The Wirk takes time out (i.e. vacation aka the 7th inning stretch)

Vacation <--  One of my favorite words in the English language.

Vacation <--  What Mr. Wright talked me into, and I'm much more relaxed, tanner, and happier as a result of it. 

Call it my 7th inning stretch.  I started this blog in January to chronicle my sports, music, and travel adventures and give my 2 cents on any topic that interested me.  After 6 months of INTENSE travel for work and Wirk, I needed a break ~ even if it was a short time-out.

I was in Panama City Beach, Florida on family vacation over the weekend.  It wasn't my family, but hey ~ those are just details...  I'd never been to PCB before, and I hadn't seen my friend in almost 2 years.  So, when Mr. Wright asked me to join him on family vacation, I said YES.

I met Mr. Wright years ago when I lived in Atlanta.  He and I built a friendship through the years (i.e.  met in 2002).  As soon as I saw him, I had a crush.  He's handsome, it was inevitable.  I shared an apartment with a coworker and whether I'd be out with her or out with friends, it just seemed like every weekend, he was always there.

We wouldn't really go out much, but we always had fun.  My first trip to Turner Field was on Easter, when he took me to a Braves game.  Mr. Wright loves baseball but hates professional basketball.  Yes, even Mr. Wright is not perfect,  LOL.  We've seen Prince at Philips Arena.  Remember Music Midtown in Atlanta?  We were there for its final year in 2005.  He wanted to see Common, and I wanted to see Kanye (i.e. sure enough they came out on stage together).

We went to Las Vegas to bet the Super Bowl.  He had the New England Patriots, and I won on the New York Giants +12.5.  He might be Mr. Wright, but I was Ms. Right, that Sunday!  Vegas again for his 30th birthday.  Why?!?  Because, that's what you do for the people that matter in your life.  You spend time and you take care of your friends and even though miles separate, you find ways to keep in touch.

My friend takes care of himself (i.e. eats right and exercises) so he looks great.  His personality equals his appearance.  His friends refer to him as a "Manther".  When I first heard it I couldn't help but laugh.  If you don't know what it is, look it up.  I don't know whether I agree or not, but I will tell you that he's not old.

Manther coming out of the water

I can't spend a couple of days with all the people I want to in my life, but I am definitely happy I was able to a time out and focus on the waves of the ocean, hang in a pool, have dinner, and walk the beach while looking for ghost crabs with my friend, Mr. Wright.

I didn't see any tar balls or sign of oil along the beach,, but we did see a smaller shark that had two bites taken out of it.  I assume it was by a bigger shark.  Ever have your friend scare the hell out of you on a beach by acting like a shark or crab was going to get you?  No?  I have.  I jumped out of fear and he cracked up laughing.  Awesome.  But anyway...
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Don't know what a ghost crab is?  Neither did I, but they're a bunch of them in the shallow water on PCB at night.  Kids are out there with nets and buckets trying to catch them.  If you've never seen one, check out this video.  ****  No, I did NOT shoot this video.  I just found it on youtube.


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"There are times.. when you'll need someone..
I will be by your side..
There is a light, that shines,
special for you, and me.."
--- "The Light" by Common

Thanks for making me take a much needed time out, Mr. Wright.  See you next time!


THE WIRK

Twas the Thursday before the Super Bowl in South Beach...

Eased into the day today and headed over to 12th and Ocean to meet some friends of mine for lunch.  This intersection is very close to where you can walk to the ESPN, ESPN Radio, NFL network, CBS Early Morning show sets etc.  Part of Ocean Drive is blocked to traffic, and the atmosphere was similar to a tame Bourbon Street...  People are walking around in their favorite teams' attire and soaking in the experience.  Sponsorship is everywhere on the street, and the most noticeable sponsor is Tide (i.e. aside from the huge Pepsi sound stage)...

Saw Sean Merriman walking off the set when I got to the meeting spot.  I didn't know who he was, until my friend told me.  Yeah ~ it's football.  Unless you're wearing a jersey and actually playing on the field during game day ~ I probably won't recognize you.  I guess that's how it is for all helmeted athletes, now that I think about it.  I didn't recognize Mike Modano (i.e. Dallas Stars) either when he came over to chat with members of the crew I was with when I was in Miami for the NBA Finals, in 2006. 

Lunched at The Tides with friends and took in the scene.  The weather was comfortable, not too hot and not too cold.  It was actually perfect.

After lunch we went back to the ESPN set to watch part of the Pardon the Interruption taping.  We missed the taping of the Deion segment, but c'est la vie.  Watching the taping got a little boring so went to check out the other production tents, but there seemed to be nothing going on at the NFL Network and other ESPN set.  We went to watch the rest of the PTI taping from inside the gate and behind the set, and I was introduced to J.A. Adande.

I found the equipement interesting...

Water break

Catching up with Brian, while our friend works...

Taping finished and we all rolled back to get some drinks, kill time, and catch up before everyone disbanded ~ some had to go to dinner, clean up, and/or wanted to catch other games on tv before going out "for real".  It's only Thursday and some of us just got to town, so we're still settling into the scene.

Incidentally, we were talking music, and I've determined that Norah Jones is the female James Taylor.

I ran into the guys from the plane last night, walking on Ocean Drive, on my way back to my brother's place.  Very random. 

According to the crew I was wih, the NFL Players Association and the NFL Players party is combined this year and being held at the Viceroy. 

The NFL Commissioner's party is tomorrow night in Laudy and I'll be there.
For all you gamblers out there, I got a text from my friend that the line moved to Indy -4.5...  I like the Colts even more now..  My guess is that it moved because people are scared that Freeney won't play and money started moving to the Saints...

Ok - that's it for now...

Cleveland is up 49-45 over the Heat.  GO CAVS!!!

I'm hungry...  Off to dinner ~ Argentinian steakhouse ~ LOOK OUT :-P

THE WIRK

Celtics don't scare me, and I still need a ticket to the Super Bowl.... GO COLTS!!!!

List of thoughts because I'm too tired to write paragraphs right now.

Basketball
1.  Yesterday, Pat's dad couldn't go to the game Celtics v Wizards game, so I got called up.  Thanks, Pat. He's a Celtics fan so I compromised and wore lime green.  I will not put a Celtics hat on my head.

2.  I said to bet the Celtics -5.  If you did, you WON.  The Celtics didn't really play until the 4th Q, so sorry if you had to sweat it out.

Final score

2.  The Celtics are not scary.  As a Cavs fan, they'll have to show me more, before I BEGIN to consider them a credible threat in the East.  Garnett is definitely NOT back, even though he's playing.
3.  The only scare of the game happened when Paul Pierce went down, but he got back up and continued playing ~ eventually.

Paul Pierce getting treated on the bench.

4.  The Wizards are running some sort of promotion now through Chik Fil-A.  Chik Fil-A picks a player on the visiting team, and if that player misses both of his free throws, everyone in the arena gets a free sandwich.  Thank you, Big Baby Davis ~ for your poor shooting and my free lunch tomorrow (i.e. if I can drag myself out of my apartment and into the cold).
5. Can't watch another Wizards game for a long time.  Enough is a enough.  I walk out of the Verizon Center stressed out, and this is not good.
6.  I caught/picked up one of those free give away balls that they throw out into the crowd.  I was not standing and waving for it like a 6 year old child.  This proves you can get free stuff by sitting and "playing it cool". 

Yeah, I like free stuff

6.  Watching ESPN Sportscenter, and I'm disgusted.  You'd think Kobe Bryant walked on water last night.  Yes, I get it.  He's the all-time leading scorer for the franchise.  However, in my opinion, he's NOT the best Laker ever.  If you make me choose between Kobe or Magic ~ I'll take Magic any day.  To me, Magic is the Lakers' heart.
7.  Working on plans for NBA All-Star weekend. 
8.  I'm not Oprah and the last thing I want to do is read/sell books, but here's one for you.  I came across my copy recently, and it started me thinking. If you've never read "Homecourt Advantage" by Rita Ewing and Crystal McCrary ~ check it out. It reads quickly and will give you a good idea of what it's like to be a WAG in the NBA.
















Football
1.  Headed to Miami on Wednesday night/Thursday morning for the Super Bowl.  I need/want to be on the ground for all the festivities.
2.  Dwight Freeney and a torn ligament?!?!  Oh no!!!!  Dwight, please play!!!!!  GO COLTS!!!!
3.  I need a ticket to the Super Bowl.  Still.

Other
1.  Working on a logo for TheWirk.com
2.  Trying to come up with other sports ideas/events for this blog.
3.  Apologies to my trivia team, who I ditched to go to the game last night.
4.  Shout out to Fogdog and the Bryant brothers who I saw/ran into while at the game.


THE WIRK