The Random Ramblings of One K-Dubs

Phatcorndog

I'll get to the RDP outing last night, but first I want to comment on a few things last week.

I tried opening up a savings account at Commerce Bank the other day.  Ran into so much trouble; apparently if you don't live in-state, they require your housing lease and some utility bills.  Just to open up a lousy savings account.  What a pain in the ass.  And the employees there were flat out lazy (just like they are in just about every store in Philly).  It's just a really lazy town in general, in my opinion.

I've been playing this RPG on Vince's X-Box called Fable.  It's actually better than I expected, kind of like a old Zelda game but with much more stuff.  If you've got X-Box and you like role playing games, you've got to at least give Fable a shot.

The US Open this year has been amazing thus far.  With record crowds and a host of young Americans who are still alive in the draw, the stadiums always have an electicity about them, and the intensity of that of Davis Cup matches.  Oh, and the matches themselves have been pretty good too (I'm thinking about Blake vs. Nadal, Nadal vs. Jenkins, Hewitt vs. Dent).

To keep the RDP night out recap short, we had dinner at Colleen's (the restaurant slash sports bar at my apartment complex), and then went to Roosevelt's for happy hour.  After pounding 8-10 drinks apiece, we headed over to Old City, not so much to get many more drinks, but just to show them around and maybe take a peek inside a bar or two.  After a short unfulfilling visit to Jim's (the cheesesteaks at Colleen's are much better), we headed back.  It was great to catch up with the guys (a shame Brian couldn't make it), and it was awesome to finally see some familiar faces.

Once again, as is always the case with these posts, back to work. 

Phatcorndog

After a hellish week last week during exam period, I finally found my way home ($20 from Philly to my house via public transportation = fuck you, OPEC and Katrina).

For some reason this past weekend, I ran into a ton of people from my past.  It was really eerie; seeing all these people that you know after a few years of not seeing them at all.  It's like things never changed, but of course, they have.

I ran into Cuskie and Darren at Anthony's (of course, the first stop after coming home, since Philadelphia pizza tastes like shit).  Haven't seen either of them since high school. 

Went out with Ray and Bob to Morristown on Friday night.  Hit up The Grasshoper, where Bob "took one for the team" and danced with some poor girl who ended up running away for dear life.  First time I've ever seen Bob dance with a girl... ever.  Hopefully it'll be the last.

Then we ended up at The Office, where I ran into BG (great to see him and hear he's doing well), two guys from the Club Rick crowd in Jackson and Vinny (poor Jackson sunk in ten bucks into the jukebox because he wanted to hear one Metallica song instead of the garbage they were playing and never heard it), and some Ramapo heads that went to school with Bob.  The highlight of the night was Ray fooling some hot girl that knew Bob that we had met previously somewhere else, where Ray "ran over some puppy with his car."  By the end of the night, she was convinced she knew us, and left us parting hugs and kisses, saying "it was nice to see you guys again."  Dumb broad.

Saturday could be summed up in two syllables.  TV.  US Open and college football all day.  Two things that stand out: 1) What an amazing run Agassi had.  Although he lost to Federer in the final, his match vs. Blake in the quarters is definitely one of the top 3 matches I've ever seen in my life.  And for him to accomplish what he did at 35 years old this year, it's simply unbelievable.  2) The Citadel was up 10-3 in the 2nd quarter against Florida State in Tallahassee, thanks to a fumble recovery TD.  Mark was contemplating suicide at Damon's.  It was fun ripping on him for awhile, until Florida State proceeded to score the next 59 points in the game.

Sunday.  Jenny's birthday.  Yanks beat the Red Sox 1-0.  Giants crush the Cards in their season opener.  US Open Final.  And so goes by the wayside a very eventful, fun and relaxing weekend.

Phatcorndog

Not much to say, except the $1/2 NL tables in AC (at least at Showboat) are an absolute joke.  Fishes galore, and tons of people who don't know how to play at all.  Easiest 425 bucks I ever made in my life.  Got to see Scotty again, as he came up from Baltimore to go to the Mets game and AC.  Might have to make this a monthly ritual if all things go well and I have time.  This is just too good not to take advantage of.

Who wants to do Halloween or my birthday in AC?

Phatcorndog

I don't know if other people do this, but I've always associated certain songs with certain periods of my life.  I'm not sure why, but I guess hearing a song reminds me of the emotions I felt in the past, and it brings back all sorts of memories, good and bad.

I've been thinking lately about what song will define my year-long experience at Drexel.  I don't think I've heard it yet, but I will soon.  In the meantime, I'll review some old favorites that always make me think about what it was like "back in the day."

Middle School 

1) Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", 2) Green Day, "Basket Case", 3) Goo Goo Dolls, "Naked"

The first two are obvious anthems of the mid 90's, and would probably be on a lot of people's lists.  But the Goo Goo Dolls song, "Naked" has particular meaning for me.  It used to be the theme song in between innings during Yankee games (when Channel 11 was still WPIX and not the WB), and it reminds me of when the Yankees were still striving to break through and finally win a World Series.  Some of my favorite memories of Yankee baseball accompany this song: Jim Leyritz hitting an extra inning home run against Seattle in the '95 divisional playoffs really comes to mind.  And "Naked" is easily the most underrated Goo Goo Dolls song of all time.

High School

1) Blink 182, "Damnit", 2) Guns n' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine", 3) Foo Fighters, "Hey, Johnny Park!"

The first two songs were constants during pep rallies at Delbarton, as they'd be the two most likely songs you'd hear the student band play.  But the Foo Fighters "Colour and the Shape" album remains one of my all time favorites, and "Hey, Johnny Park!" is still probably my favorite song on the album.  I loved it so much, I used to listen to it every day before a tennis match just to get myself psyched up.  An angry song, but definitely controlled aggression.  Sums up my high school experience, I think.

Freshman Year

Ascension, "Someone Like You"

My old psychotic freshman year roommate Steve Aguilar basically destroyed my eardrums by playing heavy metal 24/7/365.  And as a result, it would be awhile before I could listen to anything that had a guitar/drum/etc.   In the meantime, I started to get more into electronic music, and this song is one of my favorites.  One of the first songs I downloaded onto my then-new computer, and still one of my favorite techno songs.  Almost sounds like a cry for help, which at the time I definitely was doing myself.  But at the same time, it reserved hope for the future.

Sophomore Year

Finch, "New Beginnings"

I listened to this song a billion times during my sophomore year.  By this time in my life, I was really having emotional issues, especially at home.  Finch, with their edgy brand of emo, really put out of a lot of meaningful lyrics on their debut album "What It Is To Burn" that really hit home for me.  I just started listening to the CD again, and it instantly brings back memories of battling through the days of orgo and cold wintery days at LXR.  Still love the song, though.

Junior Year

Story Of The Year, "Sidewalks"

By this time, I knew it was getting closer to the end (in terms of my time at Georgetown and the time I'd be able to spend with my friends before we all moved on in life with whatever it was that we'd be doing).  "Sidewalks" reminisces about the past and how it used to be.  Being able to connect my past and present and really move on was the turning point in my development as an individual.  This song reminds me of the process of that happening.

Senior Year

Finding Westerly, "Visions Of What Once Was"

Pretty self explanatory by the title of the song.  The last semester at Georgetown was one of the most life-enriching experiences I'll ever have in my life.  Reminds me of all the good things about Georgetown, and the great thing about this song is that it can help me either crack a smile or bring a tear to my eye.

So yeah, what will the next song be?