The Office:
This weeks was freaking hilarious. The pain between Jim and Pam, the inappropriateness of Michael, Dwight getting a kiss and so on... Such a well done show and I look forward to it being on Thursdays (seems that NBC is getting behind it more). Check the NBC site for the Office holiday party pictures.
New Ringtone:
Decided that The Office theme was a better and more professional ringtone. So Dan and Lee get their own MNF Theme ringtone and the rest of the world can have The Office.
Cal Bears:
6-1 with the full roster back! Powe is looking amazingly quick and agile considering he has had 3 knee surgeries. I am pretty excited about this season thinking it could be a special season. We will see at 9am on Saturday with a game v. Kansas.
Fried Foods:
Bought a deep fryer to make donuts (or is it doughnuts) and am jazzed to use it again. Making fish and chips this weekend (Robin's favorite). There are so many delicious things that need to, and should, be fried.
So here is the start of the newer, lighter DruckSpot. Instead of 3 long posts a week expect a few short blogs a week.
TV:
Thursday nights on NBC will have the Office and My Name is Earl. Way for NBC to actually give a crap about 2 good shows.
My new Phone:
For those of you that know me you know I change my phone out pretty frequently. Just got a new version of the Blackberry (still getting my work mail pushed, which ROCKS). What is the coolest thing about my new phone? Well nice vibrant color screen, faster processor, and EDGE network (quad band) connectivity are all cool and useful. The answer to the aforementioned question is.... mp3 ringtones. This format of a ringtone allows me to have THE COOLEST RINGTONE EVER. So that is cool.
Vegas Baby:
Going in a little over a month!
Cal Bears:
Go Bears!
Long Time no Blog:So the length of time was due to an amazing trip to Hawaii. We were at the Fairmont in Maui for the first 4 days and LOOOOOVED it. H had a great time feeding the fish as well as swimming for several hours a day in the pool and ocean. Kauai was nice but not the best place for a family vacation. H had a really good time BUT just less fun of a place for a kid is all. The weather was ok, so all in all we are going back to Maui next year for a full week. Drucker’s going to Hawaii YAAAAY!WiWS Games 6 and 7:I have lost steam on this subject so here is the synopsis: game 6 the Cards score 4 in the first and the Angels scrap to tie it in the 3rd and take the lead winning game 6 6-4. Game 7, Eckstein leads off the game with a homer, the Angels scrap to score single runs in 4 of the first 5 innings. In the 6th Taguchi hits a 3 run shot followed by another run that inning and that was all she wrote. Cards win in 7 games. My vote is that Eckstein is the MVP of the series. Lee what is your vote?Slingbox:It still rocks extra hard. Love it and am amazed that it is such a simple and wonderful piece of hardware. I love it. Did I mention I love it?Go Bears:The Big Game is this week and it is looking far less like a lock then it was 4 weeks ago. Cal just needs steady play from their QB and we should be a lock. StanfUrd has been playing with far more confidence of late. I hate the Big Game. R and I are mortal enemies and H is in between saying “Go Bears!” and “Go StanfUrd” alternately. Good times.TV Watch:So here is the semi regular update as to what I watch on what nights. Today with a 0-100 score for how good I think the show is (the nightly averages are weighted by length of show):Sunday: The Simpsons (85, much better this year than last), Family Guy (92), American Dad (70, but improving), The West Wing (80, improving as well), L&O Criminal Intent (82), Desperate Housewives (85 and declining, might get dropped by Drucker), Grey’s Anatomy (87, really steady but doesn’t make me cry like my friend the BABY Dan!). – 5.5 hours (Average Night Score of: 82.6) Monday: How I Met Your Mother (90, funny well timed comedy), Prison Break (84, improving but still gimmicky at best). – 1.5 hours (86) – Note that Arrested Development and Kitchen Confidential are not reported. Fox cancelled em so I don’t watch em.Tuesday: Gilmore Girls (90, steady performer), House (just re-added 80), My Name is Earl (85, getting better and better), The Office (96, the last 4 episodes have been the funniest sitcom episodes in some time), Supernatural (75, good and creepy but eh), Law and Order SVU (85). – 5 hours (avg score: with Supernatural – 84.1, without: 86.4).Wednesday: Lost (90), Veronica Mars (93, so much like Buffy and in Robin’s top 5 shows ever, yes EVER), L&O Regular Edition (84, steady performer as well). – 3 hours (avg score: 89). Note: Invasion was recently dropped from my diet.Thursday: The OC (82, just not THAT into it), Survivor (85, good trashy reality TV), Everybody Hates Chris (91, AWSESOMELY funny show), ER (85, good old school fun). – 2.5 hours (avg score: 85)Friday and Saturday: no shows.New Total Show Diet with the inclusion of House: 17.5 hours with an overall average of: 85. So there we go.Upcoming shows to be added: Scrubs!Drucker LOVES TV!
Game 5:
The Angels backs were against the wall and the Cardinals clubhouse staff had the champagne at the ready, hoping to have a chance to end the Busch stadium era with a World Series victory. After the top of the first the champagne was placed back in the fridge as the Angels scored enough to assure that the series would be returning to Anaheim. Both teams started with their aces and prospective Cy Young award winners.
Carpenter couldn't find his stuff early as the Angels began the game with, what has been rare this series, a leadoff single by Figgins. Vlad hit a double with 1 out making it first and third with 1 down. Garrett Anderson hit a fly ball to shallow center but Edmonds throw was up the line and Figgins was able to tag and score. With the expectations that runs were going to be at a premium the Angels dugout was overjoyed, hoping Colon could deliver them back to Anaheim. Following the sacrifice fly the Angels exploded with offense that they hadn't seen since the ALCS, Bengie Molina homered for the second time in 2 games, followed by a homer by Juan Rivera who has been an absolute killer this series. Top of the first ended with the Angels leading 4-0.
Unlike the last game the Angels scoring in the top of an inning was not matched by a similar rally, in fact Colon settled in by pitching 1 hit ball over the first 5 innings. Carpenter settled down as well after his shaky first only allowing a single hit by Colon through the next 5 innings. Through the first 5.5 innings the Angels held a 4-0 lead.
Tony LaRussa started the 6th pinch hitting for Carpenter, a choice that payed off. John Rodriguez came in and promptly homered on the first pitch he got from Colon. Later in the inning the Cardinals continued the rally with 1 out, getting a double from Walker, a single from Pujols (pinch runner Taguchi holding at 3rd), and a double from Edmonds (again Pujols held at 3rd). Colon finally settled down and got the last 2 outs of the inning holding onto the Angels 4-2 lead.
The top of the 8th the Angels got 2 much needed insurance runs via the long ball as Orlando Cabrera hit his second homer of the series, closing out the scoring for the game at 6-2.
The Angels were all smiles as the series heads back to Anaheim where they are hoping for a continuance of this games solid play.
Game 4:
The weather was splendid for the start of game 4. The Angels started a rejuvenated Paul Byrd, finishing the season strong, while the Cards started Matt Morris. Expectations were high for both teams, as the Cards held to a 2 game to 1 lead.
The game was a see-saw battle but the Cardinals rallied, sparked by two former Angels, in the 8th inning the Cards took the lead for good and taking a 3 games to 1 lead in the series. This rally brought the Cardinals 1 game from their first World Series title since 1982 (after losing in their past 3 trips).
The game began auspiciously with Morris hitting Figgins but both pitchers pitched solid 1st innings... and that is when the wheels came off for both teams. Top of the second Morris hit his second batter of the game in Juan Rivera, and then a home run to one of the 2 Molinas playing (Bengie). In the bottom of the same frame, the Cardinals started the inning with double, run scoring single, single, a home run by the OTHER Molina in the game, strike out of Morris, beanings of Eckstein and Walker, and a run scoring single, before Byrd settled down to get the final 2 outs of the 2nd. At the end of this bloodfest inning the Cardinals held a 5-2 lead.
Both pitchers settled in until the 6th when the Angels rallied after getting 2 quick outs scoring 4 runs with 4 consecutive hits bookended by 2 walks. At the end of this rally the Angels held a tenuous 6-5 lead and turned the game over to their to this point steady and solid pen.
Scot Shields pitched 2 solid scoreless innings and handed the ball to Escobar in the 8th. Just as the inning started it was obvious that Escobar did not have his grade A stuff. Getting Jason Marquis, brought in to pinch hit, to fly out... but the wheels were held on with duct tape as Eckstein homered, Walker singled, Pujols doubled, and Edmonds homered. At the end of this the Cardinals were leading 9-6. End of story as the Angels had no rally left in them.
The fans were on the edge of their seats throughout the game and were duly rewarded. The Angels now look to tomorrow as a literal must win. Stay tuned.
Game 3:With the series moving to St. Louis for three games deadlocked the pressure was on both teams. Suppan and Washburn take the hill for their respective clubs and the expectations were for some offense.This game was pressure packed until the final outs as the Angels put on a late rush but were turned away with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th, failing to capitalize and walking away 4-2 losers.The Angels opened the scoring in the 2nd with 3 singles in the inning, but like the rest of the series the failed to get the big inning when given the chance. The Cards took advantage in the 3rd with Suppan helping his own cause with a single, scoring on a 2 out triple by Grudzielanek. Suppan was running with the pitch and scored easily ahead of the throw from Garret Anderson, getting a start in center due to Finley’s ineffectiveness and Rivera’s solid play in the LCS.In the 5th Suppan again helped himself out by bunting Nunez over to second which allowed him to score on the former Angel Eckstein’s single to left. Again clutch batting helps out the Cards as with 2 outs Pujols doubles to left scoring Eckstein. After 5 innings the Cardinals held a 4-2 lead.Suppan pitched a gritty and gutsy game with 8 solid innings. The ninth was exciting as Suppan was pulled in favor of Isringhausen. Isi got the first out and then it got exciting. The fun began with a single for Juan Rivera (with him going 4-4 for the game), followed by singles by Erstad and Kennedy. With the bases loaded and only 1 out, the Angels pinch hit for the pitcher with Robb Quinlan who promptly hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the game. Once again the Angels lack of clutch hitting came back and bit them with the Cardinals taking a 2-1 series lead with 2 more games on their home field.Stay tuned!
WhatIfBaseball:In an never before seen move the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and St. Louis Cardinals agreed to play games 2 and 3 on the same day, in different cities. The fans are ecstatic, the players are giddy, the airlines are rich, so in the immortal words of Mr. Cub – ‘Let’s play two!’Game 2:The game began as much as a ‘must win’ as possible for the Angels. Going in they knew that for them to stand a chance they would need a quality game from Lackey. Lackey had been the most consistent start for the Angels over the final weeks of the season as well as the playoffs so confidence was relatively high going in.Game 2 was a struggle and tug of war, with 4 lead changes and 3 ties, requiring late inning heroics from Vlad to nail down the 5-4 win for the Angels.
From the outset it looked like the 2 starters weren’t long for the game. Lackey began the game by hitting the 2nd batter and proceeding to give up consecutive doubles, allowing the Cards to take a 2-0 leat after ½ and inning. Fortunately The Angels were able to put a 3 spot on the board in their half, starting the scoring by a misplayed ball at third. With the bases loaded and no outs Garret Anderson hit a ground ball to Nunez who attempted to cut down Figgins at home, Figgins slid in safely to put the Angels on the board. Later in the inning Erstad hit a 2 out double plating 2 more closing the scoring in the first with the Angels leading 3-2.With the shakey first innings behind the pitchers both settled in and dealt. The Cards were able to post a single run in the 3rd, thanks to a bases loaded walk. The Angels were able to scrap a go-ahead run in the fifth with a homer from Orlando Cabrera. With the Angles leading 4-3 in the 7th, Shields was called from the pen and yielding 1 un-earned run due to a misplayed ball by Anderson in left. Deadlocked at 4 the Angels turned to their bread and butter, little ball. Kennedy led the inning with a single. He was then bunted over by Figgins, and with 2 outs Vlad drove him home with a clutch double. The relievers held serve the rest of the game with K-Rod coming in and pitching a 1 out save in the 9th, preserving the game 2 win for the Angels. Series tied 1-1, with game 3 later that day in St. Louis.
Game 2?I think Lee is chicken as I wanted to play games 2 and 3 of the (as Dan calls it) WiWS but he blew me off. Looks like the Cards are clucking!Confessions of a Former Leadfoot:Drove from here to Marin to visit my sister and I came to the conclusion that driving a hybrid does wonderful things for both the environment, and my overly aggressive driving habits. When I had the V6 I would have a VERY heavy foot in both acceleration and top speed. On the highway I would generally drive at about 75-80 and generally exceeded the posted limit, wherever, by 10 mph. Since owning the Prius I rarely exceed the speed limit, choosing mileage over speed. In spending some time on the Prius bulletin boards this is pretty common. So there we go… I am now working on the first 50mpg tank in my car’s history. I like mileage!Lame post, eh?
Regular Scheduled Boring Stuff:
A couple of weeks ago the family went over to Dan’s house with his new dog Cosmo. Peanut had a great time playing with Cosmo until he kind of puppy mauled her. He jumped on her and proceeded to lightly bite her shoulder. All of this wasn’t too traumatizing, and again this was 2 or so weeks ago. R was getting her dressed this morning and as she was putting her shirt on Peanut looked at the shirt and said “This is the shirt Cosmo bit, my shoulder hurt.” Lo and behold it was the same shirt.
Dungeons and Dragons for Baseball Fans:
Over a series of discussions today with Lee (diehard Cardinals fan) we decided to play a mock World Series with my beloved Angels and his Cards. At first via WhatIfSports I had the computer simulated the series for me and the Angels took it in 7 hard fought games, including 2 home team walk off wins (game 7 being one of them). Well this was fun and all but some of the decisions seemed odd, so what did Lee and I decide to do? We are going to simulate the WS with us as managers (simulating Lee as Tony LaRussa, and me as Mike Scioscia, duh). What follows is a recap of the first game we played this evening. To be clear Lee and I are going to be conscious of innings pitched by relievers so to simulate as best we can what might have happened.
It was wonderful weather for the start of the game. 5:05pm west coast time start. The pitching match up was: Colon v. Carpenter, ace v. ace. What more could you ask for?
Here are the highlights:
The Cards got to Colon early which is the key. In the 2nd inning after getting 2 runners on with 1 out the Cardinals got 3 consecutive hits to post a 3 spot on Colon and the Angels. Then in the 3rd Pujols lead off with a double, Colon walked Jim Ed (btw, I hate him), Walker hit into a 4-6-3 double play that for some reason Pujols failed to score on only to be followed with a single by Reggie Sanders to score him.
Score after 2.5 – Cardinals 4 – Angels 0
Bottom of the 3rd Casey Kotchman goes yard to put the Angels on the board and break up the no hitter and shut out (yeah it was just the 3rd inning but still).
Colon starts grooving setting down the Cards in order in the 4th, 5th and 6th. The Angels really failed to post much of an effort wasting a lead off double by one of the 3 Molinas in the game (Bengie).
Top of the 7th the other Molina in the starting lineup (Yadier) gets a single and Virtual Scioscia goes to the pen and taps Donnelly who gets 3 quick outs (7 pitches).
Bottom 7, Molina leads off the inning with another double (probably an inside the park homer for any other player in baseball) and once again is stranded.
Score after 7 – Cards 4 – Angels 1
Top 8 Donnelly continues his groove and sets the Cards down in order (11 pitches). Then the Angles blow it again: lead off triple by Figgins, then ground out, line out, ground out to strand him.
9th inning was pointless as both teams were set down in order.
Cards Win! Tough loss for the Angels who batted: 0-9 with a runner in scoring position.
Cards took home field away and look to game 2 with the pitching match up of Mulder v. Lackey.
Here is the box score:
Sure I am no sportswriter, I am barely an English writer, but stay tuned for Game 2, whenever that occurs. I also invite Lee to recap the game from his perspective in the comments.
Football, Family, SlingBox:Spent the weekend with the in-law family in Monterey and had a blast. We all went to the aquarium and Peanut enjoyed the scuba divers in the big tank cleaning the glass the best. Saturday evening we all went out to dinner, then back to the hotel and struggled to get Peanut to sleep (45 minutes but she went down). About 45 minutes after Peanut went down the fire alarm went off and we all had to evacuate the hotel. After we spent 45 minutes out in the cold we got to go back in. Peanut went on to say as we were going back in: “first we went to dinner, then stories and milk, then do a deer, then sleep, then fire.” She now will also say what the alarm said “do not take the elevator, take the stairs.”Football and SlingBox you ask? The hotel didn’t have FSN so I was able to watch the game by using the SlingBox, and it ROCKED! R and I also were able to watch 2 of our shows while Peanut took her nap. Have I mentioned that SlingBox ROCKS?TV:Desperate Housewives, Lost, Invasion, Veronica Mars all confuse me. That is it. I am just confused easily I guess.Halloween:Peanut will either be a princess or Dora, possibly a princess wearing a fireman’s hat. Don’t ask.Short and sweet. 1 week and 1 day until I am on the island!
Sucky World Series:It all ends with 2 horribly uninspiring teams are playing in this years WS. I cannot imagine anyone outside of the north side of Chicago or the city of Houston caring about this. I guess there is intrigue as one team has a shot at winning their first and the other team has a chance of winning their first since 1917, otherwise ugh. Lee says that people who appreciate good pitching would appreciate this. I say Lee is a sucker. Go Angels! Surgery:It was today and wow what a big hunk of flesh was removed from my leg. The surgery went quite well and the doctor is pretty confident that all is well. I get to swim in Hawaii which wasn’t a concern until the doctor told me not to go in the water for 2 weeks. Well 2 weeks from today I go to Hawaii, phew. I decided that since I am now a cancer survivor, albeit a bland form of non-life threatening cancer, that I should get a bracelet. Since as previously described this is the good type of cancer I vote my bracelet is beige. Beige for bland.Prius Update:I think I am approaching a 48mpg tank of gas. I am pretty jazzed about it and am in the process of increasing my familiarity with the car itself. Lots of cool nerd toys. TV Time:Dan did note that I only commented on the NEW shows that Drucker watches and likes. Well Here is a list of the old shows that would get an A from Drucker: - The Office
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Arrested Development
- Veronica Mars
- Gilmore Girls (yes guys I know on the last 2 shows it makes me some kind o f a chick)
- Family Guy
- Grey’s Anatomy
- The Daily Show
Each of these aforementioned shoes would easily get an A or A- from Drucker. These are shows that I would not stop watching until they are cancelled (or for the Family Guy, cancelled again).Here is my new and improved TV diet:Monday: Arrested Development, Kitchen Confidential, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother - 2.5 hours
Tuesday: Gilmore Girls, My Name is Earl, The Office, Supernatural, The Amazing Race, L&O SVU, WSOP (almost over) - 6 hours
Wednesday: Veronica Mars, Lost, Invasion, L&O - 4 hours
Thursday: Survivor, The OC, Alias, Everbody Hates Chris, ER - 3.5 hours
Friday: Nothing!
Saturday: Nothing
Sunday: Extras, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Simpsons, Family Guy, West Wing, American Dad, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy - 4.5 hours
4 days a week of The Daily Show and a couple of the Colbert Report. So basically I now watch about 24 hours a week. Good times.So as noted from yesterday’s blog and the above paragraph I have been watching Supernatural. It is an odd, offbeat and extra creepy show dealing with the solving of certain urban legends (so far Bloody Mary and next week the campfire tale of the man with a hook hand). This week’s was extra creepy and really quite graphic. The amusing thing is that one of the characters is supposedly from StanfUrd and the end of the episode they played All Right Now which brought about the following conversation: Me: “what the heck?”R:”This is my favorite show EVER”Me:”Just because they play your lame fight song?”R: “Lame is the new cool.”Me: “That was lame.”R:”No THAT was cool.”The good thing is that recounting this conversation is not nearly as funny as I originally thought it was.
Blog Update:Actually busy thus the lack of blogs. I appreciate Dan and Lee expressing concern and interest in when the next ‘episode’ of this blog would appear. Well here we go, prepare to be bored silly.Baseball:Could the Angels have done much less in an effort to win the series they were playing in? Team batting average: .175, Team OBP: .200, and only 11 runs. The Angels allowed the White Sox to get 4, count them 4, consecutive complete games. It was just a dreadful series, very frustrating to watch as an Angels fan. The number of blown umpire calls that went agains them was also very hard to overcome. There is always next year. The hot stove league is one of my favorite times of year. It will be interesting to see what Arte can pull out of his hat.
In the other series it is getting interesting. The last time a team hit a homer in game 5, while trailing (later than the 8th inning), was the miserable Boston Red Sox in 1986. So looking forward the Cards will win the series v. the Astros and then go on to lose the World Series in dramatic fashion. Let them play, let them play… So Bill Simmons made a reference I had been thinking about for days. Day late dollar short.Medical Information:So I go under the knife tomorrow morning to get more of the lesion excised. It should be good times for all. The dermatologist feels as if it will only take 30 minutes but I am SO not looking forward to this. Stay tuned.Slingbox!!!!!:
I am extra stoked about this device, still. I figured out how to use it from behind a firewall (not saying where I would need this), and am getting really good quality now that I updated my internet service provider. Got Comcast to install the cable and WOW it is fast. I am intrigued to see what kind of stuff I can view while in Monterey this upcoming weekend. Again I preach the good things about this device to all who will hear it. Are you guys at Slingmedia reading this? I am your newest and biggest fan. I am still trying to figure out how many 1st degree (friends of mine) or 2nd degree (friends of friends) TiVos I have sold. My guess is that I have gotten about 20 people to buy one. I’m just saying is all… I am going to do a blog of the appliances in my home in order of importance.Poker:So the WSOP is on ESPN and they are in the main event. Last week’s episode had 2 of the most amazing early hands I have ever seen. First, Jennifer Harman had Queens full and lost to a guy that sucked out a straight flush on runner runner, BRUTAL. Then Amid Farhidi has AT v. Kate Hudson’s brother who had TT. Flop comes AAT giving Farhidi the nuts. Well Hudson’s brother goes all in and loses on the first hand of the tournament.TV:I like TV. The Entertainment Weekly issue that notes the 5 shows to be watching just came out. The shows are: - Everybody Hates Chris – been watching this since the outset and it is really quite good. Takes place in 1982 but doesn’t use the time as a real gimmick. Drucker gives it an A.
- My Name is Earl – Jason Lee is hilarious. The show is quite offbeat. Drucker gives this a B+, it needs to find legs.
- Prison Break – gritty, dark, well shot, reasonably well acted. I like it but find it a bit disappointing based on my previous love of the show Oz which was far more realistic. Drucker gives this a B.
- Supernatural – very X-filesish. Just watched one episode and liked it but not quite sold on it. Drucker gives it a C/C+.
- How I Met Your Mother – funny and getting funnier. The timing is improving with each episode, and Doogie as a womanizer is funny stuff. Drucker gives it an A-.
Other shows of note: - I am not watching Alias anymore. Just got bored of it.
- The Office is getting funnier and funnier. I pray that they don’t cancel it.
- Speaking of canceling I am praying that Arrested Development can stick around for a few more weeks, I fear that it is on it’s last legs. Stupid people in middle America not understanding witty comedy.
- Scrubs is back soon!
Baseball:So what is the deal… Last nights game could not have sucked much more. In watching the replays and the interviews with the umpires I am even more frustrated. But that is sports. Have I mentioned ugh yet? Go Angels!Video iPod:
So Dan asked me to provide my feedback on the new video iPod v. other technologies out there. Here are the viable portable video media technologies as I see them: the video iPod, the PSP, portable windows media players, and Archos media players. In brief… the iPod is cool but $1.99 an episode is really expensive, no real ability to port captured videos over to it, and no ability to fast-forward or rewind the videos, I say no! The PSP, no hard drive, only uses proprietary disc formats but has a killer screen, no until they come out with a hard drive and then maybe. Archos are cool, relatively inexpensive (by portable media standards), and can record just like a PVR (or take videos from your computer), I vote a big maybe but I think that the transfer of data is tough. The last is the portable Windows Media Player - very cool, easy to port video and long battery life. The only real issue is that the Windows Media PCs are far too expensive to be a viable PVR choice. Once the prices come down the portable Windows player and Windows Media PCs it just isn’t practical. So there, are you happy Dan?Peanut Update:She has spent 3 nights in a row in her princess bed. We have been impressed that she cries out but stays in bed. We aren’t sure how long this will last, BUT… Go Peanut!
Slingbox:So this thing IS super cool, still. My love of this device has yet to wane. I was able to access it from my office which was neat. I am working to improve the bandwidth from my house. According to the people at Slingmedia if I can up my speed to somewhere around 512k up I will be good to go for remote viewing of my TiVo. Currently my DSL stinks on ice: 400 down, 100 up. SBC cannot improve my speed due to crappy old copper here in the RWC. Drucker is a genius though (and not sure why it took this neat invention to get me to be so smart). So here is the gameplan: - getting a cable modem installed on Friday which will give me 6 megabits down, 768k up
- once I get the cable modem installed I am going to call SBC and get them to start work on getting me up on their fiber optic line (they have to shut my DSL down for a week to do the work)
- I will then be able to evaluate between which is faster and more stable over the 3 weeks (the cable and DSL will allow me to cancel after a month)
All this being said I will have faster internet and the ability to watch TV anywhere. Go TV!Football:I refuse to talk about the game this past Saturday. I am jus that mature.Baseball:
I do not refuse to talk about this. The Angels played an amazing series capped off by an incredible game. Tonight’s game was pure grit by the Angels. Colon leaves after pitching 1 inning, Santana (a 22 year old) comes in and gives up 2 runs quickly, then the Angels claw back into it and take the game and series. It was just a phenomenal game. Go Angels. They have to fly to Chicago tonight and are playing 21 hours after the game ended. Someone said that the Angels will play 3 games in 3 different cities, traveling 7200 miles. Go Angels!TV:Drucker loves TV.
Slingbox:
Officially the coolest thing EVER. Bought it and installed it. It is a remarkable piece of technology. The installation is 4 steps: hook up the AV from the TiVo to the box, hook up the ethernet cable from the router to the box, hook the IR blaster up in front of the TiVo, and then just run the set-up wizard and ta-da! There are a couple of idiosyncratic things that I had to do because the TiVo I have it set-up to is an HDTiVo, but wow it is just a cool and amazing thing. Have I said wow yet? So now I am pretty sure I will be able to watch TV anywhere I have internet access. I have been waiting for technology to catch up to my love of TV. Guess what, it did.
Baseball:
Series is tied 1-1, Randy Johnson Pitching tonight, game in NYC. Should be interesting. Paul Byrd has been dealing lately so I think the pitching matchup is more or less a draw, but, it is Randy Johnson. The Angels just need to get some offense going. I am figuring that whoever wins game 3 takes the whole series (not that big of a stretch). Go Angels.
TV:
Didn't I just write about this? Watched this weeks episode of Lost last night and I am more confused than I was before. The people on the other side of the island are part of the plane, the dude in the bunker, the computer thing, Locke's personal life with the voice of Leela from Futurama. I am confused. What further causes me grief and problems is that Invasion follows it and that show might confuse me even more. I hate when TV confuses me. I am dumb I guess.
Peanut Update:
So she is officially potty trained. YAY. We have a Princess Bed en route. the bed thing will be interesting, she likes to play a going to be game where she gets put down and then calls to us. This game only takes like 15 minutes but when she has the chance to get out of where she is lying down, well we shall see.
WSOP:
Good poker on TV. The Main Event starts on ESPN next week. Even though I know the outcome and know more or less how everything happened I am still quite excited about this.
So the updates have been lacking over the past few days due to a few things: - not much of interest going on
- family in town
- religious holiday
So now I am back and have a few things to report on.
Cool Toy:
How could I have never thought to get this invention: Slingbox. This thing looks like it is the coolest thing since TiVo. So TiVo allows one to timeshift (i.e., watch a show whenever you want not when the network tells you to). The Slingbox allows you to not only timeshift but placeshift (i.e., watch your TiVo'd shows ANYWHERE!!!). Again how do I not have this YET? This allows one to manage and set their TiVo remotely as well as watch TV at work. Shhhhhhh.
Baseball:
Last night's game kinda stunk. Colon gets 2 outs then proceeds to give up 4 straight hits (each batter had 2 strikes on them). Just a frustrating loss where the Angels failed to get anything going offensively. Hopefully they can win tonight as they have Lackey going. Go Angels!
Football:
Cal looked flat against UofA which is a bit concerning with the UCLA game coming up this weekend. Ayoob needs to step to the plate and show that he is both a solid QB and a leader. UCLA will more than likely dare him to throw and he needs to exploit that fact. UCLA are 2 point picks and ugh..... The good thing is that UCLA looked pathetically bad v. UW (worst team in the PAC-10). So maybe they are a bit overrated and we can sneak out of LA 6-0. Go Bears!
TV:
So I finally decided to own up to the massive amount of TV that I actually watch so here is the run-down day by day of what Drucker watches:
Monday: Arrested Development, Kitchen Confidential, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother - 2.5 hours
Tuesday: Gilmore Girls, My Name is Earl, The Office, The Amazing Race, L&O SVU, WSOP - 6 hours
Wednesday: Veronica Mars, Lost, Invasion, L&O - 4 hours
Thursday: Survivor, The OC, Alias, Everbody Hates Chris, ER - 4.5 hours
Friday: Nothing!
Saturday: Nothing
Sunday: Extras, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Simpsons, Family Guy, West Wing, American Dad, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy - 5.5 hours
Total: 22.5 hours. More than a halftime job.
Here are the shows that will more than likely be purged in advance on a trip to Hawaii (4 weeks from today): Alias, The OC, West Wing. Bringing me closer to a 19.5 hours. The other things to consider is that during the baseball playoffs all the Fox shows are in re-run mode, or just not on at all. Also the WSOP is only on for another month or so. So basically I don't watch any TV. Yay Slingbox!
Prius Much:So I took the Prius to a body shop that was recommended by the Toyota Dealer in Redwood City. They gave me a pretty decent estimate, for the scratches they have to pull off the bumper, bondo or something, then repaint and clear coat it. I called the very nice and honest lady that scraped my car and she is going to pay out of pocket. This probably is a good thing for me as I already have a claim in from the accident I am actually at fault for. So the Prius will be almost brand new again very soon. Anybody have a name idea for my car?Passat not so Much:I sold the Passat to the VW dealer today. I did get boned but not TERRIBLY bad. I asked for a dollar amount, they offered me $1000 less than that amount I wanted, I played kinda hardball and said I really wanted that grand. They walked out and then came back offering to split the difference AND a free detailing. So I took it. I suck at that. I really should never bargain for anything, EVER.
The most amusing thing to me about this whole process was my driving the Passat back to the dealer. I have been driving the Prius now for 2 weeks (420 miles and still have yet to fill it up). I got behind the wheel of the Passat and began very gently pressing the gas, coasting to stops, just being rather gentle. It is just amusing to me how 2 weeks of being environmentaly concious changes years of agressive driving habits.
The Office:So Dan here is the review of The Office from Tuesday. Those of you that know me know I keep my TiVo clean – watch it, then delete it. This weeks office was so funny and great that it is being saved for a while. Not forever, but a while at least. David Koechner guest starred and the entire episode was a series of incredibly uncomfortable moments (the title was ‘Sexual Harassment’). The entire episode was a series of highly inappropriate jokes and comments. I have not laughed or cringed so much watching 30 minutes of TV ever, or at least recently.Lost:So I am watching this week's episode and yep I feel dumb.Moviefone:I am very excited that Serenity is coming out this weekend. Big BIG Joss Whedon fan. I am so stoked about it. Drucker loves movies!Sports:Yeah the Angels!
Prius 5, Drucker 1:
So I have officially outsmarted both my car and my existing cell phone. I have a new Prius, duh, and my current phone is a Blackberry 7290 (which has Bluetooth). One of the many cool things in the Prius is an integrated phone system that works with most Bluetooth capable cell phones. Unfortunately there is an odd issue with the 7290 that doesn't allow you to send your phonebook to the car. Having the phonebook in the car allows you to use 1 touch dialing from the car's MFD (multi-function display) while the car is moving. Well here is where I get smart (or smarter than usual). I checked the internet for a solution and and there were a bunch involving the use of a computer and an external Bluetooth dongle and so on… I thought about it and realized thatI have an old Bluetooth capable phone that I had when I was an ATT Wireless customer. This phone has no functions without a sim card (small microchip card that tells the network who you are). I checked on eBay and found that I could get an ATT sim card for $4. Got the card, uploaded my phonebook to my phone and then uploaded my phonebook from my phone to my car. So now I am on the scoreboard. Take that Japanese technology.3 men, 1 phone call, and the internet:So Dan, Lee and I were instant messaging to determine a plan for the football game this weekend. Then Dan and I began talking on the phone while we instant messaged with Lee (essentially all we were doing was listening to each other type). Finally Dan was able to do a 3-way phone call with Lee and me. This phone conversation deteriorated to a pissing match between me and Dan about our car’s technology. I am pretty sure that the only place Dan won is on the point that he can remotely roll down his windows. I win overall because my car is $20k less expensive, more technologically advanced (Bluetooth anyone), and gets well over 2x the mileage than his grandma-mobile. This was the end result of 30 minutes of my life that I will never retreive (I can only imagine how Lee felt). So, basically we are all idiots and made no solid plans. I cannot wait to read the comments on this one.
Magic Numbers:The Angel’s magic # is 2. Which means if they win 1 more game v. the A’s they clinch the division. If they lost at this point I would give up on them forever (overstatement yes, but come on). UPDATE: Clinched it. Take that A's. Take that rest of the AL. The Angels can now rest their weary pitchers and position players for the playoffs.
Passat:It is going away on Thursday. Man I am going to get boned.H's Favorite Music:So for some reason H has fallen in love with the song Funky Town. She just loves it and can sing it fairly well, quite cute. So now when we drive it is no longer: Wiggles, Elmo, and Laurie Berkner, it is: Car Wash, Funkytown, Outkast, EWF and so on. Such a nice transition.TV:Tonight Amazing Race starts which is my favorite and best reality show. Love it. Stay tuned. We watched the Desperate Housewives premiere last night and yet again I am confused by a show. Alfrie Woodard has a person locked in the basement? WTF? Was that cell there when they bought the house? Are she and her son eerily flirty with each other? I am lost, and confused and well an idiot. But, I love TV.
Prius Update:So today I am parked at this event for my synagogue. I was hanging out with my exhausted daughter when someone walks up and asks if the black Prius is mine. In the process of finding a parking spot 2 blocks away she butchered her parallel parking and scraped the heck out of the driver’s side rear bumper (the corner). The amazing thing is that she owned up to it, just impressively honest to me. I got her info and was able to clean most of the scratch but still…. the freaking car is 4 days old. So I am going to find out the cost for a new bumper cover (that is what it is called) and see if she wants to deal with insurance or pay out of pocket. What a freaking pain. On Tuesday I am going to get bent over selling back my Passat. Quite a loss I will take.Baseball Update:Well 1 week left, a 4 game lead. If I were a fan of any team other than the Angels I would feel moderately confident right now (well maybe the Cubs). The Angels have blown other leads before so these next 4 games are going to be the key. The Angels really just need to take 1 of the 4 against the A’s (which would give them a 2 game lead with 3 to play). Although that would suck I am hopeful.Poker on TV:So for the 3 or 4 people that read my blog yesterday, remember how I commented that I hate Celebrity Poker Showdown? Ok so today because of 2 things (1) I am an idiot, and 2) I am a complete idiot) I found myself watching the Championship Tournament of CPS. The players were: Kathy Najimy (surprisingly good player but oddly uncomfortable playing), Cheryl Hinds (funny as all hell), Stephen something (from 7th Heaven), the dude from Tilt on ESPN, and Andrew Firestone (The Bachelor). Ridiculously bad (but better than the other episode) poker. Why do I watch that crap? Oh yeah I am an idiot! Btw… I didn’t even see who won.TV in General:Watched Curb and Extras tonight. Curb was Curb which is funny and odd and funny. Makes you appreciate Seinfeld a bit as Larry David IS George. Well, it also makes you less than appreciate the acting that Jason Alexander did as he just aped LD. Then Extras. Freaking hilarious. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant got Kate Winslet in a nun’s habit to curse and speak astoundingly raunchy. Just a great concept for a show well executed.
Go Bears:
Last night Cal played NMSU and looked great early then flattened out in the middle and finally stepped it up a bit late. Nice to see that Forsett can step up with Marshawn injured. I am pretty sure that it is 15 or 16 straight games with a 100 yard rusher. Longest stretch in the NCAAs right now. Go Bears. Today I wore a Cal shirt, with a script Cal on it. Hannah looked at it and asked to wear her Cal hat. Smart girl!
2 teams ranked ahead of Cal lost this week so my hope is Cal jumps to 11. The Purdue v. Minn game rocked. 2OT. Minnesota scoring in the 1st OT (Purdue scored a TD on their 1st possession) on a 4th down to extend it to a 2nd. Then they hold Purdue on a 4th down after they had scored a TD in their possession. The other team that lost was Louisville.
They got blown out by South Florida. I was jazzed as, like Utah, they are just a flavor of the week with a spread offense and no defense. Each of these teams (do you hear me Texas Tech) needs to get taken down a notch or 3. The other game I watched was the SC v. Oregon game. Ummm I had thoughts early in the 1st half that SC wasn't that good. Guess what? I was DEAD WRONG. Their offense is sick. We have a chance of being 9-0 when we face them and I honestly think we could just get flat blown out. I hate SC.
Poker:
So whenever there isn't anything on TV and I am surfing channels I can always rely on one of the MILLION poker shows on TV now. Today, again, I was suckered into watching Celebrity Poker Showdown. First problem with it is I hate, no rational reason, Phil Gordon. On the other hand I love Dave Foley as a comedian, as a poker commentator he is worse than Vince VanPatten, which says a lot! The celebrities that they get for this thing crack me up. One episode starred: Rosie O'Donnell, Penny Marshall, Travis Tritt, Mo Gaffney, Eddie Cibrian (starred on the poker drama on ESPN called Tilt). I had to shut this episode off after 3 hands. Eddie Cibrian took down all 3 and it with aggressive play. The killer was watching Rosie and Penny play. Penny Marshall kept referring to an order of hands card to determine how to play. Why would someone go on this show to embarrass themselves like this? But the greatest episode of poker ineptitude was the one with reality TV stars such as: Charla (Amazing Race), Trishelle (MTV Real World Las Vegas), Andrew Firestone (The Bachelor), Jonny Fairplay (Survivor) and Omarosa (The Apprentice). So what made this episode so spectacular? Well I watched an hour and the only entertaining aspect of it was Jonny and Omarosa's obvious hatred of each other. For the hour I watched not 1, I mean ZERO, hands were raised pre-flop. It was the most passive poker that I have ever seen. I am by no means a great NLHE player BUT I would have made a ton of dough off these people. Celebrities choosing to go on this show should at least watch 1 of the 400 hours of poker televised every week! Thank Dan for this poker rant!
TV My Friend:
First off I am sooo stoked about both Curb and Extras tomorrow night. Thursday nights are booked with: Survivor, ER, The OC, Reunion, Everybody Hates Chris, and Alias. Survivor so far has been great. First, Gary Hogeboom is one of the survivors and he is lying to everyone telling them he is a landscaper. One of the people from the opposing tribe works in sports radio and last week called him out a little. Should be intriguing. This season of Survivor has been brutal for the contestants, which to me is entertaining. The OC - a solid formula for a night time soap. Just loving this season with the drama etc.... Watching ER as I type and it is ER. Just ER. Still a show I enjoy but it is getting to the point that they have to end this show as it is just the same stuff over and over, albeit intriguing. Stay tuned for Drucker's thoughts on Extras and Curb.
Other Sports Stuff:
Baseball: The Angels are leading now and hopefully on their way to their 8th straight. Good time to start playing really well. Monday they start a 4 game set against the A's and I have hopes that the Angels can at least hold their 4 game lead so that all they really need is to win 1 of 4. My fingers are still crossed.
iPod Update:
So today Genentech gave out the iPod Nanos they promised us a couple of weeks back. Originally we had 2 choices to make when the announcement was made - color (Black or White) and whether it would be delivered or pick it up. In one my many genius decisions I chose to pick it up at work, thinking I would get it in a faster manner. The pick up date was today, all the people that had 'em delivered received them FedEx on Monday. So the place to pick them up was a short walk from where I work, I headed up to see that there was a 1.5 hour line. Holy crap! People were burning 1.5 hours of their work day to pick up a present? All of you who read this know I am a lazy person but not a lazy fool! I chose to go on my way home when I had to only wait 5 minutes. By the way the Nano is FREAKING SMALL! Good job Apple.
Prius Update:
Still completely in love with my car. Got 45mpg today to and from work. I expect that the final tally will rest somewhere around 48ish for my highway driving.
Peanut Update:
Still a silly silly little girl. Still using and liking to use the potty, which make us happy. Tonight as I was rocking her to sleep tonight she started her "More" game to get me to sing do a deer again (why anyone would want me to sing MORE is beyond me, I guess that is unconditional love for you). When it was time for the last one I said "Peanut, this is the last one and if you stay up too late no dance class tomorrow." She looks up at me, takes the pacifier out of her mouth and says: "Daddy, if I cry, no dance class, the teacher will be sad, she will have moco (spanish for mucus or snot)." By the way she starts her tap and ballet tomorrow. Stay tuned.
TV Update:
Tonight is the #2 big night of TV for the week. Good stuff. I LOOOOVE TV!
Baseball Update:
Yeah the Angels! 3 game lead with like 10 to go. Magic number is 8. I like baseball again.
Prius Day 1:
Wow it is an amazingly cool car. Smooth acceleration, lots of toys, I am still trying to figure the whole kit and kaboodle out but thus far rather pleased. The car made the 30 mile drive from San Jose and got a solid, not spectacular, 41 mpg. Should improve with better driving habits. Have I mentioned how AWESOME it is?
TV:
Watched The Office last night and loved it. Watched My Name is Earl tonight and loved it. Currently in the middle of watching Lost. Great show but like the X-Files before I feel dumb watching it. These complex plots are great but I get confused and tired of being made to feel stupid. But hey that is my burden, right?
Sports:
At this point the Angels are about to stretch their lead to 2.5 games over the A's but with so many games still to play I am SO not counting my chickens yet. I hate baseball. :)
Peanut:
Nothing new, she is just a silly silly girl. R has let her use her tap shoes on the tile in the family room and she has surprisingly good dance skills already (takes after R, ya think?). She starts her dance class on Friday so stay tuned.
Peanut Update:
So if you have been reading this blog, and I have no idea why you would, you have been getting updates about the progress with H and the potty. So the entire chronology began in Hawaii last December when she first started to go here and there on the potty. The entire process ebbed and flowed, on again-off again... Finally in the past week she has shown an interest so much so that she has been wearing big girl underwear all week. Not only that but she wakes up with a dry diaper, as well as if we go out. Today what are the big happenings? Well she told us 2 or 3 times that she had to go pee on the potty, and then... She proceeded to go poop on the potty for really the first time ever. Not the biggest thing ever BUT wow, YAY. When she went poop R said: "I might cry, happy tears." H replied: "No don't cry, just do poo poo in the potty dance." At which R did exactly that, not entirely sure where it came from but she had a dance in her.
Also she has become quite helpful in the kitchen (more than I can say about R). She has begun to really enjoy watching and spending time in there when I am cooking. Especially enjoying the process of rolling the cookies in her hands, knowing not to put her hands in her mouth while she cooks.
Car Update:
Good news for the impatient Drucker. Car is in. Car is being detailed. Going to get the car tomorrow, thanks Ken! Tomorrow there should be some snazzy pics of my new whip!
Sports:
The Angels are finally playing really well but the A's are also playing well. Should make for a VERY exciting final 2 weeks.
Stanford lost their home opener to UC Davis, a Division II school. So me and the guys that I go to football games with have hatched a plan to get UC Davis shirts for the Big Game. So the idea is to get the UCD shirts then silk screen onto the back the score of the UCD v. StanfUrd game as well as a quote from Jim Rome saying essentially that the loss by Stanford was the worst loss in the history of college football. Hyperbole aside this ROCKS.
Fantasy football update: So I actually won 2 games this week. I suck!
Minor Rant:
So there is this show on ESPN called Road to Glory or something like that. Dick Butkus is taking the head coaching job for his old HS football team, at least I think it is his old team. So does Butkus have any real coaching experience, other than the fictional coach on Hang Time (the show with the basketball court that couldn't have been longer than 60 feet, and they had a girl on the team, and they won state, and then they had Reggie Theus as their head coach), then head coach of the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL. That is all. Just seems quite odd.
Prius Update:
I think that waiting for this car is how I am being punished for mis-deeds in another life. I am a horribly impatient person when it comes to getting new toys and here I have to wait as each day the dealer tells me it should be in. ARGH.
Speaking of Argh:
This be Talk Like a Pirate Day, mateys! So fer as long as this swabbie can tolerate it thar blog shall be written like a pirate. Arrrrrrrrr.
A Bounty of Gold:
OK I am tired of it. I tire easily. Today I was bouncing around the web pretending to work when I found what might just be the coolest web site EVER. On the Midway games website they have a place where several old arcade games are emulated and you can play on the web. Of the games available there are: Defender, Defender II, Joust, Tapper, and Dan's favorite Robotron 2084 (please help us all if this is a premonition of things in 79 years, those robots SUCK).
TV:
Wait did someone mention my favorite subject. This is the week it all kicks off in FULL force. Tonight the best comedy on TV kicks it off. Loving Arrested Development and then a show based on a great book following it, Kitchen Confidential. More reviews to follow.
Did I ever mention I like TV?
Hannah Update:
6 days and counting in big girl underwear.... Our fingers are crossed that this continues.
Health Update:
So i pulled some muscle in my shoulder last week and somehow exacerbated it yesterday to the point that it freaking kills. I know I am a HUGE baby but man o' man pinched nerves suck. So along with the wonderful skin cancer that I am dealing with (very minor issue) I now will probably have to go to physical therapy. Getting old sucks.
Cal Football:
Following the game at a 2 year old birthday party stinks, for everyone. I was following what looked like a terrible game on my Blackberry much to the annoyance of Robin and many other people there. Good times. The punch line is that Cal won, handily and came out in the 2nd half and blew out Illinois.
Other good news is that StanfUrd looks to stink pretty badly. They lost to UC Davis and, based on the stats and recap, their offense stunk. They put up 2 touchdowns, both on defense. Good times. Very little I love more than a good Cal season, but a bad Stanford one in conjunction is rather nice.
Car/House Update:
Should be interesting as we look at a new house today (10 months and counting). This house on paper seems really interesting so we shall see when we look at it today. Car? Well obviously if we decide to spend a ridiculous amount of $$ on a house this week the car will wait. Which I am ok with. Odd that I am this mature you say?
TV:
Did someone say "Drucker likes TV?" Well late last week I watched Survivor which was really good. Nothing better than taking fame seekers and force them to walk 11 miles through the Guatemalan jungle just to get to their camp. Good times. Shocker that the old dude was voted off first.
The OC. Yes I am a 14 year old girl. Just doing a really good job building suspense early in the season. I was thinking that I would give this show up at some point but it is really good. Did I mention that YES I am a 14 year old girl?
Tonight: Simpsons and Family Guy. Also American Dad (also by Seth McFarlane, the FG dude) started off far more solidly than it ended. I think that it could be a solid 1.5 hours of animated mayhem.
Hannah Update:
So this week she has suddenly shown an interest in potty training. She started being able to tell us that she had to go to the bathroom when we were in Hawaii last year, but has really been at about the same place for the last 9 or so months. Well this week she has started asking for big girl underwear, and having very dry diapers when she would wear them. She has been pretty good at the whole not having an accident, although she did take care of some business in a pair of underwear on Friday, not fun changing that.
Stay tuned for more boring updates from me.
Baseball:
Stupid Angels: What is their deal? Beat the freaking Mariners! Well now they get to play the up and coming Tigers and Devil Rays (31-25 since the Break). I hate baseball.
My picks for the awards 2.5 weeks in advance:
AL MVP: David Ortiz (runner up: A-Rod)
AL Cy Young: Bartolo Colon (runner up: who cares an Angel is winning the Cy Young!)
AL ROY: Tadahito Iguchi (runner up: Robinson Cano)
NL MVP: Albert Pooooo-holes (runner up: Andruw Jones)
NL Cy Young: Chris Carpenter (runner up: Dontrelle Willis)NL ROY: Garret Atkins (runner up: Willy Tavares)
Football:
Two picks that I would take in a heartbeat-
Oklahoma +6.5 v UCLA (in Pasadena): I just don't think UCLA is THAT good and Oklahoma has a ton to prove. I honestly hate OK but road dogs v. a UCLA team that has no D and is boosted by 2 wins v. sub par opponents?
TCU -3.5 v Utah (TCU at home, wherever the hell they play): Utah stinks, I hate them, the f'd the BCS and boned Cal last year. Booooo Utes!
Prius Update:
Nothing to report, man am I champing at the bit to get my darn car.
Home Network Printing Update:
So I ended up getting a new snazzier printer that has a wireless print server built in. So now I can scan, fax, and print from any laptop in my home network that has the HP software to run the functions. How cool has technology gotten? Personally, and I know this makes me a bigger nerd than I already was, I think this is amazing technology.
What Did Drucker Watch Last Night:
WSOP: Loved the Pot Limit event a lot. Couple of suck outs and just solid poker.
House: Well after 3/4 of one episode this season I just decided I really do enjoy the show BUT just not enough to keep watching it. I watch far too much TV anyhow.
Tonight: Survivor, The OC, Reunion (2nd out of 3 tries to captivate my attention).
Most importantly: September 25th on HBO. Curb Your Enthusiasm AND Extras starring Ricky Gervais. Stay tuned.
Daddy's Wrong:
So for 2 days in a row I realized why I am not allowed to even DISCUSS colors with H. Yesterday we were sitting at the dinner table discussing a Dora episode involving a character named Big Red Chicken (shockingly he is a giant red chicken), She has taken to having a little Fisher Price chicken at the dinner table. In talking with her I said "Oh peanut your chicken is like the big red chicken. How funny." H looks at me quizzically and says "No it isn't, my chicken is brown." I look over at R who is shaking her head and staring at me basically saying you are a color blind fool. Today I was a bit smarter and cleared my color question with R first but I thought H's purple pajamas matched Blue from Blue's Clues. Purple is not blue in case anyone was wondering. Being color blind ROCKS!
Daddy's Health:
Earlier in the week I went to the dermatologist again. Earlier after I had found that I had the cancer he said I had 3 choices on how to progress: wait and see, some topical medication, and cutting more of my leg out. I went to my appointment on Monday and found that my choices had been reduced by 2. Robin decided the most prudent course of action was to have a chunk taken out of my leg. So basically it is great being married to a doctor. Stay tuned, the surgery (minor with just a local) is going to occur in October. Check back in and here me whine about my leg pain.
TV Report (aka What in the World is Drucker Watching):
The Gilmore Girls started last night and it was great. Looks to be a sharp, snappy season and I look forward to it immensely (yes that makes me extra special gay). In talking with Robin about it yesterday she was saying how excited she was, I asked if she was as excited about the GG as I was about my new Prius (and the 3 of you who read this garbage, and know me know how excitable I am about new toys). Robin answered 'Yes.' I believe her too.
Sports Report:
Gymnastics - Hannah started a new gymnastics class yesterday and loved it. This is the next level for her which means it is more regimented and structured, less free play. She stunned Robin with somersaults and jumping jacks, AND she swung from the trapeze thingy which she hated doing before. Stay tuned as she starts dance class next week.
Baseball- Ok real sports. The Angels build their lead over the As by beating the
White Sox then cannot muster anything against the stupid Mariners? They load the bases with no outs in the 9th inning in a 1-1 tie. Double play: 5-2-6, then a line out. What garbage! Then of course the Mariners score in the bottom of the 9th. I am not sure what I hate more, Angels losing baseball games and not competing, or Angels being in a pennant chase and playing like dog junk.
Prius Update: I turned down a chance to go to Walnut Creek to get me a silver Prius. This is a different dealership from the one that I am getting the black one from. Just didn't want to schlep to WC to get my car. Lazy much? Also I saw a Prius on the road with a bumper sticker that read: "My other vehicle is the Millenium Falcon." This is the brotherhood I choose to join.
Cute happenings in the Drucker house:
Lyra's (my sister) dog Sonny unfortunately passed late last week. Hannah was incredibly fond of her which forced us to tell her about it and try to explain it as best as she could understand. We told her that Sonny's body stopped working and he would be in our hearts and memories. So when does this get cute? Well when we said he is in our hearts she lifts her shirt and says 'see Sonny is there.' Also, we had chocolate cake for dessert the other night, we chose to hide it the next morning since Hannah takes after mommy and is a chocolate fiend. Upon waking and seeing that there was no chocolate cake available, Hannah said: 'chocolate cake is gone, in my heart, just like Sonny doggy.' Very sweet and cute.
Prius:
The more I read the more excited I get. Just fired up over the Prius. The dealer called yesterday saying that my car later this week or early next. Have I mentioned how stoked I am? A Prius in black. Almost looks like a sports car. All 110 hp of Tokyo muscle!
Sports:
Looks like Marshawn will be starting or at least playing this weekend which is great. Cal really shouldn't need him but it is always better to have all your weapons available. I don't get to go to the game but will be following closely, or as closely as I can at a 2 year old's birthday party. Good times.
TV:
Have I mentioned my utter love of TV yet? New shows tonight, season premieres, all magic words in my book. Watch this space for the What did Drucker Watch section in.
Books AND Poker:
Just read a cool book about poker and the rise of popularity, AND the richest game in the history. The book is called: Professor, the Banker, and Suicide King. Just a solid read, if you like poker. Started reading another work of non-fiction about an amazing French chef that received 3 Michelin stars and subsequently committed suicide due to his obsession with his craft: Perfectionist is the name.
Sports:
Fantasy Football: So I think I am the worst fantasy football player EVER. Drafted 4 teams live (only actually care about 1) and I am about to go 0-4. THEN I am in a league where there was an auto-draft AND I am going to win that game. What I take from this is, well, I am an idiot.
Gambling: I also entered a suicide NFL football pool and chose to take the Rams. Punchline? I suck.
Baseball: The good sports news are my Angels, they are playing solid baseball and have a 2 game lead. Should be an interesting final 3 weeks to the season. I am praying that they hold on and make the playoffs. Go Angels.
College Football: So the new top 25 came out and there are 3 teams with 1 loss ranked in the top 15. To me that is crap. Not saying Cal should be higher but how can a team like Michigan be ranked ahead? Just because they lost to America's darling? Once again the take away? NCAA football polls stink before like week 6.
TV, TV and more TV:
Reunion: Wow interesting premise done badly. Just forcing pop culture references from that given year (Molly Ringwold, St. Elmo's Fire... Notice a trend). Of course I will give it yet another chance, mostly because I suck.
Family Guy: Funniest show on TV. Plain and stupidly simple. Potty humor done well.
Technology:
Computer woes: Installed a new wireless print-server which in theory is cool, but either I am an idiot, or well it isn't as easy as it is supposed to be. The software seems to link fine but well I cannot print. Ummmm is that a problem? Or am I an idiot?
So here we are on a daddy day Saturday. Robin is at work and I got to be home with my peanut for the 2nd consecutive morning. Have I mentioned what a sweetheart she is and can be? Love waking with her walking in saying 'I love my daddy....' Ok enough gushing about what a good girl Hannah is. Onto business.
TiVo:
Of the 3 people that read this and know me I bet you are surprised I took me this long to write about my favorite subject. So TiVo being the 'greatest invention EVER' started something 6 or so months ago for referrals. My frustration with this referral thing is that I probably have gotten something like 20 people to get TiVos in the 4 years that I have had one, either directly or indirectly. I am a member of the cult of TiVo and praise its benefits at ever opportunity (again boring many around me). So now they have a contest for the biggest TiVo fan and well I am him BUT I don't have any referral points. Oh well, just venting frustration. I still love you TiVo.
Football:
Cal is playing today on the road at UW. Scares me that we are 0-7 v. Ty Willingham and we have a questionable QB, and it is supposed to rain but I guess that is why they play the games, right? Hopefully Marshawn goes for 2 bills and we literally run away with it. Go Bears!
TV:
Still have yet to watch Reunion so no review as of yet but the season really kicks into gear next week. Man I love TV. How sad is my life. Don't answer that (all 3 of you who read this garbage).
Current Events:
How badly has the administration messed this whole thing in NO up? Watched Brian Williams on The Daily Show yesterday and was astounded to see that he was in the midst of it and the FEMA director (or Horse Show Exec, or liar on his resume guy) had no idea things were going on in the convention center or Superdome? How can this be? How can the administration continue to work on these lies and expect the American public to buy in? There is a strong level of fear mongering that keeps the red state folks lock step, that and the fact that Gay marriage is far more important than real issues to these people so who cares if we waste billions on homeland security or the war in Iraq, "as long as them damn homos can't marry."
Good times. Have I mentioned recently how much my blog SUX?
The Office:
Cal Bears:
