Where are my Peanuts and Cracker Jacks?

My elementary school gym teacher, Mr. Fitz, taught me the correct way to throw a baseball.

Sideways, step and throw.

My Dad taught me everything else.

I remember playing catch with him in the front yard in my softball days. He'd always remind me to snap my wrist to make sure the ball actually travels straight. He even taught me "windmill" style when I became my team's pitcher back in 5th grade.

Well finally, I got to see Dear Ol' Dad in action.

My Dad has played on his company's softball team for a long as I can remember. But I think only recently since he's become the resident "older guy" on the team that he really enjoys it. And now that I live back in New York, and my apartment is in Brooklyn near where they play, AND my roommate works/plays for the rival company team, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I'd be behind that chain-linked fence watching him play.

Company softball is a lot more competitive than I ever realized. Maybe it was because they were playing their "arch rivals", but these guys were really into it. The team's coach doesn't go by the "everyone should get a chance to play, it's just company softball" motto, so I had to bite my tongue so as to not yell at him to let my Dad play with the younger, slightly faster guys.

Glee + HIMYM = Dreaming the Impossible Dream?

Instead of making NPH "Towns person #1" in the Lima, OH production of Les Miserables on "Glee" last night, couldn't they have just made him Javert?

Clearly, he already knows the part.



I had a very difficult time keeping my laughter contained while I watched this at work. And Glee should tap Jason Segel next. Or better yet, let's just have one amazing episode where the Glee kids sing all the songs created for HIMYM so far. Awesome!

Going Up...Or Not

"Love in an elevator, livin' it up while we're going down" - Aerosmith

That wasn't my elevator experience this morning. You know your day is pretty much going downhill when you can't go down, or up, in your elevator.

The box full of metal and winding parts started its journey up fine. It opened and closed on levels four and six, but somehow made the decision that, "You know, the 6Th floor is high enough for me today. I think I'll just stay there and trap the one lonely passenger inside."

The doors shut on the 6Th floor, and nothing happens. I thought for a second I was imaging it and I was moving at hyper speed. But that wasn't the case. I tried knocking on the door to see if the person who just got off the elevator was still there, but no answer. I fumble for my phone, but instead I look to the buttons for an answer.

I hit the alarm button:
Voice from inside elevator: "What seems to be the trouble, ma'am?"
Me: "Well, umm, the elevator doors closed and it doesn't seem to be moving."
Voice from inside elevator: "Oh alrighty."
(Doors magically open)

I awkwardly get out of the elevator, while the lady at the front desk on the 6Th floor stares blankly at me. I couldn't get to stairs from that lobby, so I had to wait for another elevator to take me up the last two flights.

I've had nightmares about being stuck in an elevator alone. But usually the lights are out, it's storming and suddenly there is no oxygen left.

But maybe it was the good night sleep I got or the delicious oatmeal I had for breakfast, but I did not panic when the elevator hung in-between floors. I knew I had cell phone service because I've made plenty of calls in there, and I thought it would be a good excuse why I was running late to work.

This little misadventure was the only few moments I had to myself this morning. And it gave me a story to tell before I discovered the insanity that awaited me at work today.

Blogger Fail

I'm a poor excuse for a blogger. See the date of the last post? Opps. Apparently life/work insanity/business trip to Atlanta just got in the way.

Do I have topics in the pipeline? Yes, sort of.
Will I become a consistent blogger? Hopefully, but I can't confirm.

So instead of trying to make something up when I simply don't have anything too excited to write about, I'll leave you with this. (With hopes that it will put the Mets back in first place)

Shuffling Around The Newsroom

I've dealt with a lot of interesting characters during my short time in the working world. Being in a newsroom will give you that opportunity. One person whom I didn't actually work with, but had the chance be "in the presence of" was Politico reporter, Mike Allen.
There is this fantastic article about the illusive, eccentric reporter in the New York Times magazine. Preview here.

The few times I ever interacted with him were:
1. Producing for "Newstalk". He was a frequent guest (it's easy when it's 10 steps from his desk) and would always came up with the best talking points, and he was one of the few guests I would actively pay attention to when I produced the show. Most times, it was a struggle to stay awake.
2. Awkwardly bumping into him in the newsroom. Literally.
3. Walking by his desk and wondering how anyone could get work done (or even fit in it) when there were so many papers, wrappers and other mementos surrounding him. But he always had an open box of some kind of cookie that was free for public eating.
4. (My favorite) Actually talking to him during my weekend shift. I was always curious to know why someone would willingly be in the newsroom at 5 o'clock in the morning on a Sunday. He would shuffle in and out of desks and then would suddenly disappear, like a fart in the wind. He did one time come up to me and said:

Mike: "You shouldn't be here by yourself this early."
Me: "Darryl (in charge of the assignment desk) is here."
Mike: "Oh" (shuffles away)
Me: "Thank you?"

Very exciting, I know. But when you talk to the guy who write the articles that top White House officials, Washington big wigs and news junkies read on a daily basis, any interaction with him seems kinda cool.

The article also inspired me to sign up for his daily Politico Playbook e-mails. Not just because Katie Couric is on the mailing list, but as illusive and "weird" as he might be, he sure as hell knows what he's talking about in terms of the inner workings of our political system.

Big Lights, Big Bridges, Beautiful City

There are few things in life that are better than a long stroll with good company. After an amazing Groupon dinner where Steve and I ate our weight in Japanese food, we thought there was no better way to walk off that food than a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge back to my apartment.

I handed Steve my camera because I'm just too lazy to use all the cool features.

He likes to be all artistic. It's cute.

There are a few things that you don't get to see by just driving over the Brooklyn Bridge:
1. The wooden floorboards that you walk on have small spaces between them, so you can see the lights of the cars breezing under you. Very cool, but also made me start thinking about just how old (and sturdy) this bridge is.
2. The bridge was completed in 1883, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States.
3. The walkway splits as both a bike path and walkway, and the center of the bridge has become a great place to sit and watch the world go by.


We both look a little like deer in headlights. I blame the building lights, and the random stranger who took the picture.

So perfect. Makes it really hard not to fall in love with the city.
Hey DC friends, wanna visit/move here? Look how pretty it is!!

Happy Tax Day! (Now Give Me My Refund!)

Happy April 15Th to all! Hope everyone filled out their taxes correctly. I apparently owed the Commonwealth of Virginia $17. Why? I have no idea. All I know is I'm never filing in that state again! (Heck, it's not even a state!)

Anyway, if you're strapped for cash and desperately waiting for your refund check, here's a list of free stuff being given away today. Coffee from Starbucks always tastes a little better when free.

And if you're one of those last minute tax filers, enjoy a little income tax propaganda, courtesy of Donald Duck.