Final Four predictions

It’s been a great ride and I picked 3 of the 4 of the Final Four. I know, you are going to ask, which one did I miss??  Well, I refused to believe that UNC couldn’t be picked off along the way (most notably, I believed Notre Dame could do it).  So, yes, the one team that would’ve completed my great run in my pool was the one I just couldn’t do.  Of course emotions got in the way; I am not in a pool for thousands of dollars or at Vegas!  I select teams on my gut, paying little regard to standings, how well they did in the season and other such data.  I have used this personal formula for years and has served me pretty well.  Heck, I got 3 out of the 4!  Overall, I am really happy for the other three teams in terms of how they played, who they played, and where they go from her.  I can’t wait for next weekend.

I have no idea the last time all the number one seeds met in the Final Four, but it’s pretty darn exciting if you ask me.

I am sure you are wondering how far I have gone to exclude UNC. Well, let’s just say, I have Memphis taking the whole thing and I still absolutely think they can do it! Stay tuned….

NOW, That’s a GAME!

Mountaineers vs. Musketeers.  It doesn’t matter that I picked Xavier to win in the Second Round or that I picked West Virginia to clobber Duke.  It matters that these two teams played one helluva game.  With each pass down the court, I found myself rallying for both.  I could have been an announcer because I was yelling and screaming for both teams.  Especially once it hit OT.

I have been to Morgantown once, for business, and really enjoyed the town and the people.  To all my TeleTech colleagues out there, celebrate proudly because your home team has been playing fantastic basketball in the past couple of years and I look forward to seeing them get to the Final Four next year.

That WAS a GAME.  That is why I love college basketball.  That is what makes March Madness! On the other hand, that Tarheel game, that was not a game.  Someone just stomp on them already because they are taking the pleasure out of the viewing.

The Bruins Baby!

What an amazing game to watch – even if it was only for glimpses and moments while in a bar. The ending was indicative of what I love about this game and about this tournament. Yes, I have UCLA picked to go pretty far, but the match-up was greater than any pool pick.

It just keeps getting better and better!

Mountaineer Muscle

What a GREAT second half! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, hoping and wishing that West Virginia would take out Duke. I can’t stand Duke and truly wished Belmont would’ve finished them off, but today’s game has been awesome!   How can you not love this time of year?!

Bracketology

How are you doing in your NCAA march madness pool?  I did ok in the first round. Of the 32 games, I guessed 22 correct.  That darn West region messed me all up – having incorrectly picked four different games.  OY!   And yes, I did pick IU, so that was also another incorrect pick in the East region.   We shall see how the next round shakes out and if I can do any better!  Regardless, there have been some great games and they are only going to get better!!

It’s March Madness BABY!

I love that Indiana was one of the 65 selected.  I love that they could potentially meet up with UNC in the second round (cannot stand that team with a dislike only equal to my dislike for the Dallas Cowboys).  But what is the best is that they will play in Raleigh, NC.  I can say that after being away from “home” for 8 months, this is the first time ever that I wish I still lived there.  It would be awesome to catch the game there.  But the wish is fleeting as Omaha’s Qwest Center will also be hosting the first round of the NCAA’s and for me, being in the presence of any game during March Madness is a true pleasure.   This is my absolutely favorite time of the year so if you don’t care to hear about college basketball, you might want to check back around mid-April!!

Parables

I am one of those sappy kind of gals who can get choked up at the smallest things. I look at this as a good sign in that I am in touch with my emotions and that I feel things. I am sure others could characterize it differently.

So, I sit here, tears running down my face as I watch the parable of the good Samaritan come to life.  It is in a moment like this that I remember why I see the world with such hope, with such wonder, with such curiosity.  I may get knocked down on occasion but I always get up and usually, can laugh at myself later.

But to see an example of such humanity, it makes me feel good to know there are people like that in the world.  Darn, more tears.

Disillusionment

Well, I continually to look at the world through rose-colored glasses even though the Omaha Police, Detectives, Fraud, FBI, and others were unwilling to assist with the $2000 I was scammed out of prior to Christmas.

At that exact same time, PayPal came a-calling telling me that a buyer who purchased a washer and dryer from me in July was disputing the transaction. We corresponded via email and she felt bad for not remembering paying for half of it via credit card. She told her credit card company to stop the dispute and reprocess the charge. Funny, PayPay haven’t accept the monies even though this transaction was reprocessed on 1/8/08. They told me it could take up to 75 days and to be patient, but while I have been patient, PayPal lovingly sent me off to a collection agency for prompt payment (i.e. send the money NOW) or they will damage my credit.

So, since again PayPal will not stop the collection process even though they are the one’s telling me about this 75 day window and must wait until March 27th for them to collect the money. What kind of absolute nonsense is this? I am trying not to think “here we go again, Anissa gets screwed out of more money” but it’s darn hard not to. Basically, that forgetful girl who couldn’t remember how she paid for her new washer and dryer, has basically gotten it for free now. I on the other hand am out both the goods and the money.

If things really happen in threes, I am truly scared to see what the next monetary hurdle will be thrown into my path. Regardless, I can honesty say I have closed my account with PayPal. I will never use them or eBay again (same company). It would seem that these types of auction sites just lead to nothing but trouble and I for one have had my fill. I hope no one else has any of this kind of luck.