Well I've spent the last 3-1/2 months on assignment ... my last, I might add as I am retiring by the end of the month after 25 years of service . The regular assignment time is usually 12 week max, with 8-10 weeks averge. They kept me on because I am so near retirement and they, I think, wanted to squeeze all the juice out of my full commitment. I'll by 60 by the end of the month and on the same day will be free to look for all the things I want to explore and have wanted to explore for some time now ... see a lot of ice fishing and party in my very near future... anyway, I am back to the gang and looking forward to uninterupted play here with you folks.
So, just very briefly , I'd like to talk of the 2012 season ...
Brutally DISAPPOINTING ll The Steeler's wasted a great personnel team that pre Ben injury was tops in defense, high on the offense list and best in 3rd down conversions ... just a shame we have the players to win it all and came up sooooo short. 2013 will be interesting to see who is left to play for us. I bet nybites and his crew are already plotting the 2013 draft !!!
Congrats to the Ravens .... It's very cool the AFCN not only hs another SB under their collective belt, but has another multiple SB winner in the same division. Anyone else convinced of the hottest team at the right time, and can continuje the excellent play during the most stressfull time of the year ? Flacco was magnificent and deserved MVP. All that being said ... we're going to sweep you guys next year to get back the SB ourselves
I'm going to spend the next few hours reading all you guys have brought to the table and will respond with thoughts of my own.
I'm really glad to be back home and back in here with the best football fans in the universe !
Nice to see ya back on the boards.. retirement - dreaming of it.. I have 3 years 5 months and I'm out... I'm ready to go now - but too many Bills... etc... should be in good shape in 2016 and ready to go...
Great to see you back MoS! Thought maybe you went to the wrong side of the grass there for a while. Then again, when you're my age, a lot of people you know tend to end up that way.
Hate to tell you this . . . but you didn't win "Lyman's Pick 'em Challenge" this year. Then again, maybe that's a good thing as you don't need TWO shirts telling you that the "BROWNS RULE"
Anyway. Good to see you back. Tighten up your suspenders 'cuz I'm still around.
bb - thanks for the welcome back. I have 3 years 5 months and I'm out...this cannot happen soon enough for you. I look forward to the day you get to spend your time in these shoes. I'm retired from this position, but far from done with work ...but now, it's just a matter of time and personal desire ...
I so look forward to your Steeler commentary and burghball witicisms !
Lym ... thanks also for the welcome back. No one besides me could be happier to be out of the 2012 Lyman Pick-Em contest. Terrible picks early destroy any chance of success with all the guys in here you attract for the game. I look forward to it in 2013 !
ps: it is good to be on the right side of the lawn !!! and I sure look forward to the insanity that is you and Walt.
beach - sorry for the worries. Unintended consequrnce of last ditch effort by work to utilize the last of my usefullness. If a computer were available I would have found you. I reaaly look forward to hearing from you a lot in the very near future ... for a long while.
Steelroc - no buddy, not military, but fairly closely attached. Thanks for coming in and remembering me. We're going to have some fun in the 2013 Steeler era, and it's good to have you there. As always, I look forward to your commentary, as I always have.
Hey Elvis10 (if He isn't the King of Memphis ... then it must be you !) how you doing buddy.... thanks for write the in. I expect we'll be in conversation ... long over due, for some time to come... and as you should suspect, I'm very glad you'll have your part in it. Already can't wait for combine and draft !
Geez, now we know who the jinx was all year!!! ...
You cannot imagine how true this may be ... ask beach. I'm the guy who walks out of the room when the game is on the line as I am positive I will jinx them if I stay. So. the good news is I must be a heck of a fan if I truly believe my jinxism may actually effect an outcome.
The bad news is I must be insane to think this way and you are a considered friend who is now embroiled in all my lunacy !
Great hearing from you Jackal and I am looking forward to much more, and, asap.
MoS -- Welcome back! Missed you around these parts...
Thanks man, really glad to be home and back here again. Knew I was miissing a lot of great stuff in my absence but have finally found my way home for the good stuff... all the while missing my Steeler mates (throw in a dozen Brownie and Raven fans) and the best football analysis a man can find. Hope all has been well with you and yours ... especially newest little Hoya over there !
thanks for the note bud, and look forward to so much more from you !
well my retirement investments took a crap bath, I have to work another 12 years and 10 months to get full SS.... hopefully I live long enough to get back 50 years of paying the govt. 4.2% 6.2% into the plan....
glad to see you back MOS, glad some of us old emeffers get to reitre early...
Your return is welcome MoS. I am older than you, but have no plans to retire, since I have youngsters running around the house. You hate to blame the Steelers' demise on injuries, but that was a part of it. They have some positions to address in the draft, but I feel like they are laying the groundwork for a very good offensive line, if they can keep guys healthy.
Like beach, I was truly worried about you. We've had a few guys dissappear over the years with little to no explanation and its always a bit disconcerting. Especially guys who work in a field that might put them at risk...I've always been worried about ringleader(military) and hammergod(firefighter), since they disappeared a couple of years ago.
Welcome back, and try not to do that again! It seems to me that the Steelers season kind of went in the tank right around the time you stopped posting...coincidence?
Then again, maybe that's a good thing as you don't need TWO shirts telling you that the "BROWNS RULE" 
into the plan.... 
