Why I Haven't Been Around As Of Late

Hello again, everyone. As you might have noticed, I haven't been writing much over the past week. There are reasons of course. One, I had family down from NC until late last week. Two, I just wasn't feeling very inspired to do writing this past weekend. Three, speaking of this weekend it was rather off to say the least. Like an episode of "Stranger Things" was happening, and I haven't seen the first episode yet. In the meantime, I did get some shopping done for Christmas, although I'm not entirely sure if I'll get more. I mean I want to, but we'll see. Going to play it by ear. In a somewhat related note to everything mentioned above, I haven't really felt inspired or motivated to do such writing. 

Anyway, I hope to have some done this week, although I do have appointments with the VA the next two weeks (which of course, I'll have to be driven to instead of taking the bus; I guess my sisters think I'm going to run off somewhere after my appointment or something). Like one friend on Twitter told me the other week, "I wish you could be free." You and a lot of other people feel the same way, my friend. 

In the meantime, I'm going to watch wrestling and some of the Monday Night Football game tonight (if only to see what dumb decisions Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett will pull this week) and await one of my Christmas gifts to come in tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm doing okay. Take care.

CT

Weekend Recap 10/11 edition

 Hello again everyone, except for you Ian Cole. Hoping that everybody (well, almost everybody) had a nice weekend. Mine was okay, as I got to celebrate my sister's birthday. Believe it or not, she's 75 now and despite our differences I love her. 

You know, yesterday I was going to write about just how disappointing the Rays season was. Injuries everywhere only to reach the postseason on a shoestring budget yet again, which although admirable, is quite infuriating when you consider their triple-A affiliate in Durham has won multiple championships, including this season. Instead, down here at the major league level, you have an owner, Stu Sternberg that cries poor mouth that he doesn't get as much revenue as the other teams because this team has always (with the exception of 2008) been a box office flop. And on top of that, $tu has been wishy-washy at best in trying to land a new ballpark in Tampa (where it should be), not St. Petersburg.

But enough about that. Yesterday I just wasn't feeling it for some reason. I know yesterday was National Mental Health Day, yet strangely enough, I was feeling down. Today, I'm feeling rather chipper. My motivation? Can't really tell you, but let's just say that for the first time probably EVER, I'm doing Christmas shopping for somebody (special) outside of family. Yeah, my budget is (unfairly) limited, but like Tommy Lee Jones said in the 1993 movie, "The Fugitive:"

As for my football picks, I went 22-9 on my college picks and a stellar week in the pros, going 13-3. That puts me over .500 for the season at 41-38-1. So, a pretty decent weekend overall. Later this evening, I'll be checking out the Lightning as they open their season on Broadway against the Rangers. By the way, I have Carolina and Edmonton in next year's Stanley Cup Final, with Edmonton finally breaking the great Canadian drought (a Canadian team hasn't won the Cup since 1993). Maybe after that, I'll try to work on the art project I also have planned for Christmas, and probably flash my middle finger at any Ron DeSantis ads that I happen to come across, be it on my phone or on TV.

More to come...

CT

Flashback Friday: October 8, 1993

 Hello again everyone. It's been a hot minute since I did a flashback Friday post (three weeks to be exact). Mental/emotional health issues helped play a role in that. But since I already posted my football picks for this weekend, I thought I could get this in. Today, we're going back to the 1993, the time I moved duty stations from Orlando to Goose Creek, SC and felt as if I was on an island. Seriously, I hated being by myself in an apartment and hated the fact that I had to live off base. Here though, were the Top 40 songs according to Radio & Records Magazine for the week of October 8, 1993:

40. Downtown by SWV. SWV was a one album wonder. Their star rose during this year but faded into Bolivia (as Mike Tyson would say) thereafter. I don't really remember this song because the pop station wasn't really a pop station, and everything else in town was either urban or country.

39. I Get Around by Tupac. Another song I probably would have remembered had Charleston had a proper pop station. Geez living in the South sure sucked at times.

38. Let Me Ride by Dr. Dre. Did you know that y sister has a birthday tomorrow? Unfortunately, it's THAT sister, and I really don't feel like celebrating, but we have family over from NC so I have to pretend to put on a happy face...

37. Rain by Madonna. Finally, we get to a song that was played on that station Charleston, 95 SX, which I called 95Sux.

36. Just Kickin' It by Xcape. This one I do remember and was strangely enough played by that station. Curious...

35. Will You Be There by Michael Jackson. Speaking of the radio stations at the time in Charleston, there were THREE country stations in Charleston. Talk about overkill.

34. Jimmy Olsen's Blues by The Spin Doctors. Better known as "Pocket Full of Kryptonite"

33. Send Me A Lover by Taylor Dayne. If memory serves me correct, this was her last Top 40 hit. Interestingly enough, Shadoe Stevens, who always seemed to have a weird fixation on her, would be out as AT 40 host just over a year later.

32. Nothing 'Bout Me by Sting

31. Baby, I'm Yours by Shai. XL 106.7 played the shit out of it when I was still in Orlando, when I moved to Charleston it disappeared suddenly. Gee, I wonder why?

30. Boom! Shake The Room by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Before he slapped the shit out of Chris Rock, Will Smith had this last top 40 effort as the Fresh Prince.

29. Hey Mr. DJ by Zhane. My love interest is now seeing a DJ, so I should boycott this song. On a related note, his Phillies are losing to St. Louis as I type this. Suck it, Mike!

28. Sunday Morning by Earth, Wind, and Fire. Their comeback effort after a twelve-year hiatus. No, it didn't include Charles Kuralt or any CBS newspeople.

27. Wild World by Mr. Big. This was the second remake of the 1971 Cat Stevens tune in five years, the first being done by Maxi Priest in 1988. This remake charted higher than Priests, winding up at #13 (Priest's peaked at #22).

26. Break It Down Again by Tears for Fears. Really, Tears for Fears? I can't believe you would be waiting for my next emotional breakdown like this. You disappoint me...

25. Human Wheels by John Mellencamp. I loved this song. Got plenty of airplay in Charleston.

24. Lately by Jodeci. Sorry, but everybody seems to like the "MTV Unplugged" version of this song. I don't. In fact, I think music was better off WITHOUT that program. Hang on, St. Louis is about to blow it? Son of a...😡

23. Anniversary by Tony! Toni! Tone! Your boy has never celebrated an anniversary. Ever. Goddammit, the Phillies take the lead

22. Everybody Hurts by REM. It's only fitting that this song would crop up after St. Louis blows the lead. It's like I said this week, the Universe has it out for me...

21. Pink Cashmere by Prince

20. Soul To Squeeze by Red Hot Chili Peppers. From the movie "Coneheads," which I did not see. Every movie I saw in 1993 was before I moved to Charleston.

19. Again by Janet Jackson. Speaking of movies I didn't get to see, "Poetic Justice" falls into that category.

18. Too Much Information by Duran Duran. I think the band was ahead of their time with this one, because there's so many information shows (not all real, btw) that it's like society has fallen victim to paralysis by analysis.

17. Hopelessly by Rick Astley. His last American chart hit, but he's never gonna give us up.

16. Sweat (A La La La La Song) by Inner Circle. Did you know, there were two different versions of this song? One version replaced the last line in the chorus (Push it, push it some more) to "make you dance some more" assumably because some Southern Baptist evangelical type got triggered because the original chorus sounded as if the singer was saying "shit."

15. I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meat Loaf. Poor Marvin. Sounds about as desperate as I've become (not really). He would have done everything to stay healthy, but wear a mask, now he's dead. RIP Mr. Aday.

14. Better Than You by Lisa Keith. One hit wonder, although I'm more of a fan of the ring intro for Maxwell Jacob Friedman myself.

13. Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms. 

12. Runaway Love by En Vogue f/FMOB. Another song I absolutely have zero recollection of.

11. All That She Wants by Ace of Base. This started a two year stretch of chart domination by this Swedish outfit.

10. Reason To Believe by Rod Stewart. Another song from "Unplugged." Go back and read what I said after #24 on this list for my opinion...

  9. What Is Love? by Haddaway. Thank you SNL, for giving this song an extended life. Also, what exactly IS love?

  8. No Rain by Blind Melon. No, I never got to see the video for this song featuring the girl in the bumblebee outfit.

  7. Cryin' by Aerosmith. Alicia Silverstone <3 

  6. Two Steps Behind by Def Leppard. This wasn't featured on "Unplugged," but unfortunately, a stripped-down version of this song allowed it to reach top ten status.

  5. If by Janet Jackson. Yes, I'll be a good boy and put your record on Miss Jackson.

  4. Right Here/Human Nature by SWV. This was their recycled version of the classic from Michael Jackson ten years prior. Chris Brown would re-recycle this song in 2011 with "She Ain't You."

  3. The River Of Dreams by Billy Joel. Thanks to Golden Corral featuring their version on a commercial soon after its release for ruining this song for me.

  2. Another Sad Love Song by Toni Braxton

and the number one song twenty-nine years ago this week was:

  1. Dreamlover by Mariah Carey. There was an officer on my ship that I would later be stationed on who had a tendancy to fly off the handle sometimes by the name of Glover, and Under my breath, while he was away) I would sing a song very similar to "Dreamlover" that went "G-Lover oh spin him up, blow his top, watch him pop..." 

Man, I was a stinker back then. In a way I still am.

Well, that's this week's travel back in time. I hope to write some more content this weekend (even if it means not going on TikTok because of family visiting). I'll explain why later on. Until then, take care.

CT

Baseball Playoff (And Football) Preview

 Hello sports fans. Welcome to that magical time of year where all five major sports leagues in the United States concurrently play...October. While hockey and basketball are just now starting up with preseason, baseball enters its postseason starting later today. I don't follow baseball as closely as I used to (in part because of a lame AF commissioner), but I shall try to dispense who I believe will make it through and win the World Series.

Remember that there are TWELVE teams in the postseason instead of ten starting this year. A best of three wild card series, followed by the division series, the LCS, then the World Series. Frankly I miss the days when just the division winners reached the postseason, but those days are long gone now (before 1994). Anyway, here's who I have:

Wild Card Series:
Cleveland over Tampa Bay (sorry, but the Rays have no offense)
Toronto over Seattle
St. Louis over Philadelphia
NY Mets over San Diego

Division Series:
NY Yankees over Cleveland
Houston over Toronto
LA Dodgers over NY Mets
Atlanta over St. Louis

LCS:
NY Yankees over Houston
LA Dodgers over Atlanta

World Series:

Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees in six.

Now for my football picks this weekend. First college:

 #4 Michigan over Indiana
Florida over Missouri
#17 TCU over #19 Kansas
#9 Tennessee over #25 LSU
Oklahoma over Texas
Louisville over Virginia
#23 Mississippi State over Arkansas
#24 Cincinnati over USF
#18 UCLA over #11 Utah
#2 Georgia over Auburn
#7 Oklahoma State over Texas Tech
Tulane over East Carolina
Pittsburgh over Virginia Tech
Tulsa over Navy
North Carolina over Miami
#21 Washington over Arizona State
Duke over Georgia Tech
#3 Ohio State over Michigan State
#9 Ole Miss over Vanderbilt
Air Force over Utah State
Appalachian State over Texas State
Iowa State over #20 Kansas State
Illinois over Iowa
#5 Clemson over Boston College
#13 Kentucky over South Carolina
#15 Wake Forest over Army
#6 USC over Washington State
#16 BYU over Notre Dame
#1 Alabama over Texas A&M
#14 NC State over Florida State
#12 Oregon over Arizona

Now the NFL, where I'm off to a good start after correctly picking a miserable game last night.

TAMPA BAY over Atlanta
Minnesota over Chicago
New England over Detroit
New Orleans over Seattle
Green Bay over NY Giants (in London)
Buffalo over Pittsburgh (Rebecca Grant Bowl)
Miami over NY Jets
LA Chargers over Cleveland
Tennessee over Washington
Jacksonville over Houston
San Francisco over Carolina
Dallas over LA Rams
Philadelphia over Arizona
Baltimore over Cincinnati
Kansas City over Las Vegas

Enjoy the weekend!

More to come:

CT

Weekend Picks In Review...Plus Other Stuff.

Good early morning everyone, except you Elon Musk. In case you've missed it, and with all that's going on between Ian recovery, the January 6 Committee, and everything else, it's been somewhat easy to overlook the war still raging in Ukraine, the Ukrainians could be close to winning the war. Mad Vlad (or Sad Vlad) has had his troops retreat, and now he's getting desperate, from calling on reservists to even threatening to use nukes on Ukraine. I'll say this, if God forbid, he opts the latter, it won't end well for him. 

Things you love to see: a sad Putin.

Anyway, with it being early Tuesday morning, I thought I would go ahead and do my weekend review of my picks from this past weekend's college and pro slate of games. Let's start off with college:

L #21 Minnesota over Purdue
L Army over Georgia State
W Air Force over Navy
L Louisville over Boston College
W Illinois over Wisconsin (which caused the Badgers to fire their coach)
W #4 Michigan over Iowa
L #18 Oklahoma over TCU
L Texas Tech over #25 Kansas State
L #7 Kentucky over #14 Ole Miss
W #12 Utah over Oregon State
W East Carolina over USF 

L #23 Florida State over #22 Wake Forest
W #11 Penn State over Northwestern
W North Carolina over Virginia Tech
W#9 Oklahoma State over #16 Baylor
W Appalachian State over Citadel 
W #2 Alabama over #20 Arkansas
W #3 Ohio State over Rutgers (but it wasn't quite by 50)
W Mississippi State over #17 Texas A&M
W Duke over Virginia
W #5 Clemson over #10 NC State 
W #1 Georgia over Missouri (BARELY, ugghhh)
L #24 Pitt over Georgia Tech
W #6 USC over Arizona State
W #13 Oregon over Stanford
W Florida over Eastern Washington 

A total of 19-8 for the week 

Now for the Pros:

W Minnesota over New Orleans in London
W LA Chargers over Houston
W NY Giants over Chicago
L Detroit over Seattle
L Jacksonville over Philadelphia (gotdammit!)
L Pittsburgh over NY Jets
W Cleveland over Atlanta
W Tennessee over Indianapolis
W Dallas over Washington
L Baltimore over Buffalo (upset)
L Carolina over Arizona (Mercedes Ruhle >>> Matt Ruhle) 
W Las Vegas over Denver
W Green Bay over New England
W Kansas City over Tampa Bay (I hate it when I'm right sometimes)
L LA Rams over San Francisco.

For the first time this season, I went above .500 with my picks (9-7), but the season total still is putrid at 29-34-1. Maybe it's the fact that 2022 hasn't been my year. 

Today is supposed to be sunny and temperate at a nice 81 degrees, so I may get some yardwork done today. All in all, I hope today is much better to me than the past few days have been. I'll keep you updated on twitter how things are going, in the meantime take care!

More to come:

CT

I Swear The Universe Is Taunting Me Now

 Hello everyone. As you can see, I haven't given up...for now, but my mental and emotional health are still shit for now. That being said, a hearty "bleep you" goes out to some dude named Mike.  

On a related topic to that last sentence, today is National Boyfriends Day. As someone who has perpetually struggled in the romance department, especially this year and ESPECIALLY the last several weeks, you can only imagine how this makes me feel. Having never been a boyfriend, it sucks. An old Moody Blues song once said the line, "state of mind, what could go wrong?" Well let's see, the aforementioned douchenozzzle is taking my former love interest to Vegas this week, DeSantis is still the governor of Florida...for now. My phone is acting up all of a sudden; I can't access GIFs on Twitter and another app I have is acting up. Domino's isn't delivering tonight because for some reason, it isn't available in our area. The song ""I Really Like You" by Carly Rae (call me maybe) Jepsen just was playing as I washed my hands. And so on and so on...

I know there are much more people in the world with much bigger problems than those that I have. But as another song once said, "it's the little things that kill," and one little thing (not being a boyfriend to a wonderful woman) has been killing me my entire adult life. Today just feels like the Universe is taunting me...SMH

Alexa, play "Loser" by Beck.

More to come...

CT

I Can't Do This Anymore...

 Hello everyone. I'm here to announce that I'm considering ending this blog...for good.

Why? A litany of reasons, but first and foremost, the lack of participation on this blog, whether it be hits on it (people visiting), or comments (I think the last comment came three years ago). Or the fact that I have ONE subscriber, a cousin in North Carolina who I have lost contact with, Or the fact that absolutely nobody wants to hear what I'm saying on here...or Twitter or any of my other social media channels for that matter. Much like in real life, where I hardly have friends, and the ones I do have, I'd rather keep them away from my sisters for reasons I've written about on here before. Plus, the perpetual heartache I've had to endure (just this year alone) has made things almost impossible to bear. When I was able to do neat things and go to neat places a few years ago, I always went alone. Part of that was because of my job at the time, and again, my family.

For those of who have read my nonsense the past several years, thank you. If I do terminate this blog, I don't know if I'll keep my socials: Facebook, Twitter, Insta, TikTok. I've had enough of the Universe trolling me for one or two mistakes I may have made in my lifetime, and those others have made...

I'll be around for now. Whether or not I decide to go up and go somewhere else remains to be seen. I DON'T ever ever plan on unaliving myself, but I almost feel like it. I can't believe I even just wrote that.

Forty-eight years on this Earth and the only people that love me are far away or are on their last legs. I guess nobody really cares.

And don't you dare bring religion into the mix because I won't accept it. It's just a crux for a belief system that in actuality has caused wars and discord amongst peoples. But I guess I was just meant to be alone...forever 

Goodbye(?)

CT