Saturday, March 27, 2010

Friday night darkness

I really prefer turning off the main lights in my basement off and working with just the desk lamps. It adds more atmosphere. Maybe at this rate, I should put in a disco ball. With another week over, a few thoughts...

1) I can't help but grin every time I think about what I write about the "guy" looking like Danielson/Omega/Down's Syndrome. It is so true.

2) Two straight weeks of incredibly heavy work loads. And now with spring sports kicking into full gear, I get a similar dose at home in the evenings. So be it.

3) I am very excited for WrestleMania on Sunday. Much moreso than I have been for some of the previous WrestleManias in the last several years. The big question is where will I stop and eat before I arrive at Rozak/Mangold's house?

4) I am happy to hear Jim Cornette promote ROH and rant on the state of mainstream pro wrestling. I am sick of him ranting on how Republicans are basically responsible for screwing up America.

5) I begged the Rangers not to tease me for they played Boston last Sunday. They barely bothered to show up and lost that game on NBC 2-1. Since then, they beat the Islanders and the Devils. This better not be some sick setup...

6) I pray I can be proud of the Mets this season.

7) Tax day tomorrow. Great.

8) I am very excited to read Joe Benigno's new book. I just wish he could have done an audiobook. It would have been like a six-hour radio monologue. Brooooooooooooooooooooo!

9) Guzzling a beer while watching the Sandman's entrance at One Night Stand is one of the coolest moments imaginable. I wish I could have done it in the Hammerstein Ballroom.

10) I may adjust my church plans on Sunday...

11) I feel more and more like I made the right decision. I thank God for his subtle guidance.

Song pick: "How's My Ex Treating You?" Hank Williams Jr.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Therapeutic

Could use something like that. Sometimes, I feel that's what this blogging turns into and I don't think that's always a good thing. I can only wonder who is reading this thing, if anyone ever does.

1) After the Rangers latest debacle tonight, a 4-3 home loss to St. Louis, I seriously wish Blueshirt Banter had been on tonight. I may have even called in. For the first time in 18 months, I got to watch the Rangers play on MSG in HD. I would have preferred a blackout.

2) Corned beef melts on rye with Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles taste awesome.

3) I've been seeing advertisements for this Elgin Primehouse in the Grand Victoria Casino in a lot of places. Billboards, movie theaters, radio. Well, I finally checked out their website and it looks really bougie with a few "suggestive" methods of persuasion. But some of their shakes include a lemon buttermilk, a toasted marshmallow, and a creme brulee. And after seeing Crazy Heart last weekend, I got a $10 gift certificate. I might have to try this.

4) Speaking of which, Crazy Heart was a fine movie, I would give it a solid B. It would be an A-, if not for Maggie Gyllenhall's very weak performance. Jeff Bridges definitely deserved an Oscar for his performance as Bad Blake. The best scenes were when it was just him accompanied by either a drink or a song. His old, unshaven, ragged face disguised a soul yearning for glory and redemption. Kind of like a lot of people.

5) I pray I never become addicted to anything harmful. Existing around one on a constant basis is painful enough.

6) My brackets blow. I filled out 17. I'm just hoping to get through Friday with a Sweet 16 still alive and kicking,

7) The first time President Obama filled out his bracket on ESPN, it was all well and good. One year later, not so cute.

8) This has been without question the busiest week of work I have had in at least two years. So many people out, bringing new people in, saying goodbye to people. I really miss Maja. But good job by Erin, Brian, and Bradlee for ordering Buona Beef for us today. It's nice to have hard work get recognized. I know I earned it and so have others.

9) I know I'm restricted by rules. But once every two weeks, and on two occasions, five weeks, is just not enough. In rare instances, rules are made to be broken. This is one of those times. Yet I dread that I'm just setting myself up to face more disappointment.

10) I have figured it out. This douche looks like Bryan Danielson and Kenny Omega had a baby and it had Down's Syndrome!

Song pick: "It Was Almost Like a Song" Johnny Hartman

Friday, March 12, 2010

Facebook and a few other thoughts

I have a theory. Once you've had filet mignon, you can't go back to baloney. In other words, once you attain a certain status or level, it is hard to go down. Well, not always true judging by what I've been seeing from two or three certain people on Facebook. No matter how hard they try to forget, they can't get the filet out of their mind. It was very rare filet too...

There are some days I really wish Facebook and myspace and message boards did not exist. I like that I can keep abreast of how my friends are doing. I like I can see what old friends have been up to. But for Pete's sake, there is so much crap people put on I have to filter through. And it always comes from the same people. I seriously wish I could delete certain topics off of my live news feeds. And sometimes I want to delete just one news post from a certain person. But the only option I have is to hide everything they ever write in the future. There needs to be some improvements made here. Thank God I can at least hide Star Wars and all these space games. I'm not interested in finding out someone just reached Level 26 and they're calling me out to match it.

And the games they have are so lame. I'm convinced these things are science fair projects made by third-graders. I was looking to play a Yahtzee game and I looked for the one with the most players. I found one with maybe 80,000. Either there are 80,000 geeks with nothing better to do in the world or these crack scientists have figured out how to manipulate the subscriber total. The 1970's style graphics, the slow gameplay, can't play with someone, you have to play first and then let them play. I feel like I'm playing these games alone in a dark closet on a Beta Mac, it's just not efficient.

The other thing is not so much the site as it is one certain kind of user. There are a few people who rarely if ever post. And when they do, which happens maybe once every four months, they feel this strange urge to update the world with everything that has happened in those four months. I have to "open more stories" three times just to find a new name. And I don't know what changes/evolves more: working through Facebook or the financial aid policies I have to learn at work. OK, enough of that.

I'm ready to try out some Bushmill's this weekend. Boomer and Carton's visit to Ireland last weekend have really have me excited about that and I have never drank a sip of Irish whiskey in my life. I guess that interview with the master distiller can do that. Meanwhile, this leg of lamb I'm chewing on right now is outstanding.

Song pick: "Disappointed" Mindy Smith

PS And there are also those who had the filet served up right in front of their face and they never recognized the difference between that and dog crap. And now they'll settle for eating Oscar Meyer pimiento loaf and they'll never get near the good stuff! Shame on you, you had an opportunity, you blew it, you chose your own house and now you deserve to stay in it.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Never Thought I Would See the Day

But my baseball and hockey teams had their seasons end on back to back days in March.

Yesterday afternoon, Mike Francesa said the Mets received good news on Jose Reyes and he should be back to the Mets within a few days. A few more thyroid tests had to come through. But everything looked positive. And I felt pretty good. I figured, he can take some medication and his thyroid will be regulated. We’re in business. Hold on to that though.

I get back from a great night at Feasting and Fellowship. The sausage fest went over very well. Made homemade garlic butter, dumped it on the rolls and them baked them in the oven until they got brown and crisp. Had peppers, onions, fresh mozzarella, the whole nine yards. We had a great lesson on Titus 2 and I left to go home around 10:30.

I settled in the living room and turned on the Rangers-Devils game via DVR. Three times the Devils scored and the Rangers tallied the equalizer, and twice it happened inside of one minute. Then right near the end of the second period, the Devils make it 4-3 and score again inside of a minute for a two-goal lead, chasing the best goalie in the world from the Rangers cage. I knew there was no way the Rangers were tying this game. No way in the world.

Getting tired, I watched the third period at fast forward, four times the speed. Even going that fast, I could tell that they still sucked. This team plays no defense in front of Henrik. They rarely score more than a goal a game. John Tortorella is a horrible coach, I don’t care that he doesn’t have the players he wants. They have completely tuned him out. I am not one to advocate firings, but both Glen Sather and Tortorella need to be eradicated from MSG as soon as this season ends.

And then fast forward to today, Thursday. During the middle of the day, I’m following the Georgetown-Syracuse game. Although the Orange lost their second straight game, I won’t go too crazy over that. The real tournament starts next week.

I click on Metsblog.com and even I did not anticipate this latest train wreck. I saw Mr. Full Autonomy and Peter Greenberg, Jose Reyes’ agent were holding a conference call. All I need to see is Omar Minaya talking to the media about something negative and it equals disaster. Ten minutes later, I click back on the site and my buddy Matt Cerrone is reporting that Reyes is out for 2 to 8 weeks and needs to rest in a way that does not elevate his heart rate. How is that happening? Maybe they should just freeze him at a cryonics lab and let him defrost when and if he’s ready.

Alex Cora, welcome back to the starting lineup.

I’m looking at this realistically. No Reyes or Beltran until June 1? 60 wins. Last place. Sane old treadmill I’ve been running on for 20 years. Can football be far away?

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Sunday evening coming down

Thanks to Johnny Cash for allowing me to semi-borrow one of the greatest songs ever for this title. Of course, it's Wednesday morning as I'm finishing this...


1) Excuse me. I didn't know I wasn't allowed to get upset and be honest about it. I'm tired of having to put on a performance. I did it for 18 months in another setting and it was so liberating when I broke away. Not only that, but the Adams deal, that little prick Kaleta, preview photos, it doesn't end.


2) OK, moving on. The Final Showdown gag I pulled in class on Sunday did about as well as UConn against St. John's. Bottom line: it was clever and I'm proud of myself for having the nerve to do it.

3) Donald Miller is a phenomenal speaker. I think I'm going to investigate another book of his.

4) I like the Jets trading for Antonio Cromartie, giving them another excellent cover corner across from Revis. This team still has holes to fill, most notably a pass rusher. We'll see how everything looks after the draft in six weeks.

5) Rangers vs Devils tonight. I can see it now. Rangers win tonight 6-2 and lose to Atlanta on Friday 2-0.

6) Good job by El Famous Burrito. $1.00 tacos Tuesday and Thursday. Good steak and I like the warm tortillas. But would it be too much to include a little pico de gallo?

7) Mom in court later this week. I'm not feeling very optimistic. I'm praying, but I'm feeling uneasy.

8) Heard a Nok hockey reference on the FAN today. Man that reminds me of Brookwoods/Deer Run in New Hampshire back in the old days.

9) I got mentioned TWICE on Blueshirt Banter last night by The Mouth. My man! I hope I get to meet some of those guys down the road.

10) I've been able to watch a few of the old Dean Martin roasts. Bob Hope, Don Rickels, Ronald Reagan. These shows are so darn funny. Sometimes it's hard for me to not burst out laughing in the middle of the office.

Song pick: "Love's Great When You're Not It" Michael Peterson