New Replacements EP

As a Minnesotan, I discovered The Replacements late. They are a Minnesota institution and its slightly embarrassing that it took me so long to get into them. Obviously, as a Paul Simon, Elvis Costello guy, the whole brilliant but tortured thing is right down my alley.

So when now that I have found out that perhaps there will be some new The Replacements material, I am quite a bit giddy.

Rolling Stone - New Replacements EP

Plus I have always had an irrational love of cover songs. Two of my all time favorite albums are collections of covers by Hootie and the Blowfish and The Killers. Perhaps it harkens back to my theater roots but hearing one artists take on a song I know is always captivating.

Federe-er-er-er?

Athletes aren't normally known for their comedy but these new spots for Lindor Truffles, lets the actors be funny and sets Roger as the straight man. I don't even like chocolate and I'm impressed.

Though, no TSA agent looks like that....

Friday Flinks of Fun Stuff.

As I try and force myself into blogging more, I hope to have a weekly list of links posted on Fridays. Friday nights I have the kids and we tend to do dinner and a movie. Since I've seen every kid movie we have at least 8 times. I have some time on my hands.

Friday night flinks:

I love beer. I am not a chemist. I would suck as a brewer. But maybe, just maybe I could use my love of drinking and moderately useless certifications (see Paralegal Cert, Northeastern class of '05) to carve out a niche for myself as a beer expert/geek/mucketymuck  - Cicerone.org

As I learn more about beer and use that knowledge as an excuse to drink more of it. This site has been very valuable. - Brewbound.com

I am and never will be much of a cook. But this new rice, that takes 90 seconds in the microwave is pretty outstanding. For microwave food*. Uncle Ben's Ready Rice

*(Microwave food is 1/3 of the Adam food pyramid)

This isn't my winery. Yet. Winegarden Estate

I'm hoping to get a dog soon. Maybe before Christmas. I promise never to do this to him/her. Pet-Costumes

I still want these shoes. I don't need more shoes. But it's the Scottish play?! Dream shoes

I've had plenty of crushes on fictional characters in my day. (Mara Jade anyone?) But Kate Beckett easily takes the top prize. So glad that Castle is back on the air. I probably deserve this look.

I've also been trying to read more and that brought me to Minnpost and The Glean. Brilliantly set up for the soundbite culture and need for constant, if not too detailed, news. Updated most week days twice a day with just enough information to spark further search or not.

One of my posts next week will be a review of The Heavy's newest album. On first listen, I'm pleased. Though older, this is one of my favorites of theirs. Sixteen

I've read almost the entire Dresden Files series and am now two books into the Codex Alera both by Jim Butcher. He may not be a mainstream name but for fun, escapist fiction with a sci-fi or epic flair he does very well.

Dating as a Dad...is dead?

So it may have finally happened. After several years of trying to navigate the dating scene as a single, divorced dad who doesn't look like Richard Castle - I think I've finally hit that quit point.

I've seen it happen to friends, single, young, old, male, female - it doesn't matter the details - sooner or later, they've given up. Stopped trying to find that person. Stopped asking, stopped searching, stopped expecting it to happen. And I always thought it was a bad thing.

I've always been a relationship guy. Historically, I'm at my most creative and productive when I have a significant other. Someone to share it with etc. Someone to want to impress. Someone to make proud. So I've always thought that I needed that to be at my best. Someone else.

The past few years have been a gold mine of stories, anecdotes, disasters and frankly just plain weird stuff. I've gone on blind dates. I've internet dated. I've tried to rekindle old sparks. I've met a complete stranger at a bar in Wisconsin that I later discovered was a house of ill repute. I've had some monumentally great nights and some nights whose details will never see the light of day.

But this week, I made a choice. It was like many of my choices, it was impulsive and poorly thought out. Yet it was a choice. I need to stop trying so hard. So I deleted my online dating profiles, which have proven to be a colossal waste of time on editing. I will never get back the minutes I debated whether I liked cats or just kinda liked cats or would be OK with dating someone who didn't like cats or had cats or a picture of cats playing canasta....but I digress. I made the choice to stop searching like a thirsty man in the desert hoping for an oasis.

Yes. I've heard a million times the old adage of "if you stop looking, that's when it will happen". But I grew up on Field of Dreams, so I'm going to focus more on "If you build it, they will come". 

So despite my historic understanding that I need someone to allow my energies to flow creatively, professionally, personally - I'm throwing relationshipi-ness to the wind and trying to build a better me. Even if that only means, I'm not going to look, search, hope for that missing piece as hard.

Plus giving up is the only thing I haven't tried. So maybe this is just my sub-conscience trying something new. :)

Another Die Hard???

There might not be a bigger fan of the Die Hard series than me. I have watched Live Free or Die Hard at least 4 times in the past 12 months. Justin Long's mother hasn't seen it that many times. Die Hard is my favorite Christmas movie. Which probably explains a lot about me.

But after discovering this trailer, I'm nervous. John McClane has always been the reluctant hero. The $2 Macguyver who made do with what he had. Shoes or no. He was never, would never claim to be "the 007 of New Jersey".....

However, playing to my over protective streak as a father, made me love Live Free or Die Hard. There is nothing I wouldn't do to protect my little girl. No matter how old she grows. So if the son of my former enemy were ever to take my son hostage?? Well, then I'd probably try and be the 007 of Roseville, MN. 

I'll be there opening night.

42 Trailer

Recently, I was introduced to the trailer for the movie 42. I had completely forgotten that it was in the works. Jackie Robinson was one if the most captivating stories from my childhood. I must have read 5-10 books on Robinson and other famous Negro League players. I literally have retold the anecdote of Cool Papa Bell dozens of times. Bell was so fast, he could turn off the light and be in bed before it was dark. 

Robinson, Bell, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and others were amazing stories of "What could have been?" The lost opportunity for stared history, epic battles, truth in statistics has always struck me as one of the most disappointing missed moments in all of sports. 

I pray this movie is good. The trailer hits the right notes. The "guts" conversation is one I have already had with my son. Perhaps that type of maturity can be useful today as well.  Have the guts not to troll?

Columbiana Official Trailer

Zoe Saldana is quickly becoming my favorite female action star. Plus this has a very clear Taken vibe to it. Hadn't heard of this until just recently but it is now on the calendar. I look forward to it immensely.