Meeting People Is Easy...

# of panelists = 17
Size of MPIE photoshop file = 36 MB
Hours spent photoshopping = Eat me
Reading this week's responses = PRICELESS

My Mom always told me, if you're going to do something, don't half ass it. I really took that to heart. And since I apply the same rules to blogging as I do to life, you'll see I've really dedicated myself to providing a fine MPIE this week.

17 panelists isn't a record, but it's pretty close. In hindsight, I probably should've broken this into two different images. But then again, in hindsight I am also lazy.

This week we've got many familiar faces and one noob. This week's rookie is KT, aka KDudders. What can I really say about Katie that her avatar doesn't already say for itself? If that thing is any indication of what she's like in real life, suffice it to say Katie doesn't eff around.

Joining her this week, the rest of your panel looks like this...

1. John Woods ~ High up on the ballot for the MPIE Hall of Fame...

2. Tiny350z ~ Sleeps with a cat as a blanket...

3. Pat ~ If the Pirates keep this up, methinks he may explode with excitement. Either way, don't sweat Doumit's injury too much...

4. Vern ~ Don Banks = drama queen...

5. Brett ~ Has semi-recently branched out to Twitterwebs...

6. Joey Porter's Pit Bulls ~ Has emerged from his slumber to offer thoughts on the draft...

7. Neena ~ No one talk to her this morning.../pens fail

8. Ladi Izz ~ Our long lost friend returneth!

9. Sheena Beaston ~ Be sure to send her your submissions for "Best Song to Punch Someone in the Face To"

10. Steve Braband ~ Great minds think alike :)

11. Doug ~ CafePress is fired!

12. Tec ~ Here's to hoping the Madden curse is OVER...

13. Nate ~ Slick new Yahoo-esque avatar this week...

14. Noah ~ This week's 11th hour addition...

15. Grumpy ~ This picture will never get old...

16. Me ~ Nothing to see here...

I'd write something witty and/or clever here, but frankly, I've already wasted enough of your and my valuable time. Besides, you know how this works by now. Do it...

Click to enlarge...

Your comments go here...

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Where Are You Watching The Game On Sunday?

As promised, here's installment #2 of this garbage I'm calling a feature, "Where are YOU Watching The Super Bowl?" I'd provide some sort of witty/insightful/sarcastic commentary, but frankly, I'm bushed.

Anyways, here's where our following friends are watching the game this Sunday...

Ladi Izz
I'm just watching it at home. The only tradition I have is that I make chili every year for the Super Bowl.

Doug
I will be watching the game at home again this year. Except this year we plan on having some people over to watch the game. This will be a first in our household. Beer, food, and football on HD is the only way to go. Plus I can get loaded during the game, which I plan on doing, and not have to worry about driving. Even though I hate watching the game with anyone, I will let that go for the Super Bowl.

Sean (of Sean's Ramblings fame)
When the playoffs began three years ago, we agreed to host a Super Bowl party for a group of friends. The Steelers were the #6 seed and seemed to have little chance of reaching the Super Bowl especially since the Indianapolis Colts dominated the league during the regular season.  About a month later, the Steelers defeated the Broncos and were headed to Detroit. Since we had already agreed to host a party, we didn't want to break our plans. We had 3 or 4 other couples at our home, and I was the only person who truly followed the Steelers. There were a couple people with Pittsburgh ties who rooted for the Steelers to win and a few others that wanted the Steelers to win because they wanted me to be in a good mood. However, there was one person at the party who was a Redskins fan. He openly supported the Seahawks because he felt that Seattle winning would look better for the Redskins, who lost to the Seahawks earlier in the playoffs. I still don't understand the logic behind this. I should note that although I did not kick him out of my home during the game, we are not friends anymore. I'm not sure if I've even talked to him since that night.
 
So now that the Steelers are back in the Super Bowl, I've had a bit of a dilemma about where to watch the game this year. I thought about going back to Pittsburgh but I really can't take off time from work since I have a big conference coming up and just took the hockey road trip vacation. We could host again but I don't want to deal with making sure everyone has enough food and drink while trying to watch the game. So instead, we are going over to our friends' house. There will be about 10 people there, and although no else is really a Steelers fan, they are all football fans. They understand the importance the Steelers have in my life, and the hosts have already assured me that no one will be rooting for the Cardinals. While ideally I'd like to watch the game with only Steelers fans, I'm going to watch the game with close friends which is all anyone can ask for.
 
Plus, I'm sure I'll be on the phone with my dad and brother throughout the game.

Ben
I will be the host of a Super Bowl party right here in Indianapolis for my friends that live here. Festivities will start around 1 or 2 with the grill and some beers. Then we'll have some beers and watch the 2 previous playoff games (I have them saved on DVR). Then we'll have some beers with another round of grilling. During the game there will be beers and some snacks, finger foods, etc..... Then the postgame there will be even more beers and either a bunch of shit talking by me or the consoling of me by my friends. Nonetheless there will be beers! GO STEELERS!!!!!!

Pat (WHYGAVS)
I will be watching the game either in Chapel Hill or Pittsburgh, depending on if I get enough work done this week to disappear for three days and not feel bad about it.

This week is going to break me. And so is MPIE...consequently, I may have to switch that and this for tomorrow. We shall see. Anwyays, this happened.

/done

Meeting People Is Easy...

Well first of all, thank friggin' God it's Friday.

Perhaps you've noticed my glaring absence from OFTOT this week. At least in the comments. This is not entirely intentional. See, unbeknownst to you all, I've been out of my mind with some bullshit at work/school this week. You know, Powerpoints and the like. Really fun stuff like that. So you'll notice that today's MPIE is relatively mini-horse-like in comparison to recent weeks. I only hope you can all forgive me for that.

Now to introduce our "expert" panel...

1. Silky Johnson ~ Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go put some water in Mama McNabb's dish...

2. Neal Coolong ~ James Harrison = way > Ray Lewis...decipher that one.

3. LJKC ~ Did she seriously let Matt use a keyboard to deface her otherwise excellent blog? [Just kidding, Matt]

4. Big Snack Silverback ~ We seriously went back and forth for a good 10 minutes trading lyrics from "Fight The Power"...I really felt we shared a moment...

5. Pat ~ Recently "wrapped" another season of Pirates baseball...I don't know how you do it, dude...That's what I call dedicaton.

6. Sean ~ My new Facebook friend...like I told Sean - if you're not friends on the internets, you are not friends at all.

7. Tecmo ~ I don't know why I continue to put a black bar over his eyes. It's not like you guys have never seen his mug before...

8. Me ~ Caffeine is a hell of a drug.

As usual, you know the drill - Click to enlarge...


Can't make any guarantees on an afternoon post today. I'm going to make my best effort. But I've got a pretty long day fitting of the pretty long WEEK I've had. My apologies for the lack of quality around here this week. Shit's rough nowadays.

See you all on the internets...

/Needs some God damned sleep

Meeting People Is Easy...

Thunderdome. I'm sure I don't have to quote the cinematic classic for you. But where two men entered and one man left, there. Here, eight Steelers homers/bloggers entered and only one will leave.

What am I talking about? The Steelers Thunderdome Fantasy Football League.

When TSW approached me about being part of this esteemed affiliation, I didn't even think twice before replying, "will there be beer?" Kidding, of course. The email went something like - "Cotter, I had this idea last night that could end with 'and hilarity ensues.'" And the punchline was - A Steelers homer fantasy league.

So who was I to say no to that? My natural reaction was, "where do I sign?"

And I thought it'd be a nice way to introduce this to the world by getting these dudes (and TSW) on this week's Meeting People Is Easy panel. Plus, I got a couple of other special guests to spice things up even more.

Without further ado, in drafting order I'd like to introduce...

1. Christmas Ape ~ MIA.

2. Me ~ I am but your humble narrator.

3. Bryan ~ Yin to TSW's yang. AKA TheStarterBoyfriend, d/b/a Black 'n Gold Tchotchkes.

4. Keith ~ Dude will Melt Your Face Off...and +10 for the Arrested Development reference during our three or so day, marathon draft.

5. Pat ~ The face you all know and love behind - Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke? and MLB Fanhouse. You know, kind of a big deal.

6. Tecmo ~ You probably don't know anything about Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies. Um, or NOT. I give you, The Inimitable, Tecmo.

7. Don ~ You know, from Mondesi's House. Perhaps you've heard of it?

8. TSW ~ Where has she not written? I mean, current Black 'n Gold Tchotchkes Executive Editor in charge of Bryan. Not to mention smartest person in the world for thinking of and coordinating this league. And to whom I owe many thanks for asking me to be part of this, most prestigious of fantasy leagues.

Of course, then there are the "real" panelists...

9. Sean ~ This man recently interviewed Olympian, Ric Blas Jr. And yeah, free burritos for a year. So lucky...

10. The Immortal Silky Johnson ~ Sure, he's an Eagles fan, but I've grown to love the guy and you will too.

And that, my friends, is Meeting People Is Easy...Click the below to enlarge...


No energy left. [INSERT SOMETHING FUNNY HERE]