Snow

The pictures tell the story.

the desktop on my computer.

Japanese Yakyu

Went to a ball game Saturday, a pre-deployment Media family tradition. We got there in the top of the second, just in time to see the Seibu Lions score again, jumping out to a 7-1 lead before we even sat down. The Yokohama BayStars inched their way back into the game, finally grabbing four runs in I believe the 7th to trail 8-7, but then the Lions tacked on four more in the 8th and it was pretty much over.

Brendan, Josh, Chris, Tanner and Dave

Japanese baseball ranks up there with the coolest professional sporting events I've ever been to. The stadium's not much to look at, and the BayStars are a last-place team (we're used to that) but the atmosphere is really something else. I recommend it.

Mayumi and Dave (I've always been great at making dumb faces.)

Why am I a Yokohama fan? Well, the stadium is about 32 minutes by train from Yokosuka... pretty convenient. They are not a traditional powerhouse (just like my hometown team the last 17 years) and a switch-hitting outfielder and former Pirate, one R.J. Reynolds, played here in the early 90's. And, they're the only yakyu team without their corporate sponsor included in the team name. 

Sidney Fitzgerald Crosby, Post II

"What’s so special about Crosby? I don’t see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there’s nothing else.’’

-Alexander Semin


What say you now, Alex?

Beware of the Creek Indians

RE: God willing and the creek don't rise.

Wow. I was doing a little research today about random things, and I found this:

The phrase would be correctly written as God willing and the Creek don't rise (like dad/neil said), but I didn't realize why. Creek here is capitalized because it is referring to the Creek Indian Nation. Benjamin Hawkins was the superintendent for Indian affairs in the southeast U.S. at the beginning of the 19th century. A few sources say he wrote this in a letter to the president of the U.S. after being summoned back to Washington from Georgia. He'd be there 'god willing the Creek [Indians] don't rise." It was written in reference to the perception that the Creeks were savages.

from oliverwillis.com

Who can argue with hard data like this?

Pens v. Flyers: Predictions

Pens, Flyers Wednesday night. Who ya got? Pens in 5. Write it down. Rachel unless you plan on picking the Penguins please do not respond to this post.

Recognize Anyone?

Japanese Vacation, Part 1

I took a couple days off from work, figuring it might be my only chance to do so until December. So, armed with only a book, a 160-gigabyte iPod and an extra pair of socks, I took off for nowhere in particular. I started off in southern Tokyo, in a neighborhood called Shiodome. There's a park there called Hama Rikyu Garden. I'm sure there's parks all over Tokyo, but I was surprised how big and green this place was, right in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world. It's no Central Park, and Tokyo may have its own version, but this place was pretty cool. Fields, flowers, creeks and bridges right in the shadow of all these skyscrapers of glass and steel.

From the park I took a $5 boat ride up the Sumida River, through Tokyo to the neighborhood of Asakusa. Seeing the city from the water was a different perspective. I got crapped on by a seagull, but it didn't ruin my day.

I got off the boat in northeast Tokyo in Asakusa, known as one of the more traditional, older parts of the city. This week happens to be right in the middle of the cherry blossom season, so when I got off the boat (it was about 5 p.m. on a Friday) there was already a party going on. Food, beer and hundreds of people relaxing by the river under the cherry blossoms. That was fun, and I'll write more on hanami and sakura later. So after drinking a beer, I walked a couple blocks inland to Kaminarimon Gate.

This is the gate. It's a pretty prominent part of the town, and it's easy to find. Kind of hard to miss. The lantern there in the center weighs 220 pounds. The gate leads into what's called Nakamise Dori, or "inside shops." There's a walkway there, with a bunch of little stores, and leads to the Sensoji Temple, maybe a quarter-mile inside.

 

Sensoji is Tokyo's oldest temple (founded in the 7th century) and is dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The temple was under restoration and covered, but that didn't stop hundreds of people from visiting. This photo is a five-story pagoda adjacent to the temple. 

That's when it started to get dark, so I don't have any more pictures of Tokyo. But that was just the beginning of my 3-day vacation. Next, I'll tell you about Nikko.

King of Comedy: The Movie

HOLLYWOOD--Representatives for actor VIN DIESEL have confirmed that he has agreed to star in the lead role of Universal Pictures upcoming drama-comedy tentatively titled THE KING OF COMEDY: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ONE NEIL T. REYNOLDS.

The much-hyped film borrows its name from Martin Scorcese's 1983 film about a struggling stand-up comic, played by Robert De Niro who attempts to jump-start his career by kidnapping a late-night TV host, played by Jerry Lewis. 

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ONE NEIL T. REYNOLDS, however, follows the early life and adolescence of a rural Pennsylvania man, his simultaneous attempts to take over the worlds of sports, academia, music and comedy, and the adventures of his close-knit and occasionally hilarious family.

Diesel, now 41, may face his toughest on-screen challenge in his portrayal of the mercurial Reynolds. Insider circles are already buzzing that the role represents a critical high-water mark in his career and could even earn the Diesel an Oscar nomination. Reached for comment, Diesel, seemingly already in character, confirmed his attachment to the film and said only, "Just give me the dang award already. Seriously, just do it."

Diesel joins a cast which already comprises a virtual who's who of Tinseltown stars, including:

Bruce Willis as family patriarch "Reyn": an educator, firefighter, bingo caller, ball coach and jack-of-all-trades. Anthony Edwards (ER) and Gerald McRaney (Major Dad) had previously been linked to the role.

Julia Roberts as "Mom Reyn," the emotional center of the family.

A young Nicolas Cage as big brother "D Reyn," because hey, why not?

Ryan Gosling (The Notebook, Half Nelson) as the other big brother, "M Reyn or "Mike Reyn" because hey, that's a real nice beard.

Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers, The Notebook) as sister-in-law "Rach Reyn."

Robert Duvall as Bob: Grandpa, farmer, small-town politician and storyteller.

Billy Bob Thornton as "Plu": Cause just look at the guy.

Producers are currently in negotiations with a number of big-name and character actors to fill out the remainder of the cast. THE KING OF COMEDY is slated for a Christmas 2010 release.

A Witty Post

We had a very enjoyable time visiting Rachel and Mike last weekend. However, we have vowed never to visit on a weekend when a Pittsburgh team is playing a Philly team. When we visited in the fall (something about a wedding) the Steelers lost to the Eagles. On Saturday, Pitt lost to Villanova.
One fun thing we did was to tour the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Very interesting tour, but disappointing t-shirts. I vowed to do better....



Don't you all wish you had a cool shirt like mine?

What the hail!

Sunday afternoon Rachel and I were sitting on the deck relaxing in the seventy degree weather. Within an hour, the temperature had dropped considerably and then the hail started. They were about dime size. It took the paint right off the window frames in the front of the house. I actually was surprised it didn't break any of those single-pane windows because it was coming down pretty good. It hailed for maybe three minutes, and it was done. Tornados touched down an hour or so away but nothing here.

I can't wait for 2012.

Neil, where do we sign up to go on one of these expeditions?

Family vacation anyone?