I LOVE YOU ALL,
G
Friday, December 31, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
From my settling into my new surroundings in LA, the wonderfulness and support of my friends & family, meeting my "Wou" and the sheer awesomeness of my beloved Giants finally bringing home the glory, 2010 was an unbelievable year of growth and good fortune for me. I hope you were as fortunate as I to have such an amazing year. I bid 2010 a fond adieu and wish all my family & friends nothing but LOVE, JOY & PROSPERITY in 2011. Be safe and have yourselves a time tonight!!!!!
I LOVE YOU ALL,
G
I LOVE YOU ALL,
G
Thursday, December 30, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
Home is where the heart is, and like Tony sang, "I left my heart in San Francisco", so you do the math. -- Gina
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
"There will be a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." -- TG Forum
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
Why is it when I'm in San Francisco, it's 101, but when I'm in LA, it's "the" 101. -- Gina
Hangin' with Lefty and his arm!
In July, I posted a story here in my HotHouse of a wild SFGate article involving one of my favorite SF bar's Lefty O'Doul's. It seems that back then, someone had stolen the mannequin of Lefty's left arm and taken it on quite the lil adventure. As you can see, the arm was returned safe & sound and is now under lock & key. Only in SF!!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
12 GIANT Days Of Christmas
Sing Along...
On the twelfth day of Christmas the baseball gods brought to us,
12 runs allowed,
11 different lineups,
10 seasons in waiting,
9 swings and misses,
8 shutout innings,
7 two-out runs,
6 Brian Wilson saves,
5 Game 6 relievers,
4 one-run games,
3 Freddy Sanchez doubles,
2 Cody Ross homers,
and an Aubrey Huff bunt in Game 5 of the World Series.
Read the full story
On the twelfth day of Christmas the baseball gods brought to us,
12 runs allowed,
11 different lineups,
10 seasons in waiting,
9 swings and misses,
8 shutout innings,
7 two-out runs,
6 Brian Wilson saves,
5 Game 6 relievers,
4 one-run games,
3 Freddy Sanchez doubles,
2 Cody Ross homers,
and an Aubrey Huff bunt in Game 5 of the World Series.
Read the full story
Happy Christmas
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all! Here's to a 2011 filled with peace, love and joy!!!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sassy Christmas pic with my "G-Cool" pal
I had such a WONDERFUL Christmas Eve with my family at my cousin's house. This my adorable little cousin Genevieve. She is just so awesome and her and I are (according to her) G-buddies, since I'm Gina and they call her Gena. I've received nothing but love, support and positivity from my family, and I can't tell you how blessed and lucky I feel to have them.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Getting The Band Back Together!!!
Getting ready for dinner with some of my oldest & dearest friends tonight! It's so exciting!!! Their first gander at my new gender!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
LOVE
Exactly 6 years ago, I lost one of the most important people in my life. Do me a favor and make sure you tell those closest to you how much you LOVE them. I love you, Mom! I miss you sooooo much!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
The only difference between me now, and me "then", is that it simply takes me a lil' longer to get ready. -- Gina
Friday, December 17, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
Another original Haiku...
Love is listening
Hearing what you don't want to hear
Then making it right -- Gina
Love is listening
Hearing what you don't want to hear
Then making it right -- Gina
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Somewhere Mom is smiling
One of my favorite memories of going to Disneyland in the past was when my Mom would take us to get Mickey Mouse pancakes. She used to make them for me and my sister at home too. So today at "the happiest place on earth", Katie and I made a point of getting breakfast at the River Belle Terrace. Mom always wanted to see Disneyland at Christmas time, but never got to. Yesterday I know she was with me!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
RIP Rapid Robert, Thanks For The Stories
I had a couple of occasions to meet and interview Bob Feller and he was not only one of the finest pitchers of all time, but a great American. His stories of both baseball and his time in the military were legendary in our eyes. It was way cool that some nobody minor league radio person got to hear some of his a mega Hall Of Fame tales!
He was as crusty as they come and quite honestly very bitter that players of the more modern era "couldn't hold his jock and were making millions" (he actually said this to me after tape stopped rolling on an interview I was doing with him) and he had some very interesting things to say about Mickey Mantle as I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob on the day of Mantle's death, but I think I'll keep that between me & Bob. Thanks #19 for all the great stories!
Bob Feller Obituary
He was as crusty as they come and quite honestly very bitter that players of the more modern era "couldn't hold his jock and were making millions" (he actually said this to me after tape stopped rolling on an interview I was doing with him) and he had some very interesting things to say about Mickey Mantle as I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob on the day of Mantle's death, but I think I'll keep that between me & Bob. Thanks #19 for all the great stories!
Bob Feller Obituary
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
Today's thought is actually another haiku I wrote. It's dedicated to Trans people the world over...
We are a treasure
We are strong, exhaulted
We are THE CONTRARY -- Gina
We are a treasure
We are strong, exhaulted
We are THE CONTRARY -- Gina
Saturday, December 11, 2010
G's Thought For The Day...
Original Haiku from G...
When you receive praise
Appreciate it, absorb it
Then forget it -- Gina
When you receive praise
Appreciate it, absorb it
Then forget it -- Gina
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Remembering John
I just wanted to take a moment to remember someone whom I've never even come close to meeting, but is still a very influential person in my life. 30 years ago today, in an utterly senseless & all to ironic act, John Lennon was gunned downed in front of his apartment in NYC. The irony comes from his longtime calls for peace and the fact that he had finally decided to grace us with new music and insight after years of well deserved "private time".
I love you, John! The world misses you!
I love you, John! The world misses you!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
5 Yoga Poses to Get Jennifer Aniston's Body
"I'm still very much a yoga beginner and have no delusions of grandeur that by doing these exercises I'm going to rock a body like JA, but I'm a firm believer in what yoga can do for both body and mind."
At 41 years old, Jennifer Aniston has a body that's the envy of women half her age. And she credits it all — those lean legs, six-pack abs, and glowing skin — to one woman: her yoga instructor, Mandy Ingber.
"Mandy's yoga style has changed my life," the star has said of Ingber's routines, which are a hybrid of traditional yoga poses paired with traditional toning exercises. "This is one of the most fun, challenging workouts I've ever had."
Although Aniston has been known to work out with Ingber up to five times a week and has even taken her along on vacations, the L.A.-based instructor promises that getting fit through yoga is possible.
"Practice a little bit each day," she advises. "Do what you can, but if you can incorporate even 15 minutes of yoga into your day, you will notice your body, mind, and emotions begin to shift and change."
Ingber — whose DVD, Yogalosophy, includes two 30-minute routines and an hour-long challenge — is sharing her top five yoga poses with Marie Claire.
1. Temple Pose
Targets calves
Plant your feet wide, bend your knees out to the side, and open at a 90-degree angle. Sink your butt down in alignment with your knees then plié, squat, and hold for 30 seconds. Plié deeply 8 times, followed by 8 quick, shallow pulses.
2. Chair Pose
Targets legs and butt
Sink down as if you’re sinking into a chair. With your feet aligned, hip-width apart, rock back your weight from the balls of the feet to the heels and shift your hips back. Align your knee over heels, butt back, and peel your belly off your thighs by extending your arms overhead. Do 1-3 sets. If you really want to tone up, you can also do squats.
3. Sun Salute
Targets abs and hamstrings
As you the inhale, sweep your arms over your head, and then as you exhale, dive forward — a swan dive with down-hinging hips. Put your hands on the floor and extend your chest forward. Step back to the top of a push-up and put palms directly below your shoulders. Firm your thighs and make sure your hips and shoulders are aligned. Resist the floor as you lower to a low push-up. Scoop your chest up and arch into an upward facing dog, keeping thighs on the floor. Roll over the toes and press back to downward facing dog, using your inner thighs and abs.
4. Tree Pose
Targets abs and thighs
Stand straight, shifting your body weight on to your right foot with your knee up to your chest. Turn your knee to the side and press the sole of your foot to your inner thigh or calf, depending on your flexibility. Put your palms together, extending to the crown of your head. Hold it for 5-10 breaths.
5. Reclining Pigeon
Targets chest and thighs
Lie back with your knees bent and the soles of your feet on the floor. Cross your left ankle over your right knee and flex your foot, then draw your right knee in toward your chest. Wrap around your hamstring and gently draw your knee towards the chest. You'll feel the stretch of your left hip.
More Tips from Mandy:
* "Make it fun by adding your favorite music," suggests Ingber, who plays tunes with Aniston. "Yoga doesn't have to be completely silent."
* Before you start any routine, take three long deep breaths. "Breath is the bridge from the mind to the body, so the place you set your mind affects your body," she says.
* Practice control. This extends into all aspects of life, including diet. Aniston, Ingber says, "is about the only person I know who can eat three chips," but having restraint is key.
* "Never force a stretch or a pose," she warns. "Simply allow your body to move to its edge."
* Pay attention to opposing forces. "There are three energies in each pose," she says. "Gravity sinking you down, inspiration extending upward, and the center point."
5 Yoga Poses to Get Jennifer Aniston's Body
At 41 years old, Jennifer Aniston has a body that's the envy of women half her age. And she credits it all — those lean legs, six-pack abs, and glowing skin — to one woman: her yoga instructor, Mandy Ingber.
"Mandy's yoga style has changed my life," the star has said of Ingber's routines, which are a hybrid of traditional yoga poses paired with traditional toning exercises. "This is one of the most fun, challenging workouts I've ever had."
Although Aniston has been known to work out with Ingber up to five times a week and has even taken her along on vacations, the L.A.-based instructor promises that getting fit through yoga is possible.
"Practice a little bit each day," she advises. "Do what you can, but if you can incorporate even 15 minutes of yoga into your day, you will notice your body, mind, and emotions begin to shift and change."
Ingber — whose DVD, Yogalosophy, includes two 30-minute routines and an hour-long challenge — is sharing her top five yoga poses with Marie Claire.
1. Temple Pose
Targets calves
Plant your feet wide, bend your knees out to the side, and open at a 90-degree angle. Sink your butt down in alignment with your knees then plié, squat, and hold for 30 seconds. Plié deeply 8 times, followed by 8 quick, shallow pulses.
2. Chair Pose
Targets legs and butt
Sink down as if you’re sinking into a chair. With your feet aligned, hip-width apart, rock back your weight from the balls of the feet to the heels and shift your hips back. Align your knee over heels, butt back, and peel your belly off your thighs by extending your arms overhead. Do 1-3 sets. If you really want to tone up, you can also do squats.
3. Sun Salute
Targets abs and hamstrings
As you the inhale, sweep your arms over your head, and then as you exhale, dive forward — a swan dive with down-hinging hips. Put your hands on the floor and extend your chest forward. Step back to the top of a push-up and put palms directly below your shoulders. Firm your thighs and make sure your hips and shoulders are aligned. Resist the floor as you lower to a low push-up. Scoop your chest up and arch into an upward facing dog, keeping thighs on the floor. Roll over the toes and press back to downward facing dog, using your inner thighs and abs.
4. Tree Pose
Targets abs and thighs
Stand straight, shifting your body weight on to your right foot with your knee up to your chest. Turn your knee to the side and press the sole of your foot to your inner thigh or calf, depending on your flexibility. Put your palms together, extending to the crown of your head. Hold it for 5-10 breaths.
5. Reclining Pigeon
Targets chest and thighs
Lie back with your knees bent and the soles of your feet on the floor. Cross your left ankle over your right knee and flex your foot, then draw your right knee in toward your chest. Wrap around your hamstring and gently draw your knee towards the chest. You'll feel the stretch of your left hip.
More Tips from Mandy:
* "Make it fun by adding your favorite music," suggests Ingber, who plays tunes with Aniston. "Yoga doesn't have to be completely silent."
* Before you start any routine, take three long deep breaths. "Breath is the bridge from the mind to the body, so the place you set your mind affects your body," she says.
* Practice control. This extends into all aspects of life, including diet. Aniston, Ingber says, "is about the only person I know who can eat three chips," but having restraint is key.
* "Never force a stretch or a pose," she warns. "Simply allow your body to move to its edge."
* Pay attention to opposing forces. "There are three energies in each pose," she says. "Gravity sinking you down, inspiration extending upward, and the center point."
5 Yoga Poses to Get Jennifer Aniston's Body
Friday, December 3, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy Birthday to my hero, my friend, my MOTHER!
I miss you more than words can EVER say! Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!
I miss you more than words can EVER say! Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!
Monday, October 11, 2010
They did it!!!
OMG! What a gut wrenching ride! Every game a one run affair. Every single pitch; sweet, sweet torture, as only my boys can do, but in the end, it's sweet, sweet VICTORY that covers me like a warm orange & black snuggie. The Giants have moved on to face Philadelphia in the 2010 NLCS! We went down to Georgia like a bunch of orange & black devils and ruined Bobby Cox's retirement tour. Sorry Bobby, hats off for being an icon and all that, but not this time! Give it up for my boys though for giving Bobby his props after we went into his house and by hook or by crook won two in a row from the team with the best home record in the NL this year!
As always, we're underdogs against the Phillie juggernaut, but how f#*king kewl is Lincecum v. Halliday, Cain v. Oswalt and Sanchez v. Hamels. It's a tall order to take out the Phils, but isn't this what makes it our grand old game? I'm sure of another 45 to 63 innings of sweet Giant torture, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!
And while baseball is all about the ultimate prize and being #1, sometimes it's nice to just be in the mix and keep the juices flowing. When a team becomes a part of the family, but has caused more heartaches than triumphs (as my boys have), it's just a privilege to get another ride on the roller coaster!
So for my Uncle Rich, and my late Grandmother Norma, my late mother Stephanie (who wasn't a huge fan, but was devastated when we were devastated), I say; well here we are, and wherever you may be, let's enjoy what's REALLY important...family, friends, the memories given to us by our boys and the exultation of the journey!
So as I celebrate, and write this with tears in my eyes, I recall a brief exchange had by two Giant greats, on perhaps one of the happiest days of my life. When before his at-bat in Game #5 of the '89 NLCS with the game hanging in the balance; Kevin Mitchell said to Will Clark, "Let's get the job done." The Thrill's reply..."It's done!" He then slashed a two out, two run single off of Mitch Williams which secured the Giants first pennant in 27 years! And so as it was then, hopefully it shall be again!
Now it's on to Philly and let's have another magical ride!!
As always, we're underdogs against the Phillie juggernaut, but how f#*king kewl is Lincecum v. Halliday, Cain v. Oswalt and Sanchez v. Hamels. It's a tall order to take out the Phils, but isn't this what makes it our grand old game? I'm sure of another 45 to 63 innings of sweet Giant torture, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!
And while baseball is all about the ultimate prize and being #1, sometimes it's nice to just be in the mix and keep the juices flowing. When a team becomes a part of the family, but has caused more heartaches than triumphs (as my boys have), it's just a privilege to get another ride on the roller coaster!
So for my Uncle Rich, and my late Grandmother Norma, my late mother Stephanie (who wasn't a huge fan, but was devastated when we were devastated), I say; well here we are, and wherever you may be, let's enjoy what's REALLY important...family, friends, the memories given to us by our boys and the exultation of the journey!
So as I celebrate, and write this with tears in my eyes, I recall a brief exchange had by two Giant greats, on perhaps one of the happiest days of my life. When before his at-bat in Game #5 of the '89 NLCS with the game hanging in the balance; Kevin Mitchell said to Will Clark, "Let's get the job done." The Thrill's reply..."It's done!" He then slashed a two out, two run single off of Mitch Williams which secured the Giants first pennant in 27 years! And so as it was then, hopefully it shall be again!
Now it's on to Philly and let's have another magical ride!!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
OMFG; we're in. Giants win the west!!!!!
Wow, what an emotionally exhilarating and draining day all rolled into one! My boys made it! After two games of complete frustration, the Giants beat San Diego today 3-0 to win the NL West title and punched their ticket to the 2010 playoffs! A place the Giants haven't been since 2003.
I know it's just a game, and blah, blah, blah, but this team is like family to me. My Uncle (who is more like a father to me) got me into them when I was like six years old. He was a life long fan and also a vendor as a teen out at Candlestick back in the 60's. Because of his job at the park, my beloved Granny became a fan from listening to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons to know when the games were over, so she could go pick him up.
While she was beginning to battle Parkinson's disease, her love of the Giants never wavered. In fact one of the highlights of my life came when I was around 11. It was middle of summer and the Giants were playing a day game against San Diego and best of all it was batting glove day! The problem was there was no one to take me to the game. I was devasted. My Granny stepped up and even though she couldn't get around very well, volunterred to take me to that game. I still get choked up when I think of walking arm in arm with her (the only way she could really walk) into our lower reserved seats that cloudy summer day at Candlestick. I have no recollection of whether the hometowner's won or lost that day, but the thrill of getting my batting glove and more importantly being with my Gran for her last in-person game will live with me til the day I die!
As she gradually succumb to that shitty disease, I'd always make time to sit with her and listen to the games on the radio. Again, it's another memory I will take proudly to the grave.
There have been many, many wonderful & heartbreaking moments that this team have given me and my family, so win, lose or draw, this team is as big a part of me & my family as anyone. So it makes me deliriously happy that on this the day of one of the Giants biggest moments some 59 years ago, that I can proudly pop a bottle of champagne and shout; "We're back in the post-season!!!!" (Something that doesn't happen much in Giantland)
See, the Giants have never won a World Series title since they came to SF in 1958. So neither my Gran, my Uncle or I have ever been able to celebrate that ultimate victory. Which is pretty sucky, but sometimes going through the heartbreak of "almost" is just as much fun as finally achieving that mega-prize. Just the same, the fact that our 2010 Giants have made it this far and gotten back to the play-offs, after a seven year absence is just pure delight and adulation!
So while yes, I know it's just sports, and it's just a game, this team is much more than just a baseball team to me, they are family! And I couldn't be happier at this very moment! I know somewhere out there, my Gran is smiling at the fact that we have another chance at gaining that ultimate baseball prize.
So Gran & Rich, I write this is for you! I love you both more than words can say, and in the words Kevin Mitchell & Will Clark; "Let's get the job done...It's done!!!!
Here is a shot of my Uncle's precious lil girl, Julia at our family "brick"; McCovey Cove at AT&T Park.
I know it's just a game, and blah, blah, blah, but this team is like family to me. My Uncle (who is more like a father to me) got me into them when I was like six years old. He was a life long fan and also a vendor as a teen out at Candlestick back in the 60's. Because of his job at the park, my beloved Granny became a fan from listening to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons to know when the games were over, so she could go pick him up.
While she was beginning to battle Parkinson's disease, her love of the Giants never wavered. In fact one of the highlights of my life came when I was around 11. It was middle of summer and the Giants were playing a day game against San Diego and best of all it was batting glove day! The problem was there was no one to take me to the game. I was devasted. My Granny stepped up and even though she couldn't get around very well, volunterred to take me to that game. I still get choked up when I think of walking arm in arm with her (the only way she could really walk) into our lower reserved seats that cloudy summer day at Candlestick. I have no recollection of whether the hometowner's won or lost that day, but the thrill of getting my batting glove and more importantly being with my Gran for her last in-person game will live with me til the day I die!
As she gradually succumb to that shitty disease, I'd always make time to sit with her and listen to the games on the radio. Again, it's another memory I will take proudly to the grave.
There have been many, many wonderful & heartbreaking moments that this team have given me and my family, so win, lose or draw, this team is as big a part of me & my family as anyone. So it makes me deliriously happy that on this the day of one of the Giants biggest moments some 59 years ago, that I can proudly pop a bottle of champagne and shout; "We're back in the post-season!!!!" (Something that doesn't happen much in Giantland)
See, the Giants have never won a World Series title since they came to SF in 1958. So neither my Gran, my Uncle or I have ever been able to celebrate that ultimate victory. Which is pretty sucky, but sometimes going through the heartbreak of "almost" is just as much fun as finally achieving that mega-prize. Just the same, the fact that our 2010 Giants have made it this far and gotten back to the play-offs, after a seven year absence is just pure delight and adulation!
So while yes, I know it's just sports, and it's just a game, this team is much more than just a baseball team to me, they are family! And I couldn't be happier at this very moment! I know somewhere out there, my Gran is smiling at the fact that we have another chance at gaining that ultimate baseball prize.
So Gran & Rich, I write this is for you! I love you both more than words can say, and in the words Kevin Mitchell & Will Clark; "Let's get the job done...It's done!!!!
Here is a shot of my Uncle's precious lil girl, Julia at our family "brick"; McCovey Cove at AT&T Park.
Happy Bobby Thomson Day
It was 59 years ago today that Bobby Thomson hit his "Shot Heard 'Round The World"; a seminal moment in Giants lore. Today, HOPEFULLY they add to the lore!
Friday, October 1, 2010
My One Year Anniversary
It was exactly one year ago today that I pulled up in my bestie KiKi's parking lot at sunrise in a 15 foot U-Haul with my car in tow and began my new life as not only an Angelino, but as Gina 24/7!
What a truly wild ride it's been and I couldn't be happier. To say that I've grown over this year would be the understatement of the century. I have not grown, but blossomed into the person I always dreamed I would be. I still pinch myself and can't believe that I've come as far as I have in such a relatively short period of time, but here I am. As much as I'd love to pat myself on the back and say I did it all on my own, that is just impossible to do. There have been so many awesome, wonderful family members and friends that have helped me achieve my dreams that it would take another year to list them all, but please know that I'm sending much, much, much love to all those that have supported and befriended me on this crazy trip. I'd be remiss however, if I didn't throw out some special love and admiration to some very special people.
Katie, my love, my wou! You have changed my life in way's I would have never thought possible. You brought real love into my life and I can't imagine ever being without my wou! I love you with all my heart.
Tricia, my pizza partyin' most awesome & generous pal. If it wasn't for you coming up to a shy, lost part-timer that night way back in 2007 at Encounters and showing me your enormous heart and compassion, I wouldn't be where I am today. Your love and generosity have been immeasurable to me and you will forever hold a special place in my heart!
Lastly, my bestie KiKi. Oh KiK, what a wild road we've shared. We've supported and watched each other grow from part time wandering waifs, into full time, kick ass, confident women. We've traveled down such similar paths on our way to awesomeness. It's been my honor and such a total gas ridin' down that long & winding road with you! You are my sister, my bestie, and no matter what, I LOVE ya always! TerrorTwins-4-Life!!!!!
There are so many wonderful people who have shown me kindness and helped me become me on this insane adventure, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and I'm honored to call you friends!!!!
What a truly wild ride it's been and I couldn't be happier. To say that I've grown over this year would be the understatement of the century. I have not grown, but blossomed into the person I always dreamed I would be. I still pinch myself and can't believe that I've come as far as I have in such a relatively short period of time, but here I am. As much as I'd love to pat myself on the back and say I did it all on my own, that is just impossible to do. There have been so many awesome, wonderful family members and friends that have helped me achieve my dreams that it would take another year to list them all, but please know that I'm sending much, much, much love to all those that have supported and befriended me on this crazy trip. I'd be remiss however, if I didn't throw out some special love and admiration to some very special people.
Katie, my love, my wou! You have changed my life in way's I would have never thought possible. You brought real love into my life and I can't imagine ever being without my wou! I love you with all my heart.
Tricia, my pizza partyin' most awesome & generous pal. If it wasn't for you coming up to a shy, lost part-timer that night way back in 2007 at Encounters and showing me your enormous heart and compassion, I wouldn't be where I am today. Your love and generosity have been immeasurable to me and you will forever hold a special place in my heart!
Lastly, my bestie KiKi. Oh KiK, what a wild road we've shared. We've supported and watched each other grow from part time wandering waifs, into full time, kick ass, confident women. We've traveled down such similar paths on our way to awesomeness. It's been my honor and such a total gas ridin' down that long & winding road with you! You are my sister, my bestie, and no matter what, I LOVE ya always! TerrorTwins-4-Life!!!!!
There are so many wonderful people who have shown me kindness and helped me become me on this insane adventure, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and I'm honored to call you friends!!!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Ode To My Fan
OMFG! It was like 113º today in LA. As I sit here sweltering, I take a moment to pay homage to my new best friend...
Ode To My Fan
Thank you o' giver of windy goodness
Thank you for your blowy coolness
You keep me free from the sticky hot
Which without A/C means a hell of a lot
Thank you my fan for being so cool
For being my fan, makes me a fan of you!
Ode To My Fan
Thank you o' giver of windy goodness
Thank you for your blowy coolness
You keep me free from the sticky hot
Which without A/C means a hell of a lot
Thank you my fan for being so cool
For being my fan, makes me a fan of you!
Friday, September 24, 2010
TerrorTwin Powers ACTIVATE
As this hot LA day falls into night, a heaviness hovers in the air. A feeling that could only mean one thing...name changin', celebratin' activation is close at hand. Tonight The TerrorTwins ride! In other words...it's f#*kin' ON!
The mysterious shower singer
So the other day I'm in my bathroom fiddling with my hair and I hear this amazing voice, (my building has this funky bathroom set up where there is a window in the shower that opens up to a big shaft kind of thing). Anyways, someone in my building is quite the talent. I have no idea who it actually is, but you gotta check her out, she is REALLY good!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Ooooooo, I want to be there, in my CITY...
Hidden creekside walks, hikes to dramatic overlooks, little-known pockets of green; SF Gate uncovers some of the best nature walks and urban outings in all of San Francisco.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Later Monkey
The curse of the rally monkey is over. The path to post season glory is set. I give you the RALLY THONG!
Embrace the thong, Love the thong, Beware the thong!
Embrace the thong, Love the thong, Beware the thong!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Truths For Mature Humans
1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
I Adore My Journal
It's a beat up, piece o' crap composition book, but it's become as precious to me as my family, besties and wou's!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The Beach Boys - Forever
Dennis Wilson is such an amazing AND unsung talent! This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I know it sounds morbid, but I totally want this played at my wake.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
I am the Pizza Queen and I can do anything!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Happy Birthday Dad! I love you and MISS you terribly!
Steven Ross Bigham
1943-1968
Steven Ross Bigham
1943-1968
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Forever (Acapella) - Dennis Wilson/The Beach Boys
More beauty from Dennis. I'd like this played at my funeral.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I can't be this old!
It's hard to believe it was 35 years ago today that my uncle Rich, my cousin Pat and I saw Ed Halicki toss his no-hitter at the New York Mets in game 2 of a doubleheader at Candlestick. I remember it like it was yesterday!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Photos from our NorCal adventure!!
Click HERE to check out about 120 shots from Katie & I's SF trip.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
R.I.P. Bobby Thomson
One of the greatest baseball moments ever happened because of him. He was one of my favorite Giants, even though he never played in SF.
Godspeed, Bobby! :(
Thank you for everything!!!
(08-17) 16:26 PDT New York (AP) --
We've heard the frenzied call forever, echoing through baseball lore. "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"
Bobby Thomson, the man immortalized with his "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951, died Monday night at his home in Savannah, Ga. He was 86 and had been in failing health for several years, the Fox & Weeks funeral home said Tuesday.
He was a good player, not a Hall of Famer. Yet on that October afternoon, with one swing, Thomson transformed a pennant race for one season into a baseball moment for the ages.
He hit perhaps the sport's most famous home run, connecting off Ralph Branca for a three-run drive in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the decisive Game 3 of their National League playoff.
The drive into the left-field stands at the Polo Grounds and broadcaster Russ Hodges' ecstatic declaration — four times shouting "the Giants win the pennant!" — remain one of the signature moments in major league history.
"I never thought it was going to be that big. Hell, no," Branca told The Associated Press from his home in suburban New York. "When we went into the next season, I thought it'd be forgotten."
"I'll miss him," Branca said. "I mellowed over the years and we became good friends. I enjoyed being around him."
A three-time All-Star as an infielder and outfielder, Thomson hit .270 with 264 career home runs and 1,026 RBIs from 1946-60 with several teams. He led the league in a hitting category only once, and that was for triples.
But the fly ball that flew over the wall vaulted "The Flying Scot" to a place of almost mythic status. There have been plenty of historic home runs over the years — Bill Mazeroski, Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk and Joe Carter, to name a few — but Thomson's shot stands as the giant among them all.
The tall, lanky and self-effacing Thomson, however, was stunned that in a lineup that included future Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Monte Irvin, he would hit the pennant-winning homer. He called himself "the accidental hero."
Thomson never quite understood all the fuss the homer created. On its 40th anniversary in 1991, he said, "I can't believe we're still talking about it."
"Bobby Thomson will always hold a special place in our game for hitting one of the signature home runs in baseball history. 'The Shot Heard 'Round the World' will always remain a defining moment for our game, illustrating the timeless quality of the national pastime," commissioner Bud Selig said.
The home run decided one of the most memorable pennant races, and later led to one of its most-debated questions: Did he know Branca was going to throw the high-and-inside fastball that Thomson hit out of the park?
More than a half-century later, it was revealed the Giants during the season had used a buzzer-and-telescope system to steal signals from opposing catchers. Helped by the inside information, the Giants overcame a 13 1/2-game deficit to the Dodgers, won 37 of their final 44 games and forced a playoff.
Thomson always insisted he did not know what pitch was coming when he connected. Branca was never quite so sure.
For years, Thomson and Branca appeared together at functions of all kinds, a modern-day Abbott & Costello act, their retelling of the moment filled with fine-tuned comic touches and playful jabs. Often, Branca would prompt Thomson to claim more of the credit.
Only one thing was missing from their act: the home run ball itself. The prize remains an elusive souvenir, with several people claiming to have it but no one able to prove.
"We did award shows, dinners, autograph shows, golf outings, maybe five or six a year," Branca said.
Thomson moved south about five years ago to be closer to one of his daughters. Branca said he hadn't seen him for a couple of years.
Long after the Giants and Dodgers left town and moved west, Thomson remained a recognized figure on New York streets. Taxi drivers, office workers and pedestrians of a certain age would stop him or call out his name — the old Giants fans cheered, the Dodgers crowd, not so much.
Thomson hit a career-high 32 home runs in 1951, and his shot on Oct. 3 sent the Giants into the World Series the next day. He hit a mere .238 without a home run as his team lost in six games to the crosstown New York Yankees, who were in the midst of winning a record five straight crowns.
The luster from Thomson's shot, though, never dimmed. There was even a funny postscript, provided by the great Yogi Berra.
Berra and some of his Yankees teammates attended Game 3 of the Dodgers-Giants playoff, eager to see which team they would face. But after Brooklyn scored three times in the eighth inning for a 4-1 lead, Berra decided he'd seen enough and wanted to beat the late-afternoon traffic.
Yep, it's true. The man who coined the phrase "it ain't over till it's over" thought it was over and actually left the Polo Grounds and was driving home when Thomson homered.
"Bobby was a heck of a guy," Berra said Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Moments of silence for Thomson were held at Yankee Stadium, where the grainy, black-and-white clip of his homer was shown on the videoboard, and Fenway Park.
Thomson's home run came during an era that baseball fondly calls "The Golden Age," a time when the sport was No. 1 in America and New York was its epicenter. The pennant race between those longtime rivals, the Giants and Dodgers, only heightened the tension.
New York won Game 1 of the playoff as Thomson homered against Branca in what turned out to be an eerie precursor. Brooklyn won Game 2 in a rout, setting up a winner-take-all rematch.
Down 4-1 in the ninth, the Giants began to rally when Alvin Dark and Don Mueller led off with singles against Don Newcombe. After Irvin fouled out, Whitey Lockman hit an RBI double that made it 4-2.
Mueller broke his ankle sliding into third and was replaced by pinch-runner Clint Hartung — in fact, a little more than a month ago, Hartung died.
Branca then relieved Newcombe and on an 0-1 pitch, Thomson connected. And the rest, really, was history.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Thomson was named after an uncle who was killed in World War I. He came to the United States in 1926 when he was 3 years old and the family settled in Staten Island, N.Y., where he played high school and semipro ball. He worked out for both the Giants and Dodgers and after signing a contract with the Giants in 1942, he spent three years in the military during World War II.
When Thomson came to the major leagues in 1947, he was a fleet center fielder, often called "The Staten Island Scot," and lauded for his speed, but he was an anomaly in a lineup of slow-footed sluggers.
The Giants hit 221 homers in Thomson's rookie season and he had 29 of them. By 1949, Thomson was a prominent hitter in the lineup, batting .309 with 27 homers and 109 RBIs.
The rivalry with the Dodgers was as intense as any in sports, two teams in the same city, playing in the same league. There seemed a genuine dislike for each other by the players and sometimes it overshadowed the games.
When he hit the homer, Thomson recalled the emotion of the moment. "I remember thinking, `We beat the Dodgers! We beat the Dodgers!'" Then, almost as an afterthought, "We won the pennant!"
The home run made him an immediate New York icon. There were television appearances, banquet speeches, the whole range of spoils for a low-profile outfielder who won a pennant with one dramatic swing.
But sentiment goes only so far in baseball front offices and in February 1954, the Giants traded Thomson to the Milwaukee Braves for four players and cash.
In a spring training exhibition game, Thomson broke his ankle trying to break up a double play. His roster spot went to a rookie who would fill in admirably for the Braves. Hank Aaron went on to set a record with 755 home runs.
Thomson spent two seasons with the Braves and then was traded back to the Giants in 1957, their last season in New York. Then there were cameo appearances with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.
Thomson was a businessman after he retired and stayed around the New York area for many years.
"He was a real gentleman and I think he handled his role well, too, being the hero of that series," said former Brooklyn pitcher Carl Erskine, who was warming up in the bullpen when Branca was summoned. "I think he and Branca turned that incident into two real pros who handled that in a real class way."
Thomson joined other members of the 1951 Giants team at AT&T Park in San Francisco for a celebration in July 2002.
"Many of us in the organization had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Bobby and for that we will be forever grateful," Giants managing partner Bill Neukom said.
Thomson's survivors include two daughters, Megan and Nancy.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
___
Godspeed, Bobby! :(
Thank you for everything!!!
(08-17) 16:26 PDT New York (AP) --
We've heard the frenzied call forever, echoing through baseball lore. "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"
Bobby Thomson, the man immortalized with his "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951, died Monday night at his home in Savannah, Ga. He was 86 and had been in failing health for several years, the Fox & Weeks funeral home said Tuesday.
He was a good player, not a Hall of Famer. Yet on that October afternoon, with one swing, Thomson transformed a pennant race for one season into a baseball moment for the ages.
He hit perhaps the sport's most famous home run, connecting off Ralph Branca for a three-run drive in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers in the decisive Game 3 of their National League playoff.
The drive into the left-field stands at the Polo Grounds and broadcaster Russ Hodges' ecstatic declaration — four times shouting "the Giants win the pennant!" — remain one of the signature moments in major league history.
"I never thought it was going to be that big. Hell, no," Branca told The Associated Press from his home in suburban New York. "When we went into the next season, I thought it'd be forgotten."
"I'll miss him," Branca said. "I mellowed over the years and we became good friends. I enjoyed being around him."
A three-time All-Star as an infielder and outfielder, Thomson hit .270 with 264 career home runs and 1,026 RBIs from 1946-60 with several teams. He led the league in a hitting category only once, and that was for triples.
But the fly ball that flew over the wall vaulted "The Flying Scot" to a place of almost mythic status. There have been plenty of historic home runs over the years — Bill Mazeroski, Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk and Joe Carter, to name a few — but Thomson's shot stands as the giant among them all.
The tall, lanky and self-effacing Thomson, however, was stunned that in a lineup that included future Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Monte Irvin, he would hit the pennant-winning homer. He called himself "the accidental hero."
Thomson never quite understood all the fuss the homer created. On its 40th anniversary in 1991, he said, "I can't believe we're still talking about it."
"Bobby Thomson will always hold a special place in our game for hitting one of the signature home runs in baseball history. 'The Shot Heard 'Round the World' will always remain a defining moment for our game, illustrating the timeless quality of the national pastime," commissioner Bud Selig said.
The home run decided one of the most memorable pennant races, and later led to one of its most-debated questions: Did he know Branca was going to throw the high-and-inside fastball that Thomson hit out of the park?
More than a half-century later, it was revealed the Giants during the season had used a buzzer-and-telescope system to steal signals from opposing catchers. Helped by the inside information, the Giants overcame a 13 1/2-game deficit to the Dodgers, won 37 of their final 44 games and forced a playoff.
Thomson always insisted he did not know what pitch was coming when he connected. Branca was never quite so sure.
For years, Thomson and Branca appeared together at functions of all kinds, a modern-day Abbott & Costello act, their retelling of the moment filled with fine-tuned comic touches and playful jabs. Often, Branca would prompt Thomson to claim more of the credit.
Only one thing was missing from their act: the home run ball itself. The prize remains an elusive souvenir, with several people claiming to have it but no one able to prove.
"We did award shows, dinners, autograph shows, golf outings, maybe five or six a year," Branca said.
Thomson moved south about five years ago to be closer to one of his daughters. Branca said he hadn't seen him for a couple of years.
Long after the Giants and Dodgers left town and moved west, Thomson remained a recognized figure on New York streets. Taxi drivers, office workers and pedestrians of a certain age would stop him or call out his name — the old Giants fans cheered, the Dodgers crowd, not so much.
Thomson hit a career-high 32 home runs in 1951, and his shot on Oct. 3 sent the Giants into the World Series the next day. He hit a mere .238 without a home run as his team lost in six games to the crosstown New York Yankees, who were in the midst of winning a record five straight crowns.
The luster from Thomson's shot, though, never dimmed. There was even a funny postscript, provided by the great Yogi Berra.
Berra and some of his Yankees teammates attended Game 3 of the Dodgers-Giants playoff, eager to see which team they would face. But after Brooklyn scored three times in the eighth inning for a 4-1 lead, Berra decided he'd seen enough and wanted to beat the late-afternoon traffic.
Yep, it's true. The man who coined the phrase "it ain't over till it's over" thought it was over and actually left the Polo Grounds and was driving home when Thomson homered.
"Bobby was a heck of a guy," Berra said Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Moments of silence for Thomson were held at Yankee Stadium, where the grainy, black-and-white clip of his homer was shown on the videoboard, and Fenway Park.
Thomson's home run came during an era that baseball fondly calls "The Golden Age," a time when the sport was No. 1 in America and New York was its epicenter. The pennant race between those longtime rivals, the Giants and Dodgers, only heightened the tension.
New York won Game 1 of the playoff as Thomson homered against Branca in what turned out to be an eerie precursor. Brooklyn won Game 2 in a rout, setting up a winner-take-all rematch.
Down 4-1 in the ninth, the Giants began to rally when Alvin Dark and Don Mueller led off with singles against Don Newcombe. After Irvin fouled out, Whitey Lockman hit an RBI double that made it 4-2.
Mueller broke his ankle sliding into third and was replaced by pinch-runner Clint Hartung — in fact, a little more than a month ago, Hartung died.
Branca then relieved Newcombe and on an 0-1 pitch, Thomson connected. And the rest, really, was history.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Thomson was named after an uncle who was killed in World War I. He came to the United States in 1926 when he was 3 years old and the family settled in Staten Island, N.Y., where he played high school and semipro ball. He worked out for both the Giants and Dodgers and after signing a contract with the Giants in 1942, he spent three years in the military during World War II.
When Thomson came to the major leagues in 1947, he was a fleet center fielder, often called "The Staten Island Scot," and lauded for his speed, but he was an anomaly in a lineup of slow-footed sluggers.
The Giants hit 221 homers in Thomson's rookie season and he had 29 of them. By 1949, Thomson was a prominent hitter in the lineup, batting .309 with 27 homers and 109 RBIs.
The rivalry with the Dodgers was as intense as any in sports, two teams in the same city, playing in the same league. There seemed a genuine dislike for each other by the players and sometimes it overshadowed the games.
When he hit the homer, Thomson recalled the emotion of the moment. "I remember thinking, `We beat the Dodgers! We beat the Dodgers!'" Then, almost as an afterthought, "We won the pennant!"
The home run made him an immediate New York icon. There were television appearances, banquet speeches, the whole range of spoils for a low-profile outfielder who won a pennant with one dramatic swing.
But sentiment goes only so far in baseball front offices and in February 1954, the Giants traded Thomson to the Milwaukee Braves for four players and cash.
In a spring training exhibition game, Thomson broke his ankle trying to break up a double play. His roster spot went to a rookie who would fill in admirably for the Braves. Hank Aaron went on to set a record with 755 home runs.
Thomson spent two seasons with the Braves and then was traded back to the Giants in 1957, their last season in New York. Then there were cameo appearances with the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.
Thomson was a businessman after he retired and stayed around the New York area for many years.
"He was a real gentleman and I think he handled his role well, too, being the hero of that series," said former Brooklyn pitcher Carl Erskine, who was warming up in the bullpen when Branca was summoned. "I think he and Branca turned that incident into two real pros who handled that in a real class way."
Thomson joined other members of the 1951 Giants team at AT&T Park in San Francisco for a celebration in July 2002.
"Many of us in the organization had the opportunity to meet and spend time with Bobby and for that we will be forever grateful," Giants managing partner Bill Neukom said.
Thomson's survivors include two daughters, Megan and Nancy.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
___
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
A suprise party for Spec and for us!
During our adventure through North Beach, we decided to stop in at one of my favorite old dives; Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe and lo & behold, we walked right into Richard "Specs" Simmons 100th B-Day party. The karma in this City has no equal.
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