New York

It was Saturday in New York and the weather was perfect. I wonder how my opinion would have been impacted if it was too hot or too cold.
After getting bagels (we were in New York) Andrea, Jeff, Sawra and I started a death march from Murry Hill to the Village but we brought Vitamin Water.
We were taken to Madison Square Park where none of the dogs were cute and it reminded us of that terribly sad Story, Go Dog Go.

Went to the Strand which is the same as Green Apple books.

One thing people do not know about me is that I am an ordained minister so I can perform wedding ceremonies. That should come into play when we go to Vegas.

Andrea discovered a Dog Adoption thing that had a pig from the North Shore Animal League. There was a Pointer puppy mix that could have caused a logistical issue.

Walked along the water and we listened to really good public speakers.

Had a slice of pizza where they had autographs on the wall, I then noticed that they all were duplicates.

Went back and ended up at Curry Hill for a place called "Curry in a Hurry" where two could eat for $10. I like discoveries like that. Ended up there because of a Yelp recommendation for a Belgium beer joint that turned out to be an RWP french place.

New York is a great city but people enjoy honking their horns and no one is punished (it says that it is illegal) so I purchased earplugs from the brand new CVS (where they gave me free iced tea...). No one ever knows where ear plugs are in the store.


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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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New York and New Jersey

For the first time since that less than successful trip in 1997, I returned to the Big Apple, New York for an inspection. I have already gone on about the brilliant practical joke so as this is a long entry I am not going to repeat myself because I am sure I will repeat myself over pub quiz, over kickball etc..

While walking towards Penn Station I saw the Empire State Building and remembered that someone pretty close to me worked there a number of years ago. I kind of wished that I had a time Mac Hine to drop in and visit but then I remembered that it would take too long to explain who I am.

So I will start with my trip to New Jersey. I had gone to New Jersey shore in the early 1990's. I am not quite sure why you would care. The day started with a train ride to the Newark station to visit a bank someone who expected me to be taller. Then took some other random Newark only station where I befriended a little kid with his Grandma. While walking round the station I must have gotten frustrated or annoyed as the kid asked me when I saw him on the train platform, are you the guy who said "arrrgh!!".

Of greater interest was my field trip to Milburn where I met Gwen at the Milburn Deli where I was only able to eat half of the sandwich (it was of course Sandwich Friday!).

I liked the sandwich but I failed to order cheese. If you want the rest of the sandwich go to Gwen and Brian's house..

Gwen & Brian live in a nice place that has a table from the NYC library. Their rumpus room is as large as my apartment and of course they have a Frank Chu sign (I think that belongs in every home!)

Made my way back to the city on the train and met up with Andrea and Jeff. Andrea and I walked towards the Momo. We saw this long queues for a street vendors selling some sort of middle eastern food.

We had dinner at a place called China Grill. Does anybody like those bathroom attendants? I was a bit annoyed but I could not imagine that would be a job anyone would aspire to.

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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Z 100

WOW, I am in a place called Gigi cafe in Murray Hill in New York city and I needed to use the Internet so I went down to Starbucks which was closed due to water issues.
They are playing Z 100 and WOW, this is the most awful station...


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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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A good prank...

So I must say that my brother Jeff got me good on a prank.
I was visiting him in New York city and was expecting the building from the show the Jeffersons.

He gave me an address and I walked and thought, this has to be the service entrance as it seemed rather dingy. I am not a snob as far as hotels as I stay in backpackers in Australia and New Zealand but thus seemed well gross. For me to call something gross, it has to be pretty damn gross.

So I walked around the block. My brother told me to put a code in the pay phone. I then expected it to be a modest facade to some decent apartment. The code obviously did nothing but I noticed the door to this shady building was ajar so I walked in. When I walked in I assumed that my Brother had fallen on hard times or was slumming. Now I am not talking about me slumming in Daly City or shopping at Grocery Outlet but more in line with some sort of weird existential bohemian joke. So I walked out thinking I was in the wrong place. At that point he came out of the bar next door to explain the ruse. A review of this place says, "Not recommended for the faint-hearted. Or the stout-hearted either, for that matter"
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=200+E+34th+St,+New+York,+NY+10016&sll=40.749533,-73.977127&sspn=0.007315,0.017896&ie=UTF8&ll=40.748883,-73.977277&spn=0.007315,0.017896&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=40.745734,-73.978133&panoid=sLDZjJPuQ6iJPc_IXOknXw&cbp=12,144.51,,0,5

Had some nice Pizza.

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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Dirt Soda

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/9/11_No_one_to_blame_but_myself_pt_II_Dirt_Soda.html

They are things that exist outside my realm of caring including (but not limited) the NHL, Horror Movies and the Seattle Seahawks. I remembered having a Seattle Seahawks jacket when I was in short pants at Marlton but never had an opinion either way until tonight but honestly the series of events that led to what happened had nothing to do with the Seattle Seahawks but rather my own bad judgement. You may remember the situation with the faux cheese.

I was walking around the Mission and walked into the Dollar Store. I saw that they were selling Seattle Seahawks themed Soda with a flavor called Dirt.

I thought the name was a joke and not an actual flavor. I paid and left and got exactly what the label said. I took a sip and it tasted like I fell into a puddle and took a giant gulp. I took a second sip and well it was exactly like the first. Parents should buy this and make kids drink it as punishment. So I poured out the rest of it and wondered who else bought this nonsense.

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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Berkeley

For the first time I went to a Berkeley game. I like Berkeley, especially Jupiter as it has good beer, no TV and good pizza.
The stadium is about a mile uphill from the BART station.
http://gallery.me.com/hydra9#100728&bgcolor=black&view=grid

We were recommended to hit Manny's Tap Room prior to the game which was a good call.

The game itself was a bit difficult to watch as Maryland fans will be saving money on Bowl game tickets this year but a fun day none the less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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