Not gonna talk about it.

here we are a mere two days away from the super bowl and the toast has yet to throw out some witty commentary on the big game. I mean, the giants are in it for chrissakes! with all that media crap that goes on before the game the endless talk and anaylsis that keeps getting brought up, magnified and picked apart incessently, I am just unable to comment. fact is, all of it drives me fuckin' insane!! that's why there shouldn't be two weeks in between championship week and the super bowl. take note nfl, it makes the toast angry, you want to be the ones responsible for that?? no, I didn't think so.

but your team is in the big game and you're not even going to discuss what the possible outcome could be?? what could happen on the biggest stage in all of sports??? do eli and the giants have a chance against the unbeatable pats?? my response...no comment. just want to see a good game. thats all the analysis that you're going to get from this guy. not going to discuss plaxico's guarantee and I am certainly not going to bring up brady's boot, or now lack there of. not going to write about the sheer fucked up craziness of a 12 point spread or the versatility of the pats offense. going five wide or lining up with two tight ends and playing smash mouth...who gives a shit?? randy moss and his restraining order, the giants with the flu, the new eli, bill simmons slurping the pats and their "dream season" (by the way, the internet audience here may be quite glad that I can't really get to espn.com while at work as I would be throwing a shit stormin' temper tantrum if I could read what I imagine is inthis), how necessary it is for the front four of the giants to get pressure on brady, welker and faulk and their abilities to do their job, the giants being a better team overall without shockey and tiki. nope, no more super bowl talk here.

well I guess I can say something. lady toast has given me the go ahead to make a heap o' eats and have the fridge fully stocked with some beers as we're going to be having a few guests for the game. so far, rumor has it that there is going to be a variety of dips and apps brought by a few people (reuben dip, mmmm.....) and the toast is throwing together some top notch pulled pork and some drunken spicy pull and eat shrimp. ohh...so tasty. my digestive system is so screwed.

that's it, GO GIANTS!!!

Gift fo' yo' kool-aid.

personally I see myself as lucky as I have found someone who will appreciate receiving something like what is pictured above.

just a few days away now. GO GIANTS!!!

"Harvey...tell them what they've won!"

saturday, kool-aid and the toast are scheduled to attend a birthday party at some bar for one of her friends down here in D.C. sounds great right??? now if this were going to be a party for your toastmaster general it would involve some hole in the wall bar to celebrate getting another year older by getting blinding drunk on cheap booze and eating way too many wingies. well...this is D.C. this isn't just a night in a bar with a few friends; this is going to have to be an event. so what does saturday night have in store for this guy?? ladies and gentlemen, may I present, an 80's sitcom themed birthday blowout for about 50 plus city folk. now, its not going to be a bad time and I'm not even coming close to suggesting that it won't be a scene the toast won't get down on. its just not my way of doing things and its fine. I believe in getting dressed up, just once a year....on halloween.

anywho, kool-aid and I painstakingly had to come up with an 80's sitcom and television themed costume that got the toast stamp of approval, meaning it had to be creative, clever, and hilarious. plus it had to be fit for a couple so your ideas of alex p. keaton or magnum p.i. wouldn't have been able to work too well. dangited right?? I mean, picture the toast with a hawaiian shirt, 80's short shorts, aviator shades, bushy moustache and a tigers hat. plus, as we said, we were thinking of clever here so you weren't going to see any zach and kelly, slater and jessie, sam and diane, type of nonsense here. not in the least.

so, where'd the ladytoast and the general end up?? well a quick purchase of some matching blue shirts and pants, the pending pickup of a few pairs of safety goggles, design and creation of some makeshift ring toss helmets, you've got yourselves a pair of double dare contestants. tell you the truth, all I'm looking forward to is a few physical challenges that night....OW!! well, I guess winning a minivan wouldn't hurt either.

Rent that shit!!!

We here at toastedblog have decided to come up with a new segment devoted to my love of all types of movies that's simply going to be titled "rent that shit". some may say: "hey toast, most folk out there already have a decent idea on what to check out so why would they really care what you have to say on the matter?? well, fuck 'em, thats why.

now, traditionally I have been labeled as one that generally enjoys the movies that I do watch and pretty much my reaction will be the same.

"toast, what did you think of "insert movie title here"??"

"I loved it, thought that it was great."

thats right, my movie critic skills can generally be summed up in those very words: "I loved it, thought that it was great." True, you may get a "hmm...thought that it was pretty good" or a "eh....that was decent" thrown in there to boot but most movies that I do decide to see will get the toast stamp of approval. why is that you ask?? maybe it's due to the fact that I am not a good judge of films. maybe it's because I know what I like and refuse to take too many chances on the very many shitty films that are out there. nonetheless, it is not very often that flicks that I catch will get hit with the never impressive "garbage" status. that'll hurt you everytime, no matter who or what you are.

so what gets two thumbs up from the toast this time 'round?? well, it's 3:10 to Yuma. it's a damn good flick. now, why don't you just go out there and rent that shit!!

Chigago Mutha-Fuckas!!

hey all, just flew back from a few days in chigago and boy are my arms tired. HA! not a lot of time here this afternoon as the lunch hour she is just about done so I'll make this short and sweet. here we have a quick overview of the haps on a random January visit to the magical midwest.

- friday: flight delayed, because of this the decision to hit up airport bar for a beer or two quickly turns into three beers and a nice plate of nachos loaded with jalapenos, refried beans, and cheese.

toastmaster general - 1, fellow plane passengers - 0.

- saturday: metra-train ride into the city where it is about 4 degrees outside. walking around downtown chigago may not have been the best decision. kool-aid and the toast hit up the field museum where I go nuts over dinosaurs and the ever impressive special exhibit on maps. dinosaur noises made profusely and many tales of last trip to the museum made with uncle jitter are told. the walk back to train station through the chigago waterfront turns out to be...cooold blooded!!

- sunday: shockey clad toast drives into rogers park to see good buddy danny and to watch the games. end up in some bar around the corner from danny's apartment. this is where we get really interesting. due to too many shots and way too many old styles, a giants victory is greeted with the toast yelling "mutha-fuckin' giants" in a place predominantly filled with aging and out of shape packer fans. the toast is treated with looks of disapproval and is later locked out of the bar. the evening concludes with myself falling asleep while a certain lady toast drives his drunk ass back to his mom's. around 3:30 am our hero suffers a reversal of fortunes. no longer does he retain that delicious deep dish pizza enjoyed only hours beforehand. I then proceed to almost knock myself out by crashing into a cabinet in my mother's bathroom. good times?? you betcha!!

- monday: the following.

random inquisitor: "hey toast, what did you and the lady do when you went to chigago??"

toastmaster general: "oh..good question. we went to the mall and target."

well I can tell you it was for good reason...kinda. went out to my grandmother's in schaumburg and not gonna lie to you but the toast was a little out of it. believe hungover is the correct term. after a while at my grandmother's, I just felt like I needed a bit of a jump start so went out to a local mall. sue me! wasn't all for not, the "rocker" in toast got himself a new flannel. bad ass!! later, we went out to dinner and family got to know lady toast a bit more, we later discover that kool-aid is the tops.

- tuesday: not too much going on today, except that I get to go to the best place in all the land, Portillo's, where I promptly engage in the "classic" over-eat by taking in two italian beef sandwiches. Portillo's merch is purchased. I say my goodbyes to ma dukes and lady toast as she is staying in chigago a few extra days to attend a work training seminar. my flight is once again delayed and once again fellow passengers are displeased as they now have to fly with a toast that is digesting two italian beef sandwiches loaded with hot peppers.

toastmaster general - 2, fellow plane passengers - 0.

all in all, a pretty decent trip.

Polish Sausage....Ditka....Bears

Well, in a little over five hours, lady toast and yours truly will be making our way to chigago for the weekend...american airlines style. when one thinks of nice january get-a-ways subzero temperatures in the windy city are often the first to come to mind. nonetheless kool-aid and her toastmaster general are off to the central time zone for what should be a nice visit to ma toast and some other members of the family. plus, I'll get to see this guy!!! alexandria, let me know if you want me to bring you back some deep dish pizza.

After all, I am a ticking time bomb of fury.

UNCONTROLLABLE RAGE!! Usually the toast can be seen as a person that is, quite possibly, the easiest to get along with on the entire eastern seaboard. Always upbeat, funny, hit with the ladies, quick with a joke, or to light up your smoke, a certain toastmaster general is an easy going fella. However, over time, buttons can continually get pushed and I can't take this shit anymore. What makes me angry of late......

Tom Brady, the best ever??: now this isn't really a slam on Brady but more the media slurping Brady and his accomplishments of this season. I am aware that brady had a ridiculous year numbers wise and the Pats went undefeated and everything but what sports media refuses to acknowledge are the changes in the rules over the past few years. are you even allowed to play defense anymore?? defensive backs are basically helpless in their ability to cover receivers in this league. I can't even give an estimate to the number of 5 yard illegal contact penalties that I have seen over the past few weeks, let alone the past few years. defensive backs don't have a shot in this league that allows big receivers such as randy moss, terrell owens (don't even get me started on him, you'll see more later), and to show that I am not completely biased plaxico burress are allowed to hand check, clutch, hold, make all sorts of contact to get open. with this kind of advantage the toast can go out there and toss a few touchdowns, let alone people whose job that is. Guys like Marino, Elway, and Montana didn't have that luxury.

People not using their turn signals: upon my move to the metro D.C. area I really noticed the blatant disregard these people have down here for other drivers. I'm not talking about not using signals when you're cruising down the street and looking to change lanes, I can see that from time to time. what I'm referring to is a full fledged turn here. Traffic lanes, residential neighborhoods, few things get my dander up like these pieces of shit and the majority of this stems from the fact that these people just think that they are better or more important than you. these middle aged pricks wearing fat-ass docker pants sitting in audi's and their SUV driving wives just don't take the time out of what they are doing to be considerate to other people on the road and it just sends me into a rage induced frenzy.

jessica simpson: you have no talent, you can't sing and you definitely cannot act and yet you keep popping up all over the place. whether this is your doing our your creepy glory obsessed father/manager but there is always some ploy to get you in the center of attention and I can't take it anymore. either it's: you're a virgin and waiting for marriage, you're a dumbass who doesn't understand the concept of tunafish, need a divorce from your husband 'cause he's not famous enough, the critics aren't fans of your shitty music/movie (insert title here) so lets find a new way to get attention, I'll date a quarterback and get the sports media talking about me too. I can't stand hearing about you anymore and the Toast is gettin' very upset!!!

terrell owens: I really find it hard to believe that you are actually upset about this whole romo vacation thing. you have thrown everyone you have ever played with under the bus, are a horrible human being and role model, and are another player in this current nfl taking advantage of rules made to make the game more offensively exciting. I'd like to see you trying to run over the middle against the steel curtain of the 70's or when ronnie lott or steve atwater were running wild in the 80's.

reality tv: this subject won't even be discussed for fear that I may hurl my work laptop into a wall.

the writer's strike: I'm not even too sure why you guys are actually striking. I can count the number of worthwhile shows over the past few years on my left hand and shows that were actually great have been cancelled due to the previous thing that makes me angry, reality tv. go back to work so I can watch the office.

pennsylvania: I hate you. I hate your highways and interstates. I hate how you always "claim" to be under construction and yet I see no improvements nor do I see actual work being done. I hate how you always add an extra two to three hours on any trip I try to make through you. your lone redeeming quality is the philly cheese steak. please find a way to blow up some how.

Glad you finally decided to drink the kool-aid.

Dear Eli,

I not entirely sure when the idea of successfully playing the quarterback position in the NFL came to you but this kid is certainly glad it has. For some reason your ability to fully process what is going on out there has finally clicked and the toast no longer has to be the one that is driving fast and taking chances in supporting you. You have no idea how extremely happy I have been ever since you led the giants to victory over the much despised cowboys. please note that from here on out the toast is struttin' around the office with an lil' extra hop in his step and twinkle in his eye due to your play the past few weeks.

now, I'm not going to get ahead of myself and dub you the next big thing that has hit the position but the fact that you are showing some consistency and successfully managing this balanced offensive attack is makin' me all sorts of giddy. please do your best to keep it up and remember that your play of late is doing wonders in making believers out of giants fans all over. now go get 'em out there in wisconsin!!!

sincerely,

toastmaster general

**DICTATED NOT READ**

The best I've ever had....

I am sitting here in my office with a fresh cup of afternoon coffee going through the typical friday work motions when in walks a co-worker with a small box of what appear to be some sort of treats. next think I know I am absolutely floored by this chocolate chocolate chip cookie from a bakery near my office building. monarchs don't eat this well.

"LIVE IT..LIVE IT!"

This post is pretty much just shit that I'm rockin' of late. Enjoy.


the clash - "janie jones" the clash
over the past few years I have gone from finding the clash iffy musically to having them in my top five. When you have a free two and a half minutes, give this beat a listen.

pearl jam - "can't keep" live at benaroya hall
this tune popped on my ipod while I was driving home from work the other day. I really found myself digging this unplugged version of the first beat off of "riot act". special bonus, there's a mandolin. YAHTZEE!!

dvda - "now you're a man" orgazmo sdtrk
"what makes a man, is it the power in his hands or is it his quest for glory?"

soulive - "tabasco" turn it out
solid soulive beat. good for lying around to, maybe while under some influence of sorts. they were down here in DC/Northern VA not too long ago but unfortunately the opportunity to see them sailed me by. hopefully my living in a large metropolitan area will aid in them gracing the toast's prescence in the near future.

otis redding - "take me to the river"
for some reason I always associate this tune with the talking heads; who of course did a cover on some album. I think if I were a stripper this would be the song I'd seduce strangers for singles with.

band of horses - "the general specific" cease to begin
I really like this album and this past year band of horses and this record got a lot of hype from the critics. this song helps that hype seem like it was deserved. my take on "cease to begin", eh...it was pretty good. wouldn't kick it out of my bed.

pink floyd - "coming back to life" the division bell
I know what you're saying, "but its the division bell." I still think the beat is solid. Nice little Gilmour solo thrown in there for good measure. He could tear it up when he wanted to.

foo fighters - "let it die" echoes, silence, patience, and grace
I've said it before and will continue to do so for some time. Dave Grohl can sing pretty and yell like a badass whenever necessary. come get a taste.

the verve - "this time" urban hymns
I don't know why I don't listen to this album more, or why it never really got any pub. back in the day. I threw it on while putting up a few shelves around the apartment the other night, it really is a great listen.

moe. - "wind it up" the conch
I had this beat in my head for a week or so before I went home or a few days over christmas. my friday night out with some of the boys back home (who also happen to be moe. fans) featured beerpong and couple pulls of what-have-you before we hit up the bar a good walk down the street. what did I want to hear to go go with the what-have-you's?? wind it up indeed.

spoon - "rhthm and soul" ga ga ga ga ga
rhythm without the "y", that's crazy....crazy good.

the white stripes - "I'm bound to pack it up" de stijl
the more I listen to "de stijl" the more I like it in a favorite white stripes album rock off. this beat, a little more mellow, still worthy to throw on and give a listen.

beastie boys - "alright hear this" ill communication
anyone who knows the toast has a pretty good idea about my love for the beasties. however, every once in a while I seem to find another beat off of one of their albums that just happens to strike a cord and causes me to want to listen to it for the next few months. "alright hear this" is that current beasties jam.

radiohead - "polyethylene" airbag/how am I driving
this happened to slip on during a drive to work when I couldn't take listening to redskins monday morning on espn radio (every monday, they block out mike and mike to talk 'skins...stupid washington). its off some 5 song single that came out the same time as "OK Computer" and this is a damn fine tune.

the slip - "airplane/primitive" eisenhower
this was probably one of my top ten albums of '06. this beat being my favorite from "Eisenhower". bands from boston usually equal good times.

run DMC - "beats to the rhyme" tougher than leather
what??? they o.g. son!!! you sucker m.c's.

tenacious d - "tribute" tenacious d
recently was found viewing the Pick of Destiny on HBO. for quite some time the D have ruled the Toast with their rock.

dave matthews band - "hunger for the great light" weekend at the rocks
back in my high school and early college days the toast was a bit of a dave fan. then came the summer before my senior year when I paid 50 bucks for a lawn seat for a show in Saratoga NY only to be surrounded by a bunch of douches. Needless to say that I stopped really paying attention to this bands music. Oddly enough Pa Cregg is a fan (due to my younger brother) and he offered me a ticket to a concert the summer of '06 when his special lady couldn't make it. I saw it as an opportunity to see a free show and spend some QT with Pops. Needless to say I kinda got down (beers and other stuff) and before I knew it I borrowed some 6 disc show from my dad.

the roots - "rolling with the heat" phrenology
one of the biggest regrets I had about missing this past year's moe.down was that I gave up a chance to see the roots in an alcohol induced drug friendly environment. that experience must have been off the hook.

lcd soundsystem - "get innocuous!" sound of silver
this was another album that came out last year with much pub. from the critics. its kinda dancey and hip, tell you the truth, I like it

phish - "chalk dust torture" MSG New Year's '95
nothing really special in terms of reason why I'm rockin' this beat, just know that it equals good times.

radiohead - "jigsaw falling into place" in_rainbows
toast quickly found this beat to be one of his favorites on this new radiohead album. I just really dig their music and with "In_Rainbows", radiohead once again did not disappoint

the beta band - "assessment" heroes to zeros
I've been rocking their albums at work for the past few weeks and have been a fan of the betas for a bit now. unfortunately three is all that you'll find as these scots are now defunct. look 'em up though toastedblog fans, if they get a two thumbs up from this guy, who knows how much you'll love 'em.

david lee roth - "just a gigolo"
"bowsie bowsie bop, zitty bop. Iiiiiiiii ain't got no-body"

outkast - "behold a lady" the love below
I like songs with hand claps, I don't care what you think.

muse - "shrinking universe" new born
this song is off of some muse B-side album and due to it being on a preview for the movie "28 weeks later", everytime I go to rent a movie and pass the dvd box in new releases causes this song to pop back in the old noggin. it doesn't help that this dude can scream awesome as well. listen for the wailin' at the end. woah...

pearl jam - "inside job" pearl jam
"inside job" was one of my favorite songs off of this most recent pearl jam album. I don't know what it is about songs that start off slow and then creep and build into full blown awesomeness around the 5 minute mark but they really rev my engine.

beck - "strange apparition" the information
you know when songs just kinda find themselves on mixes, this is one of them. I haven't listened enough of this album to be all "the information is like wicked awesome", nonetheless, this tune makes me want to check out more.


toast OUT!!

Don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys.

I hate 'Merica's team and everything they stand for and the fact that the Giants have to head to Dallas this weekend has given me both a hop in my step and a case of the mud butt. Part of me wants the Giants to go into Dallas and beat Homo-Romo and the rest of his motley crew on their own backyard but I can't help to feel a wee bit nervous about this game on Sunday. Basically I am not too sure how well I will be able to handle a loss to the much hated Cowboys. Realistically having Eli get playoff win number one and getting to see the Giants one more time this year should be enough to make the Toast feel all warm and fuzzy.

Now, I shouldn't be focusing on who the Giants are playing and just be glad that they are still playing. But to have to see them lose to the Cowboys; not gonna lie but that may get the Toast classic "I'm getting upset" soundbyte, and no one wants that, not at all. I don't want to be walking around having to listen to douchebags in T.O. jerseys talking about how Romo is the next "insert great quarterbackman here" nor do I need to keep seeing, reading, and hearing about the him and Simpson as well. Dammit, I've made myself all sorts of angry and now I'll have to sit through the rest of the day with UNCONTROLLABLE RAGE. I need some top shelf hooch STAT!

Pay attention Philadelphia..

If you see this rather LARGE American, who did in fact "get dangited" by Ma Jitters prior to college, walking around over the next few days; go ahead and ask him what version of windows he is using. It most certainly is not windows vista.

Also, ask him what he is doing for the games this weekend as his good pal Toastmaster General might be looking to get down on Saturday night.

I just can't get it up anymore.

I don't know what it is but college football just doesn't excite me like it used to. Don't get me wrong, I looove football, it really revs my engine, but over the past few years college ball has sorta fallen out of favor with yours truly. I mean, this was a sport that I once argued with a certain Mr. Bohall that the NFL should try to be more like...at least having one knee equaling the player being down.

Mind you, my recent view of college football stems largely from the fact that rugby season happens to coincide with college football season and partly that my team (Notre Dame) isn't performing up to snuff. I guess I am kinda giving the rest of the Division I College Football teams a "fuck 'em, they ain't my squad", which is not the way to take it. Now, instead of spending my Saturday mornings waking up in a drunken stupor at 10am to catch College Gameday followed by a quick few hits of the good stuff with Danny so one can fully enjoy Bob Davie as he rambles through the 12 o'clock game on ESPN I find myself leaving the house by 9am so I can get ready to wear shorts and feel like I fell down a flight of stairs for the next few days. No longer do I sit in my sweatpants until 5 in the afternoon surrounded by college football bliss. For chrissakes, I was up for the Heisman as the highly touted longsnapper known simply as "Nuttrocker"!! Would Danny or Uncle Jitter, or Willie Moe when he had a Saturday off be proud of the Toast who willingly throws his college football viewing opportunities out the window for a lil' competish and excercise of all things?? I think not.

What I am trying to get across is the fact that College Football just isn't really doing it for me anymore, and its a shame as I can really enjoy it. Have I been away from it for too long?? When rugby season ends in the beginning of November the College Football season is drawing to a close, just when I have the chance to pay attention again and by then I am lost and feel out of place during those Championship week games. I hadn't had the opportunity to look into these teams all year!!! How can I pick up on months worth of games, controversy, storylines, and great plays in only a pre-game or two?? I still enjoy watching what games I can. Just over the holidays I took in a few games with Liz's brother (who's a huge Virginia Tech fan) and found myself picking up what those kids were puttin' down, having a good time, what-not. It's just when bowl season arrives, I just can't get into it. Other than checking in on a few or catching a drive or two I didn't watch a single bowl game this year for the first time....ever. Blame rugby for taking up time, blame my girlfriend who I like to go do things with on the weekends, blame Notre Dame being crappy, blame my leaving far away from my football watching pals, I just guess I shouldn't really blame college football for not catching my attention. Blame Toastie for not making much of an effort?? Possibly. For the time being I will once again not worry about my saturdays and missing college football. Next season, I guess I will see if I can make some changes and try to get back to something that I was a huge fan of.

"The phony pope can be identified by his high top sneakers and his incredibly foul mouth."

20-27, 185 yds, 74.1%, 6.9 yds/att., 2 tds

Eli?? Was that you?? Where did this come from??? You played.....well. Surprisingly well. I mean, you looked composed out there. You never stood there with you hands on your hips or looked like a dissappointed teenager after a play was ran. You never even pulled an Eli. There was no point in yesterday's game when you ran around the pocket alone and frightened with your arms flailing about. You displayed patience in the pocket...what's that about?? You looked like a real quarterbackman out there and to be honest....I liked it.

I know that right now you may be on a gravy train with biscuit wheels but lets reset and refocus here and just see if we can replicate this last performance shall we. Romo, T.O., and the rest of "America's Team" need to be brought back to reality for a little bit. Personally, I don't think I can stand anymore 'Tonica talk.

Look who's another year older!!!

Thats right, its this kid. My fondest memory of this kid has to be in a Cambridge hotel room the following morning after a Cracker show in Boston at the Paradise. Most of you boys should know, you were there. Basketball at Tucker's with a good night of drinking in tow, Toastie and Willie Moe getting kicked out of that bar where we discovered Schaefer's ("the only beer you want when you know you want more than one"), leaning on cops while awaiting bar entry, all culminating to a glorious viewing of Sweet November that next morning and my near death at the vicious hands of shower water consumption.

"They think they're so high and mighty, just because they never got caught driving without pants"

Word on the street is that not too many folks think the odds of Eli Manning leading the Giants to victory this weekend are not all that high. True, the Bucs do have one of the leagues best pass defenses during the regular season but I actually believe that this game will be Eli's chance to prove some of his ney-sayers wrong. If the Giants are able to establish the run with Brandon Jacobs against the front 8 of the Bucs, I feel that Eli could be quite successful with the play action and will be able to move the ball against this aging but talented defense. What doesn't bode well is that the weather is supposed to be a wee' bit crappy and for some reason bad weather and Eli don't mix which is kinda beyond me. I mean, he's spent numerous years in both Mississippi and New Jersey, you think he'd have learned by now.

Realistically Eli doesn't have to win this game for the Giants, he just can't lose it for them and I think coming off the game against the Pats, what he's hopefully learned over his last two playoff starts, and hopefully riding the success of Jacobs' power running Eli will end up looking like the quarterback that us Giants fans were hoping for. Just don't prove me wrong on this one Eli. Not to add to the pressure but I've got a lot invested this time 'round. C'mon and show me sumpin'!!

new news better than no news??

what does that mean?? who is this?? where am I?? well fellow internet folks, toastedblog refuses to officially call it quits and hopefully this "trend" of "writing" continues well into this new year.

do I have anything really big to say?? not really. actually just a little bit bored here in my office and as I no longer have fantasy football to keep me occupied I guess I had to come up with something to do. I mean, who does work...honestly?? so I was inspired by a certain blog to kinda dust off the good ol' toastedblog and just spit out a few things mainly to let the lovely internet audience know that everyone's favorite toastmaster general has returned and just looking to keep others in the loop of his general debauchery and random goings on. just remember to check in on your old boy toast and I will continue to try to keep this trainwreck a-rollin'. till then, I'm out.

toastie.

"Kickstart My Heart"

Callin' out all riverboat gamblers!!! Who had June 26th as the date for toastedblog's triumphant return, arising from the ashes like the mighty phoenix...or some other town in Arizona. HA! Hilarious, it never gets old. So, where was I?? Hmmmm......where the hell has toastedblog been all this time?? Well internet audience, excellent query. To be truthful the only reason that I can truly cite thats worthy enough to warrant such a long internet publishing layoff is, and will always be, diarrhea. Yep, thats it. I had a raging case of mud butt. For close to eleven months. It was awful. Not good times for all involved.

Now, with that fine excuse being thrown out there, I can now look to trying to jump start this blog for all those that may be interested. About two weeks ago I found myself out in the Electric City visiting amongst a few of the boys for ECP's bachelor party. Amongst all the general debauchery and my near death the day following said party it was brought to my attention that this blog my actually be missed. Questions asking the whereabouts of toastedblog raged throughout the weekend, or throughout that pre-burrito bar trip to insert brewpub name here. I can't recall the name of the establishment, but it existed and the turkey burgers were the tops!! This guy knows. Ahh...nothing beats the half pounder before the main course, pulled pork burrito from Bombers.

But now I digress. Any who, whilst I sit eating lemon wedges from complementary waters hilarious blogs and their posts come up as the topic of conversation and this is where we find our friends inquiring about their beloved toastedblog. When will it return?? What's the deal?? Who do you think you are?? You think you're better than me?? Do you think they'll include a side of BBQ sauce with the burger?? Where do you get off Toast?? All viable questions. My aforementioned excuse hopefully will suffice. But don't you worry kids, toastedblog is back!! Now, to finish this re-re-introduction to toastedblog, we'll just drop a couple words on you to get you up to speed where we've been this whole time, how I've changed per-say. Old and busted, say hello to the new hotness. Enjoy it, despise it, use it to line the dog's cage, read it while saying grace right before dinner; just do with it what you will. All I'ms told is that we're back and hittin' the links. Yeah!!

New Hotness for the Toast!!
-the baconator at wendy's
-eagles of death metal, whether its "peace, love, death metal" or "death by sexy" its all good
-country mike
-kool-aid!!! or lizahotty 5000, a sophisticated lady robot from the future. or you can call her liz, she's my special lady friend.
-onion ring, our chubby made up dog who eats chili and has hind legs that move faster than the front often causing him to run sideways and uncontrollably. liz has often referenced him with a cape.
-eddie barkey von schnauzer, our soon to be real life dog. yeah, he's already got a name
-rugby sevens and the captain toast. his team name, the branch davidians (rugby nickname still david koresch, even with no beard.
-the movie hot fuzz, I think that it may be no longer in theaters but maaahhrrk my words, watch it.
-washington d.c., there'll be more to come
-dino nuggets
- leonardo dicaprio, I don't care what you think, I like him.
-the glasgow diamonds
-bbq rib eating competitions
-the toast in a golf league, yeah!
-spanish pantelones and their terrible fantasy baseball stats
-meeting trot nixon's cousin at an Oriole's v. Indians game in Baltimore
-having trot nixon's cousin pseudo hit on liz as I went to go to the bathroom at said game
-many upon many trips to bawlmore without crabs, but all worth while
-blue crab party with buttcheeks, aka army matt. old bay..ooh mama. talkin' 3 doz kid!! what!
-new queens of the stone age, sick!!! and lets not forget about that new beasties' instrumental album, jazz and funk, with their powers combined..

oh, and so much more. y'all will hear about the plethora of misadventures in due time. for now, its just good to be back. on that note, toast OUT!!!

"It doesn't unbang your Mom."

If you haven't already it is necessary that you start watching "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". It's hil-larious!! Seriously though, I 've been checking it out for a while now and it has yet to disappoint. With television continuing to go the reality route and doing away with great shows like Arrested Development, having a show like Sunny makes the Toast feel all right.


"Let me take you bitches to school for a minute."

Wish I had more to say right now but that's about it. Just been out there livin' the dream and have to go spend a few hours working on my golf game. It's too nice outside not to. On a quick sidenote though it was great to see Jables, Jitter, Bung, and Willie Moe the other night albeit was brief and hazardly drunk. The classic broken chair toss outside Clark's was great. No Billyball but hopefully that time will come soon. Sorry I've been tucked away for so long boys. I assure you that it won't happen again!! Now if I could only get to Schenectady....

"I'll regroup at Red Lobster"

It is in every Irishman's best interests to not fall asleep outside while laying out in the sun. Only a few results from this are possible and one of them is definitely not hilarity ensues. Unless you are one of the many that run into the severely sunburned. Yes, that's right folks, I have achieved a crispy outside...the ultimate sunburn.

I had gone golfing yesterday with Pa Cregg and had a few hours to kill yesterday before rugby 7's so it was decided that base camp was to be set up outside to see what sort of color this freckled skin could get. Clearly I had made the wrong choice as my 18 hole morning had tired me out a little more than anticipated and before the Toast could get more that ten pages into "The Great Shark Hunt", by Hunter S. Thompson, I was out cold. Not even the mix of random Clash, Pearl Jam, Tool, the Who, Chili Peppers, etc. blaring next to me could awaken me from my slumber.

Now, I had been out and about at random barbeques and trips to the lake that resulted in some sun hitting this Irish chest so there was some base of a tan to work with. It was because of this that I decided that sunscreen would be of no use to me. This would prove to be strike number two. As I laid passed out on my chair for close to three hours I'm not quite sure what neighbors thought. "What is this idiot doing" comes to mind but nonetheless I would receive no aid. Then, as quick as it happened in the first place, I woke up.

Still groggy I wandered around my house to get my bearings straight when I noticed that it was close to 5:30 and I had to head over to SU to meet up with my team for our second week of rugby 7's. Rugby is traditionally played with 15's, rugby 7's is just an off shoot version played with just seven, and boy, does it require a good amount of some running. The consequences of my afternoon nap hadn't really come full circle until I jumped into my jeep and put on my seatbelt. "Wow" I thought. That hurt a bit more than normal. It is now that I begin to notice that something is up. I later become fully aware of my situation during our first 7's game as I am tackled and a hand scrapes across my chest and stomach. Later, as part of my jersey rips from another tackle, I only see a red, almost purple Toast tummy exposed. Dangited! I still have a good two hours of this left. Every hit, every slide on the ground, every time I ran through arm tackles, every time I didn't, all of these equal near excrutiating pain. What's almost even worse than all of this, I still have a shower to look forward to.

All in all, this week was much better than the first week of 7's. No matter how much I ran during the two months plus off from rugby I still have yet to get my legs under me. I guess jogging a few miles every other day is not the same as running at near full speed for 20 minutes at a time. Oh well, it can only go up from here. I just have to make sure I start my next book indoors.

Truth be told, he's just happy to be "Stuck with You"

Guess who's turning 56 today? If you want I can give you a little hint? You need some help here Toasted faithful, and I use faithful loosely as I am certain not many pay attention to this blog anymore. Hell, I don't even check in it every once in a while, and to think that I just completed my reformat and retool post...one....month.........ago. Let us see if this helps your cause.

Well, he's been "Back to the Future", let's ladies take advantage of him, and desires drugs that "don't cost too much". Not only that, but our birthday boy is always "Doing it all for his Baby", often has his songs drunkenly requested by a certain goofy Irishman, and he definitely knows that "It's Hip to be Square"! Ladies and gentleman, let us all raise our glass in honor, for a man we all know and love (some of us like a relative). May I present, Uncle Huey Lewis!!


Uncle Huey's got it all, especially "hot lovin' every night"

Happy Birthday Uncle Hugh. He certainly is a great man. Looks fantastic too.

Time to reformat and retool.

Man, after such a layoff I really have no idea where to begin. This is just the Toast dropping by here to find some way of cleaning up this blog which has come to resemble nine miles of bad road....especially when you put it in comparison with blogs belonging to "the boys". Ah, those are conducted the way a decent blog is supposed to; chock full o' hilarious pictures and witty 80's baseball references. And what are the readers gonna get here???

http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=72

Yup....you guessed it. Cheap laughs and nonsensical information. But, we have to start somewhere and before we get the dynamite drop-in of this being almost the second full year of Toastedblog action this kid is going to take you in a completely different direction; SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS!!!

A night of dang its here in Central NY as the Sabres dropped game 7 to Carolina 3-2. Trust me, I have nothing against the former Whale especially seeing as how a certain Uncle was drafted by the organization only to be seen spending his time in Edmonton currently, or is it Drexel?? I get confused. But I think the "storied" Carolina Hurricane franchise doesn't really need another shot at the Cup. Not just yet, especially after the sight of all the Redneck Hockey signs in the Carolina crowd. I'm just glad I didn't have to deal with any of that "Honky-Tonk Badonkadonk" nonsense. "Ooh weee!!"

Even though I am a Bruins fan, I found myself completely involved in every Sabre playoff game this year. True, they did have Danny Glover out there killing off penalties (take a close look at any shot of a bearded Mike Grier) and the lead singer of Willie Moe's favorite band between the pipes. But all Ryan Miller's aside, I was really getting into watching this squad play hockey. Fast paced, hard hitting, high octane hockey, that's all it was all throughout the playoffs. I just wished it could have gone on a bit longer. I'm not switching allegiences or anything even though the Bruins have done nothing the past few years to allow them the benefit of ertaining this Toasted supporter, but the Sabres and their style of play sure made for some entertaining hockey.

So there you have it; Toastedblog she's a back. I just hope some people still decide to drop by and give it a read 'cause it sure has been a while. Steady as she goes. Toast OUT!!

A New Dirt Dog

See, Wily Mo Pena gets it!!
Just a few months from signing former Buffalo Bison great CoCo Crisp, the Sox did it again yesterday when they traded hard rockin' pitcher Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for outfielder Wily Mo Pena. Nice collection of weirdos and dudes we got in the outfield huh?? Personal Toast favorite Trot Nixon, nutball Manny "Trade Me" Rameirez, a breakfast cereal, and good buddy Willie Moe. I like!! A nice addition overall I think. If you look at it; the Sox pretty much had seven starters going into this year so losing Arroyo isn't that big of a deal seeing as he was most likely sitting in the pen when the season got underway and to get a backup outfielder with a lotta pop like Pena certainly is choice. Kinda curious to see how this pans out.

"YAY!" Day for a May Day

Over the past few weeks I have begun to pay a bit more attention to the goings on in the music world to gain a little insight on some highly awaited albums. Now years of agony are being set afire on what is to be the greatest day to hit the Toast since this coming Friday. New albums from Pearl Jam and Tool out on May 2nd!! JACKPOT!!


Oooh....and Tool too!

Now, not much has really been mentioned about the Tool release other than its title, which is "10,000 Years", and the track listing. Meanwhile, PJ's site has a link to the single "World Wide Suicide" and the Toast gave it the one over. Not too shabby; reminds me a bit of The Who which I guess they can have a tendancy to do but let's not get sidetracked. To top it all off, Pearl Jam is also going to be running around this neck of the woods during the first leg of their tour this summer as stop # 3 is Albany, NY on Friday, May 12th. "Little Crapper" Chuck and myself are currently in the works of planning a mode for attack. Any takers??

In other news I'm finding it difficult going up and down stairs with much stability as spring rugby practices have hit full swing. I tell myself that I am in decent running shape all throughout the off-season until that first day after that initial practice when my legs feel like they've had a louisville slugger taken to them. If only the internet audience could see me trying to get up and walk after sitting down for about ten minutes. Tremendous dang it I assure you. Damn you hill running!! Now, if you'll excuse me, its time for me to struggle out of this chair. Toast OUT!!!

**Wait, before I go I just wanted to mention something; do yourself a favor and find a way to listen to "White Lines", by Grandmaster Flash. It just popped on iTunes whilst spell checking here. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up; extremely happy!!

Music for a Solemn Mood.

I find myself sitting in front of my computer here on a Saturday afternoon listening to "Hunky Dory" by David Bowie trying to make sense of my most recent phone conversation. My mother called to tell me that Pop Pop, my Grandfather out in Chicago, suffered a heart attack and died early this afternoon. As I sat back down "Hunky Dory" just sort of popped on and I haven't been able to really move to change it. I don't really know what the next step is as it was a rather difficult talk with Mom but I should be heading west within the next few days. I can't really write anymore as no time has really past and this is just starting to sink in. However, I'll leave this post with something to help me out. One of my favorite memories of Pop Pop occured just this past Summer when I was out in Chicago during Dependence Day Weekend. I was able to free myself from the neverending partying onslaught provided by Danny and Uncle Jitter to have dinner with my mother and Grandparents and this is where Pop Pop did his best to score me a date with our waitress. Had I lived out there, it definitely would have worked. I'm really going to miss him.

I Just Done Got Raq-ed!!

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God the last few weekends here have been musical bliss for the Toast. A few of my more recent favorites have decided to stop in to blow. me. away!! Ah yes, the three week ROCK BLOCK!!! A hard core sandwich of MUSIC AWESOMENESS!!! This all sounds fun in my head. Nonetheless, if we hit 88 in our delorian and go back in time we'll find that the Toast had a rockin' good time with bands like The Breakfast and some smooth jivin' and groovin' with Oshe!! (Sidenote: Sources close to the Toast inform me that Oshe has broken up.) But those are just the app's before the wicked feast that was Raq, hence the title.

Raq (pronounced: "rack") has uncannily become some kind of a b12 shot for music and me. Its seems like its been ages since one band has reinvigorated and rejuvinated me as Raq has of late. My first real Raq experience was at Lew Au , a weekend festival back in August and the Toast got blow'd up. Since then, the Toast has pretty much decided to saddle up and ride whenever they be in town, most recently last Saturday. The energy and the excitement that is created at their shows is really something that has to be experienced. Here's a link to give you a little sample of some sweet sweet Raq action. Please use responsibly. I've hopped on board for a few more of their shows here in the NY. More importantly, Raq's going to be in Albany on March 9th and 10th. Perhaps we can get Javen, Dunford and EC Paul involved. Ooh thai martini bar karoake.

All right kids, drive fast and take chances!! For now I'm going to take a chance on a delicious sandwich. I'm out like kraut.

"Der Bulldozer" ist sehr Hervorragend!

I had a great idea for a wicked Toastedblog but since I caught a tiny glimpse of SNL last Saturday after the UConn v. Louisville game; I decided that I should try to find a way to post what I saw. Here I was hanging out with a few of the boys a few minutes before heading out to meet rugby buddy Army Matt at Coleman's for a couple pop's, beers, what-have-you's and I was instantly trapped in one of my infamous and uncontrollable fits of laughter. Billy Ball, you should get a kick out of it. Take a look.


Of course "Der Bulldozer" can make a woman climax by simply pointing at her and saying "booyah".

I'd like to say that SNL is coming round again to reach new heights of comedy but the next two skits quickly brought me back to my previous opinion of the show. However, that whole "Lazy Sunday" short by that Andy Samberg fella seemed to make me laugh a bit. As for now we can attribute Saturday Night's laughter to Mr. Norris.


Is it so hard to believe that this man lost his virginity before his father?

Has it really been almost ten years??

Take a look at the picture you see below. What you see is Senior Toast on picture day for my high school hockey team. Look at me, so young, so full of promise and boyish good looks. Now I struggle to barely keep this train wreck of a blog up to date. It's Friday the 13th and here I am with my first entry of 2006 and what is it about, teenage Toast. Check out the red pants though. Lookin' sharp my friend. And my, could I pick up those rebounds in the slot; not to mention go into the corners with the elbows up. Elbows high, that's what my Dad would always say. My penalty minute stats definitely proved that I was listening.


Toast just the way I like it, aged 17 years.

Back then, I wasn't the Toast. Just Casey. I didn't have to worry about going back to school in a few days so I could complete my education certification. As far as I knew, I was going to head down to the University of Pittsburgh and become a chemical engineer. There was never a thought of sticking around Central New York for College and I had a good idea of where I was heading in life. There was no bionic shoulder (although my senior year would ultimately lead to my having reconstructive surgery), no difficulties with money, and love had yet to kick the shit out of me. I had some goals that I wanted to achieve and it seems that I am almost further away from them now then I was when this picture was taken.

Does this mean that I am disappointed in where my life is now, close to 10 years later? No, not really. I've had a ball. But that may be just it. The Toast is not getting all serious on his readers. This is just one of those things that you think about when you are struggling to get to sleep. But I am at least heading in the right direction. Classes start in a little over a week. Nervous? Far from it. Actually kind of looking forward to it all. Makes me wonder why I've put this off for....let's see four years now. I just know that I'm tired of being a college graduate that has to struggle to find a job. If there are any college advisors out there let me give you a piece of advice. Never, under any circumstances, allow a student to graduate with just a degree in History. Trust me, it doesn't work. Perhaps those fellas in Schenectady will see a bit more of me in the coming months as teaching in NY State requires some sort of Master's Degree. I hear SUNY Albany has a hell of a program...hint hint.

So this is Christmas?

Merry Christmas folks. Not gonna lie to you but its not the best holiday this Toast has had seeing as how I am still airing my grievances from Festivus but it is still a time for family and to be with the ones you love so I got that goin' for me....which is nice. Uber smooth with the ladies kid brother Cory is in town for the holiday so there's a little bonus hop in my step and there's always some grand eating to be had at the Godmother's. Aunt Julie, you never seem to let my tummy down. Word on the street is that there's gonna be plenty of peanut butter fudge. Now that's what I call the Jackpot!!! I just wanted to take a quick minute and wish another Merry Christmas to all of those who I know and love. You know who you are. But on the slight chance that you may be concerned with the amount of Toast love this Irish scamp has in store for you, puhlease, you are encouraged to ask. I can give hugs like no other. And open handed slaps to the mouth. Enough of this, I gots me some turkey to get my hands on. Merry Christmas and Happy Belated Festivus to all. You mean more that you know.

More Casey adventures to come.....

If you want to have some good Toastedblogs you've gotta grab 'em by the haunches and hump them into submission. It's the only way.

Ah Dodgeball, you're always good for a laugh. The sequence with Patches O' Houlihan teaching Average Joe's how to play by whipping wrenches at them sends me into hysterics everytime. recently I have been a bit out of it. Not gonna lie to you my Toastedblog friends but the the Toast was laid out on the couch for the majority of last week with some "flu-like" symptoms. Not good times, definitely bad times. My near death was in direct response to burning the ol' midnight candle for about a week and a half too long leaving me a shell of my normal awesome self. However, I did catch up on my daytime television and orange juice consumption. In case y'all are wondering though, the Toast is doin' mighty fine and looking forward to Turkey Day and having Aunt Julie load me up with some take home leftovers. YAHTZEE!!

So, what do we write about here for our Toastedblog faithful. A story of intrigue and espionage perhaps?? Erotica?? Tales of historic blunders featuring everyone's favorite Uncle Jitter?? Actually, I went to the NY Giants game on Sunday against the Eagles and really should have called JT for that game. I had an extra ticket and was pretty sure that he would have driven the hour from Philly to spend a few hours with yours truly in the Meadowlands. May even have helped cheer on Shockey or joined the Toast in his last place Eagles chant. LAST PLACE EA-GLES!! Hahaha, take that Phelps!! Dang it, I'm so stupid.

Ok, I am getting all sidetracked and I'm not even drinking. This post is to have a topic. A few nights ago while trying to get to sleep I found my traditional beddy bye time music to be some random Radiohead mix and I got thinking about a night spent with the boys over the summer and a talk that sent the Toast into a frenzy. Let's revisit shall we...

Picture if you can, a few good time having boys enjoying a few too many pops and the local bar where only rambly conversations can ensue. At this point I am chatting it up with Billy Ball and Bung's sister. (key sidenote, Bung is one of Jitter's teammates from college) The topic of choice, one of my top five, Radiohead. Now this was a simple enough discussion. First, I was all amped to find a fellow Radiohead enthusiast, especially one that is a lady. Seldom is this a topic of conversation amongst my friends for many of them have a not so good opinion about my musical tastes. Unless it happens to be about Uncle Huey. Anywho, basically at this point of the evening we were talking about which album of theirs happens to be our favorite. My answer is easy enough, for me that is. It's "The Bends". However, my party vehemently didn't agree with my decision, citing many other albums as more worthy choices.


"Oy!! I finks Toast be roght wif 'is opinions of me musik."

Now, I'm not trying to say that everyone who disagrees with my thoughts on this matter are way off, but in my opinion I'm pretty sure of what I enjoy. I didn't think that you could be wrong in having a favorite album by an artist, even if some of there more recent work happens to be better than what you enjoy. Bung's sister and Billy Ball both opted to select "OK Computer", which is great and had that been the album that I really grew to love the band that'd be up there as my top five. As for now, "The Bends" is where we're stayin'. I'm not taking shots or preaching to anyone on this, I just stick to my guns when it comes to my favorite music, movie, candy bar, anything and they'll never be changed. I guess what I am trying to say, the night as I was rehashing this drunken powwow, I started to think of what some of may all time favorites are and what their current counterparts may be. For your enjoyment I present the Toast's all time favorite five albums.

Pearl Jam, "Vs." (Yep, not Ten)
Radiohead, "The Bends"
Tool, "Aenima" (cue Javen's hatred of processedindustrialnewmetal Tool garbage comment)
Pink Floyd, "Animals"
Stone Temple Pilots, "Purple"

If you check my profile you'll even see that STP and Floyd aren't even the tops for me. Hell, many of you might not even consider these albums to be good. All I know is that when I am able to sit there and really give them a listen, these five always bring me back to where I was when I first gave them a listen and how they either stepped up and increased my love of their particular bands music or fully sold me on what's to come. Well, that is except for PJ, I was sold right away. For now, I leave this mess of a blog behind me for I am afraid to read it myself. Enjoy your Thanksgiving everybody. I have a night to prepare for.

Reverse Dang-It, Definitely.

Ah, the chicken wing. The Toast is a big fan and its a pretty safe assumption that those tuning in to today's Toastedblog are wingie supporters as well. Could there be anything more terrific??? No way, aside from some peanut butter pie. That guy over there knows what I'm talking about. So many styles, so many signature tastes, let's break it down a bit shall we??

We've got the infamous COP to which their wingies can only be described as brilliant. You combine that with some high class Change of Pace atmosphere (chair tossers and Scooter's friends bring the COP some awfully handy special bonus points) plus lets not forget the $1 pints of Labatts and that makes for a good time. Best wings in Syracuse I'ms told. A trip to Buffalo in your future, hit up Duff's for a taste of the traditional wingies in a giant bucket. I like the Mount St. Helens flavor. Ooh, and some fries too....for the side. They're for the whole group.

But what if you like your wings with a little odd twang, maybe with what seems to be italian dressing. May I suggest the Stockade District of Schenectady and a little place known simply as BL's. Obvious high points of BL's include a possible guided tour of beautiful Stockade Schenect by one Javen Bohall, down the block from Slick's and a RC Cola vending machine, and maybe, just maybe, a drunken trip to the river. The wingies aren't bad, but if your a big fan of not getting indigestion, these wings may not be for you.


I like's 'em hot and chewy...Javen knows!!

We're not done there kids, what if you'd rather have them wings in a completely different format. May I suggest the chicken wing pizza and for that there is only one place to go, Oompas Pizza. Just make sure to go all hot sauce on the pizza and all hot on the wings for some good eatin'. I can still recall the first experience with the Oompa's chicken wing pizza, the "Tuck Rule" game with Javen and Willie Moe. Its sooo damn hot!! Pa Toastie laughing in the background while we get drunker. Priceless!! Do you prefer your wingies with a lovable Bostonian Irishman, the two go together I know, but maybe you should head to the Four's right across the street from the Fleetcenter in Beantown to enjoy their buffalo wing nachos with Tucker. Tuck's will tell you all about 'em. I'm a big fan to boot.

But what I write about has to do with where the Toast is heading for a little bit this evening with Army Matt and little Charlie Coville. That'll be the Blarney Stone. The wings, they're 20 cents tonight and what I'd call pretty damn good but its the intangibles that make the Blarney the best, around. What's that you say?? What intangibles?? Well, that would be Rachel, the bartender. Good times, good times. The only problem we have here is how do you approach the bartender and not seem like that guy, the drunk asshole trying to pick up the hot bartender. I may be drunk, but the Toast is lovable...and funny. You throw in some free popcorn, convenient location (walking distance), and a rendezvous with Rachel, you'll win every time. Just wish all the boys could be going with. We could stop at Chuck's and drink all of his beer before we head over. Now that's what I call the jackpot.

Hell hath no fury like the misapplication of Icy-Hot

Hey, the Toast has emerged from his nonblog writing slumber to announce to what few readers he has remaining that I am once again a champion and she's nothing like that Intrepretive Dance Title I held back in '87, for this is not solely based on a judge's score. My rugby team has once again won the NYS Div. III Championship and after the weekend I am all sorts of tuckered out. I guess that'll happen after playing a good two days worth of rugby. Plus, the partyin' doesn't help all that much, I'm sure of it. With a game against Binghamton on Saturday, the finals against arch rival Rochester on Sunday, hard core celebrating, and some west coast Shockey action the Toast rarely had time to sit and calm down.

However, I'm a bit sad to see this rugby season come to a close. I mean, there are a few things that I'll be looking forward to, like the being able to walk around without being in constant pain, normal Toast smell as opposed to the Icy-Hot cologne that I has become my new trademark, the possibility that my knee will no longer be the sized of a cured ham. Plus, I'll finally get to see this college football that everybody's been talking about. But I really do love playing and I don't think I can wait till the Spring season. Can I really live without that feeling one gets when he cakes his shoulders with that Icy-Hot all too soon after a nice hot shower?? If you've never had the experience let me tell you, its the best.......and the worst.

But, as mentioned, I'm going to have a bit more time on my hands and with this new found time I believe I'll have to start trying to see some of my friends that I haven't had too much contact with of late, and maybe some more Toastedblog worthy adventures. I found it hard to believe that I hadn't typed one of these mutha's in over a month. Really, what's the deal. Its not like I have the attention span of a.......Ooh, I'm missing Arrested Development.

Toastedblog, it's Totally Sick, Twisted, and F***ed Up

Well, Well, Well, what have we got here tonight kids?? Some interesting days have been had of late, and mark my words, the Toast has been doin' a good job of enjoying 'em. So, this Toastedblog entry may seem to be a tad more upbeat than the last. We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

First things first, I have been in pretty good contact with the little brother over the past week and a half. Word on the street is that when he finishes school in Michigan this December that we'll have another Cregg in the area. YAHTZEE!! I haven't been in the same state as Cory for more than a week since I was a senior in college. To top it off, he wants to get a place together. Sounds intriguing, I'm not gonna lie. Here I was previously stating that I wasn't going to be emotional. I'm really looking forward to him coming back. Cory and I are similar as Creggs come seeing as how we're just pretty much so damn awesome. Is that being too over the top?? If so, I apologize. But, much like his older brother (psst..that's me), Cory's not half bad at being goofy and likeable. Plus, its never bad having a goalie around.

Last week was loaded with some awful weather here in the 'cuse so the Toast was faced with finding ways to spend some time as we were kinda rained out at work. But don't you worry my toastedblog faithful. You see, I resorted to something the High School Toast would've done, and no, its not what your sick minds may think. I had videobattles amongst the music networks. Back in the day I discovered that the music channels actually played music videos during the hours of 8am to about 3pm, conviently the same time the kiddies be at school as they cannot be exposed to some what us locals call "music". So on the days that I went in to work only to be sent home either early or right away, I would find myself making some coffee and a tasty breakfast to try to see some of these "music videos" that I once remembered watching. It wasn't as enjoyable as I remembered seeing as how back then there was the possibility of seeing some videos by Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, AIC, and much much more. Oh well, new Foo Fighters music will suffice. I like the Foo's. You know what else I am finding myself enjoying a bit more. Kanye. That's right, you heard me. I watched some live at the 10 spot concert one afternoon. Not to mention that Gold Digger video that is on at least 30 times a day. It's cool though, I don't mind. Toast is diggin' his style. "Ooh, I've got that ambition baby, look into his eyes."


Toast was 'spose to buy ya shorty TYCO with ya money!

The Toast got his first start of the fall season this past weekend as my rugby team, the Syracuse Chargers, beat Watertown 38-0. Not too shabby huh. Didn't play too bad either. Had a few nice runs, couple hits....ooh and a beer or two. Chuck and BFF Mary stopped out to catch what I hope is a good glipse of the Toast in short rugby shorts. "Ladies, I ask you to please control yourselves. I know its difficult, but please try, for the sake of the readers." Don't laugh, there are readers. Nonetheless, they stopped out to watch for a bit. I do hope this starting thing is a new trend that sticks around for a while though. Usually I just sub in during the A games and play the B game. This seems to play ball though.

Finally, we get to something that is giving the Toast a little extra hop in my step. Hockey's back!! Jackpot!! I have decided to celebrate by heading to Buffalo this weekend with a few boys from my Rugby team to see the Bruins take on the Sabres. From what I'm reading the Bruins seem to be lookin' all right and from what I'm remembering Buffalo is a pretty awesome town. A few beers and chicken wings, Oh Mama!!

"Where I End and You Begin"

I can watch but not take part
where I end and where you start
where you, you left me alone
you left me alone.

For sentimental reasons, this post is written more through the identity of Casey rather than the Toastie you all know and love. We thank Radiohead for creating the solemn mood. To be honest, I'm not doing so well and its for reasons that all of my friends may not truly understand, just because they know what she did to me. The girl that changed my life upon meeting her four years ago is moving, and I am still in love with her. Jess has accepted a job with the Portland Opera. That's Portland, Oregon. She leaves tommorrow morning to drive across the country and out of my life for good. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the first uberdang-it of my young life.

Our story isn't really a long one, but its not one that is enjoyable for me to tell. Jess and I dated for two and a half years, roughly. Living together for close to a year. Everything was great. How could it not be with a girl who loved bacon, Star Wars, cartoons, hot dogs, baseball, video games, and most importantly, me. Its not just that she liked goofy stuff that nerds like me enjoy, this was the first relationship that I knew the very instant of meeting the girl that I was in love. I never could stop thinking about Jess, even to this very day. She shared her family, life, heart, all that mushy stuff, and did so with enthusiasm and joy that I had never experienced before. This was it. I had found a beautiful, extremely smart, funny, honest girl that truly was in love with me, and I knew it.

We met the fall after I graduated from LeMoyne, September 2001, and as I previously mentioned I was all up ons from the beginning. At the time, Jess was a Junior at Syracuse University and she had just begun working at the friendly local Zany Brainy where your's truly had been working all throughout college, selling toys to the youngsters. Oh god, I was so shy, but "not really" around her. We hung out for a few months before I even made my "move". She had to kiss me. I was too busy trying to show her that I could jump through the driver side window of the Wabbit. I meant, that we would talk for hours and hours on end but I was often too nervous to plant one on her. You should have seen me when I asked her out for the first time. If Loretta Buck ever comes across this website, or even Jess, they may remember. But the point I was originally going to get to before all of this heartfelt rambling was that with her being a two years younger than me, I wanted to wait till she was fully done with school before I was going to ask her to marry me. We had talked a lot about what we were going to do over the future, but I never told her that I had planned on proposing after she finished grad school, just this past spring. She had joked about it over one Christmas together that her friends thought that I was going to ask her but didn't. It wasn't my plan though. I had begun putting money aside for it when we split up abruptly in March of '04. Hell, even her stepfather Steve joked about the fact that Jess and I were going to be the next in their family to get married at his brother's Al's wedding in late October of '03, just a few mere months before she broke me, by telling me that she had in fact cheated on me, a suspiscion of mine that she had repeatedly denied over the last month or two that we were living together. You have no idea how it felt to return to our apartment that you offered to leave so she can pack and move out for the first time. To have to move the couch that we had in our computer room so you had a place to sleep because there was no bed. I don't really like talking about this. After all of this time it still hasn't gotten easier.

I have known about this move for a little while now, well, I found out about ten days ago. It has been over this time that I have reflected on my life with Jess and am beginning to see that maybe this is a good thing. Going through boxes of stuff that I can't get rid of, all memoirs of our relationship. Goofy notes, cards and letters, some that I can't even finish reading bear to look at. Billy Ball and I discussed this on Friday night and until right now, he stood as one of the few that knew what I was going through. He mentioned this very fact. You can finally move on. Perhaps he's right. I broke up with Margaret, a fantastic girl whom I dated following Jess for a number of months, just because there was a period of time last summer where we almost got back together. Ever since then I have stayed in regular contact with her and the one thing that remained was the hope that someday we would once again see each other the way we once did. Every other girl that I met would instantly not get the nod because I had this insane dream that we'd fall back in love and everything would be ok. Why did I feel this way. Last August, Jess told me that she had made a mistake and still loved me. That's why I state that we almost got back together. But, as before when we initially broke up, I got dang-ited. Just as it seemed that everything was going to work out, it just stopped. With no explanation. Now, this marks the second time a relationship of ours has ended with no reason. First one, the person who I loved would never had cheated on me. I loved her too much. But it happened nonetheless. No explanantion. Now, for the simple fact that she is moving across the %$&#*@! country, I should be able to finally move on. I really have no other choice.

It has been a year and almost seven months since we broke up despite all that we have been through, I still love her. We went to breakfast yesterday and had what seemed to be just a regular outing. A few times I almost tried to mention how I feel, but what is that going to do now. Perhaps its better this way. I don't feel it, but if I keep saying that to myself, maybe it'll help. Chuck and my BFF Mary have been trying to help me with this and no matter how much I want it to work, things aren't too fun right now. But my friends do care about me and want to see me through this. For that I say thank you.

I have invited the help of music to aid me through these horrid times by turning into a emotion filled mixmaster and creating the "Portland, Huh" box series featuring songs that have some meaning throughout the many different eras of our relationship. From the nights were we spent all night talking in my car when I was too nervous to kiss her and listened to "True Love Waits" by Radiohead to how I could yell the "You fuc%'in disappoint me" line from A Perfect Cicle's tune "Passive" that proved to be some drunken yelling music (Click on link and give a listen). PJ Harvey, Ben Folds, Tool, every band and song has some meaning. All culminating in the final track, "The New Style" by the Beasties. That to show a new era of Casey. I'm losing someone I will always love with all of my heart. Someone who I was prepared to spend the rest of my life with, and who I thought was ready to do the same. Jess, I really don't know what to say. I love you and I do wish you the best of luck. Wish things were much different between us and I'm sorry to see you go. I never felt as happy as I did when I was with you and its something that I will always remember. I'm done typing for now. Too difficult and I feel so helpless. But, its not about me. Enjoy life out west. No matter what you have done to me in the past I still remember how I loved you. I hope you continue to remember the time we spent together and if it meant just a fraction of what it meant to me, I'll be more than happy. Now, for what appears to be for the last time: I love you Jess. I love you so very much.

Sunday's can always be counted on for providing a few o' my favorites: watching some football, a beer or two, and fried stuff with cheese!

Ahh..the NFL, she's a back. Toast is a huge enthusiast of surrendering his entire Sunday to the likes of some healthy beer swilling men and the dank dark hole that we always return to come mid-September. Javen..Bill...you would have been awfully disappointed with the performance of Pat's Pub yesterday. Here's just a short list of dang its:

- only one sheet pizza was provided
- even scarier dudes than normal and the previous scary dudes got even worse
- a forty year old non-hot bartender
- no random really hammered townie!

What's the deal??

With the aid of a certain "Willie Moe" Emerson and Marcus C. Chumps, I was able to forge ahead with my opening day and make it to the coveted Giants v. Card's matchup. The decision to go to the C.O.P. at half put a little more hop in my step. Good evening all around, we get a Billy Ball run-in, Shockey gets a touchdown while the Giants win, and not to forget some top notch eating. A little word to the wise, too many garlic wings will not improve your standard "I drank a few beers while watching football and I may have made a big mistake" status.


Ooooooh...Stuff's gonna get Shockeyed!!

In other opening day news, my rugby team beat Buffalo pretty good on Saturday. I even scored my first try of the season. Not half bad Toast. Not bad at all. The Toast was forced to wear a knee brace as my right knee is still a bit filled with fluid since injuring it a few weeks ago in a rugby tournament in Saratoga and it feels like it needs a bit of support. I got the knee looked at this past Friday and the Doctor refered me to see another. Thinks it might be the MCL. I really am not having any stability issues with it or "real" pain. I practiced on Thursday, played two games on Saturday, ran, got hit, and gave hits and no problems were had. We'll see where it goes from here.

At the drink-up after the game, I ran into a guy I knew from my college days, John McGowan. He played rugby at LeMoyne and lived near me back in the Lancaster Ave. days. McGowan was the scrumhalf playing for Buffalo and I didn't really notice it was him until about the halfway point of the second half for I was at my normal wing position. The run-in we had at the chili on our post game spread would confirm the McGowan sighting. By the way, the chili ended up being pretty tasty.

All righty folks, I gotta get runnin' here. We's got some mo' football to watch! I just hope Madden refers to some Shockey.

SHOCK-EEE!!!

26 year old Toast...sounds terrific.

Happy Birthday Toast!! I'm another year older, and based on a conversation last night with my good buddy Kyle while watching the Sox game, my 26th year should be a good one. According to him, the odd numbered years are the ones that kick our ass and even ones, dem's the keepers. Looking back over the last few years and comparing my odds and evens, he's got a point. So Kyle's got that going for him...which is nice and the first few hours of 26 are shaping up to be pretty much gravy for me. Got's me a long weekend from work in which moe shall be enjoyed. That's right, the Toast is heading to Turin, NY for moe.down! Woo!!


Don't worry 'bout the Toast...this kid still got the chops!!

"Toast...Do you know anything about moe.?"

Of course not. But that's not the point. I'm goin' up with a few of the boys and meeting a good group of people there on Friday and lookin' forward to a weekend of gettin' loose!! You all know what I'm talkin' about. Lil' campin', lil' grillin', some booze, lil' what-have-you, gittin' down, ooh.....and hopefully some Chipwiches!! First weekend of 26, not so bad at all.

Quick rundown of what's been and what's to come to keep all up to date on the Toast:

- Raq at Lew Au in Sheds, NY a few weeks ago. A little pregame for moe.down. Only two words can describe that show, and you kids better earmuff it here..."fuckin' awesome!!"

-Saratoga Invitational Rugby Tournament last weekend. Only played two games because we actually lost the first game, giving us just a consololation game for third place to look forward to. Shouldn't of lost but a few too many errors and penalties. Toast took a hell of a shot though whilst trying to hold on to the ball just a bit longer before passing it off. My right knee is currently double the size of my left, not its normal white irish color that I am commonly used to., and has decided to make simple movements difficult. But I kept on playin'!! Dang it!! Fall Rugby season is officially underway.

-I've run into my past four girlfriends over the course of a month and two either have been or are currently pregnant. The one I have wanted to run into I am running into again soon. Hmmm....

-Got a package from Marquette for grad school in the mail the other day. You know where Marquette is don't ya??? Ooohh!!!

-Possible visit to see my brother and sister on opposite sides of Michigan. By the way, Kate is moving to Jacksonville, Fl in a few months.

-Annual Coville/Cregg trip to NYC for Giants v. Redskins game. Little Crapper, the Skins gonna get Shockeyed!!!

There's more but lets not ruin the surprise. But now its time for me to clean up my act for there's birthday fun to attend to.

Take 'er easy.