perpetual memory loss

It has been almost 7 years since I’ve been in California and boy does it feel nice to be back. The weather is beautiful and compared with DC there is no humidity.

My day went pretty much as expected–both good and bad. Woke up balls ass early, crammed myself onto a flying sardine tin with a bunch of other assholes, and stood in lots of long lines throughout this epically long day. For the most part things went smoothly but of course there were some balls that were dropped–not by me of course–but I’ll let it slide today. Tomorrow is crunch time and hopefully everyone is on their A game because I’m looking for a day full of no drama.

Got to visit the Nixon Library today which was pretty cool. It was bigger and nicer than I imagined. While walking around I stumbled into the new exhibit that has Futurama storyboards and animations cells from episodes that feature Nixon’s head. So that was a bonus. Lastly, I got to meet some old school Nixonians and they pretty much talked shit to me from the get go (although they tried to be subtle about it). They didn’t wait to find out who I was or anything about me. I’m a gov worker so I’m shit and the enemy.

So now that my day is winding down I’m feeling nostalgic so I went and bought myself some 40′s. When I was a young pup I used to partake of the Old E or Mickey’s but now that I’m older and wiser I prefer the ol’ Colorado Kool-Aid. To finish this day off all I need is some tacos or In ‘N’ Out Burgers oooorrrrr both.

The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind for me.  Yesterday was Evacuation Day and I had some friends in town so I went to go celebrate with them.  I ended up meeting them at a TGI Fridays (because the girls were at some ballet show) in Midtown, and we commenced to drinking some beers.  Nothing crazy just a few beers, some chicken wings, and a lot of bullshitting.  Around 11 we got ready to leave and asked for out check.  Holy shit did we get a surprise.  I’ve been to quite a few bars in and around midtown and in Times Square but none of them were ever as expensive as this shitbag TGI Fridays.  I’m used to paying 6 bucks a pint for any beer including Guinness.  This place charged us over $8 for each of our coors lights, and our wings were outrageously priced at $15.  Sure I guess I should have looked at the menu first, but you expect all TGI Fridays to be priced similarly.  On top of that most of the nicer bars, and restaurants I have been to in the city have been way cheaper than this place.  So if you live in the area or you’re going to visit the city DO NOT go to the TGI Fridays on 49th and 7th Ave across from the Winter Garden theater.

After getting fleeced at TGI Fridays I took the train back home, and when I got back to Queens I had a 40 minute wait for my bus so I decided to wait for the bus at my local neighborhood bar.  I was planning on only having a couple beers whilst I was waiting for the bus, but I ended up staying there until closing time.  So I stumbled out around 4:00 am and walked to the bus stop, and started to wait.  It was brutally cold and I had to wait about fifteen minutes for the bus to come, and once I jumped on I promptly passed out.  I awoke after 5:00 am, and I was over 100 streets past my stop. By the time I got home it was past 6:00 am, and I finally was able to pass out.

I didn’t rest long, however, as I got up at 11:00 so I could go get a new TV.  I got up and even though I was tired I was excited and full of energy.  I took the train to Best Buy and within an hour I was standing at the check out line with my new Samsung 40 inch HDTV.  I was so excited to plug it in and see what I’ve been missing.  So I carried my new tube down to the street, hailed a cab, and then started my trek home.

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Here it is another weekend, and another big series for the Mets.  So far the first half has been to put it mildly disappointing, however, the Mets are only 4.5 games back of the Phils with a big 4 game series this weekend.  It would be nice for the Mets to take 3 games in this series, that would put them in a good position going into the last series before the All-Star break.  It would also diminish the first half disappointment.  Tonight the, so far underwhelming Santana goes against Happ.  This IS a must win game for the Mets, Santana has to be the ace he was billed as during the off-season.  He has to come up big, and the Mets offense has to keep rolling.  The next three games in the series feature Maine vs Moyer, Perez vs Kendrick, and Martinez vs. Eaton.  The Mets have the advantage on pitching in this series–since they miss out on Hamels–but everyone has to pitch to their capabilities.  If they do, and the Mets offense keeps going there is no question that there is the potential for a sweep.  Do I believe that is going to happen? no, however, Santana and Maine should win their starts.  Pedro and Perez are the wildcards.  Which Oliver Perez will show up?  The pitcher who will shut down any line-up for 7 innings or the pitcher who will walk 7 in 3 innings.  Also, Pedro hasn’t pitched like Pedro, and you wonder if he will be able to get it going.  This is the type of game Pedro lives for though.  A big game for him to take the spotlight and pitch like he can.  The key to the series will be the type of start those two have.  As always I have a case of Coors Light, and I will be updating as the game and my drunkenness progress.

One side note, however, is that all the MLB teams today are wearing stars and stripes hats in support of the charity started by Fred Wilpon, which I talked about here, called Welcome Back Veterans. Their goal is to raise $100 million to help returning veterans.  I will once again say that I hope that this exposure through MLB will help bring to light many issues that need to be addressed concerning veterans.

Update 7:35

Through the first two innings and it’s still 0-0.  Both starters didn’t look good in the first inning, but came back strong in the second.  Also the Mets failed to capitalize on a scoring opportunity with Reyes on 3rd with 1 out.  This could be a long day.  Hopefully the game doesn’t get delayed because of rain.  I would like to see Santana go at least 7 innings, but if he has to leave early–because of rain–then the tables shift in favor of the Phillies.

Update 8:19

David Wright just had the fucking at-bat.  Right now it is 2-0 Mets in the top of the 5th.  The Mets had the bases loaded with no-outs, and Santana gave away his at-bat trying to hit a granny.  He should have just taken the walk, but instead made an unnecessary out.  Reyes then beat out a potential inning ending double play ball to bring in the first run, which brings us to D-Dubs phenomenal at-bat.  Down 0-2 he battled back to take a walk and force in another run, and boot Happ from the game.  What an inning.  I just hope Beltran can break this bitch open.

Update 8:28

Fucking Beltran, whiffs with the bases loaded.  That’s his MO everytime the bases are loaded.  He needs to be moved into the 3-hole, because he is not a good clean-up hitter.  Oh well, Mets have the lead hopefully Santana holds it, and the Mets add on in the 6th.

Update 8:46

What a surprise, after the Mets give him a lead, Santana can’t hold onto the lead.  He was looking positively sick for the first five innings, and now he doesn’t look good at all.  If he ends up losing this game I wonder who he is going to throw under the bus to blame for his loss.  With half the season in the bag, Santana has not lived up to his billing.

Update 9:15

Another inning another wasted opportunity.  I think I am more surprised when they get clutch hits than when they don’t.  One thing that pisses me off lately, is that the Mets take way too many pitches.  They get in fastball counts of 2-0 or 2-1, and instead of being aggressive they take pitches as if they are content with getting a walk, and letting the next guy try for the clutch hit.  The problem is that outside of Reyes and Wright no one is really that aggressive, and it seems like their mentality, as a whole, is just, let’s get a walk.  Fuck moneyball.

Update 9:40

Victorino with a walk-off single Mets lose.  Words can’t explain how disappointed I am in Santana.  You know, I know that they don’t score enough runs for him, but you have to think that once in a fucking blue moon Santana could win a 2-0 game.  Is that too much to ask of your supposed ace who is making $137 million.  He just hasn’t showed up yet this season, and I hope he pulls his head out, and starts pitching like an ace.  This is just a terrible way to start the series, Santana continues to disappoint, let’s hope Maine does better tomorrow.  Terrible, Terrible, Terrible.

29, twenty-nine, twenty-fucking-nine, veinte y nueve, no matter how you spell it all out, the fact remains that there are 29 fucking empty beers cans here in my room.  So what you say.  Well I bought a 30 pack, and I expected to drink the whole damn thing, not just 29.  The problem is that one of my beautiful Coors Lights grew legs, and walked off.  It’s not in the box, it’s not in the sink, it’s not in the trash, it’s not in the kitchen–this almost sounds like some twisted Dr. Seuss story–it’s not anywhere.  I know my roommates didn’t drink it because they aren’t here, and they haven’t been here.  I, meanwhile, have searched high and low for the missing beer, and have had no luck.  This is just terrible, I was really looking forward to that last one.  Someone get a hold of Fred and Velma, and tell them to get in the Mystery Machine, and get over here, because there is a grand mystery that needs to be solved pronto.  The mystery of the disappearing beer.  It’s a good thing I still have my Puerto Rican rum.  By the way, Gladiator is a fantastic movie.

Although I detest interleague play—I think it’s a waste of time and I would rather see the Mets play other NL clubs, besides the Mets always have to play the Yankees, who are always good, while other clubs get to play the Orioles and their ilk–but I do love the Subway Series.  Actually I enjoy the Cubs-White Sox series also.  Realistically there are only about 7 natural rivals (NY, Chicago, St. Louis-Kansas City, Texas, LA, FL, Oakland-San Francisco, and Baltimore-Washington), most of those aren’t really that compelling.  Arguably there are only two–NY and Chicago–that people care about, and maybe LA and the Bay Area, so ok four.  The rest are pointless, I mean who really cares about the SD-Seattle rivalry?…crickets…crickets, exactly no one, not even the people in those towns.  Of course there is no chance that interleague play will go the way of the dodo, but I would like to see it reduced to 9-10 games yearly–but I’m not going to hold my breath on that one–what I will do, however, is go to 7-11 buy a 30 pack, and drink my ass off today as I watch the Mets-Yanks day-night-double-stadium-double-dip.  I’m glad there is no Clemens this year so I won’t have to worry about another ‘roid rage incident.

First game starts @ 2:05 ET, so stay tuned as I will be updating this entry throughout the day as the games–and my drunkenness–progress.

Update 2:07

Beer…check, pretzels…check, first pitch…check; now it is time to get hammied like a ham-dog.

Update 3:09

Beltran just hit a bomb which is bittersweet, because the team I’m playing against in fantasy has Beltran, so I have to simultaneously cheer and boo.  However, the Mets are up, the beers are going down smooth, and I’m hoping the Big Pelf can hold the lead.  By the way, tried watching the game with the YES announcers…yaaaaawnn.  They are horrible, I know I am biased, but the monotone voices, and completely boring commentating drives me nuts.  Give me Keith, Ron, and Gary any day: entertaining and informative.  Speaking of informative Keith and Ron both mirrored my sentiments about interleague games, but went a step further calling for only 6 games in interleague play.  Also they mentioned the Bay Area rivalry, which I forgot somehow, and I have accordingly fixed above.

Update 4:04

The Big Pelf couldn’t hold the lead, but Delgado pulls his head out of his ass long enough to hit a double, and give the Mets the lead again.  I’m starting to get buzzed at this point, and Beltran is having a great game killing me in fantasy.  Also have I mentioned the Mets look awesome today with their road greys, blue hats, and blue socks. Awesome!  Plus, the Coors Light freeze cam is fucking the coolest thing ever.  By the way this game is craaaawling along at a snails pace.  I will be half-way through my 30 pack by the time the first one is over.  Gary Cohen just jinxed the series by bringing up the possibility of a rain delay.  Fuck you very much Gary.

Update 4:44

Woooooooo fuck yeh.  Delgado just crushed a ball to right center for a grand fucking slam.  First Mets granny since 2006.  Mets are up 11-4, and hopefully Pelfrey will go out for the 6th.  Nice to see Delgado get a clutch hit finally, plus he has 6 RBI’s today.  Also it was good to see the Big Pelf battle through those early innings, unlike Perez who has the mental toughness of a gnat.  Good start to the day, and boy are these Coors Lights going down smooth.

Update 5:29

Delgado just hit a 3-run homer giving him 9 RBI’s–a club record–on the day.  Holy Shit!!  These are the type of games that kill me as a Mets fan, because I will believe that they are turning things around, and then they will lose the next four games to a shitty team.  Regardless, I am going to believe that Carlos Delgado and the Mets are turning their season around.  We will see what happens next game though.  Looks like the Mets will go 3-0 against the Yanks in the last series in Yankee Stadium, and with Pedro on the mound I hope for a sweep today.

Update 6:03

Mets win.  3-0 in Yankee stadium this year.  I love it.  So many good things happened today during this game–the Mets defense was not one of them however–so I hope they can keep this going, and build on this victory.  Let’s go Mets, lets win the next game today.  Time to drink some more beers, and continue to get shitty in anticipation of the next game.

Update 7:39

Jezus, still waiting for this damn game to start already, and still drinking.  At least I can watch The King of Queens while I’m waiting for the game to start.  Pedro better pwn the Yanks.  LET’S GO METS, LET’S GO METS!

Update 8:32

Two strong innings from Pedro, you have got to love that start.  This game is already going much quicker than the last.  I love how quick NL games go.  I hate money ball, and the long, boring games that are so common in the AL.  Still 0-0, and I’m still kind of wasted.  Let’s score some runs.

Update 8:43

Fuck, fuck, fuck.  Bases loaded, no outs, and no one scores.  This is the type of shit the Mets do that drives me crazy.  They had Ponson on the ropes.  Pedro strikes out, ok that’s fine, but Reyes and Castillo both choked on getting some runs in.  I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt them later in the game.  Keep pitching strong Pedro.

Update 9:07

Here we go again.  It’s now two innings in a row where the Mets have had Ponson on the ropes, and they let him off the hook with bad situational hitting.  This is what drives me nuts.  They should be up at least 3-4 runs right now, and Kei Igawa should be in the game.  Instead Ponson looks like Steve Carlton, and the Mets look anemic.  Terrible, terrible, terrible.  I’m still expect them to win this game, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this bad situational hitting comes back to bite them in the ass.

Update 9:52

Surprised?  Am I surprised that the Mets play a phenomenal game at Yankee Stadium, and then stink it up back at Shea?  Ummmmm no.  I was hoping this wouldn’t happen, but I kind of did expect it.  I mean they let Ponson off the hook twice, and then Pedro starts throwing meatballs, then the Mets offense just starts looking absolutely pathetic against an average pitcher.  I mean wtf?  Whatever, at least I still have plenty of beer, and there is still time for the Mets to pull their heads out of their collective asses.  Let’s go bitches, quit fucking around.  It’s time to put some crooked numbers on the board.  It’s time to start building on your wins, especially since the Phils are playing a close game, and could potentially lose, thus allowing the Mets–with a sweep–to pick up 1.5 games today.

Update 10:15

WTF?  I just don’t get this team.  They go from looking fucking locked on, to looking like the absolutely worst team ever.  How does that happen?  Did they just decide, “Oh, ok, we won a game today, we earned our paycheck, fuck it.”  What the shit, I just don’t fucking get this fucking quitter mentality.  They just fucking cashed in on this game.  Ponson should have been out of the game by the 3rd inning.  Instead the Mets have the situational hitting of the Bad News Bears.  AAAAAAAAHHHHHH! FUCK!  Someone explain this shit to me.  4 innings left pleeeease start chipping away.

Update 11:21

Well game over.  Mets ended up getting a split, looking fantastic in the first game, and then looking like little leaguers in the second game.  I guess I should be used to the two steps forward, two steps back routine, but it still mystifies and pisses me off.  Especially with the Phils losing right now the Mets had the chance to pick up another half game.  Oh well opportunity lost…again.  Hopefully they come out swinging tomorrow, and quit playing games on cruise control.  The good thing is that I have enough beers left over to get ham dogged again tomorrow.

Update 1:27

Still drinking, and I just remembered how dissapointed I am in the Mets today.  Had the chance for a really good day going into Santana tomorrow, but no they fucking put that shit on cruise control, and lolly-gagged their way through the second game. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Ok fuck it I’m going to continue to drink until I pass the fuck out.