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.