Football Friday from On Her Game - Three Days Before Christmas, my Bears gave to me a BIG LUMP OF COAL

This post for Football Friday for On Her Game is something of a rant because the Bears have squandered yet another golden opportunity. One they really did not deserve based on their inconsistent play of this season. I had such high hopes for the game, and then I found that truth be told, I slept through much of it. While I have been fighting off some kind of end of the year sickness/exhaustion, I think this was more of a defense mechanism, hoping that the game on the TV was just a bad dream. No dice - it was a true nightmare.

On this Sunday evening, three days before Christmas, the stage was set for the Bears to win the NFC North thus securing a spot in the playoffs. The Lions had been eliminated following an overtime loss to the Giants, and the Packers by virtue of their tie with the Vikings would find themselves on the outside looking in if the Bears could just beat the Eagles in Philadelphia. Of course this would not be an easy win as the defense in Chicago has left much to be desired, and the offense in Philadelphia under first year head coach, Chip Kelly has found its rhythm led by second year quarterback, Nick Foles.

Still, NBC snatched up this game for its Sunday Night coverage under the flex-scheduling option; seemingly under the impression that this game was going to be competitive and relevant to the playoff picture. At least the latter was true, even though the Bears seemed oblivious to the fact that this game meant everything to them and absolutely nothing to their opponent in regards to playoff implications.

Following the disastrous ending to the game against the Vikings, I thought for sure the air had completely gone out of the Bears playoff hopes. I had mentally moved on to next season, which is pretty typical for a Bears fan at this point in the season. Yet, the Lions could not seem to pull away, so there was still a flicker of hope. The flame, albeit small, seemed to be stomped out by the Eagles faster than one can light a match as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the first quarter had even ended. Of course the final score of 54-11 was even more abysmal.

Melissa Isaacson of ESPN.com and the Chicago Tribune wrote, “when shortly after you get started, your team looks like a group of toddlers in the middle of rush-hour traffic. Ironically, Cutler pointed to the Eagles as an example of a team gathering itself after an embarrassing loss.

"They just had our number. It's going to happen across the NFL," he (Cutler) said. "These guys went to Minnesota last week and had a similar game [losing 48-30], and then they bounced back pretty well.

"Nothing says we can't play well next week."

Actually, Jay there is a lot to say that next week may not go very well either. First of all, the Vikings who have struggled all season to be relevant, beat the stuffing out of the Eagles. Yet, the Bears defense gave up 514 total yards amidst a game that ranked as Isaacson went on to say, “the worst game in Bears franchise history in touchdowns allowed (seven), the second-worst in points allowed and, especially considering what they had to play for, their worst overall showing in recent memory.”

Rather than finishing your playoff business a week ahead of time, the Packers who will more than likely be led by Aaron Rodgers will be coming into Soldier Field on the last game of the season to battle it out for the division title. If this eerily familiar, let’s go back to 2010 when the Bears had the division title and the number two NFC seed secured, but the Packers were trying to squeak their way in to the playoffs as the six seed. Well the Packers did more than just make it into the playoffs, they won the Super Bowl that year.

Do I think that the Packers will win the Super Bowl this season? Absolutely not. Do I think the NFC North deserves to have a representative in the playoffs? Not really. I would actually prefer to temporarily move the Arizona Cardinals in to the North so that the division can be well represented as I think that team is the most deserving of all the potential “on the outside looking in teams.”

Until next Sunday, I will try to figure out a way to block this gift of coal from my memory and root hard for my Bears on Sunday against the Pack. Let’s hope the Bears can find their cheese graters again between now and then. I will also hope that I can keep Jim Mora’s voice out of my head – “What’s that? Ah — Playoffs? Don’t talk about — playoffs?You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game! Another game.”

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things that are Zapping my Energy

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My Ten on Tuesday series is back as I try to apply a yoga principle to my daily life, during final relaxation (one of the few times my mind will slow down), we are encouraged to acknowledge thoughts that float through our heads, and then let them go. My hope is by acknowledging these energy zappers that I can go in to 2014 with a fresh, clear mind ready to have a really good year. Plus as I sit here I get to look back at my beautiful Christmas tree - which finally went up this past weekend - and that brings me a certain level of peace.

• Being a Bears fan (and trying to write about it). I aspire to write each week during the football season. Sometimes though I don't have the energy or desire. That needs to be okay. Not to mention the way I was yelling at the television yesterday during the Bears-Browns game it cannot be good for my blood pressure. A friend on Facebook wrote that smoking unfiltered cigarettes may be better for his health than rooting for the Bears. As much as cigarette smoking is not something to joke about, I do have to wonder if he is not right... This week's post - "In Chicago a Win that did not feel like a Win"

• Nasty-grams. I can only hope that you do not receive nasty-grams (mean spirited emails). They sure do not feel good. The irony of some nasty-grams that I receive is that the amount of time and energy that went in to writing said nasty-gram probably took more time than doing what I asked in the first place. Also, I want to make it clear that while I voted for President Obama, Health Care Reform is not actually my fault.

• Entitlement. Webster's Dictionary defines entitlement: "the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges)"
• Being born in 1982 I overlap between Gen X and Gen Y, but as a child of baby boomers, I probably fall more into the Gen Y category. Anyway, quite often my generation is characterized as entitled. We were given trophies for participation, not spanked enough, and just want everything handed to us. 
• I do not like the word entitlement, nor the concept, but man when it smacks you in the face, it's easy to recognize. I wish I knew where the feeling comes from as I think that would help me know how to combat it. I do not expect anything to be handed to me; I believe that I was taught to work for what I have/want. My parents did a tremendous amount for my sisters and me in an effort to give us all the opportunities to succeed as adults. I want to succeed by working hard and smart. In the spirit of true honesty though, I sure did like my trophies because I was not particularly athletic enough to "earn one," and the things I did participate in with any skill did not tend to give trophies.

• Wanderlust. I like to go places, especially ones that I have never been. Each place I visit, I enjoy picturing myself there for an extended period of time. Danny and I have set down roots here in Colorado, and I really enjoy living here. I just find myself itching to do something different and/or go someplace new. Since no travels are planned until May, I am looking for more attainable solutions. For instance, I am taking ukulele lessons, continuing to read new magazines thus learning new things, and trying to explore my new home town of Lakewood and beyond.

• Varied Priorities. I cannot control anyone's priorities except my own. I have come to accept that when I say I do not have the money or the time to do x, y, or z, it is because I have chosen to do something else. I am trying to make a more conscious decision about what truly is a priority in my life.

• Fear of being a Helicopter Parent. The "helicopter parent" is definitely another phenomenon of my generation. I definitely grew up with kids whose parents fit the mold before the phrase was coined. I am not the child of helicopter parents, thank goodness. My parents would step in when needed, for instance my Dad fought to get me into the honor's English program after I agreed to sign a waiver saying that I would more than likely not succeed. Yea for supportive educators! My Mom came to my defense against an over-bearing, albeit well-meaning instructor who was hampering my spirit and enthusiasm for the activity. Still, when I screwed up (which I often did and do), it was expected that I would accept the consequences, and work to fix it next time.
  
  I am absolutely a helicopter parent when it comes to the Spike-Monster. He is a special needs doggie, and I am very, very protective of his eye. For goodness sake, he only has one! Plus I promised his foster parents when I adopted him that I would take good care of him, and he is a favorite of his eye doctor. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to give this little guy a good life. I am not going to cripple Spike's emotional development in the process, though. I would not be doing any future Pechie-children a service by treating them the way I treat Spike.
  
  Danny and I have no immediate plans to have kids, but I was recently asked if I think that he and I will be good parents. Holy cow! The question leads me to believe this person doubts my ability, which is not at all helpful.

• Planner vs. Non-Planner. Versus is such a strong word, and not at all my intention. It is just two very different personalities, each of which have their place. It is just really hard for me when people who know that I am a planner completely invalidate me by dismissing any plans I try to make - sometimes it is okay to plan something in advance. It won't hurt you, I promise. At the same time though, it is important for me to work at being more spontaneous.

• My commute. When Danny and I bought our home in Lakewood, we knew on a practical level that our commute was going to double in terms of mileage and time. Yet, it's easy to know without understanding. There is no way to sugar coat it, more often than not, my commute stinks. The biggest frustration is people's inability to merge or allow others to merge. While very few people are actually from Colorado, once you have lived here a while you transfer your license plate, thus blending in. I really wish I could pin point a particular state or state(s) that do not teach people this basic driving function so I can write a nasty-gram of my own  to their DMV.
  
  I am trying to incorporate books on tape to my routine in an effort to not be homicidal by the time I arrive at the office. This comes at the recommendation of a psychologist that I greatly respect as he also has a long daily commute. So far I have done two, and it works well. The constant stream of stimulus seems to provide a healthy diversion that allows me to focus on something other than the time or the yahoo who would not let me in the right lane.

• Over-commitment. When I was visiting with my Grandparents over Thanksgiving I texted Danny at one point that he was really screwed in the respect that I have women on both sides of my family who are incapable of sitting down. My Dad and I arrived earlier than everyone else with the hope that we could be helpful to my grandparents. One of the tasks that we wanted to take on was making the meals. This really helped in my quest for domesticity, plus it was something I could handle (spaghetti). My Grandmom really wanted to do it. So I finally told her that my Dad had told me it was my responsibility. She asked if I did not do it was there was a chance he would put me over his knee. I said, yes. Even though there was no chance of that happening, it still worked - she supervised me, and I avoided a potentially embarrassing situation considering I am one of his grown, married daughters.
  
  I strive to be everything to everybody. I really need to work at finding balance - which is actually the topic of this month's Real Simple magazine (of which I am a big fan). The editor wrote something that I found very helpful, "I believe that balance is less about circumstance and more about perspective."
  
  I need to find the balance of doing the things I want to do with the things I have to do while still making time for myself, as well as the important people in my life.

• Unrealistic, Self-Imposed Deadlines. Sometimes I over-estimate my own abilities, or expect that everything that needs to happen is going to fall in to place. I think this falls into the category of me "looking for things to worry about." I am trying to be more realistic about how long something is going to take - I want to be sure that something is done well rather than just getting crossed off the list. Nothing I do is ever going to be perfect, but I can strive for quality each and every time in its own time - not my own stupid, often arbitrary deadline.

So why did I share all this nonsense with you? I am trying to shift my perspective to stop letting this ridiculousness zap my spirit and my energy. I am giving these ten things far too much power over my thinking. Danny recently compared my brain to a wide receiver running a route - constantly moving, constantly trying to be open for the pass (or in this case an epiphany or some such nonsense). While I cannot stop it, perhaps I can have more control over the play-call while still running the best possible route.

Football Friday from On Her Game - It's Time for the Bears to Use the Franchise Tag

http://flic.kr/p/hs9eRc

This post for Football Friday for On Her Game was my first post in a number of weeks. The game following Thanksgiving against the Vikings really tested my Bears "fandom,"  but then the team came back strong against the Cowboys scoring on every drive before taking a knee on the final play. While neither team had a defense to speak of, for once the Bears offense scored more points than their opponents. Who do they think they are the Manning-Led Colts of old?!

So here’s a new one, the Chicago Bears may have a controversial decision to make at the QUARTERBACK position for next season. Who would have ever thought it? Not this long-time Bears fan who at the beginning of Josh McCown’s time as the starter compared the position to a Merry-Go-Round  going so far as to say, where it stops nobody knows. If I knew when I wrote that post that McCown would be this week’s (or any week for that matter), NFC Offensive Player of the Week with, 348 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, one rushing TD, and a 141.9 QB  rating, I would have bitten my tongue!

Larry Mayer of the Chicago Bears News reported that, “McCown became the first Bears quarterback to account for five touchdowns in a game since Jack Concannon in 1972…”

In McCown’s fourth straight start following multiple injuries to Jay Cutler, McCown has a passer rating that ranks third in the NFL behind the Eagles’ Nick Foles and the Broncos’ Peyton Manning. When was the last time that a Bears quarterback was linked in a sentence with Peyton Manning that did not relate to Super Bowl XLI?

So rather than a Merry-Go-Round at the quarterback position, Marc Trestman may find himself in something of a quarterback quagmire. First, who starts on Sunday against Cleveland if Cutler is cleared to play, next what about the balance of this season since a playoff spot is still not out of the realm of possibility; and finally, what about next season? Trestman has been adamant that Cutler is the starting quarterback, but how can one argue with the success that the veteran McCown has had with this offense? As Jon Gruden said on the Monday Night Football broadcast after McCown flung himself over multiple Cowboys defenders for the rushing touchdown, “Don’t tell me this guy is a back-up quarterback, he just laid himself out there for this team!”

In my (not always so humble) opinion, enter the franchise tag option for Jay Cutler. Here I go, spending the Bears’ money again. Wikipedia states, “In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to one player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. It has been designed to reduce player movement (often to bigger markets) which is often evidenced in other major pro sports leagues. Usually reserved for players of great skill or of high importance to the team, a franchise tag allows a team's general manager the privilege of strategically retaining valuable free-agent players while seeking talent through the NFL draft or other acquisitions without exceeding the League's salary cap.”

While the Chicago media is clamoring for a longer term for Cutler because the franchise tag option would cost more money (a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position) as the Bears have a number of players to sign. Plus this would allow the Bears to look at the 2014 Draft for a quarterback of the future. Um, do they not remember players like Cade McNown, Rex Grossman, Curtis Enis, Rashann Salaam, etc. The Bears have not had the greatest history of picking offensive players in first couple rounds of the draft.

Before you tell me that I should give this new management and coaching staff an opportunity, what is wrong with keeping both McCown and Cutler for the immediate future, and taking the next couple years to wait for the right quarterback to come out of college? I am not sold on this year’s draft class of quarterbacks, but it could also be said I don’t watch enough college football to form such an opinion.

What the potential quarterback battle boils down for me is that in all this time Cutler has never become the player that I was so excited to have sign with the Bears. Although he seems to have lost the smirk that drove me crazy for multiple seasons, McCown has a strong arm with a good head on his shoulders, not to mention the maturity level of a veteran that Cutler has never exuded. I understand that McCown is a journey-man who is not the future of any franchise, but why should he not finish his career in Chicago? The franchise tag, while costing more money, would not tie the Bears to Cutler for an extended period of time unless they want him to be the quarterback to lead them to the promised land (aka the post-season). This is one of the most important decisions that General Manager Phil Emery is going to make in his tenure with the Bears – let’s only hope it turns out better than how the Urlacher situation turned out.

Regardless of whether you agree with my assessment of how to handle Cutler, I trust you can concede that Josh McCown has played hard enough to deserve some serious consideration! Seriously, did you see that rushing touchdown?

The Spike Series: My Role in the Broncos - Patriots Game Disaster

Hi, people, Spike here to regale you with my side of the debacle that was Sunday football in the Pechie household. I was already having a rough go of it since my had Laurie left me the Saturday morning before, not to return for many days. So I was already off my game, which was only compounded by the awful play of both the Bears and the Colts on Sunday. The man is not convinced the Colts realized what state they were supposed to be in (Arizona); while the woman is truly annoyed at the Bears for blowing an opportunity to take a lead in their division. There was still some hope that the Broncos would beat the Patriots on Sunday Night Football.

Then the man went and botched it up for Broncos Nation by telling my Laurie that I was going to become a Broncos fan in her absence, oh the horror!  Here is my story, the parenthesis represent what the woman should have said if she had not been so upset - she does not always think so well in the moment. My thoughts are italicized as I don't always let the Man speak for me!

The Man: Tonight I (Spike) root for the Man's Orange and Blue team.

My Laurie: No!!! (Don't do it!)

The Man: It's too late, he is a Broncos fan now, mu-ah (he tried to soften the blow by sealing it with a kiss).

My Laurie: You're pushing your luck! (She meant in terms of their relationship, but in hindsight it could be construed that he was pushing the luck on behalf of the Broncos).

This is me, standing in protest to what the man was telling my Laurie on my behalf.

Laurie and my Grandpop (her Dad) had been driving all Sunday, so she did not make it through the second half of the game. When she went to bed, the Broncos had a nice lead, and looked in control of the game. Much to Laurie's chagrin, perhaps my being a Broncos fan was helping the team as the Manning-Brady rivalry has always been a tough game for Peyton. 

Then the second half happened. Here is a recap from ESPN.com:

The Patriots lost fumbles on their first three possessions, and they were booed several times in the first half.

But Brady threw for three touchdowns to lead the Patriots back from a 24-0 halftime deficit against the NFL's best offense for a 31-24 lead as New England scored on its first five possessions of the second half. Then Manning threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Demaryius Thomas for the Broncos, tying it at 31.

Then a punting duel ensued and a live ball hit the leg of a backup cornerback. 

Tony Carter ran into Ryan Allen's punt after it bounced, Nate Ebner recovered for the Patriots at the Broncos' 13-yard line, and Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 31-yard field goal with 1:56 left in overtime to give the New England Patriots a 34-31 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

Laurie: I miss you, JDP, and my Bears-loving Spike.

The Man: Sorry, he is a Broncos-loving Spike now.

Laurie: Don't you buy him a jersey unless you use your own money! (Mature, I know)

Me: I have a Bears jersey and a Rockies jersey - I think that's enough, but then the Man starting playing dirty by sending this picture with the following explanation:

This is Spike's reaction to not owning a Broncos jersey. 

The Man: Spike was upset that the Man bought a Bears jersey instead of a Broncos one. After all, he is the only native. 

Me: Truth be told, I was sad at the fact that the Bears lost, and I really miss my Laurie.

My Laurie: James! (You're really tempting fate now!)

The hope is, based on the outcome of the game, that the Man has learned his lesson. 

I may be a Denver-Native, but I love my Laurie and am now and forever a fan of the Chicago Bears - even when they make her yell and scream at the TV. That happens pretty frequently, and scares me a lot.

Until next time, I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving! I get a special treat today, but it does not compare to what you all are going to eat. And GO BEARS!

The Arrogance of All-Encompassing Statements

Really, Spike?

I got my panties in a twist this morning when I read an article entitled, "Why women still need husbands."  Here is a sample...

It began with the baby boomer adage “never depend on a man.” 

This message resulted in a generation of women who turned their attention away from the home and onto the workforce. They did what their mothers told them to do: they became financially independent so they’d never have to rely on a husband.

In time, “never depend on a man” turned into the full-blown belief that men are superfluous. In 2010 Jennifer Aniston claimed women needn’t “fiddle with a man” to have a child. 

This may strike you as an isolated case of stupidity, but Aniston’s willingness to put it out there speaks volumes about modern cultural attitudes. No actress would have said such a thing in the 70s, 80s, or even early 90s.

Fortunately, most women come to the realization that they do, in fact, need a man—at least if they want a family. 

Financial independence is a great thing, but you can’t take your paycheck to bed with you. And there’s nothing empowering about being beholden to an employer when what you really want is to have a baby. That’s dependency of a different sort.

Let me be clear, Suzanne Venker of FoxNews.com is entitled to her opinion, and her own expectation of what her marriage should/does look like. What I do not appreciate or agree with is the arrogance that all women, including me should/do share this belief! Why does this woman get to speak on behalf of our gender for publication on a national news forum?

Once my blood pressure came down to a normal, healthier range, I started to think about myself, my own marriage, advice I have received, thoughts I share, etc. I can only hope that when I share my random thoughts (or ridiculousness), I am clear in my desire to only speak for myself. Who am I to speak for anyone else?

 As my first anniversary came and went, I had thought about writing advice I would share with other brides planning their weddings. Then I came to the conclusion that my own wedding experience could not be transferred to others, nor should it be. Each couple is entitled to have the wedding that they want, and with that will come from their own experiences. While some of my thoughts may be shared by others; for instance, the conclusion that I wish I had come to earlier, that there is more than likely never going to be that magic dress that flatters and pleases any number of women. Regardless, who am I? 

My grandparents have been married for 64 years, my parents and in-laws both have marriages that are still going strong as they approach the 40 year mark. Do they have a right to give advice? Absolutely! And they all gave beautiful words of wisdom that my sisters incorporated into their toast to us - it was definitely a highlight of the reception for me. Does that mean that the marriage that Danny and I have will look exactly like any of theirs? Of course not. Do I aspire for something like what they have - a long, healthy, good life together? ABSOLUTELY!

One year into our marriage, I could not tell you what it looks like half the time. I just know that I don't "need" my husband for anything - I want Danny in my life as my partner. Back to this article that got me all riled up...

They (women) want balance.

And there’s only one way to get it: rely on a man’s more linear career goals. Unlike women, a man’s identity is inextricably linked to his paycheck. That’s how most men feel a sense of purpose. Indeed, research shows men see it as their duty to support their families even when their wives make as much money (or more) as they do!

Do I want balance in my life? Of course, I do. 

Do I think that Danny being my hunter/gatherer is the only way to get it? NO! I am going to continue to look for balance in my life as Danny and I figure out "how to do this married thing," together. If/when he and I figure it, I will not be writing an article about it saying it will work for all women and/or all men.

The beauty of our freedoms is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the responsibility side of such a liberty is respecting someone who disagrees with you. I respect Ms. Venker's right to her own opinion, but I would appreciate if she would consult with women everywhere before publishing that tells me what I, as a woman, need.

Football Friday from On Her Game - Guts do not Always Bring Glory OR The Bears Lost

http://flic.kr/p/7ZnhC8

This post for Football Friday for On Her Game really tested my patience as bits and pieces have been swirling in my head all week, but it was hard to find the time to write it out. Hopefully next week will be better, both in outcome and in written word.

As teams across the NFL saluted our men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military the phrase, “No Guts, No Glory” came to mind. Looking into its origin, the phrase was the title of a fighter tactics manual written by Major Gen. Frederick C. Blesse of the United States Air Force. The manual is considered the Bible of air-to-air combat and has been used by a number of air forces around the world. My apologies to Major Gen. Blesse, but in order to describe the Bears loss to the Lions, specifically the decisions made by Coach Trestman, I say, guts do not always bring glory.

Going into last Sunday, there was a log-jam at the top of the NFC North between the Bears, Lions, and Packers. While I believe the Vikings are still technically playing football, they have not been much of a division factor. As Greeny (Mike Greenberg) said on Mike and Mike in the Morning, the Packers are about to fall off the face of the earth with the injury sustained by Aaron Rodgers. So this game had all kinds of playoff implications. The opportunity was there for the taking, and the Bears blew it with a 21-19 loss!

The missed opportunity was then compounded with injuries. Charles Tillman suffered a torn right triceps that puts him on IR with the designation to return, and Jay Cutler is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain. The ankle injury would be in addition to the groin injury that I am not completely sure was healed enough to warrant him playing all the way through to the last two minutes of the game. Throughout the game Cutler looked like a baseball player adjusting himself after reaching base. My husband reminds me I have never worn an athletic cup, so I am just not going to understand. To which I respond, yes but why do the cameramen continue to show it? No answer from him. If you do not buy that baseball analogy, let me try another: Jay Cutler looked like a starting pitcher who did not want to give the manager the ball. Perhaps Jay was trying to prove his mettle to the critics who have called him weak (a judgment that I will never concede). Or worse, his concern may have been even more selfish in that his contract expires at the end of the season. Either way, Coach Trestman had a responsibility to take Cutler out of the game much sooner to give the Bears as a team the opportunity to win the game. For now at least, thankfully, gone are the days where the back-up quarterback felt like an automatic forfeiture. As Golic of Mike and Mike always says, you cannot ask the player if they want to come out of the game – the answer will always be a resounding no. It is your job as a coach to make those decisions for them.

Jeff Dickerson reminds us that Josh McCown’s veteran stock continues to rise as he “stepped in for Jay Cutler at the end of the fourth quarter against the Lions and promptly guided the Bears' offense on a 10-play, 74-yard scoring drive that culminated with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Marshall. On the drive, McCown went 6-of-9 for 62 yards and the score.”

Cutler’s dismal second half play overshadowed the fact that Coach Trestman went for a first down on a fourth and one when the Bears were within field goal range early on in the game. Gould is as automatic as a kicker gets, so perhaps that was the difference in the game seeing as how the Bears lost by two points. While watching the game, my husband took issue with the call saying you always go for the points. I was grateful that Dickerson backed up my argument, “I didn't have a problem with the Bears going for it on fourth-and-1 against the Lions, but I did take issue with the play call.” I hated the play call, but I liked the aggressive play. For too long I watched Lovie Smith coach conservative football, and I am over it. Bring on some emotion and aggressive play, even if it may not always be the right decision. I take a much greater issue with Trestman’s decision to play Cutler when he was clearly not at his best. He has accepted responsibility for his thought process. Still coach, please find a balance between the “no guts, no glory” mindset and the reminder that you have to make the decisions for the whole team.

Football Friday from On Her Game - The Bears Brought their Cheese Graters to Lambeau Field

http://flic.kr/p/6b93eK

I had a lot of fun with this edition of  Football Friday for On Her Game especially since the Bears beat the Packers for the first time in a LONG time.   

In anticipation of the Monday Night showdown between the Bears and Packers my prediction for the Bears, being led on offense by back-up quarterback,  Josh McCown, is they would either get obliterated or shock “the experts” with an upset of the favored Pack. I did not see an in-between. At the end of the Packers first drive, however, a possible in-between seemed to manifest itself when Aaron Rodgers went out after landing on his left shoulder when he was sacked by defensive end, Shea McClellin.

With that sack, I suddenly found my perception of this game shifting to a the possibility of having another scenario similar to last season’s “Battle of the Back-Ups,” also known as the Bears/49ers game of November, 2012 when neither Jay Cutler nor then 49ers starter, Alex Smith were cleared to play after both suffered concussions the previous week. That was a TERRIBLE game when what was predicted to be a low-scoring, defensive battle, became a coming-out party for Colin Kaepernick. It was also yet another display of the ineptitude of the Bears offensive line of last season as back-up Jason Campbell was sacked six times, threw two interceptions, and faced constant pressure as the 49ers formidable defense ran all over (seemingly untouched at times) the Bears’ line.

Fortunately the 2013 iteration of “Battle of the Back-Ups” was a much stronger showing from the Bears, especially on the offensive side of the ball. I am choosing to ignore the blocked punt by the Packers instead focusing on Hester’s one decent run-back to celebrate his 31^st birthday, even if it was not for a touchdown. In that moment you know it is only a matter of time before he eclipses Deion Sanders’s NFL record for touchdown returns instead of merely sharing it.

While the Bears defense of this season is not the dominating force we Bears’ fans are accustomed to, they still found a way, for the most part, to stop the Packers’ offense. After coming in for an injured Aaron Rodgers, Seneca Wallace completed 11-of-19 passes for 114 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception at the hands of Julius Peppers. Peppers seemed to come out of some sort of witness protection program last night with a sack, a circus-catch of an interception, and two additional batted down balls. The Bears’ run defense was disgraceful as Eddie Lacy who averaged 6.8 yards per carry and gained 150 yards for Green Bay. The secondary is also emerging as a major concern, especially in the horrid display of safety Major Wright. He sure did not live up to his name, instead playing like “Minor” Wright with a number of missed tackles, and a general air of befuddlement as if he did not appear to where he was, or what he was supposed to be doing in the moment.

Besides the 27-20 victory, my personal highlight of the game was the play of this rebuilt offensive line. I especially appreciated the graphic that gave a visual depiction of the fact that the four players from last year’s line that flanked center Roberto Garza have all been replaced. According to the “Further Review of the Bears Week 9,” from Michael C. Wright, of ESPN.com, “Not only did the Bears limit Green Bay’s defense to one sack, the line provided enough push in the ground game to allow the Bears to chew up eight minutes, 58 seconds on an 18-play drive in the fourth quarter with the club clinging to a four-point advantage.”

Green Bay’s defensive line is not one to be pushed around as Johnny Jolly and B.J. Raji combined have to weight close to 700 pounds. In fairness to both of them, Raji appears to have lost some weight, as well as incredible agility, especially for a large man; and well, Johnny Jolly is just fun to say every now and again, unless it is something along the lines of Jolly put a sack on the Bears quarterback…

Following the outcome that shocked all the experts on the ESPN panel except Coach Ditka, the NFC North is now in a three way tie between the Bears, Lions, and Packers. While each division game is important, next week’s match-up between the Bears and Lions takes on a whole new level of significance. The Bears are saying that Cutler will be ready to start on Sunday, but I hope there is some consideration to giving his groin (still, OUCH!) more time to fully recover as back-up Josh McCown has handled himself quite well generating passer ratings of 90.7 and 119.6 with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Rather than dwelling on a possible quarterback controversy, I am going to put my trust in Coach Marc Trestman to make the right decision for the team, not just one that would work for Cutler who has a contract expiring at the end of the season.

For now, I am also going to bask in the glory of Chicago’s victory over Green Bay, and say that the Bears brought their cheese graters into Lambeau Field, and I sure did enjoy watching it!

The Spike Series: It's My Birthday!

Hello, people, Spike here. First, let me explain that I am the reason that this week's Football Friday got moved to Thursday, as Laurie let me take over the blog to announce it's MY BIRTHDAY! I am six years old today.

Since my Laurie and the Man have declared that I am no longer considered to be a flight risk, I was given this new harness for my birthday. Jeez, you run away one time to spend the evening with the rabbits and coyotes, and they hold it against you for the next four and a half years! The real reason was probably the old one was bothering my skin, but hey I am not complaining about the gift. 

Isn't it nice?! Please feel free to oooh and aaah as you see fit.

What I do want to complain about is what happened next...

As you can imagine, I felt stupid in the hat, but that was not the end of the ridiculousness. The Man had this hope that I would put a party blower in my mouth. I liked the taste, but this was the best (or worst) I could do...

Yep, Happy Birthday to me! I am promised a good treat when my people get home tonight, and they better come through for putting such stupid pictures of me out there for the world to see.

Football Friday (on Thursday) from On Her Game - Back on the Bears QB Merry-Go-Round, Where it Stops Nobody Knows

http://flic.kr/p/a9jfGZ

Here is the latest installment of Football Friday for On Her Game. I had originally intended to take the week off with the Bears who are on a bye. Then Danny posted an article to my Facebook wall about the re-signing of Jordan Palmer. This started the merry-go-round lyric going through my mind, and I was fairly certain that it was not going to stop until I wrote about it.   

When Jay Cutler went down in the game against the Washington Redskins after saying “ouch!” on his behalf; I said, “Crap! The Bears are back on the quarterback merry-go-round.” Then I started singing a song (Merry Go ‘Round by Kasey Musgrave) of which somehow I know but just one line… “broken merry go 'round and 'round and 'round we go, where it stops nobody knows.”

Since becoming a Bears fan at the tender age of nine around 1991, I have seen over 25 different quarterbacks start at least one game for my beloved team. I cannot name all of them, and there are more than a few that I would rather forget ever wore a Bears uniform. It was at this time that I came to a difficult yet obvious realization: the Bears as my team have never given me a quarterback to root for beyond his tenure in Chicago. Thus, it is difficult for me to imagine following a QB to another team.

Two weeks ago, after asking my husband to pick a side in the Broncos vs. Colts game, he chose "offense."  To which I called him the worst sports fan ever, but in actuality I must concede that as a Colts fan he has had the “luxury" of seeing good quarterback play for as long as he can remember with Peyton Manning only to be succeeded by Andrew Luck. In other words, there is no such quarterback merry-go-round in Indianapolis; and I will cut my husband a bit of slack, though I still think he should have picked a team rather than a side of the ball.

The Bears may never have a QB like Manning (or Luck), but I wanted to believe that signing Jay Cutler could be an end to the 25 plus player merry-go-round. At some point you just have to say, stop the ride, I want to get off! Regardless of whether you like Cutler or not, and believe me there are times that I do not, he has brought a toughness and excitement rarely seen at the quarterback position in Chicago. It has been said that this injury would take 4-6 weeks to heal, but Coach Marc Trestman and receiver Brandon Marshall predict Cutler could be back sooner than initially anticipated, and with any luck that is true given the tough schedule facing the Bears over that time as another division game against the Lions comes after Green Bay, followed by the Ravens and a tougher than one would think St. Louis Rams team. 

Cutler has been seen at Bears practice saying that he feels good, but also hopefully offering support and encouragement to Josh McCown, who will be the Bears starter on Monday. The strong play that McCown showed against Washington after Cutler went down needs to continue against the Packers for the Bears to have a fighting chance. The back-up to McCown will be Jordan Palmer, who was resigned after failing to earn a spot on the final regular season roster. The upside to Palmer is the familiarity with the offensive system in place, but it is hard for this Bears fan not to sing, “broken merry go 'round and 'round and 'round we go, where it stops nobody knows.”

Going Off the Path for Sunday Brunch OR Why I Read, Scientific American Mind

Danny and I decided to go to Boulder this morning for brunch. The plan was to go to Waffle Brothers, which was ridiculousness since there is a location much closer to home. Still it's hard to top their food. It was trying something new without really trying anything new. The sight upon our arrival was very strange with condensation on the door, rotting bananas in the window, and a hand-written sign that said, "closed until further notice." Thanks to a Yelp search, Plan B became The Buff, which was featured on Man vs. Food. Sadly, this was also not meant to be as by the time we found it, which was unnecessarily tough, there was a 45 minute wait. I want to believe it would have been worth it, but at that point it was just after 11:00 a.m. and neither of us had eaten anything yet. I had seen a local,chain brewery across the street so that became Plan C. Suddenly Danny asks if Plan C.1 can be daphne's California Greek. After paroozing the menu on the glass, I was in. When we got inside I saw they had Lemon Chicken soup for $1.69. I am willing to try just about anything that could be a viable Colorado substitute for lemon rice soup, especially when it costs less than two dollars. Danny tried the soup first, and had this look of, Laurie, you're going to enjoy this... Enjoy it, I did! So much so that three more bowls came home with us, and I did a little happy dance in the booth. The consistency is different without the rice, but the flavor is truly the closest thing I have found outside the region to this soup that I love so much! 

Danny thanked me for my flexibility, I told him that we had physically gone off the path as inspired by The Happiness Project.  I was grateful that he understood what I meant. 

I think part of my response was that I had been thinking about this post as I have been reading the September/October issue of Scientific American Mind for over a week now. I picked up this magazine on a trip to Barnes & Noble while I was on a mission for a book of KenKen puzzles - which is my latest fascination. There I go off the path (read: digressing), again. I think I was drawn by the larger than life picture and headline on the cover - Get Real - Avoid the Pitfalls of Self Esteem as I had been mulling (borderline obsessing) over last week's Ten on Tuesday: Ten Things THIS WOMAN Needs to Stop Doing because sharing one's self esteem issues with whomever chooses to read them is not exactly my idea of a good time. 

What I found was an interesting scientific journal format rather than a typical magazine as there were a mere five advertisements throughout the whole 76 page publication. I am not sure how they make any money, but considering there is a new issue on newsstands, they must have figured something out. To be completely honest there were a few pieces that were beyond my non-science brain, but for the most part the writing had a nice blend of research and explanations that a layperson, like me, could understand. While each article had a section that listed further reading options - I do not think any of them will be read by me.

Let's get to the content:

• The first section called Social Medicine - How interacting with the people around us makes us healthier, happier, and longer lived - helped give scientific backing to many of the things that I am trying to do:
• Your "roaming entropy," or the frequency or variety with which you get out and about likely affects your brain health. In a study of adult mice, the animals with higher roaming entropy had a great proliferation of adult-born neurons. 
• I think the brunch adventure chronicled earlier could count as roaming entropy.

• Kind hearts are healthier - volunteering improves cardiovascular health.
• Keeping others motivated could improve your own motivation for healthy behaviors.
  
  
• Even small talk helps - social isolation, not loneliness, is linked with earlier death.
• Isolation is known to shorten lives - psychologists have discovered that even superficial contact with other people may improve our health. My fear of isolation was noted last week.
  
  
• Contagious altruism - altruism inspires more altruism, according to many studies as generosity is its own reward. People around the world are happier the more they donate to charity. Yea for sharing with others rather than only taking care of ourselves!
  
  
• Contagious yawning emerges in children at the age of five or six. It may relate to empathy, which also develops around this time. This got me thinking about the yawning man from the movie, Tom Thumb. Did that happen to anyone else?
  
  
• Social Skills to Crow About
• The intelligence of the corvid family - a group of birds that includes crows, ravens, magpies, rooks, and jackdaws (I had to look some of these up) - rivals that of apes and dolphins. Recent studies are revealing impressive details about crows' social reasoning, offering hints about how our own interpersonal intelligence may have evolved. 
• A study was conducted with birds in a Seattle park in which the scientists wore two kinds of masks. One mask would trap the birds, the other would simply walk on by. Five years later these scientists returned with their masks - the birds present at the original trapping shared the incident with all the birds there on that particular day. All the crows responded by immediately mobbing that masked scientist while shrieking. 
• Somehow this gives a whole new meaning to me for Poe's The Raven or Hitchcock's The Birds.
• Apparently pigeons can learn to distinguish a painting by Picasso from one by Monet - I am not completely sure I could do that without first brushing up on their work (no pun intended).
  
  
• Life of a Drug
• Decades of research and billions of dollars go into developing a marketing drugs. Here is a very abbreviated profile (really the parts that I found interesting) of Cymbalta, which is produced by Eli Lilly.
• The drug that became Cymbalta was initially discovered in the early 1950s by tuberculosis researchers as they found a drug that treats infections also boosts patients' moods.
• Fast forward to 2013 with a lot of information, studies, and processes in between, Cymbalta goes off patent at the end of the year. Lilly is expected to lay off up to 1,000 sales workers in anticipation of the revenue loss. Cymbalta and osteoporosis drug Evista together bring in $5 billion (with a B) annually to Eli Lilly. Evista goes off patent in early 2014.
  
  
• Head Lines: The Mysteries of Pain
• Migraines look different in men and women; 3:1 ratio of the prevalence of migraines in women to men in a one year period.
• During a migraine:
• Women experience more intense emotional responses to pain.
• Men are more sensitive to heat, such as from a hot cup of coffee or a steamy shower.
• There is such a thing as a cluster headache, which just sounds awful, and tend to turn up in cycles lasting six to eight weeks.
• During these cycles, afflicted individuals - more often men - experience intense daily headaches on one side of the head, each lasting an hour or two, explains headache expert (what a title) Peter Goadsby, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco.
• Memory of a pain can cause the pain to persist for life, even after the initial injury has healed - this could explain the pain I feel in my right wrist from time to time as I have broken it twice.
• I have an unhealthy (literally) love of many of the top migraine triggers (e.g. chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, and dairy products). CRAP!
  
  
• Letting Go of Self-Esteem
• Self-esteem, or a person's overall sense of self-worth, is generally considered to be critical to healthy functioning. Its darker side, however, had been largely overlooked. The quest for great self-esteem, primarily that which is  contingent upon success, can leave people feeling empty and dissatisfied.
• To feel good about yourself, think less about YOU and more about OTHERS.
• Compassion toward others and yourself (in other words we should cut ourselves some slack), along with a less self-centered perspective on your situation can motivate you to achieve your goals while helping you weather bad news, learn from your mistakes, and fortify your friendships.
• Scientists define self-esteem as the amount of value people place on themselves - an inherently subject assessment.
• High self-esteem seems to have at least one serious drawback: difficulty in seeing your own shortcomings. A great deal of research conducted for several decades shows that people with high self-esteem tend to have unrealistically high views of themselves.
• When they get negative feedback, they tend to be defensive, blaming the test or the messenger, rather than owning up to a mistake or deficiency.
• Putting your self-worth at the mercy of achievement creates emotional vulnerability to setbacks.
• This brought to mind one of my favorite quotes, "Never confuse having a career with having a life."
• While the pursuit of self-esteem has many negative consequences, it also serves an important purpose: motivating us to action. Without the urge to prove our worth, might we turn into slackers?
• There is a healthier approach, instead of focusing on our own status (however that is defined), we can focus on others or the collective good.
• As hard as my job is at times - I try to take satisfaction in knowing that I am helping the people who help others.
• By focusing on others, having self-compassion, or adopting a distanced view (seeing yourself from a third-party perspective), you can work toward your goals with constant self-evaluation and self-criticism. What a concept!
  
• The Science of Handwriting
• What our hands do with a keyboard is very different than with pen and paper. For most people, typing becomes automatic after a few months of instructions. Learning the precise geometries that make up handwritten characters, however, takes years.
• A central property of handwriting: it unifies hand, eye, and attention at a single point in space and time. Typing on a keyboard, breaks the unity.
• The so-called Common Core standards, a set of guidelines issued in 2010 to unify state curricula in the U.S., has set off a national discussion about handwriting's place in school.
• Much of the discussion involves cursive education, which went unmentioned in the standards, leading to its formal abandonment by Indiana and Florida.
• The ensuing backlash prompted eight states, including California and a chastened Indiana to affirm cursive's importance.
• While I could have done with Mrs. Pagorek in 5th grade telling me that my cursive "x" was done incorrectly, EVERY TIME. I am grateful that I can read/write in cursive as there is something special about taking a pen to paper. 
• I also like the individuality that handwriting provides - there is nothing unique about a computer print out. It takes the personalization out of correspondence, which is already vanishing from social etiquette again much to my chagrin.
• There are scientific studies, however, that back up the importance of writing words to help with recall and learning - hopefully it will still be taught in our schools for years to come. I, personally, would be willing to give up Geometry in favor of handwriting lessons. My own bias, of course.

The last two articles that I want to highlight both fall within the field of Mental Health:

• Listening to Voices - Adapted from a talk at TED in Long Beach, California in February, 2013.
• Eleanor began to hear the Voice in her second semester of undergraduate studies. She was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, which brought the full burden of social disapproval on her shoulders, and initiated a downward spiral  into despair and hopelessness.
• She was encouraged to see the Voice as a symptom rather than an experience, which intensified her fear and resistance. She was engaged in a psychic civil war. 
• She now sees the voices as a solution, an inextricable part of the healing process that drew attention to emotional conflicts she needed to deal with as she had significant, unresolved childhood trauma.
• There is evidence that a proportion of the 1.5 million people who are diagnosed each year with schizophrenia are not victims of chemical imbalance or genetic mutation. Rather they are exhibiting a complex response to abuse, loss, neglect, or past trauma.
• Eleanor earned her psychology degree with high honors 10 years after the voice first came, a year later her master's degree also with highest honors, and she is currently in the final year of her PhD. In her words, "not bad for a mad woman."
• As a doctor once told her, "Don't tell me what other people have told you about yourself...tell me about you. What if we could share with others a healthy view of ourselves, instead of what we have been told...
  
  
• Clutter, Clutter Everywhere
• As an avid follower of American Pickers on History, I am quite fascinated by collectors (which really strike me as varying degrees/types of hoarders). I have never been able to watch the TLC show, Hoarders.
• Hoarding disorder appears to be present in between 2 and 5 percent of the population, making it more prevalent than schizophrenia. It afflicts men and woman in about equal numbers.
• Many laypeople believe that clinical hoarders are too lazy to discard their junk or that they enjoy living with it. Neither of these assumptions appear to be true.
• Most experts have long believed that extreme hoarding is a variant of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Recent research suggests that the ailment may stem from an exaggerated version of a basically adaptive tendency to accumulate materials that are important to us.
• The American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual (DSM-5), published this past May, for the first time included pathological hoarding as a distinct condition. It is characterized by extreme and enduring difficulties parting with possessions even if they have no tangible value.
• No one knows why hoarders hoard, which is part of why it is challenging to treat. 
• Interestingly, the behavior is present in a  host of species, including honeybees, crows, rodents, and monkeys. This observation raises the possibility that the condition reflects a naturally selected urge to stockpile resources for times of scarcity.
• With the formal recognition of hoarding disorder in the DSM-5, research into causes of pathological hoarding will likely increase, and with it, the promise of more effective therapies.

I continue to be fascinated each time I go off the path. My next venture takes me into the triathlon world in the form of a magazine that is different than the one to which Danny is subscribed. Perhaps it will help broaden my view of Danny's hobby/interest that shows no sign of diminishing - in fact he is looking for ways to do good for others through the Ironman. I am proud to think that he is looking for his own ways to do good for others as he and I are quite fortunate. Plus Fireman Rob's altruism may have been contagious - I think Danny caught it.