Author: jcalvert

8:15AM Saturday morning as I write this, so hopefully no one thinks I am skint up so early in the Super Bowl weekend. Last night I decided that Busch Light was better than Budweiser Select, but was not close to Miller Lite. Hey, someone has to try the stuff to keep everyone informed.

Busch Light, served cold, reminds me of another beer flavored water favorite – Natty Light. Busch is pretty much water with a little alcohol mixed in for good measure (4.2% ABV). I picked up a 24 pack at Sam’s Club and now have to figure out what to do with the stuff. Coming in at $0.48 a can was certainly a bargain, but I doubt I will be able to give this stuff away. I guess it could be somewhat refreshing after a run around the park, or while cooking some burgers on the grill, but in the battle of cheap light beers, Busch is not a favorite of mine.

For those keeping score at home, current order of preference is:

• Miller Lite (4.5% ABV)
• Bush Light (4.2% ABV)
• Budweiser Select (4.3% ABV)

Warming up in the bullpen, Michelob Ultra and Ultra Amber.

What’s the world coming to Michael Vick is being handed more responsibility, which is something that the previous staff did not think Vick could handle.

“We’re going to put it all on him,” the new coach [Petrino] said Friday while making the rounds at the Super Bowl media center.  “It’s new to him, but he’s excited about the challenge.  I think that’s the way you train a quarterback.” [source:  AP]

Is it somewhat odd that a six-year QB needs to be “trained” – seems somewhat like an insult to me.

I always wondered why the Mora did not like Vick make adjustments at the line.  Was it because the staff did not think Vick could handle the responsibility?  Was it because they did not think Vick had a solid grasp of the offense?  Some other reason?

The other interesting part of Petrino’s quote is that he is going to “put it all on [Vick]” – be careful of what you ask for Vick, you just might get it after all.

Most of us Falcons fans have a love-hate relationship with Vick.  We love his athletic ability – he can make crazy plays – but we continue to be frustrated with his inability to progress as a QB.  At the end of the day, we want the Falcons to win, and if Vick can turn it around, we will all be happy.  The question is can Vick really take the Falcons to the next level?

I hate this time of year.  College football is long gone, and the NFL has pretty much come and gone.  Of course there is that Super Bowl XLI on the weekend slate, but for the most part TV viewing this time of year, well, sucks.  I could care less about the NBA and I did not realize that the NHL was still around (ha, just kidding, but I do not watch that junk).  Hot Stove happenings are interesting enough to read about, the NFL draft is still too far away to be very interesting, and college basketball is just not my thing until March Madness rolls around.

Sure there is some good soccer to be found, but the dead air time between football and baseball … and back to training camps is just a not so fun TV time of year for this sports fan.

For those of you keeping score at home, I have decided that Miller Lite is a much better beer than Budweiser Select.  Yes, for those of us that buy cheap light beer, this sort of revelation is important.

I am a fan of beer; good beer.  So long time readers often wonder why I bother to drink cheap beer, typically of the ‘ght’ variety.  For one thing, cheap is good.  More money in my pocket is a good thing.  Why would I not want to get a 30 pack of Miller Lite at Sam’s Club for what amounts to $0.55 a beer?  I can use the extra coin to buy more junk food or better yet, just not spend so much money on beer.  Who am I kidding; the extra money goes towards all the wonderful junk food or even more cheap beer.

I typically buy something good (say SweetWater 420 Pale Ale) to sprinkle in amongst the various cheap light beer in my cupboard.  At the end of the day, I can drink more cheap beer, guilty free – cheap is good, and a light beer makes me feel like I am doing ‘the right thing’ while I am drinking beer.

I am probably not making much sense, but that is excusable, at least in the mind of a sleep deprived dad.  No I am not drunk (yet).  Getting back on topic, the Budweiser Select seemed like a better deal at $0.48 a beer, but it just does not taste all that great.  I am not even sure what is ‘select’ about this beer.  This is possibly the worst cheap light beer that I have purchased in the last couple of years.

When it comes to cheap beer, Miller Lite is a better choice.  I know Budweiser Select is competing against Michelob Ultra, but that is beside the point.  We will discuss other cheap beers later.

One nice thing about taking time off for Joseph, is that I am getting a lot of time to play WoW.  I guess ‘a lot’ is relative, but it is nice being able to play for 30 minutes here and there throughout the day.  I figured I would take a break from doing all the baby stuff and post an update of where I am with the game.

Faltutin is my main character; level 29 gnome mage.  After playing in a group of four mages (myself plus three front mages) last week, I am very tempted to re-spec my mage.  Fire is nice, but these guys knew what they were doing.  They made frost a thing of beauty; devastating mobs from here to Texas in the process.  I am sure a group of fire mages could do the same thing, but I have yet to group with three other fire mages; experiencing frosty goodness first hand made me a believer.

Kaldur is my priest; level 14 dwarf priest.  Probably my least favorite character, but that may have more to do with me not really knowing how to solo a priest.  I may have to spec this guy as a shadow priest just to pick up some fire power.  That or get someone from the guild to game with me.

Tuldar is my hunter; level 12 dwarf hunter, with Snowpaws, my level 11 snow leopard.  I like this guy because it is almost like playing in a group (almost).  It is probably easier to solo with a hunter than my mage, and definitely easier than soloing with my priest.  For this reason alone I am thinking about starting a warlock, but I really want to spend some more time with my mage and hunter before starting something new.

Chris already mentioned that he changed from Bronzebeard to Arathor as part of a free character move to alleviate congestion on Bronzebeard.  I went with him (and the guild), so now I am playing on a server with an extremely low character population.  There have been two immediate differences that I have noticed.  First, there are not as many people around, which is good and bad.  This is good because I do not have to wait for anything.  This is bad because it is helpful to have others take out certain mobs (or just have someone to group with).  The second thing I have noticed is the young economy.  I made a killing on Bronzebeard selling all manner of things, but it is rough going on Arathor.  A good example is that I used to be able to sell a stack of herbs, linen (and other cloth), and copper for a decent amount of coin, but no so much now.  This is not that big a deal for Faltutin (97.5 gp), but it is hurting Kaldur (1.873 gp), and killing Tuldar (0.246 gp).  Tuldar is so cash poor that he cannot buy a couple of skills that are now available.  I think it will be worth the move just to experience a young economy grow.

Overall I am still having a ton of fun with the game, doing all sorts of crazy stuff that I never figured I would care about.  Buying a silver tabby, improving my cooking skills (and looking for recipes), fishing, and learning first aid.  On Bronzebeard I also learn that I could either pay 1-2 gp for stranglekelp to make lesser mana potions, or I could buy a stack of lesser mana potions for .06 gp.  The dynamics of the game keeps me coming back for more.

If I am disappointed in anything, it is the lack of group participation from the guild for lower level characters (i.e. my three characters).  Not pointing a finger at you Chris; just an observation that I have yet to have someone from the guild respond to a request to group.  This could just be a matter of timing or it could be that I do not actually know anyone in the guild.

All for now; my turn to get a crying baby.

What a long 47 hrs since Joseph arrived.  Glad to be home again; in time for the playoffs.  🙂 

Joseph made it here Friday, January 19, 2007 at 4:34PM.  7lbs 3oz, 20in long … ten fingers, ten toes … all that good stuff.  Nice and healthy.  Mother and baby are doing great; maybe a little tired, but other wise fine.  Me?  Last night I realized that I was too dumb to not realize that I was too old for another round of this baby stuff!

So here we go.  Three minutes and change; 21-21 … Captain Tom at the helm.  Hard for me not to believe that he puts his team in position to steal one away from the Super Chargers.

Not sure who put that lick on Bush, but OMG was that an incredible hit.  Hope the entire game is as good as that hit in the first minute!

I love Indy winning this one.  Fat lady is not singing yet, but it is pretty much in the book.  Very nice.  Vinatieri is money; 5 FGs makes for a MVP kind of day.

The Official Calvert Baby Watch Number Three has started.  Yesterday Tonya’s doctor told us that boy number three would be here within the week.  Will induce on Friday if baby has yet to show his head (so to speak).

I nervously say ‘baby’ because we have yet to settle on a name.  Lots of possibilities, but nothing we agree on … yet.

If I disappear for a few days, then you know why.

BTW, if anyone ever tells you that a network migration is going to be seamless, then run; really fast.*  [*Comment based solely on imaginary reaction to a comment that never happened, not on some real life observation (i.e. I am throwing out something funny, just to be funny, and not repeating anything that has an basis in fact or anything that just may happen to be based on any real life situation that I may have experienced).

This is not so much about who I want to win, but who I think will win.  New Orleans.  I am not a Saints fan; being a Falcons fan, that would not be acceptable.  I think the Eagles got lucky (you do need some degree of luck), but ultimately the Saints are the better team.

QB is an issue, but the Bears will win.  They are just a more complete team.  Of course I never gave the Seahawks credit last year … all the way to the Super Bowl.

San Diego is the better team, but I really think Brady’s ledged will continue to grow with this upset.

I want Indy to win; I like Manning, but this is not about what I want.  The Ravens win this one.

I am going to be a contrarian with my prediction; 27-23 Florida, which the go ahead TD coming in the final 5 minutes of the game.  We have see what Tressel can do against top teams (and in big games), but no so much with Meyer.  I just have to believe that this whole “Florida does not belong” thing is going to be a huge motivation for the Gators.  I know I am an SEC homer, but I just do not see the blowout that some pundits are predicting.

It seems that Georgia Tech’s Chan Gailey has learned a valuable lesion after recent bumbles by former ATL coach Jim Mora, and of course the forthright Nick Saban.  When asked if the Dolphins had contacted him, Gailey responded

“The Dolphins’ administration is aware of my knowledge of their organization and people, as well as my experience as an NFL head coach.  It is clear to me that they were in the process of gathering information and insight into organizational issues.  I appreciate that they asked to speak with me regarding their future direction.”

Nice, safe, below the line, but of course Gailey will now have to answer questions from Tech boosters.

Happy New Year!  Hope everyone has a healthy, prosperous, and joyous new year.  Me?  We celebrated last night cooking some beef ribs (really, the only type of ribs worth grilling), drinking Champaign, watching Favre (maybe) wrap up a wonderful career, and of course warcrafting.

Today is more of the same.  Semi traditional New Year’s day lunch (black-eyed peas with egg salad, smoked ham, and green beans as a substitute for collards.  Football; lots of football.  More Champaign and other adult beverages.  Hopefully more warcrafting.  Getting the baby room ready (in-between commercial breaks and halftime shows).  Maybe wrapping up with some more grilling this evening.

Happy New Year!