King For A Day

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 This is just ridiculous and OUTDATED!!!!Back in "the day", since most residents of rural America had to travel a significant distance to the "county seat" in order to vote, Monday was not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 I think it is outdated.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!!!!

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..."

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!!!!!!!!!!

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.......

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

The Crossing Guard

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

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?

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......

“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

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

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

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

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!!

Wishing Everyone all the best in 2008! :)

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

C-Mac's TEN Songs of 2007

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

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

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

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

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..............

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....