For the past three days I have been having the same conversation.
Co-worker: Hey Dan/Stanczyk, how was vacation?
Me: Very relaxing, thanks.
Co-worker: Where’d you go again?
Me: New Hampshire, on a lake.
Co-worker: Cool, what’d you do?
Me: Oh, you know…took things easy. Didn’t think about sports for a week. Sort of re-charged the battery, so to speak.
People aren’t really interested in what others do while on vacation. They just ask to be polite. If someone really wanted to know what I did during my week in New Hampshire I would tell them this.
I did not have access to television, the internet or air conditioning. I did not drive a car, but I was a passenger in three different boats. I ran 28 miles, but still managed to pack on over 3 pounds (that's what eating three helpings of breakfast, dessert after lunch and dinner, and drinking two cups of coffee a day will do). I woke up before 8am every morning, played two tennis matches (one singles, one doubles- both wins), two games of horse shoes (doubles- both losses), shuffleboard, softball, two truths and a lie, four square, and Bingo. I drank whiskey, gin, rum, sangria, and beer. I read three books (two of which included the word imbroglio), wore a candy necklace, gave something of a eulogy, and donned a tie-dye shirt. I threw a baseball 66 miles per hour, watched my father shoot a 79 and miss a hole in one by a centimeter (I had a 94), and served as a softball instructor for my sisters. I showered only twice, but went swimming in a lake every day except Thursday and somehow managed to contract swimmer's ear (or at least that's what I think it is). I used a flashlight every night, danced for hours at a time on multiple evenings, and fought a member of the Army and my 6’4 cousin on a wooden log in the middle of the lake at 12:30am one night. I read a poem aloud, gambled my father’s money away (it was only $3 for a game of LCR. If you don’t know what that is that’s a you problem), and was a part of a group that successfully pulled of a rope trick.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Work Left To Do
It's hard to believe, but 2013 is more than half way over. That means that it's time to see how I'm doing with regards to my first blog post of the year.
50 Things to do in 2013
1.) Get a passport- Done. I don’t know what people dislike more- their passport photo or their license photo. I don't particularly like either of mine, but I definitely wouldn't try to fight the kid in my license photo.
2.) Finish writing my memoir- Done. The writing has been completed. I’ve read it through and edited it. I’m not sure where I go from here (does anyone know someone in editing/publishing?), but I feel like the majority of this task has been accomplished. It’s a little weird because it was always something I could work on when I had the time (which was becoming an incredibly infrequent event recently). Now that it’s done I don’t know what I’ll do when those free minutes/hours come about.
3.) Read 25 books (roughly 2 per month)- Slightly ahead of schedule. As of this writing I’ve read 15 books, which puts me on pace for 29 or 30 for the year. I’m sure that I’ll write something about the books I’ve read in 2013 in December, so I won’t bore you with my impressions just yet.
4.) Visit my sisters in Washington DC- Done. I went down to DC in March to watch Syracuse advance to the Final Four and had an absolute blast. One of my sisters was away for the weekend when I was there, so I plan on making a return trip (hopefully this summer).
5.) Attend a Blue Jays game in Toronto- Incomplete. Odds that I complete this task before 2014? 60% My roommate is going to a Yankees/Blue Jays series in late August. I don’t have the days off approved yet, but I think there’s a good chance that I make it up there.
6.) Run a half marathon- Done. If you don’t think that I’ll get a 13.1 bumper sticker and put it on my car you’re crazy.
7.) Attend a Knicks game in the newly renovated Madison Square Garden- Done. I produced a Clippers/Knicks game in February for work and then went to a Thunder/Knicks game with a few of my high school friends in March. The Knicks lost both games.
8.) Buy a new suit and get it tailored- Done. My boss (and his boss) told me to hit up Joseph A. Bank and take advantage of some of their deals, so I went ahead and bought three suits for the price of one and got them all tailored. I’m on my way to adulthood.
9.) Lose 6-7 pounds- Incomplete. At certain points throughout the past 1-2 months I’ve been there, but my weight is starting to fluctuate more than it used to. After the past week and a half (bachelor party in Canada, Fourth of July celebration in New Jersey) I think it’s safe to say that I’ve packed on a few more than I’d like. Odds that I complete this task before 2014? 80% I’ll get there (roughly 3 lbs to go), but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
10.) Go sailing- Incomplete. Odds that I complete this task before 2014? 10% I don’t know many people that sail and I have no idea how to do it, so it’s not like I can go rent a boat. My cousin who will not be named’s father is a big sailor, so there’s a very slim chance that I’ll go with him when we go on vacation in a few weeks.
11.) Become a better cook- Incomplete. It’s not for lack of effort. I’m definitely trying to create new dishes to add to my personal menu, but I haven’t struck many chords. Odds that I finish this task before 2014? 40% It’s totally subjective, so the fact that I’m trying technically means that I’ve become better, but I want to be able to whip up 2-3 quality dishes before I check this one off.
12.) Buy a winter coat- Done. When I purchased three suits for the price of one in late January I also got an adult winter coat for free. It took some getting used to, but I eventually started to appreciate the warmth that it provided.
13.) Attend my 5 year college reunion- Done. Easily one of the top 2 weekends of the year so far.
14.) Get a credit card- Incomplete. I have a corporate credit card, but that doesn’t count. Odds that I finish this task before 2014? 33% I’m still anti-credit card and feel no desire to get one, but the foundation of my belief has been under fire for years now.
15.) Shoot an 85 or below in golf- Incomplete. I’ve played two rounds of 18 so far this season and have a 95 and a 101. Odds that I finish this task before 2014? 20% I’m starting to play every Wednesday with three friends from work (two of whom are much better than me), so there’s a chance, but there are a lotttttt of holes in my game.
16.) Take a trip to Chicago in the summer- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% I’ve requested almost every week of August off already and it does not appear that Chicago is in the cards this year, although I would absolutely love to go.
17.) Play more basketball- Done. I played on an intramural basketball team at work in the winter. We weren’t very good, but it was good to get back on the court after a long hiatus.
18.) Go to the eye doctor and get new glasses/contacts- Done. My eyes only got slightly worse. I got new frames and felt that they were a big change from my previous ones, but zero people noticed.
19.) Do 100 pushups a day- Incomplete. I’ve probably done 100 pushups or more a grand total of 7 days this year. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 15% It’s all about developing the routine. If I can find a way to work it in it’s not unreasonable, but it just hasn’t happened yet.
20.) Visit 5 states that I’ve never been to before- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 1% So far I’ve added two new states to my map (Missouri/Delaware), but I have no plans to visit any others.
Minnesota and North Carolina were just layovers, so that's why they're in a different color.
21.) Go to the New York State Fair- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% The timing of the Fair does not jive too well with my work schedule this year.
22.) Go to a concert- Incomplete. I had plans to see the band Live on Long Island with my roommate, but the plans (on my end) fell through because I had to work on the US Open. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 8%
23.) Shave at least 3 times a week- Incomplete. I started 2013 out pretty well in this regard, but have fallen back into my lazy habit. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 25%
24.) Get a raise/promotion at work- Incomplete. I’m currently a Production Assistant II. The next step for me is Associate Producer. I can't get promoted unless someone on the AP level leaves. An AP spot opened up in January and I did not get it because you can only get promoted once in a calendar year and I was promoted in September (literally the only reason as per my manager). Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 66% Even if I don’t get a promotion I think my boss will find a way to get me a raise.
25.) Get my (still to be gotten) passport stamped- Incomplete. I went to Canada in late June and assumed that I’d be able to cross this one off the list, but they don’t stamp passports if you go back and forth between Canada and the United States. I was greatly disappointed. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% It’s not happening.
26.) Take a drive along the California coast- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% This was a long shot from the start.
27.) Attend a professional golf tournament- Done. I went to the Traveler’s Championship in Cromwell, CT in late June and had a pretty good time. I saw a few major championship winners (Padraig Harrington, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Webb Simpson) and spent the majority of my time watching guys play a 171 yard par-3 over water.
John Daly throwing back a "diet coke".
28.) Go to the US Open (Tennis)- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 50% This blog post made me look up when it is (August 26 – September 9th), so it’s now officially on my radar.
29.) Go to a taping of The Daily Show or The Colbert Report- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5%
30.) Complete my quest to watch every movie nominated for Best Picture in my lifetime- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 99% As of this writing I need to see two more. Secrets & Lies (1996) and Amour (2012). I’ll find a way to watch them both in the next 5 plus months.
31.) Go to an NHL game- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 15% I watched a good amount of the NHL playoffs. Maybe that will encourage me to make the effort to go to a game this fall.
32.) Attempt to eat as many hot dogs and buns as I can in a 10 minute span- Done. I crossed this one off the list on Sunday. I took down 10 hot dogs and buns in the span of 6 minutes and then stared blankly at the extra two hot dogs and buns that I prepared just in case I was in beast mode.
33.) Completely overhaul my wardrobe- Incomplete. I have not completely overhauled my wardrobe quite yet, but I feel like significant progress has been made. A female friend actually asked if I’d be interested in her doing this for me (she took a job at a company that buys stylish clothes for guys for a certain price). I did not go through with it (actually forgot about it until now), but it’s something. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 60%
34.) Post at least 50 pictures on Instagram- Slightly ahead of schedule. As of this writing I’ve posted 28 pictures, which puts me on pace for about 52-56. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 75% I still have not asked someone to take a picture of me and someone else or in front of something, etc. and posted it, but that might be on the horizon.
35.) Take some sort of class- Done. I took a class called “Poised and Powerful Speaking” at work in February. At the end of the class everyone had to give a 5 minute speech. We drew numbers out of a hat for the order and I drew #11 (there were 17 of us). The woman next to me got #1 and said that there was no way that she’d be ready in time, so I switched with her. After I gave my speech the teacher asked what I was doing in the class and told me to pursue more avenues where I can speak in front of people.
36.) Run a mile in under 6 minutes- Incomplete. I run a lot, but always for more than a mile. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 70% I think I’ll eventually green light this idea just to cross it off the list.
37.) Watch a fireworks display from start to finish- Incomplete. I can’t believe that I didn’t see any fireworks this past weekend (I’m told there was a full display in Manasquan, NJ when I was there, but I was in a bar at the time). Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 10% Fireworks night at a baseball park might be my only chance.
38.) Witness a sunrise- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 3%
39.) Write more- Too early to determine. I started an employee newsletter at work and finished writing my memoir, but I hardly post on this site anymore.
40.) Learn to ski/water ski- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% I don’t know what I was thinking putting this on the list.
41.) Keep in touch with more friends- Incomplete. I was actually talking to my cousin about this recently. Friendships fade. People get busier and grow apart. It happens. Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 40% Probably an optimistic number, but I’d like to.
42.) Give a speech- Done (sort of). I had to give a speech during that Poised and Powerful speaking class. I also ran a meeting at work last month, so I figure that that’s enough to cross this one off of the list.
43.) Memorize the world capitals- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% I have not even begun to start this one. In fact, I’ve probably forgotten most of the European, African, and South American capitals that I knew a year or two ago.
44.) Create a list of the Top 10 places in the world that I want to visit- Incomplete. Actually I’ll just do it right now.
1.) Ireland
2.) London
3.) Paris
4.) Argentina
5.) Greece
6.) Italy
7.) Spain
8.) Iceland
9.) Australia
10.) China
Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 100%
45.) Eat 0 meals at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc.- Incomplete. I had Wendy’s for lunch when I drove down to DC in March. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0%
46.) Wake up earlier- Done. I usually wake up anywhere from 8 to 8:45 nowadays.
47.) Go to sleep earlier- Done. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or what, but I’m in bed before 1 a.m. almost every night (barring work).
48.) Cook the bacon explosion- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% The Super Bowl always seems like the occasion for this, but I’ve had to work during the last two.
Look at this thing. Eating some of this might hurt me when it comes to #9.
49.) Travel to a different continent- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% This is now tied directly to #25 on this list.
50.) Watch less television- Done. I still probably watch too much, but I simply don’t have the time to watch that many tv shows anymore. I can no longer keep up with some shows that I really like (ex- Modern Family).
For you non math majors I've currently accomplished 17 of the 50 and should accomplish another 9 before the year is over. That actually takes us to my second blog post of the year.
Forecasting 2013
13 Bold Predictions for 2013
1.) The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will both miss the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1993- Too early to determine. The Red Sox currently have the best record in the AL, so this one isn't looking too good.
2.) The New York Knicks will not get out of the first round of the NBA playoffs- Swing and a miss. The Knicks snuck past the Celtics before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semis.
3.) Tiger Woods will win the U.S. Open- Swing and a miss. He finished tied for 32nd and 12 strokes behind the winner Justin Rose.
4.) The Miami Heat will win their 2nd straight NBA title- Nailed it. Predicting a third for next year would definitely be bold, but I'm not quite ready for that.
5.) The Syracuse men’s basketball team will not make it to the Sweet 16- Swing and a miss. The reverse jinx worked as the Orange went to the Final Four.
6.) I will not complete 50% of my 50 things to do in 2013- Too early to determine. As we just learned I've done 17 and should complete another 9 which would put me at 26 and over the 50% mark.
7.) Argo will not win Best Picture at the Academy Awards- Swing and a miss. It won and should have.
8.) Mad Men, the best show on television, will jump the shark in Season 6 and flame out in Season 7- Nailed it. This was easily the worst season in the show's history.
9.) Japan will win the World Baseball Classic for the 3rd straight time- Swing and a miss. The Domincan Republic took it down.
10.) The Supreme Court will uphold gay marriage- Nailed it. There's a lot of social momentum going in the gays' favor right now.
11.) The Lakers will make the NBA playoffs- Nailed it. They got swept and will suck next year, though.
12.) One of my siblings will get engaged- Too early to determine. I'm not feeling great about this one anymore, but there's a chance.
13.) We will finally meet The Mother in How I Met Your Mother- Nailed it.
5 for 13 onnot so bold predictions ain't bad, folks.
50 Things to do in 2013
1.) Get a passport- Done. I don’t know what people dislike more- their passport photo or their license photo. I don't particularly like either of mine, but I definitely wouldn't try to fight the kid in my license photo.
2.) Finish writing my memoir- Done. The writing has been completed. I’ve read it through and edited it. I’m not sure where I go from here (does anyone know someone in editing/publishing?), but I feel like the majority of this task has been accomplished. It’s a little weird because it was always something I could work on when I had the time (which was becoming an incredibly infrequent event recently). Now that it’s done I don’t know what I’ll do when those free minutes/hours come about.
3.) Read 25 books (roughly 2 per month)- Slightly ahead of schedule. As of this writing I’ve read 15 books, which puts me on pace for 29 or 30 for the year. I’m sure that I’ll write something about the books I’ve read in 2013 in December, so I won’t bore you with my impressions just yet.
4.) Visit my sisters in Washington DC- Done. I went down to DC in March to watch Syracuse advance to the Final Four and had an absolute blast. One of my sisters was away for the weekend when I was there, so I plan on making a return trip (hopefully this summer).
5.) Attend a Blue Jays game in Toronto- Incomplete. Odds that I complete this task before 2014? 60% My roommate is going to a Yankees/Blue Jays series in late August. I don’t have the days off approved yet, but I think there’s a good chance that I make it up there.
6.) Run a half marathon- Done. If you don’t think that I’ll get a 13.1 bumper sticker and put it on my car you’re crazy.
7.) Attend a Knicks game in the newly renovated Madison Square Garden- Done. I produced a Clippers/Knicks game in February for work and then went to a Thunder/Knicks game with a few of my high school friends in March. The Knicks lost both games.
8.) Buy a new suit and get it tailored- Done. My boss (and his boss) told me to hit up Joseph A. Bank and take advantage of some of their deals, so I went ahead and bought three suits for the price of one and got them all tailored. I’m on my way to adulthood.
9.) Lose 6-7 pounds- Incomplete. At certain points throughout the past 1-2 months I’ve been there, but my weight is starting to fluctuate more than it used to. After the past week and a half (bachelor party in Canada, Fourth of July celebration in New Jersey) I think it’s safe to say that I’ve packed on a few more than I’d like. Odds that I complete this task before 2014? 80% I’ll get there (roughly 3 lbs to go), but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.
10.) Go sailing- Incomplete. Odds that I complete this task before 2014? 10% I don’t know many people that sail and I have no idea how to do it, so it’s not like I can go rent a boat. My cousin who will not be named’s father is a big sailor, so there’s a very slim chance that I’ll go with him when we go on vacation in a few weeks.
11.) Become a better cook- Incomplete. It’s not for lack of effort. I’m definitely trying to create new dishes to add to my personal menu, but I haven’t struck many chords. Odds that I finish this task before 2014? 40% It’s totally subjective, so the fact that I’m trying technically means that I’ve become better, but I want to be able to whip up 2-3 quality dishes before I check this one off.
12.) Buy a winter coat- Done. When I purchased three suits for the price of one in late January I also got an adult winter coat for free. It took some getting used to, but I eventually started to appreciate the warmth that it provided.
13.) Attend my 5 year college reunion- Done. Easily one of the top 2 weekends of the year so far.
14.) Get a credit card- Incomplete. I have a corporate credit card, but that doesn’t count. Odds that I finish this task before 2014? 33% I’m still anti-credit card and feel no desire to get one, but the foundation of my belief has been under fire for years now.
15.) Shoot an 85 or below in golf- Incomplete. I’ve played two rounds of 18 so far this season and have a 95 and a 101. Odds that I finish this task before 2014? 20% I’m starting to play every Wednesday with three friends from work (two of whom are much better than me), so there’s a chance, but there are a lotttttt of holes in my game.
16.) Take a trip to Chicago in the summer- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% I’ve requested almost every week of August off already and it does not appear that Chicago is in the cards this year, although I would absolutely love to go.
17.) Play more basketball- Done. I played on an intramural basketball team at work in the winter. We weren’t very good, but it was good to get back on the court after a long hiatus.
18.) Go to the eye doctor and get new glasses/contacts- Done. My eyes only got slightly worse. I got new frames and felt that they were a big change from my previous ones, but zero people noticed.
19.) Do 100 pushups a day- Incomplete. I’ve probably done 100 pushups or more a grand total of 7 days this year. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 15% It’s all about developing the routine. If I can find a way to work it in it’s not unreasonable, but it just hasn’t happened yet.
20.) Visit 5 states that I’ve never been to before- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 1% So far I’ve added two new states to my map (Missouri/Delaware), but I have no plans to visit any others.
Minnesota and North Carolina were just layovers, so that's why they're in a different color.
21.) Go to the New York State Fair- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% The timing of the Fair does not jive too well with my work schedule this year.
22.) Go to a concert- Incomplete. I had plans to see the band Live on Long Island with my roommate, but the plans (on my end) fell through because I had to work on the US Open. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 8%
23.) Shave at least 3 times a week- Incomplete. I started 2013 out pretty well in this regard, but have fallen back into my lazy habit. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 25%
24.) Get a raise/promotion at work- Incomplete. I’m currently a Production Assistant II. The next step for me is Associate Producer. I can't get promoted unless someone on the AP level leaves. An AP spot opened up in January and I did not get it because you can only get promoted once in a calendar year and I was promoted in September (literally the only reason as per my manager). Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 66% Even if I don’t get a promotion I think my boss will find a way to get me a raise.
25.) Get my (still to be gotten) passport stamped- Incomplete. I went to Canada in late June and assumed that I’d be able to cross this one off the list, but they don’t stamp passports if you go back and forth between Canada and the United States. I was greatly disappointed. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% It’s not happening.
26.) Take a drive along the California coast- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% This was a long shot from the start.
27.) Attend a professional golf tournament- Done. I went to the Traveler’s Championship in Cromwell, CT in late June and had a pretty good time. I saw a few major championship winners (Padraig Harrington, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Webb Simpson) and spent the majority of my time watching guys play a 171 yard par-3 over water.
John Daly throwing back a "diet coke".
28.) Go to the US Open (Tennis)- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 50% This blog post made me look up when it is (August 26 – September 9th), so it’s now officially on my radar.
29.) Go to a taping of The Daily Show or The Colbert Report- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5%
30.) Complete my quest to watch every movie nominated for Best Picture in my lifetime- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 99% As of this writing I need to see two more. Secrets & Lies (1996) and Amour (2012). I’ll find a way to watch them both in the next 5 plus months.
31.) Go to an NHL game- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 15% I watched a good amount of the NHL playoffs. Maybe that will encourage me to make the effort to go to a game this fall.
32.) Attempt to eat as many hot dogs and buns as I can in a 10 minute span- Done. I crossed this one off the list on Sunday. I took down 10 hot dogs and buns in the span of 6 minutes and then stared blankly at the extra two hot dogs and buns that I prepared just in case I was in beast mode.
33.) Completely overhaul my wardrobe- Incomplete. I have not completely overhauled my wardrobe quite yet, but I feel like significant progress has been made. A female friend actually asked if I’d be interested in her doing this for me (she took a job at a company that buys stylish clothes for guys for a certain price). I did not go through with it (actually forgot about it until now), but it’s something. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 60%
34.) Post at least 50 pictures on Instagram- Slightly ahead of schedule. As of this writing I’ve posted 28 pictures, which puts me on pace for about 52-56. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 75% I still have not asked someone to take a picture of me and someone else or in front of something, etc. and posted it, but that might be on the horizon.
35.) Take some sort of class- Done. I took a class called “Poised and Powerful Speaking” at work in February. At the end of the class everyone had to give a 5 minute speech. We drew numbers out of a hat for the order and I drew #11 (there were 17 of us). The woman next to me got #1 and said that there was no way that she’d be ready in time, so I switched with her. After I gave my speech the teacher asked what I was doing in the class and told me to pursue more avenues where I can speak in front of people.
36.) Run a mile in under 6 minutes- Incomplete. I run a lot, but always for more than a mile. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 70% I think I’ll eventually green light this idea just to cross it off the list.
37.) Watch a fireworks display from start to finish- Incomplete. I can’t believe that I didn’t see any fireworks this past weekend (I’m told there was a full display in Manasquan, NJ when I was there, but I was in a bar at the time). Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 10% Fireworks night at a baseball park might be my only chance.
38.) Witness a sunrise- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 3%
39.) Write more- Too early to determine. I started an employee newsletter at work and finished writing my memoir, but I hardly post on this site anymore.
40.) Learn to ski/water ski- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% I don’t know what I was thinking putting this on the list.
41.) Keep in touch with more friends- Incomplete. I was actually talking to my cousin about this recently. Friendships fade. People get busier and grow apart. It happens. Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 40% Probably an optimistic number, but I’d like to.
42.) Give a speech- Done (sort of). I had to give a speech during that Poised and Powerful speaking class. I also ran a meeting at work last month, so I figure that that’s enough to cross this one off of the list.
43.) Memorize the world capitals- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% I have not even begun to start this one. In fact, I’ve probably forgotten most of the European, African, and South American capitals that I knew a year or two ago.
44.) Create a list of the Top 10 places in the world that I want to visit- Incomplete. Actually I’ll just do it right now.
1.) Ireland
2.) London
3.) Paris
4.) Argentina
5.) Greece
6.) Italy
7.) Spain
8.) Iceland
9.) Australia
10.) China
Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 100%
45.) Eat 0 meals at McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc.- Incomplete. I had Wendy’s for lunch when I drove down to DC in March. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0%
46.) Wake up earlier- Done. I usually wake up anywhere from 8 to 8:45 nowadays.
47.) Go to sleep earlier- Done. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or what, but I’m in bed before 1 a.m. almost every night (barring work).
48.) Cook the bacon explosion- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 5% The Super Bowl always seems like the occasion for this, but I’ve had to work during the last two.
Look at this thing. Eating some of this might hurt me when it comes to #9.
49.) Travel to a different continent- Incomplete. Odds that I accomplish this task before 2014? 0% This is now tied directly to #25 on this list.
50.) Watch less television- Done. I still probably watch too much, but I simply don’t have the time to watch that many tv shows anymore. I can no longer keep up with some shows that I really like (ex- Modern Family).
For you non math majors I've currently accomplished 17 of the 50 and should accomplish another 9 before the year is over. That actually takes us to my second blog post of the year.
Forecasting 2013
13 Bold Predictions for 2013
1.) The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will both miss the MLB playoffs for the first time since 1993- Too early to determine. The Red Sox currently have the best record in the AL, so this one isn't looking too good.
2.) The New York Knicks will not get out of the first round of the NBA playoffs- Swing and a miss. The Knicks snuck past the Celtics before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semis.
3.) Tiger Woods will win the U.S. Open- Swing and a miss. He finished tied for 32nd and 12 strokes behind the winner Justin Rose.
4.) The Miami Heat will win their 2nd straight NBA title- Nailed it. Predicting a third for next year would definitely be bold, but I'm not quite ready for that.
5.) The Syracuse men’s basketball team will not make it to the Sweet 16- Swing and a miss. The reverse jinx worked as the Orange went to the Final Four.
6.) I will not complete 50% of my 50 things to do in 2013- Too early to determine. As we just learned I've done 17 and should complete another 9 which would put me at 26 and over the 50% mark.
7.) Argo will not win Best Picture at the Academy Awards- Swing and a miss. It won and should have.
8.) Mad Men, the best show on television, will jump the shark in Season 6 and flame out in Season 7- Nailed it. This was easily the worst season in the show's history.
9.) Japan will win the World Baseball Classic for the 3rd straight time- Swing and a miss. The Domincan Republic took it down.
10.) The Supreme Court will uphold gay marriage- Nailed it. There's a lot of social momentum going in the gays' favor right now.
11.) The Lakers will make the NBA playoffs- Nailed it. They got swept and will suck next year, though.
12.) One of my siblings will get engaged- Too early to determine. I'm not feeling great about this one anymore, but there's a chance.
13.) We will finally meet The Mother in How I Met Your Mother- Nailed it.
5 for 13 on
Monday, June 24, 2013
Book Reviews
Back in April, at the suggestion of one of my many bosses, I started an internal newspaper at work. The goal was to inform my colleagues about any and all relevant news regarding our department and to do so in an engaging manner. A half serious/half mocking approach is kind of my thing, so I wrote a handful of upbeat articles (some of which included made up quotes), polled everyone with the same title on a series of questions, and created quick blurbs to fill in the remaining white space (my favorite was a list of "Buzzwords to use in conversations with your manager").
A few weeks back the manager who originally suggested the newsletter, my editor- if you will, told me to start ramping things up for the second edition. In an effort to mix things up I've written two reviews for books with a sports connection. The first of which was written by ESPN Radio's own Mike Greenberg. The second was written by legendary coach, and former NBA player, Phil Jackson.
all you could ask for is a story about three woman from different paths of life (even though they all have ties to the ritzy town of Greenwich, CT) that connect through their battles with breast cancer. As you might expect, there are a plethora of references to running, hiking, protein shakes, smoothies, fresh fruit, and wine. There are also a handful of scenes that feature nudity and a number of usages of the word “ass” (including in the first sentence), which I certainly did not expect.
Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson
Jackson grew up in Montana, a place he’s never really left mentally, as the son of two ministers. Growing up he was bombarded with religion. He went to mass twice on Sundays. Once to hear his father’s sermon. Then again to hear his mother’s. Obviously this led to his natural inclination in divinity, but as he grew up he needed to find a respite from his religious obligations. That, in part, is why he turned to basketball (the other part being his God gifted height and ability).
Throughout it all there are quotes from Zen leaders and Buddhist monks, references to Lakota Warriors, mentions of motorcycle rides through the Rockies to clear his mind, stories about how he used meditation to relax his players, and examples of how he implemented the fundamentals found in psychological theories like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
A few weeks back the manager who originally suggested the newsletter, my editor- if you will, told me to start ramping things up for the second edition. In an effort to mix things up I've written two reviews for books with a sports connection. The first of which was written by ESPN Radio's own Mike Greenberg. The second was written by legendary coach, and former NBA player, Phil Jackson.
all you could ask for by Mike Greenberg
The fact that a sports talk radio host penned this novel is
almost unfathomable. That is, of course, if you don’t know who Mike Greenberg
is.
If you listen to just one segment of Mike and Mike you learn
two things. 1.) The Twitter handle of Greeny’s wife and 2.) That each host’s
characteristics are exaggerated to fit a certain role. Greeny is the skinny,
smoothie drinking, metrosexual geek and Golic is the overweight, dumb
ex-jock. This difference between the two
Mikes is even spelled out in the show’s new logo (one “Mike” is in skinny type
while the other is in a larger, more round font).
Greenberg clearly has some feminine qualities (going all lower case in the title among them), but none that
would suggest that he’d be able to write a novel that features three distinct
female protagonists. Writing from the point of view of the opposite sex is a
daunting task. In fact, there may not be a bigger challenge for an author. Jack
Nicholson’s character in As Good As it Gets (1999) made it sound easy when he,
a famous author, was asked how he writes women so well and said, “I think of a
man…and take away reason and accountability,”, but it’s incredibly difficult.
Somehow, someway Greenberg, with the help of his wife and
their yoga teacher, pulled it off. That is the real victory of this novel. Only once did I find myself saying, “A woman
would not act/say that,” but then again, I’m not a woman, so what do I know?all you could ask for is a story about three woman from different paths of life (even though they all have ties to the ritzy town of Greenwich, CT) that connect through their battles with breast cancer. As you might expect, there are a plethora of references to running, hiking, protein shakes, smoothies, fresh fruit, and wine. There are also a handful of scenes that feature nudity and a number of usages of the word “ass” (including in the first sentence), which I certainly did not expect.
The words fly off the page as quickly as Greenberg’s
opinions do every weekday morning. His urgent cadence drives the plot from page
to page and chapter to chapter. Greeny’s skills as a talk show host very
clearly carry over into his writing. His unique ability to hook listeners into
sticking through a commercial break shows at the end of each chapter. At times
it’s hard to put the book down because you feel the need to find out what
happens next.
That said, the second half of the novel falls flat. As the woman deal with their breast cancer treatments they "bond" quickly and forge unrealistically deep friendships, despite a series of ridiculous exchanges between two of them. The ending is confusing, far-fetched, and unsatisfactory. I would definitely not recommend this book to another male and would have some reservations about telling a female to give it a shot.
Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson
Not many of us want our careers to define our life. We
believe that our families, thoughts and ideals, and true passions are more
important. The same holds true for the most decorated head coach in the history
of the NBA.
Phil Jackson’s latest book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success
is part spiritual journey and part how Jackson implemented his constantly changing
philosophy on life and leadership throughout his career in the NBA as both a
player and a head coach. That’s something that most people too often forget.
Phil Jackson was a solid player in the NBA. He won two NBA titles in the 70s
with the New York Knicks (it should be noted that he was injured for the first
title).Jackson grew up in Montana, a place he’s never really left mentally, as the son of two ministers. Growing up he was bombarded with religion. He went to mass twice on Sundays. Once to hear his father’s sermon. Then again to hear his mother’s. Obviously this led to his natural inclination in divinity, but as he grew up he needed to find a respite from his religious obligations. That, in part, is why he turned to basketball (the other part being his God gifted height and ability).
In the book Jackson provides a season by season synopsis of
his career as a coach in the NBA. Interestingly he gets to the playoffs very
quickly in his descriptions and references the boredom many of his teams dealt
with in the regular season. Within the text we learn a great deal about his
thought process. He was averse to calling early timeouts because he wanted his
players to learn how to play through adversity. It also seems as if he was
petrified of Game 7s because of their uncertainty.
In many ways this book is exactly what you would think that
it would be. Jackson provides a detailed breakdown of the famous triangle
offense, that he learned from assistant coach Tex Winter. He tells stories
about how he handled the eccentricities of Dennis Rodman. He explains the
disdain he felt toward Kobe Bryant during the ’03-’04 season and how they
mended their relationship. There are plenty of passages about his dealings with
Michael Jordan (including their conversation before MJ decided to play
baseball) and their great respect for one another.Throughout it all there are quotes from Zen leaders and Buddhist monks, references to Lakota Warriors, mentions of motorcycle rides through the Rockies to clear his mind, stories about how he used meditation to relax his players, and examples of how he implemented the fundamentals found in psychological theories like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Reunion Weekend
Last year around this time I wrote about how the first four years out of college go even faster than the four years as an undergrad. It’s a scary, yet accurate premise. Continuing that thought, the more you get out away from college the more serious life becomes. So just imagine the thoughts going through my mind as I drove down to Fairfield for my five year college reunion this past weekend.
I had heard from kids older than me that the five year reunion is an absolute blast, so my expectations were sky high. Even with the high standards set in my mind I had a great time. If I have more fun over the course of a weekend the rest of the year I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
It’s hard to describe the feeling that reunion weekend dug up for many of my former classmates. It was a blend of nostalgia, happiness on the verge of giddiness, and a return to a previous state of normalcy that’s never really left the synapses of our minds. We were all transfixed in a way where our experience within the confines of Fairfield felt almost separate and disconnected from the outside world. The communal sense that we had established during our tenure as college students was rebuilt, even if only for 48 hours.
Obviously whenever a large contingent of your college classmates gets together there’s going to be some awkwardness. This can’t be avoided. Within the first sixty seconds of showing up I saw an acquaintance that I liked well enough to say hello to. The only problem was that he was with a kid I didn’t know at all. After the kid that I knew and I shared a bro hug I felt obligated to also extend a bro hug to his buddy. It was clearly forced and awkward, but I felt as if consistency was the best policy. Later on if I saw a group of girls and hugged the first one, the rest of the group was getting the same greeting.
As great as it was to see so many familiar faces, and it was, I felt like most people there had an agenda, whether intentionally or not. I don’t feel like people went out of their way to brag about life events (The number of people that were married or engaged was staggering. Facebook has kept me apprised of most of these events, but I was still slightly overwhelmed), but there was a lot of self pride going on (and most of it rightfully so). Others seemed to be making statements that ranged from “Check out my new figure” to “I’m successful and no longer have a coke problem.” Again, no one was ostentatious in a way that was off putting, but it was almost like the five year reunion was a stage for everyone with something to prove (whether it be to themselves or otherwise).
That said, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how good looking most of the females were. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’ve been living in the middle of nowhere Connecticut for the past five years, but the female members of the Class of ’08 were bringing the heat this weekend. As one friend said, “Say what you will about Fairfield girls, but they crush evening/formal wear.” I also assume that the people that really ballooned opted not to show up.
Fairfield put our class up in the dorms and I swear it was like we never left. For the life of me I can’t figure out how we all packed our entire lives into such a confined space during our Freshman and Sophomore years, but that didn’t seem to matter this weekend. The entire scene was pulled from a calendar in April of 2005. People were playing Frisbee (and Kan Jam) in the quad, mini-refrigerators were stocked with beer, toilet paper laced the hallways after a few rounds of late night bowling, and the Domino’s delivery guy was knocking on the door every five minutes from 1-4am.
It was exhilarating to fall into the same patterns and routines that we were all accustomed to in years past. We went to the same establishments for breakfast and to familiar places on campus to re-connect with our former selves. At a beer garden right outside the campus center a group of us that worked in the rec plex as intramural supervisors ran into our old boss and chatted him up for a bit. Afterwards we felt compelled to return to our old workspace where we enjoyed a game of P-I (not enough time for a full game of P-I-G) and sweet talked our way into getting free t-shirts. The area where I most noticed everyone returning to the way we acted in college was in conversations.
The people I talked to the most this weekend were the people that I talked to the most in college. This makes sense on the surface level because most of these people are my closest friends that I’m still in touch with, but things picked right back up with others (namely former romantic interests) that I no longer see or speak to. For whatever reason this led to a series of deep conversations/”heart-to-hearts” about the past. I felt as if both parties in these talks were much more free and uninhibited than in the past (in most cases a female I was speaking to was married/engaged, so the sexual tension that was once there was gone). It was easier to talk about past transgressions and how they made us feel in the moment. These open and free discussions about the past made me wonder about how things may have played out differently . What if I had done this or not done that, etc. It’s pretty fascinating how fickle the paths are that we take.
Not surprisingly, the prevailing thought that I had about our reunion weekend is how fast everything went. Time flew by just like college did. There were 10-15 people that I feel like I only spoke to for thirty seconds. After a quick hello I assumed that I would see them later on and just didn’t. The goodbyes on Saturday night and Sunday morning were drawn out and only slightly less difficult than they were five years ago. We had quickly re-established connections and then severed them just as quickly. As I drove away from my second home I wished for four more years of weekends like the one I just had.
As challenging as it was to leave I found comfort in knowing that there’s a bond among us that’s greater than any of us even know. I may not see or speak to people that I considered friends in college until the next reunion five years from now, but no matter where we go and what we do we’ll always have this collection of shared memories to fall back on. That’s something that we can all be proud of.
I had heard from kids older than me that the five year reunion is an absolute blast, so my expectations were sky high. Even with the high standards set in my mind I had a great time. If I have more fun over the course of a weekend the rest of the year I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
It’s hard to describe the feeling that reunion weekend dug up for many of my former classmates. It was a blend of nostalgia, happiness on the verge of giddiness, and a return to a previous state of normalcy that’s never really left the synapses of our minds. We were all transfixed in a way where our experience within the confines of Fairfield felt almost separate and disconnected from the outside world. The communal sense that we had established during our tenure as college students was rebuilt, even if only for 48 hours.
Obviously whenever a large contingent of your college classmates gets together there’s going to be some awkwardness. This can’t be avoided. Within the first sixty seconds of showing up I saw an acquaintance that I liked well enough to say hello to. The only problem was that he was with a kid I didn’t know at all. After the kid that I knew and I shared a bro hug I felt obligated to also extend a bro hug to his buddy. It was clearly forced and awkward, but I felt as if consistency was the best policy. Later on if I saw a group of girls and hugged the first one, the rest of the group was getting the same greeting.
As great as it was to see so many familiar faces, and it was, I felt like most people there had an agenda, whether intentionally or not. I don’t feel like people went out of their way to brag about life events (The number of people that were married or engaged was staggering. Facebook has kept me apprised of most of these events, but I was still slightly overwhelmed), but there was a lot of self pride going on (and most of it rightfully so). Others seemed to be making statements that ranged from “Check out my new figure” to “I’m successful and no longer have a coke problem.” Again, no one was ostentatious in a way that was off putting, but it was almost like the five year reunion was a stage for everyone with something to prove (whether it be to themselves or otherwise).
That said, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how good looking most of the females were. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’ve been living in the middle of nowhere Connecticut for the past five years, but the female members of the Class of ’08 were bringing the heat this weekend. As one friend said, “Say what you will about Fairfield girls, but they crush evening/formal wear.” I also assume that the people that really ballooned opted not to show up.
Fairfield put our class up in the dorms and I swear it was like we never left. For the life of me I can’t figure out how we all packed our entire lives into such a confined space during our Freshman and Sophomore years, but that didn’t seem to matter this weekend. The entire scene was pulled from a calendar in April of 2005. People were playing Frisbee (and Kan Jam) in the quad, mini-refrigerators were stocked with beer, toilet paper laced the hallways after a few rounds of late night bowling, and the Domino’s delivery guy was knocking on the door every five minutes from 1-4am.
It was exhilarating to fall into the same patterns and routines that we were all accustomed to in years past. We went to the same establishments for breakfast and to familiar places on campus to re-connect with our former selves. At a beer garden right outside the campus center a group of us that worked in the rec plex as intramural supervisors ran into our old boss and chatted him up for a bit. Afterwards we felt compelled to return to our old workspace where we enjoyed a game of P-I (not enough time for a full game of P-I-G) and sweet talked our way into getting free t-shirts. The area where I most noticed everyone returning to the way we acted in college was in conversations.
The people I talked to the most this weekend were the people that I talked to the most in college. This makes sense on the surface level because most of these people are my closest friends that I’m still in touch with, but things picked right back up with others (namely former romantic interests) that I no longer see or speak to. For whatever reason this led to a series of deep conversations/”heart-to-hearts” about the past. I felt as if both parties in these talks were much more free and uninhibited than in the past (in most cases a female I was speaking to was married/engaged, so the sexual tension that was once there was gone). It was easier to talk about past transgressions and how they made us feel in the moment. These open and free discussions about the past made me wonder about how things may have played out differently . What if I had done this or not done that, etc. It’s pretty fascinating how fickle the paths are that we take.
Not surprisingly, the prevailing thought that I had about our reunion weekend is how fast everything went. Time flew by just like college did. There were 10-15 people that I feel like I only spoke to for thirty seconds. After a quick hello I assumed that I would see them later on and just didn’t. The goodbyes on Saturday night and Sunday morning were drawn out and only slightly less difficult than they were five years ago. We had quickly re-established connections and then severed them just as quickly. As I drove away from my second home I wished for four more years of weekends like the one I just had.
As challenging as it was to leave I found comfort in knowing that there’s a bond among us that’s greater than any of us even know. I may not see or speak to people that I considered friends in college until the next reunion five years from now, but no matter where we go and what we do we’ll always have this collection of shared memories to fall back on. That’s something that we can all be proud of.
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Best of the Second Best
The Rolling Stones are largely considered to be the second best rock band of all time (trailing only The Beatles). I don't enjoy watching them, or any older band that can no longer bring it like they used it, perform on award shows/relief concerts anymore, but I don't think we, and when I say we I mean the people of my generation/twenty-somethings, understand the magnitude of their greatness.
Every once in a while I'll buy a CD (very oldschool, I know) by a particular band (whether it be Def Leppard, The Who, etc.) and be surprised by the amount of songs that I've heard before. Normally I'll know 3-4 pretty well and decide to give the greatest hits album a try. With the Rolling Stones there are at least 25-30 songs that you've heard before.
They are also very much responsible for crafting the image that we all have of rock stars. Drugs, partying, and sex. That stereotype was shaped largley because of how The Rolling Stones went about things. In fact, it's a miracle of modern science that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are still alive at the age of 69.
Last year the band celebrated their 50th year of existence. That's mind blowing.
What I'm about to present to you is obviously paltry by comparision, but maybe you'll learn something about the second best band of all time. Here are what I've deemed to be their ten best songs of all time.
10.) Jumpin’ Jack Flash
They played this song during a timeout of Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in the NHL between the Red Wings and Blackhawks the other night. No one thought it sounded out of place even though it debuted 45 years ago.
In a 1995 interview Mick Jagger said that the song is a metaphor for growing out of their acid days.
9.) Beast of Burden
I like this song a lot, but it did give me pause when I learned that Bette Midler covered it.
Mick Jagger has said that this song has no meaning and just represents a vibe/attitude. Keith Richards, perhaps retroactively adding meaning to it, said in 2003 that he wrote the song for Jagger for shouldering the burden of his drug abuse issues.
8.) Start Me Up
This is another song that’s popular at sporting venues across the world. In fact, it was track 1 of my personal pump up CD back in high school (don’t act like you didn’t have one, too). Interestingly “Start Me Up” was recorded in 1975, but didn’t make the cut for two albums before a producer suggesting using unreleased songs on tour in 1981.
7.) Under My Thumb
This song is about the power struggle in a relationship and because the lyrics contain references to the female as a “pet”, “cat”, and “squirming dog” feminists got all hot and bothered with it.
6.) (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
There is no deeper meaning to what I think is the band’s most popular song. It’s about sexual frustration and commercialism.
In 2010 Rolling Stone (sounds biased, but the magazine is actually named the 1950 song “Rollin’ Stone” by Muddy Waters) ranked it #2 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2000, VH1 ranked it #1 in their countdown of the Top 100 Rock Songs.
5.) Paint it Black
As the title suggests this song is about a man who wants everything around him to turn black to match his depressed mood. Some of the lyrics also seem to suggest a death and funeral.
According to Mick Jagger it was another song influenced by drug use, "That was the time of lots of acid. It has sitars on it. It's like the beginnings of miserable psychedelia.” The song was the first that featured a sitar to reach #1 on the singles chart.
4.) Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
This classic was birthed from a simple jam session and the opening riff is absolutely incredible.
The song is featured in such films as Blow, Casino, and The Fighter. Enough said.
3.) You Can’t Always Get What You Want
This song is about trying to find happiness and each of the three verses focus on one of the prevailing themes of the 1960s: love, politics, and drugs.
In a review of this song Richie Unterberger, an American, wrote, "If you buy John Lennon's observation that the Rolling Stones were apt to copy the Beatles' innovations within a few months or so, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' is the Rolling Stones' counterpart to 'Hey Jude'." Jagger said in 1969, "I liked the way the Beatles did that with 'Hey Jude'. The orchestra was not just to cover everything up—it was something extra. We may do something like that on the next album."
2.) Sympathy For the Devil
This song is sung from the viewpoint of the devil and was inspired by the French writer Charles Baudelaire and the Russian novel "The Master and the Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov.
I love it because 1.) unlike most songs the title is not uttered and 2.) the lyrics are incredible and they make reference to historical events. For example the original lyric of “I shouted out , “Who killed Kennedy?” When after all, it was you and me” was changed to “I shouted out, “Who killed the Kennedys?” When after all, it was you and me” after Bobby was assassinated in 1968.
1.) Gimme Shelter
I will never tire of this song. It was written in response to the unsettling times of the late ‘60s, specifically the Vietnam War. Keith Richards said, “"Well, it's a very rough, very violent era. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense...That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that (Let it Bleed (1979)."
As you can probably ascertain from listening to the beginning this song is featured prominently in movie trailers every year. Movie director Martin Scorsese has used it as the signature theme in Goodfellas, Casino, and The Departed.
Every once in a while I'll buy a CD (very oldschool, I know) by a particular band (whether it be Def Leppard, The Who, etc.) and be surprised by the amount of songs that I've heard before. Normally I'll know 3-4 pretty well and decide to give the greatest hits album a try. With the Rolling Stones there are at least 25-30 songs that you've heard before.
They are also very much responsible for crafting the image that we all have of rock stars. Drugs, partying, and sex. That stereotype was shaped largley because of how The Rolling Stones went about things. In fact, it's a miracle of modern science that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are still alive at the age of 69.
Last year the band celebrated their 50th year of existence. That's mind blowing.
What I'm about to present to you is obviously paltry by comparision, but maybe you'll learn something about the second best band of all time. Here are what I've deemed to be their ten best songs of all time.
10.) Jumpin’ Jack Flash
They played this song during a timeout of Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in the NHL between the Red Wings and Blackhawks the other night. No one thought it sounded out of place even though it debuted 45 years ago.
In a 1995 interview Mick Jagger said that the song is a metaphor for growing out of their acid days.
9.) Beast of Burden
I like this song a lot, but it did give me pause when I learned that Bette Midler covered it.
Mick Jagger has said that this song has no meaning and just represents a vibe/attitude. Keith Richards, perhaps retroactively adding meaning to it, said in 2003 that he wrote the song for Jagger for shouldering the burden of his drug abuse issues.
8.) Start Me Up
This is another song that’s popular at sporting venues across the world. In fact, it was track 1 of my personal pump up CD back in high school (don’t act like you didn’t have one, too). Interestingly “Start Me Up” was recorded in 1975, but didn’t make the cut for two albums before a producer suggesting using unreleased songs on tour in 1981.
7.) Under My Thumb
This song is about the power struggle in a relationship and because the lyrics contain references to the female as a “pet”, “cat”, and “squirming dog” feminists got all hot and bothered with it.
6.) (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
There is no deeper meaning to what I think is the band’s most popular song. It’s about sexual frustration and commercialism.
In 2010 Rolling Stone (sounds biased, but the magazine is actually named the 1950 song “Rollin’ Stone” by Muddy Waters) ranked it #2 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2000, VH1 ranked it #1 in their countdown of the Top 100 Rock Songs.
5.) Paint it Black
As the title suggests this song is about a man who wants everything around him to turn black to match his depressed mood. Some of the lyrics also seem to suggest a death and funeral.
According to Mick Jagger it was another song influenced by drug use, "That was the time of lots of acid. It has sitars on it. It's like the beginnings of miserable psychedelia.” The song was the first that featured a sitar to reach #1 on the singles chart.
4.) Can’t You Hear Me Knocking
This classic was birthed from a simple jam session and the opening riff is absolutely incredible.
The song is featured in such films as Blow, Casino, and The Fighter. Enough said.
3.) You Can’t Always Get What You Want
This song is about trying to find happiness and each of the three verses focus on one of the prevailing themes of the 1960s: love, politics, and drugs.
In a review of this song Richie Unterberger, an American, wrote, "If you buy John Lennon's observation that the Rolling Stones were apt to copy the Beatles' innovations within a few months or so, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' is the Rolling Stones' counterpart to 'Hey Jude'." Jagger said in 1969, "I liked the way the Beatles did that with 'Hey Jude'. The orchestra was not just to cover everything up—it was something extra. We may do something like that on the next album."
2.) Sympathy For the Devil
This song is sung from the viewpoint of the devil and was inspired by the French writer Charles Baudelaire and the Russian novel "The Master and the Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov.
I love it because 1.) unlike most songs the title is not uttered and 2.) the lyrics are incredible and they make reference to historical events. For example the original lyric of “I shouted out , “Who killed Kennedy?” When after all, it was you and me” was changed to “I shouted out, “Who killed the Kennedys?” When after all, it was you and me” after Bobby was assassinated in 1968.
1.) Gimme Shelter
I will never tire of this song. It was written in response to the unsettling times of the late ‘60s, specifically the Vietnam War. Keith Richards said, “"Well, it's a very rough, very violent era. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense...That's a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It's apocalypse; the whole record's like that (Let it Bleed (1979)."
As you can probably ascertain from listening to the beginning this song is featured prominently in movie trailers every year. Movie director Martin Scorsese has used it as the signature theme in Goodfellas, Casino, and The Departed.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Wait Is Almost Over
Arrested Development’s much anticipated 4th
season will be released on Netflix this Sunday. The shows first three seasons
originally aired from 2003 until 2006 on FOX. In order to prepare you for the
release I have ranked the nine regular characters.
9.) Lindsay
Brief bio- she is believed to be Michael’s twin sister, but she was actually adopted. She’s married to Tobias and the mother of Maeby. She claims to be a big believer in a number of causes, but is really just a spoiled, ditzy, materialistic daughter of a CEO.
Quotes: Lindsay: I care deeply for nature.
Michael: You’re wearing ostrich-skin boots.
Lindsay: Well, I don’t care about ostriches.
8.) Maeby
Brief bio- she is the daughter of Tobias and Lindsay and the cousin of George Michael. She is relatively normal, but a few of her story arcs are ridiculous. For example, she somehow becomes a movie producer one day after walking onto a set.
Quotes-Maeby: Do you guys know where I could get one of those gold T-shaped pendants?
Michael: That's a cross.
Maeby: Across from where?
Actor fact- She has a small role in Cedar Rapids (2011), which stars Ed Helms. It is the only other tv show or film that I’ve ever seen her in.
Michael: What about, "Paradise Gardens"?
George Michael Bluth: Yeah... that's better. I can see myself marinating a chicken in that.
George Sr.: But I believed you!
George Michael: Talk you off what, PopPop?
George Sr.: Oh, George Michael. I thought you were - when's that voice gonna drop? Put Kitty on the phone.
Michael: Also, I've been told that the company's expense accounts have been frozen...
[everyone gasps]
Michael: ...Interesting. I would have expected that after "They're keeping Dad in jail."
4.) Lucille
Brief bio- She’s the alcoholic, controlling matriarch of the Bluth family who says and does whatever she wants.
Michael (to G.O.B.): Get rid of the Seaward.
Lucille: I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.
Lucille: What a genius. Let's see you find it.
Brief bio- He’s a never nude (he always wears tight, ripped jean shorts under his clothes), former therapist/analyst, and aspiring actor that’s married to Lindsay.
Quotes- Tobias: I’m afraid I just blue myself.
Tobias: Even if it means me taking a chubby, I will suck it up!
Tobias: Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over: an analyst and a therapist, the world’s first “analrapist.”
Tobias: Right, I forgot, here in the States, you call it a *sausage* in the mouth.
Michael: We just call it a sausage.
Brief bio- he’s the youngest son of the Bluth family. He is socially awkward and very much a momma’s boy. He’s a professional student and gets enlisted in the Army.
Michael: I’ve opened a door here that I regret.
Buster: Sister’s my new mother, Mother. And is it just me or is she looking hotter, too?
Actor fact- Tony Hale plays a similar character on HBO’s Veep
1.) Gob
G.O.B.: I don’t want to say it. First place chick is hot, but has an attitude, doesn’t date magicians. Second place is someone weird usually, like a Chinese girl or a geologist. But third place, although a little bit plain, has super low self-esteem. So I step in and, uh, lay her crown upon my sweet head.
Lucille: You’ve got three days.
G.O.B.: Hey … if I can’t find a horny immigrant by then, I don’t deserve to stay here.
9.) Lindsay
Brief bio- she is believed to be Michael’s twin sister, but she was actually adopted. She’s married to Tobias and the mother of Maeby. She claims to be a big believer in a number of causes, but is really just a spoiled, ditzy, materialistic daughter of a CEO.
Quotes: Lindsay: I care deeply for nature.
Michael: You’re wearing ostrich-skin boots.
Lindsay: Well, I don’t care about ostriches.
Actor fact- she’s a lesbian and is married to Ellen
Degeneres
Brief bio- she is the daughter of Tobias and Lindsay and the cousin of George Michael. She is relatively normal, but a few of her story arcs are ridiculous. For example, she somehow becomes a movie producer one day after walking onto a set.
Quotes-Maeby: Do you guys know where I could get one of those gold T-shaped pendants?
Michael: That's a cross.
Maeby: Across from where?
Actor fact- She has a small role in Cedar Rapids (2011), which stars Ed Helms. It is the only other tv show or film that I’ve ever seen her in.
7.) George Michael
Brief bio- he’s played by Michael Cera and is the son of
Michael. He has a huge crush on his cousin Maeby and is generally just an
awkward teenager.
Quotes- Michael: What do you think of when you hear the
name, "Sudden Valley"?
George Michael Bluth: Salad dressing.
But I don't want to eat it. Michael: What about, "Paradise Gardens"?
George Michael Bluth: Yeah... that's better. I can see myself marinating a chicken in that.
Actor fact- The 24-year-old hails from
Canada and both of his parents worked for Xerox.
6.) George Sr.
Brief bio- he’s the patriarch of the Bluth family who
gets imprisoned due to the shady accounting practices he employed while he was
the CEO of the family business. He escapes and spends most of his time in the
attic.
Quotes- George Sr.: All right, now look, just because a
woman gets pregnant doesn’t mean you have to marry her. Too many lives have
been ruined because some cheap waitress at a HoJo said she used an IUD.
Lucille: It was Stuckey’s. George Sr.: But I believed you!
George Michael:
Hello, Bluth Company.
George Sr.:
Talk me off, honey. Talk me off. George Michael: Talk you off what, PopPop?
George Sr.: Oh, George Michael. I thought you were - when's that voice gonna drop? Put Kitty on the phone.
Actor fact- Jeffrey Tambor was nominated for two Emmys for his work on
Arrested Development.
5.) Michael
Brief bio- he’s the second oldest son (shades of The
Godfather), who serves as the show’s protagonist. When his father goes to jail
he attempts to keep the company, and the family, together. He is the only
“normal” character on the show.
Quotes- Tobias: Well, Michael, you really are quite the Cupid, aren’t you? I
tell you, you can sink your arrow into my buttocks any time.
Michael: Okay, you know what you do? You buy yourself a
tape recorder, you just record yourself for a whole day. I think you’re going
to be surprised at some of your phrasing
Michael: [after George Sr. has been
handed a jail sentence] They're going to keep Dad in jail until this whole
thing gets sorted out.
[silence amongst the family]Michael: Also, I've been told that the company's expense accounts have been frozen...
[everyone gasps]
Michael: ...Interesting. I would have expected that after "They're keeping Dad in jail."
Actor fact- Jason Bateman’s career
probably got the biggest boost from his work on Arrested Development. He’s been
the leading man in several decent movies, but I’ll always consider his
portrayal of Pepper Brooks, the color analyst, in Dodgeball as his magnum opus.
Brief bio- She’s the alcoholic, controlling matriarch of the Bluth family who says and does whatever she wants.
Quotes- Lindsay: Did you enjoy your meal, Mom? You drank
it fast enough.
Lucille: Not as much as you enjoyed yours. You want your
belt to buckle, not your chair.
Lindsay: Oh, hi, Mom. I have the afternoon free.
Lucille: Really? Did nothing cancel?
Lucille: Stop playing with Mother’s rape horn. Yes, I
have a rape horn, Michael, because you took away my mace.
Buster: Yeah, like anyone would want to “R” her.Michael (to G.O.B.): Get rid of the Seaward.
Lucille: I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.
Michael: Why are you squeezing me with
your body?
Lucille:
It's a hug, Michael. I'm hugging you.
Lucille: I don't want to leave Buster
alone with all the J-U-I-C-E.
Buster: I can spell, Mother; you
spelled juice. Lucille: What a genius. Let's see you find it.
3.) Tobias
Brief bio- He’s a never nude (he always wears tight, ripped jean shorts under his clothes), former therapist/analyst, and aspiring actor that’s married to Lindsay.
Quotes- Tobias: I’m afraid I just blue myself.
Tobias: Even if it means me taking a chubby, I will suck it up!
Tobias: I’m afraid I prematurely shot my wad on what was
supposed to be a dry run if you will, so I’m afraid I have something of a mess
on my hands.
Michael: There’s so many poorly chosen words in that
sentence.Tobias: Okay, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over: an analyst and a therapist, the world’s first “analrapist.”
Tobias: I can already taste those meaty leading man parts
in my mouth.
Tobias: [as Mrs. Featherbottom] O-kay,
who'd like a banger in the mouth?
[laughs]Tobias: Right, I forgot, here in the States, you call it a *sausage* in the mouth.
Michael: We just call it a sausage.
Actor fact- David Cross began his
career in stand up comedy. In the early 90s he regularly worked at a NYC club
called Catch a Rising Star. Jeanane Garofalo and Louis C.K. were among the
other regulars.
2.) Buster
Brief bio- he’s the youngest son of the Bluth family. He is socially awkward and very much a momma’s boy. He’s a professional student and gets enlisted in the Army.
Quotes- Michael: Can’t a guy call his mother pretty
without it seeming strange?
Buster: Amen. And how about that little piece of tail on
her? Cute! Michael: I’ve opened a door here that I regret.
Buster: Sister’s my new mother, Mother. And is it just me or is she looking hotter, too?
Actor fact- Tony Hale plays a similar character on HBO’s Veep
1.) Gob
Brief bio- he’s an aspiring ventriloquist/magician who
enters the stage to the tune of “Final Countdown”.
Quotes- G.O.B.: Not tricks, Michael, illusions. A trick
is something a whore does for money.
G.O.B.: I’m a failure. I can’t even fake the death of a
stripper.
G.O.B. (on being a pageant judge): You can’t believe what
it does for your sex life.
Michael: I don’t want to hear it. G.O.B.: I don’t want to say it. First place chick is hot, but has an attitude, doesn’t date magicians. Second place is someone weird usually, like a Chinese girl or a geologist. But third place, although a little bit plain, has super low self-esteem. So I step in and, uh, lay her crown upon my sweet head.
Lucille: Did that Mexican girlfriend of yours kick you
out?
G.O.B.: She’s not that Mexican, Mom, she’s my Mexican.
And she’s Colombian or something. Anyway, it’s over. Lucille: You’ve got three days.
G.O.B.: Hey … if I can’t find a horny immigrant by then, I don’t deserve to stay here.
Actor fact- Will Arnett has two children with Amy Poehler
(they separated in 2012). He’s also an avid Toronto Blue Jays fan which may or
may not have elevated him on this list.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Theme Party
A few weeks ago one of my roommates suggested that we have a theme party at our house. Theme parties are more of a college thing, but most people glorify their college years, so I was down. The theme suggested was golf pro’s and tennis hoes. Obviously, this is a tried and true theme (especially because most people already have the requisite attire), but I think it’s a little played out. To me, it seems like there are only a handful of theme party ideas and they just get recycled over and over. There’s the highlighter party, ABC (anything but clothes), golf pro’s and tennis hoes, white, etc. They all have merit, but they’ve been done 100 times over.
I, instead, suggested an idea that my buddy Glancy and I have discussed 2-3 times over the years- A Tom Cruise characters party. The idea is as simple as it sounds. All guests would be asked to dress as their favorite Tom Cruise character. Obviously this would make things tough for females, so the idea would have to broadened out to include an actress (maybe Nicole Kidman), but Cruise does provide women with an option they use all too frequently for Halloween.
The Joel Goodsen (Risky Business)
More Tom Cruise choices
The Maverick (Top Gun)
The Cole Trickle (Days of Thunder)
The Brian Flanagan (Cocktail)
The Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible)
The Lt. Daniel Kaffee (A Few Good Men)
The Jerry Maguire (Jerry Maguire)
The Les Grossman (Tropic Thunder)
The Tom Cruise character idea is pretty specific, so I think it would make more sense to have a theme party where all guests are asked to dress as a well known movie character. Here are seven male and female options.
Male Options
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Jamie Fox in Django Unchained
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed
Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption
Brad Pitt in Fight Club
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump
Female Options
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
Natalie Portman in Black Swan
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (there was a blone wig involved too)
Jasmine in Aladdin
Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider
Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises
Alicia Silverstone in Clueless
I, instead, suggested an idea that my buddy Glancy and I have discussed 2-3 times over the years- A Tom Cruise characters party. The idea is as simple as it sounds. All guests would be asked to dress as their favorite Tom Cruise character. Obviously this would make things tough for females, so the idea would have to broadened out to include an actress (maybe Nicole Kidman), but Cruise does provide women with an option they use all too frequently for Halloween.
The Joel Goodsen (Risky Business)
More Tom Cruise choices
The Maverick (Top Gun)
The Cole Trickle (Days of Thunder)
The Brian Flanagan (Cocktail)
The Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible)
The Lt. Daniel Kaffee (A Few Good Men)
The Jerry Maguire (Jerry Maguire)
The Les Grossman (Tropic Thunder)
The Tom Cruise character idea is pretty specific, so I think it would make more sense to have a theme party where all guests are asked to dress as a well known movie character. Here are seven male and female options.
Male Options
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Jamie Fox in Django Unchained
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed
Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption
Brad Pitt in Fight Club
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump
Female Options
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
Natalie Portman in Black Swan
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (there was a blone wig involved too)
Jasmine in Aladdin
Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider
Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises
Alicia Silverstone in Clueless
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