Well. Lots going on. Been working an incredible amount at CPK and working hard, but it's paying off and the money is coming in pretty well. Which is good because Steve and I finally found an apartment for the fall and having to put down a whole bunch of money up front SUCKS. This past weekend was the Kappa Sigma leadership conference in Richmond, VA. Richmond also sucks. The highlight of the trip was probably the trip itself. My grandparents were kind enough to let us borrow their car to drive down to Virginia and it was quite the trip.
We got on the road at about 5am on Thursday and before we out of Albany my trusty co-pilot had fallen back to sleep. It was torrential downpours for the first, oh 4 hours. Once we hit Pennsylvania the rain let up and it was smooth sailing. We actually traveled through six states in under six hours. We made it to Charlottesville, VA where our national headquarters are and it has a cool downtown area. The new headquarters is huge and has a lot of really interesting history from the founding of our fraternity in 1869. We also saw the meeting room over at UVA where the founding fathers met for the first time.
That night we went out in downtown Charlottesville. There was a cool little bar called Fellini's #9 that had live band karaoke night. It was your typical karaoke night some locals making fools of themselves. This one guy put in the most passionate karaoke I've ever seen. He did Fortunate Son by CCR and I think at one point he almost took out the bass player with his leg kicks. Then we went over to Miller's. Miller's was a real dive bar and no one else really wanted to go. But Daryn, Steve and I went and had a beer. What makes Miller's more than your average bar? In 1990, a certain little Dave Matthews was a bartender at Miller's where he met a lawyer who encouraged him to record and perform some of his songs. Today he is who is. Dave wasn't our bartender but the beer was good.
Friday night Steve, Dan, and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings to grab some food and watch the Yankees game. The wings were really delicious. I think they had 20 different sauces. Saturday we watched the game at Cha Cha's and ate a ridiculous amount of nachos before our dinner banquet and enjoyed some Dos Equis.
Sunday's trip back was not as smooth as the trip down. We made a stop in California, MD to see Christopher, Shaunna, Ethan and Kim and grab some lunch. We went to Cheeseburger in Paradise, appropriately since Jimmy Buffett is a KappaSig. From there on out my trusty co-pilot returned to his position of passed out. We came back a little differently and hit tons of traffic in Jersey. I'd like to think everyone was going to the Springsteen's show at Meadowlands even though I was not. A quick side note, I will going to Springsteen this Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. I will be sitting right near the soundboard (which means they will be tuning the speakers so that we hear the mix perfectly) at the 50 yard line. Now I just need to figure out how we are getting down there.
So we got through some of the traffic and I had to make a pit stop. While we stopped we decided to get gas too. After waiting for 45minutes in line for gas the attendant tells us that they are all out of regular. So we waited for nothing and we continued on our way. After leaving VA at 8:30, we finally pulled back into Gram and Pa's driveway around 10:00pm.
It was a long trip, it was a fun trip, and next time we're going to Disney!
Picking up my Springsteen's tickets today after work, double tomorrow, Springsteen on Saturday. Busy couple of days. Also waiting for a phone call to come and something tells me it may come today. If I get that call you'll be the first to know.
-S
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Don't Ask Questions
So the past couple weeks I've been living by this philosophy: Don't Ask Questions. When people say there are no stupid questions they are wrong. There are stupid questions and there are unnecessary questions and there are questions that shouldn't be asked. So to solve this dilemma, I decided to enact this new philosophy. It's been working out great. It plays along with this idea of fate. When someone asks why this or why that, I simply respond "don't ask questions" and the discussion is over with.
Then recently (while at the movies watching Wanted, which tells you the quality of that movie) I realized that my new philosophy is totally stepping on the premise of one of my previous philosophies that to get a head in life you have to ask tough questions. So now here I am between a rock and a hard place. Which philosophy do I live by? Do I ask the tough questions and maybe get answers that I'm not ready for? Or do I keep up my current trend and just go with the flow and not stop to ask any questions? I think for now I'm going to stick with the no questions. Life is good and I don't really want to mess that up right now.
The job at Berklee has been posted and I submitted my resume and cover letter last Tuesday. Fingers crossed I'll hear something this week about setting up an interview. Last week was great because I had Sarah's car for the week while she was at Disney. We went to Costco and laid out by the pool for a day and drove to Carrabbas and just the freedom to go places very easily was awesome. If I get this job at Berklee I'm totally going to look into buying a car. I miss the shark.
Fourth of July was okay. I had to work on the bar Friday night, but we were able to catch a small part of the fireworks from right outside work. Fireworks aren't all they are cracked up to be. The best part of the Fourth is bbq and family. None of that this year, but maybe next year.
Summer is flying by. Can't believe its July already. It is sinking in more and more that I don't have to go back to school in the Fall and that the end of summer doesn't really mean anything for me in particular. Except that at the end of the summer I need to find a new apt. Still on the hunt for that apt and its not going so hot. But we still have some time.
Until Laters
Then recently (while at the movies watching Wanted, which tells you the quality of that movie) I realized that my new philosophy is totally stepping on the premise of one of my previous philosophies that to get a head in life you have to ask tough questions. So now here I am between a rock and a hard place. Which philosophy do I live by? Do I ask the tough questions and maybe get answers that I'm not ready for? Or do I keep up my current trend and just go with the flow and not stop to ask any questions? I think for now I'm going to stick with the no questions. Life is good and I don't really want to mess that up right now.
The job at Berklee has been posted and I submitted my resume and cover letter last Tuesday. Fingers crossed I'll hear something this week about setting up an interview. Last week was great because I had Sarah's car for the week while she was at Disney. We went to Costco and laid out by the pool for a day and drove to Carrabbas and just the freedom to go places very easily was awesome. If I get this job at Berklee I'm totally going to look into buying a car. I miss the shark.
Fourth of July was okay. I had to work on the bar Friday night, but we were able to catch a small part of the fireworks from right outside work. Fireworks aren't all they are cracked up to be. The best part of the Fourth is bbq and family. None of that this year, but maybe next year.
Summer is flying by. Can't believe its July already. It is sinking in more and more that I don't have to go back to school in the Fall and that the end of summer doesn't really mean anything for me in particular. Except that at the end of the summer I need to find a new apt. Still on the hunt for that apt and its not going so hot. But we still have some time.
Until Laters
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Someone is having the Best Week Ever
So following a great weekend in the Capital Region, I kicked off this week on Monday by attending the Red Sox-Diamondback game at Fenway Park. The heat and humidity caused some thunderstorms to blow through the area and delay the game by a half hour, but the game was played. Fast forward through two days of work and you come to Thursday. After much back and forth I was like a maniac on stubhub and priceline and bought two pairs of tickets and a hotel room and two one way tickets to NYC. This was the first time I'd been back to the city since moving out a year and a half ago. It was worth the wait.
Thursday night's bus ride was a bargain at only $10 a person (way cheaper and more comfortable than the Albany trip) and got us into the city around 10pm. Unlike Boston we weren't feeling rushed knowing that bars would be open til 4am. Hansen was stayin in the city for business and was kind enough to let us crash in his hotel room. It was a nice night in NY so we walked the 20 or so blocks through Times Square to the hotel. We checked in and headed to Virgil's for some BBQ. After stuffing our faces for the first time (and definitely not the last) we headed uptown to meet up with Hansen. After meeting up we decided we would head back to Midtown and go to McFadden's. We enjoyed a couple beverages and decided it was time to move on. While Steve and I had only a handful of drinks, the rest of the crew had been out since dinner and some(Hansen) were ready to go back. Sam had other plans however and we headed to the west side to Home club for a round of drinks. Then it was on to the diner. At about 4 oclock, after our stomachs were beyond full, we called it a night and headed back to our hotels.
Friday morning I was up at the crack of dawn in anticipation of our big day. It was the day that not only would I be attending my first game at Yankee Stadium, but I would also be attending my first game at Shea Stadium in only the fifth Subway Series split double header. Around 10am we checked out and parted ways with Hansen. We walked down to our hotel right in Times Square where we dropped off our bags. Then we grabbed some NY bagels and headed over to Rockefeller Center to eat up. Then it was off to the Bronx.
Yankee Stadium is huge, and so is Yankee Stadium. The new stadium is like the old stadium with new seats. Anyways. It's huge. We got there about an hour before game time so had some time to walk around and check it out. Our seats were upper right field near the foul pole and after we settled in we got to enjoy a great game. It was a great game not because the Yankees won (they didn't they got spanked 15-6) but because for the most part there was a lot of action on both sides. Hits, steals, a Mets Grand Slam. Every part of the day was enjoyable, except maybe the $9 beers. But hey it's $9 beers they bring to you in your seat, as opposed to the $7 beers you have to go get at Fenway.
We stuck it out to the very end, because who leaves a game before its over? 4 hours after the start of the game we were out of there and back on the Subway to see the second half of the Subway Series over at Shea. It took us probably an hour on public transportation to get out to Shea but we made it. This time the tables were turned. The Yankees not thinking too hard about the first loss, came to Shea and shut out the Mets and sent Pedro home early after just 5 innings. Our seats weren't as good this time around, but we were able to move a little closer to enjoy the game. We also stuck this one out to the end before heading back to the city.
When we started the day the plan was to go out after the games, but after a short night of sleep the night before and marathon drinking at the two games we decided to head to a diner and then call it a night so we could get a full day in Saturday before heading back to Boston.
We checked out of our hotel around 11am Saturday and went over to NBC to buy tickets for the studio tour. With the first available tour not available until 1:30pm we had some time to go grab some NY Pizza and take a short stroll through Central Park. While walking through Central Park we decided to take the 5:30pm bus back to Boston to give us time to get back and maybe see a movie. Plus we had time to do a few other things before rushing back to catch the bus. I call to make reservations and surprise surprise, the 5:30pm bus is sold out, and so are the rest of the buses. Luckily we were right by the Apple store and while Steve took the time to update is pizza game, I found us two tickets on one of the other discount buses for 5:30 also. Now it was off to NBC.
I have done the NBC tour before, but last time I was by myself and it was the middle of the week so Conan and SNL were taping or rehearsing so I only got to see the NBC Nightly News and Sports studios. This time around we got the full blown tour. Seeing every studio and learning a lot from the beautiful Kara. After the tour we had about and hour and a half and Steve had never been Ground Zero, so we jumped on the subway and headed downtown.
The last time I had been was a year and half ago and at that point little had changed from after the attacks. The stairwell from building two was still visible and make shift memorials still existed. Now with plans finalized and construction began it was kind of an in between stage. There was no more rubble remaining, but there hasn't been significant progress in construction. It definitely did not have the same effect on me that it has in the past, but it will be interesting to see the final result in 4 years when it's all said and done.
Now with about an hour left before we had to head up to the hotel we decided to grab some lunch in Chinatown. As we were walking our way down Canal St, fighting vendors and tourists the sky decided to open up and down pour. Now not only were we wet from the heat and humidity (read "sweating like pigs") but we were also getting a good shower from the rain. It let up after a few minutes and we began searching ferociously for a quick bite to eat at a relatively safe looking Chinese restaurant. We finally settled on Big Wong. Don't ask why we decided to venture here, but we did and it was delicious. Steamed dumplings, BBQ Spare ribs, Chicken Fried Rice, and Beef Lo Mein all hit the spot perfectly and while we sat in the cab ride uptown we both fought exhaustion a combination of food coma and walking all over the place. "I'm glad we decided to come to NY and walk around and be fat as opposed to sitting on the couch watching movies all weekend." We made it to the bus just in time to grab the handicap row (with extra leg room!!) and the 4 hour bus ride wasn't that bad. We opted out of the movie last night and was asleep on the couch by midnight.
We set out to see two baseball games and did a lot more than that. I realize why I love NY and definitely look forward to going back soon. Next time on the agenda: Little Italy, Comedy Cellar, Conan/SNL, and McSorrely's. Now it's back to work and making money so I can spend it on our next trip.
Travelling is fun.
Thursday night's bus ride was a bargain at only $10 a person (way cheaper and more comfortable than the Albany trip) and got us into the city around 10pm. Unlike Boston we weren't feeling rushed knowing that bars would be open til 4am. Hansen was stayin in the city for business and was kind enough to let us crash in his hotel room. It was a nice night in NY so we walked the 20 or so blocks through Times Square to the hotel. We checked in and headed to Virgil's for some BBQ. After stuffing our faces for the first time (and definitely not the last) we headed uptown to meet up with Hansen. After meeting up we decided we would head back to Midtown and go to McFadden's. We enjoyed a couple beverages and decided it was time to move on. While Steve and I had only a handful of drinks, the rest of the crew had been out since dinner and some(Hansen) were ready to go back. Sam had other plans however and we headed to the west side to Home club for a round of drinks. Then it was on to the diner. At about 4 oclock, after our stomachs were beyond full, we called it a night and headed back to our hotels.
Friday morning I was up at the crack of dawn in anticipation of our big day. It was the day that not only would I be attending my first game at Yankee Stadium, but I would also be attending my first game at Shea Stadium in only the fifth Subway Series split double header. Around 10am we checked out and parted ways with Hansen. We walked down to our hotel right in Times Square where we dropped off our bags. Then we grabbed some NY bagels and headed over to Rockefeller Center to eat up. Then it was off to the Bronx.
Yankee Stadium is huge, and so is Yankee Stadium. The new stadium is like the old stadium with new seats. Anyways. It's huge. We got there about an hour before game time so had some time to walk around and check it out. Our seats were upper right field near the foul pole and after we settled in we got to enjoy a great game. It was a great game not because the Yankees won (they didn't they got spanked 15-6) but because for the most part there was a lot of action on both sides. Hits, steals, a Mets Grand Slam. Every part of the day was enjoyable, except maybe the $9 beers. But hey it's $9 beers they bring to you in your seat, as opposed to the $7 beers you have to go get at Fenway.
We stuck it out to the very end, because who leaves a game before its over? 4 hours after the start of the game we were out of there and back on the Subway to see the second half of the Subway Series over at Shea. It took us probably an hour on public transportation to get out to Shea but we made it. This time the tables were turned. The Yankees not thinking too hard about the first loss, came to Shea and shut out the Mets and sent Pedro home early after just 5 innings. Our seats weren't as good this time around, but we were able to move a little closer to enjoy the game. We also stuck this one out to the end before heading back to the city.
When we started the day the plan was to go out after the games, but after a short night of sleep the night before and marathon drinking at the two games we decided to head to a diner and then call it a night so we could get a full day in Saturday before heading back to Boston.
We checked out of our hotel around 11am Saturday and went over to NBC to buy tickets for the studio tour. With the first available tour not available until 1:30pm we had some time to go grab some NY Pizza and take a short stroll through Central Park. While walking through Central Park we decided to take the 5:30pm bus back to Boston to give us time to get back and maybe see a movie. Plus we had time to do a few other things before rushing back to catch the bus. I call to make reservations and surprise surprise, the 5:30pm bus is sold out, and so are the rest of the buses. Luckily we were right by the Apple store and while Steve took the time to update is pizza game, I found us two tickets on one of the other discount buses for 5:30 also. Now it was off to NBC.
I have done the NBC tour before, but last time I was by myself and it was the middle of the week so Conan and SNL were taping or rehearsing so I only got to see the NBC Nightly News and Sports studios. This time around we got the full blown tour. Seeing every studio and learning a lot from the beautiful Kara. After the tour we had about and hour and a half and Steve had never been Ground Zero, so we jumped on the subway and headed downtown.
The last time I had been was a year and half ago and at that point little had changed from after the attacks. The stairwell from building two was still visible and make shift memorials still existed. Now with plans finalized and construction began it was kind of an in between stage. There was no more rubble remaining, but there hasn't been significant progress in construction. It definitely did not have the same effect on me that it has in the past, but it will be interesting to see the final result in 4 years when it's all said and done.
Now with about an hour left before we had to head up to the hotel we decided to grab some lunch in Chinatown. As we were walking our way down Canal St, fighting vendors and tourists the sky decided to open up and down pour. Now not only were we wet from the heat and humidity (read "sweating like pigs") but we were also getting a good shower from the rain. It let up after a few minutes and we began searching ferociously for a quick bite to eat at a relatively safe looking Chinese restaurant. We finally settled on Big Wong. Don't ask why we decided to venture here, but we did and it was delicious. Steamed dumplings, BBQ Spare ribs, Chicken Fried Rice, and Beef Lo Mein all hit the spot perfectly and while we sat in the cab ride uptown we both fought exhaustion a combination of food coma and walking all over the place. "I'm glad we decided to come to NY and walk around and be fat as opposed to sitting on the couch watching movies all weekend." We made it to the bus just in time to grab the handicap row (with extra leg room!!) and the 4 hour bus ride wasn't that bad. We opted out of the movie last night and was asleep on the couch by midnight.
We set out to see two baseball games and did a lot more than that. I realize why I love NY and definitely look forward to going back soon. Next time on the agenda: Little Italy, Comedy Cellar, Conan/SNL, and McSorrely's. Now it's back to work and making money so I can spend it on our next trip.
Travelling is fun.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Birthday, Grad Party, and Friends
Well two weekends in a row I've had the time of my life. First I was able to go to the cape for a weekend and take a full day to hang out in the sun on the beach. Then this past weekend I was able to share my birthday and graduation celebration with friends and family to make for one kick-ass weekend.
Friday night Albany and Boston collided when we took Lark Street by storm and taught the Bostonian what happens when bars stay open past two. The Shate 08 pub crawl lacked the -ate but we still enjoyed ourselves starting with SoCo and lime shots at Legends and getting kicked out of Bayou at 3am after some intense sing-a-longs reminiscent of basement parties at 8 Eldora. Just when we thought the night was over (after momma Caitlin ushered us all into cabs) we made one last stop, Dino's pizza. Like Pizzeria 54 in Downtown Albany or Sunrise or Little Stevies in Boston, Dino's was delicious probably because of the deadly combination of our intoxication and the time of night. Then it was off to Rose Ct.
The following morning was an early one for some of us. The weather was Sunny from the start and by the time everything was set up and the official kick off started at 1pm the bathing suits were on and the cannonballs started. The weather never wavered (although I may have). Friends and from from across the Northeast came to celebrate and make it a special day. Thank you for that. The keg was shortly after beer pong started. The quote of the night may have been my grandmother just before midnight..."I'm glad you are playing this game. You seem to be sobering up by how bad you are playing."
After two long nights of drinking we called it a night just after One. The thunderstorms were intense Sunday morning and made for a perfect Sunday Funday. Our attempts at a double feature were thwarted by the 'intelligent' schedulers at Regal and we were only able to see The Incredible Hulk. I'd give it a solid B. Good, but not incredible. More food and cake and birthday presents and then Sunday night we kicked back watched some Dateline, read some books (The Art of Racing in the Rain, and The Last Lecture were gifts that I got over weekend and were so good that not only did I finish them already, but I also was moved to tears both times). A quick late night dip to cool off and then we passed out for the last time in the 518 for this trip.
An early morning bus ride today proved disasterous, although not because of anything we did. We arrived 45 minutes before departure, secured our tickets and sat down and immersed ourselves into our books. About 20 min prior to departure we lined up to make sure we got a seat. We were still standing in line 40 minutes after our scheduled departure with no sign of our bus, or anyone that cared to explain the delay. We finally were asked to change gates and our bus was loaded. Steve and I got the last two seats before people were bumped to the later bus. Now we are already an hour delayed and the bus driver announces that we have to make an unscheduled stop in Springfield, but would not be making the other stops. Fine. Well when we get off the exit for Springfield, the bus driver asks anyone who may know how to get to the bus station to come to the front of the bus to give him directions.
Needless to say we made in one piece back to Boston. Tonight barring thunderstorms and rain we are going to the Red Sox game. Then a couple days of work and then down to NYC to see the Mets Yankees game for my first trip to Yankees Stadium and a possible double header at Shea Stadium also a first for me. So we will see.
Thanks again. Love you all.
Friday night Albany and Boston collided when we took Lark Street by storm and taught the Bostonian what happens when bars stay open past two. The Shate 08 pub crawl lacked the -ate but we still enjoyed ourselves starting with SoCo and lime shots at Legends and getting kicked out of Bayou at 3am after some intense sing-a-longs reminiscent of basement parties at 8 Eldora. Just when we thought the night was over (after momma Caitlin ushered us all into cabs) we made one last stop, Dino's pizza. Like Pizzeria 54 in Downtown Albany or Sunrise or Little Stevies in Boston, Dino's was delicious probably because of the deadly combination of our intoxication and the time of night. Then it was off to Rose Ct.
The following morning was an early one for some of us. The weather was Sunny from the start and by the time everything was set up and the official kick off started at 1pm the bathing suits were on and the cannonballs started. The weather never wavered (although I may have). Friends and from from across the Northeast came to celebrate and make it a special day. Thank you for that. The keg was shortly after beer pong started. The quote of the night may have been my grandmother just before midnight..."I'm glad you are playing this game. You seem to be sobering up by how bad you are playing."
After two long nights of drinking we called it a night just after One. The thunderstorms were intense Sunday morning and made for a perfect Sunday Funday. Our attempts at a double feature were thwarted by the 'intelligent' schedulers at Regal and we were only able to see The Incredible Hulk. I'd give it a solid B. Good, but not incredible. More food and cake and birthday presents and then Sunday night we kicked back watched some Dateline, read some books (The Art of Racing in the Rain, and The Last Lecture were gifts that I got over weekend and were so good that not only did I finish them already, but I also was moved to tears both times). A quick late night dip to cool off and then we passed out for the last time in the 518 for this trip.
An early morning bus ride today proved disasterous, although not because of anything we did. We arrived 45 minutes before departure, secured our tickets and sat down and immersed ourselves into our books. About 20 min prior to departure we lined up to make sure we got a seat. We were still standing in line 40 minutes after our scheduled departure with no sign of our bus, or anyone that cared to explain the delay. We finally were asked to change gates and our bus was loaded. Steve and I got the last two seats before people were bumped to the later bus. Now we are already an hour delayed and the bus driver announces that we have to make an unscheduled stop in Springfield, but would not be making the other stops. Fine. Well when we get off the exit for Springfield, the bus driver asks anyone who may know how to get to the bus station to come to the front of the bus to give him directions.
Needless to say we made in one piece back to Boston. Tonight barring thunderstorms and rain we are going to the Red Sox game. Then a couple days of work and then down to NYC to see the Mets Yankees game for my first trip to Yankees Stadium and a possible double header at Shea Stadium also a first for me. So we will see.
Thanks again. Love you all.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
No One Can Get In The Way of What I'm Feeling.
It's been a few weeks and Alicia Keys has inspired me to get back to blogging. Why? because blogging is what I do and what I enjoy and what I've been missing the past few weeks. Lots of things have happened. I've been looking at apartments. I've been to Albany and back. I've bought a ton of new CD's and yet nothing seemed to have inspired to me to sit down and write. It's been nice out too so I've been doing my best not to sit inside behind a computer, but sometimes its needed. I need to update my resume and my cover letter because I'm going to be applying for a job at Berklee College of Music. The other day I got to work at CPK and realized that I serve other people for a living. That's not what I want to do with my life. I have a degree. I'm going to try and make it useful.
Alicia was awesome tonight. Jordin Sparks rocked the house as an opener and Ne-Yo was good. Hopefully I'm going to the Cape this weekend and hopefully I'll have more time the next couple days to write. I have a lot on my mind so there will be plenty to write. Happy 80th birthday Grandpa. Hope is was a good one.
Shawn
BASBHAT
Alicia was awesome tonight. Jordin Sparks rocked the house as an opener and Ne-Yo was good. Hopefully I'm going to the Cape this weekend and hopefully I'll have more time the next couple days to write. I have a lot on my mind so there will be plenty to write. Happy 80th birthday Grandpa. Hope is was a good one.
Shawn
BASBHAT
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Life in the Real World
Life is good. Keeping busy working at CPK and making good money lately. The weather has been nice. Not too warm yet, but nice. No complaints. Enjoying the graduated life so far. Have more of a routine now then when I was in school. Feeling great. Hoping for a job here in Boston for the next year. After much deliberation and thought I've decided to stay here in Boston at least for a year. Now that school is over I've had a little more time to appreciate Boston and who doesn't love summer in the city. Taking each day as it comes and for now, just enjoying the coffee.
We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things - Jason Mraz. Check it out!!
GRADUATION PARTY JUNE 21st DETAILS TO FOLLOW
We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things - Jason Mraz. Check it out!!
GRADUATION PARTY JUNE 21st DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Holy Sh*t!!!
I'm done. It's really here. I've finished 5 years of college. It's awesome, it's sad, it's overwhelming. It's crazy. 5 years ago I was 18. I had never been out of the country, never lived outside of Albany, NY. 5 years later, I've lived in Boston, New York City, and Sydney, AUS. I've worked for Fly92, MTV, CSN, and a thousand other jobs in between with a variety of initials. I've laughed, I've cried, I've had a lot of fun, I've been bored out of my mind. I've met some great people and some not so great people. I've learned some in class, I learned a whole lot more in the real world. I did the one thing I swore I'd never do, I grew up.
A major part of my life just ended. Like that. I burned a DVD and left in on Ron's desk and walked across campus for the last time as an undergraduate. It was fitting that it was a DVD project about Bruce. College began and ended with Bruce. September 6, 2003 I moved into White Hall to start one of my favorite years of college. That night I walked over to Fenway Park and sat outside as Bruce played the first of a two night stand there with the E St Band. Here I met Mike who I've keep in contact with all these years. He even took me to a Bruce show middler year at the Orpheum, my first. I remember Fenway like it was yesterday. Some homeless guy offered two girls with us tickets bc 'sorry boys, they have boobs'. We thought whatever they can't be real. The tickets that is. So the girls walk off with the tickets. About 20 minutes later they come back.
"Weren't real huh?"
"No they were real Fenway Park is awesome."
That's why I couldn't tell you the name of those girls today. They ruined my chance to see the E St Band that night. They took two legit tickets to Bruce Springsteen and used them to check out Fenway for 20 minutes. After that we stayed for a while then walked home. About halfway through the park we heard them as they started to play Rosalita and I sprinted back in time to hear "Your mama says she knows that I don't have any money". That's how I started my college career. And here I am.
The Glory Days. The things I'll never forget. The things in 20 years I'll be able to call up my friends and say do you remember when...we were orientation leaders for a summer and you all got fired while I was on the cape eating lobster. Remember that time we drove down to Dave Matthews at the Tweeter center and saw him play #34. Remember when camped out at Fenway for Yankees/Sox tickets. Remember when we played two-up on ANZAC day or laughed til we cried and possibly pissed ourselves. Remember that time at Conor's. Why is this so warm? Why are you so bad at quarters?
Water balloon fights at the house, inflatable pools after formal, scavenger hunts, marathon mondays, Stella, Law & Order reruns until 3am, a trip to UConn for Spring weekend, random trips to Montreal, the shark and how it chose to work when it wanted to. Broomball freshmen year, Johnny Applesauce, Elia's buffalo chicken calzones, Little Stevies, and Scorpion Bowls at Tiger Lilly's. Road trips to Newport, Ben Folds, Unwritten Law, Bruce, Bruce, Jonny Lang, The Last Dispatch, Papa Roach, Gin Blossoms, and so many more concerts. Getting told by Matt Nathanson that Halloween colors are always appropriate in February.
There are so many more things that I'm sure people will chime in with, but I have to say through all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, it was a good ride. There is nothing I would change if I could because I did my best and that's all that counts. I learned more about myself than I ever could have hoped. So I took the long way to life. Jay Mohr said it best "leaving a school after four years is like leaving a party at 10pm." You know I never left a party at 10pm in my life.
"Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight
and I'm going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days" - Glory Days
"I am but one man in a raging sea, but I'm still afloat. And we're all still here."
So here's to the memories, to the glory days, to the friends that have come and gone and the friends I've yet to meet. To my family who stood behind me and the mentors and faculty who gave me a kick in the ass when I needed it. To the fraternity that taught me commitment and dilligence and leadership skills that I will use forever. And to the 'blood brothers', I swear forever friends.
"Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For goin' racin' in the street" - Racing In The Streets
A major part of my life just ended. Like that. I burned a DVD and left in on Ron's desk and walked across campus for the last time as an undergraduate. It was fitting that it was a DVD project about Bruce. College began and ended with Bruce. September 6, 2003 I moved into White Hall to start one of my favorite years of college. That night I walked over to Fenway Park and sat outside as Bruce played the first of a two night stand there with the E St Band. Here I met Mike who I've keep in contact with all these years. He even took me to a Bruce show middler year at the Orpheum, my first. I remember Fenway like it was yesterday. Some homeless guy offered two girls with us tickets bc 'sorry boys, they have boobs'. We thought whatever they can't be real. The tickets that is. So the girls walk off with the tickets. About 20 minutes later they come back.
"Weren't real huh?"
"No they were real Fenway Park is awesome."
That's why I couldn't tell you the name of those girls today. They ruined my chance to see the E St Band that night. They took two legit tickets to Bruce Springsteen and used them to check out Fenway for 20 minutes. After that we stayed for a while then walked home. About halfway through the park we heard them as they started to play Rosalita and I sprinted back in time to hear "Your mama says she knows that I don't have any money". That's how I started my college career. And here I am.
The Glory Days. The things I'll never forget. The things in 20 years I'll be able to call up my friends and say do you remember when...we were orientation leaders for a summer and you all got fired while I was on the cape eating lobster. Remember that time we drove down to Dave Matthews at the Tweeter center and saw him play #34. Remember when camped out at Fenway for Yankees/Sox tickets. Remember when we played two-up on ANZAC day or laughed til we cried and possibly pissed ourselves. Remember that time at Conor's. Why is this so warm? Why are you so bad at quarters?
Water balloon fights at the house, inflatable pools after formal, scavenger hunts, marathon mondays, Stella, Law & Order reruns until 3am, a trip to UConn for Spring weekend, random trips to Montreal, the shark and how it chose to work when it wanted to. Broomball freshmen year, Johnny Applesauce, Elia's buffalo chicken calzones, Little Stevies, and Scorpion Bowls at Tiger Lilly's. Road trips to Newport, Ben Folds, Unwritten Law, Bruce, Bruce, Jonny Lang, The Last Dispatch, Papa Roach, Gin Blossoms, and so many more concerts. Getting told by Matt Nathanson that Halloween colors are always appropriate in February.
There are so many more things that I'm sure people will chime in with, but I have to say through all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, it was a good ride. There is nothing I would change if I could because I did my best and that's all that counts. I learned more about myself than I ever could have hoped. So I took the long way to life. Jay Mohr said it best "leaving a school after four years is like leaving a party at 10pm." You know I never left a party at 10pm in my life.
"Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight
and I'm going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days" - Glory Days
"I am but one man in a raging sea, but I'm still afloat. And we're all still here."
So here's to the memories, to the glory days, to the friends that have come and gone and the friends I've yet to meet. To my family who stood behind me and the mentors and faculty who gave me a kick in the ass when I needed it. To the fraternity that taught me commitment and dilligence and leadership skills that I will use forever. And to the 'blood brothers', I swear forever friends.
"Tonight, tonight the strip's just right
I wanna blow 'em off in my first heat
Summer's here and the time is right
For goin' racin' in the street" - Racing In The Streets
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