Weekend Preview and Other Stuff

Good morning, everyone, and hopefully you're bundled up wherever you are. Heck, next week there's a somewhat decent chance that it might snow...in Florida. Granted, it isn't forecast to affect peninsular Florida, but points from Gainesville north could see some wintry precipitation next week. 

The cold weather will undoubtedly wreak havoc on at least two of the NFL playoff games this weekend, as snow showers are likely to hit Philadelphia and Buffalo this Sunday, Kansas City will be bitterly cold, but clear, while Detroit doesn't have to worry underneath the warmth of Ford Field. Speaking of the playoffs, I went 4-2 last week with my two misses involving both LA teams; the Chargers lost, and the Rams won. This week, I'm picking Kansas City (begrudgingly) to throttle Houston Saturday afternoon, while I'm picking Washington to upset the Lions later that night. For Sunday, I'll take Baltimore in an upset over Buffalo, followed by Philadelphia over the Rams that night. Hey, I gotta make sure my preseason Super Bowl pick alive. 

The cold weather will make Monday's inauguration rather interesting. I'm kind of hoping that Trump goes as far as our seventh President as far as his speech is concerned, I'll leave it at that. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Google it. The bigger shitshow will take place at the Capital One Arena the night before, where Trumpapalooza will take place. Complete with bad dancing, the Village People (barf), probably Glenn Beck crying, and Lee Fricking Greenwood, who's fifteen minutes of fame should have ended with the end of the Reagan administration. Ol' Ronnie is probably flipping in his grave in Santa Barbara if you ask me. Whatever the case, I won't be watching come Monday.

I rolled my D20 and regular dice to determine which year I was going to do as far as my pop music flashback is concerned, and I crapped out. I rolled a 15 and an even number, which translates to 2014. Only eleven years ago, but by that point in time I had kinda tuned out to the music scene, of course the crappy radio market in Tampa Bay didn't help matters. But in any event, here's the Top 40 songs for that week, loosely based on Mediabase 24/7:

40. TKO by Justin Timberlake
39. Animals by Martin Garrix
38. Keep Me Crazy by Chris Wallace
37. Perfume by Britney Spears
36. Slow Down by Selena Gomez
35. Can't Remember To Forget You by Shakira f/Rihanna
34. Best Day Of My Life by American Authors
33. Alone Together by Fall Out Boy
32. Hey Brother by Avicii f/Dan Tminski
31. Chocolate by The 1975

30. How I Feel by Flo Rida
29. Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo f/2 Chainz
28. Take Me Home by Cash Cash f/Bebe Rexha
27. Thinking About You by Calvin Harris
26. Neon Lights by Demi Lovato
25. Brave by Sara Bareillas
24. Replay by Zendaya
23. Adore You by Miley Cyrus
22. Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus
21. Young Girls by (we don't talk about) Bruno Mars

20. Hold On We're Going Home by Drake f/Majid Jordan
19. XO by Beyonce
18. Royals by Lorde
17. Love Me Again by John Newman
16. Pompeii by Bastille
15. White Walls by Macklemore f/Ryan Lewis & Schoolboy Q
14. Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood
13. Wake Me Up b Avicii f/Aloe Blacc
12. Say Something by A Great Big World f/Christina Aguilera
11. Team by Lorde

10. Let Her Go by Passenger
  9. Demons by Imagine Dragons
  8. Story Of My Life by One Direction
  7. Do What U Want by Lady Gaga f/R. Kelly
  6. Stay The Night by Zedd f/Hayley Willams 
  5. Dark Horse by Katy Perry f/Juicy J
  4. Burn by Ellie Goulding
  3. The Monster by Eminem f/Rihanna
  2. Counting Stars by OneRepublic

and number one this week eleven years ago was

  1. Timber by Pitbull f/Kesha.

Tampa Bay Lightning won in a shootout vs the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 last night, they face Detroit on Saturday, who beat the Pussycats from Broward County 5-2 last night. Let's hope the Lightning actually play up their potential against an increasing formidable opponent. The Magic travel to Boston tonight where they'll likely lose. Then they face Denver at home on Sunday. Another loss. I know the Magic have a ton on injuries right now, even with Paolo Banchero back in the lineup, but they're taking on water faster than the Titanic as this point. Saturday, I'll be hanging with THE hottest bartender in Florida, sipping on Fireball and probably watching college basketball. 

 

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Tampa, I Missed You, But I Want To Talk About My Future...

Hello everyone. Monday, I took a trip to Tampa for the first time in nearly three years. The last I had gone down there was to attend a Lightning playoff game in 2022 against the Florida Panthers. Man, what a depressing day it was; the sky was wintry, and the temperatures didn't rise very much during the day. At least it didn't rain though. I was surprised to see 1) how much Tampa proper had grown in three short years, and 2) the Bucs flag at the Advent Health Training Facility (since my sisters passed it en route to my appointment) wasn't flying at half-mast since their season came crashing to an end the night before. But there were some things I definitely didn't miss about being in Tampa. One, the absolute wasteland that is the radio market there, they ALL suck, hence why I exclusively listen to Spotify nowadays. Two, the traffic. I swear it was like qualifying for the Daytona 500 out there, including the Suncoast Expressway. Carmel was holding on to the steering wheel as tight as she could on the way down to Tampa and on the way back. I think she finally relaxed when she pulled into our subdivision. 

On the way back, I thought about what dreams and aspirations I have for the future. Thinking about it kind of makes me a bit depressed because I know that my late sister totally screwed me over after my stroke. Not only did she screw me, but she screwed my sister Gwen as well and probably would have done the same to Carmel. That said, maybe it's been a blessing to have been single for so long... but I digress. With me hoping to land myself in a relationship in the future, I'm pondering what I should do for the future, aka the rest of my living years. Sure, I'd like to continue writing this blog, but I know in the end it isn't going to put food on the table or take care of the ones I love going forward. Not enough people read this blog, it's just the way it is. 

I could be a content creator, but what exactly would I do since virtually every subject I can think of already has four or five content creators as it is; I would just be a face in an already large crowd. Maybe I could continue to do what I have been doing for a couple of years with my semi-regular flashback feature. I could expand on that potentially, to include news headlines and sports of a particular week. It's something I'll have to have discussions with my current family and potential future family about. I know I'm smart enough. I will figure out something, and hopefully soon. 

In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy what I am writing up to this point and thank you for your support.

BonyScribe

Wild Card Weekend Picks...

 Hello everyone, and welcome to the NFL Postseason. Six games to kick things off this weekend, one of which is affected by the weather. Unfortunately, it isn't due to Winter Storm Cornball or whatever the Weather Channel is calling it this year (I understand the next storm happening in a few days will be called Dipshit, now this word from Designer Catheters). It's because of the firestorm that has plagued the Los Angeles area this week, which has forced the NFL to move it to Glendale, AZ. But that's on Monday.

Tomorrow, we have two games. One on CBS and the other on Amazon (and 159-year-old Al Michaels). The CBS game will be the Los Angeles Chargers traveling (and evacuating) to Houston to take on the Texans, on what will be the eighth straight wild card game in Houston to take place on a Saturday at 3:30 pm CST. In the words of Houston native Jim Nantz (who won't be calling the game; Ian Eagle has that assignment), it is a tradition unlike any other. The Chargers have been surging at the right time, while the Texans struggled to make it past the finish line (and were the beneficiaries of a division that was complete ass. The thoughts of America are with Los Angeles, as well as my pick. Give me the Chargers 27-17.

The Amazon game pits the Pittsburgh Steelers going down to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Three weeks ago, the Steelers had the inside track on the AFC North crown, then Russell Wilson turned into a pumpkin, and they collapsed, losing four in a row down to finish the regular season. Lamar Jackson will try once again to put playoff disappointments of the past behind him, and in this one I think he will (besides, they were my pick to win it all). Ravens 31-13.

Sunday has three games, the first being Denver at Buffalo on CBS. The last time these teams met was on MNF last season, with Denver prevailing after a second chance at a game-winning field goal. I don't think it will come down to a last second score this time around. Denver and Bo Nix will be game, but Buffalo will prevail 24-17.

The second game is a the first of two Week One rematches, as the Eagles and Packers, who met in Sao Paulo, Brazil to open the season, meet in Philadelphia this weekend. This is the fourth time they have met in the playoffs, including that classic 2004 4th and 26 game. The only win for GB came in 2010 interestingly enough, when the Packers and Mr. Discount Double Check began their run to the Super Bowl. Philadelphia will have Jaylen Hurts back, while the Packers won't have WR Christian Watson due to a torn ACL suffered last week vs. Chicago. I like Philly's defense better, and at home. Fly Eagles Fly, 24-20.

The nightcap of the Sunday tripleheader will be the one I'll look forward to the most for obvious reasons, as Washington travels to Tampa Bay for the second of our Week 1 rematches. The Bucs have ridden quite a surge since they were 4-6, winning six of their last seven to capture the NFC South. However...the Bucs are winless in prime time this year: at home to Baltimore, at Atlanta, at Kansas City, and at Dallas. Not only that, but the Bucs have also lost their last two home games on NBC; vs. Dallas in the '22 Wild Card and vs. the Rams in the '21 Divisional. And guess where the last Washington playoff victory came? The 2005 Wild Card round at Tampa. Hate to say it, but give me the Commanders in an upset, 24-23.

The finale of Wild Card weekend is as I mentioned before, in Arizona as the evacuating Los Angeles Rams face off against the Minnesota Vikings. Before the fires broke out in SoCal this week, I thought the Rams' home field advantage would be somewhat neutralized by the well-traveled Vikings fans. However, 35,000 Rams season ticketholders will make the trip to Phoenix to attend the game. Plus, I wonder if the neutrals (Arizona fans) will support their division rival? My thought is, are we going to see the good Sam Darnold or the bad one? I'm banking on the good one. Give me the Vikings, 27-21.

And as an added bonus, I'll throw in my pick for the CFP championship, as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will upset the Ohio State Gigachads (so named because their head coach looks like a gigachad). 

Enjoy the football this weekend!

BonyScribe

Could We Fricking Not??

 Good evening, everyone. We're not even two weeks away from the world's most petulant man-child re-emerging inside the Oval Office, and already he's wanting to f*** s*** up. Dude once again wants to take over Greenland, invade Canada and make it our 51st state, and wants to take control back of the Panama Canal. On top of whining and moaning about the American flags being at half-mast because President Carter is currently lying in state at the Capitol (how DARE one of our most beloved presidents rain on MY parade!!). Dude, get a grip already. Makes me wish there could be someone who could put him on a speed governor that would prevent him from flying off the handle; the guy leaping and skipping around like a dipsh*t sure won't.

Remember Nero from world history? This must be the modern-day version of him fiddling while Rome burns. He likes to boast about how the US weren't involved in any wars in his first administration, but I swear we're going to wind up in World War III with this clown in charge of our military, and he'll likely be the cause of it. 

While we're on the subject of people making complete fools out of themselves, could we leave stuff like this in the last decade??

We get that you're gay Johnathan, but do you have to shove it in our faces that way? In my opinion (and I could very well be wrong), it's this kind of exhibitionism that's led to the rise of Trump and MAGA. Also, while we're at it, could we stop with the incessant commercials for WeGovy, Muscovy, YaHomie and every other product that big pharma is trying to peddle on us? As well as the constant ads on local TV for Morgan & Morgan (who is indirectly responsible for Kyle Busch not winning a race last year; he should have never had them as a sponsor). And also, those stupid adverts on my phone that's a five second ad which morphs into a thirty second ad for the same thing. Usually with someone talking to themselves even though they're dressed as two different people. 

This is going to be a loonnnnnng year. Samantha, I need an entire case of Fireball just to get through it.

BonyScribe

Playoffs?! Are You Kidding Me? Playoffs?

 Good late night/early morning everyone once again. Well, the 2024 NFL Regular Season has concluded, which means the march to New Orleans and Super Bowl XLIX is on. First, let's see how I fared for my season predictions at the start of the year versus now...

In the NFC, I got three of the four division winners correct, with only an injury-plagued 49ers missing. The only Wild Card I got right were the Packers; the Cowboys had a terrible season, and the Falcons had one too many weeks of Kirk Cousins under center (which, as a Bucs fan, I DID like) and missed out on a winning record (thanks, Carolina). I don't think anyone could have predicted the Vikings to have the season they had (14-3), and a good job by the Commies and rookie QB Jayden Daniels to not only reach the playoffs but leapfrogging Green Bay into the sixth seed.

In the AFC, I terribly missed on the Dolphins and Jaguars winning their respective divisions as they wound up missing the playoffs altogether; I think the Dolphins' season pretty much was toast when Tyreek Hill got detained before his first regular-season home game. Now he's Audi 5000. The Jags? They just sucked out loud. Trevor Lawrence's injury was their death knell. I got KC correct, and they had an off year. But I didn't expect them to use Taylor Swift voodoo witchcraft to go 15-2. In fact, I got the order of finish in the AFC exactly right. I got all three of the Wild Cards in the AFC wrong, as the Jets came up flat (as usual), Cincinnati had some rotten luck, and Houston won their division. I didn't think Josh Allen would have an MVP-type season in Buffalo's runaway East title, Pittsburgh was good enough to just make it...again, the Chargers did have a great year with QB Justin Herbert and coach Jim Harbaugh, and rookie Bo Nix actually led Denver to a playoff berth.

So, the seedings are as follows:

NFC

1. Detroit Lions
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Los Angeles Rams
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. Washington Redskins Commanders
7. Green Bay Packers

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Baltimore Ravens\
4. Houston Texans
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Denver Broncos

My Super Bowl pick from earlier this year is still in play, so maybe that will happen. Although, I kind of have my doubts. I think I'll have my picks for next weekend's wild card games around Thursday or Friday. I'll keep y'all posted on my socials, whether it be Facebook or BlueSky. Until then, have a good night!

My favorite moment from Week 18

BonyScribe

2025 Is Off To A Rough Start

 Hello everyone. We're not even 72 hours into 2025 and the following events have taken place:

1. A deranged Army veteran drove from Houston to New Orleans and mowed down revelers on Bourbon Street, killing 14 and injuring 12 more.
2. Mere hours later in Las Vegas, an active-duty Green Beret (who was stationed at the same base as the individual in NOLA) parked a Cyber Truck in front of the Trump hotel and detonated it, killing himself and injuring seven.
3. I-85 in Greenville, SC was shut down for a bomb threat.
4. In Fullerton, CA, a plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing warehouse, killing two on board and injuring 19 inside the building.
5. An individual in Idaho was arrested for attempting to light an IED near a train car.

...and that's just scratching the surface of the start of what appears to be a wild and chaotic year. TO be honest, I think we need former NFL referee Jerome Boger to call a false start on this year and assess a five-yard penalty. 

Seriously though, the first couple of days of 2025 have felt odd, then again it did start on a Wednesday, which means if you're looking on a calendar, it starts with W-T-F. So, maybe afterwards things can try to get back to normal, even though it may be freezing around these parts. I mean take a look at this ice phallus penetrating the Virginias:

Honestly though next week's going to be quite cold. So grab some popcorn and bundle up.

Bony Scribe

Some Random Thoughts To Wrap Up 2024...

 Hello everyone, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and if you celebrate, are having a Happy Hannukah. With 2025 rapidly approaching, I thought I would wrap up the year with some random thoughts that are going through my mind this very late Sunday night.

Starting with my favorite football team, well thanks in part to a good luck duck, the Bucs slaughtered the kitty cats from Charlotte 48-14. That, combined with Washington's 30-24 overtime victory on Sunday night over Atlanta, gave Tampa Bay the lead in the NFC South. A win next week over the sorry freaking Aints at Ray Jay will give the Bucs an unprecedented (for them) fourth straight division title and fifth straight playoff appearance. Kinda fun to be a Bucs fan since COVID struck to be honest. As for the duck, it was rescued, but there was no word if it could be an honorary mascot (like DJ Kitty with the Rays) or if the team will be sponsored in part by Aflac insurance or Dawn dishwashing detergent.

What the hell has been going on with the world's airlines lately? In the past week, there have been for incidents; one was shot down by the Russians, and THREE instances of planes running off runways, one of which resulted in numerous fatalities. Once again confirming my fear of flying because if something goes wrong, chances are the only place to go is down, unless it can make an emergency landing somewhere, and as the case with the Jeju plane, even that isn't a guarantee that you'll survive. I haven't flown in 32 years, and as of right now, I have no plans of taking a flight. The last time I thought about flying somewhere, it was impractical for me to do so, and the time before that was just before 9/11. So, don't expect me to fly somewhere in the future, although things could change...

2024 for me was a roller coaster ride of sorts. Started out rather high, then fell off really steep around my birthday. Then had twists and turns and up and downs throughout the rest of the year. Really good in August and September, dropped really low in October and much of November, but had a pretty good December and am hoping to start 2025 off strong. Several factors played into that, I'm not going to say exactly what those are. However, I am looking forward to a massively great 2025. I didn't write on this blog as much as I had the last couple of years. That needs to change, regardless of how many people put eyes on this blog, which had truth be told gotten me a bit depressed because I want to be heard and not as much as a hermit that I may seem to be...

Speaking of which, it's already December 31, and I'm unsure what I'll be doing at this time tomorrow. More than likely I'll be watching the ball drop on TV and listening to the "Battle of Spring Hill"(fireworks going off throughout the neighborhood). I hope that this upcoming year won't be as full of obnoxiously bad commercials (but I doubt it) and perhaps a lot of optimism (did I just say that?), even if there are inmates (Squealon Muskrat) running the asylum in Washington, DC. Then again, what else is new? If this last month has told us anything, we should get our popcorn ready for post-January 20. 

Lastly, I have to pay my respects to the late Jimmy Carter. He lived to be 100, which is older than any former President in US history. He was the first president I remember hearing of, because I was too little to remember Nixon or Ford. My late mother would always complain about her soap operas being interrupted in around 1979 when he was drafting the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. Then he was defeated by Reagan in 1980, and he was mainly forgotten about. But he did more post-presidency than perhaps any other former president. He won a Nobel Peace Prize. He helped Habitat for Humanity in helping build a lot of homes. He monitored elections in fledgling democracies. He wasn't the best President over the past half-century, but he may have been the best human being to be in that role, perhaps ever. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will endure.

Well everyone, have a happy and safe New Year's Celebration and I'll see you on the flip side...

BonyScribe