If it Ain't One Thing, it's Another

So, at work I've been asked to make more and more calls for traveling staff (for those who aren't familiar with my line of work, I arrange meetings between co-workers and donation prospects in St. Louis and elsewhere for Washington University). Anyway, these people are traveling more and more, and I have to accomodate them.

Now the people who make local-only calls want me to call more for them, too, and their feelings get hurt when I say, "I'm sorry, I can't."

So I had traveling staff complaining to my boss last year, but they're traveling more this year and seem to be quite happy with me. Meanwhile, the staff who doesn't travel was quite happy with me last year, and now is complaining to my boss.

Well, whatever. I'm paid the same regardless of what group of people is pissed at me.

On to the picks for this week's NFL games...
Browns at Falcons: Don't think the Falcons can bounce back from a beating at the hands of the Lions? Think again. ATL
Redskins at Eagles: It took a stroke of luck for the 'skins to beat the Cowboys last week. The Eagles, meanwhile, are coming off of a bye week that gave them the chance to refocus after a loss two weeks ago. PHI
Chargers at Bengals: The Chargers are without steroid maven Shawn Merriman, whereas the Bengals are without their entire offensive line. SDG
Lions at 49ers: It's like a towing contest between a Toyota Corolla and a Ford Escort: Nobody cares, and someone is likely to lose an axle. DET, I guess.
Ravens at Titans: Vince Young just can't catch a break. First, he gets drafted by Tennessee... BAL
Bills at Colts: The Bills think they're all big and bad because they just beat the Packers in Buffalo. The Colts know they're all big and bad because they just beat the Patriots in Foxboro. There's a difference. IND
Texans at Jaguars: The Jags are doing everything they can to avoid a season sweep by the Texans. The most important thing they can do is dress enough warm bodies, and everything else will take care of itself. JAX
Chiefs at Dolphins: Damon Huard is better than Trent Green. There, I said it. KC
Packers at Vikings: The Vikings have been bad lately, so I was about to pick the green and gold. Then I realized that they're playing in a dome, Favre's personal anathema. MIN
Jets at Patriots: Do you remember how whenever you lost at something (like chess), you'd take out your rage on something smaller than you (like your baby sister)? This is like that, only in front of 65,000 people. And with better pay. NE
Broncos at Raiders: It's still a heated rivalry, but the Broncos are still better. DEN
Cowboys at Cardinals: I had high hopes for Dennis Green as head coach, I have to admit. I wonder what will happen this offseason with the Cardinals - will Green quit, and lose his buyout clause? Or will he try to come back for a fourth season, and force the incredibly thrifty Bidwell family to fire him and pay his full salary for the year just to be rid of him? DAL
Saints at Steelers: How are the Steelers favored in this game? Are the Super Bowl refs lined up for this game? NO
Rams at Seahawks: It's good that not much was expected of the Rams this season, because they're about to collapse: they play the Seahawks this week and the Panthers next week. SEA
Bears at Giants: Take what I said about the New England team, and put it here. Same thing. CHI
Buccaneers at Panthers: Poor Bruce Gradkowski. All he wanted to do was play football, and then like Vince Young with the Titans, he had the misfortune of ending up with the Bucs. CAR

And, as a happy note, the bye weeks are over!