Worst. News. Ever.

Cerasoli resigns. 

I knew he had a tough job, and stress takes its toll.  Good luck, Mr. Cerasoli.  Now who steps up and takes this job?  And will he be undercut more or less than Cerasoli was? 

Quincy, MA, is nice, but it's going to be cold...

Technology

Thanks to the modern wonders of DVR and Tivos, I just watched LOST.  And they were communicating in LATIN! 

Just a little shout out to my language.  And one of my favorite shows.

Gumballs

My friend Brian would have had a birthday recently. It's weird, but I miss him more as time passes. Time usually makes things easier.

I want to share a story.

A few years ago, before Katrina, Brian and Gene and I went over to the Evangeline bar in Mid-City. It used to be a dive bar but I think it's changed since the last time I was there. In the back they had two electronic dart boards. Brian and Gene and I were playing and drinking and there may have been one other person in the bar. It was cheap and good fun.

After we were tired of playing darts the proper way, we started throwing them on the run and from weird positions. There wasn't anyone else there so we thought it would be ok.

It turns out it wasn't ok. There was an old lady who either owned or managed the Evangeline. She very rudely asked us to quit.

"We're the only ones spending money in here," Brian spouted angrily.

"Let's just leave," Gene said.

"Yeah, c'mon," I agreed.

"You get outta here now!" the old lady shrieked.

"What? Are you gonna call the cops? They couldn't find this place," Brian raged.

"Let's go," Gene said.

"I'll call 'em right now," she screeched.

"Go ahead! Call the cops. I don't give a shit! I will tell them what kind of cheap-ass swill you serve," Brian argued.

"Ok, that's it. Time to go," said Gene.

"This place sucks!" Brian yelled in the direction of the old woman.

We started moving toward the door.

"You don't scare me! I'm calling the cops right now!" the old woman squealed.

"You stupid old bat. We will never come back here," Brian countered. "We were willing to spend our money here and this is how you treat your customers?"

Then it happened. Gene and I were forcing Brian towards the door. Brian didn't like being pushed, but he wasn't fighting too hard to stay, either.

There was a gumball machine against the wall. Was is the correct word. As we pushed Brian out, the yelling continued and then a fist violently connected with the glass globe that held the gumballs captive. And the fist made solid and sudden contact with the glass shattering it. Gumballs went everywhere as did expletives.

At this point, Brian moved quickly toward the door. When we got outside, Brian and I jumped in his truck with a brake tag which had expired at least seven years prior. We raced off in search of more beer and video poker and Golden Tee.

"I'll just walk," Gene said.

For some reason, I've never been back there. And I haven't bought any gum from a gumball machine either.

I miss you, B. Happy Birthday! I hope heaven has free Abita on tap, crawfish boiling in the pot, fish on the line, and free video golf. Tell Iver hello for me. I miss him, too.

2009 Saints

Looking at the preliminary schedule for 2009, I notice the Saints are playing both the Jets and Giants and both games are in New Orleans.  That's disappointing because I would love some sweet justice for that game after Katrina where I had to endure scorn and cruel comments at a "home" game in the Meadowlands.  Sure they passed a bucket around.  But who knows where that ended up.  It might have been some Giant fans beer money for all I know.

In any case, a substitute teacher here suggested I travel to sites closer or cheaper to watch the Saints.  I am afraid of Eagles fans though I am one once the Saints aren't in the playoffs.  I would not want to be at Lincoln Financial Field wearing a Saints jersey.  So that leaves me a few other options:

Miami - never been.  Warm weather.  Hope for a December game.
Tampa - drove through once on my way to Sarasota.  Same as Miami
Washington - Would not go and tickets are probably absurd since they are sold out for 20 years.
Atlanta - I don't want to give my money to Atlanta.
Carolina - might be fun as long as it's not winter.
Buffalo - been there.  The wings are good.  Not going from October on
St. Louis - never been, but I am not sure it would be worth going.   
Philly - never been to a game there, but I would be afraid for my life.

I would love to go to a game with some other Saints fans.  Does anyone know of the group that gets tickets and leads trips to other towns?

Mark Your Calendars

Theresa Andersson will be on Conan O'Brian on Feb 4!  I like her.  I think she's beautiful and talented.  Watch this video from her kitchen.

Theresa Anderson - 'Na Na Na'

And thanks to Basin Street Records for letting me know about this.

Story Update

According to NBC 10 in Philadelphia, the kids who were named Hitler and Aryan Nation have been taken from their parents by the NJ Department of Youth and Family Services.  I think we ought to go back in time and revive the old Athenian tradition of ostracism.  Every year we would hold a vote and one person gets kicked off the island.  I have a couple of nominees....

I believe these people are entitled to their opinions and to name their kids whatever they want.  But they might need to get kicked off the island anyway. 

What does this mean for me?

Since apparently no one was injured, I can make fun of this.

There was an explosion at the Abita Brewery this morning!  How long will I have to wait to get the next seasonal brew?!

Tuesday Thoughts

If Illinois can find a reason to get rid of Blageyovich for impropriety and ineffectualness, do we could use the same laws against Nagin? 

New Orleanians should be paying close attention to how this all pans out, I think.

Christmas Lights

I honestly don't know the answer to this, and I grew up a few blocks from Al Copeland's Gauche Christmas Extravaganza of Light and Electricity.

Choose the best answer.

When should you take the Christmas lights down from the outside of your house?

a) On January 6th since it is the official 12th day of Christmas and it's Mardi Gras.

b)  On January 7th - now it's the first night of Mardi Gras.

c)  You should keep them up all winter.  So March-ish.

d)  When you open your pool for the summer.

e)  Why take 'em down if you are just going to have to put them up again next year. 

Please vote.  Since we are having a frozen precipitation event (freezing rain sucks), I may have off tomorrow.   But I don't want to rush into anything if I don't have to.

Frontline

With all the TVs and contraptions I have to record TV, I do not have access to tonight's Frontline about Herbert Gettridge and his attempt to bring his family home.  That's too bad because the review makes it sound like it's right up my ally.  Watch it if you can.

Making Resolutions

This year I didn't really make any particular resolutions.  I know that the every change starts with the first day, and the changing of the calendar makes it easy to remember.  But I don't do very good with resolutions.  That being said, I do have some things to work on.

My memory seems to be shot.  I am going to do more crosswords and more sudoku.  I don't know if it will help, but it certainly can't hurt.

I am going to try to go out with my wife for a nice dinner once a month.  We just need to find a reliable sitter.

I am going to try to buy other beer besides Abita.  I am not sure why I am going to do this, but I am.

I will try not to be so critical about the food I am served outside of NOLA.  It's just not fair to let amateurs on the field with professionals.

I am going to paint the inside of this house so we can sell it.  I don't think it needs much, but that sure can't hurt.  But we do we do about the dryer that wakes up the neighborhood?  Get a new one or repair the one we have?

What started off as a simple list of things I would like to do has sort of blossomed into resolutions.  Damnit.  Well, on we go.  Happy New Year!

Thanks, Centenary

Centenary College, in Hackettstown, NJ, is just a few miles from our home in Easton.  The students there are getting ready to make their annual journey to help those who have been screwed by the federal government.  Thank you, Centenary College, for making a difference for those still affected.