Race bib and medal display
Race Schedule
Upcoming Races:
8/6/2013 Flying Pig, Pennington NJ, 5k, trails
8/16/2014 Bradley Beach 5k, Bradley Beach NJ, 5k
9/1/2014 Hot Diggity Dog, Mercer County Park NJ, 10k, trails
9/6/2014 Super Spartan, Vernon NJ, 9+ miles, mud run obstacle course
9/20/2014 Spartan Beast, Killington VT, 14+ miles, mud run obstacle course
10/11/2014 Parx Octoberfest 5k, Bensalem PA, 5k
10/19/2014 Atlantic City Marathon, Atlantic City NJ, marathon
11/8/2014 Trenton Half Marathon, Trenton NJ, half marathon
Past Races:
7/19/2014 Running With The Devil, Vernon NJ, 12 hour endurance trail race; 30 miles, 11:25:23, 19 of 33
7/13/2014 Spartan Sprint, Palmerton PA, 5 miles, mud run obstacle course; 3:06:56, 2303 of 4445
5/18/2014 Hair of the Dog, Working Dog Winery NJ, 5k; 21:51, 42 of 1123
5/10/2014 Washington Crossing 5k, Washington Crossing Park NJ, 5k, trails; 20:40 (course mismeasured), 9 of 117
5/4/2014 Bucks County 10 Miler, Washington Crossing Park PA, 10 miles; 1:16:29, 25 of 246
4/26/2014 Asbury Park Half Marathon, Asbury Park NJ, half marathon; 1:47:37, 129 of 1131
4/13/2014 Donor Dash, Philadelphia PA, 10k; 47:08, 98 of 1011
4/5/2014 IAS Woods Run, Princeton NJ, 6k, trails; 26:45, 7 of 78
3/22/2014 Phillies 5k, Citizens Bank Park PA, 5k; 22:08, 138 of 4747
3/15/2014 Looney Leprechaun, Tyler State Park PA, 10k, trails; 52:58, 23 of 159
2/8/2014 Cupid's Chase, Princeton NJ, 5k; 23:39, 15 of 154
1/1/2014 Hamilton Hangover, Veterans Park NJ, 5 miles; 37:46, 81 of 495
12/14/2013 Mistletoe 5k, Mercerville NJ, 5k; 23:19, 15 of 153
12/7/2013 IAS Woods Winter Wonder Run, Princeton NJ, 6k, trails; 27:59, 16 of 106
11/28/2013 Hopewell Valley Turkey Trot, Pennington NJ, 5k, trails; 23:45, 124 of 667
11/9/2013 Trenton Half Marathon, Trenton NJ, half marathon; 1:48:38, 261 of 1476
11/3/2013 Cooper Norcross Run The Bridge, Camden NJ, 10k; 48:46, 529 of 3400
10/26/2013 Spooky Tails & Trails, Washington’s Crossing NJ, 5k; 22:40, 22 of 162
10/20/2013 Seaside Half Marathon, Seaside Park NJ, half marathon; 1:57:15, 235 of 678
10/12/2013 Tomm May 5k, Robbinsville NJ, 5k; 22:32, 16 of 105
9/28/2013 Spartan Sprint, Citizens Bank Park PA, 3+ miles, obstacle course; 1:01:42, 865 of 4383
9/21/2013 Spartan Beast/World Championship, Killington VT, 14+ miles, mud run obstacle course; 9:29:29, 2651 of 3124
9/15/2013 Rock N Roll Half Marathon, Philadelphia PA, half marathon; 2:07:26, 8657 of 24295
9/7/2013 Super Spartan, Vernon NJ, 9+ miles, mud run obstacle course; 3:10:42, 2722 of 5269
9/2/2013 Hot Diggity Dog, Mercer County Park NJ, 10k, trails; 1:00:41, 42 of 129
8/25/2013 George Wah Memorial, Veterans Park NJ, 5k, trails; 23:11, 102 of 228
8/7/2013 Flying Pig, Pennington NJ, 5k, trails; 23:08, 44 of 97
7/13/2013 Spartan Sprint, Palmerton PA, 5+ miles, mud run obstacle course; 1:56:32, 1875 of 5624
7/4/2013 Revolutionary Run, Washington’s Crossing PA, 10k; 54:53
6/25/2013 ETS Firecracker 5k, Princeton NJ, 5k; 23:36, 61 of 460
6/9/2013 Princeton Healthcare 10k, Princeton NJ, 10k; 49:48, 100 of 551
6/8/2013 Run For Your Lives, Medford NJ, 5k, mud run obstacle course; untimed/non competitive event
5/23/2013 CYO Memorial Day, Veterans Park NJ, 5k; 22:15, 8 of 38
5/19/2013 Hair of the Dog, Silver Decoy Winery NJ, 5k; 22:05, 37 of 930
5/4/2013 Miles for Isles, Mercer County Park NJ, 5k; 22:09, 17 of 96
4/20/2013 Asbury Park Half Marathon, Asbury Park NJ, half marathon; 1:52:27, 273 of 1204
4/13/2013 Spartan Sprint, Citi Field NYC, 3+ miles, obstacle course; 1:19:47, 2300 of 9663
3/16/2013 St. Patty’s Day 5k, Bordentown NJ, 5k; 22:37, 37 of 507
1/1/2013 Hamilton Hangover, Veterans Park NJ, 5 miles; 40:22, 140 of 459
12/15/2012 Mistletoe 5k, Mercerville NJ, 5k; 22:34, 19 of 199
11/22/2012 Hopewell Valley Turkey Trot, Pennington NJ, 5k, trails; 22:46, 83 of 591
11/10/2012 Trenton Half Marathon, Trenton NJ, half marathon; 2:00:03, 596 of 1400
10/27/2012 Spooky Tails & Trails, Veterans Park NJ, 5k; 22:41, 22 of 197
10/13/2012 Race to Restore, Ewing NJ, 5k; 22:45, 9 of 57
9/22/2012 Carnegie Center, Princeton NJ, 5k; 23:51, 107 of 546
8/12/2012 Runyon at Yankee Stadium, Yankee Stadium NYC, 5k; 28:31, 241 of 2944
8/8/2012 Flying Pig, Pennington NJ, 5k, trails; 24:29, 55 of 149.
7/15/2012 Spartan Sprint, Palmerton PA, 5+ miles, mud run obstacle course; 2:38:58, 701 of 2011
7/12/2012 Strides for Stroke, Veterans Park NJ, 5k: 23:28, 40 of 203
7/8/2012 The Color Run, Philadelphia PA, 5k: untimed/non competitive event
7/4/2012 Revolutionary Run, Washington’s Crossing PA, 5k: 23:50, 41 of 412
6/17/2012 Run for Dad, Mercer County Park NJ, 5k: 24:43, 144 of 516
5/24/2012 CYO Memorial Day, Veterans Park NJ, 5k: 25:07, 21 of 72
5/20/2012 Hair of the Dog, Silver Decoy Winery NJ, 5k: 25:14, 110 of 934
4/29/2012 Run the Vineyards, Heritage Winery NJ, 2.5 miles: 22:40, 6 of 90
1/1/2012 Hamilton Hangover, Veterans Park NJ, 5 miles: 45:26, 224 of 470
11/24/2011 Turkey Trot, Newtown PA, 5 miles: 53:48, 651 of 781
10/2/2011 Sowebo Landmark, Baltimore MD, 5k: 37:08, 97 of 182
I will update this page as races are finished or added.
Bucks County 10 Miler: May the Fourth Be With You
Happy Mother's Day
The Knife
Here are some pictures and video that I took. In order of appearance in the performance.
Top 50 albums of 2013
1. Kanye West - Yeezus
2. Forest Swords - Engravings
3. Darkside - Psychic
4. Dirty Beaches - Drifters/Love Is The Devil
5. Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven
6. Tim Hecker - Virgins
7. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
8. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push The Sky Away
9. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
10. Savages - Silence Yourself
11. Holy Ghost! - Dynamics
12. David Lynch - The Big Dream
13. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator
14. Austra - Olympia
15. Katie Gately - Katie Gately
16. Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus
17. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol 3: See More Light
18. Deafheaven - Sunbather
19. Zomby - With Love
20. Burial - Rival Dealer
21. Haim - Days Are Gone
22. The Haxan Cloak - Excavation
23. Four Tet - Beautiful Rewind
24. Gesaffelstein - Aleph
25. Kavinsky - Outrun
26. James Blake - Overgrown
27. Autechre - Exai
28. London Grammar - If You Wait
29. Matmos - The Marriage of True Minds
30. William Basinski - Nocturnes
31. M.I.A. - Matangi
32. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
33. The Knife - Shaking the Habitual
34. Factory Floor - Factory Floor
35. Jon Hopkins - Immunity
36. The Field - Cupid's Head
37. Matt Elliott - Only Myocardial Infarction Can Break Your Heart
38. Suuns - Images Du Futur
39. Foetus - Soak
40. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
41. oOoOO - Without Your Love
42. Sleigh Bells - Bitter Rivals
43. Phosphorescent - Muchacho
44. Charli XCX - True Romance
45. Au Revoir Simone - Move In Spectrums
46. Grouper - The Man Who Died in His Boat
47. Lorde - Pure Heroine
48. Adult. - The Way Things Fall
49. Atoms for Peace - Amok
50. Depeche Mode - Delta Machine
Treme: Mardi Gras Indians
There is footage of real Mardi Gras Indian battles on YouTube and it's not much different than the depiction in Treme.
Spartan Race World Championship on NBC!
Thousands of top-ranked Reebok Spartan Race athletes, Olympians, and amateur athletes alike from around the world converged on Killington Mountain, VT in September 2013 to compete for $250,000 in cash and prizes. NBC Sports filmed the athletes as they competed side-by-side. Catch the action on December 7, 2013 at 4 – 5 pm EST on NBC Sports.
Favorite tracks of 2013
Spartan Sprint at Citizens Bank Park
Our heat started at 11 AM. We lined up on the starting grid and the countdown started, GO!!! I started off with a slow jog, slow and steady wins the race. Mike and Chris did the same. First up were the cords along up and down the ramps at CBP. Over and under a countless number of a tangled mess of bungee cords while making your way to the upper deck. At this point we’re all racing together, Chris and Mike passed me. Once we got to the top we started running stairs and across the upper deck bleachers. This is where I took the lead, they may have taken a wrong turn and I was really good on the steps. I was moving well and had a pretty good lead at this point while going through the concourses and opened it up even more when tackling the 25lb slam ball and going through the O-U-T (over, under, through) walls. Again, more steps, more running. I really opened it up. The Hercules hoist, lifting a large cement stone to the top of a pulley and then slowly back down, Chris was right next to me. Next up, monkey bars, was moving really good though them, however, the monkey bars are designed to be tough, I went reaching for the next bar but it was maybe 3 or 4 inches higher than what it should have been, I missed it and fell, 30 burpees! I start them immediately, around burpee 15 I see Mike easily make it though then I see Chris easily make it though. I’m now in 3rd.
Immediately after were the rowing machines. 500m in 2 minutes. No problem. I quickly found a free machine (right next to Chris). Didn’t see Mike (must have been doing it already). I begin rowing and Chris finishes his as I’m doing mine. Aroo. I got it and moved on, water station, had a cup of water, Mike was there also with water. Chris must have kept going, didn’t see him. Up next was a 6 ft wall. No challenge for Mike and I. More running to the top and more of those bungee cords. And then the Hobie band. A rubber band we put around our ankles and then we have to go up 2 more ramps with this band. Mike is in sight but it’s tough to move with this band. More running through the concourses and up and down the stands. I could be wrong but I think the 7 and 8 foot walls were after this. Mike was right in front of me and he gets over both walls before me but I’m not far behind. No sign of Chris, we must have passed him at this point.
Not sure if there are more obstacles in between but I finally catch up with Mike again at the next water station. Had a couple of cups and the spear throw is next. I GOT IT! I had a perfect throw and it stuck, I throw up my arms, pure adrenaline took over at this point. I take off, I look back and I see Mike miss the spear toss! He had to do burpees. This was my chance to open it up but it’s time for the rope climb. I quickly grabbed a rope and began pulling myself up. I don’t want to say it was easy but to be honest I don’t know how I did it but I made it to the top and slapped that bell. Still pumped up from the spear toss. I lower myself off the rope and look back for Mike and I see Chris on the rope right as he’s about to hit the bell!!! He must have been so far ahead of us and I caught up with him. He was exhausted as he fell off the rope but sprinted to the next obstacle, the Atlas Carry, I slowly jog.
The Atlas Carry is a large cement stone that you pick up off the ground and bring it from one side to the other and do 5 burpees. Chris was already on the other side and then I got to the other side and he was in pain. I asked if he needed any help and said his hands were hurting him, possibly from the rope climb just before that. I do my burpees and move on, asking him again if he needed help. He waved me off. At this point I was locked in and nothing was going to slow me down. I had the lead, Chris was in second and Mike in third. 40 jump ropes next with a big heavy rope. Done. Sandbags up and down the bleachers. Done. 2 giant water jugs up and down the bleachers. Done. I was moving as fast as I could.
Easily running through more bleachers, more steps, more concourses, down into the locker room. 20 hand release pushups. Easily done. Running outside onto the field, the race is almost over. 20 box jumps. Not easy but finished pretty quickly (fell and almost hurt myself due to going too fast). Military walls next, 4 5’ in succession which I easily leaped over. Sprinting around the warning track now, my sister, Giovanni and my Dad cheering me on, I see Mike’s brother cheering me on. Traverse wall next. I leaped up onto the wall, I moved quickly but took my time (does that make sense?). I slammed that bell at the end. Cargo net. the camera man was right there but I got up and over that so quickly that he might not have gotten the picture off. At that point it was just the gladiators. I was in a full sprint, throwing my arms in the air trying to egg on the gladiators. Still nothing but pure adrenaline after that spear toss. The gladiators hit me like a bunch of girls (nothing like those physical freaks at Killington). From what I hear Mike passed Chris on the field coming to the finish line. It was a close race!
Final results are:
Me: 1:01:42
Mike: 1:08:37
Chris: 1:09:44
Atlantic Coast Roller Girls
The Eiffel Terror #5’ 11” Not only can she booty block like a pro but The Eiffel Terror will win any after party with her karaoke moves... she is an all-around asset to the team both on an off the track. She brings positive attitude, hard work and a passion for derby- all attributes that have led her to become a fierce competitor in a very short time. From working the bake sale to killing power jams and RULING the karaoke after parties, we are lucky to have our 5'11 Eiffel Terror! Read what she has to say about her roller derby experience... Read More |
For information, time, directions on her home debut bout, click the flyer below to transport to the ACRG site or RSVP on their Facebook event page. I’m proud of my little sis and can hardly wait to see her destroy the other girls. To see YOU there would make it an even more incredible event!
Birthday
http://amzn.com/w/27PH5G82GZRW
Or if you just want to get me beer that’s cool too.
The Aesthetic Union
Don’t waste any time and donate what you can now, in turn he can offer you some limited edition prints of his amazing work.
http://www.rockethub.com/projects/29283
Lora Durr
www.loramariedurr.com
I think her painted collage work, such as the ones that I included, are amongst the best that I’ve ever seen. I’ve been working with her at Artworks Trenton and have also been helping her push her ideas even further. She’s a great talent and really needs the confidence to do more, drop her a message and tell her how awesome her work is. Not only would she appreciate it, but so would I.
The red dot.
Lora's Dream
Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market 2.0
Pintrest: Beer
Beach House - Wishes
Top 50 albums of 2012
1. Beach House - Bloom
2. A Place to Bury Strangers - Worship
3. Goat - World Music
4. Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe
5. The Soft Moon - Zeros
6. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
7. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
8. Lower Dens - Nootropics
9. Crystal Castles - (III)
10. Emeralds - Just To Feel Anything
11. Shackleton - The Drawbar Organ/Music for the Quiet Hour
12. Memory Tapes - Grace/Confusion
13. Mi Ami - Decade
14. Peaking Lights - Lucifer
15. The xx - Coexist
16. Swans - The Seer
17. Dan Deacon - America
18. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
19. Teeel - University Heights
20. Skeleton Lipstick - Glows Then Melts
21. Merchandise - Children of Desire
22. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes
23. Grizzly Bear - Shields
24. Andy Stott - Luxury Problems
25. Om - Advaitic Songs
26. oOoOO - Our Loving Is Hurting Us
27. Dead Can Dance - Anastasis
28. Panabrite - The Baroque Album
29. Chromatics - Kill For Love
30. Nite Jewel - One Second of Love
31. Soil Creep - Small Death
32. jj - High Summer
33. Purity Ring - Shrines
34. Alexander Tucker - Third Mouth
35. Cold Specks - I Predict A Graceful Explusion
36. Holy Other - Held
37. Lorn - Ask The Dust
38. Yeasayer - Fragrant World
39. Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan
40. How to Dress Well - Total Loss
41. Raime - Quarter Turns Over A Living Line
42. Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man
43. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
44. Jessie Ware - Devotion
45. Grimes - Visions
46. Tim Hecker & Daniel Lopatin - Instrumental Tourist
47. Cat Power - Sun
48. Scott Walker - Bish Bosch
49. Demdike Stare - Elemental
50. X-TG - Desertshore/The Final Report
Ravens Super Bowl celebration panoramic
Flag Football: Father or Flacco?
Pump fake. Scramble to the right. Throw to the left. Pass complete.
Baltimore Ravens 2012 NFL Champions!
I will definitely be going to the parade tomorrow to celebrate with the team!
Grizzly Bear - Gun-Shy
Top 5 Favorite Tracks of 2012
1: Artist: Beach House Track: Wishes Album: Bloom
2: Artist: Santigold Track: The Keepers Album: Master of My Make-Believe
3: Artist: Bat For Lashes Track: Laura Album: The Haunted Man
4: Artist: A Place To Bury Strangers Track: And I’m Up Album: Worship
5: Artist: Frank Ocean Track: Pyramids Album: Born To Die
2012 Christmas loot!
Saucony ProGrid Ride 5 running shoes, FujiFilm Instax 210 instant camera, Old Spice classic after shave and a jump rope!
2012 Jo Jo's Christmas Card
The Knife?
Maker's Mark Graduation
Goodbye Sara
Sara
Top 5 concerts that I've been to
1. Fever Ray - Webster Hall, NYC. 2009.
This show was extremely difficult to photograph and video. Everything was enshrouded in darkness and smoke. There were lasers. There were amazing costumes that they wore to add even more mystery to it. Those lamps throughout the set were strange. There was incense burning. It was a very odd mixture of things and it added to the mystery of the music and the performance. Hands down the best and most unique concert that I’ve even been to. It’s hard to find a video that gives justice as to how unique this show was. It’s going to be hard to top this show.
2. Coil - Irving Plaza, NYC. 2001.
This video is actually the entire performance. My experience is very different than everyone else’s. I actually had the privilege to hang out with the band the night before. Out for sushi and drinks. The band ended up using 2 of my friends from that night in the performance. Around the 50 minute marks is when they come out in their underwear covered in blood while holding a sheet of metal which the singer begins banging his head into it before kneeling into some sort of prayer. You can see it was hard to really photograph them because their suits were glowing. It was purely experimental, who knows what drugs they were on then. It was their only performance in the US and are considered on of the most influential underground bands from the last 30 years.
3. Dead Can Dance - Radio City Music Hall, NYC. 2005.
This concert was incredible. It was only 1 of 2 shows in the US that were played with a full orchestra. This video is one of my favorite songs of theirs. Live there is so much energy. However, imagine all the synthetic strings and electronic horns were actually played by the full orchestra. Added so much more to the energy level. It was a beautiful show. Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard’s voices were nearly flawless. An amazing show. I wish there was video of it somewhere.
4. John Maus - Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia. 2011.
Easily the shortest concert that I’ve ever been to. I don’t think it was even 20 minutes long. Also easily the most energetic performer that I’ve ever seen. Although this clip isn’t from the show that I’ve been to it’s from the same tour. I actually ran into him in the bathroom before the show and you can see that he’s getting into the zone. Talked to him after the show and he’s a totally normal guy. Seriously looks as if he’s handicapped from his performance though. Even though it was really just a glorified karaoke it was the only show that I’ve been too where I smiled the entire time.
5. Depeche Mode - Spectrum, Philadelphia. 1993.
Great production. Great performance. Great show. Enough said.
The Toughest Artist
So, what makes an artist a badass? I think of Ernest Hemingway, fighting in WW1. Delivering goods to the front line only to take shrapnel to the leg and then go off to carry a wounded soldier to safety. In WW2 during a war long correspondent mission he led a group of vigilantes during or near the Liberation of Paris. That is badass.
I think of Caravaggio. Who was always a rebel and constantly in bar fights and trouble with the law. During one of these bar fights he killed another man. He escaped from the law and remained on the lam for the rest of his life. He often carried a sword with him to defend himself from those wanting to fight him and/or bring him to justice. He did all of this while painting grand masterpieces.
Of course there is the legendary samurai warrior Miyamoto Mushashi. Although he was a master swordsman first and regarded as one of the greatest warriors of all time in his later life he was also an author and considered a master painter.
I’m looking for traditional artists rather than music/film artists. There are plenty of musicians and actors that are badasses (LL Cool J beat the shit out of a home invader, I remember a story about Ernest Borgnine and how he beat the shit out of a would be carjacker at the age of 60 and Audie Murphy was the most decorated soldier and American hero during WW2 before going onto a successful film career). However, there aren’t many badass or valiant traditional artists. There has to be more than Hemingway and Caravaggio. Whether they’re just badass brawlers like Caravaggio or heroes like Hemingway there has to be more out there. We can’t all be sitting in a corner and painting pictures. There has to be someone! Help me find them! I’ve made it my quest to be the next badass/valiant artist, will I be number 4 on the list?
Madden 13 commercials featuring Ray Lewis and Paul Rudd
I am winning ALL the sports. I believe in my smellf.
Possible new painting
As of now it’s to be my first digital painting which is a lot harder to do than I thought it would be. So i’m thinking about doing it in a traditional oil paint version as well. Any suggestions?
Bat For Lashes - Laura
Morbid Haikus
Your sister is hot.
I mean… she looks just like you.
I’ll let myself out.
Visit Diana’s Tumblr page at http://morbidhaikus.tumblr.com/
If you don’t find her as funny and amazing as I do then, well, something is seriously wrong with you.
The St. Germain Cocktail
Halfway: My favorite albums of 2012
1. Beach House - Bloom
2. Santigold - Master of My Make-Believe
3. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror
4. Lower Dens - Nootropics
5. Actress - R.I.P.
6. Nite Jewel - One Second of Love
7. Polica - Give You The Ghost
8. Grimes - Visions
9. Mi Ami - Decade
10. The Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends
A few that other albums I also really like that may take a few more listens to be higher on the list but are definitely among my favorites are the new albums by Chromatics, Squarepusher, Niki & the Dove and Xiu Xiu. The new Rapoon and Windy & Carl albums are also very good. We’ll see if the top 10 changes when I do my end of the year round up.
Art All Night and DeLorenzo's
When they came to shoot me we had a packed restaurant and I was insanely busy. I’m amazed that they did this great of a job on the video considering that I was constantly distracted during the shooting. They’re truly talented to come up with this brilliance.
R.I.P. Maxx
To Rome With Love
To Rome With Love Director: Woody Allen Cast: Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page Writers: Woody Allen Run Time: 112 minutes To Rome With Love is a story about a number of people in Italy, some American, some Italian, some residents, some visitors, and the romances and adventures and predicaments they get into. http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony/toromewithlove/ |
Who am I?
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Crazy Clown Time
Ryan Newman wins at Martinsville!
Christopher Lucania art exhibit in Asbury Park!
See what I mean? The thing is, as amazing as these look, they look even MORE amazing in person. Expect a whole lot more than this at the exhibit. Right? I don't know what you're waiting for, just clear the time slot already.
Ok, if you really are waiting for more then here it is. Besides the incredible artwork there will also be a special musical guest. WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No, i'm not kidding. TEEEL is performing!!! Holy SHIT! I've never seen this much awesomeness in one location before! I mean, seriously, look what Teeel has done:
Ok, I know what you're thinking, "So, Teeel got lucky with one track", I say "BOLLOCKS!" Here's another example:
DAMN!!!!!!
So, QUESTION: Where are you going to be Saturday night? ANSWER: In Asbury Park at this art exhibit!
Here is the official invitation. If you click the link it will take you to the Facebook invitation page. Spread the word, link the Facebook page, link this blog entry. SPREAD THE WORD. I know what I've showed you should be enough to bring in the masses but the word needs to get out. LETS GO MINIONS, TAKE ACTION!
NASCAR iCalendars
Happy New Year!
First. Movies. My 2 favorite movies of 2011 are Midnight In Paris and 50/50. I'm a huge Woody Allen fan so I may be biased with my love for Midnight in Paris, but he has a movie out every year and they usually don't make my list. I found Midnight In Paris to be very creative and intelligent. Maybe it's because I'm an art major and anyone with an art history background will love all the references in it. Plus, it's good to see a funny and entertaining film with an original idea and without all the toilet humor that's so easy to do and so common in most comedies. My other favorite film of the year is 50/50. Based on a true story. I found it very sad and very funny. I don't normally like Seth Rogen. I think he's an awful leading man, in supporting roles he's always the deadbeat stoner and it's just kind of annoying. He's ok in very small doses. His character in 50/50 was still a pot smoking hippie but there's something that he has that was missing in his other films, charm. I found him charming and he was a great friend to the main character played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. It is a truly great film and I highly recommend it.
I thought Melancholia was amazing. The opening was visually and beautiful (similar to Tree of Life). The first part to the film was good. The second part was where this film really succeeds. That part was so damn interesting and has one of the most bleak and hopeless endings in any film. Very good. I also really like The Tree Of Life. I think as far as movies go, you can't find a better made and more gorgeous looking film than this. It's all about life and death and it's a very powerful film. Absolutely loved A Separation. I loved all the twists and lies, great story, excellent film. I surprisingly liked the film Contagion, I found it freaky scary and creepy. Ides of March was decent. I believe Source Code was also 2011. I really liked that one too. Great pace, kept interest the whole time and left you thinking. I may update this entry again, I still really want to see The Descendants, The Skin That I Inhabit and Shame.
TV. Curb Your Enthusiasm was hilarious. A lot of hilarious moments. Especially the Buckner episode. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia was also hilarious. I'll never forget the imagery of what happened under the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore. It will always haunt me. Parenthood always has top notch acting. Breaking Bad had some excellent moments. Louie was very good. Falling Skies had some good moments. Games of Thrones was alright. Boardwalk Empire was ok. Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe and Oddities are always very good shows. Wasn't crazy about the final season of Entourage. It felt forced. I liked James Spader's character in The Office. I liked the mystery behind him but the show itself fell flat. The new season of Harry's Law was much better than the first season. I look forward to more of that. The New Girl is starting to grow on me. Zooey Deschanel can grow on me anytime, he oh! Even though the new season of Beavis & Butthead is completely immature I found myself laughing out loud at times, I'm embarrassed. Bored to Death was good, shocked that it was cancelled. Probably the best character Ted Danson has ever played. I loved the suits he wore in it. Dexter was very good, some great imagery this season but I really think they're stretching too much. It's time to wrap that show up, just like I'm going to wrap up talking about my favorite shows of the year.
Onto the music. I'm going to try something differently than I've done in the past. I just mentioned my favorite albums (and a few EPs) of the year with usually a little talk about my top favorites. This time I think i'm going to make a list in a general order of preference. Here's my top 50 albums of the year. There is a lot of good stuff that didn't make the list and I feel bad but, hey, it just didn't make the list!
1. Panda Bear - Tomboy (The track 'Last Night at the Jetty' might be my favorite track of the year)
2. Planningtorock - W
3. tUnE-yArDs - W H O K I L L
4. Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
5. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
6. James Blake - James Blake
7. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation
8. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
9. Gauntlet Hair - Gauntlet Hair
10. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
11. The Weeknd - House of Balloons
12. Destroyer - Kaputt
13. Niki & The Dove - The Drummer
14. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
15. Cold Cave - Cherish The Light Years
16. Peaking Lights - 936
17. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
18. Saint Saviour - Anatomy
19. James Blake - Enough Thunder
20. Memory Tapes - Player Piano
21. Cults - Cults
22. Grouper - A I A : Alien Observer
23. Emika - Emika
24. John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
25. Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin On
26. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - A Winged Victory For The Sullen
27. Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise
28. Austra - Feel It Break
29. Puro Instinct - Headbangers in Ecstasy
30. Zomby - Dedication
31. Grouper - A I A : Dream Loss
32. Holy Other - With U
33. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica
34. Grimes/D'eon - Darkbloom
35. Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow
36. Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!
37. Washed Out - Within and Without
38. Cascadeur - The Human Octopus
39. Lana DeL Rey - Video Games
40. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine
41. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi (you must hear her cover of 'Surrender')
42. Tom Waits - Bad As Me
43. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)
44. Current 93 - HoneySuckle Æons
45. Blue Sky Black Death - Noir + Violet
46. Björk - Biophilia
47. David Lynch - Crazy Clown Time
48. The Antlers - Burst Apart
49. SBTRKT - SBTRKT
50. Zola Jesus - Conatus
2011 Christmas loot!
Gran Turismo 5 video game, The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan book, Japanese Prints (Tashen edition) book, American Optics Original Pilot sunglasses, a light up Baltimore Ravens window decal, a nice minimal case for my iPhone 4s, a CAO Italia cigar and a bottle of sparkling wine!
All great gifts!
Christmas Cards
Merry Christmas Bitches!
Jim Murray: Only Human
Congratulations Tony Stewart!
Cathing up...
My birthday was back in August. Giovanni painted me a picture. I took a picture of it. It's me with a Maker's Mark bottle in my hand. On the floor are empty Maker's Mark bottles. Even 3 1/2 year old Giovanni knows that I have a problem. Thanks for the dino poop!
A few other things. Over the summer on one of my many visits to Baltimore I discovered a new restaurant/bar. Alewife. They opened up in September of 2010. They boast a 40 tap bar with over 100 bottles. All really great stuff too. The place itself is gorgeous and the service is wonderful. The food is out of this world. I got the smoke burger and was BLOWN AWAY by it. Look at the menu on their site to find out more about it. Here's some pictures:
I was there a couple of weekends ago and once again had a great time. The burger this time around was stuffed with crab imperial. A very nice addition. During the last visit to Batimore I went to the Ravens game. GO RAVENS. To eat I went to the Blue Moon Cafe (had awesome Captain Crunch french toast) and went to the Paper Moon Diner. Also made my normal stop to my favorite liquor store, The Wine Source. Here's what I bought:
Dogfish Head - Punkin - 4 pack bottles
Duclaw - Mad Bishop - 6 pack bottles
Brewer's Art - Ozzy - 750ml bottle
Brewer's Art - Le Canard - 750ml bottle
Brewer's Art - Green Peppercorn Tripel - 750ml bottle
I know, mostly Baltimore beers, well, I was in Baltimore!
This past weekend I took my parents to the Mütter Museum in Philly. My good buddy Jen hooked us up with free passes! Thanks Jen! Afterwards we went to the Memphis Taproom.
Yes, everywhere I travel revolves around eating and drinking. I've been using the TV Food Maps app and finding all these great places. I can hardly wait for my next trip!
R.I.P. Steve Jobs
This was made on a Mac.
Latest video
Jim Murray: Client Liaison Senior Trainer
What do you think? It was tiring but also very enjoyable to make. I'll post it to my "artwork" page later this week with more info.
Canal's: September 2011
Newcastle Brown Ale - 6 pack bottles
Weyerbacher Tiny Imperial Stout - 750ml bottle
Southern Tier Pumking Ale - 650ml bottle
La Trappe Tripel - 750ml bottle
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale - 4 pack bottles
That's what she said!
Road Trippin' 2011
A week ago I returned from a long adventure with Mr. James Murray. Together we logged 2,553 miles in just under 46 hours. I had the iPod on shuffle the top most played artists were, in order: The Legendary Pink Dots, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Stereolab and The Flaming Lips. Our trip took us from Trenton to overnight stays in Syracuse, NY; Cleveland, OH; Chicago, IL; Louisville, KY and Pittsburgh, PA before returning home. In our travels we made stops in Buffalo, NY; South Bend, IN; Munster, IN; Indianapolis, IN and Columbus, OH. For those who already have seen my Facebook photo album then you have an idea of what we did. This blog entry will give you a more detailed rundown of our journey. The highlight of the trip (other than spending time with the truly adorable Ashley) was the after game fireworks and concert at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. When we arrived in Pittsburgh we had seen that the Pirates were in town. As it turned out the game had been sold out for months ahead of time. As luck had it they released some tickets just as we got there and were lucky enough to score a pair. The reason it was sold out was their "skyblast" post game fireworks and concert. 4 games a year are given the concert and fireworks treatment. Earlier concerts this year featured Huey Lewis & the News and 38 Special. The concert we saw was by Train and they were excellent. The fireworks were even better. Fireworks were shot from the field, the scoreboard, the banks of the river behind us, the bridge crossing the river, even buildings on the other side of the river! Here's some video I took, it only shows a small portion of what went down: Another hi-light included the St. Anthony's Chapel in Pittsburgh. The chapel is home to over 5,000 religious relics. I'm not a religious person but I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the church as well as the collection. It is the largest public display of relics in the world and second largest collection of relics next to the Vatican. The history of the church is incredible and a long time parishioner gave the tour. No photography was allowed inside the chapel but I did purchase the book about the chapel in the gift shop. Other hi-lights include the Skydeck at Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), hanging out with Matt, Gina and Max in Syracuse, the Art Institute of Chicago's art museum, Wrigley Field, Yankees vs. White Sox at US Cellular (even though it rained), Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Churchill Downs, Maker's Mark distillery, Three Floyd's Brewery, Heinz Field (they were shooting a scene to the new Batman movie) and the Andy Warhol Museum (the photo to the right is from the photo booth in the basement). We went to some excellent eateries as well. I used the TV Food Maps app and all of the places we dined at had been on either the Travel Channel or Food Network or both! A bunch of the places have been on many different shows. We had a ton of great meals. We can't decide which place is a favorite so we have a 2 way tie for first. Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse, NY and Schmidt's Sausage Haus in Columbus, OH are our clear winners. They are both quite different from each other and are both spectacular. Both places had a long wait to be seated. Dinosaur BBQ had more of a biker crowd. The moment the doors opened you are greeted with this spectacular smoky BBQ smell, so instantly your mouth waters. The best ribs i've ever had. Great beer menu too. If you ever find yourself in Syracuse then you must go there. Schmidt's Sausage Haus had a more family friendly environment. A live music duo of a man with an accordion and a man with a tuba play German music and them and the staff are all dressed in Bavarian garb. The sausages are out of this world and the cream puff is monstrous. Great service, great prices too. Well worth the hour wait. Other restaurants that we really liked, in order, are Heid's of Liverpool (Syracuse), Kuma's Corner (Chicago), The Greenhouse Tavern (Cleveland) and Superdawg (Chicago). I enjoyed Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh and have to mention it even though I preferred these other places more. I definitely will be visiting Chicago as much as I can (to see the sweet Ashes) so I will report with all the other awesome adventures that I plan on having. |
Ryan Newman wins at New Hampshire!
Ryan Newman started on the pole at New Hampshire International Speedway by setting a new track record, he lead the most laps and had just enough fuel to win the race. Way to go #39 Ryan Newman and what a great way to represent the US Army! |
Swimming with Skunks
As I fished him out of the pool I was surprised by how heavy he was and how little he actually smelled. He still had the skunk smell but nothing like what I would have imagined. After double bagging him I washed up and went back in the pool. No skunk is going to ruin my day!
Restoration
Testing Blog
Burkhalter's pies logo
New Host
Test
A Moment of Frost
The Umbrella Engine
Wegman's Wine & Spirits
Yards - Brawler Pugilist Style Ale - 6 pack bottles
Brooklyn - Lager - 6 pack bottles
Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron - 4 pack bottles
Chimay Red - 1 350ml bottle
Laird's Applejack - 1 bottle
Francis Ford Coppola's Claret - 2 bottles
Francis Ford Coppola's Rosso - 1 bottle
Bowery Lane Bicycles
Bowery Lane Bicycles offers 3 bikes, all single speed cruisers. I chose the Bronks Raw. I love the raw steel look and the visible welding plus it comes with a bell. I upgraded my seat to a Brooks B67 saddle. I got a Bern Macon bike helmet. I got the Beamer 3 headlight and the Superflash taillight both from Planet Bike. I also got the Kryptonite Series 2 KryptoLok U-Lock bicycle lock. I threw a cheap handlebar iPhone mount in there also, mainly for tracking my bike rides. I'm looking for a way to transport the bike in my little Honda Civic. Any suggestions? Here's a picture of my bike, that's my portable radio in the crate:
So, if you see me out on the roadways give me a friendly wave!
Desk Space
To the left of my desk (not pictured, left of my headphones) is a small table that houses my scanner and other light gear. Above my desk is a shelf with my large format printer and negative/slide scanner.
Wegman's Wine & Spirits
Yards - Brawler Pugilist Style Ale - 6 pack bottles
Weyerbacher - Double Simcoe IPA - 4 pack bottles
Tröegs - Hopback Amber Ale - 6 pack bottles
Smuttynose IPA - 6 pack bottles
Victory - Prima Pils - 6 pack bottles
Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron - 4 pack bottles
Brooklyn Local 2 - 1 750ml bottle
Happy New Year!
I haven't seen many new films this year. I still haven't seen Tron: Legacy which I have been wanting to see. My three favorites were Enter the Void, Black Swan and Toy Story 3. Enter the Void was fantastic, but it's not something I would recommend to everyone (anyone?). Visually and aurally amazing though. The opening credits were amongst the best all time. Black Swan was excellent although I feel like they could have pushed it more. Very good film but I just felt like there could have been more. Still, some scenes gave me chills. Toy Story 3 was just nearly perfect. Enough said. Some other films I really liked that were released this year were Life During Wartime, Kick-Ass, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Animal Kingdom, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Social Network.
As always I watch a whole lot of television. I don't really have a favorite this year but I'd like to say good by to one of my favorites which had it's final season this year, 24. 24 completed an excellent series on a great note. However, I have a feeling that he'll be back! Of course one of my favorite shows every year is Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. Funny, entertaining, educational, the show has everything! Some other TV shows that I loved this year were It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Parenthood (that pilot episode was amazing), Fringe, The Office, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Eastbound & Down and Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
A great year for new music from new bands and established ones. My favorite album of the year is "Teen Dream" by Beach House. Absolutely love it. Much more complex than their previous 2 albums. After that I would have to say "High Violet" by the National and "Odd Blood" by Yeasayer. 2 fantastic albums.
Some other great albums that were released in 2010, "Strange Weather, Isn't It?" by !!!, "Stridulum" by Zola Jesus, "Contra" by Vampire Weekend, "My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky" by Swans, oOoOO, "Returnal" by Oneohtrix Point Never, "Am I Real?" by Nite Jewel, "Tomorrow, In A Year" by The Knife, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West, "CMYK" by James Blake, "Love Remains" by How To Dress Well, "That We Can Play" by Games, "There Is Love In You" by Four Tet, "Dagger Paths" by Forest Swords, "Does It Look Like I'm Here?" by Emeralds, "Hide" by Foetus, "Baalstorm, Sing Omega" by Current 93, Crystal Castles, "Jet Set Siempre 1°" by Clive Tanaka y su orquestra, Broken Bells, "The Effective Discontent" by Brian McBride, Autre Ne Veut, "See Birds" by Balam Acab, "Before Today" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire. I also love the Tron: Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk and the Social Network soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
According to my Last.Fm account. My top 5 most listened to artists of the year were; Arcade Fire (259 plays), Beach House (239 plays), Animal Collective (175 plays), The Knife (161 plays) and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (146 plays).
Have a happy and safe 2011.
Ray Lewis: The 18th greatest player in NFL history!
Canal's Discount Liquors - October 2010
Flying Fish Exit 4 - 6 pack bottles
Magic Hat Hex - 6 pack bottles
Smithwick's - 6 pack bottles
Young's Double Chocolate Stout - 4 pack cans
Murphy's Irish Stout - 4 pack cans
Aventinus - 1 12oz. bottle
Chimay White - 1 350ml bottle
Maker's Mark 46
Rex Goliath 47lb Rooster cabernet sauvignon
Ray Lewis and Old Spice *UPDATED*
Maker's Mark Dip Your Own iPhone app!
Anniversary of my birth
My Kentucky trip using social media
I left New Jersey at 3:30 AM and got to the hotel at 3:30 PM. In entirety I was on the road for just shy of 1,800 miles and almost 29 hours.
I was armed with nothing but my Garmin nüvi and my iPhone 3G. I only programmed the hotel into the Garmin and everything else I was just gonna figure out when I got there.
The drive was long, especially through the mountains of West Virginia and Western Maryland. I drank a lot of water so I had to make frequent potty breaks. I would just type in "rest area" in the Garmin and I would know how long it would be until the next one would arrive and whether I should pit then or not. Also, the Garmin showed the closest gas stations. I felt extremely confident even out in the wilderness.
I made it to Louisville, Kentucky with no problems. I used the Yelp app to find places nearby based on my GPS location and judging by the reviews and ratings I decided on where to go and found a real good tavern/cafe. When I would get to each place I would check-in using Foursquare. Foursquare would then post my check-in to Facebook for all my friends to see. From there, my Facebook friends saw where I was and ended up recommending even more things to me that I would never have thought of by myself.
Having my iPhone 3G really helped me while I was away. It helped me find different places to go eat and it helped me stay in touch with everyone. Using the Garmin as my GPS unit was much better than using the iPhone's map program. Not only did it get me where I wanted but helped me with the rest stops and gas stastions. Here's a list of some of the places that I found on Yelp and were recommended to me on Facebook:
Day 1:
Zeppelin Cafe (found on Yelp)
Kentucky Exposition Center (saw from the road)
Liquor Barn (Maker's Mark posted a list of places that carry Maker's 46 to Twitter, I searched for Liquor Barn using iPhone's Google Maps app and found the closest one on that list)
Day 2:
Speed Art Museum (found using the Garmin after searching for art museums)
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory (found using the Garmin)
Muhammad Ali Center (just around the corner from Louisville Slugger)
Churchill Downs (found using Garmin)
Zanzabar (found on Yelp)
Blues and Barbecue Festival (folks at Maker's Mark sent me a link with things to do and this was listed, used the Garmin to find it)
Day 3:
Maker's Mark distillery (already programmed into the Garmin)
Jim Beam distillery (saw from the road)
Brown Hotel (friend on Facebook recommended it after seeing my check-ins)
The Highlands (area of Louisville, waitress from Zeppelin Cafe recommended it)
Lynn's Paradise Cafe (friends on Facebook and Twitter recommended it after seeing my check-ins)
Day 4:
Heading home today, used my Garmin to find the Woodford Reserve distillery after folks I met at Maker's Mark told me that it wasn't too far off the road. It wasn't far but the tour started too late for me to stay. Next time!
Arcade Fire
111,111
Tank Full of Wheat
Reclaimed desk space
Ray Lewis Way #52
IndyCar racing coming to Baltimore!
I got an iPad!
I installed a bunch of her favorite apps for her already. Configured her email for her and so on. I even installed some kids apps for when she babysits. I also put a book on there that she's been wanting to read. So far she loves it. As do I.
Lost Blog
Instead of updating my blog here I've been on Twitter a whole lot. I find micro-blogging on Twitter a lot easier sometimes. I'm also on FourSquare. So you can see what I'm up to on Twitter and where I've been on FourSquare.
Twitter: beckinabox
FourSquare link
Next week I hope to start painting again. Looking forward to it. I haven't painted in years. I'm also going to start using Rosetta Stone again. Started learning Italian last summer and never followed through with it. Also planning on going to Baltimore with Steffers. Tonight we're going to see Jønsi, although I think I'd rather stay home and watch 24.
HEALTH - "We Are Water"
Ryan Newman wins at Phoenix
For the rest of the story click HERE.
Parenthood
PlayStation 3 Slim!
I already have NASCAR 09 and Inglorious Basterds on Blu-Ray. By the end of the week I should have Rock Band 2 and Serenity on Blu-Ray as well as the Logitech Harmony PS3 adapter.
TCM Akira Kurosawa day, part 4!
8:00 PM Dersu Uzala (1975)
A Russian explorer brings the Asiatic hunter who saved his life back to civilization.
Cast: Maksim Munzuk, Yuriy Solomin, M Bichkov, V Khrulev Dir: Akira Kurosawa C-141 mins, TV-PG
10:30 PM Kagemusha (1980)
Japanese clansmen force a poor thief to impersonate their dead warlord.
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kenichi Hagiwara, Kota Yui Dir: Akira Kurosawa C-181 mins, TV-PG
1:45 AM Ran (1985)
An aging lord's decision to retire brings out the worst in his sons.
Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu Dir: Akira Kurosawa C-163 mins
TCM Akira Kurosawa day, part 3!
8:00 PM Rashomon (1950)
In medieval Japan, four people offer conflicting accounts of a rape and murder. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-88 mins, TV-PG
9:30 PM Seven Samurai (1954)
Japanese villagers hire a team of traveling samurai to defend them against a bandit attack. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Kuninori Kodo. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-207 mins, TV-14
1:00 AM Yojimbo (1961)
A samurai-for-hire sets the warring factions of a Japanese town against each other. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Seizaburo Kawazu. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-111 mins, TV-14, Letterbox Format
3:00 AM Sanjuro (1962)
A wandering samurai recruits younger fighters to help him battle corruption. Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Hakadai, Yuzo Kayama. Dir: Akira Kurosawa. BW-96 mins, TV-14, Letterbox Format
100th Anniversary of Akira Kurosawa's Birth
This started last Tuesday on TCM! 100th Anniversary of Akira Kurosawa's Birthday. Showing about 5 films a night. Last week they showed Throne of Blood and The Hidden Fortress. Tonight (1:15) they're showing Red Beard. Next week is 4 INCREDIBLE films, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Sanjuro. The last Tuesday of the month they're showing Kagemusha and Ran. Be sure to DVR all the films I listed if you haven't seen them yet. They are not only classic Japanese films but they're some of the most important films in the history of cinema. I've included the link for the complete schedule (only on Tuesday nights). WOW!!!!!
http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=290029
I just mentioned my favorite of the films that they're showing, there's actually a few lesser known ones that I hadn't seen but I've seen the majority of them. I've included links to the Wikipedia entries of each film. Rashomon and Seven Samurai are arguably his 2 greatest films so they can't be missed. I'm really curious how good they look in HD. As far as I know, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Kagemusha and Ran are the only ones available on Blu-Ray. This is the next best thing. Do not miss this!
Hiking Is For Lovers - from RHO-RAE
Now, as you know I am a huge fan of Rachel's work. A couple months ago she made me these awesome cuff links! This new postcard is great but the difference compared to the other one is that she had them professionally printed rather than an individually printed lino cut. This new postcard is great but there's just something special about receiving that lino cut. With that said, It's still an incredible and unique postcard that hope to get a bunch for myself to send out. You too can get them and other items at their shop; rrcraft.etsy.com
#52 Ray Lewis jersey
Canal's
Chimay Blue - 2 350ml bottles
Troegs Nugget Nectar ale - 6 pack
Duvel ale - 4 pack
Stone IPA - 22oz bottle
Stone Arrogant Bastard ale - 22oz bottle
I know, didn't pick up much this time around, hopefully it will last me a month.
Lovely Lovely
Anna Karina | Brigitte Bardot | Jean Seberg | Claudia Cardinale | Audrey Hepburn |
and there's a few honorable mentions that didn't quite make the top 5; Mia Farrow, Kim Novak, Natalie Wood, Grace Kelly, Anita Ekberg, Sophia Loren and Diana Rigg.
Book collection
CD Archiving
Fever Ray wins best dance artist in Sweden
iPhone 3G
So, what does everyone have installed on their iPhone? I've had my iPhone for just over a week and here's what I have installed:
Echofon (Twitter app with location based tweets)
NetNewsWire (RSS app that syncs to Google Reader)
iHandy Level (iPhone leveler)
The Weather Channel
Yellow Pages (with location based searching)
Amazon.com (complete access to Amazon.com in a little app)
Pandora (Internet radio, works wonderfully, even in the car!)
ESPN ScoreCenter (up to the second sports scores with push notifications)
Wikipanion (complete access to Wikipedia in a little app)
IMDb (complete access to IMDb in a little app)
AP Mobile (latest news headlines with push notifications)
Urbanspoon (restaurant finder and reviews)
Yelp (restaurant finder and reviews)
So, can anyone recommend any apps for me to check out? Or possibly better apps than I have listed.
What do you have installed?
I got a small package....
Thanks a ton Rachel, you've provided me with a unique accessory that I can hardly wait to show off!
RHO - RAE
And the card reads "make more art, learn italian, go for hikes, keep in touch with friends, spontaneous road trips, drink more water, volunteer"
On the opposite side is what you'd expect from a postcard, a personal greeting to me! Thank you Rachel and Rhodes, you are both extremely talented and it's privilege to have you both as friends.
Ryan Newman fan club 2010
The official 2010 Ryan Newman fan club membership card, a Rangers Boats visor, a Ryan Newman fan club poncho, a Ryan Newman #39 round decal, a Ryan Newman fan club key chain, a Ryan Newman fan club pen, a Ryan Newman fan club t-shirt (which is nicer than last year's) and a small stick of Old Spice deodorant all packaged in a Ryan Newman fan club tote bag.
Over all pretty cool for a fan club package, a fan club that is relatively inexpensive to join so just expecting all of that is awesome but last year's package was even more awesome. Still pretty cool. GO Ryan Newman!
Happy New Year!
My favorite film of the year was Inglorious Basterds. I also really enjoyed Moon. Sure I haven't gotten to the movies that much this year but those two were my favorite.
I have watched a whole lot of TV this year though, that's a fact! My favorite show of the year was Battlestar Galactica. I still think about that mind-blowing final episode. Wow! There were a lot of other great shows in 2009 so I have to also give credit to Dexter, Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Entourage. Some of the best shows on TV. Of course I have to give an honorable mention to Dirty Jobs, that show is always a sure thing.
I also listened to a bunch of great new albums this year and if you're a regular reader of my blog you know that I've been talking about the Fever Ray album all year. It's made many best of 2009 lists. Also, another album that is my favorite of the year is "Merriweather Post Pavillion" by Animal Collective. Those 2 albums are my most listened to of all the new releases of 2009. They're both extremely unique and fantastic albums, not to mention the Fever Ray concert that I went to in September is probably the best concert that I've ever been to.
I also have to point out these other great albums, "Two Suns" by Bat For Lashes, "March of the Zapotec/Holland" by Beirut, "Eating Us" by Black Moth Super Rainbow, "Bromst" by Dan Deacon, "Veckatimest" by Grizzly Bear, La Roux, "Living Thing" by Peter Bjorn and John, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" by Phoenix and "Dance Mother" by Telepathe.
I should also point out that a new Depeche Mode album came out this year. Sure it's far from my favorite of the year but I just felt that I should point it out because they're one of my favorite bands.
That's all, be sure to check out Fever Ray and Animal Collective, Inglorious Basterds and the final season of Battlestar Galactica! and Happy New Year!
The Loot
a Baltimore Ravens shot glass, the incredible book Sharp Suits, Jack Daniels coffee, a Baltimore Ravens lighter, a Ryan Newman license plate frame, a beautiful new pair of Doc Martens, a sweet pair of Kenneth Cole cuff links and a gorgeous Kenneth Cole tie bar, a stick of hard salami, Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe CD/DVD and a Baltimore Ravens toothbrush!
What did everyone else get?
Merry Christmas
2009 Christmas card
Last year were hand drawn cards of sardines which came with a can of sardines. This year it's a collage. I originally wanted to incorporate random images from Wikipedia entries. That was taking a lot longer than I had hoped so I just went with the minimal route, which is more my style anyway. What do you think?
Happy Holidaze!
On Monday Big Rick and I went down to Philadelphia to pick up honey balls from Cosmi's Pastries. We went there last year during Christmas as well. Cosmi's makes the best honey balls. He also got me a tray of Italian cookies for helping him out. They sure were good!
A couple of weeks ago a customer of mine gave me the coolest gift. He works in television and he knows how much I love TV and he got me the series finale of Battlestar Galactica on DVD. I mean, that in itself is awesome, but what he got me is even more awesome, it is the DVD that the Sci-Fi network gives to the judges of the Emmy awards. It turns out that he's one of the judges and gave me this special DVD. it's packaged in this red cube that is labeled "For Your Consideration". It's so sweet. I'll post pictures later. I was about to take some but my camera isn't working. My sister broke it! Check back soon!
Let It Snow!
What have I been up to? I go to Jo Jo's Tavern every Monday night with the guys. Now that Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR championship (AGAIN) I spend my Sundays watching football and other TV. The Ravens don't get much TV time here in NJ so I fine a live stream of the game, if not I watch the Giants. A couple of weeks ago I was in Philadelphia to see my friend Leslie from MICA. She had an art exhibit and showed her amazing work. She was my old neighbor when I was living in Baltimore. A couple of weeks before that my dad and I went out with my buddies to play paintball. It was the first time my dad and I played and we were surprisingly good at it.
You can follow my Twitter feeds to see what I do on a more regular basis. I try to do as many different things as I can but it doesn't happen TOO often.
I honestly believe one of the best shows on TV is Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. It's funny, entertaining and educational. I wish I could be like Mike Rowe.
I also believe that every NFL team has at least one Predator.
I also want to see the Sherlock Holmes movie, not because the movie looks good but because I love the outfits all the guys are wearing. I want to dress like that one a daily basis.
Lastly, it's not too late to get me a Christmas gift, here's my AMAZON WISH LIST!
Oh, and I've been raving about Fever Ray all year. Since I saw the concert back in September the majority of my blog entries have been about Fever Ray. Keeping up the trend I have to mention them again. Fever Ray are making many "Best Of 2009" lists including THIS ONE at Last.Fm. It will be a full year of Fever Ray next month and my love for Fever Ray are just growing more and more!
Fever Ray - "Triangle Walks"
Fever Ray - "Keep The Streets Empty"
Depeche Mode - "Fragile Tension"
YANKEES WIN THE 2009 WORLD SERIES!
Baby G and the Pumpkin
more reviews of Fever Ray
http://www.clashmusic.com/live-review/fever-ray-live
"Attempting to put Fever Ray’s live show into words is a bit like trying to tell someone about the weird dream you had last night. It’s virtually impossible to describe the Swedish banshee’s visual and sonic spectacle and do it any kind of justice."
http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6703
Fever Ray - "Stranger Than Kindness"
and here is the Fever Ray video for their own song "Triangle Walks" which is incredible. This video is also similar to their live show plus the music is more Fever Ray style than the Nick Cave cover.
Canal's
Samuel Smith oatmeal stout - 4 pack
Smithwicks ale - 6 pack
Guinness draught - 4 pack cans
Guiness 250th Anniversary Stout - 6 pack
Founders Breakfast Stout - 4 pack
Chimay Blue - 1 bottle
Rosenblum Cellars cabernet sauvignon
Rex Goliath 47 Pound Rooster cabernet sauvignon
The question that I have for you is, who wants to be my friend?
Fever Ray live reviews
Here's a bunch of links to reviews of the concert that I copied directed from Fever Ray's site:
Live Review: The Culture of Me at Webster Hall
October 1st, 2009
http://www.thecultureofme.com/culture/2009/09/photos-fever-ray-at-webster-hall-on-september-28.html
"In what will more than likely be set in stone as the single most memorable concert we'll experience in 2009, the mysterious project from Karin Dreijer-Andersson, Fever Ray, played their first NYC show on Monday night to a sold-out-like-whoa crowd at Webster Hall"
Live Review: Billboard at Webster Hall
October 1st, 2009
http://www.billboard.com/#/events/fever-ray-september-28-2009-new-york-webster-1004017621.story
"Inspired by equal parts "Exorcist," a Pink Floyd planetarium show and your grandmother's basement, Fever Ray's visual spectacle was as eerie and entrancing as the devilish, downbeat tunes pouring from the speakers. Though both of Andersson's projects are cut from the same experimental cloth, the differences between them were apparent from the first ominous notes. Where the Knife bubbles and bounds with one eye toward the dancefloor, Fever Ray slithers with subdued energy, quietly winding haunting vocals harmonies and peculiar keyboard melodies around hypnotizing tribal rhythms. Even with the cornea-searing lasers bouncing around the balcony, Fever's first-ever U.S. concert was a slower, more subtle affair than the Knife's Blue-Man-Group-on-ecstasy live events."
Live Review & Photos: Flavor Pill at Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://flavorwire.com/40952/exclusive-qa-karin-dreijer-andersson-of-fever-ray-webster-hall
"As smoke swirled like liquid in the green light- and incense-filled the room, a blonde pop star took the stage, joining her band. She looked like Diana, goddess of the hunt, but without her usual mask. Finally we got a good look at Karin Dreijer Andersson: Swedish electronic artist, mother of two, and one half of the famously elusive brother-sister duo, The Knife."
Live Pictures: Pitchfork @ Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://pitchfork.com/features/photos/galleries/743-fever-ray
Live Review: Vanity Fair at Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/culture/2009/09/29/fever-ray-at-webster-hall-lasers-shrunken-heads-swedes.html
"If the psychedelic filmmaker Kenneth Anger somehow commandeered the controls at Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion, the result might look like last night's Fever Ray show at Webster Hall in New York City."
Live Pictures: Prefix Magazine at Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://www.prefixmag.com/photos/fever-ray-webster-hall-pics/
Photos from Fever Ray @ Webster Hall, New York City by Gabi Porter
Live Review & Pictures: Village Voice at Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/09/live_fever_ray.php
"Starting the set off in an immense fur coat, she was like a mummified ancient royal waking from hibernation. But then she took off the beast and hung it up right next to her in front of a well-positioned fan–for the remainder of the show, the floating coat was Andersson's bellowing shadow, an insanely creepy imaginary friend, and a limp ghost all in one. Stripped of her cover, Andersson gave herself up just enough to warm up the audience while still maintaining her anonymity."
Village Voice also interviewed Karin before her Webster Hall performance, read it here.
Live Review & Pictures: Brooklyn Vegan at Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/09/fever_ray_webst.html
"I saw Fever Ray tonight in New York. Amazing, powerful show. Those of you who have the freedom should try and get down to Webster Hall Tuesday, September 29th at noon and wait patiently for any tickets released by the venue (technically the show is sold out, but there are always extras)."
Live Review & Pictures: Stereogum at Webster Hall
September 30th, 2009
http://stereogum.com/archives/photo/fever-ray-webster-hall-nyc-92809_092661.html
"The various costumes and imagery were leitmotifs from Fever Ray's four super fantastic videos (a fifth is planned); whether they or the live show came first appears to be some chicken-egg shit according to her recent (and very read-worthy) interview with the Voice, so let's just say they've informed each other. There wasn't a narrative per se, but it was more dynamic than the Knife's show, and you'd hear people afterward comparing this shot favorably to that last one. Narrative or no, it did unfold with perfect symmetry: two bold lasers shot out before fanning out to open the show, and the myriad rays collapsed again into two simple beams of light to close it. House lights up, everybody left — partially wondering what they just watched, fully aware they had fodder for half-remembered nightmares all their own. It was spectacular, in every sense."
Fever Ray
Julia and Brian's Wedding
Depeche Mode - "Hole to Feed"
Depeche Mode - Hole To Feed
Shoe Fitting X-Ray Machine
I had never heard of such a thing so as soon as I go home from dinner I did some quick research to find out more about this machine. He thought that the shoe store in Trenton must have had it made for them and that it was one of a kind, my research shows that they were quite common in shoe stores throughout the country in the 30's, 40's and 50's. The machine was called a fluoroscope and they were used to somehow measure shoe sizes to get a "scientifically accurate" fit. I don't know how accurate they actually were though. The machines were slowly phazed out of service in the 60's after they were banned in many states due to the levels of radiation exposure to the user as well as anyone around the machines. That's a picture of one of the machines to the right. Nice find Dad!
I found most of this information HERE and HERE. |
Fall TV
Even without the TV shows premiering, it's still a big week, today alone is the opening day of the NFL (GO RAVENS). US Open has the women's singles finals and 2 men's singles semifinals. The Yankees play today as the baseball season winds down. Tomorrow there is Monday night football and the men's singles final. This weekend is the first race of the NASCAR Chase for the Cup. Ryan Newman had a strong finish this past Saturday at Richmond which enabled him to qualify for the Chase.
In other words, there is going to be a lot on TV in the coming weeks and keep a look out for my Top TV Shows lists. I don't plan on leaving my house so if you'll have to come and visit me to see me!
Snake...
Logitech Harmony One
I received my new universal remote today, the Logitech Harmony One. It's beautiful. The software I downloaded for my computer was extremely easy to use and guided me through all the steps necessary in order to get all of my devices working with the remote. Now I hit one button and the TV/DVR/HD Box/Amp all go on at once. It's great! After the easily guided setup I put the icons of all my favorite channels on the remote. Now if I wanted to watch the YES channel I just hit the YES logo on the remote and the channel comes on. It's a great compliment to my new HD TV. |
Mr. Cool Suit
Last week I met some friends over at Houlihan's for karaoke. Our awesome waitress dubbed me "Mr. Cool Suit" as you can see on my tab. It wasn't so much a suit, just a jacket and tie, white pocket square, nice jeans and dress shoes. That's a picture of me singing next to Rick D. And yes, you read the tab correctly, that's $7.75 for a glass of Maker's Mark, crazy! |
Paula Abdul says I'm beautiful...
For my birthday Paula wants me to know that I'm beautiful. And you know you hard it is to get a compliment from Paula. My birthday is today and my friends Tiffany and Tommy and their children Jovie and Spencer sent me this card. It's totally awesome. It has glitter. Glitter makes every card better. |
Duchess, Clothier
Duchess
Another week off...
Later this week my custom made suit from the ladies of Duchess should be arriving. I’m very excited about that. I’ll definitely be posting pictures here and to my Facebook. So check back with further updates on that. Now to watch the race. Go Ryan Newman!!!
Cablevision and my new HD TV
The Cablevision box is going to take some getting used to. I found that some HD channels aren’t coming in though. It’s just a black screen. Anybody know anything about that? Speed HD is one of them. Some of the channels just say “Initializing Channel” just for a message to come up saying it’s “currently unavailable”. Will these just work one day? Also, is there a way that I can block channels that I don’t subscribe to? Block them from channel up and down and block them in the guide itself. It’s annoying scrolling through the guide and seeing all of these channels that I don’t subscribe to. Channeling up and down and getting stuck on one is annoying too cause it has to load a screen that says I don’t get it.
the day after DM
With that said, Depeche Mode were great as always. My sister was completely gushing whenever Dave did his sexy gestures and grinds. She got so excited. She’ll deny this of course and say he’s not her type or something like that. That’s a lie though. Martin looks older and older while Dave gets better looking.
The opening act was great. I’ve been a fan of Peter, Bjorn and John’s for a while but this is my first time seeing them live. Peter was so fun up on stage. Even off the stage when he lunged into the crowd directly in front of us while singing “Young Folks”. Of course he couldn’t get back on the stage, it was kinda sad but cute and funny at the same time. We all agreed that Peter would make an excellent play pal for Jen and Chris’s 17 month old son Giovanni. I’ll have to email him to see if he’s free.
It was a great concert, it also helped that before the show started I won $100 on the slots. It was a good night.
Depeche Mode with Peter, Bjorn & John TONIGHT!
Happy Birthday Jennifer!
Today is my sister’s birthday. I drew her a card. It’s a cow with a cat’s head that is about to drink from a crater filled with fruit punch. I hope that she likes it. Happy birthday Jennifer! |
The Ten
Crosley Nomad
Excellent! I received my Crosley Nomad radio today. This radio is so awesome looking. I love the 1930’s design to it. I needed a radio to take with me on my picnics and this is the one, it even has an input for my iPod! My picnics have become that much more awesome. I hope it sounds as good as it looks! |
Picnic Time
Afterwards we went to a tattoo art show at Artworks in Trenton. The show was small and I felt out of place because I didn’t have a black t-shirt on with a devil on the front. Regardless, there was some interesting art and it wasn’t too far away.
I can hardly wait for the next picnic though. I have a sweet radio coming this week to bring along with me. It’s going to be super awesome. Dana and I will be credited for the rebirth of old fashioned picnics.
Moon
R.I.P. Julia Beck
Julia A. Giovannetti Beck
PRINCETON - Julia A. Giovannetti Beck of Princeton entered into God's Care Sunday in the University Medical Center at Princeton, with her family by her side.
Born in Trenton, Julia was a lifelong Trenton/Hamilton area resident before moving to Princeton in 2005. Julia was a homemaker, who enjoyed cooking, spending time with her family and visits from her lifelong friend, Lucia. Predeceased by her parents, Fanny and Carl Giovannetti; her brother Don; three sisters, Mary, Helen and Laura; her husband, John D. Beck, Sr., and her son, James Beck, she is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, John & Susan D. Beck, Jr. of Yardville; two sisters, Margaret Fabiano and Ann Trippo; three grandchildren, John P. Beck, Jennifer Lucania, her husband Christopher, and Michael Beck, son of James Beck; also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Chambers D´Errico and Correnti Funeral Home, 825 Chambers St., Trenton. Burial will follow. Calling hours will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
My Week Off...
Watched the Subway 250 at Daytona, Rock Band, went to Jen and Chris’s for Independence Day, watched the Coca-Cola Zero at Daytona, spectacular wreck coming to the checkered, Ryan Newman finished 20th, watched the Yankees, watched Jarhead, watched more Yankees, visiting my grandmother at Princeton Hospital, boo, Dr. House was off that day, boo, went to see The Hangover with Dana, yay! met the guys for a beer at Jo Jo’s, painted, Rock Band, watched more Yankees, watched Deadliest Catch, visited James and Jane in Long Branch, went to WindMill Hot Dogs, went to Lighthouse for water ice, watched more Yankees, watched Vincent & Theo, painted, went to the Freedom Fest Fair at the Horse Park of New Jersey, watched the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland, Ryan Newman finished 22nd, Rock Band, watched the LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland, Ryan Newman finished 6th, watched the Yankees, bad news, grandmom Beck died today, boo, smoked a Macanudo Portofino that I’ve had in my humidor for about 5 years and drank some Maker’s Mark to honor grandmom, watched Howl’s Moving Castle, watched the new Entourage.
Today I just hung around and cleaned, put some stuff into storage and painted more, tonight I’ll finish off my “vacation” with the guys at Jo Jo’s Tavern. I’ll see you there!
R.I.P. Julia Beck
Happy Beck!
Picnic Basket
I received my totally sweet new picnic basket today. It’s so rad. As you can see from the picture it has all the stuff that I would need for a picnic, plates, glasses, corkscrew and silverware. There are 2 spots for wine bottles, in my case one will be for wine and the other for a bottle of water. It has plenty of room inside for the usual picnic foods; fruit, cheese, crackers and bread. I have a nice picnic blanket and an old fashioned Crosley radio. I’m all ready for the summer. All I need now is for someone to join me on a picnic, ladies? |
Weekend
Yesterday I watched the race. Ryan Newman had a lousy car and got a little banged up from some wrecks around him. It looked like it was about to rain and Newman was leading but the crew miscalculated how much fuel he had in his tank and he had to pit. 3 laps later the rain came and the race ended. Newman finished 29th. Took a big chance and it didn’t work out. Despite that he only dropped 1 spot in the standings down to 7th. We’ll get them next time.
Now I’m about to head to my usual Monday night hang out spot, Jo Jo’s Tavern. I meet the guys there every week for food and drink and we hang out and celebrate out friendship. Pretty exciting. See you there!
Business Cards
Curtin's Wharf
Tonight we went to Curtin’s Wharf for dinner and it was incredible! If you’re in the Burlington, NJ area you have to check this place out. The prices are a bit steep but it’s quality food, top notch service and an incredible ambience. Heck, you can take a boat there, as I was sitting on the back deck eating I was watching folks coming in from the river for dinner. There was a calypso band playing to add to the ambience. If it was a bit cheaper I would go all the time. The prices aren’t bad though considering how awesome everything is. I can hardly wait to go back. I strongly recommend it to everyone. Here’s a little picture I took from my cell phone (didn’t realize that I had the resolution set to LOW): |
Art All Night
After I left the Hopkins BBQ the Murray brothers and I went to Art All Night in Trenton. We got there around 1:30 AM and there was a large amount of people, I was surprised. The band that was performing was good. The visual art left much to be desired but for the most part they were generally positive, some terrific ones and some downright awful ones. As the night progressed the bands got worse and worse. The last performance was 3 AM. Art All Night is a 24 hour art festival, it started at 3 PM on Saturday and goes to 3 PM on Sunday. Here’s their website: http://www.artworkstrenton.org/artallnight/index.html
I recommend. It’s not NEARLY as cool as the art festival they have down by my school in Baltimore but it’s ok for Trenton. The Baltimore one is called Artscape and is the largest arts festival in the country. Figure the Trenton one draws in close to 5,000 folks, Artscape draws in about 1 million. But hey, it’s a start. So I recommend you check it out, like I said, I’ll be there at about 12:30 on Sunday. See you there!
Depeche Mode - "Peace"
Duchess, Fine Clothier
Also yesterday Ryan Newman finished 8th which put him up 2 more spots in the standings up to 5th now! His teammate Tony Stewart finished 2nd which means he took over the points lead! Yay!
On Saturday we played our 11th annual softball game and bbq. I did fairly well, made a couple outs on well hit balls and I got on base only cause of my lighting speed. I played third base. Made a few good plays in the field including an unassisted double play.
Tonight I’ll be meeting the guys at Jo Jo’s Tavern. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a good weekend.
Set for launch
Depeche Mode with Peter Bjorn and John
That now pushes The The, Nitzer Ebb and Stabbing Westward down a notch for the best bands that I’ve seen open up for DM!
Fever Ray
Whatever Works
More Waltrip on Earl
John Beck just signed with the Baltimore Ravens
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-ravenshort504,0,1974368.story
and here:
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/05/Beck_Now_A_Raven.aspx
Michael Waltrip in My Name Is Earl
Depeche Mode on Kimmel, the day after *UPDATE*
NEW: Here’s another review: http://www.accesshollywood.com/on-the-download-jimmy-kimmel-presents-depeche-mode-live_article_17182
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/24/depeche-mode-shut-down-hollywood-blvd-for-kimmel/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/04/depeche-mode-hollywood-swinging-.html
Here’s a clip of the first song they did, “Wrong” on Kimmel:
And here’s the second one, “Personal Jesus”, both are available in HD!
Depeche Mode on Kimmel TONIGHT!
Kimmel goes on at midnight, I’m gonna try my best to stay up. I don’t have to work tomorrow so hopefully staying up that late won’t mess me up too bad. Times like this I wish I had a DVR so I can watch it over and over and over.
Sounds of the Universe
I got my Depeche Mode “Sounds of the Universe” limited edition box set yesterday. The set itself is a lot nicer than I thought it would be. It’s also a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Very nicely made and put together too. I like the new album so far, not as good as their last one but it’s good, I mean, c’mon, it’s Depeche Mode.
R.I.P. Alfred Guarnieri
My Uncle Al died on Sunday. Bummer.
Alfred Guarnieri
Alfred Guarnieri, 89, of Hamilton Township died Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, Hamilton Township.
Born in Trenton, NJ, he resided in Hamilton Township for the past 45 years. Mr. Guarnieri was a US Army veteran of World War II. He retired in 1982 after more than 25 years from CV Hill Refrigeration, Trenton. Mr. Guarnieri along with his late wife, Josephine, owned and operated the Cameo Shop, located in the Chambersburg section of Trenton for 12 years until 1974. He was a member of the Roman Hall Society and was Past Commander and member of the Italian American War Veterans Post # 2.
Son of the late Dominic and Catherina Tazza Guarnieri, husband of the late Josephine Reno Guarnieri, brother of the late Jennie Iezzo, he is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Alan R. and Denise Guarnieri of Bordentown Township, and David Guarnieri of Hamilton Township; two sisters, Mary Gallo and Clara Guarnieri, both of Hamilton Township; a sister-in-law, Sue Aregnano; two grandchildren, Alexa and Lucas Guarnieri, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral will be 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23, 2009, from the Brenna Funeral Home, 340 Hamilton Ave., Trenton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. at Saint Mary's Church, 45 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown, NJ. Burial will follow in Brig. General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, North Hanover Township, NJ. Calling hours for relatives and friends will be on Wednesday evening, April 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Brenna Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Headquarters, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111. (816-756-3390) or www.vfw.org
R.I.P. JG Ballard
In other news, I was in Baltimore this past weekend for the annual MICA fashion show. Went with the Murray brothers. Met up with some friends. Went to Mick O’Shea’s. Also picked up some Resurrection and Green Peppercorn Tripel from the Brewer’s Art. Great place, great beers. I’m very tired now and wish to rest. New show goes on FOX tonight called Sit Down, Shut Up made by the creator of Arrested Development. May as well watch it, what else is there to watch?
LoveNetflix
That Woman Makes Crazy Art
Be my #1 fan!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Beck/77604048293
Brother Theodore - Food Sermon
Depeche Mode "Come Back"
March 16th
Last week a couple of customers of mine went out to Las Vegas for the NASCAR race. They brought me back a new Ryan Newman decal for my car. As you know he switched from the #12 team to the #39 team. I took out the old #12 and put on the new #39. Thank you Holly!!!!
Also, I just replaced it with a shiny brand new 120GB iPod classic. It’s absolutely incredible and so much smaller than the old one. Not am I able to put almost my whole collection of iTunes on it but it also plays podcasts and video! It’s so sweet. This is my third iPod. The last one was a 60GB iPod Photo. It still works, i’ve just been having problems with it lately. It freezes often. My first iPod was a 10GB first generation. I had that one back when iPod’s were only available for Mac. Now they’re everywhere. This new one is my favorite one so far. It’s so sweet.
2 things...
Yesterday I bottled my wheat beer that I made. I bottled 32 25 ounce bottles. That’s a lot of beer. I calculated the alcohol content to be around 6.1%, that seems pretty high. The beer should be ready for consumption in a couple weeks so I’ll report back on how it is.
Daft Punk to score TR2N soundtrack
Depeche Mode "Wrong"
American Idol
Die Die Die
John Hodgman
Dollhouse
NASCAR calendars
Inglourious Basterds
Tony Stewart Old Spice Swagger commercial
Ryan Newman captures first modified win at New Smyrna
Newman, who started seventh, piloted the No. 7 NY Aggressive Hydraulics modified through the field to claim his first win in a modified and a hard fought victory for car owner Kevin 'Bono' Manion.
"That was a lot of fun," Newman said. "I have to thank Ted (Christopher) because he raced me clean there at the end. It was a pretty exciting race from where I was sitting.
"To win this race is a big deal. I'm not a guy from the Northeast but I know how important of a win this is for these guys."
Newman quickly drove through the field and into second place where he engaged in a head-to-head battle with legendary modified driver Ted Christopher. The two drivers swapped the top spot numerous times over the final 14 laps of the 25-lap race.
Newman had to endure multiple caution flags and several restarts before taking the lead from Christopher on lap 21 for good to clench his first victory in the modified ranks.
"Tonight was my dad's birthday, so I think this is a nice present for him," Newman said. "I'm looking forward to racing and having some more fun here again tomorrow night."
Newman will race at New Smyrna again on Tuesday. Action begins at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Delaware Water Gap with Mike Murray
Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Trenton. The temperature reached 64! Mike Murray and I decided it would be a good day for a little road trip. As the previous week’s snow was melting a way we hit the road and drove up North to the Delaware Water Gap. The crumbling slums of Trenton were now behind us the glorious mountains were on the horizon. Along the hour and a half journey we discussed how awesome the state of New Jersey is. Moments ago we left the capital city and here we are in the rolling hills of Flemington, Clinton and Oxford. New Jersey has such a wide variety of resources in which all are relatively close to each other. We have big cities and small farming communities. Big sporting arenas and casinos to mountains and wildlife preserves. If for some reason New Jersey isn’t good enough, NYC and Philly are just a stone’s throw away, not to mention Baltimore/DC and Boston. We love this state! Before we arrived at the Delaware Water Gap we stopped of at Hot Dog Johnny’s. A place I last frequented with Mike’s brother Jimmy nearly 4 years ago. It was delicious! The queue was out the door and flooded into the parking lot. After that we went further down the road into the Delaware Water Gap. We were very unprepared for this trip. Even though it was 64 and the snow was melting in Trenton, in the DQG there was still a foot of snow on the ground and it was damn cold. We braved the freezing temperatures and journey to the summit toward Crater Lake and were able to catch a few decent pictures, some of them are displayed on the right, others are up on Facebook. Regardless we had a great time, even saw some of our customers up by the river. Next time we visit will be this summer and we will hike up Kittatinny Point. This time we will be prepared. |
Top 25 Random Facts
1. I have had 4 surgeries in the past 4 years.
2. Would love to open up my own school for students with disabilities.
3. Would love to pick up everything and move to Taromino, Sicily.
4. I do about 97% of all yard work.
5. I do about 95% of all house work.
6. I would like to have another boxer puppy.
7. I am the most happy when I'm with my son.
8. I would love to mingle with gorillas. Just call me Dian Fossey.
9. I would love to open up a restaurant or a bagel place.
10. I don't know how to make bagels.
11. I can never write anything without Chris proofreading it first.
12. Chris proofread this.
13. I'm obsessed with organization and have been wanting to go to the container store FOREVER!
14. Hopefully for Valentines Day, Chris will bring me to the container store.
15. I'm supposively passive-aggressive. I don't know about that, what do you think?
16. I'm self-conscious about several things. So much so that I can't share them with you.
17. I hate the gladiator game. Chris, Dan....dorks!
18. During early high school years I attended a modeling school.
19. I have huge feet, size 11. HUGE!
20. I like to steal swords and gold.
21. I can watch a movie, people die, I don't cry. If an animal dies, I will cry for an hour.
22. I used to go to Karate class and loved it, but it killed my back.
23. I hit a tracter trailer on the turnpike after spinning 4x in a snow storm. Car = Totaled.
24. I am a certified therapy dog carrier and have taken Sebastian to a lock-down school, retirement home, hospital, and a school for children with cerebral palsy.
25. In my adulthood, I have only pooped twice in a public place.
Ryan Newman fan club package
The fan club package arrived today, a lot of odd things were included this year. Everything was packed neatly in a Ryan Newman fan club cooler. I got the usual fan club t-shirt, this years was a nice black one, the others were ugly white ones. I also got the usual fan club membership card and cool little fan club magnet. Ok, pretty cool so far. Also inside were 2 more t-shirts, a sweet U.S. Army shirt AND a very cool Meaty Bone t-shirt. Isn’t that odd? Both shirts are really awesome, much cooler than the actual fan club shirt.
Also included in the cooler is a blank CDR (a yellow one), a fishing lure with Ryan Newman’s autograph on it, a bag of rubber bait worms, a small stick of Old Spice (his teammate Tony Stewart’s sponsor) and a small package that looks like matches from Duraflame but it’s actually green tea stress relief lotion.
Isn’t that awesome? That was a really nice surprise to come home too. Thank you Ryan Newman for being awesome! Oh, and Ryan Newman, i’m from your wife’s home town, if you ever come and visit let me take you out for dinner! Sweet!
NASCAR calendars updated
Good Luck Steelers!
I have a feeling Flacco learned a lot this season as a rookie. No rookie has ever made it this far into the post season and I have a feeling that next year he’ll be a lot better. Now that the Ravens are over I have NASCAR to get excited about now. A few more weeks and the green flag will be waving. Also, luckily for me, new episodes of my favorite TV shows have been airing. I’ll start posting my top shows list soon.
The Sounds of the Universe
ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF
SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE
APRIL 21, 2009
January 15, 2009- Groundbreaking, chart-topping electro legends Depeche Mode are proud to announce the release of their long-anticipated new studio album, Sounds Of The Universe on April 21, 2009 (Mute Records).
Eclectic and energized, the band's new release is their most dazzling and diverse album in decades. Recorded in Santa Barbara and New York, Depeche Mode returned to using a lot of vintage gear, from analogue synthesizers to drum machines, in order to conjure up the retro-futuristic arrangements featured on the album. Lyrically the release contains many of the group's enduring obsessions plus more overt black humor than any of their previous collections.
Like with their 2005 studio album, Playing The Angel, Sounds Of The Universe features writing credits for both Martin Gore, the group's primary songwriter, and Dave Gahan who after honing his talents on two solo albums, has earned his place as Depeche Mode's second writer. The release also marks a reunion between the band and producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Doves, Elbow), who worked with the band to help give their new album its timeless sound. The first single from the release, "Wrong," grabs the listener's attention from its first stack-heeled, staccato shriek. Over stomping beats, screeching synthesizers, and Dave's overlord chant, "Wrong" already feels like a Depeche Mode classic. Other standout tracks include Martin's velvet-lined Scott Walker croon on the sensual lounge-music ballad "Jezebel," to the sci-fi gospel-blues hymn "In Chains" and "Hole To Feed," which marries modern electronics to a floor-shaking, bone-rattling Bo Diddley beat.
As one of the most influential bands of the post-punk era, with global sales in excess of 100 million, Depeche Mode belongs to a select premiere league of super groups who have survived from the early 1980s with their ideals, creative vision and core members intact. Formed in 1981, Depeche Mode - Martin Gore, Dave Gahan and Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher - continue to win critical and commercial acclaim across the world both in the studio and on the road. All of the band's 11 studio albums have reached the Top Ten in not only the UK and USA but 20 plus countries around the world including Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium. Additionally, since their inception Depeche Mode's live shows continue to be a must-see attraction, with the group playing to 2.8 million people across 31 countries on their last tour alone.
Depeche Mode will be announcing additional album details and tour news in the coming weeks. For more information please go to www.depechemode.com.
GO RAVENS!!!!!
Absolutely incredible!!!
Beautiful photography
http://helmo.fr/projects/said/2/
I find something about that composition with the blue and red on the black background incredibly gorgeous. Such a great idea and well executed. Stunning imagery.
Absinthe Lollipops
http://www.lollyphile.com/absinthe.php Whoa. I kinda lost interest in absinthe years ago but I would certainly love to try one or two of these. |
Happy Birthday Jimmy!
Joe Flacco is my hero!
Happy New Year!
Get in that boiler room!
Later during the day I met up with my buddy James from MICA. He was visiting NJ from the west coast. Earlier that day he had a meeting with Lord Whimsy. Apparently they’re going to be working on a project together. James is a little nutty, he gets a coat as a Christmas gift from Debbie Harry and now he thinks that he can work with everyone that is famous.
Anyway, when he got to my house I asked him where he wanted to go to eat. He said he wanted DeLorenzo’s, unfortunately we’re closed on Mondays so I had to take him to the enemy, the DeLorenzo’s in Robbinsville. It was pretty good I must admit. The service sucks though. So James and I stopped at Canal’s and then met up with Jimmy Murray at DeLorenzo’s.
Afterwards James left to go back to Long Branch cause he was leaving for the west coast in the morning and Jimmy and I headed to our usual Monday night gathering spot, Jo Jo’s Tavern.
Now I am full with pizza, beer, dessert and coffee. Now I must rest. Happy new year!
Go Ravens!
Ravens won over the Jaguars today. Playoffs start next week against the Dolphins. The Ravens are looking real good. Anything could happen!
WWE
Christmas Gifts
What does an eccentric artist get/make for his family as a Christmas gift? Sardines! Each card is a hand drawn pencil sketch of 3 sardines. Each card is slightly different. The cover of each card reads “Merry Christmas”. Inside each card reads “Live Long and Prosper”. On the opposite inner page reads “Christmas 2008, hand drawn by John Beck, x of 9” Each tin of sardines is lovingly wrapped in Maker’s Mark wrapping paper. Merry Christmas! |
It's Lunch Time
Cosmi's Pastries and Potito's Bakery
So I accompanied him down to Philly. We had a lot of fun. He’s been ordering from Cosmi’s for a while now and said he should have gone there first instead of Nino’s. He gave me another box of the honey balls and these were a HUGE difference. Very good. Then he took me to another bakery not too far away called Potito’s. There he got me a tray of cookies for coming down to Philly with him. He met the owner of Potito’s a few years ago at Jefferson hospital. They ended up befriending each other. Rick often visited his shop when he was in town. A couple years later the owner died from leukemia at a relatively young age. Anyway, when we got to Potito’s the daughter remembered Rick, even some details, from Trenton, owns the pizza place. I guess he’s a hard one to forget. It was a very sweet moment.
Now I must get back to drawing my Christmas cards and back to watching Battlestar Galactica.
NASCAR Camping World truck series calendar
My Horn Can Pierce The Sky
Princess Unicorn: http://www.princessunicorndoll.com/ Princess Unicorn is from a distant land on a distant planet far away in the future. She came from her father, king of the unicorns, and her mother, queen of the princesses. Sorcerissa, the evil witch, cast a spell on Princess Unicorn’s parents, forcing them into another dimension, and doused Princess Unicorn in radiation. The radiation did not hurt Princess Unicorn, but gave her magical powers. She can summon her magic by holding her wand and calling out, “My horn can pierce the sky!” Now she uses her magic and beauty to write for her school paper, defend her kingdom, and battle Sorcerissa so she can be reunited with her mother and father some day. |
R.I.P. Bettie Page
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-page12-2008dec12,0,5310709.story
Maker's Mark Gift
Canal's
NetFlix Customer Service
So this time I called them up after a wait of 20 seconds I was patched through to Sara at NetFlix customer service. She has a wonderful voice and couldn’t be nicer. She told me that she would sent disc 2 out right away and to hang onto disc 3 when I get it. She told me they were having problems with sending seasons out in order so she would delete the other 3 discs from my queue and for me to just add them one at a time until they correct the problem.
Sara was more than helpful and extremely pleasant. I wished her happy holidays and the total phone called was 2 minutes long. Less than a minute after I hung up I got an email from NetFlix asking me to rate my experience.
I wish I could put in additional feedback on the experience because I found it more than satisfactory and though Sara at customer service was wonderful. Happy holidays Sara!
R.I.P. Josephine Guarnieri
Josephine Guarnieri
Josephine Reno Guarnieri, 87, of Hamilton Township died Thursday at Compassionate Care Hospice at Saint Francis Medical Center, Trenton. Born in Trenton, she resided in Hamilton Township for the past 45 years. Mrs. Guarnieri retired in 2006 after more than 30 years from Little King Deli, Route 33, Hamilton Township.
She was the daughter of the late Gaetano and Antonietta Reno; sister of the late Carmen Aregnano, Frank Renio, Paul Renna, Frances Graziano, Caroline Mirabelli, Dorothy Botteri, and Madeline Scardone. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Alfred Guarnieri; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Alan R. and Denise Guarnieri of Bordentown Township, and David Guarnieri of Hamilton Township; a sister-in-law, Sue Aregnano; two grandchildren, Alexa and Lucas Guarnieri, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral will be held 9:30 a.m. Tuesday from the Brenna Funeral Home, 340 Hamilton Ave., Trenton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary's Church, 45 Crosswicks St., Bordentown. Burial will follow in Brig. General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, North Hanover Township. Calling hours for relatives and friends will be 6-9 p.m. Monday evening at the Brenna Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Alzheimers Association, Inc., Greater NJ Chapter, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834. (973-586-4300).
Monday
Nick Cave Teaterkoncerten
http://www.aarhusteater.dk/om_nick_cave_teaterkoncerten.asp
I’m still doing further research but it looks like they have this entire theatrical performance based entirely on Nick Cave songs. I haven’t a clue what they’re saying but I know the original songs and I would love to see this live.
The Mercy Seat
The Mercy Seat is one of my favorite songs by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Click the link to learn more about the song. I assembled some links to YouTube videos of various people covering song. It’s such an incredible song and nearly every version is fantastic. My favorite is the ‘acoustic’ version by Nick Cave himself, you can see a live version of that one by pressing play on the right. There are many other Nick Cave songs that are covered on YouTube and for the most part they’re all very good. I think it has more to do with them being really well written songs to begin with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijKgb9yoJyY (INCREDIBLE Swedish stage production based around the song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4q4sm5u5U (a fun ukulele version) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PU1DV-ANI0 (an ‘a cappella’ version with an interesting arrangement) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laMnkJpKQgs (some full band) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oklAv0hEYc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AbamNF8OnY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cui57jDT5PQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAAhvH4BFbA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZKHgJKFs-0 (this version is scary, but very interesting) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em3nl_NO1Yc (good, kinda ‘cheesy’, I think they’re trying to hard to be weird) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N97ufdV-9Zc (a weird Swedish version with a DJ?) There are many other cover versions on YouTube but I just wanted to link the ‘live’ versions. | Here’s the original Nick Cave album version Johnny Cash version (not really a video but an important cover) |
100,000 mile milestone
I’m happy to say that I had very little trouble with my Honda over the last 10 years. What trouble I did have was very minor and easily fixable. Here’s to the next 100,000, I hope they’re as pleasant and easy going as my first 100,000.
Harry Bush
This guy called DeLorenzo’s today. He was asking what our hours were. I don’t think I ever answered him due to me laughing so hard. It’s these little things that I find most enjoyable. |
Happy Thanksgiving!
Redemption
R.I.P. Mamie Labella
Mamie LaBella
Mamie (Valeri) LaBella, 85, entered into God's Care Friday in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Born in Trenton, she was a lifelong area resident.
Predeceased by her parents Guilio and Caroline (DeCarolis) Valeri and a sister Catherine Parziale, she is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years, Leon J. LaBella; four sons and daughters-in-law, Andrew and Anne LaBella, Robert LaBella and Barbara Cease, Leon and Linda LaBella and Larry and Sherri LaBella; two sisters, Sue Aregnano and Mary Motchnik; her grandchildren and their spouses, Kelly Anne and Richard Hinton, Andrea and Tony Esposito, Julia LaBella and fiancée, Brian Cirillo, Sabrina and Dennis McAnulla, Nicholas LaBella, Dana LaBella, Anthony and Adrienne LaBella and Adria Cease; four great-grandchildren, Anthony Esposito, Joseph LaBella, Isabel Hinton and Madelyn McAnulla; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Carmella LaBella, Molly Constantine, George and Jean Lanna, Mario and Sandy LaBella, several nieces and nephews, and many family and friends.
The funeral will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday from Chambers D'Errico and Correnti Funeral Home, 825 Chambers St. in Trenton. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Anthony's Church, 626 South Olden Ave., Hamilton. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Hamilton. Callings hours will be 8:30-10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid-Jersey Chapter, 246 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ 07755 (envelopes are available at the Funeral Home).
The Wrestler
The trailer for the new Darren Aronofsky film “The Wrestler” is finally officially online. I’m a big Darren Aronofsky fan, I loved The Fountain even though most of my friends are pretty mixed about it. Although Aronofsky didn’t write The Wrester it still looks like a great film with a great performance from Mickey Rourke. I’m definitely looking forward to this one. http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thewrestler/ |
Baby G and Noddy
Making Art with Baby G
Top 5 Beautiful Ladies
Zoey Deschanel | Anna Friel | Jenna Fischer | Tina Fey | Anne Hathaway |
and honorable mention of course goes to Scarlett Johanson and Natalie Portman. There’s a few others that I quite fancy, one of them being Judy Greer, she seems like a lot of fun, someone who I would want to spend all of my time with. All of these beautiful ladies are delicious, kinda like a bacon cheese burger. Mmmmmmm, tasty!
Who’s your favorite?
Caitlin Ryan Clothing Line
March Of The Ants
I just got back from doing some food shopping at Shop Rite. Among my usual items I also wanted to try some different things. I got McCann’s Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal. I wanted to get the McCann’s instant oatmeal but they only had the traditional in a can. I’ve been wanting to try it for a while so I’m pretty excited about it. Maybe I’ll order the packs of instant off the internet. Also, something that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time now was goat milk. I don’t drink milk. Cow’s milk I find gross, not to mention it being bad for you. I use milk in my Ovaltine but I rarely have it. I use vanilla soy milk in my cereal. So when I got home I poured myself a glass of goat’s milk. I enjoyed it. Tastes slightly different than cow’s milk but didn’t leave that slimy texture in your mouth afterwards like cow’s milk does. If it was cheaper I’d get it more often.
Now I have a question, how would the oatmeal or the Ovaltine be with goat’s milk?
Welcome to my new blog
If you’ve been reading my old blog then you’ve noticed that I haven’t been leaving many personal updates other than my favorite TV shows of the week and the occasional SNL Digital Short. I’ve just been plain busy.
Let’s see, what have I been up to? I went out with the girl I met at Bryan and Keilynn’s wedding a couple of times. That was a lot of fun. Over the weekend I met up with Joe and Ayla for dinner in Philly and while I was there I met up with my friend Leslie from MICA. She showed me her place, which is pretty scary, I’ll have to visit again when my other MICA friends are in town. Other than that you can pretty much see me at Jo Jo’s Tavern every Monday night at 8. Although tonight I’m going to Arthur’s Tavern. I haven’t been there in a while, delicious steaks. I’ve also been maintaining the NASCAR iCalendars. I maintain both the Sprint Cup and the Nationwide Series calendars. You can see them in the section.File Sharing
What else is new? Well, the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series. Barrack Obama was elected the next president. The Ravens are now 6 and 3 and Ryan Newman is still struggling.
That’s all for now. I hope to update my new blog on a more regular basis now that things work a bit more. Enjoy!