8.16.2008

• Our O-Line looks much improved from last year, especially with Hartwig in there versus Mahan. However, Ben's doing a Much better job of getting the ball out of his hands quicker and using his check downs more. He did throw that one bad throw, resulting in a tipped ball and ultimately an interception, but he learned from that mistake, seen by a play in a later series where he was under similar pressure and was trying to make a play out of it, but then you could almost see him stop and think and then throw it out of bounds instead. And of course, Ben still has his amazing escape abilities (shown in the picture above) that has made him such an exciting player to watch.
• Our D-Line meanwhile looks much worse. The age of the line may be the culprit, as well as the fact that the line Cannot stop the run without Hampton in there, and even with him in there, he's showing to be a bit rusty (or out of shape). We didn't show much pass rush in the first half of the game, and I know LeBeau doesn't like to reveal his fancy blitzes in preseason, but the lack of pass rush was embarrassing for a while, but it started to come together a little bit later in the game. Our D still seems to have the "bend don't break" mentality, reluctant to give up the big plays but letting the other team move methodically down the field on us. I know Polamalu's not in there, but overall our D scared me a little. The only bright spot was Timmons who looked Fierce! Foote's getting old and could not complete a tackle last night, and Timmons seemed to be wherever the ball was tackling like a maniac! I loved it, it was great to see some good tackling from at least One of our Defensive players. Overall the tackling was sloppy and weak. Anthony Smith got in some good tackles, but he needs to be more consistent.
• Stupid penalties on the offense better be preseason jitters and better not happen during the regular season. We lost at least two third and shorts because of them.
• I think we'll be hearing "Ben to Santonio Holmes!" a lot this season!
• The special teams Was looking better until that return for a TD, but I'm not too concerned about one blunder, overall our coverage was improved. Wish we could some more yards on our own returns though.
• I'm glad Mendenhall finally learned at least One move by the end of the game, before his spin move he basically was as stiff as a pencil. Russell impressed me more than the rookie.
• Jeff Reed, seriously? After looking like a stud hitting a 50-yarder last week (in Heinz field of all places, notorious for being tough on kickers) you miss a 42-yarder? Drink too much the night before?
  

Labels: Football, Steelers

Posted by mai wen :: 6:36 PM :: Link :: 0 comments

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7.21.2008

How I Love Chaos In Bungal Territory

Completely out of nowhere, the Bungals savior quarterback totally disses Ohio's beloved Buckeyes.

In his own words:

I cannot stand the Buckeyes.

It's amazing to hear what those guys think about that university and
what they think about that football program and Tressel and all the
crap I gotta put up with being back there.

I just can't wait for two years from now when SC comes to the 'Shoe and
hopefully we'll have a home game that weekend and I can go up there and
watch us pound on them in their own turf.

I'm really getting sick of it and I just can't wait for this game to
get here so they can come out to the Coliseum and experience LA and get
an old-fashioned Pac-10 butt-whoopin' and go back to the Big Ten.

Now I'm not a native Ohio-ian, but having lived there for about ten years it doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that the Buckeyes are Way more popular (not to mention way Better) than the Bungals. I'm salivating imagining the Ohio-ians now turning on their beloved Palmer. This is one time that I wish I were back in Ohio just to see the Bungal fans being forced to choose their loyalties. I think it's obvious what team they'd pick. Hmm, 7 National Championship Titles or 0 Lombardi trophies? I'll say this. Since living in North Carolina I've heard people singing the Ohio State fight song twice at bars here, I don't even Know what the Bungals fight song sounds like.

Burn Bungals, burn! Hehehe.

 
Posted by mai wen :: 8:30 PM :: Link :: 3 comments

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7.20.2008

mai wen's Top Ten Best Trip Moments

10. Getting attacked by monkeys. Actually, this wasn't one of my best moments, but it's a great story to tell despite the fact that it was terrifying while happening. Those monkeys mean business!
9. Shopping! Pearls, come to momma! Even my frugal hubby loved shopping in Thailand because everything was so dang cheap!
8. Getting cuddly with elephants.
7. Drinking Thailand "moonshine" whisky at a hill tribe while trekking.
6. Bamboo rafting on a raft that was contemplating on falling apart for the majority of the rafting.
5. Getting an elephant shitting drawn on my forehead in charcoal.
4. Hitting up the Thailand nightlife and very gracefully falling asleep at the sleaziest Thailand after hours bar.
3. Seeing my Bernie (Bernie is my college friend who I visited in Chiang Mai for those unawares) and lounging around her place enjoying her company and getting an insight on real Thai culture!
2. Getting to spend an obnoxious amount of time with my hubby, which never got old. I guess that's why I married the dude. :)
1. Finding an Australian Steelers fan in Krabi, Thailand.

Labels: Bad Ass, Personal

 
Posted by mai wen :: 7:47 PM :: Link :: 0 comments

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7.15.2008

Home.

Okay, so I've been home for about a week now. Sorry I didn't post a "I got home safe and sound" post! I've been catching up on my time zone as well as other things, such as housework, hair appointments, friends, family, work, etc. Eeesh, you come home and don't even have a day of rest before real life comes flying back into your face.

I'll post more about the last part of my trip and post some pictures up this weekend if I can manage it. :)

Much thanks for your comments! Loved reading them while I was away!

Labels: Personal

 
Posted by mai wen :: 8:25 PM :: Link :: 0 comments

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6.30.2008

Old Friends and Elephant Dung Paper

I wanted to start with an explanation of my last post and why The Ant Wars was so traumatic to me, I hate no insect more than ants. Long story short, I grew up with an ant infested house when I was younger and was thus traumatized. I was just thinking about it and thought people might think I'm a finicky girly girl reading my post about ants, but I assure you for the most part I'm not. It's just those damn ants.

Anyways, I'm in Chiang Mai and have had an amazing time seeing my old friend from college here and meeting her man, Boon! We enjoyed some drinks, food and shopping at a night market last night where I got some amazing items for dirt cheap, just the way I like it. Later this week she's going to be taking me to get real salt water pearls for dirt cheap, I'm very excited! Today we went to a temple and an elephant show! Apparently the best elephant show in Thailand with elephants who have broke a Guinness Book World Record of the biggest painting painted by elephants... bet you didn't know that was a category did ya? It's a really amazing picture actually and the elephant show was so much fun, we even got to see a four month old elephant that was so freaking cute I almost wanted to take the little guy home with me. When I was feeding him bananas he looked like a little kid trying to eat chocolate cake and even proceeded to rub his face in the mashed up banana when he was done trying to eat it! My favorite item in the gift shop at the elephant show? Elephant dung paper. Recycling's great!

Tomorrow we plan on trekking through the rain forest, stopping in local villages for sleep. Just another day here in Thailand where elephants walking down the side of the road and trekking through rain forests are daily occurrences. As always, the experience of being in a place with people who live here is more rich than just visiting purely as a tourist, and we get the really great deals on stuff too! :) I've learned so much about Thai culture such as every Thai person has English nick names since many of their Thai names are too long or difficult to pronounce. Some of the nicknames? How about Guitar, Bong, Beer, Peach and Hamburger? You can't help but crack a smile, and nobody minds here with their laid back and accepting culture! I've also learned a lot about the non-profit community here and the issues that Thailand faces socially, which is great research for my future career as an International Social Worker!

I'll try to blog after our trekking adventure where I will actually get to ride an elephant! Wahoo!

P.S. There's a bar around the corner from where we're staying for sale for about $11,000 American dollars, Hubby and I are very tempted...

Labels: Personal

 
Posted by mai wen :: 6:54 AM :: Link :: 2 comments

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