May 2007 - Posts
May 30, 2007
I consider myself a very positive thinker.
I can picture myself getting a hole in one in golf someday, even though I'm atrocious at the silly sport.
One day, I'll probably even figure out that darn Rubik's Cube!
But I honetly don't think I'll ever get a foul ball at a baseball game!
I came so close today, it wasn't even funny. I attended the Twins/White Sox game at the Dome. My wife, and two kids sat by my side, or in the 7 month old's case, in my lap.
In the fourth inning, I began feeding the first time ballpark goer infant, his lunch. It was of course the exact same time that Justin Morneau fouled one straight back towards me.
It couldn't have been more on target for me to catch. All it would've required was to stand up, reach up my arms, and make the grab of the high pop up.
Except, said 7 month old was still in my lap. Instead, an older fellow, got the ball on a couple hops under the seat behind me.
I asked him curiously, if he'd ever got a foul ball before. He said, yeah, this was his second. He had one roll up to him in Chicago several years back.
Me, I'm still waiting. Oh sure, I've got some at high school games, pickup softball games too. But never a Major League foul ball!
Countless times, when on the field before games as a member of the media, I've snagged foul balls, but never as a pure unadulterated baseball fan.
I honestly think today may have been telling me something.
perkout
May 26, 2007
OK, so I appreciate Lucasfilm. I have seen all 6 Star Wars movies. Most multiple times. OK, all, multiple times. Here are my top 10 Favorite Characters in all the installments.
10- Sebulba - I so didn't like that snot nosed marginal actor they had play Anakin in Episode One. I rooted hard for this Tatooine Pod Racing Legend when they duked it out on the course. I still think he got robbed.
9- Queen Amidala - OK, so I might be a fan of Natalie Portman also, but the Queen of Naboo, voted No Confidence in Supreme Chancellor Valorum, and that took plenty of chutzpah.
8- Porkins - From the Death Star battle scene in Episode 4. Played Red Six. I just always liked him because Porkins is so much like Perkins. He's a tad bigger though.
7- General Veers - The most intimidating Imperial soldier out there. Veers blew through the Echo Base defense as if it wasn't even there.
6- Darth Maul - I just love that vision of him zooming across the desert on that hoverbike. Bad to the bone.
5- Kit Fisto - Now that is one wicked cool Jedi. The guy had tentacle dreadlocks for crying out loud!
4- Lando Calrissian - Easily the most suave character ever dreamt up by Lucas. Played to a t by Billy Dee.
3- Lobot - Calrissian's right hand man. If you think about what he did on Cloud City, Lobot might be the most crucial role player in any episode.
2- Luke Skywalker - How can I make a top ten list without including the protaganist. I can't.
1- Admiral Ackbar - Three Words... "It's a Trap!"
ok, I'm a geek.
perkout
May 20, 2007
Haunted by this image for several days now. I was standing in my driveway talking on my cell with a friend of mine, when all of a sudden, across the street, I see a crow, swoop down cawing all the way.
Upon further inspection, I saw the neighbor's cat with a little critter in its mouth.
Nosey, I decided to check it out. Bad mistake. What I found was a baby bunny rabbit. Tiny! It was flopping around, clearly wounded.
My heart sunk. I quickly turned by head away and focused on my cell call. I asked the friend on the other line, what he would do. He told me emphatically, to put the bunny out of its misery.
As I pondered whether or not to stomp my heel on a furry little helpless creature, I saw the Mama Bunny Rabbit. Staring at me on her hind legs, wondering what happened to her little baby.
I was even more sickened. I decided to just flee the scene, when I inadvertently spooked the Mama, which in turn, raced into the woods.
By doing so, I may have cost the baby bunny its only chance to be saved by its Mom.
Now I was more disturbed than ever. Still am! Finally, I saw the crow above me. I could've sworn he was smiling.
I walked away, and let the crow do what he had to do.
I'm certain I didn't kill the bunny, but I sure didn't help its plight. So sorry little guy. Truly.
perkout
May 16, 2007
Ever sit at a computer after having surfed so much, that you don't even know what website to browse?
Well I've got one that allows for a lot more artistry and creativity than Minesweeper or ebay could ever provide. Check out www.jacksonpollock.org
Now just start having fun with your mouse. Clicking and swiping until your masterpiece is complete. When you're done, push the space bar. Totally fun.
It got me thinking though about Pollock and abstract artwork. What makes his stuff so valued? Why aren't my 3 year old's paint swirlings from school art projects as valuable? Sometimes I don't get fine art. I'd love to understand it better though.
Another quandary. Why is Blue Raspberry a flavor? That just seems like such a crock. Hey, kids love blue! We've got to come up with a better flavor than blueberry. I've got it! How bout Blue Raspberry! Totally inane.
And I leave you with one final mystery to solve. How do they get those models' hair so shiny on those Pantene Shampoo ads. Unbelievable. OK. Time wasted. Back to work.
Perkout
May 12, 2007
Tomorrow is Snack Sunday in the sports office. The celebration started in a very tame manner. One Sunday during football season, one person brought in chips and salsa, and things have grown from there.
From there, it turned into everybody back in the office bringing in a snack. Soon after that, we created themes for the weekly food fest.
Sometimes those themes are holiday related. St. Patrick's day, all the snacks were green. But more often than not, the theme turns out to be a way to honor a fallen icon.
When Mr. Miyagi passed away, we had Pat Morita themed snacks. When Breakfast Club Principal Paul Gleason died, breakfast foods were the theme, and so on.
Many of the more popular snacks have taken us back to our childhoods. Pudding snack packs, Uncrustables, Capri Suns, Zebra Cakes and Bomb Pops.
Other times, too much junk food has driven us to do healthy eats, like Ants on a Log. You know, celery and peanut butter with raisins on top.
That was fine and dandy, until we realized the Peter Pan peanut butter we were using, had the serial code of 2111, which matched the recalled peanut butter that was ridden with salmonella.
It's moved on from just the core sports folk pitching in too. One of our news producers regularly brings in white cheddar popcorn, that has been dubbed "crack corn" because it's so addictive. Even Sven has started contributing. His specialty is gourmet cookies from Trader Joe's.
The best are Yen's Mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies though. Yen is my weekend sports producer.
Tomorrow is Race for the Cure day. The theme is Think Pink. That could mean Bubble Gum ice cream and Sno-Balls. Ooooh, this could be yummers.
perkout
ps- sorry for the "yummers" line
May 6, 2007
I see plenty of movies. Soon I may even publish my coveted Top 50 Movies of all-time list.
This week, a newer film, cracked that prestigious list.
Blades of Glory was to me, laugh out loud funny. I don't normally chuckle aloud in cinema theatres. I could not help myself this time around.
The movie about 2 male figure skaters that form a pairs team, is loaded with over the top comedy, and visual slapstick, but where it really shines is its subtle humor, brilliant, but buried beneath the omnipresence of Will Ferrell.
Ferrell is so funny it hurts. On par with Anchorman and Zoolander, his performance, is razor sharp, but also completely filled with unscripted ad-libbed genius.
Tons of cameo performances litter the screen. From Nancy Kerrigan to Andy Richter, there's always something to keep this thing rolling along.
I was stunned to see that the writer of the movie was Busy Phillips. She was the girl that played Audrey on Dawson's Creek. I never knew she had such comic instincts.
I probably appreciated it even moreso, because I got to cover a Winter Olympics, and could kind of get into the whole winter sports vibe.
I'll definitely be seeing this one again.
perkout
May 2, 2007
I'm a sweets fiend. I love sweet food, sweet people, and suites in hotels for that matter, but I'm getting off course. The course I want to talk about is the dessert course. Following is a list of my top 10.
10 Flan- After a good Mexican meal, one that I usually get to be pretty spicy, there is nothing that smooths things over like this bland caramel custard. Totally underrated dessert.
9 Lemon Meringue Pie - I've always been fascinated with meringue. Molecularly speaking of course.
8 Boston Creme Pie- I once alienated my father-in-law for several weeks, ok, maybe several seconds, after I ate too much of his Boston Creme Pie. The best thing Boston has to offer. Including David Ortiz and Ken Barlow!
7 Cheesecake- My Grandmother has the best recipe. The graham cracker crust has to be just right though.
6 Mango Sorbet- When you're in a tropical locale, and you've eaten a heavy or rich dinner. This ranking gets bumped up even higher.
5 Pecan Pie- I lived in Mississippi for 4 years. A dear friend June Parham turned me on to this. Complete gooey goodness.
4 Key Lime Pie- There are many versions of this. Fluffy, frozen, tart, etc. The key is the word key. They must be Key Limes! Substitute limes are like eating fake crab.
3 Bananas Foster- I've always been fond of this dessert, although it's hard to find. The Foster Juice (for lack of knowledge) is good on its own. I could drink the drizzle solo.
2 Ice Cream- I know. That's pretty broad I realize. But there are too many to choose from. None of them ever fail me either! The only time ice cream is junk, is when it's been in the freezer too long, and you can taste the cardboard. Homemade ice cream, even better. Reduced fat ice cream, a waste of my time.
1 Creme Brulee - Forget the Tiramasu, spare me the cherries jubilee, even the chocolate ganache. I am a creme brulee guy. I seek it out, and when I find it, I hone in like a laser. My family even bought me my own torch so I can make it at home.
Dude...what's mine say???...Sweet...what's mine say??? Dude...what's mine say??? Sweet...
perkout