A couple of links to brighten your Friday...

The first is a YouTube video that has already been viewed 12 million times (how did I miss this?). It's called "Free Hugs". Just the true story of some dude who thought it might be nice to offer everyone a hug to brighten their day (the story gets better though, read it here). In today's world of social dis-connectivity and lack of human contact I think it's a pretty cool idea. But hey, I'm a sap for this kind of stuff. The song in the video, "All The Same" by Sick Puppies, is pretty damn good too. The video also just won "Most Inspirational" at the first annual YouTube Video Awards. So, go hug your friends (and maybe even a stranger) tonight.

Next, check out this Cardinals Season Preview by Will Leitch over at Deadspin (More nostalgic than an actual preview). Spot-f*cking-on man! I feel almost exactly the same way. Being at those three games of the World Series were some of the best nights of my life. I'm not sure how baseball will ever compare to that again. (Hat tip to Boxcar Fritz for the link.)

Labels: baseball, inspirational

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 4:34 PM

- Fuji apples are the best damn apple ever cultivated

- Properly peeling a hard-boiled egg can sometimes be just as challenging as solving a Rubik's Cube

- Light Miracle whip is about 10 times better for you than real mayo and tastes just as good in tuna salad

- Some wizard using black magic developed a curse to make apples taste like grapes (Mmmm...Black magic apple)

- Broiling fish brushed with olive oil in the oven creates smoke... lots and lots of smoke

- I have a new-found love for milk chocolate Ensure (it has become the highlight of my day)

- Rice cakes only taste like cardboard when compared to a hamburger. When you're hungry enough to eat your shoe, they taste quite delicious.

- I really miss eating those tiny 60 cent snack bags of Cheetos each afternoon

- Guinness only has 125 calories (per 12 oz. serving)

- Lot's of protein in your diet causes some seriously solid poos

- Drinking 8 or more glasses of water a day is really good for you. (Of course, I actually always knew this, I just never realized how good it actually is)

- I like slightly green bananas better than slightly brown ones

- Taco Bell and Steak n' Shake taste like little slices of heaven when you have been eating nothing but yogurt, fruit, wild rice and fish all week

- Eating greasy shitty food really fucks up your stomach. I haven't had a stomach cramp or even so much as a really nasty fart for a month

- Not eating after 10:00 PM makes me sleep like a baby

- Only eating 300 - 400 calories at each meal makes your stomach shrink drastically

- Grocery shopping by yourself when you are on a diet and not going completely insane with the desire to purchase everything in the freshly prepared entrees section near the deli at Dierbergs and take it around back of the store to scarf it down like a fiendish little troll takes a willpower that is beyond the measure of mortal men

- Finding something that is both healthy and tasty at a fast food restaurant is a task better left up to Jim Phelps or Ethan Hunt

Labels: diet, health

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 2:02 PM

As if the backlash the Cardinals front office is going to be getting from smokers weren't enough, now they get to deal with this too...



Sounds like the poor dude was more tired than drunk. I've been pulled over and blown a .10 before and been let go. Even at .10 I did not feel intoxicated and passed all the stupid human tricks.

So anyway, it looks like the Cardinals will have some more shit to deal with now. I'm sure all the MADD people (pun intended) will be calling for his resignation, and that certainly doesn't help their "health conscious", "fan safety" stance on this whole smoking ban thing. Bad timing Tony.

Labels: baseball, cardinals, celebrity, funny, St. Louis

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 9:27 AM

Karyn and my anniversary falls on June 1st each year. Last year we were in Mexico and exchanged gifts there. I figured that we would be doing the same this year even though we'll be traveling back that day. I was wrong. My anniversary present came a few months early this year out of necessity. See the photo below and you'll understand why.


Yes that is what you think, baseball tickets. Two tickets to 27 games to be exact. That's a third of a season which is to say the least a lot of games, not to mention a very generous anniversary present. The tickets are part of the "Rolen Business Plan" and she happened to get seats in the same section (453, Row 4, Seats 4 & 5) I spent all three home games of the World Series in. Nice. Since it's a business plan, all the games are on weeknights except one...



Yes that is opening day folks. And I'm pumped. Only one problem. How do I top that anniversary gift?

UPDATE: Liam's sources were indeed correct. The Cardinals will ban smoking in the stadium this year. That means I'll spend part of my day writing letters tomorrow. Liam already presented all the major arguments against the ban, so I won't bother ranting about it... for now.

Labels: baseball, cardinals, sports

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 1:46 PM

Went to my first Blues game in two years on Saturday night against Montreal. Even though we lost the game 3-4, it was a pretty damn good one as the Blues came back down 3-0 and tied the game with only a minute or so to play. Unfortunately those damn Canadiens came back with the go-ahead-goal only 30 seconds later. I was really looking forward to seeing OT and possibly my first live shootout. Got to wear my Jersey for only the second time in 2 years, the first time was to a bar during that unbelievable run we had back in January. I think we beat the Ducks (best team in hockey at the time) 6-2 on their "pond" that night. Maybe I'll go to another game so I can have a chance to wear my Team USA jersey.

Oh well, still had fun. Probably the best seats (in my opinion) I've ever had for a hockey game too. Section 103, Row Q I thinks. That's pretty much right on the center line and just above even with the top of the glass. Right behind the benches too. Those have to be some of the best seats in the house. Some people like being up on the glass which is cool because you see the players faces and hear the rink noise, but you miss a lot of the action. Some like being up higher so that you can see the plays develop better, see the whole rink at the same time, and you're not constantly looking back and forth. I think those seats give you a great combination of both worlds.

I've been really impressed so far this season with what the new ownership / management team has done. The kids (Stempniak, McClement, Backes) are all looking good, the prospects we have are looking pretty promising, and the trades they have made are all for the best too. They ownership is doing some pretty amazing promotions (see $7 season tickets) to win the fans back as well.

Anyway, after the game Karyn and I headed to Bugaloo in Maplewood to meet up with the gang and down some adult beverages for Lindsay's b-day. Afterwords I had my cheat meal for the week at Steak n' Shake in the form of a double bacon cheeseburger and large cheese fries. Cheating isn't always bad.

Sunday I watched the first Cardinals game on NBC in like 20 years. I haven't been following spring training much because like Scott, (who is back blogging again!) I was so emotionally drained from last season that I sort of took a step back and let things develop as they may during the winter and the spring. I did wash may Cards jersey for the first time in a year though. The same jersey I wore to all three home World Series games last year. Coincidence? You decide. Anyway, new season... clean jersey.

Labels: baseball, hockey, sports

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 1:41 PM

I'm on day four of my first official diet ever and so far things are looking up. It's a pretty strict regimen of low fat, low carb, high protein foods. It's definitely not easy to stick to, as the smell of the delicious fare from the Billy Goat wafts past through my building on a regular basis, and the snack box here at work is staring me down and teasing me hourly.

So far I've only cheated once on Tuesday by eating some leftovers (which weren't that bad) from Macaroni Grill (where I ate my last meal not on a diet on Sunday night). I have had about three beers each day, but they have all been Bud Selects (only 99 calories) and have all kept me within my 2000 calorie a day limit.

I'm currently weighing in between 163.5 and 165.5 pounds which is down from my normal weight of between 167 - 170. So I figure I've lost three pounds. This is so far without any exercise.

I bought some new tennis shoes and some athletic clothes on Sunday with the intention of hitting the gym this week, but I haven't found the time to make it yet. In case you're wondering what I'm chowing on, here's the basic info:


BREAKFAST - TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE: 412
One banana
One cup of Yoplait Light yogurt
One hard boiled egg w/ light salt
One cup of Naked brand fruit juice
One cup of black coffee

LUNCH - TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE: 396
One apple
One can of tuna w/ 1 tsp of light Miracle Whip
One hard boiled egg

MID-DAY SNACK - TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE: 292
One can of Ensure High Protein Meal replacement drink
One orange

DINNER - TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE: 578
One chicken breast (or piece of fresh fish
One cup of garden salad w/ light Italian dressing
One cup wild rice
One cup steamed veggies

TOTAL CALORIE INTAKE FOR DAY: 1678

That's actually a pretty insane diet if you think about it. 2000 calories is pretty low already for an adult male, and no less than 1800 is recommended, but I feel OK (other than Monday where I had a dizzy spell before I ate dinner) and haven't really felt hungry since Monday night.

I'd like to lose about 25 pounds of fat and gain about 10-15 pounds of muscle putting me at my ideal weight of 155 and toned. We'll see if that happens. I'd really be happy with losing 15 pounds of fat and gaining 5 lbs of muscle. That would put me at a healthy and slimmer 160. I guess we'll see what happens between now and the time I leave for Mexico. After that, I'm going back to eating real food. I'll probably keep working out when I get back, but I can't live without me some red meat at least a few times a week.

Labels: diet, health

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 2:08 PM

Looks like someone at the US Mint proudly and intentionally accidentally left the phrase "In God We Trust" off the new George Washington dollar coins. I must say my heathen ass approves.

This story covering the incident is worth a chuckle or two.

Labels: funny, political, religion, strange news

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 1:57 PM

Check out this bizarre 4 minute commercial for potato salad from 1944. What do contortionists have to do with fucking potato salad anyway? Oh well, I guess it's not as much of a stretch as some of today's shitty commercials.

Labels: amazing, funny, odd

- these thoughts flowed through Jeff's fingers @ 3:51 PM