Late December

So I was slacking on my blogging in December.  I guess getting ready for the holidays which went well.  You can see the cabinet doors that finished the project.  These were delivered the Monday before Christmas JIT.  The weekend before I played a charity football game for Santa Claus Anonymous at Patterson Park.  It was fun and sparked a desire to play in the spring.   On Christmas Eve I got an opportunity to give back a little more to my community.  A neighbor randomly forwarded a request for volunteers to deliver gifts and food to needy families in Baltimore County.  Last holiday season I was looking for an opportunity.  So we volunteered for Santa's Helpers and picked up the packages and delivered them on Christmas Eve morning.  We had a lot to do around the house that day, but even with the deliveries we still got it done. I hope to do it again next year.  

We hosted the family for Christmas dinner and had a throwback special entre this year (lobster).  After dinner the young folks had a little after party fire pit, cigars and bourbon.  A great way to cap off the holiday.  

After Christmas we sort of took it easy a little shopping and I played paintball on the following Saturday.  NYE found us at a friend's house for a party and New year's day we made bean soup with the leftover Christmas ham.  

I got to say the Ravens under achieved this season.  They lost some close games they should have won and didn't really play well.  I said since the beginning of the season they would be 8-8 due to the loss of Bouldin and Pollard and they were.  The offense wasn't good.  The running game was terrible. Two fold for me I had Ray Rice a my first pick in 1 of 2 leagues and thus I came in last 1 and 12 (after winning last year).  The other league I just missed the playoffs on points.  The Ravens need to get some weapons on offense and figure out how to make Joe more effective since we are committed to him for a long time.  

I did Muay Thai for the remainder of December and still haven't lost a pound, but I feel like I am getting better.  I have been working in lifting too so I am trying to get to the gym 5 days a week 3 Kickboxing and 2 lifting.  I hope that helps with the weight before I hurt myself.  

I also finished making a Paracord Rifle sling for the AR which turned out real well (picture to follow).

September paintball

Just a few shots of the mostly ex-ASIT paintball team

November 24

So last week the Ravens snuck into Pittsburgh and snuck out with a win.  The offense was terrible.  If it wasn't for Jacoby Jones we would have lost.  Joe flacco struggled in the face of the good Pittsburgh defensive pressure.  It was like he regressed to a few years ago where he panics in the pocket.  Now the real issue is the play calling once again.  I am sure i have commented on this before but why would we run pass plays for 8 yards on a third down and we need 10?  This is an old question that i will never understand.  If you say the receivers or tightends aren't open deeper, why wouldn't the sort route at least get to the sticks as there isn't much point in a completion 2-3 yards short.  The good news is the defense is actually improving. They're showing  quarterback pressure and the secondary made some big plays.  This weekend we have to go to San Diego and face the no quite together chargers.  I think we can win if the offense decides to play.  

This was thanksgiving week and I enjoyed celebrating with the family.  I also smoked a turkey which took longer than expected but turned out very good.  I also played paintball.  It was cold and actually there was a few flurries.  The cold didn't bother me too much and I actually wasn't too sore after running around out there.  It's probably going to be a few months before we play again but it was fun. Last weekend I put the boat away.  A Sad day of the year:


Did a ghost tour in Ellicot City after a good dinner at my sisters house (the sign is perfect for a horror movie):



Here's the thanksgiving night fire: