So Bruce Willis is reprising his role of John McClain in the newest saga of the Die Hard Series. Have always been a huge Willis fans since his days on Moonlighting when he had a tad bit more hair. I knew then he wasn't long for the small screen, so when the first Die Hard came out I was excited and well pleasantly suprised. Hard to believe it's been 12 years since the last Die Hard episode, and well I am ready for some more John McClain.....Yippie Kay Yay Muther Fuckers!
Oh and my favorite quotes from the Die Hard Series comes from Die Hard with a Vengence, the combination of Willis and Samuel L. Jackson as "Zeus" is priceless.
[McClane hands Zeus a gun]
John McClane: You know how to fire one of these?
Zeus: No.
John McClane: No?
Zeus: Hey, all brothers don't know how to use guns, you racist motherfucker.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Some Good PR
This story on Maggs appears in the July 2, edition of ESPN The Magazine
Fully healed, Ordonez flourishing for Tigers
By Jorge Arangure Jr.
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)
Updated: June 22, 2007
On consecutive days recently, Jim Leyland peered into the Detroit Tigers clubhouse, turned to his right, in the direction of Magglio Ordonez's locker, and boisterously yelled, "Magglio!!" as if he had seen his right fielder for the first time in years. On the second day this occurred, Carlos Guillen, who sits next to Ordonez, playfully wondered why he did not get the same greeting. Perhaps if Guillen had posted similar numbers as Ordonez (.383-13-67), one of the leading MVP candidates in the American League, Leyland would be compelled to yell for Guillen, too.
Magglio Ordonez leads the majors with a .383 batting average.
"It's the Mags that I know and I remember," Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield said. "I know he's been hurt with his knee. Everybody around the league knows it. But I always knew Mags was an MVP caliber player every year."
Ordonez is healthy now, healthier than he has been in years as a result of a radical and experimental knee surgery not well known in the United States, and not usually performed on baseball players.
To fix an ailing knee that would not heal because blood had stopped circulating to a certain spot on the bone, Ordonez, after the 2004 season with the Chicago White Sox, went to Austria, Vienna to have shock wave therapy performed by Dr. Wolfgang Schaden.
"It was not an easy decision," Ordonez says. "I visited with more than 10 doctors in the United States and none of them could give me a concrete answer about my knee. So I had to make a decision quickly because I was going to be a free agent and I didn't have a job."
The shock waves caused microfractures, which allowed blood to circulate to the injured area of Ordonez's knee. Ordonez's once renowned opposite field power now finally has been restored.
"The difference I saw after playing against him the last couple of years, is when he was coming off of his injuries it seemed he didn't have a lot of power to the opposite field," Sheffield said. "And I think that has to do with your legs being under you. Now that he has his legs, he's able to drive the ball like he wants."
He is again the star he once was, though now with a long tangled mane of curly hair.
"I think he's crazy and I think he needs to cut it," Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel, the White Sox manager from 1998-2003, said of Ordonez's hair. "But he probably feels it's a Sampson type thing right now. If he cut it he might be getting weak. So he won't cut it. As long as he's hitting well, he ain't going to cut it. I can guarantee you that."
Ordonez spent almost two seasons recovering from the knee injury. Though he posted power numbers last season (24 home runs, .477 slugging percentage) that far surpassed the eight home runs he hit in an injury-stricken first season with the Tigers, the right fielder was not altogether healthy. Leyland noticed Ordonez was often in pain or simply could not perform at an elite level.
"One of the things I noticed and felt was that I still wasn't the strong and quick athlete that could compete against anyone," Ordonez said. "I couldn't throw the ball hard with all my strength, couldn't run like I was accustomed to, it was difficult to change directions when I was running. I think it was a matter of being patient."
The surgical procedure that fixed the knee was so radical, several of Ordonez's Tigers teammates didn't even know it existed. Second baseman Placido Polanco, who confused Austria with Australia, yelled from across the room: "Magglio you really went down there to have that surgery? They probably put a kangaroo ligament in your knee."
The surgery scared several teams away from bidding for Ordonez, which allowed the Tigers to aggressively pursue him.
Days prior to a scheduled Ordonez workout for six teams, the Tigers signed him to a five-year, $75 million deal. To protect themselves, the Tigers added a clause in the contract that allowed them to void the deal if Ordonez spent 25 or more days on the disabled list because of the knee injury.
"We knew there was risk, but not a great deal or we wouldn't have made the deal," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "If he made it through the first year, we were confident the injury wouldn't affect him in the long run."
With the signing, Ordonez's eight-year tenure with the White Sox ended. Often overlooked with the White Sox because of Frank Thomas, Ordonez had been one of baseball's most unknown potent hitters. From 1999-2003 Ordonez averaged 32 home runs, 118 RBIs and a .311 batting average for Chicago. He had been a force almost from the first moment he was in big league camp in spring training.
"In spring training, if you were on Field 4, and he was hitting on Field 8, you could hear it," Manuel said. "He was that type of guy. When I first saw him, just the sound [of his bat hitting the ball was different]. I'm a big proponent of that. When a young player makes a different sound with that bat, I took notice."
Though Ordonez had a successful tenure in Chicago, the White Sox did not make a serious effort to re-sign him after the 2004 season.
"We wanted to win a championship and for us to pay Mr. [Scott] Boras' price, we would have had to sacrifice one to two key players to fit in Maggs salary in our overall budget," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said.
That 2004 winter was not the first time teams mistakenly had shied away from Ordonez. As a 16 year old, Ordonez was signed to the Houston Astros' Venezuelan academy by famed scout Andres Reiner, who developed such stars as Johan Santana, Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. Yet because Houston had not found a position for him to play, the Astros chose not to sign him to a professional contract. Reiner sent Ordonez to a White Sox scout for a tryout.
"Does he drink? Does he steal?" Reiner remembers the White Sox scout asking after the tryout. "Why isn't he signed?"
Reiner responded, "No, he's the healthiest player we have."
The Tigers can now say the same thing.
Jorge Arangure Jr. is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
Fully healed, Ordonez flourishing for Tigers
By Jorge Arangure Jr.
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)
Updated: June 22, 2007
On consecutive days recently, Jim Leyland peered into the Detroit Tigers clubhouse, turned to his right, in the direction of Magglio Ordonez's locker, and boisterously yelled, "Magglio!!" as if he had seen his right fielder for the first time in years. On the second day this occurred, Carlos Guillen, who sits next to Ordonez, playfully wondered why he did not get the same greeting. Perhaps if Guillen had posted similar numbers as Ordonez (.383-13-67), one of the leading MVP candidates in the American League, Leyland would be compelled to yell for Guillen, too.
Magglio Ordonez leads the majors with a .383 batting average.
"It's the Mags that I know and I remember," Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield said. "I know he's been hurt with his knee. Everybody around the league knows it. But I always knew Mags was an MVP caliber player every year."
Ordonez is healthy now, healthier than he has been in years as a result of a radical and experimental knee surgery not well known in the United States, and not usually performed on baseball players.
To fix an ailing knee that would not heal because blood had stopped circulating to a certain spot on the bone, Ordonez, after the 2004 season with the Chicago White Sox, went to Austria, Vienna to have shock wave therapy performed by Dr. Wolfgang Schaden.
"It was not an easy decision," Ordonez says. "I visited with more than 10 doctors in the United States and none of them could give me a concrete answer about my knee. So I had to make a decision quickly because I was going to be a free agent and I didn't have a job."
The shock waves caused microfractures, which allowed blood to circulate to the injured area of Ordonez's knee. Ordonez's once renowned opposite field power now finally has been restored.
"The difference I saw after playing against him the last couple of years, is when he was coming off of his injuries it seemed he didn't have a lot of power to the opposite field," Sheffield said. "And I think that has to do with your legs being under you. Now that he has his legs, he's able to drive the ball like he wants."
He is again the star he once was, though now with a long tangled mane of curly hair.
"I think he's crazy and I think he needs to cut it," Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel, the White Sox manager from 1998-2003, said of Ordonez's hair. "But he probably feels it's a Sampson type thing right now. If he cut it he might be getting weak. So he won't cut it. As long as he's hitting well, he ain't going to cut it. I can guarantee you that."
Ordonez spent almost two seasons recovering from the knee injury. Though he posted power numbers last season (24 home runs, .477 slugging percentage) that far surpassed the eight home runs he hit in an injury-stricken first season with the Tigers, the right fielder was not altogether healthy. Leyland noticed Ordonez was often in pain or simply could not perform at an elite level.
"One of the things I noticed and felt was that I still wasn't the strong and quick athlete that could compete against anyone," Ordonez said. "I couldn't throw the ball hard with all my strength, couldn't run like I was accustomed to, it was difficult to change directions when I was running. I think it was a matter of being patient."
The surgical procedure that fixed the knee was so radical, several of Ordonez's Tigers teammates didn't even know it existed. Second baseman Placido Polanco, who confused Austria with Australia, yelled from across the room: "Magglio you really went down there to have that surgery? They probably put a kangaroo ligament in your knee."
The surgery scared several teams away from bidding for Ordonez, which allowed the Tigers to aggressively pursue him.
Days prior to a scheduled Ordonez workout for six teams, the Tigers signed him to a five-year, $75 million deal. To protect themselves, the Tigers added a clause in the contract that allowed them to void the deal if Ordonez spent 25 or more days on the disabled list because of the knee injury.
"We knew there was risk, but not a great deal or we wouldn't have made the deal," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "If he made it through the first year, we were confident the injury wouldn't affect him in the long run."
With the signing, Ordonez's eight-year tenure with the White Sox ended. Often overlooked with the White Sox because of Frank Thomas, Ordonez had been one of baseball's most unknown potent hitters. From 1999-2003 Ordonez averaged 32 home runs, 118 RBIs and a .311 batting average for Chicago. He had been a force almost from the first moment he was in big league camp in spring training.
"In spring training, if you were on Field 4, and he was hitting on Field 8, you could hear it," Manuel said. "He was that type of guy. When I first saw him, just the sound [of his bat hitting the ball was different]. I'm a big proponent of that. When a young player makes a different sound with that bat, I took notice."
Though Ordonez had a successful tenure in Chicago, the White Sox did not make a serious effort to re-sign him after the 2004 season.
"We wanted to win a championship and for us to pay Mr. [Scott] Boras' price, we would have had to sacrifice one to two key players to fit in Maggs salary in our overall budget," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said.
That 2004 winter was not the first time teams mistakenly had shied away from Ordonez. As a 16 year old, Ordonez was signed to the Houston Astros' Venezuelan academy by famed scout Andres Reiner, who developed such stars as Johan Santana, Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. Yet because Houston had not found a position for him to play, the Astros chose not to sign him to a professional contract. Reiner sent Ordonez to a White Sox scout for a tryout.
"Does he drink? Does he steal?" Reiner remembers the White Sox scout asking after the tryout. "Why isn't he signed?"
Reiner responded, "No, he's the healthiest player we have."
The Tigers can now say the same thing.
Jorge Arangure Jr. is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
He's Back!
Yes, Kenny Rogers is back! And doing his thang as if he was never gone at all. He made his first start of the season after a blood clot was removed from his pitching shoulder this past spring, Rogers allowed only two hits in six innings to lead the Detroit Tigers past Braves 5-0 last night.
So when I first heard that Kenny would miss possibly three months of play after his surgery, did I think the Detroit Tigers would be tied for first place in the AL Central when he came back? I was hoping that's for sure. Just goes to show that there is no "I" in this team. They work together for the common goal, and no one person is more important than the other...including Kenny. But I am sure glad he is back......Welcome back Kenny!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Oh Yes!
New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander was selected as the American League's top player for the week ending June 17.
Verlander threw a no-hitter last Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 12 batters and issuing four walks in the process. He became the sixth Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter and the first since Jack Morris in 1984.
The 24-year-old right-hander also beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday to finish the week with a record of 2-0, an earned run average of 1.80 and 18 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Verlander, the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, notched his second career weekly honor. He shared the award with Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford in May of 2006.
THIS KID IS HOT!!
************************************************************************************
Other EXCITING NEWS!!!!!
Kenny Rogers makes his first appearance Friday Night ! Oh yes things are going to get interesting!!!! I am gambling on this senior pitcher lol.
OK celebration at my house, everyone is invited!!!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
That Great Moment Captured
What can I say it still amazes me, even if you aren't a fan you have to admit it was a moment to be proud of.
A Moment I Wish I Hadn't Missed
So this has been a totally fucked up week as I stated earlier, and one of the more disappointing moments was missing going out to the game Tuesday night. Just so happens that's the night that Justin Verlander pulled off a no hitter against Milwaukee. But at least I got to watch it on my "All Tiger's Network", yes I am a complete freak when it comes to this team and games like that one just really enable the obsession.
I gotta admit I am in awe of this kid, yes I called him a kid, hell his is only 24 and he has accomplished so much already. He was last season's Al Rookie of the Year, got to go to the World Series and now threw his first No hitter game. Quite a bit to be proud of really. Not every 24 year old can be so lucky.
One of the things I really like about Justin is that he obviously LOVES this game, and lives to play it. It's what baseball is supposed to be. When he goes out there he's there to give 100%. The game was on when he was pitching at 99 mph for the first eight innings and then ended with a bang turning the heat up to 102 mph for his last two pitches of the game. The LAST TWO !!! And the control that guy has at that speed and the ability to keep that control while changing up his pitches just simply amazes me. Although this was his first actual major league no hitter success, he has come close to grabbing the ring in his amature career, in middle school he pitched a 5 inning no hit game, and at Old Dominican University he pitched a one hitter and also a two hitter, just a taste of the glory to come. Yes, I know, I know I should have been born male, but I just can't help myself.
I can't imagine the career this kid has before him, and no doubt this will not be his last no hitter that he throws. I have to say I was also moved by the reaction and emotions that followed the victory. I think it is what has made this team so great for me over the years. The comradery of the players and how they seem to willingly try to bring out the best in each other and celebrate each others victories.
The obvious pride and genuine joy that Pudge showed in that hug he gave Justin after the last strike of the game, the wordless but not tearless embrace Leland gave to him as he approached the dugout, well I have to say it moved me. You have a lot to be proud of Justin, and all of Detroit is proud for you.
Be Careful What You Wish For
This has been my first full week off of work, and well I had great visions for what I was going to do. A little work around the house that I had been putting off because of well being completly bogged down at the end of the school year and also to finally, finally get out to see a ball game or two.
Unfortuantley things didn't work out that way, one of the reasons I haven't blogged for over a week, is that I threw out my back on Monday, yes the first day of my wondermus three months off.
And it was just plain stupid how it happened, bent over and well twisted the wrong way, wrong enough to cause my pelvic cage to shift leaving me with one hip jacked up two inches higher than the other and one leg an inch shorter than the other. Ok I am short as it is, I don't need to lose any more height.
So after a couple of days of excuciating pain, and having to have Drew help me to the bathroom a zillion times a day, I decided to get an adjustment. The trip to the Chiropractor was just plain depressing.
Now I am no spring chicken but I am also not old, but something about discussing how I am developing degenerative arthritis in my spine certainly made me feel like I should be an offical AARP card holder. When did I suddenly go from being a hip thirty something wannabe to someone who needs to sleep with an orthopedic pillow between their legs at night? All I know is that unless Farigamo comes out with an orthopedic version of their stilletos I am not going that route.
So I guess I have to sucumb to the notion I am getting older, which in reality I don't mind, I just don't want the pains that go with it. Oh well what the hell can I do, Life continues bad back and all.
Unfortuantley things didn't work out that way, one of the reasons I haven't blogged for over a week, is that I threw out my back on Monday, yes the first day of my wondermus three months off.
And it was just plain stupid how it happened, bent over and well twisted the wrong way, wrong enough to cause my pelvic cage to shift leaving me with one hip jacked up two inches higher than the other and one leg an inch shorter than the other. Ok I am short as it is, I don't need to lose any more height.
So after a couple of days of excuciating pain, and having to have Drew help me to the bathroom a zillion times a day, I decided to get an adjustment. The trip to the Chiropractor was just plain depressing.
Now I am no spring chicken but I am also not old, but something about discussing how I am developing degenerative arthritis in my spine certainly made me feel like I should be an offical AARP card holder. When did I suddenly go from being a hip thirty something wannabe to someone who needs to sleep with an orthopedic pillow between their legs at night? All I know is that unless Farigamo comes out with an orthopedic version of their stilletos I am not going that route.
So I guess I have to sucumb to the notion I am getting older, which in reality I don't mind, I just don't want the pains that go with it. Oh well what the hell can I do, Life continues bad back and all.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Disappointment Doesn't Even Begin To Describe How I Feel
I can sum up the series finale to the Sopranos in three little words.............
WHAT THE FUCK!
Here's a half assed off the top of my head ending that would have been a thousand times better than what was offered tonight.....While Meadow is trying in vain to parallel park her sports car, the guy who came in right before AJ, and the two suspicious looking dudes that followed blow away Tony, Carmella, and Aj. Meadow finally passes her parallel parking exam and comes into the restaurant just as the hit men are exiting realizing she is the only Surviving Soprano, guess you were right Meadow, you aren't as important as AJ, they couldn't even wait for you to make your appearance and gave you a pass.
UGHHHHHHHHH
Saturday, June 02, 2007
This Week In Photos
A dog tag ID is wedged between panels of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, May 27, 2007. This year is the 25th anniversary of the memorial, which has etched into it the names of the 58,249 American servicemen and women who died or were lost during the Vietnam Conflict from 1959-1975.
Lawyering Up
I have to honestly say that I heard one of the most outrageous things today. I guess the father of Josh Hancock, you know the St. Louis Cards pitcher that died recently in a car accident, is filing suit against a married of individuals whom he claims contributed to his untimely passing.
At first there was a grain of credibility to the story, laying a little blame with the restaurant that according to his father kept serving him drinks even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him…well we all have seen that occur.
But there is more to this, this is just a case of a grieving father lawyering up how completely irresponsible is it for Hancock’s father to name everyone under the sun as responsible individuals in his son’s untimely death. This just take’s the “It wasn’t my fault” excuse to a disgusting new level. Don’t believe me? Read on….
Other defendants besides the restaurant include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.
The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.. And the police report said that Tolar’s car stalled because some other asshole on the expressway cut him off.
OK since when are you responsible for your car malfunctioning after some other asshole cuts you off on the expressway, are we supposed to be psychic and know when this is going to occur?
But why stop there in this blame game, let’s name the tow truck driver too, after all according to Hancock’s father he took way too long to get Tolar’s car off the express way and out of his drunk assed son’s way. Because if he hadn’t taken upwards of 15 minutes to get the stalled car out of the way, his son might still be here enjoying another drink from an adoring fan in a bar somewhere.
The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants…my question…why stop there hell, you have named anyone else you can think of Mr. Hargrove. What about the Chicka he was talking to on the cell phone, I am sure she contributed just a little don’t you think, she actually voluntarily engaged in conversation with him, as opposed to individuals on the side of the road trying to take care of their own business.
No where in this statement released to the press was there an inkling of responsibility put on the shoulders of Hargrove. No mention that he had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he smashed into the back of the tow truck. No mention that he was speeding , using his cell phone, and not wearing a seat belt, and that a little of the mary jane was found in his car. The whole situation wreaks of stupidity, and I think his father needs to man up and quit making excuses for his son.
Yes it’s tragic that he’s dead, but he was a participating contributor to his own death, no one held a gun to his head and forced him to make the poor decisions he made that night. In my own arrogant opinion, his father should be releasing statements that he is thankful his son did not wipe out an innocent family that day on the road.
Did he get what he deserved, no; I don’t wish such a thing on anyone. But it pisses me off that his father feels the need shove the blame onto others. But this is the trend now a day isn’t it.
Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death." News Flash Dean, Your son contributed to his own death not anyone else! You got one thing right though, it was an unnecessary death.
At first there was a grain of credibility to the story, laying a little blame with the restaurant that according to his father kept serving him drinks even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him…well we all have seen that occur.
But there is more to this, this is just a case of a grieving father lawyering up how completely irresponsible is it for Hancock’s father to name everyone under the sun as responsible individuals in his son’s untimely death. This just take’s the “It wasn’t my fault” excuse to a disgusting new level. Don’t believe me? Read on….
Other defendants besides the restaurant include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.
The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.. And the police report said that Tolar’s car stalled because some other asshole on the expressway cut him off.
OK since when are you responsible for your car malfunctioning after some other asshole cuts you off on the expressway, are we supposed to be psychic and know when this is going to occur?
But why stop there in this blame game, let’s name the tow truck driver too, after all according to Hancock’s father he took way too long to get Tolar’s car off the express way and out of his drunk assed son’s way. Because if he hadn’t taken upwards of 15 minutes to get the stalled car out of the way, his son might still be here enjoying another drink from an adoring fan in a bar somewhere.
The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants…my question…why stop there hell, you have named anyone else you can think of Mr. Hargrove. What about the Chicka he was talking to on the cell phone, I am sure she contributed just a little don’t you think, she actually voluntarily engaged in conversation with him, as opposed to individuals on the side of the road trying to take care of their own business.
No where in this statement released to the press was there an inkling of responsibility put on the shoulders of Hargrove. No mention that he had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he smashed into the back of the tow truck. No mention that he was speeding , using his cell phone, and not wearing a seat belt, and that a little of the mary jane was found in his car. The whole situation wreaks of stupidity, and I think his father needs to man up and quit making excuses for his son.
Yes it’s tragic that he’s dead, but he was a participating contributor to his own death, no one held a gun to his head and forced him to make the poor decisions he made that night. In my own arrogant opinion, his father should be releasing statements that he is thankful his son did not wipe out an innocent family that day on the road.
Did he get what he deserved, no; I don’t wish such a thing on anyone. But it pisses me off that his father feels the need shove the blame onto others. But this is the trend now a day isn’t it.
Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death." News Flash Dean, Your son contributed to his own death not anyone else! You got one thing right though, it was an unnecessary death.
Finally Someone With a Sense of Humor!
Ok the funniest thing happened at work today. So funny I wish I had been in on the planning and pulling off of this prank, but at least I was let in on it before it happened and was able to witness the chaos that occurred thereafter.
There is this one teacher in my building who constantly throws the onions from his various lunch items in the garbage of the teacher across the hall, now normally it's not an issue but in the last couple of weeks the building has begun to heat up again, and by 5th hour her room is wreaking of onions.
She's asked him to quit doing it, but he continues to do it because hell he doesn't want his room to smell like that. Having had enough of it, she devises a plan to punk him. Give him a little taste of his own onion so to say.
Now the onion wielding teacher is handicapped and well the teacher lounge in the building is on the second floor, not very easy for him to get to. So in an effort to become handicap friendly the lounge is being moved downstairs, but not without some considerable cost to the district.
So the teacher who is getting stunk out of her room by the onions each day, decides to write a letter of complaint to the handicapped teacher from a supposed concerned member of the community, questioning the validity of his "Handicap". Now this letter went into grave detail about how he does not "appear" to be handicapped, that he must be faking and that he should be ashamed that he is costing the already financially strapped district money to address the needs of a handicapped wannabe.
OK you would have thought that you started World War III, seriously it was so hard not to laugh my ass off as he went around the building complaining in a insanely loud voice, I will sue this muther fucker. In a matter of all of one hour he showed the letter and complained with some very descriptive expletives to exactly 10 teachers, the Superintendent, both principals, even the waitress at the coney place where he gets all those onions he doesn't want.
When he went as far as to call The Union Rep to get the paperwork going to actually sue this fictional individual that's when they let him know it was really just a joke....hell they really thought he would get to the end of the letter and realize it was a joke when the word "ONION" was worked into the name of the person complaining, and each letter was in BOLD.
Anyway it was a hysterical way to end the day, I came around the corner and saw the three of them laughing, well two of them at least, the guy that got punked was not laughing, and I just smiled ear to ear. At that point, he says to me, "Kat, you knew about this too, Kat you little bitch" followed by hysterical laughter.
Look......... after working on a team of "Women" who have the personalities of nats, it was nice to laugh, and the ironic thing about all of this, I am going to be on the letter writers team next year. Oh Yes! I think I am going to have some fun! Karma sweet Karma.
There is this one teacher in my building who constantly throws the onions from his various lunch items in the garbage of the teacher across the hall, now normally it's not an issue but in the last couple of weeks the building has begun to heat up again, and by 5th hour her room is wreaking of onions.
She's asked him to quit doing it, but he continues to do it because hell he doesn't want his room to smell like that. Having had enough of it, she devises a plan to punk him. Give him a little taste of his own onion so to say.
Now the onion wielding teacher is handicapped and well the teacher lounge in the building is on the second floor, not very easy for him to get to. So in an effort to become handicap friendly the lounge is being moved downstairs, but not without some considerable cost to the district.
So the teacher who is getting stunk out of her room by the onions each day, decides to write a letter of complaint to the handicapped teacher from a supposed concerned member of the community, questioning the validity of his "Handicap". Now this letter went into grave detail about how he does not "appear" to be handicapped, that he must be faking and that he should be ashamed that he is costing the already financially strapped district money to address the needs of a handicapped wannabe.
OK you would have thought that you started World War III, seriously it was so hard not to laugh my ass off as he went around the building complaining in a insanely loud voice, I will sue this muther fucker. In a matter of all of one hour he showed the letter and complained with some very descriptive expletives to exactly 10 teachers, the Superintendent, both principals, even the waitress at the coney place where he gets all those onions he doesn't want.
When he went as far as to call The Union Rep to get the paperwork going to actually sue this fictional individual that's when they let him know it was really just a joke....hell they really thought he would get to the end of the letter and realize it was a joke when the word "ONION" was worked into the name of the person complaining, and each letter was in BOLD.
Anyway it was a hysterical way to end the day, I came around the corner and saw the three of them laughing, well two of them at least, the guy that got punked was not laughing, and I just smiled ear to ear. At that point, he says to me, "Kat, you knew about this too, Kat you little bitch" followed by hysterical laughter.
Look......... after working on a team of "Women" who have the personalities of nats, it was nice to laugh, and the ironic thing about all of this, I am going to be on the letter writers team next year. Oh Yes! I think I am going to have some fun! Karma sweet Karma.
I Definately Feel Better Now
Had a little convo with a former teacher yesterday about the cunt in question in my last post, seems there is a history there of he just being a bitch to any teacher she works with, including the members of the team that she supposedly think like her. So yes, misery loves company and well I have adopted the Fuck it attitude, plus hell there is one week left in school and I don't have to work with this woman for at least another yeah, yes there is sweet irony.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I Feel Much Better Now
I hate cowards, yes I said cowards, in particular people who belive hearsay. I work with a woman who although I would assume is of relative intelligence (and I use the term losely), completely has no common sense. Once again she takes what a student says as the gospel truth and builds this whole prosecution against me to complain about to the administration.
Supposedly to this wench I sit in my classroom all day and do nothing, and how does she come to this conclusion? She asks my Language imapired students that's how. Now in my students defense it may appear to them I am doing nothing, after all I am sitting at my desk and moving papers around, to them it looks like nothing because well that's exactly what they do all day.
But they don't notice the six inch deep pile of paperwork that I have just finished working on, paperwork that is required of my job, that I don't get paid to do at home, and they don't know that I spend an average of 2 hours a day of my own time at home on paperwork also because well there is never enough time in the day to finish it. But that't not their fault they are kids and well developmentally delayed kids at that.
So what is the bitch's excuse that runs to the administration with this little tid bid of information to complain about me's excuse....oh I guess what a student says is the gospel truth hugh?, well if we want to play the hearsay game then I have a few little nuggest of "truth" to tell you about what they claim you say about me and them. Hummm the hearsay game isn't so fun now is it?
But no I am not going to stoop to your level, I have the professionalism to come to you if I were to even take what any student says with a grain of salt. No, I form my opinions on the "truths" what I witness, and hear. I don't take the cowards way out and run to higher ups to complain about something that is totally unfounded....If I am doing "nothing" I hate to see a teacher that is doing "something". You are one to talk, making the kids correct their own tests, and papers so you don't have to drag paperwork home with you. Some of us are not as lucky, or should I say selfish, we actually want to use instuctional time to instruct, not get out of our own paperwork.
So here's some hearsay for you.....you're a cunt....must be true the kids said it.
Supposedly to this wench I sit in my classroom all day and do nothing, and how does she come to this conclusion? She asks my Language imapired students that's how. Now in my students defense it may appear to them I am doing nothing, after all I am sitting at my desk and moving papers around, to them it looks like nothing because well that's exactly what they do all day.
But they don't notice the six inch deep pile of paperwork that I have just finished working on, paperwork that is required of my job, that I don't get paid to do at home, and they don't know that I spend an average of 2 hours a day of my own time at home on paperwork also because well there is never enough time in the day to finish it. But that't not their fault they are kids and well developmentally delayed kids at that.
So what is the bitch's excuse that runs to the administration with this little tid bid of information to complain about me's excuse....oh I guess what a student says is the gospel truth hugh?, well if we want to play the hearsay game then I have a few little nuggest of "truth" to tell you about what they claim you say about me and them. Hummm the hearsay game isn't so fun now is it?
But no I am not going to stoop to your level, I have the professionalism to come to you if I were to even take what any student says with a grain of salt. No, I form my opinions on the "truths" what I witness, and hear. I don't take the cowards way out and run to higher ups to complain about something that is totally unfounded....If I am doing "nothing" I hate to see a teacher that is doing "something". You are one to talk, making the kids correct their own tests, and papers so you don't have to drag paperwork home with you. Some of us are not as lucky, or should I say selfish, we actually want to use instuctional time to instruct, not get out of our own paperwork.
So here's some hearsay for you.....you're a cunt....must be true the kids said it.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Freedom is not Free
I went to Mass with my Mom on Mother’s Day not an unusual event in itself really. But what unfolded during that mass was eventful, at least to me it was. I have really been obsessed with watching the news lately. Anderson Cooper 360 and CNN tends to be on constantly. I find myself noticing the headlines of the world news online more than I have in the past, suicide bombers, car bombs, and the like. Now I am not a complete fool, and I don’t just listen to what the media has to say, I am interested in what the soldiers have to say too.
So when I woke up Sunday morning I read and heard about the 4 soldiers that were killed in an attack near Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad, and the three soldiers that remain missing even at the time of this posting. I couldn’t help but think that there were probably quite a few Mothers sick with worry wondering if it was one of their sons that was captured, or worse being informed their son had been killed.
I have to admit that I have not been an informed citizen since the invasion of Iraq began, and I am quite sure it is for the same reason that most of America remains uninformed, we have become complacent. How many of us really give a fuck about what is going on over there? This country has the attention span of a nat when it comes to something that does not affect us personally, all we can do is bitch about gas prices and wonder when our wallet is going to get a break. We go about our lives getting up in the morning, driving to work, watching American Idol on our 60 inch plasma televisions and don’t think twice about our troops being slaughtered on a daily basis, and for what? Until this war becomes “personal” for mainstream America I don’t see that much will be done to keep our troops from being led to the slaughter.
Our complacency is killing our troops everyday, over 3,000 in have died in this war already, in a war that many of us can’t even intelligently verbalize why we are fighting. Did it ever occur to our government that not everyone in this world wants needs or even desires a free and democratic society? Or that it is even feasible? .But complacency is easy and well it is the status quo as our government continues to occupy a county and allow your young men and women to die. Consider a withdrawal? Of course not, that would admit defeat in a situation where victory in my opinion is not even possible, or desired by the individuals our troops are dying for.
So we wait, we wait for our sons and daughters to come home, hopefully of sound mind and body. I was able to witness that during mass on Sunday. A young man from our parish surprised his Mother by unexpectedly appearing by her side as Mass began. She had no idea he had been released from his deployment, that he was coming home; I can’t tell you the mixture of emotions she exhibited, joy, relief, pride, thankfulness all wrapped up in one when she saw him standing there in his dress blues. But my thoughts are of the other Mother’s who weren’t as fortunate that day, whose visit from a uniformed officer was not as joyous. So we end the service by lighting a candle, a candle for the missing soldiers, the families of the dead servicemen, and for the young men and women preparing to go to war to replace them. Freedom is never Free.
So when I woke up Sunday morning I read and heard about the 4 soldiers that were killed in an attack near Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad, and the three soldiers that remain missing even at the time of this posting. I couldn’t help but think that there were probably quite a few Mothers sick with worry wondering if it was one of their sons that was captured, or worse being informed their son had been killed.
I have to admit that I have not been an informed citizen since the invasion of Iraq began, and I am quite sure it is for the same reason that most of America remains uninformed, we have become complacent. How many of us really give a fuck about what is going on over there? This country has the attention span of a nat when it comes to something that does not affect us personally, all we can do is bitch about gas prices and wonder when our wallet is going to get a break. We go about our lives getting up in the morning, driving to work, watching American Idol on our 60 inch plasma televisions and don’t think twice about our troops being slaughtered on a daily basis, and for what? Until this war becomes “personal” for mainstream America I don’t see that much will be done to keep our troops from being led to the slaughter.
Our complacency is killing our troops everyday, over 3,000 in have died in this war already, in a war that many of us can’t even intelligently verbalize why we are fighting. Did it ever occur to our government that not everyone in this world wants needs or even desires a free and democratic society? Or that it is even feasible? .But complacency is easy and well it is the status quo as our government continues to occupy a county and allow your young men and women to die. Consider a withdrawal? Of course not, that would admit defeat in a situation where victory in my opinion is not even possible, or desired by the individuals our troops are dying for.
So we wait, we wait for our sons and daughters to come home, hopefully of sound mind and body. I was able to witness that during mass on Sunday. A young man from our parish surprised his Mother by unexpectedly appearing by her side as Mass began. She had no idea he had been released from his deployment, that he was coming home; I can’t tell you the mixture of emotions she exhibited, joy, relief, pride, thankfulness all wrapped up in one when she saw him standing there in his dress blues. But my thoughts are of the other Mother’s who weren’t as fortunate that day, whose visit from a uniformed officer was not as joyous. So we end the service by lighting a candle, a candle for the missing soldiers, the families of the dead servicemen, and for the young men and women preparing to go to war to replace them. Freedom is never Free.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
What are the Odds?
I asked someone what their favorite song was recently and their response was a little suprizing for me, considering the gender of this person. Then I was reading some random blogs and I just happen to run accross this blog post and it was about the same song. What are the odds of that? Who know's but it is kind of funny so I decided to post it. Disclaimer***I am in No way making a judgement here, listen to what ever you want, I just think this is a funny post...ok well... it is a chick song and that is all I have to say about that, not that there is anything wrong with listening to chick music....when you are a guy...ok here's the post.
GUILTY FEET HAVE GOT NO RYTHM.
I was coming to work on Saturday and like all days I needed to get a cup of coffee. Also like most days, I went to Seattle's Best Coffee (It's Seattle's best! it's in the name). So I go and order my Large Coffee with lots of room. (Oh regular coffee has lots more caffeine and is a lot cheaper then a latte). I take off my iPod to order the coffee because it's rude to talk to people with headphones in.
The person serving me is new and there for she doesn't know me. I say hello and let her know where I work (I get a discount). After a couple minutes of unimportant chatter, she asks what I have in my hand. I tell her it's an iPod, amazed at her lack of knowledge of the super popular digital music player.
She asks to see it and immediately I oblige her to spread the greatness that is the Apple iPod. After giving it the once over, the young lady notices the screen on the "Now Playing" screen. A quick glance back it followed by, "George Michael, huh?" while handing the iPod back. I do indeed notice that Careless Whispers by Wham is playing (I have it labeled as by George Michael).
I first try to play dumb, "oh that is what's playing?" Then I try to play it off. "oh it's on shuffle." Then I just start to mumble, "uhh, yeah hmm" After that there is nothing else to do. I say, "I listen to lame music," drop my head in shame and leave the coffee shop. I grabbed my coffee but I left my pride. Be careful, when you hand your iPod to strangers. I have worse than that on there.
So fess up what secret music do you have on your iPod
GUILTY FEET HAVE GOT NO RYTHM.
I was coming to work on Saturday and like all days I needed to get a cup of coffee. Also like most days, I went to Seattle's Best Coffee (It's Seattle's best! it's in the name). So I go and order my Large Coffee with lots of room. (Oh regular coffee has lots more caffeine and is a lot cheaper then a latte). I take off my iPod to order the coffee because it's rude to talk to people with headphones in.
The person serving me is new and there for she doesn't know me. I say hello and let her know where I work (I get a discount). After a couple minutes of unimportant chatter, she asks what I have in my hand. I tell her it's an iPod, amazed at her lack of knowledge of the super popular digital music player.
She asks to see it and immediately I oblige her to spread the greatness that is the Apple iPod. After giving it the once over, the young lady notices the screen on the "Now Playing" screen. A quick glance back it followed by, "George Michael, huh?" while handing the iPod back. I do indeed notice that Careless Whispers by Wham is playing (I have it labeled as by George Michael).
I first try to play dumb, "oh that is what's playing?" Then I try to play it off. "oh it's on shuffle." Then I just start to mumble, "uhh, yeah hmm" After that there is nothing else to do. I say, "I listen to lame music," drop my head in shame and leave the coffee shop. I grabbed my coffee but I left my pride. Be careful, when you hand your iPod to strangers. I have worse than that on there.
So fess up what secret music do you have on your iPod
As Anderson Said: Dude You're Stoned!
Ok I don't know what's worse, having a friend email me a link of a video of a gangsta in Detroit beating down a 91 year old that he is trying to carjack, or hearing the following story on none other than Anderson Cooper 360 last night. Yes it has not been a good PR week for the Ghetto...however the story below is quite entertaining...and well yes I live amongst some stupid individuals. And I think they should play this 911 audio tape in every school classroom as a public service announcement on how drugs make you STUPID!
Police officer Edward Sanchez of Dearborn, Michigan made some pot brownies with his wife and got so paranoid that he called 911 for fear they were dying. The recording of the 911 call is absolutely insane. From a transcript:
Sanchez:I think I'm having an overdose. and so is my wife.
911: Overdose of what?
Sanchez: Marijuana...
Sanchez: We made brownies. and I think we're dead. I really do...
Sanchez: Time is going by really, really, really slow...
Sanchez: What's the score in the Red Wings game?
911: I've got no clue, i don't watch the Red Wings.
Sanchez: I just wanted to make sure this isn't some kind of hallucination I'm having.
Edward, You should have listened to Nancy and just said No.
Police officer Edward Sanchez of Dearborn, Michigan made some pot brownies with his wife and got so paranoid that he called 911 for fear they were dying. The recording of the 911 call is absolutely insane. From a transcript:
Sanchez:I think I'm having an overdose. and so is my wife.
911: Overdose of what?
Sanchez: Marijuana...
Sanchez: We made brownies. and I think we're dead. I really do...
Sanchez: Time is going by really, really, really slow...
Sanchez: What's the score in the Red Wings game?
911: I've got no clue, i don't watch the Red Wings.
Sanchez: I just wanted to make sure this isn't some kind of hallucination I'm having.
Edward, You should have listened to Nancy and just said No.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Retirement
I have this one pair of jeans that I absolutely love, and well this weekend as I was pulling them out of the dryer to slide on I noticed that they’ve become precariously worn. Yep can see that their days are numbered, it’s kind of sad to think they will soon be so worn out that I won’t be able to wear them.
Although I don't quite understand why, I love my jeans and feel defined by them in a way I don't feel about any of my other clothes. Just putting them on - which I do everyday when I get home from work - makes me feel a little bit excited about life. And as pathetic as it sounds, Friday mornings just don’t feel as depressing when I know I can slide those puppies on with a pair of heels and head off to end the work week. It’s like a little incentive to make it through the day, and when it’s a payday then the pot is even sweeter.
Perhaps it's something to do with holding onto youth, because your first pair of proper jeans is a major rite of teenage passage. The designer jeans were the big thing when I was a teenager and well I have to admit I fell under the peer pressure to wear them, you know the ones that were guaranteed to make you look thinner, sexier, more intelligent. But my jeans of choice are now Levi’s, low riders, boot cut….I love these jeans! And they look fantastic on me if I do say so myself.
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You might be thinking…just go buy another pair, well it’s not that simple, first it is a rarity to find that perfect pair of jeans, you know the one’s that fit you perfectly like a glove, flawless. And well finding another pair is basically a quest for the Holy Grail. Well not that dramatic but it is a task for sure. So I guess I know what is on the agenda for this weekend, let’s hope the jean God smiles on me.
Although I don't quite understand why, I love my jeans and feel defined by them in a way I don't feel about any of my other clothes. Just putting them on - which I do everyday when I get home from work - makes me feel a little bit excited about life. And as pathetic as it sounds, Friday mornings just don’t feel as depressing when I know I can slide those puppies on with a pair of heels and head off to end the work week. It’s like a little incentive to make it through the day, and when it’s a payday then the pot is even sweeter.
Perhaps it's something to do with holding onto youth, because your first pair of proper jeans is a major rite of teenage passage. The designer jeans were the big thing when I was a teenager and well I have to admit I fell under the peer pressure to wear them, you know the ones that were guaranteed to make you look thinner, sexier, more intelligent. But my jeans of choice are now Levi’s, low riders, boot cut….I love these jeans! And they look fantastic on me if I do say so myself.
.jpg)
You might be thinking…just go buy another pair, well it’s not that simple, first it is a rarity to find that perfect pair of jeans, you know the one’s that fit you perfectly like a glove, flawless. And well finding another pair is basically a quest for the Holy Grail. Well not that dramatic but it is a task for sure. So I guess I know what is on the agenda for this weekend, let’s hope the jean God smiles on me.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
I smell something burning...humm what could it be...oh it's my boys burning up the American Leauge Central Division...Yup that's right, time for me to brag a little on my Tigers. I have to say they are giving it their all and not without their share of adversity this season. It's good to know they are actively proving their race for the World Series last season was not some cosmic joke, or fluke.
With Rogers being on the disable list till at least the all star game many felt that the team might not hold it together till he returned. Not so, the players stepped it up in his absence and have played good hard baseball all season long.
This past week another pitching fatality---Joel Zumaya, our 100 mph plus relief pitcher ruptured a tendon in his pitching hand requiring surgury. Another one bites the dust. And on a less serious note Jeremy Bonderman cut a finger on his pitching hand this week pulling him off the starting line up for tonight.
Regardless, the boys are currently in first place a game and a half ahead of the Indians. I don't care who you are, this division is tight. If you look at the other divisions in the American Leauge and watch the standings, neither one of the other divisions are duking it out back and forth daily for that coveted fist place position. It's what makes the game fun. Keep kicking ass!
Ce-Ce emailed me this pic of Pudge with the caption "Umm, could you remove your hand from my junk, I think you are enjoying this a little too much"
The Gift
He handed me a box, a small black fuzzy box, almost light as air. Along with the box came a card. It's not an unexpected gift, more like a tradition. I know the contents already. Having already recieved 6 of these familiar gifts, one annually at this time of the year.
I recieved that first fuzzy box on Mother's Day 2001, barely pregnant with Aiden. It was supposed to be the start of a romantic tradition, a pearl to represent the beginning of a life. One to be added to the collection for each year of his life, to be given traditionally every Mother's Day.
Fate didn't provide for that opportunity to be a joyous one, and each year as I open the box and the accompanying card, it all just seems so bittersweet. So I slide the pearl onto the chain, a physical reminder that it's been six long years since my attempt and ultimate failure at parenthood. I open and read the card, and temporarliy put aside my jadded opinions of the giver of this gift, relishng in the compasion being afforded me this day. I despertely want to believe time can heal all wounds.
I recieved that first fuzzy box on Mother's Day 2001, barely pregnant with Aiden. It was supposed to be the start of a romantic tradition, a pearl to represent the beginning of a life. One to be added to the collection for each year of his life, to be given traditionally every Mother's Day.
Fate didn't provide for that opportunity to be a joyous one, and each year as I open the box and the accompanying card, it all just seems so bittersweet. So I slide the pearl onto the chain, a physical reminder that it's been six long years since my attempt and ultimate failure at parenthood. I open and read the card, and temporarliy put aside my jadded opinions of the giver of this gift, relishng in the compasion being afforded me this day. I despertely want to believe time can heal all wounds.
Moma Mia
Well it is officially Mother's Day. And this year this tradition of celebrating Motherhood seems a lot less cliquce than usual for me. This is the first time I think I really appreciate this typical selfabsorbed Hallmark Card Holiday.
I have been thinking a lot about my relationship with my Mom over the years. I think Mother daughter relationships go through distinct phases. As you move though your childhood on your way to becoming an adult the relationship is molded, as a child I thought my mother could do no wrong, god I idolized her. As a teenager I squabbled with her at every turn, it was almost a challenge for me, every word she said struck a nerve.I really was an ass.
But Now, as an adult, perhaps I've realized that my Mom can be an ally - and maybe even a friend. It amazes me how she can read me. How she can know, with just one spoken word my mood, whether I am anxious, sad, or worried. Too bad I can't find the strength to share the details of events that percipitate those feelings with her, instead of just acknowledging that I am feeling them.
The mother-daughter relationship has been called the strongest bond in human history, I definately think mine is moving in that direction.At least I hope so. In hindsight I wish I hadn't wasted so much time being indifferent to our relationship, time wasted that can't be retrieved. Time I am sure to one day reget letting slip away.
I love you Mom, Happy Mother's Day
Kat
I have been thinking a lot about my relationship with my Mom over the years. I think Mother daughter relationships go through distinct phases. As you move though your childhood on your way to becoming an adult the relationship is molded, as a child I thought my mother could do no wrong, god I idolized her. As a teenager I squabbled with her at every turn, it was almost a challenge for me, every word she said struck a nerve.I really was an ass.
But Now, as an adult, perhaps I've realized that my Mom can be an ally - and maybe even a friend. It amazes me how she can read me. How she can know, with just one spoken word my mood, whether I am anxious, sad, or worried. Too bad I can't find the strength to share the details of events that percipitate those feelings with her, instead of just acknowledging that I am feeling them.
The mother-daughter relationship has been called the strongest bond in human history, I definately think mine is moving in that direction.At least I hope so. In hindsight I wish I hadn't wasted so much time being indifferent to our relationship, time wasted that can't be retrieved. Time I am sure to one day reget letting slip away.
I love you Mom, Happy Mother's Day
Kat
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