The tuesday before Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday ... Mardi Gras ... a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon dating back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites ... being from the north, a holiday I probably would never have paid much attention to if it wasn't for a simple, fruit-filled donut. The tuesday before Ash Wednesday ... Paczki Day.

It occurrs to me while standing in line at zero-dark-thirty, waiting to get a dozen (or so) of the sugary treats that...

Ok, it's the Friday before the big game ... snack list filled out? check ... beverage list? check ... sides? check ... main entree? not checked, probably gonna' be a last minute, game day decision. Always have a hard time with this one, do you go with ribs, pizza, wings, subs or just all of 'em? Gotta' get the squares board up and see what oddball wagers are out there this year ...

So, I've talked around, did some research, got a feel from the people and the overwhelming, underlying...

It happened 26 years ago on this day. It was January 28th, 1986, and I was in the 11th grade. To many, Shuttle launches were no longer a big deal because, if memory serves, there had been more than 20 that preceded this one, but they still held my imagination. In fact I never lost that feeling - right up and until the program was retired.

Soon after the explosion word made its way around school. I and some others had access to insight other kids didn't. I couldn't wait to get...

Well, so this is what it comes down to this season, Patriots/Giants. Back to the future, the rematch, Tom Brady's revenge, Eli beating Peyton's bully in Peyton's backyard ... Boston vs New York ... the storylines are endless. Can't get that excited, maybe it's the ProBowl week blues, maybe it's because my team isn't in it, maybe it's because the parties overshadow the game at times, or the commercials, maybe it's that vitamin D deficiency thing they talk about in the winter, IDK. But, it's the...

I think I've determined why this hurt so much. I've been a Saints fan for a couple decades plus some. I am very used to watching the Saints disappoint. But in 2006, that changed. That didn't change however my expection for the worst to happen. There's always a little part of me, that knows a trap game will in fact, trap us. You know what I'm talking about. Games like Week 17 vs Culpeppers Vikings where we let him walk in after a fumbled snap for a 2 point conversion that knocked us out of the playoffs....