Apr 3, 2006

Believe It Or Not



Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum
Atlantic City, NJ
Well, that's definitely a building that draws your attention.  This is a museum that features artifacts and objects collected by Robert Ripley and the things that appeared in his syndicated newspaper feature, Ripley's Believe It Or Not.

Vampire killing kit
Shrunken head
Haitian voodoo statue
Coal from the wreckage of the Titanic

Vlad The Impaler (the statue, not the nerd standing in front of it)

Apr 2, 2006

Hi Jimmy




Made a new friend on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Apr 1, 2006

La Dolce Casa



La Dolce Casa
Tamaqua, PA
This is one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to.  Everything I've ever had here has been absolutely delicious!  It's not often that I have an opportunity to get dressed up, but my family and I attended a wedding reception here and took a few photos.




Mar 13, 2006

Generation Next


Generation Next
Tony Luke's - Philadelphia, PA
After the shows at ECW Arena on Saturday night, myself and many of the other fans in attendance met up at Tony Luke's to have cheesesteaks and talk about the show.  We were unexpectedly joined by Austin Aries, Roderick Strong and Matt Sydal - three of the four members of Generation Next.  They were very awesome dudes, and they took this photo with me.

Mar 12, 2006

ROH vs CZW - The War Continues



Last month, I went to a CZW / ROH double header in Philadelphia.  The first show that night was CZW at the old ECW Arena, and the second show was ROH at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory.  The order has been reversed for this show, and both companies are holding their show at the most famous indy wrestling venue in the world on the corner of Swanson and Ritner.

Results:

After the main event, BJ Whitmer came to the ring to challenge CZW.  Members of the CZW locker room ran to the ring (including John Zandig, Necro Butcher and Super Dragon) to brawl with Whitmer and members of the ROH locker room.


CZW: When 2 World Collide
ECW Arena - Philadelphia, PA

Results:

*Update: Both of these shows have been released on DVD.  The first is called Arena Warfare and is available on ROHWrestling.com.  The second is called When 2 Worlds Collide and is available on CZWrestling.com.

Mar 1, 2006

A Kindred Spirit


Octavia Butler
1947 - 2006
The world has lost a brilliant writer late last month when Ms. Butler passed away outside of her Washington home.  She was 58 years old.

I first discovered Ms. Butler in the mid 90's when she did an interview with the Sci-Fi Channel to promote her 10th novel, Parable Of The Sower.  She immediately stuck me as a kindred spirit (no pun intended) - a person who has difficulty interacting with others and who can see human society for what it is when you peel back the glossy coating.  I feel the same way, and I often wonder which is the result of the other.  In that interview, she mentioned that she had no idea how to get along with other children.  The host asked her if she gets along with people now, and without an ounce of humor, she told him "I can fake it.  I can do it for periods of time, and then I have to go back home and hide for a while.  I'm a very solitary person."  I have felt exactly the same way throughout my life.

Her stories are a pessimistic, but not hopeless look at the future.  If you're a fan of science fiction and haven't experienced her work, check out Kindred and Parable Of The Sower.

Feb 26, 2006

Four Years Of Honor


ROH: The Fourth Anniversary Show
Results:

Update: Several years after this event, Handsome Johnny began to wrestle as Hanson.  He and Raymond Rowe formed War Machine, who won the ROH Tag Team Championship in 2015.  They signed with NXT in 2018 where the team was known as the War Raiders.  The following year, they were moved to the WWE Raw roster where the team took on the name of The Viking Raiders.  Handsome Johnny/Hanson is now known in WWE as Ivar.  Additionally, Mitch Franklin wrestled in a student match at this show.  He would continue with ROH and across the indies under the name Grizzly Redwood.

Jan 31, 2006

That Must Have Been A Really Hot Start


Northern Arizona University
Lady Lumberjacks basketball
I can't say I've ever watched a Sixers game that inspired such a reaction.

Jan 17, 2006

The Twelfth Angel



Leliel
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Episode 16 (1996)

"No one can justify life by linking happy moments into a rosary."
- Leliel

Jan 15, 2006

Cross Town Double Header In South Philly




The first shots of an inter-promotional war between ROH and CZW have officially been fired this weekend.  Both companies had a Saturday show in Philadelphia across town from each other. CZW was first with an afternoon show at the former ECW Arena, followed by an ROH show later in the evening at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory on Southampton Road.  Each company invaded the other's turf during the show, which culminated in a title match between ROH World Heavyweight Champion, "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson and one half of the CZW Tag Team Champions, Chris Hero.


CZW: An Afternoon Of Main Events
Results:

Update: Both of these shows have been released on DVD.  The first is called "An Afternoon of Main Events" and is available on CZWrestling.com.  The second is called "Hell Freezes Over" and is available on ROHWrestling.com.

Jan 5, 2006

No Chili Peppers Were Harmed In The Washing Of This Dog


War of the Coprophages
The X-Files (1996)
In the 12th episode of Season 3, Dana Scully washed her dog with an amusing pet shampoo called Die Flea Die.  The plot for this episode was turned into an X-Files novel for teenagers which was titled Die Bug Die.

Jan 4, 2006

Rage In The Cage



WWE Velocity and Smackdown TV Taping
Wachovia Arena - Wilkes-Barre, PA
This was kind of a last minute decisions so my seats weren't too great, but I did get to see my first WWE cage match.  Also, two wrestlers from WXW in Hazleton appeared on the show: "Smooth" Tommy Suede and Supreme Lee Great, who worked under his real name, Jon Trosky.  It was also the debut of The Shane Twins from OVW who were promoted and repackaged as The Gymini.  The matches were decent, but the show was centered around a dopey soap opera storyline in which Melina has accused Batista of sexual harassment.

The Smackdown matches were recorded to air on the UPN Network this Friday, January 6th.  The Velocity matches will be streamed on WWE.com as of Saturday, January 7th.

WWE Velocity results

Singles MatchSylvain Grenier defeated "Smooth" Tommy Suede

Tag Team MatchThe Dicks (Chad Dick and James Dick) defeated Fred Sampson and Scotty Charisma

Singles MatchJamie Noble defeated Scotty 2 Hotty

Singles MatchBobby Lashley defeated Havoc

Tag Team MatchThe Mexicools (Psychosis and Super Crazy) defeated The Full-Blooded Italians (Big Vito and Nunzio)

WWE Smackdown results

Falls Count Anywhere
Singles Match		John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Matt Hardy

One On Three
Gauntlet Match		Mark Henry defeated Rob Eckos, Jon Trosky and Gus Harlacher

WWE Cruiserweight
Championship Match		Kid Kash defeated Juventud Guerrera

WWE United States
Championship Match
(Best of 7 Series - Match 6)		Chris Benoit defeated Randy Orton*
*substituting for Booker T

Tag Team MatchThe Gymini* (Jake Gymini and Jesse Gymini) defeated Paul London and Brian Kendrick
*Simon Dean introduced The Gymini, who were making their WWE debut in this match

WWE Tag Team
Championship Steel Cage Match		MNM (Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury) defeated Batista and Rey Mysterio Jr
Mark Henry ran in, ripped the door off of the cage to attack Batista and Mysterio to cost them the match.



Update: This was Juventud Guerrera's last appearance in the WWE.  He had a number of backstage altercations, and he performed moves that he was told not to do (including the 450 Splash) in his match against Kid Kash.  He was fired from the company after the show.

One of the jobbers on Velocity (Fred Sampson) would go on to become a member of the Nexus and a WWE Tag Team Champion, Darren Young.  Also, one of the jobbers who faced Mark Henry on Smackdown (Rob Eckos) would go on to become Robbie E, a TNA Tag Team Champion, Television Champion and X-Division Champion.

Dec 31, 2005

How Can He See Over The Bar?


ET / Coors Poster (1982)
Happy New Years Eve, everybody.  Remember, when your bartender starts to look like ET, it's time to hand over the car keys.

Dec 25, 2005

Merry Christmas



Merry Christmas from the Schweitzer boys.

Dec 24, 2005

Christmas In The Stars


Christmas In The Stars
RSO Records (1980)
This is right up there with the Star Wars Holiday Special as being one of the most bizarre parts of Christmas and of the history of Star Wars.  It features the voice of Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and the beeps of R2-D2, and the hit single "What Can You Get A Wookiee For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)".  Seriously, it was a hit.  It charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

As if that isn't bizarre enough, producer Meco Monardo revealed in an interview with TheForce.net that this record is the first professional recording of Jon Bon Jovi.  The album was co-produced by Tony Bongiovi, who is Jon Bon Jovi's older cousin.  The future rock star was 17 years old at the time and he had a job sweeping the floors at The Power Station recording studio.  Meco and Tony had three different people at the studio to sing R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas.  The producers weren't crazy about any of them, so they asked Jon to step in and give it a shot and they loved his performance so much that it was used for the album.

Dec 23, 2005

A Window To The Past


Once in a while, I look on eBay for things from my hometown of Hazleton, PA.  I recently came across this postcard from 1907.



I'm having a little trouble making out the handwriting on some of the words, but this looks to have been written by Tillie Gerhardt of Hazleton, PA to May Sinclair of Walkerton, Ontario to wish her a Merry Christmas after she returned home from her visit, and that she can't wait to see Miss Sinclair when she returns to school.

The return address written on the front of this postcard is North James Street in Hazleton, which is five blocks down from the Victorian homes in the photo.  They're on North Laurel Street, on the other side of Route 309, just before you get to the intersection of Laurel and Diamond Avenue.  Those houses are still standing today, and I can personally attest that they're still in excellent condition because this is my home.  Specifically, I live right here:


The arched window that the arrow is pointing to is in my living room.  We're renting the third floor of an old Victorian home that's been here for over 100 years.  The landlords are a lovely couple who live on the first floor, and they gave us a really great deal on the place with all utilities included.  They're both retired, but the husband still works part-time as a repairman, which is how we found out about this place.  My girlfriend's father has an old 50's jukebox in his kitchen that breaks down at least once or twice a year, and my landlord is the guy who comes over to fix it.
 


This is the other side of that window.  When you walk into the living room of our apartment, you'll see a door on the far wall.  It leads to a very small porch... a very, VERY small porch.  You can't even fit a chair in there.  If you go out there, you pretty much have to walk sideways with your arms at your sides, like you're a spy trying to sneak around a corner by flattening yourself against the wall behind you.  It would be a really great sitting area if it wasn't so narrow because the view is pretty nice.  This is what it looks like during the summer.



I wonder what it must have looked like to stare out of this window a hundred years ago.

Dec 18, 2005

ROH Final Battle 2005


ROH Final Battle
Inman Sports Club - December 17, 2005
Edison, NJ
The fourth Final Battle took place in Edison, NJ.  After the show, I volunteered to help with the ring crew to clear the arena and load the trucks, and I got to meet many of the wrestlers, including Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Nigel McGuinness and Prince Nana.

Final Battle is Ring Of Honor's biggest show of the year.  It's my second time attending an ROH show, and it didn't disappoint.

Results:

Dec 15, 2005

Mom Mom



Ethel Mae Tom
1936 - 2005
You were there for me in my worst moments, when no one else would be.  I'm going to miss you, Mom-Mom.  Thank you for being the most bad ass grandma this world has ever seen.

Dec 11, 2005

As Mischievous As He Looks



Here's my little buddy Terry on the deck waiting to come inside.

Dec 1, 2005

One Last Holiday Season To Overeat



There's a couple of things I need to say about this photo.

1. My girlfriend wanted to take a photo of me standing next to the Christmas tree.  It's not a particularly large tree, but it's still a Christmas tree, so I expected it to be significantly larger than me.  It wasn't, and I felt very self-conscious standing next to an object that's supposed to be large when I am both taller and wider.

2. I now weigh 303 pounds.  For a 25 year old guy with a family history of diabetes that goes back at least three consecutive generations, this is not good.  I've never been over 300 pounds before, but I love food and I tend to eat more when I'm depressed.  This just kind of snuck up on me.

3. It's too difficult to start a diet during the holidays, but I tend to do well when I set a goal with a defined starting point.  With that being said, as of New Year's Day, I am starting a diet.  No more recreational eating - just breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an appropriate amount of food for each.  No liquor, no beer, no soda - just water and coffee without sugar.

4. I promise, I'm not as mean or angry as I look in this photo.  I just think I look dumb when I smile.  Yes, I know I look dumb anyway, but trust me, it's worse when I'm smiling.
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