Sunday, November 28, 2010

I have Epsom Salt in my ears or I am living in a Simpsons episode

Got up and ran a 10K in Golden Gate Park. 
Was undecided about running either the 5K or 10K at the split off point but thought, running the extra half hour would be a good thing. 
Had my long sleeve shirt so I stopped by my car and tossed it in the back and re-pinned the number on the short sleeve shirt. 
Need to calibrate my Nike + thing which is something I never do if says I ran faster and longer than I expected. 

After the race, I went to a place called Float Matrix as I am trying to use all my Groupons. 
Asked the guy if he ever saw the Simpsons Episode and he discussed a whole level of nuances that I missed. 

Spent an hour in a completely dark water filled coffin. Next time I do it, I will put in the ear plugs (which I did halfway through) 
This is good for problem solving. Took a shower afterwards but my hair still has Epsom salt in it. 

Using another Groupon I went to Lombardi sports to buy a pair of boxing gloves as I am taking a boxing class at the JCC and using someone else's gloves is gross. Also got two pairs of socks as some of my favorite are getting near the end of their useful life. 


posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 5:25 PM 0 comments

Friday, November 26, 2010

An odd thanksgiving with a recipe for dollar store brownies


For the first time since 1998 I was on the West Coast for Thanksgiving, luckily so far no earthquakes.
When I went to Redding I was excited to see the trailer for Star Wars Episode I

For lunch I was going to have a tin of eel (that I got at the asian market) but my can opener broke. 
Went for a run to of all places, the Colma BART station. Saw two different guys pushing shopping carts full of cans

In an odd way, felt bad for the second guy as the easy accessible cans would be most likely out of reach. 
Spoke to one of them at an intersection at the top of the hill and he mentioned that his Dad was a track star. 
(note that I had plans to be social later...)
With a broken can opener I decided to go to lunch at Boston Market near my house. I was thinking it might be open. Turns out it was bum rushed so I split.

Went to the dollar store and I bought the ingredients for my dollar store brownies. I am sure they are people who turn to the Greatest Blog for culinary inspiration. For the obvious reason I do not bake often. (On another note, I got myself another can opener and was able to eat the eel that perplexed me earlier in the day) 

Here is the shopping list
two bags of brownie mix
two bags of marshmallows 
two large butterfingers. 
vegetable oil
one of those pans 

I mixed in the brownie mix, some of the marshmallows, vegetable oil with bananas and peanut butter. 
Put this in the pan and then put on a level of marshmallows with crumbled butter finger on top. 

Baked at 350 for 30 minutes. Allowed to cool. It looked awful but they ate it at the party (in Oakland) 

Turns out the Bay Bridge was packed on Thanksgiving night but thankfully I had Satellite Radio. 

On the way back I stopped off at Target to take pictures of chumps who were waiting outside. I guess they do not understand economics. 


posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 9:21 AM 0 comments

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Eavesdropping and two odd injuries

Since Friday I have had two minor but odd injuries. 
While walking in the rain my hand hit a fire hydrant bruising my left hand. Of course I yelled at the fire hydrant, which solved everything. 
Then before going into the Vintners Market I had some time to kill so I went into this Mobile Cigar Lounge. 
Now I am not big on cigars but figured I would be able to watch the mighty Washington Redskins complete another step to their fourth superbowl victory in 2014. 
The guy sold me a cigar and I put it in my mouth backwards, so I mildly burned myself but I did not look cool. Note that I was completely sober. 
Watching the Vintner's market at Fort Mason is interesting....


On another note besides injuries and my pursuit of a giant dome to save myself, I was having lunch and the couple behind me was having their first match.com. The guy was attempting to explain all of the things that he lied about in his profile and in their e-mail. I am sure it will work out well. 

posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 8:40 PM 0 comments

Friday, November 19, 2010

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I will be going on a wine bus thing with some friends. 
Like last year I was in the midst of Movember so I am going to wear exactly what I wore last year (including the yellow jacket) 

On the scale of thinking what I am going to wear, I am much closer to Billy Joel compared to Elton John but as a goof will wear the same thing. 

This is one of the designated off the wagon days on my take a break from drinking. 
We are supposed to bring something for the opposite of sub and these types of things always throws me off (Pot Lucks etc) 

posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 2:57 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 15, 2010

Hotels and Google Suggest

(Later I will do a more detailed accounting of my sojourn to the South including pictures and such...)

This morning, I am like a Paul Simon song and going to Graceland

Dropped off Andrea, Jeff and Sawra at the Memphis airport and I needed to find the address of my hotel, the American Inn. 
When Google Instant tags on, shooting to the suggested search result, you know you are not staying at the Ritz. 

The exterior would be at place in East Germany and the common area would make a good waiting room of a tire shop but the room itself was large and clean so for $35, I got what I paid for. 

Watching the Memphis morning news and one of the lead stories dealt with a shooting about a mile from here. 

posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 5:58 AM 0 comments

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Woody Allen and Netflix

I have had the same DVD from Netflix but I am a big fan of their watch instantly service. 

Your humble narrator has neither cable or a TV because I base my life on Stuff White People Like

Working through the Woody Allen movies starting with Annie Hall and then watched Zelig yesterday. I am interested in how the movie was made. 
If anyone has any suggestions then let me me know. 


posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 4:32 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Banana Peel

I ran for the first time since the USHalf and on my way out I saw a Banana Peel. 
I did not want to be part of slapstick comedy nor did I want it to harm anyone else. 

So I picked up the banana peel on the run but all the dumpsters were off on that caravan (which always makes me think of Better Off Dead

I did not want to toss the banana peel over the fence because the other side of the fence is a Chinese cemetery because that would not be a good way to start off your run

So I had to hold the banana peel until I got to the Chevron station, so that explains why I was running with a banana peel. 

Went to the Brazilian Consulate for a an exhibit of photography. On my way up Montgomery I was stopped by a rapper named Nstinct and he had me listen to his music which was pretty good so I bought a CD from him
He probably thought I was some sort of Mogul (which I am quite sure I am not) 



posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 10:35 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Annie Hall

Last week I finally got around to watching the Woody Allen classic, Annie Hall on Netflix. I thought it was really funny. My favorite scene is when they first met and they had the subtitles about what each was actually thinking which is pretty close to some of my internal dialogue.
When I was 7 I did not understand how Star Wars would lose to Annie Hall but I have not seen an episode of the Clone Wars. 
My question is what classic movie would people be shocked that you have not seen. 

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

Current Open Positions
https://www.jobscore.com/jobs/marcusronaldi/list

LinkedIn Profile
http://www.linkedin.com/in/yourprjob

posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 5:25 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 01, 2010

25th on a 5K and my car not stalling

Yesterday, Halloween was a good day.
The weather was good and my car made it to the city without leaving me stranded. 
(On Saturday it developed a fun new trait of stalling) 

I have always had an odd fear while running a race that I would be last, even when I was fast in high school. This only happened once and it was not a big deal (a few years ago). Started the 5K and I found myself in the upper half of the small race. Was not running super fast (I am guessing much of the city was hungover). 
Finished the 5K a few seconds over 30 minutes. Would not have made the Oxon Hill team but finished 25th out of 62.
Also won a $25 gift certificate which I got a new ankle brace and a pair of socks. 

My car started stalling which is not fun as I would not want the car to stop as I am crossing an intersection. 
I want to get the second or third model year of the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt or Tesla S which means I do not want to buy a new car for at least two more years. 

Watched the first part of game IV of the world series at Fiddlers Green. Some people can be very loud. Need to remember to get ear plugs. 

C Mac drove me to my car which did not stall, sputtered but not stall and the engine light came on but got home safely. Drew and I walked to Celia's to watch the end of the game. 
The game should be a total of three innings. 

Realized I left my phone so I had to go back and I gave the guy $8. 

posted by Marcus Ronaldi at 12:09 PM 0 comments