Myles Garrett, student athletes

Tuesday, December 29, 2015 – The Days of 2015 Dwindle –Some Baby Boomer Songs for Looking Back

Posted on December 29, 2015 | 2 comments

Tuesday, December 29, 2015 – The Days of 2015 Dwindle –Some Baby Boomer Songs for Looking Back

We are “Talking ‘Bout My Generation.” The Who. Google it.

“When I was seventeen, it was a very good year …” Really? Name one seventeen year who thinks she or he is having a very good year. But hearing Frank Sinatra sing the opening line still takes your breath away.

Ahh – For all my dear and wonderful friends with love and sweet memories. Sing along.

Those Were the Days by Mary Hopkin

Once upon a time there was a tavern Where we used to raise a glass or two Remember how we laughed away the hours, And dreamed of all the great things we would do…

Those were the days my friend We thought they’d never end We’d sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way. La la la la…

Then the busy years went rushing by us We lost our starry notions on the way If by chance I’d see you in the tavern We’d smile at one another and we’d say

Just tonight I stood before the tavern Nothing seemed the way it used to be In the glass I saw a strange reflection Was that lonely woman really me?

Through the door there came familiar laughter I saw your face and heard you call my name Oh my friend we’re older but no wiser For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

To hell with the lyrics. THESE are the days, my friend. We are older and whole lot wiser. And WE DID IT! We did do great things. We are still doing great things. We lived the lives we chose; we did not lose, we are still fighting for our causes, we are still singing and dancing; and we are certainly sure to have our way now!

Boomers! “Come Together, right now, over me!” Screaming then.

Streaming now.

2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged "Those Were the Days", Baby Boomers, Mary Hopkin, The Beatles

Monday, December 28, 2015 – It Is the Last Week of 2015 – The Third Quarter of College Football Bowl Games

Posted on December 28, 2015 | Leave a comment

Monday, December 28, 2015 – It Is the Last Week of 2015 – The Third Quarter of College Football Bowl Games

It is the last week of the year 2015. It will be a week filled with more college football games. However, some of these games should be quite good and two of them will be quite exciting – we hope.

One must check last week’s Here’s What I’m Thinking for your handy dandy bowl games, times, teams and station the game will be played prior to New Year’s Eve. A quick review of the only ones I care about are: Bowl Game # 23 on Dec 29 – Baylor; Bear with Foot

Bowl Game # 25 – LSU ; Mike the Tiger and Tortilla Tech Tech (800x600)

Dec 30 Bowl # 28 – The Fighting Texas Aggies – BTHO Louisville.

Corps (800x600)

I did not keep up with the previous college football games played so I only have a couple of awards based on the two games I only saw end.

Bowl # 15 – Miami wins the “We left Miami for this Weather?” Award. The Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso was played in blizzard conditions causing the camera people to be unable to find the football. Best part of that game – seeing the winning coach from Washington State, Mike Leach, get slammed by two Gatorade buckets – one of Gatorade; the other of ice in the blizzard.

Bowl # 17 – The New Era Pinstripe Bowl – Indiana, you win The Too High, Not Reviewable, You Got Screwed Award. This is presented when the referees said no good to the potential tying field goal in OT. This allowed Duke to win its first football bowl game since 1961. I told you these teams played basketball.

Fast forward to Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve.

# 30 Chick-fil A Peach Bowl – the University of Houston and Florida State sans starting quarterback, starting at noon on ESPN. I learned years ago from my LSU cousins – Never pull for a team from Florida.

Then at 4:00 – Here we go – This is what we have been waiting for. Invented by Larry Culpepper, it is The College Football Playoffs.

The # 31st Bowl Game is game one of The College Football Playoff Semifinal. The Capital One Orange Bowl finds ranked at # 4 The University of Oklahoma Sooners, representing the Big 12 Conference, versus the # 1 the Clemson Tigers, representing the Atlantic Coast Conference at 4:00 on ESPN. Good luck, Sooners. And good luck to your future quarterback Kyler Murray. Seriously, I do wish him well. He is fast, but he also looks like he is one hit away from a body cast.

Following this game is Bowl Game # 32 and game two of The College Football Playoff Semifinal. At 8:00 PM on ESPN from Arlington, Texas comes The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The first land grant school in history, the # 3 ranked Michigan State Spartans will drown as the # 2 Crimson Tide from Alabama rolls over them like a category 5 Gulf Coast hurricane that comes rolling in during the middle of the night. Sorry. Got a bit carried away and lost my objectivity.

Jan 1 – It’s a brand new year. 2016!!! However we are pretty much back to football teams that no one cares about unless you went to school there.

# 33 – The Outback Bowl from Tampa at noon on ESPN2 we find Northwestern and Tennessee. I think I will go have a steak at Outback.

#34 is The Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl between Michigan and Florida – also sans quarterback and sans any cheering for the Gators.

#35 is The BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl. The BattleFrog Fiesta? Shouldn’t TCU be playing in this? This sounds like some kind of amphibian frolicking party in the punch bowl. Anyway it is Notre Dame and The Ohio State University at 1:00 PM on ESPN.

# 36 The Granddaddy of the Bowl Games is the Rose Bowl between the Smarty Pants of Stanford and Iowa at 5:00 on ESPN. I love a parade. Going to Pasadena to the Rose Bowl Parade is a bucket list item.

# 37 – Bowl game # 37 is the bowl game that offers the most fun regardless of who wins. Gniece # 1’s alma mater, the Oklahoma State Cowboys plus Pistol Pete and the Ole Miss Rebels in the Suga Bowl in Nawlins. These teams kick off at 8:30 on ESPN. Go Pokes! I shall have a toddy or two.

Jan 2 – The further away the games move from New Years, the less anyone cares about the games.

# 38 – The TaxSlayer Bowl between The ugly, yet traditional uniforms of Penn State and The University of Georgia is at noon on ESPN.

# 39 – The AutoZone Liberty Bowl with Kansas State and Arkansas from Memphis at 3:20 on ESPN.

# 40 – The Valero Alamo Bowl finds Oregon and TCU – Ducks and Frogs – playing at 6:45 on ESPN.

# 41 – The Motel 6 Cactus Bowl between West Virginia and Arizona State at 10:15 PM on ESPN. I hope they leave the light on for next year. You were expecting another network?

And then there was one. The college football bowl games are over, except for one. – The fourth and final quarter of the college football season.

On January 11, 2016 The National Champion of Division I College Football will be crowned. The game will kick off at 8:30 on ESPN. I am hoping two team both dressed in shades of red and white making it hard to distinguish the teams.

ROLL TIDE!

Schedule courtesy of ESPN and The Associated Press. That means I found it on the Internet.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015 – Festooned

Posted on December 23, 2015 | 1 comment

Wednesday, December 23, 2015 – Festooned

I am off to start my Christmas celebrations with family, friends and loved ones.

So there will be no Here’s What I’m Thinking until Monday, December 28. So until then here are some holiday photos of me festooned. It means to adorn with; or as with festoons or decorations.

Here I am – rock and a round the Christmas tree.

Rock and A Round shades (800x450)