It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Winters Avenue
West Hazleton, PA

Back Of The Door

This started out as a poster for the 1999 Jim Carrey film Man On The Moon that I put stickers on once in a while.  One thing led to another and it has become a very large and nerdy collage.

My Room

Rainy Tuesdays are for movies and gaming.

New Webcam

My goofy looking face, as seen by my new webcam.

My Family

Dad, Grandma and Grandpa in my grandparents back yard.  You've got to love my Grandpa's pocket protector.

View From The Lottery Machine

Unimart
Route 924 - Hazleton, PA
I work third shift at a gas station off of Interstate 81 in Hazleton.  It's not easy to stare at those cupcakes all night long without eating them.

The Master Of The Figure Four

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Gathering Of The Juggalos - Toledo, OH

Despite the wad of cash that is clearly visible in the former Intercontinental Champion's left hand, I didn't have to pay for this photo.  He's selling t-shirts and other merch, but I've had just enough cash to cover the hotel, food and gas with about $25 to spare, so I couldn't afford anything.  Despite this, Mr. Valentine was super cool and took a picture with me.

Happy Birthday, Governor

Jesse "The Body" Ventura
USA Weekend (1999)
The former WWF Superstar and current governor of Minnesota turns 50 today.

Much Clown Love

At the Hampton Inn ready to head to The Gathering.

On The Road To The Gathering

Gathering of the Juggalos
Seagate Convention Center - Toledo, OH
July 13 - 15, 2001
Driving from Hazleton to Toledo.

Mom Mom and Pop Pop

I spent some time at Mom's house over the weekend.

• Left: Pop Pop taking a break from working on the van while Mom Mom looks down and my cousin Nicholas sits on his lap.
• Center: Pop Pop and my cousin Jessica.
• Right: Mom Mom tending to my mother's plants.

When That Clock Strikes...

Mac Tonight (1987)
As much as I loved Ronald and the gang when I was growing up, my favorite thing about McDonald's in the 80's was Mac Tonight.  I found this translite on eBay and my grandfather and I built a backlit box to enclose it.  It's now hanging on the wall next to my desk.  It plugs into an electrical outlet and turns on through a toggle switch.  Seeing it always cheers me up.

My Desk

You can't really see it too well in this picture, but the lighted box on the wall next to my desk is a McDonald's Mac Tonight translite sign.  My grandfather and I built a lighted box for it.  You can see it a lot better here.  The light shining behind the sign gives it a 3-D effect.

Noodles Of New York

Lili's Noodle Shop & Grill
Battery Park - New York, NY
Until two nights ago, the only ramen I've ever had were from packets of Oodles Of Noodles from the grocery store.  I had a ramen topped with roast duck at Lili's, and it was one of the most delicious meals I have ever eaten.  It's a world of difference from any instant ramen I've had before, much like a McDonalds hamburger is different from a Delmonico steak.

The Most Beautiful Movie I've Ever Seen

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Regal Cinema - Battery Park - New York, NY
I love everything about this film.  It may be my favorite movie of all time.

An Evening With George Carlin

An Evening With George Carlin
Kirby Center - Wilkes-Barre, PA
February 9, 2001
George Carlin is one of my heroes.  I got to see him perform at the Kirby Center last Friday.  It was an absolutely fantastic show!

I'm Less Blurry In Real Life

This was taken with a digital camera at my girlfriend's apartment on Alter Street.  The camera reminds me of what I was told about the original cameras from the beginning of the 20th century.  Back then, people had to remain still for a long time when a photo was being taken or else it would come out blurry.  This camera is the same way.  If I take 50 pictures with it, I'm lucky if two or three of them come out clear.

Pierogie Bowl

Mrs. T's Pierogie Bowl
Schuylkill Mall - Frackville, PA
Yesterday afternoon, my grandfather won his age bracket at the 8th annual pierogie eating contest sponsored by Mrs. T's.  He had a strategy going in - stuff two pierogies in your mouth in the beginning, and then just eat one pierogie for each one that his opponents were eating so that he'd stay one ahead.

Pottsville Republican Herald - click for full size

The City At Night

This was taken on 7th Avenue near Times Square.  You can see the signs for Tad's Broiled Steaks and MTV Studios above it.

We went to the Virgin Megastore while we were in the city.  You can see it in this photo on the right.  I wish I had taken a few photos of the inside of the store because it's huge.  I found a few old George Carlin albums that I didn't have for a surprisingly good price.

A Piece Of The Past Lives On

Howard Johnson's
46th Street and Broadway - New York, NY

We had a late dinner at this awesome restaurant.  It's a historic landmark of the city that has been in business since 1955, and a place where Gene Hackman and Lily Tomlin once worked.  It's such a warm and inviting place to have a meal.  It reminded me a lot of the restaurants in downtown Hazleton when I was growing up.  It's much larger places like Carmen's or the Copper Kettle, of course, but it's had such a small and peaceful vibe that I forgot I was having dinner in one of the busiest cities in the world.

Doo Wopp at Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall
New York, NY

We came to the city on the 20th because my girlfriend works for Hilton Reservations and got a free night for her and a guest to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.  When I saw that The Original New York Doo-Wopp Show was playing at Radio City Music Hall, my first thought as that she should have brought her dad with her on this trip instead of me.  The show featured Earl Carroll & The Cadillacs, Earl Lewis & The Channels, The Edsels and other doo wop groups and singers from the 50's.  We didn't go to the show.  It's not my type of music, and we really couldn't have afforded it even if it was, but her pop loves this stuff.

Arrakis And The City

This photo was taken near the intersection of 49th St and 7th Ave in New York, across from the Playwright Tavern and Pax Wholesome Foods.  There was a billboard for the Dune mini-series that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel last month on the building above Hoilihan's.  I wanted a picture near it like the nerd that I am.

I Recall Central Park In Fall

Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Planet Hollywood - Times Square
This is the sweater vest worn by Matthew Broderick and the license plate from Morris Frye's 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California.  It was his love.  It was his passion.  It was his fault that he didn't lock the garage.

It Was Cheaper Than The Other Souvenirs

I saved one of the tokens from the arcade at WWF New York on Times Square from last weekend.

Cross Face Chicken Wings

WWF New York
Times Square - New York, NY
We had dinner at WWF New York.  I picked the chicken wings instead of the cheesesteak because it comes in a collectible WWF bucket that they let you keep.  They really missed a golden opportunity to call them the "Cross Face Chicken Wings".

The place is pretty cool.  They're promoting the heck out of Chyna and the XFL.  There were tons of copies of Chyna's Playboy for sale, as well as footballs, pennants, shirts and everything else you can think of with the XFL and team logos.  I was tempted to pick up a New York Hitmen shirt, but they're pretty expensive.

Chyna was there at the time, but I didn't get to meet her.  I think she was having dinner with a fan, but I can't say for sure.  She was at a table and there was a camera crew filming her and her guests.  As cool as it would have been to meet her, there was no way I was even going to try to barge in.  I did, however, get to take a lot of dorky pictures, including one next to this giant "Stone Cold" Steve Austin collage on the wall.