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It is Wednesday, and that means Surviving “Paradise”

Posted on October 1, 2014 by susan

It is Wednesday, and that means one thing ( or many )….Surviving “Paradise” day! It is that day when I promote my book/story Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver. Follow a southern woman who relocates to a new town (in southwest Florida) full of great expectations – only to be met by a ridiculous set of people and circumstances. Ridiculous is being kind! Funny satire, witty humor, crazy neighborhood mayhem, it has it all! Please check it out at Amazon.com for $8.99 in paperback and $3.03 in kindle edition. For more info, check out the HOME page at this website and the BUY THE BOOK option on the menu bar (takes you directly to Amazon.com!)

Meanwhile, China Open in Beijing is going on. Djokovic, Nadal (in his return after three month absence due to a right wrist injury) continue to impress. Murray looks better. Serena and Venus are still in it as is Sharapova and Kvitova but E. Bouchard and A. Radwanska were dismissed in the first round in two sets. I await the return to action of Mr. Federer, next scheduled to compete in Shanghai!!

Some really good College Football is in store for us, beginning on Thursday night..Arizona at 2 Oregon. Unfortunately, it will be a late start here on the east coast, 10.30 pm. Oh well, GO DUCKS! Saturday games feature Georgia Tech hosting Miami in a very important ACC Coastal Division matchup, 7:30 pm EST on ESPN2. Was planning to go but it did not work out so will be watching it at home along with the other great games on. GO JACKETS!

We will enjoy 6 Texas A&M vs. 12 Miss State, Wake vs. 1 FSU (yawn), 7 Baylor at Texas, 4 Oklahoma vs. 25 TCU, 14 Stanford vs. 8 Notre Dame (should be very interesting!), 3 Alabama vs. 11 Ole Miss (another GOOD one!), Arizona State at 16 USC, 19 Nebraska vs. 10 Michigan State, and again late night game (10:30 pm EST) Utah at 8 UCLA in another important Pac 12 game.

So, no reason to complain about this weekend’s action.

Tonight, Nashville will air its second show of the new season at 10:00 pm EST on ABC. As expected, Rayna chose Luke’s proposal over Deacon’s. The drama is hardly over…Juliette is pregnant, Teddy is acting nicer (?) and Will has come “out of the closet” along with so much more. (I am still upset with ABC for cancelling my favorite guilty pleasure show, Betrayal which aired at 10:00 pm EST on Sundays!!)

Also, The Mysteries of Laura airs tonight at 8:00 pm EST on NBC. Critics have slammed this new show but I really like it. Debra Messing is perfect for this character.

OK, been a bit slow this week (my b’day week, I deserve it, right?) but am getting psyched to see Gone Girl on Friday at the theater not near me! Going to be so good!!

Later!

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New #1 in CFB Coaches Poll

Posted on September 28, 2014 by susan

Well, we have a new #1 in the Coaches Poll in CFB…a little bit of a change up in the rankings. AP still has FSU as #1 but the USA Today Coaches Poll puts Bama as the #1 college football team in the country. Time for some controversy…..?)

AP Poll: 1 FSU (27), 2 Oregon (13), still like the respect for the Ducks, 3 Alabama (13), 4 Oklahoma (7), 5 Auburn, 6 Texas A&M, 7 Baylor, 8 UCLA (welcome to the top ten!), 9 Notre Dame, and 10 Michigan State. UGA is at #13, Stanford at#14, Missouri (upsetting South Carolina which dropped out of the top twenty five) is #24. Georgia Tech received 27 votes, essentially making them #31.

USA Today Coaches Poll: 1 Alabama (15), 2 FSU (26), 3 Oklahoma (14), 4 Oregon (7), some disrespect for the Ducks?, 5 Auburn, 6 Baylor, 7 Texas A&M, 8 Notre Dame, 9 UCLA (two Pac 12 teams in the top ten), 10. Michigan State. UGA #12, Stanford #13 and Georgia Tech receiving 39 votes, again #31.

Not a good day for Team USA in Ryder Cup action. They came into today’s action trailing 6-10 and lost to the powerful team from Europe, 16.5 – 11.5. They won some singles matches but still, total domination by the European Ryder Cup team. The USA has not won the Cup on European soil in like twenty one years? Also, Europe has won 8 of the last ten Ryder Cups. Disappointing for Team USA and Captain Tom Watson. What is the answer? You tell me!

Rafael Nadal will return to tennis action this week in China after missing many weeks with a right wrist injury. Will be very interesting to see Rafa’s level of play and his health status. Meanwhile, Mr. Federer has announced on his Facebook page that he will play his next tournament in Shanghai. This is the Asian swing which precedes the US indoor hardcourt action prior to the Year End Finals in London.

NFL..briefly Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers over the Bears (one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL) and the Atlanta Falcons trail the Vikings in Minnesota, 27-21 midway through the third quarter (Falcons just scored a TD to close the gap). Hopefully, not another road loss for the team from the ATL!

Good Wife on tonight with a new episode!!

Later..

And it looks like yet another loss on the road for the Falcons…trail Vikings 38-28 with two minutes left. Matt Ryan throws interception (leads league in interceptions on the road, not good). Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater goes down with an ankle injury…Christian Ponder on to replace him. FG for the Vikings, lead 41-38…I believe it is time to turn out the lights…the party is over!

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Noles, Dawgs, Aggies survive and more

Posted on September 28, 2014 by susan

The Noles, Dawgs and the Aggies all survived today in CFB Saturday. UGA held off a tenacious effort by Tennessee (with Peyton Manning on the sidelines) in Athens to win, 35-32. Gurley, a beast, rushed for over 200 yards.

1 FSU extended their winning streak to 20, trailing early to NC State in Raleigh but rallied to win, 56-41. A win is a win…but are they #1?

6 Texas A&M battled Arkansas to a tie in regulation, 28-28, also coming from behind and then scored a TD in OT and stuffed the Hogs to win 35-28. Ah…life in the SEC West! (Johnny Football Manziel in the house to see the game)

16 Stanford visited Washington and did not have an easy time of it, but pulled out a win, 20-13..Go Cardinals!

Late action today..Miami vs. Duke (Miami currently leads 9-0 in Coral Gables), 8 Notre Dame vs. Syracuse on ABC, Memphis at 10 Ole Miss (the rebels get a shot at Bama next weekend), Oregon State at 18 USC, and Missouri at South Carolina, Carolina up 7-3 in the first quarter.

In Ryder Cup golf competition, Team USA had a really bad day in four hole play. They trail Europe, 6-10. Tomorrow, the final day will feature 12 single matches. This is a deficit that has been made up before in past competition, but seems like a really tall order for USA given the way the team from Europe is playing. Mickelson sat out today (some question that decision) but will be back in action tomorrow. So, let’s see if Team USA can pull of a great finish and make up the difference…14 wins the Cup!

In Wuhan, China, P. Kvitova took out E. Bouchard in the final of this inaugural tournament in Li Na’s hometown (she just announced her retirement) in straight sets…repeat of the Wimbledon final and the same result!

Whew…quite a busy Saturday and still more action tonight. Enjoy!

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#TGIT and now it’s Friday!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by susan

#TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday) was all the rage yesterday and now, it is Friday (TGIF!) So…what was Thursday all about? Well, Derek Jeter finished his storied career in Yankee pinstripes in the Bronx last night in fine fashion. He had a double on his first at bat and then a walk off single RBI to win the game for the Yankees, 6-5 over Baltimore. Can’t ask for a better story book ending than that! He will play for the Yankees in their season ending series at Fenway against the Red Sox not at SS, only as a designated hitter. One of the all time class acts in sports has called it a day!

In CFB, 24 Oklahoma State eventually ran away from Texas Tech, 45 – 35. Very impressive performance by 11 UCLA and the return of QB Brett Hundley in a thorough beat down of 15 Arizona State, 62-27! WOW! Love that PAC 12 football (for all the talk about the SEC, PAC 12 football is awesome as well!!) In NFL action, Eli (little bro of Peyton) Manning threw five (5) TD passes in the nation’s capital as the Giants took care of the Redskins, 45-14. Not a good night for Redskin’s QB Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), four interceptions.”

Thursday night TV was full of hit shows returning. Grey’s Anatomy (watched it, pretty good), Scandal (do not watch but I know millions did) and Parenthood (in it’s farewell season and yes, I am a fan!). Also, I found the theater NOT near me and saw This Is Where I Leave You! It was so good…laughter, tears, family dysfunction that is poignant but not mean and cruel (believe me, I know about the latter) and just a tremendous cast. With all the stars in this movie, I have to give high praise to Jason Bateman…I just really love him! Now, I am primed for the trek to see Gone Girl next weekend when it opens…reading the book now!!

Ryder Cup action got underway from Scotland in the wee hours of the morn here in the good ole USA! Unfortunately, after day one (four ball play) USA trails Europe 3-5. At least Mickelson and Bradley won against Garcia and Mcilroy, especially relevant after that tongue in cheek interview Lefty gave before the action got underway regarding the “litigious actions” of the European team (Mcilroy suing his former management team and involving Graeme McDowell in the mess). Kind of funny really! Now, come on Team USA, get her done tomorrow! (four hole competition)

So it is Friday indeed (TGIF). Enjoy your evening and weekend. CFB in full swing tomorrow, College Gameday live from Columbia, SC as South Carolina will host Arkansas, pardon me, Missouri (last year’s winner of the SEC East) in an SEC battle. Lot’s of great games on along with day two of Ryder Cup action (replay is at a much more favorable time for watching here in the states!)

Later…

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It is Wednesday, time for the magic…

Posted on September 24, 2014 by susan

It is Wednesday, time for the magic…hump day, take a deep breath, the week is halfway over, and it is also Surviving “Paradise” day! That means I promote my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver. Check it out at Amazon.com for $8.99 in paperback and $3.03 in kindle edition. Hopefully, it will be a project in development for everyone to enjoy in another format in the not too distant future! For more info, see the HOME page at this website and check out the BUY THE BOOK option on the menu bar! Thanks.

Ryder Cup action gets underway this week…September 26-28th from Gleneagles in Scotland. Coverage will begin on the 26th at 2:30 am EST live. Gotta say, if it were Roger Federer in action (tennis, of course, instead of golf) I might get myself up and watch. Gonna have to catch the replays of this but USA! USA! Get her done team USA!!! Europe has the home field advantage but we shall see….

MNF, I know it is Wednesday, but still, Bears over the Jets in East Rutherford, 27-19. Cutler and the Bears withstood a furious comeback from the Jets to win! Impressive!

Tonight, the long awaited return of ABC hit drama Nashville at 10:00 pm EST. So, will Rayna accept Luke’s proposal, or Deacon’s? I think she is looking forward and not back, so I am going to say Luke’s. But, that does not mean the Deacon – Rayna drama will be over..they have a teenage daughter together!! Still..we must wait until tonight and see…also, can’t wait to see what drama Juliette has in store for us!

Also, the Mysteries of Laura airs at 8:00 pm EST on NBC. Now why is every critic slamming this new show with Debra Messing? I thought it had its moments in the premiere. I am going to watch, not ready to rule it out of my “must see TV” yet!

Hopefully, tomorrow I will find my way to a theater not near me (the one near me is closed for renovations) and see This Is Where I Leave You. Might have to check out The Hundred-Foot Journey as well. Highly recommended by some of my friends! Will just have to see what I can see!! Gotta get myself primed to make the drive before the much anticipated Gone Girl comes out on October 3rd! Looks really GOOD! (The Judge looks good too with Robert Downey, Jr and Robert Duvall!)

Over and out for now..enjoy your Wednesday (and the magic)!

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CFB Polls..9/21/14

Posted on September 21, 2014 by susan

OK, College Football Polls for this week, 9/21/14! Starting with the AP Poll: 1 FSU (34), 2 Oregon (12), 3 Alabama (6), 4 Oklahoma (4), 5 Auburn, 6 Texas A&M (4), 7 Baylor, 8 Notre Dame, 9 Michigan State, 10 Ole Miss.

USA Today Coaches Poll: 1 FSU (36), 2 Alabama (11), 3 Oklahoma (12), 4 Oregon (3), dropped on place after struggle at Washington State, guess they forgot about that win over 9 Michigan State!, 5 Auburn, 6 Baylor, 7 Texas A&M, 8 Notre Dame, 9 Michigan State, and 10 UCLA.

Both Miss State and East Carolina University joined the party this week, Miss State at 14 and ECU at 23 in the AP, Miss State at 16 and ECU at 24 in the Coaches Poll.

So, after this week, if I had to name a number one team based on performance, I would go with Alabama. But we have miles to go before we sleep, and pick the “final four” for the first College Football playoff and championship.

As a Georgia Tech fan, just want to point out that the Jackets received 22 votes in the AP Poll and 27 in the Coaches Poll. GO JACKETS!

Broncos trail Seattle (at Seattle) 3-10 with 3 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Boo!!!

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Saturday night CFB, oh the drama!

Posted on September 21, 2014 by susan

Saturday night CFB brought us more drama than a week’s worth of daytime soap operas! First, of course, the drama in Tally. 1 FSU taking on 22 Clemson without the services of their big mouth Heisman Trophy winner QB Jameis Winston (suspended for the game for obscene comments in the student union??). Anyhow, what ensued was a crazy back and forth game in which FSU stayed afloat with substitute QB Sean McGuire (300+ yards passing with 2 interceptions) and Clemson found their quarterback (freshman Deshawn Watson) but sunk their own boat and FSU survived and extended their wining streak to nineteen games while keeping their #1 ranking (for now). Clemson had four opportunities in the redzone and came away with 0, yes ZERO points. They missed two field goals, one wide left, one wide right (remind anyone of FSU vs. Miami?) and then they fumbled away an opportunity to take the lead as time wound down following an interception. OT resulted in FSU winning 23-17 after the game ended 17-17 after four quarters. Really sad for Clemson, they held FSU to -12 yard rushing for most of the game. Then in OT, they fail to convert on fourth and one yard (I mean why try and kick a field goal, right?) and then FSU covers 25 yards in two rushes to win the game. What can you say…you do have to be good to be lucky!

Elsewhere, 2 Oregon survived a scare at Washington State, with Mariota throwing the winning TD pass (he had 5 TD passes) with a little over three minutes left in the game. Whew…was worried about my Ducks! Oregon had to put together a makeshift offensive front line due to injuries and Mariota had a rough night, sacked at least five times in the first half. Non the less, Oregon prevailed, 38-31.

4 Oklahoma survived a visit to Morgantown, WV and after being tied at the half, 24-24, rolled to a 45-33 victory on the road.

Not so lucky, 8 LSU at home in Baton Rouge. Miss State was all over the Tigers (with Shaq in the house) and a furious comeback by the Tigers fell short, as they lost to the Bulldogs, 34-29.

South Carolina looked very hung over against Vanderbilt after their big win last weekend over UGA but woke up finally in the second half and won going away 48-34.

24 Nebraska had a close one with Miami from the ACC for three plus quarters but went on to win 34-24, and finally, last year’s SEC East champ Missouri lost in an upset to Indiana, 31-27.

So…what a night it was! AP and Coaches Polls are both out and no real changes in top ten. Will post them later. Mississippi State and ECU both enter top twenty five.

At 4:45 today, a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, Denver vs. Seattle, the first time in a regular season game this has happened since 1977! GO PEYTON and the BRONCOS!

Tonight, CBS hit drama The Good Wife finally returns with a new episode to begin the 2014-15 season. Still miss Josh Charles…Will Gardner. Some interesting guest stars are in store for us I do believe this season! As I mentioned earlier, oh the drama!

Later..I need rest!

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High scoring Saturday in CFB

Posted on September 20, 2014 by susan

High scoring day on College Football Saturday so far…and we are NOT done! Right now, Bama is pulling away from Florida, leading 42-21. It was tied 21-21 at the half but it has been a powerful display by the Crimson Tide in the second half. There have been seven turnovers in this game at least, six turnovers leading to six TDs. Sims, QB for Bama has passed for 439 yards and the fourth quarter is only half way completed. Running backs galore but something about that guy Henry, oh Henry, he is a beast! Meanwhile, 11 Michigan State put up 73 points over EMU and Wisconsin scored 68 points in a dominating performance. UGA scored 66 points over Troy (?) and Texas A&M rolled over SMU to the tune of 58-6. Big day for QB Kenny Hill. Boston College woke up after trailing Maine early, and is rolling 40-10. Pitt fell to Iowa, 24-20 and Georgia Tech won in Blacksburg over VT, 27 – 24 thanks to a field goal by Butker with 2 seconds remaining. This was a big win for the Jackets, they do not win often in Blacksburg, they are 4-0 and VT has now lost two games in a row at home in Lane Stadium. It was sloppy at times, and frustrating to watch as a GT fan, but it was a GREAT win for the Jackets! ECU continues to win (defeated VT last weekend) demolishing North Carolina, 63-27 (yes, you saw that correctly!). Virginia is trailing at BYU in the fourth quarter, 41-26.

Gee, what a day and we still have Miss State at 8 LSU, 4 Oklahoma vs. WVU, Miami at Nebraska, 1 FSU (without Winston) hosting 22 Clemson, and late tonight, 2 Oregon vs. Washington State. I think Oregon needs to score big and look really good because 3 Alabama has been very impressive this afternoon. I think Mariota and the Ducks will not disappoint. As for FSU vs. Clemson…still think FSU will win at home but Clemson could pull off the upset. Stay tuned…we are not done yet!!

Later…

Update: another final, 21 BYU 41, UVA 33.

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You know what day it is..Wednesday, Surviving “Paradise” day!

Posted on September 17, 2014 by susan

You all know what day it is..Wednesday, Surviving “Paradise” day! Yes, that mid week day, “hump day”, when I shamelessly promote by book/story Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver. Follow a southern woman who relocates to a new town full of great expectations – only to be met by a ridiculous set of people and circumstances. It is funny, entertaining, witty, and reletable!! Try it, I think you will like it. It is available at Amazon.com. Check the HOME page at this website for more info and the BUY THE BOOK option on the menu bar. Thanks.

In sports news today, Adrian Peterson was reinstated yesterday by the Vikings but has now been put on the “exempt list”. He must stay away from all team activities while the investigation into the allegations of child abuse go on against him. Gee…meanwhile, Famous Jameis, that would Jameis Winston, QB at 1 FSU and last year’s Heisman Trophy Award winner has again made a horse’s a__ of himself (no real surprise). Without going into the details, you all know them as I am sure you watch and read ESPN, he has now been suspended from the first half of this Saturday’s game vs. 22 Clemson. WOW! Don’t really see this as being hugely significant, unless FSU loses, and then? Anyhow…

Pop Culture news…Nashville will re-air the season finale from last season tonight on ABC at 10:00 pm EST. Rayna gets two proposals as all of the show’s fans know…so when we finally do get this show back with new episodes…who will Rayna choose? Over on NBC, a new show debuts, The Mysteries of Laura, starring Debra Messing of Will and Grace fame. She plays a NYC homicide detective with a lot going on in her life. Looks like it is definitely worth checking out to me!

Happy Wednesday!

NFL update: Kirk Cousins takes over as QB for the Washington Redskins. RGIII out indefinitely with ankle injury.

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Weekend wrap up on Monday!

Posted on September 15, 2014 by susan

Weekend wrap up on Monday…a whole lot going on from Saturday and Sunday! Let’s start where you would expect me to start..with Mr. Roger Federer and tennis news! Federer and Switzerland advanced to the Davis Cup final courtesy of Mr. Federer’s win over F. Fognini of Italy (4th rubber match) in Geneva on Sunday, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6. This is the first visit to the Davis Cup final for the Swiss in twenty two years and the FIRST ever for Switzerland with Roger Federer playing. The final will be in France (very loaded Davis Cup team, Tsonga, Gasquet, Monfils, and more) on November 21-23. Mr. Federer looking to add to that already unparalleled resume! Federer and Wawrinka will be a dynamic duo for the Swiss when that action gets underway.

The FedEx Tour Championship was played and completed in Atlanta at Eastlake Country Club and Billy Horschel won the event at -11 (two shots over Jim Furyk and Rory Mcilroy at -8) and he also took home a nice $10 million dollar paycheck. Horschel, who is expecting his first child (a girl!) with his wife, has won $13.5 million dollars in his past three golf outings. Not too shabby! Justin Rose, Jason Day, and Chris Kirk (an Atlanta native) finished at -7, Ryan Palmer at -6 and Rickie Fowler at -5.

MNF, the Bears defeated the 49ers, while earlier Peyton Manning and the Broncos survived the Kansas City Chiefs in Denver, the Atlanta Falcons lost to the Bengals in Cincy (Matt Ryan had three interceptions) and the Saints lost to the Browns in Cleveland (surprising?). Adrian Peterson has been reinstated by the Vikings, Ray Rice will appeal his ban from the NFL, and RG III does not have a serious injury but after the play of Kirk Cousins as his replacement, will wait and see what happens at QB position in Washington!

CFB Polls are out again: AP Poll: 1 FSU (37), 2 Oregon (17 and go Ducks!), 3 Alabama (1), 4 Oklahoma (2), 5 Auburn, 6 Texas A&M, 7 Baylor (big winner on Friday night), 8 LSU, 9 Notre Dame, and 10 Ole Miss.

USA Coaches Poll: 1 FSU (50), 2 Alabama (1 and why?), 3 Oregon (6), Oklahoma (4), 5 Auburn, 6 Baylor, 7 Texas A&M, 8 LSU, 9 Notre Dame and 10 UCLA (survived another close one, this time 20-17 over Texas in Arlington, TX).

So, as usual, a little discrepancy between the two polls but nothing major. I want to know, and I have not checked, does FSU play Boston College? That was a very impressive performance by BC in defeating then 9 USC 37-31. I love Pac 12 football, but I am an ACC fan as well!

Series finale of Unforgettable aired last night, finally after the delay due to the length of the Denver – KC game, and what can you say…just when it looked like Carrie and Al were going to get “together” once again, there is going to be a wrench thrown into the “equation”! But hey, if not, what would keep us watching?

OK, Happy Monday everyone!

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Surviving "Paradise"