Another Delco Guy In South Jersey

Friday Fantastic Four - Grammys Edition

Sunday night is the Grammys, probably my least favorite show of the Awards Season.  It seems like there are too many average artists nominated and too many performances.  I know, the performances are supposed to be better than actually hearing these folks speak, but sometimes, I'd rather hear the speeches.

My list this week is heavily influenced by being in the car an awful lot with 11 year old boys and 8 year old girls.  We hear a lot of heavy-rotation, Top 40 stuff.  Thankfully, this was a great year for big-label, big artists with Britney Spears in a comeback, Pink showing more and more (musically), Katy Perry hot all summer, LMFAO party rockin' and soulful Adele on at least one of the stations 24/7.

What are your four best songs of 2011?

1. 'Pumped Up Kicks' - Foster the People - This one was everywhere last summer. Great lyrical story hidden behind the beautiful, haunting musical arrangement. I can't wait for more from them.
2. 'Rolling In The Deep' - Adele - Surely the most beautiful vocal performance of the year. I chose this one over her other mega-hit, 'Someone Like You' because it's not quite as needy.
3. 'The Edge of Glory' - Lady Gaga - Maybe the best '80s song ever. Even I try to dance ot this one.  Clarence Clemons' last performance is breezy and pulls it all together in the end.
4. 'Forget You' - Cee Lo Green - Funk Lives!!! I loved this song, both for it's unabashed homage to the 70s funkmasters, but also for the message.  Gotta love the lyrical nod to Mr. T as well. (Video is the clean version)

Everyone enjoy the music and the weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Iconic TV

This week's passing of Robert Hegyes, best known for his role as Epstein on the 1970s TV show 'Welcome Back Kotter,' got me to thinking about iconic TV this morning.  So much of what is on TV today is pretty formulaic, with the crime and court procedurals, the family comedies and all the reality TV crap.

Shows like Kotter, which you can still catch on local channels in syndication or can pick up at Amazon, still play well 25 years later.  Yeah the hair and clothes scream 1977, but the jokes are still funny, the stories are still interesting and you can still relate to the characters even in the social media age. It's probably not a top 4 iconic show, mostly because there was only so much you could do with a story line largely centered on a high school class, but it's still a show that broke some ground.

What are the four most iconic TV shows of your lifetime?

1. The Simpsons - still fresh, funny and making a statement after all these years. I know not everyone is a Simpsons fan with the low brow and slapstick stuff that the show sometimes relies on.  But each episode is saying something in a way that is accessible across generations. proved a prime-time animated show could be a winner and inspired dozens of copy cats.
2. The Rockford Files - Everyone probably already knows I am a big Rockford fan, but TRF really was a different kind of show for its day.  It made it ok to be a TV detective who wasn't a tough guy, made the careers of many of new faces (Tom Selleck and Sopranos creator David Chase among the most notable), and has the best opening sequence of any TV show ever.
3. M*A*S*H - I think everyone watched the last episode, but if that's all you remember, then you missed how much this show changed TV.  It was anti-war, created the 'dramedy' genre, showed the blood and dirt of war right on your living room TV.  As the Vietnam era ended, M*A*S*H lost a bit of its edge, taking on other social issues before going out with the most watched TV episode ever.
4. Seinfeld - The show about nothing that dominated TV in the 90s, Seinfeld was never really one of my favorites.  I do recognize how thoroughly it became part of the culture and  remains so today.  Like Friends, the 4 person cast was huge together, but never really had as much reach as individual actors.

Friday Fantastic Four - Friday the 13th

The observance of Friday the 13th is a classic superstition here in the US.  In Greece and some Spanish-speaking countries, Tuesday the 13th is seen as a day of bad luck.  While some people have a stress-inducing phobia of Friday the 13th, the folks at the Grey Lodge Pub see it as a cause for celebration!

What superstitions do you honor?

1. I still wish on my birthday candles!
2. I always put a little money in a wallet or purse I give as a gift to give good luck.
3. I believe in 4 leafed clovers and used to find them all the time in the yard in Moorestown!
4. When I coached, I had a lucky pair of underwear I always made sure I wore for big games.

Do you have any silly superstitions?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Favorite Tools

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Fantastic Four of the New Year.  I am helping some friends and relatives around the house this weekend. Last night I had to gather up my tools for the projects which got me thinking about all the tools I have and what my favorites are.  For your list, feel free to liberally define tool as anything that helps you complete a task.

What are your favorite tools?

1. My Makita LCT200W Drill/Driver set.  When I first used Bopper's version of this tool a few years back, I knew I had to have one.  Super-light, plenty of power and easy to use all day long.  At just more that $200, every serious handyman should have one.
2. My Stanley knife - One of my oldest tools.  Used for so long most of the paint is gone.  Easy to load blades, feels perfect in my hand.  I have bought a few knives over the years to see if they would feel better and I keep coming back to the old standard.
3. My HTC Thunderbolt - It surfs the web at blazing 4G speed, takes super 8mp photos, replaced my GPS, entertains the kids with Angry Birds, reads me my Audible books, has super traffic and weather apps and oh yeah it works pretty darn well as a phone too!  It's the Swiss Army Knife of smart phones!
4. My Wusthof chef's knife - A birthday gift from my brother and his bride afew years back, this knife is perfectly balanced, keeps a great edge and is a super all-around performer in the kitchen.  While my knife skills are not Food Network worthy, this baby gets it done for me!  It came in a set with a great bread knife and paring knife as well.

So what are your favorite little helpers?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Christmas Vacation

Today is my last day of work for 2011.  One of the benefits of working in higher education is the 2 week vacation around Christmas and New Year's. 

It's a great two weeks and gives me a lot of time off when most of the rest of the world is running hither and yon, trying to grab up last minute gifts and bottles of wine to take to holiday get together.  I get a week before Christmas to do all that I need to get done and then the next week to wind down.  There isn't any money to go somewhere warm this year, so I will be hanging close to my base.  I know you all don't get two weeks off, but if you did ...

What Four Things Are You Going To Do On Christmas Vacation?

1. Finish up shopping.  Yep.  Despite my earlier forays out into the shopping venues of Pennsylvania and South Jersey, I have procrastinated.  I have to make sure the piles are about the same and get a few more gifts and stocking stuffers.

2. Family Events.  While we won't have family visitors from afar this year, the locals will still gather.  My sister is the go-to person this year I guess.  I will be Swarthmore bound for Christmas Eve.  The Medford house is nice and cozy, but not really set up for large-scale family gatherings like the Mount Laurel and Moorestown houses were.

3. Lazy Days.  I have the kids a lot over Christmas Vacation, so there will be a lot of time spent just watching them play with their new stuff from Santa. 

4. Something for me.  If it stays nice, maybe some hiking.  If it's not so nice, I will have to find another way to stay out of trouble.  In the past I would always tackle some home improvement project.  I don't need to do that this year, but the days without the kids around can be tough, so I need to take some time for 'me' things!

So what are your Christmas (winter) Vacation plans? 

Have a great time this weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Outrageous Christmas Gifts

It's holiday shopping season.  I can tell because the mail guy at work is delivering boxes to every cubicle and the roads around every shopping mall are clogged from dawn to midnight.

So since you are out looking for ways to stimulate the economy, I thought I would give you my Christmas List.

What are your top four fantasy Christmas gifts for 2011?

1. The CR-V is getting a little long in the tooth, so I think a new car would be a good idea.  The Noble M600 isn't the fastest car in the world, but it's int he top 10 and is super slick to look at!
2. My Dell Laptop is 5 years old and also headed to the scrap pile someday soon.  I think a nice Toshiba 3D Blu-Ray laptop should be just what I need to do the blog for the coming year.
3. I might be the last guy in America without HDTV.  It's time to change that!  I know my brother loves his Toshiba, but for me the TV to get is a Panasonic!
4. Phinally - A pair of Phils season tickets are the way to go for my final gift request for the year.  The team is in flux right now, but who doesnt like going down to the park on a warm summer evening?

So what gifts are on your fantasy Christmas list this year?

Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Home Sick

Well I have been laid out by a cold, so after toughing it out yesterday at work,  I am huddled under a blanket at home today.  Hence, today's illness-themed Fan 4.

What four things are part of your home sick routine?

1. Won Ton Soup - This is my version of my grandfather's 'Jewish penicillin.'  If I was home sick as a kid, he would make a big pot of chicken soup from scratch.  It worked, but I never got the recipe, so I swear by won ton soup.
2. Iced Tea - Decaffinated Red Rose tea by the gallon.  It keeps me hydrated and I can still sleep.
3. The Couch - I have to get out of bed when I am sick.  I usually rest and relax on the couch, where I can at least feel like I got out of bed even if I am not doing anything else.
4. Patheticness - Yep, I am pathetic when I am sick.  I admit it.  I got through yesterday with the help of Sudafed, but today is all about me!

Everyone have a great weekend and stay well!

Friday Fantastic Four - Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and I have decided to extend the fun by a bit!  What could be better than a holiday that is about cooking, eating, hanging out with family and watching football?  Yes, I understand that there is much more to it and I will cover those things in my annual Thanksgiving day post, but for now, let's just talk about the fun stuff...

What are your four favorite things about Thanksgiving?

1. Dark meat - yup - I love it!  Everyone else can fight over the dry turkey breast, I am a thigh guy!
2. Football rivalries - from the big local high school games to the Lions and the Cowboys, football has become as important to this holiday as cranberry sauce.
3. Gathering - it's the best part of the day, when people from all over converge before dinner, covered dishes or bottles of wine in hand.  This year we'll be at my sister's in Swarthmore.  Stop by!
4. Watching the women plan the Black Friday assault.  If this much planning had gone into the war in Afghanistan, the troops would have been home years ago!

I hope you are all getting ready for the holidays.  We've got a nice long weekend here full of dances and birthdays and school stuff.  Enjoy!

Friday Fantastic Four - Best War Books

It's Veterans Day here in the US the day we set aside to specially remember those who have served, fought and given so much for our nation.

So we've got a military-themed Fantastic Four this week:

What are the four best war books?

The Killer Angels – Michael Shaara - some of the best historic fiction ever written.  Wonderful dialog and a perfect sense of setting at the battle of Gettysburg.

1. All Quiet On The Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque - I remember the first time i read this in high school and how much it changed how I looked at war, the military and  the value of life.
2. The Caine Mutiny – Herman Wouk - A fantastic story, wonderful characters and writing.  Very believable war sequence and a great courtroom finale.
3. The Great Escape - Paul Brickhill - Maybe the greatest escape ever, the true story that inspired the movie.

Thanks to veterans everywhere who make it possible for my family and me to live safely and in freedom.

Friday Fantastic Four - Favorite Authors

We've been on a movie theme lately, but with Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham releasing big new books lately and Stephen King's much anticipated 11/22/63 coming out next week, I think it is a good time to switch to a book theme.

Who are your four favorite authors?

1. John Sandford - From his 'Prey' novels starring smartass detective Lucas Davenport to his new books featuring quirky Virgil Flowers, Sandford makes Minnesota interesting!  Maybe the best characters in the crime genre today.
2. John Feinstein - While he will never beat his debut 'A Season on the Brink' that took us all inside college basketball like no one ever had or will again, Feinstein turns out thoughtful sports inside stories nearly every year, showing us the heroism and frailties of the people we watch on TV every weekend.
3. Michael Connelly - Once again, an author who has had huge success with two characters, first LAPD detective Harry Bosch and now a bit player from that series has his own hit series as lawyer Mickey Haller keeps Connelly fresh.  His love for LA really comes though in these books.
4. Ruth Downie - A recent discovery for me, Downie is a British historical fiction writer whose novels feature a Roman doctor living in Britain in the second century.  Very interesting period detail, wry humor and complex plots make these a new favorite.

So who are the writers who will make you pick up a new release every time?

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Cheesiest Movie Lines

I mean come on.  There are some really bad lines in some really good movies.  It amazes me that writers who can create such great work for 90 minutes turn into fools when it comes time for the film's climax.

This week's installment comes diectly from last weeks four best movie lines Fan 4 and was inspired by a friends suggestion that my #1 Cheesiest Movie Quote was actually one of the four best.  Ugh!

What Are The Four Cheesiest Movie Lines?

1. 'Nobody puts Baby in a corner.' -- Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle in 'Dirty Dancing.' I really love this movie, but this was they best they could do for the Bad Boy confronts the parents scene????
2. 'You had me at hello.' -- Renee Zellweger as Dorothy Boyd in Jerry McGuire.  This was a chick flick, but such awful treacly stuff should be reserved for the Hallmark Channel.
3. 'I'm the king of the world!' -- Lenardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson in 'Titanic.'  What a Titanically crappy line.
4. 'You're why cavemen chiseled on walls.' - Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop in 'As Good As it Gets.'  Yeah we all say stupid things when we see a woman naked for the first time, but who brings up CAVEMEN????

So that's my top four.  I can think of a million more.  What do you have for the discussion?

Friday Fantasic Four

Ok.  We're back for week two of the revived Friday Fantastic Four.  I've been doing some movie watching late nights recently and decided that it's time for a movie-themed Fan 4.  This was one of my first Fantastic Fours, back in the 90s, and my tastes have changed some since then, so it's worth a re-visit.

What are your Four Favorite Movie Lines?

'We'll always have Paris.' -- Humphrey Bogart as Rick in "Casablanca"

'I don’t want to sell anything, buy anything or process anything.  I don’t want to sell anything bought or processed.  I don’t want to process anything bought or sold.  What I really want to do with my life, what I want to do for a living – is to be with your daughter.  I am good at it.' -- John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler in 'Say Anything'

'I think you will find these are the exact same dimensions as our gym back in Hickory.' –- Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale in 'Hoosiers'

'I hope when I am your age, I’ll be smarter than that. --- You sure are off to a slow start.' Bruce Willis and Paul Newman as Bruce Roebuck and Sully Sullivan in 'Nobody’s Fool'

There are a lot of great quotes in 'Casablanca,' but this one means a lot to me right now.  The Lloyd Dobler speech is his character's essence, and really sums up what being a teenager was in the late 80s.  'Hoosiers' has a lot of great lines too, but this one says to me, 'Anyone can do anything.'  'Nobody's Fool' is a beautifully written movie, easily one of my favorites.  Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Bruce Willis and even Melanie Griffith are masterful!

So what are your top 4?  Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four - Footloose and Movie Re-Makes

So the re-make of the 80s classic Footloose comes out today.  Kevin Bacon is nowhere to be seen, and there isn't a feathered, blow dry cut on any of the cast. 

The original was made just as I was starting high school, with all of the dances and hormones attendant thereto.  While there wasn't anyone who looked remotely like Lori Singer at a St. James dance, we sure wished there was!  Given its special place in my movie memories, it's pretty tough to see this one get re-made, which leads us to this week's Friday Fantastic Four:

What Are the Four Best Movie Re-Makes of All Time?

1. Casino Royale - Daniel Craig is angry, haunted and just freaking excellent. Maybe the best Bond movie ever.  The original was really a disaster - a send up of spy movies, not a real Bond.
2. Ocean's 11 - both were amazingly good films, Clooney isn't Sinatra, and there's no one like Dean Martin, but the rest of the re-make cast is pretty darn solid and it's a beautiful film to look at.
3. The Parent Trap - Lindsay Lohan as a cute pair of twins, Dennis Quaid as her clueless father.  A favorite of my kids and a few other folks I know.  The original stars a button cute Hayley Mills
4. Meet Joe Black - visually beautiful film with a really creepy plot.  Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt are scarily good.  Fredric March starred in the movie that inspired the 1998 remake.

Everyone have a great weekend!  I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to some downtime.

Friday Fantastic Four

It's the new year and we've had a few days to break our new year's resolutions, so I thought I would do a Fan 4 based on the hopes we all have:

What four things are you most hoping for in 2009?

1. Another parade on Broad Street
2. Spending more time with the kids
3. Getting better at taking photos of people
4. The end of the economic mess

How about you?  What are you hoping for? 

Have a great weekend!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

Ok - so many of you already know that I am not a good driver.  Some of you may have experienced it first hand.  For that I am, as the Catholic in me recalls, 'heartily sorry.' 

I get distracted too easily and I am just generally bored with the whole thing.  Nevertheless, since I drive about 10 hours a week with commuting and kid stuff, I have some coping mechanisms.

Sooo ...

What are four things you like to do while you drive?

1. Listen to audio books.  Right now as an homage to Matt's trip to Vegas, I am listening to Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  It's a classic and Ron McLarty is a great voice for Thompson and Oscar Acosta.
2. Talk on the phone.  Yah I know I shouldn't but I most DO use my Bluetooth headset, so it's not SO bad.
3. Look for photo opportunities.  That CR-V swerving to the side of the road ahead of you might just be me reaching for my camera to shoot a sunset.
4. Listen to sports talk or NPR.  I don't have an iPod or iPhone and I have given up on commercial radio for the most part, so this is my last resort.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Today is the last Friday of summer and I'm looking back at the most relaxing 3 months of the year - NOT - and seeing a few things I didn't do.  I'll bet you have a few things that were on the summer list that you have not crossed off yet.

Soooo ....

What are four things that you wanted to do this summer that you just didn't get to?

1. Do some real writing.  I always tell myself this is the year that I finally stop playing with characters and scenes in my head and start really writing again.  I said it about this summer and once again I have nothing written as the leaves begin to fall.
2. Get the bike out and get back into shape.  Yeah.  Still need to get that tire fixed.
3. Go to LBI for some chowder from The Gateway.  In fact, this is the first summer since I have been going there that I didn't set foot on LBI at all.  This year I think I'll go to Chowderfest.
4. Take the kids to the Safari at Great Adventure.  We dis lots of great stuff this summer, but somehow didn't make it here again.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

I cut the grass yesterday after work and chopped up the leaves that had already fallen.  It was another  one of those activities that reminded me that fall is here and the fun of summer is gone for another year.

Thus, we have an autumnal Friday Fantastic Four.

What are four things you like to do each fall?

1. Go pumpkin picking
2. Sleep with the windows open
3. Shoot pictures of fall foliage
4. Watch playoff baseball

So what things do you like about fall?  I've got plenty of honorable mentions - let's see how many you come up with.

Have a great weekend and GO PHILS!

Friday Fantastic Four

It's back to school time again so we've got a stuck behind a yellow school bus belching soot theme today.

What are your four favorite memories of school?

1. Sneaking girls into St. James
2. Lock-Ins
3. Creating a 'club' in disused vestibule at Walden
4. Creative writing class

So think back and come up with those moments you really liked out of yourdozen or so years in school

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

The kids and i are home today being lazy and enjoying a leisurely breakfast.

Sooo....

What are your four favorite breakfasts?

1. A bowl of cereal with lots of fruit and some cold milk
2. Some hearty bread, toasted medium covered with a bit of butter and some good blackberry jam
3. Manhattan Bagel ham, egg and cheese on cheddar
4. Pecan-encrusted Jack Daniels French Toast - with good Madagascar vanilla

Ok - so what's on your favorite morning meal plate?

Friday Fantastic Four

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I want to give everyone a chance to get out and pick me out something nice.

Thus this week's Friday Fantastic Four:

What Four Things Do You Most Want for Your Birthday?

1. A Kodak Easyshare EX-101 digital picture frame - I've got a million photos and only so much space to show them in my office.  This solves that problem, holding thousands of images and featuring wireless upload!
2. My own waterfront peninsula.  I saw this place listed on my recent vacation in Maine.  The house would have to be torn down, but 8.9 acres right in Kennebunkport is a STEAL at just over $5 mil.  Don't worry.  I'll share with the family and friends!
3. I'd like a hybrid.  And not a hybrid car, but a hybrid scooter.  For just zipping around town and such.  And being cool.
4. I'd really like to see Alaska's Inside Passage.  7 days from Seattle with a balcony ought to do it for me!  Glaciers, mountains and a nearby bar sound perfect!

Only 19 shopping days left!  Hurry!!!!

So what do YOU want for your birthday

Friday Fantastic Four

Hey everybody - simple one today!

What are your four favorite phrases?

1. I love you, daddy
2. Open bar, free buffet
3. Delaware County School 522 is closed - from back in the day when you listened to the radio on snow mornings
4. Work harder!!!!

Honorable mention:

Wow!

Friday Fantastic Four

Krispy Kreme DOUGHNUTS \\ have a bite
Originally uploaded by QaTaRiYa m9aRg3a // HAPPY BIRTHDAY 7s7s

Hello all - it is reported to me by my crack staff that today is National Doughnut Day. So good to know things are slow enough that they have time to keep track of such things. In honor of this august holiday, we have a sweet Fantastic Four today.

What are your four favorite snack or junk foods?

1. Doughnuts - a big weakness
2. Soft Pretzels - it's a Philly thing
3. Brownies - god, I love a good brownie!
4. Salt water taffy - especially banana

Try to stay cool this weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

What are the four things GUARANTEED to make you smile?

1. The tenor sax solos in the original "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
2. Emma dancing (happy feet!)
3. John bringing me my baseball glove
4. My GF after 2 glasses of champagne

Everybody have a great weekend and find a reason to smile!

Friday Fantastic Four

You could see this one coming I am sure.

What are the four best things about Memorial Day Weekend?

1. Backyard Bar-B-Ques
2. Bar bands at the Shore
3. Coca-Cola 600
4. Monday Off!!!!!!!!!

Everybody have a great weekend!  Enjoy and be safe.

Friday Fantastic Four

Ok - I stayed the night in Harrisburg, PA last night after some meetings yesterday.

It's umm a bit umm dead.

Soooo...

What are the four WORST towns you have ever stayed in?

1. Frostburg, Maryland - not sure why people ever settled here
2. Harrisburg, PA - Great conversation at dinner, but nothing to do afterward
3. Syracuse, NY - Cold, gray, nasty.  In July.
4. Detroit, MI - Almost too easy - Crime, drugs, trash all on the walk to the stadium from the parking lot

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Ok - it's Friday and I am in desperate need of some fun, so this week's Fan Four is a fun one!

What were your four favorite childhood games?

You are free to go with any game you liked, from board games, to video games, to outdoor games.  The sky is the limit!

1. Wiffle Ball - In Greg Feld's front yard, I was an All-Star!!!!!!!!
2. Capture the Flag -We played this game endlessly all summer long, running all over trying to steathily capture the other troop's flag
3. Oregon Trail - this video game was very hard and super cool.  You can play it now on Facebook.
4. APBA Baseball - When it rained you could still play baseball with the cards and dice!!!

You all have a great weekend.

Friday Fantastic Four

I spent some time at home yesterday and thought about all the things that make it 'my' space.  In that vein, a home-based Fantastic Four for this week:

What are your four favorite things about where you live?

1. The location - I love Moorestown.  I like the downtown area, I like the proximity to the kid's schools and to Philly.  It's just plain beautiful at times.  While I am looking for a new place and want to stay I know I may need to give this up to get something larger.  That's kind of hard to deal with.
2. The back yard.  Almost 1/3 of an acre of grass and trees for the kids to play and me to relax.
3. Big windows - looking out on the back yard!
4. The patio - it's old and cracked and broken, but it's a great place to grill or picnic, or just to enjoy a book and the nice weather!

So what's great about the place you call home?

Everybody have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Ok all - today is a typical early spring weather pattern for the Philadelphia region, thus a rain-related Fan 4 today.

What are your four favorite things to do when it rains?

1. Read
2. Watch sports from areas of the country where it isn't raining.
3. Do a little work in the bedroom.  Ahem!
4. Surfin

Everybody have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Let's say you had an iPod that only held four songs.  What would they be?

1. Take it Easy - The Eagles - at different times we've all had a mess on our hands
2. Miami 2017 - Billy Joel - some of his best writing and a wonderful arrangement
3. You Shook Me - AC/DC - classic 80s rock.  Maybe the best latter-day rock song of all time
4. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding  - I've always loved it and it gets better every time I hear it.

If it held five, I'd have to have the best grunge ever:
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana - remember mosh pits?

Friday Fantastic Four

Every now and then you have a day that makes you realize how amazing the small things are in life ... In that light here is today's Fantastic Four:

What are the four most amazing things in everyday day?  They could be occurences, people, items, events ... you name it!!!!

1. Airplanes - how amazing it is to get into an aluminum tube hurtling at 600 mph and step off 3000 miles away and have it be nearly the same time?
2. The amount of noise that two kids can make at 7 am on Saturday morning.
3. German butter cake
4. Sunsets over the ocean

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Today is Emma's fourth birthday.  To celebrate my little princess's special day, we have a birthday theme.

What four things do you like most about birthdays?

1. Cake - in my late 30s, I still love it
2. The smiles of children
3. Champagne - one of the great things about being in my late 30s is celebrating with bubbly
4. Looking back at old birthday photos

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

I try not to do whiny, complaining posts, but i watched the World Series last night and it totally ticked me off.

 

In that vein -

What four things most piss you off about TV?

1. 4 guys calling a simple game
2. Oprah
3. Current players acting as commentators
4. That I have 174 channels and nothing is ever on

On the positive side, it was an amazingly well-played game and I can't wait to see if the Phils can make a real play to bring Schill back here for his last season.  Mike Lowell would look nice in red and white at 3B as well.

And I am never buying another Taco Bell product again.

have a great weekend!!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

I'm headed out on the road for a few days tomorrow, so in honor of that we have a travel-related list!

What four things do you do everywhere you travel?

1. Check out local beers and brewpubs
2. Buy a Christmas ornament
3. Compare the quality and quantity of bath products in the room
4. Take photos!

have a great weekend and I will talk to you from the road!

Friday Fantastic Four

Ok - here we go.   I have a cold, so I have tried a few things to shake the bug to no avail so far.  In that theme - here is this week's Friday Fantastic Four:

What are your four favorite cold remedies?  Commercial, homeopathic, homemade, off-the-wall, whatever.  What works for you?

1. Dayquil LiquiCaps - for general colds
2. Nyquil - gotta sleep
3. Chicken soup - my grandfather used to call it "Jewish Penicillin"
4. Jack Daniels - for coughs

Busy weekend coming up, Matt's Bday, pumpkin picking fall decorating, etc.

Get out and enjoy the new cool temperatures.

Friday Fantastic Four

Well the Phils game did not go as planned yesterday, but I have an upbeat list for today to get karma rolling again in the right direction.

What are your four favorite childhood memories?

1. Walking to the pier in Cape Porpoise on our first-ever vacation to Maine in 1977.
2. Listening to the Phillies on the radio on my grandfather's back porch.
3. Building cities of sand in the big sandbox in Greg Feld's back yard.
4. Exploring the creek and woods near Walden when I was doing 'nature study.'

Let's hope all the good thoughts get the Phils back on a winning streak!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Here's a new one for this week:

What are the four most unlikely things you have done?

1. Sent a text that said "First Place NL East!"
2. Gone on a date with Junior Miss Pennsylvania
3. Gone on a cruise - (I am a non-swimmer)
4. Work at an art school

Have a great weekend rooting for the Phils!!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

Continuing on our book theme, here is today’s list: 

What author would you most like to see have a new book out?

1. Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes)
2. John Sandford (Prey books)
3. Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird)
4. Katherine Kurtz (Deryni books)

Have a great weekend and GO PHILS!!!!

Friday Fantastic Four

Today's list is in honor of the beginning of school:

What were your four favorite books as a child?

The Great Brain - John D. Fitzgerald
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Dinosaur picture book - Don't know the exact title, but it had great information and illustrations!
Pat the Bunny - Dorothy Kunhardt

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

To celebrate the beginning of the football season, we have a sport-related list today. 

What are your four favorite sports events? 

For example – in 1983 when I hit a home run off Suzy Sample to win the Kidde Kup World Series or the 2003 Daytona 500 or whatever.

1. Taking the kids and GF to Yankee Stadium in 2006.  Yanks lost, but John was enthralled
2. Game 5, 1993 World Series - Schilling beats the Blow Jays 2-0.  Bryen O'Boyle and I sit in the 700 Level and drink lots of beer, later falling asleep in the parking lot.
3. 1997 1998 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Baskeball Championship - Cabrini beats Allentown Alvernia to cut the nets down in the last game ever at Sacred Heart Hall.
4. 1985 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship - Villanova plays the perfect game and downs the vaunted Hoyas 66-64 on April Fool's Day.

Friday Fantastic Four

Here's a movie-based question for this week:

What are the four best movie lines?

1. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."
   
2. "If you build it, he will come."
   
3. "I'll have what she's having."
   
4. "Houston, we have a problem."

Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

Here's one of my favorite questions:

Who are your four favorite fictional charaters?

1. Jim Rockford
   
2. Indiana Jones
3. Curious George
   
4. Ignatius J. Reilly

Books, movies, comics, wherever -- who do you connect with form the world of fiction?

Friday Fantastic Four

As we get set for the weekend, we've got a fun top four list for today

What are the 4 best high school-themed movies?

1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
2. Dead Poet’s Society
3. The Breakfast Club
4. The Basketball Diaries

 Honorable mentions:

• Grease
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
• Weird Science
• Varsity Blues

Friday Fantastic Four

 

What are your four favorite websites and why?

1. philly.com – my main source of news
2. flickr.com – love the photos, love the community
3. the700level.com – good Philly-based sports commentary site
4. my igoogle page – love the customizable features

Honorable mentions:

• D3hoops.com – small college hoops rock
• My blog of course!
• Jayski.com – nascar news
• IMDB.com – for when you have that “wait wasn’t he in …” moment

I'll be interested to see what you all do online!

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

What are your four favorite automobiles and why?

1. Jim Rockford’s Gold 1974 Pontiac Firebird - the best TV character ever written
   
2. Dale Jarrett’s red white and blue #88 Ford Quality Care Taurus - great paint job and great driver
   
3. 1994 Red Ford F-150 – my first new vehicle
4. Bandit’s 1977 Black Trans Am - who was cooler than Bandit?
   

   

Honorable mentions:  

• The General Lee - AND Daisy Duke!
  
• The Batmobile - The Michael Keaton Version
• Ferrari 308 GTS - Remember Cannonball Run?
• James Bond’s 2006 Aston Martin DBS V-12 - The coolest car for the coolest spy

Enjoy and have a good weekend!  Here's a great site for some inspiration.

Friday Fantastic Four

After a summer vacation, our regular Friday feature the Friday Fantastic Four is back!!  (I know you were all waiting.)

What are your four dream jobs?

1. Travel Writer
2. Free-Lance Photographer
3. Newspaper Columnist
4. VP of Enrollment Services at UCSD

Honorable Mentions:

• Bartender at Rick's in Negril
• Baseball beat writer
• Charlize Theron's pool boy
• Radio talk show host

Note - you can make it as fantastic as you like, but I kind of think of this list as jobs that are in the realm of possibility if you got a break, were able to move, etc.

Friday Fantastic Four

This week's installment of the Friday Fantastic Four is a toughie!

What are the four favorite things that you yourself own personally?

1. My foul ball - Dickie Thon 1990 Phils SS right into my hands against the Astros
2. My camera - In my case, a lot of the time, it's the equipment not the talent
3. My coffee table - reclaimed Cherry Valley Stickley, solid cherry and beautiful!
4. I guess I have to include my laptop - It's where I do all my writing and that makes it pretty important to me.

Honorable Mentions:

• I'm a big fan of my bed
• My cell phone keeps me in touch
• The TV - I don't OWN ESPN, but I sure do love it!!!
• My stainless steel Movado watch

Have a great weekend and try to stay cool!

Friday Fantastic Four

This week's installment of the Friday Fantastic Four can be a tough one for a lot of us who eat out a good bit.  It also can mak you compare great meals you have at home to the really wonderful restaurants out there.

What are (or were in the past) your four favorite places to eat and why?

1. Grandma's house on Sunday nights for roast beef and mashed potatoes with amazingly good brown gravy and French-cut string beans.
2. The Shipyard Brewing Company in Kennebunkport for a lobster roll and a pint of Old Thumper.
3. Smith and Wollensky's on Rittenhouse Square for bone-in filet mignon, grilled asparagus and a glass of red Bordeaux.
4. Joe's Stone Crabs in Miami for great crabcakes and the legendary atmosphere.

Honorable Mentions:

• My back yard for crabs and beer with the family
• CBP for a Schmitter and a Hop Devil
• A food cart outside Fenway Park for a sausage and pepper sandwich
• Mother's in New Orleans for Fried Oyster Po' Boys
• Tony Luke's for a pork sandwich with shape provolone and broccoli rabe
• Renaud's on Bienville in NO for great Creole
• Mack and Manco's for Boardwalk pizza in Ocean City, NJ
• Valanni at 1229 Spruce for braised veal shank and a Jack Daniels Old Fashioned

Enjoy the weekend!

Friday Fantastic Four

This week's installment of our regular feature is bit bit more personal and thought provoking.  I'll understand if you don't participates publicly, but at least give it some thought.

Name four things you would like to change about yourself or your life:

1. I'd like to get into better shape.
2. I need to figure out how to save some money.
3. I have to get to the dentist.
4. I want to spend more time with my children.

Honorable mentions:

• Buy a nice house with a large yard
• Finally write that book
• Figure out my next step

Anyway - whatever you decide to do, think about your life a bit today!

Friday Fantastic Four

  Grandpop in His Garden at 3447 
  Originally uploaded by Cavalier92

This week's topic seems silly, but we want a bit more from you than just a list.  A little detail to explain why or show something of your self is REQUIRED!

What are your 4 favorite fruits and vegetables?

1. The heirloom tomatoes that my grandfather used to grow in his backyard.  Sliced with a tiny bit of salt or a little sugar even!
2. Bananas -  I try to eat one every day.  Not too ripe and not too green.  With a glass of OJ before my coffee!!! 
3. Asparagus – brushed with a little olive oil, then grilled with salt and pepper.  Perfecto!
4. Starfruit – this stuff is cool!  Crunchy, tart, sweet, fun to eat!!!!!

Honorable mentions:

• Good pineapple, freshly sliced
• Concord grapes – sweet just inside the skin and tart in the middle
• White peaches – once again from my grandfather’s tree which my sister cut down
• Strawberries
• Blueberries – fresh from the bush in the morning with the dew still on them!
• Limes – In margaritas – just the juice though!

Gift Giving Opportunity

As you may have noticed, it is currently June 5th, wich means you have only 12 shopping days left to buy my Father's Day present.  While my ex wife co-parent probably would not agree, I am nominating myself for Father of the Year and deserveto be rewarded properly.  Since my kids are too little to do much shopping on their own, I've got a few ideas for you all!

• Samsung's Deluxe Q1 Ultra - This thing is HOT!!!!  An ultra mobile 800mhz wireless computer with full keyboard and 7" screen.  A STEAL at only $1200.

• Apple iPhone - this is probably the convergence product that would break what my lil Bro calls my "PC brainwashing."  It's pricy, like everthing from Apple, but I am guessing that when Paris gets out of prison, she will be ditching the Sidekick for one of these and I want to be right there with her.

• Wireless XBox with 20 GB Harddrive - this one is more for the boy than me.  He loves his baseball on the Box, but ours is getting a bit elderly and needs to be kicked up a notch.  If ya can spare the change, spring for a pair of wireless controllers too!

• Jimmy Buffett is playing the Boardwalk in AC this summer.  And 2 tickets would be a SWEET Father's Day gift!!!  I will take care of the transportation, party supplies and grass skirts.

Just drop me a note and I will let you know where to ship these babies!  i'm really looking forward to it!

Have a good one!