Just booked my plane tickets to Nashville. Going down for a few days the weekend of March 7th. This will be my first visit to Nashvegas, so also the first time I'll be seriously looking into moving there.
Maybe a little job hunting, maybe a little apartment hunting. Or maybe Loren & Chris will come through on finding me a place to stay with them, which would be clutch.
Who knows if it'll amount to anything, but at least I'll get to spend an extended weekend with Loren, Chris, Darren & Elizabeth!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Wow.
Super Bowl Champions. Parade. Ticker Tape. Toilet Paper Rolls. People everywhere. Irish Breakfast. Guinness. Easy Button Girls. Flying Oranges. Stomp'd You Out. Drinking With Strangers. Strangers Who Are Best Friends. What A Fucking Day.
God I love going to Championship parades/rallies. Spoiled enough to have gone to 4 in the last 13 years for my teams. Hopefully those great odds don't end any time soon.
WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!
Super Bowl Champions. Parade. Ticker Tape. Toilet Paper Rolls. People everywhere. Irish Breakfast. Guinness. Easy Button Girls. Flying Oranges. Stomp'd You Out. Drinking With Strangers. Strangers Who Are Best Friends. What A Fucking Day.
God I love going to Championship parades/rallies. Spoiled enough to have gone to 4 in the last 13 years for my teams. Hopefully those great odds don't end any time soon.
WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!
Monday, February 04, 2008
OMFG
I'm still in shock that the NY Giants are Super Bowl Champions. I've been waiting 17 years for this moment. Not only were we (NY Giants Fans) lucky enough to see it, but to see the type of game that we saw is just absolutely incredible Holy crap.
How can I put this into words?
In 1990 I was 8 years old. Lawrence Taylor. Phil Simms. OJ Anderson. Mark Bavaro. Carl Banks. The Giants were great. They won the Super Bowl. That was the first season I ever really paid attention to football. After Matt Bahr hit that FG in San Fran, I devoted basically my entire life to the NY Giants.
I thought we'd win at least 2 or 3 of the next few Super Bowls. I was a cocky 8 year old. Then Parcells, Simms & LT retired.
There was that week 17 game against the Cowboys, the Emmitt Smith game.
The playoff blowout in San Fran in '94.
Falling one game short in '95.
Chris Calloway's gaffed onside kick in the '97 playoffs.
Followed by 2 years of Danny Kannell/Kent Graham carousel.
Super Bowl XXXV.
September 11th emotionally destroying the 2001 season.
Blowing that huge lead in San Fran in 2002.
4-12 in '03.
5-2 start in '04, only to lose 8 straight games.
The 23-0 loss to Carolina.
The 2-6 second half in '06, followed by the last second FG loss to Philadelphia.
For 17 years, as a Giants fan, I had my hopes destroyed again & again. I know I can't complain as much asmost fans of most sports teams. The Giants had won 2 Super Bowls & played in a 3rd in my lifetime, and were in the midst of 3 straight playoff trips.
But when you win the SB your first year as a fan, you get spoiled. And the old adage that you don't become a fan of a team until you suffer through an awful loss is true. I was a Giants fan in 1990, but it wasn't until all those aforementioned disasters, particularly the cowboy/49ers in '93, vikings in '97, ravens in the SB & 49ers in '02, that I realized how much attachment I had to this team.
I bleed Giant blue. I haven't missed a Giants game since the Giants/Bengals game in October 1997. Counting playoffs that's 179 straight games that I've watched. I build my schedule around this team. Living in NE for four years, I went to bars for 50-some games to make sure I could see the team play - in the middle of Patriots country, in the middle of their dynasty.
I'm a superstitious freak. I wear the same outfits. I drink the same beer. I can never ever pick against the Giants, because I expect them to win every game. But at the same time, I will never verbally say out loud that I think the Giants will win, because the last time I did that (SBXXXV), they got raped. When that happens, you just keep your mouth shut. Which is a crappy thing to do, because for years now I've been accused of not being a real fan because I don't have any faith.
But, when things like last night happens, it all becomes worth it. After the Patriots 4th & 20 pass was broken up, the 25 people in my house started jumping up & down hugging each other. I didn't take part in it. I collapsed onto the floor and jsut started crying, uncontrollably. Never have I experienced a sweeter moment in my sports life.
After 17 years, we're World Champions again. And for a lot of those 17 years, I began to wonder if we'd ever do it again. I now know how rare a championship is. And if I have to wait until Super Bowl LIX to get another one, I'm content.
Eli Manning's escape & David Tyree's catch are enough to get me through at least the next 17 years.
How can I put this into words?
In 1990 I was 8 years old. Lawrence Taylor. Phil Simms. OJ Anderson. Mark Bavaro. Carl Banks. The Giants were great. They won the Super Bowl. That was the first season I ever really paid attention to football. After Matt Bahr hit that FG in San Fran, I devoted basically my entire life to the NY Giants.
I thought we'd win at least 2 or 3 of the next few Super Bowls. I was a cocky 8 year old. Then Parcells, Simms & LT retired.
There was that week 17 game against the Cowboys, the Emmitt Smith game.
The playoff blowout in San Fran in '94.
Falling one game short in '95.
Chris Calloway's gaffed onside kick in the '97 playoffs.
Followed by 2 years of Danny Kannell/Kent Graham carousel.
Super Bowl XXXV.
September 11th emotionally destroying the 2001 season.
Blowing that huge lead in San Fran in 2002.
4-12 in '03.
5-2 start in '04, only to lose 8 straight games.
The 23-0 loss to Carolina.
The 2-6 second half in '06, followed by the last second FG loss to Philadelphia.
For 17 years, as a Giants fan, I had my hopes destroyed again & again. I know I can't complain as much asmost fans of most sports teams. The Giants had won 2 Super Bowls & played in a 3rd in my lifetime, and were in the midst of 3 straight playoff trips.
But when you win the SB your first year as a fan, you get spoiled. And the old adage that you don't become a fan of a team until you suffer through an awful loss is true. I was a Giants fan in 1990, but it wasn't until all those aforementioned disasters, particularly the cowboy/49ers in '93, vikings in '97, ravens in the SB & 49ers in '02, that I realized how much attachment I had to this team.
I bleed Giant blue. I haven't missed a Giants game since the Giants/Bengals game in October 1997. Counting playoffs that's 179 straight games that I've watched. I build my schedule around this team. Living in NE for four years, I went to bars for 50-some games to make sure I could see the team play - in the middle of Patriots country, in the middle of their dynasty.
I'm a superstitious freak. I wear the same outfits. I drink the same beer. I can never ever pick against the Giants, because I expect them to win every game. But at the same time, I will never verbally say out loud that I think the Giants will win, because the last time I did that (SBXXXV), they got raped. When that happens, you just keep your mouth shut. Which is a crappy thing to do, because for years now I've been accused of not being a real fan because I don't have any faith.
But, when things like last night happens, it all becomes worth it. After the Patriots 4th & 20 pass was broken up, the 25 people in my house started jumping up & down hugging each other. I didn't take part in it. I collapsed onto the floor and jsut started crying, uncontrollably. Never have I experienced a sweeter moment in my sports life.
After 17 years, we're World Champions again. And for a lot of those 17 years, I began to wonder if we'd ever do it again. I now know how rare a championship is. And if I have to wait until Super Bowl LIX to get another one, I'm content.
Eli Manning's escape & David Tyree's catch are enough to get me through at least the next 17 years.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Jimmy Kimmel-Matt Damon Feud
If you're like me, you're not a regular viewer of Jimmy Kimmel Live. So let me get you caught up on "the feud."
Apparently, when the show first began airing, and they were struggling to get marquee guests, Kimmel had a running joke where he would end most shows saying "My apologies to Matt Damon, but we're out of time." No rhyme or reason why Matt, it just worked.
Eventually, as the show picked up steam, this encounter happened:
And yes, that was staged, Matt was in on it.
Then, last summer, before Bourne Ultimatum came out, there was this spot on Kimmel's show:
Finally, just this week, Matt got his revenge, with the help of Kimmel's girlfriend Sarah Silverman:
Apparently, when the show first began airing, and they were struggling to get marquee guests, Kimmel had a running joke where he would end most shows saying "My apologies to Matt Damon, but we're out of time." No rhyme or reason why Matt, it just worked.
Eventually, as the show picked up steam, this encounter happened:
And yes, that was staged, Matt was in on it.
Then, last summer, before Bourne Ultimatum came out, there was this spot on Kimmel's show:
Finally, just this week, Matt got his revenge, with the help of Kimmel's girlfriend Sarah Silverman:
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Watch My Team Lose The Big One Party
If for some reason you don't have plans for the Super Bowl yet, you're invited over to watch the undefeated New England Asteriks beat my beloved New York Giants tomorrow night.
I'm not saying I'm happy about it, or that that's what I want. I'm saying I'm a realist, and while it's going to crush my to watch them lose, I'm not trying to give myself any false hopes that will lead me to believe otherwise. Brady's Bunch is a team on a mission, I've believed that all season long, and I'm not going to change that opinion just because they play my team.
But anyway, the festivities include:
*Party starts 4ish, come over whenever, though.
*Full keg, plenty of beer, liquor
*Chips, Dips, Cheese, Crackers, Hummus, etc
*Buffalo Wings & Ribs
*Sausage Pepper Onions, Chili, Meatball Hoagies
*2 3-foot subs
*2 60+ inch HDTV's, as well as 4 other TVs around the house showing the game
*Ceremonial pregame burning of a Patriots jersey
*And all the superstitious crap that you can handle
Give me a call if you've got nothing going on.
Just don't mind the fact that I'll be a nervous wreck during the game, and have been trying for 2 weeks to get out of any plans that involve watching the game with more than 2 or 3 people, because there's a chance I'll end up alone in my room watching it.
I'm not saying I'm happy about it, or that that's what I want. I'm saying I'm a realist, and while it's going to crush my to watch them lose, I'm not trying to give myself any false hopes that will lead me to believe otherwise. Brady's Bunch is a team on a mission, I've believed that all season long, and I'm not going to change that opinion just because they play my team.
But anyway, the festivities include:
*Party starts 4ish, come over whenever, though.
*Full keg, plenty of beer, liquor
*Chips, Dips, Cheese, Crackers, Hummus, etc
*Buffalo Wings & Ribs
*Sausage Pepper Onions, Chili, Meatball Hoagies
*2 3-foot subs
*2 60+ inch HDTV's, as well as 4 other TVs around the house showing the game
*Ceremonial pregame burning of a Patriots jersey
*And all the superstitious crap that you can handle
Give me a call if you've got nothing going on.
Just don't mind the fact that I'll be a nervous wreck during the game, and have been trying for 2 weeks to get out of any plans that involve watching the game with more than 2 or 3 people, because there's a chance I'll end up alone in my room watching it.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
So after being in Baltimore for a few days with some friends, and then being at work basically nonstop for a few days after that, I finally have a day of rest. And it's glorious.
My parents, who seem to go out of town every other month, are keeping that streak alive, as they left for Miami this morning for a few days.
All this traveling, by them, by me, I hardly see anyone anymore.
Which is a trend not likely to end anytime soon.
If I move to Boston, which is about 50/50 right now, it'll be by March 1. If not, I'm going to Nashville March 14-18 & May 6-11. Those two trips might just be enough for Loren, Chris, Darren & Elisabeth to convince me to move down there permanently. I'd say if I don't move to Boston next month, I'm about 75/25 moving to Nashville (especially with what I've been working on lately).
And of course if neither of those happens, I'm moving in with Josh, Che & Brit this summer. Between that and my two Nashville trips, possibly Bonnaroo, although unlikely, DC for July 4th, Pigfest sometime in July, VMF in August, my folks 3 vacations this summer, and now my likely going to New Orleans in November with the same crew I went to Baltimore with - which have I mentioned how much fun that was, and how great these people are lately? - I feel like 2008 is going to be over before it even begins.
Oh well. One thing at a time. Boston this week - oh yeah, I'm going up north this week - and the Super Bowl on Sunday. Let's get through the Patriots first, and then I can worry about the rest.
My parents, who seem to go out of town every other month, are keeping that streak alive, as they left for Miami this morning for a few days.
All this traveling, by them, by me, I hardly see anyone anymore.
Which is a trend not likely to end anytime soon.
If I move to Boston, which is about 50/50 right now, it'll be by March 1. If not, I'm going to Nashville March 14-18 & May 6-11. Those two trips might just be enough for Loren, Chris, Darren & Elisabeth to convince me to move down there permanently. I'd say if I don't move to Boston next month, I'm about 75/25 moving to Nashville (especially with what I've been working on lately).
And of course if neither of those happens, I'm moving in with Josh, Che & Brit this summer. Between that and my two Nashville trips, possibly Bonnaroo, although unlikely, DC for July 4th, Pigfest sometime in July, VMF in August, my folks 3 vacations this summer, and now my likely going to New Orleans in November with the same crew I went to Baltimore with - which have I mentioned how much fun that was, and how great these people are lately? - I feel like 2008 is going to be over before it even begins.
Oh well. One thing at a time. Boston this week - oh yeah, I'm going up north this week - and the Super Bowl on Sunday. Let's get through the Patriots first, and then I can worry about the rest.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
What a weekend.
Friday around noon Mike & Kate showed up at my place. We drove down to Baltimore, got into town around 4 o'clock. Hung out at the hotel for a few hours, waiting for people to get into town.
Then we all headed to the Green Turtle for half priced apps & $2 drafts. Somehow we still ran up a $400 tab, and left before ten. Then Max's, boardroom meetings, mysterious American Flags, moving pillars, and literal holes in the wall concluded Friday night.
Saturday morning we headed out for breakfast at around 1130. Found Kooper's Dog House, which had a Saturday brunch. Which featured $10 all you can drink Mimosas & Bloody Mary's until 2pm. Our table of 6, according to the waitress, set the record for most drinks before 2 with 33. All in all, there were about 15 people there. What started out as breakfast at 11:30 turned into all out binge drinking until around 6pm, with some people coming & going throughout the day.
Then over to Mike & Carrie's pimp apartment for a few hours, for more drinking, some game called Left Right Center, and more drinking. Went to Terry's bar afterwards, destroyed a handle of GM, played some shuffleboard, and drank more beer than imaginable, because they just kept showing up, I have no idea where they were coming from.
Went back to Mike & Carrie's afterwards for a few hours, finally got back to the hotel around 4:30, hung out in Tim's room for drunk dialing until bedtime.
Rolled out of bed Sunday morning, went back to brunch sans alcohol this time, and drove home.
Was supposed to go to Jeff's for the game for the 3rd straight week, but no one was going, and I was exhausted with a 2 day hangover, so I just stayed at home, had a few people over. Pretty much the best football game I've ever watched. So tense, but so great at the end. Definitely compares with the 49ers-Giants game of january 91. Right there with that game & SBXXV as the 3 best Giants games of my lifetime. Depending on what happens in 2 weeks, it falls in comfortably at #3 right now.
Overall, what a great weekend. Mike, Kate, Chris, Will, Aarti, Joe, Lindsey, Jay, Suellen, Kristen, Steve, Stigs, Tim, Mike, Aaron, Karen, Mike, Carrie, AP, Stella, Susan, Marty, Robeo, Ilona & anyone I missed, what a blast. See you in the summer!
Friday around noon Mike & Kate showed up at my place. We drove down to Baltimore, got into town around 4 o'clock. Hung out at the hotel for a few hours, waiting for people to get into town.
Then we all headed to the Green Turtle for half priced apps & $2 drafts. Somehow we still ran up a $400 tab, and left before ten. Then Max's, boardroom meetings, mysterious American Flags, moving pillars, and literal holes in the wall concluded Friday night.
Saturday morning we headed out for breakfast at around 1130. Found Kooper's Dog House, which had a Saturday brunch. Which featured $10 all you can drink Mimosas & Bloody Mary's until 2pm. Our table of 6, according to the waitress, set the record for most drinks before 2 with 33. All in all, there were about 15 people there. What started out as breakfast at 11:30 turned into all out binge drinking until around 6pm, with some people coming & going throughout the day.
Then over to Mike & Carrie's pimp apartment for a few hours, for more drinking, some game called Left Right Center, and more drinking. Went to Terry's bar afterwards, destroyed a handle of GM, played some shuffleboard, and drank more beer than imaginable, because they just kept showing up, I have no idea where they were coming from.
Went back to Mike & Carrie's afterwards for a few hours, finally got back to the hotel around 4:30, hung out in Tim's room for drunk dialing until bedtime.
Rolled out of bed Sunday morning, went back to brunch sans alcohol this time, and drove home.
Was supposed to go to Jeff's for the game for the 3rd straight week, but no one was going, and I was exhausted with a 2 day hangover, so I just stayed at home, had a few people over. Pretty much the best football game I've ever watched. So tense, but so great at the end. Definitely compares with the 49ers-Giants game of january 91. Right there with that game & SBXXV as the 3 best Giants games of my lifetime. Depending on what happens in 2 weeks, it falls in comfortably at #3 right now.
Overall, what a great weekend. Mike, Kate, Chris, Will, Aarti, Joe, Lindsey, Jay, Suellen, Kristen, Steve, Stigs, Tim, Mike, Aaron, Karen, Mike, Carrie, AP, Stella, Susan, Marty, Robeo, Ilona & anyone I missed, what a blast. See you in the summer!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
It's the weekend! Not really, but because the man is holding me down from working tonight, my extended weekend starts real early. Actually like 48 hours ago early. Somehow I'm ending up getting 6 days off. Sweetness.
Tomorrow morning my friends Kate & Mike will show up at my doorstep, and we'll drive down to Baltimore. There we'll be meeting like 30 people. There's folks from Boston, New York City, New Jersey, Lake Erie, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, DC, North Carolina, Michigan, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Chicago & San Fran flying in for this weekend.
Why? No reason. Just a weekend to hang out. These are probably the best group of people anyone could ever meet. Our group is so diverse that it's surprising how well it meshes. But it meshes phenomenally.
And on a sadder note, this will be the first major gathering I'll be attending since Jordan passed away last June. There have been two since then (Red Rocks & Pigfest), but I was unable to attend either. As I'm sure will be the case everytime I see these people for the rest of my lives, he will be on everyones minds at some point this weekend.
Time to drink. See you next week!
Tomorrow morning my friends Kate & Mike will show up at my doorstep, and we'll drive down to Baltimore. There we'll be meeting like 30 people. There's folks from Boston, New York City, New Jersey, Lake Erie, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, DC, North Carolina, Michigan, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Chicago & San Fran flying in for this weekend.
Why? No reason. Just a weekend to hang out. These are probably the best group of people anyone could ever meet. Our group is so diverse that it's surprising how well it meshes. But it meshes phenomenally.
And on a sadder note, this will be the first major gathering I'll be attending since Jordan passed away last June. There have been two since then (Red Rocks & Pigfest), but I was unable to attend either. As I'm sure will be the case everytime I see these people for the rest of my lives, he will be on everyones minds at some point this weekend.
Time to drink. See you next week!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Days like today - days where something happens that if I'm still alive 60 years from now, I'll remember as vividly as when it happened - don't come very often. And when they do, they usually do more bad than good.
Today was definitely a more bad than good day. But in the long run, it'll be more good, because it'd rid me of something I needed to rid myself of.
It's just draining. Luckily I get to see everyone in one week in Baltimore. I need 4 days of binge drinking with the best people in the world to get my mind off this one.
Today was definitely a more bad than good day. But in the long run, it'll be more good, because it'd rid me of something I needed to rid myself of.
It's just draining. Luckily I get to see everyone in one week in Baltimore. I need 4 days of binge drinking with the best people in the world to get my mind off this one.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
I've got the itch to move again. Only this time it's not just hearsay. I really neeeeeed to get out of my house.
Only question is where to?
Nashville is still my #1 choice, and the more I think about it, the more I realize how stupid I am for not having jumped down there two years ago. Plus, a lifetime in the same neighborhood as Chris & Loren and Darren & Elisabeth can't be a bad thing, can it?
Baltimore always sits in the background, if for no other reason than everytime I'm there, I have a blast, and I could easily get a job working with Terry.
I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I really miss New England. It probably has less to do with the area and more to do with the people, but having James, Rich & Scott still live together 7 years later, and me bailing on them 3 years ago still eats me alive. I miss those guys a lot, and think I would have a lot of fun working at Fenway with James, except I don't really want to cook.
Brooklyn's always calling my name, but that's probably a bit out of my price range right now.
And of course, I could just do what I'm planning on doing, which is move in with Che & Josh sometime this summer somewhere around here.
The only thing that scares me about that, the easiest possibility, is that once I sign that lease, I feel like I'm signing my life to NJ, which isn't necessarily something I want to do.
Really, the only thing keeping me in NJ is my family. And besides immediate family, who I'll always see regardless, all the people in my family that I hang out with now live in Nashville or San Fran. And I'm not moving to Cali.
Only question is where to?
Nashville is still my #1 choice, and the more I think about it, the more I realize how stupid I am for not having jumped down there two years ago. Plus, a lifetime in the same neighborhood as Chris & Loren and Darren & Elisabeth can't be a bad thing, can it?
Baltimore always sits in the background, if for no other reason than everytime I'm there, I have a blast, and I could easily get a job working with Terry.
I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I really miss New England. It probably has less to do with the area and more to do with the people, but having James, Rich & Scott still live together 7 years later, and me bailing on them 3 years ago still eats me alive. I miss those guys a lot, and think I would have a lot of fun working at Fenway with James, except I don't really want to cook.
Brooklyn's always calling my name, but that's probably a bit out of my price range right now.
And of course, I could just do what I'm planning on doing, which is move in with Che & Josh sometime this summer somewhere around here.
The only thing that scares me about that, the easiest possibility, is that once I sign that lease, I feel like I'm signing my life to NJ, which isn't necessarily something I want to do.
Really, the only thing keeping me in NJ is my family. And besides immediate family, who I'll always see regardless, all the people in my family that I hang out with now live in Nashville or San Fran. And I'm not moving to Cali.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Despite what I've led myself to believe, this site actually does get read. Or at least, Che reads it. Therefore, I write on...
But not too much writing tonight. My computer crapped out a bit ago, and I finally got my harddrive replaced the other day. I lost everything, though. One thing I did have was my Ipod. After much research (and bothering Aaron at work), I found a way to transfer from my ipod to my computer, which technically isn't legal (shh...). Excellent.
Only problem is now I have thousands of songs that were on my ipod all in folders called "F00, F01, F02, etc." And when you open those folders, there aren't song titles labeling the tracks. Nope. Each song is called some variation of "AAAA, AAAB, AAAC, etc." So I'm going through and manually renaming every single track. Which means I have to listen to it and figure out what song it is, and then I have to move it into a folder with songs on the same album from the same band. Because if you know me, you know I'm OCD about my music collection, and only done perfectly will do.
The one plus that's come from this is I have to listen to everything on my Ipod (which according to ITunes is 23 days worth of music). I've rediscovered some stuff, namely Joseph Arthur's "Redemption's Son" album, that I have completely forgotten about. That's pretty sweet.
OK, back to work.
But not too much writing tonight. My computer crapped out a bit ago, and I finally got my harddrive replaced the other day. I lost everything, though. One thing I did have was my Ipod. After much research (and bothering Aaron at work), I found a way to transfer from my ipod to my computer, which technically isn't legal (shh...). Excellent.
Only problem is now I have thousands of songs that were on my ipod all in folders called "F00, F01, F02, etc." And when you open those folders, there aren't song titles labeling the tracks. Nope. Each song is called some variation of "AAAA, AAAB, AAAC, etc." So I'm going through and manually renaming every single track. Which means I have to listen to it and figure out what song it is, and then I have to move it into a folder with songs on the same album from the same band. Because if you know me, you know I'm OCD about my music collection, and only done perfectly will do.
The one plus that's come from this is I have to listen to everything on my Ipod (which according to ITunes is 23 days worth of music). I've rediscovered some stuff, namely Joseph Arthur's "Redemption's Son" album, that I have completely forgotten about. That's pretty sweet.
OK, back to work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)