Happy 40th to Me!

The night before my birthday, it was Two Tom's time. It was my first time there since my 35th b-day. 

(picture by Sujan)

Speaking of my 35th, Beth gave me a shirt of me from that night five years earlier. I wore it the next night at karaoke. Thanks Beth!

Thanks honey for organizing the whole weekend!

This picture perfectly sums up their karaoke styles.

The after party was at Montero's. I can't believe it was my first time there.

The next day we went bowling with the boys and then it was the Oscar Party. Per my request, Marc saved me a seat with my shirt. I came in second because I picked Spielberg to win Best Director. This defeat hurt even worse than the time I lost the pool because Shakespeare in Love beat Saving Private Ryan.

(picture by Balgavy)

Some Thoughts on Some Fall TV Shows

The Walking Dead
The prison stuff and weirdo town was more compelling than the Shane is a bad guy on the farm story line. So there's that.

Boardwalk Empire
Season 3 was so good - my favorite one yet. Those last few episodes were so jam packed with action and crazy stuff. I was wondering where things were going to go after the big developments at the end of Season 2 but I have no problem where they went.

Treme
Another show hitting its stride in Season 3. I don't know if the show is better than it was or if I'm just so into these characters now that I enjoy each moment so much more.

Park & Recreation
The Washington DC stuff was funny. The show keeps staying consistently fun.

South Park
Ever since that play opened on Broadway, this show has not been as good. I skipped most of these episodes after watching the first 5 minutes.

Last Resort
I liked the first episode but then decided to give up. Anyone end up watching this show?

Homeland
A big disappointment after the first season but I'm hopeful the next season will be better. The last episode might take care of a lot of the problems of Season 2.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
How does this show do it? It is consistently inventive and hilarious. They somehow find new ways to make clever new twists on what should be a tired formula.

The League
Speaking of tired formulas, this show is pretty hit or miss. I'm not sure how many mediocre episodes into the next season I'll give it.

Power Pop Refrigerator

Idea by Otis
Spelling Help by Listmaker
Execution by Otis

Seen Through The Eyes of Fourth Graders

Last month, I was asked to pose for a portrait to be drawn by half of my class. Behold the wonder!

I sat on a chair on top of a desk. I kept my hands in my lap.

Angry Listmaker.

Listmaker as James Mercer

I remember when I used to be that thin.

GI Joe Listmaker.

Matt and Liz's Wedding

Huzzah!

Before the reception, some drinks.

Sweet & Sour

Two people very excited about my upcoming 40th b-day blowout.

A sharp dressed Balgavy.

Two people very surprised that I was about to cut a rug.

Matt kicked out the jams.

Good times.

Multitasking Larry

Love (Under Construction)

I Went on a Mix Tape Road Trip and All I Got Was a Big Ice Cream Cone

Ten years ago, Jeremy and I went on a monumental mix tape road trip.

This past summer, we took a 3 night 10th anniversary stroll through VT, NH, and ME. We caught up on some of the mixes made from the past ten years but we didn't even make it all the way though. No big deal. Our pace has slowed down quite a bit so it is nice to have some left for the next trip - whenever that will be.

This was the kids' size.

After the ice cream, this cat wouldn't leave us alone.

Don't mess with this guy.

We broke some rules this time and listened to a mix not in the car. Beer for breakfast.

This place was touted the best view on the East Coast.

Hey! It's Keith Olbermann on the 7 Train!

On the way home from a Mets game this summer, I noticed a man who looked suspiciously like the unemployed Keith Olbermann. Neither Marc or Erik noticed. 

It was on this night that Ichiro had been traded to the Yankees. Erik showed me a tweet from Olbermann that he thought was funny. I nonchalantly responded something to the effect of "That's funny and by the way, Olbermann is sitting right over there."

Erik did a brief double take. He couldn't believe it. He held up his phone to compare the profile photo with the real man.

Erik tweeted at Mr. Olbermann.

Within seconds of hitting send, Olbermann immediately looked up from his phone to see who had tweeted at him. He kept looking suspiciously at the guy sitting across from him. But he was wrong.

Three times, he looked around the train looking for the culprit. Erik and I kept laughing at the absurdity of the whole situation. Marc had no idea what was going on, "Come on guys! Tell me! What's so funny? Guys!!"

Finally Keith noticed us and we acknowledged that it was us. Keith gave Erik a salute and we all went back to our phones like nothing had happened.

If there was any doubt, Keith was at the game, his feed says it all.

A few days later, I was reading this book to Otis and Sam and I found Olbermann in the book - right down to the finger pointing and the the usage of the indignant "Sir!"

For details and pictures of the game itself, check here. You won't be sorry - it was Star Wars night at the ballpark!

Summer TV Haikus

Louie
Best show on TV
Original and unique
Long hiatus? Wah!

Breaking Bad
A couple missteps
Did not matter in the end
Can't wait for finale

The Newsroom
Stupid, stupid, dumb
Did not last one episode
Sujan watched it all

Wilfred
Almost quit watching
Happy that I stuck with it
Surreal and sublime

The League
Watched all three seasons
Sophomoric and silly
A lot of fun though

Damages
Caught up on Netflix
Season 4 so jumped the shark
But Season 5 looks cool!

Exit Polling

On Tuesday, I took my class exit polling. Back in 2008, I took my entire class on a Primary election day. I was hoping to take them on the Presidential Election day but my old school always held parent-teacher conferences on Election Day.

This year, I split my class into two half groups. I led one group and my associate teacher Ella led the other group. Each group went to one West Village location. Ella's group went to the Wall St area where they interviewed cops, construction workers, stockbrokers, foreign tourists, and Julianna Margulies. They also got interviewed for an article in the Downtown Express.

My group went to Clinton Hill - my old stomping grounds. We were interviewed by a French documentary crew. Perhaps one day, I'll be able to see the footage from this day.

I chose the West Village for obvious reasons- my school is there. I chose Wall St. because even back in 2008, Obama only got 62% of the vote there. Clinton Hill went something like 98.5% for Obama in 2008.

The very unscientific results ---
West Village
Obama: 299
Romney: 68

Clinton Hill
Obama: 135
Romney 5

Wall Street
Obama: 68
Romney: 49
 
 I loved doing this for the second time and I hope to do it again next year for the NYC mayoral race.