Ree-diculous

Last night we took the boys trick-or-treating in my parents' neighborhood. I was standing on the sidewalk with the stroller while my wife was at the door with our oldest, when a couple of 10 year olds walked by. One of them said to the other "Oh man, I only got a Twix and Ghiradelli chocolate." I couldn't believe it. Not only is a Twix a respectable candy, but Ghiradelli chocolate is some of the best out there. And this kid was disappointed? This also led to me to ask myself a few questions:

1. Who gives out Ghiradelli chocolate on Halloween?

2. How does a 10 year old even know how to pronounce Ghiradelli?

3. What is wrong with kids today when they are complaining about receiving a Twix AND a Ghiradelli chocolate?

By the way, when you visit a neighborhood filled with teenage trick-or-treaters and your son is three years old, people tend to be a lot happier to see a three year old. So much so that they unload the candy into your kid's pumpkin shaped pail. We had to keep unloading the pail into the bottom of the stroller because people decided to "reward" our kid for being younger than the other trick-or-treaters and for wearing a home-made skunk costume. I can't wait to go home tonight and eat more of his candy.

Funny

So, I just updated about the Red Sox and I just found out they won. Great. It seems like justice is served though because the top story on espn.com wasn't how the Red Sox won, it was that A-Rod was opting out of his contract. Take that, bandwagoning Red Sox fans.

Southern California in flames

It's been a long time since I have written in this blog. It's not like I haven't had the desire to, it's just that other things have gotten in the way. You know, school, family, etc etc. Here are some random thoughts:

1. I finished reading "Thirteen Moons" by Charles Frazier last week and I absolutely loved it. I loved his first book "Cold Mountain" and I loved this one almost as much or more. When I read a book that is set in another time period, I'm always amazed at how much research must go into writing a book like that. I guess that's why it takes years to write some of these books.

2. I don't think it's happened yet, but the Red Sox are about to win the World Series. If there was one team I didn't want to win it, it was the Red Sox. I can sum of my feelings in one picture:



Did you see the Red Sox fans' reaction to J.D. Drew's home run? It was like they had been cheering this guy on all season long when the reality is that they had been killing him all season long. Look, the guy spent like four seasons in Los Angeles, so I know what boring, dull, heartless player he is. I'm just saying, don't act like he's your savior because he hits a meaningless grand slam in a blowout game.

Prior to 2002 or whenever they won the World Series, Red Sox fans had complained about the Yankees always winning and spending an unholy amount on marginal talent. Congratulations, Red Sox, you are the new Yankees. You have the second highest payroll in baseball, people all over the country are wearing your team's hat and shirts because everyone loves a winning team, your "fans" are obnoxious, and the majority of people outside of Boston would appreciate it if you would all just go away. I just can't wait for all the Celtics fans to come out of the woodwork now that they might have a respectable team. Sports fans are just funny that way.

By the way, I didn't used to feel this way about the Red Sox. I really didn't mind them until I read Bill Simmons' book and his 8,000,000th column about the Red Sox. I think that is what ruined it for me. There are still a few great things about Boston, namely the Dropkick Murphys (even though they need to zip it about the Red Sox as well), Big D and the Kids Table, and these flamers:



3. Well, after watching a plethora of new tv shows this fall I have decided that none of them are really worth my weekly attention. I guess the most intriguing out of the lot was "Pushing Daisies." The main guy reminds me a lot of Jimmy Stewart. I also still watch "Back to You" and "Cavemen." That's right, Cavemen. It's so bad, it's almost good.

Well, I had planned on writing more, but I can't think of anything else right now. I promise to think about doing better to try to update this blog more. Primero Dios.

Random Thoughts

The worst show on tv that I have watched an entire season of has got to be "Last Comic Standing." You could pick 10 random people off the street in any major city and I guarantee you that they would be as funny as the 10 "funniest comics in the world" that are on this show. Thankfully we are watching the final episode right now and this will be my last time watching any show hosted by Bill Bellamy.

Speaking of tv shows, my favorite two shows this summer were on the USA network. That's right, USA network. The shows were Psych and Burn Notice. Watching Burn Notice at first was a little difficult because the main character was the "bad guy" in Hitch. I love that movie, but I still can't tell if Eva Mendes is attractive or not. Kind of like Maggie Gyllenhaal or Parker Posey. Either way, these are both great shows so check em out.

Bumper stickers are out of control at this point. I've had a few on cars that I have driven. I think my first one was a Link 80 sticker (I still love that band and I even bought the guitar that was used on their last album). Later on I had a UCD sticker and then a Dodgers sticker. Now I just have a Dodgers license plate holder. The first time I ever laughed at a bumper sticker it said "Don't tailgate or I'll flick a booger on your windshield." I think I was eight years old then. The last time I laughed at one it was actually a license plate holder. It said "I brake for Luke Perry." Who doesn't brake for Dylan McKay? I've always wanted one that said "I brake for Zack Morris." Maybe next time I'm at the mall I can go to one of those creepy kiosk and have them make one for me.

Anyway, it seems like there is always some fashionable bumper sticker. You know, Calvin peeing on something, the baby on board signs, NTW, etc etc. There are a couple right now that are a bit irritating. The first is the one that lists every member of the family. You know, it's usually on the back of a minivan and it has five people and one dog on there and underneath it says "John" "Carol" "Daevyd" "Mychael" "Madyssen" and "Smuckers." I'm not sure what is going on with these stickers, but the names of the kids are what trouble me the most. Parents are out of control with the spelling of their kids' names. I have two kids and I'm almost positive that neither of their names will ever be misspelled or mispronounced. I'm sure your kids are going to appreciate having to spell their name out the rest of their lives because you and wife had a brain fart. I guarantee you that these kids with the retarded names will choose names for their kids like "John" and "Roger."

The other bumper sticker fad I've got a beef with is the "In Memory Of..." sticker. At first I saw a couple of them on cars driven by Hispanics. Fine, no big deal. Now they are everywhere, especially on big trucks driven by teenagers. We all know someone who has died, and it really is a bummer, but we don't need to memorialize them with a gaudy sticker on the back of a Ford F-150.

I read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy a while back and I wasn't a huge fan of it. I decided to read "No Country for Old Men" by the same author and I loved it. His writing style is confusing sometimes (he doesn't use quotes at all) but I think it makes you pay more attention to what you are reading. You can see the trailer for this movie at: http://www.nocountryforoldmen-themovie.com/

Now that the Dodgers season is over, I've decided to devote my sports time to my other favorite LA team: the Kings. I haven't paid as much attention to hockey these past couple of years as I would've liked, but I'm rededicating myself this season. My brother and I went to the Kings open house where they held an open practice and their coach explained the drills they were running. It was great and it was probably the only time that I will ever sit right next to the glass. The Kings have a really young team this year with a lot of potential, so check them out when the season starts on October 6. Also, hockey is the best sport to watch live and tickets aren't very expensive.

Eva Longoria kind of has buck teef. I just wish that during the NBA Finals they would cut away from the action to show her more. It's worse than when Vanessa Williams was watching Rick Fox during the Laker playoffs.

New season of Ugly Betty starts this week. It's about dang time. I think the new show I'm most excited to check out is "Life" on NBC, but that's only because the guy from Band of Brothers is in it.

"I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry" "Good Luck Chuck" and "Chuck." When did "Chuck" become go the go-to name for entertainment programs?

Ok, that's all for now. Adios bye bye.

Dancing on the Jetty

I was reminded yesterday by a friend that I haven't updated in a long time. I commented to my wife a couple of weeks ago that I don't think I have been this busy the entire time we've been married. Actually, things are about to get even busier, but I'm not even going to touch that topic right now.

Anyway, so by the end of a day spent typing on the computer and reading drawn out legal opinions, the last thing I have wanted to do is sit down at my computer and type some more. Writing a blog shouldn't feel like a homework assignment, right?

That being said, I will actually do a real update this weekend. I'm not sure what to write about yet, but I probably won't be talking about the new blue retainer that I got this week and am wearing right now (yes, I stopped wearing my retainer and my teeth have moved, so instead of braces they are trying a new retainer. Please let this work because I don't want to show up to court for the first time with a metal mouth).

This entry, which basically talks about nothing, reminds me a bit of when the Chairman of the Fed testifies before Congress, or when a new Supreme Court justice is nominated and has to endure hours and hours of the same questions (Alan Greenspan was a master of "fed speak" ). In both cases, the Chairman or the soon-to-be justice will basically give answers without ever answering the question. That's kind of how I feel about this blog update. I've updated, without really updating, if that makes any sense.

Yo Soy Betty, La Fea

Here's a quote from Entertainment Weekly's review of the first season of Ugly Betty on dvd.

"This audacious twist solidifies Betty's status as the gayest show on TV, in both senses of the word: Not only is it steeped in a queer aesthetic, but there's palpable joy behind the sweet silliness of it all."

That's right, one of my favorite shows has been called the "gayest show on tv." As long as Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, What Not to Wear, and Grey's Anatomy are on tv, Ugly Betty will never be close to being the gayest show on tv.

The reason why I started watching this show is because my wife recognized "Dawn" from the British Office as one of the reporters on the fake fashion tv show. Then she recognized "Maggie" from Extras as the seamstress or whatever she is called at Mode magazine. I figured if this show would go to great lengths to poach two great actresses from Ricky Gervais shows, then I better check it out.

At first, I thought to myself "this show is just too gay for me." Betty's nephew is gay, Wilhemina's assistant is gay, and it seemed like gay was everywhere, but after watching a couple of episodes, either I got used to it or they toned it down a bit. I think I have seen every episode now (thanks to summer re-runs) and I can honestly say that it's one of the best shows on tv. Here are the reasons why I like it so much:

1. The interaction between Betty and Daniel. I can't remember what the guy's name is that plays Daniel, but he does a great job as the sex-crazed editor of Mode. The interaction between the two in the episode where Betty gets a makeover from her sister was great.

2. Vanessa Williams and Rebecca Romijn. These two cougars make the show. Vanessa "formerly Rick Fox's wife" plays the evil Wilhemina and Rebecca "formerly married to Uncle Jesse" Stamos plays Daniel Meade's brother who faked his death only to come back as a woman.

3. The fake telenovelas on tv. If any of you have ever seen a telenovela, then you know how cheesy they are. There were certain times in Guate where every person who owned a tv would be watching the same novela. I think the most popular one I saw was "Sonadores." We'd be walking down the street at 7:30 at night and we could hear the same thing coming out of every house we walked by.

I know that most dudes probably aren't dying to tune into a show about an assistant to the editor of a fashion magazine, but it really is one of the best shows on tv. If you saw "Real Women Have Curves" than it might take you a while to get used to seeing America Ferrara not wearing flesh-toned underwear, but just give it a couple of episodes and it will be worth it.

Foreign Music Friday

Here is another installment about something that absolutely no one (besides me) cares about. For today's pick, I decided to go with Japan. The band is the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, which is an entirely too long of a name for a band. They've been around since about 1985 and in the first video they team up with J-Pop superduo Puffy Ami Yumi to form one of the most uncomfortable collaborations I have ever witnessed. The girls look like they have no clue as to what is going on, or how to dance for that matter. The song starts off a little slow, but it gets better as it goes along. I always get it stuck in my head when I listen to it and then I have to spend the day mumbling lyrics because I have no idea what they are saying. Prepare to be uncomfortable...




This also marks the first Foreign Music Friday where I will include two videos by the same band. I like the following one better because it better represents Tokyo Skapa (and because one guy is playing a trash can and another is playing a tuba). I have no idea what the guy is yelling to the audience in the beginning, but judging by the audience's reaction I think he is telling them that it's important to stay in school and get a good education. Even if you don't like ska music, doesn't it look like you would have a good time at this concert?