Dinner for Three

As I was sitting in my living room with a man whose girlfriend plays for Oakland, watching the heavens pour on Shea Stadium, I pondered the question: What 3 People Would I Love to Have for Dinner?

Now, let's not get carried away. I'm not Hannibal Lecter, so this isn't a Who Would Taste the Best competition....but a dinner where I could converse with 3 individuals for an evening.

These people could be living or dead. Although at the time of the dinner, the dead people would be alive. I'm not looking for this guy but maybe a live version of someone who left the building.

So here are my 3 people and why:

1. My maternal grandfather. When I meet people, I LOVE meeting their parents. Who do they look like? What character traits do they have? The Lovely E looks just like her mom and everytime I see E in a picture with a smile, one would think it was a younger version of her mom. I never met my grandfather and would love to see how he resembles my mom, my siblings and myself. He was an avid photographer....as am I. Just ask my hallmates freshman year when some incriminating videos were hidden in my room.

They weren't hidden very well.....and let's just say there's no better wake up call than "RU POLICE" banging on your door at 8 bells on a Wednesday.

But I move on.

So my gradfather would be number 1....I've heard so much about him and would love to meet the man.

2. Don Mattingly. He was my favorite baseball player as a child and someone I completely idolized. I came very close to meeting him once. My father took my brother and I to a fundraiser/dinner in Newark. Chris Chambliss was there and several other non entities....but no Mattingly. There were RUMORS that he would be there....but no Mattingly. I won't get into the Hall of Fame debate at this point....even I am on the fence. He was one of the greatest defensive 1st basemen of all time and was a very good offensive player in the 80s, but back problems ended his H of F chances (and an awful pitching staff).

3. Jesus. OK...not really. He's just on everyone else's list, so I figure I didn't want to be different. (And that's not Jesus Martinez from Elizabeth). My 3rd person would be Lorne Michaels, Exec. Producer of Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live was the one show I wouldn't miss during my teenage years. I looked forward to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays like Daniel K. Stern looks forward to the next television camera.

When I was a kid, I told people I was going to be on the show (as a matter of fact, I went for a job interview and when I was asked, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" I responded with "Performing on Saturday Night Live."

Needless to say, I didn't get that job.

So much like a radio station in the morning, looking desperately for callers....I pose this to readers of this blog. Who would you invite to dinner?

And would there be a chianti with fava beans?

Must See TV

Last night brought an hour stretch of television that was arguably one of the most riveting in years.

(The following contains Sopranos Plot Spoiler information....but if you haven't watched Sunday night's Sopranos...what the hell is wrong with you???)

I guess the only thing more shocking than Christopher leaving the proverbial building was the way he went. I figured he was going to get knocked off by Paulie...not by Tony. That was possibly one of the better Anti-Drug campaigns I've seen in awhile.

And no, I haven't added Cleaver to my blockbuster.com queue yet.

Then, the show that it seems no one is watching brought one of the more controversial calls. Yes, I'm the clown who still watches Survivor....I can't seem to stop. I'll be attending Survivors Anonymous meetings shortly.

With 6 people left in the game, a 54-year-old Asian guy (Yao-Man), who deserved to win the whole competition, won the truck and offered it to a fellow contestant, a male African-American cheerleader named Dreamz (don't ask). The deal was that Dreamz would have to hand over his immunity necklace -- should he win it -- when the game was down to the Final Four. As luck would have it, Dreamz (a good Christian) won the necklace after and wouldn't give the Asian cat immunity. To make matters worse, Yao-Man got voted off the island. AND he didn't ask for the truck back.

I don't know what's more troubling...the fact he refused to give up the necklace after promosing to God that he'd do it or that I am watching a program that feature a male cheerleader.

Something to think about.

Munchmobile Update: I will be partaking in the seafood expedition on July 28th. It will be in the August 10th edition of the state's largest newspaper. Here's the preview article, complete with a quote on page 3 from yours truly.

I believe it's the first time my complete name ran in this publication since I lost 6-0, 6-0 in first doubles to New Providence (or maybe it was a school for developmentally disabled kids) for A.L. Johnson my senior year.

T-minus 19 days until Local Shill becomes Shackled Shill.