Here are some recommendations for some winter time fun!
1) Ice Skating at PPG Rink in downtown Pittsburgh. The kids and I did this for the 2nd year in a row right after Christmas. This year it was raining but we still had a lot of fun. Its a beautiful setting to skate outdoors especially at night. Go to www.ppgplace.com for more information.
2)Tubing or Skiing/Snowboarding @ Mt. Pleasant near Edinboro PA. They have 4 tubing lanes and you can tube for 3 hours for $15. It's awesome being able to fly down a hill on a large intertube and then get pulled back up. It's sled riding without the hike back up the hill! They also have skiing which I like to do and snowboarding which I will not try because I don't think we were meant to actually stand on a board in such an awkward position! They have a lodge with food concessions. The lodge is small but you don't go to sit in the lodge,so who cares?! It's more than adequate to eat and relax when you need to. For more information go to www.skimountpleasant.com
3) Read the Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck. My sister got me this book for Christmas. It is a great, encouraging story that challenges you to look at your own life and faith. I like to read books but I am pretty slow in getting through them. I didn't want to stop reading this one because I wanted to find out how it ended. I was done reading it by the end of Christmas week which is probably a record for me.
Well, try those three things out and let me know what you think. I'll pass on a few more recommedations in the future. I bet you can't wait!
Have a great day in the Lord!
Super Bowl
Ok, so its not a Pennsylvania Super Bowl. But, the right PA team is representing on Sunday. So far, that is the only prediction in which I have been correct. By the way, while watching the AFC championship game with friends, I predicted that Troy Polamalu would make an interception and return it for a touchdown long before it happened. I'm on my "A" game when it comes to the Black & Gold!!
So here goes my final prediction for the 2008 season: Steelers win Lombardi Tropy # 6by a score of 35-14 with the last touchdown by the Cardinals being late in the game against the back-ups.
Ben Rothleisberger & Hines Ward will have big games and Willie Parker will provide nice complimentary yardage in the running game. The Defense will play great as they have all year. Dick LeBeau will craft a scheme that will throw off the timing of the Arizona passing game by putting pressure on Kurt Warner. Larry Fitzgerald will get his catches but will be unable to make the big ones for a touchdown unless he gets that gift one at the end.
Enjoy the game!
By the way, I am getting a little annoyed with the guy in the office across the hall. How can a Browns fan even begin to comment on Steeler fans' needing to lighten up? First off, Browns fans aren't all that sane to begin with and they don't even know what it's like to root for a Super Bowl Champion!!!
So here goes my final prediction for the 2008 season: Steelers win Lombardi Tropy # 6by a score of 35-14 with the last touchdown by the Cardinals being late in the game against the back-ups.
Ben Rothleisberger & Hines Ward will have big games and Willie Parker will provide nice complimentary yardage in the running game. The Defense will play great as they have all year. Dick LeBeau will craft a scheme that will throw off the timing of the Arizona passing game by putting pressure on Kurt Warner. Larry Fitzgerald will get his catches but will be unable to make the big ones for a touchdown unless he gets that gift one at the end.
Enjoy the game!
By the way, I am getting a little annoyed with the guy in the office across the hall. How can a Browns fan even begin to comment on Steeler fans' needing to lighten up? First off, Browns fans aren't all that sane to begin with and they don't even know what it's like to root for a Super Bowl Champion!!!
Enjoying the Snow!
I know not everyone appreciates the snow like I do (why they are living here and not Florida or some other warm climate locale is beyond me?!) but, I am enjoying the beauty and ruggedness of this past weekend's snowfall. We got around 10 inches of the white stuff with a little coating added to it yesterday.
Walking out in the crisp,cold air with all your surroundings draped in white especially, at night or in the early morning when all is quiet, is very refreshing. for me it is not a good winter (as far as weather is concerned) unless you have a few big snowfalls.
Lori, the kids and I had a blast sledding and wrestling in the snow. Our lab Ruby had particular fun chasing us. Her most enjoyable thing to do was to rip Lori's hat off as she would go down the hill and then run off with it!
Well, we had one big dumping of the white stuff. Let's hope there is a few more to come!
Walking out in the crisp,cold air with all your surroundings draped in white especially, at night or in the early morning when all is quiet, is very refreshing. for me it is not a good winter (as far as weather is concerned) unless you have a few big snowfalls.
Lori, the kids and I had a blast sledding and wrestling in the snow. Our lab Ruby had particular fun chasing us. Her most enjoyable thing to do was to rip Lori's hat off as she would go down the hill and then run off with it!
Well, we had one big dumping of the white stuff. Let's hope there is a few more to come!
Playoff Prognosticator
As I review my playoof predictions heading into Champiosnhip weekend, my attempt at being an NFL pundit was not very successful. The only team that I picked to make it this far, that is still in the hunt, is of course, the only team that matters--the Pittsburgh Steelers! Given that, I am not going to feel too bad that my other picks did not live up to my expectation.
So here is my revised picks for the Super Bowl--I am sticking with the Keystone State by calling Steelers vs. Eagles in Tampa with you know who (do I need to say the Steelers?) coming out with the Lombardi Trophy.
Go Steelers!
So here is my revised picks for the Super Bowl--I am sticking with the Keystone State by calling Steelers vs. Eagles in Tampa with you know who (do I need to say the Steelers?) coming out with the Lombardi Trophy.
Go Steelers!
Congratulations USC
Well, the Rose Bowl was disappointing to say the least. The 2nd quarter was downright infuriating. I was furious at Tom Bradley for not making defensive adjustments to stop the USC passing game. Mark Sanchez was on fire as he picked apart the secondary hitting his receivers on an endless barrage of seam routes. I wanted to see more pressure upfront and chipping the receivers at the line of scrimmage to create disruption in the passing game. However, none of that was to be.
Admittedly, I am far from an expert. That is why I watch the games on TV and not roaming the sidelines calling plays and defensive schemes. Obvioulsy, my view from the TV screen was limited and I did not spend hours in game prep. However, as a fan it was frustrating to watch a great defense get picked apart.
To add to the frustration was the costly penalties and mistakes that negated big plays and slowed down drives. The USC defense did enough to give the offense the ball and all Penn State could do was hang on until half-time.
Give credit to the team for playing hard and with results in the second half. However, USC's lead was too much to overcome.
My only criticism of the play calling on offense was the slow developing run on 3rd and less than a yard (or was it 4th down?) in the 2nd quarter when a QB sneak would have probably picked up the 1st down. I also wanted to see more passes down the field but the quickness of the USC defense put the pressure on enough to hinder any chances of going down the field until late in the game.
In the 2nd half, following USC's fumble, I would have liked to have seen them go for a big play down the field for a quick score or to set up one on the next play. I think that would have rewarded a demoralized defense and inspired thier play. It definitely would have changed the momentum of the game. Instead, Penn State ran the ball and ended up eventually giving the ball back to USC. Another critical play, was USC's last touchdown when the Penn State defensive back was caught looking in the back field and left his man streaking down the field wide open.
The difference in the game of course, was Mark Sanchez. He completed 82% of his passes. He hit his receivers in stride and was pretty much on target with his throws. His receivers did not have to make any difficult catches. If he is a little off in his timing and off target, it probably is a completely different ball game. He stepped up in a big way in a big game.
The Big Ten is definitely in a down-cycle when it comes to playing big games on the national stage. I agree with Kirk Herbstreit in his assesment of the quickness of the Big Ten versus other conferences is mostly seen in the offensive and defensive lineman and linebackers not the secondary and skill positions. USC's quickenss on the line allowed them to pressure Penn State's offense enough especially, in the 2nd quarter and their offensive line was quick enough to negate a talented defense.
It was not the ending any Penn State fan wanted to the season. But, it was great year--11-2 & Big Ten Champs. They were an exciting team to watch. They should be proud of what they accomplished. Looking forward to 2009! Fight on State!
Admittedly, I am far from an expert. That is why I watch the games on TV and not roaming the sidelines calling plays and defensive schemes. Obvioulsy, my view from the TV screen was limited and I did not spend hours in game prep. However, as a fan it was frustrating to watch a great defense get picked apart.
To add to the frustration was the costly penalties and mistakes that negated big plays and slowed down drives. The USC defense did enough to give the offense the ball and all Penn State could do was hang on until half-time.
Give credit to the team for playing hard and with results in the second half. However, USC's lead was too much to overcome.
My only criticism of the play calling on offense was the slow developing run on 3rd and less than a yard (or was it 4th down?) in the 2nd quarter when a QB sneak would have probably picked up the 1st down. I also wanted to see more passes down the field but the quickness of the USC defense put the pressure on enough to hinder any chances of going down the field until late in the game.
In the 2nd half, following USC's fumble, I would have liked to have seen them go for a big play down the field for a quick score or to set up one on the next play. I think that would have rewarded a demoralized defense and inspired thier play. It definitely would have changed the momentum of the game. Instead, Penn State ran the ball and ended up eventually giving the ball back to USC. Another critical play, was USC's last touchdown when the Penn State defensive back was caught looking in the back field and left his man streaking down the field wide open.
The difference in the game of course, was Mark Sanchez. He completed 82% of his passes. He hit his receivers in stride and was pretty much on target with his throws. His receivers did not have to make any difficult catches. If he is a little off in his timing and off target, it probably is a completely different ball game. He stepped up in a big way in a big game.
The Big Ten is definitely in a down-cycle when it comes to playing big games on the national stage. I agree with Kirk Herbstreit in his assesment of the quickness of the Big Ten versus other conferences is mostly seen in the offensive and defensive lineman and linebackers not the secondary and skill positions. USC's quickenss on the line allowed them to pressure Penn State's offense enough especially, in the 2nd quarter and their offensive line was quick enough to negate a talented defense.
It was not the ending any Penn State fan wanted to the season. But, it was great year--11-2 & Big Ten Champs. They were an exciting team to watch. They should be proud of what they accomplished. Looking forward to 2009! Fight on State!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)