BLARGH!

Well, I've felt like this since Wednesday morning. Long, long week. Want a recap? Don't care? Well, for a few laughs - very few- read on. And my weekly football picks, of course.

My dad owns a beach house that's about 5 hours down the road from me. It was my grandmother's while she was alive and we all love it. But, it's older and needs work. The outside shows the wear and tear of sun and salt air - in addition to the regular homeowning chores (cleaning gutters, etc) that we all have. Except this requires a 10-hour round trip. Oh but wait, there's traffic to fight, too.

Oh, and the interior has older fixtures and is damaged as well. Plus, the place has been a dumping ground for furniture no one really wanted in their house so they'd stash it in the beach house. A very modest place became a very very cluttered modest place. But it's at the beach.

Anyway my youngest brother had purchased some new (smaller) sofas and needed help. We'd decided to take the opportunity to replace the old toilet (that always clogged, ewww) and clean up the dilapidated yard, and fix some other odds and ends.

I worked a little on Wednesday morning mowing my pal's tree field then jumped in the truck and ran to Towson for a headboard then ran to meet my brother in Severna Park. Then we drove 5 hours to the beach (or Hampton Roads, Tidewater, um....Virginia Beach). My brother complained about: 1) my driving; 2) the route I'd chosen; 3) my parental skills; and 4) just about every slow driver on the road.

But, even at its' worst, it was far better than a road trip with my kids.

So we get the sofas (delivered) and run to the Baja Cantina to enjoy their excellent fish tacos and some beer. My brother said he'd pay the meter.......of course you know there was a parking ticket on my window as we walked out.

No biggie. We picked up the new toilet and that was that. Being 2 married guys, hijinks and hilarity did not ensue.

Thursday morning was The Great Sofa Move of 2010, when 2 monstrous and extremely ugly and uncomfortable (but inexpensive) sofas met their fate. In addition to being huge and ugly and uncomfortable (I said that twice for emphasis) the were extremely heavy. Bye-bye, sofas. Breakfast was excellent, and if you're ever in Virginia Beach I recommend Nick's on Laskin Road, the sausage-egg-cheese sandwich is Aces.

Next up was a china cabinet, wherein I had the great idea of having my brother back the truck up to the landing allowing us to easily place the heavy piece of furniture on the bed of the truck. He gunned the engine, when the wheels bogged down, and nearly snapped my left leg in two with the tailgate.

Ouchies.

But I was fine. Thanks for worrying.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful but productive. We trimmed back overgrown foliage in the rain, installed a new toilet, and other unexciting crap. Honestly, when we get together and work, we can make a good team.

I think we finished it all up by 7pm Thursday and had pizza and beer at Chicho's (I recommend it, heartily) before the long ride home. Asleep by 1 AM, up at 7 for another day in paradise. And today I worked, took a sick child to the doctor's, and coached a hockey team.

I can sleep when I'm dead, I guess.

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I'm not doing so great, but I'm playing with house money.....

Indy at Redskins: I really REALLY want to pick my Redskins, but COLTS. Like every week, I think if the 'Skins scheme well enough and catch a few breaks (particularly on defense) they could win this game.

Baltimore at New England: PATS at home.

Seattle at Chicago: BEARS. Seahawks are erratic

Miami at Green Bay: PACKERS at home in chillier weather, despite injuries

San Diego at St. Louis: CHARGERS. Shaky choice for Norv's team.

Detroit at NY Giants: Team of Destiny won big last week, I'm feeling LIONS

Atlanta at Philadelphia: FALCONS might be the best team in the NFC

Cleveland at Pittsburgh: This just in, Big Ben e-mailed pictures of Little Ben to Jake Delhomme. STEELERS ....but this game might be close.

New Orleans at Tampa: SAINTS. No way they'll have another weird game like that Arizona game two weeks in a row.

KC at Houston: CHIEFS. Texans looking like the AFC version of the Redskins I'd grown accustomed to. Choking Dogs.

NY Jets at Denver: JETS.

Oakland at San Francisco: RAIDERS. Go, Jason Campbell, go...

Dallas at Minnesota: one of the toughest, if not THE toughest game to call this week. I think the Cowboys are better in terms of talent but that Minnesota defense is stout. Shaky vote for the VIKINGS

Tennessee at Jacksonville: does anyone care? TITANS

28-31 for the season, I could be doing far, far worse.

Enjoy Anvil