Lost

Oh, second post today? You lucky townsfolk!

So Fantasy Football league, the BFL wrapped up this weekend and...SoulSlam LOST in the championship game!

Now my team, D Minus had a rough season. Could never get anything going, and squeaked into the playoffs with a losing record and the last placement in the seeding (#7). Won game one of the FF playoffs, went to semi-finals and beat the season winner (only 2 losses) handily. Went into this weekend feeling pretty good and my whole team let me down. It was a bad weekend all around for my team. So I end up in second place, which is IN THE MONEY! in my league. After league fees I should still get a couple hundy.

The Day After

Christmas that is...

So Christmas Day has come and gone, SoulSlam is at work on Dec. 26th. Quiet here. Got some work to do so nobody can bother me. Awesome.

Holiday was good, had four days off over weekend, where did they go so fast?! BWSS enjoyed her gifts, the Sons of SoulSlam made out like bandits and it was very merry. We've got an tremendous cold spell going right now so it's time to layer up.

BWSS is having her annual holiday-ish party this upcoming Saturday...last year SoulSlam wasn't feeling 100% so I bartended and did not partake. Made for a nice next day. Who knows this year, maybe it's time to get my drink on.

The Amazon Effect

There is something mystical about the way Amazon gets me my packages as quick as possible. Case in point, the BWSS gave me a hint about something she wanted for X-Mas. It was from a Sharper Image catalog. Problem is, there are no more Sharper Image stores. So what do I do? I look on Amazon for a comparable item. I find it. It's about 40% cheaper. So I order on Thursday afternoon around 2PM. It arrives Saturday morning! How do they do that?

Rating The Terminator

The Terminator is one of the GREATEST SERIES OF MOVIES EVER!Here's how SoulSlam ranks them:

The Terminator (1984) - This is the behemoth that started it all. SoulSlam actually saw this bad boy in a movie theater. It was awesome. One of the greatest sci-fi/action movies of all time. Maybe the greatest. "I'll be back!"

The Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) - James Cameron comes back and makes The Terminator the HERO! Holy crap! That's awesome! GREAT MOVIE!

Terminator Salvation (2009) - I know, I know...you may disagree. I liked it 'cause it was a little different. Dark.

Terminator Genisys (2015) - I did like this one. I thought the jumps through time and recreating the scenes from the OG and #2 was cool. I also thought that it was a little confusing. I did NOT LIKE MAKING JOHN CONNOR THE BAD GUY!

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) - Not good. James Cameron out. It had mixed reviews. I'm not a fan.

FYI: I'm not ranking or mentioning TV shows. The Terminator belongs on the big screen. He's WORLDWIDE!

Politics aka the New Scumbags

SoulSlam is American.

As an American, SoulSlam thinks in a right/wrong kind of way. Not along party lines.

And now more than ever, the party lines are f*cked. And I could write an anthem of sorts but I won't, because I believe in the FIRST AMENDMENT so you can believe what you want to believe.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Fill In The Blank Night (Redux Redux) OG Post a Long Time Ago!

So what did you call it when you were a kid? The night before Halloween I mean...

In my neck of the woods, we called it GATE NIGHT - and people give me a quizzical look when I say that name. And apparently, the yuppies and new citizens of my little slice 'o' heaven in North Jersey have won out because the kids call it GOOSEY NIGHT, which I always found a little fem. But c'est la vie, right?

So I started asking people at work, around town at the Shop-Rite, wherever - "what did you call it oh so long ago?" So here is a list:

GATE NIGHT

GOOSEY NIGHT

MISCHIEF NIGHT

EVILS NIGHT

CABBAGE NIGHT

HELL NIGHT

Let me know if you have a good one. Funny, I had a friend named Flanagan and he called it 'same as every other night - and I still have to get me Da' at the precinct house!'. Poor Flanagan.

And a word to the wise... even though I've grown up, I still play the game tonight. On defense. Like a Jack Lambert, but better looking.

The Way Things Change

It's might sound apocalyptic or cryptic or some other ic...but what SoulSlam is talking about is pretty important. Coffee.

Now, SoulSlam used to drink a boatload of coffee. Regular like we order here in the North J. That means milk (or cream) and sugar. Bordering in light and sweet I'd venture. Then I realized how many calories this milkshake was causing. It was eye-opening. So SoulSlam took a "coffee-sabbatical"...for about 18 months. I'd have a cup every now and then (black).

So a year or so ago, I started drinking black coffee - BWSS bought a really nice coffee-maker I use on occasion. The coffee at J-O-B is pretty rank so I would pick up some at corner deli in AM. Then it happened...

SoulSlam tried the "flavored" coffee. They have one a day. Now I was always adverse to this type of brew, but now, since I drink it black as night, it's become my go to (as long as it's not hazelnut). Strange.

Autumnal Heat

We've been having some ~90 degree days here in the North J, which is fine when the calendar says July and August, not so much when it's almost Rocktober.

Add to this the fact that SoulSlam can't remember the last time we had any rain of any measure and its a dry, hot one here. Pool is still open (closing next weekend I think).

I Was on Vacation

16 years ago today when the Towers were hit. Boys were wee-men so we could go on that after labor Day vacation to the Jersey Shore to save dollars. Plus it was still summer weather without the crowds. We rented a condo in Wildwood and I remember having the TV on and...

I wrote a lot more for this post, but I just hit my back button and deleted it all.

God Bless. Never forget.

"Harvey"

I don't want to sound like a know-it-all, been there, type of typist...but where I come from we have our fair share of flooding. In 2011 we had Irene, that basically brought water, water everywhere near my home. And we were not displaced, like these poor folks in TX and LA. But I can empathize with the despair and hopelessness they feel, from just the way it affected me. Help if you can.

DONATE to RED CROSS

Sometimes "Bittersweet" is Best It Can Be

So vacation over. During vacation, OSSS had a freak accident that resulted in a bad injury to forehead and eye area. But after some time, he will be ok with no permanent injury to his eyesight. So we get that miracle somehow.

Small things matter, big things too.

Countdown

To vacation. T minus 3 days.

What Happened?

back in the day, SoulSlam played in bands (hence the name)...and listened to a lot of music. It was a dream to make it a profession. Alas, it was not to be. That's OK.

As it happens, music took less and less of an importance in life with marriage and kids and career and making the ends meet. SoulSlam has not had a traditional stereo in years and years. I have my Sirius radio in the vehicle. I have my iPhone (which blows lately) and my iTunes. But I still have loads of CDs and vinyl...

So recently I've been listening more and more and interested in digitalizing (is that a word?) music. Problem is the really old stuff is mostly on vinyl, which is basically useless for my endeavors. So I've walked into a couple of places that may/did/used to sell music. Places like Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart, etc. And they have about 38 CDs in stock and it's none of what I want. So where did all the music go?

It got SoulSlam thinking. Now obviously you can stream or buy on iTunes or someplace. But where is the music, the bands, the kids/fans? When I see what I assume to be kids listening nowadays it's not rock. It's some pop/hip-hop thing. It's pretty troublesome. Everybody is a model. Everything is planned to perfection. It's sad.

But the record companies have nobody to blame but themselves. Boom!

The Beantown Post

A few weeks ago I mentioned the Men of the House of SoulSlam we're going up to Boston for a game and then coming back. Mission accomplished.

We've discussed a trip to Boston to see the Red Sox for a few years, but the boys summer baseball schedules, then work and vacation had always gotten in the way. With OSSS now in college, the door for my moments with my sons before they are gone on their won is slowly closing. So the boys picked a game and we went.

Now about the game: it was Game of Thrones night at Fenway. I do not watch GoT, but they do. The upside was a sweet limited edition Andrew Benetendi GoT bobble head.

Drove up, left the 07035 around 11:30 AM or so, smooth sailing all the way in. Gassed up right near the park, then drove over to Pru Center for special Bosox game parking. $18.00! Had to walk about a mile but that was cool. We walked through the Back Bay (past McGreevey's!) to Fenway. What a place. The oldest park I guess I've ever been at was at Yankee Stadium, so this was cool. We wandered about waiting for the 5PM entry (we got to go in early). Had a slice of pizza at a place called Sal's. Big slice. Not a NY/NJ slice though.

Went inside around 5PM or so. Got in and it was the scene from The Town! As a matter of fact they have a tribute to Fenway in movies display inside. Anyway, we had Grandstand seats, which apart from being the most uncomfortable seat I've ever sat in was still pretty awesome.

Now, remember we were going up and coming back? About 10 minutes to 7, they lay a tarp on pitcher's mound. Then they announce there will be a rain delay, big tarp on field. Game is delayed an hour to 8:10 or so. OK. Well the game was a 3-3 tie and going no place. Back and forth. Some really exciting baseball. My valiant sons decided we should skedaddle in teh 8th inning, since they had to work the next day and I had at least a 3.5 hour drive home. We walk back (!) to Pru Center and get on the road about 11:30 or so. At some point on some south-bound highway, OSSS wakes up in back seat, looks at his phone around 1:15AM and says "game just ended". They went 15! Wow.

Now besides the memory of the trip with my sons, I did get a treasure. Across Yawkey Way (which is shut down during the game so you can leave the stadium and go across the street. I checked out the Red Sox Team Store. And in the store was one of my favorite Sports Illustrated covers ever of the ultimate grinder, Jonny Gomes. Enlarged and autographed! Had to have it!

POSTSCRIPT: We pulled into driveway around 3AM. I got about 2 hours of sleep. YSSS had a 16U game that night, I was afraid he would be super-tired (I was)...he was 3-3 with 3 doubles, two RBIs, 3 runs scored and a stolen base. Big game!

It's Friday

And here I sit at the J-O-B waiting for the quittin' bell to ring. Tick-tick-tick.

Anyways it's mid-summer in North J and the weather is what the weather is. We had a storm the other day that featured hailstones. Sweet. Right now we're sitting at about 85 degrees and humid. Looks like we are in for a cool down over the next few days.

August is vacation time for the House of SoulSlam...that's something to look forward to. Going to FLA (we like it hot!). Gulf coast.

Some summer TV shows you should catch:

Broadchurch (season 3)

Snowfall

Animal Kingdom

Twin Peaks: The Return

The Sinner (haven't seen but I will)

Power

Mets are not too good. Will be at Citifield manana for Dodgers-Mets game. At least one of them are awesome.

The Gym

At this point, the gym I go to is my social life I think. And I go to a gym where I know a handful of people (on purpose). So ipso-facto I guess my social life is sad. My lifts are pretty incredible though.

Summer Baseball Over

Well that was interesting...

Summer baseball is over for YSSS; he played on a 16U team (mostly made up of HS teammates) and an 18U team. All in all, he played really well, competed and, most importantly, got his confidence back. Neither team was a killer...SoulSlam did his best (as Asst. Coach x 2) too instill some baseball into these young men. Enjoyed coaching the 16U team; if you ever see SoulSlam at a HS game I am far away, not anywhere near the dugouts. Too many of those parents if you ask me. Good bunch of kids...not too much baseball knowledge so it was a learning experience for many. The 18U team was the remnants of last fall's 16U team. They brought on a bunch of HS seniors in the spring that apparently stopped playing HS ball. IMO, it's because these guys couldn't/wouldn't fit into a team. HC is a good guy, but the last couple of games I came to there was another guy there that was the quintessential "rec coach". In the immortal words of somebody "I've forgotten more about baseball than this guy will ever know". If he's around in fall, we won't.

Highlight of season was last game for 16U for YSSS: three (3) doubles in three (3) ABs, stolen base, two (2) RBIs, three (3) runs scored. Great day at plate.

Trip To Boston

Roadtrippin' to Fenway on Tuesday with the Sons of SoulSlam to catch a game amongst other things. Never been so it should be fun. Driving back after the game so it will be a looooonnngggg day. Report to follow.

The Home Run Derby

Always a highlight of the #ASG festivities, the HR Derby is for kids of all ages. And the mythical beast, Judge won last night. He did have the advantage of always going last so that is a bonus in itself. But you gotta hit the dingers, and he did. A couple balls came off his bat to the opposite field which I figured would be a little flare to RF, but they would go over the fence. He's strong folks. I'd still take Cody Bellinger though.

But that's not the point of this randomly inserted post. It's the utter chaos of ESPN's commentary. At the mikes we had: Karl Ravith, mildy annoying announcer type; Mark Texeria, ex-ballplayer, close to stupid type; and my personal non-favorite, Jessica Mendoza, supremely annoying, I played softball so I'm an expert on baseball, screaming Mimi type. Between these 3 idiots I had to repeatedly MUTE my TV. How anybody could make Chris Berman seem reasonable is beyond me.

Twin Peaks The Return

Eight episodes in and I'm pretty sure that David Lynch is insane. The 8th episode was so over the top crazy that I thought I was watching dome drug-induced hysteria.

We've barely been in Twin Peaks. Haven't seen Audrey Horne, only a single scene with Bobby Briggs, etc. Cooper is bad and Cooper is dumb (Dougie). Harry has cancer apparently and his brother Frank is the Sheriff. This show is, as they say, off the chain.

Summer Baseball

YSSS aka Rizzo is playing for two teams this summer. The first is an 18U team playing in a wood bat league. The other is a 16U team comprised of mostly his HS teammates. More on that later.

18U is an extension of team we played with last fall...but over the spring they added some HS seniors who were not playing HS ball for a myriad of reasons (mostly coach related from what I gather). Anyway, he has rejoined in summer (and fall) as a 16YO HS Soph. We had a short practice the other night and Rizzo was rocking the balls to deep OF...which I saw the 18YO players were pleasantly seeing. Apparently the younger players in Spring couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.

The 16U team is basically his HS team. Now I could write a book on how unhappy I was with this team this season and how YSSS was used. But that's in the past. Anyway, I told the guy organizing (I guess you'd call him the head coach) I'd be happy to help out of needed. So what do we get? The HC was "unavailable" this week so I ran a practice (7 players attending) and then we had first game last night. SoulSlam was the only coach in attendance. And better yet, we had 8 players! Sweet. We fought hard, but 8-9 errors, plus a WP and two passed balls kind of killed us. Rizzo had a good game though. 1-3 with and RBI Double and 2 runs scored. Played 1B which wasn't plan for the evening until we had nobody to play 1B. Oh well.

We'll make it work I guess. I have only so much time with YSSS until he goes off to college so I will make best of any opportunity I have.

It Will Be Hot From Now On

At least that is what it looks like. It's been chill for last week or so. And that is playing havoc with my pool, since the chlorine rarely activates when it's kind of cold. So I will be like Mr. Wizard starting tonight after the gym to keep it shipshape. Make no mistake, it's not in dire straits, but you've gotta keep on top of these things. Going to party manana for a young man who joined the USMC, he's shipping out in a few days to basic. Known this young man since he was 7-8 yo, he's a good kid, hope he does well. YSSS made his Conformation last night. I think he's relieved the long journey is over. Mets are not where I want them to be, standings wise. Or playing wise. I'm drinking a Monster Lo-Carb as I type. Work is over in 2 hrs and 41 minutes or so. Then I go get my bi-weekly haircut. High and tight, zero on sides and back. Swell.

Is Summer Coming?

We had some really hot days last week ( 3 of 'em!) in the land of North J...but overall it's been a pretty cool May. Forecast for the foreseeable future features temps in the 60's and 70's and rain...awesome.

Memorial Day is this weekend so we've got that to look forward to.

OSSS is back from college, and his truck (my Tahoe) has been AWOL as a pal is working on brakejob. He does work on the side and apparently replacing the brakelines on a 2005 Chevy Tahoe is a bear. So I've been letting the kid use my Lincoln MKX during the day, after he drops me off at the J-O-B. I'm a good guy.

HS Baseball season done for YSSS. It was a struggle this year, mostly due to HC and his use of the player. But he soldiered it as best as he could, and seems like a new kid now. Thanks for that because he was rough living with for 6 weeks or so.

I deadlifted 385 lbs. last week. I'm a beast.

Wow.

RIP.

We Got AC!

Now the House of SoulSlam is about 117 years old. It's an old house. Nice house, but every project is a major project. The bedrooms upstairs have plaster walls. We've done over the bathrooms (2.5), the kitchen, added a deck, hardwood floors, new basement (thanks random hurricane), etc. The one thing we never had was central AC.

So every year I would put 5 or so window units in various rooms. One is about 12,000 BTU and H-E-A-V-Y. It would usually be a half day project to get them in, shore them up so they were level and stable, and get them going. And I would never put them in in April or early May, it would typically just be 88 degrees one day so here we go.

Anyway, it was pretty hot. We didn't have units for the some of the upstairs bedrooms or main bath, so that would be sweltering in the North J summer. Rough livin".

We had looked at central AC many years ago, but remember, the house is 117 years old. So there is no ductwork. So that was gonna be a challenge. A big one. So this year we decided to check it again. And the AC guy and our regular contractor came up with a plan. A semi-expensive plan, but the house would be 1) cool and 2) increase in overall value. So we went with it. Nice.

It's All Relative

Basically from where SoulSlam is standing there's some HS Daddyball going on at YSSS' school. Which makes me terribly sad/mad. All gets even in the end I say.

Opening Day!

Like Christmas in April!
YSSS aka Rizzo and SoulSlam made the sojourn to Citifield yesterday for the NY Mets home opener. Decent weather, big crowd, lots of fun. And the Mets are the studs of opening day! Even in the miserable years when the won about 50 games a season (well it seemed like it), they would usually win the opener.

From NorthJersey.com:
The New York Mets have one of the best records in baseball history on Opening Day, winning 62 percent of their initial games. The team has managed to do that despite losing eight of its first nine opening contests..

Now let's see where the rest of the ride takes us!

Lions and Lambs and Devils

We've had a March that features absolutely terrible weather. Not all that unique, but colder than normal and last week's mid-March blizzard has certainly thrown spring sports (HS & youth) into a turmoil. Not too many scrimmages available with snow everywhere. Finally some sunshine and temps around 50 degrees will help, but fields will be sloppy for a few days after. So HS baseball in particular may start with most teams never having been on field in at least one scrimmage.

YSSS' team is in that boat. Supposed to have three scrimmage games this week, but that's gonna be a no-go. Might get one in next week if all goes well, or else it's an away game on April 1 for the start of the season.

Right now he's not sure whether he'll start in OF or at 3B. The coach did say he was gonna catch some, so I have to go out and get him some catching gear (he's grown out of stuff I had). Cha-ching. He's a beast. On the Devils!

Blog Me A River

Haven't been in this neck of the woods in some time. Twitter and I'gram are my choices these days. But this is where SoulSlam started so I come back around when I can.

OSSS is a collge frosh. Pledging a frat. Bodybuilding. Doing pretty well. Coming home for spring break in a couple of days so it will be nice to see him home. I do miss him.

YSSS aka Rizzo is a soph now in HS. Playing baseball. Started on varsity as a frosh, now I'm telling him to step up and be a leader. Kid's lifting weights like a madman. He's awesome.

SoulSlam? he likes to go to gym and get his swole on. Married to the Beautiful Wife of SoulSlam or BWSS for short. As I said in last post, #IAMBLESSED!

#TBT

I am #BLESSED

That's Why You Play To The End

If you saw what I saw you know what I'm talking about.

Week away from pitchers and catchers. At last!

My Enemy: Bread

SoulSlam has been pretty good at exercising regular-like for the last three years. Put on a lot of muscle and made some body-type changes. So beginning in June last year I started a cut...and in 5 months dropped about 30 lbs. But around December I kind of decided to eat around maintenance (2200 kcals a day) and see what's what.

Now I know calories in, calories out (CICO) is pretty much the only real factor in weight loss/gain. But a funny thing happened. Starting around the holidays I started eating bread again after almost 6 months of very little. I'd have the occasional half a bun with a burger...maybe a piece of rye toast. But I cut off bagels (they are good in NJ!), rolls, sandwiches really. So what did I notice a few days ago? I've gained about 5lbs!.

It doesn't really show since I'm pretty muscled up, but it definitely bothered me. Mostly because for months on end I denied myself to lose weight. And it took months. But in a few short weeks I gained some back, and I was definitely not overeating by any means. I track most meals so I was pretty much at TDEE everyday. So I think it's the GD bread. SO off I go on another cut, no bread allowed and see what happens. Lunch today was 4oz. turkey, 2oz. swiss cheese and 3oz. baby carrots. I will be in an aggressive state shortly with this type of diet. Stay tuned.

The More You Know

Been feeling a bit off, stomach-wise going on almost 2 weeks. Laid low a weekend ago, I still am getting some queasiness here and there. I hear something is going around. Great.

Yesterday I left work feeling like a wet dishrag. Got home, BWSS made some nice chicken parm that I partook in. Then YSSS wanted to go to gym. Since he's 16 and has no DL that means I go too. Now I go 5-6 days a week so it wasn't some unexpected trip. But I could have just as easily rested. But went I did. International Chest Day is Monday if you don't know; but I grinded and grinded and next thing you know it's 7:30pm and we've been here 90 minutes. Time to go. I did feel a little better. Weird.

2017 & Something to Be Thankful For

Is here. Happy New Year.

I was thinking about what makes my life complete, and it is my wife and 2 sons. SoulSlam is the man he is because of them.

I am blessed.