That's no moon.....

iPod update:

1,945 songs, 7.2 days, 13.4 GB (out of 40)

Last song added: Beastie Boys, "Paul Revere"


I've taken on some freelance work for charity. It's a side-effect of this blog actually. All of this writing has gotten me in the literary zone, so to speak. I have been working with the people over at NY Line.

NY Line is the group that has gathered together every three years too celebrate the opening of the latest Star Wars movie. On April 1st they'll start all over again outside of New York's Ziegfeld Theater in anticipation of the last new Star Wars movie to be released, Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith.

When Episode II was released I entered a contest to win tickets to the premiere at the Ziegfeld. I was lucky enough to win and spend the day with these people who are completely devoted to everything Star Wars. My friend Ken Morris and myself went down to the city and just immersed ourselves in the fun and silly-ness that is a Star Wars premiere.

Not to sound too dorky, but it was a blast. I mean where else can you go to see a painting of the Death Star on a pregnant lady's belly? It is another world there, one where it's okay to quote movies 24/7. I can't tell you how excited I was about that. Of course the actual viewing of the movie was in itself an incredible time. If you haven't been to a Star Wars premiere with hardcore fans, do yourself a favor and make sure you get there with this last chance that you have. yes there is hootin' and hollerin' but it's done at the right times and totally in support of the movie. All of those scenes that you watch at home where you think to yourself, "that's awesome" is met with thunderous cheers and applause.

One that stands out is when Yoda whips out his lightsaber for the first time.

I have never heard a theater so loud before. The atmosphere creates instant memories. Something tangible that you can almost grab onto. At the very least.....it's a nice ride with cool eye candy.

So here it is....Almost March, 2005 and the countdown is set to begin again. This time I plan to earn my way into the midnight screening and not back my way in through a contest. In addition to writing for the organization's newsletter. I will be asking for pledges to help out the Starlight Children's Foundation. This is a non-profit organization which, among other things, raises funds to purchase entertainment systems for children in hospitals. It's a great cause.

So I get to be a dork one last time and rock out to a new Star Wars movie. Please bear with me if I become uncontrollably juvenile and incoherent as the days dwindle down.

I'd appreciate that.


-GDP

An Open Letter......

To the NHL and the NHLPA:


Go f$#* yourselves.


Sincerely,

Ryan McKenna

Rumblings and Physics

iPod update:

1,921 songs, 6.8 days, 12.1 GB (out of 40)

Last album added: Duran Duran, Greatest Hits

Apologies for not updating for a bit but it has been hectic at work (which I do love saying) and my computer time must be spent actually creating something professionally. However I consider this work because it has become the best way for sharpening my writing skills.

That being said, there are no shortages of distractions here at the office:

I share and office with what is known, I think, as a grunter. Nice guy to be sure but every single movement is accompanied by a grunt, yammer or bellow. His vociferation cries out for attention and believe me before the summer is done, he's gonna get it.

But I am a professional, and as such, I will work through these distractions and do the job I am expected to do.....end of rant.

Bonnies @ Xavier tonight at 7. Hopefully the brown and white can manage the upset. Hopes are high but expectations low.

In other sports news, the GDP (that's me) registered for his rookie season in the World Adult Kickball Association yesterday. This is a league of 30 & 40-somethings who relive the glory days of elementary school when everyone used to chant your name and cheer you on during gym class. Apparently, the sentiments between the players are not the same as in school because things can get heated.

I imagine it's very easy to get out onto the kickball field and really get into the whole "turn back the clock" mentality. You remember the rules to kickball, right? Same as baseball for the most part but a batter can be called out if he or she is hit with the ball while between the bases.

Now when you were a kid you threw that ball as hard as you could, but if you were 3B or SS, that's a long throw, right? Chances are that the ball maybe bounced once before it got to where it was intended. Either way, there wasn't the same amount of mustard on the throw from start to finish.

Not so anymore. Ground ball, third base, third baseman picks it up. Batter sprinting towards first to try and beat the throw. Third baseman launches the ball.....

Child mentality, adult results.....

The ball, which has now become a red sphere of destruction, speeds towards its target with enough velocity to make a first grader cry for a month straight. There is no arc to the throw, no dip and certainly no bounce. Nope....the ball finds its target, the left temple of the batter. The rest is physics...especially if it's a girl who was the batter. But then again....some things, I guess, haven't changed from grade school.

I am anticipating a blast being had during this season and enjoying myself immensely.


Hopefully they'll let me play third base

Night Fever

iPod update:

1,910 songs, 6.7 days, 11.7 GB (out of 40)


Last album added: Bee Gees, The Number Ones


Yes...The Bee Gees are on my iPod. I can't help it...."Lonely Days" is one of my favorite tracks from them and I cannot be without "Jive Talkin'". Don't be mad, or worse, judgmental. I like the Bee Gees....there, I said it.

Mid-week update here from Prof-ville where I have one sick roommate.

Ron's got the pneumonia.

I say it like they would in medieval times because that's what he sounds like when he was at his worst. I feel for my friend. Bad cough, fever, the works. It's been a busy week here at work so I haven't had the time to help him out as much as I could. For that, I apologize.

So I am living in a cloud of Lysol and patting everything down with Chlorox wipes. I even bought that hand sanitizer! So far so good, no symptoms and no news is good news. If you have a sec, give RonJuan a call and see how he's doing.

As always....donations are being accepted. In lieu of flowers you can send cans of Lysol and Chlorox wipes....Vitamin C will also be appreciated!

I'm going to be in NY this weekend in what is being billed by Amy & I as a Public Relations Tour. We'll be making appearances at Pasta Cucina on Friday, Brooklyn Pizza in Ridgewood, NJ on Saturday afternoon, Sport-O-Rama on Saturday and Sunday evening, and the Palisades Center at different points during the weekend.

Autographs will be available for a reasonable fee but we will only be signing official copies of wedding pictures and this blog.

Good Day!

Traditioooooooon!

iPod update:

1,891 songs, 6.1 days, 11.7 GB (out of 40)

Last song added: Everclear, "Everything to Everyone"

Prof is a sore boy this morning. Spent the better part of the weekend helping out The Hagovsky's prepare their new home for the move-in which will take place during this upcoming weekend. Amy made the trip down and it was fun to play house for awhile (albeit in someone else's place). We took a few moments and looked around and said to each other, "Yeah. I could see us doing this."

That's how it is with us and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Terrible coffee this morning.....bad start to the week but we do have a new episode of 24 tonight so everything will even out.

Terrible game last night. Anti-climactic with a bad bad start and absolutely bland commercials (except for that Career Builder spot with the monkeys in the office) made for a bad TV viewing experience. Paul McCartney was the only bright spot in an otherwise FCC-controlled atmosphere. Kudos to http://www.godaddy.com/ for their somewhat risquee spot during the game. At least someone had the guts to put their original ad on. Then again, I don't think they had the money to film a backup.

I could go on about the FCC and the spineless people that cower to them and their narrow view of the First Amendment, but why beat a dead horse?

Work is good. Amy is well and we are slowly but surely making our way closer to the time when we will once again be under the same roof. It's tough folks. I remember telling Amy last September, "You know...it's going to be tough in the beginning but by February we'll be used to it and it won't be so bad."

So much for that BS statement.

Like sands through the hourglass......

On a happier note, Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law Deanna. Tomorrow she turns 24, a cool age of which I am very jealous. I told her that 24 is a mature age but no too mature to still have some spur-of-the-moment road trip to Toronto.

I have adopted a practice with Deanna, introduced to me by my cousins, The Daismont's back when I was a teenager:

Whenever they could, during holidays and birthdays, they would send me a copy of an album or cassette. This was my introduction, and turned into my passion for music and its emotional power (see the "walking to work" and "back in high school" posts). So I have decided to continue that tradition with Deanna....her present will be arriving shortly.

Good day people!