Can your hear me, Major Tom? (38/366)

As a parent, I think one of the rites of passage is kids toys that make it into the strangest places at the worst times.  Nothing can scare the hell out of you more than when you run over a Hot Wheels car with the lawn mover and shards of metal and plastic fly out in all directions like you hit a land mine.  My personal favorite is the Lego piece that you can't see because it blends with the floor....damn that can hurt like hell!

So as I went to work on Monday, I walked by the side of my driveway and saw this little Walkie-Talkie lying in the lawn.  Now, I would not think much of it normally, but I know it hasn't been there long and I don't think I ever bought my kids anything like this.  So it makes you wonder....where did it come from?

And before you go thinking I cheated and used a pic I took on Monday, for Tuesday, I didn't.  I had taken a similar photo on Monday but after we went to dinner, the shot of Point won out because I knew this would still by lying in the same spot the next day (minus a little bit of frost).

I think I might just leave it and see if my son happens to notice it.  I am sure it doesn't work but I know he loves  being creative with his toys.  Right now he is re-enacting a scene from one of the Star Wars movies with Millennium Falcon he got for his birthday and a few thousand other Lego's he has accumulated over the past few years.

Ground control to Major Tom, your circuits dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you.....

City of Bridges (37/366)


Tonight I had dinner at one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh, Monterey Bay Fish Grotto up (http://www.montereybayfishgrotto.com/) on Mt. Washington.  The view from the restaurant is as amazing as the menu and it always opens up delicious and interesting food options for me.

We started off the evening with Oyster's Rockefeller, raw oysters and Cajun Shrimp.  Tonight's special was a Walu-Escolar done in a Korean BBQ.  It was beyond amazing and definitely a fish I would love to have again. Delicate, light and flaky and it practically melted in your mouth.  We finished our meal with carrot cake that probably put 10lbs on me just looking at it.

A special thank you to my colleagues and co-workers for company and conversation as diverse and interesting as tonight's menu.  Rich, Scott, Steve and Chris....thank you for a lovely evening.  It's always a pleasure to have your company.

We've got a million bridges

To get from place to place

Try to name another city

That let's pierogies race

After riding the inclines

The only food I like

Are a Primanti's brother sandwich with fries and slaw

And a slice of old Vinnie's pie.

The Pittsburgh Song

Empire State of Mind (36/366)


Yes folks, I have a Giants fan in my home.  It's not easy, but if she was a Cowboy's fan, it would have been worse.  You see, 5 years ago her grandmother was here for a visit.  During her stay, my Eagles were playing the Giants and Grandma knows how much of an Eagles fan I am.  So we are eating dinner and watching the game and it's close.  At this point, Dan is too young to care and Shannon is undecided.

So what does Grandma do?  She pays Shannon $5 to root for her Giants.  WTF???  Amazing what some cash can do to sway your grandchild...LOL

So we fast forward to the present and Shannon is still rooting on the Giants with her Grandma, I am still an Eagles fan and Daniel, well, he is still a fair-weather friend, owning Steelers, Cardinals and Eagles gear.  Just call him Team Switzerland!

Way to go NY....the only better than watching my Eagles win, is watching the Patriots lose!

In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made, oh
There's nothing you can't do, now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you, let's hear it for New York,
New York, New York......

Put Me In, Coach! (35/366)


So today was Daniel's 9th basketball game.  He plays 3rd Grade Metro Basketball and this is his first time every playing this sport.  He has height on his side but needs to work a bit more on his aggressiveness.

The Keystone Oaks Eagles are currently 1-8 but for a whole team of first-timers, it's been great to watch them progress through the season.  Next year should bring more fun and more wins!

Today not only brought us a very close game, but it also brought us Daniel's first baskets, 2 to be exact.  The first one was what I like to call a "toilet bowl" basket cause the damn ball swirled around the hoop at least 4 times before dropping in.  I think I was more excited than he was and I was definitely louder....LOL  The second shot, while not as dramatic, was just as exciting!  I was so proud of him!

So here's to my little man!  You go Daniel!!

Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you wanted, one  moment
Would you capture it?
Or let it slip, yo

Songbird (34/366)


I truly believe that beauty is everywhere, today proved that to be very true.  I was a brisk February morning filled with sun.  I dropped my car off for inspection and decided to be healthy and walk the half mile (all uphill) to the office.  Not normally a difficult task, unless you are lugging the laptop from hell that weighs 10lbs.

As I made my way up, I took the time to check out some of the interesting scenery and as I thought, choosing a photo for today's post was not easy.  I had four very good options but on the drive in, Fleetwood Mac was on the radio and the song stuck with me.

Now it did not happen with this shot, but as I passed a home with ivy on it's front wall, I stopped for a shot.  The frost on the leaves and the way it glistened in the sun made for a beautiful shot.  As I was turning from the drive, the homeowner came out and asked me if I saw a rat...really?  Ewwww.....I told her I was just enjoy a little bit of Mother Nature's artwork and continued on my way.

And the songbirds are singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before

Take Me Out To The Ball Game (33/366)


In less than 3 weeks, pitchers and catchers report for the beginning of Spring Training and I can't wait!

First and foremost I love baseball.  I was born and raised a Philadelphia Phillies fan and my heart will always be them.  Life and work moved me to Pittsburgh, which means the Pirates.  I have always been a fan of the underdog, and for the last 18 years, you can't find more of an underdog than the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Now most baseball fans would not think that was a good thing.

But you know what?  My kids are getting something you don't get in all the big market towns: intimacy with their hometown team.  They are learning to love baseball as Season Ticket holders, as members of the Bucaroos club, as Pittsburgh Pirates fans!  We will attend about 30 games this season and win or lose, it's what we love to do.

So as I was enjoying a brisk walk on a cold and gray February day around the baseball field of our local Aiken Park, my mind wandered ahead about two months, to when kids will be playing on these fields.  Parents will be watching and cheering, I will be getting my walk/jog on and it will be baseball season!

Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks
I don't care if I ever get back!

Fit For a King (32/366)

I mean, it is called a King Cake!  A special "Thank You" to my co-workers Rhett Miranda and Darrel Saucier for sending us this cake today.  We called today Early Fat Wednesday...LOL

Now what is a King Cake you ask? A King Cake comes in a number of styles but the most simple and traditional, is a ring of twisted bread, similar to that used in a brioche.  It's topped with icing or sugar that is usually colored purple, green and gold (the traditional Mardi Gras colors).

There used to be a tiny trinket baked into the cake and the lucky person who found it in their piece had the privileged of hosting next year's Mardi Gras party.  However, due to the fact that we have become a "sue happy" nation, the trinket (usually a baby to represent Jesus) comes in a tiny ziploc baggie for you to "stuff" in the cake wherever you want.

Now this is not my first King Cake, but each time we receive one, my mind instantly runs to the scene in 007's Live and Let Die where the band is marching to "When The Saints Go Marching In" and they pick up whoever just died and put them in the coffin.

Oh when the saints, go marching in

When the saints go marching in

Oh Lord I want to be in that number

When the saints go marching in.......