Two

Went to the bar tonight for the Phils game. It started a bit rocky, but the end result was pleasant. Had some car trouble on the ride home, but things worked out.

How Perfect

Tonight I was held up at work, which is not to say I was upset about being there. Tonight marked the end of one of the groups at work and the last night is always great. Unfortunately, however, as things always seem to have a way of lining up, with all of the shifting around on our end, and the choice made on theirs, the Phillies had their first game of the playoff tonight.

I was upset to be missing it, but I had a decent amount of time while commuting to the place to follow the game on my phone. Little did I know that when I came out after the group that not only with there be a 0 in the runs column, but also a 0 in the hits column. How could it be that not only do I miss game 1, but I missed watching a no-hitter be pitched for only the second time in baseball history in the post season. It's upsetting to know that such an event transpired when I was unable to see it happening. I wouldn't say I am mad because the last group session was really amazing and I am so glad I was there. There is also the consolation that, while I missed it, it still happened, and the Phils are still up 1-0 in the series with Roy round 2 coming to the mound tomorrow night.

Go Phils!

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints

Definitely bummed about how things ended up. Quickly, though, I will say that it was an entertaining game and even though the final score does not reflect it the teams were incredibly evenly matched. Looking at completions, total yards, longest plays, time of possession, etc - both teams were incredible. Records were broken in combination by the teams - with the most number of yards combined and the most number of completed passes combined in a Superbowl. The Saints took one with the onsides kick, and the Colts took one with the longest drive (96 yards).

At the end of it all, despite how it feels to have lost, I am happy for the Saints. I am happy for the fans, and for the players, and especially for the city of New Orleans, for them having a team and a franchise to get behind and be proud of, and to be proud of where they are from because of it all.

Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Well, I'm sure a lot of teams said it this year, and a few of them did it, but not tonight. Congrats!

I Don't Think I Could Support Hockey

Luckily, I don't have to. Colts are heading to the big dance.

I had something I was gonna write about. Maybe tomorrow. This grad class is already handing it to me, and I am already behind.

I like them. I just do.

Following Up

So every once in a while on this blog I will mention something that I might follow up on, continue later, get back to, etc. Typically in these situations I am in the middle of explaining something or want to elaborate/discuss something and for one reason or another I end up ending the blog instead. Last night is an example of this - it was late and while I had more that I wanted to say, I also wanted to get in bed like no other. Thus my blogs end up looking like Arrested Developments 'Next time on Arrested Development' segments without the humor or intelligence.

Anyway, yesterday thanks to my aunt I was able to sit in one 3 ECT procedures. If you do not know what ECT stands for then let me tell you. ECT stands for Electroconvulsive Therapy, better known as Electro-shock therapy. Most people are only familiar with the procedure from its pop-portrayals in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or the more modern but no friendlier Requiem For A Dream. ECT is when your brain is shocked as a form of treatment.

After a conversation about my feelings on the procedure my aunt decided I needed to sit in on a procedure in order to better assess it. I was told that it is not the violents procedure we see and it is extremely effective. Coming out of the procedure I will say that my views partially changed - no it is not as violent (most of the time) as it appears to be in movies. The patient is knocked out for the procedure and most of them show now visible signs of seizure other than a twitching foot.

It is, however, still barbaric to me in what it is. While I will acknowledge that it is effective and that especially in major depressive patients who are basically catatonic from the depression no other treatment is as effective and with such little side effects (medicine cannot claim either of these), it still does not make it great. Its the arguments that just because its the best thing that exists does not mean its good, it only means we have nothing better - yet.

ECT is literally electrocuting an individuals brain in order to induce a seizure. I learned that the seizure, and not the electro-shock is what actually creates a treatment effect. Doctors discovered this when looking at epileptic patients who were depressed. These patients were found to be in much better states following a seizure. As with most discoveries, no one was looking or assumed this would have an effect.

Yesterday was also my only trip to the diner and luckily it was a really solid trip. Nothing like sitting down with people on your last night home, having a cup (or 5) of coffee and just shooting the breeze for a few hours about nothing. I wish I had gotten to go more - but this trip did not disappoint.

My last note I had said last night was 'more on where i am in life right now'. I am not sure what was on my mind at the time to elicit that but as of right now I have nothing to elaborate on in that area.

Moved back to NY today and settled in. Played a game called Wizard which is a bit complicated initially but is really a great card game. Record player works and I listened to two vinyls already.

2 more football games tomorrow. Colts are through to the next, though, so I can watch in a more relaxed manner.

Talk to you later.

Ouch

Well I knew Dallas was the favorite going into tonight but I did not see it going the way it did. Turning point - the overturned interception early in the first half. Never really did anything after that.

In other news - pulling for the pack tomorrow!

Board games are ice breakers

Put a group of people together who know some but not everyone in the room and ask them to socialize. I guarantee you that same group of people will be bonded and having more fun 10x faster if you have them play a vocal board game. Take tonight for example - two groups of friends who through apples to apples - a few hours later would appear as if they had known each other and spent time together.

It definitely helps when it is a fun game. Apples to Apples in a large group is definitely just that.

Early morning for breakfast tomorrow. Early is relative though - Ill be getting almost 4 more hours of sleep versus if I would be getting up for work tomorrow.

Go Birds!

End of the Regular Season

Well, for home games at least - NFL 2009 has come to an end. And it was ugly today - some blowouts (NE, GB) and some upsets (IN, NO) and the sloppy 2nd half that was the Eagles game.

All in all though - ever team above is going to the playoffs and that is great (except for NE).

In other news - this could be a movie packed week. I was considering, earlier, making tonight's post my top 10 movies of the year. But then I realized that I might be seeing 3 movies this week that could all be in contention. If nothing is going on tomorrow night I am going to go see Up in the Air. Wednesday - Avatar. And as I thought about it - if I am going to be in NY for new years - maybe I could try to find a theatre playing The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus while in town.

So - my top 10 of the year list is being put on hold in hopes that some of these movies make their way on there - not that the ones I have seen are bad but I am hoping these movies all live up to hype.