Home is where the beer is

I moved here on August 20 something as far as I remember, making it just about 4 months of living in Baltimore as far as I can figure. I guess I've crammed a pretty good amount into those months considering I was damn near on my death bed for one of them completely. Lessons learned:

I am happy I didn't take the leap to NYC without a job, watching the cost of living on the east coast dissolve any fiscal security I had made that very clear.

Without Zamboni I may have very well gone insane from living completely on my own for so long so far, it is not an easy adjustment for a social one like me.

Big cities are neat, especially their bar scenes that have actual authentic Irish in their Irish bars.

I need to move into the actual city and out of it's suburb, I'm far too young for this.

The women here are A) less attractive than the old college girls on a whole, and B) almost always accompanied by some form of guido.

I miss Detroit sports.

I miss hockey.

People here lift their windshield wipers up in the air if they think the temperatures call for frost in the morning. This one caused me to bust out laughing.

Too much time on your own, too many beers, and your pants don't fit.

Lessons to be noted and recalled someday as if I were a notable scholar I am sure. So I go back home Saturday and hope to see many in EL sat and sun, maybe a few in Roch wed?

The Best Albums of 2007

While I work in business now, at heart I’m still a Disc Jock, so I gotta throw my top 5 albums of the year out there.

#5 Motion City Soundtrack – Even If It Kills Me

While it has taken time to adjust to its tone versus other albums from the band, it has grown on me. Deep in its meaning, Justin struggled the last few years with alcoholism and this is a spiraling account of his emotions, low and high, triumphant and bleak. Some of the lyrics remind me of what existed in their last effort, but the music is much more evolved, if not more of a pop album for it.

#4 Say Anything – In Defense Of The Genre

On the same plane as alcoholism for MCS, Max of Say Anything had to overcome his bi-polar disorder and keep this band alive. A two disc masterpiece of mental carnage and emotional journey, Max shows why others have called him this generation’s Bob Dylan. The highlights of this record(s) are guest vocals from Chris of Saves the Day and Hayley of Paramore, not to mention Max’s lyrics, which seem to live as their own being.

#3 The Legion of Doom – Incorporated

Two producers, over 20 bands, 14 tracks. The mash up that leaked in 2006 wasn’t officially released in its high fidelity glory until this year, and it was worth it. The mash up king Girl Talk, doesn’t even match the beats and change time like TLOD does here. The mastery of mixing two of this decades greatest punk songs into one track , 14 times over, is adapt here. While the producers have a special allegiance to The Get Up Kids and use them maybe one too many times on the album, I don’t even care because they gave me the Brand New vs. Dashboard classic, The Quiet Screaming.

#2 Dustin Kensrue – Please Come Home

The front man of Thrice is known for the catchy screaming that makes waves of Warped Tour fans break their jaws on the concrete after a good crowd surf because they’re too lost in the music. A completely different and deep side that you just seemed to sense was there before, comes out on Please Come Home. An acoustic guitar, harmonica, and raspy voice find you dealing with Dustin’s loss and heartache, and following him through his list of women and good times. Six songs I play again and again, he is as gifted and well equipped song writer as there is.

#1 Bayside – The Walking Wounded

The first few times around they didn’t catch on, this time with a hit crammed into an EA Sports video game (albeit horribly edited) Bayside found a larger audience. Not that they needed it, the small following was rabid. This time though, released from the media attention around their tragic van accident and mourning of lost life, the band takes you through a painful, awkward, yet optimistic journey of life, the absence of life, and scorn of it all. I think this one played a record 5 times over and over in my car before I switched to something else; it is just a pleasure to listen to and rock out with.

Honorable Mentions:
Paramore – Riot!
Angels & Airwaves – I-Empire

Fantasy Sports and Milwaukee '08

OK guys, some info on a few different things.
Those who took time to vote on the fantasy polls thank you. Here are some results to be digested…

60% of you think there should be fewer teams in a normal league than in a keeper league.
90% want smaller rosters in football leagues.
30% want no change in hockey rosters while 0% voted to shrink them.
72% would like to start keeper leagues fresh in the fall with whole new teams.
50% thought the ideal set up is a normal football and hockey league, with a keeper football league as well.
27% would like keeper leagues for both sports.
40% would pay $5 for normal football
27% would pay $10 for normal football
36% would pay $5 for keeper football
54% would pay $10 for keeper football
18% would pay something for hockey.

So I’ll think about and digest this over the coming weeks as should the more vocal people. I think we’ll stay at a 12 team cap for all normal leagues, and allow up to 16 for keepers, as strategy involving prospects allows for more maneuverability there.