Blog Archives

I Have A Quilt Gallery In My Stairwell

8/31/2011

I have a Quilt Gallery in my stairwell.

Actually, it's five quilt wall hangings made by my mother
aka Mother Theresa.

And these quilted wall hangings are Beee-UUU-TEE-Full!!!

I love them soooooooo much I put extra "ooo's " after "so".

Angie, crappy picture taker since always.

I take really good care of these large quilted hangings and visitors compliment me all the time when they catch a glimpse of these quilts in the stairwell. You can see three of the quilts right there in this photo. With a nice black strip at the top of the picture. Did I ever mention I am the worst picture-taker ever? What the heck is that black strip? Anyone know?

(Twelve hours later, I figure out it's the ceiling. Sheez. doy)

Also my stairwell is very TALL.

And very dusty.

I live in a 110 year old farmhouse after all.

I launder and iron the wall hangings twice a year, once in Spring and once in the Fall. Like clockwork. To keep them nice and fresh and clean.

This fall I don't need to launder them.

Q: Why?

A: Because they never freaking got hung up

after they were laundered in March!

Five months ago!!!

These pretty quilts have been sitting on my love seat (just a few feet away from their designated wall spots) for five freaking months...

Why?? Why?? Why??

Ladder. Scary. Angie no likey.

Well, for starters, who wants to haul in a big old, bulky aluminum ladder all through the house, all the way up to the stairway landing while consistently nicking the drywall and plaster and almost taking out a ceiling light or two?

Who never cleans off the ladder before bringing it in and therefore ends up with all kinds of dead grasses and leaves and mud and dirt from the ladder spewed all over their tan colored stairway carpet that is almost impossible to get out?

And uh, who is afraid of heights?

Guess.

To top it off, I have to use a broom handle to straighten the quilted hangings once they're hung.

Who does not like to do that and always gets dizzy and nearly tumbles down the stairs?

Guess.

And once again, who did that almost happen to yesterday?

Again.

Guess. Every.single.time.

But, it's worth it.
Mother Theresa does such a beautiful job!

This pattern below is called "Broken Dishes".
I love that!
Broken Dishes! Just like at my house!
This quilt is all pastelly and pretty.
I don't think "pastelly" is a word. Nonetheless, this pattern is so soft and pretty.

And how about this wall hanging, right off the stairway, in a guest bedroom.

Oh my gosh,
I absolutely, completely,
100% love this pattern.

Can you guess what it's called?

Bow Tie!!!!

How fun is that?!?

Mustard yellows, rich dark greens, reds, and blues, with a burgundy and tan plaid border.

Stop!!!!! I love it so!

No, I'm sorry, you can't have it.

But let's get a close-up look at these fun

bow ties.

Gorgeous!

Don't they remind you of old men from the 1920's in their business suits?

Well, now I feel I must introduce you to

"Flying Geese"

on my wall.

It's ginormous!!!

And a closer look reveals the details...

Look at all that work that went into making this super pretty, intriguing wall hanging!

And the hanging below was custom made by Mother Theresa for a super tall, super skinny wall in my stairwell.

Okay, time out.

I need to pen a quick letter to my Mother.

Dear Ma,

I KNOW IT'S WRINKLY!!! I CAN SEE THAT!!! LAY OFF!

Love,

Angie

This quilted hanging looks way CUTER when it doesn't have five months of wrinkles in it from laying on the back of a love seat with 4-5 cats jockeying for their comfy spot on this "Honeycomb" pattern.

This wall hanging is so wrinkly, Ima not show you the closeup of this pretty Honeycomb quilt, I'll wait until it gets ironed and then show you.

And last but not least, my ALL TIME favorite pattern....

Aaackkk!!!

I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!

It's the oldie

"Double

Wedding

Ring" pattern.

It's HUGE, like 4' x 6' or something.

HUGE for a wall hanging.

And look at all the details on each ring.

Gor-geous!

If Tim and I ever renew wedding vows again, I think I will wear this wall hanging.

Don'tcha wish you were married to me?

Okay, time out again.

Another quick letter.

Only this one is to my Mother-In-Law June
(who cleans my house every week, free of charge, AND does laundry).

Dear June,

I KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN HAPPY TO IRON THESE QUILT HANGINGS FOR ME HAD I ASKED YOU.

Yes, I SEE THAT THEY'RE WRINKLY!!! LAY OFF!

Love,

Angie

And in closing,

one final letter to pen....

June Rose (l) and Mother Theresa (r) July 2011.

Dear Ma & June,

Hey, maybe instead of gabbing and laughing and drinking wine when you two are together next time at my house, maybe, JUST MAYBE you could iron my wrinkly wall hangings?

Love,

                    Angie

                                                         P.S. Could you trim the shrub by the back door while you're at it?

This Recipe Will Not Knock Your Socks Off But It's Good Baked Penne With Asparagus and Turkey

8/29/2011

This Baked Penne recipe will
NOT
knock your socks off.

It will
NOT
knock your earrings off.

And it certainly will NOT
blow you away like some of those hurricane winds this weekend.

Instead,

this
Baked Penne will leave you fulfilled.

Where you still have energy to spare.

Yet not feel overstuffed at all.

How many pasta recipes can claim that??!?

This is one of the easiest Clean Eating recipes I make. I tend to make it a lot in the winter but you know, it's fine for summer and fall because it's a lighter pasta dish and so healthy and clean and kind to the waistline.
See, not many ingredients here. Very quick and easy. The hard part is stopping yourself from eating all the mozzarella cheese before it can be layered into the penne!

Baked Penne
Jan/Feb 2009 Clean Eating magazine

INGREDIENTS:
12 oz whole-wheat penne
3/4 lb thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
Olive oil cooking spray
3/4 lb lean ground turkey breast
3 cups no-salt tomato sauce (such as Muir Glen)
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp sea salt or coarse kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 oz. part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated (1 cup), divided
1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

INSTRUCTIONS:
ONE Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne according to package directions. When pasta is 1 minute from being done, add asparagus and boil for 1 minute; drain and return to pot.

TWO Meanwhile, coat a large skillet with cooking spray and heat to medium-high; add turkey and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Add tomato sauce, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and simmer until heated through. 3 to 4 minutes.

THREE Add turkey meat sauce and penne and asparagus together, stir to combine.

FOUR Lightly coat a 2-QT baking dish with cooking spray; add 1/2 the penne mixture and sprinkle with 2/3 of the mozzarella.

Add remaining penne, then sprinkle remaining mozzarella and top with Parmesan-Reggiano.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Try garnishing with fresh oregano or basil, if desired. (oops, Angie forgot that one.)

As I mentioned earlier, this dish will not knock your socks off

BUT it is

1. Easy on the taste buds, very mellow. Tasty but mellow.

2. Easy on the pocketbook.

3. And easy on the waistline.

Bon Apetit!

Have a great Monday!!!

Somebody's gonna be making Butterscotch Cheesecake Bars tonight.
Fat free.

NOT!
Hope I don't eat them all before taking a picture for you :)

The Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" Roast Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Fall Fruit Dish

8/27/2011

Roast Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Fall Fruit

I swear this dish came out even better than what I thought it would. It's like candy! I'm not kidding. I would take this dish over cheesecake all day long. Well, that might be a l i t t l e extreme but you know what I mean. Like candy.

You know that song "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston?

That is how I feel about this Fall Roasted Chicken recipe.

Dear Roast Chicken Recipe,

I will never not love you, that is how much I love you. You are with me forever, locked in my heart. Plunk. Hear that? I just threw away the key.

You are a permanent part of my life now.

Kind of like the unfortunate tattoo on my ankle.

But in a good way.

Until we meet again (which will probably be sometime next week), I remain

Faithfully Yours Angie

So, this Roast Chicken recipe
is posted in the new October 2011 issue of Midwest Living magazine that I picked up yesterday.

Of course the reason I picked up the magazine is because of the pretty pumpkins on the cover.

I love fall and am a sucker for fall magazine covers. Something about pumpkins and football and crisp evenings can make a girl swoon.

And food. Duh. Of course. I forgot about the food.

All right, all right, it's just the food. Screw the pumpkins.
Unless they're in bread. Or pie. Or cheesecake. Or soup.

Sheeez.

So while perusing the Midwest Living magazine at the pharmacy,

I discovered this recipe in the back pages.

And then I flipped to the picture in the middle of the magazine to see what the dish actually looked like.

Food. Look yummy. Must make.

So I promptly raced to the grocery store (50 feet away) and purchased the items to make this dish.

I think my dish below turned out just like the magazine's.

Well, mine looks a little chunkier but I'm telling ya, chunky is good. You won't regret making this dish.

It's so flavorful with the brown sugared caramelized onions, the sweetness and depth of fall fruit flavors and the savory taste of the rub on the chicken.

Here is the link for the recipe in case you want to print it off:
http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/chicken/roasted-chicken-breasts-with-caramelized-onions-and-fall-fruit/

Or better yet, just go out and buy the magazine because there's also a recipe for Harvest Chipotle Chili and Apple Scones with Spiced Maple Butter in there that sounds and looks DELICIOSO!

Roasted Chicken Breasts with Caramelized Onions and Fall Fruit
From the October 2011 Midwest Living magazine
Oven: 425 degrees F
Prep: 30 minutes
Roast: 30 minutes to 35 minutes

4 bone-in chicken breast halves (2 to 2-1/2 pounds)
4 teaspoons chicken or turkey roasting rub
2 large white or red onions, cut into 3/4-inch chunks (2 cups)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 medium Granny Smith or tart red apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1 medium Bosc or Anjou pear, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped (1 cup)
1/3 cup dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried currants, golden raisins, snipped dried apricots or snipped dried figs
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh rosemary or 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup cranberry juice, apple cranberry juice, pear nectar, apricot nectar or dry white wine
2 tablespoons dry sherry, white balsamic vinegar, dry vermouth or dry white wine
Fresh green beans, trimmed and steamed (optional)

Directions 1. Lightly grease a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle the roasting rub onto all of the surfaces of the chicken; rub in with fingers. Place chicken, skin side up, in prepared baking pan. Roast, uncovered, in a 425 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F).

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook onions, covered, in hot butter over medium-low heat about 15 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. Uncover; add brown sugar. Cook and stir over medium-high heat about 5 minutes more or until onions are golden. Add apple, pear, cranberries, garlic, rosemary and pepper to skillet. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes, stirring twice. Stir in cranberry juice and dry sherry. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 to 4 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.

3. To serve, transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Spoon onion mixture over chicken. If you like, serve with steamed green beans. Makes 4 servings.

The prep and cooking
is super EASY and super FLAVORFUL
with this
Roasted Chicken Breasts With Caramelized Onions and Fall Fruit
recipe.
Disclaimer: Persons who are easily manipulated by pictures will become very hungry.
Do not proceed further if your stomach is growling.

Notice how few ingredients there are. Cheap and easy!

This recipe calls for a poultry spice rub but I made my own using Emeril Lagasse's recipe.
Poultry Spice Rub
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsps salt
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp black pepper
Mix all ingredients together.

Mix up Emeril's spices for the spice rub (which by the way is AWESOME) and sprinkle 4 teaspoons of the rub on all sides of the chicken breasts.
(I probably used twice that.)

The recipe calls for 4 chicken breasts, these were small, so I used 6 breasts.

Spray a shallow pan with cooking spray and arrange the breasts in the pan.

Now this is the best part,

caramelizing the onions!

Sautee the two chopped onions in 2 tbsp. butter, covered for 15 minutes.

Then add the 2 tablespoons BROWN SUGAR baby!!!!! Oh my gosh, the onions caramelizing with the brown sugar and butter was the best smell ever. It smelled tangy and sweet at the same time. I could not take my nose off the top of the pan. Which sounds very appetizing to you, I'm sure.

And this is what the onions look like caramelizing with the BROWN SUGAR and butter!
Look, Look!
Aren't they gorgeous?

NOW do you see why I could not keep my face out of the onions? HUH? SEE? Told Ya!

Add:
* 1 peeled and chopped anjou pear
* 1 peeled and chopped granny smith apple
* 1 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
* 2 cloves chopped garlic
* 1/3 cup dried cranberries
* 1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper
to the caramelized onions.

Can you say HEAVEN?
Can you say this really is a Fall feast?
Can you say who needs the chicken really?

Oh my! Is all I have to say.
These fruits and rosemary and pepper looked and smelled amazing while simmering with the onions.

Note to self, don't lay spatula directly on counter and then take a picture.

And if that wasn't enough to elevate my consciousness to a whole new culinary level

Add
2 tablespoons sherry
1/4 cup cranberry juice

into the onion and fruit mixture.

Anybody got a spoon? Oh forget it. Ima just gonna eat this, just like this.

Simmer the sherry and cranberry juice in the fruit and onions for 2-4 minutes.

I check my chicken temp and it's 160.
It needs to be 170
so I put the chicken back in the oven and turn the oven off.

Several minutes later, I take the chicken out and it is a juicy, juicy, juicy 170 degrees.

Did I mention the chicken was juicy?

Transfer chicken to a platter and spoon onion mixture over chicken.

Plate up your meal. Serve with brown rice.

See that scowl on the chicken? YUM!

See those caramelized onions and fruit?
Double Yum!

You can not believe how these fall flavors
meld together so well!

This is a fantastic, complete fall meal.

I'd love to hear from anyone who tries this recipe or would like to share a similar one!!!

Don'tcha just love Fall!!!

Would love to know what your favorite fall recipes are!

Have A Good Saturday!!!

Football Friday Frenzy August 26, 2011

8/26/2011

Every Friday Through The Football Season

I will be featuring Guest Commentators,
fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes, to give their pre-game opinions.
Additionally, I will be featuring fan opinions from other Big 10 teams and teams
from the Big 12 & Pac-12.

Am looking for more Guest Commentators...are you a fan or know a fan of a team not represented?
Check at the end of this post for information on how to guest commentate.

Now Onto This

Weeks

Football

Friday

Discussion

So far we've covered offense and defense.

This weeks questions center around coaching and special teams....
1. Share your input on the coaching staff ie stability, schemes etc.

2. How do you feel about the special Teams? ie punter, kicker, field goal kicker, punt and kick return team etc.

3. Recruiting; any final comments?

Most commentators haven't checked in yet, it's been a verrrry busy week for most people, my very own husband (Turnkey Tim) included :):):)
Keep checking back, will post commentary as it comes in :)

And we'll start with the Big 10

IOWA
Black and Gold Girl: If there is one thing about Iowa this year I'm certain about, it's the coaching staff. It goes without saying that Ferentz is one of the best paid coaches in college football for a reason: he's that good. He knows how to surround himself with motivated, clean coaches who don't buy into the same sleaze that a lot of other programs do. Yes, individual players go rogue, but you'll never hear of an Ohio State or Miami situation coming out of Iowa. Just won't happen. I like O'Keefe's confidence in his offense. Even when Stanzi threw 4 or 5 interceptions in one game, he kept calling passing plays, and it ended up saving the game. He doesn't give up when others would which, while at times can be frustrating, can also become clutch in important games. I hope Norm Parker stays healthy this year because it's obvious that the defense gets so much energy and focus from him. Overall coaches rating: A+.

I'm more nervous on the special teams. Last year I didn't have too much confidence that we would get the extra three points if we were anywhere outside of the 25 yard zone, and that's not good. Fans shouldn't have to hold their breath when it's a fairly short three point kick from the middle of the field, but I do. We need some pep in our step as far as special teams returns go too, although I think overall we do pretty good on the returns.

Hawkinator: (Holding Hawkinator's family in prayer.)

Hawk Guy:

Silver Fox: To me, the appropriate topic of conversation this week is the coaching situation. A few years or so ago, there was some grumbling from Hawkeye fans about this; and generally concerning Coach O'Keefe. But, when you look around the present college football landscape, I'm glad we got the staff we have, and I have been all along. Our staff is stable, and the coaches that have been brought in since Coach Ferentz took over the program have been an improvement to the staff. There's alot to be said for long term continuity in this area. Besides, Coach Ferentz is a good representative for the program and the university. I'm glad he stayed, since there has been alot of interest in him for other positions. And just think, the season is only a little more than a week away. It was great getting the season tickets in the mail last weeks. As always; GO HAWKS!!!!!!!

Turnkey Tim: (Even my own husband hasn't had time to turn in comments this week :)
FINALLY, TURNKEY TIM'S COMMENTS ARE IN...
Coaching staff is one of the best. Iowa has had the same offensive and defensive coordinators going into their 13th season. Ferentz must do something right as most all of the assistant coaches are the same as well. The addition of Soup Campbell as receivers coach a few years back was a big plus - he had the same job at Michigan under Lloyd Carr. Schematically, we either love them or hate them. Ferentz many times is called conservative on offense. The Bend But Don't Break defense is sometimes criticized. Bottom Line - we have won A LOT of games under Ferentz. We have won three straight bowl games. When we win, everything is great.

Recruiting is very strong this year so far. The stability of our staff is helping to land some good ball players. this class is shaping up to be a good one.

Special teams - we have to break in a new punter, our field goal kickers have been unsettled. I feel this is one of our weaker areas until we get these guys settled in. we have a stable of good players on punt and kick return.

Bottom line - we have to avoid injuries to have a good season. Just the other day, Purdue's starting QB is out for the season from a torn ACL. The offense was designed around him. That was a huge loss.To be successful, we don't need these problems. GO HAWKS!

Minnesota
Ace:

Ohio State:
Buck-I: As most everyone knows - Jim Tressel has been replaced with Luke Fickell as head coach. The only new faces are Mike Vrabel and Stan Drayton. I guess Mike Vrabel isn't really a new face since he was Luke's teammate and is now his brother-in-law and actually Stan was hired by Tressel. Other than a few changes it appears to be business as usual and the thing I expect to happen is the Tressel era to continue. The sign of a good coach & leader is a solid program that will continue to perform even in his absence. As for the Special Teams - Devin Barclay which made 20 of 24 field goals is gone but the strong legged Drew Basil is returning along with punter Ben Buchanan which averaged 41 yds last year. I expect the return teams to be strong and hopefully we will get a better start to the season from the coverage teams than we got last year. GO BUCKS!

Michigan
A'maize'n Blue:

Nebraska
Bo Big Red: Coaching,staff with Bo Polini as head coach and brother Carl polini has the "BLACKSHIRTS" ready for play new offensive coach but not new to coaching has brought a lot of intensity to the offense.Nebraska is still a young team but has 14 starters ,7 offense and 7 defense starters comming back including Lynton Davis Who had 110 tackles last yr ,the most in the big 12 the year before 114 tackles and again the most in the Big 12. special teams are the deepest in the division ,all veterans with high hopes for new freshman kicker this year. Nebraska has attained some great players this year,Artur Rodriguez is the talk of the team 6'6'' 325lbs. of pure muscle new ofensive tackle ,and Erick Martin Deffensive back only played in the last two games last year and made 26 tackles will start this year.Newcomer Jamal Turner past high school quarter back will be in the back field as tailback and expect a lot of wildcat offenses with him running and throwing the ball. Athletic Dir. and Legend Tom Osborne has been at every practice this year,helping and advising his favorite coach Bo Polini when ever he needs some help,who better to ask.Nebraska national rated team is the Highest rated Team in the Big 10.If Nebraska has another 10 win season which will make 3 in a row . It will be the first time since Osborne hung up his coaching shoes.2nd year quarterback Taylor Martinez is back this year with more expierence and is said more of a leader this year ,This sophmore has a big future,and every one is waiting for Iowa that will be the new rivalry although I think NEBRASKA will run the table in the BIG 10 this year,you usally take a loss from a nobody team,because you looked past them, but that nobody team WON'T be Iowa,that will be an ANNIHILATION!!!!, NEBRASKA will be waiting to CRUSH them. i predict 13 wins 1 loss.

Wisconsin
Steve: Hi sports fans. Things are really heating up in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Steve is busy watching the Brewers (who are smoking up the place this week). The Packers are coming into their season with an impressive lineup and are expected to be top contenders for the Super Bowl again this year, however, I have big predictions for the Badgers...... Wisconsin Steve predicts this week that the Badgers will come out of the 2011 season with a 12-2 winning streak. Toon and Wislon have developed chemistry quickly. The Badgers have options for production at tight end. Their tremendous offense is impressive and I believe the Badgers will not only dominate but control the limelight this season. It's gonna be a helluva ride! Hang tough sports fans and don't forget to tune in to our Packers this evening!!

Now onto the Big 12

Oklahoma State
Boone's Boy:

Texas
Bevo Jr: Not too much new to reveal – the “moles” are having a tough time, but remain in deep spy mode. Intel should start to open up a lot more next week.

It was mentioned previously that the Longhorns have almost a completely new coaching staff, and we are impressed with the word that is leaking out of the ‘closed practices’ that is a trademark of Mac Brown. The players are enthused about the hard work and multiple new schemes being learned, on both sides of the ball. New “O” line coach Stacy Searles is flame hardening his troops. We’re looking for a bona fide running game again. It’ll be a new-look Horns offense this year. Thank gawd.

The big difference on special teams is we have some real ‘burners’ on kick-off & punt returns. And should be fewer return yards against when we kick. There will be harder hitting, and fewer ‘whiffs’ than last year’s apocalyptic season. Punters & kickers should be solid again this season; no real worries there.

Recruiting is Mack Brown’s forte, and we’re getting looks from more out of state players lately, and that’s a good thing.

I’ll have a lot of key player’s names for you to keep an eye on by next week, some newbies – some seniors. One week til real Football – can’t wait!

Hook ‘em Horns!

Texas A & M
Hullabaloo:

And we finish with Pac 12 perspectives

Colorado
Buffalo Up: The buffaloes are entering their first year under new head coach Jon Embree, a CU alumni and long-time assistant in the NFL and college ranks, CU is his first head coaching job. Embree has built himself an impressive staff which includes many other CU alumni and prominent assistants, many of which played or coached under the highest regarded head coach in CU history, Bill McCartney. Greg Brown returns to Boulder for his 3rd coaching stint, this time as the defensive coordinator, he has installed a 3-4 system with a “Jack” linebacker position to counter the pass heavy offenses in the PAC-12. Eric Bienemy is the new offensive coordinator and has reinstalled the West Coast offense, a long time staple of the successful CU teams.

The first few games of the season will be critical for the Buffalo special teams, for the first time in school history they will have true freshman starting at both kicker and punter. This is not a result of lack of experience at these positions however, each freshman won their job during competitions with a deep field of candidates including a returning starter at punter. CU will benefit from having the best athletes on the team back to return kicks and punts but these teams have never lived up to expectation since the departure of return specialist Jeremy Bloom in 2004.

CU has already fielded a decent class entering the season. This class, which will be Embree’s second complete recruiting effort, already includes a highly ranked quarterback in Shane Dillon. Dillon is a pro-style quarterback out of Southern California and is ranked highly by all recruiting websites, earning a 4 star rating. The class also provides some help on the defensive and offensive lines as well as several wide receivers and running backs with play making ability.

Utah
Red 5 Standing By:

Check back throughout the weekend as commentary comes in!

Still Needing Volunteer Fan Commentators From:
Big 10
Illinois
Michigan state
Purdue
Northwestern
Indiana
Penn state

Big 12
Have Texas and Oklahoma State...how about Oklahoma, Iowa State etc

Pac-12
Any fans out there? I have Colorado and Utah covered, how about other team fans?

Independent team fans?
Open to suggestions, Notre Dame? etc :)

Email me (Angie) at
salesturnkeyauto@aol.com
or comment on this here post with your email and I'll touch base.
Thanks!

Thanks Guest

Commentators...

Next week

Starts Pregame Perspectives!

Yay!!!

I Got A Tatto And Then Got Escorted Out Their Front Door

8/24/2011

So I was reading Reader's Digest last night.
Yup, the magazine's still around.
It looks graphically different and is a whole lot thinner, but there's still interesting,
condensed articles and jokes in it.

I read a joke on their "Laugh :)" page and it reminded me of my tattoo story.
If I remember correctly, this "Laugh :)" page used to be called
"Laughter Is The Best Medicine" back in the day.
Guess the titles got thinner too.

Guess I didn't need glasses back in '73.

Hey, remember when Reader's Digest had all the article titles and the page numbers on the front cover?

Remember when you would take your finger and scroll down the front cover finding your favorite section or an article with an interesting title name?

And remember scrolling your finger over to the right had side to the page number and then flipping right away to that page?

Remember when I bored you to death talking about Reader's Digest?

So here's the Tattoo Jokes
from the June/July 2011 edition of Reader's on the "Laugh:)" page
Courtesy of Darren C. Addy on mcsweeneys.net
_________________________________________________________________________

Tats Not Right
If truth-in-advertising laws governed our tattoos, here's what the ink would actually say:

Still in my rebellious rite-of-passage phase.
I anticipate always feeling as whimsical as I was when I chose this.
Thinking-ahead deficient.
Personal names on my body are not necessarily indicative of my relationship with that person when you read this.
I regretted this one almost immediately.
It may be wrong to assume that I know what this symbol represents.
Actively taking a role in reducing the number of potential places that might employ me.

Those jokes made me laugh hard because almost everyone knows someone who has a tattoo symbol but can't quite explain the meaning.

Or a name of an ex-important person in their life tattooed somewhere on their skin.

And how many times have you looked at someone's tattoo and in your head went, "Eeewww, wonder what they were thinking?"

Sure glad I have higher pain tolerance than Angie.

Even Megan Fox (my twin sister), an actress in Hollywood, came out yesterday and announced she was going to have her Marilyn Monroe tattoo removed off her forearm.

(That was a lie when I said Megan Fox was my twin sister).

But the following story is not a lie, nor is it impressively funny or even interesting.

But Ima tell it anyway.

The Day I Got A Tattoo And Then Got

Escorted Out Of The Joint

Back in 1999 at the age of 35, I was on a one week vacation from my job in my former life in Iowa City. I remember feeling like a rich person not having to go into my emotionally draining, stressball job for a week.

The first day off I thought I would go to Cedar Rapids and surprise my friend at her job and take her out to lunch. I went to her workplace but she was at a conference all week.

So I did what any other normal person would do.

I went and got a tattoo.

Hey, I think my drawings are improving, huh?

On a whim.

Because I am whimsical like that.

Yup, that's me, old whimsy Angie, crazy fun gal that she is. Yup.

Crazy all right.

I walk into the reputable (seriously, it was ranked the oldest and best tattoo business in Iowa at the time), clean tattoo parlor and told the older biker lady (probably 48 at that time) at the front desk that I wanted to get a tattoo and did they hurt.

Old biker lady replied that it depends on where you get the tattoo. I asked where does it hurt the least. She pulled up the leg of her short a little bit and pointed to her upper front leg. Uh, I definitely knew I didn't want a tattoo there after seeing hers. I asked where the next least painful spot was. She said the ankle.

I said "All right, let's do it!"

That was mistake #1.

So I picked out what I thought was a cute butterfly from the tattoo binders.
Yup.
A butterfly.
On my ankle.

That was mistake #2.

Just call me The Least Original Person Ever. If anyone ever has an award for that, please let me know, because Ima nominate myself.

The owner guy took my money and told me to sit in the tattoo chair in the waiting area.

That was mistake #3; having the tattoo carved on my ankle while sitting in the waiting room tattoo chair while several young people wait their turn.

Tattoo Parlor's mistake #1.....Tattooing on me in the waiting room where several young people are waiting their turn.

The tattoo artist (the owner, an older guy, at the time probably 48, boy did my definition of "older" suddenly become older when I got older) takes his 1970's woodburning kit out (IT FELT LIKE A WOODBURNING KIT FROM WHEN YOU WERE A KID!! You know what I mean) and started outlining the butterfly.

It immediately hurt like heck!!!! I have low pain tolerance and it was awful!!! I'm not kidding you!!! I thought I was gonna die. I was having heart palpitations and I broke out in a bad sweat. It burned like someone was taking one of those long lighted fireplace matches and carving a masterpiece into my ankle. I am not kidding you, that is the honest to goodness truth!!! It was awful!!!

I started screaming and yelled at him to stop!! He said, "You're fine".

I yelled, "No I'm not. I'm having heart palpitations, it's terrible!!! I want you to stop right now!"

He kind of harumphed at me and said it can't be that bad. I said it is. I asked how far along he had gotten, I was just sure most of the tattoo had been carved and I could go home.

Well, he had gotten the two antennas done.

That's it, just two tiny 1/8 inch antennas. Of the butterfly.

On my ankle. Permanent antennas. Right there. For all the world to see. Two black lines with dots at the top.

I asked if those lines were permanent.

He said yes.

I said I have to take a few minutes to decide if I want to continue.

I glance over at the young people in the waiting room and I kid you not,
every.single.one.of .them
had eyes as big as UFO saucers and scared/concerned looks on their faces.
Every.single. one.of them.

One girl said, "Ma'am, does that hurt?" in a real small voice.

The owner said gruffly, "You'll be fine. Just watch the TV up there and take your attention away from the tattoo. Can we continue?" he asked meanly.

I thought a few more minutes and said "Okay." So I sit back down, look up at the TV high up on the wall, and guess what is playing to take my mind off the severe destruction taking place on my ankle.....

Must cut people up and make Angie really unhappy.

Quincy M.E.!

That medical show with Jack Klugman where he was an M.E.

Which stands for Medical Examiner!!!

And he was performing an autopsy!!

Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my!

After more screaming and pain (no exaggeration), the dude was finally finished with my tattoo.

A couple of the kids in the waiting room had gotten up and left by this time. No kidding.

I had already paid, so the owner dude quickly ushered me up to the front desk to sign a paper stating that I received instructions on caring for the newly applied tattoo.

I noticed there were earrings, piercing things and such up by the front desk while I was reading the care instructions. Pretty, shiny things. And I am a sucker for anything pretty and shiny. I asked biker lady chick and the owner dude a couple questions about getting my ears double pierced and both people said at the same time that they didn't have time to talk to me about piercings, that I don't want any.

Then one of them took me by the arm (I can't remember which one, it happened so quickly) and walked me out the front door onto the sidewalk and told me goodbye.

And that is the absolute truth about how I got my white trash tattoo.

I'll bet they wouldn't have escorted Megan Fox outside like that.

Another Affordably Priced Sunfire SE ~ SUPER SWEET!

8/23/2011

1999 Pontiac Sunfire SE ~ Coupe ~ Red ~ 143k Miles
SUPER EXCELLENT CONDITION!
$3385

Click on "Inventory" up above to see 25 additional pictures and information.

Letter From A Reader Requesting Prayers

8/22/2011

Below is an email I received this morning from a SUPER DUPER AWESOME CUSTOMER from Montezuma asking to spread the word for PRAYERS for a former Iowa Hawkeye...

Happy to oblige 'K' and thanks for sharing this story. We wish Kyle healing and strength as he goes through rehabilitation and recovery.

K's email:
Hello Angie! This is K...... from Montezuma. I have enjoyed reading your blog. We are also avid Hawkeye fans and looking forward to the upcoming season.

I am writing asking for your help in reaching out to the Hawkeye Nation through your blog. There is a fine young man & former Hawkeye football player in need of support and prayers from the Hawkeye Nation.

Kyle Spading was a 2005 graduate of Belle Plaine, Iowa high school. He was a three-time All State football player and also received many other state honors in basketball, track & baseball. He continued his football career as a walk-on at the University of Iowa. As a tight end, he found himself deep on the depth chart and didn’t see much playing time as a Hawkeye, but he never quit. He worked hard and was very well respected by all Hawkeye players. He received the Team Leader Award in 2009. He graduated with a degree in Health and Sports Studies. He returned to Belle Plaine and most recently was the Director of the Parks and Recreation department.

At the end of July, he fell asleep while driving and rolled the mini-van that he was driving. He suffered a broken neck and remains paralyzed from the shoulders down. He has a long road of recovery and is working hard to regain some arm movement. He has recently been transferred to the Rehab Institute of Chicago, were he is working very hard. His work ethic as a Hawkeye has given him the determination needed in therapy.

If possible, could you send a shout out to the Hawkeye Nation through your blog asking for everyone to keep this fine young man in their thoughts and prayers?

If anybody is interested in following his progress, they can view the family’s updates at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kylespading. They are planning a benefit to be held in October.

Thanks so much and have a great week!

K......

It's All Good Until the Smoke Detectors Go Off

8/22/2011

BEEF.

I.AM.A.CARNIVORE.

GIVE.ME.MEAT.

AND.LOTS.OF.IT.PLEEEAAASE!

Friday night started out simple enough.

Cook 18 lbs. of arm roast. Make into shredded BBQ Beef the next day for a large family celebration.

Easy peasy.

Don'tcha just hate it when people say "easy peasy"?

And then follow it up with a non-word like "don'tcha"?

Anyhoo, 18 lbs of arm roast with four onions chopped and 6 garlic cloves crushed. Sprinkled liberally with salt and pepper.

We don't want a Friday night before a big celebration to be without drama.
So
pour a couple,
or three,
or four cups of water in the bottom of the roasting pan so the roast doesn't stick.

Cover the roast with with foil.

Place in a 400 degree oven and cook 500 hours.

Or what feels like 500 hours on a 90 degree night in an old farmhouse with a window air conditioner.

Meanwhile,
pretend like you're Paula Deen from the Food Network and begin your
Oven Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic.
You are making these potatoes as a side dish to eat tonight with a slice of that juicy-meaty-red meat-meat tasting-piece of red meat once it's done cooking.
Can you tell we really enjoy our red meat cheat nights?

Oven Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds small new red potatoes (about 15), scrubbed and dried
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 to 6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Salt and Pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Pare a narrow strip of peel from the middle of each potato.

Um, boring.

"A" stands for Angie by the way. And Amazing. And Awesome. I'm blushing now.

Instead,
get a little creative.

After all, it's like 8:30pm on Friday night and you have several hours until the arm roast is cooked and cooled down.

Peel a heart on a teeny tiny new potato.
And try your best at carving a peace sign too.

Looks like a bad 1950's Frankenstein.

And then get super creative by peeling out a smiley face.

And then realize the potato looks creepy, not smiley.

And then give up on the creativity and just peel normal strips on the rest of the potatoes like Paula Deen wanted you to in the first place.

In a large bowl, mix the oil, garlic, and rosemary; add the potatoes and toss well.

And this is where things got interesting...
Oh, for Pete's sake!!!!
The smoke detectors are going off!
All the water I put in the arm roast pan, combined with the arm roast juices, have somehow boiled over the top of the roast pan onto the hot oven floor and smoke is BILLOWING out of my WW II era oven and penetrating the whole house.

Three of my four smoke detectors on the main level start going off (what? I'm neurotic)...BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!
My eyes are burning. There is a haze all around...
By the way, did you know it's hard to photograph haze and smoke in a house?
It just looks like you went crazy taking pictures of the inside of your house.
A house with no haze. Or smoke.

SHUT UP SMOKE DETECTOR!!!

And why, for the love of all that is Holy, are there so many cobwebs on the guest bedroom ceiling??!!

Note to self, check into that sometime before the kids come home for Christmas.

Don't look too close; I'm filthy from being manhandled at least three times a week by the cook.

BEEP, BEEP! Seriously,
you're the most annoying Entryway Smoke Detector ever.

YOU SUCK dining room smoke detector!!!

Now I have to get up on a chair and risk my life,
AGAIN!
getting you to SHUT UP!!!

AAAND now the dog is going craaaazzzy!

My sweet blind beagle doggie Mindy Peaches gets scared of smoke detector noises and finds her way outside IMMEDIATELY.
Tonight it's easy for Mindy to find her way outside because
ALL THE WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN
airing out a meat smoke that does.not.show.up.in.pictures!

I see my peace sign but I don't see Frankenstein or my awesome "A".

Finally! Half hour later,
the smoke and meat crisis is over.

Other than the fact that the whole house smells like a big porterhouse.
And I smell like the cow it came from.

Don'tcha wish you were married to me?
Whatev.

Anyhoo, transfer the potatoes to a shallow baking pan and roast until potatoes are tender when tested with the tip of a knife.

Serve potatoes hot,

500 hours later,

after the arm roast is cooked through.

Plate up your meal and eat like you haven't had red meat since
ever.

Save some of the roast for the family celebration the next day.

Next morning, slow cook the arm roast in barbecue sauce for several hours in the crock pot. Lift lid occasionally and taste. Take to your large family function and feed many many people. Share nothing of the previous night's smoke alarm adventures.

By the way,
the Oven Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic were exceptionally tasty for how few of ingredients were involved and the ease of the recipe.
Very yummy!

Football Friday Discussion August 19, 2011 Defense Defense Defense

8/19/2011

Every Friday through the football season, I will be featuring Guest Commentators, fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes,
to give their pre-game opinions.
Additionally, I will be featuring fan opinions from otherBig 10 teams and teams from the Big 12 & Pac-12.
Am looking for more Guest Commentators...are you a fan or know a fan of a team not represented?
Check at the end of this post for information on how to guest commentate..

Football

Friday

Discussion
Defense, Defense, Defense

We have several new fan commentators joining us in our weekly get-together. Welcome Buffalo Up from the Pac-10 Colorado Buffaloes and Hawkinator from the Iowa Hawkeyes! Also a big Welcome to Bo Big Red of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Hullabaloo checking in from the Texas A&M Aggies! And we have Boone's Boy and his perspectives on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Glad to have ya!
Monday Morning Update! Shout out to "Red 5 Standing By", providing commentary on the Pac 12 Utah Utes!

Let's get right into it.

Last week we talked a bit about offense.
This week's questions center around the defense:

1. How do you feel about this year's defense?
ie the D-line, Linebackers, Pass Defense.

2. Regarding Offense and Defense,
which group do you feel has the most experience?

Angie's Note: Team commentary will be added as it comes in throughout the weekend......

And we'll start with the Big 10

IOWA
Black and Gold Girl:1) We lost three of our main guys on the D-line so I think that the coaches will have their work cut out for them on the line - but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Adrian C.up front and Tyler Sash's back field contributions will be missed, but Adrian was so tightly covered in his senior year that I don't know we'll really see a noticeable difference on a game by game basis. It'll be tougher without him, but do-able. I think the key player who needs to stay healthy is Norm Parker, our defense very clearly misses him when he's gone so we wish him good health not just for the games but in general. If Tyler Nielsen stays healthy and Micah Hyde has a smooth transition, then the overall defensive outlook: cautiously optimistic.

2) I think our offense is more experienced than the defense, quarterback excluded. Riley Reiff, Marvin McNutt and James Ferentz have been around the block a few times. I feel like there's a little more predictability on the offensive side than on defense in terms of performance, but that doesn't mean the defense won't be exciting. You never know what kind of a cocktail you'll have when you replace a few key starters, and with the quarterback change up this year, I think the first few games will be extremely interesting to watch on both sides of the ball.

Hawkinator: 1. Unfortunately Iowa has a lot of holes to fill in defense because we lost a lot of guys to the NFL, but we do have a strapping group of young, hungry new guys that are ready to step in and do the "Iowa" thing (for those of you who don't know what the "Iowa" thing is, it's kickin' butt and takin' names - especially Ohio State).

2. Besides breaking in a new quarterback, Iowa's offense has more experience than the "young" defense, and definitely shows serious potential to do some of that "Iowa" thing I referred to before.

Hawk Guy: 1.) This year could be difficult for the defense. Historically, the Hawks play the run well, but our d-linemen are largely untested. The secondary is probably even more suspect than the front seven. The coaching staff still has not named starters in the secondary as late as the middle of this week! With a bend but don't break defensive mentality we could definitely see higher scores put on the scoreboard by the opposition. The spread offense is always the biggest weakness of the Hawk defense as a whole. I look for the defensive line to carry much of the burden with hopes that the strength coach Chris O'Doyle will have them strong enough to overcome some of the weak points of the defense.

2.) I look for the offense to be more impressive initially than the defense. Neither side of the ball has much experience, but it is more difficult for the defense to gel with so many unanswered questions as of this point. I look for the defense to come together after the second or third game. However, the offense should be relatively sound as they don't format the offense to specific talents of players on that side of the ball as much as they do on the defensive side, ie. defensive schemes such as nickel and dime are more geared to players with different situational talents. The riddle of whom will be at these skilled positions is largely unsolved as of this moment.

Silver Fox: I talked some about the defense last week. What I will say about the offense is that I'm glad Marcus Coker is the starting running back. He's better than Robinson, Wegher, and Hampton-who all would have been ahead of him this year and last were it not that they all are at other schools now. I do wish them well there, but hopefully we have people now of better character and more reliable. That's more important than winning.

Turnkey Tim: I feel optimistic about this year's defense. We have a revamped defensive line. New linebackers. Some new faces for pass defense. Guess what, this is a very fast defense. Norm Parker has stated as much. This is a year where we have more experience at defensive back than we have in the front seven. Not to be too concerned. many of the players had ample playing time along the way last year. Nielson at outside linebacker, a starter before he got hurt, is in the mold of Edds, a former productive outside linebacker now in the NFL. If he had not got hurt last year, we would have won at least two more games. James Morris, if he stays healthy, possibly one of the best linebackers ever to wear the black and gold. This kid is smart, fast, and reacts even faster in the game situations. Defensive line, some questions as to how good we; we just may be surprised. On pass defense, S. Prater, along with Micah Hyde have two spots locked down with ample experience at the other two spots. Colin Sleeper from Solon may be one to keep an eye on. He has earned praise from Kirk Ferentz.

Regarding experience of offense vs. defense, I'll go with the offense. Riley Reiff at left guard, Ferentz at center lead off a good group of offensive linemen. Coker at running back makes me happy, but we need to develop depth fast. Look for true freshman McCall to get a hard look. Other than Marvin McNutt at wide receiver, we need some new guys to step up. At QB, Vandenburg may be a new starter but he has quality game experience and Big 10 Network analysts say he could possibly be one of the better QB's in the league. Bottom line - we need to keep our players healthy - this is the biggest factor towards an overall record. Go Hawks!

Minnesota
Ace: New Gopher coach Jerry Kill brings something to Minnesota that they haven't seen in decades, a coaching staff that's been together for the better part of ten years. Look for them to improve greatly during the season. Not saying they are going to win a lot of games but with a little luck and lack of injuries the Rodents of Minny could surprise some people. Most likely the key to success is in the hands of Quarterback Marquis Gray, who again plays quarterback. Big, strong, and athletic if Gray can stay healthy he could put up some big numbers. On defense well they haven't stopped anybody in a decade or so and there is is only one way for them to go UP! Look for the Rodents to slowly crawl out of there hole and improve over the season. Look out Badgers, you know what a Gopher does to a Badger hole!!

Ohio State
Buck-I: 1. With 7 starters gone from last years defense and 2 big names gone from the front line (Cameron Heyward & Dexter Larimore) one of the questions has been - can they get pressure up front? Two guys are back from injuries that have been starters previously so that should help on the experience side. From the pracitices so far it doesn't appear like they have lost much as far as speed and getting to the backfield. I think the defensive line and the linebackers will be solid with the pass defense coming along.

2. There's not much doubt about it - the defense will have more experience than the offense - especially the 1st five games. Even after the suspensions are done the offense will still be lacking experience at quarterback so I think the defense is what will carry them throughout the season. Go Bucks!!

Michigan
A'maize'n Blue: MIA this week, hopefully coming up this weekend :)

Nebraska
Bo Big Red: Blackshirts Deeper, More Physical and More Knowledgeable This year, this is our year to Dominate THE BIG TEN Nebrska is known for it's "SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL" Defense is our biggest weapon, But the Offense and Special Teams have had a great training camp. I think is safe to say that NEBRASKA will Dominate The Big Ten this year!!!

Wisconsin
Steve: Badgers first game is up against the Packers last exhibition game. Wish I had picture in picture. Predictions are slim this week as so far they are needing some devine intervention. My prediction is that they will come around. I do predict Wall and White will have 2400 yards rushing. Call it Steve's big prediction. Enjoy the football season everybody!!! Game is on...........

Now onto the Big 12

Texas
Bevo Jr.:Defense HAS to step up this year, the Longhorns allowed way too many points last season for as few as we scored. UT has a new Defensive Coordinator, Manny Diaz, who is getting the troops re-orientated with tons of new schemes. More experience this year with Keenan Robinson back and being a leader. A couple of ‘studs’ at linebacker will be huge, one being Jordan Hicks who was recruited out of the state of Ohio. Pass defense has been pretty good but could use more speed to the ball from DB’s; that is being worked on – we will see.

Defense probably has better experience, but both groups are getting a needed re-build (overhaul). A lotta new faces are making hits so far in practice, but it’s too early to name names because things will probably change as positions are contested. But there are many good, tough potentials being molded into Longhorns. We’ll know more about names in the next couple of weeks as the cream begins to rise to the top.

This is more of a “rebuilding year” rather than reloading, unusual for Texas football. 5 wins and 7 losses last year was NOT fun.

I don’t want to sound vague, but with almost a complete staff overhaul this year, and Mack Brown with his usual ‘close-the-vest’ tactics, a lot is going to be “new” about the Horns. But expect positive change.

Texas A&M
Hullabaloo: I’m cautiously optimistic. This is a young defense that made huge strides last year under Tim DeReuyter in his first year as coordinator. There will be some new wrinkles this season and the defense will be more aggressive with a better understanding of DeReuyter’s 3-4 scheme. Because of this, I expect an overall improvement despite the loss of NFL stud Von Miller. The defensive line is losing end Lucas Patterson but should still be solid with returning players like Jonathan Mathis and Tony Jerod-Eddie. Humongous shoes to fill at linebacker with the leading tackler Michael Hodges leaving as well as Miller. Several candidates to step up here particularly Sean Porter who the coaches feel is ready to take his game to the next level. The veteran secondary should be the strength of the unit with senior coverage specialists Coryell Judie and Terrance Frederick returning at corner along with hard hitting senior strong safety Steven Campbell.

Regarding Offense and Defense, which group do you feel has the most experience? The offense for sure. I say this because all the offensive playmakers are returning while the defense lost its main playmaker. It all starts with quarterback Ryan Tannehill who saved the season last year after taking over for the ineffective Jerrod Johnson. Tannehill has been looking very sharp in practices and is the unquestioned leader of this team. This time last year he was participating in as many wide receiver drills as quarterback drills. At running back, Cyrus Gray emerged as a superstar, ripping off seven straight 100-yard games to close last season. Gray could be a Heisman hopeful if he can hold off backfield mate Christine Michael who’s returning from a broken leg and is very hungry to re-establish a two back attack. It was Michael’s injury that opened the door for Gray. Speaking of superstars, Aggieland is grateful that wide receiver Jeff Fuller came back for his senior season instead of testing the NFL waters. Fuller has already shattered several school records for his position and leads a talented group that includes Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachuku. -Farmers fight!

Oklahoma State:
Boone's Boy: Always cautiously optimistic about OSU’s defense especially when they begin Big 12 play, but they did show signs of life of life last year and finished in the middle of the pack…points against. We’ll have to wait and see who steps up in week one before giving too much praise to anyone on the D.

Returning our QB, RB, WR that were a part of an offense that produced on average, 44 points per game which ranked 3rd in the country. The defense however was a little shaky and averaged 26 points against so, we’ll once again rely heavily on the offense to rack up as many points as possible.

And we round out this week's commentary with the

Pac-12

Colorado
Buffalo Up: In the newly expanded PAC-12 the Colorado Buffaloes are going to face an uphill battle when facing the pass heavy offenses that define the conference. The defensive secondary has been a position of strength over the past few years, however the departure of the 2 starting corners to the NFL (including first round draft pick Jimmy Smith) has left a gaping hole at cornerback. The safety position is strong with returning starter Ray Polk coming back at free safety and former starter Anthony Perkins coming back at strong safety after an injury. The defensive line will be a point of strength this year with 3 returning starters and the linebackers have great potential to have an impact in both the passing and rushing games.

Offense is the more experienced side of the ball for the Buffaloes this year as all skill players from last year are returning. Quarterback Tyler Hansen gets his shot to shed the shadow of a 4 year quarterback controversy involving the former head coach’s son Cody Hawkins. Hansen was the starter last year before rupturing his spleen midseason and performed well then and during the spring this year. The other skill positions are even stronger with Rodney Stewart entering his senior year and coming off of a giant season last year, he has found himself on numerous award watch lists and is expected to exceed expectations, which has been his M.O. since arriving on campus as a 2 star recruit. Receiver is equally strong with former Michigan starter Toney Clemons on one side and the rising Paul Richardson on the other. The offensive line will attempt to replace first round draft pick Nate Solder at left tackle but features some of the most experienced players on the team.

Utah Utes:
Red 5 Standing By: Our mothers always warned us to be careful what we wished for, and the 2011 Utah Utes would do well to heed mom’s advice. Utah begins play in the expanded Pac 12 conference in 2011, meaning that the Utes are trading in a schedule that featured the likes of New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming for a schedule that features teams like USC, UCLA, Washington and Arizona. Nevertheless, Utah has had its fair share of success against BCS-conference opponents over the past 10 years (including BCS bowl wins in 2005 and 2009), and many experts pick Utah to win the newly-formed Pac 12 South Division. If that comes to pass, it will likely be because of Utah’s front seven on defense. The defensive line is particularly strong at end, where Derrick Shelby returns to anchor one side of the line and Dave Kruger – the younger (though not smaller) brother of Baltimore Raven Paul Kruger – will anchor the other. Reports from camp indicate that Brian Blechen’s move from strong safety to linebacker is paying big dividends by getting more speed on the field. Though talented, the secondary is inexperienced after losing standout cornerback Brandon Burton to the Minnesota Vikings. Don’t expect a lot of “coverage sacks” from the Utes this year – if the pass rush falters, Utah is vulnerable to the deep threat.

Utah’s defense appears to be head and shoulders above its offense, due in part to an injury-bug outbreak along Utah’s offensive line. Great things are expected from Jordan Wynn, Utah’s returning starter at quarterback, but there is very little depth on the offensive line left and virtually no experience at running back. Utah will run a more pro-style offense this year after snatching away Norm Chow from UCLA to be the new offensive coordinator, but Utah will rely heavily on its defense to create turnovers and put the offense in propitious situations. From a scheme standpoint, Utah’s defense will be the same it’s been since head coach Kyle Whittingham became defensive coordinator 16 seasons ago: play man-to-man in the secondary and bring a lot of pressure at the line of scrimmage. If Utah’s secondary can hold up its end of that bargain, expect good things in 2011 from the Utah Utes.

Check back throughout the weekend as commentary comes in!

Still Needing Volunteer Fan Commentators From:
Big 10
Illinois
Michigan state
Purdue
Northwestern
Indiana
Penn state

Big 12
Have Texas and Oklahoma State...how about Oklahoma, Iowa State etc

Pac-12
Any fans out there? I have Colorado covered, how about other team fans?

Independent team fans?
Open to suggestions, Notre Dame? etc :)

Email me (Angie) at
salesturnkeyauto@aol.com
or comment on this here post with your email and I'll touch base.
Thanks!

Once again, thanks to all the cool team commentators!!!
Next week's questions to center around recruiting, coaching and special teams.
Then the season begins with pre-game commentary!!!

See Ya Next Week Right Here

at Football Friday Discussion!

Nice 2002 Oldsmobile Alero GL with 133k Miles!

8/19/2011

Super Nice 2002 Oldsmobile Alero GL
~ Sedan
~ Silver
~ 133k Miles
~ $4585

Automatic, Air conditioning, Power windows, locks, mirrors, and seats. AM/FM CD player, Rear spoiler, Alloy wheels, Cruise control, Tilt wheel, 2.4 4 cyl eco-tech engine, excellent gas mileage.

Click on "Inventory" up above to view 30 more photos of this sharp riding/driving Alero!

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