He Knew He Was Right

Last week I dropped them off, and now I have them back. Look how shiny the edges are... Yeah, I know, lots of people get their skis tuned each year, but I got a little bit excited because I happened to go out and pick them up on a really cold and windy evening, an evening that started with some peeks at the snow reports from resorts to my north: six inches and up is what they're boasting. Finally! Cold weather, snow, and a set of skis ready for it. Sweet! But, take another look at that picture. Look how the flash bounces off the sharpened edges. Trust me, those edges are sharp. Sharp enough to shave with. Sharp enough to split a hare/hair. Sharp enough to cut a shadow off an icy slope. And the base is waxed as smooth as it was the day I picked them up. Really hoping for a few good runs at some point over the weekend.

Here's another one of my favorite days--the winter solstice. It happened overnight, but it's today according to most calendars and web sites. What's to like about the solstice, you wonder? For one, it means that days are no longer getting shorter: They start to grow. For the next six months, every day will be longer than the one before. For another, it means that Christmas is right around the corner. Sure, some may say Thanksgiving signifies that point, but December is a long month and a lot happens between the two holidays--football teams arise and collapse during that stretch, ski resorts start enticing suckers like me to hit the slopes, and the list goes on and on. At Thanksgiving, Christmas is still a month away, but, when the solstice arrives, you best be ready. But really, the solstice makes me think about the sum of all that's great about this time of year: Skiing, playoff football, the end of one year, the start of another, and of course Christmas too. So, celeb...

New York Giants Future Schedule of Opponents This is the kind of link that will keep me awake at nights. For example, the Bengals have a "new" gridiron and the Giants are playing there next year? Sweet. I could knock off Paul Brown Stadium in 2012! Likewise, in 2013, I could check off Detroit, catching Big Blue at Ford Field. Awesome. Then, in 2014, I have a friend in Jacksonville, and need to scratch a Jags home game off the list. Nice. In 2015, the Buccaneers will be a definite temptation when they host the G-Men. Woot. I won't commit to deciding between Giants opponents the Browns and Vikings in 2016 unless the Vikings are in a new stadium. In 2017, I suppose the 49ers will be the Giants opponent that I haven't seen play at home at that point, and so may as well pencil them in... ...Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. The Giants have lost the last few of their road games I've attended. Let me start over and not pick Giants opponents. In 2012, Kan...

Jethro Tull | CD Reviews | East Bay Express What to do, what to do. I first had Aqualung on vinyl, and then it was among the first CDs I picked up. Fifteen years ago, I bought the digitally remastered, 25th Anniversary version of the album. When the urge to hear Aqualung comes, it is the latter that I pluck from the CD rack. But now this. A 40-year, 2-disc, commemorative version is out there? Crisper vocals? Sharper guitar? Oh, I guess I'll be plucking down a few dollars for it. Forget all that song downloading stuff I've been posting: I like CDs. And this is a great one. Anyway, be sure to check the comment box soon after this goes up, as Sliced Tongue probably has his retort ready before he even gets to this sentence...