A successful month on both fronts. Despite being 1:15 a.m. on July 1, I'm still awake from the 30th, and so I'm counting it. Also, you COULD cry foul on my mad rush at the end of the month, BUT lest I remind you I DID post one for each day in the month and so that is no small feat.
What I learned is that I can't continue procrastinating. It truly is my most noted flaw (well, one of them anyway), and will earn me no favor in the future if I continue to let things sit. Just something I will have to learn.
I also learned that discipline requires acknowledgement and effort. Without acknowledging a problem, we become oblivious to it and its negative aspects...and without effort to change it, we're doomed to continue failing (a good life lesson to learn...I feel like Jerry Springer with a moment of clarity right at the end).
I feel confident that my desire to change the habits that I looked to break in June will help me conquer those all-too-familiar habits. Now, if I could just prevent overuse of my phone at inopportune times....
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
June 29- What's in store
I'm torn between no meat or no talking/texting while driving for the month of July. I think that I will lean toward the latter, since the summer is BBQ season, but I have yet to make up my mind...
As for a point of improvement, I really do need to get my ass to the gym. My other thought has been to cook every night of the month. This could get tricky as I plan on not being at home every night this month, thus making such a goal VERY difficult. We shall see where this ends up, but I just want to throw an idea or two out there...
I'd say reading more or watching more movies, but with work picking up already, it's not a very graspable goal, particularly if I plan on enjoying the summer and all of its perks (and I do)...so those ideas are shot.
Not driving a car is already out of the question, as I will be in the standard U-Haul truck later this week, thus making that mission null and void. Giving up automobile driving seems like it's out the window...ya know, since I'll have a job come September.
As for a point of improvement, I really do need to get my ass to the gym. My other thought has been to cook every night of the month. This could get tricky as I plan on not being at home every night this month, thus making such a goal VERY difficult. We shall see where this ends up, but I just want to throw an idea or two out there...
I'd say reading more or watching more movies, but with work picking up already, it's not a very graspable goal, particularly if I plan on enjoying the summer and all of its perks (and I do)...so those ideas are shot.
Not driving a car is already out of the question, as I will be in the standard U-Haul truck later this week, thus making that mission null and void. Giving up automobile driving seems like it's out the window...ya know, since I'll have a job come September.
June 28- NYC
Went on a walking tour of Tribeca today, followed by a nice sailboat ride around New York Harbor. Having never been on a relatively small vessel in the harbor before, I found myself humbled as the sheer lack of size and presence our boat seemed to have as it buzzed around Governor's Island and Liberty Island. A couple of free cocktails and the company of my family hit the spot for a relaxing and quite enjoyable last day of freedom. Summer job activities start tomorrow, and I'm sure that it will leave me little relaxation time (since I've been applying to districts constantly for the last 6 months, I can say I've been working hard between vacations ;) )...and so today's events were all the better.
We took an audio tour that pointed out some famous scenes in the lower part of Manhattan, including Ghostbusters HQ!! THAT was very impressive to see in person, though I do wish Dr. Venkman was around.
After that, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, thus fulfilling a life goal that I have had for a long time. I am glad to have gotten the opportunity to do so, since it is a national landmark and an internationally-recognized point in the United States.
Family, the water, Americana....three things I love as part of a belated birthday celebration certainly hit the spot. And now, on with the work!
We took an audio tour that pointed out some famous scenes in the lower part of Manhattan, including Ghostbusters HQ!! THAT was very impressive to see in person, though I do wish Dr. Venkman was around.
After that, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, thus fulfilling a life goal that I have had for a long time. I am glad to have gotten the opportunity to do so, since it is a national landmark and an internationally-recognized point in the United States.
Family, the water, Americana....three things I love as part of a belated birthday celebration certainly hit the spot. And now, on with the work!
June 27- Movies
I saw Taking of Pelham 123 this evening, and I must say I thought it was REALLY enjoyable! I like John Travolta in villainous roles, and Denzel's always a treat to watch. Now that I've seen it, here's a list of ten movies I am going to make an effort to see this summer:
1) Star Trek- It's almost at the discount theater. Sweet. I've heard nothing but good things about it, so I will be sure to hop on that when the time comes.
2) Wolverine- Hopefully someone gets the DVD? I've heard mixed reviews and so I will certainly not be getting it myself...I mean, I didn't like X-men THAT much to begin with, but Hugh Jackman turns up the badassometer in this role, so I will try to check it out.
3) The Hangover- Since everyone in town saw this the weekend I was in the city, I suppose I will have to wait until I can convince some staff members at my summer job to go check it out...
4) Tropic Thunder- Yeah, it's outdated. But still...I haven't heard of anyone who hasn't thought this movie was uproariously funny. Bring it on!
5) Public Enemies- Johnny Depp is spectacular. That is all.
6) Count of Monte Cristo- I read the book in the summer of 2007 and yet have still not watched the movie even though the only reason I never watche the movie was because I told myself that I'd read the book first! Suffice it to say it will probably feel as though I never read it in the first place. I'm okay with this.
7) Citizen Kane- To see what all the fuss is about.
8) Platoon and Stripes- I bought both of these at the mall for $5 a pop (thanks, Target!), and so it's only a matter of time before I pop them in and get a good look at a couple of highly-regarded war films.
9) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- This belongs at the top of the list, it just completely slipped my mind. VERY eager for this one.
10) Pride of the Yankees/61*/Mr. Baseball- Because I enjoy movies and baseball and these are three of the best-known baseball movies that I've never seen....sounds simple enough, eh?
Anyone care to lend any of these?
1) Star Trek- It's almost at the discount theater. Sweet. I've heard nothing but good things about it, so I will be sure to hop on that when the time comes.
2) Wolverine- Hopefully someone gets the DVD? I've heard mixed reviews and so I will certainly not be getting it myself...I mean, I didn't like X-men THAT much to begin with, but Hugh Jackman turns up the badassometer in this role, so I will try to check it out.
3) The Hangover- Since everyone in town saw this the weekend I was in the city, I suppose I will have to wait until I can convince some staff members at my summer job to go check it out...
4) Tropic Thunder- Yeah, it's outdated. But still...I haven't heard of anyone who hasn't thought this movie was uproariously funny. Bring it on!
5) Public Enemies- Johnny Depp is spectacular. That is all.
6) Count of Monte Cristo- I read the book in the summer of 2007 and yet have still not watched the movie even though the only reason I never watche the movie was because I told myself that I'd read the book first! Suffice it to say it will probably feel as though I never read it in the first place. I'm okay with this.
7) Citizen Kane- To see what all the fuss is about.
8) Platoon and Stripes- I bought both of these at the mall for $5 a pop (thanks, Target!), and so it's only a matter of time before I pop them in and get a good look at a couple of highly-regarded war films.
9) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- This belongs at the top of the list, it just completely slipped my mind. VERY eager for this one.
10) Pride of the Yankees/61*/Mr. Baseball- Because I enjoy movies and baseball and these are three of the best-known baseball movies that I've never seen....sounds simple enough, eh?
Anyone care to lend any of these?
June 26- Sarah Studler
I heard the news the morning of the 26th that a classmate of mine from high school had passed away early that morning. This post is dedicated to the friends and family of Sarah Studler, may she rest in peace.
I met Sarah in the 7th grade. I found it funny at the time (and now again in hindsight) that she seemed like a good person simply because she was the first girl that had more basketball skills than me (I get that that's not saying much, but keep in mind this was middle school and she was a girl!).
At the time we shared a mutual admiration for my super-stylish Miami Dolphins windpants (a point that we would look back upon many times, with one of us laughing and the other shaking my head), and I must say that between that and Sarah's quick wit and laughter, I knew I had met quite a unique personality.
Throughout high school, I saw Studs on a regular basis. I'm sure I am not alone when I describe my memories of her as being inviting and remarkably animated at all times. While her athletic accomplishments at Arlington are well-documented and respected, I will find her enthusiasm and seemingly everpresent smile to be the most lasting memories I have of Sarah.
Running into Sarah during breaks from college became something that transpired less and less frequently over the years, which is a sad reality that befalls many. While I was not- and would not profess to be- closer with Sarah than anyone in particular, I will say that it was always a pleasure to catch up and hear about what she had been up to in life, and always being invited into an animated and enthusiastic conversation in the process.
I hope that for her friends and family, Sarah's infectious spirit will live on, and that whenever those who loved her most think of her, they can feel an arm being thrown around them while the memory of a great young woman puts them at ease.
I met Sarah in the 7th grade. I found it funny at the time (and now again in hindsight) that she seemed like a good person simply because she was the first girl that had more basketball skills than me (I get that that's not saying much, but keep in mind this was middle school and she was a girl!).
At the time we shared a mutual admiration for my super-stylish Miami Dolphins windpants (a point that we would look back upon many times, with one of us laughing and the other shaking my head), and I must say that between that and Sarah's quick wit and laughter, I knew I had met quite a unique personality.
Throughout high school, I saw Studs on a regular basis. I'm sure I am not alone when I describe my memories of her as being inviting and remarkably animated at all times. While her athletic accomplishments at Arlington are well-documented and respected, I will find her enthusiasm and seemingly everpresent smile to be the most lasting memories I have of Sarah.
Running into Sarah during breaks from college became something that transpired less and less frequently over the years, which is a sad reality that befalls many. While I was not- and would not profess to be- closer with Sarah than anyone in particular, I will say that it was always a pleasure to catch up and hear about what she had been up to in life, and always being invited into an animated and enthusiastic conversation in the process.
I hope that for her friends and family, Sarah's infectious spirit will live on, and that whenever those who loved her most think of her, they can feel an arm being thrown around them while the memory of a great young woman puts them at ease.
June 25- Michael Jackson
Look, I know it's a bit late, but I have just a couple of quick thoughts on the passing of Michael Jackson. So here goes:
1) I do not believe that the events of the last 15 years should be completely written off now that he's gone.
2) That said, I don't know that he should be written off as a pedophile, since charges were dropped against him. Here's my thought: If someone is relentlessly pursuing claims that you did something and this goes on and on and on and on with no sign of stopping and it is damaging your reputation and general peace, wouldn't you want to reach an amiable resolution? I'm not saying guilty or not; what I AM saying is that there's at least a chance that he did what he had to do to get the people who made these claims to drop them.
3) THAT said, I would be very hesitant to leave any child I've met with him.
4) The jokes that have come out since his passing have been pretty tasteless. I've long been a proponent of the idea that instant gratification is fast-tracking the world to hell. We are at a point where we no longer honor the dead. Instead, we salivate for pictures of their last moments alive, their procession into a body bag. We demand a blow-by-blow account of their last hours, minutes, seconds, and have this sense of entitlement about it because they're "in the public eye". When someone dies or suffers, we have the power to turn our eyes and give people privacy. We choose not to, which only perpetuates these problems more and more. Shame on us.
Now, as for Jackson's musical legacy, he earned the title of "king of pop" during the 1980s. I rank him near or at the top (with Michael Jordan) of my list of iconic figures from the youth of people aged under 30 years. This means that for anyone born in 1979 or later, Michael Jackson was maybe THE most recognizeable and generally famous figure (not including world leaders, as that identification process varies from nation to nation) in the world for his accomplishments and, sadly, his notoriety.
It just makes me sad to think that despite being such a legendary performer and vocal talent, there is an entire generation of kids who know Jackson only through terrible kiddie-touching jokes, Eminem songs, and a South Park episode. THAT'S the sad part about this.
1) I do not believe that the events of the last 15 years should be completely written off now that he's gone.
2) That said, I don't know that he should be written off as a pedophile, since charges were dropped against him. Here's my thought: If someone is relentlessly pursuing claims that you did something and this goes on and on and on and on with no sign of stopping and it is damaging your reputation and general peace, wouldn't you want to reach an amiable resolution? I'm not saying guilty or not; what I AM saying is that there's at least a chance that he did what he had to do to get the people who made these claims to drop them.
3) THAT said, I would be very hesitant to leave any child I've met with him.
4) The jokes that have come out since his passing have been pretty tasteless. I've long been a proponent of the idea that instant gratification is fast-tracking the world to hell. We are at a point where we no longer honor the dead. Instead, we salivate for pictures of their last moments alive, their procession into a body bag. We demand a blow-by-blow account of their last hours, minutes, seconds, and have this sense of entitlement about it because they're "in the public eye". When someone dies or suffers, we have the power to turn our eyes and give people privacy. We choose not to, which only perpetuates these problems more and more. Shame on us.
Now, as for Jackson's musical legacy, he earned the title of "king of pop" during the 1980s. I rank him near or at the top (with Michael Jordan) of my list of iconic figures from the youth of people aged under 30 years. This means that for anyone born in 1979 or later, Michael Jackson was maybe THE most recognizeable and generally famous figure (not including world leaders, as that identification process varies from nation to nation) in the world for his accomplishments and, sadly, his notoriety.
It just makes me sad to think that despite being such a legendary performer and vocal talent, there is an entire generation of kids who know Jackson only through terrible kiddie-touching jokes, Eminem songs, and a South Park episode. THAT'S the sad part about this.
June 24- Eulogy for Cherry
Alright, so there's much to say about Cherry. Her legacy, relentless pursuit of excellence, and her uniqueness has put her perhaps in the top slot on the list of cars I've driven, maybe even ahead of Black Thunder.
I inherited Cherry in the fall of 2003 from a family friend, just at the start of my sophomore year of college. At the time that I met her, she had a removable tape deck that was stolen about two weeks into our courtship; I got a CD player installed the very next day, and we've been enjoying music together ever since...
Over the course of the last five and a half years, Cherry's been banged up a bit. Injuries include a debacle in Albany that involved irregular and numerous alternator belts in the winter of 2005, a car backing into her left side in the spring of 2005, a minor accident courtesy of my brother in 2006, a blown tire in 2007 that nearly killed us twice in one night, and the absolute destruction of a racoon in March, 2008, which cracked her smile. Her courageous battle through these injuries helped her develop her rich character and hard-working demeanor. In the summer of 2008, she developed a hiccup that would embody her last year; the "clicking" of Cherry pulsed with the music much like a heartbeat.
Eventually, Cherry's age caught up with her. She developed an oil leak which spread to the transmission fluid and coolant, and ultimately ended up affecting her heart/engine's ability to maintain fluid. After a lengthy battle with these ailments, Cherry called it quits in solitude, retiring gracefully to the driveway.
Over the years, Cherry developed a love for travel, trekking numerous times to the southern part of the state, more than a half dozen trips to Yankee Stadium (most notably with a car filled with full-sized Matt, Alan, Joe, and I in 2008); the exact number of trips taken to Albany during my years there is unknown. Just once, Cherry hosted a physical display of a torrid romance. It remains, to this day, the lone hook-up hosted by her. In addition, Cherry relished the opportunity to travel to the Lake.
In late April, 2009, Cherry made her last long-distance trip, brandishing her Yankee license plates unabashedly in Boston, Mass. As if sensing the end of an era, Cherry pushed 90 mph for just the third time in our relationship. It was a moment of pride for certain, as it demonstrated Cherry's desire to go out on her own terms. She will be missed. I will say that if I could ever really love an object, Cherry would be at the top of the list. Will miss you.
Not a car guy, but will miss this girl...
June 23- Cherry, remembered
This month of celebration has been spoiled a bit with a few tragic losses. While celebrities have their place in the hearts of many, I am more concerned with the passing of Cherry, my VERY beloved 1993 Mazda MX-3. After a long bout with old age and high mileage (164,632 fun-filled miles), Cherry has seen her next-to-last lap around the block (I will take her around once more before she's taken away and donated for parts).
Her eulogy to follow....
June 22- Getting old
Let me preface this by saying that I am still a relatively young 25 years old...
Alright, here we go: as I proctored Regents exams, I decided that a few notable differences between high school kids in my day (a whopping 7 years ago) and high school kids today have made me feel really old (and, oddly enough, fairly ornery). I have nothing to say for myself other than that I hope that I wasn't this defiantly persistent in being uncool to my elders (though I am SURE that this is actually what happened, since my claim to fame during my senior year was wearing pajama pants nearly every day to school...how I managed to get a response from women in high school is beyond me). With that said, here we go....a list of just a few things about "youngsters" that amuse me:
1) Wearing pants/shorts that display undergarments- this happened in my heyday, and it was bafflesome then, so of course as I have become older and more mature, it has become a real problem for me. What about it is comfortable, really? My other thought on this is that when it comes time to pull up pants with boxers that are on display, wouldn't it create havoc in one's nether region? I just don't get it.
2) Absurd facial hair- the chinstrap really didn't burst out on the scene until I was in college, and so I blame the omnipresent and timeless tradition of dressing and trying to appear older than your age now that the plague of a style has hit high schools.
3) Driving absurdly fast in parking lots- This trend usually is curbed by the time a kid has to pay for his or her own brakes/transmission. If this moment never comes, you can tell because it's the kids who get the car from their parents and use whatever job money/allowence/inheritence to put into useless accessories for their car. This is precisely the sort of thing that isn't the cause of, but certainly didn't help solve, the recession.
4) The unbathed look- I can understand unkempt/artsy/trying to pull off an "I don't care about how I look and you'll know that because I spent so much time pulling off the 'I don't have time for my looks' look" image...heck, I've grown my hair out over the course of almost every semester of school. The problem starts when the look is taken too seriously and is achieved through not showering. I'm sorry, but at some point, bathing for teenagers is ABSOLUTELY a must!
5) Inappropriate use of the word "gay" (see, "fag"/"faggot"/"homo", et. al.)- This sort of thing is really uncalled-for and misguided. While some may view it as an insult, put-down, or just being downright offensive, I tend to operate on a more basic level: it's uncreative...as in, you have no other way to describe your dislike for something so you attach a completely unrelated word that has an entirely different connotation in order to convey disapproval. Bulk up the vocab, kid. Ignorance is the opiate of the masses, and so at that age, it happens.
Alright, here we go: as I proctored Regents exams, I decided that a few notable differences between high school kids in my day (a whopping 7 years ago) and high school kids today have made me feel really old (and, oddly enough, fairly ornery). I have nothing to say for myself other than that I hope that I wasn't this defiantly persistent in being uncool to my elders (though I am SURE that this is actually what happened, since my claim to fame during my senior year was wearing pajama pants nearly every day to school...how I managed to get a response from women in high school is beyond me). With that said, here we go....a list of just a few things about "youngsters" that amuse me:
1) Wearing pants/shorts that display undergarments- this happened in my heyday, and it was bafflesome then, so of course as I have become older and more mature, it has become a real problem for me. What about it is comfortable, really? My other thought on this is that when it comes time to pull up pants with boxers that are on display, wouldn't it create havoc in one's nether region? I just don't get it.
2) Absurd facial hair- the chinstrap really didn't burst out on the scene until I was in college, and so I blame the omnipresent and timeless tradition of dressing and trying to appear older than your age now that the plague of a style has hit high schools.
3) Driving absurdly fast in parking lots- This trend usually is curbed by the time a kid has to pay for his or her own brakes/transmission. If this moment never comes, you can tell because it's the kids who get the car from their parents and use whatever job money/allowence/inheritence to put into useless accessories for their car. This is precisely the sort of thing that isn't the cause of, but certainly didn't help solve, the recession.
4) The unbathed look- I can understand unkempt/artsy/trying to pull off an "I don't care about how I look and you'll know that because I spent so much time pulling off the 'I don't have time for my looks' look" image...heck, I've grown my hair out over the course of almost every semester of school. The problem starts when the look is taken too seriously and is achieved through not showering. I'm sorry, but at some point, bathing for teenagers is ABSOLUTELY a must!
5) Inappropriate use of the word "gay" (see, "fag"/"faggot"/"homo", et. al.)- This sort of thing is really uncalled-for and misguided. While some may view it as an insult, put-down, or just being downright offensive, I tend to operate on a more basic level: it's uncreative...as in, you have no other way to describe your dislike for something so you attach a completely unrelated word that has an entirely different connotation in order to convey disapproval. Bulk up the vocab, kid. Ignorance is the opiate of the masses, and so at that age, it happens.
June 21- Solstice, eh?
There's something inherently saddening about the summer solstice, in my opinion (and maybe it's just that I'm looking at this through the eyes of an optimist). It mostly stems from the idea that after today, the days get shorter. Now, I understand that we can't really control the orbit of the Earth or the amount of sunlight we get on any given day (unless you're Mr. Burns, perhaps), so we have no way of controlling the fact that yes, the days will in fact be getting shorter just as summer weather seems to be here to stay. So what do we do? Changing a calendar won't work (ask the Hebrews, whose calendar can't quite crack the popularity of the Gregorian style).
Sorry, Rabbi Krustofsky, it's not 5769Let's think this through for a minute... we want the long days to coincide fully with the warmth and optimal season known as summer, where leisure at least APPEARS to be the dominant theme. This is point number one.
Number two: Daylight time will invariably begin to decline after June 21st.
I propose that we embrace the standard two-semester college idea of letting summer start a month earlier. Doing so will give people an opportunity to dive into summer activities a month earlier and- get this- those activities can last longer because the days are still getting longer! This may require us to bump back the daylight savings date, which I think would be fine...now, since August and September are usually beautiful, we COULD.... keep the summer break for students at its current length. Once school starts, move to longer school days in order to make up for the longer break....or, make for shorter days and shorter overall summer breaks.
For those of you with a job that requires your presence all 12 months of the year, I am sorry. I really am. Suckers.
Monday, June 29, 2009
June 20- If you could...
...be an animal, which would it be?
My first choice would be a grizzly bear. They are massive, fucking powerful, and hibernate for months at a time. They eat when they want, don't have to wear pants, and can swat a hunter's face off. They live in the woods and avoid overpopulated areas, steal food from humans whenever they please, and are all sorts of scary with some badass growling. Grizzlys are better than Kodiaks as well because the Kodiak bear is just too big; grizzly bears have a build-in advantage to not being 12 feet tall.
Second choice is a dolphin. They swim, they're incredibly smart, they use sonar, can beat up sharks, and are the only other mammal besides humans to have sex for pleasure. Sounds like a good life, blowhole or not.
Third would be either a bengal tiger or a gorilla. Both are some fierce animals, but as I think about it more, I probably would choose the gorilla, as it has full use of hands. Peeling bananas is a necessary tool for survival. Plus, they have more variety in their diet; I couldn't just eat meat (shocking, really).
My first choice would be a grizzly bear. They are massive, fucking powerful, and hibernate for months at a time. They eat when they want, don't have to wear pants, and can swat a hunter's face off. They live in the woods and avoid overpopulated areas, steal food from humans whenever they please, and are all sorts of scary with some badass growling. Grizzlys are better than Kodiaks as well because the Kodiak bear is just too big; grizzly bears have a build-in advantage to not being 12 feet tall.
Second choice is a dolphin. They swim, they're incredibly smart, they use sonar, can beat up sharks, and are the only other mammal besides humans to have sex for pleasure. Sounds like a good life, blowhole or not.
Third would be either a bengal tiger or a gorilla. Both are some fierce animals, but as I think about it more, I probably would choose the gorilla, as it has full use of hands. Peeling bananas is a necessary tool for survival. Plus, they have more variety in their diet; I couldn't just eat meat (shocking, really).
June 19- Another summer goal
The NYC subway system has 24 different lines. I plan to ride them all one day this summer.
I've put some solid thought into this, and am hoping that with any luck, I will be able to do it on one subway fare (now $2.25). This will take me to four boroughs, and I think that if I REALLY want to, I can take the PATH into Hoboken and/or the Staten Island Ferry, in order to touch all the boroughs in one fell swoop.
I plan to do this over the course of a day, since there are multiple stops which carry multiple lines. I will NOT be riding each line to its end, as that's overkill. I would like to ride a few out, but I would rather not drain my wallet just to do this. Anyway, anyone who is interested in this project, let me know. Set for August, methinks...
Gotta ride 'em all...
June 18- Where will I go?
To recap, I have-since the start of 2009- been to a few key cities in the U.S. Since I've hit up Miami, Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, and LA, I think there's a new list of ten cities I'd like to visit (perhaps after my summer job wraps up. That's right: they give me a job for the summer...you know, when every other teacher gets off? That's when I work. Ooh de lally!) Here we go:
1) San Francisco- Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury, Full House, Basic Instinct? Sign me the fuck up!
2) Seattle- I know of a couple people who are on the move to the Emerald City. Also, I can go to the top of the Space Needle (which, by the way, may be the funkiest/coolest-looking landmark in America)? Sweet. Definitely sign me up for Seattle....
3) Washington, DC- Last time I went to Washington, I was in high school and trying to work out a makeout session on the ride back home. Suffice it to say the times have changed and so I'm looking to get down to DC to check out the Obama-era climate....and to talk about how awesome the Jefferson Memorial is.
4) Charleston, SC- why not? Seems to be a hotbed of historical significance (which, sadly enough, IS a major determining factor in my vacation destinations)...also, southern cooking. I will leave my belt at home in favor of elastic waistbands.
5) New Orleans- I would love to see how far the city has come in the last 5 years post-Katrina and have a cocktail and some creole in the French Quarter...perhaps write a murder mystery novel based on my experiences (ya know...minus the murder)
6) San Antonio- Because Houston's too big, apparently? Here's the deal: if I make it to Texas, I'm DEFINITELY making the rounds to numerous cities (Helloooooooooooo Lubbock!)
7) Phoenix- One, to scope out job opportunities. Two, to soak up some sun (sike!). Three, because I could then leave my belongings in a hotel room while I set out into the desert to find myself (or, rather, to find the gaping hole in the ground...and some Joshua Trees)
8) Denver- Because, if I do it in the summer, I won't be as pressured to ski (which, I don't know if I told you this, but I'm terrible when I'm not on my feet (and even then there's no guarantee that I manage to thrive))...and I'd really just love to check out the Rockies.
9) Milwaukee- Beer, brats, Brewers, Badgers (UWis)....bring it on!
10) Portland- I hear it's beautiful...and between Portland and Seattle, I can plan a Twilight tour!!!!!! LOL ROFL! (gag me). But seriously, I want to soak up some west coast flavor, so if you're in that part of the country, I'm going to be knocking and asking about use of a couch. Soon. So get ready.
1) San Francisco- Golden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashbury, Full House, Basic Instinct? Sign me the fuck up!
2) Seattle- I know of a couple people who are on the move to the Emerald City. Also, I can go to the top of the Space Needle (which, by the way, may be the funkiest/coolest-looking landmark in America)? Sweet. Definitely sign me up for Seattle....
3) Washington, DC- Last time I went to Washington, I was in high school and trying to work out a makeout session on the ride back home. Suffice it to say the times have changed and so I'm looking to get down to DC to check out the Obama-era climate....and to talk about how awesome the Jefferson Memorial is.
4) Charleston, SC-
5) New Orleans- I would love to see how far the city has come in the last 5 years post-Katrina and have a cocktail and some creole in the French Quarter...perhaps write a murder mystery novel based on my experiences (ya know...minus the murder)
6) San Antonio- Because Houston's too big, apparently? Here's the deal: if I make it to Texas, I'm DEFINITELY making the rounds to numerous cities (Helloooooooooooo Lubbock!)
7) Phoenix- One, to scope out job opportunities. Two, to soak up some sun (sike!). Three, because I could then leave my belongings in a hotel room while I set out into the desert to find myself (or, rather, to find the gaping hole in the ground...and some Joshua Trees)
8) Denver- Because, if I do it in the summer, I won't be as pressured to ski (which, I don't know if I told you this, but I'm terrible when I'm not on my feet (and even then there's no guarantee that I manage to thrive))...and I'd really just love to check out the Rockies.
9) Milwaukee- Beer, brats, Brewers, Badgers (UWis)....bring it on!
10) Portland- I hear it's beautiful...and between Portland and Seattle, I can plan a Twilight tour!!!!!! LOL ROFL! (gag me). But seriously, I want to soak up some west coast flavor, so if you're in that part of the country, I'm going to be knocking and asking about use of a couch. Soon. So get ready.
June 17- Why don't I write?
I've never considered myself to be an impressive talent with writing. Do I enjoy doing it on my own time (and, perhaps most importantly, without deadlines) and on my own subjects? Sure. Do I think I'm good at it? Yeah, I think so. But I would not consider myself someone who's got the innate ability to do this sort of thing for a living. See, there's a certain amount of dedication and drive that comes with writing things of substance. So....while I have enjoyed blogging, or writing poetry, or screenplays, or whathaveyou...it seems to me that there's a lot that I've yet to master or come close to exploring when it comes to substantial writing.
I suppose I would fare a bit better with a goal or deadline, and yet, I hate the concept of having to turn in something that is dictated to me by someone else. Projects like an old Expository Writing course in college was my favorite piece of writing/project because it was legitimately an empty canvas; my subject was me, but I could take that in any direction I wanted....this brings me to a major point: education can BE fun, can REQUIRE imagination and creativity...and still allow for educators to guide conventional techniques, writing styles, and essential parts of writing (plot, anyone?).
Anyway, I have decided that once this month is over, a goal that I will have for the rest of the year is to devote a couple of hours each week to just writing. No project, no goal...just me, myself, and some sort of writing utensil (or laptop). After a while, I am hoping that the writing will take and I can up the dosage, so to speak.
I say dosage because of my love for the activity and the opportunity I am afforded to construct words and meaning and convey images and to strive ceaselessly to paint emotions with words. That's the thing: I value words; they are more powerful than action and can do more for describing and defining the human condition than they are given credit for. Words? Underrated.
I suppose I would fare a bit better with a goal or deadline, and yet, I hate the concept of having to turn in something that is dictated to me by someone else. Projects like an old Expository Writing course in college was my favorite piece of writing/project because it was legitimately an empty canvas; my subject was me, but I could take that in any direction I wanted....this brings me to a major point: education can BE fun, can REQUIRE imagination and creativity...and still allow for educators to guide conventional techniques, writing styles, and essential parts of writing (plot, anyone?).
Anyway, I have decided that once this month is over, a goal that I will have for the rest of the year is to devote a couple of hours each week to just writing. No project, no goal...just me, myself, and some sort of writing utensil (or laptop). After a while, I am hoping that the writing will take and I can up the dosage, so to speak.
I say dosage because of my love for the activity and the opportunity I am afforded to construct words and meaning and convey images and to strive ceaselessly to paint emotions with words. That's the thing: I value words; they are more powerful than action and can do more for describing and defining the human condition than they are given credit for. Words? Underrated.
June 16- Bloomsday
In honor of Bloomsday (see Joyce, James; Ulysses; my senior paper on U2's "Achtung, Baby" and said novel), here's a list of the ten books I most want to read (or re-read, in Joyce's case):
1) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand- This is more because my buddy Dan read it, and we have had more than a few legitimately intellectual conversations about books lately. I like it and- when done- am looking forward to another one. Plus, it's supposed to be a stellar novel that hits close to home.
2) 1984 by George Orwell- A fan of the whole anti-Big Brother thing, so I think that this will be a good one to dive into.
3) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton- I think I've had a desire to read this book since high school and just never got around to it (4 years as an English major and two years of grad school will do that to ya)...suffice it to say, it makes the list of soon-to-be-conquered novels.
4) Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Already working on this one. The fictitious worlds where censorship and domineering governments are in power are interesting because- as recent Acts of Congress will show- we're always one step away from such regimes...and so it may be that we take for granted the liberties and freedoms that we have. That said, it's a good idea to check out a world where those liberties are not omnipresent... since it's sooooo far-fetched.
5) Ulysses by James Joyce- I'd like to try to hack through it again without the help of a supplementary reading guide. This is probably the toughest thing I've ever read through (never made it through Finnegan's Wake, sorry to say), and I'm sure Joyce is laughing in his grave over the masses who struggle to readily understand what the hell he's saying (or not saying...that fiendishly clever bastard).
6) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky- Flew through it without really looking to grasp what was going on. To this day, it remains one of few marks I'm not proud of in my English course career, since I fared well on the report, but really didn't give it a good effort; it was a shallow effort to explain a book that I did not readily understand.
7) Iliad/Odyssey by Homer- Classic. Should probably get through that if I am to properly defend Star Wars as the best epic of all time...I won't entertain a debate on the subject until I actually read it. So save up arguments.
8) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain- Along with Tom Sawyer, this is another book that has been LONG overdue in my "to-read" list. This classic literary tale is oft-referenced, but while I know the source of the references, I do not have any clue as to what goes on throughout the book or how it ends...tragic, eh?
9) Freedom From Fear by David Kennedy- The most definitive and celebrated book about Depression-era U.S. History seems most appropriate at this time, as we've smack dab in the middle of a shitty situation. Lessons to be learned?
10) Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut- Just to see what all the pretentious fuss is all about.
Honorable mention: The Yankee Years by Joe Torre; Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
I give myself one year to finish these books..that's about one a month, and does not include all of the books that are currently sitting in my room with no shelf space to sit on...or the ones in boxes in the basement aching for me to get my own place....
1) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand- This is more because my buddy Dan read it, and we have had more than a few legitimately intellectual conversations about books lately. I like it and- when done- am looking forward to another one. Plus, it's supposed to be a stellar novel that hits close to home.
2) 1984 by George Orwell- A fan of the whole anti-Big Brother thing, so I think that this will be a good one to dive into.
3) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton- I think I've had a desire to read this book since high school and just never got around to it (4 years as an English major and two years of grad school will do that to ya)...suffice it to say, it makes the list of soon-to-be-conquered novels.
4) Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Already working on this one. The fictitious worlds where censorship and domineering governments are in power are interesting because- as recent Acts of Congress will show- we're always one step away from such regimes...and so it may be that we take for granted the liberties and freedoms that we have. That said, it's a good idea to check out a world where those liberties are not omnipresent... since it's sooooo far-fetched.
5) Ulysses by James Joyce- I'd like to try to hack through it again without the help of a supplementary reading guide. This is probably the toughest thing I've ever read through (never made it through Finnegan's Wake, sorry to say), and I'm sure Joyce is laughing in his grave over the masses who struggle to readily understand what the hell he's saying (or not saying...that fiendishly clever bastard).
6) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky- Flew through it without really looking to grasp what was going on. To this day, it remains one of few marks I'm not proud of in my English course career, since I fared well on the report, but really didn't give it a good effort; it was a shallow effort to explain a book that I did not readily understand.
7) Iliad/Odyssey by Homer- Classic. Should probably get through that if I am to properly defend Star Wars as the best epic of all time...I won't entertain a debate on the subject until I actually read it. So save up arguments.
8) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain- Along with Tom Sawyer, this is another book that has been LONG overdue in my "to-read" list. This classic literary tale is oft-referenced, but while I know the source of the references, I do not have any clue as to what goes on throughout the book or how it ends...tragic, eh?
9) Freedom From Fear by David Kennedy- The most definitive and celebrated book about Depression-era U.S. History seems most appropriate at this time, as we've smack dab in the middle of a shitty situation. Lessons to be learned?
10) Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut- Just to see what all the pretentious fuss is all about.
Honorable mention: The Yankee Years by Joe Torre; Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
I give myself one year to finish these books..that's about one a month, and does not include all of the books that are currently sitting in my room with no shelf space to sit on...or the ones in boxes in the basement aching for me to get my own place....
June 15- Update
Halfway home, and here's how I stand:
I've been doing a great job of catching myself AS I'm about to crack a knuckle or twirl my hair (a nervous tic). There have been two such instances where my hand has made it to my hair and I've caught it almost as soon as I've started. This has had a positive impact on me because it has made me more aware of what my hands are doing at all times. When and if I start getting called in for interviews, I will have- thanks to this mission- become more aware of hand movements or gestures.
I did crack my knuckles once this month. It happened while drunk, and I've noticed that I only have a habit of doing it when I drink. In this regard, I've been fairly fortunate, since I haven't had much to drink this month. As a result, I am again more acutely aware of my surroundings and have been able to get on without having to crack away.
As far as biting nails, so far so good. It's probably the one habit that I am most looking forward to breaking. So hooray for that.
Anyway, that's my update at the halfway point in June. Stay tuned...
I've been doing a great job of catching myself AS I'm about to crack a knuckle or twirl my hair (a nervous tic). There have been two such instances where my hand has made it to my hair and I've caught it almost as soon as I've started. This has had a positive impact on me because it has made me more aware of what my hands are doing at all times. When and if I start getting called in for interviews, I will have- thanks to this mission- become more aware of hand movements or gestures.
I did crack my knuckles once this month. It happened while drunk, and I've noticed that I only have a habit of doing it when I drink. In this regard, I've been fairly fortunate, since I haven't had much to drink this month. As a result, I am again more acutely aware of my surroundings and have been able to get on without having to crack away.
As far as biting nails, so far so good. It's probably the one habit that I am most looking forward to breaking. So hooray for that.
Anyway, that's my update at the halfway point in June. Stay tuned...
June 14- Ground Zero
Visited Ground Zero for the first time today (well actually, I visited on the 15th, but this was fresh on my mind). Now, before I went to check it out with Jenna, I decided I should probably figure out how to get there once I step off the subway...in my search I came upon a blog post in which a woman in New York City shot off at some passerby who asked how to get to ground zero, saying something that really offended me...
It seemed as though this woman was mad at the passerby for asking how to get to the site. Her reason was not that it was a matter of disrespect or anything like that, it was this condescending mix of "you're not from around here, you must be an idiot" (something that anyone who doesn't live in NYC has felt at one time or another if you've been) and "how dare you try to mourn more than me, a NYC resident". Listen, this is why people go to these sites. No one goes to the Gettysburg battlefield to study grass growing patterns. No one goes to Arlington National Cemetery to play hide-and-seek. People go to sites in order to get a sense of the magnitude of what has happened in the past. For many, 9-11 is the first world tragedy within a reasonable traveling distance, and as such is a perfect opportunity to do some learning:
It's truly astounding to see such a gaping hole in downtown New York when the entire surrounding area is filled with skyscrapers that hurt your neck when you try to take in the magnitude of their size; to think that THE BIGGEST of those skyscrapers are the ones that fell is no small realization.
To see such a momentous event take place in one of the most heavily-populated cities IN THE WORLD gives onlookers a sense of the horrific reality of modern-day acts of war and terrorism. This is not meant to diminish those who have gone before us, but the Gettysburg battlefield is in the middle of nowhere (sorry readers from Gettysburg, but you are now "Nowhere, USA"); the World Trade Center, on the other hand, was sort of the focal point of the famed New York skyline.
As an American (or anyone with an interest in our country), I think it's only right to see what remains years later from the devastating events of that day. I can't fathom anyone telling me that I have no right to mourn. Fuck that noise. Listen, it's that sort of narrow-mindedness and selfishness that plagues our country. Tragedy has its benefits in unity; you rarely see petty squabbles come out of a tragic event, so embrace the fact that there are people interested in the lives of other Americans; no one's laughing at your misfortune if you were directly affected by 9-11...no one is mocking your pain and anguish.
I will end this article by saying that anywhere I've been in the world, my being American has ALWAYS been met with some comment or response along the lines of the tragedy on 9-11, and so I'm apt to think that if Americans were more well-versed and sympathetic, the world we live in- no matter how narrow- would be much-improved.
It seemed as though this woman was mad at the passerby for asking how to get to the site. Her reason was not that it was a matter of disrespect or anything like that, it was this condescending mix of "you're not from around here, you must be an idiot" (something that anyone who doesn't live in NYC has felt at one time or another if you've been) and "how dare you try to mourn more than me, a NYC resident". Listen, this is why people go to these sites. No one goes to the Gettysburg battlefield to study grass growing patterns. No one goes to Arlington National Cemetery to play hide-and-seek. People go to sites in order to get a sense of the magnitude of what has happened in the past. For many, 9-11 is the first world tragedy within a reasonable traveling distance, and as such is a perfect opportunity to do some learning:
It's truly astounding to see such a gaping hole in downtown New York when the entire surrounding area is filled with skyscrapers that hurt your neck when you try to take in the magnitude of their size; to think that THE BIGGEST of those skyscrapers are the ones that fell is no small realization.
To see such a momentous event take place in one of the most heavily-populated cities IN THE WORLD gives onlookers a sense of the horrific reality of modern-day acts of war and terrorism. This is not meant to diminish those who have gone before us, but the Gettysburg battlefield is in the middle of nowhere (sorry readers from Gettysburg, but you are now "Nowhere, USA"); the World Trade Center, on the other hand, was sort of the focal point of the famed New York skyline.
As an American (or anyone with an interest in our country), I think it's only right to see what remains years later from the devastating events of that day. I can't fathom anyone telling me that I have no right to mourn. Fuck that noise. Listen, it's that sort of narrow-mindedness and selfishness that plagues our country. Tragedy has its benefits in unity; you rarely see petty squabbles come out of a tragic event, so embrace the fact that there are people interested in the lives of other Americans; no one's laughing at your misfortune if you were directly affected by 9-11...no one is mocking your pain and anguish.
I will end this article by saying that anywhere I've been in the world, my being American has ALWAYS been met with some comment or response along the lines of the tragedy on 9-11, and so I'm apt to think that if Americans were more well-versed and sympathetic, the world we live in- no matter how narrow- would be much-improved.
June 13- Off to the races
Today was my first taste of the track, and I must say, I can see how people become degenerate gamblers.
I went to Jersey (come for the blowouts, stay for the awful accents and jumpsuits) for the first annual Carlow Classic, in memory of John Pender. While I'm not a big fan of gambling (complex gambling, anyway...a dollar to eat Oreos is a fail-safe, stone-cold lock. Also, not a fan of horses), this sort of environment can only lead to a lot of money lost. That said, it was a blast. Now, there are many sure-fire ways to lose money at the track. Allow me:
1) Always bet on the biggest horse. Bigger is better. Just ask Mark McGwi-- actually, that may not be the best way to go.
2) Always bet on the craziest-looking horse. Sure, he may be foaming at the mouth and neighing all the way to the starting line, but damn is he ever energetic!
3) Always bet on the coolest names. "Celtic Wonder" is a surefire way for all the miserable Paddys to throw the rest of little Johnny's tuition money on the table in hopes of a 15:1 miracle and a summary statement like "Not likely to last with the pack". That said, if you see any horse named "The Silent Gentleman", you get someone to back you big-time. That name cannot lose, not even to JC (Chasez).
4) ALWAYS bet on a black horse. Why? Does Wesley Snipes need a reason? I don't think so.
5) Always bet on your lucky numbers. I mean, the arbitrary 2 and 3 are like personal messages to the corresponding horses like "listen horse, if you DON'T win, I'm doomed. The 2 and 3 win EVERY race, you understand?"
6) Always bet all but your last dollar on the first race. If you lose, then at least you have something in your wallet.
7) Always play your last dollar as frugally as possible, so that even if you win the superfecta, you will win a modest amount of money since we're not in an economy that calls for greed.
8) Don't ever play the 7,4 box. Ever. Nothing good can come of it.
So there you have it: a surefire set of tips that will help YOU become filthy rich at the track, thereby making you one lucky person.
As for my day, I strayed from these tips and lost my first few wagers. The Carlow Classic (the 6th race of the day) featured a tip from beyond the grave. As John used to say, "Always bet the 2 and the 6" (presumably for the 26 counties in the Irish Republic, which is the fucking coolest reason to pick numbers...that's not luck, that's pride). I don't mean to brag but....well, let's just say I've had more to spend the last couple of weeks....
Yes, that's a WHOLE $5.20...
Friday, June 26, 2009
June 12- More to ponder...
IF you could have the sexual organs of the opposite gender for one 24-hour period of your choosing, would you do it?
This is worth its own post. Think about it.....
.................................
(would you...).........................
..............
Really, give it some more thought.
To clarify, you can either choose:
1) to let everyone know when
2) to let NO ONE know when. Either way everyone knows that you were going to do it...ya know, if that's a deal maker/breaker.
Give up? The correct answer is "yes. In a heartbeat."
This is worth its own post. Think about it.....
.................................
(would you...).........................
..............
Really, give it some more thought.
To clarify, you can either choose:
1) to let everyone know when
2) to let NO ONE know when. Either way everyone knows that you were going to do it...ya know, if that's a deal maker/breaker.
Give up? The correct answer is "yes. In a heartbeat."
June 11- Tails, you win?
Brought up an interesting discussion point on a car ride recently...here goes:
If you had found the PERFECT mate- we're talking everything you want in a partner- but he/she had a tail, would the tail be a deal-breaker?
I have since asked this question to a few people with varying responses. Before I leave it to you to make your mind up, allow me to divulge some additional and perhaps pertinent information:
1) the tail is 6 inches long
2) it is hairy, though it CAN be shaved
3) it is located just above the top of said person's rump
4) only people that know about it are immediate family members and anyone who's been intimate with this person. Friends don't know.
Now...is this a deal-breaker?
More than a few people said yes, since it's an additional appendage that protrudes from their body and can be quite a distraction (I must say that females were overwhelmingly more opposed to this than males were...maybe because we already have one protruding appendage?).
Me? I shrug and say it's not a deal-breaker. Follow my logic if you will (mind the craters): If this woman (as a heterosexual male, my dream partner is female) has a tail, that ONLY I SEE, and ONLY during intimate moments that warrant looking at her tail (both figuratively and literally in this case), that's something I can live with. A horse's tail might be a different story (I dislike horses). But this I can handle. It's like...well, I can't imagine it being a detriment to any of the myriad good qualities this mystery woman has...
Let me know what you think, even if you're narrow-minded.
If you had found the PERFECT mate- we're talking everything you want in a partner- but he/she had a tail, would the tail be a deal-breaker?
I have since asked this question to a few people with varying responses. Before I leave it to you to make your mind up, allow me to divulge some additional and perhaps pertinent information:
1) the tail is 6 inches long
2) it is hairy, though it CAN be shaved
3) it is located just above the top of said person's rump
4) only people that know about it are immediate family members and anyone who's been intimate with this person. Friends don't know.
Now...is this a deal-breaker?
More than a few people said yes, since it's an additional appendage that protrudes from their body and can be quite a distraction (I must say that females were overwhelmingly more opposed to this than males were...maybe because we already have one protruding appendage?).
Me? I shrug and say it's not a deal-breaker. Follow my logic if you will (mind the craters): If this woman (as a heterosexual male, my dream partner is female) has a tail, that ONLY I SEE, and ONLY during intimate moments that warrant looking at her tail (both figuratively and literally in this case), that's something I can live with. A horse's tail might be a different story (I dislike horses). But this I can handle. It's like...well, I can't imagine it being a detriment to any of the myriad good qualities this mystery woman has...
Let me know what you think, even if you're narrow-minded.
June 10- The Daily Show
(Editor's note: pretend that this was posted on the 10th. Got it?)
So last week I got an e-mail saying something about the tickets I ordered. Now, I had blown some cash a couple of months ago on U2 tickets for the fall (well worth it), and so I had thought that this was a confirmation of one of those tickets....WRONG! It was the Daily Show tickets I had requested like 6 months ago! So I headed down to the city with Justin and met up with Lee and Stuart for tonight's taping of the Daily Show!
The whole experience was pretty fun. For starters, the taping is supposed to begin at 5, so we arrived at the studio at about 3, just in case. The studio had mentioned that while 500 tickets were reserved, that was just to ensure that there would be a full house.
Anyway, once they started ushering people in, we got a good look at the studio (no pictures were allowed inside. Bummer. Think "The Daily Show"...but live). I must say I was impressed. There was not a bad seat in the house, and so we got a head-on view of Jon Stewart's desk, which was pretty impressive, considering our place on the line.
Before the show, we had a stand-up comic come out and pump up the crowd. This was amusing, as he picked on the guys in suits and ties (greedy fucking bankers)...I only bring this up because at one point he started talking to a guy in a shirt and tie with no jacket. He asked the guy if he was a banker and the guy said no, to which the comic responded "makes sense. Shirt and tie with no jacket. You must work for Enterprise". This sent me into hysterics, since as many of you know, Papa Bear Janove is celebrating 4 years with the company that'll pick you up real soon! (though Al wears a jacket and partially-ironed shirt, to his credit)
After that, the man himself came out for a little pre-show Q&A, which was pretty good. Some of the questions were weak and not very entertaining ("What's the best thing about being a parent?"....Really? THAT'S your question??? Look, I'm NOT a parent...but I would like to think that when I am, my mindset will not change to parent-only mode when it comes to famous people I admire. I would hate to have to draft a fantasy baseball team of only ballplayers who are model parents).
After that, we started the show. The taping was actually what you see ON the show for June 10th, minus the New York Times clip, as well as the scene where Jon got on the horse as Napoleon Bonaparte (we couldn't leave our seats...)
Full episode here.
The New York Times segment (about 4:30 in) is hilarious. Fucking great. No bones about it.
Anyway, the show was shot in one take, and then we were sort of ushered out of there. A brief experience once we actually started filming, but an experience i was definitely glad I got to take part in.
Saad Mohseni interview wasn't necessarily very funny, but then, I don't think it was intended to be. Oh well. Still a riot.
Cross "See Daily Show Live" off of my list.
So last week I got an e-mail saying something about the tickets I ordered. Now, I had blown some cash a couple of months ago on U2 tickets for the fall (well worth it), and so I had thought that this was a confirmation of one of those tickets....WRONG! It was the Daily Show tickets I had requested like 6 months ago! So I headed down to the city with Justin and met up with Lee and Stuart for tonight's taping of the Daily Show!
The whole experience was pretty fun. For starters, the taping is supposed to begin at 5, so we arrived at the studio at about 3, just in case. The studio had mentioned that while 500 tickets were reserved, that was just to ensure that there would be a full house.
Anyway, once they started ushering people in, we got a good look at the studio (no pictures were allowed inside. Bummer. Think "The Daily Show"...but live). I must say I was impressed. There was not a bad seat in the house, and so we got a head-on view of Jon Stewart's desk, which was pretty impressive, considering our place on the line.
Before the show, we had a stand-up comic come out and pump up the crowd. This was amusing, as he picked on the guys in suits and ties (greedy fucking bankers)...I only bring this up because at one point he started talking to a guy in a shirt and tie with no jacket. He asked the guy if he was a banker and the guy said no, to which the comic responded "makes sense. Shirt and tie with no jacket. You must work for Enterprise". This sent me into hysterics, since as many of you know, Papa Bear Janove is celebrating 4 years with the company that'll pick you up real soon! (though Al wears a jacket and partially-ironed shirt, to his credit)
After that, the man himself came out for a little pre-show Q&A, which was pretty good. Some of the questions were weak and not very entertaining ("What's the best thing about being a parent?"....Really? THAT'S your question??? Look, I'm NOT a parent...but I would like to think that when I am, my mindset will not change to parent-only mode when it comes to famous people I admire. I would hate to have to draft a fantasy baseball team of only ballplayers who are model parents).
After that, we started the show. The taping was actually what you see ON the show for June 10th, minus the New York Times clip, as well as the scene where Jon got on the horse as Napoleon Bonaparte (we couldn't leave our seats...)
Full episode here.
The New York Times segment (about 4:30 in) is hilarious. Fucking great. No bones about it.
Anyway, the show was shot in one take, and then we were sort of ushered out of there. A brief experience once we actually started filming, but an experience i was definitely glad I got to take part in.
Saad Mohseni interview wasn't necessarily very funny, but then, I don't think it was intended to be. Oh well. Still a riot.
Cross "See Daily Show Live" off of my list.
June 9- My place
( Editor's note: as a continuation of my 25th birthday week, I will be exploring my position relative to others my age in this particular post)
I generally prefer not to position myself compared to other people. I am doing what I'm doing, and that's usually all I need to know/do/hear. However, at 25, it's certainly an interesting thing to look at the state of those around you to get a feel for what the climate is professionally. My buddy Charlie has a great little piece about what his friends to and how accomplished our group of friends is. Some are working, and have been since leaving college. Just about all of us have degrees from various institutions. Some of us are unemployed or- in my case- not gainfully employed. This does not worry me, as roughly 10% of working-age Americans are out of a job. It's a tough time all-around.
The pros are that, other than my friend Mike- who went through a 5-year program that earned him a Masters- I am the first of my friends (to my knowledge) to get their Masters or otherwise advanced degree. So that's pretty cool. This also works into the idea that I could not have necessarily been gainfully employed while going to school full time (I have the rest of my life to go gray and lose hair...why start now?), and so having a job for a few years that pays a salary is fairly difficult to accomplish. Another positive outcome of this is that I've gained three years of experience inside the classroom as a sub, and so behavioral issues and creating a teaching style and learning environment for 45 minutes at a time is something I have been able to tweak and play with while filling in for other educators.
The cons are that, like many fresh out-of-school kids, I'm not financially well-off. I do well enough to take care of myself and payments that need to be made. However, compared to those who- at my age- are making a salary, owning a house, getting new cars/nice apartments, etc....I sometimes feel like an ass.
This is where the positivity comes through and I realize "yeah, but I've gone out and acquired all the tools I will need to get my career started". Good things are coming, I have no doubt about that. I do sometimes wish I had not graduated as the economy was flying off of a cliff.
Now, in the interim, I've enjoyed meeting up with friends and catching up with them a whole lot more since coming out of school. It makes it a far more satisfying experience when everyone's able to share stories of how they've had to work towards something and since we're all faring alright, all things considered, it makes for enjoyable interaction. I like to think that the people I call friends have worked pretty hard to get to where they are now, and so when I look at that and really grasp the idea that the pace for success is quicker for some than for others, I feel right at home knowing that when I see those people who mean the most to me, we all share the same secret: keeping at it. 
It could be worse: I could be these clowns...
I generally prefer not to position myself compared to other people. I am doing what I'm doing, and that's usually all I need to know/do/hear. However, at 25, it's certainly an interesting thing to look at the state of those around you to get a feel for what the climate is professionally. My buddy Charlie has a great little piece about what his friends to and how accomplished our group of friends is. Some are working, and have been since leaving college. Just about all of us have degrees from various institutions. Some of us are unemployed or- in my case- not gainfully employed. This does not worry me, as roughly 10% of working-age Americans are out of a job. It's a tough time all-around.
The pros are that, other than my friend Mike- who went through a 5-year program that earned him a Masters- I am the first of my friends (to my knowledge) to get their Masters or otherwise advanced degree. So that's pretty cool. This also works into the idea that I could not have necessarily been gainfully employed while going to school full time (I have the rest of my life to go gray and lose hair...why start now?), and so having a job for a few years that pays a salary is fairly difficult to accomplish. Another positive outcome of this is that I've gained three years of experience inside the classroom as a sub, and so behavioral issues and creating a teaching style and learning environment for 45 minutes at a time is something I have been able to tweak and play with while filling in for other educators.
The cons are that, like many fresh out-of-school kids, I'm not financially well-off. I do well enough to take care of myself and payments that need to be made. However, compared to those who- at my age- are making a salary, owning a house, getting new cars/nice apartments, etc....I sometimes feel like an ass.
Thankfully, this guy doesn't follow me to deposit my per diem checks...
This is where the positivity comes through and I realize "yeah, but I've gone out and acquired all the tools I will need to get my career started". Good things are coming, I have no doubt about that. I do sometimes wish I had not graduated as the economy was flying off of a cliff.
Now, in the interim, I've enjoyed meeting up with friends and catching up with them a whole lot more since coming out of school. It makes it a far more satisfying experience when everyone's able to share stories of how they've had to work towards something and since we're all faring alright, all things considered, it makes for enjoyable interaction. I like to think that the people I call friends have worked pretty hard to get to where they are now, and so when I look at that and really grasp the idea that the pace for success is quicker for some than for others, I feel right at home knowing that when I see those people who mean the most to me, we all share the same secret: keeping at it.
It could be worse: I could be these clowns...
June 8th- This is it.
25. Holy shit.
Teaching and baseball and Guinness and grilling....
Ya know, when I started looking at the calendar, trying to play off the quarter-century thing, I really didn't think much of getting older. Somewhere along the lines, however, it started to really bother me. Since I only finished school six months ago, I had thought of myself as fresh out of school and 'recently graduated'. Granted, I've got my Masters and so I don't really need to go back to school at all from here on out. Will I? Yes. At some point I'll be back. In the mean time, I- in an uncharacteristically pessimistic motion- started thinking about the prospect of being 25 and unemployed. Granted, I sub. I do the trivia thing three nights a week (Questions? Feel free to ask...it's a blast (free advertising)). Gainful employment is the goal for the coming year. I won't lie: I will be pretty disappointed if, come September, I don't have a job. I know there are lots of people who have said that the market stinks and there aren't a lot of positions and blah blah blah....let's clear a few things up, shall we?
I'm good at what I do. I can tell you that. Conventional applications, resumes, cover letters, etc. require a certain format to get this point across. This is why I firmly believe that these things tend to sound alike; when employers read cover letters, I'm pretty sure that I can guess within a certain degree of accuracy what each one will say.
NOW...I'm told by many districts to send my materials in electronically, which by my own admission is cost-effective and less time-consuming. Two great advantages. The main disadvantage of course is that there's no one to see my face when I drop off a resume. There's no one to shake my hand and (half or whole-heartedly) thank me for my time. This is a problem I have...and here's why:
I tell stories. I think I tend to tell pretty good stories. I'm at least animated, if nothing else. I have a great enthusiasm for whatever it is that I decide to talk about. If I'm not enthusiastic about it, I will rarely discuss it. Now, among things that I am passionate about are (and this is in no particular order): baseball, music, teaching, camp. These are a few of my favorite things, if you will. NOW...if I can't tell stories about these things in a cover letter, or post information of specific instances of my helping students making a difference on a resume (beyond saying "I planned this, managed that" and whatnot), and if there aren't administrators who want to inquire about that, how does this electronic submission thing work out?
Teaching and baseball and Guinness and grilling....Example: I spent an afternoon while subbing in the ISS room. There was one young man in there for skipping class, and so he was taking the opportunity to make up missed work in the ISS room, which is better than sleeping or sitting there staring at the wall being pissed off at the world (and not himself for skipping so much in the first place). So I asked the kid what work he had to do and he said he was working on a project for global. Not his favorite class, not a good average, and not an easy project (thanks largely in part to not being in school, I'm sure). Now, I decide to talk some ideas for an advertising poster out of this guy, and so we get to talking about marketing and selling ideas- athletes and celebrities with endorsements; commercials; musicians selling singles and albums and touring, etc- since this is what explorers had to do back in the day...and the kid gets it. He legitimately understands the concept of selling an idea to make money....anyway, I see the kid in the hall the next month and ask how he did on his poster. 95. Kid who was failing global pulls a 95 with guidance.
Yeah, Magellan circumnavigated most of the world...but could he move 3 million copies of his debut LP?
NOW...this story has no place on a resume, a cover letter, an e-application. So what the fuck? Anyway, I'm itching for the opportunity to tell a prospective employer this story because it illustrates that 1) I love teaching, and 2) I'm able to make connections that kids understand. THAT'S what I do. So let's get me employed, shall we?
Anyway, that's a pretty solid summation of the frustration I'm feeling as a newly-crowned 25 year-old. This is just part one of a multi-part series of how the 25 years have flown by. Stay tuned.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
June 7th- Muse?
Magic had Bird. Bird had Magic. Woody Allen has Scarlett Johansson. I have Evita Robinson.
Upon speaking with Evita recently, I found myself filled with the kind of motivation and life force that inspires and drives me to DO, rather than to think endlessly. This is indicative of the rush I generally get from speaking with my favorite globetrotter. It's akin to reading and getting the urge to get out and get going and to do great things...the catch is that the words of inspiration are being spoken to you IN CONVERSATION, meaning there's a response immediately. Just an absurdly uplifting conversation where I was told, again, from someone whom I know and love, that all things are possible...it's just a matter of application. Nuts. With that said, the ten things I am aiming to do on the eve of my 25th birthday (to be done this year):
1) Learn to drive stick
2) Go camping
3) Get to Canada
4) Become gainfully employed
5) Ride a bike
6) Organize my hard drive (harder than it seems)
7) Travel cross-country
8) See NYC...a lot more.
9) Build something
10) Take up golf
Updates to come. Thanks for the inspiration, Evita.
Upon speaking with Evita recently, I found myself filled with the kind of motivation and life force that inspires and drives me to DO, rather than to think endlessly. This is indicative of the rush I generally get from speaking with my favorite globetrotter. It's akin to reading and getting the urge to get out and get going and to do great things...the catch is that the words of inspiration are being spoken to you IN CONVERSATION, meaning there's a response immediately. Just an absurdly uplifting conversation where I was told, again, from someone whom I know and love, that all things are possible...it's just a matter of application. Nuts. With that said, the ten things I am aiming to do on the eve of my 25th birthday (to be done this year):
1) Learn to drive stick
2) Go camping
3) Get to Canada
4) Become gainfully employed
5) Ride a bike
6) Organize my hard drive (harder than it seems)
7) Travel cross-country
8) See NYC...a lot more.
9) Build something
10) Take up golf
Updates to come. Thanks for the inspiration, Evita.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June 6- Catch-up
Oh, hey. It's me, just looking to give a brief re-cap of how June's going so far...
I've been successful in catching myself as I begin to twirl my hair, and have been successful in not biting my nails, though I will certainly need to cut them tomorrow so that they won't be a distraction all weekend. One thing I've noticed is that these habits have become so subconscious that I get angry when I catch myself doing them for the simple fact that they are so casual. This can be altogether quite frustrating, as I didn't realize just how attached to nervous tics as it seems I am.
Anyway, I am not sure whether this behavior will warrant a haircut (I hope not) or not, since I rather enjoy being able to grow my hair out as a declaration of owning myself...(more of that notion to come as part of the 25th anniversary reflection piece, to come probably Friday when I have a little bit more down time)... in the meantime, I've done a very good job of catching myself and not getting carried away. Curbing this behavior has a few upsides, including not pulling my own hair out (I don't have a job or kids or lady friend to give me an excuse to do this, so I should probably bask in that...).
Meanwhile, I realize that I am behind in my posts. Rest assured that that is because of the fact that I AM in fact looking for work and keeping myself busy in my 26th year. I will reach 30 substantial posts by the end of the month, and HOPEFULLY will actually be all caught up by the time the weekend rolls around, particularly since I have a big weekend coming up.
Anyway, tonight I spoke with Evita- finally- and there are myriad topics to cover from this conversation. At this point, however, it is 3:30 am and so I will choose to head to bed before getting to some of the most satisfying nuggets in the conversation. Let's just say that, as always, my interaction with her has been inspiring. Goodnight, all.
I've been successful in catching myself as I begin to twirl my hair, and have been successful in not biting my nails, though I will certainly need to cut them tomorrow so that they won't be a distraction all weekend. One thing I've noticed is that these habits have become so subconscious that I get angry when I catch myself doing them for the simple fact that they are so casual. This can be altogether quite frustrating, as I didn't realize just how attached to nervous tics as it seems I am.
Anyway, I am not sure whether this behavior will warrant a haircut (I hope not) or not, since I rather enjoy being able to grow my hair out as a declaration of owning myself...(more of that notion to come as part of the 25th anniversary reflection piece, to come probably Friday when I have a little bit more down time)... in the meantime, I've done a very good job of catching myself and not getting carried away. Curbing this behavior has a few upsides, including not pulling my own hair out (I don't have a job or kids or lady friend to give me an excuse to do this, so I should probably bask in that...).
Meanwhile, I realize that I am behind in my posts. Rest assured that that is because of the fact that I AM in fact looking for work and keeping myself busy in my 26th year. I will reach 30 substantial posts by the end of the month, and HOPEFULLY will actually be all caught up by the time the weekend rolls around, particularly since I have a big weekend coming up.
Anyway, tonight I spoke with Evita- finally- and there are myriad topics to cover from this conversation. At this point, however, it is 3:30 am and so I will choose to head to bed before getting to some of the most satisfying nuggets in the conversation. Let's just say that, as always, my interaction with her has been inspiring. Goodnight, all.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
June5- Cellular Etiquette
Following up on my near-run-in with a random texter, I've decided to make a list of the ten LEAST appropriate places to use your cell phone...
1) Funeral- Really. Weddings count the same amount. If these fairly important moments of peoples' lives aren't important enough for you to devote your attention, you should probably switch places with the person in the coffin.
2) Church- Unreal, the texting that goes on during church. If you can't devote that one hour or so a week to being without your cell phone, God probably doesn't love you anyway. Promoting this sort of behavior doesn't teach anything but that your own personal thoughts are above and beyond the level of importance of what the preacher is teaching you about a subject that he/she knows MUCH more about than you....
3) In bed- Using your phone to order a partner is also frowned upon, though isn't totally appalling.
4) At dinner- Unless you're eating alone, in which case it's slightly less-rude (keep in mind if you are eating while talking on the phone)...otherwise, enjoy the company of whomever you are with, rather than sending a message that your mind is elsewhere...
5) On the checkout line at a store- Listen, we've all had rude cashiers...however, perhaps a part of that is being so unappreciated that they get to such a point of rudeness after being entirely ignored during a transaction. I find it to be extremely distasteful. What will saying "can I call you back in two minutes" do to really slow you down?
6) At the movies- I can't stress this enough: TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!! No one wants to hear your fingers pressing buttons throughout a movie, nor does anyone want to hear muffled whispers (and that's if you're polite about it) while they're trying to enjoy a movie that they have likely had to pay around ten bucks for. Texting doesn't make it okay, since 1) button pressing still makes noise, and 2) the light illuminates your face and the area around you. Can you REALLY go without being reached by your fellow dickhead friends for two hours? Are you REALLY incapable of waiting until after the movie to give a shallow review?
7) In the library- This one bothers me to no end, since the library's supposed to represent the last refuge of the student who gives a shit.
8) With the radio on- Or any music playing. Choose one or the other and stick with it. That shit can get AWFULLY annoying REAL fast.
9) During a meeting- Again, just a matter of getting priorities straight. If what you're in the meeting for can't hold your attention and engage you to the point that you're well-invested in teh subject matter, then it's not out of line to question whether or not you should be in the meeting at all. Pregnancies are, of course, an exception. Otherwise, a silencer is the nice thing to do.
10) While cooking- One, trying to hold a phone to your ear with your shoulder looks and feels ridiculous and uncomfortable. Two, at some point, you will have to touch the phone with your food-covered hands...and let's say it's raw chicken that you were handling. Your phone has just gotten exponentially nastier. Gross. Put down the phone.
Thank you...now, if you don't mind, I've got to make a call.
(Note: There was about a two and a half hour lull in this because I took a call from Evita from overseas...and that, in hindsight, went much better than this blog post.)
1) Funeral- Really. Weddings count the same amount. If these fairly important moments of peoples' lives aren't important enough for you to devote your attention, you should probably switch places with the person in the coffin.
2) Church- Unreal, the texting that goes on during church. If you can't devote that one hour or so a week to being without your cell phone, God probably doesn't love you anyway. Promoting this sort of behavior doesn't teach anything but that your own personal thoughts are above and beyond the level of importance of what the preacher is teaching you about a subject that he/she knows MUCH more about than you....
3) In bed- Using your phone to order a partner is also frowned upon, though isn't totally appalling.
4) At dinner- Unless you're eating alone, in which case it's slightly less-rude (keep in mind if you are eating while talking on the phone)...otherwise, enjoy the company of whomever you are with, rather than sending a message that your mind is elsewhere...
5) On the checkout line at a store- Listen, we've all had rude cashiers...however, perhaps a part of that is being so unappreciated that they get to such a point of rudeness after being entirely ignored during a transaction. I find it to be extremely distasteful. What will saying "can I call you back in two minutes" do to really slow you down?
6) At the movies- I can't stress this enough: TURN OFF YOUR PHONE!! No one wants to hear your fingers pressing buttons throughout a movie, nor does anyone want to hear muffled whispers (and that's if you're polite about it) while they're trying to enjoy a movie that they have likely had to pay around ten bucks for. Texting doesn't make it okay, since 1) button pressing still makes noise, and 2) the light illuminates your face and the area around you. Can you REALLY go without being reached by your fellow dickhead friends for two hours? Are you REALLY incapable of waiting until after the movie to give a shallow review?
7) In the library- This one bothers me to no end, since the library's supposed to represent the last refuge of the student who gives a shit.
8) With the radio on- Or any music playing. Choose one or the other and stick with it. That shit can get AWFULLY annoying REAL fast.
9) During a meeting- Again, just a matter of getting priorities straight. If what you're in the meeting for can't hold your attention and engage you to the point that you're well-invested in teh subject matter, then it's not out of line to question whether or not you should be in the meeting at all. Pregnancies are, of course, an exception. Otherwise, a silencer is the nice thing to do.
10) While cooking- One, trying to hold a phone to your ear with your shoulder looks and feels ridiculous and uncomfortable. Two, at some point, you will have to touch the phone with your food-covered hands...and let's say it's raw chicken that you were handling. Your phone has just gotten exponentially nastier. Gross. Put down the phone.
Thank you...now, if you don't mind, I've got to make a call.
(Note: There was about a two and a half hour lull in this because I took a call from Evita from overseas...and that, in hindsight, went much better than this blog post.)
Monday, June 8, 2009
June 4- Yankee Stadium
So I managed to get a hold of tickets for the Yankee game to celebrate part one of the week of doom with Jay. As promised, I'd like to go through my thoughts on the new stadium, as my last trip yielded only a mild response. Here we go:
Advantages of the new "Yankee Stadium" (and yes, I am blatantly putting it in quotation marks, as this new whatever-it-is certainly hasn't won me over):
1) Space- If there's one thing the new stadium has going for it, it's the sheer size of the building. The open entrance, Babe Ruth Plaza, and wider aisles among the concessions really make you feel like you're not being ushered through, quite frankly, an older stadium. It's a modern 'luxury' to not be scrunched up with nearly 50,000 of your closest friends.
2) Seats- Marginally more comfortable in the nosebleeds, where commoners like myself sit. We DID manage to catch batting practice on the lower level and those padded seats seem like they would be merciful on my dumper for a three hour game.
3) Bigger jumbotron- Even this has a catch: right field seats can't enjoy the big screen. Luckily I was in left today, so I caught all the action. It's clearer and crisper, another sign that there was way too much money spent on a ballpark.
4) Food- Wider variety. I will get to the downside of this shortly (there is one), but I will say the number of concessions is enough to cut down the length of lines
5) Customer Service Representatives- They're ALL OVER the lower level as you first enter the stadium. This is something that I've come to consider comforting in a transition year where there's a lot to take in and no sense of familiarity with the new digs.
6) Looser rules concerning pre-game boundaries: This really shouldn't count, as the first time I went, ushers were VERY rude and VERY matter-of-fact about where I could and could not go based on where my seats were. Anyway, I'm glad that the Yankees brass decided to let their ego go a bit and let us peasants check out the field level during BP and warm-ups. That said, it should be noted that as soon as we sat down while the Yankees left the field and the Rangers came up for their own batting practice, we were told to leave, as we did not have the tickets for the seats we were sitting in. It's as though we can stand in rich man's land, but damned if we get comfortable.
Disadvantages of the new "Yankee Stadium" (and yes, I am aware that some might say that my disadvantages are their own advantages. If that's the case, I suggest you write about it yourself)
1) Ticket pricing- This goes without saying, though I WILL share an anecdote that hopefully shines a proper light on the absurdity of what it costs to see the New York Yankees perform....
So when I went to the Cubs game in Chicago, a couple of the guys I was with were complaining about how expensive prime seating was at Wrigley Field, so I asked what sort of price they'd put on a seat right behind home plate. Their response was $180 for behind the aisle, $320 for RIGHT behind the plate. While I understand that this is not a cheap price for the right to sit through a ballgame, consider that the seats RIGHT behind home at "Yankee Stadium" are about $2500 a pop...or, roughly 8 TIMES as expensive as Wrigley...meaning, if you were baller enough to get yourseslf and SEVEN of your closest friends the BEST seats in the house at Wrigley field, it would be the same amount for you to play with yourself while features on the YES network...and while I can't verify it, tha Yankees probably forbid blue jeans, minorities, and souls coming anywhere close to the field.
2) Concessions- Too much. I understand that it's a big thing nowadays to appeal to the average Joe (or Chadwick or Spencer or Biff or (insert WASPy name here)) and his family, it's a lot of excess. Ballgames mean hot dogs, popcorn, Cracker Jack, beer, and MAYBE ice cream. I don't need to see a fucking sushi bar, a noodle bar, a deli (Boar's Head or not), a cheesesteak station....and an occasional, tucked-away-from-the-food-court(and yes, it's called the Food Court) vendor selling "Classic" ballpark food. ALSO...."Yankee Stadium" is the last place that has dropped the whole "let's not call them French fries out of spite for the French for not supporting us in a war that, in hindsight, maybe we shouldn't have gotten ourselves involved in (which goes against my desire to be political in this particular post)" thing. Instead of French Fries or Just FRIES...."Yankee Stadium" sells "American Fries", which, strangely enough, taste VERY much like their French archenemies...
3) Restricted view seating- You've GOT to be fucking kidding me. It's 2009. The mere concept that there are seats that will not enable you- the person who paid way too much to catch a ballgame live- to see the entire field is embarrassing. No it's not made better by having flat-screen TVs... I just find it unacceptable that the Yankees feel that THIS is okay, but fans wanting to get close to their heroes and idols and overpaid athletes is unacceptable from their perspective. Embarrassing. Truly a joke. And for what? A fucking sports lounge? AND it's one that you can't just waltz into...it's an additional fare! Bullshit. Shame on you!
4) YMCA- This should have died with the old stadium.
5) Additional "entertainment"- this includes, but is not limited to, the Mohegan Sun Lounge, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the Club seating on the left field terrace. What the fuck? Did you come here to watch a game or fucking socialize and MAYBE react to us peasants clamoring for a ball hit by that fellow in a white pinstriped suit carrying a club? Ugh. This is why I loved Fenway and Wrigley. You go there and you watch baseball. That's it. You could literally spend an entire game at the new "Yankee Stadium" ("TNYS" henceforth) and not watch a single pitch of baseball...and the only way to see whether you can do that or not? By paying hundreds of dollars just for the right to walk in.
6) Open view of the stadium all the way around- Listen, if you're going to INSIST on being able to see EVERY pitch of a game, then what's the problem with getting there early enough to get any food/drink you may need and hitting the bathroom before the first pitch? Really, I don't like this. I really don't. I'll concede that I miss probably 10 pitches per game because of the line at the men's room or at the concession stand. Other than that, I watch the game. Part of what bothers me about this is that in Yankee Stadium (may she rest in peace), you walked through tunnels and it may have stunk a bit or been a bit stuffy, but THEN you got to walk towards the aisles and seats and TADAAAAAAAAA the most beautiful ballpark in America awaited your ascent/descent to your seats. In other words, you had to EARN the right to look at the beautiful grass glinting in the Sun or looking surreally green in the bright lights of a night game. Now, you can see it anywhere, and while that may be a result of our instant-gratification society, then I'll be the first to say that I'm not thrilled. At least Fenway teased a bit before getting a good look at the field. TNYS whored the opportunity to look at the field out whenever you wanted to...
7) Structure of the ballpark- If you are going to make the dimensions exactly the same, why the fuck do you need a new ballpark in the first place? Really? This doesn't make me feel better about the whole situation. ALSO, the open-air-edness means that the sound of the fans has somewhere to go, whereas in Yankee Stadium, all the raucous cheering and booing went DOWN onto the players. This new configuration takes away perhaps the most substantial home-field advantage in the game. Very disappointing.
8) Seats- There are less of them, and yet the average price of tickets is up 73%? What. The. Fuck? I don't need to sound like Jimmy/Johnny/Paulie/Vito/Tommy/Billy/Sal/Danny from the Bronx/Bayonne/Jersey City/Brooklyn/Manhasset/Oyster Bay/Chappaqua....BUT...that's fucking ridiculous. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that the Yankees fell on their faces with the ticketing issue at TNYS. Really, I am glad. While I love the Yankees, I love baseball more, and them failing to fill out their new "stadium" was not something I will feel bad about. Hopefully this series of fuck-ups leads to some learning.
Anyway, I enjoyed the game (Yankees are 2-0 in games attended by me this year, and Melky Cabrera has stepped up immensely in both games), and will be back...just not anywhere near the field.
Advantages of the new "Yankee Stadium" (and yes, I am blatantly putting it in quotation marks, as this new whatever-it-is certainly hasn't won me over):
1) Space- If there's one thing the new stadium has going for it, it's the sheer size of the building. The open entrance, Babe Ruth Plaza, and wider aisles among the concessions really make you feel like you're not being ushered through, quite frankly, an older stadium. It's a modern 'luxury' to not be scrunched up with nearly 50,000 of your closest friends.
2) Seats- Marginally more comfortable in the nosebleeds, where commoners like myself sit. We DID manage to catch batting practice on the lower level and those padded seats seem like they would be merciful on my dumper for a three hour game.
3) Bigger jumbotron- Even this has a catch: right field seats can't enjoy the big screen. Luckily I was in left today, so I caught all the action. It's clearer and crisper, another sign that there was way too much money spent on a ballpark.
4) Food- Wider variety. I will get to the downside of this shortly (there is one), but I will say the number of concessions is enough to cut down the length of lines
5) Customer Service Representatives- They're ALL OVER the lower level as you first enter the stadium. This is something that I've come to consider comforting in a transition year where there's a lot to take in and no sense of familiarity with the new digs.
6) Looser rules concerning pre-game boundaries: This really shouldn't count, as the first time I went, ushers were VERY rude and VERY matter-of-fact about where I could and could not go based on where my seats were. Anyway, I'm glad that the Yankees brass decided to let their ego go a bit and let us peasants check out the field level during BP and warm-ups. That said, it should be noted that as soon as we sat down while the Yankees left the field and the Rangers came up for their own batting practice, we were told to leave, as we did not have the tickets for the seats we were sitting in. It's as though we can stand in rich man's land, but damned if we get comfortable.
Disadvantages of the new "Yankee Stadium" (and yes, I am aware that some might say that my disadvantages are their own advantages. If that's the case, I suggest you write about it yourself)
1) Ticket pricing- This goes without saying, though I WILL share an anecdote that hopefully shines a proper light on the absurdity of what it costs to see the New York Yankees perform....
So when I went to the Cubs game in Chicago, a couple of the guys I was with were complaining about how expensive prime seating was at Wrigley Field, so I asked what sort of price they'd put on a seat right behind home plate. Their response was $180 for behind the aisle, $320 for RIGHT behind the plate. While I understand that this is not a cheap price for the right to sit through a ballgame, consider that the seats RIGHT behind home at "Yankee Stadium" are about $2500 a pop...or, roughly 8 TIMES as expensive as Wrigley...meaning, if you were baller enough to get yourseslf and SEVEN of your closest friends the BEST seats in the house at Wrigley field, it would be the same amount for you to play with yourself while features on the YES network...and while I can't verify it, tha Yankees probably forbid blue jeans, minorities, and souls coming anywhere close to the field.
2) Concessions- Too much. I understand that it's a big thing nowadays to appeal to the average Joe (or Chadwick or Spencer or Biff or (insert WASPy name here)) and his family, it's a lot of excess. Ballgames mean hot dogs, popcorn, Cracker Jack, beer, and MAYBE ice cream. I don't need to see a fucking sushi bar, a noodle bar, a deli (Boar's Head or not), a cheesesteak station....and an occasional, tucked-away-from-the-food-court(and yes, it's called the Food Court) vendor selling "Classic" ballpark food. ALSO...."Yankee Stadium" is the last place that has dropped the whole "let's not call them French fries out of spite for the French for not supporting us in a war that, in hindsight, maybe we shouldn't have gotten ourselves involved in (which goes against my desire to be political in this particular post)" thing. Instead of French Fries or Just FRIES...."Yankee Stadium" sells "American Fries", which, strangely enough, taste VERY much like their French archenemies...
3) Restricted view seating- You've GOT to be fucking kidding me. It's 2009. The mere concept that there are seats that will not enable you- the person who paid way too much to catch a ballgame live- to see the entire field is embarrassing. No it's not made better by having flat-screen TVs... I just find it unacceptable that the Yankees feel that THIS is okay, but fans wanting to get close to their heroes and idols and overpaid athletes is unacceptable from their perspective. Embarrassing. Truly a joke. And for what? A fucking sports lounge? AND it's one that you can't just waltz into...it's an additional fare! Bullshit. Shame on you!
4) YMCA- This should have died with the old stadium.
5) Additional "entertainment"- this includes, but is not limited to, the Mohegan Sun Lounge, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the Club seating on the left field terrace. What the fuck? Did you come here to watch a game or fucking socialize and MAYBE react to us peasants clamoring for a ball hit by that fellow in a white pinstriped suit carrying a club? Ugh. This is why I loved Fenway and Wrigley. You go there and you watch baseball. That's it. You could literally spend an entire game at the new "Yankee Stadium" ("TNYS" henceforth) and not watch a single pitch of baseball...and the only way to see whether you can do that or not? By paying hundreds of dollars just for the right to walk in.
6) Open view of the stadium all the way around- Listen, if you're going to INSIST on being able to see EVERY pitch of a game, then what's the problem with getting there early enough to get any food/drink you may need and hitting the bathroom before the first pitch? Really, I don't like this. I really don't. I'll concede that I miss probably 10 pitches per game because of the line at the men's room or at the concession stand. Other than that, I watch the game. Part of what bothers me about this is that in Yankee Stadium (may she rest in peace), you walked through tunnels and it may have stunk a bit or been a bit stuffy, but THEN you got to walk towards the aisles and seats and TADAAAAAAAAA the most beautiful ballpark in America awaited your ascent/descent to your seats. In other words, you had to EARN the right to look at the beautiful grass glinting in the Sun or looking surreally green in the bright lights of a night game. Now, you can see it anywhere, and while that may be a result of our instant-gratification society, then I'll be the first to say that I'm not thrilled. At least Fenway teased a bit before getting a good look at the field. TNYS whored the opportunity to look at the field out whenever you wanted to...
7) Structure of the ballpark- If you are going to make the dimensions exactly the same, why the fuck do you need a new ballpark in the first place? Really? This doesn't make me feel better about the whole situation. ALSO, the open-air-edness means that the sound of the fans has somewhere to go, whereas in Yankee Stadium, all the raucous cheering and booing went DOWN onto the players. This new configuration takes away perhaps the most substantial home-field advantage in the game. Very disappointing.
8) Seats- There are less of them, and yet the average price of tickets is up 73%? What. The. Fuck? I don't need to sound like Jimmy/Johnny/Paulie/Vito/Tommy/Billy/Sal/Danny from the Bronx/Bayonne/Jersey City/Brooklyn/Manhasset/Oyster Bay/Chappaqua....BUT...that's fucking ridiculous. I cannot stress enough how happy I am that the Yankees fell on their faces with the ticketing issue at TNYS. Really, I am glad. While I love the Yankees, I love baseball more, and them failing to fill out their new "stadium" was not something I will feel bad about. Hopefully this series of fuck-ups leads to some learning.
Anyway, I enjoyed the game (Yankees are 2-0 in games attended by me this year, and Melky Cabrera has stepped up immensely in both games), and will be back...just not anywhere near the field.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3- Brief pre-cursor to 25
25 is only a few days away, and I think that I'll be making some long-winded declaration or a reflection of the last 25 years. Give it time...it's coming. In the meantime, today is devoted to catching up on a few items that I have said I'd catch up on....so here we go....
1) Charlotte, NC (or, "My favorite city in the South (so far)"): Went down to help move Papa Bear into his new place of residence at the beginning of May, so this info/re-cap is a month old today. I'm certainly not proud of that, but better late than never, right?
So the ride down was rather enjoyable, as we traveled all day and told stories, had many a laugh, enjoyed a few podcasts, and furthered my enjoyment of Kanye West. Now, a few notable things about Charlotte that you may not know...
A) It's a small city. We drove through downtown Charlotte (known to locals as "uptown") in about 4 minutes. End to end. The heart of the city. Pretty absurd.
B) Because it's a young city, it's gorgeous, clean, and doesn't have stinky pockets (Hey, 59th street, I'm lookin' at you). This made tooling around incredibly enjoyable.
C) Charlotte lacks delis. For a New Yorker, this is unacceptable. A legit deli downtown would make a KILLING!!! I should send Tro there...
D) A pizza place would also prosper if done correctly.
Food was a big goal of ours, since I was only there for about 48 hours before making the 11+ hour drive back north...so we managed to have legit NC BBQ (delicious), some GRILLED chicken wings (phenomenal), and some Sonic (just before one opened up within a 10 hour drive), as well as Bojangles (greasy fried chicken...the ride back to New York was not as enjoyable as the ride down).
E) The social centers are in suburbs and are oddly-designed/configured. They have restaurants, bars, markets, retail stores, and other places of business in these megaconglomerates but the parking is the really bizarre part; it's just oddly set-up. Go visit.
Now, during this trip, we played the license plate game, where you check off which states' plates you've seen. PBear and I saw an incredible 40 states and 2 provinces going to Charlotte and back! I've never come anywhere NEAR that on a trip...so that was pretty cool.
On the way back, I also managed to get PBear on board with some podcasting, if I ever get myself to start...anyone looking for a birthday present, some equipment would be great.
Anyway, it was a good trip, and I would love Charlotte a lot more if the state of North Carolina didn't pay educators dogshit. Perhaps this is a hint to head back to school for my Ph.D....best of luck, Papa Bear.
2) Just finished reading Why We Suck by Denis Leary, and it is already one of my 10 favorite books of all time. It's an account of what is wrong with American society today. I'm an old soul, so I agree with most of what Leary writes. Some of the 'what makes a man' stuff is not something I endorse fully, BUT for the most part, he's right on. Buy it here, or go to your nearest library and take it out. It is very much worth it and contains PLENTY of chuckles...can't recommend it enough.
3) Larry the Cable Guy's a loser. That is all.
1) Charlotte, NC (or, "My favorite city in the South (so far)"): Went down to help move Papa Bear into his new place of residence at the beginning of May, so this info/re-cap is a month old today. I'm certainly not proud of that, but better late than never, right?
So the ride down was rather enjoyable, as we traveled all day and told stories, had many a laugh, enjoyed a few podcasts, and furthered my enjoyment of Kanye West. Now, a few notable things about Charlotte that you may not know...
A) It's a small city. We drove through downtown Charlotte (known to locals as "uptown") in about 4 minutes. End to end. The heart of the city. Pretty absurd.
B) Because it's a young city, it's gorgeous, clean, and doesn't have stinky pockets (Hey, 59th street, I'm lookin' at you). This made tooling around incredibly enjoyable.
C) Charlotte lacks delis. For a New Yorker, this is unacceptable. A legit deli downtown would make a KILLING!!! I should send Tro there...
D) A pizza place would also prosper if done correctly.
Food was a big goal of ours, since I was only there for about 48 hours before making the 11+ hour drive back north...so we managed to have legit NC BBQ (delicious), some GRILLED chicken wings (phenomenal), and some Sonic (just before one opened up within a 10 hour drive), as well as Bojangles (greasy fried chicken...the ride back to New York was not as enjoyable as the ride down).
E) The social centers are in suburbs and are oddly-designed/configured. They have restaurants, bars, markets, retail stores, and other places of business in these megaconglomerates but the parking is the really bizarre part; it's just oddly set-up. Go visit.
Now, during this trip, we played the license plate game, where you check off which states' plates you've seen. PBear and I saw an incredible 40 states and 2 provinces going to Charlotte and back! I've never come anywhere NEAR that on a trip...so that was pretty cool.
On the way back, I also managed to get PBear on board with some podcasting, if I ever get myself to start...anyone looking for a birthday present, some equipment would be great.
Anyway, it was a good trip, and I would love Charlotte a lot more if the state of North Carolina didn't pay educators dogshit. Perhaps this is a hint to head back to school for my Ph.D....best of luck, Papa Bear.
2) Just finished reading Why We Suck by Denis Leary, and it is already one of my 10 favorite books of all time. It's an account of what is wrong with American society today. I'm an old soul, so I agree with most of what Leary writes. Some of the 'what makes a man' stuff is not something I endorse fully, BUT for the most part, he's right on. Buy it here, or go to your nearest library and take it out. It is very much worth it and contains PLENTY of chuckles...can't recommend it enough.
3) Larry the Cable Guy's a loser. That is all.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2- Catching up
So after I was able to sleep in a bit, I spent a day watching videos. I suppose I was due... a few notes before I re-group and come up with a significant post:
1) Caught up on Lost. I suppose there's been plenty said about the show and so if you've been watching, the exposure may be a bit much. I will say that one, I am a Locke fan and that two, I'm on board for next season. Now, if I were to interview JJ Abrams or the other creators of the show, my questions wouldn't be all too specifically involved with any one character or another. My questions would be along the lines of "did you legitimately have any idea where the plot line was going?" OR...and I'd love to find someone more successful than me who tried the whole 'insert something randomly into what I'm working on' idea and made it work. I used to incorporate words or different things into papers on a suggestion; I'd love to hear that Abrams and company do similar stuff (black cloud, fucking polar bears, Driveshaft) in their show.
2) I HIGHLY recommend that you all try giving up TV for a month. Now I did have the opportunity to watch games at work (and yes, it is work...I do get paid for my services), and so that made it easier. Aside from that, I stuck to my guns and felt pretty good about it. I finished the two books I didn't finish before the end of April, read another 3-4, and am just about done with two others...and I feel smarter. I'm learning things and am enjoying the simpler things in life. You really would be surprised how much else you can do when you're not sitting in front of the television.
Alright, so what I was discussing last night while on the way back from the airport is the idea of bucket lists. This will be addressed...but I will probably be coming up with lists of movies-to-watch first. Basically, the idea that there are movies that people SHOULD see...not like great movies, necessarily, but more like significant and/or relevant movies (Star Wars comes in close to the top). Perhaps a panel discussion will follow...stay tuned....
1) Caught up on Lost. I suppose there's been plenty said about the show and so if you've been watching, the exposure may be a bit much. I will say that one, I am a Locke fan and that two, I'm on board for next season. Now, if I were to interview JJ Abrams or the other creators of the show, my questions wouldn't be all too specifically involved with any one character or another. My questions would be along the lines of "did you legitimately have any idea where the plot line was going?" OR...and I'd love to find someone more successful than me who tried the whole 'insert something randomly into what I'm working on' idea and made it work. I used to incorporate words or different things into papers on a suggestion; I'd love to hear that Abrams and company do similar stuff (black cloud, fucking polar bears, Driveshaft) in their show.
2) I HIGHLY recommend that you all try giving up TV for a month. Now I did have the opportunity to watch games at work (and yes, it is work...I do get paid for my services), and so that made it easier. Aside from that, I stuck to my guns and felt pretty good about it. I finished the two books I didn't finish before the end of April, read another 3-4, and am just about done with two others...and I feel smarter. I'm learning things and am enjoying the simpler things in life. You really would be surprised how much else you can do when you're not sitting in front of the television.
Alright, so what I was discussing last night while on the way back from the airport is the idea of bucket lists. This will be addressed...but I will probably be coming up with lists of movies-to-watch first. Basically, the idea that there are movies that people SHOULD see...not like great movies, necessarily, but more like significant and/or relevant movies (Star Wars comes in close to the top). Perhaps a panel discussion will follow...stay tuned....
June 1- May wrap-up/June give-up
I must say it was a very gratifying morning, being able to turn on the TV while getting dressed for work. Unfortunately, I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I would if I had taken the day off (like I'll be doing tomorrow. Enjoy putting on work clothes, suckers...I will definitely not be wearing pants).
Anyway, May worked out well. I successfully avoided television wherever I went (outside of nights that I worked, which worked out well since I caught many ballgames in the process AND my family's television debut got pushed back to this month anyway), so a happy dance for me....tomorrow, that is. I'm exhausted.
My exercising every day was not as successful, though I feel a lot better than I did a month ago...minor consolation, a total of 1-2 for the month.
Challenges for June include: not biting my nails (a habit that I had kicked for a number of months, and have recently re-acquired...what I will not to is place the blame anywhere but my own shoulders...maybe blaming others is a good candidate for the list), twirling my hair (more of a 'keep your hands busy without breaking the law' habit than anything else, particularly with my hair being as long as it is now...this should be interesting), and cracking my knuckles (which isn't something I do regularly, but it goes along with the theme of bettering myself).
Improvement for the month: Post every day in the month. This should get interesting, as I have a trip or two planned. Oh well. That's the challenge I suppose.
Just so we're clear, I will have to quit drinking if I am to try to give up swearing, as my speech becomes more animated with a few in me....So a large effort this will take.
Now, I am counting this as post number one for the month, 29 to go!
Anyway, May worked out well. I successfully avoided television wherever I went (outside of nights that I worked, which worked out well since I caught many ballgames in the process AND my family's television debut got pushed back to this month anyway), so a happy dance for me....tomorrow, that is. I'm exhausted.
My exercising every day was not as successful, though I feel a lot better than I did a month ago...minor consolation, a total of 1-2 for the month.
Challenges for June include: not biting my nails (a habit that I had kicked for a number of months, and have recently re-acquired...what I will not to is place the blame anywhere but my own shoulders...maybe blaming others is a good candidate for the list), twirling my hair (more of a 'keep your hands busy without breaking the law' habit than anything else, particularly with my hair being as long as it is now...this should be interesting), and cracking my knuckles (which isn't something I do regularly, but it goes along with the theme of bettering myself).
Improvement for the month: Post every day in the month. This should get interesting, as I have a trip or two planned. Oh well. That's the challenge I suppose.
Just so we're clear, I will have to quit drinking if I am to try to give up swearing, as my speech becomes more animated with a few in me....So a large effort this will take.
Now, I am counting this as post number one for the month, 29 to go!
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