Monday, October 13, 2008

The Flu... Avian

I haven't seen that Rachel Zoe show on Bravo but I hear it's pretty terrible. Now I don't think I have to watch it thanks to Jack and David and their stunning episodic wonder, The Stylist.

Re-living our childhood...

Four square with Joellen, Jack, and Claire outside of my parent's house.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Still makes me laugh..

The freeway scene from Clueless is one of the funniest moments on film.

I tried to find the scene to post below but it doesn't seem to exist online. So instead, I've posted one of my other favorite moments: the Waterloo scene in Muriel's Wedding.




Today's song: So What by P!nk

Monday, August 18, 2008

I'd date her....

A conversation with KShields last night while perusing the food bar at Harris Teeter:

K: "Man- look at all the eye candy in here."

Me: "Agreed. Should I get the sauteed mushrooms or snap peas?"

K: "I mean, wow! These guys are hot. Why weren't they around when I lived here? Where do you think they all hang out?"

Me: (stifling my laughter) "Gay bars."

K: "DAMMIT!"

Today's song: Take a Chance on Me by ABBA

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Assorted musings

Here's a quick list of what's been going on recently:

*August is my month in Texas. I'm in the throws of week two and I have the following thoughts on this state. Texas is big but we all know that so it didn't come as a big surprise. I am really enjoying Fort Worth, definitely more than I enjoyed Dallas last week. Fort Worth has retained a very small-town feel while Dallas resembles any other big city. The people are friendly, the food is good (hopefully to get better as a I keep exploring), and the weather is most definitely HOT.

*The Olympics are taking over my life- I'm about to watch the womens 10M synchro. I know these have already taken place but I've resisted the urge to take a look at the results. I have a sneaking suspicion the Chinese routed the rest of the competition. Just a hunch. We'll see.

I cannot wait to watch the men's 3M synchro event tomorrow night. I competed against the US team, comprised of Chris Colwill and Jevon Tarantino, for many years. It adds such a different element to watching the games when you know the competitors. I couldn't be more pumped.

*The whole John Edwards debacle has really irked me. This man spent years defending the marriage protection act, stating gay and lesbian couples would compromise the sanctity of marriage. The utter hypocrisy of his actions leave me speechless. How dare he pass judgement on my "lifestyle" while making decisions that spit in the face of his positions. I wish I could say I feel sorry for him but I only feel sorry for his wife and to those who unfortunately call him family.

While I do have more musings, I'm not paying enough attention to the Olympics and feel the need to end this post.

Today's song: God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood

Monday, August 4, 2008

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

This made my day...

Today's song: Turning Japanese by The Vapors

Monday, July 21, 2008

Economic Models Explained With Cows

SOCIALISM You have 2 cows. You give one to your neighbour.

COMMUNISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk.

NAZISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and shoots you.

BUREAUCRATISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away.

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

SURREALISM You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyse why the cow has dropped dead.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States , leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public then buys your bull.

THE ANDERSEN MODEL You have two cows. You shred them.

A FRENCH CORPORATION You have two cows. You go on strike, organise a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create a clever cow cartoon image called 'Cowkimon' and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows, but you don't know where they are. You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 2 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you. You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them. You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity. You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION You have two cows. Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION Everyone thinks you have lots of cows. You tell them that you have none. No-one believes you, so they bomb the **** out of you and invade your country. You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of a Democracy.

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. Business seems pretty good. You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate.

A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION You have two cows. The one on the left looks very attractive.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Pre-weekend..

I spent this week looking forward to today, kind of in that desperate "please god, let it be Friday" kind of way. Well, as it normally happens, Friday is here and I shall rejoice. Why? Because I've organized a group to go see Mamma Mia. Yup. Can't wait. I've been listening to the Meryl's version of Mamma Mia and The Winner Takes it All all week and I think I'm ready- my mom even sent me a link from the NY Times with clips and trainers from the movie. (I've watched them all and my review is this movie is going to be horribly delightful). I've decided not to care that the Post's review stated " you will leave the theater feeling like you have been strangled by a turquoise feather boa." To me, that's just an excellent use of imagery and an homage to all the gays that will be venturing to the theater tonight. The metro's review, "a massive mess, but fun" made me smile because that could have been the review of my life.

In addition, this weekend marks the arrival of Shea's and my moment- beer ball tourney. I understand that I am now in my later 20's but I when you are this good (relying on Shea's natural chugging ability) you've just got to play. Here's to being in bed at 7pm tomorrow night.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Despite everything indicating it would be otherwise, this weekend turned out to be pretty awesome.

Friday night started with a work happy hour followed by meeting up with Keith at 1409 [a bar Keith warned me would be hilarious- and it was. It was a mix of Taco Loco meets Bennigan's meets Tavern on Camac (philly's best piano bar).] I stayed there, caught up and chatted with some of his friends whilst drinking too many of my new favorite drink: grapefruit & vodka with a splash of soda.

I left Keith and his crew and moved over to join Amy (who leaves for Africa for five weeks on Friday), her boyfriend, Kelly, Shea, and Ashley. At this point I probably should have gone home, recognizing how much I had to drink. But it was only 8pm so there was no reason for me to give up so early. An hour later and we were the only people dancing at Heaven and Hell (still can't believe we went there). The dancing wiped us out but didn't prevent us from kickin' it until 1am on Bourbon's patio.

Saturday morning we trekked over to Kaitlyn's so that we could carpool out to VA- about an hour-and-a-half away- to go tubing. The six of us arrived 2.5 hours later after a flat-tire scare, beer stop, and a serious discussion as to whether we should just go to the Quality Inn pool instead of tubing. Tubing won.

The tubing place was relatively packed when we got there including a group of people we all knew. I just started laughing when I saw the group (what are the chances?) and made my way to fill up the cooler to that our libations were thoroughly chilled for the float. The three or four hours on the river went by incredibly fast- a lot of laughing, singing, swimming with cows (not kidding), and quality time spent with great people. We made it back to DC by 8pm and all of us promptly went our separate ways and I was in bed by 10pm.

Yesterday I woke up and drove out to VA again for a book brunch. I brought three books for the exchange and ended up leaving with ten: some fiction, non-fiction, and a relatively cheesy book about Christmas but it included recipes for short-bread cookies, so I had to take it.

I topped the day off with an 8-mile run through some of the best thunderstorms DC has seen in weeks. I must have looked quite the fool- running shirtless with my ipod clipped to my shorts, soaked completely through, and the biggest grin splashed on my face. I normally smile when I run (because of my playlist) but add an awesome thunderstorm and I was practically beaming.
I then watched a movie with a friend and was in bed by 10:30.

An exhausting, busy but wonderful weekend spent with fantastic people. Thanks to all.

Today's song: Get Better by Mates of State

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Barney's advice

It's been a tricky week (and it's only Wednesday) but one of Barney's (yup, Barney Stinson from HIMYM) lines has helped.

'Sometimes I get sad. But then I stop being sad and start being awesome.'

I'm struggling a little bit with the awesome but at least this makes me smile.

Today's song: Sandcastles in the Sand by Robin Sparkles

Friday, July 4, 2008

Family

Gorgeous niece...

Dad and the Triplets...


All 12 of us...




Does your vacation normally include....

...awesome miniature golf five-somes?...


...impromptu dance parties (that's my dad in the black shirt)?....

....competitive bingo tournaments for adults?....

...and for children?....


...the candle game (yup, we watch them burn)?....



...a talent show?.....


...and a field day (replete with egg-on-a-spoon races and water-balloon tosses)?

I'm not sure it does. At it's height, 40 of my family members (just on my mom's side) were able to join in the fun. It was an unbeatable week, spent with unbeatable people.
Today's song: My Favorite Things by Julie Andrews

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

We all just want to have fun..

When "We are the World" was released in 1985, I was a huge fan. Granted, I was only four-years-old but something about that song spoke to me. I guess I should say someone in that song spoke to me: Cyndi Lauper. My mother told me she remembers looking in the rear view mirror of our caravan to see me singing along to only Cyndi's part of "We are the World". Whenever there would be something about her, either on TV or in some media, mom would say "hey look, Anton, it's your girl!" Well, I couldn't be more hung up on my girl right now with her new single "Into the Nightlife". I have it on constant repeat. Enjoy it below.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Thank you for the music..

Working for a research firm, I am continually barraged with new studies stating one thing or another about how raising or lowering a certain variable is certain or uncertain to increase or decrease how healthy or unhealthy you are.

My favorite studies are the ones that are including in my firm's Daily Briefy (The Nations Healtcare News in Five Minutes) under the Et Cetera heading. Today's Et Cetera claimed the following- "Research suggests choral singing has health benefits".

This title will keep a smile on my face for the rest of the afternoon. Below is the article.

Today's song: Warwick Avenue by Duffy


Et cetera: Research suggests choral singing has health benefits


05/27/2008


A growing body of research suggests that singing in professional, community, church, and school choruses may have health benefits, the Boston Globe reports, adding that the findings are “great news” for the approximately 29 million adults and children who participate in such activities. The Globe highlights a 2006 study led by a psychiatrist from the George Washington University’s Center on Aging, Health, and Humanities in which researchers tracked 300 people between the ages of 65 and 103 in three cities. For the study, one half of participants took part in an arts program involving chorale singing while the other half did not. After one year, the researchers found that the singers reported better health than at the outset of the study. Additionally, the singers had fewer falls and exhibited greater improvement in measures of depression, loneliness, and morale compared with the group that did not sing. Moreover, a paper published in 2004 by a musicologist and research fellow at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester found that along with an improvement in mood, a one-hour singing rehearsal appeared to result in the increased production of an immune marker in the saliva of 31 choral singers. While noting that “it’s not clear how much of the health benefit is due to hanging out with other people and how much to the artistic challenge,” the Globe concludes that “for whatever mix of reasons, choral singing is good for your health” (Foreman, Globe, 5/19 [registration required]).


Sunday, May 18, 2008

This is not my sandwich




Today's song: I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

TMI

People have got to stop sending me these questions. I can't help but fill them out over and over and over again.


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? St. Anthony of Padua
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Tuesday- I cry at the drop of a hat.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING ? I have shockingly good handwriting.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Pepper Turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? I will one day have a son named Henry
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Obvi
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT? See previous question.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS ? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I gotta have my Pops!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I normally wear loafers.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? not really. Have you seen me?
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Breyer's Coffee
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes and laugh
15. RED OR PINK? Pink
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? I seem to be balding.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST ? My mom mom.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Obvi
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue jeans (brand new levis thank you) and brown driving moccasins.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Quacamole
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Justin and Karina
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Burnt Sienna
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? burning wood on a cold night and the smell right before it rains.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Tina Ciaramella
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Debatable- j/k
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Diving, Tennis, Gymnastics, Ninja Warrior
27. Hair Color? brown with flecks of red
28. EYE COLOR? Hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? steak- medium rare, mashed potatoes, and asparagus
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Gosford Park
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Pink
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? I can't decide. Both!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Key Lime Pie
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I hope all of us.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND ? that's a toss up.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The People's History of the United States
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one :)
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? I didn't
42. FAVORITE SOUND? my family's laughter
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME??? Thailand and China
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can walk on my hands for days
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Boca Raton, FL

Go drink a bottle of yourself, Avian.

I've been tasked with finding diversions for a friend this week and as I was searching for a Molly Shannon clip from SNL, I came across this scene from Superstar, a movie I secretly adore.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Too cool

My sister has a way with words and an incredible job that allows her to travel to great places around the globe. She was recently in Finland and this is what she had to say about it. I wish my emails contained this much imagery.


Hello all - I have my first free, non-work day in helsinki tomoro, but I just wanted to share some highlights of this seriously cool place while they're fresh in my mind

1. reindeer. Tastes like steakums. (Tho served atop incredibly buttery yum mashed potatoes and with a delicious, if odd, sweet/bitter turnip and berry concoction)

2. sauna. I just returned from my first finnish sauna experience, completely sold on this bizarre tradition. I didn't know, but sauna's a finnish word. There's a part that's like the saunas we know - where you sit and sweat with strangers on a wooden bench while some kind of stove running electricity generates steam. Except here you do it naked (sexes strictly separated). It feels completely natural after about 5 seconds. You start to wonder why you'd ever consider clothes. Though, even at 100 degrees (celsius!), it's still not hot enough for some old broads, who sit sweating naked while wearing peaked wool hats. I'm told it's to protect their hairstyles, but I like to think they're just tough.

Then, there's a part that's fully finnish. You put on a bathing suit and head outside in the cold (abt 35 degrees fahrenheit). You pull back a flap on a wooden hut near a gorgeous pine-tree ringed lake. Smoke pours out. It's dark. You walk in and fumble around till you find a seat. Men and women are crowded together on log benches, amid soot-stained walls (you only see the soot, on you, when you get outside), sweating profusely and often chatting happily away. Someone takes a long - like six feet long - copper ladle, fills it with water from a built-in tap, then pours it on an enormous pile of hot stones in the corner. This makes it hotter. There's no electricity involved - I guess there must be fire somewhere ... But I don't know. It was too hot to think. My ears felt like they do when it's freezing out and you forget a hat. Like they were about to fall off. Several times, it felt too hot to breathe. It cools down after a while, after which someone gets up and pours more water on the stones.

You leave when you've had enough. Maybe after 3-5 min. You emerge from the hut. Smoke pours off your skin. Walk to the lake about 20 steps away. Water temp: just above freezing. Walk a short pier, then lower yourself slowly in on a wooden ladder. Don't jump - bad for the body. Similarly, don't get your head wet - bad for the brain. And it's so freaking cold, all you can think about anyway the second you get in is getting out. Limbs seize up. Bones hurt. One sauna veteran's goal: to stay in 13 seconds. I managed to swim from one wooden ladder to the next - like going from one side of mom and dad's kitchen table to the other - and they hailed me as a native (I didn't tell them I couldnt feel my feet). In winter, when the lakes and ocean are frozen over, they cut a hole in the ice and slip in. This, they say, can be dangerous - it's hard to swim if your body goes into shock. Some skip the swim altogether and just roll around in the snow.

After the cold, it's back to the hot. Then back to the cold. Then back to the hot. You're done when you're done. You shower and change, then get a cup of tea in the lodge and head home, feeling invigorated, exhausted, and very clean. Most finns do this every saturday. They start kids on it before they're a year old. Finnish parliament has saunas in the building. The central bank of finland owns about 20 across the country for staff and guests. Business and political deals are routinely struck in saunas. One finn said: we owe our independence to sauna!, only half kidding that the finns secured their freedom by working out a deal with sweaty, muddle-headed swedes and russians in the sauna.


Today's Song: Jos Sanot by Rajaton

Monday, April 14, 2008

Can't get you out of my head..

About a month ago, a good friend of mine went to NYC with her boyfriend and saw Spring Awakenings. A year ago, I listened to the show's soundtrack and wasn't immediately drawn to it, at least not in the way I was to Sweeney Todd when I first heard it. Thanks to my friend, I've been reintroduced and I can't stop listening. Here's a small taste:

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

She loves surprise parties...

This had me in tears. Kristen Wiig is hard to watch she is so funny.

Should have seen the signs..

My friend Ben sent me this video about a year-and-a-half ago. It features the one and only Charlotte Church and an incoherent Amy Winehouse covering Michael Jackson's Beat It. It.is.hilarious. Charlotte is obviously pissed at how pissed Amy is and shoots daggers at her throughout the performance. Toward the end of the song, Charlotte has begun to prop Amy up and you can no longer hear any of Amy's singing.
An awesomely hilarious video and a song I would definitely buy on itunes if available.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Changes

Saturday morning I hosted an open house for potential roomates. Aside from the atrocious hangover I was nursing, it went well. I received upward of 15 responses and 7 confirmed they would be there on Saturday. Only 3 came to the apartment and I chose 1. Not terrible numbers when you think about it.

I spent a good amount of time e-stalking (thank you, facebook) the potentials and narrowed my field down to a top two. It was a little awkward interviewing the top two, asking questions to which I already knew the answers. My top choice arrived first and stayed for about 45 minutes, chatting with my roomate and my other friend who lives in the building. All around, I felt immediately comfortable and would have offered him the place on the spot but I had more people coming. Next a girl, an obvious nester, came with her boyfriend and proceeded to get argumentative with me in a discussion about American University, my former employer and her future alma mater. It was odd.
Right after she left, my second choice came with his boyfriend to see the place. They were incredibly nice, interesting, and seemed genuinely interested in the place. I felt genuinely attracted to my second choice and decided against living with him almost immediately for that reason.

I texted top choice later in the evening and he excitedly accepted. So, I've replaced my roomate, a task I thought would be impossible.

Today's song: Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra

Monday, March 31, 2008

SWM in search of ..... anyone?!

My roomate is moving out in a couple of months so today I posted a Craigslist ad to fill her room. I'm getting an early start on the search so that I'll find the best replacement. I've only written one ad before and it ended horribly with a roomate who was creepy to say the least. I'm hoping that five years later, this search will end successfully and I'll have a roomate comparable to mine now.

As I was writing the ad this afternoon, I felt as though I was writing a personal ad. In essense that is exactly what it was. The sad part is that my past (and present) roomate experiences have been more successful than my relationships. Blargh.

I've already received a number of responses and most of them have great potential so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Today's song- Cresent City by Emmylou Harris

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Do I have to call it pop now?

So looks like I'm from Wisconsin, with Philadelphia a close second. Strange.

The one disappointing thing is I've been spending the last four months in and out of Boston and its endearing accent hasn't rubbed off on me, not even a little bit!


What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Inland North

You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."

Philadelphia
The Midland
The South
The Northeast
North Central
The West
Boston
What American accent do you have?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Cloudyiah!!

...And they're back! That crazy, campy cast of Trillions! Check 'em out here.

Or watch them below:


Find more videos like this on People's Improv Theater


Shout out to Jack and David!


Today's song: Say (All I Need) by One Republic

Sunday, March 16, 2008

just for you


My friend Alex looks exactly like this when she frowns. She frowns often but only to emphasize a point in a story or when she is speaking in her hilarious Russian accent. This frown always makes me smile. Thanks, Alex.

Friday, February 29, 2008

For the love of...

Tuesday was a very rainy, miserable day in Boston so my co-worker and I decided to go to the movies. I hadn't read a movie review in a couple weeks so we unfortunately ended up seeing Vantage Point. Wow was that a mistake. It was laughable to say the least. I actually was laughing through the last scene, obviously a scene that was supposed to be a touching moment between William Hurt and Dennis Quaid. Sigourney Weaver was completely miscast as a no-nonsense network news producer. It might as well have been Kirsten Alley as we never saw anything below Sigourney's chest the entire movie. Is Sigourney going to be hawking Jenny Craig Soon? What's goin' on? Then you have Forrest Whitaker who, I am sorry to say, I just don't understand his appeal. It looks like his droopy face is as pliable as play-doh. For that reason alone, I can't take him seriously. AND THEN you have Matthew Fox. Please, Jack- Go back to LOST. The island needs you. And PLEASE don't ever try to pass off speaking some line in Spanish as credible acting. Oh you were atrocious.

Phew... sorry that has been building up for a couple days. Please don't see Vantage Point. We should have seen The Spiderwick Chronicles- Freddie Highmore can't do anything wrong in my mind.

Today's song: Unison by Bjork

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Confessions of a Tricky eater

I'm not the world's biggest eater. Not to say I don't enjoy food, I do. I could eat steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagus every day for the rest of my life and die a happy man but most of the time, I eat because I have to. Sometimes I am able to get away with not eating for a day because I find other things to occupy my time like work, running, television, talking, not talking, etc.

My family has always had a small concern for my lack of appetite but has come to accept it and poke fun at it. My mother celebrates everytime I come home and look like I have gained a pound. When asked by my sister "If you could choose to have three meals a day or three pills a day to replace those meals and reap the same nutritional value from those pills as you would the meals, which would you choose?", my answer was an obvious no brainer: the Pills!

Why am I telling you all of this? Because I think this might be getting out of hand*. While I don't enjoy eating per se, there are certain things that I absolutely love eating. I just got back from the little convenience store in my building and take a look at what I bought:

DiGiorno's Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza
Lactaid Reduced Fat Milk
Cherry Pomegranate Power Naked Energy Smoothie
Tostitos Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips
Captain Crunch
2-liter Bottle of Coca-Cola Classic

These six items will last me a couple days (I know this because I have done it before). I think my eating habits have reached a new level of unhealthy especially when you add in the Tostitos Queso that I have waiting for me in the fridge. That queso is to die for.

But now I'm starting to think that maybe my eating habits aren't necessarily bad**-certainly unhealthy, but not bad. I am just enjoying what I like because I can and I whether or not I go a day without eating, I know that I am going to be ok because I'll always have my DiGiorno and Queso waiting for me on the other side until those pills are approved by the FDA. And that makes me happy...

Today's song: Come on Closer by Jem


*Do I really think this?
**Yeah, I didn't think so.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Clickity Clack

I've recently realized I'm the click-clack guy you hear walking down the street. The heels on all of my shoes (the exception being my new driving mocassins which are amazing btw) make incredibly loud clacking noises on the sidewalk, asphalt, grass, etc. No matter how lightly I try to walk, people turn around expecting to see a 5-inch-high stiletto wearer and instead fine me, clacking away in one of my many pairs of loafers.

When/how did this happen? I know that I have always been a 'heavy walker' as my mother always said and I did get that complaint from my downstairs neighbor for 'excessive heavy walking noises' but I can hear my steps even when I am listening to my iPod. This is becoming serious. very serious.

Today's song: Cruel Summer by Bananarama

Friday, February 15, 2008

Quick travel note..

Because I travel almost every week for work, I have almost memorized Delta's little safety schpeal at the beginning of each flight. I can't help but chuckle each time the flight attendant gets to the "And, in case of an emergency, your seat cushion can be used as a floatation devise!" part.

They always say it with such cheer, as if they are selling the cushions on an infomercial, "Well, isn't that neat!"

But when you think about it, it's not that cheery of a thought.


Today's song: California Dreamin'- The Mamas and Papas

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

What really gets me goin'...

I just got back from a 10-mile run and I feel fantastic. I mean, my legs are killing me, I'm still panting and I'm probably not going to be able to ice skate very well tonight, but I FEEL FANTASTIC.

I took a different route today and at around mile five found myself down by the tidal basin. I overcame my fear of falling into the Basin and decided run along the path right beside it. Except for the geese droppings it was an excellent decision. Watching the sun break through the clouds above the Jefferson Memorial just as Madonna's Sorry comes on is a moment that I can't truly describe.

I hadn't been running in a couple of days and when I started this morning I wasn't really into. What made all the difference is my running playlist that I have fine-tuned over the past couple months. I've decided to post it here because I think I'm doing a disservice to my fellow runners/exercisers by keeping it to myself. I catch myself laughing, singing, and doing a little dance while running listening to the majority of the songs. When you see the list below you will understand why. Here you go!

Apocalypse Please- Muse (Muse, in general, makes awesome music to work out to)

Call My Name- Charlotte Church (fan-freakin-tastic song)

Escape- Enrique Iglesias (no list is complete without Enrique)

Gone- Kelly Clarkson (awesome one from start to finish)

Happier
- Guster (just like the title indicate, a happy song)

Holding Out for a Hero- Bonnie Tyler (no song makes me run faster)

It’s Raining Men- Geri Halliwell (or the weather Girls, but Geri’s is a little faster)

Music is the Victim
- Scissor Sisters (love it)

Rainy Monday- Shiny Toy Guns (not the fastest song, but a good one none-the-less)

Something to Talk About- Bonnie Raitt (always good to cool you down a bit)

Stockholm Syndrome- Muse (will have you running FAST)

Starlight- Muse (almost as fast as Stockholm)

Cuz I Can- Pink (really good one to get you started)

Waterloo- ABBA (really good around mile 8 or 9 when you really need to smile)

Get Me Bodied (extended remix)- Beyonce (hilariously awesome song)

Just Like Jesse James- Cher (best.cher.song.ever.)

Sorry- Madonna (You have to keep running to this song otherwise you stop and dance)

Crazy Chick- Charlotte Church (ah, I love me some crazy charlotte)

Don't Stop Me Now- Queen (Cheesy but AWESOME)

You Can't Stop the Beat- Hairspray Soundtrack (this is where I start to dance a little bit)



If you ever see me running down sixteenth street or through Rock Creek Park and I'm smiling, it's not because I'm crazy. I've just put together the best work-out list ever! Now you can enjoy it! YAY!

Today's Song: All of the Above!

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Thanks for the memories

It is amazing that after 11 years, I'm able to hang out with folks I knew when I was 15 and it is as if not a day has passed.

Tonight was wonderful ladies (and Kevin)- thank you. Can't wait to do it again. Divers really do do it better!

Goodnight!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Over it

I am in Boston awaiting my flight back to DC and CNN (which is BLARING throughout the airport) decides it is appropriate to headline their segment with the following statement:
"New video is out of Britney Spears buying a home pregnancy test!"

I couldn't control the "Are you kidding me?!" that came out of my mouth, at a volume that made my fellow travelers sitting around me snicker and nod in agreement. Seriously? That is the story you think we all care about? (OMG. There's another announcement about Britney RIGHT NOW!)

I'm done with you CNN. We are officially over.

Thank god for 60 minutes so that I don't have to break up with Anderson. That would be too much to handle in one day.

Today's song: Not While I'm Around from Sweeney Todd

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Give me a D!

After a wonderful Christmas holiday home with the family, I'm back to traveling, this time to Boston. The trouble is my flight has been delayed for about two hours, I left my blackberry at home, and season one of It's always sunny in Philadelphia is taking forever to download on Itunes. Lord.

I normally take the time that I have in Airports to people watch because I don't like being that guy on his laptop who is obviously too important to be waiting for a plane. He has work to do, important work. I, on the other hand, did enough work while at home so I am stuck sitting next to no less that six people eating their freshly ordered Five Guys, one incredibly miserable looking 13-year-old girl with a spiffy laptop, and a 75-year-old woman who keeps calling her family, telling them that it isn't worth it to come pick her up when she gets to palm beach because she is sick and doesn't want to get them sick. She seemed confused as to why she was sick because she took more than the appropriate amount of Airborne before getting on the plane. I know this because she said so, right before she coughed in the direction of my soft pretzel. Lord.

So, on this second day of 2008, I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful day, at least better than mine.

Today's song: Never Going to Give You Up by Rick Astley