BeauBenken's Fireside Chats

[Riddickulous]

Gezzy Pete...OK, time to clarify some things.

I just graduated from Muncie Central High School actually. And don't bag on BSU. I'm about to go there. It's actually improved DRAMATICALLY.

As for the flower shop. It's Normandy Flower Shop Inc. located in Muncie, Indiana (that's east central Indiana, Nanker). It's owned just by my mom. My dad passed away earlier this year.

Anyways, I'd love you're guys business. lol

And my laptop still has a freakin' virus. So...grr.

Mine got stolen in December, away at college. And I was transferring to a community college back home the next semester. It was my last day there, I went to lunch, came back, and it was gone. Bastards.

 

[dshans]

I like my garden.... bastards...

As well you should ... as well we are ...

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

... Every guy has a bit of a feminine side to them and if they tell you they dont they are lying.

How many female landscapers have you met? In my lifetime, I have called many a landscaping company for various reasons. Not a single lady ever showed up. I'm the one who has always taken care of the yard. Good zen moment. Broke my heart when I had to sell my lawnmower and gardening tools when I moved into an apartment. So now, in my spare time, I seek out and kick cute helpless puppies and kittens.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I like my garden.... bastards...

Me too. Having a luxuriant lawn of meticulously maintained grass is a feat of suburban manliness. My lawn is the envy of the neighborhood, and I'm damn proud of it.

It would seem Johnny is the gaybo for not gardening.

 

[BeauBenken]

Mine got stolen in December, away at college. And I was transferring to a community college back home the next semester. It was my last day there, I went to lunch, came back, and it was gone. Bastards.

Dude, that blows. BIG time.

 

[BeauBenken]

Me too. Having a luxuriant lawn of meticulously maintained grass is a feat of suburban manliness. My lawn is the envy of the neighborhood, and I'm damn proud of it.

It would seem Johnny is the gaybo for not gardening.

Dang right. Use to live on a corner lot. Looked fresh as hell. Now that's manly.

 

[NankerPhelge]

Thanks, Beau. I know where Muncie is. A little far for me to go to get flowers since I live in Granger.

Now that we are all opening up here, I guess I am going to be forced to get the ambition to learn how to take digital photos, put them on this computer, and upload to this site. Not vegetables and stuff, I'm not a damn farmer. But flowers. Turned my entire backyard into a flower garden. Have 65 rose bushes that I tend like they are my children, along with a bunch of other stuff. A beautiful saucer magnolia. Several different types of hybiscus. Stella D'oros circle one patio ( I have 4). Boxwoods around the fountain. A hybiscus that gets bigger and more gorgeous every year (big, pink, flowers that bloom all summer). All kinds of other assorted stuff, daisies, black-eyed susans, plus an assortment of annuals (impatiens, marigolds, zinnias, begonias, stuff like that). Started on it 5 years ago, and every year it gets better. And, the wife and I did it all ourselves, which really is a feeling of satisfaction I can't describe.

I'm like the little bald-headed neighbor in "Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (except I have hair). Remember? He's lovingly tending his roses when he feels something like rain coming down, and looks up and Chong is pissing on his roses from his (Chong's) second-floor bathroom window. Then, later in the movie Chong's got his Harley parked in his living room with a hose hooked to the exhaust pipe and out the window into the guy's rose bed? Chong's in there goosing the hell out of the thing and gasses the guy's roses?

Used to think this was funny as hell until I got into my own flower gardening. My son calls me the "little flower man," and not in a kindly way, either. Oh well, he'll grow up. Maybe when he hits 40 (he's 30 now).

Oh, by the way, the lawn is meticulous also. Like a well-groomed golf course. I do that myself, also.

 

[BeauBenken]

Sorry, Nanker. I hope I didn't come off a bit condescending. :X Where Muncie use to be sorta a big deal in Indiana, it has diminished to the point that one can never be certain of another knowing of the city's whereabouts.

And 65 rose bushes?! My goodness. You definitely need to post pics!

 

[NankerPhelge]

Dont' worry, I didn't take it as condescending at all.

Yeah, always lose a couple roses over the winter, but then replace them in the spring.

Also, forgot to mention that everytime we go down south, my wife buys some plant that will not live up here. So, I end up hauling the things home (imagine this car being towed behind a motorhome with all these big damn magnolias and camielias sticking out the windows) and putting them in pots. We put them out on the patio, and then when the weather gets too cold, I get to haul them down into the basement where she had me set up grow lights for the winter. That's not as bad as hauling them back up in the spring, though. What a pain in the ***. But, as they say, a "happy wife means a happy life." Also, a busted butt.

 

[Riddickulous]

Dude, that blows. BIG time.

It turned out alright. I'll be famous one day and will buy 100 laptops.

 

[BeauBenken]

It turned out alright. I'll be famous one day and will buy 100 laptops.

I hope you're jinxing doesn't work against yourself...

 

[Riddickulous]

I hope you're jinxing doesn't work against yourself...

It totally doesn't...I think.

I will never find what I seek. BOOM. JINXED.

 

[BeauBenken]

It totally doesn't...I think.

I will never find what I seek. BOOM. JINXED.

Well played. Let's hope it works...or doesn't?




As for an actual posting in my thread here...

I hate letting people down. Honestly the worst feeling. That and heartbreak. The two combined...well...yea, I think you understand.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Well played. Let's hope it works...or doesn't?




As for an actual posting in my thread here...

I hate letting people down. Honestly the worst feeling. That and heartbreak. The two combined...well...yea, I think you understand.

Go tend to your garden. Good Zen moment.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

... Ya digg?...

Pun intended?

Hold me.

 

[dshans]

I actually have a hummingbird garden. A garden that attracts Ruby Throated Hummingbirds. They are the coolest little creatures and I photograph them as well.

Color me jealous – Ruby Throated or otherwise. I've tried, without success, to attract Hummers to my yard. The year I put out a Hummingbird feeder (sugar water) it only attracted diabetic squirrels and columns of ants. My garden draws plenty of bees and butterflies but no hummers.

Years ago I was in the Adirondacks (upstate NY) on Big Moose Lake. Early one July morning, just after sunrise, I was sipping coffee and reading my book du jour on the porch facing the lake when a hummingbird landed on my left shoulder. A "communing with nature" moment.

I wish there had been someone to take a photo, but I was the only one up at the time and the little guy was skittish in his hummingbird way.

 

[NDOM]

Color me jealous – Ruby Throated or otherwise. I've tried, without success, to attract Hummers to my yard. The year I put out a Hummingbird feeder (sugar water) it only attracted diabetic squirrels and columns of ants. My garden draws plenty of bees and butterflies but no hummers.

Years ago I was in the Adirondacks (upstate NY) on Big Moose Lake. Early one July morning, just after sunrise, I was sipping coffee and reading my book du jour on the porch facing the lake when a hummingbird landed on my left shoulder. A "communing with nature" moment.

I wish there had been someone to take a photo, but I was the only one up at the time and the little guy was skittish in his hummingbird way.

You can be more successful at attracting them in many different ways. #1) RED RED RED. Anything red and they will go up to it to check it out. They are attracted to red. #2) Dont put red dye in the water (it is said to have a bad effect on the hummingbirds beak). #3) Mix 3 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar and boil. Let cool and serve. Use this recipe early in the spring. Early summer to mid summer mix 4 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar and late summer to early fall (MIGRATION) switch back to 3 cups water 1 cup sugar.

Make sure you clean out the feeder and replenish with fresh nectar every 3 days or so depending on sunlight/heat. Clean with a mild detergent and rinse carefully.

Plant wise you can get honeysuckle, creeping trumpet vines, columbine, jacobs ladder etc etc. All these flowers will attract hummingbirds. Try putting your feeder out in early spring. Once you get a hummer they will ALWAYS come back every year.

I have about 10-15 hummingbirds who frequent my yard all day.

Good luck and I hope you get them. Keep trying. You can also google how to feed/attract hummingbirds. Its fun.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

NANKER...I think I've seen your yard. Most of the good people of Granger keep their yards especially meticulous.

I bet I have seen all of you South Bend and Granger residents at one time or another, and probably fixed your boo boos a time or two!

 

[BeauBenken]

Funny thing is. Although my family owns a flower shop. I live above it (and it's downtown) so I have no yard or garden.

 

[NankerPhelge]

Color me jealous – Ruby Throated or otherwise. I've tried, without success, to attract Hummers to my yard. The year I put out a Hummingbird feeder (sugar water) it only attracted diabetic squirrels and columns of ants. My garden draws plenty of bees and butterflies but no hummers.

Years ago I was in the Adirondacks (upstate NY) on Big Moose Lake. Early one July morning, just after sunrise, I was sipping coffee and reading my book du jour on the porch facing the lake when a hummingbird landed on my left shoulder. A "communing with nature" moment.

I wish there had been someone to take a photo, but I was the only one up at the time and the little guy was skittish in his hummingbird way.

Hey, I have a couple of little sections of 6-foot privacy fence that I put in the middle of a couple of flower beds on each side of the patio. About three years ago I planted some, what I think is called, trumpet vine that somebody gave me along those sections, so now it has grown up on the fence, and actually has created kind of like a vertical extension to the fence, because it has grown up higher. Hard to describe, but really looks good.

Anyway, it gets all of these trumpet shaped orange flowers on it. The hummingbirds love it.

 

[BeauBenken]

How You Should Post on a Recruit's Thread

How You Should Post on a Recruit's Thread

So there's been a debate brewing about how we post on a recruit's thread...

We seem to have two black and white sides. For times sake, the liberals and the conservatives.

The conservative posters on the board think that posts on a recruits thread should only be purely positive. Every recruit who got an offer is a good player. They are one of the best players in the country at their position. Don't question why they received an offer, you aren't as qualified as coach Kelly or any of the staff.

Then we have the liberals, who feel it's okay to post somewhat negative posts on a recruit. Speculation is perfectly fine and encouraged. You have every right to question why a recruit was offered, or whether they will be a good contributor for us in the future. It's our right to stay open-minded and question Kelly's decisions.

Now, my thread here is in Leprechaun Lounge and is a sanctuary for debate. As long as it doesn't become too absurd. (Don't make me sick mods on you for being an ignorant ***.)

Oh and please feel free to post if you think you fall into a gray area, and you're a moderate.

Let the debating begin!

 

[NankerPhelge]

This is the problem when pigeonholes are created and choices are limited. How about conservatives, like me, who realize they are almost completely ignorant concerning recruiting, and who simply don't post on those threads, following the old adage "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and confirm that you are one?'

 

[BeauBenken]

This is the problem when pigeonholes are created and choices are limited. How about conservatives, like me, who realize they are almost completely ignorant concerning recruiting, and who simply don't post on those threads, following the old adage "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and confirm that you are one?'

Lol Nanker, you're a special case I guess. Most everyone else acts like they know what the hell they're saying though even though they don't. Whenever I make predictions on recruits, I make it obvious I don't know what the heck I'm talking about though.

I love that adage by the way.

I have a wooden sign that use to be my grandfather's that says, "A closed mouth gathers no foot." Words of warning and wisdom.

 

[woolybug25]

First of all, NDOM. I have a couple hummers that frequent my yard (thats what she said) and I wanted to figure out how to get more. Figures that I would find out here.

Now to the recruiting point. I think that there are several old crumudgens on here that think this is Ndnation or something. I hate it when someone uses the unilateral excuse of "you should trust the coaches evaluations of players". That's silly. There isn't a coach in the country that doesnt miss on players when evaluating them. So putting undying allegiance to the evaluating process of a coaching staff is just being niave. Sometimes coaches will even reach for a kid because one of the coaches (read ONE) wants him. The rest of the coaches might even think its a mistake, but they go with it. Furthermore, having recruiting threads is worthless if we cannot discuss the pro's and con's of their skill set or their fit onto the Notre Dame team.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You chose very provocative labels, Beau.

Pretty sure everyone knows where I stand on this issue.

 

[military_irish]

I think the main thing with positively or negatively talking about recruits in the recruits thread is because some recruits or parents of recruits will google their name to see what is being said about them.

So if one of the first pages that pop up are from IE and they click on it and all they see are the fans of which they just committed to or might commit to are "dogging" them. They could be turned off. (Remember they are 17-18 years old kids and are very easily swayed because no one wants to be talked about especially teenagers.) Everyone wants to play for a great supporting fanbase.

With that being said I would see nothing wrong with another thread which would allow free speech on any recruit abd debate.

I really don't get offended by it, just an observation. I would like to think I fall into the grey zone.

 

[BeauBenken]

You chose very provocative labels, Beau.

Pretty sure everyone knows where I stand on this issue.

I try.

And of course we do.

I think the main thing with positively or negatively talking about recruits in the recruits thread is because some recruits or parents of recruits will google their name to see what is being said about them.

So if one of the first pages that pop up are from IE and they click on it and all they see are the fans of which they just committed to or might commit to are "dogging" them. They could be turned off. (Remember they are 17-18 years old kids and are very easily swayed because no one wants to be talked about especially teenagers.) Everyone wants to play for a great supporting fanbase.

With that being said I would see nothing wrong with another thread which would allow free speech on any recruit abd debate.

I really don't get offended by it, just an observation. I would like to think I fall into the grey zone.

See as I'm starting to realize more and more (with more and more things) I'm ever so slightly more liberal...

I see no problem questioning a kid's abilities or a coach's decision so long as it doesn't turn into pure slander or trashing of a player's abilities.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

See as I'm starting to realize more and more (with more and more things) I'm ever so slightly more liberal...

Regarding the not-so-subtle political parallel you're invoking, I'd say conservatives tend to be more passionate about the 1st Amendment/ Free Speech stuff. Perhaps you should switch your labels?

I see no problem questioning a kid's abilities or a coach's decision so long as it doesn't turn into pure slander or trashing of a player's abilities.

I agree (surprise!) As long as it's expressed politely and has a reasonable basis, I see no problem with it.

 

[military_irish]

I see no problem with someone critiquing a kids ability. I just wanted to point out how I could see how it may offend or hit someone the wrong way.

No recruit is perfect, they all have flaws that is for sure. But I also think if a kid has the measurables, they can be molded into a good player. Maybe not an All-American but lets me realistic. 119 teams are D-1 and only 11 make offense and 11 make defense 1st teamers.

 

[Irish4Life09]

First of all, NDOM. I have a couple hummers that frequent my yard (thats what she said) and I wanted to figure out how to get more. Figures that I would find out here.

Now to the recruiting point. I think that there are several old crumudgens on here that think this is Ndnation or something. I hate it when someone uses the unilateral excuse of "you should trust the coaches evaluations of players". That's silly. There isn't a coach in the country that doesnt miss on players when evaluating them. So putting undying allegiance to the evaluating process of a coaching staff is just being niave. Sometimes coaches will even reach for a kid because one of the coaches (read ONE) wants him. The rest of the coaches might even think its a mistake, but they go with it. Furthermore, having recruiting threads is worthless if we cannot discuss the pro's and con's of their skill set or their fit onto the Notre Dame team.

Why should we NOT trust the coaches feelings when it comes to recruiting? These guys have jobs at the best football school in the country,they know at least a little bit more than any of us.If anyone feels otherwise,go take Kelly's job and try and do better honestly.
I think it is ludicrous to criticize and overly critique a high school player based off of numbers and a couple minutes of highlight film on a website.None of us are going to the kid's games,workouts,interviews, or anything of that nature to get a true sense of how good the kid really is.To put it in the closest analogy I can think of, we go off of about as much information as Obama does when deciding to spend money.
Willingham and Weis all recruited good players along with middle of the road players, and neither really knew how to develop said players, and play both sides of the ball.That is why they failed at ND.Hopefully for our sakes this will be different with Kelly....and I for one certainly feel he is well on the right track.