Just Because This Is Funny

I'll bet A-Rod is laughing his A-SS off.

Got Something (W)right

After all the blather about sign-him/trade-him, the NY Mets have inked David Wright to a long-term contract...reportedly around 8 years, $138MM. That includes this upcoming option year.

So all you naysayers and Yankee fans can stop with the whole "too much" argument. The Mets will make back that cabbage in #5 Jerseys and Mrs. Wright t-shirts. For the Mets fan, it's finally a commitment to doing something that the fans want. And while you can't build a team around fans' wishes, you have to draw them to your ballpark and get them jacked about your team. That wasn't happening putting a AA infielder or utility guy in the lineup. That's already the OF situation.

On to Dickey. Then maybe somebody who can play OF. Or catcher.

Goodbye Van

After getting some calls and meeting the most interesting people in my quest to sell the Baseball van, I met a really nice guy tonight who looked at it, drove it, and bought it. For the asking price.

Why can't everybody be like this guy.

So the van has left. I am a little sad. But it's done. Time to move on.

And Now For Something Completely Different

So the Baseball Van is up on craigslist awaiting some new owner. Got a bunch of calls and texts pretty quick. One guy would appear to be in the Russian Mob, while I exchanged texts this AM with "Mike".

First "Mike" (who OSSS said looked like Dracula) asked if I would come down to his neck of the woods, about 50 minutes away. Uhhh, no.

Then he asked some stuff. If you know me (and you all know you want to), you know I am honest and fair, almost to a fault. Told him it had a little dentage in the back and the wear and tear of a 10 year old minivan that was used to haul kids to every sporting event known to man. What was best price for cash? Gave him a fair number.

Asked that I not show to anyone else so he could take a ride up. OK. 'Meet you at noon' I say.

Now, my BAD-A team of 6th graders had a practice so I asked "Mike" to meet me there. He calls me at 11:40 or so to ask me again if I was wasting his time. Told him that I guess that depends on whose perspective we are using.

"Mike" shows and takes a look and look. Says that these vans start to go at 120K miles, which I retort "since it has 82K on the ODO I guess we ok. Checks the engine with an important look at the dipstick. Gives me a couple of head gasket tips. Thanks.

So here we go. He puts down the prop bar for the hood in wrong spot. Then closes hood. Now the hood is stuck in a really bad position. He asks if this has ever happened before. I tell him that only when he did it. I get unstuck. Show him that he laid prop bar right in closing mechanism. He says it must have "jumped up".

So here's my question "Mike": If you can't close a hood properly, do you think I have any confidence that you knwo anything about engines.

Anyway, I guess "Mike" thought I would drop my drawers on the van and offered me about 25% less that what I said. Have a nice ride home "Mike"!

The Politics of Turkey

Not the geo-political issues that plaque that Mideast country but the all important "how ya cooking it?".

First let me say this; I am not the biggest fan of turkey. If I could find a 20lb. chicken I think I'd cook that instead. It would undoubtedly require a tremendous beer can. But turkey it is.

The traditional route is to drop it in a pan and put it in the oven. Old-school purist turkey cooking.
Next up is the old deep-fryer, Larry the Cable Guy way of cooking a bird. Every year you hear happy stories of yahoos getting 3rd degree burns from fryin' and drinkin'. Nice.
My way, the SoulSlam way, is too use my Weber grill (I have the Cadillac of grills). A little indirect method of cooking and the victim comes out moist and juicy.

It also is the perfect place to grill my loin of pork as well...because turkey is just OK.

Last way...drive to the local sit-down restaurant and eat. Easy yes, but no leftovers to enjoy.

Van for Sale

So after a multi-year partnership, my 2003 Chevy Venture will be cleaned and posted for sale this weekend. The "baseball van" as I like to call it drove me and my family (mostly my boys) to games far and near. It was a trusty mode of transport.

Tomorrow I will gather all the sports equipment, CDs, and assorted stuff and make it zippy. Remove the last of the window decals. And put the sign in. $3000 and it's yours.

So you know, I now drive a 2005 Chevy Tahoe. I think I'll limit the sports equipment at this point. Boys getting older and everything.

Like a Ghost

That's me. With regards to this portal of integrity and truth. I apologize.

After the long power outage, where I tweeted a million angry words (140 characters at a shot) I have barely typed. I must be in a low phase.

But now on to the interesting stuff...I got a haircut (after 16 weeks, I've changed my go-to brand of suds to Landshark, basketball practices have finally started, we got a new (pre-owned) Lincoln MKX. That's all right now.

Too Good To be True

SoulSlam family just called me at work to tell me power is on...not sure if they are messing with me or not.

Fingers-crossed. Again.

Now on Day 8

You read that correctly...day 8 with no power.

I don't live in the backwoods. Or an island. I live in one of the most populated counties in NJ. And we have...no power.

Not really sleeping much, even though I'm in bed by 9PM. Got a bit of a cough starting and the stress of not knowing when this will end is giving me eye tics. On the plus side I think I lost a couple of lbs. since I have very little appetite. I have curbed the casual drinking because I think that once I start I won't want to stop.

For the record - JCP&L and FirstEnergy suck.

Day 4.5

So power went out at 8PM or so on Monday October 29. Today is Friday November 2. Still nada.

Hope Medieval times don't become panic times.