Dukes Hang Preppy Spiders By Their Neckties!

DAILY QUOTES

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.
~Edgar Allan Poe


To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.
~e e cummings

Book em' Nano

1. Save Room ~John Legend
2. Folsom Prison Blues ~Johnny Cash
3. Singing at the Party ~Nacho
4. My Love ~Justin Timberlake
5. Hide and Seek ~Imogen Heap
6. Perfect Gentleman ~Wyclef Jean
7.Set the Fire to the Third Bar
~Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright
8. Hombre Religioso ~Mr. Loco
9. Each Day Gets Better ~John Legend
10. Fall At Your Feet ~James Blunt

JMU spoiled a homecoming! The Dukes handed the preppy UR Spiders a 27-10 loss. Because the teeny little school so rich in tradition and wel just plain rich, has no marching band, we brought our own. Like a scene out of Drumline the Marching Royal Dukes ran up to the hometeam stands and blasted the with woodwinds, brass, percussion and the occasional pelvic thrust! Ok well yes it was dorky, but still kinda funny to see. And that's the best thing I can report for my weekend in sports, the Steelers contiue their title "roll over," and Kasey Kahne squandered a great opportunity to get back in the thick of the The Chase. No matter, root, root root, no matter good or bad. But thank adonai for the very real possiblity of a National Championship for the JMU Duuuuuukes!
And Thanks to the Rythers for a great tailgate!

Movies Watched: Nacho Libre~ Excellent, I highly reccomend. The perfect mix of weirdness of both Jared Hess and Jack Black.
And 1/2 of A Prarie Home Companion~ So far sooooo good!

I love the new LeBron's commercial! Season 2 of a brilliant ad camapaign.


Sorry not much in substance, but even more sorry I haven't blogged in a while.



BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:

(BRINGING OUT THE BIG GUNZ, FOR THE END IS NEAR/13 DAYS AND COUNTING EDITION)

HEIDI KLUM

Potential, Potential, Potential

DAILY QUOTES

What if nothing exists and we're all in somebody's dream? Or what's worse, what if only that fat guy in the third row exists?
~Woody Allen

It's no good pretending that any relationship has a future if your record collections disagree violently or if your favorite films wouldn't even speak to each other if they met at a party.
~Nick Hornby

Nano Nano

1. My Love ~Justin Timberlake
2. What Goes Around...Comes Around ~JT
3. Set It Off ~Young Gunz
4. Little Red Rooster ~Sam Cooke
5. i burn ~The Toadies






FutureSex/LoveSounds
Justin Timberlake

I had heard good things. Now they're confirmed. Make no mistake the album is what you think it is, a dance and pop carnival. How do I rate an album? Did it dleiver what I expect? It did and more, I knew what I was getting into and it delivered plus some. My review process also involves me putting my iPod on and trying to fall asleep to a given album. If I don't sleep it's a bad album. If I don't skip songs and drift off to LaLa land, I'm sold. Would I get busy to this album? And Adonai willing I will. Hopefully it happens again before I turn 30.

First day of the new job went as most of them do. Ups and downs but the future looks bright. As long as I can figure out the best way to get there and back w/out parkingn in the $95 a month or $7.50 a day garage. But thanks to CNG I may have a solution. Also thanks to CNG I have brownies.

A long time ago one of my best friends (Sarah) compared our love interests at sleep away camp to an NBA Draft. But it truly is like a fantasy football draft, based on potential and actual. Knowing when to trade, cut, pickup. Prosepcts, prospects, prospects. It's all about potential.

Career Rosh Hashannah

DAILY QUOTES

Yiddish Proverbs Edition

A man comes from the dust and in the dust he will end--and in the meantime it is good to drink a sip of vodka.

A Person should want to live, if only out of curiosity.

If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.



Auf Ruf Madness. I've become a nightblogger. New job starts tomorrow and that means no blog, no IM (@work). A fresh start. Career Rosh Hashannah. JMU beat William and Mary, making them the winningest collegiate team in the Commonwealth. Gooooo Dukes!

New Top 5 Places I Wanna Go List
(in no particular order)
1. Chicago, Illinois, USA
2. Goa, India
3. Amsterdam, Holland
4. Cuba
5. Israel (again)

Promise more of a blog tomorrow, including a review of JT's Futuresex/Lovesounds.

BENJIES HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:
(20 Days & Counting Edition)
Bar Refaeli
Israeli Hottie

TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT I AIN'T WORKING HERE NO MORE

DAILY QUOTES

If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.
~Albert Einstein

I like rice. Rice is great if you're hungry and want 2000 of something.
~Mitch Hedberg

Find the person who will love you because of your differences and not in spite of them and you have found a lover for life.
~Leo Buscaglia

TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT I AIN'T WORKING HERE NO MORE
~Johnny Paycheck



NANO


1. Little Ghost ~The White Stripes
2. Sinner Man ~Peter Tosh Version
3. If You Think I'm Sexy ~Rod Stewart
4. Exodous ~Bob Marley
5. Wicked ~Ice Cube
6. Simple Man ~Lynrd Skynrd
7. Africa ~Toto









I want my own personal waterboy. Is that too much to ask? I noticed something while watching Sportscenter; an athlete makes a great play and heads toward the sideline and imediatly someone hands him a waxy paper Gatorade cup. Said athlete chugs the water/Gatorade getting most of it on his uniform, crushes the cup and spikes it on the ground. How awesome would it be if I was at work, and jut after hitting send on an important email someone was ready with a cup of Gatorade. Great job, Sammy, nice email, way to send. Chug, crush, spike. But it would extend to everyday perosnal life too. My waterboy would follow me where ever I went. At the club: Way to get them digits, nice line!!! Chug, crush, spike! It works in almost every scenario, and I'm always thirsty, espcially after making all those amazing "plays."


BENJIES HOTTIE CORNER
PRESENTS
KIERA KNIGHTLEY

I NEEDS ME A MUSE

DAILY QUOTES

For visions come not to polluted eyes.
~Mary Howitt

It is better to wear out than to rust out.
~Bishop Richard Cumberland

Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness.
~Lao-tzu


The truth is I don't know what to write about. I could get mushy and write a very personal post, which I tend to often do, but not today. So what do I write about, elevator ettiquette, bad driving Marylanders and the Pennsylvanians that have them beat? Not my style. I'm not down or blue in general, alot of stuff is going very well for me. I have found that I have had a lack of motivation in a aprticular area, and it bothers me, because with out motivation I'm all talk. My motivation to write the "Great American Novel" has been zapped. The daily routine, focus on improving other areas of my life, self loathing/ponderation about other areas have zapped my imagination and mostly the motivation to write. I need it back. Like right now, write now, write now. I know I have a great novel in me somewhere, I do. Does the dutchie make me lazy, or is it the regular mundane workaday do it? Even if I were able to take 2 months off and become a hermit at a beach house with nothing but a novel to focus on I don't think I would produce. I need a muse, I need a spark. Just that tiny spark and my heart and mind will explode on to paper.



BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER
(This feature will sadly come to an end very soon.)

EVA MENDES

Good Luck Bro. Best Sports Weekend Ever!

DAILY QUOTES

Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.
~Michael Pritchard

The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.
~Bret Harte


What a great sports weekend, if nothing else. 1) JMU not only beats but basically stomps a new mudhole in the ass of #1 in the nation New Hampshire, surely vaulting the Dukes to a top 5 ranking. I can smell another National Champioship! 2) Kasey Kahne wins in Charlotte! It probably won't mean much in the Chase fot the Cup overall, but he's still in it and a win is a win. Especially when he has won the most races of anyone this year. Of course 4 DNF's don;t help you in the overall standings. But kudos also to the ever consistent Jeff Burton who despite having only one win this year, remains a consistent top 10 finisher and maintains his ever so slight hold on the #1 spot! 3) It must have been my presence in the city, Ben and the gang knew I as in town, because the Steelers handed KC an ass whoopin'. Backs were against the wall and for the sake of momentum and keeping hope alive the Steelers pulled out the victory. Not to mention the losses suffered by Cincy and Baltimore can only help us in the AFC North standings. It's funny how ateam responds when their backs are against the wall, Pittsburgh playing what I thought would be a tough opponent came out and crushed the Chiefs. But when the Redskins also in an arguably must win game also, rolled over to the Titans, one of the worst teams in the NFL. I'm just sayin...

GOOD LUCK MY BROTHER!

This wekend was lazy and not, when I wasn't helping my brother move to Pittsburgh I lazed around which was fine by me. Sunday was the day, Pops, Bro and I drove up to P-Burgh, and moved his stuff into one of the nicest apartments I've ever seen. His building was a former print house left over from probably the turn of the century. Exposed brick, huge hilking distressed timbers, and a great loaction right downtown, just blocks from PNC Park and Heinz Field! I was awarded with a delicous Primanti Brothers Sandwich. If you've ever eatched a Steelers game on Monday Night Football, the highlight the pace regularly. Famous for its fries in the sandwich! YUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMY!!!!!
So good luck bro, new city, new job, new year (jewish of course)!


BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:

NEW NEW, LAUREN LONDON

Big and Bold Purple and Gold GOOOO DUKES!

DAILY QUOTES

In the light of his vision he has found his freedom: his thoughts are peace, his words are peace and his work is peace.
~The Dhammapada

You are the golden eternity because there is no me and no you, only one golden eternity.
~Jack Kerouac The Scripture of the Golden Eternity #8

The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.
~Steven Biko


Ain't got much to say. Gotta pack my bro's stuff up and move him to Pittsburgh this weekend. JMU has it's biggedt test this year playin #1 New Hampshire in New Hampshire. GO DUKES! The game will be televised locally on Comcast CN8, or come on out to Rhodeside Grill In Arlington and join the other JMU Duke fans!




BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:
Elin Nordegren

aka Tiger Woods' Wifey

It's In The Stars

DAILY QUOTES


The universe, as far as we can observe it, is a wonderful and immense engine.
~George Santayana

Why I came here, I know not; where I shall go it is useless to inquire -- in the midst of myriads of the living and the dead worlds, stars, systems, infinity, why should I be anxious about an atom?
~Lord Byron

To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.
~Lao Tzu


THIS SHIT IS NANOS, N-A-N-O-S

1. HEAD TO TOE ~SEAN PAUL
2. BACK THAT AZZ UP ~JUVENILE

3. WE GOT THE BEAT ~TALIB KWELI W/ RES

4. SAY IT LOUD ~JAMES BROWN

5. IT WAS A GOOD DAY ~ICE CUBE

6. YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL ~JAMES BLUNT

IT'S IN THE STARS
I've always been fascinated by the stars, the heavens, the cosmos. I went to a summer sleep-away camp, far away form major cities, high up in the Catoctin mountains of Pennsylvania. The air was crisp, clean, cool in the night, and most of all clear and dark. The kind of dark you need to star gaze. Where no other ambient light disturbs the darkness above, allowing the strs to shine unfettered. One of my most favorite memories form that time was lying in a field w/ a semi-psuedo-girlfriend and both of us seeing 11 shooting stars. It was beautiful, the moment, the company the flashes of brilliance across the nights sky.
I'm no good with constellations, but can remeber a few that Buttman taught me. Casseopia to name one, for some reason it was his favorite. Whenever I have the opportunity away from the city lights i make a point to look for shooting stars or just gaze at the majesty of waht's "out there." One trip recentl out on JD's boat it was so dark and clear you could see why our galaxy is named the Milky Way. Creamy ribbons clouded the skies, but they were not couds, just the myriad of stars and space dust, space junk, whatever that gave our galaxy the name. Just knowing that "stuff" is out there, puts prespective on our size, importance, and how beautiful this universe is. Below are some pictures form the Hubble Telescope, these images are real, not paintings, not computer generated, this stuff exists. Amazing.

The Majestic Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

The Cat's Eye Nebula: Dying Star Creates Fantasy-like Sculpture of Gas and Dust

Star-Birth Clouds in M16: Stellar "Eggs" Emerge from Molecular Cloud

My Friends Were My Favorite Birthday Gift

DAILY QUOTES

The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it.
~Ayn Rand

Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
~Rabbi Abraham Heschel


It's Wednesday and my birthday weekend is officially over. I called in sick to make a delightful 3-day weekend an even longer and more satisfying 4-day weekend! Plus I had another job interview so what the hell, gotta use all my sick hours before they vanish into thin air. So Friday started off great! I negotiated mo money out of Big Company and gladly put my 2 week notice in with Small Company. That was birthday present uno to myself. Got the hairs cut at the usual spot w/ JD. Then it was off to a nice dinner at Evening Star in Del Ray with the rents, JD and Biddle. The food was great, as always at Evening Star. JD Biddle and I made a quick stop by JD's office to fax my official acceptance to Big Company, then to Shoppers to big up a JMU Duke Dog Cake for the tailgate on Saturday. Alot of peeps showed up for the Journey cover band and Birthday Celebration at Clarendon Grill, and I'm soooo happy I ahd my closest friends there with me. Yes I wore a construction paper/ glitter lettered crown. yes I got many hugs from the hotties at the bar. And yes I was eventually left there by myself outlasting all that came!

Saturday was not the best day for tailgating as the wind, cold and rain wreaked havoc on our picnic. We huddled together in the Ryther's car and had awesome wraps and soup. The guys were brave enough to watch the first half of the game as the girls went for coffee and gossiped about girl stuff. I bought myself B-Day present dos, a fitted JMU hat!

Sunday the day of rest anf football, nuff said.

Monday JD, JF and myself tried to take the K-9 Kruiser out for one of it's final voyages. We needed to burn off the $200 worth of gas. Unfortunately thats easier said then done, especially when the gas won't make it to the engine. So we opted for a mid-day BBQ and cards.

Tuesday I called in sick, and wnet to another interview with Big Government Department. It went really well, because of the confidence I had in my hip pocket. Thanks to Big Company.

All I really wanna say is thank you to all my friends that came out on Friday night. I'm not sure where I'd be without you guys. Seeing everyone was the best brithday gift of all!

Now the moment Benjie's been waiting for:

BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:
Natalie Portman
(She's hot cuz she's a Sabra)

LET THE CELEBRATING BEGIN!

DAILY QUOTES

Let me explain something to you. Um, I am not "Mr. Lebowski". You're Mr. Lebowski. I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
~The Dude

What's this day of rest shit? What's this bullshit? I don't fuckin' care! It don't matter to Jesus. But you're not foolin' me, man. You might fool the fucks in the league office, but you don't fool Jesus. This bush league psyche-out stuff. Laughable, man - ha ha! I would have fucked you in the ass Saturday. I fuck you in the ass next Wednesday instead. Wooo! You got a date Wednesday, baby!
~Jesus Quintana

Walter Sobchak: I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!
Donny: What's Shabbos?
Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit...DON'T FUCKING ROLL! SHOMER SHABBOS!
The Dude: Walter...
Walter Sobchak: Shomer fucking shabbos.
The Dude: Oh fuck it.



LET THE CLEBRATING BEGIN!!!!


BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:

DEAL OR NO DEAL WEEK

CASE #6
MEGAN ABRIGO

Birthday Wishes

DAILY QUOTES
(Will Ferrell Edition)

I wanna say something. I'm gonna put it out there; if you like it, you can take it, if you don't, send it right back. I want to be on you.
~Ron Burgundy

Dear Lord baby Jesus, we thank you so much for this bountiful harvest of Dominos, KFC, and the always delicious Taco Bell. I just want to take time to say thank you for my family. My two sons, Walker, and Texas Ranger, or TR as wse call him. And of course my red hot smokin' wife Carley, who is a stone cold fox...
Well look, I like the Christmas Jesus best, and I'm sayin grace. When you say grace, you can say it to grown up Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus, or whatever you want...
I wanna thank little baby Jesus, who's sittin' in his crib watchin the Baby Einstein videos, learnin' 'bout shapes and colors...
Dear 8 pounds 6 ounces baby Jesus, new born, not even spoken a word yet.
~Ricky Bobby

I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.
~Buddy the Elf


BIRTHDAY WISHES

1. Meet new people
2. A JMU Win!
3. Alot of my friends show up to Clarendon Grille Friday night
4. Be surrounded by my best friends
5. A new job!
6. ____(For me to know you to find out)

7. Rekindling of something
8. A better year than last
9. Good Health
10. Happiness for my family

BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS

(DAY 4 OF DEAL OR NO DEAL WEEK)

CASE #14 HOLDER/OPENER

Pilar Lastra

Mom, Will You Make Me a Birthday Crown?

DAILY QUOTES

(Funny Jewish Guy Edition)

I feel that life is divided into the horrible and the miserable. That's the two categories. The horrible are like, I don't know, terminal cases, you know, and blind people, crippled. I don't know how they get through life. It's amazing to me. And the miserable is everyone else. So you should be thankful that you're miserable, because that's very lucky, to be miserable.
~Woody Allen from Annie Hall

Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.
~Mel Brooks

Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come.
~Matt Groening



I've made the switch back. I'm back on bar soap, I know that's exciting news to all.

Spider Girl once wrote a post about Synchronicity. I had a moment of synchronicity last night. I normally don't like to get into this sort of detail about my dating/personal life but here goes. I had emailed/winked at someone on Jdate, turns out we lived in the same dorm freshman year of school. Conversation was great and of course we talked baout people we lived with/knew freshman year. A few hours later one of my hall mates from freshman year emailed me on myspace. Spooky. Funny how life is interconnected and seems to make connections like the synapses crossing in your brain. Is it because your own world is so small or are these moments of coincidence and chance just that. I'd like to beleive in synchronocity, because it seems to happen often in my life. I can remember a family trip and asking my mom about Jimmy Buffet for some reason or another, asking her what songs he sang and so forth (I was around 10), low and behold we heard 2 of his songs wihtin in the next hour or so. Spooky.

Ma is making me one of her famous birthday crowns. A construction paper chapeau complete with glitter and what not. I will proudly wear it out drinking on my birthday, cuz I'm the king, also because it's my b-day and I can make a fool of myself if I want. (And I hope the sparkles will attract some hotties.)

BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS

(DAY 3 OF DEAL OR NO DEAL WEEK)
CASE #3 HOLDER/OPENER

Lisa Gleave

Gonna Get This Backfield In Motion Birthday Plans 06

DAILY QUOTES

I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me.
~Hunter S. Thompson

You're never too old to become younger.
~Mae West

A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, ''At my
~Claude D. Pepper

I used to be able to name every nut that there was. And it used to drive my mother crazy, because she used to say, "Harlan Pepper, if you don't stop naming nuts," and the joke was that we lived in Pine Nut, and I think that's what put it in my mind at that point. So she would hear me in the other room, and she'd just start yelling. I'd say, "Peanut. Hazelnut. Cashew nut. Macadamia nut." That was the one that would send her into going crazy. She'd say, "Would you stop naming nuts!" And Hubert used to be able to make the sound, he couldn't talk, but he'd go "rrrawr rrawr" and that sounded like Macadamia nut. Pine nut, which is a nut, but it's also the name of a town. Pistachio nut. Red pistachio nut. Natural, all natural white pistachio nut.
~Harlan Pepper


My Birthday could not have had more perfect timing. This year the 7th falls on a weekend me and ghetto boys trick or treatin'. Well not really. Friday is payday just in time for the b-day festivities which include: Dinner w/ the rents friday night followed by a Journey cover band at Clarendon Grille which I hope a lot of people will make it. Then Saturday morning heading to JMU for a Football game and tailgating. And of course the 3-Day weekend thank you Mr. Columbus. Plans to discover a golf course on Monday! Gotta be better than last year! I can't wait! Also potentially celebrating a new jizz-ob! Bring it!

BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS:

(Day 2 Of Deal or No Deal Hottie Spotlight Week)
Jenelle Moreno Case #17

Not Atoning, Working, Not Working, Blogging

DAILY QUOTES

Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.
~Charlie Brown

Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either.
~Golda Meir

We always believe our first love is our last, and our last love our first.
~George John Whyte-Melville

Nano-Nano

1. Brothers On A Hotel Bed
~Death Cab For Cutie
2. Black Betty
~Ram Jam
3. Leave You Alone
~Cam'Ron
4. All Night Long
Lionel Richie
5. Grind With Me
Pretty Ricky
6. All Falls Down
~Kanye West
7. Shake That Thing
~Sean Paul
8. Check Yourself
Ice Cube
9. Tonto
~Sugar Hill Gang
10. Wagon Wheel
~Old Crow Medicine Show





Friday
Watched Munich with my bro. Damn was that a good flick, a bit long, and had a very weird last scene but it was good.

Saturday
JD and I got up ealry to go fishing, but experienced technical difficulties w/ the boot. We didn't let it dampen the mood and headed to the Brickskeller. I t was my first time there, both JD and I got excited when we saw KEO the Cypriot beer on the menu. But like most everything on their extensive (understatement) menu they were out. So being I settled for Amstel Light. I figured I would get funny looks if I ordered Miller Lite, so I went as high brow as I could. Next stop was Gazuza, where our out of town guest got denied a quarter of the way up the stairs for wearing flip-flops. That bouncer had really good eyes and ears. So a quick jaunt across the circle led us to Big Hunt, where one bartender was expected to serve the gi-normous crowd. JD quashed a girl fight, and Out of Town guet had his butt pinched, which seemed to be the theme of the night, because it happened to JD and OOG again at Lucky Bar.
On the way to Lucky Bar we were treated to the sight of a girl puking in the streets, not uncommon for the confluence of bars on 18th, but funny when she was handed a traffic cone to puke in to. I guess to better direct the flow in to a neat pile on the street.


Thoughts
Today is my day of Atonement and possibly the hloiest of holy days, Yom Kippur. The one sin I want to wash away the most is my jealousy. I've found myself increasingly jealous of my friends in relationships. Not their relationship in particular or specifically, but not having one of my own. I've been putting forth (in my book) a good amount of effort, with little to show in return. After our night out in particular at Lucky Bar, I realized just how easy it is, to grind up on someone and possibly take them home for the night. While I'm not opposed to that at all, cuz hey everyone needs some, I want more than that. Things like this way heavy on your mind when forced to reflect on the year passed. And for those that know me, they know what kind of year I've had. My birthday is coming up this weekend, which also forces me to reflect on the past year, and looking back on last years birthday experience and the months following I can honestly say there is a world of difference, in a good way. However reminders seem to pop up outof no where. Maybe not no where thanks to Friendsters B-Day reminder, which is had the wrong date anyway.


BENJIE'S HOTTIE CORNER PRESENTS
(TIME TO SIN AGAIN, LET'S START WITH LUSTFUL TOUGHTS EDITION)
(DEAL OR NO DEAL WEEK)
CASE #13
Leyla