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Back on the Saddle Again

So the weekend was spent coughing and hacking, and as it turned out, my boss at work sent me home yesterday because she didn't want everyone around me to get sick as well. Although I was feeling rather horrible, I was actually quite productive during my "day off". Got the ROC docs sent out AND finished doing laundry.

It was a beautiful day outside it has to be said, but I spent most of the day sleeping and watching some Netflix.

After a day of sleeping and relaxing, I came back to work today and feeling quite a bit better thankfully, just in time for a few projects. I plan on buying some Vitamin C and Advil cold and sinus after work as to keep off this cold (which Priyam has had on and off for what seems like a month). I certainly don't want that...

You Better Not

So just over a week or so now, I've been fighting a bit of a cold/flu thing and it just started to kick me in the behind. Yesterday I needed a mid afternoon nap when I got home from work and today I woke up feeling horrible. Fingers crossed it won't ruin the weekend. 

Childhood Redux

I absolutely love Calvin and Hobbes and R2D2, so when I found this, I had to share...

Whats Wrong with British Football?

Today, Napoli beat Chelsea in the Champions League 3-1 in Naples, and one has to wonder: What is going on with English football in European competitions, most notably the Champions League. Both Manchester clubs were knocked out in the group stage, and the teams that did make it through (Chelsea and Arsenal) are down big from their first leg match-ups. Arsenal got destroyed by AC Milan at the San Siro, losing 4-0, while of course Chelsea losing today.

So what's the deal? Usually British clubs do extremely well in this competition. I have a few ideas:

1.) The Premier League is too competitive. With no less than 7 teams fighting it out for the top four spots in the league, the league has become extremely entertaining for the observer, but really taxing, for the clubs involved in the scuffle. One might argue that in previous seasons of the EPL, Manchester United might be able to glide through 2 or 3 games where they knew they were clear favorites and had no hope of losing. The club's second team was better than many clubs' starting 11, so they could focus on the big boys from across Europe. 

That is no longer the case. With Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and even surprise Newcastle clawing for those top four spots, none of those top clubs can let off for one match. Drop points against lower level opposition (ie the Wolves or Wigans of the league) and that just might be the end of your champions league hopes. But it's not just the threat of losing points, the average mid-table finishers in the EPL are head and shoulders above their cohorts in other foreign leagues. Who would you take in a match: Everton or Parma? 

So with such a difficult league, by the time the English Champions League clubs get to mid week and their Champions League opponent, they are mentally still worried about the last weekend and of course the weekend to come. Many other leagues, such as the Bundesliga (in Germany) or La Liga (in Spain) have clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid who don't have to worry each and every week. They can focus on Champions League football because they know their weekend opponents have little shot at dethroning the kings.

Being the Premier League is starting to have some disadvantages. 

2.)  Having a target on your face is NEVER easy: As stated in point 1, England has been quite successful in the Champions League for a long time, and extremely successful in the last 10 years or so. Many foreign teams use this to their advantage. Coaches can get their players fired up by saying things like, "NOBODY thinks you can win against the big boys. Prove them wrong." And they are. teams like Basel (from Switzerland) were able to play David vs Goliath and prey on just those emotions to claim Premiership scalps. 

With such a worldwide following like Manchester United or Chelsea, smaller clubs can potentially get better motivated for a European match than a club worried about their big match on the weekend. 

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To me those are the major two reasons why this year English teams have been playing quite poorly. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is only the beginning of this trend. If the Premier League continues to grow and become more popular, English clubs may continue to have this issues.

But, then again, they could win the Champions League next year, you never really know. But hey, that's football.

Quite Some Undertaking

So, it was a pretty quiet weekend, we got plenty done, cleaned. However, Priyam and I found a great TV on the BBC, a modern take on Sherlock Holmes cases called Sherlock. Although each season only has 3 episodes, it is excellent. If you can, definitely check it out.

Also this weekend Priyam and I completed the paperwork for her ROC, which took some doing, but we're pretty close to finishing it off. There are a few more things involved, but I have a good feeling everything will work out.

In other news, I REALLY CAN'T STAND people that try to force their way into involving themselves in one's business. Seriously, its super annoying. Usually it's because their life is boring and worthless, but its really getting on my nerves at the moment.

30 BOOKS!!!

Well, I've taken the plunge and on goodreads.com have taken a 2012 reading challenge of 25 books.

Over the weekend I finished my first book of my challenge (World War Z by Max Brooks) which was good, definitely a bit different than the normal thriller mystery type novel I normally read. After that I said, well, let me start a reading challenge of 35 books over 2012. The problem which I realized today was that 35 books for me (who with internet, TV, and XBOX is a mighty task indeed) so I have decided to cut it down to 30 to make it more achievable. 30 books in a year for me is quite some achievement (which is probably something I shouldn't be so quick to mention).

Anyway, my next book is Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

No Email Address?

It is the year 2012, and at work I'm still amazed that there are some people that do not have access to an email address... It is truly mind boggling. Now, I'm not some technogeek that says, "Woah, dude, I'm amazed there are people without a Tumblr account or an IPhone" but I mean, an email account is pretty normal these days isn't it. My grandmother has one, even though she doesn't really know how to use it. Credits for trying. 

Last night, Priyam and I went to see The Woman in Black starring Mr.Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe. It was pretty good. I had seen the show in London when on a field trip while at ZIS, but I can't remember too much about the play other than it filled you full of dread. The movie was pretty similar in that sense, but I would need to read the book or see the play again to actively compare those to the movie. Overall, pretty decent.

Anyway, very happy its Friday and looking forward to the weekend. It is turning out to be quite a busy weekend with work to do and things to accomplish. We shall see. 

So Sad, but So True

Fruits of Labor

So today the magazine that my boss and I have been working on will finally be mailed out to current and previous customers, and I received my own copy of it today. I've designed quite a bit of it, so its great to see a publication get released. Plus I can add it to my resume, which is always a good thing.

Actually, today started off rather poorly because I wasn't feeling very well. I still am a bit achy and have sore throat with off an on headaches. There are a bunch of people sick here at work, so I am praying right now I don't get it. We shall see...

What Are You Saying Exactly?

Despite a minor hiccup with apartment rent getting paid (which was entirely their fault by the way) the week has started off pretty well. Yesterday was an easy work day and there was some decent TV on last night.

Something has been bothering me for a while now though. There is someone on Facebook (who shall remain nameless) who posts the most left-wing radical nonsense on the face of the planet. I absolutely cannot stand it. They will read an article that is factually manipulative and generally the most biased information out there, think its wonderful, and spread it for her entire Facebook friend list to see. Everyone has the right to their own opinions, but most of the information is, if not completely untrue, bordering on factually incorrect. Now, I have decided to take it upon myself, as a public service, to leave comments about all of the worthless and false points in anything that they do.

I don't consider myself a true Republican or a conservative by any means. I'm quite liberal by most accounts. But this person grinds my gears on so many things, that they clearly need to be put in their place to show the world that everything isn't the dreamland scenario that this chronic left-wing nutjob believes it to be.

If they lived close by, I would grab them right now, shake them, and yell as loud as I can:
"WAKE UP AND SMELL THE *&^$%#@!*&^ COFFEE!"


thats all for now, but I'm sure I will have more information further into my crusade against this facebook posting war. 

Smoke on the Water

Before I go into my post, I give you my photoshop creation.... Click on the photo for a bigger image...

So yesterday was the Super Bowl between the Patriots and Giants, and frankly I don't even want to go into it. One of my People I Love to Hate members won, and I'm still no pleased one bit about it. 

Although I must say, we had a nice little feast. BBQ Ribs (that we made ourselves), wings, shrimp, chips and dips. Really good stuff. The commercials were good as well. Not an all out bad experience, it has to be said. 

Chak De PLS?

Finally I've found some interesting information about this league on the company's website:
 http://www.cmg-world.com/

This is the company managing the league, and they have more information on trying to find franchise owners:

http://www.cmg-world.com/FranchiseBrochure.pdf

Interesting information, it has to be said. 

All in Forms

Well, its been my first blog post in a while (even longer without a Photoshop creation attached) but nothing huge has really happened. As the world turns so to speak.  

I've just got into this new show by Lost creator JJ Abrams called Alcatraz. It definitely has a Lost feel (one of my favorite shows of course) but its a bit different as well. I've watched the past two weeks glued to the action. One thing I really like about it is some of the questions it leaves you with at the end of each episode (a la Lost). Now, unfortunately, its not as mind bending as lost is, which is sort of a let down. Its almost as if Fox told Abrams and the writers: We want you to create a Lost-like TV show, but we don't want it to be a thought provoking because we want dumb people to be able to watch it as well. So pros and cons. I'll keep watching, and I think its gotten a decent reception by most, so I doubt it will be canceled. 

In other news, I have had some interesting thoughts recently. The first regards living in a house. I never have considered myself a homebody, but I've been starting to get the feeling that I really want to live in a house that Priyam and I can decorate. We can pick out furniture, paint walls, really expand our lifestyle (and possibly even get a puppy, which is one of my life goals oddly enough). Where has this come from? Who knows, maybe its effective advertising from IKEA or something. Whatever it is, its made me start looking at houses to rent in Albuquerque. The only issue is that we're not quite completely settled here with jobs we'll have for the next ten years and tons of friends etc so getting a house might be a bit ridiculous.

Also, I read about this extremely interesting new soccer league in India with a bunch of former soccer stars:  http://www.firstpost.com/sports/move-aside-cricket-here-comes-the-indian-premier-league-soccer-187002.html

It got me thinking. I really would love to work in soccer. Plus its a new league with a bunch of stars. More to come possibly soon... 

Outta My Life

Well, another day goes by. I changed by twitter background image, you can take a look at it here
(Unless of course you came from there, in which case you've probably already seen it)

Anyway at work this week, I've been helping my boss with a travel magazine that she's been putting together and I've been designing ads for multiple travel operators, including Tauck, which is a high end tour company. This is one of the results of my work. Hope you like it. Click the link to check out the full size. Critiques welcome.

Also, today I'm going bowling as another tour operator, Globus it taking the whole staff to dinner and bowling at Santa Ana Star Casino as a thank you for a great sales year. I haven't been bowling in YEARS. Its been a REALLY long time, so hopefully i don't embarrass myself. We will see...

T-Minus three days until Priyam's B-Day and she's a tad under the weather. I know she'll be really upset if she is sick over her birthday weekend, so I'm doing the most I can to nip it before the weekend comes.

Splatter Tree

So, I made a background in photoshop, see if you like it... click on the picture to view the actual size...

Anyway, its Priyam's birthday coming up on Sunday, and she's actually, for once, excited. I'm happy when she's happy, so that means I'm in quite a good mood.

Work has been super busy, so I come home exhausted and not really in the mood to do anything but veg out. I'm taking Priyam out to Bath and Body Works this evening so she can pick out some more birthday gifts for herself. This works out a lot better than getting her things she doesn't want and her getting upset about them. 

Right Here, Right Now

While playing around a bit with photoshop I decided to a little art project, and these images were the result. Click on each one to bring up the actual size. It's sort of a series if you will... I call it Forward