What am I going to do in 2011...

I've never been big on the idea of resolutions. I understand people who make them and do their best to keep them and even those who make them and never, ever come close to keeping them. It's really tough if you think about. Here you have a goal that you need to keep in mind every day for 365 (366 in 2012) days. Sure, not all require undivided attention for that full year but what about when the year is over? And why must we try to better ourselves only at the beginning of the year?

 

The most common resolution has to be losing weight. This one I understand but when you think about it, how sad is it that so many people have the feeling they need to lose weight? I think that may say a lot about our country but that's another blog for another time. Quitting something seems to be big especially when it comes to smoking. There's another one people shouldn't wait till a new year to try. How bout you just quit when you think of it. Again, I am not against resolutions. Some people need them and that's fine but I feel like you add a lot of pressure to succeed and if unforeseen things come up and change that, you shouldn't feel bad.

 

So instead of a resolution, I come up with lists of things I'd like to try and do in the new year. Notice how I said try? I know half the things on my list won't happen but I put I out there. A lot of the time items from the year before that I didn't do will make it on the next years list. If I don't happen to get these done, so what? So below is a selection of a few of the items I put on my "2011 To Do List". Again, don't hold me to all of them because chances are I won't get to do half of them.

 

TRAVEL

 

Those who know me know I love to travel and since last year included trips to London, DC, Key West and more, it's going to be tough to top. As of now the only trip somewhat confirmed is another trip to Key West in April with the same boys as last years but with our female companions as well. If Key West is the only place I travel this year, I will actually count it as a success. That's how much fun you have in Key West. With that said though, there are a few places I'd like to try and visit. Chicago and San Francisco are two big ones that I'd like to make it to for a long weekend. Chicago is somewhere Meg and I have both never been but desperately want to go to. I want some traditional deep dish, Chicago style pizza. San Fran is somewhere I have never been but am dying to visit and if I get a chance I want to try and get to Canton, OH to visit the Football Hall of Fame. Also, I've been to Philly a few times but there are some things I haven't seen so a weekend trip there would be fun and there is a possibility of seeing the Colts play in New Orleans.

 

FOOD

 

I love cooking and I really love baking as many of you know. I am hoping to cook more this year and try to make tougher recipes. Of course cupcakes are our big thing so we are going to try and make a new cupcake every month. We got some great design books from our friends Mike and Heather at burgersutra.blogspot.com that have some awesome decorating ideas. Look for a cupcake blog to spring up soon!! I am also going to try and do one eating contest, a la Man vs. Food at some point. I keep talking about it and never do it. This is the year.

 

HEALTH

 

Like everyone else I am also hoping to lose weight this year and I plan on doing it by not only eating healthy (minus the eating contest) but by running more. I want to try and run at least 3 5k's this year as well as do one triathlon. My friends Mike and Dee and I are planning on one in the late summer which means I have to start swimming come spring as well as get a bike. I also want to try and play more sports, maybe even in a league of some sort. Softball or soccer maybe. I'm going to try and join a golf league as well to improve my game from horrible to just bad.

 

MIND

 

Well I want to finish my MBA this year and it looks like I should barring any unforeseen roadblock. I could use this as my resolution since I know it will get done, therefore giving me a successful resolution. On top of that I want to try and read about 5-7 books not related to class. Recently I went on a binge and got a books on scotch and cigars in hopes of learning more about two of my favorite things, the George Bush book  because I loved the Bill Clinton memoirs and want to learn as much as I can about past presidents and "Dirty, Sexy Politics" by Meghan McCain. I want to try and read more historical books and maybe more biographies as well as just learn as much as I can about random stuff.

 

RANDOM

 

Some random things I want to try and do this year:

 

Go to a Red Sox game

Go to a football game (pro/college)

Visit the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum (I read a book about the heist that took place here so now I want to see it.

Donate blood

Volunteer

 

Now again, I may not do all these this but a list is a good start. If I keep writing and you keep reading then you'll get to see which ones I actually do. What are some of your things to do this year?

2010

On New Years I was discussing with Meg (my girlfriend) and our friend Heather about how much people seem to always hate the year they had. Facebook was littered with updates such as "Good Riddance 2010" and "I am so done with 2010. Next year better be good" and "Fuck 2010. Bring in the new year". You get the idea. My point was that I don't think people really think about the year they had. They simply just talk about the next year being better in hopes that some life changing even will occur and mark that year into their memory forever. When I started to think about 2010, I realized that I had a lot of really great things happen and I must say that if I were to rank my favorite years, 2010 would probably be near the top.

In January I started up grad school going for my MBA. This was a big step since it had been 3 years since I was in school and still really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life (still not quite sure). While it was tough to get started back into it, once it got going, it got a little easier.

A low point of the year came in February when my beloved Colts dropped the ball against New Orleans in the Super Bowl. I know the majority of you reading this are Pats fans and were happy when this happened but imagine how you felt in 2007 when the Giants knocked off the Pats. That's exactly how I felt.

March brought me a "spring break" and for the first time ever I actually went somewhere for it! Meg and I went to London and had pretty much the best time ever. We stayed with her good friend Mollie who lives, works and studies in London. She took great care of us and showed us around to a lot of cool places that you wont find in a travel guide. We also saw the big tourist attractions such as Kensington Palace, Big Ben and the cathedral. One of the highlights for me was going to the Globe Theatre. I'm a big Shakespeare fan so seeing that as well as some of his writings at the London Museum gave me chills. While I wasn't a huge fan of the beer (warm!), by the last two nights I had been turned on to London Pride by Megs friend Drew, also working in England. I still enjoy a London Pride when I can get one here at a bar.

Right before I left for London, I quit my old job. For those who don't know I was a manager for Givovanni's at their Manchester and Nashua stores for a long time and with the MBA in the works I figured it was a good time to get out. The only logical next step in that business was to start my own restaurant and I didn't want to do that so I went the temp route and got a job in Woburn in an accounts payable department. Nice people, easy work and got me some experience.

April also brought another trip as Meg and I went to DC with our friends Mike and Heather for a nice long weekend. Their friends Matt and Erin lived there and Matt, a chef, took us out to a lot of great places to eat. We did the general tourist attractions as well, seeing the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial as well as the war memorials. A highlight of the weekend was food related (big surprise) when Meg and I , both feeling pretty buzzed if not drunk, went to a place called Jumbo Slice that I had seen on TV. They served 16 inch slices of pizza and I need to try it. So instead of being a normal person and ordering one slice, I took two. I mean I had a craving for roni and sausage. Anyway, I only ate one but damn was it good.

May is always a good month because its my birth month. How can you go wrong? More traveling happened as I went to Key West with my buddies Jeremy, Joe and Derek. Needless to say it was a shitshow most of the time. I got hammered till 6 am, got on a boat the next day and also vomited in its bathroom. I think what really encapsulates the trip was leaving a voicemail for Derek at 5:30 am telling him I was out on the street looking for a party. I was gone but damn, it was a good trip.

June brought the beginning of summer and wedding season. 2010 only had two weddings for us compared to the year before where it seemed like a dozen. Diana's wedding was a blast in June and was by far one of the best weddings I've been to (not just saying that because she is reading this). Any wedding gets a big up from me when you have an after party after the reception.

Summer was summer. In July I did my first 5K as I talked about in an earlier blog. I started enjoying more cigars which while the lady may not care for, nothing beats sitting out on the deck with a good cigar, a good book and a good beer.

August was pretty boring really. A wedding in western Mass for one of Megs friends. I must say though, my dance moves at that one was some of my best not too mention open bar with Shock Top on tap.

September meant the beginning of football season which is pretty much the greatest sport there is. As with millions of others I participate in fantasy football and yes, it's a bad addiction but its fun and sometimes, very lucrative.

October was a little boring. I started on a permanent basis at my temp job. It's not the greatest job but for now it works Halloween was a good time as I went as "GTL" from Jersey Shore. For those who don't know, GTL stands for Gym, Tan, Laundry, the three vital things to do each day according to the guidos on Jersey Shore. My favorite costume was my friend Brian going as Ray Finkle, porno mustache and all.

November was great. Mid month Meg and I with our friends Mike and Heather went to Indianapolis to see the Colts play the Bengals. The weekend was awesome. Indy was a great city to walk around in and everyone was incredibly nice. We found a great cupcake shop as well as some great bars. The game was great too. We had a nice brunch before where we got huge beers and bloody marys. The stadium was huge and clean. It was a great trip and one I hope to make once a year. Obviously a big plus to November is Thanksgiving. I went to NY with Meg and her family and had a great time even though I was hungover the morning of on the drive there. Like many others I attended the LHS 10 year reunion where I unexpectedly had a great time. The next night my sisters and I had a surprise 40 year anniversary party for my parents. It was a busy four days.

And then there was December. This was an okay month. I think everyone enjoys the holidays but the time flies by so quick with everyone being so busy that before you know it the year is over.

So there it is. Tony's 2010 in a nutshell. 2011? I'll let you know in the next blog what the year holds. And yes, I know, I don't blog as much but I promise to make 2011 a good blog year so make sure you check back. It'll be funny, insightful and probably a little annoying but I promise, it will be entertaining.

308

308. That is what the scale was saying. It was February 28th, 2008. I had never been exactly a toothpick but I do remember a time when I was a bit more in shape. It was the early years of high school. After playing sports throughout my young years, high school came, I got “cool” and started wanting to be a skateboarding/rock playing/film maker which apparently meant no real exercise or activity. I began losing my girlish figure around then but was far from the final dip. Somewhere along the line while living in Boston, New Hampshire, Malden and then back to New Hampshire, I had lost my metabolism and filled that void with junk food and booze. They really did go well together.

My job definitely contributed to the increase in my waist size. I would leave there at night with free food meaning whole small pizzas, calzones, pasta dishes. I’d then wash most of that down with soda or beer or soda mixed with booze! Unfortunately, I did no real activity. During that time I did the whole “diet” thing. Trying dieting while working 12 hour shifts at a pizza place. Plenty of salads each day followed by...calzone? I had no self control in many aspects of my life and thus the weight was adding up.

2008 I had three of my closest friends getting married and I was in all of their weddings. For those who know me well, I thoroughly enjoy weddings and I thoroughly enjoy dressing up. Here were a few opportunities to wear a tux, which while others may be annoyed by that fact, I was excited. Unfortunately, the tux can only make you look so good when you weigh over 300 pounds.

So that February I decided to finally do it. To really, really diet. I started that February day and two weeks later was down 20 pounds. So far so good. Over the next few weeks I kept on it. I cut out junk food, cut down on beer. I would run and bike. By the first wedding in May I was down 44 pounds. July was another 10. With it being summer I cheated here and there. Obviously at weddings I ate and drank but didn’t get crazy.

Fall came and I let off a little, gaining a little bit back but when 2009 came upon us I started back up and started running. I made a goal to run a 5k by the end of the year. That time came and went and I did not quite make it. So I made it a goal again this year. I would run at least one if not more. When spring time came, I started running more to try and gain some endurance. In my head I equated the goal of losing weight with running a 5K. I think I felt that by finishing one it was almost like a final goodbye to that old lazy Tony. I was putting all that baggage I had behind me once and for all. I no longer felt the need to make the fat jokes before other people did or pretend to think people meant I was funny when they said I reminded them of Kevin James (who I am definitely more funny than).

I tried not being too nervous before the run. I had been running this distance for a while now so I just had to deal with new terrain. I was running with my girlfriend and friends and while I knew it was going to be a fun run, I knew that over the 25-30 minutes I figured it would take me, I would finally be achieving something I never really thought I would. It may sound silly or cheesy cause its not like its a marathon I ran but when I think back to the 208 lbs version of me who drank, smoked and whose only physical activity was walking from my car, a 5k really means something. I see it as a stepping stone. I feel like if I keep doing 5k’s that I wont let myself slip back to what I was. Perhaps a 5k will turn into a 10k or a half marathon or even a sprint triathlon.

Over this time period my father who had also had issues with his weight had lap band surgery. He had tried everything he could over the years but his knees hurt cause of the weight which meant he couldn’t exercise and it just kept getting worse. He had the surgery around the end of 2008 and has lost around 100 lbs. It was great to have someone going through exactly what I was. We’d tell each other about when we had to buy new clothes cause all our stuff was too big. I’d see him doing more work and walking when he golfed. I began to see the change in his face and attitude. He had this rejuvenated spirit like he was 20 years younger and I suppose he probably saw that in me. Here I was wanting to play sports and be active again. Getting excited to get dressed up in a suit. Laughing at the simple things like tightening my watch on my much thinner wrist. It was really a blessing to have had and still have someone to go through it with.

This blog may have gone in a different direction than you may have thought but it was a story I figured I’d share. I know people would see my facebook updates about running and people would comment on newer pictures of me and to those who have complimented me, I really do thank you. I don’t want you to think I wrote this blog in order to get pats on the back and praise. As much as I do appreciate it when someone says I’m looking better, the only real opinion that matters is mine and for the last two years I’ve been able to boost that opinion of myself more than I thought. Thankfully I have had friends and family to push me and with the future holding more goals I hope to reach, I’ll still need their support.

I guess if this blog is really about anything in particular it’s about how if you really do want something, you really can get it. It’s cheesy, it’s corny, it’s simple and it’s true. The minute I crossed that finish line at 23:43, I couldn’t really believe I had done it. The last two years rushed through my mind. I wasn’t sure if I had pushed too hard and was about to have a heart attack (what a fitting and ironic ending that would have been to this story), so I sat down. I took a few minutes. I sat there and caught my breath. I thought back to that day in February 2008. I didn’t smoke anymore. I was 83 lbs lighter. I had just finished my first race. I let it soak in and after seeing everyone else finish, I started to think again. Not about the race. Not about the past. Instead I through about the next 5k. And the one after that. And the one after that.

May 2007

June 2010

July 2010

Man vs. Food

Some of you may know that I am quite a big fan of the show “Man vs. Food”. The host Adam Richman can be kind of goofy and some of the small videos in between segments are a bit silly but when it comes down to, the food looks delicious and for the most part, the challenges look fun.

So here is my list of 15 of my favorite foods, restaurants and challenges that MvF has done over the past few years. I hope to one day try all of them but thats a lot of traveling and a lot of food. Alas, here is my list starting with my favorite type: Pizza

PIZZA

ATLANTA

Pie in the Sky

The biggest pizza I have every seen. This thing weighs 11 pounds and is 30 inches. It is covered with roni, beef, sausage and more and you need a partner to finish it. Over 400 people have tried to finish it and only six have done it. Who’s with me?

HARTFORD

Randy's Wooster Street Pizza Shop

This pizza is 4 pizza doughs that is filled with meats, cheeses and veggies and weighs over 10 pounds. Its like a giant calzone.

BOULDER

Beau Jo's

This pizza is a like a giant bread bowl of goodness. It's pretty much just a pizza crust bowl filled with sauce, cheese, veggies, meats. Everything.

BURGERS

ATLANTA

The Vortex Bar & Grill

This place had a huge variety of odd burgers to try including a favorite of mine: A cheeseburger held together by 2 grilled cheese sandwiches.

MINNEAPOLIS

5-8 Club and Matt's Club

This is a classic in Minneapolis so much that two places are known for it. The 5-8 Club and Matt's Club both serve different versions of this burger. Essentially its a burger but instead of the cheese on top, the cheese is inside the burger. Its a nice little twist and it looks delicious.

TUSCON

Lindy's on 4th

Theres nothing that really seperates this burger from others except the fact that it is 12 patties stacked on top of each other and held together by a skewer. It's called the OMG burger and I would love to ETSOOI (Eat The Shit Out Of It).

SANDWICHES

CLEVELAND

Melt Bar & Grilled

This place specializes in various gourmet grilled cheeses. They have all kinds including Tuna Melt, Peanut Butter and Banana and this monster of a challenge. It has 14 different types of cheeses including such cheeses as feta, blue cheese, gouda and others. It weighs in at 5 pounds and also comes with fries and cole slaw. Tell me that doesn't look awesome.

PHILADELPHIA

Tony Luke's

Tony Luke's has become the preeminent steak and cheese place in Philly after taking over for Pats and Gino's (neither of which I care for). They are popular enough to have a place inside Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies play. Here you can take the Tony Luke's challenge that is 2 and half pounds of beef, a pound of cheese, fried onions on a 20 inch roll. Yikes.

NEW YORK CITY

Kat'z Deli

This place is a classic in NYC having been around since 1888. They serve everything from corned beef, knishes, hot dogs, roast beef and my favorite, pastrami. Having gone there last year, I would love to go once a year. I ordered the pastrami, below, and it was the best I've ever had. It melts in your mouth and is stacked quite a few inches high. Completely worth the wait in line.

RANDOMS

PHOENIX

Alice Cooperstown

Alice Cooper opened this place in Phoenix and is actually parters with the Big Unit, Randy Johnson. Together, the created a hot dog affectionately called, The Big Unit. This is a one pound, 22 inch hot dog on a french baguette, yes a baguette. You can have it topped with chili, cheese, beer sauerkraut and more.

LAS VEGAS

NASCAR Cafe

This was on one of the first episodes I ever saw of MvF. I fell in love right away. This is called the Big Badass Burrito. It is loaded with everything from beef, beans and rice to guac, cheese and salsa. It weighs in at 6 pounds and if you finish it in an hour, you get to ride the NASCAR roller coaster for free, for life. I would suggest not going on it as soon as you finish eating.

ST. LOUIS

Pappy's Smokehouse

St. Louis is known for its BBQ and this place looks like it doesn't disappoint. The thing I liked the most is that their challenge resembles one that I wish to do in Portsmouth at Muddy River. Pappy's challenge includes 6 pounds of meat including pulled pork, beef, chicken, ribs and four sides. Check back later this summer to see details on my challenge in Portsmouth.

BREAKFAST

NEW JERSEY

Broken Yolk Cafe

Not a lot of good things come from Jersey but I would be wiling to travel there to try and eat this breakfast challenge. This is a 12 egg omelet filled with chili. That is my selling point. I loooove chili so if some eggs are holding the chili goodness, so be it. Oh yeah and on top of that you need to eat a mound of home fries and two biscuits. Those biscuits will really kill ya.

DESSERT

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco Creamery

What's all this food without some delicious dessert? And whats a better dessert than ice cream. Here we have the Kitchen Sink. Imagine eating a 2 gallon sundae that included 8 softball sized scoops of ice cream, all your choice, 8 servings of whipped cream and 8 different toppings like sprinkles and cherries. If you eat this entire thing, you get free ice cream for a year.

Some good headlines...

I figured I’d take this time to try and get this blog going. A lot going on and as usual, I have my own opinions on a few things.

Lets start with my buddy Mel Gibson. Wow. Amazing right? You just don’t expect this shit to come out of peoples mouths. There are so many things to say I just don’t know where to start. Well why not start at the racial remarks. Here’s the thing. If this guy hadn’t used two racial slurs during his ranting and raving, would people be as upset? Would she have even released the tapes at all? That brings up the question of why she recorded the conversations. I suppose some will say its to have proof of his rage and anger but that really wont do much but embarrass him like it has. I am in no way defending this douche, but lets remember that this is Hollywood and gold diggers are out there. And again, I am not defending the guy in anyway, I am simply saying this is f’ed on so many levels.

Another quick point I think should be pointed out was just yesterday Switzerland said it would not extradite Roman Polanski to the US and that he would be released as a free man. Now lets review. Mel Gibson is a racist. Plain and simple. Roman Polanski is a rapist. Plain and simple. Mel Gibson will most likely never make a film again because he decided to open up his trap and show his true colors. Hollywood fawns over and fights to work with Roman Polanski, a man who raped a 13 year old girl. Oh wait, he drugged her first too. Lets weigh this out. Racist or rapist. Hmm. Again, not defending Mel Gibson but I wish Hollywood would treat them at least the same and shun both.

While we are on the race issue and while discussing douche bags, one of my favorite douche bags of all, the “Reverend” Jesse Jackson decided to jump into the news this week. Why do you ask? Well because theirs a chance to stir up racial tensions that weren’t there. After the Lebron James debacle, the Cavs owner Dan Gilbert spoke out strongly against the “King” in which he pretty much called him out for quitting, for screwing over Cleveland (a team that picked him and Lebron had no choice to go to 7 years ago) and pretty much calling him a dick head. I thought the letter was a little much since really, the Cavs would be shit still if it weren’t for James. No one was itching to get season tickets before he showed up but thats another rant. My issue is when Jackson comes out and starts saying Gilbert put Lebron in harms way and spoke like a “slave owner”.

Really?

I mean, fucking really?

Pardon my language but I don’t understand how this man still has people listening to him and is still able to get in the news. I don’t think anyone would even think about it being a racial issue until this jackass opens his mouth. He creates drama where there is none. He is never held accountable when he is wrong and lets remember how much of a hypocrite the good “Reverend” is. He preaches family values and then as a child out of wedlock. Thumbs up my friend. I think one of the smartest things Obama did when running for president was separating himself from Jackson and super DB Al Sharpton. Sorry if this blog swayed a bit towards the race issues but hey, it got me writing again.

I promise the next one will be a bit more lighthearted.

Wiffle Ball Spring Training Day 2

So with the day off today, we held our second and final spring training game. I was at home which put the Honey Brewers up first. If you remember from the first game, it was a high scoring affair with me working on new pitches. This time I was settling in.

Top of the 1st I got him to pop up before giving up a single and then retiring him with another pop fly out.

Bottom of the 1st I had my ups. I started with a hit but then struck out. With one out I was patient and held out for two walks to load the bases. With a full count I was hit by a pitch which drove in a run. He had some control issues and proceeded to walk two more in and then hit me again to bring the run total to 4 before striking me out. After 1 inning, 4-0 Blue Moons.

Top of the 2nd I worked quick again. Two batters up, two down. A pop fly with two strikes and then a strike out.

Bottom of the 2nd was a quick one for him as well. He struck me out before I hit a scorching single followed by another strike out to end the inning.  After 2 innings, 4-0 Blue Moons.

Top of the 3rd I felt a little stiffness in my arm that had been there since Monday. After not playing for months I knew I had to work up some more strength. It started out nice with a strikeout to begin the inning. I then gave up two singles, one of which I should have caught and then walked one to load the bases on a full count. He was beginning to be more patient and take more pitches which led to another full count walk and his first run. I fought back knowing a homer would erase me lead and a double would close the gap. I worked two of the new pitches setting up a third straight full count and then tossed some heat high and down the middle for strike 3. I held the lead. 

Bottom of the 3rd went quick again for him as he was starting to settle down in his pitching. He got me on  three straight strikes before I cracked a single on a full count. After working it to another full count, he sat me down swinging. After 3 innings 4-1 Blue Moons.

Thats how it ended. 4-1 Blue Moons. We didn't want to play a full 6 innings with our regular season opener coming on Saturday morning. My pitches felt good and although I got a few hits, I need to start sending some extra base hits out there to compliment my pitching or its gonna be a waste. 

Wiffle Ball Spring Training Day 1

So I had yesterday morning off as I do most Monday mornings. After spending my weekend doing yard work and cleaning up my wiffle ball field, it was time to start playing. As I mentioned in a previous post, my brother-in-law Jon and I take our wiffle ball pretty serious so we had to break into the season with some rough spring training. It wasnt an official game, as the field was not completely ready yet. Now to keep you all on the same page (cause I'm sure you all care to know and remember) his team is the Hudson Honey Brewers and I am the Londonderry Blue Moons.

He won the coin toss to hold the first spring training game at his field but since its not ready yet, we had to play on mine with him as the home team which meant I had first ups. Now I went into this game realizing I had not thrown a ball in game situation since last fall. I knew that I was going to get roughed up big time but that was okay because I was trying to work out my pitches. So I believe I walked twice and then struck out twice to start the game. We have only two outs per half inning as opposed to three.

So I come up to pitch. Now my nastiest pitch is the slider. It comes right at you and then suddenly swings in for a strike. He knows this pitch well but once its fine tuned, its tough to hit. I was also trying out two new pitches including a cutter and sinker. At first I was just tossing some over trying to get loose. I had some early control issues which resulted in a few walks. I also missed a couple of ground ball scorchers that caught me a bit off guard. I also left a few over the plate which led to the first home run of spring training, a line drive 3-run shot. When the season starts though, the fence will be up and that hit would only be considered a double.

The first inning ended and he was up 13-0. These scores are pretty normal. Double digits are very common. I got up to bat and his pitching was way off. I waited around and took a few walks, getting me 3 runs. In the bottom of the second after getting a feel for my pitches, he left 2 stranded and I got out of the inning giving up one hit, a walk and no runs. Top of the 3rd and I was patient again. Got some wood going and scored 4 to bring it to 13-7. In the bottom of the 3rd I was still working on the cutter and that got me in trouble, giving up another 3 runs. 

We wrapped it up then. 3 innings was a good start and was enough for a spring training game. 16-7 Honey Brewers. We play our second and last spring training game on Wednesday on my home field with the Blue Moons as the home team. Now that I got my pitches going it should be a better outing. I hope to work all the kinks out in time for opening day which may come this Saturday morning. As for throwing about a 80-90 wiffle ball pitches my arm is a bit tight but not too sore. Im not too much of a wuss.

friggin patriots day...

Sadly I still live and work in New Hampshire. After living and going to school in Mass, I really loved having Patriots Day off. At my first apartment next to Fenway Park (literally, and yes I am bragging), I remember it being a madhouse around our place. I believe it was my second year there when I remember having my car parked on Boylston Street about two minutes from my apartment. At that time I lived with my buddy Derek (who some of you may know). His sister and brother had stayed the weekend and were hanging out with us. It was the Saturday before the marathon and I had to go put quarters in the meter. I was walking down Boylston to go get some quarters at the Star Market at the corner of Brookline and Boylston (street name dropping). 

As I am walking down the street, a lot of people are headed my way to go to the Sox game that afternoon. It had to be around noon so the place was packed. An  older couple caught my eye. the woman was tall and blonde and a bit striking. I noticed her first and then her significant other. The man was wearing aviators (the best sunglasses), a track suit and had a very bushy mustache. I thought he looked a bit out of place and as they passed me, I snuck a peak behind the glasses. I took a double take and thought "There's no way". I walked a few more feet and stopped. I turned around again and shook my head and thought "It couldn't have been". I continued to the store, got my quarters, filled the meter and went back to the apartment.

I enter the apartment and everyone was just chillin. I went in to Derek's room and said "Guess who I just saw on the way to the Sox game?" He asked who and I replied "Will Ferrell". He dint believe me and neither did anyone else. I told them that I knew it sounded nuts but that I swear to god it was him. Then the question of why he would be in Boston came up and what not and the more I thought about it, the more I figured it wasn't him.

The weekend passes and Patriots Day comes. It's Monday morning and we have the opening coverage of the marathon on. I'm sitting in my room when I hear Derek call for me. I walk into the front of the apartment where the TV is and there on WBZ, being interviewed was none other than Will Ferrell. He was running the marathon. He had been there the whole weekend in Boston. I was right. I had seen him with his mustache that he had grown for this new movie "Anchorman". I was pissed. I had passed by one of my comedic heros and didn't even get to yell "We're going streaking" like a douchey frat boy. 

To this day, thats why I curse Patriots Day weekend. That and the fact that I don't get this Monday off so I can't get drunk and yell at runners on Comm Ave. Screw you VanReenen.

It smells like spring...or just laundry sheets...mmm...

I love spring. I really do. Spring and fall are the best season cause they are the most mild of the seasons. They stay away from the extremes of hot and cold. With spring comes great weather and a long list of things to do with the lovely weather.

First off, baseball starts up. Now the real excitement doesn't come until September when the playoffs are on the line and all, but its great to follow along. Some weeks you lose track or get busy but when you come back, you haven't missed much. Nothing beats going to a major league baseball game in spring. Us in New England are lucky because we have one of the oldest, most famous ball park in the country. This also make us unlucky cause it is old and beat up while being ridiculously expensive. My alternative? Take a trip to Philadelphia. The Phillies have a great park thats just a few years old. Its clean and spacious without being too big. Tickets were usually really cheap although after last year I am sure prices have gone up. Its a good weekend away to see a game. Worth the money and if you really have some cash to spend, try to get tickets to see the Sox play their in July.

Now with baseball comes me wanting to play. Sadly, I have never bothered to join an old mans league or anything but I've found a way to fulfill my need to play. Wiffle Ball. Yes Wiffle Ball. A 26 year old in love with Wiffe Ball.  My brother-in-law and I started playing a few years back and then just kind of stopped one summer. Then last spring we decided to start it up again and not just here and there for fun. Not just tossing the ball around but really playing.

We have a field in my back yard marked out. There is a home plate and double and homerun markers. We have a pitchers mound and pitching rubber. We have backstops and a perfectly measured strike zone. We have a bat holder that can hold up to four bats. We just had two dozen fresh new balls delivered. We have official team names. I am the Londonderry Blue Moons and he is the Hudson Honey Brewers (both named for favorite beers of ours). 

We now have a second field at my brother-in-laws new house. This way we each have a home field. It is a rule that you have to drink at least one of your beers (Blue Moon for me or Honey Brown for him) per game. We don't look to get drunk but we feel we owe it to our names. Uniforms are in the process of being made.  Many of you may think Im crazy but hey, everyone needs a hobby. This is one of mine.

Anyway, I'm glad spring is here so that we can begin to play. Look for updates on here and hopefully even some video posts from yours truly about it. For now, I will leave you with my teams logo.

Chocolate bunnies filled with jelly beans...

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate. Enjoy a large feast with friends and family. Fill yourself up with candy and goodies. Remember that soon, warm weather will come and it wont seem as though Easter and Christmas are celebrated during the same season.

I am a slacker...

When I started doing this blog I promised myself I would update it regularly. I mean how can one get a solid fan base if they don't constantly give people a good product, right? I am going to do my best to update this more. I have a few ideas for blogs so I will get them up ASAP. As for this one, just a quickie. There have been a few things that I recently saw that I wanted to make mention of cause it annoyed the shit out of me.

BLUETOOTH HEADSETS

Now these have been around for sometime, I know. They aren't a bad thing when driving. Its perfect for commuters who drive a lot and still use the phone. Know when they aren't good? When you wear them out of your car. Anywhere. Anywhere out of the damn car. Store? Getting gas? Shopping? TAKE IT OFF!!!! I hate people coming into work and walking up to me with them on. They try to start a conversation with me while continuing the one they have going on their phone. Hey asshole, hang up or don't talk to me. Many of you know that due to my lazy nature, I am still working in the food business as opposed to taking my college degree and making a life for myself. Now just cause I work in food doesn't mean you should disrespect me. You need to eat right? Im needed. Do I walk in to your work place and talk on my phone while trying to do business with you? Probably not. And I guess this isn't just a bluetooth rant because people come in on the phone too. I just think the bluetooths make you look retarded. Its like you are trying to look cool but look like a douche instead. Its like wearing a hat that says "I'm a douche".  Anyway, get off the phone when talking to people in person. Its called manners dipshits.

UGGS

I know I am not a female. You can even say I don't know much about "style". These are both truths. But ya know what? I know something ugly when I see it. And uggs? Uggly for sure. Really. I don't understand them. They keep your feet warm. Awesome. Then people where them in snow and rain to stay warm and oh, they get dirty and look like shit. They look disgusting with salt marks and what not on them. I especially loooove seeing women wear them with like tights on so they look even bigger. Worried about getting cold? Dont wear tights dumb ass.  And yeah yeah, they are in style. Are they really? Cause I think if you asked, the majority of normal people would say they are ugly with a small minority of snobby uptight debutantes and those who want to be like them saying they are trendy. Bite trendy and bite me. 

Uggly.

TURTLENECKS

Okay. Turtlenecks are acceptable on females most of the time. Usually they look okay on younger women and are acceptable on older females cause that usually means they are retired hippies.  Turtlenecks on guys? Schmucks. I feel like every time I see a guy in a turtleneck, I think of the dick in Good Will Hunting who gets the verbal beat down from Matt Damon in the Harvard bar. They look artsy and toolish. They like to read poetry and do yoga and sit around talking about fighting the "man". All these things are fine, believe me, I have nothing against artsyness, but chances are this turtleneck douche is doing it to try and get laid or just fit in. He isn't doing it because he likes those things. I wish mens turtlenecks had a string in the neck like sweatpants. That way, I could easily just sneak up on a guy and pull it nice and tight. Choke him out. Nice and simple.

LONG HAIR ON GUYS

Heres another one that deals with guys. Long hair on guys. Im not talking like shaggy, over the eyes a little kind of thing. Shaggy isnt bad. What I hate is the guys who have it to their shoulders or longer. Now when I was younger, in middle school, I tried to grow my hair long. All my friends did. It was a grunge thing. We were trying to be cool. That time passed and we all eventually got haircuts.  Now a days, grunge is gone really. There is no "cool" reason to have long hair. No more hippies, no more grunge. Why would you want hair that you have to tie up? I have enough problems with making my short hair look acceptable, I cant imagine doing it with long hair. Ponytails? What is this, 1991? No rebellion against 'Nam anymore. No more hairbands. No more of a need to look like Kurt Cobain. Just cut your hair.

Only thing worse than a guy with long hair is a guy with long hair in a turtleneck.  Ick.

A few quick things....

I decided to share a few nuggets of information about myself that I've recently been thinking about. Just a few ideas and feelings I have that I figured I'd like to share with you. 

I don't trust anyone who has never had a drink before. That means you Joe Biden.

I also don't trust anyone who doesn't curse. They don't have to have a sailors mouth like myself, but every once in a while a person should feel that their current situation constitutes a good "shit" or "fuck".

I am beginning to get mad at myself for breaking certain Facebooks rules that I set forth for myself. The biggest one being that I would not accept nor add a person on Facebook unless I knew for sure that I would say hi to them if passing them or bumping into them. If I don't think we liked each other enough 10 years ago to be friends, why the hell would I add you now. I bet their are at least 50 people who are my "friends" on Facebook that wouldn't even say hello if they saw me out. They'd just do the eye contact thing and wait to see if I say hi first, just like we all do when we aren't sure if we really want to talk to someone.

I recently began watching "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia".  A friend of mine gave me Seasons 1 and 2 and I watched it all this weekend. It is up there with "30 Rock" and "The Office". And I have to agree with my friend who said when she watches it, it just makes her feel like getting drunk all day.

Speaking of getting drunk all day, I'm a big fan of Blue Moon beer and this weekend when my local packie ran out of it, I bought some Full Moon, which is a seasonal Blue Moon beer, and I must admit that it was rather delicious. Definitely try it if you like Blue Moon.

I like using the word "protocol" a lot lately. I have no need to ever use the word, but I find it fun trying to put it into regular conversation. This is a game you should try. Pick an odd word and see how many times you can use it in regular conversation. Here, I'll help you. The word is peripatetic. Have fun.

Oh and check out my boy Mikes new blog. It's a good time.

http://mike-idowhatiwant.blogspot.com

25 random things

So I've seen this whole thing on facebook where people write 25 random things about themselves so I thought I might as well do it on here. So without much ado, here are 25 random things about me.

1. My middle name is Martin, after my dad.

2. I fracture my leg when I was two when trying out an acrobatic act I was working on failed as the garbage can fell over.

3. I was born in Minnesota but moved to NH when I was 1 and have never been back.

4. I'm a registered independent

5. I'm a politics junkie.

6. I'm also a civil war junkie. Been to Gettysburg over a dozen times

7. I got caught stealing baseball cards from a convenience store when I was in 5th grade. I did not act alone.

8. I'm actually related to Stonewall Jackson distantly. I even have proof.

9. I'm a sucked for good romantic movies. Especially '80's ones. Say Anything is one of my favorite movies.

10. The only movie I've ever cried at was My Girl when Veda goes to the funeral and yells about how he can't see without his glasses.

11. A dream come true would be to write or be on SNL.

12. My first car was given to me by a priest.

13. I haven't been to church, other than weddings and funerals, in over 3 years (nothing to do with the car).

14. I met Bill and Hillary Clinton and Peter Jennings when I was 10 at the Mall of New Hampshire.

15. I introduced George Bush at my high school when he was running for president.

16. I voted for Ralph Nadar once.

17. I once worked at a driving range driving the truck around shagging balls.

18. I once played the lead in a production of "Death of a Salesman".

19. While making a sci fi video for school, I accidentally made such a large explosion I apparently broke a well pipe 4 feet underground.

20. I once had backstage passes to a concert and got to meet Beck, Ben Folds and Les Claypool.

21. One of my cars got totaled when a cop rear ended me.

22. I'm told I do a pretty good Christopher Walken impression.

23. I've been to six weddings to this point in my life. I've been in the wedding party for all six. Always a grooms man, never a groom.

24. I love getting dressed up and one day hope I lead a life that requires me to own my own tuxedo.

25. I can tie a cherry stem not in one, but two knots with my tongue. And yes ladies, I'm single.

You take the kids, I'll take the house...

So like many of you, I day dream all the time. A thought will pop into my head and I'll be off in my imagination for a few minutes. The other day was no exception so I thought I'd share.

I was flipping through an entertainment magazine (they do still print these) and stumbled upon a picture of a certain attractive actress. She will remain nameless so that after this post, I can be made fun of but with detail. Anyway, its an actress that I find very attractive. That's where the day dreaming starts.
I begin to think how wonderful my life would be to date her. Think about it. A beautiful celebrity. We'd meet in some random way while walking down the street (even though I live 3,000 miles away) and for some reason she'd be taken aback by this pasty white ginger. She'd say hi, I'd say hi and wekd connect. Perhaps we'd get a drink and things would take off. I'd go to a big premiere with her and maybe work on a film together. Eventually wed have a huge wedding covered by Perez Hilton and then have wonderfully cute kids who are cursed by having red hair. We'd grow old and become this generations It couple, staying together for years. My what a nice day dream.

I then look back at the magazine and read the caption about her and her boyfriend. Boyfriend? How could this be? How could she do this to me? My mind begins wandering again.

What if she marrys this douche? What if he interfers with our chance meeting? Everything I was so happy about is gone. Then I realize, its Holllywood. These things never last. Its the land of divorce. So then I think it can still work. She'll have a few years with this assclown and then get a divorce. Its perfect! I swoop in and get her on the rebound. I show my sensitive side and boom. We're together and all the happy thoughts come back. Money, celebrity, big house, kids.

But there's the problem. Divorce is so abundant there. What if we get divorced? She makes all the money. I'm just a bum who married up. What if she paints me in the media to be some dick who treated her bad? Who gets the kids? I can't be single that late in life. I have nothing to offer a woman.

Then I stop and realize how pathetic I am. I'm now depressed after thinking about my impending divorce to a celebrity that will leave me with no life. That's right, I lack enough self esteem to even have a good day dream. I suck.

Tony is...wasting your time with this blog

STATUS UPDATES

Just like 99 percent of the people on Facebook right now, I am obsessed with people updating their status. I do it way too often and the majority of the times I do it lately, I'm plugging this blog (as if enough people care about my status enough to go to this site). You have a wide variety of groups who update. You have those who don't update a lot and when they do, they feel the need to be very specific. Example:

"So&So is heading out to lunch at Fridays with so and so and then heading to the doctors at 2 for a check up and then maybe home to make [insert meal here] for [insert stupid nickname for their loved one] and then American Idol at 8 before Biggest loser comes on."

I really don't think anyone needs that much of an update. Chances are the only person who needs to know that much detail is yourself. Here's an update you can use. "So&So is about to jump in the tub with a few select electronics!"

I also love the people who are trying to send messages to others but wont actually say anything to those peoples faces. Such as:

"So&So cant believe some people can be so immature. Way to ruin something good"

This is the person informing all of us their distain for people who refuse to grow up which possibly means that someone did something to this person enough that they felt like scolding them in front of all their cyber friends. You know the majority of the persons friends have no idea what they are talking about, but a select few know exactly who they are talking about. Its like we get sucked back to junior high when were on Facebook.

You have the quote people too. Those who find a certain line from a movie hilarious enough to use it. I am definitely one of these people. It started when I would use AIM and put up away messages. Thats pretty much what status updates now are. They are you're away message to the world. Thats why you see people who put up an update such as:

"So&So is off for the night and bored. Hit me up"

This usually means the person really has no friends. If they had friends, their friends would know 

the person had the night off. Therefore, if anyone really wanted to hang with the person, they

would contact them via telephone or whatnot. This is a person crying for help. They will most likely

end up sitting at home, alone, watching pornography, drinking hard liquor and passing out way too

early. Just like my Saturdays.

But really, Im as much an offender as anyone else, but do you blame me? Why not be constantly

updated on what your friend from 7th grade that you don't talk to anymore is doing for the evening?

On a side note, if you're around this Friday, Jan 30th, come to Great Scotts in Allston and check out

my buddy Steve doing stand up around 7pm. He is hilarious and a total douche.

Finally, I can say it and not feel alone

I was on Facebook this morning browsing around and like 95% of you who read this, I checked out status updates ( I do this a lot but thats a different blog that I'll get to later). As I was browsing I came upon my friend Alison who I know from back in the Boston days (wonderful Simmons girls!). I was intrigued by her status update that read "Alison doesn't like Bruce Springsteen. Or Bob Dylan. There I said it". At that moment I felt a sense of relief. There was someone out there, who thought like me, but was able to actually say it out loud.

I don't like Bruce Springsteen. Or Bob Dylan. I never have and most likely never will. I know people will ridicule me and discuss how they are such amazing songwriters and storytellers and how Dylan influenced so many and blah blah blah. I don't care how many musicians cite them as being the reason they got into music. I don't care how many records of theirs are on Rolling Stones top albums of all time. I don't like them.

First off Dylan's voice is shit. It is. He cant sing for shit. Its annoying. "Its his style and no one else is like that..." is what people like to say. Really? His own style is a mixture of a 115 year old lifetime smoker, a dying cat and William Hung (yes I really did just make an American Idol reference from 2004). Sure, his words may be "inspiring" and "transcends the era" but really, just write for other people or become a poet (I know a musicians can be considered "poets" anyway, but you catch my drift). The only song I can think of that I like by him is "Hurricane" and I think thats only because it reminds me of the movie staring Denzel (just like, Im close enough with Clint Eastwood to call him Clint, Denzel and I are pretty tight). I will also give Dylan "All Along the Watchtower" which is one of my favorite all time songs. When done by Jimi Hendrix or Dave Matthews (I know I 'll get shit for listing DMB as a favorite while ridiculing the song bird of the the 60's but oh well). 

Now Springsteen isn't as revered I think in our generation as much as Dylan is. I think Dylan is supposed to be the "cool" thing to like. Like guys think it'll be cool to tell people they listen to Dylan or can play it on the guitar. I've been surprised by how many young people really like Springsteen. I figured his fan base was the same he had 25 years ago. Suddenly he is all over the place. Inauguration. Super Bowl. Its out of control. It would work better if it were 1981 and Reagan was being inaugurated and the Oakland Raiders were playing the Philadelphia Eagles.

The guy has one song that I like and thats "Streets of Philadelphia", again from a movie. The song is amazing and I think it brought him some kind of renewed success and ever since he won an Oscar for it, all his shit sounds the same like he's just trying to get another soundtrack deal and win another award. Know why I know the chorus to "Dancer in the Dark"? Because we all remember how Courtney Cox was in the video. Thats it. Because its a useless piece of pop culture. How do we know some of the members of the E Street band? Because the majority of us like watching Conan O'Brien and see Max every night, and because we all loved the Sopranos and seeing little Steven with a horrible hair piece. 

Now we have to deal with him being on during the Super Bowl. Let me guess. We will hear a medley of sorts like the past few acts (Prince, Tom Petty, other horrible choices). Born in the USA will be played. Born to run. Thunder Road. Maybe The Rising. He'll take out his stupid harmonica, dance around on stage like hes 19 as opposed to his real age of 59. Little Steven will have his bandana on and the commentators will commend him for a wonderful performance. 

Ick.

I understand that the NFL has had some making up to for the whole Janet Jackson thing, but please.  Since then we've had Paul McCartney (living legend but not the same without the other 3 fellas although "Hey Jude" was a good move), The Rolling Stones ( a collective age of 258 years old [which would be acceptable with a 10 person band]), Prince (cause he's been relevant this whole decade) and Tom Petty (he did play "American Girl" so I wont be harsh on him). Now Bruce Springsteen. Next year I am guessing we will have Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond or the Four Tops (if they are all still a live). 

I went off on a tangent there a little bit but to wrap this up let me say this. I don't like Bruce Springsteen and I don't like Bob Dylan and if I had a choice to meet either of them, I'd tell Dylan to just go away already and Bruce to stop dying his hair.