Sunday Soccer

After starting with breakfast at the Usual, we tried to map out our day. It was starting to get hot early. Paul, Stu, and I were planning on going to the US vs Latvia soccer match up in Hartford. We were debating on bbqing before the heading to the game or mooching off of someone's hibachi at the game. We decided neither. We pan fried some burgers (Paul made his special blend of herbs) and I made my famous guacamole dip for the chips and the burgers and Paul and Stu finished off a six pack of Coronas.

We picked up our fourth, Malcolm in Midtown and headed to Hartford. We stopped at a wonderful Connecticut rest stop that had free coffee, hot dogs and donuts (and other assorted goodies) courtesy of the Eagle Scouts. WE made it to Rentschler Field at about 5. We kicked the soccer ball around in the poison ivy and then headed into the game.

It was a good game. The US should have won by more than 1-0, but where sort of lax in the 2nd half. I guess I would be beat if I played three games in seven days. They have a good team, but are they good enough to make it to the 2nd round with by far the toughest draw. Even if they make it to the 2nd round, they'll probably be the 2nd place (Italy is a better team), then they will have to play most likely Brazil. At least the pressure will be on the the other team!

After the game, since there is only one exit, we bummed around with the Townies that were parked next to us until the road cleared out. Our plan was to drop Stu off at his Aunt's house in South Salem, NY (about 1 1/2 hrs from Hartford on the way back to New York), and head out. But by the time we arrived, it was 11:30, so we took her up on the offer to sleep over.

Paul was his usual witty self and put on his charm, Stu's aunt went to bed, we drank a few and played a little Taboo. Malcolm and I prevailed on my great game playing skills. We ended up playing until 3 in the mornin'.

The next morning we headed back to New York and at the Silver Star Diner which has fed plenty of 80s WWF stars and US presidents.

Good way to end the long weekend.

Seargent Slaughter was here! 

Sunset at the game 

The teams enter the field 

Paul thinking he can do the same 

Malcolm crushing the competition. 

Paul and Malcolm juggling 

Long Distance

I didn't plan on doing much this Memorial Day, but things change. After taking off Friday to get some stuff done, I received a call from my friend Stu. Stu was in Australia for five weeks. He was flying back through NYC, so I invited him to hang around with me this weekend. We didn't do much that night except hang out in Brooklyn. At about midnight, Stu, Paul, and I were chillin' out on Paul's balcony when we decided to call some blasts from the past. First we tried our friend Brian who is a captain in the Army, but no answer. Then we called Feras. He picked up and had a very special guest with him. He ran into a former fraternity brother, Jeremy. I haven't spoken to him in well over five years! We were able catch up. Hopefully, it won't be another five years until I hear from him again!

Then, another fraternity brother, Tebo called Stu. He was at another fraternity brother, Ed's, surprise 30th birthday party. We were able to catch up with them also. Not only was Ed turning thirty, but we also found out his wife, Kate, is pregnant. Congrats man!

Yanks-Mets 2006 Shea Stadium

The mood was high with the Stones winning on Friday night, I could now focus on the Subway series. As we headed over to so Shea Staudium via the subway lines to head to Queens. We had an unusual treat, two junkies on the trains we were on. It makes me wonder how they got to that point. I mean these guys were messed up!

We had beat Perry to the Stadium so we went over to the Fan Fest. We wimped out on trying to see how hard we could pitch. When Perry showed up, we headed inside and we had actually was able to watch BP. I was able to see my favorite Met, David Wright. He is the cornerstone of this franchise and he only makes $330,000!

The game was intense. Pedro pitched a good game. He had total control. Too bad Billy Wagner had to blow the save when the Mets were up 4-0. The enemy came back and won 5-4 in 11 innings.

Pedro in motion 

Oooeeh! 

Paratrooper landing 

Mets tickets 

Mets Fans 

Roy's sentiment towards the Yanks... 

E 91st at the Subway Series 

Delgado BP 

Mets Fan Fest 

Welcome to the Subway Series 

High five 

I apologize to all Piston fans

I feel that I am the reason for the three losses.

Game 1: Wore Pistons Jersey during Bike NY - WIN

Game 2: Wore Spirit of Detroit Jersey while watching the game at home - WIN

Game 3: At wedding, no Pistons garb - LOSS

Game 4: Worked late, missed most of Pistons game and forgot to don Detroit wear - LOSS

Game 5: Played soccer, forgot to bring Pistons gear to game - LOSS

Game 6: Drank plenty of Bushmills, wore Pistons jersey (in fact, the only colors I had on were red, white or blue) - HUGE WIN

Game 7: Will be wearing something Pistons - ????

Tough night

One night of extreme heartache. My soccer team took a 2-1 lead with five minutes left in the game. We blew it. I take the blame on the tying goal. Their winning goal was nobody's fault. It was devastating. We should have won, we outplayed them. Then, the Stones lost...at home. I'm upset...

Here is the Bike NY Video courtesy of Roy Lee

Stadium Arcadium

If you don't have it already, pick up Stadium Arcadium. It is awesome!

Bike NY 2006

There's nothing I like to do better after a long, long, long, looooonnnng week of work, they do a bike tour that is 40 miles! But this is the second year and I was looking forward my one bike ride per year...

The weather was perfect. Clear skies, mid-60s, and no wind (very important when you are on bridges (don't want to fly off). Just like last year there is a huge logjam at the beginning of the tour, for about the first quarter mile. We arrived down there much earlier than last year, so we didn't have to wait as long. The first 5 miles are usually pretty slow and then you hit another logjam right before you head into Central Park. We were able to play a little joke on Roy and loosen his seat. It was pretty funny, he must have put his hand on his seat and didn't notice it well over five minutes until Roy's buddy, Alex, started laughing and Roy finally caught on. The next twenty miles was pretty uneventful until we hit the 4th rest stop, where John Han was "volunteering" and megaphoning the riders how to head to next rest stop. Roy heard his voice and cut over to stop and hang out with him. We ate lunch with John and made fun of him. I did not want to get up and go, but I must finish. I said that we cannot stop anymore, but we did again and again. We actually took it pretty easy and that probably worked out. We finished about the same time as last year. My tush hurt and I was sunburnt but it was a good time!

A much deserved drink

Tupac Wong

Roy's feeling about the Yanks

A long day

On the Verrazano

The Verrazano Bridge

Statue of Liberty

The 2 and 1 timers