What a fun day yesterday. After getting some work done in the morning, I dropped Abbe off at The Carriage Trade Cheese Shoppe for work, and I got home hopped on my bike and had a great time at Bub’s soccer practice.

Viv and I were running the bases at Brooks Field and Viv held the camera on herself to some hilarious results…

That afternoon, after getting more coding done, I picked up Abbe from work, we headed to Jo Ann’s to get her some materials to make hats that we plan on selling to raise money for the Disney Marathon, stopped at Target for school supplies for Van and Viv, and then rode our bikes to PJ’s for dinner. After dinner, we headed to the Sand Stand for ice cream, walked across the bridge to stare at Lake Aetna a bit, and then started to pedal over to visit our friends LarryMac, Sharon, and Tim. Hanging out at Tim’s place was a blast! Tim has a little tiny puppy named Angus…

See? He’s a dainty 160 pound (not yet full grown too!) English Mastiff – so darn sweet. And here’s Abbe vs. Angus in a tug of war… I think Angus wins this one.

Larry brought over his conga and Tim got his guitars out for an impromptu jam – what a blast!

Here’s the three of us making some noise…

Movie reviews…

The Runaways – this movie was decent, and really only flawed due to the acrimonious departures of some of the members of the band. Joan Jett and Cherie Currie’s characters were great, Kristen Stewart did an awesome job as Jett. The shortcomings of the film were the performances were dumbed down a bit (based on the raunch I’ve heard actually took place) and the other members of the band (most notably Lita Ford) were nearly absent from the film entirely. That said, this film was based on Currie’s book about the band and her relationship with Jett and Lita Ford apparently would not be involved with the film.

• RIP Robert Schimmel
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• The Least Intimidating Goalie Mask Ever

Small Business/Tech Links…

• Funny 404 Pages
• Small Businesses Can Offer Location Based Deals Too

Yesterday was a whirlwind, productive, and fun. My buddy Doug stopped in to hang out with Abbe, my kids, and I to have some pizza, beer, and watch a crazy Phillies – Rockies game last night.

I forgot to get all that sleep I was needing so badly last night, so I’m doubly-tired now.

Oh, before I forget, DressLikeAHo is running two specials right now, use coupon code “25clear” for 25% off any closeout or clearance items or use coupon code “10vamp” to get 10% off orders of $40 or more. Get your Halloween costumes now!

• How to Track Hurricane Earl Online
• xkcd : Carriage
• Very very hilarious
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• Can’t Beat tha… Wait, what?

Small Business/Tech Links…

• Google Wave to Rise Again

Bubs has his first soccer practice of the season last night. He lost his love for soccer a few years ago. He attended a soccer camp that consisted of great one-on-one training for the kids that really wanted to play soccer. Unfortunately for kinetic 5 year olds, it was a hot bed of bad behavior – lots of one-on-one training surrounded by 50-60 5 year olds sitting around on the grass with soccer balls and crap to play with. Ergo, he ended up getting in trouble, not paying attention, and hating soccer.

But this was not soccer camp, this was practice for his team filled with all of his buddies and he had a blast. He even… wait for it, scored a goal during the scrimmage! The only disturbance during practice was a deer that came sprinting along the side of Brooks Field(the boys loved that). I was hoping to have lots of pics and video of the practice, but my iPhone was absconded by Viv so she could get her fill of Talking Carl and Pocket God. Prior to the game, Viv did Abbe’s hair and toenails… so pretty….

And Abbe helped Viv get dressed up as a cheerleader…

And here’s the lone picture I got of the team (Bub’s is in a Raul Ibanez shirt behind a bunch of kids, can’t even see him)…

Movie reviews…
Crazy Heart – first off, you know I’m going to love a film made in New Mexico, but this film is a perfect example of how effective a character study with great acting can truly be. The only discount I would place on this film is I really did not find Colin Farrell believable as a country music star.
L’Eclisse – Criterion Collection – I’ll admit it, I had to go read a review of the film to really get it. And to me, that’s the mark of a nice piece of art, but not a great film. The extremely well-respected Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni creates this statement of society’s disconnect from itself mostly through technology (very much ahead of it’s time) and how sexuality was the last real grasp humanity truly has for feeling human. See what I mean? I absolutely appreciate anyone attempting a statement like that, the problem is it tends to become more a lesson and less entertainment.

• xkcd : Orbiter
• Fat Jew Nude on Shrooms in New Mexico – thanks Adam
• It’s Time to Get Laid
• Also, I will Shoot You – thanks Justin
• Pulp Ravioli
• This is How I Feel About Buying Apps – thanks Justin

Small Business/Tech Links…

• 5 Essential Elements Every Business Website Should Have
• Build an iPad-Themed Image Slider with jQuery – thanks BLP

Yesterday’s run was tough! I thought we were done with all that plus 90 degree crap… but oh no! I endured 7.42 miles around Cooper River Park. I was so sweaty that I spotted dried lines of salt on my face while driving home. I thought that was kind of cool, last time I had that was sailing on a choppy day (but instead of sweat, it’s salt water).

After our run, Abbe and I made a really good dinner – tilapia marinated with soy sauce, pinch of garlic salt, and a pinch of red pepper; sliced up squash with butter, salt, pepper, and topped with zucchini bruchetta; and baked sweet potatoes. Abbe wrapped up the fish and veggies in foil and I threw it on the grill. I really should have taken pictures, because it came out awesome!

Sneaking up to scare Abbe while sewing…

Movie reviews…

Cold Souls – at a certain point, these medium-cool, Wes Anderson-type movies need to have some sort of something that happens, not just situational awkwardness. I love Paul Giamatti, but this film literally had no soul.

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Well, I somehow got everything done on my to-do list yesterday. Phils won another one on the road, beating the Pads 3-1 – solid performance from the Flyin’ Hawaiian.  Watched UFC 118 at the end of the night, and I’m not sure I’ve seen an entire night of domaination/near mismatches. Even Florian vs. Maynard was a clinic by Gray – I really thought KenFlo was going to put up a better showing. I was really happy with the Garden State’s own, Frankie Edgar beating B.J. Penn. Couture’s humiliation of James Toney was as expected, I just thought it would have had some drama to it.

Today Abbe and I are due for our long run, this week is only 6 miles, we should do well at this distance.

Here’s me playing the intro to Jeff Buckley‘s Grace…

Here’s me playing Either Way by Wilco…

Movie Reviews…

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – this really is a brilliant film. I know everyone expects this hippie to love anything subtitled, but calling this film the “greatest Swedish film ever made” isn’t a joke at all. The acting is incredible and anytime a two and a half hour movie keeps you this tense, that’s a sign of a well-told story. Really excellent.

Moon – talk about great acting… wow. Sam Rockwell is insanely great in this flick. I’m amazed this film only won a lot of smaller industry awards, this is a really significant effort. That said, this concept of losing one’s mind in isolation has absolutely been done before – but this isn’t Castaway set on the moon, it’s great sci-fi. That said, if you thought 2001 was boring and slow, this isn’t your kind of film.

• Hipster Dinosaurs
• Attempts to Fly
• Here’s where I tell Jose Canseco something important

Small Business/Tech Links…

• How to Make Free iTunes Ringtones