The Banana Spider

When we were in SC, our house was surrounded by something we learned was called The Banana Spider. This spider, while not harmful, supposedly packs a punch that really hurts...

Meet the Banana Spider...this thing is bigger than a Krispy Kreme Doughnut...(by the way, that is not my hand!)

Witnessing History (Kind of...)

I went to the Nats game last night...We were in our Corporate Booth which was a great experience, but hardly the reason I am writing. The Nats lost 5-3, in a well played game full of homers (Philly had 5 solo shots), and I believe the Nats had one.

However, the highlight of the evening was the President's Race where Teddy Roosevelt won his 1st race of his career...only for Screech, the stupid mascot of the Nats to run out of the stands and disqualify him for some unforseen reason...

Teddy's futility, like the Nats, continues.

Some Things I Think I Think...

• I think Vinny Cerrato looks like a user car salesman, and has the same amount of football knowledge as one
• It never ceases to amaze me how bad Joe Theismann is at announcing football games. His overall football acumen is slim to none, and he barely knows the name of players he is announcing. Amazing
• I am going to Nats games on back to back nights next week. I think we have really good seats both nights, as the games are against the Phillies. Pretty darn sure there are going to be more Philly fans at the game.
• I am headed to Atlantic City for a conference the following week for 3 days. Should be fun. It a'int Vegas, but it is what it is!
• I have a conference call at 8am on Sunday of Labor Day. Awesome!
• I still enjoy watching old episodes of "Home Improvement." That show is still funny.
• I am not happy about the fact that gas is approaching $3 again.
• At the Arlington Flea Market, they sell the same crap every week, including a guy with a a headset microphone selling Sorbet, that will cause you to have "an out of body experience." Really?
• I wish I could post mobile thoughts on this site, as sometimes I think of things, but then forget when I finally get in front of a computer.

Guess Who Is Back?

Back again...from work in FL and vacation in SC.

We were in Charleston, SC and had a great time. Weather was perfect, house was perfect, and a good time had by all...

one funny thing to note, we went and saw the College of Charleston and then The Citadel. Talk about Polar Opposites...

Now I am playing catch up.

I was happy with the way the Skins 1st Team O played against the Pats. It was encouraging!

Half-Glass Full

I would like to say that I remain optomistic after that 23-0 drubbing last night...but it is hard. I tend to try to find silver linings in games like last night, and the only thing I could come up with, and it is somewhat of a stretch, was that Brian Orapko could be UNREAL!

The only good point Joe Theismann came up with last night was comparing him to DeMarcus Ware.

Ladell "Bettis"???

Thank You

When are people going to realize that "Thank You" or "Great Job" emails do not connote a form of Leadership...they just piss people off, and make the sender feel good about the work that you did for them!

TARP Funds...

Thank You Mr. Obama for having me sit in traffic last Saturday on the Cape as I was trying to LEAVE in the middle morning...

Your stupid TARP program was having construction done on a Saturday in August, when people come crashing down on the Cape and Islands. I know this was TARP construction, because there was a big sign that said it was...

What should have been a 15 minute trip took 90 minutes.

Great program loser!

92 Minutes...

that I will never get back.

Lsat night I watched "The House Bunny" starring Anna Farris.

Punch me in the face!

Just My Luck...

I dialed into, "The Sports Junkies" show this morning to play on GameShow Wed. Today was Junkies Shootout, where they ask you 3 random questions, and if you get them right, you win a prize, like concert tickets, Madden '10, or a Jiffylube Oil Change. I was doing really well listening to the other questions, which were usually about Sports, or movies, or random stuff like that.

Well, I finally got on, and was ready to go, when I got the dumbest question ever...

"Name the better cereal...Fruit Loops or Sugar Smacks?"

First of all that is not a trivia question
Secondly, I answered Fruit Loops, only for the Junkie (JP) to say I was wrong, and hang up on me...
Finally, the 2 other Junkies there, both agreed with me.

Thanks a lot JP...you MORON!

Best Italian Restaurant

WTOP News, the local DC All News Radio Station, has been running a "best of" this summer including things like restaurants, ice cream, etc...

They have people call in and say what they think should be nominated...

For best Italian Restaurant...a woman called in and nominated "The Macaroni Grill"

REALLY?

Headed Out...

on vacation...

The 'Skins are back, and, just like every year, I have cautious optimism. I use the word cautious, as I fully expect the team to let me down, which certainly softens the blow, when it happens.

On a positive note, the wife bought me a Chris Cooley jersey to replace the Jon Jansen jersey, after he was released and signed with the lowly Day-trois Lions!

Best of luck Jon...you are a class act!

Fast Food???

Yesterday, I was craving McDonalds...I got off the exit for work at about 1230, and saw the flashing lights of Taco Bell...it had been a long time, so I said why the heck not???

There was a long line for drive-thru, and my 1:00 meeting had been cancelled, so I thought, I will just go in, eat, and be on my way. I waiting in line for about 3 minutes, at which point I placed my order at 12:37!

I got my food at 12:55! THAT IS 18 MINUTES OF WAITING!!!

Anger does not begin to describe my feelings...and to be honest, the people at TB could not have cared less!

Showering

I stayed with my in-laws last night, and they have a number of grand-kids living with them this summer. I got into the shower this morning, and there was no soap...I was forced to use a 3-in-1 shampoo/conditioner/body wash.

It was bubble gum flavored...Today I smell like this!

I Am Not Afraid To Admit...

I searched for the Erin Andrews video...

I could not find it! :(

The Last Movie I Saw...

The wife and I rented "Gran Torino" the other night.

FANTASTIC MOVIE!!!

This was the best movie I have seen in probably a few years. Well written, well acted, well directed...

If I were in college, I would play a game watching this movie. I would take a shot of something, everytime Clint Eastwood muttered a racial epithet. I think he had so many, he actually had to invent some for this movie.

If you have not seen this, go do it!

A Few Things To Note...

• I cannot be happier that it is Sunday morning, and I do not have to listen/watch the British Open and have to deal with Tiger. I was unable to watch Thurs/Fri but saw the highlights and on no less than 5 occasions, did I see a dropped club, a ground strike, an arm flap, etc. Have some class you POS. I am excited to see a different TW leading the British. Keep an eye out on this 16 year old Italian...this kid can putt.
• The wife and I went for a long walk on Saturday morning and crossed into DC and headed for the Mall. There was some very high level of Ultimate Frisbee being played. I always thought that Ultimate was played just for fun. These guys were sprinting up and down the field, and had huge amounts of subs etc. I could not believe the workout these guys were getting.
• I hate these shoes women are wearing today that look like Roman Sandals...horrible!

I Am Thankful...

Yesterday, I was in the basement of my house, finishing up a conference call, when I walked upstairs and my wife was reading a magazine, while my nearly 9-Month old was playing with the remote control.

Unbeknownst to my wife, he was changing the channel, as the TV was on mute. When I came upstair, he was trying to order something called "6 Hours of Penthouse TV"

While I know this was a coincidence, this makes me happy on so many levels!

Wow...I can't believe I did that

I just turned down a bachelor party in Vegas.

I am sad!

MJ

I did not get an opportunity to watch the funeral at all yesterday, but did watch some re-plays of it last night...I know its messed up, but I couldnt help but chuckle at all the things that were going on, from his brothers speaking, to seeing Kobe and Magic on stage, to a speach from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. It was just beyond imagination.

I did feel BAD (pun intended) for his daughter, when she spoke!

I woke up this morning, and dug up my old CD case, which I litterally dusted off, and grabbed my Michael Jackson HIStory "Past, Present, and Future" 2 disc album to upload onto iTunes.

When you start watching shows about him, it is scary thinking about how many great songs he was a part of!

Who Do You Look Like?

I was at a party for the 4th of July the other day, when I walked by a guy and girl chatting...as I walked past them a 2nd time, the girl stopped me, and asked;

"Has anyone ever told you, you look like a celebrity?"

I answered; "Yes...people tell me I look like Adam Sandler!"

She spun and said to her male friend, "See...I told you."

At which point, I responded;

"Some people also tell me I look like Peter North!"

She told me she did not know who that was, but when I looked at him, he was just chuckling!