Get These Fake'n Zebras Out Of Here.......RUKM?

Honestly. I don't know if you all watched Monday Night Football this past week, even if you didn't, you'd have to be dead not to know about the controversy surrounding the temporary referees, or whatever they are called. The NFL cannot come to an agreement with the regular Referees so they are just sitting back and watching football crumble. Seriously, the Packers should have won that game and the team, other teams and people in general are Tweeting up a storm with complaints. The NFL admitted it was a bad call but did not reverse the win. Then Carroll is on a local Seattle radio station squirting things like “Hey, they said we won, so we won”.....probably with a shrug, and his big goofy smile, chewing gum like a cow. This year the games are a joke....it's only week 4, so Roger Goodell can still salvage this season by giving the regular Refs their money! Or whatever they want at this point!

On paper, Seattle beat GB, 14-12 in a crazy, defensive debacle. My Aaron got sacked eight times in the first half. Ouch. The second half was exciting to watch two teams battle it out, until the end, that part just got everyone angry enough that it was impossible to go to sleep with all that adrenaline pumping......why does the T.V not hear me? It's not like I'm quiet. Jeez. Frustrating as heck. This week, GB hosts New Orleans as 6.5-point home favorites. The Saints are 0-3 and were just beat in their own home by Kansas City, 27-24 in OT. GB is upset to say the least, and I think New Orleans is going to get the full blast and Aaron will have a huge game. Meanwhile, Seattle will go to St. Louis as 1-point road favorites. I mentioned in previous articles that Seattle is money at home - - usually not so wrongly, however, St. Louie is giving me that same impression.... add to that; the Seahawks are awful on the road. I would pick the Rams in this one.

Also, I would advise the bettors to lay off until the regular refs come back.....I would bet that someone high up in the Vegas Book Making World has gotten to our replacement refs. Think about Monday Night....public money was all over the Packers because of such a low spread. Nobody ever picks Seattle – they are a see-saw team. Millions poured into Vegas at the close of that game. Hmmmm. Makes it difficult to pick em'...unless you go with the book on every game.

Let's talk about our Patriots. We had our own pile of crazy calls, thank goodness none as damaging as GB's.....oh, wait..... Baltimore managed to come back in the very end and win by 1-point with a field goal as time expired. Ouchie. Was the kick good or was it wide right? Belichick thought it was no good and tried to engage the ref who ignored him, but because Bill touched the ref, he will be fined...What?!? Seriously, what is happening to football? It's like I'm watching “Days of Our Lives” or something the drama is so up there. Brady's hair? Really? WGAS? He can where Bo Derek braids (Google it young ones); as long as he can throw the gosh darn football, who gives a stump?

This week the Pats travel to Buffalo (not that far away), and take on the Bills as 4-point favorites.

Well, I don't know what it is, but the crappy Bills seem to play pretty well against our team....however, the Pats should be so fuming mad that they too could take out their wrath on their opponent. Good. I'd like to see some of the fire back in the Patriots......some eye of the tiger baby....bring it. Buffalo is going down....downtown.

Thursday night, Baltimore will host Cleveland in a divisional match-up as 11-point home favorites. Oh brother Ray. Cleveland has played like dung this season, however, they too always play their divisional rival tight...The Ravens love the Prime Time spotlight....but just played an emotionally charged Sunday Night game.....so, the question is; Can the Browns pull it off? 11-points - that's a lot of chalk, tough call...I'm going with the Brown Dog and the points.

Sunday night is Giants at Philly as 1-point road favorites. That should be a dynamite game. I always think that these two teams together equal some kind of Grit....I don't know if that makes any sense, but they seem to play each other with a lot of heart and with a little extra dirt on their faces.....if you don't understand that, then it's definitely you not me.

Monday night Chicago at Dallas and the Boys are favored by 3.5-points – that seems a little skewed. Both teams are 2-1 and if memory serves me correctly, the Cowboys haven't done anything special to warrant being favored by more than a field goal.

Okay folks, FINALLY, I wrote an article before Saturday morning and by the time it gets posted – it will be irrelevant.....the REAL Refs are back and all should be returned to normal - - bad calls will be just that, bad calls - - not devastating, joke calls like the past three weeks. Enjoy your pigskin – raking can wait until next weekend.

Cleveland +11, Detroit -5.5; St. Louie +3; Arizona -6; GB-7.5 Wow, what picks.....

Hemming and Hawing ….. Kick the Kicker or Leave Him Be?

Well, Howdy Do, at least it happened in Week Two! 

The Pats got beat at home against GASP, ARIZONA? That's how I view it and following quite a few conversations, that's how a lot of people seem to feel ....Gasp and Shock, like fish out of water. A lot of those talks started with “What's up with Brady?”.....or “The Defense is awful...” or even “What the....?”. Therefore, I have deduced that people are shocked, upset, and beyond repair. Ahem. It was the bleeding Kicker's wide right that blew it. Brady led a very admirable march down the field with a minute left when Gostkowski had his shot. The talking heads jinxed him; they had just said something about how he never misses and BLAM. Whatever. Build a Bridge People....it's now Week 3 and 85% of teams are 1-1. The sky is not falling. Arizona is 2-0, and actually has a pretty good D. Going into this week, the teams with least Points Against are; Houston 17; Tennessee 23; San Diego 24; Seattle 27; NE 33 and Arizona 34.....number six out of thirty two is not too shabby. Actually, there are a few teams on that list that are shockers, with all kinds of different scenarios to get them there, but the Cardinals appear to be pretty solid. This week, the Cardinals host Philly as 3.5-point home dogs. I like Arizona in this game too, although, Philly is the public favorite. This is a perfect opportunity for the Cardinal's QB, Kolb, to prove himself to the team that gave him up and to perhaps extract a little revenge on Vick, as well as solidify his starting QB role.

This Sunday night, the flying Elvis' take on the Ravens in Baltimore on Prime Time as 2.5-point underdogs. Now We Are Talking...we want the Pats to go back to the days of the dog...they have always played so well in that position. BTW, Baltimore is another 1-1 team..they beat the crap out of Cincy in the opener 44-13 and then lost to Philly 23-24 in a shocking ending....similar to Aaaah...our very own. This should be a good game. One site has Pats as +2.5 and another has +1.5, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was Even by kickoff. The Patriots are 7-1 against the Ravens, and usually I am a trend girl, but something is nagging me that this trend isn't one to put a lot of stock into.....this should be a tight, well-fought game and I'm excited to watch.....however, if our guys don't win, it's still not the end of the world – it just means that they will be bigger dogs' next week.

Last Monday night, the Broncos QB, Peyton Manning, was bucked by the Atlanta Falcons, who intercepted him three times in the first quarter! Manning looked awful and now there are all kinds of questions floating around about him....his response was pretty cool though “I am what I am, it is what it is” typical Popeye. Despite four turnovers in the 1^st, the score was a little closer that expected with the Falcons on-top 27-21.

This week, Denver hosts Houston as 2.5-point underdogs – have you ever noticed that Brady's and Manning's teams seem to mirror each other? Weird. Anyhow, the Texans have been on FIYA, with best Defense in the league thus far and put up 30 and 27 points respectively....albeit against Miami and Jacksonville. Plus, Peyton has a lot to make up for and did look awesome at home in week one....so it all depends which guy shows up at Mile High, but this too should be an excellent match-up.

This Monday night, my beloved Pack goes to Seattle....which sets up a conundrum for me. I love the Packers and Aaron Rodgers and am usually very confident with whomever they are playing....but earlier I stated that the Seahawks would be solid at home this year......you see my dilemma. Now, couple that with the spread-- GB is favored by 3.5-points, super duper on-the-fence. At first glance, that is not a lot of points, so someone else at the Bookie Store must agree with my assessment with regards to crappy Seattle in Seattle. This game could possibly be an upset by Seattle, which kills me to say. I hope I am wrong for my Aaron's sake.

Finally, San Fran goes to Minnesota as 6.5-point road favorites and our old friend, Randy Moss, now in a 49ers uniform, is excited to play against his former team. The Vikings don't seem to have much of a shot in my opinion, as San Fran is the golden team this year and the Vikings so far beat Jacksonville by three in overtime in week one and lost to Indy by three in week two.... those teams aren't really challenging.....and San Fran is.....so, it seems like a recipe for a blowout.....just saying. Ironically, Jacksonville goes to Indy this week as 3-point dogs....which is a toss up.

Okay folks, I'm outie. Enjoy your day, hopefully we will have this gorgeous Fall weather for awhile longer before the hibernation.

Picks: Denver (0); Arizona +3.5; Atlanta +3.5;     

The Wonders of Week One...and the Ones Who Won....

Week two showed us a glimpse of the year to come.....okay, not really. You've all heard the phrase “Any Given Sunday”....well, it's true. Especially during the first few weeks, everyone is getting settled into a new season, punching the kinks out, sooner or later the more solid teams will rise to the top.

Last week, New England went to Tennessee and played steady throughout their 34-13 win. Sunday brings the Pats back to BeanTown and their first home game against the Arizona 13.5-point underdog Cardinals. I wonder how that will go. The Cardinals hosted and beat the Seahawks in last week's 20-16 win, it was a match of the unknown vs. the unknown. This week, the Pats should be able to handle a pesky red bird..with no eyes and no wings....especially after taking on the mighty mighty Titans!

San Fran went to GB and won 30-22 at Lambeau -- shocking the nation; well at least most of Wisconsin (and me). San Fran seems to be packing some heat this year with their quiet but deadly coach and revived QB. This week the 49ers will host the Lions as 7-point home favorites. That spread seems a little high, but I guess justifiable as the 49ers came out hot and cooking and the Lions dipped their big toe in and barely beat St. Louie in a fourth Quarter 27-23 comeback. Phew...that would have sucked for Detroit to lose a whole closet full of confidence by getting beat by the Rams first week......

or did the Rams improve over the off season and should Washington be weary this week in St. Louis as 3.5-point favorites? Hmmm...a puzzler. But I'm going to say “naaah”, the Redskins are on FIYA! They came out to PA-LAY last week in New Orleans, leaving Madi Gras as 40-32 victors, so this week should be a walk in the park in St. Louis. As for my beloved Pack, they have already played and beat the Chicago Bears last Thursday....I know, I know, they rock and I'm late writing this article.

Last week Denver hosted Pittsburgh, took on the big dog, actually, more like rabid dog, and won 31-19, impressive. Manning seems to have eased right into the Bronco's uniform and found some favored targets. Denver's defense took down Big Ben a couple of times too, it was pretty awesome.

This week Pittsburgh hosts the J-J-Jets as 5-point home favorites and Mark Sanchez is on a “proving” streak after the 48-28 anihilation of the Bills in the Meadowlands, but Pittsburgh is out for blooood, and maybe a liver or two.....to go with fava beans and a nice Cianti.

Denver travels to Atlanta as 3-point road dogs. Matt Ryan vs. Peyton Manning....both dome QB's. Dun Dun Dun....Last week Atlanta beat KC 40-24, but let's face it....KC? This should be a good one, and I would expect a shootout...the over/under is 51, so the books must think so too.

So folks, watch your pigskin, spark up the Barbie and ENJOY, It's what I aim to do. Farewell my football fairie lovin' crew.

Picks: Washington -3.5; Denver -3; and shocker – Seahawks +3...hopefully I'm not a week or two off, but there is something there – I just can't put my finger on it...honestly, I know they suck. I have no control of these keys right now.....something is making me write Seattle, Seattle, Seattle.....maybe it's a Vampire....it's gotta be.....makes sense.    

A tribute to our beloved, sweet & loyal BFF - - Simon

Oh boy folks.  You may need the tissues for this one.  I know I do.  I’ve been trying to write this for over a week now….. (plus a month) ....actually four months now.

Jeez, I don’t even know where to start.  Maybe a quick synopsis is in order, so off we go on a little trip to the late 80’s.  I have always been an avid animal lover, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous.  Enter my senior year in high school… I was earning a little money with a part time job, as were a lot of kids. However, most of my friends bought their first cars….. I went out and bought a Rottweiler.  Barron Von Schultz had a champion lineage and I had the papers to prove it.  He was my guy.  A big ox-type tough guy….his favorite toy was a car tire.    

Let me back up; a week before I went on vacation to Florida with my parents, I put a deposit down on Shultz.  Then I bought a book about the Rottweiler.  Now, many of you didn’t know my father – he was very charming, extremely intelligent and regularly scary to me and my friends.  I once got grounded for the weekend because Kerri B ate the last piece of lemon meringue pie!  I don’t even like lemon meringue! I could go on – but that’s for another blog. 

I was sure to sit next to my father on the plane.  I said “Dad, look at these dogs, they are so majestic …look at the muscle tone” and he said “KIMBERLY. Don’t Even Think About Bringing A Dog Into The House”   Hmmmm.  Ooooo kay, I wasn’t really expecting to get shot down so quickly and being that I was a teenager and sucked at negotiating, especially against the master – I had no Plan B.  I was totally and utterly unprepared for the rest of the trip.  So I just read my book and let it go – but each time my dad looked over at me I was looking at that blasted book.  That also did nothing.  I got home a week before them, went to Hingham and picked up my new pup.  My parents came home, my mom took one look at cute little Shultzie and melted.  My dad looked at me and I think growled, and the dog stayed. Believe me, Shultz did not know about any of this.  Throughout the years, my dad wouldn’t let anyone see him being nice to the dog – but I saw.  He would pat him and talk to him when no one was around.  In the end, I ended up getting into a lot of trouble with my dad over Shultz…like the time he ate the linoleum kitchen floor while I was at school.  Seriously.  I mean, come on…the freaking kitchen floor?

Now, we travel back to the 20^th century.  The year was 2004, Kerry was turning double digits, and after doing a lot of research on Bernese Mountain Dog puppies, I discovered a farm in Canada that bred Berners and a litter was due right around Kerry’s birthday.  So, we put a deposit down, received 2^nd choice of the males, and waited. 

The liter was born on Kerry’s birthday which clinched the “fate” factor.  We had to wait two months before he would come to us, though we got load of pictures sent to us of all of their developments.  When it was nearing time to choose which pup we wanted, we were sent a slew of pictures and one of the males was always smiling, tongue hanging and mouth open and eyes sparkling with laughter – that was our Simon. 

We had lists and lists of names, we chose a million different names and then decided that we would have to meet him in order to gauge his character and therefore name him properly, and then we would make another list.  It was funny. 

Finally, it was time to pick up Simon from the airport.  My sister gave me a ride and when we arrived, I could see the carrier with some black fluff in it – but since he was coming from Canada – we had to go to Customs, two to three miles away.  AARGH.  That was the worst.  Soon enough we were back and finally I had the cage and I brought out this perfect little fluff ball, with the cutest face and the warmest eyes I had ever seen in a dog. 

Simon.  It took us awhile to figure that one out.  He spent a week named Zach, before I had to break it to Kerry that it was the wrong name.  Then he was no-name while we (mostly me) discovered the perfect name.  I set my alarm each night to bring Simon out and go to the bathroom – before I went to bed, I decided the dog’s name would either be Archie or Simon.  Then I took him outside and when he ran down toward the woods I yelled “Archie, here Archie!”, and I wanted to stab myself in the eyes, it was that annoying.  Simon it was.  Ta Da. 

What a great dog.  He was so good, he just wanted to be with me all of the time.  I brought him everywhere with me.  One Sunday when Simon was 12 weeks old, I was walking him in the Arboretum before an open house and a dog came out of nowhere and bit him in the eye.  He let out the worst yelp and I picked him up and ran to the car, crying my eyes out.  Blood poured down his eye and over his little face and he looked up at me panting, more worried about my crying that his own injury.  The vet found a small puncture wound above his left eye.  Other than a little shaved fur, he was fine.  PHEW.

Simon was the sweetest dog I’ve ever seen, he was a very sensitive guy – completely opposite of Shultz.  If I yelled at Simon (very rare), he would hide under the kitchen table for the rest of the day in a depression.  When I came in the house, whether it was a half hour or eight hours later, he would be so excited that I would have to stop and give him at least five minutes of attention, usually coaxing some sort of shoe out of his mouth the entire time.  He understood me.  I could say full sentences and I swear he knew what I said.  Before a walk I would have to spell "walk" or "out" until he figured out how to spell it and would react as if I screamed WALK TIME!  Even his name spelled, he knew.  I would tell him "Not now buddy, you stay here it's too hot" and he would look at me, lie down and pffff his face on the floor to show his disappointment.  He was practically human, only better. 

Simon was popular in the Arboretum, with both people and other dogs.  When we first started our walks, he would prance while he walked.  Also, he had a natural knowledge of how to keep white paws clean, even when my sister’s dog lay flat in the mud, Simon just “hopped” over it.

Well folks, this is where I picked up this article again, four months later….this was one of the hardest  and most heart wrenching part of the story and I just couldn’t do it.  It’s still difficult.  Simon the man.  He got sick very quickly in May of 2012.  He started to rapidly lose weight, had difficulty peeing and panted his discomfort.   When the vet said he thought Simon had bladder cancer, I had to make the most difficult for me, best for him, decision ever.  It was like putting one of my kids to sleep. 

Kerry and I went together and sat in front of the West Roxbury Animal Hospital on sidewalk with Simon lying between us as we both bawled.  A nice man came by and patted Simon on the head.  (he comes back into the story soon.)  It was time.  Kerry and I lay on the floor with Simon in my lap and we said goodbye to one of the best dogs I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, never mind owning He was a part of our family thru and thru.  May 15^th.  I miss him very much and  I hope he’s with all the loved ones I have in Heaven, bringing them as much joy as he brought me.  My Man.  Sniff.  Even now, it’s difficult to relive. 

So, the nice man, after patting Simon on the head then proceeded into the WR Animal Hospital to ask Christine if we were getting Simon’s ashes returned to us.  Since I already had to go on a payment plan for the services rendered thus far, she said she didn’t think so.  The man declared that he wanted to pay for Simon’s ashes to come back to us. So thoughtful!  Then, the very next day, he returned and paid our bill.  Amazing.  To think there are still compassionate people in this world was such a beautiful revelation.  To that man, I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart.

To my Simon, you are sorely missed by your family and there was never a better dog than you.  xoxox

September...You Know What That Means!

Another year, another NFL Season.....it actually started last night with Dallas going to the Giants as 3-point underdogs; and the Boys left the Meadowlands as 24-17 victors.

We have some changes this year; Tebow at the Jets and Manning in Denver, we'll see how religious Tebow gets along with recently slim Rex... and Peyton, Jeez Louise, as much as I don't love the guy, I don't want to see any kind of serious injury on the field. I just read on Yahoo that some of the Denver schools are banning No. 18 jerseys...already discomfort in Denver. Uh Oh Peyton....not used to the boos.

So, after a glance at some standings from Pre-Season, Ouch. The Pats won one game, but everyone else in the AFC East division won zero. So, I guess that's good? Philly and Seattle (surprise) are the only teams that went 4-0 in preseason. I know it doesn't mean anything and some coaches want to avoid injury – but yikes! One game? And Seattle - - what is Pete Carroll feeding these guys? They did pick up Marshawn Lynch, and he's a monster. So, I hate to say it, but Seattle may be on the upswing, their D seems to be solid. Pete Carroll always seems to whip his Defenses into good shape and it didn't take him long with Seattle. IDK...let's see.

A few other sleeper teams, other than Seattle, in my opinion are; Washington, San Fran, Philly, Tennessee and of course, Detroit.

Sunday at 1:00 will have NE going to Tennessee and I hope they are ready, as I think the Titans have a couple of tricks up their sleeve - - also, Washington goes to New Orleans as 7-point underdogs and again, I think the broken up Saints should be leery. At 4:00 GB hosts San Fran as 5-point home favorites, this should be a good game too – only because I love that kid in GB <3.

The whole world will be watching Peyton in his new digs when the Broncos take on the Steelers....wow, what a way to start the season for Manning huh? I guess we'll all know how much of a pounding he can take by the end of that blood bath.

Monday night brings us two games, SD goes to Oakland and Cincy goes to Baltimore – both games divisional rivals....they each should be entertaining.

Well Folks, let's wait and see what the first week shakes out.... I bet Pete Carroll has his team throw up huge numbers against the Cardinals, just to show off his newly improved team, because he's a donkey like that.

Enjoy your Sunday! These days you can sit in the sun and watch on your phone!

Picks: Seattle -2.5; Pitts +1; Jax +4; and Wash +7...