Munchen

My buisness trip to Munich, Germany has finished and I fly home tomorrow. Its a beautiful city and is very alive. Munich's origins is a settlement of Monk's. And these monks had to fast so in order to sustain themselves they basically invented beer! So Munich is the Monk city world famous for its beer and annual Octoberfest.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

The glockenspiel. It comes alive everyday at 11:30... It is in the steeple of the town hall.

Beer and food at the hofbrauhaus. Brats, viener snitzel, spatzel, potato salad, yum yum!

Hanging out with the Lowenbrau Lion

The Smart car

LSU Football

The loss to Arkansas still hurts. Last game of the season, just have to run the table, Arkansas is in BR, McFadden has been cold lately, no problem.... Granted LSU didn't play the best game but in this case it seems it was play calling, not player performace. Flynn and Hester delivered some amazing numbers for them. But where was the multiback running game? Why was Flynn throwing 47 passes to begin with? The pass attack resulted in time of possession being heavily in Arkansas favor. So with that the defense was worn down by the Arkansas running attack. By the time the overtime started McFadden and crew were punching through the LSU line at will. And why would LSU call a passing play for the final 2 point conversion after Hester has delivered those everytime? Miles should have just gone for the 2 point conversion on the last regular time touchdown given what the Arkansas run totals and time of possesion looked like. Oh well, easy for me to second guess but to much was at stake to not focus on play calling to LSU's strengths.

3OTs and its done. No chance to get to a National Championship. What's worse is Ohio State will probably weasel their way back into it.

Will LSU win the SEC championship after such a defeat? Not sure, this was a huge loss.

Will Miles start talking to Michigan now? I wouldn't doubt it...

Some how 10-2 just isn't satisfying when it ends this way.

Live Music Alert

After lamenting so much on my live music drought it seems I'm making up for it in the final months of the year.

This week I went to the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas to see Zappa Plays Zappa. This is Dweezil Zappa with an amazing band playing his Dad's tunes. I saw Frank many times back in the day so the nostaglia was a draw. He was one of a kind and love or hate him he always gave you and Dweezil is a pretty amazing guitar player in his own right.

Dweezil didn't disappoint. The show was kind of wierd (as it should be I guess) in that they played video of Frank on a big screen for 3 songs while the band played along. The band was really good and played a lot of great Frank tunes (without video).

The other reason to go was to see my brother's work place. He is a sound man for a local company. Many of his gigs are running sound at the Palladium. So he gave me the grand tour, showed me all of his audio toys and introduced me to his buddies. Honestly that was the best part of the whole evening. Since he moved here last summer I figured I'd see him a lot. Unfortunately he is always working! So it was great to hang out with my big brother in his world.


"There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life. " - FZ

This is an amazing picture. This was taken recently by the Japanese lunar probe. But it so struck me with the lifeless moon in the forground and the Earth hanging out there in the great expanse of the void. While many admire the beauty of creation I can't help realize that I am a mear spec upon the face of that blue ball which itself is a spec in universe. It is only by the wonders of God that I am significant! And for those without Him how hopeless it must be.

Jumbo Lump

Crabs!! Oh yeah, I'm cooking up crabs this weekend. Dave did it last weekend and it was so much fund its time to do it again!

Another activity is going be reviewing our new years eve resolutions. These were scribbled down at midnight last New Years and not looked at since! Ouch. There will be a mini concert with Joan and Count Barbara playing "This Land is your Land" as a duet on the guitars. That fulfills one resolution!

The Going Gets Tough

LSU is poised to run to the BCS big show. But lately they are their own worst enemy. Ole Miss on the road will be tough, no doubt.

And now the rumors are swirling that after Ohio State beats Michigan again Carr will announce his retirement. Which brings back up Les Miles as the obvious successor. His contract says it will cost him $1.25M to go to Michigan. But he is a Bo boy all the way and there is no doubt thats the job he wants (why else would have have a Michigan clause?).

Time for the Tigers to be tough, focus and get the job done.

Jim

Alabama is in the Rear View Mirror

The big show down with Saban is history and Tiger's prevailed. They tried to give it away in the middle of the game when Flynn decided he liked throwing to crimson shirts instead of his own. Three interceptions and a couple of more near misses. Not suprising that Alabama played well, it was their home turf and they are an excellent program.

Hester gave the game ball to Les Miles telling him that Saban may have recruited him but Coach Miles believed in him.

BC lost which was part of what was needed. LSU needs to really focus now and close out strong. The remainder of the regular season schedule is well within their grasp. But Ole Miss gave Florida a run and Arkansas is on the road. No need to even discuss the SEC championship now...

You got to love these games though, incredible footbal.


P.S. I did pick the Pats to win but was really cheering for the Colts. But can anybody really stop the Pats?