Taking a page out of Dunford's book.

Because I couldn't think of anything to write about today I've decided that an old adage is the best way to go. "Chances are someone else has already done it better than you ever could so just copy them."

I present to you, five awesome things (recent):

1. Wilco in July

Wilco is playing here in N. Virginia in early July. Haven't had the luxury of seeing them yet but when I do it'll be at a local outdoor venue known only as WolfTrap. You know what's sweet about WolfTrap??? It's a small outdoor venue that allows you to bring coolers to the lawn seats. Hot Damn!!!

2. Chicken Vesuvio

This is some Italian Dish that I made on Sunday Night that went along nicely with a Bruins loss (dangited!!) It's chicken, a couple cut-up taters, cooked in marsala wine, a shit-ton of garlic, a few eye-talian herbs and spices, and according to the Dinosaur Cookbook, some Dino BBQ sauce. Delicious does not do it justice.

3. Dog Walking

You want random people to tell you that you're awesome, get puppy dog that does puppy things, like bark at inanimate objects.

4. Mickey Rourke

Rented "The Wrestler" the other night. Do the same and try not to reference this movie in your blog afterwards. You've just been dared...BOOM!!! (no seriously, Rourke is awesome in this flick, plus any guy that played Marv, digs chihuahuas, and gave up acting to return to the ring has gotta be awesome. He. Just. Has. To.

5. Bangkok 54

This is a local Thai restaurant that Kool-Aid and I have both been to and ordered from in the recent weeks. Sure, it's no Thai Restaurant/Bar/Karaoke hydra like you'll find in the "Electric City", but does it have delicious and super spicy Pad Thai and Fiery Chicken Kaproa??? You bet your sweet ass it does. Plus, I have no idea what the sauce is that comes with the spring rolls, but god damn is it tasty!!

As an added bonus, I'll give you the sixth free (take that Dunford)

6. Free chicken parm and wine after your friend teaches you to drive stick.
In preparation for our trip to Ireland, Kool-Aid and I are learning how to drive stick. Oddly enough, we never were taught the ways of manual transmission, through no fault but our own. Were we naturals?? Sure. Did it take long?? About 30 minutes, then we hit the mean streets of the District. Did Emily, our instructor/fellow Ireland traveler make us some fried stuff with cheese and and sauce?? You damn right!!

What's in a name??

Well folks, this just in. Kool-Aid and I are getting a dog. The past few weeks has been a proverbial roller coaster ride in trying to adopt one but we've finally made some head way over the last week. Basically, adopting a dog from an agency in Northern Virginia is more difficult than storming the beaches of Normandy, completing the necessary pre-requisite testing for entering college, and quitting smoking combined. We've literally sent out dozens of applications with little to no response until just recently we heard back. Take a look below.

Tonight the plan is to meet the foster parent, wow her with my hauntingly beautiful blue eyes and Kool-Aid's ability to use big words, meet said pup, and let the agency take it from there. All this needs to get done in time for me to watch Game 1 of the Bruins v. Canadians series. Hmmm...me thinks it is going to be a bit tougher than anticipated. HUZZAH DVR..HUZZAH!!

Anyway, the course of action now is to name this little fella. I like this guy the best but this foster lady has a few pups, of mixed genders (OW!!) to choose from. Since this pup attainment operation was put in motion, the wheels have been turning in order to get a name that seems fit for a dog owned by the likes of folks named Toastie and Kool-Aid. Long story short, There are some requirements so, it's kinda gotta be kick ass. Maybe something that ties in to my likes, wants, needs, and general all around awesomeness. But it also has to reflect the gender a bit too. I mean, there's no need naming a girl dog "Gary" now is there?? Also....it has to be kinda stupid (i.e. Gary). Feel free to toss out any ideas but here's some of what we've been thinking. The ones with the music references are pretty much all me.

- Bayliss (Front man of Umphrey's)
- Janie (from "Janie Jones" by the Clash)
- Bowie
- Eddie "Barkey von Schnauzer"
- the aforementioned "Gary"
- Josie (came to me while I was listening to "The Inlaw Josie Wales" by Trey Anastasio)
- Buster (for so many reasons)
- Dusty Bottoms (see "Three Amigos")
- Ripley (Aliens is the shit!! Regardless, it's a pretty good dog name)
- Daltrey (sounds like a Butler, but an homage to the Who's front man)
- O'Riley (kinda goes with the above, i.e. "Baba O'Riley)
- McCready (anything to do with Mike McCready basically is synonymous with awesome)
- eh...there's others

Toastie's list of kick-ass things from 2008

Nothing real original about all of this you see below. Just a quick cumulative list of the kick-ass that's happened this past year. Enjoy!!

- Saw Eddie Vedder at the Warner Theatre here in DC.
- My nephew Callan was born on April 20, 2008
- Work promotions and pay increases, who knew?!?!?!
- The Giants winning what was probably the best Super Bowl of my lifetime (so far)



- Going whitewater rafting in West Virginia in October
- Seeing Pearl Jam again with the Chuck
- High fives
- Heading down to Florida for my buddy Matt's wedding
- Johnny Lester not only says eat shit to cancer but also no hits the Royals
- Spending a weekend in Virginia Beach with Kool-Aid
- Getting to know "the inlaws" a bit more only to discover that they really like me
- Singing "Rock and Roll Part II" aboard Philly's subway system (yeah, I wasn't aware they had one either)
- Same weekend, "Too Legit 2 Quit" on Jitter's roof deck
- Radiohead outdoors in the rain here in VA.
- The Bruins return to NHL prominance
- Toastedblog's rise from the ashes like the magnificient Phoenix, or some other town in Arizona
- I've decided to grow my hair long and you know what, it's none too shabby
- Spending this past Christmas with my entire family, first time we've been all together for some time
- Becoming friends with D.C. and with all its faults, I am really happy here
- My sister getting married
- Chipwiches
- Mutha-fuckin' Giants!!
- Work people beginning to learn about how awesome I can be, rather than just a dude in an office
- Taking Kool-Aid to a boat-load of games (Giants v. Cowboys, a number of Nats games, Manny's 500th HR in Baltimore)
- Going with Kool-Aid to a few moe. shows
- Tina Fey

- And of course, another year with the Kool-Aid. Can't beat that deal with a stick!
- Barack Obama
- The Dark Knight
- Frequently making your own pizza
- Cheap gas!!
- the baconator

Happy New Year people, we'll catch you in '09!! Be safe and if you see me around midnight, don't be hesitant with that whole kiss thing.

Can one of y'all pass me a biscuit???

The Toast rose up and kicked a little ass with some presentations the past two days here at office, and that got me thinking, what else kicks ass?? Besides myself, and biscuits of course. Can you tell that this post is quite the stretch?? That's what happens when you be a bit busy. Anywho, enjoy...if you dare.

- fried stuff with cheese; mozzarella sticks, I'm looking at you here.
- throwin' the ball around
- gravy boats
- "Easy Company", that's the 101st Airborne son!! Band of Brothers is the SHIT!!
- tigers at the zoo
- rockin' a flannel
- leftover Oreo cake that your girlfriend made for her family's visit.
- Labatt Blue brought from back home
- Wegmans
- Empire Apples
- any scene from The Big Lebowski, extra kickass if it features Walter
- Pearl Jam: Live from Lollapalooza '07
- blasting a dookie at work; you feel better, you get paid for it, you pretty much can't lose!!
- staying connected with friends, even if its just drunken text messaging during a Sox loss
- "The Rum Diary"
- making the decision to go ahead with that second Italian Beef sandwich
- lightsaber fights
- Kool-Aid letting me watch multiple sporting events during the week
- casual Fridays
- Caddyshack Quotes
- getting a dog and naming him Gary
- owning an HD TV. this has not happened yet but I can totally imagine it being pretty kickass
- Buddy Christ
- margaritas
- Brandon Jacobs, man does he truck people
- speaking of truck, having a name like Chuck Wallace so people can call you Chuck "The Truck" Wallace and you can make hand motions like you are pulling on the horn of a big rig...sweet.
- livin' the dream
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Jason Bourne
- chili
- wicked wristers
- The Clash
- Hobbes
- not giving a good god damn
- Trot
- watching the Muppets
- when you have your I-Pod on random and it plays a heap 0' awesome beats in a row
- moon roofs
- a sandwich party, I only know of one that actually existed but it was one of the single most awesome experiences of my life
- my bed
- 30 Rock, new season starts on Thursday night bitches!!
- "Jungle Love", by Morris Day and Jerome, the muthafuckn' TIME!
- Magic Hat's new seasonal Jynx, it's an English Ale, perfect for the fall and to get that hop in your step for the evening a bit earlier than normal
- driving fast and taking chances
- designer fashions at discount prices, if I have to be at a mall, I might as well save some hard earned cash
- "Eulogy" by Tool
- finding a curly fry in with your regulars
- hip checks
- Aragorn
- going skiing at Stowe in January
- BBQ sauce
- half days
- Ghostbusters
- Cheesesteaks from Pat's
- Elizabeth Banks

- a good play action fake
- yellow corn tortilla chips
- the Worthington Law
- a couple days off
- root beers
- regular beers
- "Rebubula" by moe
- mushroom swiss burgers
- dancing like you just don't care
- windows down on a nice afternoon while rocking some beats
- watching Seinfeld for the first time in a few years
- playoff baseball
- weekends in the fall
- chipwiches

Okay, okay, okay, okay; you can see where we're heading here. Me thinks it is time that I get to work. Feel free to add anything that I missed.

Toast OUT!