I Need… December 20, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Administrivia.Tags: I need something
add a comment
A hug.
But that’s why I married Nita, so I’m good there.
What I also need that Nita may have some trouble scrounging up is a black 1962 Cadillac DeVille.
I don’t want to buy it; I just need to photograph it.
Needs to be mint or near-mint condition and within about an hour of Cincinnati.
That is all.
Thanks.
A Very Tom Waits Christmas December 19, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in The Best of Northcoast Exile, WTF.Tags: Christmas, Tom Waits
1 comment so far
[Originally posted on Northcoast Exile, December 24, 2006]
I pulled on Santa’s sleigh
Christmas Eve was dark, and the snow fell like cocaine off some politician’s coffee table
Rudolph looked to the sky. He had a shiny nose, but it was from too much vodka
He said, “Boys, it’s gonna be a rough one this year.”
I pulled on Santa’s sleigh
The elves scrambled to pack up the last of the lumps of coal for deserving suburban brats
And a bottle of Jamie for some forgotten soul whose wife just left him
Santa’s like that. He’s been there.
Oh, he still loves Mrs. Claus, a spent piece of used sleigh trash who
Makes good vodka martnis, knows when to keep her mouth shut
But it’s the lonlieness, the lonliness only Santa knows
I pulled on Santa’s sleigh
And the workshop reeks of too much peppermint
The candy canes all have the names of prostitutes
And Santa stands there, breathing in the lonliness
The lonliness that creeps out of the main house
And out through the stables
Sometimes it follows the big guy down the chimneys
Wraps itself around your tannenbaum and sleeps in your hat
I pulled on Santa’s sleigh
We all line up for the annual ride
I’m behind Vixen, who’s showin’ her age these days
She has a certain tiredness that comes with being the only girl on the team
Ah, there’s nothing wrong with her a hundred dollars wouldn’t fix
She’s got a tear drop tattooed under her eye now, one for every year Dancer’s away
I pulled on Santa’s sleigh and
I asked myself, “That elf. What’s he building in there?”
He has no elf friends, no elf children
What’s he building in there?
He doesn’t make toys like the other elves
I heard he used to work for Halliburton,
And he’s got an ex-wife in someplace called Santa Claus, Pennsylvania
But what’s he building in there?
We got a right to know.
I pulled on Santa’s sleigh
And we’re off Off into the night
Watching the world burn below
All chimney red and Halloween orange
I’ve seen it all
I’ve seen it all
Every Christmas Eve, I’ve seen it all
There’s nothing sadder than landing on a roof in a town with no cheer.
If You Own A Copy Of Northcoast Shakedown… December 18, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Uncategorized.5 comments
As the author, I would consider it a personal favor if you tossed it in the recycling bin or donated it to your favorite landfill.
Thanks.
Don’t Make Me Post A Bunch Of Lame Lists December 17, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Reader Request.3 comments
December 26 thru January 2, you run the blog. What do you want to see here? Email me or leave your suggestions in the comments.
MTM bloggers, how about you? What should I blog about come December 29?
Probably Not The Best Way To Promote Buying Books This Christmas… December 16, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in WTF.1 comment so far
I also should stop lifting content from Fail Blog.org. So go check it out.
And buy someone a book for Christmas, preferably something a little less depressing than shown above. Hell, Ken Bruen has a new one out. Why aren’t you reading it?
My Town Monday: The Crosstown Shootout December 15, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Cincinnati, My Town Mondays, Sports.Tags: basketball, Cincinnati Bearcats, Crosstown Shootout, NCAA, Skyline Chili, Xavier Musketeers
4 comments
This past Saturday was an annual tradition here in Cincinnati: The Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout, where the University of Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Xavier University Musketeers. It is the one day in Cincinnati where is safe to wear a Kentucky Wildcats sweatshirt north of the Ohio River. I once watched the game at a bar in a Cleveland Browns T-Shirt. (Not nearly as dangerous during the Bengals’ second Lost Decade.)
When I first moved to Cincinnati in 1991, UC went to the Final Four for the first time in over twenty years under bombastic coach Bob Huggins (a man who onced yelled at me during a Walsh High School track meet.)
Back then, I’d never heard of Xavier. Well, actually, I did. It was this famous Catholic college in New Orleans. Whenever ESPN mentioned the local Xavier University (which they rarely did), it was always “Xavier (OH).”
I couldn’t tell you what conferences they were in. I know UC was in Conference USA for several years. Now?
ESPN refers that other school as Xavier (LA) now. In fact, they rarely mention them. Xavier (OH) now dominates the Atlantic 10. Bob Huggins is gone, now coaching his alma mater at West Virginia. Skip Prosser, who turned Xavier from “the other Xavier” and “that other school in Cincinnati,” is really gone, having passed away last year after coaching Wake Forest for several years.
UC is now coached by Huggins protege Mick Cronin, whose tenure has been… Well, they Bearcats were 8-1, so let’s forget the recent past, shall we? Xavier has done well under Sean Miller, who brought the team in undefeated for 2008-2009. So who won?
Never mind that. Let me tell you what the fans thought. First, there is my wife, Nita, a UC alum and Bearcat fan. She says…
“The Crosstown Shoot out is like a holiday around here – like the Hannunkah and Christmas…..you are UC or Xavier…
Of course, UC is the best. We are the chosen few. Go UC!”
Xavier fans have a slightly different take. I asked Melanie Wissel, a Xavier grad and one of my BigHugeCo coworkers, what she thought of the game.
“ I’ve attended almost ten Crosstown Shootout games, all but one at Xavier’s court. These games are very exciting, and there is a lot of energy among fans from both schools. The TV does not capture all of the energy. I remember when my husband attended his first Crosstown Shootout. He was amazed by all of this.
I know many people will say that this game is not important because the schools are in different leagues, but it is still very exciting. Plus, bragging rights will always carry weight among many fans. I notice that UC fans will always claim that the game doesn’t matter during the years that XU wins, but they never seem to mention that when UC wins. ; ) UC does lead this series overall (47-28), but XU has won 8 of the last 12 games.
Two of the games I attended as a student at XU. I remember sitting in line for hours with books and blankets to make sure I got a ticket. The XU students got very excited about the game.
Several people have mentioned that perhaps this game should be moved to a neutral court (specifically the US Bank Arena). The argument is that more people could see it. I think this would be a big mistake. Having this game on the respective college campuses really adds to the atmosphere. I really think some of it would be lost if it was held elsewhere. Also, I think season ticket holders (such as myself) from both schools could feel ripped off by such a move.
I will be going to the game on Saturday even though it’s at UC. XU is currently undefeated this season (8-0), and I think they can win. However, strange things have happened in the past. With the Crosstown Shootout, all stats should probably be thrown out the window. There have been times when XU was having a better season, but UC won the game. Also, XU has beaten UC twice in the past 15 years when UC was ranked as the #1 team in the country.
Go Muskies!!!“
And the final score of what now truly is a Clash of the NCAA Titans?
Xavier 76, Cincinnati 66, with a record number of technical fouls. Yes, much smack was talked this cold December night in Fifth Third Arena.
Maybe soon I will talk about the most important aspect of the Crosstown Shootout: The Sponsor.
Talk To Me December 13, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Administrivia, Reader Request.add a comment
December 26 thru January 2, the blog is yours. What do you want to hear about? No topic off limits.
Journal Meme December 12, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Administrivia.add a comment
[Courtesy of Gerald So]
Copy and paste the first sentence of your first blog entry for each month this year.
JANUARY
So I vowed to kick the freelance writing career into high gear.
FEBRUARY
Senator Arlen Specter is looking out for you, America.
MARCH
We here at Edged in Blue are very sorry we let Joel’s latest Momentary Lapse slip through our stringent quality control.
APRIL
Dear True Believers:
It appears your deep consternation this election season is based on some beliefs of yours that are wholly erroneous.
MAY
Yesterday marks the 42nd anniversary of my escape from the womb.
JUNE
I haven’t laid out in the sun in years.
JULY
Yesterday was a major cleaning day at Rancho Winter.
AUGUST
ON THE ROAD is considered a classic for its breakthrough style, its pushing of the envelope, and its introduction of the world to the Beat Generation.
SEPTEMBER
By the time this posts, the first rains of Hurricane Gustav will be reaching Louisiana, and by then we’ll know exactly what New Orleans is in for this time.
OCTOBER
I firmly believe John McCain should be the President of the United States.
NOVEMBER
I’ve ranted before about the evils of Standard Time.
DECEMBER
Given the time of year, most of the next few My Town Mondays will be about various holiday events around Cincinnati.
Reminder – Reader Request For New Year’s Week December 11, 2008
Posted by eviljwinter in Administrivia, Reader Request.add a comment
I’ll be taking December 26 thru January 2 off. I might post a list or two during that time, maybe something to do with resolutions or some other lame blog fodder.
But in the meantime, you call the shots. What do you want to hear about? The winning picks will have posts written about them before Christmas.
Here’s an idea. December 27 is a Monday. What would you like me to talk about on My Town Monday?
Talk to me. No topic off limits. Leave your suggestions in the comments or email me here.
