I've seen the world...and it's AWESOME

Well thats a lie actually.

Don't get me wrong I've done my fair share of travelling (mainly North/Central America), but I have not seen the world, and probably never will.

However, I did recently order a giant size National Geographic map of the world, which I've been anxiously awaiting for several weeks. It just arrived! Is it sad that I called the company twice to inquire where my earth poster was? Probably. Is it sad that I've been staring at this magnificent wonder for half an hour? Maybe. I just love geography, culture and knowing where things are located.

I've accepted the fact that i probably won't be getting around to visiting every country on our great big planet, but I would like to see a few. Here are my top five 'to visit list'.

1. Brazil
2. Germany
3. South Korea
4. New Zealand
5. Hawaii

Any ideas/comments/recommendations more then appreciated! Well I'm sorry, but this poster isn't going to stare at itself, gotta run...

When in Rome...

Friends with Benefits

Its hard to say no to a friend isn't it?

No matter how uncomfortable, inconvenient, or frustrating it may be, it is clearly states in the Friend Code, section 4, subsection d, " Thou shalt help their friends when they are in need." So when my pal recently purchased his first home, a fixer upper i may add, I knew I would be in for a treat. He could at least sent me a text message asking for help, so that way I could have had ample time to think of an excuse to not attend his Saturday work event. But noooo he had to ask me face to face... he knows me too well.

In all seriousness it wasn't too bad, in fact it was actually kind of fun. However, after hours of tearing down porches, pressure washing his house, sanding, cleaning...the list goes on, I thought to myself what makes us do this kind of stuff for friends.

I think some people are just good people. Some people feel guilty not helping. Some people do in hope of getting the favour returned down the road, and some people help for a feeling of self worth. I will say this, I do have a great memory, and lets just say I plan on building my first home from scratch, and I'm confident I won't have to lift a finger... if you catch my drift. (and in case you don't, I plan on calling in several hundred favours, therefore resulting in the home being built without me doing anything)



"Thats what friends are for"     - Anomymous

Life as a Raider Fan

What do you call a man who's fallen off a building, been run over by a car, had dirt kicked in his face, all while a crowd of people stood by and laughed at his misfortune?

You call that man an Oakland Raiders fan.

It all started when I was just a young lad, watching the 2001-02 AFC divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots. It was an infamous game forever being known for the "tuck rule". I was sitting between my two uncles who were screaming "It was a fumble!!", the refs ruled it wasn't and Oakland would go on to lose the game. It was at that precise moment that I decided I would dedicate my fanship to the silver and black. The next year was fantastic, Oakland would go to the Super Bowl, Rich Gannon won MVP, it was truly a great time to be cheering for the Raiders.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Oakland would lose that Super Bowl, 48-21 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Bucs, with MVP Rich Gannon throwing five interceptions. "They'll be back boys, right....right??"

They wouldn't be back. During the next seven years Oakland would be the laughing stalk of the league, in turn making me the laughing stalk of my friends, co-workers, family, and the list goes on. The Raiders had a 29-83 record during that span. This wasn't for lack of trying, names such as Randy Moss, Lamont Jordan, Richard Seymour, Warren Sapp and Javon Walker all had stops on the Raiders with little to no success. The once acclaimed powerhouse franchise was in desperate times.

When this season started as per usual I had high hopes. A new quarterback, healthy running backs and one of the most talented secondaries in the league. But part of me knew, that I had experienced this feeling before and it usually is very quickly replaced with heartache and despair. However this season is different, at 5-4 fresh off an overtime win against division leading Kansas City, the Oakland Raiders have a winning record going into the bye week.

Could this be the year the Raiders find their way back into the playoffs. Only time will tell. A road game coming off the bye against a 6-2 Pittsburgh Steeler squad should be a pretty good indicator of where we stand. Wish us luck.

Sincerely,

A Desperate, Beaten, Passionate Fan