This is a week I look forward to all year! The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party! Florida vs Gerogia!
Let me though express something clearly. I hate Georgia. More than anyone Florida plays. I hate Georgia. I hate them with a hate that is so pure. I hate their stupid dog (and have a party whenever one dies, stupid little bastard!). I hate that team more than anyother, more the Tennessee, more than Auburn, more than Alabama or LSU, and more than FSU. I hate them. I lived through the 80's when Florida was Georgia's whipping post. I can remember those Saturdays very well, having to watch us get stomped into the mud year after year. Even when we had them beat the beat us (Damn you Lindsay Scott!)
But then 1990 came and a hero in Orange and Blue arrived. I guess I should say returned. Steve Spurrier took over and the rest is history. Ray Goof (no thats not a typo) got his ass whipped year in and year out. Even the "great" Mark Richt has only beaten us twice. 18-3 in 21 years sounds pretty good. But those people still irritate me more than anybody else. I see red because of there red. I remember 2007 very ditinctly. They scored first. And every player on their sideline ran to the endzone to celebrate. It was awful, and Florida was dumbfounded. And lost. That was the last time we lost to them as well. The next year after royally kicking their ass on our way to another National Championship, something they havent sniffed since Reagan, with time winding down, we called every timeout we had. Just to let them savor their ass kicking a little longer.
It is ingrained hate that i will never lose. I hate everything about them with a passion, and will always hate everything about them with a passion. If the bridge to Jacksonville would collapse with their team bus on it i would cheer.
So on to this weekend, where Georgia has the upper hand. Until the game actually starts, and they revert to what they usually are against Florida, one collective, useless piece of crap!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Holy Crap! I SUCK!
It was 8 p.m and Noah was finally going to bed, which meant I could put the Rays game on. Game 162. Tied for the Wild Card lead with the stupid Red Sox. And the first thing i see is the Yankees are ahead 7-0. Great, just great.
Let me explain something to you. I am a baseball fan. Always have been. I grew up rooting for the Braves cause they were the closest team to me. Then in 1990 they built the Thunderdome. It looked like the San Francisco Giants would be moving in, but that was blocked by the National League teams, and never happened. Than we were sure to get a team through the 1992 exapnsion for the 1993 Season. No, instead Miami and Wayne "THE GOD DAMN FUCKING DEVIL" Huizenga, outbid us and got my baseball team. (I still root for them to lose every game, and that bastard who i shall only refer to as the THE DEVIL to die from some horrible disease that causes anal leakage.) I watched those same Marlins win a World Series before I got a baseball team. Then in 1997 we were awarded a team for the 1998 season. And we were put into the American League, and not only that we were put in a division with the God Damn Yankees and Red Sox. Are you kidding me? Now how the hell do you compete against that?
The Devil Rays were terrible. And thats being nice. They didn't know fundamental baseball things, like how to field or hit. It was horrible. But I watched. Through all the beatings and jokes made at our expense I watched. If you dont believe me ask the wife who watches on a nightly basis still no matter what! Than 2008 happened.
In 2008, the Yankees were ravaged by injuries, and somehow we didnt suck as bad. In fact we were down right good. I can remember thinking in July that year, "Holy shit, i am watching a Rays game, and it still matters!" Normally it didnt matter after tax day! Than we were in. I remember Evan catching that foul ball near the 3rd base stands, and crying tears of joy I didnt know would come. I shaved my head into a Rayhawk that night, and went to the first ever playoff game the rays had a few days later. I was there for Game 1 of the ALCS against Boston too. And i remember the soft grounder right at Second Base, that Iwamura picked up and touched second base and the celebration went off behind the pitchers mound. I was in the stands for Game 1 of the World Series, which they eventually lost to Philadelphia, but I was in awe of the fact that we made it that far.
They made the Playoffs again in 2010. And easily, this time it was a rash of Boston Injuries that killed their season, and damnit if I didnt feel entitled to be there. But Texas was evidently more entitled, and the Rays season, and future hopes ended in that Game 5. I mean future because the offseason saw the Rays front office have no ammunition against the billionaires in New York and Boston, and our best player bolted for a division rival. To say hopes were high for 2011 was the higest form of sarcasm i could muster. But how bad could it be right?
How about a 1-8 start to the season. 1-8. Let that thought percalate for a bit. Oh and your best player sidleined for the next month with an oblique injury. Yeah good times in Tampa Bay! The only silver lining through all of this was that Boston was just as horrible. And we got the next, and we took 2 of 3. Than somehow a midget named Sam Fuld turned everyone around. He was amazing, he did everything and it lifted a flat team off the mat. Then James Shield's decided he didnt want to turn into Scott Kazmir, and threw 11 complete games for the year. Jeremy Hellickson lived up to his Rookie of the Year Pre-Season favorite reputation, and David Price was good (until September). The next thing that happened was the bullpen, which had one person return from the year before and he had been on the IR for it, gelled and became magical. It was amazing that after April and May they were leading. Than the Red Sox got hot, and were the best team in baseball for the next 18 weeks. And the Yankees, with no descernable rotation worth a damn, kept winning too. And the Rays decided that July was not their month, and took a vacation. And the status quo returned. Than something happened.
In August the Rays were the second best team in the AL. And neither NY or Boston were first. But we were 11 1/2 games back, and while it was good for momentum for next year, there wasnt anything more to be done for this season. Right? Enter the Rays new Heroes...... The RED SOX?
On September 4 the Rays woke up facing a 9 game deficit. Never in Baseball history had a team come back from a deficit like that, this late in the season. But Boston was much obliged to help the Rays any way they could. All year My father and I kept saying there was no way that the Yankees pitching staff could hold together. We were wrong. They did. However, the Boston arms were the ones that couldnt hold together. For April they were terrible. The starters won 4 games in a month. That doesn't seem plausible as i type it. But it happened. And don't get me wrong, the Rays were just as obliged to not take advantage of the Red Sox gifts to them. But with a 7 game deficit, the Rays swept the Red Sox in Tampa, and cut the lead to 4 games. The Sox lost 2 of three to the Blue Jays next, and the Rays couldnt take advantage and lost 2 of 3 to the last place Orioles. On to Boston for a 4 game set, knowing they had to win 3 of 4 at least. They won the first game, but let Boston off the hook in Game 2. But somehow they managed to take Games 3 and 4, putting them 2 games behind Boston for the Wild Card. Now to put this into more perspective, each team had 10 games left. Boston had 7 against the Orioles (Last place) and 3 against New York (1st Place). The Rays had 3 against the Blue Jays (who just beat Boston 2 of 3) and 7 against the Yankees (1st Place). Advantage Boston.
Except they couldnt beat the Orioles. Over the next 10 days they went 2-5 against the lowly Orioles. And 1-2 against the Yankees. The Rays would go 4-3 against the Yankees. On Monday they tied for the Wild Card Lead. On Tuesday, both Boston and Tampa came back to win and stayed tied for the wild card lead. Which meant one game to determine who goes to the playoffs and who goes home, or if we have a one game tiebreaker.
And enter where we started up above. Noah goes to bed. Yanks up 5-0, Boston up 1-0. Boston gives up a 2 run home and trails 2-1. At this point the Rays only hope is an Orioles win. Than it was 6-0 Yankees, and the Red Sox score on a balk (A BALK!) to tie their game at 2. Than stupid Dustin Pedroia ( I really hate him by the way) drive in another run and its 3-2 Boston. And just for good measure Andruw Jones hits another home run to put the Yanks up 7-0. Then it starts to rain in Baltimore with the Red Sox up 3-2. Rain Delay. Its 10p.m. And i did something i have never done in my life. I gave up.
I actually went to bed. And if you knew how this month had gone you'd understand how tired I was, and how much i didnt need another disappointment to end my evening. So I went to bed as the wife turned on Glee, which i would rather run over my foot with the lawn mower than ever watch. When it ended she was still on the Rays game, and they were down by 1. She tried to wake me up, and i slept. She tried again when they tied it. I still slept. I will never be more upset at myself for not getting up. So the rest of the night unfolds thusly.
In the bottom of the 8th, while the Red Sox are still in a rain delay, Tampa mounts a comeback for the ages. Sure it wasnt against the full might of the Yankees, but it was still a titanic comeback. They scored their first two runs on a walk and a hit batsmen. Than BJ Upton singles to make it 7-3. Than Evan Longoria, whoa has been a compelte washout the entire year, hits a three run homer to make it 7-6. They cant scratch the last run across to tie, and we move on to the 9th inning. The Yanks go quitely. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, Joe Maddon send up pinch hitter Dan Johnson. The same Dan Johnson who couldnt make it in the begining of the season, and was hitting .108 coming into the game. He's also the same Dan Johnson who in 2008 took Jonathon Paplebon over the centerfield wall at Fenway Park, and catapultated the Rays to their first ever playoff run. 2 balls 2 strikes, and he does it again. Are you kidding me? You know they say stuff like this only happens in the movies, but here it was unfolding. And who also got to see this marvel? The Red Sox, as they were 10 minutes away from retaking the field against the Orioles. They saw and they knew. From this point on every think happens simutaneously. The Rays work their way out of trouble for the next three innings, and Boston makes it through the bottom of the seventh and the eighth inning with nothing happening. Boston leads 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th and in come Jonathon Paplebon who mows down the first two hitters. Meanwhile in St. Petersburg, the Rays are up to bat in the 12th inning. Papelbon gives up two consecutive doubles, and the Orioles tie the game at three. BJ Upton steps out of the batters box because the crowd is roaring, seeing the Red Sox give up the lead. He promptly strikes out though. Papelbon gives up a soft liner to left, and Carl Crawford, once the Rays Great Ray of Hope and now Boston turncoat, can't quite make a sliding catch, and the Orioles score and win 4-3. Improbablity number a million for the night. Evan has to step out of the batters box as another roar goes up as the final is posted in Tropicana Field. He steps back in and hits a screaming line drive down the left field line that will surely fall for a double. Only it doesn't and the Rays can thank Mr. Crawford yet again. He had asked the Ray's to lower the left field wall near the foul pole so he could rob some home runs. Longoria's ball clears the low wall, that would have hit anywhere on any other part of the wall in the ball park, and the Ray's win 8-7. And I slept through it.
Really? How does that happen John? You slept through it. I am terribly disappointed in myself. I vow to myself and all that is Holy, i will never go to bed before the final out, the final seconds tick off, whatever, ever again! I remeber staying up to watch the Twins beat the Braves in the World Series, and I had to get up and go to school the next day. How did i not know better last night? I woke up to the radio and them saying the Yankees something, and i assumed we lost. And Jessica says the Rays are in the playoffs. I said you mean they play today cause Boston lost? No she says the Rays won and Boston lost. No game today. And i threw up in my mouth a little bit. She explained it all, and i died a little more inside.
So i guess i have baseball to watch this weekend! Bet your ass i wont be in bed before every game finishes!
Let me explain something to you. I am a baseball fan. Always have been. I grew up rooting for the Braves cause they were the closest team to me. Then in 1990 they built the Thunderdome. It looked like the San Francisco Giants would be moving in, but that was blocked by the National League teams, and never happened. Than we were sure to get a team through the 1992 exapnsion for the 1993 Season. No, instead Miami and Wayne "THE GOD DAMN FUCKING DEVIL" Huizenga, outbid us and got my baseball team. (I still root for them to lose every game, and that bastard who i shall only refer to as the THE DEVIL to die from some horrible disease that causes anal leakage.) I watched those same Marlins win a World Series before I got a baseball team. Then in 1997 we were awarded a team for the 1998 season. And we were put into the American League, and not only that we were put in a division with the God Damn Yankees and Red Sox. Are you kidding me? Now how the hell do you compete against that?
The Devil Rays were terrible. And thats being nice. They didn't know fundamental baseball things, like how to field or hit. It was horrible. But I watched. Through all the beatings and jokes made at our expense I watched. If you dont believe me ask the wife who watches on a nightly basis still no matter what! Than 2008 happened.
In 2008, the Yankees were ravaged by injuries, and somehow we didnt suck as bad. In fact we were down right good. I can remember thinking in July that year, "Holy shit, i am watching a Rays game, and it still matters!" Normally it didnt matter after tax day! Than we were in. I remember Evan catching that foul ball near the 3rd base stands, and crying tears of joy I didnt know would come. I shaved my head into a Rayhawk that night, and went to the first ever playoff game the rays had a few days later. I was there for Game 1 of the ALCS against Boston too. And i remember the soft grounder right at Second Base, that Iwamura picked up and touched second base and the celebration went off behind the pitchers mound. I was in the stands for Game 1 of the World Series, which they eventually lost to Philadelphia, but I was in awe of the fact that we made it that far.
They made the Playoffs again in 2010. And easily, this time it was a rash of Boston Injuries that killed their season, and damnit if I didnt feel entitled to be there. But Texas was evidently more entitled, and the Rays season, and future hopes ended in that Game 5. I mean future because the offseason saw the Rays front office have no ammunition against the billionaires in New York and Boston, and our best player bolted for a division rival. To say hopes were high for 2011 was the higest form of sarcasm i could muster. But how bad could it be right?
How about a 1-8 start to the season. 1-8. Let that thought percalate for a bit. Oh and your best player sidleined for the next month with an oblique injury. Yeah good times in Tampa Bay! The only silver lining through all of this was that Boston was just as horrible. And we got the next, and we took 2 of 3. Than somehow a midget named Sam Fuld turned everyone around. He was amazing, he did everything and it lifted a flat team off the mat. Then James Shield's decided he didnt want to turn into Scott Kazmir, and threw 11 complete games for the year. Jeremy Hellickson lived up to his Rookie of the Year Pre-Season favorite reputation, and David Price was good (until September). The next thing that happened was the bullpen, which had one person return from the year before and he had been on the IR for it, gelled and became magical. It was amazing that after April and May they were leading. Than the Red Sox got hot, and were the best team in baseball for the next 18 weeks. And the Yankees, with no descernable rotation worth a damn, kept winning too. And the Rays decided that July was not their month, and took a vacation. And the status quo returned. Than something happened.
In August the Rays were the second best team in the AL. And neither NY or Boston were first. But we were 11 1/2 games back, and while it was good for momentum for next year, there wasnt anything more to be done for this season. Right? Enter the Rays new Heroes...... The RED SOX?
On September 4 the Rays woke up facing a 9 game deficit. Never in Baseball history had a team come back from a deficit like that, this late in the season. But Boston was much obliged to help the Rays any way they could. All year My father and I kept saying there was no way that the Yankees pitching staff could hold together. We were wrong. They did. However, the Boston arms were the ones that couldnt hold together. For April they were terrible. The starters won 4 games in a month. That doesn't seem plausible as i type it. But it happened. And don't get me wrong, the Rays were just as obliged to not take advantage of the Red Sox gifts to them. But with a 7 game deficit, the Rays swept the Red Sox in Tampa, and cut the lead to 4 games. The Sox lost 2 of three to the Blue Jays next, and the Rays couldnt take advantage and lost 2 of 3 to the last place Orioles. On to Boston for a 4 game set, knowing they had to win 3 of 4 at least. They won the first game, but let Boston off the hook in Game 2. But somehow they managed to take Games 3 and 4, putting them 2 games behind Boston for the Wild Card. Now to put this into more perspective, each team had 10 games left. Boston had 7 against the Orioles (Last place) and 3 against New York (1st Place). The Rays had 3 against the Blue Jays (who just beat Boston 2 of 3) and 7 against the Yankees (1st Place). Advantage Boston.
Except they couldnt beat the Orioles. Over the next 10 days they went 2-5 against the lowly Orioles. And 1-2 against the Yankees. The Rays would go 4-3 against the Yankees. On Monday they tied for the Wild Card Lead. On Tuesday, both Boston and Tampa came back to win and stayed tied for the wild card lead. Which meant one game to determine who goes to the playoffs and who goes home, or if we have a one game tiebreaker.
And enter where we started up above. Noah goes to bed. Yanks up 5-0, Boston up 1-0. Boston gives up a 2 run home and trails 2-1. At this point the Rays only hope is an Orioles win. Than it was 6-0 Yankees, and the Red Sox score on a balk (A BALK!) to tie their game at 2. Than stupid Dustin Pedroia ( I really hate him by the way) drive in another run and its 3-2 Boston. And just for good measure Andruw Jones hits another home run to put the Yanks up 7-0. Then it starts to rain in Baltimore with the Red Sox up 3-2. Rain Delay. Its 10p.m. And i did something i have never done in my life. I gave up.
I actually went to bed. And if you knew how this month had gone you'd understand how tired I was, and how much i didnt need another disappointment to end my evening. So I went to bed as the wife turned on Glee, which i would rather run over my foot with the lawn mower than ever watch. When it ended she was still on the Rays game, and they were down by 1. She tried to wake me up, and i slept. She tried again when they tied it. I still slept. I will never be more upset at myself for not getting up. So the rest of the night unfolds thusly.
In the bottom of the 8th, while the Red Sox are still in a rain delay, Tampa mounts a comeback for the ages. Sure it wasnt against the full might of the Yankees, but it was still a titanic comeback. They scored their first two runs on a walk and a hit batsmen. Than BJ Upton singles to make it 7-3. Than Evan Longoria, whoa has been a compelte washout the entire year, hits a three run homer to make it 7-6. They cant scratch the last run across to tie, and we move on to the 9th inning. The Yanks go quitely. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, Joe Maddon send up pinch hitter Dan Johnson. The same Dan Johnson who couldnt make it in the begining of the season, and was hitting .108 coming into the game. He's also the same Dan Johnson who in 2008 took Jonathon Paplebon over the centerfield wall at Fenway Park, and catapultated the Rays to their first ever playoff run. 2 balls 2 strikes, and he does it again. Are you kidding me? You know they say stuff like this only happens in the movies, but here it was unfolding. And who also got to see this marvel? The Red Sox, as they were 10 minutes away from retaking the field against the Orioles. They saw and they knew. From this point on every think happens simutaneously. The Rays work their way out of trouble for the next three innings, and Boston makes it through the bottom of the seventh and the eighth inning with nothing happening. Boston leads 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th and in come Jonathon Paplebon who mows down the first two hitters. Meanwhile in St. Petersburg, the Rays are up to bat in the 12th inning. Papelbon gives up two consecutive doubles, and the Orioles tie the game at three. BJ Upton steps out of the batters box because the crowd is roaring, seeing the Red Sox give up the lead. He promptly strikes out though. Papelbon gives up a soft liner to left, and Carl Crawford, once the Rays Great Ray of Hope and now Boston turncoat, can't quite make a sliding catch, and the Orioles score and win 4-3. Improbablity number a million for the night. Evan has to step out of the batters box as another roar goes up as the final is posted in Tropicana Field. He steps back in and hits a screaming line drive down the left field line that will surely fall for a double. Only it doesn't and the Rays can thank Mr. Crawford yet again. He had asked the Ray's to lower the left field wall near the foul pole so he could rob some home runs. Longoria's ball clears the low wall, that would have hit anywhere on any other part of the wall in the ball park, and the Ray's win 8-7. And I slept through it.
Really? How does that happen John? You slept through it. I am terribly disappointed in myself. I vow to myself and all that is Holy, i will never go to bed before the final out, the final seconds tick off, whatever, ever again! I remeber staying up to watch the Twins beat the Braves in the World Series, and I had to get up and go to school the next day. How did i not know better last night? I woke up to the radio and them saying the Yankees something, and i assumed we lost. And Jessica says the Rays are in the playoffs. I said you mean they play today cause Boston lost? No she says the Rays won and Boston lost. No game today. And i threw up in my mouth a little bit. She explained it all, and i died a little more inside.
So i guess i have baseball to watch this weekend! Bet your ass i wont be in bed before every game finishes!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Cheers from a Comic Book Dork!
So as you may have noticed this has become somewhat of a comic book themed blog. So its time for some initial thoughts on the first two weeks of the New DCU!
Let me start by saying i am not getting all 52 new books. See the wife would kill me and i am only getting the stuff that interests me. I wil say i am getting about 28 of them. For the first 2 weeks (Plus Justice League on Aug 31st) I got 15 books. To say i was pleasantly surprised by most of them is an understatement. Were there some duds, of course, but none that would warrant me changing my mind about my choices so far. Lets go this route:
10 out of 10 Books:
Action Comics
Batman and Robin
Detective Comics
Swamp Thing
Superboy
9 out of 10 Books:
Green Lantern
Deathstroke
Batgirl
8 out of 10 Books:
Batwoman
Justice League International
Suicide Squad
Justice League
Stormwatch
7 out of 10 Books:
Green Arrow
6 out of 10 Books:
Red Lanterns
Look, when my favorite cant be decided because i am enthralled with the New Superboy, i never knew Swamp Thing could be awesome, Action is a dream come true and Detective ends with (SPOILER) The Joker having his face cut off what can you do! And the 9's were close to 10's. Green Arrow I didn't dislike, it was just very static for me. And Red Lanterns I liked, it just doesnt seem like it will have any where to go like Green Lantern Corps. Their mission isnt exactly as rosy as the Green Guys. I picked both Swamp Thing and Deathstroke up on a whim, and am glad that i did. Doing the same with Birds of Prey this coming week (that and founder Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon will be coming up in a future issue!)
Looking forward to all my choices this week as well. To go along with BOP, Batman, Catwoman, Green Lantern Corps, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outsiders, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman. Cant wait to delve into these!
Now on the weird side of this comic book stuff is the fact that these book shave sold better than even DC themselves thought. Most of the books that have come out are alrerady on 2nd and or 3rd printings. Thats huge. If you consider that the average print run of Action was hover around 40k and this first issue sold over 200k, i think thats what DC was looking for. But when book like Hawk and Dove and Animal Man, and Frankenstein are selling in upwards of 75k, they know they did something right. Thank god too, cause i would hate for this medium to go away. I love it too much.
Let me start by saying i am not getting all 52 new books. See the wife would kill me and i am only getting the stuff that interests me. I wil say i am getting about 28 of them. For the first 2 weeks (Plus Justice League on Aug 31st) I got 15 books. To say i was pleasantly surprised by most of them is an understatement. Were there some duds, of course, but none that would warrant me changing my mind about my choices so far. Lets go this route:
10 out of 10 Books:
Action Comics
Batman and Robin
Detective Comics
Swamp Thing
Superboy
9 out of 10 Books:
Green Lantern
Deathstroke
Batgirl
8 out of 10 Books:
Batwoman
Justice League International
Suicide Squad
Justice League
Stormwatch
7 out of 10 Books:
Green Arrow
6 out of 10 Books:
Red Lanterns
Look, when my favorite cant be decided because i am enthralled with the New Superboy, i never knew Swamp Thing could be awesome, Action is a dream come true and Detective ends with (SPOILER) The Joker having his face cut off what can you do! And the 9's were close to 10's. Green Arrow I didn't dislike, it was just very static for me. And Red Lanterns I liked, it just doesnt seem like it will have any where to go like Green Lantern Corps. Their mission isnt exactly as rosy as the Green Guys. I picked both Swamp Thing and Deathstroke up on a whim, and am glad that i did. Doing the same with Birds of Prey this coming week (that and founder Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon will be coming up in a future issue!)
Looking forward to all my choices this week as well. To go along with BOP, Batman, Catwoman, Green Lantern Corps, Nightwing, Red Hood and the Outsiders, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman. Cant wait to delve into these!
Now on the weird side of this comic book stuff is the fact that these book shave sold better than even DC themselves thought. Most of the books that have come out are alrerady on 2nd and or 3rd printings. Thats huge. If you consider that the average print run of Action was hover around 40k and this first issue sold over 200k, i think thats what DC was looking for. But when book like Hawk and Dove and Animal Man, and Frankenstein are selling in upwards of 75k, they know they did something right. Thank god too, cause i would hate for this medium to go away. I love it too much.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tomorrow is a sad day......
In 1992 my Dad made the ultimate mistake of telling me Superman was going to die. Superman was my hero, I watched all the cartoons, but I had never once cracked open a comic book. But with that one simple statement my life changed, much to my wife's chagrin. I went and visited the comic book store for the second time in my life. (The first time i went had nothing to do with comics, my idiot of a brother and thrown my favorite action figure against the wall and shattered it into pieces, so he had to buy me a new one, and this was the only place that had it!) I was a bit overwhelmed at first because i had never realized that so many books could exist. But when you consider that DC Comics alone has been publishing Superman since 1938, you see where all this stuff might have come from. I bought the whole story leading up to and including his death. I bought the funeral story afterwards, and the return story after that. And i was hooked. I bought everything i could, at the same time Batman had his back broken by a villain and there was a new Batman. Spiderman had a clone problem, and the X-Men didn't suck at this point. Over the years i have dramatically changed in what i read. I am a DC guy, not to fond of Marvel, other than Spiderman and X-Men, and sometimes i question those choices. I own 8,000 comics, cover dating back as far as 1975. I own every Superman and Batman comic since 1985. I picked this date as a good point of reference because this is when Crisis of Infinite Earths came out. This relaunched the entire line of DC Comics. So for the past 30 + years i have followed the exploits of the heroes of this universe. Tomorrow it all ends. It is bittersweet though, everything i have known for the past 30 years ends, but the comics don't. On August 31st, the New DCU launches. All new #1 titles for every book, including the two longest continuing running comics in History in Action Comics (home of Superman) and Detective Comics (home of Batman). Issue number 904 of Action Comics will end its run tomorrow. I am truly looking forward to the new Universe, but it is hard to believe that something i have invested so much time in will truly end tomorrow. I have sought hard to find books to finish runs, and i will continue to do the same to finish other runs, but after tomorrow, the stories meaning takes on a different meaning. The stories in back issues will be the past. They wont be as relevant anymore. But they will always be my beginning, and my love.
I love my family more than anything in the world. But my comics are tied for second in my life after them. I have already told Jess that she has to bury me with my comics when i die. She laughs. I am not really kidding. They were there long before i even knew her. I will say she does a remarkable job of not killing me and letting me keep getting my books. They are my soap opera's. And again tomorrow i close the chapter on the all i have known since i started collecting. I will always have the books to go back to and enjoy, but never again will i get to use them as reference to a current story to see what i forgot. I will miss these characters and the joy they have brought me. But as i said there is always light at the end of the tunnel. In just over a week the new Universe will be born, and i will be on even footing with everyone when i say i don't know where the heroes go from here. I am looking forward to the journey though! Just as much as the past 30 years.
I love my family more than anything in the world. But my comics are tied for second in my life after them. I have already told Jess that she has to bury me with my comics when i die. She laughs. I am not really kidding. They were there long before i even knew her. I will say she does a remarkable job of not killing me and letting me keep getting my books. They are my soap opera's. And again tomorrow i close the chapter on the all i have known since i started collecting. I will always have the books to go back to and enjoy, but never again will i get to use them as reference to a current story to see what i forgot. I will miss these characters and the joy they have brought me. But as i said there is always light at the end of the tunnel. In just over a week the new Universe will be born, and i will be on even footing with everyone when i say i don't know where the heroes go from here. I am looking forward to the journey though! Just as much as the past 30 years.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I want some chili fries.....and September to get here!
So its Tuesday. I am looking forward to tonight as i get to go hang out with my friends. Its a small break from family (even though the majority of them will be asleep when i leave.) And i have a craving for some chili cheese fries, damn those things were good the last time.
Not much been doing, hanging with the family, cleaning the house, and relaxing. Still gearing up for our vacation in a couple of weeks, but that is now all planned out. Last week was a bear of a week work wise, and am fortunate enough to say this week is not repeating that. Although 4 people out on vacation at once has that effect on the office.
I have a few thoughts that mean nothing to anyone else so i will expunge them from my brain, because i want to.
So September one of the bigger things in my life, beyond my family, has massive changes across the board. Yes, this is a geek out moment for me, so live with it. DC Comics will re-something there entire line with all brand new #1's. I have collected comics since the Death of Superman in 1992. At this point I have just shy of 8000 comics, which equate to 36 boxes or the left side of the garage. I cringe whenever i say that, but my wife who doesn't understand or necessarily support my hobby, still loves me enough that i have two massive racks for them so they aren't on the floor. Hell anymore they aren't on each other! I own every Superman, Batman and Spiderman Comic since 1985, plus some random issues. I own the majority of every other DC hero from the same time span, from Green Lantern, to Flash, to the Justice League, to even Aquaman (someone has to love the Fish guy, why not me!) The big uproar in all of this is that the histories of these characters is being messed with. Continuity, being what it is, will be destroyed. Well, sounds good to me. Look, this is a quick explanation of what this means. These characters have been around since the 1930's. That's 75 plus years of one character. Everyone who is complaining about this obviously doesn't realize that the re-establishment of a character (DC doesn't like the word Reboot, which i think is silly, so i am treading lightly here.) has happened continuously for the entire duration of the character. To say that Superman or Batman are the same from their beginnings is ridiculous. Batman carried a gun and Superman couldn't fly in the beginning. Oh and lets not forget 60's hippy Batman, who is now Noir, Hard boiled, ass kicking Batman. Since the biggest shake up DC had seen in 1986 "Crisis of Infinite Earths", the DC Universe has continued to evolve and change. It will happen again in September, and again in the future, multiple times. And why not its fiction, let it be. People who i have known most of my life at the comic book shop i go to, which i bought that first issue of the Death of Superman at, ask me what i think, i used to work there so i get an opinion. I think its great, i think they aren't going far enough in all honesty. I think the biggest thing that is pissing people off, is the people who are pissed off being able to communicate online in chat rooms and blogs, and the such. Why does this effect people the way it does? I don't know, but it has had DC's intended effect, and that's people who weren't in to comics, becoming interested. My friends who know me have asked me about it, and shown a genuine interest. Will they be there for the long run? Who knows. But if they read something and like it, they have a better chance of sticking around then never being there in the first place. For me, its still me hobby, and my escape. My wife watches her soap opera, i read my comics. Its a brief escape from the goings on of everyday life. Its nice to not worry about the bills, or the kids, or the house for an hour and just read a story. Look if people are going to be pissed about this and be down on it, i think it should actually be out to be pissed off at. If i get something in September and go, wow now that's a piece of shit, guess what, i won't be getting it anymore. That's a reflection on the writing at that point, not some knee jerk reaction to a company trying to invigorate their sales and try something new. Lets face it, if your a comic book fan, you are a cave dweller, in the sense that the only place you can get the material anymore is the comic book store. When i was a kid they were on the shelves at the grocery store, and on racks at 7-11. That's not the case anymore. I think its brilliant that with technology where it is, they are releasing the books online. Personally i will never do that until i have no other choice. But it brings the possibility of new fans through a new medium. When I was kid, i went outside. I had an Atari and the First Nintendo, and while cool, there was more to life then. Now kids have computers, they play their video games with friends at home, there is no more outside. I looked forward everyday to getting home, changing into my play clothes ( i don't even think those exist anymore) and meeting up with my friends to play football, or basketball, or ride my bike through the neighborhood. Well we also traded comics, which in retrospect screwed me in the long run, but what the heck did i know i was 12. I used to collect for the value of collecting, now i do it, because i genuinely love the medium. I threaten my wife with her having to bury my comics with me when i die. For God's sake i have an insurancee policy just for the comics! So this reboot is just another blip to me. I am exited to see what happens to my heroes, and see what new adventures they have. I look forward to showing this to my kids at some point if they are interested (and have washed their hands, and don't touch while i show them). To the naysayers, get a life. If you get this worked up about a fictional world, you obviously have way to much time on your hands, and need to get a life.
And that's a a long wrap.
Not much been doing, hanging with the family, cleaning the house, and relaxing. Still gearing up for our vacation in a couple of weeks, but that is now all planned out. Last week was a bear of a week work wise, and am fortunate enough to say this week is not repeating that. Although 4 people out on vacation at once has that effect on the office.
I have a few thoughts that mean nothing to anyone else so i will expunge them from my brain, because i want to.
So September one of the bigger things in my life, beyond my family, has massive changes across the board. Yes, this is a geek out moment for me, so live with it. DC Comics will re-something there entire line with all brand new #1's. I have collected comics since the Death of Superman in 1992. At this point I have just shy of 8000 comics, which equate to 36 boxes or the left side of the garage. I cringe whenever i say that, but my wife who doesn't understand or necessarily support my hobby, still loves me enough that i have two massive racks for them so they aren't on the floor. Hell anymore they aren't on each other! I own every Superman, Batman and Spiderman Comic since 1985, plus some random issues. I own the majority of every other DC hero from the same time span, from Green Lantern, to Flash, to the Justice League, to even Aquaman (someone has to love the Fish guy, why not me!) The big uproar in all of this is that the histories of these characters is being messed with. Continuity, being what it is, will be destroyed. Well, sounds good to me. Look, this is a quick explanation of what this means. These characters have been around since the 1930's. That's 75 plus years of one character. Everyone who is complaining about this obviously doesn't realize that the re-establishment of a character (DC doesn't like the word Reboot, which i think is silly, so i am treading lightly here.) has happened continuously for the entire duration of the character. To say that Superman or Batman are the same from their beginnings is ridiculous. Batman carried a gun and Superman couldn't fly in the beginning. Oh and lets not forget 60's hippy Batman, who is now Noir, Hard boiled, ass kicking Batman. Since the biggest shake up DC had seen in 1986 "Crisis of Infinite Earths", the DC Universe has continued to evolve and change. It will happen again in September, and again in the future, multiple times. And why not its fiction, let it be. People who i have known most of my life at the comic book shop i go to, which i bought that first issue of the Death of Superman at, ask me what i think, i used to work there so i get an opinion. I think its great, i think they aren't going far enough in all honesty. I think the biggest thing that is pissing people off, is the people who are pissed off being able to communicate online in chat rooms and blogs, and the such. Why does this effect people the way it does? I don't know, but it has had DC's intended effect, and that's people who weren't in to comics, becoming interested. My friends who know me have asked me about it, and shown a genuine interest. Will they be there for the long run? Who knows. But if they read something and like it, they have a better chance of sticking around then never being there in the first place. For me, its still me hobby, and my escape. My wife watches her soap opera, i read my comics. Its a brief escape from the goings on of everyday life. Its nice to not worry about the bills, or the kids, or the house for an hour and just read a story. Look if people are going to be pissed about this and be down on it, i think it should actually be out to be pissed off at. If i get something in September and go, wow now that's a piece of shit, guess what, i won't be getting it anymore. That's a reflection on the writing at that point, not some knee jerk reaction to a company trying to invigorate their sales and try something new. Lets face it, if your a comic book fan, you are a cave dweller, in the sense that the only place you can get the material anymore is the comic book store. When i was a kid they were on the shelves at the grocery store, and on racks at 7-11. That's not the case anymore. I think its brilliant that with technology where it is, they are releasing the books online. Personally i will never do that until i have no other choice. But it brings the possibility of new fans through a new medium. When I was kid, i went outside. I had an Atari and the First Nintendo, and while cool, there was more to life then. Now kids have computers, they play their video games with friends at home, there is no more outside. I looked forward everyday to getting home, changing into my play clothes ( i don't even think those exist anymore) and meeting up with my friends to play football, or basketball, or ride my bike through the neighborhood. Well we also traded comics, which in retrospect screwed me in the long run, but what the heck did i know i was 12. I used to collect for the value of collecting, now i do it, because i genuinely love the medium. I threaten my wife with her having to bury my comics with me when i die. For God's sake i have an insurancee policy just for the comics! So this reboot is just another blip to me. I am exited to see what happens to my heroes, and see what new adventures they have. I look forward to showing this to my kids at some point if they are interested (and have washed their hands, and don't touch while i show them). To the naysayers, get a life. If you get this worked up about a fictional world, you obviously have way to much time on your hands, and need to get a life.
And that's a a long wrap.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday Ho-hum
It my own words to the wife, you are a lazy blogger. So i am too evidently. I havent had anything happen this week that made me want to run and write. Boring week. Noah did bible camp this week, as his indoctrination into religion continues. Its not that bad i guess, he got to hang out with his friends for a few hours a day, and he wasn't nearly as wild at home because of it. My mom got to see his performance today and he was a huge hit evidently. So was his sister. I can see the following stage starting already, i remember it well. It ended about the age of 12 with a baseball bat through my door because i told my brother to go find his own friends. Let that be a lesson to you, make sure your opponent doesnt have a weapon. I wonder if it will be different though for Noah and Emmy being the opposite sex. At some point their interests will split, whereas my brother and did the same things. I don't know, i am just going to enjoy the happiness for as long as it lasts.
Have a restful weekend planned with trip planning for NY a must. I guess we should have some semblance of an idea as to what we are doing when we get there. Supposed to rain all weekend, so that will keep us cooped up, which sounds pretty good to me. Sunday my cousin is in town and we are going to his daughters birthday party. Pool will be in order, unless it rains. Than back to the drudgery of work. Only 6 weeks to vacation though!
Have a restful weekend planned with trip planning for NY a must. I guess we should have some semblance of an idea as to what we are doing when we get there. Supposed to rain all weekend, so that will keep us cooped up, which sounds pretty good to me. Sunday my cousin is in town and we are going to his daughters birthday party. Pool will be in order, unless it rains. Than back to the drudgery of work. Only 6 weeks to vacation though!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Hello
So I have decided I have to many different things to say and no one to listen to my rantings. So this seems like a good place to express myself, and if someone doesn't like it, too bad, this is my damn blog and I'll say what I want.
If you know me, you know I am a man of little patience. I have two kids, a wife, a house and a full time job, and i have no time to deal with other peoples bullshit. Your having problems..... Boo-freaking hoo. I have no tact and I call things like i see them. This endears me to many people, especially my wife!
But I have many sides to display here. Such as Captain Nerd side. That's because I love comic books. You don't, good for you, but i am living proof you can be a comic nerd and not live with your parents alone in a basement. I plan on venting alot of my comic book wonderfulness here since the wife likes talking about it about as much as i like her soap opera.
I love my wife, kids and my family more than most realize. They are my everything. I know that is cliche and all, but its the truth, i don't do anything without thinking about them first. Even though sometimes it seems like i don't. And yes, at times, they can all be pains in the ass, but that's what the garage is for so i can run and hide.
This is all new to me by the way, so i am a little all over the map with this rant. What can you do?
So what fun topics can we cover as the days progress? I have thoughts about many things. And now i will write them down so i can remember shit that happened only a few minutes ago. God help us all!
If you know me, you know I am a man of little patience. I have two kids, a wife, a house and a full time job, and i have no time to deal with other peoples bullshit. Your having problems..... Boo-freaking hoo. I have no tact and I call things like i see them. This endears me to many people, especially my wife!
But I have many sides to display here. Such as Captain Nerd side. That's because I love comic books. You don't, good for you, but i am living proof you can be a comic nerd and not live with your parents alone in a basement. I plan on venting alot of my comic book wonderfulness here since the wife likes talking about it about as much as i like her soap opera.
I love my wife, kids and my family more than most realize. They are my everything. I know that is cliche and all, but its the truth, i don't do anything without thinking about them first. Even though sometimes it seems like i don't. And yes, at times, they can all be pains in the ass, but that's what the garage is for so i can run and hide.
This is all new to me by the way, so i am a little all over the map with this rant. What can you do?
So what fun topics can we cover as the days progress? I have thoughts about many things. And now i will write them down so i can remember shit that happened only a few minutes ago. God help us all!
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