Today was gratifying

Today was busy, gratifying, almost complete. I loved my job today, even though I made my first phonecall at 8:30 a.m. and my last one at 9:30 p.m., and then took a call from my editor probably 20 minutes after that.

Maybe it's wrong of me to enjoy what I do so much on days like today. I covered the aftermath of a homicide and a political story. But they felt meaty; weighty; good.

I did not work out and breakfast was a little fatty, but overall I had light meals and healthy ones, to boot. Only problem is it's 2 a.m. and I'm still up! :)

Matt and Kim, "Lessons Learned"

They're just the cutest...!!!



I would do this in Times Square, too. Provided I could keep my socks on until the end...

Merlin's Rest and french fries in malt vinegar, plus some

I discovered a new great food stuff tonight, and yes, it's worth any corresponding fats and greases...

French Fries. In Malt Vinegar. With mint sauce (light oil-based sauce, not the creamy kind). And ketchup.

Went to Lake Street pub called Merlin's Rest for its two-year anniversary. It was the owner's birthday and my friend's birthday, all rolled up into one. Good times...!

Mixed results

I gained a pound.

Or something like that. Every scale gives me a different result. The one at work tells me I'm 164 lbs. The ones at the gym tell me I'm 169 before my workout, 167 lbs. afterwards...

That would suggest I'm actually about 168, perhaps?

Which means ... no change at all.

I haven't really been working out more than once or twice a week, if that, so I have no reason to complain, I guess. Though weight gain while I am trying to lose weight is / would be depressing.

Sigh...

I need to break out of my funk. I wish I'd read more today / tonight. I did get to the newspaper and the gym, and an important errand. But still, my weekends are not productive enough. Gotta enroll in a class or something...

25 saddest songs of all time?

I won't pretend to know all these songs, but here's a list I found of the 25 saddest songs of all time. I certainly agree with some of these, like BRICK by Ben Folds Five, and Jeff Buckley's version of HALLELUJAH.

Listen here:

http://www.spinner.com/2007/05/04/the-25-most-exquisitely-sad-songs-in-the-whole-world-no-11/

Tiny parents

Can't sleep. I was, er, in the bathroom and a few simple lines came to me. I made some tea, munched some food, and came upstairs. Now I'm trying to recall them, and it's not coming out anywhere as crisp and clean. Here's my best effort at remembering:

Tiny parents, OR: At 32, 64, and 67, respectively

When did my parents become so
small, I don't remember this of them. They are as short now
as they were once endless.

My nephew, who is 3, kisses the white t-shirt holding my father's belly
and says, "Big tummy." I remember holding him there,
and wondering if he were Santa Claus.

Some eternal magic, a happy mystery,
this great love that does not end.
I was too young to understand
that they do.

Joyride (I saw the film)

Man, this video brings back high school memories. Not that high school was fun for me, but still, there's something about musical nostalgia... the song that transports you to another time. I saw this late 80s/ early 90s alt-rock Boston band called TRIBE, briefly, at the second-ever Lollapalooza concert, circa 1992. They disbanded a couple years later, it sounds like.

Their breakout song was "Joyride (I saw the film)." Here it is on MTV's alternative music show, "120 minutes"...

Weight loss?

Hmmm... I weighed in today at 167 before my workout, and 164 after... That would suggest a quantifiable drop from my previous weight of 168 - 171. Or at least a pound.

That said, I kinda fell asleep before 8 p.m. last night and missed dinner, and then left the house without breakfast (as usual) this morning, and then had a grilled chicken salad from Arby's for lunch. There was a mini danish, half a donut, a brownie and two cups of coffee in there somewhere.

So the 1-lb. drop is probably a result of an empty stomach. But I'll take it!

I celebrated by downing two beers, and fish and chips smothered in malt vinegar at Merlyn's Rest. What can I say? I'm a bad boy...

Bleecker Street Theatre and Rumspringa

Hey theatre fans! My friend's play, "Rumspringa," just got extended to early May in New York... so he partied like a rock star with Hugh Jackman (aka Wolverine) this weekend.

Here's his note:

Date: Monday, April 6, 2009, 12:32 PM

We've been extended through May 2nd, so come join us any Thursday, Friday, or Saturday at 8pm through April. There's plenty of B-Dog Magic Big Gulp to go around.

www.amishrave.com

here's the plot from the Web site:

WHAT IS A RUMSPRINGA?

Rumspringa is a rite of passage for many Amish teens describing a period where they temporarily break away from the church and it’s teachings to see what life is like “on the outside” of the Amish culture. Periodically “Rumspringa” gatherings occur in cornfields at night where Amish (and non-Amish) adolescents congregate. At these gatherings, many of the Amish teens wear “English” clothing, drink alcohol, and some participate in illicit drug use. The idea of such gatherings was the inspiration behind the new Off-Broadway play, “Rumspringa".

SYNOPSIS

On a cold December night, 57 year old married software executive, Steve meets 28 year old surfer, Brandon on Southwest flight 1049 from LAX to Chicago. Brandon is on his way to visit a love interest, Cecily, an expatriate riverboat casino blackjack dealer living in Joliet, Illinois. Meanwhile, an ominous rave party is percolating in a nearby Indiana cornfield - organized by a large group of rebellious Amish teenagers. These events set the stage for "Rumspringa", a dark comedy that explores the temptation in all of us to see what it's like on the outside of our own lives - and what can be gained or lost through such an exploration.

history

“Rumspringa” was workshopped in Chicago at Victory Gardens Theatre and at HB Studio in New York City. In October, 2008 it was performed in the public reading series at the Geraldine Page Salon in Chelsea. The play begins Off-Broadway previews on January 29, 2009 at the Bleecker Street Theatre and opens on February 11, 2009.

Childhood rock heroes vs. Sen. John McCain

I sought out an Irish rock band I was in love with a long, long time ago in the sixth grade -- the Waterboys -- and much to my surprise, discovered that Mike Scott, the lead singer, is not only alive and well, but he's apparently become a bit of an artsy techno-fan.

He updates on Twitter at least 3 times a day, or, as you can see below, nine times in 2 1/2 hours. And unless Twitter is recording his posting time inaccurately because of the different time zone, he's an early riser!

Read up from the bottom. The first TWEET is about Liam Neeson... the rest is directed directly at ex-presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain.

http://twitter.com/MickPuck


Messaging Twitter central to complain about "chisel-chinned fraud" (ie his minions) being able to retroactively delete my messages to him.8:13 AM Mar 19th from web

@SenJohnMcCain Now do us all a favour you chisel-chinned fraud. Retire. Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine. And shut the feck up.7:38 AM Mar 19th from web in reply to SenJohnMcCain

@SenJohnMcCain Your answers to Steph yesterday were the height of arrogance. 'I wouldn't do this/that..' You LOST the election, charlatan!7:36 AM Mar 19th from web in reply to SenJohnMcCain

@SenJohnMcCain I still meet people fooled by yr concession speech. 'Great speech' they say forgetting all the vile bilge that went before.7:35 AM Mar 19th from web in reply to SenJohnMcCain

@SenJohnMcCain Incredible how you can pontificate on issues w/ straight face after almost foisting Palin on the world. Shameless old fraud!7:34 AM Mar 19th from web in reply to SenJohnMcCain

@SenJohnMcCain Very impressive how you've repositioned yourself as "Mr Principled Guy" after your despicable, ugly, desperate campaign 08.7:34 AM Mar 19th from web in reply to SenJohnMcCain

@GStephanopoulos As for you, ya twit, how you can appear on TV with yr face uncovered after the 2008 Prez debate is a profound mystery.7:30 AM Mar 19th from web in reply to GStephanopoulos

@senjohnmccain I still meet people fooled by yr concession speech. 'Great speech' they say, forgetting all the vile bilge that went before.7:02 AM Mar 19th from web

Morning coffee walk. Thinking about Liam Neeson. Met his missus same year I met mine, knew her same length of time. Very sorry for him.5:42 AM Mar 19th from web

New York Times to Boston Globe: We can close you like that! Poof!

Well, this is depressing. The New York Times Co., owner of the Boston Globe, is threatening to close Boston / New England's biggest newspaper if the unions don't concede to pay cuts.

New York Times threatens to close Boston Globe

Here's more depressing news, from local quarters:

MediaNews, the Denver-based owner of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, has been slow in paying off its debts. Skipping debt payments was a strategy of the Pioneer Press' main competitor, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, just before declaring bankruptcy.

MediaNews skips payments