Book 5 of 52 -- Nick Hornby's SLAM

One of my favorite authors Nick Hornby enters the Young Adult Book market for the first time with Slam.

To be honest, with the exception of a teenage narrator, this book isn’t too different from Hornby’s other novels (which is a good thing).

The story is about 16-year old Sam who accidentally impregnates his girlfriend Alicia.

At first he wants to run away (and does, spending a humorous overnight in Hastings) but turns instead for advice to his poster of skateboard star Tony Hawk.

Through his magical powers, TH whizzes Sam to the future on three different occasions to show that his life will not be as bleak as it appears, albeit still difficult.

The book is very touching, honest, and funny approach to an all too common problem of teen pregnancy.

It focuses on the life-changing decisions that must be made and the resilience of human beings to adapt to changes.

This was a book worth reading although it could be frustrating at times.

Good to Be Home

You have NO IDEA how much.

Bowman's Super Bowl Boxes

Every year, my buddy Chris runs a Super Bowl Boxes Game. This year is no different, but he is having some website problems.

Feel free to email him at stncld727@gmail.com if you want to get in on the action.

Here are his official rules.

For those of you who have entered before, you know mine won't hurt the wallet and is easy to follow. For those who still are unsure here's a quick breakdown. You take the score at the end of each quarter of the SuperBowl. The last digit of each team's score is the important thing. You then find the team and that number and match it up with the other team's last digit.For example: When the Patriots play the Giants (they suck) in the SuperBowl this year, the score at the end of the 1st quarter is 10-7 Patriots. You would take the 0 for the Patriots and the 7 for the Giants (they suck) and see where they meet on the chart. That box wins that quarter. We repeat this for all the rest of the quarters. Halftime and the end of the game are worth the most.

Just email HIM at stncld727@gmail.com with the amount of boxes you want and the numbers you want (1-100). He will let you know if they are available or send you a copy of the excel spreadsheet.

It will run you 10 beans per box... and I already have my two boxes 19 and 6... so don't even think about asking for those.

PS -- His website is stncld727.blogspot.com

Only One More Day....

... Until Tucker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Housekeeping (8 Words)

Housekeeping!!!!

I'm pooping!!!

I'm sleeping!!!

Just go away!!!!

I Learned Something Today

The singular is y'all.

The plural is all y'all.

Thank you for listenting.

Rutgers Screws Up Big East... Again

I need to travel more... but only when Rutgers' Men's Basketball teams play ranked teams.

They upset 18th ranked VIllanova a few days ago and yesterday, they upset #17 Pittsburgh.

Here's what's sad.

I have ESPN Classic in my room here so I watched it.

I wouldn't have been able to watch it at home.

So sad....but GO RUTGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And so the meetings begin... (Eight Words - steakbellie Tribute)

Mindless meetings
Technical jargon
Eyes droopy

Sleeeeeepy time

Celebrity Run In

My annual January meeting almost went without a celebrity meeting.

Two years ago in Puerto Rico... it was Romeo Cornell.

Last year in Dominican Republic... it was Robinson Cano.

This year... in my travels from St. Thomas to Phoenix... it was Maggie Gyllenhaal.

I rule...

Second Destination

17 hours traveling.

Awake at 3:30 AM EST.

Three flights.

One five hour flight sitting next to a crying baby and two parents who did nothing about it.

7 hours sitting around airports.

A run in with US Customs.

Finally arrived at my second hotel in Phoenix.

Only One More Year

Yay... certain blessings... certain blessings.

Is It Sexist...

... to get irritated in articles about the Rutgers women's basketball team and read about "man to man" defense?

Shouldn't it be "woman to woman"?

Just thinking.

Two Work Trips in a Row

Hasta Pasta kids...

I am out of here for two weeks.

I will probably blog a bunch... but you never know...

I know I will read a lot of books...thus pissing off Steakbellie and the Paperboy's wife and even Paperboy himselg... and they should be pushing people to read more...

They have their vices... competitive eating and Rock Band... but... alas...

Go me!

Three Word Movie Reviews

3:10 to Yuma -- That Was Good!

Bones: Season One -- Fun, Thoughtful... Good

Bride of Chucky -- Nice Return Chucky!!!

Child's Play -- So Bad.... AWESOME (Editor's Note -- Child's Play and its successors -- especially the latter ones -- are examples of movies that are bad, but are made well.)

Child's Play 2 -- Not So Good...

Child's Play 3 -- Not the Best...

Eagle vs. Shark -- Surprisingly Weird Sweet

Freddy vs. Jason -- Completely... Totally... Awesome

Friday the 13th Jason Takes Manhattan (8) -- Getting Tired Now

The Goonies -- Still Lots O'Fun

The Greatest Game Ever Played -- Blech... Blech... Blech...

How I Met Your Mother: Season One -- Slow Start.......................Good!

Jason Goes To Hell The Final Friday (9) -- Just Plain Poop....

Jason X -- Nice Reviving Try

Joshua -- Dark...Spooky... Neat

Nightmare on Elm Street -- Still Good Time

Nightmare on Elm Street 2 -- Not Good Sequel

Nightmare on Elm Street 3 -- Much Better Sequel

Resident Evil: Extinction -- Served Its Purpose

Seed of Chucky -- Stupid... Schlocky... AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shoot 'Em Up -- Lots of Fun

Sunshine -- Eh...It's Fine

Sweeney Todd -- Beautiful Bloody Time

War -- Wow... Violent Mess!!!

White Noise 2 -- Actually... It's Entertaining...

Rock of Love TWO!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooo... I debated long and hard (get it?) whether or not I would blog about Rock of Love 2... as I felt that Rock of Love was the greatest show of all time... in terms of awesome reality shows.

I lost... and Bret won.

Bret Michaels is awesome and now... we meet his 20 ladies to choose from...



These chicks are amazingly gorgeous and trashy all at the smae time... and we have only met a few of them so far.

(My wife was thinking of going on a business trip a day early for an important meeting in DC tomorrow -- today -- but she stayed home so that we could watch this together... I love that about her...)

WOW!!! Big John the Security Guy just tested out the stripper pole. Awesome...

What a start! Bret picked 16 women and left 4 on the porch in front of the house... that was so frigging mean... and I actually feel sorry for them.... but wait!!! They are his VIPs! Trickery... trickery...trickery... or should I say?... CHICANERY?!?!?!? What? none of the girls know what I am talking about with that big ass word? Too bad...

"I am going to rock the stripper pole." One of the girls actually said that.

Angelique can barely speak English... and she is subtitled.



(Side note... on our cable system... when the phone rings.. the Caller ID appears on the tv screen. That is so incredibly awesome and a new feature in the last week or so...)

Angelique was the first one to take off her clothes... She is French... and icky...

Peyton... Destiney... Ashley... Catherine...Niki... Aubry... .... .... disgusting........

Kristey Joe is a germophobe... uh oh...

Sooo... 18 minutes ... my first assessment is... oh boy... these women are just incredibly trashy and disgusting... AWESOME.

Now... he is interviewing the girls....

Destiney... is a psycho... (Ummm... did the Golden Gloves nominations get announced yet...) See below...



Daisy is a tatooed weirdo looking chick... She thinks there si something there..

This is making me smile... they are all looking to catch a man... yet... they are engaging in some lesbian activity... god bless america... (lower case america...)

Shouldn't I be watching... The Wire?

Ohhhhh!!!! wow... it's a repeat... there are outrageous stripper type chicks... and they are bonding with each other... THEN! there are shy and reserved chicks... and THEY ARE BONDING with each other... Go figure...

"I went to use the bathroom and I saw hot sexy girls having fun," (He was watching girls on a stripper pole.) "I could hold it."

Elimination Time... This is making me happy... because... I can't keep up with all these women... Who's staying? Probably not Courtney... she was too drunk to meet Bret and slept through the elimination ceremony...

Megan, Daisy, Destiney, Aubrey, Peyton, Inna, Roxy, Corey, Jessica, Sarah, Catherine, Kristey Joe, Nicky, Angelique, and the last one?..... COMMERCIAL!!! Who's last? Jackie... she's got drama... and she WENT home!... the Rock of Love drama... continues... who does Bret keep instead? COMMERCIAL!!!! Wow... Ambre... (Tangentwoman hates her... funny)

What challenges are in store for the contestants this season? Pig catching... roller derby... horse riding...dancing...mud football... Peep Show?... crying... car racing...

This is going to be an incredibly awesome train wreck....

Silly Jaguars

I thought if any team was going to beat the Patriots, it would be the Jaguars since they matched up so well with them.

Death Pool Blog -- New and Improved

You all should keep regular tabs on teh new Death Pool blog that we have set up.

It's to the right and it will updated regularly and awesomely.

Yes...

Awesomely.

It's in the right column in perpetuity-adoodle.

Book 4 of 52 -- Michael Connelly's A Darkness More Than Night

Let's see if I can piss off Steakbellie or FBT's wife with this.

Yes... I just finished this last night.

So poo poo on you.

Harry Bosch, the Los Angeles police detective, protagonist of a number of Connelly's earlier books, is joined by Terry McCaleb, former FBI crime-scene profiler, introduced in Blood Work (to be read on my trips...)

Harry is immersed in testifying at the murder trial of a Hollywood film director, Jack Storey.

When McCaleb, retired and living a quiet life with a new wife and two young children, is asked by a former colleague to look at the investigation materials of a recent gruesome homicide, he realizes just how much he misses his vocation.

Certain details in Harry's life fit in well with the profile Terry is developing of a ritualistic killer on this side.

The plot is intricate, and the twists and turns keep coming, but it is so well done, and the characters are so vivid, that confusion isn't a problem.

Despite its length, this involving book is a fast read with "can't put it down" appeal.

It's scrumdillyicious...

The Michael Connelly books are not "quick reads" in terms of simplisity, but they are good and flow extremely well so it makes them easy to read even with their complexity.

Book 3 of 52 -- Michael Connelly's Angels Flight

First of all... Angels is spelled right.

Second of all... I am leaving on a long ass trip that will find me with an ENORMOUS amount of time to read. I will be gone for two weeks and there will be one full day of travelling where I will be on a plane or in an airport for 15 hours... straight. Soooo.... I have a lot of the Michael Connelly books in paperback in hand... except for three of them. Those three... I got from the library...and I wanted to finish them first.... This is the second one of the three... and I am pretty close to finishing the third one at time of print....

Third of all... this book started out as another excellent murder mystery for one of my new favorite mystery characters.... Harry Bosch. A prolific black lawyer was shot to death probably by a cop as the lawyer sued the LA police force a lot on racial issues.

Connelly focussed a lot of the attention and effort on the post Rodney King era and how tense it was in Los Angeles at this time.

Then.... it took a pretty messed up and awesome twist that had me turning the pages like crazy....

This was easily Connelly's most ambitious novel for Harry Bosch up to this point....

If you can only ready one Michael Connelly book in your life... this is the one to read.

Seriously.

See Ray Run

I'll miss you, and I will probably draft you as my last pick in FFL... just because.

J.K Simmons -- One of The Best Actors Out There

Tangentwoman and I went to see Juno recently... and yes... it is one of the greatest movies that we have ever seen.

Paperboy wrote about its awesomeness...

Mercimek wrote about its awesomeness... and even put up the really fun music up on her blog...

I think even Minnams wrote about it in between her house repair blogs....

Something that struck me about the movie was how incredible every single actor was in the movie.

yes... ELlen Page was awesome... Michael Cera played geek well... Jason Bateman is one of my favorite actors.. (I never would have thought I would have said that 5 years ago...), but J.K. Simmons was the actor who gave me the most laughs and kicks throughout the entire film.

He played Ellen Page's (Juno's) father.

We had just seen him play Chief Pope on a special The Closer episode where he plays an awesomely interesting and cool character...

He also plays the newspaper editor in the Spider-Man movies.

We also loved his understated performance in a mediocre art flick we just watched called First Snow.

He is really one of my absolute favorite "That Guy!"s in the business.

I hope he keeps playing these great roles in years to come.

I know many of you are shaking your head and going... who the hell is he really talking about?

I haven't even mentioned his most famous role yet...

That racist f*ck on Oz who banged Tobias in the first episode -- Vernon Schillinger.

Yeup... from anal raping white supremacist a$$hole on Oz to sweet loving and caring father in Juno.

The man can act... oh yes he can.

DEXTER ON CBS

I must plea with you...

Please, please, please watch DEXTER.

Please, please, please DO NOT WATCH DEXTER ON CBS.

Rent the DVD's.

Get Showtime...

Dexter on CBS will be seriously chopped up and make the show less awesome.

From Zap2It.com "Starting in February, previously aired episodes of Showtime's serial killer drama will be moving to CBS in a heavily edited form. The premiere of the first season of "Dexter" will launch on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 10 p.m. ET, with the remainder of the debut season airing over the next 11 Sundays. "Dexter," which stars Michael C. Hall as a charismatic forensic expert/killer recently completed its second season on Showtime. The show's assortment of honors have included Golden Globe, Emmy and SAG nominations plus consecutive years on the AFI's list of the Top 10 outstanding TV programs. "

Another Reminder

Thanking My Teachers -- Smelmooo Style and Letter

I have been doing a lot of thinking recently and I decided that it would be appropriate to send some thank you notes to teachers I liked and who helped mold me when I was in high school.

I searched and searched on the internet and didn't find one example of a teacher thank you letter so I figured I would share them with you all and maybe someone in the blogosphere will find it and try it out themselves.

January 3, 2008

Dear Ms. Teacher,

It has been 15 years since I graduated from (Smelmooo's High School) and my life has taken a variety of positive twists and turns through the years that has led me to where I am now.

I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about who and what has helped to shape and mold who I am and how I look at things. I can safely say that my interaction with you during my time at (Smelmooo's High School) was one of those things.

So many kids leave high school with no sense of who they are and what they want to be when they grow up. They are never too young to work hard and be expected to do their best in school, and in life, for that matter. I can’t remember a lot of the specific facts of what you taught me, but I have a strong sense that when I left your class, I was a better thinker and evaluator overall.

I just wanted to take this time to thank you for your time and effort and let you know that your methods had a lasting impact on me for the past 15 years and for years to come.

Thank you for your time, and thank you for investing in my future by really making a difference in my life.

Sincerely,

Smelmooo, Class of 1992

The Wire

Dammit... I am going to be so frigging sad in NINE weeks and SIX days.

Michael Cera Makes Me Laugh

And... what this guy does to him.

Just a Reminder...

Book 2 of 52 -- Michael Connelly's Trunk Music

So far, I consider Trunk Music to be Michael Connelly's best.

The plot has so many surprising twists that even after you think you have it all figured out--you don't.

I despise predictability in a novel and Michael's books are never predictable.

With the Harry Bosch novels it isn't so much WHO did it as HOW and WHY delivered to you with breathtaking suspense and pulse pounding thrills.

I marvel at how Michael Connelly weaves together such inconsequential items as an uncashed gambling ticket, and a matchbook to reveal larger truths to Harry Bosch and to you, his readers, without spoiling the outcome.

Nobody or no thing throws Harry Bosch off the scent for long.

Trunk Music is pure magic and if this review helps put you on the path of millions of others who love Michael's books then I've done you a favor.

Rutgers is Super Sweet....

Wooo hooo....

This game proved what I thought all year.... if Mike Teel had a healthy thumb... we would have probably been 10-3 or 11-2 again.

Just my thoughts....

This Human Tetris Thing Really Amazes Me

Sweeney Todd Movie Going Experience

2 Commercials

Crazy Subliminal Turn Off Cell Phone Message

Previews

Cloverfield
Mamma Mia
Fool's Gold
In Bruges
Vantage Point
The Ruins

Tons o'blood....

GO RUTGERS!

2007... In Summary

1) Where did you begin 2007? At someone else's home... sober.

2) What was your status by Valentine's Day? Still married and at a work dinner. It's not the best holiday... in fact... it sucks... and I have the love of my life as my wife.

3) Were you in school? (anytime this year) -- I taught an eBay class or two.

4) How did you earn your money? Arguing the rights of an entire industry or two.

5) Did you have to go court? No... but I was at a few hearings...

6) Did you have any encounters with the police? Yeup... why do they insist on writing me parking tickets when I have the frigging permit on my car!?!?!?!

7) Where did you go on holidays? Stayed home & had family come here and went to the in-laws... nice times.

8) What did you purchase that was over $1,000? Not for home... but for work... yeup. I love making those purchases.

9) Did you know anybody who got married? Yeup

10) Did you know anybody who went famous? Yeup and one who is about to.

11) Did you like someone? I like a lot of people... not like-like lol

12) Did you move anywhere? Nope

14) What concerts/shows did you go to? A bunch... including Grease... blech.

15) Are you registered to vote? Of course... I am an elected official!

16) Who did you want to win Big Brother? The dead guy

17) Where do you live now? Off Exit 10

18) Describe your birthday? I turned 34 with my wife and doggie!

19) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2007? I honestly can't think of anything.

20) What has been your favorite moment? Every second (even the fights) with my wife.

21) Where did you go on vacation? Maine, but I was also lucky enough to go to San Antonio, Dominican Republic, Miami, San Francisco among other places... for work.

22) Any new additions to your family? Tucker's play toys.

23.) What is your favorite month? November

24) How much have you partied? Not nearly as much as I should have

26) Made new friends? I always seem to...

27) What did you do for 4th of July? I don't think we did anything

28) Favorite Night out? Any night hanging out with GOOD friends who aren't as*holes.

29) Name the instance in which you had most to drink. Christmas Eve... and that was purely by mistake.

Why I Hate Fox's Coverage of the Orange Bowl

1. Too much Jeannie Zelasco -- She needs to be retired from television. Really.

2. They go to coverage of the band after almost ever single play

3. Ruining my desire to see JUMPER with their stupid "Jumper" promos.

4. Finally... their absolute selling out to the DLP camera... we get it... it hangs fromt he middle of the field. ESPN has been doing it better for years.

Book 1 of 52 -- Tom Perrotta's The Wishbones

Time to start again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like Tom Perrotta and for some reason, I haven't read his first few books.

Reading The Wishbones, I noticed how both novels share the theme of having an affair while you are in a rut with your partner or spouse.

The tension in both books is centered on whether the long-term relationship should be broken up for the excitement of the fling.

The difference, however, is the true love connection between the philanders in The Wishbones, while I thought the Little Children adulterers were just bored, not soulmates in any way.

The Wishbones is a great read for anyone post-college who is wondering about the direction their life is taking, or who has friends who seem aimless since they've turned 25 or so.

When do you have to grow up and get a real purpose in life?

There's a lot of recognizable material in this book, and it rings very true.

Highly recommended to any fan of good stuff.

Three Word Movie Reviews

Aliens vs. Predator Requiem -- I LOVED IT

Ask The Dust -- Barely Passable Drivel

The Bad News Bears Go to Japan -- Tired Drivel Pile

Balls of Fury -- Just Plain Bad

Brothers Solomon -- You Kidding Me?

Bugs!: A Rainforest Adventure -- British Bugs! Rule!

Colma: The Musical -- Interesting Concept... Different..

December Boys -- Long Sweet Film

Eastern Promises -- Violent... Pretty Poignant

Friday the 13th -- Excellent Slasher Flick

Friday the 13th Part 2 -- Not Bad Sequel

Friday the 13th Part 3 -- Goofy... Great Ending.

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter -- Best 13th Sequel

Friday the 13th A New Beginning (5) -- Just Getting Stupid

Friday the 13th Jason Lives (6) -- Just Die Already!

Friday the 13th The New Blood (7) -- he's Baaaaaaaaack... Yay!

Hard As Nails -- Interesting, but Long

The Heartbreak Kid -- Silly...Nothing Original

I Am Legend -- Gripping Powerful Provocative

Illegal Tender -- Wanted to Like

Juno -- Great Movie... Awesome

The Kingdom -- Boring, Expected More

The Last Legion -- Passed the Tim

Loverboy -- Disturbing But Interesting

Once -- Original... Good Movie

Pittsburgh -- Just Plain Shit

Rush Hour 3 -- Oof! It's Shit!

The Savages -- Deep, Powerful... Entertaining

The Simpsons Movie -- Silly... Worthwhile... Fine

Stardust -- Better Than Expected

Unaccompanied Minors -- Dirt's More Entertaining...

Underdog -- Cute Kid's Drivel

Happy New Year!

It's awesome....