I live in the green zone

I received this pamphlet in the mail yesterday from the New York City Office of Emergency Management. This morning trains were delayed city-wide due to flooding.

Crappy Monday

It's bad enough that Monday marks the end of a sunny summer weekend. Having only sipped my coffee twice this morning, this is how I found my workstation. I'm still not sure how to respond to this prank. Ideas?

Kutztown on the map...err

For those who had the pleasure of experiencing undergrad at KU, you might enjoy this 'urban experiment' that I stumbled upon.

It's basically a few hipsters from NYC adventuring through the Kutztown Folk Festival... and shooting guns. After watching I'm not sure if I feel like more or less of a red neck. Thoughts?

Check out the webisodes!

Humbling Monday Commute

I was in a pinch this morning barely before I got out of bed. Rushing out the door on my way to work I quickly turned around as the rain was too heavy. After scouring the apartment for an umbrella pictured is all that I could find.

It's incredible how people are willing to compromise when faced with opposition.

High Times!

I have an itch to play fast pitch baseball. It's been 8 years since I've touched a baseball and can barely get out of bed after a 3 mile jog, downhill. With that said, last night I met up in Central Park with a player from the Brooklyn Beers (yes, Beers) who is looking for a pitcher who can "for the love of God just throw strikes". We were casually tossing around on an empty field when a team from another field started to migrate toward the field we were using.

"Hey dudes, you like... wanna play some softball?"

Their green jerseys read "Bong Hitters" and as they stumbled closer carrying a few coolers and bat bags I noticed a girl cradling a beer bottle in her mitt and another guy who had a can of beer cozied in his batting glove.

It was an instant party. Most of the team took a seat on the grass to take a breather and out of nowhere field C of Central Park North looked (& smelled) like a scene from Bonnaroo. I almost thought someone was going to start selling grilled cheese sandwiches and passing out nitrous oxide balloons.

The guy who invited us to play came over and introduced himself and benumbedly informed us that his team, assembled from High Times magazine had just beaten DC Comics in their media softball league standoff.

Day #2 - ultimate weight loss challenge vs. Neil Hurley

Painfully hungry and suffering from lack of mid-afternoon soda and/or junk food. Despite the sweltering heatwave, still planning on doing some sort of exercise tonight. However, may be revised to include indoor activity only.

The recipe

It came out of nowhere and when I least expected. It's not everyday you get a chance to completely change your own life. The words confidently rolled off his tongue as if he was announcing a great prophecy, something too powerful not to take part in.

"I challenge you to a fat man's duel!"

Straightening my posture as if rising to victory before the vague challenge was even defined I knew he could only be talking to one person - me.

"One month, one goal. Lose as much weight as possible, thus shedding the title 'fat man' – forever."

And so it has begun. Neil Hurley (200.5 lbs, 6'0", 34 y/o, cry baby) vs. Andrew Betlyon (206 lbs, 6'1", 26 y/o, unbridled stallion) in a 24-day festival of salad, exercise, and terrible mood swings.

When asked what strategy Neil would be utilizing his response included a Thigh Master purchase, yoga mat, and abnormal spike in daily gluten intake.

Stay tuned as August 1st serves up my fat I-told-you-so... Neil.