Dikembe Mutombo and Geico - Excellent

Dikembe Mutombo and Geico...  Finally I found a Geico commercial, I like...  Dikembe has been everywhere.  I saw him at The Inaugural Ball last month, and he's been popping up on my TV screen recently (i.e. because of NBA All-Star weekend and this Geico commercial).  His signature laugh, finger wave, and of course the shot blocking!  PERFECT.

I'm tired of watching commercials with athletes that are unrecognizable.  NBA All-Star weekend is full of "stars" from music, acting, and the basketball court.  Unfortunately, some of the athletes are undeserving of the attention and maybe it's just me, but I think that there is a degree of mediocrity in the NBA right now that hurts the game.  It's refreshing to see veteran talent receive the attention it earned.

That's right, Dikembe, capitalize on your image and remind people about the basketball good old days ---- it's well deserved!




THE WIRK

NBA All-Star Saturday night was TERRIBLE

It's NBA All-Star weekend and I'm home.  My husband came to town and rather than hustle to Houston, I decided to stay local and watch the festivities at home.  Thank goodness I didn't make the trip!  Last night's events were terrible!

I'm partial to Duke and, to an extent, the Cleveland Cavaliers as well so it was nice to see Kyrie Irving win the 3 point shoot out.  Matt Bonner also participated.  Do you care about Matt Bonner?  Neither do I...

Anyway, I couldn't tell you who participated in the Slam Dunk contest (i.e. without looking it up) and to be honest, I don't care enough to research it for this post.  The dunk contest was boring.  Correction: the dunk contest was BORING.  The competitors missed so many dunks that by the time the ball went in the hoop, I was completely disinterested in the theatrics.  The entire show was amatuerish and a bad movie (i.e. that I was determined to watch in hopes that it would get better).  It never did.  Charles Barkley deserves a hefty paycheck for making All-Star Saturday night "listenable".  Notice I didn't say "watchable"...

I'm a sports fan and a girl, so I chose to do my nails.  I painted my nails China Glaze Skyscraper (i.e. in honor of Kenny "Sky" Walker.  That's the closest I could get to caring about the event.  PATHETIC.

By the way, do you know how much All-Star Saturday night tickets are?  I do.  In 2010, a ticket for the 2010 NBA All-Star Saturday night was $400 face value.  $400 face value...  All I'm saying is that if I had actually paid face value, much less a scalper ticket price for that ridiculous display of non-talent, I'd be furious.

I've never been to the NFL Pro Bowl, but I presume it's just as awful as what I tried to watch last night.

It.was.terrible.


THE WIRK

Caps beat the Panthers at home ~ Let's go Caps!!!

I went to my first Caps game (i.e. of the season) Saturday.  It was the first time I've seen the team with Oates at the helm.  Who knew Ray Liotta knew anything about hockey?!!?  Anyway...  My husband is British, and I've been busy introducing and assimilating him into American sports.  ****  Last year, I was successful in converting him into a baseball fan.  He also checked out a New York Knicks game at The Garden.

OK, let's get back to the original topic.  The Caps game.  The Caps haven't gotten off to the best start this season.  Perhaps it's a new coach, the end of a lockout, or something else -- but this slow start is new to Caps fans like me, since we're used to the Caps dominating.  I check the standings now and have to scroll down.  Scroll down?!!?!  It's all so devastating.  Yes, I'm being dramatic and yes, I'm kidding.  It's my blog.  I can do whatever  I want...

Well, it looks as if my husband is good luck for the Caps because they actually DOMINATED the Florida Panthers.  Great win for the Caps and hopefully they'll get back on track soon! 

This girl doesn't like scrolling DOWN...



THE WIRK

The Wirk hits The Inaugural Ball

I was given the opportunity to attend The Inaugural Ball on Monday, January 21, 2013 at the Washington Convention Center.  Politics aside, I like a good party and I wasn't about to miss the chance to go to another Inaugural Ball. 

In 2005, my friend, Ryan, asked me to attend the Liberty Ball with him.  He called me while I was at work and told me that I had 3 hours to get ready.  3 hours to get ready for an ball?!?!  I couldn't believe it, but he was serious.  I left work, threw on some make up, and put on the only dress that I thought I could pass of as appropriate on short notice.  Unfortunately for me, my make up was too light (i.e. so I looked like Dracula) and my dress was short so I felt out of place.

2013 was my year to make it right.

With my Carmen Marc Valvo dress that arrived the day of the ball, I was ready for the festivities.  My mom gave me a necklace that I used, but unfortunately I forgot that she also gave me the matching bracelet.  I took my pink Chanel clutch out of its box, and my ensemble was perfect.

I believe that the average person loves to stand in line for no reason.  With our tickets in hand, my friend and I kept our heads down and walked past about 1000 people into the queue by the metal detectors.  Upon entry into the Convention Center, we waited in the coat check line (i.e. where I quickly spotted Dikembe Mutombo).

While we were in line, we missed Alicia Keys perform.

Eventually, we checked our coats and headed to the ballroom.  Thanks to my friend, Taiwanna, we spent most of the night in a hospitality area where there was an open bar and little to no wait for food.  In addition to seeing the POTUS and the FLOTUS, I checked out the band Fun, saw Jennifer Hudson serenade President Obama and his wife, Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Vice President Biden and his wife, John Legend, and Usher perform.  I also saw Anthony Hamilton get wheeled out in a wheel chair, probably because his feet hurt.  Can't say I blame him.  My feet hurt for days after the event.  Days.  Pain.  Days...

It was a great night, and I love the fact that I spent it with a group of my favorite ladies!  I look forward to more Inaugural Balls in the future.  It's all about who you know, and I've been around for a while...  I know the game, and lucky for me, I know a lot of fantastic people!


THE WIRK

Concussions ~ Don't play with your health

It's Week 14 of the NFL season and we're still/always talking about concussions.  Here's a quick pictorial that I received from Jen Rhee about concussions.  Fortunately for me, my quarterbacks: Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning are healthy. 

Yes, I am an Indianapolis Colts fan, but I'll always root for Peyton Manning...

Enjoy the infographic.

Please Include Attribution to MastersInHealthcare.com With This Graphic



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Babyface at the Howard Theatre - Love song 90s flashback

I'm a sucker for 90s R&B and I love a good love song.  When I saw that Babyface was at The Howard Theatre, I knew I had to grab a ticket and go.  I picked up my ticket on StubHub, where I found it for 50% off the Ticketmaster price. 

Sure enough, as soon as I bought the ticket, I was reminded that the Denver Broncos were playing Thursday night football.  Oh well.  I hadn't seen Babyface since the mid 90s and I wanted to go.  Every time I've noticed that he was performing near me in the past, his schedule never coincided with mine, so I had to seize the opportunity.

I'd never been to the Howard Theatre before.  I knew it had "recently" been redone.  I went in not knowing what to expect and wow, was I surprised!  It's great in there.  They don't pack people in and there was seating for everyone from what I could tell.  The tickets were general admission, but you may have been able to reserve a table.  I'm not really sure.  The venue serves a full menu, so next time I'm definitely getting there early to dine.  I was able to pull right in front of the theatre and valet my car for $20.  Retrieving the car only took about 20 minutes.

Babyface opened the show with "For the Cool in You" and played songs that he's known for singing and those that he wrote for Bobby Brown, Tevin Campbell, etc.  The show only lasted about 1 hour and 40 minutes, but easily could've ran 3 hours with his extensive catalog.  Personally, I would've preferred that he sang longer, but that's always the case with artists that I love.

The crowd and I sang along through most of the show and Babyface told stories of his youth and how he enjoyed being in love.  To be a successful writer, you need to write about what you know and I'm a firm believer that Babyface is an expert when it comes to writing a love song.  He has the formula down to a science.  Granted he's not the most charismatic artist to ever take the stage, but as he tells his stories you can see he has a sense of humor.

The new year is almost upon us, and then there's Valentine's Day.  Babyface's show was an early Valentine's Day present to myself!

And best of all Peyton Manning led the Broncos to victory later that night.


THE WIRK

The Wirk in London and Ricky Hatton back in the ring

I hadn't been to London since 2009, but I went to visit/meet my mother-in-law for the first time over Thanksgiving weekend.  My new mother-in-law is fantastic!  I honestly couldn't have gotten any luckier.  It was a great few days, full of wonderful food and company.  Can't wait to go back!

After a few days in Shevington (i.e. near Wigan) my husband and I went to London. We stayed in Leicester Square while in London (i.e. which is the equivalent of Times Square in New York City)...  When did all the casinos pop up?  It's almost like the Las Vegas Strip now...

Coincidentally, there was added excitement that Saturday night, since Ricky Hatton was back in the ring fighting a Ukrainian in Manchester.  I'd never actually watched Hatton fight before.  I was in Vegas on December 8, 2007 when Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather.  Specifically, I was sitting in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's sportsbook watching a bunch of men from the UK lay some late money on Hatton.  Needless to say, those men and Hatton lost that night and they would've lost if they bet the same way for Hatton's comeback fight.  Hatton was knocked out by Vyacheslav Senchenko in the 9th round.  

Hatton's boxing comeback is/was over.  As for London, I'll be back...

Lastly, MTV has Geordie Shore (i.e. the UK equivalent of Jersey Shore) over there?!!?  Really?!?!  Who knew...


THE WIRK