Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
So those old sayings are true?
I was at a friend’s house last night to watch what ended up being a great episode of entourage. As I walked into the house, I noticed for the first time this epic sign that she had hanging in the dining room, something along the lines of – “If at first you don’t succeed, do it the way your mom told you.” I had to laugh very hard at this, I find it extremely funny because it statistically is probably a good bet that your parents’ way of handling things will probably be good for you. Of course not all the time, but better then fifty-fifty I believe.
I have always been a big proponent of inspirational sayings. For instance, my friends were making fun of me because one of my buddies the other day quoted Vince Lombardi saying “Practice does not make perfect—Perfect practice makes perfect.” I had forgotten the last time I heard this, but immediately I knew this is what I would use, or a similar version, when I start coaching volleyball again. Sincerely, though, little sayings and motivational quotes are everywhere in my life. I used to always get girlfriends those little cards that go in your wallet that have sweet sayings on it. My own home is littered with different sayings, and I probably haven’t seen or a better would, noticed, all of them in my own home. This sign in my friends’ house last night got me thinking about certain sayings and how they are true, how they are not true, or how some need to be improved.
Here is one that always grinded my gears until a few days ago, “There is a silver lining in every cloud.” My mom would say that all the time growing up, but I never fully understood it until the other day. One of my friends said some obscene things to me during the week, most notably the first night. I actually got so upset that I visualized close-lining (a wrestling term) him off of the balcony. Luckily, I had not had any booze in me, and all I did was breathe and try to stay calm. Had it been anyone else other than this “friend”, I definitely would have accosted him because I was feeling so disrespected at what he said. The next day when I woke up, I realized, thank the big guy upstairs that the first time I heard these over the top hurtful remarks I was not drunk, or angry, and thank god they came from one of my buddies and not some random Phillie fan at a bar, I would have crushed someone else. So after my long drawn out story, my point is this, some of the old sayings need to be touched up. For instance, I think it should go something like this “There is a silver lining in every cloud--YOU JUST HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT.” I think this more accurately describes what the person who created that quote was trying to outline.
There are plenty of others, I’m just feeling a little drained right now from my week. Vacations are fun, if you are on them with the right people. You have to know what to expect from people and be realistic about it. Anyways, I’ve got hundreds of these quotes I think need to be tweaked a little bit. Do you have any?
I have always been a big proponent of inspirational sayings. For instance, my friends were making fun of me because one of my buddies the other day quoted Vince Lombardi saying “Practice does not make perfect—Perfect practice makes perfect.” I had forgotten the last time I heard this, but immediately I knew this is what I would use, or a similar version, when I start coaching volleyball again. Sincerely, though, little sayings and motivational quotes are everywhere in my life. I used to always get girlfriends those little cards that go in your wallet that have sweet sayings on it. My own home is littered with different sayings, and I probably haven’t seen or a better would, noticed, all of them in my own home. This sign in my friends’ house last night got me thinking about certain sayings and how they are true, how they are not true, or how some need to be improved.
Here is one that always grinded my gears until a few days ago, “There is a silver lining in every cloud.” My mom would say that all the time growing up, but I never fully understood it until the other day. One of my friends said some obscene things to me during the week, most notably the first night. I actually got so upset that I visualized close-lining (a wrestling term) him off of the balcony. Luckily, I had not had any booze in me, and all I did was breathe and try to stay calm. Had it been anyone else other than this “friend”, I definitely would have accosted him because I was feeling so disrespected at what he said. The next day when I woke up, I realized, thank the big guy upstairs that the first time I heard these over the top hurtful remarks I was not drunk, or angry, and thank god they came from one of my buddies and not some random Phillie fan at a bar, I would have crushed someone else. So after my long drawn out story, my point is this, some of the old sayings need to be touched up. For instance, I think it should go something like this “There is a silver lining in every cloud--YOU JUST HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT.” I think this more accurately describes what the person who created that quote was trying to outline.
There are plenty of others, I’m just feeling a little drained right now from my week. Vacations are fun, if you are on them with the right people. You have to know what to expect from people and be realistic about it. Anyways, I’ve got hundreds of these quotes I think need to be tweaked a little bit. Do you have any?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Let It Rain Let it Rain Let it Rain.... LET IT RAIN
The last time we spoke, I was about ready to head to a bar after the Giant Game. We went to this real cool bar Rusty Rudder. I had a blast with some of my buddy Frank’s friends—they are all true gentleman. One of his boys, D-Roc, has the bar scene broken down to a science as I do a poker game, or a math equation. Pretty impressive skill set, it was extremely fun being on the prowl with him that night. The only problem I have with the bars is that they close at 1am here and I’m still on NY time and need them to close 2 hours later, or I have to go out two hours earlier—so I’m finally adjusting and going out earlier today.
Yesterday I woke up a mess. My buddy woke me up 15 minutes before we had to go golfing. I’m not a good wakeup person. I can get out of bed at any time, but I need the same 45 minutes to an hour to gather my thoughts and my self for the day. For the first time ever I actually enjoyed golfing—or at least had the patience to get through it. Perhaps because this was the first time I was not really trying to do well, I was just trying to have fun. We had eight guys, two foursomes, and played “best ball”, which is a great way to play the game when you’re playing with people on all different skill levels.
After some lunch at a bar, and a long nap, I was ready again for an evening session. We went to this bar north beach which was very good—except for one thing. My only complaint was that the live band was not as good as the two previous nights before. The night ended with a little tomfoolery and my buddy cooking up some late night dogs and a nice long conversation about the glory days of Tech Volleyball and what it takes to be a champion with my buddy John.
Raining here today, so I expect to do some work later. I’m getting tempted to let some of my poetry out. It’s trouble when that goes down!
Yesterday I woke up a mess. My buddy woke me up 15 minutes before we had to go golfing. I’m not a good wakeup person. I can get out of bed at any time, but I need the same 45 minutes to an hour to gather my thoughts and my self for the day. For the first time ever I actually enjoyed golfing—or at least had the patience to get through it. Perhaps because this was the first time I was not really trying to do well, I was just trying to have fun. We had eight guys, two foursomes, and played “best ball”, which is a great way to play the game when you’re playing with people on all different skill levels.
After some lunch at a bar, and a long nap, I was ready again for an evening session. We went to this bar north beach which was very good—except for one thing. My only complaint was that the live band was not as good as the two previous nights before. The night ended with a little tomfoolery and my buddy cooking up some late night dogs and a nice long conversation about the glory days of Tech Volleyball and what it takes to be a champion with my buddy John.
Raining here today, so I expect to do some work later. I’m getting tempted to let some of my poetry out. It’s trouble when that goes down!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Dewey Patrol
So apparently you really are supposed to leave your watch at home when you go on vacation! I am having a blast here at Dewey beach right now, we have a sick house. The iPod’s been bumping (Pump It up @ Johnny), and the grill (charcoal), has been on both nights thus far. We were at a great bar last night, caught this cover band that was playing the widest array of music—and pulled it off well. Been playing some Madden, not thrilled with the game this year, although I think Collinsworth is mad smart in the game so we know right there the game is flawed! I mean he is putrid on the microphone usually. Then again, as a met fan, I have high standards with the way Gary, Keith and Ron call the Met games each night. Two former players, and an artist on the play by play is Gary Cohen makes for the best three man booth in all of baseball.
So The Giant game is on Tonight. Not for nothing, I have high hopes for this year; I could definitely see a playoff season. As we learned a few years back, once you get into the dance, impossible is not in some people’s vocabulary. Well I’m off to the beach; I have been reading a pretty cool book about evolution. I think all of the theorists are wrong, but that’s just me. Hope your Monday was not terrible! I’m out, time for cigars, a crab burger, seeing my New York football Giants and you know—Doing me!
So The Giant game is on Tonight. Not for nothing, I have high hopes for this year; I could definitely see a playoff season. As we learned a few years back, once you get into the dance, impossible is not in some people’s vocabulary. Well I’m off to the beach; I have been reading a pretty cool book about evolution. I think all of the theorists are wrong, but that’s just me. Hope your Monday was not terrible! I’m out, time for cigars, a crab burger, seeing my New York football Giants and you know—Doing me!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Houie, Louie and..... DEWEY
Delay in the blog this morning. You’ll notice, Monday- Thursday they get started early. However, Thursday night is bar night for me, and I tend to be a touch slow Friday mornings. I had lots of serious ideas about what to write about today, whether it be an idea for this invention I’ve been thinking about, or about my bizarre day yesterday but I figured I’d go with the fact I’m heading to Dewey Beach on Saturday. I rarely go on vacations, and want to start traveling a lot more (like to Europe and around the US). Now understand, my idea of a good work week is this-- I figure if you can be well behaved for the first part of the week and Thursday night signify the start the weekend, but in a subdued way—no getting vehemently drunk. Speaking of vehemently drunk, I am leaving for Dewey Beach Delaware tomorrow, should be a great time, as it was last year when we went down for a stay.
Last year my friends and I went down to the same place, only the results of the trip weren’t as great as they could have been. My first day down I may or may not have (that definitely means I did it) thrown up on someone else’s carpet of their bedroom. You have to understand the situation, however. I left on a Saturday morning and was in the car 6 hours by the time I got their, loads of traffic. When I arrived, all my friends were already at the bar. So instead of being smart and eating something, maybe showering and hitting the bar, I decided it would be a good idea to go straight to bar and start having vodka orange crushes races. I paid for it that night. I woke up in the morning on the bathroom floor, and when I want upstairs my buddy was sleeping perpendicular to the back screen door legs way up in the air.
This year it’s going to be different. Although I am a little disappointed it is a dreary forecast for Monday and Tuesday, there’s a reason I purchased Madden 11’ the other day. Also, reading a few books right now and of course there is the blog to try and upkeep. I’m giving myself one day to while out, and that will be on Sunday. It’s hard to “sip” every time you go out, but I’m learning. Heck, last night 3 beers lasted me about 3 hours! .
Anyways, everyone have a good day and weekend. Oh and I just want to let my buddy Dave know, if he does not let me have a parking spot, I will punch a hole through a wall, because that’s something normal people do. Oh wait!
Last year my friends and I went down to the same place, only the results of the trip weren’t as great as they could have been. My first day down I may or may not have (that definitely means I did it) thrown up on someone else’s carpet of their bedroom. You have to understand the situation, however. I left on a Saturday morning and was in the car 6 hours by the time I got their, loads of traffic. When I arrived, all my friends were already at the bar. So instead of being smart and eating something, maybe showering and hitting the bar, I decided it would be a good idea to go straight to bar and start having vodka orange crushes races. I paid for it that night. I woke up in the morning on the bathroom floor, and when I want upstairs my buddy was sleeping perpendicular to the back screen door legs way up in the air.
This year it’s going to be different. Although I am a little disappointed it is a dreary forecast for Monday and Tuesday, there’s a reason I purchased Madden 11’ the other day. Also, reading a few books right now and of course there is the blog to try and upkeep. I’m giving myself one day to while out, and that will be on Sunday. It’s hard to “sip” every time you go out, but I’m learning. Heck, last night 3 beers lasted me about 3 hours! .
Anyways, everyone have a good day and weekend. Oh and I just want to let my buddy Dave know, if he does not let me have a parking spot, I will punch a hole through a wall, because that’s something normal people do. Oh wait!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Is Shtat an Island?
I consider my self to be, what some would call, “a smart kid.” I love to read and learn and ask questions. However, sometimes I can’t see the most obvious things right under my nose. Last night was one of those occasions for me where I said to myself, “You are definitely an idiot.” For the first time in twenty five years of living on this earth, and Staten Island, I finally asked my mother the following question at dinner. What does Staten Island stand for? She said she did not know and that all she knew was the joke about it (which I also had not heard) – Two men with deep accents were on a boat, they pointed at Staten Island and said “Is shtat an island?”
Ironically enough, in the paper, was a link to the following website: http://www.si350.org/1661-why . I encourage every Staten Islander, current or former, to go out to the website and read a little bit about the history of Staten Island. There is something for everyone on the entire site. I offered an article that I found particularly interesting to me to link above. The reason I found it so interesting is it spoke about Walloons, who were French-Dutch settlers here. One of my good buddies, and volleyball teammates in High School, lived on Walloon St. in Mariners Harbor. Sometimes it’s fun to take a step back and think, “Man, imagine what it was like when they were designing all this.”
Now Staten Island today gets a lot of negative publicity, and I understand why. Many people in Staten Island have a narrow, shallow view of the world. Many people on Staten Island are also spoiled, for instance we drive more than any other borough. However, despite all this, Staten Island does have things that every good old fashioned town should have. We have good- well defined neighborhoods. You have to look no further than my street for an example of this. On Saturday, two blocks down from wear there has been brutal violence, we had a block party. Families of all different backgrounds, races, colors, religions came together and enjoyed each others company. I had a barbecue and saw some old friends I had not seen in over ten years! Staten Island also has the ferry, what I believe, is the best way to commute. It’s nice to just look at the city having just left it after a long days work, leaving the fast pace behind and returning to a much more subdued island.
All in all, I think where you live has a lot to do with what you make of it. I think we as Staten Islanders need to go back to our roots, and that’s why I encourage people to take a gander at that URL above and learn about Staten Island whether you live here or not. It might change your opinion, as most what we know about Staten Island comes from what we say from the Jersey Shore cast.
P.S. - I could not write a sports blog again. Let me just make it specifically clear. The Mets should win an Emmy for best Drama on TV. It’s like not even a sport any more, strictly a soap opera.
Ironically enough, in the paper, was a link to the following website: http://www.si350.org/1661-why . I encourage every Staten Islander, current or former, to go out to the website and read a little bit about the history of Staten Island. There is something for everyone on the entire site. I offered an article that I found particularly interesting to me to link above. The reason I found it so interesting is it spoke about Walloons, who were French-Dutch settlers here. One of my good buddies, and volleyball teammates in High School, lived on Walloon St. in Mariners Harbor. Sometimes it’s fun to take a step back and think, “Man, imagine what it was like when they were designing all this.”
Now Staten Island today gets a lot of negative publicity, and I understand why. Many people in Staten Island have a narrow, shallow view of the world. Many people on Staten Island are also spoiled, for instance we drive more than any other borough. However, despite all this, Staten Island does have things that every good old fashioned town should have. We have good- well defined neighborhoods. You have to look no further than my street for an example of this. On Saturday, two blocks down from wear there has been brutal violence, we had a block party. Families of all different backgrounds, races, colors, religions came together and enjoyed each others company. I had a barbecue and saw some old friends I had not seen in over ten years! Staten Island also has the ferry, what I believe, is the best way to commute. It’s nice to just look at the city having just left it after a long days work, leaving the fast pace behind and returning to a much more subdued island.
All in all, I think where you live has a lot to do with what you make of it. I think we as Staten Islanders need to go back to our roots, and that’s why I encourage people to take a gander at that URL above and learn about Staten Island whether you live here or not. It might change your opinion, as most what we know about Staten Island comes from what we say from the Jersey Shore cast.
P.S. - I could not write a sports blog again. Let me just make it specifically clear. The Mets should win an Emmy for best Drama on TV. It’s like not even a sport any more, strictly a soap opera.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
BaseBol Summer
If you were to tell me the Mets were going to entertain me until August training camps, I would have signed for that in April. Now last night, however, Talk about bizzaro land. Any baseball fan who knows the baseball works in New York City knows this: The Yankees are the best, and the Mets are their bumbling younger brother who can never do anything right. Going in to last nights game if you were to tell me that one of the two new York teams were going to win, and their closer was going to have a flawless ninth inning, I would have put money up that this team would have bene the Yankees. For once, it was not.
In a wild game, the New York Mets had one of their best wins of the year. Facing Ubaldo Jimenez, (In case you don’t know, he has a record of 17 and 3 and is one of the best pitchers in the game, if not the best), the Mets young stud Mike Pelfrey was up to the task. In his best performance over the last month, Pelfrey took the ball confidently and threw quickly. He had pace to his game, and a vision on the mound. The Mets scratched out a run against the aforementioned Jimenez in the 7th, before getting big outs from their bullpen and securing a win to pull them back to five hundred on the season at 56 and 56.
In Texas, Aj Burnett took to the hill looking to erase from his mind a start to the second half of the year that has been as bad as anyone’s in baseball. Burnett even had his start against the Red Sox skipped on Sunday by manager Joe Girardi. It’s time for Yankee fans to give him his credit. Like a true winner, when tested, Burnett answered the call and through seven innings of solid baseball. He gave up three runs, pitched well enough to win, but settle for a no decision.
The bottom line is this, maybe I’ll have to root for the Yankees more often. For those of you who don’t know, I jokingly said I’d root for the Yankees last night since I added Burnett to one of my fantasy teams. If each game was anything like last night, I’d take it every time!
In a wild game, the New York Mets had one of their best wins of the year. Facing Ubaldo Jimenez, (In case you don’t know, he has a record of 17 and 3 and is one of the best pitchers in the game, if not the best), the Mets young stud Mike Pelfrey was up to the task. In his best performance over the last month, Pelfrey took the ball confidently and threw quickly. He had pace to his game, and a vision on the mound. The Mets scratched out a run against the aforementioned Jimenez in the 7th, before getting big outs from their bullpen and securing a win to pull them back to five hundred on the season at 56 and 56.
In Texas, Aj Burnett took to the hill looking to erase from his mind a start to the second half of the year that has been as bad as anyone’s in baseball. Burnett even had his start against the Red Sox skipped on Sunday by manager Joe Girardi. It’s time for Yankee fans to give him his credit. Like a true winner, when tested, Burnett answered the call and through seven innings of solid baseball. He gave up three runs, pitched well enough to win, but settle for a no decision.
The bottom line is this, maybe I’ll have to root for the Yankees more often. For those of you who don’t know, I jokingly said I’d root for the Yankees last night since I added Burnett to one of my fantasy teams. If each game was anything like last night, I’d take it every time!
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