MSG with Tom Marshall

"Who the heck is Tom Marshall?" you may ask. Tom is the singer/songwriter responsible for many of the lyrics behind about 100 Phish songs. "Why do I care?" would be a likely follow-up question.
Well, I had the pleasure of sitting right next to Tom during the opening set of the Thursday, December 3rd Phish show at Madison Square Garden. In fact, before I even recognized who he was, Tom was kind enough to inform me that I was 'squatting" in his seat and would have to move. It was my friend, Jeremy, who was kind enough to point out that it was in fact the Tom Marshall next to whom I was now sitting.
I took the liberty of telling the history of how I met my wife. On July, 16th, 1999, I met my wife on the lawn of the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. Surely enough, it was at a Phish show. I took the liberty of telling Tom how at that very show, the band called him onto the stage to sing as they backed him in their cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run."
"That was me!" exclaimed Tom.
"I know," I replied, "I was there!"
Super nice guy. Tom was just as interested as my group as to what songs the band would play that night, and he was really into the show. A family man, he was there with his wife and 2 children. In fact, one of my highlights of the night, as we debated between songs what the band would play next, I was tickled to hear Tom say that he hoped they would not play "Time Turns Elastic," a newer composition that much of the fan base has not supported to this point.
As my good friend Jeff texted to me from the show, Time Turns elastic was a chance for him to use the bathroom, grab a soda, and check the out of town sports scores, all while returning to his seat on time to catch the end of the song.
Alas, Tom Marshall and his family disappeared during the set break and did not return. Despite my telling several would be squatters that they could not stay next to us in our section, that in fact they were in "the Marshall Family seats," a 2nd set with the Marshalls was not to be. Of course, Jeremy took a quality photo of me sitting in Tom's seat during set break. Unfortunately, we never took an actual picture of Tom himself...
Oh well!

Disappointing Phish Show

Went to see Phish in Philadelphia on Wed November 25th. Left from north Jersey about 3:30, and the traffic was murderous. This was to be expected traveling on one of our nation's most densely traversed roadways on what is notoriously the heaviest travel day of the year--Thanksgiving Eve.
I didn't mind the journey. The delays were expected; I had the day off from work, and a long weekend ahead of me. Not only that, but I had my wife in the car with me--alone time and adult conversation has become the exception rather than the norm, both with full time jobs and a 2 year old child to raise.
Surely a longer than expected drive to see my favorite rock and roll band would prove a fruitful experience!
Unfortunately, it just was not to be. The show had potential, and its energetic moments, but overall, was uneven. Just as they would build up the momentum, they would somehow find a way to break stride, leaving this fan underwhelmed.
Perhaps my travels took more of a toll on me than I care to admit. Perhaps I'm getting older and don't quite have the energy of my youth. However, having listened to a couple of other shows from Fall Tour 2009, I can't help but feel a little gypped.
Good thing I have a three night run at MSG this week, which is sure to turn my frown upside down!

I simply haven't kept up with this site, and I was racking my brain to figure out why...
I have ideas all of the time, and I certainly have more than my share of random ideas, thoughts, and impertinent brain strokes. I realized that my ideas rarely come when I'm sitting by my computer.
I may start applying my idea I had for my business towards my blog, but I don't know if I want to put that kind of effort into it. When I first started my business, I found that I could rarely sleep, undisturbed, through the night. The powerful thoughts of my subconscious mind would jog me awake in the middle of the night. At first, I suffered from insomnia, as my mind raced a mile a minute, sending me into near panic attacks from the thoughts that overwhelmed me. I would have such clear and insightful thoughts as to how to manage my life and business that would only occur to me in a sleep cycle. The ideas and thoughts would come to me so clearly, but I would lose them if I fell back to sleep. The fact that I would wake up in the morning, knowing I had forgotten the significant and useful ideas that had occurred to me in the middle of the night eventually lead to my insomnia. I began to panic that my thoughts and ideas that would be so useful and insightful to me would be lost. I was reminded of the Phish song, "Sleep:"

I can't describe the feeling when

I'm in my bed asleep and then
I wake up with a vision blurred
And all my efforts are detered
To reconstruct this image lost

There're certain things my mind must do
and even though they're very few
The image glistens like a gem

Repairing is not one of them
So I'm awake though in my mind
The image that's so unrefined
is calling to me from the deep
and tempting me to fall asleep

However, unlike the song, the fact that I would constantly forget my solid thoughts and ideas began to keep me awake to the point that the exhaustion began to bog me down. So, I came up with a brilliant idea. I decided to keep a notebook on my nightstand. When I woke up in the middle of the night with my thoughts and ideas, I would jot them down in the book. Not only were my thoughts and ideas captured on paper, but the peace of mind established in knowing this allowed me to fall peacefully back to sleep.
Come the morning, I could review my notes and implement them.
Unlike the Seinfeld episode where Jerry writes an illegible note that's of little use to him:

Jerry: Excuse me, Tor. May I ask you a question? You have intuitive abilities. You're in touch with a lot of this cosmic kind of things... I have this note I can't read. I was wondering if...
Tor: (Takes the note, laughing upon reading) Oh, yes-yes... Cleveland 117, San Antonio 109."

My notes were not jumbled nonsense, but quite useful. Supplies that needed to be ordered, phone calls to be made, appointments to be scheduled, etc.

So, I suppose the point of my pointlessness is that if I start to write down my random thoughts as they occur to me, I'd have more to blog for my loyal followers--who only exist in my own mind anyway... :-)

Who would you rather have lunch with?

J. K. Simmons
Richard Simmons
Gene Simmons


Personally, I'd go with J. K. Simmons.

All 3 are independently wealthy, and I'm sure quite interesting people, though I'd have to pick J.K. for a few reasons.

1. Richard is most likely to make you feel guilty about what you ate.
2. Richard is most likely to show up in those all-too revealing short shorts that leave far too little to the imagination.
3. Gene is the front man for Kiss, makers of the Kiss Kasket and other such collectables all sold for ridiculous profit. Hence this makes my think that Gene might be cheap and least likely to pick up the tab.
4. Richard has that annoying grating voice that might make conversation unbearable.
5. Gene may do something with his outrageous tongue, like drop it in the bread bowl or something.

J.K. has a nice voice, and aside from playing a raping white supremist on OZ, seems like a pretty chill guy.

Yeah, if I had to make this choice, I'd go with J.K.

Don't bother with RadioShack

Best site on the internet for cables/wires/etc?

monoprice.com

Seems to cheap to be real, but I assure you, it is. Need an HDMI cable, but don't feel like spending $50 at Best Buy? Why not get one from monoprice for less than $10?

Just a helpful tip...

A trip to Atlantic City

Went to AC this weekend to see the Disco Biscuits at the House of Blues at the Showboat. Stayed at the Trump Marina.
The best quote I heard at about 4 AM in the lobby of our hotel: "There's more people in the bathroom at the Borgota than there are in the Casino here."

While I did wind up winning about $100 in some low stakes BJ playing for about an hour (it was the 4-5 AM slot post-show, and I'd been up since 7AM), I was disappointed that Trump Marina didn't have a poker room, as I was down for some hold-em.

Trump Marina is one run-down establishment. The parking garage is under construction. The outside pool/recreation area features crumbling concrete, rusted metal, and fenced-off dilapidated areas.
I hit the breakfast buffet a shade before closing just before 11:30 AM. Maybe I should have been sleeping, but with a business and a 2 year old, I just can't sleep till noon anymore. I digress... The host was very nice. Told me to grab a plate, as they would be clearing up soon. The waitress brought me some coffee and OJ, then told me to relax and take my time--enjoy myself. No more than 15 seconds after did she announce last call for the buffet. So much for relaxing... In about 1 minute the entire buffet was cleared away. Probably the most efficient display at the hotel for the brief duration of my stay.

Still had a better stay than the last time I went to see the biscuits in AC. Post show at that trip, one girl ripped my shirt in half, while her friend threw a cocktail in my face. Believe it or not, it wasn't my fault!

The Magic of the Movies

Pixar comes through to fulfill a dying girl's last wish.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31448115/ns/entertainment-movies/

Came across this randomly and just wanted to share it...

NJ Dumb Law #1

"It is illegal to wear a bullet-proof vest while committing a murder."

Because when you're facing a life sentence for murder, the last thing you want is to tack on any extra days to that prison term by taking this unnecessary precaution...

2C:39-13. Unlawful use of body vests

1.Unlawful use of body vests. A person is guilty of a crime if he uses or wears a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, manslaughter, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, kidnaping, criminal escape or assault under N.J.S.2C:12-1b. Use or wearing a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit a crime of the first degree is a crime of the second degree. Otherwise it is a crime of the third degree.

As used in this section, "body vest" means bullet-resistant body armor which is intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection.

L.1983,c.152,s.1; amended 1999, c.306.

Poker Patience

I played in a Full Tilt Poker tournament last night. Having won a 225 person sit and go days before Phish tour, I was able to take a seat in Round 2 in a race for a seat for the World Series of Poker.
This tournament had 277 participants, with the top 2 finishers moving on to the 3rd and final round for a seat to the Main Event.
I finished 4th... Great way to be up until 2 AM...

When you are in a decent chip position, with well over 20 big blinds remaining, and you find yourself in a blind vs. blind situation with the chip leader, and you wake up with pocket 9s, it is not necessary to shove all-in after the chip leader (small blind) makes a modest pre-flop raise. It is acceptable to merely call and see a flop. You will not be happy after investing about 4 hours in an online poker tournament when your all-in is called by the chip leader who has AK. Especially when you see both an A and a K on the flop, and you're left with only your thoughts of what may have been...

You've waded through 273 other participants to get where you've gotten. Chances are you are one of the better players at the table--luck only carries you so far. Play your game. Your night of sleep is already shot anyway. Better to dream of round 3 than have nightmares about coming up short.

Caesar Salad

Want to make a fantastic Caesar Salad? Here goes:



Ingredients:

1 large egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 medium garlic clove, crushed
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste or 4 flat anchovies minced
1 teaspoon capers
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/3 cup virgin olive oil
2 medium heads of romaine lettuce -- outer leaves removed
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese -- grated

Preparation:

Coddle the egg--45 seconds. Remove from heat and let it cool off.

Mix in a bowl:
Worcestershire sauce
lemon juice
garlic
salt & pepper
anchovy
mustard
capers

Crack egg and add to these ingredients.

Whisk until smooth.

Slowly add the oil in a steady stream while constantly whisking again until smooth.
Reason: if you add the oil too quickly, the dressing will be separate and not emulsify.

To serve:

Tear the romaine lettuce into 1-2 inch pieces and add them to a large bowl (wooden if you have one).

Add half the dressing, toss.

Add remaining dressing, Parmesan cheese, and croutons and toss again.

Happy 15th OJ

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the now infamous fleeing of OJ Simpson from police in the white Bronco.
I now direct you to one of my favorite bands, Phish, and their tribute on that very day to the events that transpired.

Welcome

Welcome to a new blog featuring trivial information and random thoughts on impertinent topics.