Wednesday, January 31, 2007

The Hip, Hooray and Ballyhoo

So today is the final day of January. Where the hell did this month go? 2007 seems like it might be another fast year. This is going to be the Broadway issue of Ramblings. I'd like to say that I have two friends of mine on Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

First up is Adam "Waka" Green. One of my closest friends. We met in high school and he's a really talented actor. He kept going while slackers like Sam and I stopped. And Sam's not doing anything with this life, except for clerking for a federal judge. Loooser. Waka is currently in a show with Daniel J. Travanti. And yes, you get point if you know what TV show he was in.
If you're in NYC, you should see it. Waka is a great actor and an amazing friend.

My next friend is Jeslyn Kelly, who is currently in the ensemble cast in Tarzan. Now before you go moaning about musicals and think that she's some sort of high maintenance diva, allow me to set the record straight. Jessica, now Jeslyn, is one of the nicest and kindest people I know. She's has ferocious talent, is beautiful, and one of the few people I could be marooned on an island with. (And that list gets shorter every day.) I have no idea what the show is like, but she swings on vines, which is cool. And she's on Broadway! An incredible feat for a wonderful girl from Trumbull.

Happy Wednesday party peoples.

Monday, January 29, 2007

On Tuesday, I'll be at the Chuckle Hut


Make sure to tip your waitresses, folks.

So today I gave a presentation on School Safety Planning with my usual humor and energy at a Voc Tech school in the state. And a very nice group of school nurses who sat through the presentation told me I should do stand-up. One said I reminded her of Conan O'Brien. I get this from time to time.


I haven't done stand-up for a couple of reasons. One, I think I'm funny in situations, but I'm not sure I could write material. Second, if you do stand-up, you're expected to be funny. If you meet a stand-up, you expect that guy to be funnier than you. That's not fun. I'd rather be funny and have people not expect it. Also, humor works really well in my job as a tool.

Perhaps it's my incredible fear of failure and bombing though. Yeah...that could be it too.

Oh, and my phone has been on the fritz and not getting or sending texts or voicemail. So I called Satan's Company, who informed me that they are part of AT&T again. Nice job blowing all that branding money, guys. I'm sure my bill didn't eat any of that. And the CSR (Customer Service Rep) on the phone listened to my problem and asked me if I turn the phone off at night. WTF? No, I don't turn the phone off at night. "Well that's your problem right there!" Like I should know that your phone can't be used longer that 23 hours and 59 minutes. My bad.

So I turn the damn thing off and back on, and it starts vibrating and making all this noise. It's sending text messages that I meant to send all of last week. I'm getting text messages from the last 6 days. And then the screen shows that I have 19 new voicemails. Well fuck me silly and call me Sally. What the hell is this?

So if you've gotten a random text, lo siento. And if you called my phone at all recently and I didn't call back, I'm just starting to wade through those voicemails.

(Shakes fist at sky) Damn you Cingular!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Weekend Recap...

Let's go over this weekend....

Friday night: Went to dinner with my brother in Kenmore Square. Nearly froze ass off.

Saturday: Went to the Higgins Museum in Worcester, MA with my little. (N.B. When I use the term "little", I am referring to the little brother I have through the Big Brothers program. This causes endless confusion.) Then that evening went out to dinner with Chuck and Ross. We started here, and then went here, but the line was too long and I had to use the bathroom in an unholy way, so we went here. Following some drunken singing, we ended up here where we didn't bowl and I then went home with Chuck. Not like that....he wishes.

Sunday: Woke up quite late. Had some coffee and did some studying. Then my friend Amanda and I had sushi and watched MI-3. The ending was really the worst part. I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise as a person, but the action was okay.

Tomorrow I'm off to Tyngsboro at 6AM....whahoo!

Friday, January 26, 2007

So at 2:06PM today, this pathetic little spot on the internets hit 5,000 hits. The person who did it was from somewhere in Middle America and was on the site for one second. I'm sure they were scared and couldn't wrap their small pea-brains around the enormity of this achievement and clicked away. Well, thank you small pea-brained (wo)man.

It's Friday and I'm about to head out to the B.C./BU hockey game. I'll bring the old camera and try and get some photos of me and Ross. Oh, and for those of you not from around here, the Explorer's thermometer was kind enough to tell me it was 9 degrees about an hour ago. Wha-Hoo!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Hump Day


Greetings all those out in Internet Land!

I survived my incredibly early morning on the Cape. It actually didn't take me that long, thanks to the shortcut through the Tunnel. Very clean and well-lit.

My Dad called and I was talking to him and he mentioned that a friend of his knows a guy who works doing similar stuff to what I do for the private sector. He mentioned that as a father, he wanted to make sure I was as well off financially as I could be and that I should be paid the money I deserve.

Okay, listen up. I don't do this job for the money. I certainly wasn't a cop for the money, even though I'm still not making what I made there with overtime. I do what I do so that I can lay my head down on the pillow and be okay with myself. So that I don't need to give obsessively to charity or find a way to make a difference in my senior years. I want to drink a lot and hang out with friends when I'm old. I figure if I help society now, I'll have earned that by 65 or whenever.

In fairness, the company is apparently a non-profit helping the developing world, which is cool. I'm fine right now where I am though. I really enjoyed teaching yesterday and I enjoy the looks on people's faces when they get it. Would I like a little more money? I guess. But I wouldn't know what to spend it on. To be honest, with the friends I have, I often feel like the richest man around. I know it's cheesy, but it's true.

Is this that hard to comprehend? Have a great Wednesday people.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor the darkness of pre-dawn


Good Morning,

I woke up about 15 minutes ago. I just wanted to talk to you people who think that this guy to the right is typical state worker. Perhaps he is, but there are many of us who work much harder. I'm on my way to the Cape to teach the class. And while it is 2 hours away, I'm happy to serve all of the Commonwealth.

And the Cape is a very different place when its January and snowing, just so you know. It's damn cold.

I hope everyone has a nice day.....

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Meh...

So apparently the Bears dat team dat goin' beat dem Saints. It was a super sloppy game and the Saints were turning over the ball like it was their job. But whatever you do, don't congratulate Rex Grossman. That guy is a shaky dude who looked completely bewildered. I think Lovie's only plan was to keep the ball out of his hands.

As I type, the Pats are up by 3 with 2 minutes left in the game and the Colts are threatening to score from within the Red Zone. They really choked on this one...not a great football day.

Ahhh, Saturdays


So for those not in the Boston area, it was cold and windy today. Really windy. And I got to wake up and join my god-niece for brunch with my brother near Copley. That was fun, but cold. Elizabeth is a really wonderful girl who goes to school in New Haven, which is the way really horrible people say that they go to Yale. N.B.: Elizabeth would never say this, and is not a horrible person.

After that I was home watching some of Season 1 of Boomtown. This is a cop show that lasted for about 1.5 seasons. Ordinarily I don't like cop shows as they are unrealistic. This one takes some liberties for sure, but the cast is great. They also shoot the show from each individual character's perspective, which is neat. And the reporter character is cute., pictured right.

And then I went to a dinner for my friend Dave, who is going to the Left Coast for a 6-month internship. It was fun and I hung out with my friends Rene and Mike, who are an awesome couple that just bought a house in Dorchester. Chuck and Sara joined us at the bar afterwards. They were dressed to the nines and had come from Sara's work party. And while it was nice to not have someone that drags you to their social events, it made me think that I'd like to have someone to get really dressed up with and have a night out. Ah well....it will happen. Apparently all my friends have lots of cute single friends. I'm not holding my breath.

Finally, this guy below is Boston. Sure, New York has the Kid from Brooklyn. But you won't find a guy like this in places like Phoenix or Tampa. God bless my drunken Irish friends.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Oh boy...

I'm currently watching a movie called Cube. It's awful. And I'm in agreement with many critics. It's about these people trapped in a bizarre cube maze, with interconnected death chambers. As a guy who likes bad movies, this is not enjoyable.

However, my dear friend Jennie pointed me to this wondrous site.

BadMovies.org

The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup

If you have to be up at the ass crack of dawn to teach a workshop, I find this hot cup of joe sitting next to me to be about the best thing ever. Thank you Keurig and thank you Juan Valdez. Wherever you are.

First class of the second semester tonight. It involves stats....oh boy.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Keurig


Keurig
Originally uploaded by Graham14173.
Here is the coffeemaker I love. I am doing it through Flickr because Blogger blows and won't post my photos for some reason.

Thank God UPS doesn't love MLK.

So today my new coffeemaker arrived. My fabulous sister-in-law Carole got me a $100 gift certificate from Amazon for Christmas. So I took that and spent a few extra bucks on the Keurig B-70 coffeemaker. Many of these people have seen these at their office, but it essentially brews one cup at a time. I got the one that is able to brew travel size mugs, so I don't keep spending money at this place.


I also like that the water tank is lit with a blue LED when it's brewing. I was surprised that UPS delivers today. It's odd how this is a holiday because people have it off, but it's not supposed to be a "think about this special time" holiday. Otherwise the stores would be closed.

I've posted his last, and what I think is his best speech. His "Mountaintop" speech where he preaches that he doesn't care if he dies because he's been to the mountaintop. The graphics are cheesy, but just listen to this speech and tell me you don't feel chills when he gets to the "Mine eyes have seen the glory..." part.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Who Dat?

So tonight I went out for dinner and drinks at a bar called Sissy K's near Faneuil Hall. The place is okay. It's main draw being $1.50 Bud Lights. I was there to watch the Saints-Eagles game.

Allow me to say right now that I am a Saints fan. I have been since September of 1998, when I saw my first live NFL game at the Superdome. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-30, which I soon discovered was pretty normal for this team. But I was gleeful to watch them defeat the Eagles for the right to play in the NFC Championship for the first time in team history. My best friend Emily was at the game and we talked after the game. Her family is my second family and I'm quite excited about celebrating her 30th birthday coming up in May.

Now in Boston, the bars close around 1-1:30. And my brother hates the bar scene in Boston. I think it's really the bar scene around Faneuil Hall. There are ubiquitous lines and cover charges for no particular reason. These things you don't see in New York, unless there's a band or a special event. I guess the bus loads of white hats from this area don't mind standing in lines and paying 5 bucks just for the privilege of drinking piss beer. I'll pass, thanks.

I can sit at home and drink piss beer. Maybe I'll put a velvet rope up outside my door and start charging.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

The digits workin' again


So I ordered an unlocked phone off Ebay a little after Christmas, and it arrived yesterday. The buying process was okay...the phone took forever to arrive. I mean forever, but it cost 50 bucks and I would have had to pay those crooks at Cingular like $250 to get a new one. No thank you. I prefer someone to rub my back if they're going to bend me over.

It was really easy to do, which is why I would recommend to people to just go month to month, so as not to be shackled to their carrier. And they gave me the new Sim card free. But, all this is to say that I apologize to the people who tried to call me in the last month and couldn't get through. I saved all my contact on my Macbook and just transferred it to the new phone by Bluefizzle.

So resume normal calling patterns.....whatever that means. Oh and big ups to my friend Steve who got me the audio file of Jeff Daniels screaming "Bayonets!" from Gettysburg that now plays when I get a text message.

Photo of Cingular dude getting screwed in the ass courtesy of those fine folks over at Consumerist

Ike, do your impression of David Caruso's career!


So, I am not a large fan of David Caruso. I thought he worked well on NYPD Blue, but he made a dumb move by leaving the show. Well, now he's on CSI Miami and I can't stand him. (Note: I went to college with a guy who is also on that show. I like him. Nice guy. I just can't stand Caruso)

Asides from the fact that the show is crap, because there's no forensics lab that can spend 1 week on one case, especially not in a busy city like Miami, it also makes it hard for real cops.

People are dumb. They believe TV is real. I had some guy get hit with a stick once and insist that I dust the stick for prints. No bueno. He said it happened on CSI and I just didn't want to do it because I'm white and no one cares about Harlem.....(Sigh)

But some guy cataloged all of the best Caruso-isms from that awful show and made a montage on where else...You Tube. I offer it below as evidence that people that watch that show are brain damaged.



Now I know that I've posted a bunch of YouTube stuff. And except for the R.Kelly "Trapped in the Closet" piece, you really don't have to watch any of them. Peruse at your own enjoyment.

Celtics Game....oh the mediocrity

So last night, I went to a Boston Celtics game, courtesy of Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay. The tickets were free, but parking was $23.00. Even with comp tickets, the Celtics weren't worth it.

The seats were really high. I mean, like so high that the fan camera than pans the audience was below us and therefore unable to see our section. I actually saw one player yawn during the pre-game warmups, which I felt was oddly appropriate for this team. The place was half-full and why shouldn't it be. They're second to last in their conference, with a 12-22 record. And even with that record, they're only 3 games back from the first place team.

I realized something about the NBA. It's all about the kids. That place was packed with kids on a school night. Why? Because the kids don't realize how much the Celtics suck. They don't understand that their Dad or Mom paid $50 for their seat. They don't really care if the team loses, because it's loud, there's always something going on, and they're probably up past their bedtime. This is the Celtics target demographic. Children under 12 and people who can't grasp how poor the team they're watching is. And certainly people who don't remember this guy....


The only bright spot of the evening was the Celtics Dancers.

It was good fun to watch these women come out in their quite skimpy outfits during the timeouts. The fathers all seemed to perk up as these women danced with moves that could only be reproduced in a strip club. All in the name of family entertainment. Three of the Celtics girls are in the running to be the Celtics rep for the NBA dance team. I personally want Allison to win.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

More Waka...More Funny

Busy Busy Busy

So today I missed lunch...well I just had meetings all the way through it.

So for lunch today I had a strawberry Nutrigrain bar from the vending machine. Then before my doctor's appointment I saw a sandwich at 7-11 for $1.99. Ham and cheese. So I got that and ate it quick. It was kind of hard and then I checked the wrapper and noticed that it was made on Sunday. So, that's what happens when you troll for bargain lunch meats at the Sev.

Also, the cold is worse. I actually feel better but I know I'm worse. I can smell that cold. You know how you can smell infection or death, mostly due to the necrotic tissue. Well sickness smells a certain way also, especially when you cough. And no Mom, I haven't gone to the doctor because it's still just a cold and there is no cure for the common cold, save perhaps one.

So I've got that going for me, which is nice. And grad school starts in a week from tomorrow. First class will be Public Financial Administration. I'm quite concerned, as I was always in the low-track math group.

But we'll see....

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Thank God for the DVD


So I put the film United 93 in my Netflix queue a long time ago and eventually it came to my mailbox. I wanted to see this movie, not so much for what happened on the actual flight, for I knew that there was a lot of speculation. Rather I wanted to see the ground side of the drama, between the air traffic controllers and the military.

So I'm watching it now, and I can't get through more than 15-20 minutes at a time. The hijackers haven't even taken the plane, but they are about to. I could hear my heart beating as I watched it. I wonder if this takes something away from the experience. Maybe I should just sit through it and watch the whole thing uninterrupted. I'm not sure I could have stayed in the theater.

I guess I thought that because this wasn't directly about New York City and the Twin Towers that it would be easier to watch. I was wrong. I'm not sure it's a bad thing. I mean I appreciate movies that affect (or effect?) me. This however does more than that. It grabs me and throws me around the room. If I had more than soup today, I'd probably feel a little queasy.

Anyone see it? Am I a coward for not watching it all in one sitting as the Director intended?

Image courtesy of blogs.indiewire.com

New Year's Photos

Here are some photos from New Year's Eve. There was a shindig at my house. Montu had the camera for a little bit, and I tried to erase most of the duplicates. But feel free to take a gander at people getting progressively more drunk.



Friday, January 05, 2007

I'm sick....but I'm fighting the good fight

So I took the day off today to fight this cold that is setting up a siege of my body. I feel like I'm in a Western where the good guy and the bad guy are brawling and they both notice the revolver on the floor at the same time. They look at each other and then race for it....

That's me and this cold. I'm playing for keeps. So far, I've had about a gallon of OJ today, some Emergen-C, some Theraflu, some Zicam nasal spray, and a little Tylenol Cold. And I slept all day. Well most of it.

Tonight I viewed Dogs of War. A movie made in the early 80's about mercenaries who stage a coup in an African country. The movie was okay, but was perfect for how I'm feeling. I'm sad to be in bed right now, as Commando is on AMC. And that is an awesome movie. The best part of the movie is by far Christopher Walken. He's got those crazy eyes and he's terrific as a slightly off mercenary. Many thanks to Chuck for the suggestion. This movie must have given him a woody.

I'd post photos, but Blogger is giving me problems....

Oh God.....what have I done

With many thanks to my friends over at Ten Angry Men


Thursday, January 04, 2007

So this is amazing....


So I was watching the national news last night and saw the graphic of "Subway Savior" appear above the anchor. I saw a black guy and a weepy white guy and some B-roll of a NYC subway car. So I thought it was a story about how a jaded New Yorker saved the life of some guy by pulling him back from the edge of the tracks. Or he went down on the tracks and helped him up back onto the platform. As a cynical New Yorker, I was non-plussed.

Until I saw the CGI reenactment. Holy Shit. So this kid has a seizure and falls onto the tracks. The train is coming into the station. This guy jumps down onto the tracks and lays on top of him to make sure he doesn't flail or raise his head. The train passes over the top of both of them. You gotta read this story.

I'm not sure I would have done that. The savior was former Navy (not Marine...should have read more closely), and a New Yorker. So the kid who fell was in good hands.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007