College Football Bowl Picks Part 3

With over a week off from writing, I completely forgot that I needed to submit my picks for this weeks bowls. Unfortunately the games that were played last night, won't be getting any picks. It's less than an hour from the first bowl game today, so these picks are barely getting in. Last week I was 6-2, which puts me at 11-2 for the bowl games, and 112-37 on the year.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas: Texas A&M vs. Northwestern > Texas A&M
Hyundai Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Utah > Utah
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt > Vanderbilt
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Illinois vs. UCLA > UCLA
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia vs. Auburn > Virginia
Ticket City Bowl: Houston vs. Penn State > Penn State
Outback Bowl: Michigan State vs. Georgia > Georgia
Capital One Bowl: Nebraska vs. South Carolina > Nebraska
Taxslayer.Com Gator Bowl: Ohio State vs. Florida > Florida
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio: Wisconsin vs. Oregon > Wisconsin
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Stanford vs. Oklahoma State > Oklahoma State
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech > Michigan
Discover Orange Bowl: West Virginia vs. Clemson > Clemson

Song of the Day

Today's song is Away in a Manger by Casting Crowns.

College Football Bowl Picks Part 2

Well, so far five bowl games have been played. And, so far, I have watched exactly 0 plays in all five games combined. Since I'll be driving in the car all day tomorrow, I won't be around to submit my picks for the upcoming week of games, so they're coming at you today. Last week I was 5-0 with my picks. This bumps me up to 106-35 for the year. Here are the picks for this week:

MAACO Bowl: Arizona State vs. Boise State > Boise State (picked last Friday)
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Nevada vs. Southern Miss > Southern Miss
Independence Bowl: Missouri vs. North Carolina > North Carolina
Little Ceasers Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Purdue > Purdue
Belk Bowl: NC State vs. Louisville > Louisville
Military Bowl: Toledo vs. Air Force > Air Force
Holiday Bowl: Cal vs. Texas > Texas
Champs Sports Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Florida State > Florida State
Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Baylor > Baylor

Song of the Day

Today's song is Christmas Eve/Sarajevo by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Gotta Have It: Skier Controlled Tow Boat

Anyone out there who has ever water skied, or wakeboarded, is going to want this. I've been wakeboarding once, but I can still relate to this product. When I got up on the board, the driver of the boat simply pulled me in a straight line. I don't want to complain, or sound cocky, since I am a complete novice, but it did get a little, well, boring. I just wanted the driver to turn or something; add a little challenge.

With this Skier Controlled Tow Boat, from Hammacher Schlemmer, you no longer have to worry about the driver taking you where you want to go. This boat is controlled from a remote of the handle of the tow rope by the skier, and can reach speeds of up to 40 MPH. This is sure to bring countless hours of fun on the lake next summer. The cost of the Skier Controlled Tow Boat: $17,000. However, shipping is 4-6 weeks, so I think it's a little late to order it for Christmas. You can purchase the Skier Controlled Tow Boat here.

Dressing for the Occaison

From The Art of Manliness.

Song of the Day

Today's song is O Holy Night by Mariah Carey.

Be Bold

“We live in an age of great events and little men, and if we are not to become the slaves of our own systems or sink oppressed among the mechanism we ourselves created, it will only be by the bold efforts of originality, by repeated experiment, and by… sustained and unflinching thought.”
- Winston Churchill

Preppy

The Jeep Wave

I just found out this existed a couple of days, although I always thought there should be something between Jeep owners; I know I always love seeing other Jeepers on the road. Since I drive a Grand Cherokee and not a Wrangler, I think I'm technically excluded, but I may start doing it and see if I get any responses. However, being from Massachusetts, I'm not counting on too many friendly drivers. Here's the best description of the Jeep Wave that I found on Urban Dictionary.

		The Rules of the WAVE Warning Owning, registering, insuring, or driving a Jeep implies knowledge of and intent to abide by the following rules. Failure to obey the rules may result in your being ignored by other Jeep owners as you sit along the side of the road next to your stalled vehicle in a blizzard surrounded by Saturns, Yugos, and Hyundais. Definition: The Jeep Wave An honor bestowed upon those drivers with the superior intelligence, taste, class, and discomfort tolerance (exception to 97 and newer Jeep owners) to own the ultimate vehicle - the Jeep. Generally consists of either a raised hand waving or 4 fingers extended upward from the steering wheel, but may be modified to suit circumstances and locally accepted etiquette. Examples of commonly accepted modifications: Top off: One handed wave above windshield or outside body tub. Top off during blizzard: Shiver and nod, hands may remain frozen to steering wheel. Southern/rural locations: No wave, just a nod. General Rules: 1. All Jeepers are responsible for upholding the tradition of the Wave. It seems that generally the Jeep wave is only practiced by Jeep owners driving the following Jeep vehicles; CJ, YJ, TJ, JK. 2. All Jeepers are required to return the Wave even if it's a Grand Cherokee or Compass. 3. Do not EVER wave to Hummers, even if you know the person. Guy 1 is driving his Jeep and sees another Jeep so he gives the Jeep Wave. Guy 2 waves back.

2012 Inside Lacrosse All-Name Team

Started in 2008, Inside Lacrosse magazine posts a First, Second, and Third All-Name team. The list is similar to an All-America list, but the criteria for being on the list is that you have to have a unique, individual name, that brings back stereotype images of lacrosse's prep school roots. Some of the highlights of this year's All-Name team are Brewster Knowlton, Krey Keller, Blaise Fullen, Westy Hopkins, and Caldwell Rohrbach. Caldwell is also the first ever four year member of the All-Name team. Some other favorites from past All-Name teams are Ridge Flick, Beaver Barone, Ashton Hotchkiss, Brody Savoie, Remington Steele, Keaton O'Hara, and Seabrooke Carter.

Check out the full 2012 All-Name Team here.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee.

College Football Bowl Picks Part 1

Tomorrow starts off the 2011 Bowl Season. Most of the games this week might be considered "Toilet Bowl" games, but hopefully they will at least be entertaining games. For these first few games, a lot of them are teams that I haven't seen play this year, and the picking may reflect that.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Temple vs. Wyoming > Temple
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Utah State > Ohio
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: San Diego State vs. LA-Lafayette > LA-Lafayette
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: Florida Int'l vs. Marshall > Marshall
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: TCU vs. LA Tech > TCU
MAACO Bowl: Arizona State vs. Boise State > Boise State

Song of the Day

Today's song is God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman by Annie Lennox.

NHL Realignment

Earlier (this is kind of old news), the NHL Board of Governors voted to approved a realignment plan for the league, which will take effect for the 2012-2013 season. Instead of the current two conference, six division format it currently has, the league will change to a four conference set-up. The conferences haven't been named yet--don't worry, it won't be Conference A, B, C, and D. Here are my suggestions for the conference names: A would be the Pacific Conference; B would be the Central Conference; C would be the Northeast Conferece; and D would be the Atlantic Conference. Essentially, the Western Conference is now Conferences A and B, and the Eastern Conference is now Conferences C and D, with the exception of Winnipeg moving to Conference B.

The main purpose of this change is for travel. Teams like Columbus and Detroit in the Western Conference, are in the Eastern Time Zone, but frequently have to travel to the Pacific Time Zone (3 hours behind) to play games. I can sympathize with that. Being a Chicago fan (Central Time Zone), but living in the Eastern Time Zone, I hate when they play on the West Coast, as games start at 10 pm, or 10:30 pm Eastern Time.

The top four teams from each conference will qualify for the Stanley Cup play-offs. The four winners of each conference will meet in the third round of the play-offs, with the winners meeting in the fourth round to play for the Stanley Cup.

My favorite part of this realignment is the new scheduling. Each team in the league will play every team in the league at least twice every season; once at home, and once on the road. This is something that I thought should've been happening a long time ago. Living in Boston, I'm disappointed that I have not had more opportunities to see my Blackhawks play in person.

I think the worst part of the realignment is that Conferences C and D have one less team than Conferences A and B. This will really come into play during play-off time; three teams will be left out of the play-offs in Conferences C and D, while four teams will be left out from Conferences A and B.  I'm really hoping that expansion to a 32 team NHL is in the near future.

I even have suggestions for what cities should get the two expansion teams. It's not really a secret that I really want to see a team come back to Connecticut. Conference D will get the Hartford Whalers. They still have throngs of fans, their merchandise still flies off the shelves, and I believe the team would do well back in the old city. Rivalries would quickly be renewed with the Rangers, Islanders, and Bruins, and the league would benefit from having another team in hockey-rich New England. The city does desperately need to build a new arena before expansion to Hartford can be considered.

The second expansion team would go to Conference C. In fitting in with the league's alignment plan based on travel, this team will be somewhere on the East Coast. The city of Quebec has plans to build a new NHL arena, which will really make the city more appealing to the league. Fans from Quebec city even travel in large numbers to games in other cities as an attempt to show the league what a great fan base they would have. They would also bring up a very strong rivalry with the current team in the Province of Quebec: the Montreal Canadiens.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Silent Night by Taylor Swift.

How Do You Sperry?

Video made by marketing students at the University of Wisconsin.

30% Off Sale Items at Vineyard Vines

For the next 3 days, take 30% off all sale items at VineyardVines.com. Use the code "elf."

Song of the Day

Today's song is We Three Kings by Jennifer Avalon.

College Football Bowls

Here is a complete list of all the college football bowl games this year. I'll do picks for the bowls every week. Stay tuned...In the meantime, here is a list of every bowl; that's right, all 35 of them:

12/17: Gilden New Mexico Bowl: Temple vs. Wyoming, 2 pm
12/17: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Utah State, 5:30 pm
12/17: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: San Diego State vs. LA Lafayette, 9 pm
12/20: Beef O'Brady's Bowl: Florida International vs. Marshall, 8 pm
12/21: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: TCU vs. LA Tech, 8 pm
12/22: MAACO Bowl: Arizona State vs. Boise State, 8 pm
12/24: Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Nevada vs. Southern Miss, 8 pm
12/26: AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl: Missouri vs. North Carolina, 5 pm
12/27: Little Caesars Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Purdue, 4:30 pm
12/27: Belk Bowl: Louisville vs. NC State, 8 pm
12/28: Military Bowl: Toledo vs. Air Force, 4:30 pm
12/28: Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl: Cal vs. Texas, 8 pm
12/29: Champs Sports Bowl: Florida State vs. Notre Dame, 5:30 pm
12/29: Valermo Alamo Bowl: Washington vs. Baylor, 9 pm
12/30: Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: BYU vs. Tulsa, 12 pm
12/30: New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Iowa State, 3:20 pm
12/30: Music City Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest, 6:40 pm
12/30: Insight Bowl: Iowa vs. Oklahoma, 10 pm
12/31: Meineke Car Care Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Northwestern, 12 pm
12/31: Hyundai Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Utah, 2 pm
12/31: Liberty Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30 pm
12/31: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Illinois vs. UCLA, 3:30 pm
12/31: Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Virginia vs. Auburn, 7:30 pm
1/2: TicketCity Bowl: Houston vs. Penn State, 12 pm
1/2: Outback Bowl: Michigan State vs. Georgia, 1 pm
1/2: Capital One Bowl: Nebraska vs. South Carolina, 1 pm
1/2: Gator Bowl: Ohio State vs. Florida, 1 pm
1/2: Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon, 5 pm
1/2: Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Stanford vs. Oklahoma State, 8:30 pm
1/3: Allstate Sugar Bowl: Michigan vs. VA Tech, 8:30 pm
1/4: Discover Orange Bowl: West Virginia vs. Clemson, 8:30 pm
1/6: AT&T Cotton Bowl: Kansas State vs. Arkansas, 8 pm
1/7: BBVA Compass Bowl: SMU vs. Pitt, 1 pm
1/8: GoDaddy.com Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois, 9 pm
1/9: BCS National Championship: Alabama vs. LSU, 8:30 pm

Can Men and Women Be Just Friends?

Video from YouTube. Pretty funny stuff.

Song of the Day

Today's song is What Child is This by Mercy Me.

Be Tolerant of All...Except Christianity

In a culture that gets offended over anything and everything, it seems there is one thing that has come to be seen as offensive to all: Christianity. I do believe in the separation of church and state, but in this country, majority rules, and the majority religion here is Christianity. Not to mention, the country was founded by Christians, and it is a Christian country. I will never understand why it is seen as so offensive to wish someone a, "Merry Christmas," or even have a "Christmas tree." Nope. It has to be "Happy Holidays," and public places have to put up "Holiday trees."I'm not Jewish, but if someone wished me a "Happy Hanukkah" I wouldn't be offended. If you think about it, all it comes down to is a person wishing another person well. So what if they don't use the same terms to wish well--it goes back to the majority rules theme. People will generically wish others a "Merry Christmas" because that is what they are most likely to be celebrating. It seems like no one gets upset if a town wants to place a menorah or Star of David in the common, but everyone is up in arms if they want to display a Nativity scene.

On a similar topic, I also don't understand why prayer is banned in public schools. I understand why public prayer isn't done, but if someone wants to pray by themselves, or a group of students who choose to pray together, why is that such a bad thing? It seems like if it's a group of Christian students praying, they're told not to display their faith publicly, but if a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, et al, were to pray in school, nothing would be said to them for fear of being considered intolerant.

On Saturday, I did all of my Christmas shopping, and I was shocked (in a good way), walking through JC Penny, hearing the store playing Hark the Herald Angels Sing! Not only was it a Christmas song, but it was a religious Christian song. I ended up staying in the store, browsing a little more, just to listen and sing (very quietly) along with the song. It was a very refreshing change of pace.

College Football Week 15 Review

For the 10th year in a row, Navy beat Army. The final score was 27-21. While it wasn't the most exciting game of football ever--both teams run an option offense and I'm pretty sure there was a total of 7 pass attempts all game--it is always something exciting to watch. I find it more interesting just seeing everything else that goes on during the game. For example, both the President and Vice President were in attendance. And it's always special when the two teams sing their Alma Mater after the game.

The Navy win put me at 1-0 for the weekend. My overall record now stands at 101-35 for the regular season, which is a .743 win percentage.

College Football Week 15 Picks

Well, there's only on game this week, but it's a big one. Not because it has bowl implications, or two teams playing for a conference championship. In fact, the combined record of the two teams is 7-15. The reason this game is such a big one is all about pride. It's the annual Army (3-8) vs. Navy (4-7) game. Neither team is bowl eligible, so for these two prestigious academies, this game is their National Championship. It seems that everyone in the country is on one side or the other for this game; perhaps most often because of a close relative serving in one branch or the other. While the competition may last for 60 minutes, at the end of the day, the men and women from West Point and Annapolis are on the same team. It's impossible to watch this game and not feel a tremendous amount of pride in being an American.

Army vs. Navy > Navy

Song of the Day

Today's song is Go Tell it on the Mountain by Jewel and Toby Keith.

Prep Essentials: Pea Coat

Like many pieces found in the prep closet, the pea coast has its roots in the navy. The classic pea coats are double breasted, have large lapels, and vertical or slash pockets. The buttons, which can be made of medal or wood, are often engraved with anchors. Today, the term 'pea coat' has come to include almost any wool coat, including: single breasted, hooded, and zip up.

The coat was standard issue in the British and Dutch navies in the 18th century, and became a part of the US Navy uniform in the early 19th century. Turning up the collar blocks the wind and elements from the wearer's hairline to the bottom of his rear end. The wool material makes these coats exceptionally warm and durable. Navy blue pea coats are still standard issue in the US Navy today. Check out the Army/Navy game this Saturday, and you will see plenty of these being worn by the Midshipmen.

Featured Brand: Bmore Handsome

Today's featured brand isn't quite a brand, but an online store. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland (hence the Bmore name), the website has everything that a gentleman could ever need. Well, everything to help him look his best, that is.

In the online store, you'll find plenty of shaving and grooming products, ties, cufflinks, needlepoint belts, cologne, home decor, clothing, and accessories--including needlepoint key fobs and flasks. If you find yourself a bit over-whelmed with their wide selection, gift cards are available.

They carry many different brands, including: Quintessential Gentleman, Smathers & Branson, Southern Proper, Vineyard Vines, and many, many more.

Be sure to check out the Bmore Handsome Online Store for all of your gentlemanly needs.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Angels We Have Heard on High by Chris Tomlin.

Free Koozie at Rowdy Gentleman Today

All day today, the folks at Rowdy Gentleman are including a free 'Classic Flag' koozie with any purchase!

December 7, 1941

Peal Harbor. A date which will live in infamy.

American Christmas Display

Check this out. Set to God Bless the U.S.A. Song starts at the :40 mark.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra.

Vineyard Vines NHL Ties

Vineyard Vines is now offering NHL ties. Perhaps the best part of this is that they are selling Hartford Whalers ties, too.

Brothers of the Sun Tour 2012

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, Summer 2021.

Top 10 Reasons to Wear Southern Proper

According to the back of their new long sleeve tee.

1. They were the first Southern clothing line.
2. You're bound to look your best.
3. Girls will offer to tie your bowtie.
4. You never have to answer "who makes that?" People just know.
5. It looks good with sunglasses.
6. Bowties are a priviledge!
7. No sea creatures here.
8. We love home cookin', the home team, and home towns.
9. It is a guaranteed bourbon getter.
10. They are serious dog lovers!

Song of the Day

Today's song is All I Want for Christas is a Real Good Tan by Kenny Chesney.

The Men's Guide to Buying Gifts for Women

Let's face it, women are really hard to buy for. Ever had the issue of buying a shirt, or other article of clothing for a woman and accidentally guessed the size wrong? Yeah, how long was she convinced that you thought she was fat for? Thankfully, I've never had that issue, but I know plenty of guys who have. The safest route is to just not buy her clothes. If you completely eliminate clothes from the equation, you may be stuck wondering what kind of gifts are left. Since it's still 20 days until Christmas, I'm sure most of the guys reading this haven't started their Christmas shopping yet, so there is still plenty of time. Here are five ideas of gifts that a guy can get for the woman in his life that are not clothes. I'll admit, even I'm not a perfect expert, so if any female readers have better suggestions, please leave them in the comments!

1. Movie Night In
Prepare her a little basket to put under the tree. Start with her favorite movie, and then add popcorn and other movie-going snacks to the basket to create the theater experience at home. The difference is that you'll be able to snuggle up on the couch a little better than you'd be able to at a theater. She'll appreciate that--and so should you.

2. Spa Day
Similar to a woman getting a man tickets to a concert or sporting event, your woman will love a day at the spa. Treat her to a nice pampering, and be sure to tell her how beautiful she looks after she gets back from the spa. She'll be in a great mood after a day at the spa, which will bode very well for you, as well.

3. Fragrance
Chances are, she leaves the fragrances she likes out around her place. Take a mental note of what she has, and what she likes to wear, and go pick her up a bottle of it. Be careful of getting her a new fragrance: she might take it to mean that you think she smells bad!

4. Jewelry
If you're in a serious enough relationship, she will really appreciate a nice bracelet, necklace, or earrings. There's such a wide variety of jewelry out there that it's possible to find something in your price range. If you go to a reputable store, the associates will be pretty good at making some suggestions if you can give them some clues as to the woman's style and taste.

5. Wine
Again, only if the giver and receiver of the gift are over 21! Similar to liquor for the man, women love to drink wine. She will really appreciate a nice bottle of a good wine. If you're like me, you know next to nothing about wine and even less about picking out a good one. You'll have to ask for some suggestions at the store (or use Google), and you'll probably be able to make a decent selection.

College Football Week 14 Review

This weekend all the cards fell into place and Michigan is going to a BCS Bowl! Not only that, but they are playing in a bowl that I'm fairly confident they will win. They will play Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl on January 3 in New Orleans. Some of the Conference winners this week were: LSU (SEC), Oregon (Pac-12), Clemson (ACC), and Wisconsin (Big 10).

This week my record was a prefect 6-0, which improves my overall record to 100-35. Next week is the final week of the regular season, which is the big Army/Navy game. I'm still trying to decide the best way to do bowl game predictions...

Winter Time

College Football Week 14 Picks

The Pac-12 Championship game is tonight, featuring UCLA and Oregon. I don't think anyone (including me) is really expecting this to be a competitive game, though. The ACC, Big 10, and SEC all play their conference championships this week. The Big 12 will crown a conference champion, but they no longer play a championship game. Every game this week is a big one.

UCLA at #9 Oregon > Oregon
#22 Texas at #17 Baylor > Baylor
#14 Georgia vs. #1 LSU > LSU
#10 Oklahoma at #3 Oklahoma State > Oklahoma State
#5 Virginia Tech vs. #20 Clemson > Clemson
#15 Wisconsin at #13 Michigan State > Wisconsin

Song of the Day

Today's song is Let's Go to the Mall by Robin Sparkles. In How I Met Your Mother, Robin Sherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) was a teen pop sensation in Canada with the alias Robin Sparkles. This was her hit single.

Vineyard Vines Lacrosse Recruits Tour

Old is Better Than New

A Preppy Life Christmas Playlist

It's now December. It feels more okay to be getting in the Christmas spirit--despite the fact that the high today is 48. I usually don't start getting into Christmas music until closer to December 20th, but I know a lot of people listen to nothing but Christmas music from Thanksgiving on. Here is a list of a few of my favorite Christmas songs. In most cases, I didn't include an artist--the songs have been remade so many times, just find an artist that you like!

Angels We Have Heard on High

All I Want for Christmas is a Real Good Tan - Kenny Chesney

We Three Kings

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra

Silent Night

Joy to the World

Frosty the Snowman

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

O Holy Night

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Away in a Manger

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives

The First Noel

Winter Wonderland

Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry

 O Come All Ye Faithful

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Mary Did You Know

Bonus Track: The Chanukah Song - Adam Sandler

Song of the Day

Today's song is Easy by Rascal Flatts ft. Natasha Bedingfield.

The Women's Guide to Buying Gifts for Men

So, maybe I should've published this article before Black Friday, when most people got a significant chunk of their Christmas shopping done. However, if you're anything like me, you haven't even started Christmas shopping yet. Well, haven't started, other than trying to think of what to get.

Something that seems to have been a bit of common trend throughout my life has been girls who have to come to me asking for advice because they have no idea what to get as a gift for their boyfriend, or other men in their lives. If you ask most guys what they want, most likely you'll get a response along the lines of, "I don't know, I'm cool with whatever." I'm sure you've already figured out that he is not cool with whatever. To help out, here is a list of 5 ideas for gifts that the man in your life will probably like.

1. Sports Paraphernalia
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the guy likes sports. If he doesn't, skip this idea. It should be pretty obvious which sports teams he likes. Go to the team's online store and look around. There you'll be introduced to a wide selection of jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. If you want to stay away from apparel, check out some of their other stuff. Chances are, your man would think it was pretty cool to have a lamp of his favorite sports team. There will be something to match any budget.

2. Shaving Kits
These can be found at Target, and other places like that. I know JC Penny and Macy's usually have them, too. A quick look in his bathroom (it won't be suspicious if a girl takes a little time in the bathroom, now will it?) will tell you what brands and scents he likes. Take a look around the store and find something that matches his taste. Most of these will be under $30.

3. Tickets
Tickets to a big game, a concert, or lift tickets for a mountain will all be big hits. Hopefully, if you get him 2 tickets, he will make the right choice and bring you with. This gift of choice will probably end up being pretty pricey, though. Make sure he's worth it!

4. DVD's
Pick out some of his favorite movies for him. Maybe one he really likes just came out on DVD and you can get that for him. Maybe he is a movie buff and you can pick out a few classic movies for him to add to his collection. Another option is to get him a season or two of his favorite shows. DVD's will run you anywhere from $5-$30. Seasons of TV shows will be closer to $35+.

5. Liquor
If he is over 21 only! And, if you are over 21 only. Let's keep it legal. Bottles of liquor can be pretty expensive, so it may not by himself Johnny Walker blue all that often. Getting it as a gift will probably be pretty appreciated. If you aren't sure, check his liquor cabinet. If you still aren't sure, ask around in the store; chances are they'll know.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Reality by Kenny Chesney.

American Reunion

I always thought it would've been cool to see the American Pie movies in theater when they first came out. American Pie came out in 1999 (I was 12), so I've only seen the movies on DVD. Now, I will finally get my chance with American Reunion. The original cast is back for their high school reunion for the film set to release in 2012.

You Know You're a Bachelor When...

So I can't really cook. I've never really tried, but my cooking is pretty much limited to Kraft, and putting frozen food in the oven. When making up my grocery shopping list, I realized that it is a grocery list that could only belong to a bachelor. Here is the list of foods that is actually on my list for my stop on the way home today:

-microwavable macaroni & cheese
-bananas
-chips
-frozen pizza
-frozen lasagna
-Pop-Tarts
-chicken cordon blu

It's a short trip. Other things that are usually on my list are:

-bagels
-hot dogs
-french fries
-chicken nuggets
-deli ham and turkey
-white bread
-Sprite
-Little Debbie
-milk
-orange juice

Song of the Day

Today's song is Alcohol by Brad Paisley.

College Football Week 13 Review

Well, this weekend certainly didn't disappoint from a college football standpoint. Michigan beat Ohio State for the first time since 2003! They're currently #16 in the BCS. Wisconsin beat Penn State and will play Michigan State in the first ever Big 10 championship game. LSU handled Arkansas in the SEC, and it looks like they will play Alabama for the national title regardless of what happens anywhere else.

In Games I Care About I was 5-1. In Big Games I was 5-2, which puts me at 10-3 for the weekend. My overall record is now 94-35.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Set Fire to the Rain by Adele.

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Yupp. Got one.

College Football Week 13 Picks

There are a few key match-ups this weekend. Virginia plays Virginia Tech for the chance to play Clemson in ACC championship. In the Big 10, Michigan renews their rivalry with Ohio State. I don't feel like looking it up, but Michigan hasn't beaten Ohio State in the past 5 or 6 seasons. And, a game with huge BCS implications as LSU hosts Arkansas on Black Friday. There are 6 games this weekend with both teams in the top 25, as well. What it all means is a big slate of picks this week.

Games I Care About:
#25 Texas at Texas A&M > Texas
Ohio State at #15 Michigan > Michigan
Tennessee at Kentucky > Tennessee
Duke at North Carolina > North Carolina
Ole Miss at Mississippi State > Mississippi State
UCLA at USC > USC

Big Games:
#3 Arkansas at #1 LSU > Arkansas
#13 Georgia at #23 Georgia Tech > Georgia
#2 Alabama at #24 Auburn > Alabama
#5 Virginia Tech at Virginia > Virginia Tech
#19 Penn State at #16 Wisconsin > Wisconsin
#17 Clemson at #12 South Carolina > Clemson
#22 Notre Dame at #6 Stanford > Stanford

Song of the Day

Today's song is Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something.

Featured Brand: Smathers & Branson

Smathers & Branson may be the best known producer of needlepoint products on the market. Like many companies these days, Smathers & Branson was started in a college dorm room. Peter Smathers and Austin Branson were roommates at Bowdoin College, in Maine, when they decided to start a needlepoint belt company in 2004.

Interestingly enough, the idea started when they received needlepoint belts made by their girlfriends as gifts. Intrigued by the idea, Smathers and Branson began looking for more needlepoint belts, but soon found that the product was nearly impossible to find; and quite expensive. Their mission was to make needlepoint belts more readily available, and more affordable.

To make their dream a reality, Peter and Austin spent the fall of 2004 in Vietnam to meet their artisans face to face. This trip allowed them to make sure that the product matched the high level of quality that Smathers and Branson demanded. Unbeknownst to them, this was the foundation of a company that would end up employing 2,000 people.

Smathers & Branson first tested the market in the spring of 2005, and the business quickly took off. In addition to needlepoint belts, they now sell cummerbunds, dog collars, accessories, and there is even a women's line coming soon.

For more information on Smathers & Branson, head over to smathersandbranson.com.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Wherever You Are by Jack Ingram.

10 Things I Learned From My Dog

Some people say that animals can't talk. I say they do; all you have to do is listen. While animals may not speak English in the conventional manner, they certainly do find ways to communicate with their owners. In many cases, they even start to act like their owners, and entirely forget the fact that they're a dog. In the picture here, taken last Christmas Eve, Abby is helping me open a gift. She's learned that we use our hands like she uses her mouth, so she unwraps gifts at the corners with her mouth, and here, she is helping me open the box. In addition to opening presents, she also knows commands like sit, stay, shake, come, etc. While we've taught her plenty of things, I've certainly learned a few things from her, as well. Her, and our previous dog, Mandy, who died during my senior year of high school. Here are 10 things that my dogs have taught me.

1. Take Joy in Small Things
Dogs love having someone to throw a stick for them, or to scratch their ears for a few seconds. Not many humans have the ability to get so excited over such a small task.

2. Forgive Quickly
If you step on a dog's tail, they yelp, but soon enough, they come back to you on the couch, and all is forgiven. You're best friends again just like that.

3. Say You're Sorry
Dogs know when they get in trouble. When they get in trouble, it's obvious that they feel sad. Before long, though, they come back just to make sure everything is okay and to seek forgiveness.

4. Never Stop Exploring
How excited do dogs get when you take them to a new place? They run around, taking in all the smells, and their tail keeps wagging at 100 mph the whole time. The world is a big place; take time to explore it and take in everything around you.

5. Protect the Things You Love
Ever seen a dog defend it's owners? There's a reason burglars don't target homes with dogs: dogs will defend their home, and the people in it, to the death. When you have someone you care about, protect them with everything you have.

6. Love Matters More Than Things
Dogs don't care about how much money their owner has or what kind of car they drive; a dog just needs to be loved unconditionally and they will return the favor.

7. Don't Be Afraid to Chase Your Tail
While people may laugh at the dog for chasing his tail, he doesn't care. He's doing what he wants to do and is having fun doing it. Who cares what other people think; do what you want to do.

8. Sometimes the Answer is No
When people tell a dog no, it isn't because they want to, or to that they're trying to be mean to their dog. They say no for the dog's protection; because the owner knows what's best for the dog. In life, we may think that being told no is the worst thing ever, but just remember, in the long run, it's probably for a good reason--we just might not know it yet.

9. Follow the Smarter Person
If you take a dog on a walk, the person is the one controlling where you go. Obviously, humans are smarter than dogs and have a better idea of what's going on, and know where they're going. In life, follow the person who has a better idea of what the bigger picture is.

10. Tell People You Love Them
With a dog, every time you come home, your dog is there to greet you at the door with their tail wagging. When a dog loves you, they make it obvious. It should be just as obvious to other people that you love them.

A Preppy Christmas List

Thanksgiving is this week, which means that so is Black Friday. While Christmas may still be over a month away, most people do a lot of holiday shopping on Black Friday, so the odds are that you're submitting your lists to friends and family this week. If you're having trouble thinking of things to complete your list, or need a gift idea or two for the preppy on your shopping list, here are a few things that will probably be on most prep's Christmas list:

1. Monogrammed anything
2. L.L. Bean duck boots
3. Tervis tumblers
4. The North Face coat
5. Vineyard Vines tie (tote for the ladies)
6. Adirondack chair
7. Bar hat by The Game (of their favorite school)
8. iPhone 4S
10. Tucker Blair needlepoint belt
11. Ski/snowboard goggles
12. Sports/concert tickets
13. J. Crew chinos
14. True Prep paperback by Lisa Birnbach
15. Smathers & Branson needlepoint coasters

College Football Week 12 Review

Oklahoma State lost at Iowa State this week, so once again, we have another year that will end with a BCS shake up. LSU is #1 and undefeated, but Alabama, and Arkansas each have one loss. Arkansas plays LSU this weekend, and Alabama plays Auburn. There are seemingly infinite possibilities for what will happen with the BCS so I will wait until next week to comment on that.

In the ACC, Virginia won at Florida State for the first time ever in one of the craziest endings I've seen at a college football game in a long time.

In Games I Care About I was 7-1. In Big Games I was 1-2, which put me at 8-3 for the weekend. My overall record now stands at 84-32.

College Football Week 12 Picks

There are two top 20 teams in action tonight, Virginia Tech and Southern Miss, so the picks are coming a day early. On Saturday, Nebraska visits Michigan, in a top 20 match-up and a key game in the Big 10 Legends Division. Nebraska and Michigan are tied for second place (4-2) behind Michigan State (5-1), who hosts IU this weekend.

Games I Care About:
North Carolina @ #8 Virginia Tech > Virginia Tech
Kentucky @ #14 Georgia > Georgia
Samford @ #24 Auburn > Auburn
#7 Clemson @ NC State > Clemson
#21 Penn State @ Ohio State > Penn State
#1 LSU @ Ole Miss > LSU
Virginia @ #25 Florida State > Virginia
Colorado @ UCLA > UCLA

Big Games:
#16 Nebraska @ #18 Michigan > Michigan
#5 Oklahoma @ #22 Baylor > Oklahoma
#13 Kansas State @ #23 Texas > Texas

Song of the Day

Today's song is Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman.

College Football Week 11 Review

Well, Oregon beat Stanford this week. I hate Oregon. I'm not 100% sure why; it probably has something to do with how ugly every single one of their seemingly infinite number of uniform combinations are. I really do not want to see them play for another national championship this year. That would be terrible.

Anyway, in Games I Care About, I was 4-4. While typing this, I just realized that I accidently picked Illinois to beat Michigan. Sometimes, I get in the habit of typing the home team's name a second time when making the picks. Oops. Just add that to the frustration of Oregon winning. In Big Games, I was 1-2, which brings the overall record to 5-6 for the weekend. My season record is now 76-32.

College Football Week 11 Picks

Just barely getting the picks in this week. But, I didn't have Internet access in my apartment until about 24 hours ago.

Games I Care About:
Wake Forest at #9 Clemson > Clemson
Florida at #19 South Carolina > South Carolina
Kentucky at Vanderbilt > Vanderbilt
#16 Texas at Missouri > Texas
Duke at Virginia > Virginia
#24 Michigan at Illinois > Illinois
UCLA at Utah > UCLA
Louisiana Tech at Ole Miss > Ole Miss

Big Games:
#19 Nebraska at #12 Penn State > Nebraska
#20 Auburn at #15 Georgia > Auburn
#7 Oregon at #4 Stanford > Stanford

Song of the Day

Today's song is Love the Way You Lie by Eminem ft. Rihanna.

Looks Like Fun

On Patriotism

"Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism."
-Kenny Powers from HBO's Eastbound & Down

Song of the Day

Today's song is Yours to Hold by Skillet.

College Football Week 10 Review

Michigan lost a heart-breaker at Iowa 24-16 this weekend. Denard Robinson threw 4 incomplete passes from the 3 yard line in the last 16 seconds to end the game. UCLA upset Arizona State, and LSU beat Alabama in overtime. In Games I Care About I was 2-4. In Big Games I was 3-1, which put me at 5-5 for the weekend. My overall record now stands at 71-26.

Puss and Boots

College Football Week 10 Picks

This week's big game is pretty big. Especially if you're a fan of the SEC. It features #1 LSU at #2 Alabama. I'll be moving into my apartment Saturday and won't have cable and internet until the 15th, so I'm not sure where I will be watching this game at yet. I'm sure I'll find somewhere though. In the Big 10, Michigan is in a race for the top spot in the Legends Division, and they travel to Iowa this week. Let's get to the picks.

Games I Care About:
#15 Michigan at Iowa > Michigan
Texas Tech at #21 Texas > Texas
North Carolina at NC State > North Carolina
Ole Miss at Kentucky > Ole Miss
#19 Arizona State at UCLA > Arizona State
Virginia at Maryland > Virginia

Big Games:
Texas A&M at #6 Oklahoma > Oklahoma
#9 South Carolina at #7 Arkansas > Arkansas
#1 LSU at #2 Alabama > Alabama
#14 Kansas State at #3 Oklahoma State > Oklahoma State

Song of the Day

Today's song is Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day.

Manssentials #7: Keeping Your Word

While the days of knights going out and fighting in hand-to-hand combat are long gone, women still say that they want their "knight in shining armor."

First, let's break down the analogy a bit. The term knight brings to mind certain words: noble, chilvarlous, gentleman, gallant. To be a knight, one had to be born a noble, and then go through the process of being a squire, or knight's apprentice, to prove themselves worthy of being a knight. While all knights wore armor, the attention to detail to make it shine would help the knight to stand out to the ladies.

One way to bring those knightly qualities out today, is by doing something that, in theory, is simple. It doesn't seem hard to say that you are going to do something and actually do it. Why, then, does is to be such a rare trait these days?

In my opinion, a lot of guys just say they will do something to get whoever is asking to leave them alone. They don't really care about the task, they just want to get back to whatever they are doing, and be left in peace. What happens when the task isn't done, though? An argument will undoubtedly arise, with never leads to anything good. Making a promise and breaking it only leads to heart ache for those that you let down. If you don't care that you're letting that person, or group of people down, I think it's pretty obvious that you don't actually care about them.

If you want your word to actually have value, stick to it. When you say you're going to do something, in your mind, you have to make it a fact--treat as something that is going to happen, not something that might happen. If you're girlfriend asks you to stop by the store to pick something up, it should be firm in your mind that you're stopping by the store. It's not an "if I have time" thing. Write in your calendar, or whatever you have to do. Just make sure it gets done.

In some cases, someone will ask you to do something that you simply can't. There's nothing wrong with that, granted that you really can't do it and you aren't just blowing them off. Saying you can't do something will hurt much less in the long run than saying you can do something and not being able to. Just make sure that there is no way you can get it done before saying you can't. Keep it a "can't" and not a "don't want to."

Certain things happen that are beyond your control. If you said you were going to stop by the store, but your boss calls a mandatory meeting, it's more important to attend the meeting and keep your job. Since everyone has a cell phone, and most people have smart phones now, there's no reason why you can't send a text, e-mail, or call to explain what happened. It's also a good idea to come up with an alternate plan when sending the update. Instead of, "hey, the boss called a surprise meeting, I can't stop by the store," try, "hey, a meeting just came up at work and I won't have time to stop by the store tonight, I'll stop tomorrow morning."

Whatever the case or scenario, don't ever just blow something off. There's no reason for it and you only make yourself look bad. Anyone you meet will have a lot more respect for you if they know you can be counted on. It's really not that hard of a thing to do. Sure, you may need to practice at it a little bit--after all, all of us struggle with one thing or another--but before long, it will be second nature. You say something, you do it. Simple as that. Before long, women will be referring to you as the knight in shining armor.

I'm Awesome

Apartment Update

Last night, I signed the papers for my apartment! I will be moving all of my things in on Saturday. The process since last night has been a little crazy. This morning, I ordered a box spring and mattress and sofa with ottoman so I can have something to sit on, and something to sleep on. Thanks to Bob's Discount Furniture, I was able to get both pieces for a very affordable price. However, the furniture delivery will take place after I move in, so it looks like I will be purchasing an air mattress for those first few days.

I've also been in contact with Verizon Fios this morning to get the apartment set up for cable and internet. Unfortunately, they're a little behind thanks to that storm we just had, so I will be without cable and internet at home until Tuesday, November 15.

The third thing to take care of was renting a moving truck. I reserved a U-haul van for Saturday morning. Looks like I'm all set for the move. Except for the issue of getting the key. The previous tenant isn't done moving out, even though my lease started yesterday. Not to worry, I will get $25 back for everyday that she prevents me from moving in.

Side note: the power is still out in New Hampshire. This morning I heard that there are still 85,000 people without power. It may be as late as tomorrow at midnight by the time we get it back.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift.

Daydreaming

I wish I was back on Nantucket right now.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Remind Me by Brad Paisley ft. Carrie Underwood.

On Work...

"No man has made a great success of his life, or a fit preparation for immortality, by doing merely his duty. He must do that—and more. If he puts love into his work, the ‘more’ will be easy." -William George Jordan

College Football Week 9 Review

Michigan handled Purdue easily at their Homecoming, and moved up to #13 in the polls. And, a big upset came out the ACC, as Georgia Tech beat previously unbeaten Clemson. In Games I Care About, I was 7-1. In Big Games I was 2-1. The weekend record was 9-2, which brings the overall record to 66-21.

A White Halloween

I'm sure you've heard about the Nor'easter that hit New England this weekend. In New Hampshire, we got 6" of snow, several trees fell on power lines, and we have been without power since 7:45 Saturday night. Thankfully, since power outages are so common in New Hampshire, we have a generator and haven't totally been living in the dark. The last count I heard was that over 400,000 people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are still without power. Obviously, that's taken a big hit on my entertainment level.

It seems that the first phrase that kids learn is, "I'm bored." As an adult, I'm still feeling the same way, but the difference is that now, I'm old enough, and smart enough, not to complain about it. Being able to entertain yourself is a sign of maturity, and education. The educated person is smart enough to find things to do to entertain themselves. This might be reading a book, learning a new hobby, or finally getting to work on those chores that have been needing to get done. Granted, reading by flashlight is a little trickier, but can still be done.

Then again, I don't have much room to talk. I still have my iPhone, which keeps me connected to everything. And, there is the generator at home, so we can still have a warm house, and take showers. Last night we even watched a couple of DVD's for entertainment.

Song of the Day

Today's song is All the Above by Maino ft. T Pain.

College Football Week 9 Picks

Unfortunately, I didn't get this written in time to pick the Virginia game last night, but they beat Miama (FL) 28-21. Michigan has homecoming this week, as they host the Purdue Boilermakers, and Georgia and Florida renew their rivarly.

Games I Care About:
Purdue at #18 Michigan > Michigan
Illinois at #19 Penn State > Penn State
Wake Forest at North Carolina > North Carolina
Ole Miss at #23 Auburn > Auburn
Kansas at #24 Texas > Texas
Cal at UCLA > UCLA
Mississippi State at Kentucky > Mississippi State
#5 Clemson at Georgia Tech > Clemson

Big Games:
#11 Michigan State at #14 Nebraska > Nebraska
#9 Oklahoma at #8 Kansas State > Oklahoma
#22 Georgia vs. Florida > Florida

Song of the Day

Today's song is Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Modern Day Dating

The dating world has clearly changed in the past, even 5 years. Courtship used to be a guy asked a girl on a date, and then they would date, or be "going steady." Over time, terms changed, and people started "going out."  Things were much more simple, and it was a heck of a lot easier to know where you stood your significant other. Now it's so confusing that it's tempting to use Google Maps to navigate your way through the dating world.

A lot of this change has to do with the emergence of Facebook, and other social networking sites. Steps in a relationship online and quickly, if they aren't already, becoming more important than steps in a relationship that are happening together, in person. You know, in real life. To try to help with some of the confusion that now takes place on the road that is dating, here's a list of the 5 different stages of the modern relationship.

1. The Meeting
Obviously, the first thing is you will meet someone. It could be anywhere: at a party, at work, a mutual friend will introduce you, an online dating site, or the bar. Although, I don't think many relationships that start in bars last more than 24 hours. And, according to those Match.com commercial's, 1 in 5 relationships now begin on an online dating site. I'll be honest, I've taken a look at online dating sites, and, no, not everyone on there is creepy or desperate.

2. We're "talking"
Does anyone even know an actual definition for this stage? I don't. I just know it's one of those phrases people use early on. I guess I would call it the phase in between meeting and actually going on a few dates, but many will disagree with me and say it's the stage of going on those early dates. I think most people who use this term, though, just can't admit to themselves that they're stuck in a friends with benefits situation when they really want something more.

3. Dating
This one is a little more obvious. It's the process of going on dates, spending one-on-one time together, to see if there's the interest in a long term relationship. For me, the dating stage is an exclusive stage, but again, I know not everyone agrees with me. At some point, you'll have to have the " are we exclusive?" talk with your partner. To me, the exclusivity is another part of the distinction between "talking" and dating.

4. Relationship
This one is obviously exclusive. Unless you're in one of those "swinger/open relationship" type deals. This is where the terms boyfriend and girlfriend start getting used. Instead of just going out on dates, your partner will now accompany you to family events, and hang outs than include large groups of your friends. You may also have a grocery/laundry buddy now.

5. FBO
"Facebook Official." When you think about it, it's a little sad that an online social network is now the epitome of defining a relationship, but there it is. Heaven forbid, that person you knew in high school, but were really only just a passing aquaintence with anyway, doesn't know that you're now in a relationship. The FBO status can take shape in many forms: a tagged picture together, a profile picture of the two of you, and the big one, the changed relationship status.

Even if you know the steps, which aren't the same for every relationship, knowing which step you're at can be a confusing thing on it's own. The best advice I can give is to talk to your partner about where he or she thinks the relationship is at, and where it is heading. It's always best to be on the same page.

Solar System Designer

A few weeks back, I did a pretty good job of keeping the readers informed of my job hunting activities. In total, I went on 10 interviews, and sent my resume and cover letter to what I'm sure is over 200 different companies. Six weeks after my college graduation, I found a job.

I wouldn't exactly call it my dream job, or anywhere near that, but it is a full-time job that pays well enough for me to support myself. And, with today's economy, you really can't beat that. The job I found is as a solar system designer. I design lay-outs for the solar panels that will go on residential and commercial roofs. The tough part is, I'm also having to learn the electrical side of the business on the fly. It quickly reminds me why I wasn't interested in majoring in electrical engineering.

Additionally, I have a 70 mile commute from my temporary housing in New Hampshire to the office. It takes about an hour and 20 minutes to get to the office, and closer to an hour and 40 to get home. That's three hours in the car each day. It's a little rough.

I have applied for an apartment that is 10 miles from the office, and they are currently processing that application. Hopefully I will be able to move in on Saturday, November 5th. I'll be sure to kep you all informed.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Save Tonight by Eagle Eye Cherry.

College Football Week 8 Review

What a weekend for upsets in college football. It started Friday night, when Syracuse beat #15 West Virginia handily, by a score of 49-23. And Saturday night, #16 Michigan State upset #6 Wisconsin on a last second Hail Mary play. Originally called down just short of the goal line, the play was reversed and called a touchdown after further review. Meanwhile, Texas Tech went in to Norman and upset #3 Oklahoma 41-38. That game also ended Oklahoma's 39 game home winning streak.

In Games I Care About, I was 4-1. In Big Games I was 2-2, for an overall record of 6-3 on the weekend. The overall record now stands at 57-19.

Pajama Jeans?

Are these the spawn of jeggings? I, for one, sure hope these things do not catch on...

I'm all for comfort, but still.

Song of the Day

Today's song is Crush by Dave Matthews Band.

Manssentials #6: Being the Rock

I know, I know...gender roles are constantly evolving and changing. There are several households that the woman is the one who goes to work and brings home the money, while the man stays at home to raise the kids. There's nothing wrong with that, and I'm not trying to get into a discussion about the roles of each gender in every relationship. However, I feel that there is one trait that should be common to the men: being the rock solid force in the relationship.

Many women want a man that they can count on, and that they know will be there for them. When a crisis arises, the man should be able to be counted on. He's the one everyone will look to for direction, guidance, and support. For example, when there is a death in the family, the man must delay his grief while he prepares the necessary arrangements. It all goes back to the age old saying: women and children first.

While men no longer go out in the field, or to factories, and perform physical labor like in the past, but they still are that strong example. In my own life, I've seen my dad work 50-60 hour weeks for years. I know he has made personal sacrifices for the rest of the family. As I've recently started my own job (but don't worry, I write these pieces at night, not at work), it's nice to have an example of how to carry myself so close.

I feel fortunate to have such a good example to look to for being the rock in my own relationships, and I hope you do, too.

College Football Week 8 Picks

Throughout this week, I've had to endure all the hype about the Notre Dame/USC game this weekend. What I want to know is, why is there so much hype? Neither team is exactly having a very good season, yet people seem to be obsessing over it. Personally, I'm not expecting a very good game of football from either team. I'm only including it in picks this week because so many people are talking about it. In other "exciting" news out of South Bend, the Irish are going to start painting their helmets in a more sparkly gold color.
Games I Care About:
North Carolina at #7 Clemson > Clemson
Jacksonville State at Kentucky > Kentucky
#9 Arkansas at Ole Miss > Arkansas
NC State at Virginia > Virginia
#21 Penn State at Northwestern > Penn State

Big Games:
#20 Auburn at #1 LSU > LSU
#6 Wisconsin at #16 Michigan State > Wisconsin
#25 Washington at #8 Stanford > Stanford
USC at Notre Dame > Notre Dame