I’ve abandoned you yet again. Many apologies…but get over it!!
Now, that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.
Ah, Memorial Day Weekend. Cookouts, massive amounts of drinking, partying with friends…Wait, I’m a bartender. I don’t get to do these things anymore!! God, I miss college!! Seriously, long weekends for me mean long hours spent slaving away behind the bar. I’m not complaining because the money is generally good and I’m kind of over that whole going out thing now that I’m almost…gasp…30!! But there are times, like this weekend in particular, when it bothers me.
Here’s why: I’m getting ready for work on Sunday night (an extra shift given to me because of the Monday holiday) and…
…wait, what the frig? Did Beckett really just give up another homerun to Toronto??!! (Watching the Sox as I’m writing this so I’m a bit distracted). Long story short, our ace Josh Beckett (7-1) is on the mound, it’s the fifth inning, 6-2 Blue Jays. He’s given up four homers, two dingers to both Vernon Wells and Troy Glaus. Great, now he just hit someone. Bloody hell!! There…I’ve just changed the channel…
…back to the story. My room is in the back of the house and thus, so are all my neighbors porches. My windows were wide open and not even my I-Pod could mask the sounds of beer bottle clinking, grill sizzling, and laughing cookout goers I heard. All while I was getting ready to work…On a Sunday…When the next day was a holiday…Darn, it does sound like I’m complaining. Suddenly, I felt really sad. To use a phrase coined by my friend Johnny Ryan (and yes, that’s all we call him. Not Johnny, John, JR, or John-John. Johnny Ryan and only Johnny Ryan): “Can I have a good time? Can I have fun? Can I have a beer? Can I party?” I’ve adopted this as my bartender theme. He told me this was his response to a girl who told him while working behind the bar that he “looked like he was having fun.” I’m going to break it down for you right now: We only look like we’re having fun. We’d much rather be on the other side of the bar with you. Well, maybe not with you, but doing what you’re doing for sure!!
Not surprisingly, I arrived at work to find everyone else in about as good a mood as I was. So, Meri decided to take matters into her hands and invite us all over for a cookout the next day. Heck yeah!! That’s what I’m talking about. Forget the fact that going out Monday meant Tuesday was basically going to suck at work (the newspaper, that is) but who cares. Sure I haven’t been there since last Thursday. Sure I have no stories written and nothing edited. No worries. I’ve come to learn that panicking isn’t really worth it because my work always gets done. Honestly, I could have literally nothing in my arsenal and in just a few hours, my pages are full. I’m starting to think I’m a genius. (Well, I guess I should be having been at the newspaper for six years!!).
Fast forward to Monday. What a great party!! Danielle picked me up around 1:30ish and we headed over to Dot (short for Dorchester here) to Meri’s pad. What a great setup: Tent in the driveway, beautifully manicured backyard, keg, tons of food, great patio atmosphere. I couldn’t have asked for anything more…Accept, a five-gallon batch of vodka/lemonade. Danielle and I took care of that the minute we walked in the door. Here’s our recipe:
Six bottles of CountryTime Lemonade+Two cups of powdered CountryTime Lemonade+Three cups of water+20 sliced lemons+Two handles of vodka=Delicious!!
Food was excellent, thanks in most part to Meri’s mom, Sue. Potato salad was to die for!! Big ups to our grill man, Bob, one of our favorite regulars. Hand-packed burgers were a real treat (only a few of us got those and I made the cut. Who love you, Bob?).
Sing-a-longs with Brian (who was nice enough to bring his guitar on a rare night off. Can he have some fun?) and a raging round of FlipCups were also noteworthy. Can I have some fun? Yes, I can.
Gosh I’m long-winded tonight. Sorry, it’s been a while. Enjoy your week!!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
City of Brotherly Love...Silk-style
Back from Philly and I couldn’t be sadder!! My weekend in the City of Brotherly Love was indeed a great time. The Love was extended mostly in the form of the Silk family, to whom I can’t thank enough for the great weekend I had. The Silks are my roommate Mare’s family. Like my own clan, they are large, loud, and oodles of fun. Here are some of my favorite memories from the trip:
Tour that ends in a bar…my favorite kind:
Mare and I arrived in Philly area just after midnight last Wednesday (technically Thursday). We were staying at her sister Shannon’s place in Swedsboro, New Jersey, located just a few miles from the city. We were welcomed instantly by Shannon and her hubby, Shawn, who had stayed up to make sure we arrived okay. I was greeted with hugs, not handshakes, which was such a great feeling. Shannon had our favorite beers chilling in the fridge and we drank a few while catching up with the pair. Good stuff.
The next morning, Mare and I were awakened by her nephew and niece, Shane and Maeve, who were getting ready for school. Shane is in the second grade and Maeve in kindergarten and they’re just about as cute as it gets. Very smart, well-mannered kids, and a general joy to be around.
After sending the kids off to school, me, Mare, Shannon, and Shawn took off for the city. The girls were getting their hair done so Shawn came along to show me the city. A very nice gesture, I thought. Anyway, he took me around "Old City" in Philly, which is essentially where all the historical stuff is. He showed me some sites and then said we had to check out his favorite bar. It was noon, so we were in the clear to have a beer. He took me to this place "Sugar Mom’s", which I couldn’t have loved more. It was in the basement of this old sugar factory and was almost as cool as TC’s Lounge in Boston. (Almost, Shawn. Almost). Like TC’s, Sugar Mom’s resembled someone’s really cool basement pad. The type of place high school kids would spend every weekend in. We had a beer and went back to the salon to get the girls.
We then made the trek over to South Street and went to "Jon’s" (I think) for lunch. This was the birthplace of Larry, from the Three Stooges. I had a turkey club panini that was to die for!! We then walked across the street to pick up a cheese pizza from Lorenzo’s for dinner. This pie was so big they had to cut it in halves and put it in two boxes!!
Sox Nation in Philly:
Woke up on Friday and made the trek over to Mare’s parents house, located just a few miles up from Shannon and Shawn’s. We were going to spend the next two nights there because they were heading off to their Shore house later that night. Mare’s boyfriend Howie and his daughter Dominique had joined us the night before after flying into Philly from Providence. We grabbed a quick shower and it was off to see the Sox/Phillies.
We were joined at the game by what seemed to be Mare’s entire family. It nearly was, but a few were missing. We had five tickets to the Club seating area and managed to get everyone up there by reusing the tickets. We were like a big posse up there and it was great!!
NESN commentators Jerry Remy and Don Orsilo were just a few sections away from us. We took pictures of them at the end of the game. Seats were great. Right behind home plate!! Sox were amazing in the game and we won, of course (I’m now 7-1 in games attended)!! Mare’s brother Tom tried to give me crap about the Sox, but I was on top of his every attempt at an attack!! I think because of where we were sitting, we didn’t get a lot of grief from the Philly fans. There were two obnoxious guys in front of us, but they were quieted by the three homeruns the Sox hit and the light’s out pitching by Mike Timlin and closer Jonathan Papelbon. I ask, do you still have your Papel-boner? Cuz I do!!
I sat next to two very nice Philly fans who were good sports to put up with my drunken cheers. (I had warned Mare’s family ahead of time that my nasally-loud voice could be annoying, particularly towards the end of the game). They seemed amused by my rants, but they may have just been humoring me!!
Whiffleball:
Upon seeing Mare’s parents’ backyard, I heard choirs of angels singing in my head. Seriously, this space was just about every lawn-sport’s nuts dream!! Accordingly, we decided to play a whiffleball game on Saturday. Mare had invited the family over to her parents house the night before. We were going to grill, play, and watch Round 2 of Sox vs. Phillies.
My team was comprised of: Me, Shannon, Shawn, Maeve, Howie, and Dom. Their was: Mare, Shane, Kevin (another brother), Colin (Kevin’s son), Katie (another sister), and Dave (Katie’s beau). Long story short, my team kicked a little tail. It almost wasn’t fair. I mean, we did have all the jocks!!
Highlights of the game: A) The pitching performance by Shane. The poor guy did everything he could to carry his team. Kevin actually did his part by stepping up the defense in the later innings when he snared three hard-hit liners by me, Howie, and Shawn. Although, he did get a little overzealous when he whipped the ball at me at second base. He caught the ball for the final out of the game and must have thought there was more to play because he fired the ball in an attempt to get me before I got back to second. Hit me in the left wrist and boy did that sting. He was sorry, but later joked it was revenge for me nearly knocking him at first en route to second on my lead-off double. (He was crowding the plate, people!!).
B) Mare’s willingness to pull out all the stops en route to second base. Someone hit a grounder to me at second and Mare came a charging from first. In an attempt to avoid my tag, Mare attempted to slide into the bag, but instead tripped over my foot and tumbled to the ground. And this in a denim skirt. That’s guts, folks.
Fast-food fear:
Never in my life had I been more afraid to order food than I was Saturday at Pat’s Cheese Steaks. After an afternoon of shopping on South Street, Mare, Dom, Howie and me made the trek over to the South side of the city for a cheese steak (the trademark delicacy in Philly).
Mare—a vegetarian—had attempted to explain to us how to order. The lines are so long that the place has a very strict ordering system in order to keep it moving. Failure to comply results in extreme embarrassment and I did not want to be "that girl" who screwed it up. Fortunately, they had a handy "how to order" sign located just before the window. It was a great help and I my order went seamlessly!! The steak was deliciously disgusting, dripping in grease and cheese whiz. I loved it.
Life in the fastlane:
I thought Mare was a scary driver. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh no!! Howie now takes that prize. On the drive home from Philly, Howie took control of the wheel in Connecticut and my life flashed before my eyes at least five times before dropping him and Dom at the Providence airport. Mare likes to tailgate and take turns at Mach-50. (I found out it’s a Silk family trait when Shannon drove us into the city back on Thursday). But Howie is even scarier. Every time I heard the engine revved I knew it was time to close my eyes. He dangerously wove in and out of lanes with only a few inches of space to spare. Seriously, I thought that ride was going to be my end and I told him "If we die, I’m going to kill you." Sounds like it doesn’t make sense, but trust me, it does!!
Got home around 7:30ish, unpacked, watched the Sopranos and went to bed. Back to the grind today!! Yuck!! I have two more Sox games on tap this week. Going tomorrow for Sox/Yankees and Thursday against Tampa Bay. Good times.
Thanks to the Silks/Donnellys for their hospitality. I can’t wait to come back, whether you want me back or not!! See you on the Shore hopefully this summer!!
Tour that ends in a bar…my favorite kind:
Mare and I arrived in Philly area just after midnight last Wednesday (technically Thursday). We were staying at her sister Shannon’s place in Swedsboro, New Jersey, located just a few miles from the city. We were welcomed instantly by Shannon and her hubby, Shawn, who had stayed up to make sure we arrived okay. I was greeted with hugs, not handshakes, which was such a great feeling. Shannon had our favorite beers chilling in the fridge and we drank a few while catching up with the pair. Good stuff.
The next morning, Mare and I were awakened by her nephew and niece, Shane and Maeve, who were getting ready for school. Shane is in the second grade and Maeve in kindergarten and they’re just about as cute as it gets. Very smart, well-mannered kids, and a general joy to be around.
After sending the kids off to school, me, Mare, Shannon, and Shawn took off for the city. The girls were getting their hair done so Shawn came along to show me the city. A very nice gesture, I thought. Anyway, he took me around "Old City" in Philly, which is essentially where all the historical stuff is. He showed me some sites and then said we had to check out his favorite bar. It was noon, so we were in the clear to have a beer. He took me to this place "Sugar Mom’s", which I couldn’t have loved more. It was in the basement of this old sugar factory and was almost as cool as TC’s Lounge in Boston. (Almost, Shawn. Almost). Like TC’s, Sugar Mom’s resembled someone’s really cool basement pad. The type of place high school kids would spend every weekend in. We had a beer and went back to the salon to get the girls.
We then made the trek over to South Street and went to "Jon’s" (I think) for lunch. This was the birthplace of Larry, from the Three Stooges. I had a turkey club panini that was to die for!! We then walked across the street to pick up a cheese pizza from Lorenzo’s for dinner. This pie was so big they had to cut it in halves and put it in two boxes!!
Sox Nation in Philly:
Woke up on Friday and made the trek over to Mare’s parents house, located just a few miles up from Shannon and Shawn’s. We were going to spend the next two nights there because they were heading off to their Shore house later that night. Mare’s boyfriend Howie and his daughter Dominique had joined us the night before after flying into Philly from Providence. We grabbed a quick shower and it was off to see the Sox/Phillies.
We were joined at the game by what seemed to be Mare’s entire family. It nearly was, but a few were missing. We had five tickets to the Club seating area and managed to get everyone up there by reusing the tickets. We were like a big posse up there and it was great!!
NESN commentators Jerry Remy and Don Orsilo were just a few sections away from us. We took pictures of them at the end of the game. Seats were great. Right behind home plate!! Sox were amazing in the game and we won, of course (I’m now 7-1 in games attended)!! Mare’s brother Tom tried to give me crap about the Sox, but I was on top of his every attempt at an attack!! I think because of where we were sitting, we didn’t get a lot of grief from the Philly fans. There were two obnoxious guys in front of us, but they were quieted by the three homeruns the Sox hit and the light’s out pitching by Mike Timlin and closer Jonathan Papelbon. I ask, do you still have your Papel-boner? Cuz I do!!
I sat next to two very nice Philly fans who were good sports to put up with my drunken cheers. (I had warned Mare’s family ahead of time that my nasally-loud voice could be annoying, particularly towards the end of the game). They seemed amused by my rants, but they may have just been humoring me!!
Whiffleball:
Upon seeing Mare’s parents’ backyard, I heard choirs of angels singing in my head. Seriously, this space was just about every lawn-sport’s nuts dream!! Accordingly, we decided to play a whiffleball game on Saturday. Mare had invited the family over to her parents house the night before. We were going to grill, play, and watch Round 2 of Sox vs. Phillies.
My team was comprised of: Me, Shannon, Shawn, Maeve, Howie, and Dom. Their was: Mare, Shane, Kevin (another brother), Colin (Kevin’s son), Katie (another sister), and Dave (Katie’s beau). Long story short, my team kicked a little tail. It almost wasn’t fair. I mean, we did have all the jocks!!
Highlights of the game: A) The pitching performance by Shane. The poor guy did everything he could to carry his team. Kevin actually did his part by stepping up the defense in the later innings when he snared three hard-hit liners by me, Howie, and Shawn. Although, he did get a little overzealous when he whipped the ball at me at second base. He caught the ball for the final out of the game and must have thought there was more to play because he fired the ball in an attempt to get me before I got back to second. Hit me in the left wrist and boy did that sting. He was sorry, but later joked it was revenge for me nearly knocking him at first en route to second on my lead-off double. (He was crowding the plate, people!!).
B) Mare’s willingness to pull out all the stops en route to second base. Someone hit a grounder to me at second and Mare came a charging from first. In an attempt to avoid my tag, Mare attempted to slide into the bag, but instead tripped over my foot and tumbled to the ground. And this in a denim skirt. That’s guts, folks.
Fast-food fear:
Never in my life had I been more afraid to order food than I was Saturday at Pat’s Cheese Steaks. After an afternoon of shopping on South Street, Mare, Dom, Howie and me made the trek over to the South side of the city for a cheese steak (the trademark delicacy in Philly).
Mare—a vegetarian—had attempted to explain to us how to order. The lines are so long that the place has a very strict ordering system in order to keep it moving. Failure to comply results in extreme embarrassment and I did not want to be "that girl" who screwed it up. Fortunately, they had a handy "how to order" sign located just before the window. It was a great help and I my order went seamlessly!! The steak was deliciously disgusting, dripping in grease and cheese whiz. I loved it.
Life in the fastlane:
I thought Mare was a scary driver. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh no!! Howie now takes that prize. On the drive home from Philly, Howie took control of the wheel in Connecticut and my life flashed before my eyes at least five times before dropping him and Dom at the Providence airport. Mare likes to tailgate and take turns at Mach-50. (I found out it’s a Silk family trait when Shannon drove us into the city back on Thursday). But Howie is even scarier. Every time I heard the engine revved I knew it was time to close my eyes. He dangerously wove in and out of lanes with only a few inches of space to spare. Seriously, I thought that ride was going to be my end and I told him "If we die, I’m going to kill you." Sounds like it doesn’t make sense, but trust me, it does!!
Got home around 7:30ish, unpacked, watched the Sopranos and went to bed. Back to the grind today!! Yuck!! I have two more Sox games on tap this week. Going tomorrow for Sox/Yankees and Thursday against Tampa Bay. Good times.
Thanks to the Silks/Donnellys for their hospitality. I can’t wait to come back, whether you want me back or not!! See you on the Shore hopefully this summer!!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Let there be light.
Be still my beating heart!! What is that bright yellow ball I see in the sky? Could it be the…the…the…sun? I just can’t believe it!!
Yes, less than 24 hours after my bitchfest about the rain we’ve had here, the sun has shown its face. Temps are in the high 60s and it’s absolutely glorious day. For this, I am truly thankful. Apparently, God reads my blog. For this I am truly blessed.
Let’s just say the sun’s return has certainly put me in a better mood and I’m ready now more than ever to take off to Philly. Mare and I are leaving at 7 p.m. tonight (driving, unfortunately) and should be there by midnight. Good times!!
Well, this one’s short and sweet because I have to finish up here at work and get the heck out of dodge!! Don’t miss me too much!! Hopefully, I’ll be able to fill you guys in on the trip Monday, but no promises!! Go Sox!!
Yes, less than 24 hours after my bitchfest about the rain we’ve had here, the sun has shown its face. Temps are in the high 60s and it’s absolutely glorious day. For this, I am truly thankful. Apparently, God reads my blog. For this I am truly blessed.
Let’s just say the sun’s return has certainly put me in a better mood and I’m ready now more than ever to take off to Philly. Mare and I are leaving at 7 p.m. tonight (driving, unfortunately) and should be there by midnight. Good times!!
Well, this one’s short and sweet because I have to finish up here at work and get the heck out of dodge!! Don’t miss me too much!! Hopefully, I’ll be able to fill you guys in on the trip Monday, but no promises!! Go Sox!!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
My life underwater
As Beth would say, "I’m over it." Or more specifically, "I’m soooooooo over it!!" I’m referring, of course, to the ridiculous amount of rain that’s fallen in Eastern Mass. over the last week. As of 5 p.m. yesterday, 8.3 inches of rain had fallen in Boston. Area’s north of the city have seen as much as 11 inches. And guess what? It’s raining again today!!
Normally, I’m not too bothered by the rain. A shower here, a shower there. Eh, it’s only water, right? But when you’ve been dumped on as much as we have in the last week, it makes you absolutely crazy. Seriously, this five-day stretch of seemingly never-ending rain has effected my work, my health, my mood, and my sanity. Picture it: Everyday, you wake up and it’s cold, wet, and foggy outside. EVERYDAY!! The normally stellar view of Boston from my bedroom window has been replaced with a big white canvas of fog. I’ve developed a nasty cold and just feel miserable. Games, track meets, and tennis matches have been rained out for the last week so I literally have nothing to do at work. I was forced to write a column about how ridiculous a situation this puts the sports teams I cover in. These kids could be playing up to five games a week in order to make them up before the May 29 cut-off date. That’s just ridiculous!! Two Sox games were even postponed over the weekend and they generally play in anything.
Seriously, this isn’t Seattle people, it’s Boston, and we just don’t see weather like this too often. I mean, it’s the middle of May and I have yet to put on a pair of sandals or wear a skirt. I guess the only thing getting me through this week is knowing I will be away from all this in just a couple days. Tomorrow night, Mare and I are driving down to Philly for a long weekend. We’re staying with her family and will be taking in a Sox/Phillies game Friday night. I’ll tell you people, I simply can’t wait…..
…That was until I checked the forecast on weather.com and saw that it’s supposed to…you guessed it…rain all weekend in Philly!!!! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there is a call for a 30 percent chance of rain. Not too bad, but seriously, that chance is enough to make me simply mad. Honestly, I feel like that character from some comic that has the cloud of rain over them 24 hours a day. That’s my life right now. Ain’t it grande!
**In closing, I beg of my West Coast readers not to rub their nice weather in my face. I really don’t think I could take it. See you guys later, I have to go take a canoe to get to my car.
Normally, I’m not too bothered by the rain. A shower here, a shower there. Eh, it’s only water, right? But when you’ve been dumped on as much as we have in the last week, it makes you absolutely crazy. Seriously, this five-day stretch of seemingly never-ending rain has effected my work, my health, my mood, and my sanity. Picture it: Everyday, you wake up and it’s cold, wet, and foggy outside. EVERYDAY!! The normally stellar view of Boston from my bedroom window has been replaced with a big white canvas of fog. I’ve developed a nasty cold and just feel miserable. Games, track meets, and tennis matches have been rained out for the last week so I literally have nothing to do at work. I was forced to write a column about how ridiculous a situation this puts the sports teams I cover in. These kids could be playing up to five games a week in order to make them up before the May 29 cut-off date. That’s just ridiculous!! Two Sox games were even postponed over the weekend and they generally play in anything.
Seriously, this isn’t Seattle people, it’s Boston, and we just don’t see weather like this too often. I mean, it’s the middle of May and I have yet to put on a pair of sandals or wear a skirt. I guess the only thing getting me through this week is knowing I will be away from all this in just a couple days. Tomorrow night, Mare and I are driving down to Philly for a long weekend. We’re staying with her family and will be taking in a Sox/Phillies game Friday night. I’ll tell you people, I simply can’t wait…..
…That was until I checked the forecast on weather.com and saw that it’s supposed to…you guessed it…rain all weekend in Philly!!!! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there is a call for a 30 percent chance of rain. Not too bad, but seriously, that chance is enough to make me simply mad. Honestly, I feel like that character from some comic that has the cloud of rain over them 24 hours a day. That’s my life right now. Ain’t it grande!
**In closing, I beg of my West Coast readers not to rub their nice weather in my face. I really don’t think I could take it. See you guys later, I have to go take a canoe to get to my car.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Catching up
Sorry, I’ve been horribly busy this week and have totally neglected my blog. Can’t apologize enough for leaving my readers hanging. I know you’re all just chomping at the bit to find out what’s been going on in my life the last week. I’ll try to give you a brief recap.
Went to the Sox game again last Thursday (sorry MG) and Jacks and I sat behind the cutest boys. Little boys, that is. Jack, 3-years-old, and Mike, 11, were taking in the game with their Dads. Jack looked like he could pass for 6 easily. He was so tall and well-spoken. Weird to see a 3-year-old that advanced. Mike was clearly in that stage of not wanting to talk to girls. Oh but by the end of the night, he was chewing my ear off. That’s because I knew more about the game than he did!! I told him I was the coolest girl in school and by the end of the night, he agreed. Too funny. But it wasn’t as cute as when Jack introduced himself using his full name. "I’m Jack Charles Gilligan" he said. I almost peed myself he was so cute!!
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Enough about the Sox because MG will never ready my blog again if I continue. Worked the dayshift Friday at the bar and made great money. It was a beautiful day here in Boston. Can’t say the same about this week. Rain, rain go away…and don’t ever come back!! You’re ruining my spring!! Sorry, slight outburst there. Anyway, it was Cinco de Mayo, so Jacks, my friend Mark and me decided to whoop it up at a Margarita bar in the city. We wanted to go to Cactus Club, but the line was outrageous with the after-work crowd already settled in. We switched it up to Rattlesnake and had a grand old time. This place is really cool because it has a roof-deck, but the line for that was just as bad, so we just stuck to the bar.
Made our way over to Gypsy Bar for a couple of drinks and closed the evening with some late-night eats at The Intermission Tavern. This is a great, cozy spot for good drinks and great food that’s totally affordable. Love it.
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Worked on Saturday night and saw one of my sister’s high school friends. She came right up to me to say hello, we chatted for a bit and then she didn’t tip me!! Came back again, got three beers and didn’t tip me!! Bought two drinks a little later and didn’t tip me!! Simply couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t looking for anything extra (even though most of my friends tip me insanely, as I do them) but come on. Throw down some dollars, will you!! Talked to my sister about it and she couldn’t believe it either. Some people are just clueless when it comes to this stuff!!
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Sunday, Beth came over with the baby and I couldn’t believe how big she had gotten in just a week. Taylor’s face is starting to get more defined and she’s definitely put on some pounds and is starting to grow. Seriously amazing how quickly it happens. We ordered some take-out from Salsas. Later, the roommies and me watched Sopranos and Grey’s Anatomy and crashed.
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Nothing terribly exciting happened this week. Although, I did book my flight to visit my sister in Cali. in June!! That’s exciting!! Besides that, nothing much else going on. Working the next four days at the bar. Kill me now!! It’s going to rain all weekend long, which usually doesn’t bode well for us. We’ll see.
Went to the Sox game again last Thursday (sorry MG) and Jacks and I sat behind the cutest boys. Little boys, that is. Jack, 3-years-old, and Mike, 11, were taking in the game with their Dads. Jack looked like he could pass for 6 easily. He was so tall and well-spoken. Weird to see a 3-year-old that advanced. Mike was clearly in that stage of not wanting to talk to girls. Oh but by the end of the night, he was chewing my ear off. That’s because I knew more about the game than he did!! I told him I was the coolest girl in school and by the end of the night, he agreed. Too funny. But it wasn’t as cute as when Jack introduced himself using his full name. "I’m Jack Charles Gilligan" he said. I almost peed myself he was so cute!!
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Enough about the Sox because MG will never ready my blog again if I continue. Worked the dayshift Friday at the bar and made great money. It was a beautiful day here in Boston. Can’t say the same about this week. Rain, rain go away…and don’t ever come back!! You’re ruining my spring!! Sorry, slight outburst there. Anyway, it was Cinco de Mayo, so Jacks, my friend Mark and me decided to whoop it up at a Margarita bar in the city. We wanted to go to Cactus Club, but the line was outrageous with the after-work crowd already settled in. We switched it up to Rattlesnake and had a grand old time. This place is really cool because it has a roof-deck, but the line for that was just as bad, so we just stuck to the bar.
Made our way over to Gypsy Bar for a couple of drinks and closed the evening with some late-night eats at The Intermission Tavern. This is a great, cozy spot for good drinks and great food that’s totally affordable. Love it.
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Worked on Saturday night and saw one of my sister’s high school friends. She came right up to me to say hello, we chatted for a bit and then she didn’t tip me!! Came back again, got three beers and didn’t tip me!! Bought two drinks a little later and didn’t tip me!! Simply couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t looking for anything extra (even though most of my friends tip me insanely, as I do them) but come on. Throw down some dollars, will you!! Talked to my sister about it and she couldn’t believe it either. Some people are just clueless when it comes to this stuff!!
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Sunday, Beth came over with the baby and I couldn’t believe how big she had gotten in just a week. Taylor’s face is starting to get more defined and she’s definitely put on some pounds and is starting to grow. Seriously amazing how quickly it happens. We ordered some take-out from Salsas. Later, the roommies and me watched Sopranos and Grey’s Anatomy and crashed.
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Nothing terribly exciting happened this week. Although, I did book my flight to visit my sister in Cali. in June!! That’s exciting!! Besides that, nothing much else going on. Working the next four days at the bar. Kill me now!! It’s going to rain all weekend long, which usually doesn’t bode well for us. We’ll see.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The Rivalry - Section 2
Words almost can’t describe the energy at Fenway Park Monday night. Sitting in the Bleachers behind the Red Sox bullpen watching the Sox take on the Yankees for the first time this season, I turned to my mother and said, "Mom, there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than right here." And I meant it.
Everyone in the country knows how huge the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is. Most sports fans have always known it, but it was put on a national stage in 2004 when the Sox rallied from an 0-3 deficit to win four straight games and beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. It was one of the proudest moments I’ve ever experienced as a Sox fan. And ironically, a man most of us had planned to boo on Monday night was largely responsible for winning Game 7 in that series and in bringing Boston it’s first World Series title in 86 years.
On December 23 (my birthday, ironically) 2005, Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon signed a $52 million deal with the Yankees. In Red Sox Nation, there’s one unfortunate fact that comes with a move like this: You’re disowned. Go to another team come back and get cheered. But go to the Yankees and you are dead to us. Plain and simple. Seriously, it’s like watching your ex-boyfriend go from you to the girl in school that you hate. It’s a stab in the back. A smack in the face. It’s the worst thing any former Sox player can do and he’s just the latest to do so.
In the days leading up to the game, sportscasters across the country were posing the same question: Would Damon be booed or cheered as a Yankee at Fenway Park. If you’re a Sox fan, I thought the answer was simple. Several players have come and gone throughout the years and that’s fine. Baseball is a game, but it’s also a business. Guys need to make the money they feel they are entitled to and if it means going somewhere else to get it, so be it. When these kinds of players come back to Fenway in a different uniform, they are often cheered. But this is simply not the case with the Yankees. Because of this, Damon got more boos than cheers Monday night and rightfully so.
My booing him doesn’t mean I have forgotten all he did for the Sox. I didn’t partake in the "Johnny sucks" chants because I just don’t believe it. Johnny Damon doesn’t suck. He’s a good player who did a lot of great things during his four years as a Red Sox. But he also followed in the footsteps of Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens in doing something he said he’d never do. May 5, 2005: "I could never go over there and play for the Yankees." That’s a direct quote from Damon himself almost a year to the day before he stepped onto the Fenway grass in pinstripes. Boggs and Clemens had issued similar promises and reneged.
When they came back as Yankees, they were booed. When Clemens pitched for Toronto, he was cheered. Had it been Houston in the World Series in 2004, we would have cheered him then too. Boggs, same deal when he was with Tampa Bay. Cheers galore. Guys like Kevin Millar (now with Baltimore) and Pedro Martinez (with the Mets) are going to get similar ovations when they return to Fenway this season. Pedro took a deal elsewhere, but that’s Pedro. Kevin didn’t want to be traded, but was. What’s the difference between what Pedro did and what Johnny did? Not much. But Pedro saved himself by pitching for the other team in New York.
Damon perhaps said it best himself in the papers, "They’re not booing me. They’re booing the uniform." I’m telling you, he’s absolutely right. Because if he had taken a deal with any other team in the country, he would have received the kind of ovation Doug Mirabelli did. The backup catcher was re-acquired from San Diego and returned to Fenway the same day Damon did. Mirabelli received a standing ovation. Damon was issued a mixed bag.
After Monday, however, it’s over for me and I hope the rest of the Nation complies. It was important to let Damon know how we felt on his first night back, but it’s over and it’s time to move on. He’s playing for the Yankees and we’ve got Coco Crisp in centerfield. Done deal. When the Yankees come back to Fenway later in the month and I’m sitting in the Bleachers on May 23, I will not boo. There’s no need to after Monday. We got what we wanted: a 7-3 win and 0-for-4 showing from Damon. That’s the end of it.
Everyone in the country knows how huge the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is. Most sports fans have always known it, but it was put on a national stage in 2004 when the Sox rallied from an 0-3 deficit to win four straight games and beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. It was one of the proudest moments I’ve ever experienced as a Sox fan. And ironically, a man most of us had planned to boo on Monday night was largely responsible for winning Game 7 in that series and in bringing Boston it’s first World Series title in 86 years.
On December 23 (my birthday, ironically) 2005, Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon signed a $52 million deal with the Yankees. In Red Sox Nation, there’s one unfortunate fact that comes with a move like this: You’re disowned. Go to another team come back and get cheered. But go to the Yankees and you are dead to us. Plain and simple. Seriously, it’s like watching your ex-boyfriend go from you to the girl in school that you hate. It’s a stab in the back. A smack in the face. It’s the worst thing any former Sox player can do and he’s just the latest to do so.
In the days leading up to the game, sportscasters across the country were posing the same question: Would Damon be booed or cheered as a Yankee at Fenway Park. If you’re a Sox fan, I thought the answer was simple. Several players have come and gone throughout the years and that’s fine. Baseball is a game, but it’s also a business. Guys need to make the money they feel they are entitled to and if it means going somewhere else to get it, so be it. When these kinds of players come back to Fenway in a different uniform, they are often cheered. But this is simply not the case with the Yankees. Because of this, Damon got more boos than cheers Monday night and rightfully so.
My booing him doesn’t mean I have forgotten all he did for the Sox. I didn’t partake in the "Johnny sucks" chants because I just don’t believe it. Johnny Damon doesn’t suck. He’s a good player who did a lot of great things during his four years as a Red Sox. But he also followed in the footsteps of Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens in doing something he said he’d never do. May 5, 2005: "I could never go over there and play for the Yankees." That’s a direct quote from Damon himself almost a year to the day before he stepped onto the Fenway grass in pinstripes. Boggs and Clemens had issued similar promises and reneged.
When they came back as Yankees, they were booed. When Clemens pitched for Toronto, he was cheered. Had it been Houston in the World Series in 2004, we would have cheered him then too. Boggs, same deal when he was with Tampa Bay. Cheers galore. Guys like Kevin Millar (now with Baltimore) and Pedro Martinez (with the Mets) are going to get similar ovations when they return to Fenway this season. Pedro took a deal elsewhere, but that’s Pedro. Kevin didn’t want to be traded, but was. What’s the difference between what Pedro did and what Johnny did? Not much. But Pedro saved himself by pitching for the other team in New York.
Damon perhaps said it best himself in the papers, "They’re not booing me. They’re booing the uniform." I’m telling you, he’s absolutely right. Because if he had taken a deal with any other team in the country, he would have received the kind of ovation Doug Mirabelli did. The backup catcher was re-acquired from San Diego and returned to Fenway the same day Damon did. Mirabelli received a standing ovation. Damon was issued a mixed bag.
After Monday, however, it’s over for me and I hope the rest of the Nation complies. It was important to let Damon know how we felt on his first night back, but it’s over and it’s time to move on. He’s playing for the Yankees and we’ve got Coco Crisp in centerfield. Done deal. When the Yankees come back to Fenway later in the month and I’m sitting in the Bleachers on May 23, I will not boo. There’s no need to after Monday. We got what we wanted: a 7-3 win and 0-for-4 showing from Damon. That’s the end of it.
Monday, May 01, 2006
The Rivalry - Section 1
Oh it’s a joyous day here in Boston. Tonight marks the first time this season the Red Sox take on the Yankees and I will be in Fenway Park to witness the event. Adding to the usual excitement that comes with Sox/Yanks games is the return of Judas Demon (aka Johnny Damon). Tonight, the former Sox centerfielder returns to Fenway for the first time as a member of the Yankees and boy is he going to get it. Had he gone anywhere else, he would receive cheers tonight, but unfortunately he didn’t do that. Damon chose to sell out and join the Evil Empire and you can count on one thing happening when a Sox player does that: YOU’RE FREAKING DISOWNED. In Fenway, you get the ever-loving crap booed out of you followed by chanting of some kind. With Roger Clemens, it was "Roooooooogeeeeeerrrrr." I’m thinking we’ll do something similar with Johnny.
As if this weren’t enough, it was announced this morning that the Sox reacquired catcher Doug Mirabelli to catch Tim Wakefield tonight. Wake is a knuckleballer who has only worked with Mirabelli over the last three seasons. That changed in the off-season when Dougie was traded to San Diego to get second baseman Mark Loretta. But after Wakefield lost his first four games being caught by replacement Josh Bard—who’s 10-passed balls lead the majors and have directly resulted in three of the losses—the Sox got wise, apparently. Dougie makes his return to Fenway tonight and is sure to get a standing O.
Well, that’s it. I’ve got to finish up my work and get the heck out of dodge!! More on the game tomorrow!!
As if this weren’t enough, it was announced this morning that the Sox reacquired catcher Doug Mirabelli to catch Tim Wakefield tonight. Wake is a knuckleballer who has only worked with Mirabelli over the last three seasons. That changed in the off-season when Dougie was traded to San Diego to get second baseman Mark Loretta. But after Wakefield lost his first four games being caught by replacement Josh Bard—who’s 10-passed balls lead the majors and have directly resulted in three of the losses—the Sox got wise, apparently. Dougie makes his return to Fenway tonight and is sure to get a standing O.
Well, that’s it. I’ve got to finish up my work and get the heck out of dodge!! More on the game tomorrow!!
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