Mike Tufano

I admit it.  I've been cheating.  I've been seeing another blog.

The truth is, it's been going on for awhile.  I decided it was time to try something new.  This blog has pretty much been dead for awhile, so I thought I'd see if I could spark it up again, and I took it over to my own domain.  I'm now blogging at www.MikeTufano.com.  I'm not doing a ton of blogging, just whenever something strikes me as blogworthy.  I hope if you have followed this one at all you'll come check it out.  If nothing else, I think the front page is pretty cool.

Thanks a ton to Jeremy and all the folks around www.lifewithchrist.org.  It's been a great several years in which I made a lot of friends, and even met several of them in real life.  I'm not sure how much of a fit this blog is with who I am anymore, so now I'm moving on to a site where it's nothing but me. Man, why would anyone look at that?

It's been awhile since I've answered one of these, but hey, why not... here goes the Friday Happy Hour stolen from Mental Floss:

1. In your opinion, at this point in your life, what’s the most rewatchable movie? Even though you’ve seen the film dozens of times, you’re excited to see it come on TV, you might own it and pop it in from time to time, and you don’t see yourself getting sick of it in the near future.

Without question, for me this is Star Wars.  Especially A New Hope.  Though I never watch any movie when I see it on TV.  I'd always rather pop in the DVD and watch it start to finish.  Watching parts of movies ruins them for me.

2. Reader Anthony left this comment under our Nerf history article:“When my wife and I got married, the bridesmaids got little jewelry boxes as the their thank you gifts. The groomsmen? Nerf guns.”What’s the greatest bridesmaid/groomsman gift you’ve received (or given)?

Best for me came from my sister's wedding.  A mix CD of carefully chosen songs along with a huge 32oz beer mug with my last name engraved on it along with an imported bottle (can't remember which kind).  Needed a couple more bottles to fill the thing though...

3. If you don’t have an answer for #2 but still like talking about weddings, here’s a Happy Hour question from 2009:I’ve been to my share of weddings over the years, and they all went as planned. No bride or groom ever failed to show or said the wrong name or fled the altar. No former lovers ever interrupted the ceremony, and everyone else chose to forever hold their peace. Of course, weddings in books, movies, and TV shows get screwed up all the time. Have you ever been to a wedding where, for whatever reason, nobody got married?

No, but this could be a really cool story if it did happen... as long as it wasn't anyone close to me.  One of those "only there because I feel obligated" sorts of weddings.  Especially if I got them some kind of cool gift that I could now keep.

4. You’ve been tapped to open a new museum in whatever city you’re currently living. You should pick something you’re interested in, but also something that will appeal to your fellow citizens. With those two caveats in mind, what will be the name of your new museum?

This one seems simple to me (and why hasn't someone already done it?!?!) The Kansas City Museum of Barbecue.  Items and memorabilia from all the great KC BBQ places... Bryant's, Gate's, Smokestack, and more.  An area that compares and contrasts techniques is a must.  And by far, the main attraction is the tasting room.

I don't return much to the blog anymore, but I've always done a year end review, and why not this year too?  Except now it's January 3rd and I still haven't.  So before I've completely forgotten 2010 (which may not be a bad thing), I'll return to the questionnaire I've used the last couple years. 

1) What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Watched K-State advance to the Sweet 16 and KU get bounced on the same day.
Watched the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup
Switched to an Android phone.
Went to the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships
Started reading on an eReader (Specifically my new Nook).

2) Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do resolutions. Probably for the best. 

3) Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one particularly close.

4) Did anyone close to you die?
No one particularly close.

5) What countries did you visit?
Oklahoma.  I know, technically it's in America still, but come on... it's Oklahoma.

6) What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
I wrote these last year:
A bowl game (though better if we wait until 2011 to actually play it)
An NCAA Tourney Bid (and some wins... 6 would be lovely, but that's not asking too much is it?)
So now my addendum to them.  I'd like to not have the refs steal the chance at winning the bowl game, and I'd like to see us go from 3 tourney wins to 4 or more. A man can dream...
And to that I'll add the abstract, "fulfillment"
 
7) What date(s) from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The only date that stands out off the top of my head is October 7th.  More for the anticipation of it, as well as anticipating my plans for the day that followed.  Both events seem to have ended similarly.

8) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Umm... not killing anyone, getting fired, or ending up in a homeless shelter?

9) Did you suffer illness or injury?
I threw up 3 times.  One time kept me from a K-State basketball game.  I was not happy.

10) What was the best thing you bought?
New underwear.  It was time.

11) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce.  Their behavior in that situation will be one of the all time great sports moments.

12) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Pretty much just Republicans.  And LeBron James. 

13) Where did most of your money go?
This hasn't changed at all from last year:
Paying off debt
Car/Car repair
Living expenses
K-State tickets

14) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
K-State basketball
Potential

15) What song will always remind you of 2010?
Chelsea Dagger

16) Compared to this time last year, are you:
Wiser?  I've learned a few things I didn't want to learn, so yes.
Healthier?  I don't feel healthier, but I am on some meds that I wasn't on a year ago, that I'll assume are making me healthier.
Richer? I'm a bit less negative.  Does that count?

17) What do you wish you’d done more of?
Watch more tv, of course.  Actually I wish I'd kept my exercising habits going, and gotten into shape.

18) What do you wish you’d done less of?
Last year I said working at my crappy job.  I won't say that again this year.  A crappy job is better than no job. So instead I'll say... umm... driving?

19) How did you spend Christmas?
Sledding in Indy.

20) Did you fall in love in 2010?
Didn't get that chance, just saw potential.

21) What was your favorite blog post that you wrote?
Blog posts?  I didn't write no stinking blog posts.

22) What were your favorite TV programs?
LOST (for the last time *sniff*)
Modern Family
The Simpsons
Parks & Rec
Community
(And Raising Hope gets a shout out for it's great possibilities...)

23) Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I hope not. But there are people that continue to go down in flames in my books.

24) What was the best book you read?
I started it just a couple days before the end of 2010 and I'll finish it a couple days into 2011, but hey, we'll count it.  I'm totally loving Hunger Games.

25) What was your greatest musical discovery?
I honestly can't think of anyone new I've been listening to that I haven't already had in my regular rotation.  But I could list a podcast, right?  I discovered Coverville... a podcast that plays all covers of songs.  It's amazing.  Check it out.

26) What did you want and get?
An eReader
K-State NCAA Tourney tickets
2 Sports Illustrated magazines with K-State on the covers
Horn-rimmed "Mad Men Style" glasses
 
27) What did you want and not get?
A chance

28) What was your favorite film of this year?
My first instinct was to go with Inception, which was incredible, but I'm going to pick one you didn't see but should have:  Buried.  Amazingly done.

29) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
So long ago... I turned 33.  Some friends took me out to Oklahoma Joe's, which was a nice surprise.

30) Which celebrity/public figure did you like the most?
I'm going to vote in Eric Stonestreet here this year... for being part of an amazingly funny cast on Modern Family, and for being an outspoken K-State supporter.  Hope to see him at a game soon.

31) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
The only thing I've really done this year is add a selection of glasses to the mix.  I like having 8 or so pairs to coordinate with whatever else I'm doing. 

32) What kept you sane?
Probably having a friend working with me to keep me from exploding when necessary.

33) Who did you miss?
I have to say the same answer as last year, I miss my boys back in Salina.

34) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Hope can be a very damaging thing.

35) What did you gain this year?
Weight.  A lot of it.

36) What did you lose this year?
Control.  And most desires to have it.
 
37) Who were the most interesting new people you met?
No one I met in person is coming to mind at the moment, but there are a whole host of random people I've "met" through being more active on Twitter, and that's been fun.

38) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"And if you want to find me I'll be out in the sandbox,
wondering where the hell all the love has gone.
Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun,
and singing 'Fun, Fun, Fun.'" - Barenaked Ladies, "Brian Wilson"

Sports were good in 2010.  Blackhawks won the Cup.  K-State got back to a bowl, and made a run to the Elite 8.  The Bears are back in the playoffs.  The rest of 2010?  Well... sports were good.

I haven't done one of Mental Floss' Happy Hours in awhile, so here goes:

1. While we were out in Chicago last month, I made a major gaffe. I was talking to a guy at the Trivia Show whom I’d met earlier that day at the Toy & Game Fair. “So, why didn’t you bring your mom tonight?” / [Long Pause.] / “Oh. That was my girlfriend.” It still hurts just typing it.  In my defense, this gentleman looked incredible for his age; he was 15 years older than my rough estimate. But still. This has taught me an important lesson — never talk to anybody, ever, about anything besides the weather and where Cliff Lee might sign. Now make me feel better by telling us about something you said that was worse.

I called a friend of mine once just to chat, and I knew he was engaged.  I started the conversation with "So when is the wedding?" He then informed me he broke it off the da

2. Who’s a random famous person you’ve seen while traveling? I’ll go with the time I bumped into former Israeli sniper Dr. Ruth at Newark Airport.

Every year at the Final Four I see tons of them, but that isn't that random.  My more random one is still basketball related, though.  Jerry West.  The Logo.  Sitting in first class... I did a double take on the way back to my coach seat.

3. Does your family have any holiday traditions you think the rest of us should adopt? You can pick the holiday: Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, whatever.

Going back a bit, but my Grandpa used to write "Turkey Notes" to everyone in the family.  Little funny personal poems that we would read around the table before dinner.  Not sure anyone else could do it quite like he did, though. 

4. What’s everyone reading? Would you recommend it?

I recently picked up the Chronicles of Narnia again.  Thought I better catch up before seeing the new movie.  As for recommending, would I even have to recommend it?

Irvin Kershner
April 29, 1923 - November 27, 2010

When I finally accepted the assignment, I knew that it was going to be a dark film, with more depth to the characters than in the first film. It took a few years for the critics to catch up with the film and to see it as a fairy tale rather than a comic book.

When [Empire] was released in 1997 and later put into DVD, I was very gratified that it was almost unchanged, except the sound was much improved, whereas Star Wars and [Return of the] Jedi had big changes.

-Irvin Kershner

Leslie Nielsen
Febrary 11, 1926 - November 28, 2010

I'm a professional actor. If I was a plumber, I wouldn't just do my plumbing in Beverly Hills bathrooms; I'd like to install air conditioning units and a few other things.

-Leslie Nielsen

Yet another Friday Happy Hour post stolen directly from the Mental Floss blog...

1. You can answer this one about yourself or, if you’ve reproduced, your kid(s). Is there a personality trait or hobby you displayed or expressed an affinity for early in life that was eerily prescient? Simple example: you loved playing with blocks and now you’re an architect. But hopefully we’ll get some stranger ones. (You once locked yourself in the washing machine and now you own a laundromat chain!)

The best I can think of is personality trait.  Competitiveness.  I remember as a kid always feeling the need to be done with assignments the fastest and with the best grade.  Things like that.  I'm still the same way.  I expect myself to be the best at anything I do, even if I have no chance to actually do so.

 2. Let’s play armchair political historian. Think back to the 1984 election (Reagan over Mondale), 1996 election (Clinton over Dole), and 2004 election (Bush over Kerry). Was there a different candidate you think could have knocked off the incumbent president? Who should the opposition have run instead?

What if you took Perot out of 1992 and put him up against Dubya in 04?  How amazingly incoherent would those debates have been?  It would have resulted in the lowest voter turnout of all time.

3. I once stole four months of exercise. I joined a gym and, more by chance than any lobbying on my part, a lot of my friends and relatives decided to join, too. One of the managers joked that I should get a free lifetime membership for bringing in so much new business. Then they stopped sending me bills. (I didn’t ask any questions.) Four months later, I got an angry letter saying I owed lots of back membership fees. Did you ever steal something without knowing it? Did you get caught?

This has happened to me a couple times with XM Radio.  If the card you pay with expires they shut if off, but for some reason the service just keeps on going for months.  Or so I've heard... ;)

4. Have you ever named your car? What’d you call it? (Him? Her?)

Never very creatively.  My first car was a Hyundai Excel back before Hyundais were decent vehicles.  I was in high school and it became "The Happy Hyundai."  Then  I just shortened short names to "The Dadge" and "The Blaza."  Now I'm back to another Hyundai.  "The Happier Huyndai."  But no one else calls it that.

Taking this from a Facebook meme. 

The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. You don't want to turn in your Facebook homework too late! Fifteen authors (poets included) who've influenced you and that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag at least fifteen friends, including me, because I'm interested in seeing what authors my friends choose. (To do this, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your fifteen picks, and tag people in the note.)
 
Shel Silverstein
Kurt Vonnegut
JD Salinger
Edgar Allen Poe
Brian McClaren
CS Lewis
Peter Rollins
Chuck Palahniuk
Walter Bruggemann
Francis of Assisi (Or at least some things attributed to him)
Dr. Seuss
Brother Lawrence
The authors of the gospels
Bob Dylan (Don't say he isn't a poet)
AJ Jacobs

So there you have it...

George Lee "Sparky" Anderson
February 22, 1934 – November 4, 2010

People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I've got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There's no future in it.

-Sparky Anderson