Whacked

I'm going to post some stuff about my trip to New York, the Saints, the city, and stuff, but in the meantime, this made me laugh. It's just weird.

Saints Training Camp Schedule Is Available!!!

Okay, people, we can start planning for the road trip. 

2008 Saints Training Camp Practice Schedule
Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss.; Thursday, July 24 – Thursday, August 21
***ALL MILLSAPS PRACTICES; FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***
***ALL SAINTS CAMP PRACTICES; CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC***

Thursday - 7/24 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Friday - 7/25 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Saturday - 7/26 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Sunday – 7/27 Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am – 10:30 am Millsaps College Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm

Monday – 7/28 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Tuesday – 7/29 Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am – 10:30 am Millsaps College Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday – 7/30 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Thursday - 7/31 Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am – 10:30 am Millsaps College Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday – 8/1 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Saturday – 8/2 PRACTICE TBD (FAMILY DAY) Jackson Memorial Stadium

Sunday – 8/3 PLAYERS OFF

Monday - 8/4 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Tuesday - 8/5 Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm Millsaps College

Wednesday - 8/6 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College

Team Departs for Arizona 1:00 pm

Thursday - 8/7 Saints at Arizona – Glendale, Arizona – University of Phoenix Stadium (7:00 pm CT)

Friday - 8/8 PLAYERS OFF

Saturday - 8/9 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Sunday - 8/10 Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am – 10:30 am Millsaps College Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm

Monday - 8/11 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Millsaps College Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm


Tuesday - 8/12 BREAK CAMP IN MILLSAPS; TEAM DEPARTS FOR NEW ORLEANS

Wednesday - 8/13 Morning (with Texans) 8:50 am – 11:00 am Saints Camp Afternoon (with Texans) 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm


Thursday - 8/14 Morning (with Texans) 8:50 am – 11:00 am Saints Camp

Friday - 8/15 Walk Thru Practice Session

Saturday - 8/16 Saints vs. Houston Texans – New Orleans, LA – Louisiana Superdome (7:00 pm CT)

Sunday - 8/17 PLAYERS OFF

Monday – 8/18 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Saints Camp Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

Tuesday – 8/19 Morning (Walk-Thru) 8:50 am – 10:30 am Saints Camp Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm

Wednesday – 8/20 Morning 8:50 am – 11:00 am Saints Camp Afternoon 4:20 pm – 6:00 pm

*Thursday – 8/21 Afternoon 3:40 pm - 6:00 pm Saints Camp

Small Blessings

As we approach Independence Day, I have been thinking about Mayor C. Ray Nagin.  He deservedly gets a hard time, but I have thought recently of some things for which we should be thankful.

1. He hasn't driven drunk across the Causeway, smashed things up, and caused some low-level cops to get in trouble for things he did.

2. He hasn't been caught wearing a diaper with prostitutes or been caught hiring prostitutes.

3. He hasn't publicly campaigned against pay raises for legislators and then wimped out about it.

4. He hasn't shot a guy in the face.

5. He's not in jail, like a former Illinois governor, or probably on his way to jail, like the current Illinois governor.

6. He hasn't used a wide stance in an airport bathroom.

7. He hasn't been caught having an affair with an intern.

8. He hasn't invested in the same company as the Bin Laden family.

Faint praise.  Not world class.  But I'm trying to be positive here.

Parties Brewing

1. Well, since Berto is too busy raising babies and fixing computers to blog lately, I'll post this picture that he emailed me. Today we'll be celebrating Lil Hap's second birthday. Papa Berto made sure we will be partying appropriately with THIS beauty:
2. Something is brewing for Dr. Ashley. I need to give Ms. Hana a call to find out more.

Bananas

When I read this in the NY Times, I think:

1. I'm scared. I like bananas.

2. Bananas from Central American and World Class New Orleans are inextricably linked.  (Hello, Zemurray Gardens, the Stone Center at Tulane, Bananas Foster at so many restaurants.)

3. Where can I get me some Gros Michel bananas?  They sound GREAT!

World Class in Our Midst

I just learned about yet another world class accomplishment for a citizen of this region.

Congratulations to Marques Colston, who (after the 2006 and 2007 seasons) has the NFL record for most receptions in one's first two years in the league.

In other words, after two years, Colston is better than Jerry Rice or Michael Irvin or Lynn Swann or Fred Biletnikoff.

Berto refers to Mr. Colston as "the Big Smooth."  I wish that name would catch on.  Just watch the guy; he makes it look so easy.

The Power of Music

Regular runs have been a casualty of some domestic instability for me lately, but I'm getting back into it.

I am totally addicted to the iPod tracker (or whatever it's called).

Anyway, here's today's run, when a particular bit of music jolted me out of complacency:

America: The Logical Culinary Culmination

Least Shocking Headline Ever

New York Times:

"Gay Couples Find Marriage Is a Mixed Bag"

What, did you gals and guys think you were going to find a rose garden?

UPDATE: Bad metaphor. Rose gardens have lots of thorns. Or maybe a good metaphor.

Cheesh. Be Careful Up There, Guys.

Cheers to the Saints for putting in some work on a family's house in Hollygrove.

However, did Coach approve the work assignments?

David Patten and Terrance Copper WERE ON THE ROOF?

Dangerous.

I can think of another wide receiver who might have been a better choice to send on hazardous tasks.

I Hate It When That Happens . . .

Best headline I've seen in awhile:

Japanese patient's 'tumour' turns out to be 25-year-old towel

World Class City, Third World Country

If one lives in a country with the "best healthcare system in the world, pure and simple" (thanks, Mr. President), and if one has a standard-issue health insurance policy via one's employment, and one can't even get in the door of a healthcare facility that one's condition clearly necessitates, does that country really have the greatest healthcare system in the world?

If you run a restaurant supplied with the perfect food ingredients and master chefs, but don't let any customers in, do you have a great restaurant?

Just askin'.

He's An Expert on Interceptions

. . . of illegal immigrants. At least that's what Heath Shuler, former Saints quarterback (#5 in your heart), implies about himself in a letter today to the Wall Street Journal. (I wonder if Steve Walsh or any of the Billy Joes ever got elected to Congress?)

What's next? A letter from Senator Aaron Brooks about turnover . . . in the attorney general's office?

An op-ed piece from Judge Stan Brock on holding . . . of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay?

A treatise from Federal Reserve Chairman Lindsay Scott on inexplicable drops . . . in the stock market?

You get the picture.