What I'm Reading 1.14

I have been gone for a while but not without taking notes on everything taking place in our interesting world.

- The Christmas season came and went, while I regret I didn't give feedback on the joyous celebrations of the birth of Santa Clause.

- The dog, Bella, has continued to grow - as it stands, after a brief veterinarian appointment last week - she weighs in at more than 17 lbs. But the report did not come without a prophecy from the dog master, who felt she was large for her age and we could be looking at a 80 lb. beast roaming the hardwood floors of the Sheets estate in a short time. Oh and she is pretty well potty trained.

- I think I've drank more tea than Queen Elizabeth in the past month - my thirst for the stuff is fueled by my idea that the more I drink the closer I'll be back in London, oh London, more on that later.

- I've applied for jobs in different areas but have had no good news, as of today at 9:11 a.m. EST, including one data analyst job at the hospital.

- Ball State's football season went into the garbage can after two bad games in a row, and two dreadful performances by QB Nate Davis. And how does Davis celebrate his mediocrity, why he declares for the NFL draft. Seems a bit wrong, despite losing one's coach to warmer conditions and more lucrative deals.

- I finished Twilight - - pretty good series but no where near Harry Potter.

- 29 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training!


It has been more than a year since I departed the clutching grip of the U.S. and traveled abroad for the first time.

January 8, came and went and despite my best intentions to skip over the date without feeling at least a tiny bit of regret that I am still have trouble finding what is better here than there, I didn't forget and I found myself dumping trash behind Reid Hospital at 10 a.m.

I have been thinking about the good things and the bad that made my trip so memorable, with the good far outweighing the bad to a degree my vision is clouded about anything bad that happened at all.

The other day I thought about little things, things I can only remember that were insignificant yet are so appealing now. For example, the double-locked front door to our flat and the sound of it slamming; the smell on the street after emerging from the flat: an aroma of exhaust and greek cuisine (there was a Greek restaurant just down the street); the walk to City of Westminster college: through Paddington, around the corner on Porchester Terrance and the smell of the Indian restaurant, seemingly on every corner; the trips to the theatre on Monday and Tuesday nights; No. 15 bus rides; the smell of the Tube. . .

Yes, I miss London and can seriously see myself living there. As I tell everyone who hasn't gotten tired of me talking about it: London is a great city for city lovers and non-city lovers. There is the big city atmosphere but it is more about the differences within neighborhoods which don't act as big-city at all.

I just can't wait to get back and perhaps, with enough luck, have the ability to stay for longer periods of time.

What I'm Reading 11.20

The Ball State Cardinals closed out an exciting game with a Nate Davis to Briggs Orsbon TD pass, last night against Central Michigan University, to move the fightin' Card's (as Letterman puts it) to 11-0.

And now: my soapbox. This morning I made my 40-mile trip to Muncie and upon arriving in the AJ building I pick up a Daily News - even though I hardly ever read the articles.

First off, there is a young man who covers the football team and has for a couple years. He has fallen into a good situation, as the team has been successful this year, and at 11-0 I guess it is too much to ask for a decent game story.

I want to tread softly because I know he is a fellow amateur but, after several game stories I think he would take the time to not dribble editorial comments throughout his stories.

And to you that say: well, Nathan I'd like to see if you could do better, I say: I absolutely and unequivocally could. I know football, I could report on it and I could develop story ideas - daily- about interesting parts of the team.

To him: just report the game, be creative but don't tell me that Ball State has had 10 straight blowout wins because what's blowout to you, may not be blowout to me.

I enjoy reading what happened at the game not what you thought about it unless, it is on the editorial page.

Next:

I have continued reading and am now half through Twilight. The movie is coming out tomorrow and there is a lot of anticipation from people across the world.

Besides drawing close to the weekend, I'm drawing close to the 200th post on this blog. If anyone has any ideas for the 200th post, please let me know.

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Today is the Great American Smokeout, you should quit today. I have.

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was named as the new director of Homeland Security.

The history of the flag is rather interesting, read into it.

The Somali Pirates (sounds like a baseball team) are causing more to go up than the price on their heads.

Some people are predicting the death of the iPod but here are 50 fun things to do with your, obviously, archaic mp3 player.

When I was at the Star Press, I would laugh at the stories that constantly rolled through their Web site from the AP feed. Here is one I discovered this morning. He will get only soup from now on.

Crude oil prices fell to below $50 per barrel as demand is its lowest in 23 years, according to Bloomberg.

SPORTS

Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio were talking about Adam 'Pacman' Jones this morning and about reinstatement, again. For those not in the know, Pacman was 'given' a 'bodyguard' hired by the Dallas Cowboys, to basically keep him in line. Pacman then got into an intoxicated altercation with his 'bodyguard' at a hotel and Pacman was suspended, again.

So this morning, Mike Greenberg silenced the program and caused me to nearly swerve off the road with laughter, as he distinguished between a bodyguard and a babysitter. He said Pacman's 'bodyguard' was really a babysitter:

"A bodyguard protects you from others," Greenberg said. "A babysitter protects you from yourself."

(It was funny to me, because it is true)


Ocho Cinco is NOT active tonight and according to Brad Johansen it is due to Chad missing a team meeting after over sleeping. So it goes.

Coco Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals for RP Ramon Ramirez. Reports are, the Reds were close in acquiring Crisp but didn't want to give up a bucket of balls for him.

Brady Quinn is already hurt - I have to change my lineup, again. So it goes. Oh and the Browns GM sent an email response to a fan that included an (expletive). OH NO!

Mike Mussina retired after winning 20 games. I want to look into players from all major sports who have retired after having a very good or their best season - this may have been Mussina's.

What I'm Reading 11.19

Still sick, I awoke and went to work reading Twilight before watching BBC news America - now a daily routine.

The Twilight series is increasingly popular now and many fans of the Harry Potter series have latched onto the Twilight books and I had put it off until yesterday. And just in time, as the movie comes out this weekend.

Yesterday, in addition to buying that book, I traveled down town and paid my fines at Morrison-Reeves Library prior to taking out a couple movies: Persepolis and Trainspotting, an Arctic Monkeys CD and a couple of Grateful Dead CD's.

Later, after swim club, my dad and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings, where I argued with the waitress, while attempting to make her accept my 6-free-wings coupon that expired last week. She didn't.

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One story I've been following is the increase in - or reporting increase - of Somalian Pirate activity in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of Africa. Yesterday, a suspected pirate ship, no not like that, was sunk and it is thought to be a 'mother ship' to other smaller vessels.

Speaking of pirates, Hugh Jackman was named sexiest man alive - something I hate more than the publication that produces it. I mean come on, let me decide that.

More good news on the economy.

The Seattle Mariners provide MLB its first Asian-American manager.

Microsoft is planning to offer free security: they might as well offer free software and computers because they are so far behind a much, much better company.

Can you say: retribution.

Oxford has compiled the most annoying phrases. I guess they have some time on their hands. Are you someone who uses these more than Oxford says you should:

The top ten most irritating phrases:

1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It's a nightmare
8 - Shouldn't of
9 - 24/7
10 - It's not rocket science

And speaking of Briton language, apparently half of Britons struggle with apostrophes. I know I do.

Seton High School basketball was launched last night - and they were launched out of the gym.

And last but certainly not least: who rocks the best mustache?