While it's not at the Twilight Zone level of the Ron Zook or Frank Solich firings, I'm annoyed at Notre Dame's firing of Ty Willingham today.

Willingham becomes the first Notre Dame head coach to get fired before the end of his initial contract. I don't necessarily find that annoying, but it's irritating to think that lesser coaches (hello, Gerry Faust) got that consideration when they probably didn't deserve it.

More annoying is that Willingham spent three years installing a new offense, only to get canned just as he's starting to get all of the players recruited specifically for that offense into the starting lineup. Then again, the problem may be more defensive in nature (see the late losses to BC and Pitt and this past weekend's thumping by USC, which proves that I should watch the whole game as I didn't think it got that bad).

Most annoying - I don't think Willingham would have gotten the gate if Urban Meyer wasn't out there. Not that it's his fault; that lies squarely with the alumni, tout sheet writers, and other loudmouths who've been fueling the fire since September.

What it comes down to, I suppose, is that I'm irritated that Notre Dame is allowing itself to fall prey to the same inanities that bedevil other division 1A programs. I know they're not perfect, but the idea that Notre Dame approaches college football differently from other schools is in the ICU and fading. I suppose it was only a matter of time (and, of course, money).

Stealing a page from Craig, here’s my 24 hours of football (from over the last 4 days):

HIGH SCHOOL: While I didn’t see the game, it is my sad duty to report that the Manchester-Essex Regional High School Hornets fell to our hated rivals from Georgetown, thus tagging the Hornets with a 0-11 record for the season. I’m not sure if it’s the first winless season in school history, but I have to think it’s the first 11 loss season they’ve ever suffered. The team was very young, having graduated many of the players who led the team to the conference title last season. Better things have to be ahead for 2005.

COLLEGE: When did Craig James become the BCS’s bitch? It seems like every time I saw him talk he was spouting off on why the teams from outside of the BCS arrangement didn’t deserve to make it. He felt very strongly that BC deserved to make it over Utah or Boise State – this before BC got slapped around at home by Syracuse, keeping the Orangemen alive for a BCS berth at 6-5.

Nope, nothing wrong with the BCS at all.

I was rooting for Texas A&M against Texas, both because they’re my default Texas team and because it could get two non-BCS teams into the mix. I didn’t expect A&M to win, but I thought they played pretty well. I had the same reasons for rooting for Notre Dame over USC (ok, they’re not my default Texas team, but you get my drift), and they more or less went the same way as the Aggies.

Oddly enough, the BC-Syracuse game is probably the one I watched the most of, primarily because the result was so unlikely. I had resigned myself to seeing BC in the Fiesta, but should have taken my lesson from the Sox and kept the faith.

I felt badly about Louisville beating Cincinnati 70-7, as the Cardinals went the Bob Stoops route to trying to impress voters to hopefully make up ground in the polls. Because, really, it’s not going to work. Voters know that the Bearcats stink; you don’t get extra credit for pounding that sort of team (or shouldn’t). I suppose they may have had Texas lost.

And I’d like to call a quick truce with northern New England to give kudos to the UNH football team, who won their first 1-AA playoff game ever by handing Georgia Southern its first first round loss ever (and doing so in Statesboro, no less).

PRO: My viewing of the NFL today was impeded by the drive back from Maine and some playing of one of those vintage video game things that have the games loaded into the controller box (the wife got one for her birthday that includes Ms. Pac Man, Xevious, Galaga, and Pole Position – I’m not sure why Pole Position is included with a handset of Namco games, but I’m digging it).

I did see most of the Pats game, and the real story there was the field. It seems like every year at this time the pounding brought by the MLS and NFL make the field a quagmire when there’s rain.

And there was rain today. Boy howdy, was there rain (I think it was the rain the UNH got to play in last night).

The Revs have to find a new home. I happen to know a place where there’s a new turn field paid for by the WUSA. They’d need to put in some new seating, but it’s a nice Boston location in an area with a lot of students. You just have to make sure you don’t have any home games during finals, lest there be more riots.

Address all inquiries to Dr. Aram Chobanian, 2 Sherborn Street, Boston.

I did watch goodly portions of both Thanksgiving games, even that ugly Dallas-Chicago match up. I had picked Dallas as one of my teams in Craig’s cut-throat league, so it was the one time during the year that I lean for the Cowboys to score enough points to beat another team I don’t care about in a situation that will not lead to a playoff berth.

Then again, the way the NFC is going Dallas may still have a shot if they win out.

I also picked Miami in their tilt against the 49ers. I liked the way they played against Seattle the week previous, and figured I had to take them at some point. Why not now?

I’d considered taking both Miami and San Francisco as a strategic two points. Probably a good thing I didn’t, though at some point before the end of the season I’ll still have to take the Niners. Ugh.

I’d thought the Bengals-Browns game went to OT when I saw the score there, but then reminded myself that the NFL doesn’t use the NCAA tiebreak. It’s games like this that make fantasy geeks all tingly.

Now that Eli Manning is 0-2, are we ready for Warner’s second go ‘round? Will they try to get Kerry Collins back from Oakland? Do they have Vince Evans’ number in their Rolodex?

There’s also been an unusual amount of confusion by announcers today. Jim Nantz called Corey Dillon “Warrick Dunn” a couple of times, and Phil Simms had trouble keeping Chester Taylor and Travis Taylor separate. Mike Patrick also noted that it was still odd seeing Warren Sapp in any other uniform than Denver’s – I think the orange confused him.

Are condos evil?

Admittedly, this is kind of an unusual question, given that I know a few people who own condos and they all seem to have made out fine on the deal. But these people own condos in an urban context, where condos make a good option when put against the smallish stock of houses and the lack of return one gets from renting.

My question comes from my current suburban context, where there are plenty of houses and even a few places where one could build more. On some level, I'm thinking that the condo market, purposefully or otherwise, is propping up the high cost of houses by being the only affordable option that results in actual property ownership.

Now, if people didn't want condos you'd assume they wouldn't sell. But they seem to be (based on what I see being built), so I'm trying to sort out whether they're popular or people are just giving in. Like with the root canals, I may be talking through my hat and looking for a scam where none exists.

My concern here may be fueled by condo projects that went up in my home town when I was in high school and college, many of which struggled to find full occupancy. I suppose they're full now, but the years of seeing places with as few as four units only half full makes me skeptical.

In any event, thoughts on this are welcome. Happy Thanksgiving to all where a Happy Thanksgiving would apply!

I think the person who came up with the metaphor of herding cats for a difficult task was, at some point, a middle school gym teacher.

At least, that's my theory based on my experiences this week, where I was involved with trying to corral up to 60 7th and 8th graders. Thankfully, there are three teachers, and the weather's been nice enough that outdoor stuff is available.

I think that gym has been the hardest subject to sub for so far given that the students are (a) semi-anonymous, and (b) in a large room with several exits, some out of the locker rooms. It went OK, but it was much more touch and go than regular classroom assignments where the students have work and there's one door.

Anyway, here's one for the P.E. teachers.

So there's good news and bad news relative to my just-completed trip to the dentist.

The good news is that one of the fillings went off without a hitch. The bad news is that the other was worse than expected and a root canal, with a post, crown and all the trimmings, is in the offing. Can't say I'm thrilled at the prospect.

(And for all of you who are planning on posting saying that it's what I get for waiting so long to return to the dentist, Sarah's beaten you to it. So don't bother.)

While I am disliking both the likely pain and certain cost of the procedure, there's also a feeling that I'm pretty much throwing money down a hole. It seems like anyone who's had a root canal has pretty meagre results. I'm wondering if it wouldn't make more long-term sense to chuck the tooth and get an implant. Granted, this could be the inexperience with things dental talking.

I'll open the floor to discussion - do I have any options here, or do I just suck it up and get the root canal?

OK, I've really got nothing to say, but I'm trying to kill some time before going to the dentist to get some cavities drilled. I'm told that most of what's coming is minor, but given my continuing stance on the lack of progress in dental technology since the 15th century, I'm not looking forward to this.

Given what some of you've been through recently (hello, Greg), I have no right to be a baby about this. On the other hand, having a blog gives you a licence to whine, doesn't it?

I've not said anything about reality TV in a while (and I know you've missed it), but there is one particularly annoying thing that's become more obvious on The Apprentice. There's an increasing amount of post-taped boardroom dialog from Trump (and at least once from Carolyn), which stands out given that it sounds different. I don't know the technical terms to use here, but it just sounds remarkably different. Content-wise it sounds a little scripted, too, given Trump's usual off the cuff remarks. You'd think with the two-plus hours of boardroom they'd be able to get 10 good minutes, but apparently not.

Greetings from the computer in the lobby of the Hampton Inn in Voorhees, New Jersey! Sarah and I are here for a wedding, as fellow BUCBer Chris Rosenberg takes the plunge.

This is a very positive end to a week that saw me attend a funeral on Tuesday for a family friend and former co-worker of my mother. She had the same cancer as her husband, which was also the same sort of cancer as my mother. As you can imagine this has raised some warning signs regarding unusual environmental exposures (especially as we all live near the town Highway Department yard), though my mom and the friend's husband were both long-term smokers. Not sure if it's time to go all A Civil Action on people or not.

In a lot of ways, Tuesday marked the end of our neighborhood. The people I remember growing up are all pretty much dead (outside of one family that moved in next door when I was in late elementary/junior high). As much as I went to mourn this woman, I also went to mourn the end of where I grew up. I suppose this happens to everyone eventually, but I'd not really considered it until Tuesday.

This was also the first non-Catholic funeral I've ever attended (not counting graveside-only funerals), which suggests I'm a little closer to Mike Kellerman's Irish Catholic cocoon that I'd imagined previously. For those of you who don't get that reference, please peruse an episode guide for Homicide: Life on the Streets and don't expect me to say anything about wanting to plotz.

Anyway, more positive focus tomorrow for Chris and Ali. It should be a joyous time!

I am proud to announce that, like one of the Coreys (Haim, I think), I am now licensed to drive.

This may come as a surprise to some of you, assuming that most people of my age got their license years ago. I managed to avoid this through a curious mixture of disinterest and city living.

Unlike many of my fellow teens, I didn't care all that much about driving. I was fortunate enough to have older friends who had their licenses, so as I neared the usual age the lack of a license didn't weigh on me as much. So I didn't really do too much to get one (though I did eventually take driver's ed and take a lackluster go at the driving test).

Then there was the good decade or so that I was living in Boston, where having a car is often a disadvantage. I got an ID to take care of the various things that require one, but never really thought about driving.

This did make the time I lived at home a little dicey, not to mention my time out at Babson. There was only so much I could do on foot in either location.

As it is with so many things, it was the wife that got me moving towards actually obtaining my license. And as it is with many of those things, it's probably for the better.

Not that getting it was that easy. In Massachusetts you take the road test with a state trooper (they took over the Registry police force about 15 years ago), and they don't often pass you the first time around. In fact, the first time I took the test the trooper who rode with me didn't even get the stamp that they use to endorse the learner's permit until my test (bad luck for the 2 or 3 people who went before me). Not that it mattered; I was told that I needed more experience. This based on a test whose trickiest element was a three point turn.

The second test went well - until I hit the curb in front of the Registry at the end of the test. The third time proved to be the charm, ironic in that (a) I had a different trooper this time, and (b) I think I drove better during my two other tests.

I've not really taken the car out on my own too much, as I don't often go places without the wife and gas is too expensive to go joyriding. At some point I'll get out on the open road. I'll try to warn you before that happens.

After a couple days of processing, there's not much more I can add to what some of my fellow bloggers at left have said about the election.

But there was one interesting statement made by Tucker Carlson during the CNN coverage. He noted that after Goldwater lost, the GOP spent some time "in the woods" so to speak, writing and thinking about the party and conservatism, setting a base for the GOP success over the last 20 years or so.

I'm wondering if it isn't time for the Dems to do the same. Not that they need to cede the playing field, of course, but rather that it may be a good time to stop and really think about long-term focus and direction. Right now it's kind of a mess. While he was speaking in a different context, I think Danny Concannon had a point about Dems being bumfuzzled a bit.

Going back to suggestions made by Cooch and Boggie, if you really are concerned about where our government is taking us, just showing up to vote every two to four years may not be enough. I was heartened to read about a number of people my age (and younger) taking time to work at polls, which is a nice break from the string of retirees who usually inhabit polling places.

I would also like mention Dwight and Craig's burgeoning Mascot Party, of which I think I'd have to be a charter member given my Yahoo profile picture. Please note it is the only picture I've ever used.

Sticking with Dwight's comments for a second, I was also disappointed with the skating rink turned electoral map on NBC. Horribly underutilized. I mostly watched ABC and CNN. You'd think it was ABC's first time covering a Presidential election, given the overall lack of coordination. Peter Jennings also seemed to be having a lot of trouble with the touch screen that accessed maps and such. Good thing he's Canadian; his lack of touch screen prowess could have messed up a polling place big time.


CNN was as CNN does, though they were being very cautious with calling states. On the other end, the first call for New Hampshire that I heard came from a guy on our local NBC affiliate. I suppose he had less to lose than a national anchor.

While I can't speak for other locations, I can say that voting in ward 2, precincts 1 and 2 in Beverly, Massachusetts is going swimmingly. Having the flexibility to vote in the early afternoon, after lunch and before work lets out, is a real plus. No lines, no lawyers trying to disenfranchise me, and no chads.

Speaking of which, I'm not sure why more locations don't use optical machines. I imagine there's a technology investment to make, but the tech is pretty straightforward. Not to mention that if you've ever had to fill out a form, or went to kindergarten, you understand the single most important principle to voting this way: color in the lines. Even I, as someone who could never stay in the lines in my youth, can get the hang of these ballots.

There's really nothing I can say about the process here, too easy. The benefit of living in a state where the results were never in doubt, if you can call it that.

With election day looming, I'm picking up where I left off in 2002 and giving out my official Blogalicious endorsement. There's only one this time around, given that all the other races on my ballot are state or county. If you want my view on the Essex County sheriff's race, feel free to drop me a line.

Of course, the one race is pretty important. In the first post-9/11 Presidential election, you get the sense that the choice we make on Tuesday will shape America's long-term direction to a degree we haven't seen since Reagan was in office. Unlike 2000, there is a much more distinct difference between Bush and Gore. Not that those two were twins or anything, but the hot-button issue this time around - the whole terror and security thing - has made it much easier to see where these candidates diverge on all issues.

Even so, there's a great similarity to 2000 in that it seems like there's a healthy percentage of folks who aren't thrilled with Bush or Kerry. For every person who is voting for a candidate, you get the sense that there's someone else whose vote is against that person rather than for their opponent.

Or, to recognize another group, you have voters who feel like they have to vote for the major candidate that comes closest to their world view, even though their support is, well, uninspired. It's hard to get really excited by either Bush or Kerry. Which means we have to settle.

Well, I don't think you have to settle. You do have choices.

That is why for the 2004 Presidential election, Blogalicious endorses the third-party candidate of your choice.

For those of you to the left of center, that'd most likely be David Cobb of the Green Party or independent/Reform candidate Ralph Nader. For those of you on the right side of the aisle, Libertarian Michael Badnarik is probably a good choice, though social conservatives may find themselves opposed to some Libertarian positions. If Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party is on your ballot, they may be more to your taste.

There are a number of smaller party candidates out there, especially of the Socialist variety. Check your state website to see your local ballot.

I know that a number of people get nervous voting for a third party candidate given the whole "vote for Nader is a vote for Bush" vibe from 2000. It's a legitimate concern. My personal belief is that neither major party is going to give us better candidates if we keep voting for the ones they currently give us. Of course, what we probably need is better people going into elective office, but that's another problem for another time.

Anyway, if you do have this concern, I have two suggestions:

1. Vote pair. For those of you living in states that are pretty much spoken for already, you can try to get someone who lives in a swing state and would vote third-party if they weren't in a swing state to swap votes. For example, a Massachusetts Kerry voter would vote for a given third party candidate while an Ohio Nader voter would vote for Kerry.

While vote pairing is best known in a left of center context, it's also set up for conservatives.

If you're interested in this, there is a link to a vote pairing website on Julie's blog.

2. Vote for all the third party candidates in the other races on your ballot. It doesn't send the same message, but it's something. I'd suggest even writing people in where you don't have a third choice, but given the possible ballot scrutiny after Tuesday, you may not want to put your ballot in jeopardy of getting bounced because you didn't use blue or black ink to write in your brother for county commissioner.

So that's it. I normally would urge you to vote early and often, but the way things are going that could be misconstrued. So vote your legally-allotted one time at the point in the day that makes the most sense for you.

As you may have heard, there's a new question facing all of us in Red Sox Nation.

Now what?

It's a valid question. Citizenship in RSN has generally been predicated (if not based) in the Sisyphean quest for a World Series title (rather than the eternal struggle against the Yankees, which will continue as long as both teams exist).

(Speaking of the Yankees, would it be OK to refer to them as the Tankees until they win another AL title?)

So now that the Sox have won a title, how does this change the fan base?

My argument is that, except in some smaller ways, it doesn't.

I don't mean to discount what's happened, or the euphoria that's settled over the region like a high pressure system. And I do think it'll have a positive effect on Sox fans. It'll certainly take one edge off of supporting the Old Towne Team, as detractors will have to find something else to pick on rather than 1918 and the Bambino.

(Speaking of curses, governor Mitt Romney participated in cutting down a sign on Storrow Drive yesterday that official reads "Reverse Curve" but has consistently been vandalized to read "Reverse Curse" and then "Reversed Curse". It's notable in that in climbing onto the cherry picker to help, he whacked his head on a crossbar and damn near fell off. Good thing for him he's not up for re-election until '06.)

Even with this easing of tension and the joy of a title, I don't think the core values of being a Sox fan are going to change. Expectations are going to be high, managers will continue to get ripped, and players will be cheered or booed as performance warrants (including hearing both in the same game).

Because while some things have changed, what's one Series win against a generationally-ingrained form of fandom? Or even go back before 1918, and look at the Royal Rooters. Vocal, passionate, and highly irritating, they lived and died with the Sox when the Sox were winning the Series every other year or so. If rabid support ran in Red Sox Nation in times of plenty, why will it stop now that we've found an oasis in the desert?

Consider that one of the sidebar stories, even during the Series itself, was the ultimate disposition of all the free agents on the Sox roster. We're so used to looking ahead to next year that we do so even when in the process of writing a dramatic chapter in the here and now.

Which leads me to think that being in Red Sox Nation is less about citizenship than it is about genetics. The qualities that make you part of the nation are hard-wired in your DNA. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can enjoy the "rolling rally" that'll take over most of Suffolk County tomorrow.

OK, now I'll talk about the Sox.

(Don't take this as overconfidence; given that the Sox came back from a 3-0 defecit to get to the Series, I am well aware that Fate could very well conspire to have it done to them on the game's biggest stage.)

I have to admit to a fair amount of surprise at the 3-0 lead, especially given the offensive output in the first game. As much as having both Schilling and Pedro was supposed to work this way, it's rarely seemed like it was going to work out as hoped.

Then again, that's why Theo is the GM and I'm not.

I'm also still trying to divine something from the Sox making four errors in each of the first two games, and then getting its biggest defensive plays in game 3 from Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. Granted, you can pin the Ortiz play on Jeff Suppan's bad base-running. You should also remember that Suppan started his career in Boston.

Also, I'm hoping last night was not the last time we see Pedro throwing for the Sox, but I'm not sure he and the team will come to an agreement. On some level I think Pedro still thinks of himself in terms of 5 to 7 years ago, while I think the team will hammer on his fragility and diminishing effectiveness after 100 pitches to squeeze him.

On a lighter note, would it have been too hard for Manny to win us all a taco in the first inning?

I can only say two things about the Fox coverage: they need to find a way to start the games before 8 pm Eastern and they need to bring Al Leiter back. I am pleased that Scooter hasn't come back, though I wish Tim McCarver would go look for him.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go barricade the door and put plywood over the windows. Just in case.

In an attempt to not discuss the 2-0 lead the Sox have in the World Series, a pointless observation about my dietary habits.

I think I like hummus now. I didn't before; past experiences led me to compare hummus to tile grout. Not sure if I'm eating a better-quality hummus now, or if my tastes have changed, but I'm eating it voluntarily.

Still not sure if I really like it. But I don't hate it.

This will probably not lead to a re-investigation into the gustatory properties of tofu. I've been down that road a few times, with poor results.

With the start of the World Series tonight, I've been thinking quite a bit about 1986.

And no, not about that play.

When the Series started that year, I was actually in New York. An open weekend in the football schedule allowed me to go to a debate tournament at the Bronx High School of Science. You'd think that a Sox fan in the Bronx that weekend would have gotten a lot of grief, but there's a certain percentage of Yankees fans who saw a Mets win as even worse than a Sox win. Being from Boston got some of my teammates free food at a deli, even.

I remember watching game 1 at the Carvel Inn, which was related to the Carvel ice cream folks of Cookie O'Puss and Fudgie the Whale fame. At least I hope they were connected, otherwise the gilded ice cream cone in the lobby would be hard to explain. This was also the first time I'd participated in getting pizza delivered (even now, I don't think you can get delivery in Manchester), and we got to needle the delivery guy by telling him the Sox were winning (the hotel being squarely in Mets territory).

We listened to game 2 on the way home from the tournament, which was problematic given all the chatter in the van. Pretending to be asleep helped for a while, but I came too close to actual sleep for this to work for the long-term.

Jump now to the dreaded sixth game at my friend Dean's house. Me, Dean, and two of his brothers are watching the game, and three of us are going nutty just where you'd expect us to go nutty. One of Dean's brothers - clearly more versed in the ways of the Sox - predicted that they'd screw up. You know the rest of the story.

Suffice it to say that I won't be watching any of this Series at Dean's house.

Looking back on the whole thing, I think I took the Series for granted in '86. The Celts were in the middle of their run with the Big Three, and the success of the Sox just seemed to follow along naturally. Even with the Pats' success now, I'm not making the same mistake this time around. It's safe to say that most of the region is following suit, though perhaps to an extent that would have been downright bizarre 18 years ago.

To that end, I will ask that if you're in the Boston area, and you don't actually have a ticket to one of the games, please STAY HOME. The last thing we need is more of the madness that followed the ALCS. I've bemoaned post-playoff violence before, and have liked to think that we weren't going in that direction. Clearly, though, we are, and that saddens me, even moreso when someone gets killed.

I'd like to think that the city will handle Series security similarly to the DNC, which seemed to go off pretty well (no one died, at least). I fear that the powers that be aren't up to the challenge, though. Don't be surprised if you see the National Guard around.

If anyone can convince me that brining Pedro into tonight's ALCS game 7 was a good idea, I'll eat my hat.

Don't get me wrong, I'm tickled to death that the Sox will be in the World Series. I just worry that a similarly boneheaded move will cost us later on.

Speaking of later on, tomorrow's NLCS game should be interesting. If things hold to form the Cards will win (rematching us from 1946 and 1967), but if the Astros take it... well, Clemens probably wouldn't pitch until they return to Houston. Bagwell would be back (as would, I think, Adam Everett), but that's not as big a story.

Not sure who I'm rooting for there.

Having just spent the last 3-plus days in Las Vegas, it's funny that the strangest thing I've seen since leaving on Friday was actually something I saw upon coming home and turning on the TV: A-Rod slapping the baseball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove.

Sin City, by comparison, was a den of normalcy. To wit, then, a short trip recap:

Friday we flew out, direct to LV on Song, Delta's attempt to be like Southwest and JetBlue. It's not a bad try for a legacy carrier, but it doesn't quite capture the mood of those other airlines. Certainly, I'd fly it again if the fares were right.

Got our car from Enterprise (more on the automotive front later), drove over to Circus Circus, where we were staying. Not a bad place, though it's on the top end of the strip away from some of the more notable establishments. It was a bit of a trial finding our way to reception and then to our room, but we got there eventually. After which we got some food, played a little, and went to bed.

Saturday we trekked out to the Hoover Dam. Before leaving, we noticed something about the car that wasn't showing the night before: a crack in the windshield. We figured we'd do our best with it and headed out.

If you've not been to Hoover Dam, and you're in the area, you should go. It's an impressive piece of engineering, especially when you consider when it was built. The "tour" was kind of duff, outside of getting to go down into one of the generating rooms (in the past you actually got to go outside at the base of the dam, they don't do that any more). But for the first time out, the tour is probably worth it.

We spent the afternoon in Boulder City, during which time we noticed our crack was growing. This necessitated a trip back to Enterprise to swap cars and work out insurance-related matters regarding the windshield (as it wasn't noted as cracked when we left the lot). We then got a a new car. I figured we'd get the Ford Focus. We got the Jeep Liberty. At the economy rate. And we were comped for the gas; we could return it dry at no charge.

Suffice it to say that if you're looking to rent a car the next time you're in Vegas, I would highly recommend Enterprise.

That night we went over to the Orleans Arena to see the Las Vegas Wranglers take on the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in a preseason ECHL tilt. You could tell it was preseason as there were no names on the jersies and no programs available. The one roster sheet we could get informed us that former Merrimack College standout Rejean Stringer was playing for Vegas. We were later told that former BU player Jon Sabo may have been playing for AC. The game itself was about what you'd expect, and we saw more blood than your average Vegas heavyweight title bout.

Sunday we just kind of kicked around, drove through downtown Vegas, some general sightseeing. Ate that night at Cravings, the new buffet at the Mirage. It's kind of upscale, and the food was pretty good, but pricey for a buffet. Earlier in the day we ate at an In 'n Out Burger, which was fantastic.

Monday saw more aimless wandering, though we actually walked around Fremont Street and the downtown casino area. Went into Binion's, but didn't spend too much time anywhere. Monday night brought us to the purpose of our trip, a wedding vow renewal ceremony at the Bellagio (savvy Blogalicious readers can guess which linked person at left was one of the participants). I will say that if you want to get married in Vegas and want it to actually be classy, the Bellagio would be the way to go. Had dinner in one of the restaurants at Paris. A good time was had by all.

Tuesday we pretty much traveled all day, going from Vegas to Atlanta to Boston. It was about as much fun as it sounds. And for the third time in a row, we landed in Atlanta and had to wait for another plane to get out of our assigned gate. Whoever is in charge of that process needs to be fired.

Quick assessment: I'd go back to Vegas. Don't know if I'd go more than once a year (or even once every two), but I could see putting it in a regular rotation.

I have this habit when watching sports that I'll flip away if the team I'm rooting for gets behind by a significant amount. I go back and check, and if a comeback is being mounted I'll stay away even more so as to not upset the karma.

That being said, I watched very little of last night's ALCS game 1 after the fifth inning. I was happy to see the Sox battle back, as I was already thinking of the various media types who would have pronounced the Sox DOA if the final had been 8-0 or some such.

That also being said, Curt Schilling should be back in Boston NOW to get treatment on his ankle. Cortisone, massage, hyperbaric chamber, whatever.

In other news, remember that WTC commemorative coin that was supposedly minted with silver recovered from Ground Zero? Turns out it's pretty much a fraud; the coin is silver-plated rather than solid silver (though I suppose there was microscopic print in the ad noting that) and the origin of that silver is very much in question. The New York AG is working to block the further sale of the coins. Kind of nice when law and ethics actually are on the same side.

Just got back from a week in Orlando, vacationing with the in-laws. So what did I do this week?

Sunday Flew down, and can now recommend JetBlue to one and all. Gawked at hurricane damage on the way from the airport to the timeshare. Got a tour of Celebration, Disney's planned community, when we got lost. It looks like a movie set - bigger houses on small lots.

Monday Lazed around, didn't do anything of note.

Tuesday Went to EPCOT, which is probably my favorite Disney park (which isn't saying all that much, I'm not a park fan generally). Had my own small world moment by running into old friend Cindy Demopoulos outside of the Mexico part of the park. Thankfully, it was without thousands of singing dolls as backdrop.

Wednesday Played golf with my father in law, which suggests a certain level of charity on his part. Two holes were under construction, which meant that I got to play my ball out of bulldozer tracks a few times. I'm sure there's a rule for that occasion, but damned if I know what it is.

Thursday Nothing.

Friday Took a small shopping trip that turned into a long march when a modular home got stuck on the highway that was also under construction. Wish I'd brought the camera.

Saturday Went to Sea World. It was OK. Didn't run into anyone I knew.

Sunday Came home, got to sit in the exit row and have it be only Sarah and me for the three seats in the row. So I had leg and hip room, which is pretty much impossible on coach flights for me. Good times.