My Aunt Barb and Uncle Mike decided to come to NJ for a long weekend.  I had to work the entire weekend at Lebowski Fest, but still got to see them a little on Sat.  Here are some of the pictures I took!  Enjoy…

[Show as slideshow]

Today my Nike Plus notified me that I logged my 1,000 kilometer!  (Last time the site gave me a widget…this time?  They gave my widget headphones.  Ummm, thanks?!)  It’s been a really tough running summer/early fall.  I hurt my knee, fell off my bike, the rigors of life at a job an hour and change away, etc.  The knee is still not 100%, but since I usually stop running all together from December to March, I figured I’d just gut it out for a while.  And gut it out I have.  Since I get asked by a lot for people just starting out, here are some pointers.

I ran playing sports my entire young life, and hated it I might add!  I mean I liked “making sports” as my French intern used to say, but the training part of just miles of boring running in preparation?  Not so much.  When my playing days were over, and I returned to running just for the sake of running?  My initial efforts were poor.  I set out to run 2 miles, and I could barely finish two minutes.  Which brings me to my first point..

SET A GOAL. It can be a distance or a time that you run.  Obviously when you begin, there is a chance, a good chance, that you will not be able to run the entire distance.  FINISH ANYWAY. And no, I do not mean to run til you hurt yourself.  Walk.  And if you get a second wind?  Run again, and then stop and hope you get a third wind.  Point is…if you want to “run” two miles?  Physically make yourself do the two, even if you are walking.  If you want to “run” for 40 minutes?  Physically make your body run/walk for the entire time.  Keep track of your times and run to walk ratio. Then the next time you go?  Try and cut down the walk portion of the run, until you are running the entire time.

MUSIC. I have been told that “serious runners” don’t run with music.  I do.  And I don’t know too many non-serious runners that can run 10 miles.  I find there is unbelievable motivation in running with an Ipod.  It is very zen to just put on your favorite tunes, let the wind and the sun hit your face, and mentally check out for an hour or so.   Running is the cheapest and most effective anti-depressant you will ever find, as long as you don’t mind being fit as a side-effect!

ORGANIZED RUNS. Once you make your initial goal?  Set a goal to run in an organized run.  1 mile,  2 mile, 5k, 10k, etc. etc.  There are all distances.  Running with other people and a number pinned to your chest gives you an adrenaline boost.  My best times are always in race environments, even though at my age, I am only racing myself!

SPREAD YOUR RUNNING NEWS. In the era of email, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc.  Share your running news with your friends and networks.  You will soon find other friends also into running and you’ll find inspiration in that.

NIKE IPOD KIT. After this blog entry, (Romeo Discrimination), some might be shocked to still hear me endorse Nike.  And while the shoes do not fit me as well as New Balance, I absolutely love, and have found immeasurable inspiration in the Nike Ipod Kit.  If you have a Nano, the Kit allows you to measure and time your runs in very elaborate detail, and then collect every run you make.  I have recorded over 1000km with my kit and have found it very inspiring.  They also give you cool widgets like the one below!

My Certificate from Nike

In 1993 I gave my friend Brian my fake I.D.  This year?  He gave me his extra CBS Draft Kit.

We’re even, B.Y.!!!!

This is the greatest invention for fantasy ever.  I, of course, realize the rest of the world has been hip to these types of accessories to make drafts cooler and more organized for some time.  But due to the “intricacy” of the SJPFFL Fantasy Football leagues scoring system, and the reluctance of my league brethren to change, we are relegated to a vile place in the FantasyFootballScape called TQ Stats.  Or TQ SUX as we have since dubbed it.  While CBS Sportsline sends this wonderful draft packet to its customers, TQ sends instead, confusion, frustration, angst and contempt, EVERY year.

So to recap, it was simply, the fastest draft in the history of SJPFFL.  Great time had by all.  Zane and Brian came a great distance to draft in person, the picks moved very lively, many of us went out for wings afterward, and the Butler experiment in phone drafting went off without a hitch.  (No phone trouble, no lag in picks.)  The “LIVE DRAFT” results on the web?  Only got as far round one.  Hearing a pick, crossing off a pick, entering it on the web, and on the draft board?  Was simply too much.  SO, next year…interns.

Thanks Guys

[Show as slideshow]

Round 1

1. Zane:  Adrian Peterson
2. Butler: Matt Forte (Fuck you BTW)
3. Vitale: Michael Turner
4. Romeo: mjd
5. Beach deangelo williams
6. Wolf Tomlinson
7. Wood: S Jackson
8. Aug: Fitzgerald
9. Finnegan Chris Johnson
10. Warfel: Slaton

TOO FAST SORRY!~!!!!!

I honestly can’t believe I am going to take the bait and actually have thoughts about this.  To be totally honest, even though I was an Eagles season ticket holder for years, ran a blog dedicated to Eagles revelry, and was personally rescued from being a Cowboys fan as a 2nd grader by none other then Vince Papale;  my interest in the Eagles has steadily declined in the Reid/Lurie/Banner/Donovan era.  My heyday for Eagles was the Buddy Ryan Era, but I spent many a Sunday and some serious coin attending games up until about 4 years ago.  Maybe that decline was buying my first house, and the Eagles were the first piece of expendable income that could go, and my interest went with it.  Or maybe I just don’t like Reid/Lurie/Banner and Donovan.  Maybe a combo?  Maybe the “smarter than the room” attitude the Eagles brass has carried over these years, the smug “times yours” attitude at press conferences, and the smiling goofiness displayed by the team leader made taking the several thousand dollars I spent a season OUT of their pocket and putting it back into mine, very easy.  I did, and while I still watched, it was never like I watched in the past.

Enter Mike Vick.  The same smug brass that I have grown to find more and more difficult to root for, sat there and told me they signed Mike Vick and why.  The solemn faces rang hollow with me, as their faces often do, and I quickly dismissed it as more about publicity then football.  Philadelphia is Phillies crazy. For the first time in a decade or so, Eagles camp was a tree falling in the Philadeplhia sports forest that no one was hearing.  Then I sat back and watched the Vick fallout.

The day after he was signed, I was whisked away from my desk to cover a PUP RALLY put on by a local radio station.  It was called in reaction to the 1000’s of calls and comments they were receiving.  Although no one showed (blame the haste in planning not the sentiment), anti-Vick was the flavor of the day, to be sure.  In the time since, a pro-Vick voice has certainly emerged.  Calls of, “he paid his debt, he has a right to earn a living.”  Last night there was supposed to be a Pro-Vick rally put on by the NAACP.  It was cancelled at the Eagles request to make Vick’s first appearance in Philadelphia less of a spectacle.  Many friends, family, and co-workers vehemently defended or denounced his right to play.

On a personal level, my initial reaction was…  I will root for the SAINTS this year.  But truth be told, I have always rooted for the Saints a little.  It’s an awesome town that I loved visiting, loved its people, and am really rooting for Nola to get back on its post-Katrina feet.  Feeling good about the team and Saints success goes a long way in that recovery that is still on-going.  But the Saints are not Vince Papale rescuing me from being a Cowboys fan in 1977, the Saints are not Jaws/Carmichael/Wilbert/Bergey/ Swam Fox /Buddy/etc, the Saints are not Gang Green and the Ultimate Weapon, the Saints are not the Father and Son Banquet I went to and sat with Bosh Pritchard and Dick Vermiel, the Saints are not kicking a football barefoot in my yard like Tony Franklin.

And most times?  Neither are Lurie/Banner/Reid/Donovan.  And to be sure?  I hear my anti-Vick pro-Animals people loud and clear.  I love my puppies too and respect those that will not watch the Vick Era Eagles.  But, to me,  the Eagles are part of something bigger then what they are at any given moment.  So while I will certainly tune them out a little more this year then even the past years, the Eagles are more then Lurie/Banner/Reid/Donovan– and they are certainly more then Mike Vick.  I think this clicked for me when I read my friend TJ’s Facebook this morning (BELOW).  I went to dozens of games with TJ over the years, and he always talked about what it would be like to take his son Teddy to the games, to experience what we did.   IT DOESN’T MATTER, WE ROOT FOR THE UNIFORMS was his Status Update.  Indeed, Moos.  Indeed.

So those of you that want to board up your doggies and boycott the Eagles?  Have at it!  Those of you that want to continue to root for the team you always have, have at it too.  Vick, like all things, Eagles or otherwise, shall pass.

Go Phils! (esp. this year!)

Broadway Theater Pitman, NJ. An Evening of Hope could not been more aptly named.  The one-night-only film venue featured Rowan student films dedicated to drug addiction and recovery.  The films ran the gamut, but collectively were sad, desperate, alarming, disturbing, funny, eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and educational.  The thread that wove the five films together, however, was hope.

While the films were brutally raw and personal, they never veered far enough away from the notion of hope to ever feel exploitive.  The question was asked in the post film Q and A, and filmmaker, Harry Fleckenstein replied,

“These are people that are going to do drugs whether I am there or not to document it.”

Fleckenstein, a recovering addict himself, was the driving force behind An Evening of Hope.  The driving forces behind Harry?  Their presence was palpable in the crowd.  The night was punctuated with timely, “We love you Harry’s” and low but audible affirmations in unison to the positive messages that came from the painful images on the screen.

But the night that very easily could have been about Harry, was anything but.  The filmmaker/organizer saw to that.  He brought all the other film makers on stage, recognized people in the crowd for their own achievements in recovery, and thanked every person he could that helped him in his own.  As the Q and A came to a close there was a yell of,

“We love you Harry!”  and  then a louder yell, “Skies the limit Harry!” followed by laughter that sounded like that of a good friend poking a little good spirited fun.

I would call the evening a lovefest, but it was really a HopeFest.  Just like these film makers intended.

Films Included:
-”Generation RX” [Produced by Harry Fleckenstein]
-”Blowing Smoke” [Produced and Directed by Will Kaufman and Laura Cava]
-”Change” - A Short film [Directed by: Thomas Finer]
-”Empty Room” [Produced by Tara Acquesta]
-”A Message Of Hope” - An Audio Documentary [Produced by: Harry Fleckenstein]
-”Addict” - An Audio Short - [Produced by: Harry Fleckenstein]
-And a short preview of “Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired” [Produced by Harry Fleckenstein]

More Info and Photo Gallery Here.

So it turns out I am not the only one at my station that blogs.  Two of my favorite people in my little slice of Philadelphia TVland also have blogs.  Perhaps other folks do as well, but these are two that I know about and I wanted to link to them.  Better Philly host Joey Fortman, who I go on shoots with sometimes, (Lingerie Football, Baseball 101, and PAL Celebrity Softball) has a blog called; Eating Green Cheerios.  Next time I see her I wil ask her what Green Cheerios are!  Anyway Joey is a riot so. check out her Joey blog here, or enjoy the experpt below, (that yours truly just happens to be in!)

Next up?  WPHL’s  Steve Highsmith.  Steve is the Director of Community Relations and host of myphl17’s community affairs program entitled “In Focus.” Steve’s also the host of “Live@Issue,” covering elections and politics for NBC10.  He’s also known to millions as “The Voice of Mummers Parade.”  His blog will be an extension of all those things, and hopefully, a little taste of what we at the station call, “Casual Steve.”  His blog can be found here.  He’s blogged about the Mummers, the Vick situation, and some local politics.  No Casual Steve just yet, but keep on the lookout.  Casual Steve is really funny and has some great, great stories to tell…

So yesterday I did something I often get accused of NEVER doing.  I left 08009!  And although I did not go too far, I had a lovely time in “The 08081″at a place called ALOHA BAY.  It’s a great tiki bar.   I am pretty sure they do not have a web site so I can’t link them.  I am also pretty sure they can’t be found on GPS either.  But it’s at 306 Sicklerville Road, Sicklerville, NJ.  Aloha Bay bar is completely outdoors on a giant deck.  They only serve cans, so bring one of those beer can holders.  The staff is very friendly, the jukebox is great, and they set up the TVs so that you can watch a game, even during the day.  Yesterday was in the 90’s when we were there, and it was hot, but not uncomfortable hot.  And when the sun goes down it’s breezy and quite nice.   If you travel there from my neck of the woods, and take Sicklerville Road be sure to see the “scenic waterfall” of Winslow, and the giant MYPHL17 Phillies Billboard.  Let us know if the colors look weird.  I think they do?!

I had been to ALOHA BAY  before, but not in over a year.  I also had not eaten there before.  The food at ALOHA BAY was outstanding!  The wings came highly recommended and they did not disappoint.  Thanks Aloha Bay!  See you next time…

[Show as slideshow]

When my boss emailed to ask me if I was available for the Police Athletic Leagues Media Softball Game at Citizens Bank Park before the August 5 Phillies game, for a fleeting second?  I thought she wanted me to play!?  ACTUALLY what she wanted was for me and the rest of  WPHL Creative Services to cover the event.  (Apparently, your torso appearing in and out of  Phillies promos, impersonating Dan Baker, and being Phillies Promo Desk Dude do NOT qualify for me to join the likes of Mark Zumoff  and Matt O’Donnell and actually play in the game. )  In fact, even our station General Manager, Vince Giannini, being the manager of the TV/Radio team in the game, was not enough to get me selected as a last minute alternate, (ala Jayson Werth!).  No.  This year, playing was not in the cards!

In retrospect?  What I got to do instead was much cooler!  Along with WPHL’s own Travis Brower, Chris Schaefer and Tim Obeck we got to go onto the field and cover the event.  We were down on the field as the fans entered the stadium, as the real Dan Baker did the play by play, and as the real Philadelphia media played in the game to help a great cause.  (PAL.)  Below are some pictures of us at the event.  Sorry we look a little rough, it was hot as hell that day and we ran all over the place.  See you next time!

[Show as slideshow]

We shot a Better Philly segment that starred Joey Fortman and Jenny Repko.  To see the pictures I shot for the event, follow this link. (Police Athletic Leagues Media Softball Game).

I think my personal best for a 5k is 25:15 recorded at the Batso Pig Iron 5k in like 2006 or 2007.  At the Winslow 5k I did 25:43 and could have SWORN I was way faster!  But whatever.  It was a really good time.  Nice course, nice people.  The rendition of Whitney Houston’s National Anthem played before the race really got me pumped up a little!  The oncoming traffic as we huddled at the starting line?  Got me less pumped.  Even a little worried that I’d get hit by a car.  (The problem with smaller runs, the general public is not looking out for you.)  But by the turnaround I could see the Winslow Police had the route well protected and I just concentrated on the finish and finished strong.  Not quite strong enough as I just missed a PB by 30 seconds or so.

Joining me at the race were Eric Romolini and Mary Romolini.  (Thanks Guys!)  Eric braved strep throat to make the run, and his wife Mary, now my idol, kicked both our asses and finished the top female in our age bracket.  We skipped the celebration beers at the Golden Nugget at 8:45 a.m. as we had planned, because fatigue got the better of our curiosity about who would be in a bar at 8:45 a.m!  But next year, for sure, I break my P.B. I beat Eric AND Mary and we all retire to the Nug to celebrate.  Sadly, next year, I will not be in their age bracket anymore!  I will make my debut in the 40-49 bracket…  FML.

Next up for me is the Ocean City 5k for Autism.  It’s a 5k on the beach that I think I was suppossed to run about 12 years ago?  Well this year I make good on that promise and will be running on the sands of O.C at 8:00 a.m.  It’s August 15th if anyone is interested in running, or entertaining me from 9:00 a.m. til 2:00 p.m. when I check into my sister’s house.

I ran my first 5k of this season! Pretty late for the first one, but life in TVland has been eating up a lot of my weekends. I highly recommend the Kings Grant 5k for those that are interested in trying a 5k. It was a flat to downhill course most of the way, shaded and a very nice crowd. King’s Grant is really nice too. My time was 26:53. Not my best ever, not my worst ever.

Next up? July 25 in Winslow. I will be running The Run for Unity Health Day 5K Inaugural Run for Unity Health Day 5K Run& 1 Mile Walk - Saturday, July 25, 2009, 8am. It is a first annual so I have no idea the turnout. My cousin Kathy “Seabiscuit” may try her hand at this 5k as well. We’ll see. (She’s never ran a 5k, in fact, I am not even sure she’s ever ran…but she walks). I am also trying to talk my buddies Wolf and Hammie into this one. You get better times when you run with other people you know.

I also got a flyer for a 5k to benefit RSDat the Kings Grant race. RSD is a really horrible disease so I will be sure to run that one as well. It’s in October. It’s in Whitesbog which is a very interesting place. It’s a giant blueberry farm, among other things, and I am sure it will be a cool course. Being in Whitesbog by 8 a.m.? Less Cool… It’s called the Race Against Pain 2009. It’s a second annual, but it will be awesome to spread awareness on what is a really awful disease.

I am also thinking about the Sea Isle City 10-miler. Ten miles is far, and my long run right now is only 10k. I also don’t know anyone in Sea Isle anymore. Both things make this one a challenge, so we’ll see.

For those that could not make it, I took a few pictures! Good time was had by all.  The kids are all getting big.   It was great to see Aunt Annie back in NJ!  And I have to say these are without a doubt, my favorite pictures of her I ever took!  Retirement and Southern climates are treating her well it seems! Gram’s nose is healing nicely, the yard never looked better, the food was great, and Carmine the Turkey was not on the menu! (But he’s still here!)

My favorite part of the entire day however, was riding home!  I rode my bike there, so Tracie and Al and the kids drove me home.   On the way they were totally rocking out to a thing called, KIDZ BOP.  Remakes, by kids, of songs of my era.  After just the right amount of Coors Lites, this was the most hilarious thing I ever heard– Nick, Jess, word for word, rock out to the tunes of my youth!  They’re the KIDS IN AMERICA indeed!.

PS.  Remember, to Nick, Jess, and Sean…these ARE the Good Ole Days!

Sorry in advance these will load slow.  Wordpress and Godaddy are a bad combo.

[Show as slideshow]

So Nike has this awesome thing that you can customize your sneakers.   Custom Colors, Graphics, stlyes…even widths!  I needed some wider Nikes so I thought I would try the NikeID software to customize some kicks.  I really just needed them wider, but I thought I would try and emulate the old Nike “Oceana” pattern I had as a kid.  All navy, with a white stripe.   Took me a while, but I got something close.  The last option you can do, and possibly the coolest, is have “YOUR NAME” appear on the back of the shoe instead of Nike.  How cool is that?  So, after laboring with 9 sections of customiziaton, I entered, “ROMEO”  as what I would like my shoes to say.  And…

“Your ID choice is not within our guidelines.  All IDs need to follow our Personilization Product Guidelines.”

What!?!?  “ROMEO” is apparently not allowed on the backs of Nike shoes?  I was really shocked.  So I wrote Nike an email. (Below)

Customer (Tony Romeo) - 07/07/2009 05:38 PM

Hi, I am trying to make Pegasus, that say “ROMEO” on the back, or side, as that is my last name. My last name is not like HITLER, or DICKWAD, or anything like that, but the configurator is telling me I can’t choose that name? What’s up with that. My ID is romeo1970 and I have ran over 500 miles in your shoes the last two years, and god knows how many before that. Thanks in advance… Tony Romeo

Nike replied with this: Response (Lorne) - 07/08/2009 07:33 AM

Hi Tony, Thanks for choosing Nike+! So for most NIKEiD products, you can submit a combination of letters, spaces and numbers to form an iD - a personalized message that appears on your creation. While we accept most iDs, we cannot honor every one. Some may contain other trademarks, or the names of certain professional sports teams, athletes or celebrities that NIKE does not have the right to use. Others may contain material that we consider inappropriate or simply do not want to place on our products. Unfortunately, at times this obliges us to decline iDs that may otherwise seem unobjectionable. If you personal tag is unacceptable, your order will be canceled and you will be notified via email. NIKE reserves the right to cancel any iDs after they have been submitted. Sorry for the inconvenience of the personalization policy. Sincerely, Lorne

In their defense, “Hitler” did in fact, NOT work either.  But I am still at a loss why ROMEO does not.  I was really disappointed that I could not get ROMEO kicks…  I have ran many, many miles in their shoes, and I will continue to do so, regardless of this let down.  In fact I just ordered a new pair.  (NOT A PHOTOSHOP!)

I just logged my 500th mile with my Nike Running Ipod Kit and they sent me this widget!

The best WPHL promo I ever was asked to participate in is currently, NOT RUNNING. Why would we shelve this promotional Phillies gold? Because Raul Ibanez is on the Disabled List. For you ladies on the blog, that means he can’t play. He’s on what is called the 15-Day DL because he pulled his groin. (Hey, who hasn’t?!?). Anyway, while he is on the shelf, so is this promo that has me doing my best Dan Baker!

As usual, big ups to WPHL producer extraordinaire, Chris Schaefer, he does all the work, I am just the talking monkey.

But my talking is getting better!

See the promo the only place you can until Raul comes back. (Below)

Philly-New York–TWO TOWNS, seperated by–ehhhh– you know the rest!  Turns out that the promo WPHLl’s Chris Schaefer had me voice is going to get a second life as the Phils play the Mets again!  So, tune in and see it all over again!  (I will post times here as I get them!)

Many of you have commented that I am a little hard on the recording studio when I talk about the promos we have done.  So, I went ahead and took some pictures when we redid some lines for this series!  As you will It is every bit how I described.  In fact?  I might have been too kind.  But it’s a lot of fun.   As you all heard in the first blog I am not really the star of these productions… It’s Producer, Chris Schaefer.  He calls the shots.  I am just the talking monkey.  Or “mouth monkey” as he most recently called me.  Thanks dude, first time a GUY ever called me that…

Here is another outtake/warmup

Here are some Photos (full gallery here.)

Should give you an idea JUST how long this studio has been here!

Wide shot complete with state of the art equipment, script, and water that once belonged to SALLY STAR.

Close up of our “script!”

Be careful!  The sound proofing stuff “sheds!”

If you are still curious– full gallery here.