FINALLY!!!! My Crazy Cat!

Just click on the play button!

To heat or not - that is the question

So... Capitol Swell says that it is bad to keep pastries and croissants under a heat lamp but that muffins are ok.
I disagree. I think we need to break this down even more.
There is a fundamental difference between pastries with filling (fruit or dairy based) and pastries without filling. (Also please note - bagels and donuts are not included in this discussion.)
Pastries with filling can really hurt you if they are hot. I have burnt my tounge more than once on a poptart.
Pastries without filling such as muffins AND croissants are better when warm. This is a fundamental truth.
I'm not sure what else I need to say about this.

My turn at the helm...

Well... it has been a while since it was my job to hold down the fort until last votes. I guess it could be worse. It looks like i will get out of here by 8 and hopefully be on the 8:40 train. I was hoping the boss would tell me to just go home - but no dice. Honestly - if we worked until midnight today and tomorrow just so we don't have to work on Saturday I totally would. Working on the weekends is BS. There should be no need for it. Of course, now that we are going to vote on a CR that will take us to 12/21 then maybe there isn't a need to work on Saturday. I hope so.

My Birthday

I turned the big 31 the other day. Woo Hoo. No one cares when you turn 31. Last year was cool b/c we had a huge party and everyone was there and I had a great time. This year was still nice (got a great present from S.O. - going to see Ave. Q @ the Hipprodrome) but a lot less exciting. I guess every birthday can't be a huge party... S.O. and I had a lovely dinner at Pazza Luna and then went out for drinks with N & C at Captain Larry's. I can't wait for the smoke ban to go into effect. My clothes smelled like ASS. I had to leave them in the hallway b/c i didn't want them stinking up my bedroom. 50 days to go. Ban goes into effect on February 1, 2008. Gosh i can't wait!

Vick Sentenced

So, Michael Vick was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 23 months and 29 days in jail for his crimes. I don't have much to say about this other than I understand b/c of sentencing guidlines that it was unlikely he would get less time than his "co-defendents" but it still makes you think about what is wrong with our judicial system when someone convicted of RAPE and MANSLAUGHTER against a HUMAN BEING gets less time in jail than someone who committed crimes against ANIMALS. I love animals. I think Vick got what he deserved - But i also think that we need to seriously think about increasing the penalities for crimes committed against humans - rather than lowering them for crimes against animals.
I pretty much agree with everything in the following article.

The Sentence Reflects the Lies

By Michael Wilbon
Tuesday, December 11, 2007; E01

ATLANTA -- It caught most of us by surprise, the length of the sentence handed down Monday, when perhaps it shouldn't have. When two of his co-conspirators were sentenced a few weeks back to 18 and 21 months respectively, we should have known Michael Vick wasn't going to get a year or 15 months. He wasn't going to get less jail time than the people who delivered him to the feds. He wasn't going to get less jail time when it was his money that financed the dogfighting enterprise that was his undoing.

Maybe we were caught by surprise because we thought there was still a little bit of influence left in Vick's name, because he reported to jail before it was time, because he's a celebrity athlete and we're accustomed to most people in the culture being lenient when it comes to the rich and famous, or perhaps because the St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little got only 90 days in the city workhouse and four years probation for killing a motorist when driving while drunk, which turned into an involuntary manslaughter plea.

The talk turned, very prematurely we can see now, to whether Vick could be back for the 2009 season, maybe even by minicamp that spring. Clearly, none of this mattered to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who sentenced Vick to 23 months in a federal prison. It was a stunner to digest, from the time assessed to the fact that Vick was dressed in black-and-white prison garb instead of one of his own suits, which a whole lot of hardened criminals are allowed to wear to sentencing. Immediately, it seemed downright excessive and meant to embarrass. More serious crimes yield smaller sentences all the time, every day really. In fact, the entire reaction to Vick's heinous behavior at times has seemed excessive in the context of crimes like rape and manslaughter.

Mike Tyson was convicted of rape, yet he and his crime didn't generate anything close to the outrage of the Vick case. I have no tolerance for what Vick did, from financing the enterprise to actually killing dogs. Jail is where he deserves to be. But have we really come to the point, agitated by the frighteningly influential animal rights lobbyists, where an animal's well-being is more important than a woman's? It's sad if our priorities are that twisted. The reaction to Vick's crime reached a feeding frenzy that seems to ignore all context.

I was reminded by multiple lawyers Monday night, one in my own family, that it needs to be restated that Vick's crime was a federal offense, carrying mandatory sentencing guidelines. There was virtually no chance he'd receive less jail time than his co-conspirators. And it's a near-certainty that Vick, once again, made his own situation worse by lying.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank, drained by the day's ordeal before the start of the Falcons-Saints game, told me just before kickoff that, from all the information he solicited, Hudson "is incredibly thoughtful, bright and fair. And there's information we weren't privy to that drove him to his decision on this." It was impossible to not see the disappointment on Blank's face, like a parent who is angry with his child but in despair nonetheless. On the topic of whether the sentence was excessive, Blank lamented that "Michael had been something less than forthcoming since his plea agreement."

In other words, Vick simply lied too many times. He lied about whether he actually killed any dogs, then admitted to hanging two. Testing positive for marijuana certainly hurt. Vick failed an FBI polygraph and lied about a positive marijuana test in September. In fact, Hudson told Vick in court Monday afternoon, "I'm not convinced you've fully accepted responsibility."

In other words, the early surrender, the public apology, the participation in an animal sensitivity training course might have impressed PETA to some degree, but it was not enough for the judge to outweigh Vick's constant lying, going all the way back to the spring of 2007 when he lied to Blank and to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the depth of his involvement. Vick was denied an "acceptance of responsibility" credit that could have reduced his sentence. Reportedly, federal prosecutors opposed giving him the credit.

In other words, every time Vick could have done himself some good, he lied or failed to take responsibility for his actions. Seeing that, Hudson nailed him.

It's fair to wonder now at what point Vick will take responsibility -- and not in some phony public relations way. This doesn't have anything to do with the NFL and what the commissioner's office thinks. It doesn't matter to me at the moment whether Michael Vick comes back as a quarterback or a running back, to the Falcons or Raiders, or whether he comes back at all.

For essentially the next two years Michael Vick will be incarcerated, not free to come and go as he pleases. At some point you have to hope Vick comes to realize the key to his future isn't what Hudson thinks, or what Blank or Goodell or those who will excuse him any act feel, but whether Vick understands that it's going to be difficult to build any kind of tolerable future without coming to grips with his recent past.

It's Cold Outside!!!

Waiting for the train in 20 degree weather. Fun Times.

Pooped On - AGAIN

look, i'm not crazy. They really are after me. We had a fire alarm pulled in my building this morning and so i went across the street to another building and just hung outside under the awning for the "all clear." As i'm waiting i get pooped on. AAAHHH!!! At least I was wearing a hat - but still - how gross.

I am not imagining this. They really are after me. It's happened before....

Trying to get back into it....

I've been starting to run again. It is taking a really long time for me to recover from the half-marathon. It's been almost 2 months and i an only now starting to get myself back together.
My knees and ankles are killing me.
On Sunday I ran to the Fort and 2 times around before I had to head home (it was freezing cold!) This morning at the gym I ran 4.4 miles in 50 minutes (starting with a 2 minute walk, ran 20 min, walked 2 min, ran 25 min, walked 1 min). I really wanted to go further but my legs were killing me. I'm going to try again Friday morning and see how i do.
The Cherry Blossom 10 miler is coming up in April. Sign-up is next week. I really want to do it.
We'll see.

YEA VT!

We beat Boston College in the ACC Championship Game and we will be playing Kansas in the Orange Bowl on January 3rd. I was attending a baby shower at the same time the game was on so I didn't see much of it. It was on the TV but the sound was low and with so much going on during the party that it was difficult to focus on the game. I did hear the last 5 minutes or so on the radio on my way home. YEA! We are going into our bowl game ranked # 3 in the country!! How awesome is that!

Inspired Thankful

Inspired by Capitol Swell's list - here is what I am thankful for this year...

good health
my family
my fiancee
good friends who will shoot this shit with you and the next minute be there for you when you need them
my kitties
Virginia Tech
Italian wine
my auto insurance company - refund baby!
good Dem candidates for President
the Chinese food place that delivers even though we can't be google mapped yet
my Good Housekeeping Cookbook
Diet Coke
.....

Go VT!

We beat UVA today. YEA! They took the lead once for a few minutes but then we came back and kicked their behinds.
Next Saturday at 1 pm we will be playing Boston College for the ACC Championship. Sweet.
The only thing that sux is that I won't get to watch the game. I will be attending a friend's baby shower - which is occuring at the exact same time. I plan to TIVO the game but i doubt i will watch it unless something really crazy happens. I've given S.O. a pass so that he can watch the game instead of attend the baby shower (it is a coed shower).
He owes me big time.

Hokies win Coastal division with 33-21 defeat of UVa
Tech gets rematch with Boston College in ACC title game
November 24, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Looking for an ACC title game bid with a slim two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Virginia Tech Hokies scored 10 unanswered points in the final period to clinch the ACC's Coastal division and punch their tickets to Jacksonville, earning a 33-21 win over rival Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium.
With the triumph, the No. 8 Hokies (10-2, 7-1 ACC) secured a rematch with Boston College in next Saturday's ACC Championship game, which is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Tech also recorded 10 wins for the fourth consecutive season, beat the No. 16 Cavaliers (9-3, 6-2 ACC) for the eighth time in nine tries, and improved to 15-1 in ACC road games since joining the conference four years ago.
"We need to give our seniors a lot of credit," Tech head coach Frank Beamer said after the victory. "I think they are the first group to get 10 wins in all four years, and to beat a team like Virginia all four years is an accomplishment, too. The turnovers kind of got us in trouble but you've got to live with those. The big plays kind of got us, but we made some big plays ourselves.
"I'm proud of that too," Beamer said of the 15-1 road mark. "I always preach that it doesn't matter where you play, when you play or who you play; we need to play the same way with consistency. I think we have kids who like the challenge of going into a visiting stadium and taking the crowd out of the game."
Statistically, Tech tailback Branden Ore broke out with his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season, tallying 147 yards on 31 carries. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor recorded 17 yards on nine carries including two scores, and in the highly successful two-quarterback system for the Hokies, Sean Glennon enjoyed another solid day, completing 13-of-19 for 260 yards and a touchdown. Split end Josh Morgan hauled in four balls for 75 yards, while flanker Josh Hyman caught four for 63. Defensively, Cam Martin registered nine tackles, while Vince Hall, Brandon Flowers, Chris Ellis and Barry Booker each made seven stops. Five of Booker's tackles were for a loss.
Virginia Tech opened the game with some trickery after forcing a Virginia punt. On the return, Eddie Royal pitched the ball to Justin Harper on a reverse, and 43 yards later, Harper was out of bounds at the UVa 41 with great field position for the Hokies. An 8-yard run by Branden Ore was sandwiched by a pair of catches by Royal - a 16-yarder from Glennon and an 8-yarder from Taylor - before Taylor took the ball into the end zone from nine yards out to give Tech a 7-0 lead at 12:12 of the first quarter.
The Hokies increased their lead to 10-0 on their next possession, when at 5:47 from 20 yards out, Jud Dunlevy hit his first of four field goals on the day to cap a 12-play, 65-yard drive that lasted 5:23.
"He's been a big part of our football team," Beamer said of his kicker, who now has 21 field goals on the season, one shy of the school record of 22 held by Shayne Graham and Chris Kinzer. "He's been solid as a rock."
The Cavaliers countered on the ensuing drive to cut the margin to three. On third-and-10 from his own 28, UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell connected on back-to-back 22-yard passes - the first to Maurice Covington and the second to Jonathan Stupar - to the move the ball to the Tech 28. After another 1-yard completion to Stupar, tailback Mikell Simpson busted up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown run at 2:37. Chris Gould's PAT made it a 10-7 game.
The Hokies didn't waste much time getting Dunlevy back into field goal range, as 1:53 later with 34 seconds on the first-quarter clock, he drilled a 37-yarder to give Tech a 13-7 lead. The drive was keyed by a 56-yard bomb from Glennon to Royal on the opening snap, and was one of six catches for a career-high 147 yards in the contest for the senior flanker.
Royal and the Hokies tried to continue their creativity on their first possession of the second quarter, when Royal attempted a pass on another trick play. His pass was under thrown and picked off by UVa's Chris Cook, who returned it to the Tech 48. Seven plays later, Sewell ran it in from eight yards out and Gould hit his PAT to put the Cavaliers on top 14-13 with 6:35 left in the half.
The Hokies, however, were able to get the momentum back right before the intermission. Virginia was again threatening in Tech territory when Brandon Flowers jumped Sewell's pass with a diving interception - his fifth of the season - at the Tech 35. After a 26-yard completion from Glennon to Josh Morgan, Royal made up for his miscue by hauling in a 39-yard scoring pass from Glennon with 12 seconds remaining for his third touchdown catch of the year. Dunlevy's PAT gave the Hokies a 20-14 lead at the half.
"It was the game plan - we saw a match-up that we liked and we kept going at it," Royal said of his big day. "That's why I came to Virginia Tech - to make plays like that. [On the touchdown], the ball almost knocked me down it was such a good throw. That play was all Sean Glennon."
Dunlevy's third trifecta of the game was set up when freshman Davon Morgan blocked a punt from the UVa 38 that the Hokies recovered at the 26. It was just the second blocked kick of the season for the Hokies, with the last one coming from Stephan Virgil on a punt in the Duke game. Dunlevy extended the Tech lead to 23-14 at 7:51 with a 29-yarder.
The Cavaliers' final score of the game, like its second, was set up by a Hokie turnover. This time, UVa's Chris Long sacked Glennon and forced a fumble that was picked up by UVa's Antonio Appleby at the Tech 28. Seven plays later, Sewell battled into the end zone from the 2-yard line for his second rushing score of the day. Gould's PAT at 2:51 made the score 23-21 and kept the outcome in doubt heading into the final period.
The Hokies erased that doubt, however, with 11:50 remaining when Taylor rushed for his second touchdown of the game to cap an eight-play, 68-yard drive. His designed draw up the middle was denied on third-and-goal from the UVa 5, but the freshman improvised and beat a Cavalier defender in a foot race to the pylon to give Tech a 30-21 advantage.
Dunlevy set the final score with a 26-yard field goal at 4:26 to set up Tech's battle with Boston College, which stole an improbable 14-10 victory from the Hokies at Lane Stadium back on Oct. 25th.
"Now that we've got 'em, we've got to figure out how to beat 'em," Beamer said of the rematch with the Eagles for all the marbles. "That's a big ballgame for us, but it's the one we worked so hard to get to. Now it's time to take care of business."

The Wedding Biz: A Complete Scam or A Complete Sham - You Be The Judge!

FIRST - WTF? What in the heck is this ridiculous thing? A pink flask - this is marketed as a bridesmaid gift (can be personalized). AAAHHH!! This is what's wrong with the wedding industry. Slap the color pink on it and the word "wedding" and you are good to go! you can sell anything this way...

I digress....

S.O. and I have been planning the wedding in earnest over the last few months and let me tell you... it has been a very eye-opening endeavor.

Add the word "wedding" to any product and immediately add 25 - 50% to the price of whatever it is you need to buy: party invitations or wedding invitations; party DJ or wedding DJ; photographer or wedding photographer. Ridiculous.

I've been trying to be as low maintenance as possible through this whole process and I've been trying to do this "my way." Which is to say - carefully, logical, and thorough. Unfortunately the wedding business is not set up this way - I am being thwarted at every turn in my efforts.

Wanting to do this "my way" or be an "unconventional bride" is quite difficult.

The industry conspires against you the moment you say "yes." I tried from the beginning to avoid BRIDAL SHOWS but was unsuccessful. We needed a florist, photographer, and DJ and thought that "wouldn't it be a great idea to go to the bridal show and kill three birds with one stone in one afternoon."

S.O. and I were able to pick a location and a caterer on our own and thought we were doing pretty well without delving into the seedy underworld of BRIDAL SHOWS but we took a chance.
OH MY GOD! From the moment we walked in to the moment we were able to escape it was the most horrifying moment of my life.

As soon as you walk in the door you have to check in at the front desk - this involves filling out a form with all of your contact information and some really fine print that i should have read. (i now get at least 3 fliers A DAY in the mail trying to sell me wedding crap.) Next you are assigned a number and you get a sheet of paper with your number printed on it 100 times. What you are supposed to do is then for every vendor you visit you put your number in a little box and at the end of the day (5 pm - must be present to win) each vendor chooses a number and that person wins a prize! Yea! AAAAHHHH - the first thing i did was throw my numbers away. While we were there looking for a florist, DJ, and photographer - it seemed like all of the other brides (most of whom were about 5 - 10 years younger than me), moms, and girlfriends were there for EVERYTHING. Caterers, Cakes, Jewelry, Dresses, etc. They even had department stores getting people to register for gifts and banks to help people sign up for mortgages. Thank god we were late and "missed" the wedding dress fashion show.

S.O. was one of about 10 males in the place that wasn't a vendor. It was quite a painful afternoon. We left with a bag full of fliers and other crap that got thrown away as soon as we got home.

Through this process I have learned that the entire wedding industry is based on the following assumptions: (this list is in no way complete)

1. the average age of a new bride is 23.

2. the engaged woman has been "dreaming" about this "special day" since she was 10 and knows exactly what she wants.

3. the traditional rules still apply and that the bride's family will pay for almost everything and therefore it is OK to have ridiculously inflated prices

4. That women become retarded as soon as we get an engagement ring on our finger and lose all rational thought

5. That every wedding couple wants the standard wedding format complete with a "tossing bouquet" and a DJ with props

6. That the groom has no opinion on anything and whose only role is to show up

I understand that assumptions are necessary if you want to serve the greatest number of people - the problem with these assumptions is that the industry is ignoring a certain part of the population and their inflexibility makes doing this any way other than the "standard way" quite difficult.

First of all, I am a 30 year old bride who HAS NOT been dreaming about this day since i was 10. When I was 10 I was imagining that I would be the first woman astronaut on Mars and that I would have a really cool job and make lots of money. I can honestly say that I don't remember EVER imagining what my wedding would be like (i did assume that i would get married however.)

Second, I am a 30 year old bride who will be paying for ALL of this herself (along with her spouse.) No parental help here. It would be nice if people in this business didn't assume that my parents are paying for ANYTHING let alone ALL of it.

Third, because there is no financial assistance from the parents I am certainly going to make rational decisions about what I am going to spend my money on. Sure a $2000 wedding dress is nice - but so is a $800 dress, etc, etc, etc.

Fourth, In this partnership the groom is as involved in the decision making as the bride is so please AT LEAST acknowledge his presence in the room when we are having a conversation about flowers, music, etc.

.... So.... fast forward a few months... it is now mid/late November and the horrific experience of the bridal show has finally stopped haunting me. We still need a DJ and florist. We have interviewed 4 florists and received a proposal from one - should get two more soon and another one by the end of next week. We are pretty good on the florist front.

We have interviewed two DJs and decided that we need to meet with at least one more to feel like we have a good idea about the range of prices and types of DJs. Having forgotten the bridal show expierence a few months ago we decide that it would be a good idea to go to a "wine and cheese" showcase event at Martin's West and meet another DJ and their company.

The company hosting the event, "The Pros," are a "full service" wedding vendor. They have DJs, videographers, and photographers.

The event was last night - 2 days before Thanksgiving. The event start time was 6:45 - we got there around 6:55. The "Pros" were not there and were stuck in traffic. Lovely. They were coming from PA (where their corporate HQ is) and there was an accident on 95 S. So much for "Pros". We got some cheese and a glass of crappy merlot and wandered around the room looking at photo albums of people who probaly have no idea that their wedding is being used to sell a product.

Around 7:30 they announce that the "program" will being in about 5 minutes. OK great. If they didn't start by 7:45 we were outta there. The program started at 7:35 with a really crappy "stand-up" introduction by the Baltimore/Washington, DC manager. He sucked. He tried to be funny. It was starting to get uncomfortable.

After a few minutes of wedding jokes about how grooms are stupid, and moms getting emotional, and how there always someone at the reception who drinks too much, the guy introduces the head douche-bag in charge of operations - head sales schmuck. This guy's job is to tell us about the different services they provide and why their company is better than the other guys. EVERYTHING that came out of this guy's mouth was a sales pitch designed to sound like a sappy story that would (hopefully for them) make you realize that you ABSOLUTELY had to have a videographer and that without a video your kids and grandkids will hate you for it.

I really needed a drink but the wine was so crappy that it wasn't worth getting up.

When this guy was done he passed the mic back to the manager who proceeded to introduce the 6 DJs that were there. Apparently the company has 30 local DJs but only 6 were able to come to the showcase.

After the first DJ was introduced they each introduced the next DJ - i think this part was supposed to show us a how each DJ spoke and sounded. 4 of the 6 were total mush mouths and had to read the introduction of the next DJ from a card. Not a good first impression.

After all of the DJs were introduced the manager started to play some music and they (the DJs) started to do the Electric Slide - to music that WASN'T the Electric Slide song. They did that for a minute and then started to pass out leis in the audience. This was one of the little things they did during receptions to get the guests involved.

Guests are supposed to pass the leis around and when the music stops whoever has one gets a prize. yea. So we pass the leis around and at this point the evening went from "uncomfortable" to "really bad".

So they stop and start the music a few times and of course there is no "real" prize - they just tell a stupid joke... Then the last time the music stops they said whoever has the leis really DOES get a prize - they "get" to go up on the dance floor and be their "party people" for the next few songs. AAAAHHHH!!!! Thank GOD neither of us had a lei. It was at that moment that the evening went from "really bad" straight though "god awful" and directly to "Most Horrifying Event - Worst Than The Bridal Show."

We took that moment as an opportunity for escape. We got up and left. We couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. We hopped in the car and drove away as fast as we could. We couldn't shake the stink off. It was just too disgusting and weird.

After thinking about it for a minute i realized that the "showcase" was not the right sales pitch for us. Maybe that is the best way to sell your product to those people who fit the basic assumptions about people who are getting married - but it DEFINATELY was not the best way to sell your product to us. I am still traumatized. And we still need a DJ....

PS: take a look at the Comments Section. Pretty funny given what i just wrote about the industry. Does this guy really want me as a customer???

Dog Killer

I am still unbelievably disappointed in Michael Vick. It just kills me when I see people with such great talent (football, art, music, whatever) fuck it up by doing something ridiculously stupid. Part of is jealously on my part for wishing I had some sort of great talent. He has talent. He was a great football player - admittedly more so in college than in the pros. Still. He was a great figure that we could all support. Watching him play in person at Lane Stadium was one of the coolest things ever. Then these horrible charges come to light and we learn who the real Michael Vick is. Someone who has no regard for the lives of other living animals. Dogs (and cats - holla!) are part of our families and our lives. People spend ridiculous amounts of money on their pets every year on toys, food, health care, etc. That is why what he did is so horrible. It isn't the same as cockfighting or bull riding (although i don't support either of those activities either.) Anyone who has that level of disregard for a dog is just a short slippery slope away from feeling that way about a person.

The great number 7 turned himself in to the authorities today to start serving his sentence (whatever that might be) - three weeks before his scheduled sentencing hearing.

Let's hope that he learns something while in jail. But what is done is done. He will never be the same in my eyes. If I owned a Vick jersey I would have sent it to the ASPCA just like all of those other former fans. I am so disappointed...

Vick surrenders early to begin dogfighting sentence
Story Highlights
Sentencing set for December 10 on dogfighting charges against Michael Vick
Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty in August
Monday, he surrendered to begin whatever sentence he gets on December 10
He faces 12 to 18 months on charge of running dogfighting ring from his home
(CNN) -- Michael Vick turned himself in to authorities on Monday to get a head start on serving his sentence for running a dogfighting ring, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10 on a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling the dogfighting operation.
Vick, 27, voluntarily turned himself in around noon, said Kevin Trevillan of the Marshals Service, and is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia, until the sentencing hearing.
The quarterback, who has been suspended indefinitely by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, faces 12 to 18 months in prison on the charge.
He pleaded guilty in August after three associates admitted their own roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
On September 25, a Virginia grand jury indicted Vick and the three co-defendants -- Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia -- on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at Vick's home outside Newport News.
The Surry County grand jury brought two charges against the four men: one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each is a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison term.
In addition, Taylor faces three additional counts of unlawful torture and killing of dogs.
A hearing in that case is set for November 27, but Vick does not have to be in court at that time.
In September, Vick was put under tight restrictions by the federal court after he tested positive for marijuana use.
Vick tested positive for the drug on September 13, a court document from the Eastern District of Virginia shows.
As a result, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ordered Vick to "submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance."
Those methods could include random drug testing, a remote alcohol testing system "and/or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing," the order said.
Vick was also ordered to stay home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., "or as directed by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer," the order said. He was to be electronically monitored during that time.
Vick must participate in substance abuse therapy and mental health counseling "if deemed advisable by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer" at his own expense, the order said.

Revenge update....

looks like Boston College beat Clemson last night so as long as we beat UVA next weekend we will play BC in the Championship game...

Revenge....

I hate Miami. I am glad that we kicked the crap out of them earlier tonight. And like I said, we need to beat UVA next Saturday to go to the ACC Championship on December 1st.

Currently Boston College is playing Clemson. Whoever wins this game will also be in the ACC Championship. I hope it is BC. That way when we end up playing them in the big game we can give them a little pay-back for what happened on 10/25 when they beat us in the last 4 minutes of the game....

Revenge is a dish best served cold....

We Are.... Virginia Tech!

The "Hokies Thank the World" event brought together thousands of Hokies on the Virginia Tech Drillfield to spell out a message of thanks to the world in recognition of the global outpouring of support and love for the Virginia Tech community following the events of April 16. The message of thanks was recorded by ground, aerial, and satellite imagery and will be shared with the world for free through www.HokiesThankTheWorld.org. The event took place on November 17, 2007 beginning at 10:35am and ending at approximately 11:12am on the Virginia Tech Drillfield in Blacksburg, Virginia. check it: www.hokiesthanktheworld.org

by the way - VT kicked the crap out of Miami tonight - 44 to 14. We still need to beat UVA next weekend if we are going to play in the ACC Championship.

Movie Review: Anger Management

I got Anger Management starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson delivered from Netflix last week. S.O. and I watched it last night. I was not impressed.

I am a fan of Adam Sandler and usually like his movies (Waterboy - classic). This movie just didn't do it for me. Overall, it wasn't funny. There are a few (4) funny scenes in the movie and two of them involved the fat cat named Meatball. The third - in case you are interested - is when the Lawyer (Kevin Nealon) threw a tennisball at a blind guy in court to see how blind he really is. The 4th is when Woody Harrilson is dressed up in drag.... geeze. It has been a while since i wanted to turn off a new movie mid play. it really was that bad.

I can't wait to see what the next moviedelivered is...

Top 10 Worst Things People Do on the MARC

by popular demand....

10. Littering

9. Talking on the cell phone (esp. about personal stuff like what happend at the Dr.'s office earlier) for longer than a minute or two.

8. Arguing with the Conductor EVERY MORNING about why you would rather stand and why you refuse to move to the next car to find a seat

7. Tourists who bring their screaming children on the train and are surprised when there are no seats @ 6:38 pm for the 6:40 pm departure

6. People who bitch about how slow the train is and therefore are going to miss their 8:30 pm flight - of course this has noting to do with the fact that they decided to cut it close by taking the 6:40 pm train...

5. Toursits who take up two seats with luggage

4. Commuters who take up two seats with with coat/purse/briefcase, etc. This is worse than tourists b/c commuters know better...

3. All personal hygiene efforts except clipping/filing nails

2. Eating smelly food

and the number 1 worst thing that people do on the train is.......

1. Clippling/filing nails

Another Train Rant

if anyone is reading this i am sure that you get tired of my commuting rants but i just can't stop. This is how I blow off the steam. Otherwise you will see me on the news one day and the headline will be something about how a commuter went beserk and freaked out on a MARC train...

As i read my book and was waiting for my train to pull out of the station i became aware of an interesting smell. I looked up and.... literally 3 of the 5 people in my area were chowing down on junk food. And we wonder why people are fat. Just look at the people who ride my train - always eating bad food - McD's, Sabarro's, Auntie Anne's pretzles. Seriously - this can't be their dinner. It just grosses me out.

Eating on the train is on its way to making my list of rude train behaviors.

Also so is bringing luggage if it isn't on there already - who do you think you are? Did you purchase 2 tickets??

GO VT!!!

WOW! What a great game! This is REAL VT football. A great QB with an amazing defense. Yeah - OK, so FSU's QB got hurt early but still.... it was pretty close until the 4th quarter. Darn! I just realized that I forgot to hang our flag... oh well. i'll remember for next week.

Trash Cans....

Yesterday someone stole our trash can. It was a nice can - pretty expensive - good quality on wheels with a nice handle and lid. I'm a little upset by this. We lived for 5 years in a part of town that some would consider not as "nice" as where we live now and not once was our can stolen... GRRR

Wedding Stuff, Date Night and Restaurant Review: Taste

Wedding Stuff - S.O. and I took the day off from work on Friday 10/22 and did wedding stuff. We had a 10 am appointment at the florist. We quickly learned that we were not prepared for this meeting and that we have a lot of work to do before we meet with another one. We need to figure out our "theme". I was under the impression that our wedding was the theme for the day, but apparently we need another one.... so i think we are going with "purple". So our meeting with the florist was a big waste of time for all involved. After the meeting we had lunch at Cross Street Market - Big Jim's Deli - one of the best club sandwiches in town (this will be the subject of a future post....)

After lunch we headed up to Towson mall to create our gift registries. We went to Macy's first. We were there for 4 hours! Painful! We picked all kinds of random stuff we don't need. Then we went to Crate and Barrel and did the same thing. Fun times.

We had dinner reservations for 7:30 but i pushed them back to 8:30 b/c it took so long to register.

Of course it was pouring down rain so D and I had to run through the rain from our car to the restaurant. I could have asked him to drop me off and park but i still would have gotten soaked. No umbrella. smart.

As soon as we entered the restaurant the hostess greeted us and started taking us to our table - soaking wet with dripping coats. I asked if we could stop at the coat check before we were seated. She seemed irritated but we walked the extra 4 feet to the coat check and got rid of our drippy coats.

We were seated upstairs along the main wall. A nice-ish seat (could have been better but it was obvious that they were not utilizing all of their "sections" b/c the place was half dead). In general our service was pretty good but our waitress seemed distracted - it looked liked she was being pestered by a new hire who was wondering where all of the customers were. Well... it was pouring down rain and one of the first chilly evenings in a while... More people showed up around 9 ish though...

Appetizers were GREAT! I had a scallop ceviche - scallops were the perfect texture and seasoned simply but there was no need for a lot. SO had the bacom wrapped shrimp and grits. In full disclosure I have never had grits before - these were AWESOME! great texture - not too mushy and the shrimp was wonderful.

We ordered a bottle of wine - recommended by the chef as one of her favorites - it was nice. Not too heavy with a nice fruity flavor.

I initially wanted to go to Taste b/c of the duckfat fries. I've read about these for a few months and really wanted to try them. They weren't on the menu so we didn't order them - BUT! I must have them! so when our waitress stopped by to check on us I asked her about them. She said they were on the bar menu. I promptly ordered us some. They came in about 10 minutes and they were very tasty! You could taste the grease but i don't know that it could be identified as "duck fat". Still... i want them again.

Our entrees were also delicious. SO had crab raviolli and i had the lobster tortillini. Both were served with a cream sauce but with different seasonings.

We got dessert but for the life of me i can't remember what we had. I'm sure it was good.

After we paid the bill we hung out in the bar area, had a few more drinks and listened to the live 3 piece jazz band that was playing. Pretty cool.

It was a good day.

Attack of the killer pumpkins!!!!

Starring S.O. and Sadie - The pumpkins attacked and Sadie was there to protect the love of my life! Thank you Sadie!

Dog Walking

Fun Times!

Wedding Nightmare

Last night I had my first wedding nightmare. I don't remember how it started but basically it was just everything falling apart. My bridesmaids (2) weren't wearing their dresses (in jeans and t-shirts) and one of the bridesmaids was this really random scary girl i used to know a long time ago - that FREAKED me out.... No one was in their seats and as I went to meet my dad to walk down the aisle he wasn't in his tux. He too was in jeans and a t-shirt.

The first caterer we met with said that he has women calling him in the middle of the night worried about stuff and I said, oh no, i won't be that person.... oh my god i think i am! I was sooo freaked out by the dream. I just want all of this planning stuff to be done with.

30 x 30: response

so... Capitol Swell posted a list of things he wants to do in his lifetime and things that he has done so far that he is proud of. Going along with that spirit I thought i'd do the same. Since I too have already reached that wonderful milestone these are things I want to do in my lifetime.

My to do list:

Run another half-marathon
Visit Japan
In general do more international travel
Skydive (dad would be so proud!)
Cook an entire Thanksgiving meal
Buy a house in Blacksburg and retire there
Finish a triathalon

What i've done so far:
Visited Taiwan, Canada, and Mexico
Ran a half-marathon (sweet!)
Hmm.... wish this part of the list was longer....

Getting ready for Halloween

S.O. and I carved our pumpkins and made Halloween cookies today.

We realized that this is the only holiday that we look forward to and actively participate in.

odd. anyways, check out our carvings!

Pooped Upon

so.... when i was 8 years old my friend's mom took us ice skating in DC near the U.S. Mint. This was over 20 years ago, so i doubt the rink is still there. While unlacing my skates after a tiring 30 minutes I was pooped upon by a pigeon. It was gross and scarred me for life. Ever since that happened I have had this fear of being pooped on. It usually only manifests itself when I am in an area that several birds congregate (outside Union Station, at the beach, near any body of water really...). My S.O. likes to make fun of me but it totally freaks me out to be around a large number of birds.
Fast forward 22 years to Sunday. A lovely unseasonably warm day in mid October. I decide to go for a walk since it is so nice outside. S.O. and I walk to Tide Point (his idea). We lounge on the promenade and while we are sitting there the sea gulls are circling. I know they can feel my hate for them emanating from me. After about 20 minutes we decide to head back to the house.
On the way back - minding my own business - i get pooped on. Right on my sunglasses and shoulder. GROSS!!!! AAAAHHH!!! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN! It was just a matter of time before they found me those bastards. Now i have to be extra vigalent when in the presence of birds.

My Crazy Cat

Sadie and the Drawer

Bar Review: Aloha Tokyo!

S.O. and I went to a new bar/restaurant down the street here in the LP called Aloha Tokyo.
In it's previous incarnation the location used to be a bar called the French Quarter. I've lived in this part of town for over 5 years and never set foot in the old place...
Aloha Tokyo is a VERY small bar in the first floor of an end-of-row row home in Locust Point.
Do NOT expect to go to this place with more than your Significant Other. The TOTAL seating in this place barely reaches 30. Comfortably the place can seat 28. There are 10 seats at the bar - chairs are large wicker high-tops with round backs. Comfy yes - but you could probably fit 5 more chairs at the bar if different style chairs were used. The bar is on the inside wall. Along the outside wall are 6 2-person booths and an exit door to the alley. (which was open when we were there b/c the bar was a little stuffy - but it was nice b/c of the breeze and it just started to rain so it was nice and cool.)
There is also 1 large table at the front of the bar near the main door that can sit 6 - 8 depending...
The music was a little odd. It was definitely some Hawaiian/Japanese fusion type if thing, but it was most certainly the "smooth jazz" version.... it was tolerable, but could have been a little more up-beat. The decor was.... there was a lot to look at. We sat at the bar and there were a lot of little knicky-knack type of things all over the back wall - sumo wrestlers, funky sake jugs, little miniature people... - a lot to look at. There were 4 flat screens behind the bar and one of those picture screens that looks like a TV but is really just one "moving" picture. The picture looked like Bora Bora. - I totally want to go there for our honeymoon....
When we got there there around 7:30 on Friday there were only 4 - 5 people in the place. We sat at the bar and got menus. We started with a round of Miller Lites while we looked at the menu (i know...)
Fried dumplings, soup, noodle dishes, skewered meat, and sushi were on the menu. It seemed to be a pretty limited menu but for such a small place I wasn't surprised. We started with the fried shrimp dumplings and then got the skewer platter and some sushi - tuna roll and California roll. B/c the skewer platter was taking a while to prepare (no explanation really) we also were served a bowl of miso soup.
The dumplings were great! I usually preferred steamed, but the fried shrimp were great. Nice and crispy and you could taste the shrimp filling.
The miso soup was good - again, not a big fan of scallions, but there was just the right amount in the soup - along with some seaweed i think...
The California roll was standard (i forgot to ask for no roe - and it was caked in the stuff) - but it was still good. (i'm just scared - the first time i had roe i broke out in hives...) the roll was fine, but the pieces were actually a little to big for me to eat in one bite so it was a little difficult for me to eat.
The tuna roll was good as well. Simple with no roe. SPICY. I don't know if it was the wasabi - i only but a little dab - or if it was the spicy tuna, but these were bite-size and good - spicy.
The skewer platter was pretty good too. The chicken was great with a little soy/bbq sauce. The beef wrapped in bacon needed help. there were only 3 pieces of it and i had two, but S.O. said his piece of bacon was not cooked all the way through. Mine was the same, but (ewe gross) i didn't have a problem with it (and no upset stomachs the next day so it was all good...).
By this time we were pretty full and S.O. had had two beers and i had one. We decided to stick around (the place was filling up and there was pretty good people "watching" - b/c we were at the bar we couldn't really see who was behind us, but we could hear them and that was entertaining...)
We got the sake menu and decided on a $14 bottle. They serve theirs chilled. The decanter was really cool with this little blue bubble in the middle for the ice cubes. Add one little hole and it could have been a tobacco pipe.
The sake was awesome! I've never really liked it b/c it thought it was too strong but this stuff was SMOOOTH and a little fruity. We finished the bottle and then decided it was time to go. We got the check - $57 - i think a reasonable about and headed home.
Of course at this point it is POURING down rain. Oh well. We walked the 6 blocks, changed clothes, and watched a movie.
Life Aquatic with Steve Zisso - another story....
anyways, all in all, i totally want to go back... next time maybe do it a little cheaper....
also - follow-up: no hangover from the sake. Sweet....

The Next Race

So i've decided the next race i am going to do is the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April 2008. I figure 6 months between BIG races isn't bad and then i will do the Baltimore Running Festival half-marathon again next October. My friend T and I are going to run them together. He said he would come up to baltimore for the half next october. That will be fun!

Wedding Plans....

things are progressing. We have a location, a date, a caterer, a photographer, and a dress. Next things are ceremony musicians, a DJ, and a florist.... after that i need to find someone to do my hair and make-up, officiate the ceremony (in discussion now), drive our asses home after the wedding, need to decide what to do about the tux situation and bride's matron dresses (both of my bride's maids are married so they are really matrons...)
oh yea, so i found a dress today. i went into a bridal dress shop for the first time today and decided to purchase the 4th dress i tried on. My friend J picked it off the rack and said "this is a D dress." heck yea! Sweet! no need to do any more dress shopping.... i will need to find some ivory pearls though. The dress is ivory... and the fiancee will have to buy an ivory shirt to wear for the wedding....
The lady at the dress store told me today that i am almost behind when it comes to getting my dress - but since i bought one off the rack (fit me perfectly) i am no longer behind. YEA! Now i just need to go back in the spring to get my vail and a fitting. Fun times!

2:20:15

Yea! I did it! I ran the entire time (with a few stops for water and gateraid)! It was pretty hard. I didn't really train on any hills or on the street too often so getting used to that was hard.

My friend N finished a few minutes ahead of me. My joints are killing me but it was totally worth it! 2:20:15 A pace of 10:44 / mile. A lot better than i was expecting to do. I am definately going to do it again next year!

13 hours...

So, my race starts in 13 hours at 9:45 am. I am nervous. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. I have no clue when i'll be able to go to sleep tonight.
S.O. has a gig tonight so i'm home alone. Usually when i stay home and he has a gig I clean house. It takes me all night and when we wake up in the AM we have a nice clean house all weekend. I want to clean but I always have a hard time breathing after I clean b/c of the cat hair and dust - and i do it every weekend! These cats are killing me... i want a new couch.
ANyways, back to the race.... aaaahhhh!!!! it will be interesting. If anyone I know reads this you can track my progress or lack thereof by going to www.thebaltimoremarathon.com and click on "runner tracking." all you have to do is create an account - super easy - just enter your email and a password and then search for my name.
YEA!!! Good luck to all of the runners! See you on the other side!

coming along...

so... training for the half marathon has been slow but i have been making progress. FRiday i ran 8 miles at once. It was pretty cool. it started to get a little painful on the knees around 6.5 but i kept going. i wanted to go further but i was limited on time... I'm going to run again tomorrow and then do a short run (5 or 6) on WEdnesday and that will be it. The big day is only 6 days away!

Seriously

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but geeze people, please! Please don't do personal hygene tasks on the train! Especially your nails! For god sakes! No one wants your nail trimmings or filings flying on to them! Why is this so difficult to understand? I wonder if MARC management can post a notice about this or something...

Overheard on the train....

Last week I overheard this conversation on the train.

While the train is delayed waiting for a disabled train to be pushed into Union Station:

Puma sitting across from me..."Man - this train is late. I'm going to have to hurry up and get ready so I can catch-up at the bar!" - talk about a drunk.

Ladies standing in the aisle next to me:

"My wedding was expensive.... We had nice food and everything - this one couple who came who have a multimillion dollar house got me only a 10 dollar vase from Pier one imports" - talk about greedy.

Same ladies... on keeping your wedding dress (By the way - what's the point of preserving it?)

Lady on the train with her dress preserved in a box... her friend says to her: "You got that done in Chinatown? Wow! You must be trustworthy."

How racist is that?? Racism - its everywhere.

VT Football

so... we won again today. we are 3-1 but we still don't look that great. Our offense and defense looked good during the first half and then the offense fell apart during the second half. Our defense won the game for us again. We need to do better. Next weekend we play Clemson but i won't be able to watch the game.

Restaurant Review: El Patron

S.O. and I went to El Patron on Saturday night. We read a short blurb about it in Baltimore Mag and thought we'd check it out. And as a side note - maybe I just don't know where to look but we have had a hard time finding a good Mexican restaurant in Baltimore.
The review in the mag and one on line that we found said that they don't take credit cards so I called to double check. Someone answered the phone but didn't understand my question so passed the phone to someone else who before I could say anything said that they were really busy and asked if I could call back in 5 minutes. I said I just wanted to know if they took credit cards - she said yes and hung up. OK First of all - if you are really busy I would rather be put on hold rather than told to call back - this is bad business strategy - most people will just call another restaurant and eat somewhere else.
Second - when we got there 20 minutes later the place was dead! We were 1 of 3 tables when we got there. Really busy? I don't think so. I am really curious what a slow day would be if 2 tables means you are busy.
To the food - as we sat we ordered two margaritas and water. The water came warm and we weren't even provided the option of ice. The margaritas arrived small and weak. We placed our order. S.O. ordered the tortilla soup to start and the ground beef enchilada. I ordered the tamale and the chipotle shrimp skewers. The tortilla soup was spicy but good. My tamale was also good - but not great. The chicken filling was tasty - spicy and flavorful - but there wasn't much of it. There was too much "packaging" and not enough filler. After our plates were cleared we were ready for another weak margarita. We put in our order and waited. (By this time the two other tables that were in the restaurant had left and another table had arrived - there are only 2 tables now.) Our entrees arrived. S.O.'s enchilada was good - good enough for him to eat without complaining - which he is prone to do if he isn't happy with the food. My chipotle shrimp was great. Perfectly seasoned and cooked on skewers on the grill. Overall I would give the food a B. Then.... The waiter/bartender/host walked by our table and said - "oh! Your drinks will be right up - I had to make another batch." Then he realized we were done eating our entrees and apologized.
We just asked for the check and left. It was unfortunate that the service really sucked (on many levels, from the initial phone call, to the drinks being weak AND not even getting our second drink) because we liked the food enough to go back but who knows now. I think it is likely that we will try someplace new before we go back there. But I am always willing to give a place a second chance so maybe we'll go back in a few months.

Blogtarded

So.... i've know about this for a while, but it just came to me in the form of a new word. I am blogtarded.
I don't know how to post video and my myspace page looks like it did the day i signed up for it and Tom is still one of my top friends... i need to learn some skills.

Another First

So... yesterday I ran for 6 miles. Another first! I am trying really hard to get myself ready for this half-marathon, but I am scared shitless. I am afraid that i am going to pass out or something and have to be taken away in an ambulance or something.... but i know if i finish it i know that i will have done something that only a very small percentage of the population has done and there is a good feeling about that. I just hope i finish. My goal is actually to finish in 3 hours. That would be an average of about 4 miles an hour. I figure I can run the first 6 miles in the first 65 minutes or so (avg 5.5 miles/hour) and then take a brake for a few minutes and then run again for 3 miles, walk a few minutes, run another 3 miles, etc until i get to the end. I figure if i can keep this pace then i might be able to finish in 2.5 hours. The race is in 3 weeks. Tomorrow I am going to try to run 6 miles again. I need to do it on the street though. We'll see how it goes. I have to do work tomorrow from 10 -12 pm. fun times...

Chili Cook-Off Results

Well.... we got 2nd place! (out of 10 contestants) That is pretty cool. A guy from FL got first and a guy from MO got 3rd. Not bad for my first time competiting in a food competition. We are going to have to enter again next year. The guy who won - his chili was a lot like mine but less watery. I knew mine was too watery but i initially didn't make enough so i had to improvise at the last minute and i added to much water to increase my volume. Lesson learned. I won't make the same mistake next year - assuming i get to make the chili again.

Here is a pic of my prize. Boss gave the real prize to his wife. I should have expected that.

Why am I up this late?

you might ask? Well, boss entered himself in a chili cook-off and no one else in the office stepped up to the plate so I am up at 1am waiting for my chili to cool a bit before I put it in the required 1 gallon glass jar.

The event is tomorrow so I'll let you know how it goes. I am competing against chili purests from Texas and the mid-west where apparently there is an on-going debate about kidney vs. pinto beans, ground beef vs. steak, veggies vs. no veggies... hmmm.... this is going to be interesting. I am going to call our submission "D's Chili" or "Maryland Chili" and be done with it. I know some of the judges won't like it b/c of the kidney beans, ground beef, hot sausage (i think that the sausage will blow their minds! whoever heard of sausage in chili?), and many many veggies... yum!

Back in Blacksburg

S.O. and I and a few friends from Baltimore went to Blacksburg this past weekend. It was AWESOME! I love the place but I didn't realize how much until I go back. It has been TOO long since i've been in the 'burg. I miss it a lot.

We went back for the class of 97, 98, 99 reunion, but really it was just an easy way to get football tix and a hotel room on campus.

We took off work on Friday and headed down early. It took 6 hours b/c we stopped twice, once for an oil change in Mt. Airy, MD and again in Harrisburg for lunch. The first thing we noticed in Harrisburg - and on the drive down - was that there are many more options for food on the drive down I-83. Now, in addition to the McD's, Wendy's, and Subways, you also have 5 Guys and Chick Fil-A. Sweet. We ate at Chick Fil-A. My "spicey" chicken wrap was OK, but not spicey at all.

We made it to the burg by 3 pm. We checked into the new Alumni hotel and then tooled around town for a few hours. We did a drive-by of the places we used to live - what shitholes - and then we went to the bookstore and spent WAAY too much money on VT stuff. Sweatshirts, T-shirts, Polos, a backpack, and 2 ponchos (it was rainy).

We went to Sharkey's (where everyone planned to meet at 8) for dinner around 6. Sharkey's is now located one spot from where it used to be - now in the old Arnold's location. Sort of weird, b/c I went into Arnolds a total of 2 times in the 4.5 years I was in Blacksburg.

Anyways, we had wings and ribs for dinner - with Miller Lite. Peeps started showing up around 8 and we were there until about 10:30 pm. D mentioned that he used to work there and so we got the employee discount so the tab was $20! Sweet! even if we didn't get the discount it would have been like $35. Way cheap.

We left Sharkey's and went to Champs - upstairs. We "tried" to play some darts and D and I won the first game but failed miserably during the 2nd game. It was at that point we decided to head back to the hotel.

Saturday AM we got up pretty early and made it to campus to our tailgate spot and had a beer in hand by 10AM. The game started at 1:30 pm so we were ready to go! The game was good. We won and that is awesome, but we didn't look great. Taylor looked good and I am excited that he did well, but i just think we still have a ways to go if we are going to win the ACC.

It was sooo exciting to be in the stadium with all of those other Hokie fans! It was a lot of fun!

After the game we headed back to the hotel to ditch the cooler and leftover beer - then we headed back to Main Street. We walked. Good idea.

We went to Sharkey's and stayed there again until about 11 pm. D and I headed back to the hotel but we had to stop at Souvlaki's on the way. THey have the best gyros ever - cheap and tasty. They have always been really good - i just never really thought about it before.

Sunday we got up around 9 and went to breakfast at Boudreaux's. They have awesome gater-bites but it was too early for gater so we had regular breakfast food. Cheap and good.

We made it back to Baltimore around 4ish - a bit later b/c the Ravens game was already on the radio before we got home... not too much later after 4 though.

It was a great weekend and all it did was make me want to go back again soon.

Some day we will end up there again - if D's job goes away or when we retire... we will end up back in the 'burg.

It took me a while to enjoy small-town livin' but once you discover all of the cool things about a place you don't want to leave. We love the City but we love the 'burg too. What we need to do is win the lottery and then we can live in both places.

One other thing I wanted to mention was that on Friday D and I went to visit the VT memorial to the 32 Hokies who were murdered on April 16, 2007. It was quite moving. Walking by all 32 of those stones with the victim's names engraved in each stone really hit me...

so, that's it for now... I miss VT and can't wait to make it back to town.

Second Quarter cont.

Less than 6 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Our 2nd string QB - a freshman - is on the field... just got a gimme first down b/c of a personal foul by LSU....

Second Quarter

VT just got their first 1st down.....

OK - so... I think i'm going to have to stop...

i don't think i can keep this up with VT getting steamrolled like this by LSU. Anything significant - like VT taking the lead - and i will write again. If not, don't expect to hear from me on this topic for the rest of the game....

First Quarter - cont.

VT's 3rd posession - glennon runs and gets a few yards. takes a good hit. SHIT! Glennon just threw an intersecption.... on to LSU's 4th posession.

First Quarter - cont.

LSU's 3rd drive ends in a punt - LSU downs the ball at the VT ONE yard line...BUT - illegal shift - RE KICK - that's right! Royal downs the kick at the 16 yard line.

FIrst Quarter Cont.

LSU's 3rd drive.... moving the ball.... finally an inclomplete pass.... SHIT! a VT player hurt!

First Quarter cont.

VT's second drive ends in a punt. Glennon needs to get his shit together.

Dudes with tats on their shoulders

SO… I think tattoos are pretty cool. It doesn’t really matter to me where they are located – in general they are just pretty cool. It is easy for chicks to display their tattoos because of the style of clothes that girls wear – short skirts, tank tops, etc.
When guys have tattoos on their shoulders it is an awkward place b/c the only 2 ways they can display their work is to either wear a wife-beater tank or no shirt at all.
I was at this beer festival earlier today in Frederick, MD and there was a guy there who was trying WAAAY too hard to display his shoulder tattoos. He was wearing a short sleeve shirt and was rolling up the sleeves to his shoulders so that his tats would show.
A little advice for the guys: Don’t do this. You look stupid.

Crap - 5!

LSU just scored again - 2 TDs in 2 posessions with over 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

We look like we just learned how to play.
Not good. I think we might lose this one.

Crap - 4!

AAAAHHHH!!! NO FIRST DOWNS!!! we need to stop these guys! LSU on our 11 yard line.

Crap - 3!

LSU just gained 30 yards.

Crap - 2!

Glennon just got sacked!

First Quarter - cont.

Eddie Royal rocks! Great return for 37 yards!

Lots to Discuss

So - I havent written written in a while and i have a few things to write about - I am going to try to do this while watching the VT game and eat chili and drink a bacardi at the sasme time.

First Quarter

Opening drive + 10 plays = touchdown. LSU just totally rolled over our defense. Not looking good. Let's see what our offense can do....

CRAP

LSU just scored

Are you ready for some football??

VT is playing LSU and the game just started a few minutes ago. We are looking OK - an early personal foul on our side was really stupid. LSU is on their first drive and they have gotten a few first downs and are in Hokie Terrority. They are really running over our defense....

Top Chef

aaaahhhh!!!! Bravo is playing the last 4 or 5 Top Chef episodes before the new one at 10 pm tonight.
I am hooked! This show is awesome! This is one of the best reality shows there is. It really makes people show their talent. and as far as i am concerned cooking is one of th most difficult things to do.
Anyone can read the directions on a box but to "create" - it is beyond me.
I am supremely jealous of anyone who can create amazing dishes.
One of the things I am learing from this show is that simple can be tasty.
The girls on this show pretty much suck and Howie is just an asshole.
Sara just got kicked off but eventually Howie is going to have to go.
It's 10 pm. I can't wait to see what happens!

Baltimore Restaurant Week - Bar Review

So, this past week was baltimore restaurant week... i made reservations for D and I at Pazza Luna. I know, I know. We should have eaten somewhere that we have never been before but the point was really just so we wouldn't have to cook dinner last night. - This past weekend was really busy, so i thought i was doing us a favor...
anyways, so we ate a pazza luna - their restaurant week menu left a little to be desired. D was a little irritated b/c initially he didn't see anything he wanted on the menu. I went with the intention to get the vegitarian lasagna but they were all out.
I ended up getting the asparagus salad and the risotto with chicken and romaine?! The asparagus salad was a small bed of greens with 5 little asparagus spears and a half peach grilled and stuffed with gorgonzola cheese. The pear with gorgonzola was awesome! the asparagus was a little wimpy.
The risotto with chicken and romaine was creamy and had a hint of lemon. The romaine didn't really add any flavor but definately added texture which was helpful.
For dessert I had the tiramasu. It was tasty - flavorful - but too much. i was sooo full i couldn't finish it.
I have heard that some restaurants in Baltimore are extending their restaurant week menu. I might make another reservation for another location....
Also - this week is Washington, DC restaurant week.

Odd Phrases

So... again, on the train last week. It was Wednesday, August 1st. Most commuters get a monthly pass but sometimes people forget when a new month rolls around. Usually the conductors are cool if you have forgotten to purchase a new monthly pass as long as you show them you have the previous month's and that you promise that you will get a new monthly as soon as you get to the station...
So, on 8/1 one of the conductors was collecting tickets and some lady forget to get her new monthly, and the response from the conductor was, "Life is too short for me to kirk-out over that...."
Interesting. I have heard the term "kirk-out" before but i thought it was based on a guy I know who apparently used to "kirk-out" in college before he got on the meds.
Is this a universal term?

The MARC Train... it takes all kinds....

So - on my commuter train there are always different types of people. Most are regular commuters just like me, but occasionally you will have your tourist families and other random people heading to Washington for the day.
In the evening however, heading back to Baltimore we also have the people heading to BWI airport. These people are the worst.
They have no clue about train etiquette - such as not leaving your luggage in the middle of the aisle or not taking up more than one seat.
Seats are important on these trains. I've seen fist fights almost break out over a freaking seat.
So.... this one lady got on the 6:40 pm train out of Washington. IF on-time this train doesn't make it to BWI until 7:18 pm.
WHY would someone who has an 8pm flight take the 6:40 train?? It is beyond me. I just don't get it. If you are doing something new (like taking the MARC train) and you have no idea where you are going, wouldn't you give yourself a little extra time to get to your destination.
So, this lady from the other day is on the train and is frantically attempting to change her flight to a later one - but unfortunately there are no other flights to her destination. (another commuter rule - if you have to talk on your cell keep the volume down and keep it brief)
So she starts berating the person on the other end of the line about how that airline sucks and if she had flown with another airline this situation would not have happened b/c they would have had more flights.
Obviously this woman was insane. Seriously - did she think that the person at the reservation desk would be able to just add another flight to the schedule?
So... as the lady is talking with the reservation desk working on getting her on a flight the next day her cell phone died! The look on this woman's face was priceless! She just had to sit there and fume the whole way to BWI. It was pretty funny.

Changing a Tire

So.... i got a flat tire the other day. Boyfriend had to put dinner on hold and come help me change it.
I was on the side of the road at the end of the exit ramp from I95 to Key Highway.
He was really great.
The assh@les who came speeding by me were not great. It was really dangerous.
Thank you Boyfriend.
No thanks to you jerks who went speeding by me.

"libarian" vs. "librarian"

OK - What does this mean and why to people always miss-pronounce this word?

I have a few theories...

One: They do it on purpose b/c they think they are being cute.

Two: Their parents say it incorrectly so they were raised with the incorrect pronunciation and although they know now that they are saying it wrong they really don't care.

Three: They have no clue they are saying it wrong....

No matter what the reason, i can tell you one thing... no matter who you are, it makes the person uttering the word look really stupid.

Vacation

D and I along with 2 friends went to Mexico last week. It was awesome! I have never been to Mexico so it was another first for me....

We haven't been on a vacation in a REALLY long time, so we definitely needed it. We sat by the pool and the ocean, and ate an AWFUL lot of food.

we stayed at the Iberostar Paradiso Del Mar in the Rivera Maya area of Mexico, about 30 km south of Cancun. The resort was beautiful. It was just amazing. The rooms were great and the staff was very friendly. The landscaping was so spectacular - it was like nothing I have ever seen before. Just amazing. The place was HUGE but we didn't have a hard time getting around.

For an all inclusive resort the food was decent. The Mexican restaurant was the best place we ate at, but still it was only pretty good - not great.

We had decent weather. Sunday was good - just a few rain showers in the afternoon and then it cleared up. Monday was the best weather day we had. No rain at all and sun all day long. Tuesday morning was clear but then it rained all afternoon. Tuesday we went to Playa Del Carmen.

An interesting little touristy town with a lot of shops with trinkets and pottery, etc. We bought two serving dishes. We spend a good part of the day in town since it was raining and we couldn't hang at the beach or the pool.)

Wednesday D and I went snorkeling. Another first for me. It was really cool - until it started raining. They called us in early and our trip was cut short. oh well. i saw some neat fish and coral reefs. we took some pics with an underwater camera but i still need to get them developed. It rained pretty much all day Wednesday.

We left Mexico on Thursday - another rainy day. Apparently this was due to Tropical Storm Barry that formed in the Gulf on Wednesday.

Another thing i should mention.... D and I got engaged while we were in Mexico! Yea!

We are going to wait another week or so before we start trying to figure out when we are going to actually get married. D had to leave for Italy today for work and I am going to leave on Tuesday to meet up with him there.

how cool is that! I've never been to Italy so it will be another first for me. It is going to be a little scary for me though - i have to get myself from the airport to the train station in Milan and then get a train ticket to Mantova - all without speaking a lick of Italian.... i have a few books that I bought and that people have loaned to me that should be helpful, but I think i need to created a cheat-sheet with several of the phrases that i need to know in order to get around... problem is, i have no clue how to understand their reply when i ask them where to go to buy a train ticket...

i don't think it will be that difficult but i am a little nervous....

Concert Review: The Tragically Hip

My friend P and I went to see the Tragically Hip last Saturday (referenced in a previous post). I have to say that it was definitely an interesting show. There were a lot of people there from Canada - wearing Canadian flags and carrying Canadian flags - the band is Canadian.)


The band was an interesting mix. It reminded me at various times of Primus, Phish, and Rush. Interesting....

It was an entertaining show, but awkward since i didn't know any of the songs.

No concert Tee from this show. No girl options. beat.

Another First

earlier this evening i went to see a band that i have never heard before. ever. not one song.

i've never done that before.

it was sort of weird being around a bunch of people who know all of the songs that are being played.

all i was trying to do was not get stepped on or elbowed in the eye/face/boob/etc.

really difficult to do when you are 62 inches tall.

but i had a good time. it was nice to do something different. Just so tired of BF's band...

new concert review coming later. I need to sleep. have to run 3 miles in 7 hours from now...

Restaurant Review: Pazza Luna

So, D and i didn't feel like cooking anything for dinner (really i just didn't want pizza for dinner) so we decided to eat out - so we walked down the street to Pazza Luna.


First impressions: decor is very nice, much better than before (all Sopranos memoriabilia is gone) but still has the same layout as far as where the tables are and the bar location.


We sat ourselves at the bar and waited a good 3 minutes before the bartender removed the dirty glasses and the check that belonged to the people who were there before us.

He must have said sorry like 3 times in the first 30 seconds after acknowledging our presence. I don't need your sorrys. i need you to just get your shit together and don't let it happen again.

So we placed our drink order and received our menus. Again - a good 10 minutes before we were told the specials by the bartender - who again said sorry "we are understaffed" - well, i don't care about your staffing issues - especially since the bar area isn't even packed and it looks like the host working the door is also a waiter and pours drinks...

so.. we got the specials and before he could leave us again we placed our order - we weren't trying to wait another 20 minutes before putting in our order.

first - before the food - i started out with a glass of pino noir which was lovely. very good - and a heavy pour. D had his usual burbon and ginger.

I went with the specials the whole way. For my app i got the salmon app which was thinly sliced salmon rolled onto a bed of mesclun greens with a lemon vinegrette and two large grilled prawns. VERY tasty. and actually quite filling.

D's app was a lamb raviolli. looked good.

for my entree I got a dish that was bascially mini lasagna noodles made with spinach mixed with lump crab in a VERY light cream and tomato sauce. WONDERFUL!

D's entree was veal thinly sliced with veggies. said it was tasty but i didn't try any.

for our dessert we were so full but wanted to try something, so we split the creme brulee. Mistake. Don't do it. The top was nice and crispy, but the rest was watery. They still need to work on this one.

Overall I would give the food an A- and the service a B+. We will definately go back again, but will probably get less food now that we know what's pretty good.

Taking Public Transportation: Rules to live by

ok... so now we know i take the train to work everyday.

public transportation is an interesting thing. you get all kinds of people.

Here are basic rules that should be followed when taking public transportation - the MARC train specifically...

1. bathe
2. familularize yourself with the schedule
3. don't take up more than one seat - either with your fat ass or with your crap
4. sit with your legs closed. I understand that dudes can't sit with their legs completely closed other wise they might hurt themselves, but seriously, i don't believe for one minute that you need to sit with your legs so wide that you create a 90 degree angle between your legs.
5. NO PERSONAL HYGEINE on the train - this includes but is not limited to: trimming or filing fingernails and applying make-up
6. you can speak / talk on your phone, but try not to be so loud about it. No one on the train gives two shits that your kid needs to be picked up or what you are having for dinner...
7. if the conductor says don't stand on the stairs or in between cars then don't do it.
8. also, don't mess with the little switches at the ends of that cars that keep the door open. Who do you think you are?

this is it for now... more to come later

On the Train....

ok so.... my commute to and from work every day always gives me something to think about.

The other day it was this... I am sitting there in my seat waiting for the train to take me home and there are are few other people in seats in my general area.

This woman gets on the train and walks over to me and asks me if someone is sitting in the seat next to me. well, no. no one is sitting there. The general assumption is that unless there is stuff on the seat the seat is available for you to sit in. I just thought it was a stupid question. You should assume that no one is sitting there.

I know in the grand scheme of things this is really nothing, but i just thought it was a stupid question...

Oh - that reminds me of something else really stupid someone said to me once while waiting for the train in the AM.

The train usually leaves at 735 - so we are all waiting on the platform for the train to show up and it is 15 minutes late so now it is 750 and this woman - who i have seen before so i know she isn't a tourist - she walks up to me and asks me if the train is late... um... i looked at my watch to make sure that i wasn't in some sort of time warp or something... yep. it is 750. OBVIOUSLY the train is late....

duh. stupid questions waste time.

One of the best TV ads I've seen in a while...

I need to figure out how to post video. I will update this once i figure it out. In the mean time... check this out~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp7Uc5a_XRE

Firsts

Yesterday I did something I have never done before.

I ran for 5 miles!

I have been running 3 - 4 with no problem for a few years now, but with J & J's peer pressure to run in the Baltimore half-marathon in October I need to start increasing my distances. I am thinking of signing up for a training program, but in order to do that I have to be able to run 5 miles 3 times a week. Hopefully I'll be able to do that. Today is a day off from running.

I need to go to a proper running store (NOT lady footlocker who sold me a pair of tennis shoes that I can't wear) and buy ANOTHER new pair of running shoes and also discuss what to do about my knee. My left knee has been killing me every time i run. I just ran through it yesterday and it eventually (after 3 miles) went away, but for the last 2 miles my ankle started to hurt.

This is so frustrating. My body is falling apart just at the point were my lungs and heart can actually deal with running long distances without a problem. The only reason I couldn't keep going after 5 miles was my stupid knee and ankle. Grrrr.

Concert Review: Wierd Al 5/8/07

OK.... so i've seen a lot of random bands and acts over the years, but i have to say that this one was one of the wierdest (no pun intended. really.) shows I have been to.

First off, i was certainly expecting that at least half of the people at the show would be under the age of 21 and i was right. The other half where their parents and a few randoms like D and I.

Apparently the show had sold out and the line to get in was super long... all the way down the block from the venue. We can only assume this is because it takes a long time to draw big black X's on people's hands before they go into the concert hall.

so, b/c the line was so long to get in, D, N, C, and I went to the bar next door. I grabbed something to eat while they started to get their drink on.

We headed into the club once the show started and there was no line at the door - around 8:45 ish.

The show was a mixture of his classics and new stuff, but in between almost every song he and the band would do a costume change (even the drummer. He must have hated that), so the house was playing clips from "Al TV." Honestly i think the clips from AL TV were more funny and interesting than the songs he was doing.

The venue is really not the best place to see a band - especially if you are short - and the sound really sucked last night. So, again, b/c i am short i really couldn't see much for the first few songs - but after about half way through the show we found a spot at the bar (suprise suprise) and were actually able to see him on stage.

He played a few songs i didn't know, but he also did his parody's of: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Eat It, Gangster's Paradise, the Jedi one (i can't remember), and of course I'm Bad. He actually put on the fat suit for that one. Seeing that made the ticket price worth it.

Also - a side note, apparently the Rams Head was also selling "premium" tickets for 15 bucks more. these tix got you a seat in the riser section on the second floor. CRAP! I hope they don't do this for all of their shows! Usually the riser section is the only place I can go to actually see the band. (this time was different b/c there were so few people drinking that we were able to get that spot at the bar.)

This is discrimination against short people! making us pay more just so we can see the band! I hope this doesn't continue otherwise I will have to find a new place to see bands....

Anyways... it was sort of wierd, but it was fun. Good people watching for sure. I also of course did buy a T-shirt. - I am doing pretty well with my band t-shirt collection but can always use more... I wanted to get one at the Chris Cornell show, but they didn't have any girl styles... beat.