I just received word that, come Monday, the giant office occupied for the past 6 months only by yours truly will now be inhabited by another soul.  My once cushy existence here at this company is about to become crowded and I will undoubtedly be forced to compromise some of my freedoms in regard to monitoring the stock exchange.

Nevertheless, I will use this challenge to blog with greater intensity in vigour (sic), undeterred by the prying eyes of lesser, dog brained, beings.

I guess the bright side is that I will no longer be considered the “new guy” around here.  Always good to shed that moniker.

Additionally, being that we are hiring another engineer, I suppose that means business is doing well.

In the meantime, “ElizaMae” continues to spend this morning on far more pressing matters that pertain to neither stocks nor transportation, but will be revealed at some point this weekend on this here blog.  Stay tuned.

-EM

I lived in Portland, Oregon from September 2005 until this past summer.  I love the west coast…especially the Pacific NW.

It was weird living in Portland.  Seattle was the closest NFL city,  so that was kind of the ‘natural’ team to root for.  I was curious about this because the Trailblazers and Supersonics were fierce rivals for as long as they rolled out the ball against one another.

That would be like me rooting for the God forsaken Cavaliers or 76ers because they are the closest NBA teams.  I really do not care for the Cleveland Browns and I really really could do without the Philadelphia Flyers.

I could not understand how anyone could root for a team (as ‘your team’) in a sport that resides in the town that you despise in another sport. So, needless to say, Portlanders who were also Seahawk fans really started to bother me.  Look, you just need to pick a different team…it’s easy.

Coincidentally, my first fall there was Super Bowl XV, Pittsburgh v Seattle…the incessant whining about horrible/questionable refereeing took my disdain for that team to another level (look, I agree.  Levy’s crew stunk that day and there may have been some favorable calls awarded to the Steelers…but, also, the refs weren’t to blame for preventing Willie Parker from getting into the open field and galloping 75 yards, throwing the ball to Ike Taylor, etc).

Then Russell Wilson happened.  You really have to go out of your way to root against the guy, am I right?  He is absolutely unflappable…it’s a joy to watch him play.  They were down 20-0 today…on the road…remember, he’s a rookie.  He didn’t blink.  So smart, in control.  Hell, I’m not even ashamed to say that they are now one of my favorite teams.  I recall really liking him at Wisconsin last year…but just like everyone else outside of the Seattle front office, thought he didn’t have the size to get a chance in the NFL.

Barring injury, both Wilson and Kaepernick are going to be really good for a really long time.  That NFC West is just crazy…recall, it was the laughingstock of the league just two years ago.

I remember coming home from the hospital with my newborn son and watching Charlie Whitehurst lead Seattle over St. Louis to finish 7-9 and WIN the division.  Unfortunately, next week Saints fans had to endure this:

http://youtu.be/jBHk9rc4hHc

Now, for the foreseeable future, we see the reality that either Seattle or San Francisco will have to win at least 2 road games (and likely 3) to get to the Super Bowl.

In a move that will likely endear me to a certain interim tabbed blogger, I will be rooting for the 49ers.  I have always liked Jim Harbaugh, Kaepernick is an amazing story, Michael Crabtree and their middle linebackers are incredible to watch, plus I think they have a MUCH better chance to beat New England or Baltimore in the Super Bowl (which needs to happen, thanks).

Up next: we get back to talking about the stock exchange.

-EM