I paid over $3/gallon for gas last night. It's the first time I've ever done that. I managed to avoid it during the spike immediately following the hurricanes, and Memphis has stayed below that threshhold, despite national averages having long since eclipsed it (score one for Memphis). It hurts.
The NBA Draft Lottery also took place last night (Do not, under any circumstances, score one for Memphis!). Oh my lordy did the Grizzlies get hosed. The national media, however, seems unaware this morning that Memphis was even participating in the lottery. I am really only hearing about how Boston fell to pick number 5. I understand, of course, that the Grizzlies are not the Celtics, in terms of franchise fame and history, but I think it's worth noting that if that continues to be the case for a long time, it could, one day, be pinned on last night's crap-ass crap.
In other news, I am a Greek god. I graduated from my Greek class last Thursday (see post from last week) and cleaned up on Greek class awards! My friend and I shared an award for pronunciation and I earned the highest grade (118 out of 120) on the final exam/contest of anyone in both sections of the class. I won a decorative plate with a rendering of Poseidon (god of the seas) on it, a Greek statue (armless, of course) and a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, in addition to my diploma (suitable for framing). That's a lot of loot. I tell you this not to brag or spread word of my prowess for recreational language study, but simply to add to the huge pile of irrefutable evidence that my life is hilarious.
Kai eis anotera (And on to higher things)!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
Life As A Campfire
The campfire smell that I mentioned in the last post is still with me. It's fading, but it's there. The scary part is that I can hardly tell - my sense has become numb to it.
Life is interesting when you smell like a campfire. More than once today, people in my presence have randomly launched into ghost stories.
Even stranger? Several people have waved skewered marshmallows over my head.
Stranger still? Late last night I was hanging out with a couple of friends and when they were ready to call it a night, they took turns peeing on me. That, as it turns out, was not as enjoyable as you might think. Luckily, however, it did not give me a new scent.
Thank heavens for the smokiness!
More on BBQ Fest and Greek Graduation tomorrow...
Life is interesting when you smell like a campfire. More than once today, people in my presence have randomly launched into ghost stories.
Even stranger? Several people have waved skewered marshmallows over my head.
Stranger still? Late last night I was hanging out with a couple of friends and when they were ready to call it a night, they took turns peeing on me. That, as it turns out, was not as enjoyable as you might think. Luckily, however, it did not give me a new scent.
Thank heavens for the smokiness!
More on BBQ Fest and Greek Graduation tomorrow...
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Day 66
Today is Day 66 of "Headache Watch: Michael Recovers from Shingles." It has been 66 days since I woke up with the strange pain that was soon diagnosed as shingles and I have yet to completely shed the shings. Now, before you go feeling too sorry for me, it's a stretch to say that I have a headache, but there is still very slight pain and sensitivity on the parts of my head that were afflicted. I'm not quite back to normal. The shingles have had an amazing run. I'm glad I could be a part of it.*
In other news, it's Thursday afternoon, I'm sitting in my office in East Memphis' Ridgeway Loop office park, and I smell like a campfire. I was at Barbecue Fest last night and again today for lunch. My team is great and our booth is really cool. I'll try to post pictures in a later post. I guess the smell of several hundred grills and smokers cooking tons of rightly seasoned meat in a relatively contained area is a little hard to shed. I could smell it in the shower this morning. I could smell it after the shower. I guess what I've learned is that there is really no need to shower for the next several days. Let's hang out.
* I am NOT glad I could be a part of it.
In other news, it's Thursday afternoon, I'm sitting in my office in East Memphis' Ridgeway Loop office park, and I smell like a campfire. I was at Barbecue Fest last night and again today for lunch. My team is great and our booth is really cool. I'll try to post pictures in a later post. I guess the smell of several hundred grills and smokers cooking tons of rightly seasoned meat in a relatively contained area is a little hard to shed. I could smell it in the shower this morning. I could smell it after the shower. I guess what I've learned is that there is really no need to shower for the next several days. Let's hang out.
* I am NOT glad I could be a part of it.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Born Again
I feel reborn.
The truth is, however, I am just writing for the first time in a long time, but without ZiggyBackRide in my life, I wasn't really living. I'm sure you felt the same way. I'm back and I'm a blogger reborn, ready to regale you with tall tales of my experiences and observations. It's gonna be something to behold.
There should be plenty of material over the next few days as I participate in my first year of competition at the Memphis In May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. I'm part of a team called "Born in the Que-S-A." It should be a lot of fun. For those of you unfamiliar with this contest, it's known as the "Super Bowl of Swine." It is held in downtown Memphis (BBQ Capital of the World) on the banks of the Mississippi (the Lifeblood of America) with hundreds of teams competing and thousands of visitors from around the US and the world looking on, sampling, and living it up. Watch for it on all major media outlets this weekend. Al Roker, Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay, and other such stars of the small screen are frequent visitors.
Also this week, I will be graduating from Greek class. That's right, Greek class. I took Greek at our local Greek Orthodox church - an hour a week for fifteen weeks. The teacher was a highly entertaining retired priest that has long been a friend of my father and is well-known around the community. It was really fun and I learned a lot, highlighted by my new ability to say the Lord's Prayer in Greek! Thursday evening we'll know if I scored the highest on the optional final exam/contest. It would be quite a coup! Wish me luck.
I'll be writing regularly for the next little while, getting the Ride back on track and rewarding those committed visitors who've been waiting. Tune in often and enjoy!
The truth is, however, I am just writing for the first time in a long time, but without ZiggyBackRide in my life, I wasn't really living. I'm sure you felt the same way. I'm back and I'm a blogger reborn, ready to regale you with tall tales of my experiences and observations. It's gonna be something to behold.
There should be plenty of material over the next few days as I participate in my first year of competition at the Memphis In May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. I'm part of a team called "Born in the Que-S-A." It should be a lot of fun. For those of you unfamiliar with this contest, it's known as the "Super Bowl of Swine." It is held in downtown Memphis (BBQ Capital of the World) on the banks of the Mississippi (the Lifeblood of America) with hundreds of teams competing and thousands of visitors from around the US and the world looking on, sampling, and living it up. Watch for it on all major media outlets this weekend. Al Roker, Martha Stewart, Bobby Flay, and other such stars of the small screen are frequent visitors.
Also this week, I will be graduating from Greek class. That's right, Greek class. I took Greek at our local Greek Orthodox church - an hour a week for fifteen weeks. The teacher was a highly entertaining retired priest that has long been a friend of my father and is well-known around the community. It was really fun and I learned a lot, highlighted by my new ability to say the Lord's Prayer in Greek! Thursday evening we'll know if I scored the highest on the optional final exam/contest. It would be quite a coup! Wish me luck.
I'll be writing regularly for the next little while, getting the Ride back on track and rewarding those committed visitors who've been waiting. Tune in often and enjoy!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
It Pains Me
It hurts to have been away for so long. I'm sorry. I am not gone for good, though. The ZiggyBackRide goes on.
I will tell you this, though, by way of giving you an update on the last month or so. I have had a headache for the last 37 days. That's right. 37 days straight. All courtesy of the shingles, about which I wrote many moons ago. It's not that bad, but it is amazing what you can get used to. I imagine this is something like the traffic in Atlanta that friends who live there assure me I'd get used to quickly if I moved there. Much like the headache, that is not something to which I wish to become accustomed, or with which I wish to become comfortable.
I do wish for all of us to be comfortable right here at ZiggyBackRide. Great things will be happening here so keep coming back and make yourself at home. And maybe bring some Tylenol.
I will tell you this, though, by way of giving you an update on the last month or so. I have had a headache for the last 37 days. That's right. 37 days straight. All courtesy of the shingles, about which I wrote many moons ago. It's not that bad, but it is amazing what you can get used to. I imagine this is something like the traffic in Atlanta that friends who live there assure me I'd get used to quickly if I moved there. Much like the headache, that is not something to which I wish to become accustomed, or with which I wish to become comfortable.
I do wish for all of us to be comfortable right here at ZiggyBackRide. Great things will be happening here so keep coming back and make yourself at home. And maybe bring some Tylenol.
Friday, March 30, 2007
One Shining Moment in the Twilight Zone
Last night, I watched the 1982 NCAA Basketball Championship between North Carolina and Georgetown on ESPN Classic. This game is widely considered one of the most exciting and memorable championship games in that sport. It is the last one that I don't personally rememember watching. I probably was watching it - we were a college basketball household - but I don't remember that night. I remember the next year's NC State/Houston classic and I remember Lorenzo Charles' last-second tip-in that shocked the world. The UNC/Georgetown one, I only know from what I've heard.
I knew Michael Jordan, as a freshman, hit the game-winning shot. I knew that Freddie Brown of Georgetown threw the ball right to James Worthy of UNC in the closing seconds, sealing the loss. It is the only reason I know Freddie Brown's name. That is sad. I have often wondered whether he's glad he got to play in that game. Making it to the championship game, even if you lose, is a life-changing memory, but who wants to be remembered for the bad play at the end of the game? I'd be interested in his take on it after all these years. I'm sure interviews and articles have been done. I'll have to check it out. Anyway...
Watching the game was really weird. First of all, because these two teams played last week for a trip to the Final Four, there has been a lot of talk about the storied championship game. It was pretty well hyped in my mind. Watching it, though, made me realize how dramatically the game has changed. There was no shot clock. There were no 3-pointers. There was a lot more standing around. It was intense and competitive, but slow and rudimentary compared to the effort and sophistication of today's game. If it were played today, it would appear to be at about 65% of normal speed and energy. I have seen this transformation happen gradually, but watching that game, thought to be one of the greats, illustrated it sharply.
The strangest part, though, was watching Michael Jordan. He was a promising freshman, at the time, but no one in the world knew the phenomenon he would become. He was, or at least led, the aforementioned transformation of the sport. He was like nothing anyone had ever seen or imagined. But in this game, he wasn't any of that yet. He was kind of slow. A little timid. He was the team's 3rd or 4th offensive option. He missed lay-ups early in the game, but came on strong late, finishing with 16 points, including the game winner. He would fake toward the basket, but not drive by a defender. The announcers, discovering that he might be really good as they watched, would say things like, "Boy, this kid can really jump high!" It was unbelievable to watch him, knowing what he could do - what he would one day do - and not see him do it. I'll stop babbling about it now, but if you ever want to feel like you're in the Twilight Zone, watch that game where no one except you knows you are watching the greatest player ever.
I knew Michael Jordan, as a freshman, hit the game-winning shot. I knew that Freddie Brown of Georgetown threw the ball right to James Worthy of UNC in the closing seconds, sealing the loss. It is the only reason I know Freddie Brown's name. That is sad. I have often wondered whether he's glad he got to play in that game. Making it to the championship game, even if you lose, is a life-changing memory, but who wants to be remembered for the bad play at the end of the game? I'd be interested in his take on it after all these years. I'm sure interviews and articles have been done. I'll have to check it out. Anyway...
Watching the game was really weird. First of all, because these two teams played last week for a trip to the Final Four, there has been a lot of talk about the storied championship game. It was pretty well hyped in my mind. Watching it, though, made me realize how dramatically the game has changed. There was no shot clock. There were no 3-pointers. There was a lot more standing around. It was intense and competitive, but slow and rudimentary compared to the effort and sophistication of today's game. If it were played today, it would appear to be at about 65% of normal speed and energy. I have seen this transformation happen gradually, but watching that game, thought to be one of the greats, illustrated it sharply.
The strangest part, though, was watching Michael Jordan. He was a promising freshman, at the time, but no one in the world knew the phenomenon he would become. He was, or at least led, the aforementioned transformation of the sport. He was like nothing anyone had ever seen or imagined. But in this game, he wasn't any of that yet. He was kind of slow. A little timid. He was the team's 3rd or 4th offensive option. He missed lay-ups early in the game, but came on strong late, finishing with 16 points, including the game winner. He would fake toward the basket, but not drive by a defender. The announcers, discovering that he might be really good as they watched, would say things like, "Boy, this kid can really jump high!" It was unbelievable to watch him, knowing what he could do - what he would one day do - and not see him do it. I'll stop babbling about it now, but if you ever want to feel like you're in the Twilight Zone, watch that game where no one except you knows you are watching the greatest player ever.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Hi. My name is... Zippy?
Next week, I am doing a comedy workshop at a prominent private girls' high school here in Memphis (St. Mary's Episcopal School. I figured I'd go ahead and say it for the benefit of the Turkeys - that's the school's mascot, and still they think they need me for comedy - who are regular ZiggyBackRiders.) as part of an arts day full of activities with various performance and visual artists.
The students choose two workshops to attend, based on write-ups they are given in advance of the big day. I was asked to send a bio and a little info on what we would be doing in my "class." I sent her my official bio from www.laughwithziggy.com, along with the following...
Join reigning "Funniest Person in Memphis," Michael "Ziggy" Danziger to explore what is funny, learn where to find it, and figure out how to use it without hurting yourself.
I have not seen the publicity that the students received, but according to sources close to the school, it was evidently edited to reflect my corrected nickname, Zippy. Now, I don't mean to split hairs and there's no denying that Ziggy is not the most dignified sounding moniker ever, but Zippy? Zippy! If, in fact, any high school girl in her right mind signed up to learn about comedy from someone named Zippy, I feel certain she'll be expecting a clown. I might dress as one. "Hey kids! Who wants to laugh?!?" It's going to be great.
The students choose two workshops to attend, based on write-ups they are given in advance of the big day. I was asked to send a bio and a little info on what we would be doing in my "class." I sent her my official bio from www.laughwithziggy.com, along with the following...
Join reigning "Funniest Person in Memphis," Michael "Ziggy" Danziger to explore what is funny, learn where to find it, and figure out how to use it without hurting yourself.
I have not seen the publicity that the students received, but according to sources close to the school, it was evidently edited to reflect my corrected nickname, Zippy. Now, I don't mean to split hairs and there's no denying that Ziggy is not the most dignified sounding moniker ever, but Zippy? Zippy! If, in fact, any high school girl in her right mind signed up to learn about comedy from someone named Zippy, I feel certain she'll be expecting a clown. I might dress as one. "Hey kids! Who wants to laugh?!?" It's going to be great.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Fortunately/Unfortunately
Fortunately I have very successful friends. I have friends who are outstanding attorneys, business people, teachers, doctors, and all-around good people.
Unfortunately, I have shingles, diagnosed and treated by a doctor friend. Shingles, to get you up to speed on my condition is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Once you've had chixpox, you have it inside you waiting, waiting for just the right moment to travel through your nervous system and cause painful blistering on your back and side or on one side of your head and face. For two thirds of cases, the right moment is after age 50. For me, it was last Thursday night. It got progressively worse on my bus ride to New Orleans Friday for a youth group convention at which I was the songleader. Fortunately, one of my doctor friends was there ready to prescribe stuff, including steroids. Unfortunately, this makes me a very unlikely candidate for the baseball hall of fame.
Unfortunately: 2
Fortunately: 2
Fortunately, I was right about the Memphis basketball team (so far). I didn't buy that they would lose before the Sweet 16 as Dick Vitale and others found it fashionable to predict. They did not disappoint. Neither, I might add, did our neighbors. Let's hear it for the Great State of Tennessee, which has three teams remaining in the field - my beloved Tigers, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. Memphis plays Texas A&M next. A tough draw against my mortal enemy as a Texas Longhorn. Tennessee, the Tigers' cross-state rival, plays the archrival of my brothers' Michigan Wolverines, the Ohio State Buckeyes. There is a lot of bad blood in this regional for me. I would LOVE to see the Tigers emerge as the Final Four representative!
Unfortunately, I was right about the Texas basketball team. I didn't buy that they would do all the great things, including a possible run to the Elite 8 or Final Four that Dick Vitale and others found it fashionable to predict. I did think they would win one more game than they did, but they took their beating early, at the hands of a USC Trojans team that was most certainly out to avenge their football team's Rose Bowl loss at the hands of the Longhorns in January of '06.
U: 3
F: 3
Unfortunately, I am not doing well in my tournament pools, after slow showings in the first and second rounds. Fortunately, I have done well enough to still make a run at winning if the right things happen. I have all eight of my Elite 8 remaining. I'll, of course, keep you posted.
U: 4
F: 4
Fortunately, the Lady Rabs won their first game of season 3 a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, they lost last week's game by forfeit due to spring break travel.
U: 5
F: 5
Big game tomorrow. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we'll probably tie.
Sincerely,
Even Steven
Unfortunately, I have shingles, diagnosed and treated by a doctor friend. Shingles, to get you up to speed on my condition is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Once you've had chixpox, you have it inside you waiting, waiting for just the right moment to travel through your nervous system and cause painful blistering on your back and side or on one side of your head and face. For two thirds of cases, the right moment is after age 50. For me, it was last Thursday night. It got progressively worse on my bus ride to New Orleans Friday for a youth group convention at which I was the songleader. Fortunately, one of my doctor friends was there ready to prescribe stuff, including steroids. Unfortunately, this makes me a very unlikely candidate for the baseball hall of fame.
Unfortunately: 2
Fortunately: 2
Fortunately, I was right about the Memphis basketball team (so far). I didn't buy that they would lose before the Sweet 16 as Dick Vitale and others found it fashionable to predict. They did not disappoint. Neither, I might add, did our neighbors. Let's hear it for the Great State of Tennessee, which has three teams remaining in the field - my beloved Tigers, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt. Memphis plays Texas A&M next. A tough draw against my mortal enemy as a Texas Longhorn. Tennessee, the Tigers' cross-state rival, plays the archrival of my brothers' Michigan Wolverines, the Ohio State Buckeyes. There is a lot of bad blood in this regional for me. I would LOVE to see the Tigers emerge as the Final Four representative!
Unfortunately, I was right about the Texas basketball team. I didn't buy that they would do all the great things, including a possible run to the Elite 8 or Final Four that Dick Vitale and others found it fashionable to predict. I did think they would win one more game than they did, but they took their beating early, at the hands of a USC Trojans team that was most certainly out to avenge their football team's Rose Bowl loss at the hands of the Longhorns in January of '06.
U: 3
F: 3
Unfortunately, I am not doing well in my tournament pools, after slow showings in the first and second rounds. Fortunately, I have done well enough to still make a run at winning if the right things happen. I have all eight of my Elite 8 remaining. I'll, of course, keep you posted.
U: 4
F: 4
Fortunately, the Lady Rabs won their first game of season 3 a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, they lost last week's game by forfeit due to spring break travel.
U: 5
F: 5
Big game tomorrow. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we'll probably tie.
Sincerely,
Even Steven
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
