FriendBurst Blog

Nine Things I Have Come to Like Lately

1. The New T-Mobile Girl. . To be honest, the way this advertising campaign so blatantly copied the Mac-vs.-PC commercials kinda soured me on when I first saw the replacement for the aging Catherine Zeta-Jones.  Who could be turned off by this girl?  Very few, apparently.  In the process of looking for the picture here on Item #1 on Things I Have Come to Like Lately, I found more than one webpage devoted to how often various internet users fap to Carly Foulkes.  Carly Foulkes bikini pics.  Carly Foulkes, the #1 reason not to fast forward through commercials during basketball games.  I’ve learned that I am not the only guy who drools over the gril in the pink dress.   I say this with the risk turning this into a Chelo J blog, this chick is charming, hot.. fun.  Given that it is the NBA playoff season, and I’ve been watching a lot of basketball, I’ve seen a lot of T-Mobile commercials… and doing a lot of fapping..and it has nothing to do with the smooth, athletic black men.

Speaking of fit, black men…

2.  The Old Spice Komodo Guy… This man and his commercials have also been somewhat of an Internet meme for quite some time now. Ice cream?  Oh yeah.  Here’s the thing, even though his commercials start with him addressing: “Ladies…” , they’re still effective on me.  I was standing there, undecided, in the deodorant aisles of the Rite Aid the other day, pondering what to choose for my twice-annual stick of deodorant purchase.  Like most Americans, I put on deodorant every day, but still, one stick lasts six months, so picking a new pit stick is an important decision!  It’s going to determine your personal odor for next half year!  I couldn’t decide between Speed Stick, Brut, Old Spice… my choices are even more limited because I refuse to wear anti-perspirant because I’m paranoid about the aluminum content… then I saw the fresh, white sticks of the new “torpical” Old Spice varieties, as advertised by the smooth talking black dude in the sarong.   I did actually open the top of the deodorant and sniff it to make sure it didn’t smell like rotten seaweed or something, but it was okay, so I am now exuding the “Fiji” scent.

Speaking of hot, stinky places…

3.  The Memphis Grizzlies… By the time you read this blog, game 5 of their Western Conference semi-finals will likely be over.  I’m taping it; don’t tell me what happens.  I was fortunate enough to live in the SF Bay Area when the Warriors beat the Mavs in the first round back in 2007.  You cannot imagine how amazing it felt to be a fan of a #8 playoff seed beating the #1 playoff seed… The Warriors then went on to flop in the second round whereas the Grizz are doing quite well.  I cannot help but root for these underdogs as they go through the NBA’s second season.  Of course, it is also quite remarkable that they are accomplishing this great feat in sports while their home city is half underwater.  I really hope they move on and continue to win.  I also root for Zach Randolph, whose always been known as a talented player whose never accomplished anything significant.

Speaking of things that never seem to accomplish anything…

4.  Sunday Morning News Programs… Does it say something about my life that so far, all my favorite new things have to do what I watch on television?  Well, at least I am getting beyond just talking about the commercials.  Meet The Press, Face the Nation, This Week, The McLaughlin Group, my DVR is quite busy on Sunday Mornings these days.  I’ve been moderately interested in following the political news in years past, but lately, it’s become more important to me.  The Sunday Morning shows offer you something that the daily news & opinion shows don’t offer: since they are not driven by the daily cycle, they’re calmer (except for the McLaughlin Group), more reflective, more mature.  Definitely worth watching for anyone who is interested in more in depth coverage.

Speaking of mature, old people…

5.  Frederick Moliere’s The Miser… Okay, I may bit biased as I am actually a part of a production of this play right now, but I never would have thought I would so enjoy a 17th century French comedy.  See, I have been in plays that deep down, I didn’t really like.  This play has survived 500 years because it is hilarious!   I can’t wait to show it to you all.  I’m not going to reveal the costume I am going to be wearing as Frosine, an intriguing woman, quite yet, but I will tell you that unfortunately, we won’t be doing period costumes.  It’s contemporary clothes.  The motivation for what Frosine is going to look like?  Mrs. Roper from Three’s Company.

Speaking of tacky polyester…

6.  Bowling… I have rediscovered the joys of throwing a heavy ball at a bunch of defenseless pins.  It can be frustrating at times when you don’t quite knock over everything you want to, but it’s not like the ultimate frustrating participatory sport, golf.  Bowling is just a wonderful combination of food, socializing, physical exercise and competition.

Speaking of greasy, bargain foods….

7. Roasted red potatoes… I eat a lot of potatoes.  They’re cheap, filling, easy to make and they don’t grow mold as quickly as a lot of other carbohydrate rich foods.  Potatoes rock, and until recently, for me potato meant “russet”.  Lately, I’ve come to enjoy roasting red potatoes in the oven as opposed to nuking russets in the microwave.  Smothered in butter, salt, pepper and parsley, these little red beauties have given me a new appreciation for the humble tuber.

Speaking of earthy, humble things…

8.  Mongolia…. Okay, this isn’t a new love. I’ve had an affinity for all things Mongolian since 1997.  While riding my motorcycle through an intersection in Oakland, I once got hit by a Mongolian driving on an international drivers’ license.  Totally his fault.  Completely totaled my motorcycle.  I was very lucky I was not hurt.  Despite this being my only contact with an actual Mongol in my whole life, I still think Mongolia is cool.

Speaking of cool…

9.  Man Sized Big Wheels… I so want one.