We are one hundred days until pitchers and catchers and after losing over 90 games in 1009, it cannot came soon enough for the New York Mets. Following two collapses and a complete washout in the last three years, 2010 will be a landmark year for this franchise. And Mr. Full Autonomy knows he will be fired if he doesn't fix this situation. Same for Uhhhhhhhhhh...
So here's my breakdown of the Mets' biggest needs and what I want to see:
Starting pitcher: The Mets hit under 100 home runs for the year, yet I see their biggest need as pitching, which says a lot about the sorry state of this team right now. Johan is our #1 and he's coming off elbow surgery. I will go on the belief that he will be ok. Mike Pelfrey was one of the biggest disappointments in baseball last year. It started on Opening Day, when he allowed Jody Gerut to homer in the first at-bat in CitiField history. Falling off the mound, licking his hands, it was terrible. I can't view him as more than a #3. John Maine and Oliver Perez have been tremendous disappointments. Jon Niese was looking really good until he tore his hamstring on the mound. Fernando Nieve, same story, except he was running the bases. Tragically, I just realized I still had that game on my DVR. Why I did not delete it that night, I will never know. Pat Misch and Nelson Figueroa should be in the bullpen, if not in Buffalo.
So in a ballpark built for pitching, this team still needs that legitimate #2 starter. Roy Halladay is available in trade talks. To acquire a second pitcher of his talent would be amazing. His contract does expire after one year though. With a mediocre farm system, I don't want to trade my top four prospects for a guy who may bolt after one year. If they sign Doc to an extension, maybe.
My top free agent hope is John Lackey. He is an absolute bulldog. He has pitched big games, he wants the baseball in a big spot. My one concern is he has been injured the last two years. And don't want to read that he wants pitch in Texas. CC Sabathia wanted to pitch in California. And how did that work out? The alternatives are not pretty. Jason Marquis, Rich Harden, Randy Wolf, and Jon Garland are nice, but we have enough back of the rotation starters as is. I want Hallday or Lackey in the Mets rotation next year.
Left field: Almost every expert I have heard or read wants the Mets to get an elite player here. Matt Holiday and Jason Bay are the two big names. My feeling is this: I can live with the Mets not hitting a lot of home runs again. What I cannot accept is the terrible defense, bad baserunning, and poor fundamental play that plagued the Mets from April through September. And neither of these guys are particularly good on defense or quick. I would prefer Holliday since he is younger and known for being great in the clubhouse, but he does not deserve a 10-year, $200 million contract ala Mark Teixeira.
If they can trade for Carl Crawford, who wants out of Tampa, the 1-2 punch that would give the Mets along with Reyes would be amazing. I don't know how much Tampa would want. But I would pursue Crawford hard. BJ Upton would also be nice, but I doubt he is getting moved off a down year.
Second base: Luis Castillo must be traded. I don't care how good his stats were. He's 34 with bad knees, and is only going to deteriorate. His defense is no longer the same, and I'm tired of seeing him bunt on half his at-bats. Orlando Hudson has begged to be a Met. If he doesn't come, I'd like Felipe Lopez who can play almost any position. Brandon Phillips is apparently on the trading block, and I would be thrilled to pry him out of Cincinnati. Chone Figgins would be good but signing a 32-year old who relies on his legs? Not too sure I would give him $10 million a year for 4 years.
First base: I am guessing Adrian Gonzalez will cost too much to acquire in a trade. Carlos Delgado cannot come back. Prospect Ike Davis may be ready in 2010, but Omar can't afford to wait until 2010 for a prospect. And unlike the Pope, I am willing to give Daniel Murphy another chance at first base, but only as a platoon player. I believe Omar needs to bring in a solid right-handed veteran who has leadership skills and is known for playing with toughness and grit. If Xavier Nady was healthy, I would grab him, but he may not be going into 2010. Other options include Mark DeRosa, Kevin Millar, and Hank Blalock. Would Troy Glaus be interested? And if they want to go with a lefty and relegate Murph to the bench, Aubrey Huff and Nick Johnson would be fine.
Catcher: Thank God Brian Schneider is gone. Josh Thole should play in Buffalo this year. And I think Omir Santos is a more than capable backup. Benjie Molina is a fine hitter, but 36 years old is too much. And I think my grandmother could outrun him now. Ramon Hernandez, Rod Barajas, Yorvit Torrealba, and Miguel Olivo would all be fine for me.
Other moves: I would bring in Mark Loretta as a backup infielder, though if Alex Cora came back, I would be ok with it. Some possible bullpen additions could be Joe Nelson, Chad Bradford, Matt Herges, Rafael Soriano, and Takashi Saito.
Bottom line: If the Mets open 2010 with a #2 starter, and three solid additions to the starting lineup (with at least one having good speed), I will get somewhat optimistic. I just don't think this many holes can be plugged in one off-season.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
More of the same
1) Watched "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" last night. Excellent film. I agree with Quentin Tarantino, this may be the best directed film ever. The close-ups transitioning to the wide-panned shots, the build-up and anticipation of the final scene. Very compelling.
2) I'd like to play Whirlyball again.
3) Just got two more books that I have to start on. Let's see, I finished the Hulk Hogan book last night. And I have three more on my nightstand I am partially finished with.
4) Why does Itunes have so many tracks that are only available by purchasing the entire album? A new Eddie Rabbitt record just came out with 18 songs. I own 16 already. On of the other two is a song I have wanted for years. Now it is finally available for download, but only with the entire record. Disgraciad!
5) I have nothing to do on a Saturday. And I'm not really sure I want to go anywhere. I could go to the gym, get food, do some shopping. I've been awake two hours and I have not gotten out of the basement. Oh, another Rangers disaster begins in three hours.
2) I'd like to play Whirlyball again.
3) Just got two more books that I have to start on. Let's see, I finished the Hulk Hogan book last night. And I have three more on my nightstand I am partially finished with.
4) Why does Itunes have so many tracks that are only available by purchasing the entire album? A new Eddie Rabbitt record just came out with 18 songs. I own 16 already. On of the other two is a song I have wanted for years. Now it is finally available for download, but only with the entire record. Disgraciad!
5) I have nothing to do on a Saturday. And I'm not really sure I want to go anywhere. I could go to the gym, get food, do some shopping. I've been awake two hours and I have not gotten out of the basement. Oh, another Rangers disaster begins in three hours.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Extra bullet points-live ammunition
With some extra time on my hands, here are a few things I've had on my mind.
1) Wheaton Academy closed last week for two days due to swine flu. That's a scary thought. St. Charles East, which is a mile from my house, had to close too.
2) If you're going to wear a cowboy hat in heavy wind, wear a neck strap so the wind does not blow the hat into the next zip code.
3) I won a $5.00 gift card to Target for my bartending role for the Halloween contest at work. Dollar rack, I will be on the lookout.
4) I have five books on my night stand right now that I'm in the process of reading. I don't know if I can bear to finish Marley and Me.
5) These Cubs fans are fondling themselves because they now have an owner who sympathizes with their pain. And now a lot of them are confident they will in a World Series with new ownership. Spare me. The Cubs are the lovable losers. People have sympathy for that franchise. I, on the other hand, root for teams that absolutely blow and I ain't getting any sympathy around here.
6) By the way, would they trade Derrek Lee for Luis Castillo? They can have Murphy or Ollie P too. I'll throw them in. Maybe we can work something out.
7) Billy Graham said our checkbook is like a holy register. It shows what is most important to us. In my case, I guess that means it's gasoline and maintenance bills.
8) Now I'm going to lament. I knew I got my hopes up too much. I screwed up any chance I may have had. And on a note from tonight, the pressure on me to put on a legendary performance in Quelf was too much. No wonder I withdrew. And that screwed everything up. Then again, there may not have been anything to screw up. It may not have existed in the first place. God help me, I couldn't even eat.
9) It's time like this I want to retreat in my work. And that's when I seem to enjoy what I'm doing in the office the most. It acts as a buffer, a distraction, a misdirection for what's really bothering me.
10) Oh, and the Rangers suck too. 1-2 on this road trip.
Song pick: "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You" Hank Williams
1) Wheaton Academy closed last week for two days due to swine flu. That's a scary thought. St. Charles East, which is a mile from my house, had to close too.
2) If you're going to wear a cowboy hat in heavy wind, wear a neck strap so the wind does not blow the hat into the next zip code.
3) I won a $5.00 gift card to Target for my bartending role for the Halloween contest at work. Dollar rack, I will be on the lookout.
4) I have five books on my night stand right now that I'm in the process of reading. I don't know if I can bear to finish Marley and Me.
5) These Cubs fans are fondling themselves because they now have an owner who sympathizes with their pain. And now a lot of them are confident they will in a World Series with new ownership. Spare me. The Cubs are the lovable losers. People have sympathy for that franchise. I, on the other hand, root for teams that absolutely blow and I ain't getting any sympathy around here.
6) By the way, would they trade Derrek Lee for Luis Castillo? They can have Murphy or Ollie P too. I'll throw them in. Maybe we can work something out.
7) Billy Graham said our checkbook is like a holy register. It shows what is most important to us. In my case, I guess that means it's gasoline and maintenance bills.
8) Now I'm going to lament. I knew I got my hopes up too much. I screwed up any chance I may have had. And on a note from tonight, the pressure on me to put on a legendary performance in Quelf was too much. No wonder I withdrew. And that screwed everything up. Then again, there may not have been anything to screw up. It may not have existed in the first place. God help me, I couldn't even eat.
9) It's time like this I want to retreat in my work. And that's when I seem to enjoy what I'm doing in the office the most. It acts as a buffer, a distraction, a misdirection for what's really bothering me.
10) Oh, and the Rangers suck too. 1-2 on this road trip.
Song pick: "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You" Hank Williams
Saturday, November 07, 2009
NYC recap-November arrives
Every time I have visited Dad, he always woke up before me. That was not the case this morning. I was up by 6:30 and could not get back to sleep. I realized that the window was slightly cracked, bringing the 30 degree chill into my room all night long. And I was just sleeping with one sheet, since he only has one blanket in the house. I decided not to make too big a deal of it, but at least I was able to get a flannel sheet for the following night.
We headed for the Metuchen train station. The weather was around 60 degrees with a fair breeze. All in all, quite comfortable for fall in NYC. We got to the Stage Door deli about 10 minutes before Brian arrived. And with the marathon going on, the Verrazano Bridge was closed. So he had to drive into New Jersey from Staten Island and then drive through the Holland Tunnel. He looks pretty good. I guess his next big treatment is in about six weeks.
I hate to say it, but our waitress was terrible. Once I got my sandwich, it took another five minutes to get mustard and pickles. This is a freaking deli! Those items are as essential to the table as salt and pepper. The heavyweight (corned beef, pastrami, turkey, Swiss cheese) was very good, though I probably could have eaten more. Then we headed into Border's, right outside the Garden. Brian bought Susan the latest Rod Stewart record. I looked at the price of one CD, remembered how much Border's charges for everything, and left.
Then into the Garden, the World's Most Famous Arena. I sat between Dad and Brian. First, Brian has a remarkable level of hatred with Wade Redden. And considering the 6-year, $39 million contract, I can't blame him. And I now find it ironic that Dad tells me I should be more positive with my teams. He must have ripped 15 players on the team. And that was just during warmups! Anyway, the Rangers won 1-0. The returning Marian Gaborik scored the game's only goal in the second period. And I was getting text updates for the NFL. The Jets still suck. Same old Jets.
And Dayna must be a prophet. The last Scripture she sent me before I left was Isiah 33:17:
"Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar." Well, I didn't make it to church on Sunday. But I shared this verse with Dad and Brian and it came to fruition. The King, Henrik Lundqvist, recorded the shutout in goal, and was named the #1 star of the game. So I saw him in his glory. I just wonder what is the land that stretches afar. I hope that refers to the promise land of a Stanley Cup.
On the train ride home, we had a 45-minute delay.Apparently Barack Obama was in Newark to lend support Jon Corzine in his bid to remain the governor of New Jersey. Great job again Barack, he lost to Chris Christie. Dinner was at Outback. Great lamb and bloomin' onion.
We headed for the Metuchen train station. The weather was around 60 degrees with a fair breeze. All in all, quite comfortable for fall in NYC. We got to the Stage Door deli about 10 minutes before Brian arrived. And with the marathon going on, the Verrazano Bridge was closed. So he had to drive into New Jersey from Staten Island and then drive through the Holland Tunnel. He looks pretty good. I guess his next big treatment is in about six weeks.
I hate to say it, but our waitress was terrible. Once I got my sandwich, it took another five minutes to get mustard and pickles. This is a freaking deli! Those items are as essential to the table as salt and pepper. The heavyweight (corned beef, pastrami, turkey, Swiss cheese) was very good, though I probably could have eaten more. Then we headed into Border's, right outside the Garden. Brian bought Susan the latest Rod Stewart record. I looked at the price of one CD, remembered how much Border's charges for everything, and left.
Then into the Garden, the World's Most Famous Arena. I sat between Dad and Brian. First, Brian has a remarkable level of hatred with Wade Redden. And considering the 6-year, $39 million contract, I can't blame him. And I now find it ironic that Dad tells me I should be more positive with my teams. He must have ripped 15 players on the team. And that was just during warmups! Anyway, the Rangers won 1-0. The returning Marian Gaborik scored the game's only goal in the second period. And I was getting text updates for the NFL. The Jets still suck. Same old Jets.
And Dayna must be a prophet. The last Scripture she sent me before I left was Isiah 33:17:
"Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar." Well, I didn't make it to church on Sunday. But I shared this verse with Dad and Brian and it came to fruition. The King, Henrik Lundqvist, recorded the shutout in goal, and was named the #1 star of the game. So I saw him in his glory. I just wonder what is the land that stretches afar. I hope that refers to the promise land of a Stanley Cup.
On the train ride home, we had a 45-minute delay.Apparently Barack Obama was in Newark to lend support Jon Corzine in his bid to remain the governor of New Jersey. Great job again Barack, he lost to Chris Christie. Dinner was at Outback. Great lamb and bloomin' onion.
NYC recap-Halloween
I'm taking the Mindy Smith approach to this blog. I don't write for weeks, then I come back and bang out three entries in 18 hours. Onto the action.
Saturday, Oct 31: Woke up in Chicago at 3:45 am. This is the second time in three days I woke up st 4 am or earlier. As I write, I'm in bed/pull-out couch in Edison. The clock on the wall says 10:45 p.m. But we gain an hour tonight, I don't know if the clocks were adjusted, I have been up for at least 19 hours, I don't know what time it is!
The monorail from the parking lot Terminal 2 at O'Hare was like a theme park ride. Five minutes stopped at Terminal 5, a bumpy trip, and a lot of sudden starts and stops. I actually asked out loud "Is the driver drunk, what the hell?"
The airport was empty and I had no trouble getting on. 28 rows in the plane. Firt class was maybe 3/4 full. Coach was a different case. There were no more than 20 people. I had a whole row to myself, which was pretty good. Surprisingly, not too many customer service reps on board. Inside joke. And we were delayed 45 minutes thanks to a fuel leakage. But the flight got in 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
As I was walking past security in Newark, former ECW wrestler Balls Mahoney was there. I'm pretty sure it was him. But I think it's not wise to go up to a guy who's 6'3, 300 pounds, has more tattoos one arm than teeth in his mouth, and say "Hey Balls!"
We went to the Sprint store. In Illinois, we have one in every town. In NJ, it's one per county. So I signed the waiting list like I was waiting for the doctor. All I needed was a new belt clip for my case. I somehow found myself in a conversation with a black lady about politics. She was talking about property taxes, job issues, housing, and other major issues in New Jersey. We were two days from the governor election, so I guess it was big on a lot of people's minds. The kicker was when I said "At least Blagojevich is not your governor." Her face lit up and she smiled for one of the few times. "Oh, I love Blago! He's funny!" It was at that point, I realized we don't want our politicians to be corrupt. But if they are, we can accept it more if they entertain us in the process.
Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Appetizers: southern fried chicken sliders, and crispy artichoke hearts with lemon-garlic aioli. Dad had a beef stir-fry and I had some great jambalaya. Excellent stuff. We went home and played Phase 10 and Sequence with the Flyers and woeful Hurricanes playing in the background. For Dad's pride's sake, I will not divulge the results of those games. Dinner that night was Kona Grill, which I didn't really enjoy as much as I did when I went to the one in Lombard. Had some decent tuna. We left around 5:30 and it was already dark. For me, it felt like 10 p.m.
We came home and watched Toronto-Montreal. The Canadiens were wearing these horizontal-striped uniforms that should have some with their own airsick bags. Brutal. The game was close, at least. Also watched a little Knicks-Sixers which turned into a double OT loss. And the crows is so dead. Who can blame them?
Now I'm chilling with the lights off, shuffling my Ipod between Mindy, Dan Seals, and Randy Travis gospel music. Time to sleep.
Saturday, Oct 31: Woke up in Chicago at 3:45 am. This is the second time in three days I woke up st 4 am or earlier. As I write, I'm in bed/pull-out couch in Edison. The clock on the wall says 10:45 p.m. But we gain an hour tonight, I don't know if the clocks were adjusted, I have been up for at least 19 hours, I don't know what time it is!
The monorail from the parking lot Terminal 2 at O'Hare was like a theme park ride. Five minutes stopped at Terminal 5, a bumpy trip, and a lot of sudden starts and stops. I actually asked out loud "Is the driver drunk, what the hell?"
The airport was empty and I had no trouble getting on. 28 rows in the plane. Firt class was maybe 3/4 full. Coach was a different case. There were no more than 20 people. I had a whole row to myself, which was pretty good. Surprisingly, not too many customer service reps on board. Inside joke. And we were delayed 45 minutes thanks to a fuel leakage. But the flight got in 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
As I was walking past security in Newark, former ECW wrestler Balls Mahoney was there. I'm pretty sure it was him. But I think it's not wise to go up to a guy who's 6'3, 300 pounds, has more tattoos one arm than teeth in his mouth, and say "Hey Balls!"
We went to the Sprint store. In Illinois, we have one in every town. In NJ, it's one per county. So I signed the waiting list like I was waiting for the doctor. All I needed was a new belt clip for my case. I somehow found myself in a conversation with a black lady about politics. She was talking about property taxes, job issues, housing, and other major issues in New Jersey. We were two days from the governor election, so I guess it was big on a lot of people's minds. The kicker was when I said "At least Blagojevich is not your governor." Her face lit up and she smiled for one of the few times. "Oh, I love Blago! He's funny!" It was at that point, I realized we don't want our politicians to be corrupt. But if they are, we can accept it more if they entertain us in the process.
Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Appetizers: southern fried chicken sliders, and crispy artichoke hearts with lemon-garlic aioli. Dad had a beef stir-fry and I had some great jambalaya. Excellent stuff. We went home and played Phase 10 and Sequence with the Flyers and woeful Hurricanes playing in the background. For Dad's pride's sake, I will not divulge the results of those games. Dinner that night was Kona Grill, which I didn't really enjoy as much as I did when I went to the one in Lombard. Had some decent tuna. We left around 5:30 and it was already dark. For me, it felt like 10 p.m.
We came home and watched Toronto-Montreal. The Canadiens were wearing these horizontal-striped uniforms that should have some with their own airsick bags. Brutal. The game was close, at least. Also watched a little Knicks-Sixers which turned into a double OT loss. And the crows is so dead. Who can blame them?
Now I'm chilling with the lights off, shuffling my Ipod between Mindy, Dan Seals, and Randy Travis gospel music. Time to sleep.
End of the trail
All week long, I kept thinking how ordinary this week seemed after the previous week included Halloween and traveling east. If it was ordinary, then why I do feel extra tired?
1) Great to stop by the McElwee house for the first time in maybe two years. Dinner and Bible study. I almost forgot the little things about that place. Conversations about obscure movies and 80's pop culture where I either have to be completely quiet or nod my head repeatedly like I actually know what they're all talking about. And Chris continually engaging us with deep questions about the Scripture and really explaining how the message applies to us in this world. I miss that. that's something I'd like to bring to Come Thirsty and every Bible study I participate in. And I saw two of their kids. I find myself the same things I used to hate to hear. They're getting big. I just wish I could have petted Cubbie and Scott. But the way they were chewing on their marrow bones, they seemed quite content.
2) I'm really excited for Come Thirsty Fall Festival tomorrow. Matt keeps hyping my Qwelf debut. I just hope I can live up to the hype.
3) Next two Chi-town restaurants to try: Honky Tonk BBQ and Tufano's.
4) I drank two Dos Equis beers tonight. Does that mean I had Cuatro Equis?
5) I'm trying to limit sports in here. I'll just say this. Jimmy Rollins is a jackass. And I'd take him on the Mets today.
6) I am on a huge Marty Robbins trip right now, especially his live music. Pedal steel guitar, horns, Mexican acoustic guitars. Outstanding. It's shame he died about a year after I was born.
7) Isiah 33:17: The perfect verse at the perfect time. And the person who gave it to me has no idea why.
8) God bless whoever at Rosebud came up with the all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs for $9.99 on Monday. Except those bowls are made with a pound of pasta. Maybe it should be God bless anyone who can eat two of those bowls. Sadly, after a chopped salad and half a bowl, I had no room left for dessert. And Mom was smart enough to ask for the check as quickly as she could.
9) I really wonder why I got excited about music award shows when I was a kid. They are so full of B.S. But none moreso than the Grammys.
10) OK, one more sports point. Still debating whether to get a Blackhawks-Devils ticket for New Year's Eve. If I do, I will definitely wear my Rangers jersey. Maybe I'll teach Chicago a little chant that goes like this... "Maaaaaaaaaar-teeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
Song picks:
1. "Maybe You Should Know" Kenny Rogers
2. "Mr. Shorty" Marty Robbins
1) Great to stop by the McElwee house for the first time in maybe two years. Dinner and Bible study. I almost forgot the little things about that place. Conversations about obscure movies and 80's pop culture where I either have to be completely quiet or nod my head repeatedly like I actually know what they're all talking about. And Chris continually engaging us with deep questions about the Scripture and really explaining how the message applies to us in this world. I miss that. that's something I'd like to bring to Come Thirsty and every Bible study I participate in. And I saw two of their kids. I find myself the same things I used to hate to hear. They're getting big. I just wish I could have petted Cubbie and Scott. But the way they were chewing on their marrow bones, they seemed quite content.
2) I'm really excited for Come Thirsty Fall Festival tomorrow. Matt keeps hyping my Qwelf debut. I just hope I can live up to the hype.
3) Next two Chi-town restaurants to try: Honky Tonk BBQ and Tufano's.
4) I drank two Dos Equis beers tonight. Does that mean I had Cuatro Equis?
5) I'm trying to limit sports in here. I'll just say this. Jimmy Rollins is a jackass. And I'd take him on the Mets today.
6) I am on a huge Marty Robbins trip right now, especially his live music. Pedal steel guitar, horns, Mexican acoustic guitars. Outstanding. It's shame he died about a year after I was born.
7) Isiah 33:17: The perfect verse at the perfect time. And the person who gave it to me has no idea why.
8) God bless whoever at Rosebud came up with the all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs for $9.99 on Monday. Except those bowls are made with a pound of pasta. Maybe it should be God bless anyone who can eat two of those bowls. Sadly, after a chopped salad and half a bowl, I had no room left for dessert. And Mom was smart enough to ask for the check as quickly as she could.
9) I really wonder why I got excited about music award shows when I was a kid. They are so full of B.S. But none moreso than the Grammys.
10) OK, one more sports point. Still debating whether to get a Blackhawks-Devils ticket for New Year's Eve. If I do, I will definitely wear my Rangers jersey. Maybe I'll teach Chicago a little chant that goes like this... "Maaaaaaaaaar-teeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
Song picks:
1. "Maybe You Should Know" Kenny Rogers
2. "Mr. Shorty" Marty Robbins
Sunday, October 18, 2009
That really hurt
This is how the Jets reward us for Fan Appreciation Day. Because with what I watched for 3.5 hours, I felt they were flipping me off with both fingers.
3-3, three straight losses. The New York football Jets lose AT HOME to Buffalo 16-13 in OT, the beautiful playboy QB throws 5 interceptions, nose tackle Kris Jenkins is likely done for many weeks, if not the year, with a knee injury. I hereby declare the Jets have next to no shot to make the playoffs this year.
The defense did everything they could to win this game, at least in the fourth quarter. I can think of Lito Sheppard's interception which was called back. They knocked Trent Edwards out of the game only to be carved up by some schmuck named Ryan Fitzpatrick, who I think was bagging my groceries this morning. But the 37-yard pass to TD Lee Evans where they got caught on a blitz was terrible.
And I am sick of this offense. People call Sanchez the next Joe Namath. That makes sense for two reasons. He is good loking and throws a ton of picks. He completed 10-of-29 for 119 yards for a stellar rating of 8.3 out of 156. Dustin Keller was targeted on ten passes. He had two catches for 16 yards. He has been a tremendous disappointment. Yet, the Jets finished with 414 yards total offense, while the Bills racked up 296 yards. David Clowney is not an NFL wide receiver. Starting for the first timein his pathetic career, he did squat. So David, go find another way to take care of your handicapped brother. Because your career is hanging on life support. By the way, how do you amass 317 rushing yards and still lose? The answer is turnovers (6) and penalties (14!) Fourteen penalties! Especially James Ihedigbo throwing a punch at one of the Bills, getting him ejected from the game. Where is the discipline?
When Rian Lindell missed that long field goal at the end of regulation to send the game to OT, I was ecstatic. the Jets had played terribly the entire second half, and I was stunned that kick went wide. Then came the OT. This is how I know the black cloud follows this God-forsaken franchise. Jets get the ball first, second play is a 22 yard pass to Braylon Edwards. Next play: 33 yard run by Leon Washington, ball at the BUF 29. Right on the edge of field goal range. On the next three plays, the Jets gain seven more yards on the ground. But on that 3rd down play, tight end Ben Hartsock gets called for holding. So instead of a 39-yard game-winning field goal attempt, it's 3rd and 13 at the 32. Sanchez throws a pass that Dustin Keller can't turn around to grab.
So, it's a 49 yard field goal to win a game that should have never been close. I really didn't know if it would be good. But never in my sickest dreams did I visualize what would unfold. The snap is bad, and holder/punter Steve Weatherford can't get the ball in place for Feely to kick. He rolls out with the ball and throws a two-handed basketball pass that is picked off. But the Jets defense comes through with a 3 and out. Of course on the Buffalo punt, the Jets get called for holding, so they start from their 7. And they promptly go 3 and out.
Bills start from their own 45 and I thought it was basically over. But on the second play, Darrelle Revis picks a pass off and I am convinced they will pull it out now with 7:14 to go. What an idiot I am. It's a quick 3rd and 10 and the Sanchise gets picked off again by a linebacker at the BUF 42. Bills drive to the 30, Lindell makes this kick, game over. This team is an embarrassment. And with all their talking, they have made us, the Jets fans, look like utter buffoons.
The only good parts: Thomas Jones had some big runs. And....that's it.
And even worse, those Patriots win 59-0 over Tennessee. My suicide pool is done. The Jets are done. I thank them for sticking it up my rear end yet one more time. Two divisional losses to Miami and Buffalo. Time to watch hockey.
3-3, three straight losses. The New York football Jets lose AT HOME to Buffalo 16-13 in OT, the beautiful playboy QB throws 5 interceptions, nose tackle Kris Jenkins is likely done for many weeks, if not the year, with a knee injury. I hereby declare the Jets have next to no shot to make the playoffs this year.
The defense did everything they could to win this game, at least in the fourth quarter. I can think of Lito Sheppard's interception which was called back. They knocked Trent Edwards out of the game only to be carved up by some schmuck named Ryan Fitzpatrick, who I think was bagging my groceries this morning. But the 37-yard pass to TD Lee Evans where they got caught on a blitz was terrible.
And I am sick of this offense. People call Sanchez the next Joe Namath. That makes sense for two reasons. He is good loking and throws a ton of picks. He completed 10-of-29 for 119 yards for a stellar rating of 8.3 out of 156. Dustin Keller was targeted on ten passes. He had two catches for 16 yards. He has been a tremendous disappointment. Yet, the Jets finished with 414 yards total offense, while the Bills racked up 296 yards. David Clowney is not an NFL wide receiver. Starting for the first timein his pathetic career, he did squat. So David, go find another way to take care of your handicapped brother. Because your career is hanging on life support. By the way, how do you amass 317 rushing yards and still lose? The answer is turnovers (6) and penalties (14!) Fourteen penalties! Especially James Ihedigbo throwing a punch at one of the Bills, getting him ejected from the game. Where is the discipline?
When Rian Lindell missed that long field goal at the end of regulation to send the game to OT, I was ecstatic. the Jets had played terribly the entire second half, and I was stunned that kick went wide. Then came the OT. This is how I know the black cloud follows this God-forsaken franchise. Jets get the ball first, second play is a 22 yard pass to Braylon Edwards. Next play: 33 yard run by Leon Washington, ball at the BUF 29. Right on the edge of field goal range. On the next three plays, the Jets gain seven more yards on the ground. But on that 3rd down play, tight end Ben Hartsock gets called for holding. So instead of a 39-yard game-winning field goal attempt, it's 3rd and 13 at the 32. Sanchez throws a pass that Dustin Keller can't turn around to grab.
So, it's a 49 yard field goal to win a game that should have never been close. I really didn't know if it would be good. But never in my sickest dreams did I visualize what would unfold. The snap is bad, and holder/punter Steve Weatherford can't get the ball in place for Feely to kick. He rolls out with the ball and throws a two-handed basketball pass that is picked off. But the Jets defense comes through with a 3 and out. Of course on the Buffalo punt, the Jets get called for holding, so they start from their 7. And they promptly go 3 and out.
Bills start from their own 45 and I thought it was basically over. But on the second play, Darrelle Revis picks a pass off and I am convinced they will pull it out now with 7:14 to go. What an idiot I am. It's a quick 3rd and 10 and the Sanchise gets picked off again by a linebacker at the BUF 42. Bills drive to the 30, Lindell makes this kick, game over. This team is an embarrassment. And with all their talking, they have made us, the Jets fans, look like utter buffoons.
The only good parts: Thomas Jones had some big runs. And....that's it.
And even worse, those Patriots win 59-0 over Tennessee. My suicide pool is done. The Jets are done. I thank them for sticking it up my rear end yet one more time. Two divisional losses to Miami and Buffalo. Time to watch hockey.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
One up, two down. Way down.
Great job by the Rangers tonight, improving to 5-1 as they waste Toronto 7-2 in MSG. Of course, nobody is noticing because the Yankees have to be featured on talk radio 22/7 with the other two hours for football and 1-800-KarsforKids commercials.
Huston Street has added his list to the long list of talented closers who morph into absolute stiffs that cannot get the job done in the playoffs. Donnie Moore, Mitch Williams, Armando Benitez, Billy Wagner, Trevor Hoffman, Joe Nathan, it goes on and on. And Philadelphia advances to the NLCS, beating Colorado in four games. So good luck to the Dodgers.
And then there's the Jets. What a disgrace. They lose in Miami 31-28 on national TV. Where is the great defense? They made some shmuck named Chad Henne look like Johnny Unitas, John Elway, and Joe Montana all rolled into one. There was hardly a blitz to be seen. The stupid wildcat offense carved them up like raw turkey. The tackling was just atrocious. It reminded me of the 1996 team as the Dolphins ran for 160 freaking yards on the ground. Not one sack, not one turnover caused. And the whole world got to see it tonight.
The only good thing was Braylon Edwards. He made two or three absolutely amazing catches. The questions is with his contract expiring after this year, can they afford to re-sign him? And the special teams was ok too. But where is Dustin Keller? Where is Thomas Jones? Can Shonn Greene get a carry?
As of a week ago, I thought this would be the best Jets team of my lifetime to this point. Now, forget it, they will likely go .500., 9-7 at best. And with Mangold, Harris, Leon, and Revis all free agents after next season (and Braylon after this), and so many draft picks traded to get Sanchez and Edwards, we may not have an opportunity like this for 10 years. And to lose to a mediocre franchise with Mark Anthony and Gloria Estefan on the sidelines waving pom-poms and all this shit...
I'm going to down another John Daly. Just a bad night.
Huston Street has added his list to the long list of talented closers who morph into absolute stiffs that cannot get the job done in the playoffs. Donnie Moore, Mitch Williams, Armando Benitez, Billy Wagner, Trevor Hoffman, Joe Nathan, it goes on and on. And Philadelphia advances to the NLCS, beating Colorado in four games. So good luck to the Dodgers.
And then there's the Jets. What a disgrace. They lose in Miami 31-28 on national TV. Where is the great defense? They made some shmuck named Chad Henne look like Johnny Unitas, John Elway, and Joe Montana all rolled into one. There was hardly a blitz to be seen. The stupid wildcat offense carved them up like raw turkey. The tackling was just atrocious. It reminded me of the 1996 team as the Dolphins ran for 160 freaking yards on the ground. Not one sack, not one turnover caused. And the whole world got to see it tonight.
The only good thing was Braylon Edwards. He made two or three absolutely amazing catches. The questions is with his contract expiring after this year, can they afford to re-sign him? And the special teams was ok too. But where is Dustin Keller? Where is Thomas Jones? Can Shonn Greene get a carry?
As of a week ago, I thought this would be the best Jets team of my lifetime to this point. Now, forget it, they will likely go .500., 9-7 at best. And with Mangold, Harris, Leon, and Revis all free agents after next season (and Braylon after this), and so many draft picks traded to get Sanchez and Edwards, we may not have an opportunity like this for 10 years. And to lose to a mediocre franchise with Mark Anthony and Gloria Estefan on the sidelines waving pom-poms and all this shit...
I'm going to down another John Daly. Just a bad night.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Our long national nightmare is over
The Mets 2009 season ends at 70-92, following a three game sweep of Houston to close it out. At least this year, we knew what the sad ending would be for months in advance. That's not what we as Mets fans are used to as of late. This is is more like it. The Mets concluded a 10-year period from 1999-2008 that included five brutal season endings: Kenny Rogers' bases-loaded walk in 1999, the Yankees celebrating on the Shea Stadium infield in 2000, Carlos Beltran's called strike three in 2006, and the twin losses to the Marlins in 2007 and 2008. That's enough heartache for 100 years.
I will look into the off-season in a couple of weeks and define what I want to see happen. Obviously, a power bat is at the top. This past season, the Mets were outhomered at CitiField 8-50. And throw in a legit #2 pitcher. For the record, Jason Marquis does not qualify. But let's move on.
1) Terrible job by Mark Sanchez. He was single-handedly responsible for the Jets first loss of the season as the Saints won 24-10. I won't panic, but he has to learn to handle the football better. He is just too careless. With a defense so good, a defense that held NO to 10 points in its own building, the offense has to be efficient and protective of the ball.
2) Now, I will try to be positive here. I love the Jets D. Love them. And this week, welcome back Calvin Pace!
3) This Versus-DirecTV stalemate is really pissing me off. I could not watch the Rangers beat the Devils in the Rock tonight. And to find out afterwards via Twitter that Joe and Evan don't even know about it is an utter disgrace. They had better address this on the air tomorrow morning. Forget Francesa mentioning it, he still has to break down Rachel Alexandra and find a minute to kiss Tom Brady's ass. And tonight, Gilroy scores the game-winner. Del Zotto scores in the second straight game. Great victory. Washington on Thursday. Payback time.
4) I don't know if one can have a bad meal at Cooper's Hawk. Had the Asian pork tenderloin and noodle stir-fry on Sunday night. Tender, juicy, and very aromatic.
5) I never realized how cool it is to wear jeans at work every day until I started doing it every day. Anything to avoid wearing my fancy black shoes. Too tight.
6) I have been called out of retirement. I'm returning to volleyball on Sunday. The Jets play Monday, so it works well. I'd better get in v-ball shape. Maybe a little more high stepping at the gym tomorrow. As Tom Coughlin would say, STEP LIVELY!
7) I wish I could download Youtube videos to my computer and Ipod. There is so much good music, for instance, that is not available on Itunes.
8) The one advantage Qdoba has over Chipotle is the guacamole is one dollar cheaper. That's about it. I guess the menu is bigger, but it doesn't matter how large it is. It matters that whatever is on the menu is good.
9) I get to see Mindy Smith in concert in 9 days at a small cafe in DeKalb. I cannot wait. And I never would have thought I went to high school with a co-producer of her new record.
10) I thank God I spent two years at Wheaton Academy. Who knows where I would be now if never went there? I love those guys and gals. I do hope they think of me fondly.
Song pick: "Between An Old Memory and Me" Keith Whitley
I will look into the off-season in a couple of weeks and define what I want to see happen. Obviously, a power bat is at the top. This past season, the Mets were outhomered at CitiField 8-50. And throw in a legit #2 pitcher. For the record, Jason Marquis does not qualify. But let's move on.
1) Terrible job by Mark Sanchez. He was single-handedly responsible for the Jets first loss of the season as the Saints won 24-10. I won't panic, but he has to learn to handle the football better. He is just too careless. With a defense so good, a defense that held NO to 10 points in its own building, the offense has to be efficient and protective of the ball.
2) Now, I will try to be positive here. I love the Jets D. Love them. And this week, welcome back Calvin Pace!
3) This Versus-DirecTV stalemate is really pissing me off. I could not watch the Rangers beat the Devils in the Rock tonight. And to find out afterwards via Twitter that Joe and Evan don't even know about it is an utter disgrace. They had better address this on the air tomorrow morning. Forget Francesa mentioning it, he still has to break down Rachel Alexandra and find a minute to kiss Tom Brady's ass. And tonight, Gilroy scores the game-winner. Del Zotto scores in the second straight game. Great victory. Washington on Thursday. Payback time.
4) I don't know if one can have a bad meal at Cooper's Hawk. Had the Asian pork tenderloin and noodle stir-fry on Sunday night. Tender, juicy, and very aromatic.
5) I never realized how cool it is to wear jeans at work every day until I started doing it every day. Anything to avoid wearing my fancy black shoes. Too tight.
6) I have been called out of retirement. I'm returning to volleyball on Sunday. The Jets play Monday, so it works well. I'd better get in v-ball shape. Maybe a little more high stepping at the gym tomorrow. As Tom Coughlin would say, STEP LIVELY!
7) I wish I could download Youtube videos to my computer and Ipod. There is so much good music, for instance, that is not available on Itunes.
8) The one advantage Qdoba has over Chipotle is the guacamole is one dollar cheaper. That's about it. I guess the menu is bigger, but it doesn't matter how large it is. It matters that whatever is on the menu is good.
9) I get to see Mindy Smith in concert in 9 days at a small cafe in DeKalb. I cannot wait. And I never would have thought I went to high school with a co-producer of her new record.
10) I thank God I spent two years at Wheaton Academy. Who knows where I would be now if never went there? I love those guys and gals. I do hope they think of me fondly.
Song pick: "Between An Old Memory and Me" Keith Whitley
Sunday, September 27, 2009
How about this!
Posts only one week apart! I must be overachieving. Well, I am 30 minutes from another fantasy hockey draft. A few things to reflect on.
1) Church was remarkable today. Pastor Brian gave a great message on work from Ecclesiastes. In a culture where so many are driven by work, he helped put it into perspective. And he spent some time on the topic of rest and sleep, which I thought was pretty appropriate. Chatted with D for a few minutes afterward too.
2) Went to Rookie's after Come Thirsty for another round of $1 burgers. Great win by the Jets over Tennessee. I was very happy that 12 people from Come Thirsty came. And to that drunken jerk-off in the Briggs jersey who was cheering for the Titans: enjoy your hangover tomorrow morning.
3) Brought 7 CD's at Half Books in Bloomingdale for $21.00. Got Kenny Wayne Shepherd (useless, scratched), two from Highway 101, Dwight Yoakam, Jim Croce (the lesser known stuff), Don MacLean, and Little Texas. Not too bad. I wasn't able to eat at the new Five Guys right by there, but oh well. That time will come...
4) Moving Matt and Court to Glendale Heights went really smooth. But this third floor seemed a lot steeper than the third floor in Peoria. Some of those steps seemed pretty long. They do have a pretty swell spot though.
5) I like having the house alone for 10 days. Time to pre-rank my players...
1) Church was remarkable today. Pastor Brian gave a great message on work from Ecclesiastes. In a culture where so many are driven by work, he helped put it into perspective. And he spent some time on the topic of rest and sleep, which I thought was pretty appropriate. Chatted with D for a few minutes afterward too.
2) Went to Rookie's after Come Thirsty for another round of $1 burgers. Great win by the Jets over Tennessee. I was very happy that 12 people from Come Thirsty came. And to that drunken jerk-off in the Briggs jersey who was cheering for the Titans: enjoy your hangover tomorrow morning.
3) Brought 7 CD's at Half Books in Bloomingdale for $21.00. Got Kenny Wayne Shepherd (useless, scratched), two from Highway 101, Dwight Yoakam, Jim Croce (the lesser known stuff), Don MacLean, and Little Texas. Not too bad. I wasn't able to eat at the new Five Guys right by there, but oh well. That time will come...
4) Moving Matt and Court to Glendale Heights went really smooth. But this third floor seemed a lot steeper than the third floor in Peoria. Some of those steps seemed pretty long. They do have a pretty swell spot though.
5) I like having the house alone for 10 days. Time to pre-rank my players...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
ROH and then the week drags
I'll start with the last two days before I get to this past weekend.
1) I need to get more sleep. But when my job ends around 10:30 every night, I want a few minutes to do what I want. And I wind staying up till midnight, allowing me about six hours of sleep. Yet, more often than not, I find myself napping for a few minutes at my desk.
2) And it's not getting any better. I have a fantasy hockey draft at 10 pm on Wednesday. I have to leave at 4:30 the next morning to take Mom to her next tour. That guarantees no more than four hours of sleep.
3) Mom knows how to make some good stuffed shells.
4) Speaking of food, I have a crave for Five Guys right about now. But I've actually been eating better this week. I hope the results start to show soon. I mean, I am trying. Aside from the five double stuff Oreos last night...
5) Downloaded a Keith Whitley record this past week. I guess it says something about me that I'm 38 and use the term "record" instead of album or CD. It's shame he died so young with so much promise and so much talent.
OK, to the weekend
1) Started rough on Saturday morning at the DMV. We got there around 8 am and had to wait behind a few people. Thing was we didn't have much time since Mom had to leave at Elgin to get to the airport to meet up with some some fag fashion designer. Took an hour to do, but we resolved the registration issue with my car. Cost another $64 though.
2) I finally played Shady Oaks in Streamwood. For its length and the fact that it was my first time, I thought I handled it well. I got a 5 on the 744' hole. I did lose my distance driver in the bushes though.
3) Got home around 11 and ordered Guy Fieri tickets for December. After a shower, I did a bunch of stats. I felt myself getting anxious. Around 2 pm I decided to leave. I put on my Jets jersey and cargo cutoffs and drove to Wheaton for a haircut. My stylist was really good, especially during the shampoo. But I found out she was a Minnesota Vikings fan and she started asking me about Brett Favre. I probably didn't make a good impression on her at that point. I think the tip made up for it though.
4) On a whim, I drove to Yorktown Mall for lunch. I hadn't eaten anything all day and I went to Frankie's Deli. They advertised themselves as a real Italian deli, so I figured why not try it. Located right by Carson's Furniture, this place is like a 7-11 Italian convenient store. San Marzano tomatoes, caperberries, wines, frozen pastas, gelato, cheese by the pound, various olive oils and balsamic vinegars. It was a very nice selection for fair prices. I got two jars of sauce, a coke, and an eight-inch Italian sub with salami, capicola, mortadella, provolone, lettuce, tomato, oil, and hot giardinera. The total was about $20, including $4.50 for the sub. I should have added some roasted peppers, but it was really good. It was similar to Jimmy John's in terms of ingredients, but the bread was firmer and crispier and the ingredients just seemed a little fresher. Awesome stuff.
5) Thirty minutes later, I was in Chicago Ridge for the Final Countdown tour. Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness' final appearances for ROH in Chicago. I had my camera, streamers, and toilet paper ready to go. For the last 10 minutes of the drive, I played their entrance themes: "The Final Countdown: and "****ing in the Bushes."
6) Around 5:30, I met Jerome in Rosa's since we did not go to the Bret Hart signing. I had already met him, so I decided to spend my $25 somewhere else. I drank a tasteless coke as he and I caught up. I don't think we'd seen each other since Wrestlemania.
7) We waited outside online with Rocco and Q came out eventually. Of the building, that is. I was very happy to find out about the But 3 DVD's, get 2 free deal. So I averaged $12 per show. I met Jerome's friend Chris from Sacramento who came with his girlfriend, Tammy. I ran into Duane, Pac Man, Mud Ball, and a few other regulars.
8) We had to walk around a curtain to get to our section. And who did we find working on his laptop? Ring announcer Bobby Cruise, native of Boston, MA. We shook hands. As I was about to keep walking, he goes "Tomorrow, it's game on bitch!" I made sure not to call him anything. But I told him I had a good feeling, but was not cocky about it. It was cool. But even cooler come Sunday around 3:15...
9) 5 random show highlights:
A) Six Man Mayhem. I think Skullcrusher Rasche Brown can be a star in this company.
B) Nigel's farewell speech. Great stories, very heartfelt.
C) Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Rave The dog collar match was violent and intense. We had a 24-pack of toilet paper and passed it throughout the section. The sight of that white paper flying up and then streaking down is so cool. The bloodshed was outrageous. And they brawled through the crowd, including right by us. That was just the right time for intermission.
D) Colt Cabana vs. Claudio Castagnoli. Heeey! Booom! Those alternating chants are so dumb, but my oh my, they are fun.
E) Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries. Needless to say, I will miss Dragon a lot. In his final attempt to win the world title for a second time, the super brainbuster finished him off. He gave a good speech. By the time he began speaking, I was already on line to get his autograph as well as Nigel's. They were both very gracious and very kind.
10) Here's a PS. After the second match, Cruise explained the had to change tapes. So he drops his ring announcer voice and puts on his New England accent. He starts talking about the Chciago Bears and the jerseys he sees then fans wearing in the crowd. Matt Forte, Brian Urlacher, etc. I'm wondering, with my Chad jersey on, where this is going? I look to my right. All my friends start looking and pointing at me and these excited smiles come across their faces, like they had just hit puberty. Then, Crusie goes" But did I see someone wearing a J (dramatic pause) Cutler jesey?" When he said Jay, I swore he was going to say J-E-T-S and call me out in front of 1300 people. Instead, he made fun of one guy in the corner of the building. He said the only thing worse than that jersey would be a TNA shirt. I was very relieved he did not go after me, because I really don't know how I would have reacted. Besides, he had the microphone.
11) The after-party at Rosa's. I had both Chad Pennington XXL Jets jerseys wrapped and ready for Adam Pearce and Brent Albright. After we ordered our traditional double decker cheese pizza (thanks again for covering the whole bill, Chris!), Jerome told me to give them their gifts. So I did. They were stunned I actually brought them anything. But they did seem pretty thankful. We posed for a few photos and they did wear the jerseys the entire night. And thank God because Pearce (the Packers fan) had a Favre Vikings jersey on. What a weasel.
12) Attenders: Pearce, Albright, Edwards, Dark City Fight Club, Briscoes, Aries, Nigel, two jobbers, and for a brief moment: Necro Butcher. It was very strange not seeing Roderick Strong though. Drinking his beers and eating his broccoli.
13) So the next thing I know, Tammy puts her arms around me and asks me to buy her a drink. This was an interesting situation. She was pretty well hammered and her boyfriend was right there too. But he didn't seem to care, so I went along with it. And when a 55-year old blonde tried to start talking to me at the bar, well, that was a little too obvious. I guess she needed a five-minute break form her husband or whoever that jabroni was with her.
14) Karaoke highlights:
A) Mark Briscoe singing "The Gambler"
B) Jerome and I backing up Q on some song I don't know, but was a tribute to Bryan and Nigel. We were the most awkward backups in history.
C) Eddie Edwards blasting some high notes. Also a Boston guy, he was very classy with me about the Jets-Pats. We both agrees Bobby was a dick.
D) Pearce and some chick named Sarah doing "Picture." They took a few stellar shots at Aries and Nigel in that one.
E) The Briscoes singing Boot Scootin' Boogie. that's where I broke out my line dancing/hoe down skills. Actually, they were more like moves, I can't count them as skills.
15) Left about 2:10 and got in around 3 a.m. And true to form, I was in church by 10:30 but my voice was still somewhere around Oak Brook.
Song pick: "I Never Go Around Mirrors" Keith Whitley
1) I need to get more sleep. But when my job ends around 10:30 every night, I want a few minutes to do what I want. And I wind staying up till midnight, allowing me about six hours of sleep. Yet, more often than not, I find myself napping for a few minutes at my desk.
2) And it's not getting any better. I have a fantasy hockey draft at 10 pm on Wednesday. I have to leave at 4:30 the next morning to take Mom to her next tour. That guarantees no more than four hours of sleep.
3) Mom knows how to make some good stuffed shells.
4) Speaking of food, I have a crave for Five Guys right about now. But I've actually been eating better this week. I hope the results start to show soon. I mean, I am trying. Aside from the five double stuff Oreos last night...
5) Downloaded a Keith Whitley record this past week. I guess it says something about me that I'm 38 and use the term "record" instead of album or CD. It's shame he died so young with so much promise and so much talent.
OK, to the weekend
1) Started rough on Saturday morning at the DMV. We got there around 8 am and had to wait behind a few people. Thing was we didn't have much time since Mom had to leave at Elgin to get to the airport to meet up with some some fag fashion designer. Took an hour to do, but we resolved the registration issue with my car. Cost another $64 though.
2) I finally played Shady Oaks in Streamwood. For its length and the fact that it was my first time, I thought I handled it well. I got a 5 on the 744' hole. I did lose my distance driver in the bushes though.
3) Got home around 11 and ordered Guy Fieri tickets for December. After a shower, I did a bunch of stats. I felt myself getting anxious. Around 2 pm I decided to leave. I put on my Jets jersey and cargo cutoffs and drove to Wheaton for a haircut. My stylist was really good, especially during the shampoo. But I found out she was a Minnesota Vikings fan and she started asking me about Brett Favre. I probably didn't make a good impression on her at that point. I think the tip made up for it though.
4) On a whim, I drove to Yorktown Mall for lunch. I hadn't eaten anything all day and I went to Frankie's Deli. They advertised themselves as a real Italian deli, so I figured why not try it. Located right by Carson's Furniture, this place is like a 7-11 Italian convenient store. San Marzano tomatoes, caperberries, wines, frozen pastas, gelato, cheese by the pound, various olive oils and balsamic vinegars. It was a very nice selection for fair prices. I got two jars of sauce, a coke, and an eight-inch Italian sub with salami, capicola, mortadella, provolone, lettuce, tomato, oil, and hot giardinera. The total was about $20, including $4.50 for the sub. I should have added some roasted peppers, but it was really good. It was similar to Jimmy John's in terms of ingredients, but the bread was firmer and crispier and the ingredients just seemed a little fresher. Awesome stuff.
5) Thirty minutes later, I was in Chicago Ridge for the Final Countdown tour. Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness' final appearances for ROH in Chicago. I had my camera, streamers, and toilet paper ready to go. For the last 10 minutes of the drive, I played their entrance themes: "The Final Countdown: and "****ing in the Bushes."
6) Around 5:30, I met Jerome in Rosa's since we did not go to the Bret Hart signing. I had already met him, so I decided to spend my $25 somewhere else. I drank a tasteless coke as he and I caught up. I don't think we'd seen each other since Wrestlemania.
7) We waited outside online with Rocco and Q came out eventually. Of the building, that is. I was very happy to find out about the But 3 DVD's, get 2 free deal. So I averaged $12 per show. I met Jerome's friend Chris from Sacramento who came with his girlfriend, Tammy. I ran into Duane, Pac Man, Mud Ball, and a few other regulars.
8) We had to walk around a curtain to get to our section. And who did we find working on his laptop? Ring announcer Bobby Cruise, native of Boston, MA. We shook hands. As I was about to keep walking, he goes "Tomorrow, it's game on bitch!" I made sure not to call him anything. But I told him I had a good feeling, but was not cocky about it. It was cool. But even cooler come Sunday around 3:15...
9) 5 random show highlights:
A) Six Man Mayhem. I think Skullcrusher Rasche Brown can be a star in this company.
B) Nigel's farewell speech. Great stories, very heartfelt.
C) Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Rave The dog collar match was violent and intense. We had a 24-pack of toilet paper and passed it throughout the section. The sight of that white paper flying up and then streaking down is so cool. The bloodshed was outrageous. And they brawled through the crowd, including right by us. That was just the right time for intermission.
D) Colt Cabana vs. Claudio Castagnoli. Heeey! Booom! Those alternating chants are so dumb, but my oh my, they are fun.
E) Bryan Danielson vs. Austin Aries. Needless to say, I will miss Dragon a lot. In his final attempt to win the world title for a second time, the super brainbuster finished him off. He gave a good speech. By the time he began speaking, I was already on line to get his autograph as well as Nigel's. They were both very gracious and very kind.
10) Here's a PS. After the second match, Cruise explained the had to change tapes. So he drops his ring announcer voice and puts on his New England accent. He starts talking about the Chciago Bears and the jerseys he sees then fans wearing in the crowd. Matt Forte, Brian Urlacher, etc. I'm wondering, with my Chad jersey on, where this is going? I look to my right. All my friends start looking and pointing at me and these excited smiles come across their faces, like they had just hit puberty. Then, Crusie goes" But did I see someone wearing a J (dramatic pause) Cutler jesey?" When he said Jay, I swore he was going to say J-E-T-S and call me out in front of 1300 people. Instead, he made fun of one guy in the corner of the building. He said the only thing worse than that jersey would be a TNA shirt. I was very relieved he did not go after me, because I really don't know how I would have reacted. Besides, he had the microphone.
11) The after-party at Rosa's. I had both Chad Pennington XXL Jets jerseys wrapped and ready for Adam Pearce and Brent Albright. After we ordered our traditional double decker cheese pizza (thanks again for covering the whole bill, Chris!), Jerome told me to give them their gifts. So I did. They were stunned I actually brought them anything. But they did seem pretty thankful. We posed for a few photos and they did wear the jerseys the entire night. And thank God because Pearce (the Packers fan) had a Favre Vikings jersey on. What a weasel.
12) Attenders: Pearce, Albright, Edwards, Dark City Fight Club, Briscoes, Aries, Nigel, two jobbers, and for a brief moment: Necro Butcher. It was very strange not seeing Roderick Strong though. Drinking his beers and eating his broccoli.
13) So the next thing I know, Tammy puts her arms around me and asks me to buy her a drink. This was an interesting situation. She was pretty well hammered and her boyfriend was right there too. But he didn't seem to care, so I went along with it. And when a 55-year old blonde tried to start talking to me at the bar, well, that was a little too obvious. I guess she needed a five-minute break form her husband or whoever that jabroni was with her.
14) Karaoke highlights:
A) Mark Briscoe singing "The Gambler"
B) Jerome and I backing up Q on some song I don't know, but was a tribute to Bryan and Nigel. We were the most awkward backups in history.
C) Eddie Edwards blasting some high notes. Also a Boston guy, he was very classy with me about the Jets-Pats. We both agrees Bobby was a dick.
D) Pearce and some chick named Sarah doing "Picture." They took a few stellar shots at Aries and Nigel in that one.
E) The Briscoes singing Boot Scootin' Boogie. that's where I broke out my line dancing/hoe down skills. Actually, they were more like moves, I can't count them as skills.
15) Left about 2:10 and got in around 3 a.m. And true to form, I was in church by 10:30 but my voice was still somewhere around Oak Brook.
Song pick: "I Never Go Around Mirrors" Keith Whitley
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Fall sneaks up
Let's see. 75 degree days. Electric blanket is on my bed. Turning on the space heater in my basement. Football has begun. Rangers in training camp. I am working nights. Yep, fall is here.
1) Sunday went like this: Four eggs with guac for breakfast, church (starting a series on Ecclesiastes), Come Thirsty (smaller crowd), Real Time (Jets win!), Festival of the Vine, mini-golf and Muldoon's with Derek. Outstanding day. I wish someone was there though. All in all, it could not have been much better.
2) Breaking it down, CT has to end at a reasonable time. 12:00 and that was long enough. Real Time is a very nice bar, but the food is just too expensive. So I was happy to see their $1.25 slider football special. Two cheeseburgers, one turkey burger, and two BBQ porks and iced tea cost me $6.25. I guess the iced tea was free! And I probably drank five of them, so I came out the winner in that one.
3) My booth was surrounded by Lions fans. So with the Jets hammering the Texans, I was definitely the loudest one in my section. And I am quite excited about this aggressive, attacking defense. I have never in 20 years seen the Jets play D like this. If the offense can just protect the ball and get in the end zone maybe twice a game, this could be a fun season. And I must say I am excited by Mr. Mark Sanchez.
4) After getting washed out last year, the Festival returned to downtown Geneva. I heard about 2/3 of the Stingrays show and they were excellent as always. The keyboard player was not there though, so I couldn't hear "Light My Fire." For food, I had the egg roll/fried rice from Gen Hoe, the Cuban sandwich from Urban Grille, and an apple cobbler with maple-honey ice cream from some place. I was hoping for the Urban Grille banana cream pie but they decided to pack up and leave with 90 minutes remaining before closing time. No good! No good! But the cobbler was more than fine. Oh, and I had four different wines, two red, two white. And as I pretty much expected, my companion did not show up.
5) So it was around 5:30 when I walked to my car when Derek called. Next thing I know, I drove to Wheaton. With wine in my system. Last time we hung out, he beat me pretty good in bowling. Of course, this was Wheaton Bowl where they don't have any balls that weight less than 35 pounds. I had the upper hand in mini-golf, I took him down by nine strokes. Then, we headed to Muldoon's to watch the first half of Bears-Packers. There were about 30 Bears fans in the bar and they were pretty crazy. With each interception by Jay Cutler, they only got more aggravated. It was a very ugly game. We talked about some guy issues, the whole thing. Left there around 10 pm and finally made it home. Back to the 12 hour work day.
6) The Peoria move went very well. 2.5 hours each way. I was very pleased the whole unloading process took under one hour. And the drive home was cool. I went through a lot of towns I had only heard about: Chillicothe, Serena, Newark, and Yorkville, for instance.
7) The New York Mets cannot score a run off Pedro Martinez in CBP over eight innings. God, please numb me.
8) Terrestrial radio continues to digress by the week. Or is it the music of today that is just plain lousy? I try to watch my spending, but man alive, XM radio is getting more appealing.
9) I am very ready for the locker rooms at the health club to be finished with the remodeling process. A steam room and a working sauna would be welcome additions...
10) Four days till The Final Countdown: I will really miss Bryan and Nigel.
Song pick: "When Love and Hate Collide" Def Leppard
1) Sunday went like this: Four eggs with guac for breakfast, church (starting a series on Ecclesiastes), Come Thirsty (smaller crowd), Real Time (Jets win!), Festival of the Vine, mini-golf and Muldoon's with Derek. Outstanding day. I wish someone was there though. All in all, it could not have been much better.
2) Breaking it down, CT has to end at a reasonable time. 12:00 and that was long enough. Real Time is a very nice bar, but the food is just too expensive. So I was happy to see their $1.25 slider football special. Two cheeseburgers, one turkey burger, and two BBQ porks and iced tea cost me $6.25. I guess the iced tea was free! And I probably drank five of them, so I came out the winner in that one.
3) My booth was surrounded by Lions fans. So with the Jets hammering the Texans, I was definitely the loudest one in my section. And I am quite excited about this aggressive, attacking defense. I have never in 20 years seen the Jets play D like this. If the offense can just protect the ball and get in the end zone maybe twice a game, this could be a fun season. And I must say I am excited by Mr. Mark Sanchez.
4) After getting washed out last year, the Festival returned to downtown Geneva. I heard about 2/3 of the Stingrays show and they were excellent as always. The keyboard player was not there though, so I couldn't hear "Light My Fire." For food, I had the egg roll/fried rice from Gen Hoe, the Cuban sandwich from Urban Grille, and an apple cobbler with maple-honey ice cream from some place. I was hoping for the Urban Grille banana cream pie but they decided to pack up and leave with 90 minutes remaining before closing time. No good! No good! But the cobbler was more than fine. Oh, and I had four different wines, two red, two white. And as I pretty much expected, my companion did not show up.
5) So it was around 5:30 when I walked to my car when Derek called. Next thing I know, I drove to Wheaton. With wine in my system. Last time we hung out, he beat me pretty good in bowling. Of course, this was Wheaton Bowl where they don't have any balls that weight less than 35 pounds. I had the upper hand in mini-golf, I took him down by nine strokes. Then, we headed to Muldoon's to watch the first half of Bears-Packers. There were about 30 Bears fans in the bar and they were pretty crazy. With each interception by Jay Cutler, they only got more aggravated. It was a very ugly game. We talked about some guy issues, the whole thing. Left there around 10 pm and finally made it home. Back to the 12 hour work day.
6) The Peoria move went very well. 2.5 hours each way. I was very pleased the whole unloading process took under one hour. And the drive home was cool. I went through a lot of towns I had only heard about: Chillicothe, Serena, Newark, and Yorkville, for instance.
7) The New York Mets cannot score a run off Pedro Martinez in CBP over eight innings. God, please numb me.
8) Terrestrial radio continues to digress by the week. Or is it the music of today that is just plain lousy? I try to watch my spending, but man alive, XM radio is getting more appealing.
9) I am very ready for the locker rooms at the health club to be finished with the remodeling process. A steam room and a working sauna would be welcome additions...
10) Four days till The Final Countdown: I will really miss Bryan and Nigel.
Song pick: "When Love and Hate Collide" Def Leppard
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Pleasure and pain
Guess I've been feeling a bit of both lately. But let's recap yesterday, Friday Aug 28 the year 2009 AD.
I get up and head straight to the gym around 8:30. After a half hour on the elliptical (not much foot pain) and a makeshift shower, I head towards downtown. It was probably 9:45 and I wanted to get to Hot Doug's quickly. They open at 10:30 am, but I wanted to beat the line. Fortunately, there was no traffic on 90 east, a very pleasant surprise.
By the time I got to California and Roscoe, the line was 25 people long already. Talked to a guy and girl for about 20 minutes. She was from Philly and visiting. He basically ranted about the violence of Chicago and the bad neighborhoods that had to be avoided. So around 10:55, I get to the counter to order. Doug Sohn, the owner is taking orders, and he sees me with a black Mets jersey. He bit his lip and shook his head. Then he started talking about how he went to school in NY from 1984-86. And he starts mentioning players on both the Mets and Cubs, it was pretty impressive. But I peeked out the window and the line is about 50 people now. I wanted to order just to speed the line up. But I appreciate people who don't just go through the motions at their job and Doug is one of those guys.
I ordered the garlic-rosemary chicken sausage with garlic-rosemary mustard and cumin-gouda cheese. Grilled perfectly, very juicy. The roll was steamed very nicely. The chicken was very mild, but the garlic and rosemary in the mustard gave a certain bite to it. And with the cumin in the cheese, that was almost too hard a kick for me. I guess I'm not a big cumin guy. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 7.
Then, I got the smoked pork and crayfish sausage with Cajun remoulade and I substituted smoked cheddar for smoked bleu cheese. This one looked like a hot link, since it was reddish-brown in color. Obviously, spicy pork and crayfish makes for a unique experience and it came together well. The cheese was ok on it, but didn't work too great. But the remoulade was the star. I wanted to ask for some shrimp to dunk into the remoulade. For the remoulade alone, I add two points. Score: 8
I guess I need to work out these cheeses. The fries were fresh and crispy as well. Plenty of pleasure there. As large as the portion is, I could not go for the duck fat fries or I may have passed out right there.
So then I added towards Wrigley Field, blasting Mets music. Found a great parking spot and Belle Plaine and Greenview and walked the one mile down Clark St. I went to Merkle's first, where a few Mets fans were meeting. We commiserated (or coMetserated), shared some laughs, the whole deal. What else can we Mets fans do at this point but share our misery?
I got to the park around 12:10. My seat was the tenth row of the 200's right behind home plate. The Mets were taking batting practice. Gary Sheffield hits and again does not play because his back aches. What a wuss. And the last Mets player to hit in the cage? Bobby Parnell? Are you kidding me? Today's starting pitcher is working on his swing? Hey Bobby, how about pitching 7 innings today. Can we focus on that?
So the lineups get announced, since the Cubs refuse to be fan friendly and put in a scoreboard. There were four Mets fans sitting three rows behind me. When we heard the names Pagan, Castillo, Murphy, Francoeur, Tatis, Santos, Sullivan, Valdez, and Misch, we just shook our heads and laughed. That kind of laughing where you just want to scream and cry at the same time. I also tried cheering for Milton Bradley out of sympathy.
I must say there were some stellar looking women right behind me. And they got a fifteen dollar pretzel to split. Two women eating that many carbs. Ridiculous pleasure. They let me have a taste and I dipped my piece into this cheddar cheese spread. Honestly, it was brutal. Why is it so hard for ballparks to make a decent pretzel. Keep it warm, and give it a little crispiness. Is it so hard? Talked with two other guys behind me. We exchanged trivia and chatted about the misery of this season and what we have to look forward to next year. That is to say, not a lot.
Also sitting behind me was Pat Misch's high school coach at Glenbrook North. And I have to say Misch, who I had no confidence, was outstanding. Seven innings, one run. I never expected that. I'm not sure what to expect from him the rest of the season, but he showed he was capable of pitching a good game.
And as bad as the Cubs fielding was, they gave the Mets so many chances to score. I think Bradley just dropped another pop up. But Misch was up twice with two on and two out and there wasn't much he could do against Ted Lilly. Angel Pagan's diving catch off Ramirez to save two runs was incredible. And I was pretty excited when the Mets scored in the eighth inning (of course on the same play Murphy gets thrown out at home). But after two pitches from Brian freaking Stokes, I knew it was trouble. He had no control. And before K-Rod could even start warming up, Ramirez singles home Bradley and that bastard Soriano hits a three-run homer. I bolted and got out of there before I had to deal with the relentless traffic. That was pain to the nth degree. (I think nth is a word, pronounced enth)
I think on the ride home, I flipped off every car that had a Cub logo on it. And I went straight to Claim Jumper, and guzzled down a Blue Moon, ate some sliders. Got home at 7 pm and stayed up until 1:30 am. High school football is under way.
Why am I going back to Wrigley for more of this crap today? I think I really just am intrigued by watching suffering and death. Get this season over with already and get healthy for 2010. And earth to Fred and Jeff, if you are not going to bring in some players, slash the ticket prices across the board or you will be looking at a sea of green surrounding the field at Citifield next year.
I get up and head straight to the gym around 8:30. After a half hour on the elliptical (not much foot pain) and a makeshift shower, I head towards downtown. It was probably 9:45 and I wanted to get to Hot Doug's quickly. They open at 10:30 am, but I wanted to beat the line. Fortunately, there was no traffic on 90 east, a very pleasant surprise.
By the time I got to California and Roscoe, the line was 25 people long already. Talked to a guy and girl for about 20 minutes. She was from Philly and visiting. He basically ranted about the violence of Chicago and the bad neighborhoods that had to be avoided. So around 10:55, I get to the counter to order. Doug Sohn, the owner is taking orders, and he sees me with a black Mets jersey. He bit his lip and shook his head. Then he started talking about how he went to school in NY from 1984-86. And he starts mentioning players on both the Mets and Cubs, it was pretty impressive. But I peeked out the window and the line is about 50 people now. I wanted to order just to speed the line up. But I appreciate people who don't just go through the motions at their job and Doug is one of those guys.
I ordered the garlic-rosemary chicken sausage with garlic-rosemary mustard and cumin-gouda cheese. Grilled perfectly, very juicy. The roll was steamed very nicely. The chicken was very mild, but the garlic and rosemary in the mustard gave a certain bite to it. And with the cumin in the cheese, that was almost too hard a kick for me. I guess I'm not a big cumin guy. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 7.
Then, I got the smoked pork and crayfish sausage with Cajun remoulade and I substituted smoked cheddar for smoked bleu cheese. This one looked like a hot link, since it was reddish-brown in color. Obviously, spicy pork and crayfish makes for a unique experience and it came together well. The cheese was ok on it, but didn't work too great. But the remoulade was the star. I wanted to ask for some shrimp to dunk into the remoulade. For the remoulade alone, I add two points. Score: 8
I guess I need to work out these cheeses. The fries were fresh and crispy as well. Plenty of pleasure there. As large as the portion is, I could not go for the duck fat fries or I may have passed out right there.
So then I added towards Wrigley Field, blasting Mets music. Found a great parking spot and Belle Plaine and Greenview and walked the one mile down Clark St. I went to Merkle's first, where a few Mets fans were meeting. We commiserated (or coMetserated), shared some laughs, the whole deal. What else can we Mets fans do at this point but share our misery?
I got to the park around 12:10. My seat was the tenth row of the 200's right behind home plate. The Mets were taking batting practice. Gary Sheffield hits and again does not play because his back aches. What a wuss. And the last Mets player to hit in the cage? Bobby Parnell? Are you kidding me? Today's starting pitcher is working on his swing? Hey Bobby, how about pitching 7 innings today. Can we focus on that?
So the lineups get announced, since the Cubs refuse to be fan friendly and put in a scoreboard. There were four Mets fans sitting three rows behind me. When we heard the names Pagan, Castillo, Murphy, Francoeur, Tatis, Santos, Sullivan, Valdez, and Misch, we just shook our heads and laughed. That kind of laughing where you just want to scream and cry at the same time. I also tried cheering for Milton Bradley out of sympathy.
I must say there were some stellar looking women right behind me. And they got a fifteen dollar pretzel to split. Two women eating that many carbs. Ridiculous pleasure. They let me have a taste and I dipped my piece into this cheddar cheese spread. Honestly, it was brutal. Why is it so hard for ballparks to make a decent pretzel. Keep it warm, and give it a little crispiness. Is it so hard? Talked with two other guys behind me. We exchanged trivia and chatted about the misery of this season and what we have to look forward to next year. That is to say, not a lot.
Also sitting behind me was Pat Misch's high school coach at Glenbrook North. And I have to say Misch, who I had no confidence, was outstanding. Seven innings, one run. I never expected that. I'm not sure what to expect from him the rest of the season, but he showed he was capable of pitching a good game.
And as bad as the Cubs fielding was, they gave the Mets so many chances to score. I think Bradley just dropped another pop up. But Misch was up twice with two on and two out and there wasn't much he could do against Ted Lilly. Angel Pagan's diving catch off Ramirez to save two runs was incredible. And I was pretty excited when the Mets scored in the eighth inning (of course on the same play Murphy gets thrown out at home). But after two pitches from Brian freaking Stokes, I knew it was trouble. He had no control. And before K-Rod could even start warming up, Ramirez singles home Bradley and that bastard Soriano hits a three-run homer. I bolted and got out of there before I had to deal with the relentless traffic. That was pain to the nth degree. (I think nth is a word, pronounced enth)
I think on the ride home, I flipped off every car that had a Cub logo on it. And I went straight to Claim Jumper, and guzzled down a Blue Moon, ate some sliders. Got home at 7 pm and stayed up until 1:30 am. High school football is under way.
Why am I going back to Wrigley for more of this crap today? I think I really just am intrigued by watching suffering and death. Get this season over with already and get healthy for 2010. And earth to Fred and Jeff, if you are not going to bring in some players, slash the ticket prices across the board or you will be looking at a sea of green surrounding the field at Citifield next year.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Mets who have spent time on the disabled list in 2009
Bold = season ending
Brian Schneider, Angel Pagan, Tim Redding, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church, Jose Reyes, Alex Cora, Oliver Perez, Angel Pagan (2), Ramon "Little Leaguer" Martinez, J.J. Putz, Billy Wagner, John Maine, Fernando Martinez, Fernando Nieve, Alex Cora (2), Gary Sheffield, Jon Niese, David Wright, Johan Santana, Oliver Perez (2)
The Mets have $88 million on the DL. That number is higher than 17 teams' payrolls.
Brian Schneider, Angel Pagan, Tim Redding, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church, Jose Reyes, Alex Cora, Oliver Perez, Angel Pagan (2), Ramon "Little Leaguer" Martinez, J.J. Putz, Billy Wagner, John Maine, Fernando Martinez, Fernando Nieve, Alex Cora (2), Gary Sheffield, Jon Niese, David Wright, Johan Santana, Oliver Perez (2)
The Mets have $88 million on the DL. That number is higher than 17 teams' payrolls.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Sunday reflections
Finally, a hot weekend. And man, when we get some heat in Chicago, it's stickier than molasses. But when the weather does get warm, I'm not about to object it. We're not that far off from wind chill advisories.
1) Good hanging with CT today and Ecclesia at night. With that heat and wind, that was the craziest badminton game ever! And to think, I did one dive to reach for the shuttlecock (no giggling please), tumbled over, I look back at the racquet and it's basically bent in half.
2) The XXL Pennington Jets jerseys have arrived for Adam Pearce and Brent Albright. One month till they get what's coming to them...
3) I really can't stand cats. Spent three hours in Joe's house on Saturday, it took 24 hours for my eyes to stop watering, eliminate the redness, and start breathing through my nose.
4) Bien Trucha summary: The pescado tacos were phenomenal: beer battered tilapia, red cabbage, onion, tomato, lime, and chipotle-morita aioli. The pork torta was so-so (a little too much pineapple) and the steak tacos were really good. The watermelon guac was a little weird, but refreshing on a hot day. I still want to try the pineapple guac though. All in all, a very good place, you just have to know what to get. I am happy they are doubling size within six weeks though.
5) K-Rod blew a 2-run lead to San Diego, losing the game on a grand slam without even recording an out. And it barely fazed me. The Mets just invent ways to lose games. This is the most numbing, depressing season I can remember since maybe 2002, when all the overhyped and overpriced stiffs (Alomar, Cedeno, Vaughn, Burnitz, Weathers, Astacio, D'Amico, Estes, Strickland) brought the hopes of a pennant only to be finished by mid-May. But the Mets did acquire Jason Bay for Lou Collier in a great trade that year! Of course, two months later, they sent him to San Diego for Steve Reed and the immortal Jason Middlebrook. What a disaster.
6) Speaking of disasters, how will I get through this week at work with Joe B on vacation?
7) Speaking of Joe B, can the Jets start already? And of course, those damn Patriots trade for Derrick Burgess, an incredible pass rusher. Unreal.
8) Thanks to Ted for a great message tonight on discipleship. Nothing "accidental" about it. Unfortunately, the person who that second remark was intended for will likely never see this since I and people like me are apparently beneath him. It's a shame. I hope things will change. I can only pray.
9) Looks like any chance to go to Dragon Gate USA is out now. And I thought it was only going to be for work reasons.
10) My 10 year WA reunion is only six weeks away. Dang, that's double digits.
Song pick: "Last In Love" George Strait
1) Good hanging with CT today and Ecclesia at night. With that heat and wind, that was the craziest badminton game ever! And to think, I did one dive to reach for the shuttlecock (no giggling please), tumbled over, I look back at the racquet and it's basically bent in half.
2) The XXL Pennington Jets jerseys have arrived for Adam Pearce and Brent Albright. One month till they get what's coming to them...
3) I really can't stand cats. Spent three hours in Joe's house on Saturday, it took 24 hours for my eyes to stop watering, eliminate the redness, and start breathing through my nose.
4) Bien Trucha summary: The pescado tacos were phenomenal: beer battered tilapia, red cabbage, onion, tomato, lime, and chipotle-morita aioli. The pork torta was so-so (a little too much pineapple) and the steak tacos were really good. The watermelon guac was a little weird, but refreshing on a hot day. I still want to try the pineapple guac though. All in all, a very good place, you just have to know what to get. I am happy they are doubling size within six weeks though.
5) K-Rod blew a 2-run lead to San Diego, losing the game on a grand slam without even recording an out. And it barely fazed me. The Mets just invent ways to lose games. This is the most numbing, depressing season I can remember since maybe 2002, when all the overhyped and overpriced stiffs (Alomar, Cedeno, Vaughn, Burnitz, Weathers, Astacio, D'Amico, Estes, Strickland) brought the hopes of a pennant only to be finished by mid-May. But the Mets did acquire Jason Bay for Lou Collier in a great trade that year! Of course, two months later, they sent him to San Diego for Steve Reed and the immortal Jason Middlebrook. What a disaster.
6) Speaking of disasters, how will I get through this week at work with Joe B on vacation?
7) Speaking of Joe B, can the Jets start already? And of course, those damn Patriots trade for Derrick Burgess, an incredible pass rusher. Unreal.
8) Thanks to Ted for a great message tonight on discipleship. Nothing "accidental" about it. Unfortunately, the person who that second remark was intended for will likely never see this since I and people like me are apparently beneath him. It's a shame. I hope things will change. I can only pray.
9) Looks like any chance to go to Dragon Gate USA is out now. And I thought it was only going to be for work reasons.
10) My 10 year WA reunion is only six weeks away. Dang, that's double digits.
Song pick: "Last In Love" George Strait
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