Woke up on the couch with Monika at 4 am. Went to bed, but felt like hell. Still fighting a sickness I caught over Black Friday weekend at the mart, as best I can tell. The cats came to bed as well; We’re pretty sure they know when we don’t feel well. I barely made it to work, and only really went in so Sam didn’t have to work in the vault alone today. Glad I did, we got treated by Mike to Holiday lunch, an event I don’t like to miss. We don’t always get to celebrate our fragile commoradore. When I got home, a Benadryl later, I passed out and woke two hours later in a coughing fit. Longest I’ve been sick, in Monika’s words, since I’ve known her. Cats are circling the Christmas tree. I, awake, drain my DVR or anything intelligent.
The Twenty-Ninth of November, Two Thousand and Twelve
Posted in Reflections with tags Berlin Mart, cats, nfl films on November 29, 2012 by VergeThis morning, for the first time in a week, I woke up in my bed. Monika and I have not slept in our actual bed, but instead on our new couch for the last week for varying reasons. Mostly, because we’re both so fucking busy that the pile of clean clothes stacked in the middle of our bed went unfolded, and I refuse to sweep it onto the floor to crawl in because the carpet is covered in cat hair.
It doesn’t matter where we sleep, for the most part, the cats find us and sleep with us. Guest room, couch, real bedroom, they find us, and sleep there. They don’t bother us, for the most part, because when they were young and would piss me off, they were expelled, and ignored. They learned to behave.
The other reason is that I’ve been having a ton of allergic reactions, and I’m trying to narrow down the cause of my itchy fits. I think it’s the clothing detergent. Seems likely, right. Washed all my clothes; have not had a chance to wash all my bedding…until yesterday.
Didn’t really have a long holiday weekend to catch up on that kind of stuff. Show on Wednesday night, home at 3:30 AM. Thanksgiving out on City Line Ave with family, but also a late night. Black Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the good old Mart. Back at Films on Monday.
So yeah, busy. Cats, not so much. Eno has become basically an outside cat (almost). These two barely use a litter box anymore. They prefer the outside. Probably smells better, too.
Monika at Hebrew school tonight. We’re still sorting through all our personal belongings to see what we’ll re-incorporate into our re-designed home, pack away in the attic, or donate to goodwill, or just plain trash. It’s hard to throw away things that remind us of our past.
It’s like a memory, and once that specific, quirky, ugly, non-useful object is gone, so is the reminder of the part of our past that we’d like to hold onto. So, we hold onto things, in boxes and tubs, indefinitely, because we’d never throw away our past, and don’t want to lose any memories.
Steve Sabol Memorial Ceremony at NFL Films
Posted in Daily Pictures, Reflections, Sports on November 10, 2012 by Verge
Today, at NFL Films in Mt Laurel, we had a company wide memorial service for our fallen and fearless leader, Steve Sabol, who recently died from brain cancer that was diagnosed only a year ago, and whom was still walking the halls of our building just three months ago.
In this picture, you can see our new sign, with our new address, covered by a black blanket. It was uncovered, after a short speech, by his wife, his sister Blair, whom our original company was named after by Steve’s father, Big Ed, and Hank McElwee, famed cinematographer who still runs the film show out here.
We are now located at One Sabol Plaza (good luck with that one on your GPS)
They set up a stage and speakers, and gave a eulogy before unveiling the sign.
We raised a new flag, as well. That’s Steve’s initials, and the design that he used with his artwork and collages that have been appearing in galleries the last few years.
The flagpoles in the front lawn of NFL Films was actually one of Steve’s last requests. We never had them before last year, and he thought that we should. The third flag pole was flying a Giant’s logo last week, and it was supposed to commemorate the reigning Super Bowl Champions. That tradition was short lived. The tree in the foreground was planted in memory of Steve, who loved the outdoors, and symbolizes the continued growth of NFL Films.
Others took photos as well, and some, perhaps, felt some kind of closure.
The new sign at our entrance…
…which of course was filmed for a future highlight of the day’s ceremony. This one was for Steve’s “family,” those of us at the continue to carry his vision and are his living legacy.
There will be another, much larger, ceremony in February, after the Super Bowl at the Kimmel Center. It will be the first Super Bowl ever that Steve will not attend.
This is the “Bridge” at our building that connects the administrative side of the building to the technology side. It’s now named something different.
“Sudden Death Sabol,” as he was nicknamed, now takes on a completely different, and poignant meaning.
Inside our lobby, a new picture greets visitor to our location. A picture of Ed and Steve Sabol, a few years back, when Ed accepted his last Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement. A few years later, Steve was there when his father was inducted into the Hall of Fame, something that we all hoped Ed would be alive to see. Now, we’re lucky that Steve was as well.
Watch a short video of the ceremony here
Plane Reflections
Posted in Daily Pictures on October 8, 2012 by VergeOn a plane, flying from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. Thinking about the people I love. My wife, sleeping in my lap. My friends Elysa, and Sarah, whom I cherish to tears. My father and mother, who took me on many plane trips when I was younger.
When I was a kid, I thought every plane was a chartered plane, and every kid got to hang out in the cockpit. Now, I know, my father and grand father both being pilots gave me privileged opportunities, ones that kids don’t get these days. I had royal treatment. It really was like traveling by folding a map.
I look down to the desert, on awkward squares and circles, looking forward to my best friend picking me up from PHL, like we’ve done for each other dozens of times.
Perhaps, one day, or in another life, I’ll become a pilot. Look down on everything, find a perfect place to live, and land, with everyone I love on board.
Here’s a Tip…
Posted in Friends and Family, Good Times, Hiking and Camping, Vacations on October 7, 2012 by VergeWhen you are in the desert, take pictures, because you might die later…
Gleemonex
Posted in Creative Writing with tags Writing on August 9, 2012 by VergePatient ninefiveseven
Cardboard bum
With a gun
Nina bedford
Happiness
In the head
A scientist just like you
How big is your house?
The drug works chemically.
A complete makeover
Toast fucking
Drain the pipe
Lights off asshole
We always win
Somebody came in the wrong door
Were the handcuffs totally necessary
Waiting at home
Thank you I guess
One of them tried to kiss me
Why would he do that
I was concerned that he might fall
You are one of them
The opposite of straight
It’s called denial
Psychiatric mumbo jumbo
You’re a special case
Ski is on it
Animal pornography
A bat and a pig
It’s gonna be amazing
Horse tranquilizers
Fuck happy
The data can be interpreted in many ways
We’re no 1
Mr. November
Do you think that’s funny?
Who cares?
These are fakes
The inventor of the drug
They’re talking about us
There is no hope for me
His heart on the outside of his body
A little softer
In circles
A little bit more in circles
Done
Land in Montana
Non-prescription
Everyone should have access to it
Papers to sign
It was supposed to be fixed
Our new drug
The real party
She must be another scientist
I had this dog in my head
And I haven’t seen it yet
My cap is luke
Happiness freelance artists
Super super model!
The Twenty Ninth of July, Two Thousand and Twelve
Posted in Bar and Lounge Reviews, Daily Pictures, Friends and Family, Good Times with tags Beer, philly on August 2, 2012 by Verge
started out the day late on Sunday with Sam and Monika. woke up at the Flying W. After breakfast, we headed to the Goodwill Store to see what we could find. Why do dolls always look like they’re surprised? Or terrified?
perhaps it’s just me, but dolls are so creepy.
found this really cool little toy musical instrument. considered it for a moment, but decided it was untuneable, so I passed.
found just what I needed over in the computer and electronics department. some of you might not even realize what you’re looking at here. wow, a whole MEG!!
after scoring nearly nothing, off to Franklin Hall in Philly.
First time here. nice place. decent beer selection, but wouldn’t say the greatest.
to the left is the inside portion of the faux German beer garden, and to the right is the outside courtyard. you can see Monika and Sam conveniently found the bar..
- Looking in the opposite direction. if you don’t fancy the picnic tables outside, there is some fancier seating inside, with tvs.
- As the sun was setting over Philadelphia and our weekend. We hadn’t seen Sam in a few weeks because we’re all so damn busy.
- The place was pretty damn expensive for a beer garden
- but you can’t put a price on this.
Roger Waters The Wall Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia
Posted in Daily Pictures on July 31, 2012 by VergeThe Seventh of July, Two Thousand and Twelve
Posted in Daily Pictures, Friends and Family, Good Times with tags dirty robots on July 10, 2012 by VergeLast Saturday, my cover band played an all night show at the Flying W Resort in Medford. Great times. Two more to come this Summer. You should try to make it out to one! Always a good time.
You’re Vegan!?!…What do you eat?
Posted in Daily Pictures, Vegan and Vegetarian Lifestyle with tags vegan, vegetable garden, vegetarian on July 5, 2012 by VergeYeah, the vegetarian thing is one thing. People always ask vegetarians what they eat, especially for protein. Never seemed to have a problem with that. Americans seem to be protein obsessed. Vegetarianism isn’t so extreme. Plenty of animals in our world are vegetarian. Sure, I guess I’m still an omnivore because I’m capable of eating plants and animals. It’s just not really necessary for the human animal to consume large amounts of protein mostly because when I’m hungry, I open my fridge instead of running a few miles across the plains to hunt down some prey to feed my family to survive.
Veganism is pretty tough, though. It’s hard to find a lot of things you’d consider safe that don’t also contain some form of animal product: milk, casein, gelatin, butter, fat, chicken lard and flavoring, beef flavoring, whey, etc. Milk and it’s products can be some pretty nasty stuff. Adults aren’t even really supposed to drink milk at all if you simply look at the animal kingdom. Let alone the milk and dairy products on the shelves at your store, which are loaded with hormones, steroids, antibiotics and all kinds of garbage. Not only are a staggeringly huge percentage of people lactose intolerant to some degree, milk can actually cause osteoporosis. There are other ways of getting calcium and vitamin D, and milk might be one of the worst.
If you go for a raw diet, then it’s pretty straight forward. Nuts, fruits and veggies, legumes. But, Monika and I like to have some good old American-type food, too. For the 4th of July, we’d still like to have hamburgers and hot-dogs, baked beans, chips and dips, and the like.
Here’s what a vegan can buy at Whole Foods for $192.78. None of this food contains any animal products, though I will admit, some of them are a bit over-processed, and not as healthy as one would ideally like in a perfect world.
Whole Foods can be expensive, but you can’t be their variety. You still have to search for the vegan stuff, and reading labels carefully has been a habit of ours for years, but certain brands you can pretty much trust. A lot of Whole Foods 365 Brand products carry small icons to tell you whether or not the products are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. I really wish this was a national standard. That, along with non-GMO, Organic, Kosher and Local labels. It’ll never happen until this country demands it. Don’t see that happening any time soon.
Of course, We’re huge fans of the bulk foods section. Great deals on loose ingredients. Lentils, TVP, Nutritional Yeast, Beans, Rices, Teas, Grains.
This is the processed stuff. So, if you’ve ever wondered what a Vegan eats, this is it. At least, this Vegan. All those containers in the front are vegan yogurt, and on the left is some bulk lentils and wild rice. Tofurky and Field Roast sausages and meat loaf. Sprouted whole grain bagels…
Oh yeah, and some veggies thrown into the mix. Celery, peppers, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, cauliflower, onions and organic spring mix and spinach. We still get a weekly box from Suburban Organics, and now that it’s Summer, we switched over to all fruit. Most of the veggies, like tomatoes and peppers and zucchini, we grow ourselves this time of year…
Vegan burgers, re-fried beans, chicken strips, burgers…
waffles, tofu, more burgers, sauerkraut…
- hot-dogs, shredded cheeses, breakfast sausages…
vegan sour cream, cream cheese, lunch meat, sliced cheese, meatballs, waffles, Parmesan cheese, ribs…
Yeah, that’s not all of it, just what we shopped for on the 4th. We have a ton of other things we eat, and I guess I can post pictures of our panty to prove it. Plenty of pastas (whole wheat of course), potato products, anti-pastas, breads, crackers, and all kinds of other meat substitutes. But, when people ask us what we eat because we’re vegans, I usually say, “the same stuff you do, just vegan versions.” July 4th isn’t the same without burgers, hot-dogs, corn and all the other American foods that we all love.
