Monday Moaning (The Best of 2013)

That's right Scarlett, get the Champagne ready...New Years is upon us...

At the end of 2012, I heard a lot of people wishing it away, and happy to see it go...For the most part, 2012 was okay for us...Then 2013 started and it started shitty...The first half of the year was tough...Lots of bullshit to deal with...Lots of things not going our way...But I didn't wish it away...And talking with Sully on Christmas Eve, and later with my wife, I realized, as tough as this year was...As much of it sucked, we're still doing okay...We're a lot better off then many...So, when reflecting on your year, remember to look at the good with the bad...And look at where you are, compared to so many others who are having a much tougher go at it...

Okay, off my high horse...

So, normally I watch a ton of the college bowl games at this time of year...But it seems like they haven't had as many this time around...Maybe they aren't space them out as much, and just cramming them into a tighter slot...Saturday I finally got into some bowls...

I watched the second half the The Pinstripe Bowl, as Notre Dame grinded out a 29-16 win over Rutgers...All year I've been looking for the Irish to lean on their ground game...They finally realized it in the second half, of their final game of the season...It says something when the MVP of the game is a OT, as Senior Zack Martin lead the young O-line in dominating Rutgers up front...

Teddy Bridgewater and Louisville took Miami apart, 36-9...and after that I watched Kansas State roll Michigan 31-14...It felt good to watch 3 games and be rooting for the winner in all three...Thank God, I needed to make a couple extra bucks after Christmas! May have been the best College Football Saturday I had this season!

So that leads us to My BEST of 2013...

First, the Best Hockey Hit of 2013 ...




Thank God there are still leagues that allow beautiful, open ice checks...This was a high school game...Sad to say, if that kid goes any further he's going to have to stop laying people out with good, clean checks like that, because Hockey is starting to try and take away open ice hits like this...

Best Hockey Goal of 2013...




Nothing like a 19 year rookie Tomas Hertl, racking up his fourth goal of the night by not giving a fuck, and trick shot-ing  the fuck out of the backup goalie...This may have been the goal that got Martin Biron cut by the Rangers!

Best Offensive Touchdown of 2013 ...




Auburn, the kings of the big finish...This so should have been picked off, but Georgia fucking sucks, and Auburn will make you pay for that...

Best Defensive Touchdown of 2013...



What did I tell you?  Mother Fucking Auburn will make you pay...Offense, defense, they're about to lose, but no, you fucked up, and they just stole your game...Watch out Florida State...They're going to be pulling some witchcraft on your ass too...

Best Broken Leg of 2013...

Way to go Anderson Silva...You slipped that one in last second, to pull out the big win...HOLY FUCKING OUCH!!!

-Now...Enough sports...Time for my other love...Music...There was some really good music in 2013...I'm going to give you my Best 5 Albums of 2013, with a taste of each...

-Frank Turner's "Tape Deck Heart"  Great songwriter, taking his punk roots to the acoustic world...




-Lorde- "Pure Heroine"  This does not fall in music I would find myself listening to, but when I heard that the most offensive community, the Hip Hop community was offended by her lyrics in her hit song "Royals" because she basically called them out for their idiotic lyrics/lifestyle, I had to check it out...I was blown away that a 16 year old wrote this album...Amazing...




Here's the latest single...




-Raine Maida- "We All Get Lighter" The Our Lady Peace frontman's second solo album is again acoustic and instrumental...Just the raw music laying down the path for the emotional lyrics to follow...Just as in his first album, you won't find anything that sounds like an OLP song...Which while being an OLP fan, it's great to hear Maida detach himself from that a do something different...




-Twenty One Pilots-  "Vessel" This two man wrecking crew mix, rap, rock, electronica, and everything you can think of to make a record that should make the music world take notice...And their live show is amazing...But I have to hang in the back by the bar, because I'm the oldest fucker there...




-Elvis Costello & The Roots- "Wise Up Ghost" Costello cut up more then a dozen of his old songs, making them less melodic, and bit more conversational...This is not a rock/hip-hop mash up...The best description I heard was it sounds more like a "wordy bebop record"...Costello is taking a Jazz approach (flexibility) with his lyrics on this one...

 


That's it folks...Feel free to share your best whatever's of 2013...

Have a week...Happy New Year...

The Beeze.

Monday Moaning

Well, if I learned anything this weekend, it was, never bet against Calvin Borel in the Kentucky Derby...Never again! This guy has a knack for winning "the run for the roses."

The Beeze family headed into Erie, PA to see my wife's parents, and of course...Hit the track...Best thing that town did was put in slots and a horse track...Table games are coming soon! They saw Ohio approved Casinos last year and figured they better stay ahead of the curve...Don't worry PA...This damn town hasn't even broken ground on this big money maker we've been promised...City and state officials are spending too much time with their heads in their asses!

So Derby day is always fun for us...I take my children's college fund, and try to make a little extra scratch...I let them play too...Why not get them started young...The boy...The famous, little Beeze, was the only one to make any money this weekend...He put all his money an Paddy O'Prado, so he made a few bucks...Now he has another reason to bust balls!

After the race we stopped at a great little place called Sara's ...Old school in every way...It has a classic drive-in feel...Excellent burgers, and dogs...The best onion rings...Great fries...Even better shakes...And the prices are great...Especially after you blew too much money at the track!

Awhile later, we got the kids to bed, and told grandma and grandpa, "see ya later!" We headed out for snack...A little pricier than Sara's...Without a doubt the best restaurant in Erie...AltoCucina

We both got our favorite appetizer, Fontinella Cacchione...Baked Fontinella cheese in puff pastry topped with mushroom ragu...Incredible...We sat at the bar, eating, me drinking, and watching the Cavs vs. the Celtics...These people were rooting for the Cavs...Then after some chit-chat, and it came out that I was from Cleveland...The questioned my green Boston red Sox cap...I had to inform them, that until Mark Shapiro is fired, I won't be Johnny Indians fan...Then I was asked if I was rooting for the Celtics..."Yep!"

They questioned this also..."How could I not want 'The King to get a Ring'?" Okay, first, I'm really sick of this f**king slogan...People in Cleveland and God knows where else, all acting like LeBron James has suffered through a 15 year career with no shot at a title...Bitch please, grow the hell up!

Second, there is only one king! Elvis...Costello!



F**k Elvis Presley! That no good, hillbilly, lump of shit...All he did was take other people's songs and shake his ass...

Third, I'm a hockey, fan and could really care less about basketball...But I bet on the Celtics, just to piss off some co-workers!

Fourth, I'm sick of the LeBron love fest! Everyone wants to tel you what a great young, man he is...Let me give you a couple tidbits you may not know...He's a shitty tipper...When you work in the restaurant biz, that's a big deal...Rich douches that tip for shit, can go eat a dick!

Now let me ask you this...How many kids does Lebron have? The media would like you to believe 2...they don't talk about the other one...Who's mother was paid off, and told to shut and and go away..."The King" isn't so squeaky clean people...And he isn't "The King."

LBJ, you want to be the king? Meet me on the ice!

Speaking of Ice...The NHL Playoffs continue to not disappoint...In the West, San Jose has taken a 2-0 series lead over the Red Wings...Could the Sharks actually be putting it all together? Vancouver is is up 1-0 on Chicago...Both teams have good firepower, but the Canucks have the advantage between the pipes...

In the East, Montreal and Pittsburgh are tied at 1 game each...This one looks like it may go seven games...Saturday the Boston Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the Philadelphia Flyers after a game winning, overtime goal by Marc Savard...That's the way to come back from a serious head injury!

Last, the wife and I are taking suggestions in the name department...I'm sure it will be easier once we find out if it's a boy or girl...Right now, on top of the boys list is, Finn...On top of the girls list is, Anna...Let us know what you think.




Nothing like pounding away while she snacks, and people talk shit to ya!

Have a great week...

Later, The Beeze.