In honor of our 7 year relationship anniversary (yesterday), a re-copied LiveJournal post from 1 month before we started dating:
Friday was our interns' last day. We hired 4 kids back in June to help us out. We've never had interns before so it was a new experience for all of us. I thought they were great people and did well. So we went out to celebrate at the Ames Hotel. It's an upscale hotel not far from the office and we were able to reserve the patio right off the bar. So I think 18 of us ended up going out and we were there for about 4 hours. I had an Old Fashioned for the first time in awhile (my usual whiskey go-to is a 7&7) and possibly my last mojitos of the summer. So at about 7 everyone starts filing out. A few of us are feeling good and want to stay out so we head over to Coogan's. Me, Keith, Josh, and Brigid. Brigid's our new receptionist so she hasn't been out with us yet. I have to give her credit, she held her own. Almost immediately we start with the shots. Red Headed Slut, Soco Lime, Washington Apple, Surfer On Acid. By this point we had sort of split up, and I mean that only in the drunk sense. We were still like 2 feet away from each other buy Keith & Josh were completely consumed in their conversation and Brigid & I were the same. It's like no one else existed. So it was a little jarring when Keith said they were getting the tab and leaving. So we figured it was a good idea to go too. It's funny how many different types of drunk there are. Normally my brain is swimming. It's difficult to focus and get words out. But this time I was thinking fine; I just couldn't walk or see correctly. Yeah, I said see. When we left the bar and were walking to the subway I realized that I was just doing it off of muscle memory. Instincts might be the better word. I wasn't seeing where we were I just knew it from doing it so many times. It was weird.
So Brigid & I both live off the Blue Line so we went together and were laughing and whatever. I noticed some people looking at us but didn't think anything of it because it's normal for young people to get drunk. Only later did I realize that we left at like 9:30 so it wasn't even that late! We had been going since 3:30 so it felt a lot later than it was. Whatever.
We're getting close to her stop and she asks me if I'm coming home with her. Right?! Except it didn't sound like THAT KIND of invitation. Which confused me. So I asked Why? so she could spell it out and she literally just asked it again and so I asked it again. Needless to say nothing happened haha. Later I felt like an asshole because I should have just walked her home. She lives alone and just moved here and was pretty fucking drunk. But so was I, so I was just trying to figure out how I was gonna get home. Long story short, she sent me a Facebook request today so I know she's alive. Phew. Conscience clean.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Senor Octobre
Ok, ok, I guess I couldn't stay away forever. It's weird charting out on my own, deciding what to blog about each day.
I just finished reading Big Papi's book. I timed it to coincide with the end of the regular season so that was a success. The book came out in 2007 so it's not up to date or anything (and doesn't even include their second World Series win which happened in 2007) but it was an interesting read none the less.
I remember a lot of things from the curse-breaking 2004 team but one thing that I can't remember ever happening was Papi being called Senor Octobre due to his two walk-off hits in Games 4 and 5 of the ALCS against the Yankees. For those who don't know, Senor Octobre is the Spanish-equivalent of Mr. October which is famously the nickname of Reggie Jackson, one of the greatest postseason players of all time. This isn't the only time a nickname has been repackaged linguistically: Albert Pujols played many years for the St. Louis Cardinals and was a 3x MVP and 2x world champ. The nicknames Fat Albert and Winnie the Pujols never quite took off so many started calling him El Hombre, in remembrance of the Cardinals great Stan "The Man" Musial. Pujols actually declined the nickname because El Hombre is simply Spanish for The Man and he didn't appreciate sharing that nickname with a legend.
This is something I've seen over the years and don't really care for: the reappropriation of nicknames and themes. I'm not talking generally like there are football Giants and baseball Giants, football Panthers and hockey Panthers but specifically the players. Why did Dwight Howard come into the NBA with the Orlando Magic being known as Superman? 12 years earlier, Shaq came into the NBA with the Orlando Magic being known as Superman. Both Jevon Kearse (NFL) and Tim Lincecum (MLB) go by The Freak. Rich Gossage (MLB) and Tony Siragusa (NFL) are Goose. In boxing, we have Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard (which one was Sugar Ray named after?). Why did Kevin Garnett come into the league with the nickname The Kid, when it was already taken by Billy?
But the absolute worst has to be LaDainian Tomlinson swiping Lawrence Taylor's LT. I really don't understand why people allowed this to happen. LT (the real one) is an all-timer. LdT was one of the top RB's for a few years when fantasy football was really taking off. Judging by the first scene narration of Sandra Bullock, one of them caused Michael Oher to play football. The other one lost to the Patriots in the playoffs for 2 straight years and cried about it.
Maybe I'm a bit biased but I think if we as a society can't come up with fresh, new nicknames for players then we're 1) just being lazy to reuse an old one and 2) not appreciating history and the original bearer of the nickname. I think of the quote, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it" and just think of all the former players who are being phased out of our minds every day.
Arnold Palmer; Gordie Howe; Muhammad Ali. All historic greats who died in 2016. Lemonade and iced tea notwithstanding, how many young people are going to grow up knowing who Palmer was and what he did? I'm certainly not old enough to have ever seen him play nor am I a golf fan but I know how he changed the game. I can appreciate his career and his impact. If people think of Tiger Woods as the greatest golfer of all time, or of LaDainian fucking Tomlinson as LT, then we've all lost something.
I just finished reading Big Papi's book. I timed it to coincide with the end of the regular season so that was a success. The book came out in 2007 so it's not up to date or anything (and doesn't even include their second World Series win which happened in 2007) but it was an interesting read none the less.
I remember a lot of things from the curse-breaking 2004 team but one thing that I can't remember ever happening was Papi being called Senor Octobre due to his two walk-off hits in Games 4 and 5 of the ALCS against the Yankees. For those who don't know, Senor Octobre is the Spanish-equivalent of Mr. October which is famously the nickname of Reggie Jackson, one of the greatest postseason players of all time. This isn't the only time a nickname has been repackaged linguistically: Albert Pujols played many years for the St. Louis Cardinals and was a 3x MVP and 2x world champ. The nicknames Fat Albert and Winnie the Pujols never quite took off so many started calling him El Hombre, in remembrance of the Cardinals great Stan "The Man" Musial. Pujols actually declined the nickname because El Hombre is simply Spanish for The Man and he didn't appreciate sharing that nickname with a legend.
This is something I've seen over the years and don't really care for: the reappropriation of nicknames and themes. I'm not talking generally like there are football Giants and baseball Giants, football Panthers and hockey Panthers but specifically the players. Why did Dwight Howard come into the NBA with the Orlando Magic being known as Superman? 12 years earlier, Shaq came into the NBA with the Orlando Magic being known as Superman. Both Jevon Kearse (NFL) and Tim Lincecum (MLB) go by The Freak. Rich Gossage (MLB) and Tony Siragusa (NFL) are Goose. In boxing, we have Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard (which one was Sugar Ray named after?). Why did Kevin Garnett come into the league with the nickname The Kid, when it was already taken by Billy?
But the absolute worst has to be LaDainian Tomlinson swiping Lawrence Taylor's LT. I really don't understand why people allowed this to happen. LT (the real one) is an all-timer. LdT was one of the top RB's for a few years when fantasy football was really taking off. Judging by the first scene narration of Sandra Bullock, one of them caused Michael Oher to play football. The other one lost to the Patriots in the playoffs for 2 straight years and cried about it.
Maybe I'm a bit biased but I think if we as a society can't come up with fresh, new nicknames for players then we're 1) just being lazy to reuse an old one and 2) not appreciating history and the original bearer of the nickname. I think of the quote, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it" and just think of all the former players who are being phased out of our minds every day.
Arnold Palmer; Gordie Howe; Muhammad Ali. All historic greats who died in 2016. Lemonade and iced tea notwithstanding, how many young people are going to grow up knowing who Palmer was and what he did? I'm certainly not old enough to have ever seen him play nor am I a golf fan but I know how he changed the game. I can appreciate his career and his impact. If people think of Tiger Woods as the greatest golfer of all time, or of LaDainian fucking Tomlinson as LT, then we've all lost something.
Friday, September 30, 2016
September to Remember: Day 30
30th – 30 in 30; since I’m about to turn 30, it seemed appropriate
Welp, I did it. 30 blog posts in 30 days on 30 topics of my wife's choosing. Brig started strong -- coming up with the contest on 8/31 then posting on 9/1 & 9/2, then 9/4... 9/6... 9/12................. maybe today? Clearly, I'm the only one who took #babblingbridgeseptembertoremember seriously. (Is it trending yet?)
I guess the point is this: I definitely would have finished that Whole 30 if Brig hadn't sabotaged me. (Wait, is this September 12?)
Anyway, don't think this is my grand return to blogging. I can't think of anything I want to do less tomorrow than drum up a new blog post... and without having a pre-chosen topic on top of it. But hey, it got me through the pains of 3 games without Tom Brady (3-0, baby!) and missing Big Papi's final playoff push because we cut cable. Here's to distractions!
Welp, I did it. 30 blog posts in 30 days on 30 topics of my wife's choosing. Brig started strong -- coming up with the contest on 8/31 then posting on 9/1 & 9/2, then 9/4... 9/6... 9/12................. maybe today? Clearly, I'm the only one who took #babblingbridgeseptembertoremember seriously. (Is it trending yet?)
I guess the point is this: I definitely would have finished that Whole 30 if Brig hadn't sabotaged me. (Wait, is this September 12?)
Anyway, don't think this is my grand return to blogging. I can't think of anything I want to do less tomorrow than drum up a new blog post... and without having a pre-chosen topic on top of it. But hey, it got me through the pains of 3 games without Tom Brady (3-0, baby!) and missing Big Papi's final playoff push because we cut cable. Here's to distractions!
Thursday, September 29, 2016
September to Remember: Day 29
29th – What I think Brent and my sisters are planning for my (surprise!) 30th!
Well, we are doing exactly what the birthday girl wants so unless she forgets the incredibly detailed agenda she sent us, she probably won't be surprised.
We are going to the Cape. We are eating. We are dancing. We are celebrating Brigid. Pretty much all her favorite things.
The real surprise is the presents coming her way! Except the one she outright told me she wanted. And the other that she strongly hinted at. And the thing she's been mentioning for months. Oh well, surprises are overrated anyway.
Well, we are doing exactly what the birthday girl wants so unless she forgets the incredibly detailed agenda she sent us, she probably won't be surprised.
We are going to the Cape. We are eating. We are dancing. We are celebrating Brigid. Pretty much all her favorite things.
The real surprise is the presents coming her way! Except the one she outright told me she wanted. And the other that she strongly hinted at. And the thing she's been mentioning for months. Oh well, surprises are overrated anyway.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
September to Remember: Day 28
28th – Worst birthday ever
I've never had some terrible or embarrassing thing happen on my birthday. There was the year I cut my finger on a deli slicer and had to go to the hospital but that was a couple days after my birthday.
I guess my 30th (not for THAT reason) because Brig got me pretty good with a surprise party. She asked me what I wanted to do and mentioned going to the Patriots Hall of Fame at Gillette Stadium. Brig can't stand football so I knew this was a grand gesture.
So I was all excited to go with her and then a few days later she tells me that she had gotten a text from one of my friends and that they wanted to take me instead. I was a little bummed that Brig wouldn't get to see it but my buddies actually like the Pats so it was still gonna be pretty fun.
We had a great time while there but it was getting towards meal time so I thought we should get food while there. They were all like no, no we'll just pick something up after we get home. I said well can we order something and pick it up on the way? And they said we'll order but have it delivered to the house. I thought that was weird but said OK and one of them went off to order some pizza.
We headed home and I was thinking nothing of it, just chatting as we went up our street. I walk in the house looking for Brig and turn the corner from the kitchen into the dining room and see all these people in the living room. Surprise!
My friends had to convince me not to get food because there was already some at the house for the party. Then one had to make a fake phone call to a pizza place. Then I was somehow oblivious to all my friends' wives cars that were parked down our street as we drove by. Boy was I fooled.
So, no, my 30th was definitely not a "worst" birthday but I was hoodwinked and that's never a good feeling.
I've never had some terrible or embarrassing thing happen on my birthday. There was the year I cut my finger on a deli slicer and had to go to the hospital but that was a couple days after my birthday.
I guess my 30th (not for THAT reason) because Brig got me pretty good with a surprise party. She asked me what I wanted to do and mentioned going to the Patriots Hall of Fame at Gillette Stadium. Brig can't stand football so I knew this was a grand gesture.
So I was all excited to go with her and then a few days later she tells me that she had gotten a text from one of my friends and that they wanted to take me instead. I was a little bummed that Brig wouldn't get to see it but my buddies actually like the Pats so it was still gonna be pretty fun.
We had a great time while there but it was getting towards meal time so I thought we should get food while there. They were all like no, no we'll just pick something up after we get home. I said well can we order something and pick it up on the way? And they said we'll order but have it delivered to the house. I thought that was weird but said OK and one of them went off to order some pizza.
We headed home and I was thinking nothing of it, just chatting as we went up our street. I walk in the house looking for Brig and turn the corner from the kitchen into the dining room and see all these people in the living room. Surprise!
My friends had to convince me not to get food because there was already some at the house for the party. Then one had to make a fake phone call to a pizza place. Then I was somehow oblivious to all my friends' wives cars that were parked down our street as we drove by. Boy was I fooled.
So, no, my 30th was definitely not a "worst" birthday but I was hoodwinked and that's never a good feeling.
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