So far, 2009 has been pretty friggin’ awesome, but I think that has more to do with the fact that I’ve only worked one day since New Year’s (Friday) and even then, I only worked about four hours.

I finally got my car back with its new steering column and ignition. If there’s one thing to complain about it’s that the mechanics left my car a disaster. There’s screws all over on the driver’s side floor, the steering wheel is grimey, and it smells like a mechanic. But then again, the passenger’s side is filled to the brim with old receipts, empty Newport packs, Dunkin Donuts napkins, and 50 or so candy wrappers (boyfriend’s, not mine) and the smell of mechanic isn’t as bad as its normal smell of stale cigarette. Overall, I’m just happy to have my piece of shit car back. It may be a piece of shit, but it’s MY piece of shit.

Special thanks to the Miami Dolphins for squandering away their playoff spot. Nice job. What was that, FIVE turnovers? After a game like that, I’m wondering if Chad Pennington will once again be eligible for Comeback Player of the Year in 2009? Not that he’ll win it. Me thinks another QB will reel it in. Here’s a hint, his name starts with a “B” and rhymes with “grady.”

If there’s one thing I have learned in the wake of Tom Brady’s season ending knee injury it’s that people, by and large, are sick, disgusting assholes who cheer and celebrate a physical trauma endured by another person. I don’t care what team one plays for, I would never cheer an injury.

Last season, for example, when Jets’ quarterback Chad Pennington was clobbered and hobbled, I was horrified when I heard roaring cheers from Giants Stadium. If Jets “fans” enjoy the injury of their own player, then I guess it’s no surprise they celebrate Tom’s injury. I mean, they know they’d never beat the Patriots with Brady at the helm, right?

Whenever I see a player go down, no matter what team or position, my heart skips a beat. It’s sad that “fans” forget those are human beings and not robots. Love ‘em or hate ‘em.

But, after witnessing the happiness around the league, especially the “YAHOO!” headline on the NY Post, I wanted the Patriots to win yesterday. Badly. Not since last year’s regular season Chargers match-up have I wanted a win so badly.

And after four quarters, I got what I wanted.

Matt Cassel was no Tom Brady, clearly, but he was efficient and he got the job done. As predicted, Wes Welker was his go-to guy and I expect that to continue for the next few weeks. And Belichick’s decision to keep five running backs on the roster seems almost prophetic now, doesn’t it? The Patriots defense looked great, with the sole exception being against that little shifty, speedy back Leon Washington. Man, is that guy good. Ellis Hobbs appears to relish the role of being the #1 corner. And Dom Capers must have been throwing balls at Brandon Meriweather all week because he finally was able to snatch one and hold on! The afternoon was capped off when Adalius Thomas took down Brett Favre with one of the best sacks I have ever seen.

But now with his first start under his belt, I expect Matt Cassel to only get better. Bring on the fish.

To say the least, today was AMAZING and totally worth the wait. I took 5 jillion pictures, got sharpie marks all over my arm thanks to some overzealous dude behind me, practically got sweated on by Adalius Thomas and Laurence Maroney, came within one foot of true genius and spent $200 in the Pro Shop.

You’ll have to visit Mike Reiss for a professional analysis of the camp, but I can mention that I saw Eric Alexander do some pretty extraordinary moves while stretching. Kelley Washington was having a blast with the crowd. Every time he raised his hand, people went nuts.

People also went nuts when the players started signing autographs. Grown adults pushing and shoving like children… no, not like children because the children there weren’t doing that crap… I guess it’s the punishment for getting there early and sitting right up front. The moment coaches started yelling, “Field Goal,” which I guess most people assumed meant the end of practice, these grown men started kicking me as I sat trying to get as close as possible. When I stood up, I was shoved against the ropes. Some guy literally used my shoulders as stabilization while he leaned as far forward as he could when Tom Brady walked past. I had stranger arms over both shoulders AND my head! Insanity!

But the best part of today was it got me back into a football state of mind. It’s been hard after you know what to even think about it but I’m ready. I’m really ready. Bring on the Chiefs!

ADDENDUM: I almost forgot to mention that Tedy Bruschi signed almost every autograph he could. I mean, seriously, the guy took forever to make it around the bleachers and to the end zone. And then when a horn sounded, he wanted to sign more but told us he couldn’t, but relented anyway and signed more. I hope he didn’t get in trouble with Belichick.

Today, a deranged women called my office to find out why a photo of her children didn’t run in last week’s edition. It seems as though one of our shithead photographers promised her the photo would run. I tried to explain to her that the editor, not the photographer, makes the decisions on what photos to run. I also asked her if I could take a message and the editor could call her back to explain. She told me to go fuck myself and promptly ended the call. Maybe, if she wasn’t such a bitch, I would have put the photo in this week’s edition. I was really tempted to give her the home number of the photographer so he could explain to her why the photo didn’t run despite his promise.