I am heading out for a long vacation (11 or so days) which will take me to Chicago, Seattle and the Gorge to see DMB. I am glad to have this time because I have a major job decision on the line here and this weekend will be good for me to figure it out. So once Monday comes I will be turning off my brain and just enjoying myself
.... so this experiment is officially on hold!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
15 things you didn't know about a penis
On one of my many flights this summer I decided to pick up a Men's Health and got hooked on the mag. I was speaking with Mr. Supremacy today about Matthew Mcconaughey today since he had an enhanced picture of his stuff on his blog. I said teenie weenie as a joke and he said that he is probably a grower not a show-er. So that reminded me of the article and I told him about how you can uncircumcise yourself, and that was his chance to become Jewish. So here is that list :
15 things you don't know about your penis
By: , Illustrations by:
15 things you don't know about your penis
By: , Illustrations by:
1. Smoking can shorten your penis by as much as a centimeter. Erections are all about good bloodflow, and lighting up calcifies blood vessels, stifling erectile circulation. So even if you don't care all that much about your lungs or dying young, spare the li'l guy.
2. Doctors can now grow skin for burn victims using the foreskins of circumcised infants. One foreskin can produce 23,000 square meters, which would be enough to tarp every Major League infield with human flesh.
3. An enlarged prostate gland can cause both erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. If you have an unexplained case of either, your doctor's looking forward to checking your prostate. Even if you're not.
4. The average male orgasm lasts 6 seconds. Women get 23 seconds. Which means if women were really interested in equality, they'd make sure we have four orgasms for every one of theirs.
5. The oldest known species with a penis is a hard-shelled sea creature called Colymbosathon ecplecticos. That's Greek for "amazing swimmer with large penis." Which officially supplants Buck Naked as the best porn name, ever.
6. Circumcised foreskin can be reconstructed. Movable skin on the shaft of the penis is pulled toward the tip and set in place with tape. Later, doctors apply plastic rings, caps, and weights. Years can pass until complete coverage is attained. . . . Okay, we'll shut up now.
7. Only one man in 400 is flexible enough to give himself oral pleasure. It's estimated, however, that all 400 have given it their best shot at some point.
8. There are two types of penises. One kind expands and lengthens when becoming erect (a grower). The other appears big most of the time, but doesn't get much bigger after achieving erection (a shower).
9. An international Men's Health survey reports that 79 percent of men have growers, 21 percent have showers.
10. German researchers say the average intercourse lasts 2 minutes, 50 seconds, yet women perceive it as lasting 5 minutes, 30 seconds. Are we that good or that bad?
11. Turns out size does matter: The longer your penis, the better "semen displacement" you'll achieve when having sex with a woman flush with competing sperm. That's according to researchers at the State University of New York, who used artificial phalluses (ahem) to test the "scooping" mechanism of the penis's coronal ridge. Next up: curing cancer.
12. The penis that's been enjoyed by the most women could be that of King Fatefehi of Tonga, who supposedly deflowered 37,800 women between the years 1770 and 1784 -- that's about seven virgins a day. Go ahead, say it: It's good to be king.
13. Better-looking men may have stronger sperm. Spanish researchers showed women photos of guys who had good, average, and lousy sperm -- and told them to pick the handsomest men. The women chose the best sperm producers most often.
14. No brain is necessary for ejaculation. That order comes from the spinal cord. Finding a living vessel for said ejaculation, however, takes hours of careful thought and, often, considerable amounts of alcohol.
15. The most common cause of penile rupture: vigorous masturbation. Some risks are just worth taking.
Research by the editors of Men's Health Germany
Thanks for the inspiration Mr. Chamberstein
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Reflections
Lately I have been reflecting a lot on life in general with this current re scripting of things. I don't know if it is the fact that things have changed from what I expected my life to be or what. Five years ago I would have never thought I would be without a dad, divorced, not working at MAGLEV, not speaking to my best girl friend etc.. I have always struggled with failure and some of the things that happened really make me feel like I have failed.
I am a change the world type of guy. I can't be that person that comes in to a situation, ignores all the crappy things and doesn't try to change them. Maybe that is the problem? People seem to be much less jaded about their jobs than I do because they just go in and work and come home. They don't worry about the office politics or other people there, they just work and get their paycheck. I have tried to be that person but I just can't. It is so tough to see a dream go down the tubes because of crappy decisions and it just doesn't work for me. Maybe that is where I fail in the corporate world. I see down a visionary path and in Pittsburgh the leaders of most of the companies here see down a tunnel (Westinghouse or US Steel tunnels). I guess I will continue to evolve and learn the whole corp world.
The divorce thing is what it is. She has made decisions that I tend to think she is regretting by what she says but I am pretty certain it will be the best for me. She really likes her job and wants to be that corp. person that I can't be. I think I have found someone better for me now and maybe I can stop looking at that as a failure and start seeing it as a learning experience. I still think she left for stupid reasons but now I don't really care and am ready to move on.
From reading what I already wrote I digressed into subjects I really didn't intend to write about but I guess were on my mind. The real thing I have been thinking about lately is my dad. Saturday was the 7 month mark from his passing and I still am terribly upset. I was a semi-wreck that day between thinking about that and the fact my mom was traveling to Seattle and on to Alaska I was just worried. The 19th has been a bad day for me between Dad's passing and Emily moving out that date just doesn't sit well with me. I am glad that SS was here this weekend to be there for me when I was losing it. She kept me from going overboard with the whole thing. People tell me that it will get better with time but I disagree with that fact. I am still upset, I still want to talk to him. It really bites that I can't call him and tell him about stuff, or talk to him about nothing. He was always my comfort factor. If I was having a bad day I would just call him and bullshit and it would be over. He had a great outlook on life in general and it helped ground me. I have so much going on in my life right now and I really want to be able to talk to him about it. Also my favorite time with him is right around the corner with football season. I so looked forward to spending time with him every Sat. in Morgantown. There is just something so special about that for me. It is going to be so hard to go back there and not see him. I even get upset sitting here writing about it. It is even more difficult this week because my mom is on vacation and generally unreachable and I don't have him to talk to. With a large decision on the horizon, it scares me that I might have to make this decision on my own. I do make a lot of decisions on my own and rarely look for input from my folks and more of acceptance. This time is a little different though as my doubts seem to intensify with job related decisions. I don't know if he ever hears my thoughts, my words or somehow reads this crazy experiment known as my blog but I hope he does. He and my mom have shaped me in many ways and I tend to think I harnessed the best qualities from both of them. I really just wish he was around to spend time with. I really hate the fact I am 28 and I will never be able to talk to him again, or him meet my children (if that ever happens), or see me become president (yea right).. maybe a just a local race to start politics.
I guess what makes the whole thing tougher for me is I see how much my mom is struggling. I can't really talk to her about it because I get upset and then it makes her even more upset to see me hurting. I am really really worried about her and just don't know what to do. I am trying to spend as much time as I can with her but I don't know if it is enough. August 31st is their wedding anniversary and luckily she will be somewhere in Alaska enjoying a vacation, I just hope it doesn't overwhelm her.
I am going to cut this off for now because it I can't be crying at work, I don't need to answer those questions from people nor do I want to. Hopefully my ramblings will continue to help me "grieve" but who knows. It is really tough being alone and while most of the time I embrace it, lately I loathe it. Without dad, SS 7 hours away, my 2 friends here that don't talk to me anymore, and the constant drama that I go through, being alone has been extremely detrimental to my attitude.
Next week is a long vacation and hopefully I can come back refreshed with a better outlook on things. Otherwise it will be a LONG winter.
I am a change the world type of guy. I can't be that person that comes in to a situation, ignores all the crappy things and doesn't try to change them. Maybe that is the problem? People seem to be much less jaded about their jobs than I do because they just go in and work and come home. They don't worry about the office politics or other people there, they just work and get their paycheck. I have tried to be that person but I just can't. It is so tough to see a dream go down the tubes because of crappy decisions and it just doesn't work for me. Maybe that is where I fail in the corporate world. I see down a visionary path and in Pittsburgh the leaders of most of the companies here see down a tunnel (Westinghouse or US Steel tunnels). I guess I will continue to evolve and learn the whole corp world.
The divorce thing is what it is. She has made decisions that I tend to think she is regretting by what she says but I am pretty certain it will be the best for me. She really likes her job and wants to be that corp. person that I can't be. I think I have found someone better for me now and maybe I can stop looking at that as a failure and start seeing it as a learning experience. I still think she left for stupid reasons but now I don't really care and am ready to move on.
From reading what I already wrote I digressed into subjects I really didn't intend to write about but I guess were on my mind. The real thing I have been thinking about lately is my dad. Saturday was the 7 month mark from his passing and I still am terribly upset. I was a semi-wreck that day between thinking about that and the fact my mom was traveling to Seattle and on to Alaska I was just worried. The 19th has been a bad day for me between Dad's passing and Emily moving out that date just doesn't sit well with me. I am glad that SS was here this weekend to be there for me when I was losing it. She kept me from going overboard with the whole thing. People tell me that it will get better with time but I disagree with that fact. I am still upset, I still want to talk to him. It really bites that I can't call him and tell him about stuff, or talk to him about nothing. He was always my comfort factor. If I was having a bad day I would just call him and bullshit and it would be over. He had a great outlook on life in general and it helped ground me. I have so much going on in my life right now and I really want to be able to talk to him about it. Also my favorite time with him is right around the corner with football season. I so looked forward to spending time with him every Sat. in Morgantown. There is just something so special about that for me. It is going to be so hard to go back there and not see him. I even get upset sitting here writing about it. It is even more difficult this week because my mom is on vacation and generally unreachable and I don't have him to talk to. With a large decision on the horizon, it scares me that I might have to make this decision on my own. I do make a lot of decisions on my own and rarely look for input from my folks and more of acceptance. This time is a little different though as my doubts seem to intensify with job related decisions. I don't know if he ever hears my thoughts, my words or somehow reads this crazy experiment known as my blog but I hope he does. He and my mom have shaped me in many ways and I tend to think I harnessed the best qualities from both of them. I really just wish he was around to spend time with. I really hate the fact I am 28 and I will never be able to talk to him again, or him meet my children (if that ever happens), or see me become president (yea right).. maybe a just a local race to start politics.
I guess what makes the whole thing tougher for me is I see how much my mom is struggling. I can't really talk to her about it because I get upset and then it makes her even more upset to see me hurting. I am really really worried about her and just don't know what to do. I am trying to spend as much time as I can with her but I don't know if it is enough. August 31st is their wedding anniversary and luckily she will be somewhere in Alaska enjoying a vacation, I just hope it doesn't overwhelm her.
I am going to cut this off for now because it I can't be crying at work, I don't need to answer those questions from people nor do I want to. Hopefully my ramblings will continue to help me "grieve" but who knows. It is really tough being alone and while most of the time I embrace it, lately I loathe it. Without dad, SS 7 hours away, my 2 friends here that don't talk to me anymore, and the constant drama that I go through, being alone has been extremely detrimental to my attitude.
Next week is a long vacation and hopefully I can come back refreshed with a better outlook on things. Otherwise it will be a LONG winter.
Monday, August 21, 2006
And we're back...
Princeton Reviews 2007 edition of "The Best 361 Colleges." is upcoming and the Party School list is out. WVU returns to the list after a few years off. When I was a Soph. in college we were rated #1. The next year Playboy rated the party schools and put a * beside our name and said sorry we don't rank Professionals. SO here is the latest installment of the party schools and nice to see PSU and WVU bringing it home. I have so many memories from WVU and it was such a fantastic 4 1/2 years. If it wasn't for the fact I like "bigger cities" I would live in Morgantown in a second. Top 10 Party Schools (courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
1. University of Texas at Austin
2. Penn State University
3. West Virginia University
4. University of Wisconsin-Madison
5. University of Mississippi
6. Ohio University
7. University of Massachusetts-Amherst
8. Louisiana State University
9. University of Iowa
10. University of California, Santa Barbara
Push for the Pirates
I love the Pirates, I love PNC Park, I despise the management of the Pirates. I have been to probably around 10 games this year and watched part or all of over 1/2 of their games on TV.. and just the other 'burg peeps I am getting tired of there is always next year..
Well folks hope is on the way (well at least I think it is a good idea). PittGirl and her friends have created a website with a letter to Mr. Mark Cuban himself asking him to BUY THE PIRATES. For those of you fans that are interested in this, step on over there, leave a comment, write Cuban do whatever. It's time for a change!
Well folks hope is on the way (well at least I think it is a good idea). PittGirl and her friends have created a website with a letter to Mr. Mark Cuban himself asking him to BUY THE PIRATES. For those of you fans that are interested in this, step on over there, leave a comment, write Cuban do whatever. It's time for a change!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Fortune Cookies, do they tell the truth?
The other day I got a fortune cookie that read:
A new chapter in your life is being writtenNow usually with fortune cookies I take a different route than believing. My dirty mind inserts at the end of each fortune "in bed" now typically this works well because I tend to find the fortunes garbage, but I found one that I think might actually be right.
Why do I think that is the real question because I am a glass half empty kinda guy. I have gone through so much shit over the past 7 months I never thought things would show some hint of turning around. Don't get me wrong, I am not holding hope in this whole life turn around. I have gotten excited and let down too many times to allow for that. So instead I speculate and at least ponder the chance.
So what is being written in this current chapter of my life:
- SS is a total bright spot for me. She is here this week and we finally get to experience some "normal life settings" (I am working these days that she is here)
- I have hired a lawyer and am moving forward with the divorce finally. Seems that Emily and I are even able to discuss this stuff without our lawyers and without fighting. I am hoping that we can resolve this easily and without lawyer arguments.
- I got a phone call about a job I have been waiting to hear about for something like 8 months. They finally got their money and I will find out next Wednesday if I can get out of this hell hole
- The notion that I am leaving is such a great thing. I can't wait till MLI realizes how much work I did here and that they need at least 3 people to replace me. If the new opportunity gives me that great, but either way whenever I find a new job this will make me happy
- Football season is around the corner and I get to watch the defending super bowl champs go for a repeat and WVU go for a National Championship
- Vacations upcoming to Seattle and Heaven's Amphitheater (Gorge) and 2 trips to Chicago
- The possibility of the "A Field" at Mary Lou Retton Park in Fairmont, WV being named after my father, who spent so much time making that field great.
- The Dave Matthews Band continuing its amazing journey and filling up my summer calendar.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
NYC
Finally I am getting to talk about my wonderful trip to NYC a week or so ago. So here it goes.
Friday
My morning was absolutely hectic as traffic was miserable getting to the airport. I didn't think I would ever make my 7:30 flight when I got to the airport at 6:45. I saw the security line and about lost it. So I thought what the hell I might as well try to make it. I walked up to the kiosk and I couldn't print my boarding pass. So I went up stairs to see a HUGE line for check in. I got through this line at about 7:15 and they had cancelled my reservation. I cancelled one of the 2 tickets I had b/c my friend couldn't go with me but they ended up canceling both. So I finally got the ticket and took off running. Luckily they had a secondary security line open. I got through it and looked at my watch and it was 7:22. I thought there was No way I would make this flight I took off running through the terminal and by some luck, I made it in time to board the plane.
We both got to LGA airport at pretty much the same time which worked out great. That airport is crazy, I had to take a bus to another terminal to find SS and get our stuff together. I was pretty tired from not sleeping much the night before and anxious because I haven't seen her in a while but it all went away when I got off the bus. It was great to finally see her, touch her etc.. again. We grabbed a cab and headed down to Midtown Manhattan.
First stop was our hotel, Milford Plaza. I have stayed here before and it is a nice little hotel in the heart of Broadway and 2 blocks from Times Square. We got very lucky as a room was ready and we were checked in at like 10:30a when it is normally a 3 pm check in. We got situated and then headed out to see the sights.
SS had never been to NYC so I was really excited to show her around. We walked over to Restaurant Row to have some lunch. Nice little place and I love RR, fixed price menus and lots of choices. After a good lunch, we took the Grey Line bus tour around so we could see everything with out walking it all. We had two concerts this weekend to stand through so giving the dogs a rest was a good idea. Our tour guide was a rather old fella and he tended to repeat himself to drive the point home. We went through most of the tour getting off up towards Central Park. Had some drama happen during the tour with some text messages from a crazy girl which I will talk about more in another post. Once the tour was done we did some walking, saw Radio City Music Hall, St. Patricks Cathedral etc. Then we went to SS favorite place, Tiffany's. We avoided the engagement ring floor, more as a joke than anything but did end up buying a nice necklace to match the rest of her stuff. We then headed out towards Central Park and got to go in the new Apple store.. very cool place.
The final stop for the day on the LONG walking tour was Central Park. SS is a huge DMB fan just like me so I figured that we should walk up so I could show her where the CP show was on the great lawn. I really enjoy CP, this tranquil place in the middle of this fast pace city is really neat. We walked all through it, clear up to the great lawn which is a long way. We sat at the Great Lawn and watched some softball and relaxed. It was a gorgeous day and we took advantage. After relaxing we headed back out of CP towards the entrance to jump on a horse and carriage. This was really nice and relaxing. The "driver" gave a lot of great facts about CP and it was so nice out, it was around sunset and the park is just so so peaceful. I was completely relaxed and very happy and I am pretty sure SS enjoyed it. It was supposed to be a surprise but in my infinite wisdom I asked her friend if SS would like it and she spilled the beans. Surprised or not I think it was a really really nice thing.
After that we headed back to the Hotel to change and then went to restaurant Row for dinner again. Nice Italian place, good food and a couple martinis :). It was pretty late by this time and we were exhausted so we headed back to the hotel for the evening.
Saturday
We got up Saturday and headed out to our Brunch destination Essex in the lower east side. Miss Bitch (blog linked on the side) suggested this place as a great spot and boy was she right. For $15.50 we got 3 drinks and food. I started out with a super spicy Bloody Mary and SS had a screwdriver. I ordered the sausage gravy biscuits and eggs and she had a super huge omelet. We proceeded to down 3 or 4 more drinks, mimosas and screwdrivers. The drinks kept on coming b/c SS started talking to one of the hostesses/waitresses and found out they were both from Chicago etc.. so she kept on bringing us drinks. We finally stopped her b/c we were already 1/2 way shitfaced and had a concert to go to. Either on the way down or on the way back we stopped at this store to grab a USB drive for SS and I was looking for some sunglasses. I tried on some killer dolce & gabbana glasses that were pimp. I think the price was $200 and unsure of their authenticity I balked. He then tried some wheeling and dealing, gave me 30% off etc.. then I knew that they could be fake so I bailed.
Now this is where the fun begins, SS drug me to Madame Tussauds wax museum. It was expensive but a good time. The figures looked real and we were drunk cheesing it up with them for pictures and stuff. I had a good time even though I hate to admit it. Some funny pictures of me with the Rock, Prince and my man Bill Clinton. SS took some really funny ones with Joe Montana, Usher, her obsession Regis and N*Sync. Good times...
We headed back to the hotel and took a nap till about 2.
We got up and headed out to the show at Randalls Island. I had 6 tickets to sell, 2 sets of lawn for night 1 and 1 set of seats for Night 2. I got 50 dollars out of them which was horrible. There were tickets everywhere and I didn't want to deal with it so.. I took the money and ran.
Night one was a good show, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones opened first, then Govt. Mule and then DMB. Our seats were horrible, couldn't see the band at all, the people around us just stood around and didn't even sing and about 1/2 way through just left the section. So, SS and I had a ton of room and she was dancing all over the place. The band put on a good set with a Cortez the Killer highlight w/ Warren Haynes and #41 w/ the Flecktones. Once the show was over the clusterfuck began. It took us over 3 hours to get off the island and to midtown. They weren't prepared at all for all the people they needed to bus out of there to the subway. It was really lame and frustrating. We stopped at one of my fav. pizza joints once we got back to midtown and then hit the sack.
Sunday
We got up and went in search of sunglasses and lunch. We walked up to Hotel QT, this little boutique hotel that I stayed at last year in NYC which is awesome. Found a pair of sunglasses too for $9 so I was well on my way. We also checked out the MTV store which was kinda lame. We ate a a place called Chevy's for lunch. It was a chainy Mexican place but SS really liked it from when she ate there in Chicago. The food wasn't bad, the Margartias were awesome, I had a sour apple one. We walked around some more then headed back to the hotel for a little bit of sleep then it was off to another show at Randalls.
Tonight we were in like the 10th row and they were awesome. Bela opened again and then I finally got to see David Gray. If you haven't heard him, he is a must see.. his music is awesome, the guys got no rhythm when he dances but he can sing. DMB was really good even though the cut out my favorite song from the set list (Seek Up). Bela guested on Lie in Our Graves and Bela and the Flecktones guested on Jimi Thing. It was a great show, lots of energy. We got to meet Victor Wooten, the bassist for the Flectones as he was just hanging out in our section. The night before we saw Rashawn Ross but he was on his cell and seemed not to want to be bothered. Tonight was much less of a problem getting back to the hotel we were down there by 12:30 so a little over an hour. We ate at this joint by our hotel that wasn't too bad and then headed to bed.
All in all it was a fantastic weekend. Monday was too short from when we woke up (6am) till our flights (11am) it seemed like it was barely an hour. NYC is always a great time and being there with SS was just awesome as she would say.
Friday
My morning was absolutely hectic as traffic was miserable getting to the airport. I didn't think I would ever make my 7:30 flight when I got to the airport at 6:45. I saw the security line and about lost it. So I thought what the hell I might as well try to make it. I walked up to the kiosk and I couldn't print my boarding pass. So I went up stairs to see a HUGE line for check in. I got through this line at about 7:15 and they had cancelled my reservation. I cancelled one of the 2 tickets I had b/c my friend couldn't go with me but they ended up canceling both. So I finally got the ticket and took off running. Luckily they had a secondary security line open. I got through it and looked at my watch and it was 7:22. I thought there was No way I would make this flight I took off running through the terminal and by some luck, I made it in time to board the plane.
We both got to LGA airport at pretty much the same time which worked out great. That airport is crazy, I had to take a bus to another terminal to find SS and get our stuff together. I was pretty tired from not sleeping much the night before and anxious because I haven't seen her in a while but it all went away when I got off the bus. It was great to finally see her, touch her etc.. again. We grabbed a cab and headed down to Midtown Manhattan.
First stop was our hotel, Milford Plaza. I have stayed here before and it is a nice little hotel in the heart of Broadway and 2 blocks from Times Square. We got very lucky as a room was ready and we were checked in at like 10:30a when it is normally a 3 pm check in. We got situated and then headed out to see the sights.
SS had never been to NYC so I was really excited to show her around. We walked over to Restaurant Row to have some lunch. Nice little place and I love RR, fixed price menus and lots of choices. After a good lunch, we took the Grey Line bus tour around so we could see everything with out walking it all. We had two concerts this weekend to stand through so giving the dogs a rest was a good idea. Our tour guide was a rather old fella and he tended to repeat himself to drive the point home. We went through most of the tour getting off up towards Central Park. Had some drama happen during the tour with some text messages from a crazy girl which I will talk about more in another post. Once the tour was done we did some walking, saw Radio City Music Hall, St. Patricks Cathedral etc. Then we went to SS favorite place, Tiffany's. We avoided the engagement ring floor, more as a joke than anything but did end up buying a nice necklace to match the rest of her stuff. We then headed out towards Central Park and got to go in the new Apple store.. very cool place.
The final stop for the day on the LONG walking tour was Central Park. SS is a huge DMB fan just like me so I figured that we should walk up so I could show her where the CP show was on the great lawn. I really enjoy CP, this tranquil place in the middle of this fast pace city is really neat. We walked all through it, clear up to the great lawn which is a long way. We sat at the Great Lawn and watched some softball and relaxed. It was a gorgeous day and we took advantage. After relaxing we headed back out of CP towards the entrance to jump on a horse and carriage. This was really nice and relaxing. The "driver" gave a lot of great facts about CP and it was so nice out, it was around sunset and the park is just so so peaceful. I was completely relaxed and very happy and I am pretty sure SS enjoyed it. It was supposed to be a surprise but in my infinite wisdom I asked her friend if SS would like it and she spilled the beans. Surprised or not I think it was a really really nice thing.
After that we headed back to the Hotel to change and then went to restaurant Row for dinner again. Nice Italian place, good food and a couple martinis :). It was pretty late by this time and we were exhausted so we headed back to the hotel for the evening.
Saturday
We got up Saturday and headed out to our Brunch destination Essex in the lower east side. Miss Bitch (blog linked on the side) suggested this place as a great spot and boy was she right. For $15.50 we got 3 drinks and food. I started out with a super spicy Bloody Mary and SS had a screwdriver. I ordered the sausage gravy biscuits and eggs and she had a super huge omelet. We proceeded to down 3 or 4 more drinks, mimosas and screwdrivers. The drinks kept on coming b/c SS started talking to one of the hostesses/waitresses and found out they were both from Chicago etc.. so she kept on bringing us drinks. We finally stopped her b/c we were already 1/2 way shitfaced and had a concert to go to. Either on the way down or on the way back we stopped at this store to grab a USB drive for SS and I was looking for some sunglasses. I tried on some killer dolce & gabbana glasses that were pimp. I think the price was $200 and unsure of their authenticity I balked. He then tried some wheeling and dealing, gave me 30% off etc.. then I knew that they could be fake so I bailed.
Now this is where the fun begins, SS drug me to Madame Tussauds wax museum. It was expensive but a good time. The figures looked real and we were drunk cheesing it up with them for pictures and stuff. I had a good time even though I hate to admit it. Some funny pictures of me with the Rock, Prince and my man Bill Clinton. SS took some really funny ones with Joe Montana, Usher, her obsession Regis and N*Sync. Good times...
We headed back to the hotel and took a nap till about 2.
We got up and headed out to the show at Randalls Island. I had 6 tickets to sell, 2 sets of lawn for night 1 and 1 set of seats for Night 2. I got 50 dollars out of them which was horrible. There were tickets everywhere and I didn't want to deal with it so.. I took the money and ran.
Night one was a good show, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones opened first, then Govt. Mule and then DMB. Our seats were horrible, couldn't see the band at all, the people around us just stood around and didn't even sing and about 1/2 way through just left the section. So, SS and I had a ton of room and she was dancing all over the place. The band put on a good set with a Cortez the Killer highlight w/ Warren Haynes and #41 w/ the Flecktones. Once the show was over the clusterfuck began. It took us over 3 hours to get off the island and to midtown. They weren't prepared at all for all the people they needed to bus out of there to the subway. It was really lame and frustrating. We stopped at one of my fav. pizza joints once we got back to midtown and then hit the sack.
Sunday
We got up and went in search of sunglasses and lunch. We walked up to Hotel QT, this little boutique hotel that I stayed at last year in NYC which is awesome. Found a pair of sunglasses too for $9 so I was well on my way. We also checked out the MTV store which was kinda lame. We ate a a place called Chevy's for lunch. It was a chainy Mexican place but SS really liked it from when she ate there in Chicago. The food wasn't bad, the Margartias were awesome, I had a sour apple one. We walked around some more then headed back to the hotel for a little bit of sleep then it was off to another show at Randalls.
Tonight we were in like the 10th row and they were awesome. Bela opened again and then I finally got to see David Gray. If you haven't heard him, he is a must see.. his music is awesome, the guys got no rhythm when he dances but he can sing. DMB was really good even though the cut out my favorite song from the set list (Seek Up). Bela guested on Lie in Our Graves and Bela and the Flecktones guested on Jimi Thing. It was a great show, lots of energy. We got to meet Victor Wooten, the bassist for the Flectones as he was just hanging out in our section. The night before we saw Rashawn Ross but he was on his cell and seemed not to want to be bothered. Tonight was much less of a problem getting back to the hotel we were down there by 12:30 so a little over an hour. We ate at this joint by our hotel that wasn't too bad and then headed to bed.
All in all it was a fantastic weekend. Monday was too short from when we woke up (6am) till our flights (11am) it seemed like it was barely an hour. NYC is always a great time and being there with SS was just awesome as she would say.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
So Much To Say
The trip to NYC was excellent and I have a ton to talk about. I finally got something to do at work so things are going to be busy. I have some good pictures and great memories to share and hopefully will get to it sometime today. Drama tends to follow me and it happened again this weekend and it just makes me wonder why people like to talk about me so much.
Anyhow, I am not really happy about being back at work or being away from SS but I am coping. It will be a busy week for me. I have to finish my freelance web project this week and have a meeting with my lawyer which is a good thing but makes me nervous.
So that's it for now, hopefully more later.
Anyhow, I am not really happy about being back at work or being away from SS but I am coping. It will be a busy week for me. I have to finish my freelance web project this week and have a meeting with my lawyer which is a good thing but makes me nervous.
So that's it for now, hopefully more later.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Off to New York City ....
I can't say how excited I am to get out of the burgh for a weekend and head to NYC. It isn't the burgh that is the problem, it is my shitty job and generally shitty life (or outlook on it). So, I get to head to NYC with SS for the weekend. We are staying a few blocks from Times Square (that picture over there is one I took in 2000 when I was there). SS has never been to NYC so it should be a fun time. I by no means am a "great" travel guide but I know some places and thanks to my good friend Miss Bitch (and her living vicariously through me when it comes to eating at restaurants) it should be a packed weekend.Of course I am going to see Dave Matthews Band this weekend (when don't I) and their festival at Randall's Island. I went last year and it was a good time but this year looks even better. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, David Grey, Gov't Mule, Slightly Stoopid will all be there so a lot to listen to!
For the first time though this is really different for me, I always am geared up to see DMB, as I have talked about before they just make me happy and that is something I crave right now. This time though I think I am just looking forward to seeing SS. It has been close to or over a month since we have hung out and I look forward to spending time with her.
I do have the worst luck though. Last weekend while helping my friend Jodi move, I stepped on the edge of their driveway and twisted my ankle. Of course this is the ankle that I have spent weeks on crutches for previous injuries. It has been swelling like a bitch so hopefully it clears up. I was going to write more about how bad luck tends to fall my way but now is not the time. I am in a I don't give a fuck mood and when 3:30 rolls around (or whenever my boss leaves) I am on vacation and I can't wait to touch down tomorrow in NYC.
To all of my other friends that are traveling to Chicago or elsewhere, have a safe and happy weekend. I am considering laying a bet down that one of my friends might not come back from Chicago... :)
Have a great weekend everyone.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Littlefield = idiot
Once again the Pirates have traded 1/2 the team off and got little to nothing in return.
Sean Casey, 1B, to Tigers --> Brian Rogers, P to Pirates
Roberto Hernandez, P, & Oliver Perez, P, to Mets Xavier --> Nady, RF, to Pirates
Kip Wells, P, to Rangers --> Jesse Chavez, P, to Pirates
Craig Wilson, RF, to Yankees --> Shawn Chacon, P, to Pirates
My favorite part of the whole thing is Littlefields quote:
McClatchy.. spend some fucking money or sell the team to Mark Cuban... at least he would buy some players that could get us above .500.
Just when the Pirates win 5 in a row, have over 100,000 people in attendance for the weekend series they just get rid of people.
Now don't get me wrong, I think Craig Wilson sucks and I am glad he is gone. Hernandez was fine too, he is an older reliever that would give a young guy a shot. I am 50/50 on Kip Wells, he has been hurt and wasn't given any chance by the Pirates this year, just like Josh Fogg last year. Perez needed to be kept, the kid is going through something that none of us know, but he is a talented pitcher. Sean Casey should have been able to retire a Pirate. He infused this team with energy and great hitting and if it wasn't for a freak accident at 1st base earlier this year he would have won at least 10 of those one run games for us. Big mistake on this one.
Here's to Dave Littlefield and wonderful management, get ready for another 5 years of losing seasons... but we are used to that right?
Just to add to this, a blog I read the carbolicsmokeblog has some great stuff about the Pirates trades... cracks me up.
Sean Casey, 1B, to Tigers --> Brian Rogers, P to Pirates
Roberto Hernandez, P, & Oliver Perez, P, to Mets Xavier --> Nady, RF, to Pirates
Kip Wells, P, to Rangers --> Jesse Chavez, P, to Pirates
Craig Wilson, RF, to Yankees --> Shawn Chacon, P, to Pirates
My favorite part of the whole thing is Littlefields quote:
Asked to assess his day, Littlefield replied, "I don't want to be in this situation, making trades. My goal is to win. We want to be in the position where we're acquiring players because we're battling for a playoff spot."I'm sorry but you have NEVER wanted to win because you trade off everyone and don't get anything in return. I just read an article that talked about how Littlefield wanted Perez and Nady from the Padres a few years ago instead of Jason Bay. Are you kidding me? Jason Bay is the cornerstone of this franchise and he didn't want him. Goes to show that this guy has no clue how to run a baseball team.
McClatchy.. spend some fucking money or sell the team to Mark Cuban... at least he would buy some players that could get us above .500.
Just when the Pirates win 5 in a row, have over 100,000 people in attendance for the weekend series they just get rid of people.
Now don't get me wrong, I think Craig Wilson sucks and I am glad he is gone. Hernandez was fine too, he is an older reliever that would give a young guy a shot. I am 50/50 on Kip Wells, he has been hurt and wasn't given any chance by the Pirates this year, just like Josh Fogg last year. Perez needed to be kept, the kid is going through something that none of us know, but he is a talented pitcher. Sean Casey should have been able to retire a Pirate. He infused this team with energy and great hitting and if it wasn't for a freak accident at 1st base earlier this year he would have won at least 10 of those one run games for us. Big mistake on this one.
Here's to Dave Littlefield and wonderful management, get ready for another 5 years of losing seasons... but we are used to that right?
Just to add to this, a blog I read the carbolicsmokeblog has some great stuff about the Pirates trades... cracks me up.
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