Top 3 of th Week: What I'll Be Looking For When I'm at Mets Spring Training This Week!

1) How Jason Bay Fits In
Oddly enough, even Mets owner, Fred Wilpon, called this offseason "torture," as the Mets failed to land a starter like Jason Marquis or Joel Piniero, or the catcher everyone expected them to sign, Bengie Molina. So it's shocking to see everyone, including the team's owner, overlook the acquisition of one of the top free agents on the market, Jason Bay. His bat will definitely help solidify the middle of the order, and we'll see if his clubhouse presence is as great as everyone makes him out to be. But you have to wonder if the team would have been better off spreading the money they paid Bay around to fill other holes (Gary Matthews Jr. and Kelvin Escobar getting you excited?!). GM Omar Minaya is convinced the free agent crop was no better than what they currently have on their roster...hmm..read on...



2) How the Open Competition Plays Out
So Minaya believes the likes of Fernando Nieve, Jonathan Niese or Nelson Figueroa were a better option than a proven vet like Marquis, Piniero, Ben Sheets or Jon Garland. So Mets fans are left to watch how this crop plays out for the 5th starter role. The catching situation just got a little more clearer, as the team signed Rod Barajas, essentially eliminating any competition there would have been in camp. He's a solid defender who's got some pop (17 HRs last year), so the all-of-a-sudden-discount-shopping Mets have some credibility behind the plate. (Josh Thole's not ready for the bigs, and Santos isn't the preferred backstop for pitchers). Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr. will battle it out in center until Beltran comes back, and finally, Daniel Murphy will find the re-acquired Mike Jacobs taking grounders with him at 1st. But it looks like Jerry Manuel already claimed it's Murphy who's got the starting spot.



3) The Mood at Camp
We all know how the Mets season played out last year--too many injuries and too many mishaps on the field to compete. Couple that with the prior two years of September collapses, and you have yourself a sorry Met fan. The team believes that the injury bug is behind them ("Oh, yeah?" says a hobbled Carlos Beltran who will start the year on the DL), but with the return of Jose Reyes and a hopefully rejuvenated David Wright (10 HRs ain't going to cut it in 2010), the Mets should be better than they were last year. But there is no way they're better than the Phillies, who've upgraded with Roy Halladay at the top of the rotation. So while there's optimism that 2009 is behind them, let's see if things fall into place for the Mets to have a chance to compete in 2010!

So yes, I'm one of the few fortunate people who's getting paid to head down to spring training for work. And even if I got paid to write this blog and had to pay to go to spring training, I'd still go!
So with that said, this blog is taking a 2-week hiatus. I promise to come back though, and hopefully come back with a tan.

Have a good one, folks! And don't miss me too much!

Winter Olympics: I Care, But Not Enough to Watch!

First of all, I want to say I love America. And often times I have a hard time picturing growing up and living anywhere else. But because of what this great country has to offer, I am completely indifferent to supporting it and watching the Winter Olympics on television.



Let's watch American Idol or Modern Family, let's go to the gym, let's surf the web, let's go out the movies, let's meet up with friends. There's just too many better alternatives.

I do have to admit the Olympics are interesting, and if I didn't have the attention span of a 5-year-old I could watch an entire curling match. (I can't help but always wonder: how does one get involved in such obscure sports, and how is one satisfied with putting in years of training for that one chance at gold only to blow it by falling slightly or miising a medal by 1 hundreth of a second? I couldn't do it...)

As much as I love to see the entire world come together and compete, I realize I really only love to see it in the summer. There's something about the Summer Olympics that makes it more appealing. Maybe it's the events. Or maybe it's the lack of quality alternate programming.


Thus, I will continue to watch my regularly scheduled shows sans 30 Rock and The Office and flip to NBC between my commercial breaks and continue to go out and be social without any regret that I'm missing something big.

By all means, let's go USA. But God Bless America for giving me something else to do!

Top 3 of the Week: Why It's Ok to be Single on Valentine's Day

1) It's a stupid holiday anyway, right?
Once upon a time, Hallmark, Russell Stover and 1-800-Flowers got together with a business plan. "How can we collaboratively increase sales?" They asked. "I got it!" said, the same guy who appeared in the famous Got Milk - Oreo commercial [What should we call this cookie--man with stuffed mouth says 'I dunno' which resembles the sound of "Oreo"]. "Why not create Valentine's Day--one day a year where couples should recognize their relationship and love for one another and buy unnecessary gifts and cards!" And so, my friends, the story of Valentine's Day began.


2) Would you rather date someone you don't like?
I'm pretty convinced that each one of us could find anyone to date and be in a relationship if we wanted to. We could be like some people who immediately jumps to someone else once a relationship is over, or, OR...we can be selective, and decide that it's only worth being in a relationship or dating someone that we really care to like. And maybe, just maybe, it's ok to be selective and thus, stay single.


3) The Obligation of Doing Something
God damn it, holidays. Why must you always make people feel like they haveeee to celebrate it. I'm content with writing a blog on Valentine's Day ON Valentine's Day. Maybe that makes me a loser, one might argue. Maybe that makes me confident enough to know I don't have to feel obligated to go to a singles event, I don't have to sulk on my couch eating a tub of ice cream watching romantic comedies, and I don't have to feel sorry for myself. My time will come where I too will give in to this silly holiday and maybe next year instead of blogging, I'll get my unnecessary flowers and chocolates from a guy who's worth my attention :)

Just Google It.

So if you remember watching the Super Bowl, there was a commercial involving Google. I was thinking about writing a post on Google even before seeing that commercial, but damn Google beat me to the punch. The only way i would have known that they were having a commercial would have been if i just googled it.

Google has ultimately been the go-to site for anyone who has the Internet and needs an answer. In the past I've blogged about how we were able to survive without cell phones but how did we survive without Google?

How did we write a research paper without it?
How did we get details on health concerns we may have?
How did we know what restaurant we wanted to eat at without reading a food review?
And how did we know how to get there?
How did we know what actor we can't think of the name of or how old they really are?
How did we stalk our prospective boyfriends or gitlfriends? (just kidding... or AM I?)

Years ago, the word 'google' meant neologism that refers to a number of unconventional words, phrases, and pronunciations. Today, the phrase 'just google it' implies 'you'll find an answer that simply'. And often times, it's true.

So where WOULD we be without Google?

I guess I'm just going to have to google that to find out!


And just in case you missed the ad...

Touching Moment of the Week!

Was this not the most precious thing: to see Super Bowl MVP Quarterback Drew Brees holding his son with tears in his eyes after just leading his team to a Super Bowl victory!
ADORABLY TOUCHING!

I should have been rooting for the Saints all along!

Top 3 of the Week: Best Super Bowl Commercials

While we all watched what turned out to be a dominating performance by the New Orleans Saints, we also paid attention to the many commercials spots. Here's a list of the best of the night!

1) Snickers Featuring Betty White




2) Doritos - Boy Slaps Man




3) Bud Light's Lighthouse

Rant of the Week: Jersey-Are You-Shore It's Going to Be As Good?

The Jersey Shore is coming back for a 2nd season, but just HOW MUCH is going to be real this time around? I explain in this week's RANT OF THE WEEK!

Top 3 of the Week: Reasons to Get Excited for the Super Bowl

1) The Commercials & Half-Time Show
Ok this is where you non-sports fans come in. Count on the heavyweights Geico, E-Trade and Bud Light for some creative and humorous spots. I'm sure we can expect the usual talking animals, babies and celebrity cameos. But the best part about the commercials is the small talk conversation by the water cooler at work the next day. And how about that half-time show? The Who? The Who? That's right. After Janet Jackson's "Nipple-Gate," the NFL is steering clear of any pop stars who might, essentially, take the risk of showing their boob. So for the 3rd year in a row, classic rock has taken the forefront. Hopefully next year the NFL gets it right and takes a risk with someone like Lady Gaga!



2) The Party
Ok im getting fat just thinking about eating on Super Bowl Sunday. Is there anyone in America who is not downing chips and dip, wings, pizza and/or beer that night? Whether your out watching at a bar, attending a Super Bowl party or hosting one, Sunday is definitely not the day to have a salad and sushi. This is close to a 'National Binging Day' as it comes.



3) The Game
Oh yeahhhhh there's a football game right? That's the sentiment for most of America, as millions tune into the big game, but not many are focused on the actual game. Well here's the deal if you care or don't:
The powerhouses of the AFC and NFC, the Colts and Saints advanced (how my Jets came so close!), and both possessing two high-scoring offenses led by Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. You can be sure we'll see a lot of passing and a whole lot of scoring as these two teams may look like a video game on the field. But i also expect the Saints to be outscored by the Colts, as Manning (after all those years of being such a one-dimensional threat) has a solid defense built around him. But if defensive end Dwight Freeney is forced to miss the biggest game of his life due to an ankle injury, the matchup gets a little more even. But I'm still giving the Colts the win 30-24!

Coupons: Some Just Ain't Going To Cut It!

The other day I was flipping through the Sunday paper while eating my bowl of cereal and drinking my cup of coffee, sitting on my porch surrounded by a white picket fenced house (ok, that last part was fabricated but I couldn't help but paint the ideal picture).

It was when I flipped to the flyers section and took out the coupon booklet did I have a little laugh. We have all probably used coupons at some point in our lives and revel in our savings, but there are some coupons that I cannot understand how they still exist.

Save 35 cents.

35 cents?! When I think of cents, I think of pennies, and when I think of pennies, I think of THIS.

I don't think I'd be compelled to cut out a 35 cent coupon even if I normally BOUGHT the product. For god sakes, 35 cents isn't worth tearing out the coupon only to wonder where the hell to put it, only to forget to use it when and if you do buy it. There's nothing worse than buying something only to realize later you had a coupon for it. (Shame on you for buying ANYTHING at Macy's without one of their daily coupons that can be doubled up with another and then credited with a Macy's card discount even though you don't have one by a friendly cashier).


But I wouldn't even feel compelled to buy a new product for a savings of a mere 35 cents. So I wonder, who is cutting out these coupons enough so that manufacturers are still producing them? I'll tell you who--the grandma's of the world who hit up 6 supermarkets in one day for 35 cents savings in each.

Maybe I'm the fool for not buying into these savings, or maybe I just have to wait until the time comes where I can sense it's worth saving cents.

Sorry Grandma...you know I love you!

Top 3 of the Week: Why It's So Much More Fun To Be a Girl

1) Shopping for Clothes
For some of us, it can be an overwhelming, but I embrace the plentiful options we have. Besides the obvious skirts and dresses, us ladies have so much more to select from than the men out there. After all, button down shirt, polo shirt, t-shirt, jeans, slacks. What else do you guys have to choose from? I wouldn't call myself a fashionista by any means, but the colors and patterns, the fabric and style that we can choose from makes me realize why girls like shopping so much more than guys.



2) Getting Treated
Ok, whether you agree with old-fashioned chivalry or not, in most cases, men will treat us ladies when we go out. So meeting a guy at a bar who wants to buy us a drink, or having a guy take us out to dinner without us having to open our wallet (even after we offer) is a nice feeling. Even having a door opened for us or having our chair pulled out for us at a restaurant, is a sign that it's nice to have a man take care of some things. Of course we're in charge of the cooking/cleaning if you want to live by old-fashioned standards!


3) Hair and Makeup
While this could easily be quite the process, doing our hair and makeup certainly helps make us ladies look our best. Curly or straight, up or down, angles and layer or short or long, hair helps differentiate our look much more than just the typical cut that guys must succumb to. But I do envy the guy who can throw on a t-shirt and head out for the night, while most girls need at least an hour to do our hair, makeup, and coordinate our outfit with our shoes, bag and jewelry. It's quite the process, but I wouldn't give it up for anything! :)

Rant of the Week: When Exactly Were We Taught Grammar?

I remember learning literature and reading books in English classes, not how to form a proper sentence. Watch my rant on how no one ever taught us proper grammar growing up!

I Forgot Your Name--Already!

Hello, my name is Brooke. And you are?

Wait.

Before you answer, know that 9 out of 10 times I'm going to forget your name anyway.

That's right. If I saw you 10 years from now, I can remember we met that one time, that one day. But talk to me an hour from now and I won't be able to recall your name.

Why is that? I'm sure I'm not the only one that suffers from a mild case of short-term memory loss. But I find that there are so many other thoughts that go through my mind when I first meet someone, it's hard to register your name.

Ow, he just broke my hand with that handshake.
I really like her dress.
Is he staring at my boobs?
This is an awkward situation.
Am I making a good impression?
I shouldn't have said that joke.
Why is he already balding when he looks like he's 20?

This could come in handy...

Sure there are tricks we all learn: repeat the name after they say it so it registers (Susan? Hi Susan, I'm Brooke) or give them a nickname (hi John.. Wow your tall, I'm going to call you 'Long John') but it still can be difficult.

But the worst part is that there comes a point, whether it's after a certain amount of interactions, that we can no longer ask you what your name is, we should know by now. But we don't. And therefore must either try to overhear someone else call out their name, or we have to whisper to a friend or coworker to find out.

In the end, I don't think instantly forgetting someones name is a reflection on a persons intelligence, ignorance or significance. It's just something that some like myself need to work on. By the way, my name is Brooke, just in case you forgot...

Top 3 of the Week: Best Jokes from the Leno-O'Brien Debacle

In light of the disaster that is the late night lineup at NBC, I thought it was fitting to capture the best jokes by all parties involved!

1) "My people are upset. Conan's people are upset. Hey, NBC said it wanted drama at 10:00 -- now they've got it!" –Jay Leno
For those who live under a (30) Rock, NBC thought they were so innovative by tightening their purse strings when they chose to air Leno five times a week at 10pm instead of the costly drama shows that would be in its place instead. Obviously, that did not work out, and with ratings plummeting week by week, they were finally able to admit this idea crashed and burned.


2) "Hosting 'The Tonight Show' has been the fulfillment of a life-long dream for me. And I just want to say to the kids out their watching, you can do anything you want in life. Unless Jay Leno wants to do it, too." –Conan O'Brien
Poor Conan. He was stellar in his in previous time slot, as his off-beat humor worked well with the younger crowd. However, it never seemed to pick up steam with the older crowd (he can take SOME solace in that the ratings in the 18-49 demo did slightly improve with him at the helm of The Tonight Show). But Conan was never the same that he was in The Late Show, potentially conforming his humor to please the older crowd. Clearly, it didn't work.



3) "Kev, if we did get canceled, it will give us time to maybe do some traveling. In fact, I understand Fox is beautiful this time of year." -Jay Leno
At this point, Leno isn't going anywhere. In fact, this joke would have worked better for Conan, who is rumored to land at FOX for their 11pm time slot. If NBC learned anything from this debacle, it's to never include a clause in a contract like Conan's that said by year 2009, you WILL be the host of The Tonight Show. For fear of losing their superstar Leno, the 10pm show idea was created. At least in the end, they keep Leno, but it proved to be a costly and embarrassing turn of events in order to do it!

Rant of the Week: Security--What's the Point Sometimes?

Top 3 of the Week: Why the Jets Can Make the Super Bowl

1) This Year's Cinderella Story
Ok I know I shouldn't get carried away by the Jets impressive road playoff win versus the Bengals, but I am. Every year in sports there always seems to be that Cinderella story from a team who wasn't expected to make it as far as they did and maybe find themselves winning it all in the end. Even Coach Ryan had his team eliminated from playoff contention after the crushing defeat to the Falcons. So when the Jets came back from the dead with every piece falling their way the day the Colts essentially forfeited their undefeated season to New York, we may look back at that moment and see just how these Jets lived happily ever after and became the Cinderella story of the year.


2) Rex Ryan is the Man
The only thing bigger than Ryan's positive impact and humorous personality is his massive gut. Hiring Rex proved dividends as he has instantly transformed the Jets D into the best in the league. Couple that with guys who love playing for him, as he did snag top linebacker Bart Scott in the offseason from his former team, and Marty Shottenheimer, who said he's had the most fun as the Jets offensive coordinator this year under Ryan. Rex, a far cry from the stoic Eric Mangini, has so far mustered up the right game plan and attitude to get the most out of his Jets. There's no reason to think his defensive plan can't find a way to stifle Philip Rivers next week or Peyton Manning the following, or get his offense to rush past the Ravens in what could become a home playoff game.



3) If Sanchez Plays the Way He Did in His First Playoff Start...
...then the Jets are a scary team. New York has gotten where they're at despite the rookie Sanchez, not because of him. His mistimely interceptions and poor decision-making throughout the season were arguably responsible for most if not all of the Jets losses. But that's expected for a rookie. What isn't expected is the way he played versus the Bengals in the AFC Wildcard Game. If he can stay 'on the mark' (pun intended) like he did vs the Bengals and can complete 80% of his passes again and have a QB rating of 139.4, then you've got to like his chances (unlikely, but still...). But while each opponent will only get tougher for the Jets, Sanchez already proved he's capable of stepping up in a big game. His best game of the season just so happened to be his first career playoff game. Impressive.