Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
I blink, and it's Monday.
I'm told that I had a weekend the last two days, but it went by quite simply too fast for me to remember/enjoy it. A few highlights:
Friday night - Celtics game: I actually left my house to watch the first half at Rat's Pizza. This isn't the first time I've done this in the last few years, but it is the first time there's been anyone else there with the intention of watching the game. Welcome aboard my bandwagon hopping friends, there's room for all of us. Follower. The game was great, and did nothing to dilute my excitement about this season, which is bordering on the absurd right now.
Late Friday night - Hour long conversation with Hendo rave about the Celtics and how they may never lose a game, and how if possible we would both have Kevin Garnett's babies. In a normal, hetero-sexual man crush sort of way, of course.
Saturday - Portland Brew fest, or whatever the hell it's called: I seriously want to sit down with the people who organize this event and talk to them about some logistics. Like, why not do this, say, outside? Or in a building big enough so that you have a little room between booths? I mean, I like beer and all, but a three hour wait in line punctuated by beers is a bit much. (Good beer and good company or not) Whatever the case, some good beers were tasted, mainly beers that I was already familiar with, but also a few newbies as well. My top newbies were Kennebunkport Brewing Companies Taint Town Ale, and Sheepscot Brewing's Brown Ale. The worst, bar none, was that pile of organic goo from Peak Organic Brewing, which tasted like flat mildly hoppy water.
Sunday - Time Change: Nothing better than that extra hour of sleep, especially when you didn't know it was coming. Fucking right Daylight Savings Time, in the fall I don't hate you. Come spring time you can go to hell.
Sunday - Breakfast: Since I wasn't suffering from a debilitating hangover, I was able to enjoy a delicious Eggs Benny at the Port Hole. Good stuff.
Sunday - dogpark: Why Orono doesn't have a dogpark baffles me. And angers me. Anyways, since we were in the land of Port, we took the dog face to the dog park, and for once she wasn't the worst behaved dog. She may not have even been in the top five. In fact, even with mud all over the place, she somehow restrained herself from rolling around in any poop/mud mixtures. We were very proud.
Sunday - shopping times: The wifey and I had some gift certificate shopping to do, courtesy of the wedding. So we shopped around at LeRoux's in Portland, and walked away with a pasta making attachment for the Cuisanart. (Thank you Joe T.) We also hit Freeport on the way back up north. Highlight of this part was the wine and cheese store, where we picked up a Pinotage from South Africa, a Cab. Sav. from Chile, some Genova Salami, and some 5-yr aged Cheddar. The cheese was so good that I actually just dropped a wee bit of drool on the keyboard.
Sunday afternoon sports: Unthinkably enough, the Celtics were actually being broadcast on Sports talk radio, so I got to listen to that on the ride home, and got home in time to watch the 4th quarter, and most of the overtime. Comcast then decided to cut out their video feed with a few minutes left, but I was able to sort of hear Ray Allen hit a game-winning three to make the Celtics 2-0. I then switched to the Pat's/Colts game, which actually, rarely, lived up to the billing of a big game. While I'm glad the Pat's won, I'm more glad that there was actually a fun game to watch this year. I didn't see anything to convince me that either team was better than the other, and I still believe that they will both be in the AFC finals.
Friday night - Celtics game: I actually left my house to watch the first half at Rat's Pizza. This isn't the first time I've done this in the last few years, but it is the first time there's been anyone else there with the intention of watching the game. Welcome aboard my bandwagon hopping friends, there's room for all of us. Follower. The game was great, and did nothing to dilute my excitement about this season, which is bordering on the absurd right now.
Late Friday night - Hour long conversation with Hendo rave about the Celtics and how they may never lose a game, and how if possible we would both have Kevin Garnett's babies. In a normal, hetero-sexual man crush sort of way, of course.
Saturday - Portland Brew fest, or whatever the hell it's called: I seriously want to sit down with the people who organize this event and talk to them about some logistics. Like, why not do this, say, outside? Or in a building big enough so that you have a little room between booths? I mean, I like beer and all, but a three hour wait in line punctuated by beers is a bit much. (Good beer and good company or not) Whatever the case, some good beers were tasted, mainly beers that I was already familiar with, but also a few newbies as well. My top newbies were Kennebunkport Brewing Companies Taint Town Ale, and Sheepscot Brewing's Brown Ale. The worst, bar none, was that pile of organic goo from Peak Organic Brewing, which tasted like flat mildly hoppy water.
Sunday - Time Change: Nothing better than that extra hour of sleep, especially when you didn't know it was coming. Fucking right Daylight Savings Time, in the fall I don't hate you. Come spring time you can go to hell.
Sunday - Breakfast: Since I wasn't suffering from a debilitating hangover, I was able to enjoy a delicious Eggs Benny at the Port Hole. Good stuff.
Sunday - dogpark: Why Orono doesn't have a dogpark baffles me. And angers me. Anyways, since we were in the land of Port, we took the dog face to the dog park, and for once she wasn't the worst behaved dog. She may not have even been in the top five. In fact, even with mud all over the place, she somehow restrained herself from rolling around in any poop/mud mixtures. We were very proud.
Sunday - shopping times: The wifey and I had some gift certificate shopping to do, courtesy of the wedding. So we shopped around at LeRoux's in Portland, and walked away with a pasta making attachment for the Cuisanart. (Thank you Joe T.) We also hit Freeport on the way back up north. Highlight of this part was the wine and cheese store, where we picked up a Pinotage from South Africa, a Cab. Sav. from Chile, some Genova Salami, and some 5-yr aged Cheddar. The cheese was so good that I actually just dropped a wee bit of drool on the keyboard.
Sunday afternoon sports: Unthinkably enough, the Celtics were actually being broadcast on Sports talk radio, so I got to listen to that on the ride home, and got home in time to watch the 4th quarter, and most of the overtime. Comcast then decided to cut out their video feed with a few minutes left, but I was able to sort of hear Ray Allen hit a game-winning three to make the Celtics 2-0. I then switched to the Pat's/Colts game, which actually, rarely, lived up to the billing of a big game. While I'm glad the Pat's won, I'm more glad that there was actually a fun game to watch this year. I didn't see anything to convince me that either team was better than the other, and I still believe that they will both be in the AFC finals.
Friday, November 02, 2007
It's (not) a hard life after all
Happy Friday My People. It was a long time coming this week, but it's here, so enjoy your weekends. Going to the Portland Brewer's Fest this weekend, or whatever the hell it's called. I'm a bit scared of the crowds, but I'm more scared of the wrath of Liz and Major if we don't go.
---
Read an interesting book yesterday, an imperfect and yet fascinating book that I can't quite seem to clear out of my mind today. Mister Pip, by Lloyd Jones, was nominated for the Man Booker Prize, and it is worthy of that, I suppose. Roughly, the book is about a small war-torn island near Australia, as seen through the eyes of a 13 year old girl named Matilda. Her mother comes from the hard-line religious school of thought, and her teacher is an agnostic/athiest white man who over the course of the novel uses Great Expectations by Charles Dickens as his core curriculum. The rough outline of the plot concerns Matilda's going back and forth between believing her mother and her teacher, all the while struggling to live in a harsh environment. In many ways, this book works, but only up to a certain point, a little over mid-way through the plot. At this point, abruptly, in the middle of the book, the plot takes a gruesomely violent turn. From this point on, everything that happens is colored by the violence Matilda has seen.
In some ways, what this book is really about is how people can identify with great writing, no matter what their life experiences are like. It's also about how two good people can be correct about opposite ends of an argument. I do wish the author had made a couple of different decisions, and I don't think some of the way the violence is described works very well.
Like I said, this is far from a perfect book. It did suck me in and carry me along, and I don't think I will forget it soon. (It's also fairly short, which didn't hurt. I'd rather have a book leave me wanting more, than have it carry on too long.)
---
Big plans tonight for this guy. Gonna go home from work, take the pooch for a long walk, and clean up around the house. Once the chores are taken care of, I'm going to crack upon a book, crank some music, and drink some wine and read for a while. Come 7:30, I'm going to tune in to ESPN to check out my new-look Celtics play their first game of the season against the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas. I assume I will fall asleep on the couch by nine. Good times, good times.
---
Read an interesting book yesterday, an imperfect and yet fascinating book that I can't quite seem to clear out of my mind today. Mister Pip, by Lloyd Jones, was nominated for the Man Booker Prize, and it is worthy of that, I suppose. Roughly, the book is about a small war-torn island near Australia, as seen through the eyes of a 13 year old girl named Matilda. Her mother comes from the hard-line religious school of thought, and her teacher is an agnostic/athiest white man who over the course of the novel uses Great Expectations by Charles Dickens as his core curriculum. The rough outline of the plot concerns Matilda's going back and forth between believing her mother and her teacher, all the while struggling to live in a harsh environment. In many ways, this book works, but only up to a certain point, a little over mid-way through the plot. At this point, abruptly, in the middle of the book, the plot takes a gruesomely violent turn. From this point on, everything that happens is colored by the violence Matilda has seen.
In some ways, what this book is really about is how people can identify with great writing, no matter what their life experiences are like. It's also about how two good people can be correct about opposite ends of an argument. I do wish the author had made a couple of different decisions, and I don't think some of the way the violence is described works very well.
Like I said, this is far from a perfect book. It did suck me in and carry me along, and I don't think I will forget it soon. (It's also fairly short, which didn't hurt. I'd rather have a book leave me wanting more, than have it carry on too long.)
---
Big plans tonight for this guy. Gonna go home from work, take the pooch for a long walk, and clean up around the house. Once the chores are taken care of, I'm going to crack upon a book, crank some music, and drink some wine and read for a while. Come 7:30, I'm going to tune in to ESPN to check out my new-look Celtics play their first game of the season against the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas. I assume I will fall asleep on the couch by nine. Good times, good times.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
They just kept laterelling...
If you haven't seen the end of the Trinity game the other day, check out this video:
Monday, October 29, 2007
Yawning through the weekend (A.K.A. the Red Sox won the World Series.)
Yay. The Red Sox win, and the world yawns. Thank god there was at least a little bit of drama last night, because I honestly can't recall a more boring World Series, ever. Look, the Red Sox won, they deserved to win. The Sox and the Indians were the two best teams this year, and whoever won that series was going to win, no matter how many games in a row the Rockies won leading into the Series. (They won those games against NL opponents, unfortunately for them.) Anyways, congratulations, and blah.
As far as the Patriots go, yesterday's game wasn't all that fun too watch either. I mean, the only drama was whether or not the Patriot's were being poor sports by running up the score at the end. Of course they were. Who cares? Billy B. may have a reputation as a genius in Boston, but everywhere else his reputation, at best, is that of an evil genius. So, he's not a nice guy. Big fucking whoop.
--
Watched a couple of movies this weekend, of varying levels of suckitude.
Friday night we watched Knocked Up, which thanks to me not paying attention to the Warning, led to me having flashbacks to Senior year health class. Anyways, after watching the movie, my basic opinion is, huh? People thought this was a hilarious movie? I mean, there were funny parts, like every time Paul Rudd was onscreen, but there were general surrounded by 15 minutes of boring. I guess I just expected a bit more funny, and a bit less boring.
Saturday we watched Transformers, which while maybe 20 minutes too long, was exactly the movie I expected it to be. (And that is a good thing.) One thing you can definitely say about Michael Bay films is that they are not going to outthink themselves. (See: Armegeddon) Transformers was filled with fun, from the cheezy acting, to the great action scenes. Oh, and did I mention Meghan Fox?
---
I'm going to try to keep writing at least a couple times a week, but we'll see.
As far as the Patriots go, yesterday's game wasn't all that fun too watch either. I mean, the only drama was whether or not the Patriot's were being poor sports by running up the score at the end. Of course they were. Who cares? Billy B. may have a reputation as a genius in Boston, but everywhere else his reputation, at best, is that of an evil genius. So, he's not a nice guy. Big fucking whoop.
--
Watched a couple of movies this weekend, of varying levels of suckitude.
Friday night we watched Knocked Up, which thanks to me not paying attention to the Warning, led to me having flashbacks to Senior year health class. Anyways, after watching the movie, my basic opinion is, huh? People thought this was a hilarious movie? I mean, there were funny parts, like every time Paul Rudd was onscreen, but there were general surrounded by 15 minutes of boring. I guess I just expected a bit more funny, and a bit less boring.
Saturday we watched Transformers, which while maybe 20 minutes too long, was exactly the movie I expected it to be. (And that is a good thing.) One thing you can definitely say about Michael Bay films is that they are not going to outthink themselves. (See: Armegeddon) Transformers was filled with fun, from the cheezy acting, to the great action scenes. Oh, and did I mention Meghan Fox?
---
I'm going to try to keep writing at least a couple times a week, but we'll see.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Falling all over the place
Summer's finally over my friends. And you know what? I'm ready. So far, this fall has been good to me, working our way gradually into the winter. Seasonably warm days, cold nights. Just like should be the case when you live in Maine. The steadily shrinking days are going to be a problem though, as they are already starting to cramp my golfing schedule. I mean, at some point I have to go to work, right? Right?
Anyways, a few random things today.
----
Read a couple good books in the last few weeks.
The Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo - For those who have read and enjoyed anything else by Richard Russo, this is a must read. For everyone else, I would start with Nobody's Fool or Empire Falls, both of these are better books. Still, if this is not Russo's best effort, that still makes it better than most any other books out there right now.
The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski - For baseball fans, this is a must read. Joe Posnanski is one of, if not the best sports columnist out there, and this is his story about taking road trips with Buck O'Neill, a former Negro League player and manager. O'Neill loved three things, baseball, jazz, and women, and in many ways this this book serves as on ode to all three. Like I said, a great read for anyone loves baseball.
---
As always, there are a bunch of new tv shows out there this year, a few of which have actually captured my attention.
Pushing Daisies - Wednesdays at 8 - Don't read any reviews of this show, as a description doesn't do it justice. Don't worry yourself about the plot, as that is largely irrelevant. This is a show about tone and look. The tone of this show is overtly light-hearted, with a dark, dark sense of humor as a backdrop. Visually, Pushing Daisies does remind me of Amelie, or of Pan's Labyrinth possibly. (If you haven't seen either of these, go rent them today.)
Life - Wednesday's at 10 - I know, I know, yet another cop show. This one throws some curveballs, and has a structure that works for me. The main character of the show, Crews, is a former cop turned convict who spent 11 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit, was found innocent, and as part of his wrongful charges settlement was reinstated as a detective. Each episode focuses both on one "smaller" crime, as well as some portion of Crews' ongoing investigation into how he was wrongly convicted. The acting is good, the writing is good, and for you Replacements fans out there, Crews' lawyer is played by none other than Brooke Langton.
---
Maybe if I have time tomorrow, I'll throw something out there about the returning shows we have been watching, and how some of them better get their shit together.
Anyways, a few random things today.
----
Read a couple good books in the last few weeks.
The Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo - For those who have read and enjoyed anything else by Richard Russo, this is a must read. For everyone else, I would start with Nobody's Fool or Empire Falls, both of these are better books. Still, if this is not Russo's best effort, that still makes it better than most any other books out there right now.
The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanski - For baseball fans, this is a must read. Joe Posnanski is one of, if not the best sports columnist out there, and this is his story about taking road trips with Buck O'Neill, a former Negro League player and manager. O'Neill loved three things, baseball, jazz, and women, and in many ways this this book serves as on ode to all three. Like I said, a great read for anyone loves baseball.
---
As always, there are a bunch of new tv shows out there this year, a few of which have actually captured my attention.
Pushing Daisies - Wednesdays at 8 - Don't read any reviews of this show, as a description doesn't do it justice. Don't worry yourself about the plot, as that is largely irrelevant. This is a show about tone and look. The tone of this show is overtly light-hearted, with a dark, dark sense of humor as a backdrop. Visually, Pushing Daisies does remind me of Amelie, or of Pan's Labyrinth possibly. (If you haven't seen either of these, go rent them today.)
Life - Wednesday's at 10 - I know, I know, yet another cop show. This one throws some curveballs, and has a structure that works for me. The main character of the show, Crews, is a former cop turned convict who spent 11 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit, was found innocent, and as part of his wrongful charges settlement was reinstated as a detective. Each episode focuses both on one "smaller" crime, as well as some portion of Crews' ongoing investigation into how he was wrongly convicted. The acting is good, the writing is good, and for you Replacements fans out there, Crews' lawyer is played by none other than Brooke Langton.
---
Maybe if I have time tomorrow, I'll throw something out there about the returning shows we have been watching, and how some of them better get their shit together.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
An Impossible Situation
I suppose I should chime in about the Yankees situation. Thanks to Mr. Steinbrenner, the only possible success for a Yankees season is to win the World Series. While they may have won 4 out of 5 back in the late 90's, it's just not that easy to win it all. The most interesting stat from this postseason for me is the fact that 7 of 8 teams that made the playoffs this year, didn't last year. While football gets all the parity talk (somewhat deservedly thanks to their salary cap), it's baseball that has had 7 different champions in 7 years.
Anyways, getting back to this year's Yankees, according to many, this year was a failure. I'm just not sure I agree with that. It may have been the last gap of the group from the nineties, but in many ways I think was a re-building year for the Yankees. There's a real chance that next year the Yankees will have three starting pitchers who were rookies this year. Just making the playoffs with rookies carrying the weight is an achievement, never mind making up a 14 game deficit.
All that said, the thing that needs to be mentioned is that the Yankees lost because the Indians played better for four games. (Even the game the Yankees won.) They had better all around pitching, better hitting, better fielding. If they had played more games, would this have changed? I don't think so actually, I think the Indians were a better team this year. It happens sometimes.
As for next year, there is also a real chance that the Yankees will have lost ARod, Posada, Pettite and Rivera. (Honestly, at this point, losing Clemens is addition by subtraction.) Even for a team with the resources of the Yankees, that's a lot to lose. It would leave them with a team that looks something like this:
C - Me
1b - Giambi/Minkyvitch
2b - Cano
SS - El Capitan
3b - Betimit
LF - Damon/Matsui
CF - Cabrera
RF - Abreau
DH - Giambi/Damon/Matsui
SP - Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, Mussina, Chamberlain?
Closer - Chamberlain (If he is not starting)
And a mishmash of relievers who may or may not be returning. Seriously, I'd pick that team to compete against most teams. Even without ARod and Posada, they'd still score some runs. They'd miss Pettite and Rivera the most out of those two I think, by a long shot.
As for my feelings about this Yankee's team? Thanks to the wonder of mlb.com, I watched more Yankees games this year than any year since I moved to Maine. I liked watching this team. Watching rookies learn on the fly, making mistakes and great plays at equal rates, is to me one of the easiest things to root for. Red Sox fans know what I mean, after watching Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, and Buchholz this year.
To make a long blog short, I wasn't all that disappointed in the Yankees this year. I think they lost to a better team, and I think they battled the whole time. As a fan, I can accept that. (By the way, Red Sox fans, the Indians should scare the crap out of you. This is a good team.)
Anyways, getting back to this year's Yankees, according to many, this year was a failure. I'm just not sure I agree with that. It may have been the last gap of the group from the nineties, but in many ways I think was a re-building year for the Yankees. There's a real chance that next year the Yankees will have three starting pitchers who were rookies this year. Just making the playoffs with rookies carrying the weight is an achievement, never mind making up a 14 game deficit.
All that said, the thing that needs to be mentioned is that the Yankees lost because the Indians played better for four games. (Even the game the Yankees won.) They had better all around pitching, better hitting, better fielding. If they had played more games, would this have changed? I don't think so actually, I think the Indians were a better team this year. It happens sometimes.
As for next year, there is also a real chance that the Yankees will have lost ARod, Posada, Pettite and Rivera. (Honestly, at this point, losing Clemens is addition by subtraction.) Even for a team with the resources of the Yankees, that's a lot to lose. It would leave them with a team that looks something like this:
C - Me
1b - Giambi/Minkyvitch
2b - Cano
SS - El Capitan
3b - Betimit
LF - Damon/Matsui
CF - Cabrera
RF - Abreau
DH - Giambi/Damon/Matsui
SP - Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, Mussina, Chamberlain?
Closer - Chamberlain (If he is not starting)
And a mishmash of relievers who may or may not be returning. Seriously, I'd pick that team to compete against most teams. Even without ARod and Posada, they'd still score some runs. They'd miss Pettite and Rivera the most out of those two I think, by a long shot.
As for my feelings about this Yankee's team? Thanks to the wonder of mlb.com, I watched more Yankees games this year than any year since I moved to Maine. I liked watching this team. Watching rookies learn on the fly, making mistakes and great plays at equal rates, is to me one of the easiest things to root for. Red Sox fans know what I mean, after watching Pedroia, Ellsbury, Lester, and Buchholz this year.
To make a long blog short, I wasn't all that disappointed in the Yankees this year. I think they lost to a better team, and I think they battled the whole time. As a fan, I can accept that. (By the way, Red Sox fans, the Indians should scare the crap out of you. This is a good team.)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Why? Why I ask you? Why?
Q: Why can't I write more often?
A: Because I am a boring sack of shit.
----
So. Since the last time we talked, I have done nothing that is remotely interesting to anybody, especially myself. Unless you count finally running my speaker wires through the basement so that I could stop constantly tripping on them.
I haven't been reading, or watching movies recently, as I've simply been brain dead. The wifey tried to talk to me last night, and I quite honestly didn't even know it was happening.
It could be the heat, I suppose, but while it is unseasonably warm for this time of year, its not so hot that I should actually be suffering mental consequences.
It could be work, which has certainly been busy enough to wear out the old cranium.
Dunno what it is, but I need a nap, and I am hours and hours from the ability to take one. Unless of course, I pull a Costanza.
-----
Quick congratulations go out to the Goose and Danielle, who celebrated the arrival of their second baby the other day.
A: Because I am a boring sack of shit.
----
So. Since the last time we talked, I have done nothing that is remotely interesting to anybody, especially myself. Unless you count finally running my speaker wires through the basement so that I could stop constantly tripping on them.
I haven't been reading, or watching movies recently, as I've simply been brain dead. The wifey tried to talk to me last night, and I quite honestly didn't even know it was happening.
It could be the heat, I suppose, but while it is unseasonably warm for this time of year, its not so hot that I should actually be suffering mental consequences.
It could be work, which has certainly been busy enough to wear out the old cranium.
Dunno what it is, but I need a nap, and I am hours and hours from the ability to take one. Unless of course, I pull a Costanza.
-----
Quick congratulations go out to the Goose and Danielle, who celebrated the arrival of their second baby the other day.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
quickly confidential
Not a ton of time today, so just a quick book recommendation. I just finished reading L.A. Confidential, by James Ellroy. Apparently it was the third in a series of four books, but you don't need to have read the other ones to read this one. If you liked the movie, I would highly recommend the book. There are definitely some similarities, but they are more in the rough character outlines than in the plot points. (Which was nice actually, as I didn't know what was coming next, not that the plot twists were the hardest to decipher.) Anyways, the casting of the movie was done so well, that all the descriptions of the characters fit those cast to play them in the movie.
Not necessarily a quick read, as it took some time for me to get used to the changes in narrators, but not a hard read either.
There might be more later today if I have time, we'll see.
Not necessarily a quick read, as it took some time for me to get used to the changes in narrators, but not a hard read either.
There might be more later today if I have time, we'll see.
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Return of Football Sunday
Or... An excuse to take naps, resumed.
Football gets much PR nowadays as the "New" American Pasttime. While I personally think this is a criminal reflection of the ever-shortening American attention span, and a reflection of the fact that there are only 16 games in the regular season, there is an undeniable draw to the first weekend of real football. I am not one of those people who are so desperate for something to do that they would deign to watch Pre-Season Football.
But really, there are only three real reasons to enjoy football.
Football gets much PR nowadays as the "New" American Pasttime. While I personally think this is a criminal reflection of the ever-shortening American attention span, and a reflection of the fact that there are only 16 games in the regular season, there is an undeniable draw to the first weekend of real football. I am not one of those people who are so desperate for something to do that they would deign to watch Pre-Season Football.
But really, there are only three real reasons to enjoy football.
- Sunday afternoon nap time baby. I love my Sunday afternoon naps in the fall. In fact, I can't remember the last football game I watched all the way through without at least a little bit of shut-eye.
- Fantasy football. There's nothing to make a bad football game interesting like the fact that your defense is getting the shit kicked out of it by Eli Manning. Not like this just happened to me last weekend or anything. Seriously, if you can't stop Eli, Dallas Defense, we may have to go our separate ways. America's team my ass.
- Gambling. The not so hidden secret behind football's success. Can you think of another sport that routinely makes as big of a deal about point spreads and over/unders? Oh, you thought those were just for fun? Let me tell you another one: The NCAA Men's BB Tournament is a big deal because people enjoy the level of competition.
I suppose there are people out there who watch the games for the lure of the violence and mayhem, but to be honest, I get enough violence just taking the dogface for a walk. Seriously, the mutt can pull pretty hard.
---
In case you can't tell, I'm not the biggest football fan in the world. I do like the Patriot's I suppose, but not in nearly the same way in which I am a fan of either the Celtics or the Yankees. Still, this Sunday was a difficult weekend for me, testing my team loyalties against my fantasy team needs. The team I was facing had both Brady and Moss, and my team had Jerricho Cotherie of the Jets. Needless to say, I'm getting the shit kicked out of me. How did I resolve my loyalty conflict?
By napping. I do, after all, have my priorities.
---
In case you can't tell, I'm not the biggest football fan in the world. I do like the Patriot's I suppose, but not in nearly the same way in which I am a fan of either the Celtics or the Yankees. Still, this Sunday was a difficult weekend for me, testing my team loyalties against my fantasy team needs. The team I was facing had both Brady and Moss, and my team had Jerricho Cotherie of the Jets. Needless to say, I'm getting the shit kicked out of me. How did I resolve my loyalty conflict?
By napping. I do, after all, have my priorities.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Sadly, getting older. Much, much, older.
Had a big Friday night last night. Played 18 holes, terribly. Got home, met up with the wifey, and went out to Pats, had a beer and a lard-ridden pizza. Came home, drank some wine, and put in Pirates of the Caribbean Two: I'm back for more cash. Actually it was called something else, but after watching the first half hour of those mailed in, lifeless "performances", the wifey and I decided it would be best to watch something, anything, else.
We flipped around through the tv/tivo for a bit, watching some random shows, and checking in on the Red Sox game. (<--- Jacob Ellsbury? Fast.)
Soon enough, we were tired and ready to go to bed. It was nine o'clock.
Wait, WHAT?
When the fuck did this happen?
NINE O'CLOCK?!?!?!?!
Lame. Lame. Lame.
I'd like to say we realized our lameness and decided to go out. We didn't. I finished my glass of wine, (and the wifey's too, for that matter) and went to read in bed. When I woke up, I was 65 years old.
We flipped around through the tv/tivo for a bit, watching some random shows, and checking in on the Red Sox game. (<--- Jacob Ellsbury? Fast.)
Soon enough, we were tired and ready to go to bed. It was nine o'clock.
Wait, WHAT?
When the fuck did this happen?
NINE O'CLOCK?!?!?!?!
Lame. Lame. Lame.
I'd like to say we realized our lameness and decided to go out. We didn't. I finished my glass of wine, (and the wifey's too, for that matter) and went to read in bed. When I woke up, I was 65 years old.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Now he's really The Natural
In the some stories are too good to be true department, I bring you Rick Ankiel.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, Rick Ankiel was brought up in the Cardinal's organization as a flame throwing left handed pitcher when he was 20 years old. He tore up the league, right up until the NLCS when he all of a sudden couldn't throw a strike.
I mean, literally, could not throw a strike. Ever.
Everyone thought he'd get over it, but he never did. So much so, that they sent him down to the minor leagues, where everyone thought he was done. But, in a Disney story come true, Ankiel converted to an outfielder two years ago. He was called up earlier this season, and improbably has been tearing up the league. His extended stats if he had played a full season would like Ruthian, something like 65 home runs, 15o rbi, that sort of thing. Last night, he had perhaps his best game, with two home runs and 7 rbi in a Cardinals win over the Pirates. Baseball writers all over the place were falling all over themselves making references to Roy Hobbs - Rick Ankiel, The Natural part Deux.
This morning, he woke up to headlines in the New York Daily News that he is accused of buying a year's worth of HGH (Human Growth Hormone). In other words, the Natural? Mebbe not.
Or wait a second..
In the movie The Natural, Roy Hobbs is played by Robert Redford as a Iowa farm boy who is a little too good to be true. Once a pitcher, he comes back as a slugger later in life following an incident involving a lady in black on a train. He comes back as a dominant slugger, who buoys the NY Knights to the pennant. Gamblers try to pay him off, but he loves baseball too much and just can't do it.
In the book, the story falls a little differently. Roy Hobbs in Bernard Malamud's The Natural, is a creature who falls victim to his own immense appetites. He gorges himself in women and food throughout the book, but his natural talent as a player carries him. Still, he is portrayed as a brutish, immoralist character, hardly one likely to be played by Robert Redford. In the end of the book, Malamud's Hobbs is guilty of throwing the game. One of the last lines of the book is from a small child who sees Hobbs after he is found guilty of conspiracy, and says "Say it ain't so Roy."
So maybe there are some more real parallels between Roy Hobbs and Rick Ankiel after all. Unfortunately for Ankiel, and for us, the parallels were between a literary Hobbs, and not the film one.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, Rick Ankiel was brought up in the Cardinal's organization as a flame throwing left handed pitcher when he was 20 years old. He tore up the league, right up until the NLCS when he all of a sudden couldn't throw a strike.
I mean, literally, could not throw a strike. Ever.
Everyone thought he'd get over it, but he never did. So much so, that they sent him down to the minor leagues, where everyone thought he was done. But, in a Disney story come true, Ankiel converted to an outfielder two years ago. He was called up earlier this season, and improbably has been tearing up the league. His extended stats if he had played a full season would like Ruthian, something like 65 home runs, 15o rbi, that sort of thing. Last night, he had perhaps his best game, with two home runs and 7 rbi in a Cardinals win over the Pirates. Baseball writers all over the place were falling all over themselves making references to Roy Hobbs - Rick Ankiel, The Natural part Deux.
This morning, he woke up to headlines in the New York Daily News that he is accused of buying a year's worth of HGH (Human Growth Hormone). In other words, the Natural? Mebbe not.
Or wait a second..
In the movie The Natural, Roy Hobbs is played by Robert Redford as a Iowa farm boy who is a little too good to be true. Once a pitcher, he comes back as a slugger later in life following an incident involving a lady in black on a train. He comes back as a dominant slugger, who buoys the NY Knights to the pennant. Gamblers try to pay him off, but he loves baseball too much and just can't do it.
In the book, the story falls a little differently. Roy Hobbs in Bernard Malamud's The Natural, is a creature who falls victim to his own immense appetites. He gorges himself in women and food throughout the book, but his natural talent as a player carries him. Still, he is portrayed as a brutish, immoralist character, hardly one likely to be played by Robert Redford. In the end of the book, Malamud's Hobbs is guilty of throwing the game. One of the last lines of the book is from a small child who sees Hobbs after he is found guilty of conspiracy, and says "Say it ain't so Roy."
So maybe there are some more real parallels between Roy Hobbs and Rick Ankiel after all. Unfortunately for Ankiel, and for us, the parallels were between a literary Hobbs, and not the film one.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
How to win the lottery without really trying
Unfortunately, my current retirement plan involves winning the lottery. (My previous one involved a sugar mama.) Equally unfortunately, I've never bought a lottery ticket. I've probably played about ten scratch off tickets in my life, and won nothing. So... Does this make my odds of winning the lottery greater or lesser?
It's become clear to me that the path to riches doesn't seem to include working at a non-profit in education. Who knew?
So I need a knew plan. Possibly I should rob banks? There are enough tall, skinny people with glasses around, maybe they'd never find me. Maybe I should become a politician. That seems to be the first step to becoming a dirty politician, and all the graft that goes along with that. Hey, it worked for Dick Cheney, didn't it? I could invent the next pet rock, but that would require at least the slightest bit of creativity, and quite frankly, I'm fresh out.
Anyone have any ideas? I'm willing to share a significant (say.. 3%?) percentage of value for anyone who can make me unimaginably wealthy, so I can just spend my days lounging in the Caribbean with no plans that don't involve umbrella drinks.
Anyone?
It's become clear to me that the path to riches doesn't seem to include working at a non-profit in education. Who knew?
So I need a knew plan. Possibly I should rob banks? There are enough tall, skinny people with glasses around, maybe they'd never find me. Maybe I should become a politician. That seems to be the first step to becoming a dirty politician, and all the graft that goes along with that. Hey, it worked for Dick Cheney, didn't it? I could invent the next pet rock, but that would require at least the slightest bit of creativity, and quite frankly, I'm fresh out.
Anyone have any ideas? I'm willing to share a significant (say.. 3%?) percentage of value for anyone who can make me unimaginably wealthy, so I can just spend my days lounging in the Caribbean with no plans that don't involve umbrella drinks.
Anyone?
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
The bestest part about long weekends
Just time for a quickie today.
It's hard to say what the best part about long weekends is. It could be the simple fact that it's three days as opposed to two. That's nice. It could be that I don't have to work on a Monday. Which is also nice. (Although let's be honest, I don't get shit done on Monday's. Or Fridays. I should be on a three day a week schedule.)
The best part though, is when you forget that today is Tuesday and not Monday, and then all of a sudden remember and get to think to yourself, "One day closer to the weekend, fuckin' A right." God I love those moments. I've had a handful today.
(Is this a sign that I hate my job? Or just that I hate working, period? I am so ready for retirement.
---
A good use of technology:
My local library, the Orono Town library, has a search engine on their website where I can search for and reserve books. Simple, easy, and effective. Also, another way I can avoid talking to people face to face unless absolutely necessary. Which is what Technology's all about, right?
It's hard to say what the best part about long weekends is. It could be the simple fact that it's three days as opposed to two. That's nice. It could be that I don't have to work on a Monday. Which is also nice. (Although let's be honest, I don't get shit done on Monday's. Or Fridays. I should be on a three day a week schedule.)
The best part though, is when you forget that today is Tuesday and not Monday, and then all of a sudden remember and get to think to yourself, "One day closer to the weekend, fuckin' A right." God I love those moments. I've had a handful today.
(Is this a sign that I hate my job? Or just that I hate working, period? I am so ready for retirement.
---
A good use of technology:
My local library, the Orono Town library, has a search engine on their website where I can search for and reserve books. Simple, easy, and effective. Also, another way I can avoid talking to people face to face unless absolutely necessary. Which is what Technology's all about, right?
Sunday, September 02, 2007
A couple big important things
First off, happy Birthday Major. Yes, I know it was last week, but "better late than never" has been kind of a running theme for this blog. I heard lots of fun times were had by the ladies Friday night while celebrating. I heard this repeatedly actually, as I got a few phone calls that night with updates.
---
So I'm just getting out of one of my busiest weeks of work in a while. Stupid work and it's throwing a cramp in my play schedule. Spent way, way too much time on a laptop this week, so needless to say I couldn't seem to get together the motivation to write at all. My schedule should open up a bit from here on out, so I'll see what I can do it about writing more. No promises though.
---
School's back in session, which means two things. One, the wifey is definitely out of fun mode, and into "Educating our Young" mode, which means waking up at 5:30 every morning. For her, not me. Fuck that, if I was in charge, our young wouldn't get educated until mid-afternoon.
It also means that the students have started piling back into campus. It's a mixed blessing, really. They certainly bring more energy to the town, and they also dilute the percentage of self-righteous assholes. Parking spots quite simply disappear, and the bad driving factor multiplies exponentially. Also, I feel older every year. I know I've probably said it before, but I really do think the freshman look like children this year. I swear to god I saw a 12 year old moving into the dorms on Friday. I never, ever, looked that young. Except for maybe when I was 12.
---
Good article this morning in the Kansas City Star, by Joe Posnanski. (<--- Spelling uncertain, but like you care.) I'd say this guys one of the best sports columnists in America right now. For more proof, check out his blog The Soul of Baseball. He's not updating the blog right now, but there is a ton of great articles about baseball, movies, and other random things. If you're looking to kill some time, check some of them out.
---
So I'm just getting out of one of my busiest weeks of work in a while. Stupid work and it's throwing a cramp in my play schedule. Spent way, way too much time on a laptop this week, so needless to say I couldn't seem to get together the motivation to write at all. My schedule should open up a bit from here on out, so I'll see what I can do it about writing more. No promises though.
---
School's back in session, which means two things. One, the wifey is definitely out of fun mode, and into "Educating our Young" mode, which means waking up at 5:30 every morning. For her, not me. Fuck that, if I was in charge, our young wouldn't get educated until mid-afternoon.
It also means that the students have started piling back into campus. It's a mixed blessing, really. They certainly bring more energy to the town, and they also dilute the percentage of self-righteous assholes. Parking spots quite simply disappear, and the bad driving factor multiplies exponentially. Also, I feel older every year. I know I've probably said it before, but I really do think the freshman look like children this year. I swear to god I saw a 12 year old moving into the dorms on Friday. I never, ever, looked that young. Except for maybe when I was 12.
---
Good article this morning in the Kansas City Star, by Joe Posnanski. (<--- Spelling uncertain, but like you care.) I'd say this guys one of the best sports columnists in America right now. For more proof, check out his blog The Soul of Baseball. He's not updating the blog right now, but there is a ton of great articles about baseball, movies, and other random things. If you're looking to kill some time, check some of them out.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Whatever happened to Saturday morning cartoons? I remember growing up, I loved the cartoon section. Maybe even more than the Sports section. Maybe it was just that I loved Calvin and Hobbes. Man that was some funny shit. I mean, does it get any funnier than this?
Maybe, this?
Or this.
Nowadays, there just isn't that much to look forward to in the comics anymore. Maybe Shoe will come up with something great like this:
Or maybe Dilbert will somehow manage to perfectly capture my life in some way that makes me life while almost crying, such as this:
Most likely though, I'll accidentally read Family Circle (As perfectly captured in the movie Go, which for some reason I can't find a clip of on Youtube...), or Lucy, or any of the other piles of suck that pass for comics these days, and end up trying to scrape my eyeballs out with my cereal spoon. Is it me? Or is the papers? I'd like to think it's the papers, but it's not impossible that I'm souring in my old age.
Maybe, this?
Or this.
Nowadays, there just isn't that much to look forward to in the comics anymore. Maybe Shoe will come up with something great like this:
Or maybe Dilbert will somehow manage to perfectly capture my life in some way that makes me life while almost crying, such as this:
Most likely though, I'll accidentally read Family Circle (As perfectly captured in the movie Go, which for some reason I can't find a clip of on Youtube...), or Lucy, or any of the other piles of suck that pass for comics these days, and end up trying to scrape my eyeballs out with my cereal spoon. Is it me? Or is the papers? I'd like to think it's the papers, but it's not impossible that I'm souring in my old age.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Yowzah
Despite the fears of Mrs. T, Joey T gave his first Triathlon a shot this weekend. (Placing number 111) Hell, I ran three steps the other day and pulled up lame. Nice work Joey, now get to work on that pig roast so you can put a little more fat on.
---
Monday, schmonday. The boss is back at work today, which has already caused me to have to pay attention to my job today. (Which, obviously, is BS. I'm going to pull the JR and only use initials for curses for a while. Let's see how long that lasts.) Whenever my boss is out of the office for a long stretch (this time, for over about a month) it's a mixed blessing. I tend to get more done while he's gone, but then he comes back and I have to spend the first couple days justifying everything that happened while he was gone. Let's just say the frustration factor is high. Is it Friday yet?
---
Currently reading: Underworld by Don Delillo. Interesting book, but not necessarily fast going. Doesn't help that the f'er is about a thousand f'ing pages. I've heard DeLillo's writings to be called "overstylized" and I guess I can see where that's coming from, but so far I'm enjoying it.
---
In important breaking news, Robert Plant was born on this date in 1948.
---
Monday, schmonday. The boss is back at work today, which has already caused me to have to pay attention to my job today. (Which, obviously, is BS. I'm going to pull the JR and only use initials for curses for a while. Let's see how long that lasts.) Whenever my boss is out of the office for a long stretch (this time, for over about a month) it's a mixed blessing. I tend to get more done while he's gone, but then he comes back and I have to spend the first couple days justifying everything that happened while he was gone. Let's just say the frustration factor is high. Is it Friday yet?
---
Currently reading: Underworld by Don Delillo. Interesting book, but not necessarily fast going. Doesn't help that the f'er is about a thousand f'ing pages. I've heard DeLillo's writings to be called "overstylized" and I guess I can see where that's coming from, but so far I'm enjoying it.
---
In important breaking news, Robert Plant was born on this date in 1948.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
it's summertime, and the living is quesy
I'm sitting on my couch, drinking a Blue Moon Summer Ale (<--- Delicioso), watching the the METS and El Duque match up against John Smoltz and the Braves. As much as I've always found the Braves to be mind numbingly boring, although this year I have John Smoltz on my Fantasy team so I've found myself actually watching a few games.
So... Some things are right in the world. Baseball in the summer, beer in the hand, life is good. Unfortunately, next to me a storm cloud is gathering.
Yup.
The wifey is writing thank you notes.
Now, there are very rarely times when I'm not glad to be a man. Never have I been more glad though, then during the planning for the wedding. Quite simply, men have it easy during wedding planning. Real easy. My entire job consisted of making sure that there was enough wine in the house to get the soon to be wifey through all of the trials and tribulations of being a bride. (Now, that was no small amount of wine, but still, not a hard job. Figuring out where to seat everyone so that everyone would be happy? Harder job. Wine helped though.)
Anyways, the wifey is writing thank you notes. It's a little scary, and she keeps stealing my beer. And she's only on the third note.
So the wifey is writing notes, and while I'm being supportive-ish, my brother is spooning the dogface on the other couch. Honestly, I think they're going to have puppies soon. (They do make quite a cute couple, actually.) What would you call that? An Irish/ Italian/ English/ Scottish/ Boxer/ German Shephard? Probably couldn't give those puppies away. They would certainly be stubborn as hell.
Anyways, I think I have to go hide now.
So... Some things are right in the world. Baseball in the summer, beer in the hand, life is good. Unfortunately, next to me a storm cloud is gathering.
Yup.
The wifey is writing thank you notes.
Now, there are very rarely times when I'm not glad to be a man. Never have I been more glad though, then during the planning for the wedding. Quite simply, men have it easy during wedding planning. Real easy. My entire job consisted of making sure that there was enough wine in the house to get the soon to be wifey through all of the trials and tribulations of being a bride. (Now, that was no small amount of wine, but still, not a hard job. Figuring out where to seat everyone so that everyone would be happy? Harder job. Wine helped though.)
Anyways, the wifey is writing thank you notes. It's a little scary, and she keeps stealing my beer. And she's only on the third note.
So the wifey is writing notes, and while I'm being supportive-ish, my brother is spooning the dogface on the other couch. Honestly, I think they're going to have puppies soon. (They do make quite a cute couple, actually.) What would you call that? An Irish/ Italian/ English/ Scottish/ Boxer/ German Shephard? Probably couldn't give those puppies away. They would certainly be stubborn as hell.
Anyways, I think I have to go hide now.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Some summer reading, maybe a bit late
So some great big important news to start off this day: Goods is back, at a new location. He starts his comeback with a post, that, umm, just announces his comeback. I'm assuming there will be more to come soon.
----
I've been reading a bunch this summer, some books have certainly been better than others. If you've read anything good this summer, go ahead and throw it in the comments section. Goody, this would exclude your php manuals and how to make babies books.
The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow
This is hardly the first mob/detective novel out there, but it might be the first surfing/detective/mob hitman story out there. This is the perfect book for the a beach blanket, light, interesting, and a quick read.
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
If you haven't read any books by Christopher Moore, I'm not sure this is the first one I would recommend. Either Lamb, the Gospel according to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal or Bloodsucking Fiends would be a better starting point. Moore writes fantastical stories with outlandish plot lines, yet somehow recognizable characters. In A Dirty Job, the main character, who is basically "your average Joe", becomes Death. Funny and zany situations ensue.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
For those who haven't gotten in on the Harry Potter phenomenon, I understand. You're not a child, you don't like fantasy books, blah, blah. But seriously, give it a shot. These are fun, energetic books that whir by. I think it took me about 5 hours to read this last one, and it was a fun five hours. And the characters? Let's just say that most literary works don't have characters with this many shades of grey.
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane is the author of Mystic River, which was a good book but was actually a better movie. He also has a series of five books out that feature the same two characters in a Spenser for Hire sort of vibe. These are all good enough books, well worth a read if you like those sort of books. In my opinion, Shutter Island was his best. It starts out as a murder/mystery based in the 1950's, and becomes, well, more. I don't want to ruin any of the details, but let's just say that by the end of the book, any surprise or shock that you feel has been earned.
---
Don't worry Goody, next time I'll write about something with moving pictures.
----
I've been reading a bunch this summer, some books have certainly been better than others. If you've read anything good this summer, go ahead and throw it in the comments section. Goody, this would exclude your php manuals and how to make babies books.
The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow
This is hardly the first mob/detective novel out there, but it might be the first surfing/detective/mob hitman story out there. This is the perfect book for the a beach blanket, light, interesting, and a quick read.
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
If you haven't read any books by Christopher Moore, I'm not sure this is the first one I would recommend. Either Lamb, the Gospel according to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal or Bloodsucking Fiends would be a better starting point. Moore writes fantastical stories with outlandish plot lines, yet somehow recognizable characters. In A Dirty Job, the main character, who is basically "your average Joe", becomes Death. Funny and zany situations ensue.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
For those who haven't gotten in on the Harry Potter phenomenon, I understand. You're not a child, you don't like fantasy books, blah, blah. But seriously, give it a shot. These are fun, energetic books that whir by. I think it took me about 5 hours to read this last one, and it was a fun five hours. And the characters? Let's just say that most literary works don't have characters with this many shades of grey.
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane is the author of Mystic River, which was a good book but was actually a better movie. He also has a series of five books out that feature the same two characters in a Spenser for Hire sort of vibe. These are all good enough books, well worth a read if you like those sort of books. In my opinion, Shutter Island was his best. It starts out as a murder/mystery based in the 1950's, and becomes, well, more. I don't want to ruin any of the details, but let's just say that by the end of the book, any surprise or shock that you feel has been earned.
---
Don't worry Goody, next time I'll write about something with moving pictures.
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