My weekend or MJW, Bulls, and blisters on my hand

The long awaited Marijuana Wolf cd came out on Friday and the world celebrated w/ $1 PBR at 2 Art Chicks. As a special one day only offer you could get a cd for only $4.20, and anyone can still get one for only $5. The live show has expanded to feature a pedal steel guitar player, a drummer, and a trumpet player. They don't play on every song, but if you join Marijuana Wolf it seems like you would need to take a few breaks b/w songs. So now you have your choice of the MJW live dvd or the studio cd. It's hard to go wrong w/ either one.

On Saturday we picked up Pete and met the Cooleys and Clawrys at the Durham Bulls game. The actual game was crappy, but we had kids so watching the game was kind of out. The most I saw was when I was waiting in line at the concession stand. Now I know if I want to watch the game I can leave the kids w/ Uncle Pete and wait in the longest line to buy corn dogs. I've put up a picture of Izzy from the game b/c you can actually see her luminescence. Since it makes her that happy to be at the ballpark, I'll make sure I bring her back again soon.

To wrap it up on Sunday I mowed my lawn and finished the first part (it takes 2 tanks of gas) w/o any problems. I tried to start it after a gas and go, but it wouldn't fire. I took a break to drink some water and let the motor cool down. When I came back it still wouldn't start. Maria tried it w/o luck and my arm was too sore to try anymore, so I got some tools to take apart the mower. It turns out I didn't need them b/c the spark plug wasn't connected to the spark plug wire. Seriously, that's how I got that blister on my hand.

Charlotte Bobcats

I've said some not so nice things about the NBA in the past, but I've been watching the Charlotte Bobcats pretty frequently this year. The thing that really bugs me about the NBA is the guys just don't try on a regular basis. I understand if there's a 20 point lead that you might not give your best effort (regardless of which end of that lead you're on), but it's not a legitimate excuse to not try b/c it's the 3rd quarter. I don't really see that on the Bobcats. They have won some games on effort and had some memorable close losses. W/ all the talk about teams tanking to improve their draft lottery position I think the good karma of the Bobcats will get them someone who will help them in the coming seasons.

My real purpose in bringing up the Bobcats is trying to figure out why the attendance is at the bottom of the league. Bill Simmons suggested in ESPN the magazine that the NBA eliminate them b/c they "can't support NBA basketball and never could." The next day he had to explain himself further b/c the old Charlotte Hornets led the league in attendance 8 times in 12 years and said "I'm not arguing that you DID support the team once upon a time" (well, actually that's exactly what you said), but he does bring up a good point that this team is at the bottom of the attendance charts. I think there are a few reasons why. One, they are a crappy expansion team. They have good young players, but people who pay hundreds of dollars to go to a game want to see a team w/ a chance to at least make the playoffs. Two, George Shinn poisoned the NBA environment in Charlotte. It wasn't just his demands for the city to build a new arena at no expense to him or the sexual assault trial, but the mismanagement of the team (trading Alonzo Mourning specifically) that made people wonder why they put their hard earned money into a team when the owner wasn't willing to do the same. Three, the Panthers have captured the heart of the community. They've been to the Super Bowl while the NBA franchise never went to the finals. Their proven success has taken some of the shine off the Bobcats. When the Hornets came into the league, they were the only game in town. Now, the Panthers keep people talking all year about their chances to go back to the Super Bowl. Finally, the NBA isn't as good as it used to be. When the Hornets debuted Magic, Bird, and Jordan were all playing. Now Lebron is about the only huge star that almost everybody wants to see. Kobe is a huge star but extremely divisive. Dwayne Wade (despite the championship), Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitski only inspire NBA fans to go to the arena, not the casual fan you need to get big attendance numbers every night.

So how do you fix this? I only see one solution. Build a winning team. That starts w/ using the copious amounts of salary cap space they will have this summer and signing 2 players. Not some big name free agents, but Gerald Wallace and Matt Carroll who are already on the roster. They will have a high draft pick even if they don't win the lottery (can I hope for Greg Oden, no, how about Corey Brewer). The young players are there and if injuries don't keep Emeka Okafor and Sean May off the court they should be in the playoffs next year.

Now I have to go watch their last game of the season.

Earth Day Plans

I thought it would be nice if I sent the Earth a card for Earth Day. I know how homemade things are better, so I'm going to chop down a tree, grind it into a papery pulp, dye it w/ some green chemicals, sign my name, then throw it on the ground somewhere for the Earth to find. Don't be surprised when the Earth tells you I'm its favorite on April 23rd.

Free Arby's

Arby's is sponsoring a NASCAR car this year. As part of that sponsorship they will offer free fries on Monday after a win. You can get your free fries this Monday. If you don't want them, you can mail them to me.

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Let My Kids Parent Themselves

I'm not saying kids don't need supervision, however I was cleaning up and found a magazine on the ground w/ the back cover visible and the front cover obscured by a door. I was going to pick it up (the supervision) and Izabella said "That's mine." When I handed it to her I didn't see whose name was on the address label, but if she wants to read Parenting magazine who am I to stand in her way. I asked if she had any tips and she said "I watch cartoons" and closed my bedroom door in my face. I'll probably slip a $20 under her pillow tonight just so she knows I still love her.

Good News

I don't have syphilis. Two different doctors told me that I was exhibiting the signs of secondary syphilis. I had to get a blood test to convince one of them. It turns out I actually have Pityriasis Rosea, and there's not really anything they can do to treat it (it took 4 trips to 3 doctors to figure this out). The main concern about the syphilis was that I have a rash on the palm and the back of my hands. Someone asked if you could get syphilis from yourself and maybe that would explain why my hands were breaking out.

More good news, I'm no longer sleeping on the couch.

Advice Columnists

There are 3 advice columnists that I read regularly. Of course Dan Savage at Savage Love is the go to man for anything you need to know about relationships. Dear Prudence on Slate isn't as good as the Beatles song of the same name, but she's not afraid to give regular people (as opposed to Savage Love readers) a dose of reality. The one that I learn the least from but laugh the most at is Ask A Mexican in the OC Weekly. I thought the most recent column was particularly insightful "The fact that many Mexicans look like they’re fresh off the camel is due to the Moorish-Iberian mutts who colonized the Americas. Swarthy foreigners have always inspired fear amongst gabachos." I mean I already knew that but it still makes me laugh. So if you want to ask me anything just send it to the 3 of them and you'll be better off.

Pet names available

I call my wife "baby", my daughter "honey", and my son "buddy". That leaves a lot of pet names for other people. I think I can remember to use the following names when speaking to you (available on a first come first serve basis): Ace, Champ, Sugar Tits (my wife says this can only be used for guys), Pork Chop, Spider, Doctor (unless you are a doctor), Tito, and Puddinghead. Please let me know if you are interested in one of these and I'll start using it on a regular basis.

Reasons to watch NCAA basketball

With the Lady Tar Heels elimination last night, I don't have much rooting interest in the games tonight or tomorrow. I am planning on watching in hopes of seeing the Pontiac commercial w/ the lady who says "N O Stan. We are not getting a convertible. What's next? An amp?" Then she gives the rock sign and a rock sound. I'm looking forward to seeing it again and again.