Trolls of NJ

Good thing this is in SOUTH Jersey!

Deadline

The non-waiver trade deadline ends at 4PM EST - and how is it the Mets have nada to show for it? They are an incredibly frustrating team to root for, but root I do.

And the news across the bridge is that the Evil Empire will snap up Lance Berkman to be the DH for the rest of the season. Way to go.

AAARRRGGGHHHH!

PS - Vince Shlomi is back on the tube this morning sellin' the Slap Chop. I guess his legal issues are over.

Speaking of sellin' (or stealin') - have you seen the one with Montel Williams running the shim-sham on people of little means. Now, I don't want to say that he's on there to appeal to people of minority status, but he is. Screw you Montel.

Resume Tips

Here is a public service from SoulSlam.

I've had to wade through a few resumes lately to fill an open slot in my group at my company (both shall remain nameless). And while I am doing so, I came up with some tips to help you in your job searches. In no particular order

1. Don't state your proficient using the internet. Based on the job your applying for, I can assume that. Unless you really need to get that line-item in.
2. Don't state you have been continuously asked for help in "crafting" e-mail blasts because of your writing skills.
3. Keep any mention of membership in LARP groups or other nebbish endeavors a secret. That is until you get the job and show up at the office in a chain-mail vest.
4. Spellcheck is pretty much a standard now. At least on a resume. And don't forget the grammar check.
5. I never believe anybody who states they were the top salesman of the _______.
6. Saying you are familiar with social-networking sites is a red flag for slacker.


Your welcome.

Day Off

I'm at that point where I gotta use 'em or I lose 'em at work. So I'm off. Boys are at camp, going to an NJ Jackals ballgame - so I can maybe catch up on some stuff around the house; gotta patch the driveway, get rid of some stuff at recycling, etc.

Got a haircut first thing too. I'm like movie-star good looking right now.

As long as the movie star in question is Ernest Borgnine.


(Note: SoulSlam is definitely better looking. I was self-deprecating!)

RIP Jack

Jack Tatum, who was arguably the most vicious player EVER in the NFL and part of my beloved Oakland Raiders dies to day at the age of 61.

The guy was tremendous.

The Range

Let me begin by saying I am not a golfer.

Anyway the story goes like this:

My oldest was invited with some pals to spend the day at Great Adventure, a Six Flags joint somewhere south of here. So when I got home from toiling in the salt mine yesterday, I took my youngest to the driving range. He likes whacking balls around, so I thought it would be fun.

Get there, it's one of those duplex ranges, so we're going up top. Bought a large (115 little fellas), rented some hoopdy driver for me (his was gratis) and away we go.

YSSS (Youngest Son of SoulSlam)hit 'em pretty good. He's 9, so we don't need to get crazy yet. I haven't done this in about 10 years or longer, so I was pretty surprised with my drives. I was probably averaging 150 yds and getting as far as 200 on some. Little shankapotomus at times but what the hey.

Maybe with a real club I could gain some air. Beat on a few golfers. That would be nice.

Went to Sonic after. First timer I am. I guess "no mayo" is a suggestion when you order.

Forked Tongue

So I was watching some Yankee Baseball on YES on Saturday when the immortal (right!)Michael Kay decided to tell the TV crowd that it was another "sellout at the stadium". Problem is they can't mask the seats behind home plate that are empty! How do you 'splain that Mr. Kay!

Then they didn't like the call on Texeira at 1B to end the game; but a couple of nights before when Posada got the call in the Yankees favor at home plate, that was all good.

How long until A-Rod* (asterisk attached) gets to 600!?

Evil Empire!

Dismal

The All-Star Break came and went and the Mets went west for a NL roadtrip. Four in Frisco, three in the desert and four in LA-LA land. So what do we have to show for it? Let's think...

A 2-9 stretch

One game over .500 now

The lowest number of runs scored since ASB (just over 2 per game!) in the majors

No decent trades coming apparently

A lot of empty seats at CitiField no doubt

A GM giving a vote of confidence to the Manager. Both should go.

Is Beltran and Castillo like Typhoid Mary? They come back, the bats get cold, and the losses stack up.

AAAARGHHH!

Summer Pool Oh Boy

Been a while since I gave you a critical update on the pool, AKA the best place to be in North Jersey in the summer!

Don't really know why, but the pool has been virtually crystal-clear since early on, with little chemical interaction - just some chlorine and shock periodically. Every once in a while some alkaline to balance and it is beautiful.

I hadn't cleaned and vac'd the pool since the day before I was dragged to Japan, so I got up early this AM and did the do. Once around with the vacuum and then it was time to swap out filter cartridges - been a month and I like to keep on top of that. So I drained the tank and pulled the filter. Most times, it is pretty green and ready for a bath. Today, it was barely dirty - kinda strange, first time that has happened.

So I just took a 90 minute float in the mid-90's heat. Nice.

Downtime

11U Team lost in the playoffs vs. a neighboring town by a score of 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th. We are done. Finito.

9U Team has a couple of scrimmage games left so we can play until the end of the month.

So what am I to do? Last year I was bored by Aug. 1 and wanted to get back out there. This year, the parental units I had to deal with have basically deadened my enthusiasm. I have some decisions to make about next year and how involved I will be with two teams. Tick-tock.

So I will watch MLB on TV, work with my two sons/players to better their games and relax a little. I think I earned it.

Youth Baseball Update

9U concluded season at 5-7 and I consider it a success. They played well for the most part and really did a good job.

11U made playoffs as the #5 seed (our of 8) - this is a good team that sometimes doesn't perform to the best of their abilities. Playing 1st round tomorrow so we will see what's what.

Season is almost over.

U.S.A.

Back to the home of the brave, land of the free. Nice.

Here's final trip home stats:

Door to door - 30 hours

Time spent in Narita Airport - 12 hours
Time spent on plane - 12.5 hours
Time spent in line at customs in EWR - 40 minutes

Movies and shows I watched on planes:
The Book of Eli (pretty good)
Penn & Teller (Showtime Series)
All The President's Men (classic)
Insomnia (never seen it before)
The Hangover (ditto)

Tried watching Shutter Island as well, but couldn't focus, so off it went.

Still Life

And still here...

Watched Storm of the Century on DVD on the laptop while I wait, and wait, and wait.

Countin' Chickens

So here I sit at Narita Airport, about 4 hours in...my flight has been delayed so I have about another 7 hours to kill. Continental tried to buy me off with a 100 yen ($10.60) food voucher.

I will be sending the food voucher to the CEO along with some choice words.

Countdown

Sitting here, 3:41AM Saturday morning in Osaka...been up for about 2.5 hours. Day begins for real at 5:45AM with a trip to Itami for the flight to Tokyo, then a very long day at Narita until my flight leaves at 5PM local.

I will be home in about 26 hours...finally. Can't wait to see the tribe.

Cultural Puzzle

So I ate at an Italian restaurant in Japan last night. Interesting. Couldn't bear to use chopsticks with the salty angel hair.

Countdown to leaving the Land of the Rising Sun is on. I feel the U.S.A. calling my name.

Sleep Deprivation

From wikipedia:

Sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder characterized by having too little sleep, can be either chronic or acute. Long-term sleep deprivation causes death in lab animals.[1] A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain.[2] Approximately 50 to 70 million Americans are reportedly affected by sleep deprivation or other sleep related disorders.[3]

Or you can visit Japan. I am getting about 3-4 hours of sleep and waking at the ripe old hour of 2 or 3 AM. And the CNN you get here isn't the CNN you get there. So I am cruisin' the laptop, watching whatever movies I brung and going stir crazy.

Enjoy a classic from Cheap Trick Live at Budokan

Word Association 2

Hot -
Muggy -
Humid -
Creepy -
Corny -
Stinky -
Weird -

JAPAN!

Got the best vending machines though!

Live From Japan!

Ever see Lost in Translation?

Long Flight

Tomorrow, going to Japan. Not my idea. My work's.

Anyway, leaving Sunday, coming home next Saturday. Fly to Tokyo then to Osaka. Return trip is a doozy with a 7 hour layover in Tokyo Narita airport.

Fingers crossed I have 'net access. Check back.

A Good Reason to Study Hard

Love this picture.

Tough to be a Cleveland fan these days I guess.

SMACK!

SMACK! to the Knicks!
SMACK! to the Nets!
SMACK! to the Bulls!
SMACK! to the Cavs!

The King took the easy road - it will be incredibly funny if Miami can't roll through everybody next season. And I can't wait until Wade and LBJ go at each other.

Bosh is now the Horace Grant of the Heat. He'll be demanding a trade around Dec. 15.

Cleveland is the place to be for bonfires right now.

Bigtime Ratings

King James will have a special on ESPN tomorrow night announcing where he will make his kingdom next.

Word is Wade and Bosh have agreed to sign with , so LeBron has a decision to make by Thursday night.

Staying put.

The Heavyweight Champ

Just saw this:

Bob Probert, Dead At 45



Toughest SOB to ever lace up skates. RIP.

Back to the Grind

LOOONG holiday weekend over, back to work today.

I'm heading to Japan on Sunday for a week of meetings in what will undoubtedly be a small, cramped, humid room. Can't wait. And the 13 hour flight is a bonus.

SUPER hot here. T-meter hit 100+ yesterday in North J. Gonna be hotter today.

Ballgames every night. Season is coming to an end quick. 9U is 2-4 and 11U is 2-3. Winnable games this week, so we gotta play better.

Stay cool.

The Greatest?

The MAN goes today against the Mets at 4PM or so.

Should be interesting.

As for the name of the post. Time will tell.

Dozen

So where were you twelve years ago...

SoulSlam was at the hospital for the birth of my oldest. So the young man is 12 today, and he is my best friend (along with his brother) and the reason I do what I do everyday.

Happy Birthday #46. Love Dad.