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| Wednesday, June 28, 2006 |
| Well Done, Sox Fans, Well Done |
Pedro Martinez's first start at Fenway since leaving the Red Sox isn't officially until tonight. But last night, after the Sox played a "Welcome Back Pedro" message on the jumborton, the Sox fans in attendance welcomed him back exactly the way they should have: with a hearty ovation.
In my mind, and in the minds of every other Sox fan I know, there was really no other way to greet the man that brough us seven years of some of the most electric baseball this team has ever seen. Nevermind a World Championship.
I'm not going to go into a history of Pedro with the Sox, or list his substantial baseball resume: the media and thousands of others out there have me covered on that front. What I will say, is I would give anything to be there tonight. Just to be in the park and stand and cheer and clap wildly in thanks.
So well done Sox fans. Well done ignoring the "Are they going to boo him" questions that media idiots all over the country posed to us. Well done for proving, once again, that we're some of the classiest fans in baseball.Labels: Boston, Red Sox, sports |
posted by FINY @ Wednesday, June 28, 2006   |
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| Get Well Gammons |
| Peter Gammons, who suffered a brain aneurysm on Tuesday morning, was resting in an ICU last night after coming out of surgery. Best wishes to his wife and family, we all hope he pulls through this. Labels: misc., sports |
| posted by FINY @ Wednesday, June 28, 2006 |
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| Tuesday, June 27, 2006 |
| I Wish I Could Remember |
The wedding was only on Saturday and already I don't remember the song that was playing. I wish I did, and I know years from now I am really going to regret not paying attention to that tiny detail. But as my grandfather and I danced at my cousin's wedding, it seemed too trivial to pay attention to.
It's not often you realize that you're going to remember a moment for the rest of your life while you're living that moment, but this was definitely one of them. Standing on the dance floor, my head on my Papa's shoulder, surrounded by my family, a gorgeous tent, sparkling lights, and more flowers than I had ever seen, I knew, then and there, that I was living something that was going to be a memory.
It was a short dance. He had to get back to my grandmother who is now confined to either a walker or her motorized scooter at all times. As we danced he told me how proud he was of me, of all of the grandkids. He told me that all he ever wanted was for our happiness. He talked about how much he loved me, and how much we all meant to him and my grandmother.
And I'm always going to remember how solid he felt. How solid he's always felt. Papa's not a small guy, and he's got the kind of embrace that just dwarfs you. The kind you know could protect you from anything. And I'll remember the tears that ran down my cheeks for no apparent reason after the dance was finished.
I was reminded of all of this today when I received news from my mom that my great uncle Arthur died this morning of a heart attack. No one was expecting it, yes, he was in his late 80s, and yes, he was clearly getting up there in age. But he still drove himself around. He was still so independent. It's hit me hard. Arthur and I weren't particularly close, I only saw him at holidays and family functions, but I'll still miss him. And it serves as a reminder that my remaining three grandparents are getting older. And that scares the hell out of me.
I really wish I could remember what song was playing that night. Because eventually, those types of memories are all I’m going to have left of the four amazing people I am lucky enough to call my grandparents.Labels: family |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 27, 2006 |
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| Monday, June 26, 2006 |
| I Have Survived! |
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinkin' I could never get through seeing so many brides
But then I spent so many nights
Dressed up and drinking beer
And now I cheer
Because I'm finally back here
And so I'm back, no more weddings
I can finally stop spending money and looking at wedding rings
I had more fun than I thought I would
I had more to eat than I probably should
But in the end I made it through better than I ever thought I could
My family's great, my friends are too
But you have no idea
Just how hard it was all to do
No money and no sleep almost got the best of me
I thought I'd crumble
I thought I'd lay down and die
Oh no not I
I have survived
As soon as I walked in the door I knew I had arrived
Sure my kitten's mad at me
And my apartment needs a clean
But I survived
I have survived
Hey Hey!
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Just trying hard to caffeinate my brain enough to start
And I spent oh so many nights in places that weren't my home
I didn't cry, and for that I hold my head up high
And you see me, still half asleep
Still wondering how my voice is raised above a feeble peep
And so you felt like dropping in to see how well I made it through
But all you found is this lame song, in an attempt to entertain you
My family's great, my friends are too
But you have no idea
Just how hard it was all to do
No money and no sleep almost got the best of me
I thought I'd crumble
I thought I'd lay down and die
Oh no not I
I have survived
As soon as I walked in the door I knew I had arrived
Sure my kitten's mad at me
And my apartment needs a clean
But I survived
I have survived
Hey Hey!Labels: misc. |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, June 26, 2006 |
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| Tuesday, June 20, 2006 |
| Back to Baseball |
I've really fallen down on the job baseball wise. It's been forever since I've blogged about my beloved Red Sox. So what better way to get back into it than to welcome back one of my favorite members of the 2004 World Series team, Gabe Kapler?
After a brief stint in Japan, and an even briefer comeback to the Red Sox before rupturing his Achilles rounding second base last season, Gabe Kapler is finally back with the Sox. He went 2 for 4 last night with a double and an RBI. I caught his first AB of the night while waiting to meet up with friends for dinner, and was so happy to see everyone at Fenway on their feet.
As it happened, The Welshman turned to me and asked "Is there anymore beloved backup player?" Probably not. Well, maybe Doug Mirabelli. Even Kapler's return couldn't top that one. But I think it says something about Sox fans that we hold even our bench players so close to our hearts. And no, it's not just because this one happens to be aptly nicknamed "Gabe the Babe".
I think Kapler himself put it best in an article in today's Boston Globe:
``We have the best, and, to be more specific, the classiest fans in all of sports," said Kapler, who took Trot Nixon's spot in right field and batted eighth against the Nationals last night. ``And the reason I say that is because they recognize and care about hard work as well as people, human beings. Contributions [from players] other than superstars. They recognize every player on the roster."
And it's true. At least for me. One of the things I love about Kapler is that he seems like one of those guys who's just so happy to be with the team. Ok, so perhaps it took an lack-luster stint overseas to really make him realize it, but even when he left you got the feeling that he was truly going to miss Boston. He's never bitched about his role, he's never complained about his playing time. He knows he's got a specific duty in this lineup, and he's willing to do what he needs to for the team. Or at least that's the impression I get, it's not like I know the guy.
Regardless, for a player who's only been with the team for a few years, Kapler has completely won me over. Welcome back, Gabe, welcome back.Labels: Boston, Red Sox, sports |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 20, 2006 |
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| Monday, June 19, 2006 |
| Sick? I'm Not Sick! What Do You Mean? |
That pile of kleenex on my desk? Oh, um, well there was this horde of ants that invaded my office, and I used a single tissue on each one of them. Of course that wasn't a why-don't-you-take-some-cold-medicine kind of cough, and no, it wasn't a smoker's cough either, just all the dust from all the tissues is kind of getting to me. No, I wasn't sneezing, that was just my way of showing you I'm annoyed with all your damn questions.
I swear to God I'm not sick.Labels: misc. |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, June 19, 2006 |
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| The Post Everyone Knew Was Coming |
If you guys are anything like the rest of my friends, then you saw this one coming a mile away. Or at least, that's what they tell me.
The Twin and I got back together this weekend. What started off as lunch at Prof. Thom's to watch the US World Cup game turned into a weekend-long conversation and starting over.
It's a weird feeling, getting back together with an ex. There's a certain dichotomy between the two major feelings. On Saturday when we got back to his place I was both completely comfortable and totally nervous. To the point that I was actually shaking. I mean, luckily so was he, but still ...
I don't know that there's any way I can do justice to what happened this weekend. There were a lot of questions: how do we make sure we don’t put our respective "walls" back up again? How do we make sure we don't fall into the same trap we did last time? Our one year anniversary was supposed to be next month, do we just start counting all over again (ok, that was a real question, but not exactly our main concern). Here's what I know: I'm happy. Everything else we can deal with as it happens.
(on a completely unrelated note, The Twin is thinking about starting his own photo blog, but kind of hates the templates on blogger. Anyone have any suggestions on better templates that are out there?)Labels: dating |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, June 19, 2006 |
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| Thursday, June 15, 2006 |
| You Can't Teach Your Life's Lessons to Other People |
The email came in early yesterday morning from DTR.
"Museum Girl just got fired."
I immediately jumped up from my desk, hustled down the hallway, and found DTR on the phone with her. Memories from that day three months ago came flooding back all too quickly, though with not nearly the same sting they used to carry with them. Instead I was remembering the feelings without actually feeling them. I thought this would make me excellent counsel for Museum Girl and that night joined her and DTR at DTR's apartment in Hoboken for some dinner and some good old fashioned cheering up.
But as we sat there, MG in the same shocked state I had been in – feeling like a failure, wondering what she was going to do, still replaying the conversation in her head – I realized that I actually could be of no more help than anyone else. When I was fired everyone told me I was going to be fine, actually better. For five weeks I dismissed them all. Thought, they don't know what I'm going through. How the hell do they know anyway, this is my life, how am I going to make rent?! It wasn't until after I got the new job and got out of the terrible situation I was in that I realized they were all right. And that's going to be when Museum Girl realizes we were right too. One day down the line she's going to wake up and think, oh my God, it was completely true!
Until then I guess all we can do is get her a good stiff drink, some chocolate, some ice cream, and some tissues.Labels: friends, work |
| posted by FINY @ Thursday, June 15, 2006 |
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| Tuesday, June 13, 2006 |
| 100 MORE Things About Me |
I really felt like writing tonight, but couldn't come up with any one concrete topic. So here it is folks, 100 MORE things you totally didn't need to know about me. Enjoy.
1. I love the way old books smell.
2. I once snuck into the batting cages of the Atlanta Braves Spring Training camp.
3. I love old buildings with character; you know, chair rails, original moldings, etc.
4. One day I want to have a house with a wrap around porch, a window seat, and built in bookshelves.
5. Recently, I've been writing a lot more non-fiction. Turns out I'm much better at that than I ever was at fiction.
6. I don't explore Brooklyn as much as I should.
7. I once slammed my little brother's fingers in a car door. He was like 4. The terrible part is that I didn't really feel all that bad about it.
8. The snooze button was one of the worst inventions ever for me. I hit the damn thing for at least an hour before I actually get up.
9. I always have to make it cold enough in my room so that when I go to sleep I can snuggle under the covers.
10. Two years later and I still miss my grandmother every day.
11. There are few things as satisfying as a pop-up slide after a successful steal attempt.
12. I'm the kind of person that if you hurt me, I'll forgive you, but fuck with someone I care about and I swear to God it's over.
13. When I was in high school straight on through college whenever I was upset or just needed to be alone to I would always go to Colt State Park in Bristol to calm down.
14. No one, and I mean no one, can push my buttons like my mother.
15. I've got a lot more insecurities than I will ever let on about.
16. When I was 5 my sister Kara was stillborn. This affected me a lot more than I thought it would.
17. I am the furthest thing from a coffee snob you could possibly find. It could be sludge, but if it has caffeine in it, I'm happy drinking it.
18. When I was a kid I had this great pair of roller skates that were white with purple wheels and had pink, purple, and I believe blue rainbow type stripes on them. Sometimes I fantasize about finding an adult sized pair and skating around NYC in them.
19. Somehow I adopted a cat that is exactly like me. She's hyperactive, completely neurotic, is a total klutz, and is afraid of heights.
20. A subscription to the New Yorker was too much for me to handle. I just couldn't keep up with it if I ever wanted to read anything OTHER than that magazine. I see this as a personal failure of sorts.
21. I really love hurricanes. I remember the few that passed through RI when I was a kid and sitting with my dad on our porch watching them.
22. I get into food ruts. I'll eat the same thing over and over and over and then one day get so sick of it I won't eat it again for months. Right now it's turkey and brie sandwiches with honey mustard.
23. I spend too much time on the internet.
24. I am absolutely horrible at remembering names.
25. Cranberries make me gag but for some reason I really love Crasins.
26. A good hug, the kind you just melt into and don't want to get out of, can cure almost anything.
27. I am, by far, the most ticklish person you know.
28. When I write, I tend to use the computer, but I really REALLY love the way a good pen's ink flows onto paper.
29. To this day whenever I go into a swimming pool I will always do handstands like I did when I was a kid.
30. I don't know how to drive a stick.
31. My mind runs away with me sometimes, focusing on one particular issue in my life and not allowing room for anything else.
32. The only points I had deducted on my driving test were when I didn't put on my blinker to pull over to the curb and park. We were in an empty parking lot.
33. I got the exact same score on my verbal SATs as I did on my math. This shocked no one more than me. These days I need a calculator to add two numbers together.
34. Even though I played the clarinet for something like three years, I still can't read sheet music.
35. For some reason I am really anal about the toilet paper having to roll off the top not the bottom.
36. I take absolutely no stock in a persons "sign"
37. I am much better at written communication than I am at verbal.
38. I can't wait to live on my own. I love my roommates and all, but I am completely done with living with other people.
39. I fantasize sometimes about moving to random places all over the country and then realize that I could never live more than a 4 hour drive from my family.
40. I am absolutely using this post as a way to distract myself. I should be doing a thousand other things at the moment.
41. My curly hair used to annoy the hell out of me. I absolutely love it now.
42. I've sprained both ankles so many times I can pop them both in and out at will.
43. I take a really sick satisfaction from popping zits.
44. I didn't own a two piece bathing suit until I was 22 if that tells you anything about how confident I am in my own body.
45. I've got a girl crush on Kiera Knightley.
46. I'm completely addicted to myspace.
47. I'm a closet hopeless romantic who completely falls into bad chick flicks and even worse chick lit.
48. Somehow 25 doesn't seem anywhere near being grown up to me.
49. I laugh at just about anything.
50. I consistently think of ways to improve myself and then keep putting them off. For example: going to graduate school, quitting smoking, and starting to exercise again.
51. One of the best presents I ever got was a first edition of my favorite book.
52. I absolutely refuse to chicken out of my plan to go skydiving for my birthday.
53. I didn't realize until recently how scarred I was from previous relationships.
54. When I am sad, instead of avoiding songs that make it worse, I listen to them obsessively.
55. My favorite color rose is yellow.
56. I'm really proud of the work I've been doing since getting the new job. This is a relatively new feeling for me.
57. I read constantly and yet still don't feel like I come even close to being well-read.
58. Tanning is not an option for me, I burn, peel, and then turn the same pasty white I was before.
59. If I could get into any graduate school in the country I'd go to the University of California at Irvine.
60. I talk a pretty good game, but sometimes, that's all it is.
61. Except in certain circumstances, I can't fall asleep unless the television is on. It's a habit I got into after The Ex left to stop myself from thinking so much that I couldn't fall asleep at all.
62. I haven't seen a doctor in over two years. That doesn't mean I've been healthy for two years, just that I am stubborn and doctors scare me.
63. I'm so used to the traffic noises of New York that when I'm at home in RI everything seems eerily quiet.
64. I love the way fall smells. Like burnt leaves and school supplies.
65. My alone time is incredibly valuable to me, and if I don't get it, I start lashing out at people.
66. I fancy myself "one of the guys" but really? I'm just a girl who likes sports and doesn't wear make up. I'm still your stereotypical over-emotional, completely sentimental, likes getting dressed up 20-something female.
67. Libraries and bookstores give me an electric charge. Like I can feel all of the knowledge in them floating in the air.
68. I'm pretty short but have an average sized torso. So basically, I've just got short, stumpy legs.
69. I probably only wear about half of the clothing I own.
70. I own the first and second seasons of Moonlighting on DVD.
71. I enjoy splurging on things for my apartment more than I enjoy shopping for clothing or shoes.
72. The guilt trips my mother lays on me can stay with me for days. And she's convinced she has no affect on me. Little does she know.
73. I'm incredibly talented at lying to myself until I believe the lie.
74. Jersey sheets are my favorite.
75. Lately I've taken to cuddling with my pillows instead of using them to rest my head on.
76. My mom is right more often than I admit.
77. I hate clutter but seem to create a lot of it.
78. I love the name Sean.
79. I can tell you exactly where I was when I found out my little brother had been born. And exactly what I was doing.
80. When I was in first grade I had to draw a portrait of my family for my "All About Me" book. I left my little brother, who was less than a year at that point, out of the picture and explained it as "He’s taking a nap". Really, I was just pissed someone else was getting all the attention.
81. My bedroom walls are yellow.
82. I still don't really know what I want to be when I grow up. I love what I do. But I want to be a full-time writer. I want to be a college professor. I want to be an editor. I want to be a lot of things.
83. I have never owned a vibrator. There are many women out there who would consider this a crime of sorts.
84. I miss Newport Creamery cheese burgers: greasy, dripping, and on toast.
85. It's possible (ok, probable) that my grandmother was connected to the Providence Mafia.
86. I have a weird love for Excel spreadsheets.
87. I am terrible at taking photos but have TONS of albums filled with snapshots. It's possible I’m a little camera happy.
88. The last few weeks have utterly exhausted me.
89. I really appreciate those of you who read, lurk, comment around here. Like, more than you probably understand.
90. I once burned pasta.
91. At one of the weddings I went to recently, there was a father of two kids I used to babysit. He promptly told his girlfriend the story of when his son ran away on me and I effectively lost him. And suddenly, I became 14 years old again.
92. Sometimes I'll be walking down the street, have a memory of a particularly embarrassing or oh-damn-I-can't-believe-I-did-that memory and will visibly shudder. Even if the memory is over a decade old.
93. I eat crap food and am not ashamed to admit it.
94. My high school colors and mascot could not have been more typical-all-american-generic; Blue and Gold/Eagle
95. I've recently learned to love high heels. As long as they're comfortable. That's not easy to find.
96. I've also recently learned to love getting my nails done, if only for the massage.
97. Bugs creep me out. If I see one in my apartment I will start screaming like a five year old girl.
98. For someone who is an editor, it's ironic that I completely ignore style, grammar, and punctuation rules on this site.
99. You all now know WAY too much about me.
100. I still love the way rain smells.Labels: misc. |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 |
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| Breaking the Rules |
I have two rules when it comes to break ups.
1. Pretend like it's ok until it actually is.
2. Never let them see you're upset.
I broke both of those rules last night. I'd been following number 1 pretty well. And for the last few weeks it was actually starting to get better. I wasn't thinking about him as much. Or at least, I was pretending I wasn't thinking about him as much. But I was getting there. But then I saw him last week. And then we talked on the phone that night. And last night, we went to the movies. And then we sat down and talked. And that's when my two cardinal rules came crumbling to the ground.
It was easier to pretend like I was ok when I thought he was alright. When I thought he had made a clean break. But what break up is ever clean? The last two times I've seen The Twin I've put on a show worthy of an Oscar. Acting as if seeing him wasn't affecting me. As if everything was fine. And he bought it too. I know because he told me so.
But sitting across the table from him last night, with the walls that both of us had built up finally coming down, or at least swaying against some seriously strong winds, hearing that he wasn't ok; that he missed me, that he's confused, he deserved to know that I was feeling the same way. He took a big risk in starting the conversation, in being honest with me about his feelings, the least I could do was do the same.
But at the same time, that self-preservation mode kicked in too. Trying to head-off the possibility of getting hurt all over again my first reaction was to say "But what if you’re just feeling this way because it's only been a short amount of time?"
I don't think either of us know what the hell we're doing or where the hell it's leading. But as I sat on the subway, reading the letter he wrote full of all the things he had already said, and looking at the flowers the guy Mike on the street cajoled him into buying for me, I cried for the first time in weeks. I cried for all the things I wish I'd known, for all the things I wish I'd told him. And for all the things I wish he'd told me.
I don't know where this is going now. But maybe it's worth it to break the rules now and again.
Photo credit goes to The Twin by the way.
 Labels: dating |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 |
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| Monday, June 12, 2006 |
| Cars, Artists, and Street Fairs |
For my first weekend back in NYC after traveling for what feels like forever, I took advantage of what the city had to offer over the last three days. Friday started off with a trip to the movies to see the new Pixar movie Cars. Yeah that's right, my friend Barnard Boy and I went to see a kids movie on opening night. But you know what? It was so worth it. The movie wasn't just completely adorable, in that way that all kids movies should be, but there were also a lot of jokes that were specifically for adults (as is the norm with most of Pixar’s offerings). For example, there's a line in there that's straight out of wedding crashers. It was a fantastic way to start the weekend.
That night, a group of us went out with Barnard Boy and his mom, who came into the city for the weekend. This is something I would really love to do with my Mom at some point. While the dinner party I threw at my apartment the last time she and my dad came down was great, I'd really love to just gather all my friends at one of my favorite bars and have my mom booze it up with us. Because knowing her she'd love it, AND she'd probably be able to match us beer for beer.
Saturday afternoon was spent at PS1. DTR (the college friend that hooked me up with the new job) and I found out about this event they were holding through our friend Museum Girl who was in charge of publicity. The event was called Iron Artist and it was, for all intents and purposes, the Iron Chef with an art twist. Two artists were given the same materials, a theme (Love and it's discontent), and 45 minutes to create whatever they wanted. It could be a sculpture, a painting, a performance piece, didn't matter. There were two hosts, two roving commentators, two essayists writing on site about each piece (the essays were immediately turned into part of the "catalogue" for the event), and four judges. I can't tell you how much fun this was. Each artist had a number of assistants, and the showmanship was intense. Check out the pictures below:
Ok, never mind that I guess, blogger's having a really tough time today with photos
Both artists chose to use large blocks of Styrofoam to create sculptures, which in the end, ended up on EVERYONE in the crowd:
Again with the missing photos
In the end, one of the artists created a makeshift solar system, and she and her assistants performed a short skit. While the other carved a snowman out of Styrofoam and hung him upside down.
The running commentary throughout the 45 minute "duel" combined with the dancing ninja what was a part of one team and the overall spectacle that was taking place in front of us made for a REALLY enjoyable time. I hope they do this again because it was just a fantastic idea.
There was a second "duel" that afternoon; however, having never really explored the museum itself, DTR and I decided to wander through the exhibits. I never realized that the roof of the building was open to the public, here are some pictures from that:
These are the ones I am really sad I can't show you, I took a picture up there that I absolutely adore. Well, I guess as soon as blogger gets it's act together I'll try posting them again
Once we were done at PS1, DTR and I headed back into the city for some shopping before going our separate ways: she to dinner with Barnard Boy and his mom, me to dinner and drinks with the Brooklyn crew. Meegan, KO, JK, and I went to a little Italian place on 5th Ave in Park Slope that none of us had ever tried before. I wish I had sooner. The pizza that JK and I split was absolutely amazing. Deep dish, three types of meats, caramelized onions, peppers, it was a thing of beauty. And JK was especially excited since his wife KO is a vegetarian and normally he wouldn't be able to order a carnivore's pizza.
Dinner was followed by drinks and a lot of conversation at O’Connor’s. Having just gotten back from FL I hadn't seen KO and JK in a while and I ended up getting a lot of questions about what's going on with The Twin, most of which I couldn't really answer. It's funny, though DTR and the rest of her Emerson group of friends and I had lost touch after school, now that I am working with her I am spending an inordinate amount of time with them. Which is fantastic, I love all of them (ok, that's a lie, most of them) but I almost forgot how much I missed the Brooklyn crew. I need to start doing a better job of balancing night's out.
Sunday was a relatively lazy day. DTR, her roommate, Barnard Boy, and I all hit a street fair on 3rd Ave in the afternoon. In an effort to funk up my jewelry a little I purchased 3 new necklaces, which combined only cost me $16. Street meat was had, as were corn dogs and funnel cakes. I'm not going to lie; I really love street fair food. But my God by the end I felt like I was going to burst. There's no question the food baby was in full effect.
After wandering the street fair, we all retired to Prof. Thom's to watch the second of the two Sox games of the day. Of course we ended up seeing the blow out instead of the rather exciting first game of the double header, but hey at the end of the day it was a great weekend and the Sox are still in first place. Can't ask for much more than that.Labels: friends, misc., movies, NYC |
| posted by FINY @ Monday, June 12, 2006 |
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| Friday, June 09, 2006 |
| Booked!! |
As if I haven't been traveling enough this spring, I have officially booked my long weekend getaway to Minnesota for this coming August. I know, sounds like an odd place to spend a weekend, but let me tell you, I couldn't be happier about it.
 Each summer, The Red Head's friends from high school and college gather at his family's cabin on the St. Croix River and spend a long weekend drinking on the beach, drinking by the camp fire, and well, just drinking. It's an opportunity for everyone to get together, catch up, escape from the every day, and create stories that (in some cases unfortunately) live on for quite some time.
I missed last year's event (and it is an event, it's got a name, a website, even video trailers!) due to scheduling, but this year, it's official, I'm in. And I'm so excited, I just had to share. What a great way to start a Friday.Labels: friends |
| posted by FINY @ Friday, June 09, 2006 |
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| Thursday, June 08, 2006 |
| Rain, Rain, Go Away |
I love New York in the spring. With the trees in bloom, the warm but not too warm weather, and everyone in a good mood after emerging from their winter-long hibernation.
What I DON'T love, is New York when it rains. This is a pretty grey city already, what with the acres of concrete and the buildings that can blot out the sky from certain angles. And when it rains, it just gets worse. I can feel it affecting my mood.
So when the Red Sox game was rained out last night, even though I had been incredibly excited to be in attendance, I was almost glad that I got to do the very thing I dream about doing every time it rains around here. I went home, curled up in bed under my down blanket, and promptly went to sleep. At like, 9pm. Felt fantastic.
And when it comes down to it, this may help the Sox in the long run. The Yankees were on a roll in the series, this unexpected day off could put a halt to the momentum. Another added bonus? While they haven't announced the make-up date yet, I can't see any other time for the two teams to play an extra game at Yankee Stadium is during their last visit here, from Sept. 15-17. So while I would have loved to see the Sox play last night, a game in Sept., just two weeks before the end of the season, between the Red Sox and the Yankees in Yankee Stadium? Yeah, I'll take that.Labels: Boston, NYC, Red Sox, sports |
| posted by FINY @ Thursday, June 08, 2006 |
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| Tuesday, June 06, 2006 |
| On Phone Calls and Excuses |
As the title of the post suggests, tonight my ear was glued to the phone for hours. In some cases making excuses, in others, apologizing for them.
The Podiatrist (aka the groom from the wedding at which I met Crazy Wedding Boy) called early on in the evening to inform me that CWB would most likely never be calling me again. In an attempt to save me from the barrage of texts, messages, and missed calls, he did what any good friend would do: he lied. He kindly called CWB, explained that I had gotten back together with an ex-boyfriend, and asked that he bow out gracefully. In the end, neither one of us wanted to lie to the kid, but it was getting out of control. The Podiatrist and his wife The Lawyer, love him dearly, but from the stories I've heard, the way he acted with me are the least of his concerns and it sounds like an intervention is imminent.
The other major phone call involved The Twin (though we may need to give him a new name soon ... don't think he's a big fan of the moniker). It was probably one of the best conversations we've had since I've known him, which again goes back to how dysfunctional our communication was while we were dating. I'll say this, while it wasn't exactly the healthiest relationship I was ever in, it was by FAR the healthiest break up.
So keeping on theme with excuses, who wants to throw a few out there for why the Sox can't seem to get their shit together? Anyone? Anyone?Labels: dating |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 06, 2006 |
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| From Dandelions to Roses |
A belated weekend wrap up.
Friday night began with three single ladies going out to the movies to watch The Breakup. The movie surprised me, it was funny and poignant, and the ending was nothing short of spectacular. I would love to elaborate more, but well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it.
What I will say, is that it's possible that seeing that movie wasn't the best idea for me. The fighting between Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston was incredibly real. They were the kind of relationship fights that everyone has, with stuttering, miscommunications, frustrations. I was really impressed with the whole thing. But it hit a little too close to home. One line in particular really got to me. Aniston's character is lamenting to friends over the breakup and she says something to the effect of "All I ever wanted was to feel like he appreciated me."
That line, that one line, nearly made me tear up. See, when The Twin and I broke it off, I had been getting frustrated. I had told him I loved him back in February, a sentiment which wasn't returned. But that's not what was frustrating me. Though I doubt he believed it, that really didn't bother me at all. I've always been of the mind that people get to different stages at different times (and it should be noted that NONE of my friends could believe that I really was, honestly, ok with him not saying he loved me back). What was frustrating me was exactly the idea that Aniston's character was trying to portray. I didn't feel appreciated.
So what are three single girls to do after an evening out on "date night" to a movie about a breakup? Well, what else? Head to Tastidelight!  And as we sat there, bitching about men, watching the rain, listening to, I shit you not, some of the cheesiest sappy sad soundtrack of all time, and gazing at our beautiful centerpiece of an empty waterbottle and some dying dandelions, my phone rings.
It's crazy wedding boy.
Now he and I had talked on Wednesday. He had left me a message and I just felt so damn bad for the poor guy, that I called him back. We talked for a while, he invited himself to NYC to visit me, I told him I was too busy, he told me he'd email me. When I ever saw his name come up on my caller ID I almost wanted to chuck my phone out the open door. Instead I showed the girls. And then one of them took the phone from me. This is what transpires as heard from my end of the conversation:
Hello?
*silence*
No, this is Emily, who's this?
*silence*
Oh, hi, well, um, yeah I don't know where she is. We just got out of a movie and I was holding her phone and she just disappeared.
*silence*
Well, ok, I'll tell her you called, but I am about to get her out drinking and once I get her double fisting I can't promise she'll do it.
*silence*
Sure, ok. Bye.
By now my other friend and I are in hysterics. Who calls a girl he barely knows at 10:30 on a Friday night? After repeatedly getting the brush off. It was just too much. (and as a side note, I also got a call last night. He was "just trying to track me down". Seriously, if I stop posting for an extended period of time, call the cops, Crazy Wedding Boy may have finally found me).
Saturday was in direct contrast to what Friday was. All of my high school friends gathered at yet another wedding and by God did we have a blast. It was like an old neighborhood reunion. There were people there who's kids I had babysat for when I was young, friends I hadn't seen in ages. We danced, drank, and ate our way through the evening, finally passing out from sheer exhaustion somewhere around 2am. Having learned my lesson from Crazy Wedding Boy, there were no men involved in my weekend other than my friends. Not making THAT mistake again.
So that's three weddings down, one more to go on June 24th. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, folks. I'm almost there.Labels: dating |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 06, 2006 |
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| The Things I Never Said |
For those of you who have followed this blog for a while, you'll know that there are certain people in my "real world" life who never knew about it. A while back I uncovered myself to my family, to some of my friends, and I did't come up against the best reaction in the world. And in retrospect, I completely understand that.
Well, tonight, the last person NOT to know about the blog joins the ranks. I would like to welcome The Twin into the fold. Earlier this evening, while the Red Sox were getting their asses handed to them, I finally told him about this space. That's right, I finally opened up to him only AFTER we were done dating. Which in and of itself indicates a lot about my mindset while we were dating in the first place.
There is a lot more to say. Both here and to the Twin. But for the moment, I am going to go to bed. Content with the knowledge that there is nothing left to hide. There are many things that went left unsaid while I was in my last relationship. I can only hope that introducing him here will help him understand the mistakes we both made and help us to be better friends in the future.Labels: blogging, dating |
| posted by FINY @ Tuesday, June 06, 2006 |
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| Friday, June 02, 2006 |
| We're Lame |
Ok folks, it's time to admit it, as a nation, we're some seriously lame sports fans.
I am going to get roasted by some people for saying that, but I'm not joking. Now I'll admit, if you asked me to name as many soccer players as I could, off the top of my head, the only one I'd be able to come up with is David Beckham. And I'd wager a bet that most Americans are about on par with my soccer knowledge. It seems most suburban kids play the game until high school and then promptly drop any interest as soon as they hit puberty. Let's face it, no MLS Championship game is ever going to draw the same kind of attention as the World Series or the Super Bowl.
But as the World Cup looms just a week away, I find myself wishing I had become a fan. Problem is, I was born in the wrong country. Even if I had been into soccer, I could never compare to the passion of those around the world. Even my fanaticism for the Sox could never compare. And honest, can anyone think of any sport that captivates Americans with the same enthusiasm?
Welshman, I know you're more a rugby fan than you are a soccer fan, but weigh in here for me, I'm really curious to know what soccer really means over there. Am I over stating things? The media makes it out to look that countries all over the world are shutting down to watch the matches.Labels: sports |
| posted by FINY @ Friday, June 02, 2006 |
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| 25,000 |
Well, I didn't get to post about it yesterday, but that doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention. That's right, yesterday at 4:30pm, my sitemeter recorded it's 25,000th hit. And who recorded that fateful visit? None other than Mikey, or Hey Freak! (Mikey, I know it was you because you came from whatever email it is you get when I comment on your blog ;) )
It's actually rather fitting that Mikey's the 25,000. His was one of the first blogs I started reading religiously after finding him through Macca's site, That's Incredicrap!
Don't know what else to say on this momentous occasion other than thanks for sticking around everyone. I never thought in a million years that anyone would read the crap I throw out there, but I appreciate that you do!!!!Labels: blogging |
| posted by FINY @ Friday, June 02, 2006 |
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