My blog n'at

We’ve all been there. You have a secret that you’re dying to share and know you can’t. That has been the last few weeks for me and this CD. Biting my lip and wrapping my head in duct tape is the best way to explain it. Restless Days is the latest release from Pittsburgh’s 20yr+ rock veterans and (I’m not just saying this because it was just released or that I may or may not help out on the site since 2002) is hands down my favorite of their whole collection. Here’s my quick review:

1. “True Believer” starts out rockin that you will find your head boppin and body bouncin.
2. “Inside” does a great job keeping up the pace from “True Believer” and takes you on a 2:53 auditory adventure.
3. “Trampoline” has some of the most memorable one liners that you’ll find yourself singing during the day while you’re working… “I was never your lover and I’m not your trampoline. Never your lover and I’m not your trampoline”  See, Now it’s in your head.  You’re welcome.
   
4. “Midnight Rose” has taken me a few times to get into. Still trying to figure that one out.
   
5. “Soul and Skin” is what old school Clarks fans will enjoy as it took me back to the Someday Maybe CD.
6. “Sunshine” and “Come ‘Round Here” will be a hit for fans of Scott’s solo cd’s and also songs that I find myself singing quite a bit.
   
7. “Restless Days” is going to be a great drinking song with friends. You’re ready to chill and sing together a song that doesn’t make you into a coke’d out monkey.
   
8. “The Clowns” I’m not sure what to make of this one yet. I keep thinking of the Cleveland Browns
   
9. “The Runaway” reminds me of an upbeat jam that I would have expected with Let It Go.
   
10. “In Between” is one of the medium tempo songs that I’ve always been fond of from the band. I think Lushie calls it “cleaning music”. Its what you can listen on repeat and get lost so you don’t realize you’re doing work.
    
11. The CD closes out with what has become a huge hit with Pens fans, “What A Wonderful World.” The full version of this song is even better than the commercial. Suck it Ramones!
    

Pre-sale CDs arrived yesterday to fans and today the general public can purchase it. To find out more and listen to tracks go to clarksonline.com

(photo thanks to Woy. Lokay never stood a chance on this one)

The last time I stepped foot on a golf course was my bachelor party in October of 2005. My clubs once belonged to my brother so they’re at least 15-20 years old. My driver is the only relatively new addition and that was 9 years ago from my dad. Since then I tried three times to get out with the end result of 2 rain outs and 1 snow out. I took this as a sign that maybe I should give it up and find another sport to consume my time… I took up Curling.

Now, 3.5 years later, I have spent back to back weekends golfing at Cranberry Highlands. The original reason for my un-retirement was my friend Jeff was getting married and it was part of the bachelor party. Who’s going to deny a bachelor party right? The following weekend was an impromptu gathering of Yinz Team with Shireman, OtherWhiteJim and Woy on a picture perfect day.

Here is what I learned about myself and the sport.

• I’ll never EVER even hint to having golf skills. Weekend 1 I shot a 123 and the 2nd was 111. I did, however, hit par a few times, rimmed a cup for birdie and missed an eagle by inches… and then rummed the cup again.
• I had fun. When you surround yourself with friends you can’t go wrong. If any one of them would have been hardcore serious I would be missing my 3 Wood. You can guess how.
• If there is sand on a hole I will not only land in it, I’ll bring a towel and sunblock because I could be there awhile
• If there is water… see above.
• Apparently I can hit my 5 iron like a beast while my driver makes the ball slice, dice and hook. Strangest thing I tell ya!
• “Rangers” are mere distractions to bug you into putting faster.
• If you hit into us because we’re slow, I understand. If you hit into us because we’re slow and there is a group on the green putting I reserve the right to hit your ball back at you with my sniper of a 5 Iron.
• Apparently golf carts can ride on 2 wheels. I saw it done. Seriously. Wasn’t me.
• Don’t forget to tip your beer girl (not me but I’m looking at some of you out there)
• Exploding golf balls are why mine carry the mark of the spoon.
• bring cigars

Collection of a few more shots
Par 3, 167 yards with water
Even more water. Hole 12 I think
Woy had the sweetest drives all day. If you don’t fish in Erie you golf and bowl. Don’t be fooled.

(click here for the entire gallery on Flickr)

Thursday night’s 4-2 Penguins win over the Red Wings was hands down the most fun I have ever had at a playoff game. My night started on pre-game drinks with Jim and Jim downtown. Many pints and cheers were had by all. It was the walk TO the game where things got exciting and a hobo wasn’t involved.

As you can see from the picture above the area outside the Mellon Arena was PACKED. The lawn was already 1/2 full at lunch time when the local news stations were broadcasting live from there. We make our way to Gate 9 and who do we see but Dave Hanson from the Hanson Brothers. My night was already made right there since he’s one badass guy. We walked the red carpet inside and not 1 minute later I bump into Mark Cuban. Yes, THAT Mark Cuban. He’s a native yinzer and probably came into town to see what a winning hockey team is like since he doesn’t get much of that in Dallas Great guy.

The game was a non stop scream fest for myself and the regulars in F balcony. I’d go into details of the game but what haven’t you read or seen by now on the constant replays on NHL Network? Overall the energy was high and I was having an absolute blast. Pens rally from down 2-1 to win 4-2 (could have been 6-2). Once the game ended I took some time to absorb the night from my seat. I walked around the emptying arena a little bit and concluded with a trip to Pens Station to buy a program to add to my Ice Time, Whiteout Tshirt and Rally towel.

I started the walk back to my parking spot when who do I see next to me but Mike Emrick. What I love about Pittsburgh is that no matter what level of celeb you are, everyone treats you the same. Well unless you’re on NBC/VS and foam at the mouth to talk about Osgood’s 5-hole.

I wish I could better represent the excitement I felt that night but I can say that the only way to top this evening is to bring that cup back to Pittsburgh. I’m lookin at you Game 6.

Faceoff  for Game 5 is in 19 hours. I gotta put the foil on.

This week has been crazy insane busy. Think I’m kidding? Ask me about the sleep Lushie and I haven’t had.

Tuesday night will be memorable not just because the Pens started to turn the Stanley Cup finals around but because we took Teaspoon to the ER at Children’s for probably the first of many times when it comes to raising a boy. I was lucky growing up and only went once for myself when I was in 5th grade and wiped out on a 10-speed trying to cut the corner on E26th and Bird Drive in Erie, PA.

Since Teapsoon was a preemie we’ve had to deal with reflux quite often and most times it was manageable. However, on this day, it would reach epic proportions. Non stop crying for 3 hours and I’m not talking just cries either but teeth grinding, hair raising, stab me in the ears to make it stop screaming. We called his doc and were told the words parents, especially new parents, don’t want to hear… “Take him to the ER at Children’s NOW! I’ll call and let them know you’re coming.” This leads to a Lushie freak out mode and me in a panic. We strap T into his car seat and not more than 1/2 mile from the house he stops crying. Lushie drives in warp speed while I sit with T in the back praying that everything is OK aaaaannndddddd Teapsoon is sleeping. WTF? We pull into the ER and go in.

Now one thing you need to understand about Pittsburgh is that if a major sporting event is going on, such as the Stanley Cup Finals, the ER is usually empty. People would rather die than miss a game. Inside the ER we’re greeted by this bitchy admin lady who looks like she just hates life. I’m not saying that I wanted a cookie when we got there but its the freakin ER and I have a newborn who’s obviously got a problem, suck it up buttercup and help me out.

2.5 hours go by and just before we’re called back some homie gangsta G parent throws a fit that its been 20 minutes and his kid with a cough hasn’t been seen yet. Yeah, he won points with those of us dad’s who were there for hours. We finally go back and just before midnight hear from the doc. “He’s fine, his reflux is coming back so here is what you can do…”. *WHEW* I apologize for those who follow me on the social networking sites because my cell signal crapped out and I couldn’t send updates after the post we were there.

You’d think this was the end of the night but it wasn’t. We go to the pay station in the garage and guess what. OUT OF ORDER. We go to the next floor and the OS on the machine was froze. Folks, the irony here is that this is a band spankin new multi kajillion dollar hospital in Pittsburgh and the parking lot machines are broke. We call security and tell them of the situation. Their answer “Did you put your ticket in?” Yeah. OUT OF ORDER didn’t seem to register. Eventually we get on the right page and he lets us out at the gate. My guess to what happened is that at midnight every night the machines reboot themselves because as we left we saw the machines on and functional.

What a relief but also what a night. All of the parents who had to make that first trip with their first child can relate to what we went through. He’s still a little fussy but doing a lot better. Kudos to the staff we did encounter (besides the admin lady). The doctors and nurses were all top notch and did make our stay quite pleasant considering the circumstances.