Sunday bloody Sunday

Don't you just love Sundays? Being able to simply kick back and not worry about the work week that lies ahead... just relax...

Yeah, me neither.

I woke up nice and early this morning and did my usual routine, which consists of hitting up the local Starbucks. As I was sitting there, who walks in? Josh Byrnes. For those of you that do not know Josh, he is the thirty-something General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have met him a few times before and even interviewed him for my book. He recognized me (always good when someone of power remembers you) and we chatted for a bit. Super nice guy.

Now I am preparing mentally for the week of hell. Next Saturday is my huge event at work, Phoenix Cooks. It is actually pretty cool (a huge food and wine tasting event) but a lot of stress. So if I am not posting much next week, you know why.

I saw a pretty good movie Friday night, Vicky Christina Barcelona. If you have been to Barcelona or like Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz (who doesn't) then you would love it. I have been to Barcelona and it is a bad ass city. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.

Good talk. Let's do this again sometime.

Rain Drops

This Thursday morning has me a little fired up and it ain't from the coffee in my Starbucks cup. It's from my emotions following my web browsing experience. First off, dissapointment abounds as my girl J.Finch and her United States Softball Team lost to Japan. I know they play baseball in Japan, but softball? Come on. Unless Matsuzaka and Fukudome were on that team (they aren't) we had no business losing that game.

Then came anger as I discovered that last night none of my so-called friends (Casey) even gave me so much of a heads up on the "Wet T-Shirt Contest" that came as a result of the rain falling in Beijing at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Final matches . No texts. No phone calls. Not even an email. Nothing.

Finally came peace and then jealousy. Peace for the setting of this photo: US girls winnig Gold in the rain. Jealousy for... well, do I really need to tell you? No, I didn't think so.

Why not 2 gold medals?

Nastia Liukin was absolutely robbed by the judges of a gold medal on the uneven bars. Anyone know why they call them uneven? Insert punch line here....

Maybe it has to do with how unfair or uneven (pun intended) the judges scoring system is. Liukin tied with a Chinese gymnast (12 year old) and the final scoring came down to a tie breaker. In the tie breaking system, the highest and lowest scores are thrown out. Once this occured, the two gymnasts were still tied.

This is the part where it just seemed like the judges (none of whom have ever won a medal at the olympics) started making up rules. The result - well you already know it, was Liukin lost by a tenth of a point. Nevermind the fact that her routine was better than the cheater... err I mean Chinese gymnast.

Photo Shoot

I spent a full day today having my photo taken. 2 Photo shoots in one day! Yikes! But hey, when you are in demand, it is the price you pay. The pictures were for the cover and back cover of my book (whenever that is finished and released). You will be able to vote for the back cover and choose which images you like the most! Right here on this very page! It's my way of giving back to you. Help me, help you!

I was sweating like a dog in a sauna during the first shoot. It was so freaking hot! Amy (the girlfriend) and I hopped a few fences and snuck our way into a very nice baseball field. She took pictures and more pictures, but then as I told her, "Your talent is sweating. I've had enough." Summer in Arizona.... and you know this!

I watched some videos on Julia Allison... not sure if I like her or hate her, but damn if she isn't smart. Not bad in the looks department either, if you are into that kind of thing.

I will be making a guest writing appearance soon. I will let you know when and where to find me. I will not make you search the inter-web to try to find me, although that is not a bad idea for a contest. Talk to you soon!

Chinese Gymnasts

I know we covered this already, but I just learned a bit more about one of the so-called sixteen year olds. In order to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, you had to have been born by Jan 1, 1992. Take a wild guess as to the birth date of He Kexin (one of the gymnasts in question). Jan 1, 1992. Coincidence? I think not. Convenient? I think so.

At least the American girls Nastia Lukin and Shawn Johnson (see non-cheaters) won Gold and Silver respectfully.

The Olympics

Did you know that the Chinese have a bunch of six year old girls on their gymnastics team? Seriously, who do they think they are fooling? Their ages have been "verified" and they are sixteen. Uh-huh and China is a communist country. Wait. Oh yeah, that's right.

How much of a bad ass is Michael Phelps? Talk about dominating. We have had the privilege of seeing Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and now this guy. Not to mention dude is shredded like a pile of paid bills. I have never seen anyone as ripped as Phelps. In fact, isnt he starring in a blockbuster movie?

OK, time for a little Olympic word association....

The vault = easy
China = cheaters
Swimming = world records (Seriously, is it just me or is every race a new record?)
Basketball = wife beater (Sorry Jason Kidd, couldn't resist)
Romania = end of a dynasty
Michael Phelps = hulk
Jennie Finch = hottie

That's it for me...

The Cubs

Today's lunch with the baseball exec went well. At one point I had an out of body experience: I used to be the guy waiting tables, who would overhear bits and pieces of a conversation. Our server today must have wondered just who exactly we were... a couple of guys at a restaurant in Tempe chatting about signing Derek Lee, traveling to Japan to check up on Kosuke Fukudome and Kerry Wood's latest rehab. All in a day's work. One could get used to this type of lifestyle.

Up next on the book front is a few more interviews, then tie their stories in to what I have already written. At this pace I might finish just in time for a summer of '09 release date. Ha ha just kidding. (Kind of).