Governator, Really?; Elevator

Governator, Really?
Apparently he has a kid with his household staff member, that's 10 years old!?!  Are you kidding me?

Lindsay brought this story to my attention and then made a very valid point - how do you listen to him speak every night and not crack up laughing?  When I think of him, I think of several things:

1. "It's not a tumor!" (Kindergarten Cop)
2. "I'll be back" (Terminator)
3. "Hasta la vista, baby." (Terminator)
4. "I'm a cop, you idiot!" (Kindergarten Cop)
5. "See you at the party, Richter." (Total Recall)
6. "If it bleeds, we can kill it!" (Predator)

I cannot imagine him speaking like a normal person, and that's fine with me.

Elevator
We just got back from Target and were in the basement waiting for the elevator, for about 3 minutes, at least.  We live on the 10th Floor.  A guy was waiting there before we got there, I'd guess for another two minutes.  We all got in and we hit "10" and he hit, yep, you guessed it, "3".  Dude coulda walked up three flights before - oh wait, four flights - the damn elevator came.  He wasn't a fat sack of shit either, as a matter of fact, I think I've seen him in the morning leaving the gym in the building.

Just walk.  If you can't walk four flights, why waste money on a gym membership for $700 a year.  Sloth-ass.

Frosted Mini Wheats; Nolan Rules!; Sunday Night; 30

Frosted Mini Wheats
Now here's a cereal I absolutely enjoy.   Sure, they can get a little dry at times, but damn they fill me up.  Normally, two bowls (and maybe a little into the third) will do it for a normal cereal, but this heavyweight puts me in the comfort zone after a bowl, bowl and a half.

My only complaint is that every one of those rectangular little edible Brillo pads isn't coated with a thick layer of frosting.  Maybe it's the kid in me, but the best Mini Wheats are the ones at the end of the bowl that still have that awesome white, sugary coat on them.  Milk be damned, you cannot wash this coat away.

So Kellogg's, maybe you wanna get on that one.  I mean it's not stopping me from purchasing them - I actually just got the Frosted Mini Wheats Big Ones and the new fruit filled ones - but it's something I certainly wouldn't complain about.

I'm sure other cereal aficionados will agree.

Nolan Rules!
The kid is a stud.  Although he's very unwilling at time to pose for photographs, there's still some shots I can get when he's awake and alert.  His hair is pretty neat too (he's got more than me).

We've got to start bathing him more, but tonight he was pretty good in the bath.  He cried a little early on, but once he was covered in water (no, not his head) he kinda enjoyed himself.

Here's a few photos of our little man:

Fresh out the bath tub - so fresh and so clean!

Chillen' in my tiger outfit

Me (looking tired) and Nolan in the dog run (Nathan not pictured)

Hanging on the Boppy,

Tattoo
When we went out to LI the other week to get Lindsay's push present - another of her wedding band - I was tempted to get a new tattoo, in honor of Nolan.  I did not, however.

I plan on getting a new stain eventually (read: within the next two months) it's just a matter of what I will get.  I have several ideas as to what I wanna get, but I haven't really sat down and thought about it.

Any suggestions you all have, feel free to say them aloud (or type them).

Sunday Night
Right now, everyone is sleeping but me.  Lindsay seems to have passed out in bed with Nolan (who'll move into that crib shortly) and Nathan is at the foot of the bed.

I am out here watching the new Iron Chef America, where it's Battle Mussels.  @bflay is the Iron Chef and I'll be honest, I really haven't paid much attention since I've decided to post.

When I'm done here, I'll key in a little more.

30
I will be 30 on June 1st, and am rather indifferent about it.  I have never been one to make a huge deal out of birthdays (except Lindsay's) but I guess it's a milestone in a persons life - 30 years old.

I am not yet over the hill.  I think those start on your 40th and occur again every ten years.

I'm already legal to drink - 21 was nine years ago.  Holy shit, now that I look at it that way, that was way long ago.

I'm going to pass out out here to ICA.

Be back soon blog-osphere!

Coming In

First off, a Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there (especially Lindsay) who has the.misfortune of spending her first alone with Nolan until later tonight when I return from the B-Lo.

The photo is of an airplane coming in for a landing only a few hundred yards away. The airport is right across the street from the hotel.  Lindsay always likes seeing planes.coming in, so this is for her. She hates flying but loves watching them, weird but true.

Speaking of hotels, the Holiday Inn Express has the best smelling shampoo, soap, and conditoner I've ever smelled.  It's a smell that's hard to describe - maybe spiced oranges mixed with apple cider? Whatever the actual flavor is called, I would drink it if they made it into something edible.  Seriously, that shit is awesome.

Tomorrow we go to get Lindsay her push present. I may get myself a tattoo as well commemorating Nolan. The tattoo parlor is right across the street from the jewelry store.  Talk about one stop shopping!

We're headed to the field now so I'm going to cut this.short.  Going for the sweep today over Niagara. We won 9-7 and 4-0 yesterday.  Our bullpen tried to blow it but we had just enough to get it done. Here's to a win today, otherwise that 6 hour bus ride home is going to be pretty shitty.

Once again, Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy yourselves ... you deserve it.

And Lindsay, I hope Nolan let's you sleep a little today since he's been a pill the last two nights. I'll be home later to help.

Much love!

Happy Easter; Ballin'; NHL Playoffs

Happy Easter
Happy Easter to all who celebrate!  So far, we've gotten roughly four baskets (mostly because of Nolan) but that's cool.  We (Lindsay and I) are pretty much self-diagnosed candy junkies.  The surprising part is I only have one cavity.  Yep, 29+ years on this Earth and only one cavity.

Nolan is a handful - albeit an awesome, handsome, cool handful.  (Knock on wood) he's been sleeping pretty well.  Around 3 hours at a clip overnight - last night he slept from 2:30am all the way to 6:25pm.  Almost four full hours!  Thatta boy, Nolan!  Nathan gets up every time Nolan does too, probably because of the crying.  Nathan gets up and whimpers because he thinks something is wrong - he's a pretty solid big bro.

Overall, things are going rather smooth(ly?) since we've been home.  Here's to things continuing to go well.  One thing is for certain - Nolan and Nathan are awesome together.  A killer combo.

Ballin'
Maybe it was the lights out shooting performance I pulled off yesterday while waiting for lunch in the gym (15-30 from the 3-point line), but I suddenly have the urge to go to Target and get a basketball to use outside at the courts behind our building.

I figure it'd be good for everyone - we could get Nolan outside with Lindsay, Nathan, and I and also it'd be a good workout for my fat ass.  It's a win-win.

Nathan just threw up.  Looks like a puke and rally, he's back in action.

NHL Playoffs
I know I'm not the only one who is totally engulfed by the NHL Playoffs.  It is pretty damn addicting, I cannot get enough.  Honestly, I didn't watch a single minute of a single game during the regular season but have not stopped watching these playoffs.

The Capitals (and Alexander Ovechkin) dismantled the Rangers, 4-1 (although that was no shocker since the Rangers lack a top flight scorer).

My Flyers need a road win in Buffalo to avoid being upset by the Sabres.

The 2010 Stanley Cup champs Blackhawks are the #8 seed and trail the Canucks three games to two.

The Bruins/Canadiens series is awesome too - I feel as if I've seen every one of those games and every one is great.

Sid the Kid and the Pens lead the Lightning 3-2. but after an 8-2 ass-whooping, the 'Ning might have some steam.  Watch this series. 

There's only three games today, all have elimination implications - Flyers, Blackhawks, and Ducks all trail 3-2 (only the Hawks play at home).

Time to clean a bit before my parents get here.  Nolan is assed out, but when he wakes up he'll get changed, and a bath.  First one, I'm sure he'll love it.  Ha!

Random Thoughts: Caught and Published

This post is going to be about random thoughts I have while walking home.

- What the fuck is this guy wearing?!?

- Who eats a bagel at 6 o'clock at night?

- Damn it feels good to be a gangster.

- How do Asian people understand what they're saying? They talk so fast.

- Maybe I'll get Nathan a gift at Popcorn Pawz for being a great, protective big brother.

- Pigeons sure are fearless.

- I wonder what's for dinner.

- People probably think I'm crazy talking into my phone. They'd be right. I am.

- Can't wait to see Lindsay, Nolan, and Nathan.

- This sun sure is shining bright.

- I haven't looked up in like 10 minutes. I guess I've mastered this walk.

- Sorry kid, didn't see you there.

OK, time to keep my eyes up and finish my trek.

Stopped at Metate, new Mexican restaurant. Picked up a takeout menu. Damn I love their cuisine.

Due Date; Library; Sigh-tings; Work

Due Date
Today is the official due date for Baby D, except this baby will not come out.  I had my money on yesterday, April 13th, but that didn't pan out either.  Lindsay has another doctor's appointment Monday, so we'll see how it goes from there.

The doctor told her she isn't going to go past a week after today, so by the 21st (hopefully not the 20th, that's Hitler's birthday) we should have a baby, I think.


Library
I walked in to work today seeing that it's shaping up to be an awesome day out there, and my first stop was the library.  Yes, the school library.  The one I hadn't been to in over three years (since I was completing my Master's degree).

The sole purpose was to print stuff out.  You see, my grandmother got me a jack-of-all-trades, bomb-ass printer for Christmas, but... ah nevermind.  Long story short, my computer shit out, I took it to the school tech guy who installed some bullshit OS on it and it isn't compatible.  Not enough time to go back and sit with this guy for three hours so he can uninstall this OS.  I gotta get on this, ASAP.

I had to print out tax return stuff - what a dent that is - and some stuff for the hospital.

Sigh-tings
- A 60-year-old man wearing an Ed Hardy sweatshirt.  And slip-on shoes.  And a t-shirt underneath.  Maybe it was Ed himself.  If not, this old bugger must not have anyone who cares about what he dresses like in public.

- A guy (maybe mid-20's) wearing a mesh Corona trucker hat.  Since when is the Bronx a spring break destination?  And didn't those novelty mesh hats go out a few years back?  I have a TB Rays one and Lindsay a Phillies one, but Corona?  Come on man, what are you auditioning for the Jersey Shore?

Work
Alright, it's about that time to head to work - actually, I'm there, just in a different area than normal.  I hope you enjoyed the photo of our team taking the 1 Train to Columbia for yesterday's game.  We wound up losing because of a few bad pitches and a costly error.  But hey, that's baseball.  6-5 was the final.  Our nation-long 10-game win streak is by the wayside as is our 6-game road win streak.  The important games are this weekend versus Marist, at home.

Conference games are what counts - they all count, but we'll never get an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, so midweek losses are water under the bridge.  Learn from the mistakes and move on.

Me, I'm moving on, from this tired library.  These kids are robots, pecking at the keys looking half in the bag.  Good for them.

Game Day

Headed down to the field to see what the damage is from last nights rain - if it rained.

I know I went outside this morning to walk Nathan and it was overcast but warm.  Within 30 seconds, it started raining a little bit.

LIU heads over to our friendly, music-less confines for a 3:30pm game.  I hope the sun keeps peeking out and gets rid of the rain.

Lindsay is at the doctor.  Nathan is in his crate sleeping.

Oh, and last night for dinner, I had sweetbreads - the sweetbread of choice last night was calf brain.  And I will tell you this, it was freaking delicious.  A little soft as far as texture goes, but it was awesome - with crispy bacon and honeyed onions - oh man, I'd get them again.

Down to the field.

Monday's Missing Links

- This guy made a "masterpiece" out of discarded MetroCards.  I always try to refill my cards because there is always $0.40 left or $1.15 or some odd amount.  A lot of people throw them out, but it's like throwing out money.  This guy must have a lot of time on his hands - and this damn bench will probably fetch a few thousand bucks at an auction.  Somewhere there's some shmuck who wants this piece of avant garde art.

- Here's a cool site helping keep people up to date with the happenings in their respective cities - well, NYC, the Hamptons, San Fran, DC, LA, and Chicago.  There's also a link for national news, which is what the home page is, for those of you in lesser publicized cities.

- Last night's Academy of Country Music Awards were pretty good.  Lindsay loves Carrie Underwood, so we watched her performance - with Steven Tyler.  Pretty cool, especially since I have a new-found appreciation for his music.  His voice is like no other, and it's awesome.  Give it a listen if you didn't see it live.  I was kind of looking forward to Rihanna's performance too, but it was too slow and boring for me to like.  Like I've said before, my musical taste is very diverse.

- Butler vs. UConn tonight for the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship.  We're going to dinner at 6:30, so we should be home in time to catch a majority of the game.  If we're able to stay up the entire time.  I know, you're probably thinking we're wimps, but I've been told by many people many times that I'd better get my sleep in now because it'll all change shortly.  I like UConn in this one, although I wouldn't be shocked if Butler wins.

- Oh yeah, before I forget, Chris Brown, what the hell is wrong with you man?  Beating a woman up?  Sorry, I know it was a while ago, but still, this is for you dipshit! 

- And one more link about music, Florence and the Machine are awesome!  I bought the album on iTunes and cannot get enough of it.  It's relaxing, which is a nice change of pace when I can't listen to my metal.  Give it a listen, you'll enjoy it.  Plus, there's a remake of a classic, "Addicted to Love", by Robert Palmer.  AWESOME-NESS!!

Posting with Pictures

Glassjaw was very, very good last night.  Extremely good.  Then they  played their encore (Stations of the New Cross) and totally lost me.  It was too long, too drawn out, and just lacked the excitement that they generally bring.  They played all their "new" stuff along with some great old songs.  Here's the setlist from last night's show.  Also a picture of the outside of the theater as we walked by on the way to Tonic for some pre-concert food and drinks.

One thing is for sure - Daryl cannot weigh more than 145 pounds.  If he does, I want to see the scale.  He was super flamboyant last night (which is nothing new) but he's normally a little more hardcore with Glassjaw - the flamboyance is very apparent when he plays with Head Automatica.  Here's a cool silhouette of the stupidly-thin frontman.  I stayed away from the pit(s) and enjoyed the show from a safe viewing distance.

I saw several people I went to high school with there - as I'd imagined I would.  Glassjaw is something like legend on the Long Island music scene, and whenever they play in the area, you're bound to run into people you know - some you like to see, others not so much.  Dan Durkin, Lisa Weber, Bryan McGrath (not Sugar Ray), Mike Woods, Nick Lombardo (of Evolving Habitat fame) - they were disappointed a little bit with the performance.  And though they sounded great, they were a bit better in January when I went to see them. 

Here's a video of "Tip Your Bartender" from the show - I was probably a few feet over from this guy.


Here's another picture of the backdrop of the set, their standard flag and green lighting.

I also got a new t-shirt - a black one with some rad "gj" design on it.  That  means I have to go and throw out three t-shirts from my dresser.  Also got their latest EP, Coloring Book, on the house, as I walked out.  Only problem was I threw mine in my back pocket when we left, and three blocks later it was gone.  I took Jesse's since I bought him his ticket.  Oh well - I put it on my iPod and my iPad this morning. Here's the album "art" - pretty basic shit.

I think I drank a little more than I thought I did, I am still feeling a little off today.  Definitely not hungover, but definitely not 100% functional.  I wore shorts outside today - it's thirty-four degrees out there (only because my sweats were in the gym).  Got practice at 2 this afternoon, leaving for Siena at 6 tonight.  A two and a half hour bus trip - a breeze compared to the longer ones.

Time to get the day going peeps, I hope you all enjoyed my post about me enjoying my evening.

Cover Artists

Cool article on the face of B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die" album and what he looks like now.  Bronx kid, pretty neat.  Too bad he only made $150 for a record that reached #3 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 1994 and #15 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Whatever.

I was on the cover of a book once - a book about playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League titled "The Last Best League".  That's me, #22 with the long hair standing on the "T".  I played for the Bourne Braves during the summer of 2001.  Yup, I too am famous.  Tell your friends, you're reading the work of a legend.  Hah - I actually just made myself laugh out loud.  Pretty awesome though, at least to me.

Neat View

Awesome view from our dugout on the third base side today at Campbell's Field in Camden NJ.  We took down the St. Joe's Hawks today 10-7.  Bad first two innings (gave them 4 runs) but we battled all game and got a little relief from the bullpen - for a change.

Headed back to the hotel, sitting in traffic - on a Saturday afternoon. You've got to be kidding me.

Had a paralyzing migraine yesterday after pissing away a five-run lead in the ninth.  I slept from 9 to 9 and it helped. A little. Head still hurt a bit when I woke up.

California Pizza Kitchen for dinner tonight. PF Chang's last night didn't go so well.  Had three bites of my crispy orange chicken and felt ill as anything so I got it to go.  Late night  snack tonight while I watch some hoops.

Almost back at hotel. Tune in later.

Man's (and Dog's) Best Friend

Here's a video for you all - and if you don't know Japanese (as I don't), just listen anyway.

It's a pretty neat thing to see this dog staying loyal to it's canine companion amid all the disaster going on.  How long these two dogs make it is anyone's guess, but if the two guys filming were decent human beings, they'd help.  Cool to see though, and sad.  Awesome job by the brown and white dog keeping the white dog company!

glassjaw on March 24th at Best Buy Theater

It's been a while since I purchased my glassjaw tickets for Thursday's show at the Best Buy Theater in NYC, but I was just informed that they are playing with two Long Island hardcore veterans - Vision of Disorder and Mind Over Matter. 

And I also heard there's another EP coming to all concert goers who stick it out til the end.

I went from a 7 on the excitement scale all the way up to a 10 in a matter of :15 seconds (I know, I know - that's what she said).

Awesome!

Dental Appointment? Check!

Dental Appointment?  Check!
As I'm sure is the case with most people, I despise the dentist.  I get the postcard with the smile on it letting me know it's that time - again.  Even though I've only had one cavity in 29 years, it's a trip I still dread.

The hook pick.  The water sucker thing.  The light directly over my head.  All things I can do without.  I  do, however, enjoy when they brush my teeth with the grainy, gritty mint flavored paste.

My gums always bleed.  Gross, I know.  And every time she asks me if I've been flossing - to which I always respond "I try, but...".  Today was different.  The bleeding was way less intense, even though I still have neglected the flossing.  Actually, that's a lie - Lindsay and I went to Target before hand and I flossed for the first time in six months in the parking lot.  It must have worked wonders because the hygienist told me it was much better.  Awesome!

When I am out of there - typically in 35 minutes - my teeth feel alright.  A little better than they did when I walked in but now, as I sit on this couch posting, they are killing me.  I am eating SweetTarts jelly beans (because nothing says "I'm done with the dentist!" like eating candy) and my molars hurt.  They hurt during dinner (a burger and salad) and they still hurt.

OK, I DVR'd Chopped All-Stars and Duff, Claire Robinson, Robert Irvine, and Anne Burrell are competing - heavy hitters here tonight.  Talk to you again soon.

And in closing, I apologize for my drastically unoriginal posts as of late.  All this travel (Cullowhee NC, Rock Hill SC, Knoxville TN) has been kicking me in the pants and my body feels run down.  I will put in a max effort moving forward to keep you all entertained.

Love.

SEC Country

Must be nice to be a Volunteer down here in SEC Country.  Beautiful surface, awesome park.  Four o'clock first pitch.  Excited to be out here. 

I think UT is the entire city of Knoxville.  Pretty cool place to play college sports.  If only.

But hey, I like my life and wouldn't change it.  Working for what you get is more gratifying.

Later haters.

Kembanecticut

Watch "Kemba Walker buzzer beater vs Pitt 3/10/11 Big East Tourney" on YouTube

Sickest crossover since Tim Hardaway.  Are you kidding me? PLAYER OF THE YEAR.  Jimmer who?

Video('s) of Note

There were some things that happened on television during the past few days that are very, very blog-worthy.  They both exhibit awesome-ness in one form or another.  Most importantly, they make me laugh and wonder what people are thinking sometimes.

First was on Jeopardy.  The video is priceless, so without further ado, here it is:


The other happened during Louisville's win over Pitt this weekend.  Stupid cheerleader - just stick to hoisting the girls in the air and stay away from the basketball:

L, N, & BD

Nine hours til I get to see Lindsay, Nathan, and Baby D.

Step on it Johnson (our bus driver)

Woooooooo

Traffic = Not Cool

Watching "Due Date" whilst stuck in traffic. Miserable, miserable traffic. Literally, we've moved a quarter mile in 25 minutes.

Movie time.

It's a Miracle!!

In awesome college basketball news, Division III Caltech (California Institute of Technology) won it's first conference game in 26 years.

Judging by the look of the coach, it really doesn't surprise me all that much.

It was their first win in 310 conference games.  Their first win in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association play since January 23rd, 1985.

Good win coach, way to get the boys ready to rock on Senior Night.  At least they will be the first group of seniors in quite some time to have a tally in the win column of SCIAA play.

Coach of the Year?  I smell an upset.