House Painting Ideas

In the computerized world where we live today, house painting ideas have never been more precise and high-tech. By using the latest technology and software, or by simply going online, you can get so many different useful ideas you wouldn’t believe it. We’re planning on painting the inside of our house here in SF, and it’s easier than ever to get great house painting ideas.

Printable Greeting Cards Get Personal

Greeting cards are a nice way to say something meaningful and intimate to someone. I found a place online that does printable greeting cards. They’re very cool and you can customize them any way you want. It saves you the time and money of having to go to the store and buy cards --- you just go online and order them and then when you want to send one, you’re able to put a special message on the card that’s geared specifically to the person you’re sending it to. It makes it so mush more personal.

Red Bull & I

Red Bull really helps me out when I need a boost of energy. When I’m up against a deadline that is approaching fast, coffee just doesn’t suffice. Red Bull is effective, it tastes pretty good and doesn’t have any bad after effects. That’s when I drink a can of Red Bull. In my job, there are a lot of times when I need to do a ton of writing and don’t have much time to complete it. That’s when the Bull & I get things done.

This Week's Restaurant Review: Capers in Campbell

Some restaurants just make you feel good. Whenever you go into the kind of place that makes you feel this way, you leave happy and content in the knowledge that you’ve had a great meal at a reasonable price and that the people who run the place have treated you well. There are a lot of pitfalls and obstacles that human beings can run into when dining out. Maybe the chef is having a bad day. Maybe the bartender just lost a big bet. Or maybe the waitress who is serving you is nursing a hangover from the night before. A lot can go wrong when you eat out. And a lot can go right. I have eaten at Capers in Campbell at least two dozen times and I have never had a bad experience, which says a lot, because anyone can have a bad day. Being consistently good is what separates great restaurants from mediocre ones. Capers is one of those restaurants that takes a professional and compassionate approach to its patrons. As soon as you enter the front door and are greeted by Owner Kam Rasavi, you feel good. Kam has been in the business of serving diners for several decades and the man is just a pleasure to be around – always smiling and always interested in making sure that your time in his establishment is enjoyable and that nothing goes wrong. The food at Capers can best be described as casual continental cuisine. From creative seafood entrees and appetizers to hearty meat and poultry selections, Capers has a varied menu that I’ve never tired of delving into. Sure, I have my favorites – like the Carpacio ($9.95), finely pounded filet of beef with capers, chopped onion, garlic-olive oil, mustard-melon aioli and toastettes; or the Blackened Pork Chops ($16.95), two five ounce chops, blackened and topped with a salsa fresca, are a couple items I’ve had more than once. But, by far the one dish that stands out the most at Capers is the Capers Meatloaf ($12.95), homemade with celery, onion mustard, swiss cheese and smoked ham, topped with a wild mushroom demi-glaze sauce. I am a huge meatloaf fan. Maybe that’s why I’m so huge. But, the meatloaf at Caper’s is by far the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s made with grade prime beef, cooked to perfection and oozes juices that I can only describe as sublime. Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food for me – it reminds me of eating at home when I was ten years old, watching the Ed Sullivan Show with my parents. I wax nostalgic when I sink my teeth into a good meatloaf – and Capers serves the very best there is. I can also recommend the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak ($16.95); the Panko-Crusted Chicken Breast ($13.95); and the Baked Orange Rough Fettucine ($15.95). All are well-prepared, fresh and unforgettable. Capers is in Campbell at 1710 West Campbell Avenue, Their phone number is: (408) 374-5777. Ask for Kam – he’ll make you feel like his number one customer and you’ll find yourself coming back to see him again. Capers is that kind of place.

Mark Your Territory

In places where homes are close to one another, which is what you’ll find in many neighborhoods in Northern California, yard markers are very important. They come in many forms and can be decorative or even functional. That way you can designate where your yard starts and your neighbor’s yard starts.

I'm Overwhelmed By My Own Biz Cards!

I work on so many different projects that I need a bunch of different business cards. Getting new ones can be very expensive, so I try to get a lot at once to make them more affordable. By printing them in batches I can save $$! I need one card for my freelance writing, and different ones for my sports writing, blogging, ad sales, food and restaurant review writing, as well as cards for all my web sites and blogs. Whew!

The Quality of HDTV is Getting Better Every Year!

Man, am I getting excited about the new high-definition TV’s that are coming out. The high-def revolution is moving faster than the speed of light, and the images on some of these new sets are incredible. One of the keys to high-quality high-def is using the right cables. My buddy Todd just bought an HDMI cable for his system, which gives him high-definition video in its purest digital form. We watched a basketball game at his house the other night and his picture quality knocked me out, baby!

Will the Yankees Return to Glory?

The New York Yankees are finally playing it smart and are beginning to look like a team that can make another dynasty-type run once again. The main reason for this is General Manager Brian Cashman. George Steinbrenner is no longer using Cashman like a human puppet, and is letting him do his thing and pull the strings himself, and so far it looks like a very wise business decision. Georgie Porgie has a history of moving personnel around like those little pieces in a Monopoly game. The result is that the Bronx Bombers have spent more time in Marvin Gardens than they have on Park Avenue. Last season the Detroit Tigers embarrassed them so badly that the team looked like that poor sap in Monopoly jail. This year the Yanks may just be able to bypass loser’s prison and move back into the expensive winning neighborhoods they frequented in the late 90’s. A big part of their move back to respectability involves staying away from overpriced free agent bidding wars, stockpiling young pitching prospects, leaving their minor league system alone so that it can develop and unloading old, expensive antiques. Planning for the long-term rather than getting players who are overpaid underachievers in order to try and win today is not a formula for success, and Cashman knows it. His moves this year have been just short of brilliant. Getting rid of Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson, Hall of Famers whose best days are long gone, was the right thing to do. Picking up pitchers Andy Pettite, Luis Vizcaino and Kei Igawa should work out well. Unloading questionable arms like Sidney Ponson, Jaret Wright, Tanyon Sturtze, Octavio Dotel, and Jeff Nelson was a timely survival move. And picking up Doug Mientkiewicz, a utility team player who will enhance the squad’s overall chemistry, was pure genius. By staying away from over-hyped free agents like Jason Schmidt, Barry Zito and Carlos Lee, the Yankees have clearly illustrated that they won’t throw money at the first free agent to pop his head out into the open market anymore. By keeping his team’s core intact and letting them play together for more than just one season, the Yanks will be better and tougher to beat than ever. Watch out American League, because the pinstriped boys are playing it smarter and looking at the big picture, rather than running a closeout sale every off season. The end result could be another dynasty in the Big Apple, complete with solid pitching, timely hitting and a team attitude that’s been missing over the last six years.

I've Been Published!!

My story about the horrific experience I had with online dating (recently published on this blog) came out in a book called "Chemistry and Numbers 2: Sexy, Funny, Horrifying, and Yes, Successful Online Dating Stories from more than 50 Online Daters."

To order the book, go to: http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Numbers-Horrifying-Successful-Stories/dp/1419651676

The Bush Monkey Boy? American Idol Has Gone Too Far

American Idol is one of those TV shows that I swear I will not watch and then I invariably end up watching it every week. But, after the first two episodes of the new season aired this last week, I just want to say that I think the show has gone too far. People tune in to see Simon Cowell destroy people’s dreams, but when he told that one kid from Seattle that he looked like a bush monkey, that was going too far. Maybe it'as true, but you don't say it to someone's face. I have a neighbor who looks like a collie, but have I told her? Well, not directly. It’s one thing to be brutally honest about someone’s talent, and some of these people are amazingly deluded, but to bash someone’s personal appearance is unkind and uncalled for. Simon is obviously a multi-millionaire, but really what has he done other than be a harsh critic and wear cheap K-Mart t-shirts? If you look at his achievements in the music business, you’ll find that Cowell’s claim to fame came about when he did records with pro wrestlers and the Power Rangers. How can he position himself as a talent expert? It’s a train wreck each week to watch Simon brutally criticize people with dreams of stardom, but when you go after folks about the way they look, it’s cruel and unusual punishment.