Yalaha Bakery

Yalaha Bakery in Yalaha, Florida is an authentic German Bakery that
seems to have been transported from the German countryside directly to
rural Florida. We loaded up on breads and desserts. The pretzels are
amazing. We missed by just a matter of minutes the end of the
sandwich making so we are bagging our goodies for later and heading
off to find lunch.

Winter Olympiad

Well, I was wrong about my prediction for the Super Bowl. Hopefully, the Saints winning the Super Bowl will remind both the owners and the players association during their negotiations what makes the NFL the best sports league in the US is its parity.

The Opening Ceremonies of the 21st Winter Olympics was last night in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Watching the national delegations march in is always moving, but never as moving as watching the team from Georgia walk in with their flag lowered and one member not with them having died in training earlier that same day. They were beautiful and insightful into what makes Canada great. My favorite parts were probably the bear constellation segue into the whales swimming across the arena or the slam poet talking about the genteel nature and realized dreams of all Canadians. I did not enjoy K.D. Lang adding her stylings to "Hallelujah", but Ana rightly said that they should have used the Canadian Tenors or even Celine Dion. It is my firm belief that K.D. Lang's singing is what made the cauldron malfunction and cause the "Great One" Wayne Gretzky to wait 5 minutes to light the torch.

As during every Olympics Opening Ceremony, I am reminded that I really want to learn how to speak French. Of course, by the time the next two weeks have passed, I will also want to learn to ski, ice skate, play hockey, snowboard, play curling and half a dozen other activities or skills that I have yet to accomplish. If I have not already said, I love huge athletic events that stretch over a period of time. Whether it's a 5- or 7-game series or the NCAA tournament, I love the bracket and the whittling down to a final matchup. College World Series or NFL Playoffs, the win or go home pressure of the tournament is awesome. I love the Ryder Cup and the America's Cup. I get excited for the Olympics because the international dynamic takes the weeks long competition to another level. Of course, the World Cup is my absolute favorite, but I will have to wait just four more months for that particular event.

Stay tuned today for Ski Jumping, Women's Hockey, Speed Skating, Women's Biathlon, Women's Freestyle Moguls, and runs 1 and 2 of Luge should be emotional and challenging. Alpine skiing events and training have been postponed for today.

Super Sunday

When you work Monday through Friday, every Sunday is super. This Super Sunday is no exception. I am sitting in my favorite spot on the back porch. I have a beef brisket cooking. I have my Sunday paper. The sun is out and the temperature is in the low 60s. I can see quite a few birds playing out by the lake and up in the trees. Ana went to the store and returned with more beer. Life is pretty good.

All the work that I need to do and bills that need paid can wait until tomorrow. The US economy should be one day closer to eventual ressurection when I get back to it.

Who will when tonights game? Well, all week long I have been saying that I really do not care as long as I get a good game and that remains true. As the game approaches it seems like a bit of a cop out to not pick somebody. When pressed for an answer in the last two weeks, I have said that I would take the team with the best players. For me, that is the Colts. So there you have it. The brain says Colts and the heart says Saints. Are you confused? Me too. I want to make a pick but seem to have Analysis Paralysis.

If the Saints don't win this year, it could be a problem as they have lots of free agents going into an uncapped year. However, the Colts are expected to be here again and again. There core is very young and they will make Peyton a $20M man this off season.

Here it is: Saints 35, Colts 45

Reggie Wayne is your MVP.

Wouldn't it be a story if Pierre Garçon got the MVP just three weeks after the earthquake in Haiti?

The Saints are no longer the Aints, but will have to try again because as we know the Saints only win about 30% of their games win a Manning is on the field. Sorry, Archie.

Red Relief

Long morning at a swim meet and home to clean house. I will continue
working through last night's Merlot in order to take the edge off of a
Saturday that is getting away from me. When this wine was bottled, we
lived in the Keys and the kids were 5 and 3. Now, we live in Orlando
and one of them is about to start high school. I may need a second
bottle.

Dick Howser

The view of Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium was awesome as
the gates were open for some maintenance crews. I was able to casually
walk in and snap this shot. After a couple days here, I can see how
someone could become very passionate about Florida State University. I
love college campuses. Of course, they are a lot more fun without 55
underage kids in tow.

Day One Comes to a Close

The Mac Crutchfield Invitational got off to a roaring start with the Friday night events. Many swimmers posted best times and there was a lot of team spirit. The energy level of everyone involved dissipated in the 8 o'clock hour as everyone had been awake for at least 16 straight hours. By 9:30 the bus was finally heading for the hotel and with an obscene amount of Hungry Howie's pizza in the cargo hold. By 10:30, everyone had overeaten and many were punch drunk from the one-two combination of sheer exhaustion and way too many carbohydrates. Everyone retired to their rooms for showers and rest. Goodnight, all. Goodnight, Ryan.

Calm Before the Storm

Friday afternoon activities and tours are all done and we are about to get down to business. Coaches are meeting with all swimmers before stretching and warmups. Friday night schedule is all 500 Free and 400 IM. All but a couple are swimming them and quite a few are swimming both. After today and a late pasta or pizza dinner, we should have no problem getting them all straight to bed when it's over. Stay tuned.