So I figured I would throw together a few of my favorite commercials (or series' of commercials) because...well, I felt like doing it. NOTE: This list is far from complete, and only encompasses those commercials which were totally off the top of my head. At some point I'll make a more elaborate list...
1) What's not to love about this commercial? The cool jazz music frames the whole shoot. First we got an average joe shooting pool with buddies with commentary dubbed over by some dude with a smooth voice. Then we got him going home and playing with his Paps, who clearly taught his son everything in his arsenal but still could school him cause he rolls like that. Add to it the fact that everyone's sipping whisky on the rocks, and you've got a perfect recipe for a money-advertisement.
2) I may be in the minority, but for some reason, this series of commercials slays me. They appeal to the side of me that finds humor in the most wildly absurd and random ideas.
3) The concept of the wingman is essential to understanding man-love at its best. The fact that you can put together an over-the-top cast of characters and add the perfect background song, and boom! A perfect beer commercial.
4) I already wrote a blog about this commercial (http://ryforry.blogspot.com/2009/04/c-r-e-e-p-y-sweet-pea.html) so I'll just post it. There's no way that anyone hasn't seen this yet. Still, popular doesn't aaaaaaalways mean bad.
Ok, time to get back to the big fat poopy that is finals week. Peace out.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wandering Thoughts
Life's an odd bird. As slowly as time seems to pass on occasion, the whole beautiful, convoluted and crazy experience is over before you know it. I'm one night's sleep away from an extremely important 2-week stretch that will impact the following month dramatically. But after that month? Well, it will all just becomes a memory. Keeping this in mind as I sweat through projects, finals studies, and employment logistics is absolutely essential to sanity. Easier said than done.
Sunday night for me is always a mental roller coaster of sorts. My hopes, dreams and anxieties for the week to come are further packed into my head by feelings and reflections on the weekend upon its conclusion. I have a lot of trouble sorting it all out, and I end up getting a far from sleep-filled night most of the time. I wonder if this type of thing happens to all over-thinkers? I'd imagine anyone who battles anxiety loses their fair share of Z's. It's just built into that type of personality mold in my opinion. And if you don't have it, at least to some extent, then you don't really get it. The people who "don't get it" are the people who will say things like "don't worry about it" or "settle down". It's not their fault at all for not understanding. If people's minds process things completely differently, we can't all be expected to know how to deal with each other. Heck, if I don't know how to deal with what's going on inside the countless crevices of my brain, why should I expect anyone else to? Okay, this is getting vague and wordy, and I would attempt to get back on track, if of course, I had a track at all...
And maybe that's the point of this whole late night outburst. A lot of aspects of life really aren't making sense, because when you don't have a track/road/course to follow, you just end up in a maze of different experiences that don't feel like they're leading to any place in particular. Tolkien wrote that "not all who wander are lost". I'd know my wandering mode is leading to ultimate purpose, it's just difficult to see sometimes on those late Sunday nights when life is easy to over-think.
Sunday night for me is always a mental roller coaster of sorts. My hopes, dreams and anxieties for the week to come are further packed into my head by feelings and reflections on the weekend upon its conclusion. I have a lot of trouble sorting it all out, and I end up getting a far from sleep-filled night most of the time. I wonder if this type of thing happens to all over-thinkers? I'd imagine anyone who battles anxiety loses their fair share of Z's. It's just built into that type of personality mold in my opinion. And if you don't have it, at least to some extent, then you don't really get it. The people who "don't get it" are the people who will say things like "don't worry about it" or "settle down". It's not their fault at all for not understanding. If people's minds process things completely differently, we can't all be expected to know how to deal with each other. Heck, if I don't know how to deal with what's going on inside the countless crevices of my brain, why should I expect anyone else to? Okay, this is getting vague and wordy, and I would attempt to get back on track, if of course, I had a track at all...
And maybe that's the point of this whole late night outburst. A lot of aspects of life really aren't making sense, because when you don't have a track/road/course to follow, you just end up in a maze of different experiences that don't feel like they're leading to any place in particular. Tolkien wrote that "not all who wander are lost". I'd know my wandering mode is leading to ultimate purpose, it's just difficult to see sometimes on those late Sunday nights when life is easy to over-think.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Blue-Eyed Soul
I stumbled onto a genre name that may most eloquently describe my style as a mediocre musician. Heck, I'd like to think "Blue-Eyed Soul" could even represent my style as a person. I know, I know, there's no bleepin way that I'm cool enough to pull it off after talking about it in my dorky white blog post. But let's say for a second that I'm not a narcissistic cornball, and weigh the benefits of using "Blue-Eyed Soul" to reference me.
For starters, I got blue eyes. Check. That's undeniable, and I can't possibly be faulted for making this my manta in regards to that aspect of it in the very least. The second part is debatable. I think stylistically, I write soulful stuff. A lot of minor and seventh chords, jazzy and impassioned lyrics that don't leave the listener questioning how I felt when I wrote the tune. Have I been through enough trying situations in my life to really have that "soul" quality in my voice? Definitely not, and I would never claim to. But still, pain/experience/life: it's all relative, and I think my tone lends itself well to the B.E.S. categorization.
I could also use the B.E.S. acronym, pronounced "bess" to be my hip-hop alias when I'm freestyling with the brothas. Last time, I was asked by Kaos(chaos) and J-Deez what my name was, and I just hesitantly said Ry. Scott chimed in "Ry for Ry" but I wasn't really feeling it. I don't have shame in my name, but let's face it, artists need aliases. "Bes" kind of sounds like a hood rat trying to pronounce "best" which is money, resonates way more ghetto-fabulously than any form of the name "Ryan", and is an acronym for the central theme of this blog and my intended style: Blue-Eyed Soul.
The whole "Blue-eyed soul" subject reminds me of this music video I distinctly remember seeing a few years back. It featured a white R&B artist who took flowers to his woman. Upon arriving at her place on his bike, she dumped him, leaving the brother broken-hearted and with a useless bouquet of roses. As the songs progresses however, he breaks the world record for fastest-rebound-after-a-serious-relationship by giving the flowers out to random babes he sees walking the streets. I swear this video existed.
Does anyone have any idea who this artist was, or even have a recollection of this video or did I completely dream it up?
For starters, I got blue eyes. Check. That's undeniable, and I can't possibly be faulted for making this my manta in regards to that aspect of it in the very least. The second part is debatable. I think stylistically, I write soulful stuff. A lot of minor and seventh chords, jazzy and impassioned lyrics that don't leave the listener questioning how I felt when I wrote the tune. Have I been through enough trying situations in my life to really have that "soul" quality in my voice? Definitely not, and I would never claim to. But still, pain/experience/life: it's all relative, and I think my tone lends itself well to the B.E.S. categorization.
I could also use the B.E.S. acronym, pronounced "bess" to be my hip-hop alias when I'm freestyling with the brothas. Last time, I was asked by Kaos(chaos) and J-Deez what my name was, and I just hesitantly said Ry. Scott chimed in "Ry for Ry" but I wasn't really feeling it. I don't have shame in my name, but let's face it, artists need aliases. "Bes" kind of sounds like a hood rat trying to pronounce "best" which is money, resonates way more ghetto-fabulously than any form of the name "Ryan", and is an acronym for the central theme of this blog and my intended style: Blue-Eyed Soul.
The whole "Blue-eyed soul" subject reminds me of this music video I distinctly remember seeing a few years back. It featured a white R&B artist who took flowers to his woman. Upon arriving at her place on his bike, she dumped him, leaving the brother broken-hearted and with a useless bouquet of roses. As the songs progresses however, he breaks the world record for fastest-rebound-after-a-serious-relationship by giving the flowers out to random babes he sees walking the streets. I swear this video existed.
Does anyone have any idea who this artist was, or even have a recollection of this video or did I completely dream it up?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Poopy
2 (YES!) Notes before I begin:
1) The following was started before Scotty's blog on bathroom etiquette, but was unfinished at the time of his fantastic post.(http://sdyes.blogspot.com/2009/10/serious-of-unfortunate-eventsin.html) Either way, there should never be a quota on how many people are allowed to touch on a poo-issue.
2) If you have a weak stomach when it comes to any issues involving restrooms, you may not want to read this entry.
OK, with those disclaimers out of the way, let's get into this mess.....
Why is defecation so uncomfortable for most people to talk about? There are so many poo-related issues but no official bathroom code on them. Why is it that you reach a certain age, and suddenly, the shit is off limits? Let's air out this situation together, shall we?
"Poopy" is one of my favorite words in the english language. Actually, I'm not positive it's in the dictionary, but I'll check that after I'm finished this post. Still, it's fun to say and it brings me back to an age of innocence. I was out playing quizzo at Iron Hill Brewery and the team names had to be one word. The man on the mic (Quizzo Master? Quizzo Coordinator? I don't know) read the names one by one. When he announced team "poopy" I laughed so hard I almost created their mascot. I mean, that is genius, and unexpected given the sophisticated atmosphere Iron Hill typically exemplifies.
Pooping can be an incredibly enjoyable experience. It can be a quiet (maybe quiet) break from the daily grind, a great period to text or think, or some much needed catch-up time on your latest reading material. Heck, one of my favorite Ryan-trademarked sayings originated from the anticipation of needing a potty break.
All you do is text "poo brew" to a friend (or enemy) and let them know that you will be indisposed indefinitely. Do they need to know this? Probably not, but the idea of letting someone random in your phonebook know that you got a chocolate sundae "brewing" so to speak is hilarious, and convenient if they wonder why you're not picking up your phone for them. Unless you enjoy casual convo on the pooper which is a whole nother story.
Females add a totally different dynamic to pooping. I have friends who are in their mid-20s and still attempt to convince themselves on a daily basis that girls don't do twosies. Add to that the fact that most guys like to wait a given amount of time before dumping at a gal's house if they're into her, and we're led to believe that there's something wrong with us because our body's way of letting go of waste travels through Rectum Road. Just the other week, my Mom had a friend over to the house who had to take a smash. Since we don't have a fan or a spray can of potpourri, she left the door partially cracked open in a move that reeked of both her lunch and her embarrasment. And I couldn't blame her, because that's a naturally awkward situation given the times we live in. I would've given her mad props and been shocked simultaneously if she had barged out, left the door wide open and declared, "Boy do I feel better now!"
I'll tell you what did not make me feel better: getting a new toilet in our upstairs bathroom.
Toilets are referred to as thrones, but a king's legs aren't supposed to be restricted on his throne. There was a perfect amount of space up there before, and after the switcheroo it became less comfortable than it once was. I will say this about the upstairs b-room: The side of the sink is perfectly aligned to rest a labtop or book/magazine on while handling some business. And a person's comfort is always key in their place of business. I have friends that will avoid dropping a deuce McAllister outside of their home by any means necessary. I'm definitely not like that, but would certainly never judge another for how they handle their poopy.
There are probably people who did not heed my fair warning and felt uncomfortable just reading this post. I think it a crying shame that this might be the case. In a perfect world we would talk openly about the crap we're feeling, maybe even sing about it....
People...I don't care whether you comment on this post in the AM or the PM just please, bring something to the table on BMs.
1) The following was started before Scotty's blog on bathroom etiquette, but was unfinished at the time of his fantastic post.(http://sdyes.blogspot.com/2009/10/serious-of-unfortunate-eventsin.html) Either way, there should never be a quota on how many people are allowed to touch on a poo-issue.
2) If you have a weak stomach when it comes to any issues involving restrooms, you may not want to read this entry.
OK, with those disclaimers out of the way, let's get into this mess.....
Why is defecation so uncomfortable for most people to talk about? There are so many poo-related issues but no official bathroom code on them. Why is it that you reach a certain age, and suddenly, the shit is off limits? Let's air out this situation together, shall we?
"Poopy" is one of my favorite words in the english language. Actually, I'm not positive it's in the dictionary, but I'll check that after I'm finished this post. Still, it's fun to say and it brings me back to an age of innocence. I was out playing quizzo at Iron Hill Brewery and the team names had to be one word. The man on the mic (Quizzo Master? Quizzo Coordinator? I don't know) read the names one by one. When he announced team "poopy" I laughed so hard I almost created their mascot. I mean, that is genius, and unexpected given the sophisticated atmosphere Iron Hill typically exemplifies.
Pooping can be an incredibly enjoyable experience. It can be a quiet (maybe quiet) break from the daily grind, a great period to text or think, or some much needed catch-up time on your latest reading material. Heck, one of my favorite Ryan-trademarked sayings originated from the anticipation of needing a potty break.
All you do is text "poo brew" to a friend (or enemy) and let them know that you will be indisposed indefinitely. Do they need to know this? Probably not, but the idea of letting someone random in your phonebook know that you got a chocolate sundae "brewing" so to speak is hilarious, and convenient if they wonder why you're not picking up your phone for them. Unless you enjoy casual convo on the pooper which is a whole nother story.
Females add a totally different dynamic to pooping. I have friends who are in their mid-20s and still attempt to convince themselves on a daily basis that girls don't do twosies. Add to that the fact that most guys like to wait a given amount of time before dumping at a gal's house if they're into her, and we're led to believe that there's something wrong with us because our body's way of letting go of waste travels through Rectum Road. Just the other week, my Mom had a friend over to the house who had to take a smash. Since we don't have a fan or a spray can of potpourri, she left the door partially cracked open in a move that reeked of both her lunch and her embarrasment. And I couldn't blame her, because that's a naturally awkward situation given the times we live in. I would've given her mad props and been shocked simultaneously if she had barged out, left the door wide open and declared, "Boy do I feel better now!"
I'll tell you what did not make me feel better: getting a new toilet in our upstairs bathroom.
Toilets are referred to as thrones, but a king's legs aren't supposed to be restricted on his throne. There was a perfect amount of space up there before, and after the switcheroo it became less comfortable than it once was. I will say this about the upstairs b-room: The side of the sink is perfectly aligned to rest a labtop or book/magazine on while handling some business. And a person's comfort is always key in their place of business. I have friends that will avoid dropping a deuce McAllister outside of their home by any means necessary. I'm definitely not like that, but would certainly never judge another for how they handle their poopy.
There are probably people who did not heed my fair warning and felt uncomfortable just reading this post. I think it a crying shame that this might be the case. In a perfect world we would talk openly about the crap we're feeling, maybe even sing about it....
People...I don't care whether you comment on this post in the AM or the PM just please, bring something to the table on BMs.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Re-Answering the Questions and Addressing the Haters
He's baaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaack!!!
Pull that number 3 jersey out of the closet, the Philadelphia 76ers are relevant again!
The Sixers signed future Hall of Famer Allen Iverson this morning after days of rumors floating around that it was a possibility. Well it's official now, and we can start buying tickets. Or trying to buy tickets I should say. They're going fast depending on the game and the section you want to sit in. The website was actually down for 20 mintutes today because of the traffic that was created thanks to Bubbachuck's return to town.
But what does it all mean?
For starters, I'm not going to be stating anything too groundbreaking in this blog. Everyone who knows anything about basketball and the Sixers current predicament is aware that:
1) This move wouldn't have happened if Lou Williams didn't get hurt
2) AI's Philly comeback will sell tickets (and has already) in a city that was at the bottom of the NBA in attendance and create a buzz around the Sixers that was definitely not there before
3) There are only a handful of contenders and the Sixers aren't one of them, with or without Iverson
Don't get me wrong, do I dream about Allen magically taking this team on a deep playoff run and turning the city on to hoops again? Of course. But I also dream about having a hit single and dating Anne Hathaway, so I certainly am not getting my hopes up. Still, just having him back in town is enough for me to make an effort to get to some NBA games this year.
A few things I have to say to all the Iverson haters out there:
For starters, he is the most unique basketball player (maybe even athlete) of all time. He is undeniably entertaining. Between his lightning quick speed, his untouchable crossover, and his ability to be undersized and take a constant pounding while still delivering the goods, it's not a surprise that people buy tickets to see him play.
Everyone says he's not a team player, yet there isn't a guy in the league who wouldn't want him on their squad. The problem is he's difficult to fit in the structure of a winning team. It's nearly impossible to find a system that someone his size with his particular skill set can easily fit into. When he was on the team that was the perfect fit, he had mulitple playoff appearances and would have a championship under his belt if he didn't run into one of the greatest teams in basketball history.
Now he comes back to Philly after a few failed stops. But who expected a title to come out of any of those stops? It wasn't likely that a guy who you have to build around would come into a situation with his best years behind him and be the final piece to a championship contender. Love him or hate him, you can't blame him for being an undersized guy who takes alot of shots. That's just what he is. Defensively I will say he has never come close to reaching what he could potentially be on that end of the floor given the speed he possesses. Then again, the idea of not reaching potential as a defensive player applies to 80% of the league, so he's not alone there. He does disrupt passing lanes, steal alot of balls and start breakaways but certainly you don't want him one-on-one defensively in the post with a bigger guard. Again, that's what he brings, take it or leave it.
As far as who he is as a person and off the court issues, you could debate it till his eventual induction into the Hoops HOF. People probably will, because AI is a polarizing figure, one whose mere name sparks more conversation in the Delaware Valley than the rest of the Sixers roster combined.
It is what it is, and if nothing else, it got me to write a blog post about the Sixers, which definitely would not have happened if the Answer hadn't come back for round 2.
Pull that number 3 jersey out of the closet, the Philadelphia 76ers are relevant again!
The Sixers signed future Hall of Famer Allen Iverson this morning after days of rumors floating around that it was a possibility. Well it's official now, and we can start buying tickets. Or trying to buy tickets I should say. They're going fast depending on the game and the section you want to sit in. The website was actually down for 20 mintutes today because of the traffic that was created thanks to Bubbachuck's return to town.
But what does it all mean?
For starters, I'm not going to be stating anything too groundbreaking in this blog. Everyone who knows anything about basketball and the Sixers current predicament is aware that:
1) This move wouldn't have happened if Lou Williams didn't get hurt
2) AI's Philly comeback will sell tickets (and has already) in a city that was at the bottom of the NBA in attendance and create a buzz around the Sixers that was definitely not there before
3) There are only a handful of contenders and the Sixers aren't one of them, with or without Iverson
Don't get me wrong, do I dream about Allen magically taking this team on a deep playoff run and turning the city on to hoops again? Of course. But I also dream about having a hit single and dating Anne Hathaway, so I certainly am not getting my hopes up. Still, just having him back in town is enough for me to make an effort to get to some NBA games this year.
A few things I have to say to all the Iverson haters out there:
For starters, he is the most unique basketball player (maybe even athlete) of all time. He is undeniably entertaining. Between his lightning quick speed, his untouchable crossover, and his ability to be undersized and take a constant pounding while still delivering the goods, it's not a surprise that people buy tickets to see him play.
Everyone says he's not a team player, yet there isn't a guy in the league who wouldn't want him on their squad. The problem is he's difficult to fit in the structure of a winning team. It's nearly impossible to find a system that someone his size with his particular skill set can easily fit into. When he was on the team that was the perfect fit, he had mulitple playoff appearances and would have a championship under his belt if he didn't run into one of the greatest teams in basketball history.
Now he comes back to Philly after a few failed stops. But who expected a title to come out of any of those stops? It wasn't likely that a guy who you have to build around would come into a situation with his best years behind him and be the final piece to a championship contender. Love him or hate him, you can't blame him for being an undersized guy who takes alot of shots. That's just what he is. Defensively I will say he has never come close to reaching what he could potentially be on that end of the floor given the speed he possesses. Then again, the idea of not reaching potential as a defensive player applies to 80% of the league, so he's not alone there. He does disrupt passing lanes, steal alot of balls and start breakaways but certainly you don't want him one-on-one defensively in the post with a bigger guard. Again, that's what he brings, take it or leave it.
As far as who he is as a person and off the court issues, you could debate it till his eventual induction into the Hoops HOF. People probably will, because AI is a polarizing figure, one whose mere name sparks more conversation in the Delaware Valley than the rest of the Sixers roster combined.
It is what it is, and if nothing else, it got me to write a blog post about the Sixers, which definitely would not have happened if the Answer hadn't come back for round 2.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Century Mark (Part 2)
I'm sure by the end of this it will be riddled with too many typos for me to feel like fixing, if in fact anyone has any interest left after reading Part 1. (unlikely hah) Okay, part 2 commences....NOW
51) Big ups to the Sister for driving a crew to the reunion from Robbie's pad on Saturday. Big ups also to Scott for having a poop on Saturday that changed the course of the night. The dump prevented him from making it to Rob's to catch a ride out with my Sis, which then forced him to drive to the reunion, making it possible for us to stay later and leave with him instead of taking the earlier ride back with the Sis.
52) Ned (New Edgy DJ), Dan Lacey's alter-ego, provided some of the most entertaining moments of the week. If you know him though, you've certainly come to expect that by now.
53) No, I will not go into detail about #52. That's confidential information.
54) Missed encounter of the week: Kirsten and I were driving out to meet up with the parental units and a couple church friends to see "Blindside" but were blindsided by the news that the movie sold out. We were at Marple 10 in Springfield, and decided the best move would be to drive home. Just as we were getting back to the city, I got a text from one half of my favorite sibling 1-2 punch. Liz informed me that her and the elusive V-Dub were hanging out in Springfield and were down with company. I couldn't imagine the chaos that would have ensued had the 4 of us had the chance to meet up. Liz and I are a combined 12 years of age max around our sisters, who are also goofy, but far more mature than us when we're around them. If you read this V-Dub, I am majorly disappointed we didn't rendezvous and hope to be a part of your Christmas schedule.
55) Speaking of sisters and just missing something....One of my favorite Jim-Pam moments of all time on The Office happens in a season 5 episode entitled "Stress Relief" when Pam's parents are having marital troubles. My Sis adores the Jim-Pam plot. We started the episode together, got interrupted for dinner, and never finished. Very sad.
56) Had some potent anti-virus software put on my IBM Thinkpad last year. Probably one of the more time-saving, problem-avoiding move I can remember making in a long time. While we're on the subject, my computer is better than your computer and it's not even close.
57) I wish that more people had blogs they kept up with consistently. I would settle for a once a week update on people's lives, thoughts and all that jazz. If people consolidated all the useless bits of information they put in their facebook status into one fluid blog entry, I would check it weekly.
58) My H-Town buddy Kyle "Ky-Ky" Ramplin just started getting into "The Wire" AKA the best show ever created. Yeeeeeeeeea Booooooooooooooooooooiiiiii!!!
59) Astonishing fact of the break...Total trips to Philly Flavors made: 0
60) Still baffled that the "Flavors" in Philly Flavors is spelled with an "F" and not a "Ph"
61) My Dad has a theory about Dunkin Donuts that they intentionally keep their coffee at scalding temperatures, and that the temps of a cup of joe elsewhere are more reasonable. We heard about this little nugget on Thanksgiving Day and truth be told, I'm still not sure exactly what to do with it.
62) This season of Dexter has not let down. What a money show...
63) I met a Chihuahua with 2 names, only one of which I can remember now (Mimi). This dog, owned by my French Aunt-in-Law's Mother, had more personality than I would normally expect for that breed. I enjoyed its company as I watched the football games at the G-Mom's house on Thanksgiving.
64) I miss having a dog around the house, but the Lewis fam is too busy to take care of a pet full time. Animals are just a step away from babies in the responsibility department.
65) Wendy's french fries are the worst of any fast food chain.
66) Wendy's Frosty, however, may be the best ikeem product a fast food place has to offer.
67) The weird thing about Thanksgiving is that besides a few family meals, most meals are on the go. You're catching up with different people, spending days shopping or driving, and spending nights who knows where. Besides the big turkey dinner and another meal or two with family, I was fending for myself.
68) My sleep schedule has been bad all year, and I can only imagine the break will make it worse.
69) Sleep schedules are annoying in general. I want to sleep when it's convenient not when my body tells me to.
70) This is the last Thanksgiving break I will have as a student. It's always a great break because you know that when you go back to school, you have one violently busy span and then you're totally done for the semester. I can smell the Christmas cookies from here...
71) I'm gonna be in the market for some new kicks sometime soon. The only sneaks I've rocked in 2009 have been Sambas. Great, but it'd be nice to have a compliment or 2 to them.
72) atdhe.net changed my life. Any sporting event for this kid living in a cable-less household. Thank you DJ!
73) Even if the Eagles makes the playoffs, they're going to get steam-rolled by whoever they play in the second round. Still, just get there Birds, and we'll cross that bridge when it comes.
74) I tried to brainstorm some book ideas over break to no avail. I got a couple of good collaborative ideas but I need a project I can craft when I have time to myself.
75) Three quarters of the way finished! I think this idea sounded better before I realized that "100" of anything is a healthy amount. But that's why I'm going to finish this post, to symbolize a good amount of writing I've done in 2009. I'm running (typing) on fumes at this point, zombie-eyed and not sure whether anyone who reads this will be able to make sense of it. haha, word...
76) I miss the Phillies.
77) When does it get cold nowadays? January? February? Does it get legitimately deathly-freezing-cold more than a few weeks a year anymore?
78) The Broad Street Tavern should have stayed a jazz bar like it originally was intended to be. We stopped by there on Thanksgiving Eve and it was all trend, no substance.
79) My Grandma's hubby is a great guy, really just a nice individual. Sometimes with the old-timers however, you don't know what will set them off. They're like ticking time bombs. The hear or see something that rubs them the wrong way and they're flipping out. It actually makes holidays more exciting as far as I'm concerned. Add to that the fact that there's absolutely no filter between brain and mouth and you've got yourself a recipe for an interesting family gathering.
80) Few things in this world kick me in the gut more than hearing that a cop got killed in cold blood. So you can imagine how I felt when I heard about the situation with the 4 officers in Washington state that got gunned down. Just awful. What does it take to make an individual do that.
81) Breezy noticed that Cadillac commercials always have really good background music in them and has been looking up the artists and songs and putting them on his Ipod. Very good call. Commercials, especially car ones, often sneak really good tunes behind their ad pitches. I'm now hyper aware of this when I got the tube on.
82) Man I'm dying to freestyle. I know people are sick of hearing me say it, and I know the next time I do it in public I'll probably end up looking like the biggest white boy ever, but goodness I've been listening to nothing but Jay-Z for the last week. This cracka is ready to spit.
83) Speaking of looking like the biggest white boy ever, post-reunion late night dance off at Roberto's was a pretty darn hilarious portion of the break.
84) I'm actually surprised people weren't dancing at the reunion itself now that I think about it. Just a plethora of very interesting pool games going on. Pool tables are incredibly clutch to have at reunions. I feel like they're a natural ice breaker for people who aren't quite the best at making small talk. Maybe I'm overthinking this, maybe not...
85) My go-to look recently has been the collared shirt under the long-sleeve one. I really think wearing my glasses with that ensemble will complete the look, but have yet to try it out. I usually only bust out the glasses around bedtime cause I see better in the C-lenses.
86) Jake informed me that you can get Black Friday discounts online. That's news to this guy. Doesn't that kind of defeat the whole purpose, or at least the appeal of it? Speaking of which...
87) My sister and Mom go shopping a lot together...I would venture to say that Karen and Kirsten are to shopping what me and my Paps are to reading/writing/loafing around the house: consummate pros.
88) I don't know why I didn't blog more over this break. I could've snuck a few in somewhere along the line. Bah, guess I'm making up for it now with this 2-part monster.
89) This one is a hair on the personal side, but we're getting towards the sentimental portion of this piece, not to mention almost anyone who would read this would understand my situation, probably because I've talked about it with them personally....Anyways...I think there is a twisted satisfaction when an ex-significant other wronged you and, after realizing what you meant to them, they want to have you back in their life. The problem is that deep down there's no satisfaction for me anymore, I just feel like a big jerk for some reason...I would never be on the side of people who say you shouldn't be in a serious relationship till you're engaged/married, but I think I could at least see where they were coming from.
90) Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year and from this point to #100 I'll get all gushy about things relating to this time of year that I haven't tackled already in points 1-89.
91) I love my fam. Couldn't be more thankful for them. It takes a special group of people to handle the zaniness that is Ryan Lewis, and they've mastered the art. Over the years I've really seen how much they each bring to the table and how blessed I am to have them around.
92) Football, football, football, football, football, breathing, football.
93) I love the fall. Probably gets the nod for my favorite season slightly edging out summer. Springs amazing too. Eh, I love em all truthfully. But a beautiful fall day is always a terrific compliment to being off from work and school.
94) Foooooooooooood! Food! Food! I am an eater. Thursday was the culmination of a week of big-time grubbing. Yum.
95) I always forget how lucky I am to have the most incredible neighbors. I wrote in Part 1 about my neighbor across the street who passed away over break. Since I've lived in one house my entire life, I just assume most people are crazy about their neighbors, when in actuality, alot of people's neighbors drive them crazy. Mine are the best and it's always tough to see one of the Woodstock Street Fam change residences or pass away.
96) Death transitions well into religion. As I always say, despite whatever struggles I have with faith and however uncomfortable I feel talking about my personal walk with all but a few individuals, I still feel blessed beyond measure just to know Truth.
97) I've been realizing recently what a crossroads I'm coming to in my life. Yes, I can be overly dramatic at times about certain issues, but I think when you're talking about a short span of years that will shape the entire rest of your life, I don't think it's possible to be too outspoken. I have had a Christianity blog I need to write for awhile now, and hope that the words will come to me. I think as awkward as some may feel reading it, I'd be foolish not to utilize this forum to my advantage. Maybe I'll ruffle some feathers. Maybe no one will care at all. But it is in the works.
98) I could go on in an emotional essay of sorts about how much my homies and homettes mean to me, but I'll just sum them all up with my favorite 50 cent quote, "I love ya like a fat kid love cake"
99) I'm thankful for your readership, and for suffering through 99 irrelevant facts spewed from my brain.
100) I am thankful this blog is over, I didn't realize how long it would take.
Man vs. 100. Man wins.
51) Big ups to the Sister for driving a crew to the reunion from Robbie's pad on Saturday. Big ups also to Scott for having a poop on Saturday that changed the course of the night. The dump prevented him from making it to Rob's to catch a ride out with my Sis, which then forced him to drive to the reunion, making it possible for us to stay later and leave with him instead of taking the earlier ride back with the Sis.
52) Ned (New Edgy DJ), Dan Lacey's alter-ego, provided some of the most entertaining moments of the week. If you know him though, you've certainly come to expect that by now.
53) No, I will not go into detail about #52. That's confidential information.
54) Missed encounter of the week: Kirsten and I were driving out to meet up with the parental units and a couple church friends to see "Blindside" but were blindsided by the news that the movie sold out. We were at Marple 10 in Springfield, and decided the best move would be to drive home. Just as we were getting back to the city, I got a text from one half of my favorite sibling 1-2 punch. Liz informed me that her and the elusive V-Dub were hanging out in Springfield and were down with company. I couldn't imagine the chaos that would have ensued had the 4 of us had the chance to meet up. Liz and I are a combined 12 years of age max around our sisters, who are also goofy, but far more mature than us when we're around them. If you read this V-Dub, I am majorly disappointed we didn't rendezvous and hope to be a part of your Christmas schedule.
55) Speaking of sisters and just missing something....One of my favorite Jim-Pam moments of all time on The Office happens in a season 5 episode entitled "Stress Relief" when Pam's parents are having marital troubles. My Sis adores the Jim-Pam plot. We started the episode together, got interrupted for dinner, and never finished. Very sad.
56) Had some potent anti-virus software put on my IBM Thinkpad last year. Probably one of the more time-saving, problem-avoiding move I can remember making in a long time. While we're on the subject, my computer is better than your computer and it's not even close.
57) I wish that more people had blogs they kept up with consistently. I would settle for a once a week update on people's lives, thoughts and all that jazz. If people consolidated all the useless bits of information they put in their facebook status into one fluid blog entry, I would check it weekly.
58) My H-Town buddy Kyle "Ky-Ky" Ramplin just started getting into "The Wire" AKA the best show ever created. Yeeeeeeeeea Booooooooooooooooooooiiiiii!!!
59) Astonishing fact of the break...Total trips to Philly Flavors made: 0
60) Still baffled that the "Flavors" in Philly Flavors is spelled with an "F" and not a "Ph"
61) My Dad has a theory about Dunkin Donuts that they intentionally keep their coffee at scalding temperatures, and that the temps of a cup of joe elsewhere are more reasonable. We heard about this little nugget on Thanksgiving Day and truth be told, I'm still not sure exactly what to do with it.
62) This season of Dexter has not let down. What a money show...
63) I met a Chihuahua with 2 names, only one of which I can remember now (Mimi). This dog, owned by my French Aunt-in-Law's Mother, had more personality than I would normally expect for that breed. I enjoyed its company as I watched the football games at the G-Mom's house on Thanksgiving.
64) I miss having a dog around the house, but the Lewis fam is too busy to take care of a pet full time. Animals are just a step away from babies in the responsibility department.
65) Wendy's french fries are the worst of any fast food chain.
66) Wendy's Frosty, however, may be the best ikeem product a fast food place has to offer.
67) The weird thing about Thanksgiving is that besides a few family meals, most meals are on the go. You're catching up with different people, spending days shopping or driving, and spending nights who knows where. Besides the big turkey dinner and another meal or two with family, I was fending for myself.
68) My sleep schedule has been bad all year, and I can only imagine the break will make it worse.
69) Sleep schedules are annoying in general. I want to sleep when it's convenient not when my body tells me to.
70) This is the last Thanksgiving break I will have as a student. It's always a great break because you know that when you go back to school, you have one violently busy span and then you're totally done for the semester. I can smell the Christmas cookies from here...
71) I'm gonna be in the market for some new kicks sometime soon. The only sneaks I've rocked in 2009 have been Sambas. Great, but it'd be nice to have a compliment or 2 to them.
72) atdhe.net changed my life. Any sporting event for this kid living in a cable-less household. Thank you DJ!
73) Even if the Eagles makes the playoffs, they're going to get steam-rolled by whoever they play in the second round. Still, just get there Birds, and we'll cross that bridge when it comes.
74) I tried to brainstorm some book ideas over break to no avail. I got a couple of good collaborative ideas but I need a project I can craft when I have time to myself.
75) Three quarters of the way finished! I think this idea sounded better before I realized that "100" of anything is a healthy amount. But that's why I'm going to finish this post, to symbolize a good amount of writing I've done in 2009. I'm running (typing) on fumes at this point, zombie-eyed and not sure whether anyone who reads this will be able to make sense of it. haha, word...
76) I miss the Phillies.
77) When does it get cold nowadays? January? February? Does it get legitimately deathly-freezing-cold more than a few weeks a year anymore?
78) The Broad Street Tavern should have stayed a jazz bar like it originally was intended to be. We stopped by there on Thanksgiving Eve and it was all trend, no substance.
79) My Grandma's hubby is a great guy, really just a nice individual. Sometimes with the old-timers however, you don't know what will set them off. They're like ticking time bombs. The hear or see something that rubs them the wrong way and they're flipping out. It actually makes holidays more exciting as far as I'm concerned. Add to that the fact that there's absolutely no filter between brain and mouth and you've got yourself a recipe for an interesting family gathering.
80) Few things in this world kick me in the gut more than hearing that a cop got killed in cold blood. So you can imagine how I felt when I heard about the situation with the 4 officers in Washington state that got gunned down. Just awful. What does it take to make an individual do that.
81) Breezy noticed that Cadillac commercials always have really good background music in them and has been looking up the artists and songs and putting them on his Ipod. Very good call. Commercials, especially car ones, often sneak really good tunes behind their ad pitches. I'm now hyper aware of this when I got the tube on.
82) Man I'm dying to freestyle. I know people are sick of hearing me say it, and I know the next time I do it in public I'll probably end up looking like the biggest white boy ever, but goodness I've been listening to nothing but Jay-Z for the last week. This cracka is ready to spit.
83) Speaking of looking like the biggest white boy ever, post-reunion late night dance off at Roberto's was a pretty darn hilarious portion of the break.
84) I'm actually surprised people weren't dancing at the reunion itself now that I think about it. Just a plethora of very interesting pool games going on. Pool tables are incredibly clutch to have at reunions. I feel like they're a natural ice breaker for people who aren't quite the best at making small talk. Maybe I'm overthinking this, maybe not...
85) My go-to look recently has been the collared shirt under the long-sleeve one. I really think wearing my glasses with that ensemble will complete the look, but have yet to try it out. I usually only bust out the glasses around bedtime cause I see better in the C-lenses.
86) Jake informed me that you can get Black Friday discounts online. That's news to this guy. Doesn't that kind of defeat the whole purpose, or at least the appeal of it? Speaking of which...
87) My sister and Mom go shopping a lot together...I would venture to say that Karen and Kirsten are to shopping what me and my Paps are to reading/writing/loafing around the house: consummate pros.
88) I don't know why I didn't blog more over this break. I could've snuck a few in somewhere along the line. Bah, guess I'm making up for it now with this 2-part monster.
89) This one is a hair on the personal side, but we're getting towards the sentimental portion of this piece, not to mention almost anyone who would read this would understand my situation, probably because I've talked about it with them personally....Anyways...I think there is a twisted satisfaction when an ex-significant other wronged you and, after realizing what you meant to them, they want to have you back in their life. The problem is that deep down there's no satisfaction for me anymore, I just feel like a big jerk for some reason...I would never be on the side of people who say you shouldn't be in a serious relationship till you're engaged/married, but I think I could at least see where they were coming from.
90) Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year and from this point to #100 I'll get all gushy about things relating to this time of year that I haven't tackled already in points 1-89.
91) I love my fam. Couldn't be more thankful for them. It takes a special group of people to handle the zaniness that is Ryan Lewis, and they've mastered the art. Over the years I've really seen how much they each bring to the table and how blessed I am to have them around.
92) Football, football, football, football, football, breathing, football.
93) I love the fall. Probably gets the nod for my favorite season slightly edging out summer. Springs amazing too. Eh, I love em all truthfully. But a beautiful fall day is always a terrific compliment to being off from work and school.
94) Foooooooooooood! Food! Food! I am an eater. Thursday was the culmination of a week of big-time grubbing. Yum.
95) I always forget how lucky I am to have the most incredible neighbors. I wrote in Part 1 about my neighbor across the street who passed away over break. Since I've lived in one house my entire life, I just assume most people are crazy about their neighbors, when in actuality, alot of people's neighbors drive them crazy. Mine are the best and it's always tough to see one of the Woodstock Street Fam change residences or pass away.
96) Death transitions well into religion. As I always say, despite whatever struggles I have with faith and however uncomfortable I feel talking about my personal walk with all but a few individuals, I still feel blessed beyond measure just to know Truth.
97) I've been realizing recently what a crossroads I'm coming to in my life. Yes, I can be overly dramatic at times about certain issues, but I think when you're talking about a short span of years that will shape the entire rest of your life, I don't think it's possible to be too outspoken. I have had a Christianity blog I need to write for awhile now, and hope that the words will come to me. I think as awkward as some may feel reading it, I'd be foolish not to utilize this forum to my advantage. Maybe I'll ruffle some feathers. Maybe no one will care at all. But it is in the works.
98) I could go on in an emotional essay of sorts about how much my homies and homettes mean to me, but I'll just sum them all up with my favorite 50 cent quote, "I love ya like a fat kid love cake"
99) I'm thankful for your readership, and for suffering through 99 irrelevant facts spewed from my brain.
100) I am thankful this blog is over, I didn't realize how long it would take.
Man vs. 100. Man wins.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Century Mark (Part 1)
This is blog entry number 100 for the year...100!!!
In honor of hitting this monumental landmark, I will share 100 random thoughts/stories from what was a ridiculously busy Thanksgiving break. Actually, this could get absurdly lengthy so I'll do it in two installments, which may be completely defeating the purpose as only installment #1 is the actual hundredth blog. Whatever. Let's go...
1) Lorenzo's pizza is amazing. I somehow forgot how delicious it was until this past week, where I put down a good amount of pie leaving Mako's. Which leads me to...
2) Mako's is a very polarizing place. It's a bar at 3rd and South with a "divey" feel to it. Cheap drinks, very interesting assortment of people, unique atmosphere. You either love it or you don't. Speaking for myself, any place that's affordable and has pool tables is going to be a place I enjoy.
3) My 5-year class reunion was a blast, and after a bit of early social discomfort, I got settled and really had a great time.
4) I took a picture and chatted with a person I literally did not say one word to in high school...that's the interesting part about reunions, stuff like that happens.
5) The Fox and the Hound, the reunion spot, is a pretty solid establishment. I wouldn't go there unless there was an event like the one on Saturday, but for that type of shindig it's not too bad.
6) I LOVE Traditions! This is one of the reasons I think I will be a fantastic and lame father simultaneously.
7) Me and a few friends started a tradition a few years ago that we didn't keep up with. The night before Turkey Day we cook up a steak dinner and toast with Yuengling Lager bottles. It's one of my favorite nights of the entire year, and I couldn't be happier that we started it back up.
8) Good cuts of steak are pricey. I look forward to having more money to spend on our Thanksgiving Eve dinner next year.
9) I owe Carver mac and cheese that I said would be part of the steak dinner.
10) I owe Carver a Lorenzo's slice.
11) I think at some point the IOUs will be so numerous that I will be forced to save his life to eradicate the debt.
12) Robbie's cuz Matt is one of the nicest dudes ever and I was lucky to spend a night with the cousins. He insisted on taking a photo on his phone to remember the night, no matter how it came out. I'm glad he did.
13) Robbie and I high-fived at one point because we were on a mind boggling streak of consecutive nights spent chilling together.
14) Can anyone fill in some of the details of Wednesday night? Not all of the pieces to that crazy puzzle were found. I suppose they will remain a mystery.
15) I have now almost come to blows with 2 full-fledged Donovan McNabb supporters in the last 7 days. Both of them were cootie-carriers aka girls.
16) The Office has become the gift and the curse for me. It's my current TV obsession and I share it with friends and family alike. It gives me countless laughs and more importantly countless reality escapes when necessary. At the same time, it has placed unrealistic expectations on relationships (the perfection that is Jim&Pam) and I always feel guilty not creating something with the time I use to watch it.
17) Its always better watching comedy with someone else that’s also really into it. ALWAYS. Everything is funnier, and you pick up on humor in things you wouldn't if viewing alone.
18) Gotta have gravy with turkey. It's a must. Had leftover turkey gravy-less on Friday and was far from thrilled with my meal.
19) "Love hurts, but sometimes it's a good hurt and it feels like I'm alive" is one of many Incubus lyrics that I really dig. It's simple yet heartfelt, and I'm a fan. For this reason, and despite everyone bashing newer Incubus albums nonstop, I remain very into them.
20) My voice is getting worse and worse. It's really frustrating actually because I fancy myself a decent singer when my voice isn't paralyzed by allergies, sickness or yelling. It's been messed up now for 3 months and I'm beginning to get really nervous about it.
21) I'm still working on covers of "Getaway Car" by Audioslave and "Sideways" by Citizen Cope. And I plan to continue perfecting my rendition of "break you off" by the Roots, which should sound strong whenever I do finish it.
22) I listened to a lot of Jay-Z over break, and I still haven't scraped the surface of his discography, which I downloaded a month ago. I can't get over how many tracks he's produced. And they're all money.
23) If I started another blog, it would be about television shows I'm into. Then I could justify my viewing hours with writings that paralleled them.
24) It's impossible to get to sleep when your feet are freezing.
25) I read a text-from-last-night that said something to effect of "New Moon broke the Dark Knight's record at the box office this weekend. I have officially lost my will to live." ...that sums up my feelings on the issue tremendously.
26) The idea of asking someone to do/not do something versus the idea that it should go without saying is one of life's awkward debates prone to gray areas, of which there are many.
27) Unintentionally going over the speed limit on I-95, a cop tore out from the middle of the highway and proceeded to tailgate me for a mile, just intimidating into getting my speed down. After he thought I got the message, he got off at an exit and I was off the hook. Phew...
28) Cherry Coke was delivered from God to humanity via someone's inventive mind. Rob and I had a 10 minute conversation lamenting the fact that we couldn't have come up with the blend, not because we would've made a killing but rather because we could've been the ones to give the gift of that magnificent taste to society. A definite highlight of the week...
29) Miller High Life < Any other beer
30) Bring back Iverson!!! The Sixers aren't going anywhere anytime soon, at least A.I. would draw some buzz back around the team. This was the big Philadelphia sports rumor going around all last week.
31) I was talking to a few guys at the reunion and we came to the conclusion that the majority of the female population is most attractive right before and immediately after college. I wonder if they analyze how the male population's looks fluctuate over the years.
32) I think I need a break from people. Too much being social and not enough time to just sit by myself.
33) Tiger Woods crashed his SUV over Thanksgiving break at 2:30 in the morning right outside of his house. I have never been a huge Tiger fan, he's just always struck me as pompous. I think he can do no wrong in the media's eyes, and that always annoys me. How this situation unfolds and how the sports world reacts as new facts surface about it will be interesting to follow.
34) I need to work out...
35) ...really badly
36) I decided I'm not going to run until the beginning of next semester. The winter months don't mix well with running to begin with. Add to that the chaos that is the holiday season and the finals push at school, and bundling up and sprinting around the hood isn't a top priority.
37) I rely far too much on my phone calendar to remind me of things. It's become essential for me to put life's little details in there so I don't forget things.
38) Mashed potatoes are growing on me. I mentioned this briefly in a previous blog, but it seemed fitting to mention again given the fact I had multiple meals with them over break.
39) I had one class last week from 8-9:20AM on Tuesday morning and was finished school for the week. That was clutch.
40) I saw Kelly Johnson for the first time in forever. I was so excited I picked her up and over the short fence that separated the patio from the street. Kelly J falls into the category of people whose sheer presence is enough to bring my mood up, regardless of how good or bad it already is.
41) My neighbor Les passed away over the break. He was elderly and very sick also, but that doesn't make it easy. Les was a great guy. Soft spoken and friendly, he (and his wife who passed a few years ago) was a mainstay of my block and it always gave me a sense of comfort to look across the block and see him on the front porch to exchange pleasantries with. I don't want to overstate our relationship, nor trivialize his death by putting it in this blog, but I certainly want to pay him some words of tribute. I love all my neighbors, and have really special places in my heart for the ones who were here when I was born and have remained to the present. He will be missed...
42) My Sister will put on "Hey Ma" by Cam'ron on the Ry-pod every time we have a drive of 30 or more minutes somewhere and we always have the same convo about how I told her when the song came out and was a Q102 hit that it was a guilty pleasure of mine. We enjoy sharing corny memories and she is an all-star at remembering the most random facts ever.
43) People are way too germaphobic these days. I get that swine flu exists and that people get sick this time of year, but occasionally I will have an allergy-related cough or sneeze in public and feel as though I just yelled FIIIIIIRE based on the reaction of passer-bys.
44) Had a John's Village Market hoagie made for me by none other than Johnny Vesper. We caught up for a few minutes, the perfect amount of time for people as familiar with each other as the two of us are. The hoagies there are great though, one of a gazillion food notes that are in this blog.
45) Went to A.C. with Jake and Dan, and was not informed that you're supposed to go black on the roulette table. I just hung out and watched the rest of the night, but did have an enjoyable time although I'm very sad to say that...
46) ...I'm pretty sure I didn't see the Havertown crew besides that at all over break. If there was a low-light of my time away from school and work, it was that I didn't get a chance to celebrate my favorite holiday with H-town
47) The Sunday nights after a vacation are always the most depressing hours for me. I have said time-and-time again that the best/worst parts of life aren't always the actions/events themselves, but rather the anticipation of their arrival in time. That's why even though I have a wicked case of the Mondays on occasion, I get even more severe cases of the Sunday Nights.
48) My 3-year old cousin is still not fully sold on me yet. I've been putting in the effort, and I'll get the occasional hug or contact of some sort with her, but the rest of the time she thinks I'm the monster that's come to eat all the birthday cake. See with most kids, you'd just say a regular monster to get the point across but she would be far more horrified by a creature taking her birthday cake than she would a creature attempting to take her life/soul/dignity (whatever monsters take). The girl loves her cake and is ambivalent on her 24-year-old cousin.
49) I get my ability to rant from my Paps, who is a pro. I'm still an amateur ranter. My theory is the older you get, the more informed you've become on a certain topic. Add to that the fact that you get more stuck in your ways as the years pass, and you quickly gain your professional ranter status.
50) I'm getting pickier about my wings by the day. I try to eat an inordinate amount of hot wings once a week, and since that only amounts to 52 meals out of 1,095 in a year, I'm getting way more selective about where they're from. I know what it takes for a wing to please me. I also know that I treat my wings like my women: Learn from past experiences, and never settle for anything short of excellence.
On that note, and before I take that analogy way out of hand, I will conclude Part 1.
Part 2 soon...
In honor of hitting this monumental landmark, I will share 100 random thoughts/stories from what was a ridiculously busy Thanksgiving break. Actually, this could get absurdly lengthy so I'll do it in two installments, which may be completely defeating the purpose as only installment #1 is the actual hundredth blog. Whatever. Let's go...
1) Lorenzo's pizza is amazing. I somehow forgot how delicious it was until this past week, where I put down a good amount of pie leaving Mako's. Which leads me to...
2) Mako's is a very polarizing place. It's a bar at 3rd and South with a "divey" feel to it. Cheap drinks, very interesting assortment of people, unique atmosphere. You either love it or you don't. Speaking for myself, any place that's affordable and has pool tables is going to be a place I enjoy.
3) My 5-year class reunion was a blast, and after a bit of early social discomfort, I got settled and really had a great time.
4) I took a picture and chatted with a person I literally did not say one word to in high school...that's the interesting part about reunions, stuff like that happens.
5) The Fox and the Hound, the reunion spot, is a pretty solid establishment. I wouldn't go there unless there was an event like the one on Saturday, but for that type of shindig it's not too bad.
6) I LOVE Traditions! This is one of the reasons I think I will be a fantastic and lame father simultaneously.
7) Me and a few friends started a tradition a few years ago that we didn't keep up with. The night before Turkey Day we cook up a steak dinner and toast with Yuengling Lager bottles. It's one of my favorite nights of the entire year, and I couldn't be happier that we started it back up.
8) Good cuts of steak are pricey. I look forward to having more money to spend on our Thanksgiving Eve dinner next year.
9) I owe Carver mac and cheese that I said would be part of the steak dinner.
10) I owe Carver a Lorenzo's slice.
11) I think at some point the IOUs will be so numerous that I will be forced to save his life to eradicate the debt.
12) Robbie's cuz Matt is one of the nicest dudes ever and I was lucky to spend a night with the cousins. He insisted on taking a photo on his phone to remember the night, no matter how it came out. I'm glad he did.
13) Robbie and I high-fived at one point because we were on a mind boggling streak of consecutive nights spent chilling together.
14) Can anyone fill in some of the details of Wednesday night? Not all of the pieces to that crazy puzzle were found. I suppose they will remain a mystery.
15) I have now almost come to blows with 2 full-fledged Donovan McNabb supporters in the last 7 days. Both of them were cootie-carriers aka girls.
16) The Office has become the gift and the curse for me. It's my current TV obsession and I share it with friends and family alike. It gives me countless laughs and more importantly countless reality escapes when necessary. At the same time, it has placed unrealistic expectations on relationships (the perfection that is Jim&Pam) and I always feel guilty not creating something with the time I use to watch it.
17) Its always better watching comedy with someone else that’s also really into it. ALWAYS. Everything is funnier, and you pick up on humor in things you wouldn't if viewing alone.
18) Gotta have gravy with turkey. It's a must. Had leftover turkey gravy-less on Friday and was far from thrilled with my meal.
19) "Love hurts, but sometimes it's a good hurt and it feels like I'm alive" is one of many Incubus lyrics that I really dig. It's simple yet heartfelt, and I'm a fan. For this reason, and despite everyone bashing newer Incubus albums nonstop, I remain very into them.
20) My voice is getting worse and worse. It's really frustrating actually because I fancy myself a decent singer when my voice isn't paralyzed by allergies, sickness or yelling. It's been messed up now for 3 months and I'm beginning to get really nervous about it.
21) I'm still working on covers of "Getaway Car" by Audioslave and "Sideways" by Citizen Cope. And I plan to continue perfecting my rendition of "break you off" by the Roots, which should sound strong whenever I do finish it.
22) I listened to a lot of Jay-Z over break, and I still haven't scraped the surface of his discography, which I downloaded a month ago. I can't get over how many tracks he's produced. And they're all money.
23) If I started another blog, it would be about television shows I'm into. Then I could justify my viewing hours with writings that paralleled them.
24) It's impossible to get to sleep when your feet are freezing.
25) I read a text-from-last-night that said something to effect of "New Moon broke the Dark Knight's record at the box office this weekend. I have officially lost my will to live." ...that sums up my feelings on the issue tremendously.
26) The idea of asking someone to do/not do something versus the idea that it should go without saying is one of life's awkward debates prone to gray areas, of which there are many.
27) Unintentionally going over the speed limit on I-95, a cop tore out from the middle of the highway and proceeded to tailgate me for a mile, just intimidating into getting my speed down. After he thought I got the message, he got off at an exit and I was off the hook. Phew...
28) Cherry Coke was delivered from God to humanity via someone's inventive mind. Rob and I had a 10 minute conversation lamenting the fact that we couldn't have come up with the blend, not because we would've made a killing but rather because we could've been the ones to give the gift of that magnificent taste to society. A definite highlight of the week...
29) Miller High Life < Any other beer
30) Bring back Iverson!!! The Sixers aren't going anywhere anytime soon, at least A.I. would draw some buzz back around the team. This was the big Philadelphia sports rumor going around all last week.
31) I was talking to a few guys at the reunion and we came to the conclusion that the majority of the female population is most attractive right before and immediately after college. I wonder if they analyze how the male population's looks fluctuate over the years.
32) I think I need a break from people. Too much being social and not enough time to just sit by myself.
33) Tiger Woods crashed his SUV over Thanksgiving break at 2:30 in the morning right outside of his house. I have never been a huge Tiger fan, he's just always struck me as pompous. I think he can do no wrong in the media's eyes, and that always annoys me. How this situation unfolds and how the sports world reacts as new facts surface about it will be interesting to follow.
34) I need to work out...
35) ...really badly
36) I decided I'm not going to run until the beginning of next semester. The winter months don't mix well with running to begin with. Add to that the chaos that is the holiday season and the finals push at school, and bundling up and sprinting around the hood isn't a top priority.
37) I rely far too much on my phone calendar to remind me of things. It's become essential for me to put life's little details in there so I don't forget things.
38) Mashed potatoes are growing on me. I mentioned this briefly in a previous blog, but it seemed fitting to mention again given the fact I had multiple meals with them over break.
39) I had one class last week from 8-9:20AM on Tuesday morning and was finished school for the week. That was clutch.
40) I saw Kelly Johnson for the first time in forever. I was so excited I picked her up and over the short fence that separated the patio from the street. Kelly J falls into the category of people whose sheer presence is enough to bring my mood up, regardless of how good or bad it already is.
41) My neighbor Les passed away over the break. He was elderly and very sick also, but that doesn't make it easy. Les was a great guy. Soft spoken and friendly, he (and his wife who passed a few years ago) was a mainstay of my block and it always gave me a sense of comfort to look across the block and see him on the front porch to exchange pleasantries with. I don't want to overstate our relationship, nor trivialize his death by putting it in this blog, but I certainly want to pay him some words of tribute. I love all my neighbors, and have really special places in my heart for the ones who were here when I was born and have remained to the present. He will be missed...
42) My Sister will put on "Hey Ma" by Cam'ron on the Ry-pod every time we have a drive of 30 or more minutes somewhere and we always have the same convo about how I told her when the song came out and was a Q102 hit that it was a guilty pleasure of mine. We enjoy sharing corny memories and she is an all-star at remembering the most random facts ever.
43) People are way too germaphobic these days. I get that swine flu exists and that people get sick this time of year, but occasionally I will have an allergy-related cough or sneeze in public and feel as though I just yelled FIIIIIIRE based on the reaction of passer-bys.
44) Had a John's Village Market hoagie made for me by none other than Johnny Vesper. We caught up for a few minutes, the perfect amount of time for people as familiar with each other as the two of us are. The hoagies there are great though, one of a gazillion food notes that are in this blog.
45) Went to A.C. with Jake and Dan, and was not informed that you're supposed to go black on the roulette table. I just hung out and watched the rest of the night, but did have an enjoyable time although I'm very sad to say that...
46) ...I'm pretty sure I didn't see the Havertown crew besides that at all over break. If there was a low-light of my time away from school and work, it was that I didn't get a chance to celebrate my favorite holiday with H-town
47) The Sunday nights after a vacation are always the most depressing hours for me. I have said time-and-time again that the best/worst parts of life aren't always the actions/events themselves, but rather the anticipation of their arrival in time. That's why even though I have a wicked case of the Mondays on occasion, I get even more severe cases of the Sunday Nights.
48) My 3-year old cousin is still not fully sold on me yet. I've been putting in the effort, and I'll get the occasional hug or contact of some sort with her, but the rest of the time she thinks I'm the monster that's come to eat all the birthday cake. See with most kids, you'd just say a regular monster to get the point across but she would be far more horrified by a creature taking her birthday cake than she would a creature attempting to take her life/soul/dignity (whatever monsters take). The girl loves her cake and is ambivalent on her 24-year-old cousin.
49) I get my ability to rant from my Paps, who is a pro. I'm still an amateur ranter. My theory is the older you get, the more informed you've become on a certain topic. Add to that the fact that you get more stuck in your ways as the years pass, and you quickly gain your professional ranter status.
50) I'm getting pickier about my wings by the day. I try to eat an inordinate amount of hot wings once a week, and since that only amounts to 52 meals out of 1,095 in a year, I'm getting way more selective about where they're from. I know what it takes for a wing to please me. I also know that I treat my wings like my women: Learn from past experiences, and never settle for anything short of excellence.
On that note, and before I take that analogy way out of hand, I will conclude Part 1.
Part 2 soon...
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