My West Side Story

Michael Lewis helped revolutionize baseball with “Moneyball.” With “Blind Side” he takes a look a football.

Unlike “Moneyball,” though, which focused on the GM of the Oakland A’s, this book focuses on a 15-year old homeless kid, who grew up in the projects of Memphis… oh, and who happens to extremely athletic… and 6′5″ 350 pounds.

The story is about the kid, the wealthy white family that adopts him, college recruiting, and the evolution of the left tackle position in the NFL.

It’s a fantastic read. I read it in three days. I’m kind of sad I’m done with it.

Went to fancypants Bar Boulud last night with my friends Karen, Margaret and Glenn. I’ve been wanting to try to it, so after consulting with my dinner mates, I made a reservation three weeks out. It was the earliest I could get.

The restaurant is quite stunning from a design perspective. The design also works, at least if you get a booth. If you get a table, it looked like a typical NY restaurant… the tables are so close together you have to slide them out to leave your table. We had a booth.

While the joint looked great, the food was pretty average. Both Margaret and I ordered the Steak Frites. The steak was good, but it wasn’t ’special.’ The fries, however, were special… brilliant. Glenn and Karen both ordered the Coq au Vin. They were split on it…. Karen didn’t think much of it, while Glenn thought it was pretty good.

I started with Clam Chowder that was too soupy, which would’ve been OK if they were going to ‘light,’ but that wasn’t the case. The flavor, though, was quite nice.

We each ordered a different dessert, and they were all very good.

I probably won’t go back for dinner, but lunch is a possibility. They have a whole mess of sandwiches that are only served for lunch that all sound great. 

During the race, I saw my friend Glenn standing at about the 10 mile mark. When I finished the race, I had planned on just hopping on the subway and riding back. I was a bit tired, after having to wake up at 5:15 for the race.

Just as I was walking down to the subway, I saw Glenn again. He was with a friend, and of course I’ve forgotten her name. I think it was Missy. If not, that’s what we’ll call her. She comes back up later in this post. They said they were waiting for some friends and going out for brunch and I should join them.

Their friends were Nathan (”Missy’s” boyfriend) and another couple who’s names I’ve forgotten. Where’s Kaia when you really need her? She’s like Rainman when it comes to names. She remembers everyone.

Anyway, we all met up and went to Brooklyn Burger Bar. Apparently this group loves burgers. Yay for me… more friends! The burger was good, but I can’t really eat after a race, so I only at about half of it and about half my fries. These are some damn funny people. They’re also really smart, as they all met while going to Brown.

After the Burger Bar we went to a standard beer bar. I just drank 7-Up as I’m still a little gunshy and wanted to settle my stomach for the long ride back. Again, nothing but funny stories.

So, back to Missy. As we were walking to the subway I mentioned that I had just read Mole People. Missy had spent 8 months in the subway tunnels shooting a documentary for Discovery Channel! Unfortunately, she took a different train than me, so I couldn’t pick her brain. But, she did say that many think the author of Mole People embellished her story. She said I can borrow her copy of the documentary, but I’m going to see if it’s available on Netflix.

I survived! In fact, I nearly PR’d. I ran a 1:56:29, which is just a minute short of my best half-marathon time, set last summer.

The race started on boardwalk of Coney Island (more on that later) and finished in Prospect Park. Up until the last three miles, the course was pancake flat. But those last three miles were a doozy. I really thought I was going to PR, all the way up until the last mile, which after all the climbing, I figured would be downhill. Not so much. Oh well, I’m quite satisfied with my time.

The week off from the norovirus didn’t seem to affect me, and in fact, the weight loss probably helped me. I did lose a little energy there at the end, but I can’t complain about it.

The breakdown

• Mile 1: 8:51. Running on the boardwalk was interesting. Back in high school I ran at an indoor trackmeet in Idaho on which we ran on “boards” (wood.) This had a similar feel, except not all the boards were nailed down. People tripping left and right. You’d see people just going down, like there was a sniper firing down from the Cyclone roller coaster.
• Mile 2: 9:00
• Mile 3: 9:00 (yes, at the start of the race my goal was to run 9:00 minute miles)
• Mile 4: 8:34. We had stepped off the boardwalk and ran on the road. It was flat, wide and nice
• Mile 5: 8:39
• Mile 6: 9:02
• Mile 7: 8:52
• Mile 8: 8:57
• Mile 9: 8:53
• Mile 10: 9:05. It was here where the course started to get tricky. It was basically one long hill from here to the finish.
• Mile 11: 9:15
• Mile 12: 8:31. OK, there was a downhill section during this mile. It was here that I decided to go for a PR, thinking the rest of the course was downhill…
• Mile 13: 8:55. How wrong I was. The last mile was all uphill again. It was a horrible way to end a long race.
• The .1 part: 0:57. Even this part was uphill. Ugh

So, again, to recap. I ran a nice race. It was five minutes faster than that debacle in the Bronx.

Three down, two to go to complete the Five Borough Half-Marathon Challenge. The final two are Queens in September and Staten Island in October.

My brother sent mail today saying his girlfriend, who came over dinner on Sunday night, had the norovirus. So, I’m guessing that’s what I had.

My plumbing stopped leaking last night. And today I took my first solid shit! Everyone clap for me. I felt like taking a bow when I was done.

I’m actually feeling pretty good about the race tomorrow. I’ll let you know if I feel the same way when I’m done.

Went to the game 4 at the Garden last night. The Rangers were trailing the series 3 - 0, so a loss and the season was over. The Rangers responded with a near perfect game in winning 2 - 0.

It was so much fun. I’d give my left eye (that’s my bad eye) for a ticket to game six (if we win on Sunday.)

The Garden was electric. The Rangers fans are freakin’ crazy. I loved it!

I have to admit, I almost quit on the book after the first three chapters, but it picked up nicely and when finished, I was quite satisfied.

“Mole People” was written in the early ’90s and is the true story of the homeless living under New York in the subway tunnels. I found the book at its best when the author was giving first hand accounts of the tunnels and when she gave historical perspectives of life ‘underground.’ However, I thought the book faltered when she let her subjects tell their own stories, primarily because they didn’t seem credible.

Anyway, the book is quite fascinating. If true, the tales of some of the deep underground communities, that author couldn’t reach herself are quite remarkable. There’s a chapter devoted to teenagers that is quite touching, and another devoted to women that’s really sad.
For me, I just find it hard to believe how much NY has changed in 15 years. Back then, apparently you couldn’t ride in the back two subway cars without fearing for your possessions or even life. New York sounded like kind of a scary place. Today, it’s pretty much the safest city in the country. Statistically, I believe this is a fact. It’s like walking around Disneyland around here. Of course, it’s basically a police state with cops everywhere, but hey, you win some, you lose some.

If you leave here, I’d be happy to loan you the book. I think it’s something every New Yorker should read, if for no other reason then maybe you’ll be less annoyed when your standing in the subway and you hear “Excuse me, pardon me ladies and gentlemen, I don’t mean to disturb you, but I’ve recently fallen on hard times and…”

Through a work friend, I was able to score a ticket to tonight’s Madonna concert at the Roseland Ballroom.

At this point of her career, she reminds me a lot of Prince, in that she’s built up a nice back catalog, her new songs don’t completely suck, and she can flat out entertain. The show didn’t disappoint, except that it was really short… like in, about seven songs short.

The highlight of the show? Definitely when Justin Timberlake came out for whatever that song they duet on is. The set was great and seeing them sing and dance off each other was pretty cool.

You can watch the concert here.

Normally when you lose seven pounds it’s a good thing. Unless the reason for the weight loss is that there’s something going horribly wrong with your stomach.

I have not been able to keep food in my body since Sunday. I was definitely most sick on Monday. That day, I was vomiting so hard, on Tuesday I didn’t have my voice. On Tuesday, though, the fever was gone, but the ass-end of the illness, you know the diarrhea, stuck around. And is still hanging around.

Something still isn’t right, as I have no appetite (you know how much I love food) and what I do eat shoots right out the other end of me.

Normally, I wouldn’t give two shits about this, but I have to run the Brooklyn Half Marathon on Saturday, and I have zero energy. I have a feeling that race will be pure Hell, which sucks because I ran an awesome 16 miles on Saturday.

Two words: Freakin’ Hilarious.

OK, a few more words… in the Judd Apatow film world, I’d rank them like this:

1. Sarah Marshall
2. Knocked Up
3. 40-Year Old Virgin
4. Anchorman
5. Superbad
6. Talladega Nights

Actually, maybe “Knocked Up” is tops. Not sure. It’s a toss up. As a single guy with no baby issues, I related more to Sarah Marshall. But, jeez, both are great.

For the record, I never saw Walk Hard.

I feel bad for you folks in Seattle. Yesterday reached 84 in Central Park. Today wasn’t as hot, mid-70s, but boy it’s nice to be walking around in shorts and a t-shirt.

OK, this book took a looooong time to read. I can’t remember the last time a book took four months for me to finish. It’s not even that long of a book.

However, that doesn’t mean “The Echo Maker” is boring. It’s actually very good. Like, National Book Award winner good. But, having said that, it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.

The book, like a slow-rolling river, sort of meanders through the lives of three people: Mark, a 27-year old who gets in a car accident and wakes up from a coma recognizing things, but not believing that his sister, Karin, is actually his sister, he thinks she’s an imposter; Karin, who quits her job to take care of Mark, only to suffer through the pain and indignity of him not believing she’s his sister; and Gerald Webber, author of well-received books on the brain, who suffers a professional crisis when his last book gets panned and he gets labeled an ‘opportunist’ since he writes about people who suffer from weird brain maladies, but he doesn’t actually help them.

On top of all of that, the story is built on a foundation of the daily goings in Kearney, Nebraska, a town that annually hosts the migration of cranes. But, as the area expands, the river that hosts the cranes is being impinged upon. The town must decide if it wants to continue growing, or if it should build a preserve for the cranes.

Also, there’s a nice side story about a mysterious nurse. Actually, this ’side story’ is one of the main drivers of the plot, so I guess I shouldn’t call it.

Ultimately, though, the book is about self. Who, exactly, are we? Are we our thoughts and memories? Is it our physical presence that defines us? Or something else?

The good news, the Rangers beat New Jersey to win their first round series 4 games to 1.

The bad news? I was able to get tickets to game six at the Garden. It would have been BANANAS. Probably my last shot to experience playoff hockey… unless Seattle were to build a new arena that could host NHL hockey.

I’m boycotting the NBA Playoffs. Join me, won’t you? Unfortunately, this may be an historic year. I’m not sure the Western Conference Playoffs could be any more thrilling. Anyway, I’m done. I won’t be watching.

Looking ahead, though, now that the Knicks have finally canned Isaiah, I hate to say it, but the Knicks may be my new team. If all goes according to plan, they’re going to absolutely stink the next two years. We’re talking historically bad. Why? They need to. Because in 2010, LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Melo, Paul and Deron Williams could all be free agents. Wow.

But in order for the Knicks to be in play, they basically need to shed their roster of the dead weight Thomas left behind. They’ll need dump at least one of Zach Randolph, Eddie Cury or Jamal Crawford without taking back contracts, plus they can’t sign anyone new past the 2009 season. In other words, they’re really going to stink.

Bring it on!

Warning: This is a little rough.

Attention David Stern:

Suck my balls. You can take your league and shove it so far up your ass it starts to bleed out of your eyeballs.

Me and the NBA? We’re finished. I’m boycotting the playoffs. Long live the NHL!

I grew up idolizing the Sonics. Working five years for the Sonics was my dream job.

So many memories. Thanks for ruining them you arrogant cocksucker.

Fuck you and fuck your fucking league!

FUCK!!!

Last night, I met some friends at Smith’s down in… not sure what you call it.. the Village? Or maybe NoHo? Whatever.

We didn’t have a reservation, but some sweet talking by Laura got us a table, with the caveat that we need to be out of the table in an hour and a half.

We started with a steamed egg, which was unique and really tasty. I’m not sure exactly what they did to that poor egg, but it was whipped so much it became somewhat foamy. It was, without question, the best egg I’ve ever eaten. We also had an order of Portugeuse Sardines, that were also real good.

Tim ordered a cold, pea soup, that I had no interest in trying. He also had the wonderful homemade Corzetti (a type of pasta) served with seasonal mushrooms. Kelly ordered the Striped Bass, which was fantastic. Laura had the scallops, which were perfectly done. And in somewhat of an upset, instead of the rib-eye steak, I had the chicken served over an asparagus, mushroom and ramp sauce. The sauce was pretty much the greenest thing I’ve ever seen. It was also delicious.

Due to our time constraint, we didn’t order dessert. Plus, I couldn’t have been any more full.

Smith’s comes to you highly recommended!

It had been around a year since the last time I ate at the Pig, so Anzela and I went on Wednesday night. They don’t take reservations, but the wait was only about an hour.

When we got seated, A was very excited about the ramps. Unfortunately, all four dishes that included ramps were sold out. It was only 8:15! Apparently, if you don’t make the first seating, you miss out on the specials. Also sold out was the Beef Carpaccio, which sounded divine.

We started with a wonderful beet and goat cheese salad. Man, it was good. Then, she ordered the gnudi (which I’d had before and highly recommend) and I had the rabbit pot roast. I had never had rabbit. For the first time in my life, I got a little sad that I was eating an animal. When I saw the leg, I couldn’t help but think of the little bunnies I used see every morning while running back in Redmond. Of course, that didn’t stop me from gnawing on the bones like Cujo at a butcher shop. But, still, I felt a little bad about eating rabbit.

In fact, the rabbit tasted so much like chicken, that I’m guessing the next time I eat rabbit it will be when I’m lost in the wilderness and have to eat it… or die. It’s not like Fois Gras, which is pretty horrible… but tastes so good, I claim human superiority, and will eat it until it’s illegal.

We also split a heaping order of the Spotted Pig’s fantastic shoestring french fries.

After a fantastic seven-mile run in Central Park, well, a half-mile each way to and from the park, then the six-mile loop, I met my friend Laura for dinner at Maria Pia for Italian food in the Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown area. Actually, on the run, my calf developed a knot of some kind, that got pretty sore. I iced it for a couple of days. It feels normal now. But, I have to say, I was a little concerned.

Anyway, about Maria Pia. I went in SO hungry. It was crazy. We started with calamari, that were fine, then came a Caeser Salad, which was good. The main course, one of the specials, a seafood paparadelle that was fantastic. Plenty of seafood, and the pasta, was cooked perfectly. I really liked it a lot.

If I ever see a show again, I’ll remember this as a place to go for a good meal either before or after the show.

I don’t write much about TV. Really, I don’t watch that much TV. But, when I like a show, I give it my all.

I’m currently watching “30 Rock,” “The Office,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Lost” and “Eli Stone.”
You can read about the other shows all over the place, but I need to give a shout out to “Eli Stone.” At first, I was a little unsure. But, this show is truly wonderful. OK, when I say ‘wonderful,’ you may say ‘cheesy.’ Still, as a viewer, I always leave the show leaves feeling a little better about the world.

If you’re unfamiliar, the easy comparison is to “Ally McBeal” because it’s a show about a quirky lawyer who has visions. But, unlike ‘Ally McBeal,’ instead of going for cheap laughs, “Eli Stone” takes on big cases with big ramifications.

There’s only one episode left this season. But, I believe you can catch up on ABC.com or iTunes.

It’s a great show. Watch it!

Went to a fun dinner party last night. Everyone was supposed to bring an hors d’oeuvres and ingredients for your favorite drink.

I made something that was actually really good, an Alsatian Cheese Tart, but compared to the dishes other folks brought, it was child’s play. For the cheese tart, I replaced the cottage cheese in the recipe with Ricotta, the sour cream with a Creme Fraiche, and the bacon with Pancetta. It was the first time I’ve dealt with puff pastry, which I found messy, but fairly easy to deal with.

I planned on making two tarts. After the first once came out, I cut it up and tasted it, figuring the 2nd one would be better than the first. Unfortunately, the second one was kind of screwed up (pictured here.) I don’t think I rolled it out thin enough, so the dough went a little nuts. If puffed ‘up’ not ‘out.’ Oh, well. It still tasted fine. It just looked kind of ugly.

My dish was one of three that was built on puff pastry. The food was spectacular.

Pretty much everyone at party were runners (I love this about NY!) We ended the evening playing Hold ‘Em. This was my first poker game in at least a year. I finished second, and won enough money to cover the expense of my dish and the tools I needed to make it (a new cookie sheet and rolling pin.)

It was a great night. I’m looking forward to the next one.