Jay About Saratoga!

This past weekend a few of my headbanging friends and I took a trip down to Saratoga and attended the Poison/Motley Crue concert at SPAC.  I have very fond memories of both bands from junior high and high school and enjoy them still, what can I say?  I enjoy crappy 80's hair metal.  Sue me.  When I was a kid I got my first boom box as a Christmas gift.  I also scored Crue's album Girls, Girls, Girls which I obviously tossed into the tape player for a spin.  Needless to say my mother shut me down 1.2 minutes into the first song.  For whatever reason she did not thing it really expressed the sentiment of the season?  I was not in total agreement... a perfect Christmas for me at that time certainly would have consisted of copious amounts of scantily clad girls.  And maybe one beer if I could get my hands on it, although I was not exactly sure what the allure would have been... I just knew it was the gateway to more girls in bikinis, w/ fake boobs.  Hey, I was 11. Around the same time we rocked out to Poison's anthem "I Want Action" at a 7th grade airband competition earning a few awards along the way.  We had jumps, fake guitars and background fake singers.  It was something.  I am not sure how that song got the green light from the faculty though?  We were in 7th grade miming about getting some action?!  Anywho, it was pretty special.

Fast forward to my 30s and we were finally going to see them live!  Of course these days rocking out meant scoring a pretty expensive hotel populated by old people on the historic grounds of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a meal at a real restaurant, and golf before hand.  "Action" now consists of my wife and I making a sex date (just kidding), and Banana Republic shorts and flip flops.  But still!!!  We drank some light beers and rocked out.  The venue is great and the concert was solid.  We missed the New York Dolls but that was no real loss.  Poison was good.  They sounded great and put on a solid show of hits, hits, and more hits culminating in the classic "Every Rose Has It's Thorn".  Of course Brett Michaels now has a wig, dances funny, and used the word "awesome" a record breaking 18273 times in 75 minutes but shit... he is 65 and probably has syphilis!  We also enjoyed the C.C. Deville weird crazy guy face and the fact Riki Rachman is starting to look like Boy George.  Still, a great set.

Next up was Motley Crue.  Again, a great set of hits.  They sounded great, had a great set, and 2 hot strippers running around the stage... really took me back!  Vince Neal started great hitting all the high notes.  By the end he was short and ruined the last 3 songs but whatever.  Mick Mars for being almost dead was amazing and Tommy Lee did great Tommy Lee things.  "Shout at the Devil" really got the crowd going and was my favorite.  The Tommy drum solo on the roller coaster was also pretty intense.

I'll tell you, these old guys are professionals.  They have a tight set, know the game and bring it.  I would see it again.  Of course I am still unable to hear out of my right ear but f** it... I don't care what most people have to say anyway?

Lots to Talk About

For one, it is hot as a motherf**r up here... and I am in VT!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2fnYpwrng
As usual when it is really hot the air conditioner in the building is broken... and so is one of the elevators.  We are one homeless poop in the elevator from hitting for the Marley Properties cycle!  Ok, before I get into the good stuff I am going to tell you about something that is really grinding my gears. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL-0F3IAVfo      
Contractors.  Apparently, contractors are under the impression that they should overcharge and not actually do any work.  My cleaning person charges $75 to barely clean.  She cleans around things on the counter rather than pick them up.  A few months ago our fridge shit the bed so we called a repairman. He came a fixed it.  The defect popped up again a couple months later.  He came back and "fixed" it again, except this time it broke again within a week.  We called and left messages but he never called back so we had to buy a new fridge after a couple weeks.  Then he called and wondered why we had not paid him.  Yeah, why don't I send you a check to cover the work you did NOT do.  Seems pretty fair. Jay Richard Appliances in case you were wondering.  I am not upset he could not fix the fridge, maybe it was unfixable.  But you can't expect full payment when you do not complete a job.  My company does not pay me to come in and not manage my clients portfolios.  Hey, bossman, I know I have not actually filled my fiduciary duty but I was physically here for several hours, how about a fat paycheck!!!  My final grumble is w/ Panoramic Landscaping who provided an estimate to fix our messed up driveway.  They then billed us at a premium of more than 35%.  That is a pretty big miss.  Might have mentioned that during the process no?  Not to mention the first time it rained post fix the gravel began to groove and wash into the yard... and water pooled in the same spots it did pre fix.  I have sent 2 unreturned messages.  It really grinds my gears.  Plus it is hot hot hot!!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrhf_zgtmAg

OK, back to the good stuff.  Last week I had my birthday and we had a lovely gift of spa treatments at Top Notch in Stowe from my folks.  Saturday seemed like a good day to make it happen!  We got a massage and then sat by the pool for the day and had lunch.  It was pretty relaxing.  I will mention that my masseuse was an 80yr old lady whose stomach kept growling in a weird way and she also asked if I worked out because it was tough to really get to my scapula.  So there was that.  We then stopped at the movie theatre and saw Harry Potter.  It was pretty good.  Go ahead and joke.  It was better than some of the other crap I have watched lately.

Earlier this week I had to travel to NYC and New Jersey.  Speaking of f*ing hot!  Every time I made the mistake of walking a block or two I sweated like a pig.  I had a couple pretty solid celebrity sightings. Lucky Luchiano from Boardwalk Empire, Steven Colbert, and a very hot Heather Graham.  And they got to see me!  Pretty awesome for both sides of the equation really... Some of the NY highlights, dinner one night at Blue Ribbon sushi was really solid.  The fish was fresh and everything was well prepared.  We had a small fish that was sashimi'd up and then they took back the skeletal bones and fried them up until they were like delicious fish chips!  We also had an egg custard w/ seafood that was temperature hot but really delicious. Of course following that with the chef's choice was probably a mistake in terms of food amount... the sashimi and the rolls were really out of sight. I especially enjoyed the tuna belly, the salmon w/ caviar, and the lobster roll. 

Tues. I had lunch at China Grill which was good for a in and out quasi power lunch place.  The drunken chicken was good.  The chicken satay was good.  The spicy seared tuna was good.  It was all very efficient and still quite good, a solid place for a nice quick lunch. 

Tuesday night we hit up Craft for dinner and that was really quite good.  We waved in most of the menu and it was good to exceptional.  The oysters were fresh and briny, the braised short ribs were tender and flavorful.  The crispy bacon was off the hook.  We also had braised halibut and sirloin steak that were both very well cooked.  The sides of baby carrots and onions and hen of the wood mushrooms were all great.  The service was professional, the food was well executed, the wine was nice, and the presentation was top notch.  What else can I say?  Now you might be asking... hey Jay, you usually have a pretty sensitive constitution, how did you survive all of that food?  Not well.  I feel bad for whoever had to clean the bathroom at my hotel on Wed.  I f***d that place up pretty bad.  I had not slept well for 3 days and the different foods and butter and all... bot, it was a lethal combo!!!  Anyway, I think I am going to hop and go back to being not comfortable!

I would be grey if...

Turned 35 yesterday.  I rang in my 35th year with a pulled hamstring, loud cat, crazy cleaning lady, nice wife, old house, etc... I woke up late and watched a bit of the British Open while eating breakfast and checking emails.  Then I went out and painted a couple of chairs then headed to Sears to buy a fridge.  Would have gone to Bed Bath and Beyond but was not sure I would have enough time!  Seriously, I am lame. Fun times w/ the kid at Sears, I asked what fridge they recommended. He told me it depended on what I thought looked good and fit my space.  That is why my old fridge is f*ing busted, it is a piece of shit but it looks nice!!! Idiot.  Anyway, we had done some research and went w/ the Kenmore, hope it works out.  I then went to Barkeater's (yeah, unfortunate name) and had a BLT w/ avocado which was excellent and then a martini.  That one drink f*d me up.  I went home and fell asleep.  Then I got up and mowed the lawn and weed whacked.  It was actually a nice day.  I even had a very nice dinner w/ my special lady.  All in a pretty good birthday. Now I am off for an early bird supper and my Geritol supplement!

Is it Wrong?

So I slipped out of work a little early Friday and played golf w/ some work buddies.  That is not the right or wrong part (it was right... very right). My special lady happened to send me an email and I was in a meeting at the time so I sent back a response on my cell.  She saw it was on the cell and asked where I was, so I replied "in a meeting".  That was true.  I then proceeded to leave and go to the course.  We emailed back and forth through out the day and all of mine came from my cell.  I never expressly said I was golfing... never said I wasn't though either.  I got home and took my gear off and got in the shower.  She never saw me in my golf clothes but to be fair I left them on top of the hamper.  So on Sunday we were taking a walk, and I happened to mention my golf game.  I was a little vague about it.  I was caught!  But was I really caught?  I mean I did not expressly keep it from my wife, did not tell anyone else to hide it, and I did leave the proverbial bloody gloves all over the place.  I was not in too bad of trouble because my lady is a cool shit but it is an interesting question.  I say it was ok but in a gray area.  But that's just me. 

Karma got me in the form of a bad score and one swing that hit a tree branch on the back swing that came crashing down on my shoulder.  F*ing trees. 

If you are looking for a hot band name and are a finance geek... A-bird came up w/ a gem, 50 Basis Points. Shit dude, it is better than 50 Seconds to Mars or whatever the f*** that stupid band is.

I also have a sick idea for a customized t-shirt.  If you know a good place post it.  Once I pull the trigger I will let the idea out.  It might also go on a koozy.  If I didn't have to buy 20... and pay a huge shipping charge... and $40 printing charge... and sign a second mortgage...

And lastly, thanks to DW for sending me the best thing I have watched in awhile...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI_9Yxr0blo

USA! USA! USA!

We finally got some relief here in the damp northeast this weekend.  It was a little rainy Sunday morning but the rest of the weekend was quite pleasant.  It has been very warm and the sun has even poked out. Well, except for this afternoon when hail hit the building sideways... Anywho, my special lady and I had a very nice relaxing weekend.  Sunday was the money day.  We got up and had some breakfast and then drove out to hike Mt Abraham.  The one kick in the cajones?  As we drove east towards the mountain we ran into a large fourth or July fair in Huntington.  As in the shut the main road down and there was no way to get around for several miles.  Ok, no big deal, it was a nice day so we just headed on an alternative route around.  Until we got to the next town south, Bristol.  Another f*ing parade!!!  Fat people in jorts bikini tops and all tattooed up, and then there were the ladies!!! It is really something seeing the crowds at local fairs.  Really something.  I am a bit of a genius behind the wheel so I was able to cruise through a few parking lots and find our way eventually to the trail head.  From there it was a lovely hike. Sure, maybe I was sweating like a fool and almost passed out half way up but it was very nice regardless.  One fun fact... on the top of the mountain there is ample room to sit and take in the view.  So where did 2 ya-yos decide to pop a squat?  yup, 18 inches behind my lady and I.  Really? Couldn't find another place to sit?  Had to make it weird?  Thanks chief! 

After the hike I was able to finish leg 2 of my amazing holiday trifecta... The 3 dessert day!  Step 1.  I had a cookie on the mountain.  Step 2.  After the hike we hit up a cremee stand where fatty fat fat here rocked a root beer float. Step 3. mini red velvet cupcake!  What do you know about that shit!!!  Here I am making fun of folks at the fair!  Meanwhile, I have a few paper clips trapped in the gravity pull of my gut.  Only one way to cure that... a beer!  Or maybe the pulled pork we spent 28 hours cooking on Sunday.  That was a disappointing bust.  We prepped and cooked all f*ing day and the pulled pork was good, not great.  And my stomach is a mess.  I love pulled pork... it hates me. 

We need more long weekends.  Like all of them in the summer. And fall.  And spring.  Don't want to make winter feel like a bastard season.  That would be mean.

Oh Boy!

BBQ last night took a chunk out of me.  Hey, do you know what a "glass bottom boat" is?  Look it up.  Bet the results on Google will surprise you.  And if they don't... well you are kind of weird (T-Pain, I am looking at you!).
This is my favorite video on the interweb right now.  I am not sure why but it cracks me up.  http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6537531/richard-bransons-airplane-safety-video

I also want to direct you to my old fave  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoItDdjsRtQ  which now has over 3500 hits!  I am 1000 of those but whatever.

and sure... why not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUwjG84PCUo