Pittsburgh: Day One

I got to see Jim Thome hit a homerun into the river on a fence. Then I saw a game winning homerun in the bottom of the 9th and the end of the Pirates 13 game losing streak.

Pittsburgh buses are dumb. Sometimes you pay when you get on the bus, sometimes you pay when you get off. It is some weird tribal custom I think. Bus drivers in this town get snippy if you don't know the code, yinz.

Jack and I kept trying to convince his friends Mike and Emily that a good middle name for their son, due in September, would be Pops - after former Pirate great Willie Stargell. How great would it be to call an infant by the name Pops?

Sometimes Summer Dan writes checks that Regular Dan can't quite cash. But I had to help Jack and Kara celebrate their last night in their house before moving to N.C. tomorrow. Hangovers in Pittsburgh are somewhat cured by watching World Cup action.

Tonight - another Pirates game after watching Italy - Ukraine in an Italian neighborhood. Then it is Jack's last show with his band.

Tomorrow I'm flying to St. Louis to meet Balgavy and Hot Tub Eric.

Things I've Learned In the Midwest

1. Don't blog about Indiana and say bad things about it. If you do, you will end up at South Bend in the middle of the night not able to book a room because the trimester has ended and all the kids are getting picked up by Mommy and Daddy. Not only that but you will have to drive way past South Bend to find a room. In fact, you will have to literally cross into Michigan (albeit by a few feet) to get a damn room even though all of the other hotels at the rest stop are all in Indiana.

2. Don't try to take a nap at the Cultural Center in Chicago. Security guards will tell sleeping Stone Grooves to wake up.

3. Stone Groove is easily the person most afraid of getting caught in the rain that I've ever known.

4. The Country Inn in Macedonia, Ohio does not have ESPN 2. No matter how much one pouts, this fact does not change. But the Applebee's in the town does. And if you ask nicely, they will put it on for you. But sometimes, it might be better to not always get what you want because of this sort of thing.

Tomorrow - Stone Groove and Turtle Power head back to Maryland after dropping me off in Pittsburgh where I will get a chance to hang out with Jack and Kara in their last two Pittsburgh days before moving to NC.

Indiana

No disrespect to my gracious hosts in East Chicago, IN but I can't say that Indiana is one of my favorite states in the Union. Maybe I just haven't seen the right places yet.

Summer Dan Soft Launch

Before I depart for baseball adventures unknown, let me give you the happy recap of last weekend. Many of the pictures of the party were taken by Youthlarge.

Saturday
It was The Buddha's 1st Birthday Party! It is a time for traditional Korean attire - at least for the baby.

Rumi and The Buddha



Charlie and The Buddha

It is a Korean custom on one's first birthday to choose your destiny in life by picking from a number of different objects. These objects include a pencil which represents academia, a dollar bill, a stethoscope, and noodles to signify a long life. In this case, a golf club was also included as a joke.

Will The Buddha be the next Michelle Wie?



The Peanut didn't like having to wear the hat either.

The harmonica playing greatly added to the singing of "Happy Birthday."

Tomato Time


We left Jersey and headed for Clinton Hill for a barbeque at a friend of The China Latina. There was some old time music played and some great grilled meat. It was a good time. My favorite line of the night was when Ezra and I got roped into a conversation about how bad the Yankees' radio announcer John Sterling is. The dude's comback? He said, "Baseball is boring. I can't take three hours of it. I need the snappy one-liners." Dare I say, typical Yankees fan?


For Jim's pictures of the barbeque, click here.

Sunday
Mets Game
David Wright hit a grand slam.

Then we headed to Flushing for some Korean World Cup action.

Movies
Almost a goal.
Goal!

Korea tied the game and it was an exciting finish.

Mooney loves waterfalls.

Erik loves Korean lawsuits.

After some R and R back at home, it was time for The Gate with the visiting Barry.

Summer Dan bids you adieu. Maybe there will be posts in the next two weeks, maybe not. Who can tell? Summer Dan sure can't.

Soca Warriors

Ezra, Mooney, and I went to Sugarcane for the World Cup on Tuesday afternoon.

Hey, look I'm experimenting with You Tube! But for some reason when I added the video, it acted all weird. So I'll just post the
link.

Alas, the good guys lost.

Come One, Come All

Summer Dan '06 will be officially unveiled this Thursday night. While the writer of this blog usually does not write in the third person, Summer Dan is a whole other matter. Summer Dan will be getting the summer started off right by taking in a U.S. World Cup match at 10 am, followed by a Mets game at 1, then some drinking at Gowanus Yacht Club around 6:30 pm. Then Summer Dan would love to see you at The Gate at 8:30ish.

Don't miss out because the next day, Summer Dan embarks on a two week baseball trip (first with his dad and sister) and then will meet up with Balgavy and Hot Tub Eric in St. Louis to embark on Baseball Trip '06. If it all breaks right for Summer Dan, he will go to 18 games in 19 days at 15 different ballparks in 9 states (including three Mets games in New York). This might even be a little much for Summer Dan so come see him before he gets too tired and cranky from all of the baseball.

A Slow Time For the Red Sticker Collection

Youthlarge Brought These Home
Tapes 'n Tapes - The Loon, 2006
Grandaddy - Check
Pixies - Check
Pavement - Check
Arcade Fire - Check
Memorable Songs? - Um, not really

Mission of Burma - The Obliterati, 2006
I know that I lose a whole hell of a lot of punk rock points for not being enthralled with this band. I mean, I like "Academy Fight Song" as much as the next guy, but there's just something about this band that leaves me cold. Plus, the 20 or so year layoff of the band didn't exactly do any favors to what were already less than stellar voices. Granted, I like plenty of bands that can't sing. However, there's just something about these guys' voices that just don't do anything for me. I love the unassuming nature of this band and everything that they stand for and I don't actively dislike them or anything but I rarely end up in the mood to listen to one of their records, especially the last two. There. I said it.

The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers, 2006
Not the best thing ever as some would lead you to believe. But a pleasant diversion nonetheless. That Jack White has got a bit of talent, doesn't he?

Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies, 2006
Why oh why have I forsaken Dan Bejar for so long? His voice grated on me and his New Pornographers songs were my least favorite. But I began to fall in love with him a little seeing him play with the New Pornos last year as he staggered on stage for his songs, drink in hand. And then this. I love this record. From the ten minute opening "Rubies" to the Neil Young like ending, I can't believe that it has taken me so long to join the Destroyer bandwagon. Fascinating lyrics, guitar solos that aren't wanky, sterling melodies, what else could a Listmaker hope for? Plus, Bejar sports the best hair by volume in all of indie rock.


Irma Thomas - After the Rain, 2006
Irma is getting a lot of press after Hurricane Katrina. I wish her success on this album. But I don't think I'll be grooving to this too much this summer. I'd rather listen to her 60's stuff and leave this one to Letterman.

Calexico - Garden Ruin, 2006
I don't have all of their records but of the ones I have, this one is easily the most "song" oriented. Their time with Sam Beam has obviously paid off in trying to write a more straightforward record from beginning to end. But is that what we want from Calexico? This record is pleasant and good all around. But I like their last record a lot more. This is a nice rainy day listen whereas their last record had more of a get wasted, run around in the desert in the middle of the night, and howl at the moon feel.

Grandaddy - Just Like the Fambly Cat, 2006
I liked this band as much as the next indie rocker back in 1999 but, wow, this band has gone out with a whimper. There are a few okay songs on here but overall, this album is either really boring or the songs are too long, completely bad lyrically (meow, meow, meow?), or just all around not really worth bothering with. Although I do like that in the liner notes, Jason Lyttle mentions bibimbop.

Mates of State - Bring It Back, 2006
This is a band that always has sort of been on the periphery for me of bands that I hadn't really bothered to listen much to. But I gave this new record a shot and lo and behold I liked it. Catchy. I like the keyboards. I've always gotten this band, The Fiery Furnaces, and Quasi all mixed up in my head but this band clearly comes out on top for me now. I like the male-female vocal interplay. Although I did just see an interview with them and they are so damn in love with themselves that it detracts from the record a little. Not necessarily in a Mark Robinson kind of self-love but they clearly think that they are hot shit. Overall, though, I do like this album of fist-pumping jamz for the pocket protector crowd.

Mogwai - Mr. Beast, 2006
I love getting every Mogwai album because I enjoy them all but I don't think I'd ever go out of my way to buy them. Their latest is yet another good one. Some vocals, some loud ass shit that combats my neighbors' salsa parties quite nicely. All in all, I can deal with this album well enough.

Actually Purchased by Youthlarge
Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis, 1969
What is there to say? A classic album. Completely enjoyable. However, I would say that the large amount of bonus tracks is a little overwhelming. I'm a big believer in an extra CD for the bonus tracks. I'd rather have the original 11 tracks by themselves. Oh well, just a small complaint. This is the album Chan Marshall wishes she could make.


Actually Purchased by Me
Sharon Jones and the Dap - Kings - Naturally, 2005
Chris Mooney commented upon receiving Listmaker 2 that he'd like to hear Ms. Jones do some slower jams. Well, here's the album for that. Her version of "This Land is Your Land" is a definite highlight. While neither of her albums quite live up to the live experience, they tide me over quite nicely until the next time I can see her again.

Borrowed and Burned
My Morning Jacket - At Dawn, 2001
I keep defending this band to the likes of Chris Larry but I've got to say -their latest doesn't blow me away and neither does this one. Too fucking long.

Gifts
Stevie Wonder - Pleading Baby Please
Jeremy gave this great Two Cd best of that he put together from his vinyl collection to me awhile back. Youthlarge was listening to it the other day and complained how crappy the sound quality on it is. We have an official best of collection with many of the same songs. However, I trust Jeremy's selection enough to give him the nod over some suit. Yes, it does sound like shit. But so did the sound quality at Memorial Stadium back in the day which half of these songs remind me of. Which makes me sad about how song selection at baseball games these days ain't quite as grand.

I Am an Astronaut
Dance Party With the Brilliant Bugs!
Team Plumley is always good for stellar mix CDs. These two are no exception. The first is a CD that Super Dad made for Phoebe. Great songs like Sam the Sham doing "Old Mcdonald, Toussaint McCall doing "If I Had a Hammer", and James Carr's version of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." Dexter Redding, the Harlem Globetrotters, the Who, and the Banana Splits. What more could a kid want besides perhaps her own blog? Youthlarge can't get enough of Little Eva doing "Makin' With the Magilla" and my class became obsessed with the title track, a strange oddity of a song. And you haven't really heard all there is to hear until you hear the Village Soul Choir doing the ABC's. Listen here.


The 2nd CD is one that Amie made for her class as an end of the year gift. Some of the same jams from Phoebe's mix grace this one as well. Plus there are other notable tunes like the song that always get Mooney's ass in a groove ("Let's Dance" - Chris Montez), "Funky Robot" and a song by Sha Na Na!

Random Sports Thoughts

1. How amazing is that the soccer team representing a country whose leader is a Holocaust denier (Iran) played its first game in Nuremberg?


2. While watching some of the World Cup action, I've decided that in most cases, two hours for a sporting event is perfect. Part of the charm of baseball is that a game could go on for hours and hours. There is nothing more tense than an important game that goes extra innings. However, I've seen way too many 9 inning games that go three and a half sluggish hours - in fact I think 50% of them are Orioles vs. Yankees games. How great is it that you know a game will be over about two hours after it started? Baseball games used to be much shorter years ago and I wish they were shorter today. I still like to blame Tony LaRussa.

3. If Roger Clemens isn't implicated in the next few months in this human growth hormone thing, I will change my blogger profile to one of these images at some point in 2006. You can hold me to that.

I think I might be sick.

Clemens and a shirtless Joe Perry!

This picture was the first image that appeared when I typed in "Roger Clemens steroids" into Google images.

I'd love it if Jeter were implicated but I think the most egregious thing he's probably done to enhance himself is to put in green eye contact lenses. I have no factual basis in making that claim but I'm sticking to it.

Maine Wedding, Part II

Time to get some English Drink On (Even if the Groom Thinks He's Scottish)


Yes, that is a box full of homemade ice cream sandwiches next to a chocolate fountain.

Frau Random Doubt and chocolate.

A Happy Weasel

A Happy Weasel's father with a moustache from the Treasure Hunt


Weasel's half-sister who is even more trouble than this picture would suggest.

Weasel and Weasel's friend who is even more nerdy than this picture would suggest.

The kid on the right really fucking hates Jimmy Buffet.

Weasel and Country Mouse cut a rug in the grass.




Youthlarge emulates Marilyn Monroe.

Weasel's dad shows the kids how it's done.

Mondale and Weasel reminisce about some arcane event from 1989.

A man completely comfortable with his sexuality.

Congratulations Weasel and Country Mouse!

Mr. and Mrs. Random Doubt

Mondale didn't find it all that difficult to blend right in with the Maine uppercrust.

Dinnertime in Maine usually requires a bib.


For more wedding related info:

1. The Wedding Blog
2. Mondale's takes here and here.
3. Youthlarge writes about food here and here.

Another Reason to Choose Pat's

I was tipped off to this by Jeremy who wrote, "Can you believe this?!?!? I'm glad you are a Pat's patron. Geno's is for fucks."

Bistec con queso? Not at Geno's Steaks.

An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.

Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno's — which together with its chief rival, Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area described as "ground zero for cheesesteaks" — has posted small signs telling customers, "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING `SPEAK ENGLISH.'"

"They don't know how lucky they are. All we're asking them to do is learn the English language," said Geno's owner Joseph Vento, 66. "We're out to help these people, but they've got to help themselves, too."

Vento, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said he posted the sign about six months ago amid concerns over immigration reform and the increasing number of customers who could not order in English when they wanted Philly's gooey, greasy specialty — fried steak, sliced or chopped, in a long roll, with cheese and fried onions.

Of course, it's not as if native Philadelphians speak the King's English either. A Philadelphian might order a cheesesteak by saying something like, "Yo, gimme a cheesesteak wit, will youse?" ("Wit," or "with," means with fried onions.) To which the counterman might reply: "Youse want fries widdat?"

The traditionally Italian community near Geno's has become more diverse over the decades. Immigrants from Asia and Latin America have moved in, joining longtime residents and young professionals seeking reasonably priced rowhouses. In the past 10 years, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Mexican immigrants — many of them here illegally, community leaders say — have settled in South Philly.

Vento said his staff is glad to help non-native speakers order in English and has never turned someone away because of a language barrier.

But the policy has "really upset a lot of a people," said Brad Baldia of Day Without An Immigrant, a coalition of immigrant groups. "For some people, I think we're just going to say, `Le gusta Pat's.'"

Juntos, a Hispanic neighborhood organization, said it plans to send people to Geno's to try to order in Spanish and may pursue court action, depending on what happens.

"His grandparents encountered the same racism and the same xenophobia," said Peter Bloom, the group's director. "Why would he begin that process over again?"

Vento said he has gotten plenty of criticism and threats. One person told him they hoped one his many neon signs flames out and burns the place down, he said. But he said he plans to hold his ground.

Customers placing orders on a recent morning seemed unfazed.

Angelica Marquez, 22 and originally from Puerto Rico, ordered in well-spoken English, but said some of her relatives struggle with the language. "They always come and just say `cheesesteak,'" Marquez said, adding that the policy "bothers her some" but not enough to keep her away.

When a non-English speaking customer showed up at the window a short time later, a clerk patiently coached him through the process. Eventually, both said "cheesesteak."

Vento, a short, fiery man with a ninth-grade education, arms covered in tattoos and a large diamond ring in his ear, also sells "freedom fries" to protest France's opposition to the Iraq war. He rails against Mumia Abu-Jamal, the black man who was convicted of killing police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981 and has become a cause celebre among some death penalty opponents. Memorials to Faulkner are posted at his shop.

Those who market the city, often using images of Geno's and other famous steak shops, are watching with concern.

"I certainly wouldn't want a national audience to think it represented all of the wonderful cheesesteak makers in the whole city," said Meryl Levitz, president and chief executive of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. "This isn't representative of the Philadelphia attitude."

Competitors are seizing on the controversy.

Tony Luke's issued a statement saying it welcomes all customers "whether or not they speak a `wit' of English."

And a manager at Pat's, Kathy Smith, said of Geno's English-only policy: "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. I'd rather listen to the Spanish than the foul language of the college students."

Weasel and Country Mouse Get Hitched: Kilts Optional

Over Memorial Day Weekend, Mr. and Mrs. Random Doubt, Youthlarge, and I headed to Bar Harbor, Maine for the good times.

If you haven't seen Mondale in awhile, I think he weighs less than me now. He's been eating well and running regularly. So, naturally, he had been fantasizing for a long time about fast food. In fact, in the weeks leading up to the event, that is all he talked about. It almost seemed like his old bud Weasel was merely an afterthought compared to Burger King.

So Many Choices


After a stop in MA for the evening, we continued our journey on Saturday. Finally, we arrived in Bar Harbor after some food mishaps. Weasel came right over to visit.

The view from the second floor.

Sunday: The Day of the Wedding

A family of Weasels: Little brother, the cousin of Weasel, and the Weasel himself stroll in for brunch all Reservoir Dogs style.

After brunch, it was sightseeing time. That Bar Harbor sure is purty.




Wedding Time

Love the Volvo and Mondale's floating head.


If you are going to have a wedding near the water, it is only polite to provide for the guests.

Mondale contemplates whether or not he needs the mosquito repellent or if he was man enough to withstand the charms of Mother Nature without it.

The Happy Couple (Not really them.)

Heading to the Spot

Waiting

Bagpipes and the Bride

I've never been to a wedding before where the father of the bride walked his daughter down the aisle (or muddy path) and then turned around and married her. Pretty awesome.


More pictures are here and here. Food reviews are here, here, and here.

Next installment - Pirate Time