Nealmeister

Nope, Neal didn't fall off the face of earth

I've been thinking long and hard for a while whether I really want to blog any more. Blogging was great as a student; the medium naturally dovetailed from my daily journaling habit--a habit that I started in the 5th grade. That was 1991. This is 2009, when, more than ever, the personal lives are becoming ever more public. Social norms are changing -- at least somewhat -- and the minds of that Zuckerman kid and the rest of the crew at Facebook are foaming at the mouth, waiting for the day that we all jump the private-public divide and provide people with all of the intimate consumer data that they've so desperately wanted. When that day comes, I hope I can take part in the Facebook IPO. And when that day comes, I'll be just a little sad, because it means that shows like "The Real World" and the idea of living a private life might be bookmarks in history.

I digress. Really, since the last time I've posted, I've moved to Chicago, feeling out the new bearings, training for (and successfully running) races, playing host and feeling great being hosted. I now have a beard -- that won't be lasting for much longer -- but I think the point that I'm trying to make is that I've outgrown blogging just like I felt as though I needed to grow out of Boston.

Alas, good things are too hard to give up. So I'm going to give this whole thing another try. Rework the medium. So stay tuned.

In the meantime, here's something that will do the trick: every single status update from yours truly on Facebook between the end of August (when I left Boston) and yesterday (when Jess and I finished up our nice little urban adventure in Chicago). My life is not any more interesting as yours. The thing is, I guess I'm willing to put it out there for you to judge.

On Facebook, Neal Boyle...

1. walked 9.17 miles through Chicago with Jess Stankus today. Urban adventures=major success. (11 hours ago)
2. and Jess decided to go down and visit The Bean in Millennium Park at about Sunset. Then, we decided to walk to the Magnificent Mile, which lead to a walk to Rachie's Starbucks, and which finally resulted in a walk all the way back to Andersonville. 9.17 miles. 1320.5 calories burned. I'm impressed with ourselves. (Yesterday at 21:20)
3. will be putting some Charlie's Ale House into his belly. The sun is shining in Chicago. The Bears are owning the Browns. ND is climbing in the rankings. The occupants of 1350 West Winnemac are relishing in another amazing Halloween. So much to be happy about; so little space to express the glee.(Yesterday at 14:20)
4. Halloween has turned into something made for TV... seriously... (Sat at 22:35)
5. Go Irish! Beat Cougars! (Sat at 08:47)
6. Hands-down quote of the night @Bessye: "It's not about getting it right; it's about getting it easy." (Fri at 21:02)
7. feels and looks like he belongs on That 70s Show... and it's only B-list Halloween costume night!
8. (Fri at 18:06)
9. Evacuate the free weights floor, people! There is a Neal Boyle twin on the floor, and the real one will be damned to let the impersonator out-do him in the medicine ball push up contest... (Fri at 15:37)
10. has a yummy-smelling pumpkin... (Fri at 12:09)
11.  doing up more touristy Chicago stuff in the Loop with the East Coast girls. Sears Tower Skywalk it is!
12. (29 October at 13:22 )
13. called 312-867-5309 (29 October at 01:10)
14. This Boyle is (too shy to be) made for live Karaoke @ Cubby Bear... (28 October at 23:49)
15. @ Goose Island BrewCo w/the Boston (and VA) girls, doing up TGIW in Wrigleyville. Go Phillies!!! (28 October at 19:33)
16. Korean BBQ followed by Chicago Brauhause in Lincoln Sq = getting set up for a wicked amazing night on the far north side! (27 October at 19:28)
17. is happy that the 6-year old inside of him continues to live the dream and never grows tired of the way 2700 series Budd subway cars race along elevated tracks in the north side of Chicago...(27 October at 17:31)
18. clerked for a Bankruptcy Court judge. Is "Introduction to Federal Court" really necessary? Can someone please slam me with a Federal Rule Book? Ok, not really... but the hyperbolic Facebook nonsense is irresistible, especially during Illinois MCLEs! (27 October at 08:04)
19. earnestly awaits the arrival of Kristyn+Denise in the Windy City, but first, not without 10 more hours of Illinois CLE amazingness. If only Mitch from Old School would show up, too. Life would be nearly complete. (27 October at 00:15)
20. Oh, CTA, how you can't be trusted during rush hour. Thank God Neal got on the Red Line before it decided to run express to Lake... (26 October at 06:50)
21. wonders when the Red Line will ever roll on in to Argyle station... (26 October at 06:33)
22. thinks seasonal influenza is--like a couple of logs in the fire or a fresh Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie--a special gift from God that Neal just needs to snuggle up with and enjoy. (25 October at 23:27)
23. along the brittle treacherous bright streets / of memory comes my heart singing like / an idiot whispering like drunken man / who(at a certain corner suddenly)meets / the tall policeman of my mind. (25 October at 09:56)
24. watching the Undertones at the Notre Dame Bookstore with Kev+Jess. Booyah! (24 October at 19:43)
25. Go IRISH! Beat Eagles! (24 October at 11:52)
26. Are you questioning my badassedness? I mean have you seen my guns??? (22 October at 23:18)
27. Thoughts+Prayers are with the Hoells and the Santosuossos right now... (22 October at 10:18)
28. has got two extra BC/ND tickets, courtesy of Jess. Anyone want to make a trip from Boston and/or any Domers in need? (21 October at 20:18)
29. can rock the beard in a pinstripe suit, a form fitting shirt and a Brooks Brother tie. Bad, Neal, very very very bad (albeit, delicious, haha)! (21 October at 13:34)
30. Are you a coffee, or are you a slice of pumpkin pie? You're too delicious to be just a latte. You're pie. I love you. (20 October at 17:41)
31. is looking for another race to train for. All you runners and triathloners were right: the adrenaline rush is... addictive. (19 October at 20:19)
32. might have run the Urbanathlon, but man, oh man, that massage followed by some old school pampering needs to be scheduled ASAP. Neal=can't walk="hilarious". (19 October at 00:41)
33. Notre Dame, what a shame. Whatever, I still am crazy in love with the alma mater... (17 October at 19:34)
34. Men's Health Urbanathlon 2009. What? WHAT! Thanks to all you folks who kept me running, to all the causes that kept me inspired, and all the other runners who kept things honest. Now, it's time to celebrate Domer style. GO IRISH! BEAT TROJANS! (17 October at 12:19)
35. Here it comes. 12-mile course. 1-mile Soldier Field stadium stairclimb. 5 challenging urban bootcamp obstacles. There's only one Neal. There's only one Men's Health Urbanathlon. And holy cow, racer #2081 is going to tear her up tomorrow morning! (16 October at 16:31)
36. Based on Facebook, I gather that (a) it's blizzarding in Boston, (b) everyone's traveling to South Bend (Go Irish; Beat Trojans!) and (c) Falcon is awesome because he hid in the box and not the balloon. Me? I'm Facebooking. (16 October at 07:22)
37. and Rach finally broke down and turned on the heat. It is a little chilly in Chicago, after all... (15 October at 18:01)
38. What? Bob Saget is the voice of "How I Met Your Mother?" But I've been watching HIMYM for how many years now? Doh! Neal, oh Neal... (14 October at 23:30)  
39. ...planning on a walk through Andersonville, right after CPK and Glee. Pre-MH Race, no-caffeine, no-beer Nealski = no funski. (14 October at 20:59)
40. Woot and Woot! The Townies are headed to the Windy City come December! Go Celtics! (14 October at 12:31
41.  Illinois plates on the Corolla. Goodbye Bay State; Hello Land of Lincoln. Next up: Illinois Supreme Court swearing-in... followed by plotting a strategy to acquire a Jeep Wrangler. (13 October at 16:24)
42. Tuesday, Tuesday, so good to me... (13 October at 08:38)
43. got to Chicago just in time for the 'L' fare hikes, which seem to be whole heck of a lot less merciful than those going on at the 'T'. (12 October at 11:32)
44. ...capping off a wicked awesome, random Columbus Day weekend marked by, among other things, a Bartling visit, a visit to Das Boot, and that little 26.2 mile race with some Phillies baseball (not really sure where or when I became a Phillies fan, but it seems to work), a little more meatloaf, and whole heck of a lot of grape soda... (11 October at 23:15)
45. cheering Jim+Colleen Bartling and the St Greg's HS kids on at Mile 8 of the Chicago Marathon! [p.s.--it's 29 degrees here!!] (11 October at 07:00)
46. So, The Cranberries are playing in Chicago @ The Riviera Theatre on November 25th. Anyone want to go with Nealski? You know you want to sing along to Linger followed by Zombie... (08 October at 20:59)
47. ...with so much going down, he often wonders what really is up... (08 October at 01:12)
48. forecasting snow in Chicago on Sunday. But wait, the foliage is still (basically) green! This is penitence for Neal's shortcomings... (07 October at 21:42)
49. Alas, networking and catch-up coffees. I've got Mr Holte and Ms Martinez to thank for the plenteous rain! (07 October at 14:46)
50. is witnessing music being made @Tonic Room, 2447 N Halsted. Chicago's music scene beats Boston. Sorry, kids, the Bean just don't compare... (06 October at 22:52)
51. Life as a Corporate Attorney on sabbatical is wicked stressful, thusly, I'm off to the gym (and later, to Tonic Room on Halsted, if anyone's interested or inclined). (06 October at 16:31)
52. can't decide whether he wants to keep the faux beard or lose the faux beard. These are times when polling the Clery's TGIW crew would be necessary and appropriate. (06 October at 06:43)
53. Lie to Me, baby (and Brett Favre, grrr, you're making Lauren Lynch go madddd)! (05 October at 22:27)
54. The Bears, followed by Lake Shore run, St. A's, and then legs day @ Cheetah Gym. Perfect autumn afternoon in Chicago... (04 October at 14:09)
55. Holy crap... squeaked that one by! Go Irish! (03 October at 18:46)
56. On the Indiana Toll Road en route to the 'Bend. Go Irish! Beat Huskies! (03 October at 10:00)
57. Great job, Rio! "Now the village elders can come home [to Chicago] and take care of the kids being killed on [Chicago's] streets and focus on getting [Chicago's] schools in order..." (02 October at 12:00) ·
58. Go Cubs Go! (Hopefully no rain delay) (01 October at 18:27)
59. When in Chicago, do as Chicagoans do!?!?! (01 October at 18:16)
60. It's official— I passed the Illinois Bar. Thankfully, because of the love + support of all you friends, family, fans, and even enemies. Y'all put up with a lot this summer, including that horrible prayer for perpetual summer rain . But, alas, ring in Fergie + the Black Eyed Peas... and Go, Cubs, Go (with John, Hillary + Alan)!!! (01 October at 11:42)
61. just wants to vomit. It feels less like Christmas morning and more like the moments before the elementary school spelling bee. C'mon Illinois bar examiners; post July's results already! (01 October at 08:21)
62. scored Cubbies tickets with John, Alan and Hillary Thursday night. Pittsburgh Pirates are going down. Go, Cubs, Go! (30 September at 15:11)
63. might not be as cool as Brody Jenner, but Chicagoland bromance applications are currently being accepted. Apply herein. (29 September at 12:52)
64. Second City... let that wind blow. (28 September at 20:40)
65. apparently swapped hurricanes for tornadoes. When in the midwest, do what the midwesterners do, one must suppose. Good times. Now how about those fried cheese kurds at Culvers? That sounds like a better midwestern treat (and a half)...(28 September at 00:15)
66. Old St. Pat's or St. A's? This church shopping thing is getting complicated... (27 September at 12:29)
67. Jesus Christ, God Loves Us! GO IRISH! BEAT BOILMAKERS! This is what college football is ALL ABOUT!!!! (26 September at 22:28)
68. Another Urbanathlon training run. Mostly flat, but with some rolling hills and also with good variety of surfaces: asphalt, concrete, gravel, sand and grass.(26 September at 11:16) ·
69. Go Irish! Beat Boilmakers! Go Hokies! Beat Hurricanes! Go Bulls! Beat 'noles! (26 September at 07:58)
70. "my crocs make that manageable." (25 September at 20:46)
71. + Rachel present Friday Night Game Nite. 1350 W Winnemac #3W, Andersonville. Be there or square. You know you want in... so bring it already! [ps--GO HOKIES!] (25 September at 17:35)
72. Met my match at Cheetah Gym whilst dirty-doubling: the dude (yes, dude) who planned on using the 125 lb. dumbbells and kindly asked if he could use my bench. First off: yes, sir, you may. Second off: Steroids much?!? Third off: You can kill me with one swipe of your paw. That would hurt. I take the steroids comment back... (25 September at 14:52)
73. Just found out that Tedy Bruschi is half-Filipino. Guess what? So is Neal! The day is officially complete... (24 September at 22:10)
74. will be saying 'Aloha' to Hamburger Mary's with the Castrop sistahs and Ms. Lauck. If you want in too, hit the digits... (24 September at 18:06)
75. can no longer listen to The Beatles. They used to remind Neal of Sunday Brunch with the Boyles... or even "Across the Universe." Those are good, nostalgic, feel-good associations. Now, The Beatles are just associated with being stuck in the makeshift office (read: Andersonville Starbucks) and the baristas that keep on glaring in his direction (read: sexual harrassment). Yarghhhhh! (24 September at 15:25)
76. is marketing his goods+services to all of Chicagoland. (23 September at 09:01)
77. thinks that 80s music after a night of Taco Tuesdays is the perfect way to end the 21st day in Chicago.... (22 September at 23:58)
78. is listening to Joni Mitchell, drafting cover letters, scheduling coffees, and plotting on how this Illinois Sub-Teacher's and Prelim Teaching Certificate should get used... Oh, and figuring which passport beer should get consumed tonite @ Crew (disappointed that he can't have another Rogue Dead Guy). (22 September at 14:17)
79. misses having in-unit laundry. But at least he's just figured out his next photography project! (22 September at 12:28)
80. Hospital Scrubs, Orange Crush, Chocolate Ice Cream, Elios Pizza + watching "Role Models." Neal may just have morphed into a chicita... (21 September at 23:20)
81. Didn't think anyone could beat Meg Hughes' "Tour de France" spin class, but alas, in Chicago reigns a spin instructor who has fine-tuned that form of torture... (21 September at 19:47)
82. Funny how whether you're in Boston or Chicago, the Red Line always has got its (endearing AND annoying) quirks. Woot public transit! (21 September at 08:56)
83. Bear Down, Chicago Bears! Craziness... (20 September at 18:18)
84. Beautiful fall day in Chicago=perfect sweatshirt weather, perfect Parish "shopping" weather, and perfect flag football weather... (20 September at 09:58)
85. Thank you, Lord. Irish fans will gladly take that (lucky+undeserved) ND win over MSU. Makes for an easier ride back to Chicago, too... (19 September at 20:27)
86. Got an extra ND/MSU ticket. Anyone want it? Let Neal know. Go Irish! Beat Spartans! (19 September at 10:48)
87. Oh, Notre Dame. What beautiful things my eyes see before me. Go Irish! Beat Spartans! (19 September at 10:24)
88. Go Irish! Beat Spartans! (19 September at 07:34)
89. is a tad homesick+missing boston, at least... (19 September at 02:38)
90. Chicago-style dinner party=success. Thank God (and Jewel-Osco)! (19 September at 00:28)
91. and Rach are hauling @$$ trying to get this dinner together. Woot woot! Go Game Night in Chicago!!! (18 September at 19:36)
92. After seeing "Across the Universe," rereading "The Year the Title Forgot to Come," and partaking in bike adventures w/the Citymate, I think MaryBeth Burke was right: being the candle in "Beauty the Beast, the Musical" is a noteworthy goal (even more so than being staff@ Crew). (18 September at 01:51)
93. Lake Shore-A'ville-Lincoln Sq run: 8.25 miles. Clark/Foster to Montrose Hrbr to Hollywood Beach to Winnemac Pk. 30 days to the Mens Health Race. Run, Neal, Run! (17 September at 19:14)
94. That's right, there're big waves, seagulls+plenty of sand at Lake Michigan. Oh, and a beach at the end of my street. Chicago=wicked amazing. Neal approves... (16 September at 14:42)
95. The Jehovah Witnesses found me at Starbucks. They are aggressive. I think they were sent. Someone confirm or deny these suspicions! (15 September at 09:56)
96. Good Morning, Chicago. The sun has yet to rise, but somehow, somewhy, Neal is already rarin' to go. Not sure what's going on here, but let it roll... (15 September at 05:17)
97. "You're too stupid to have a good time." Thank you, Patrick Swayze. RIP. (14 September at 23:19)
98. Tom Brady is back tonite! Anyone else up for Monday Night Football @T's Bar & Grill in Andersonville? Hit the digits... (14 September at 13:41)
99. Spending the morning working out of the Starbucks in Andersonville. How yuppie cliche of Neal... (14 September at 08:56)
100. Lauren Lynch wins, and she has Jay Cutler to thank for that. Grrrrrrr... (13 September at 22:50)
101. Inaugural Lake Shore Run. Clark/Foster to Belmont Harbor and back. Let's see how Chicago's trails treat old Neal's feet... (13 September at 17:58)
102. Got it, folks. Bear Down. Off to O'Hare with Lady Martinez... (13 September at 15:21)
103. Since I've moved Chicago, no drop of rain has fallen sky. Keep the blue skies shining down on me (oh, and Bear Down, Chicago Bears!)... (13 September at 14:43)
104. En route to U2... at Soldier's Field! (12 September at 19:43)
105. = p.o.'d Irish fan. Armando Allen was in bounds. Big Ten refs, Neal's got a bone to pick with you. (12 September at 18:19)
106. Go Irish! Muck Fichigan! (12 September at 00:14)
107. Calling Allen out of bounds was the worst official review I've ever seen. (12 September at 15:22)
108. The quest for a desk continues... and all these furniture stores in Andersonville do the trick (at least for ideas)! (10 September at 18:03)
109. Whether in Boston or Chicago, still finding myself listening to KISS-FM. Breaks up assembling all this stuff from Ikea... Oh, Neal! (10 September at 12:47)
110. The Chronicles of Narnia wardrobe is taking forever to reassemble.. Lucy better pop on out when I'm done with some Turkish Delight! (10 September at 14:08)
111. T's Bar+Restaurant in Andersonville w/the Castrop Sistahs! (09 September at 21:53)
112. can't get Green Day's "21 Guns" out of his head. Thank you, Mix 101.9... (07 September at 23:34)
113. Wine cups? Yes, Chicago! (06 September at 22:49)
114. after dropping Will+Chris off at O'Hare, this kid is kicking off his freshman year in the Windy City by unpacking (because boxes don't unpack themselves...) (06 September at 10:09)
115. Went up for push ups for 21 (again), courtesy Lynch. Irish 21, Wolfpack, 0. (05 September at 16:00)
116. Went up for push ups for 7, courtesy Lynch. Irish 7, Wolfpack, 0. (05 September at 15:22)
117. Go Irish! Beat Wolf Pack! (Obviously, in South Bend for the day...) (05 September at 10:29)
118. Crew in Uptown... with the Comiskey Field hopefuls... (04 September at 13:48)
119. ...hoping someone wants to help a Nealski and has got an extra ND-Nevada ticket... (04 September at 11:53)
120. is scouring for tickets for the White Sox/Red Sox game. And 1500 others things to be done in Chicago right now. (04 September at 08:53)
121. "#220, you have no game. But there's something cute and adorable about you. Make a move. --#113." Alas, life at Durkin's. Definitely an "I" + not an "E"... (04 September at 01:09)
122. Hopleaf with Chris+Will. Amen for Andersonville (which=new home) (03 September at 23:09)
123. made it to Chicago. Let the fun begin! (02 September at 23:52)
124. En route to Chicago, via I-90, with Chris+Will. ETA, 8:45pm CDT. So long, Boston. Neal will always love that dirty water. (02 September at 03:42)
125. Boston will always be home, but heading west, oh boy, this has never felt so good and so right. Chicago or bust, baby! (01 September at 06:14)
126. Oh, move to Chicago, Neal hopes his arrival to your grand city is nothing like his departure from Boston, which has been nothing short of wicked wicked WICKED aggravating. (31 August at 17:22)

The 072409 Set List

I totally can't focus on the bar exam right now. I keep on telling myself that I can focus; that I should focus; that I need to focus on carrying on through and pushing forward. And I think I'll bring it on Tuesday, right when I need to, to take my crack at the Illinois bar exam. Right now, I just need to push through this with some music, even if it's at the risk of being completely emo.  That's just the way I roll.

Of course, as Hillary would say, "where there is Neal, so too are The Cranberries and Bic Runga". Here we go:

The 072409 List
1. Everything's Not Lost (Coldplay)
2. This is Your Life (The Killers)
3. The Great Escape (Patrick Watson)
4. Dream (Priscilla Ahn)
5. Sky Blue Sky (Wilco)
6. Lover Lay Down (Dave Matthews Band)
7. Linger (The Cranberries)
8. Chicago [Acoustic] (Mat Kearney)
9. The Heart of Life (John Mayer)
10. Do What You Have to Do (Sarah McLachlan)
11. Honest Goodbyes (Bic Runga)
12. Ungodly Hour (The Fray)
13. I'll Be There (Mariah Carey)
14. Both Sides of Now (Joni Mitchell)
15. One Red Thread (Blind Pilot)
16. Little Brother (Grizzly Bear)
17. Time to Pretend (MGMT)
18. She Left on a Monday (Bic Runga)
19. Winthrop (Indigo Girls)
20. Nicole's Song (Virginia Coalition)

 

This is My Song

It's not too often that, when prepping for my cantoring gig at St. Mary's, I have a flashback to an Indigo Girls concert in Indiana, circa 2000 or 2001. But alas, that nostalgia switch has been tripped, this time to Finlandia. I'm not talking about Finlandia University, but rather, the symphonic poem by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Most of the poem is rousing and turbulent (and when you get a chance to hear the London Symphony do it, trust me, it's rousing), but towards the end of the symphony, the orchestra calms and Sibelius wrote this beautiful, melodic hymn that evokes a great sense of serenity and peace -- The Finlandia Hymn. 

Now, if you've ever been to an Indigo Girls concert, you'd know that perform the Finlandia Hymn a cappella towards the end of their concert. Needless to say, when I was a little bit of a sheltered kid from Boston coming out of his shell at an Indigo Girls concert at Butler University, I couldn't help but flashback to those (beautifully remembered tree-lined) streets of Charlestown. I remember turning to one of my friends at the end of the Finlandia Hymn and, with a hint of tears in my eyes, proclaimed that the Indigo Girls "performed that church song" so beautifully! She told me I'd make a great lesbian. Touche...

Well, we're singing this hymn tonight as our preparation hymn. I really think that the hymn will offer the congregation a powerful reminder on this Fourth of July Weekend, that as wonderful as we believe our nation to be, as much as we may believe that we are blessed, we got to remember that as much as we may believe our skies to be blue, but so do the folks in every other nation.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
with hope and dreams as true and high as mine.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours [The Soundtrack to My Life Game, courtesy of Facebook]

Thought it was significant enough to include and duplicate as one of the lists.

Facebook's Directions:
1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the memo as well as the person you got the memo from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Breathe (2AM) – Anna Nalick

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Do What You Have To Do – Sarah McLachlan

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Dragostea Din Tei – O-Zone
… … This is hilarious, although T.I. and Rihanna did sample this song for that “So Live Your Life Song.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Oboe Concerto in B – Bach

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
My Neck, My Back (Lick It) – Khia … I have no comment here…

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Living for the Weekend – Hard-Fi

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Ode to My Family – The Cranberries
… … How ironic; this just perpetuates the whole “I’m having a Neal nostalgia moment….”

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Desperately Wanting – Better than Ezra
… … hmmmmm

WHAT IS 2+2?
Girl on TV – LFO
… … I probably shouldn’t even be admitting to the world that I have this song on my iPod.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Lovefool – The Cardigans

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love -- Coldplay

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
When I Grow Up – The Pussycat Dolls
… … hahahaha!!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
You Don’t Know Me – Michael Buble

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Womanizer – Britney Spears
… … nice! no comment!

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Stars are Blind – Paris Hilton
… …. Oh God, this is amazing….!

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Umbrella – Rihanna
… … I wouldn’t mind that so much, seeing as there have been way too many great memories associated with this song!

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Halo – Beyonce

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I’m Sensitive – Jewel
… … actually, that’s not really quite a secret now, is it?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Angel – Natasha Bedingfield

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
I’m Gonna Find Another You – John Mayer

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73 (II. Adagio un poco mosso) – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
… …. Wow, to Beethoven! I certainly hope so!!

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Cantique de Jean Racine - Chorus and Organ. Op.11 (Gabriel Fauré) (1865) -- Choir Of King's College, Cambridge, James Vivian & Stephen Cleobury, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields & St. John's College Choir
… … this certainly is pretty intense. Man, I really would have loved to had such amazing music talent to sing in the Choir of King’s College!

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Just Dance – Lady GaGa & Colby O’Donis

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Can’t Take It – All American Rejects

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) – Beyonce
… … if that’s not a message, well then…

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Sway – Big Runga
… … As Hillary would say, “what would a mixed CD from Neal Boyle be without Sway ?”. Oh wait, but that’s not the query…

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Ur So Gay – Katy Perry
… … ok, then… not really sure what this is supposed to mean! But see Katy_Perry

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Swing, Swing – All American Rejects

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Shimmer – Fuel
… … Wow, that’s somewhat depressing (She says that love is for fools that fall behind/And I'm somewhere in between/I never really know/A killer from a savior/'Til I break at the bend)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours – Stevie Wonder
… … Hmmm, mmmm, gotta love that Stevie Wonders and the feel good oldies!

Yael Naim

Thanks to the latest Apple commercial, I have Yael Naim's single New Soul stuck in my head [related link: Yael Naim: Keep Listening].

Now, I'll get this song stuck in your head, too, courtesy of Imeem.com

Grey's, Skipping on the Gym, Skipping on Football

Well, my roomie isn't even home from winter break yet, and yet... I've reverted into the typical semester routine: skip out of work at about 8:25pm; take the Orange Line home and quickly exit at Community College; pick up a half-gallon of Breyer's ice cream at Foodmaster; contemplate going to BSC (and thinking: "nah... legs days are meant to be skipped!"); and then slog home and quickly strip off all of the lawyer clothes, plunk on the DePaul sweatshirt, and turn on Grey's Anatomy. 

I know what's coming my way.  The ritual perpetuates a whole number of long running jokes, among them: (i) since when did you become a woman? (ii) since when did you grow a flappy v ____jay (iii) since when did you become a lesbian? (iv) since when did you come out?  It resounds wholeheartedly of Captain Marino.  Personally, I prefer to proclaim that I'm pregnant.  But that whole discussion is for another day.

Reality for today: it was wicked wicked freezing out in Boston today.  I was supposed to meet up with some folks at the Pub99 after work to watch the Orange Bowl and grab some beers, but I was wicked wicked freezing when I got out of the O-line at Community College and my body literally shuddered at the thought of alcohol.  Yes, shuddered.  Once I got home, I thought the gym would be an option... that is, until my blackberry started buzzing (you know I had to answer; I can't disconnect from work). Next, I quickly realized, once I got to my parking spot, that the door to my Corolla was literally frozen shut.  Shuddered, Buzzed, Frozen Shut.  That left me with one option: watch Greys.

Now, I haven't been as die-hard of a Grey's fan as last year this time.  Between the writers' strike, a newfound love for Brothers and Sisters, and certain longing for Dr. Burke and Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, I just have been missing Grey's more.  But tonight, I shed a couple of tears for Dr. O'Malley (dude--I would give my heart to save my dad too) and found a nice new song for the "Shitty Day" playlist [Get Well Soon/by the Perishers].

Anyway, my apartment is a mess.  I need to devise a way to clean it up before Jess comes home on Sunday and Kevin lands in Boston later that day.  My Christmas Tree is still up (pictures coming soon--"December Vacation Album" style on Facebook), the floor really needs to be vacuumed, and I have a whole pile of bills that need to be filed.

Plus, I need to email back the realtor dude from Otis & Ahearn who was reading all of my house-hunting obsessed emails and has since tracked me down.

Gosh, that was quite the devigation.  What I really wanted to say was... I came home to watch Grey's Anatomy tonight.

Interest in the "Shitty Day" Playlist

It's weird.  I start blogging again, and along comes a trickle of emails, like I have a fanbase or something.  Well, people have been asking about the Shitty Day playlist that I somewhat reference in a previous post.  I just uploaded it into the iTunes store and I'll figure out the typepad widget that will let me share the list.  In the meantime, here's the music:

1. Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop (Landon Pigg)
2. All I Need (Mat Kearney)
3. Keep Breathing (Ingrid Michaelson)
4. The Great Escape (Patrick Watson)
5. Somewhere Only We Know (Keane)
6. Say It Right (Nelly Furtado)
7. Breathe (2AM) (Anna Nalick)
8. Everything (FeFe Dobson)
9. More Than Words (Extreme)
10. Trouble (Coldplay)
11. Ode to My Family (The Cranberries)
12. Dying Inside (The Cranberries)
13. Babylon (David Gray)
14. Cowboy Take Me Away (Dixie Chicks)
15. Goodbye To You (Michelle Branch)
16. The Rose (Bette Midler)
17. Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
18. Seven Years (Norah Jones)
19. Sweet Surrender (Sarah McLachlan)
20. Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of (U2)
21. Nicole's Song (Virginia Coalition)
22. Lover Lay Down (Dave Matthews Band)
23. Brick (Ben Folds Five)
24. There She Goes (The LaLa's)
25. 1234 (Feist)
26. Life in Mono (Mono)

6AM, Day after Christmas

I woke up this morning, for the second time, literally feeling like I was in the band Ben Folds Five's song "Brick."  The song placates me after I've been wound up too tight for a while, and for some reason, between the plague and Christmas and a final push to the end of the 2007 at work, I was feeling just a little bit shitty.  Nothing that poses caution to mental health or anything, just a funk resting in between 'getting up on the wrong side of the bed' on one hand, and 'please, Gawd, why do I need to get out of bed today' on the other hand.  Of course, I did a good job putting up good face all day long today.  After my nice, long, run on the treadmill, though, I realized that I couldn't do any more work.  I just needed to chill.... at least for a little while.

While I was assembling a playlist on iTunes, I realized that there's some "moments" of undergraduate school that I particularly miss.  Let's place aside all of the nostalgia for Notre Dame for a moment and focus on a few life functions, like down time and finding new, awesome music, or heading to the Huddle just to hang out, get a diet mountain dew and some BK chicken tenders, and talk to whomever happened to be there (which, many a time, happened to be my roommate and the PE girls).  I feel like I'm missing that a little bit back in Charlestown.  I'll call it the Cheers effect, if you will, minus the alcohol.  Like, I'd go to the Huddle or make playlists and the like not so much to drink or to find caffeine, but to just hang out and be.  Exist.  And associate.  Without the expectation of generating business on the return side.

Anyway, this is totally turning into a bitch and rave.  I'll just stop now.

Currently on the playlist: Life in Mono, by Mono, from the Great Expectations Soundtrack [1998].

Yankee Grab Christmas Mix 2007

Here it is...

1. Do They Know It's Christmas? (Band Aid)   
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings (Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan)
3. Little Saint Nick (The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson & Mike E. Love)   
4. White Christmas    Bing Crosby (Irving Berlin)   
5. Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth (Bing Crosby & David Bowie)   
6. Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms)
7. Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives)
8. Merry Christmas Darling (The Carpenters)
9. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) (The Chipmunks)   
10. Baby, It's Cold Outside    (Dean Martin)   
11. The Little Drummer Boy    (Harry Simeone Chorale)   
12. Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming (Es Ist Ein' Ros' Estperungen) (Harvard Glee Club)       
13. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Jackson 5)   
14. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon & Yoko Ono with The Plastic Ono Band and The Harlem Community Choir)   
15. O Holy Night (John Williams)
16. All I Want For Christmas (Mariah Carey)
17. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) (Nat "King" Cole)
18. Wonderful Christmas Time (Paul McCartney)
19. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays (Perry Como)
20. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Francis De Sales Boychoir (Philadelphia) & The Temple University Concert Choir)

Moving, Lonergan, and Seventy-Five Days

An agent through which vital powers are exercised.

Fall is finally becoming fall in Boston, in November.  Crisp and cool, just the way November should be.  I always thought that this type of fall weather lends itself to the nostalgia that replays inside my mind and supports the frustrated writer that lingers inside of me.  That's what I thought about when I was walking up Walker Street after I got off the bus this evening.  I was thinking about how much I really love my street, and how cool but strikingly red the fireball glowed from the utility pole at the top of my street, and how much I really loved what I do--even though I bitch and complain about it at times.  It's that new slug of a slog that I have to fight out and figure out.  I could quit.  But I love the playing field.

Beneath that fireball, though, I bumped upon Todd and Meg's U-Haul.  Todd and Dan were in it, amid all of the Todd and Meg's life that was getting squeezed into a 17-foot U-Haul.  Now, I always get really funny with change, especially moving.  I play things off like I'll see someone tomorrow.  I try to keep things "normal."  I laugh a bit and [/MESSAGE CLIPPED/]

The iPhone Commercial [ORD/SBN/MRY]

This is going to sound really weird.  But every time I hear/see the iPhone commercial, that little nostalgia button inside of me gets triggered.  It's like the music and the iPhone voiceover voice are really soothing.  At the same time, the shots -- I don't think I can call it cinematography -- have this flow that puts me into the Rudy/Skipping class for the BrewCo with Hill/Doors of Notre Dame/"walking across South Quad at dawn after pulling an all-nighter" kind of feel.  Everything's in soft, clean, incandescent-boosted hues.

And it all begs another question that I'll just answer.  I really miss Notre Dame.

I guess that's why I'm wicked excited to be making the trek on the third week of vacation.  Instead of celebrating a year on the job, I'll be celebrating the ND Perpetual Keggers, ND Football, ND Wedding.  And I really can't wait to go to the Grotto.  It's my favorite spot on campus, especially late in the summer when the Indiana humidity, 1000 chirping crickets, and faint sounds of the lake culminate in just one really surreal experience.  Just thinking about it makes me sigh.  And when I close my eyes and just think about it, the feeling of being relaxed pours over me.

Perhaps this is a little bit of hyperbole.  Perhaps it is.  But I think it answer's Erin's question from a few weeks ago.  I still think about that place.  And it still matters.  It matters to me.

Thank you, iPhone.

Re: emails from friends

The email message:

It's weird how reading your reply to George made me realize how I never hear you talk about Notre Dame that much anymore. Either corporate indentured servitude is stifling your nostalgia or I'm just not around you in a social setting that much anymore!

Nealmeister's response:

Oh, I do think about it a lot. I think about Notre Dame, and the ocean, and the woods in Maine, my parents and Sunday morning bruch, and that four of swords card from the tarrot card deck four years ago (or five summers ago). I think I'm just not around many people in a social setting anymore (unfortunately), and as such, all of the nostalgia gets kept to myself. The things that make me laugh with my friends, the things that I really love discussing, the things that I really love spending my time doing, there's really just not that time anymore. It's somewhat sad; those were all the things that made up my personality. But it's amazing how once you get to the real world, your "personality" no longer becomes relevant. Well, at least in the corporate world. It's all about cash. Nobody really much cares about what I think (or the brilliant things in life, for that matter, like the ways clouds form on the eve of a thunderstorm in the middle of the summer; or how beautiful the congregation sounds at church when they try to sing, even though they're somewhat out of key and sound somewhat shrill; or the sound of the tires to my corolla when I'm driving through the less congested roads around the Middlesex Fells), unless it has to do with a transaction. Which is hard. I'm sounding like a frustrated writer...

The reply back:

Damn, that was intense! Brilliant! I just had to check and see if you still had it in you. But I hope I didn't open a can of worms on you.

Thoughts from the blackberry

music: anna nalick/breathe

location: 93 bus stop, sullivan & bunker hill streets. 
weather: steady rain
previous discussion: w/Dave p*rkins, re: essex, rain, england and new englanders

The asian woman collecting empties out of trash.  No one thought about what happens to her when you fail to sort your deposit bottles out of the trash and into the recycling bins.  Random thought, yes.  And I know people get really annoyed with them digging through their trash.  But, think about it.  It is really as much about their livelihod as it is ours. 

That was the gross juxtaposition at the bus stop -- socially, culturally, socioeconomically. And I could not help but think: "dear God, neal, in light of doing this whole attorney thing, in doing this whole yuppie thing, in accomplishing something that I clealy am not completely cognizant of but yet let sweep me away, please, please don't let me become so jaded that I forget my roots.  And lose passion -- or is it compassion -- for people like the asian lady collecting cans."

music: john mayer/slow dancing in a burning room

End of Vacation... oh!

I don't have my pictures off of my camera yet, so I can't share with you all the graphic evidence of Neal & Sarah's escapades in Austin, Texas.  For the time being, I'm sure that if you check out DirectTV, you'd see me in the crowd at the Bowling for Soup concert (yes, while in Austin, we saw Bowling for Soup!). 

I'll tell you, though, earplugs are a marvelous thing.  I'm so happy I could use them at South by Southwest.  Otherwise, I'd be deaf now, or at least near deaf.  And I've need a new liver... but that has nothing to do with my hearing; I already knew that the liver transplant would be inevitable. 

I was just kidding about the liver transplant thing.  Humor, of course...

So Austin...

Among others, I've got to thank Johnny for being the awesome hook up.  I felt like a superstar when we saw Sandra Jones & the Dap Kings, side of stage, VIP Treatment and all, at Emo's Annex.  And wait, there's one other shout out, to the waitress that I was flirting with at B.D. Riley's--that episode of Grey's Anatomy turned out to be wicked awesome.  Could Izzy and George really sleep with each other?  And if so, does that mean there's hope for us?

Anyway...

SXSW

You know how when you were in middle school, and you'd list all of the things that were awesome and great about your vacation, saying something like "We are Ohio" and then list all of the things?  Well, here's my "here's to you Austin," with some of the Bands seen, heard, and yes, felt...

Imperial Teen, Andrew Winston Duo, Drew Smith and His Band, Peter Bjorn and John, Rocky Votolato, Special Guests, Apollo Sunshine, Dirty Projectors, Play-N-Skillz, Chingo Bling, The Redwalls, Clem Snide, Robyn Hitchcock, Yuppie Pricks, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Lesbians on Ecstacy, Bic Runga, Brett Dennen, Alexi Murdoch, Bowling for Soup, Prototypes and Junior Senior!!

And we're off...

I realize that this post is substandard.  But let me placehold a couple of conversations that I need to have on here over the next few days:

• Neal's trip to Mass. General, with particular attention paid to the green slip and emergency radiology
• Grey's, Grey's and Grey's
• The Purple Pill

Austin, aloha!

Well, I leave for Austin in about 4 hours.  Thank you friggin' GOD!!!!!!! That's the extent of my blog post.  I have all of these posts in draft.  The writing there is wonderful.  Some segments are inspirational, nostalgia-filled, even funny.  But considering the events of the past few days... I'm just ready for a friggin' vacation.  I'll deal with plotting my life once I get back to Boston.  And, what better way to celebrate life than seeing Sassy & friends and doing up sxsw (south by southwest, you know, the music festival). 

Potpourri post: Decisions, Peter Lattman, the Devil Wears Prada, We are Called, Dictations like Meredith Grey, and AUSTIN or BUST!

I don't know how much more random my posts can get.  One thing is for certain: as the period of time between posts appears to grow, the content that I need to fit into each post grows.  Plus, right now, there's a lot going on and a lot on my mind.  For one, it's about time that spring seems to be gracing itself upon Bosto n (it was in the 50's today!), but then again, after all of the events that transpired today, I'm so ready to enjoy some sxsw...

So, drumroll please...

Peter Lattman & The Devil Wears Prada

I've been reading a lot of the Wall Street Journal Law Blog these days.  I guess that marks the official transition from being a Top-40, MTV loving junky [via Pink is the New Blog] to wearing pinstripe suits and reading the Wall Street Journal as I take the bus into work. 

Perhaps what it really means, though, is that I'm slowing transforming into the Young Urban Professional (i.e., a yuppie).  As a kid growing up in Charlestown, I constantly criticized (and mocked--with my friends from the B&G Club) the yuppies, but deep down inside, I secretly admired them.  Of course, as a 12-year old, the aspiration looked a lot greener than the reality.  Scratch that.  It's just fine, but whether first year attorney, first year surgical intern, first year teacher, or first year police officer, I'm realizing that every single career path I even vaguely considered (or on the flipside, desperately thought I wanted) just requires putting in the long hours, putting in more effort, putting in the blood sweat and tears.  It's just like hauling a** in school.  Heck, it's like Jesus being humbled, minus the whole crucifixion thing.  And all said and done--I'm a small fish again.

Peter Lattman and the Devil Wear Prada come into play here, in part, because last night, me, Jess, and her cousin watched DWP.  I know what you're thinking--it's a quintessential chick flick--but it kind of got me thinking: since I'm single, I should be doing more for work.  Like trying to learn more financial stuff.  Like anticipating everyone's moves.  Like adding 10 or 20 more hours to work (and not billing it out).  I'm young.  I should be able to handle it.  And maybe, as Peter Lattman reports, I can take appropriate charitable deductions for donating my used workslacks to the Boston's Long Island Shelter.

Of cou/MESSAGE CLIPPED/

In re: Seattle and 25.91667

I really haven't blogged in a while my roommate tells me.  And she's right.  It's not that I haven't been wanting to blog.  Indeed, if I could, I'd blog all the time.  It's been some odd combination of work, being tired, and thinking a lot that's made me a bit lazy on the blogging frontier.  Trust me, the content is in my head.  I can hear the Nealisms inside of me; it's almost like I'm narrating my own television drama or something.

Actually, I probably should go to the doctor before I head down to Austin.  This isn't a hypochondriac (sp?) situation or anything.  I've been perpetually lo-grade sick since God knows when.  When I eat a bit too much, I feel like I have a knot in my chest.  Kind of in the same place where I'd get a knot when I had mono.  It doesn't sit well... and I know I should go to my pcp and just get it fixed. 

To do: see the doctor.  and have a physical done while at it.

Anyway, I left work early today and decided not to go to the gym, opting instead to throw a load of laundry in, dry a bunch of work shirts, and order some papa ginos with my roommate.  We watched some more season two of Grey's Anatomy (of course), where we've commented about Addison and the girls (of course) and laughed at Dr. O'Malley's quirks (of course).  It's just, ughh, today was a sucky day overall.  Not so much "I hate life" as "please, when will bedtime come."  All that extra alcohol this weekend.  It really f***ed me over. 

So back to my Grey's tangent.  The heavy moments on the show get tough for me (yes, there are tears), but I think they're worth it.  I owe it to Grey's for helping me keep my humanity lately.  Like, it is all because of Grey's Anatomy that I was even able to do the "Jesus in my Life" talk at the Confirmation Retreat.  Otherwise, I would have had to talk about alcohol and the Delta Shuttle.  High school kids don't need that.  Talking about Grey's is much better.... and that's just one example.

I thought tonight, though, while we watched episode 2:6 (Into you like a train).  If you've watched enough, it's the Bonnie Crasnoff episode.  Just thinking about Bonnie makes me a little weep-felt.  I told Jess that I couldn't imagine what it would be like to know, that, in 3 minutes or so, your life as you knew it would end.  Phew...

Of course, my tangential mind backs itself into great thinking tricks.  So, with the shots of Seattle gracing Seattle Grace, I get to thinking that Seattle, indeed, is such a beautiful city.  I need to go and visit Seattle.  Visit my friends who are there.  Hang out, and experience the whole place.  Seattle's the same size as Boston.  It's only a few more degrees north.  There's rafting and stuff nearby.  And I think that it would mellow me out, because I'm so high strung lately....

But alas.  The blog entry filled with tons of tangents is almost done.  I need to sleep.  Vacation is drawing near, and I know what needs to be done between then and tomorrow to make it happen.  In the meantime, I want to get myself a SGH t-shirt, or at least a Boston Beerworks one.  That would be T-shirt number 73.  Great for when you turn 25.91667...

... yeah, that would be taking it too far...

In re: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Well, Happy President's Day people.  I spent it lounging around, doing laundry, doing pro bono work, not showering, listening to Kiss 108, and reading the Boston Globe.

Indeed, there's a facebook post that's drawn a bit of attention.  We all know about Geek love, you know, the "unpopular kids" love.  It all turns into being good at high school, then college, then grad school, then you're 45 and not married.  Or maybe you're just not having good sex.  But could that all be a myth?  The Boston Globe spreads a little bit of hope... or at least gives me hope that I don't need to be a UPS Driver wearing my brown shorts and a pressed shirt (that, according to Hillary and Crystal, would have had to had tumbled in the dryer since Labour Day).

"In 1873, Dr. Edward H. Clarke, a prominent professor at Harvard Medical School, noted that the rigors of higher education diverted blood from a woman's uterus to her brain, making her irritable and infertile. . . ."

Read for yourself:

The Romantic Life of Brainiacs - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/glo...

Then, there's my "oh Gosh, I feel so good!" post that I just need to share.  Thanks to UniversalHub, I got a little bit of airtime... and some Globe time.  Now I'm a little bit of a celebrity these days; I've turned lobster red on more than once occasion over the past week when random people would come up to me and say "So, Neal, are you feeling HAPPY today?" or "Neal, so, you know, I read the Globe.  Do you?" 

Moving along...

The music that's been jiving this week if from Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: Face Down.  Good beat.  Good bit of angst.  Some people kind of liken it to Blink-182 for Junior High School.  I don't know if that's good or bad; but what I do know is that there's so good Jeep-riding-at-Revere-Beach music playing on the radio these days.  So, even though I only own a Corolla, and work's probably going to have me inside more this summer, at least I know there's going to be some good music to enjoy... on Kiss 108...

Anyway, I'm outta here.

Countdown to Austin, SXSW, and friends that I haven't seen in forever: 22 days.

This ain't a scene (a-la-my Corolla)

...  Once I got to the Super Stop and Shop in Medford, that Fall Out Boy song came on Kiss 108, blaring through the radio, pumping from the Kiss 108 tower right in my line of sight.  I decided on three things then and there. 

First, I really love my Corolla.  It's the perfect mix of sporty and practical; it's the perfect size for me; and heck, I find it kind of cool when I shuffle out of my corolla, and I notice the woman in the next car over kind of give me a half-smirk when she notices the car seat in the back of my car.  I think it's sexy.

Second, I really like that Fall Out Boy song, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arm's Race."  In a typical Neal-fashion, I make up my own words to the song as appropriate with my mood.  I like singing along to the "doot doot doot doot-do-oot" when the lead singer sings:

I'm the leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate
I'm the leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate, oh so intricate

The beat's good, and the times are good in the corolla, and the air, not too dry yet not too damp, streetlights glowing high pressure sodium vapors upon the parking lot in medford.  I'm doot doot doot-ing along.  And of course, I think something else is being sung.

Third, I realized that I'm just happy.  No real reason.  Don't even know why.  Just happy.  Happy pushing a shopping cart through Stop and Shop, finding spreadable Wisconsin Pride port wine cheese, walking around with my reindeer hat and my black ems jacket.  You had to be there, I guess. 

It was just one of those nights....

Here's a story for ya...

... so here's a Boston Sports Clubs story for ya.  I get out of work tonight just in time to fit in a nice 75 minute workout at the Downtown Crossing BSC.  Apparently, I was wicked excited to do the "Gluteal 2" workout on the elliptical machine, or do one of those Muscle and Fitness Shoulders' Day workouts.  Because I happened to put my ND shorts on backwards.

Now, I know that I can be kind of thuggish at the gym.  Oversized lacrosse shorts; shirts one-half size too small (put in the dryer for as long as Hill & Crystal would approve).  But wearing shorts backwards is just going one step too far, Neal.  Come on now.  All I needed was a little bit of Daddy Mac and Mac Daddy to play things up a bit.  Or another one of those angry chick rock songs (think: "Tomorrow" by Lillix from the Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen soundtrack).  Or maybe some angry whinebag-i-can't-be-weezer-but-16-to-28-year-olds-will-like-my-music alterna rock because they're all looking for an outlet "out" type music (think: "I'm not OK" by My Chemical Romance).

Here's the sad part.  I didn't realize that I had my shorts on backwards until I was on the elliptical machine.  At that point, the thought going through my head was along the lines of: "wow, my glutes must really be getting smaller because I have so much room back there.  but what is going on up here???"

Der, idiot, your gym shorts are on backwards.

New to 2007

This isn't the crazy and fun New Year's post that I intended to post.  That's coming... once I upload the fotos. 

One thing that I did want to do was post my 2007 resolutions.  I did that in 2006.  I'll still call these 2007 resolutions "2006 resolutions," though.  In my heart, I still feel like I'm 24, a little confused, a little naive, and a whole heck of a lot hopeful.  My heart is still searching for something, even though I think that, quite frankly and quite gratefully but by far, I've got a lot of what I've wanted. 

What I'm realizing is that, perhaps, for most of the time, what I've wanted is not exactly what I  need.  That topic, though, will be addressed later.  I've had some good conversation with best friends and best priests and such over the past few days. 

So to 2007. 

Here's to a charge: that everyone refind, rediscover, reconcile that magic in their lives.  Especially if you're living on the coasts, by a body of water, or stuck in the mountains, where the different strains of life -- whether moving too fast or too slow -- will inevitably make us feel like we're moving in 2nd gear.  One thing is for sure: I'm not so sure what your magic will be.  Maybe it's God.  Maybe it's music.  Maybe it's teaching.  Maybe it's being a helper, a mover, a shaker, a lover, a friend, a hater, a caretaker.  We've all got to be moving along.  But what the heck is moving along worth, if, among other things that I can exhaustively list, you can't sit back and enjoy some good top-40 pop every once and a while (or whatever your thang is.  everyone just knows about my certainly unhealthy love for anything associated with MTV and Kiss-108)?

First five songs that popped in my head while writing this post:

fix you::coldplay
maneater::nelly furtado
move along::all american rejects
one hand in my pocket::alanis morrisette
over my head (cable car)::the fray

Carrie wins, Faith Hill gets wicked pissed

Ok, so me and Party Animal are sitting here in my dining room doing Board resolutions and trying to plan for our next board meeting.  Christmas music is playing on oldies 103.3, downtown Boston looks good from the window, and Party Animal apprises me of some current events that have occurred while I have been completely engrossed in the activities of the firm, such as:

My name is Neal, I love college football, and I love cantoring

especially today.  Notre Dame's number nine in the BCS.  And a crazy couple, but not Drew and Erin, were swaying enough at the young adult mass tonight that I started laughing in the middle of canting.  Then, of course, there's Best of Charlestown, and my amateur musings being amused by the brain trust and company.  Yeah, the amateur party, and my preference for... ok, we'll stop there.

So much for being a composed amateur.

Talking about amateur, this is a nice segway into "number two."  Things are not as heavy here.  For this person, when we tried out for undressed, I secretly liked kissing you.  Actually, I think about it every once and a while.  After the burrito and the game and ring around the rosie, the second time was better. 

We should do it again.

Aloha from NYC (or, at least, handwritten on the Delta Shuttle from BOS to LGA)

/ RELEASED 21 OCT 2006 /

One of the crazy things about becoming a Delta Shuttle brat -- especially on these trips when I fly alone and then am gone for days -- is that there inevitably is lots to think about.  I know... "thinking."  For at least more than one of my friends, family members, close confidantes, or otherwise, you've that before.  Often the 'thinking' goes on without any real, tangible, outward, real-world manifestation except for a cop-out for something that is tangibly real.  Really, it's all inside of me, and appropriately so.  Perhaps the exercise serves its best purpose for my own psychological well-being.  It gets archived in the nostalgia that re-runs inside of me.  Usually, it lurks -- the thinking, that is -- somewhere between the Rudy-themed music reels with which I am commonly associated and the mental note that "Yes-I should make a call/write a note/mail the package to that friend/family members/close confidante/or otherwise.."

I still have packages sitting in my office; a mixed cd for my friend Parker lying to be marked up; and a birthday card for Seagull that I got in 2003 for her 22nd birthday.

Anyway, waiting here on the tarmac is a ripe place; here, the thoughts linger.  Tonight, the thoughts dwell over an email that I caught from a certain friend who I've been unable -- over the course of more than a few emails, missed calls, missed airmail packages, and bad messages -- to really connect with.  This circle has been going on for a few years now, so much to this person's unliking. 

The truth about the cycle, though, is that the burden is really on me.  I know that I need to have a heart to heart with this person to really heal our relationship because somewhere between becoming friends and remaining friends some breaking occurred.  I doubt that this person would even know what I am talking about.  But all of the angst, frustration, and inability to trust stem from a really brief comment that this person made about almost five years ago now.  I was actually really taken by surprise as to what this person said, when this person said it, BUT, I thought that I could put the comment behind me, even though what was said, and communicated, and gestured wasn't even directed at me at all.

In the process, I've pulled a "Talented Mr. Ripley" of sorts.  Not the Ripley-type talent, but the talent of Ripley's objectified lust and desire -- I've pulled the Dickie Greenleaf to the umpfth degree.  That's my cop out:

Marge Sherwood: The thing with Dickie... it's like the sun shines on you, and it's glorious. And then he forgets you and it's very, very cold.
Tom Ripley: So I'm learning.
Marge Sherwood: When you have his attention, you feel like you're the only person in the world, that's why everybody loves him so much.

The more I think about it here, the more I think, yes, this is so cruel.  Without even knowing, or wanting, or needing, or desiring it to be. 

The tracks-in-writing:

• Michelle Branch -- Goodbye to You
• The LaLa's -- There She Goes
• The Fray -- Over My Head (Cable Car)
• Paris Hilton -- Stars are Blind
• Coldplay -- Sparks
• John Mayer -- My Stupid Mouth
• Manifold Splendor -- Cunning Linguist
• Chantal Kreviazuk -- Surrounded
• The Cranberries -- Put Me Down
• Semisonic -- Closing Time
• The All-American Rejects -- It Ends Tonight
• Gavin DeGraw -- Chariot
• Hard-Fi -- Hard to Beat
• Our Lady Peace -- Thief
• Ben Folds Five -- Philosophy
• The Killers -- Mr. Brightside
• Coldplay -- Fix You
• The Cranberries -- Dreaming My Dreams
• Christina Aguilera -- Hurt
• Oasis -- Don't Look Back in Anger
• Semisonic -- Closing Time

I guess with a playlist like that, your mind does linger a bit, doesn't it?  For a dark entry indeed...

neal wants YOU on team FLUFFY!

ok, so maybe you won't get the title unless you were in Madison, Wisconsin the same weekend that I was...

Here's the deal.  I was watching Leno and got a little freaked out with Colin Farrell.  For some reason, I was like a hyper-sensitive viewer (maybe because I was blinded on my walk home from Suffolk WHILE doing my colourful flashcards, mind in brainfever, looking for a way out...) and felt a bit at dis-ease.  What is up with him?  Something awkward compared to the dude from 6 Feet Under and the Office.  So I continue to flip through flashcards, wondering why Massachusetts doesn't just adopt and codify the rules of Evidence already.  Then I give in.  I just need to watch some TV, goddamn it.  And not that I claim to be anything like Colin Farrell, but I realized I was weirded out because, at least from my present sense impressions, I could empathize: the thumbs up; the acting a little pissed off; the quasi-a-d-d.

Then, Conan came on.  Conan be cool.  And I started realizing: Conan is kind of funny, but he's also kind of scary.  Uma Thurman.  Not exactly wholesome Lindsay Lohan, but still scrumptious (a little bit of Kiflin & Kristin there for you).  Molest!  Yummy.  Hmmm.  Funny times.  Scary Conan.  Frightened.  Laughing.  Hmmm, I should call Vin.  Conan's on.  I bet she's watching.  Why aren't I tired??????  I just want to go to fuckin' bed!

I don't know if it's the No-Doze or what.  I'd like to think it's just the adrenaline.  What I do know is that going to bed isn't going to be any much better because I am just going to dream about contracts, and contingent remainders floating by easements, and manmade death traps that should have had warning signs, but didn't, and I'm dreaming, and "oh shit, there's an excited utterance that you're going to now use against me or someone else!!!"  Ayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! 

What I do know is that I could take the Bar Exam tomorrow.  It just needs to get done.  I need to be able to work with people and solve like, problems, and not multiple choice problems.  I need to be able to drink Chocolate milk and not worry about [name your tort/evidentiary rule/breach of contract].  I need to read more than multiple choice questions.  I need to be needed, and unfortunately, the Blue PMBR book, my BarBri MAT (Massachusetts Essays Testing) doesn't give me any kind of human satisfaction.  I'm sick of random nose bleeds that I've been getting, and I'm starting to think that my estranged family and friends and neighbors are sick of me sounding like I'm a paranoid law android straight out of some demented lawed-up contortion of a Radiohead album every time I walk and talk. This like sucks, "literally from my perspective" (that was for you, Alan), walking around taking my "break" through the Boston Common by walking with my iPod on at some products-liability deafening decible level, trying to zone out on some horrid Nelly Furtado hip hop, but afraid of losing any oh-so-important 4-1-1.  Yeah, I know that this is a right of passage.  Just another week.  Just another week.  Just another week.  Just another week.

Wow, that was a tangent. 

But you should have seen me 18 minutes ago, when I was rocking to Weezer, Kelly Clarkson, and Hanson.  You would have been mortified.  And you would have laughed so hard.  Wicked hard.  So hard honey nut cheerios would have been coming out of your ass...

Currently listening to: "Say It Ain't So" (Weezer).

Colin Farrell & The Beckhams.