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NSCRO Women’s 7’s National Championship at Founders Field 2019

NSCRO WOMEN’S &’S AT FOUNDERS FIELD 2019

my day of rugby started with me watching these games being streamed on YOUTUBE…don’t know the 2 gentlemen’s names but I though they did a fine job of calling the action on the field…yes they mispronounced names…but they were not given pronunciations in their notes…and some of the lineups submitted to them were handwritten…and I am guessing some of that handwriting looks like mine…that is why I am entering this on a keyboard.

Well I made it out to Founders Field around 12:40 and caught much of the action for the afternoon…my main memory…IT was windy…standing at the one end with the USA RUGBY signs that surround the pitch hitting me in the back…My eyes took a beating and the people who make Refresh eye drops are earning a fair share from me…I am writing this 5 days later and my eyes are just getting better

But Lots of good action by these fine teams from across the country . But Wayne State College …out of Nebraska…showed why they are the class of small college rugby…Not only are they fit…they are patient. I watched one match where they played York college of Pennsylvania…and it appeared York was in control.;..and they were…but one little mistake and Wayne State scores a try…then York is playing from behind …and well …game over

That Saturday night I was telling a friend I thought Wayne would play Rochester in the finals on Sunday….I didn’t make it out to the pitch on Sunday but watched the matches on youtube again…and it did turn out to be a Rochester v Wayne State final…and Wayne State went on to win another NSCRO 7’s Championship…Congratulations Lady Cats

Just a few images from Saturday matches

Protected: Sweetest Soul I Ever Knew

Why are the democrats pushing for Biden

I really do not understand it…has he broken laws…i do not think so…but does he have middle class america…does he have your back

Actually he doesnt….back in the days of being a senator from delaware…home of credit card industry,,,Biden was owned by them…his one son even worked in the credit card industry…he pushed bills to favor the credit card business…which also favored his son’s employment

elizabeth warren…why did you not bring this up…b ernie Sanders…let the People know that Biden is not for the common man…He is a republican by his practices

netSpend is NetSteal

Well I always bought gift cards to make purchases since my identity was stolen…and now I wanted to buy something for my dog …Tucker…but the gift card would not work…I was told to buy a prepaid debit card…so i did…and did not realize some had to be bought with cash….and others not…i bought one by netSpend…what a mistake…they want my SS number to activate the card…how ridiculous…I tried to activate online…it said …I had to call a certain number…i called the number…and after entering information…Netspend kept ending the call…i tried numbers to talk to someone…but they make it impossible…there is a number to get my money back…but that disconnects me as well…

They also point out that the instructions are on the back of the backpackage…so you can check that out before you buy….that actually is a lie…the back does not say that…you have to unfold the pack and read inside…this product is designed to steal your money…the website is not helpful nor are the phone numbers…really stay away from this …I lost my money…do not lose yours

Super Sunday

Well yesterday they played the game for the Football championship in the USA…When I was a kid it was a big deal…I did not care who was playing . and now people are on the radio telling me it is a national holiday and how white my shirts should be .

I just say it isnt so …Most people I know were not going to a party to watch the game or the commercials…you can watch the commercials now before the game on youtube and other web media cites

If I had a dog in the fight I would have been more interested . But for Tucker and myself…it was just background noise

It was not a great game even though the outcome was not decided until the final quarter…Mahomes was having a pretty horrible game until the ninersdecided to let the Chiefs back in the game . I have seen my share of bad championship games including one involving my rooting interest…the Steelers …yes their game against the Seahawks was pretty ugly….and there are many more….Just want to say congratulations to Andy Reed…a class act for sure…and congratulations to the Chief’s fanbase,,,I consider them to be the strongest sports fans in the world…the most loyal…good or bad their stadium is always full and they travel pretty well…maybe not as well as Steeler Nation but they are up there with toronto maple Leafs fans and Yankee fans…anyway…enough

I ventured out early to watch a little amateur hockey in my area…and was rewarded with some close games and good action…I liketo get the fans in my images …so i was in an area where children…anywhere from like 4 to 10 year olds come over and play with a ball off the wall…Mom and dad are watching the game and can still watch the little ones playing over in the corner….while others will keep their children close by but fully engaged as they move all their dolls into the ice rink

The halftime show last night was just OK for me…the entertainers are excellent…but I did not know any of their own music . And not a g rated show…I was not offended but some folks with children found the show in poor taste

So we had a little snow yesterday morning that lasted all of an hour…but I got a few pictures of squirrels in the snow…and that jerky groundhog…saying…an early spring is in store…I love my winter…and have been feeling deprived…going to be near 60 the next 2 days here in western PA…but thinking on it…what really is the difference between an early spring and 6 more weeks of winter…because if you put a date on it like march 10….they kind of are like the same thing… so is the groundhog a sham ?

Anyway have a great week everyone

some images

Christmas Tree….kindof

Yes it is January 27 and my Christmas tree is still up…I was going to take it down today…but as I was taking some pictures of ornaments on my tree…I decided to keep it up for a few more days…it is stil;l fragrant…and it just started to drop a few needles…I did not buy it and put it up until December 20th…Actually it will stay up through January 2…which is the last day of Christmastide…and the presentation of Jesus

I bought it at Simmons Farm…they have a roadside shop on route 19 just north of donaldson’s crossroad…I never saw another place keep their cut trees like they do at Simmons…every tree is suspended from the rafters on a rope and the tree base is in a 5 gallon bucket of water…and the base is not touching the bottom of the bucket due to it being suspended

I never had a tree last this long…nor be as fragrant…and for this 7 ft frasier fir…it was all of 49.99 . my sister had gone to a tree farm north of the city…paid twice as much…not fragrant…and was dropping needles by bunches the next day…her friend who went with her…her tree did exactly the same

I am sounding like a Simmons farm ad…but really here in the south hills of pittsburgh…they are a great value any time of year

Just some images of some of my ornaments

Crosswalks Are Dangerous

I have been scolded by Mt lebanon Police for not crossing the street in a crosswalk…Do you want to know why I do not cross in crosswalks.

2 weeks ago…in an 8 day period…I was nearly hit in a crosswalk …2 different times…and both times…the driver said they did not see me .I am not a small person…I weigh over 200 lbs…I was wearing a fluorescent orange hat…

I pressed the button to cross…and crossed when the the little white icon showed for me to cross…and I am more than halfway across…and drivers not staying in their lane…cutting the corner too sharp nearly hit Tucker and myself…yes 2 times…Now when I come to a crosswalk with Tucker…I pick him up and cross as quickly as I can…crossing at corners is a dangerous proposition

In my lifetime experience crossing elsewhere other than an intersection with a traffic light is safer…drivers are often in a hurry…trying to get through the light before it turns red…running late for work or school…they just do not see people.

I actually met a fellow who was hit in the intersection of Cedar Blvd and Cochran Rd and he insists he was crossing properly when someone racing a light smacked into him while he was in the crosswalk .

I find crossing at a corner in the middle of a street …no where near a traffic light is much safer…visibility up and down the road is much more clear

I saw a poll online recently asking what the most dangerous form of transportation is…and they gave options…Plains…trains…busses…automobiles…but nowhere did they show foot traffic…or bicycle traffic…I do not have statistis for Pittsburgh…but I do know nationwide for the past year bicycle deaths are rising quickly…some reports ay as high as 19% higher in New York City than the previous year.

be careful out there…especially if you are in a crosswalk

Dog Has Cushings ? Stay Away from Prana Pets

contains cortisol producing licorice root

You might think that a company using the name Prana…would be able to stand up to its name…prana meaning breath or life force

Prana Pets sells a product called Adrenal Support…and it does that…but they market it to fight against cushings diseases…which is caused by too much cortisol….well it has dandelion root…and burdock,,,and ginseng…all good to fight against cushings…but why do they have licorice root in there…licorice root contains cortisol…and it encourages the body to produce more cortisol…I did not fully investigate the product before I bought it…but I was figuring they are telling me this helps against cushings…well just 3 days on this product and…it made my dog worse…I got him off it and he is getting better…and with God’s blessing a full recovery.

So this is just a heads up to the trusting buyer …taking the seller’s words for the truth…this is not for Cushings…they should be marketing it for addisons instead.

I have tried contacting Prana pets 2 times…and they have not responded to either contact

pictures

Holiday Parade in Pittsburgh

This will be short…This parade was good at one time…like when it use to come down grant street and turn onto 5th avenue…..now it comes down liberty avenue…and the participants in the parade pretty much do not perform until they are in front of the local tv cameras

This is a made for Tv parade,,,,The local TV station wants people to come and watch…but there is no reason to do so…because the only action in the parade happens in front of the cameras…where the fans seated in the bleachers are told when to cheer…and if you are standing on the other side of the street chances are your ability to see the performance will be hindered by camera people…production people

Parades in general are a dinosaur any more…streets were packed both sides 4,,,5,,,6 deep when I was a child some 50plus years ago… but tfor this parade and the veterans parade crowds are sparse to non existant…I misspoke about the dinosaur thing…The St Patrick’s Day parade…and the Pride Parade are the largest in the city and very well attended

But this holiday parade is a bit sad

a few images from the parade

Lightup Night in Pittsburgh

Well the morning started off nice mid 40’s temperature wise….and well then it became windy…and temperatures were dropping….and by 5 p.m the winds had subsided and it was nice again…so I ventured downtown for lightup night in Pittsburgh…walked out to the corner and got on the bus…got downtown before 6 and in time to see the tree lit up in PPG plaza…though I did not see it happen as the crowd was so thick…I could not move coming through Market Square near Primantis…so I retraced my steps….and by the time…2 minutes had passed and I was nearer to PPG PlaZA THE TREE HAD BEEN LIT…NO BIGGIE….but I stayed by the ice rink to take a few pictures,,,I love watching people skate…fall…have fun…and those that know how…helping those who are trying for the first time.

never ventured up to Grant street for Lightup night before…but it was worth it….Horsedrawn wagon rides were available near Oxford center…where some 30 odd years ago…i ran to the top….it was to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation…but for a week I suffered from lung burn…the air was so dry in the stairwell…but I digress…the wagon rides were popular as the line was pretty long…I crossed the street to the city county building…with a beautiful tree decorated with homemade ornaments and ornaments honoring various neighborhoods…really a beautiful tree….I went up there to see the gingerbread houses display…i never made it in …again the line was long….but to my good fortune…a troupe of young ladies were performing on the portico…they were fabulous…and they were the… Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s …Xtreme Teen broadway…they made my night…and put me in the mood…Lots of folks on Grant Street dressed in penguins garb as the Pens were hosting the NJ Devils at 7…Pens win …pens win…and Jarry is splendid in goal..

And then i just meandered my way down 5th avenue…pretty quiet…but I did get a glance at Kaufmann’s clock…and view the beautiful blue lit tree in the PNC building lobby

Back to Jenkins Arcade….yes it is not called that anymore…it is the Highmark building…outside were ice sculptors and drummers drumming and thousands of folks waiting for the tree to be lit on the Horne’s building…once again another property of Highmark….so i waited around for 13 minutes until they lit the tree and headed down the stairs to catch the T…and it seems everyone else did the same…I never saw the T station so crowded…I waited 25 minutes to get on a train…first one blue line train…then a second blue line train…then a local train…and finally a red line train/Castle Shannon showed up…I got a seat…thankfully…as my left knee was bothering me…but the train filled …SRO… elbow to elbow…armpit to armpit as those standing were holding on to straps from above…it took what seemed forever…which it was as it takes time for everyone to pay their fare and get off the train

Anyway…I did not stay around to see Adam Lambert or the big fireworks display…but I had my fill