Serenity now!

Painting sux. It's that simple. But the end result is worth all the hard work.

In what was the most recent project in my apartment, my roommate Jill and I decided to slap some paint on our living room walls. We both got out of work early yesterday and banged out the room in about two hours. Every muscle in my body hurts and I have a pair of blisters developing on my hands, but as we sat on the couch admiring our work, it all became worth it.

It's amazing how much a difference a little paint makes. The room is a completely different room and all it took was a couple of hours of grueling work. I'm thrilled we did it and I love the room!!

Oh, it's a nice, deep green color, in case you were wondering. Works very well with our tan-colored furniture.

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Argh! My boss from the bar just called and left a voicemail on my cell. I know what this means. She wants me to work tonight. Yeah, it's just common practice for her to just blaze up people's cells at 12:30 on a Thursday to ask them to work that night at 6. Because I don't have any plans tonight and I have nothing better to do than be her beckon call...bartender.

She's actually said in staff meetings that we should be able to "break plans" for each other. Meaning, if someone needs a shift covered and we say no because we have plans, she thinks we should have no problem breaking those plans because someone needs us. Spoken like a true spoiled brat millionare!! That's what she is. Born into money, still making money, and therefore, thinks she's entitled to anything at anytime. Well not tonight sweetie!! I've got plans that are unbreakable. My friend Fusco's bartending at a place around the corner tonight and he wants to get me and my roommies wasted, and by God, I'm going to let him!! Heck, we're walking home. Why not? Of course, I won't tell her this when I call back. It'll be something along the lines of, "oh, sorry Deb. Some of my friends from college are up for a few days. No can do." She'll buy it!!

Can I get some sleep? Can Charles get a contract? Can Krissy not die taking a surf lesson?

Something I hate? When I purposely try to be good and not drink and go to bed early and it totally backfires!! Case in point: Last night, I got home from work, made myself dinner, made a black bean salad to share at work the next day, and played a little solitare on the computer. This was all in an attempt to resist the urge to go to bed before 10. But why was I resisting? I was tired, the roommies weren't home, I was bored, and the Sox were losing. Why not go to bed early? I guess I was trying to wait it out to catch the new episode of the Real World, but it's not like they won't rerun that shit every hour on the hour this weekend, so why not hit the sack. So, I reluctantly did at 9:46 p.m.

Because it was a nice evening, I had one of my two windows open and utilized the "fan only" option on my AC. I was comfortable and was out like a light. Fast-forward to 2:12 a.m. and I hear what sounds like a party going on in my place. OH NO, that would be the apartment next to me with a trillion people out on their balcony. In the middle of the week. At 2 a.m. On a school night. What's up with that?? Still in a sleepy haze, I angrily got up, slammed my window shut, and turned on my AC. Of course, it took a while to get back to sleep and when the alarm went off at 6:50 a.m., I, of course, felt extremely groggy!! Damn neighbors. I think in the two-plus years I've lived in Southie, this was the third time the neighbors have had a party. The previous two times? Oh yeah, one on a weekend, the other a Sunday holiday. GRRR!!

Now, I know I'll get no sympathy from my sister Krissy, who lives on the corner of two main streets in San Francisco and has to use a fan year-round to combat the noise. But to be honest, I'm not looking for sympathy, just to gripe!! Waaaah, I got woken up in the middle of the night!! WAAAAAAHHH!!

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In other BTD news, the Randolph BOS finally stopped ignoring Charles and took some action Monday night. This with a room full of firefighters and about 12 fire chiefs from across the South Shore, of course. In short, we had to wait the WHOLE meeting for something to come up, but finally, Billy Alexopolous (Charlie's friend and a selectman) brought up how he feels like the board is giving him no direction with regards to the fire chief's contract. He was wondering if the board had responded to a letter from Charles' attorney sent after the last meeting two weeks ago because if they had, he didn't know what that response was. Soon after, the chair (former chief) and another selectman claimed not to know what letter they were referring to and diverted the question to the Executive Secretary...who in turn said he forwarded the letter to the board. OH THAT LETTER, right. This prompted one selectman to make a motion to extend Charles' contract to Sept. 25 by which time a negotiation committee with two of the board members would be formed and a new contract would be in place. Phew!! When all five members approved the motion, we cheered and the meeting was promptly adjourned. Victory!!

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In other, other BTD news, my sister has informed me she's taking a surfing lesson on Saturday. This is not a good idea because a) she's not the best swimmer. b) she used to be called "clutsy Krissy". c) she'll be in shark-infested waters. d) all of the above. I'm going with D!! Hope she has fun, though!!

Kev's home.Yippee! and Why the Randolph BOS sux!

So I have wonderful news!! My friend Kevin is coming home from his second tour in Iraq today. He'll be at his base in upstate New York before returning home to Mass. this weekend. Couldn't be more delighted that he's back in the states. Kev was the only person I knew over there and he was one too many! So happy to have him back...and this time, for good.

My sister and I first met Kev while working at a grocery store (Sudbury Farms) during the high school years. We were cashiers and Kev was a bagger extraordinare!! His great sense of humor and deadpan delivery made most shifts easier to get through. He's truly a gem and I can't wait to buy him a Sam Adams...or two...or three...or four on Friday night when we take him out!!
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In other BTD news, I'm going to a meeting tonight in support of my stepdad, Charles. He's the fire chief in Randolph and the Board of Selectmen are refusing to offer him anything other than a temporary contract, which is total BS. Basically, it limits his power enough so he can't promote existing firefighters or hire new ones. Again, BS.

So, he's been working without a contract for a few months and the board is basically threatening him to stop paying him until he signs on. They have a meeting tonight to try to come to a compromise and I hope, for their sake, they make the right decision.

Charles has been the chief for six years. He has completely turned the place around and is garnering respect from his own staff, fellow officials, and neighboring firehouses. More than 30 fire chiefs from around Mass. attended the last selectmen's meeting two weeks ago in a show of support. He knows just about everyone in the town, most of whom have written letters or made calls on his behalf. In short, the board is toast.

The guy causing all the drama is the selectman chairman, who just also happens to be the man Charles replaced as fire chief. Essentially, he's jealous about how well-received Charles has been since becoming fire chief and feels the need to torment him simply because he has the power to do so. Ridiculous!! There's a petition going around to have him recalled and if that happens, he'll be out of office!!

Two of the other four selectmen are on board with this guy, one of whom happens to be someone I was once in a brief relationship with...that was until he told me he was gay!! He's such an attention-starved, power-hungry jerk and I really feel like outing him tonight!! Can't wait until he sees me!! He'll be shaking in his boots!!

But what's perhaps most troubling is that this chairman is still a member of the Fire Fighters Association of America, an organization that was developed to help promote the sense of family amongst those who serve their communities so bravely. These guys eat, sleep, and work together and are essentially brothers. We all saw how they banded together in the wake of 9/11, most of us have seen at least one episode of Rescue Me, and we all know what to expect to see in the soon-to-be-released movie, World Trade Center. These guys are heroes and Charles is one of the best firefighters I know. For someone who served to turn their back on another would be like me disowning my sister. Just shouldn't happen.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for Charles. I think the board's going to get what they deserve!!

Weekend at Mach Speed.

Apologies to my readers who don't dig the Sox as much as I do. But when you go to 20 games in a season, it's hard to write about anything else. Sorry, I'll do my best to cut back.

My weekend at mach-speed:
Went to visit Beth and baby Taylor on Friday before working at the bar.
Saturday, I moved my new couch into my place...or should I say, I watched my stepdad Charles and my friend from the bar, Jose, move my new couch into my place. Watched in agony really as they pushed and pulled my 8 1/2-foot sofa up four flights of stairs in a poorly ventilated hallway and into my apartment. They are god-sents really. For some reason I thought me and Charles would be able to handle it ourselves. I must have been still asleep, because there would have been no freakin way we would have been able to have done it with just us. So, I called in some reinforcements and boy do I owe Jose!! I picked him up last minute and he truly saved the day!! After lounging on my new piece o furniture all day, I mustered up the energy to shower and go to work...again.
Sunday, I went to brunch with Jacks and did some afternoon drinking while watching the Sox blow a four-run lead and surrender a walk-off homer and their second loss to a ballclub that's been in the cellar almost since it joined the Majors!!

Now, I'm impatiently waiting to watch Entourage. Thought I would have a post waiting for you all on Monday morning. Enjoy!!

Random fun on a Tuesday night.

So, I’m 11-5 now in Red Sox games attended and not happy about it. Although, I was kind of expecting a loss with crappy Jason Johnson pitching. Long story short: He’s a rookie and he sucks.

Despite the loss and the sweltering heat, the game was actually a great time. I took my friend from the bar, Danielle, because we’d never been to a game before. In short, we had a blast. Rolled into the Cask n Flagon (best darn Sox watering hole in the Fenway area) around 5:30 p.m. and started drinking. In between chatting with fellow Sox fans and scarfing a plate of nachos, I was stealing glances at my crush, Dennis, behind the bar. He’s so darn cute!!

Went over to the game, got beers from Phil aka “My Miller Lite Guy” and since I had seats in the Bleachers (located in centerfield with the sun blazing down on us), I decided to scope out the situation in the handicapped area. Debbie, an usher Jacks and I had met one game, was thrilled to see me and promptly directed me to two open chairs. (Debbie commandeers the handicapped seating area, which is essentially a platform just above field level, 15 rows back that accommodates people in wheelchairs. When there are no handicapped people in the section, which is almost always the case, Debbie seats people there). Besides the better view, there are other perks to these seats: A) Nothing but wide-open space in front of you. B) Bathrooms are located directly at the bottom of the ramp. C) Phil’s beer station is located directly beside the ramp. Other perks: Debbie’s willingness to spritz us with her water bottle to cool us off and her pleasant conversation. In short, it’s my favorite place to sit.

At this point, Danielle was pretty much in shock about how well I was treated at Fenway. Just to remind you, I get free beer, free food, free water (essential on a game like last night when bottles are $4.25 apiece), and seating upgrades. Now I ask you, why wouldn’t I buy tickets for 20 games this season when I get treated so well? The way I see it, I have only two more hook-ups to master: Parking and Tickets. That’s parking ANYWHERE in the city and tickets to ANYTHING in the city.

After the game, we went back to the Cask and I was thrilled to see Dennis had been cut and was chilling at the end of the bar with my friend (and former roommate) Beth, mother of this cutie.
I chatted him up and basically made it really obvious I was interested. We laughed, we had arms around each other, we shared a prolonged kiss on the cheek before I left. In short (gosh I’ve used that a lot in the post), he seems interested too, but still hasn’t asked for my number. Lady J confused!! Anyway, I told him I’d drop by to visit him at the other bar he works at (close to mine) before my shift on Saturday and he seemed happy to hear that. I’ll try to get something going then. God, I hate being the aggressor!! I’ve literally got no game!!

Sorry, this post is all over the place!!

From the Cask, we went over to the Bell (where I work) to visit another bartender, Meri, and make my karaoke debut. At this point, we had Meri’s friends Natalie and Danielle (yup, another one) in tow. I sang two songs (One Way or Another; Spiderwebs) in front of several co-workers and regulars who had never heard me sing and they were stunned. I carry a pretty decent tune and I think I took them all by surprise. Got one of them swinging a towel in the air. God, I’m such a karaoke whore!! It’s going to be funny when I go in there to work on Thursday. Hopefully, they won’t rag on me too bad!!

To quote Eric the Midget in his disgruntled tone: “By for now.”

My boy is in danger.

So, my boy Trot Nixon, the rightfielder of the Boston Red Sox, left Sunday night’s game with a strained bicep. He had an MRI yesterday and was quickly placed on the 15-day disabled list, but is expected to be out for at least three weeks. Great. Last night, catcher Jason Varitek pulled up lame after running from first to second on a Coco Crisp single. After limping home on a Wily Mo Pena (I’m not kidding, by the way. Coco. Wily Mo. These are real names.) triple, he was pulled from the game. No word on how serious his injury is or how long he’s going to sit out.

The injuries concern me for a few reasons: A) They couldn’t be occurring at a worse time with Sox only holding a one-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East race. B) The Yankees, who have been battling injuries all year, are starting to get some of their injured back AND have just signed outfielder Bobby Abreu. C) With Trot not playing for three weeks, his return is sure to be lackluster, putting his future with the Sox at risk as he will be a free agent at the end of the 2006 season.

Again, I’m at a weird point in my fandom of the Red Sox. Because we won it all in 2004, there’s no longer that desperation to win a title. The Nation took a big sigh of relief in 04, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to win. By this, I mean, we want to beat the Yankees. I can only speak for myself, but I think the next logical step in exercising the demons is to win our Division, not the wild card, and prevent the Yankees from even making the playoffs. That’s my goal for the team this season. And this feat will be tough to accomplish without the likes of the usual suspects who’ve been there before: Trot, Tek, Tim Wakefield, a knuckleballer who’s currently on the DL.

Injuries aside, my biggest cause for concern is the future of my favorite Sox player, Trot Nixon. There are many reasons why I like Trot, none of which are because I think he’s cute. He’s a decent looking fellow, but let’s be honest, the guy rarely cracks a smile and could probably pick up some obscure radio station in Japan with those ears of his. I like Trot because he’s a blue-collar player. One of those guys who’s not really the star of the team, he just performs day in and day out and always does something to help. He’s been with the Sox since he was drafted in the first round in 2003 and he’s said in my own presence that he doesn’t want to play anywhere else. These have always been my favorite types of players and it would break my heart to see him go. With the injury, it’s looking like that could almost be a certainty, especially when Wily Mo fills in and goes 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I go to my 16th Red Sox game of the season tonight. Typically, I wear my No. 7 (Trot’s) jersey and make people in the stands “Pat the back” whenever he does something good. (Trust me, they love it. I’m the life of the party at Sox games!). With no Trot on the field, I probably won’t don the jersey. It would just be too hard. Well, that and it’s supposed to be about 96 degrees at game time and this weather is really not conducive to polyester.