Bored at the Beach

Four Years at "The Beach"

2009-01-12T17:17:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow (1/13) marks the 4th anniversary of this blog. It is really hard to believe that four years have passed! I was reading some old posts earlier and it is strange to see all I've been through since the creation of this blog.

I have lived in 5 different places
I have dated a bunch of different people
I have worked 3 different jobs
I got engaged
I moved into/bought a new home with Jen
I adopted a pet
My family moved out of state
My sister got divorced
A very close friend passed away
The Sugar V moved to Texas and stopped blogging
I've made a whole bunch of new friends
I've lost touch with a few friends
I've reconnected with dozens of old friends (thanks facebook)
I saw an African American win the Presidency
I saw a US City get wiped out by a hurricane
I saw a Pope pass away and a new one appointed
I saw the Democrats take back control of Congress
I saw Saddam Hussein hang
I saw VA Tech get shot up by a maniac
I saw Wall Street crash
I watched a war that never ends
I saw Hank Aaron's Homerun record fall
I saw baseball players testify before Congress
Ipods, Iphones, and a ton of other technologies

Alot in four years...and I am not even including it all.....

A Life With Children......

2009-01-08T09:30:00.003-05:00

Since moving into our new home in July, I've been exposed to children more than I ever have been in my entire life. Yeah, I managed a Discovery Zone fun center years ago, but it was a job, and my responsibilities were to manage the facility and make sure the place was turning a profit. So, I didn't get too involved with the children.

Since leaving Long Beach six months ago, a town where most people are single, child-free, and care-free...I've been around families and children on a regular basis. Since joining Facebook and getting back in touch with old friends, neighbors, and co-workers, I've noticed that over 90% of them are now married with kids, divorced with kids, or just have a kid and were never married. People I NEVER thought would get married are, and people who I never thought would have kids, have them...it is stunning.

Anyway, I've noticed a trend with just about every couple/person with children. They have NO identity. They post profile pictures of their kids instead of themselves, everything they talk/write about is about what their kids are doing, they talk about PTA meetings, school conferences, child illnesses, soccer practices, report cards, and a host of other boring topics. Jen and I watch our neighbors chauffeur their kids around constantly...ballet, dance, soccer, play dates....these people are in their 30's and look/feel like they are in their 50's from the constant running around and lack of peace. They celebrate when their kids go back to school or are out on a play date because they can get some quiet time or relaxation in...maybe even SEX!

On New Years Eve, we were invited to our next door neighbor's house. They are a great couple.....they have two young boys (5 and 8). They had about 40 kids there and about 25 or so adults. The kids stayed downstairs, for the most part, and played, had a magician there, etc. Well, when Jen and I arrived, we stood out from the crowd. People came up to us and thought we were 10 years younger than we were...for real....and asked "What are you doing here?"....in disbelief that two young people without kids would be at a party like that.

I promised my neighbor I would do the music for the party. Well, when I started playing the music, these housewives started dancing like manaics...as if they had not been out in YEARS!!!! Jen and I were just standing and watching this all unfold. They all were raving about how much fun they were having, how great the music was, they were getting hammered on martinis...it was quite the scene. It just made me realize that once again, these people had kids, and everything they now do revolves around the kids...and they have no fun, no identity.

Sure, seeing your kids at Christmas all excited must be a thrill...but Christmas comes once a year! I truly don't know how these people do it 24/7/365. I am glad I met and am marrying a woman with the same views on kids as I have... which is "Thanks, but NO THANKS!" In my opinion, there is definitely a lot more to life than a minivan, parent/teacher conferences, play dates, doctor visits, homework, and driving kids around....it's called actually living!

2008 Wrap-Up

2008-12-30T16:54:00.003-05:00

I truly can't believe 2008 is over. It went so fast. Honestly, where did this DECADE go? It seems like yesterday that we were all worrying about Y2K and ringing in a New Millenium. I am hoping 2009 is a great year for all of us. We have a new President who gives us a lot of hope. Let's all pray he lives up to what he promised us during the campaign, God knows we need it!

2008 was a very different year for me. Full of highs and lows. I must say, a lot more highs than lows. I got engaged, moved into a new home with Jen, started planning a wedding, and a lot of other great stuff. As I sit here with 31 hours left in the year, I am thankful for a lot.

I am thankful for Jen. She is an amazing person...anyone who can put up with me for this long, and under the same roof, must be great. She has made my life a lot more complete and I am excited about our wedding, but more so, about our marriage and life together.

I am thankful for the new friends I've made this year. Our neighbors are truly great people. We all look out for each other, get along so well, and enjoy each other's company so much. I am glad we picked this house, not only beacuse the house is great, but mostly because of the friends we have made.

I am thankful that I got the opportunity, through Facebook, to reconnect with dozens of people I had lost touch with over the years. I look forward to getting together with many of them in 2009 and catching up. I am also thankful for the people I've kept in touch with over the years, my friends. Vito and Margaret, Supplymadam (Lisa), Amy, and so many more people. Although I don't get to see everyone as much as I'd like, keeping in touch by email, phone, etc means a lot to me.

I am thankful for our pets. As much as they drive us crazy, we love them. To think Bruce was just two days away from death in 2005, and the fact that he is living a full, happy life with us makes me so happy.

I am thankful for the 20 years I knew Kevin Farley. Although we lost him this year, I have the greatest memories of him. He was a great influence in my life and he will never ever be forgotten. In a world full fo people who are "fake" and poor role models, Kevin was genuine, down to earth, and a true role model. He treated people so well and made a difference. The world needs more of that.

Family. Although my Mom still drives me a little nuts, even from North Carolina, I am glad our relationship is solid again. I am glad I got to see her and my Brother a couple of times this year. Brian is the best. I am also thankful for Jen's family. From the beginning, they have made me feel like part of their family...even before the engagement. I love spending time with them.

I truly hope that 2009 is a great year for all of us individually, and as a country. Let's all make the most of it!

Digital TV

2008-12-16T15:16:00.005-05:00

I'm not sure about you, but I am tired of these Digital TV public announcements telling us that on February 17, 2009 all TV will be digital and that if you still have an antenna, you'll need the converter box.

Ok, it is 2008, almost 2009...who the fuck is still using rabbit ears? Maybe the person who now lives in the Unibomber's cabin in Montana...but in the NYC-Metro area????

What's even funnier is that the commericial goes on to say "log on to www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitaltv.html for more details." Now...if someone is too fucking cheap or out of touch with the world, that they still have rabbit ears...isn't it safe to say they don't have an internet connection or even KNOW what the fuck the internet is?????

For those sipping your "Old Milwaukee Beer" in your one room cabin, in Wyoming....get the converter box...or you'll be watching your non working Philco TV come 2/17/09.

Christmas Wish List

2008-12-10T19:17:00.004-05:00

Christmas is fast approaching, whether we like it or not. So, in the spirit of the Holiday, I am putting together my wish list. Since I already have the greatest woman, a new home, health, and a crazy dog and cat...what more could I ask for????

Although we adore all of our neighbors and socialize with them often, I wish for a young couple WITHOUT KIDS to move into the neighborhood.

A Christmas season free of panhandling Santas outside of the stores and malls.

Parking spots at shopping centers for REGULAR, non-Christmas shoppers. There is nothing worse than wheeling weekly groceries 5 miles uphill because Christmas shoppers took all the spots.

To lose the extra holiday weight by the end of January.

For the bastards at Lincoln to go out of business, if not by Christmas, I am sure it will be taken care of in 2009.

A government bailout of us! How about paying off the house, our credit cards, school loans, and our wedding???? Sounds fair. I'll even ride a bike to the meeting to ask for the funds.....corporate jet my ass.

Of course, health, happiness, success and great things to all my friends and people I care about. I've learned this year, more than ever, who those people are.

A Working Class Hero

2008-12-08T13:02:00.005-05:00

Today marks the 28th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Each year I pay tribute to John on this day by remembering what he stood for and by listening to his music all day. In the crazy world that we find ourselves mired in today, we can use a man like Lennon to speak out against injustice, war, and other social issues. He is gone but not forgotten. Elton John's "Empty Garden" says it all. RIP John.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC-COpl9hJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC_1bNptTjc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gcdz1IRVoM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ulghD5JkmU

Our First Tree and Snowfall

2008-12-07T13:30:00.013-05:00

Yesterday Jen and I got our first tree here in our new home...and just hours later our first snowfall....how great is that? Here are pictures of some of our decorations/tree/snowfall....

A Sad Goodbye

2008-11-24T11:55:00.005-05:00

Back in April of 1987, I lost my grandfather (my mom's dad) to cancer. My grandfather and I were extremely close and he was the male figure in my life that I would do most things with. Don't get me wrong, I have a dad, but my dad's personality was/is very low key. My dad would go to work each day and provide for the family and contribute his share in the house, but he didn't get too involved in the process of raising my siblings and me. My mom shouldered most of the day to day issues and got involved with what we were doing along with my grandparents.

About a year after my grandfather passed away, in July of 1988, I met Mr. Farley. I had been working at Herman's World of Sporting Goods for almost a year. It was my first job. Mr. Farley was transfered to our store in Bay Shore from one of the Queens stores. He made an immediate impact on me and most of the other employees. He was more than just a "boss". He was someone who took an interest in your life, what was going on in school, at home, and took an interest in what you were interested in. We immediately bonded over music. He had a passion for music unlike anyone I had ever seen except for maybe my mom. Mr. Farley and I would talk music all the time and make each other "mix tapes" of our favorite bands. He introduced me to many of the artists and bands that I love so much today. We saw a few concerts at Jones Beach together as well and just enjoyed the music.

We also shared a passion for baseball and sports. Although he was a Mets and Red Sox fan, and me a Yankee fan, we talked baseball all the time. It wasn't one of those situations where we taunted each other about our teams, we both loved the game so much, that we'd just enjoy talking about the game itself. We made an overnight trip to the Hall of Fame in 1999 and had such a blast.

As a St. John's University graduate, Mr. Farley loved their basketball program and we went to a lot of St. John's games together. We even got season tickets a couple of years together and I really got into the sport.

The "trademark" of Mr. Farley was Coca-Cola. He drank about 10 cans a day....from morning until night...he always had a can by his side. He would pull up for work in the morning drinking a can, and carrying a few more.....he couldn't get enough.

Sports, music, and coca-cola aside...what I loved the most about him were his stories. His stories about his summers in the Hamptons, about past jobs, and about life. His stories reminded me of Bruce Springsteen songs. They always had a cast of characters, were very descriptive, and you always walked away taking something from those stories. I enjoyed our talks very much as well. He'd always have sound advice, but he'd never talk to you like he was talking down to you. With almost a 20 year age difference, he never made me feel like my views or experiences were insignificant.

We kept in touch over the years. I went to his wedding in 1991 and was there for him in 2000 when he divorced. In between, we shared so many good times, laughs, stories, and talks. He helped me through many tough times with his advice, and he was also there for the happy times. After his divorce in 2000, he met someone new and remarried in 2002. I had helped him move after he sold his house and moved in with his new wife and saw him once more after that. Since 2002, we would email occasionally and touch base. I last heard from him in July. I told him that Jen and I were engaged and about to move into our new home. He was happy for me. He would always ask about my parents who he knew very well....and I'd always give him an update on how they were. My mom worked for him at TJ Maxx from 1993-2006....so my mom had the pleasure of knowing him as well as I did.

Yesterday morning at 10am, our phone rang. It was my mom. She said she had bad news. I thought she was going to tell me that she could not make it up from NC for Thanksgiving on Thursday because of the pain she has been in with her back. Instead, she said "Mr. Farley died." I said, "What?" in disbelief. She said that my godmother called her right before she called me and told her the news. My Godmother also used to work with Mr. Farley at TJ Maxx. Apparently he died of a massive heart attack last Monday. Unfortunately the wake was on Thursday and the funeral was Friday...so I missed both which devastated me. Needless to say, I am absolutely stunned and very sad. He was a big part of my life for a long time.

The strange part.....Mr. Farley was now working for an arts and crafts store not too far from our house. Jen and I needed frames for pictures we wanted to hang on the walls. We went into his store about three weeks ago and looked for him. We asked his employees if he was working that day and they said he was off. I had every intention on going back in to see him, but just got busy......assuming time was not an issue.

It's funny...I always called him Mr. Farley when his name was Kevin. It was a respect thing, sort of like how Derek Jeter still calls Joe Torre, "Mr. Torre" even after years of knowing each other.

If there is a "heaven" or some other "paradise" we go to after we pass...I know he'll be there. So, today....a week after his passing...I hope he's sipping a cold Coke, and has "Dr. Wu" by Steely Dan blasting on a radio somewhere on a beautiful beach. I know he wouldn't have it any other way.......

80's Theme?

2008-11-12T16:08:00.003-05:00

It is hard to believe that the 1980's were almost 30 years ago. It was an amazing decade for music, you had a little something for everyone. In the early 80's you still had the residual disco/dance songs, then came "new wave" music, you had punk rock, heavy metal, the beginnings of rap, r&b, soul, pop, arena rock, and so on. The 1980's had it all.

Jen and I are considering an 80's theme wedding. Naturally, not our attire, but the music, the favors, etc. This would capture the decade in which we both grew up and incorporate those memories into our wedding. It was kind of a "buzzed" idea while we were drinking one night...but the more I think about it, the more it sounds different and fun.....

Also, check out my new "photography" blog

The People Have Spoken!

2008-11-06T08:31:00.001-05:00

And we've taken our country back!

The Winds of Change

2008-11-03T09:24:00.002-05:00

Here we are, less than a day before America votes in one of the most important elections of our time. After two years of campaigning, hype, biased media (for both sides), Joe the Plumber, dozens of debates (primary and general), and dozens of SNL skits...the day to vote is upon us.

Unlike the last two elections, where the elections were "won" by voter intimidation, corrupt Secretary of States, Supreme Court decisions, voting irregularities, false "swiftboat" ads, adding gay marriage propositions to ballots in key states, and scare tactics (terrorism fears)...this time America, and the worl are craving a change. And tomorrow, change we shall get.

After 9/11/01 the country was 95% united behind George W. Bush. He had an opportunity to do great things with the country united and a 95% approval rating right after a controversial election. Instead, he squandered the opportunity by setting his own agenda, one that was not right for all of us. He ignored laws, took away our rights by scaring us with terrorism alerts, lied to us about the threat Iraq posed, took record surpluses and turned them into record defecits, mismanaged a major natural disaster, appointed unfit Supreme Court Justices, and didn't care how we all felt about it. Well, now our voices will be heard. Tomorrow, the Republicans will pay the price for eight years of neglect. The Senate, House, and President will be strongly Democratic when the sun rises on Wednesday Morning. It's about time.

Although I feel Obama is a pretty good candidate, I think he is as far ahead as he is because of the factors of the last eight years. People from all over the country, not just typical "blue" states, have finally woken up and realize there has to be a better way. I've also read article after article about how closely the rest of the world is watching, and praying for change.....as this decision will have an impact on them in many ways as well.

McCain has run an awful campaign...one of the worst I have ever seen. He has had no focus, his ideas and plan have been scatterbrained....and his VP pick was a big mistake. In addition, people have finally seen through the negative stuff and the fear mongering. People want a real change. Change they can be proud of. Let's hope Obama lives up to the hype, the promises, and the opportunity he is about to receive.

The Wedding Planners

2008-10-26T15:11:00.012-04:00

My first post of October...and it is almost over. :(

A year from now, I will be a married man. Five years ago, or even two years ago for that matter, the thought never crossed my mind. But, when the person is right, the time in your life is right, you know.

Jen and I will be getting married on Labor Day Weekend next year...the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend to be exact. 9/6/2009. We thought it would be a good time, and a good day for friends and family that have to travel, to have the next day off.

So, we have been planning the event. We booked the place, the photographer, the DJ, who I am going to micro-manage, because nothing will be played that we don't want. We will have a complete playlist to give him a couple of weeks before the wedding...we already worked that out. I mean come on....I am Mr. Music...I don't want the typical, cheesy wedding songs being played.....

Being that Jen is vegan, we are in the process of picking our wedding cake baker. The good part about shopping around for a baker are all the samples we get to taste! We have had some good stuff so far.....

Let me see, what else...we still have to pick out/buy rings...figure out transportation to and from the wedding. We are having our ceremony at the same place the reception will be...so that part is easy. We decided not to have a wedding party. We talked and we both came to the conclusion...what does a maid of honor a best man, and a bunch of other wedding party people really do? We felt we did not want to have to make people spend money on dresses that they will probably only wear once.....what's the point? We are trying to make this wedding different from most we've seen. We are coming up with a theme...we've thrown a few ideas out there both sober and drunk...so we have to weed out what we are really serious about....and what we aren't. Should be interesting. We still have lots to do!

Below are pics of where we are getting married:

United States Now a Laughing Stock.....

2008-09-26T11:25:00.003-04:00

You can wave your flags all you want and have blind patriotism, but there is NO disputing that the United States of America is now the laughing stock of the world.

Back in 2001 Osama Bin Laden said his objective was to not only kill Americans, but bankrupt our economy. Well, what the terrorists failed to do, we managed to do to ourselves through pure greed, corruption, poor leadership, and mismanagement.

What has happened over the last few weeks, and the last 7 years for that matter, is an absolute disgrace.

Now this big bailout deal is being worked out. It was close to being worked out until McCain landed in Washington. Because his campaign is in shambles, he had to pull a stunt like this. Perhaps David Blaine should take lessons from McCain when it comes to stunts, because McCain's stunt this week was much craftier than Blaine's.

With 38 days left until election day, he should show up at the debate tonight. We need to hear where he stands on the issues. He needs to talk to us, and he needs to allow that puppet he chose as his VP to talk to the press unscripted. After almost 8 years of disgrace, we, the American people, deserve better.

The House That Ruth Built 1923-2008

2008-09-19T22:44:00.033-04:00

It is a sad weekend here in the NY area. The last game at Yankee Stadium will take place Sunday Night at 8pm. I've known for over a year that this was it for Yankee Stadium, but it all sunk in today. It is a place that I will miss so much. So many of my childhood memories involve the Yankees and that stadium. So many great moments have taken place in that Stadium from World Series Championships, to Papal visits, to heavyweight fights, to NFL football games.

I've been listening to callers all week on WFAN here in NY talk about their memories of the Stadium. Some involve seeing their first baseball game at Yankee Stadium, some had memories of their Fathers that have passed, some named specific moments on the field.

I will miss this place........the atmosphere, the electricity in the air, the history, and all the memories. There will never be another place like it...ever.

I Laughed and Laughed, and Laughed Some More

2008-09-13T14:42:00.001-04:00

Hit the stop button on my music to the left....and click on this video.....hahahaha

Do You Have 5 Minutes????

2008-09-10T09:27:00.003-04:00

Watch this video and see the double standard the Republicans/Conservatives have, they are a joke. Just hit the stop button on my music playlist on the left margin to listen to this video without having the music on as well.

On Second Thought..........

2008-09-09T13:35:00.002-04:00

The Republican convention pissed me off so much that I will be voting for Obama come November. I watched as the Republicans used the same Bush/Rove tactics they are so famous for. Trying to scare people with the 9/11 bullshit again, basically saying that the only "good" service someone can do for their country is military service, and all the same crap that half of America bought into twice already. People, are you going to fall for it AGAIN?????????????????

This Sarah Palin recites the same speech everywhere she goes. If we have to hear about the state plane sold on Ebay one more time, I will snap. She is an absolute joke.

McCain and Palin keep attacking Obama by saying he has NO executive experience. What executive experience does McCain have? he has been a Congressman/Senator for 26 years, before that he sat in a POW camp for 6 years. Palin, she is governor for two years of a state with the population of Austin, TX. Come on, don't buy into this crap again.

Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy had NO executive experience....they did just fine. George W Bush ran one of the biggest states (population and economy) before he became President...and look what he did as President. So, don't believe this propaganda.

John McCain needs to stop pulling that Sharpie marker out of his pocket at every political rally while yelling and threatening to veto anything that comes across his desk as President. I wonder how much money Sharpie is giving him for this stunt.

Just remember folks under 8 years of Republican leadership:

Our economy tanked
We had an attorney general scandal
A huge natural diaster was mishandled because friends were appointed in high ranking positions
Bush's cleaning lady was up for nomination for Supreme Court Justice (Harriet Maier)
We were attacked on 9/11/01, on Bush's watch
We started a war in Iraq instead of going after the one's who attacked us
Osama Bin Laden is still on the loose. (what happened to Bush "smoking him out of his cave???????) By the way, that war costs $16 BILLION (with a B) a month.
Wages have gone down
Oil prices have quadrupled
He denies that Global warming is taking place
He vetoed stem cell research

And you want 4 more years of the same???????

Come Take the Tour!!!!

2008-09-04T11:01:00.046-04:00

Well, now that our new home is almost complete, walls knocked down, painted, floors redone.....come take the tour of Jen and Charlie's house!

Labor Day Weekend Party!

2008-09-02T10:35:00.013-04:00

Although it wasn't our first BBQ at our new home, this was definitely the biggest and most fun so far! Here are some pics from Sunday's bash!

Officially Staying Home In November

2008-08-23T09:51:00.002-04:00

What's wrong with the Democratic Party? The party of FDR, Truman, Kennedy, and Clinton? I've never voted for any other party, but this November, for the first time, I am not voting at all.

With the news of Obama's VP selection today...it is confirmation for me that this party has NO BALLS whatsoever. Joe Biden is the Democrat's version of John McCain. Obama picked him because he (Obama) knows diddly dick about foreign affairs and Biden is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Senate. So for Obama, this was a safe choice so the Republicans could not attack his ticket saying they are weak on foreign affairs or defense. Maybe that is the case, but Obama is not at all what he claims to be...a man of change and vision. He is just another pussy Democrat pandering to the center and afraid to go after the party's base. It is like Democrats are afraid to be Democrats now...everything is geared to appeal to the "center".

Question, did Bush, Cheney, and Rove appeal to the center in 2004???? NO! They went after their base and made fools of Kerry and Edwards. Only the Democrats could lose that one in 2004. A faltering economy, an unpopular war, a sitting president who evaded service in Vietnam and turned the tables on a war hero (Kerry) and made him look like the pussy. It is happening all over again.

Now Obama says he is open to offshore drilling. This is a Democratic Stance? He said last Sunday that his definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. This is a truly Democratic stance? Early in the campaign he talked about diplomacy and that he would meet with leaders of state sponsored terrorism, now he has backtracked on that stance. Obama changed positions on the D.C handgun ban. He know says "It looks to me that the D.C. handgun ban overshot the runway. That it went beyond constitutional limits." That is a Democrat talking? He also ran his primary campaign saying he would withdraw troops on the ground in Iraq immediately....now he says he will refine his policy and speak to leaders on the ground. What a joke.

Pelosi, Obama, and the rest of the Democrats talk a big game and do nothing. They are too worried about looking liberal and being labeled liberal to do what's right for the country. So when McCain wins in the fall, they will have nobody to blame but themselves. The Democrats won't be able to blame dangling chads in Florida or voter inconsistensies in Ohio this time around. They will have to take a good, hard look at themselves.

In the last eight years, we've had scandal after scandal, miscue after miscue, we were attacked on Bush's watch, started a war with a country that didn't attack us...and lost 5,000 troops in the process, an economy that has tanked, the worst handled natural disaster in history, I could go on and on. Obama has a double digit point lead in the polls right???? NOPE.....try a 2 digit lead in some polls, dead even in others. Something is wrong here!!!!!!

A Different World...For the Most Part

2008-08-21T21:24:00.004-04:00

Wow, it has been 6 weeks since I've blogged! In those six weeks, Jen and I moved into our new home...unpacked, had construction/contracting done, re-did all of our floors, painted an entire house, decorated, had furniture delivered, worked on our yard, made dozens of trips to Lowe's, Home Depot, and Target, and met/made friends with all of our neighbors...to name a few things. It has been an exhausting summer so far. All worth it, but downright exhausting. We are hoping we can enjoy the last few weeks of summer before we start planning a wedding. Just the thought of that process makes us both exhausted. Any wedding planners out there????

My life is very different than it was just six weeks ago.....in a good way, but very different. We have made friends with all of our neighbors. On Our second night here...Gerry and Marty who are an older couple in their 60's invited us to their home and had all of the neighbors in the "click" over to meet us. There is Christine and Jerry who are a couple in their late 30's who have two little girls (6 and 8 or so)....Chris and Theresa who are a couple in their early 40's with two little boys (7 and 9 or so), Denise and Rich who are a couple in their late 30's with a little girl and boy (7 and 10 or so)..... Bonnie and Ed who are a couple with an girl and a boy (10 and 13 or so), and a few older couples down the block (in their 70's). Anyway, we had a fun time and have hung out with them a couple of times.

The biggest difference for me is hanging out with married people who have kids. Remember...I am the guy from Long Beach, who on any given night, had 25 SINGLE/YOUNGER people on his front lawn ....not that long ago. So, it is quite an adjustment for me. A couple of Friday Nights ago, we hung out with the couples who have kids over at Jerry and Christine's house. The kids, for the most part, hung out inside playing while we adults hung out in the yard, having drinks, eating, and talking. While the conversations were nice, they were pretty dull. Conversations about work, food shopping, kids, and other domestic issues seemed to dominate the chat. By 9:30 everyone was yawning and packing it in for the night. I thought to myself 9:30...are you fucking kidding me? 9:30 in Long Beach is when you are still getting ready to GO OUT! A typical 9:30 on a Friday Night just two years ago I was either shitfaced from happy hour, blasting 50 Cent on my front lawn...or in the shower...with my 4th Kettle One and Orange Juice just outside the shower so I didn't lose my buzz...getting ready for a night out. So when the "party" ended at 9:30...I was kind of dumbfounded.

NONE of them like rap music...at all. Mostly classic rock, which I love too...country music, which I despise....or they listen to their kid's Disney crap. So, when I even mentioned rap, people looked at me like I was insane. Guess there won't be any Hypnotiq or Hennessey served at their homes. By the way...where was the beer pong table??????

There is a house for sale across the street. PLEASE, PLEASE God....have a couple with NO KIDS move in there!!!!! :)

The dull party was well worth it, because I had Jen to go home with...that makes this all worthwhile.

Oh, pics of the entire house to come!

Also, if you want to laugh your ass off for 110 minutes, go see "Tropic Thunder" with Ben Stiller....it is a riot!

BREAKING NEWS

2008-07-12T18:14:00.014-04:00

I am officially engaged! :) Last Night was the big night. There was a big fireworks show planned here in Long Beach at 9pm....so I planned an evening with Jen down by the beach. We walked down to the beach around 7:15, with our chairs, radio, bucket of margaritas, camera, and of course the hidden ring in my bathing suit/shorts pocket. I proposed at about 9:20 during the fireworks. I figured after two hours of margarita drinking.....how could she say no??? hahaha Here are some pics of our engagement night.

A Fond Farewell to "The City By The Sea" 2000-2008

2008-07-02T14:42:00.028-04:00

In two weeks I will be leaving Long Beach, a town that I've experienced so much in over the past eight plus years. It is a move that I am very excited about for many many reasons, but I'll miss Long Beach and all of the memories I've had here.

Jen and I have purchased a home in Bethpage. For those not from the area, I suppose Bethpage is best known for two things. Bethpage State Park, where the U.S Open (golf) took place a few years ago and where it will be held next year as well and Grumman who built many of our military planes and such in the 1980's.

I am excited and happy that I finally met someone who, for the first time, I actually want to, and am ready to, settle down and enjoy my life with. It is going to be a fun, new chapter of my life. Here are a couple of pictures of our new house:

Earlier this week, Jen and I took a "tour" of Long Beach and we brought along the camera so I could take pictures of all the memorable places in town that really defined my eight years here. I hope you enjoy the photo tour! If you click on the photos, they'll enlarge, and they are amazing....

First, all the places I've lived.

E Beech Street. My first apartment/house here in Long Beach. I'll always remember the cool back yard, the parties, living with my roommate Alex, and all the fun I had here:

W Fulton Street (Part 1). Probably the nicest interior of any of the places I lived in Long Beach. This is where I lived when I adopted Bruce (my dog), so it is special to me. My other memories of this house are my two big birthday bashes in 2004 and 2005, New Years Eve 2005 (into 2006), my crazy...possessive roommate, my Yankees room, and the crazy Dominicans across the street:

Tennessee Ave...aka "Club 69". By far the most insane place I have ever lived. My memories....parties, lesbian roommates, parties, Mario (old Italian Man across the street), parties, the Long Beach Police at the house nightly for noise/music, parties, crazy girls next door, parties, Dennis across the street who called the police on us every night, and more parties!!!

Ohio Ave. I only lived here for 6 months in 2007. My memories, annoying roommates, an ocean view, walking to Ralph's ices each night, that's about it!

Last Stop! W Fulton St (part 2). Moved here in December....not too many crazy memories here.....just the last stop for me!!!

Fun Places!!!!

The Saloon! From the crazy nights of 2003 to the Happy Hours with Jen in 2007, the Saloon was always one of my favorite places to have a drink, or two, or three....in Long Beach:

The Cabana! Famous for Taco Twosdays, where you can get $1 tacos, the Cabana was always a fun time. I can remember when it was "Baja" and I used to come here for happy hours before I moved to Long Beach. I have a picture of me and Senator Chuck Schumer in front of Baja from 2000 when he was campaigning for Hillary Clinton's first Senate run in a photo album somewhere:

The Beach Bagel/Ralph's Ices. Nothing says I'm drunk like getting a bagel with cream cheese at 3am! The Beach Bagel, open 24 hours, is the place to be for a snack after a long night of drinking! Ralph's Ices, well they speak for themselves. Yummy! I think I tried every flavor last summer, but my favorites are Jelly Ring and Rainbow Cookie:

Ballybannon Market. I think I paid their rent in 2006 with all the stuff I bought here. A great place to pick up beer, meat for bbq, snacks, ice. Walking distance from "club 69", I shopped here often for my infamous parties:

Minnesotas. Not my favorite club/bar, but I had some fun times in here. I enjoyed the outdoor restaurant many a time for lunch or dinner. A fun place:

The Inn. A stone's throw from Club 69, I saw this place daily. I didn't go here much for the nightlife, but loved the 10 cent buffalo wing night on Mondays! I ate 96 wings one Monday Night on a dare. Needless to say, I was out of commission for a couple of days:

My favorite spot in town is the Long Beach Boardwalk. It's a place I've gone to hundreds of times the past 8 years to run, exercise, bike, walk, write, and reflect. Whenever I am running up there, I reflect back on the past 8 years and how much my life has changed. I think about the people that have come in and out of my life and what it's all meant. My Long Beach experiences the past eight years have been priceless and have really changed my life. I feel like a part of me is somehow embedded in that boardwalk and in that town. I loved the fact that you could walk from your house to the beach, the small town feel, the sense of community, the nightlife, the convenience of everything, and just the overall atmosphere. I have lived through some of the highest and lowest points of my life while in Long Beach and I suppose that's why I feel so attached to it. It's a part of me and who I am now.

In many ways running that 2.2 mile(each way) stretch of boardwalk is symbolic of my life the past few years. Sometimes the wind has been at my back and it has pushed me along, sometimes it has blown right in my face and has held me back, at times it was an easy run and I felt great, sometimes it has been a struggle. When you come to the bend at each end of the boardwalk, you never know what's around that bend. Sometimes a crazy bicyclist comes out of nowehere and almost runs you down, sometimes a friendly and familiar face greets you. As in life, you sometimes are excited about what waits for you around that bend and other times you are afraid or anxious about what awaits. When I finish the 2.2 mile length of the boardwalk, I head back and do it all over again. As in life, sometimes we start over and retrace our steps. We may run faster or slower and hopefully we learn from the mistakes we made the last 2.2 miles. Some days the weather was great and I felt on top of the world looking out at that ocean and never wanted to stop running, other days I got caught in a storm and just wanted shelter from it and just wanted out of the "race." I've run with friends and loved ones on that stretch of boards and I've run it alone.

I hope I have many more "miles" to go in life. In the race known as my life, I carry with me the love and joy of people in my life now, the memory of people who have gone, and thoughts of those who I may still cross paths with. I run with enthusiasm, looking ahead while admiring the things around me. I must admit, sometimes I do look back to see where I have been so I can be thankful for where I am now.

I am blessed and fortunate to have met "the one" for me, and I know that the memories we will share will take up an entire blog, rather than just a post. So, in two weeks, a new and exciting chapter begins!

I'm going to finish this long post with some random pics of the town. I hope you enjoyed the tour!

The Dog Days of Summer

2008-06-24T13:52:00.002-04:00

Summer is here....and so am I, despite a long absence from blogging. So much to tell I don't know where to start. Anyway, I'll be posting all about what's going on in my life over the next week or two...and get everyone caught up!

King For A Day

2008-03-08T14:07:00.002-05:00

Perhaps it is just me, but throughout the course of the day, I make a mental list of things I would change if I were in charge or "king for a day." There are so many rules, laws, procedures, and policies we all have to follow. Some are religious "rules", while some are governmental laws. I have a few I just don't like and want to change!

1) Daylight Savings Time. While I am ALL FOR "springing ahead" which gives us daylight later in the day....why should we have to push the clocks ahead on a Saturday Night/Sunday Morning at 2AM and lose an hour of sleep/an hour of the weekend. I say we do it on a Friday at 4PM. 4PM, then becomes 5PM, and we get to leave the office "early" and it does not interrupt our sleep or cut short our weekend!

2) Election Day on a Tuesday. This is just ridiculous and OUTDATED!!!!Back in "the day", since most residents of rural America had to travel a significant distance to the "county seat" in order to vote, Monday was not considered reasonable since many people would need to begin travel on Sunday. This would, of course, have conflicted with Church services and Sunday worship. So, Tuesday was picked as "voting day." I think for a better turnout and convenience, elections should be held on Saturday.

3) The Electoral College. What a joke...just ask Al Gore. The highest number of total votes should win the election. When you were a kid in kindergarten and the election for "line leader" was held and Jane got 6 votes, and Bobby got 4....Jane was the line leader, not Bobby.....it didn't go by where each kid sat in the classroom. Ok, Mike....since you sit near the Lego's.....your vote counts as three people...and Michelle...you sit by the bathroom...so your vote only counts as .5! Come on already, this needs to change!!!!!

4) The Right to Keep and Bear Arms! I would guarantee that if our forefathers were alive today to witness school shooting after school shooting and gun crime after gun crime....they would reconsider this "right". I think it is outdated. We have a military to protect us.....we don't need guns in our homes. I know, I know...the Amendment was designed to protect us against our government becoming tyrannical and taking away our rights......wait...isn't that what has happened over the last seven years? I don't see folks gathering their weapons and marching towards Washington!!!

5) Income Tax Structure. What the fuck? Just charge us all a set percentage and be done with it. No more filing, getting refunds, owing money, claiming this, claiming your dog.....just pay a set percentage of your income and be done with it.

The Verdict Is In!!!!

2008-03-03T22:27:00.003-05:00

There are way too many "Judge" shows on daytime television. Over the course of the past three weeks, I've had some time off in between jobs, and I was ill with a touch of the flu last week. While home, I journeyed from channel to channel looking for something on television during the day. All I found, TV judge after TV judge.....morning until the five o'clock news!

One could seriously skip the cost of law school and just watch this stuff for 10 hours a day. I seriously can't believe the amount of these shows that air daily here in the NY area:

9am-10am The People's Court
10am-10:30am Divorce Court
10:30am-11am another Divorce Court
11am-11:30am Judge David Young
They spare you an hour for lunch
12:30pm-1pm Divorce Court
1pm-1:30pm Cristina's Court AND Judge Maria Lopez
1:30pm-2pm Cristina's Court AND Judge Maria Lopez
2pm-2:30pm Judge Alex AND Judge Mathis
2:30pm-3pm Judge Alex AND Judge Mathis
3pm-3:30pm Judge Hatchett AND Judge Joe Brown
3:30pm-4pm Judge Hatchett AND Judge Joe Brown
4pm-4:30pm Judge Judy AND The People's Court
4:30pm-5pm Judge Judy AND The People's Court

This is seriously absurd. Who watches all these? In essence they are all the same, they teach you the same basic lessons...which are:

1) If you do lend money, never expect to be paid back. Especially not by family members (even Mom), because they will screw you in the end and call you a liar, while twisting the knife in your back. They will also reveal to the world everything bad you have ever done.

2) If you're too dense to believe lesson one and lend money to someone, get a promissory note of the money owed to you, actually signed by the lendee, AND make sure there are payment guidelines included. It also helps if you can get it notarized. If you write a check, in the memo portion on the check, write loan with payment due on such and such a date and have lendee initial. This advice includes using credit cards to pay someone else's bills, and buying something for someone until they can pay you back.

3) If you are given expensive "gifts" of money, or objects such as cars, jewelry, furniture, etc, keep all letters, emails, and tape phone conversations where the person giving the gifts is actually saying those items are gifts. Keep forever, because if you are a woman and you stop "putting out" he will want all that stuff back and claim it was a loan.

4) If you are the jackass giving the expensive items to the money grubbing whore in Lesson Three, on condition they will pay you back, get it in writing. See Lesson Two above.

5) Verbal agreements are worthless pieces of shit. If you are a business person, self-employed or otherwise, use contracts for all your transactions and keep every single receipt, written or emailed communication, and document every phone conversation in a phone log. Keep a log of every visit with dates and times to the person's home and have them initial or better yet sign the log before you leave the premises (to prove you were there). (Of course, that won't work if you're a prostitute or sell crack but see Lesson Eight for some "special advice".)

6) Once again, the verbal agreement is crap. If you are a person contracting with someone to do work for you, see Lesson Five, only reverse to protect yourself. Actually read the contract(s) line by line. Ignorance of what you are signing is no excuse. Put everything in writing, especially if anything changes from the original contract. Keep any and all written communication including emails to and from the person(s), and keep any receipts for expenses or for items that you purchased that were necessary to get the job done. Keep a log of when they arrived and when they left. Make sure all fees and monies to be owed is spelled out in advance so there are no surprises.

7) If you have a police report about the incident for which you are suing, be sure and bring it to court. Make sure your version matches the police report's version or pretty damn close, or forget about suing in the first place. Always call the police and get a police report at the scene of an accident otherwise it will be your word against theirs.

8) If you have done something in the course of business or pleasure that is illegal DO NOT SUE the person you were doing it with for the money they owe you DUMB ASS!. The civil court will turn you in to the criminal authorities if they believe a crime was committed. The court proceedings in small claims or civil courts will be used against you in a criminal trial.

"We Could Be Heroes..."

2008-02-18T20:56:00.002-05:00

Just about every day I hear the word "Hero" used. It seems as though everyone has their own view of what a hero is.

Last week, instead of concerning themselves with issues that are really important to the American people like jobs, health care, and taxes...Congress decided to spend valuable time having Roger Clemens over for a "chat" about whether or not he used steroids. Like everything else that comes before Congress...even this was divided along party lines. With the Republicans attacking Clemens' accuser and the Democrats going after Clemens....it was a circus that went nowhere. But during the hearing, I heard many members of Congress refer to Clemens as either their hero or the hero of kids across America.

I love sports. I grew up loving sports, especially baseball. Of course I had a favorite player that I emulated in little league, that I watched closely and rooted for....Don Mattingly. But he was no way my hero.

I think America is lost on many fronts. Declaring certain people or professions as heroes is just another bullshit brainwashing technique. Even the men/women running for President are in on it. Obama and Clinton go out of their way to call McCain, their opponent, "An American Hero" because he fought in Vietnam and was a POW. Now, don't get me wrong, I respect the men and women who serve our country whether it be voluntarily or via the draft like back in the 60's....but I don't feel picking up a gun and killing people in a foreign land is worthy of being called a "hero." When I was a child, I wasn't allowed to have a toy gun, a water gun, any "military" type toys like army men, GI Joe, etc. Although my Dad served in the Army in the 50's...my Mom was a woman of the 60's and believed that children should not be exposed to guns and things of that nature. Today we glorify the armed forces and anyone who speaks otherwise is accused of siding with the terrorists or being anti-American. Just another post 9/11 crock of shit. While the work the men and women in the military do is brave, they shouldn't be cast as heroes to our children.

Even before 9/11 firemen and police officers were dubbed "Heroes"...why? These people chose their profession..and in many areas of the country, get paid very well for what they do. Here on Long Island, we had some major wildfires about 10 years ago. After a week or two of fighting these fires....the firemen had parades in their honor, got free stuff at stores via corporate donations, etc....why???? Does the high school teacher that gets little pay and has to endure what they endure get a parade??? Does the single mom working at a supermarket and struggling to put food on the table get a parade or anything for free???? The media has most of you completely brainwashed.

The real heroes are the ones who make an impact on the lives of the people around them and don't ask for or bask in the spotlight. The people in the trenches everyday doing the jobs we all take for granted. Heroes are the people who are bringing up their children the right way, who when faced with tough choices, always make the honest/right choice. To be a true hero, you don't need to pick up a bat, or a ball, or a gun....you just need to pick up those around you when they are down.

CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-04T08:13:00.000-05:00

I've lived in NY all my life. I've been fortunate enough to have seen some amazing Championships won and celebrated here. My first memory of a NY Championship was the 1977 NY Yankees. I was only 5 at the time, but I remember it. Then they repeated in 1978. After that, the NY Islander Dynasty from 1980-1984, as the NY Islanders won FOUR consecutive Stanley Cups.

In the mid 80's we saw the Mets win an improbable Game 6 of the World Series with 2 outs and nobody on in the 10th inning. The next night, the Mets were champs. A few months later, the Giants beat the Broncos for their first NFL title. A few years went by and the Giants won another Super Bowl, against a great Buffalo team on a missed field goal as time expired.

In 1994, a Championship was won that I never ever wanted to see, the 1994 NY Rangers won the Stanley Cup. A few years passed and the NY Yankee Dynasty emerged, capped off by beating the NY Mets for their fourth title in five years. Since 2000, it's been pretty lean here in NY. The Yankees losing in seven games in 2001, and in six in 2003. The big collapse in 2004 against the Sox, and first round losses ever since. The Mets have been a joke, the Knicks a high school team, the Islanders and Rangers boring and bad. Last night, NY was a champion once again. In an improbable win, in an improbable season, the NY Giants are Champions this morning in one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent history.

Shortly after the final seconds ticked off the clock, fireworks sounded in my Long Beach neighborhood, car horns started honking all over town, people came out in their yars yelling and screaming. I had to take Bruce for a walk to take it all in. Kids were out, way past their bed time to celebrate...it was something I won't forget anytime soon.......

Today, as always, I am in a NY state of mind!!!!!

New York on Sunday.......

2008-02-01T10:52:00.001-05:00

What a weekend coming up in NY! Here are a few thoughts to leave you with:

The Crossing Guard

2008-01-30T13:10:00.000-05:00

Every morning on my drive to work, I see the same things, because I am very regimented and leave the house at the same time each day. I see the same 30 something year old woman jogging along the Wantagh Parkway, rain or shine. I see the same Burgundy Jeep Liberty with the NY Yankee plates and the LA Lakers bumper sticker in the back window. I also see the same crossing guard in front of MacArthur High School. I have a problem with this lady. First of all she has to be 70 years old, and moves slower than a fucking turtle. Secondly, she has eyeglasses so thick, she can probably see Saturn and all of its moons. How are we trusting kids to cross the street directed by this lady? This morning it was drizzling and foggy, and she is wiping off the Hubble telescope (aka her eyeglasses) while she is walking with these kids. We may as well have Stevie Wonder at that intersection...at least he'd have a fucking seeing eye dog.....

What is the world coming to?

No Rest for the Weary

2008-01-28T20:34:00.000-05:00

I only watch a few shows a week on television. Most nights, I find myself reading online, listening to music, writing on this silly blog, or keeping busy in the house. Monday Nights I have no shows to watch, but like to chill and channel surf. I just bought a new 37" HD LCD wide screen TV last weekend, so that has peaked my interest a bit more in television.

So tonight, I was all ready to relax and flip around the channels...when I realized the "State of the Union" is on like every channel tonight. I say to President Douche Bag, why even bother? Get to bed early by wrapping it up in two words "IT SUCKS!" That about describes the state of our union. The only saving grace...this is the LAST time this asshole will be delivering this speech!!!!! Just like the old TV show..."EIGHT IS ENOUGH!!!!!" Although, one was enough for me from this guy......

Want to make this speech fun tonight??? Make it ten cent beer night and bring in the 5,000 fans that sit in the Yankee Stadium bleachers. I want to see booing, heckling, the throwing of objects at the podium, a Monica Seles stabbing of Dick Cheney, a little organ music, now that's worth the hour of viewing time.

This whole Presidential Campaign has sucked. I've watched every debate...and quite honestly....we are fucked!!!!!! Seriously people, we are fucked! Whoever thinks ANY of these candidates is going to bring about the change we so desperately need, you better hit the snooze button and go back to sleep...it is not happening.

I have never voted Republican, nor will I ever. But are these registered Republicans hitting the pipe???????? McCain???? Are you fucking joking????? The guy is old and out of touch. Vietnam ended 30+ years ago, stop playing the POW card. Nobody cares anymore. I didn't care that Kerry was aboard a swift boat back in the 2004 race...and I certainly don't care about your POW dilemma 30 years ago..we have bigger issues.

Huckabee?????? Yeah, just what we need another religious nut.....8 years was enough of that.

Giuliani?? All I can do is laugh. Bratton cleans up the crime in NYC and this guy takes all the credit......9/11 never happens...this guy is selling cars in Brooklyn right now.....

Romney??? Enough said!

Democrats. Obama???? All sizzle and no steak. He is happy because the old drunk fuck Ted Kennedy endorsed him today? Yeah, that means a lot. Obama has no experience, a shady past, and he flip flops on every issue. Great speaker, but it ends there. I get inspired for about 2 minutes, until I realize how full of shit he is.

Hillary? I don't think SHE believes a word SHE says. I think she just says what she thinks everyone wants to hear and believes none of it. Sure, I'd take Clinton over the asshole we have now....but that's not saying much. Bill was supposed to be that "man of change" that he ran on in 1992. I was never so excited and happy over an election. I thought he was so inspiring...and what did he do....he never lived up to what he was capable of because of his personal issues and demons.

Edwards. Probably the best of the bunch...but if he tells those fucking "father working in the mill" stories one more time, I will snap. Come up with some new material already. He says the same three stories over and over...dad in the mill...the girl who died because the insurance company wouldn't pay for her operation, and about the 200,000 veterans sleeping on streets and on grates tonight. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Face it people....unless the exhume Bobby Kennedy, FDR, or Truman, we are fucked.

Who Needs To Laugh? I Mean REALLY Laugh?

2008-01-23T20:48:00.000-05:00

Jen's Dad sent me this, turns out this guy is a legend on YOUTUBE! I laughed so hard over this I seriously cried. If you are watching from work...watch your volume, he curses a lot......

2008-01-21T19:03:00.000-05:00

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”-Robert Kennedy

Selling Out

2008-01-16T17:58:00.000-05:00

Selling out refers to the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' or other personal gain. It is commonly associated with attempts to increase mass appeal or acceptability to mainstream society. A person who does this, as opposed to following the original path s/he laid (or claimed to lay) out for him/herself, is labeled a sellout and regarded with disgust and immediate loss of respect. Selling out is seen as gaining success at the cost of credibility.

I can be called a lot of things. Cynical, moody, jaded, impatient, sarcastic, and intense are just a few. I would agree with all of those. A sell out, never! For those of you who really know me, you know that I am a person who is passionate about what I believe in and would never stray from my convictions for personal gain. People who do that really bother me.....and I see it daily, whether it be on the news or in my day to day dealings. Being a "sell out" is what's wrong with the world, and what's especially wrong in America.

Politicians sell out for campaign contributions/favors/etc. They put the best interests of the people they are supposed to represent after their own personal gain and success. You see it every day. Selling out is the reason we still depend on foreign oil, the reason our infrastructure is crumbling, the reason we have a shitty health care system, I could go on and on.

This week, I was faced with a tough decision at my job. Rather than agree to a position within the company where I had the potential to make an additional $20-$25k per year, I chose to remain where I am. The reason, I wasn't going to sell out. The person/people I would have been working for/with I genuinely don't like. I don't like their approach to business, the way they treat others... both personally and professionally, and quite honestly...their character. The industry I work in is large...but in the same sense, it is small. You always run into someone who knows someone you know, etc. And, despite a very big financial gain personally if I had accepted this position....I did not want my name to be associated with theirs. I don't want to run into someone a year from now, when perhaps I am seeking employment elsewhere, who associates me with them. My name and my character are more important than $25k. I am at peace with my decision. I'll leave you with this:

Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying
Future's coming much too slow
And you wanna run but somehow you just keep on stayin'
Can't decide on which way to go

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Now you're climbin' to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can't you see there'll come a day when it won't matter?
Come a day when you'll be gone

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead

Now everybody's got advice they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lot's of people out to make believe they're livin'
Can't decide who they should be.

I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind.

Take a look ahead, take a look ahead. Look ahead

A Sunday Classic

2008-01-13T20:50:00.000-05:00

No not today's GIANT upsets in the NFL! The Sunday Classic we all came to love and enjoy years ago. American Top 40 with Kasey Kasem!

Do you remember waking up and knowing it was Sunday morning because you would roll over, push the on button on your "boombox" radio and there was Kasey Kasem saying, "Now, on with the countdown." Where was your favorite song going to end up? Did Madonna make it to number one again? The suspense was just too much some weeks.

Well, after sleeping in late and watching my Sunday Morning political shows "Meet the Press" and the McLaughlin Group in bed with Jen, we ventured into the living room and kitchen to prepare breakfast. As Jen sliced fruit for our fruit salad and I toasted a bagel and set the table, I flipped on the XM Satellite radio that Jen bought me for Christmas...and to our surprise, Kasey Kasem was just starting the top 40 countdown. They play the actual countdowns from when they aired. Today's was the second week of January, 1983. As we sat and ate breakfast, it brought back soooooo many memories. I mean Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" just breaking the top 40 at number 37! Who knew how big that song would be and how it would propel "Thriller" into one of the best selling albums in history? It was surely a trip down memory lane.

I remember listening to those countdowns with my sister and brother each week. We'd have our "blank cassettes" loaded in the cassette decks of our radios to start recording a song we "didn't have on tape" yet. You could get a bunch of good ones from those countdowns...even if Kasey talked through the opening line of the song....

I can also remember being upset when a song I didn't like made it to #1! I remember Kenny Roger's song "Lady" being number one for something like 10 or 12 straight weeks....and I wasn't a fan of him or that song.....and I would be upset that he blocked one of my favorite songs from being number one......if only that were all I had to worry about these days.....

Hearing the countdown this morning brought back memories while Jen and I shared childhood stories as we had breakfast. It was definitely a treat.

So tonight, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars".

Battling Winter

2008-01-06T21:51:00.000-05:00

As I sit here at 9:51PM on Sunday January 6th, 2008 with "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd blasting into my ears from my IPOD....I realize that the holidays are over and we all have a 90 day battle against winter ahead of us. Some call it the "post holiday blues" being that we really have "nothing to look forward to" until Spring...especially if you live in a region of the country where it snows/it is cold.

I truly take this time each year to focus on things. I probably run/exercise the most and eat the healthiest from January-March each year. Although the treadmill is a complete bore compared to running on the beach/boardwalk...I find inspiration in seeing the determination of others at the gym. On the boardwalk or beach, you run past someone or they run past you...and you really don't get to see their efforts, or struggle if you will. When you spend 60 minutes running 2 feet away from someone else....you quietly inspire one another.

Coming down from the high of the holidays is tough on a lot of people....my advice....spend this "down time" getting your "house" in order...so that come the Spring...when "hibernation" is over, you'll be at your finest both mentally and physically. Spring isn't as far away as everyone may think...time goes rather quickly...make the most of it!

Small Talk

2008-01-02T21:24:00.000-05:00

If there's one thing I really hate, it is small talk. I hate running into someone at the store that maybe I know...or in some cases someone that I have never met before and small talking. Or as Larry David calls it "The stop and chat."

It usually consists of the same talking points:

1) The weather. Suddenly everyone is a fucking meteorologist. Or they say something obvious like, "It's cold out there!!!!" Or even better "Is it cold enough for you???" Fuck off Al Roker, I just want to check out and get my groceries home. If I want the 5 day forecast, I will put on the Weather Channel....and get the local forecast on the 8's.

2) The family. The concern people all of a sudden have."How's Mom???" If you want to know how Mom is, fucking call her you cheap minute rationing fuck. "How's Mom???" And it is always the generic "She is good" or "Fine" answer. Never "She is still a crazy ass who is driving us all into alcoholism." No, we give the generic answer...so what's the point??????

3) Work. "How's work/your job going????" Like what am I supposed to say...that it blows...that I am underpaid, work too many hours, get no lunch break, and work with a bunch of fucking idiots????? Or they ask..."Still at the same job?????" No asshole, didn't you see me on the news, I cured cancer last week, right after I got all of the Jerry's kids to walk.

4) Inquiring about a mutual friend/neighbor. "Have you seen/talked to Joe lately??" No, and there is a reason, he is a douche bag.....same reason I haven't talked to you in 2 years fucko.

5) Where you are living. "Still living in (enter town name here)?????" No asshole, I live in Memphis now, but the produce here is so good, I make the trip on Saturday afternoons and knock out my weekly shopping...then turn around and head back.

So, if you spot me in a store, or anywhere...you better have something interesting to talk about or ask!!!!!

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-01T14:00:00.000-05:00

Wishing Everyone all the best in 2008! :)

New Years Eve was a blast, here are some photos!

C-Mac's TEN Songs of 2007

2007-12-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

As you all know, I loooooooove music. So here in the age of YOUTUBE, I decided to post my top 10 songs of 2007 right here on my blog, complete with video. ENJOY!!!

10) J. Holiday "Bed"

9) Keyshia Cole "Let It Go"

8) The Shop Boyz "Party Like A Rock Star"

7) 50 Cent "Ayo Technology"

6) Alicia Keys "No One"

5) Bruce Springsteen "Radio Nowhere"

4) Yung Berg "Hey Sexy Lady"

3) Plies featuring T-Pain "Shawty"

2) Kanye West "Good Life"

1) Soulja Boy "Crank 'Dat"

100 Memories of 2007

2007-12-27T21:27:00.001-05:00

It really seems like it was just a few months ago that I wrote my "100 Memories of 2006" blog...yet here I am writing my memories of 2007 blog. Tonight, I am reflecting on where I was in life a year ago compared to tonight. I am so much happier and content...so in no particular order, here are my 100 memories of 2007!

01) Meeting Jen
02) "Excuse me, were you sayin something? Uh Uh You can't tell me NUTHIN!!!"
03) Club 69 Finale Party
04) Moving to 33 Ohio
05) Moving out of 33 Ohio
06) Moving back to W. Fulton
07) Fine dining in the back of a Ryder truck
08) "My drink and my two step"
09) A roller coaster Yankee season
10) The Islanders making the playoffs on the last day of the regular season
11) Seeing Bruce Springsteen at MSG (yet again)
12) Seeing Larry David, live and in person
13) Playing volleyball in the rain on July 4th
14) My NIKE PLUS Gizmo
15) Losing my cell phone (what a nightmare, haha)
16) Friday Nights in the Summer at the Saloon with Jen
16) Our trip to NC
17) Tiny A's Tiki Party
18) Club 69's President's Weekend Bash (insanity)
19) Saturday Night drives to Jen's house
20) Sunday Morning Farmer's market this summer/fall
21) Bialys!!!!
22) Homemade waffles!
23) Memorial Day party at "Deck 33"
24) Labor Day party at "Deck 33"
25) Annoying Roommates! (good riddance!!!!)
26) Dropping Bruce off at Jackie's each morning
27) St. Patrick's Day in LB with Tiny A and a random group of folks!
28) Van Halen reunion concert
29) Yankee Game with Jen
30) A bad hangover on New Years Day 2007
31) Ice storm on Valentine's Day
32) Snow storm the night before St. Patrick's Day
33) Sitting on the beach with Jen
34) Bruce jumping in the fish pond
35) "Party Like a Rock Star"
36) Christina leaving our office
37) Christina and Joe's 7-7-07 bash!
38) Sugar V staggering to his car after a night of drinking at the saloon
39) New York Sports Club
40) eHarmony
41) Making lots of commission!
42) Hiring Kim at work
43) Bruce's "surprise" on Christmas Morning
44) Soulja Boy Dance
45) On the boat with Christina, Joe, and Jen
46) Bribing the Maître de at Sparks Steak House and cutting a 2 hour long line
47) Asking a fat guy that almost ran me over if he really needed that bagel
48) A wonderful Christmas and Christmas season
49) AAAAAAAAAALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICEEEEEEEEEE! (Jen's cat)
50) Kanye West (kick ass album this year)
51) Traffic on the Van Wyck (no matter what time/day)
52) Vegan cookies (not bad at all!!!)
53) "The First 48"
54) PATRON!!!!!!!
55) Phil vomiting in my house, yuck!
56) Trying to get Christina to dance with "Sonny Bono" (hahaha)
57) Our holiday NYC day with Kim and Didar
58) REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!
59) Beach Bagel
60) Music "that isn't native to this planet" played by my former roommate
61) Jackson Heights
62) My Storage Unit
63) Dog Hair all over my car (thanks Bruce)
64) YOUTUBE Debates
65) The Berkowitz car (haha)
66) Trico and Munzey (Jackie's Dogs)
67) Ralph's Ices! (I think I tried every flavor!!)
68) The Soprano's Finale
69) Kettle One and OJ!
70) Making homemade pizzas with Jen
71) "Kitchen Nightmares"
72) Tuesday Nights
73) The Imaginary "Curtain Girl" hahaha
74) The Mets September Collapse
75) XM satellite Radio
76) Driving the 2007 Charger to NC (and making it in 8 hours!)
77) Ipod radios, fancy fans, ottomans, and other home improvements in JH! (haha)
78) Turning Christmas songs dirty (haha)
79) The "Beach House"
80) Eating at every restaurant in the West End
81) Bruce barking at the Atlantic Beach Bridge toll collectors
82) Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm
83) NIKE Challenges
84) Vitamin water!
85) The $500 Vet bill!
86) C-Town
87) Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat????
88) Bruce watching Jen walk up the street from the deck and going crazy
89) Sugar V going into hiding like Salmon Rushdie
90) Clock that makes "cricket" sounds
91) "You can't get out of your own way"
92) Controlling the jukebox for 3 hours at "Happy Hour"
93) The Red Sox winning the World Series again (WTF????)
94) Clemens on 'roids!!!!!
95) Hurting my back in September (ouch)
96) Mullet guy test driving my car after inspection
97) "WHO IS THIS GUY??????"
98) "MEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANWHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILE!!!!!"
99) Faaaaancy new digital camera
100) Wishing you all an amazing 2008!!!!!

This song will be forever linked to 2007!

The Christmas Post Game Show

2007-12-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had an amazing holiday! Mine was the best in a very long time. I am back at the office as we speak....yuck...but it should be a slow week with a chance to catch up on some things here and prepare for the rush after the New Year.

The weekend was full of holiday preparations....not gift shopping, Jen and I finished that a long time ago...this weekend we had a lot of food shopping to do. I hosted my first Christmas Eve ever. With my family living so far away, I tried to carry on some of the Italian traditions. Jen, her mom, her dad, and her brother all came over. Jen and I made flounder, baked clams, and a great pasta dish with veggies, garlic and olive oil. After eating all that...including the shrimp Jen's parents brought over...we sat for a while chatting, laughing, and telling stories. About 90 minutes later....Jen and I put out all the Italian cheeses, olives, cold cuts, and breads. That's my favorite part of Christmas Eve! :) About an hour after that came the cannolis, pastries, cookies, etc. Needless to say, I had a food hangover when I woke up Christmas Morning.

Jen and I exchanged our gifts Christmas Eve after her family left. I got such amazing/thoughtful gifts including a great digital camera, XM satellite radio (with ability to use it home/in the car/at the office), great stuff for my new apartment, colognes, dvd's (I now have seasons 1-8 of Seinfeld...1 more season and I have the whole set!), and so much more. I was really overwhelmed by everything she did for me. I was so glad she enjoyed her gifts as well. One of her gifts was a Kitchen Aid artisan mixer. She had wanted that for a while, and since she loves to cook and bake, I thought it would be perfect.

Christmas Day, Jen, Bruce, and I ventured out to Eastern Long Island to spend it with her family. We had a great dinner...lasagna, one of my favorites...and turkey, stuffing, and a ton of other things. We had such a great day/night. It was 46 degrees here yesterday.....which is very warm for December 25th....so Bruce played outside for a bit, but was more interested in what we were doing inside. This picture cracks me up. He hopped up on an outdoor patio table so he could watch us unwrap gifts...he always thinks he is missing something.....

I hope you all had a great holiday as well! :)

The C-Mac Endorsement

2007-12-17T18:08:00.000-05:00

Today seems to be endorsement day. The Des Moines register endorsed Hillary on the Democratic side and John McCain on the Republican side, while The Boston Globe endorsed Obama and McCain.

With Oprah hitting the campaign trail for Mr. Obama, Barbara Streisand stomping for Hillary, and martial arts pro/actor Chuck Norris endorsing Mike Huckabee, I sit here and wonder if it really matters who endorses who. If somebody is in the voting booth undecided and remembers seeing Oprah with Obama and casts a vote for him based on that, we have bigger issues than I thought we had.

Here are some more celebrity endorsements for the 2008 run:

Home Improvement "King" Bob Villa has endorsed Hillary Clinton
Actors Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon have endorsed John Edwards.
Baseball player Curt Schilling has endorsed John McCain
Folk Singer Ani DiFranco has endorsed Dennis Kucinich
Steven Spielberg has endorsed Hillary
Sean Penn has endorsed Dennis Kucinich

In the spirit of things, here is my endorsement.

John Edwards. Here's why. First, I'd NEVER vote Republican, so that knocks all those candidates out. On the Democratic side, Hillary is too polarizing and in my opinion, not sincere and genuine. I think she says what she thinks will be popular rather than what she really believes in. Obama is a 1st term Senator with no experience whatsoever. A year after being elected to the Senate he eyed this 2008 run. I think he needs more time building his resume. Although I really believe in what Dennis Kucinich has to say, he is too "out there". Joe Biden and Chris Dodd are good lawmakers, but not presidential in my opinion. Bill Richardson is a phony who couldn't get out of his own way as energy secretary.

I like Edwards. He is genuine, compassionate, has a plan, and could unite the country once again. His focus on poverty and his compassion for the poor reminds me a lot of Bobby Kennedy. I like his stand on health care, the environment, and the war in Iraq. So, come primary time, he will be getting my vote.

'Tis the Season

2007-12-06T21:16:00.001-05:00

To be a miserable fuck, hahaha

Not sure about you, but over the years I've grown to dislike this time of the year. People really have forgotten what the holiday is all about. I am by no means religious, I am talking about family. My fondest holiday memories are of my childhood when my family was somewhat "functional" and normal. My grandparents really made the holidays what they were. After they passed, it was all downhill....but I think it is more than that.

As a child, we were all naive, and didn't know/realize how fucked up the world really was. We thought about Santa, candy canes, and toys. As adults, the holidays are about hustling, shopping, fighting crowds, and having Holiday music jammed down our throats from September through the New Year. I used to think people were sick fucks for being at a store/mall at 6am the day after Thanksgiving...now some open at midnight, some at 4am.....it is pure fucking greed. Months of stress, chipmunk music, traffic, and digging through the attic for old decorations...all to have it all over in a few hours. Is it worth it?

People flock to the Rockefeller center Christmas tree each year here in NY...but it is the same fucking tree year after year. Sure...the tree is from a different place each year...but it looks the same each year.....do something different! Amuse me. Make it worth the trip.

That's why summer holidays rock. No gift giving, no Hallmark telling me what I have to do, no slaving in the kitchen cooking enormous meals, no dealing with dysfuntional family members......just the beach, booze, a bbq, some fireworks, and relaxation. That's a fucking holiday.

Only In New York..............

2007-10-31T20:58:00.000-04:00

Does a bunch of trick or treaters REFUSE candy because it is not Kosher! Can you believe this shit?????? Perhaps I should have stocked up on Passover Candy last spring.......

Maybe next year I will have a Christian bowl, a Hindu bowl, a Muslim bowl, and a Kosher bowl of candy ready for Halloween. I think it is time to move to a red state....

The Death Recycler

2007-10-22T21:05:00.000-04:00

There are some truly sick people in the world. I think I may have come in contact with one of the craziest of them all, "the death recycler".

Ok, let's start from the beginning. Back in early June my company hired this new girl...we'll call her "J" for short. According to the bosses, J seemed to be qualified for the job. She started with he company and seemed to be grasping the job at hand.

Within two weeks, J had called in sick a few times. Ok, things happen, right? Within a month, she had taken about eight sick days. That should have been a huge red flag. But, the owners let her stay and before you knew it, we were well into July.

Then on a Monday, J calls and says she had an "accident" over the weekend and that she would be out for a few days. She ended up being out for the week. The following Monday, J comes in on crutches, with her left foot/ankle wrapped in an ace bandage and her right wrist/hand wrapped in one as well. We were all like "wow, she must really be hurt!" But then, I started to get a little suspicious. On Tuesday..the crutches disappeared, then on Wednesday the foot wrap vanished....by Thursday the hand wrap was gone. I also noticed her climb on a desk to write something on a dry erase board with ease...showing no signs of pain.....but like everything else...they let that go too.

Then the "my mother is in the hospital" days off started. Sometimes upwards of 3-4 days out a week through August and September. During that period, she went in one of the owner's offices crying that she had no money for food, that she was helping with her mom's medical bills. So, he gives her $100. Now, if you were BROKE and someone gave you $100 for food, wouldn't you buy tons of cheap stuff? Boxes of mac n' cheese, soups, etc? Nope, she goes out and buys a HUGE bag of shrimp. The shrimps were bigger than my shoe....must have been a $40 bag...and has the balls to bring them into work.

So, the spotty days off continued through September and October. Two fridays ago, she shows up at 7:40am. Keep in mind..I am always the only person in the building between 7:30 and 8:30am daily. This girl is due in at 8:30 daily and is never on time. Anyway....she engages me in conversation...small talk...and in passing she says...."my mom died last night." I was shocked and went out of my way to show compassion and concern. She said it very casually. She worked until 10am that morning..until the paychecks were passed out and then took off. I thought that was strange. The girl is out four days a week to "care for her mom" then when she "dies" she shows up for work.....

Monday comes and we called her to find out where the funeral was, as we wanted to take up a collection and send flowers. A day passes and she calls back and says "Oh, don't bother the funeral is in NJ in the neighborhood where she grew up." We were like, it is ok, we'll call 1-800-flowers...they deliver everywhere. She completely avoided giving us the funeral home name/address. So, we pressed her on it and she finally said by email, "In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to ____ _____ church in Glen Cove, NY. She gave a priest's name there. So, when we called the church, the priest had no idea what we were talking about. Could she have lied about her mom's death?

I think she recycled that death. I believe her mom passed years ago, yet she used an "illness" for weeks to get days off with sympathy and then recycled the death because she got wind that she was going to get fired because of excessive absences. I mean, who would fire someone whose mom just died, right? Perfect way to save her job. And she may have pulled it off....but after returning to work last Friday...for one day...she called in sick again today......unfuckingbelieveable.

She is what I am dubbing...a death recycler.

Bless Who?

2007-10-15T20:15:00.000-04:00

So, when someone sneezes, how many seconds do you have to say "God Bless You" or "Bless You" before it is no longer applicable? I say 15 seconds tops, that is your window. Anything beyond that 15 second window is a bit late.

Sometimes, especially at work, someone will sneeze and you'll kind of hear it because you are so focused on what you are doing...and you'll say "Bless You" on a delay...maybe 30 seconds later...and the person who sneezed will look at you like "Huh???"

So, just keep your "Bless You's" within that 15 second window.

Also, you have to wait until the series of sneezes are over. Sometimes you think they are a 2 sneeze person and you start to say "bless you" and it turns out they are a 3 or 4 sneeze individual.

Now what is the rule if someone sneezes a couple of times and you say "bless you" then about 3 minutes later they sneeze again? Do you have to "bless" them again or does the initial "bless" cover it?

Still Trying To Figure People Out....

2007-10-10T20:18:00.000-04:00

So, Jen and I were walking Bruce in her neighborhood about a week ago and we came across this beat up 1970's car, I belive it is a Volare....no, not the Italian song, the car. Anyway, this thing looks like somehting the Son of Sam drove back in '77. Rusty, beat up, worth about $50 in the "blue book" or about $7.50 on Craigslist, yet it was fully "protected" with "The Club."

Now, this guy surely is living in the past....a 30 year old beat up car, with an 18 year old anti-theft device.

1) DOES HE REALLY THINK SOMEONE WANTS TO STEAL THIS CAR??????
2) DOES HE REALLY THINK THE CLUB IS GOING TO STOP SOMEONE INSANE ENOUGH TO STEAL THIS CAR??????
3) PERHAPS HE IS JUST GOING RETRO AND THE CLUB IS VINTAGE DECOR?????

I just don't know how people's minds work............

A "Seventh Sense"

2007-09-26T19:50:00.000-04:00

Some people have a "sixth sense" and can communicate with spirits and the dead. Some people can even make accurate predictions of events to come. Others can assist the police in solving crimes by possessing psychic abilities. My sense puts these all to shame.

When a TV show I am watching goes to commercial, I always channel surf. I check the score of the game, catch up on bits of news, and dozens of other things......the thing is, I always know exactly when the show I am really watching is back from commercial and go to that channel just as it is resuming from the commercial. Without fail, I am dead on with this. I know you are all impressed. This is the talent God has given me. As useless as it is, since I don't watch a lot of TV, it is something to boast about. What is your useless talent?

The American Pastime Past It's Prime?

2007-09-24T20:43:00.000-04:00

During a typical baseball season, I make it to Yankee Stadium at least six times. This year, I made it there ONCE! That was yesterday on the last scheduled regular season game. The Yankees won, and it looks like they'll be in the playoffs for the thirteenth consecutive year. I am excited. Back in May, it did not look good.

Anyway, despite the fun I had, there are quite a few annoyances involved when going to a live baseball game. I've been to regular season games, wild card games, league championship games, and world series games, and the annoyances are the same no matter the importance of the game.

I remember when the seventh inning stretch was fun! You'd get up and sing "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" and everyone would be happy. Since 9/11/01 the seventh inning stretch in NY is ridiculous and a fucking buzzkill. I've already stood an "honored America" with the National Anthem (and the Canadian one yesterday)...do we need to honor America, the troops, everyone who has died in this bullshit war, and every other "patriotic" thing during the seventh inning stretch????? The reason we all go to baseball games, movies, shows, etc is to take our minds off of the fucked up world in which we live. I don't need a half dozen reminders of it during a baseball game.

Then there is the asshole who needs to get up twenty five times during the game and make me get up from my seat and let him pass. I paid to see a baseball, not his balls in my face every five minutes. It is annoying. Buy two or three beers at a time and wear a fucking Depend....don't keep getting up.

Speaking of concessions. $9.50 for a can of beer???? Are you fucking kidding me? $9.50 a beer so A-Rod can drive his Mercedes and get a contract extension. F Him! Let him sign elsewhere. How can the average middle class family afford to go to a game? Say you have two kids.....between the ticket price, the parking, food, souvenirs.....it is a $300 day. Obscene. It's like..."I'll have 2 hotdogs, a pretzel, a large coke....and a loan application." Fuckers.

Then there is the filing out of the stadium....forty minutes behind people who haven't showered or worn deodorant since Carter was president......crazy.

I love the Yankees, I love the stadium, and I love the atmosphere.....but the annoyances take away from the fun...in a big way. So this year, I won't be attending any playoff games, no matter how far they go. I will be in the cozy confines of my home, sipping a $1.25 Vitamin Water, crunching on a huge $2.00 bag of doritos, going to a clean and uncrowded bathroom during the somber "Seventh Inning Stretch", and filing out to my room/bed in about 30 seconds after the game. There will be no smelly people, no getting up and down all night.....just me, my dog, and a 27th World Championship....

Now the parade...that's another story. See you there.

Get The Patron....

2007-08-23T21:04:00.000-04:00

"I got my drink and my two step,
my drink and my two step,
got my drink and my two step,
my drink and my two step,
It’s on, it’s on, it’s on and I’m home,
get the patrone on and tell them that it's on"

If you are a fan of rap music (I definitely am) you'll notice that almost every song makes a reference to alcohol. Statistically, 76% of all rap songs mention alcohol. Of those songs, 54% mention a certain brand name of alcohol.

These days Patron Tequila is "the in" brand of alcohol that rappers "rap" about. It is mentioned in almost every current, popular rap song. I think this is quite comical. If I was an owner of an alcohol brand...why pay advertising dollars? Just make friends with a few rap stars and sales will soar.

For years, rappers talked about drinking "Gin and Juice." Tenqueray was the brand of choice. Then Hennessy was the "in" drink that rappers talked about. By the early to mid 90's, they were all about Alize. Then Cristal was the in drink....that was the case until Cristal's CEO "dissed" the rap world when asked how he felt about his brand being consumed by the hip hop crowd. He said "That's a good question, but what can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." After hearing that rapper Jay-z called for a ban of Cristal......we can't forget all the rappers that were "Loose on the Goose" making mention of Grey Goose brand vodka over the years either.

So, for now, Patron is the in drink....by next year...they will be rapping about something else....

I'll leave you with the VERY catchy "My Drink N' My Two Step" by Cassidy. I am hooked on this song...I sing this all day......

Pushing My "Buttons"

2007-08-14T20:59:00.000-04:00

There are many things that annoy me on a given day at work. Working with morons, lazy fuckers, arrogant bosses, incompetent assholes, and people that grate on my nerves are just some of my daily annoyances...but one thing in particular pisses me off. The "forwarding of emails." Let me give you an example:

Joe Smith (my fictional co-worker) has a 3 or 4 back and forth email exchange with a supplier, a customer, or whomever. Joe Smith then decides it is something he wants ME to do. Fine, ok, if it pertains to my job, great. So what does Joe Smith do? He just forwards me the email with no explanation as to what I need to do with it. So, I have to scroll to the bottom of the email and follow the trail of emails back and forth from 1999 to finally figure out what the fuck I am supposed to do. Hey fucko, at least write me a line or two with the forward explaining what you want me to do.

Some of these email exchanges are so lengthy and date so far back..it is like this....

The big bang happens and the universe is formed.....
Dinosaurs roam the earth.....
The ice age comes....
Cro-Magnon man gets up and walks....
Fire is discovered....
The wheel is invented.....
Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin.....
The Civil War takes place......
WWII breaks out....
JFK is shot and killed......
Watergate.....
The 1st Gulf war....
Clinton wins a second term......
Oh...I see....they want me to order some printer toner today.....
FUCKER!!!!!!!!!!

Wild and Wacky Week....

2007-08-09T19:51:00.000-04:00

You know it is a crazy week when a tornado hits Brooklyn, NY....yes a real tornado. Wednesday morning was one of the wildest weather mornings I have ever been a part of. I woke earlier than usual that morning...around 5am to low rumbles of thunder and some flashes of lightning. With each passing minute...the thunder got louder, the rain poured down heavier, and the lightning intensified. By 6am, it was insanity. I got out of bed to shower, like I normally do at 6am....and it was pitch black outside...complete with a wind driven rain.....

While I was in the shower, the lights flickered, the thunder boomed....sounding off car alarms on the block and causing Bruce to bark like crazy. Jen got up and got ready for our journey to drop Bruce off at his "friends" house for the day and the trip to the train station so she could head back home and I could go to work. We didn't expect to encounter rivers substituting for streets.......it was difficult to navigate. I finally got Jen and Bruce dropped off and 90 minutes later (normally 30 minutes) I was at work......

The week in general, was crazy. Busy at work....heat and humidity that was almost unbearable.....and just plain hectic....I am welcoming the weekend already.

Anyway...I heard about this video clip on the radio...and you all should watch.....it is about 8 minutes...but well worth it. It depicts nature at it's meanest and it's finest.....truly a good watch! And a "real" happy ending...not a Hollywood one! Enjoy Friday!

A NEW CLUB

2007-08-02T20:11:00.000-04:00

Maybe it is just me aging and not giving a shit anymore...but I honestly have to say that I dislike 9 out of every 10 people I come across. What happened to the Charlie of old? I used to LOVE everyone and go out of my way for everyone....now I only do it for a VERY select few.

I remember when I was in my early 20's...I was a naive young man who thought everyone was looking out for me. I saw the best in everyone. I guess I was about 22 or so when I had a conversation with the father of a girl I was dating at the time. Ralph was a big shot on Wall Street who was the most cynical bastard you'd ever meet. Anyway, he hated just about everyone. For some reason, he took a liking to me. He'd invite me over for dinner almost every night because he enjoyed my humor and I used to make everyone in the house laugh. Being that my girlfriend's mom was dying of breast cancer...the humor broke up the sadness in the house. Anyway...we'd sit and have a beer or two and talk about the world around us. I remember him telling me how naive I was, how I thought everyone was looking out for me and how I thought those around me had my best interests in mind. He told me flat out that most people I would deal with and come across in my life would be looking out for themselves and really not give a shit about me. I laughed at him and told him to lighten up...that he was a pessimist. Looking back...this guy was dead on.

In many ways, I wish I was still that naive 22 year old. I kind of lived in my own little world and really wasn't exposed to bitter, selfish, and miserable people. Either that....or they were around me, but I had my head up my ass. Let's face it, at 22 all you think about is getting laid and making enough money to pay your bills, having enough left over to hang with your friends.

My problem....my biggest issue today is that I expect people to think the way I think...and it never happens. I am talking about logical ways of thinking, unselfish ways of thinking. Before I do something at home or work...I think of how it will affect others.....many people don't think that way. Let me give you some examples....

One of my roommates is home ALL day...she is a teacher and has the summer off. So, instead of doing her laundry during the day when nobody is home...she waits until night time when me and the other roommate need to do ours. WHY????? Either that or she will START her laundry....load up the washer and dryer...then go out.....leaving both machines useless to the both of us. I know, some of you may be thinking this is petty....but it is just a small example of how people think.....or don't think...of anyone but themselves. This is the same person who sits and does "pilates" on the living room floor for 30 minutes to "lose weight" then when she is finished cooks herself a Hee-Man breakfast consisting of eggs, sausage, and cheese.

I come across this behavior at work, at the supermarket, at home, everywhere.

What about the fucking idiots who stand in the entrance of a store rummaging through their purses for coupons, or reading the weekly sale flyer? Wouldn't logic or simple consideration for others tell them that the main entrance to the store may not be a good place to do this....to maybe pull off to the side so others can pass through? It is the same moron who hasn't discovered the debit card yet. They would rather write a check....and not start filling it out until the groceries are packed and loaded in the cart while the line behind them goes from two people to ten people. I guess they are in no hurry to get home to play their 8-tracks while their TV dinner cooks for 2 hours in the "conventional oven."

At work....people will do ANYTHING to get something off their desk and on to someone else's. They do their job with no concern of how their actions will affect other people and other departments. They just want to be rid of something. Their favorite "button" is the "forward" button..that's all they do...forward emails originally sent to them that need action...they are even too fucking lazy to write any text of their own explaining what it is they want you to do...instead these cocksuckers expect you to read a ten page email trail starting at the very bottom.....

Don't get me wrong....I am happy with my life. I have a great relationship, a crazy, but wonderful dog, my finances are the best they have been in years, I am back in pretty good physical shape, and I enjoy my down time. But I really don't like many of the people I am exposed to daily......I hate the lack of logical thought or lack of consideration for others.....

So today....I am starting the "KISS MY ASS CLUB" and each week I will be inducting someone new into this club.

This week's inductee: My roommate Michelle.

"The Rising"........Five Years Later

2007-07-30T20:18:00.000-04:00

I remember that hot and muggy night very well. I find it difficult to believe it has been five years already. July 31, 2002. At midnight on that date, Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" was released and I was one of the first on line to buy it...but at that moment, I had no idea what I was in store for. Up to that point, I owned every Springsteen album, seen him in concert fourteen or so times, watched all his dvd's and videos...so I really did not expect him to top anything he had done prior....not with his track record. Was I wrong.....

The events of September 11th, 2001 were still fresh in all of our minds here in the NYC area. Soon after the events of that day, Bruce Springsteen was approached time after time by fans and people on the street. They would say "Bruce, we need you now." They wanted him to write something to describe how we were all feeling....the sorrow, the emptiness, the anger, the loneliness, the shock, and the need to regroup and rebuild. Not only rebuild our city, but our hearts, our souls, and our will. The genius of this album is that these songs can be applied to that event and also to the happenings in our every day lives. That is why this album was and is so personal to me.

Just two weeks prior to the release of the album, I ended a four year relationship with someone. I was living with her when I ended the relationship. It was a very difficult decision, but something I knew was best for the both of us. Although she did not officially "move out" until late September, it was like my life was in limbo. All her clothes and belongings remained in the house for those 10 weeks while we lived separate lives. She would stop in on occasion, but mostly she stayed elsewhere. It was a tough thing to go through and I had many emotions about the situation and my decision.

When I purchased the album that night... I immediately opened the plastic wrapper in the car and put the cd into the player...as I pulled out of the parking lot of Tower Records, "Lonesome Day", the first song of the cd started...and I was immediately captivated. The music just put me in a trance...then the opening line.....then the chorus....and I immediately connected.......I understood the 9/11 undertone, but I also applied it to what I was going through. Once again, Bruce was my voice....he was singing about things I was feeling. That is why I've loved his work all my life...he always found a way to sing about things...every day emotions, that I had often felt.

With each passing track, I felt as though I told him what was going on in MY life and he wrote me an album...that is how personal this album felt to me. I don't remember seeing the road or how I navigated home that night.....I was so caught up in the music and lyrics.

"Into the Fire" brought tears to my eyes.....a song about the firefighters who were going up those stairs while everyone else was coming down.....the way it was written was so eloquent and so descriptive...."Empty Sky" had such a personal meaning, yet I related it so well to 9/11 and what we all felt that day and in the days following. "You're Missing" made me completely lose it. If you know the lyrics, you'll know why.

Then there were songs of inspiration on the album that got me charged up after a somber song or two. "Waiting on a Sunny Day", "The Rising", "Mary's Place", and My City of Ruin" gave me chills and hope. These songs challenged us to have faith and hope and to carry on.

I'll never forget where I was on that September Day...just as I will never forget where I was when I first heard "The Rising." I drove around for miles...way past my home that night...until I heard every note, every word, every beat. I finally went home, completely in awe. I placed the cd in my bedroom stereo, lit a candle...and listened to the album again....

Just two weeks later....I went to Madison Square Garden to see Bruce in concert. I had seen him fourteen or so times before that night...and I knew how electric his shows were. That night, there was something different in the air....in the eyes of everyone...long before the show started. As he came out, he started the show with "Empty Sky" and there really wasn't a dry eye in the "world's most famous arena" during that song. What amazed me that night was how everyone knew every word of that album. It had just been released two weeks prior.... I was blown away.

A few weeks after the concert my ex moved out of the house. Although, sad, I was relieved that we could carry on with our lives. A close friend of mine suggested that rather than moving out of the beautiful home I was in, that I find a roommate....and he suggested his brother Alex.....

Alex who was a huge music fan and musician moved into the house in early October. We immediately became close friends. He was not a Springsteen fan at all...but he was looking for some good music for his hour train ride each morning to work. I suggested "The Rising" to him. He reluctantly burned a copy and took it to work that day with him. That night, he walked in the house with a different look on his face. I asked him what was wrong. He said that he was completely blown away by the album and that he couldn't stop listening to it. He told friends about it, and they too were hooked.....

So for any of you who don't own the cd....either buy it, or buy some of the songs I mentioned from ITUNES....you too, will connect with these songs.....

You Can Always Go.....

2007-07-25T21:38:00.000-04:00

Downtown. Great song from the 1960's by Petula Clark.....but I am talking about the other "downtown."

It is 2007 and there are still guys/girls who won't go "downtown" for their partners. Can you believe this? I am stunned when I hear things like this.

Taking a trip "downtown" is one of my favorite things to do in the entire world...no joke. I could spend a weekend down there. I am like Magellan circumnavigating the globe......or Ponce De Leon looking for the fountain of youth.......I love the exploration and the expedition of it all......

Anyway, ladies....what percentage of guys would you say have no clue what they are doing when they go "downtown?" Like what percentage are good compared to bad? From the stories girlfriends have told me about their exes and female friends that I have/had, it sounds like a good majority of guys are clueless when it comes to taking a trip "downtown" which is a big shame. There should be classes or books on this. At the VERY least, these guys should be talking/communicating with their ladies to find out what/how their woman likes it done...I think that is the key....

From a male perspective, I would say......50-60% of women really aren't that good when they take the downtown tour. They are all over the place......they are like Lewis without Clark.....they need some guidance......

Anyway.....I'd love all of your input on this topic...I find stuff like this intruiging! I will leave you with "Downtown" as you reply......because when I have worries...I can always go............"Downtown." There may not be movie shows down there.....and the lights may not be brighter there.....but it sure makes me forget about my troubles and cares.....

In the Dog House

2007-07-19T18:14:00.000-04:00

Although it was only a four day work week for me, I am shot! I am glad the weekend is drawing closer.....

I have a lot on my mind this evening. This whole Michael Vick dog fighting thing has me very upset. Has the world gone completely insane? I look at my dog, and I couldn't even picture hitting him when he is bad....sure he gets an occasional smack on the butt to remind him who is boss when he misbehaves.....but having dogs fight to the death? That is beyond my comprehension. I read the Federal Indictment papers at lunchtime today and I cringed. The things he and his friends/family allegedly did to those dogs makes me want to drive back down to VA and kick all of their asses. Shooting them in the head, electrocuting them, torturing them....how could anyone hurt a defenseless animal. They are not men, they are pussies, flat out pussies.

Which brings me to the next thing...don't these millionaire athletes have anything better to do? The problem stems from these guys who grew up with nothing all of a sudden having the means to do anything and still hanging out with the crowd they did in high school.....sure it is nice that these guys want to "not change" and remember where they "came from" but there comes a time where these so called "role models" who are in the public eye have to separate themselves from the crap and the "crowd" they grew up with.

Why is this behavior off the field/court mostly prevelant in the NFL and NBA???? You don't hear of hockey players killing their wives, getting arrested 10 times in two years, running dog fighting rings, etc.....what is up with pro football and basketball????? This makes me look at my favorite sport in a whole new light. If all we have to complain about in baseball is Barry Bonds shooting up with steroids and breaking Hank Aaron's famed record, then we are in pretty good shape. Sure we can look back on Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry...two definite first ballot Hall of Famers who threw their lives and careers away with drugs...but the big difference there...they only hurt themselves. They weren't involved in night club shootings, killing dogs, murdering their wives, and all the other bullshit behavior. The NFL and NBA need to tighten the rules. I say, if you get arrested and convicted of a felony, you are banned for life, period. The only way to hurt these guys is in the wallet....where they won't be able to live the lifestyle they live anymore.

Sure, he is innocent until proven guilty...but in the court of public opinion, this guy is done. This is a FEDERAL indictment...not some loose cannon district attorney in NC doing something to secure a political future like in the Duke lacrosse scandal. The Feds win 95% of these cases and don't indict unless they have a pretty iron clad case. If he is convicted, I hope he and his buddies rot in jail for a long time and that he never plays another down in pro football.

This dog fighting seems to be a pretty big thing around the country. I hope this brings it into the light and that these animals are saved and people start turning these illegal rings in.

Food for Thought.......

2007-07-18T19:34:00.000-04:00

Mustard companies really need to start making mustard containers that don't squirt out yellow water before the actual mustard comes out. I bought some cold cuts tonight with a roll and French's proceeded to pee on my sandwich. Kind of takes my enthusiasm away for that sandwich. I guess I could shake the mustard a bit before using it, but f them, I am a consumer! Not only should they make mustard to my taste specifications, it should also give me my full day supply of vitamin C, whiten teeth, and give me a burst of energy......

Speaking of food, women of the Food Network have to stop faking orgasms when they taste their food. Half of that programming consists of cute, spunky women putting things in their mouth and giving us their "O" face. Which is why I can recite 23 different pasta recipes and 18 chicken recipes from memory, and I haven't cooked in months. Rachael Ray makes a 30-minute meal, and I'm finished in 20.

The Chinese community must explain why Chinese restaurants are never open for breakfast. There's a billion of them. They can't all be sleeping in......right???

Speaking of restaurants....I hate when they make you wait until the rest of your party has arrived. Any restaurant that makes you wait is calling you a liar. They're saying, "You have five friends?" "Yeah, we'll see." Listen up, Miss drunk-with-power-restaurant-hostess, when I say my friends are on the way, they're on the way. Soooo...get me to my table now or this is the LAST time I celebrate a birthday at IHOP!

Back From Vacation!

2007-07-16T18:01:00.000-04:00

Hello all! I am back from NC and settled in. The drive was long, but very fun! Jen and I had a great time with my brother. I have attached some pictures below. His new house is amazing. We had a lot of fun and did a lot down there. I finally got to the outer banks/Cape Hatteras...a place I have wanted to visit for a long time!

Here are some things I learned/observed on our trip:

We really get ripped off here in NY, for EVERYTHING. Whether it be for gas, for food, for housing, or whatever, we get screwed.

Outside of NY and NJ, the beaches are FREE! They actually charge $10 EACH per visit/per person here in Long Beach to just go on the beach. Crazy huh?

The states that charge road tolls have the worst roads. It is $10 to cross the Verrazano bridge here in NY, yet the roads around it are horrible. The roads down south are free, smooth, and CLEAN!!!! Makes you wonder where all the money is going up here....

I would not live in VA if you gave me a free house. I just don't like VA at ALL!!!!

I need to get satellite radio. We had it in the rental car and it was amazing.....

Speaking of rental cars, I need to buy the model we rented. It was a 2007 Charger. (see pics) This thing kicked some serious ass. This thing went 80 by just touching the gas and it was amazing on gas.....weird, huh?

On the topic of gas.....I drove 200 miles from the Outer Bank area to Raleigh using only a 1/4 of a tank......in NY I used over 1/2 a tank driving 50 miles.....congestion, congestion, congestion.....

People down south really don't hate NYers......they were very nice and welcoming everywhere.

The nightlife here in Long Beach is bigger that the nightlife in the capitol of NC...by far! Raleigh was fun...but they need to step it up a bit at night!

Everyone stays to the right on all highways and interstates from Virginia...south. we basically had our own lane (the left lane) for about 250 miles. Thanks to all that stayed out of our way! :)

Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks are amazing.

Five straight days with Jen.........and we got along great...even though I can be annoying. :)

I did miss NY, but this trip opened my eyes up to how difficult it really is to live here. Financially it is tough, we know that. From a stress standpoint, the pace and the attitude here compared to other places is extreme. Just north of Philly, I95 becomes a speedway where highway rules, safety, and consideration of everyone else are forgotten. It is every man, woman, child, invalid, and senior for themselves from Central Jersey through the NY Metro area.

My company can't function a day without me. Enough said. I am dead tomorrow. Over 200 emails to answer and God knows what else on my desk. Within 20 minutes of leaving there on Wednesday....the phone calls started.....it is a slow death working there.

Bruce, and dogs for that matter, really have no conception of time. Although Bruce greeted me a bit more intensely than he usually does when I come home from work.....within 2 minutes it was business as usual with him.....

2007-07-10T18:26:00.000-04:00

I have jotted a few "blog topics" down over the last few days that I have wanted to write about. But, I'll put those on hold today. While browsing other blogs today, I came across Kate's which I usually read whenever I have time to read other blogs. She posted yesterday about 10 things you want to say to people, but can't, or perhaps you can but probably never will, for whatever reason. The key is to not let others know who each statement is directed towards. I found this concept really cool. I may write one or two things I can and maybe will say to the person....but for now....here goes:

1) Twenty years? Where have they gone? I think of you every day and know that despite my flaws and the mistakes I've made in my life, you would have been in my corner every step of the way. Knowing that has gotten me through a lot. Thank you and I miss you!

2) When I think of you, I can't help but think of the song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" by Elton John. Especially when he says "You almost had your hooks in me didn't you dear? You nearly had me roped and tied. Altar-bound, hypnotized. Sweet freedom whispered in my ear, You're a butterfly, and butterflies are free to fly. Fly away, high away, bye bye." How fitting. Meeting you changed my life, in a very bad way. I am grateful I had the strength, the intelligence, and the love for myself to finally break free of you and get my life back on the path it was on before we met.

3) In a family full of giving people how did you turn out so fucking selfish? No matter what crisis you faced in your life, I was always there. Then you turned your back on me. It bothered me for a long time, but now I am at peace and take things at face value. You were selfish as a kid, selfish as a teenager, and even more selfish as an adult. It will not bother me if we never speak again.

4) Since we are on the topic of selfishness, I may as well get you out of the way. Any friendship, relationship, living situation, etc., requires both parties to give as well as take. All you did was take. You only "gave" when you felt guilty and knew you were taking advantage of me and my goodness. The year I knew you felt like ten. I am glad you moved far away so I don't have to see you ever again.

5) You ruined this country. For six years I have had to sit back and watch scandal after scandal, casualty after casualty, and poor decision after poor decision. Not to mention arrogance, dishonesty, stupidity, ignorance, and self righteousness. Thank God your days are numbered.

6) Your friendship means more than you know. Your guidance, honesty, and candor helped me during a very difficult situation. Had you not been there, my life today would be on a completely different course. One that would have been harmful and toxic for me. Thanks for making me see the light.

7) Meeting you has inspired me and allowed me to believe in people again. As cynical as I am, you bring out that "naive" side of me that I had when I was younger and less jaded about the world. You bring out the best in me no matter how bad of a mood I may be in. I've realized that "this" is the way it is supposed to be...in every way. I am grateful each day to have you in my life.

8) You need to take a class or two about manners. You'll never get respect from anyone when you act the way you do. Respect has to be earned and should not be taken for granted. You can't lead people that don't respect or believe in you. You are rude, sarcastic, and downright mean. Bottom line, even if I told you this, you would not care.....selfish people usually don't.

9) People always say that someone can't be friends with an "ex" for some reason or another. I think we have proved that theory wrong. We genuinely don't see each other as "exes" but as friends. We have both found our special someone and I am so happy for both of us....I couldn't have scripted it any better if I tried. I value your friendship and can't wait for us to meet each other's significant other.

10) Last but not least. Your friendship means a lot to me, but I can't figure you out. I make an effort to keep the friendship going, but sometimes I don't feel the effort back. I initiate gatherings, activities, and nights/days out but feel like I get turned down 90% of the time. When we do see each other, which isn't often anymore, we always have a great time, lots of laughs, and good conversation...so I don't understand. We saw each other a lot last year when another party was involved, but since then, nothing. I don't get it.

On the topic of "Speaking Your Mind"...this ROCKS!!!!!

Back From One Break....

2007-07-09T17:54:00.000-04:00

And almost ready for another! Hey everyone. I am back from a very nice and long five day July 4th weekend. It was great! Here's a recap:

Tuesday Night Jen and I went to dinner here in town to kick off the weekend. After dinner, we got ice cream and went to visit my old neighbor Mario. He is 78 and lives with his handicapped daughter. I miss living across the street from him! Anyway, Jen and I brought him and his daughter ice cream and we sat with them and talked for a few hours. Mario broke out all his old pictures of when he was young and worked on a cruise ship, pictures from Italy when he was a boy, and dozens of others. I find his experiences and his perspective of the world very interesting. He was so surprised and happy to see us.

On Wednesday the 4th, Jen and I got up and did our run. It was hot and humid! We then played beach volleyball with one of my roomies and her friends. It was interesting playing volleyball in a sustained 40MPH wind and in a steady rain...but it was fun! We then went back to my house for a bbq and played some cards and hung out.

The rest of the weekend consisted of trips to Queens, cooking dinner together, a night on the town on Friday, TWO very nice bbq's. One of which is featured in the picture above. That is Jen and I at my friend Christina's bbq this past weekend. The weekend also featured the Live Earth Concert, Yankee Oldtimers' Day, shuffling our pets around and getting them ready for our trip on Thursday. Bruce will be staying at my neighbor's house where he spends his days and where he spent the weekend. Alice (Jen's cat) is already out east at her parent's house.

Thursday, I will be yet another year older..... (sobbing) We will be driving down to Raleigh, NC to visit my brother and my parents. We rented a cool car and we are looking forward to the long drive together. I am a HUGE fan of road trips. So, I couldn't think of a better way to spend it, with Jen and going to see my brother who shares a birthday with me....should be a fun time...

So, in the interim....I (and we) have lots to do. Packing, laundry, shopping, and everything in between. I am looking forward to getting out of NY for a bit.....the change of scenery will be good.

I hope you all had a great 4th and a fun weekend! I will check in tomorrow and Wednesday before our trip!

I've Got You.....Babe!

2007-07-02T21:20:00.000-04:00

Another week is upon us! Thank God it is only a 2 day work week for me, as I took off Thursday and Friday. Jen and I have some fun stuff planned for the 5 day weekend including running in a July 4th race together here in Long Beach. Should be fun!

This past Friday Night was a lot of fun. After a nice dinner at "The Cabana" Jen and I stopped off at the liquor store to get some stuff for drinks. We went back to my house and we had a few drinks. Jen had her Kettle 007's and I had my Kettle and OJ. After a few drinks, we headed out to a couple of local places. We really liked one in particular. It is a new place this summer called "The Beach House." It is really a fun place. It was pretty crowded when we got there, but it was a good crowd. I immediately noticed this guy that stood out from the crowd. I'd say the average age there was 28-30. This guy was in his 50's and was a dead ringer for Sonny Bono. He was in the middle of the crowd and getting into the jukebox music well before the DJ came on.

We made our way to the bar for round one of drinks and headed to the back where the dance floor/DJ were. About 10:30 the DJ started playing music and Sonny Bono went NUTS! He was dancing like a madman all over the place. Being the instigator that I am, I kept pointing his way and saying "You the Man!!!" and making him go crazier. You'll see a picture of Mr. Bono above. It was dark and he was moving so fast it was difficult to snap a good picture......

About 11:45 my friend Christina joined us. I told her I was going to get Sonny over to dance with her. She told me she would kill me. So...when she turned her back...I pointed to Sonny, then pointed to Christina. Sonny immediately came over and summoned her to dance, but she strongly resisted and left Mr. Bono hanging!

We had a great time.....I hadn't danced outside of my old house (Club 69) in a while. The thing I found most interesting that night was the fact that even the really younger aged people there got into the "older" music more than today's music. Sure they were enjoying "today's" hip hop and rap music, but when the 80's songs came on, the dance floor filled up quickly.

The Beach House is great and I can't wait to go there again. The huge bar that was in the same place last year called "The Twisted Kilt" was never packed...this place packs them in...same location....very strange!

Everyone have a great day! :)

When the Moment Is Right..............

2007-06-28T20:31:00.000-04:00

You have all seen this commercial....the couple in the bathtubs with the voice over talking about erectile dysfunction and how Cialis can help them....

Is it erectile dysfunction or could it be the fact that they are in separate tubs, in public, sitting in 50 degree water, with a cool sea breeze blowing on them? Not to mention the paranoia of the Zodiac Killer or Son of Sam sneaking up on them and killing them. No wonder the poor guy can't get hard.

Anyway, the weekend is upon us! I am excited for it and the fact that I have a 2 day work week next week...then 2.5 day work week after that...VACATION!!!!

Oh one more thing.....gum companies need to stop inventing flavors. Grape, cherry, cinnamon, peppermint, etc are flavors. Artic Blast and Crystal Frost sound like some form of meth.....ever taste these made up flavors?????

I will catch up with you all on Monday! Enjoy your weekend...what the heck...I will leave you with a video...just like old times....enjoy the music!

Biiiiiiiig Search for Bigfoot

2007-06-27T20:00:00.000-04:00

Ok, stay with me for a second....read this quick article...then read my take on it....

MANISTIQUE, Mich. — Researchers will visit the Upper Peninsula next month to search for evidence of the legendary creature known as "Bigfoot" or "Sasquatch."

The expedition will focus on eastern Marquette County, said Matthew Moneymaker of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.

"We'll be looking for evidence supporting a presence.... We hope to meet local people who might have seen a Sasquatch or heard of someone else who had an encounter," Moneymaker told the Daily Press of Escanaba.

The legend of Bigfoot dates back centuries. But skeptics have challenged accounts of sightings, and practical jokers have staged hoaxes that have included grainy film footage of people dressed in costumes.

But Moneymaker said members of his organization have either glimpsed Bigfoot or gotten close enough to hear the creature in all but three of 30 expeditions in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Grover Krantz, a scientist specializing in cryptozoology, the study of creatures that have not been proven to exist, believes Bigfoot is a "gigantopithecus," a branch of primitive man believed to have existed 3 million years ago.

Ok, for starters....they actually have an "organization" dedicated to bigfoot research???? What kind of fucking idiot joins this organization???? Picture this..

Man: "Honey, see you Monday"
Woman: "Where are you going dear??"
Man: "I have that bigfoot search/expedition this weekend, remember?"
Woman: "Oh, I forgot! Have a wonderful time darling, hope you find him, be careful!!!"

This guy hasn't been laid since the Johnson aministration.....Andrew Johnson.....

Maybe it is because I am a native New Yorker and used to occupying my time in a much more productive way....but I think I'd feel the same way if I lived elsewhere. I just couldn't picture myself wandering through the woods for a weekend looking for a make believe "monster" who Buster Brown modeled a shoe after back in the 70's. Remember those? They made a shoe for kids with a "footprint" on the bottom as a spoof on bigfoot.....my mom actually bought them for us.....anyway.....

Who funds this organization? Do people write off "The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization" on their taxes as a charitable donation? I mean, they need supplies, tents, sleeping bags, and many weapons to fight off this beast don't they?

When are people going to realize that the "picture" taken back in the 1970's of Bigfoot is some drunken asshole in a gorilla costume on a weekend bachelor party retreat???? Come on guys, there's one of "them" in every bunch!

Wouldn't logic dictate that if there WAS a bigfoot, he'd probably be dead already??? I guess 3 million years old is considered a toddler in bigfoot years. West Nile Virus, contaminated lakes and streams, acid rain (especially in Michigan), lack of sex, no good pizza for miles.....

Something in the sea..I could believe. Scientists still discover over 100 "new" species of marine life each year.....the ocean is deep and vast and I could see how you could "miss" something all these years....but some 10 foot tall hairy beast wandering around the woods of Michigan wearing a size 30....I think not.....unless it is Ron Jeremy on vacation.

Does It Really Matter????

2007-06-25T19:41:00.000-04:00

I should preface this blog entry by saying that I don't hate any one "group" of people...I just happen to hate most everyone...so here goes......

In my weekend travels, I pass many store fronts. Whether it be here in the "City By the Sea" or in one of the five boroughs of New York City, I like to people watch. Lately I have noticed a big trend. Fat women getting manicures and pedicures very frequently. Now, don't get me wrong, nice nails and feet on any woman is a good thing.....but...shouldn't these "big" women start on the obvious first??? It's like only painting the trim on your house and letting the rest of it rot away.....I don't get it. Shouldn't the big job get done before the little details?

Do they think that when they go out later that night people are going to look beyond the 80lbs of belly fat bursting over those low rise jeans that they painted on? You know the pants...the ones where the zipper and button are holding on for dear life. I get it.....a guy is going to look beyond your ass that is six axe handles wide and admire your toes.....

I don't discriminate. Fat men do the same shit. They will go out and spend a fortune on a "nice" car or "nice" clothes...thinking a woman is simply going to look beyond the potato chip crumbs lost in their crater sized belly button. These guys haven't seen their dick since the Nixon administration....yet they make sure to fine tune the little points.

About two months ago I was walking Bruce in my neighborhood. It was a Friday Morning around 7am. On the corner of my block and the main road there is a huge 24 hour bagel store. I was crossing the street (I had the light in my favor) in front of the bagel store when out of nowhere this 350lb guy EATING A BAGEL while driving his huge SUV almost runs us over. He rolls down the window and asks "Why are you walking your dog in the street????" I turned to him and said "The question of the day shouldn't be about me walking my dog...the question of the day is DO YOU REALLY NEED THAT BAGEL YOU FAT FUCK??????" He was stunned and just drove away......

Another story about looking at the "fine points" and missing the big picture.... I am hooked on a certain flavor of Vitamin Water. It is called XXX. It has a ton of antioxidants...pomegranate juice, blueberry juice...and some other berry juice...anyway it is really good for you. Jen and I were on the beach on Saturday soaking up ths sun and enjoying each other's company and "people watching." In front of us was a group of about 8 twenty-somethings. One girl was drinking one of the XXX Vitamin waters while she was bragging about how good it was for her. Meanwhile, she had a cigarette in the other hand and was puffing away in between gulps of the vitamin water. I don't understand people.......

Weekend!!!!

2007-06-22T09:03:00.000-04:00

After a wild night of thunderstorms, a sunny day with low humidity is upon us here at "the beach." No real writing today, just wishing you all a great weekend and leaving you with an old 80's tune I have in my head today! Enjoy! :)

You're FIRED!!!

2007-06-20T21:13:00.000-04:00

Kellogg's says it will stop advertising its breakfast cereals to children under 12 unless the cereal meets certain nutritional guidelines. The decision comes on the heels of a threatened lawsuit by several advocacy groups who claim that the "cartoon" characters target youngsters and cause obesity.

Are you fucking kidding me? Tony the Tiger, who has been around for years, and his buddies are making your kid fat? PLEASE!!!! Snap, Crackle, and Pop are the least of your kid's worries.

Your kid is fat from the 4 gallons of soda he drinks a day, the 5 hours of video games, the lack of exercise, the "Oscar Meyer" bologna sandwiches you pack him for lunch, and the pizza you feed him for dinner because you are too fucking lazy to cook a meal for your kids. Don't blame Toucan Sam.

It seems like people are always looking for someone else to blame....looking right past the fat little fuck sitting on the couch on an 80 degree day playing with his Sony Playstation. I may sound old, but when I was a kid, we had to be called about 10 times to COME IN for dinner. On a summer day, we were LOCKED outside the house and forced to play and were only allowed in to use the bathroom.

I say to the parents out there.....stop whining and start parenting. While you are at it, stop looking for a scapegoat everytime something goes wrong. Stop blaming teachers for your child's stupidity, stop blaming music and movies because your kid is fucked up, and stop blaming McDonalds and Cartoon characters because your kid is a fat fuck.

The rate of obesity will in no way be slowed down by Kellogg's decision. In reality, it will actually lead to increased weight gain, because people will consume more now that they think it is "nutritional." Bank on it.

I am sure other cereal makers will follow suit. So watch out Trix Rabbit, your cottony ass is next!

Hasn't the Trix Rabbit endured enough? Those little fucks tormented him for years, teasing him with those bowls of fruity goodness only to tell him "Silly Rabbit, Trix are for Kids!!!!" The Trix Rabbit dressed in drag, in clever disguises, and tried so many other ways to get himself a simple bowl of cereal, and now he's out of work? He definitely will snap now....if you see him in a trenchcoat....run like hell.

So what will come of these characters now that they are out of work??????

Snap, Crackle and Pop....Gay porn for sure.

Tony the Tiger will be exiled to the San Diego Zoo where he will tormented by tourists until he dies a slow and painful death.

The Trix Rabbit will snap and kill a bunch of kids and end up on death row with Scott Peterson.

Toucan Sam will be shot, stuffed, and placed on some hunter's mantle.

The Lucky Charms dude will become an alcoholic.

These poor bastards.

A Need for Marketing???

2007-06-18T20:14:00.001-04:00

Well, the weekend is over and it was back to the grind today! I had a nice weekend with Jen and we got to do a lot.

Saturday Night, after a day at the beach here in Long Beach, we got our stuff together (including Bruce) and went to Jen's house in Queens for the night. We were excited to see "Sicko" (on DVD) the new Michael Moore movie that comes out in 2 weeks that I was lucky enough to get my hands on before it's movie release (shhhhh). She just got a new kick ass TV and we thought we'd enjoy watching it there. Anyway....before we started the movie, I was flipping around the channels. I think Jen was in the bathroom or the kitchen at this point.....when a "VAGISIL" anti feminine itch creme commercial came on. Immediately the wheels started turning.....

How many women with itchy vaginas do they think were watching channel 40 at that time? Was there going to be a mass exodus of itchy vagina women making a charge for the local drugstore? A product like this just does not need to be advertised on TV in my opinion. If you have an itchy vagina, is it going to take a commercial to make you go get something for it? I would think you would get a treatment way before a commercial "persuaded" or "reminded" you to do it. If it takes a commercial for you to notice or want to stop the itching, you have bigger problems.

The same goes for tampons. Do we need a commercial? I think all women old enough to have a period know what to do when they get it. A lightbulb isn't going to go off in your head after seeing a commercial and a puddle of blood on the sofa and make you think "Hmmmmmmmm...maybe I should buy a tampon!"

Ladies, I don't discriminate. Jock itch sprays/creams, whatever the hell form those come in, should not be advertised either. Guys, long before scratching your balls in front of the TV on a Saturday Night, you should have done something for it ealier in the day.

Marketing foods at night I can understand because it does not take too much to lure a fat fuck out of the house for a Whopper, a Little Debbie Snack cake, or a Taco Bell Burrito. The slightest hint or picture of food could get a fat fuck staggering for the car keys in his/her fuzzy slippers and pool cover sized robe.....but Vagisil? Come on!!!!

Shouldn't they leave ads for certain items off TV? Here are some I would ban:

Douches (sorry, all you not so fresh women!)
Tampons, Maxi Pads (with or without wings), pantyliners, etc
Feminine itch creams
Jock itch creams
Erectile dysfunction medications (4 hour erection? I am not calling my doctor!)
Bladder Control medications

What am I forgetting?

Have A Nice..................Weekend??

2007-06-14T18:40:00.000-04:00

"Everybody's working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody's goin' off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh
You want a piece of my heart
You better start from start
You wanna be in the show
Come on baby lets go"

On Wednesday I heard one of my employees say "Have a nice weekend" to the Poland Spring delivery guy at work. Granted, the Poland Spring guy only comes every two weeks and my employee would not see him again before the weekend, but isn't that a little premature? Have a nice afternoon, have a nice day, or have a nice night wouldn't have sufficed? It was freakin' Wednesday before noon!!!!! Not even the official halfway point of the work week!

I think the earliest a person should wish someone a "good weekend" is Thursday afternoon if you know you won't see that person again before the weekend. Even Thursday morning isn't close enough I think.....your thoughts?

It is the same bunch of folks that wish someone a "Happy New Year" past January 15th. Even if it is the first time you have seen me since the new year began, too late, just ask me how I've been. I give someone a week to get their Happy New Year salutation out of the way.

I start saying good afternoon at work at 11:30-11:45am when answering my phone. Let's face it, the morning is over.

What are your greeting policies?

Help!

2007-06-13T19:21:00.000-04:00

"Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help."

Have you noticed how difficult it is to find someone to help you these days when you are shopping at a retail store? It is next to impossible to locate someone actually working the sales floor.....and when you do find them, it usually "isn't their department." What the fuck?????

I think it would be a hell of a lot easier to find Osama Bin Laden (if we are actually still (or ever were)looking for the guy). Seriously. I walked around a sporting goods store on Sunday for about 15 minutes before I spotted an employee and the one I eventually found was no help at all. Between the language barrier and lack of knowledge about anything the store he works in sells, I was screwed and left the store empty handed.

The Home Depot is known for the "not my department" bullshit. Translation "I don't want to help you fucko!" I went into a Home Depot a few weeks ago for a special light bulb and I got hit with the "not my department" crap. Hey asshole, I didn't ask you who invented the lightbulb, nor did I ask you to hold my hand and escort me down the fuckin' yellow brick road to find them, just humor me with a point in the right direction. The douche nozzle made it sound like I wanted him to explain the inner workings of the bulb to me.

That's why I have a new strategy when I go shopping. Seek out the retarded or handicapped employee. Really, no joke. They are thrilled to be employed and earning a paycheck and go out of their way to help. As a former retail manager, I can tell you, the handicapped or mentally challenged employees are the best, by far. So next time you are shopping, look for the employee with drool on his/her smock or the one twitching in the corner, you will get top notch service.

I Think I Am Ready.....

2007-06-12T19:12:00.000-04:00

To start writing again. It is funny where life can take you. I have been away from writing and blogging for a long while. I have missed it. Anyway, here is a recap on where I have been and what I have been up to:

In April, I moved to a new place. It is a few houses from the ocean with an amazing view of it from the deck. It is a nice place to call home, for now.

I met an amazing woman in April. Her name is Jen and I feel like I have known her for years. She is thoughtful, caring, kind, fun, beautiful, and a million other things. I am very lucky to have met her and I am thankful for each day we have together. We spend the weekends together here at the beach or at her place in Queens and she comes out to Long Beach on Tuesday Nights. It is really nice.

Bruce is doing great....he is slimming down a bit. I drop him off each day before work at an old neighbor's house. She has two dogs and two kids and he plays all day with them while I am at work. It tires him out so I get some relief at night when he passes out early! :)

I am still at the same job. I have taken on some different/additional roles. I have gotten into some sales and it is good extra money. I don't see this company as a long term career but it is good for now.

I got out of a very tough but brief "relationship" late last year. I should have never gotten involved with this person, but I did. It is amazing how one person can take your life into a whole other direction....especially when it is the wrong direction. I did not write about her at all last year. She was someone I was with after Tiny A but before I dated Caren. It has taken a lot to get beyond all that happened with this person.....

Speaking of Tiny A, we have a nice friendship now. Like me, she has met someone great for her and is happy. I couldn't be happier for her. I last saw her on St. Patrick's Day. We had a nice day together here in Long Beach. I am hoping to see her soon, introduce her to Jen and meet her boyfriend.

I have not seen or heard much of the Sugar V. We spoke briefly last week for the first time in months. I miss him and our talks/laughs.

I am still running. I actually bought that NIKE chip you put in your sneaker that communicates distance/speed etc to your IPOD. It really is a good motivating tool. It tracks everything!

My family (mom, dad, brother) all moved to Raleigh, NC in November. It is weird not having them around. They are doing well though. My brother had a new house built and moves in on June 21st!

Well, that's the scoop! My blog has a new link, so link me if you are an old blogger friend! I will be getting back to writing a few days a week...hopefully with some funny shit like the "old days!"

March Madness!!!

2007-03-12T21:02:00.000-04:00

How did this happen? I went from blogging daily, sometimes twice a day to........once a month???

Anyway, I've taken the last few months off to regroup and get some things squared away. The next few weeks will be a fun transition. I used to be very afraid of change, but now I kind of welcome it.

Since May of last year, you all may have noticed that my blogging has slowly dwindled. Sometimes we put ourselves around people that drain our creatvity and who don't motivate us. Well, that I can assure you is long over. I am back with a vengeance, a new blog address, and I want to get back to the comedic writing I did for over a year when this silly thing first started.....I am back. I guess this song sums it up.....

I Suppose It Is Time....

2007-02-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

To actually blog in February! I have had so much going on, I will fill you in on all the details another time........

I actually can't believe this story:

HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. - The partially mummified body of a man dead for more than a year has been found in a chair in front of his television, which was still on, authorities said.
Vincenzo Ricardo, 70, apparently died of natural causes, said Dr. Stuart Dawson, Suffolk County’s deputy chief medical examiner. Police found Ricardo’s body this week when they investigated a report of burst pipes.

Ok first of all, no neighbors got curious as to where this dude was? Secondly how did his electric and cable not get shut off from lack of payment? My cable bill goes 10 days late and I am threatened with disconnection.....

And what kind of TV did this dude own that ran for a year straight? If I were TV manufacturers, I would try to find out what beand it was and market that shit.....

Just My Luck......

2007-01-30T20:04:00.000-05:00

So, I am running on the treadmill tonight next to this really cute, in shape girl. She kept looking over and smiling making eye contact with me. I would glance back and smile and this went on for like 20 minutes. I was hoping we'd finish around the same time so I could talk to her.....

Then all of a sudden this guy to my right (she was on my left) farts and stinks up the place. The cute girl's face turns green with disguist, she looks like she is going to be ill, and hops off the treadmill and leaves.

So, I am hoping she didn't think it was me......that fuck had to go and fart......

Happy Birthday! :)

2007-01-26T15:15:00.000-05:00

To a special friend: Enjoy your day tomorrow!

Speed Dial

2007-01-17T07:54:00.000-05:00

I spend a good portion of my work day on the phone. My job involves contacting companies to negotiate prices, place orders, follow up on lead times, etc. On a daily basis I come across dozens of phone messages/menus. The one I heard today cracked me up.

It said "If you are calling from a touch tone phone press one now, rotary phone customers please stay on the line or visit our website at www.________.com

Now first of all, who still has a rotary phone as their primary phone? Some dude in a trailer park in Arkansas who also still has a 13" black and white TV with rabbit ears? Does the one person in maybe 500,000 people who call from a rotary phone warrant a special instructional message?

The thing that made me laugh the most was the fact that this company actually thinks the person calling from the rotary phone also has a computer and internet access to visit their website!!!!! I doubt they are out of the ATARI 2600 stage! I just had to share this......

Just Put It In The Bag!

2007-01-12T07:36:00.000-05:00

So there is this 7-11 convenience store right on the corner where my office is. Many of the employees make trips there throughout the day for drinks, snacks, etc. Every so often I will stop in there in the morning for something to eat or drink. Each time I do, this tall, lanky guy in a shirt and tie who wears glasses is behind the counter ringing people up on the register. Apparently he is the manager, or at least his name tag says he is.

Anyway, this nerdy guy has a habit of commenting on EVERYTHING each person buys. For example, if you buy a banana he will say something like "Oh a banana, someone is eating healthy. Plenty of potassium!" If you buy a pack of cookies he will say something like "Someone is eating bad today, but these are gooooood!" It is the wackiest thing I have ever seen or heard. I thought perhaps it was just done to me, but others at work recently told me this guy does the same thing to them. This makes me want to screw with this guy.

I want to go up to the counter with some Preparation-H and see what he says. "Oooh, someone's ass is hurting!" Or how about a box of condoms? "Ooooh, someone is gonna get laid tonight!" Or perhaps a Massegil. "OOOOH, someone is not feeling so fresh!" I mean this guy is in the habit of commenting on everything, I doubt he will stop at a douche.

I never see anyone stocking the store shelves at a 7-11. How the hell does the stuff get on the shelves???? Does a pack of gum automatically restock itself when you take one off the shelf?

Also, these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on holidays...yet there are locks on the doors....why?

The thing I like most about the convenience store is the handy height measurer/ruler on the front doors. This is to get an accurate height of someone who robbed the store as he runs out..... in case you are a witness. I don't know about you, but if I just had a gun pointed at my head at 3am when I am on line for a little debbie snack cake, the last thing I am going to be thinking is "wow, that dude is 5'11, about 175lbs, and was in excellent shape....and where can I get a ski mask like that" The first thing I will be thinking when he leaves is "where is the closest bathroom, I need take off the underwear that I just shit in?"

A New Year Is Upon Us

2007-01-02T20:36:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all! It is only a couple of days into 2007 and I am tired of hearing "Happy New Year" from people already. Ok, fuckers, we get it...it is a New Year!

Anyway, the weekend was amazing, actually last week was amazing. For starters, DON'T see the "new" Rocky movie. It was pretty bad. Caren and I saw it last Wednesday. It was pitiful in many ways.

Thursday Night Caren brought over a great Christmas gift for me. She got ma a really cool karaoke machine. It is not your ordinary karaoke machine. This thing has a camera on it and plugs into the tv where you can video and tape your "performances." We had dinner with Joe and Christina, drank wine and sang all night on Thursday.

Friday night was my "take down the Christmas tree" night and get the house cleaned. Shortly after Saddam hanging and the tree going back in the attic, I passed out for the night. By that night, I knew New Years was being relocated to my house, aka, "club 69" rather than the Sugar V's place. We had a bunch of people coming, so my place would be a bit more roomy.

Saturday I food shopped and got all the New Years decorations and stuff. I hopped a 4pm train to NYC and met up with Caren for our Saturday Night adventure. It has become such a great ritual for us. I think we have gone in like 8 out of the last 9 weeks. We dined at a great little Italian place on 33rd and 3rd. The food, the wine, and the atmosphere was amazing. We then ventured down to Union Square to find an additional microphone and some karaoke cd's for the machine for New Years Eve. We then walked up to Times Square where the New Years ball was being tested. We mowed our way through the crowd to catch a glimpse. After 20 minutes of being caught in a stampede, we hooked a left onto 46th and then another left on 8th. We walked 8th until we found a little dive bar called "Walter's" We had a few drinks and relaxed until we caught our train. There was definitely a colorful character or two in that bar......

Sunday, New Years Eve day, I cleaned and decorated the house and got ready for the night ahead. Sugar V and Mrs. Sugar V were coming, along with Joe and Christina, Caren, Christine, Rich, and our buddy Mario from across the street. Everyone arrived around 7pm. We ate some great food, chatted, and started drinking. By 8:30 karaoke was in full swing.

We had a spotlight, a disco ball, a ton of music, and that karaoke machine. We sang all night. It was insane. Sugar V cracked us up with his singing, Mario sang Italian songs, we all took turns and laughed our asses off. The booze was flowing, and the house was a looney bin. I even rolled on the ground and sang "Like a Virgin."

We had a nice toast and made our rounds when the ball dropped and wished each other a happy new year. It was great to be in the company of people I cherish so much. Shortly after 12, the karaooke machine was back on and in full swing. By 2am, people were dropping like flies. Rumor has it (and shoe scuff marks) that Christina was sleeping, or napping in my bathtub. Rich passed out on the couch, Christine was getting drowsy, and I was throwing up after 4 bottles of champagne. My house was pretty much a complete mess......

Christine stayed over in the guest room, Rich on the couch, and Caren with me. Everyone else ventured home after a while. I woke up with a bad hangover and a messy house, throw up (from Rich) on my bathroom rug, and so many other wacky things all over the house. We finally got up at 1pm. Rich was gone. Caren, Christine, and I met up with Sugar V and the Mrs. at the diner. We had lunch and headed back to my house. We hung out until 7pm or so. I had such a great time.....

It is Tuesday Night and I finally got my house back to normal. Everything is mopped, washed, cleaned, sanitized, etc. All my holiday decor is down, and I am ready for summer! :)

That's my New Years in a nutshell. I am glad 2007 got off to such a great start. I have a few "resolutions" but they are more like things I need to do to make life better, so they will be done. I am just so thankful for the great friends I have. I am lucky. I am thankful for Caren. She really balances me out. When I get nuts about silly things, she has a way to calm me down and be a voice of reason. I have learned a lot from her and love our experiences together. I feel as though we have built a great foundation over the last few months and she is just so great.

How was YOUR New Years???????

Post Christmas Post.....

2006-12-26T19:11:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I think this picture I took on the train Saturday Night is hysterical. Two girls (you can only see one) drinking (or in this case, holding) Red Bulls, completely passed out. I am sure the Red Bull competitors would love to use this pic. This is my kind of humor, for sure.

So Christmas was good, but quiet. Weird with the family so far away, but still a nice holiday, complete with cooking and friends. I made a ton of food. Baked Ziti, homemade sauce, meatballs, sausage (Sugar V's favorite), and Bracciole, for Christmas Day. Christmas Eve I cooked flounder. I had to keep the tradition going. Not to mention all the Italian cold cuts, cheeses, breads, pastries, and cookies I waited so patiently in line for on Sunday.

Thursday Night I am having Caren over along with Christina and Joe for dinner. I have a tray of ziti and a ton of meat left that I froze. We will be sure to have a post holiday feast. I wish Sugar V and the Mrs. were in NY to share it, but they are off In Chitown.....we miss them!

So, for New Years, I am NOT having a party at my house for the first time in a while. Sugar V is having Caren and I over...and maybe a few others. It is sure to be a fun night. I am looking forward to it. Even more so than I was looking forward to Christmas. There's nothing like starting the New Year off with the people you really care about. And a kiss from Caren at the stroke of midnight won't hurt either. :)

I was flipping around the channels early yesterday and I can't believe they still show the "yule log" on TV. What a mess that thing is. You seriously have to be hard pressed for something to "watch" to put that on.....

Is it me, or are you tired of holiday music? If I hear one more Christmas song, I may snap. I seriously had to play gangsta rap in the car today to get all the holiday "cheer" out of my system. I can now go back to being the cynical bastard I am the rest of the year......

The city was great on Saturday Night. It felt like a mid-October night rather than the day before Christmas Eve. Caren and I walked the city and loved every minute of it. We found some cool gifts for Sugar V and the Mrs., to give them on New Years Eve. We tried a new restaurant in Little Italy, we liked it, but missed Vincents. We had dessert at Ferrara's, got me a "Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey T-Shirt" at a novelty store in Little Italy, then found a place that sold designer handbags and stopped in. We were led to a secret back door in the back of the building where there were dozens of Gucci, Prada, and other designer bags. I am sure these were hijacked off a truck or a plane, but the price was good, so Caren got a bag and a wallet. That made her night for sure.......

So, how was your Christmas...and what is everyone doing for New Years?????

My 100 Memories of 2006

2006-12-15T00:47:00.000-05:00

With 2006 winding down and many networks airing their end of year specials such as "The Most Fascinating People Of 2006" or "Big in '06", I decided to make a list of 100 memories that will forever remind me of 2006. So here goes, in totally random order:

1) "Ridin' Dirty"
2) Club 69
3) Carpooling with Christina
4) Fall/Early Winter NYC visits
5) My job (started it in January)
6) Caren
7) Christmas in August
8) The infamous block party
9) The Cinco De Mayo "housewarming" party
10) A great Memorial Weekend
11) Christina, Joe, and their boat "Floater"
12) Tiny A
13) The Tube Music Network
14) Melky Cabrera's catch on 6/6/06
15) The Boston Massacre in late August (5 game sweep in Boston)
16) Sugar V clearing out my New Years party
17) Eleanor Rigby's Bar
18) T-Unit
19) The famous Pizza Night at club 69
20) Mario!!!!!
21) Being called "Scotty" for 2 months
22) Fourth of July weekend in Mineola
23) Frosty Paws
24) Bruce dressed as a pimp
25) Happy Hours at Tiki Bar
26) The "Shady" Hat
27) Coney Island/Brooklyn Cyclones Game
28) 10 Cent Wing Nights
29) Taco Tuesdays!
30) Kettle One
31) Friday BBQ's at work
32) The Bodies Exhibit in NYC
33) Little Italy with Caren
34) A full house on Thanksgiving
35) February 15th, not the 14th (haha)
36) Walking the trails at Sands Point
37) Uncle Louie G's Ices!
38) Labor Day Party at T-Unit's
39) Moving Day
40) Singing "Sweet Caroline" to the LB cops
41) TV Show Theme Song Night
42) Democrats sweep election day
43) Softball at Jones Beach
44) The Disco Outfit
45) "Front Row" at Yankee Stadium
46) Cooking Day with Tiny A (Gnocci (her) and Eggplant (me))
47) Drunk Dennis across the street
48) Churchill's on a special playoff football Sunday in January
49) The "Beach Necklace" found at fashion stores
50) Pushing Christina's Car to work on a 90 degree day
51) The "Kool Aid Car"
52) The "After Happy Hour" party at club 69
53) Beer Pong
54) The Thusday Night after work party at club 69 in August
55) Peppermint Hot Chocolate with Tiny A
56) Beer Olympics
57) "Snap Yo' Fingers"
58) Linda and Liz
59) Insane gas prices
60) "Otto"
61) "Lucky Louie" on HBO
62) "If you like my meatballs, you'll love my sausage" great shirt Sugar V
63) Dogsitting
64) Deal, or No Deal???
65) Booing A-Rod
66) Movie Night at work
67) Strawberry Fields
68) "You're Makin' Me Craaaazy" (song sticks in my head)
69) "Crime Scene" Night with Caren
70) Kerry's Birthday Party at The Inn
71) Ghetto rigged air conditioner
72) Pumpkin pies
73) Ballybannon
74) One minute walks to the beach
75) The white pig chalkboard
76) Pettitte coming back to NY
77) Sinatra, a fireplace, and a dance
78) Superbowl Sunday with Amester and Brucey
79) Dublin Mudslide and Black N Tan Ice Cream
80) Singing to the trucking company at work
81) Greg's Wall of Quotes
82) Meeting Sugar V's rat in Park Slope
83) A Faulty Gas Burner
84) The front room
85) Saving the parking spot!
86) Bad cell phone reception
87) Matisyahu
88) Greg's Laugh at lunchtime
89) My family moving
90) The 1:07am train
91) 20+ Police visits to club 69
92) Jackass 2
93) Flintstoning Linda's Car
94) Caveman chats with Sugar V
95) Running the boardwalk
96) Falling head first into Sugar V's bathtub
97) Jeter being robbed of the MVP award
98) Doug K and I working together again
99) Talking to my sister again
100) Wishing and hoping 2007 is my best year yet!

Johnny Come Out To Play...In Your Empty Garden

2006-12-08T00:08:00.000-05:00

What happened here, as the New York sunset disappeared? I found an empty garden among the flagstones there. Who lived here? He must have been a gardener that cared a
lot, who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop...and now it all looks strange.

Today the Grammy nominations were announced. Big deal. The state of the music industry is a complete joke. Fly by night artists, with fly by night cd's who won't be remembered five months from now, let alone five years from now. It makes a day to remember John Lennon, on this twenty-sixth anniversary of his murder, even that much more special.

I grew up brainwashed by the media, and even by my Dad, in thinking Elvis was "The King." I completely disagree with that "logic." We have a bunch of Elvises walking around the music industry today...pretty boys, with pretty hair, who are handed pretty songs to sing. Commercialized crap, if you ask me. The Beatles, now they were the "kings." They were the innovaters. They took music to a whole different level, and rock and roll was forever changed.

So tonight, as I sit in my room, sipping red wine, listening to John Lennon, remembering how truly great he was, I am so appreciative of what he gave us. What he left behind for generations to come.

Rather than leave you all with a classic from John or the Beatles, I want to leave you with a song that George Harrison wrote about his friend John shortly after his death. It is called "All Those Years Ago." If you know the song, you'll appreciate the words and probably sing along. If you don't know it, really listen to what George says about John, in this fantastic tribute to a great artist. I will be at Strawberry Fields tonight, braving wind chills in the teens to pay my respects and remember one of the best of all time.

"Band On The Run"

2006-12-05T20:13:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me well, know that I could talk music for days on end. I love the stories behind albums, songs, and musical artists. In the spirit of The Beatles and of the anniversary of John Lennon's death this coming Friday, I am in a musical mood. I heard today that "Band on the Run" the solo album by Paul McCartney was released on this day in 1973. Although I was a baby, I can honestly remember hearing these songs when I was a toddler. The album really took off in the summer of '74, when I was three, so I guess it is possible to remember back that far.

What is so amazing about this album? The events leading up to it's release. In September of '73 Paul decided to take the band to civil war torn Nigeria to record the album. Paul, his wife Linda, and the other band members arrived in Lagos Nigeria to record the album. Right before its production, two band members walked out in fear of their lives. Paul, Linda, and one band member carried on despite the turmoil. After the demo tapes were done, Paul and the band were robbed by armed bandits who stole their demo tapes, cameras, wallets, jewelry, etc.

So what did Paul do? The genius that he is, said no problem, and remembered everything he recorded in his head. He then went on to record the album all over again in a decaying studio. Despite these hardships, perhaps because of them, Band on the Run remains the most focused and consistently satisfying record of McCartney's post-Beatles career. So in the spirit of Paul, and December 5th, 1973, its release date, let's all watch "Band On the Run."

It's The Time Of the Season

2006-12-03T13:00:00.000-05:00

Four Saturday Nights in a row in NYC. That is a record for me. I've been enjoying the weekly journey into the Big Apple. Last night, we took in some touristy sites.

After another great dinner in Little Italy, CW and I hopped in a cab and headed up to 50th and 5th. We strolled over to Rockefeller Center to see the tree, take some pictures, and enjoy the scenery. Sugar V and the Mrs. joined us later on, as they caught a later train into the city.

This Friday, the 8th, is a night I have been looking forward to all year. Each year, fans mark the anniversary of John Lennon's death with a vigil in Central Park's Strawberry Fields. People gather, light candles, sing songs, and remember one of the greatest musicians ever. This year the somber anniversary falls on a Friday Night. I will be in the park this Friday Night taking part. CW has her company party and Sugar V and the Mrs. will be there as well, so I need to go with a friend that appreciates John and his music as much as I do. I will have a nice Lennon post on Friday to mark the occasion.

This upcoming Saturday, the four of us will be heading into the city for brunch and some ice skating in the park. I love ice skating in the park, more so than in Rockefeller Center. There is something about the atmosphere in the park that I love. A rink, surrounded by thousands of trees, in the middle of a city.....breathtaking.

My parents and brother are settling in nicely in the "Tar Heel" State. I spoke to them about an hour ago. They are getting settled, putting together new furniture and unpacking. I am glad they all made it down safely.

So, today, I am trying to get myself motivated to hang Christmas lights, put up a tree, and get in the spirit a bit. It's tough this year though. Hopefully, I will muster up the energy to do it. I am in a cooking mood as well, but I don't think I will do both......

I am reflective today for some reason. It's been an interesting year to say the least. Last night on the train, I was thinking out loud to Sugar V and questioning life and looking for answers as to how we end up on totally different paths in life than we ever imagined. Where I am at the end of 2006 is so different from where I was at the beginning of the year......strange days indeed.

Well, I am off to try to accomplish something today. Getting home at 2:15am, not sleeping until 5am, and waking up at 9 to crying dogs who wanted to go outside really does not spark motivation, but I vow to make it happen today. Have a great start to your week!

Here's A Tip............

2006-11-28T20:06:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed lately that you can't back out of your driveway without having to tip someone? Everywhere you go now, whether it be for a morning coffee, an afternoon snack, a dry cleaner, or an ice cream there is a tip jar staring you in the face. I am sympathetic that the minimum wage has not been raised in a decade, but enough is enough!

You put a jelly doughnut in a bag and handed it to me......should I sign over my paycheck? I just don't understand why people feel they should be rewarded for doing their jobs.

Perhaps it is just a NY thing, but the garbage men here won't go out of the way to take bulk items, even on the designated day that you are supposed to put out those items, without offering up a bribe. They seriously will leave an old mattress, an old couch, etc., curbside unless you are waving money when they arrive. I even remember when I was a kid, my grandfather making friends with the garbage men by bringing them tips, cases of beer, cold drinks in the summer etc. After all those nice gestures, my grandfather could have put a body out on the curb and they would have taken it with no questions asked!

Tipping has become so frequent, I am not even sure who is REALLY supposed to get a tip anymore. The cable guy comes to install a cable box...tip or no tip? Or does a cold soda suffice? Does the person have to break a sweat to warrant a tip? What are the tipping guidelines? All I know is that I am all tipped out.....

I am going to try a tip cup on my desk tomorrow and see how that flies.

Totally Random

2006-11-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

Monday Night....relaxing and watching The Tube Music Network. I love this channel. 24 hours of music videos, barely any commercials, and 100% rock. Don't get me wrong, I love rap and R&B, but it is nice to get away from it and watch all rock n' roll once in a while.

Wow, I can't believe Thanksgiving is over! I also can't believe it has been a week since I last wrote....I am slacking. Actually I've been busy!

I took off from work last Wednesday to get the house ready for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving turned out to be pretty good. The food was good, the time with the family and friends was great as well.

I had a pretty good weekend. I have been waiting to see that new movie "Bobby" about RFK. It was a really great movie. Being that RFK is one of my "idols" it made the movie that much better. Caren and I saw it on Sunday night after a quick bite to eat.

Saturday Night Caren and I ventured into NYC yet again. It's getting to be a Saturday Night tradition for us. This time we hit Little Italy and had some amazing Italian cuisine at the world famous Vincent's. The food was great. We sipped wine, chatted, and ate our amazing "medium" sauce with the meatballs the size of oranges.

We then got ambitious and walked all the way from Little Italy to Times Square. Quite a walk, but it was a gorgeous night and we enjoyed taking in all the sights and sounds of NYC. I tried a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks because they were out of peppermint for the peppermint hot chocolate that I love. It was quite good! Even though I had to transfer at Jamaica for the connection back home to Long Beach, I am glad Caren and I got 20 minutes on the same train before I had to switch.......the holiday feel is definitely in the air in NYC.

So on to random shit. Is anyone else hooked on this "Deal Or No Deal" TV show? I am not a huge TV watcher....I seriously couldn't name 5 shows on TV, but this Deal or no Deal has me watching all the time. Some dude gambled $219,000 tonight and went home with $10. What an idiot. He was from Arkansas, so that explains a lot.....

So, we are doing this Secret Santa at work. Yet, everyone is telling everyone who they have to buy for. Not so secret I suppose. I actually drew the name of a person I actually like....so buying a gift won't be painful. I was dreading buying for someone I hate. Thoughts of wrapping Bruce's poop crossed my mind several times before I finally pulled the name of someone I liked out of the hat. Think I wouldn't have done it? Well then you don't know some of the assholes I work with.......

So being that my family is off in NC....and I don't quite have a family of my own just yet, I am seriously thinking of heading into NYC on Christmas to volunteer at a soup kitchen or something like that. I think it would be amazing to help others in need, especially on Christmas.

I've been asked to go to two holiday parties with female friends as their "dates" this year. I don't even want to go to my own company holiday party, let alone two other parties....so I have to come up with some excuses.....any ideas? hahaha Come on, be a sport!

Ok, I am tired and need rest. I hope this post finds you all well and that your Thanksgiving/weekend was great!

Thanksgiving Is Approaching....

2006-11-21T10:31:00.000-05:00

All the Best

With all of the Thanksgiving preparation I have to do over the next two days, I thought I would post my Thanksgiving blog today. I want to start by wishing all of you a wonderful holiday. I hope you have an amazing holiday and weekend.

I will be hosting about 8-10 people at my house which include friends and family. It should be a fun day. I love cooking and hosting, so it will be a lot of fun. The wine will help too. :)

Anyway, in the spirit of the holiday, I am going to post my 2006 "Things I am Thankful For" list. No, not 2006 things, for the year 2006 silly. I can't believe it is Thanksgiving already...this is nuts.....

Things I am thankful for in 2006:

My family. Although crazy (what family isn't) they have always been in my corner. I will miss them when they move next week.

My friends, especially Sugar V. He is one of a kind and a genuine guy. I hope our friendship carries on for years. He looooves Thanksgiving sausage.

Meeting Caren. I hope great things come of it. I am looking forward to baseball season with her, among other things. Our NYC visits, pizza nights, impromptu dancing, chats, and laughs have put a smile on my face.

Bruce! The best dog in the world! I am thankful each day for him, even when he is a butthead.

You crazy folks who actually still read this blog! Thanks for sharing your comments with me and taking the time out to visit.

America waking up, finally. Election day gave me hope...that its citizens aren't as stupid as I once thought. Let's get our men and women home...safe.....it is long overdue.

A memorable summer of 2006. Although it had its tough moments, I grew as a person this summer. I will never forget it.

The time I spent with Amester. Thanks for all the kindness and memories. We had a lot of fun and laughs. 2006 would not have been nearly the same without you.

Have an amazing holiday everyone!

Winds of Change

2006-11-17T00:58:00.000-05:00

As I sit here on this stormy Thursday Night, I reflect. The winds are howling outside my window. The weather report said today could have been the last warm day of the year, and that the winds of change are blowing through tonight.

2006 has been a transitional year for me. The winds of change have blown often throughout this year.

Let's reflect:

In January, right after the new year, I started a new job. I am still there, the job has had its good and bad moments. Mainly stressful moments. I have grown quite a bit there and taken on so much responsibility.

Around the same time I started the new job, I met Tiny A. We had a great 7 months or so together. She was very influential in my life and she is missed daily. Whether or not our split was for the better or not, is still to be determined I suppose.

In May, I moved out of the house I had spent the last two years in. It was a good move for me. In many ways I felt like I got my independence back.

I moved into a new house in a different part of town in May. I made so many new friends and met so many new people in the neighborhood. I have mixed feelings about my future in the house come this May when the lease is up for renewal, what will happen is still to be determined.

In between all this, my family is moving to NC. My brother is already gone and my parents will be leaving in a couple of weeks. It is going to be strange, as I have said before.

I met Caren in September. She is definitely one of a kind. I've been so consumed with life/work the past few weeks, I really haven't been able to spend the time with her that I really would like to. I hope that changes over the next few weeks because I really want to see where it goes.......

My "constants" in 2006 have been my close friends. Sugar V is always there no matter what drama, craziness, or chicanery is going on in life. Christina gets me through the work days with some sanity still left.

Brucey boy brings me happiness every day. He is the greatest dog ever.

I sense even bigger change for 2007 for myself. I want to start taking some chances in life. I feel I have played life safe for too long. I have some dreams I want to follow. I want to be involved with more things that I am passionate about. I have plans and ideas to make that happen.

Although "Bored at the Beach" will be around for the long haul, I have an idea for another blog that I will keep secret, just for me. I need a space to vent without friends, family, and people I know tapping in. I plan on giving that a lot of attention come the new year. I am excited about what the wind will blow my way in the months ahead.....

So...the perfect song for the Friday Video, is "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions. Have a great weekend!

More Than A Feeling

2006-11-15T00:09:00.000-05:00

Ok, before I get into the real post, just a few random thoughts.

You know what bothers the shit out of me? When someone leaves you a voicemail or a text saying something like "I have to talk to you about 'something'" or "we need to talk about something." I mean just say what the hell it is and spare the person on the listening end the stress of wondering what the hell you need to "talk" about.

Because you know that when someone "needs to talk" to you, it is never good. Right?

Anyway, I have not been blogging much. Unfortunately, work has consumed my life, for the most part, over the last 4-6 weeks. For those of you I have neglected, nothing personal. Although I have been called out on it by a couple of people. Sometimes life just happens and you get consumed.

So, my brother moved last week, my parents are ready to go shortly after Thanksgiving. I guess that is kind of depressing. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for them and I know life will be easier for them down in NC, but it is just going to be strange.

Anyway, on with the blog. I've been watching a lot of old school MTV videos on YOUTUBE recently. It surely is a trip down memory lane. I was browsing VH1 Classic the other night and they had a show about albums. The question posed to everyone on the show was "What one album should EVERY music fan have in their collection?" This made me think. There have been hundreds of amazing albums over the last 40+ years. So many stand out in my mind. But I was able to pick one. If you DON'T own it, run out this weekend and buy it. I chose Boston's debut album BOSTON. This album came out when albums were really "albums". When the cover art was amazing and every song was mind blowing. I don't think the youngsters of today appreciate what an "album" really is. Now we download individual songs, and don't really appreciate the artists for all of their work rather than for just a hit song.

Boston's album came out when I was about six years old and it takes me back to my childhood years when my mom would play this album over and over again. But, I chose it not so much for the nostalgia, but for the lyrical, vocal, and musical quality this albums contains. The album gets better with each song and really stays with you.

I'll leave you with a great track from the album.....have a great day!

Just Like......Starting Over

2006-11-10T00:09:00.000-05:00

For a few months, back in late 2005 and early 2006, I featured a "Friday Video" here at the beach. I thought I would "start over" with that today. This time around I will elaborate a bit on each song rather than just post the video.

This week, I chose "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon. Back in 1975 John took a bit of a musical layoff. He spent his time at home baking bread and raising his son Sean. Many said he had a creative block....

Five years later in June of 1980, the songs started to flow when John was on holiday with with Yoko and Sean. He captured his love for Yoko with the writing of "Woman" which I personally think is one of the most amazing love songs ever written. He also wrote a lullaby for Sean called "Beautiful Boy." Its message was that life is what happens while you are making other plans. So true.

John and Yoko started recording these new songs in August of 1980. The "Double Fantasy" album was soon complete. The first single released was "(Just Like) Starting Over" which was a story of a second honeymoon and a start of a new life. The single hit #6 on the U.S. billboard charts and was climbing in December of 1980. On December 8th, John was shot and killed outsid ehis apartment building in NYC.

The title was grimly ironic.....but I suppose that often happens. The song always reminds me of that time period. I can remember this song being played all over the airwaves right after his death. The ringing bell at the beginning of the song, the 1950's style of rock, the amazing vocals, and the song's message make this a true masterpiece.

I'm Not Stupid.......

2006-11-07T00:14:00.000-05:00

George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Don Rumsfeld think you're stupid. Yes, they do.

They think they can take a mangled joke about President Bush and Iraq by John Kerry....a man who is not even running for office but who, unlike Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, never ran away from combat service....and get you to vote against all Democrats in this election.

Every time you hear Mr. Bush or Mr. Cheney lash out against Mr. Kerry, I hope you will say to yourself, "They must think I'm stupid." Because they surely do.

They think that they can get you to overlook all of the Bush team's real and deadly insults to the U.S. military over the past six years by hyping and exaggerating Mr. Kerry's mangled gibe at the president.

What could possibly be more injurious and insulting to the U.S. military than to send it into combat in Iraq without enough men.....to launch an invasion of a foreign country not by the Powell Doctrine of overwhelming force, but by the Rumsfeld Doctrine of just enough troops to lose? What could be a bigger insult than that?

What could possibly be more injurious and insulting to our men and women in uniform than sending them off to war without the proper equipment, so that some soldiers in the field were left to buy their own body armor and to retrofit their own jeeps with scrap metal so that roadside bombs in Iraq would only maim them for life and not kill them? And what could be more injurious and insulting than Don Rumsfeld's response to criticism that he sent our troops off in haste and unprepared: Hey, you go to war with the army you've got -- get over it.

What could possibly be more injurious and insulting to our men and women in uniform than to send them off to war in Iraq without any coherent postwar plan for political reconstruction there, so that the U.S. military has had to assume not only security responsibilities for all of Iraq but the political rebuilding as well? This administration never had a plan for the morning after, and we've been making it up.....and paying the price....ever since.

And what could possibly be more injurious and insulting to our men and women in Iraq than to send them off to war and then go out and finance the very people they're fighting against with our gluttonous consumption of oil? Sure, George Bush told us we're addicted to oil, but he has not done one single significant thing -- demanded higher mileage standards from Detroit, imposed a gasoline tax or even used the bully pulpit of the White House to drive conservation -- to end that addiction. So we continue to finance the U.S. military with our tax dollars, while we finance Iran, Syria, and the rest of our "enemies" with our energy purchases.

Everyone says that Karl Rove is a genius. Yeah, right. So are cigarette companies. They get you to buy cigarettes even though we know they cause cancer. That is the kind of genius Karl Rove is. He is not a man who has designed a strategy to reunite our country around an agenda of renewal for the 21st century.....to bring out the best in us. His "genius" is taking some irrelevant joke by John Kerry and twisting it to bring out the worst in us, so you will ignore the mess that the Bush team has brought upon this country.

And Karl Rove has succeeded at that in the past because he was sure that he could sell just enough Bush cigarettes, even though people knew they caused cancer. Please, please, for our country's health, prove him wrong this time.

Let Karl know that you're not stupid. Let him know that you know that the most patriotic thing to do in this election is to vote against an administration that has, through sheer incompetence, brought us to a point in Iraq that was not inevitable but is now unwinnable.

Let Karl know that you think this is a critical election, because you know as a citizen that if the Bush team can behave with the level of deadly incompetence it has exhibited in Iraq -- and then get away with it by holding on to the House and the Senate -- it means our country has become a banana republic. It means our democracy is in tatters because it is so gerrymandered, so polluted by money, and so divided by professional political hacks that we can no longer hold the ruling party to account.

It means we're as stupid as Karl thinks we are.

I, for one, don't think we're that stupid. Today, we'll see.

Let's hope this is the Republican theme song today:

Sick Call

2006-11-03T14:16:00.000-05:00

"I NO COME WORK TODAY!!!"

Hung Chow calls into work and says, "Hey, I no come work today, I really
sick. Got headache, stomach ache and legs hurt, I no come work."

The boss says, "You know something, Hung Chow, I really need you today.
When I feel like this, I go to my wife and tell her to give me sex. That
makes everything better and I go to work. You try that."

Two hours later Hung Chow calls again. "I do what you say and I feel
great. I be at work soon....... You got nice house."

BOO!

2006-10-31T00:29:00.000-05:00

When you REALLY think about it, Halloween is child abuse. One day every year we send kids out into the night to talk to strangers. Then when they get to the homes of these strangers, they accept candy from them. Then when they get home with all their treats, we throw away the one healthy snack, the apple, because it may have a razor blade in it and encourage the kids to eat all the sugar......

Candy corn? What is this crap? Why do we call it a "treat" if everyone hates it? We got rid of the Tony Danza show, yet we can't get rid of candy corn. Anyone who hands this shit out to kids today really wants them to die, but they just don't have the guts to stick the razor blade in that healthy apple.

If you forgot to buy Halloween candy, just say so. Don't hand out random crap from your kitchen. Last year, there was a guy on Sugar V's block who was handing out batteries and mini-packets of soy sauce. Sugar V got so pissed, he poked him in the eye with his fairy wand.

Women must admit that Halloween is just an excuse to dress like a whore. Ladies, nurses don't wear fishnet stockings. Kittens don't own pushup bras. Real French maids don't shave their underarms. Now — now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for women getting in touch with their "inner slut," but, 'fess up, Halloween has become less about candy and more about the "Haunted Ho's."

Banks must stop putting up Halloween decorations and open up another teller window. You're a bank, not a college dorm room. Your service charges are scary enough.

Have a great day!!!!!

Monday Mix......

2006-10-30T00:07:00.000-05:00

Did this weekend fly by or is it just me? Ok, it did fly by even with the additional hour.

The night we turn our clocks back could be my least favorite day/night of the year. I despise leaving for work in the dark and coming home in darkness.......Where oh where did summer go?

I bought all my Halloween candy today. I packaged it all in cute little treat bags for all the little fuckers that will be trick or treating in my 'hood. When they say "trick or treat" I should just juggle or do a quick trick, eat my own candy as a reward and slam the door on the fuckos.......but seriously, the bags are great and the kids should love them.

Bruce got his Halloween costume today. I bought him a "pimp dog" costume. I have attached some pictures below. More to come on Halloween. He is so pudgy, he can barely fit in the large costume......

I got a "shower radio" a few weeks ago and I am loving it. This morning I busted out the acoustic version of "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi and boy did I sound just like him......I love music in the shower....I got some good moves and vocals in there. I should start the shower singing tour...coming to a tub near you.

This weekend was ok. Friday Night Caren came by. We wound up having many cocktails, listening to music, and ordering some food. I really enjoy her company. Can't wait to see her again soon....

The rest of the weekend was "blah." The weather was horrible on Saturday. Downpours and 50MPH winds made for a shitty day. The wind carried over all day Sunday. I woke up Sunday Morning to Bruce and Sampson eating out of the garbage pail outside which tipped over during the night. Their paws and noses were covered in tomato sauce from the food tins from Friday Night and garbage was all over the yard. I looked hot (sarcasm) in a t-shirt, shorts, black dress socks, and flip flops cleaning it up at 7am. Thank God nobody saw me.

My brother leaves for NC on Wednesday. It is going to be weird having him live down there. My parents leave the week after Turkey Day. I am hoping he comes up for the weekend and we all have one last big holiday here in NY. I am hoping to host Thanksgiving again this year. Christmas will truly be strange without them here. I will do my best to make the Christmas holiday my own this year.......

I often think of leaving NY, but the more I think about it, the more I realize how New York I really am. I don't think I could do it. I have such a pride for this place. In my eyes, it is the greatest city in the world.....

St. Louis Cardinals, World Champions? What next an asteroid wiping out the earth? Talk about a shitty team winning the championship. WTF is going on? All we need is the Minnesota Timberwolves winning the NBA championship, an Atlanta Thrashers Stanley Cup team, and a Phoenix Cardinals Superbowl win.......and this wacky year will be complete......

Ok, here is a sneak peek at Bruce's costume. Have a great start to the week.....

So Many Drugs, So Few "Conditions"

2006-10-26T20:47:00.000-04:00

Drug companies have to stop making up diseases! I don't know what "the terrorists" are planning next for America, but if I had every problem they talk about in medicine commercials: breathing, lifting, walking, sitting, sleeping, crapping, not crapping, getting a boner and male menopause, I would welcome death. Bring it on! Deadly nerve gas? Please, I've got seasonal allergies!

I mean, it seems like every time I turn on the TV these days, I see some ad for some drug I never heard of, to treat some disease I've never heard of. That's not a stomach ache you have from eating the seventy-five buffalo wings on 10 cent wing night, it's Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Or I.B.S. Or as I call it, "B.S." Which would also apply to the dreaded "Social Anxiety Disorder." Or as they used to call it, "shyness." We treated it with an old home recipe: a bottle of vodka and a hooker.

Your wife doesn't get turned on? Well, it couldn't be because you're a 350 pound snowman-shaped sausage casing, so full of beer you sweat hops. It's because she has "Female Sexual Dysfunction."

Your husband doesn't get turned on? Well, it couldn't be the 5,000 calorie a day diet you are on and the three chins you have...it is because he has "Erectile Dysfunction."

And before they came up with "Restless Leg Syndrome," did that even exist? Did you ever hear someone say, "Sorry I couldn't make the party, Charlie....the old restless leg was acting up." You know, next time you have an uncontrollable urge to move your feet, maybe you should just...move your feet! Your feet are trying to tell you the same thing your dog is trying to tell you when he's been cooped up in the house all day: "I want to go for a fucking walk!"

But be careful. There's a Tasmanian Devil living under your toenail. He lives way way below the nail's surface.......

I am waiting for the ad that tells me that my morning hard-on is actually "Hard Dick Syndrome." Or H.D.S...and there's a cartoon bunny who says, "Are you bothered by morning stiffness? Try Flaccidix. Flaccidix is specially formulated to make your penis soft and more manageable. Ridiculous......

Drug companies are the dealers, and Congress and the FDA are the cop on the beat who's been paid off to look the other way. New drugs used to have to go through a rigorous process of testing. Now they just give it to Courtney Love or Robert Downey Jr, and if they live....it's approved.

Only In New York

2006-10-23T21:49:00.000-04:00

I was born and raised here in New York. So, with that being said, it takes a lot for me to be shocked or surprised by the behavior of someone in public. On Sunday, I sat in Central Park with Caren in "Strawberry Fields" and we people watched and were greatly entertained.

Our day started about noon when we met up in Penn Station. We hopped in a taxi and headed to my favorite part of the city, the west side along Central Park. We had brunch at a really great place named Isabella's on W 77th. We had a few mimosas while we waited for a table and chatted for a bit. After about 20 minutes, we were seated at a great table right by the windows where we chatted, people watched, and enjoyed a great brunch. Sugar V and his wife called us during brunch and said they were on their way to the city....

After we ate, Caren and I strolled a few blocks to W 72nd where the John Lennon memorial "Strawberry Fields" is located. It's a mosaic tile which reads "Imagine" which is down a wooded path about 100 yards from the street. We sat on one of the dozens of park benches around the memorial and just took in the sights and sounds...and boy were there plenty.

Our attention was immediately drawn to Gary (picture below). Gary is quite a colorful character. Gary "works" at the memorial. Each day he does something different to decorate the "Imagine" tiles. Sunday, he had flower petals around the exhibit in the shape of a peace sign, It was nicely done. Gary was very drunk on red wine he was "secretly" drinking out of a clear Sprite bottle. Gary would give the same speech every 5 minutes for the two hours we were there. He would say, "Welcome to New York, welcome to the jungle, welcome to Strawberry Fields, I've been coming here for 13 years, been here everyday for the last four, enjoy folks, peace." Then he'd yeall "Where's everyone from?????!!!!!!!" Some people would answer, some would run.....Gary was a riot. Caren and I couldn't stop watching him and his antics. Gary had a miniature guitar near the exhibit for "donations." I thought perhaps the money people tossed in the guitar was to purchase flower petals and items to decorate the exhibit......we found out quickly it was Gary's booze money, as he paid someone withmoney from that guitar for a bottle of red wine they brought him. He carefully poured the red wine into Sprite bottles for "discreet" consumption.

We kept each other warm on the park bench, it was brisk and somewhat chilly on Sunday. While relaxing we noticed another colorful character. This dude (pictured below) had a bag of "sporting goods" that he was trying to sell some folks, including Gary. He was saying how great the stuff he had was, that is was "vintage." It was then that the ball dude, walks like 10 feet from the people he was trying to sell this vintage "memorabilia" to, and started signing the stuff himself......great vintage stuff indeed. The pic below shows our pal signing the stuff with God knows what star's name on it........

As Gary stumbled and played air guitar to the music blaring out of his 1983 boombox, Sugar V called and said he would be to the park in a few. It was then that Gary yelled. "GO AHEAD, KISS YOUR HUSBAND!!!!!!" So Caren and I look over and he was gesturing to Caren. Apparently Caren and I had been recently married in a drunken stuper last Saturday Night in between the pizza and "club 69." So we amused him with a kiss.....

Moments later we see Sugar V and Nebraska girl heading deep into the park, apparently Sugar V wanted to head into the woods to make a move on wifey, or to expose himself to some boy scouts. We called him and told him he was going the wrong way........he then got on the right path and met us with all of our new colorful friends.....

After 20 minutes or so, we walked out of the park, towards Columbus Circle (pic below). We went to Columbus Mall and browsed the shops. After a while we decided to go have dinner. We headed towards 9th Ave where here are hundreds of great restaurants. Why we chose "Ralph's Italian Restaurant" or whatever the dude's name was is beyond me......

We walk in and get seated, the lighting was so poor, I needed a flashlight to read the menu. They were one Mexican short of a Mariachi Band in that fine Italian establishment. The food was awful. I think Chef Boyardee makes better sauce.....we high tailed it out of there quicly. Sugar V and I were still so hungry, we stopped at "Grey's Papaya" for one of NYC's finest and most famous hot dogs.....as we strolled back to Penn to catch our trains.....

It was a quick "goodnight" as my train was ready to leave....I had wished it was a Saturday Night so I could have lured Caren back to "the beach." Sugar V, Nebraska Girl, and I boarded the Long Beach Train and continued our insanity......

I decided I was going to make loud growling sounds every 3-5 minutes the whole ride home on the train. This annoyed many people, but intrigued quite a few. We called Caren on her train to get her to hear the craziness we were causing. Mrs. Sugar V was laughing so hard, I thought she would pee her pants......

It was another great time with Caren and the Sugars. I've really gotten to know Caren a bit more the last week or so and she is just great. It's nice to be "in like" again. (is that a term???) I like that I can be myself around her and around Sugar V and Nebraska girl. I am very at ease with all of them. The last two weekends have been so much fun........

So, here are three pics from Sunday......



Columbus Circle. Sugar V kept having to say "Hey, is that Columbus???" Referring to the large statue of the famous explorer.....



Get your Holiday orders in now...sports memorabilia man has all your favorite sports stars' autographs in stock!!!!!



And last but not least...our boy Gary........taking care of Strawberry Fields and keeping things in order down on W 72nd.....

Oh What A Night.....

2006-10-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

Saturday Night was a night I was looking forward to all week. Sugar V, his wife Nebraska Girl, Caren, Christina, and Joe all came over for homemade pizza night.

I prepared all day cleaning and shopping. I was in charge of all the appetizers. I prepared some great stuff like artichoke hearts, prosciutto, grapes, cheeses, olives, bruchetta, and other odds and ends. Sugar V and Nebraska Girl brought the homemade dough to make the pizza.

Sugar V and wifey arrived about 5. We proceeded to start the sauce and get the appetizers ready for the table. Caren arrived a little while later with treats for my pup and Sugar V's favorite...CANNOLIS! We all had wine and waited for Christina and Joe to arrive.

When Christina and Joe arrived, we sat in my favorite room in the house, the front sun room where we ate, laughed, and listened to music..... not to mention drank wine, LOTS of wine. Earlier that day, I bought 7 bottles...and Joe brought 6 with him...so needless to say we were stocked.

Two hours flew by and we were all tipsy from the wine. Caren and I stayed behind and chatted while the other four went into the kitchen to start the pizzas. I had only seen Caren that one time weeks ago in NYC, so I thought it was a good time to get acquainted...and besides...I did not want to see what four semi-drunk friends were going to do to my kitchen.

While they got the pizzas rolling, I turned on some Italian music to set the mood as the wine kept flowing. There was singing, dancing, flour throwing, and a host of things going on. We thought it would be nice to invite my neighbor Mario, the 76 year old guy from Italy who lives across the street. So Caren and I staggered across the street to get him to come over. He walked across and had so much fun with us.

The pizza was absolutely amazing. Sugar V and the crew did a kick ass job. We then got "club 69" going with disco music, disco lights, and lots of dancing. I even busted out my disco outfit I bought for my block party a couple of months ago...it was a crazy night.

In total, we consumed 12.5 bottles of wine, 8 pizzas, a few trays of appetizers....and lots of cannoli and cannoli cake that Christina had custom made with the name "Sugar V" written across it.

It was great having my closest friends over and it was great talking with Caren all night. My kitchen looked like a crime scene the next morning when I woke up to the two dogs barking on 2 hours sleep, a hangover, and a headache. But, it was worth it. Three hours later, I had a spotless house, a shower, and a full day to sleep......

Why can I drink vodka all night and never get drunk, but I get tipsy from wine so quickly? It is a mystery to me......

This weekend the six of us may be doing the pumpkin picking, wine tasting (oh no, not more wine), and the whole Eastern Long Island autumn experience......I can't wait.

For More On This Story.....

2006-10-09T20:10:00.000-04:00

Log on to our web site at www.____________. What the fuck is that all about? Don't you hate when you sit through an entire show and get really involved in it, then they wrap it up poorly and say "For more on this story, log onto our website." Why fucko? I am here, just fuckin' tell me now!!! Very frustrating.

Anyway today was John Lennon's birthday. He would have been 66. Somehow I can't picture John as a senior citizen. Just like I can't picture JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Jim Morrison, or James Dean with grey hair. It's weird how these people stay forever young in our minds. I enjoyed the usual noon "Beatles Block" on Q104.3 Today they played all solo John. I cranked it up on my lunch break. I was pounding the steering wheel singing "Give Peace a Chance."

This past Saturday was "Irish Day" here in Long Beach. Each year on the 1st Saturday of the month, the west end shuts down for a parade and a "festival." Basically it is just thousands of drunken people staggering around the neighborhood. Although hearing bagpipes to start the day never hurt anyone....right?

Saturday was a celebration of my Irish side....today, although I worked, was a celebration of my Italian side. I took a ride to an amazing italian store for lunch. I got the best sandwich. Prosciutto, Salami, Roasted red peppers, and fresh mozzarella on semolina bread. I couldn't help but wash it down with a liter of Pellegrino sparkling water.

It's a great fall evening here in Long Beach. My run was great and the view outside right now is even better..although the dogs rolling around and nipping at each other somehow takes away from the tranquility.

Hope you all had a fun weekend! :)

FOLLOW ME!!!!!!

2006-10-08T10:42:00.000-04:00

For the best Corned Beef Sandwich in town.

There is a Kosher Deli in town that has a fleet of vans that read "FOLLOW ME FOR THE BEST CORNED BEEF SANDWICH IN TOWN" on the back door of each vehicle.

Friday Night T-Unit and I went to dinner and had a couple of drinks. On the way back to my house we spotted one of the Kosher Deli vans in front of us. I said to T-Unit. "Let's follow him and see what happens." T-Unit thought I was nuts, but we followed the deli van.

Everytime the van would stop at a home for a delivery we would just pull up behind it and watch. The deli dude started to become paranoid after about 30 minutes and 5 stops. Finally, after 45 minutes, the deli guy jerks the van to the side of the road and gets out. He was a heavyset Jewish guy complete with a "YARMULKE" on his head. (That's actually how it is spelled)

He says to us "Why are you following me????????!!!!!!"
I say "I want the best corned beef sandwich in town"
He storms away, slams his van door and peels out with the van.

We laughed the rest of the night.

That Autumn Feel

2006-10-05T21:25:00.000-04:00

Sure I am still in denial that summer is over. I still have all the windows open, my bedroom air conditioner runs all night, I still run in shorts, wear polo shirts to work, and refuse to put the beach gear away. But lately, autumn is in the air.

I had my first slice of pumpkin pie last night. That flavor IS autumn. Just the smell of pumpkin pie makes me think of fall. I went out and bought a bunch of pumpkin pie scented candles and lit them all over the house tonight. The crisp breeze is blowing, playoff baseball is on TV, all I need is "Moondance" on the stereo to make this fall night complete.

The leaves don't start turning real color for another week or so here on Long Island. They don't reach their peak color until the last week of the month. I can't wait for the Sunday drives out to the vineyards, the farm stands, the pumpkin patches and the fall foliage.

Anyway, I've been so busy, sorry I haven't checked in. Lots of social activities going on. I need to get back in the blogging swing of things.........

Hope you all have a great weekend. I have some good stuff planned.....should be fun. Go Yankees!

The Time Has Come

2006-10-03T09:15:00.000-04:00

Well here we are, October. Crisp autumn breezes, 7pm sunsets, falling leaves, air conditioners taken out of the windows, and playoff baseball. The playoffs start today and I am so ready!

The front windows of my home are complete with NY Yankees decor. You can feel the spirit of the playoffs throughout the neighborhood. Although there are quite a few METS fans on the block as well.

Around the corner, there is a deli that I stop by often. The staff in there are obsessed Mets fans who all wear Mets gear, have Mets games 24/7 on the TV's, and pictures of the Mets all over. Needless to say, I get teased a lot when I go in sporting my Yankees cap.

Lately, there has been an old drunk man with his wife and dog that hang out at the front door of the deli each night in their Mets gear. The old dude has been heckling me and crazy for the last week. Tonight was the first night in a while that i was able to go in for my snack without being harrassed, because according to the deli clerk..."You just missed him!!!" Wheeeeeeeew.

April seems like an eternity ago for me. I moved in May, had a long and crazy summer, said goodbye to some, and hello to some new people.....but the constant has been my Yankees. They are always there for me.

Tonight I have early dinner plans, then I am going to run home like a boy to see the first pitch. For those of you who have a passion for our national pastime, you understand what the next few weeks mean when your team is in the playoffs. When you are a Yankee fan, a Yankee player, or the Yankees owner, just making it isn't enough. Anything short of a championship is a failure.

Cahoots?

2006-09-28T07:45:00.000-04:00

ca·hoots (kə-hūts')
pl.n. Informal.
Questionable collaboration; secret partnership:

I can't help but think the sudden drop in oil/gas prices has something to do with the mid-term elections approaching in 5 weeks. Demand is still high, the pipeline in Alaska is still broken, yet prices "suddenly" drop.

Nobody can convince me that this administration isn't in cahoots with the oil industry. I will bet anyone that as soon as election day passes, prices will rise.

The other day someone said that something was so hot "they could fry an egg on it." Why do people always reference the frying of an egg to express how hot something is???? It does not take much heat to fry ann egg......I think we should start a new phrase.

The regular season in baseball ends on Sunday. My weeknights won't be the same. Sure the playoffs start next week, but those games are intense! There will definitely be sleep deprivation the next few weeks during the playoffs. The games start at 8:20 and usually don't end until midnight. Then you are so fired up, you can't sleep. A very good chance for an all NY World Series this year...should be interesting!