I'm pleased to report I have eaten another item recently featured on This is Why You're Fat: the Potachos...
















These are among the highlights at Stuff Yer Face in the Hub City, one of my favorite houses of artery-clogging eats and beers from around the world.

In less positive news, I noticed this yesterday and I am going to make a vow. If His Holiness unretires yet again and goes to the Vikings, I am done. He will be Dead. To. Me. The four statues above the television in Casa Magnolia will meet a fiery fate. The various shirts and jerseys I have will become car-drying rags.

Not dead? These beautiful Bleeding Heart flowers in the Captain's yard...














I can't keep anything alive. Perhaps some of his wisdom will rub off on me...

The Captain and I spent yesterday wandering around the shore, enjoying the sunshine and visiting friends who had a baby last week. So I was completely unaware of the major development in the land of Gang Green until hours later, when I learned about it while we sat at a seaside bar drinking in the name of charity (as if we need a reason):



I don't know how I feel about this. I don't know if Sanchez is the next coming, but I'm encouraged by what I've seen and read. And I have to say I'm thrilled to see Sanchez so excited to be picked by the Jets.

I thought Gruden said it well: "I compliment them. They're doing whatever they can do to win."

That doesn't mean they will, of course. But it's nice to see them making an effort. And no one said, "It's obvious to me right now that the Jets just don't understand what the draft's all about" this year.

On an unrelated sports note, I have resumed my softball career, joining the boys for our Sunday morning games. Things went well last week, as I pitched nine solid innings to lead our squad to a one-run victory. This week, one of three things happened: 1) I forgot how to throw; 2) my arm has not recuperated from last week's effort; or 3) I should have made a few less contributions in the name of charity yesterday. I'm taking off next week for Bike NY so we'll see if a two-week break solves matters or if I need to consider retiring permanently.

So the Facebook polls and quizzes continue to fly and I ignore them all. But Clark Kent sent me one that actually piqued my interest. So here it is...

Using ONLY SONG TITLES from ONE artist, cleverly answer the questions below.

First, pick a band/artist: Bruce Springsteen

1. Are you a male or female?
-- Jersey Girl

2. Describe yourself:
-- Born to Run

3. How do you feel about yourself:
-- Happy

4. Describe your last relationship:
--Brilliant Disguise

5. Describe your current relationship situation:
-- My Love Will Not Let You Down

6. Describe your current location:
-- Land of Hope and Dreams

7. Describe where you want to be:
-- Seaside Bar Song

8. Your best friend is:
-- Tougher Than The Rest

9. Your favorite color is:
-- Pink Cadillac

10. You know that:
-- It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City

11. What’s the weather like:
-- Waitin' On A Sunny Day

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called?
-- No Surrender

13. What is life to you:
-- All That Heaven Will Allow

14. What is the best advice you have to give:
-- From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)

15. If you could change your name what would you change it to:
--Rosalita

This was actually harder than I expected, perhaps due to the volume of Springsteen's musical catalog.

And exactly the sort of time sucker that might help explain why I have yet to complete a whole book, 109 days into the year...

Someone asked me today if I was ready to list myself under the "Sleeping Geniuses" section, and I have to say, well played. Yes, it's been almost three weeks. Admittedly, I'm a bit under-motivated lately. For starters, a lot of my favorite topics are no more. It's not football season and His Holiness has retired. Le Anne Screiber's wonderful reign of inter-office terror at the Evil Empire is over.

But perhaps it's just that life is good and I have had very little to complain about lately. Hell, I was delayed by my friends at Continental for four hours at one of the country's most boring airports recently and didn't get upset about it. I broke two of my favorite wine glasses and didn't blow a gasket. And I decided to freelance for the beleaguered local paper again this year, even taking a pay cut to do so, without making any sort of stink. What is happening to me???

But I did miss a few important things during my unscheduled hiatus. Most notably, I forgot to read This is Why You're Fat for two weeks, thus missing gems like the Hamburger Cake, the Hot Beef Sundae and the Sausage Fatty. A bad job by me, and I promise I won't let that happen again.

What else...I got a new bike for my birthday, which I took for its inaugural ride today now that the weather is finally no longer complete and utter crap. The ride, predictably, kicked my ass, as is often the case with early season jaunts. But as I returned home, I experienced a moment of zen as one of my favorite songs, "The Reason" by Finger Eleven, hit the iPod. As I floated down the hill along the homestretch toward Casa Magnolia as the sun set, I was weaving back and forth across the street. I'm sure I looked like a dope but I really do not care.

I also took two trips, first to Columbus to catch up with the girls, which was great fun. It's amazing how quickly 20 years can fall by the wayside when you get the gang together...















Then the Captain and I headed west for a quick vacation, to visit some friends and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I'll post an entire wrap-up of that adventure in the next few days, but allow me to tempt you, my long-suffering loyal readers, with the wackiness that was an amazing tulip festival one day followed by a very snowy trip up Mount Rainier less than 24 hours later...






























I'll be back soon. I promise.