41 today

This year's celebration is definitely a little more low-key than last year, when I went to Houston and bought a new computer.

41 is - well - ho hum.

I had drinks with my buddy Eric the other day, (he's 45) and he told me, "you can't be 41. You have to be in your 30s." Like it would make him feel younger.

Yesterday, my doc called me and told me these words, "The results from your blood tests are in." I froze.

"They're normal," she said. "Except you have really low levels of Vitamin D."

I'd gone in earlier in the week because of pains in my wrists and arms. I also had some blurry vision in one eye for a short spell last week. I'm not a hypochondriac - but at 41, I'm not taking any chances. I don't want to be the one, after they get diagnosed with eyeball cancer, saying, 'Well, if I had only told the doctor earlier, they could have caught it in time..."

Not me. If I feel pain in a part of my body for more than 12 hours, that I didn't bump into a kitchen counter or fall on, I'm going to the doctor.

Anywho. I'm taking the vitamin D supplement and reading articles about what vitamin D deficiency can do to a person. Apparently, it can lead to all kinds of nasty things, like cancer - but it also can make your joints ache and give you rickets.

But I'm not one of those people who dreads having a birthday. I love birthdays and I plan on having a great time today. I'm going to try and fill the day with stuff I like to do, like napping, power-napping and watching tv. On tap for tonight: a rare steak, some 12-year old scotch and shagging the love of my life.

happy birthday to me.

Crossing the new 35W bridge

Crossed the new bridge at 6:15 a.m. 9/18/08

Football picks

Although I watch football, I'm no expert. So if I were you, I wouldn't bet any cash based on my prognostications. Winners in bold.

Tennesse -- 20 @ Cincinnati - 14

Buffalo -13 @ Jacksonville - 27

Oakland - 3 @ KC -- 17

Chicago - 13 @ Carolina - 10

Green Bay - 13 @ Detroit - 16

NY Giants - 20 @ St. Louis - 6

New Orleans - 17 @ Washington - 23

Atlanta - 30 @ Tampa Bay - 17

San Fran - 14 @ Seattle - 24

New England - 31 @ NY Jets 38

San Diego - 12 @ Denver - 26

Miami - 14 @ Arizona - 17

Pittsburgh - 28 @ Cleveland - 27

Baltimore - 13 @ Houston - 14

Philadelphia - 34 @ Dallas - 37

AND

Indy - 28 @ Minnesota - 13

@#$!$%! I hate football

Woke up with a dark cloud over my head. And the voice in my head has been grumbling this all morning:

"Goddamn Vikings... Hate Packers...what the hell? So mad at Tavaris Jackson...bad throw, bad call @#@@$! Sweet Jesus on a Segway, what were you thinking??!! grumble, grumble, need coffee."

Then I turn on the radio in the car to listen to like-minded fans grumble on the AM sports talk radio.

Says one of the dudes on KFAN: "The Vikings give me a stomach ache, ouch! Where's the Pepto?" Then he launches into a list of reasons why his life would be easier if he were a Packer fan. Word.

It's gonna be a long season...

God, I love football

I'm not a joiner. I'm not a gang-member. I'm not a religious zealot. But I AM a football fan, which I guess slightly contradicts my former assertions.

So that means today is one of my favorite days of the year. It's the first day of the football season for my favorite team and I'm hopeful. Although, as a lifelong Vikes fan, I've learned to temper my optimism with the reality that EVERY friggin' year, this team ultimately disappoints its fans.

Be that as it may, I've predicted that the Vikes will go 9-7 this year and finish behind the Chicago Bears - who looked pretty dominant against the Colts last night. Detroit is still dismal. The Packers are Favre-less. So the Vikings will do what they do best, show flashes of promise with an exciting running back - Adrian Peterson - who make the ESPN highlight reels many times this year. And their defense will keep the score in many games close. But, I have to go with history: 9-7.