Draft Day!!

So, yet again, I'm the only girl in our fantasy football league. When we picked the order of the draft, my nickname was "It's a mans game". Needless to say, I've been on, and will continue to be on, the receiving end of mass quantities of trash talking.

Some of it I bring on myself, like taking Aaron Rodgers #1 overall because he's hot. He's also a damn fine quarterback. I eventually will need a backup kicker, defense and tight end, but I'm ok with my team. It might be the first time I've ever NOT had a Viking on my team. Our jerk banquet captain took Longwell, our mean GM took our defense, and some clown actually drafted Favre. Has he seen him play this year?! On that ankle?? I hope I'm wrong, but my prediction is that he's only going to play one game.

Also, I'm mad at my counterpart for taking my tight end. No, not a euphemism. I believe my exact words were, "I hate you Jono! You took my tight end!!" Of course I don't realize what I'm saying while saying it....and this was BEFORE we ended up with a bottle of Patron at our table. Note to future self: making rules like "drafting players already drafted results in a shot" and "going over your allotted time results in a shot" always SEEM like a good idea at the time. Turns out, they're generally not.

I took copious amounts of crap from our league during the draft - "who takes Addai in the third round?", "Um, Moe? You need a backup QB!" (not until week 10, jerk!), "sure, Crabtree in the 5th is a great pick....", but overall, I'm ok with my team. It's not great, it's not terrible. There aren't really any super huge sleepers on my team (I'm holding out hope they're REALLY sleepy), but I like it. If I can just pick the right weeks when Hines Ward scores, and Felix Jones gets stuffed, I'll be just fine.

Honestly, the only reason I have ever done fantasy football is because it makes me care about all 16 games every week (except the bye weeks). If I didn't have fantasy football, I wouldn't have given a second thought to football today, since the Vikings played on Thursday. Also, I really enjoy beating the guys that think they know everything about football and this chick knows nothing. There are a certain few people in life I've come across that I really relish beating at this "sport". In fact, I play the first one this week - my GM. So, here's to The Suckiest Suck Team That Ever Sucked....from Suckville. AKA, the Flaming Moe's.

(It should be noted that I've started off the year with a win. Over a most magnificent opponent - our smack talking GM, who gave me the following nickname for when we determined our draft order: It's a Mans Game. Ah, victory. It really is sweet.)

One would think....

That being cooped up in the house all weekend with a sore throat (save for a kickball game) would inspire me to write. One would be wrong. Instead of recapping the amazingness of the last week, I have been the laziest person alive, save for a couple of showers and a popsicle run. You'll just have to hold your breath* until such time as I decide to share my thoughts of the last ten days with you.

*I wouldn't actually hold your breath....it might be another couple of days.

Random thoughts....

I have a handful of sayings in life. The first is, I'll try almost anything twice. I will. If I don't like it the first time, who's to say my tastes may not evolve? I definitely qualify it by including "almost" because really, I'm not likely to try jumping in front of a moving vehicle more than once. And that's assuming I survive the first trial run.

The second is, It's not what you know, it's who you know. This also directly ties in with the third, which is, well, it's the Golden Rule. Not the one about whoever has the gold makes the rules, the other one. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I've been insanely fortunate in my life. I won't deny it and I won't apologize for it. I've met A list actors, I've made professional golfers laugh, I truly have the most incredible support system on the planet, I've seen some incredible music, I've eaten food most people can't imagine, I have a career that I love with every bit of my soul, and I've traveled to some of the most amazing places in the world. I've had a great life so far. Now that isn't to say I haven't had my fair share of downs, but I don't dwell on them.

I wouldn't have been able to accomplish or achieve ANY of these things without the people that I know. And I wouldn't know ANY of the people that I do without treating them the way I'd want to be treated. I've worked incredibly hard to get where I am, and I've met some incredible people along the way, all of whom I've treated as I'd like to be myself.

Y'all know who you are, and I love you dearly. I'm grateful beyond description to have you in my life, and I hope you'll always be there for me. I truly wouldn't be where I am today without you, and I won't get where I'm going without you. You're the best. Really the best.

I ask one thing of people that I meet, and I only hope that they're able to answer it as honestly as I am, and believe it. The question is - if you could be anyone, from any time period of life, living or passed on, who would you be?

All the ups and downs, the good and the bad, the sickness and the health, I wouldn't be anyone other than me. Regrets and successes, skinny or fat, there's no one on the planet, past or present, that I'd rather be than me. Not even Kate Middleton. Have you seen what Prince Charles looks like now?!?

Recap...

The last week has been somewhat of a blur....all starting with Thursday night.

Thursday was our last regular season kickball team. I caught wind of this team from one of my Krav instructors, he said the team was pretty cool, it was on Thursday nights, there's lots of flip cup, so I looked into it! Unfortunately, the minute I signed up for it, I jacked my knee and missed the first four games. In the last four games, I was 3-4 at the plate, made one catch, assisted on another, and FINALLY scored in our last game. Well, we have playoffs next weekend, but the regular season is over.

It's surprising how sad I am about it. Yesterday just didn't feel the same without the carolina blue shirt and tutu. Granted, we had our fantasy draft yesterday and I wouldn't have been able to play anyway, but I missed it. I missed the camaraderie and the adrenaline. I digress....after our last game we had our flip cup playoffs. I never actually participated in the competitive flipping, just a cheerleader, so I can't take credit for the three-peat. Yes, our team is the three time flip cup champs. You can see how this would turn into a long night.

Friday I watched the Saints game with a colleague and her brother, had a few margaritas, checked out the 5th Child CD release at the Banks Street Bar and went to bed early. Saturday was the Monday night kickball playoffs. I had planned on stopping by and watching a few of the games and my friend Karen was in town, and she was cool with checking it out. Sadly, it was a super rainy day, and I wasn't dressed to give the slip 'n slide a go. We managed to watch one game, and then went to Felipe's for lunch.

We both had different events to go to - her a fundraiser for the Make it Right foundation, and me, an Abita beer sponsored grub crawl. It was a bit disorganized, but the food was good, and the beers were paired perfectly. We reconnected at Howl at the Moon later and I eventually had to call it a night. We met up for lunch on Sunday and I gave her a ride to the airport. It's so wonderful having good friends come visit me; in the last few days, I've had two more friends confirm visits here. Please keep coming, it's an amazing city that has so much to offer. Plus, tourism is our main industry here, and being that I'm in it, I'd like to be able to keep working. :)

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, I didn't really do much of anything. Wednesday I went out with the guys from the Krav studio - it's so interesting to see people out of the normal environment that you see them. These are the guys that yell and scream and push me harder than anyone ever has before, and yet seeing them out and about, they're big teddy bears that wrestle each other, listen to live music, scarf pizza at 2am. People absolutely fascinate me, watching how we interact with one another, the life choices we all make....funny the way it is.

I have...

....THE BESTEST FRIENDS EVER!!!!!!!

I've been going back and forth, trying to find cheap flights to get out of town for the weekend. Turns out I didn't have to do any work. This little lady is off to Scottsdale for the weekend, courtesy of Delta and one of the bestest people on the whole damn planet (blood relatives notwithstanding).

Leave it to me to go from hot to hotter, literally, not figuratively. Sigh, at least I'll get to experience In 'n Out Burger.