A quick note.

Sorry for the absence of posts this week, but a medical issue has arisen. I’m getting through it and regular posting will resume shortly.

Also, getting old leaves something to be desired.

“It was Christmas Eve, babe… in the drunk tank…”

Tinged with a little more melancholy this year, this remains a GTP tradition and favorite.

You know wherever Shane is now, he’s hoisting one and urging us all to celebrate the holiday.  I hope everyone has the Christmas they’ve wished for.

Fabris Bowl pick ’em: once more, with feeling

Okay, I’m a glutton for punishment — I just organized this season’s bowl pool and sent the invites out.  I do this knowing full well most of you are gluttons for punishment, too.

We’re in this together!

For those who don’t receive an emailed invitation, here’s the link where you can jump in and sign up to play.

Note that the games begin on December 16.  If you don’t get your picks in in time, you don’t score.

Have at it, and may Gawd have mercy on your soul… or something like that.

Fabris Pool results, Week 13

Last week of this season’s pick ’em saw another big tiebreaker.

Congrats to Coweta Dawg for pulling it out.

And the seasonal race comes to a head:

A tight finish, and the win goes to HoleDiggingMutt.  Well played, HDM.

That’s a wrap on the ’23 regular season.  The bowl game pick ’em should be ready to go in a week or two.  Stay tuned!

Monday ticket exchange

Okay, you know what’s on the agenda this week:  the SECCG.  Got tickets to sell?  Need tickets?  Have at it in the comments.

Remember, be specific and leave contact info.

“Oh, my Gawd… they’re turkeys!”

It’s a GTP tradition, y’all.

Y’all have a happier Thansgiving than Les.

A GTP Gift Guide modification

Longtime readers of the blog know about my appreciation of the Soundboks 2 powered speaker.  I’ve owned it now for more than a half-dozen years and through countless tailgates, beach trips and even a high school reunion, it has never failed to live up to what its specs promise.  It’s loud.  It’s clear.  It’s got a battery that will last for hours (and is modular, to boot).  It’s built like a tank and runs like a top.  Considering that before I bought it, I’d been running through boom boxes like Kleenex, I couldn’t be happier with it.

So why am I getting rid of it?  As George Costanza might say, it’s not you, Soundboks.  It’s me.  With my recent spate of health issues, it’s simply too bulky for me to shlep around comfortably.  I started looking around for something easier to handle a few months ago.  Fortunately, I didn’t have to look very far.

It’s called the Soundboks Go.  It’s half the height and a little more than half the weight of the Soundboks 2 and it’s perfect for my current needs.  No, it won’t play as loudly as the Soundboks 2 — with one less driver and one less amp, physics dictate that result — but that doesn’t mean it won’t play loudly.  Put it this way:  the owner’s manual warns not to stand directly in front of the amp when it’s cranked and that’s not meant as puffery.

The size is a godsend, not just in terms of portability, but also in terms of space.  When you pack for a tailgate, unless you’re taking a bus, room is critical.  Having something that takes up a lot less space helps.  (Hell, I can pack this bugger in my Cayman.)

Obviously, I don’t have six years with it under my belt, but from all appearances, the Go looks to be built as ruggedly as my Soundboks 2 is.  I can use Bluetooth as a source, but it also has a aux jack like the 2, so I can keep using my trusty iPod to deliver my tuneage.  All in all, color me a satisfied customer… again.

I mention this now because whatever else I can say about the brand, their products aren’t exactly cheap, although you do get a lot for the money.  Anyway, right now, Soundboks has a Black Friday discount ($150) on the Go that runs through the 28th, so if this looks like it might float your tailgate boat, you might want to jump on it.

That said, if you find that a little pricey, but are still in the market for something that, as a friend of mine once put it, rules the parking lot, I’m looking to sell my Soundboks 2 at a lower price, so send me an email if you’re in the Atlanta area and interested.  Either way, both of these will be in the Gift Guide for a while to come.

Fabris Pool PSA

Just a reminder that Rivalry Week is a short week for the pick ’em.  The Egg Bowl is Thursday and there are two Friday games on the list.

So, if you’re the kind who waits until the last minute to throw down, keep in mind that your time horizon is shorter.

2023 Fabris Pool results, Week 11

This week, we’ve got a modestly sized tiebreaker.

Well done, nosean.

And here are the weekly standings, with one week to go:

That’s about as tight as it gets.  Hang on!

Monday ticket exchange

Okay, okay, here we go — the last week of the regular season finds our Dawgs traveling to beautiful Mark Richt Field for a quasi-home game against the hated Yellow Jackets.  Have tickets to move?  Need tickets?  Make your wants known in the comments, and, as always, please be specific and include contact info.  (At GTP, you can do that!)