Some goodwill around the holidays...

Fortunate one...

I am fortunate to have 3M in charge of the "media" decisions of the house. [I guess the term fortunate would be relative. For example, at 10pm on Monday nights when he won't turn over the remote to watch my one guilty pleasure, the one show I long to watch...then it's more of a curse...]

...anyways, if it weren't for him - I would have settled for the Comcast package rather than taking the Verizon Fios one when we moved in [In typical fashion, it's bit of a maverick idea, in the Red Bank area, at least].

I would have missed one of the most important NFL games of the season should we have gone with Comcast. The Jets are traveling up to New England to battle it out for first place in a key AFC East match-up. It's sad so many fans will have no choice but to miss the game.

So - what the heck, NFL network? Stop being such a monopoly. No one really likes that game anyways. It takes too damn long to finish and someone always cheats. Tons of people in the dirty Jerz are upset that they will be missing out on the game. Heck, even US senators are on board with giving the fans more access to their favorite teams!

Will there be any drama tonight, I wonder? Stay tuned: sports, it's the greatest reality show on tv. [Uh, maybe tied for the greatest with the Hills.]

Boomerayy...

Ok, maybe that's not the best play on words, but I've had a tough week and don't feel like being creative much right now.

But who knew that two of my loves [football and RR] would collide! During some downtime at work on Sunday, I opened the November issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. There is a "how-to" column where a professional weighs in on their area of expertise. Who was it this month? BOOMER ESAISON on how to throw a perfect spiral! Not that I'm a huge fan of his [I don't quite 'get' him...he's a little egotistical and a little strange, like how he gushes over O.A.R..] but I was just ecstatic that two worlds played so nicely with one another!

Post-season accollades...

Congrats to David Wright and Carlos Beltran for earning their second and third respective golden glove awards. Quite an accomplishment given the number of decent third and center fielders in the game. If only for each golden glove a team received translated into a slash in the win column. Then the entire post-season script would have been rewritten and we would have celebrated as our team rode over the Verrazano bridge waving their bats to a Killers anthem. (Who, by the way, are coming to NYC January 25th.)


Oh well, there's always next year.

Wordless Wednesday...

Dear Santa,

Due to the nature of the corrupt leaders, businesses and people in recent times, I am led to believe that my own, personal actions over the past year qualify me to be a viable candidate for the "nice" list. Please consider my Christmas list, which can be found below. The items are in no particular order.

Should you have any problems with the files or have trouble locating any of the items, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you so much for your time and enjoy your day!
Shan

...updated for 2009, of course...

Love this...

I have to give a shout out to this mom blogger (who coincidentally is helping me out with work). Her blog is so funny [and organized] and very well-researched. I had to reference today's post to share with you [because, quite frankly, I didn't do this research and it includes some freebies! woo hoo!]...

Chefdruck Musings: Tasty Tuesday - Voting Edition

Chefdruck Musings: Tasty Tuesday - Voting Edition#links

In the spirit of the season (election season, that is)...

A house divided...

We made it through a rough heartbreaking baseball season. Fast forward to football season (nine weeks in now). I've learned very quickly that Sunday mornings are to be spent relaxed and relatively quiet. Don't disrupt 3M's thought process. Don't ask too many questions about anything. Just enjoy the company because in a few hours all hell will break loose. Expletives will fly and objects may be slammed and/or thrown. I've actually suggested that 3M visit the Smash Shack to let out his frustrations...sometimes he underestimates his strength as he slams down the butter knife onto my favorite purple plate. :(

You see, 3M is an avid Bills fan. Don't ask him how or why a native New Jersey-ian developed a passion for B-Lo, but he does. I think he enjoys the drama.

Today was a crucial game. AFC east rivals, my Jets versus his Bills. It was a sloppy game with turnovers and missed field goals; however, Brett and the boys pulled out a much-needed win. I don't think I'll gloat [too much].

Saturday haiku...

Foliage

sweater, jeans and boots

it's the perfect autumn day

to watch some football

Can I have "it's a small world after all" for $1000?...

You know that commercial where it shows people all over the nation - in the barber shop, at the local sports bar, in their own homes - yelling at the TV - "Marsupial!" only for the contestant to answer "what is a mammal"? Well a similar situation happened tonight. The answer in response to the category "Request" something like "my ring tone to this trio's hit song 'Bootylicious' just keeps me begging to hear the entire thing."

No one knew it. No one even guessed. No thumbs convulsing like crazy. Was there a cricket in the room, I wonder? But it's even more frustrating when you [sort of but not really at all] know the contestant. I was yelling like Edith could hear me - "Destiny's Child! C'mon you knooow this one, Edith! DC - Destiny's Child." I was telepathically unsuccessful at contacting her via the TV. She ended up fairing well, second place. She held her own. I think if she would have connected with me that would have been the turning point. The momentum would have then been in her court and she would be coming back to Alex tomorrow. Oh well. Most people can only hope for 15 minutes of fame and here she is with 22.

P.S. - The missing link here is 3M's former boss, the sports information director at Fordham University. Edith is his wife. Small world, eh?

Twitter me sparkly...

Twitter me! shanSparkles

Is it just me...

...or should the Mets have won the World Series?

A good friend of mine sent me this email response today: "Hey thaanks... At the paradwe! Whop whoopam talkt oy iu soon!"

I was quite jealous. #1 – because she was not at work but having a beer (or two…or three) and #2 – she was at the Phillie's phreakin parade and I was not at the Mets parade instead.

So let me be a good sport here and give a quick shout out to all my friends, colleagues and acquaintances who are basking in the success now of their favorite team (albeit they may have only begun to root for them a mere 72 hours ago). Enjoy it, savor it, wallow in it, if you will. You have finally broken out of the deep dark abyss Joe Carter created for you 15 years ago.

Welcome back!

I am back after quite a long hiatus and I must say – I missed you oh, blog-o-sphere. My pure laziness and lack of discipline has kept us apart.

Rule number one of blogging is consistency and that has been my number one fault. So thanks for checking back in and we’ll be talking soon and often. I promise.

:)

SO cute...

Love it:



Grab a hi'ya bunny of your own here...they are oh-so cute!

Wordless Wednesday...

Yes I realize it's Thursday...and these pics are from the summer...but I love them none-the-less!

...sorry babe, I had to...

...you can't tell, but we are sitting on butterfly chairs in a butterfly garden...

Labor Day weekend...(cont.)

In regards to the Labor Day post below, I found these tips on how to dress for game day on myscoop.us [or you can just click here]. I love this list. It's so amusing to me. Although I must admit I am a little less Southern belle and a little more down-n-dirty...and I know the difference between a nickel and dime formation is not five cents.

Without further delay, here are some tips to help make the average fan look truly "fan"tastic in the stands:

• Hair:
• Your hair can cause you to feel about 10 degrees hotter than you actually are.The humidity itself is enough to suffocate you during early football season not to mention the traumatic effects that it has on our hair! Often times you may ask yourself why you styled, straightened or even dried your hair.Please refrain yourself from pulling a “Brittney” and shaving your head as there are alternatives to this madness. Pony tails have come a long way and they aren’t just for keeping you cool and your hair out of your face during a workout. Most styles prove to be fairly easy to re-create without the need of a personal glam squad or even a gimmicky tool such as the “Topsy Tail” that many of us invested in during our youth. Here are a few personal favorites that should be easy to recreate:
• Side braid with pony
• Princess Laia braids
• Low sleek side bun
• Low sleek pony
• Part hair down middle and either twist or braid two strands and secure
• One last thing to be noted is to avoid using an abundance of hair products unless you want your hair to be the venus fly trap for gnats and other pesky insects that are drawn to your hair.

• Attire:
  
• One of the difficult things about the beginning of football season is dressing for the stifling heat. In the beginning it is so extremely hot that the temp is flirting with the triple digits yet all the clothing in our favorite stores are comprised of wool and other thick materials that we will later be thankful for, but not early football season. At this point in our summer wardrobe we are tired of everything that our closet has to offer so we feel that we have nothing to wear thus putting us in a fashion rut. Learn from my mistake and whatever you do refrain as long as possible from wearing your brand new wool dress unless you want to be wiping away a “sweat stash” all day!
• The best things to wear for the scorching heat and humidity are clothes that breathe such as light and airy fabrics. These will keep you much cooler and will not stick to your body as other thicker materials have a tendency to do. Jersey dresses and sun dresses are always a great choice. Opt for lighter colors if possible.
• Make-Up:
• To avoid looking like your face is sliding off go minimal on the makeup! Forgo using heavy matted powders that offer full coverage for a softer look. Your face will be perspiring and caked on powder does not fix this problem it only makes it worse as your face feels suffocated as well. A great alternative for matted powders is a tinted moisturizer. If you already have oily skin and you can’t stand the thought of going all day without powder to touch up your T-zone then switch to a lightweight translucent powder. Also, Too Faced Re-Fresh Blotting Papers from Sephora do the trick as well!
• Leave your lipstick at home. This is going to be a personal toughie for me as I do not go to the mailbox without my bright red lips. Think about it, lipstick, alcohol and scorching temps do not mix. You do not want your picture floating around the internet of you looking like the Joker with smeared lipstick all over your face! A great alternative is a soft lip gloss with a hint of color or even a tinted lip balm. Once the cool weather rolls in you can break the lipstick back out!
• Accessories:
  
• My new favorite accessory for keeping cool during football season is not an accessory to be worn better yet it is to be held. Handheld fans are making a comeback and what better timing? If you are thinking battery powered handheld fans you are thinking wrong- think Scarlett O”Hara minus the lace or Cleopatra. Handheld fans are a great and stylish way to cool off.
• As always hats are a great accessory to hide a bad hair day or hair that does not cooperate with the heat and humidity. The irony of a hat is that they are so easy yet at the same time hats give the appearance that you actually put forth some effort. Grab the big hat that you bought for the Kentucky Derby party. Yes, the one that you thought you would never be able to wear again. Guaranteed you will get more compliments while wearing the hat than not. Even if you don’t start out the day wearing your big hat or fedora take them and leave them in the car just in case you decide that you need them.
• Necklaces, bracelets, earrings- these are totally up to your discretion but do keep in mind that you mind end up with some funky tan lines especially with your necklaces.
• Shoes:
  
• Never one to pass on the opportunity to wear heels it must be noted that heels are a work out, especially when it comes to trekking all over campus tail gate hopping to meet friends. When I say work out I mean a calf burning, sweat induced work out. In order to avoid walking around barefoot like Brittney at a gas station bathroom I always throw a pair of flip flops in my purse to slip on once I decide that I can’t stand the pain any longer.
• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate:
• No matter what you are drinking whether it be beer or your favorite game day concoction be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water! Another great way to stay refreshed is to keep a bottle of Evian misting spray in your purse. These great little bottles provide a refreshing spritz of water to your face that can rejuvenate even the warmest of fans.

Wordless Wednesday...

...sun setting on Summer and rising to Fall...

Labor Day weekend...

Ahhhh, labor day weekend. Good bye summer - hello autumn. Best time of the year for any sporty and sparkly chick. Not only do we get the pennant races of baseball, but it is also the start of the pigskin races. So much speculation during the months of September and October:

• Who's winning the wild card race?
  
• The Mets have to win the NL East the way those Brewers are playing. (Gotta shout to a former Met fave - Mike Cameron, who has been holding his own this past season despite a small setback.)
  
• Who is the most overrated team in the NFL?
• Heck, the Jets have a good chance of sneakin in the playoffs with the beefed up O-line and Favre-daddy calling the shots
• Where are my knee-high leather boots?
• No better day than a brisk run, then dressing in sweater, tight jeans and boots to watch College Gameday and finishing off with a Mets nightcap.

So here's to hanging up the bikini and bringing out the tweed caps and to the J-E-T-S Mets Mets Mets!

Veep veep, vroooooom...

Both presidential candidates have now announced to the US of A their selections for vices, for right hand [wo]men. Although the fact that Johnny Mac decided to make his announcement a few hours earlier than planned completely put the kibosh on a planned interview to go Nationally for my company (ughhhhhhhhh!), his choice was certainly an interesting one. [Yeah, they had make-up, were mic'd up and ready to go when BREAKING NEWS flashed across the producer's computer leaving us in the dust.]

Politics has not particularly struck a chord with me in the earlier elections, but as I continue to age I feel like the present issues are becoming more and more real and have more of an affect on my lifestyle. 3M has taught me the best kind of voter is an informed one. The republican appointment of Sarah Palin is especially intriguing. She truly has worked her way up the ranks, a former PTA member is now on the ticket for the 2008 presidential race. Good for her, a tough as nails former goalie maverick and mother of five running with the big boys.

For Labor Day, VH1 Classic is celebrating the wondrous decade of the my birth with 80 hours of 80's. Technically being a child of the 80's, it was only in my younger years, so much I do not recollect, but I do enjoy 80s throwbacks, nonetheless. Did you know that Bow Wow's song titled "Basketball" of the Like Mike soundtrack was a remake of the Kurtis Blow original? Yeah, me neither. I don't know which one I like better....

...I'm glued to this station for the rest of the night, Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" video is now on, a favorite for swimmers everywhere after the first 10 of 20 100's on the 1:15 are completed. [Shout out to Sayreville War Memorial HS, Alma mater of my dad!]

Wordless Wednesday...

...Mets/Phils at Citizen's Bank Park...
8.26.08
to know the result, click here, but replace the 2 in the line describing the lead before deficit with a 7

... fans don't get rowdy in Section 308...

Uncle June'll get ya...or have someone else waiting in the lot

A pun a day...

I'm a sucker for a corny joke so, needless to say, I was cracking up at these. The last one is the best one, so read all the way down...

• Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.
• A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, 'I'll serve you, but don't start anything.'
• Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.
• A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
• A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: 'A beer please, and one for the road.'
• Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: 'Does this taste funny to you?'
• 'Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home.''That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome.' 'Is it common?' Well,'It's Not Unusual.'
• Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, 'I was artificially inseminated this morning.' 'I don't believe you,' says Dolly. 'It's true; no bull!' exclaims Daisy.
• An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.
• Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
• I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I couldn't find any.
• A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, 'Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!' The doctor replied, 'I know you can't - I've cut off your arms!'
• I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.
• What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.
• Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says, 'Dam!'
• Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
• A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse. 'But why,' they asked, as they moved off. 'Because,' he said, 'I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer.'
• A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt , and is named 'Ahmal.' The other goes to a familyin Spain ; they name him 'Juan.' Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, 'They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal.'
• Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him. (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good) ..... A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

"Shea"ing goodbye...

On Friday night 3M so kindly gave my dad two tickets to the Mets game. Dad ended up taking me. What started out as a great game with beautiful weather, a heck of a battle on the mound (Santana vs. Oswalt) and Latina Fiesta promotion to boot, turned out as a sob fest. (FYI - Mets won 3-0...with a Wright blooper RBI single to score Reyes and a two-run shot by Schneider with Churh on base - his first game back since being knocked around.)

Walking out of the stadium, looking up at the illuminated outline of a catcher, my eyes filled with water. I couldn't help but to thank my dad (and Shea) for 18 years of memories. My first game there was at seven years old and, since then, my father has made it a point to take me to Flushing at least once a year. Most games I couldn't tell you who was pitching or even the score, but what I can tell you is that I went with the greatest dad in the world [what a sapp I'm being] and that I had a wonderful time.

And the memories, ah, there are memories galore. Like when he couldn't find a parking spot and we parked on the street in front of a store called "Toys 'F Us" No, that wasn't a bulb that stopped worked, it was the letter "F".

Or when we sat in the row right behind the clock in right field and we put our sodas on top of the clock and an usher came over and told us to take them down.

Or when I wore [gulp] one of those orange and blue striped cat-in-the-hat hats and insisted my picture get taken by the Todd Hundley banner. [Um, yeah - I may have to burn that photo...]

Vic the quick...

One of the best parts of watching the Mets on SNY is the commentator staff. Gary, Keith and Ron are a trifecta that only Neapolitan ice cream can match (and even with that comparison, there is always one element that is fills 3/4 of the carton when the other two are licked clean...)

During today's broadcast, a foul ball was hit into one of the radio booths. The announcer tossed it down to a fan in the mezzanine level, who upon dropping it into the screen below, got booed by the loyal boo-birds aka Mets fans.

As the ball slid down the screen atop the lower level seats, the ball boy quickly ran out onto the field and scooped it up no sooner than it hit the field below the backstop. Such a motion was picked up by the crafty SNY crew and thus the moniker "Vic the Quick" was born. Love it.

Also, we can't mention Victor without giving some love to ball boy Matt, too. Three-fourths into the season and those white pants are lookin' a bit loose thanks to all the hustling throughout the year.

Geez - after proofing this I realized almost failed to mention the best, most insightful sidelines reporter of all time: Kevin Burkhardt. This guy went from updates and the overnight shift to selling cars to 660 to SNY. Talk about a comeback story.

Wordless Wednesday...

...in honor of the start college football season...

here's to a former P-Way [YOU KNOW!] star, turned Rutgers walk-on, turned New York Jet (for now)

Passions...

Although the season premiere of The Hills last night was less-than-impressive, minor leaguer Doug Reinhard is going to get some play. (You know that name, KRoss? Where'd he go to college?)

Usually Lauren Conrad (or LC to those who were there from the beginning) occupies her Friday and Saturday night with fellow socialites; however, this season, she is smitten with a Aberdeen Ironbird. I have to give her props this year for her potential love interest. Even though Doug, brother of "the new girl" Casey from Laguna Beach had a foot in the door, LC can't be blamed for her attraction to him. Minor leaguers have one quality that is very attractive in a man - they are passionate about their profession.

Much like those third and fourth-stringers who made the August roster of an NFL team, the free agents who get in only during the final minutes of a preseason football game. Fighting tooth and nail and sacrificing if only to be named to the practice squad in the fifth week because his body type resembles a particular opponent's, they deserve all the credit in the world. They have passion, a quality that is so many times hard to find.

EXtreme Dating (Mets style)...

Completely unintentional of the later situation, I decided to work from home today. We have a virtual office, which makes it so easy to get as much work done as if I was, indeed, in the office. It was just one of those unmotivated mornings. I had checked my email early and got into a rhythm that just could not be interrupted by a shower. So the email to the boss followed.

It happened to be quite the perfect day to stay at home as the Metropolitans took on the Pirates for a Businessman's special. Although the lack of effort by the bullpen was apparent (again...) I actually missed the three go-ahead runs by the Bucs. You see - I was flipping back and forth to the innovators of reality TV - the dating shows. What was once shown only at like 11pm (they can be quite risque) can now be seen during Verizon Fios' daytime lineup. (Also want to give a shout to my fave reality show of the moment - The Hills, which premieres tonight on MTV at 10pm! Woo hoo!)

Back to the dating shows - a show that 3M turned me on to, EXtreme dating features a very familiar host, especially to those of us who can smell the pigskin in the air right about now. Before she was forecasting the weather on FOX Football Sunday Jillian (Barberie) Reynolds was the quick witted host of this very classy show. Now that I think about it, Julie Alexandria (host of SNY's Beer Money) was also on the entertainment side, hosting the pop culture internet show WallStrip. Now, I'm not implying that these women don't have talent - but what are their true credentials? How do they land these top roles in the sport industry? How many women lost out, how many women with a strong sports knowledge base had no chance, because of the superficial nature of our society? The power to turn heads is often times stronger than the power to lend ears.

Growing up in Pennsylvania doesn't make it exactly easy to be a Mets fan. Before the days of GameDay on MLB.com, satellite TVs and MLB packages, the only means to tuning in to a New York game was by listening to its flagship station, Sports Radio 66 - The Fan!, WFAN New York. [Did you sing along the jingle as your read the type?] My dad, an avid fan, followed The Fan religiously. At a young age, I didn't quite appreciate talk radio, but maybe the poor reception was to blame.

Where we grew up, there were a lot of farms. And cows. And tractors. And, although I must give props, because the area has been built up quite nicely as of late, the area still is not too susceptible to an AM frequency from the NYC. Still, my father, the faithful, loyal guy he is...would always have 660AM tuned in. Once the static kicked in, he knew exactly where it would break ['Dadddd, this is so annoying, just turn it off!', 'Just wait until we cross the bridge, it get better over there']. He was happy for even 15 seconds of audible air, just to hear the pitch count or who was at bat so he could make an educated guess whether the Mets got out of the previous inning unscathed.

I remember listening to Mike and the Mad Dog with him and learning Chris Russo and Mike Francesa's names at an early age. My dad would always chuckle to himself and say, 'these guys, they're nuts, aren't they.' Of course a rhetorical question referring to the show's pit-bull like rants and tactics. (Here's a random fact - Mike and the Mad Dog averaged 659,000 listeners per week since its debut.)

So, to say the least, the split between Mike and the Mad Dog is a sad one. Sometimes, people have to go their own ways, but in the metropolitan sports world, they will surely be missed.

Also, how bout Mike Phelp's freakin finish [such a sucker for alliteration] in the 100 fly last night?! Wow. And, the funny thing is, when you are an 8 and under, learning the techniques of to complete a finish - you are taught to stretch out, reach and extend - not to take that one last, short stroke.

Quote of the day...

"Yo, I hate those indoor pools. You feel like you are being eaten alive by bacteria when you walk into one. Your flesh will disintegrate in the air in one of those disgusting places." -3M while watching The Today Show interview with Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte this morning.

Ocho cinco...seriously...

Chad Johnson has taken a few preliminary steps to legally change his last name to "Ocho Cinco." This move would allow him to have "Johnson" replaced on the back of his jersey with this numerical nickname. I have to give him credit. He is the king of publicity.

Actually, pointing out a few recent events in football, it would be quite a battle for supremacy of that throne. Between the get-up antics of Sheriff Gonnagetcha (or Dolla Bill, or Dr. Don't Know) of the Washington Redskins' Clinton Portis and the sit-up king of the world Terrell Owens, this could be a fight for the ages.

Surely these acts are carefully calculated, creating quite a circus show for those in the media audience hovering around professional sport, but it then, consequently, brings up the everlasting question in my profession - is any publicity good publicity

Wordless Wednesday...

...Opening Day at Shea...

4.8.08

Mets lose to Phils 5-2

...despite leading 2-0 into seventh, the bullpen could not maintain the lead. little did we know this would be the story of the season...

D means drunk and disgusting

Because of the lewd behavior of unruly Jets fan at Gate D, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority publicly issued some new rules for Meadowlands football-goers. Those include parking lots only open five hours prior to kick-off, rather than seven and view-blocking banners so that the masses can't partake in the public display of exhibitionism from floors above.

What puzzles me (and no it is not the two hour reduction in pregame partying, c'mon - you're telling me people can't get loaded in five hours?!), is the fact that none of the tenants took this opportunity to condone these new rules. It would have been a great forum for them to reach out to express and emphasize the importance their fans' safety. It would have been a great publicity platform. But then again, what more publicity do you need as a sports team in the metropolitan area...

On a completely separate note, as I began to enter this post, I heard a soft knock on my door. It was my neighbor asking me to come outside. Our backyard is basically a free-for-all parking lot. Our landlord rents out the empty spaces to local workers, as parking can be scarce on the streets. Cars are parked within either three inches of one-another, making you suck in the gut and shimmy into the seat or right behind you, forcing a 17-point turn in order to exit the space without any bumps. Anyway the point of the story is my neighbor called me out to take a look at this one car, which left a small crack in each of its four windows. The crack was just enough for a curious squirrel to sneak in. Ha! Poor lil guy...

And this is what you would get by combining the Gate D antics with the lil guy in the car.

Those women are ripped...

Today (for my birthday) we went out to a company lunch at Asian Star. Top-notch Chinese/Japanese joint - no matter what you order, it's delish!

I found the situation to be quite humorous. Here I am, an American water polo player [semi-retired] who in an Asian restaurant watching the China vs. USA women's water polo game. Funny, no?

What a barnburner it indeed was, Mr. Mescall. The score teetered for the duration of play and a few underwater shots grabbed the attention of my company. My boss, the witty-woman she is made quite a crack, "they should call it the 'kick-cam' ". Gotta love that alliteration.

Another comment came from the table, one that I've heard all too many times. "Those women are ripped...their upper bodies..." Yeah- when you hear that comment and look behind you, chances are its either a.) some sort of water athlete, b.) a shot-putter, or c.) the ninth wonder of the world, aka Chyna-doll.

So now its off to Brother's Restaurant for my bday dinner (calories don't count on birthdays, right?!). If you are ever in the Monmouth County/Red Bank area - stop by. Really. Best thin crust pizza everrrrr. And the ownership isn't all too bad either.

P.S. - In case you were wondering and haven't googled it yet out of anticipation, the US won 12-11! Woo hoo!

Feels like Christmas morning...

I remember on Christmas Eve, as a kid, laying awake looking at the ceiling, because I wanted to hear reindeer footsteps on the roof. Then, no sooner than I fell asleep I would wake up (still to this date the first one in the house) so early because it was finally here. The day we get to see all of our cousins, tear through presents and stuff our faces. I had that excited feeling in my belly - anticipating the aromas of cookies and ham and pine, and the hugs and laughs of the family. I wish it could be Christmas all year long...

Here I am today with that feeling again. You see, this is my birthday weekend. I don't go overboard with MY birthday (per say - although it does last a whole weekend, of course) but this year is different. My main man (3M for short) planned a whole weekend just around me! Me me me!

A little bit of butterfiles and flowers and fine dining followed up by baseball and beer. Does this man know the way to my heart or what?! So, he deserves a little bit of shameless advertising here. Visit his blog: Sal Speaks. You won't be disappointed.

Happy 8.8.08!

What a wonderful Friday evening!

The start of my blog, an Oliver Perez gem and a feel-good, safe Opening ceremony. That Lang Lang gave me goosebumps, boy, that lasted a good hour. Good for Mescall for keeping the festivities a secret!

Anyway - welcome to the portal of my mind. I thought I might as well jump on the bandwagon and try a bit of blogging for myself. I'm going to [try] to keep my profession's KISSS mantra true throughout my postings - keep it simple, sparkly and sporty! Ok, ok - so, I added the last two "s"' [what's the correct punctuation there?!] for effect, but hey - I must brand myself, too, right?!

You'll find these postings are eclectic as Elton John's sunglass collection, but that's me. I love people, sports and all things beautiful, fun and sparkly and am looking forward to sharing them with you. So, without further ado, happy reading!

A few "housekeeping" items...

Doesn't it drive you batty when someone either puts "housekeeping items" in the subject or the body of an email? Like, c'mon. Really? Housekeeping? At work? Ok, who left the mugs seeping in the communal sink again? But no, that's not what it means...at all.

Before I start getting slack about putting a Jets shot of Chad Pennington in my header, I'm gonna lay it out there. I like him. He's a great guy...and had a rough go of it in New York, but do you know what? He made it and he did it with dignity. And, he already got scooped up by another team! So much for that noodle arm, eh? Too bad his signing comes from within the AFC East, but you know I'll be rooting for him to throw 17-for-23 for 280 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT when the Dolphins lose to the Jets 24-21 in the regular season.

How stylin' was Team USA walking into the Ceremony? An eight-piece-suit by Ralph Lauren was nothing short of impressive. The RL beret is like the ROOTS beret from 2006 (with sales, marketing, etc.). Think Kanye West had any influence in that decision for sponsorship? As we all know, Ralph Lauren was borin' before he wore 'im.