In an effort to keep their readership informed, yesterday's Boston Herald had a run-down on how each state representative feels about legalized gambling in the Bay State. I was kind of shocked to hear that my state rep was solidly for it. Because the Queen Dee used to work for a state rep and convinced me that our elected officials sometimes actually care about our opinions I felt compelled to give Representative William Galvin a piece of my mind. Regardless of how you stand on the issue, you have the right to let your representative know how you feel - after all you should "value your opinion". Not sure who your rep is? Mass.Gov explains all......
Dear Representative Galvin,
I read in this morning's Herald that you are currently leaning towards approving casinos in Massachusetts. Respectfully, I am sure that I'm not the first constituent to bring up the point that gambling is a terrible affliction that ruins countless lives. Furthermore, as a lifelong resident of your district I am appalled that this Administration is confident that we can simply gamble our way out of a looming fiscal crisis.
Mr. Galvin, I understand the pressure that the Commonwealth is under to deliver services without raising tolls and taxes. However, I firmly believe that building three casinos will wreak havoc on our already crumbling infrastructure and do little to address the true problem that has always plagued this Commonwealth: over-spending. Erecting brick and mortar casinos is a band-aid that will provide badly needed funds only until the Web 2.0/Second Life eventually reders these buildings obsolete. As a taxpayer, I sleep a little better at night knowing that our elected officials are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to responsible, long-term solutions that benefit every member of our society.
I appreciate your attention to this matter.
Best Regards,
Pahkcah02
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
But Seriously, It Never Does Get Old
Aside from having an automatic organ donor should I ever need one, another benefit to having a twin are the quirky inside jokes that we share. Since we have similar personalities, we also have strikingly identical eating habits which was a huge problem growing up since if it wasn't a hot dog or chicken nugget neither of us would touch it. Yeah, I get it - we were really fortunate to have a mom who put in the time and effort each night to ensure that we had a hot and nutritious family dinner. However, out of all the experimental meals my mom managed to find in Family Circle magazine, none were as reviled by the Troll and I as stuffed peppers. My mom informed me that she and my dad were having stuffed peppers for dinner last night and Troll and I had a good laugh about that one. It never does get old, does it?
To: Troll
From: Pahkcah02
Date: 9/27/2007, 13:34
Subject: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Melissa,
I wouldn't normally bother you at work but this is kind of urgent - you may want to head towards BWI right after work and grab the 4:30 Airtran flight to Boston. What's the emergency?
Mom announced that she and dad are having stuffed peppers for dinner. I would hate for you to miss out on all the fun.
luv, me
To: Pahkcah02
From: Troll
Date: 9/27/2007, 14:05
Subj: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Pick me up at Logan at 6. Beg mom and dad to wait for me so that I don't miss a minute of the excitement :)
To: Troll
From: Pahkcah02
Date: 9/27/2007; 14:09
Subj: Re: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
I just called mom. She was going to eat at 5:30 but since you're coming in, she said that she'll hold off on serving dinner til 7. I hope they bought enough. Personally, I'm good for 5 or 6 stuffed peppers - I like them even better than tuna casserole or tomato mac 'n cheese.
To: Pahkcah02
From: Troll
Date: 9/27/2007; 20:29
Subj: Re: Re: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Hi,
Apparently you've told mom that I don't approve of her meal choices. She wanted to know where to mail the leftover stuffed peppers, home or school :) I did get her to admit that even the dog wasn't interested in partaking in tonight's meal. Gee, I can't imagine why.
To: Troll
From: Pahkcah02
Date: 9/27/07; 21:03
Subj: Re: Re: Re: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Mom doesn't understand why we'll eat raw fish that until seconds before arriving on a plate had a pulse but we won't eat her stuffed peppers. Do you want to field that one? BTW, way throw me under the bus. Don't come crying to me when you need a kidney.
To: Troll
From: Pahkcah02
Date: 9/27/2007, 13:34
Subject: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Melissa,
I wouldn't normally bother you at work but this is kind of urgent - you may want to head towards BWI right after work and grab the 4:30 Airtran flight to Boston. What's the emergency?
Mom announced that she and dad are having stuffed peppers for dinner. I would hate for you to miss out on all the fun.
luv, me
To: Pahkcah02
From: Troll
Date: 9/27/2007, 14:05
Subj: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Pick me up at Logan at 6. Beg mom and dad to wait for me so that I don't miss a minute of the excitement :)
To: Troll
From: Pahkcah02
Date: 9/27/2007; 14:09
Subj: Re: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
I just called mom. She was going to eat at 5:30 but since you're coming in, she said that she'll hold off on serving dinner til 7. I hope they bought enough. Personally, I'm good for 5 or 6 stuffed peppers - I like them even better than tuna casserole or tomato mac 'n cheese.
To: Pahkcah02
From: Troll
Date: 9/27/2007; 20:29
Subj: Re: Re: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Hi,
Apparently you've told mom that I don't approve of her meal choices. She wanted to know where to mail the leftover stuffed peppers, home or school :) I did get her to admit that even the dog wasn't interested in partaking in tonight's meal. Gee, I can't imagine why.
To: Troll
From: Pahkcah02
Date: 9/27/07; 21:03
Subj: Re: Re: Re: Re: YOU ARE NEEDED IN STOUGHTON IMMEDIATELY
Mom doesn't understand why we'll eat raw fish that until seconds before arriving on a plate had a pulse but we won't eat her stuffed peppers. Do you want to field that one? BTW, way throw me under the bus. Don't come crying to me when you need a kidney.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Whoda Thunk?
Make your friends fit your diet — not blow it
When eating with others, we lose track of how much we munch
By Brian Wansink, Ph.D.
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 9:37 a.m. ET Sept 21, 2007
A recent study showed that overweight people are more likely to have overweight friends. That makes sense in a "birds of a feather" kind of way.
We like to spend time with people who are like us. Similar people make us feel comfortable. A person with a weight problem may not enjoy hanging out with a thin person or a friend on a diet. The chubbier, nondieting friend may feel pressured to lose weight or be inhibited about enjoying certain foods.
As it turns out, not only does your diet influence which friends you pick, your friends influence your diet.
It can be a great joy to share food with friends. But when we dine with people we like, it's easy to lose track of how much we eat. In the excitement of conversation, we don't notice how many rolls we've eaten, if we're on our second serving — or perhaps third — of pasta.
Among friends, we also tend to eat for a longer period of time than when alone. We are having fun, and we want to hear or tell a funny story.
Eating is like shopping
Besides, it's just good manners to wait until everyone is done eating until we push off from the table . And eating is like shopping: the longer you stay at the mall, the more you buy. The longer you stay at the table, the more you tend to eat.
This tendency to chow down among friends is so strong that it is almost mathematically predictable, according to John de Castro, psychologist at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
On average, if you dine with one other person you will eat about 35 percent more than if you were alone. (Spouses don't have this effect because couples tend to get into a regular eating pattern and consume about the same amount.)
If you eat with a party of seven or more, you will gobble up 96 percent more, or nearly twice as much. Sound like Thanksgiving? And if you get a table for four, you will end up right in the middle, eating about 75 percent more calories than if you dined alone.
This may be one reason why close friends and family tend to weigh about the same. Some families are skinny and some families are not. If there are a majority of overweight people in a family, it is more difficult to lose weight because the frequency, quantity and time spent eating puts more pressure on the person who is trying to diet.
Enjoy alone time
But don't worry; this doesn't mean you have to choose between having friends and having a waistline. Just model yourself off of the right friends.
If you’re trying to lose weight, go to lunch with your Atkins-approved pals, not the group who usually ends up wolfing down pizza at midnight.
Also, sit next to slow eaters who can help you pace your eating, not the speed eaters who eat like they grew up in a family of 12.
And if you're going out to dinner with a few chums, follow the "rule of two." Limit yourself to two items in addition to the entrée. That could be a small appetizer and dessert, or two pieces of bread. But you can't have more than two.
If you follow these simple strategies, you won't feel deprived, you'll be less likely to overeat and you can still be popular.
Brian Wansink, Ph.D. is director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. His book "Mindless Eating — Why We Eat More Than We Think" has just been published in paperback.
© 2007 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20396353/
When eating with others, we lose track of how much we munch
By Brian Wansink, Ph.D.
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 9:37 a.m. ET Sept 21, 2007
A recent study showed that overweight people are more likely to have overweight friends. That makes sense in a "birds of a feather" kind of way.
We like to spend time with people who are like us. Similar people make us feel comfortable. A person with a weight problem may not enjoy hanging out with a thin person or a friend on a diet. The chubbier, nondieting friend may feel pressured to lose weight or be inhibited about enjoying certain foods.
As it turns out, not only does your diet influence which friends you pick, your friends influence your diet.
It can be a great joy to share food with friends. But when we dine with people we like, it's easy to lose track of how much we eat. In the excitement of conversation, we don't notice how many rolls we've eaten, if we're on our second serving — or perhaps third — of pasta.
Among friends, we also tend to eat for a longer period of time than when alone. We are having fun, and we want to hear or tell a funny story.
Eating is like shopping
Besides, it's just good manners to wait until everyone is done eating until we push off from the table . And eating is like shopping: the longer you stay at the mall, the more you buy. The longer you stay at the table, the more you tend to eat.
This tendency to chow down among friends is so strong that it is almost mathematically predictable, according to John de Castro, psychologist at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
On average, if you dine with one other person you will eat about 35 percent more than if you were alone. (Spouses don't have this effect because couples tend to get into a regular eating pattern and consume about the same amount.)
If you eat with a party of seven or more, you will gobble up 96 percent more, or nearly twice as much. Sound like Thanksgiving? And if you get a table for four, you will end up right in the middle, eating about 75 percent more calories than if you dined alone.
This may be one reason why close friends and family tend to weigh about the same. Some families are skinny and some families are not. If there are a majority of overweight people in a family, it is more difficult to lose weight because the frequency, quantity and time spent eating puts more pressure on the person who is trying to diet.
Enjoy alone time
But don't worry; this doesn't mean you have to choose between having friends and having a waistline. Just model yourself off of the right friends.
If you’re trying to lose weight, go to lunch with your Atkins-approved pals, not the group who usually ends up wolfing down pizza at midnight.
Also, sit next to slow eaters who can help you pace your eating, not the speed eaters who eat like they grew up in a family of 12.
And if you're going out to dinner with a few chums, follow the "rule of two." Limit yourself to two items in addition to the entrée. That could be a small appetizer and dessert, or two pieces of bread. But you can't have more than two.
If you follow these simple strategies, you won't feel deprived, you'll be less likely to overeat and you can still be popular.
Brian Wansink, Ph.D. is director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. His book "Mindless Eating — Why We Eat More Than We Think" has just been published in paperback.
© 2007 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20396353/
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
For a Squeaky Clean Shine
Because I live all of my waking hours in a 1 bedroom condo, I generally try to keep it as clean as humanly possible. While I don't especially mind cleaning on an almost daily basis, one job that I really dread is mopping the kitchen and bathroom floors. Obviously there are a lot of people who feel the same way I do about this unglorious task so the cleaning industry has responded by inventing Swiffer-type products.
In addition to owning a traditional mop, I also have a Clorox Ready Mop for those quick, in-between cleanings. Everything was fine until last week, when I literally cracked my Ready Mop in half in a feeble attempt to get a stain off my kitchen floor. Yesterday I mosied on down to my local Wal-Mart to replace it.
Unbeknownst to me, apparently the Swiffer craze has created a whole industry based on disposable cleaning products. Reduce, reuse, and recycle be damned when it comes to creating a need for things like disposable toilet brushes and mopping pads which must be replaced everytime you use them. Wal-Mart literally has an entire aisle dedicated to one-use sponges and car cleaners.
The cleaning industry almost guilts you into buying their new disposable products. Who knew that by cleaning something I was actually spreading even more germs? I was about ready to pick out a new Swiffer until I saw something that scared me even more than germs themselves: a $20 price tag just for the unit. Add that to the $10 disposable mopping pads and $4 cleaner and it became very apparent that my floor wasn't going to be the only thing getting the once-over.
Rather than cough up that kind of money only to be forced to buy expensive replacement parts, I went for the $3 old-fashioned floor cleaner. Sure it may take an extra five minutes to clean the floors but I'm humble enough to admit that 5 minutes of my leisure time isn't worth the additional investment in a Swiffer.
I'm not not as much of an environmentalist as I am a cheapskate. Therefore, I find it absolutely batty that someone would invest in a throw-away product when they can purchase a longer-lasting product for a fraction of the price. As far as the spreading germ theory, whatever doesn't kill you will only make you stronger, right?
In addition to owning a traditional mop, I also have a Clorox Ready Mop for those quick, in-between cleanings. Everything was fine until last week, when I literally cracked my Ready Mop in half in a feeble attempt to get a stain off my kitchen floor. Yesterday I mosied on down to my local Wal-Mart to replace it.
Unbeknownst to me, apparently the Swiffer craze has created a whole industry based on disposable cleaning products. Reduce, reuse, and recycle be damned when it comes to creating a need for things like disposable toilet brushes and mopping pads which must be replaced everytime you use them. Wal-Mart literally has an entire aisle dedicated to one-use sponges and car cleaners.
The cleaning industry almost guilts you into buying their new disposable products. Who knew that by cleaning something I was actually spreading even more germs? I was about ready to pick out a new Swiffer until I saw something that scared me even more than germs themselves: a $20 price tag just for the unit. Add that to the $10 disposable mopping pads and $4 cleaner and it became very apparent that my floor wasn't going to be the only thing getting the once-over.
Rather than cough up that kind of money only to be forced to buy expensive replacement parts, I went for the $3 old-fashioned floor cleaner. Sure it may take an extra five minutes to clean the floors but I'm humble enough to admit that 5 minutes of my leisure time isn't worth the additional investment in a Swiffer.
I'm not not as much of an environmentalist as I am a cheapskate. Therefore, I find it absolutely batty that someone would invest in a throw-away product when they can purchase a longer-lasting product for a fraction of the price. As far as the spreading germ theory, whatever doesn't kill you will only make you stronger, right?
Monday, September 24, 2007
Welcome to Worcester (the state charges a dollar, twenty-five)
Would a Cleary have it any other way? With a lot of help from this amazing Worcester clan, I managed to successfully pull of a bachelorette and shower for our girl Missy this weekend. We started off with a wonderful brunch at the Spencer Country Inn, followed by lots of oohing and aaahing over crockpots, Corningware, and place settings. Of course, no Worcester trip would be complete without a pit stop at the Cherry Valley American Legion, or sleeping in an actual camper. Congratulations, Missy!
This is how we roll, yo
All dolled up and ready to go
Doesn't everyone check their Blackberry in the middle of a bachelorette celebration??
A competitve round of capture the underwear
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Don't Be Mad Cause I'm Stylin'
Because I work out of my bedroom when I'm not travelling, I consider any outfit that requires shoes to be dress-up clothes these days. Granted, it's not often that I get to leave the Canton compound which is good, as some of the stuff people are wearing nowadays is downright scary. Not like I'm some sort of fashionista, but I do find some of the outfits worn by folks in our metropolitan areas to be a bit odd. Stuff that annoys me:
1. Short sleeve shirts with ties: Unless you are working for the Geek Squad, suck it up and wear a real dress shirt. I assure you that you're still gonna be roasting in 95 degree weather, regardless of the length of your shirt sleeves.
2. Short sleeve suits: popular with the over 40 set the world over. Nothing screams "I spent $30 on this suit at Kohls" like a lady sporting a bright red short sleeve suit.
3. Capri pants with hooker boots: Shiver me timbers - you look like a pirate! As punishment for wearing something so horrific you can walk the plank in lieu of your 10am nicotine fix.
4. Army BDU's for the paper-pushing soldier (mostly DC): Al-Qaeda may be enemy #1 for the army but I assure you that a dress shirt and trousers are a close runner-up. I know that they're all very excited about their fancy new uniforms but unless one is actually in combat, they do little to flatter one's figure. Perhaps more people would enlist if they were able to wear cuter uniforms?
5. Green "Monsta" Red Sox shirts: I'm sure your friends back in fly-over country get a big kick out of this one. I hope someone steals your wallet, you fucking tourist.
6. Pink shirts on guys: You're not metrosexual, you're probably just an asshole. Go drink your Stella Artois on the opposite side of the bar, please.
7. White socks: If you have to buy any clothing item in a pre-sealed package of 6 then they are to be donned at the gym and the gym only.
1. Short sleeve shirts with ties: Unless you are working for the Geek Squad, suck it up and wear a real dress shirt. I assure you that you're still gonna be roasting in 95 degree weather, regardless of the length of your shirt sleeves.
2. Short sleeve suits: popular with the over 40 set the world over. Nothing screams "I spent $30 on this suit at Kohls" like a lady sporting a bright red short sleeve suit.
3. Capri pants with hooker boots: Shiver me timbers - you look like a pirate! As punishment for wearing something so horrific you can walk the plank in lieu of your 10am nicotine fix.
4. Army BDU's for the paper-pushing soldier (mostly DC): Al-Qaeda may be enemy #1 for the army but I assure you that a dress shirt and trousers are a close runner-up. I know that they're all very excited about their fancy new uniforms but unless one is actually in combat, they do little to flatter one's figure. Perhaps more people would enlist if they were able to wear cuter uniforms?
5. Green "Monsta" Red Sox shirts: I'm sure your friends back in fly-over country get a big kick out of this one. I hope someone steals your wallet, you fucking tourist.
6. Pink shirts on guys: You're not metrosexual, you're probably just an asshole. Go drink your Stella Artois on the opposite side of the bar, please.
7. White socks: If you have to buy any clothing item in a pre-sealed package of 6 then they are to be donned at the gym and the gym only.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Good Morning, Baltimore
After meaning to do so for several weeks, I finally downloaded the Hairspray soundtrack off of iTunes. I saw the film while visiting the Troll in Maryland earlier this summer. Obviously, both the Sun and Baltimore magazine gave the movie 5 stars. That's why I love the irony of the South. Let's take a horrific issue like segregation, add a musical score to the era, and make Jim Crow appear to be almost nostalgic. Regardless, the new Hairspray ran circles around the Ricki Lake version and I wholeheartedly recommend you check it out. The cast is fantastic and I'll likely be blaring "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the Crossfire for a long while.
Together We Can Raise Taxes
Is this guy for real? I mean, did we seriously elect a talentless fuck-up like Deval Patrick to serve as our governor for the next four years? Is he honest-to-God serious when he states that "if done the right way" casino gambling can bankroll this state into the next century?
Cadillac Deval is proposing that we build not one, not two, but THREE casinos in the Bay State in order to raise "badly needed revenues" for all of those social programs he promised in order to get elected. Citing that billions of dollars funnel from Massachusetts wallets straight into Connecticut casinos, he is trying to convince everyone that we can build the same thing right in our own backyards.
Take a good hard look at the riff-raff hanging out at the Raynham-Taunton dog track and you've got a crystal clear picture of what your New Bedford and Chicopee casinos are going to eventually look like. After all, let's consider for a moment the main reason why the Connecticut casinos are so successful: 1. first off, they're in CT, the wealthiest state in the entire union; 2. A good number of their high-rolling patrons are ridiculously well-paid executives working for metro-NY corporations; 3. Mohegan and Foxwoods are on the beautiful and historic CT shoreline, thus giving people an enticing non-gambling option; 4. Upscale dining tailored towards a clientele that doesn't consider the Olive Garden to be high-brow Italian fare.
I love my state, but it's the New Yorkers who make the CT casinos as chic as they are attempting to be. The folks who planned Mohegan and Foxwoods took one look at Atlantic City and decided to build the polar opposite. It's certainly not Las Vegas, but CT casinos are a heck of a lot more glamorous than the second rate crap we're going to get in Massachusetts.
Personally, I'm in favor of simply building dozens of affordable shopping centers (eg: Wal-Mart) across the Commonwealth. Much like a casino, a well-positioned Kohls can provide scores of jobs and provide their communities with badly needed tax revenues. It might not be as exciting as a casino, but as a resident of this state I can sleep a little bit better at night knowing that someone is trading their gambling addiction for value shopping.
Cadillac Deval is proposing that we build not one, not two, but THREE casinos in the Bay State in order to raise "badly needed revenues" for all of those social programs he promised in order to get elected. Citing that billions of dollars funnel from Massachusetts wallets straight into Connecticut casinos, he is trying to convince everyone that we can build the same thing right in our own backyards.
Take a good hard look at the riff-raff hanging out at the Raynham-Taunton dog track and you've got a crystal clear picture of what your New Bedford and Chicopee casinos are going to eventually look like. After all, let's consider for a moment the main reason why the Connecticut casinos are so successful: 1. first off, they're in CT, the wealthiest state in the entire union; 2. A good number of their high-rolling patrons are ridiculously well-paid executives working for metro-NY corporations; 3. Mohegan and Foxwoods are on the beautiful and historic CT shoreline, thus giving people an enticing non-gambling option; 4. Upscale dining tailored towards a clientele that doesn't consider the Olive Garden to be high-brow Italian fare.
I love my state, but it's the New Yorkers who make the CT casinos as chic as they are attempting to be. The folks who planned Mohegan and Foxwoods took one look at Atlantic City and decided to build the polar opposite. It's certainly not Las Vegas, but CT casinos are a heck of a lot more glamorous than the second rate crap we're going to get in Massachusetts.
Personally, I'm in favor of simply building dozens of affordable shopping centers (eg: Wal-Mart) across the Commonwealth. Much like a casino, a well-positioned Kohls can provide scores of jobs and provide their communities with badly needed tax revenues. It might not be as exciting as a casino, but as a resident of this state I can sleep a little bit better at night knowing that someone is trading their gambling addiction for value shopping.
Monday, September 17, 2007
How Do I Love Thee Crossfire, Let Me Count The Way$
I made a mad dash this morning to Town Fair Tire in Brockton to get a slow leak in one of my tires repaired. Since Brockton is the only city on the planet where one can trick out their $900 ride with $4,000 rims and it's viewed as a completely wise investment, they are generally the only place around that carries my 19" z rated tires in stock. It turns out that I managed to hit a nail on my way back from DC, which wouldn't normally be a huge issue except my tires are so shot that they only way that they would repair it is if I agreed to sign a waiver.
I spent almost $900 to replace my rear tires back in January. I bought the Pirelli P Zero models knowing full well that at most I could expect about 30,o00 miles out of them. Now, I don't know a ton about cars, but I do know that tires shouldn't be completely bald after driving them for only 16,000 miles. Of course the $99 tires I bought for the front (18" - much more common size) are completely fine. Figures, right?
This time I went with Bridgestone and the good news is that they're going to cost less than the Pirellis (not much less, but I'll take what I can get). Pirelli is officially on my shit list. In fact, if Pirelli was the last tire company on earth, I would be very tempted to get a T pass.
In other car related news, one of my brake lights blew out and I managed to fix it all by myself. How many former sorority girls to screw in a brake bulb? One - bitches, and it only set me back $0.59. Now when you ride my bumper on the Expressway you'll see not one, but TWO brake lights. It's the little things, folks...
I spent almost $900 to replace my rear tires back in January. I bought the Pirelli P Zero models knowing full well that at most I could expect about 30,o00 miles out of them. Now, I don't know a ton about cars, but I do know that tires shouldn't be completely bald after driving them for only 16,000 miles. Of course the $99 tires I bought for the front (18" - much more common size) are completely fine. Figures, right?
This time I went with Bridgestone and the good news is that they're going to cost less than the Pirellis (not much less, but I'll take what I can get). Pirelli is officially on my shit list. In fact, if Pirelli was the last tire company on earth, I would be very tempted to get a T pass.
In other car related news, one of my brake lights blew out and I managed to fix it all by myself. How many former sorority girls to screw in a brake bulb? One - bitches, and it only set me back $0.59. Now when you ride my bumper on the Expressway you'll see not one, but TWO brake lights. It's the little things, folks...
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Funny Tales from the Front Lines
My cousin Jeff has been deployed with his military police (MP) unit in Iraq for the past 8 months. One day while on patrol he noticed a suspicious looking man glaring at his unit from a rooftop. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that this Iraqi civilian was wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat. Annoyed, Jeff called for this man to slowly come down from the rooftop for questioning. The man was unarmed and happily complied with this request.
Through an interpreter, Jeff explained to this man that the NY Yankees were the hated rivals of his beloved Red Sox. As an NCO in the MP unit assigned to the area, Jeff requested he consider removing the offensive hat for something more appropriate. The following day Jeff met this man to give him a Boston Red Sox hat for him to wear instead.
A few days later Jeff sighted this exact same man on a rooftop, wearing an embroidered NY cap. Before Jeff could signal him down the man quickly turned his hat inside out as they smiled to one another.
Just another quirky tale from Red Sox Nation, Iraq!
Through an interpreter, Jeff explained to this man that the NY Yankees were the hated rivals of his beloved Red Sox. As an NCO in the MP unit assigned to the area, Jeff requested he consider removing the offensive hat for something more appropriate. The following day Jeff met this man to give him a Boston Red Sox hat for him to wear instead.
A few days later Jeff sighted this exact same man on a rooftop, wearing an embroidered NY cap. Before Jeff could signal him down the man quickly turned his hat inside out as they smiled to one another.
Just another quirky tale from Red Sox Nation, Iraq!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
P.S. Yesterday's post
A conversation that happened not even five minutes ago between my friend Adler and I:
Adler: My mother met a nice Jewish guy that she thinks might be perfect for you.
Me: Really? Because seriously, after I called your house at 3am by mistake I was pretty certain your mom hated me. I guess I was correct?
Adler: Nonsense. She doesn't hate you. She says that this guy happens to be really nice. He's 32 years old, a real estate developer living in central Florida.
Me: Wow! 32, out of state, and single! Bestill my lucky stars!
Adler: Shut up, who knows? Maybe he's been very involved in his career for the past few years. Anyways, my mom met his mom and they all think it could be a good match. Oh, and he's willing to move to Boston if it works out.
Me: You've. Got. To. Be. Fucking. Kidding. Me. Has my life really come to this? Is my dating life so pathetic that even your mom pities me?
Adler: Fuck you. I'm giving him your e-mail address. Try to be nice.
And people wonder why I drink so much........
Adler: My mother met a nice Jewish guy that she thinks might be perfect for you.
Me: Really? Because seriously, after I called your house at 3am by mistake I was pretty certain your mom hated me. I guess I was correct?
Adler: Nonsense. She doesn't hate you. She says that this guy happens to be really nice. He's 32 years old, a real estate developer living in central Florida.
Me: Wow! 32, out of state, and single! Bestill my lucky stars!
Adler: Shut up, who knows? Maybe he's been very involved in his career for the past few years. Anyways, my mom met his mom and they all think it could be a good match. Oh, and he's willing to move to Boston if it works out.
Me: You've. Got. To. Be. Fucking. Kidding. Me. Has my life really come to this? Is my dating life so pathetic that even your mom pities me?
Adler: Fuck you. I'm giving him your e-mail address. Try to be nice.
And people wonder why I drink so much........
Monday, September 3, 2007
If I was running a restaurant, I wonder what I'd call it
Growing up, having dinner together as a family was kind of a big deal. While most of the meals were quite memorable, I was kind of a picky eater so obviously not everything passed muster. Whenever I voiced my opinion on a meal that wasn't something I particularly enjoyed, I was told by my parents that they "weren't running a restaurant" and to eat what was put in front of me.
To kick off the end of summer I invited my mom over for lobster tonight. My dad and sister also wanted to come but they don't eat lobster, therefore I had to make them another meal. On top of that, Minnie also enjoys eating with the family so I would have to prepare a third item just for her.
I ended up making lobster, chicken, and burgers (for the dog). Apparently I am running a restaurant..... Ironic, huh?
To kick off the end of summer I invited my mom over for lobster tonight. My dad and sister also wanted to come but they don't eat lobster, therefore I had to make them another meal. On top of that, Minnie also enjoys eating with the family so I would have to prepare a third item just for her.
I ended up making lobster, chicken, and burgers (for the dog). Apparently I am running a restaurant..... Ironic, huh?
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Vacation's all I ever wanted
It is kind of nice to have a long weekend for a change. Between cell phones and Blackberries, I haven't had a true "real" vacation in over five years. I really enjoy what I do so I generally don't mind responding to work related phone calls and e-mails just because I need a few days of R & R.
I know that this probably doesn't really count as a vacation but one of my NY based colleagues has a boat on Long Island and invited a few of us on an outing on Friday. Because I am the only Boston-based employee, this required some planning on my part since he wanted to leave the dock by 10am. Being the trooper that I am I am up and on the road by 0530. Owning a boat (aka: camping for rich people) has always been a goal of mine so I was really excited about hanging out in the sunshine and drinking beer with the Presidents and VP's. I popped 2 Dramamines before I got on-board, thinking that I was headed towards a care-free afternoon.
That is where the trouble began. New York drivers suck enough when they're on the Long Island Expressway so I have no idea why I thought that they would peform better behind the wheel of a 27' motor boat. I got sick twice (at one point on of the VP's volunteered to hold my hair back, therefore making that former West Pointer an honorary Sigma Kappa) and prayed for death. Here I was, stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean, nauesous, hungry, and battling the humidity. Then about a half hour before we were due to head in I miraculously felt better. I was eating pretzels (and keeping them down), laughing, and even tried fishing for a bit.
I'd like to thank the VP of Research for saving me about a hundred large, since I've decided that I'm never, ever going to buy a boat. Maybe I can aim for more practial goals, such as buying a plane, since I never get airsick. However, I've learned that if you can ralph next to your CEO and everyone can laugh about it then you're truly at a company made up of good people. That being said, I probably won't be attending next year's boat outing.
The silver lining to all of this is the fact that I bought an 8 pack of Dramamine and still have 4 left. I'm going to see the Troll this week and I may need a few if she insists on driving me someplace. She learned to drive like an asshole while attending school on Long Island and I swear that she can a minimum of 4' of air off a speed bump.
Dee, perhaps we made the right decision here?
I know that this probably doesn't really count as a vacation but one of my NY based colleagues has a boat on Long Island and invited a few of us on an outing on Friday. Because I am the only Boston-based employee, this required some planning on my part since he wanted to leave the dock by 10am. Being the trooper that I am I am up and on the road by 0530. Owning a boat (aka: camping for rich people) has always been a goal of mine so I was really excited about hanging out in the sunshine and drinking beer with the Presidents and VP's. I popped 2 Dramamines before I got on-board, thinking that I was headed towards a care-free afternoon.
That is where the trouble began. New York drivers suck enough when they're on the Long Island Expressway so I have no idea why I thought that they would peform better behind the wheel of a 27' motor boat. I got sick twice (at one point on of the VP's volunteered to hold my hair back, therefore making that former West Pointer an honorary Sigma Kappa) and prayed for death. Here I was, stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean, nauesous, hungry, and battling the humidity. Then about a half hour before we were due to head in I miraculously felt better. I was eating pretzels (and keeping them down), laughing, and even tried fishing for a bit.
I'd like to thank the VP of Research for saving me about a hundred large, since I've decided that I'm never, ever going to buy a boat. Maybe I can aim for more practial goals, such as buying a plane, since I never get airsick. However, I've learned that if you can ralph next to your CEO and everyone can laugh about it then you're truly at a company made up of good people. That being said, I probably won't be attending next year's boat outing.
The silver lining to all of this is the fact that I bought an 8 pack of Dramamine and still have 4 left. I'm going to see the Troll this week and I may need a few if she insists on driving me someplace. She learned to drive like an asshole while attending school on Long Island and I swear that she can a minimum of 4' of air off a speed bump.
Dee, perhaps we made the right decision here?
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