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Au Contraire

Whatever I said last week about snowfalls, please do me a big favor and throw that "good feeling" out of the window. I guess I jinxed it as Mother Nature was not happy today (She still isn't done) and everyone is feeling her wrath. A weekend in snowy, wintry Chicago will change the perception as to how you look at the upcoming season.

So strong was the blizzard this weekend that the New York Giants football team was stranded in Kansas City and they were not even scheduled to play the KC Chiefs. They were to play the Minnesota Vikings at the Mall of America Field (previously the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) in downtown Minneapolis. A terrible snowstorm did not even allow travel near the state of Minnesota and the old stadium could not withstand the pounding.

Here is how the stadium would look on a good day.


And here is the stadium today.


The city got pounded with snow and unfortunately the storm dragged its feet all the way to Chicago and the rest of Illinois. Sitting inside my house, the noise outside is so scary compounded by the constant rumbling of the trees and the swirling effect of the windy snow that it has made yesterday (26F and pouring rain) look like a distant dream. And oh, it is coooold outside.

You must have wondered, one week he talks about all the "joys" of snowfalls and Christmas decorations and the very next week he writes horror stories about incessant blizzards and scary noises. I am as taken aback by the level of destruction that such a day can cause and frankly, it plays tricks on your mind. You do realize that I did not harp about the bitter cold last week. I would save that for another day (in February). Last week it was all about sharing the joy, today it is all about sharing the pain.

There is however one good news to share. The University of Akron won its first NCAA tournament. We are the champions of College Soccer.. While it may not be the biggest NCAA sport as compared to Football and Basketball, but who cares, it is our day and I am damn proud of being from Akron U. Go Zips.

In unrelated news, my cousin got married this weekend and I called him to wish him good luck on a happy married life. One of the first things he asks me is "Brother, give me some tips" and I told him "You are on your own". Guess that was not the inspiration he was looking for. But being a veteran of a 5 1/2 year marriage, I would say to him, be ready to make a lot of sacrifices, treat her well, don't take her or yourself for granted just because you are married and most importantly, have a good time.

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