Window shopping for solace

Anna got me the new Matisyahu as a present. It is quite good and I especially like the Message in a Bottle cover. This was one one of my favorite songs growing up; I vividly remember The Police albums my sister had. When I first heard him, I commented that I thought he was heavily influenced by The Police so to hear this cover is pretty cool. The dub versions included are quite good too. It also came with a DVD of a live show in Israel. For those not familiar, Matisyahu is a reggae/hip-hop performer who also happens to be an orthodox Jew (Hasidic). His lyrics often express his relationship with G-d (his spelling, not mine), but even more so he is into peace and unity. The boy can hoop it up too!

The Joy of Festivus is abound!!

I was surprised to get gifts on the doorstep this afternoon. There was no note, but the second I saw what it was I knew who it was from: The Mop!!!! Here is what he had to offer:













Apparently, he wants some people to get fat so here is Sandy chunking-up:




























Perhaps Tbird is putting on some weight too. Invitations will be going out shortly for the 3rd Annual Festivus Party. Grievances will be aired to let you all know how much you have disappointed us this past year. Frank Constanza would be proud!

More breaking news...

Jeanson will never race again--apparently that is what happens when you become the best in the world as a doped-up teenager.

Floyd may give up his case.

It snowed bigtime in CO. I mean big time! Lucky dogs...

dirtdogs being dirtdogs?!?

Ramirez to Remain in Left Field for Duration of Contract
Zero Tolerance on 'Manny Being Manny' Going Forward

As Ramirez Packs on the Pounds in Florida,
Trump Decides at Last Minute Not to Send Him Packing

Manny Ramirez, a.k.a. Mr. USA, who had come under criticism amid rumors he had been frequenting fast food restaurants while he was supposed to be at the gym last month, will be allowed to keep his position on the Red Sox, Donald Trump announced today.

"He left a big condo in Boston and he was telling me that he got caught up in the whirlwind of Ft. Lauderdale," Trump said at a news conference. "It's a story that has happened many times before to many players and many men who came to the Red Sox. They wanted their bite of the Big Mac and they found out it wasn't so easy to stay in shape."

"I've always been a believer in second chances," Trump said, standing at a podium in the atrium of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. "Manny is a good person, but Manny hasn't played hard. However, Manny is going to be given a second chance."

Ramirez looked chastened and grateful and hungry as Trump called him a man who'd "made some very very bad choices, especially last September when he chose to sit out, some very foolish choices."

Ramirez won the World Series MVP title and became a United States citizen in 2004 and has been living in Florida, hiding from Joe Kerrigan. Recent media accounts of heavy eating at Mickey D's brought a storm of criticism since he was already overweight at the time. Manny weighed 251 lbs. on Monday.

In a tear-choked voice, Manny said, "In no way did I think it would be possible for a second helping to be refused by me." Turning to Trump, he said, "You'll never know what this means to me, and I swear I will not let you down."

Trump said Manny would be entering fast-food rehab. A Red Sox nutrition official said details would be worked out privately with Manny over the next weeks.

"I think Manny is going to be the great comeback kid," Trump said after making it clear he would no longer tolerate any 'Manny Being Manny' episodes for the next two years.

If Manny had been dethroned, his position would have been taken over by left field runner-up Mr. Pawtucket, David Murphy.

Eventful weekend

The weekend ended up beginning on Friday morning when I met up with Tbird for a ride. Turbo was excited at the prospect of us picking him up after Mr. Epicnicity. Unfortunately, the epic one had to turn off early to make it to work on time. We got to Reynolds a bit on the late side, but had a nice ride with Turbo. I thought I was going to die at the end of it, but luckily Tbird agreed to stop for some food. I really wanted a hot dog and sheepishly asked Tbird if he would lose respect for me if I ate one. Not only did he say the opposite, but awarded me a high-five for such an endeavor. The dog hit the spot and got me home.

Saturday saw some fresh snow and some much needed turns with AJD at Alta. They still need a lot of snow, but we got some nice early season turns in. In the evening, we went to a Holiday party thrown by AJD's company. We had some great food and were entertained by the antics of one of her co-workers who was wearing the "bat bra." Yep you read that correctly. Apparently this thing has all sorts of settings and adjustment possibilities and is a feat of engineering. I will trust AJD's word on that one.

Sunday--more snow and a snowshoe-hike in the Western Uinta Mountains with RevP and the dogs. Chocolate donuts were enjoyed by all on the drive in to the trail head. We made some homemade ice cream in the afternoon which was the best we have made yet and shared it with some friends we had over for dinner.

Hot dogs, ice cream, donuts; no wonder I am not dropping weight!

One night in Boston makes a hard man crumble...

The two readers I have are probably saying "Enough with the damn Red Sox!"

Here is some more. Dice-k's interview at the press conference yesterday in Boston is pretty funny considering how bad his translator was. I will let you read the responses that often have little or nothing to do with the questions. Transcript here. By the way, Dice-k is correct phonetically for his first name.

My favorite is:

Q. Welcome and I wonder if you could tell us at what point in these negotiations that you realized that you would be coming to the Red Sox, and did you have your doubts that this day would come to pass?

DAISUKE MATSUZAKA: My nickname is Japan is Monster.

Coincidence???

they got it done!

Yesterday was a good day indeed, unless you were Tbird with a bevy of flats. The Sox and Dice-K got it done.

"Matsuzaka will get a massage therapist, physical therapist, interpreter and personal assistant, and the Red Sox agreed to provide the pitcher with 80-90 flights over the course of the deal, along with special housing and transportation arrangements and accomodations for his wife." -- 12.14.06, ESPN.com

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!

Not to brag or anything, but I just got my grades and I posted my first ever semester 4.0!!! Pocket protectors and nerdy glasses are welcomed.

Boras = Greed

I am very frustrated with this guy:



How can the you impartially represent players when they go to other teams from your highest paid contracts?

If this deal goes South, things are going to get ugly for Boras in Beantown.

It is probably time to start writing about other topics.

The buzzer has gone off, the fat lady sang...

My semester ended a few short hours ago. Wahoo! It was a good semester in which I took an Engineering Material Science class which was pretty interesting. I also took Mountain Meteorology class which I really liked. I learned how to actually read different types of weather maps and now enjoy analyzing the models myself. (To do this choose the forecast time frame and area. I prefer the synoptic four panel. The panels then give a forecast model which you can analyze or just watch the green (rain/snow) move around.)

Now the emphasis is on my thesis work and some skiing, unfortunately in that order. I did enjoy a nice ride on Sat, though as soon as I left the group I had an impenetrable headwind. Sunday I got to enjoy a Hypocrit--veggie burger with bacon--at Watson's Shelter. Thanks to Mr. Broom for the suggestion. Oh and that is non other than Ms. Julie Willis on the left in the picture.

Off to move a couch...

Bad signs?

First bad sign: I fainted last week. All seems to be good and a trip to the ER produced nothing of real significance. I spent the rest of the weekend flu-ish, so I am hopeful that had something to do with it. More doctors appt.'s to come.

Second bad sign: The infamous SLC inversion is here. Yippee for smog and pollution combined with a localized high pressure system.

Third bad sign: The semester is almost over. That means finals are about here. This actually is not a bad thing and I look forward to being done for a couple weeks. It does mean I need to figure out my classes for next semester and get my thesis done soon!

Fourth bad sign: Drew and Lugo Kevin Kennedy says it all and I agree.

On the upside, the Bruins beat the Canadiens (the NYY of the NHL) this week for the first time in a couple years. Not sure where they got the ability to score 6 goals in one game, but they are solidly in last place still. What I would give to have Cam and Ray back!


Word of the day: orographic

shuckin and jivin'

Theo is making moves and some good ones at that. The Sox really suffered last year when it came to pitching. Plus, if Papelbon becomes a starter then someone is going to have to fill the shoes of his whopping 0.78 ERA in 2006 and 0.92 lifetime in the Majors. That is the best $335k the Sox spent since signing Ortiz!

I tend to get more excited about these smaller scale trades because it is always these guys that seem to step up and get it done. Ortiz, Mueller, Lowell, Roberts, Youk, Trot, you get the idea. I will take a Dirt Dog over a pretty-boy-Jeter anyday!



Word of the day: syncope. More to come on that later.