Under Construction

Weekend events

2007-02-09T20:21:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I exercised my city driving skills and drove downtown for the first time in a while. I also went to a lesbian bar for the first time. Navigating my way around Baltimore wasn't too bad, although we got mildly lost and asked a nice restaurant employee for directions, which he gladly wrote down in detail. The mission of the night was Federal Hill, which is an older section of Baltimore that has a nice little strip of bars. Of course going there meant no parking garage, so I had to parallel park (I failed miserably). The rest of the night included but was not limited to: trying Sierra Nevada beer per a suggestion and realizing I wasn't a fan and stopping at a Hampton Inn at 3 a.m. so a certain someone could go the bathroom.

On Sunday (after sleeping until noon), I cooked up a storm and had some friends over for the the big game. Even though I'm obviously partial to Tom Brady and the Patriots, I'm pretty sure they would have played a more exciting game than Indy and Chicago.

Superbowl Cheers and Jeers:

Cheers
good company
Billy Joel's rendition of The National Anthem
a decent first quarter
chili cheese hot dogs

Jeers
the rest of the game
the majority of commercials
Prince's unimpressive half-time show

My bad?

2007-02-07T22:19:00.000-05:00

MissKris: good luck with the dates!
Bdhock: WHAT DATES
MissKris: sorry?
Bdhock: and you should be
Bdhock: i strike out more that bellhorn

Don't rent this movie:

2007-01-21T12:13:00.000-05:00

The Lake House.

The only good things about it were Sandra Bullock's haircut and how good Keanue Reeves looked in a turtleneck sweater. That's about it. The storyline: He lives in 2004. She lives in 2006. They write letters to each other and fall in love but can't meet. Confused? I saw it and I still don't get it.

But maybe I'm even more confused by the fact that it got "two thumbs up."

What happened to winter?

2007-01-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

It's January 20 and I have yet to see any snow. Okay, it was sleeting for about 5 seconds on Thursday as I drove home from work, but that's about it. I know Maryland is not New England, but they get their fair share of flakes down here (or so I've been told).

I know this abnormal winter weather is happening elsewhere but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. I like the seasons. Granted, if and when the first flakes comes, Maryland will go into a frenzy because a) it's the first snow and b) they always do. They cancel school for several inches (mostly because they're on a county-wide busing system).

This no snow thing is weird, especially since I've spent the last four years in New Hampshire. I saw some guy in shorts the other day (although I knew people in NH who would wear shorts and sandals this time of year, no problem. I guess some things don't change).

I guess I should be careful what I wish for. We'll probably get a freak blizzard in April or something.

NFL Playoffs: I love this time of year

2007-01-15T18:46:00.000-05:00

Ah, the playoffs. Nothing says a good weekend of football like a game without touchdowns and the league MVP ending his season on a sour note, right?

Since I am living in Maryland, I got a taste of what playoff fever does to this place. These people love their Ravens and have a severe hatred for the Indianapolis Colts. Well, if my beloved team suddenly skipped out of town in the middle of the night, I'd be ticked, too. But these people were out of their minds (I say that cautiously, but with mutal respect for their dedication. Don't hurt me). T-shirts, bumper stickers, flags, posters, purple lights: you name, they made it (and bought it). Of course, I'm saying this as a Patriots fan in Ravens territory.

One cool thing about the playoffs and my job: Several weeks ago, I covered a sports radio segment at a local pub featuring Ravens head coach Brian Billick. I know what you're thinking: diehard fans and alcohol. Sounds like a couple of assaults waiting to happen, right? Thankfully, everyone behaved (some guy even offered to buy me a drink). Everyone I interviewed (including a 12-year-old boy) oozed confidence about a Baltimore victory. They were, as the media has put it, marching to Miami. I like writing these kinds of stories because sports fans love to talk. Fans think they know the game better than the coaches. And who better to listen to them than me? It was only during my last interview that I told some guy I was a Pats fan. Honestly, I was scared some drunk would blurt it out and the torch-wielding Ravens fans would turn on me. I didn't feel like making headline news that night.

Needless to say, I was shocked (along with every other Ravens fan and probably the team themselves) that Baltimore choked so badly. Okay, you had the top-rated defense and yes, you stopped Peyton Manning, but a little offense wouldn't have hurt anyone. Did Steve McNair show up to the game? I forget. The city is still in a period of mourning but don't feel badly, Baltimore. Indy played awful, too. They just played a little less than you.

And then there are the Patriots. I think I endured every possible human emotion during those exhausting 60 minutes. I have to be honest: I didn't think they would win. I know I should have faith, but I'm also realistic. They have a good team this year but they looked shaky. Cheers to a couple of key turnovers and place-kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Jeers to fourth-quarter and post-game drama. Yes, the Patriots were disrespectful in their celebratory dance moves. Memo to LaDainian Tomlinson: get over it. Bad-mouthing other teams is not a classy way to end an MVP season.

There is one good thing about Baltimore losing: now they are rooting for New England. They hate the Colts that much. Now it's Brady vs. Manning and who could ask for a better matchup? I'll be watching and who knows - maybe this game, like last weekend's, will have me yelling profanities and shielding my eyes with a pillow.

A potential bumper sticker?

2007-01-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

The other day I went to the hospital - not for myself, but for a story I was writing about a program that offers a variety of unusual treatments for patients and their families (think Patch Adams). Long story short, I met a clown named Licorice who had a shaded blue beard and wore "prescription" glasses (frames with empty prescription bottles attached to the sides). Although his friendly personality was enough to make me smile, he made my rainy Monday morning complete by wearing a button that said "Start a movement. Eat a prune."

C'mon, it's funny.

Movie reviews

2007-01-08T22:37:00.000-05:00

I have actually seen two movies in the theater in less than two weeks. Maybe this is a sign I have some sort of social life.

Movie: A Night at the Museum
The Deliberation:It was not my first choice to see this one (The Good Shepherd was sold out), but I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Robin Williams was classic and though it was not Ben Stiller's funniest performance, it was solid.
The Verdict: I wish my U.S. History classes had been as entertaining.

Movie: The Holiday
The Deliberation: It was cute and semi-predictable (basically, the foundation of any decent romantic comedy) and although the ending wasn't as clear as it could have been, I enjoyed Kate Winslet and Jack Black. Okay, and Jude Law wasn't bad to look at, either.
The Verdict: Makes me want to take a vacation.

The worst Christmas song

2006-12-17T11:52:00.000-05:00

is "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Have you listened to the lyrics?

"She's been drinking too much eggnog.."
"We found her Christmas morning, at the scene of the attack..."
"She had footprints on her forehead..."

Basically, Grandma is an alcoholic who was mauled by a reindeer. I wonder if children actually understand the song. Is so, they're probably having nightmares.

Am I missing some underlying Christmas meaning here?

What does your middle name mean?

2006-12-08T19:21:00.000-05:00

I got this from BD and thought I'd share the fun.

A : You like to drink.
B : You like people.
C : You are really silly.
D : You like to drink.
E : Great kisser.
F : You are dead sexy.
G : You never let people tell you what to do.
H : You have a very good personality, looks, and are a very good kisser.
I : Great in bed.
J : People adore you.
K : You're wild and crazy.
L : Unbeliavably great in bed.
M : best kisser ever.
N: You like to drink.
O: awesome kisser.
P : You are popular with all types of people.
Q : You are a hypocrite.
R : Fuckin crazy.
S : Easy to fall in love with.
T : You're loyal to those you love.
U : You really like to chill.
V : You are not judgemental.
W : You are very broad minded.
X : You never let people tell you what to do.
Y : best boy/girl friend any one can ask for.
Z : Always ready.

So this is my middle name:
A: You like to drink.
N: You like to drink.
N: You like to drink.
E: Great kisser.

Hm. Interesting.

Recently played

2006-12-08T17:15:00.000-05:00

"Step Into Christmas" - Elton John
"Save the Last Dance For Me" - Michael Buble
"Goodbye My Lover" - James Blunt
"Wonderful Tonight" - Eric Clapton
"Anything But Mine" - Kenny Chesney
"Love You" - Jack Ingram
"Hard to Handle" - Black Crowes
"The Silent Nutcracker" - Transiberian Orchestra

Where's the dictionary?

2006-12-06T23:11:00.000-05:00

Is it still chivalry if a guy opens the door for me by hitting the automated handicap button?

If only he really were visiting...

2006-11-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

Me: we could have eaten crabs and gotten drunk.
ProfessorK: you could have eaten my crab cakes and i would have drank your beers
ProfessorK: cause i wouldnt have lasted thru 1 crab cake
ProfessorK: and you can't finish a beer
ProfessorK: so its great

Black Friday

2006-11-25T14:20:00.000-05:00

Ah, Black Friday. There's nothing like 5 a.m. store openings and insanely cheap discounts on laptops and video games to get you in the holiday mood, right? And yes, there I was covering the nonsense and craziness of it all for work.

I set two alarms for 3 a.m. and met B, one of our photographers, forty-five minutes later at work. Yes, it was ridiculously early. I mean, the last time I was up at 3:30 I was coming home from a night out. But stores were opening at 5 and trust me, no one was going to give me the time of day while they were shopping. I'm not sure they would give me the time of day while waiting in line, but what else did they have to do? Play cards with their frozen fingers?

Our first stop was a nice 20 oz. coffee from Wawa which helped with the ungodly hour. I had only slept for 4 hours (Grey's was on until 10 and let's be honest: even an early wakeup was not about to stop me from watching). So there I was: bundled up in three layers including my winter jacket with my Red Sox winter hat, a pair of gloves, and, of course, my notepad. You would have thought I was interviewing people in the arctic tundra or something.

We made the rounds to Best Buy, Circuit City and Toys 'R Us - me hearing the stories of why someone would start standing in line at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving for a laptop and B snapping the pictures of people streaming into Circuit City for their plasma TV's and digital cameras. These people were dedicated. The line for Best Buy almost wrapped around the entire building. People had sleeping bags, chairs, blankets, and cups of coffee. Most were surprisingly pleasant and cheerful for such a ridiculous hour. Some people were funny. A select few were slightly hostile. I don't think all of them were playing with a full deck on some level.

I think we were done by 6 or so. By then we grabbed breakfast (and more coffee, of course) at Einstein Bros. Bagels. Though I was tired, it wasn't that bad. I knew it would catch up to me later, though. But I was on a wired/tired high from all the caffeine. Let's just say Black Friday didn't exactly put me in the holiday shopping mood.

But it did definitely put me in the mood for a nice 3-hour nap later on.

Happy shopping. And good luck out there.

Cheers and Jeers 4

2006-11-13T19:56:00.000-05:00

Cheers
--Malibu Baybreezes.
--Road trips for no reason.
--A turkey sub with chiplote ranch dressing. Mmmm.
--Spur-of-the-moment shopping trips that actually result in me buying clothes. Weird.
--Election night. A lot of stress but a lot of fun.
--Left over Halloween candy. Somebody has to eat it, right?

Jeers
--Four Malibu Baybreezes. One Mai Tai. Many shots. Enough said.
--The Patriots losing to the Jets. At home. Note to Tom: I'm getting a lot of crap for Sunday's loss. Step it up.

Wait...what?

2006-10-28T23:56:00.000-04:00

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series? I'm still not sure it actually happened, but the newspapers and TV stations are saying so. I was hoping for a Tigers-Mets finale (like most people...except, well, the Cardinals and their fans) but somehow St. Louis won - and kept winning. I was rooting for the Tigers in the championship, I would have rooted for the Mets had they been there, and I was rooting for the Red Sox up until (and even through) the downward spiral of a season that ended all too abruptly. But that's another story.

The World Series was anti-clamatic. Sure, there was the pine tar/smudge/dried mud stain story - and that made things semi-interesting for about .5 seconds until I had seen Kenny Rogers' hand and hat from every possible camera angle - but everyone had been picking the Mets from Day One. Heck, St. Louis didn't even look like they would make the playoffs to begin with. But then again, sometimes it's those come-from-behind teams that get things done (can anybody say 2004 Red Sox?)

I like St. Louis; I've even lived there at one point and I'm pretty sure I own a miniature Cardinals baseball bat that's stuffed somewhere up in my closet (but knowing me, I will never find it again). I'm just saying that out of all the top solid teams - Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Detroit - I'm not sure I ever would have picked St. Louis. It just wasn't an interesting series. Yes, I watched parts of it and I saw the last game. But Dancing with the Stars pulled in more viewers at one point. And yes, I was one of them.

Sweeeet

2006-10-23T20:41:00.000-04:00

The other day I got a vanilla cappucino for 10 cents. Why, you ask? Because Wawa was running a special. And if you've never been to a Wawa, you're missing out. It's the equivalent of a clean Seven-Eleven plus a deli.

You know, it's the little things. Like saving $1.50 on a cappucino.

If there is one annoying person on TV

2006-10-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

...it's Meredith from Grey's Anatomy.

If you've been watching since the new season began, you may or may not agree with me. She's just, I don't know, a pain. Her latest stint this week about shaving and waxing and wanting to get felt up (I know I just piqued a few guys' interest) was ridiculous. Get over yourself. She's not bad-looking, but I wouldn't say she's gorgeous. And she has Patrick Dempsey and Chris O'Donnell fighting over her.

Shouldn't we all be that lucky.

Screw you, Yahoo

2006-09-26T23:15:00.000-04:00

Last week I got lost.

If you know me at all, that should come as no shock or surprise. I had a scheduled meeting at 9:00 in the morning in another county from mine; the night before I found the directions on Yahoo Maps (which has rarely steered me wrong before). I left with plenty of time to spare. I allowed myself an extra solid 45 minutes just in case.

Now let it be known that I only have a map of my county. But this meeting was in another one. That was probably my first mistake.

I arrived in the correct city about 45 minutes before my meeting. I made great time, which probably should have been a red flag. And then somewhere, somehow, it all went wrong. I got severely lost. But it wasn't one of those cases where you find yourself four towns and five highways over. I was only one or two streets away and for the life of me, I couldn't find the building. I drove in circles. I called the building - twice - and received two sets of directions. I pulled over - twice - and asked for directions. I swore a lot.

Finally, finally, I found the building. To my credit, I don't think the street was properly marked and there was one wrong turn on the directions (I know, excuses, excuses). But I was late, even with my extra 45 minute cushion.

So screw you, Yahoo.

But here's the best (or worse) part: At one point, I was on a street called Blue Ball Boulevard and when I called to ask for directions, I had to name my exact location.

Cheers and Jeers 3

2006-09-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

Cheers

- This wonderful autumn weather that just arrived in Maryland this week. It makes me want to wear my clogs to a football game and drink hot apple cider.
- The new TV season: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Justice, Grey's, House, The Office. Also worth mentioning is Dancing With the Stars. Yes, I'm watching it. I don't have homework anymore so I have this thing called free time, and if I choose to watch reality television with it, that's my problem and not yours.
- Big Papi's record-breaking.
- "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion. A very powerful book and solid read.
- Butternut squash and pumpkin soup. Amaaaazing. I had seconds.
- John Stewart and The Rock. I have no specific reasons. They're just cool.

Jeers

- Getting lost. Entry to come.
- Reggie Bush. Did everyone suddenly forget his little money problem or something?
- People who pull out quickly into your lane but then go 10 mph. I don't like you people.

September baseball: O's vs. NY

2006-09-09T21:57:00.000-04:00

Today I went to the Oriole's vs. Yankees game at Camden Yards. Here's a running diary of the events (and chaos) that ensued.

3:11: We pick up the Yankee fan from college and we're on our way. Remember, she's the one who is most likely adopted because she roots for NY.

3:40: We take a wrong turn in downtown Baltimore and end up heading out of the city. Nothing says family adventure like getting lost.

4:15: Some idiot (most likely a Yankee fan) yells "Boston sucks!" out his window at me as we're walking toward the park. I try and see where the car parks so I can slash the tires later, but I lose sight of it.

4:35: Adam Loewen (now 5-5, 5.32 ERA) starts it off for Baltimore. I'm loving our seats right along the first base line in prime foul ball territory. I'm just terrified that a foul ball will actually come my way and send me to the hospital.

4:43: Derek Jeter doubles down the right field line with two outs. The crowd erupts. No, really, they take a nutty. Are we in New York?

5:00: The O's turn a sweet doubleplay to the end the inning. One of those definitely-has-a-possibility-of-being-on-Sportscenter doubleplays.

5:15: With Johnny Damon up at bat, the guy next to my mother jokes, "Is that Judus?" I feel like a moron and have no idea who he's talking about. I admit, I didn't always pay attention in Sunday school. My mother informs me that Judus was someone who betrayed Jesus. Okay, I get the joke now. Sidenote: My mother and I then decide that The Jokster is definitely on a first date with the woman next to him. Here's why: 1) The woman is sitting with arms crossed, hugging her purse. Definitely not positive body language. She doesnt even look like she wants to be here. 2) Her pants are rolled up. Which means that she wasn't really properly dressed for a baseball game. 3) The jokster is talking more to the people around him than her. 4) It's one of those obvious awkward situations. You can just tell. I wonder how they met.

5:17: It's time for the animated hot dog race on the big screen. Yes, I'm rooting for an animated hotdog as it jumps around the bases. I pick the relish, Mom and Yankee Fan pick the mustard. Of course, ketchup wins.

5:20: Bottom of the third. No score. My sister notices Derek Jeter adjusting himself. "Where?" I ask. "Where do you think?" she replies.

5:29: Derek hits a foul ball four rows in front of us. I'm in the middle of shelling a peanut, and instead of jumping up like everyone else around me, I grab my bag of peanuts and hunker down.

5:55: Awkward Jokster buys him and date a beer. As we pass along the beer and money to and from the vendor, jokster says to us, "I feel like I should be buying you guys a beer." I think, Okay, but it had better not be that Bud Light you're drinking. Do you see what dating a beer snob has done to me?

6:02: Top of the fifth, one out. Johnny "Judus" Damon singles in a run with a check swing. Score: New York 1, Oriole's 0.

6:05: The Old Bay Crab Shuffle. There are three animated crabs on the big screen. One has a baseball. They shuffle around on the beach, criss-crossing each other and turning upside down. In the end, which crab has the ball? Yes, I'm amused by this. And I know it's geared toward five-year-olds.

6:15: At the end of the 6th, New York and Baltimore have five hits a piece. The Yankees are on top 2-0, thanks to Johnny's single and a Melky Cabrera sac fly in the fifth.

6:30: The seventh inning stretch. The highlight of the evening: when the Oriole's mascot jumps up onto the O's dugout and while shaking his tailfeather (ha, bad joke), wipes his armpits with a Yankee hat he stole from the crowd. If he did that at Fenway he would be hoisted up on shoulders and showered with Sam Adams.

6:32: Out of the 45,827 people in attendance, my sisters spots Derek Jeter's parents in the crowd. Of course she would.

6:35: Brandon Fahey knocks in Kevin Millar to put the O's on the board. Finally.

6:40: Rodrigo Lopez comes in to start the bottom of the eighth for the Oriole's. Ohh, great. This game isn't going to end well for Baltimore. Batting practice, anyone?

6:50: Derek Jeter (who else) rips a RBI single down the right field line, scoring Damon. The crowd freaks out and starts chanting "MVP!" I feel like vomiting into my peanut bag. Score: New York 3, O's 1.

7:02: Wang leaves the game to a standing ovation. Me: "What was his name again? Wang?" Mom: "I think it's pronounced Wong." I know several guys who would have laughed at that.

7:23: Millar homers to left. The O's are down by one.

7:27: "Nice hats," a guy says to me and Mom as we leave the park. He's a Boston fan, too. He understands. He's one of us. And he kind of looks like Kenny Chesney.

Final score: New York 3, Baltimore 2.

An unofficial wrap-up of my favorite summer books

2006-09-02T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of the most enjoyable books I read this summer (in no particular order). You can thank me later with chocolates, flowers, and Patriots tickets.

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Why it worked: The unusual perspective. The novel is told through the eyes of a murdered teenager. If that doesn't intrigue you, you're boring. Final word: It's a book-club classic, but well worth it. I couldn't put it down. Literally. It came with me to work, dinner...

2. Now I Can Die in Peace by Bill Simmons. Why it worked: The combination of humorous writing, pop culture, and the rollercoaster ride that is the Red Sox. I laughed, I cried...but mostly it worked because I could commiserate with the guy. He's a Sox fan - he understands. Final word: A nice read, especially if you appreciate quality sports writing.

3. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Why it worked: Beautiful writing. I'll be honest here: I'd heard the hype about this one, but I wasn't that interested. When I finally picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I'm a fan of Monk's writing style (in this particular book. I just finished her latest, "The Mermaid Chair," and I wasn't a fan). Final word: Read it. And then you'll crave honey.

4. Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs. Why it worked: His story topics range from lesbian personal ads to advertising campaigns for Junior Mints to his obession with college t-shirts. He's hilarious and one of my favorite authors. Final word: As if you needed one.

5. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. Why it worked: The guy knows how to write a page-turner. Final word: It's better than The Da Vinci Code (hasn't everyone said that?)

6. Come Love a Stranger by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Why it worked: It's a historical romance (and one of my guilty pleasures every once in awhile), so if you're in need of a good love story, Woodiwiss is usually a good option. Final word: A good read with amusing descriptions and phrasing (such as "the hot blood shot through his loins and thudded through him, cauterizing his mind with his ravaging needs." Seriously, I cannot make this stuff up. It's on page 186).

The ups and downs of law enforcement

2006-08-29T22:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday during morning rush-hour traffic I passed several state troopers staked out along 95 at various points.

For what, I don't know.

Rush-hour is bad enough, but putting cops along the commute only makes drivers instinctively slow down. Besides, it's not as if anyone could speed through to anywhere. Everyone is doing forty, tops. Do these cops really catch anyone? Does anyone understand this?

Later on, however, I drove by someone getting arrested (cuffed and everything) by three police officers on the side of the street--and it made my morning.

Where's Jared?

2006-08-26T13:34:00.000-04:00

Last night I dreamt that I was eating a Chicken Caesar Salad sub from Subway--and it was delicious.

Seriously, though, how good would that be? It's not a menu option, but I'm smelling a new promotional item. Can I get 15%? How about free subs for eternity?

Wanted: Normal Toys

2006-08-20T00:10:00.000-04:00

What happened to the normal Barbies of my childhood? At Target today I passed by an end display with Monte Carlo Barbie and South Beach Barbie (the location, not the diet--although I would't be surprised if they had a Barbie armed with the South Beach Cookbook, a carton of eggs, and a "Say No To Carbs" t-shirt).

But do they really think a six-year-old knows what or where Monte Carlo is? I doubt most high-schoolers even do (and sadly, probably adults). What's next? Tattoo Barbie? Dominatrix Barbie? Convict Ken?

On an unrelated note, I had a fabulous peach margarita tonight. Also, I'm convinced that throwing Mike Lowell or Big Papi on the pitching mound would yield better results than the current Red Sox bullpen. I'd suggest Manny but he'd probably see something shiny in the dugout and get distracted. That's all I'm saying about today's game.

Top 7...

2006-08-16T22:18:00.000-04:00

...Best Things about My Past Weekend in Mass.

7. Real New England seafood (down in Maryland, it's crabs, all the time).

6. Sam Summer at a nice grad-a-birthday party on a summer afternoon.

5. Watching all the Sox games on NESN.

4. Finally getting my sexy OL sweatshirt and then wearing it for two days straight.

3. Watching Sox games with my grandmother and hearing her say, "Well, he's a fat one," when the camera zooms in on a sweaty David Wells in between fastballs.

2. Seeing my bar buddy, good friends from school who constantly make fun of me, and Max.

1. Quality time with the Hockey Stud. In other words, going to the driving range and getting outhit by a four-year-old.

Packing up random thoughts

2006-08-10T00:06:00.000-04:00

--I hate packing for anything because I'm easily distracted. For instance, watching Will & Grace is far more entertaining than trying to figure out what shoes will fit in my bag and where my phone charger disappeared to.

--Fantasia has a Lifetime movie coming out, which is based on her own life (and if it's on Lifetime, of course it would be). And she's actually starring as herself. Since when did she become an actress? She was barely a singer. Can you tell I'm not a huge fan? Which part gave it away?

--Floyd Landis is one big sad story. I know, everyone says that he's guilty, and you have to believe the evidence, but I'd like to believe that he's innocent. Even if he is, though, his reputation is done.

--I read online that Tom Cruise is promising pictures of his "mystery child." It is worth noting that I was once a rather large Tom Cruise fan (back in 6th grade), but ever since the couch-jumping and Holmes-humping, he's gone downhill for me. Am I the only person who doesn't actually care about seeing pictures of their kid? Don't all babies look alike, anyways? I was also thinking, wouldn't it be wild if they didn't even have a baby at all? It would be just like that 20/20 episode I watched where a couple actually thought they were pregnant with sextuplets, tricked the community into thinking they were, and then took all the cash and donations. Stop rolling your eyes. I love 20/20.

--On a final note, the Red Sox had better remember what it's like to win, especially since they're playing THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS.

O's vs. Yankees

2006-08-05T23:22:00.000-04:00

The Situation: I went to the Oriole's game yesterday against the Yankees, which meant that I wasn't necessarily rooting for the O's to win; I was more so rooting for New York to lose. Which they did. In fact, O's rookie Adam Loewen had a one-hitter against an offensively stacked team (today the Yankees won, but really, I'm trying to focus on the positives, here).

The Dilemma: Now, some of you may not know this, but one of my sisters is a Yankee fan (I'm not sure how it happened; I still think she may have been adopted). To combat her head-to-toe Yankee garb (complete with a Jeter jersey), my Dad and I decided that we had to wear enough Red Sox merchandise so that people wouldn't assume that we were New York fans by walking with her. I wore my Red Sox sailor hat, which prompted my sister ask me how the safari was going in her best "Crocodile Hunter" voice. I'm still not finding it funny.

The Highlights: Hotdogs, peanuts, watching a one-hitter, Brian Roberts' bases-loaded single in the 2nd to start the offense, the "I Love NY; It's the Yankees I Hate" T-shirt I saw, and naturally, seeing the Yankees lose. Also, the fun Old Bay crab switch they do around the 6th. It's for the little kids. I love it.

The Lowlights: When the Yankees starting line-up received a bigger ovation than the Oriole's. It's sad but true. Camden Yards is always a packed house when New York or Boston comes to town.

The Question: Why does Mike Mussina bend down before every pitch only when runners are on? (One day and several Google searches later, thanks to my sister, he likes to see the positions of the runners' feet. And it gives him a little more time).

The Bright Idea: Wouldn't it be pretty cool if the Red Sox and Yankees played against each other at Camden Yards? Think about it: cheap tickets, large fan base for both teams, solid ballpark. That got me to thinking: Wouldn't it be cool if different teams played each other at different ballparks? Okay, maybe no one would pay to see the Royals and Devil Rays play in St. Louis, but I know it could be the start of something. What is Bud Selig's number?

The Final: Orioles 5, Yankees 0.

Why I could never be on MTV

2006-08-01T22:47:00.000-04:00

(A conversation between me and my sister)

K: i dont wanna be a murderer
K: quick what song
misskris: huh?
K: nvm
misskris: who is it? g-unit? kanye? pussycat dolls?
K: ERRRRRR
misskris: if you tell me paris hilton, i'm going to come down the hall and steal something from you.
K: hahaha

(And for those who care, the artist is Rihanna, who apparently is very good live, so says my sister).

The Intense Nightmare

2006-07-28T23:31:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I had The Intense Nightmare. I'm not calling it a dream because a dream implies happy things like Care Bears and picnics and usually does not involve criminal activity and high stress levels.

In my nightmare, I was living in a small white house with a screened-in porch on the side. I came home from somewhere and realized that someone had broken into my house. The screen had been ripped, the lock was dismantled, and the door had been partially removed. I freaked and called 911--where someone actually put me on hold (That makes me feel safe. "You're being held hostage at gunpoint? Oops, I have another call. One sec.")

At this point, I wake up, actually scared. Not like in the movies when you bolt upright in a cold sweat, but let's just say that my heart was beating considerably faster. I looked at the clock. 6:21. I had nine minutes until my obnoxious alarm clock would curse at me.

I put my head down, close my eyes, and right as I start drifting off, I hear WAAAAAAAWAAAAAAWAAAAAWHOOOOOPAHHHEEEHHHHH. And then I bolt upright, just like in the movies. I'm wide-awake. Just imagine a ridiculously loud whooping siren blasting full-force throughout your house at 6 a.m. and you get the idea. It took me 2.3 seconds to realize that it's our house alarm and perfect timing, right? Because I just didn't have a nightmare about my house getting robbed or anything.

Over the pounding of my heart, I hear the commotion downstairs and soon realize that one of my sisters accidentally set it off. At this point, all chances of going back to sleep are lost.

THEN (as if this couldn't get any better/creepier), as I'm recounting The Intense Nightmare to my parents some forty-five minutes later in the kitchen, the three of us hear the garage door open without any warning. No one is near the garage. No one touched the remote. We all give each other a look. But it just opened, right in the middle of my story.

And on that note, good night.

Cheers and Jeers 2

2006-07-22T16:45:00.000-04:00

Cheers
--pina colada Italian ice
--"Cool Thing" by Rascal Flatts
--cowboy hats
--surprises (even the small ones)
--"Possible Side Effects" by Augusten Burroughs
--pizza topped with broccoli and roasted garlic

Jeers
--Harold Reynolds allegedly getting booted from ESPN (which, on a sidenote, prompted my mother to e-mail ESPN demanding why they fired someone like Reynolds but still employ Michael Irvin. I agree, Mom).
--guys who wear too much cologne
--nightmares that wake you up at 3 a.m.

True Confessions

2006-07-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

The other day I was driving home with my sister, Kayla, who is the most up-to-date person in most entertainment and pop culture news that I know. On this particular drive, she had brought along her own CD's, because, of course, mine are sub-par. Hers are usually mixes of the latest hits. But the backstory is this: whenever I listen to any of her CD's, 90 percent of the time I will say, "Oh, who's this? What's this song called?" She will then proceed to reprimand me for not knowing the latest hits. I try to explain that a) when you're in college, you're in a bubble and b) the last time I watched TRL was, um, never.

On this particular CD, she flipped from track to track, and I recongized a few artists (okay, just Ashlee Simpson). Most songs, per usual, I failed to name.

And then, it happened.

A song came on that I didn't recognize, but it had a decent beat.

"This isn't bad," I said. And then she laughed.

"It's Paris Hilton's new song," she said. And then I screamed.

Yes, I had just listened to a song by Paris Hilton. The girl speaks like a mumbling space cadet--how had she recorded an actual song? With words? I had heard rumors of her new CD but I figured it would crash and burn. Yes, it's bad enough that she actually made a CD, but worse--I had listened to her song...and actually quasi-enjoyed it.

Why I Love the World Cup

2006-07-08T19:07:00.000-04:00

In honor of tomorrow's World Cup championship, I advise you to read Bill Simmons' article Why I Love the World Cup. It's awesome - and completely true. Here's a few of my favorites:

#3: "The red card/yellow card thing. Nonsensical, completely arbitrary, even crooked to some degree … I love it. Why hasn't the NBA adopted this yet? Can you imagine how many yellows and reds the Mavericks would have gotten in the Finals?"

#8: "Everyone makes fun of the flopping, and it is hideous, but it's also funny as hell. These guys drop like they were gunned down by a sniper, then they roll around for 10 seconds in absolute agony, heroically hop up and limp around to "shake it off," and within 30 seconds they're running full speed again."

Good stuff. And bonne chance to France tomorrow.

Odd match

2006-07-05T19:54:00.000-04:00

Today I saw a man selling "designer sunglasses" at a Shell station.

I think unusual business venture would be an understatement.

There's nothing like higher education

2006-07-04T01:09:00.000-04:00

Me: I'm not really worrying. Just thinking...on a high level.
HockeyStud: uh huh
HockeyStud: stop trying to use english major logic on me
Me: you saw through that?
HockeyStud: my dear
HockeyStud: my minor was in english major bullshit

A breakthrough!

2006-07-04T00:04:00.000-04:00

There is now Peach Jell-O. And if you know me, you know how much I love everything peach.

Speaking of onions...

2006-06-20T22:21:00.000-04:00

Since I am forever the English major (and mostly because I'm half-delirious from lack of sleep), I just Googled 'onion' to ensure of the correct spelling for my previous entry. In doing so, I found The National Onion Association. No joke.

Did you know that the average American eats 21 pounds of onions per year? Libya boasts the highest per capita consumption of onions in the world (66.8 pounds of onions consumed per person per year). There are less than 1,000 onion farmers in the United States and if you want to get rid of onion breath, eat parsley.

The website is actually interesting, if you can get past the fact that it's all about onions. You can catch up on your onion history, find recipes, and even search for onion quotes (I know, I'm not sure I get it, either). There is even a Media Center and Press Kit, because you never really know when a vegetable crisis will hit. Who knows, right?

And the funny part is, I really don't even like onions.

Ugh

2006-06-20T22:19:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I ate my weight in French Onion dip. Not a good choice.

Movie review

2006-06-18T21:34:00.000-04:00

I saw Cars today, and after reading Max's review of the same movie on his blog, I was inspired to write my own. I thoroughly enjoyed the flick. I love animated movies (Little Mermaid and Anastacia are favorites) so the fact that it was a Disney/Pixar creation had me excited even before the movie started. It had a cute but predictable plot (I agree, Max) but also many funny one-liners. I even teared at one point, which I am not afraid to admit. Stop laughing; animation can be emotionally moving. But the best part? The movie contained Rascal Flatts' rendition of "Life Is A Highway."

So bad it's good

2006-06-16T19:36:00.000-04:00

Working orientation for first-year students allows you a certain access, though limited, into the psyche of those who have actually graduated college and have been accepted into this institution of higher education. But many times, I wonder. For instance, this morning a girl approached me and said that she was not on the registered list for this particular session. "What is your college?" I asked her, expecting something like "Liberal Arts." She stared at me, then said, "UNH."

Well obviously. Eeek.

Things that make me happy

2006-06-09T19:44:00.000-04:00

--naps
--Boston baked beans
--diet peach Snapple iced tea
--walkie talkies and code names
--80's music
--my black "where's the flood?" pants
--inside jokes
--free pens

Say what?

2006-06-01T23:59:00.000-04:00

The other day, I kid you not, I saw a moose trotting down the street. If you don't believe me, I have witnesses. A short time later, the moose was spotted again--this time with one Durham cop car on its trail and another one on the way.

Ah, New Hampshire. Nothing like a moose-sighting to stir things up in town when the college kids are home.

And...

2006-05-28T00:42:00.000-04:00

Now I'm alumni. Or alumna.

'Grey' thoughts

2006-05-16T00:56:00.000-04:00

DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE SEASON FINALE OF GREY'S ANATOMY (and still want to).

Hopefully that was enough of a disclaimer. If not, you're screwed, and too bad, because I warned you.

The season finale was good, although 3 hours in 2 days was a lot of hospital drama in a short amount of time. My thoughts, in a nutshell:

I like Addison (and it's not just because she's a red-head). Derek is still good-looking. Izzie needs a reality check. Thank goodness Burke is alive. I'm glad to see Christina has a soul, even though I will forever love her cyncism and perfectionism. Derek and Meredith? I know they're the Romeo and Juliet of scrubs and scalpels, but it just seemed a bit rushed. Why not just a passionate kiss?

Which brings me to a question. What is it about Meredith? I don't get it. Tell me.

And last but not least, Bailey rocks.

Cheers & Jeers

2006-05-11T11:00:00.001-04:00

Cheers
Gingersnaps
Sweatpants
bacon cheeseburgers
Iron Chef America
study buddies
fruit wines
Sesame Street Band-Aids
no more studying/hw
drawing pigs

Jeers
8 a.m. finals
Martha Stewart
Oprah
Katie Couric
7 consecutive days of rain
Curt Schilling
Chris getting the boot on American Idol

Soon to be...

2006-05-08T23:22:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like a good minor league game on a hot summer night. Cheap tickets, good seats, expensive beer. Bring it on.

Random knowledge

2006-05-07T20:57:00.000-04:00

The "random article" link on Wikipedia will prepare you for Jeopardy. In the last 5 minutes I have read articles on the Flag of Austrias; Parmalee, South Dakota; the black-capped squirrel monkey; the Swedish Railway Museum, and Lawrence Funderburke (current power forward on the Bulls).

And now for Sunday night TV...

Roommate Story #1

2006-05-03T16:44:00.000-04:00

The other day, one of my roommates went grocery shopping. I came home and saw a huge watermelon on the kitchen table. Since it's not something the typical college student would buy, I said something to her.

Me: "What's with the watermelon?"

L: "It was a really good deal. It was 49 cents. So I bought the biggest one they had, 23 pounds."

Me: "Oh, you mean 49 cents a pound."

Silence.

Me: "They don't sell watermelon for 49 cents. It's by the pound. Did you look at your receipt?"

She didn't. But when she eventually did, she had bought a watermelon--at 49 cents a pound for a total of $12.

*This story was reprinted with permission. She knows I laugh because I love.

Cinema-obserphy

2006-04-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

Today I saw a plastic bag dancing in the wind.

It was very American Beauty.

'S' is for stress

2006-04-25T23:20:00.001-04:00

I'm taking a break from my homework (which is stressful) to write about stress. Go figure. Since classes end in less than two weeks, the 's' word has hit in concentrated force. Except for those few individuals, like my roommate--who is currently lounging in bed reading Glamour because she has the time to do so.

Did you know that 62% of women wouldn't change what their partners look like? Well now you do, thanks to Glamour (and my roommate).

I think there was a "De-stress fest" the other day in the MUB, but as usual, I was stressfully (is that a word?) hurrying to another class or meeting. That kind of thing was made for people like me, I think, but we're all too stressed and busy to even go there in the first place.

You know, I'd half-consider taking up yoga if a) I had some semblence of balance and b) If I were semi-flexible. The last time I tried yoga, however, I shut off the DVD because it stressed me out. But maybe in the name of stress, some things deserve a second chance.

Seeing double

2006-04-18T23:25:00.000-04:00

This is how you know it's getting to be "that time" of the year.

I was watching one of my guilty pleasures tonight, American Idol, and I swore that this guy with the shaggy blonde hair had already been on the show, preaching his words of wisdom. Of course, it was Rod Stewart, not Barry Manilow--who had been on the show in weeks prior.

Now don't insult me by saying I don't know the difference between the two. I love the Will & Grace episode where "Fanilow" Will waits in line for hours to a special Barry Manilow concert only to have Grace take his place when he needs to use the restroom.

And Rod Stewart? "Downtown Train" and "This Old Heart of Mine" are classic favorites.

But don't Rod and Barry look alike? Sort of, at least?

Where's my camera?

2006-04-18T17:15:00.000-04:00

Let's just say that I saw a recognizable University employee zipping around campus on a 10-speed today. In complete business attire, no less.

And without a helmet.

I saw the Easter Bunny

2006-04-15T10:50:00.001-04:00

...and he was on the side of the road at a Mitsubishi dealership, waving to everyone.

What's the number?

2006-04-11T00:14:00.000-04:00

I'm in the mood for some serious Chinese food right now. Crab rangoons, General Tso's chicken, sweet and sour pork, beef lo mein, and pork fried dumplings--with fried rice, soy sauce, and sweet and sour, of course.

And because I have Chinese food on the brain (and because I'm a dork), I just googled 'Chinese food' and now I have the Top 10 Easy Chinese Recipes and more pictures of rice, noodles, and sweet and sour shrimp that I could ask for.

Note to all: I have a really good General Tso's recipe that was handed down by a fellow friend/blogger. Max, there's your shout-out.

But instead of eating my sweet and sour pork and beef with broccoli, I will go home to my Honey Teddy Grahams and Saltines.

(Odd) things I saw today:

2006-04-08T18:38:00.000-04:00

A large moose-like animal. Well, it was either an under-developed moose, or a really hairy horse. I study journalism, not animal science or zoology. Either way, I did a triple-take and almost swerved off the road.
A ten-year-old on a cell phone. Just ridiculous. You're not even old enough to spell cell phone, let alone use one.
A fox crossing the road with a chunk of hairy prey in its mouth. Yes, another animal sighting.

Welcome to rural New Hampshire.

Late-night domesticity

2006-04-06T23:40:00.000-04:00

My cleaning habits fall under two categories: oh-so-randomly and at night.

What, you never have a sudden urge to bust out the vaccuum or re-organize your drawers at 11 p.m.?

Uh, yeah, me neither.

Recently Played

2006-03-31T20:16:00.000-05:00

"Some Hearts" - Carrie Underwood
"When You Say Nothing At All" - Alison Krauss
"She Says" - Howie Day
"Wisemen" - James Blunt
"Shadows of the Night" - Pat Benetar
"Brown-Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison
"Seasons of Love" - RENT
"What About Everything?" - Carbon Leaf

My muse, my inspiration

2006-03-26T00:54:00.000-05:00

Max: I want to see a post, even if all it says is "Max you ass, I made my first post."