Sunday, March 11, 2007

NCAA March Madness


Soooo, does anyone want to organize a Straub basketball pool? How could it be done?? I nominate Ed. $5 each?

132 comments:

Anonymous said...

I second the motion that Ed organize this pool.

I think CU and ND both got hosed a little in the seeding, but that doesn;'t really matter now. Just win baby.

What time does the St' Pat's parade start?

Anonymous said...

We were at the bracket party at Creighton today..I went early and saved seats, so we were right behind the team, it was fun. I think the coaches were a bit surprised at the #10 seed. Also, everyone wanted to go to Chicago. I think the Drexel loss was a big factor...2 pm on Friday. Go Jays!
Every show I watch about the match-ups mentions Winthrop...Notre Dame's first game. Does anyone know about them? Go Irish!

Anonymous said...

Notre Dame plays at 2:30 (could be Eastern time) the message boards at ESPN are funny to read...lots of negative about DUKE...and Kentucky...I guess Winthrop beat Wisconsin...but ND is on a roll, that Freshman is hot (message board said so!) No comments about Creighton, alot about Kansas.

Caitlin was at KU last night, she hung out with Dana Altman's son..he doesn't like basketball:-)

Anonymous said...

Anybody that wants in on the brackets e-mail me at ed.straub@bp.com. I will get something put together.

Anonymous said...

FYI:
As you may already know...Eddie Elbert has passed away. Your Father asked me to order flowers from, "The Straub Family." Just thought you should all know so no one sends some, in addition to, the ones I have ordered today.

Anonymous said...

I did not know that. Was it a heart attack?
P

Anonymous said...

He died, unexpectedly, during heart surgery.

Anonymous said...

Maybe, not during...maybe, shortly after???

Anonymous said...

Could everyone say a little prayer for Randy's brother and sister-in-law, Lindsey and Mary, and their family.

They just had their fourth child yesterday... a little boy named Timothy Lauren. He is down's syndrome. They had no indication during the pregnancy that there could be a problem of this nature.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Ok EVERYONE! Let me know if you want in to the pool by e-mail. I will then e-mail you a spreadsheet to fill out and e-mail back to me. When I have everyone's picks I will send out a "Master Spreadsheet" with everyone's picks so you can compare yourself to others.

There is a short time frame on this (Games start on Thurs) so let me know as soon as possible. Again - my e-mail is ed.straub@bp.com

Anonymous said...

Lisa~ Absolutely.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a horrible thing to go through. The realization, after all the work of labor and pregnancy, and the emotions, etc. Yes I will be thinking of them.

P

Anonymous said...

This is my first wagering pool experience. I can hardly express with what paroxysms of excitement I anticipate the arrival of my first "spreadsheet," which sounds a little risque to my untrained ear. I have palpitations.

Anonymous said...

Is there a prize for first returned spreadsheet, or most improbable? I win on both counts. Now what? Like many a deflowered virgin, I feel a little sad and empty. Is that all there is?

Anonymous said...

Tom just had his oil changed at Elbert's. They said that Eddie needed hip surgery, but before that could happen they needed to repair a weak heart valve. After the surgery, he came down with pneumonia and his kidneys failed. He passed away on Friday(?). Very sad.

Anonymous said...

Cathy - the real fun is when the games start getting played and you are watching and seriouly wanting Holy Cross to beat Southern Illinois so badly because you picked them. Or feeling the pain because Texas Tech loses in the first round because you had them going to the elite eight.

The pot is up to $30.

Anonymous said...

Cathy, please pick Holy Cross to beat So. Illinois!

Lisa, are they still living in Mnahattan, Kansas? It's very tough...But, I have a friend with a Down's Syndrome, who is now 24. She lives one her own, has a job, and a boyfriend...although devasting, at first, she has been a joy and a lot of fun for her older bros. and sister. She is also the youngest of 4. When her mom goes to visit now, social skills aside, she walks in the door and Ashley says, "What day are you leaving, because my boyfriend wants to come over ASAP!"

Anonymous said...

Yes, I know a couple of people who have siblings or children with Down's Syndrome.
It definitely can work out just fine, but that first discovery is really difficult.

My problem with the tourney is where to draw the line between allegiance to teams I love and being realistic. I usually am too generous with my favorite teams.
Who's all playing?
P

Anonymous said...

So far:

Jim
Tom or Nance
Pat
Ed
Cathy
Joe Jayjack

Jim is the only one who has returned his bracket. Where is Frank and Emily and Desmond? And Joe and Randy and Bob? And Mary Ellen and Joe?

Anonymous said...

That's Tom...not, me. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I do want Holy Cross to beat So. Illinois. Oh, I do, I do, I do.

Anonymous said...

I emailed Ed back within minutes, but in a paroxysm of excitement, I forgot to attach my bracket

Anonymous said...

Lindsey and Mary live in the town that at one time had been Dad's first choice for college. Does anyone know this city?

Anonymous said...

Miami Florida.

Anonymous said...

Ithaca NY

p

Anonymous said...

3:30. I'm outta here. It's spring.

Anonymous said...

Lisa, I'll be thinking of them.
From the other height postings, I'm 5'6.5" and I think Molly's 5'7" but for some reason her legs are like 2 inches longer than mine, instead of just a half inch. I wonder how tall Martha is?
It's nice enough to golf outside.

Anonymous said...

Des, are you going to the KU game on Friday?

Florida A&M or Niagra.

I watched a program about Niagra Falls last night, and it said that they have stopped up to 75% of the waterflow over the falls. I guess it was much more impressive on the 19th century. Has anyone ever been to Niagra Falls?

Anonymous said...

Given the bautiful weather outside I decided to stay inside an remove wallpaper in Tom and Peter's room.
It is so,so,so worth it to rent a steamer for $25. I wish I had realized this 2 bathrooms ago. They have a big bedroom and I did it all in 1 day. That means no dishes, cooking or laundy. At least I had the window open.

Basketball,shamaketball. I'm tired of it.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Monica!

Anonymous said...

I meant basketball,schmasketball.
Monica

Anonymous said...

You two losers can get your own blog.

Everybody get your picks in. Still haven't gotten a lot of them and still waiting for others to get on board.

Anonymous said...

i had a shot at going pro in shamaketball, until my elbow went. nothing quite so debilitating as shammy-elbow.

Anonymous said...

The boys wore shorts to school today! WooHoo! :-)

Anonymous said...

Peter asked me if it was going to be super hot today, like it was yesterday.

Anonymous said...

Ha! :-)

Anonymous said...

it is supposed to hit 61 in Madison. i get to leave at 1:30 today too... go for a run in the sun...

Anonymous said...

I saw Cathy's picks. They are my favorite.
p

Anonymous said...

Creighton does not have a football team. Joan, the woman I work with, was one of the first group of cheerleaders at Creighton. She says they didn't like girl students much back then.
Joe, don't spell Niagara like viagra.

Anonymous said...

Tom - I never got anything from you. What did the warning message say?

Anonymous said...

Tom~ I sent it to Ed. :-)

Anonymous said...

You can go to this site to see Phelans's videos,she writes and sings and films t...www.youtube.com/comehomedewey...
the t-shirt one is the newest...try that one first :-)

Anonymous said...

Lisa, it's whereever Cornell is, right? Or is it Columbia?

Anonymous said...

Columbia.

Anonymous said...

Cornell.
p

Anonymous said...

Pat, how did you see Cathy's picks? Ed, did you get mine? Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Tom -

Got your picks. We are going to each pay the winner (most likely me) $5 so Pat can just pay me $10 down the road.

Still waiting on Emily, Joe Jayjack and Erin.

Ed

Anonymous said...

When does the parade start?

Anonymous said...

I dunno. I'll ask Tom and get back to yah. :-)

Anonymous said...

Usually starts at 4...cause most times it's on a work/school day!

Tom, that's a funny story...

Ed, Don is going to mail you his entry postmarked by Thursday :-)

Anonymous said...

All I know is that if it starts at 4pm...yah gotta be on time 'cuz it's over at 4:08!

Anonymous said...

Cornell in Ithica I believe is correct. I bet Dad will send a correction if I'm wrong.

An update on baby Timmy: He has a hole in his heart. I don't know anything more than that.

Here is what I bought for the food pantry auction: A dessert cheeseball mix (it's pink!), a wire vase and a very small candle in a tin. Monica bought espresso cups and saucers (and what else?). Has anyone picked up anything else? If you haven't yet and would like to, we could use a nice basket or perhaps a hat box to put everything in. Pleasea feel free to check in with this information. Please feel free: Do you like my JarJarBinks talk?

love you.

Anonymous said...

I think that JarJarBinks is the least popular Star Wars Character of all time.

My favorite was the little rat looking thing that sat in Jabba's lair and laughed with a high pitch laugh. I am laughing just thinking about him.

Anonymous said...

As we stated in an earlier post...The Food Pantry Fund Raiser has been rescheduled to a later date...May?

Anonymous said...

I would rather just get the food pantry stuff out of my house so that I am not tempted to steal from it. And if we do a group gift, this may be the only weekend we are all there in order to get it taken care of. Others may disagree with me, but this is how I feel.

However, that would most likely mean that we would ask you to store it at your home until the auction, Tom and Nance, if that's okeie dokie with you.

Anonymous said...

Sure, we'll store it at our house.

Anonymous said...

I have a basket we can use. I also have a box of chocolate biscotti.

So does the parade start at 4 for sure?

Anonymous said...

Official Parade Information:

It begins precisely at 4pm. We STRONGLY suggest arriving at 3:45pm. It has been our experience that getting there a little in advance allows you to, "connect," with your fellow marchers and get your self organized before the parade. Don't forget to bring your candy! We always forget...but, not this year...I hope. :-<> The parade, literally, comes and goes in a flash. Directly after the parade is the Party at Sister Sarah's. Tom, I and the boys will be there (of course), however Eli, Liam and I will be leaving around 6:30pm-ish. The Bar gets a little crazy and we don't want the kids there into the evening. If anyone would like me to take their children back home, with me, and then, you can come and get them later...I would be happy to do so. :-)

Anonymous said...

I am a slouch and a no account thief. I owe Tom and Nance for the tshirts, Monica for the flowers to Uncle Jerry, Lisa? for the abovementioned basket, and Ed for the pool.
Sorry. SO SORRY!!!! I have good credit....
I'll try to remember to write these checks tonight.
P

Anonymous said...

I got some gourmet hot cocoa mix, a couple chocolate flavored coffees, some of those little strawlike chocolate-covered cookie things and a gift pack of bath goodies called "cocoa spa" - all brown and pink packaging. I was going to get a pair of chocolate panties but Spencer Gifts has left the mall.

Anonymous said...

Who is going to Algona for St. Pat's?

Anonymous said...

Joe Jayjack went golfing yesterday. It was above 80 degrees here, but today it's 60. I can handle 60 in March - that's just about right.

Anonymous said...

I, too owe Monica for Uncle Jerry's flowers and Tom & Nance for the t-shirts.

This basket of STUFF sounds really cute. Thanks to all of you! We may need a bigger container than I realized.

Candy... I had forgotten about that!

Anonymous said...

I am looking for four beds for St. Pat's

Anonymous said...

Ha, ha, ha! This will be our 6th year, in a row, marching and we've forgotten CANDY every year! I'm posting a note on my cupboard...right now. :-)

Thanks to all of you for creating such a wonderful basket for our Food Pantry! I am sure it will be well received. :-)

Anonymous said...

Regarding beds for St. Pat's Day: We have one twin and a couch.

Who's all coming?
I know this for sure...
Cathy, her boy toy and their youngest daughter (?)
Mary and the love of her life
Lisa and her gang
Monica and her troups
Anyone else?

Anonymous said...

For you out of towners...of course, you probably have some wonderful Irish Frock/Sweater to don, however, if you would like to wear your Parade Tee...call us.

Anonymous said...

OK, I didn't get the tiebreaker thing. My new tiebreaker is 121.

Anonymous said...

Where (and what) is Webwe State?

Anonymous said...

I just read this; I have no idea how long ago it happened. John Popper was arrested after he was stopped for going 111 mph and was found to have pot, 4 rifles, 9 handguns, a taser and night vision goggles in his car. Jeesh.

Anonymous said...

What do Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and John Popper have in common?

Anonymous said...

Here's who isn't coming...that we know of:
Emily
Pete
Bob
Pat
Hmm...who's left?
Jim
Ed
Frank
Are you guys coming?

Anonymous said...

Since there seems to be a chocolate theme to this basket can I include a chocolate lab?

I will be at the parade but not until Sat. and will only have 2-3 kids with me. And no spouse.

Anonymous said...

Yah, you can tie the basket around her neck...real tight so it doesn't fall off.

Anonymous said...

Parade weather report:
Partly cloudy with a high in the lower 40's.

Anonymous said...

Do you all remember the year someone brought 2 freshly shampooed baby lambs with green bows wearing diapers?

Has anyone made it for all 25 parades? I've been to quite a few, like in the last 15 years, missing a few...

Lets have a memory parade now!
I sent Ed Farrell the big leprecaun shoes, he wore them in the parade, but I couldn't be there. I think Mark McGuire was the Grand Marshall the year it started by Kmart and headed south...not a great route!

Anonymous said...

Pat...are you really not coming :-(

Anonymous said...

Lisa...why do you need 4 beds? Just curious..
Can I stay at your house next week...I need 2 beds!

Anonymous said...

I do remember that year...the lamb year! We were there! Hmm. Had to be post 1995. That's all I know.

Anonymous said...

I'm bringing one of those giant Irish Elk and maybe some soda bread if I get it made.

Anonymous said...

I'm bringing a midget, dressed in green, and she wants to go to Sarah's afterwards for some soda bread and a martini...a fellow realtor.

Anonymous said...

I have maybe 1300 green bead necklaces to throw, and I'll be giving them to the marchers to do just that. Don't worry if you don't have candy to throw.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I am SOOO sorry I'm missing this. Blame it on Sandy Beach. I did get invited to a party up here (don't know them real well but this was clever) and the invite was in a laminated name badge thingie like people wear around their necks at conferences and the like. It says "Backstage Pass Riverdance" and it looks like an actual Riverdance ticket etc. Very funny.
P

Birdie Num Num said...

Ed,

I filled out my brackets and I'm ready to collect my money.

Birdie Num Num said...

Ed,

I filled out my brackets and I'm ready to collect my money.

Anonymous said...

Pepperloin -
How do you put a picture of yourself on your postings? I want to try it.

Anonymous said...

The pepperoin pic looks a bit like the portrait on the "Straub Crest" family sweatshirts!

Anonymous said...

There's a story in today's newspaper about a girl whose dog went missing. She has had a troubled life and some nonprofit has this program where troubled teens get dogs to learn to take care of them and to have someone consistent in their lives. This is the dog that went missing. Yesterday a box was left on her doorstep. Inside was the dog's head.
P

Anonymous said...

Do you think she did it?

Birdie Num Num said...

In order to have a pic on your posts, you need to have a Blogger account. Try clicking on the orange and while "B" logo in the upper left hand corner of this window, open an account and upload a photo to your profile

If that doesn't work, you'll have to continue to covet my pic.

Birdie Num Num said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Birdie Num Num said...

Ed, thanks for putting the tourney pool together. This should be fun.

As four So. Illinois, don't you (anonymous) want to see MVC do well? I hate them, too. Their fans are annoying, their logo/mascot is stupid and SIU itself is barely a university. But it would be good for the Jays.

I hope they take it all the way to the KU game. That's assuming KU doesn't lose to Niagra. And I'm not kidding.

Anonymous said...

I went to the casino in Emmetsburg last nite. I'm not a gambler but the deal was too good to pass up. I was playing blackjack, not knowing what I was doing, and everynow and then I'd take a card or not take a card that resulted in the good gamblers at the table (a buncha oriental women) losing the hand. I'd hear strange muttering and they looked at me with Cambodian Killing fields death stares. I left the casino up $30. I saw a guy pour at least $6000 into 2 slot machines. Incredible.

Anonymous said...

I don't need four beds. I needed a place to stay for four! Sorry!

Mary got new sneakers yesterday. She should be ready to march!

Yes, I remember the spring lambs. I would love to see them again.

And yes, Mary, we would love to have you at the house. If you really need two beds, can Mary's toddler bed count as one?

Anonymous said...

Mom adn Dad have four beds. Why don't you call them?

Anonymous said...

Mom and Dad(Granny and Grandpa)just left for Algona...they look great, very tan! Their plane was an hour late last night, landed at 11, we sat and visited untill 1:30 (2:30 their time!) This morning we just finished a 3 hour breakfast here with Cathy, Steve, Ellen, Andy and Caitlin (& Mike and I) it was great to have such a leisurely visit with everyone!

Anonymous said...

Joe3...you should buy a powerball ticket, good job! My kids tell me you can't say "Oriental women" must say Asian etc..., although it's ok to say oriental food, and decor, right? I don't know why.

Anonymous said...

I have four extra beds!

Anonymous said...

Tom, we'll just say CGian.

Anonymous said...

Is Dick Dale marching on Sat.? He could be your GM next year!

Anonymous said...

Ooo'Dick, Ooo'Dale as we hit the dusty trail as the CGians go marching along!!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to take a nap now.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to take a nap now.

Anonymous said...

stop it!

Anonymous said...

Ed, the first game's over, who's ahead?

Anonymous said...

As of 2:30 PM, I've called three winners.

Anonymous said...

Maryland, BC and Louisville have all won.

Anonymous said...

Emily Scott Joe III Mike Mary Jim and Cathy all got the first three games right.

Anonymous said...

Tom, you don't have a French bone in your body! You're a Caucasian of Celtic Descent, or as we no longer say in our diocese, CCD. Or a Caucasian of Teutonic Descent or a Caucasian of Jute Descent. Jute is not to be confused with hemp, so don't go there.

Anonymous said...

I'm German, Irish, French, English, Bohemian and Sioux Indian.

Anonymous said...

You're GRIFIBSIAN...

Cathy, Mom and Dad argue all the time about the Gallic/Celtic country of origin, don't they? Or, is it in regards to Germany?

Anonymous said...

Nance, I threw an R in there...you're BEFISIGIAN! And, I'm sorry we took the Black Hills away from you :-(

Anonymous said...

That's Deb.

Anonymous said...

That makes Dan and Graham German, Irish, French, English, Bohemian, Sioux Indian, and Danish. Wow. Mosaic.
It's snowing here. It makes me want to die.
p

Anonymous said...

It's ME...not, m.e.just ME...N-A-N-C-E! Mary was right. :-) Go you...and, ME! :-) :-<> :-)

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I'm Sioux from Sioux City, IA, not Sioux Falls, SD.

Anonymous said...

Sioux City Sioux!
How was dinner with Mom and Dad tonight? They've had a whirlwind 24 hours. They are TAN.

Ed, did anyone else pick VCU? I wish I had not picked Gonzaga...well, on to tomorrow, Creighton and Notre Dame! A lot of poeple are leaving work at 2:00.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I thought anonymous was Deb, leaving a note saying, "That's Deb." I thought it was Nance first too.
p

Anonymous said...

Here are the first day point totals. Cathy, Frank, Jim, Pat and Joe J. all got the VMU pick right.

Jim 30
Joe III 28
Mary 28
Mike 28
Des 26
Pat 26
Joe J 24
Tom 24
Ed 22
Emily 22
Frank 22
Scott 22
Cathy 20
Erin 18

Anonymous said...

Jeez Erin, you stink! So do you, Cathy,Scott, Frank, Emily and Ed.

Anonymous said...

Deb and I rock.

Anonymous said...

Hey Gamblers...all the basketball stuff is coming to our home...which is fine, but it would be better if it was sent to Sarah's. That email is sistersarahs@earthlink.net
Thanks. :-)

Anonymous said...

In response to m.e.'s question...Dinner was really nice. We were so pleased that they were able to attend Liam's Musical...way cool as I know they must be tired from their travels. We are glad they are back as it, always, seems weird when they are away. :-)

Anonymous said...

Joe III, I saw you have duke in the final four. They LOST!!!
HA! Wait. HA!HA!
Erin

Anonymous said...

Joe3 said that Ed will be here this weekend. Erin/Jim and Frank...are you guys coming? :-)

Anonymous said...

I just got a bday card from Hamline's president. I told Josh last night in terms of stratus of administration at Hamline I am at the lowest echelon of the upper tier. And, I think it would be better to be at the highest echelon of hte middle tier. It's kind of like having a crappy small house in an amazing neighborhood. I've "made it" but maybe not.

P

Anonymous said...

Pat, a crappy small house in an amazing neighborhood is a better investment...so, too, is lowest rung of the upper echelon, a better investment of your time, professionally! But, to make yourself feel better VUSUALIZE the ladder turned upside down, now you're on top and IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLIN"!

Anonymous said...

We very excited!!! Phelan's band was "written-up" in today's Chicago Tribune, a nice paragraph, we sent the link to Pat, maybe she can post it!

Anonymous said...

I would like to point out that the only reason Erin got a lower score than me is probably because she put her picks on the wrong lines. First in lastness, that's what I aspire to, if I can't take the whole shebang.

Anonymous said...

I would like to confess that I was speaking at a conference Tuesday night and used the words/phrases "paradigm shift", "proactive" and "inculturation." I'm sorry. At least I didn't use the word "synergy" and I could have. But I did say, "basptismal catechumenate." But if you don't say that at least once you get kicked out of the club.

Anonymous said...

Cathy is a little Miss Fancy Pants! You better, "dumb-down," before you come this weekend!

Anonymous said...

You only have to sound like you know what you're saying, you don't really have to know.