Happy 4th of July!

My dinner

At Clarks Landing for The Wife's birthday.

We all grieve in our own way...

40/40 Club

At the Beach!

The Ladies went out for supplies... Pallets of beer, corn on the cob, tequila, assorted meats and paper products plus other. Well done...

Life is fleeting...

So we should celebrate...

Sean... May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be at your back,
may there be chicken & doughnuts,
may you always have a snack.

Godspeed, Spatwick.... Godspeed.

Seafood Chateau

The uber-generous & delightful Marvelous Matt S. took The Wife & I out to a splendid dinner at Blue Water Grill. Opened with the five-level seafood chateau. Glorious excess.

2 lb lobster, 8 jumbo shrimp, 16 oysters, 8 littleneck clams, 1 lb. Mussels, 4 Louisiana crawfish, 6 King Crab Claws, and Bay Scallop Ceviche.

Ridiculous... As Matt said, "This is why the terrorists hate us."

Momma G in her convertible

Had a nice, if brief, visit with Momma G in CT. Drove me to the train just now in her convertible Mustang, cranking Jerry Lee Lewis... Not bad...

Cleo The Huntress

My Mom has a great cat - Cleo, The Huntress. This morning, as we were breakfasting outside, Cleo brought me a wounded chipmunk for breakfast - only wounded so I could get the kill. But then the chipmunk played dead & scampered off across the garage roof. Actually, pretty impressive maneuvering by the rodent, reminiscent of the opening scene in the construction site of "Casino Royale." Cleo just trounced off to find me something else.

And I quote...

"Putmeontheblogbro"

Insistent

There are some (okay one) who enjoy - nay INSIST on - constant updates to this blog. Apparently, my pace on posting content has not been sufficient nor up to expectations, so they have now taken matters in to their own hands and provided content for me by sending me pictures...

"Ice, Ice, Baby..."

For Marvelous Matt's birthday, I took him to a suprise musical event. Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine at the Bowery Ballroom. Truly fantastic and hilarious, just like the Birthday Boy. There was a burlesque opening act which I filmed, but is not suitable for a family show like this one, and then the Main Event. Hysterical... Here, Monsieur Cheese performs Vanilla Ice's immortal classic "Ice, Ice, Baby" in a Lounge Style.

Touchdown #2

What can we say? The Big Guy's a natural...

TOUCHDOWN - GRANT!

The Big Guy scores his first touchdown in the dog-eat-dog world of Professional Pool Football... Well done, buddy!

Fame Wizard

"May I make a suggestion?"

Someone didn't take kindly to our getting kicked out. Thankfully this superhero came to our rescue at the Suggestion Box.

"Pardon me, do you have a Suggestion Box?"
"What are you?"
"Some kind of superhero... Although I'm not really sure what kind."

Lobster Bake

So after The Boy graduated, we all went to Freeport, Maine for a lobster bake at Gritty's. Truly fantastic. Until Gritty's threw us out...

I Earned It

More Harvard photos! Finally got a chance to download from the camera... more photos HERE.

Monkey on a Swing

Okay... haven't been able to update the blog in a while due to a crushing workload, so thought I would try to quickly catch up... This photo is a monkey on a swing. A few weeks ago we had a quiet weekend in Southern Connecticut suburbia with the Cumberlands & Sturckes. Great time, including a wonderful steak dinner with Kevin & Tracey and ending at a Grateful Dead cover band party on someone's front lawn. Replete with a 60 foot swing that one particular monkey really enjoyed... Who knew the suburbs could be that much fun?

Tweety who?

'Crosstown Traffic'

Yep - Hendrix. As performed by 4 trombones... A good day.

Backstage w/ Bonerama

Bonerama - War Pigs

Kubica Sidelined For US Grand Prix

Unfortunately, exceedingly brave Polish F1 driver Robert Kubica has to sit out the US Grand Prix this weekend. Despite passing the physical & cognitive tests the FIA made him undergo, they are worried that should he have another accident so closely following his Canadian horror, the secondary concussion could prove more dangerous. Unfortunate indeed, but Robert proved himself a class act in the press conference today and even has an image of MY MAIN MAN in his helmet. (although he classily demurred when asked about it.)

Q: (Andrea Cremonesi – La Gazzetta dello Sport) A question for Robert. If you thought after accident, about the fact that you have the image of John Paul II in your helmet?
RK: I think it's quite personal question, so I will not comment. I mean I think it's not related to racing, so I keep it for myself.

Kubica's Crash

not for the faint of heart... Watch at your own risk. Awaiting word from F1's doctors if he can race this weekend. Fingers crossed, we should find out by 4:00 Indianapolis time today as that is when BMW has to announce their driver lineup.

Robert Kubica Survives Massive Shunt

My favorite Formula One driver (and the first ever Polish driver) Robert Kubica survived a VICIOUS crash in this past weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. Fortunately he escaped with only a sprained ankle & slight concussion -- a testament to the safety features of modern F1 cars. Kubica ran into Jarno Trulli and then launched head first at over 170mph into a wall, careening and flipping across the course, the car coming to rest on its side, with little more than the cockpit left. It was the most severe crash in recent F1 history, but fortunately Robert is okay, walking out of the hospital today with hopes of racing at the US Grand Prix this weekend - it didn't seem possible when watching on television... Everyone who saw the accident - including us, friends attending the race, and the Head of the Trauma Unit in Montreal that treated him - assumed he was dead. The indomitable spirit of the Polish...

Lobster Bake

Chris' graduation lobster bake at Gritty McDuff's in Freeport, Maine. Wow! New England magic.

Costumes!

Waltham has a costume shop!

Porch Beer Wireless...

Lunch at Margarita's in Waltham w/ Chris. Outdoor on the patio.

One of these...

Is a Harvard doctor. The other is a rabbit. See if you can tell which is which.

Harvard Limo

Ride home, post graduation dinner. Great dinner @ The Tuscan Grill.

Eques Iediensis Harvardiana

"A Harvard Jedi Knight"

Pomp & Circumstance

At Harvard for Chris' PhD graduation. Very proud of our boy... Well done, Old Sport!

Waterkeeper Alliance - Rock on Water

Attended the benefit concert at Irving Plaza last night for the Waterkeeper Alliance - a grassroots organization to preserve and protect water from pollution. A very fun night, with 5 bands in a row - kicked off by the Brothers Cumberland newest project - HYD. A great night for another good cause, and got to see the Brothers Cumby rock out Irving Plaza.

"You Gotta Love Sports..."

he said with the cigarette dangling from his lips as he threw the football in to the pool, after just having set down his beer. Spoken like a true athlete...

TOUCHDOWN!

A completion for a touchdown in the "2007 Budweiser Suburbia Pool Bowl." Touchdown - New England Pool Patriots! "Pelican Football Fever - Catch It!"

How Dare You?

A dropped pass in the dog-eat-dog world of Professional Pool Football. And the resultant (deserved) QB tantrum. You really gotta want it...

Nestea Plunge

Our version of the Nestea Plunge. Except, instead of "Dandy" Don Meredith, we have "Marvelous" Matt S. And, instead of Nestea, we have Budweiser...

Semper Fidelis

Had a great last YMCAC meeting at the U. Club, followed by an even better night with 4 Marines...

Greatest. Wallet. Ever.

Why is this the greatest wallet ever? Because Gano killed it. My new, hand-slaughtered gator wallet from Gano arrived today. And I am pleased...

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day weekend to one & all. It means many things to many people - a long weekend from work, the start of Summer, we can wear white & linen, and that barbecue & bikini season is upon us.

But what it really means is America remembers our honored war dead. So, a special salute to those who served,to those who continue to serve and to those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.

May God bless you and keep you safe, and may perpetual light shine upon you...

Stephen Colbert & Me - Part 2

In this video, Colbert closes his speech by describing one of 4 items the Foundation was auctioning off to raise money. Described in the program as "A Night of Truthiness & Hominy," Colbert would come to your house "or condo, or apartment, or yurt, or hovel" and cook dinner - a true South Carolina low country boil - for you & 7 of your friends.

Naturally, when the bidding started, my paddle shot to the roof and I was the first bidder. However, it quickly escalated out of control. JD made an impressive bid that elicited the best line from the auctioneer, "Thank you sir, next year you will have a better table up here."

However, even that was insufficient. The dinner went for the (in my opinion) very reasonable sum of $30,000. Which was great in many ways, not the least of which is the money raised for the Posse Foundation, but also because in the video below, Colbert pleads with the audience to let him beat the "Gourmet Lunch with Martha Stewart" or he will "weep like a little girl." Colbert's dinner was the highlight of the bidding, and he tripled the bid for Martha Stewart.

(Amidst the heated bidding I, of course, leaned over to JD and asked, "Where can I sell a kidney around here?")

P.S. Also in the auction brochure, the Colbert write-up describes him as a "megamerican." I will be stealing that term... Would be a nice name for a yacht...

Stephen Colbert & Me - Part 1

Well, it's been quite a week in The Life Guzilla... In the span of one week, less than 7 days, I have had the immense pleasure of seeing 2 of my personal heroes. John McCain I mentioned previously and actually got to meet. He, of course, is an actual hero. But, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of JD, I was able to attend a benefit at Chelsea Piers last night for the Posse Foundation - an incredibly worthwhile cause. (In fact, in a later post, I will discuss the foundation. First I have to break the news to The Wife that I'm on the hook to them to raise $1.4 million over the next 3 years to open an office in New Orleans. Shh... Don't tell her...)

Not only was I blown away by the growth, success, and intentions of the Posse Foundation, but the keynote speaker was my comedic hero - Stephen Colbert. His genius, albeit brief, speech had everyone rolling and it was great to see him in person.

Thank you, JD - a great evening, in a great setting, for a great cause.

K & Z + Don Weekend

Had a delightful time here in New York visiting with Kevin & Zareen. Started out on Friday night with an EXQUISITE dinner at Aburiya Kinnosuke in midtown. Epic Japanese that brought us all right back to Tokyo.

From there we went out, predictably, to Paddy Maguire's. Saturday was spent doing errands and then meeting Don for a very nice graduation dinner at the University Club, preceded and followed by shenanigans at Bill's Gay '90's. Included, but not limited to, my singing "Great Balls of Fire" with the pianist and serving as an unofficial deputy host of the evening. From there we went our separate ways, with Matt & I continuing down to Tribeca to Biscuit's massive roof-top party. Bumped into several people I knew randomly and had a great, if crowded, time.

Sunday began with Matt coming over and then proceeding to City Crab for brunch, where K & Z came to meet us. Then we went to dinner at uber-swank tapas restaurant Alta in the West Village. Ordered the menu item "the Whole Shebang" and then ate our way to glory. Truly fantastic...

John McCain Speech

Some inspiring words from Senator John McCain's speech last Thursday. On The War, terrorism, and one very brave Navy SEAL...

Tom Brady - The Greatest

Oh boy... It took me a couple of weeks to get to -- because of the villianish hand-wringing and wicked giggling that I've been preoccupied with over this -- but TWO TIME Super Bowl MVP quarterback, pride of the New England Patriots, and arguably The Greatest Football Player of All Time -- hunky TOM BRADY was walking around the Village with his supermodel girlfriend Gisele Bundchen, wearing...

(*wait for it...*)

A New York Yankees ball cap.

I feel... what's the word? VINDICATED. For most of my adult life, several close friends, a family member, and even random acquaintances have chided me for what they perceived as a split loyalty - between the New England Patriots & the New York Yankees. "How could you? I just assumed you were a Sox fan!" they cried. No, no, Old Sport... Growing up in Connecticut means you are a New England Patriots fan, a Hartford Whalers fan (*sniff* /wipes a tear/) and have the luxury of CHOOSING between the Sox & the Yankees. I chose, at a very young age, the New York Yankees.

So too, apparently, did no less of an expert in New England sports than TWO TIME SUPER BOWL MVP QUARTERBACK FOR THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -- TOM BRADY.

And so, in short & in closing... Suck it, Sox fans...

Silly Monkeys

Please watch...

Heroes

I had always thought heroes were unnecessary. They were for comic books. I had never idealized anyone. You should be your own hero, in your own myth, I thought. Then I read Joseph Campbell, and he became a hero of mine.

Then my Father died. And I realized what he accomplished, and what he sacrificed (and my Mother too) to give my brother & I the life we have the luxury to lead. And he, and she, became heroes to me.

Then I learned more. About this country. About sacrifice. About my Uncle Harry. Who served in Vietnam, through horrors that we can only imagine. And he too became a hero to me.

and I realized.... Heroes exist. And they exist for a reason -- we need them. You & I will never be tested , God willing, the way my Uncle Harry was.

But we can believe... Because they, these heroes, have been tried & tested FOR US. And they have been found deserving FOR US.

Last night I had the great honor to meet another of my personal heroes - Senator John McCain. His story is well known by now, of the 5 YEARS he spent as a POW in Vietnam and his service to this great nation.

Last night, once again, John McCain made me believe.

This country is going through a very hard time -- I can feel the fabric of The Flag ripping. But it matters what heroes we choose, for they are us. And they should represent the best in us.

McCain is a hero. And I choose him. Hopefully the rest of the nation will as well...

Tried, tested, and found deserving... I hate politics with every fiber of my being, but John McCain is the only person in the race who DESERVES to be President. He's bled for it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!

Man-about-town, raconteur, music aficionado, San Diegan artiste & beloved brother / brother-in-law John celebrates his birthday today... All of us in the Guzilla Nation wish you a very happy birthday, John!

Jazz Fest Day 1: "Bad & Nationwide"

We woke up ready to hit the Fest. Called Matt and got a ride to the Fairgrounds. Just as BIBLICAL rain started coming down. It was coming in sheets so we took shelter, even though 3 seconds of exposure soaked us. Naturally, we took shelter at Liuzza's, home of our favorite post-Fest tradition - their Bloody Marys. The atmosphere was buoyant and delightful even though rumors were spreading that things were cancelled, etc. We decided to tough it out as we had friends already inside, taking shelter in the music tents. At one point, the lights went out and everyone cheered. They quickly came back on and everyone booed.

As quickly as the rain had started, it stopped. So we decided to take our Bloodys on the hoof and went in to the Fest. The rain kept many away and we got to see ZZ Top in a much-thinned-out crowd. Truly delightful...

After the Fest we grabbed a quick burger at Checkpoint Charlie's and then went Uptown to Rock n' Bowl to meet our large group. A great show featuring Tab Benoit & Rockin' Dopsie but the wheels quickly came off the wagon and we went home just after midnight.

Jazz Fest Recap: Arrival

Okay... I did send some missives from the Fest, but now that we're back from Jazz Fest, our heads are coming out of the clouds, and I've been able to get some work done, I will give a brief Jazz Fest recap for those that have asked...

We took off very early on Thursday and, per a previous post, you really haven't lived until you've carried faerie wings through Newark Airport security. Wow... thankfully it was 6:00 am. If people had been drinking, ouch.

[Speaking of... our flight took off at 7:00 am. We were in the 22nd row. By the time the drink cart got to us after wheels up, before the opening credits finished on the in-flight movie, the passengers had drank the plane out of vodka... Good morning and welcome to New Orleans! One passenger even managed to get cut off! Well done...]

We land and Tommy D graciously picked us up. Then we dropped our stuff off, settled in, and immediately met Matt at his beautiful apartment, sat on his balcony and had Bloody Mary's and beer.

Then Jeffrey kindly picked us up and took us to Cochon, which I previously mentioned. Delicious food, moonshine & the winner was the Fried Oyster BLT that Matt & The Wife ordered. Unreal...

From there we went to Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar, where I got a cupload of mermaids that I then handed out as lagniappes for the next few days, to great delight.

After that, we meandered over to the free Fan Fest in Lafayette Square the Fest put on for the first time this year. Saw Willie Tee backed by Stanton Moore & Robert Mercurio of Galactic and Charmaine Neville.

After a great time at Fan Fest, randomly found Lil' Band of Gold playing outside at Jackson Square. A nice surprise... Then went to Cooter Brown's for a stunning Shrimp & Oyster Po-Boy, then Carrolton Station to see Anders Osborne, John "Papa" Gros & one member of Little Feat do an acoustic show.

A great first day... Music, food, music, food -- lather, rinse repeat....

Thanks Grant!

Thanks for dinner Grant!

Mother's Day in Jersey

Grant took us & the Stubbseses & the Browns to a delightful Mother's Day dinner at Raddichio's.

Crawfish Tea Party

"War Pigs"

"War Pigs" by Black Sabbath, performed on trombone, by Bonerama at the Maple Leaf in New Orleans....

Harry Connick Jr.

Harry absolutely nailed it to close out the Fest. Unbelievable...

'Smile for the Camera'

Steely Dan, live at Jazz Fest.

Sharkucopia

I have determined, scientifically, that one can fit 50 mermaids in a shark's gullet. At Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar.

Beware mermaids, beware...

Moonshine

Moonshine. At Cochon in New Orleans.

Faerie Wings

You haven't really lived until you've carried faerie wings through Newark Airport Security...

JAZZ FEST EVE Y'ALL!

It is finally here.... In mere hours we are leaving for Jazz Fest. Car is coming at 5:30, it's currently 12:30 and I still have one more work item to take care of, a last minute costume check and am listening to WWOZ online (LISTEN ALONG TO JAZZ FEST!). I can't wait and am TOO EXCITED TO SLEEP...

stay tuned for updates... HAPPY JAZZ FEST Y'ALL!

(as WWOZ just said, "if you're not here, get on a plane. get on a bus. hitchhike.")