Well, I’m officially starting to get worried about my dissertation. I’m leaving for Vienna in a week and I’ve done almost nothing. I’m shooting for some semblance of an essay by this time next week. That’ll give me about a 1/3rd, use of “about” is quite liberal in this case. In happier news, it’s the Fourth of July weekend.
Finger Eleven – “So-so Suicide” Them vs. You vs. Me
Wilco – “Company In My Back” A Ghost Is Born
Common – “Drivin’ Me Wild” Finding Forever
Oasis – “Don’t Look Back In Anger” (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Elton John – “Crocodile Rock” Greatest Hits 1970-2002
Rod Lee – “Dance My Pain Away” The Wire Soundtrack
Oasis – “Hello” (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
50 Cent – “If I Can’t” Get Rich or Die Tryin’
The White Stripes – “300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues” Icky Thump
Everyone has that list of things they want to do before they die. Most of the stuff on my list is pretty simple – see Prague, learn “Everlong” on the guitar, learn Italian, stuff like that. There was really only one thing on my list that would be impossible to do before too long – dunk a basketball. I’ve gotten pretty close a couple of times, even dunking a rugby ball and a volleyball before, but never a honest-to-goodness dunk of a real basketball.
My problem was two-fold. First, I was about an inch too short on my vertical leap. I couldn’t quite get the ball over the lip of the rim. The second problem compounded the first, and that was my hands were a bit too small. I would always lose control of the ball when turning over my wrist to bring the ball down. This led to my patented “Slam the ball off the back iron and hang on the rim and hope it goes in and call that a ‘dunk’ ” move, which as much as I wanted it to be was not a real dunk.
Last night at netball we found a basketball and just screwed around a bit waiting for our game to start. I did what I do everytime I get a basketball in my hand – try to dunk. This was the first time I’d tried to dunk since rugby ended, which I think helped a lot. Rugby takes a real toll on your legs. Having not done anything too intensive lately, mostly softball, my legs were pretty fresh. My first attempt felt better than any other jump I’ve ever taken. I turned to Eamon and said “Give me that, I feel extra springy today.” Eamon looked at with a weird look “Springy?” ”Just give me the damn ball.”
I went back and took my normal approach. I got a good jump and threw it down. I looked at Eamon and Bobby – “You guys saw that, right!?” About 4 or 5 people saw me perform an actual dunk of a basketball on a regulation hoop. I’m going to take my camera to my game next week to try to get video of this momentus event. I’m really glad I got to dunk before I got too much older. The window was closing pretty quickly.
I had a tag* rugby tournament yesterday, so pictures are forthcoming. Until then, enjoy the best thing to come out of Akron since Nana’s cookies with the red goo on them.
*Tag=flag, for whatever reason. I think they’re just trying to be difficult. It’s like flag football, only rugby.
The interwebs are telling me that the Pacers drafted Tyler Hansbrough last night. That’s exactly what the Pacers needed, because if they’ve ever lacked anything, it’s white guys. Hansbrough has easily been my least favorite player in college hoops the last few years, mostly through no fault of his own, but the media never shutting up about him. Hopefully he’ll fulfill a useful role on the Pacers. Music after the jump. Keep reading →
After the jump are my two most recent self-portraits, taken less than 24 hours apart. The one on the left suggests I am not allowed within 200 feet of a school or daycare center, while the one on the right is slightly better. I gave the beard a decent try, or at least until I saw myself in a picure, but I don’t think I can pull it off. The bald patches are just a bit too much to over come. And the haircut, it was long overdue. Keep reading →
So, as many of you requested, I took a picture of the beard so you can see it. Only now have I realized just how pathetic a beard it is. I was going to try to make it to Friday with this, as that would be 2 weeks, but I can’t stand it anymore, especially knowing how bad it looks. It’s gone as soon as I get up. I’ll probably get a haircut today too. The picture is after the jump – I don’t want that hanging out there for the world to see. Keep reading →
In my general overall laziness, I neglected to shave at all last week. I’m going on about 10 days of not shaving. So I decided to see how well a beard would work. So far, so good, except for one minor “structural defect” – I have no hair under my lower lip. There are two quite prominent bald patches seperated by the bit of hair where a soul patch would be. The rest of the beard is fine, if not a bit on the thin side. I’m giving it until Friday. That will be two weeks. After that, if things don’t look better, it’s good bye beard.
I could probably pull this off, if I wanted to look like a hipster doofus
Every so often, my birthday happens to coincide with Father’s Day. Today is one of those days. So to Dad, Papaw, Grandpop and any other dad’s who happen to be reading this, I want to wish you a Happy Father’s Day. Below is some John Mellencamp, because I know Dad likes his music. I’m not sure what his favorite song is, but everyone likes “Jack and Diane” so I went with that. After the jump is a little something for my birthday.
Well, it’s my birthday weekend. I don’t have a lot planned. I might go out tonight, might not, I don’t know yet. Saturday I’m watching the Lions vs. South Africa and will probably be out all day and night. Assuming I can move on Sunday, I’m going to Sarah’s to use her grill and cook out a bit. I’ve rationed two High Lifes from Adam’s visit, so I’ll be having one of those at my Sunday BBQ. The other one is for the 4th of July.
The Nadas – “Where I’m Going” New Start
Kings of Leon – “I Want You” Only By The Night
Kaiser Chiefs – “Boxing Champ” Yours Truly, Angry Mob
A triple shot of the Foo Fighters! This list is a lot better than last week’s, though a little diversity would have been nice. I don’t know what it is about the song, but “Boxing Champ” is my favorite song off of that album.
This is from The Damnwells’ latest album, One Last Century. This particular performance is from the Mercury Lounge in NYC. You can download One Last Century (which I recommend you do) completely free of charge from The Damnwells’ official site.
