VIRGINIA UPSETS MINNESOTA

The Virginia Cavaliers basketball team upset the Minnesota Golden Gophers last night 87-79, the Cavs trailed the #13 ranked Golden Gophers by 10 at the half before outscoring Minnesota 58-40 in the 2nd half. The Cavs will open up ACC play at Virginia Tech on Sunday. It looks we are going to get in the mid 60's the next couple of days here in the Heights but tomorrow looks like it is going to be a total washout, there is a 100% chance of rain. Its hard to believe that today is the last day November and tomorrow is December and that I haven't finished my Christmas shopping yet, I am almost dome though. Dad has one tree up now and is working on a 2nd tree. MICKEY

Crack yourself up
Okay, it's not exactly hilarious that you're so stressed and busy that you're eating dinner at work for the third night in a row. But being able to crack a chuckle or a smile can defuse a situation. "Select three to five memories that always make you laugh, and store them away in your mind," suggests Bruce S. Rabin, MD, PhD, medical director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Healthy Lifestyle Program. "Then, when something is upsetting you, go to your ‘funny bank' and laugh to yourself."

Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. ~Anthony Robbins

PACKERS LOSE, VIRGINIA ON THE ROAD TONIGHT

The Green Bay Packers lost to the Atlanta Falcons yesterday 20-17, the Packers simply didn't make the most of there opportunities that they had offensively. The Redskins also lost yesterday losing to the lowly Vikings 17-13 at home, the Redskins offense made the Vikings defense looks like it was the best in the NFL. The Virginia basketball team will be on the road tonight at Minnesota looking to knock off the Golden Gophers. I thought it was cold yesterday morning but I think this morning has yesterday beat, it is 25 here in the Heights right now. Also I am a bit banged up this morning from Getting the leaves up the yard Saturday and getting the Christmas decorations out of the attic yesterday. My left wrist, right hip and back are alls sore. MICKEY

Animal pals help us stay healthy
People with pets seem to enjoy better overall health. Researchers know that joy and laughter trigger the release of chemicals in the brain that enhance your immune function. Pets make us smile and laugh with their amusing antics and lovable gestures. It turns out that petting something fluffy is a proven immune boost. A Wilkes University study found that stroking a dog for 18 minutes caused a significant increase in secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), your body’s natural antibody against invading germs. Another study found that people with pets make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions. A household pet could be just what the doctor ordered!

An effective leader allows exceptions to the rule for exceptional results or when circumstance demands. ~John Wooden

THE CHIEF STILL LEADS AFTER WEEK 13

WELL AFTER 13 WEEKS THE CHIEF STILL LEADS LES BY 1 GAME AND KEITH IS NOW WITHIN 7 GAMES OF THE LEAD WITH 2 MORE ROUNDS OF PICKS TO GO. KEITH HAD THE BEST WEEK GOING 14-7 WHILE ME & JOHN WENT 7-14. WE WILL HAVE 1 MORE WEEK OF REGULAR PICKS AND THEN THE BOWL GAMES TO END THE SEASON.

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 13
GB
1. CHIEF 173-77 --
2. LES 172-78 -1
3. KEITH 166-84 -7
4. BIFF 162-88 -11
5. JULIANNE 158-92 -15
6. SCOTT 158-92 -15
7. MICKEY 157-93 -16
8. BOBBY 157-93 -16
9. PHILLIPS 154-96 -19
10. ANDREW 154-96 -19
11. LEE 153-97 -20
12. DUSTY 143-107 -30
13. JOHN 142-108 -31
14. MURPH 141-109 -32
15. JOY 141-109 -32
16. GEORGE 139-111 -34
17. SCOTTIE 125-125 -48

WEEK 14 GAMES
NORTHERN ILLINOIS VS MIAMI (OHIO)
ILLINOIS AT FRESNO STATE
PITTSBURGH AT CINCINNATI
UCONN AT SOUTH FLORIDA
OREGON AT OREGON STATE
AUBURN VS SOUTH CAROLINA
FLORIDA STATE VS VIRGINIA TECH
USC AT UCLA
SMU VS CENTRAL FLORIDA
ARIZONA STATE AT ARIZONA
OKLAHOMA VS NEBRASKA
GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT WILLIAM & MARY
LEHIGH AT DELAWARE

VA TECH POUNDS VIRGINIA, PACKERS HAVE A TOUGH ONE

Well the Virginia Tech Hokies pounded the Virginia Cavaliers just like everybody thought they would yesterday in Blacksburg 37-7, the Cavs finish there season at 4-8 and 1-7 in the ACC. Hopefully the Cavs will began there rebuilding process next year, but they have to find QB thats for sure. The Green Bay Packers have a very tough game this afternoon when they visit the Georgia Dome to face the Atlanta Falcons, the Redskins will be at home against the struggling the Minnesota Vikings. Well I have to say is that is very cold 27 degrees here in Colonial Heights this morning, it suppose to get to 47 today before dropping back to around 25 tonight. Yesterday on the blog we had a visitor from Argentina. MICKEY

Man's best friend motivates you to move
Fitness trainers, eat your heart out. Nothing is more motivational to get moving than a dog’s yearning expression that says, “take me out, take me out.” People with dogs exercise more consistently than dog-free people, and small wonder: it's pretty tough to miss a walk when every dog needs to go out at least once a day.

ON THIS DAY
In 1942, nearly 500 people died in a fire that destroyed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston.

BRADY

It was 1 year ago today that Brady passed away, we miss you buddy.

VCU BEATS UCLA, VIRGINIA AT VIRGINIA TECH

The VCU Rams basketball team picked up a big win yesterday knocking off the UCLA Bruins 89-85 at Madison Square Garden, with the win the Rams improve to 4-1 and will face South Florida next on the road on Wednesday night. The Virginia Cavaliers football team will finish out the season today at Virginia Tech, the Cavs are heavy underdogs today and I don't see them staying within 20 points of Virginia Tech however I would love to be proven wrong. In high school football action Dinwiddie beat Hanover 28-21 to advance to the semi-finals of the 3A Div 6 State Championship, Dinwiddie will now face Eastern Region champ Phoebus next weekend. Down at the beach Manteo's season came to an end last night when Plymouth beat the Redskins 36-32. Also in case you missed it last night Nevada upset Boise State 34-31 in OT. MICKEY

Don't blow it...
Ok, so you over indulged last night, didn't get up to workout this morning, so let's just give up and go wild with eating over the holidays? No! One night isn't going to do that much damage, and missing one workout isn't either. But throwing in the towel completely and missing 10 workouts and eating whatever you want for 10 days will. Don't get discouraged. Forgive yourself and move on. Every day is a new day.

"Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds." Gordon B Hinckley

I THINK I ATE TO MUCH

Well I hope everybody had a Happy Thanksgiving and didn't eat as much as I did yesterday thats for sure but judging by the size of the food on the plates here at the house I think the may have. If you did eat much get out there and do some shopping today or just get out and some exercises of you choice to burn some of those calories off. Well I went to bed early last night intending to get a good nights sleep but I go far from it, I don't think I slept for man than hour at a time, I just tossed and turned all night. Well I didn't make it down for any of those Black Friday Sales this morning at 3am, I just cant see getting up that early to go shopping. Well there are quite a few college football games today, however since I will be working I won't be able to see them. In high school football action tonight Dinwiddie will be at Hanover and at the beach Manteo will be at home against Plymouth. Well I am going to have to head a little early this morning because I just heard there was a wreck on I-95 North on the scanner. MICKEY

No Doggie Bags!, Keeping the Weight off during the Holidays
Even if Grandma packs you a huge bag of leftovers, don't let them in your house! Take them to work and share! The last thing you want is a refrigerator full of decadent food calling your name in the middle of the night. So if you can help it, don't even take leftovers. But if you have a pushy host, graciously take them, and give them away.

Advice is judged by results, not by intentions. -Marcus Tullius Cicero

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope all you fellow bloggers out there have a Happy Thanksgiving and I would also like to wish everybody else who stops by to visit my blog a HAPPY THANKSGIVING also. Well the Virginia Cavalier basketball team got off to pretty good start yesterday but in the end the Wichita State Shockers pulled out a 70-58 win over the Cavaliers. The VCU Rams suffered a similar fate yesterday playing Tennessee in Madison Square Garden, the Rams hung close most of the game falling to the Volunteers 77-72. It looks like we are going to have dry Thanksgiving before some rain sets in Friday, we are about inches behind on the rainfall for the year so I guess we need it. Scott I still need your picks and if you see Biff I need his well. MICKEY

Food Facts About Thanksgiving
3,000: Calories are consumed by the average person at Thanksgiving dinner.

12: Million turkeys are sold by Butterball each year.

675: Million pounds of turkey are consumed each year.

50: Million pumpkin pies are eaten at Thanksgiving.

350: Approximate number of pounds the largest pumpkin pie ever made weighed. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs, measured 5 feet in diameter and took six hours to bake.

40: How many million green bean casseroles are made.

100: Age of some of the oldest cranberry beds—and they’re still producing!

72: Millions of can of Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce purchased each year.

565: Number of times a line of all the cranberries produced in the U.S. would stretch from Boston to Los Angeles if you lined them all up, end to end.

CAVS KNOCK OFF OKLAHOMA

One day after getting crushed by the Washington Huskies the Virginia Cavaliers bounced back with a resounding 74-56 win over the Oklahoma Sooners, the Cavs will look to continue there winning ways today against Wichita State in the Maui Invitational. It was incorrectly reported yesterday that the VCU Rams were playing Tennessee yesterday, however that game is tonight. Well tomorrow is Thanksgiving but it just doesn't feel it should already be here yet and yes I will be off tomorrow. The entries for the Mickey's Place college football pick-em contest have been a bit slow coming in this week, hopefully everybody will wake up today and send there picks in. Also it has come to my attention that fellow blogger Scott now has a cat. Also even though she is not a fellow blogger I though I would mention today is Mavis Carsley's birthay. MICKEY

Keep Moving!
With the weather generally being horrible and the business of the season, the workout is generally the first to go. Even if you're busy find the time to get just a few minutes of exercise in a day! It's going to help keep the pound at bay. Add bonus? It'll help you de-stress too.

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored. Earl Nightingale

A TOUGH NIGHT FOR THE CAVALIERS

The Virginia basketball team had another very tough night in there 1st game in the Maui Invitational falling to the Washington Huskies 106-63, the Cavs will play 3-1 Oklahoma today in the Invitational. The VCU Rams will play the Tennessee Volunteers tonight in New York in the semi finals of the 2010 NIT Pre Season Tournament. I had a terrible sinus headache again last night however after a good nights sleep it appears that has subsided. Me Ma Evelyn is continuing to recover from her hip surgery, last night when we went by the hospital she had a bit of fever and she was still pretty groggy from the surgery. They are going to try to move her around a little bit today. MICKEY

Pick your poison...
If there is one thing you love, love, love to eat, eat it. But scale back on other things. If you love the stuffing, maybe don't pile on the potatoes. If you want apple pie, lay off the egg nog. It's all about balance. Sorry, you can't have it all, but you can make the choice of what you want the most!

We can teach from our experience, but we cannot teach experience. ~ Sasha Azevedo

JIMMIE JOHNSON WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP

Jimmie Johnson won his 5th straight Nascar Championship yesterday at Homestead, Florida holding off Denny Hamlin for the title. I have to say I would have rather seen somebody else win the championship this year besides Jimmie Johnson, but it just wan't meant to be, by the way Carl Edwards won the race. The Green Bay Packers may have put the Minnesota Vikings out of there misery yesterday crushing the Vikings 31-3 and the Redskins held on to beat the Tennessee Titans 19-16 in OT. It looks like we are going to have a couple of Spring like days today & tomorrow with a high around 70 today and 74 tomorrow which is fine with me. Me Ma Evelyn had surgery on her hip last night a SRMC, the surgery lasted a little over 3 hours and they placed a rod in her hip. Well I am off to work, I like short work weeks. MICKEY

Don't deprive yourself!
The last think you want to do is make anything 'off limits' because the forbidden instantly becomes appealing. You'll say "no sugar cookies" and then before you know it 3/4 of your thoughts for the day are dedicated to sugar cookies. And you then eat a whole box on your way home. Don't do that. Have an open mind. Try a little bit of everything. Portion control is key. One sugar cookie isn't a game changer, but five will have as many calories as a meal.

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” Dr. Seuss

THE CHIEF NOW LEADS

WELL WE HAVE NEW LEADER OF THE PACK AFTER WEEK 12 OF THE CONTEST. THE CHIEF HAS TAKEN A 1 GAME LEAD OVER LES HEADING INTO WEEK 13, THE TWO OF THEM ARE MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE REST OF US IN THE CONTEST WITH THERE BIG LEAD. THE CHIEF HAD THE BEAST WEEK GOING 19-2 WHILE SCOTTIE & JOHN HAD TOUGH WEEKS. GEORGE HAS FALLEN ALL THE WAY BACK TO 15TH AND IS DANGER OF DROPPING TO 16TH.

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 12
GB
1. CHIEF 163-66 --
2. LES 162-67 -1
3. KEITH 152-77 -11
4. BIFF 151-78 -12
5. MICKEY 150-79 -13
6. BOBBY 149-80 -14
7. JULIANNE 147-82 -16
8. SCOTT 146-83 -17
9. PHILLIPS 144-85 -19
10. LEE 144-85 -19
11. ANDREW 141-88 -22
12. JOHN 135-94 -28
13. DUSTY 133-96 -30
14. MURPH 132-97 -31
15. GEORGE 131-98 -32
16. JOY 129-100 -34
17. SCOTTIE 117-112 -46

WEEK 13 GAMES
TEXAS A&M VS TEXAS
SOUTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON
N.C. STATE AT MARYLAND
FLORIDA AT FLORIDA STATE
BOSTON COLLEGE AT SYRACUSE
GEORGIA TECH AT GEORGIA
WAKE FOREST AT VANDERBILT
LOUISVILLE AT RUTGERS
WEST VIRGINIA AT PITTSBURGH
AUBURN AT ALABAMA
BOSE STATE AT NEVADA
MICHIGAN STATE AT PENN STATE
LSU AT ARKANSAS
OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE
KENTUCKY AT TENNESSEE
MISSISSIPPI STATE AT MISSISSIPPI
SMU AT EAST CAROLINA
INDIANA AT PERDUE
VIRGINIA AT VIRGINIA TECH
NOTRE DAME AT USC
SOUTHERN MISS AT TULSA

ME MA EVELYN IN THE HOSPITAL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE

Me Ma Evelyn fell last night at her house and broke her hip, she is at SRMC in Petersburg and they are going to have to do some surgery on her hip in the next few days. Well it was 21 years ago today Lee Olds was born, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE it seems just like yesterday that you were born. The Virginia football team continued to shoot themselves in the foot yesterday at Boston College when they had a chance to win, the biggest play occurred early in the 2nd half when the BC quarterback was hit and the ball dropped right into the hands of a defensive back who would have scored easily and he promptly drops the ball. Last week another defensive back had a ball go right through his hands which should have been picked which lead to a Maryland TD and opened th flood gates for the Terps, you simply cant win at this level unless you make the routine plays. Speaking of bad play the whole East Carolina defense is guilty of that, the Pirates gave up 62 points to a team who hadn't won but 2 games all year, the Pirates offense has to score at least 45 points a week if they even want to have a chance to win. Today in the NFL the Packers will be on the road at Minnesota and the Redskins will be on the road at Tennessee. Denny Hamlin will be looking to win his 1st Nascar championship today try to hold defending champion Jimmie Johnson. It looks like we have a new leader in our college football contest, details will be released soon. MICKEY

Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use. ~Charles Schulz

VIRGINIA LOOKS FOR ANOTHER WIN

The Virginia Cavalier football team will be looking for there 2nd ACC win of the season today on the road at Boston College, the Cavs will be without running back Keith Payne which will force the Cavs throw more which isn't a good thing. In high school football action last night Dinwiddie beat Clover Hill 43-21 while Petersburg fell to Hanover 56-26. Down at the beach East Duplin beat First Flight 49-30 while Manteo beat Southside 40-27 and will play Plymouth next in the 3rd round of the NC 1a football playoffs. Points leader Denny Hamlin had a rough day at Homestead yesterday qualifying 38th while Jimmie Johnson will start from the 8th spot, Kevin Harvick who is 3rd in the standings will start 28th. Last night down in Georgia Scottie started off his wrestling season with 2 wins, he will be back in action on Monday night. It looks like the crowds are starting to pick up a little bit down in Wal-Mart on Saturday morning since we are in home stretch to Christmas. MICKEY

Keep perspective. Ask yourself: “Will this matter in a month? In a year?

It’s a cliché, but things really will look brighter in the morning. Go to bed early and start the next day anew. Also, sleep deprivation puts a drag on mood in the best of circumstances, so a little extra sleep will do you good.

VIRGINIA LOSES AT STANFORD

The Virginia Cavalier basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on the road at Stanford falling to the Cardinal 81-60, the Cavs will now to Hawaii to play in tournament next week. The high school football playoffs start here in Central Region tonight with two Central District teams in action, Dinwidie will be at home against Colver Hill while Petersburg travels to Hanover. Down at the beach First Flight will be at East Duplin while Southside will be at Manteo. The final Nascar race of the season is Sunday at Homestead, Florida with Denny Hamlin trying to hold on and win his first Nascar Championship holding off Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. My sinuses have really been bothering me this week, I have had several terrible sinus headaches this week on numerous occasions and nose also has been running. Also we have started baseball conditioning as well getting ready for the upcoming season. Well I am off to work. MICKEY

Fennel Seed soothes your intestines
Often used to spice up recipes with meat, beans, or legumes, fennel helps digestion in two ways: It stimulates the production of gastric juices and also soothes the nervous system, regulating the action of the muscles that line the intestine.

Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. - Ralph Charell

VIRGINIA ON THE ROAD AT STANFORD TONIGHT

The Virginia Cavalier basketball team has it's toughest test of the season tonight on the road at Stanford. This will be the first game of a four game road trip before the Cavs return home on Dec 7 to face Radford. Well I have everybody picks for the football contest this week and I will be sending them out when I get home from work. Mozart went down to see the ocean yesterday at the beach and mom & dad said he really like going down there, I have enclosed a photo of him on the beach. Also while Mozart is at the beach dad says he wants to stay out on the front porch all the time just observing things going on, he is a observant little fellow. MICKEY

Brain drainer: getting stuck in a rut
Picking up any new skill (rock climbing, tangoing, playing piano) may create new neural pathways or connections in the brain, which can keep your mind sharp over time. The key is choosing something you like. "This is not an ivory tower concept: The more you enjoy something, the more you do it," explains Yaakov Stern, Ph.D., professor of clinical neuropsychology at Columbia University.

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. ~Michael Jordan

VCU NOW 3-0

The VCU Rams are now 3-0 after beating Wake Forest last night 90-69 in Winston-Salem, the Rams blew open a 3 point game at the half in the 2nd half by outscoring the Deacs 47-29. With the win the Rams advance to the quarterfinals of the pre-season NIT in New York next week to play yest to be determined opponent. Well I was woke up last night by the Colonial Heights Early Warning Weather Siren when a sever thunderstorm was approaching, when I went to bed there was a tornado watch in effect so I figured we might get a bumpy weather last night. For those of you who don't know about the weather siren it sounds a bit like the old fire siren that use to blow every time we use to have a fire in the city but doesn't last quite as long. We also got a call form the city about the storm as well. MICKEY

Get angry with the person who can make a difference. There's nothing to be gained by becoming angry with the poor soul who is simply caught in the crossfire. This advice is particularly important when you're dealing with people who work in the service industries. Is it the fault of the salesperson that something you need is out of stock? No, but his or her manager could probably fix things.

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Unknown

EAGLES CRUSH REDSKINS

The Philadelphia Eagles made it be known to the Washington Redskins that they came to win last night on the 1st play from scrimmage when the scored on a 88 yard touchdown pass and I think they still might be scoring this morning. The Eagles crushed the Redskins last night 59-28 and really exposed the Redskins defense badly and I think half of the 88,000 that were in attendance left at the half and were probably back at home by the time the game ended. I have to say that was a pretty embarrassing loss by the Skins. The Virginia Cavaliers and the VCU Rams basketball teams are now 2-0 after victories last night, the Cavs beats South Carolina Upstate 74-54 while the Rams beat Winthrop 67-54, the Rams will play Wake Forest tonight. It looks like we are going to get some rain today but after today it looks like it is going to be dry through Monday. Just in case anybody forgot there are 38 days until Christmas. MICKEY

“I look weird when I run.”
You’ve got good company. Watch any major race and you’ll see world-class athletes as well as regular joes with form that greatly differs from the textbook definition. Run the way that is natural for you. When you run regularly, with feet low to the ground and using a short stride, your body will adapt over time to its most efficient motion.

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on. Robert Frost

EDWARDS WINS THE RACE, HAMLIN STILL THE POINTS LEADER

Carl Edwards won yesterdays race at Phoenix after Denny Hamlin pretty much dominated the event all day but Hamlin had to stop late in the race to get fuel while both Johnson and Harvick stayed out and made it to the finish. Denny Hamlin still leads the points but only by 15 over Johnson and 46 over Harvick heading into the final at Homestead. The Washington Redskins will be looking to be beat the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2nd time this season on Monday Night Football in D.C., yesterday the Cowboys looked like a different team with there new coach in beating the N.Y. Giants. Tonight in college basketball both the Virginia Cavaliers and VCU Rams look to improve to 2-0 on the season, the Cavs will be at home against South Carolina Upstate while VCU will face Winthrop in the Pre-Season NIT in Winston Salem, NC. It looks like we are going to get some more rain tonight and tomorrow, however it looks like it is going to be very light rain for the most part. MICKEY

“It takes too much time!”
We hear you, but consider the payoffs of 150 minutes a week of “moderate intensity” exercise, as recommended by the American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine. With five 30-minute run-walk workouts per week, you can expect a reduced risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, colon cancer, breast cancer, anxiety, and depression.

"Failure is nature's plan to prepare you for great responsibilities." Napoleon Hill

THE CHIEF IS CLOSING IN

WELL LES CONTINUES TO LEAD THE CONTEST HOWEVER HIS LEAD IS NOW DOWN TO 1 GAME OVER THE CHIEF. JULIANNE, ANDREW & DUSTY HAD THE BEST WEEK GOING 11-9 WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS .500 OR WORST. ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT 3RD PLACE IS 9 GAMES BACK AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN MUCH WORST SHAPE. IT TRULY HAS BECOME A 2 HORSE RACE FOR THE TITLE, I AM JUST TRYING TO FINISH IN THE TOP 5.

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 11
GB
1. LES 145-63 --
2. CHIEF 144-64 -1
3. KEITH 136-72 -9
4. BIFF 136-72 -9
5. BOBBY 134-74 -11
6. MICKEY 134-74 -11
7. JULIANNE 132-76 -13
8. SCOTT 131-77 -14
9. PHILLIPS 129-79 -16
10. LEE 128-80 -17
11. ANDREW 128-80 -17
12. JOHN 124-84 -21
13. DUSTY 120-88 -25
14. GEORGE 119-89 -26
15. MURPH 117-91 -28
16. JOY 113-95 -32
17. SCOTTIE 107-101 -38

WEEK 12 GAMES
VIRGINIA AT BOSTON COLLEGE
N.C. STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA
VIRGINIA TECH AT MIAMI
FLORIDA STATE AT MARYLAND
ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
WISCONSIN AT MICHIGAN
STANFORD AT CALIFORNIA
OHIO STATE AT IOWA
NEBRASKA AT TEXAS A&M
PITTSBURGH AT SOUTH FLORIDA
WEST VIRGINIA AT LOUISVILLE
UCONN AT SYRACUSE
RUTGERS AT CINCINNATI
UTEP AT TULSA
KANSAS STATE AT COLORADO
ILLINOIS AT NORTHWESTERN
ARMY AT NOTRE DAME
HOUSTON AT SOUTHERN MISS
RICHMOND AT WILLIAM & MARY
UTAH AT SAN DIEGO STATE
OKLAHOMA AT BAYLOR

VIRGINIA FALL APART

The Virginia football team fell apart after taking a 23-21 lead against Maryland in the 3rd quarter yesterday. The Cavs were very lucky to even be in the game after taking 140 yards in penalties, you are not going to win many games taken that many penalties. The Cavs looked decent for about half yesterday before they just simply fell apart and Maryland went on to beat the Cavs 42-23, I don't think they will win another game this season. It looks like Les will maintain his lead in our college football pick-em contest despite having a sub par performance, it looks like everybody else up had there own problems as well. In the NFL this weekend the Packers have the week off and the Redskins don't play until tomorrow night so I guess I can watch the race and all the other NFL games today. Speaking of the race I think the point standings are going to be even tighter after todays race. I am hoping that is going to warm up pretty quick this morning because I want to run outside this morning. MICKEY

“I’m too slow.”
Sorry, but there is no such thing as “too slow.” Watch any race and you’ll see people of all ages and sizes running every pace from sprint to walk. Running is running, no matter the speed.

“The Simplest Things Are Often The Truest” ~Richard Bach

VIRGINIA & VCU WIN BASKETBALL OPENERS

The Virginia Cavaliers & the VCU Rams opened up there basketball seasons with wins last night. The Cavaliers blew open a very close game at the half against William & Mary en route to 76-52 win while the VCU Rams beat UNC Greensboro 101-86 at the STU. In high school football action last night Hopewell beat Colonial Heights 56-28, I didn't make it to last nights game. Down at the beach First Flight beat South Duplin 41-14 & Manteo beat Matumuskeet 74-0. Today in college football action the Virginia Cavaliers will be looking for another ACC when they face the Maryland Terrapins in there final home game of the season. Carl Edwards captured the pole for this weeks race at Phoenix edging out A.J. Almendinger, of the three chase contenders Denny Hamlin had the best qualifying run starting from the 17th spot. I did go down to Wal-Mart this morning for my normal Saturday morning trip to Wal-Mart and I noticed that CH store has pretty much done away with donut portion of the bakery, they still sell glazed donuts in the box but thats about it. I am a Dunkin Donut man anyway now. MICKEY

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES
HOPEWELL 56 COLONIAL HEIGHTS 28
THOMAS DALE 29 MATOACA 26
DINWIDDIE 42 PRINCE GEORGE 6
PETERSBURG 22 MEADOWBROOK 21
FIRST FLIGHT 41 SOUTH DUPLIN 14
MANTEO 74 MATTUMUSKEET 0

Pinch yourself every time you hear yourself using the words "never," "always," etc. Such thinking leads to a black-and-white, all-or-nothing mentality and that, in turn, shortens your fuse. Instead, look at things in shades of grey. Acknowledge that life can be unfair and that sometimes people do the wrong thing. But don't fuel the fires with phrases such as "always disappoints" or "never comes through."

When you lose a couple of times, it makes you realize how difficult it is to win. Steffi Graf

FINAL GAME F THE SEASON TONIGHT

The Colonial Heights Colonials football team will play its final game of the season tonight on the road at Hopewell. I haven't decided whether or not that I going tonight it just depends on how I feel when I get off work. Down at the beach bother First Flight and Manteo will be playing in the NC high school football playoffs, First Flight will be at South Lenoir while Manteo will be at home against Mattamuskeet. This weeks Nascar race will be at the Phoenix International Raceway, Chesterfields Denny Hamlin leads the point standings with two races to go. I talked to fellow blogger Scott yesterday afternoon and he said his hand just about healed up and Scottie had started wrestling practice getting ready for the upcoming season. I understand that fellow blogger Keith is also off today as well, it must be easy working for the government, Mark might be off as well. MICKEY

When you're angry, look at your watch. Let the second hand sweep around the dial for at least 2 minutes before you take any action. By then, you'll have had time to think and you can act in a more appropriate way.

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. William Feather

VETERANS DAY 2010

IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY WEEK ON THE BLOG

I have say that it has been a very busy week on the blog so far and it appears there is only one reason for it. In the last 2 days there have been about 75 visitors to the blog up from around the normal 40 visitors that I normally have over that same period of time. The reason for the high visitor count appears to be one thing the Dallas Cowboys, people who search for the Dallas Cowboys on the WWW often ended up no Mickey's Place just because of the words Dallas Cowboys which proves I guess they are America's team. Earlier this year I had very similar results when I talked about the low attendance rates at the Brickyard and other Nascar races. Also this week the entries in the football contest appear to be coming in at a very slow rate. MICKEY

Know why you feel angry. Think like a detective and track down clues about the kinds of situations, people and events that trigger your anger. Once you're aware of them, try to avoid them if possible. If you can't avoid them, at least you'll know to anticipate them, which will give you more time to prepare for them so that they don't affect you so negatively.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

COWBOYS MAKE A CHANGE

One day after looking as bad as a NFL team could looks the Dallas Cowboys released embattled Wade Phillips and replaced him with Jason Garrett. I don't know if this is going to fix any of there problems that they are having this year but it was becoming pretty obvious a change had to be made and it wouldn't surprise me if at the end of the year owner Jerry Jones cleaned house and brought in totally new coaching staff. Well last night I went up and watched the Colonial Heights girls volleyball to play Mills Godwin in the Central Region playoffs unfortunately the Colonials lost the match 3-1 and after Friday nights football game at Hopewell it will be time to move on to the basketball season. Speaking of basketball season most college teams will open up there season this weekend. MICKEY

Forget about punching a pillow, a wall or the object of your anger. Contrary to popular belief, these common reactions don't decrease your anger. In fact, studies find, they only increase your hostility. Take three deep breaths. When you're angry, your body becomes tense. Breathing deeply helps to lower your internal anger meter.

“Pure and simple, any person who is enjoying life is a success.” ~ William Feather

PACKERS CRUSH COWBOYS

The Green Bay Packers crushed the Dallas Cowboys in every aspect of the game last night en route to a 45-7 win. I have never seen a NFL team play with less enthusiasm than the Cowboys played with last night and the looked really bad on both offense and defense and it doesn't get any easier for the Cowboys when they travel to York to face the Giants. Denny Hamlin won yesterdays Nascar race Texas and by doing so is now the new points leader as well and leads Jimmie Johnson by 33 points. It appeared a hockey game broke out yesterdays race when Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton were involved pugilistic endeavor on the track after Burton wrecked Gordon. Next week the Nascar Sprint Cup Series will be at Phoenix. MICKEY

Rapid-fire pulse or heart rate
One little-known symptom that sometimes predates a heart attack is known as ventricular tachycardia, more commonly described as rapid and irregular pulse and heart rate. During these episodes, which come on suddenly, you feel as if your heart is beating very fast and hard, like you just ran up a hill -- except you didn't. "I'd look down and I could actually see my heart pounding," one person recalled. It can last just a few seconds or longer; if longer, you may also notice dizziness and weakness.

Some patients confuse these episodes with panic attacks. Rapid pulse and heartbeat that aren't brought on by exertion always signal an issue to bring to your doctor's attention.

Anyone who is popular is bound to be disliked. -Yogi Berra

LES CONTINUES TO SHOW THE WAY

WELL AFTER 10 WEEKS OF THE CONTEST IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BECOME A 2 HORSE RACE BETWEEN LES & THE CHIEF WITH LES HOLDING A 2 GAME LEAD. KEITH IS WITHIN STRIKING DITANCE BUT NEEDS TO MAKE UP SOME GROUND THIS WEEK OR HE COULD BE FINISHED. I HAD THE BEST WEEK GOING 13-5 AND THERE ARE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WENT 6-12. I HAVE TRIED TO COME UP WITH SOME TOUGHER GAMES THIS WEEK.

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 10
GB
1. LES 136-52 --
2. CHIEF 134-54 -2
3. KEITH 129-59 -7
4. BIFF 128-60 -8
5. BOBBY 125-63 -11
6. MICKEY 125-63 -11
7. SCOTT 124-64 -12
8. JULIANNE 121-67 -15
9. PHILLIPS 121-67 -15
10. LEE 118-70 -18
11. ANDREW 117-71 -19
12. JOHN 116-72 -20
13. GEORGE 112-76 -24
14. DUSTY 109-79 -27
15. JOY 107-81 -29
16. MURPH 107-81 -29
17. SCOTTIE 98-90 -38

WEEK 11 GAMES
BOSTON COLLEGE AT DUKE
MIAMI AT GEORGIA TECH
VIRGINIA TECH AT NORTH CAROLINA
MARYLAND AT VIRGINIA
CLEMSON AT FLORIDA STATE
MISSISSIPPI AT TENNESSEE
SOUTH CAROLINA AT FLORIDA
IOWA AT NORTHWESTERN
OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS
UTAH AT NOTRE DAME
TEXAS A&M AT BAYLOR
USC AT ARIZONA
TULSA AT HOUSTON
SOUTHERN MISS AT CENTRAL FLORIDA
SOUTH FLORIDA AT LOUISVILLE
SYRACUSE AT RUTGERS
PITTSBURGH AT UCONN
WILLIAM & MARY AT JAMES MADISON
IOWA STATE AT COLORADO
KANSAS STATE AT MISSOURI

VIRGINIA FALLS TO DUKE FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT TIME

The Virginia Cavalier football team lost to the Duke Blue Devils for the 3rd straight time yesterday 55-48. The Cavalier defense played like swiss cheese, they sure had allot of whole in it for sure. The offense racked up over 650 yards but the Cavs QB was picked off 3 times in the game, next week the Cavs have there final home game of the season when the Maryland Terrapins come to town. Virginia wasn't the only team that a tough day defensively, East Carolina gave up 76 points to Navy in a 76-35 loss and there fans sound like they are about to jump off a bridge about as much as the Virginia fans. It looks like Les has maintained his lead in Mickey's Place College Football Pick Em Contest, there were several member who had very bad weeks. In the NFL today the Redskins are off while Packers will be at home tonight to face the Dallas Cowboys. I hope everybody set there clocks an hour last night if not you are going to be an hour early for everything today. MICKEY

Indigestion or nausea
One of the most oft-overlooked signs of a heart attack is nausea and stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild indigestion to severe nausea, cramping, and vomiting. Others experience a cramping-style ache in the upper belly. Women and adults over age 60 are more likely to experience this symptom and not recognize it as tied to cardiac health.

Most cases of stomach ache and nausea aren't caused by a heart attack, of course. But watch out for this sign by becoming familiar with your own digestive habits; pay attention when anything seems out of the ordinary, particularly if it comes on suddenly and you haven't been exposed to stomach flu and haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary.

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. -Camille Pissarro

DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK TONIGHT

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight before you go to bed tonight or you will be an hour early for everything tomorrow. The Colonials football team put up a good fight last night but still came out on the short end of 34-26 game with Petersburg. The Colonials jumped out to quick 14-0 lead before the Petersburg offense woke up, the Colonials will finish out the season at Hopewell next week. Down in Georgia last night Scottie's high school football career cam to an end when the Eagles lost to Northeast High School 34-16, the Eagles had a tough season going 0-10. Down at the beach First Flight beat Currituck 46-33 and Manteo beat Camden 28-20, both First Flight & Manteo will play in the NC football playoffs next week. In college football action today the Virginia Cavaliers will be going for there 3rd straight win today at Duke, Keith will be heading down to Duke for the game. Elliott Sadler won his 1st pole since 2006 yesterday at Texas edging Greg Biffle for the top spot, also yesterday Sadler signed a 2 year deal to drive for Kevin Harvick full time in the Nationwide Series for the next 2 years. You can tell at Wal-Mart its starting to get a little closer to Christmas because the crowd is starting to pick up a bit there at 5:30am on a Saturday morning. MICKEY

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES
PETERSBURG 34 COLONIAL HEIGHTS 26
NORTHEAST 34 CRAWFORD COUNTY 16
FIRST FLIGHT 46 CURRITUCK 33
MANTEO 28 CAMDEN 20
MEADOWBROOK 20 THOMAS DALE 16
DINWIDDIE 54 MATOACA 21
HOPEWELL 42 PRINCE GEORGE 7

Brain drainer: lack of sleep
Anyone who's ever pulled an all-nighter knows that focus, recall and rational thought are shot the next day. And although scientists are still exploring exactly how ample rest recharges our mental batteries, new research from Harvard Medical School indicates it may be related to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule that floods the brain during sleep. Dubbed the "energy currency" of life, ATP captures the chemical energy that gets released from metabolized nutrients and makes that energy available for cellular functions. To help ensure your cells get plenty of fuel, aim for seven to eight hours of shut-eye a night.

COLONIALS HAVE THERE LAST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON TONIGHT

The Colonial Heights Colonials football team have there final home game of the season tonight when the Colonials play host to the Petersburg Crimson Wave. It is going to be a bit damp and cool tonight so if you are going to tonights game you need to dress accordingly. Down in Georgia tonight Scottie has his final game of his high school career when Crawford County travels to Macon to face Northeast High School and at the beach First Flight will travel across the bridge to face Currituck and Manteo will be home against Camden. This weeks race for the chase race will be at the Texas Motor Speedway, there are only 3 races left in the chase. At work yesterday I went on a road trip down to Caleo which is about 20 minutes Tappahannock of 360. Well I am off to work. MICKEY

Brain drainer: skipping workouts
After a long day at the office, it's tough to summon the energy to lace up your sneaks and get to the gym. But exercise is one of the best ways to stay sharp as you age, according to Fred H. Gage, Ph.D., professor of age-related neurodegenerative diseases at the Salk Institute. His landmark research shows that exercise significantly increases the rate of blood flow to the hippocampus, a brain region vital to memory, which generates new cell growth and improves mental processing. Interested? Follow the lead of the adults in Gage's study, who got about an hour of aerobic activity a day, four times a week. I like to schedule my workouts in the morning before my day gets rolling, so I feel mentally and physically ready for whatever comes my way—and I can chill out after work guilt-free.

Popularity is the easiest thing in the world to gain and it is the hardest thing to hold. -Will Rogers

WOKE UP WITH A SPLITTING HEADACHE

Well I woke up at about 3am this morning with splitting sinus headache and I went downstairs and took a couple of Advil and now I feel much better for sure. Well if you were saving something for a rainy day well today is your day, there is a 100% chance of rain today. For all you people who need to know how many days, hours, minutes or even seconds to Christmas I have added a Christmas countdown clock to the blog so everybody will no. I do have all the picks in for this weeks pick-em contest now and will be releasing them later today. Don't forget your raincoats today. MICKEY

Cumin boosts immunity
An excellent addition to meat curries, stews, vegetables, seafood, and sauces, cumin is thought to boost the immune system and also to improve liver function, reduce flatulence, and aid in digestion.

Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment. -Anthony Robbins

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MAUREEN & KEITH

It has come to the blog-masters attention that Maureen & Keith were married 20 years ago today, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Maureen & Keith. I remember that day well because that was the day the Virginia football team was #1 in the country but lost Georgia Tech ending there chance of a National Championship and that was before the BCS. Well I am still working on finishing up my Christmas shopping but for some reason I have fallen into a bit of a rut, I need to get motivated and finish it up. It looks like we are going to get some more rain tonight & tomorrow, where was all this rain when we needed it. MICKEY

Cardamom improves energy
Found in curries, rice dishes, herbal teas, and breads, cardamom is the spice that gives chai tea its main flavor. In Asia, cardamom has long been valued medicinally for its ability to increase circulation and improve energy. Considered an aphrodisiac in the Middle East, cardamom may also improve digestion, asthma, bronchitis, halitosis, and even help improve a bad mood.

If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up. ~J.M. Power

GIANTS WIN WORLD SERIES

The San Francisco Giants won the World Series last night beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 and winning the series 4-1. I thought the Rangers would have put a better fight but it was pretty obvious that the beast team won. The fans around Dallas have a pretty rough week with the Rangers losing the World Series and the Cowboys losing to the Jaguars and falling to 1-6 prompting there owner Jerry Jones to apologize to there fans for there poor play. I am hoping that they will be 1-7 after playing the Packers next weekend. It is a very cold 36 degrees here in Colonial Heights this morning and it looks like we are going to get some more rain on Thursday as well. MICKEY

Garlic wards off heart disease
In addition to warding off Count Dracula, garlic, the spicy favorite in Italian fare, has been shown to improve cholesterol and lower blood pressure. According to the National Health and Medical Research Council, consuming half to one clove of garlic daily may reduce cholesterol by nearly ten percent. Your breath might suffer, but your heart will thank you. As an antibacterial, garlic is often used to treat minor infections.

There is much pleasure to be gained from usless knowledge. -Bertrand Russell

SAN FRANCISCO 1 WIN AWAY, PACKERS WIN

The San Francisco Giants are now just 1 win away from the 2010 World Series after beating the beating the Texas Rangers last night 4-0 and barring a miracle it looks like the Giants will win the series. In NFL action yesterday the Packers picked up another big win knocking of the Jets 9-0 in New York while the Redskins lost to the Lions 37-25, the Skins looked pretty bad. At Talladega yesterday Clint Bowyer won yesterday race holding off Kevin Harvick by inches when the caution came out on the last lap, Jimmie Johnson continues to lead the point standings but he has some company with Hamlin & Harvick within 23 points with 3 races left. I have bit of a sinus headache this morning which I hope will go away soon, if not it's going to be a very long day. MICKEY

Mushrooms
These lowly fun guys don’t always get the credit they deserve. Studies in animals reveal that mushrooms have natural antiviral and antibacterial effects. Selenium can keep you from getting the flu, and B vitamins riboflavin and niacin play a key role in a healthy immune system. Throw them into omelettes, stir-fries, or try your hand at a triple mushroom tart.

Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. Lin Yutang