Upgrading bitches

On December 15, my family is entering the 2000s. That is the day that we are dumping the CRT television and having a giant honkin' 52-inch 240hz Samsung LCD TV mounted to our wall. WiFi-enabled Blu-Ray player. Like friggin 32 feet of HDMI cable hidden in the walls. It is going to be insane. We're in a new house...a badass house...and it needs a badass TV set up. We're going animal. It's a "you must have the Super Bowl party" type set-up.

The Getting Old Booze Meter

When I was in college, I was a beer guy. Lots of beers...and the occasional shot. Goldschlager, Black Haus, Soco and limes and the occasional 100 proof Turkey (only late at night). In the years after college, polished 5 or 6 beers was child's play. In the past few years though, I've gone through a weird transition. I might have 3 beers a month now. It's strange. I don't crave it at all. It's almost work to stack beers, unless I'm really in the mood. Instead, my palette has completely changed. Things like whisky, which were previously verboten in my booze regimen, are now the drinks of choice. I am a single malt scotch mad man. I will have a dram once or twice on a weekend and I am as happy as a pig in shit. It's all I crave. I appreciate the craftsmanship. The flavor. The experience of smelling, swirling, sniffing. Damn, I'm getting old.

Me talking pumpkin tossing strategy

My agency has a pumpkin shot put contest around Halloween and here is some footage of me talking strategy. You should have seen me in the keg toss.

World's Greatest Kitchen Tool

I just got a LeCreuset dutch oven and it is unreal. Christened it with a simple dish - Mario Batali's Chicken (Hunter Stytle), which was amazing. Now I am ready to take the training wheels off and get after some osso bucco and braised short ribs. If you don't have one, get one.

This is about as UNdomesticated as it gets...enjoy

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Yeah, I've got a snowblower bitches

Is it bad that I totally enjoy watching my neighbors break their backs shoveling plow slop while I cut through the heavy white stuff with my snowblower like a hot samurai sword through a melting stick of butter? No way dude. Here's my logic: Why do you have a snowblower? To get the job done faster, right? So, if I can whack through my entire driveway in 40 minutes, why the hell would I stay out in the cold like the freakin snowblowing Salvation Army instead of getting back inside where it's warm? Hey, if you want to borrow it, fine, but you're doing it yourself. This is how it goes down in "the town of friendly people."

Fairfield Hoops: Red Sea all dried up

So excited. Wait for 7:30 to watch my beloved Fairfield Stags face Marist on MSG. Haven't been to a game this year because of the new baby. Game time hits and the Arena at Harbor Yard is completely empty. I looks like a private game. How embarrassing! Here are the Stags on a 4 game winning streak, having just knocked off #1 Rider on Friday night and it's President's Day (no work for most) and the school STILL can't fill the gym...for a TV game no less. What is going on up there? Does no one care? The team is 9-6 so it's not like some years when they plays like the Fairfield School for the Blind. The Domesticated Man never regrets his college choice. He bleeds FU Red. BUT, he does resent the half-assed effort behind the athletic program. He sees so many 1AA programs enjoying success each year and drawing crowds at the same time. Gotta ask...is it Connecticut? Is it the talent? Is it the school? Is it the fact that the arena is off campus? In Bridgeport? I do know this. Sometimes the team is good, more times they stink to high heaven BUT they always play hard and the competition is usually solid (MAAC is good ball). People should go. People should care. What other good hoops do they have South of Storrs in CT to cheer for?

Long Time, No Blog

I'm back. The Domesticated Man took a pregnancy hiatus and watched some good material pass by but with a 7 week old, I can't resist it anymore.

Sometimes You Want To Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Last night I went back to my hometown for the first high school football game under the new lights in Cedar Grove. For the past few years, living in Pearl River has made me pass through daily life anonymously. No hellos at the bagel shop. No horn toots as friends drive by the house. As an in-betweener just starting his own family, those roots are just being planted in my new town. But, it's great to go back home from time to time where, even though you've been gone for over a decade, people still bring up in the context of casual conversation how great your 8th grade football team was, and stories that begin with "I remember when." I know that may be a bit overboard but it makes you feel good...like you mattered when you were here, and that you can always go back. By the way, CG won 28-3. Go Panthers!

The 3:30 Dilemma

YankaRutgerDame game today...very cluttered TV this afternoon. What to do?

Meat in the Media

As a food lover, I have thoroughly enjoyed the recent articles in major men's magazines about meats, beef and steakhouses. Men's Journal did a meat bible. GQ had a nice piece as did Maxim's July issue - "Building A Meat Temple" about the perfect brick grilling station. My favorite, however, was a feature in this month's Details (with Brad Pitt on the cover). The article, entitled "The Best New Steakhouses in America," profiles some of the hottest beefeterias around the country in an attempt to break the mold of red checkered tableclothes and dark wooden walls. While many of these places are still full of white collared, corporate card power types, most boast a stylishly designed interior decor that somehow tricks the brain into feeling like less calories are being consumed. Personally, i have eaten at Craftsteak in Las Vegas and have my eye on Quality Meats in Manhattan for a near-future boy's night out.

The Sanctity of Morning

Is it just me or is 7:00 am SHARP too early to use an industrial ride-on lawnmower to cut the grass? I know, I know. The town ordinance says...Well, I think I am just going to have to use my leaf blower at 10:00 pm this Sunday night. What happened to me?!